Chapter 20: Divine Punishment

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, the LoveMe Girls would have more Karaoke time.

Kanae sat with her legs crossed and arms folded. A vein above her eyebrow twitched as her irritation reached its maximum level. "They're five minutes late!" she grumbled to herself. Did they think she had nothing better to do with her time? It irritated her that her schedule was lax right now that she ended up arriving early for their outing. Just because she had time, it didn't mean she wanted to waste it. She took out her phone prepared to blast her friends through text.

The door to the karaoke box burst open. "Moookoooo-saaaaaaannn!" screamed her self-proclaimed best friend as the girl rushed to Kanae for some skinship.

"Mo! How long did you guys make me wait?"

She stopped Kyoko before she could launch her hug attack.

"I'm sorry, Moko-san," Kyoko said, tears springing to her eyes. "We tried to get here as soon as we could but we hit a bit of traffic."

"Are your phones broken?"

"We didn't think a few minutes would be a big deal," Chiori responded and took a seat on the opposite sofa.

"Mo, stop it. It's fine, just go sit over there already." Kanae said, waving Kyoko's pitiful self away.

Kyoko brightened again now that Kanae wasn't mad and took a seat next to Chiori.

"Moko-san, you have news right? That's why you wanted to meet up. What did Producer Kuresaki say? Are you going to be a princess? Or a rich lady? Or an action heroine?" Kyoko asked eagerly. Her big saucer-like eyes frightened Kanae.

Kanae sighed and shook her head. She didn't know how to break the news to her friend. Kyoko quieted down when she saw the serious look on Kanae's face.

"I did talk to Producer Kuresaki, but I'm still not sure about the role. He wants me to meet the Director first. There's nothing concrete right now."

"Ooh, that's good news! When do you get to meet the Director? I'm dying to know what role you'll be playing. I'll be sure to watch it."

"The meeting will take place in a week or so," she said dejectedly.

"That's great Moko! This could be your chance to act. Why aren't you excited about it?" Kyoko asked, tilting her head in a confused manner.

Kanae didn't immediately respond. She contemplated the discussion she had with Uesugi-dono. She went to him to apologize for not clinching the Chidori role after all the training she received from him. She felt like a failure. It surprised her that he wasn't angry or annoyed. He assured her that she was strong and she would be able to overcome this minor setback. He even wished her luck in her new role.

"I'm still upset about letting Uesugi-dono down. I may not have liked the role but I hate to fail." Kanae waved the air to change the subject. "Enough about me, what's new with you two?"

Kyoko and Chiori looked to protest but Kanae's stern face kept them quiet. They looked at each other and nodded.

Chiori went first. "I'm stuck doing that variety show. I swear I don't understand how those mediocre celebrities could go on TV and humiliate themselves. Have they no dignity? Takarada-san gave me an impossible challenge, but if this is what I need to do to get back into acting then I'll do it."

Chiori was the least busy of the three girls. These days she was the only one regularly in the LoveMe room reviewing annoying dramas. She still couldn't grasp the point of what Lory expected her to learn from watching Kawagoe Michika act. That was probably the reason for the ever-growing pile of DVDs to include other similar young actresses.

Kyoko and Kanae chuckled at their friend's plight.

"You guys laugh because it's not you," Chiori muttered. She had a lot to say in her notebook about them.

Both girls then turned to Kyoko, the most interesting of the trio.

"Mo, spill all of your secrets or I'm never speaking to you again," Kanae threatened.

"Moko-san, you're so mean! Please don't say you'll cut ties with me. I'll tell you whatever you want to know if I'm able to," Kyoko said, pouting cutely.

"I got one. Are you guys doing it yet?" Chiori asked mischievously.

Kyoko was aware of Chiori's bluntness but she didn't expect her to get right down to the juicy details. Her face flamed up with the blush extending over the rest of her body. She found herself stuttering nonsense in her embarrassment.

"Amamiya-san, th- there's no way. I'm only seventeen. It would be a crime for him to have such an intimate relationship with a minor!" Kyoko exclaimed.

