Authors Chat: So, obviously I was able to purchase the needed software. I'm flattered by all desperately wanting more story and suggesting I use an Open Source format, like Google Docs… but that didn't solve the issue that I needed Microsoft Office TO DO MY HOMEWORK FOR SCHOOL! I actually need more than just Word for my presentations. Hehe
I had to breakdown and buy it quickly though because I was selected to give my presentation first in two classes, so I only have/had a week to do the assignment... actually, I should be finishing it right now! ^_^;; .
Thanks to Deddinty, I was able to get it at 50% off. Turns out there is a program called the Ultimate Steal that Microsoft does for students of accredited universities. (It's Office 2003 though, so it's a tad dated. Still does what I need!)
Thank you Deddinty, this chapter is dedicated to you.
Also, I want to fix/redo the description for this story. Obviously, it hardly fits anymore on the grand scheme of things. I suck at writing summaries though, so I'm asking for all of your help.
A little contest, but all I can offer is dedication of a chapter or a short one-shot.
That being said, italics text are direct thoughts of characters, text is in quotes, noises are done with asterisks.
DISCLAIMER: Skip Beat! and it's characters are not my original creation, they are owned and created by Nakamura Yoshiki.
Story Timeline: Y'all know the timeline by now. If not, go back and read it in an earlier chapter! (taken out for length).
Playing With Fire
Act 48
Kyoko's brain went into overdrive. She had only a few seconds left, and there was only one thing she could really think of to do that would distract him!
She was out of time. She had to do it and hope it would work.
She forced herself up from Ren's lap causing him to look down at her as she moved.
She had a difficult time of it, with the couch being so soft, she rolled back against his chest and had to place her hand down between his legs to force herself up.
The proximity of her hand to his slightly swollen member caused him to shift and sit himself up as she moved.
"Kyoko?" That was a little too close. She would be appalled to know I enjoyed her closeness that much.
She stood from the couch in front of Ren and reached for the remote. She shut the television off before turning back to him.
"It's getting late R-ren. I really should be getting back to the Daruma-Ya. I have to go to school tomorrow." Her face flushed. He won't really fall for something so silly. He's going to turn the television back on to watch the rest of the show! She pushed her hands behind her back with the remote, and attempted to look natural about it.
Ren glanced behind her at the clock on the DVD player. "Mm, I suppose you're right. I was enjoying your company though. I guess I was holding out too long. It is late." He swung his legs over the edge of the couch and stood, so very close to Kyoko as she remained between him and the television.
He placed his hands on her upper arms as he gently stepped past her. "Come on then. I'll drive you home."
Her comment about school had struck a nerve in him that he had forgotten about. She was still in High School. It was very sobering, and his sense of duty won out over his desire for comfort and her warmth.
"How is school going for you?" He felt like a big brother asking her after the day was over.
"Well, it isn't like I imagined it would be. Then again, it is a special school. It's hard to talk to most of the other students enough to get to be friends with any of them though. We're all on weird scheduled because of our work."
Ren laughed a little, "You're supposed to be studying, not worrying about making friends."
"Well, I do the class work, but it's a little boring. I'm not learning much of anything new. They've told me once I finish the course work for first year, I can start right away on second year work, but I don't have a lot of time to do the home work."
"I see." She is so very smart, there is no challenge for her at the level of education they have her at. "It's been a while since I've done any real studying, other than for roles, but if you like, I can help you with your coursework sometimes."
"No, it's alright. I can't impose on you like that! Besides! It's MY coursework! If I don't do it, how will I learn it?"
"I thought you said you weren't learning anything new?"
"Well, not yet, but since I'm not in class a lot, if I don't do the work, I won't know if I know it or not!"
Ren laughed. "All right Kyoko, I give up. I guess I'm just trying to be greedy with your time. We can spend more time together when we actually get to have a date."
That's right! The date! I had completely forgotten; that was why I was invited to Tsuruga-san's place to start with! Yashiro-san was standing right behind him when I started to tell him my idea to get his schedule. "Ren… I was thinking… Do you have a spare key to Yashiro-san's apartment? I mean, I figured if anyone did, it would be you. Kaminari-chan doesn't live as close as you, and I thought if he got locked out, or if he was running late in the morning, you would be able to go over there. You have his spare, right?"
"I do, why do you ask?"
"Well, I think if I got the chance, while you are with Yashiro-san, I could maybe go there and look around for some way to find out your schedule, like looking at a computer calendar or something."
He couldn't help but smile to himself. Ren was glad she seemed so excited about their date, but "I don't know that that would work really. Yashiro has an aversion to technology, I'm sure you know."
"Mm. I did. I do I mean. But I forgot."
