Kaorin71: Hi, Guys! Sorry for the long wait. I got a little writer's block and the only motivation I had was the reviews I got. I read Skip Beat Chapter 171 before I finished this and I thought, 'Skip Beat's gonna end! I can feel it!' So now, here's the last chappy! I made it extra long so I hope that would make up for the long update. I'm saying sorry in advance for the poorly made mushy scenes. It's too mushy for me to write!

Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat. Heaven forbids it.

Chapter 9

2 years later… Tokyo, Japan…

"And cut!" yelled the director, standing up from his seated position. "That's a wrap! Good job, everyone."

Exhausted but satisfied gazes met his as they declared the end of the filming. All of the people on the set - actors, actresses and even the crewmen - let out loud cheers to celebrate the ending of the drama. In no time at all, the local park - their filming site - was filled with merriment and joyous clamor.

"Well, isn't that great?" said the director, chuckling to himself. Looking around the area, he caught a sudden glimpse of his drama's leading man. He quickly went up to the tall man and slapped him on the back. "Hey, Ren, congratulations. Your first ever drama became a hit."

The dark haired man, the famous Ren Tsuruga, smiled back at him. "Yeah. It feels nice to have achieved my goal before the end of the year." He straightened up, casting a firm but friendly gaze towards the man. "How about you, Ken? How does it feel to have been nominated as one of the best directors of the year?"

The director, known as Kenji Sato, replied with a proud tone. "It's a great feeling, I can assure you." He stopped short, and then poked Ren in the ribs. "So when's the big night?"

"Big night?" Ren asked.

"The big night. You know, your wedding night." He laughed when Ren let out a sigh. "C'mon. Don't play dumb. You're Ren Tsuruga, Japan's top male model and currently, the top male actor as well. And you're also the boyfriend of Japan's current top female actress."

Before the actor could even reply, a woman from the side stepped in the conversation. She gave Ren a slight nod. "That girl… She's lucky to have you, you know."

Ken shook his head, not agreeing to the girl. "You got it all wrong, Kirie. It's Ren who's lucky to have that girl. His girlfriend's one talented woman. She can do anything from acting to forcing food down this man's throat."

Kirie Fujio, one of Ren's co-stars, giggled. She was a pretty girl, for a short five footer. Her blonde curls bobbed on her shoulders as she laughed. "I guess I should agree. I've worked with her before. She's one cute girl."

Ren just shook his head as he packed up some of his stuff. The noise in the background had died out moments ago, giving him some space to think. His hand reached for his other stuff as he said, "Can't you guys talk about other work related things instead of my love life?"

Just as Kirie was to reply, Yashiro, Ren's manager, arrived. "It's because you're the most talked about celebrity in Japan as of the moment, plus the fact that your girlfriend is too much of a cutie."

"I didn't ask for your opinion, Yashiro."

"It's a fact, Ren. It's not even close to being an opinion." When the actor didn't reply to him, he immediately told him what he came for. "The president called for you. He said he has an important matter to settle with you."

As he packed the last of his things, he turned around and faced Yashiro. A creepy smile was on the manager's face, just as he had predicted. Another sigh escaped his lips as he bid goodbye to all of his co-workers and followed his manager out of the area.

Yashiro frowned. "Sighing decreases your happiness meter. Maria will get mad at you."

He threw a sidelong glance at him, walking at a fast pace. "It's not like it's true."

"It is. I've proven it." Suddenly, Yashiro let out a low gasp. "Ren, if you continue sighing like that, your wedding might not push through. Or worse. What if she decides to break up with you? What'll happen to the wedding of the decade? To your love life? Even to your future?"

Ren stared at him for a moment before responding. "Yashiro, have you forgotten that I'm not even engaged yet? And how will sighing affect my love life, let alone my future?"

After that, Ren sighed again. Yashiro became even more horrified than before and tried to scold him for such a careless behavior. Their conversation continued like that as they made their way towards LME productions.

As soon as they entered the building, things changed.

A lot of people were gathered at the entrance hall. There were faces that Ren recognized and others weren't very familiar with him. But with that aside, all of them wore grins, as if the expression was glued on their faces. They beamed at him and his manager, and soon, they began to congratulate him.

