Chapter 43: My Angel

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, RenKuonKyo would be the balm for each other's tortured souls.

Kyoko was startled awake from Kuon thrashing in his sleep. He was having another nightmare. He told her the dreams had ceased since she moved in with him, but they were starting up again. If she thought about it, they began after he made the conscious decision to attend L.A. fashion week. She wondered if it was a good idea to make him go. Maybe he wasn't ready yet. She felt guilty for forcing him. Of course, she wasn't forcing him per se, but it felt like her going was forcing him to go along with her. He was tight-lipped when she confronted him about the dreams brushing it off by claiming he couldn't remember. Kyoko couldn't refute this argument having experienced similar dreams herself. She would try to persuade him to talk about it later, but first, they needed to get through the next few days as the Heel siblings. She hoped they could get through them unscathed.

As soon as she reached out for him he calmed down, her touch soothing him. She adjusted her body and guided his head to rest on her bosom. The fact that she was still naked hardly fazed her anymore. He quieted down as she stroked her fingers through his silky hair like a mother would a child and sang softly, "It's just like heaven being here with you, You're like an angel, too good to be true, But after all, I love you, I do, Angel baby, my angel baby..."

Tears gathered in her eyes as her heart clenched. Kyoko's voice shook with emotion, but she continued to sing. "When you are near me, my heart skips a beat, I can hardly stand on my own two feet, Because I love you, I love you, I do, Angel baby, my angel baby..." The tears pooling in her eyes slowly rolled down her cheeks. She quietly sniffed. She cried in his stead since he refused to show her any more weakness. He always assured her that he was fine, but on nights like these, his subconscious said otherwise.

Her breath caught as his arms circled her waist and squeezed. It broke her heart to know that he was still suffering, still blaming himself for what happened in the past. Her strong, handsome, and brave Senpai clung to her in his sleep like a toddler, fearful that she might disappear at any moment. He was slowly on his way to redemption. It would just take some time. She knew there will always be residual pain since it was the same with her. With time and each other, the pain would subside, replacing bad memories with good. She hummed a little more until his breathing evened convincing her he was in a deep sleep. She kissed the top of his head just before her eyes fluttered close.

Later that morning, Kyoko laid on Kuon's lap while he absentmindedly threaded his fingers through her hair. They lounged on the couch in companionable silence as each of them caught up with their email. They normally tried to stay off their devices when they had time alone together, but the numerous emails in their inboxes could no longer be ignored. Yashiro told them that there were emails that needed their attention. Since they were going to be Cain and Setsu for the next few days, they needed to take a break from each other, and respond to work emails.

"Moko-san sent me a reply," she squealed in his lap as she came across an email from her best friend. Kuon smiled at her excitement and patted her head she read the latest adventures of Kanae in America. Kanae had impressed the director and producers and ultimately got the job as Kyoko expected. The Director seemed satisfied with the way Kanae developed her character. The other cast members treated her well but to Kanae's annoyance, she had to fend off countless American men. They were different from Japanese men and very persistent. She told Kyoko she almost wished Hiou was there to scare them off.

Kyoko sent a reply stating that it was because Kanae was so beautiful, and smart, and talented, and gorgeous, and kind that even other countries, not just Japan, fell in love with her instantly. She also told her about coming out for fashion week and wondered if Kanae would still be in L.A. at the time. She highly doubted it, but that didn't stop her from dreaming of having an overseas adventure with her best friend. She debated telling Kanae about her father but decided their friendship depended on her sharing this information. She figured Kanae might seriously sever their ties if she found out later or through other means. She assured Kanae that everything was fine and not to worry.

While she responded to Kanae, her phone chirped with a text from Chiori asking if she was available tomorrow. Kyoko had to decline. She would be tied up fulfilling her Something Dangerous LoveMe assignment for the next few days. She checked her schedule and found she had some time next week in the afternoon before her Boh slot. She responded to Chiori to find out if that would work for her.

"Something good?" Kuon asked curiously after a few messages were exchanged.

"I have a date with Chiori-san next week," she gushed.