"What are you going on about? The crime is not sleeping with him. You're already legal to get married. But what I'm hearing is that you're using your age as an excuse. If you were eighteen you would be jumping his bones, right?" Chiori teased.

...

Kyoko squirmed in her seat. Could Chiori read minds? Could she see all the dirty little thoughts Kyoko had of him?

"That's not what I meant at all," Kyoko exclaimed. "It's just I don't know if I'm ready to take that step. It hasn't even been that long since he confessed."

It wasn't necessarily a lie. Just because she dreamed of being with him intimately almost every night, didn't mean she was ready to make that a reality. Insecurities don't disappear overnight.

"Are you telling me that Japan's most desirable man hasn't tried to seduce you yet? How boring? We know you guys already kissed so just tell us the deets," said Chiori.

"He's very respectful and patient with me. All we do is k- kiss." Kyoko's cheeks turned a darker shade of red as she admitted that much out loud to her friends.

She would never tell anyone about her perverted dreams of Ren including her best friends. Her subconscious knew no bounds and continued to torture her in the wee hours of the night. It was her fault for researching the matter.

She used her phone to browse the internet and made sure to delete the history when she was done. She couldn't have anyone knowing what she was doing least of all him. Some images came on her search that she wished she never saw. The different sizes of men's intimate parts, especially those well endowed, frightened her. Taking his physical attributes into consideration, she wondered how big he was in comparison. There were instances when he brushed against her but she couldn't gauge the size just by that.

Her friends exchanged knowing glances.

"Mo! It's okay, right. When you love someone the feelings of wanting to kiss and touch them are normal." Kanae reassured her.

"I'm also afraid that he would get bored with me. What if he dumps me for a more experienced woman, like Kana?" Kyoko murmured.

Chiori chimed in first. "You can't think like that. Don't let those thoughts pressure you into doing something you aren't ready for."

"I doubt that. He's been pining after you for so long, it wouldn't surprise me if he already has a ring picked out," Kanae told her.

"Eh, what do you mean for so long? Moko-san you knew already and never told me."

"Mo! I told you he was jealous in this very room when you did that guy's PV! It was so obvious the way he treated you. You didn't see him offering me any acting tips or free rides. I'm his Kohai too. I swear you can be so dense," scolded Kanae. "Speaking of that guy, did you ever settle things with him?"

"You mean Shotaro? We talked and I think we resolved some things. I don't think he will be bothering me anymore. I haven't seen him on the set so maybe my talk with him worked and he's keeping his distance. Plus, his parents came to visit me. I was able to apologize properly for leaving. I think I can close that chapter of my life and continue to move forward with my dream."

"Well, that's good as long as you cleared everything up with him."

Kanae was relieved to hear that guy wouldn't be bothering her anymore. She could leave her knowing she'd be fine.

The discussion turned once again to work. Kyoko told them about her first photoshoot with R'Mandy but as she spoke it dawned on her just how she landed the job. She stopped mid-sentence with a disturbed look on her face.

"Mo, what's wrong?" Kanae asked, poking her friend on the forehead.

"Oh, uh, nothing. I just thought of something I forgot." Kyoko said, trying to cover her anxiety.

"Spill it!" said Chiori, "It will help if you can talk it through with us."

Kyoko inhaled deeply. "I just realized that it was my connection through Ren that landed me the job. I'm sure the media would have a field day if they knew," she said quietly, feeling inadequate.

"Mo! Stop that nonsense. You may have met the designer through Tsuruga-san but it was you, yourself, that snagged his interest. It's customary in this business to make connections this way. Performing the job successfully and building up a good reputation is up to you. Tsuruga-san can't do that for you."

Chiori agreed. "Kotonami-san is right. It's all about who you know. Then you have to back it up with talent and skill. We all know you have the means to back it up too. Don't worry too much about it. Anyone that says otherwise is a hypocrite."

Kyoko felt better with the support of her friends. She told Ren precisely that and yet when it finally came to light she reverted to her insecure ways. She needed to be stronger when the actual situation arose.

"I wanted to ask you guys if you were free before the awards ceremony. I was thinking we can cash in that voucher I won from the club. We can be pampered before such a nerve-wracking night."

