[Fanfic] Kyoko and Moko (Skip Beat!)

[anenko.livejournal.com]

Skip Beat!

The Basics:

Skip Beat! is an ongoing manga series.

Kyoko Mogami is a sweet, self-sacrificing, and hardworking young woman. She followed her childhood friend--and lifelong crush--to Tokyo when he ran away from home to pursue a singing career. Her every moment is devoted to Sho Fuwa--up until she overhears him dismissing her as a plain, boring girl who is nothing more to him but a housemaid.

Kyoko snaps, and so begins the *real* story.

Kyoko vows to take her revenge on Sho by becoming a star in the showbiz world, and humiliating him there. The series follows Kyoko's journey--both as an actress, and as a woman discovering her true potential as a person.

I have a more thorough introduction to the characters and series at my journal.





Kyoko and her demons



Kyoko's new look



Kyoko and Kanae ("Moko")

The Fandom:

Skip Beat! is a tiny fandom. I first fell in love with the women (Kyoko is a wonderful, strong character with fascinating relationships with other women), but the fandom is primarily centered on a het pairing.

Ren Tsuruga is one of Japan's hottest male actors. He and Kyoko clash horribly upon their first meeting--he hates that Kyoko joined showbiz because of her desire for revenge, and she hates his cold and arrogant attitude towards her. They eventually begin to respect one another, become uneasy friends, and finally start to fall in love (Ren broods about their age difference, and the impossibility of being together; Kyoko, burned by love in the past, is in complete denial).

There are also a few fics that explore the relationship between Kyoko and Sho, as rivals, former friends, or potential lovers.

The Fic:

I was going to do a rec list, but decided against it because Skip Beat! is already a tiny fandom, and half the stories I know of wouldn't fit halfamoon as the focus is too far removed from the female characters. Instead, I'm linking you to my own Kyoko and/or Moko-centric fics; stories by other Skip Beat! fans can be found at my del.icio.us account.

Fools Rush, by anenko

Kanae is certain--100% positively certain!--that her life was easier before Kyoko had declared herself Kanae's best friend. Kanae is happier now, yes, certainly she is--but the irritating moments in life are also so much worse when accompanied by Kyoko's anguished wails, and the dark aura which leave Kanae paralyzed and panting for air.

Friends, by anenko

Kanae huffed, irritated. If Kanae's enemies were Kyoko's enemies, then--? Yes, Kanae thought, yes: if her enemies were Kyoko's enemies, then Kyoko's enemies were Kanae's enemies.

How like Kyoko, to make trouble for Kanae even when she was not there!

To The Victor, by anenko

There's some woman--some crazy bitch--calling herself Kyoko. And this woman--this psycho stalker--wants Sho dead, or worse yet, humiliated before the world. He's sure that "Kyoko" isn't his Kyoko--sweet, plain, obedient Kyoko--because Sho's would have slit her own throat before so much as making him frown.

Strong Enough, by anenko

"Kyoko Mogami" is a failure as a human being.

untitled, by anenko

“Moko,” Kyoko wailed, “I can’t do it!” Kyoko looked at Moko mournfully over the crumpled script she held. “I’ve sworn off love forever, and this script! This script demands that I kiss a man, deeply, lovingly!”

Moko plucked the script from Kyoko’s trembling fingers. She snorted at the section Kyoko had highlighted. “It’s hardly more than a peck on the lips,” she said, dismissive.

Real men wear pink, by anenko

Kyoko’s demons quivered in jealous indignation: he was mocking her! Mocking her with his pretty shirt, better suited to Kyoko herself!