A/N: Fourth chapter is here! I think this is where the ball starts rolling. I don't know what will happen in the chapter either ;P

Disclaimers: I don't own any characters from Skip Beat! But I do own my characters.

Please enjoy the fourth chapter!

Chapter 4: The favor

"I want him to end my life with his hands."

Those words echoed in his mind. Ren couldn't help but see a shadow of himself in the boy.

Why couldn't he just live on? Once, he had thought of dying too. Rick's death was just too much for him.

"You murderer!"

Tina's scream still plagued his dreams at times. He thought of the 'if only' when that happens.

If only he didn't pick up the fight, if only he had ran away that day, if only he had not chased after that bastard after beating the crap out of the hooligans. If only he had listened to Rick.

If only he had died instead.

But Kyoko came into his life again. She was the reason why he could feel like living once more, secretly hoping to be forgiven even if he knew he shouldn't be.

He hadn't told her the truth: his past, his real identity.

He was afraid that she would run away from him, from his life. He knew that he would never be able to get up again if that happens, that's why he's going as slow as possible.

But this supposedly android before him was just so similar to Kuon, to him. He even fleetingly wondered if Kyoko could change Shion like how she changed him, even if she didn't know about it.

"And so!" Lory suddenly exclaimed, startling all the young occupants in the room once again, "I would like the LoveMe department to babysit this young little thing here until I say otherwise!"

"What?!" All three girls yelled in disbelief.

"I'm fine, Lory-sama. Just get me a room and I can get by just fine." Shion argued, swatting the hand scratching the back of his ear.

Lory shot him the most distrusting glare, "No way. You said that last time, and what happened? Kuu had to call me 3am in the morning just to whine about his missing food!"

Ren stiffened at the name. That boy was with father?

"EH?! Shion-kun, you were living with Fa—Kuu-sensei?!" Kyoko exclaimed with glittering eyes as she grasped his hands once more.

Shion looked amused, "You're that black hole's student? That's surprising. I didn't know he took in disciples."

Inwardly, she was glad that he didn't catch the mistake she almost made.

"Well… it's a long story." Kyoko admitted sheepishly, a bright blush creeping up her cheeks.

Smirking, Lory rests each of his palms on their shoulders, "Well, since you have so much to talk to Shion about Kuu, how about he live with you?"

Ren shot a glare while Yashiro gave a look close to a knowing grin to the smiling man. He is scheming something!

"President, I think it's best if Shion-kun lives with me…" Ren trailed off with wide eyes when he saw the pleading puppy face Kyoko gave him.

Since when did she learn to show that face?

Kyoko hoped that it would work on Ren. Why, she picked this up from him after all! The 'you-can't-resist-me' puppy look!

Desperate not to lose the last thin string of control and embrace (and kiss) her before all the audiences, Ren caved in by folding his arms and donned on his 'admirable-senpai' persona, "Just don't cause any troubles for the couple living with you…"

And then she smiled that cutie-honey smile, crumbling his perfect persona, "Please don't worry, Tsuruga-san! I wouldn't do anything do trouble them!"

Shion have to take his hat off for the pitiful man. Just one look and he knew the targets Lory had never mentioned.

So, the cupid plan is for Tsuruga Ren and Mogami Kyoko?

"Shion-kun, can you wait for me until I come back? I have to shoot Box-R from 1pm to 8pm…" Kyoko paused when she realized that would be hell lots of time for him to wait, "Um…"

Shion smiled a genuine smile surprising everyone in the room, including Lory (but except Sebastian of course, the always expressionless person), "I'm okay with that, Kyoko-chan."

Ren felt a nerve twitch against his throat. Why are they already on first name basis when they only met a few minutes ago?

Kyoko smiled back. Hearing him say 'Kyoko-chan' reminds her of her fairy prince. Their eyes look alike as well! Maybe they are brothers? But Corn didn't have those soft-looking ears and tail…

"Well then, I think you should go get some breakfast before the filming starts, Kyoko-chan." Shion suggested before turning around to face Lory and Sebastian, "I'm going to get some disguise tools."

Nodding in agreement, Kyoko turned around to face their oddly-silent LoveMe comrades, "Do you want to—"

"Mogami-san, shall we go get breakfast together then?" Ren interrupted with his warm smile.

Kanae and Chiori exchanged knowing looks before nodding to Kyoko, "Get going, Kyoko. Mo! Don't give me that face! We're hanging out tonight, right?"

Glitters exploded from Kyoko as she gave both the girls bone crushing hugs, "I love you sooo much, Moko-san!"

And after that she was gone with a smiling Tsuruga Ren and a rather perplexed Yashiro Yukihito, all while Kyoko was lecturing the smiling actor about taking proper nutrition.

Kanae and Chiori saw the two older gentlemen who were still in the room, patting on the boy's back and shoulder as if to assure or comfort him.

That was when they realized that his ears were flattened, and his tail curled between his legs. Was he afraid?

Lory looks back at them as Sebastian led the boy out of the room. The look on his face made them swallow in fear. His dark eyes were practically ordering them to keep silent of whatever they saw just seconds ago.

Takarada Lory was always the extravagant man who never ceases to make them wonder what he would cosplay as and annoy them with the 'spread of love'. But now, he's actually acting like a proper powerful president, which frightened them instead.

"Kotonami-kun, Amamiya-kun, even though Shion would be living with Mogami-kun, I would still want the both of you to take care of that boy. You heard him earlier, and I want to thwart his plans." The man said, "He is as good as my grandson, so this will not be a LoveMe job, I want you to do this on your own will."

"This is my favor to you. Please." Lory bowed his head.

That was like a thunder strike to their close-to-zero respect towards this man as a president. When the Takarada Lory said 'favor', they knew something was wrong, adding in 'please', they were rather horrified, and to finish with a bow of his head, they knew shit is going to happen.

I felt like Ren, Kyoko and the last few paragraphs are a little OOC, but I guess it works out fine. Serious!Lory is also fun to write.

Please R&R! :D