Chapter 37: Stage Name

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, someone would try to pry into Ren's past by now.

What should I do, Corn?" Kyoko asked, nibbling on her bottom lip. She was once again turning to her Senpai for his wisdom as they rode down the elevator. The man that claimed to be her father just shared his version of what happened with her mother over seventeen years ago and she was feeling more confused than ever. Despite his betrayal, she couldn't bring herself to hate the man.

Ren looked down, warmly at his girlfriend. He loved that she always turned to him for advice. It made him feel needed; however, in this case, he wasn't sure how to approach it. He came away from tonight's meeting, thinking that her father may be the real deal and just what she needed to have that familial love she had been denied all her life. Sure his Dad had practically adopted her, but he didn't live in Japan, so there was still that disconnect. As much as he wanted to keep her to himself, he knew she needed this.

"As I told you, baby," he began, caressing her cheek, hoping to soothe the worry from her face. "It's your decision. You already know my thoughts on the man. I can tell he already sways you", and that's what I love about you. You always see the good in others. You don't let their past mistakes cloud your judgment without giving them a chance."

Kyoko frowned. Was he talking about himself? He needed to stop punishing himself for the things that he couldn't control in his past.

Ren continued missing her facial expression. "He sounded sincere enough. So I would give him a chance. Innocent until proven guilty, I guess. He hasn't personally done anything to hurt you, aside from breaking into your room. I should thank him for that since it got you to move in with me." He chuckled as she playfully shoved him. "You also have to understand that he is new at this, and so are you so there will be a learning curve. The fact that he was willing to go through such lengths for you makes me believe that he already loves you unconditionally as a parent should."

All conversations came to a halt as the elevator opened to the ground floor. Kyoko and Ren made their way through the parking lot, where Ruto waited with the limo. It was Lory's idea to bring Ruto along should things escalate unfavorably.

Kyoko bowed to Ruto. She felt terrible that he had to wait for them. "Thank you for your hard work Ruto-san."

"It was my honor Mogami-san. Is everything okay?" Ruto asked as held open the rear door.

"Yes, Ruto-san. You may inform the president," Ren replied, then climbed into the car. He knew Lory would be on edge, wondering how things went.

After Ren and Kyoko left for the night, Tadashi went about cleaning the dishes. His mind was running through all the father and daughter things they could finally do together when she accepted him. Maybe he could take her to Disney. They could have a father-daughter date. He saw that a new French cafe was opening up; perhaps he could take her there someday. He sighed as his dreams were dashed, recalling the guard dog by her side. It seemed like he may have also inherited a son. As protective as that boy was of her, Tadashi doubted that he would get any alone time with her soon. He didn't mind; it would allow him to get to know the young man. He hoped Ren truly loved his daughter and wasn't stringing her along for benefits. He knew how easily it was to deceive and manipulate Saena when she was so young. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to get Sota to look into him just for good measure.

His imaginary Tadashi angel popped up on his shoulder. "No, no, no, you can't go around thinking every guy is a scumbag like you! Things are already in a good place; you shouldn't go around trying to stir things up!" The angel scolded.

The Tadashi devil popped up on the opposite shoulder. "They're already living together. What kind of man of his stature has a thing for little girls? What if he's a Lolicon and into S and M? Do you want to leave your baby girl in such perilous hands?"

Tadashi angel intervened, "You saw how protective he was of her. There's no way he would do anything to hurt her."

Tadashi devil countered, "He is Japan's top actor for crying out loud! It's his job! He can fool anyone with his skills. He can have any woman in the world with his good looks and fame. Why would he choose her of all women? She's still a child!"

"Maybe because he has good taste. And Kyoko is not a child! With parental permission, she is old enough to get married in this country. Any man would be lucky to have her. She's gorgeous, intelligent, independent, talented, humble, kind, a fantastic cook..." The angel kept listing all his daughter's great qualities while the devil stopped listening.

"But is he even Japanese? He seemed a little forward for one. Isn't it a bit suspicious that he's so ridiculously tall? Don't you want to protect your flesh and blood from future heartache? If you discover anything now, you can let her know before things get more serious between them. It's your duty as a father to protect her from lecherous men."

The devil had hit the nail on the head with that last statement. The angel had no choice but to throw in the towel and admit defeat. Tadashi finished cleaning the dishes and wiped his hands. Tadashi didn't know the first thing about being a parent. He made a mental note to pick up some self-help books tomorrow. He felt one thing for certain, like the devil said, it was his duty as her father to ensure her safety. It wouldn't hurt to do a quick check on him. He picked up his phone and made the call.

