Because your absence kills me

A Skip Beat! Fanfiction

Summary: Kyoko is missing and the only clue is a hastily scrawled note found in Ren's apartment. How did she get in? Where is she now? Does this connect to Ren's mysterious past? And to what lengths would Ren go to find the girl he loves?

Disclaimer: I would be lying if I said I owned Skip Beat. I wish I did... but then it probably won't be nearly as popular :'(

Takes place a little before the Cain/Setsu. Dark Moon isn't finished and Kyoko is also in Box R – just an idea I had and I loved it. Enjoy please! =D

Prologue

The detective glanced at his notebook, fighting the urge to shake his soaking hair like a dog as he felt the rainwater creep under his collar and between his shoulder blades. He should've felt guilty for dripping on such expensive flooring but part of him loved inconveniencing the young handsome actor who sat stiffly in a seat two yards away from him, but the professional part of him warned him to keep his mouth shut. So he only cleared his throat and flipped over a page, looking down at his notes before glancing back up at Ren Tsuruga.

Ren was glowering at the detective, but for a completely different reason than the puddle that was steadily spreading from around his smartly shod feet, the rainwater merely running off his leather coat smoothly and soaking into the carpet. No. Ren was chafing at the waste of time this inept detective represented. He served as nothing but a reminder of what Ren still had to do. His fists clenched. Why was he being delayed?

"So, the last time you saw Kyoko Mogami was last week?"

Ren sighed. "That was what I said. I really don't have time for this repetition, Detective Riuu. You have asked me every question that could be relevant to Ms Mogami's disappearance. There is nothing further for us to discuss."

Ren watched with some satisfaction as the Detective bristled and popped his notebook back into his pocket in his drenched coat. "I am trying to help find your colleague Tsuruga-san. I would do my job better with every piece of information. I apologise if it seems we are repeating ourselves but this is a serious case. While not being very well known, Kyoko Mogami is an actress, but at the same time she is a seventeen year old girl – we need to find her now."

Ren stood up. "Then do not waste your time asking me pointless questions. I can safely say that I want Mogami-san back far more than you do so there is no reason to believe that I would not tell you everything I know." He was being rude but he found that he didn't really care, so he yanked open his door and stepped back, waiting for the dripping detective to leave.

The detective sighed and slowly walked over to the door, but when he reached it, he handed a small white card to Ren. "Call me if you find anything or if anything happens." When Ren's face remained impassive, the detective sighed. "I'm trying to help, Tsuruga-san, please do not fight me."

And he left. Ren's hand itched to slam the door but he closed it quietly and strolled easily into the main sitting room, the very picture of calm and patience, but that is where he came to a standstill, staring completely in to space. Three days and nothing had been heard from Kyoko. She didn't show up for filming Box 'R' yesterday, or the day before – just vanishing without so much as a word to anyone. Whenever anyone tried to call her phone, it went straight to voice mail. It was as if she had disappeared without a trace.

Well... almost.

Ren moved to the far wall and, leaning his back against it, he slid down to the floor, his eyes closed. "Kyoko." Heaving a great sigh, he reached into his pocket and drew out a very creased piece of paper, so worn from being unfolded and folded over and over again, time after time, as if the reader hoped the message would change, or that some hidden clue would suddenly present itself.

Turuga-san, I think I'm being followed. I don't know who it is, but I'm scared. I think I'm really in trouble this time. Help me.

Mogami

Ren closed his eyes again and allowed his head to fall back once again, ignoring the pain when it hit the wall with a resounding crack. She wanted his help. The note proved that, but he had found it folded on his pillow when he had gotten back from filming three days ago - so, he figured - just before she went missing. He still hadn't worked out how she had gotten in, and if she was here, why the hell did she leave again if she were in danger?

But he hadn't been in time to save her. Why was he never around when she needed him the most... the time with that that stalker... that... Reino … that damn Fuwa was the one to protect her from him, and now, when Kyoko needed him more than ever, he wasn't there, and the danger was getting worse by the second.

Without further thought, Ren leapt to his feet, running to his door to throw on his jacket and push on his shoes before he fled from the apartment, barely stopping to lock the door after him.

I'm coming Kyoko.

End of the prologue! I know it's so short, and I apologise buuuut It is the prologue and I promise that all chapters will be probably six times the size of this x3 Please review! And if you have any suggestions, I am definitely open to change my ideas. The basic plot is sorted – but I might need bits and pieces to help him on his way! Any help would be appreciated xx