Chapter 199: Not the Same

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ten would fight anyone for Kuon's hair.

Tadashi kept a reassuring smile on his face as he showed the young woman out of his office and turned her over to his assistant should she need additional help leaving. She was the sixth victim that Sota and Specter discovered just in the last year. Finding one would have been more than enough to convince him to proceed with his plans, but Mya insisted that he find more proof before he made any rash decisions.

According to her, "You don't want to ruin a man's reputation without undeniable evidence, do you?"

Mya claimed that as a woman herself, she was an expert at identifying the desperate ones looking for a payout. Tadashi couldn't fault her argument and winced when she used his past as an example. They could very well be lying to him. He had wanted to argue and let her know that he wasn't as rusty as she thought. Tadashi was still capable of sniffing out the bullshit. To keep the peace, he decided to heed his friend's advice and do more digging.

The investigation revealed that the man had several sexual harassment suits filed against him that never hit a judge's desk. For the right price, it was all swept under the rug and settled outside of court. Those that received money, refused to speak to him based on the agreement they had signed. Tadashi was able to obtain a copy of the settlement documents and had a team of lawyers reviewing it for any possible loopholes.

Tadashi wanted to be ready when he brought his offer to the table and made it so he couldn't refuse. Despite his shaky past, Tadashi made it his life's mission to help those in need. And right now he would be killing two birds with one stone. In this case, he needed one to make the other work and would need the cooperation of these ladies. This woman was the last character witness that he needed. Mya agreed that she was enough to convince her. Since his friend had nearly cried while he questioned every victim, she thought they all deserved a helping hand regardless of gender.

He was worried about how much time he would need to invest into this deal. Tadashi was supposed to be leaving New York City, not creating ways for him to stay. He wouldn't sacrifice any more of his time with his daughter even if what he was doing was for her. He had already lost out on too much of her life, Tadashi wasn't about to miss more just for something as petty as revenge.

"I've already put out some feelers for the job," Mya announced, smiling at him. "If this is something you want to pursue then I will do everything I can to help you. Mya began to rattle off a long list of things he had to do until Tadashi begged her for relief. She was talking too fast for him to jot it all down.

"Fine, I'll take care of it," she offered, "But I'm leaving it up to you to find someone to run it in your stead. Do you have anyone in mind?"

"I don't, but I know a man that does." Tadashi glanced at his watch, checking the time. It was way too early to call at this hour. He set a reminder on his calendar for him to call later tonight.

Ren pecked Kyoko on the lips and said goodbye to the Hizuris. He followed Yashiro to the awaiting SUV where Clint— the bodyguard from yesterday— sat in the driver's seat. Nicole had arrived in a separate vehicle and would be hanging back to escort Kyoko if she wanted to leave the house. Since she declined to come with him, Ren didn't expect his girlfriend to stay home all alone waiting for him so he was glad she would have the company of someone that could not only protect her but also knew the area.

His parents were expected back at work and only reluctantly went because of the distress it had caused Kyoko for them to play another day of hookey for her benefit. They had offered to bring her along with one of them, but Kyoko again insisted that she had entirely too much to do today.

Already able to read her daughter like a book, Julie warned Kyoko that under no circumstances was she to clean their house. To drive it home, his mother added that Dee Dee would be highly offended if she found out a guest had done her job for her. After extracting a promise for Kyoko to enjoy her day and join them for lunch, his parents left for work taking Julie's car, only after Kuu came rushing back into the house and swapped his keys for hers. His father's frantic switch-up was read loud and clear.

As Clint headed down the winding driveway, Ren pulled up the directory on his phone to find a professional detailing service in hope that Kuu would forgive him once the car was cleaned. Many locations close by and several promising mobile services populated the screen with a rating of 4.5 stars or more. If he had thought of this brilliant idea sooner, Ren would have left earlier to drop the car off at one of these shops. It was too late for him to turn back now and retrieve the car. He clicked on the alternative, opening the link to the highest-rated mobile service to see what their business was about. They claimed all their employees were vetted and trustworthy. The only problem he had with booking such a service meant that they would need access to his parents' home. No matter how good they sounded on paper, it was a dealbreaker. He couldn't let a total stranger invade their home just to ease his guilt.

