CHAPTER 117

I do not own Skip Beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.

~~Magical Summer trip ~~

~~ part 23~~

~~Emotions dropped into soup and skate~~

~One hour ago, Julie & Kyoko

They did not have much time left before having to return, and were actually making their way to the car with the intention to go back to the Hizuri castle, as she labelled in her mind, when Julie-san stopped in front of a store.

It was not one of the most ostentatious ones she had seen since they strolled through some of the more glamorous streets of L.A., and certainly not as over-the-top as the ones Ren's mother had tried to drag her into, earlier. Nonetheless, Julie-san had stopped in her tracks upon seeing the display case of the neat store. She was eyeing some colourful small piece of clothes that looked especially warm and comfy, and it didn't take Kyoko long to notice those were shawls.

"Did something catch your interest, Julie-san?"She asked after a minute, noticing Ren's mother torn face.

"Well, usually it wouldn't, it would be way too warm, but – …"

Her companion waved her hand in the air.

"You know, with all this climate change thing, weather actually does get cold in winter. But not so far that I can pull out the clothes I'd take for a proper cold trip."Julie explained with a smile.

"And this would be a good middle, I can see that."Kyoko grinned, and coming closer, she was able to see some of the descriptions of the clothes. The fact most was in Cashmere or Merinos made far more sense too. Those materials permitted to keep the outside form of the cloth and thread elegant and thin, while keeping you as warm and cosy as if it had been made of thick wool matter. "I also noticed the change of weather in San Francisco, so I understand."

She peeked around the two window cases, taking a look at every item displayed and crossed her hands behind her back. She did not want to pressure Ren's mother, so, she let her look at full ease, before coming back to her.

"Is there one you like, or chose, Julie-san?"

"There is," she said before looking pointedly at her, "But someone will refuse to enter with me if I go."

Kyoko grinned, seemingly innocent.

"Which one?"

She saw Julie narrowing her eyes at her but she replied anyway, crossing her arms.

"The emerald green Cashmere shawl on the left."

Kyoko looked to the left display window, and sure enough a sumptuous smooth vibrant green shawl stood there on a plastic figure.

"It is beautiful."She said, and turned back to Julie-san. "Can you wait for a second?" She asked and upon seeing the dazzled agreement of Ren's mother, she added with a smirk. "I'll be right back."

She rushed inside the store, and returned a second later with someone from the boutique. Thankfully, with the current weather, not many people were visiting the shop, and one of the saleswomen had been available right away. She was holding a fancy box in her hand that she opened for Julie-san to look into. And before she had a chance to protest, Kyoko proposed her to try it on. She was instantly enchanted to discover, when she did, that it looked absolutely amazing on her and told her as much. Before long, Kyoko was asking the saleswoman to pack it and discreetly gave her a couple of bills.

It took a good second to Julie-san, before she came to her.

"Kyoko-chan, did you just pay for it?"

Kyoko smiled.

"Of course. You wanted the shawl, didn't you?"

Julie blinked at her.

"I did. But I should have paid for that, Kyoko-chan."
Kyoko tilted her head.

"But it is a pleasure to offer it to you, Julie-san. And I mostly forced your hand into trying it on. It is only normal."

It seemed Ren's mother had a hard time coming back with a response, because she took a while to find a voice again, and the saleswoman was back with the package neatly put into a black cardboard bag. Kyoko took the bag and thanked the woman and she returned inside.

"How did you convince them to come out with any item outside?" Julie-san finally asked.

"I briefly explained my predicament and she accepted to come outside with it if she could tag along and carry it." Kyoko replied with a smile.

Julie shook her head.

"No, that's not it. Kyoko-chan, you are a guest. How is it that you are offering me things, instead of the other way around?"

Kyoko chuckled.

"Well, for one, the opposite, is way too dangerous, so it can only be this way."

Ren's mother pursed her lips grumpily, though Kyoko could see amusement twinkle in her eyes.

"That is both fair and unfair."

"For two, it is exactly that. I'm a guest. You have welcomed me in your house. Isn't it normal I'd like to do a little something for you?"

She gaped at her, at a loss, before frowning.

"But that's – … No. Guests are the ones that should be treated and spoiled, Kyoko-chan." She countered.

"But that means it would only be one-way. Plus, you know, in Japan, guests bring gifts."

She added swiftly, proud she was able to keep her seriousness, despite how flabbergasted Ren's mother appeared to be.

She grinned, realizing it was time to assess the final blow.

"Also, I'm sure Ren would want me to treat his parents well," she ended, blinking oh-so-innocently, "Especially his mother. So it is only normal I'd give you a little something. And I'm only grateful for the occasion, I just wouldn't have known what you could have appreciated otherwise."

She couldn't contain her smirk near the end, seeing how the situations had changed, but she still gave genuine eyes and words to Julie-san as she added.

"I couldn't bear to disappoint Ren, and it is my pleasure. So, please accept this gift, Julie-san." And she presented her with the sleek shiny bag that Ren's mother numbly took, after a whiplashed nod. Kyoko smiled happily, and in the same move, pulled out her phone from her pocket.

"Oh. It is almost noon." She started, turning to Ren's mother, "I'm sorry, I hadn't seen."

Julie peeked at her phone, seeing the time displayed.

"You're right, it is," she said with no small amount of consternation, "It's okay, I didn't check either. But I'm afraid we must go, Kyoko-chan, we cannot stay any longer."

Kyoko waved her hand up twice.

"It's all good, really."

"I would have loved to have more time to shop with you." Julie pouted, while eyeing her with a little too much sharpness in her gaze, even when she smiled at her.

Kyoko beamed back without a care.

"It's quite alright, Julie-san. We got what we wanted after all, right?"

"… Right."

The disappointed, yet oh-so suspicious expression of Julie Hizuri was so funny, Kyoko truly wanted to laugh, and had all the difficulties keeping her a blank face in place.

But the alarm Kyoko had set to not miss the moment they had to return rang, and spared her what she could only guess would have been a fightback round on Julie-san part.

"They are going to wait for us, I'm afraid," Ren's mother said, "I had hoped to be done a little earlier than that. Let's go."

She nodded and they walked back towards the car, Kyoko letting Julie hurry the step with a grin she failed to fully dissimulate.

Mission to avoid Ren's mother to buy her countless outfits and unnecessary things: Success.

She was more than a little proud.

As if she would have let what happened when she played Setsu repeat! She had never had to be so scheming, but in this lone case, it was worth it. She could blame her inability to counter Cain as her barely discovering the dangerous generous tendencies of the Hizuri family, all these years back. And her being in the middle of a role. But she was not clueless anymore. And not only was it completely useless to spend so much money on her, it would be taking advantage of their over-the-top generosity. She just could not let that happen. Plus, she had no idea how much Ren's mother might feel obliged to treat her because she was Ren's friend. She didn't want her to feel like she ought to spoil her, nor did she want to be the kind of person that abused the money of their friend's rich parents. She was not here for that. And it would be just wrong. They might be doing it from the kindness of their hearts – she knew that – , but they barely knew her, especially Ren's mother. It was unfair to them. And their money was just better spent on something else. Like on their son. Or anything really.

Happens once, blame on them. Happens twice, blame on me, she harrumphed her thought in her mind.

§§§

On the way back, Julie-san didn't say much, focusing on the road and they reached the little road leading to the castle mansion just as Kyoko was wondering if she should try to talk with her. It isn't she wasn't curious. For example, she would have truly loved to know how Ren was when he was very little, like the years before he met her as Corn. And she also wondered if Julie had always loved modelling, and what had brought a fire for it in her. It was just surprising for her, with her son and husband so deep gone into acting. And since she was a model herself, she wondered. Because, she did like modelling, but it also had tiring aspects, and couldn't imagine making it her main job. She would get bored very soon if she tried. So, curiosity gnawed at her from several directions. But she didn't think she knew Ren's mother enough to ask her questions, and felt too awkward. Earlier had been easier, she had been solely focused on escaping of this shopping trip, and of Julie-san's intentions to spend money on her. So, her unease faced to a nearly stranger had momentarily left. No, her unease was not due to that. Or it was just a small portion of it. The biggest part came from the feeling of wanting to please her, to be appreciated by her. Because she already loved this family. But mostly, because it was Ren's Mum. And as ridiculous as it could be, knowing she would never take the spot of Ren's partner and lover – , she still longed for his mother approbation and appreciation. As if it could close the giant precipice separating her from Ren and her deepest desires, and from being part of this family.

She sighed at her thoughts. How come she always ended up hoping for motherly love, one way or another? It was truly baffling to her.

