I KNOW, I know... Second Chance is currently abandoned but for the life of me after so long I can't bring myself to update a chapter because even if I did it would be a horrible work I don't want to publish. Which is why I always write I will update when I can nowadays, because when I tried to force myself writing on schedule I rarely can produce a good chapter. I just can't do creative writing on schedule, and rather than submitting myself to regret like I did many times in the past... let's just be patient, you and I...

This idea was bothering me for the last few days as I waited patiently for next chapter to come out. I noticed there is a new -for me who come back to this fandom- idea which is exploring the idea of "what if Kyouko never heard Sho's cruel words' and so I come up with a plot 'What if Shou let his mouth loose sooner' and it doesn't sound off at all for me since... Shou really have a bad self control, and very careless with what he said. In fact it's amazing he had not said anything that could snap Kyouko for years, then again that's manga plot for you.

Warning: I don't know I am improving or getting worse in grammar after all these years but... I know I am not the most stellar writer when it comes to grammar so please refrain just dropping review that remind me of this issue. I don't mind you point it out, but if possible please don't just comment on my grammar and add more about character and plot for me to work on.

I welcome people who want to fix this chapter, and... if possible please send a PM or review if you want to beta this story.

Enough of my rambling, and enjoy the show.

Prologue: The End for Beginning

It was ironic that the girl they unofficially adopted was everything they wanted in a child and heir, while their son was not.

Which was why the Fuwa matriarch raised Kyouko-chan as an ideal Japanese woman she envisioned her heir should be, polite, demure, graceful and skilled in tea ceremony. Fuwa Yayoi never understand what Mogami Saena could complain about her daughter, because as far as Yayoi see, Kyouko-chan was never far from perfect.

Too perfect, to the point she felt guilty to ever think her Shotarou was good enough for Kyouko-chan. She loved her son with all his rebellious quirk, but she couldn't see her boy could be a good match like hers for Kyouko-chan as running their prestigious inn. His less than stellar academic achievement aside, her son was not a complete idiot and by the time he entered puberty Yayoi could tell her son knew why Kyouko was educated so religiously in the art of running an inn.

Her son was not happy at the implication, and to be honest she was even more unhappy with him thinking that he was too good for Kyouko-chan. The girl was a bit plain, but if there was one thing Kyouko-chan inherited from Saena aside from her brain it would be beauty. For all her fault as a mother, it was unmistakeable that Saena was a beautiful woman and Kyouko-chan looks very much like her.

"Kyouko-chan is helping me all day and here you are, lazing around listening to that screeching noise you call music."

Her son ripped his earphone off, sulking. "This is music! I don't care about our inn, one day I will get out of this place and become a star!"

This was not the first time this exchange happened between her son and her, and occasionally with her husband too. "Listen, Shoutarou."

"Don't call me that! It's embarrassing!"

"Alright." She relented, because arguing over the name they proudly picked for their son was getting old and she didn't want to get distracted from the main topic she wanted to talk about to their son. "Shou, are you aware that Kyouko-chan have no friends in class?"

He nodded, shrugging. "Yeah… girls just doesn't like her."

At the times like this she wondered if she dropped Shoutarou too many times on the head when he was a baby. "Why is that?"

"I am not sure, but then again Kyouko is weird… not fashionable, and she is in go home club." He listed on. "I think that's plenty of reason for girls to dislike her, she is also pretty clumsy… losing her lunch all the time and there is this one time her desk is gone."

It took all her self control to not slap her wayward son upside his head for being so obnoxious. Kyouko-chan was in go home club- as he aptly put it in youngster's language nowadays- because she was helping in their inn, which was what he supposed to do. The girls bullied Kyouko-chan simply because she was close with him. In short Kyouko-chan had been miserable in school because of Shoutaro.

Off course he was not directly at fault but as her only friend, Yayoi had hoped Shoutarou was observant enough to tell Kyouko was unhappy in school and he had been the indirect cause. However instead of trying to be a decent friend he should be, Shoutarou was blissfully uncaring of Kyouko's trouble. He didn't even seem worried about Kyouko-chan.

That day was the day Fuwa Yayoi gave up the idea of Kouko becoming Shoutaro's future bride. Which lead to this exchange.

"Kyouko-chan… if you don't want to learn tea ceremony anymore, it's fine...how about going to fashionable shops young girls nowadays love to go? I can ask Sakura-chan and Tomomi-chan to accompany you." The two girls was the latest addition to their inn and like any employers of their were becoming fond of Kyouko very quickly.