She looks so crestfallen. I can't let her be so disappointed. It's selfish of me, but we WILL get to have a real date. She deserves at least that much. "Well, we can at least keep the idea in our minds. I'm sure we'll think of something though." It was a little frustrating to Ren that he couldn't get ahold of his own schedule, but he was happy that Kyoko was having fun and so excited over this. They sort of balanced out.
When they came to a stop and Ren parked the car, he got out and walked her to the doorway.
"Do you want to come in for a little bit? There's still time for a tea if you like…" she wasn't ready to say good night.
"No, I better not. It's late, and I'm sure the owners of the restaurant wouldn't appreciate a late night guest."
"I see… you're probably right. I should have thought that." She looked up at him and gave him a weak smile, and his heart skipped a beat.
"…but if you like, we can sit here on the step for a few minutes and look at the stars. After all, there aren't many nights clear enough to see them here in Tokyo."
Wow, you're right. I didn't even notice." She gracefully sat down on the edge of the step up to the doorway.
Ren's legs folded as he sat down, forcing him to lean back or be forced to hunch his back to wrap his arms around his knees. Sometimes being tall is a curse, not a gift.
It gave enough space close to him though, and his arm looked so inviting. Nerves set her heart aflutter, as Kyoko slowly edged her way closer to him, trying to work up the courage to cozy up beside him.
His own desire to be near her, though, made it easy as he met her half-way. He had been leaning in to point out a constellation when her shoulder bumped his chest. Ren glanced down at Kyoko, who was very pointedly focusing on a star the opposite direction of his face.
"Look Kyoko. Do you see the W?" He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close so he could look down his and her line of vision as he pointed out the set of stars he was addressing.
"I see it!"
"That's Cassiopeia. The queen. Hers is a tragic story. Do you know it?"
"No. Will you tell me?"
He nodded his assent and dropped his arm to rest across her shoulder, and pulled her close to his chest as he spoke softly in her ear.
"Cassiopeia was beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that she bragged of her beauty, and by extension, her daughter, Andromeda's beauty. "Ren looked at her face, reading her expression, "don't worry, this is a Cinderella story, sort of. Cassiopeia's beauty and vanity led her to brag to Poseidon's beautiful creation, and he took offense. Poseidon, being a god, had to be obeyed, or he would destroy their city. He told her that to atone for the insult, she would have to sacrifice her own daughter's beauty, sacrificing her daughter by chaining her to a rock to be taken when Poseidon saw fit, if nothing else got her first. "
"Cassiopeia had to choose between her daughter, and her own beauty. She WAS a very vain queen. She chose her own beauty, though she was grieved by losing her daughter. Poseidon was furious, and threatened to destroy her city until Perseus got involved. You see, Perseus was the son of Zeus, the lord over all the gods, so that made him a prince of sorts, rescuing a princess."
"So then she was safe? Did he save her?"
"Hush, wait till the end."
Kyoko pouted a little, making Ren laugh. She was about to go to the fairy kingdom! Just from that little bit.
"So Perseus was well known for his many conquests and viewed as a champion. He was returning from yet another conquest when he spied the beautiful Andromeda, chained to a rock. He met her eyes and fell in love at first sight. He agreed that he would save Andromeda from her fate, if they – Cassiopeia and her king husband – agreed to give Andromeda to Perseus for a wife."
"So he DID save her! Did they marry? Did they live happily for the rest of their days?"
Ren couldn't help his laughter. She kept going off on just the tiniest little things.
"What?"
"Sorry… It's just… Just that this story… is about… about the how the Queen… ended up in the stars" he managed to say through his laughter.
She pouted at his laughing, and his giggles died down, "but I just wanted to know if they end up together in the end."
"I know. Just wait for the end though. I promise I'll tell you."
"Fine." She crossed her arms across her chest, bothered that he had laughed at her. Ren could see this though, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders again; pulling her to him, unbalancing her and making her uncross her arms. He kissed the top of her head before continuing again as she settled against him.
"So when Poseidon sent a monster to take Andromeda, Perseus fought and defeated the monster, and a wedding date was set. That isn't the end though; don't look at me like that."
Kyoko had a look on her face of disappointment and sadness. All that build-up of and telling her to wait for the end, for such an inglorious description?
"The date of their wedding arrived, and all had gone as planned, until they stood at the altar, and the doors flung open. Their marriage had been stopped by the would-be groom. Andromeda, being the daughter of a king and queen, already had a fiancé you see. She had been promised to another prince, and Cassiopeia ignored this when she agreed to give Andromeda to Perseus."
"Cassiopeia and her husband then decided they could not deny the original marriage since he had the power and resources to cause war on their kingdom whereas Perseus was just one man, with no true claim of a father. The wedding was cancelled, with Andromeda standing on the altar."
"So he DOESN'T end up with the princess?"