Julie-san pulled in the alley and went to park in the garage, and she returned to the present just in time to get out of the car. She took her albums and Julie took the shining black bag, and they made their way through the house to the main living area. She eyed the feminine figure walking in silence with her as they reached the living room, suspecting Ren's mother was sulking a bit, and her lips quirked a bit.

§§§

They heard the door as his mum and Kyoko got out of the corridor, and Ren stared at them, as his mother proudly walked the way to the low table to place a lone small black bag, not carrying anything else in her hands. Kyoko had, for her part, a dense thick paper-brown package slipped under the arm and was sporting a huge smile.

He arched a brow at her and her grin turned a little smug.

His father marched to his mother with a smile that turned into concern upon seeing her.

"How was the morning? You okay? The bags are in the car?"

She shook her head, and despite the pout that Ren could see presently, a reluctant smile sneaked its way on her too.

"That's everything."

The slight concern on his dad's face turned into proper worry.

"You didn't buy anything else? Are you okay? Do you feel sick?"

His rushed change of attitude made Ren want to laugh but he understood his father. That was awfully frugal of his mother. Even on a day she would not have felt especially in the mood for shopping, and she very much had been 'in the mood' for it before leaving.

He stole a glance to Kyoko again, and felt his own lips twitched just for seeing her face, contorted between amusement and an attempt at hiding it.

'What did you do? He mouthed to her quietly, and she pinched her lips.

'Nothing.' She mouthed back. But her shit-eating grin said otherwise.

"And this one was not even bought by me," his mother added, pointing with her chin at the table and making his father's worry increase, and again a mix of frustration – and maybe reluctant pride – he was not sure – appeared on her face.

"If you'd excuse me for a second," Kyoko said suddenly with a spring smile when he was about to ask his mum to explain, "I'll go put this away, and I'll be back."

She pivoted on her heels under three pairs of eyes, and walked away – though slowing in her steps as she hesitated and tried to spot the right corridor to go, which made him smile. Clearly, she thought his parents' house was a maze and was still attempting to figure out her ways in.

Ren turned back to his mother with curiosity.

"What do you mean, you didn't buy this one?"

"Yes, honey. You never come back with nothing." Kuu added, rubbing his mother's arms like he was afraid she was freezing. "If you think we need to be more economic and worry about your shopping expenses, I assure you, you don't need to be. Please tell me there is a good reason, so I can stop freaking out."

Ren snorted at his dad's melodramatic way of phrasing it.

His mum crossed her arms, and the sulk she had apparently been attempting to refrain came back with a vengeance.

"I meant that Kyoko-chan bought it." And after a pause, she continued. "For me."

The furrow was so deep in his dad forehead, as if he tried to resolve the universe deep-rooted laws. But Ren felt his lips twitch. Now, he really needed to know the bottom end of this.

"That still doesn't explain why you did not buy anything, honey."Countered Kuu, his puzzlement lacing his voice. "This is just not normal."

Julie lifted her chin at them, and turned sideways.

"… She didn't let me."

Ren cough. His father blinked.

"She. Did. Not. Let. You?"

Ren cough again, and a very slight tremor agitated his sides. Oh-oh. Twenty-four hours in the house, she had been here for twenty-four hours.

His mother sighed and looked back them grumpily.

"Yes. She did not."

"But… How?"

His dad sounded so confused. Oh, it was hard. It was so hard. But he kept it in. He did it.

His mum pointed a finger at him.

"She had seen how our son shopped and he bought her a dozen same outfits and whatnots, that's how." She started with a grumped but continued with a growing smile, "The moment she saw the boutiques where I usually shop, she said she would not go in there with me, that she didn't need anything."

"But you could just tell her you needed something, sweetheart, no?" Protested his father, who did not understand, still.

The sparkling smile that got out to both the men … they were going to be diced if they emitted the slightest judgement.

"How, when I'm the one knowing Kyoko-chan the least, am I the one figuring that out, honey?"

She threateningly sweet-talked to his dad, and he gave her an apologetic smile, even through his confusion, adding even a nod, just be sure. This was more than a tremor begging to be let out inside their son, but he kept quiet again.

"She is way too perceptive. She knew right away I had wanted to give you some time just with the two of you, and told me as much."

"But you could have li – "

"Lied?"His mum asked his father with a scoff.

"Kuu, she asked me to prove her wrong and tell her what I wanted to buy if truly did," Julie fumed, "It was so fast and I was so caught off guard that I said the truth."

"…"

It seemed his dad was finally seeing it hadn't been a question of theory but possibility.

"And she added that she tried to buy as little as possible and believed in the ecological ways, then said if I truly needed to, she would wait in a cafe or somewhere, that she didn't mind."

Ren wrapped his left arm around his belly, very, very tightly.

His father, knowing that, at the bottom of it, his mum being the generous person she was, had also wanted to buy clothes for her, gave her an understanding smile and added softly.

"Couldn't you have tried to tell her you needed her opinion or something?" His dad proposed.

His mum, recognizing the olive branch and efforts, smiled at him.

"I tried that. She told me the only way she would go inside a clothes shop with me was if I left my wallet, cards and phone in the car and went to a shop that didn't know me."

Oh gosh.

This time, even Kuu lips pulled up. Then, his mum let out a suffering sigh.

"But just when I was trying to think how to work around that, Kyoko-chan said the only way she would go inside of these shops was if she were the one paying. That she would be happy to pay. As if I would let her do that, Kuu!"

His mother looked as much appalled as scandalized. And many, many other things that went with not being in agreement with this way of seeing things.

Ren's whole body started to shake and he saw his father was not far behind.

His mother started to walk the prime carpet of the living room in a fuzzy of scandalous grumbles in Russian and reluctant compliments as she continued. Her heels snapping against it with the force of her steps, despite the cushioned matter that should have deafened them. "And that is not all! Far from it. Damn it all, I was totally outsmarted!"

"Just when I was wondering if I could agree to that and try to sneak by her later on to the cashier, and be able to reverse things and still buy something… Because you know I wouldn't have needed to make try her anything to know what her size was, I just had to manage to drag her into one shop, one, and maybe I would have been able to see which clothes made her pause or something… You know I would have been able to do that, Kuu, right?"

His father smiled reassuringly at her.

"I do. You would have done it. Even with those – … Restrictions." And his mother gave a sharp relieved nod.

"But then, Kyoko-chan proposed we would go look for something for you two instead. That would be much more fun to stroll around and shop for my family."

"I need to sit… Down," Whined Ren, as he sat on the carpet and rest his head on his knee, but from the corner of his eye he saw his dad's shakes worsen too, even if he didn't turn around to look at him.

His mother continued to fume.

"She did that to distract me, Kuu." She raged. "Oh, she was sincere about finding something, I could see she had had that idea way before we arrived. But placing at that moment of the discussion was not an accident, ha! She did that on purpose! And it damn worked! I completely forgot about buying her stuff. The. Thought. Was. Completely. Obliterated. I was too overjoyed by the idea."

Tears started to roll down on Ren's face as the dam began to crack, and it was only because his mother was speaking so loud his snickers – the results of his attempts at keeping it, more or less, in-weren't heard yet.

"So, we strolled around, looking at several shops…"

She paused and Ren wondered why for a second until his mum added.

"Afterwards, we started to head back and – …" He had the sudden impression she was skipping a part of the story voluntarily, and questioned if it was to not say if the enterprise of looking for something had been a success or not. On the other hand, she was unwilling to not talk about it, and not saying they hadn't found anything, it probably meant they had.

"… We came upon one of the rare shops that sold warm things in this season, Kuu, you know I have been looking for stuff that can work with the recent irregular weather of these last years, but don't need 20 degrees below 0 to be comfortable."
His father nodded in silence, lips pinched, while from his side Ren stood suspended to his mother's mouth, waiting.

"I saw a beautiful green cashmere shawl and Kyoko-chan proposed me to try it out. She came back with the saleswoman before I had the time to think, and it got packed a minute or so later."

She grabbed his father's shoulders.

"When I tried to protest she shouldn't be the one buying me clothes and that she was a guest. She returned that it was especially because she was a guest she should treat me with something, that it was a fucking common custom in Japan, Kuu!"

His dad brought his hand up, and coughed, trying and failing to contain his smile.

His mother took a big lump of air, smiling and her eyes shined with the ire of a repressed generous woman.

"She finished me up by saying she ought to treat us well for our son! That Kuon would be disappointed if she didn't treat his mother well, and that she wouldn't want that."

Ren broke. Doubled over on his knee, and brought down to hoots of laugher and chortles until he was coughing tears and lungs, and battling against belly cramps that made him say some not so discreet 'ouches' and 'owes' between his fits. His mother hadn't stood a chance. Beaten to a T.

"I couldn't buy her a single piece, Kuu! Not a single one!"

