Chapter 23: I Love You, Too!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would have a fairy godmother.

"Ooh I want that one," Ella told him. Her golden eyes flashed as she pointed to the picture with the large bowl of tonkotsu ramen. She always did become manic when it came to delicious food.

Kuon cringed. It looked like excessively too much food to eat in one sitting but leave it to his girlfriend to not stop there. "I also want the gyoza. Do you want to share it with me?" He could never refuse those large doe-like eyes when they were pleading.

They changed in the car since he parked in a dim-lit area where there was little foot traffic at this hour. They helped each other adjust their hair but even as Kyoko dumped out every single item in her bag, she couldn't find the case carrying her blue contact lenses. Kuon assured her that it would be fine since her eyes were already a unique color.

He chuckled at her expression that begged him to eat normally for a man of his stature. He sighed in resignation. "Fine, don't blame me when you start getting fat from all the eating we've done on this trip," Kuon said, keeping up with their pretense as tourists. He pinched the non-existent flab on her lower back just above her waist jokingly.

"That's mean Kuon, you're not supposed to say that to my face." She squirmed out of his grip and pouted cutely.

He put an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. "Even if you did get fat, it's just more of you for me to love," he said suavely making Ella's cheeks grow warm. He never got tired of making her blush.

He inserted yen into the machine, opting to order the same thing as his girlfriend since he really couldn't decide what to eat. He collected the tickets dispensed from the machine, handed them to the employee at the counter, and waited for their order.

Kuon's heart sank when he saw the amount of food that came out for them. That picture was deceiving. The bowls he received were bigger than the display. They sat down to eat. Before he could stop himself he blurted out, "This is a bad idea especially before a fitting."

Ella paused with a portion of gyoza hanging out of her mouth. She slurped it up failing to chew and swallowed painfully. Pounding her chest, she took a quick sip of water and scrambled off the table. Using garbled Japanese and obnoxious hand gestures, she managed to ask the employee for some take-out containers which he happily handed over.

With proficiency, she placed all the food neatly in the containers. Kuon couldn't process what was happening until Ella stood holding the door open for him to follow.

When they were out on the street, he apologized for his lapse of judgment. "It was my idea to eat out. I should have known better."

"No, I'm glad you said something. I would have been miserable if my bloated belly ruined the final design after all the hard work that Fuji-san and his team put into the dress. If I'm going to continue as a model I have to be more aware of these sorts of things." Kyoko was disappointed that she didn't think earlier.

They got back into the car after looking around for the all-clear and turned back into Ren and Kyoko.

Kyororororo! Kyoko's stomach growled, breaking the silence as they walked down the street. Ren laughed while Kyoko willed her tummy to behave.

"Let's hurry so I can get you fed." He grabbed her hand and increased his pace slightly.

Ren smiled to himself as the tailor worked on his suit. The squeals of delight that his girlfriend emitted across the hall filled his heart with warmth. He was happy Fuji took a chance with her. She was amazing and although he wanted to keep her all to himself he knew he had to share her with the world. Sooner or later, they would all see what he had for a long time and embrace her.

His lips grew thin and his face hardened as he heard her say, "Are you sure it's okay for such an occasion? Can I show this much of my body?"

He caught sight of his image in the mirror and changed his expression to his ultra-gentleman smile as he heard Fuji's sassy reply. "Now, now, Kyoko-chan, this much is fine. For a girl your age, you should have no problems pulling this off. Trust me, it's very modest for an event like this."

A vein at Ren's temple throbbed. What did Fuji put her in? He tried to clear the negative thoughts of throttling the designer from his mind. He wanted to know what she was wearing. He wasn't sure if he needed to intervene on her behalf. He didn't want her uncomfortable that night because of what she was wearing on top of her already uncomfortable position next to him.

Fuji refused to tell him and Kyoko wanted it to remain a surprise. He had to wait for next week to find out. He became agitated by the unknown and shifted his stance. A pin pricked his inner thigh making him hiss between his teeth. The pain brought him back to his predicament as the tailor marked the changes necessary for his pants.

"Hold still Tsuruga-kun or I may accidentally poke you where you'll least appreciate it," the tailor threatened.

Ren complied and held himself rigid while the tailor continued. Kyoko's delighted squeals soothe him. He was impatient to see the result. He stared at his unfinished suit in the mirror and wondered how it paired with Kyoko's dress. There was not much that could be done with a suit but a well-tailored one did wonders for a man.

...

Kyoko twirled around in the mirror admiring the dress. Aside from the length, it fit perfectly. Fuji insisted that it was a sin to cover so much of her legs. The boning in the torso wasn't too restricting either but she knew if she had finished eating she would have been uncomfortable. She had no intention of dieting since that could do more harm than good. She just needed to watch her portions from now on.