Kyouko-chan looked shocked, horrified even at her first over, slightly excited at the second and third before dialing back to horrified. "Wh….why? Did I do something wrong? Obaa-san?" She asked fretfully.

Inwardly Yayoi cringed that she had accidentally scared the girl her sudden offer, no doubt it had been ingrained in Kyouko-chan that she had somehow displeased Yayoi. The girl was so frail, so afraid to disappoint and displease people around her.

Careful than she had ever did even with precious family heirloom, Yayoi gently placed a comforting hand on Kyouko's houlder before the girl prostrated herself. "No, Kyouko-chan... you didn't do anything wrong. In fact I can't even imagine you to no anything wrong in my eyes." She was that perfect in Yayoi's eyes, a daughter she could never have. "It's just that I want you to be happy, don't you want to be like other girl? Dressing in nice clothes and playing with your friends?"

Kyouko hesitated before shaking her head, "It's alright, Oba-san… as long as I can make you proud. As long as I have you, Oji-san and Shou-chan I don't need anything else! I am fine." She stated firmly, glowing in happiness.

Yayoi had wondered for so long why Kyouko-chan never said a word of protest about how working in their inn took all her time away from doing fun things teenagers did, like her own son did even though he had never done anything to help their family business. It dawned on her, chilling her to the bone that Kyouko-chan was content simply because she didn't know better that there was more in life than simply being a perfect and obedient daughter Saena demanded her to be. Kyouko-chan didn't have to devote her life to be their perfect ward.

"Oba-san?"

Yayoi threw her pride to the wind and spend the next hour praising the girl she wished was her daughter to assure Kyouko that she deserved better, hoping desperately to right the wrong she had unknowingly inflicted on top of Saena's.

She didn't see the shadow of a boy by the shoji door, and the owner left quietly after eavesdropping to their conversation.

The next day

Yayoi was on the phone with her friend from Tokyo when Sakura-chan burst through the door of her private room, manner thrown to the wind. Yayoi didn't reprimand her for that mistake, because by all right Sakura who viewed Kyouko-chan as her little sister would forget it to inform her the trouble her son made in school, and Kyouko-chan was involved. The principal who made the call through the landline of their inn explained what happened in school briefly, so she wouldn't be in total lost when she came to fetch her son and ward.

She couldn't believe what she heard, Kyouko-chan assaulted her son in school?!

Yayoi was not sure how she reached Rakuzan Middle School, but she was sure she had scared an old taxi driver to death in her haste to get here. She also contemplated to murder the school security for taking too long to produce a visitor pass for her, and threatened to gut the plump man with a spoon if he didn't show her the way to principal office as soon as possible.

For everything she didn't expect to happen today, a circus in front of the principal office was not it. Students were crowding in front of the door, not heeding the teacher's warning to go back to their class. The girls, which made the majority of the crowd was shrieking her son's name, defending him and cursing Kyouko-chan's name.

She didn't like the look on their eyes when they noticed her presence, whispering that shou-kun's mother was here and she didn't miss the giddy look and how they fidget and rearranging their short skirt and ribbon. She didn't care about them, walking straight to the office as they parted like red sea for her, ignoring their cutesy voice saying it wasn't Shou-kun's fault but Mogami's.

Yayoi entered the office, fully prepared for everything but the sight before her. Kyouko-chan's supposedly pristine uniform was askew, like she had been in a fight and Yayoi didn't miss the showprint on the side of her top. There was also claw marks in her arms and her hair was mussed. She was holding onto something, all Yayoi could see between gaps of Kyouko's fingers was a rock with beautiful blue color and she was afraid with how tight Kyouko was holding onto it, the girl would hurt herself.

"Kyouko-chan!" She ran towards the girl, not missing the flinch and beginning of apology in Kyouko-chan's lips. "You poor girl… are you hurt?" She asked, frowning when she realized the teachers had not bandaged the scratch marks on her arms and cheek. "It's alright, Obaa-san is here…"

Kyouko-chan hiccuped once she processed Yayoi was not upset with her and in fact was comforting her. She didn't cry in the end but the tightening hold on Yayoi's waist was everything the Fuwa matriarch needed to know Kyouko-chan was terribly upset, more than she ever had showed in front of Yayoi.

"Mother!" The voice of her son interrupted with a snarl, "I am the one she attacked!"