Ren had a neutral face on as he shook hands with each person he passed. But inside, he was wondering what the hell was up with all of the people he met that day. They were all blabbering about his girlfriend and when the wedding will be. He had kept a calm demeanor while he was facing them but now, he couldn't help wonder where they got the news. It's true that he was about to get married. In fact, he was to propose to his girlfriend later at the garden he had reserved at a private restaurant. But as far as he can remember, he never told anyone except...

Something clicked inside his head. As he shook hands with the last person in front of him, he turned his head to where his manager was. It took a while but their gazes finally met, and Yashiro couldn't give him anything but a sheepish grin.

Yashiro, I'll get later for this,' Ren mouthed to the poor manager while giving him that flashy fake smile.

Soon enough, the whole event was over, and both Ren and Yashiro were racing through the hallways of LME. On their way to the president's office, they encountered Director Ogata, congratulating them with a friendly smile; Takenori Sawara who gave them a respectful nod; and there was Umehara Nami, the new talent scout of LME, waving at her 'beloved' Yashiro.

"Speaking of weddings, when's yours going to happen?" Ren asked, a slight teasing tone in his voice.

The manager couldn't help blushing. "What do you mean by that? It's -it's only been two months!"

"Like I'll believe you."

They were so preoccupied with their argument that they didn't notice where they were going. As they were rounding the next corner, Ren accidentally bumped into someone. The sudden hit startled him, making him stop in his tracks. He glanced at the woman in front of him who had stumbled four steps back and was about to apologize when she raised her head and glowered at him.

In his mind, Ren wanted to curse himself for encountering this woman. His appearance, however, didn't show any hint of his uneasiness. Stretching out a hand to help her, he said, "Good afternoon, Kotonami-san."

Kanae stared at him for ten seconds before slapping the hand away. She mumbled some words as she stood up, still having a scowl on her face. "My afternoon was good until you came along."

Ren resisted the urge to answer back. Full of pride and short tempered; those words fit Kanae Kotonami's personality exactly. The girl had been like that ever since she came to Tokyo two years ago. Even when she was dumped into the newly made division of the company which the president called 'Love-Me Section' and made into a laughing stock, this girl strived hard and debuted in just a year. And from then on, she had been casting horrible looks of hatred and resentment towards the man.

Sometimes, I have the feeling that she went here to Tokyo just to make my life miserable, Ren grimaced, trying to compose himself in front of the woman. Shaking the thought away for a brief moment, he opened up a light conversation with her. "So how's your career going? Have you gotten any more new offers?"

Ren's question raised suspicion in the woman. Although she did not feel at ease with the man, she let her professionalism win against her stubborn attitude and answered considerately. "So far, I've been getting supporting roles for some of the current best rating shows. I've also been receiving movie offers and interview requests. But the job I'm considering is the drama called 'Dark Fate'. It seems like a good opportunity for me plus the pay's good."

"Why do you always think about the salary before accepting a job?" Yashiro asked her in an effort to make his existence known. "Do you really take your job seriously?"

Looking offended, Kanae answered back in an ominous tone. "Of course I'm serious with my job. If I'm only interested in the money then I would've just tried a career in business management." She crossed her arms as her scowl turned into a deep frown. "If you were in my place, you would feel the pressure of having to feed about twenty mouths in one day."

"Wait," Ren said. "Aren't your siblings back in Kyoto?"

"Not anymore. I used the money I saved to pay for their transportation last month. And the remaining money was used to buy that antique looking house just downtown," Kanae said, sighing as she recalled the appearance of that horrid place. "Not to mention the fact that my brothers and sisters brought along their families. It's like I'm the mother of a pack."

"That's good then," the actor told her. "You're and your family are living more pleasantly than when you were back in Kyoto. At least the incident that happened two years ago had some good effects."

At the mention of the word 'incident', Kanae's frown turned into a wistful expression. "Come to think of it, if you had never come to Kyoto, that wouldn't have happened. We would still be working peacefully at the ryokan now."

She then turned to look at Ren who had a slightly guilty expression on his face. Kanae found this amusing somehow and relaxed a little. Sighing happily, she continued. "But then, if you had never gone to that place, she would never have met you. She would still be the same clueless girl as she was before. And you wouldn't have convinced your company to scout me."

Her amused grin brought a smile to his face. "So I guess we're even now?"

