Chapter 204: Welcome Home!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Lory would have an excuse to throw another party.

The moment the wheels of the plane touched down, Kyoko felt a sense of relief. It was good to be home. The soft squeeze on her hand made her smile and squeeze back on the larger hand engulfing her small one.

"Home, sweet home," Kuon sighed with the same relief in his voice. Kyoko beamed at him.

"We're home," she whispered to him. He smiled and picked up her hand to kiss the back of it. She had wondered how he would react to leaving his parents and his childhood home again. It seemed she had nothing to worry about. If one day he wanted to return to America permanently, she would happily make the move with him. That is if he asks.

The captain went through the pleasantries of arrival, thanking them for their patronage and announcing the local time and weather in heavily accented English. If they accounted for time zones they had been gone for approximately twelve days. Right now a new day in Japan had just begun considering it was past midnight now and going on Wednesday. Flying privately had shortened their fight time by a couple of hours.

She still couldn't believe that the president had splurged on a private plane for them to travel home in. It must have cost a fortune. Kuon had tried to tell her not to worry. According to him, this aircraft was on the smaller side since it didn't even have a private suite. Kyoko couldn't believe that such a thing existed, but he promised that one day he would prove it to her.

This particular aircraft did have a leather couch and a dining table where over an hour ago they sat having a light meal prepared by the flight attendant. Kyoko was impressed. It was just as delicious as if it came out of a five-star restaurant given the equipment she had to work with. The talk at the table was all business while they ate. Now that they were headed home, Yashiro wanted to prepare them for a heavy workload; however, to not overwhelm them, he only disclosed what was planned for their first day back. Luckily, her day wasn't as packed.

Kyoko now felt a little nervous about going back to school and work later. Two weeks away made her feel inadequate. To drive those anxious thoughts away, she stared out the window while the plane continued to move. It was dark, but the area was lit enough that she could see outside. As the plane approached the end of the taxiway where a few ground crew members waited with a short staircase, Kyoko's heart rate picked up and a gasp escaped her lips at the sight of a bus sitting there several meters away. It wasn't like any city or shuttle bus she had ever ridden on. It resembled a bus that she'd seen on television used to transport J-pop groups with its sleek design and dark tinted windows.

Getting closer, she noticed a lone man standing close to the vehicle dressed in a dark outfit that Kyoko was almost sure could be Ruto, the president's right-hand man. If she squinted she could just make out his measurements. It made sense that he was here. No one else knew of their arrival and she doubted the president would trust just anyone to pick up Kuon.

"What is it?" Kuon asked, leaning over her to peer out the window. His groan was imminent as soon as his eyes landed on the outrageous vehicle waiting for them.

"You think that's for us? Could the president be…" Kyoko let her words trail off.

"Probably. I was hoping he would give us the rest of this night to decompress," Kuon answered, his response echoing Kyoko's thoughts.

"Maybe, it's just Sebastian," Kyoko suggested optimistically, using the nickname she had given the assistant. Ruto had acted as their private chauffeur several times in the past so having him here alone wouldn't be surprising. She felt bad for disturbing his night.

Kuon snorted, clearly understanding her use of the name. "Maybe," he replied, hopeful. His eye caught hers as he leaned back in the chair and they both burst out laughing. They knew their boss way too well. If he brought that bus, he probably couldn't resist being in it. Glancing at Kuon's appearance, she could only pray that he came alone.

Kyoko decided that she might as well prepare herself for the third degree that was coming. They had gotten into deep trouble in the short time they were in Los Angeles and their boss had to bail them out of one. Technically they were still on a work trip, even if they weren't always on the clock. Kyoko thought about all the shenanigans she and Kuon got into and cringed. It would be a miracle if Lory didn't fire her.

Oh, Kamisama! What if Kuon is punished because of me? The president wouldn't fire one of his top actors…would he?