"I hope you girls have fun," he chuckled and resumed stroking her hair.

Kyoko went back to her mail. She found that required her opinion on a product she would be promoting then moved on to one from her father.

He told her he enjoyed the time they spent together last night. He was impressed with the little cafe and the food they served. He hoped they could do it again or try a new place. He liked being the guinea pig for the Chef's new recipes.

Kyoko agreed. She enjoyed the surprise menu Jean-Luc had prepared for them too. What she didn't agree on was the fact that their entire meal was free. It was odd not having to pay for something when she was finally earning a decent wage. She was shocked when Jean-Luc told them their money wasn't good there yet they were always welcomed. Thanks to the CM, the place was thriving because of them. He showed them the autographed picture taken during the CM that he framed and hung on the wall. Having them endorse the place was more than enough.

Her father's email contained an invitation for dinner at his home once they were through with their assignment.

"Kuon, Tadashi-san would like to have dinner at his home sometime after our return. Would you be available?" She asked biting her lower lip. This was an opportunity to get to know him better, and she would be more comfortable with Kuon's presence.

"That should be fine if it's later in the evening," he replied.

"Okay, I'll let him know which day works best for us after talking to Yashiro-san."

The last email in her inbox was one from Fuji. It contained the pictures of her latest photo session. She was always amazed at her modeling shots. She couldn't believe that was her in the photographs. Fuji and Sousuke were magicians. She opened the attachment that Fuji claimed required her attention.

"Kuon, do designers normally ask models for their input on their clothes?" She asked, interrupting the silence again. She wondered if he found her questions bothersome.

"It depends on the designer. Like Fuji-san, for instance, he prefers that his models love the clothes they would be wearing so it's not unheard of that he would reach out for your opinion. Is it from him?"

She nodded.

"Feel free to be brutally honest. He would appreciate it."

"Okay," Kyoko said quietly and studied the designs. She liked them all, but she couldn't tell him that. It would be useless feedback for the designer. She looked them over again and took her time giving her honest opinion on color, cut, and neckline. When she thought she provided an honest response, she opened the last attachment.

Kyoko gasped and gawked at the fashion drawings included.

"What's wrong, Princess?" He asked pausing from reading his mail.

"Fuji-san wants to hold a photoshoot on the beach while we're in L.A.," she whispered.

Kuon frowned when she didn't say more. Kyoko turned her phone in his direction.

"Oh!" He exclaimed, looking at the sketch. The drawing model wore a very tiny bikini. He groaned. Is that supposed to be a swimsuit? Is Fuji-san taking advantage of the fact that they would be in the States where wearing something this revealing was considered normal? Her thumb clicked on the button to scroll through the images of more swimsuits. He was glad none of them were more revealing than that first one.

"Maybe I should go on a diet and start working out more," she sighed. I thought I had until spring to worry about this sort of thing. She suddenly remembered Fuji's warning about clothing and seasons. Swimsuit shoot in the Fall season would be right on track for a summer release. Kyoko was worried she wouldn't look good in such mature swimwear. Sho's old words threatened to burst forth from the far reaches of her mind.

Kuon knew exactly where her thoughts were going. "Don't you dare start thinking like that! I don't mind if you do those things for health reasons, but if you think your body is inadequate you are dead wrong." He leaned down and pulled her into a passionate kiss. He left her breathless when he pulled away. "Trust me I'm an expert in you. You are stunning just the way you are." His fingers trailed from her hips to cup her face. "There's nothing that needs changing. As a model and actress, there's a certain image to uphold so I understand the need to stay fit just don't go overboard. We can work out together if you like. I have some equipment here, but I think that it would be too heavy for you. We can use the gym at LME if we can ever find the time."

Kyoko nodded and kissed him. She laid back down and finished her response to Fuji. She would try to do her best.

She was finally done reading her mail and looked up at her boyfriend. He had significantly more to go through than she did. She felt bad for having taken up all his time since she moved in. He was not the type to ignore work.

