Greetings everyone! I hope you all have been having a splendid week so far and once again, I can't thank you enough for all the touching reviews. Reading your thoughts not only gives me ideas to go forward, but also the encouragement to keep writing. Thank you again and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Please Read and Review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat or any of its characters.

The birds chirping outside alerted Kyoko that morning had finally come. She lay down on her side, facing the window with the curtains drawn tight. Even though her eyes weren't open, she could tell that her bedroom was bathed in a hazy blue from the sunlight against her long drapes.

Reaching out a slender hand, Kyoko blindly ran her fingers across the blanket over her body, the carpeted floor, the alarm clock beside her head, and the small jewelry bag she pulled out last night. Everything felt the same; everything was sitting right where she had left them. But Kyoko couldn't understand the feeling of unfamiliarity that flooded through her. It was as if she was a completely different person.

She carefully blinked away her blurry vision as she turned onto her back and focused on the dark ceiling above her. Kyoko inhaled deeply, feeling her body awaken from the fresh air that eventually pulled her to a sitting position. She ran a slender hand through her hair and combed through the silky tresses. Then curling her knees to her chest, Kyoko wrapped her arms around her legs and comfortably leaned her chin against them.

Smiling gently, she realized that her heart was beating so steadily now. Every thump sent a warm sensation rippling down her spine. She had never felt so alive. And even though she felt tired and restless, her body didn't seem to care. It was as if she was running on nothing else but pure adrenaline and thrill.

As her thoughts drifted to the day ahead, Kyoko felt her cheeks flush red. It was suddenly all she could do. Kyoko was certain that by the end of it all, her cheeks would be permanently stained. She then glanced down at her Darumaya clock and realized it was 6:57, three minutes before her alarm would go off. Kyoko switched the machine off and got to her feet to pull the curtains and window open.

She stepped out onto the balcony and watched the sun rise over the horizon. The cold from last night was now a cool gentle breeze, blowing across her face. The day was starting out beautifully. It really felt like a dream. And if Kyoko didn't know any better, she would have dismissed all that had happened as just that. But when she turned around, her eyes warmly fell upon the one piece of evidence that made it all too real.

Walking back into the room, Kyoko knelt down onto her cot and lifted his dark coat to her face. Tentatively, she breathed in and felt her senses go haywire. It was as if her body was suddenly on high alert, excited to see him once more. An involuntary smile curved at the corner of her lips as her heart leapt in eagerness.

Kyoko glanced back at the clock and whispered, "One more hour." And just like that, her heartbeats slowed until it was the comfortable drumming in her chest once more.

It was scary how so many things could change overnight. Here she was, fingering his jacket as if it was the most precious object she ever held. It was so unlike her. Then on instinct, Kyoko reached a hand to her neck and felt Queen Rosa pressed against her skin. She had never worn the necklace off set. She was always weary of what kind of emotion she would feel if she did, but now, Kyoko wanted to wear it—not as Natsu, but solely as herself.

Only now did she realize how much he meant to her, how he held such an integral part of her life, and how important he was to her.

Kyoko was also pleasantly surprised to find that she was actually keeping it together. Before falling to her restless sleep last night, she assumed that by the time she woke up, she would go back to her usual self-denial and fear. But instead, she felt excited and thrilled, happy and warm. She had never felt anything like this before, but somehow she understood that this was right. Everything felt right.

Raising her eyes to the wall opposite of her, she stared at his picture and felt her head nod. Yes, everything was finally right. But when her focus trailed to the poster beside his picture, Kyoko's eyes hardened just a bit. There was still one thing left to do.

With her jaw clenched tight, Kyoko rose to her feet and approached the wall. She carefully removed the four gold pins from each corner and held the large paper in her hands. Staring at his face, Kyoko waited for her irritation to rise, but oddly enough, she felt nothing. Instead of wanting to lash out angrily, she could finally stare at his picture with a sense of indifference.

His blue eyes, his blond locks, and proud expression were no longer traitorous to her. Although she didn't feel forgiving, Kyoko realized that having his poster in her room defeated the purpose of what she was trying to do: to start anew. She never needed him, not then and certainly not now.

