Chapter 34: Sibling Revival

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, there would be a Tragic Marker Premiere.

Tadashi woke up sore. His whole body ached in places he didn't know could. It was to be expected for a man of his age. Actually, age didn't matter, anyone kneeling on concrete for two days straight would feel the same pain. He bore it inwardly as penance for his past transgressions. He couldn't complain since it had paid off. He managed to see her yesterday. Of course, he couldn't be sure if she noticed him. He saw other people whispering curiously about him but she just nonchalantly walked on by. He liked to think that she knew he was there waiting for her.

He walked into the gourmet kitchen of his rented apartment to prepare himself a hearty American breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and a bagel with some fruit on the side. He would have to look into buying this place if he wanted to stay here permanently. He liked that it was conveniently located to all the places he frequented. He chose this place, particularly for its kitchen. He liked to cook and always enjoyed experimenting with new recipes. It had been a long time since he cooked for others though. There had been other women but they always preferred the luxury dining experiences New York City had to offer. They would look at him in surprise when he told them one of his hobbies was cooking. He used to cook for Saena in the short time he had known her. Had she changed any? Was she still working too hard and eating improperly?

When he finished cleaning the kitchen, he went to get dressed. He donned yet another suit as he prepared for his third day of atonement. He made a mental note to give Mya a bonus. The saint of a woman deserved it. She sat with him these past two days, bringing him any documents that required his signature or making decisions via phone in his stead. They had successfully concluded the project here. All that was left were some minor details that Mya was more than capable of completing while he selfishly took time to see his daughter.

Before he left his large walk-in closet, a box in the corner caught his eye. He wasn't sure why he brought it with him. It wasn't like he had the guts to give them to her. There was no way she would ever forgive him.

Stomping. That's how the other employees would describe LoveMe member number one's walk today. No one was bothered by her behavior. They came to accept that no matter how beautiful and talented, she was still a little...weird. They had grown used to her strange behavior that it was no longer surprising when she talked to herself or daydreamed in the halls.

Kyoko wore her hot pink uniform this morning as she stomped down the halls. She was fighting every fiber of her being not to glance out the large open windows despite how strong the temptation was to look. He was out there again kneeling in his expensive suit on the hard concrete waiting for a sign from her.

When she came to the company yesterday, she found it odd that the employee entrance was under renovation making all personnel come through the front entrance. Kyoko walked towards the front with Yashiro when she heard the murmurs of the other employees and visitors walking ahead.

"What are they talking about?" She asked Yashiro.

"I'm not quite sure. No one informed me of anything. Perhaps it's some kind of protest or demonstration. The more conservative Japanese tend to protest the impurity of the entertainment industry. Entertainers without modesty, that sort of thing," Yashiro said, waving the topic away out of distaste.

As Kyoko neared the entrance, she finally saw what was causing the commotion. An older gentleman in a business suit kneeled in front of the building. She watched as an older woman in a classy a-line dress with a contrasting blazer held some documents for him to sign. When he completed the task, the woman left a bottle of water beside the man and walked to a town car waiting by the curb. She watched the departing car curiously before turning towards the man.

There was something vaguely familiar about him but she couldn't put her finger on it. She groaned inwardly, reminded that her first day at LME began much the same way. Perhaps, like her, he was thrown out of the building. She wondered if the man was an unhappy office worker and was now trying his hand in the entertainment world. She would ask Sawara if he knew the story behind the man. Kyoko's heart went out to him. She hoped the man would get his chance to reinvent himself as she did. She didn't want to seem nosy so she turned her attention elsewhere when she got closer.

Tadashi's body came alive when he noticed her entering the building. He had wanted to approach her right away but the crowd of people kept him from doing so. He didn't want to cause her any problems at her workplace so he stayed in his position. He would have to remain patient and wait for her to acknowledge him.

Once inside, Kyoko headed straight to Sawara while Yashiro stopped by his office. This was a quick drive-by for her to pick up her offers from Sawara and for Yashiro to file the contracts from yesterday's CM with Ren. Her time with Sawara was coming to an end. They planned for her to move under Matsushima since she was known more for acting these days. She would still retain her job at TBM for as long as she wanted it. Despite her rough start with the idol show, she enjoyed her work as Boh the mascot. She had found great friends in the Ishibashi Brothers. It was heartwarming that they treated her like a little sister. Even their leader Hikaru was finally relaxing around her.