Their sole purpose for going to America was to work. Now that she thought about it, they didn't exactly represent the agency very well. Kyoko had also irresponsibly failed in keeping up with her school work. The president and her father had made it possible for her to attend school and she was letting them down.

And the script! This was her first big break as the female lead and she wasn't even prepared to meet with Director Shingai later today. She had read through it once and pecked at sections she thought needed more of her attention, but she still didn't put in the effort required for having such a role.

So many things happened on this trip, good and bad, that she couldn't focus on anything. It would be a struggle, but now that she was back, she would have to double her efforts.

The plane eventually lurched to a stop and the fasten seat belt sign dinged off. Kuon immediately stood and stretched as best he could in the low ceiling cabin then held a hand out to help Kyoko.

"Looks like our ride is here," Yashiro grimaced as he stood up and stretched, glancing out the window. It sounded like he wasn't thrilled about the prospect of meeting the president so soon either.

"What are the odds there's no one in there?" Kuon questioned the manager.

"Dismal. I was not expecting him at this hour, but judging from that vehicle, you just never know with that man," Yashiro answered.

Kuon took Kyoko's oversized bag from her and looped it over his shoulder with his messenger bag.

"I can hold it," she protested. "It's kind of heavy." She had snacks and other travel necessities stuffed into that bag along with the glass bouquet of roses he had gifted her.

"All the more reason for me to hold it," he smiled. He took a moment to slip on his beanie and a pair of sunglasses.

"How do I look?" He grinned, flashing her his perfect white teeth.

Kyoko's eyes grazed over him from head to toe and back. Hot! Her inner Kyoko screamed and dramatically fainted.

"Very suspicious," she teased, keeping her composure. Truthfully, he looked like a broody rockstar in his dark wash jeans, band tee, and leather jacket. She clenched her thighs as heat pooled in her nether regions at the idea of Kuon the musician. He would be a force to be reckoned with…actor, model, musician. She wasn't sure women-kind would be able to survive such a threat.

Kuon chuckled, "I was going for a more diva vibe."

Kyoko giggled and kept her true thoughts at bay, "then you've nailed it."

They quieted down when Kuon tucked her hand in his while they waited for the crew outside to secure the stairs and open the main door.

The flight attendant and pilots exchanged farewells with them as they disembarked the aircraft. Kyoko felt spoiled beyond belief by the high-class treatment she received on this flight. Yashiro had alluded to something with the airport causing flight delays so Kyoko didn't question their luxurious accommodations. She thanked them for their hospitality and stepped out, excited to be home.

The chilly night air greeted Kyoko as soon as she stepped onto the staircase ahead of Kuon, following Yashiro down. The men were already unloading their bags from the belly of the plane and walking them toward the rear side of the bus. Standing at the luggage opening was indeed Ruto, dressed in a black tracksuit with three white vertical lines running down the sleeves of the jacket and the sides of the pants. Kyoko was surprised to see him dressed so casually for once.

"Thank you for the ride, Ruto-san," Yashiro greeted the assistant with a bow as they drew closer to him.

"Welcome home," Ruto replied with a low bow of his own. Kyoko and Kuon did the same. It was a little strange to return his greeting after acting so informally for the last two weeks. The cabin crew on their aircraft had been foreigners, speaking in heavily accented English, so the trip over was very casual. Kyoko would have to go back to old habits. He gestured and escorted them to the open door then allowed them to climb in.

It was dark and quiet, Kyoko could barely see anything beyond the sliver of light shining through the narrow door which Kuon and Yashiro were now blocking. Even the windows seemed to be blacked out. As soon as the door slid shut with a swoosh behind them it was like a switch was flipped. The bus became possessed. Strobe lights and lasers flashed, music blared throughout the space, flat-screen televisions mounted on each side lit up with a very bright and colorful music video, and party streamers rained upon them, startling the trio.

"The Vengabus is coming, And everybody's jumping, New York to San Fransisco, An intercity disco, The wheels of steel are turning, And traffic lights are burning, So if you like to party, Get on and move your body…."

