12 Days Of Building Trust.
No, I don't own Skip Beat! I am not that awesome.
However, nothing more happened that night, because suddenly the clock gave away a loud boom, informing the guests it was midnight.
First day of Christmas.
"Happy Birthday, Kyoko." This was certainly new. For the first time ever had Kanae hugged her on her own free will. Yes, it was a little stiff and the "Happy Birthday" wasn't that joyful, but it still managed to amaze the already startled Kyoko.
Kanae released the stunned girl, watching the huge round tears drown Kyoko's eyes.
"M-Moko-chan…" She started to sob loudly and was just about to give her friend a bone crushing hug. However, Kanae sensed this and quickly pushed a package into Kyoko's arms before she got killed.
A tiny bit startled by this she looked down at the silver package that she was currently hugging very tightly, and then up to Kanae again with the most childish look she could possibly muster.
"You're even giving me a gift!" The salty water orbs fell like a waterfall from her eyes.
"No. Or well, that's not my gift, that's Chiori's." She motioned at the other LoveMe girl was standing slightly baffled, surprised by how her gift had suddenly been ripped away from her hands. "I just automatically used it as a shield."
Kyoko's eyes widened even more. "Oh, Chiori-chan, you shouldn't have…" Her heart swelled with warmth.
"Of course I had to! I'm only relieved I found out as soon as I did. If it wouldn't have been for Kotonami-san I would be here, embarrassed and without a gift!" She shook her head with irritation. "Really, Kyoko-chan, you've got to think about things like this."
Glassy eyed and on the verge of crying out loud, she gave Chiori a tight hug before turning to the package... that was suddenly not in her hands anymore.
"No, not yet, I have to give you my gift first!" Kanae had ripped it away from Kyoko in the same fashion as before, and pushed it into the arms of Chiori again.
Chiori couldn't help but feel realived it wasn't fragile.
"So you have a gift for me?" Kyoko gasped and started to look for a sign of a present somewhere. She frowned. "Where is it?"
"Right here." Kyoko's eyebrows went up."It's me."
"… What?"
Kanae sighed, not really convinced her gift was the most optimal. She had hoped to be original, but since Kyoko already had given something similar to Maria she just hoped it wouldn't just sound like a rip off instead of something thought through.
"I'm going to give you ten, free, full days with me. Alone." She shot an angry look at someone particular on their side as she stressed the particular word. "Where we go shopping, or whatever it is you want to do, and… this is where I really have to sacrifice myself, eat whatever fattening food or snacks you want us to. I'll pay."
Kyoko gasped.
"But I can't promise I won't complain!" Kanae added quickly just to keep some kind of pride to herself.
"Really? You would do that for me…?" She half whispered. Kanae nodded with restraint and Kyoko put both hands to her mouth to muffle a squeal and threw her arms around her friend's neck.
"Oh, thank you Moko-san! Thank you, so, so much! It's so wonderful, the best gift ever! You can complain as much as you want to!"
To most people this would be a weird and kind of cheap gift, considering that shopping and eating innutritious foods with friends was just a normal as breathing.
But not to Kyoko, this was her ultimate dream; being able to do whatever she wanted with Kanae, knowing that the dark haired girl would probably have rejected it any other time.
Kanae had no idea what she was getting herself into.
Before Kyoko got to release Kanae, the raven-haired girl shot an evil grin, very similar to the one the former year, towards the tall brunet beside them. She didn't even have to say anything since the look was telling him everything he needed to know: "Not only did I win this year as well, I was first!"
Ren had to give it to her; she was good. Before he even got the chance to react at the midnight stroke, Kanae had already thrown herself at his love with full speed, shocking the rest of the group.
He was still a firm believer of what he said last year; it doesn't matter what a person gives or how many people it is who gives you anything, since you'll be happy anyway. Fortunately, Ren couldn't help but to feel competitive.
In other words; he wasn't quite ready to give up just yet.
After having let go of Kanae, Kyoko turned to the gift from Chiori, which was for once mildly given.
The girl in question felt embarrassed and unsure whether her gift would be good enough after seeing the reaction that Kanae managed to get.
