My Important Man

Disclaimer: I do not own SkipBeat or any of the characters from the original story.

Nothing could be worse than to fail in her responsibilities under the eyes of her sempai. Kyoko has three responsibilites: Setsu, Tsuki, and the Princess modeling job. As much as the timid, frightened little girl inside of her wants to run away, she can't. But Kyoko isn't strong enough yet to face Tsuruga Ren after his careless whisper. So what will she do now?

Chapter 5 – Mona Lisa Smile

One of the most famous, if not the most famous paintings in the world is the Mona Lisa. The painting features a woman who is attractive, but certainly not the most beautiful woman in history (at least for my tastes). Standards of beauty change over time; perhaps when Da Vinci painted his masterpiece, she was the standard. But that doesn't explain why she is still one of the most coveted masterpieces in history.

Perhaps the answer lies in Mona Lisa's smile. There is something captivating in the lady's smile. The longer that you look, the more convinced that you become that there is a story behind that smile. Books have been written and movies made by those who wish to explore and explain that smile. Perhaps we will never know the truth.

Alack and alas; I must beg your pardon; lest my dear readers become annoyed with my mindless rambling, I shall proceed with my tale of the trials and travails of another young lady. Shall we?

Kain Heel looked especially fearsome when he arrived on the set that morning. As he walked onto the studio lot people moved far to the right and left to afford him as much space as possible. He didn't look at anyone, but they still felt the cold chill of fear. But Ren wasn't acting as Kain at all; his confused, worried, dark feelings were all his own. Somehow something had gone wrong between him and Kyoko, and she had fled. What did I do? Have I completely lost her? How can I fix a problem that I can't understand?

He opened the door to the studio and stopped short. Kyoko was there, dressed as Setsu and fidgeting anxiously with the knot in the front of her blousy t-shirt top that exposed her midriff once again. She looked so contrite, so worried, and so beautiful at that moment that Ren wanted to rush forward and seize her up into his arms. Before he could speak or move, she stepped forward and hesitantly raised a gloved hand to lightly touch his jacket collar. Even through his jacket and shirt, her touch burned into his skin.

"Ani… I'm really sorry about leaving this morning without saying anything or leaving a note… I… I had to figure something out… and … well… I promise not to do that again. Please forgive me?" She looked up at him with those pleading golden eyes.

Ren desperately wanted to ask more questions; to understand what had happened. But his instincts told him to be satisfied with the fact that she was there with him now. By a sheer force of will he made himself think like Kain. His hand rose and he ruffled her soft hair. Then he spoke in his gravelly voice, "You made me worry, Setsuka. Please don't ever do that to me again."

Setsu gave him a smile that both enchanted him and confused him. The smile seemed to communicate some secret knowledge… something…

"Ummm… Heel-san… we need you both in makeup." Kain gave his sister one last pat on the head, and then followed the nervous make-up artist. Setsu watched him go, and then went to the area set aside for the ladies.

Unlike Kain Heel, who still terrified most of the staff, Setsu had already begun to develop a rapport with everyone. At first they had seen her as the more-approachable half of the pair. Later, she became the one to talk to when the staff was too frightened to discuss an issue with Kain. But now they just liked her. Despite her tough, dangerous appearance, there was something completely likable and cool about the young lady. "She's got class," one of the costume ladies while they waited for Setsu to arrive. "She has perfect posture, and she just exudes grace. It makes me wonder who these Heels really are… maybe they're from some rich acting family or something."

"I don't believe that they're really siblings," the hair stylist insisted. "Haven't you seen the way he looks at her sometimes?" she laughed, "That man looks at her like she invented air. And she looks at him in the same way."

The make-up artist grinned conspiratorially, "You know what I think? I think that she's actually some rich young lady who fell in love with a bad boy. I bet you anything that she ran away to be with her man… You know, if you look closely, he's not that hard on the eyes…"

They stopped talking as Setsu walked into the trailer, "Good morning, ladies." Setsu didn't bow; it wouldn't have fit her character. Instead, she nodded… but somehow her nod was as regal as a bow. The costume lady raised an eyebrow at the make-up lady, her expression saying, See what I mean?

[[B.J. Striker groans as he wakes up and feels the pain in his shoulder. A delicate hand pats the suppurating wound with a wet cloth. Striker opens his eyes and captures the hand.

