Chapter 163: True Love's Kiss

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren/Kuon would take Kyoko on a romantic drive.

The rush of excitement coursed through her veins as she threw caution to the wind. In all her twenty-one years, she had never done something so reckless, yet so exhilarating in her life. They were breaking the law in so many ways and she went along with it. She glanced down at the man behind the wheel shouting along with her. For a split second, he took his eyes off the road and made eye contact with her, making time stand still.

Those soft brown eyes were alight with laughter and at that moment a lifetime of understanding passed between them. She didn't know who he was, where he came from, or what he did for a living, and she didn't care. It was those eyes that drew him to her in the first place so unlike the rest of his appearance. When they first met she thought him cold and abrasive by his overall demeanor, but those soft brown eyes told a different story when they looked at her. How did she get so lucky? Out of all the beautiful women in the bar, why did he choose her?

Her heart raced with exhilaration at his heated gaze, making her body tingle. Of course, he had to be the cause of her reaction. It couldn't have been because she felt nervous about breaking the law or the fact that they were racing down the street with the chilly breeze blowing through her hair. She severed eye contact first, raised her body to stand, and threw her hands up to the stars howling at the glowing moon. The large hand she had come to know well in the last hour found its way to the small of her back, holding her steady, protecting her in case she fell. That tiny gesture was not lost on her as her heart swelled with warmth and spread throughout her body. The night air didn't seem so chilly anymore.

"CUT!" The director's amplified voice called out from somewhere behind them.

Kyoko collapsed in a heap of laughter when Ren yanked on the hem of her dress to sit her back down. Her boyfriend grimaced next to her but continued to drive the last one hundred feet or so to the brightly lit lot where the crew waited for them. Like their walk, the drive was short but it was far from over. She leaned her cheek against the leather seat and admired how sexy he looked navigating the large car with such ease and confidence. It was unlike any vehicle she had ever seen. When they were rehearsing the scene, Ren referred to it as a classic American muscle. Whatever that meant. All she knew was that the overall design of the car suited him. The way the wind billowed through his hair made her move closer to his side and play with the locks skimming his collar.

"Right here is fine, Ren," a crewman instructed, tapping on the hood. He stopped the car and turned off the engine. Before the couple could scramble out, the crew were already hard at work mounting a camera to the trunk of the car. The fervor in which they worked reminded her of one of those pit stop crews for a formula one race team where they rushed to get tires and brakes changed so their car can get back in the race as soon as possible. It was remarkable to watch.

An assistant placed a cloak over Kyoko's shoulders and once again presented her with the soft slippers. Initially, she declined the comfy shoes, but her boyfriend's interference made her feel guilty.

"It's her job to provide these comforts for you per your contract. It would be unfortunate if word got out that she couldn't do her work properly. I wonder if another film crew would hire her in the future if there was talk that she was barely useful."

Kyoko paled and chased after the young woman. "Wait," she cried out. "I'll take the slippers." She could hear Ren's laughter floating behind her. "I swear that man still knows how to manipulate me," she grumbled as she sat to remove her heels and slip her feet into the soft warm fur of the shoes provided. Yashiro had made the addition to the contract without her knowledge. It was an added luxury she could live without, but now that they were on her feet, she couldn't deny how comfortable they were.

"Doesn't that feel better," Ren smiled, taking the seat beside her.

"It feels wonderful," Kyoko confessed with a satisfied groan. She examined the shoes on her feet and bit her tongue. Judging by the soft leather exterior and the warmth of her stocking toes, they had to be the second most expensive pair of slippers she had ever worn. She doubted nothing could rival the pair the Hizuris provided for her.

A minute later, the assistant returned to hand the couple cups of coffee already flavored to their taste: black for him and cinnamon for her. Yashiro must have taken care of that little detail for them since he had hung back at the trailer to work.

"Thank you," they replied in unison. They sat quietly and watched the crew work on getting the car prepared for the next scene as they drank their coffee. Between the cloak, the slippers, and the hot beverage, Kyoko could feel the goosebumps prickling her skin fade away. She was feeling quite cozy at the moment.

"Ren, Kyoko come and take a look at the footage," Debbie called them over to the back of a work van.

"Wow," Kyoko gasped when they finally joined her and the two assistants in charge of playback. It reminded her of one of those surveillance vans from the movies. The back was covered with screens and the standard computing equipment to operate them. Every job before this one had been filmed in a single location. This time they were traveling, so everything had to move with them.

"Look how wonderful this turned out. You guys have innate and unbeatable chemistry that translates beautifully on film."

Kyoko gaped as she watched their characters come to life on screen. She looked mature but her whole demeanor screamed innocent with the shy glances she stole from him in the hotel lounge. As for him, it could be said that the softness in his eyes and gentle caresses gave one the impression that he wanted to treasure her.

