Chapter 71: Meeting the Family

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, YukiNae forever.

"Duuuddddeeeee! What the fuck?" Cedric exclaimed angrily brushing the water off of his costume. He grabbed a few napkins and dabbed at his face, hoping his stage makeup wasn't ruined. He was covered in water that Koga had just sprayed after taking a swig from his bottle.

"Oh, man. I'm so sorry, Ric," Koga quickly apologized putting down the bottle and handing Cedric more napkins to help him dry off. He tried not to laugh, but he had to admit it was pretty funny.

"What the hell man?" Cedric tried to ask in his limited Japanese as he sat back down at the table. "That's disgusting."

"You can't blame me! Take a look at this," Koga replied, leaning over so they could both watch on his phone. The director had called a fifteen-minute break earlier and they were just waiting to get back to work. Witnesses of their little water incident gathered around to see what had shaken up Japan's runner-up.

Although Cedric understood some of what was being said on the show, he was still slowly piecing it together. Where the heck is my translator when I need him? He recognized Kyoko and her boyfriend instantly. Why are they dressed like that? His eyes widened when the hostess mentioned Tragic Marker and Heel since the names were in English. He looked closely at their appearance as Kyoko responded to the questions and something clicked. Are you fucking kidding me? Kyoko-san was the girl we saw with Cain on the street.

Cedric tried to wrap his head around the fact that Tsuruga Ren had played a double role and fooled the public. He wondered what Kimiko thought and if she even saw this broadcast. It would be a good excuse to call and check in on her later. He should have called her back when Asahina so rudely answered his phone the other night, but at the time he was upset with her for lying to him. He still didn't know what kind of game she was playing with him or why. It was about time he stopped avoiding her and just asked her directly. He thought she was different, a good friend. He didn't need to add another altercation with a woman to his record here in Japan too. His father's disappointed face flashed in his mind.

An extra cast member crowding around the phone let out a low whistle and asked, "Is that seriously Kyoko-san? She's smoking hot!"

"How have we been working with her for months and not noticed her sex appeal?" A prop assistant added.

The guys all took a moment to think about the Kyoko they knew on set. She was cute, respectful, a little dense sometimes, but most of all, she was serious when it came to acting. Most of the men admired her skills in swordplay and acrobatics. Between her boyfriend and Koga watching out for her, no one dared look at her as anything more than a colleague. Now it seemed that her boyfriend being the illustrious Cain Heel, actor of BJ in the movie Tragic Marker, pretty much guaranteed that no one would dare try to get close to her on a personal level.

Koga's mouth was set in a tight line. His fierce competition had just upped the ante. He thought he had a leg up on his competition by acting out the brooding samurai, Shizuma, in all its seriousness and action. This was finally his chance to show all of Japan and the world that he was more than a type-casted rom-com actor. He sighed as he thought about how his rival was yet again one step ahead of him. He could only hope that the guy's image would take a hit after playing a psycho.

Koga pulled out of his thoughts and returned to what was being said around him. Somehow, they had bravely moved on to talking about Kyoko's physical assets. Innocent locker room banter. The problem was this wasn't a locker room. "Hey! Let's not get carried away with our free talk here. What you say out of work and during your free time is your business, but if I hear any one of you disrespecting Kyoko-chan like you are right now, there's no guaranteeing your safety from that guy."

On another part of the set, Producer Kuresaki and Director Jouji were alerted of the interview by an assistant. They were watching it on Jouji's fully charged tablet. Both concluded that this project was the reason Ren couldn't take the part of Shizuma. The actor was at the top of his game. They couldn't dismiss the young actress sitting next to him. Kuresaki had never been so delighted to be proven so wrong in his life. He was embarrassed, but he would never admit to anybody that he had gone so long in his career dismissing anyone that didn't hold the title actor or actress. This talent had made him aware of his narrow-minded point of view.

"Ne, Yuki, I think we need to strengthen security until this dies down," Jouji considered quietly to his friend. Kuresaki nodded in agreement and stepped away to call Koenji.

