12 Days Of Building Trust.

Of course I don't own anything that has to do with Skip Beat. Merry Christmas and Enjoy!

~*~Christmas Eve

It had been an extraordinary evening. To think that such a small idea that a sixteen year old girl came up with to make a seven year old child happy had become such a big mind blowing event.

At least for the outside world.

Everyone that knew Takarada Lory wasn't really that surprised when he suddenly decided to blow the whole thing up, especially considering that his precious little granddaughter was involved.

Aside from the fantastic musicians and artists that had performed, the wonderful decorations – very much fairy themed like the year before (just more winter like) with amazing food and desserts – Mogami Kyoko had indeed had a very extraordinary evening.

She'd been literally dragged out from the kitchen by force earlier that night by four very persistent girls, who were all very keen on getting her out of those chef clothes.

This caused quite a scene.

However, the strong-willed females reappeared about fifteen minutes later, their mission complete when a pretty, though very stiff, girl followed them out of the secluded room.

"Are you sure this will be okay?" Kyoko asked uncertainly as she looked down on her dress, afraid it would break if she as much as moved. "This won't cause any problems? Are you absolutely positive?"

"Yes."

"No one will need me in the kitchen?" She looked highly unconvinced. "Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes!" The others replied with more force. Kyoko just gave her kidnappers a doubting look.

"… I'm just going to check on them to be sure." She sprinted for the kitchen (which looked hysterical considering she tried to ruin the dress as little as possible) but someone took a strong hold on her arm, making her stop midstride.

She turned her head to face the offending person and pouted, but was instead met by the horrifying glare only her best friend was capable to conjure up.

"You're not going anywhere! You are NOT leaving me like you did last year AND destroying all our hard work at the same time." Kanae said angrily. Though all the work she'd done was to make sure Kyoko stayed in the room. "We've already told you it's all taken care of. They're professionals; they know what they're doing. It's their job."

Maria stepped up and grabbed Kyoko's free hand, the only difference was that her grip didn't hurt. "Yeah, Nee-chan, please calm down. You didn't get to dress up last year on my birthday, and worse, on your birthday. I'm not letting you do that again!"

"But…"

"No buts, I'm not letting you spoil this." Jelly stated firmly, making Kyoko's eyes become glassy with moisture as frustration mixed with carefully hidden joy filled her from within. "And no tears. That'll destroy the makeup." The Witch added, causing the tears to stop dead.

No one would ever know how that was physically possible.

"Besides," Chiori added happily. "You look really pretty, Kyoko-chan."

This on the other hand made the auburn-haired girl smile. At least that was true; she did feel pretty looking like this.

No matter how inconvenient it would be for the moment, it was always so much fun to work with Jelly. She always knew how to make the best of the little, according to Kyoko, she had to offer.

After a few more moments of tense silence, Kyoko finally put up both hands in the air as she let out a sigh in defeat.

"Okay, okay. I surrender."

"Finally." Kanae complained, secretively pleased with her compliance.

Jelly on the other hand wasn't as convinced, since she'd seen this girl in action before. "Swear you won't go to the kitchen anymore tonight?"

"I won't." Kyoko muttered.

"Or anywhere else?" Jelly added.

"… Or anywhere else…" She agreed reluctantly which gained her a glare from the others. "I promise." She hastily added, not happy about being busted.

"Yes, you promise." It was definitely a threat.

After all this and spending some time being scared to death about wearing an expensive dress and living with a bad conscience for not working, Kyoko could finally start to enjoy the evening. Unlike last year, she really got to talk and socialize with the people she had invited, which included mostly the people from the former year's party, along with a few new ones.

The Dark Moon crew was there for the second – and most likely the last – time. The Darumaya couple was of course invited, along with Box-R, Bridge Rock and some people from the movie she was currently working on named Wake Me Up.

Unlike all of her other characters when she always had to take some time before she could find her character, she had slipped into this one without any problem.

This did however sadden her a little, because the reason for her success wasn't exactly the most joyous inspiration. She would have had a much cleaner conscience if she'd gone the hard way.

"Kyoko! You look so beautiful!" Kara burst out as soon as she approached the girl. She was a middle-aged woman who starred as the foster mother of Kyoko's character.

"Gosh, I wish I could look this way…" Aiko, Kyoko's new friend from the set, sighed in envy. She played the role of a foster child in the same home as Kyoko.

"Stop saying that. You look gorgeous!" Kyoko insisted, embarrassed, although what she said was true.

Aiko was tall with very short, dark brown hair that was stylishly spiked. Her eyes were chocolate brown and her body was built like a model's.

Kyoko was surprised she hadn't got the lead role instead, considering that she wasn't only drop dead gorgeous, but also a very good actress.

"Yes, I know I am." Though modesty was a characteristic she lacked. "But I can never look that cute."

"Yes, your looks really are something special; in a good way of course." Kara piped in. "I bet there are a lot of boys running after you."