"Just wait. Perseus was angered by the actions of the king and queen, and challenged the prince for Andromeda's hand in marriage. He did not back down from the fight, and Perseus triumphed. Andromeda was to be his."
He looked down to see Kyoko looking up at him, expectantly. He couldn't end the story of Andromeda and Perseus there, she would be very upset.
"Poseidon recognized Perseus as Zeus' son however, and was upset at the queens vainglorious actions, and as punishment, he placed her up in the stars, upside down, to be forced to watch her daughter marry Perseus from a position of shame."
"The day of the wedding, Andromeda was beautiful. Her hair was done up with flowers, sweet, so the butterflies would flock to her and adorn her hair. Her dress was of the finest spun silk, white, to match her virgin body. Her skin was treated with milk and honey so that it shone and glowed in the moon light, and her skin was scented with lavender and rosemary. "
"Perseus was gifted a tunic of spun silk and gold, to match Andromeda, and he fell in love with her once again, as her foot falls took her closer to the alter, and into his waiting arms. They did marry, vowing to be with each other and love one another until the last air left their bodies."
Kyoko looked up at him with tears in her eyes, her hands clasped to her chest, waiting for something more.
What… that's it. What does she want? Oh, wait. "…. They lived happily ever after."
Her face broadened into a smile as the tears leaked from her eyes.
"…Why are you crying?" Did I say something wrong?
"No… No, it's just... so… perfect! But it's sad that the queen has to live out eternity in the sky all alone!"
Ren let out a loud laugh. "She isn't alone. Her king is up there too. See?" He pointed out the constellation of Cepheus, and leaned in, to see it from her eye level. "They had to live their lives watching as Andromeda and Perseus grew old and were happy together for the rest of their days."
Kyoko sniffed and wiped her tears, biting her lip trying to not let any more tears fall.
It was too much for Ren, and he bellowed with laughter.
"What? WHAT? It isn't funny!"
"Kyoko-chan? Tsuruga-san?" The Okami stood behind them, with the door open, and light spilling out onto the on steps which they sat. They had been focused on each other – well, Ren had been focused on Kyoko, while Kyoko was focused on the story – so that neither noticed the light flick on in the restaurant behind them.
"Aah! I'm sorry Okami-san!"
"It's alright, but it's late now…" she didn't need to finish her sentence.
Kyoko nodded. "I'll say my good nights then and be right in."
The Okami went inside and closed the door behind her. The light flicked out from the kitchen, then a much dimmer light from the bathroom could be seen, then the Okami could be heard softly creaking up the stairs inside.
Ren stood up and turned to face Kyoko on the stairs. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug and lowered his voice to a whisper.
"I'm sorry I kept you so late. I hope we didn't upset the owners."
"Mm, it'll be okay. Thank you for telling me the story Ren."
That was the first time she had said his name smoothly, as if it felt at home in her mouth. It made him happy, and his heart pounded a little harder.
"You're welcome. Next time we can see the stars, remind me to tell you the story of Orion and Diana."
"It is another prince and princess?" she looked up at him expectantly, and he laughed.
"Of sorts. You should go inside now."
"Alright." She tried to step back, but she was held firmly in his arms. "Ren?"
"You expect me to leave without a good night kiss?"
Her cheeks tinged with blush, he could see even from the dim light.
His height and hers made it difficult to meet, so he stepped down from the landing as he leaned down to kiss her lips.
Time moved in slow motion for Kyoko as her eyes followed his lips, slowly down and closer to meet hers. She tried to think of all the things Ren had taught her about kissing, but as soon as his lips pressed against hers, all thoughts of ANYTHING flew out of her mind.
Ren's lips were warm against hers, a light kiss, as he had intended, was just not enough. He tilted his head for a better angle, as he opened his lips just a little, sucking her lips in through his. She responded in turn, and her teeth lightly grazed his lips. He kissed her with open lips, but never did his tongue touch her lips. It was… sweet.
Ren stood up straight, releasing his hold on her, then took a step back and toward his car.
His whisper could be heard through the growing space between them, "Good night… my Andromeda."
Kyoko's lips still tingled where his lips had caressed them, she could still feel his arms around her, and she was weak in the knees. Without him to support her, she found herself leaning against the door so she didn't fall when her knees threatened to give out. Her head was fuzzy, and her heart was pounding in her chest like a large taiko drum.
His whisper filled her ears and head, but did not register until she saw his car pull away.
He had called her a princess.
Kyoko slowly turned the handle to the door and flitted in the restaurant and up the stairs, lighter than air, filled with her warm thoughts and feelings.
Ren, the prince of the entertainment industry, had called her his princess. It was like their very own fairy tale. Kyoko fell asleep wondering if they would live Happily Ever After.