Chapter 85: Boys and their Toys

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, I would have panels of Ren tinkering with his car. I find mechanically inclined good-looking guys hot AF! You imagined it, didn't you! XD

Lory took a long drag of his cigar, his gaze piercing the odd couple in front of him. He swore he had aged a little more this morning, blindsided by the article and news broadcast. Things weren't supposed to get so public. They had not considered that the set designer would go turning himself in and spewing his guts out to a reporter. Of course, the reporter just had to be Koki. The man was getting good at sniffing out a scoop.

Lory had contacted the reporter immediately upon hearing the news. Koki had, in good faith, explained how he caught wind of the issues at the Sacred Lotus set and launched an investigation of his own accord. He had drafted an earlier article regarding the Morizumis' influence within the industry, but he had been gathering concrete evidence before releasing it. He was only at the Sacred Lotus set because during his investigation he had heard about the incidences surrounding the production. It sounded highly suspicious to him. His initial theory was that someone had a grudge against Director Morizumi and was trying to ruin the project.

Koki had no clue that when Hanazawa contacted him, the man would disclose such a shocking revelation. The person behind the actual sabotage was indeed another Morizumi and for very petty reasons. This bit of information helped drive home his article. The young Morizumi thought she would not suffer any consequences because of her family.

Armed with Koki's information, Lory had called an emergency meeting with the pair to figure out a plan forward.

Saena's scowl grew deeper as she sat in uncomfortable silence across from the eccentric President of LME. Is he supposed to be some kind of flamenco dancer? The plunging neckline looked ridiculous on a man his age. Granted, she had no clue how old he was exactly, but the fact that he was a grandfather was telling. Shouldn't he have more modesty? For some reason, she couldn't keep her eyes off the velvet ruffled sleeves. It just looked so frivolous to her.

Tadashi could sense Saena's aura darken, noticing that she didn't care for the President's theatrics. At first, Tadashi thought the man used this tactic to throw off his opponent, but after getting to know him better, he found that it was just in his nature. The time to worry was when Lory dressed in a normal business suit. Tadashi took it as a sign that the man meant serious business.

"Did you know Hanazawa-san was going to turn himself in to the police?" Lory questioned, eyes bearing into the pair.

"This was unexpected. I did warn him that he would be blamed for everything should this be exposed," Tadashi answered.

"Of course, he is to blame. What kind of grown man gets manipulated by a teenage girl? Her lawyers are going to spin this in a way where Hanazawa-san takes the fall. If he had not been greedy for money, he would never have taken advantage of her and indulged her antics," Saena snapped.

"Hmmm," Lory hummed. "Greedy, you say?"

Saena folded his arms and lifted her chin defiantly. "What do you think, Takarada-san?"

"Well, people do desperate things for those they love. I can't fault a man willing to do what it takes to protect what's important to him. A terrible decision, but I can respect that it was made out of love," Lory countered followed by another puff of his cigar.

"I told him I would help him. His wife needs her husband and his daughters need their father. I'm sure Kyoko-chan would agree to help him," Tadashi added.

Aside from a small twitch of her eyebrow, Saena's face did not betray her irritation. "Are you suggesting that he get off scot-free for his involvement in hurting Kyoko?"

"No! I'm just saying I don't want him to take the fall. Morizumi Kimiko should take the brunt of the blame. He decided to turn himself in, so whatever the judges decide will be on him," Tadashi explained.

"I understand. If I was Morizum-san's lawyer, I would make her look like a victim of her environment so the jury would have pity on her and exploit the man," Saena told them, giving her professional opinion. She was not that kind of lawyer and did not represent those types of clients. Lawyers like that sickened her. They had no morals when it came to collecting a large paycheck.

"So where do we go from here?" Lory asked, his gaze resting on Saena. He didn't want to be overstepping his position. They seemed to have a good handle on things and were actively working together in the best interest of their daughter. All he wanted was for his LME children to be safe from harm; Lory didn't mind taking the backseat on this one.

"I've filed the charges and submitted the necessary documentation for Yashiro-san's defense. The long end of the pole would be waiting for Morizumi-san to be lucid enough to stand trial. I doubt that will happen anytime soon," Saena supplied, shifting into lawyer mode. "There is nothing quick about Japan's legal system unless you know the right people. Fortunately, the hard part is practically finished. We have been building our case and I think it's strong." Her gut feeling told her that the Morizumis would want to wrap this up quickly and keep it as quiet as possible despite a portion of it already out in the open.