Kuon scrolled through his email. He sighed while continuing to run his free hand through Kyoko's hair. What had he been up to until now? There were many emails from women he had worked with in the past. Looking at the messages, it was no wonder Kyoko thought he was a playboy. He was disgusted with his public persona. Why did he make Ren be a gentleman to everyone? He thought that he went public with Kyoko this behavior would cease. It only seemed to increase and the women had become bolder. He stopped reading the content after the first few. What did they see in him anyway? They hardly knew him and he made sure to keep it that way.

He was startled from his thoughts when his girlfriend reached up and caressed his cheek. "What's wrong, Corn? Did you get some bad news?"

Kuon smiled down at Kyoko and turned his head to kiss the inside of her palm. For a fraction of a moment, he contemplated omitting the truth somehow. "I'm a big idiot. I'm still receiving emails from former female colleagues. It's like they are blatantly ignoring the fact that we're in a committed relationship."

Kyoko tensed in his lap. He winced as her face quickly went through a slew of dark emotions: jealousy, sadness, anger then nothing. He didn't want her bottling up her feelings. This was exactly what he was trying to avoid. He didn't want his past actions causing her any heartache. Before continuing, he quickly replied to Director Konoe's email informing him of the change of plans for the Tragic Marker premiere. Kuon agreed to the change. A glance told him that none of the remaining emails were work-related. He selected all and deleted everything. He put his phone down and gathered her in his arms giving her his full attention.

"I'm sorry, baby. I can't change Ren's, my, past. I'm guessing it's because I'm dating you that they think they have a chance of coming between us. Before, the emails were mainly about work anything beyond that was declined so I don't know why they continue to message me. I'll spare you the details but they have become daring in their invitations."

Kyoko sagged against him. He tipped her chin up and kissed her softly on the lips. He was relieved when she returned his affection. He pulled away to look at her and continued to run his fingers through her hair.

It was useless to hold it against him. He was just too kind and way too good looking. Who wouldn't want a chance to date him? She understood how all the women felt. She was just as guilty. She had put him on a pedestal and revered him a God at some point. She had judged him as someone completely out of her reach. She still couldn't believe he chose her among the millions of beautiful women in this world. She closed her eyes as his long fingers ran through her hair. It was nice to just sit like this.

"I did get an email from Dad," he began, hoping to navigate them to a more pleasant mood. "I feel bad since he sent it a while ago. It was buried among the junk mail. I had asked him a question on something I thought of the night of the awards ceremony. Do you remember what you asked me when I first walked in and caught you twirling around in your dress?" He waited as she thought about it.

Kyoko smiled as she recalled that night fondly. "I saw you standing there staring at me so intently so I was wondering if something was out of place. I asked you, 'Do I look alright?' and you said 'baby, you look wonderful tonight.' The way you looked at me that night made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world."

Kuon frowned. "I hope I look at you like that always because it's the way I feel about you 100 percent of the time. Even first thing in the morning."

Kyoko laughed. He was such a liar but she loved him for it. She sat up and gave him a peck on the lips in thanks for the compliment. "So what did Otou-san say?"

It was Kyoko's turn to be confused. Instead of answering her, he slid her off of him and went to turn on the stereo system. He grabbed his phone and after a minute of tapping a slow song emitted from the speakers.

He put his phone down and held out a hand for hers. Kyoko felt ridiculous. Although they washed up, they were still lounging in their pajamas. If you could call them that. She was clad in his T-shirt while he wore a pair of silk pajama pants. She placed her hand in his and stood. Kuon immediately wrapped her in his embrace and swayed slowly to the song. She laid her head against his bare chest and let the song wash over her while they moved as one to the song.

"It's late in the evening; she's wondering what clothes to wear. She puts on her make-up and brushes her long blonde hair; And then she asks me, Do I look all right? And I say, Yes, you look wonderful tonight..."

Kyoko's head shot up in amazement and smiled broadly. That's why he played this song. It was exactly the exchange they had that night. Kuon tilted his head down and kissed her forehead.