"I let myself in when you didn't answer. You haven't been around for three days."

"You shouldn't be here, Tsuki. You shouldn't be anywhere near me… I'm not a good man."

Tsuko used her free hand to remove his. She gently placed his big hand on his stomach and then continued her ministrations. "I watch the news, Striker-san. You're the man who's killing all of those corporate men, aren't you?"

Striker met her eyes and then leaned his head back on his pillow.

"Why? Why would you do that? There must be a reason."

"You wouldn't understand…"

"I'm not a kid!!" Tsuki snarled. "I'll be seventeen in three months. I have good grades and I don't even have to try. I'm a young woman now. So don't treat me like that!" As she spoke she kept patting at his shoulder until he grabbed her hand.

"You're hurting me, Tsuki."

The gothic teen hung her head, "Sorry. I'm just sick and tired of being treated like I'm just a kid by everybody. My dad never listens, my mom is condescending, and my big sister acts like I'm pond scum."

Striker continued to hold her hand as he closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. "You still have family, Tsuki, be grateful."

"Is that what this is all about? Did those men do something to your family?"

"Go home, Tsuki. I don't want you involved. I'm going back to sleep." He released her hand and turned onto his side, away from her.

Tsuki reluctantly stood up and turned to leave, "Take care, Striker-san… be more careful, okay?"

As she was closing his door he softly called, "Tsuki?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."]]

"Cut! Everyone go to ten-minute standby while we check the raws." The make-up artists moved in to work on Kain. Setsu's scenes were done for the next hour until they moved to the next set. By the time the make-up artist had moved, Kain couldn't see his sister anywhere.

She was there waiting for him when he walked to the next set. She extended a cloth-wrapped bag to him, "Here, Kain. You probably missed breakfast because of me. Eat a little bit before our scene, okay?"

Ren studied her, still trying to decipher the mystery of her morning absence. "Did I do something wrong, Mogami-san? If I did, please tell me so that I can make it right."

Kyoko stayed in-character. She smiled that mysterious, secretive smile again, "Everything's fine, Ani. Please eat."

Kain sighed, opened the store-bought teriyaki and rice, and started eating. Setsu sat next to him, swinging her legs and glancing over occasionally. After a few minutes, she scooted over just a little and leaned against her big brother.

Director Musato was waiting for Kain at the men's makeup trailer when the afternoon filming was complete, "I want to have the writers expand Tsuki's role, Kain. Your chemistry together is magnificent. She's really something else, isn't she?"

Ren allowed his character to slip because they were alone. "Mogami Kyoko has the potential to be one of the best actresses in Japan or anywhere, Director."

Musato smiled with relief. He was pleased with the tall actor's response. So many actors were selfish about the spotlight, but Tsuruga Ren didn't seem to mind at all. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the man's totally in love with that young lady… or that she's in love with him. "Great! Thank you Tsu… Heel-san. I'll set the writers to work right away."

Ren was on pins and needles as the filming day wrapped up. He and Kyoko had been kept busy all day long, so there had been very few chances for interaction. Now that they were finished, he didn't know what to expect. Kyoko had remained fixed in her Setsu character all day long. She seemed to be using her character as a tool to stay close to him, and yet hold him at a safe distance. It was maddening.

Setsu took Kain's arm on the walk back toward the hotel, but she didn't say anything. "What happened to your things?"

Setsu tensed, but kept her arm in-place and continued to keep pace with the tall man. "I took them back to the hotel room during my break."

"I'm glad." He wanted to say much, much more; but he didn't. Kain directed their steps away from the path they had been following. When Setsu looked up quizzically, he said, "I'm taking my sister on a date."

Setsu's face displayed myriad emotions, until her expression finally settled on expectant. "That sounds like fun. Where are you taking me?"

"Dinner and a movie, I think," Ren watched Setsu's face for a reaction.

"Really?! Cool… lead on, brother." She smiled that smile again, the one that was driving Ren crazy. What does that smile mean?

She's letting me take her on a date, but only as Setsu. I don't care; I'll take what I can get if it helps her to relax around me again.

He took her to Benihana, the original teppanyaki/hibatchi restaurant, where the chefs are also showmen. Their chef was a handsome, older man who flipped food and knives in the air effortlessly while harassing Kain and flirting shamelessly with Setsu. He was the first man who had actually dared to face off with Kain, and the couple enjoyed their meal immensely because of his charming antics.