Aside from the physical stunts for Momiji, she neglected daily exercise. Prior to Yashiro shuttling her around, Kyoko rode her bike everywhere which was more than enough to stay fit. She knew she would have to make some slight changes in the future to keep fit. Not everyone was blessed with the genes of the great 'Tsuruga Ren.' He probably had his father's high metabolism rate even if he didn't have the same black hole for a stomach.

"If you want, Kyoko, I can make a matching wrap. It shouldn't take me long to whip up something like that," Fuji suggested.

Kyoko bowed in protest, "I'm sorry, Fuji-san. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful. I don't want to cover up your beautiful design. Please don't disturb your creativity for my sake. I can hardly wait to see the final product. Thank you for doing this for a newbie like me."

Fuji scolded her for belittling herself. "The way to thank me is to wear this dress proudly and drop my name whenever someone asks who you are wearing that evening. In this number, you'll be the Belle of the ball."

Kyoko vibrated with excitement at his princess reference. She hoped she could meet his expectations that night. Fuji studied her and stroked his chin. Kyoko stood quietly and waited for him to finish his assessment. She had not worked with him long but she already knew that this expression meant he was inspired. He picked up a couple of pins and inserted it at the front of her bodice.

"That should do it," he said with a pleasant smile. "This will capture your essence as a young starlet. Cute yet sexy at the same time."

She looked down at the pins unsure of the change he would make there.

"Kyoko, I want you to come to my studio to get ready for the night. We'll do your hair and make-up and play with accessories. Is that okay?"

"Thank you, Fuji-san!" Kyoko squealed, clapping her hands together. "You truly are like a fairy godmother."

She changed back into her regular clothes and found Ren already in the waiting area. He looked up from his phone and gave her a captivating smile. Her heart thumped rapidly as she walked toward him. Her poor grudges shrieked with pain from the dazzling light of his Godly smile. They were barely conscious these days in his presence.

"Are you excited?" He asked, knowing full well that he could hear her from across the hall. It was his excuse to get a glimpse of what he heard.

"Very!" Her golden eyes flashed with delight. "Thank you, Ren." She said more calmly and blushed. If it weren't for him she wouldn't be experiencing this wonderful opportunity.

"Oh good, you're still here." Fuji rushed out from the end of the hall holding up two large bags. He handed a bag to each of them. Kyoko instantly declined when she glimpsed the contents in her bag.

"Fuji-san, I couldn't possibly take these. You're already doing so much for me."

"Nonsense Kyoko, these are the perks of being a model. If it makes you feel better, most of these are last season samples that I had in your size. Don't get me wrong R'Mandy designs are timeless, so they're all still trendy. It will please me if you could wear them. Otherwise, I would just have to scrap them."

Kyoko bowed and thanked him profusely, agreeing to wear the clothing as Ren took the offered bags.

"I'll see you two soon. Be safe and have a good night." Fuji let them out of the studio since it was now after hours. According to him, the real work would now begin.

Kyoko's stomach rumbled on cue as they walked back to the car. She was proud that her stomach had behaved while in the studio. Ren stayed to finish their take-out dinner at the Darumaya. He found he was famished and ate most of his meal.

"Um Corn, there's something I need to tell you," she whispered gravely after politely slurping her broth.

Images of the evening replayed through his mind but couldn't find anything negative that happened between them. He stared at her intently as she wrung her hands nervously. Is this the part where she tells me to get lost? He kicked himself mentally for being so insecure and decided to just hear her out.

"I talked with Bennett-san t-today," She stammered out as the Demon Lord aura seeped out of him and into her room. Her grudges stirred merrily feeding off this new dark energy. He tried desperately to control his anger while he waited for her to continue.

He watched her take a steadying breath and avoid eye contact. He cursed himself for scaring her but he struggled to relax. The thought of her being anywhere near that guy filled him with slight anxiety.

"I wanted to find out what he was doing here. I mean...more like if he was here to make trouble for you. He told me he was hiding from a scandal with an ex-girlfriend. It seemed like he was telling the truth but who knows," she said quickly then shrugged. The same annoying shrug that he was famous for using on her.

Ren deflated as the Demon Lord retreated. He took her hands in his. They were so much smaller and yet so much stronger than his large trembling ones. He placed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. He didn't want her to get involved with his problems.

…

He was quiet for a few moments, Kyoko was sure she did something unnecessary but at least his dark aura dissipated. That had to be a good sign.

"Thank you," he whispered hoarsely. Kyoko's eyes widened. She wasn't expecting him to thank her. She hardly did anything. He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. She leaned in and parted her lips to deepen their kiss but he pulled away from her abruptly. He must be mad, after all?

