Chapter 1: His Resolve
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would have courageously confronted Kyoko after being Lory'd!
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Ren laid on his massive bed, loneliness, creeping over him. He pushed the image Lory had shown him yesterday out of his mind. It was obvious that Fuwa took advantage of her vulnerability that night. It had bothered him so much that he let his guard down at the bar. Flashes of the day scrolled through his mind. Where did I go wrong? He had been so happy to see her. He missed her these past few weeks while he was in Guam finishing up Tragic Marker. Everything seemed ok this morning when they picked her up from Darumaya. How did things take such a turn for the worse?
What was that look she gave him when he fixed her flower ring? Ren recalled the troubled expression that flashed across Kyoko's eyes at that time. Before he could ask her what was wrong, Yashiro pulled up with the car. Their manager always had impeccable timing. He spent the whole day trying to bring it up but she just kept deflecting. He couldn't even ask her if they could meet before they parted ways.
Ren had a lot of time alone during Tragic Marker. He finally found his resolve, on a whim, and decided to tell her everything. He lay in his bed reminiscing back to the time when he finally decided to man up and bare everything to the love of his life.
FLASHBACK
Ren walked through the hotel lobby in Guam when he caught the sounds of music wafting through from the outside lounge. The hotel always had nightly entertainment for the tourists that frequented the island. 'When was the last time I really listened to music?' Ren thought.
Breaking character, he found himself bypassing the elevators and walking towards the sound. Once outside, the warm salty sea air assaulted his senses. He headed towards the deserted beach, the music still carrying clearly towards him.
The song ended and the singer spoke, "this next song is a cover called White Blank Page by Mumford and Sons." Listening, the guitar intro was captivating and gentle on his ears. He sat against a coconut tree and faced towards the band. The singer's voice rang out, "can you lie next to her and give her your heart, your heart, as well as your body." Ren was startled. He wondered how his feelings were being broadcasted through this song. It was like the singer was speaking to him directly.
He stared at this lone singer. It felt like fate was playing a trick on him. He listened as the song continued, "and can you lie next to her, and confess your love, your love, as well as your folly?"
He sat there with intense eyes trained on this singer until the rest of the band joined in. It was a powerful song, at least for him. The lyrics he sang pierced through Ren’s heart. "Tell me now, where was my fault, in loving you with my whole heart... "
Despite the warm temperature a cold shiver ran down his spine as the song ended. He knew not to take the lyrics literally but he could see himself from both perspectives; the singer's and the current guy. He didn't want to be that guy that missed his chance and she essentially found someone else. Someone worthy of her. He chuckled bitterly to himself. He had yet to begin anything to end in a broken heart. The song resonated in his mind and felt like a premonition.
With the song replaying in his head, he decided to walk the beach to clear his mind. He kicked off his boots and removed his socks. After rolling up his jeans, he dropped Cain's jacket on to the sand. As he walked, he took in the natural surroundings. The full moon was high and the sky clear of clouds. Millions of stars dotted the black sky. The air was humid making the water lapping at his feet feel refreshing. For the most part, the beach was deserted save for a few couples here and there.
He wished she was with him. He imagined them hand in hand, silently stealing glances at each other, as they walked on the moonlit shore. 'Why didn't I bring Setsu here for a nightly walk?' he pondered. It was still within their lovey dovey sibling roles to do so. He decided right then, that he would tell her everything and bring her here for vacation again. "If she will have me," he admonished aloud to the dark ocean.
He returned to where he discarded his stuff and headed to his room. On his way up, he passed Murasame and a few of the cast and crew from Tragic Marker. He ignored their curious looks and kept walking. What they saw was a Cain Heel, carrying his boots and jacket, with bare sandy feet. The thought that went through all their minds was, "he must be really missing her." After that night, he seemed a little more human to them but they still dared not approach him.
END FLASHBACK
Thinking of that time in Guam, he synched his phone to the music player on the night stand. The melancholy song filled his quiet room. He downloaded the mp3 back in Guam and played it every time his resolve wavered. The band in Guam did the song justice but the original band with all the accompanying instruments provided a stronger impact.