The amusement on her face was gone, replaced by a calculating look. She eyed Ren from head to toe and then broke into a small laughing fit, an action which was so rare of her. "Sure. Just for now."

Her attitude might not be pleasant but her talent as an actress is top notch, he thought as she bowed down and bid goodbye to the two. I can see why she became her best friend. They're both one of a kind.

Shortly after the girl had stridden away, Yashiro faced the actor. "Let's get going now. I'm sur -"

"Oh yeah," Kanae cut in, turning her head to them. She was some distance away, but the two managed to hear her. The look she had on her face had a mischievous glint on it which somehow made Ren uncomfortable. "You better invite me to your wedding, Tsuruga, or I'll definitely get even with you."

Having said those words, she sauntered away, leaving Ren gaping at her.

"Yashiro," he abruptly said, causing his manager to jump up. "Just how many people have you informed about this?"

Seeing the dark aura building up around the man, Yashiro answered in a tight voice, "A-actually, I o-only told the president about it…"

Hearing this, Ren covered his face with his palm. Of all the people in the world, why him? he thought mournfully, knowing the impossible feats that man is capable of doing. If it's him then no wonder the news spread around so fast.

"The damage is already done," he grumbled. "There's nothing we can do except to act naturally."

Nodding, Yashiro said in a shaky voice, "We better get going now."

Once again, they were on their way to the president's office. Impatience made Ren climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator. His poor manager tried hard to keep up with his pace while avoiding his stern gaze. They were silent the whole time, not saying a word.

When they were finally at the president's front door, Ren broke the silence by talking with Lory's secretary, telling her to inform him that they were there.

"I'm sorry but the president is currently having a meeting with someone," she told them.

"Having a meeting?" Yashiro repeated, confused. "But he just called for us a moment ago. How can he be in a meeting?"

As the woman was about to reply, the doors flew open and a teenage boy stepped out. He had a serious mask on until he saw the two men gaping at him. Ren and Yashiro just stared, trying to remember where they had seen the guy before. That's when the blonde haired boy smirked and studied Ren.

"We finally meet, Tsuruga Ren," he said, pointing a finger at him. "Your downfall will come soon enough. My songs will reach the top of the charts once more, and you will be overthrown from your throne."

"Fuwa Sho," said Ren, recalling his encounter with the man two years ago. That was during the twenty fifth of December, her birthday. "What are you doing here? Aren't you a talent at Akatoki?"

Sho smiled, running a hand through his hair. "Let's just say that my talent has finally been recognized by your company's president. He called me here to say that I have been accepted as a new talent in LME. From now on, we'll be competing a lot, Tsuruga Ren. I - "

Ren looked at him skeptically, half believing. It wouldn't be a surprise for him if the president really did scout this man. For an eighteen year old, he has a perfect singing voice and a face of a superstar. The only problem is his stuck up attitude. His interest in showbiz started after that 'incident' two years ago, when he found out that the guy who had stayed at their ryokan was the famous model Tsuruga Ren. For some reason unknown to Ren, this man followed him to Tokyo and tried to challenge him in a popularity contest several times. He always loses it, though.

A childish but smug voice interrupted him. "Don't listen to that guy, Ren-sama," Maria, Lory's grand daughter said, running up to him with open arms. "He's a liar. He came here because he was hoping that grandfather would take him in as a talent. Too bad he didn't accept." Maria stuck out her tongue at the teenager as she said this.

Sho, even though annoyed, refused to be outsmarted by a girl. Trying to keep his cool, he issued another challenge to the man. "Just wait, Tsuruga Ren. One day, I'll definitely be more popular than you. Women will want me more than you. And when that happens, even your beloved girlfriend will leave your side."

Once he had finished his useless threat, he quickly turned his back to them and walked away. Maria still glared at him while clutching the hem of Ren's upper clothing. Both the actor and the manager shook the event off, not completely understanding what had just happened.

Facing Lory's secretary, Ren asked, "Can we come in now?

The secretary nodded curtly, telling them to wait as she stepped inside. After a few moments, she slipped out, telling them that they had been granted permission to enter.

"Please don't be surprised by what you would see inside," Lory's secretary warned, giving them a helpless smile.