"Leader! Leader! Pull yourself together!" Yuusei and Shinichi both exclaimed as they tried to slap some life back into Hikaru.

"Ah! His nose is bleeding! Quick, get some napkins!" Shinichi panicked.

Yuusei returned with a bunch of napkins and held it to his friend's nose. They had stopped to watch the interview during their TBM rehearsal when one of the other crew members came in screaming that Kyoko was on TV and they wouldn't believe it. Not wanting to miss a second of their co-star's screen time, the brothers rushed to the nearest TV and were floored by what they saw.

"K- K- Kyoko?" was all Hikaru was able to mutter before his eyes rolled into his sockets and proceeded to faint. It was a good thing the other brothers were able to catch him before he hit the ground.

"Should we call an ambulance?" Yuusei asked as they dragged their leader to a more comfortable spot. Shinichi shook his head as he tried to fan their friend. The poor guy just had a big shock.

"Ren, please enlighten me as to what you were trying to accomplish back there?" Kyoko asked Ren as they drove away from the station heading for home. They had the rest of the night off for the surprise welcome home party. Ren shrugged, raising her hackles. The gesture infuriated her. She couldn't express how she felt about it without giving away some of his lineages.

Instead, she did the next best thing and narrowed her eyes to stare at him until he squirmed. After a few moments, she watched him fold under the pressure of her gaze as a little bead of sweat ran down the side of his face.

"I'm being childish again, aren't I? I just didn't like that snake acting like we were ever close, especially right in front of you." He took her hand in his. "I'm sorry that what I said caused her to say those malicious things about you, but she wasn't wrong, you know?"

"What do you mean?" Kyoko asked, astonished that he would agree with anything that the vial woman had to say. Which part? She turned the words that Kimiko had thrown in her face earlier over in her mind. Corn would never think like that about me, would he?

"Well, you did seduce me," the Emperor leaned in and whispered in her ear. The soft caress of his breath on her skin sent a wave of heat straight to her core making her flush red. She pushed the insufferable man away with a huff. He chuckled and wrapped his arm over her shoulders. Even if she was currently miffed at him for putting his reputation on the line for her sake, she couldn't stop her body from leaning into his warmth. She couldn't believe Kimiko lost control like that in front of so many witnesses. The look of betrayal in her eyes as she stared at her father made Kyoko feel sorry for her.

"I'm being serious, you idiot! Did you see how shocked Konoe-san and Morizumi-san were? You pretty much insulted the whole Morizumi clan. I heard they are very powerful in this industry. What if they blacklist you? You've worked so hard to obtain your position as the top actor in Japan. For what? To get a little revenge on her for me." Kyoko turned her face up to him so she could scold him properly. Level two Cain puppy dog eyes, Cainmaru, looked down at her. So not fair!

Ren sighed. "I would do it all over again," he said, kissing her forehead. The point was to test Kimiko's limits. He was prepared to say more insulting things before she cracked. He was surprised it only took one time to trigger her right in front of her father and so many witnesses. This wasn't the last they were going to see of Kimiko. Ren hugged her tighter, loving the way she fit perfectly against him.

"Dinner?!" Kanae was horrified by the prospect of having dinner with Yashiro tonight. Okay, it wasn't just with him. He had told her that the plan was to meet up with the others too. She had just come off an almost 12-hour flight; there was no way she was going out to dinner in her travel wear. She needed to shower and put on fresh make-up. "I'm sorry. I feel like I need to wash the travel grime off of me. Could you please just drop me home? I'll make plans with Kyoko for another day."

Yashiro racked his brain for something that would help him convince her to stay with him. Kyoko had been working hard all morning for her friend's surprise party. "We could st-" Yashiro was interrupted by Kanae's phone ringing. Kanae sighed when she saw that Kyoko was calling.

"Mo! What the heck have you been up to?" Kanae answered coldly. Yashiro chuckled to himself. It was cute how she tried to act like she didn't care, but he could tell from her expression that she was happy to hear from her friend.