Kanae bit her lip. "I won't be attending that night."

"Why not, Moko-san? Isn't the drama with Hio-kun up for an award too?"

Kanae nodded yes. "I'm not going because I have to meet that Director."

"Surely a meeting like that wouldn't take that long to complete," Kyoko asked her friend, still confused.

"Err, well you see the meeting is not local. The role I was offered is an international one," Kanae responded.

"What?!" both Kyoko and Chidori screamed in unison.

"Moko-san are you saying that you will be leaving? For how long?" Kyoko asked bewilderedly.

"As I told you, I still have to meet with the Director in America," Kanae said guiltily.

"America! So cruel Moko-san! Were you going to keep such fantastic news to yourself?" Kyoko asked with tears pricking the corner of her eyes

Kanae sighed in irritation. She planned on telling her while she was at the airport. She didn't want to be responsible for that hurt puppy dog look that her friend was displaying. Now that she revealed the truth she would have to live with the consequences until she left.

"Mo! I was planning on telling you. You'll be fine without me for a little bit. You can call me or send me an email... Mo! Stop looking at me like that. It's not like we're going to stop being best friends just because of a little distance," she scolded.

Kyoko perked up and threw her arms around her friend. She was so happy Moko-san said it herself that they were best friends.

"Mo! Let me go now. You're squishing me. How about you see if we can use the voucher in the city and we'll have another girls day before I leave?" Kanae suggested. She wanted to make Kyoko happy before she left. She wasn't privy to a schedule. She didn't know how long she would be away. The possibility of being sent packing after the meeting didn't even cross her mind. She was determined.

"Moko-san, I'm so happy for you. You're going to be an international film star. Soon the world will see what a beautiful and talented best friend I have. I can't wait to see your film. I'm sure you'll be incredible." Kyoko began gushing. She floated off to La La land as she continued to praise her friend.

Kanae cut her friend off. "Mo! Enough, let's sing before we have to get back to work."

...

After settling the bill, the girls walked out to find Yashiro waiting for them. He leaned against the hood of his car, ankles crossed with hands in his pockets looking off into the distance. He looked like he just stepped out of a magazine ad. He straightened up when he noticed the girls. Kanae felt the familiar tug at her heartstrings when he smiled and greeted them. How had she failed to notice that even in his professional manager attire he was good looking?

What's with this situation?

Kyoko and Chiori manipulated her into sitting in the front seat with him. She would be lying if she was a little disappointed that nothing had changed since the night of the club. She sighed internally. What was she thinking? She was striving to become a top actress; there was no time for romance. That, of course, was a lousy excuse. Her friend was living proof that one could have both. Regardless, she was leaving anyway so it wasn't wise to enter into a relationship. She stole another glance at the man next to her…. Maybe when I return.

Later that night, Yashiro bid Ren and Kyoko good night as he dropped them off at Ren's apartment. He handed them thick packets and told them to look over the job offers. He filtered them based on their schedule and appropriateness. He also told them that R'Mandy's preview shots and magazine were included. Their ads would go live in magazines, electronic billboards, and shop posters tomorrow. Once Yashiro left, Ren breathed deeply.

I can do this!

His resolve wasn't going to be tested just yet as they headed to the grocery store in the basement level connected to his building.

"Ren, what would you like to eat?" Kyoko asked while he happily pushed the cart. There was something incredibly domestic about this whole situation. He wished this could be an everyday occurrence.

"Can you help me make Maui omu rice again?" he asked sheepishly recalling the last time he cooked the dish for her. He wanted to replace the memory with a less loaded one.

Kyoko paused to look and face him. She was searching for signs that his demons were haunting him. "Did something happen at work today?" she asked worriedly.

He smiled genuinely and shook his head no. "I just want to be able to make it edible for you and hopefully improve from there. One day it might even taste delicious."

She nodded convinced that he wasn't hiding anything from her and helped him select the ingredients needed. In the checkout line, she convincingly made him go back for a missing ingredient that she knew for a fact this store didn't carry. He was better equipped to retrieve it quickly without holding up the line. He returned empty-handed. She giggled at having so cleverly tricked him to pay for the groceries without argument.