Hate was a waste. Hate had consumed her. And hate took effort.

Sho wasn't worth any of it.

So feeling serenity at the choice she had made, Kyoko looked at his face for one last time before tearing the poster in half.

Ren moved the gearshift to park as soon as he pulled up to the restaurant. He looked at the dashboard and saw that the clock read 7:44. He groaned inwardly. If his shaky hands and the butterflies in his stomach didn't make him feel pathetic before, Ren had finally hit rock bottom.

He was early—way too early. That drive didn't take nearly as long as he had hoped, even though it truly felt like an eternity. In fact, the whole night felt like an endless stretch of time. It was as if sleep was taunting him as he hopelessly tossed and turned in bed, begging for just a few minutes of rest. His eyes and body were tired, but his mind was wide awake. Ren couldn't stop thinking about her.

Reliving the moment he held her in his arms and the tiny grip of her hands upon his sweater made his heart beat into a frenzy. To be so affected by such a small event was certainly pitiable, but he couldn't help it. Ren couldn't deny the surge of pleasure that erupted within him whenever he remembered her beautiful smile and large, golden eyes that seemed to stare straight into his soul.

Ren turned back to the restaurant and leaned against the head rest. Last night, he came up with a million possibilities of what might happen when he saw her again and every one of them seemed more unlikely than the last. It started off simple, like seeing her smile brightly in greeting as she spotted him waiting outside and before he knew it his imagination got the best of him as Ren imagined holding her hand while she snuggled against his arm.

He leaned his forehead onto the steering wheel. His resolve was quickly fading. If a mere thought like that could get such a rise out of him, Ren was afraid of what would happen when he saw her for real. Would he be able to hold it together?

This was, after all, the first time he personally came to pick her up. Although he had vehemently chastised himself for trying to make this moment more meaningful than it actually was, he couldn't ignore the intense satisfaction he felt. Ren oddly felt special that she would allow him to do such a thing. Knowing Kyoko, she hated relying on others and for her to accept his request made it seem as if he was different from everyone else.

Of course, he understood that that wasn't the case at all, but honestly what was the harm in dreaming? Ren sighed dejectedly and glanced at the clock once more: 7:50. That was better. Early enough for her to know that he wanted to be here, yet late enough so that he wouldn't seem over-excited. A grim smile crept across his face as he realized he was acting like a teenager. He looked like a 22 year old bachelor on the outside, but on the inside he felt like a bumbling 14 year old, here to pick up his date.

"If only that were true," he sighed as he stepped out of the car.

It was quite a chilly morning, but Ren welcomed the frosty air. It kept his head clear and he was sure he would need it once he was in her presence. Kyoko had an uncanny ability of catching him off guard, and considering the state he was in already, he needed to have his wits about him. Walking over to the passenger door, Ren decided to wait at the car instead of knocking at the front door. He wasn't sure if Kyoko would appreciate that, knowing she liked to keep her life private.

Glancing up, he realized that a bedroom window was open, but the curtains were too thick for him to see if there was anyone in the room. He watched the drapes move gently in the breeze, fixated on the graceful movement.

So fixated actually that Ren hadn't noticed Kyoko. She tentatively closed the door behind her and took a few steps forward before calling out in a soft voice, "Tsuruga-san?"

As if doused with cold water, he started in surprise until his eyes fell upon the most beautiful image. Kyoko was dressed in a delicate white skirt and blouse, holding his dark coat within her arms. But it was the small smile at the corner of her lips and the bright look in her gaze that made his heart jump with joy. She was perfect.

He removed himself from the car and smiled. "Good morning."

"Good morning," she greeted just as happily. But a touch of curiosity flashed across her face as she asked, "What were you staring at?"

Blushing scarlet, Ren stammered, "Oh! Um, it's n-n-nothing. I was just—uh, pondering!"

"About what?"

He shook his head with a nervous laugh. "Nothing of consequence. I'm just too easily distracted."

Kyoko giggled.

Another smile swept across Ren's face as he relished in the sound of her charming laugh. Although there was no reason for it, he couldn't help but realize she seemed to be in wonderfully good spirits today. Maybe his judgment was clouded because he himself felt very uplifted, but to his eyes, Kyoko seemed to glow in the morning air. She was getting more breathtaking by the second.

