Just a warning I am Dyslexic so my stories will not be perfect but I now have one Beta reader to help me along the way :D

Thank you so much to Roshelle Diall for offering to work with me :D

Hello my beauties!

So here is the alternate ending I said I had written,

throughout my story I had 2 or three options for an ending.

This was a very close contender, the story branches from the end of chapter 16.

I've added the last paragraph and a bit to help you remember this point,

I hope you enjoy this 'What If' storyline.

Neh xxx

I do not own Skip Beat.

Enjoy.

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"Kyoko." he called again begging her to look at him. To see him and the compassionate, remorseful look he held, the fact he had hurt her was killing him slowly. The pounding in his head he thought was his punishment at the rush of emotions he was feeling. As the tear-stained face of his lover turned to him the sudden rush of thoughts that were pounding at the door to his mind suddenly smashed open letting through a torrent of memories, thoughts, ideas, dreams. Kuon could still see Kyoko he could see the scream on her lips as she raced for him. He saw her face full of fear, love and other emotions he could not think of in those moments. Illuminated by the lightning he could not hear a sound. He did not hear her scream his name nor did he hear the lightning strike the tree, he had been standing below or the sound of the branch above him breaking. Though he felt the small body connect with his as she pushed him away, he watched as his body flew backwards, watched as Kyoko was buried below the leafy bow that had been smashed away from the large trunk.

He felt his head connect solidly with the trunk of the tree that had been behind him and then he knew no more as he slipped into the darkness. Kyoko was trapped, she could feel the heavy branch on her leg. Leaves and twigs scratched and pinned her to the floor. As she tried to pull herself out from underneath the tree branch, her head was hurting. A part of the bow had struck her head lightly on the right side. She felt lucky that it was only a passing knock, it probably would have been the death of her if it had hit fully. The sopping, wet ground below her in some ways helped but in others it hindered her as she managed to wiggle her trapped legs into a more comfortable position. But the sunken bow was stuck fast in the mud meaning she could not fully extract herself. Kyoko took a few moments convincing her mind she needed to stay awake. Her eyes wanted to shut but she refused them.

Kyoko fumbled around with her hands, hoping and praying it hadn't dropped out, hoping and praying that it would still be there. Finally her hands gripped her mobile. Kyoko was glad Kuon had taught her how to add numbers to the speed dial as she clicked the number 3 and begged for Kuu to answer.

"Hello Kyoko!" Kuu's voice rang happily through the phone.

"Dad...tree...path...Kuon..."

Even in her own mind she knew she was making no sense, but she couldn't seem to shake off the fog that was descending upon her. Even with Kuu screaming down the phone trying to question her she found herself slipping into the darkness, she could think no more.

"Hello, Kyoko-chan." a kind voice said.

Kyoko opened her eyes, the darkness she had fallen into was gone now. She looked up into deep, chocolate brown eyes and the kind smile of a woman she had seen, but could not remember her name or where she had seen her. Kyoko appeared to be lying on her back. The floor was soft but at the same time it felt scratchy in places. The breeze was cool and fresh with a very strong smell of salt and brine. The woman offered Kyoko a hand which she took and was swiftly pulled to her feet.

"Hi." Kyoko finally managed as she took in her surroundings.

Shock was her first feeling as she looked out across the ocean. It appeared they were standing on a hillside overlooking the sea. The hill was covered in grass and flowers that swayed in the breeze, dancing to a music only they could hear. There was a single tree at the top of the hill and Kyoko could just about make out another figure standing below the tree. He was tall and the shade under the tree made his features dark so Kyoko could not tell who it was. At first her heart had fluttered thinking it was Kuon, but as she went to take a step the kind woman stopped her.

"That's not Kuon, my dear." she said.

Softly laying a gentle, calming hand on Kyoko's shoulder. Kyoko viewed the figure once more and realised the woman was right. Even though the man was around the same height as Kuon he was smaller built. Almost skinny Kyoko thought compared to Kuon's broad chest and shoulders. Kyoko turned back to the kind woman.

"Sorry, but who are you? And where am I?" Kyoko asked as she looked around herself once more. She had never been here before, Kyoko was sure of that, but still she felt safe and happy. It was an odd feeling.

"My name Kyoko-chan is Takarada Jun and at the moment we are on a hill called Mermaids Point in Hokkaido."

Kyoko stared at the woman and suddenly she realised where she had seen this woman before. She realised that President Lory had a giant picture of himself and his late wife hanging in his office. She had seen it often and had even asked Maria about Lory's wife when they had been talking about her father.

"But you... died." Kyoko said, trying to control her thoughts and feelings. Failing miserably as if wading through deep water, she just couldn't get her mind to make sense of what she was being told.

"Yes I did die Kyoko-chan." Jun nodded at her and waiting for the girls reaction.