"You know, since I selfishly asked you for dinner, it's only right that I pay."

"You're always spending money on me. Please let me repay your kindness every once in a while," she told him as they made their way out of the store.

"I can think of more fascinating ways you can repay me," He told her in a husky voice reserved for the Emperor.

"Perhaps, it can be arranged," she replied in a sultry voice of her own. Tit for tat.

Kyoko spun on her heel and walked towards the elevator before he noticed her blushing. Inner Kyoko screamed in shock over her boldness. She knew he was teasing her but there was no way she was going to let him win. She reminded herself to keep cool. She turned around to him when her emotions were under control. He stood where she left him.

"Coming?" she asked innocently and pressed the elevator button.

That's what she said. He chuckled under his breath at his joke. His mind always went straight to the gutter. He was using tonight to test his control when they were alone. She had not been to his place since he confessed. He often chose to meet her at the Darumaya instead. He couldn't keep inconveniencing the owners especially if his presence eventually caused them problems. He needed to look temptation in the eye if he wanted to overcome it.

"What's so funny?" She asked as they stepped into the elevator. He shook his head but said nothing.

Once the doors closed, he turned hot eyes towards her. He stepped close to her as she backed into the wall. She felt like a cornered prey about to be gobbled up. He leaned down, his mouth close to her lips. She closed her eyes and waited with bated breath for his kiss.

Kyoko blinked her eyes open at the sound of rustling and the loss of his warmth. He stood away with a smirk on his face now carrying the grocery bags she was once holding. Kyoko huffed at his sneakiness. She observed her Senpai from the corner of her eye and found his body language curious. He appeared rigid, almost like a bowstring ready to snap. He teased her first but he seemed to be suffering as well. She smiled to herself knowing she had the same effect on him as he did her.

She set her stuff down and followed him into the kitchen. They cooked side by side in harmony with Kyoko giving him pointers on how to make the dish properly. It was her first time seeing his newly acquired knife skills in action. She was impressed. When the meal was done, it was a vast improvement from the last time but the egg wrap still proved difficult for him. He handed the bottle of ketchup for her to cast her magic. He smiled warmly when she asked him to garnish hers as well.

They moved to the living room to eat on the coffee table. He turned on the TV and put on one of his shows that he recorded. He scrolled through the list quickly. They were all her shows and some Dark Moon. He clicked on a past episode of Yappa Kimagure Rock he had yet to watch. He laughed as Kyoko groaned.

It shocked him that she was the chicken. The chicken was the only other person he spoke honestly with. That in itself should have raised a red flag for him. There was something about the chicken that made him drop his guard. Now he knew why. It still baffled him that she never caught on that the highschool girl he mentioned was her. After watching more episodes of the idol show, he didn't know how he missed it. Bo's mannerisms on the show were just like hers in real life.

"Corn, I didn't know you were a fan of teenage dramas."

Kuon blushed slightly. Darn, she noticed his list despite how fast he tried to scroll past. He didn't want to come off as a creeper.

"I'm not a fan of teenage dramas. I'm a fan of you," he admitted, making her blush.

There seriously had to be a limit to how much a person could blush. Kyoko was sure it couldn't be healthy to have so much blood rush to one's head several times a day when in the vicinity of this man.

With an itadakimasu, they dug into their dinner. They exchanged looks after the first bite and smiled. It was pretty delicious despite its appearance.

"I think Rick would be proud of this dish, Corn," Kyoko said.

For a brief moment, Kuon's eyes looked melancholy as thoughts of his friend filled his mind.

"I think you're right." He replied, taking another mouthful.

They cleaned up after dinner and then went through the packets. Kyoko's folder was significantly smaller than his but she was glad to have work. She had an offer for another bully role cameo on another long-running drama series playing a jealous ex-girlfriend. She looked over the role and didn't see anything wrong with it. She learned never to deny work. The most exciting thing in the packet was a CM offer for a high-end cosmetics brand. Kyoko couldn't wait to start that job.

