CHAPTER 83

I do not own skip beat! Yoshiki devilish Nakamura does.

First trip and its wonders: part 7.

A bright and sunny sky lightened up the beginning of the next day when they woke up, and Ren's friends were already up to jump on the slopes in the entrancing hours of early morning, and for all day if they could. Kyoko was planning to stop before noon. She had told Ken-san she would train him again, but she also wanted to work on her own part of the choreography. Most parts they needed to rehearse was with Ren but she had a little part alone and she was planning to work on that before both Ren and Ken-san would join her in the afternoon. She was hoping for little time with herself before they joined her, though, that's why she would stop skiing a lot sooner than the others today.

Ten a.m. came and she left the slopes, going straight to the gym after dropping her skis. She took the time to warm up and begun to repeat the memorized moves on the mat, one, twice, and on. When she would be done, she would move to her usual training session. It just felt too odd not doing it for long, and it had already been days since she had just pushed out energy brainlessly last time.

§§§

Some time in the middle of this.

One man in the gym centre chatting with his two friends out of the working gyms after a good train. Wearing heavy humid towels dripping around their neck and their clothes without a care, their perky satisfied smiles betray a refreshment surely due to a good shower right after hard session of working out. They are walking by the other glass rooms, seeing people working their bones out from the corner of their eyes but not really paying attention. Then, one of the men stopped in his tracks. He elbowed the first, and the chill man turned around in question.

Both his friends were looking through one of the windows showing off the inside of the training booths. If someone had been to ask him his opinion, he would have told them this was tacky and wasn't private enough to have the training rooms on display like this. But he wasn't the owner of this centre. And they had a few secluded gyms as an excuse against any potential critics.

He looked in the direction of his friends' gaze as Seth spoke. "Do you see this? Can you believe it?"

A slender figure was doing bullet moves of her feet in the air, in rush speed of arrangement before sequencing to arms kicks in artful chain of movements. The timing of arranged actions so fast he took him some time to notice the shape was feminine. For a moment there, there was only a blur of fast whoosh in front of his eyes. Then, her pace slowed down and he could actually see the sharp high kicks of those unending carved legs in the air. He saw her pausing, having broken in a light sheer of sweat while her breathing evenly, and that's when he was finally able to get a better look. She had her back to him so he couldn't see her face but damn was she tall. He hadn't realized it when he was observing her moves. Her hair was braided in her back, reaching nearly the two thirds of it even in that state, and she was toned. Lord, she was. Bare feet, she was wearing a tight pair of leggings shaping this gorgeous backside of hers, and an overlarge crop top reaching below midriff. She also had off-finger boxing gloves on her hands. He saw them as she bent to grab a water bottle. Her braid has got slacked, so she pulled the tie off to make the knot back; then she turned. Her hair swirled airily around her figure as the locks went loose, the ends twirling faintly at her hips, and emphasizing with the lightness of her clear auburn blond mane her front. Yet, if upfront she was as toned, a new softness emanated from her body, from her face, accentuated by gentle unbelievably amber eyes that scorched him with the life afire inside of them.

She pushed her hair back in a wild rousing move, without noticing them and began to redo the braid. His heart began to race a staccato. The words he would say to his friends were nearly on his lips as he failed to notice they were both up to something but then; this glass window. A fair reality check and mirror of how far out of reach she was. Deity of beauty and gentleness. Yet, her skin containing every fibre necessary to go to war as she resumed her punches in the air and those intricately complex moves.

"Forget it, dude." Said one of his friends all of sudden, bringing him back to earth and towards them. Struggling to tore his gaze away eventually managed to drift his head to face his friends. They both chuckled with indulgence.

He frowned at them.

"What do you mean?"

His friends grinned.

"We meant, to not try to capture this enchanting siren you just saw." Replied one of them. He had already renounced it. But having both his friends looking at him with compassion and something akin to pity made him want to fight for it and still try to see if he had even the slimmest chance.

"And why not?"He said in defiance.

Seth tilted his thumb at the back towards the charming subject of their discussion through the glass, still sweating and moving sexily, he was sure.

"Didn't you recognize her?"

He made an obvious wave. As if he had forgotten meeting path with such a glorious creature.

Seth rolled his eyes at him seeing his face but snickers even so.