He was still grateful to whatever divine intervention took place on that island. The locals there did have a lot of superstitions. He didn't want to dwell on those stories right now but maybe he and Kyoko could pursue it if they went back together. He shut off the player when the song ended and took a deep breath to relieve the constriction that had formed in his chest.
He wanted to call her now and just hear her voice. Looking at his phone, the clock read 11:03pm. It's not too late, maybe I should just call.
He ended up sending a text first, Hello, are you still awake?
His phone immediately buzzed alerting him to an incoming text.
He smiled when he saw it was from her, I'm up, doing homework.
He cursed under his breath. Damn, I can't bother her if she's doing her homework. He responded with, Don't work yourself too hard that you will be weary in the morning.
His phone buzzed again making Ren snort with laughter at her response. Her message read, Yes Dad! It was accompanied with an emoticon sticking out its tongue.
A warm smile crept over Ren's face. His earlier loneliness had vanished. This cheeky girl since when did she become so sarcastic. "Must be Setsu rubbing off on her," he mused aloud. Wanting to prolong this feeling, he decided to call her since she seemed to have so much free time.
...
Kyoko let out a whelp when her phone started vibrating. She groaned looking at the caller ID. The demon lord was calling her. She knew she was in for it now. He was probably going to scold her for the last text she sent. She smiled slyly, since it was her intention all along to get him to call when she sent, in her eyes, a risky message to her Senpai. It was just as Kanae told her, he was so predictable. She chastened herself for thinking like that. This was her Senpai! Since when did she become so cunning?
Kanae's theory claimed that Ren enjoyed her company as a friend and not just a colleague. She knew, no she hoped, that her forwardness would prompt him to call her. She couldn't muster the courage to be the first to call, especially after the way she ignored him today. She didn't like the way she had felt all day. The ugly feelings of jealousy that she had been harboring lately made her feel disgusting. It didn't help that she was almost thrown from a balcony last night by the woman he loved, either.
She had vowed to the President, putting her pride as an actress on the line, that she would hide her feelings from Ren forever. What she didn't realize at the time was just how difficult it would be if he was always near. The President is punishing me on purpose by assigning Yashiro-san as my manager too. With Yashiro in charge of both of them, she would have no choice but to run into Ren almost every day.
With her heart thumping in excitement, she immediately answered the phone "Tsu- Tsu- Tsuruga-san, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed.
Down the hall of the Darumaya, the Okami-san turned toward her husband lying on the futon beside her, "Ne honey, Kyoko-chan seems to be lively again." Taisho responded with his usual grunt. He was glad that whatever was bothering the girl was finally over.
Kyoko fell into a dogeza before her phone with tears pricking at her eyes. She acted as if Ren was right before her beaming his ultra-gentleman smile down on her.
"Ohhh?" came his deep teasing voice from out of her phone's speaker.
"Mogami-san, please do tell. What might you be apologizing for?" He inquired. She swore inwardly. He enjoyed teasing her.
Kyoko picked up the phone and said with a slight pout, "Tsuruga-san, you're so mean."
Ren chuckled softly into the phone. Kyoko returned back to her seated position. "Oh by the way, did you need something Tsuruga-san?" she asked.
"Yes, Mogami-san, I'm calling to find out if you are free tomorrow night? I would like to cook you dinner and pass something on to you," he asked hesitantly, his voice no longer teasing.
Normally, Kyoko would be reluctant at such an invitation but she found herself immediately agreeing the excitement creeping into her voice. She responded as she flipped through her planner, "I'm free after 9pm, is that ok?"
Ren couldn't mask the delight in his voice, "Yes, can I pick you up?"
Kyoko hesitated. That was her TBM job as Bo. She didn't want to get caught. She thought quickly for a good excuse to refuse his offer. With a sigh of relief, she said "Eh, wouldn't Yashiro-san be driving us?"
Ren replied, "You're right! It's so new I already forgot he drives. Well then, see you in the morning. I'll look forward to tomorrow night."
"See you tomorrow Tsuraga-san, good night," she replied.
"Goodnight Mogami-san, sweet dreams," he said in his husky voice.