She turned her eyes to her son she was very tempted to disown, eyes narrowing when she spotted a red handprint on his left cheek. She had not heard the detail but she didn't need it because she already knew Sho got out of it with a slap while Kyouko was most likely mobbed by his fans.

"Be quiet! Don't you dare to take that kind of tone with me young man!" At this time she almost forgot Kyouko was her ward, and the boy before her was her flesh and blood. "Now, explain yourself! What did you do to Kyouko-chan?!"

"Ma'am… calm down, we should-"

"You should bring me a box of first aid! You didn't even dress her wounds first! And you tell me to calm down?!" She was very close to losing control of her voice box, her words almost came out as a snarl. No one dared to utter a word when Yayoi got what she requested and cleaned the scratch in Kyouko's face, the girl didn't even wince when Yayoi dabbed alcohol on the nasty scratch on her cheek. 'Kami… have mercy on this girl, don't let this to leave a mark on her face.' She prayed inwardly.

"He…"

If she was not so close Yayoi wouldn't be able to hear her soft voice, calmly and slowly Yayoi looked at Kyouko in the eye and gently prodded the girl to continue with assuring grip on her shoulder. "He said… I'm… plain, and boring… girl…" She stuttered, her hold on the blue stone didn't loosen and Yayoi didn't have a heart to make heart because for some reason Kyouko was holding onto it like it was her lifeline.

Yayoi resisted her urge to frown as to not scare Kyouko, but the girl had closed her eyes shut. She was sure it was not just insults to her person that made Kyouko mad, her son was never careful with Kyouko and shallow insult wouldn't be enough to reduce Kyouko to this state. "No one… would want me…" Something akin to flame rose in her belly and if not because Kyouko was still talking Yayoi would disown her son right here right now, consequence be damned. "And… all… I'm good for is to be… his maid."

Now it became clear to Yayoi why a sweet girl like Kyouko-chan snapped at her son. Most of her life had revolved around Shoutaro, her only friend and today that only friend and the boy she believed to be her prince had abandoned her cruelly. Kyouko-chan had endure bullying from his admirers, put up with his egoistic attitude in daily basis, and all she ever asked in return was to stay by her side.

But Shoutaro had thrown Kyouko-chan to the wolves today.

"How could you do this to her?" Yayoi asked with trembling voice, holding the girl close as if to shield her from her own son. "You're her friend! I raised both of you as si-"

Her son snapped, "She is your ideal child! You wish she is your child, not me! After all Kyouko can do everything you want from her! When all I can do is laze around and selfishly thinking for my own dream!"

Yayoi was taken aback by the anger in his voice, and realized Shoutarou was not the only one who had been careless with his words. She wanted to apologize but she refrained, because for all her fault as a mother to him, Kyouko-chan was not one to blame. She didn't deserve to get the brunt of his anger. She didn't deserve to get the bond nurtured for years snapped in a fit of anger for something she was not guilty for.

"Enough… Shoutarou, it's enough… Kyouko-chan deserve better." That day she decided the future of their inn and family mattered not when happiness of an innocent girl was at stake.

Few Days Later…

Kyouko was a thirteen years old girl who had been living in fairytale for half of her life. Simply because she didn't like her reality of her life, estranged from her mother, no father, no friend-she thought she had one few days ago- to speak off. She wanted a mother who wanted her in return, loyal friend who cherished her and more.

Of course reality was not so kind so she settled on having a childhood sweetheart which was the closest to prince charming in fairy tale. So she molded herself to an image Fuwa family wanted her to be, trying her hardest to please them after she failed with her mother. She endure bullying in school and grueling training to be a Yamato Nadeshiko, and yet her prince charming didn't love her.

Kyouko wanted Shou-chan to love her for so long, but she had learned to settle for less after so many rejection from her mother. She would get hurt that Shou-chan didn't love her back, but she could be happy if he saw her as a sister, a family, or even less than that, a friend.

He didn't even deign to be her friend, and that dashed all her hopes for Fuwa Shoutarou. She didn't even know she could be angry, when Shou told her the truth, the surge of anger from within was so overwhelming and the next thing she knew she had slapped her childhood crush. Then before she could regain her bearing she received the wrong end of Shoutaro's admirer's wrath.

That one moment of losing control she honed for years cost her almost everything, she didn't have place to belong anymore. Oh, Oba-san and Oji-san were even more loving to her nowadays as if they wanted to atone for their son, and she still loved them in return, but she felt guilty because she had made a crack in their family she didn't know how to mend. Her room in the inn had been moved to different wing from Shoutaro's but it didn't make her feel better.