Kuon emerged from the bathroom, in the buff, toweling off his hair. Now that Kyoko was comfortable, well he wouldn't quite say comfortable, with his lack of clothing, he could once again walk around their home as he pleased. She still blushed despite their intimate time together, which he found adorable. He was relieved to see her already in their bed albeit asleep.

She had started acting weird as soon as they got home and locked herself in the other bathroom. Kuon wondered if her stomach felt unwell after dinner. He took a moment to focus on his body; he felt fine. He went to knock on the bathroom door but stopped when he heard the shower running. That was odd. Ever since she had barged into his shower, they made it a point to shower together. They had even done so that very morning. He wondered if he had done anything to upset her.

He pulled on a pair of boxer briefs and strolled over to the bed, crawled between the warm sheets then shut off the light. He snuggled up to Kyoko and felt that she was wearing her full pajamas. Most nights, they usually went to bed practically naked. Tonight she was fully clothed, which he found very suspicious. He pulled her closer, but she shied away. What did he do wrong? Why was she pulling away from him? He felt panic and stabbing pain in his heart. What was going on here?

"I'm sorry. Good night, baby. I love you," he whispered, his voice chock-full of the rejection he felt. He turned on to his side, facing away so he wouldn't be tempted to reach for her again.

Kyoko turned over, suddenly realizing her mistake. "I'm sorry, Corn. I didn't mean anything by it. I don't think you want to get close to me because I'm onmyriod." She mumbled the last words embarrassed but worried he might be mad at her.

Kuon turned over and squinted in the darkness. He could barely make out her silhouette, so he turned on the lamp. He propped himself on his elbow, curious to know what was troubling her. "What was that, babe? I didn't quite catch the last part, since you mumbled."

Kyoko closed her eyes as the bright light came on. She opened them slowly and found him watching her anxiously.

"Please don't be mad at me!" She cried, tears pricking her eyes.

Kuon sighed heavily. Why was that always her first assumption? It was a bit aggravating.

"I'm not mad. Just a bit upset. You have been acting strange since we got home. I don't know what I did wrong if you don't tell me. Are you sure it wasn't something I did?"

She shook her head, vigorously. He smiled relieved and waited for her to tell him. Kyoko's face heated with embarrassment. She didn't know where to start. He might find what she had to say disgusting. What if he kicked her out of the room? Did he even know about a woman's monthly cycle? Of course, he did! Kyoko mentally smacked her head since he bought her feminine products before. She breathed deeply and decided just to tell him outright.

"If I'm acting weird, it's because I got my period tonight. I wasn't sure how you would take it. I didn't want you to be disappointed while I'm on my cycle. If you want me to sleep in the other room, I understand."

Kuon chuckled with relief at her silly notions. As if that would bother him. There's no way he would let her sleep apart from him. Wait? Did she just imply that I'm a complete horn dog and can't keep my hands off her for a couple of days out of the month? He couldn't entirely blame her. It was challenging to keep his hands off her, especially at night. He still couldn't believe that she was here in the flesh, in his arms, and living with him. The cute little pout on her lips started turning him on. He cleared his throat to regain his focus.

"Kyoko, there's no way you're sleeping away from me. I'm perfectly capable of keeping my hands off you for however long you are indisposed," he said thoughtfully.

She lifted a brow mockingly. "Oh? This, I would like to see."

"You'll see! I can wait; how long does it last...a day...two. I can live with that," Kuon retorted.

"Try more like five to seven days," Kyoko corrected.

Kuon's mouth hung agape. How was he supposed to hold out for that long? Kyoko threw a pillow at his pitiful face. She laughed at his shocked expression when it nailed him.

"Why you?" He threatened.

Kyoko shrieked as Kuon tackled her and started in on his infamous tickle torture. She cheated by kissing him soundly on the mouth. His tirade ended as he focused on returning the passionate kiss.

Forgetting himself, Kuon's hands slipped down to her waistband. Kyoko gripped his hand and guided it to her breast instead. He thumbed her peak as he kissed across her jawline blazing a hot trail toward her chest. In between kisses, he muttered, "So down there...kiss... is off-limits,...kiss...but everything above is still...kiss...fair game?"

"Yes," She gasped as his mouth closed over her covered breast. It was hard to deny him that much when he made her feel so good. Kyoko boldly skimmed her had down his body and reached between them to cup his erection. She felt the heat of his groan through her saturated shirt, making her giggle. She loved the way he reacted to her touch. Since he was distracted, Kyoko easily pushed him on his back and straddled him.