Kuon found it enjoyable to have someone he could discuss work with on a personal level. Her drive to improve in the field rivaled his own. He wished some of these included her but he was glad she was being noticed. Every now and again he would ask her opinion on a role. She didn't realize it but she made the most interesting faces whenever he mentioned any romantic roles. He found her jealousy so adorable he just had to peck her on the cheek.

"What was that for?"

"For being cute."

Kyoko put her documents back into the respective folder. She would tell Yashiro about her decisions in the morning.

"Kuon, can I look at this?" She held up the R'Mandy envelope while he continued to sort through his offers. He glanced up and nodded.

Kyoko smiled appreciatively as she took in the picture of Ren on the front cover of a popular men's magazine. Although this was for men, Kyoko was sure the female populace of Japan would be the main consumers with him gracing the cover. The photo showed him leaning against the railing with hands in his pockets looking boldly at the camera. She flipped it open to the marked pages and found more pictures. The next picture was of them on the bridge under the lamplight. Her eyes were hooded with a glint of gold irises peeking between her lashes. Her head was lifted and cocked to the side giving Ren access to her neck as his deep brown eyes hypnotized the camera. Kyoko gasped. The Emperor stared back at her from the page.

Curious to her reaction, Kuon peeked over to see what surprised her. He was shocked. He didn't think himself capable of making such an expression.

A worried look crossed Kyoko's face as she thought about the influx of fans he's bound to acquire. The Emperor was no longer her secret.

"What's wrong?" He asked, sensing her mood.

"I'm just worried. I might have to fight women off of you now that you've shown the Emperor of the Night to the world," she grumbled.

He pulled her onto his lap and gazed into her eyes. "There will be no other woman for me other than you."

"I know. I'm just a bit sad that the Emperor has been exposed," she said quietly. At least in Dark Moon, he showed up in flashes. It was now captured on a photo for all to see as much as they wanted.

"Why do you keep saying, Emperor?" Kuon asked, looking for an explanation.

She lifted the magazine to him. "This guy right here is the Emperor. You unleash him on me several times a day. I'm just being petty," she said waving her hand in dismissal.

He chortled, "Only you can bring this kind of expression out of me."

"Not true! Momose-san was able to do it during the Katsuki test," she said defensively.

"That was because of your help the night before. I just recalled the feeling of you in my arms on my kitchen floor. Do you remember?"

"How can I forget? You asked me if I had experience kissing like a perverted Sensei," she said with a slight blush on her cheeks.

He chuckled and ran his thumb over her lips just like that night. He held back that night but he was no longer playing the nice Senpai with her. He touched his lips to hers gently. He could handle light kissing.

All reason flew out the window when she shifted on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him back eagerly causing him to respond in kind. And just like that, he failed today's test.

He laid her down on the floor without breaking the kiss. He drank in the sigh that escaped her lips as his weight settled on her. He groaned as he felt himself pressing into her thigh between his legs. He hesitated for a moment waiting for any sign that she was uncomfortable. He got the exact opposite when she rocked her hips against his leg. If she noticed his growing erection, she didn't say anything and kept kissing him.

He let his free hand caress the length of her arm and down until it settled on her hip. She rocked again making him shiver. He knew he should put an end to this before things escalated beyond his control but his fingers itched to touch her skin.

She had to feel what she was doing to him by now. He was practically digging into her hip. His fingers slid under her shirt reveling in the feel of her silky skin. He lingered on the skin above her waistband before trailing his fingers up to cup her breast.

She gasped at the heat his fingers generated through her lace bra. No one had ever touched her so intimately before. He was close when she was Setsu but she narrowly avoided that encounter because she was genuinely angry at the time. Kyoko jerked her hips up in response to relieve the ache gathering between her thighs. She moaned at the new sensations his thumb elicited. He traced small deliberate circles over the tip of her breast. It felt so good. She kissed him harder, her tongue sweeping along the inside of his mouth. His fingers tugged at the lace and touched her bare flesh.

