Chapter 156: Couple Surfing

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Cedric would also have to answer to Tina.

It was déjà-vu as Cedric stood in the room his grandfather designated his while he emptied his pockets: keys, wallet, phone, crumpled newspaper article. It was in that same order that he emptied his pockets when he returned to his apartment earlier. The only addition was the article. It had caught his attention just sitting there on his nightstand where he left it after talking to Liam. The woman he met at the fashion show came to the forefront of his mind once his eyes landed on the clipping. He thought her name sounded familiar when she introduced herself and now he understood why.

A quick google search brought up her gallery and confirmed his suspicions. He didn't think about what he was doing until he was in front of his grandfather's house. The idea of sleeping in the car didn't even cross his mind as he entered the house with his key. Cedric grimaced at his lack of foresight over the whole thing since the article identified her as a witness, not his fiancée. She had to be the woman he shoved that night during his cowardly escape.

If he had a fiancée, he could also have a family. Why in the hell did I think I could get off with only apologizing to the Hizuris?

He stalked into the bathroom and halted at the sight of his reflection in the large vanity mirror. Christ, I look like shit! The lighting in there was unforgiving. His skin appeared ashen and there were dark puffy circles under his eyes. The makeup artist was probably going to curse him in Spanish on the set later for his deteriorated state. She would be mortified if she knew he understood every word she said about him. It made sense to study that language above others since it was frequently used here given their proximity to Central America. He kept quiet about his level of understanding out of pure amusement.

Cedric sighed and turned on the faucet. He found a new set of everything he needed to freshen up in the cabinet, including an electric razor. He turned off the faucet and opted for a quick shower instead, realizing that if he didn't, he would go more than twenty-four hours without one. He couldn't risk working all day reeking of BO.

Ten minutes later, he entered the kitchen fresh out of the shower wearing a long sleeve t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants he found with the tags still attached to them.

"There he is," Eltra greeted as he ate his breakfast. "Feeling refreshed to start the morning?"

Cedric slipped into the empty seat before answering. "I prefer to start my morning when the sun is up. What time is it anyway?" He asked, glancing around for a clock.

Regina laughed as she placed a mug of hot coffee in front of him followed by a plate of eggs, bacon, and pancakes topped with fresh fruit. He thanked her before she disappeared to do her work, leaving the men alone. She was always good at reading the room and made herself scarce when necessary, which seemed to be every time Cedric came over these days.

"It's nearly six," Eltra replied after consulting his watch.

"Seriously?!" He exclaimed. "You're retired, why are you up so early?"

"I'm old. What can I say?" Eltra shrugged.

"You're not that old," Cedric grumbled, unamused. The thought of his grandfather leaving him for the afterlife was terrifying.

"You're right, I'm not that old," Eltra assured him after a moment of silence. " I plan to live a very long life to see you get married and have children and see your children have children. You'll be so annoyed having me around that you'll tell me to go die already."

Cedric managed a half-smile. At the rate he was going, his grandfather would have to live a hundred more years for that to happen.

They were nearly done eating when Eltra broached the subject first.

"You wanted to know more about Christina Flores?"

Cedric nodded putting his fork down and giving Eltra his undivided attention.

"You're not going to like it."

"I'm in no position right now to have my feelings spared."

Eltra sighed in resignation and began to speak.

"As you already know, she was that young man's fiancée so it was only right I care for her from afar. An investigation revealed that she was his only family. She is unaware that I took care of most of the costs associated with her fiancé's death without raising suspicion. She assumed he had a life insurance policy to take care of the bigger bills. When the grief became too much for her to bear, I was able to cover the costs of her therapy and rehab without question."

Cedric's eyes widened, "Rehab?" The top reason for someone seeking rehab was because of an addiction.

"According to the report, she overdosed. The attorney I sent to help got her out of doing time for possession in exchange for a year of inpatient rehab."

Cedric was quiet as he thought about the attractive woman he met last night. She appeared healthy and excited while chatting with Kyoko. He wouldn't have been able to connect the woman his grandfather described to the one he met. Cedric swallowed the lump in his throat. She had suffered through so much because of him.

"And now?" He croaked.

"She's back on her feet and engaging in life again. I couldn't continue the insurance ploy to provide for her, but I found another way by investing in her gallery and...," Eltra nodded to the wall behind Cedric. He turned in his seat to where a large print of the coastline from the Santa Monica mountains hung. Suddenly a lot of the artwork around the house and the agency made sense. He thought his grandfather just had a penchant for the landscapes of his home. Cedric had two black and white prints in his apartment hanging over his couch that his grandfather had gifted to him as a housewarming gift. His eyes drifted to the bottom corner of the picture where the familiar initials "CF" stood out, Christina Flores.

