OVERSEAS MIRACLES

Chapter Thirty-three

Simple Response

Their kiss didn't last long since Kyoko impulsively pushed France away from her as she breathed deeply to fill her lungs. As for the American guy, he stared at her longingly, waiting for her to face him. He knows what he did was really wrong but he can't fight the urge to show her how much he affectionately felt for her. His emotions have been running wild for the past weeks but then he was very stubborn to admit that he had eventually fell in love with her. This time, there is no turning back for him. He has to man up and confess to her no matter what.

"What was that for?" Kyoko's eyes broadened in fear.

"I like you, Kyoko." He confessed bluntly.

"Ehh?" She shrieked at what she heard from his blatant mouth.

"Yes, you heard me right." He confirmed promptly as he cupped her cheeks with his calloused hands.

"Stop fooling around with me, France. I'm already tired of it." She pleaded in her weak tone. 'How on earth would this guy have feelings for me? What did I do? I'm already with Ren for heaven's sake! Oh please let it not be a confession. I must have heard it wrong!"

"I never lie with my emotions, Kyoko. Let me tell you one more time. I like you and I wonder if you want to go out with me." He said sincerely.

She scrutinized his face, finding some hints of some tricks of his. But she only found a feeling of anticipation and seriousness. In truth, she doesn't know how to respond to him. Never in her whole life have that she would think that a day will come that someone will ask for her hands. And here is France Bracken, one of America's famous teen actors, son of a very prestigious family, waiting for her response. How is she going to explain to him that she is already taken and she doesn't have any plans of dating other guys but Ren Tsuruga only?

"France… why?" her words were seemed stuck in her throat.

"Argh, Kyoko. It's hard for me to explain this to you. Somehow, I can't deny this feeling that I have for you. I know you hate me and we always fight over stuffs and then-"

"I don't hate you, France." She inserted.

"Wha? So this means that you…"

"But I can't go out with you. I'm truly sorry, France." She frowned at him while clenching her hands on her lap.

It took a few seconds for him to digest her response.

"Why?" he asked hurtfully. To his surprise, he felt something welling up in his eyes.

"You see, I these objectives in life and for me to be able to reach it is to keep my concentration on it. This is the reason why I am in this country." She explained to him slowly while she's thinking of her goals of becoming Ren's equal.

"I believe that's what you thought but I don't see the reason why we can't date. We can keep our relationship as a secret from the press if that's what you want." He suggested pleadingly. In the back of his mind, he had never been so desperate to ask something he needs to have. All of his life, he can be with any girl he chose. Yes, he had fallen in love before but soon he just found out that he was being cheated. Starting from that point, he never had been serious to the girls he had gone out because he doesn't want to become stupid again. When he knew that a girlfriend of his is two-timing, he would just simply shrug the issue and call it off. But with Kyoko, this is his first time to beg hopelessly to ask someone's heart.

"I can't tell you the truth. Not now. Please consider it, France." She bowed earnestly at him. There is no way she is going to hint that she is in a relationship with someone. Such chances of revealing that little information is too risky especially if when France is planning to secretly dig it out on his own.

Seeing in her tensed state and nervous, he suspected that she is hiding something. He can't force her to spill her secret but then, his heart ached so much at her rejection. "Oh, I see. I understand." He said weakly, slumping on his seat and stared up the starry night.

"I'm really sorry, France." She lowered her head again.

"We better go back." He turned on his car and drove back to the Hizuri mansion.

The whole ride remained gloomy and silent until they had reached the mansion. He went out first to open Kyoko's door.

"Thank you so much for taking me to your sister's resort." She bowed gratefully at him.

"Don't mention it, Kyoko." He replied. And then, they heard a grumbling voice came out of the large door.

"I better find that brat, Julie or else." the cursed as he wore his coat.

"Kuu! You're overreacting again! It's not yet 11:00. They still have ten minutes!" Julie chased after him.

"Otou-san?"