Despite his best intentions, Ren… in the guise of Kain often found himself touching Setsu's hand, or her arm, shoulder or back… though he didn't touch her bare, lower back again… as much as he wanted to. He also ate more than he intended, because Setsu kept feeding him the best morsels. Something was different that night. The atmosphere was charged, and Setsu's responses, while more subdued, seemed to be more natural than their teasing encounters during previous days.

The movie Setsu chose was a light, romantic comedy which had the added benefit that neither of them were in it. It was a fun movie, and they both let their dark masks slip enough so that they could laugh and enjoy themselves. Kain took Setsu's hand somewhere near the beginning of the movie, and he retained that hand until the credits rolled.

As they walked out of the theater and headed towards the hotel, Setsu became somber. Kain could sense the change, but he couldn't figure out how to restore her mood. The evening sky was dark, and the Tokyo skyline obscured all but the brightest stars. But the moon was out, and it's soft light played across Kyoko's face. Ren forgot his character, forgot her character, and just focused on Kyoko for the remainder of the journey.

Kyoko had maintained her Setsu character all day long. As Setsu she could interact naturally with her big brother. As Setsu there was no fear of rejection, no fear of the pain of being tossed aside. It had been a wonderful day spent with someone who cared about her and seemed to want to be with her. But with the setting of the sun came the reminder that she wasn't really Setsu, and Tsuruga Ren wasn't really Kain Heel. Those roles would end; they would disappear forever at the end of this movie project. The truth of it all made her feel frightened and forlorn.

But Tsuruga Ren's softly spoken words of the previous night whispered into her brain once again. "I love you, Kyoko." She had run away early in the morning, scared to face the man who had uttered those words, scared that his feelings would change in the light of day.

She had come back; not because of her commitments, as she had told herself. She had come back because she wanted to believe those words.

Long ago, after she had failed the LME New Talent Audition because the President said she "lacked an understanding of love," she had stood in her bedroom over the Daruma-ya and ripped Fuwa Sho's poster to shreds. She had cried in a way that she hadn't cried since she was a small child, when her mom had rejected her and spurned her over and over again. That night she had declared, "In this world there is nothing so senseless as loving someone and wanting to be loved. That is useless thinking that only results in despair."

In the end she had cried herself out until she was completely exhausted. Drained of tears and out of energy, she had finally remembered what stopped the flow of tears when she was a child. It was such a simple thing, but wondrously magical. It was the blue stone that she had named "Corn" in memory of the fairy prince who had given her that stone. It had the magical ability to absorb all of her bad feelings and restore her sense of hope.

Setsu abruptly stopped walking, causing Ren to stumble and wheel around in front of her. She wasn't paying attention to him though. Instead, she was fishing in the tight pocket of her ripped jeans until her hand closed on the object that she needed the most at that moment. Ren saw the relieved, triumphant look on her face and he relaxed. "What is it, Setsu?"

She looked up into his concerned, caring eyes and said nothing. She was Kyoko now, looking, examining, exploring, testing what she could see in those big, brown eyes. That mysterious, secret smile returned, drawing Ren's eyes and stealing his breath. Almost involuntarily, without any conscious thought or decision, Ren's hand lifted up and rested on Kyoko's moonlight-illuminated cheek. His thumb brushed lightly across her lips... and then he leaned down to let his lips repeat what his thumb had started.

There was truth in that kiss. It was a truth that reached past Kyoko's benumbed mind and spoke directly to her fragile heart. She heard that truth… and the hand in her pocket released the stone. It wouldn't be needed tonight.

Ren straightened out, his eyes never leaving Kyoko's. He felt for and captured one small, delicate, leather-gloved hand. He turned… and they began their journey again.

Notes: It seems appropriate to stop here, at this moment in the story. Most of my other stories often go much longer; so if you want to read about courtship, marriage, and children, read those stories. I hope that you enjoyed this little story, such as it is.

I have two other stories in-progress: The Shadow's Heart and Dragon's Destiny. Hopefully, now I can re-focus my energy on those stories and bring them to a conclusion.

Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed. Please let me know what you thought about this final chapter,

Leavesfallingup