CHAPTER 60

I do not own skip beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.

That's how you party…?

Next day, in the afternoon.

Her pace progressed as she climbed step after step of the unknown block of flats. She was late and should have hastened but she had opted for taking her time. The small party was already going she was sure, and it was perfect like that. She did not want to intrude. She had taken care of the cooking but besides a few people up there, no one knew her. She wanted to let them some time to be completely comfortable before barging in.

It had been Kaï idea, but everyone had been happy about it and she had been more than willing to help organize it. And make it even slightly bigger Kaï's starting proposition had been. He still knew what gathering's proportions Ren tended to like. She knew he would not have expected it and was most likely embarrassed at this very second. But she did promise to him to take her revenge on his last spoiling on her birthday.

Most of all, she was sure it would do him good to chill and have some fun and having friends all around. Even if she didn't know those very well, she knew the simple fact Ren had considered them as such meant they were good persons. She had faith in Ren's judgment of people and that was enough for her. So when Kaï approached her on that matter explaining they needed help and knew she used to prepare the "Happy Grateful Party" years ago, she had agreed easily.

Squeezing the wrapped package against her side, Kyoko also felt the cubic form in her vest's pocket and her anxiety rose.

She stepped on the bearing of the door number 77, Kijima-san's flat, who has accepted to lend it for the occasion. She knew she was one of the main plotter of this but she still felt like an intruder. She didn't know them for the most part. Even Kaï, she only knew him through Ren, and it was still, mostly, a stranger for her.

She lifted her hand to ring the bell, hearing the mild music and chatter from behind. She had been told Kijima-san's flat was the only one of this floor and that it was the reason it wouldn't be a problem even if the acoustics weren't the best.

She changed mind last second and shaping her fingers in a fist, she knocked two brief times.

Half a hour ago.

He stared at the glass in his hand, making dangle the ice inside as he smiled at his friends and tried to pay attention. He knew they all meant well and he was touched by the gesture but partying was the fastest thing in his mind at the moment. First, she wasn't even there. Second, he had seen the interview. He knew very well why he hadn't deny anything. Because he didn't want to. Because he was hoping to convince people it could be good as much as he wished to convince himself that the rumors were true.

He knew what she had done it. He knew it would ultimately have become unavoidable unless things had changed. He knew. And it was just like her to try to protect him by taking actions first. He knew and didn't blame her. He knew. It was the right thing to do.

Why?

But why, why did it have to hurt this much? For each time she had refuted it, he had felt his insides shatter all the more.

It wasn't even like he was surprised. Nothing sudden here, nothing to be shocked about. And yet, he was. Because his heart wouldn't listen and kept hoping and hoping reality was otherwise.

Why?

But why…

Why did she have to deny it this much…?

A bitter expression crossed his face and his fingers rose in instinct to hide himself from the world and his friends as he rubbed his face a few times. He felt tired.

Kaï said something to him and he hided again behind making appear a placid expression as he smiled at his friend and took another drink. Then the music blasted louder and only mild chatting was exchanged as some of his friends brought him presents they had carefully picked -he was sure- and snacked on the food prepared in advance at the buffet table. They had made such an effort in preparing this, he could see how difficult it must have been to keep it small for Kaï who was the one getting with the idea of this surprise party. It was small but well-planned and comfortable enough for him to feel at ease.

They really had thought about him a lot while organizing this. How they had organized it all in such a short time and contacted Yashiro-san so that he would be free in this time slot, and without him noticing, was even more amazing. Thinking about the work it must have been and how far they went to be sure he would enjoy it made him feel even more guilty to not be able to rejoice in it. He was grateful, he really was. And touched.

It wasn't their fault if his heart was in the graveyard.

Hell, he wasn't even blaming Kyoko. He knew why she had done it. That part of her hadn't changed and it was just like her to feel she had to protect his reputation of something she'd judge risky or filthy. Even when he would have give anything for her to see things differently.

He never planned to deny it and wouldn't have done so if she hadn't taken the decision for both of them. Firstly because his prime concern would have been on the dent Kyoko's reputation could have get-in the past- and how she could have been accused of coat-ridding. But she wasn't an unknown figure anymore, and though she wasn't famous yet -he had no doubt it would come soon enough- she had done enough acting job in the international scene to not be looked upon. She was also older, a proper adult and young beautiful woman, and despite his disdain and disgust at the way aesthetics were seen by society- he was forced to recognize that she somehow fitted better the mold of what people associated with celebrity material.

