Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat or any of its character. The only things I own are this plot, my little Rinko, Ayame Mizuno and Ichiro Sanaki.

Author's Note: I'm sorry for the late update. T_T I can't figure out what parts of the past to include here in this chapter. And so it took me this long to update again. Haaaaaaiii.. Anyway, here it is =)))

Happy reading guys! =)))

And yeah before I forget, ahmm virtual red velvet cupcakes for the grammatical errors you will come across to.

Enjoy =))

Chapter 21: Photo Album

Flipping through many pages, Rinko had seen many pictures of her Renpa and Mama together. Moreover, she noticed that they were all happy and loving in their shots. She had also seen pictures of her godmama Kanae, Uncle Yashiro, grandparents, Maria-neesan and even her eccentric godpapa there compiled artistically in the photoalbum. Every page was creatively designed and compiled by pictures and beautiful handwriting of her mother.

After telling Kanae her feelings for Ren, she couldn't stop crying. She was no cry baby and Kanae knew that but there was only one man who could reduce her bestfriend into a cry baby, not even her mother could provoke her tears like this, but sadly that person was also the person her bestfriend loved. She just watched Kyoko burst like a dam in front of her since she didn't know what to advice. She couldn't advice her bestfriend to forget the bastard since she'd already tried and look at the situation she was in. She couldn't advice her bestfriend to continue to love that bastard or she might as well be swallowed by the earth and also because she knew Kyoko would still be hurt more if that guy didn't reciprocate her feelings. 'She's this hurt, without my advice to love him. What more, if I really advice her to do that.'

And so Kanae was thinking how to calm her best friend when all of a sudden a ring from her phone was heard.

KRIIIIINNNNNGGGGG

She tried to ignore the stupid device but Kyoko had noticed it and somewhat toned down her crying.

"Moko-san, I think someone is calling you." Kyoko said while still sniffling.

Kanae would have waved it off but the persistent device didn't stop ringing. And so she answered the phone with too much disdain in her voice that the person on the other line would obviously know her irritation. 'This better be good or I'm going to strangle this person.' she thought.

"What?!"

"Kotonami-chan! Hi, did I disturb you?" answered back by the ever so eccentric president, unfazed by the loath in Kanae's voice.

Of course, Kanae had recognized the voice even without looking at who the caller was.

"What is it, Takarada-taichou?" Kanae replied while gritting her teeth.

"Kotonami-chan, did I really disturb you?" answered back by the pouting president.

"Even if I said yes, would that make you hang up the phone?" bit back by an irritated Kanae.

"'O-oh. Looks like Kotonami-chan is really in a bad mood.' Ahm, no."

"Then what is it, taichou?"

"You see Kotonami-chan, the director of your movie, Isanagi-san wants to talk to you regarding the film."

"Can't it wait till Monday?"

"Ahm, no. We're really sorry Kotonami-chan. To make it up for you, you'll be work-free tomorrow. We'll transfer your work tomorrow to today so that you'll be free tomorrow."

Kanae closed her eyes and massaged her forehead. She was a little bit grateful to the person on the other line for her bestfriend had stopped shedding a fountain of tears. But on the other hand, she also wanted to strangle her President and her director as well for the bad timing since Kyoko and her weren't finished yet. And so, with a deep sigh she finally answered.

"As if I have a choice, fine Taichou. But I'm going to hold on to that free Sunday."

"Sure! By the way, where are you?"

"Kyoko's"

Now Lory realized why her ex-Love-me #2 was ignoring his calls.

"Ah, can I talk to Kyoko?" Kanae looked at her bestfriend who was still composing herself after crying.

"She's busy at the moment." She said back.

"Oh, okay then. Say hi for me. Oh and Kanae, your manager told me your meeting is in an hour and a half. You better hurry up and fetch her at LME. Jane!" With that, Lory ended the call.

Kanae had just sighed. It would be a waste of energy to get mad at her flamboyant boss. She turned around to bid goodbye to Kyoko.

"Meeting with the director in an hour and a half."

"Oh you better hurry up, Moko-san."

Kanae sighed again. "Are you feeling okay now?"

"Yeah."

"Kyoko..."

"A bit, but I will soon be fine. Go now, you just wasted 7 minutes."

