Here is the next chapter for you. Please let me know how it is.
Note: I do not own Skip Beat!.
Kyoko woke up on her birthday cuddled next to Ren. The blond haired man snored lightly behind her in the cool December air. Up until this point, the weather had been unseasonably warm, but that had changed last night as a front rolled through bringing a gentle wake of snow behind it. She snuggled in closer to his warmth as she listened to the muffled sound of the early morning life of the ryokan they had found in Osaka. A sense of sad nostalgia rolled over her as she recalled all of the mornings she had woken up when she lived at the Fuwa's ryokan. This was the same, yet different. She had never woken up in Kyoto with the feeling of being loved like she did when pressed into Ren's warm side. She found her mind wondering to the singer that had been the root cause of most of her troubles, but the normal dark atmosphere did not appear. Over the last week she had come to terms with his actions and had realized that if he had not taken her to Tokyo and abandoned her, she would never have gotten into LME, and she would not have the wonderful man sleeping with her now. She still wanted to grow her name in the world of entertainment, but she no longer held the animosity for her old friend. Ren had pushed him out of her heart. Kyoko felt Ren wrap the arm she was laying on up around her as he shifted in his dream.
Kyoko rolled over in his embrace to better snuggle against the man that was lying on his back. She froze when the arm pressed between them met with the bare skin of his side. Somehow the belt of the yukata he had worn to bed had come lose in his sleep. Kyoko held her free hand back for a moment afraid that touching his skin would wake him. After waffling on the idea, she rested her hand very gently on his chest. Ren did not respond to her touch and she let out the breath that she was holding. She rubbed the fine hairs of his chest with her fingertips. She paused in her motion when Ren sighed deeply and pulled her a little closer. She was sure that he had woken up, but when his eyes never opened and his breathing returned to the deep even pace it had been, she returned to her soft caresses of his skin. She grew a little bolder and moved her hand lightly over the ridges of his pectorals but stopped when her fingertips found the soft skin of his nipple. Ren's breath quickened as the skin on his nipple hardened at her feather light touch.
Once Kyoko was sure he was not awake, she shifted her hand back down his body. She traced all the lines on his stomach until she found his belly button. Ren still had not moved from his sleep. Kyoko lightly dragged her fingertips across his waistline till she found the edge of his hip bone and paused there. She looked up at his face to see that it was still slack in sleep before she dug up her courage and shifted her hand again. She knew that answer to the question she had from the time she had spent as Setsu, but that was for the Cain aspect of her love. Was it the same for all sides of him? She slid her finders down his hip bone as she searched for the answer to that age old question: Boxers or briefs? A blush raced up her face as her fingers reached his thigh without meeting any resistance at all. Now that the yukata was pulled open, the only thing that kept him from being exposed to the world was the blanket that covered them both.
Kyoko pulled her hand away and cuddled it against her chest as she processed this development. Her face was the deepest shade of crimson that it could have been. She had been in the same room as the man's naked body twice and both times she had not looked at him. The first she had pinned her eyes to his face, and the second he was covered in bubbles. Now she was given the opportunity again and she let her curiosity get the better of her. She slipped her hand across his chest and lifted the blanket up so she could quickly look down his length. The morning light filtered through the white covers just enough to illuminate the darkness wrapped around them. She was shocked to see the reaction that the morning and her exploration of his skin had on his body. She swallowed the gasp that threatened to escape her and dropped the covers back over him. She buried her face into his side and turned the image she now had burnt into her mind over several times. She checked one more time to make sure the man next to her had not woken up before pulling herself out of bed and into the chilly morning air. She turned up the heater a little as she made her way to the bathroom.
Ren let out a light nervous laugh as he heard the door of the bathroom shut. He had woken up when she first laid her hand on his chest and petted him but he wanted to see how far she would go and remained relaxed for her. He even worked to keep his breathing deep and even. That only worked until the tips of her fingers reached his nipple. What she did not realized was that the tips of her nails were dragging against his skin ever so lightly. The sensation was making his toes curl, but he worked to keep this from her as his breathing increased. When she stopped, he forced his body to relax again. He wanted to give her the chance to touch him if she would take it. His heart leaped for joy as she shifted her hand down his body. Silently he cheered her on as she paused at his belly button. His heart jumped a little as she shifted her hand to his hip bone and he remembered the state of undress that he was in. Ren had forgotten to take his clean clothing with him to the bath yesterday and had not taken an opportunity to dress properly afterward. His breath hitched a little as her fingers traced his hip, but he forced his breathing back to regular so she would not know that he was awake. His heart sank just a little as she curled upon herself against his side. He could feel the heart from the flush on her face. His surprise was so great that he nearly gave himself away when she lifted the blanket up and looked down his body. It was the first time that she had willingly looked at his naked body and he did not want to embarrass her. He knew that this was well outside her comfort zone, so he did his best to play asleep so that she could deal with her thoughts. He was proud that she had taken this step without his coercion; it would make things easier on him when the right time came.
