Chapter 44: Shinigami

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, we will see the return of Cain and Setsu!

Tadashi thrummed his fingers on the armrest of his leather desk chair. He gazed outside of his office window deep in thought. He was contemplating his next move. He was a man of action. He hated the waiting game. Saena had yet to return his call. Granted, it had only been less than 24 hours since he tried to contact her. Could she possibly be refusing to see him? Should he just give up and let things lie in the past? He turned in his chair and opened his desk drawer. He removed the old shoebox that contained all the letters he had failed to send so long ago.

In the beginning, he had written one every day for the first few months. Over time as his workload increased, it started to dwindle to a few a week until it finally trickled to a halt. After a year had gone by, he realized the time for him to act had long past. There was little hope back then that she would forgive him after so long. Tadashi opened his drawer and pulled out a few blank sheets of paper. He penned his final letter to her and placed it in the box. If she didn't call him by this time tomorrow, he would take action.

"Mo! What the hell is this crap about your father? How could you send me something like that and think I'd be satisfied! You better call me back anytime as soon as you can or I'm never speaking to you again!"

"So I'm guessing Kotonami-san didn't take the news well about your father," Yashiro commented, overhearing the message as he drove Kyoko to the hotel where she and Ren would be staying as the Heel siblings.

Kyoko cringed at the voicemail Kanae left her. She must be very angry at her to leave such a message with, call me back anytime.

"Yes, I told her in an email about how I met him and how our progress has been. I guess I need to talk to her properly," Kyoko sighed. "Do you mind if I call her now?"

"I have no problems with it," Yashiro replied smoothly, hiding his excitement. He was eager to learn how she was doing in the States.

"Mo! It took you long enough! You're lucky I'm not sleeping. I would have turned off my phone so my rest wouldn't be interrupted," Kanae scolded as soon as the line connected.

"I'm sorry Moko-san!" Kyoko wailed into the mouthpiece. "Please forgive me!"

"For what? For forgetting your best friend. For dropping a bomb like that on email. For making me worry so much that I messed up at work. For keeping me awake tonight hoping you would call," Kanae laid the guilt on thick.

"Eh, Moko-san. I'm so sorry for all of that. You are my dearest best friend. Please don't hate me!" Kyoko wailed into the phone.

"Kyoko-chan, please don't scream like that. You scared me. I almost ran off the road," Yashiro admonished her.

On the other end of the call, Kanae tensed up as she heard Yashiro's voice through the receiver. They were in the car meaning that even if she wasn't on speakerphone, he would still be able to hear what she said.

"Ah, sorry, Yashiro-san. Please excuse me. I'll be quieter," Kyoko apologized.

"Mo, is your glasses manager with you right now? He knows everything already about your father, even before me?" Kanae got herself worked. If she was in Japan, she wouldn't have been the last to know these things. She knew she was being unreasonable given the circumstances. She was overseas, but she couldn't help sulking. This is why she never bothered with friends; they were so tiresome.

"It couldn't be helped. My father was behind the burglary at the Darumaya! It's only right that Yashiro-san knows about him from the start," explained Kyoko.

"What the hell? Your father was the robber and you only tell me this now! How has the President or Tsuruga-san not have him in jail right now? Ugh, you're such a big idiot!" Kanae pinched the bridge of her nose to release the tension between her eyes. She couldn't believe her friend had got herself into so much trouble in the short time she had been gone. She was like a poster child for negativity.

"That's harsh, Moko-san. Tadashi-san, that's his name, if you remember. Of course, you remember, you have an excellent memory and you're so smart..."

"Mo! Get back to your point!" Kanae shouted.

"You don't have to yell, Moko-san. As I was trying to say, he was remorseful for his actions so I've chosen to give him another chance," Kyoko explained, hoping her friend would understand her choice.

"I know you crave parental love given your relationship with your mother, but did it ever occur to you that he could be duping you?" Kanae asked with concern.

"I'm not that stupid," Kyoko grumbled. "There's always that fear in the back of my mind, but I'm trying to look at this positively. I don't see why he would, Moko-san. He has nothing to gain from a relationship with me. He seems to genuinely want to make up for the lost time. In fact, he is relocating from New York City to Tokyo so he can be closer to me."

Kanae sighed. Her best friend still had no clue how much she was worth. "Has your mother even met him to confirm his identity? I mean, how are you so sure he is who he claims to be?"