"Thanks for reminding me again, queen of punctuality." Grumbled by Kanae and luckily didn't catch by Kyoko or else another set of tears would be unleashed because of being reminded by someone.

"Oh yeah, I'll be right back by evening. Is it alright to sleep over?" Kanae asked as she headed for the doors.

This lightened up Kyoko a bit. "Sure!"

"Jane, say bye for me to Rinko."

"Have a safe trip!"

Kyoko closed the gate as she watched the car of her bestfriend went.

As Kyoko entered the house, she noticed Rinko's toys on the floor, and started to pick them up. As she was picking up the toys, Rinko was running towards her with a big pink book or that looked like a book in her perception.

"Mama, whersh gadmama?" [Mama, where's godmama?] Rinko asked while clutching the book upside down.

As soon as she laid her eyes on the book she started examining it through her eyes. There was something on that book that looked familiar to her.

"She suddenly has a meeting, but she would be staying here over night." Kyoko replied cheerfully, trying to forget where she saw it. But Fate had a mind of its own.

"Oh yah, mama, wuk wuk! Me fawnd dish." [Oh yeah, mama, look look! Me found this.] And Rinko showed the pink "book" to her though it's still in an upside down position.

Although it's an upside down position, Kyoko could recognize that book anywhere. That's why the book was very familiar to her even though its back was all she could see. However now that its front was all she could see, the thing was no longer a book but her pink photoalbum.

And maybe because she was like an overflowing dam before or because she was still bitter about love or because she knew that she couldn't get a happy ending, or whatever the reason was she couldn't control what she was feeling.

"Where did you get that?" Kyoko asked as she tremblingly pointed at the photoalbum Rinko was holding.

Rinko watched her mother's expression changed from curiosity to fear. Her mother was trembling. She didn't hear her question and just reached her small hand unconsciously.

"Where did you get the album?" Kyoko asked repeatedly and a little bit louder than before. And this stopped Rinko's hand from touching her mother.

Rinko looked at the album with a frown and told in whisper her answer. "Ishtowayj wum" [Storage room.]

Kyoko heard Rinko and yet she couldn't react. She was beating herself about leaving the album there without being hidden properly. Many scenarios about Rinko and Ren finding the truth played on her head as well.

Rinko looked up at her mother but couldn't see her expression since her bangs had covered her eyes. The only thing she could make out was that her mother was covering her mouth with her right hand. But that didn't stop Rinko from discovering that her mother was upset when she saw the book. (a/n: remember, Rinko has the ability to "sense" other's feelings)

"Mama, Rinko wash sowee. Rinko didn't min to. Mama pwease downt heyt Rinko." [Mama, Rinko was sorry. Rinko didn't mean to. Mama, please don't hate Rinko.] Rinko said as she dropped the book and went to her mother.

Kyoko had snapped from whatever she was thinking when she heard Rinko talked. She looked down and her heart broke as she saw her precious daughter looked terrified and ashamed of something she didn't do. Kyoko knelt down to be the same height as her daughter and pulled her into a hug.

"Rinko dear, mama is so sorry. Mama doesn't hate you. Mama loves you very much. Don't ever forget that. Mama is just thinking something. Please forgive mama for scaring Rinko, okay? Mama loves you very much." She whispered to Rinko as she cradled her daughter in her arms.

Rinko hugged her mother back. She just nodded and smiled as she was relieved to know that her mother wasn't angry at her.

"Rinko wabshu too." [Rinko loves you too.]

As Rinko took her nap, Kyoko cleaned her toys scattered around the floor. She tried to ignore the pink photoalbum as she was cleaning and decided to put the album lastly. And now that she had finished cleaning, she preceded to the last task: hiding the cursed album. And she knew the right place or the only place she should have hid it. She picked up the not-so-dusty album and headed to her room to hide the cursed album.

But as usual, she tripped on an invisible lump. And both her and the book was on the floor.

She didn't know if the gods were always there to push her or she just had two left feet.

However, these weren't the reasons why she decided to open the album. She didn't know what possessed her hands to turn over the cover, but whatever the reason behind such behaviour she decided to continue.

And the sight of the first page, she recognized her cursive writings instantly and made her doubt her choice of opening the photoalbum. But curiosity won at the end.