His lips pursed in a snarl. She had been beautiful in the past, and she was today. And whether years ago or now, he would have felt honored to be consider a potential partner for her.

His only consideration would always have been what and if she could take the blast of being the center of focus or if it would have badly affected her career, until she was more experimented- or at the very least- seen as such.

But, all those worries had fallen now. There wasn't any single thing with being associate with him that could hurt her career nowadays. Sure, some of his fans were nasty but it wouldn't damage her career.

It would have only attract attention to them-which was never bad in this profession-, and if people have discovered it to be false, it would have kept the focus on them for a while and people would only have speculate more about them or any other suitor waiting in the shadows for both of them.

He didn't have to like it but he knew how it worked.

He would have much more preferred his relationship with her to stay as private as one could be. It was already hard enough to try to figure out what they were becoming. Or to become closer to her. Doing so in the headlights would be even less fancy.

So, he understood her decision. But he also knew now was different. Despites her view on those matters, now would have been okay. For both their careers.

And despite the undesired attention it would have broached - from the moment he knew it couldn't affect her badly-, he wouldn't have a move a finger to deny it if he had had his ways. Until he could make it a reality.

Because he could have tease her with it.

Because he flattered his ego that people thought they were a couple. That he could be consider as proper material as Kyoko's boyfriend; lover.

He could dream of that statute and being one day worthy of him. People could hail him for his looks but he didn't care once bit. Looks were subjectives and so fickle. Like clothes you changed from one day to another.

But the insides of a person were not.

And Kyoko was this beautiful soul. So flamboyant, compassionate and pure. She was shining through every pores of her skin with her smile, her care. Her imagination.

How could he ever catch up to that?

So, yes, he was insanely flattered but also crushed she denied it as fast as it was suggested.

And no matter how his mind tried to reason with him, the clutching pain wouldn't ease.

He was irrational.

He smiled at Kaï as he brought him a present and soon discovered special entries to a VIP lounge SPA where some member of his family apparently worked. He told him he would be able to select up to 5 days a month where he could reserve all the lounge for him for an half day each time. And that that offer would be available not only for the following month but forever as long as he reserved at least 72 hours in advance. He would be able to chill off by his own told him proving once more how much he knew Ren.

It was an huge gift, and Ren briefly wondered if it wouldn't cause issues for the family member. If he was to take those 5 days each month, it would a right amount off of benefits for the SPA. But Kaï assured him it would be compensate by himself if needed and that it was famous enough that it wouldn't bring down the resort for a few half days off. He also mumbled-like in after-thoughts- that he would already be very happy if Ren was to use it once a month and smiled apologetically when he saw Ren noticed him.

His friends were a bit too lenient about their teasing when it concerned the quantity of work he did, and-by their criteria- how little he took time to enjoy himself.

He was distracted to retort when he saw Kijima bring back drinks to them by-passing Taku, Reo, Saki, Airi, and Ken animately talking together; though the first seems to be mostly grunting rather than participating. Taku was as sociable as him and he was sure it wouldn't be long before he would join either him or find a place to be in peace. Koga was busy talking to Maï when she suddenly excused herself going straight to the hallway. He idly wondered if she was cold and went to fetch some layer-she has always been the sensitive to cold kind of person after all- or if there was a room he wasn't aware of near the entry. He was glad the celebrations hadn't been set up to take place in his flat. He felt crowded already and it wasn't even in his personal place. And hell, they were barely ten and Kijima's apartment was bigger than his. There was plenty of room.

Yet, he was suffocating.

He sighed at his weak attempts to distract himself and replied to a question Kaï had addressed him as Taku finally padded his way to them, a barely concealed look of relief on his face as he settled on one of the still three vacant couches and grunted at some comment of his other companion, clearly enjoying the subdued talking far more.

Ren saw Kaï sighed and achieved to perk up a corner of his lips as he saw his friend recognition as being stuck with the two brooding guys. They vaguely attempted a conversation during the following quarter-mainly under the efforts of Kaï that tried to extirpated words from them- but he really didn't help in the chatting and at some point even Kaï gave up and left them to be to go chat with some of the girls.

He was contemplating taking a brief respite on Kijima's balcony he had spoke about when he saw Maï approach him without the new layer he expected to be on her now. Was there really another room she had been hiding into? She had been gone for a while and he knew the restroom wasn't on that side. As she sat besides him so that he would be able to hear her over the music-it wasn't that loud but you still needed to be closer to carry a not loud conversation-, but also invading his space, his eyes roamed the place in seek of the windows giving out on the promised air.