Kuon's hands instantly reached for her hips and ground his hardness into her center. She didn't object which meant this was okay. They may not have been going all the way, but he was entirely satisfied with their level of intimacy.

Kyoko was surprised that she could still feel all the usual sensations as she rocked her hips into him. His hands slid up from her hips to cup her breasts and squeezed. When he had her quivering above him, he sat up and helped remove her shirt. He engulfed her in his strong arms grazing her back with his fingertips. It always amazed her how solid his broad chest was in comparison to her soft flesh. She sought his mouth, and slipped her tongue passed his lips. Their tongues collided with long, languid strokes as she pushed him down against the bed. She broke away and took her time kissing her way down his neck as he did to her, pausing to suck lightly on his erratically beating pulse. She continued the slow torturous descent down his body.

Kuon held his breath as she slid her body down the length of him and hovered over his cock. Her nipples grazing his thighs was a new level of hell for him. The scratching of her nails curling around his waistband made him eagerly lift his hips to help remove the offending garment. His dick sprung to attention when it was finally set free. Her golden eyes crossed with amazement as she eyed his throbbing cock. His dark emerald eyes rolled back into its sockets the moment her hot wet lips closed over the tip. Before he completely blanked out from pure ecstasy, he thought, I could definitely manage a week.

The Next Day

The photographer, Sousuke, paused while the make-up artist dabbed translucent powder on Kyoko's nose. Even with the air conditioning at full blast in the studio, she was sweating under the bright lights. Trying to model winter clothes during the end of summer was proving a bit difficult. Fuji had warned her that this is how things were since they had to get advertisements for clothes completed before the actual season. She paled when he told her to wait until he got her in a swimsuit during the winter months. It wasn't the temperature that she feared. The fact that she was expected to wear a swimsuit in front of the camera was what agitated her. Taisho would possibly filet someone when those photos hit the street.

For this take, Kyoko wore a pair of rather very short patent leather hot pants, a snug black mock turtle neck sweater, and an unbuttoned gray tweed trench coat. A pair of heeled booties complemented the outfit with a small black handbag. The stylist curled her lengthy hair, and the make-up was kept natural save for the blood-red color on her lips.

"Okay, Kyoko-chan, saunter towards me," Sousuke instructed. A fan was turned on, giving the illusion that a breeze was blowing her hair back and billowing her coat as she walked. She felt awkward having to walk so slow, but somehow she managed. She tried not to giggle as Sousuke buzzed around her like a busy bee to capture different angles. He shouted orders such as, "turn your head this way, chin up, mind the lighting, good, your arm is stiff, you're a city girl…" Her head was buzzing by the time he called it a wrap. She was relieved that it was the last outfit for the day.

Ren had entered the studio with Yashiro when the fan turned on. He smiled when she assumed "the walk." He thought fondly of that night in his apartment hallway. He had taught her how to walk like the most beautiful supermodel he had known in the world to grasp her role as Natsu. In the right pair of heels, she could easily conquer the runway by storm. He stood at the back wall and admired her while she worked. She looked gorgeous in the outfit, but in his personal opinion, her shorts were a little too revealing for his taste. Her long, lean legs were perfectly accentuated for all the world to see, making him glower. He had to hand it to Fuji, though; he knew how to bring out the best in her. When the shoot was a wrap, she shrugged out of her coat and handed it along with the handbag to the wardrobe assistant.

His heart skipped a beat when she flashed her brilliant smile at him. Clad in all black, she walked like a panther towards him and Yashiro. His eye twitched as he watched every male head in her path turn as she passed. He chuckled softly. She was still so oblivious to the effect she had on men and even some women. She paused when she heard a crash behind her and stopped to inspect the disturbance. A couple of crew hands had collided with each other from staring at her too hard. She approached them with concern. Ren watched amused as the men tried to recover and stuttered at the beauty before them. He almost felt sorry for them but understood their plight all too well. When she was assured that they were okay, she continued towards him.

Kyoko gave them a small bow in greeting, remembering her attire. She was worried her butt would fall out of these shorts. Yashiro handed her a bottle of water and a towel.

"Good work, Kyoko-chan. You looked very comfortable in front of the camera. Didn't she, Ren?" Yashiro praised. He looked at Ren expectantly.

"Stunning," Ren added, which made her blush.

