Hallo!

Woo!

Christmas is tomorrow!

This month had just flown by. Maybe it's because of all the updates? The year's disappeared quickly as well.

Advent '08

December 24th – Christmas Eve

Kyoko had spent a nerve wracking night lying in bed. She hadn't slept.

She hadn't been able to sleep.

Thoughts of what had happened yesterday had ran through her head and she had found herself pacing the floor more than once in the night trying to figure out what she could do.

She hadn't come up with anything so she was going to have to play along with whatever Harumi wanted right now.

What was the most irritating this about it all was that she didn't actually know what it was that Harumi had planned. Only that she was part of it.

And she was going to have to call Ren 'Ren-kun'.

She blushed just thinking about it. At least he hadn't asked her to call him just 'Ren'.

That would be embarrassing.

As such, she had got up that morning and looked a wreck. Kanae had been shocked when Kyoko had opened the door to her.

"Um...did you die in the night?"

Kyoko was about to say something but caught herself just in time. What would she say if she couldn't remember anything? In the end she had paused for too long so she just smiled sheepishly and moved out of the door way so that Kanae could pass into the restaurant.

"So...Kanae-chan...What's with all the bags?"

Kanae followed Kyoko up the stairs shuffling the bags around as she listed off the contents.

"Well...this is the dresses, shoes and purses that we bought. I picked them up yesterday. Aaaaand...this is the jewellery.

"We'll sort out this stuff when we get upstairs.

"And this is some of my make-up and stuff that I borrowed off my sisters. We're going to have a girly time today to get ready. I also brought some music and my music player."

Kyoko looked backwards and shot Kanae a grin.

"This is going to be fun, isn't it?"

"Of course!"

---/---

The day passed quickly and by the time six o'clock came around Kanae and Kyoko were dressed and ready to go.

Kyoko had been nervous through the whole day, she had been preoccupied with whether or not she was acting as if she had lost all her memories or not. She couldn't let anyone find out that she remembered anything or everyone's careers would be ruined.

It was a lot of pressure that she had to deal with.

And she couldn't even tell anyone about it. She just had to find a way to fix all of this.

They stood together in the entrance hall, waiting for the limo to arrive. Kanae was checking her appearance in the mirror once more and Kyoko was fidgeting, bouncing up and down on her toes.

"Kyoko-chan! Stop bouncing. You're making me nervous."

"Ah...sorry Kanae-chan."

She stopped bouncing for a moment but started up again almost immediately. Kanae just sighed at her friend and went back to checking out the window by the front door to see if the limo had arrived.

Kyoko watched her friend, wondering what she was supposed to say.

"Are they here yet?"

"No."

"...now?"

"No."

"...n...ow?"

"No! Would you stop asking me that?!"

Kyoko twisted her bracelet on her wrist. There was something that was bugging her and she really wanted to ask...but she was unsure whether or not Kanae would figure out that she had her memories.

She decided to ask anyway.

"Um...Kanae-chan? Why did you say yes to Yashiro-san?"

Kanae tensed before slowly turning around to face Kyoko. There was a brief silence before Kanae smiled slightly.

"Can you keep a secret?"

Kyoko nodded.

"Truth is...I kind of made him ask me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Blackmail?"

Kyoko's eyes widened.

"You blackmailed Yashiro-san?! Why?"

"Because...I really, really like him? And he wouldn't see me and I couldn't tell him. So...yeah."

Kyoko raised an eyebrow and grinned at her friend's awkwardness.

"Oh ho!"

Kanae narrowed her eyes.

"Quiet, Kyoko. Just...quiet."

Kyoko snorted as Kanae went back to looking out of the window. Without realising, Kanae had relieved a lot of her stress without even realising it and now she was feeling a little excited at the prospect of going to the awards.

She grinned at the back of Kanae's head.

"So...is it there yet?"

"No! How may time do I...? Oh wait...there it is."

The shot each other a look and burst into laughter. They were still laughing when they opened the door to Yashiro and Ren.

"Are you girls...okay?"

They tried to speak but could only nod. For some reason they were finding it extremely funny for no apparent reason.

Ren and Yashiro looked at each other and shrugged. They offered their arms to their dates and waited for them to link with them before they escorted them to the limo.

The girls settled themselves in the back, sitting next to their respective man.

"Here. I got you..."

Kyoko looked over to Ren who was slightly flushed. Her eyes widened and she blushed as she saw the corsage he held in his hands; one white rose surrounded by holly. Kyoko held her hand out shyly and watched as Ren slipped on the flower.

"It matches the one I'm wearing."