But of course it was ridiculous to feel worried when it came to Kyoko, because the look of pure happiness showed on Kyoko's face as she opened the gift to reveal a jewelry-making kit, making Chiori to sigh in relief.
Her motivation for the gift being the time Kyoko's handmade necklace, Princess Rosa, fell off. She wanted to give her something that would make her crafts last longer.
Of course this made Kyoko more than overjoyed and she gave the girl a second hug.
Next up was Maria. She gave her big sister a black oak wand with thin, squiggly silver lines engraved into it. She said that it was a wand, that if used correctly, you could give someone either bad or good luck.
"If you want to give someone good luck you have to think the person's name thrice while your eyes are closed. When you open them again you draw a circle clockwise in the air in the direction the person is and spell 'good luck' with the wand in the middle of the circle."
Kyoko nodded excitedly, closed her eyes, drew a circle in front of Maria and ended it with spelling 'good luck' in the middle.
"Like that?" Kyoko asked, smiling widely.
"Yes, exactly! Thank you Nee-chan!" She gave her a quick hug before continuing. "When you want to curse someone with bad luck you do the exact same thing, except you draw the circle counter clockwise and write bad luck in the circle instead."
Kyoko automatically started to look around with a mischievous look on her face. I wonder where they are… Thinking about cursing Fuwa and the Beagle gave her some morbid amusement, but since she didn't know where they were, so she couldn't do it properly. She would probably end up cursing some poor person that happened to share the same name. What a shame.
Then it was the Darumaya couple's turn. They came forth and gave her a new purse that she accepted gratefully and promised she would treasure and use it as often as she possibly could.
Unlike last year when almost no one knew about her birthday, she received plenty of gifts from many different people. She got a makeup kit from Jelly, who now had finally decided to show up after she'd gone missing right after transforming Kyoko, and some gifts from Ogata and the actors.
Kijima was one of them.
He gave her a figurine of a small fairy and told her he just happened to pass by it and thought it looked just like her, so he just had to buy it. Of course this only increased the stars in the girl's already star struck eyes.
This, on the other hand, made Ren slightly twitch, amusing Yashiro and Kanae quite a bit. Adding the fact that the trio from Bridge Rock gave her an expensive-looking necklace didn't exactly help his already bad mood.
However, there was no time for him to intervene before Lory showed up, declaring it was time for a tradition that started just last year. He pointed at a huge cake that was for the moment rolling towards them with a banner saying 'Happy Birthday Kyoko!'
It was shaped like a winter wonderland, unlike last year's princess castle. It had a snowy mountain, a miniature forest, a beautiful icy lake with a small carriage pulled by a horse on it with loads of ribbons, and finally with white roses and fairies decorated all over the cake.
Just like last year, a large choir, together with the rest of the guests, started to sing the birthday song.
Kyoko had secretly hoped for something like this to happen again, but it still felt mind blowing. She could never get used to such friendliness from all these people, they were all too kind! Though this reminded her of something else…
When everyone had calmed down and taken a slice from the beautiful cake, Kyoko started to wonder where the first person to congratulate her last year had gone to. She felt a slight sting in her heart at the thought of him leaving before even giving her a short congratulation, no matter how selfish she felt about it.
"Really, Kyoko-chan, you should tell us when your birthday is! Now I feel so embarrassed for not bringing anything!" Aiko angrily complained, making Kyoko laugh apologetically.
"I'm sorry; it's just that that it's never been much of a big deal before so I haven't really given it much thought."
"Well, you'd better start now." Aiko demanded, shaking her head in disapproval.
Then she suddenly looked over Kyoko's shoulder, as if she was unsure whether she was right or…
A sly grin appeared on her face, very similar to the one a few hours ago, making a shiver of dread go down Kyoko's spine.
"Don't look now, but it seems like… am I seeing things? No, I'm sure of it! Mareo is looking for someone, and it's not me." She put her hand dramatically to her cheek with her mouth hanging open. "Oh, dear, he's found her! It seems like he wants to talk to her."
Kyoko spun around automatically, eyes wide.
Sure enough; No other than the male lead and coworker of Wake Me Up was looking straight at her, with a look that said that there was something on his mind. When he noticed she'd discovered him, he smiled… shyly? Slowly, he started to walk towards the girls.