His breath hitched at the still figure leaning against the wall wearing the light blue poncho he had offered.

It was only on third time she had been knocking that someone finally opened the door to her, with some sneer and irritation at she had seen Kyoko standing on the other side, she might add.

"Oh, it's you" Said the pretty young woman that had answered the door with displease not really well-hidden. "Both Kijima and Kaï weren't sure you would be able to make it so we didn't wait for you as you had told them to do so", and Kyoko nodded in affirmation and presented herself with a clean bow to this new person, even if she could already feel a new scorn coming from this unknown woman, " Glad you made it and nice to meet you, I'm Sakano Maï."

It was a lie. And none efforts were made to hide it.

But Kyoko didn't comment on that-though she was sure to have never met her before, arguing with a person that was already hostile to you was pointless-, and just followed her as she turned around with disdain and showed her the way inside the corridor. Leading her where the music and the people were gathered.

They were barely in that Sakano-san ditched in the corner of the room without bothering to tell someone new was there and went to talk to some tall woman that herself was talking with Kijima and Koga.

Both absorbed as they were, they didn't notice her and she decided to just wait it out until she had the opportunity to greet them.

Her eyes unconsciously glide in search of the tallest person but not finding him right away as he was sitting on one of the sofas with Kaï and a man she remembered Ren had called Taku but had never talked to.

She frowned as she saw him nursing a drink, nearly looking depressed and barely talking with his two friends. He had a smile plastered on the face but she could see the strain in his stance, and it looked like he was battling to keep it genuine.

Apparently he wasn't fooling anyone either because after a last sigh, Kaï left him with a pat on the shoulder and a shake of the head. What the hell had Kijima and Kaï been doing? Why was he lurking away like that rather than having fun? She was going to beat the damn out of them later.

Or she might have done it if she had known them better.

She pulled at her hair in frustration, feeling awkward and completely out of place. She wanted to cheer him up and go talk to him but she didn't want to impose and she could understand the need to silence sometimes. And he simply might just prefer talking to his friend or just relaxing someone butting up when obviously he hadn't been in the mood.

She cursed silently and wondered if the party had been a good idea. She knew it wasn't the type of thing he would have done to unwind, but she had readily accepted Kaï's idea thinking he could have fun for once. Be with people he trusted and appreciated.

She should have known. Hell, she wouldn't have made that choice for herself either but she knew-despite her lack of desire to change it sometimes-that staying away from everyone all the time didn't do good either.

At least sometimes, you needed to see a friendly face. Hard lesson learned thanks to Kayla and her countless pushes to make her go out.

Not that it had ever worked much. But the time it did, she had appreciated it.

She would have try to push someone to go pull what was wrong out of him but she wasn't close enough to ask that from anyone. She had never been that friendly with Koga, through and after her role as Momiji and the only new friend of Ren, Kaï, she barely knew only person she knew a bit-besides Ren- was Kijima, and it dated from before she left.

She cursed again and screwing it all- she was his friend and couldn't do nothing watching him being like that- decided she would be a bother and made a step in his direction when Sakano-san beat her to it, sashaying her way to him.

She felt the old pull of jealousy irking its ugly head but squashed it right away. She couldn't be petty. He was bad and if a friend could help him feel better then she didn't care who it was.

Even if she would have preferred to be the one to hear all his worries, to help.

She leaned back on the wall, containing a glare. It didn't matter.

As long as he stops to make that sort of face…

Though the diligent sneaky ways she kept touching and petting him here and there with such a sugary smile really pulled out the possessive side out of her. She could have let it go if she had been the only one affected but he didn't appear all too comfortable either-though maybe it was wishful thinking-, so she was decided to intervene. But then as she was about to move, squishing her package under her arm; Kaï saw her and waving at her with excitement, he made a sign he would be there in a minute, and with that, started bringing on her Ren's other friends attention. The moment was lost.

Readying herself for the massive introduction session she would go under soon enough and feeling her own unsociability rising, she let her eyes wander again in hope to check his state one last time, and locked with a pair of brown eyes watching her.