She hung up the phone and felt a shiver run down her spine recalling the sound of his sweet voice. She tried not to think of unnecessary things that would bring her down from this high as she continued her homework.
Alas, the events of the past few days started to flood her mind. Soon the familiar sharp pain in her chest returned. I need to get a check-up, maybe something is seriously wrong with my body. I might actually be dying. I know, can ask Moko-san tomorrow morning.
She finally finished her homework and laid down in bed replaying their conversation in her mind. She bolted upright as it finally dawned on her. It was something that she failed to pick up on during the call. Ren told her he would be cooking.
She cringed at the thought, recalling the last time he cooked for them. That night, he was adamant about cooking. He refused any of her help except to garnish it with ketchup. His cooking style had been erratic with the end result tasting terrible. There was no way she wouldn't eat a meal prepared by her Senpai. She ate it all. Despite his lack of appetite, he ate it all as if he was trying to conquer some demon. She wondered if he was experiencing a similar hardship to that night during the Dark Moon filming. Did something happen while he was in Guam? She was glad she agreed to dinner. She wanted to support him in any way she could but a dark premonition settled over her body as she fell into a fitful sleep.
Notes:
The song used in this chapter was “White Blank Page” by Mumford and Sons.
English is distinguished in Bold font.
Chapter 2: Before the Sun Rises - Her
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would definitely have dreams of Ren/Corn XD.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Her sleeveless dress billowed in the wind. ‘I've been here before,’ she thought. The only source of light was the moon's luminescence shining down upon her. The night breeze blew through her hair making her shiver and causing her bare arms to sprout goosebumps.
When the wind whipping through her hair finally died down, she looked around her. She could hear the ocean waves crashing from somewhere below. "I know this place," she thought, scrutinizing her surroundings.
She was standing on a cliff but not at the edge. There was a figure standing where she normally did in her previous dreams. 'Tsuruga-san?' she thought. She squinted her eyes against the dim light and concluded that it wasn't quite him.
Although the figure before her had a similar build to her Senpai, his light eyes and even lighter hair, barely distinguishable in the pale moonlight, belonged to another man she knew.
‘Corn?’ She thought. "Corn, you came back," she exclaimed calling out to him but no sound came out. Her voice could not reach him.
He just stood there in Ren's form like he had when they had met in Guam. He had that same melancholy smile on his face when he told her about his curse. She took a few timid steps towards him. She had an inkling of what was going to happen next so she tried to tread softly. She did not want to startle him. She continued slowly as if approaching a cornered animal.
He raised his right hand, as in goodbye, and pushed off from the ground falling to the dark abyss. She was already sprinting towards him before he leaped. "No Corn! Don't leave me," she tried to scream. She didn't hesitate and jumped after him. Grasping for him, her arms clasped nothing but empty space as she fell into the darkness.
Kyoko woke with a start from her bed. She was panting and covered in sweat from the exertion the dream had on her. Tears instantly filled her eyes and trailed down her cheeks. Corn, where are you? She sobbed into her pillow to muffle the sound. She didn't want to worry her landlords any further. After her tear ducts ran dry, she felt refreshed and started analyzing her dream.
This was a recurring dream she had been having since she left Ren on Guam. The same questions always flooded her mind. Was this a premonition? Did he need her? Why was the dream reversed? It had always been Ren beckoning to her, telling her to come away from the edge. These days, Corn and Ren began to overlap in her dreams and her heart as if they were the same person. Corn, you baka! It was because he used Ren's voice and body that she was now so confused.
Was her subconscious finally trying to tell her something? Were they the same person after all? Was she being tricked like an idiot? Could it be that she so desperately wanted to believe they were one and the same? She placed her fingers to her temples and rubbed to relieve the headache coming on.
Meanwhile, the Kyoko grudges in her mind were rooting for their mistress to finally make the connection. That man had been playing her all along. If only she would bring herself to acknowledge it. They've been cooped up for so long they needed some release and couldn’t think of a more fulfilling way than to go after this new culprit.