"Good afternoon Sawara-san, how are you today?" Kyoko said, bowing to the department head.

"Ah Kyoko-chan," Sawara greeted. "It's good to see you. How are your current projects going? We have had a lot of positive feedback from your previous assignments. Keep up the good work and you'll be debuting in no time," he said, giving her a thumbs up.

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity here in LME." Kyoko bowed more formally. "Without you, I would never have come so far and discovered my love for acting."

Moisture blurred Sawara's vision. Over a year had passed since he first met the spunky girl here at LME. She tried to barge her way into the showbiz world without a hint of what she wanted to accomplish once she made it into the agency. She stalked him for days before he finally relented and had her audition. With hard work, she was well on her way to stardom. He found it humorous that despite the bad first impressions she and Ren had in the beginning, they were now dating and hopelessly devoted to each other. He was happy that she recovered the lost emotion that got her disqualified from the second round of auditions. Thankfully, the president had seen her potential and created the LoveMe section to rehabilitate and nurture her.

Yesterday, during their weekly status meeting, he asked Lory when she would graduate from the LoveMe department. The President's response was cryptic but he still felt she was lacking some important component.

"Is there anything else you need Kyoko-chan?" Sawara asked, handing her a hefty manila envelope. "If not, please look over those offers carefully and get back to Yashiro-san when you have the chance."

"Yes, thank you, sir. By the way, Sawara-san, do you know what is going on with the man outside? Does he want to join LME?" She asked curiously.

"Are you referring to Morimoto-san? The businessman out front. I don't know the specifics but he seems to be waiting for someone. The President has already spoken to him and has allowed him to remain there. It's a big mystery to everyone here. Takarada-san has asked us not to approach him since the person he is waiting for would surely appear and know what to do. Today is his second day out there."

Kyoko felt her blood drain from her face and broke out in a cold sweat at the sound of the man's name. Was the man outside in the hot sun her biological father? If she heard the department head correctly this was his second day. She bit her bottom lip as worry nagged her internally. What should she do? This had to be some sort of ploy cooked up by the president.

"Are you okay, Kyoko-chan? You don't look so well all of a sudden," Sawara said in a concerned tone.

"I'm fine Sawara-san. I just thought of something unpleasant," she said with a strained smile. Sawara shivered at her expression. It had been a while since her creepiness scared him.

"Well if you insist. I'll talk to you soon. Keep up the good work." Sawara wanted to get away from her as soon as possible.

Kyoko met up with Yashiro and prepared to leave the agency. She stole a glance at where she saw the man kneeling earlier. He wasn't there. She looked all around her; high and low but he was gone. Maybe he finally had enough and left.

Tadashi was exiting the building when he glimpsed her retreating. His bladder just had to choose that time to rear its ugly head. He hoped she would return today as he reclaimed his position.

That was yesterday so today she was stomping. The insufferable man was once again perched in front of the entrance persistently waiting for her. Kyoko didn't know how to feel about this man who claimed to be her father. The fact that he was sitting outside LME similar to the way she had did not go unnoticed by her.

Even though her relationship with her mother may not have improved, Kyoko felt like she owed it to Saena for giving birth to her and providing for her in her own way. It still shocked her to learn that her mother had been sending the Fuwas money for her living expenses and school tuition. Kyoko would not let that knowledge spark any hope that her mother would change how she felt about her.

Similarly, she had suffered the same fate as her mother by blindly falling for a man that used her to advance his career then casually threw her away like a used tissue. She was aware that her problems with Shotaro were insignificant compared to her mother's. This imposter wormed his way into her mother's heart all to steal information from her client to give his company the upper hand in a legal case. Unfortunately, he had stolen more than information from her mother.

