Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat! And its characters...

I am so very sorry for the very very late update. I got caught up in my school work and maybe I had a little writer's block... ^_^ OH! To anyone who is not familiar with "Maddie's love child" the short drama they are starring in. You can google it, the title of the manga is "Unmei no Yoru ni"... But no nudes in the filming with Ren and Kyoko... So here goes, Enjoy! ^_^

Chapter 37

Kyoko and Ren spent all morning reading and studying their scripts. They read and studied individually at first and then they proceeded to practice reading to further develope their characters. They were so into it that they were both startled out of concentration when a loud noise suddenly rang out. Ren on alert mode looked around for danger or fire that might harm them in any way and because the noise sounded like a fire alarm. Ren heard Kyoko's giggle and his head snapped to glare at her for laughing at him.

"What's so funny?" Ren demanded in annoyance, although he loved to hear and watch her laugh or giggle just not at his expense, especially if he did not know what the reason was.

"It's the alarm in the kitchen that I set before I went to take a shower," She replied, not really answering his question. But he did get why she laughed or giggled at him. He was startled and went on alert, snapping his head from side to side looking for danger or fire.

Yeah, that surely is pretty funny... Ren thought dryly after he nearly had a heart attack because of a one hell of an alarm clock, which was still so loudly ringing and blowing up his eardrum.

"I knew we would be so engrossed with practicing that we wouldn't notice the time. I set it to 11:30 so I still have time to cook." Kyoko finished explaining.

"Okay. But I think it's about time to turn it off." Ren replied. "I don't think my eardrum can take anymore of that. It should be called fire alarm, not an ordinary kitchen alarm." Ren grumbled.

Ren over the past nearly three months of their living together, was slowly acting more and more like the his original self. And acting like a spoiled brat, too. But only with Kyoko around. And his dark hostile attitude comes out with the president, too.

Kyoko on the other hand, unknowingly filled into the role of a mother and wife that she vowed to never become. She vowed not to fall in love, so getting married and having children was not possible. She did not even think she could be a loving mother because deep down she was scared she would be like her own mother. But she conquered that fear through her compassion, that slowly grew to love, for Baby Ren. She did all that and she did not even realize it. But she did more than just fell in love with the baby and she still have yet to realize all of these.

Kyoko went to the kitchen, shut off the alarm and proceeded immediately to cooking for their lunch. Ren, who did not want to break the peaceful atmosphere, just sat on one of the chairs in front of the dining table and watched her dance about in the kitchen as she prepared ingredients and cooked.

Half an hour or so later, she snatched his script that he was reading while waiting and placed the food in front of him. He stood up to get bowls and chopsticks. Kyoko then served his bowl with mountainous of rice in it that Ren gulped as she put it in front of him. He glanced at Kyoko nervously as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Kyoko was smiling at him but underneath he knew what was the meaning of that smile. It was an eat-it-all-or-else smile.

Kyoko filled her bowl with a fair amount of rice that Ren pouted at her unfairness. They ate in comfortable silence. Half way through his mountainous meal, Ren was the first to break the silence.

"What have you got with your character so far, Kyoko?" Ren asked her curiously. Kyoko looked up at him and stared for a while before answering.

"Hmmm..." Kyoko put a finger on her chin, under her lips as she thought. "Maddie's kind of like Natsu. But Maddie's more mature. Natsu bullies her schoolmates but Maddie's particular to men who are like the ones who used and dumped her mom. She let them chase after her, make them fall in love with her but she dumps them when they propose or want to be more serious with her. They are also a bit similar when it comes to fashion and attitude. Maddie is like 'I say, do and wear what I want whenever, wherever, however I like.' But Maddie is so much more intense than Natsu."

"Yeah." Ren nodded as he digest all that she said.

"What about yours?" Kyoko asked back.

"Well, this certainly is a first for me. But Miles is kind of like me in a sense." Ren started his explanation.

"How is that so?" Kyoko asked in curiosity and confusion. "Miles is so rigid with a frown stuck to his forehead. He is also afraid to bend the roles of society. Whereas you, you say things to people straight to their faces when they do something unprofessional with a sparkly smile that let you get away with anything." Kyoko argued.