"Well, see ya' later, Kyoko-chan!" The dark brown-haired actress clapped Kyoko on her shoulder, leaving the baffled girl all alone in confusion. Kyoko watched as Aiko skipped away happily, practically singing, leaving no chance for the auburn girl to stop her.
"Was Ito-san in a hurry or something?" Ren chuckled as soon as he reached Kyoko, who was now swirled around to greet her sempai and friend, remembering just why she couldn't run after her fellow actress.
"I'm… not sure." Kyoko answered confusingly. "She just suddenly ran off."
"I see…" Not that he minded. "Anyway, I've wanted to talk to you since midnight, but you seemed so busy talking to everyone else, I never seemed to get the chance."
Kyoko, having a pretty good hunch on what was coming next, couldn't help but to feel rather excited, something that almost always happened when he was about to reveal something.
No, that was a lie. It always happened.
She'd been very aware that this was a threat for a long time, but she'd stopped trying to fight it. She'd tried to stay away once, but it didn't help, her consciousness only nagged in the back of her mind.
Besides, she thought to herself. There's one other thing that makes it important for me to stay around.
"Here," He gave her a small, dark blue package with silver strings."Happy Birthday."
"Oh, thank you so much, Tsuruga-san…" She accepted the small gift, feeling how silly and annoying tears threatened to reappear, and started to carefully remove the paper.
It was a small, round, white porcelain box with shades of light blue. On it was beautifully painted lines, flowers and feathers in different shades of blue and white. The edge of the lid and the bottom of the box together with the four small feet was painted in silver.
On the top of the lid was a small, white figurine of a swan with its wings spread apart as if it was about to fly. It was so detailed it looked almost real with eyes made of two, dark blue gems.
You could also find these gems carefully placed on the sides of the silver painted lines.
Kyoko couldn't do anything but to stare at this frail artwork. It was so…
"Beautiful…" She whispered in indescribable wonder.
"You do know there is more to it..." Ren said with an almost equally quiet voice, too mesmerized with her expression to be fully aware of what he did.
"What do you mean?" She asked, surprised since she couldn't understand how such a wonderful thing could be even more perfect.
Yet she was proven wrong. It could.
Ren gently took the little porcelain item from her hands and showed her a small, black screw on the back of it. He turned it a few times before letting it go and opened the lid.
A small ballet dancer appeared, swirling slowly in the center as the theme melody from Swan Lake played.
"It's a music box."
Kyoko thought she was going to faint. Without a word, she carefully took the precious beauty in her hands again and stared at it with such wonder, her mouth slightly open as if to say something, but nothing left her lips.
Tears made their way down from her eyes as she watched the little Odette dance.
Suddenly, a gentle hand wiped them carefully away from her face, slightly startling her. When did the comfortable distance between them disappear?
"Should I take that as a thank you?" He asked quietly with the warmest of smiles.
She looked at him a few moments before simply nodding and letting loose a smile, very much mirroring his.
Unfortunately, she didn't have a clue as to how she was supposed to thank him properly.
She settled for something simple since words weren't quite enough anyway. "Yes. Thank you so, so much…"
The melody came to a stop, and with it the quiet, private world they had at some point stepped into. Everything that had gone missing a few minutes ago; the sound of people talking and laughing all around them seemed to slowly come back.
This was their wake up call.
Ren leaned back, remembering that they were in a room full with people, a room where somewhere, a fan-girl manager, mental president and an unbelievably scary girl would be lurking.
He coughed, trying to come up with something else to say before he did something stupid.
That's when he noticed.
"Oh, I see you're wearing Princess Rosa now. When did you put her on?"
She blinked, still a bit in a daze, but quickly recovered to her usual self.
"Oh, you noticed?" she touched the little stone with her fingers while still carefully cradling the music box with one of her hands. "I had planned on putting her on by midnight, but I never had the chance to since so many people came forth to talk to me. So right after the Winter Wonderland was presented I put her on. It is after all exactly one year since I got the rose she was born from." She looked up at him with a bright smile.
"Thank you."
"For what?" He chuckled.
"For bringing her to me."
