Disclaimer:I don't own Skip Beat!, Final Fantasy VII or any of the characters. This is only a fan story written by an adoring fan.
Kyoko Mogami and Ren Tsuruga sat on the limo taking them to their next location for the movie shoot. They knew it was only a matter of time before the President set them up in a high tension situation. Kyoko knew telling him she was falling in love would open his mind to possibilities but Ren only saw their dear President as an interference to any success with his relationship with Kyoko improving. The difference in opinions was only a small factor playing into the awkward silence between them. Lory Takarada sitting between them on their limo ride was the largest piece making the journey awkard.
"I can't believe we are having our recording place at a top secret location!" Lory said with excitement. "We're going to have a great time relaxing in between shots."
"This secret area makes most sense for spies to hide out. A more private location for the relationship to improve," he said and turned to look at Lory. On cue, Lory left his seat in a quick rush darted to the opposite side of the limo. Ren was forced to look directly at Kyoko for the first time in a long moment. How long were they on this trip without speaking? Kyoko's eyes met his and they were trapped in a staring contest. Lory smiled as if he were a young child getting a bucket of treats on his birthday.
"What is going to happen to the couple in this story?" Kyoko asked without looking away from Ren's eyes.
Ren answered her. "They are looking for a hidden treasure from a map left behind from their master. After his death he left them a secret locked in a box. We already did the recording of them breaking into the chest. Now we just need to do the discovery of the charm and what they end up doing."
Kyoko was the first to break their eyes as she turned her attention to Lory. "President, sir, what made you pick us for these characters? Ren is very talented and can take on this acting challenge. I am a growing actress and I have not spent enough time in other roles to feel very confident standing next to him."
"Kyoko, my dear. We have already recorded the opening of the movie with you as the star. It makes no sense to pick a new actress and record the scenes again. You are an amazing actress and your abilities are best when you stand next to him," Lory said and raised his hand towards Ren. Kyoko followed his hand's movement but she turned her face away quickly when Ren gave her a half smile. She needed to believe she was hiding her red face. But he could see the side of her face and her reaction allowed his smile to remain.
"Fine," she whispered barely loud enough for the men to hear. "Will I at least have my own room?"
"For as long as you want it," Lory said and sat back to relax in the seat. "I believe this is our hotel now."
Ren and Kyoko looked out the window to see a very large hotel. The welcoming sign read The Paradise Suite. The name was not very original, but the building was beautiful. The windows were large, the doors were bordered with gold and the parking lot revealed very few customers holding residence at the location. The recordings were going to be peaceful and the time off set would be wonderful. Lory would make certain of it.
"Your things should already be in your rooms. We have three rooms booked, one for each of us. Let's find our rooms and relax after this long drive. I have to call Maria and check in to what she wants me to bring home for her," Lory said with a large smile on his face. He skipped away and chose to let chance take hold from that moment on. He placed the starting piece and it was up to the couple to finish the puzzle. The puzzle of love!
Ren let out a sigh and looked to Kyoko. She was obviously lost in a dream as she looked to the hotel. Her eyes were filled with dancing and her smile told him all he needed to know. Their work vacation was going to be more of a success than he could plan.
Vincent Valentine leaned back in the booth at Seventh Heaven and watched the girls play a game of chess at the table next to him. Shelke Rui was becoming an expert at the game where Yuffie Kisaragi was too distracted by some story she created about the pawns protecting their queen and king.
"Yuffie Kisaragi, it is your turn," Shelke said giving her a smile. It was a smile a mother would give a child completing a task in a needlessly silly manor. "I think your queen is failing to protect her king."
"Wait!" Yuffie glared at the board, turned to Shelke and finalized her glare on Vincent. "Aren't I supposed to protect the queen?!"
"No, we've gone through this," Vincent said with a laugh on his face. "The goal is to capture the king."
Yuffie gave a huff and slouched into her chair. "You win. I hate this game."
Shelke laughed a bit at her friend's pouting and shook her head. She stepped away so she could get a drink of water from Tifa at the bar. They all knew it was a matter of time before Yuffie lost her interest in the game. For a long time Yuffie was jumping from task to task. With all their battles ending and her freedom from her father she was unable to sit still and relax.
"You need a vacation," Tifa said giving a glass of water to Yuffie, also.
"I need something to do! I hate sitting around and relaxing," she said and once again placed her glare to Vincent. "How do you do it?"
"I have a bit of training in the relaxing area," he said. Tifa gave a small chuckle at his joke and Yuffie gave another gruff of annoyance.
"I can't stand you," she grumbled. "Why am I friends with you?"
"Where should we start the list?" Shelke took a stand next to Tifa and looked up at the woman she was viewing as a nice friend. "Maybe when he saved your life?"
"Or it could be how he always puts up with your insanity the best?" Tifa asked scratching her chin in an obnoxious move.
Shelke put her hands on her hips and popped them to the side. She was getting a lot better at appearing like an average person. "Or could it be your major crush?"
Yuffie's mouth dropped and Vincent only rolled his eyes. Everyone knew she once held a crush on the dark and sulking man but the feeling was beginning to fade away. The only thing holding her crush to him was how everyone continued to bring it up.
"Would you let it go?" Yuffie asked hitting the table hard enough to knock over a couple of the chess pieces. Luckily, they were made from plastic. "I have no idea what in the world gave you the idea I have a crush on him! Just let it go..."
Her final words were said in quiet and pleading tone. Tifa knew it was time to stop the teasing for the day. They could pick back up another day, but Yuffie was no longer the little girl they could tease constantly. Well, unless you were Cid. That man could get away with almost anything when it came to the girl. She treated him like a father more so than her own old man.
"Yuffie, calm down," Vincent said. He was given a look from Tifa. The look only begged him to clean up the mess they caused. Why did they always leave it for him when they caused the problem? "What is the big deal if they tease you like that?"
"Because it's not true," Yuffie said. She looked to him with a puppy face. "You know I only see you as a good friend and nothing more, right?"
"If I thought any other way do you think I would feel this comfortable sitting here while they teased you?" he asked and sat up in his seat. He knew she couldn't read him and couldn't tell he was slightly hit by their teasing. "Why don't we go on an adventure to get your moving and out of the building?"
"Why would you do that?" she asked already lacing up her knee high boots giving off her answer. He could no imagine how she was comfortable in such tiny short and skimpy shirt. Not to mention the cold weather at the moment. The furry jacket she pulled on barely helped protect her against the cold.
"Because I have a cave I want to look into. I heard some rumors about a beast hiding away. I don't want problems to arise once again in the city. Want to help me find and defeat this beast?" he asked moving to his feet. She was already walking out of the bar and held no idea to where they were going. It was his idea and needed to lead the way.
"Are we taking your bike?" she asked with only a little appearance of nerves showing. She stood in front of the motorcycle and stared.
"We'll have to so we can get there in descent time," Vincent said and took out his keys. He bent down and whispered in her ear. "You can sit in front of me and I'll protect you."
Yuffie and the women watching inside froze. If he wasn't interest in her why was he acting in such a friendly way? There was more to his side of the story than any of them ever thought.