Hey there! So here's part 5 of my story and I hope you all enjoy reading it. Hopefully, you don't think the characters are OOC...I wanted to try something a little different. hehe, anyway, thanks for all the support and please read and review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat or any of its characters.


The first thing that ran through Ren's mind was that she was absolutely breathtaking. Although the discomfort was clear in her eyes, nobody could deny the fact that the bathing suit seemed to have been made just for her. Every curve on her body was accentuated, making her look more and more like a dream that was too good to be true. Ren knew that his face said it all, but he couldn't find the strength to compose himself. She was looking right at him with a smile that nearly tore him apart.

But suddenly, like a loud, thunderous wake-up call, Ren's body tensed up as he saw a man reach out and grab her hand. Kyoko twisted her head around with confusion and met the gaze of a young, blonde male, wearing a pair of Hawaiian swim shorts and a white, sleeveless tee. His two friends, who were practically wearing the same getup, were also standing beside him with the same, twisted grin. One was completely bald and muscular while the other had jet black hair that seemed to be slicked down with car oil.

"Hey there," the blonde said with a smile that flashed his white teeth. "You look lost."

"No," Kyoko replied with a shake of her head, feeling his fingers dig deeper into her wrist. "I'm not."

"You sure?" he asked as he pulled Kyoko's tense body close to his. "Because I can help you find your way."

Kyoko's eyes hardened. She hated men like these. They absolutely disgusted her. So with one fluid motion, she quickly tugged her arm away, watching their eyes widen at her ferocity. "Don't touch me."

At first, the three guys were too stunned to do anything. They just stared back into her fiery eyes in absolute disbelief, but shaking their head with an obnoxious laugh and taking a step forward, the black haired male replied, "Look at this, boys; we got ourselves a fighter."

And just as they reached out for her again, another slender hand smacked them away. Kyoko turned around and smiled as she met Kanae's irritated gaze.

"Who the hell are you guys?" she asked coldly as she stood beside Kyoko.

"Well, well, well!" the bald male exclaimed. "And here's another one. It must be our lucky day."

Kanae chuckled darkly. "Not that lucky, dumbass."

And in an instant, their playful attitudes fell.

"Don't joke around with us little girl," the bald one said in quiet tones as he took a step forward. "We just might hurt you."

"Little girl?" Kanae repeated as a vein throbbed at her temple.

"Unless you want to get the same treatment like your friend here," the blond male said as he made another grab at Kyoko.

Seeing his move immediately, Kyoko instinctively jumped back. But as soon as her foot met the floor, Kyoko seemed to have slammed right up against a wall because she stumbled and was just about to fall when two arms reached out and gripped her arms from behind. She twisted her head around and felt her knees give out as she stared back into two flaming eyes.

Ren was furious. The gleam in his eye was unlike anything she had ever seen. They weren't cold like Kanae's, but a smoldering fire seemed to burn intensely as he stared at the men before him. Kanae froze as well; in fact, nobody moved an inch except for Yashiro who had taken a step around Ren and placed himself in front of Kanae.

"Can we help you?" Ren asked in a silky voice. From the way he was speaking, anyone would have thought these guys were his friends, but just one look at Ren's murderous face was more than enough for them to know that he wanted nothing more than to tear their throats out.

"And who are you?" the one with the black hair asked with a nod of the head, although the fear could be heard in his shaky voice.

"Their friend," he replied smoothly.

"Well, friend," the blonde man answered in a mocking tone. "Why not let your gal here fend for herself? We're just having a little fun."

In an instant, the whole atmosphere changed. If the weather was to match Ren's mood, it would have reflected a catastrophic hurricane that had the capability of obliterating everything in its path. Because in very slow movements, he gently pushed Kyoko behind his back and stepped forward. Yashiro instinctively took a step back, forcing Kanae to do the same as she watched the scene over his shoulder.

The three men froze, looking up at his towering figure with panic blatantly spelled out in their eyes. And once they were all face to face, the contours of Ren's face changed to an alarming degree.

"Fun's over," he whispered menacingly.

And in a flash, all three of the guys jumped back and ran for it. However, before they got to the door, the blond one turned around and stared directly at Kyoko. But he wasn't able to say a single word since one of his friends grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away just as the door swung shut.

Kyoko looked at Ren's back and saw that his shoulders were slightly shaking. He was still angry, but when she looked down at his arms, it seemed as if nothing was wrong. Hesitant and somewhat fearful, Kyoko stepped forward and said quietly, "Tsuruga-san?"

He raised his head and turned around. The dark look in his eyes was still there, but he seemed to have calmed down just a bit. Ren forced a small smile. "Are you alright, Mogami-san?"

Kyoko nodded tentatively as Yashiro and Kanae stepped beside her.

"Scumbags," Kanae muttered under her breath.

Yashiro chuckled as he pushed his spectacles further up his nose. "You're quite fearless, aren't you Kotonami-san?"