"I'm sorry," she bowed her head. "It wasn't my place to confront Bennett-san like that."

He looked at her like her sincere apology was nonsense. Kyoko licked her dry lips and tried to defend her actions.

"I love you! I thought I was helping. I want to be your strength like you are mine."

The last words barely passed her lips before his mouth crushed over hers. Kyoko didn't think about what was happening and responded by parting her lips. Their tongues made instant contact but he slowed the pace. They kissed to the rhythm of a slow waltz. Kyoko wasn't aware but he had been holding himself back. He was too terrified to touch her when his emotions were running rampant. He couldn't help himself when she was around. He knew what she sounded like when he nibbled on her lobe and how her body shuddered when his tongue licked her nipple. It was difficult keeping his hands off her knowing the silkiness of her skin. The car ride home had been long and punishing. He kept his fingers interlaced with hers as he drove, never letting go even to shift gears. The only thing holding him back, tonight, was the knowledge that Taisho was downstairs. It was right the right call to bring her straight home.

"Wow," she managed breathlessly with a smile when they finally broke for air. She opened her eyes and looked at him. His lips, his eyes, and his soul smiled at her all at once obliterating her grudges once again. He had a goofy grin on his face. It was unbecoming of Japan's number one actor but she found him adorable nonetheless.

"What was that for?" She asked him. All her earlier thoughts of him not wanting to kiss her vanquished.

"It was the first time you told me that you loved me," he replied like a giddy schoolboy.

"That can't be true. I'm sure I've told you many times before," she said. She frowned as she tried to think of past examples. She went through her memory of shared text messages, phone calls, but nothing came to mind. He was right; she never responded in kind. She looked down sheepishly. Here he was telling her daily of his love and she never once said it back. She was an idiot.

He shook his head. "The only time I truly knew was when you were talking to Fuwa. You didn't say it to me directly but it was more than enough for me."

"I'm sorry, Corn. I didn't mean to withhold such words from you when yours bring me extreme joy. I'll start telling you from now on and more often that I l-lo-lov." She tried saying. What the heck was wrong with her.

He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. "You don't have to push yourself. I'm already very happy."

She adjusted her posture and with great determination, she inhaled deeply as if going into a fierce battle. "I love you!" She blurted out loudly and unromantically.

He smiled and took her into his arms. He kissed her deeply once more. Before she could lose herself in his embrace, he ended the kiss and stood.

"I should go home now," he told her awkwardly. Between her declaration, her sweet smell, and her body pliable in his hands he twitched with excitement. He needed to leave pronto before things went further and Taisho beheaded him down below.

They carried the dishes downstairs where he bid the Darumaya couple good night. Outside in the back alley of the restaurant, he pulled Kyoko into the shadows and took his time kissing her one last time. He didn't care anymore that she could feel him pressing up against her. His hands slid to cup her ass and lifted to ease the strain of their height difference. Her center settled over him doubling his excitement. As the days wore on, he felt like a hormonal teenager again. He wanted her. She moaned into his mouth which only succeeded in making him harder. The rational part of him told him to step away but not before he ground his hips against her. He could feel the inferno radiating between her legs heating against his pants. This was bad!

With a pitiful groan, he put her down remembering where they were. They were lucky no one could see them back here and at this time of night, the area was practically abandoned.

"Good night, baby. I love you." He gave her ass cheek one final squeeze before releasing her.

She giggled and said bashfully, "Good night, Corn. I love you too."

She said it so cutely this time that his heart skipped. He smiled and gave her a peck on the lips then walked to his car. He would need to take a cold shower when he got home.

A week later, Kanae ignored the pitiful expression on her self proclaimed best friend's face. God, she looks like someone just kicked her puppy! Kanae rolled up the cord to her phone charger and stuff it in her carry-on bag. Time had flown by too fast and now she was leaving for America.

"Mo! Stop looking at me like that!" Kanae scolded. She was trying to do her best not to show too much emotion but Kyoko was making it difficult. She wasn't leaving Japan permanently. Kanae was regretting her choice to have Kyoko see her off at the airport.

"I'm sorry, Moko-san. I'm just going to miss you so much. You were my first and dearest friend in the whole wide universe. I'm going to be lonely without you," Kyoko wailed as crocodile tears fell from her eyes.

"Mo! Knock that off already. It's just for work. I'll be back. We're rivals after all so we need to work hard. And don't kid me with that alone bullcrap. You have many people that care for you. As a top actress, there will be times when you have to work overseas too. I'm sure Tsurug-." Kanae stopped abruptly. She shouldn't bring up that man leaving her for work right now. She had no clue what havoc those thoughts would bring to her friend. She didn't have the time or the patience to deal with that turmoil.

Trying to change the subject Kanae decided to distract her friend before she had to leave. She saw how Kyoko's eyes followed her every move.