"A DNA test was done. President Takarada has confirmed its validity. There's no doubt we are related biologically. There are also things about him that can't be refuted. You'll see when you finally meet him. Even if that wasn't done, his story jives with what my mother has told me.

Kyoko heard Kanae sigh again and grimaced. She didn't like troubling her best friend. "I'm sorry Moko-san. I didn't mean to cause you trouble with my problems. I didn't know how to tell you without interrupting your work, and I didn't want you to hate me for keeping it from you when you returned home."

"Mo, it's okay. I think I understand now. In the future, please don't hesitate to call me if you need me. I know you have a boyfriend, but I want you to know you can still count on me."

Kyoko brightened. Her friend just gave her permission to call her, "Yay, Moko-san, you're the best friend a girl could ever ask for! I'll be sure to seek your counsel.."

"Mo, wait! Hold on a damn minute that doesn't mean you come to me for every little problem, you got that! I don't want to hear about your petty little issues with your boyfriend or any of that cutesy lovey-dovey talk either. I might seriously barf," Kanae sputtered, trying to retract what she said a moment ago. She knew if she gave Kyoko a centimeter she would consider it a kilometer.

Kyoko smiled. It was so like Kanae. Even though she tried to act like she didn't care her feelings were the total opposite. "Neh, Moko, when are you coming back? I miss you!"

"Oh, please. It sounds like you have plenty going on to keep you busy. Even if I was there, you wouldn't have time for me," Kanae sulked.

Kyoko thought she sounded cute but knew better than to mention it. Her friend sounded homesick.

"That's not true, Moko-san. I will always have time for my best friend," Kyoko assured her.

"If you must know, I'll be wrapping up here in two weeks. Matsushima-san already has something new for me there. It's another drama, but it seems to be an even larger role than the last. Before you ask, don't, because I don't have any details either!"

"Okay, then please let me know your schedule. We'll be sure to pick you up from the airport." Kyoko was excited to hear about Kanae's newest project, but nothing trumped her best friend coming home.

"Mo! Who are we? Surely your boyfriend has better things to do than chauffeur us around."

"No, silly, Yashiro-san and I, of course."

Kanae pulled her phone from her ear as the sound of blaring horns and screeching tires filled the receiver.

After the initial shock wore off, Kyoko suppressed her giggle at Yashiro's reaction, but nearly causing her manager to lose control of the vehicle was no laughing matter.

"I'm sure your manager would have better things to do as well. I can just take the train home," Kanae told her, not wanting to see that man so soon. She, annoyingly, found her thoughts wandering to him on more than one occasion since the night of the club. Her goal was to be a top actress. She didn't need any distractions right now.

"One moment, Moko." Kyoko covered the mouthpiece of the phone while she discussed with Yashiro about the prospect of giving Kanae a lift from the airport.

"Hello, Moko-san, are you still there? Yashiro-san said if you send us your information he would make sure that we're there to pick you up."

"We're almost there, Kyoko-chan. You may want to wrap up your phone call. I'm not sure if the signal is good down there," Yashiro warned. The reception was always bad in these lower-level parking lots. All the concrete and steel above tended to weaken a signal.

"I have to go now. I'll be finishing up my 'something dangerous' LoveMe assignment, so you won't hear from me for a few days. I'll talk to you soon. Good luck with your work!"

"Wait, Kyo-!" Kanae stared at her phone, shocked that Kyoko was the first to end the call. She was starting to get a migraine. She wanted to know just what the President had her doing. She looked at the clock and groaned. She needed to get some sleep or she would be extra crabby in the morning.

Kyoko hung up with her best friend before she could grill her on what she was doing. She still couldn't tell her the truth about her mission. Kyoko bounced excitedly, in just two short weeks her friend would be home.

"Thank you, Yashiro-san. I'm sorry for assuming that you would have nothing better to do than drive two girls around. If it's inconvenient, Moko-san and I can work something out."

"Kyoko-chan, I said we would pick her up; therefore, we would. It shouldn't be a problem." Yashiro made sure not to show any excitement over the young actress; otherwise, he would be on the receiving end of his charges' merciless teasing.

"Maybe I can plan a welcome home dinner for her that night. I'm sure Taisho and Okami-san wouldn't mind if we had it at the restaurant. Although, I don't want to trouble them." Kyoko folded her arms and tucked her chin between her index finger and thumb while she pondered an alternate location.