A definite masculine wisp of air came from the area his parents stood, but he was too busy trying to breathe to manage to peek up at them.

"I'm truly sorry, honey…" Came from his father in a strangled tone. "Maybe next time?"

She huffed in what could only be described as disbelief.

"Only if she forgets to be this crafty…"

Her voice was both amused and resigned to his son. But then he heard her coming closer to him, before suddenly stopping in her tracts to speak to the both of them, and Ren looked up to see his mum staring at him. She closed her eyes and shook her head with a defeated grin.

"She is a redoubtable adversary."

A proud smirk traced Ren's face in between his receding bouts of laugh, amazed Kyoko had actually managed to avoid his mother shopping tendencies. Really, how hard had she tried?

Then, his mum walked up close and crouched in front of him, placing a warm hand on his shoulder to whisper in a fond tone.

"You'd better catch her, Kuon." There was no need to say more, all was encapsulated in this lone commanded sentence of her, and he felt his heart swell, hearing what she was not spelling.

He knew his mum would love her. He had always known she would. But having the knowledge of something and seeing were different. More than that, he hadn't expected it to happen so fast. But the joy he felt knowing his mother was already warming up to her could not be bounded by words. Because even knowing so from the start, he had still dreaded and hoped all the same for his parents to see how wonderful she was.

Nodding with a slow chuckle, his simple affectionate words in response contained all that he couldn't say.

"Thank you… Mum."

She stood back with a smile.

"Now, if you'd excuse me, I'll go satisfy my frustration with some compulsory online shopping."

"Have fun, honey," His father said, as he made a few steps and hunched his head in the corridor while leaning on the angle of the wall leading to it. His tone had made to sound neutral but his son could hear all the mirth he tried to conceal in the slightly higher pitch of the end of the word 'honey'.

Her steps hushed away as she retreated proudly towards his parents' bedroom, and more snorts escaped his son.

When she was gone, Kuu dropped his forehead on the creamy-tinted wall.

"Your mother failed to buy clothes…"

And the violent shakes his father must have repressed all along won over.

§§§

Kyoko

"If you are not too hungry, I'd like us to leave too and go have lunch on the way," Ren proposed, not that long after his parents left to work. His dad had an ending scene to shoot and his mother had to re-coordinate some outfits for a future runaway.

"Sure."She agreed. Ren appeared kinda impatient, and she didn't really care if they ate outside or at his parents, anyway.

"Let me just get something, and we are out, then." He said, going to his room.

When he came back, she could not help but gape at him. He was sporting faded jeans again, and he looked damn good in them, and a loose but vibrant blue shirt that let his strong shoulders peak a little, and made her want to peck the bridge of those collarbones until the rim of the cloth. It was yet another surprise on how good he looked in chill outfits, though she should have expected it by now. Both how amazing he always was in anything he donned, and her reaction to it. Yet, it kept surprising her.

This was not the most astonishing, however. What was, was the blond wig nicely plopped on top of his head, making him look the epitome of Corn. Kyoko was sure it was a wig, he could not have had the time to dye his hair in the minute he left, and more importantly, the colour was slightly wrong. A little too ashy of a blond. A tone you could expect on an adult blond, even when they had the lightest of hair as a child. But she knew better. His hair shined brighter than gold in the sun. They hadn't faded a speck.

Her fingers twirled in some of his locks to put them away, before she thought properly. It was unfair how fairylike he looked like that. In more savage and sexier.

"Well, hello Corn."

The smile he returned her was so radiant she pulled her hand away, shifting her eyes before he could see how dazed it had made her.

"I thought you had said it was better if you kept your brown hair while you were here, though?"She enquired, to distract herself of how dashing he looked, and a tad because she was truly confused.

"I know. And anywhere close to studios or show-business crowds that still stands," Ren said, but the grimace that followed told her he was not as serene as he pretended to be. "But since we are visiting some old places, there are some chances we will cross paths with someone I used to know personally."

"Well, maybe not all of them," he amended with a smile, "I doubt we will meet anyone I knew at my old school, for example." She grinned too. Unlikely indeed.

"But other areas, we might. And if they knew me, there is no way they wouldn't recognize me if they saw me as Ren." He added. "In that case, might as well be like this, so they don't blow my cover, before they can even think about it."

"And they wouldn't recognize me, as well."

He paused for a second.

"Actually, there is a chance they would know you from your roles, but you are especially good at becoming your characters," he said with a smile to her, "so, I'd say it's just the lesser risk here."
She nodded with understanding, but that got her to wonder.

"Does that mean if we do meet someone you used to know, we should not expect them to be a friend?"

He gave her a grim smile.

"I didn't have many friends, besides Rick and Tina."

"Alright, then." She cracked her fingers, jokingly. "I'll stay ready to shield storms, if needed."

He laughed.

"You are too awesome." He said, and abruptly hugged her against his side, smiling from ear to ear. Floored by his words, she didn't protest, and simply shook her head after a while.

"So, where are you taking me?" Kyoko asked as they settled inside the car.

He smiled.

"It depends of you really. I can show you the places I used to know and spend time in, or I can start by show you some the fun places to go to, though mine might have become a bit outdated."

She did not even hesitate as she responded.

"I'm more curious to see what you used to do and go, if I'm honest." She gave him a grin, "Besides acting, that is."

"Old places first, then."

She gave a nod but then tilted her head.

"It looks like you have some fun places in mind too?"

His lips perked up mysteriously, but he remained laconic.

"Some."

She glanced at him, and he added.

"Unless you don't want to."

She shook her head.

"Fun is great too."

He tilted his lips, and she just knew he was amused by her way of phrasing that.

"So?"

"Eating first. I know my girl." He said as he started the rental car, "But we can drive by my old school on the way, if you'd like. Though, there is really not much to say. I only did my primary years there. I took private lessons afterwards."

She responded by a curt nod, and managed a semblance of a smile, while her head rang with his words. My girl. My girl. My girl.

Her heart pulsed in the most delightful of the pains. Both experimenting the torments of the purgatory and the firmament of the paradise. Either way, one question stood.

Was he trying to kill her?

If so, he would succeed very soon, because he was way too skilled at the activity.

Trying to be discreet, she took a deep breath she let swell inside, and expired as long as she could. She felt thankful he was driving and couldn't look in her direction. She rubbed her chest and repeated the process until her shoulders eventually let some loose.

Gosh, Ren…

They drove for a couple more minutes before he slowed to point a sleek curvy building in light sandy tones and filled with windows that spread on a grand surface, and were surrounded by well-kept lawn and several trees. He had proposed to go directly to eat but when they got stuck in traffic jam, he made a detour and Ren ended up showing her the old basket court he went to when he was a preteen. Some kids were playing when they stopped by, looking as happy and carefree as kids can be, but they didn't stick around long. She had wondered if he just didn't want to see it, but watching him, it had looked more like the memories had faded too much for him to truly connect with the place. And she actually stayed longer watching the court and trying to imagine him as kid here playing than him, when he said he had to make a quick call before they left.

They drove for a little while after that, and she observed the many houses as they pulled away from downtown and the high buildings to go back near the coast, until Ren parked the car in front of a cute greenery façade interlacing windows and a slabbed narrow path following a low railing, and surrounded by more bushes and plants. It drove forefront before curving around the demure establishment, and mysteriously leading away. What stole her breath was the giant white trunk of a very old tree surround by a tiny bed of lawn in, itself circled by a two hands high of cemented bricks wall. It gave an ancient way natural feel. By the size of it, she shouldn't have doubted it was a real one, but she had to lift her head to see if the branches sported any leaves. They carried above and it all the perimeter she could stretch her gaze, and she had to twist her neck behind to see their ends, as they were partially parked under, in what seems like an eternity. Until, finally, she could spot the leaves.

"That is humongous."She said with awe.

"It is."Looking backwards towards the pointy ends too, he agreed. "Shall we?" he said and got out before she got out of her amazement.

Then, he was at her door, opening it.

She smiled but shook her head.

"You don't have to do that."

"Humour me."And he had the nerve to lift his palm in front of her to take.

Her hand slipped in those strong fingers unthinkingly, but the instant it did his lids tilted down and his stare softened.

Her heart rammed into her throat. They are so … yielding.

How can he look so poignantly raw with just one pair of eyes boring into her own? She thought as fingers softly engulfed her whole hand, and he pulled her up, giving her respite. She looked at the magnificent tree to give herself some composure.

That unashamed warmth he so freely gave her had inflamed her, and she couldn't even explain it but she was tearing up.

The zeal of her emotion just looking at him made her ache. She felt… Bruised. By how bestowed she was feeling.

By the surge of affection she had, and in which she was drowning.