"She's very talented," Eltra commented softly, invading Cedric's thoughts. He found himself agreeing with the sentiment.

Cedric had no clue how to proceed. Would revealing himself remind her of that horrific night and send her in a downward spiral? He didn't want her suffering from a relapse, potentially ruining all the progress she had made just to ease his guilty conscience. He needed to regroup and doubted that his plan to show up at her exhibition tonight was a wise idea.

"Grandpa," he began. "If you were in my shoes, what would you do?" He asked, once again turning to the man he trusted most for advice.

"Yell all you want, no one will save you," Ryu warned as he dug his shoe into the wrist of the teenage boy he had pinned to the ground. The kid ran himself into a dead-end of a deserted alley trying to escape from Ryu's patient pursuit.

He leaned down and pried the baggy out of the kid's hand. The packaging was branded with an image of 'Betty Boop' similar to the bag found in her possession according to the police report.

"That's mine asshole!"

"Who's your supplier?"

"Like I'm going to tell you. Why are you questioning me like some damn cop?"

Ryu laughed at the irony.

"What's so funny, asshole!"

"It would have been better for you if I was a cop. I suggest you tell me what I want to know while I'm still asking nicely. Who sold this to you?" Ryu demanded in a threatening tone.

"I'm no snitch!"

"I see, you need a little persuasion." Ryu released his hold on his arm and kicked him hard in the ribs. The kid howled in pain, gripping his side while wheezing out obscenities. He reacted exactly as predicted. Ryu placed his foot over his throat and applied pressure to his windpipe.

The guy went from grabbing his side to trying to push Ryu's foot from his neck. No matter how he flopped his body Ryu's foot wouldn't budge. Once he realized his efforts were futile, he quit struggling.

"This is your last chance to tell me what I want to know. I'm going to remove my foot so you can speak, okay?"

As soon as the guy nodded in defeat, Ryu removed his foot. He gasped for air, desperately taking deep breaths as he rubbed the ache from his neck. Ryu rolled his eyes. The kid was exaggerating. He barely used any force.

The boy stared at his attacker all teary-eyed and red-faced. He covered his eyes with an arm to hide the tears as they stubbornly sprang forth. The teen gave him a name and a location. Ryu checked his pockets for any more drugs but only found the one.

"Go home, kid. I don't want to catch you with drugs again. Next time, I won't be so lenient."

The kid remained on the ground sobbing with relief as Ryu walked away.

"This was never part of the plan," Ryu's voice narrated as he exited the alley and walked down the dim-lit street until he was lost in the seedy crowd of the night. "I couldn't save her, but there was still a chance I could save others."

...

Who would have thought that the applause and fanfare from three people could rival that of a packed theater? Kuon could do nothing but laugh and blush with embarrassment. The anxious feeling that had taken root in his gut was unknotted and replaced with a warm fuzzy feeling that began in his chest and spread through his entire body. Kyoko watched him fondly as his mother threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

"I'm so proud of you honey!" She gushed through her tears. "That was a wonderful beginning. I can't wait for next week's episode. You played both Ryu and Akira superbly and I'm not saying it just because I'm your mother," she added quickly before he could retort negatively.

"I second your mother's praising," Kuu piped in patting his son's back.

"Me three," Kyoko chimed moving to reclaim her spot beside him.

"But I have to know...is Ryu's boss the culprit behind it?" Kuu begged, looking for spoilers.

"I hope not," Kyoko replied. "His people love him and he seems to genuinely care for the community. He's a good guy, like Ryu, just misunderstood because of his profession."

"I still think that straight-laced cop is bad. He has everyone fooled with his by the book attitude, but in reality, he's doing something shady. I'll bet money he's the one supplying the drugs."

"I'll take your wager!" Kuu declared.

"You're on mister!" Julie challenged.

Kuon couldn't help but laugh at his parents. That competitive streak hasn't changed between them.

"The kids are our witnesses. If I win, we're hiking Mount Everest!"

Julie gasped. "I refuse! Pick something more realistic! I'm a beach babe! There's no way I would survive that harsh weather...ugh and the outfits, bulky and unflattering. Nope! It's a hard pass for me."