Yashiro's high-pitch scream was frightening. She was nearly bowled over by him trying to make a hasty escape. He would have succeeded if Kuon wasn't behind her. Her boyfriend, being the last one in, went so far as to pound on the door like the next victim of some slasher film. Short of kicking the thick glass out, they were trapped.

"Welcome home," the president's booming voice filled the space through the speakers. The volume of the music faded to the background, the displays dimmed and the flashing lights stopped, illuminating a spot toward the back of the bus. It took several moments for her eyes to adjust and blink away the orbs floating in her vision. Kyoko felt the dread settle around her when she caught sight of the president. A quick look at Yashiro and Kuon confirmed that they were experiencing the same effects.

"Takarada-san!" "President-san" and "Boss," were exclaimed simultaneously at the intimidating sight of the head of LME. He was wearing a similar tracksuit to Ruto in a deep red with gold accents. A matching fedora rested on his head and large gold framed sunglasses hid his eyes. His neck and fingers were adorned with large gaudy jewelry. His outfit explained why Ruto was dressed similarly.

"Oh, you remember your dear old boss," Lory mocked, peeking at them from over his sunglasses.

"What is this," Kuon demanded, gesturing to the ridiculous bus. Now that the lights weren't assaulting her eyes, Kyoko could see a stocked minibar on one side with some light snacks resting on the mirrored countertop. A metal pole stood in the middle of a slightly raised platform and long benches lining each side were upholstered in white leather and dark suede. The floors appeared to be bamboo wood, illuminated with neon track lighting at the foot of the seats and across the ceiling. The dark blinds adorning the windows made it easy to keep out the world which would explain why it was dark when they entered.

"Yuki said you needed a ride home," Lory explained. "So here we are."

"I asked you to drop off a van so we could transport our luggage. This is over the top," Yashiro exclaimed exasperatedly.

"It's a party bus!" Lory beamed proudly. "Since I was so rudely excluded from Kotonami-kun's party last time, I figured I'd take matters into my own hands this time around."

Kyoko flushed. He was never going to let her live that down. Although she felt guilty for her actions, she would do it all over again to make sure her friend was comfortable. Kanae would have never come if Lory had been involved. His parties tended to be over the top. Case and point their current situation.

Ruto suddenly appeared, carrying a tray filled with flutes of champagne. Kyoko and the guys reluctantly took a glass, not wanting his kindness to go to waste.

"Thank you, Ruto-san," Kyoko nodded her head with an appreciative smile.

"Let's have a toast, shall we?" Lory suggested giddily. He raised his glass and motioned for them to hold their flutes close. They had to traipse down the aisle paying special attention to the trip hazard in the middle. "To surviving Hollywood!"

"Surviving Hollywood," they chorused weakly and clinked their glasses together. Kyoko took a small sip of the liquid to not be rude.

"I'm afraid this isn't much of a party. Even if I wanted to invite anyone, somebody here is still having an identity crisis," Lory prompted, using his glass to point at Kuon.

Kuon snatched off his sunglasses, remembering that he still had them on, and glared at the president.

Lory ignored him and continued talking. "I see Ten didn't come with you. What do you expect to do in the meantime?"

"I have the wig Ten-san made for me. It will be fine until she comes back the day after tomorrow or I mean tomorrow since it's past midnight," Kuon scowled.

"Sounds like you have it all figured out," Lory replied coolly.

"I do," Kuon huffed.

"If you want to make an announcement…I could set it up for later this afternoon. You could leave your hair alone."

"That won't be necessary," Kuon gritted out.

"Fine, but should you change your mind..."

"You'll be the fourth one to know," Kuon retorted, his voice thick with sarcasm.

Lory chuckled at his response. "Anyway, it looks like all your bags are secured. Shall we?" He motioned to the seats. Ruto exited the bus while they took their seats. A few moments later, they pulled away from the airplane they just vacated and headed in the direction of their homes.

