Chapter 34

I do not own skip beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.

Return part 2

The tenant having called to warn and apologize concerning the apartment which would only be available in a few hours, Kyoko decided to rather start by going to the agency. The president had already indicated to her that he would have several job offers as soon as she arrived and it was just as well that she went to read them directly. The only problem would be for Snow for whom it might be a little long but she was well educated and Kyoko had a leash so she was already planning to get her out a little if she had the agreement of the president.

Once arrived, she discarded her suitcase in one of the big lockers of the parking lot and put back her pullover finding the weather in Tokyo a bit chiller than at Narita. Jacket on the arm, shoulder bag on the other and cat in one hand, she pulled inside the building.

…

The noisy interior of the agency, the pace of feet in constant motion, the incessant rustling of people, their voices; all these sounds gradually stopped as the heads turned. Looks were lost on a tall figure, whispering fell silent.

Certain looks became brilliant, others astonished but all lingered progressively on one and the same person. Intrigued ... One question in mind, who was she?

The elegant port, she moved in great relaxed strides, seemingly lost in her own world and clearly unconscious of the uproar it caused around her. Her light steps carried her with a brush in the distance. Her feet flirting with the ground rather than borrowing it as she disappeared at the corner of a corridor.

By no means constrained by her luggage, the tall figure in long golden hair evaporated like a dream leaving behind a cloud of bewildered people, dazzled by the apparition they just saw.

It took everyone a while to come back to life and we could hear the butterfly's steps move away for a moment.

The steps passed in front of a number of people, some of whom were even familiar, but no one was able to make the connection with the elf haired girl teenager of the past and the young woman of today.

In fact, she did not notice it, focused as she was on reaching a particular place.

Her feet stop in front of a door. The small pink label blinding her eyes as it has always been. Her fingers rose and brushed the stamp. A soft smile broke her lips and she pulled the handle down and stepped inside. There was a lot more places occupied but she didn't really pay attention at the time. Her long legs instinctively took her to her former rack and memories rushed back as she saw herself whipping to not wear the damn combi-suit and cried tears of blood at her new missions.

She shook her head. To say it could evoke such warm feelings today. She was so grateful for all the things she learned with it, to all the experiences she was able to live because of it.

She took one last look at the room and left, closing the door. Kyoko assumed she could wait in one of the back lounges in some higher floors and headed in that direction approaching one of the escalators on the east side of the agency hidden on the side. The president was probably busy and considering she was in no rush, she didn't want to disturb anyone. It was the other reason she had not warned anyone of the date of her return. She didn't want to burden them to come greet her when they were working. And honestly she had only known the exact date of her return just recently. She didn't even told Kanae she was coming back, even less when. She knew her friend was shooting a very important role for the moment and didn't want to distract her.

A large office filled with useless things and gadgets of all kinds, a black knight hardly held an exclamation by ending a phone call from his international wing. Another call to the airport confirmed what he already suspected and he eagerly threw himself on his cameras, frantically hoping that what he wanted was there.

A few seconds and this time he uttered an unrestrained cheer of smirking joy and turned to Ruto in a whirl.

"Bring Maria right now!"

Ruto bow and in less than a few moments, a grumbling young teenager entering a very rebellious age was brought in, carried under the muscular arm of Ruto which let the grandfather supposed she hadn't want to come.

He giggled internally in expectation to the reaction his granddaughter would be having in a instant while the fuming girl turned to him.

She was sporting her curly hair in a high pony-tail but it was the only thing that still could be qualified of innocent. She was only 13 years old but despite the best efforts of Lory her outfits had become a little too daring to his tastes and no matter what he would do or say he couldn't manage to make her shift back to something more demure. Not that it was completely inadmissible.

But the shorts were too well, short. The top revealed her belly and she was definitively too young to wear such high-heels, he felt like Setsu outfits were coming back to bite him. Still, the ages had been completely different and it had been a role for Mogami-kun.

"Go change yourself or I won't tell you the good news", commanded Lory with a threatening glare to her.