The two men stared at each other for a short while, wondering what could be inside. Maria also stared at them with wide eyes, making them even more curious. Ren shrugged, knowing that whatever's there must be something they least expect. When they stepped in, they were really in for a surprise.

The whole office was redecorated with a merry theme. Streamers hung down from a line that ran across the room and red silk curtains were hung by his windows. There were red roses everywhere; on his table, in vases all around the floor and even on the sofa. A giant candle stand, which could be as long as one's legs, stood at the center of the room. It had three giant candles, all of them lit. Beside the object was an even more gigantic six layered wedding cake, topped with three candles which read 'Forever With You.'

If anything could be weirder than the sight they were currently seeing, it would have to be the president, Lory Takarada. He wore another one of his frilly 13th century English outfits, the one with the shirt and puffed pants. They were the color of silver with golden stripes and brownish highlights. The hat he wore was the weirdest to be seen; it resembled a cowboy and an elf hat mixed together with five giant feathers sticking out.

Upon seeing them, he greeted them with booming laughter. "What do we have here? The soon-to-be groom with his soon-to-be best man."

"We're here for business," Ren told him, sitting down on the soft cushion in the midst of extravagantly decorated room. "And what's with all of these?"

Lory pretended to be innocent with him. "Why, for your wedding, of course!" Then he took his handkerchief and pretended to blow on it. "Isn't it so soon? My dear Ren is going to get married. And you're probably going to have children soon. I'm going to be a grandfather."

"Uhh, you're already a grandfather, grandfather," Maria reminded him, waving a hand. "Am I not your grand daughter?"

The two men chuckled as Lory and Maria had a short bickering session. The man refused to be involved with it any longer and decided to proceed to business. "So you two might be wondering why I called you here. Nothing's up, really. I just wanted to see if my dear Ren is ready to become a husband. And, oh! Kuu and Julie are going to be so delighted! I mean, they were delighted. I already informed them."

That did it. Ren's patience with this man has finally snapped. "Excuse but if you have nothing to talk to us about then -"

"Aren't you forgetting something, Ren?" Lory told him, chuckling. He pointed to the clock, which showed him that it was already thirty minutes past five. "If you don't hurry up your planned proposal might end up in a disaster."

"Oh, shi -" Ren stood up, alarmed with the time. He quickly made his way out of the room without waiting for Yashiro.

"Hey, Ren, wait u -" Yashiro stopped when Lory grabbed him by the shoulder. He turned just in time to see that same smile he always had on while teasing Ren on the president's face.

"You can't go yet," Lory told him, smiling as he thought of his plan once more. "We have something important to accomplish."

An hour later…

This is nerve racking. I never imagined that proposing to the woman you love would be so… what's the word? Worrisome? Upsetting? Ren thought randomly, trying to calm himself down as he drove to the restaurant. I have to calm down. It's not like she'll turn me down. Will she? No, she's not that kind of a woman. That's right. I have to keep my hopes up.

He finally arrived at his destination ten long minutes later. Due to anxiety, his hands became damp and suddenly had this strange lump in throat. His body feels warm all over as if he hadn't been in an air conditioned car.

Just relax and everything will turn out right, Ren told himself, stepping out of the car. I hope.

Ren took one more glance at his mirror before he stepped out in the refreshing night. His crisp black tuxedo matched him well and made him appear even more appealing than usual. The anxiety was still there, evident on his face. It took all his willpower to cover that emotion up with his usual neutral facade.

This is going to turn out fine. No need to worry. Relax and have fun.

He started towards the entrance of the restaurant. Around the area, he could see a lot of onlookers and gossip hounds following his every move. Even though he had reserved the whole place for the night, it seems like a lot of people will become the audience of the most awaited proposal of the year.

How did all these people find out about what's going to happen? he asked himself. He then shook his head. No, I shouldn't be thinking about those things. I should concentrate on what I'm about to do. The slightest mistake might make me lose her. I have to act correctly.

"Hey, you guys," whispered one girl to the other as their gazes followed the man. "They said that he's going to propose to his girlfriend tonight."

"Eh?" one girl exclaimed. "But he hasn't even introduced her to the public!"

"Maybe he will, after tonight," another said, giggling softly.

Ah, why can't people just gossip on other things except me?

