Try Me

A/N: Yay! It's the epilogue.

Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat

Epilogue

Kyoko rolled over onto Kuon so that she could kiss him. He was still asleep in bed, and trying desperately to stay that way. The night before they had ended up making love well into the morning hours, so neither had gotten much sleep. Still, Kyoko knew they had to get up – her mother was coming over to pick them up for a New Year's shrine visit.

"Kuonnnn," she half-groaned half-giggled as he wrapped an arm around her.

"Kyoko, can't we stay in bed today? You know I don't do Japanese New Year's," Kuon groaned right back at her. One of his hands moved to play in between her legs. That prompted Kyoko to fight her way out of bed to make herself presentable.

"You do remember my mom's coming, right?"

That caused Kuon to bolt upright in bed. "Shit. How long?"

"About twenty minutes," Kyoko replied as she rushed to make herself presentable. Kuon ran to the bathroom and took up the space in the mirror right next to her, trying desperately to get ready.

Exactly twenty minutes later when Saena knocked on the door, the young couple was somehow prepared to greet her. There was just one thing they had neglected to tell her.

"What's that ring doing on your finger, Kyoko?" Saena questioned her daughter. Both Kyoko and Kuon shuddered at her stern gaze.

"It's a promise ring," Kuon replied as smoothly as he possibly could.

Kyoko looked up at him. Kuon had proposed the night before, so she had no idea why he was lying now.

"Good. Would you mind if I used the restroom before we go?" Saena asked.

"Take your time," Kuon told her. He led Kyoko over to the couch where they sat down.

"Promise ring?" Kyoko asked him quietly.

"Your mom said I wasn't allowed to propose until your coming of age ceremony. That happens in late January, right?" Kuon asked.

Kyoko nodded.

"But I wanted to propose anyway, so I did," Kuon said. "I forgot to tell you to take it off before she noticed."

Kyoko kissed him. "Don't worry. I'm sure she already knows you were lying." She stood up to grab her purse. "But I'll be careful not to wear it in public."

"Mom?" Kyoko called. "If we don't leave we'll be late."

Saena appeared from the hallway, looking rather annoyed for some reason. Kyoko hoped she was just tired, not mad about her engagement. It was certainly possible: she knew her mother had been hooking up with the American lawyer Julie had suggested to her, and that the lawyer in question was in town for New Year's.

The annoyance let up before they had even reached her car. "Congratulations, you two," Saena told them.

"You're not mad?" Kyoko asked.

"About what?"

"I wasn't supposed to propose for another month," Kuon said.

"I knew there was no way you would wait that long," Saena admitted. "Considering you bought the ring over a year ago."

Ren straightened in his seat.

"I only asked that you wait so that you wouldn't propose right away. Although I know you love her, I wanted you to be dating for more than a year before taking such a serious step."

"Thank you," Ren whispered.

"Have you told your mother yet?"

"Not that I proposed, but she did go ring shopping with me," Ren told her.

"Well, maybe I'll tell her," Saena said. She was rather excited to find out something before Julie did for once. Neither of their children told either one anything, but somehow Julie's intuition about their relationship was much better than Saena's.

Kyoko hastily pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialed Julie's number. She put the phone on speaker so that she and Ren could tell Julie the news.

"Happy New Year's," Julie and Kuu's voices came through the phone.

Kuon swore and Kyoko almost dropped the phone. Somehow, for the two years they'd been dating, they'd entirely left Kuu out of the loop. They debated letting him in, but after one silent look at each other, Kuon spoke. "Dad? Can we talk to Mom? Alone?"

"Is something wrong? Is Kyoko okay?"

"Yes, yes! Please just give the phone to Mom," Kuon said.

"Not until I know-"

They heard the sounds of a struggle before a beeping noise came over the phone. "Hello?" Julie asked. "What's up?"

"Mom," Kuon said slowly. "I proposed last night."

Kuon heard a noise, as if Julie was trying her hardest to keep down her excitement. "And what did Kyoko say?"

"I said yes," Kyoko replied.

This time Julie couldn't hold in her excitement, and a happy squeal came thorough the phone followed by Kuu's concerned voice. Before he could question them through the phone, Kuon hung up.

"Shit," Kuon said. "He knows. He totally knows."

Kyoko dropped her head onto his shoulder. "Isn't that what we said when Julie found out?"

Kuon didn't answer.

"That turned out well enough," Kyoko said, kissing him. His hand grabbed the back of her head to pull it back against his shoulder. Kuon couldn't disagree with her.

Bonus Epilogue

In the bathroom, Saena thought about her bet with Julie. It had been over a year, and she had still not looked for evidence to settle the bet. She didn't think she wanted to think about the bet sober. Yet today, she was confronted with the sight of no fewer than three used condoms in the bathroom trash bin. At least they were being smart about it, she sighed. And even if they weren't, at least they were engaged.

Now she would have to decide how long to hide this from Julie. She could use it to her advantage, certainly, but she felt she owed her friend some news. Saena grabbed her phone out of her purse and typed a text to her friend: You were right.

Faster than anticipated, Julie replied: About what?

Kuon and Kyoko, Saena typed.

What about them? Saena wondered if Julie had forgotten about the bet, and then another text came. Oh, that! Did you check today?

Saena wondered if she should send a picture to Julie, not as definitive evidence, but so Julie would have to see the same repulsive (well, repulsive to one of the involved parties' mother) sight she had. Yes. They were busy last night.

Good they're being safe about it, Julie sent back.

Yes, Saena replied, hoping that would end the conversation.

Now when are we going to shopping? I can do next week. Should I buy the ticket to Japan or are you coming here?

Saena groaned. Of all parts of the bet to forget about, it was the worst part.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this fic! I had a fun time writing it and I hope you had a fun time reading it.