Oh, how he had to fight himself at moments like these.
However, she brought him out of his self-quarrel when she suddenly seemed to have come to think about something important. She told him to stay there and wait.
Before he even could conjure up a proper sentence she had run off, but was soon back again, holding the wand she'd got from Maria.
"What…?"
She put a finger to her secretively smiling lips, silencing him.
She placed herself in front of him, closed her eyes, opened them again, drew a circle clockwise and wrote 'good luck' in the center of it.
"There." She said. "That's all I can do to repay you for the moment. I hope it helps."
'That's all I can do to repay you for the moment.' He liked that.
"Thank you, I'm sure it will." He reassured and chuckled, his smile never faltering even once.
"So," They both flinched. "You're going to give him good luck, but you're not even considering giving your bestfriend anything, huh?" A murderous aura was coming from the side, giving everyone around them the shivers. They turned to look at the source and found a very mad-looking Kanae glaring at Kyoko. "Maybe I should just leave then, seeing I'm not as important." She turned around and started to walk away.
Kyoko moved in a millisecond to catch her friend before she could go too far. "Oh, no Moko-san! I was planning on giving you good luck as well. In fact, I'm going to do that every day!"
"You'd better!" She sneered and freed her arms so she could cross them with a huff. "Come on then. Hurry up."
Kyoko hurriedly started the small ritual again, and as soon as the two girls started their usual cry-and-yell conversation, Ren heard the most haunting and nightmarish sound he knew.
The familiar evil, witchlike laugh could never be mistaken.
"I saw that." Yashiro sang with glee. Of course he did. "I couldn't hear what was being said, but judging from how you gradually gravitated against each other my guess is that it must have been pretty good."
Ren's eyebrows went up.
They had been gravitating towards each other? He was just about to open his mouth to ask something, but quickly decided otherwise. No, he was not going to even mention his surprise to his manager.
After snickering and teasing his charge for a few more moments, Yashiro enjoyed every sigh and slight discomfort showing in the actors face, he actually asked something with more sincere curiosity.
"So… what's the verdict?"
"The verdict?"
"You know what I mean. Did you win this year?"
At first Ren wanted to discard such a question, considering how irritated he was with his manager, but he couldn't help but to honestly consider it. The quiet explosion of emotions that had been put on display on her face certainly was something worth the money put on the very expensive collectible. Not that he cared about the prize.
His goal had been, and always was, to make her as happy as possible.
But still, he felt it was more different than any of the other exchanges of gifts she'd had that night, even more special than the last year's rose.
It was that private world they emerged into at times like these, when it felt like no one could interfere and there was no way out, though neither seemed to mind, let alone notice, being there.
It was a kind bond that had been created slowly and had grown stronger ever since he first blacked out in the fight as Cain all those months ago. It was as if they shared something, something made out of complete comfort.
Would the same thing happen if another person had given her the same gift? He didn't believe that was the case.
At least that's the truth he wanted. He hoped, no, needed her desperately to feel the same way.
She only knew parts of his story, but it was enough for any other girl to run, but not her. She stayed no matter what he did.
There was still a small sliver of hope hanging in the air, like spider silk, incredibly thin and breakable, but still strong enough to capture great things.
"I think," He said, not even thinking about Kotonami-san and her competitiveness as he watched Kyoko run around, giving good luck to anyone she knew and liked. "That I might be on my way."
He ignored his manager's confused look and questions as he saw the love of his life turn around to look him straight in the eyes, giving him one of her most beautiful smiles. Or maybe even closer.
... ... ...
Kyoko quietly unlocked the door to the Darumaya with a big yawn and stepped inside the dark restaurant.
The owners of the restaurant had gone home at around one in the morning, since they were tired and needed some sleep before getting up early the next morning, while Kyoko had stayed at the party a few hours longer.
She would still be there if she'd had it her way; she wanted to help in tidying everything up, but after gaining the furious glares from the three specific females (Maria had gone to sleep around the same time as the Darumaya couple left) that had made her promise not to help, she surrendered.
So now here she was tired, but happy… and slightly confused as till why the 1.90m tall smooth talker was still with her.
"So, where should I put all of these?" Ren whispered; his arms full with different objects.