"It's Kyoko-san."He told him like it explained everything. Both his friends were looking at him as if they expected him it would dawn on him like a train-wreck boom, and perked eyebrows and expectations plastered on their faces.

If it had not been starting to annoy the damn out of him, he would have apologized for the way disappointment and sadness made day on their faces.

"The Kyoko-san!" Insisted Seth with the same, "seriously, how can you not get it?!" tone. "The actress that played Momiji, Natsu, Mio in Dark Moon, and that famous international movie where she tortured the main heroine so much it was traumatizing?"

He shook his head.

"Well, those were a long time ago, and she changed a lot."Nuanced his other friend.

Seth snorted.

"That's a hot understatement. But alright." He thought about it for half a second and immediately, the names and stories he starts to enunciate rang a bell in his memory. "On the international floor, she played a plethora of roles these last five years. She plays the cursed painter that die in the end in The Artist that made a lot of sound all around the world and the show A detective in disguise where she plays the main role, just finished airing first season and it had so much success oversee it can be seen in Japan already. She also played other roles you can order online." Explained Seth and he did remember seeing the movie but he had to check the figure on their phone to finish working it out. They didn't seem the same at all.

Seth chuckled at his shock and scepticism. "She never looks the same between two roles and even less between roles and her normal self." He told him. "People that are true fans call her the immortal butterfly."He gushed with stars in the eyes. Something told him Seth was one of those true fans.

"She also did that super duper cool ad for a collaboration between a brand of clothes and an exposition." Added his other friend in sudden remembrance and he saw Seth nearly bounce at that. "Yes! God, the music was awesome in that. But the best part was her! How she moved, danced, the effects and change of clothes; it was magical!"

They proceeded to show him that ad right away, and he was as awed as his friends as he watched her move and walk. And he could actually recognize her in this.

"Wait. Then, she is a model too?"He inquired.

"She is a supermodel."

"An international one with that."Seth added.

Wow. She was incredible. Doing so many things at once.

"I still don't see why I shouldn't ask her out."He commented dryly. Sure, he didn't even know her and all that. And it was pure bravado and stubbornness at this point. But still. Did his friends really consider he was not good enough to be with her? It was actually vexing.

"Do you really believe I wouldn't stand a chance?"He asked them, and they looked at each other before turning back.

"That's not really the reason but…"

"She is best friends with Ren Tsuruga."Seth dropped all of sudden.

Okay, so she was friends with other famous people, it seemed normal to befriend other actors of the business if she was part of it herself.

His friend shook his head, and Seth snorted.

"You don't get it," He said, "She is his best friend."

He looked at them with incomprehension. The man was known to be quite kind but distant. Was he a bit overprotective or something? Sure, he was The Tsuruga Ren but if he wanted to date his friend, he wasn't going to ask permission, anyway.

"And so?"He said. "He doesn't have any rights on her."

"Technically, it's true. But just, no, dude." Seth corrected him. "Because you would be up against him."

He stared at both his friends for a long second as he processed what they were telling him, and then, it finally dropped.

"… For her?" Really? Was it real info or intox? Though, now he was starting to see why his friends had told him to let it go. Ha!

"Only her."Quietly said Seth with a growing smile.

"Was it confirmed? Are you both sure?"

The smirks that grew on both of his friends' faces at that moment were terrifying. Just as much as were the arms that dropped around his shoulders in coercing manner that let absolutely no escape route.

"Come with us."They said. "Come, let us introduce you. You will understand the beautiful world you live in."

That looked like a fishy cult introduction speech, suspicious as hell but sure, he'll bite. Not like he had any other choice, now.

Seth, the ultra tech-connected, pulled out his tablet and typed a few words on the tactile screen. His grin was too big, it was a bit freaky.

They both pushed him to sit between them on a bench, and to look at a forum with hyperlinks and videos and pictures, so many pictures. He didn't know yet at the time, but he had just sold his soul to a new kind of worship. And he could thank both of his friends for that, as they didn't let him escape until they were sure he was absolutely converted in the most gooey fashion. For a long time, he wouldn't be able to decide if he wanted to thank or murder his friends; for that moment.

At the time, only two things went through his mind, though. Soooo cuteee. And, at least, like that, I can still watch her.

He would become one of the most fervent supporters of that forum. His name was Taïra.