She read her cursive writing despite the fact that she knew it to well. Love is really a miracle that brought us together. She suddenly felt her eyes starting to water again but she held it back. She turned it to the next page and read her handwriting.

At first, I didn't understand what the THUMPINGS, BUMPINGS I've felt whenever he was around. Or maybe I already knew the answer but I was too much in denial as Moko-san said. I mean I know this time that it was different from what I felt to that Sho-baka. Much different. And I suddenly realized all the signs that the President has drilled into our minds while listening to his "the Love-Me Talk" during the night of the LME annual welcoming party…

***********************************************************************************FLASHBACK*********************

As usual the President, had gone over the top for the annual LME Welcoming party. The theme was "A night in Paris". All female were looking so elegant dress in their cocktail dresses colored in elegant colors. As well as the men were all wearing tuxes in different shades that complimented their colors.

The party was for welcoming the new talents as well as celebrating yet another year for the regular talents. Today, Kyoko was celebrating her 3rd year in LME. Together with the other Love-Me girls, they are all stunning to look at and one couldn't mistake them as the girls who wear that eye-hurting neon pink jumpers.

Chiori was wearing a classic navy blue sleeveless dress with a one-sided strap that hung on her right shoulder. The dress was cut above knee length. And the dress shimmered once she turned around as silver sequences scattered artistically on the skirt part.

Kotonomi on the other hand, was wearing a fiery red halter v-neck backless cocktail dress. On her neck, hang a silver necklace. The dress though lack the shimmering effect like Chiori's had been clinging to the slender figure of the actress. The dress emphasized the slimness of the actress, making Kotonomi looking sophisticated with matching silver stilettos.

Lastly, Kyoko the petite one among the Love-Me girls, was wearing a silver cocktail dress. A silver long back tube cocktail dress was what the last Love-Me girl was wearing. Its simplicity matched the pixie beauty of Kyoko. She was wearing a silver stiletto to match for her dress.

All three was stunningly beautiful which could make Lory cried (which they really did, Lory was sulking on the corner of the room mumbling how his 3 children were growing up too fast.) Surrounding the Love-Me members were some friends they made in their drama series.

At the struck of 11 in the evening, the door suddenly open and came the most handsome bachelor of the LME, Ren Tsuruga. The man was wearing a black tuxedo with a white shirt underneath it. Of course all females in the room had been staring at the man who just came in.

Among the 3 Love-Me Girls, one maybe was captivated while the rest were slyly staring at the man who just came in.

"Oh, look Tsuruga-san has just arrived looking oh-so-gorgeous, right Kyoko-san?" Chiori started.

"Kyoko, you might wipe some drool on your mouth." Kanae, jokingly commented which caught the attention of the subject.

"Moko-saaaaaaaan! I'm so not drooling! And Chiori-chan, what are you implying?" said by the blushing actress who was being teased merciless by her co-workers.

"O-oh, look who was coming in our way." Chiori pointed out to her other companion.

BADUMP!

Kyoko suddenly turned around to see that indeed, Ren Tsuruga was coming on their way. She could feel her hands were starting to sweat for some unknown reason and she could feel that her legs were starting to get wobbly for the same unknown reason.

BADUMP!

"I can practically hear your heart jumping on your chest." Kanae whispered to Kyoko which made Kyoko fully blushed.

On the other hand, Ren was quite curious about what Kanae had whispered to his lady love that made Kyoko blush enticingly like that.

Upon his arrival, he instantly searched for the Love-Me members since he knew that his lady love will be with them. And he was correct seeing the three together, stunning the other guests. He could see why some men were looking at their direction seeing Kotonomi, looking so elegant in her red dress. Even his best friend, Yashiro wasn't spared. Looking at his left side, he could see that his manager was fixated to the beauty in front of him. Of course, the woman in blue was gorgeous, glittering in the ball. Despite seeing beautiful women, no one could compare to his lady love, the woman in silver.

Hearts on his eyes, he approached the three ladies.

"Lovely evening ladies."

BADUMP!

"Same to you, Tsuruga-san!" said in unison by the two Love-Me girls in blue and silver. While the woman in red, just nodded to acknowledge the presence of Ren.