Ren sighed and put his phone away, stuffing it back in his pocket. He would figure something out when he got home. Maybe a good start would be removing the offending little mint tree still hanging from the rearview mirror.

"Are you nervous, Ren?" Yashiro asked, eyeing him curiously.

"Huh?" He grunted stupidly, not understanding where Yashiro's question came from.

"About the audition," the manager clarified. "You seem jittery. It's okay to be nervous; after all, this is your first audition for an American production."

Ren cleared his throat and sat up straighter. Now that Yashiro had brought it up, he was suddenly feeling nervous at the reminder of what he was about to do today.

When he didn't respond, Yashiro continued to talk. "This is a first. Who would have thought the great and charismatic Tsuruga Ren could still get nervous when it came to working," the manager teased. "This trip has been very interesting. I'm glad I came along for the ride."

"In all seriousness though, I owe you my thanks. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all your hard work," Ren confessed, thanking the man that had always been by his side since he started this journey.

"Hey! What? Wait…I was only giving you a hard time. Is this what happens you're nervous? Do you get sentimental? Will it create a problem for you during the audition?"

"I'm not sure," Ren answered weakly. "I usually don't get nervous about work. I have been working in Japan intending to make it to Hollywood with my own power for so long that —."

"Let me stop you right there and remind you that you've worked hard for this opportunity. You've done this many times over in Japan. The country and the language shouldn't make a difference."

"You're right, Yukihito," Ren nodded in agreement and relaxed somewhat after his pep talk.

"I have the utmost confidence in your ability to land this role," Yashiro added.

"You just can't resist applying that pressure, eh?" Ren nudged, chuckling and shaking his head.

"You're not the same anymore. You've leveled up. I saw a glimpse of it while you were filming the music video."

"It's not the same," Ren began, ready to protest. The music video was a kaleidoscope of feelings, but it was never dark or sinister. This film had the potential to have him spiraling back into the abyss, on a different level to what happened to him during Tragic Marker.

"No, it's not the same, but as I said, you're not the same either. This time you have a full support system rooting for you," Yashiro smiled, obviously pleased with his choice of words.

Ren nodded in agreement. He felt free after confronting the past he left behind with his parents, Tina, Rick, and most of all Cedric. It was all thanks to Kyoko for giving him that little push. And if Ren was being honest, he owed his friend some thanks for pushing him in her direction, even if it was mostly for his enjoyment.

He spent the rest of the drive to their first stop reviewing the script and trying to anticipate what the directors would want to see. In his head, he heard his father's voice giving him pointers when they rehearsed together the other day. The slight nuances of expression or a shift in body language could make a world of difference in the scene and give him the advantage over his peers. Ren had penciled many little notes in the margin and reminded himself that did all he could to prepare for anything they could possibly throw at him. As he was flipping through the pages, he came across a note towards the end that he didn't write.

I believe in you! Show him how much you've grown! You got this! xx

His chest tightened with a wave of emotion, making Ren blink rapidly to keep the tears stinging his eyes at bay. A calm settled over him as he stared out the window, passing by the familiar places of his childhood. As Yashiro said, he had people.

"We're here!" Clint announced, pulling into a shopping plaza and finding a parking space nearby. "You have approximately thirty-two minutes before we need to get back on the road if you wanna guarantee your Never Late King status starts here," Clint winked over his shoulder. Ren and Yashiro turned surprised eyes on him.

"We like to know the ins and outs of our clients," Clint chuckled. "It keeps us ahead of our competitors. Now let's go. As a precaution, I'll enter first."

Ren thought it was completely unnecessary, but he respected the man for doing a thorough job. Peering through the window, he saw Clint chatting up two figures as they showed him around. A minute later he gave the all-clear and waved them inside.

"I see you brought your American muscle with you, Ren-chan," Ten greeted them as soon as they entered the salon. "It's a good idea. He could help Yuki-kun keep you out of trouble."

"I doubt that," Yashiro snorted. "This guy is a magnet for trouble which I've noticed happens whenever I'm not around."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ren retorted with an air of innocence as he walked toward Ten and her companion.