"Daughter! I'm glad you arrived safe." Kuu hugged her.

"See? I told you Ceecee will take her back as expected." Julie gestured as a matter of fact.

"Well, I guess I should trust you with my daughter. But, I'm still firm on you, young man." Kuu warned the young man.

"Don't worry about it, uncle. Now that she's here, I guess she's already getting tired." Said France.

"Kyoko dear! Let's go inside. Thanks for taking her back, France."

"Good night, France."

"Good night too, Kyoko, uncle and auntie. I better get going as well." He said as he entered his car.

"Bye Ceecee! Now Kyoko, tell me about your date with him!" Julie squealed while dragging Kyoko inside.

"I'm leaving, uncle Kuu."

"So, did she say yes?" The veteran actor asked assumingly.

"What are you talking about, uncle?" France was taken by surprise at his question but he tried to keep his face cool.

"You're still going to that direction while I'm going back, France. So tell me. Open your door for a second. Let's talk. You can confide on me, you know. " Kuu challenged as he sat beside his nephew.

France sighed. "Man, she's one heck of a female."

"Tough one to handle, isn't she?" Kuu added.

JAPAN 2:45pm

*SCREEEEEEEECHHHH*

Ren hurriedly went out of his car to see if he hurt the creature.

"There there, are you okay?" He spoke pitifully at the terrified puppy. Picking it up, he looked around him to see if it belonged to somebody. Unfortunately, the street is quite empty. After all, he drove down the secondary road to avoid the traffic. Now what is he going to do with it? He has no time to take it to the animal center or else he will be late for his next job.

"I see, you're a little german shepherd. Hmm…" his eyes widened at the fresh wound on its arm. He was pretty sure that he did not hit this dog. The wound looks like a scratch. Probably a cat's paw stroked him. All of a sudden, he heard a clash of metals fell on the alley to his right. It's a street cat that had caused the noise, carrying a cooked stake on its mouth.

"Ruff! Ruff!" the puppy barked at the cat as he struggled to run from Ren's hand.

"Hey… take it easy boy." He chuckled at the puppy's action. Just when the cat is out of sight, the little creature whined painfully.

"Oh I see. That cat took your food away and gave you a scratch. And it seems you were living in the streets. What a brave boy. Well I better go." He saw a box labeled 'take home a puppy' then he put the dog on the side walk where it can stay safe. As he turned his back, his conscience is telling him not to leave the puppy alone. Then he shrugged the idea and settled himself in his car. He turned on his engine as he took a glance to the right to see if the puppy behaves. To his surprise, he saw it jumped out of the box and sat still while wagging its tail. The puppy's eyes looked so hurt and Ren felt sorry for it. Well, if he were Kuon, he's an animal lover and he would surely take the puppy to his house.

"I can't just take him to my home. I might not be able to take care of him." He frowned sadly. He looked at the puppy once again and now it is lying on the pavement while looking back at him with the famous pleading puppy eyes that most dogs possess.

"Poor guy. You deserved to be taken care and trained. It will be a waste if you leave on your own in there. I'm sure you will be a good boy." Now, he is having second thoughts of whether to take the puppy or not. Unbeknownst to himself, he is displaying his level 3 puppy dog face as well. Setsu would probably gave him a spank if someone saw him in that state. Just when the puppy sat back, he saw the wound again and that is when he decided to take it into his car.

"Better find a pet store and a veterinarian." He drove.

"I wonder what will Kyoko say if I took in a dog in my place." He smiled in amusement, letting his mind drift on imagining of different reactions that his cute girlfriend could display.

A/N:

Hi, minna-san! Christmas break is here! Yehey! Updates for my Skip Beat! fic will be added alternatively. Later, I'm going to start writing for the other one.

So, after a little hiatus, what can you say for this new update?

Tell me through your reviews. How about make it as my advance Christmas gift? *laughs* Hmm, let's see if I can handle some of your critiques, neh?

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!