She had watched this child so much she smiled when Kyoko just accepted her words with a simple, "Oh."

Kyoko looked about herself a little more before looking back at Jun. Jun could see she was struggling so she gave Kyoko time to think, hoping the girl would brush away the cobwebs of her mind as they needed to talk with her and time was limited, even in this world.

"Am I dead then?" Kyoko asked looking back at Jun.

"No." came Jun's reply as Kyoko nodded.

"Good, I'm not ready to die yet." Kyoko added almost thoughtfully as Jun smiled.

"It's beautiful here." was Kyoko's next comment after a few minutes silence between them, though the silence wasn't uncomfortable.

"Yes it really is. This is the first place Lory took me for our very first date. We met in Hokkaido you see. I was managing a talent that Lory was looking into hiring for his new business. This was when he was just starting out with Lory's Majestic Entertainment you see. He brought me here. We laughed and talked for hours before he told me he could not go back to Tokyo without me. He thought his heart would die with the separation." Jun smiled at the memories of her husband, he had always been a lover of love even then, but she had loved him all the same.

"So you went back with him?" Kyoko asked though she could guess the answer, Jun nodded.

"Yes I went with him to Tokyo and I never looked back. Together we built LME and we loved each other dearly." she allowed Kyoko a few more moments.

The girl appeared calm and controlled now so she broached the question.

"Are you ready to talk with us now? I have a friend who would very much like to speak with you before you have to leave." Kyoko looked over her shoulder at the man below the tree then at Jun and nodded. They walked up the hill together in a comfortable silence. They were near the top when Jun spoke again suddenly.

"I wanted to thank you Kyoko-chan for helping little Maria out. She is a beautiful, smart girl and she didn't deserve to blame herself for her mother's accident."

Kyoko smiled and nodded. "Maria is special to me and I couldn't agree more. She blamed herself for so long and I'm happy she has finally begun to live again as children should. Is Maria's mother here too?" Kyoko asked as an afterthought. Jun smiled and shook her head.

"No, Ami moved on from this place."

Kyoko didn't truly understand but she nodded acceptance. She had already realised to just accept this place and not question it, for if she did so she knew she would be questioning her own belief.

"Kyoko-chan, I would like you to meet my friend Rick Henshaw." Kyoko looked up at the tall, brown-haired man who had tried to save the life of the man she loved.

He had a nice, friendly smile even if he did look rather raggedy. Then she remembered Director Kurosaki who had looked like a member of the yakuza it just went to show you couldn't judge a book by it's cover.

"Hello Kyoko-chan, it's so nice to finally meet you." Rick said with a very deep, melodic voice. Kyoko half wondered if he could sing? Betting he could have given Sho a run for his money any day!

"Hello Henshaw-san." Kyoko said bowing politely, Rick chuckled which was a wonderful sound.

"Please Kyoko, just Rick I am not Japanese so all the suffix is not necessary and using my last name just makes me feel old." Kyoko smiled slightly worriedly she would have fallen into dogeza if he hadn't have mentioned about not being Japanese, dogeza would probably be another thing he would not like.

"Erm...thank you Rick...san." Jun laughed and so did Rick, Kyoko blushed bright red and looked down her body trembling slightly with the need to apologise.

"I'm so sorry, its just I was brought up in a Japanese traditional home, I will try but its difficult for me..." Rick placed a hand on her shoulder smiling at the young woman who had so captured his young friends heart.

"Kyoko you do not need to apologise, if you feel comfortable calling me Rick-san it's fine" the small patterns he rubbed onto her shoulder with his thumb while she took deep breaths reminded her of Kuon, he did that too, she relaxed thinking of Kuon and smiled.

"OK sorry." Rick just smiled and Kyoko felt safe, this was the man Kuon had loved, the man who had taught him important life lessons and in Rick and his actions she could see Kuon.

"OK shall we sit and begin?" Jun asked as the other two nodded they sat together in a small circle.

"Now Kyoko-chan we need you to listen. We cannot tell you everything as even we don't know everything, but we can tell you some things." Kyoko just nodded, listening to Jun with her full attention she knew without knowing that this was important and not a time to speak.

"You will be leaving soon Kyoko-chan as soon as the sun touches the sea you will leave us and return home." Kyoko looked over Jun's shoulder, the sun was already low on the horizon.

"OK." Jun smiled as Rick took over.

"Kyoko when you go back you're going to find that not everything is as it seems or as it had been. We cannot tell you why but you need to remember a few things. First everything you have learnt is true Kyoko. You are loved by so many people and most of all by Kuon, you can have children and be a wonderful mother and if you choose to marry the perfect wife. So never doubt yourself." Rick eyes were so serious and Kyoko nodded slowly before turning to Jun who started speaking next.

