Author's Notes:
I italicized and put ' ' on their thoughts. Enjoy~ ^_^
Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat!
For the nth time she saw her Paradise CM, she is still amazed how the dresses made by Julie Swan can make her or anyone look and feel beautiful. Speaking of beautiful, she never saw anyone more beautiful than Julie swan, except for her best friend Moko-san, in her 18 years. And to think because of the Paradise CM, she became a model and a very successful one in fact. She had to thank the "The Vault" for making a way for her to meet the infamous Julie Swan.
-* Flashback *-
"The results are in! Now, let's see who are the promising celebrities that Japan thinks as the hottest and sexiest." boomed the host. "The Vault magazine made this survey more than a month ago. We are really lucky that the The Vault gave us this privilege to be the first to broadcast it." "Speaking of 'The Vault', here's the latest issue! This issue is complete with their profiles and with individual or group pictures of the celebrities that made it into the Top Ten."
-* During the Photo Shoot *-
'WWHHAA! Somebody help me!' Kyoko shouted mentally when she saw the outfit that she is going to wear in the photo shoot. "This is not happening!" Right then, she saw Kotonami-san, wearing a floral patterned two-piece which the halter top that is only secured by a knot, is passing by the tent. "MOKO-SAN!" she shouted as loud as she could. "MO! Could you at least call me normally? I am not deaf you know but I'm going to be if you don't stop tha-" She stopped talking when she saw Kyoko wearing the puppy-dog eyes. "MO! What do you want?" "Uhm... Eto…" She sighed and guided Kanae in the tent and showed her the cause of her problems. 'A bikini?' Kanae thought. "A bikini. So?" she asked. "Moko-san! I-I can't wear t-this! L-look it has only s-strings to held it together. Besides, I don't think it suits me. I think it looks better on you!" "Do you think they gave you that bikini because they didn't think it looks good on you? Why do you think we're here now eh?" Kanae replied. "Th-the survey." "Yes! The survey. Do you think you're not worth it huh?" "It's not that, I-I'm really happy for the recognition Moko-san but..." "But?" "You are not wearing a bikini! So, why should i wear it?" 'God! When will this stupid girl realize she has a gorgeous body and she could pull it off?' Kanae thought. "Mo! I can't wear a bikini because I'm too skinny, my shoulders are too slim and I won't look good in it." "B-bu-" "No buts. Try wearing it for God sake!" "Moko-sa-" "NOW!" Kanae said as she shoved Kyoko to the curtains that serve as the dressing room.
"Moko-san?" Kyoko called. "About time. Come out and let me see." Kyoko goes out from the curtains. "So, what do you think?" Kanae was so amazed how Kyoko looked in a black bikini that she couldn't help but stare. Noticing the look on Kanae's face, "Moko-san! At least tell me it's awful. Don't just stare at me." Kyoko said as she quickly hides at the curtains. Embarassed by her reaction Kanae said, "S-sorry. I-I think it looks ... good on you." "Moko-san, don't lie to me! I know I am no match for you but at least tell me honestly." 'This girl! I'm already telling the truth! She's really testing my patience.' Kanae screamed in her head. She sighed heavily and said, "So you think I'm lying huh? Ok. Hmm... What about a second opinion? Good enough?" "O-ok." Kyoko slightly nodded.
They spotted Momose-san walking near the tent. "PSSST!" Kyoko and Kanae called. Momose looks around looking for where it came from. "Momose-san! Over here!" Kyoko called. "Kyoko-chan?" Kyoko and Kanae waved their hands signaling her to come over. "Kyoko-chan and Kotonami-san, what's the matter?" "Well, this girl (pointing at Kyoko) thinks that she don't look good in a bikini. Would you help me out?" Kanae explained while Kyoko won't stop fidgeting. "Sure. Well, let me see." Kyoko takes off the towel she's been wearing to hide her figure. "WOW! Kyoko-chan, I never thought you have a body this good! I can see you have nice curves in the dresses you wore as Mio but you really have nice legs! S-so sexy!" Momose bursted. Kyoko blushed as she heard the words 'So sexy'. "I-I am not sexy." "MO! I thought a second opinion would be enough to give you confidence! Yo-"
"Kotonami-san! We are ready for you now." called the photographer. "Geez, now it's my turn. We'll talk later." With that, Kanae turned and goes out the tent. After wearing a huge white shirt that fully covers her figure, Kyoko and Momose follows Kanae to the spot where the shoot is held.
"It's really great that Moko-san and I have the same day for the shoot." said Kyoko enthusiastically. Because of the busy schedule of the celebrities that made it to the top ten, the photo shoot cannot be completed less than a week even though the male and female shots are made separately. They are already in their third day of the photo shoot. "I wonder if Tsurugan-san is done already with his shots." Momose said. "Nope. Not yet, he has another photoshoot for Armandy. He will be here later, probably." Kyoko confidently answered. "Eeh? How did you know that?" "Eto... He called me last night." Noticing the look Momose was giving her, she hastily continued, "W-well, it's my first time modeling so I'm nervous. He was encouraging me and t-telling me t-tips." "Uhmm... So, tell me, are you two dating?" "NO! Of course not! H-he's my senpai and m-mentor. I-I can't do that. And b-besides, what can he see in someone like ... me?" Momose want to argue but didn't because the man in question is gliding towards them.