"Aren't my nails pretty?"

They were a sparkly pink color that Kanae only agreed with to appease Kyoko. She preferred much darker colors when it came to polish color. Kyoko was able to change the voucher she won from the karaoke contest and used it at a sister location in Tokyo. Kanae wouldn't admit it but she enjoyed the full day of pampering and girl talk. If anyone asked, Kanae would never have passed up something free like this. The spa even provided complimentary food and drink which the girls made sure to take full advantage. Facials, mani/pedis, and massages were part of the package. With a lot of prodding Kanae and Chiori managed to convince Kyoko to get a Brazillian wax. For once Kanae didn't worry about bills or living a double life for work, she relaxed without a care in the world and had fun with her friends.

Kyoko's waterworks stopped instantly as she looked at her friend's nails. She was thrilled when Kanae decided on her suggestion. Just as they were getting closer, her friend was leaving her behind.

Kyoko looked at her manicured hands. Although she wanted to get every nail ornament at the salon, she opted for a more demure look with a French manicure. She didn't want to get something that would clash with Fuji's vision for the Awards night. She hoped he liked her choice. She suddenly brightened up. Kanae didn't deserve to feel guilty about leaving. She was working towards her dream and this was a big stepping stone for her.

"Mo, let's go before I'm late for my flight. I don't know why your manager agreed to give me a ride to the airport but it beats public transportation or paying the cab fare so I appreciate it," Kanae said matter of factly.

...

Yashiro rushed forward to help with her bags when he spotted them coming around the side of the house. Kanae thanked him for his help. She couldn't help but remember his firm muscles on his arms as he easily lifted her large suitcase into the trunk.

On the drive to the airport, he strained to hear the girl's conversation in the back seat. Kyoko asked Kanae, "How did Hiou-kun take the news that you were leaving?"

Yashiro's eye twitched as he glanced at Kanae in the rearview mirror curiously. He kept his face impassive as he struggled to hear her answer. He chided himself for actually being jealous of a pre-teen. Yashiro knew from experience that Hiou was not just any pre-teen. He was very talented and mature for his age.

Kanae made eye contact with Yashiro in the mirror, briefly before answering. Did she just look at me on purpose? Yashiro's mind was reeling from that fleeting moment.

"Mo! You know how he is. Kanae, be sure to do a good job. Don't embarrass Japan. I know you can do it...I swear he's like a nagging father."

Yashiro squeezed his lips to keep from giggling along with Kyoko at her impersonation of the talented boy. It was thanks to Hiou's generosity that Kyoko was able to train and nail the Momiji role. He was an amazing kid.

He pulled the car over to the curb of the departure area at the airport and stepped out to help with the luggage. Kyoko exited the car to hug her best friend. She already had tears pricking her eyes.

Yashiro handed Kanae's luggage over with a warm smile. "Best of luck Kotonami-san, I'm sure you'll do well. Be sure to give Kyoko-chan a call so we know you made it safely." He said that so smoothly he doubted she would pick up the fact that he had a vested interest in her safety.

Kanae bowed politely and thanked him. His pulse quickened as she smiled at him. Kanae turned her attention to her friend.

"Oh my gosh! It's Kyoko-san! Why is she here?" came a squeal from amongst the departees. That set off a flood gate of murmurs.

"Does she have a job here?"

"That's Kotonami-san with her!"

"Kyaa! They're so beautiful! Take pictures quickly."

Yashiro stepped up closer to the girls as the crowd increased.

Kanae glared at her friend. "Mo! Get out of here before you get mobbed! I'll send you an email when I land! Wait for me I'll be sure to catch up!" With a flick of her long black hair, Kanae walked into the airport without looking back.

Yashiro rushed to intervene as several fans swarmed around Kyoko.

"Kyoko-san can we get a photo?"

"Can we get an autograph?"

Kyoko was overwhelmed by the fan recognition. She dashed at the tears that escaped her eyes and took a few minutes to pose for photos and sign autographs.

"We need to leave Kyoko-chan," Yashiro informed her. They were still parked at the curb that was only used for unloading passengers.

She bowed to her fans and apologized. She couldn't disrupt the airport's protocols any longer. She thanked them for their continued support as Yashiro helped her into the car. She waved as they drove away.

"Wow, I can't believe that just happened!" She told Yashiro breathlessly.

"Believe it! You're gaining a name for yourself," he told her confidently. "Your offers are increasing too. Soon you'll be recognized everywhere."

Kyoko sighed. "I guess my peaceful life of anonymity is coming to a close."

AN: Thanks to a long flight layover, I managed to knock this chapter out. Thanks again for reading, following, and favoring. Big thanks to those that left me a review. I appreciate all your feedback.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^