Kanae had parted ways with the men outside to make her way back to LME. Yashiro had felt a little guilty about not sending her off properly, but it would have made them late. She assured him it wasn't a big deal since she decided to tag along. She gave him a peck on the cheek and walked down the street towards the station. Yashiro sighed, touching his face where her lips just were and followed after Ren, ecstatic that he had the chance to spend some more time with her.

Yashiro was glad this first job wasn't at a well-known studio. It was a bit of a reprieve to not have to dodge reporters first thing in the morning. He knew it would be different when they left as he spied various guests and staff tapping on their phones. It will only be a matter of time before their location would be reported on social media and fans started flocking to the area. It was still too early for any of the shops and restaurants to open, but office workers were slowly trickling into the building.

Ignoring the people, Ren focused on the flaming orange sports car parked outside the prestigious Otemachi Tower. He looked like a kid in a candy store as he admired the gorgeous sleek lines of the vehicle. This beauty would be his co-star for the day. He got excited mouthing off the specs of the vehicle to Yashiro and couldn't wait to see inside it.

Yashiro rolled his eyes. Boys and their toys! The whole front area of the building was roped off for filming. Security and staff were directing people around to use the side entrances.

"Tsuruga-san, Tsuruga-san! I'm glad you're able to fit this in this morning. I want to introduce you to the director of PR for Honda/Acura headquarters," the man said, approaching them with a foreigner by his side. "Fraser-san, this is Tsuruga Ren and his manager Yashiro-san."

"Director, Fraser-san, good morning. Thank you for the opportunity," Ren greeted and bowed with Yashiro.

"Tsuruga-san, so great to meet you. My wife and daughter are going to be extremely jealous. I didn't tell them about meeting you today; otherwise, I would never hear the end of it. I was impressed with your driving skills in Dark Moon, and I knew you would be the perfect man to handle our new baby," Fraser praised in fluent Japanese.

"Thank you very much, Fraser-san. I appreciate the faith. Does this mean I will be able to drive the car?" Ren asked, feeling a little giddy from the excitement. He didn't care much for material things, but he appreciated fast cars. He was content with his Porsche, but to drive a newly produced NSX was a privilege. With the money he made, Ren could easily afford the vehicle cash if he wanted it; however, he couldn't bring himself to spend that kind of money on just one item. His current car that he purchased with his first big paycheck here in Japan was in pristine condition. He tried to keep up with the routine maintenance himself, but with his demanding schedule, he had to rely on a shop for service due to a lack of time.

"Of course! We would be honored to have you drive it." Fraser stepped up to the car and opened the door. He gestured for Ren to sit inside.

Ren let out a low whistle, marveling over the high-tech features. The black leather and gunmetal accents of the interior were a beautiful combination. He stroked the soft leather of the steering wheel before closing fists around it. While Ren admired the interior, he exchanged questions regarding the vehicle's performance and workmanship with Fraser. The PR director was impressed that Ren was so familiar with the product. Ren asked questions geared toward the driveability and safety features of the car. He had never driven a car with a dual-clutch system and did not want to ruin the transmission. Fraser assured him that he would do fine. It was when they had their head in the trunk of the vehicle discussing the engine that they were interrupted by the director.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but we're ready for Ren to get into wardrobe, hair, and makeup. We can't go past our allotted time here."

"My apologies Director, my curiosity got the best of me," Ren replied with a small bow.

Yashiro rejoined Ren, stepping away earlier to answer a phone call. Considering he only just started driving, Yashiro didn't have too much interest in cars. He was lost listening to Ren and Fraser chat about the vehicle.

"Tsuruga-san, I have no doubt you will nail this in one go. Timewise, we'll be fine. On top of the commercial, we will also be taking a few still shots at each location with you and the car. This will be used on product pamphlets, showroom posters, and the website," the director explained, glancing at Yashiro. The manager nodded in agreement. This had all been negotiated into the contract.

"Yes, I understand! I will do my best to keep us on schedule," Ren assured him, then headed towards the small conference room reserved as his dressing room.

