Steal You Away

Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat!

A/N: I still don't have my own computer but I got tired of making you all wait so I'm using my fiance's computer. So much has happened since my computer broke… I lost my house to black mold and unexpected repairs that I had to bankrupt out of. Looked for a new house, moved and had a baby all within the same month. I'm a first time mother so right now it's hard to find time to write but I'm doing what I can.

Ch. 6

Kyoko checks her phone for the tenth time in the last five minutes as the taxi finally pulls up to LME's parking garage. The guard at the entrance of the parking garage waves them through with tons of enthusiasm giving her away to the taxi driver who just laughs lightheartedly at her red tinged face. Her stomach flips from the butterflies and the thought of Tsuruga Ren having feelings for her but his confession was clear. The taxi driver gives her a thumbs up and a good luck talk as he pulls up to the elevator that leads into the building. She takes a deep breath trying to calm her nerves but to no avail. She steps out of the taxi and her butterflies expand tenfold and as she watches the taxi pull away she wonders if it's too late to run away.

'What am I doing? I came all the way down here and now I'm going to chicken out!?' She berates herself. Pushing her nerves back down she moves toward the elevator, before she can push the up button the elevator dings on her floor and the doors open. Her eyes meet a familiar face and she steps back in surprise her voice quiet in shock.

"Shotaro?"

The telephone on Lory's desk springs to life with a slow melody. Lory hits the speaker button and answers.

"Lory Takarada here, protector of love!" He says with his regular bravado. Ren shakes his head at the man's eccentric-ism.

"This is guard Keiji at the entrance to the parking garage, Miss Kyoko just pulled in in a taxi sir!" He says excitement lacing his voice.

"Oh great! You let them pass I presume?" Lory asks giving a thumbs up and a wink toward Ren.

"Yes sir!" Keiji replies.

"Good man." Lory says and ends the call. "You heard him boy, what are you waiting for!? Go meet her!" Lory encourages him and Yashiro shakes his head in agreement.

"Shotaro...what are you" Kyoko starts as he steps out of the elevator.

"That man..." Sho starts his voice hard and gritty as he interrupts her. "...is not taking anything from me. Not even you." Sho says his eyes flaring darkly. But Kyoko's own anger bursts forth and she refuses to cower under him, she steps forward and pokes his chest hard with her pointer finger.

"You have no say in this matter, you're the reason I've felt so unhappy all these years." Shotaro loses some of his edge, but Kyoko continues.

"But I'm to blame too. I was lying to myself thinking we were ever going to be more than childhood friends. Look I've given you everything I know how. I left school and came to Tokyo for you and I've been working multiple jobs just to support what you wanted." All of the remaining anger drains from Sho's face as Kyoko names off her sacrifices, he just stands there at a loss.

"Can you tell me what I have done wrong? Tell me what am I supposed to do, continue to waste my life?" Sho stares remaining quiet unable to find any words. Kyoko shakes her head at his silence and fills up the heavy silence between them. Her tone now more gentle and quiet.

"I should have been loved by you for as long as we've been together and everything I've done. But now I feel like I can't breathe when you're around. I deserve to be held at night, I know that now. You've broken my heart too many times and used me for too long. You were never in love with me but you let me think you were for years and that's on both of us but I deserve more. I see that now so just let me go."

Shotaro stares at his feet defeated and ashamed momentarily. Kyoko sighs at his lack of presence and steps around him pushing the button for the elevator once again. The elevator dings and Kyoko moves to enter, that's when Sho spins around.

"Wait..." He says reaching for her shoulder but snagging her necklace instead, breaking the chain. Kyoko raises her hand to her chest where Ren's present had rested and her shock subsides into anger. Before Kyoko can even react a blur rushes by and takes Shotaro from her immediate sight, pinning him against a concrete pillar by his balled up shirt front.

Shotaro stares into Ren's rage filled eyes and loses all sense of himself. Ren pulls back his fist getting ready to smash Sho's face in.

"Ren! Wait..." Kyoko yells breaking Ren out of his blinded rage. He lowers Sho back to the ground and takes the necklace from Shotaro's loose forgotten grip. He turns away from his rival and confronts Kyoko with a look of regret plastering his face. He gently leads her away toward the stairwell leaving the stunned Shotaro to collect himself.

After ascending one level Ren stops and tenderly hands Kyoko her necklace. She stares at it dangling in her hand as Ren sits on the steps his head in his hands and shoulders slumped forward.

"I'm sorry that wasn't my place, I lost myself for a moment. Thank you for stopping me before I did anything regrettable." Ren says his voice resounding off the inclosed stairwell walls. "I came to get you after the gate guard said you arrived." Kyoko places her hand on his shoulder and squeezes reassuringly. Ren looks up into her understanding eyes and smiles a little. More confidently now he speaks to her.

"So you got my message I guess..." Ren says standing to look her in the eyes full on. Kyoko stares at the necklace in her hand, now with a broken clasp and sighs.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't. Did you truly mean what you said? You barely know me?!" Her eyes search his for some kind of cruel joke hiding behind those brown eyes.

"Every word. By that little speech I caught down there sounds like you're ready too."Kyoko breaks her eye to eye contact, her face tinged pink from embarrassment. Ren gently lifts her chin back up with his fingers and asks softly.

"May I?" He whispers leaning close. Kyoko nods the butterflies jumping wildly in her stomach. As he presses his lips to hers and they share a soft sweet kiss.

In Lory's office, said boss can't wipe the smile from his face. "Looks like that boy just got interesting."

Yashiro jumps up and down with a fan girl squeal. "Way to go, Ren!"

When they part from the kiss Kyoko is a little breathless and flustered but she speaks softly.

"What now?"

Ren gives her a vibrant happy smile that makes her knees almost buckle, between the kiss and his look she is shocked she's still standing.

"Now we go up to my boss and see what the plan is." He says to Kyoko a playful glint in his eyes. Ren takes her hand and leads her forward.

They arrive at Lory's top floor pent house office to the British Naval Officer outfit in all it's official eminence. Lory stands with his back to the door facing the large window behind his desk his hands folded behind the small of his back in military at ease fashion. Ren rolls his eyes at the man's theatrics but Kyoko looks on both confused and mystified. Lory turns to face the couple and the devilish grin gives him away.

"So my girl, how's your acting?"

A/N: So my eager readers. I'm sorry for the wait. And to inform you the next chapter will not be right away either but know I'm back at it and excited to start again. By the way, my son's two months old, so when he can crawl I'll be able to write more faster. Right now he's crazy clingy and hungry. Lol