Kyoko's phone vibrated saving her from thinking too hard. She read the incoming text, Good morning, Mogami-san! I have a few errands this morning so I will meet up with you and Yashiro-san at lunch time. He included a heart emoji at the end of the message.
She smiled and blushed warmly. After a few seconds of dreamy bliss, her face darkened as her thoughts brought her back to reality. What was this heart supposed to mean? This playboy was messing with her feelings and giving her false hope. Settling her nerves, Kyoko responded with Ok, see you then. Make sure to have a nutritious breakfast!
She wanted to crawl into a hole when she read his response, Yes, Mom! She knew he was teasing her from last night but even so, she still felt embarrassed. She was acting just like a nagging wife? She smacked both sides of her face with the palms of her hands. She had no time thinking about things out of her control. She needed to focus and get ready for work. Perhaps she could add this to the list of things she needed to consult with Kanae. Her best friend had a knack for reading between the lines of Kyoko's jumbled thoughts. Her grudges giggled with glee as she thought of her best friend; they knew Kanae could help stir things up for them.
Just as she finished up breakfast, there came a knock at the back door of Darumaya. She opened the door and found Yashiro standing there. "Good Morning Yashiro-san," she said bowing to her manager. "Would you like to have breakfast?" she asked, gesturing for him to come inside. Yashiro bid her and the Darumaya couple good morning. He declined her offer since he already had a healthy breakfast at home.
They needed to run along. He had a meeting scheduled with the president first thing. He went over her schedule as they drove to LME. Her morning was free for any LoveMe related tasks. If it was ok with her, he planned for them to meet up with Ren for lunch at LME's café. Kyoko nodded her assent. After lunch, she had a Sacred Lotus reading, a promotional photo shoot for the historical drama, and her LoveMe job at TBM.
"Ren did say you guys were having dinner tonight," Yashiro casually mentioned keeping his cool. He snuck a glance at her and caught her blushing. His inner fangirl did somersaults at the prospect of these two having dinner together. There was slow progress in the romance department between his two charges. Yashiro thought he would be dead and buried before they finally acknowledged their feelings for each other.
"I will drop you off at his place after TBM, Ok?" Yashiro continued. He told her that Ren would get home first to prepare. Ren even left him no room for teasing. Earlier this morning, Yashiro could have sworn he was talking to the demon lord over the phone. He shuddered, imagining Ren's gentlemanly smile on the other end of the receiver. Yashiro didn't want to push his luck so he kept his thoughts to himself.
Kyoko felt nervous at the thought of coming face to face with Ren again. What did he want to talk to her about tonight? I need to come up with some excuse to get out of this. She frowned at that thought. If he was having trouble like during Dark Moon, she absolutely could not abandon him.
Her eyebrows twitched as her thoughts turned ugly. Why couldn't he just call that despicable girl he loved to help him? The incident with Kimiko flashed in her mind. How could he love someone so horrible? Who was she to judge given her lousy experience? Love was blind. The heart wants what the heart wants.
Maybe, the evil girl had him under a spell. All he needed was true love's kiss like Corn. Again with Corn. Her face started flushing as she imagined herself, as his knight in shining armor with a delicate Ren set upon a bed in a deep sleep. She was clad in golden armor, leaning over Prince Ren to place a kiss on his soft rosy lips. Her Kyoko angels stirred with happiness at the prospect. She shook her head vigorously to erase the images floating through her mind.
Kimiko's pretty face holding up the expensive pinky ring replaced her lovely images. A ring like that only meant one thing. It was an unbreakable promise for future love. There was a myth regarding the red thread of fate between two soulmates tied at their smallest fingers. No matter what obstacle, across space and time, the lovers would eventually find each other again. The thought of Ren giving Kimiko such a gift representing a predestined love crushed her heart.
What just happened? "Ky– Kyoko-chan," Yashiro stuttered at the oppressive aura that filled the tiny space. "Is everything ok?" His voice pulled her out of her dark thoughts. She managed to paste a small smile on her face.
"I'm fine. Just thinking," she told him weakly. Yashiro frowned but let it go for now since the menacing atmosphere around her disappeared as quickly as it came. Maybe it was just his imagination.