Once inside, Ren handed Yashiro the folders with the new projects they went through last night. He disappeared behind the screen to change and emerged tugging at the cuffs of his designer gray pin-stripe suit. He stood in front of the mirror to adjust the garment where needed.

With an unmanly giggle, Yashiro turned to Ren. "I see you two love birds accepted all the projects together. I bet you're ecstatic!"

"If it means I get to spend more time with Kyoko, then I don't mind," Ren responded, examining his appearance from all angles.

"Don't be so greedy. You get to see Kyoko-chan every day. You know your schedule is already so packed. I'll have to try to shift things around, but I'll make it work. Even if you have to sacrifice sleep," Yashiro chuckled.

Ren groaned. "I don't mind not sleeping, but I don't want Kyoko exhausted. Please do what you can to make the time reasonable for her."

"It's so refreshing seeing you all lovey-dovey. To think you could have been like this sooner if you would have stopped denying your feelings for each other."

Before anything more could be said, there was a knock at the door. An overly excited young man entered the room and introduced himself as Hina. He was Ren's hair and makeup artist. Yashiro said nothing more and busied himself with reading over the documents from Ren. Like every veteran stylist, Hina filled the silence with small talk as he went to work on Ren.

A few minutes later, Yashiro let out a surprised gasp.

"What is it?" Ren asked with closed eyes.

Hina stopped talking and continued to dust some translucent powder on Ren's face. Although he worked in silence while they talked, Ren knew the artist was soaking every word said.

"I'm just surprised Kyoko-chan accepted these two jobs," Yashiro told him. The manager didn't have to say anymore. Ren knew the exact work he was referring to since she had agonized over it.

"It did take some convincing, but apparently, Hizuri-san gave her some solid acting advice before he left." It was strange to talk about his father like he was a stranger, but there was no alternative. Yashiro still didn't know his secret. "While she was his assistant, Kyoko was ready to turn down her Natsu role because she 'arrogantly,' her words not mine, thought she would be type-cast as a bully. Hizuri-san intercepted her rash decision and gave her that acting lesson we happened upon."

"I remember! That time she was dressed like a boy."

"Correct," Ren nodded. "Since then, she's determined to grasp at every opportunity that would improve her character development."

"I see. I think this will be good for her after that article. Show the people that she has moved on and is still professional," Yashiro replied, shuffling through the documents.

"Okay, you're almost done, Tsuruga-san. Good luck out there," Hina stated, running his mousse-covered fingers through Ren's hair one last time.

"Thank you for your hard work, Hina-san," Ren said with a small bow. Hina collected makeup and brushes he would need for the set and tucked them into the pockets of the apron around his waist before following after the two men.

Ren walked down the hall to the lobby, as usual, oblivious to the mayhem he was leaving behind. Once they turned the corner, Yashiro stiffened as they headed towards the Director. Without breaking his stride, Ren found the source of Yashiro's behavior. Kusunoki Kana and her manager were talking with the Director and Fraser. Ren groaned internally wondering what she was doing here. Aside from her short apology for the mischievous kiss incident over the phone, he had not bothered with her again. Coming clean to Kyoko before it became public, had been the right decision.

There wasn't much backlash from the article after they both admitted, in separate press conferences, that there was nothing between them. Kana confessed to acting of her own accord and he moved past it with Kyoko.

Yashiro shivered when Ren plastered on his ultra gentleman smile. "Ren, let's try to behave, please," Yashiro pleaded.

Ren directed his smile at Yashiro, making the poor man cower in fear. The manager held his hands up in defense. "I didn't know she was part of this production. I knew there would be extras for this first scene, but I had no idea an actress like her would bother with it."

He didn't like this. After the stunt she pulled, Ren wanted nothing to do with her; however, he wasn't about to jeopardize this job. Pulling on his years of experience, he was prepared to be a professional and complete his work flawlessly.

Yashiro made a mental note not to leave Ren alone for even a second with the woman. They couldn't have BJ making an appearance here.

"Oh good, Tsuruga-san. You look the part of…well you!" the director laughed. "You remember Kana-san, right? I believe you worked together before. She's an extra in the first few seconds of the clip," he assured them.