He was pulled from his thoughts by the hurried footsteps of the other woman in the room as she quickly made her way from the futon she had shared with Yashiro to the bathroom. Kyoko was just coming out, but turned to follow the woman back in. Ren turned to look at his manager still asleep at the other end of the large room. If the man had noticed the quick departure of the woman, he was not showing it. Ren listened closely to try to hear what was going on, but was having trouble. Kyoko had turned the water in the sink on to cover whatever noise they were making, but he was almost sure he could hear the sounds of retching along with Kyoko's soothing voice. He had been watching the woman since they met back up with them. She had kept it very low key, but it was not easy to hide her chronically upset stomach. When Ren had asked about it one morning at breakfast, she had informed them that she thought she was developing an ulcer due to stress and promised that she would go have it looked at when everything was said and done. Kyoko had given her a very pointed look before turning her attention away from her manager before she said anything. Ren had found this a little hard to believe, but until they could get her to a doctor to have her looked at, he could not prove anything. Yashiro seemed to take this into consideration and spent quite a bit of his time pressing the woman with treats that would be soothing to her stomach. Ren was not sure where he got them, but Yashiro always seemed to have crackers or cookies hidden away to present to her anytime she looked a little green. Ren had a sneaking feeling that Kyoko was supplying Yashiro with them.
Ren had also noticed that Catherine could fall asleep at the drop of a hat. She often did this after they had done something other than sit around the hotel. On one occasion they had gone out to the park for a change of view and Catherine had fallen asleep leaning against Yashiro as they rested on the benches. It had only been for a few minutes, and she had woken up right away when they were ready to move on, but he remembered her having a lot more stamina then that. Yashiro did not seem to mind this either. He was content to either be her pillow or to move her to a more comfortable location so she could sleep. He had also caught Yashiro several times slipping his hand down to rest on her tummy as he cushioned her head with his lap. He had a feeling that his manager suspected the same thing he did, but neither one brought it up to the woman. If their suspicions were true, then she would not be able to hide the facts after the start of the new year.
Kyoko and Catherine finally came out from the bathroom together and looked over at the men still covered by the blankets. They had yet to show how awake they really were. Kyoko decided that Catherine needed something to put in her stomach and took the slightly pale woman out to find her something to help. As soon as the door clicked close Yashiro sat up and pulled himself from his bedding. Ren smiled as the man quietly walked towards him. He knew that his manager had been feigning sleep. Yashiro looked down at the smug look on his charge's face and shook his head as he walked past and into the bathroom the girls had just left. Ren took this opportunity to right his yukata and make sure the belt was properly tied in place before folding up their bedding. Yashiro had just finished clearing up their bedding when Kyoko and Catherine came back with a pot of tea and some biscuits and jam.
For a few minutes Ren thought he was going to get away with the light breakfast that the girls had brought back, but his delusions were ruined when one of the nakai showed up at the door with the rest of breakfast for the group. He chuckled and helped the young servant to right the table so she could present the morning meal for the group. She sat out three sets and left Catherine to nibble on her biscuits. Ren did smile when Yashiro pushed his bowl of peaches to the woman after she snuck the second piece. She laughed and thanked him as she enjoyed the treat. She even poured what was left of the juice into her cup of tea. When breakfast was finished Ren put his arm around the girl next to him and pulled Kyoko against him.
"Happy birthday Love." Ren kissed the top of her head as they cuddled together. Kyoko beamed and wiggled closer to him. She turned her face up and captured his lips. Catherine leaned over and rested against Yashiro as he let out a happy sigh. When they broke apart and the world returned to them, Kyoko blushed a little at the pair watching them.
"Happy Birthday Kyoko-chan." Catherine smiled at her. Yashiro repeated the phrase again. "Oh, and Merry Christmas." Catherine said excitedly. She pulled away from the man enjoying her company and popped up from her chair to scurry to her luggage. She came back quickly and handed a small neatly wrapped present to Kyoko. "This is from Julie." The woman explained. Kyoko took the present and looked at the pretty white paper and bow. She smiled as she tore into the package to reveal a small charm. The egg was intricately detailed with a woman in a beautiful white dress and a man in a black suit. Kyoko touched the delicate jewel carefully. "I guess it would have been better to give it to you tomorrow, but Julie said to give it to you on your birthday." Catherine shrugged and leaned back into Yashiro.
"It's beautiful!" Kyoko pulled the pin holding the charm in the box and held it up for the men to see. She pulled the chain from her neck and slipped the egg charm on it with the ring she had taken to wearing there. Ren helped her replace the necklace and kissed her head again. Ren felt a little sad, he had prepared something for this special occasion, but it was back at his apartment. He figured, under the given circumstances, she would forgive him for giving it to her late.
Author's note: For all of those that were worried, most of the swelling in my eyes has gone down, but I still look like I went a round with Rocky. Only I could hurt myself sitting up, should change my name to Grievous Bodily Harm. My trip to Chicago was extended a little. My dad would not let me drive with my eye swelled mostly shut, but we are better and heading back home today. Ladies and gentlemen, this is why I always have a few chapters tucked away. So that I can go a few rounds with a dresser drawer and still keep up with my updates. YAYS ME! I am so going to have to get writing when I get home.