To fill the silence, they talked about nonsensical things for the rest of the ride. Yashiro took the time to do a little recon on Kyoko's likes and dislikes. He planned on passing the information on to Ren since the guy needed all the help he could get.
Kyoko became suspicious of his questioning that she had to ask him why he needed to know so much about her. Yashiro told her that a good manager should know everything about their charge. Kyoko accepted that excuse easily and answered his questions wholeheartedly.
Notes:
Hiya, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Until next time, sayonara ^_^!
Chapter 3: Before the Sun Rises - Him
Summary:
Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren/Kuon would definitely have perverted dreams of Kyoko.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
He wrapped his arms around her lithe body and rolled to settle her on top of him. His hands drifted to her hips so he could adjust himself beneath her. She gasped as her warm center settled over his bulging cock. The friction from the fabric of their clothing as they rubbed their bodies together felt fucking fantastic. She leaned down and captured his mouth in a deep kiss. Her tongue played with his, sweetly. She rolled her hips against him sending heat waves of pleasure throughout his already hot body.
She broke away from his mouth and kissed her way down his neck to his collarbone. Her fingers moved to his chest slowly working the buttons of his shirt loose. She kissed and licked her way down his exposed skin with every button that she removed. His cock twitched painfully in anticipation of things to 'come' that her sweet lips seemed to promise. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the sensations her soft lips were bombarding on his body. She finally made her way to his waistband but paused to kiss and suck at the skin beneath his belly button.
He lifted his head and gulped as he watched her dainty fingers make quick work of his belt and fly. He panted from the excitement of having her hands and mouth so close to his throbbing manhood. He could almost imagine those sensual lips wrapped around the head of his cock and sucking him deep. He hissed loudly when her hand brushed over his bulge as she tugged down on his zipper. Her teasing giggle was a melody, he could listen to all day and long into the night. He pulled her back up on top of him, once again straddling his hips, determined to prolong this sweet torture.
He buried his fingers into her auburn hair and pulled her down for another passionate kiss. Their tongues danced together for what seemed like hours until she broke the kiss to catch her breath. She sat back up with her palms splayed flat against his bare chest and rocked her hips against him. She moaned and closed her eyes as she settled into a slow rhythm above him. His hands made its way from her hips and continued up grazing the side of her breasts to her shoulders. His fingers hooked on the straps of her light blue nightgown then tugged down exposing her perky rose tipped breasts to the cool air.
With trembling hands, he reached out to cup her breasts. They fit perfectly in the palm of his hands as if they were molded just for him. He kneaded her soft mounds while the pad of his thumbs circled each nipple working them to pebbled peaks. She gasped in shock at the heat that traveled from his hands straight down to her core and settled in the pit of her stomach. Her golden eyes closed to narrow slits embracing the lustful sensations that threatened to undo her. Her moans grew louder as she continued to grind against him. She threw her head back and arched her back quickening her pace. ‘Ahhh Corn,’ escaped her lips erotically.
Ren's eyes shot open. One minute he was having the best dream of his life, the next minute, he was being doused with cold water. What the fuck was that? Why Corn? He groaned out loud, sardonically. He had some serious problems if he was getting jealous over his alter ego. He rubbed his hand over his face feeling like such an idiot. He couldn't believe he would have a wet dream after her behavior towards him yesterday. Am I becoming a masochist?
Ren looked around his dark room then reached over to check the clock on his phone. Only 5:22, it was way too early . He knew he wouldn't get back to sleep since he was too wound up from the dream. He rose out of bed and did some exercises to help get it off his mind. After about a half hour of working out, he felt more in control. He ended up taking a cold shower for good measure.
He made his way to the kitchen to prepare his breakfast. He placed two perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs and some buttered toast on a plate. He had spent his time well, cooking for himself, as practice in Guam. It was a bit of a rough start but he was grateful he never burnt down the kitchen in the hotel room. He managed to accomplish what he had set out to do with the help of YouTube videos, perfect just one meal.
While eating, he texted Kyoko to let her know of his change of plans since she accepted his invitation. She responded making sure he ate breakfast. Wouldn't she be surprised? Ren thought with a chuckle.