"Mookooo-sannnn, welcome home. I missed you Moko-san. I want to see Moko-san the most and tell her everything." Kyoko's excited voice filled the car even though she wasn't on speakerphone.

"Don't you realize I just came off a long flight and I'm tired," Kanae replied laying on the guilt trip thick.

"Kotonami-san, I'm sor-." Yashiro tried to apologize but Kanae held a finger up to her lips telling him to be quiet. Yashiro couldn't help but stare at the delicate finger she held against those red pouty lips. He was so confused.

"I'm sorry Moko-san. It was selfish of me," Kyoko replied dejectedly. Her tears could be heard through the phone. Kanae sighed in resignation.

"I guess I can come out for a bit tonight. I need to go home first and clean up at least." She glanced over at Yashiro in question. He smiled and nodded. If that's what it took to get her to Kyoko, he would agree to anything at this point.

"Yay!" Kyoko exclaimed, revived now that she would see her friend later. "I can't wait to hear about your adventures in America. I hope you took pictures. I'm sure you took pictures. What am I saying…."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll see you later," Kanae retorted and hung up the phone. She leaned her head back on the chair and closed her eyes. Kyoko could be exhausting, but she was eager to catch up as well. A lot happened while she was away. Although she kept up with the news and gossip, Kanae still wanted to hear her friend's side of the story.

"So, your house first?" Yashiro asked, starting up the car.

Kanae nodded and told him, "thank you."

As they approached her house, Kanae asked him to pull over before reaching it. She looked up and down the street and cautiously exited the vehicle. Kanae reached to take her luggage from him, but Yashiro insisted that he carry it for her. She looked around the hedge for any sign of her family.

The corner of Yashiro's lips quirked, amused by her actions. What was going on? When she confirmed the coast was clear she rushed Yashiro as best she could to her secured room in the back. She sighed with relief once she threw close all the locks behind her. Leaning against the door, she realized Yashiro was inside her room, alone, with her.

Yashiro curiously looked around taking in all the details. It was his first time seeing the inside, since the last time he was here he had waited for her and Kyoko outside. The large room had a small kitchenette with no windows or adornments on the walls. It reminded him more of a bunker than a young woman's bedroom. The only furniture was a coffee table, a dresser, and several boxes stacked in a corner. There was no bed so he assumed she still slept on a futon that was probably stashed in the large closet. The bottles of perfume and cosmetics sitting on top of her dresser next to a vanity mirror were the only evidence that she lived here. There were two doors on the back wall which he assumed led to an en suite and maybe more storage.

Kanae cleared her throat a little embarrassed at her situation. "Yashiro-san, thanks for the ride, but you can leave now. I can find my way to the location for dinner."

Normally Yashiro would take his cue and leave, but today he was acting boldly. "It's no problem, I can wait," he blurted. "I'll wait for you in the car until you're done then we could head over together."

Kanae opened her mouth to protest but he continued before she had a chance.

"I'll return some of those phone calls so it's not a big deal. Since I'm already here, I don't mind waiting. We're going to the same place after all." He had no clue where this boldness was coming from. Yashiro was usually an agreeable fellow and knew how to read the atmosphere. It was probably from watching Ren dance around Kyoko for so long that was making him have a little more courage. He was glad those painful days were behind him now that they were officially a couple.

As if to further prove his argument, Yashiro's phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, gesturing to Kanae, and moved towards the door while pulling on a glove.

Kanae stopped him as her sixth sense perked up. She placed her hand over his mouth when he tried to talk and kept it there. Placing her ear against the door, she listened as childrens' voices walked past.

Isn't Kanae nee-chan supposed to be home already?

I miss her. I want her to buy snacks.

Come on, let's go play at the park to kill time.

She turned back to Yashiro, noticing the blush on his cheeks, and snatched her hand away like she just touched something hot.

Still flushing, Yashiro raised his brows, confused. "Why are we hiding?" he whispered. He was curious as to why she was hiding her return. When he came with Kyoko to take her to the airport there was no one around back then, now he knew she had siblings. Kyoko had told him that she lived with her family but didn't provide any details.