Kyoko looked up from her corsage to the one Ren was wearing on the lapel on his black tuxedo.

"I...got you one too Kanae-chan."

Kanae looked over as Yashiro pulled out a corsage consisting of one red rose surrounded by holly. Sure enough, Yashiro was wearing a matching corsage on the lapel of his black tuxedo.

Kyoko and Kanae shared a grin.

This was starting to get exciting!

---/---

Kyoko and Kanae pressed themselves against the windows of the limo as it drove up to the red carpet. On both sides the paparazzi and fans were roped off and cheering the celebrities that were making their way through the doors.

Ren reached for Kyoko's hand and gripped it. When she looked over at him he smiled gently at her and squeezed slightly.

"I'm so glad that you still decided to come."

Kyoko blushed, speechless.

"Shall we?"

Ren reached over and opened the door, letting Kyoko out first before he quickly followed. Yashiro and Kanae came after.

The crowds screamed loudly when they saw Ren and the paparazzi went crazy, so that all Kyoko could see was the flash of bulbs.

She was feeling a little out of her depth when Ren took her hand and linked it in his arm. Leaning down he whispered softly into her ear.

"Don't worry. I'm right here."

Kyoko shivered as his hot breath caressed the shell of her ear.

The crowds hushed slightly as they witnessed the intimate moment between the two stars. The noise level was soon back up to its normal pitch when Ren smiled softly at Kyoko and waved to his fans.

---/---

Yashiro turned to Kanae.

"Do you mind being upstaged by them?"

He seemed worried and Kanae leant into his arm.

"No. Not really. Not tonight."

Yashiro flushed slightly and cleared his throat before they followed Ren and Kyoko down the red carpet.

---/---

Ren was having a wonderful time. He was at the awards with the girl he loved and she looked beautiful. There was no way that this moment could be ruined.

"Sho?"

Ren started as Kyoko spoke. He stared as Sho turned around up ahead and stared at Kyoko.

"Kyoko-chan? You look..."

He broke off, breathless and Ren bristled at the look Sho was giving his woman.

"Mogami?!"

Ren felt a little smug as a loud girl around Kyoko's age latched herself onto Sho's arm.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were in the hospital! And you said you weren't going!"

Kyoko flinched slightly at the accusing tone in Nanokura's voice and started to stammer.

Ren moved so he was standing protectively between Kyoko and Sho's date. He stared down the girl before turning his icy gaze on Sho, freezing down whatever fires he had running through his veins.

He smiled.

"It would do you well to keep your date under control Fuwa-san. You wouldn't want the paparazzi to get hold of anything...career damaging..."

He bowed slightly, politely and placed his hand over Kyoko's which was still linked through his arm, keeping her from pulling away.

Well, that and the fact that he wanted to reassure himself that she was still there. With him.

Breezing past a stricken Sho and date he waved once more to his fans and pulled Kyoko with him through the doors and to relative safety.

---/---

Kyoko breathed a sigh of relief as the doors closed behind them and the sound of the crowds dimmed slightly.

Ren still had a hold of her hand and it felt like a brand on her skin. Strangely, she didn't really mind and unconsciously leant closer into Ren.

They were shown into the large hall that the awards were being given at. Yashiro and Kanae were right behind them and Kyoko gaped in amazement.

She had never seen anything like this before. The high, arched ceilings were decorated with softly glowing golden fairy lights. There were hundreds of tables littering the floors, each sitting six people and covered in a dark burgundy tablecloth with candles lighting up the tables and each setting had sparkling silverware.

Ren led Kyoko over to their table and sat her down next to him. Kanae sat down next to her with Yashiro on her other side.

"Who's the other two on out table?" she asked.

Ren leant over and read the place names.

"President Lory Takarada of L.M.E. and..."

"That would be me."

Everyone looked over as Harumi appeared by their table. Kyoko's face fell when she realised who it was. She glanced around but no one else seemed to recognise her.

"I don't mean to be rude but...do I know you?"

Harumi giggled at Ren.

"Ren-kun! I haven't seen you in...It must be going on eighteen years now."

Ren's eyebrows shot into his hairline.

"You knew me when I was a child?" he asked.

"Of course, I am close friends with both Lory-kun and your father. But you wouldn't think it, what with the not writing or phoning for over a decade."

Ren blinked.

"I apologise. So what line of business are you in?"

"I'm in the entertainment business. I arranged this award ceremony and everything that comes with it."

She smiled at Kyoko and Kyoko felt the bottom of her stomach disappear.

"Don't worry though. I'm going to be giving the awards out so I won't be sitting with you for most of the night. But I shall be watching."