The director had thought about using Kyoko for this job, but she didn't give off the right vibe. He needed that older woman, cougar effect to be exact, and Kana fit the bill perfectly. Plus, her manager had been desperate to get her work. At least she was somewhat relevant these days even if it was negative.

Ren gave her his business greeting.

"Good morning, Ren-san," Kana purred with an innocent smile. "I'm excited that I can work with you again."

"Kusunoki-san," he greeted with a small bow. "Let's keep things professional and do a good job," he said, increasing the brilliancy of his gentleman smile. "If you'll excuse me. It looks like I have to get to my mark."

Kana just nodded. She was taken aback by his dismissal and watched him walk over to the director's assistant. Following instructions, she took up her place.

"Ren, you were supposed to be nice," Yashiro scolded him.

"I was on my best behavior," Ren told him, giving him an air of innocence. He didn't say what was truly on his mind. If Kyoko had to work with Fuwa again, he could certainly get through this job.

At the planning meeting held the week before, Ren was briefed on the details of the CM. He was being himself for this shoot. A voice-over session was scheduled for two days from now to narrate his lines in the commercial. It would be recorded twice: one in Japanese and the other in English.

The English version would be used internationally including in America. The dialogue focused on his dreams and success as an actor. It compared the accomplishments of his career to the ingenuity of the supercar's design. They were filming a sixty-second commercial; the first part would only last about fifteen to twenty seconds depending on final editing.

"Places, everyone!" The director announced through the megaphone. "And…action!"

Ren adopted a confident swagger while he walked through the lobby. He pulled his jacket back and slipped his left hand into his pants pocket. While walking, he nodded and smiled at the people loitering along the way. He paused when the automatic doors swooshed open, blowing his hair and jacket back in a dramatic fashion. He stepped through the threshold of the main doors leading to the outside and continued to strut down the covered entryway.

Kana was helped out of the luxury vehicle parked before the valet stand. She hooked her arm around the handsome man she was with and noticed Ren approaching. Naturally, she shamefully eye-fucked the shit out of him. It took all his acting prowess to keep from rolling his eyes at the desperately obvious older woman.

Suddenly, he gracefully halted mid-stride, captivated by the beautiful sight in front of him.

Kana smiled invitingly with a come-hither expression. Ren, however, had a faraway look in his eyes not picking up on the vibes Kana was sending his way. Despite the man on her arm, Kana tried to speak to Ren thinking he was interested in her. Still grinning, Ren walked right by not even acknowledging the woman. Kana turned around once he had passed and caught him admiring the orange car behind her. Feeling embarrassed, she stomped off haughtily, annoyed at being passed up for a car.

"Cut! Brilliant, everyone!" The director shouted. "I want to take it from the top, but this time, I want Tsuruga-san in sunglasses. Wardrobe! Get him some sunglasses, please! Tsuruga-san, when you stop out here, I want you to tip the glasses down and sweep those captivating brown eyes over the car like you would a gorgeous woman. Kana-san, you were perfect in that scene. Your facial expressions were right on the money. Keep up the good work," the director complimented, oblivious to the woman's embarrassment. There were several audible snickers around the set. Most of the crew were familiar with Kana's failed attempt at seducing Japan's top actor.

Ren scowled at the unprofessional crew. He may not have liked Kana's actions, but he didn't like the crew brandishing her for it on the clock.

"Okay, everyone ready for another take?" The director asked as he took his spot beside his cameraman.

Ren nodded. For this job, he was already imagining the car as Kyoko. The color reminded him of her hair before she started her role as Momiji. He couldn't wait to get inside her, feel her purr beneath him, and take her for a hard ride.

The car! His mind screamed, correcting his thoughts just as action was called.

On the drive to LME after school, Tadashi glanced at his daughter and asked eagerly, "how was school today, Kyoko-chan?" It felt wonderful to ask her this question for the second day in a row. He would give anything to go back in time to see her after her first day of primary school.

Kyoko giggled at his excitement. She told him about some of her lessons, those she liked and those that were a little more challenging. Tadashi told her that he had always been a good student so if she needed it, he would be glad to help her.

"By the way, I received a call from the principal today. He asked that I come in for a meeting tomorrow, have you heard about it? Is everything at school going well? You aren't being bullied there, are you? Because if you are, I will do everything in my power to buy that school and appoint me as the new principal so you can attend in peace!"