"Thank you, both." She used the towel to pat the sweat off her brow. Even though the studio was cold, the harsh lights used for the shoot generated a lot of heat. Wearing a coat and sweater didn't help matters.

"It looks like modeling has become your forté as well, Kyoko-chan. We've had several companies come forward asking for you specifically to endorse their products. I managed to segregate the few that would work with your schedule," Yashiro informed her. His inner fangirl was satisfied ever since these two hooked up. He enjoyed the lovey-dovey atmosphere surrounding them when he picked them up this morning. It meant the issue with her father didn't put a damper on her spirits. Yashiro was eager to meet the man that made up half of her gene pool. According to Ren, he was intelligent, and even as a man found him good looking. He was probably biased because it was Kyoko's father. Ren's opinion of the man was favorable, but he did caveat it with a so far.

Ren was quite pleased that she was getting noticed for her work rather than as his girlfriend. From the feedback she shared, there were some jobs where the directors initially thought she was nothing more than a pretty face. Her professionalism and talent eventually won over their hearts before the tasks were complete. She was steadily making a name for herself.

Fuji eyed the trio after confirming the remainder of the shots were perfect. It was now or never. He broached the topic with the LME President and was surprised how the cosplaying mogul took control of his request to suit his needs. Fuji thought his plan was brilliant, even if he was skeptical that it would work.

He approached the trio just ask Kyoko was hounding Ren about what he ate for lunch. "Excuse me, Ren, Yashiro-san, good to see you again. Are you guys here to pick up Kyoko-chan?"

"Fuji-san, good to see you too," Ren greeted, and Yashiro bowed.

"Yes, they both have different jobs scheduled at TBM this evening," Yashiro informed him.

"Oh, wow, it must be difficult on you as their manager to juggle their schedules and try to be at two places at once," Fuji commented in awe of their super manager.

"Not at all, it's rather simple. Plus, I'm blessed with two responsible young stars that make my job easy. It's almost a wonder why I still have a job," Yashiro chuckled. It was the truth, unlike some of his counterparts, his charges were very reliable and professional. The other managers were jealous of him. For the past five years as Ren's manager, Yashiro was almost bored; it wasn't until now that Kyoko came into the picture that these two began stirring up the waters. Even then, it wasn't so infamous as some of the other stars their age.

"Don't be modest, Yashiro-san; I would be lost without you," Ren said, and Kyoko nodded in agreement.

"My life is less frazzled, having Yashiro as a voice of reason. He's good at his job, especially after adding me to his plate. Thank you, Yashiro-san, for taking care of me," Kyoko added with another small bow.

"It's my pleasure Kyoko-chan." He was glad she didn't know the real reason for him taking her on as his charge. If one were to ask him, he would say that her workload was increasing and needed protection. The President had shared with him the problems she was having with Sho. He was glad that the singer was out of the picture. Then there was the Kimiko issue; he had a nagging feeling that the ex-actress wasn't done with Kyoko just yet. Yashiro's real reason was a bit selfish. He wanted to create some opportunities for her and Ren to spend more time together. It was excruciatingly painful to watch them dance around each other before they got together. Like a dutiful manager, it was his job to intervene. He didn't have to try hard before the two became a happy couple leaving his heart's desire fulfilled.

"Well, before you leave Kyoko-chan, I wanted to bring up the topic of fashion week. I already cleared it with Takarada-san. I would like you to accompany me and the team to Los Angeles, California's, fashion week in October. I know it's a little soon, but I wanted you to keep that week open. I'm finishing up my avant-garde collection for the catwalk. I want you there as my "IT" girl. You won't have to walk the runway and help assist backstage. Quite frankly, I just want to show you off and have you wear some of the more 'ready to wear' versions of the runway outfits to the events. There will be photoshoots as well to take advantage of the foreign location," Fuji informed her. Yashiro was already penciling it into his notepad as Fuji talked.

Kyoko's eyes sparkled at the prospect of going to America, especially Los Angeles, where Otou-san lived with the Fairy Queen. She wanted to go. Then it dawned on her as she turned to her boyfriend, "Ren, are you going as well. Of course, you're going. You're the top male model for R'Mandy. Why didn't you tell me?" She asked a little upset that he kept her in the dark.

Fuji smiled sneakily. This was precisely the reaction the president expected. Fuji was a little pessimistic when Lory suggested the plan but so far things were moving accordingly. Lory told him that he could no doubt count on Kyoko to ask Ren about it. That guy would go chasing after Kyoko without hesitation.

