So here's how I see it.
30 Kisses isn't that original an idea – in fact my friend gave me the list from a community that she joined. I don't read Skip Beat fanfics unless someone recommends one to me so I don't actually know if it's been done before.
To be perfectly honest I'd be surprised if it hasn't.
However – I have been challenged and there's no way that I'm going to back down – especially with what's on the line. Besides - it's a challenge right? Might be interesting to see what lists people come up with and all that - there must be hundreds out there - or you can just make up your own, either way.
To be honest - I'm using this as an opportunity for some stress relief.
However – there are a few ways that I can go about this – keep the same pairing throughout the challenge and then do the same set of prompts again with a different pairing or just mix and match. I don't really care so tell me what you want to read.
I'm going to start off with a RenKyoko.
1.
News; Letter
-0-0-0-
Dear Tsuruga-sama,
I hope I am not being to forward in writing to you, even though you suggested that I do. America is wonderful! I only arrived a few hours ago and would quite like to sleep but it's still day here and my manager says that I should try to adjust to the time difference as soon as possible so that I don't have problems later on.
My first day is tomorrow and I can't help but be excited! Though I am also dreading messing up and ruining my chance.
You know...sometimes I think that I made a mistake in accepting the offer. I also feel a bit lost at the thought that I won't be able to talk to you for so long. What if I mess up? What if I need help? At times it feels like you're the only one that can help me work through my problems.
But...you didn't really need to know that...
Ahahaha. Um.
Anyway.
Thank you for letting me write to you, even if you never reply.
Kyoko Mogami.
-0-0-0-
Dear Tsuruga-san,
I was so surprised that you actually wrote back, I hadn't thought that you were being entirely serious.
Thank you. Your letter came at just the right time. The first day did indeed go well, as well as the rest of the week. My course is different from what I'm used to, different but not bad. It took a while for me to get into the right state of mind – did you know that the American's have a completely different take on acting?
You asked a little about the other students – they all seem really nice! (Though they do do some things that I find weird.) I have already made a group of friends and we are working on a small sketch together to show to our instructor – I'll let you know how it goes.
Kyoko Mogami.
-0-0-0-
Dear Ren-san,
I know you asked me to call you this in your last letter but it still seems a little disrespectful of me to do so.
Yes, the group project went well and we got a good mark for it.
No, I haven't seen the sights yet. I mentioned it to David (he's one of my friends – he won't even let me put 'kun' on the end of his name and it feels a little odd to be so intimate with him like this) and he said that if I wanted he'd show me the landmarks and the fun places to be. Do you have any suggestions?
Kyoko Mogami.
-0-0-0-
Dear Ren-san,
It's been over a month since I last wrote to you and I haven't received a reply. I guess this means that our correspondence has come to a close. Thank you for listening and replying to my letters before – they really helped me settle in over here.
I hope you are having a nice time and I'll see you again when I get back at the end of this year.
Kyoko Mogami.
-0-0-0-
NO! No! I'm sorry if I was unclear – when I said intimate – I didn't mean THAT! Just that it's informal. Please don't be angry?
Kyoko.
-0-0-0-
Dear Ren,
There's no need to apologise – it was my fault entirely. I'm just happy that it's all cleared up.
Classes are going well. We're nearing the four month mark so the first assessment is coming up – everyone is really nervous about it as our instructors have said that if we fail then we get kicked off the course. I think I have the most to worry about as I'm the only student that is from overseas – I keep thinking that I'm going to make a huge mistake and everyone is going to laugh and then I'll have to come home in disgrace.
I really hope that doesn't happen.
Kyoko
-0-0-0-
Dear Ren,
Your letter arrived on the morning of the exam. You have no idea how much you have helped me. I had been panicking and then suddenly it felt like you were right there behind me – pushing me forward, filling me with confidence...
I got the highest marks and it's all thanks to you. I am forever in your debt – whatever you want me to do, I'll do it.
There's no way that I can repay you.
Kyoko
P.S. David saw me writing to you and asked about it. He's standing over me right now saying that he says hello
P.P.S. Stephanie says hi too
-0-0-0-
Ren,
Just a quick note – I'll reply to your letter later on. The whole class is going away for a couple of weeks into some remote place to 'capture the inner-us' or something. There isn't any way to get letters out so I'm just jotting this down so you'll know why I'm not writing!
Kyoko
-0-0-0-
Dear Ren,
I didn't expect you to write whilst I was away. Your letter was a much needed welcome. Things...didn't exactly go to plan and I fear that I may have just ruined my friendship with David. He isn't talking to me at the moment and I don't know what to do. Stephanie – the girl that I have become close friends with – says that it is entirely his fault and as soon as he "get's his head out of his ass" (her words not mine) he'll come around.
Even so, I still feel that I am to blame and that I should be doing something to set this all straight.
But...enough.
Congratulations on finishing your drama – I know that I am a few weeks late in saying so but I hope you appreciate the sentiments if nothing else! From what I can gather it's doing quite well in the ratings?
I hope everything is going better for you than it is for me.
Kyoko
-0-0-0-
Dearest Ren,
I'm sorry I worried you. No, it wasn't anything that bad – in fact, I feel a little embarrassed about it.