"Fine, fine," Kuu chuckled. "It was worth a shot. What would you decide if you won?"

Julie smiled slyly. "I'm not saying. I'll only tell you if I win and you have my permission to refuse."

"Jules, that's not fair! Give me a little hint at least?" Kuu pleaded.

"Nope, not this time. Those eyes won't work on me, buster." Julie stood to pour herself another cup of coffee. "Anyone need another round?" She inquired, continuing to ignore Kuu's pathetic whimpering.

Kyoko giggled at Kuu's wounded expression.

"I'll take some." Kuon stood, bringing his mug toward his mom. He patted his dad on the shoulder along the way.

"Sorry, Dad," Kyoko sympathized. "How about we clean down here and I can make you a Japanese breakfast?"

"Sweet girl, you're the only one that's still good to me," Kuu replied, gratefully.

"You'll spoil him, sweetie," Julie warned.

"You have both spoiled me so much, it's the least I could do."

Between the four of them, they had the equipment and snacks cleaned and stored in record time. Although Kyoko initially offered, breakfast was another family affair. The kitchen was large enough to accommodate all of them comfortably. While his dad and Kyoko managed the stove, Kuon and Julie were set to chopping fruits and vegetables and plating the pickled side dishes.

They ate breakfast with his family rehashing their favorite scenes of the episode. He was dying to have Kyoko alone to get her thoughts on some of the more controversial scenes. If she was upset or anxious about Ryu kissing that woman, she was hiding it well. So far, the conversation had remained positive. No one seemed to correlate the quantity or level of violence in this series with his past. I guess Ryu is quite dull compared to the psycho killer Black Jack.

"Ku...Kuon...hello?" His dad called waving his hand in front of him.

Kuon blinked a few times to clear his thoughts. Kyoko's large golden doe-eyes stared at him expectantly. "Sorry?" he smiled weakly. It appeared he had missed some of the conversation.

"Could we go, Kuon?" Kyoko asked eagerly.

"Sure," he readily agreed. He would take her anywhere if it made her happy. "Where do you want to go?"

"I checked the surf report. The waves are supposed to be good for Kyoko. I know how bummed you were that you couldn't surf with her."

Kuon perked up at the idea. "Of course, let's do it."

"Yay!" Kyoko whooped. "But we have to clean up first."

"Yes, Your Highness."

…

Things started rough for her as she struggled to get down the balance and timing she learned the first time. Drill Sergeant Kuon was only too happy to give her a refresher course on the subject. It was slow going, but she eventually managed to stand again. As time passed, she steadily progressed to a point where she began taking baby steps on her longboard.

Kyoko paused for a breather after her last fall. She picked up her phone and took photos of Kuon as he rode the next wave in. Like his father, he was able to defy gravity and step to the nose of the board. Kyoko doubted she would ever get to that point before they left California.

"Are you ready to go home?" Kuon asked breathlessly, carrying his board toward her. Kyoko shook her head and put away her phone.

"Just playing paparazzi," she smiled. Kuon chuckled.

"I have an idea," Kuon's green eyes sparkled as he picked up his phone to show her what he had in mind.

Kyoko leaned her back against his firm chest as they bobbed in the water atop Kuu's longboard.

"Are you tired?" He asked, kissing her temple.

"No," she replied honestly. She was enjoying the adrenaline rush of what they were trying to accomplish.

"We were so close last time," he told her.

"We were," she smiled. "I can't believe couples can do acrobatics like that."

"We could too with the right equipment. I have confidence in my muscles that I could lift you like that."

Kyoko laughed. "First, we have to stand for longer than ten seconds together."

"True." She felt him shrug behind her with his reply. "How about we make this one our last and head home?" he suggested.

"Well then, let's get it right," she said getting pumped up.

Several minutes passed as the couple waited for their turn in the queue. Even without Kuu, there were more surfers out since it was later in the morning. The older couple couldn't join them due to early calls as a result of taking last night off.

"Get ready, baby. We're going for this one," Kuon exclaimed. Kyoko flattened herself on the board and spread her legs to accommodate him between them. He lowered himself on top of her, his head hovering over her lower back while the rest of his upper body rested on her butt and thighs.

"Okay, ready," he exclaimed. Kyoko looked over her shoulder watching the timing of the wave with Kuon. "Here goes! Paddle hard...paddle...paddle," he shouted over the roar of the ocean. She plunged her arms into the water digging to help him build up their momentum. "Now!"