Oh, that's right. He was a smooth talker.
When it finally had been time to go home, she realized she had way too many things for her to be able to carry by herself, so of course her great sempai had offered her to not only give her a ride, but to help her carry all her gifts up to her room.
His motivation for this was "Girls, especially not rising stars, should not be sitting on a bus, or worse, walking while carrying lots things she can barely handle in the middle of the night." When that didn't quite convince her, he simply added with a sad face; "I would be worried."
And now, here she was, going up the stairs followed by the number one actor of Japan… carrying different pink, sparkly and other very feminine items of different sorts. She would laugh if it wouldn't have been for the fact that this was not only incredibly embarrassing, it would be even worse if the owners woke up and noticed she wasn't alone.
Taicho specifically. He had been acting strangely… "aggressive" towards Ren the last couple of months.
When they finally reached her room she opened the door, turned the lights on and motioned for the things to be put down on the empty table she had prepared just in case something like this would happen this year again.
When the table proved to be too small for all the things to fit on it, they decided to put the rest around and under the small furniture.
As she gazed upon all the things she'd been given, she couldn't help but feel the dams threatening to burst again.
"There." Ren whispered cheerfully, placing a last, painted glass in the remaining empty spot by the table. "Wow, if it continues like this you won't be able to fit in your own room next year."
She giggled. "I doubt it."
"I don't."
He then looked a bit concerned as he studied the collection of presents. Something was clearly missing.
"Where is…?" He didn't finish the question, just turned to her with worry slightly crossing his face.
Finding his concern slightly amusing and maybe just a little sweet, Kyoko had to giggle.
"It felt so fragile I wanted to be extra sure it was kept safe." She reached for her purse and picked the delicate treasure carefully up in her hand. Instead of putting it with the rest of the things she put it up on her shelf, right next to where a big, dried rose in an overly extravagant vase was placed.
"Perfect!" She proudly clapped her hands together, regretting the action right away since it was quite loud. "I'll make sure to put Princess Rosa's bed right next to it so Odette won't feel so alone in her new home."
She turned around to thank and bid her good night to Ren, but was instead met by such an intense smile she was stunned into silence. She could never react like a normal person whenever he did that.
It wasn't fair and certainly not safe.
"I see you treat my gifts differently." He told her softly as he studied her shelf. She started to fidget just a little.
"Uh, well… of course. You always manage to give me such special gifts and…" She looked away, a small blush painting her face, cursing herself for never being able to shut up.
"And…?" He pressed.
"Well… It's you who gave them. That makes them special." She shyly avoided his eyes. She always felt awkward admitting things like that.
She didn't look at him, but she felt the smile directed at her. It was scary.
This did however not last long, because Ren suddenly looked over her shoulder and seemed to have found something very interesting to look at.
His friendly smile turned into a mocking grin.
"So, do you mind telling me how long you've had that picture of me pinned on the wall?"
Kyoko's eyes widened in shock and realization as her face turned beet red. She'd completely forgotten about it! And of course here she was, paying for her own stupidity.
"Uh, I… um…It, eh…" Was all she could manage to utter and she thanked her blessings she had thrown out the Sho-poster just a few weeks ago.
"Hm?" He started to laugh as she tried to form a decent sentence.
Silence.
"It helps me to focus, alright." She finally burst out as quiet as she possibly could manage in this situation. "Now, if you please, it's very late and you have to work tomorrow! Err…I mean toady."
She started to push on his back to make him walk out of her room. "You have been very kind and I thank you for the ride and the lovely gift."
He walked obediently down the stairs, barely containing the laughter.
"Alright, I get the hint. I'm leaving, I'm leaving." They finally stopped right in front of the door with him grinning wildly at her pouting.
"Then I guess the only thing left for me is to thank you for the wonderful evening. I've had a ball." He smiled, his laughter still visible on his face. "And thanks for letting me know one more of your secrets…"
Kyoko, whose blush finally had calmed down a little, fired up once again.
"Shush, don't mention it again, please! It's embarrassing." She gently hit his arm and he chuckled. She amazed herself at how easily they got along, though now she only wanted him out of her house.