"I have zero complaints about what I've seen so far. Keep up the good work. And Kyoko, I love the wildness about you. Continue to surprise him, his subtle expressions are adorable," Debbie winked and left to check on the status of the crew. Kyoko vibrated with excitement. They were doing a good job so far.

"Just be careful," he mumbled with a slight blush. His expression was too cute that she wanted to squeeze him. Not caring that they were at work or surrounded by people, she wrapped her arms around his waist. There was a kind of anonymity for them here in America, and she felt at ease showing affection in front of so many. It also helped that they were on break, and since their trailers were left behind, there was no room for privacy.

She laid her head against his chest and was comforted by the steady sound of his thumping heart against her ear. "Thank you for supporting me in the car earlier," she whispered.

"I keep my promises. Come on, let's go sit down. There's something I want to tell you." His tone was serious so she pulled out of his embrace, searching his eyes for an answer. He guided her back to their seats before speaking again.

"I've decided to audition for a supporting role in a Hollywood film before leaving LA."

"That's wonderful! I'm so proud of you!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around him and covering his face with kisses.

Ren laughed at her enthusiasm. "I have to audition first," he said, around her roaming lips. "It's not a sure thing."

Kyoko kissed him on the lips, closed mouth, and hard. "Don't speak nonsense," she uttered against his lips. "I know you'll get the part."

There was no room for anxiousness or doubt in her heart over how his decision would affect their relationship. This had always been his dream; he was just too stubborn to follow through with it all this time. She was glad this trip helped him make some peace with his past, allowing him to find the courage and pursue his dream. Kyoko had been mentally preparing herself for when this moment and would continue to support him in any capacity that he needed. One day, when she was established as Japan's top actress, she would like to follow in his footsteps.

"You have so much confidence in me," he said with a tinge of awe in his voice.

"That's because I know how brilliant and hardworking you are when it comes to acting."

"What if I…" he began in a doubtful tone. Kyoko pressed her index finger against his lips to stop his words.

"Don't do that. You've worked too hard to doubt yourself," she stressed, cupping his face in her hands so he couldn't look away. "All you can do is give it your all and show them what a great actor you've become."

"You're always right, princess," he admitted. He took both her hands in his and kissed each palm. "Where would I be without you?"

"Stuck," she whispered.

His chocolate brown eyes gazed at her intently for several beats then flicked down to her lips. Kyoko's tongue darted out, wetting them in anticipation of his kiss. The hand on her waist trailed up her back, resting at her nape while the other held her face. When he leaned toward her, she leaned slowly closing the gap between them.

Cough! Cough! Ahem!

The sound of whispers and low giggling followed.

The couple's movements halted just as their lips were about to collide and turned toward the sound. The lead make-up artist, hairstylist, and costume designer stood several feet away trying to get their attention.

Kyoko jumped off Ren's lap and bowed while straightening her dress. Beside her, Ren stood and smoothed out the wrinkles in his jacket.

"Young love," the hairstylist teased. The other women were quick to agree. Kyoko blushed another shade of red, but it was comforting to hear people in America tease them just like in Japan.

The costume designer circled them, examining their outfits. She adjusted a collar here and a sleeve there until she was satisfied. "Your outfits look in order," she announced, stepping back for the other ladies to do their work.

The makeup artist started with Ren while the hairstylist worked on Kyoko. She gently combed through the knots of her windblown hair, spritzed it with firming spray then switched with the makeup artist. Naturally, it took Kyoko longer to have her face touched up. By the time she was done, the director and her assistant were waiting to review the next scene.

"Okay, you two need to be in character for the duration of this trip. Remember, when you're in the car, you're being recorded. The drive would probably take about thirty minutes from this location if we stick to the back roads. Once again, I'll be with the camera crew in the front vehicle. I've also taken precautions and arranged a police escort so no outsiders would interfere with the filming. These," Debbie took the sheet of lyrics from her assistant and handed it over to Ren. "They're the lyrics that I want you to sing. The song will play in an endless loop in the car, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to get it right. Again, do what you two do best and let the song move you. We'll be getting ready to go soon, so if you guys need coffee, food, or a bio break, now is your chance."

"Any questions, comments, complaints?"

The couple shook their heads.

"Good!" She left in a whirl leaving Ren and Kyoko's head reeling from her no-nonsense attitude. If they had to describe the American director in one word it would be efficient.

...

