I do not own Skip Beat!

Thank you Yoshiki Nakamura for all of your incredible talent.

The Dance

He heard whispers of One Take Queen and Another Co-Star Killer as he waited with other guests and extras for the ballet to begin. Takehiko, not being part of the acting world had no idea that these were respectful compliments for Kyoko.

"My little girl has come a long way." Proudly announced the tall bespectacled, blond gentleman that sat next to him.

Takehiko was a little confused. "Sir?"

"Oh, sorry. I was talking about my little Kyoko."

"She's your daughter?"

"Yes she is son. Do you know her?" The gentleman's eyes narrowed a piercing fatherly gaze at him.

"Um, she's my girlfriend. We've been dating for a little over five months now." Takehiko replied with respect and nervousness.

"Sir? May I ask, what is a Co-Star Killer?" Takehiko asked, worried that it was an insult to Kyoko.

The gentleman just snickered. "Nothing bad son. It's actually a very high compliment."

"Oh."

"I just means that when she acts her co-stars get pulled into her reality. If she needs a specific emotion to be felt by her co-star, she can make them feel it. Some actually continue to feel that emotion long after the scene is finished." He told Takehiko in a quiet voice as they watched Kyoko's Odette dance gracefully across the lake on the stage. She would perform the entire ballet tonight for the effect of the drama and the director would use different pieces of her performance throughout the show. They would later include the performance in its entirety in the DVD collection when the show ended.

"Wow, she's amazing.." Take marveled.

"Yes.. She is very.." The older gentleman smiled and agreed as they witnessed and participated in the standing ovation that Kyoko received for her performance of Swan Lake.


"Otousan!" Kyoko squealed as she saw Kuu with Takehiko backstage.

"You did beautifully, Kuon." He told her as he pulled her into a bear hug.

"How's Okasan doing?"

"Kyoko sweetie! You looked so beautiful out there!" the blonde fairy queen ran to hug a delicately feathered, white ballet costumed Kyoko. "Oh, I haven't seen you in so long."

Kyoko squealed with the delight of seeing her fairy queen.

"I'm sorry Okasan. I've been so busy." She told Julie as she hugged her.

"Kyoko?" Takehiko queried.

"OH! I am so sorry. Okasan, Otousan, this is Hide Takehiko. My boyfriend." she smiled sweetly taking his hand and introducing him.

"Take, this is Hizuri Kuu and Julie. My adopted father and mother." She beamed with pride.

"Nice to meet you Sir, Ma'am." Take bowed with reverence.

"If you don't have any plans tonight, your father and I would like to take you to dinner to celebrate a successful ballet performance." Julie smiled.

Kyoko looked at Takehiko for approval. "It's okay Babe, you don't need to ask me." He smiled.

"He's invited too." added Kuu.

"Hai! I'll go change and let Jaqui and Yuki-san know." she told them as she headed to the dressing rooms.


"He seems like he's good for her." commented Kuu.

"Yeah but, I would have preferred to have her for Kuon." Julie lamented.

"Now, you remember that we agreed we weren't going to do that Sweetheart. He even admitted that he waited too long."

"I know. It just would have been nice for her to really be our daughter."

"I know. I just hope he has the sense to keep her in his life, instead of running away from her." Kuu agreed sadly. Julie nodded in agreement.

X.O.X.O.X.O.X.O

"Wow, I didn't know one person could eat so much food." He commented from the sofa of his living-room.

Kyoko's giggle came from the kitchen as she prepared a fresh pot of Earl Grey.

"Yeah, he can put away a lot of food." she said smiling as she served Takehiko his tea.

"I really liked your show Babe. I thought I was at a real ballet with how well you did." Takehiko praised her.

"You really think so?" Kyoko asked excitedly.

"Absolutely." He told her kissing her on the forehead.

"Thank you Take." She sighed then snuggled into his side on the sofa as they watched a late show in a comfortable silence before bed time.


Six Months

I hope she likes it. He sighed as he checked on the little trinket for the 25th time today. Today was officially the sixth month mark for Takehiko and Kyoko. They had told each other for the first time six months ago to the day that they loved each other. He check again. Why do I keep doing this? It's not going to evaporate. He sighed again.

Today, Takehiko would meet Kyoko in the lobby at LME. He was going to give her a six month anniversary gift that he had carefully picked out for the fairy queen in his life. He felt his heart leap from his chest and into his throat as he watched her approach him. Here goes. He commanded himself boldly.

There he was, her man. The one that had made her life complete six months ago and he was waiting for her in the lobby with a strained and worried look on his face. I wonder what's wrong. Kyoko thought anxiously.

"Take, are you okay?" she asked as she approached him.

Suddenly, it appeared as though his legs gave way from beneath him because he was down on his knees in front of her in the lobby, at LME, in front of at least 30 people.

"Kyoko," he began in a hoarse voice then cleared his nervous throat "These past months have been like a dream to me... I don't know how I would ever survive without you and I don't intend on finding out. So..." he continued as he pulled a little white leather box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a single gold ring that looked as if it were made of little entwined ivy vines encircling a heart shaped pink diamond that was surrounded by several tiny white diamonds, as onlookers gasped.

"Kyoko, would you do me the honor of being with me for the rest of my life?" He finished.

Kyoko's eyes grew wide and her ears muffled, she could feel her heart beating so hard it felt as though it would pound through her chest, her legs felt weak and her cheeks became flush.

"Yes." She whispered with tears starting to flow as she fell to her knees with him and threw her arms around his neck smiling.

"Thank you.." He whispered with relief as he pulled back and placed the tiny, yet meaningful little trinket on Kyoko's third left finger and kissed it while the crowd that, initially consisted of 30 people had grown to many more, clapped and cheered for the newly engaged couple who were sitting on the floor and hugging in the middle of the lobby of LME.

"Wow, I couldn't have done that better for her myself." Lory beamed as he watched the spectacle from his office.