Her back tingled as the pressure of his body disappeared when he pushed himself up. Kyoko followed soon after crouching slightly to maintain her balance. Kuon's large hands gripped her neoprene clad hips and steadied her to stand with him as they navigated the three-foot wave.

She began counting in her head. It would be a new record for them if they made it past ten seconds. He laughed at her squeal of delight when she reached eleven. By the count of fourteen, she felt weightless and braced herself for what was coming. As expected, Kuon lifted and tossed her off the board. It was his idea of keeping her safe from the board when he knew they were going down. She was able to see him tumble into the water just before she went under herself.

Kuon was already by her side when she came up for air after the last wave rolled over her. He helped her get on the board and guide it to shore.

"We tried," he said with a lopsided grin once they were on dry land.

"I counted to fourteen that time. That's a success in my eyes."

Kuon wrapped his arms around her and lifted her so they were eye level. Kyoko brushed his hair out of his eyes and kissed him.

"Did you have fun?" He asked with a stupidly happy smile plastered on his face.

"Definitely! Was surfing with your girlfriend everything you dreamed it would be?"

"Definitely," he admitted, kissing her again. She slid down the length of his body until her toes hit the sand. The full wetsuit she wore was suddenly too hot on her overheated skin. She nibbled on her bottom lip as she watched him gather his board and their personal effects.

"Let's get back before you devour me in front of all these kids," Kuon winked. Kyoko's face turned a deep shade of red and looked around the beach. There were no children around. He was just teasing her.

"Come on slowpoke," he hollered back to her. Kyoko ran to her board and lifted it over her head then followed Kuon, trudging to the cart at the bottom of the cliff.

…

Kuon smirked as he spied his girlfriend repeatedly glancing in the direction of the pool. He had an idea of what she was thinking.

"Do you want to race?"

Kyoko was already sprinting as soon as he finished his question. Why does everyone like to cheat? He kicked his legs into high gear and chased after her. Damn, she's fast! In his past life, he had to be an Olympic runner because he wasn't sure how he caught up to her ninja speed. A few feet before the edge of the pool, Kuon scooped her up into a princess carry. Her laughter rang out as she circled her arms around his neck just before he jumped in with her.

Kyoko pressed her lips against his under the water in what he thought was ranked in the top three romantic kisses they've ever shared. He didn't hesitate to kiss her back and kicked them up to the surface to replenish their oxygen. Breathing again allowed for more passionate kisses but staying afloat was proving difficult. Kuon stealthily began moving them to the edge of the pool where he could use the side as leverage to prolong their makeout session. Before she could hit her back on the surface, Kuon twirled in the water pressing himself against the wall. His fingers, so prone to undressing her, automatically reached for the zipper on the back of her wetsuit and tugged. He smiled against her lips when she trembled in obvious arousal in his arms.

It took some finesse but he finally managed to tug her arms out of the skin-tight wetsuit. The only thing covering her chest was one of the dainty little swimsuits his mother had bought her. He pulled her back in his arms and resumed kissing her. His lips strayed from her lips and down her neck as his free hand toyed with the knot on her back.

Cough...Ahem...Cough

It took a moment for him to come out of his lust induced state after Kyoko screamed and burrowed herself into his chest. Kuon's eyes flew open and landed on a guard standing by the edge of the pool with his back toward them.

"What the fuck?" he shouted, holding his girlfriend protectively against him. Thank god he didn't get far in removing her top.

"I'm sorry sir. I heard splashing and didn't think."

"Be nice." Kyoko hissed at him even though she was still clearly embarrassed.

"Did you need something?" Kuon asked trying to take the edge out of his voice but failing.

"We received a delivery for Miss Kyoko. I'll just leave it on the deck, sir. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience."

The couple watched the guard set down a crystal vase filled with a large bouquet of wildflowers and a gift bag.

"Thank you," Kyoko hollered after the guard ever the polite one.

"You're welcome. Please don't fire me!" The guard called over his shoulder as he fled the premisses.

Kyoko and Kuon stared at each other and broke out in ruckus laughter.

"I can't believe that just happened," Kyoko gasped through her laughter. "Thank you for the flowers by the way," she said, kissing him on the cheek.

The mirth disappeared from his countenance immediately.

"They aren't from you, are they?"

AN: Drama...fluff and then more drama...what? To be continued...LOL... Any guesses who sent the flowers?

Thanks for always reading and for the reviews of the last chapter. I appreciate it.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^