A/N: The first chapter for Ren to appear in this fan fic. I decided to start here because I hope that original Skip Beat author - Yoshiki Nakamura will write Ren and Kyoko's story up to here. And so, I certainly cannot write it better than her.
- Three years ago -
The remote went click click. The video paused.
"How about this one? Very nice don't you think?"
Kyoko's eyebrows twitched in annoyance. She opened her mouth to speak but Ren puts a calming hand on her.
"Shachou" he says before she could speak, "I don't think an Indian wedding is really the right thing for us, no?"
"Really?" said president Takarada pretending to be surprised.
" It seems rather extravagant and those costumes look a bit too complicated" Ren explains patiently.
"Shachou" says Kyoko unable to hold herself in. "Why are you planning our-, I mean a wedding?"
"Because i am good at planning parties." replies Lory innocently.
"Not that. I mean, how do you know that ..." she pauses afraid to put it into words for fear of jinxing it. Also because she hasn't had time to get used to it yet.
"You two are getting married?" asks Lory.
"Yes." she replies blushing furiously.
"You are both stars in my agency. Of course it is my business to know. Don't you think that you both have been exceptionally lucky that the press hasn't found out that you have been dating each other?"
"You mean...?" asks Ren.
"Luto, how many reporters have you personally kept from the two of them on their so called 'secret' dates?" he calls to Luto.
"I have lost count, sir" Luto responds from behind the bar where he is polishing a wine glass that does not need polishing.
"He has lost count" repeats the president. "And just because you go inside the forest for the proposal doesn't mean that you have gone far enough away from humanity. Reporters have been following you Ren forever and and ever since "Only love" aired two years ago, you too Mogami-san. How many reporters following the two of them did you swat away just that day, Luto?"
"Three sir" he replies his back to them picking another wine glass that does not need polishing.
"Three" repeats the President.
Kyoko blushes. What she had though to be a private and romantic moment between her and Ren had had at least one observer. As though reading her mind the president says, "I was there too of course. I have pretty much orchestrated your whole relationship from start to finish. There is no reason I won't be there for the climax. And there is no reason, that I won't go all out in planning your wedding. We should have it in my lawn. No other place would hold all the people we will invite."
Kyoko moves again to speak but Ren once again puts his hand on her hand.
"We do not wish for an elaborate wedding President. In fact, Kyoko and I wish to keep the wedding and our marriage a secret. We are both actors with reputations to uphold. Especially for Kyoko who is a woman. Being married might significantly reduce the roles she gets, if it is widely known, that is. Traditionally, of course, in Japan women quit their jobs after marriage. "
"Which century are you in Ren?" asks the president. "It is no longer the case. Married women don't quit work these days."
"Perhaps in the cities. In rural areas, it is not the case. Besides, we are actors reflecting reality as it is now. Change has to come in real life before it can be shown on screen. Kyoko is at the pinnacle of her career. I would never wish to be a reason for her to drop from there."
Kyoko is very moved by Ren's words.
"I understand" says the president. "Kyoko-san is it really ok with you? You have many fans but Ren's fans are of a different level. After you are married, Ren would still have to field questions in interviews like, "What type of women do you like?" and still rank in lists like "Most eligible bachelor." And he would have no control over how his female fans think about him or their actions in trying to get close to him. Can you really deal with the inevitable jealousy?"
"Shachou" replies Kyoko. "As you know, I was in love with Ren-san before I knew my feelings were reciprocated. And our relationship has been kept a secret for the most part. I guess thanks to you. All that time, all that you describe has been true. If I could handle my jealousy up until now, I can definitely handle it in the future. Besides, what I would feel this time around would only be pity for all those women. Because, no matter what they say or do, at the end of the day, he will come back to ME. He can act nice to them all day but they don't have him, can never have him since he is MINE."
Lory smiles at her intense feeling. Ren tries hard not to blush at her words and furiously tries to cover up his emotions. Hearing her say those words has made him want to do all sorts of things to her right then, right there. He turns to Lory mostly to not look at Kyoko. Lory who has missed nothing as he is the man who misses nothing says, "So about the wedding. Where do you want it?"