She smiled at him and mouthed an hello before watching in horror Kaï bringing mostly every single person of the room in her direction. She pushed harder into the wall before smiling and redressing, ready for the assault. But she was caged in strong comfortable arms just before it happened and felt her heart eased a second as she bathed in the wonderful scent of Ren, realizing he had somehow teleported again. Being there in the blink of the eye.

"Kyoko" He breathed with a last squeeze before letting her go. "I didn't know you were coming."

"I wasn't sure I would be able to" She replied lightly, patting his right shoulder subconsciously with a hand.

"How did you even knew of this?" he asked and Kyoko saw from the corner of the eye his friends respectfully waiting a bit further in the back of the room while they chatted.

Sweating a bit under his gaze swimming with interrogations and after second-guessing herself on the rightful purpose of this gathering, she replied.

"Well, I kind of helped Kaï organizing it so of course I would know."

He gaped at her.

"You are the instigator?!"

She shook her head with a smile, hearing the appall in his voice.

"No, it was Kaï's idea but I'll admitted I was fully in for participating once he told me about it."

He squinted his eyes at her.

"Then what-

She rubbed the side of her neck, wondering what he really thought of all of this once more, then made a nod of the chin toward the buffet table.

"I made the food."

He eyed the buffet with new understanding before turning back to her.

"No wonder I thought it was especially good" He told her with a fond smile and she blushed at the compliment before bringing matters back to what it was about today.

"Happy belated birthday Ren" She said.

"Thank you", he all but whispered and Kyoko thought for once he looked awkwardly humble, making her smile as he gestured at the room, "you didn't have to do such a thing with Kaï and all that."

His voice dropped off and this time she was positive she saw a light hue on his cheekbones.

So cute.

"I wanted to" She told him with a smile of her own, and finally his eyes shined and light returned to his eyes. Whatever had bothered him earlier had dissipated-from the front of his mind at least.

He was watching her with such softness she fully absorbed in keeping a face non-committal on what she really thought of it and how close she was of melting, thus she didn't see Kaï coming to them until his smirk was nearly in her face.

"Kyoko-san, thanks god you were able to come, Ren was being all gloomy at his own party and I didn't know how to fix him" He greeted her with a grin, ignoring the glare of Ren while Kyoko smiled and greeted him in returned. "Sorry to bother the both of you but most our friends do not know her so maybe-

"Right, of course" Ren replied with a smile, and putting his big palm in the low of her back-sending a shudder from up to down in her body on the way-, he turned back to her with a questioning look.

"Do you mind if I introduce you to my other friends? I know you already know Kijima and Koga but-"

She shook her head and smile, and he pushed her to where everyone else had gathered.

"Everyone", he clearly announced, garnering the attention of his friends that turned toward him, "Some of you know her, but most do not so I'd like to present you Mogami Kyoko, an old and very good friend of mine."

Old maybe but she wasn't sure she could be considered such a good friend after so many years apart. She couldn't help the warm that flood her with how he had qualified her though, and hoped she would be able to do honor to that qualification one day.

She bowed to them and greeted them above the music, then they came to her little by little so that Ren could do the individual introductions, all the while keeping his burning hand at her back and driving her nuts.

Kijima-san and Koga-san were the firsts to advance as they already knew her, and quickly saluted her before stepping aside with Kaï to give Ren's other friends some room.

Two men came to her. One of them quite tall-though not as tall as Ren-, and she remembered it was the one that had been sitting with him and Kaï when she arrived. The other was shorter than her and seemed to be rather shy if the way he moved, half hiding behind the bigger man was any indication.

Ren waved at the tall man.

"Kyoko, this is Giro Taku, I met him a few years ago," he told her easily and added to her attention when he saw her surprise at his friend gesture when he presented her his hand, "He is one of the few international model I know that debuted in Japan, so he is used to foreigners manners."

She raised her own hand and shook the one proposed.

"Nice to meet you, Giro-san."

"Nice to meet you, and Taku is fine", he said and seeing her arched brow he smiled a bit, "you are a friend of Ren, no need for formalities."

"Taku-san then" She said.

Both men smiled, then Taku-san pulled the other man to the front and introduced him to her for Ren.

"This is Koda Ken, he is pretty shy but an incredible singer that just broke through the international scene" Taku-san told her.

She bowed deeply to him, not wanting to make him awkward.

"Nice to meet you", she said with a sweet smile before adding, "I might actually have heard a few of your songs, I think."

He blinked at her oddly, looking puzzled for a second before putting aside whatever had troubled him, and eventually smiling he greeted her back and asked which songs she had heard off.