"As if I care…" She mumbled.

He hold back a sigh.

"Petulant child, believe me, you will care and will really regret to not know" He said, his smirk turning feral.

Her granddaughter feigned indifference but he knew her and a little bit of curiosity had crept in.

"Fine…" she said already turning.

"Maria, he beginning with a new threat in his voice and she stopped her advance, I want pants on you, no heels and at least a little bit more skin covered for the top"

She grumbled.

"And quickly, please. You don't want to miss this, Lory still ended up saying, not able to refrain his impatience.

He didn't have to wait long, she was back wearing fade black ripped trousers, black sneakers and a top nearly covering everything beside a little band of skin. It was a lot better even if there was still a lot too much of black. He supposed she had picked up on his tone considering how fast she had been.

He didn't waste any time and stooped down on his knees to whisper in her ear. Her face lightened up in a blink and with a pouf she was gone, not even letting him tell her where exactly.

Her shouts echoed and he followed after them with a grin. Things were about to get a lot more interesting. Finally.

He could go back to plotting and already pitied the boy.

…

It was a quiet day and he was enjoying it to its true value. He was heading to a new interview job but he hadn't much more today. His last role in Scotland had ended earlier than planned which allowed him to come back sooner and he was glad for the lighter schedule for once as he had felt the first symptoms of a cold coming now knowing what it was like and he knew he would appreciate the rest. He kind of got why too, he had pushed it a bit too far this time and Yashiro had scolded him harshly for it.

He was just picking something up with Yashiro then he would go to the interview. Then finally some rest. He knew he preferred to work himself as much as possible as long as he couldn't think too much but if it impacted his work, it wasn't worth it. He would have to be more careful, no matter what he felt.

Indistinct shouts were suddenly heard from afar and some people wondered what was the fuss around Ren but he tuned it out. He wanted to be alone. To not hear anything. To sleep. Because at least in his dreams, he was happy. At least in his in dreams, she was there.

He heard vaguely Yashiro asking if he knew what it was said but didn't answer until a new shout came.

And another closer.

But he still couldn't decipher what's was spoken.

Then,

A bullet of curled hair and fury passed by them startling people around and climbed three by three the escalator of the hall. It stopped a second at the top of it and Ren recognized Maria looking madly from left to right.

She called someone but it echoed like something foreign and far away and didn't register in his mind until she resumed her run and ran away and finally Ren heard what she had been shouting for a while ago when she paused again and called once more. And as it rang in his mind endlessly as clear as crystal, his limbs froze but his heart began to race for the first time in years, trying to break free of rib cage.

Maria's calls came once more.

"Onee-sama…ONEEEE-SAMAAA…"

It wasn't possible. It couldn't be. There was no such a chance.

He knew that. He knew.

But only one person was honoured with the privilege to be called onee-sama by Maria.

Only one.

Only one.

ONLY ONE.

Kijima and Kaï came to greet him but he didn't even spare them a glance.

Maria called again and his slender legs moved on their own. He was gone and racing before he even acknowledged the movement and the rush of feelings and adrenaline pulsing through him. No matter if it wasn't true. No matter if it was all an illusion. No matter if it's was impossible. He had to go.

From afar he vaguely heard Kijima laughing and talking to Kaï but he didn't care.

"God…Kaï, let's be prepare to meet a new version of Tsuruga Ren…The poor puppy one"

"What do you mean?" an amused voice came in.

"You'll see" finished Yashiro when Kijima didn't answer.

The rest of the conversation was lost on him as he followed the calls of Maria through corridors and stairs.

And suddenly, a loud gasp, screams of glee and more shouts.

His ribcage threatened to break to those sounds and Ren accelerated again.

PS: Okay, I was planning to go further into this chapter before posting it but this place was a nice one to stop so this part will have a third one finally. Don't be too upset, it's coming.

I'm pretty proud of the atmosphere i set in this, it was very exciting to write. The thrill of the expectation. Such a powerful thing.

Poor little man…XD

Kisses

Author out.