They continued to dance while gazing into each other's eyes. "My dad used to play this song before he and my mom used to go out for the evening. They would dance in the living room or the kitchen. I was always so happy watching them. Although I was happy for them, this song also reminded me that I would be left alone in this large house for the rest of the night. I don't mean alone in every sense of the word, there was always an adult to watch over me, but you understand my meaning. They were so in love with each other. It sometimes made me feel lonely like I was intruding in on their party of two."

Kyoko's eyes glistened as a tear escaped the corner of her eye. He sounded so sad as he recalled the memories of his childhood. He must have been so lonely back then. Kuon kissed the tear away. "I understand now that I'm older and I have you. I know how my parents feel about each other. I was a product of their love."

"I'm so glad you were born. I'm sorry you were so lonely as a child. I wish I could have been there for you somehow. You gave me corn. Thinking of you kept me from falling into despair. I'm sure that Otou-san and your mother didn't mean to make you feel left out." She leaned her head back on his chest and tightened her arms around him.

"I'm scared...of going back home...of finding my room converted into a craft room or something...of being forgotten. I mean, what if they had another child to replace me?" He was such a coward. He had told Tadashi that he was ready to face his past, but here he was still having these thoughts.

Kuon felt Kyoko's body shaking in his arms. Is she okay? He backed away from her to look at her properly.

Kyoko tried to suppress her giggle, but her shaking body gave her away. He was trying to be serious right now, but she couldn't shake the feeling that his fears were groundless.

Kuon turned away and pouted. Here he was being honest and she was laughing at him.

Kyoko hugged his large frame from behind. "Corn, I'm sorry. I don't mean to laugh right now, but you have to understand that what you're saying is quite funny. I doubt your parents would have been able to hide a second child from you or the paparazzi. Plus, the way Otou-san and Julienna-san gush about you on our email exchange I'm pretty sure they have left everything the same to preserve their memory of you. If anything they probably built a shrine and have scrapbooks filled with your accomplishments. You're the bravest and kindest man I know. I will lend you my guts when its time to meet them. You're no longer alone. We're no longer alone. We have each other now so lean on me sometimes."

Kuon turned in her arms and lifted her princess style. He felt invigorated by her words. "I love you Kyoko! With you by my side, I feel like I can do anything. You make me braver." Her arms squeezed around his neck tightly as he twirled her around the room. He kissed her dizzily and carried her to their bedroom. Kyoko's heart thumped rapidly with anticipation; she could never get enough of his loving.

"Koki, Queen B is on the line for you," the receptionist called out from her desk. The reporter for Boost magazine quickly snatched up the receiver of his desk phone. He had been in a slump these past few issues and needed something good to get out of this rut.

"This is Koki. What do you have for me?" he listened to his source at the other end of the line and tried to contain his delight. "There are no guarantees. I have to research it thoroughly before it goes to print. It will take me a few days to confirm then write something up. Thanks for the tip." Koki let out a hoot when he hung up the phone. He could usually count on her to provide him insider information. He knew she was an actress. He just had no clue which one and honestly didn't care to find out. One or both of these celebrities must have royally pissed her off.

She was his only source that didn't want any compensation for her information. He had asked her about her name and she responded with a superior air that the "Queen" was the most powerful piece on the chessboard as for the "B" he would have to use his imagination. She once told him that seeing her fellow celebrities go up in flames was a reward in itself. He felt terrible for anyone that crossed her in showbiz. Most of his successful "exposés" were based on her tips. Sure, he twisted the truth a bit to fit his agenda but the masses didn't care. The leeches would latch on to any half-truths and take it as gospel. If Queen B was bringing this to him, she must have heard it first hand. He turned on his laptop and got to work.

Kyoko walked into Fuji TV with Yashiro. She was meeting the rest of the main cast for a promotional interview for The Sacred Lotus. She wore her long hair in soft waves and applied her makeup tastefully. She was getting better at applying her make-up thanks to the tips from Muse and the R'Mandy makeup artist Aya. Her outfits were also improving. Today she wore a gray bodycon midi skirt that stopped below her knees and a matching blouse with three-quarter sleeves. For accessories, she made sure to wear Princess Rosa and her charm bracelet for added luck. Ren had assured her that she looked sexy yet professional. She accused him of being biased, but the heart-stopping kiss he gave her was convincing enough.