She mentioned a few titles she remembered but she knew she had heard more of them.

He beamed at her and they chatted for a minute before both of them stepped aside too so that she could meet the others.

She then met Jin Reo who was an actor Ren had met three years ago, as was the beautiful cool young woman named Kegui Saki. Saki-san was apparently also trying her hand in modeling and either Ren or Taku-san had been helping her figuring it out, though the latter had only accepted in exchange of acting lesson from her side. There was an amused twinkle in the eye of Ren when he shared that with her, and she was able to guessed what was left unsaid; chuckling inwardly.

Ren was close to them and really seemed to spend some good time with all of them, and she felt genuinely happy to know that.

Then she was introduced with the last two.

Mura Airi and Sakano Maï that she had met at the door. Airi-san was a model Ren had met two years ago through Taku and though they didn't seem as close as for the others, she greeted her warmly. She also had seemed genuinely curious in what she had worked in, and if she hadn't seem to wear her emotions on her face so completely, Kyoko might have been more wary of her.

Sakano Maï was an actress-as she learned- and the youngest of the group, as every friend of Ren were from 22 to Ren and Taku's age. 27. Airi-san, Reo-san and Ken-san were the younger ones of the band of only 22 she learned. They looked older. Or at least, she would have never guessed they were younger by a year than her, and she felt oddly to not end-up in the team of the younger ones. She was too used to the difference of age with Ren. Which was stupid. She had grown older. It was normal.

But Sakano-san was barely 20, and though he didn't say it, she could tell, despite her sweet smile, how much it bothered her to be so young and even why.

She had debuted acting two years ago and was still learning and hoping all the sempais present would be able to help her.

She was very cute and yet mature in the way she was talking, but Kyoko would never have given her only twenty years old. She could easily have passed for older than Kyoko herself, she was sure. Maybe the well-applied but heavy make-up helped it but still, she was flabbergasted to learn her age.

She was also told she was most recent friend of the group and that she had first been a friend of Airi-san before Ren met her.

Which made her the person he knew the less well. Considering her attitude when she opened the door, Kyoko had every reason to be wary of her. But then again, she knew what she felt, and her green monster wasn't asleep.

She shook herself off, she hadn't try to be over-the-top sweet when she properly met her in front of Ren though she still had toned it down. She would have more suspicious if she had played a double game. She had greeted and talked a lot to Ren, mostly ignoring it, and that was it. Considering the fact they were strangers and if her suspicions were right about the huge crush she had on Ren, then she had every reason to be dislike Kyoko. At least a tiny bit. Between the amount of time they were spending together, what the press had imply still recently and how Ren had introduced her; she couldn't blame her.

She tried to relax herself. She was a friend of Ren so she could trust his judgment and give her the benefice of doubt.

She was far from being a white dove too and couldn't help tensing each time she grabbed his attention.

She closed her eyes for a second. She had no place saying anything. She didn't know that woman, and Sakano-san was in her good rights for not liking her. She shouldn't have expected her to appreciate her to begin with. Just because it had gone so well with every other friend of him. Ren trusted that person.

Tension finally eased a bit as she managed to push every foul feeling aside for the moment.

Still, she didn't have to rub her flirting in her nose either…

She excused herself to them, and though she saw Ren had wanted to say something, she told him to enjoy himself and went in seek of some refreshment.

PS: First, I'm not dead, neither is this story.

Second, I know there are a lot of OCs in this chapter. I have my reasons for that but I can already reassure you, the OCs won't be present too much so it shouldn't be too overwhelming.

I'm sorry it's been so long. As said, my health issues are a big deal and I can't get rid of it. It doesn't make it easy to keep a schedule or a regular update.

So, one guest asked if I was going to upload this story. Here is your answer.

Another guest asked if Ren will learn the truth about Kyoko soon. I don't know which truth you are referring as there are a lot of secrets Kyoko kept from Ren, but it won't be right away. You can give a rest to your tissue box. LOL.

Thank you to Natasha-chan for the sweet review. I love them too.

Sorry the update is so slow because of my issues. Doing my best. I also have my novel to keep writing so If I'm not in a good place, sometimes I have to choose novel first.

Thank you for all the support and reviews I received.

You are wonderful.

Reviews are food, feed me. As always.

Next chapter is mostly complete so it shouldn't be long before I post it.

Kisses.

Mimagfan.

AUTHOR OUT.