Upon reaching the entrance, he talked to the man by the door about his reservation. The man nodded and then checked the restaurant's log book for reference. Ren shifted his tie uncomfortably as he flipped through the pages of the said book. After a couple of seconds, the man found the entry and his eyes went wide, realizing who this man before him is. The actor had his gaze somewhere else when the man called.

"Tsuruga-san," he said, getting Ren's attention. He smiled and opened the door for him. "I hope you have a wonderful and successful evening."

Knowing that he was talking about his proposal, he mumbled a soft 'thank you' and went on inside. The whole building was huge, despite the outside appearance. He had been right in choosing this restaurant. It was clean and quiet, plus it wasn't that known to other people. He had wanted to keep this event as secret as possible. But after seeing all those people there, he's not sure whether it's even a secret or not anymore.

Ren continued to dwell in his thoughts as he sauntered throught the room. He was headed towards the back of the said building, to the garden. Since she liked being one with the nature so much, he decided that the beautiful landscape was the best place to propose to her.

I wonder if she's here already, he thought. Maybe. It's nearly seven. Our time was supposed to be thirty minutes ago.

As he neared the back exit, he couldn't help but grab the small red box in his pocket. Stopping for a while, he opened the box, revealing an astounding diamond ring. Ren had bought the ring two weeks ago without her knowledge.

This would probably make her pout, Ren chuckled. She said she wanted something inexpensive that symbolizes her. I'll just tell her that I couldn't find anything other than this. She is, after all, as precious as a diamond to me.

Thinking about this, he closed the box and tucked it inside his pocket. Once again, he shifted his tie and let out a breath. This was it. The moment he had been yearning for. He just has to play his part well. If it doesn't go well… he'll think about it later.

I can do this, Ren told himself, advancing towards the exit. I will do this.

He took a step outside and everything hit him in a flash.

The garden was as enchanting as he last saw it. It was still the same maze where you could get lost by staring so intently at the marvelous decorations. There were tall hedges everywhere, trimmed delicately into abstract figures and shapes. One hedge at his left looked like a small cub, which would probably delight her. There was the circular fountain, silver from the moon's faint light, gushed with pure water.

Looking to his right, he saw the gossip hounds and the curious onlookers, craning their necks to see the inside. When their gazes met his, some girls squealed, others took cover. He sighed lightly as he went on.

The view in front of him was covered with hedges, making it impossible to see who's on the other side. It was a designed like a maze so it was no wonder. Of all the times he had come here to check the place, he had memorized the pattern of the area. There was no way he could get lost in this area.

When he was going to another corner, he caught a glimpse of an elegant rose red dress. He turned, but he didn't find her there. He became confused, knowing that the girl couldn't have disappeared so quickly.

"Look, is that her?" said one of the onlookers. Ren saw him peering through a gap in the hedge.

"Oh, I know her. She's that famous actress." a girl told her companion. "I just can't remember her name correctly. It was Yu something. But she's a beautiful woman, I can assure you."

What? They can see her? But where is she? Ren asked himself, confused even more. He looked at the area once more. The only way she could go to is to me or back towards here. There's no way she could go through the left or right side. So, where did she go?

He went on further until he reached a rectangular area. He knew that the area would be a dead end. He just has to check whether she was there or not.

Didn't I instruct her to stay there? He asked himself again. Now why -

"Gotcha!" a voice said as two hands blocked Ren's eyes. He nearly stumbled back in surprise. When he had calmed down, he heard a soft giggle. "Come on. Are you that shocked?"

A small smile came on his face when he figured out who the owner of the voice was. He grasped her hands and removed them from his eyes, turning around to face her as he did so. "You're still the same as always, Yuna."

Yuna's strawberry blonde hair swayed as she giggled. She looked slimmer than before, not to mention healthier. Ren had helped her with her diet and exercise after he had returned from Kyoto two years ago. Now, she's reached her dream to become a famous actress and she doesn't faint on the set anymore.

Her laugh was a cute high pitched tone, making Ren's smile widen. "You're the same as before as well, Ren." She took her hands away from his grasp and stepped back. "Well now, isn't the tux too formal for you?"

"Not really. And how about the red dress?" Ren asked her, eyeing clothing.

"I just borrowed it from a friend, you know," she said, twirling around. "It's because no one buys me new clothes."

