He told her. With the threat of losing her forever looming over him, he had simply showed up at her doorstep one evening––and in the pouring rain––and told her.

He was too much of a coward to stay and observe her reaction.

Kyoko had gotten too beautiful, too magnificent, and he was terrified that if he held off any longer, she would move on to another life without him. Over the years, he had managed to lull her into a more intimate friendship. His love for her ached at him constantly, but they were friends, coworkers, and she was beginning to see herself as an equal to him.

She was an actress in her own right: professional, mature, intelligent, even brilliant. He had known she would grow to be these things and considered himself privileged that he could watch her do it. They had spent weekends together, talking, laughing, consulting one another's opinions about jobs, and suddenly, despite the spectacular immunity he had developed, he just couldn't stand it any longer. He needed to be with her for real.

So he did it. Walked up to her door, dripping wet from the sudden downpour, knocked and when she answered, began, "Kyoko, I love you. I have loved you for years, and I think it's time you know."

She had been speechless, of course. Even with Kanae and Yashiro constantly informing her that Ren loved her or that she loved him, she hadn't expected such a revelation. Heart pounding but frozen to stone, she had watched as Ren gave her a small nod, turned, and walked back to his car.

Now here she was, mirroring his own actions, standing outside his door, although she somehow had the presence of mind to bring an umbrella. Kyoko's thoughts swirled wildly. Why now? She had been working beside Tsuruga-san for years, as immune to his ravishing looks and captivating smile as a person could be, and now she suddenly realizes that that smile––the smile he gave to Mizuki in Dark Moon, the smile he still sometimes gave to her––was a smile of absolute love. Why was she suddenly realizing this now?

Ren opened his door and found himself facing Kyoko. Livid. Her posture tense, her fingers curled into tight fists, she shook with fury. She glared at him for a moment before storming past him and into his home.

This was not a reaction Ren had been expecting. He had imagined her terrified. He could picture her finding herself indifferent to his affection, maybe giving him an overly formal but sincere apology, announcing her unworthiness or what-not. He had thought she would hate him and perhaps never see him again. Having her here, facing him, and furious beyond all belief was not one of the scenarios he had braced himself for.

Perfectly baffled, he shut the door and followed Kyoko to his bedroom, the room she had apparently deemed the most suitable for a shouting match. She stood fuming, staring at him, as if waiting for him to say something, so he said the only thing that came to mind.

"Why are you so upset?"

Her face became a mask of frenzy.

"Why am I so upset? I'm upset because I can't live without you, and now you tell me you love me, and have loved me for years, and I still can't bear to let myself love!"

Her words were angry, but her tone was one of deep remorse.

"Ren, I love you and I can't stand it!"

Ren physically reeled back in shock at her confession and the depth behind her words. He had no response for her. She glared at him for a moment longer, until her anger suddenly melted away. She let out a huff.

"Look, I know it's not your fault. I just…It would have been easier for me if you had never told me. It would have been easier if I didn't have to face my feelings for you."

Ren, still lost for words, drew Kyoko into his arms. She came willingly.

Sadness overcoming her indignation, she told him, "I don't know how to love someone anymore. I don't know how to be with you."

"Kyoko, you know how to love better than anyone I've ever met. You don't see it, but I do."

He was gazing at her, looking at her with the absolutely most deadly King-of-the-Night look she had ever seen. Her heart wrenched painfully.

"Kyoko, I love you. Let me love you."

"Tsuruga-san...," she whimpered, pulling away. "I can't be that person. I don't know how."

He stared at her face as she began to shake and tears welled in her beautiful eyes. He couldn't stand seeing her in such pain. Wanting to hold her, being unable to–––it was too much. He grabbed her hand. He did not have it in his power to stop himself.

"Kyoko," he whispered, a note of sorrow penetrating his voice.

She pulled her hand away, stepping back. She was going back into her shell, and it was all his fault. He sat down heavily on the edge of his bed and let out about a year's worth of sighs. He had been so careful! So careful not to disturb her heart, but in the end it hadn't even mattered.

Kyoko looked up momentarily and was shocked to see Ren let his head fall, a look of disappointment and regret so piercing and deep across his features, it cut like a knife. They really were going to kill each other! This is what love does to people! Kyoko simply could not stand to see him that way, not while loving him.

She braved a step in his direction, tempted to reach out to try to give some form of comfort, before crumpling on the floor at his feet. She wept. Wept for the predicament that they now found themselves in. She knew she could not love him the way she needed to; she could not put her heart on the line like that again! Never. Never ever again.

But...

Ren. She loved him so much. She didn't want anything to hurt him, ever, and now she was hurting him more than anyone.

Instinct took over at that moment, and for a few seconds Kyoko was free of the heartbreaking sadness that weighed on her heart and mind. With no thought in her head but to give Tsuruga Ren a moment of comfort, she drew herself up onto the bed beside him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. He responded immediately, pulling her close and burying his face in her hair.

"Please don't leave me," he begged, "I don't want to go on without you. Please, please stay."

Kyoko continued to weep, not knowing how to answer him. She didn't think she had an answer.

Hey fellows.

I'm back! Just couldn't resist some more Skip Beat fluff. We haven't been getting enough out of the manga lately...

This time, the story is set a few years after the manga. I thought it would be nice if Kyoko were a little older. I hope this story is...coherent. I'm writing at 2:30 am, so I can't be certain.

As always, whether I continue with this depends on the response I get, so if you'd like to see more, please leave a review! Thanks for reading!

Most sincerely,

theYellowDello