She heard the car's door close and the vehicle being locked, and took a violently slow breath. Her thumb brushed the top of his hand once. She felt his right thumb mimic the movement carefully.

She let go.

She could feel his eyes on her but she didn't turn around, desperately calming herself. She made a few steps, looking around, and the moment passed.

"So, where are we?"She asked.

"You'll see."He replied in a tight voice, and she prayed he hadn't seen her trouble. "Come on."

He led her on the stone path encased by the vegetation, and they circled what she thought was the rear end of the building, before they found themselves surrounded by more greenery. They walked for a minute or so before reaching another structure. The floor changed to wood panels and it only took them a couple of seconds to march in a bright terrace filled by tiny cute tables partially shadowed from the sun by sleek ivory mist parasols, and matched with weaved chairs.

And peaking beyond the glass railing, the sight bewitched her. As, from above countless bushes and hundreds mauve and orange tiny five-petal flowers, behind a couple of artistically placed palm trees, the ocean stretched, glowing. From north to south, and into the Horizon, there was nothing but the deep blue. It was as if, if she jumped over the edge of the terrace and over the bushes, she'd fall right into it. When she knew a band of sand must have been there, she had seen people on a stripe of sand not long before they arrived. But she couldn't see it. And the illusion of being just 'a tip-off' away from bathing right into an infinity of water was vivid.

She saw Ren smile at her reaction from the corner of her eye – she was still struck by the view – when he hailed a waitress. The young woman greeted them sweetly, and directed them at one of the two seats tables right by the handrail and the luscious plants creating a few more shadows and privacy around each individual area.

Ren thanked the lady after she led them to their table, and they settled down, just before the woman came back with water glasses and menus. Kyoko had begun to peruse the dishes listed when the young lady came back, and she started to enunciate the different meals-of-the-day and options.

"Is there anything that tempts you in particular?"The waitress asked, once she was done naming the foods.

Kyoko saw Ren held back a grimace as he lifted his head to address the lady. "My apology, but are those meals quite big, by any chance?"

Ohh.

She understood. She held back a snort, and hid her face in her hand while the lady processed his question with a confuse look for a few seconds. She could see the moment it clicked when the woman gave him an apologetic smile, just peaking once at the menu as if in hope it would say differently than her memory said so, before shaking her head.

"I'm afraid so, sir. They are quite huge."

The mourning look that bloomed on Ren's face was such that both Kyoko and the waitress could not help their chuckle.

"I understand your predicament, sir. I often run in the same issue when I eat here." She told him with an air of connivance. "Obviously, we can't blame a restaurant into being overly generous," she added with a laugh, "but I'm sorry. I would propose you to do leftovers boxes, but we only do those on the evening service."

"No, I understand."

His defeated look must have made the lady take him into pity, because she added, tilting.

"But. We do have a couple of one-for-two options you could share with your beautiful girlfriend, sir."And they both looked up in surprise, Kyoko ready to protest and fighting one of her biggest hues… She wasn't fast enough however, before the young woman continued. "We don't write it on the midday menus, and I'm not supposed to talk too much about it, but it is technically available."

The smile that blossomed on Ren's face was criminal in nature and filled with gratitude and joy, and eventually broke the seemingly immune appearance of the young lady, that blushed furiously.

"I would truly appreciate that."

He was beaming like he just had the most unexpected pleasant surprise of the month, the damn fairy.

"Ren, we are not – "

But he cut her by turning shameless puppy eyes at her.

"Please, Kyoko. I won't even be able to reach half of one meal, otherwise. Help me out."

"But – "

"Please."

Her protest bubbled down at the sight of his pleading eyes, and she nodded.

"Alright."

"We have wonderful dessert if Milady is still hungry afterwards," pipped the waitress, and Kyoko truly resisted telling her it was not the problem.

"Thank you," she said instead.

"I'll return with the options to share, then," she said with a perky smile, "Now, what can I propose you to drink in the meanwhile?"

"Kyoko?"

Ren said, letting her say her choice first, and she looked down at the menu.

"Hm, a mocktail, maybe?"

The young woman pulled out her tablet with a smile and tapped once.

"Which one, Miss?"

It was pretty warm today. She chose the mint one and once saved, the waitress turned to Ren.

"And you, sir?"

"A glass of wine and a bottle of still water, please."

Once the lady left with their orders, Ren turned back his stare to her, leaning his forearms on the round table, and the sun hit his hair for a second as the wind whooshed through the leaves of the tree that had been sheltering him from the sun, otherwise. It brought all of his glorious blond shine into the light, and a sparked of green reflected in his eye for a second, making him wink from one eye as the ray glowed right into it. She sat mesmerized, at the rippling play swelling contrasts at every angle of his nose, of his jaw, of his hair, of his shoulders and bust; as it brought an air of tranquillity and peace to his stance, just as much as it cloaked him in mystery and confidence.

"Are you truly okay with this? If you are not, then I – ."He asked when she didn't reply, and she smiled with a nod.

"It's just… I couldn't even clear things…" She said. She hadn't wanted to say it. She had been flattered the waitress thought them as such. But, as much as she hated, it wasn't the truth. And she hated misunderstandings.

A teasing smile made its way on his face.

"Is it that bad?"

What is he saying?

She frowned at him but he only tilted his head, his grin growing.

"I find it pretty flattering, for my part at least…" She thought he was done when he paused, but then pursued just when she was trying to make sense of his nonsense.

"… That she thought I was your boyfriend and we were together."

She blinked at him. Blinked again. And her eyes narrowed so hard to try to swallow back the emotion.

"… Ren."

But he ignored her warning, took a sip of water, and continued with another genuine smile.

"It's true. It's an honour people would associate me in such a way with you."

She sighed.

Could he never stop?

She recoiled in her seat.

He sighed too. And a long pause followed. He looked away, and unbeknown to be her ignorant eyes, his face turned sad.

"It's a compliment, you know. You don't have to be so displeased by it."

She grabbed the back of her hair, passing her hand in it as she puffed out more air.

"And you are covering me in flowers? Just like that?" She grumbled, crossing her arms. He really ought to stop this. It was driving her nuts.

He stared at her without blinking, and dared to look pleased as he replied.

"Just like that, yes."

"It's pointless."She told him, trying to make him understand there was absolutely no need to do this. The only thing it did was make her hope for nothing.

His eye twitched, he crossed his arms.

"I beg to differ."

She huffed in annoyance.

"It is flattery. And you don't need to do flatter me, so – "

"What would I use flattery to begin with? Do you really think I would tell you something I don't mean?" He said, his voice rising with frustration.

"I don't." She admitted after a short pause. "But there is no need, so…"

"I don't get it."

"… Clearly."He mumbled, and she shot him a short glare, surprised and a little hurt by something he had purposely not mean for her to hear. What did that even mean?

But he responded her silent furious question before she could voice it.

"Since you can't accept the least bit of compliments, there is clearly a need…"

Kyoko looked at him from the corner of her eye, half-persuaded he had meant to say something else.

"At this point, it should be public domain to compliment you…" He added with his lips tilting up, and she gaped at him.

"I beg you pardon?"

He arched a brow.

"Until you can accept them as true, and don't reject them from the get-go." He finished with a convinced nod, like he had just come up with a marvellous idea that needed polishing.

She tightened her fist on the table, and her gaze lost itself on the glass mirror of the smooth table. He was so easy for him to say things like that. Each time her heart jumped in her chest, and she would wonder. If he really meant it. In what ways he meant it. If he was not just being polite. If things were changing, even when her head knew they weren't. And if she accepted he was genuine, she had always to rephrase to know he only meant as friends, only said those innocently.

A warm hand wrapped around her fist on the table, delicately curling his long fingers on hers, and despite herself, she jumped a little.

"Kyoko. You know I would never say things I don't mean to you, right? I tease you a lot but I would never play with you, you know that, right?"

Her chest squeezed in a throb, and she felt herself tearing up, unable to keep it in, not this time. Fortunately, her hair curtained her face, and she tried desperately to grab for control and calm. Breathing deeply.

"Kyoko?"

The sudden urgency of his voice as he pronounced her name surprised her out of her emotional turmoil, and she lifted up her face in a rush, thinking something was wrong with him. But the moment her eyes crossed his, his gaze enlarged as he took note of the few tears that had begun to roll down.

He was out of his seat and in front of her kneeling before her next blink.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Ren?"She asked, already lifting her hands to reassure him, even when she was still processing the change.

But his arms circled her waist, and he pulled her from her chair to bring her into his arms, and before she knew it she was straddling the higher one of his kneeling legs, and had her hands around his shoulders.

The unexpected load of contact dismayed her, but also made her lose the shreds of composure she had gathered back again, and even offended with herself, her tears began to run anew.