She almost never let go of Corn nowadays, and a couple of times she hold onto it so tightly enough for Corn to leave bruise in her hands.

Regardless of what Shoutarou had done to her, after the incident the atmosphere in their inn became tense and suffocating whenever she goes, and it was her fault. She couldn't say here any longer, and for the first time in her life she shed her mask and begged Akiko-basan to let her go.

Akiko-basan didn't protest her decision, the Okami didn't even call her ungrateful for asking such a selfish request. Akiko-basan gave her a long and warm hug she kept giving her for the last few days and assured everything would be fine, because Kyouko-chan deserved to be happy.

Kyouko was woken up the next day earlier than usual by Tomomi-san and told Okami-san wanted her to be ready for a trip. Kyouko rigidly went through her morning routine minus helping in the kitchen as quick as she could and herded by Tomomi-san and Yayoi-basan to the cab they had called.

The first stop was a beauty salon, and Kyouko was placed on a chair before she could protest. They fussed about her hair, and what a waste she didn't take care of her ebony hair. Then another beautician commented she had a healthy shade skin, not too pale and not too dark. She blushed in embarrassment when the beautician looked scandalized by her hands that was rougher than most girl because she was often in dish washing duty and didn't take care of them properly.

Okami-san looked chastised by that comment, and asked what handcream she would buy for Kyouko. She was about to protest, but she couldn't as she was swept away by the whirlwind of activity around her. The next thing she knew she was wrapped in towel and given a complete course of skin care she never knew even exist. Then the beauticians was locked in heated discussion over hair style that would suit her the best.

In the end Yayoi-basan said it was Kyouko's decision and the beautician asked which hairstyle Kyouko wanted from the stack of books they laid out before her. At first she was entranced by princess like ringlets hairstyle, but then she reminded herself that she was no princess. Not to mention with her vivid imagination she could tell she would look ridiculous with this kind of hairstyle.

She was about to ask them to just trim her hair a little when she saw Yayoi-obasan for the first time in the last few days was not paying attention to her but at the cover of magazine in her hand. It was not a fashion or hairstyle magazine, but ikebana.

"Oh, when is that magazine got mixed up with our reference mags?" The beautician wondered.

Another answered her question, "Ah… I bought that for reference to make some flower arrangement of my own to decorate our salon, I forgot where I put it so it's mixed up with other mags."

Kyouko stared at the book listlessly, and Yayoi-basan just smiled and asked if she wanted to take a look. She nodded and accepted the magazine, not flipping it open but stared at the cover that become Yayoi's object of fascination. It was a photo of a young woman in deep blue kimono, in the middle of cutting Iris flowers. Her hair color was ebony and shoulder length like hers, but the side locks trimmed to roughly cheek level.

Gentle, demure and strong. This was the image of girls Yayoi-basan groomer her to be for most of her life.

"Kyouko-chan?"

She beamed at her mother figure and said. "I want this hairstyle, I will look like a princess!"

Yayoi-basan looked happy, ecstatic even at her decision. "Of course, the hime cut will suits Kyouko-chan."

Inwardly Kyouko corrected, the hairstyle didn't suit her, but it suit the girl Yayoi-basan wanted her to be. Still, even though the new look was nothing like the western princess in fairy tail Kyouko let herself to dream a little that she looked better, nicer, and not the plain and ugly girl Shoutarou said.

The next top was a kimono shop, and Kyouko was horrified of how much money Akiko-basan had wasted on her but the Fuwa Matriarch didn't care. The young daughter of the shop owners looked shy at first, it seemed it was her first experience to assist a customer. Kyouko was puzzled why an older girl like this Onee-san never served a customer before, she had done that since she was six.

Somehow the older girl forgot her shyness once she laid her eyes on Kyouko, Yayoi-basan explained that it would be Kyouko who needed help to choose Kimono.

"Can I hold your hands?" The Onee-san who introduced herself as Ichihahsi Tsuyu asked with eyes that almost manic beneath her glasses, she scared Kyouko a little.

Kyouko didn't know how to reply the odd request just nodded and offered her hands like obedient girl she was.

Tsuyu held Kyouko's hands in hers and said blissfully, "Bishoujo recharge…"

Yayoi-basan almost commented on Tsuyu-san's forwardness but soon she proved that she was indeed the daughter of kimono shop owners as she brought a handful of kimono catalogue for them to choose from.