"But yes, thank you Tsuruga-san. It's been nice. But you really need to leave now if you're going to get any kind of sleep!" Or avoid getting killed by a tired yet very skilled chef with a knife. "Really, for the thousandth time; you need to take better care of yourself; I can't be there all the time making sure you behave."
After saying this he gave her a mysterious, almost longing look which left her puzzled and just a little curious.
"What?"
He chuckled.
"No, nothing." The cryptic look didn't quite leave his eyes but he continued talking with a more casual tone. "I'll see you on Wednesday then."
"Yes, you will. Good night Tsuruga-san. And thanks once again." She sighed, feeling realived. He was finally going to leave, which meant he would be able to focus on his work much better, which also meant she could sleep with a better conscience.
Along with not getting stabbed.
Then, without a warning, he suddenly removed some hair from her face in a swift and soft motion.
"Good night to you as well. And could you please do me a favor and tell the Taicho I'm not going to steal anything?" The cryptic smile was back. "I won't take something that doesn't accept being taken."
As soon as it happened, he was gone.
She was left there, staring at the spot where the ridiculously tall actor just had been standing moments ago. When she finally snapped back to reality with an angry jolt, she locked the door and walked up the stairs while grumbling not so nice things about giants not making sense.
As soon as she entered her room she collapsed on her bed. She was so exhausted. Kyoko sighed as she looked up into the ceiling. Really, what did that even mean?
She looked over to where Odette was resting on her shelf, and even though she was annoyed, she couldn't help to smile in silent wonder, replaying the moment when she received the little swan princess in her mind.
That atmosphere, no, that world. Was she the only one who noticed it? The only one in it? She didn't know.
What she did know for sure was that it was dangerous, horrendous, warm and safe feelings that slipped into her body whenever it happened.
But there was one other thing that she'd finally realized after such a long time. Something she couldn't believe at first, and, when she did, everything became so much harder to endure and so much harder to make her stay away.
He needed her. Ever since that day, he'd proven it to her.
Why it had to be her she didn't know, or why no one else seemed to work. What she did know was that as long as she stayed there with him, everything seemed to work out in the end, because whenever he went into that dark place…
"I've done things you can't possibly fathom. I'm scared of what I'm capable of doing…"
She frowned as dark memories slipped into her mind.
She shook her head, trying to shake the images out of her head and turned to the right to check what time it was. Her usual alarm clock was always standing by itself beside her futon.
So why wasn't it by itself right now?
She sat straight up in surprise and looked down at the small envelope attached to a miniature, brown paper bag. Beside it was a note.
Kyoko-chan
Someone came in and gave this to us right before we left to the party and told us we should leave it on your room. We were told not to tell you who it was, because this person wanted you to find out by yourself.
- Okami.
Kyoko stared blankly at the note and then to the tiny bag. She carefully took the envelope in her hands and looked at it. On the front was the number one stamped in black ink, and she continued to study it for about a minute before slowly opening it up.
Inside was a short rhyme written with black ink.
On the first day of Christmas, I will give you,
Something small and sweet that I hope will do.
She re-read the rhyme over and over again, as if she was trying to find a secret meaning within the letters. After this proved to be fruitless, she turned to the note from Okami-san and then back to the rhyme again before concentrating on the small paper bag.
What is this? She asked herself, not necessarily thinking about what she might find in the tiny package.
She unrolled the opening and revealed a small piece of chocolate lying prettily by itself on the floor of the bag. She picked it up with slight suspicion.
What if it was poisoned? She could very well imagine someone doing something like that.
She looked at the note again and spoke out loud."On the other hand, if Taicho actually let someone in like this it can't possibly be dangerous."
After a few more moments of doubt and hesitation, she put the small piece in her mouth. If she wasn't already lying down, she could have collapsed from the delight, the richest taste of strawberries mixed with chocolate filling all of her senses.
Whoever it is, she thought while squirming happily, certainly knows my taste in chocolate.
There we go. Sorry for the late and very long chapter, but I promise this is the longest! Thanks to MiracleMoon124 that edits and have to endure reading the entire thing. :)
Every fav and comment on my previous chapter made my day! And I promise you won't have to wait this long for the next chapter!