"Chiori-san, you look extra stunning tonight." Complimented by Yashiro.

"You look dashing yourself Yashiro-san." Replied by Chiori.

"Of course, you look very beautiful in your silver dress Kyoko-chan, right Ren?." teased Yashiro to Ren.

"Thank you Yashiro-san, you look handsome too tonight." Replied by a shy Kyoko.

"And Kotonami-san, you look uh, very sophisticated in your dress." complimented by the blushing Yashiro.

"I am always sophisticated Yashiro-san. Are you implying the other way around?" replied by the sharp tongued Kotonami. "Excuse me, for a bit." And she turned around to walk the other way. Hot on her heels, was an apologizing Yashiro.

"Kotonami-san, I didn't mean it that way." Pleaded by Yashiro.

"I'll try to save Yashiro-san from Kanae's lashing. Hehehe" replied by a slightly nervous Chiori and began to head towards the direction of Kanae and Yashiro, leaving the two love-struck pair alone with each other.

BADUMP! BADUMP! BADUMP! BADUMP! BADUMP! BADUMP!

Kyoko could hear her heart hammering in her chest while she was looking at everyone other than Ren.

The same went to Ren. However, it's not the hammering of his heart that he felt but his hands were starting to sweat a little. What am I? A highschool boy who was nervous before confessing to his crush?! He sighed and when he opened his eyes he caught his lady love staring at him. He blushed a little.

Kyoko stopped gazing at others when she noticed that Ren heaved a big sigh. She thought maybe being alone with her was making him uncomfortable.

"Tsuruga-san, you know you could go and see other people too." Kyoko murmured but was loud enough to be heard by Ren.

"I'm right where I should be." He replied with a smile.

"But you look uncomfortable, am I making you feel uncomfortable?" Kyoko inquired.

Not uncomfortable, but happy and very nervous. He thought. "Why did you say that, Mogami-san?" He turned his whole body towards Kyoko and inched a bit closer.

Kyoko blushed a little realizing, that Ren had inched a little bit closer to her while she could hear her heart hammering louder and faster compared awhile ago. Ren noticing Kyoko blushing, celebrated silently.

"Well, you look uncomfortable standing next to me." She said.

"Oh." He chuckled inwardly realizing his nervousness was seeping through the surface of his persona. "It's not what you think. It's just that there's so many people in this hall. Would you mind if we go outside for a fresh air?" He extended his hand coaxing her to take it, in which she took but hesitantly at first.

BADUMP!

*************************************************************************END OF FLASHBACK*********************

On the album, was a picture of her and Ren walking towards the garden hand in hand. Kyoko blushed remembering that night was full of signs for her feeling towards the actor.

Below on the page where a picture of the white rose on a beautiful vase. The flower was given to her by none other than Ren when they were alone in the garden. She blushed as she remembered how many excuses she came up to stop herself from giving any romantic meaning to Ren's gift.

As she browse the photoalbum, memories of the past came rushing into her head as she remembered the events that the images captured.

One of the events it captured was their secret kisses in the dressing room. She blushed hotly as she stared at the short kiss she and Ren shared inside his dressing room. She remembered that they were just starting their relationship at that time and they decided to keep it a secret for a while from their friends. But they weren't discreet enough.

***********************************************************************************FLASHBACK*********************

They were shooting their own dramas together in the studios in LME. However their dressing rooms were not far from one another as well as the studios they used for their dramas.

At her lunch break, she went to the studio where Ren was filming. At that time, Ren was filming his action drama with a little bit of romance. Though the drama had action as its main genre, they were shooting the episode in which the romance part was highlighted very much. And of course, Kyoko didn't know that since Ren wasn't really expecting his girlfriend to surprise him with a visit.

Upon her arrival, the shooting was starting. The scene was like this: Ren (his character) would cage his co-star then exchanges of lines and then he would kiss her while she would kiss him back and then realized that she should push him. Though at the start, everything was going well as Kyoko watched. However, at the kissing part the shooting started to go downhill.

After Ren kissed the actress forcefully, his co-star (the actress) suddenly gone still and didn't do anything for the past 2 minutes earned a big CUT.

"CUUUUUUUT!" yelled the director.

