Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat or its characters only the Kuchiki's

Chapter 10: Realizing Stupidity

When Ren entered the kitchen he found Kyoko on a step stool she had found reaching for a rice cooker in one of the top cabinets. Her shirt was riding up slightly exposing a small portion of her lower back and up to her bellybutton in the front as she stretched. Her back it looks so delicate, so soft, it's like it's calling me to touch it. Ren stood staring at the newly exposed flesh then shook his head. You can do this Ren…fight your temptations…do NOT give in now…she definitely doesn't want you to touch her…you'll scare her. Ren repeated to himself and walked over to her. "Kyoko-san, do you need help?"

Kyoko jumped slightly being startled by his words and lost her balance. The step stool slid to the side and she began to fall only to be surrounded by warm strong arms. She looked up to find herself almost face to face with Ren and she began to blush. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to startle you" Ren looked at her worried.

"Y-y-yes, I'm fine. I didn't realize you had come in. Just caught me a little off guard that's all. Thank you for catching me." Kyoko replied quietly with her head down trying to hide her blush and keep him from hearing her heart beat which was beginning to beat faster and faster with their closeness. Why do I always get like this when he gets close to me. There has got to be something wrong with me. I shouldn't be acting like this. There has got to be a reason why my heart keeps doing this. She stood in a daze with her thoughts for a moment then jumped away from him realizing that she was still that close to him.

"Your welcome, and I'm glad you didn't get hurt, you should be more careful" Ren said with a smile. Which made her heart beat faster. Damn, she moved away so fast. I knew it she doesn't want to be touched by me. Ren tried his best to keep his smile and not look disappointed at their very brief encounter. "What were you trying to get?"

"The rice cooker, I'm going to need it later for supper." Kyoko pointed to the cooker on the top shelf. Ren nodded and retrieved the cooker and placed it on the counter. "Thank you"

"It's no problem you should have just asked me in the first place I'm much taller then you after all"

"I'm not short!" Kyoko proclaimed as her demons started to surround her. He's bullying me! How dare he pick on my height! (demons: he's a giant, an alien giant, he thinks he's better but he's just a giant) "It's not my fault I'm not a giant like you"

With that Ren began to laugh looking at her getting all flustered, which irritated her even more and he noticed. "I never said you were short, anyways I wouldn't call you that" he said with smile and brought his hand up to his chin and thought for a second. "If anything I would call you fun sized…or…travel size for my convenience." Kyoko's anger washed from her face replaced with confusion at his words. Fun sized? Travel size? Huh? What does he mean by that? Is that a compliment or is he just picking on me? Ren looked at her and laughed again. "It's a compliment Kyoko-san, I like you just the way you are. You're the perfect size for a princess" He hoped this would brighten her mood, which it did instantly.

"Really! Like a princess!" Kyoko said excitedly with a huge smile on her face as she imagined herself in a princess gown.

"Kyoko-san?" Ren said for the fourth time finally snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Yep" Kyoko looked over to see him handing her a stack of papers, a small note book and a pen. "What's that?"

"It's the results you needed. I found the paper and pen in the office. Hope you don't mind I have to keep your results to do my own task so these are just mine. Or do you need yours?"

"Oh I almost forgot" she said grabbing the papers and pen. "Nope I just need your results."

"Alright, well I'm going to go back out to the living room then. Figured I should probably do this alone."

Kyoko nodded in agreement. "I was thinking about going out back to do this, it's a nice day out figured I would try to enjoy it. Would you mind disarming the house so I could."

"Sure, I'm going to arm it back up though but I'll leave the back door unlocked so you can get back in if you need to. You'll sound the alarm when you do but don't worry we have 60 seconds to shut it off which is more then enough time. I wrote the code and instructions on the top paper by the way." Ren said pointing at the notebook in Kyoko's hand.

"Thank you, Ren-san" Her words made him smile. Ah it sounds good hearing her say my name like that, I feel like I'm almost being spoiled. Ren unarmed the house with the key pad next to the sliding glass door and opened the door for her. She stepped outside and turned to watch him close the door and re-alarm the house. She waved goodbye and he waved back at her smiling then turned to walk to the living room. She followed suit and turned around to explore the back yard.