Then in desperate need for a distraction, he asked, "Ready to go?"

She nodded. "I didn't keep you waiting, did I?" Kyoko asked as she walked closer to the car.

He shook his head and leaned forward to open the door for her. "Not at all, but even so, you are well-worth the wait."

Ren's hand instantly froze on the handle. He couldn't believe he let that slip. He literally wanted to kick himself in the shin! If he had wanted to scare Kyoko away, he might as well had gotten down on his hands and knees and professed his love for her. She was probably horrified now! So waiting with abated breath for Kyoko to take that distraught step away from him, Ren turned to her and was about to mumble some kind of excuse when his words were suddenly caught in his throat.

Not only did Kyoko stay where she was, but her cheeks were flushed a beautiful crimson. She had lowered her head and her eyes were glued to the floor, but in a tiny voice, she whispered, "Thank you."

Biting down on his tongue before he said anything else, Ren only flashed a warm smile she didn't see and opened the door for her. Kyoko climbed in and shakily buckled the seat belt as soon as he closed the door behind her. With the same grace like last night, he walked around the front and got into the driver seat.

"Thank you again for the coat, Tsuruga-san," Kyoko began again when she trusted her voice was steady enough as she handed his jacket over.

"You're welcome. I'm glad it kept you warm."

She smiled in return.

Then with another twinkling gaze, Ren expertly maneuvered the car onto the road as Kyoko nervously held her hands in her lap and looked straight ahead. If she stared at him any longer, she was sure she was going to start babbling like an idiot. But thankfully, Ren didn't give her that chance because he filled the silence with, "I see you're wearing Queen Rosa today."

Flattered that he had actually noticed, Kyoko nodded at him with a smile.

"As always it looks great on you," Ren complimented. "Will you be filming for Box R later?"

Shaking her head, she answered, "No, not today. I just felt like wearing it."

Ren's eyes widen in surprise, but he kept his focus on the road. He didn't want her to see the excitement dancing across his face. She would probably think he was being ridiculous for being so happy, but that was exactly how he felt—wonderfully and intensely happy.

"What about you, Tsuruga-san? Are you filming today?"

"Actually, that's what I wanted to ask you," Ren said as he made a turn onto another street. "Would you mind taking up the role as Setsu tonight? The director asked to see the both of us."

"Of course I can! It was all my fault that nothing could get done yesterday! I'm truly sorry, Tsuruga-san."

Ren shook his head with a stern look. "Mogami-san, that was completely out of your control. There's no need to apologize. Besides, your safety is much more important than a movie."

Kyoko found no voice to reply. She was too touched to say anything else. It was truly remarkable how he easily he comforted her.

"How about we meet up at LME around nine?" he offered.

"That's perfect, Tsuruga-san."

"Would you need a ride?"

Kyoko smiled and shook her head stubbornly. "Oh no, Tsuruga-san. Any more rides, and I'm certain it's going to become a bad habit."

Ren chuckled. "You make it sound as if I'd mind," he teased.

"I would mind!" she replied, a smile curving at her mouth from his playful tone. "But nevertheless, thank you for the offer."

"Anytime, Mogami-san. And I mean that. Don't ever hesitate to call me even if it's for nothing but a ride."

She let out a breathless laugh before murmuring with an all too fluttering heart, "I won't."

Pleased that she had acquiesced to another one of his proposals, Ren drove to LME with a permanent smile upon his face. This day couldn't possibly be any better. He felt like he was walking on air.

The rest of the ride was filled with a comfortable silence. They both peeked at each other a couple of times, but no one had caught the other in the act. Once they had reached the company, Ren drove down to the underground garage from the back.

And at that moment, Kyoko suddenly realized something odd. She raised her head and said, "Tsuruga-san, what happened to Yashiro-san? Don't you normally drive him to work?"

"He needed to get to the company early today and decided to take a taxi instead."

"Oh, I-I-I see…"

Instantly, guilt swept through her veins. Kyoko couldn't help but think it was all because of her. She clearly got in the way of his regular routine. And as if Ren had read her mind, he added, "This was planned before I offered you the ride, Mogami-san. Yashiro needed to meet up with some people about the interview I'm having today."

