Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat! Or any of its characters…

I'm so very sorry for the very, very late update… I started writing this last week but I was momentarily obsessed with Bones fanfics that I got out of tuned with the skip beat characters and was having problems writing it… I wasn't in sync with Kyoko and Ren's characters and was having a hard time writing the confessions of truth… I kept rewriting it… so I had to watch some of the anime episodes, read a little of the manga and some skip beat fanfics to get myself back in the game… I'm really sorry about it… so here it is… Enjoy! ^_^

Chapter 23

Julie and Kuu went to a party for Julie after her very successful fashion show. Everybody was curios and was asking about Julie's finale dress model. Most people in the party were once or were her models and people who were very familiar with her line of clothing and were almost in all of her fashion shows. They were people who kept watch of the fashion world and of course kept tabs on models. And every one of them had not seen Julie's finale model.

Even the models of her show that night were jealous because they were not selected as the substitute model for the finale dress. But they could not complain because they witnessed why Julie had especially chosen her as the last minute replacement. Even Julie and Kuu were surprised when they saw her rocked that runaway few minutes ago. Julie recalled her days as a runway model herself when she saw Kyoko walking down that runway. Julie had already expected her to be good because she knew that in order to work with and gain the respect of her son, the other person would have to have been very talented. Julie just did not expect it to be that much. Both Julie and Kuu hoped that the two would have kissed and made up by now, literally.

Meanwhile, the other (fake) Mr. and Mrs. Hizuri quietly went back to their suite. The ride was silent and tensioned. Baby Ren was already fast asleep and the silence has never been louder at that moment. They went upstairs and into their suite. Ren let Kyoko put the baby to a portable small crib, which Sebastian included in their luggage, in their room without either of them saying anything to each other. Ren picked up the room phone and ordered room service.

Kyoko watched Baby Ren sleep as she felt sad and down. She thought that if she can helped it, she did not want Baby Ren to go through what she went through when she was little. She did not want for him to cry and feel the pain when she disappointed her mom or watched her mom leave her. Then, she remembered the purple stone. She swiftly stood up and looked around for her purse. She found it on top of a dresser and searched inside for the stone. She took it in both her hands and chanted the words that made her feel alright. She held it up to the light.

As the stone turned into a different color, just then, it hit her. It was the 'corn' stone she was desperately asking for strength from. It was the stone that fairy prince Corn a.k.a Kuon, who was now Ren, gave her when she was little. She felt sad again. It was all coming back to him and he was not even a fairy prince. Did the stone even have powers? She sadly asked herself. But he was still the source of strength and hope when she felt sad because of her mom and when she lost everything a few years ago. It was the stone he gave her that comforted her and made her feel better.

But now that she found out that it was all a lie, could she still believe in it? In him?…

When Kyoko felt that she was far too long inside and feared that Ren might go inside and check up on her, she finally stepped out of their room, she was surprised to find the living room dim-lighted. She continued to the dining room curiously. There she found candle lighted table with covered dishes and a single red rose in between the candles. She could not speak for a moment and could not describe her feelings. Something touched her heart as she looked at the setting, but she also felt fear and something that bordered between annoyed and hurt. She felt fear because of that something that touched her heart and, annoyed and hurt because she felt that Ren was trying to ask forgiveness through this romantic dinner; as if she was going to be happy and forget everything if he did something sweet. Grr… Don't treat me like one of those girls who faints with just your fake smiles! She yelled angrily in her mind. This just proves that you really were laughing at me this whole time. It's not even the first time you played with me, Tsuruga Ren!

Ren went back to the dining room carrying a wine glass and a glass of juice for her. He stopped when he saw her standing there. He could tell that she was not happy and was angry at what she was looking at. He did not expect it to be that easy but he could not help the sigh that came out of his mouth. It was going to be a long night.

