Hello wonderful readers!

So I've finished editing all the chapters so in the next few weeks I'll be posting the entire story. Hopefully you enjoy this next chapter and I'd love to hear your feedback!

Disclaimer:

I don't own Skip Beat.

Swim Time

It was the second day on the cruise boat and Kanae and Kyoko were both taking a nap when there was a knock at the door. Kyoko was pulled out of a lovely dream about being a fairy and ran her fingers through her hair with a yawn. She had been asleep for about a half hour and knew that it was probably time to unearth.

Another knock jerked her back to the present and she opened the door and rubbed her eyes tiredly. Standing there was Hikaru, Yuusei and Shinichi. All three looked startled at her appearance, Hikaru's face turning pink and looking away. Yuusei let out a low wolf whistle, a teasing grin flickering across his face. Shinichi hit Yuusei on the back of the head but was grinning as well.

"We were, uh...we were wondering of you and Kanae wanted to join us for a swim. They have a massive pool and a tube slide set up and we figured it would be really fun to hit the pool before joining everyone for dinner."

Kyoko's eyes lit up and she smiled brightly. "Sure! Let me just wake her up!"

Hikaru coughed, still not looking at her. "You might want to change as well."

Kyoko looked at him puzzled before looking down and letting out a shriek and slamming the door. She was only in a lime green sports bra and white cotton shorts for sleeping. She heard Yuusei and Shinichi laughing outside the door and Hikaru scolding them.

Kanae had been woken by her scream and as Kyoko pawed through her luggage for her swimsuit she filled Kanae in on their invite. Kanae agreed that going swimming with the Bridge Rock guys sounded like fun. Kyoko found her skirted one piece that was black on the bottom and sparkly teal on top.

Kanae changed into a simple black one piece that suited her well. Both grabbed towels and slipped their feet into sandals and joined the boys in the hallway. The five of them headed up to the pool and while Kyoko and Kanae were putting there towels down the three boys pulled off their shirts and did cannonballs into the deep end of the pool.

The excitement was contagious because moments later the girls let out whoops and took of to do a running leap into the pool. Once they had surfaced they began to goof off and just have a generally good time. After about a half hour of playing Hikaru went to get some water and Kyoko looked up at the giant slide.

You could go down two at a time on the double tubes which was perfect cause Kyoko was a bit freaked about going alone. So she turned to Kanae, begging her to join her.

"I don't want to go on the slide. I'm happy here. Just go alone."

Kyoko pouted and made her eyes big. "Pleeeeeease? I'm a scaredy cat and don't want to go alone."

"MO! Leave me be in the pool! I don't want to go! Go alone!"

Kyoko pouted and took a half step back only to collide with a wet chest.

"Go alone on what?"

Kyoko squeaked and spun to face Hikaru who steadied her before she could fall. Her face flushed at the sight of his toned chest bared for the world to see and closed her eyes.

Even with her eyes closed she could clearly see Hikaru in her mind. Kyoko mentally glared at herself. What was wrong with her? Why was she reacting this way?!

She heard him chuckle and release her before taking a step back out of her space.

"I'm to scared to go on the slide alone but I really want to try it but Kanae is a meanie and won't go with me." Kyoko grumbled, attempting to regain some semblance of normality in her brain.

"I'll go. I wanted to try it to and going on a double tube will prevent it from flipping on the corners." Hikaru offered and Kyoko grinned.

"Sweet! I would love to go! Come on!" Kyoko cheered and grabbed Hikaru's wrist before dragging him along behind her as she almost ran across the pool deck towards the giant staircase that led up to the top of the slide.

"Slow down!" Hikaru called laughingly.

Kyoko slowed down slightly and Hikaru slid his arm out of her grasp so that he could firmly grasp her hand. Kyoko slowed at the electric sensation of Hikaru's warm hand holding her own and he caught up so that he was walking at her side.

"I'll take the seat behind you so that my head isn't in your way of seeing the ocean and the boat. I love how they made the slide a clear tube." He said calmly.