From the back door it opened up to a patio that stretched out about 10 feet from the house and ran from the dinning room all the way over to where the living room began. On the right side there were 5 white lounge chairs and random plants in pots. To the left of the door against the house was a grill and prep area built into a tan-ish stone fixture. At the far end of it was a bar area that came out a little so you could step behind it and serve people, in front of it stood 5 white bar stools. At the far left end of the patio was a huge gazebo covered with a white weather-resistant sheer fabric. Inside was a white glass-toped table and 5 white plush patio chairs. In the back center of the patio there were 3 stairs that lead down to the lawn. Kyoko stood in shock at the scenery. It's beautiful! It's like a fairy land. Surrounding the back yard was a bamboo fence. In the far left corner was a large cherry blossom tree surrounded by various bushes and plants with purple, yellow, pink, and blue flowers. In front of that was a small wooden bench big enough to seat two. It had two little white weather resistant pillows on either side. The foliage spread across the left and back wall of the bamboo fence almost staking on top of each other leaving the center just grass. To the right was huge grey stone foundation which held a hot spring that was steaming slightly. More flowers and random foliage were set perfectly amongst the rocks creating a relaxing atmosphere. There were small stone Japanese statues and footlights randomly mixed with the foliage throughout the entire back yard creating a Zen garden like feel. Kyoko walked over to the bench in front of the cherry tree and sat down grabbing both of the pillows and put them behind her as she brought her feet up on the bench and got comfortable. She opened up the notebook, and began flipping through the pages of Ren's test results.

-After 45 minutes of frustration, awkward thoughts, and no questions-

Chika - I need your help I need all the help I can get I can't think of anything-Mogami. Kyoko gave up and text Chika unable to think of anything else. At this point she was pacing the yard waiting for a response. Come on Chika please help me, I can't do this alone. None of this makes sense to me….Why would Ren put these answers? But I can't just ask that. Erggggggggg.

Hey, need my help already that was fast! What can I help ya wit?-Chika Kyoko nearly dropped the phone she was so excited that Chika had text back. She text back her situation with her task as quickly as she could desperate to get advice.

R u wit Ren now?-Chika

No why?-Mogami

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep Kyoko's phone rang.

"Hello, Chika?" Kyoko answered.

"Hey! Sorry but this convo needs to be vocal way too much to go over to be texting all of this."

"Oh, okay. So your going to help me?" Kyoko asked desperately.

"Ya of course I am I told you if you needed help with anything just count on me anyways this is way too interesting for me pass up" Chika sounded like she was smiling.

"Thank you so much" Kyoko took a deep breath relieved.

"Okay, so you have got to come up with questions right? about the test results. Sooooo what was the test? Like what was the questions and what were his answers? Read it over too me so I know everything then I can give you proper advice."

Kyoko sat back down on the bench and picked up the test and read over the questions and answers to Chika.

"Really, are you serious! They gave you a love test like one of the ones you find online. How original of them no creativity at all! Oh well that's besides the point. So those were Ren-san's answers huh well what's the big issue then? There pretty self explanatory"

"What do you mean self explanatory? That there's no big issue? There is a real big issue I don't understand any of it!"

"You what! What do you mean you don't understand any of it! He likes you Kyoko what's so hard to get?"

"Ren-san does not like me in that way! I'm his student and nothing more, he can't possibly like me in that way" Kyoko argued.

"Ummmmmmmmmm no"

"What do you mean no?" Kyoko sat confused.

"Kyoko he likes you! It clearly states that he likes you. He even said he would absolutely say yes if you were to ask him out."

"Well yes it does say that but he says yes every time I ask him out like going to lunch or anything so that doesn't mean anything at all."

"No, no, no honey that's not what that question means. That question means like if you were to ask him on a date."

"A date! I would never ask Ren-san out on a date! That's just absurd why would I do that!"

"Why not? You like him too don't you and don't even try to lie to me and say you don't."

"I don't! I vowed a long time ago I would never love anyone again so there is no possible way that I can like him." Kyoko stated sternly.

"You know that's not possible right"

"Whats not possible?" Kyoko was confused again.

"To vow to never love anymore. You can't choose who you fall in love with you just do."

"How is that not possible? I told myself that I wouldn't and I won't"

"First of all why would you do something stupid like that to vow never to love again?"

"It's not stupid"

"Yes it is" Chika cut in.

