Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat! But I did write this original story!

"Ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome the very talented Mogami Kyoko to the set." The audience cheered as if on cue.

Niko could sense the nervous tension emitting from the young actress as she crossed the stage. She watched keenly, as a weary smile was flashed towards the viewers, her clear brown eyes seemed too large for the beautiful petite pale face. But the straight back and elegant walk was filled with a quiet calmness that Niko had to admire.

The set was cozier than Kyoko would have imagined, as she walked across the stage. Taking her seat by her host, she sank down deeply into the large brown chair. Across from her, the host of the popular talk show smiled warmly at her, immediately easing some of her nervousness. This was the first time she would be interviewed by an acclaimed journalist, and Kyoko was determined to give her best performance. Today, Kyoko was going to make her impact as an actress.

"Good morning everyone," Kyoko waved at the audience.

Her sudden confidence stuck Niko, and she quickly realized the potential greatness of the new actress. To be able to change from nervousness to calm poise took talent, something that Niko recognized immediately and respected in the new performer.

"Mogami-san, we are delighted to have you here today. Not only are you currently a success as Natsu on Box R but you are also now starring as Momiji, a female ninja, please tell us a little about how you were able to go from one role to the next with what seems like so little effort?"

"Thank you for your compliment. I do not deserve such praise!" Kyoko declared in protest, as she shook her head from side to side.

"Please, let's not be so modest, we all know that you have triumphed in every show you have been cast in. From the scary recluse Mio, to the sexy stylish bad girl Natsumi, you have succeeded in each aspect of your characters, surely you have a method which you can share with us," Niko asked with a wide grin, her sincerity shinning through her eyes, as she tapped the side of her temple.

"Well, it's not a secret, It's just that I like to use all the experiences that I have been through to help me develop my characters."

"So then in your new role as Momiji, you are also drawing from experience?" A devilish smile flashed across Niko's face as she asked.

"Yes, absolutely! I recently went through a lot of personal training to master my role as a Kunoichi, a female ninja," Kyoko nodded eagerly, while she remembered Uesugi Kotetsu, and how he had started her training off with four days of spinning a baton before she was graduated to a pair of clubs and a single ball.

"Personal training? Does that mean you enlisted help to form your character? Or was this from experience too?" Niko asked, as she pondered the role of the love stricken ninja. Was Kyoko implying that she didn't feign being in love but had experienced it? What a refreshing thought!

"Yes, yes, I asked a great master, who specializes in this to help me gain the appropriate skill in order to make her appear believable," Kyoko replied, her eyes sparkling as she remembered in vivid detail, all the strict training she endured right up to the day she auditioned. It wasn't easy having to bounce a ball tediously, hour after hour and day after day, yet all of that had been a necessary part of gaining the dexterity of a ninja.

"A specialist? Are you still involved with this… great master?" Niko asked enthusiastically.

"Well, it's not like I haven't seen him recently but he is a very busy man, so-" her words were cut off abruptly by Niko who asked,

"In that case, if you are still seeing this man, how does he feel about you exploiting your experiences in regards to this project?"

"Oh, he's a professional too, so he knows it was in regards of my role that I sought out his help, so-"

"Then he's also a performer? This specialist?"

"Um, yes, I guess you can say that-"

"Are you guys at a serious stage?"

"You mean, do we take each other seriously? Yes, he is a serious person to begin with and I would never insult him by not being serious back."

"So then in that case, are there any plans for marriage?"

A bright smile lit Niko's face, while at the same time, a bewildered frown marred Kyoko's face who questioned, "Why, why are you asking me about that?"

Both brows rose as Niko responded, "Wouldn't you be headed that way, if you are both serious about each other? After all, since you drew from your happy romance with this man for this role as a love struck ninja, surely there is significance in that?"

Kyoko's throat went dry, as she finally understood the cryptic dialog that the popular host had engaged her with. Vigorously waving both hands, she tried to clarify, "I think we have both misunderstood each other, I wasn't talking about having a love experience, I was referring to a ninja's nimbleness training!"

Disappointed, Niko asked, "So are you saying that you were able to portray love from your acting skills alone and that it has nothing to do from any personal experience?"

Memories of what president Lory had once advised her flashed across her mind. The feelings that you regard with distaste should be carved into your mind for such a day as one that can be used for acting. There are many scenes which you might be able to perform from just your imagination. However, there are also scenes that you cannot realistically portray without prior experience, and this does not only apply to romance but other emotional states as well.