The silence was thick for a few moments, Kyoko found herself sipping slowly at her champagne to give her something to do and calm her nerves.

"Eat some of this, if you're going to drink that," Kuon offered, picking up a tray of fancy snacks. Kyoko took one of the single offerings, curiously and bit into it.

"Mmmm," she moaned, closing her eyes as the rich and decadent flavors assaulted her taste buds.

Her eyes flashed open at Kuon's hiss. "You have to try this," she said after swallowing the bite in her mouth. It was a stuffed mushroom, mixed with breadcrumbs, cheeses, and pecans. She brought the half-eaten piece to Kuon's lips and slipped it into his mouth. Kuon being the perverted man that he was, shamelessly licked her fingertips in the process.

"If you two are done, I wouldn't mind trying one," Yashiro interrupted with a knowing smile.

Kyoko blushed and took a drink of her bubbly then placed the glass in the cup holder beside her so she wouldn't drink anymore.

"So are you going to tell us the real reason why you decided to be here tonight?" Kuon demanded after he finished chewing on the morsel.

"I knew I wouldn't have a chance to see you later today so I thought this was the best time to talk. Yashiro has kept me abreast of everything that happened, but I never got a chance to talk to either of you except for that one time," Lory explained, nodding to Kuon.

Kuon sighed but nodded in return. Kyoko knew what time Lory was referring to and turned beet red. She reminded herself that it would have been more embarrassing if the video had gotten released to the public.

"Thank you for your help and discretion," Kyoko yelled, jumping off her seat and into a dogeza. "I'm so sorry for the trouble. Please don't fire Kuon! It was all my fault! If anyone should be punished, it should be me. I'll take on both punishments," Kyoko exclaimed with her head low to the floor.

"Morimoto-kun, I assure you no one is getting punished or fired. Please get up. These things happen all the time. Sometimes, if the timing is right, it can be used to boost ratings."

"You didn't save a video of it, did you?" Kuon asked, aghast by Lory's suggestion.

Lory clucked his tongue. "Ruto has taken care of it. No such copy exists, if you're looking for one."

"That's not what I was implying," Kuon sputtered.

"Are you sure?" Lory teased. "While we're on the topic…" The president reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a thumb drive. "This is for you. It's the pictures that were taken from the bar and sold to the Japanese tabloids."

"They gave it to you," Yashiro gasped, his intense gaze homing in on the drive as if it would reveal its secrets. "And what video?" He demanded making Kyoko squeak. They had withheld that particular detail of their night from the manager.

Kuon sighed realizing his mistake. "What video?" Kuon replied, gaslighting his best friend.

Kyoko smacked her palm against her forehead and shook her head in dismay.

"Okay, fine," Kuon admitted, gently pulling her hand from her head and lacing their fingers. "Boss took care of it so technically there is no video."

"Okay." Yashiro folded his arms over his chest. "I won't ask for details, but I hope you two learned your lesson from this experience." He was trying to sound stern, but Kyoko thought he was failing miserably. The fanatic sparkles radiating from his eyes were a dead giveaway.

"It won't happen again," Kyoko promised. "Right, Kuon?" She glanced up at him for his answer.

"Of course, babe. Lessons learned. I'll be sure to look out for cameras next time."

"Kuon!" She groaned, smacking his arm.

"I'm joking. It was a joke," he chuckled, rubbing his arm. Kyoko caught sight of Lory staring at them with a small smile on his face, lost in thought.

"Thank you again, sir. We appreciate your help with the matter," Kyoko reiterated.

"Always," Lory's smile grew. "And thank you Morimoto-kun. It's good to see the light in his eyes once again."

"Yes, thank you for giving me the courage to meet with my parents and for coming out to Yukihito. If it wasn't for you, I would have found another excuse to delay meeting them."

"You're welcome," she grinned and pecked his cheek.