"How about at your apartment? It's as much your place as it is Ren's so I'm sure he won't mind," Yashiro suggested as he turned into the hotel's basement parking lot.

Kyoko smacked her right fist into her left palm. "That's right! I'll ask Ren about it next time I see him. I still have time to plan. You'll come right, Yashiro-san? I'm sure Moko-san will be happy to see you there."

Yashiro-san pulled the car next to a trailer in the darkest recess of the basement lot and parked.

"Why would you think my presence would make Kotonami-san happy, Kyoko-chan?" Yashiro knew he was fishing, but he wanted to know if the raven-haired beauty ever talked about him.

"Eh, isn't it because we're friends. We all got along at the club so surely the more people to welcome her home the better, right?"

"Oh, of course," Yashiro-san replied, hiding the disappointment in his voice.

Kyoko pulled out a little notebook from her bag and jotted some notes. "I was thinking of inviting Hiou-kun, but he doesn't know that Ren and I are living together. I'll have to ask Ren about it. Chiori-san already knows about us." Kyoko sighed and put away her notebook. It was useless to get ahead of herself. She still needed to ask Ren. He would be Cain Heel the next time she saw him so it would have to wait until after they completed this part of the mission.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to her manager. "Thanks for the ride, Yashiro-san. You're meeting up with Ren after this, right?"

Yashiro nodded. She didn't know how to ask her manager for this favor without feeling like a total pervert.

Yashiro waited for her to continue. It seemed like she needed something from him, but was having difficulty finding the words.

"Umm, Yashiro-san, can I ask you a favor?

"Anything, Kyoko-chan," he replied eagerly. It wasn't often that she asked him for a personal request.

"Can you please keep it from Ren?" Kyoko asked tentatively. Yashiro looked at her nervously. What did she want from him that she couldn't tell Ren?

"Oh, never mind. I can't possibly ask you to do it!" Her face flamed red as she moved to get out of the car.

"Kyoko-chan, wait!" Yashiro reached out, placing a hand on her forearm. "I know I'm Ren's manager, but I'm also yours. I take my job seriously, so if there's something I can help you with, exclusively, I can keep it from Ren. As long as it doesn't bring harm to either of you, personally or professionally, I can be discreet. I'd like to think I already earned your trust in that department." He wondered if this had something do with the doctor's office. He didn't tell Ren about her checkup nor Kimiko, so wouldn't that qualify him as trustworthy.

Kyoko nodded realizing her slip up. Of course, she could trust him. "It's nothing that serious, Yashiro-san; it's actually quite juvenile. I'm almost too embarrassed to ask you."

"I won't know if I'm able to help unless you ask. I promise not to judge you. I'd like to think that I'm more mature than that, so please let me hear your request." Inner Yashiro applauded his self-control. He hoped he could convince her to tell him what she wanted. He was brimming with curiosity now.

Kyoko eyed him skeptically. She knew very well just how their manager behaved when it came to their relationship, but this could be her only chance to get one. She wanted one and she could only ask him.

She resigned herself to ask. "Fine, you can just tell Ren. He already knows anyway. Just promise not to laugh, okay?" Yashiro nodded. She took a deep breath, "Can you please take a picture for me of Ren in his fireman costume?"

Yashiro started coughing in an attempt to control his laughter. He was so relieved that her request was such a simple one. By the look on her serious face, he thought it would be something more drastic. As mature as she acts, she still had this cute side to her. Ren would be happy to know that his girlfriend was fangirling over him.

"Yashiro-san, you promised," she pouted. "Never mind," she said with a huff as she got out of the car. "I knew it was silly."

"Kyoko-chan, wait. I'll do it!" He exclaimed before she could run away.

"You will? Thank you, Yashiro-san. I know it's stupid but I want to see him act out a hero role," she smiled happily and bowed. Yashiro returned her smiled and waved as he pulled away in the car. Ren didn't know how lucky he was to have such an adorable girl like Kyoko loving him. He hoped his male charge didn't screw things up.

Kyoko watched Yashiro drive away before turning to the trailer. She knocked then opened the door when she heard the voice inside tell her to come in.

"Good afternoon, Muse-sama," Kyoko greeted, bowing as she entered.

Ren stepped out of frame of his outdoor set pulling off the full face breathing apparatus then removed his helmet. He paused in slipping off the tank on his back as one of the camera technicians removed the miniature first-person body camera that was attached to his jacket. The Director thought it would be a great addition to the drama to have footage using a first-person's point of view. Ren had never used the technique before so he was excited to see how the Director incorporated it into the episode.