In her mind, Kyoko pictured the deep furrows of anger displayed in her mother's dark eyebrows. The thought of betraying her mother's advice to only focus on her career and not love began to tear at her entire being. How was she going to explain to her mother, should she fail?

A war of mind sets was staged within her between the president's advice and her mother's caution. Surely there was a way to accomplish her feat without maddening her mother or disregarding the president's logic?

But it was the president's final argument, that was a mental knockout blow, sending her fortitude as she fell back on it's reason. If your goal is to be a top-rated actress, then accept that there is nothing useless or meaningless within your life. Even those experiences that you may abhor should be regarded as significant.

It was true, that she had entered LME with a one set mind of revenge. But her goal today has changed dramatically because she found a new dream, something that gave her a new purpose and it coincided with her mother's wish. As long as she recognized that her current self is different from her old self. That she wasn't in love to serve another but rather using her love to accomplish her goal. She could separate the old self that had only functioned on behalf of another and now become someone that was worthy of praise from even her mother.

Therefore, in order to become the best possible actress she could be, someone that could even represent all of Japan, she recognized that it was crucial to employ from even this dark anguishing experience, to perfect her performance as a ninja that can love without being loved back. She won't deny her love for Tsuruga-san and will in fact, cultivate these feelings in-order to use them in advancing her acting skills.

In fact, it was with that very instinct that she was able to garnish the confidence to take on the role of Momiji. As she understood better than anyone else what Momiji would feel, having being secretly in love with Tsuruga Ren. A man that has admitted that he could never have someone important in his life, despite already being in love with someone himself. While is only being nice to her because the president of LME has asked him to look out for her.

Having settled in her mind to acknowledge the president's wisdom, Kyoko finally resolved to answer Niko's question, "I am not saying that I haven't used a personal experience. It is my main stay in building Momiji's being that I have drawn from my own life"

"So then are we correct to assume that your current requited love is your source of inspiration for your present role?" Niko asked in quiet dismay.

Taking a deep breath, Kyoko nodded with great bravery at the shocked host.

Yashiiro spit out his morning coffee while watching the sudden turn of events. With trembling hands he laid his cup down while he reached out to his remote control and replayed the last few minutes of Kyoko's interview. There must have been some kind of mistake, there was no way he could have heard what he thought he had heard. It's just not possible.

But as the program replayed, he watched intently barely breathing, as Kyoko stated what he intrinsically couldn't believe. But even after the resounding yet demure nod by the actress, Yashiro was still left wondering. Was this a joke? Did the number one member of the love me group just admit to having an unrequited love? A sudden comprehensive conclusion evolved, perhaps she was talking about that one time fall from grace, her old feeling that she once had for Fuwa Shou?

Without hesitation, Yashiro replayed the show from start to finish, to better study the intent of the actress. This was something he absolutely had to know for certain, this was a game changer for Tsuruga Ren and it was not something that he could take lightly.

But after watching the show for a third time, he was finally convinced that this was not his imagination nor something that had to do with Fuwa Shou, Kyoko had in fact publicly confessed to having a "current" unrequited love.

The implications were not lost on him. He needed to do some serious investigative work to find out who exactly this entity was. Putting on this glove, he made a quick phone call to the LME office. He needed to buy some time as Kyoko's manager, which means he needed to keep Ren on vacation for just a few more days.

Ren was somewhat surprised that he was suddenly called into Lory's office but then again, the president was such an eccentric that there was no telling what he would do from day to day. As he followed the silent butler into the plush open room office, he spotted a dark figure lurking behind a potted tree.

Taking his time to walk towards several chairs in the middle of the room, Ren tried not to notice as the black clad figure crept silently behind him. Without any hesitation, Ren sank into the sturdy leather chair and waited patiently for the president dressed in Shinobi Shozoku uniform to present himself.

As if on cue, Lory, somersaulted out from behind Ren's chair and flipped himself comfortably into a couch that was beside Ren. "Good afternoon," he said brightly though slightly winded from his acrobatic feat.

"Good afternoon, president," Ren replied respectfully.

"I was happy to hear the message that you asked Miss woods to pass to me. So, the picture of the boundless future that is now visible to you is full of splendor. What a unique way of phasing it. I take it that is the reason you are now wearing your watch on your left hand now?" the president asked, with a smile in his eyes.

