Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat or any of its characters

Author's Notes: I wrote this because in 'Cupid's Snow' they are not together yet and it would be too fast for them to have gotton together in the next chapter. I was originally going to make this a oneshot, but then I decided it would start out with Ren and Kyoko, and when they go back to work the other stuff will start. It took ne forever to write this, plus the next two chapters, so I hope you guys enjoy it!

Chapter One: Alcohol Reveals Secrets

Kyoko was sitting at a bar, trying to relax after a stressful day. She had gotten more NGs than she had ever gotten in one day and it brought her down. She sipped on the light drink she had ordered and pondered on why she just couldn't get the scene right.

The scene was from a drama called 'Why do I Love Thee?', about a young 20 year old who couldn't seem to stop loving the very guy that had irritated her since middle school. In high school the young man had teased her to no end, but as soon as they met again in collage he began helping the girl study and they developed a bond. So Kyoko was having trouble with the scene where the girl is confessed to by the boy.

She is suppose to be so happy and relieved that she hugs the boy and cries tears of joy. Now of course Ren is playing her costar, but that's not really the problem. Kyoko will get to the part where she is supposed to hug Ren, but suddenly a thought would pop into her head.

"Is this what it feels like to have your feelings returned? I wonder if Ren-san would ever say something like that to me, out of character…NO! Kyoko, there is no way he could feel that way….He is only a good friend!" and her face would instead twist into a sad stare.

No matter what Kyoko did she could not get that thought out of her head. The thought that the person she cared for most didn't return her feelings, even if she already knew it.

Kyoko stood up and left the bar, deciding that it would be bad to get drunk in public, especially if someone recognized her. Her shoulders were a bit slumped as she was slowly walking to her apartment. It didn't take too long for her to get home considering she had gone to a bar close to her building. She unlocked her door and stepped inside, sighing.

Kyoko wished Moko-san were there with her. They were supposed to have girl's night out on Fridays, but Moko-san was staying in Osaka, were her filming was currently taking place. Kyoko dropped her bag by the door and headed towards her bedroom to change. She slipped into a red camisole and some very short black shorts, not minding that her red lacy bra strap was showing.

"It's not like anyone is going to see me anyways."

She ran her fingers through her short light brown hair that she had just gotten cut last week, so it would look like it did after she had met Kuu, and went into her kitchen. She grabbed a chair and dragged it over to the counter, then stepping on it to reach the cabinet above.

"My secret stash…" she said to herself.

Some may have thought that sweet Kyoko didn't drink, even if she was already 21, but they would have been wrong. Although Kyoko didn't get drunk all the time like some people…she did like some alcohol in her system after a rough day. This particular night Kyoko didn't care, as she grabbed two bottles of a sweet wine from the cabinet. (A/N: I figured, being Kyoko, she would drink something more along the sweet side…) She closed the cabinet, carefully sat down, slid off the chair, and made her way to the living room. Kyoko sat the two bottles of wine on the coffee table, then grabbed her script from her room. When she came back she sat on the couch, script in lap, grabbed a bottle of wine, and opened it. The cork made a POP and Kyoko put it next to the other wine bottle. As her eyes scrolled over her lines, she took a drink from the bottle, and hummed in delight.

Ren was sitting on his couch, relaxing and trying to figure out what was wrong with Kyoko.

"I've never seen her freeze up like that so many times, for just one scene. I'm starting to wonder what's up with her."

Ren was truly worried about Kyoko and only hoped that she would be better by the next day. Of course he really wanted to go see her, but he knew that at she was probably talking to Kotanami-san, since they weren't able to have their 'girl's night out'.

Ren then heard his phone vibrating, and grabbed it from the coffee table.

"Hello?"

"Hey Tsuruga, it's me." he heard.

"Speak of the devil."

"Kotanami-san…how did you get my number?" Ren asked.

"I got it from the president, but that doesn't matter. I need you to go check on Kyoko for me." she said.

"Is something wrong?" Ren wondered and Kanae could hear the worry in his voice.