Kyoko turned her head when she heard footsteps and met Ren's eyes. Ren felt arrows pierced his heart even when she was not glaring at him. He gulped and proceeded to drag the chair out for her to sit on. He looked at her expectantly but she squared her shoulders, her chin up and her eyes shining with determination and control. She then went for the opposite chair Ren dragged out and sat on it. Ren let out the breath he did not know he had been holding as he resigned himself and sat on the chair he was holding.

He put the glass of juice on her side of the table and opened all the covered dishes. He mumbled 'itadakimasu' and started getting food to his plate and ate silently hoping she would do the same. And she did. After halfway through their meal, he decided that it was time. Kyoko did not look angry and hurt as she was before so he gambled it.

"Mogami-san." Ren started and he saw her stiffened. "I'm very sorry I kept my true identity from you. I—"

"Your true identity is none of my business. There's no need for an apology." Kyoko cut in. But Ren could clearly see in her face that he has a lot to apologize for.

"Okay." He paused, thinking of what he was going to say next. He was deciding if he would or would not explain to her about him being 'corn', the fairy prince she met at the forest in Kyoto. But he was hoping she had not realized that yet. "My real name is Hizuri Kuon and as you witnessed earlier, I am Kuu and Julie's son. I am not pure Japanese. I was born and raised in America. Due to circumstances, the president offered me to go to Japan when I was fifteen. He trained me to act and live like pure Japanese who lived there since birth. He gave me a new identity where I could work my hardest as an actor without the influence of or high expectations that comes with my family's name."

'Father's hands are too big, and I still haven't been able to fly freely through the sky yet.' Little Corn's words echoed in her mind. But it came with other memories. His laughing face floated in her mind again and it made her so angry at him for laughing at her. She was so embarrassed recalling the times she was talking to him about him as a fairy prince. But most of all she was most angry at herself for being deceived again. Fairy prince, I should have known they really don't exist! She thought sadly. She was just too angry and embarrassed and sad that she could not recall past the memories of him laughing so hard at her.

Ren was silent for a moment, deciding if he was going to tell the whole truth or not. Well, she already know my true identity, there's no other reason why I'm not going to tell her the whole truth. He reasoned with himself. At least the truth concerning her. If I wait too long, she might never really forgive me. He took a deep breath and let it slowly out.

"I— when I was ten, my family went to Japan for a vacation… in Kyoto." He added the last part quietly and fearfully, though he would never show it. Kyoko took a deep breath, nervously waiting for him to continue. "When I went to explore the woods, I came across a clearing with a stream." He let out a quiet laugh as he recalled. Kyoko shot him a glare when she heard him laughed. "I met a little girl there." He smiled his heavenly smile and his eyes looking in a distance as if he wasn't sitting there anymore. Kyoko's anger dissipated. "My hair was still blonde and my eyes blue, so she thought I was a fairy prince."

Kyoko's face turned tomato red. She was so embarrassed and a little angry and she couldn't help but pout. Ren noticed and he bit back a find it really cute and could not help but laugh or smile when she pouted. He continued telling his story. "She looked so happy thinking that I was a fairy prince that I didn't have the heart to break her heart and tell her that I wasn't a fairy prince."

Kyoko's brows furrowed and she felt sad because with his words the full weight of reality finally set in that corn really wasn't a fairy prince and that fairies really don't exist. All that she believed to be true were all false and it was just so sad. Her fantasies were all ruined now. She realized that she really did not have a friend that is a fairy, and she especially liked that idea.

"She called me corn because of my accent in saying my name that time. When it was time to go back home, I gave her a stone that would take away all the bad things she was feeling because she was a… crybaby."

Kyoko shot a death glare at him. "I am not!" She exclaimed.

Ren bit his lips to keep from smiling. He was glad and a little relieved that she finally reacted verbally to his confessions. "Sorry, she was crying a lot because of her mom." She looked back down at her plate. "Ten years later, I met a girl at LME, as Tsuruga Ren now. I did not know who she really was at first. I think she even hated me." Kyoko lowered her head even more in shame. "I was surprise to find out that she was the same little girl I met so long ago by the stream in Kyoto. I realized it when I picked up the very same stone I gave to her when we parted. But then I kind of pissed her off when I returned it to her and asked some questions."