"No it's not, and I have my reasons." Kyoko said and started to pout.

"Kyoko listen to me its total stupid! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but ya completely and utterly stupid, and your reasons are stupid too. As a fellow woman I can not believe that you would let a man control your life like that it's just degrading."

"Huh what do you mean? My reasons aren't stupid. No man controls my life I don't know what you are talking about." Kyoko stated trying to figure out what man Chika thought controlled her life.

"Sho-fuwa…..does that name ring a bell"

Kyoko froze for a second anger surrounding her with the mention on THAT mans name. "He does not control me, I don't know what you are talking about."

"Kyoko don't play dumb with me Yashiro-san has told me everything and yes that man does control you and the worst part is your allowing him to."

"No I'm not!" Kyoko denied every word of it. There is no way that THAT man controls me anymore, I'm living my dream, and I'm doing it without his help! I do not love him anymore…and I never will again!

"Ergg, Kyoko please take a moment and really think about it. He's totally controlling you and you don't even realize it."

"No he's not" Kyoko continued to argue.

"Kyoko you asked for my help so I'm giving it, but in order for me to give it. You have to stop arguing and listen to what I have to say. For some dumb reason you have decided that because of everything that he has done to you that you are not going to love any other man ever again. Because of ONE man you have decided to completely blow off EVERY other man! That right there is just stupid. Not all men are the same, they all aren't like him, just like every woman is different. Just because he did something stupid like use you doesn't mean that they all are going to do that to you. You have to be smart about it and not let another man use you. Now that doesn't mean that you shouldn't give them the chance of being with you, that just means you have to be smart about it and not let them treat you like that again. Learn from your mistakes. If you don't give anyone a chance then your never going to find love and what kind of life is that. Instead of deciding your never going to love again you should be searching for love, for something better then what he offered you. For someone that will treat you the way that you want to be treated. Now let me ask you a question when you were in love with him before you found out that he was using you were you happy?"

"Well…yes…I was happy." Kyoko said hesitantly.

"Ya you were because being in love is fun! Being able to share your time with someone that is dear to you and do things for them and have them do things for you is a great feeling right."

"Well I guess…but he didn't really do anything for me." Kyoko stated sadly thinking back on everything.

"Ya well that's because you were in love with him but he wasn't in love with you. Instead he was just using you. Still it felt good to do things for him that's why you continued to do them. So learn from your mistake, you now realize what it feels like to be with someone that doesn't love you back that they don't do anything for you in return. So look for someone that does because that would mean that they love you too. Don't just hide from love altogether because of him! Think about it you were happy then when you were just doing things for him just imagine how happy you would be with someone that does do things back. Someone that cares about you just as much as you care about them. That's an amazing feeling trust me. You might think your happy now which is great I think its awesome that you have the ability to make yourself happy on your own but your such a nice caring person you really deserve someone that treasures you like you should be. You don't deserve to go through life on your own. No one should live life on their own because its just sad and lonely. In the end everyone needs someone to help them through everything, someone to lean on for support you could say. Do you understand me Kyoko?"

"Yes I think so" Kyoko replied.

"Okay so what am I telling you then? What are you getting from all of this?"

"That I shouldn't give up on love. That I shouldn't let one man be my deciding factor on all of them. That I should give others a chance." Kyoko said thinking about everything but not sure she could accomplish it.

"Not just anyone Kyoko, give Ren-san a chance."

"Ren-san…There's no way he likes someone else."

"What! Who the hell told you that?" Chika asked demanded.

"Well he did"

"What? Huh? Whoa back it up when did he say that?" Chika was the one confused now.

"Well….he didn't exactly say it to…me…sort of…well…he didn't think it was me."

"EXPLAIN"

"He talks to me when I'm Bo sometimes and that was something he said, but he doesn't know I'm Bo"

"What the hell is Bo!"

Kyoko explained Bo to Chika and the conversations Bo has had with Ren. Once she was done explaining both Chika and Yashiro couldn't help it and started laugh loudly on the other end of the line. "Chika? Yashiro is that you too?" Kyoko began to feel embarrassed from them laughing at her.

"Oh ya sorry I forgot to tell you your on speaker phone. Sorry but I just felt bad not allowing Yashiro-san here to listen, and you did say you needed all the help you could get. You know he is a very proud supporter of you and Ren-san getting together."