Ren could not help but smile at her passionate argument but then sighed as he tried to explain to her. "You know Tsuruga Ren is just a character, right?" He asked and Kyoko slowly nodded. "Miles is kind of like that, he has a public persona he has been wearing in that strict aristocratic society. He has been wearing it in order to survive that world, letting them see what they wanted to see."

Ren trailed off and looked into the distance as he recalled his past. How cruel it was for a mere teenager to be subjected into that kind of world with no one to protect or run to until he was cornered and was forced to fight back, resulting in major psychological and personality change in him.

"Don't get me wrong," He continued when he realized the wrong conclusion it might have conjured up with his words and how he said it. "I love acting and I love the fans that admire and looked up to me. What I just don't like is how the media and press trample down all the walls, right of privacy, your good name, your dignity, all the rules, even laws just to write stories that mostly aren't even true just to get more sales and money and as if they had all the right to do all that. All the people who read that garbage also believed it and judge you like they are saints themselves."

Kyoko could not help it anymore and covered his tightly fisted hand with hers in comfort. "That's why I created Ren." He continued but now with a small smile on his lips as he looked at her. He uncurled his hand and held her hand in his.

"Although, there was one person who saw right through me, right from the very first time she met Ren." He drew circles with his thumb on the back of her hand unconsciously as he continued to stare at her with a warm smile. "She saw it was fake and I even revealed my true self to you when I saw you for the second time. No one has been able to do that since I became Ren."

Kyoko blushed red. This is dangerous! What is he saying all of a sudden? Kyoko thought in a panic as she stared back at him with bright eyes. She felt like his stare was piercing her being. It was like he was looking at her very soul. She felt so exposed than she ever felt in her whole life. She could not take it anymore and forced herself to break eye contact. She lowered her gaze and it landed on his bowl which was still half-eaten and she narrowed her eyes as she looked back up to his eyes again.

"You're distracting me, aren't you?" She said accusingly at him. "So that I won't notice that you still haven't finished your food. Well, young mister." She crossed her arms in front of her. "You've got another think coming. I won't be so easily deceived! Now eat and finish the food I serve you!"

Ren wanted to try and explain but he could see from the serious line of her mouth that she would not listen to anything, especially excuses. He sighed and hang his head as he slowly ate the food in front of him. I hope my stomach can hold all of this. Ren thought worriedly.

After they had eaten and took care of the dishes, they relaxed for a while, to get their food properly digested. It was Ren's idea because he would not be able to concentrate with his stomach so full it felt uncomfortable. After fifteen minutes, he suggested they take a walk to exercise their legs and explore the area a little. It was such a beautiful day too, Ren did not want to waste it. The sun warmly shone upon them but not really burning hot and the wind was cool. It was perfect.

They walked around the mass of trees a little, feeling like they were children again back in Kyoto. Then, they went to the beach several yards away. "I think we need to be careful." Kyoko said. "Because it was a walk on the beach that got you that scandal, remember?"

"This is private property, it's not a resort. No one's here." Ren replied.

"Yeah, that attitude got you that scandal, too. You thought it was okay not to wear disguise." Kyoko chastised him.

He got one of her hand and held it tightly in his so that she would not be able to pull it away. "Relax, Kyoko. It's one of the reasons we are here. To relax. And if the president said it is safe, it is safe, okay? He wouldn't let us get caught by those paparazzi again." After that, he began walking along the shore again. And still holding her hand tightly. No matter how Kyoko tugged at it, it wouldn't budge. Ren just kept walking and smiling in pure bliss and peacefulness.

When they came back in from their walk, they tossed their scripts aside and practiced in real acting. They began with small scenes and worked their way up to the big scenes. They took a few breaks too, drinking tea and discussing how to improve more of their acting. They still have not practiced the kissing scenes though. Ren was considerate enough to know that it was uncomfortable for Kyoko and suggested to purposely skip it and practice it last.

The sun set and that blaring sound of the alarm clock filled the house again and startled them out of their characters. Kyoko went to cook their meal and they ate while having small talks about their practice performance. Ren helped Kyoko dry the dishes after she washed them. They worked in relative silence but Ren could not help looking at Kyoko and a scene from the script flashed through his mind which was a little similar to their situation. On impulse, his body acted on its own and did something similar to the scene.