"Kyoko-chan you are a wonderful woman, actress and mother. You have found love again in your heart and I want you to hold onto that emotion. I want you to let it grow, to plant it inside yourself and watch it grow and bloom into the most wonderful thing life has to offer. Never forget you are loved by so many." Kyoko nodded again wondering what Jun had meant by 'You were', but she could see the sun over Jun's shoulder time was running out.

"Kyoko." Rick brought her attention back as he smiled at her when she turned to him.

"Kyoko you are and have been Kuon's strength and support for so long. I hope you understand that."when she smiled and blushed Rick continued. "Kuon is going to need you when you get back. He will need you to love him and bring the magic into his life I know only you can." Kyoko blushed deeper but nodded.

"It's almost time Kyoko-chan. Remember no matter how much has changed all you learnt is still the same." Jun said looking behind her before back to Kyoko.

"Also would you take a message to Lory for me?" Jun asked turning to Kyoko.

"Of course." Kyoko said as Jun took her hands in hers.

Taking a deep breath she began. "I want you to tell Lory to get his ass in gear and accept Ten. She is a wonderful woman and good for him. But if he keeps running away from her she will soon be snatched away by someone else. Tell him I love him and always will, but it is time he allowed himself to love again. How can he preach love if he doesn't follow his own advice." Kyoko could see how much it took for Jun to say this. She could see the sorrow covering the love in her eyes. Kyoko stroked her hands and tried to smile encouragingly at her.

"It's hard, you love him so much and sometimes that means letting the person go." Jun offered in a quiet voice which Kyoko nodded at.

"But one day you will be together again. It's not forever?" Kyoko's words half questioned and half comforted as Jun smiled at the young woman.

"Yes my dear. One day we will be together again, but I hope he has many long years left to enjoy yet." The two woman shared a smile. They were both in love and it was something that joined them emotionally.

"It's time Kyoko." Rick said standing up and smiling at them both. Helping them to their feet they all watched as the sun hit the water, for a second the light was blinding like a firework going off. But then it was gone and Kyoko could see what looked like a bridge of light connecting the sun to the hillside. Jun and Rick both hugged her.

"Go Kyoko. Make my boy happy and tell him from me that I'm glad he finally understands my magic." Kyoko nodded not wanting to speak in case she would cry.

"Bye Kyoko-chan. You look after my silly husband and granddaughter for me." She hugged Kyoko again and Kyoko hugged back.

"OK Jun-sama, I will look after them for you." when she pulled away both women where in tears, but they smiled and laughed before Kyoko turned and walked along the path of light, heading for the sun and for the world she had left behind.

"Well its been 5 hours since the reduced R.E.M, and her brain activity has settled to what we would consider normal, for a sleeping patient." the doctor was saying to the very worried Lory. He thanked the man and looked through the door into the private room, where Kuon sat keeping vigil over the woman he loved. Lory sighed. It had been 3 weeks since Kyoko had hit her head and gone into this comatose state. Her brain had been working full capacity, as if awake and learning or asleep and dreaming as the doctor had said, but not really here or there. She was stuck in the world between.

It had been 6 hours since her heightened state of awareness had stopped. He was happy to see they had removed most of the wires and plugs, but still hated to see Kyoko in this state. Her body had yet to start looking sick. Though he was glad of being fed by tubes and drips and she was breathing alone. If you ignored all the equipment she could almost be sleeping he thought as he held her hand in his.

"Kuon..." Her voice was raspy and faint. He hardly dared believe he had heard it at first, but seconds later Kyoko's eyes were fluttering open.

Kyoko opened her eyes as the lights blinded her, forcing her to shut them again and groaned slightly. She had called out hoping Kuon would be there. Her throat felt like ash as she tried to force her mouth to create some form of lubricant so she could at least try and alleviate the dry, scratchy feeling.

"Kyoko?" the voice was soft, yet sweet to her ears. Even through her eyelids she could see the lights had dimmed so again she tried to open her eyes.

Looking up into the face of the man she loved Kyoko smiled brilliantly. "Kuon!" she repeated again as with trembling arms she pulled him down towards her, hugging him close.

"I thought I'd lost you." she managed to choke out as tears ran down her face. Kuon pulled away from her hold slightly, fear and confusion in his eyes.

"Kyoko how did you?...When did you?...How do you know my name?"

Kyoko's breath hitched as Tsuruga Ren looked down at her with black hair and brown eyes. For a moment as if trying to hide the fear, he must have been feeling his public persona. The words Jun and Rick had told her rolled in her head.

"Kyoko when you go back you're going to find that not everything is as it seems or as it had been."

Was this what they had meant. All she had learnt was correct, but the world she had known was not?

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hehe so what do we think so far? :P

More to come...

Neh xxx

Comments and reviews please