This was also witnessed by Kyoko. Kyoko had long accepted that her boyfriend would have to kiss several women and she would be watching those scenes. She knew that she would also be experiencing such thing. She was fine with that, a little peeved but still fine as she kept reasoning to herself that it's part of her work.

She also knew that her boyfriend was the top bachelor of LME; thus, many women and even men would be wanting to kiss him. This didn't upset her.

What upset her was the scene unfolding on her eyes at the moment. The kissing scene was being shot for the 3rd time and up until now the actress didn't get what the director want and that was to kiss him back and push him not to act like a statue.

She reminded herself that this was part of their work. But no matter how much she convinced herself to accept that it was just work, the green eyed-monster within her was trying her hardest to come out to tell the actress to do her damn-job. Luckily, Kyoko was still a picture of a very calm girlfriend. It's like the calm part before the raging storm.

The director tried to talk the actress that she needed to kiss then push him away. The said actress who was looking so innocent and nervous tried to explain that she was trying to let but she just froze up.

This went on up until the 7th take. At last they got the shot and the director signalled them for a lunch break. Of course, Kyoko wasn't there since she could only stomach the scene up until the 5th take and just went inside the dressing room of her boyfriend to calm down. She believed that this would take a longer time.

Ren on the other hand was slightly frustrated to what happen in the shooting and checked his watch that it's already 11: 30 am and his girlfriend might be finished in shooting her drama. However he didn't expect that his girlfriend was in his dressing room calming herself.

Truly, he was surprised to see his lady love sitting on the couch with closed eyes looking concentrating on something. She also had her arms folded on her chest as if she was trying to forget something. Ren chuckled inwardly that Kyoko didn't realize that she's not alone anymore.

Kyoko was pouting when she opened her eyes to stare at a pair of twinkling eyes. Kyoko was surprised that she gasped and realized how close the face of Ren to hers. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

Ren chuckled. "Shouldn't I be questioning you that?"

Kyoko's gaze turned towards his lips which was still a little bit glossy, in which made her remember what she was doing and frowned more. Ren noticed that she was again frowning. He asked with a concern voice, "What is it?"

Of course, her jealousy wasn't extinguished fully. "What took you long?"

Ren was surprised at the behaviour of Kyoko. "Trouble on the shoot." He said shortly. He sat beside her to watch and understand her behaviour.

"Trouble particularly with a brunette?" She hissed while her eyes were closed.

Ren was surprised to her response but was more surprise to her behaviour.

"I mean, really. She couldn't act out that simple scene?! I mean is it so hard to follow that simple direction from the director." She continued to rattle on without noticing that Ren was silently happy at her reaction.

Ren couldn't believe his eyes. Kyoko was jealous.

"My, my aren't we jealous?" he teased.

This made Kyoko opened her eyes and turned around to her boyfriend. "You're happy that I'm jealous?!"

"I'm happy that you are jealous." He replied as he gathered her in his eyes.

"Why would I be jealous? I'm frustrated because the scene wasn't difficult. A kiss is just a kiss. And a push is a push. It's not hard ri-" She was abruptly stopped by his lips.

"Why did you do that?" She asked dumbfounded.

"I just want to." He said then kissed her again but this time a bit longer. When the need to breath arise, they stopped. And they just stared with each other. Then suddenly, realizing what just happened and the position she was in, she was flushed.

"I love you." Ren suddenly said. How she managed to get redder than before was beyond explanation, but she was more flushed as she heard him.

She just nodded and whispered an I love you.

After a few minutes of cooling down, they got up and realized that they'd been in the dressing room for half an hour and surely, Yashiro would be looking for Ren for their lunch. Now for the last time, they kissed, just a short kiss, but sweet nonetheless.

In which was captured by Yashiro's camera. Truly, Yashiro got curious as to why was Ren had taken long in his dressing room. He didn't expect to see Kyoko there as much as to see them hugging on the couch.

He was beside himself when he saw them in their intimate position and had almost fainted when he saw them kiss. A short one but a kiss nonetheless. He had captured the moment as he had captured their moment in the couch, hugging lovingly. When he realized that they were coming out of the dressing room, he hurriedly fled towards the studio and tried his best to control his inner fangirl from screaming.

Of course the pictures were later used to interrogate the two people about their relationship.