A little bit later, as he was still recovering from the full blown he had taken, they had come back to watch her train. He might not ever be able to ask her out but he could still drool. His friends fully agreed with that, and since the glass window was one-sided and did not show they were looking – thanks to the weirdo that was the owner – , they knew they wouldn't bother her while she was training.

She had taken a break a few minutes ago to pick a stack of paper and read through it before she resumed. This time focusing very hard on following an arrangement of moves carried from kicks and punches, rolls on the ground, jumps. She did it a couple of times before taking another pause to rehydrate, then she went back to the sandbag.

She was set on one move in particular as she kept up with the kicks. It looked like she was trying to accomplish a quadruple air kick in his opinion. She had already mastered the technical part, and quite easily at that. But being able to give the kicks mid-air didn't seem like the issue. She had to do them after twirling in the air. Only the first kick was supposed to be given after her jump from the ground. Or at least, it was the impression it was giving. She would kick the sandbag in the middle and use the pushback to twist once, go back to the sandbag and kick twice. Then she would try to twirl a second time. But she didn't reach the right angle and most often lost speed before finishing her second rotation. It also looked like she needed to focus on her stance a lot more than necessary in usual training. He could only emit hypothesizes but he thought he might have a guess as to why. If her training were for a role and if it were a choreography that would be filmed, her posture needed to be perfect. Staged to fit her acting. At least, he could guess as much. It wasn't the first time he saw actors coming here and had a few friends in that domain, so he had some insights. But it looked hard to perform. She started anew with that specific move, coming closer and closer to getting it each time.

He was wondering if there were a way to help her, he at least knew boxing, or if they would be a nuisance when he saw movement from the side of his eye. Someone was coming.

Now, as any more proof was needed of what his friend just shown him, flesh and blood bachelor giant walked in-as if summoned by their talk – , stopping by their sides as he spotted her through the glass.

There he stayed, imposing, and ever so chic in its core simplicity. Near his noble massive presence, you couldn't help feeling towered over, a weight lingering above and around you, even when he wasn't trying. Even a metre away and not even taking note of your existence, you would feel it. He just had that presence. This magnetism that made his eyes been drawn to him every two seconds to watch him keenly. He couldn't help himself. The man was not even moving, he was standing, immobile and unaware of his surroundings.

And unconscious of their existence, that was a certitude he was. Didn't notice them. Didn't adjust his attitude knowing he wasn't alone. Didn't blink. Didn't say hi. Didn't frown, didn't relax, didn't smile.

Wall of tense. Wall of emotion. Hidden.

Not really. Pretending? Acting? No.

Feeling.

Ignition in the eyes. Incineration of frozen muscles.

Rooted. Staring. Transfixed.

Combusting.

Yearning so intense, it could be touched in the tight ravenous grip of his lips. Ardent thoughts of ravage flashing like a torch in the slits that let his eyes still appear. As if he couldn't help but keep his eyes bright open but also felt blinded by the strength of an emotion he needed to keep inside.

They were not there.

There was him. There was her. Only. Slowly his and his friends' bodies were getting sheerer and sheerer. Improper to be here. Inexistent in this parallel, his parallel.

The apt man was a burning wave. Like the tide. Eternal.

Coming and going.

Pulsing and pulsing to an inside beating. About to snap, pumping to a push, an impulse, an urge.

His eyes living to the rhythm of the moves he was following.

He was the pulse. Energy.

A scorching vibration inhabited only in the now.

The spellbound adulation and reverence on Tsuruga-san's face on this instant, more blatant proof of the truth than any word of his friends, any video shown, could have done.

His energy was so vibrant he was carrying them into his maelstrom of parched thirst, and he was the only one able to break the tension. They were only allowed to breathe freely when he broke into a loving smile as he continued to watch her, de facto dissipating the bundle of coiled tension there was in the air.

Then, and only then, did he notice he had company. He composed himself – somewhat- as he greeted them. Not like the man could blame Tsuruga-san for not taking notice before. But he certainly hadn't expected to see such a level of emotion appear on the otherwise pretty reserved actor's face. So much devotion, so much adoration. He wondered, idly so, if he would theoretically be capable of such a depth of feeling. Off the bat, like this, he didn't think so.

In this very instant, here, he was rooted with the sensation no one could ever compare to what that man felt to the woman through the window.