His body detached itself enough for their faces to be in front of each other, and whether she was losing it and had enough common sense to speak and break the tension, she didn't know, but she started to babble softly.

"I'm okay, I'm okay. You can let me go. I'm okay, I'm okay."

But his vibrant green eyes crossed her gaze again, and he frowned sadly before his hands came up to brush the sides of her cheeks.

"You are not."

He pressed her back against his chest, encircling her tightly, and pressing her head right against the beating pulse of his neck.

Her hands at his blades, she mumbled.

"Ren, we are in a restaurant."

"I don't care." He grumbled, holding her tighter.

"But… The clients…"

"There is no one on the terrace."

But then he petted her head. And she lost the battle.

Screw this.

If he wanted to hug her, then fine. She wanted him to do it too. She clung to him and nuzzled her nose in his neck.

There was a sudden froze from him, and she thought she was bothering him, until he crushed her to him.

"… Just tell me… Tell me if I go too far next time. I don't want to hurt you."

She shook her head in his neck, and her fingers threaded in his hair.

"Ren…" She breathed in his nape, and he shuddered.

"That's not it, that's not it."She whispered desperately. "That is not it."

"Okay, Okay." He pecked her head. "Just… Don't let me hurt you. Tell me. Anything. Everything. Argue with me. Yell at me, if you need."He added, making her chuckle.

"But don't… Don't let me hurt you."He repeated in her ear, and she wanted to both cry in despair and kiss him until his lips would bruise.

She just held his neck, instead.

Like a bottle thrown to the sea but that is clinging to the shore, too heavy, overfilled with feelings hidden under the seal. On a parchment poured with teary ink talking about secrets.

She was breaking away. The seal was becoming rusty. Salty water had started to infiltrate the beautiful coloured glass of the anchoring bottle. She wouldn't go anywhere.

She snatched the back of his shoulders tighter. One of his hands slipped at the back of her head, twisting in her locks. He rubbed her back. Softly. Oh so very slowly.

Somewhere in another space, invisible to human eyes, the ticking breeze of a clock murmured its message to the wind.

Someone cleared their throat, and both of the very oblivious people jumped at the sound, pulling away to discover the waitress looking away with an amused, though somewhat embarrassed stare.

"I was bringing the sharing menus, but I can come by later."

This time, this time … there was no escaping it. She blushed scarlet. Right before jumping back on her chair.

"I'll let you two decide and come back in a couple minutes."

Ren, still kneeling and looking at his empty hands, stood. She was only staring from the corner of the eyes, too embarrassed right now. Gosh, we did that in public…

She thought he would rejoin his chair once up, but then she felt him close and she tilted her head up to see him peering at her from above, leaning with a palm on the table. He had a thoughtful look for a second, and mouthed a 'you OK', only relaxing when she nodded. He pecked her cheek softly, apologizing once more before going back to his seat, and they started looking at the menus. She did it mostly blindly, however, and didn't really remember what she accepted to share until the meal arrived, with a collection of shrimps, crustaceans and salmon on a bed of lettuce, tomatoes, corn, pesto, poached eggs, and roasted potatoes. With a sauce to pour over. She felt like a mess, she should go wash her face but she was also starving, and was still embarrassed. All in all, she didn't dare to make one move, and only stare at the meal from the corner of the eye.

It was only when she heard it being moved, and the huge bowl containing their whole meal ended up in front of her that she looked to him.

"Peace offering." Ren told her softly, his smile crooked near the end. "Please, feel free to eat it all."

"And permitting you to not take part in it?"

He grinned, though she could see he too, was a bit awkward.

"That's the idea."

He was jesting but she could see he was tense, and trying his best to make everything better, and despite herself, she felt her lips rise up and she relaxed.

"No way you are escaping eating on my watch, Ren."

She pushed back the bowl at the centre of the table, and presented him with his fork, as she lifted her own.

His eyes glowed with gratitude and he linked his fingers between the ones of her left hand, squeezing. His heat seeped into every nerve and sensor of her hand, making her fingers a whole pack of tingles. Her eyes crossed back his, wondering, hoping, fearing he would keep his hand on her own.

But he only rubbed her knuckles in the whisper of a caress twice, caging her eyes in his, until her mind couldn't go beyond his closeness, his touch, anymore.

"Thank you."

The words bypassed his lips like a prayer, and her eyes closed for an instant, imagining herself in the heart of his arms, just like earlier, as he would speak that way to her, touch her that way, hold her that way, … and … more. So much … more.

He pulled back afterwards, and they began to pick morsels of their food each at their turn, eating their lunch in quiet appeased silence.

§§§

They were finishing eating the huge bowl when Ren pushed with his fork the last piece of potato with smoked salmon – which had been especially good, even for his 'lack-of' standards – to her side of the plate.

"Here, take it, I'm stuffed."

"You sure? You were looking quite hungry. For once." Kyoko added, jokingly.

"I was." He replied and her lips shook in confusion at his tone. It had come out … odd.

He smiled gruffly at her.

"Please, take it." And he pushed it higher to her side, until it risked toppling off if she didn't stick her fork in it. Which she did. And he put down his own and crossed his arms on the table to watch her. She smiled at his behaviour and properly gathered the food.

"Thank you, then."

And she stuffed it in her mouth. As elegantly as she could, though.

He grinned back.

"Any time."

She munched the piece, embarrassed he was looking so keenly pleased at her.

"I think you need dessert, since I prevented you from taking something you would have eaten all by yourself." Ren said, a couple of minutes after they finished their meals.

She blushed.

"That is not necessary."

"Would you have not?"He asked, and his sure smile told her he was absolutely persuaded she would have. He was not wrong at that, too.

"That's not what I meant, I – "

"They have crème brulée too."

Her shoulders sagged. She had the non-fortunate idea to share she loved that dessert. And he was totally using it at his advantage.

"Still, it doesn't mean you have to – "

"Well, it would already be pleasure to treat you, but it is also only a fair bribe to make you forgive me for earlier. And I definitely still need to make up for that." Ren shared with a troubled smile.

"That is not true." She exclaimed. Kyoko waved her hand in the air. "I was just excessively emotional, please forget about it."

He looked at her dead in the eye.

"Kyoko. You don't cry for nothing. You and I both know it."

Damn it. She was missing to whom she was talking. He knew her damn too well.

"Ren, please."

Her plead was heard, and his stare danced.

"Alright. But if you have the stomach for it, accept the dessert."

"I will even taste it, if you insist," he added with his special boyish crooked smile, and she dropped her head in defeat.

"Okay."

They ordered it, and it was as good as she had suspected, none of the two regretted it. Recovering from this special intensity of 'lunch', she didn't even have any energy to gather to fight for who should pay later, which he keenly appreciated, if she was to judge by his delighted face when she did not protest a word as he went to take care of the bill.

She dropped in the passenger's car seat with new dread mixing to her previous excitement. How was she to survive the whole day and the two following in those conditions?

Ren started the car soon, and they drove for a good twenty minutes until he stopped in a little parking area.

"This place, I used to visit a lot," he said as he cut the engine. "As well as gyms and training halls, as it was another way to spend my excess energy, or even pumped up feelings – he added with a grimacing smile in her direction – when I wasn't acting or trekking."

He got out, but she beat him this time as she opened the car's door before he could join her side. He closed the door behind her.

"And which place it is?"

"You'll see."

And he led her for a few hundred metres to a huge spread area with palm trees surrounding bumpy and curving bits of concretes, and it took her a second to realize.

"Is that – ?"

"A skateboard park, yes."

She turned to him, trying to contain the idea of him skating.

"You know how to skate?"

He chuckled, and she got the feeling she had failed to dissimulate her curiosity. He nodded.

"I do. Well, used to."He added after a break. "I'm probably rusty, though… Wait. Do you know how to already?"He asked after a second.

Kyoko stared at him.

"No. Why?"

"I thought you might." He said.

She tilted her head in puzzlement and he smiled at her fondly.

"You are scarily skilled, so, I guess my mind started to expect you to necessarily know about most things, instead of not."

She blushed virulently, caught off guard.

"There are many things I'm ignorant about! What are you sprouting about – …" She mumbled the rest in her beard, messing her locks in distressed embarrassment. Damn fairy.

He crossed his arms in thoughts.

"I should test this statement," he said, and she eyed him warily, as he started lifting fingers. "You know how to bike, tightrope walk, play basketball, play guitar and saxophone. You are the best cook I know, are awfully skilled in tailoring and needlework. You are very versed in feminism and ecology. You know martial arts and self-defence. I'm already on the third hand, just so you know."

"Will you shu – "

But he prevented her to cut him.

"And I'm excluding basic modern skills society requires you to have like driving a car or managing finances or social skills."