There was a moment of silence, each recalling that same event in their own point of views. "I noticed that she has changed a lot, but so did I. I didn't tell her because…" He sighed. Kyoko looked at him curiously and was bracing herself for what he would say next. "I did not know how. I didn't know how to break the news that the boy who owned that stone wasn't really a fairy. And I did not know how to tell her without telling her about my true identity. And when someone scared her into thinking that corn was already dead, I wanted to tell her that I was still there and very much alive, but I couldn't."

"The second time, she gave me the stone. I was surprised and I thought she found out the truth for a moment." Kyoko clearly recalled that moment. So that's why he looked surprise for a moment and went off in a distance. She thought but recalling the next moments that happened had her blood boiling in anger and her heart started feeling that familiar pain. "A second later, I found out that she still believed that I was a fairy, I… I was horrified and felt so guilty. But when I saw her face as she went off to some magical land with her expression so blissfully happy, I couldn't help but…" Ren trailed off when he noticed the dark and intense aura building in front of him. Her face was grim and he noticed she was turning into Mio. So this is what she was so angry about. Ren finally realized. She thought I was laughing at her this whole time.

"Mogami-san." He started. "Calm down. It's not what you think." She glared at him and her eyes screamed Mio to him. He reached out to touch her hand and make her listen to him. But she put her hands under the table before he could reach it. "Kyoko, listen. Listen to me." He looked straight at her eyes even if it was shooting death glares at him. "I was not laughing at you this whole time." He said firmly and slowly for her to understand. He looked at her and waited as she processed what he said. She calmed down a little but she looked at him doubtfully and he could tell what she was thinking.

"I'm not lying or tricking you." He said and her eyes widened. "I'm serious and I'm very sorry I hurt you." He looked at her sincerely. "And if you want to hear the truth at why I was laughing that time, I will tell you but you have to believe what I say."

He waited and she nodded slightly. "I was laughing because I find it really cute that you still believe in fairies."

"Don't you mean you find it funny?" She said irately. "And stupid to see a girl my age still believing in fairies?"

"This is why I told you to believe what I say. And you are anything but stupid. You are cute, beautiful, intelligent, and talented and a good cook. You wouldn't be the Kyoko I know if you don't believe in fairies and fairytales. That's what makes you who you are." Ren explained sincerely.

Kyoko looked at Ren in disbelief. "As if I would believe those words. You are after all a playboy." Kyoko retorted.

"I am a what?" Ren asked in surprise and a little hurt because he was really serious when he said those compliments. "I am not playboy."

"Yes you are." Kyoko said matter-of-factly. "You even admitted to it when you k-kissed me on the cheek."

"I told you, I don't do that to just anyone and you just found out that I'm not pure Japanese." He made that cocky American shrug on the shoulders that really ticked Kyoko off. "I grew up in America."

Kyoko glared at his smug face. "Playboy!" She growled. Then she something popped up inside her head. She remembered that Ren did not know she was Bo the chicken. He was not the only one who has a secret. Then, Ren's scary face with a dark aura appeared in her head as she thought of when he would finally find out that she was inside that Bo the chicken mascot he was confessing his problems to.

Kyoko's face paled and she shivered in complete fear.

I hope you liked it… I hoped it wasn't OOC… haaaa… at last I finished it. I was getting worried for a sec there… lol but I was glad because last weekend was exhausting… last Sunday I went to anime expo and it was so fun… (Who wants to see pictures? ^_^) and the next day I went to a wedding. We danced a lot and in heels! I haven't dance that much in heels and it was still hurting from all the walking in anime expo… so my feet was literally killing me… lol So anyways, I thank you all so much for patiently continue reading, reviewing, alerting, fav-ing and just liking this fanfic… Love you all ^_^