Kyouko in the end didn't choose the kimono she liked, because she didn't know what she liked as once again observed Yayoi-basan and tried to guess which one the Okami wanted her to wear the most.

"Oh my… this vivid color and the water lily looks so splendid." Akiko-basan breathed out in wonder when Tsuyu-san opened scarlet kimono with white swirls that resemble a bird when see fully with water lily in lighter shade of red sprawled elegantly across the kimono.

They let Kyouko ran her hand on the furisode, commenting that her skin stone matches the color if the garment. After they picked sakura colored obi that matched the kimono, Kyouko was assisted by gushing Tsuyu to put it on.

When Kyouko saw her reflection in Ichihashi's full length mirror, a solemn and alien girl stared back at her.

'So this is me now…'

That night Kyouko was given special privilege by Yayoi-basan to sleep with her in the same room, while the Fuwa patriarch stayed on the room beside theirs. Kyouko listened to Yayoi-basan attentively like she always did. The first thing Yayoi-basan told her was, she was loved like a daughter and that would never change. It didn't matter Yayoi didn't give birth to Kyouko herself.

Second, if she could be selfish, Yayoi-basan wanted to keep Kyouko with her regardless of strained relationship Kyouko had with her son. Third, this was not abandoning Kyouko, but giving the girl a chance to live a fulfilling life, a fresh start away from all the pain she suffered here.

Yayoi had a friend who had married to a professional go-player, and she had opened a school of tea ceremony (Ryuuha) and for a long time they didn't have a child. Saena had sent her consent to send Kyouko off to Yayoi's friend so Kyouko had nothing to worry about. She will started a new life in Tokyo, as an apprentice of prestigious Ryuuha. Her friend, Akiko had expressed her fancy for Kyouko when she visited Fuwa inn last year.

Kyouko remembered the nice lady who praised her skill in sadou, and the wistful look Akiko sent her way. "Ah… Touya-san who came with her husband last year."

"She loves you…" Yayoi said wistfully.

And last but not the least, Yayoi wished for her happiness, always.

By the next morning Kyouko was dressed in scarlet kimono Yayoi bought for her the day before, and for the first time she let the staff to pamper her, showering her with gifts she afraid won't fit inside Fuwa family's car trunk. Another first, she pointedly ignored her former prince charming who was looking at her with open amazement as if she was the star of a freak show.

"Are you really Kyouko?" He asked, stuttering in a way so uncool and so unlike him.

Kyouko didn't move from her spot, spinal column stretched, back straight, hand clasped together in her lap, like Yayoi-basan taught her.

"Kyouko-chan… it's almost time, let's go." Sakura-chan said, sending half-scowl at Shoutaro.

For the first time since their break-up, Kyouko turned to her childhood and bowed beautifully. When she rose she uttered only one word to her former crush.

"Sayonara."

Nothing else could be said as the door was closed and whatever her former friend said went unheard to Kyouko. That day was the end of her days in Kyouto and the new beginning in Tokyo.

Next Chapter:

He had seen her walking or rather gliding through the hallway of LME office, carrying a large bucket of flower that almost hide half of her upper body. However in spite of her baggage, her stride was as as smooth as flowing river. He knew she was not a celebrity,but she still drew his eyes with her poise and natural grace. However unlike celebrity that attracted attention like a bright star, she was more like graceful and humble daffodil blooming in midst of snowfield.

He didn't know what possessed him to stop his stride when their eyes met and his manager was already three steps away before realizing he was staring at her honey like eyes. She stopped too, almost losing hold of iris flowers she was carrying. Then she just smiled at him, almost sheepish as if she didn't know what else to do when she caught the eye of Tsuruga Ren.

I am not sure about the title of this story, Silk Hiding Steel is appropriate... but then again Yamato Nadeshiko is not what I have in mind at all. If you have an idea, please drop it in your review.

Now, Kyouko's character in this story... hm... I suppose she didn't change a lot but I think she is more cynical and colder at times but the base of her character is still canon Kyouko. Let's just say the way her person break here is a little different than in canon. I hope no one is OOC in this story but then again I feel character in Skip Beat is hard to nail, especially Kyouko's unpredictability when Ren is concerned. Especially when she questioned Ren's intention in chapter 172-173, which is really shocked me because she is in her own character and not Natsu or Setsu.

Please let me know what do you think about this story ^^ and see you in next chapter.