She scoffed as she replied, "Men like those are nothing but cowards. Besides, there wasn't anything to be afraid of."

Yashiro nodded with a smile. "Well, thanks to Ren here, I think we can all—"

He stopped as he stared at the scene before him. Ren had fully turned around and he was standing right in front of Kyoko, with a soft smile upon his face. She helplessly looked back into his warm eyes as a blush began to color her cheeks. And although they were standing a good distance apart, neither of them broke eye contact. It was like they saw no one else at all.

Yashiro knew instantly that they were both locked in their own world. They didn't say a word to each other, but the look on their faces said it all. Smiling widely to himself, Yashiro was going to coincidentally go get himself a drink when suddenly Kanae called his name.

He turned around.

"Do you mind helping me out a little bit?" she asked with a tempting smile as she held up a bottle of sunscreen.

Yashiro froze.


"On y-y-your sh-h-houlders?" he asked nervously as he stared at Kanae's back with wide eyes. She had dragged him off to the other side of the pool and sat herself down on one of the lounge chairs while Yashiro stood behind her.

Kanae nodded. "And my back too, if you don't mind."

Yashiro gulped. With shaky hands he squirted some lotion onto his palms and slowly rubbed the solution onto her bare shoulders. Kanae closed her eyes.

"Like that?" he asked in a slightly higher voice.

"Like that," Kanae repeated with a sigh.

And after just a few minutes, Yashiro surprisingly found himself feeling more relaxed. Although he was highly aware of where his hands were, he realized that his nervousness was gone. Feeling vaguely more courageous, Yashiro moved his hands down her back and began to lather more sunscreen when she suddenly said, "I know what you're trying to do."

And like an electric shock, Yashiro stepped back and quickly replied, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make this uncomfortable! I thought you wanted the back as well and I—!"

Kanae turned around and laughed. "Not that, Yashiro-san. I was talking about something else."

He raised an eyebrow, looking into her amused eyes. "You were?" he asked.

She nodded and motioned her head to indicate that she wanted him to continue with the sunscreen. Understanding immediately, Yashiro placed his hands upon her back once again and made large circular motions.

"I didn't want to say this in front of the other two, but I just want to let you know that I'm in."

"In what?" Yashiro asked as he brought his eyes down to his hands. He realized how fast his heart started to beat whenever he looked at her face and decided to avert his gaze before he had a heart attack.

"You're trying to get them together, aren't you?" she replied with a smirk that he couldn't see.

Yashiro faltered. "That obvious?"

Kanae nodded and said, "I think everyone knows."

"Besides Kyoko," he added quietly.

"Besides Kyoko," Kanae repeated with a smile.

"So you want in?" Yashiro asked as he brought his hands back up to her shoulder. The sunscreen was evenly spread all over her body by now, causing her skin to look a tad bit shinier than before.

Kanae moved her head up and down. "I'd like to help."

Yashiro stepped around her and sat in the seat across from her, seeing the seriousness in her eyes even though she had a small smile upon her lips. "Why?"

"Let's just say, Kyoko's too clueless to do anything herself."

Yashiro laughed. "I can say the same thing about Ren."

But with furrowed eyebrows, he shook his head and lowered his voice as he asked, "I'm curious though. You're her best friend so I assume that you know. Therefore, I have to ask…does Kyoko love him?"

Kanae didn't reply immediately. She turned her head to the side, seeing the other two sitting next to each other and talking with a glow upon their faces. Kyoko sat criss-crossed on the chair across from him while Ren had his feet firmly planted on the floor. They seemed to be having a great time with each other, not even realizing that Kanae was watching.

"I think that she feels something for him," Kanae replied slowly as Yashiro was just about to open his mouth to ask her a question. "And I want to find out exactly what that feeling is."

Then suddenly she turned her head back and smiled. "Now let me ask you. Does he love her?"

Yashiro shook his head with a grin. "I think even you know the answer to that, Kotonami-san. Ren isn't the best when it comes to hidden feelings, especially around her."

Kanae nodded in agreement. "Which leads me to the next question: how do you plan on getting them together?"

"I just want him to spend more time with her is all," Yashiro replied simply. "Give him an opportunity to really show her how he feels."

He smiled widely when he saw her avert her gaze. "Still want to help?"

Kanae laughed and answered with ease, "Count me in."

Then without another word, the two stood up and shook hands as if they were now joined together in an alliance. And as soon as their hands intertwined, Yashiro could feel his heart stop altogether, but Kanae seemed completely unfazed. She easily smiled back at him and released her grasp.

But just as she was about to walk away, she suddenly turned around with amused eyes. "By the way," Kanae began in a silky tone. "Thanks for that."

"I'm glad to help," Yashiro replied with a shake of his head. "Besides, it's only a little sunscreen and I—"

"Not that," Kanae interrupted with a smile. "For protecting me earlier."

Yashiro froze as she laughed softly.