Kyoko nodded and they headed up the stairs, Hikaru not releasing his grasp on her hand much to her surprise and slight pleasure. As soon as it fully sunk in that she was enjoying holding Hikaru's hand she went off on another mental spaz attack. She was not supposed to enjoy stuff like this!

The atmosphere on the ship must have been effecting her head. Kyoko gave a sigh of relief, yeah that was the problem. It was just the ship atmosphere making her feel like that.

They stood in line and after a ten minute wait they were handed a tube. Kyoko climbed into the front and noticed that there was only a tiny thin divider between the two seats on the tube.

"Your girlfriends back will be pressed against your front so that you move to the sides at the same time and don't unbalance the tube. The handles are at your sides. Go ahead and climb on." The attendant told them.

Kyoko flushed at being called his girlfriend but before she could say anything she felt the tube jostle around and all her attention focused on holding onto the handles at her side. Hikaru took his seat behind her and true to the attendants word she was indeed leaning back against his chest.

"Ready?"

Kyoko gave a jerky nod and she saw Hikaru tighten his grip on the handles before giving the go ahead. Then they were pushed and began a steep decent as the slide began to drop drastically. Kyoko let out a half shriek and pressed herself as far back as she could without giving thought to the person behind her.

They went down the slide with Kyoko having her eyes squeezed shut as she pressed against Hikaru. She could hear deep chuckles behind her as they picked up speed and Kyoko began to pray that they would survive the ride. After what felt like a eternity but was only three minutes the ride ended and they were spit out of the slide and into the pool beneath.

"Hey Kyoko, it's ok, we've survived. We can leave the pool now."

Kyoko opened her eyes and realized that they were indeed in the pool that the slide emptied into. She slipped off the edge of the tube and watched as Hikaru did the same thing. They dragged the tube behind them as they got out of the pool and handed the tube to a attendant.

Kyoko and Hikaru walked back to the pool and Kyoko took a seat on a two person lounge chair. Kanae, Yuusei and Shinichi had saved it for them for when they returned.

"Mind if I join you?" Hikaru asked, standing next to her.

"Oh! Sure!" Kyoko moved over to the opposite edge so that he could take a seat.

He sat down and as they watched their friends in the pool they chatted. Kyoko was in stitches as Hikaru told her tales of when Bridge Rock was first formed. Finally the other three in their little group were done playing and everyone went back to their rooms to change.

Lory sat at the head of the table waiting for Bridge Rock and the girls to arrive. Suddenly he heard laughter and the sounds of young voices approaching. Craning his neck he saw the door being opened by Shinchi. Yuusei bowed and offered a arm to Kanae who was dressed quite nice. The tall icy beauty smiled warmly and accepted the arm the way one would of a good friend or brother.

Sitting up straighter he saw that Hikaru and Kyoko were in the back of the pack. The smiling idol turned to Kyoko and mimicked his friend, bowing to Kyoko and offering a arm. Kyoko laughed, the tinkling sound drawing the attention of several males in the restaurant.

He saw Ren tense next to him as Kyoko and Hikaru took a seat at the other end of the table and engaged in a lively debate about something to do with ducks. The Bridge Rock boys, Kyoko and Kanae seemed to be getting along amazingly. However, the really thing that caught Lory's attention was the rosy blush that adorned his number one Love-me girls cheeks as she talked with a certain young man.

He saw how Kyoko seemed fully at ease talking about whatever came to mind and Hikaru sat their, listening intently with his chin resting on his hand as he sometimes threw into the conversation, but usually just listened and smiled at her bright excited expression.

Lory loved Ren like his own son, but Yashiro had told him about the conversation he had overheard and Lory was forcing himself to accept that Kyoko's love salvation might not come at the hands of Ren.

However, watching Hikaru and seeing the way he was giving his undivided attention gave his heart hope that perhaps Kyoko would find love one day.

So what did you think? Reviews are welcome? Flames shall be laughed at, posted for others to laugh at, and ignored as I continue the story.