Her mother was a smart and sensible young woman that chose to love and believe in the man she had given her heart and body. Kyoko was glad things with Shotaro had not escalated to a physical level. Kyoko realized that her love for her childhood friend was nothing more than infatuation after recognizing her feelings for Ren or more appropriately, Kuon. Shotaro never made her feel the way he did. If Kuon ever betrayed her she would probably cease to exist. Her only salvation would be to cast away that destructive emotion once and for all. There would be no pieces to pick up. It frightened her to think that he could have such power over her but his actions and words assured her daily of his love. He had been by her side since she was six years old, first as her Fairy prince, then as her corn stone, and finally as her senpai. It had to be fate. Her heart was always at war whenever she thought of him. Thinking of Kuon would either make it beat erratically or fill her with ease. She had a feeling her mother had felt that kind of love with her father. The same heart-stopping earth-shattering kind of love that she felt with Kuon.

She decided that it would be a direct betrayal to her mother by acknowledging this man. Even if she was curious, she couldn't in good conscience be disloyal to her mother. She already caused her enough heartache from just being born. At least Kyoko convinced herself that was the sole reason for not meeting him. She didn't want to acknowledge the nagging thought that if she met him she might like him. She didn't want to get attached for fear of him leaving again. It was better to not get involved from the beginning.

...

"I'm so sorry Ren! It looks like the honeymoon has finally come to an end," Yashiro said in a tear stricken voice.

Kyoko stopped in her tracks. The voice of her manager pulled her out of her thoughts. She blinked up to find Yashiro with his palm over his face, distraught as Ren hid his face against the window sobbing into his arm. What did she miss? She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she failed to notice them as she stomped her way down the hall. In her attempt to not look out the windows while she walked through this corridor, she ignored anyone walking by.

Kyoko looked perplexed. What could have happened to him? She was by his side in an instant. "Ren, are you okay?" Kyoko placed her hand gently on his arm concerned by his uncharacteristic behavior in public. She looked up and down the hall to make sure no one was coming. They couldn't see him in distress. He must have received some bad news from the President or something. Maybe his parents...

"He's fine Kyoko-chan! He's feeling lonely and heartbroken. To think there was such a woman in the world with the ability to not notice his presence. He's just shaken up about being blatantly ignored by the woman he loves is all." Yashiro leaned in and whispered to Kyoko. "If you give him a kiss, I'm sure he would be revived." Kyoko considered Yashiro's words and nodded. She could practically see the fangirl in their manager doing a victory cheer.

Rather than kissing her boyfriend to cheer him up, Kyoko stomped away. "Ugh! I don't have time to deal with sissy boys right now," she exclaimed. Before she could get far, Ren enveloped her in his arms from behind and ignored Yashiro's squeal at their public display of affection. She smiled and tiptoed to kiss him on the cheek making him grin down at her happily.

"Want to tell me why you were staring at the wall muttering to yourself?" Ren asked without lettering her go. He had an inkling as to what was bothering her. It most likely had something to do with the distinguished-looking gentleman kneeling outside of LME right now. He had watched the man down below while he patiently waited for her. The man reminded him of the day when he first met Kyoko. He wondered if she remembered that day as well. Maybe she got her guts from him. Ren and Yashiro heard her stomping down the hall and turned away from the view outside to watch her. It was a complete shock to see her walk right past him.

Kyoko deflated. She just wanted to lose herself in his arms, drown in his reassuring scent, and leave all her problems behind. She told him yesterday that her father was camping outside LME waiting to ambush her. The construction work on the employee entrance even continued today. When she walked to the main entrance flanked by Yashiro and Ren, she could have sworn their eyes met briefly. She thought he would try to accost her right then but he didn't move which left her confused. Could she have been mistaken? Perhaps he didn't recognize her after all. She felt relieved as she walked through the main entrance.

Kyoko made her way to the LoveMe room while Yashiro accompanied Ren to his meeting with the director of his newest offer. Ren would be playing a heroic paramedic in this next drama. Kyoko performed a few LoveMe tasks while she waited for them to finish. It was when she had nothing to do that had her thinking of the man downstairs thus her stomping her way to the meeting with Lory.