David just kissed me (gah – I'm still blushing) and said that he likes me and asked me to go out with him. I said I couldn't and that's why he was acting like he was. Stephanie says that I had nothing to feel bad about and that I wasn't even "leading him on" (whatever that means)
It's not that bad though – they kiss a lot over here – even between friends. Everything is a lot more open and relaxed. I think it's just because I'm not used to the openness. And besides – David's apologised and I've forgiven him (even though I still feel bad about it...) and we're back to being friends again.
To be honest I think that he feels embarrassed about it as well.
Kyoko
-0-0-0-
Ren,
I got the feeling from your last letter that you were a bit upset about what happened. Please don't be – it's all behind us now and with the eight month mark coming up means we have another big exam so we're all too busy studying for that to pay attention to what was done or said months ago.
Besides, I'm being extra careful to not send out any "signals" that could be misinterpreted.
Please don't be upset anymore?
Kyoko
P.S. Yes, there was a reason I didn't want to go out with him.
-0-0-0-
Ren,
Yes, I didn't panic this time. To be honest – I reread all the letters that you sent me and that calmed me down so I was able to study better (Though the arrival of your letter was brilliantly timed again.)
I got another top mark which I'm really pleased about – even the teacher came over and congratulated me!
On another note – I've just finished visiting the list of places that you said I should visit – they were all really interesting! When I get back home you're going to have to tell me how you knew about them – sometimes it seems as if you've been here...
I know you asked in your letter about why I rejected David. Let's just say that...being here – in America – has opened my eyes to so many things...and working on my skills in a different environment has opened my mind to my feelings.
I hope that answers your question!
Kyoko x
-0-0-0-
Ren,
Ha ha!
No, I don't care! I answered your question! I wasn't sure what to write so I asked Stephanie for advice and that's what she told me to write – (she made me tell her everything...even things I've never told anyone in Japan before – but that's mostly because I had been unaware...) and before you ask again I should remind you that I'm under strict instructions to give her all my letters so she can "read the drama first-hand" – I think she's really enjoying this...but...you don't know exactly what's going on!
Stephanie has become a really good friend and I'm a bit sad that there's only three more months left of the course and that I probably won't see her again after this – unless I go over to America to work on a programme or she comes over to Japan.
With the schedules that we've been used to it's unlikely that we will have time off to visit each other at the same time.
David too. I'll be sad to see both of them go.
But I am looking forward to be back in Japan again! Just think – only three more months until I'm back home! Have there been many changes since I've been gone?
Kyoko x
-0-0-0-
Ren,
Really? You were being serious? Well...I guess I could answer...but then again – it's just two more months until I can see you again.
Which would you prefer? The answer in a letter or when I see you face to face?
Kyoko x
-0-0-0-
Face to face it is then!
I've got to admit – I'm a little relieved that you chose that option as, whilst letters are good for some things, it does get a little hard to judge on where you stand. And, whilst I know where I stand – I'm still not entirely sure what your reaction to what I have to say is going to be.
However – with one more month left and the end of year exams coming up I'm trying to push away anything that could be a distraction.
See you soon.
Kyoko x
-0-0-0-
Dear Ren,
The exams start tomorrow and as always, I'm rereading your letters to calm myself down. After this week is over I have one more week over here before I fly back to Japan. I should be arriving on the Saturday morning...around 10ish?
I probably won't write to you again after this because by the time that you get this letter and reply I won't be in America anymore. I'll tell you all about the final exam when I get back home – as well as the "reason" that you still seem so interested in.
I've also filled five photo albums full of memories so I'll show them to you...if you're interested in them that is.
See you soon!
Kyoko xx
-0-0-0-
Dear Mr Tsuruga,
Firstly, I hope you can read English – otherwise you're going to have to find a translator or something. Secondly, we've never met but I feel that I know a lot about you – even more than Kyoko does (but that's only because she's shown me all your letters and reading people is what I do).
Over the past year Kyoko has become a dear friend to me. That is why I stole your address from her room so I could write to you.
Here's the deal (and no, I don't care if you think I'm being forward) Kyoko is my friend, AND she's a brilliant friend at that. She's confessed to me what she's going to tell to you and I'm warning you now – if you hurt her I WILL be on the next flight to Japan.
Stephanie
-0-0-0-
Ren tapped Stephanie's letter against his lips in hope as he sat in the car. He had an inkling as to what Kyoko was going to tell him, there had been clues throughout all her later letters and the note from Stephanie only confirmed his beliefs.
But there still could be a chance that he was wrong...
Sliding Stephanie's letter into the last place in the small wooden box that held all the letters that Kyoko had sent him over the year, he picked up Kyoko's second to last letter ever sent.
This was the one that made him hope. This was the one that made him believe that he wasn't reading too much into the situation...
He pressed the letter against his lips in a chaste kiss.
If only...
"Mr Tsuruga?"
Ren looked up and caught his driver's eye in the mirror. "Yes?"
"I've just received word that the plane has just landed."
Ren nodded, slipping his public mask on. He needed to be calm and collected right now. Not showing any of the giddy excitement that he was actually feeling.
Carefully placing the letter back into its original place, he closed the lid with a snap.
Very soon he would hear what he hoped he would hear.