A/N: I finally got over the depression after so long! How long has it been since I last visited this site? *sighs*
I apologize for the delay. I'll resume this story and hope that you readers can forgive me for my tardiness! Oh, but I'm sure my writing style changed after not opening the folder containing my short stories on my desktop for the entire time. I'll try to take back the 'feels' I experienced from writing this story and the storyline I planned out (I forgot about it, honestly).
Disclaimers: I don't own any of the Skip Beat! characters, but I do own my characters. Contains OOC elements and language (if any)
Chapter 20: Decisions
The day she became a couple with Ren, Kyoko wanted to tell the news to Shion… except that he wasn't there.
Yashiro was feeling perplexed too. Even though Shion's stuff was still in the hotel room, he wasn't there, or anywhere they searched.
Kyoko wondered why Shion would disappear just like that. And then she remembered about the awkward happening between them; the misunderstanding she forgot to clear up because she was so engrossed in Ren and her own feelings.
After she found out from Yashiro that Shion injured his hand when he got into a brawl with a group of drunkards the night he showed her the difference between Ren and other men, she became even more worried.
Oddly, Lory holed himself up in his room the whole time. Even when his partner in the whole messenger of love matter (Yashiro) told him about Ren and Kyoko's success coupling, Lory didn't react like he usually would, namely throwing a needlessly grandiose party and planning (ahead) for their future—you know, Lory-like plans?
Affected by the negativity, Kyoko's grudges also held their own little meeting, and it ended with a majority vote for Shion hating Kyoko because of what happened that night, resulting in the blues Kyoko fell into.
Seeing his lady love so upset made Ren want to beat that wolf boy up. No matter what, right now the only person—or in this case, android—occupying the special place in Kyoko's heart is Shion.
And he doesn't like it.
"What do you mean by he's gone?" Ren frowned.
He wasn't angry, really. But seeing Lory, his godfather, lounging on the couch with an appearance as if he aged ten times he actually is, Ren can't help but be unhappy twofold.
Lory sighed for the umpteenth time, massaging the bridge of his nose with two fingers, "I meant what I say. Shion's gone. He said his job is done, so he'll leave."
"He left—without telling Kyoko?" Ren clenched his fists and grinded her teeth together, "She's so damn worried, and he didn't inform her?"
"Calm down, Ren." Alerted, Lory sat up immediately when he noticed Ren's flaring temper.
"'Calm down?' How are you even so composed?" The actor growled.
Kyoko and Lory's blues is not the only thing that made Ren feel violent. It's not like he was just mad because Shion's absence made them upset, he just didn't want to admit it but he actually came to be attached to the wolf boy too.
"What else do you expect me to do?!" Lory snapped, surprising the younger man. The president shook his head apologetically and sighed again, "I wanted to stop him, but I can't. Going to Azuma is his wish."
"Where is Professor Hinamori?" Ren asked, barely holding back the urge to destroy at least the golden flower vase of an eyesore distracting him at the side of the king-sized bed.
"…"
"Boss!"
Lory pulled out a folded paper and handed it to Ren, "Give this to Mogami-kun. I will let her decide what to do."
The folded paper in his hand was tempting Ren to read it, but his intention of letting Kyoko decide whether or not to chase after Shion steeled his determination to keep it unread.
Knocking on the door, the actor waited for response. A few seconds later, Kanae opened the door, looking drained with the dark eye circles and a few barely visible wrinkles highlighted in between her eyebrows. That, and her hannya face honestly scared him.
"Kotonami-san… you—"
Kanae's abruptly raised palm nearly slapped him in his face, "Don't. Say. Anything."
A few drops of sweat rolled down his forehead as he nodded stiffly, "What about Kyoko?"
Kanae lets out a drastic long and heavy sigh at that question as she stepped aside to let him look inside their room, "Look at that and tell me what about her."
Ren stepped into the room and saw a round object on the bed furthest from the door. An unbelievably visible dark gloom was swirling around the top of the object, resembling creepily of mini Kyoko… and there were a lot of them.
Thinking that it was probably his imagination, Ren proceeded to sit by his lady love, "Kyoko, I went to look for President, and got this."
The familiar orange head poked out from the thick blanket wrapping around her entire body. Ren was holding back the want to kiss her senseless at the sight of her cute sulking face, telling himself this was not the time.
"What's that?" Kyoko asked, sitting up.
"I don't know. I didn't read it, but it's probably a note from Shion-kun." He answered, watching as she took the paper delicately as if it would break into pieces if she didn't.
Kanae sat on the bed at the other side of Kyoko, staring at the changing expressions her best friend made while reading the note. "What's written in it?"
The last expression settled on her face was a sad frown. Kyoko clutched the unfolded paper against her chest for a few seconds before shaking her head and giving it to the waiting duo.
Kanae took the paper and started reading it with Ren.
Dear Kyoko-chan,
I'm sorry for leaving without saying anything. I figured you didn't need me here anymore since you're now an item with that useless man of an actor.
…That's not it. I just want to let you know that I'm alright on my own.
Also, I apologize for that night. I shouldn't have chosen that method to let you realize the difference between Tsuruga-san and other men.
Just so you know, I didn't leave because I was mad or anything. I just knew that it's the right time to go to Azuma.
There are a lot of things I haven't told you; but those are things you'll come to know someday. Oh, and if a woman… or rather, a female android drops by by any chance, just tell her I'll be at the usual place, waiting for her.
Good bye and wish you a happy life ahead,
Shion
"The hell?" Kanae grumbled the moment she finished reading, "So he wasn't the only android left by that Hinamori person!"
Ren sighed. That damned wolf boy didn't write anything about where he's going.
"I wonder…" Kyoko whispered, getting the attention of the other two, "Who's the female android he mentioned?"
"Maybe the President knows?" Kanae offered.
Kyoko and Ren exchanged glances with each other before Kyoko nodded and smiled at Kanae, "I'm going to ask President-san about it."
Just to tell you, I intend to make Shion live, but I have no idea what to do about that virus in his data system... yet.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter! :D