The man standing by Ten gripped his cellphone excitedly. Ren tried not to be rude and roll his eyes at the obvious fan waiting to pounce on him. He was of Asian descent, maybe Vietnamese, with naturally tanned skin and a shocking head of ash-blonde hair cut in a high fade with a pompadour-styled top. He was dressed in a pair of black slim-fit jeans, black sneakers, a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up showing off the sleeve tattoo on his right arm. His overall style did not match the enthusiasm exuding from him. He was dressed much too dark to be this bubbly. Ren got a strong whiff of his cologne mixed with the lingering scent of cigarettes and alcohol as he got closer.

Ren fought the urge to raise an inquiring brow in Ten's direction as he introduced himself to the new guy and shook his hand.

"Duuudddeee! You're really tall! Holy shit! I can't believe you're here and shaking my hand," he greeted loudly. He may have been Asian in ethnicity, but his mannerisms were all American.

"Ren, Yuki, this is Elijah. He was gracious enough to lend me his salon today as long as he got to meet you."

"It's not just mine," Elijah frowned at her. "Please call me Eli," he insisted while shaking Yashiro's hand. "Do you mind if I take a few pictures with you and post them on my social media? My girlfriend and family are going to flip."

"It's the least I can do for being so generous and lending us your place."

"It's not just mine. Ten is a silent partner." Eli explained, how they met at a seminar and became fast friends, then business partners.

Ren glanced at Ten, but the little muse gave a tired shrug like it was no big deal. "It's a good investment."

While studying her, he noticed that although her face was fresh, she was still wearing the embroidered dress from the night before. When Ten called him this morning during breakfast to confirm their appointment, she had kindly wished him luck on his audition then offered to help him prepare for the role if he had the time. Remembering how successful she was with Cain Heel, he agreed to meet with her beforehand. If he had known she had a late-night, he would have declined her offer so she could rest. His hair took a long time to bring it back to blonde, he didn't want her to get worn out and possibly sick from overworking.

"Well, congratulations on the salon Ms. Ten and Eli. It looks good." Unlike the salon in Tokyo, the ambiance of this space coupled with the bamboo flooring and the wooden furniture reminded him of Japan. It was understated and natural. He rather preferred the overall zen vibe he was getting from this space to Ten's vibrant salon in Tokyo.

"Okay, we can talk while we get you ready for that audition," Ten commanded, dragging Ren toward a pile of clothing draped across a leather seat.

"I tried to pull some items that matched the criteria you gave me. You said he's a blue-collar worker, right? Works around greasy machines which means no-name brands so I shopped at the local supercenter. It was the only place open and had everything I needed."

He nodded as she started picking up different styles of jeans, t-shirts, plaid long sleeves, and a pair of brand new steel-toe boots.

"I even found navy overalls in the car section...Okay try all this on, the bathroom is through there on the right," Ten nodded, stacking a few items in his arms and pushing his toward the back of the shop.

Ren changed quickly, opting to forego the overalls since it would be too scene-specific. He went with a pair of jeans that fit looser than what he was used to; however, they were perfect for Ivan. The R'Mandy belt he had on was plain enough to use to keep the pants from falling. He swapped out his pricey dress shirt for one of the cotton undershirts and a plaid button-up. The genuine leather jacket he wore was replaced with a fake one that was bulky on his frame, but at least the sleeves reached his wrists. Aside from the fit, Ren couldn't tell the difference in quality between the jackets. They both looked and felt like leather to him. To finish off the outfit, he slipped on the pair of brown work boots.

Staring at his reflection for a moment longer in the full-length mirror, Ren thought he was close to achieving Ivan's look. As soon as he came out carrying his discarded clothes in one of the empty shopping bags, Clint reminded him of the time. He had less than twenty-five minutes to finish up.

Ten circled him, inspecting the new outfit for any improvements while Eli took pictures. The two Americans in the room suggested he undo the buttons on his shirt to expose the white t-shirt beneath it. They assured him that it was a more casual look for the man he was trying to portray.

"Scuff your boots," Clint directed, studying the outfit. Eli immediately stepped the top of his new work shoes. Since they were steel-toe, Ren didn't feel a thing. After a few more rubs, the shoes no longer looked brand new.

"Well, you're dressed for the part," Ten beamed and ushered him to a chair. "Now what should we do to your hair to make it less…"

"Pretty," Eli added, finishing her sentence.