"Are you ready? Takarada-san wanted to see us again." Ren held her hand as they walked to the President's office. Yashiro left them and headed back to his office. They could fill him in later. The couple braced themselves. They never knew what sort of environment they would be walking into given Lory's tenacity for expressive themes. Kyoko's smile broadened as Ruto led them inside. The place was transformed into a kind of candy land theme. Every surface was covered and decorated in some sort of candy. Kyoko plucked a piece of chocolate from nearby and tasted it. Her golden orbs widened when she realized that it was real. They had come upon Lory where he sat in his overly decorated sitting room with none other than Director Konoe. They greeted and bowed to the gentlemen.

Director Konoe practically jumped out of his seat with glee. He had not seen the actors since filming wrapped in Guam. Since then, he had paid attention to both their careers. He took in Kyoko's appearance in her hot pink coveralls. It was his first time seeing her in the flesh without the guise of Setsuka Heel. He knew he was right in thinking she was a good girl despite her outward appearance as Setsu. He thought about his time spent with the two on set. They had finally made it official that they were dating. He blushed slightly as he recalled the hickey on Cain. Now he was sure that it came from her. He apologized internally for assuming that Yashiro was the culprit. It was difficult to imagine that this sweet innocent looking girl could do something so intimate, but now that he knew they were a couple he was torn. They must have been secretly dating back then. He now understood why their eccentric President made them siblings instead of lovers. They were unapproachable if people thought they had a taboo relationship. He looked over at the President of LME. It was difficult trying to picture such a calculated plan coming from a man who was dressed in a purple velour suit and an orange top hat.

"Please have a seat. Director Konoe would like to discuss the upcoming premiere of Tragic Marker," Lory said, gesturing to the empty loveseat.

Konoe waited until the pair settled before he began. "As you both know, well Tsuruga-kun, the premiere of Tragic Marker is fast approaching. I'm sure both of you are familiar with such events."

Aside from the Dark Moon party, Kyoko had never been to such an event before. She wasn't about to interrupt the director just to correct his assumption.

"We would like Cain to make an appearance at the premiere. You can continue to portray him as you've developed him. Of course, what is Cain without his beloved little sister? We hope you will be in attendance as Cain's plus one as well," Konoe said, turning to Kyoko. Kyoko blushed slightly and was suddenly reminded of all the naughty things she did as Setsu. She wanted to crawl underneath a rock from the memory.

"It's at the after-party during the cast interviews that I would like to reveal Cain to Japan and the world if it's okay with you."

"I understand," Ren said nodding his assent. He knew this was coming.

"As far as revealing Setsuka-chan, I leave that up to you guys to decide. She wasn't part of the production so there's no obligation to tell anyone; however, I fear the cast and crew will begin to speculate about your relationship with her Tsuruga-kun. I, for one, am a huge fan, Kyoko-san. I hope we can collaborate again soon. I do enjoy a good murder mystery."

As a newbie, Kyoko was delighted by Konoe's assessment of her acting. She hoped to work with him again someday.

After the director left, the couple squirmed under Lory's scrutiny. Was this a change of tactic by him? They didn't know what to make of him staring while eating a rainbow swirl lollipop without saying a word.

The strain and silence had become so thick that the couple jolted when little people dressed in white coveralls with green hair and orange skin showed up out of nowhere and broke out in song. Both stars gazed at the troupe in wonder. Where in the world did Lory find them? When their performance ended, Kyoko applauded enthusiastically. Ren made a mental note to try and get a copy of the movie so they could watch it together sometime.

Lory finally put down the lollipop and addressed Ren. "Are you ready for this reveal Ren? Your reputation as Tsuruga Ren could take a hit with this one. Director Konoe was kind enough to give me an early release version of the movie and I must say it was disconcerting. I'm glad your talisman worked well," he said nodding to Kyoko. She wasn't entirely sure what Lory was talking about but smiled anyway. She would ask later.

"Aside from not being my kind of movie, I have to say your performance was superb. With this, I think you have surpassed your father at this age. Once this film is released, I have no doubt you would shoot to international stardom. You will have earned your way to Hollywood," Lory praised. He wondered what path Ren would take now that he had love anchoring him to Japan.