Kyoko was only half aware of what was happening to her. She could feel moisture pooling between her thighs and knew her panties were drenched. She let out a small whimper when he released her breast and moved it to her leg. He stayed there stroking her thigh gently. Kyoko felt herself calming down. His hand traveled up, gripped her ass and rolled over placing her on top. The quick movement broke their kiss and had Kyoko gasping in pain.

Kuon's eyes flew open and saw the pain registered on her face. Tears pooled in her eyes.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to hurt you," He said sitting them up quickly. He had taken things too far. He realized things were getting out of hand and tried to slow things down. He had no intention of letting things go any further than making out and in this case touching. He didn't mean to be rough.

"I'm sorry. I ruined things with my silliness." She swiped at her eyes to wipe the tears that sprouted.

"No, I'm sorry. I let things get too far. I should have stopped long ago. I'm such an idiot." He cursed his stupidity.

"Oh no, Corn, it's not your fault. It's just I'm still sensitive there. I fell on set and didn't realize that the pain was still lingering. I probably have a bruise on my bu…leg. Nothing you were doing hurt me...I liked it." She said, giving him a shy smile.

He liked it too but now was not the time. "May I ask what happened on set."

"Oh! It's really silly how clumsy I could be."

Kuon frowned, she was too graceful to ever be considered clumsy. He waited for her to continue.

"It was during a fight scene. I lost my balance and landed most ungracefully on my backside."

She didn't mention that there was some sort of spill on the ground where her mark was that ensured her downfall. The Director was angry with the crew to have made such a mistake that could have caused big problems for not only the production but the safety of those on set.

"Can I get you some ice or something? Pain reliever?" he asked, hoping to make things better.

"I'm fine. It's only when direct pressure is applied that it becomes painful."

Kuon blushed at the reminder of his actions earlier. He couldn't see this situation as a total failure. He was working his way to calming them both down before the abrupt ending.

"It's getting pretty late should I take you home. I'm sure Taisho wouldn't be too pleased if I have you out too past curfew," he suggested.

"If you don't mind, can I stay a little longer? We can watch TV." She asked sweetly. Kuon smiled and moved to the couch patting the seat next to him.

Within a few minutes of her snuggling in his arms, she was fast asleep. Kuon sighed at her defenselessness. When did she become so unguarded with him? Kami-sama was playing cruel tricks on him again.

He reached for his phone and called Taisho. He explained the situation and told him that she would be staying the night in his guestroom. After the third degree, Kuon hung up and carried Kyoko to the guest room. He caressed her face and kissed her forehead. He left the room hastily before temptation could overrule his logic.

He took a cold shower that night to regain his focus. When that wasn't enough he guiltily masturbated under the cold stream conjuring erotic images of the delectable little creature sleeping in the other room. He didn't know how he was going to make it. She was far too tempting.

Kyoko woke in the middle of the night confused. She was on a soft mattress rather than her futon.

I'm in his guest room.

She went to the bathroom and prepared for bed. She slipped into the PJs he bought her and settled back into bed. She stared at the crack under the door for any sign that he was awake. She couldn't fall back to sleep. With her heart pounding, she made a conscious decision and rolled out of bed.

She found him sleeping soundly in the middle of the enormous bed. She slid under the covers next to him and into his arms. After what they shared earlier, sleeping in the same bed shouldn't be a problem. After all, they've done it before as Cain and Setsu. Kyoko forgot that she actually didn't sleep that night.

Kuon woke when he felt her crawling into his bed. He lifted his arm in invitation. He was shirtless but wore his pajama pants. He pulled her back towards his chest and kept his arm around her waist. She wiggled her bottom against his groin innocently trying to get comfortable.

Kuon groaned. "Baby, you're making it difficult for me to sleep." His hard-on came back full force. Whatever happened to the monk-like abilities he used to possessed? Kyoko yawned and apologized. Within seconds, she was fast asleep in his arms. It took him longer to fall asleep as he inhaled the sweet scent of her hair and relished how perfect she fit in his arms. This was definitely divine punishment

AN: My Perv is showing. I hope you enjoyed! XD

Thank you for continuing to read and big thanks to those that reviewed the last chapter. Feedback is appreciated.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^