Ren kept the surprise off his face. Every year since he became a model for R'Mandy, Fuji had asked him to participate in LA fashion week. Every year, Ren had declined, claiming he could not fit it in his schedule. He, in fact, always had Yashiro double book him for that month so that he wasn't genuinely lying.

"Um, Kyoko-chan. You see, Ren is always so busy that time of year and never participates in the show. I have an international model from Europe with the same build for this event. He usually walks in his place for su…."

"I can go!" Ren heard himself interjecting before even considering the ramifications of his decision. "I mean if it's not too much trouble to include me. I would like to represent the brand and attend, as well."

Hook, line, and sinker! Fuji thought. The President was right; Ren was too easy to catch when using Kyoko as bait.

"Are you sure, Ren? Fashion week is a big deal for me, so if I use you as my model, you can't back out on me due to a conflict. I swear if you screw me, I will terminate your contract and never use you again!" Fuji added for a dramatic flair.

Ren gulped, he had never seen the designer so serious. "I won't let you down, Fuji-san. Thank you for the opportunity."

Kyoko looked at him, concerned. She understood why Ren would refuse events in the States, but why was he doing it now. She would have to ask him later when they were alone.

"Wonderful, I'm so excited to have you both representing the brand. This fashion week is going to be my best one yet. I'm feeling rather inspired," Fuji clapped excitedly and floated away to his workstation.

After their conversation with Fuji, Kyoko changed so they could head to TBM.

Later that Night

"He who learns but does not think is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger," Tadashi recited through the hole in the door. The guard let out a little noise that sounded very much like a snicker before opening the door. It was then as he stepped through the threshold that Tadashi wondered if Sota was just playing a trick on him.

Tadashi grumbled a greeting as he slid into the booth occupied by Sota. "What's got you in a bad mood?" Sota asked.

"I have the sneaky suspicion that I'm the only one in this club that needs a password to get in," Tadashi grumbled, folding his arms.

Sota laughed heartily. "You finally found me out. I was hoping to keep it going a little longer, but I was struggling with some good quotes. I got this last one from google sensei."

Tadashi narrowed his eyes at his friend, "Do you have what I asked for?"

"More or less," Sota said with a shrug.

Tadashi opened the packet and took a glance; there wasn't anything in there that he couldn't get from the internet.

"What is this? Where's the rest? Birth certificate, family, school?" he asked, shuffling through the sparse sheets.

"As I said, more or less. It's a stage name. Many celebrities do it, so it's not uncommon. All the information I could find was in the past five years back to when he debuted in Japan. The rest is unknown."

"What about your source? Surely he could provide something more." The lack of information on this man was making Tadashi panic. He just wanted a little inside scoop on the guy, maybe find a few scandals or violations with the police. This revelation was far more than he bargained.

"My government source said that his files are sealed, and that's all they had on his public record. Someone powerful is protecting him. Maybe, you could try to be a normal father and just grill the guy with questions."

"I thought about that, but I don't want her to hate me."

"Really? If she found out you did a background check on her boyfriend, she would hate you," Sota admonished.

Tadashi cringed at the reality of the situation. "I just don't want to see her get hurt if he turns out to be someone other than he claims," Tadashi sighed heavily. He found being a parent of a teenage daughter was quite stressful, and it was only day one. He was three chapters into a parenting book, and he already felt lost. He almost wished he left things alone. There was no turning back now since a father's spirit was ignited within him. He needed to know who the man was now that he was living together with his daughter.

"He could be under the witness protection program. You know to hide in plain sight. Although being a celebrity is stretching it a bit," Sota suggested.

Tadashi contemplated his friend's words. Could it be as simple as that? He doubted Saena would know anything. She seemed to have wanted nothing to do with Kyoko at all, let alone her associates. That only left one person. He checked his watch; it was late. He would have to try in the morning.

AN: I hope you all could see where I'm going with this setup. A fluff chapter to keep us moving forward, which is I don't even freaking know what month it is I'm thinking like late August by now. I'm going to start circling back to tie up some of the other points I've started.

Ask, and you shall receive I hope the smut bit wasn't gross. Every couple is different with sex during the month Aunt Flow comes to visit. Per usual, I just went with my personal experience, off-limits, or in the shower…lol…TMI?

Brennakai's review was kind of heading in the direction I was going with Tadashi's comment regarding Ren's height. You got me thinking, though, thank you!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for continuing to read and big thanks to those that left a review. Your feedback gives me ideas!

Oh, and if I didn't say this, Tadashi quotes Confucius for these passwords.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^