"Then you should cut off cooking and needle," she slipped in, hoping to make him stop again.

He shook his head.

"It is not required, and many people don't know how to, I'm the perfect example of that. And that is why jobs of those exist."

She sighed.

"Fine. It's not that impressive, you have many too."

"You do your own stunts."

"You do too!"

He grinned at her and nodded but continued.

"You are an international model and an amazing actress."

She groaned, leaning on the car. He was insufferable.

"Will you stop already?"
He smiled.

"Then, should we test? Do you know rock-climbing?"

The whine that escaped her was very unladylike.

"Yes…"

"Roller-skaking?"

"No."

"Diving?"

Her shoulders relaxed, and she chuckled her negation.

"No."

"Surf?"

"Just a little."

But seeing Ren's eyes enlarged with surprise, she rushed to add.

"It barely counts, no, it shouldn't. I just tried it a couple of times."

"How good compared to – … Basketball, for example?"He asked with suspicion. She let her stare glide away from him with a grimace.

"Maybe… Less. I think."
He hummed unconvincingly. And strike back right away.

"Windsurfing?"

She shook her head.

"No."

"Horse riding?"

"No."

She had wanted to but never found the time to try, and was a little impressed by the idea.

He paused and she could see he was thinking more ideas.

"See. Now, would you stop?"

"Ice-skating?"He asked, snapping his fingers.

She dropped her face into her hands.

"Rennn…"

He laughed.

"Is that a yes?"

She gave a short positive move of the head.

She lifted her head with threat in the eye and noticed how amused he looked.

"And you wonder why I thought you would know skating too…"

"Are you freaking done?"

"I think this just proved how incredible you are." He said, rendering her complexion even more fuchsia it had been, and he lifted his index proudly, "Now, I'm done."

Speechless, she glared at him, which only made his smile bigger. She wondered if she would deal better if he kept criticizing her. Not that it would be pleasant hearing critics, in particular from him. But she was starting to question if it would still not be preferable. Because this wouldn't do. He was driving her nuts. Her poor heart didn't know its left and right anymore, with all the sneak attacks he pulled today.

He presented his hand to her.

"So, do you want me to show you?"

She took his hand, eyes wary, as he pulled her standing.

"… One of the rare things you don't know." He sang sing merrily.

"I think I'm going to kick you," she grumped, letting his hand go and walking in the direction of the skate park.

"Rude." He said with a laugh, and gracefully trotted after her.

"… You know, you are making a mountain of things, many people have those skills." She said over her shoulder as she reached the park. Some areas seemed a little packed but many were still free, she noticed as she waited for him.

"And many don't. Void argument."

And all of sudden he was near her ear, whispering.

"I will keep pointing out the countless great things about you until you cannot miss them anymore. It is a useless fight." His lip brushed a little her ear, tickling it, and she whirl-winded like a mad woman, hiding her shudder in the occasion and giving fruition to her empty threat of earlier. She poked his side, and when he protected it, she slapped the other side of his waist.

"Ow, ow… Kyoko, ow." He said, laughing all the while and grabbing her waist with one arm while he caught one of hers with his other one. She ended up flushed pressed against the deep blue of his shirt for the second time today, and breathed in like an addict at the soothing scent.

"Ouch, ouch…"

She knew she hadn't hit him to really hurt him, but he was being all dramatic about it, and rubbing his side like it had. She might have believed she had measured wrongly her strength or targeted an especially soft place if it had been anyone but him, and if his whole body had not been shaking. She pulled back to look into his eyes, discovering an immense amount of mirth swimming in his pupils.

"You are doing it on purpose, huh?"

"Just a little."

But then he rubbed his waist again, portraying the most exaggerated pained look she was sure he could muster, and she wanted to pull his ears.

"You can stop the comedy, you know…"

To her dismay, her deadly glare must not have been so convincing, because his lips quivered, and then he dropped his forehead on her right shoulder and fractured into titters.

She grumbled. But he was leaning against her and being cute, and her ire was already vanishing.

"That is not that funny."

"Your face was."He protested, still shaking.

She huffed.

"Were you not here to show me something, mister?"

"Yes, Milady."He pulled back with a sigh, and indicate his right.

"We can rent some skates here, if you'd like."

She followed him but enquired if he used to have his own when he was young.

"I did, and it is probably still in the garage of my parents," he added with a smile to her, "but it probably rusted, and more importantly, I'm way too big for the size it is. The equilibrium would not work."

"Or with much difficulty, at least."

They found the rental store soon after, and Ren asked the man at the front desk for much more she would have imagined. He demanded a long board for himself but narrower than what he asked for her. And so many protections she couldn't help but tease.

"Are you going to wrap me in squishy bubbles?"

He snorted, and had the gusts to seem to ponder about it for an instant before grinning.

"No. But it is concrete out there," He told her, pointing his thumb to the skate park in their back, just outside the door. "Really bad falls happen that can leave hard scratches or even require to go to the hospital, you know."

She lifted a brow, and under the very sceptical stare she gave him, he added, pointing at himself.

"I even took some for me, you know."

Now, both of her eyebrows lifted. If he truly knew about skateboarding, there was just no way he would need those. Like, ever.

Ren laughed.

"I told you, I'm rusty."

She was still unconvinced but she nodded.

"Mind you, I took way less of those than for you."

Her eyes wandered to the front as Ren accepted the whole set of things from the man at the counter.

"Are all of those truly necessary for me?"

"They might not be later on, or even faster than that, since it is you," he replied with an acknowledging look to her, and as he gathered all the protection gear in a bag, "but for now, yes."

She followed after him, as he got out, too curious to even question he had paid or protest he was carrying everything. They stopped at a bench near the sandy side of the park. Once there, Ren pulled out everything. A black helmet with tiny holes in it, knee pads, elbow pads, thin gloves, followed with thick palm pads, and protective wrist bands you could tie to the hand pads.

Kyoko frowned at the number of things she had to put on.

"Are you trying to wrap me like a mummy?"

Ren smiled and pointed at the material he dropped on the bench.

"You are not the only one. See, I will also put some on."

He was right. A second pair of thin gloves were there, in a much bigger size. Same for the knee pads. She was kind of humbled by the look of those pads. It was the thickest of the protection gears. A stretching band of very solid cloth – that made her think of the materials used for bike vests and trousers – served to wrap around your knee. And in the front, wrapped in the same material, resided a cushion of dense foam thick of at least a thumb. And on top of that later, was a plaque of hard oval curvy plastic to embrace the curve of your knees that looked as hard as the plastic used on those side-door mirrors in a car.

"You have considerably less, though. Only two things."

He gave her an amused look.

"I have more experience too."

She sighed in resignation.

"Alright, then."

"I won't make you put everything on right away, as we are just going to focus on standing on the board first." Said Ren, "So, the helmet, and the elbows and wrist protections can wait."

"But," he added with a smile, "knowing you, it won't take long. And if we are trying tricks or the bowl, the rest is a must. This ground doesn't forgive."

Ren then proceeded to show her how to properly attached the knee and hand pads, helping her wrapping and tying them tight, and packing the rest for later, they walked to a relatively flat area.

"Ready?"He asked, after setting the skateboards on the ground.

She nodded, and stood in front of the larger skate.

"Which foot do I put first?"

"We will discover in a sec," And cranking her head, she followed his movement as turned around her and went behind. She just had a second to wonder what he was doing before his hand connected with her back, tapping it slightly and pushing her forward. It was not a hard push, more like a tap, just enough she had to jump a foot front to keep her balance. She made a face at him, ready to question his sanity.

Ren looked over her shoulder.

"Seems like you have a goofy foot."

"A what?"

Ren pointed at the ground where her right foot stood slightly forward from the other.

"When I pushed you, you instinctively advanced your right foot," He gave her an apologetic smile, "It is the fastest way to see what foot put front. Skaters that have the left foot front are regular, right foot ones are goofy feet. So, the foot you must put front is the right one."

"Ah."

He came near her.

"You can put your front foot first, while the other stay parallel, and once it is done, pivot on the front foot to be perpendicular to the board, and once you feel stable, put the other on."

She followed his instructions until she was comfortably standing on the deck of the skate.

"You can always lower your stance to give you more stability. A lower centre of gravity would always make things easier." He added and walked around her. She bent the knees but it was not very comfortable.

He laughed.

"No. You don't need that much. Unless you are prepping for a figure or a jump, that is."

She rose back fully.

"A little more, this time."He teased.

She gave him a stare, and he laughed.

"Excuse me a second."And he placed his hands around her waist. She stopped breathing.

"Do you mind?"

She shook her head, and next instant he made her lower her knees in what felt like ridiculously little, but she did feel the difference. When her body wasn't too preoccupied with the warmth seeping through her hips, and the strong hands holding her.