Kyoko was excited to see him tonight. They would be transforming into the Heel siblings. She wasn't sure how their new intimacy would translate as brother and sister. She knew that once they were in the room Ren would take his role seriously and become Cain Heel completely so she would do the same. Even if things passed the appropriate level of boundaries of their brother/sister relationship, they could relish in the fact that they were indeed not related should anything happen.

Kyoko and Yashiro were led to the green room by an assistant. She was a few minutes early and the first to arrive. She didn't wait long when Koga walked in with Asahina and Cedric in tow. She bowed to greet her costars. The same assistant returned and led them towards the stage.

Kyoko was always nervous when it came to live audience interviews. One would think she'd be used to it by now since she was an actress after all. There was something different between acting in front of a camera where you could mess up and redo it as opposed to a live interview. She felt like she was being scrutinized. The bright lights shining on the stage made it difficult to connect with the audience so she felt uneasy talking to a void. Thank goodness it was only a half-hour segment. After the interview she had a CM shoot for a designer watch brand then she would meet up with Ten to become Setsuka. The premiere was on for tomorrow night but Lory thought it was best to give them a day to get back into their roles before it was showtime.

Kyoko walked on to the set with her costars when the hostess announced them. She greeted and bowed politely then took her seat at the end, to the right of Cedric. Most of the initial questions were directed at Koga and Asahina since they were the main leads. The host was very professional with including all four stars.

The hostess addressed a question towards Cedric. "Bennett-san, how are you enjoying filming in Japan? Can you tell us some of your experiences here that may be different from what you're used to in Hollywood?"

Cedric cringed. He only understood a few of the words that the hostess had asked him in Japanese. He was able to get away with his acting because he had a translator and a linguist to help him with his lines. He didn't have many lines in the movie. What he lacked in dialogue, he made up in action.

Kyoko glanced at Cedric when he was hesitant to answer. She realized he probably didn't understand the question. She leaned towards him and translated for him. Cedric looked at his costar surprised. He had forgotten that she spoke perfect English. He concentrated on what she was saying. Cedric nodded as he listened to Kyoko. He turned to the hostess to apologize for his poor knowledge of the Japanese language. He tried his best to respond in Japanese but ended up speaking English as well which left the hostess confused. To his credit, what he did say in Japanese came out perfectly annunciated. He gave Kyoko a pleading look to bail him out.

Kyoko turned to the hostess. "What Bennett-san was trying to say is that 'there are not many differences in the execution of the production here in Japan versus Hollywood. Everyone he has worked with on this production can easily work on a big Hollywood film. They are all very skilled and passionate about their jobs and he doesn't think that they are inferior to an American team. He admires the professionalism and work ethic of the Japanese."

The hostess responded and thanked him for his kind words to the people of their country. Kyoko translated for Cedric which he gave a small bow from his sitting position. He leaned in and whispered, "Thank you, Kyoko-chan. You're a lifesaver." Kyoko smiled and bowed her head.

The host then turned to Kyoko. "Kyoko-san that's amazing that you're fluent in English. Even if people learn in school they still have little opportunity to practice their English unless they live in heavy tourist areas."

"I've had the opportunity to work in a Ryokan so it was necessary to learn English," Kyoko replied with a smile.

"Amazing Kyoko-san! Can I ask what it's like for you to play a kunoichi after playing antagonist roles like Mio and Natsu?"

"Yes, Momiji is very different from the previous roles I have acted. Even though she was raised an assassin, trained to show no emotions, she still could not cast off her maiden's heart. I have to portray her with having a wide range of emotions that she is not always able to suppress."

"Oh, that's right. If I recall the original work, your character is hopelessly in love with Koga-san's character. How is that going? Any sparks flying on the set between you two?"

Kyoko managed to blush rather than glare. She was unsure of how to answer the annoying question. If sparks were flying, wouldn't it be between the leads? Everyone knows I'm dating Ren...calm down Kyoko. Ren warned you about this. It's how they keep things interesting.