"Maybe I'll buy you one sometime later," Ren told her, patting her on the head. "Now, did you do as I say?"

Yuna looked up to him and nodded. "Yep. I took her here, just like you told me. Don't worry, she didn't suspect a thing."

"And what is she wearing?"

The girl shook her head and put her finger to her mouth. "That is a secret I won't tell you. If you want to know then go to her."

"Is that so?" Ren told her, messing up her hair. She cried out but he messed it up even more. Turning back to where he came from, he waved goodbye to her. "I'll see you later. Thanks for the help."

"Ren."

Hearing her call his name, he glanced at her. He was caught off guard seeing that solemn but happy expression on her face.

The girl winked at him. "Don't forget your promise, Ren. Don't ever break it."

With a smile, he answered, "I definitely won't."

Once their conversation was over, Ren left Yuna at the place. He had something else to do. Something that would probably crush him if he gets rejected. It's now or never.

Ren went through the maze quickly. He made his way around the fountain, through the last pieces of the hedges and then, when he got to the clearing, his eyes searched for his bride-to-be. When he had finally seen her, he stood there in amazement.

Her back was to him but he was sure that she looked stunning. She sat on one of the benches with one on top of the other while her head bobbed cutely, as if she was listening to music. She wore a silky cream long sleeved gown with matching laces and elegant frills sewn on it. Judging from her poise, it looked like she was holding something.

Ren couldn't help but whisper, "Kyoko…"

Hearing his voice, Kyoko whipped around, wearing her signature smile. At first, her eyes went wide but then she calmed down, going straight towards the man. Ren still hasn't recovered from his shock. He was right, after all; she looked absolutely enchanting in that cream colored gown of hers.

Kyoko threw herself at him, burying her face at his chest as if she was going to cry. "Ren! You look great! What's this all about?" She pulled back, letting her gaze wander around. "And where's Yuna-chan? She said she'll just go get us some drinks."

The earlier shock left Ren. He cleared his throat, not knowing how to begin a conversation with her except by saying, "You're beautiful."

Her smile grew, hearing him praise her. "You always say that, you know. Now will you please tell me what's going on?"

Ren didn't answer. Instead he raised his right hand and touched her face. Kyoko flinched; she was still not used to the feeling of his skin on hers, even after two years. Ren brushed her smooth black hair back a bit, making Kyoko's face flush.

"Ah, Ren?" she started uneasily. "What -"

Before she could even finish what she has to say, Ren wrapped his arms around her petite body and secured her in an embrace. This made Kyoko confused more than ever. Why was Ren doing all sorts of romantic things with her? Not that she didn't like it, but it was so rare of the man to show his feelings for her, even in private.

What should I do now? Damn it, I should've taken lessons about this one, Ren though grimly, cursing himself. Kyoko's here; check. I'm here; check. Diamond ring; check. Fancy clothing; check. Confidence to propose to her? Absent.

Kyoko tried squirming out of his arms but Ren held her still. His thoughts are now in chaos. This isn't good. What if she already found out? What if she's not ready? What if she rejects me? What if -

Pushing his chest with all her might, Kyoko escaped his embrace. Her sudden action caught Ren off guard, making him stumble three steps back. He looked at the girl who was gasping and red all over.

"Ren Tsuruga," she called out with enough venom to crush Ren's remaining sanity. "If you don't tell me what's going on right this moment, I am going to walk home."

"But -"

"No buts!" Kyoko said quickly. She stopped short, grumbled and then sighed. "Really, Ren. If you want to say something then just say it. Your irrational 'acts of affection' are giving it away."

Her scolding made him scratch the back of his head, one of his irrational acts. Ren was uneasy, Kyoko could tell, but she probably didn't expect what this man did next.

Nervously gazing at her, Ren knelt down, took out the red box from his tuxedo pocket, and then muttered the words that he'd been dreading to say all through out the day. "Kyoko, will you marry me?"

For a moment, everything was silent. The onlookers seemed to have quieted down. Ren felt his own heart stop, but still he fixated his gaze on Kyoko. His girlfriend stood there, neither shocked nor happy. Her face was neutral. Up until now, Ren never realized how horrible it felt to be looking at an emotionless face; he couldn't tell whether she was going to reject him or not.