Operation get the girl was now underway. Step one of his plan was to send her constant reminders that he was here and not going away any time soon. They had both grown considerably since their first meeting, well, first meeting after 10 years. He had watched her blossom into an amazing actress and a strong independent young woman. He was happy that her passion for acting quickly overcame the reasons she entered showbiz in the first place.
She had become his strength; his beacon of light in the dark. Ren was now able to think about the incident with Rick as an unfortunate accident. An accident that could have been avoided if he wasn't so hot headed back then. He needed to make amends with the people he left behind in the States but before that he had to settle some things here. Looking at the time, he grabbed his keys and set out to run his errands.
…
Back in his apartment Ren put his shopping bags away and dressed for work. He took a deep shaky breath and looked at himself in the bathroom mirror in his natural state. He had asked Ms. Jelly Woods, Ten, if he could delay dyeing his hair back for a couple of days. She was more than happy to oblige and prepared the Ren wig for his use. When he was satisfied that the wig was styled naturally, he washed his hands and inserted brown colored contacts masking his natural emerald eyes.
He took some shallow breaths as he stared at his reflection. Tsuruga Ren had taken over.
When he was done getting dressed, he went through his mental checklist in case he forgot anything. Groceries, check; gift, check; clothes, check. A mischievous smile crossed his lips, the emperor made a brief appearance; handcuffs, big check!
Yesterday was very strange. He still wondered what he did wrong to warrant such coldness from her. He was sure it had to do with the flower ring. He shook his head to erase the unease in his mind. He was overthinking things again and had to remind himself that she sounded fine last night. He was surprised that she easily agreed to his dinner invitation despite her odd behavior. He made another mental note to find out from her tonight. He gloomily added, if she didn't hate me afterwards.
On his drive to LME, he switched on his player filling the car with loud music. He was getting cold feet again. He needed a distraction from all the negative thoughts he was having of what could go wrong tonight. He didn't want to scare her off. He tuned out his thoughts and focused on the music instead.
Another one of his metaphorical songs blared over the speakers making him groan. The male voice sang, "I'm serving time, all for a crime I did commit. You want the truth? You know I'd do it all again. Left for dead, heaven is only in my head..." He tapped his hand on the steering wheel to the beat of the song as he waited for the light to change.
Later, fellow commuters would say they swore they saw Tsuruga Ren in his car singing with his free hand curled into a fist holding it up to his mouth like a microphone. They would wonder, just what kind of song would affect Japan's most desirable man in such a way.
Ren parked his silver GT3 in his designated spot of the underground parking garage at LME; the perks of being a top star. Locking the doors, he made his way through the employee entrance and straight up to the President's office.
Ruto, Lory's right hand man, greeted Ren when he arrived wearing a pair of khaki trousers, a flower print shirt, and a pair of sunglasses. Ren suppressed his grin at the man Kyoko secretly called Sebastian. He could only imagine the theme for the day if the usually stoic man was dressed as a Japanese tourist in the islands of Hawaii. Lory's office was transformed into a tropical oasis. There were palm trees, white sand, and even a blow up pool meant to simulate an ocean. Ocean waves and water splashing could be heard through the surround sound speakers in the vast office. Is that a ukulele playing?
Ren walked towards the President's voice and found him lying in a hammock wearing nothing but a pair of board shorts and sunglasses. Two beautifully tanned women in grass skirts and coconut shelled tops were performing a traditional Polynesian dance. "Ren, my boy," Lory beamed taking a sip of his coconut drink, "to what do I owe the pleasure?" Lory asked waving the ladies away dismissively so they could talk in private.
"I'm going to tell her Boss, everything!" Ren declared. Lory tilted his sunglasses and stared hard at Ren. Boss? Since when did Ren ever refer to him as Boss. This must be Kuon speaking. He wondered if Ren was aware of the slip. Lory decided not to correct him. This could be a good thing.
In a shrewd voice Lory replied, "are you sure that's a wise decision? You do know the implications that your confession would instill should this information ever leak out."