Ten minutes later, while Ren ran through the song in his head, the assistant came to notify them that they were ready to go. During that time, he used the portable washroom and ate a danish Kyoko forced on him from the food truck. They made their way to the car and examined the new equipment inside. Besides the large one on the trunk, two smaller cameras were added below the dash on each side. Judging by the angle of the lens, it was safe to say that the view of those cameras filmed no lower than their chests. Wardrobe malfunctions wouldn't be an issue. The three new cameras joined the existing two that were mounted on the windshield and the mobile cameras following them in other vehicles. Debbie wanted to have a variety of views to choose from. She wasn't ruling out anything and had great faith in her editing team to clean the final cut.

"Are you tired?" Ren asked Kyoko. She had removed the cloak and put her red heels back on. Kyoko shook her head in denial but turned away quickly. For some reason, the urge to yawn overtook him. His eyes blurred momentarily and he covered his mouth while he exhaled. When Kyoko turned back to him her eyes were slightly moist.

"Did you just yawn?" Ren asked accusingly and narrowed his eyes at her.

"No," she chirped innocently.

He pinched her cheeks and tugged lightly making her whine. "You know yawns are contagious, missy."

"It's all your fault. I wasn't feeling tired until you asked me if I was," she mumbled, patting her cheeks to not ruin her makeup. "It triggered me to yawn." Her eyes widened as she yawned again. She covered her mouth cutely as the reflex passed. This time Ren was prepared and bit back a yawn of his own.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what's come over me all of a sudden. I had all that caffeine too," she complained.

"It has been a long day and an even longer night for us. I'm going to ask the director if we could increase our speed. The rush of cool air should wake us both up."

"Are you two ready?" Debbie asked, approaching the couple.

"Just about, would it be okay if we increased our speed. I think the adrenaline rush would do us both some good."

Debbie's brows furrowed with concern. She looked between them and sighed. "Fine, we'll set a faster pace but be careful," she wagged her finger at Ren like a scolding mother. "If at any time you feel uncomfortable, slow down, and we'll match your speed. Capiche?"

"Yes, ma'am! Thank you!"

The couple clambered into the car, careful of the new equipment by their legs. Ren started the engine, then fell in behind the director's vehicle with the camera mounted in the bed of the truck. It made him nervous to see the cameraman and director exposed like that, but was relieved to see that they were tethered safely, minimizing the probability of falling out.

He had just tricked his mind to imagine that they had the road all to themselves when the director shouted, "Action!"

He smiled at her laughter and glanced in her direction. She was leaning against the door, her right hand weaving up and down, cutting through the air as they sped down the deserted road. She caught him staring at her and flashed him a sweet smile. He turned back to the road, broadening his smile. In his peripheral vision, he saw her move away from the door and slink closer to him. He wished this beauty had a bench seat like other classic cars of this size so she could sit closer to him, but as it was, the center console separated them.

His eyes widened with surprise then chuckled as she cozied up against him. Leave it to her not to care about the discomfort of the cool metal plate that decorated the space between the chairs. He moved closer to the driver's door to give her some room on his seat and wrapped her in his free arm. He didn't know how much time passed while they were in that position, and for a moment he thought she had fallen asleep on him. A glance in the rearview mirror confirmed she was wide awake as he caught sight of those dazzling golden eyes. When he took the turn and began their ascent, she lifted her head off his shoulder to look at their surroundings.

There wasn't much to see, but darkness and trees; they were still too low. He focused on the winding road ahead leading them uphill for any signs of wildlife on the road. Her soft gasp notified him that their elevation increased enough to break through the top of the trees. The city lights in the distance were now visible behind them. Once again, she took him by total surprise and climbed into the back seat. As a cautionary reaction, he slowed the car down until he knew she was safe before accelerating. From the mirror, he watched her celebrate as more of the view became visible. Her jubilee was short-lived. She slumped with disappointment as the road twisted around the backside of the mountain obstructing her view of the lights.

Rather than coming back to the front, she moved forward in the back seat and hugged him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. His heart sped up erratically having her face so close that her breath tickled his ear. The hand he had resting on the shift knob reached back and caressed her hair. In the mirror, he saw a content smile play on her lips.

'Let's go drive 'till morning comes, Watch the sunrise and fill our souls up, Drink some wine 'till we get drunk….yeah.'

The drive took a few more minutes before they reached their final destination. He stopped the car, cut the engine, but left the headlights on to beam their path. She was quick to get out of the car and assume her stage, twirling in front of the yellowed spotlights. He waited by the car perfectly content watching while her arms undulated up to the sky and her hips swayed to the song playing on the stereo. She stopped spinning when she finally noticed the breathtaking view behind her. She held out her hand inviting him to join her. Their fingers intertwined, naturally, as they walked the few steps to the low wooden railing, ignoring the sign that read, 'CAUTION: DO NOT GO BEYOND THIS POINT.'