Ren had had enough. He broke the silence, slowly withdrawing his hand. "Uhm, if you don't want to then -"

"Of course I want to!" Kyoko exclaimed, kneeling down to hug him. She took the red box from his hand and pulled back, showing her eyes brimming with tears. "Why wouldn't I accept it?"

Now it was his turn to be startled. Ren fumbled with the right words to say. "It's because you were just standing there…"

"Well, all this time, I was just waiting for you to say those words," Kyoko told him, leaning back a bit. "But I never really thought that you and Yuna would team up and bring me here of all places. You knew I liked this garden so you told her to take me here, right?"

He chuckled. His hand entwined into Kyoko's. "Yeah. I was thinking of taking you to Kyoto and lead you to that place to propose. That would've taken a while, though, and by then, you would have probably figured everything out."

"Maybe, maybe not," Kyoko said softly.

Silence covered the area once again, though this wasn't awkward silence. Ren squeezed Kyoko's hands tighter, pulling her closer and closer. His other hand moved under her face, tipping her chin up to him. Kyoko didn't budge away; instead, she knelt closer, lips parting in expectation. Ren leaned down towards her, dark hair spilling on his shoulders. His face inched closer to hers. Closer...

"Oooff!"

Ren and Kyoko looked up at the same time. The noise came from the bushes to their right. They were right. There, lying on the ground was the president, Lory Takarada. Behind him, still hiding behind the green leaves, were Maria, Kanae, Yuna, Kuu, Yashiro and Julie, all wearing glorious fan girl grins on their faces. The two suddenly felt conscious of their surroundings, parting from their almost kiss.

"No, don't stop!" Lory yelled, sitting up, brushing the grass off his black slacks. For once, he considered putting on a normal civilian outfit. He went back to his place behind the bush. "Please don't mind me. I'm just a curious bystander. Continue if you must."

Ren sighed, actually disappointed about being interrupted. "Yuna…"

Yuna grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I kinda told some people…" She winked at her companions, standing up from her position. "It's hard not to blab about it."

"You guys are so mean," Kyoko whined, still kneeling on the grassy ground. "Spying on us like this…"

"But isn't it great?" Yashiro blurted out, hopping around like how a young flower girl in a wedding prances down the aisle, throwing imaginary flower petals into the air. "Finally, Ren, after a streak of broken hearts, you've found the one. Your loved one. Your girlfriend. Your Kyoko-cha-" He was cut off by Kanae, covering his mouth with her hands.

Kuu was going to say something but Julie stepped in and stopped him. "Now, now, dear. Remember how hard it is to propose to your loved one. Let them get on with their own business." Then, winking at Ren, she said, "Kuon, darling, slip that ring on her finger before she decides to storm off. Good luck."

With that, she ushered the others away, leaving Kyoko giggling. Ren just shook his head, wondering how this perfect proposal turned into a comedy act in less than a moment. After contemplating on a punishment for them, he faced Kyoko who seemed to be waiting for him expectantly. He held a hand out to her, helping her stand up.

"I take you didn't like the intrusion," she giggled, holding her hand to him.

"Nothing I can do about it," he murmured softly, taking her hand and sliding the ring on her ring finger. He heaved a sigh and then an amused smile crossed his features. "At least everything went smoothly."

"Ye -" Kyoko was interrupted by a weird crackling sound. Soon, they realized the noise had come from above. Staring up, their surprised expressions were swept away by the fireworks display they saw, replaced by childish giggles. "It's the president, isn't it?"

Ren nodded and this time, their moment wasn't taken away. He took his soon-to-be bride into his arms and planted a kiss on her lips, startling her a bit. She laughed in between breaths but quickly gave in and returned the kiss. Their passionate kiss lasted for a while and when they pulled away from each other, the finale of the fireworks display had been launched.

Not removing the intimate space between them, Ren leaned his forehead unto hers, smiling. "So I guess his is happily ever after?"

"Yep." Laughing, Kyoko planted a light kiss on his lips and then answered, "Forever With You."

There! As they say, that's all, folks! Thanks to all loyal readers there! You guys gave me the strength to finish this fic. I really, really love you guys! Please motivate me to continue my other stories as well!

Last note: Visit the forums sometime. Some interesting things are brewing.

Again, thanks to y'all! See'ya in my other fanfics!