Before Kyoko even got the chance to react, a sly grin appeared on Aiko's face and she started to look around in the crowded room, searching for something.

"Speaking of boys, hasn't Mareo-kun showed up yet? Isn't he coming?" A disappointed pout crossed the pretty girl's face.

"Oh, um, I think he will come. At least that's what he told me." Kyoko answered with a small smile.

"Oh, he'll show up alright." Kanae suddenly muttered from behind, with a snort that made the others look at her oddly. "What? I didn't say anything." She defended herself and turned around to continue her conversation with an equally confused Chiori.

The evening continued like this. Kyoko was dazzled by all the beautiful ice-fairies and fake, glittering snow, while people, suspiciously mostly men, talked and chatted with her.

But the best part about everything was to see how happy Maria was with everything. Her father had made it this year as well, and he showed-up early this year so he could spend the entire night with his daughter, since there was no need for a big surprise this time.

Yet there was still something that was missing. Someone that was missing. It was already 11:30pm and he hadn't showed up yet.

Couldn't he make it this year? It felt like her heart sank in her chest, Kyoko had really wanted him to be there for Maria, since she would be so disappointed if he didn't come.

Besides, she added to herself with a small smile, I have to admit I'd like to see him as well. A faint blush spread across her face, which only increased the stares from the male population of the room.

"What're you standing there being all red for?" Kanae asked a bit bitterly, startling the dazed girl. Kanae didn't have to guess, she had a pretty good hunch.

"Oh, no nothing special." She grinned broadly, happy to see her friend, at the same time as she tried to cover her slip-up. The friend in question just responded by snorting for the second time this evening. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

Kanae rolled her eyes and ignored the question.

"Don't worry, he'll show up." The man already annoyed Kanae to death, and the fact that the redness grew deeper on her friend's face by her statement didn't exactly lighten up her mood.

Kyoko sighed, knowing she'd been busted, since there was no point in trying to lie.

"Yes… I know he said he would come, it's just that he works so much I'm starting to wonder if this would be too stressful for him."

"So you actually do admit that you want to see him?"

"Um, well… Yes, I mean, I'll feel really bad for Maria if he doesn't show up on her birthday." She replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Then she said what really answered Kanae's question. "And he's my friend; of course I'd like to see him."

If there was anything that Kanae hated more than anythingon this world, then it was that step from "kohai and teacher" to "friends". Why did they have to become official friends? This meant Kyoko was one step closer to the thing Kanae feared the most.

He is not allowed to-

"You'd like to see who, Mogami-san?" A dark, velvet voice interrupted any kind of train of thought Kanae might have had, causing both girls to swirl around and face the most heart melting smile they had ever seen.

Girls all around them swooned, Kanae was blind and disgusted and Kyoko was just simply blind.

Annoyed, Kanae turned to Kyoko with an angry face and whispered "Told you so!"and left before the other girl could object. She'd actually like to stay and be in the way, but she knew that if she tried to be rude it would only backfire by Kyoko asking why she did that.

She was better off with Chiori for the moment.

Baffled at being left all alone in the spotlight made her slightly uncomfortable and unsure of where she should look. Kyoko finally stalled herself and looked up to meet his gaze, a bit disorientated.

"Good evening, Tsuruga-san. I see you made it!" She tried to avoid his former question.

"Good evening, yes, the shoot was longer than I'd expected, but I had to come. I had to see Maria before her birthday's done, like you said, and of course I can't turn down a friend's invitation." But to no avail. He flashed another bright smile. Kyoko couldn't help the blush that was creeping its way up her neck. "You look really great. Did you finally decide to leave the kitchen?"

"No, she did not." A tinkling voice from somewhere beside Kyoko was heard, saving her from having to speak while she in fact couldn't. "We had to drag her out, and I really mean dragher out from there." Maria sighed. "But now she's promised to stay like this all night! Isn't she pretty?"

She then took a leap and Ren caught her in the air, lifting her high up before letting her sit on his arm. He gave Kyoko one last heartwarming smile before turning to Maria.

"Yes, very lovely." The golden-eyed girl turned impeccably red. "Happy birthday, Maria!" While he patiently listened to the little blonde girl, Ren nodded and answered when he should, but his thoughts were still on the blushing girl.

When he'd entered the big room, Ren had been expecting to find Kyoko somewhere wearing the chef clothes she'd used the year before. Definitely not a strap less, dark blue silk dress that hugged her torso with a knee-long skirt that flared out from the waist. He had been so dazzled for that moment he'd completely forgotten about a certain person beside him. This resulted in a dreadful snicker from his left.

Yashiro coughed to cover his amusement up and looked in another direction, as if he was looking for something.

"Can you find her?" He asked as if nothing had happened. Ren just sighed and made his way towards the girls causing Yashiro to laugh again, this time not trying to hide it.

When he'd overheard their conversation as he got closer to them, he couldn't help but to feel how his heart swelled. Even though their status had been "friends" for quite some time now, it still felt unbelievable how far they had come. Just her being comfortable enough to admit without any greater hesitation that she wanted to see him was enough to make his day anytime.