"I'm not sure, but she isn't answering her phone, and it's unusual for her to not pick up when it's me calling. She shouldn't have gone to bed, it's too early, and I can't exactly check myself." explained Kanae.

"Why did you call me?" Ren asked.

He would take the opportunity, but he had thought the young woman had something against him, since she looked at him so coldly.

"Mo! Will you do it or not? I just thought that, besides me, you were the closest person to her!" said Kanae.

"I'll go, in fact I'm on my way out now." said Ren.

He had already slipped on his shoes, grabbed his keys and was walking down the hall.

"Tell me if anything happens, or just tell me she's ok." said Kanae, the same worry evident in her voice.

"Alright." Ren replied. He hung up and slipped his phone into his pocket.

Ren unlocked the apartment door, with the key he had gotten from the front, (He had been there few times before) and entered. Closing the door behind him, he slipped off his shoes. As he walked towards the living room he had thought he heard a faint murmuring. When he entered his eyes widened. Kyoko was sitting on the couch, sitting criss-crossed, script in lap, nearly empty wine bottle in hand, clearly drunk, and not to mention wearing a very revealing outfit.

"Oh god! How am I going to get through this with her dressed like that?!I knew she drank some when she was upset, but I've never seen her drunk….Her problem must be worse than I thought."

He made his way over to Kyoko.

Kyoko looked up and smiled. "Heyyyyyy, Ren…" evidence of her drinking was also clear in her voice.

Ren couldn't help but chuckle, he never thought he would see Kyoko in this state. He took the wine bottle from Kyoko's hand and closed it. After taking both bottles back to the kitchen, Ren searched Kyoko's closet for a blanket. He came back into the living room and looked at Kyoko.

"Kyoko-chan you need to lay down…." he told her.

Kyoko made a mumbling sound, but complied. Once she was lying down, Ren covered her up with the blanket.

"That should fix that problem." Ren took a seat at the other end of the couch. "Might as well get her to talk now, when she's more likely to tell me her problems."

"Kyoko-chan, I know you only drink when something's wrong. I would be glad to listen…" he said.

Kyoko sat up, the covers barely on her shoulders making her look quite cute. Ren groaned and looked down, hoping to avoid seeing anything else that may break his restraint. Then he heard a giggle and looked back up.

The very adorable, yet sexy and intoxicated Kyoko said "I…I will only tell you if you promise…to let me lay my head on your lap while I tell you."

Ren looked a bit surprised at her request, but wanted to help Kyoko. He nodded, not trusting his voice to hide his desire. Kyoko smiled at his agreement and scooted down, so that she was using Ren's lap as a pillow.

Ren began to move the blanket back onto Kyoko when she stopped him. "I-don't-think-so…." she said playfully.

Ren decided to let it go, knowing he had to comply to get her to talk. He only hoped he could keep control.

"Kyoko-chan, do you mind telling me what's wrong now?" Ren asked.

Kyoko turned on her back, so now Ren had a partially clear view of her bra due to her slipping camisole. He gripped the side of his pants and wished to dear god that Kyoko wouldn't role over to see what would soon cause his pants to become too tight.

Kyoko made a confirming sound and opened her eyes. "My problem….my sickness…. My stupid self! Something horrible has happened to me Reeen!" she proclaimed.

Now let's go ahead and get things straight. Although Kyoko kind of knows who she is talking to, in her drunken state she can't really process that she is telling Ren all of this. The reason she is telling him is because he is usually a source of comfort for her, so it only seems natural that she tell him.

"And what would that be?" Ren wondered, figuring the girl was exaggerating.

"I've done the one thing I told myself I would never do again! Now I always have this pain in my chest. It hurts! I don't like it! …But….." Kyoko turned her head the other way.

"But what?" Ren edged her on.

"But…I…I like it too. The warm feelings, the happiness I feel from time to time! It out…gets rid of the bad things, yet I can't decide if I want to keep feeling this way!" she cried, her words slurring from time to time.

"It can't be.. is she talking about...?"

"And do you know what this is?" Ren asked.

"Yes! It's Love, damnit!" Kyoko sounded angry.