Ren dumped the towel on the counter and his hand cupped her chin as he turned her face to him and dipped down to crash his lips to hers. Kyoko froze in pure shock but Ren's tongue trace the edge of her lower lip and she gasped in surprise. Ren took that opportunity to invade her mouth and she melted. Her soapy hand went up to clutched at his forearm as they continued kissing each other stupid.

Although in the real scene from the script, Maddie kissed him back but then broke away from him because her hands where full of breadcrumbs when she prepared for their dinner. But not Ren and Kyoko. They were certainly not Maddie and Miles. But Kyoko seemed to think this was their practice for their many up-coming kissing scenes, though her mind was rather occupied with other things at the moment. Kyoko twisted her body to fully face him and Ren pressed her against the kitchen counter with body.

They broke apart for much needed air but Kyoko did not have time to think because Ren did not, for one single second, stop kissing her. He trailed kisses down the side of her neck and behind her ear. He nibbled on her ear and his rapid breathing tickled her ear. She did not know that doing something like that to her ear could make her feel like that, mind swimming and her knees grew weak.

Ren suddenly bended down a little and she was startled when her feet left the ground but her panic and worries vanished when Ren's lips was on hers again. The next thing she knew, she was being laid down on the bed with emperor on the night smiling down at her. Her eyes widened and she shivered involuntarily.

Real early the next morning, they were woken up by a loud piercing shriek. Ren jumped sat up bolting and wide awake on alert as she looked around for danger or a baby because he has been woken up a lot of times by a loud cry of Baby Ren. He saw Yashiro standing by the open door open mouthed with both hands on his cheek with a horrified expression on his face. He relaxed when saw that it was only his manager. Kyoko beside him slowly sat up while rubbing her eyes of sleep.

Right... He thought to himself. His not here anymore.

"REN!" His manager bellowed at him angrily when he finally recovered from his horrified look. "H-h-how could you? You took advantage of Kyoko-chan! Are you out of your mind? I told you to confess, not to force her into sl-"

That was enough for Ren. Kyoko already turned red when she realized Yashiro caught them sleeping in the same bed and she looked ready to blow up when she heard him talk non-sense. He took a pillow and threw it squarely on his face real hard. Hard enough to knock him on the ground with his panic and hysterical state.

"Calm down, will you?! You always jump to conclusions, Yashiro." He grumbled in annoyance. "And for the record, I would NEVER force a woman to sleep with me." He spat at him. "Who do you think I am?"

Yashiro sat up as he took the pillow off of his face and looked at the both of them. Ren had no shirt but Kyoko looked fully dressed. She even have her bra on from what he could on the straps peeking out from her blouse on her shoulders. He slowly stood up and apologized. Kyoko was more forgiving than him as she accepted his apology. But she was still embarrassed and awkward when Yashiro just stood there after, clearly having no plan to move whatsoever. Ren sighed.

"Yashiro," Ren asked exasperated at his manager. "Do you mind?"

Yashiro looked at Ren, confused for a moment and then realization dawned to him and he stuttered a reply.

"Eh? Oh. Uh, uhm, ye-yeah. I-I-I'll go wait outside." He clumsily turned and went out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Ren sighed heavily again and flopped back down on the bed wanting to sleep some more. Ren looked at Kyoko was still on the sitting position and met her eyes. She blushed really red and he could not help but smile. It took all his self-restraint to not weaved his fingers on his hair, pulled her down for a kiss and have his wicked ways with her.

Ren groaned mentally. Yashiro was right. If this keeps up, I might really take advantage of her. He thought and cursed his manager under his breath.

I'm soooo happy I finally finished this chapter. I wasn't exactly sure how to finish it. I hope you liked it and the fan service. Lol ^_^ Next chapter will be the filming with all the drama... On screen and behind it... :) so I hope you look forward to it and I hope I would write it faster. *Sigh* I'm so hopelessly slow.

Anyways, thank so much for reading and all the reviews, alerts and favs... Love you guys... ^_^ See yah next chap or in my other fanfics... And just a curious thought, what did Kyoko and Ren do that Ren ended up being shirtless when they woke up? :D