"Really?" Kyoko was shocked it was her first time hearing of this. So he wants us to be together?

"Yes I am Kyoko-san I live for the day that I can see the two of you together. I can say with a 100% guaranty Ren defiantly has feelings for you in that way. He's told me himself." Yashiro's voice came through the phone.

"Then what about the girl that is in high school that he was talking to Bo about?" Kyoko asked confused and shocked over what Yashiro had just said.

"Kyoko honestly hun your having a blonde moment right now really! Think about it." Chika voice came back on the line and Kyoko sat in thought for a moment.

"ummm" Kyoko was still confused.

"Still don't get it do you?" Chika said and sighed.

"No" Kyoko sounded somewhat depressed.

"Aren't you in high school?"

"Well yes but"

"But what? How many high school girls do you think he knows? You're the only one! Kyoko he was talking to Bo about YOU!" Kyoko took a deep breath in when realization hit her.

"So it's me. He actually likes me. That's why he treats me the way he does. That's why everyone keeps telling he likes me, but I never believed any of them. I've…been…blind to it this whole time. How long has he liked me?"

"Since he found his character in Dark moon, or at least I think that's when he finally noticed it himself. Personally I think he liked you before that but even he was too blind to realize it. Since then I think he's been patiently waiting for you to come around." It was Yashiro again.

"For that long" Kyoko sat staring at the ground. Has he really felt like that towards me since then? And I haven't once noticed his feelings towards me. Memories of their moments together like her birthday, being in pillow in the dressing room, moments with her as Setsu flooded her mind. "I…oh…eggg…hmm" All she could make was random noises words just couldn't form.

"I think realization has kicked in finally Yashiro-san" Chika said with a laugh. "Bout time huh. I still can't believe out of all people in the world he opens up to a chicken hahaha sorry but that's just funny" Chika said to Yashiro. "Hey Kyoko!" Chika said trying to get her attention.

"Yes" Kyoko managed to get out still in shock.

"So now that everything makes sense I think you should give him a chance. He seems like he would be a really good guy for you to take another chance at love with. He doesn't seem the type to hurt a girl or use her like that other loser did. That's as long as you want to give him a chance, I mean you do like him don't you Kyoko?"

"Well I don't know, I never really thought about him like that. He's my Senpai after all."

"Kay you have got to stop calling him that. With that kind of a title I'm sure he probably thinks he will never have a chance with you. That's probably one of the reasons he thinks your too young too and why he doesn't try anything with you. I'm sure if you stopped treating him like that and more like a normal guy that you look up to and rely on he would be more apt to try to get with you. Think about it Kyoko he's more then just a Senpai to you right. I mean you do things with him and feel things towards him that you didn't feel towards your past Senpai's right?"

"Well…ya" Kyoko said thinking about it.

"Do you enjoy being around him? Does he ever do anything that makes you blush? Or has your heart beat ever got faster when being with him?" Chika questioned.

Kyoko sat lost in her thoughts thinking about what Chika said and how she felt earlier that day when she was in his arms. That's what those feelings meant, that's why my body was acting like that, it was trying to tell me but I wasn't listening. I….I….might actually….like him…in…that way. Kyoko sat not knowing what to do now she was lost. "W-w-w-w-what d-d-do….I do?" She managed to squeak out. "what….am I suppose…to ask him?" She felt herself almost get dizzy from everything going around in her mind. Her demons that hated love were screaming and her angels were rejoicing around them.

"hmmm…I don't think you should vocally ask him anything. Personally I think there is only one way to figure out if what he said was really true and if what you feel is really true too." Chika stated.

"What should I do then?" Kyoko asked unable to think of anything on her own.

"Well I think the only way to find out is if you kiss him" Chika stated smoothly.

"What!" that was not what Kyoko thought she would say.

"Yep just walk straight up to him and kiss him. Don't say anything just do it. How I see it he's been waiting patiently for you to come around and is probably too afraid to make the first move himself. Probably because he thinks you might freak out on him or something. So your going to have to be the one to make the first move. Face it, your kind of the one that put yourself in that position being so damn blind and uptight about everything pertaining to love. Now its you that is going to have to take the first step. If you kiss him and it feels good and you like it then you like him like that. If you kiss him and don't feel anything happy then you don't like him like that, but be honest with yourself and don't lie. That's what people call spark."