Kyoko flinched at her words but still managed a polite smile. Harumi smiled sweetly in return and fluttered off somewhere else to go do something important.

Kyoko groaned inwardly. Harumi was going to be sitting at their table?

This was going to be a long night.

---/---

Fortunately for Kyoko, the night passed very quickly from then on out.

The tables soon filled up with agents, celebrities and their dates.

Kyoko had thought that she would be nervous about slipping up and Harumi's threat but Ren held her hand the entire night and wouldn't let go, effectively distracting her from her thoughts.

The only time that he left her side was to go and collect his award for best male personality, best actor and most popular male in the entertainment industry.

Kyoko wasn't sure but she thought she could feel waves of hate emanating from somewhere in the room when Ren's name kept getting called out.

Even Yashiro got an award for most desired manager, which he really wasn't expecting judging by the look of shock on his face when his name was called out.

The only downside of the whole thing was that, every once in a while, Kyoko could feel Harumi's gaze on the back of her neck. So, even with Ren distracting her she was still reminded every now and then of the secret she had to keep from everyone.

---/---

When the awards were done and dusted and everyone had eaten their fill the doors leading to another room were opened and Harumi led the way onto the ballroom floor.

This room looked almost the same as the one they had just left only the tables were pushed to the sides to clear the floor and there were sprigs of mistletoe dotted about the room.

Kyoko laughed when Kanae and Yashiro got caught underneath some and the people surrounding them, realising what had happened, wouldn't let them escape until they had kissed each other.

Both Kanae and Yashiro were very red by the time they had escaped the amused laughter.

"Kyoko-chan? Would you like to dance?"

Kyoko blushed as Ren bowed down to her and offered his hand.

"I would love to Ren-kun."

He smiled at her and twirled her into his arms before spinning her slowly around the dance floor.

"They look good together, don't they?"

Yashiro looked down at Kanae before looking back up to where Ren and Kyoko were dancing.

"Yes. They do."

He paused and scratched his nose in embarrassment.

"Um...Kanae-chan...I'm sorry about...about before..."

She turned and grinned up at him.

"Don't be. I didn't mind all that much really."

"You...didn't?"

She laughed at his expression before stepping forward and twirling back to face him.

"Yashiro-kun, would you like to dance?"

Yashiro stood stunned for a few seconds before he chuckled too and reached out to grasp the hand she offered him.

"I would love to."

---/---

Kyoko was breathless.

Ren had kept her dancing most of the night and it was now nearing midnight. She had managed to extract herself from his arms, laughing and saying that she needed a drink.

He had let her go, looking a little reluctant, especially when she turned down his offer to get her a drink. He had been about to press the point when Harumi had sidled up to him and had wanted to talk to him about his father.

Kyoko had been reminded then that she was under the woman's control and had felt nervous. Had Harumi thought that she was going to tell Ren? Or that she had already told Ren?

She had tried to get that across to Harumi but the woman had ignored her and Kyoko feared saying something out loud in case the truth was found out.

She had sighed and made her way over to the drinks table.

But even Harumi could dampen her spirits for long. She was having a wonderful time!

"Hello Kyoko. I've been trying to get your attention all night."

Kyoko choked on the sip of water she had taken and Sho looked on amused as she coughed.

"Sho. What are you doing here? Where's Nanokura?"

He waved her off.

"Oh, she's somewhere around. Girl practically begged me to bring her here then she disappears."

Kyoko narrowed her eyes.

"What do you want Sho?"

"Well...I just wanted to ask you how you were."

Kyoko was caught of guard.

"You did?"

He nodded and looked serious. Kyoko found herself almost believing him.

"Yes, I heard about your accident on the news and I –"

"Hey! You're standing under mistletoe!"

Sho was cut off as a random celebrity, who had been getting a drink at the same time, spotted their predicament.

As if they were wolves smelling blood others soon surrounded them and Kyoko found that there was no way to escape.

"Well go on then! Kiss! We're not letting you get out until you do!"

"No I –" Kyoko started, her hands held up in front of her, trying to ward them off.

"Go on!"

The man who had first noticed them shoved Sho in the back and he stumbled forward.

---/---

Ren was suffering quietly and politely and Harumi told him story after story of his embarrassing baby exploits. He was shocked back into reality when Harumi grabbed his arm and pointed towards the drinks table.

"Ooooh! Look over there!"

Ren looked.

His jaw dropped.

Sho and Kyoko stood under the mistletoe, surrounded by a bunch of cheering and slightly inebriated celebrities having a good time. Sho was leaning over Kyoko, his lips pressed to hers and Kyoko's hands were gripping his lapels.

Ha.