"I'm glad your trip was a success. Yuki has told me your work went well despite a few personal hiccups. On a more serious note, I have reached out to an old friend. She has a doctorate in psychology and has a successful family practice here in Tokyo. She's very discrete. If either of you would like to talk to her about what happened in America or anything in general, I can arrange for her to see you at the agency."

"Oh, I don't think that would be necessary, Takarada-san," Kyoko answered immediately.

"I would like to take you up on that offer," Kuon blurted after her. Kyoko beamed proudly and gave him an encouraging squeeze.

A quiet moment went by with Kyoko nibbling on her bottom lip. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to see someone. She was still having nightmares over the incident and according to Kuon, it happened whenever he wasn't lying next to her.

"If it's okay, sir, I would like to change my answer," Kyoko added sheepishly.

"Yes, of course. She's very flexible. You can go at your own pace," Lory recommended. "Now that the heavy stuff is over. Let's get this party started. Who wants to sing first?" The president pulled out a pair of gold-plated microphones from a built-in cabinet by his seat and held them out.

They spent the rest of the ride to Yashiro's apartment indulging the president and singing whatever song he chose. Kyoko had to admit it was a lot of fun, reminding her that she needed to schedule a Karaoke date with her best friends as soon as they had some free time.

Yashiro was as quiet as a ninja as he entered the apartment, stealthily placing his luggage down and toeing off his shoes. It made him happy to place his shoes next to the pair of heels lining against the wall. He hadn't expected to be home several hours earlier than planned and thought it would be a wonderful idea to surprise his girlfriend. Leaving his bags by the door, he emptied his pockets and discarded his keys gently on the entrance table. He ignored his slippers, knowing the shuffling on the wood floors would only disturb her sleep. Using the warm glow of light filtering from the kitchen to guide him, Yashiro made his way toward the bedroom.

On his way, he noticed little touches of her throughout the space. At the center of the table, stood a tall vase filled with what he assumed were the flowers he had delivered the other day. If the president had not interfered with his transportation plans, Yashiro would have stopped by a 24-hr mart and picked up another bouquet for his love. He moved toward the vase and plucked out one of the long stem roses from its home and shook off the excess water. This would have to do, he thought, holding the flower to his nose and inhaling its sweet fragrance.

As he turned to head to his final destination, the hair on the back of his head stood and his skin prickled. Before he realized what was happening, the left side of his torso erupted in excruciating pain, and all the air in his lungs was expelled from his body. Yashiro dropped to his knees and cradled his side.

"You thief! You drunk piece of shit! Get out of my house, " His girlfriend wailed like a banshee.

"Kanae, wait," he shouted, raising his free arm to protect his head from whatever hell she was about to rain down on him.

"Yuki!" She exclaimed and stopped just in time for her weapon of choice to brush against his forearm. Kanae shuffled around and flicked on the main light.

"Surprise," he beamed, putting his arm on the floor to push himself up. He grimaced and groaned from the pain radiating through his side.

"What are you doing home so early, you idiot? I thought you were an intruder," Kanae explained, slipping her arm around his good side to help him toward the couch.

"Our flight arrived earlier than I expected. I wanted to surprise you, but also didn't want to disturb your sleep."

"Well, you surprised me alright. I'm not sure if I can get back to sleep with all this adrenaline pumping through my veins." She placed him gently on the couch to lay down with his injured side up and helped remove his jacket. "Take off your shirt. I'll get an ice pack."

"Wait!" His hand circled her wrist and tugged her down to fall on him. He hadn't thought that move through when electric bolts shot across his rib cage. Ignoring the pain, he held his girlfriend in place, one hand burying itself into her silky tresses and the other encircling around her satin-clad waist. He wasted no time capturing her mouth in a sweet embrace. The taste of her lips and the feel of her lithe body pressed against his was everything he remembered and more. He grinned against her kiss as her body relaxed and melted into him the deeper he took it. His body was alive with want and need for this beautiful woman lying on top of him and he planned to spend the time necessary to tire her out so she could fall back into a peaceful sleep. For now, he was content with reacquainting himself with her mouth and running his hand up and down her back.