"Like this…"

She held back her jump at his voice as he spoke softly.

"Alright. Now your feet. You want them spread out a little more."

She parted them a little more, but he tapped her back leg slightly.

"Push it back a little more. Look at your feet," And she did. He pointed at her board.

"You want your feet on the screws of trucks, not in between." And indeed, on both opposite side of the board four screws could be seen holding the structure securing the wheels.

"Ohh, okay."

She moved her feet, and he nodded.

"But as your leading foot, the front one should be peaking forward in the same sense as the board, and not perpendicularly, when you move.

She pivoted her right foot.

"Now, I'd like you to retreat the front of your feet a little," And he crouched at her side, before tapping on the point of her shoes.

"I know it is counter-intuitive as on the ground, we use our heels to find balance," he explained, "But your toes should always be the ones on the board."

She followed his directive until Ren was finally satisfied.

"Good."

"Now, let's see with a tint of speed."He proposed. He went to his own board, and stepping on it, he pushed slightly with his back foot, and the skate moved forward on a couple of metres.

Gingerly, she did the same, putting her back foot, the left one for her, on the ground and pushing a little before swiftly putting it back on the board.

The skate moves forward with surprising ease, but she still lifted her arms for equilibrium, as she joined the area Ren had stopped.

"Great."He told her, and he stepped down from his own, tapping the back of it swiftly and propelling it in the air for him to catch.

"How did you do that?"She asked.

He smiled, and showed her how to do it, and followed by showing her how to push on the ground while keeping her balance so she could take some speed. They were doing it on a portion of the park that was flat for the most part, with a few very low bumps, which – Ren explained – were perfect to slow her when she was still learning stability, and to take those and have fun. And she was, she had to admit she hadn't expected it to be this fun.

Soon after, he began to tell her how to pump, even without that much speed.

"The trick is to change your balance in your back foot, to lighten the weight of the front, lower your stance a little, and put much strength in your knees," He explained. "It permits you to go up elevate areas, without having to push, or get off your board or simply to go very fast."

But she was not sure what he meant.

"Could you show me?"Kyoko asked.

"Sure. I'll do it on the mini-ramps," He pointed at one of the more reasonable looking ramps. He stepped on his board, quickly gaining momentum and reaching one of the ramps. But he slowed on purpose upon reaching it. Yet, he climbed as easily as if he didn't have gravity bidding him, and his board reached even higher on the opposite ramp. He repeated the motion several times before coming back to her. It was impressive but she wasn't sure she got how to do it, however. She admitted as much to Ren.

"It's okay. Part of it is experiencing it. I'm sure you will get it once you'll be able to try."

Her response was a sceptical face, making him chuckle.

"You have way too much faith in me."

"I don't think so. You are already stable on your board, and learning fast. But I did forget to show you something before you can try that."

"Which is?"

"Turning."

He made her step back on the board.

"All is in the gaze and shoulders," He said, "The shoulders are the one pivoting and following your gaze. Push a couple times and try."

She did as he said, letting the board gain some speed, and slowly turning the shoulders as her gaze moved, and the board turned easily.

"Do it again but faster."

She repeated the movement. They continued in that vein for a good fifteen minutes, and each time he asked her to go faster and faster. And she did her best to follow his lead.

When he stopped she made a final turn and came back to him.

He crossed his arms, his face brimming with amusement and pride.

"You can already do it."

She scrunched her nose.

"I just did as you told me to do."

"Exactly. How many people master it that fast? You will have no problem training for the pumping trick, now." He added with a grin.

"Come on. I know you can do it."

He grabbed her hand, track-ting her – as she stood on her board- to the mini-ramps. She stared at the six feet 'small' ramp with no 'tiny' amount of scepticism but when he let her go, she pushed on the ground and the skate climbed the slope slightly before gliding back down slower and without even reaching the opposite ramp. She tried again, and the same thing reproduced. But she began to remember what he had said about her weight posture. She had felt she was applying too much pressure on her front foot this time. She tried again, lightening her hold on her front foot as much as she could, and she did rise higher. But the moment she started to glide down, she felt herself dropping from the board and fall.

"Oh."

That was all she said as she already imagined herself hitting the ground, regretting she hadn't put the helmet yet. But she heard a muted huff as strong arms caught her just before she hit the ground.

"Easy."He said, lifting her off. "Maybe don't remove as much hold, next time."

"Thank you." She replied with relief and a nod.

He grinned, putting her down.

"No problem. I'll stay close just in case. Do you want to try again? If you would rather not, then – "

She arched a brow.

"I thought I could do it?"

He smiled, eyes soft.

"You can."

"Then, let me try again."

She returned to her board as he spoke.

"Remember. It is in the knees. The whole hold and strength should be in your knees and hips to pump back up, not in the feet. You need to lock the knees. Your hips and knees are the one giving strength to advance."

She nodded and stepped back on the board. If Ren thought she could do it, then she was sure she could. She just had to find the right way. She pushed on the ground, but less than last time, not wanting to rise as much, in case she lost balance again.

Then, trying to apply his advice, she lowered her stance, and let the board raise the slope, remembering to hardening the knees just as it began to rise. This time the board lowered much less. She did it again, pushing strength and movement in her hips while keeping her firm, and the board lifted higher.

"Ohhh…"

"You got it."Ren said proudly.

After that, he let her train for a little while until she got the full gist of it. In the process, and once she had gained more stable success in the pumping, he showed her how to catch the nose or the tail of the board on the edge of the ramp, before dropping back.

They were barely taking a break and Ren was coming back with water when she turned to him.

"I'm sure you have many more tricks to show…" She baited, and he cracked a laugh, his eyes dancing.

"I have. But the ones that you can learn in a couple of trains are diminishing."

"But – "

"But?"

"I could show you how to drop." He said with a smirk. That was not so reassuring. Nonetheless, she followed him, even after he picked up their abandoned material and made her climb the sides of the park. They sat on another bench, and he told her to put elbows pads and helmet on, while he put his own knee pads and gloves on him. It did make her stare, though. How he managed to look so damn hot with cushy knee pads was out of her comprehension of the universe. Even when he stood, it didn't look funny. But well fitting and dreamy. It would make anyone want to try to become good at skateboard. With his vibrant blue shirt agitated by the wind, like the cloak of mysterious character in a novel would be by a magical breeze. With those mindlessly donned-on faded jeans whose humble and simple attire only accentuated, in contrary, the confidence he emitted. With those blond locks artfully twinkled left and right in a paced mess the flutters of air perpetuated uninterruptedly.

With his smile.

He was the epitome of graceful confidence and sensual joy.

He was an enchantment to look at. He was the story she would devour. The book she could never put down. The character she would obsess forever more.

And he seemed to have caught her staring because he looked at her funny.

"… It is just unfair you don't look like you put on pillows on your knees when everyone else does." She commented, standing and blindly walking away.

He followed her, and she was both glad and not-so-much when he didn't redirect her another direction and they reached his intended spot. Relieved, because she could avoid showing how distracted she had just been. But a little reluctant to face what he had in mind.

They stood above the bowl, a huge spheric ramp diving down in a bowl.

"It's at least three metres high, Ren."

"Three metres and a half, to be precise."

"Dropping is to dive in the bowl."

"...I had guessed as much. But you are crazy."

Ren shook his head, but she heard his snort.

"You already learned how to be stable and curve and lock your knees, and you have a larger deck, making it extra ideal to do these kinds of things."

She looked down over the edge. That still seemed awfully high.

"I'm not that sure I can do it, to be honest."

"You just need to apply what you already learned. Keep your hips and knees locked and stable to maintain your balance, don't get too tense on the feet to not move the board. Use your gaze and shoulders."

She looked in his direction, giving him a clear understanding of her sentiment. She barely knew how to do it.

He smiled reassuringly.

"I know the height sounds scary, but it is actually safer than a smaller bowl, and for the record, this is still one of the tinnier ones."

She gave him a suspicious look. If she did not know he would never risk putting her or anyone in danger, she would wonder if he was not just sugarcoating it to appease her.

"Are you positive I can do it?"

"Yes. And you still have your protections. Even if you were to fall, you wouldn't be hurt."

"Why did we have to put all those for this if it is that safe?"She grumbled and he snorted at her grumpiness.

"You asked. I won't force you if you want to change minds."

She bubbled her discontentment in her beard some more, and he chuckled.

"If I were to put another way, there are fewer risks to fall than doing something else. But if you do fall, it is more dangerous. But since you already learned all the basics, the chances for you to fall in this are actually quite small."
"I'm still glad they had that much protection," he added as they prepared themselves to try it, before continuing with a grin, "though, I would have preferred your cute butt had a gear of protection too."