"Well how do I know how he feels?" Kyoko asked worried.

"That's easy if he likes you he'll kiss you back, but don't freak out if he doesn't do it for a couple of moments. You have got to give him time to register everything men can be dense sometimes. I'm sure he's been dying to kiss you for some time now and you might shock him a little, but I have a feeling once that shock wears off he'll be really happy and kiss you back. So promise me you won't freak if he just sits there and stares at you for a moment."

"I promise" Kyoko said nervous now. Can I really do this, should I do this….Well she said I'd be able to figure out if I truly care for him this way too if I do this. "What happens if I don't feel…the spark you talk about."

"Well if you really don't feel it then just say "Sorry, I don't think I like you in that way. I didn't feel anything like that when we kissed" its as easy as that." Chika stated proudly(She has used this excuse before).

"Okay, Thanks Chika"

"No problem anytime, I'll talk with you later and good luck!" Chika said and hung up. Kyoko sat on the bench for another 15 minutes lost in thought about everything. Finally she stood up and walked towards the living room windows. Well there's no use debating over it…I might as well just do it and go from there. I hope he doesn't get mad at me too much. I still don't know if this is something I really should be doing, but Chika says it's the only way so it probably is. Even Yashiro-san said he liked me. Just like Moko-san and Ogata-san had so long ago. I just got to suck it up and do it or I'm never going to know. If it doesn't work then I'll just say what Chika said and forget about it. Yep…erase that moment from my memory just like I erase my times with Sho. I just hope Ren-san would still consider being my Senpai if it doesn't work out. Kyoko stood in front of the living room window determined and looked in at Ren who was sitting on the couch lost in his own thoughts. She raised her hand and knocked loudly 3 times on the window which caught his attention. She pointed to the door motioning him to unarm the house and open it for her. She watched him get up off the couch and walk down the hallway and she made her way to the back door.

Half way down the hall Ren heard his cell phone beep and he dug it out of his pocket to see he had a text message. He flipped it open and realized it was from Yashiro.

If you know what's good for you. You will reciprocate. -Yashiro

Ren looked down at the text confused what on earth does he mean by that? Ren snapped his phone shut and shoved it back in his pocket and continued his way to the dinning room where he unarmed the house and opened the door. "Welcome back" He said with a smile and she stepped inside. He closed the door and turned to face her. Once he was facing her she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down to her placing her lips on his. Ren's eyes went wide as he felt her lips on his.

There warm, soft, and much gentler then I thought. She was right this feels nice. He smells nice too. Kyoko thought and lost herself slightly in the kiss then pulled away looking up at him. Ren looked down at her shocked. Did she really just do what I think she did. Her lips felt so nice on mine. But why? Ren stood looking back at her for a moment lost in his thoughts and then remembered Yashiro's recent text message. Wait was he talking about this? How did he know? Ren didn't think much more about it and gave into his desires and reached for Kyoko wrapping his left arm around her back bringing her body close to his. His right hand reached up and cradled her cheek as he kissed her back being as gentle as possible but trying to convey his feelings at the same time. Wow she didn't say it would be anything like this…This kiss is so much different then the one that I just gave him…there's so much more passion behind it…that means they were right he does like me…he does. Kyoko let his kiss wash over her and she felt herself begin to melt in his arms. A couple seconds later he pulled away from her looking down at her and smiled. This look, this smile, its like nothing I've ever seen him do before…it's like the king of the night almost…is..is..is this what he's like when he's showing his love? Kyoko stood staring at him lost in his eyes not saying a word as he did the same. After about a minute she shook herself from her thoughts and broke the silence. "So it's true what everyone said. You do like me."

"hmm" Ren grunted and nodded yes still speechless.

Kyoko smiled and blushed then turned her head away. Ren found himself chuckling a little at this. "W-w-well then now that we have that settled I think I should start making supper" Kyoko spit out and stepped away from Ren and headed for the kitchen leaving him alone. He found himself following her without realizing it and took at seat on one of the bar stools at the island and watched her as she walked around the kitchen getting ingredients and pans ready. Did that really just happen? Did she really just kiss me? It was like a dream any time now I should be waking up I just know it.