She smiled guiltily at her transparency, but Ren had only glanced at her and chuckled. "Feel better?"

Kyoko nodded.

Satisfied and slightly amused, Ren parked the car and was about to go and open the car door for her when she had already gotten out. He met her at the front and together they walked through the echoic garage until they reached the door. He held the metal door open for her and followed her to the lobby. Not a lot of people were there, but every one of them had turned around and waved hello. Ren smiled back as Kyoko did her usual bow. It was hard not to adore her when she was so undeniably humble.

"Morning, you two!"

Kyoko and Ren turned to see Yashiro approaching with a bright smile. Ren instantly grimaced at the sight of his too-gleeful friend, but Kyoko didn't notice. She only bowed low and said, "Good morning, Yashiro-san."

"How do you feel?" he asked, taking a brotherly tone as he tenderly squeezed her shoulder.

"I'm fine, Yashiro-san. And thank you so much for everything you did."

He laughed with an unconcerned wave of his hand. "Nonsense, Kyoko-chan! You're giving me too much credit. I'm just glad everything worked out well." And with that, he suddenly threw a wicked grin at Ren who clearly did not understand why.

She flushed scarlet. Then with another polite dip of her head, she stammered, "W-w-well, I don't want to keep you. I'm sure you both have a busy day ahead."

"Are you sure you won't be needing a ride tonight?" Ren asked.

Kyoko nodded as she turned to face him. "I'll be fine."

Smiling, he murmured, "Nine o'clock then?"

"Nine o'clock it is." And with one last sweet smile, Kyoko walked away.

Ren stared after her for who knows how long. He just couldn't tear his gaze away. It was only until Yashiro loudly cleared his throat that he blinked away his fuzzy thoughts and turned to his amused friend. Sighing wearily, he took a step forward and said, "Yashiro, please spare me the teasing today. I'm wired enough as it is."

"I didn't even say anything!" he retorted, failing to wipe the grin off of his face. "Besides, is it so bad that I'm happy for you?"

"Happy about what?"

"The progress! Didn't I tell you everything will work out?"

Ren sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. Leave it to his friend to flame his already burning desire. But knowing full well that he had to rein it back for his own sanity, he muttered, "It was just a ride to work, Yashiro. Must you always put more meaning to everything that happens between me and her?"

He glared angrily. "Fine, downplay your accomplishment," Yashiro grumbled as he made his way to the elevators. "But after last night's heart-felt confession, I'm sure Kyoko-chan didn't think of the car ride as so simple as you."

Ren stopped dead in his tracks. When Yashiro had finally realized that he was walking alone, he confusedly turned around and to his obvious alarm found his friend standing a few feet away and as pale as a sheet. The color had completely drained from his face. "Ren?" he asked hesitantly. "What's wrong?"

Raising his shock-ridden eyes, he could only stare dumbfounded at Yashiro as his arms shook violently at his sides. He couldn't breathe.

Immediately, Yashiro's eyes widen as the answer clicked in place. "You didn't listen to my voicemail last night, did you?" he whispered.

Ren slowly shook his head.

Yashiro blinked a few times in surprise before he slightly shook of his head. Then walking forward, he placed a kind hand upon his friend's trembling shoulder and smiled sheepishly. "Ren…it was all caught on tape."

"Everything?" he croaked.

Yashiro nodded and with a quiet exhale, he said, "And you weren't alone."

His heart thumped loudly in his chest. It was as if the world had suddenly screeched to a thundering halt. The deafening roar of blood pounded through his ears, but Yashiro's following words didn't fail to register. Ren could hear every word.

So with frozen eyes, Ren watched his friend open his mouth and murmur in a gentle voice:

"She heard, Ren. She heard it all."

THE END! Lol. Now, I assume that some people would want a more "lovey-dovey" and intimate confession, but I wanted to leave the ending to your imagination. I think it's funner that way. XD But nevertheless, I hope you were satisfied with the story and continue to support my future ideas. I can't thank you enough for reading, following, reviewing, and favoriting. Thank you again!