Thankfully Kanae was in no rush to end their make-out session, moaning into his mouth when he squeezed her backside. Yashiro lost all sense of time, lying there in a state of pain and pleasure when a sudden banging at the front door interrupted their reunion.

"Crap!" Kanae cursed and scrambled to get off of him. "I forgot I called the cops."

"Huh," Yashiro answered dumbly, his blood pumping slowly back towards his upper head.

"I called the cops," she hissed, rushing to the bedroom and coming back with a robe in the time it took Yashiro to stand from the couch.

"I'll get it," he called to her and limped to the door while holding on to his side to alleviate some of the pain. The insistent knocking continued until he opened the door to a pair of annoyed police officers. He could only imagine what he looked like because the contempt in their eyes made him feel guilty as charged.

"How can I help you, officers?" Yashiro inquired politely once he opened the door.

"Yes, sorry to disturb you, sir. We received a call of an intruder from this residence. Is everything okay here?" One of the officers asked.

"Yeah, everything is fine. I just startled my girlfriend by coming home early from a work trip."

"I see. This happens more than you know sir. Can we speak to your girlfriend?"

"Why?" Yashiro frowned. He didn't want either of them to see his gorgeous girlfriend in just her robe.

"Protocol, sir. We'll need to confirm that she's alright since she placed the call."

"But I al— " Yashiro began, but Kanae pushed him out of the way, making him groan in pain.

"I'm sorry for the confusion, officers," Kanae smiled prettily at them and batted her eyelashes. "It is as he said. I heard someone stumbling around out here and since I wasn't expecting him for several more hours, I thought it was someone trying to rob us. Judging from all the noise he made, I should have known that it wasn't a thief. He was way too loud to get away."

"Too loud?" Yashiro begged to differ. "I was like a ninja coming inside here. I hardly made a peep."

Kanae snorted. "Is that your story? You sounded like a bull in a China shop out here. How do you think I was able to sneak up on you and you smell like a brewery?"

Yashiro opened and closed his mouth, unable to form a good retort. He had one beer on the bus on top of the champagne, nothing more. "Was I really that loud?"

Kanae giggled and nodded.

"Well, it seems everything is fine here. A little tip, never surprise your significant other when coming home early. Sometimes, it's not the welcome home you expected."

"Good night, officers," Kanae huffed and slammed the door on their faces.

"Hey," Yashiro whispered, hooking his finger beneath her chin and tilting her face up to him. He pushed her against the door until there was no space between their bodies, then slanted his mouth over hers in a passionate kiss. She whimpered when he pulled away.

"Come on," he tugged on her hand to follow him to the bedroom. "I'm going to take a quick shower, then make love to you until you're too exhausted to remember your name."

"I'll hold you to that," Kanae stated and followed him, shutting off the lights as they went by.

Yashiro left her on the bed and hopped in the shower, finishing in record time. He came out in only a towel wrapped around his waist barely hiding his need for her.

"Kanae," he whispered when she didn't stir from him exiting the bathroom. Getting closer to the bed he could hear the slow rhythmic breathing, confirming that she had fallen asleep. His eyes narrowed on the body pillow of him wrapped securely between her arms and legs. Now that he was back, he was going to stuff his substitute deep inside the closet where she couldn't find him. He kissed her forehead and tucked the covers under her chin, then headed back to the bathroom to take a long depressing cold shower. His plans would have to wait until the morning.

AN: Thank you for your patience and for sticking with me. I apologize for the delay. Life has been very busy. I was able to come up for a little breather after finishing some major milestones at work last week. Of course, there's always more so I'm already being pulled back under. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I can't bring myself to write anything intimate on any other couple but our OTP so you get lots of teasing with YukiNae. XD

Thanks for always reading and I appreciate all the reviews. I HEART you all.

The song in this chapter was "We like to Party" by the Vengaboys. It never gets old. XD

Until next time, Ja ne! ^_^