Even knowing it was not realistic. Even knowing his view surely was far too narrow-minded for his own good. He didn't care. He was sure of it.

The discussion fell rather quickly once were greetings exchanged, and the man couldn't help but report his eyes to the young woman he now knew was called Kyoko-san. She hadn't got her last sequence right yet with that double air kick but had decided to pause to peruse in her papers again. He watched her dropping them back and she began to stretch her back. He admired the tight curve of it as she bent, smooth shiny skin over slender muscles, eyes widening when he glimpsed at a cute tattoo. He felt like mourning something that couldn't be, and could feel grumpiness arose inside him. His friends would have to endure him being insufferable, because he would not care. That and they'd better share the link of that specific forum so he could satisfy some of his pent-up annoyance.

In the middle of those bittersweet thoughts as he let his gaze glided on curves too tempting, moves too exhilarating, and a shudder ran up his spine, like a cold snake ready to bite you in the neck.

He shifted his gait, adjusting his stance and slowly turned his neck to the right from fifteen degrees to glance to the direction of that frost atmosphere.

The most antarctic freeze of a smile he was ever bestowed with greeted him on Tsuruga-san face, and whispers of threats and abominable things reflected in his hard so very dark eyes.

After what felt like an eternity, he let go of him, and started to walk to the door of the training room she was. He stopped before reaching it and spoke. "Eyes stay up."

He grabbed the handle but just as he was about to push it, he tilted his head as if he was pondering something. Decision made, he glanced back at them with those cold intense eyes, freezing them on the spot again.

"Hands off."

Nothing else was said but they didn't need anything more to understand what or rather who he was referring to.

He blinked off and a very bright, very sadistic smile – that promised awful things if they didn't respect his request, more like demand – was addressed to them before he twirled back and entered the room in a swift.

Silence followed. But he and his friends were in too much of a stupor to evacuate the chills they had just felt. They could only observe Tsuruga-san enter the room to meet with Kyoko-san, rooted in their shoes.

They watched as his whole demeanour changed, and how he melted at her contact. As pure and simple as that. All of sudden, he was warmer than an overheated oven with his smile to the moon and back. Teasing, pestering her, and totally flirting, in their honest opinion. But to their consternation, no matter how far they found him to be going in the teasing, in the taunting, the young woman not only seemed fine with it but didn't seem faze or suspicious at all. In fact, she was taking it in strikes, as if it was only just teasing, and nothing more.

It was disheartening to see, yet, Tsuruga-san would bounce back undefeated, from those blows, as it was nothing too, and would launch another tease right after. It was as clear as dawn, even without hearing their voices. If anything, for each failed attempt of her noticing there was more, his behaviour would become even softer.

"Wow." Said Seth after a little longer to watch them. "I know I knew but this is…"

He and his other friend could only nod.

But if she didn't get it, and oh, she so didn't get it, but it wasn't all black and white.

She didn't get his gentleness, didn't get his tenderness, didn't get his patience, didn't get his desires, didn't get his heart. Didn't get he would enslave himself to her if she so much as ask him.

No, she didn't understand. Didn't see. Didn't hear. Didn't feel. Like a blind person to a bright coloured warning panel. She couldn't see the flashing tender yet loud signals of his heart. Yet, he didn't push her. He understood, he accepted that.

But she didn't reject him either. She was laughing. She was smiling. She was replying to him. In her own way. She was so much more alive in his presence.

It was a disrupting beautiful thing to see. Sometimes he had a hard time not thinking they were together, and had to remember. It was the way they interacted, their proximity. But at other moments, you could feel the aloofness, in her, in him. A sort of awkward restraint in them. A distance dying to fall, he was sure. And the tension. They were just talking, not even training in close quarters yet, and it was electrifying already.

He couldn't believe the young woman there didn't feel the same. It just didn't seem possible.

His thought process stopped when they moved, and he got the feeling they were about to start training.

§

PS: Hello everyone. I hope you are all good, happy and healthy. Yes to me being already back. This chapter will be a tint shorter because it is preparing to more – … Just more. I won't say a word. Anyway, i hope you will still like it, even if it feels like a filler. Enjoy yourselves and lots of kisses. Double PS: I know it's not the bad cliffhanger you want so much Parker, don't worry, it's for soon. LOL ^^

Mimagfan.

AUTHOR OUT.