He helped her over the forbidden railing and leaned against it with her small frame secured in his arms, noting how perfect she fit. This was what he wanted to show her. An unobstructed view of the city lights of downtown Los Angeles. The pure joy on her face as he pointed out the Hollywood Sign and the Observatory in the distance made his heart swell. It was a good choice to bring her up here.

Thoughts of her trusting and leaving with a total stranger soon invaded his mind. He slumped his head on her shoulder and squeezed tighter. It scared him that some other man, a lesser man, could have been in his place right about now. 'Did she have any idea how he felt about her? Why did she choose to leave with him?' She twisted in his embrace, and slipped her arms around his neck, holding his troubled gaze. As it had all night, he was mesmerized by those golden pools and found himself leaning down to finally taste her lips completely.

"CUT!" Debbie shouted into her megaphone before they could seal the kiss. "I don't know what happened in the end, but I got the feeling that things went dark. Shake it off and get back to living for the night. Just enjoy each other's company."

Ren grimaced and apologized with a bow. This was their first NG and it was all his fault.

"Don't worry about it. We got exactly what we wanted from this scene. I'm going to review the final seconds of the footage to determine if we need to reshoot it or not. How about you both relax inside the bus for now?"

Ren nodded and let Kyoko lead him to the bus. Thankfully it was empty at the moment since everyone filed out to stretch and enjoy the view. Since Ren's mind was in turmoil, Kyoko took charge of the situation.

"Thank you, but we don't need coffee right now," she told the assistant assigned to them. "Could you please watch the door and not allow anyone in for a few minutes. We need some time to discuss our game plan for the next scene."

"Of course, you can count on me!" She scrambled out the door and stood guard several feet away from the bus.

"Hey, do you want to talk about it?" She prodded gently, taking his hand in hers.

"I'm sorry, I fu- messed up," he corrected his language. "My character started having unnecessary thoughts..."

"Unnecessary...like, 'how did I get so lucky' or 'why me' or 'what if it wasn't me'?"

He gaped at her, shocked that she had hit the nail on the head.

Before he could ask the question, she answered, "I know because those were some of my character's thoughts too."

"That time in the back seat?" He asked incredulously. Ren had felt a slight change in her demeanor then.

"Among others," she replied. "You helped me pull out of it. That simple gesture of your hand in my hair made it all go away."

"You're incredible, princess."

"That should be my line," she pouted. "I couldn't even help you."

"I'm sure if the director had not interrupted, I would have been freed from this curse with true love's kiss," he admitted, leaning his forehead against hers.

"Really?" she whispered with a smile. He thought the little fairytale reference would cheer her up.

"Want to see if you can turn this frog into a prince?"

She didn't even hesitate and closed her eyes excitedly. Ren cupped the back of her neck and guided her lips to his. He smiled against them when she released a contented sigh. He tilted her head and deepened the kiss sucking on her bottom lip and teasing it with his tongue.

"Well, I'm glad you two are still good." The director's voice popped their little intimate bubble.

Ren and Kyoko jumped apart, embarrassed. How many times were they going to get ambushed like this?

"Director," Ren said clearing his throat and sitting up straighter. Kyoko gasped in horror and began rubbing at his lips.

Debbie laughed. He probably had Kyoko's bright red lipstick smeared on his face right about now.

"You'll both need touch-ups with make-up."

"Sorry," Ren replied sheepishly and swiped at his face.

"Anyway, I came here to let you know the film looks good. We can head over to the next location. You guys can ride on the bus. I'll have someone else drive the car. Once we get closer, we'll swap out and start filming."

"Thank you," they replied.

"Any last-minute questions before we get going?"

The couple shook their heads.

"Okay, take this opportunity to get some rest," the director instructed and left the bus.

"I suddenly feel so sleepy," Kyoko yawned. He yawned immediately after, making them both laugh.

"See, contagious," he told her pointedly. "Lay your head on my shoulder and rest. It'll be a while before we get down this mountain."

Kyoko snuggled against him and with a sleep-induced voice she whispered, "Thanks for bringing me here, Corn. It was a magical place."

He smiled and kissed her forehead wishing he could have brought her under different circumstances. "Get some sleep, baby." He yawned again and resigned to rest his eyes for a moment. Leaning his head back on the soft cushion, he fell fast asleep as soon as his lids fluttered closed.

...

Noticing the couple softly snoring, the crew members riding on the bus crept toward their seats to keep from disturbing them. They filed in one by one, shushing those behind them. The party atmosphere during the drive up the mountain was forfeited for a silent ride down. Without deliberation, it was a unanimous decision to remain quiet while they headed to the next location.

AN: Well, this MV is taking on a life of its own. I did promise a mini-drama so I hope you guys like it so far...because there's more! LOL

Thank you for always reading and for the reviews of the last chapter. I HEART you all!

Again some lyrics included from the song "Crush," by Dave Matthew's band.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^