Yashiro approached Ren while tucking his phone back into his jacket pocket. Kyoko would be very pleased with the shots he took. They were magazine-worthy if he'd say so himself. Yashiro handed him a towel and a bottle of water.

Ren dribbled water over his head to cool himself off. Unbeknownst to him, his actions caused three women in the vicinity to swoon. Yashiro smiled tightlipped as he watched Ren's female co-star go down behind him. Seriously, why was this man so blessed by the gods?

"You're smirking, Yashiro-san. Dare I ask the reason behind it?" Ren narrowed his eyes at his manager, oblivious to the commotion behind him.

The costume designer came by and retrieved the props from Ren including the heavy jacket. Ren's navy undershirt he wore was plastered to his body with sweat. The tight shirt enhanced his bulging biceps, chiseled chest, and washboard abs. His co-star went down again behind him, only this time from an apparent nosebleed. The corner of Yashiro's mouth twitched with amusement.

"Ren, we need to get you out of here before you do any more damage," Yashiro suggested, dragging him to the trailer. "Oh, but first stand right here a moment." Yashiro maneuvered Ren in front of his trailer.

Ren stood confused but waited. Yashiro put on his gloves and whipped out his cellphone. He started snapping pictures.

"Yashiro, what are you doing?" Ren asked, staring at his manager like he was crazy.

"I've got a special request from a certain someone," Yashiro mentioned by way of explanation.

Ren smirked. No doubt his pretty little girlfriend put their manager up to this task. He figured he could indulge her a bit. He leaned against the trailer of his dressing room and folded his arms. Click! He pushed back his sweaty hair and held his hand there while gazing into the camera. Click! He flexed his biceps in a bodybuilder's pose and flashed a boyish grin at the lens. Click!

"Alright, that's enough," Ren called a halt to the impromptu photoshoot when people started to notice what they were doing. He furrowed his brow and wondered what happened when he noticed the state of his costar. She didn't look too well as her manager used a document to fan some air at her face.

He figured she was in good hands as the site medic approached her and let himself into his trailer. Ren peeled off his t-shirt. As he was pulling it over his head, he heard the distinct sound of a camera shutter.

He glared at his manager. "Yashiro-san, now that's just creepy. I'm starting to feel violated."

The manager chuckled as Ren walked into the adjoining bathroom to take a shower. While he waited, Yashiro prepared the email to send to Kyoko with all the photos he snapped. He grumbled as he thumbed through the photos of the overly handsome actor. He didn't recognize his charge. Kyoko was rubbing off on him for the better. Ren still kept up his gentleman persona while working, but now and again he would let his face slip. Yashiro didn't think it was necessarily a bad thing. He liked this side of Ren that showed more emotion and acted his age. He was happy for his friend.

Yashiro and Ren were walking out to the car when his costar caught up with him. She placed her hand on his arm, familiarly, which made him promptly step away.

She was taken aback by the clear sign of rejection but persevered. "Tsuruga-san, do you want to get dinner or drinks? I thought we can talk over our characters and maybe get to know one another."

Yashiro grimaced as Ren pasted on his most brilliant gentleman smile. "I'm sorry. I have plans tonight with my girlfriend," Ren stressed with an extreme emphasis on "girlfriend."

To the woman's credit, she hesitated before continuing, "Oh, perhaps another time. When are you free?"

Ren increased the wattage on his smile. "I apologize, I'll say it more plainly. If I'm not working, I'm happily spending my free time with my girlfriend. We are both busy so I cherish every minute of alone time I can get with her. In other words, I am never free. Have a good rest of your evening." Ren bowed to his co-star leaving her rooted there in shock.

Lory lit his cigar as he watched Ten put the finishing touches on Ren for his transformation into Cain Heel. They were in her trailer in the hotel basement parking lot. Lory was once again clad in black leather befitting an acquaintance of the Heel siblings. Surprisingly, he looked normal compared to the other outlandish outfits he tended to favor. He could pass as the Boss of a biker gang.

"So Director Konoe informed you of the change?" Lory asked, directing his question toward Ren.

Ren nodded. "He changed his mind about revealing the man behind Cain Heel to the public completely."