"Whaaaa? You can't do that father!" Kyoko exclaimed. By his reaction, she definitely couldn't tell him about the students that were giving her a hard time.

"I'm just kidding, sweetie. Okay, I might have been a tiny bit serious," Tadashi teased. "If you're having trouble, you would tell me, right? I promise not to do anything except listen. I know you have Ren-kun and Kanae-chan on your side, but I hope you can depend on me as well. I have a lot to make up for so even just a little; It would make me very happy."

Kyoko nodded with a shy smile. She was very happy that he was concerned with her and shared how most of the students had changed their tune after today's broadcast. They were now cordial towards her. She joked about the third-year rabid Ren fans that covertly did petty things to her locker. She assured him that it was mere child's play compared to Natsu's antics. It didn't bother her at all. They passed the remainder of the drive talking about her primary school days and Tadashi's time as a student.

...

Kyoko rubbed her aching shoulders as she walked with her father to the LoveMe room. Tadashi made a mental note of his daughter's pain. She must be stressed with everything that is going on. He felt horrible that she had to go through this situation. Perhaps there is something I can do for her. I can ask Mya for advice!

At the LoveMe door, Kyoko knocked to make sure it was clear to enter. "Come in," came the annoyed voice of her best friend. Kyoko opened the door wondering what had made her so cranky.

Knowing his daughter was in good hands, Tadashi left the girls to their own devices. He took up residence in the sitting room and sent a message to Mya. He had something in mind but needed a woman's opinion.

Kyoko's eyes lit up when she saw her friends sitting in the room. Confusion set in when she saw a third girl sitting next to them in front of the television set. They were reviewing soap operas again, but why was Ruriko helping them? Kamisame, please don't tell me she joined the LoveMe section.

"It's about time you came to work! Why the hell are you slacking off? You know I had to endure this stupid drama while I waited for you!" Ruriko whined getting up from the table.

Kanae and Chirori rolled their eyes at the singer. "Yeah sure and I suppose those were fake tears you were shedding for this shitty plot," Chiori retorted snarkily.

"Oh shut your face! I can't believe all you guys do here is watch movies. I knew this section was a total sham!" Ruriko snapped, criticizing the pair. She had found them already watching when she entered the room twenty minutes ago and would never admit that she enjoyed the show immensely.

"For your information, this work was assigned to us by President Takarada himself. Do you think we like wasting our time watching crappy dramas and even crappier acting?" Chiori asked, glaring at the singer. Of all the LoveMe tasks that were thrown her way, this was Chiori's least favorite. Heck, she even preferred making a fool out of herself on the variety show compared to this slow torture. At least the show was more productive of her time. If she wanted to regain her love for acting, at this rate, it would take her years. "Kyoko-san is here now so state your business and be on your way."

"Hmph!" Ruriko folded her arms and stuck her nose in the air.

"Ruriko-san, is there something I can do for you?" Kyoko asked, placing her bag on the floor. "I was at school and only have a few hours here before I need to be on set."

"What? You don't even know why I'm here. Yashiro-san told us you accepted the singing drama. The schedule is already delayed so let's go see Nakazawa-san right away," Ruriko demanded, dragging her out the door. Pity was written all over her friends' faces as she was pulled away. She barely had time to grab her bag and wave goodbye.

AN: Hi hi thank you for sticking with me. There will be lots of fillers in the next few chapters so I hope you don't mind as I work on transitioning them to LA. I got excited over Ren's part in this chapter and threw some Kana (old hag! XD the woman is way younger than me so I don't know what I'm talking about LOL) into the mix but decided to minimize the drama. I seriously hope Ren doesn't let what she did to him go in the manga even though anything he says could be misconstrued in her favor.

SPOILER 272: How's my girl Kanae coming in clutch in this chapter?! She's developing into the bestie I knew she could be. I'm so excited for her confrontation with Ren! I'll wither away if this misunderstanding spans more than a few chapters. It looks like Cedric isn't in Sacred Lotus and his dad is not the American promoter but hey his grandfather is The Mr. D *snickers immaturely.* I'm holding out hope that Cedric is still Kuon's bully.

Enough of my ranting, thank you for continuing to read. I appreciated all your reviews of the last chapter. I always love to read what you guys think!

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^