"Exactly! Did they give you any clues to your character's physical appearance?" Ten asked, making eye contact in the mirror as she threaded her fingers through his hair for inspiration.

"Well…" Ren hesitated and Yashiro began to chuckle nervously.

"Don't hold back. It would save us a lot of time if we knew how they envisioned your appearance. Are you blonde?" She teased, obviously making a joke about his natural hair color.

"What is it?" She huffed, glancing back and forth between him and Yashiro when Ren still didn't tell her.

"My character's bald," he confessed.

"What do you mean?" She asked a bit confused.

"Ivan, they picture him having a shaved head," he emphasized slowly. Clidareffled his chuckle in the background. It took Ten's mind a few moments before it finally clicked.

"What!" Ten screeched. Her eyes flicked between Ren and Yashiro, waiting for the punchline of this bad joke.

"You're serious?" She asked when they remained silent. The normally sweet hairstylist blew a head gasket when he only nodded.

"Over my dead body! I will cut anyone with my scissors that dares to shave your head! Have these people lost their ever-loving minds?! That's it! You can't audition! Forget about acting in America! It's overrated anyway. All they do is blow things up. Nobody acts anymore. Let's go back to Japan where you and your hair are appreciated."

Ren smothered his chuckle when Ten glared at him. He should have known better than to laugh in front of his stylist. She care more about his hair than he did. Ren wasn't worried about the change per se. He knew his hair would grow back if they expected him to shave it off for the role that is if he even got the part. He figured he would worry about those minor details when the time came and hoped Kyoko wouldn't be too disappointed. His girlfriend loved running her fingers through the strands, commenting on its softness. Maybe she could appreciate a more Buddha-type head and make wishes while rubbing his chrome dome.

"Ten-chan," he began, trying to calm her down.

"Oh, now I'm Ten-chan? Are you trying to butter me up? Well, it's not going to work young man. Your hair is a national treasure and as your hairstylist, I forbid it! Okay, get up. Let's go!"

"Go? Go, where?" Ren panicked, watching her sheathed a pair of sharp scissors into a hidden pocket in her dress.

"To your auditions, of course. I'm going to have a word with this so-called director," she threatened, picking up her bag and keys.

"Ugh, Ten-san. I still need to audition. I don't actually have the part yet. You'll be making things very difficult for me."

Ten began to laugh, but Ren couldn't figure out what was so funny. "Oh, you'll get the part," she stated without a doubt.

"Thank you for the vote of confidence; I appreciate it. But you still can't come with me."

Ten pouted, tossing her bag down.

"Fine and when you do get the part, your director and I are going to have words," she stated, pinning him with a hard stare. For a brief moment, Ren caught a glimpse of Ten's true age in that look and shivered.

Without taking a set of clippers to his head, Ten angrily styled his hair while muttering curses under her breath. All three in the men were quiet as she worked, suppressing their laughter to not gain her ire. With a little more pulling than was necessary, Ten managed to make his hair look more like an I just rolled out of bed kind of look and less like an I have teams of stylists at my beck and call.

Ren thanked Ten and Elijah for their help. He exuded nothing but confidence, convinced that he would make a good impression with not only his acting but also his appearance.

At the venue, Ren found himself sitting in the lobby area with a bunch of other guys waiting. He ignored the whispers and the staring as everyone recognized him as soon as he entered the room. It erupted in chaos when he recited his name to the assistant. Intimidated by his appearance, a couple of the guys walked out of the room never to return for their audition.

To the dismay of the guys that had been waiting for a while, Ren was led straight in after another auditionee walked out. He had no clue that they had made an exception for him, knowing the talent he would be bringing to the table. He wondered if he should feel delighted or alarmed by the special treatment he was already receiving.

Ren stamped down the nerves threatening to bubble out of him as he entered the large room to find three people sitting at a table. As he walked closer, Ren's gaze zeroed in on the familiar man sitting in the center, making his anxiety shoot through the roof.

Fuck! Why did it have to be him?

AN: Hiya everyone! Thank you for sticking with me. It always cracked me up imagining Ren going bald; There's some fanart too that gets me cackling each time so I had to add it in the story. I had every intention on leaving you hanging here. Any guesses on who is waiting for our dear Ren? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it!

Thanks for always reading and for the reviews!

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^