"Mo! You wouldn't understand those little leeches. For now, handle your business here." She pulled the low table from the side of the wall to the middle of the room. "I'll get ready quickly so we can leave at once. Can I get you something to drink?" Yashiro shook his head no. Once she saw that he was settled, she quickly ran through her room swooping up things she would need. She couldn't believe she was doing this with a man in her room and not just any man either, but THIS man. The one that had never been too far from her thoughts while she was in America. She tried not to think too hard about it as she locked the bathroom door.

Yashiro busied himself with email rather than phone calls to minimize the noise. There were many people in the industry contacting him about Ren and Kyoko. The sound of the water coming from the shower momentarily distracted him as his mind flooded with perverted thoughts, envisioning the water cascading over the attractive woman in the other room. Quit being a perv and focus on your work! With renewed determination, he tried to concentrate on his emails. Ah, this is the brand Maria likes! They want Kyoko's Setsu to represent their brand and they want Ren's Cain to be in some of the photos with her. He flagged the email to follow up.

A good half hour had passed by when he finally realized he had been reading the same email over and over. He had to stop due to the distraction coming from the other room. He put his phone down on the table and pocketed his gloves. With his eyes closed, he laid his head on the table and prayed to the Gods to forgive him. Yashiro thought he was going to lose his mind listening to her hum while she got ready. He wondered who he had pissed off in another life to be tortured like this. He shut his eyes for a moment until he heard the sound of a door opening. Eh? He bolted upright thinking he had drifted off to sleep. Turning his head towards the sound, he locked eyes with a young man who was the spitting image of Kanae with short hair peeking through the other door not used by Kanae. Before Yashiro could introduce himself, the guy quickly closed the door as quietly as he opened it. He rose from the floor and headed for the door. It must lead to the main house. He could make out several voices of men and women talking on the other side of the door.

Kanae brought home a man!

Our little Kanae has finally become a full-fledged woman.

We need to commemorate this momentous occasion.

What? Kanae nee-chan is home! Came a loud squeal from beyond the door.

Yashiro stepped back from the door and stared at the ceiling as it vibrated. He heard something thundering above him then make its way across the floor above from where he stood. Stampede? Whatever was making that sound had made its way onto the first floor and appeared to be coming straight for Kanae's room.

Kanae burst from the bathroom smelling like a floral garden in spring. She looked like a supermodel in a pair of skinny jeans and a plain black tank top. She told him to hurry up and get his shoes on while she put the chain on the interior door. Why is this undone? I probably would have noticed if I wasn't so distracted by him. She had to change her door locks again. The lock manufacturer was going to hear it from her. Obviously, their guarantee was no match for her brothers. She hurriedly threw on a long beige gauzy floral print Kimono-type cardigan over her outfit and stuffed her feet into red pumps. Yashiro had no clue what was happening but decided to act per Kanae's instructions. In a matter of seconds, the door was breached but the chain held, barely. Yashiro stared in horror as child-size limbs poked through the narrow opening of the door like tentacles.

"Mo! We have to go!" Kanae shouted holding the exterior door open. Yashiro grabbed his cellphone and raced out the door. He stopped short when he was confronted by a pair of couples armed with a camera.

"Kanae, wait! We need a picture for mom and dad!" The male version of Kanae shouted.

Kanae ignored him and grabbed Yashiro's hand. She pulled him along as the exterior door to her room burst open and almost a dozen kids came streaming out.

"Oh shit, run faster!" Kanae screamed as they made a break for his car. Yashiro finally catching on picked up speed and took the lead gripping her hand. He dared not go any faster since she was running in heels. A feat in its own right, he thought.

The shrieks of "Kanae nee" and "maki" echoed behind them as they ran. Yashiro managed to unlock the door to the car before they got there. Reluctantly letting go of Kanae's hand, they ran to their respective doors. He started the car up quickly and sped off with Kanae yelling at him to "go, go, go!" He watched the kids disappear in the rearview mirror as they poured out onto the street finally giving up the chase.