Ren shifted nervously and met Kyoko's gaze. Her golden eyes radiated with love and admiration at this achievement. It was always his dream to make it to Hollywood with his own power but all that had changed after falling in love with her. There's no way he would choose his career over her but he knew she would be disappointed if he gave it up for her. He would find a way to make it work so he could have both.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, boss. The role as BJ was indeed difficult but you were right. Having Kyoko by my side helped me succeed. It's all thanks to her that I was able to perform that role adequately. She is the reason I can finally accept my past and look forward to my future."

Lory smiled at the young man before him. He had come so far from the broken teenage boy he brought home with him. He was happy that Ren's eyes sparkled with new life. He was happier when those eyes brightened, even more, when he looked at the young lady beside him. The final step was for him to accept his true roots. He didn't think that time was too far off. Kuu, Juliena, Lory thought. Your baby boy is reviving and it's all thanks to the love of a special woman.

Changing topics, Lory turned shrewd eyes on Kyoko. "What do you plan on doing with the man that has become a lawn ornament in the front of my building? If he falls ill waiting for you, will you take responsibility?"

Kyoko sighed. She knew this would come up sooner or later. She was conflicted. Acknowledging the man would be a direct slap in the face to her mother. Knowing the pain he inflicted on her mother, she didn't want to add to it.

"It's your mother, isn't it. You're worried about her." Lory smiled. She never ceased to amaze him. It didn't matter that her mother had disowned her on national TV. She was still loyal to her. He liked that trait in a person. For Kyoko though, he felt a little pitiful for the girl. To him, it meant that she was holding out hope that her mother would one day acknowledge her.

"Eh? How did you know? Do you have ESP?" Kyoko asked skeptically.

"You're curious aren't you? What's his story I wonder?" Lory said, stroking his chin. "You had a long talk with your mother before, right?"

Kyoko looked down at her lap and nodded. She gripped the pink fabric tightly.

"She explained everything properly."

She nodded again.

"There are always two sides to a story. Perhaps his version might surprise you? You may regret having missed this opportunity." His tone turned serious. "You won't be able to move forward like this."

Ren had to agree with the president. It was similar to what he said last night when she told him about her father's presence at LME. Kyoko always faced things head-on. It was one of the many qualities he loved about her. She would eventually regret not confronting this man. This morning as they walked in he noticed the man perk up when he saw Kyoko. He was ready to intervene if he made a scene in front of LME. He knew the paparazzi following them were nearby just waiting for a big scoop. He was impressed that the man had enough sense to stay seated. Ren had a feeling that Lory intentionally shut down the other entrances to the building so Kyoko would be forced to see her father.

Kyoko nibbled on her bottom lip. She was still at a loss on what to do.

"How about calling your mother?" Lory suggested. "Maybe she could give you some insight. I don't think she would be able to ignore this situation either. I would have called her already but I left it to you to figure out."

Kyoko nodded weakly. Lory was right. Her mother at least deserved to know. She had been dreading this moment since she found out about her father. It wasn't like their relationship improved since their talk. Kyoko didn't want to once again be responsible for dredging up old wounds.

AN: Phew, you know where I'm going with this next setup. Glad you guys picked up on the references on the last chapter that I made with her father and herself. I was trying to show that she inherited some things from him. The next chapter will be Kyoko confronting her father. I just finished reviewing this today so I'm late. Thanks to President Trump's executive order, I have a day off today while on work travel, which in my eyes sucks when you have to share a vehicle with co-workers. I can't just do what I want and there's no way I'll uber here so I chose to be a slob and finish this in my hotel room. Plus, it's too damn cold outside. Aside from the holidays and boots, I hate winter…LOL. I'm from Florida so any temp below 70 is freezing to me.

Enough about me. I hope this chapter wasn't too boring, bear with me, I'm transitioning again. Thanks again to all you readers and for all the reviews as well. I appreciate all the reviews. H-Nala did this chapter explain better? She's technically not angry at him due to abandonment, I mean he didn't know she existed. Maybe more abandonment of her mother. She's angrier at him for his deception and as a fellow woman scorned she can understand her mother's pain and actions. I hope I expressed that a little better.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^