She was so floored by his comment she nearly dropped head first in the bowl, before gaining back her balance. Though Ren caught her hand just after, pulling her a few steps away from the edge.

"I think I'm going to strangle you, Ren. What was that about?!"

"Just that it is the only part left unprotected," He replied, blinking a little too innocently.
She peeked behind her shoulder, staring at her backside, considering the meanders of the universe as her ears still rang with the endearing term Ren had used to qualify her butt. She questioned the real chances she had he had meant this seriously, and the adjectives that could qualify her rear could be positive, in his mind. But no matter the wonders of the universe, it seemed a little too far-fetched to take it as face value.

Her deep reflexion came back as none. It was not envision-able.

He had only been teasing her.

Al-right. She decided she would not think about it. It would only bring her troubles.

"So, how do you do it?" She asked, carefully placing her board close to the edge.

"You need to put the tail of the board on the railing," he explained. "You want the back wheels to be ready to land on the slope, so they can't be behind the railing."

She nodded, and he continued.

"You keep your board horizontal or aloof with your back foot toes already in its place and your heel on the ground." She did as he instructed, but to go as far as jumping down from her stance would be a stretch. She was sure to fall. She just didn't have the time to be in the right position and glide down. She would fall off balance before getting to it. She tried a few stance but couldn't figure out the right standing, and remained puzzled on how you got to the point where you just slide down the slope.

He seems to get it because he came closer.

"Here, let me help," he said, and upon her agreement, he took hold of her waist on both sides.

"You have two ways to do it," he said. "If you keep your board aloof, nearly at the vertical, then you need to mostly jump with your front foot on the board, and use the momentum to dive down."

"But considering you are only just learning and finding your balance, I would propose you to already feel safer about the trick itself, before doing that."

She smiled above her shoulder.

"Yes, I think I will take the option two."

He chuckled.

"The other option is to manage to put both feet in equilibrium on your board beforehand. In that case, more at a horizontal angle, and find your balance so that you can stay standing on it until you decide the right timing to drop."

"That does not sound that much easier."

Ren chuckled.

"It is. But that is why I'm going to stabilize you until you can feel the point of balance and the good angle to keep your stance. Once you'll know how to keep the board in the position, you won't have trouble picking whatever moment feels right for you."

It was all good and fine. But how was she supposed to be able to focus on her feet when she could sense his warmth just an inch away from her shoulder blades?

"Just push your hips in my direction, and rely on my hands so you can put your second foot on the board, first."

Oh, she heard those words, and they sucked. They truly sucked.

"…"

She twisted her head to look at him with a pointed stare, and he had the nerve to smirk.

"Trust me. It will make things easier," He said with a smile before adding, "My hands can be the most steady, I promise."

Was she imagining it or had he just made the biggest innuendo ever? Or was he just teasing the hell out of her, because he could?

She narrowed her eyes at him. He was totally teasing her again. Not this time, fairy boy.

"Ohh, really?" She said. "Thank you, I will store that information for later … would the need arise."

Her eyes bored in him, daring him to continue his joke, but he only seemed way overjoyed she had followed through with the jesting, and grinned merrily, a glint in the eye.

"Please do."

She turned back, shaking her head.

"You, seriously…"

He only chuckled.

"So, ready?"He asked after a minute. She nodded and did as he had proposed, using the support his hands provide and letting her weight be carried by him as she placed her second foot on the board, standing dangerously precariously on the edge of the bowl.

He kept her steady and she lifted her arms on each side, trying to find a position where the board remained steady as she stood on the tail of it with one foot, and on nearly air with the other. It took her a little while but she eventually found out that if she put more weight on her back foot and kept it straight while the other stayed light, there was way to hold the board in position while she was on it.

"All good?" Ren asked, and she nodded.

"Yes. I think I got it."
"I will slowly let go, and then, it will be up to you to decide to drop or not, and when," he added, "but, I will stay close, so if you feel you are going to lose your balance and need help again before tempting it, just say it. And if you change minds and would rather not tempt it, say it too."

She gave him a sharp nod, not wanting to lose her focus.

He let go, and she tensed a bit but didn't lose her balance.

"Don't tense too much. If you drop, you need to keep your knees supple," he warned, and added, "and when you do, look at the point you wanna go, not at your feet. But keep your hips firm. You drop and look at the spot you are going to, nowhere else."

"Alright."

Her response came short, as she prepared herself, and she felt him close behind, but with still enough space she could breathe.

"Whenever you want."

She counted to five.

One.

Two.

She breathed in.

Three. Four.

She breathed out.

Five.

She tilted forward, fixing the point she wanted to reach, and dropped. The rush of air hit her face, and the acceleration made her block her respiration, and she barely resisted the urge to close her eyes. The board was driving so fast, dipping so quick, she felt like she was going to crash any time soon into concrete. And the huge drop made her feel like her guts were raising the opposite way, the tingly feeling making her clench her hips a little more. She had the idle thought she should have been more comfortable with the sensation, driving a bike and all that, since it had similarities in the sensations. But it was not the same at all for her. You had control with your hands and hips and the motor of the bike. It felt way easier than this.

But as she thought of this, before she knew it, she was at the bottom of the bowl and rolling up the opposite border the next second. And then, tilting backward again.

It did that a couple of times, climbing from edge to edge less and less, and she focused on staying up and standing until it finally immobilized.

Her arms remained frozen up and in air for a good minute after, even when she heard a whistle from above her. And even when Ren joined her, dropping like it was easy-peasy and at a much faster pace she did, passing in front of her before reaching the top of the other railing, locking his board there, and dropping again to stop in front of her.

"You did it." He said with pride.

"I did," Kyoko admitted. "But I'm not sure I liked it."

Ren's eyes crinkled and he laughed.

"Was it that scary?"

"No. I wasn't. But it was not comfortable either."

He snorted again.

"You can't tell me it is the adrenaline you didn't like, I wouldn't believe you." He teased.

"I had a similar discussion in my head about it. It isn't that."

He smiled and lifted his hand, proposing her to step down from the board.

"Then, did we finally achieve the amazing event of finding something you are not fond of?"

"I loved it when we were not dropping."

He smiled.

"So, not scared but not liking it either."
She grumbled her assessment.

"I guess."

"Maybe you just need more training?"He taunted with a crooked grin, and she paled.

"I think I did enough learning for today, mister. Though, I cannot disagree with you fully. But another time."She waved at him, "Why don't you show me all those fancy tricks I'm sure you know, and have some fun? I will encourage from the sidelines."

She noticed how he could not contain his merriment at her sour discomfort, as he agreed.

"I'll go but I promise I will teach you until you feel comfortable enough to enjoy it."

"Yes, yes, go."

"Pff…"

And he stepped away, his shoulders shaking a bit as he climbed back up the slope. He was totally having fun at her expenses. Sneaky fairy. The drop just made her belly feels funny. There wasn't anything wrong with that!

She sat on the side, away from what she could imagine might be his trajectory, on her board, and watched him go at it. He showed her many versions of drops that looked simple enough for a little while, before moving to more complex ones. Forward but with so much speed she felt dizzy. Forward but jumping with the board beforehand. Forward and jumping on the other railing to return front on second time you dived down the opposite slope. Backward. And she just didn't understand how he was able to do it. He made a trick where he jumped his feet in the air and grabbed the side of the board with his hand, before dropping down on the slope again, and she gaped. It was like the board was glued to his feet.

And he was very conscious she was looking because at some point, just when he was back on top of the railing, he cracked a grin at her, and dropped at full speed, making it easily on the top of the other side. But instead of hooking the edge of the board, he went way higher than the top rail, and made a sudden 360-degree circle in the air, winking at her just at the moment he was standing upside-down, head hanging in the void. And next instant, he was landing back front side towards her on the slope, and he glided down smoothly, before jumping off his board with a smug grin.

"Show-off."She said with a smile.

"'Pretty sure you could do it too, you know."

She pulled her tongue at him.

He laughed, and proposed her to end it for today, as he had other places he wanted to show her.

She agreed, a little too happy to escape more training sessions that included dropping from those high slopes.

END OF CHAPTER.

PS: Well, hello everyone. I guess I'm here again. Still recovering from my cold but I just needed to edit this one, and I felt like sharing some joy to the world, so here we are, with a new chapter.

I hope you will love it as much I loved to write it.

It was a really fun chapter write, I even giggled reading it again while editing it.

So I do think you will appreciate it.

We are slowly trekking our way into the Summer trip. It may sounds endless to you all but we are actually advancing well, so stay ready and enjoy the ride, whether soft or tumultuous as it comes.

Kisses to you all, i wish you all a good end of February and hopefully, soon, a good spring.

Mimagfan,

AUTHOR OUT.