Ren's hands began to hurt from gripping his pants too tight. This was it…..he lost her to another guy.

"Wait…. If she is vulnerable to love now….that means that I could try to win her over!" But then of course his self doubt got to him. "Why would she ever fall for me. Sure, lots of women do, but Kyoko is different. Even if she had the slightest of feelings about me, she would hate me for my past and for not telling her I was Corn…more like she would be disappointed."

Ren noticed that Kyoko had began to talk again.

"God, the things he does to me! Who knew a guy could be so perfect?! He's, handsome, sweet, kind, is closer to me than most people, he may get upset sometimes, but everyone is human, he makes me laugh,…."

Ren stopped listening. This was just torture for him. Did he really have to sit there and listen to how much Kyoko loved someone else? He had always thought that if Kyoko was happy that he would be too. Well turned out he was wrong. His eyes flared, and the demon lord appeared at the thought of Kyoko being with another man.

"He's the best actor in Japan…" Ren heard.

He now felt even worse. Not only did this guy steal her heart, but also his place as the best actor in Japan.(in her view)

"The worst part….the worst part…" Ren suddenly felt Kyoko begin to shake.

When he looked down she was crying. Surprised, but ready to comfort her, Ren placed his hand on Kyoko's head. Kyoko hummed a bit at the feeling and looked up at Ren, her eyes sparkling from her tears.

"You can tell me the worst part Kyoko-chan." Ren told her, hoping he provided comfort.

Kyoko nodded, but turned over on her side and continued to sob, her face already flushed from the alcohol turning even redder.

"He doesn't love me! I mean how could he? I'm not as well known or as high up as him, I'm not as beautiful as other girls, I'm not… sexy, and I'm a few years younger than him anyways." Kyoko sobbed.

Ren now understood the root of Kyoko's problems. He pulled Kyoko up into his arms and held her, being careful of where he placed his hands. "Shhh…Kyoko, I'm sure you're wrong. In fact I know you must be." he reassured her but being careful to not confess his feelings, afraid of being humiliated.

(Dropped honorifics, cause this is more intimate.) Ren now knew why Kyoko was freezing up, and what was bothering her. She was suffering from the thought that the one person she held dearest in the world didn't return her feelings.

Ren sighed. What was he to do now? Give up on her? No, even if he tried he would never stop loving that girl, now a woman. Ren felt the girl clam down a bit, but could still feel and hear her hiccups, from both the alcohol and the crying.

That was when Ren realized something. He had no idea who this guy was! "Kyoko?" he called her name.

Kyoko pulled back and looked at him, at some point she had grabbed the blanket and it was now wrapped around her, her eyes and cheeks red.

"Who is it you …love… so much." he asked.

Kyoko looked like she was about to tell him when she slid off his lap. She stumbled a bit, but Ren quickly stood up and caught her.

"What do you need?" Ren asked, while supporting her with his arm.

"A black permanent marker." Kyoko told him.

Ren wasn't sure why Kyoko needed that, but set her on the couch and went into the kitchen. Sure enough on the table was a black permanent marker. He brought it to Kyoko and sat down next to her.

Kyoko uncapped it and wrote something on the palms of both her hands. "There. I promise I will tell you his name later. For now I have written one name on each of my hands. If you try to look you won't be sure if you have the right hand and might get wrong name." Kyoko looked even more tired and her words were getting harder to understand.

Ren sighed and nodded. He could only wait now.

Ren looked back over to Kyoko and smiled when he realized she had fallen asleep. He scooped her up and took her to her room, after tucking her into her bed he took a good look around her room knowing he would probably never get to see it again. He closed her door and went back into the living room.

"Might as well spend the night….she might need help in the morning."

Oh who is he fooling? Ren only wants to know the name and be as close to Kyoko as he can, before she gets swept away. He lied down on the couch, and dreamt of his love.

Author's Notes: I don't have much to say exept...what do you guys think? In truth I wrote this and the next few chapters together, but I didnt want it to be one ginormous chapter. (all together it was like 10 pages) Any questions just ask! Please reveiw and see you later!