"… And dad gave me a super pretty kimono that I'm going to wear for New Years!" Maria finished counting all her gifts she'd received this year.

"That's great!" Ren smiled broadly, hoping she wouldn't ask him to recite all of her gifts. "And that reminds me of something…" He put the small girl down and reached for something in his pocket. "Here you go, happy ninth birthday."

Maria excitedly accepted the little black box with a silver ribbon and opened the lid as carefully as she possibly could manage. A small gasp escaped her lips.

Inside the expensive-looking box was a small, wonderfully detailed bracelet made of a small golden chain. Golden letters decorated with small, pink gems spelling the name Maria were hanging on individual links, looking very fragile.

"It's wonderful." Maria sighed in awe.

"Yes, definitely." Kyoko, who snapped out of her embarrassing daze as soon as "gifts" were mentioned, peeked over the shoulder of the smaller girl. A small frown made its way to Kyoko's face as she leaned closer to get a better view of the piece of jewelry.

"This reminds me of…" She automatically reached for the necklace she wasn't wearing for the moment.

"What?" Maria asked.

"No… nothing, I just thought about something." Kyoko answered hesitantly after a slight pause. Ren noticed this and wasn't the least bit surprised.

He'd known it would be a pointless action, but for some reason he couldn't help but to try to give Kyoko some kind of vague hint when he had the same type of stone placed in the bracelet. He knew her sharp eye would recognize the stone, but he also knew for a fact she wouldn't put two and two together.

"I suppose it's my turn now!" Kyoko suddenly said, leaving the mystery about the similarities between the gems on the bracelet and Princess Rosa behind. "I'm so sorry I'm giving it so late, I never got the chance to give it with all the people around,"

I noticed. Ren bitterly thought as he glanced a bit annoyed at the people, mostly males, looking her way.

"And you looked so happy with your dad, so I couldn't possibly interrupt. So here you go!" She gave the girl a small, pink envelope.

Maria gave Kyoko a quick hug before taking the envelope, curious as to what her big sister could have come up with.

Inside was a small, handmade, pink card with a picture of a cupcake on it with carefully cut, glittery letters spelling "Time to Cook!"

Maria looked at it slightly baffled.

"It's lovely, Nee-chan, thanks…" She didn't really know how to respond. Last year she'd gotten this giant doll of Ren, and this year she gets… a card with a cupcake on it. She would never be ungrateful for whatever her older sister would give her, but this was… surprising to say the least.

Kyoko started to laugh.

"No, Maria, the card is not the real gift. Or well, it's kind of a gift card, sort of a subscription I suppose."

The girl just looked more and more confused for each second.

"You remember when you told me you wanted to learn how to cook? Well, what you're holding right there is my promise, my word," She held one hand up in the air while the other drew a cross over her heart. "That I'll come home to you –or you to me – once a week for a year and teach you how to cook something new for each time. Does that sound any good to you?"

The little girl, whose eyes had gotten bigger and bigger for each word that was uttered, threw herself at Kyoko in happiness.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you so, so much!" She squealed while crushing Kyoko, which is surprising considering her small size. "This is amazing! This will be so much fun! I can't wait for this to start… uh, when will it start?"

"I've been talking to your grandfather and he agreed that this Saturday around 6pm would be alright. Is that okay with you?"

Maria's eyes shone with joy. "It's perfect!"

While the girls chatted, Ren couldn't help but feel a small pang of jealousy. He couldn't help to admit that that would have been the most wonderful, let alone perfect, gift he could ever receive. As if sensing his feelings, Yashiro was quick to comment.

"Wow, Kyoko-chan, that's amazing! Though I do think I know someone who'd maybe need that card slightly more…" He gave an obvious glance in Ren's direction with a wink and Kyoko had to laugh.

"To be perfectly honest with you, I have actually considered giving him something like that. But thinking about all the late nights Tsuruga-san needs to work, it would hardly be appropriate."

Ouch.

Something that looked like pity suddenly crossed the bespectacled man's face, and she didn't quite understand why.

At the same time this happened she heard a snicker coming from her side. She turned to her right to see who it was and saw her best friend looking in another direction with a cough.

However, nothing more happened that night, because suddenly the clock gave away a loud boom, informing the guests it was midnight.

A/N: (Yes, I kind of messed up the title at first.)
Alright! Chapter number one is finally out! Though it's more of a prologue… a very long one at that. A huge thank you to MiracleMoon124, my awesome pseudo-little sister from the US that will edit this entire story for me! (Except the A/Ns. (Warning: Typos might be found here.))

And for those that have read my two other fics I can happily inform you that I'm currently editing Reconsidering the obvious, which I wouldn't have been able to do without Violet Flutterby. Plus when I reread it a while ago I realized I need to do some editing myself.
I would be overjoyed by comments and thoughts! And again: Merry Christmas!