*************************************************************************END OF FLASHBACK*********************

Kyoko silently laughed as she remembered how they found out about the picture from Yashiro. She smiled softly as she gazed at the other pictures. Then after turning a few pages, she came across to a picture of her laughing out loud with a smiling Ren beside her. They were dressed like a nerdy couple. Both were wearing striped long sleeved shirts, big eye glasses and black caps (like what people in Paris wear XD).

Kyoko on the picture was wearing a red skirt with a black leggings and red boots to match up her outfit. On the other hand, Ren was wearing a black jeans and a red scarf was wrapped around his neck.

Kyoko remembered that the picture was taken on the birthday celebration of Maria. And their entrance was a surprised to a few people in the party.

***********************************************************************************FLASHBACK*********************

Guests were dressed up in pairs as part of the birthday celebration. Kyoko and Ren were running late as they were held back by their dramas. Ren had told Yashiro to go and help with the party since he was just finishing his drama and will be waiting for Kyoko as she finished her drama as well.

The actor had finished his drama earlier than Kyoko so he had changed his clothes. Ren went to fetch Kyoko on her studio.

People ignored Ren as he looked for Kyoko, since he didn't look like THE Ren Tsuruga at the moment. He met up with Kyoko in her dressing room.

Kyoko was finishing her outfit for the birthday celebration when she noticed a figure in her dressing room.

"Ren!" Ren just smiled.

"Hi beautiful."

Kyoko blushed a little. "I'm just finishing up."

As they walked outside, they just acted like a couple to be not caught by paparazzi. Ren draped his right arm on Kyoko's shoulder as Kyoko leaned a little on his arm. Kyoko was blushing a little slightly because of their closeness and majorly because they were in public. Ren's right hand intertwined with Kyoko's right hand. And seeing the light blush on Kyoko slightly chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Kyoko heard his chuckle.

"You're still not used to gestures of affections?" He whispered on her left ear, which made Kyoko blushed more and made Ren laughed.

Kyoko pouted as she heard Ren's laugh and just murmured, "Sorry for not being used to." And Ren just silently chuckled and kissed her on her forehead.

Not a single journalist or paparazzi was noticed by them as they went outside the building. However, their luck ran out as they were seen by a photographer from a magazine. Of course they were caught on camera and Ren noticed it right away, as they stopped to be faced by the photographer.

"Kyoko and Ren?" The photographer asked.

The two artists silently sighed as they faced the photographer. They were not surprised to be recognized by the photographer since they knew that sooner or later they could still be seen.

They just smiled. And they were still lucky enough that it's just only one person that recognized them.

"Going for a late night rendezvous?"

"You found us out." Ren answered as he let go of Kyoko's hands. Kyoko felt the loss of warmth.

"Where are you two heading out? A secret dinner perhaps?" The photographer asked with a knowing smile.

"Ano—it's not like that. We were heading for a birthday celebration of our dear friend." She softly smiled.

"And we were hoping to escape the paparazzi looking like a couple since we were really are running late." Ren added.

"So, sorry, but we have to get going." Kyoko smiled and together with Ren they ran towards the parking lot to avoid another encounter.

When they arrived at the party, many of the guests were surprised to see the two of them in a loving embrace. The pair just reasoned out that they were acting as a nerdy couple as for the theme of the birthday party. Of course, people who knew about their relationship weren't surprised to see them together like that.

However, Yashiro being Yashiro when he had seen his two favourite people was overjoyed that he then tripped, which made Kyoko laughed out loud and Ren silently enjoying his manager's accident. 'Serves him right for all that teasing.' As Ren thought.

*************************************************************************END OF FLASHBACK*********************

Kyoko smiled. So many happy memories did they make. She continued to flip through pages for the times they spent together. She stopped as she came across to a picture of a close up shot of a single red rose with a blurry background. The rose could be recognized lying on the window sill.

It brought tears to Kyoko's eyes as she remembered the events behind the rose.

- End of chappie -

A/N: Sorry Cliff-hanger. I know. But I can't help it. This chapter is full of happiness and love. I hate to end it with sadness. PLUS. inserting the links for the dresses, couldn't be put within the text because they were always being deleted by the unseen force. anyway. just use your imagination XD