"I assure you that aside from Momiji being in love with Shizuma-sama. Hiromune-san and I are just colleagues," Kyoko responded with a small smile. She was tempted to add that she was happily in love with Ren but didn't want to take away the focus from their movie.

"You wound me, Kyoko-chan. I thought after all the bloodshed we've been through, we were at least friends. She doesn't see any other man but Tsuruga-kun so we can't hold it against her though," Koga joked.

Everyone laughed at his jest. Kyoko ignored the heat on her cheeks and gave Koga a blank stare. Well, there was nothing she could do if someone else involves him. Before the hostess could bite on that tidbit, Koga, ever the manipulator, steered them right past it.

"Kyoko-chan is right though. We are all professional and are all dedicated to giving a great performance. We hope everyone will support us and enjoy our movie when it is finally released," Koga told the hostess and turned to the camera to address the audience as well giving them his trademark winning smile.

"Speaking for myself, I'm very excited about this film. I'm sure the audience is also." Cheers and applause filled the audience in response. "With that said, we're almost out of time. Before we say goodbye, we received a clip of teasers from the movie. Let's take a look, shall we?"

The two-minute-long segment was a mashup of various scenes: Shizuma having a tender moment with Chidori, Shizuma trading sword blows with Yamada, and then Momiji in an intense battle against five enemies. The clip ended with her 'dust whirlwind' attack defeating her attackers and flicking the blood off her short swords. The camera zoomed in on her intense golden eyes then the screen went black signaling the end of the clip. The audience roared to life with applause. When they finally calmed down, the hostess said her parting words to the camera. They received the signal that they were off the air allowing everyone to move freely. Kyoko rose and bowed to everyone for their hard work.

Kimiko threw her drink at the television after watching the Sacred Lotus interview. This bitch! Who does she think she is? Is she already so bored of Ren-san that she's moving in on my Ric? Is it the same with Fuwa Sho? She had heard the guy's latest songs. It was obvious that someone broke his heart. It had to be that two-faced bitch. She had to save Ric from being ensnared by her and also help Ren see her true nature. Kimiko thought back to all her failed attempts at getting rid of Kyoko ever since she caught her with Ren at that restaurant. How could he even associate with someone that lived in a dive like that?

Kimiko's blood seethed with hatred that night. She staked out Kyoko's place hoping to figure out a way to get out of the agreement she was for to make with Erika when the foreign couple approached. It didn't take her long to figure out that it was Kyoko and Ren in disguise. They were secretly dating. She thought about exposing them but thought twice about it. Everyone assumed they were an item after that club feature.

All the traps she had set up throughout the set had failed to do major damage to her prey. Some were even triggered by other people before Kyoko could get to them. Even Mother Nature interfered with her plans. The earthquake was unexpected that it probably ruined her best chance to inflict permanent harm to her. If only the earthquake didn't happen, Kyoko would have been flattened by the set that was rigged to topple over on her during one of the scenes. Kimiko was running out of patience. If Koki didn't pull through soon, she would need to figure out a new approach. Kyoko didn't deserve these men fawning over her. Kimiko knew a good girl act when she saw one. She needed to save these men from her. If Kimiko couldn't act, it was only fair that neither could Kyoko.

AN: Wishing you all a Happy New Year! I seriously don't know where this chapter came from. I just kept typing. I was trying to get us to the premiere of Tragic Marker but that may not happen until after the new year. Does anyone find Kimiko's alias as Queen B lame? My imagination fizzled out there. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it.

Yes, it is implied that Ren returns the favor tenfold. I know your dirty minds are right there with mine and can imagine exactly what Ren does with that mouth of his...;). I do plan on providing details in future chapters so I apologize for the wait.

Thank you for continuing to read and big thanks to those who left a review. I appreciate the feedback.

The song Kyoko sang was "Angel Baby" by Rosie and the Originals. The song they danced to was Eric Clapton's "Wonderful." (Can you imagine Kuu and Juliena dancing to this song as well?)

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^