The Butterfly Effect. (Skip Beat! Fanfic)

Stories unfold.

Ren looked at the almost empty bottle before him as he waved the bartender over and ordered a second bottle to be brought.

"What the hell did I think I was doing?" he asked himself as he poured another glass knocking it back

"Room for one more?" a quiet voice asked him.

Ren looked over as the small, shapely blond hopped up onto the stool next to him. Flipping her long, blond hair over her shoulder she smiled, as the bartender returned with Ren's bottle of scotch.

"Can I get you something madam?" he asked politely bowing as she smiled.

"Just a glass please. I'm sure this nice young man here is willing to share."

Thinking better of speaking, he just nodded as the bartender handed her a glass with ice and left them to talk in private.

"Bad day?" Ren asked as he indicated the fresh bottle which she picked up. Surprising him, she filled the glass entirely before necking the large drink, only speaking as she once again began to fill the glass.

"You have no idea." she answered glumly as she again necked the large glass of scotch, Ren was seriously impressed. This wasn't a cheap bottle. Even he would struggle to drink the proportions she was knocking back. He dreaded his next words, but he knew he had to ask them anyway,

"Want to tell me about it?" he asked. As the golden eyes met his for the first time. He could see the tears.

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24 Hours later

"OK I need you to start again, slowly this time. You're trying to tell me that two of our biggest stars have gone AWOL and none of you have any idea where they may be?" Lory's voice was calm but his eyes were anything but calm. The two men and one woman before him moved uncomfortably as Lory gazed at them all.

"Well you see it was like this," Yashiro started.

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"Kyoko-chan?" she turned to the familiar face smiling at her softly.

"Are you OK?" she asked instantly as Kyoko nodded to her, but it was too much. The tears fell from her eyes as the small figure wrapped her strong arms around her.

"Hush sweetheart,what's wrong? You tell old Jelly all about it."

"Kyoko-chan?" another anxious voice sounded as the crew around them stopped to watch the distraught young actress being hugged by the small make-up artist. Yashiro stood there looking terrified by the young woman's breakdown.

"Is Ren's room empty Yashiro-san? I think dear Kyoko needs somewhere to relax for a bit." Jelly looked at the taller man who nodded.

"Of course Jelly-san. His rooms are always open for you and Kyoko-chan" placing his arm supportively behind the actress as Jelly took the other side they guided the distraught actress to Ren's private dressing room.

"I came to see if Tsuruga-san was here?" Kyoko managed to say between sobs as the two older members looked at each other with knowing eyes, Yashiro opened the door for Kyoko and Jelly while he replied,

"I'm sorry Kyoko-chan, but Ren finished for the day about 30 minutes ago. He and Kijima decided to go and grab a drink together since they were both finished for the day" Kyoko looked more distressed by his words as Jelly sat her down on the sofa sitting down next to her.

"But if you need him I'm sure we could try and call him?" Yashiro offered as Jelly looked at him with a slightly worried expression.

"No. No, I couldn't possibly call him away from his friend/" Kyoko answered as both Jelly and Yashiro thought Ren would probably rather be with Kyoko than Kijima any day, but then both remembered the disastrous show he had taken part in earlier that day.