Steal You Away
Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat!
A/N: Once again life gets in the way of my hobby. Good news I now own my first house. Still in shock news I'm pregnant...not quite sure how I feel about this yet.
Ch. 4
The alarm sounds tearing Kyoko from her sleep and amazing dream. One where Ren took her for a night on the town, the fair, it's games and a Ferris Wheel ride. A wonderful dream she wanted more of but her alarm on its second screaming rampage of the morning rudely declined. Kyoko went about her morning routine. Checking her work schedule, grabbing the appropriate cloths for her first job and the others folded neatly into her backpack. Today would be one of her easier days, two jobs. Eight hours at McDowell's Family Restaurant an hour break then she'd pick up a part time shift at TriCare Wipes for four hours and the rest of the day would be hers.
Kyoko grabs her McDowell uniform and heads to the shower, once refreshed and more awake she finishes to brush her teeth and other such necessities. Mid-brush something new to her surroundings catches her eye. A note in her handwriting.
'It wasn't a dream!'
She takes the note off the towel rack and behind that gleams a pink jewel encased in a birdcage like pendant. Picking it up and twirling it in the white light of the bathroom creating pink refraction beams everywhere. In awe of the pink glow all of yesterday flashes clearly before her and her face turns a rosy shade of red. The toothbrush falls out of her mouth and she just stares at the physical existence of her night with Ren.
After that mind numbing realization her day goes by in a blur and soon her day at McDowell's is over and she's turning her cell phone back on. Contemplating her luck today as the call log shows one missed call from Shotaro who left a message.
"Come to the studio after work."
Overwhelmed by the first and sudden request to see her she flies on her bike at inhuman speeds.
Around the time Kyoko finds the necklace Sho is reading the morning tabloid scoop.
Tsuruga Ren With a Steady Woman!?
Wed. 28, 2014 article & photos by Aki Takamura
Women nationwide weep today as Japan's Number One Hottest Actor and
Talent Tsuruga Ren is seen with a mystery woman at a Private Completion
Party for the model shooting for Voxi. Then again in a more intimate and private
setting as they walk to the local fair. Where this reporter witnessed them holding hands,
Tsuruga winning her prizes and sharing a Ferris Wheel ride. I'd be worried ladies it's
a Ren we've never seen on screen.
Below the article are three pictures of each location and a very distracted Ren with a woman who in each one is shadowy and hard to make out clearly. Sho smiles brightly at the black mark against Ren thinking about that number one spot he's about to take. Shoko takes a look at the tabloid pictures and states aloud.
"I wonder who the lucky woman is?" Sho does more than glance at the photo's this time.
'Those cloths look familiar...' He thinks until it clicks and a face shows through his mind sitting across from him at a restaurant last night. The tabloids fall through his fingers and his face changes to that of an ogre and one word drips dangerously from his lips.
"Kyoko."
Ren picks up Yashiro and learns his schedule has completely changed from yesterday. Starting with a meeting with Lory which he pretty much expected after that message last night. Yashiro tells Ren to go around the studio to the back underground garage to avoid the large crowd of fans and reporters at the front. Which Ren finds odd that they would avoid that crowd today when they see that everyday, but he does as asked and focuses instead on the meeting with Lory which lies ahead.
Lory smooths down his mustache and adjusts his costume of the day, a Naval British Officer. His desk is littered with the regional newspapers and local tabloids, the one on top being about Ren. He grins like the Cheshire Cat at the photo's and Ren's expressions. Looks that make him see the boy differently, he'd never thought he'd see Ren make such an expression toward anyone.
'Finally the boy is getting interesting.' Lory thinks as a knock resounds around his suite office.
"Come in."
Ren enters and Yashiro lags behind him and motions to Lory that he'll be in his office and closes the door behind Ren, leaving the two alone. Ren moves to the couch and stretches out. Lory throws Ren the tabloid of interest and waits for Ren to react. Like the true actor he is he gives away nothing.
"So what's the story, give me all the gooey details! How'd you two meet?" Lory asks his eyes alight with curiosity and excitement, his chin resting on his hands like a lovelorn schoolgirl.
Ren skims through the article and takes a long look at the damning evidence. No doubt its him, he hadn't realized he had been fawning over her so openly.
"Shit." He exclaims quietly rubbing at the bridge of his nose trying to battle the oncoming headache. He rakes through his black hair with his fingers and contemplates his situation.
'Thank god Kyoko's images are not as clear and damning as mine.' Lory's loud finger tapping on his desk revives Ren from his thoughts.
"No comment." Ren replies to Lory's long asked question and places the tabloid back on his desk. Lory slouches in his chair, crosses his arms across his chest and pouts like a child not getting his way.
"And here I thought you were becoming less boring." He says in a low whiny voice. They have a short stare-off then Lory huffs, giving up.
"Alright, I'll drop it for now but because of this I had Yashiro change your schedule." He points to the window over his shoulder and Ren gets up and looks out at the front entrance. Swarmed with female fans, reporters and paparazzi.
"You'll be working in house today and most of this week, till the action out there dies down some. Luckily you're in-between contracts at the moment and this will be some easy down time for you. Use it wisely." Lory tells him with a knowing look. Ren nods his understanding and begins to leave the expansive office, a small smile playing across his lips.
"I intend to." He replies barely above a whisper.
Arriving at the Akatoki Agency in record time Kyoko locks her bike and states her business to the guard at the door, Tojo who let's her pass knowing her as a regular. She makes her way to Sho's door and knocks lightly.
"Come in." Shoko's voice answers and Kyoko peeks in. Shoko gives her a waned smile as she exits, not wanting to be in the disaster area. Sho had been in the worst mood all day and she suspected it wouldn't get better anytime soon.
Sho sit sprawled out on the couch, his long legs crossed up on the top of the coffee table in front of him. Kyoko holds up her cell phone.
"I got your call, this is unlike you did something happen?" She asks a small smile on her face.
"I'll say it did." Sho retorts his voice low and gravely, as he kicks the tabloid over to her. She bends down to pick it up.
"What did someone see us at the restaurant last night?" She asks half concerned.
"Not us, I'd say." Sho says watching her take in the article and pictures.
"But you and that Ren-baka, and how did that happen Kyoko!?" He begins to rage his voice raising steadily.
"It wasn't something I had planned I assure you. He was at the restaurant as well, saw you get chased off and wanted to go for a walk. A simple thing that's suddenly beneath you for your childhood friend who left everything behind to help you!" She begins back at him her hand gripping onto Corn as a question bubbles it's way to the surface she's wanted an answer to for a long time now.
"What does it matter to you anyway, what am I to you?" She asks her eyes searching his.
The question throws him off his rage induced high horse and he clams up and just stares at her lost for an answer. Kyoko waits a few breaths and fights back the tears threatening to spill over.
"Why did you even ask me to come with you?" She says quietly but no longer looking for an answer from him.
"I'm going to find a place of my own, give me a week and that apartment is your responsibility." She says evenly, then walks out passing Shoko and not looking back.
Shoko shakes her head at the lost singer she left in her wake standing there gaping and states plainly.
"That could've gone better."