He looked at Kanae who was still trying to catch her breath. "It seems people keep chasing us around today. Are you ok?" He asked. Kanae nodded a little embarrassed. "What in the world was that back there?" Yashiro asked willing his heart to slow down.

"You have just witnessed the enormity of the Kotonami clan," Kanae confessed with a slight blush. She had hoped to avoid letting him see them and vice versa.

"Mo! Do you smell something?" Kanae asked sniffing the air. It smelled like burnt metal and plastic.

Yashiro sniffed the air then groaned. He knew that familiar smell. He looked down briefly at the center console where he had deposited his phone. In his haste, he had run out with his phone clutched in his hand, his very bare hand. Kanae followed his line of sight that rested on his phone. She lifted his phone to inspect it. It was fried. She looked up at him incredulously. "Superpowers," he answered sheepishly.

"I'm sorry because of me your phone broke. I'll compensate you for the cost. Please just give me the bill and I will pay you back," Kanae offered, feeling terrible. A manager of his stature would be lost without his mobile device. She grumbled under her breath about her family causing her problems the moment she returned home.

"Don't worry about it. I have an old one I could use. But more importantly, why did we run from your family?"

"If we got caught by them, we would have never made it to dinner. They are a drain on a person's wallet and energy. If they even had a minuscule thought that we were...ugh…um...together, they would think you're family and extort money out of you."

Yashiro chuckled. So this was the kind of family atmosphere that surrounded Kanae. It was quite refreshing from the cold and serious woman she portrayed at work.

"Were they all your siblings?" He asked curiously, hoping she would share.

This is why she didn't want him to wait for her. Now the cat was out of the bag. Kanae sighed, she might as well tell him. "I have two older brothers, one older sister, seven younger siblings, six nieces and nephews, and two sisters-in-law that live at that house." Kanae held her breath waiting for him to judge her, them.

"Wow, that must be wonderful having such a large family and everyone together," Yashiro replied, smiling warmly. "My parents and older sister don't live in Tokyo so we only get together for the holidays when my schedule allows it."

Kanae released a shaky breath and looked down to hide the slight blush upon her cheeks.

"Yes," she answered softly. Although they were numerous and poor, she never felt lonely or lacking in love from her family. Kanae was slowly warming up to them ever since joining the LoveMe section. She realized how lucky she was to have them. There were some people like Kyoko that would yearn to have a family like hers.

"Hi dear, so she's home?" Jiro asked with relief as he came through the front door. He had scoured the TV station and immediate area looking for his daughter for the past few hours. She had refused to pick up any of his calls or anyone else's for that matter. Jiro started to feel like the worse father on the planet. He should have handled the situation with a little more tact. He, like his daughter, was swept away by his emotions and reacted irrationally. He hoped his cousin could do some damage control.

He wasn't quite sure what had come over Ren. From working with him in the past, he was always thoughtful and polite. After running into Konoe again during his search for his daughter, the director had mentioned that he thought perhaps the soul of Cain was still residing in Ren. It would clearly explain the bizarre change in the man's behavior. He couldn't even be angry at Ren for insulting his family when he had this burning desire to work with this villainous side of the actor even more.

Jiro started for the stairs, but his wife stopped him. "Dear, I think she just needs some time. Let's let her be. Come and sit. Tell me what happened." Jiro allowed his wife to lead him towards his study where they could have more privacy to discuss their daughter's recent behavior.

Kimiko had just put her finishing touches on her little gift. Now she just had to wait for the right moment to present it. She smiled when her phone rang, displaying Ric on her screen. Looks like fate is finally on my side, she thought with a twisted smile.

AN: Hi everyone, sorry for the delay. I've had a busy week filled with baseball for my son and work deadlines. Thanks for continuing to stick with me, I hope you enjoyed it.

Big thanks to those who left me a review, I truly appreciate your feedback!

Until next time, ja ne ^_^