"Did you really think I didn't notice?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Yashiro shook his head with wide eyes. "I really didn't do any—"

Kanae shook her head with a smile. "You're too modest, Yashiro-san. Besides, because of you, I wasn't afraid at all."

And with one small wink, Kanae walked back to the other two, leaving Yashiro speechless.


Kyoko was feeling so relieved by now. She smiled at Ren as she watched him turn his head around to see Kanae and Yashiro approach them. Their conversation earlier had definitely put her mind at ease because after apologizing for the fiasco on the plane, Ren shook his head and told her that there was nothing to forgive.

"In fact," he said with a soft laugh, "it was the best flight I ever had."

And feeling as if her whole entire body glowed with joy, Kyoko blushed profusely and shyly averted her gaze, refusing to stare at his face for more than what common courtesy allowed. Once Kanae and Yashiro returned, Ren raised a suspicious eyebrow and asked, "What were you guys up to?"

Yashiro smiled and shook head. "Just talking."

"And we were also thinking—if you guys are up to it of course—to do a little sightseeing," Kanae answered as she turned her eyes to Kyoko.

She nodded with bright eyes. "Sure! It'll be fun. What about you, Tsuruga-san?"

Ren looked out of the corner of his eye at Yashiro and thought he saw something suspicious upon his face. And when Yashiro suddenly turned away from his calculating gaze, that all but reinforced his belief that his manager was absolutely up to no good.

But seeing Kyoko's eager face made Ren decide to overlook it. After all, this was a chance he had been waiting for, an opportunity to spend some quality time with Kyoko. Not only that, but it would also keep his mind at ease knowing that he would be around her at all times. If those men decided to come back for her, at least he would be there as protection and considering how she looked now Kyoko needed every bit of it.

"I'm up for it," he replied with determination.

Kyoko smiled widely.

"Then let's go," Yashiro exclaimed with joy as he led the other three towards the hotel. And after saying goodbye to the rest of the group and President Lory, who was swimming around in the pool, they all made their way into the lobby and were beginning to walk towards the elevators when Yashiro suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Ren! Hold on for a second."

Ren turned around curiously. "What's wrong?"

"Want to give it a go?" he asked as he motioned his head towards the slot machine beside him.

He grimaced. "You know I'm not the gambling type, Yashiro."

"Oh come on, it'll be fun! Right, girls?" he asked with a smile as he turned back towards them with a beaming face.

Kanae shrugged nonchalantly while Kyoko nodded.

"You should try, Tsuruga-san," she said innocently.

Ren sighed heavily. "I only have five dollars on me though."

"That's enough!" Yashiro replied as he took a step forward to the machine. "Just place it in here and give it a whirl. You might even win the jackpot."

They all turned their heads upward to see the largest amount of money they could possibly win: $50,758.93. Even though Ren didn't like to gamble, he had to admit that that was quite a hefty amount of money.

"And it can even set the mood of our trip," Yashiro continued cheerfully.

Ren narrowed his eyes as he turned his head back towards his friend. "So if I lose, we have a bad vacation?"

Yashiro smiled widely as Kyoko and Kanae laughed out loud. "Then you better hope you don't lose."

Ren shook his head in defeat. With a challenge like that, how could he possibly refuse? Plopping himself down onto the seat, he inserted his five dollar bill into the slot machine and pulled the large, black lever. He stood up from the chair and watched it from the background, hoping that he would win at least something.

"How do you win?" Kyoko asked, keeping her eyes on the machine.

"You need five sevens to win the jackpot," Ren answered simply as one seven suddenly appeared in the first square.

"You got one, Tsuruga-san!" Kyoko cried happily.

"That's just beginner's luck, Mogam-san. Don't let it fool you."

"Oh, I don't think so Ren, because there's another," Yashiro said with a clap as the second seven appeared. "Looking good!"

Ren shook his head.

"Come on you guys. I'm sure we all know that winning these is highly…un…likely…"

Ren's voice trailed away as his body froze up like a statute. Every bit of teasing that could be heard from his voice earlier had completely disappeared as everyone eyes widened at the next picture that flashed on screen: a seven.

"No way…" Kanae murmured as she stumbled forward, feeling her heart beat in overtime.

Nobody else uttered a single sound as their eyes were glued to the fourth square. And just like before, another seven had appeared.

"Tsuruga-san!" Kyoko exclaimed in shock. "I think you're going to—!"

And before the last word could escape her lips, the fifth and final seven was revealed, releasing a siren that blared like crazy. The sound of bells and whirring erupted from the machine as it flashed with bright, neon lights, indicating that the jackpot had been won.

Everyone in the lobby turned around to see the ruckus and ran over to the machine, clapping Ren on the shoulder and breaking out into applause.

But Ren didn't hear any of it. He couldn't see or notice anybody because all he could remember was feeling Kyoko's warm arms wrapped around his neck as she jumped up and down and yelled, "YOU WON!"