Thank-you again to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, and followed this fan fiction. I hope that you are all enjoying it. Here is Chapter 4. Hopefully you find it as good as the previous chapters. As always I welcome any constructive criticism, and I apologize if there are any grammar or spelling errors that I missed. Chapter five will be posted in one week. With that being said please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat or any of the characters from it. Skip Beat is the property of Yoshiki Nakamura.

Takarada's Pep-Talk

Takarada watched Ren as he came in and sat down with a strange look an his face. Takarada recognized the look within seconds.

"Be careful Ren, you're letting Kuon through. If you don't want people to know you better get him under control." Takarada said this with genuine concern. As far as he knew Ren still wasn't ready to reveal his true identity to anybody.

"It's okay Boss." Ren said completely surprising Takarada. "I'm not ready to tell the World but I am ready to tell Kyoko." Even as Ren said this a look of fear passed through his eyes.

Takarada noticed this fear and gave Ren an understanding smile. "What made you want to tell her? Up until now you've wanted to keep it a complete secret."

Ren/Kuon sighed and gave Takarada a weary look. "I can't keep lying to her about who I am. It feels like I'm dying every time I lie to her. She deserves to know the truth about everything."

"Does everything include your feelings for her?"

"It scares me to death that she'll leave me forever but yes. I want to tell her absolutely everything."

'I guess the Heel sibling act was more helpful than I thought. I'm glad that Ren is taking this step forward. But he looks sick with worry. I'm sure Kyoko is ready for this truth but I can't tell Ren how I know that. These two really do cause headaches.' "Do you need any help with this?"

"Thank-you but no."

"When are you going to tell her?"

"Tonight."

"That doesn't give you a long time to prepare. Are you sure you want to tell her so soon?"

"With all due respect Boss I have put this off long enough. I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Even if I'm scared sick."

"Don't be so worried. I have a feeling Mogami-kun is more open to receiving feelings of love and affection than you think." As Takarada said this Ren gave him an incredulous look. "I can see you don't believe me but I don't think Kyoko will ever leave you. Besides I don't think you would let her. You are very stubborn when it comes to things you care about with your whole heart."

At this Ren gave Takarada half a smile.

"Since you've made up your mind about this I believe it's time to turn our attention to different matters." Takarada paused thinking about how to phrase his next comment. "Will you be okay being her partner for laser-tag?"

"Yes. If nothing else it will be a way to spend time with her if she rejects me."

"I thought I told you not to think so negatively. Now I know it sounds like favoritism but I want you two to win. And to be honest I think the best way to do that is to actually use aspects of Cain and Setsu. Make plans as you would if you were them. Speak to each other in English. Or better yet teach her some Russian. That way no one would understand you and it would make it easier to win."

"But if she and I speak to each other in Russian won't people get suspicious?" Kuon asked with one of his eyebrows raised.

"I believe that is why whispering was invented. And it isn't uncommon for people to know several languages, especially if they're actors."

"Point taken. You do realize how long it takes to teach someone Russian don't you?"

"She doesn't have to be one hundred percent fluent. She just needs to know enough to be able to use it for the game. It shouldn't take too long to teach her that much."

"I suppose you're right." Kuon sigh suddenly.

"Now what?"

"Knowing Kyoko she's going to feel horrible about acting me and calling my dad 'dad/otou-san.' There's no need for her to feel bad but how am I going to convince her of that?"

"Just tell her the truth. Tell her your dad loves her like she was his own daughter. Which is definitely the truth. He keeps asking me to somehow get her to California to visit him and Julie. He actually keeps asking me to do the same thing with you. Don't worry I know you're not ready." Takarada said quickly seeing Ren's expression.

Ren sighed, 'why did I have to make my life so complicated?' "I guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right! I'm always right."

Ren smiled a little at Takarada's exclamation. 'It's weird. I didn't think that talking to Boss would help me feel better. He usually blows things out of proportion and makes them more extravagant than they need to be. However right now he's helping me calm down and not letting my imagination think of different bad scenarios. It's as though he's a coach giving his team a pep-talk before a game.' As this thought came to Ren's mind he remembered something.

"Why do you want everybody to take a full day to play laser-tag? It seems very random even for you."

Takarada looked a little affronted at this. "Are you suggestion that I have a crazy but elaborate plan that the laser-tag is only a part of?"

"I'm saying that, that is how you normally are." Ren replied simply.

'This boy.' Takarada thought. 'He can read me just like Kuu does. It's kind of unnerving. Those two are so alike and yet so different at the same time.' "You got me. This isn't a simple game of laser-tag. I thought that it would be a good way to give you and Kyoko closure as the Heel siblings. I know that eventually it will be announced that you are Cain and Kyoko is Setsu. However you two need closure from these characters before that time. I know that both of you were both affected by Cain and Setsu and that is why you need this. I made you and Kyoko partners for that reason and why I want you two to go through this game with aspects of the Heel siblings around you."

'That should not make any sense but it strangely does. Ah, I must be going crazy.' Ren/Kuon thought. "I understand Sir. I have one question though."

"And what might that be?"

"How will Kyoko and I find time to practice and prepare for this event?"

Takarada let out a booming laugh. "You two really are perfect for each other. She asked me the exact same thing." Takarada laughed even more upon seeing Ren's slight blush. 'Definitely perfect for each other. Does Kuon still have a very, very slight innocence about him? I thought that it disappeared years ago. Maybe I was wrong. That would be a rather pleasant surprise. Kuu and Julie would be so happy to hear this.' "You don't need to worry about finding time to practice and plan a strategy. I have everything taken care of."

'Perfect for each other... Is he serious? What exactly does he mean by that? Does he know something about Kyoko's feelings for me? Could Kyoko actually like me?' It was this thought that actually made Ren blush. 'Oh please let Kyoko like me the same way I like her. That would make me the happiest man on Earth.'

Takarada noticed that Ren was lost in his own thoughts and decided to give him a minute to think. After Ren's time was up Takarada called out to him, "Ren."

There was no response. So Takarada decided to try his real name. "Kuon."

Ren/Kuon gave a small start and looked at Takarada. "Sorry," he mumbled.

Takarada waved off the apology and said, "I don't think you heard my last comment so I'm going to say it again. You don't need to worry about finding time to practice and plan. I have taken care of everything."

Kuon nodded and stood up knowing that their conversation was over. He walked to the door and was about to open it only to have Takarada call out to him.

After Kuon turned around Takarada gave him a serious look. "Good luck for tonight. I hope that everything goes as you've planned."

Kuon smiled, "thanks." Then he opened the door and left.

'They both have things that they have kept from each other and they might hurt when they find out the truth about each other. But they also have wounds that they need each other to heal. Those two certainly are perfect for each other and they unquestionably need each other. They love each other and they both deserve to know how the other feels. Tonight will be good for both of them.' Takarada thought with a grandfatherly smile on his face.