"It's a good move on his part. He wants to stir up the masses first. Get them talking about the actor Cain Heel then drop that bomb on them after the movie has been out for some time," Lory told him taking a puff of his cigar.

Ren agreed. That was originally the plan. What was Director Konoe thinking? In the email, the director had begged him to not let Cain Heel be late for the premiere. Ren had to smile at how his alter ego was almost always late for work. Ren was the total opposite. He had a reputation in the business as the "never late king," in which he prided himself. Cain Heel had no such obligations. He was all about doing whatever he wanted, but this time he promised he would be there on time.

"All done, Ren-chan. Here are your contacts," Ten said, handing him the small case.

Ren washed his hands in the adjoining bathroom and removed his dark brown contacts to reveal his green eyes. Switching his contacts this go-around was so much smoother. He had become used to looking at his natural eyes thanks to her. The anxiousness he felt before taking this role was nearly non-existent. He inserted Cain's blue contacts and emerged from the bathroom.

"You'll need this," Lory told him and handed over a black wallet with a metal chain that would connect to his belt loop. It was full of Yen and a company credit card under his pseudo name. As Cain Heel, he couldn't exactly carry Ren's cards around. A fake ID was also included. Knowing how thorough the President was, Cain probably had a whole background in the system. If the police were to run a check on him, he had no doubt they would be looking at a fabricated profile on him. Ren had no desire to test that theory.

Ten clapped her hands with glee. Just like his sister, he was truly a masterpiece. Ren bowed to his companions and left, eager to meet her again.

The God of Death emerged out of the darkness in the corner of the basement lot at the hotel. He was dressed in his signature black clothing, worn combat boots, and long leather coat despite the warm weather. He was back in Tokyo, for the premiere of his latest movie.

Took these bloody people long enough to edit a fucking movie!

The only upside to this gig was that his cute little sister was already waiting for him in their room. I better get a smoke in before seeing Setsu. He didn't want to sully her precious lungs with his bad habit. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. The flame from his lighter revealed his dangerous eyes. A car in the parking lot drove passed him. Cain snorted as he heard the woman passenger scream in horror to her male companion that she just saw a Shinigami. He assumed the driver saw his wraithlike reflection in the mirror since the car accelerated away with a loud squeal of tires. Cain took a long drag of his cigarette as he sauntered up to the elevator.

He imagined the cute little blonde, tapping her manicured nails on the table wondering when her nii-san would arrive. She would most likely be pouting and demanding to know what took him so long. She was so adorable when she did both. He couldn't deny his precious little sister anything. He loved spoiling her. He hoped what he had planned for tonight would make up for his tardiness. He couldn't wait to hold her in his arms again. No one could fault him for " loving" his little sister. What man wouldn't love having a sweet adoring woman like Setsu clinging to him? It was a guarantee that no other man would ever find out. She belonged to him. It would be over his dead body before he let anyone else have her. But even then, he would come back from the dead to make sure that never happens.

Cain squashed his cigarette with his boot heel before entering the lift. He stood in the back corner with his arms crossed and a menacing look in his eye. His jaw clenched and neck muscles twitched as other guests or employees in the hotel refused to get on the elevator once they spied him in the corner. His glare probably didn't help matters. Every stop made him more irritated when nobody got on the lift. They were eating up his precious time with his sister and it was pissing him off.

The few pitiful souls that failed to notice him before the doors closed barely survived the elevator ride, confined in a small space with his suppressing dark aura. Cain smirked. He swore he could hear their knees knocking as they quivered in fear in the opposite corner. Not realizing they were all holding their breath, there was a collective sigh of relief as he finally reached his floor and exited the elevator.

Cain traversed the hall quickly and was at their room in seconds. He raised his hand to knock but caught himself. He used his card to enter the room and dread filled him. Why was it so dark? He switched on the entrance light and stepped into the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. He strained his ears for any unusual sounds. It was quiet, too quiet. Every muscle in his body tensed as he moved slowly down the hall, careful to mask his footsteps. It was out of character for her not to greet him. The dark and vacant bathroom he passed told him she wasn't in there. He paused at the end of the hall and heard faint sounds coming from the main room. The relief he felt rapidly coursed through his body. He discovered the object of his affection fast asleep curled up on the couch like a kitten.

AN: Thank you all for sticking with me and continuing to read. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I need to read the Heel siblings arc again for some major inspiration so bare with me.

Big thanks to those that left a review on the last chapter. You guys inspire me! I appreciate it.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^