"Hello, Kyoko-san and Momose-san." said Ren. "T-tsuruga-san!" Kyoko as taken aback when Ren used her first name. Realizing that he is just using her stage name, she couldn't help feeling disappointed. "What are you so surprised about Kyoko-san?" Ren asked as he gives Kyoko his heavenly smile, giving her his complete attention. Noticing a good atmosphere between the two and doesn't want to bother them, Momose silently left them without them noticing. Pushing aside her disappointment, "N-nothing ... Ooh! How was you're shoot for Armandy?" Kyoko managed to say though her heart is stammering rapidly at her ribs. "We ended ahead of time, so…" Ren nodded his head towards a certain direction and Kyoko followed where Ren was looking. From the car, a guy with curly black hair and Aviator sunglasses emerged with Yashiro on his right, walking straight towards Ren and Kyoko. He stopped in front of them and suddenly said, "You must be Kyoko. I'm a big fan since I watched Dark Moon and Box 'R'. I was really scared with your Mio. It really gave me goosebumps. And I am really interested in Natsu. I like her attitude in attaining her goals. I also watched The Abyss and Papermoon. I am really amazed how you portray your characters. I'm really looking forward for your future roles. When Ren mentioned that you would be in the same photo shoot, so I begged him to let me come." the man said in one breath while violently shaking Kyoko's hands. "Uhmm... Eto..." Noticing Kyoko's discomfort, "Kyoko, this is Hatori Ryuuga. He is the photographer for Armandy." Ren supplied for Kyoko as the photographer let's go of Kyoko's hands and takes off his sunglasses. "Ahhh! Sorry I didn't introduce myself. I was just so happy. I finally met Na-chan." "Na-chan?" Yashiro asked just as Ren questioned himself mentally. "It is Natsu's nickname." Kyoko supplied. "Thank you very much for watching and supporting both Dark Moon and Box 'R', Hatori-san. I am overwhelmed by the fact that those characters are still remembered. I am much honored to know that a successful man such yourself appreciates what I do." Kyoko bows then smiles. "I never knew that Kyoko, the one who portrayed very strong characters, is very polite!" exclaimed Hatori-san. He was about to say more when, "Ryuuga!" called Tanaka Kei, one of the photographers for The Vault as he marches towards them. "Kei! It's nice to see you." "Nice to see you too, Ryuuga. So I see you hitched a ride with Tsuruga-san, as I expected."
Due to persistant begging of Hatori-san to let him stay, he is now sitting on a chair while watching Tanaka-san do his job. Now and then, he would give advices to models to make them relax. Kyoko was admiring the beach while Ren was admiring the sight of the beach with Kyoko in it. He was smiling to himself when he heard a very annoying voice. "Shoko, I want to drink something. I'm very thirsty." "Sho, wait. Where are you going? Here." Shoko, Sho's manager said while giving-half-shoving Sho his water. When Ren turned around, much to his discomfort was Fuwa Sho. Sho was taking a break from the shoot and is putting on some lotion while walking in to a nearby tent. As soon as Sho was out of sight, Ren was then looking for Kyoko. He was relieved to see that Kyoko is attentively listening to the photographers and Yashiro and he was desperately hoping she didn't see Fuwa.
Kyoko was so delighted as she listens to the stories of Tanaka-san and Hatori-san that she didn't notice that Ren stood beside her. "Oh Ren-kun! I heard that Shiki is almost done and is taking a break. It's your turn next but it may take a while. You can take a stroll if you like." Tanaka-san said. As soon as Kyoko heard Tsuruga's name, she turned around and was surprised to see Ren so close to her. "Oh, okay. Thanks for informing me. I might just do that. And oh, I would like to ask..." "What is it Ren?" asked Hatori-san. "Well, actually, I like to ask Tanaka-san about what he said." Ren then looked at Tanaka-san and said, "You said, you expected Hatori-san to hitch a ride with me. How did you know?" "Yeah. I was wondering the same thing." Yashiro added. Tanaka-san smiled and answered, "Well, Ryuuga practically worships Natsu. He taped it you know and he keeps watching it again and again. If I know better, I think he is memorizing your lines Kyoko-chan. And if he was a girl, by now I'm sure he would be Natsu-look-a-like. So I expected that as soon as he hears you are going to the shoot and Na-chan would be there, he will act as a spoiled brat and persistantly ask you to let him come. And knowing you, you would just let him." When Tanaka-san finished explaining and saw Hatori-san pouting like a kid, they all laughed. Well, except Hatori-san. While, in another spot in the beach, Sho was enjoying his break by secretly and discreetly eating his favorite snack, the pudding.
Authors Note: I kinda made this story during summer. I spent weeks making it up but I fail to write it down. And when I think about summer, I think about beaches! Its fun playing under the sun. I found a stack of magazines laying around the house and it gave me the inspiration. I really like to judge what the celebrities are wearing. *laughs* I really like the idea of doing a photoshoot in the beach.