Ren nodded slightly, "it's no longer necessary to put a heavy shackle on, regarding that."

"That's excellent! I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to discover what else your future now holds, now that the constraints are off!" Lory exclaimed with delight.

Ren frowned, although he was now able to wear his watch on his left hand, after so much great effort. And he was certain that he could safely not lose control and wouldn't go on a rampage and hurt others like before; however, he wasn't confident that he was ready to explore his future in the sense president Lory was implying. After all, the president was nicknamed the "Lovemon" because he was every inch the Rabumon lovmon that lives on love.

In fact, the Lovemon president, was as lethal as they come when it has to do with love. Give him an inch and he would likely take a mile. Somehow, Ren needed to make sure Lory understood he had no intentions of doing what was being suggested.

"Despite not having to wear that particular shackle because of that specific reason, I am not fully sure if I shouldn't still need a shackle, one with a different meaning. So, that I can remind myself instantly that even though I won't relapse nor remain stagnant, I still do not deserve to advance in that way. But at least, I should be grateful that I have something that is moving within me and I am no longer trapped like before at a deadlock in time.

A sad look passed over Ren as he remembered his request to Rick, that no matter how many times he is reawakened, he did not deserved to be let off, as he had been the man that had deprived Rick of his future with Tina. Clearly, he shouldn't have to keep depending on Rick for anymore favors but he absolutely needed this last request from Rick, so that he would not become the monster that Tina had said he was.

"So could this be your reason for not having gifted Kyoko with a white day present?" Lory asked perceptively.

Tightly gripping his left wrist and covering his watch, Ren stared Lory squarely back in the eyes. His focus not wavering, as he sat still. He briefly wondered what the president would say if he admitted to having kissed Kyoko in appreciation of his Valentine's day gift from her. But he wasn't here to explain his actions to Lory. And he wasn't about to enlighten the president about his actual intentions for Kyoko's white day gift either. It would only cause matters to become confusing, should he open that topic up to discussion.

Sighing deeply, Lory gave up. Shrugging his shoulders, he stood up, adding casually, "that girl has changed a lot since she started here. It's apparent to me that she's matured dramatically and has even reinvented herself, evolving into a spectacular person. Perhaps even someone that you may find something in common with…but at last, if you are certain that you cannot advance forward, then I am just wasting my breath. There I thought it was pitiful for a hungry dog to miss his meal even when the dinner bell has been rung, this is even worse than I anticipated."

Ren's eyes keenly followed the trail of the president as he stood up and walked over to the window. Ren wasn't about to fall into the trap that the president may be setting. Something was going on. He was certain of that. And what cryptic message was he trying to infer with his last statement about a hungry dog missing it's meal? Trying to remember if anything significant had recently transpired between himself and Kyoko, he dug into his memory.

All he could think of was that after Kyoko had returned to playing Setsu after taking a break from her exams, she had seemed a little different. But then he didn't want to make too much of that one incident. Yet something was triggered in his mind when he remembered Setsu's words to Manaka-san.

I'll say this only once, so listen well, from the moment he was born into this world, this man has been mine.

And from that one single statement, Ren had felt a painful tightening in his chest, something that he couldn't really let go. It was as if her performance had changed, almost as if she had a change of heart towards him. Almost like a special feeling that would accompany an intensity to monopolize him. But could that be a realistic view? Kyoko having that kind of special feeling towards him or was it just an illusion? Ren was not one to forget how easily his love for Kyoko could dull his judgement. He was trending in dangerous waters where she was concern, this was exactly why he needed Rick's help.

"Well, if you have already decided that that is where you are, then I can only advise you to go and run freely my little lamb, rampage on-wards till your hearts content, but never allow yourself to fall back into any bondage that will burden and weigh you down like before," the president stated emphatically.

Unconvinced that the President was not trying to ensnare him into something with Kyoko, Ren vowed that he would be on red alert about this entire affair.

A/N: Hi everyone! It's been a while since my last few stories. For all of you who are hoping for some interesting developments in Skip beat but can't wait, I'm writing this one for you. Hope you enjoyed reading this, and please R & R to tell me what you think.

For those of you interested, I developed both Kyoko's and Ren's current belief in love from SB chapters 203 to 236.