Ren kept his face neutral but was confused by his tone. He thought that this was the moment Lory had been waiting for, the time for him to come clean and accept his past. Unable to maintain his cool, Ren paced back and forth in front of Lory. He responded in a tirade, "I trust her and I know she won't betray me! I won't back down from my decision, consequences be damned! I'm tired of lying, especially to her, even if it is by omission!"
Lory broke into a smile, he had been testing Ren. The boy was finally ready to face the music. "Well my boy, I'm happy to hear all this. I wish you all the best. She is my LoveMe member number one after all so she'll be a challenge for you."
Ren knew all that. He was fighting an uphill battle chasing after her. He wanted to spoil her with all his love and affection. If he had his way he would rather secret her away to keep her from the prying eyes of others. She didn't realize the effect she had on people, especially men.
She wasn't aware of any of her good qualities which was good for him that she was quite dense. There was a growing list of men vying for her attention. The few that he was aware of that actually had the guts to pursue her were Kijima, Reino, and that damn Fuwa. He wouldn't let any of them have her, especially Fuwa.
That punk didn't realize that his insults and taunting was akin to an immature little boy showing his love by picking on the girl he desired. Fuwa had his chance. It's now my turn to help build her up and give her the love she deserves.
After Boss wished him good luck, Ren made his way out. His phone buzzed indicating a text message from Yashiro. Ren, I have some work to finish up in my office. Please have lunch with Kyoko first and I will try to join you as soon as I can. I left her in the LoveMe room.
Ren shook his head at their manager's audacity. He was always coming up with excuses to disappear and give them some time alone. Today, he really didn't mind. He made a mental note to either thank or curse their manager depending on how the next hour went.
With a pep in his step, Ren exited the elevator on the floor of the LoveMe room. As he walked down the hallway, Kanae made her way towards him carrying a box. A scowl spread across her face as she stared him down. She reminded him of a lioness ready to pounce on her prey. Ren let out a defeated sigh. What did I do this time?
Notes:
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed! Many thanks to Wh1teNo1ze from discord for her continued beta reading support!
The song Ren was listening to in the car was "The Well and the Lighthouse" by Arcade Fire.Until next time, sayonara! ^_^
Chapter 4: Best Friends are the Best!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kanae would help Kyoko work through her muddled feelings.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko was the first to arrive in the LoveMe room. She locked the door behind her and approached her locker to change into her cursed hot pink uniform. When she was done she unlocked the door and sat down at the table to complete her duties for the morning.
The girls were assigned the remedial job of folding the LME newsletter that needed to go out to all the staff. Rather than thinking about unnecessary things, she immersed herself in the task. She was so focused on her work that she didn't realize Kanae had entered the room.
Thwack! Kyoko lifted off her seat and screamed when she was suddenly hit on the back. "Mo! I've been calling you for five minutes," Kanae said exasperatedly. "What has you in a daze this time?"
Kyoko still felt a bit jumpy after the event with Kimiko. Even though it seemed as if things were settled, she was still nervous with how it all ended. She hoped Kimiko would move on and leave her be.
It took Kyoko a millisecond to realize that she was now in the presence of her best friend. She jumped up and lunged for Kanae to give her a bear hug. Kanae easily sidestepped the attack with a flick of her long black hair sending Kyoko crashing to the floor. Kyoko sat up pouting and rubbed at the sore spots on her body that just hit the floor. "That was too harsh Moko," Kyoko grumbled.
Feeling only slightly remorseful, Kanae extended her hand and helped Kyoko off the floor. Kyoko smiled and took the opportunity to give her favorite person a hug. Kanae stood there with her arms at her sides not showing any affection. "Mo, get off me already," Kanae said shrugging out of Kyoko's embrace.
Kyoko's eyes watered and said, "Sorry Moko-san, I'm just so happy to see you. We haven't talked since the auditions ended."
"Mo! Stop that. I told you I'd talk to you when I had a better understanding of what the Producer wanted. It has been barely two days," Kanae replied, "and before you ask, like I told you over the phone, I'm still waiting for answers too. It did seem the Producer wants me to be one of the leads of another project he's working on."
Kyoko's face lit up as she praised her best friend. She stated that any role Kanae played would be amazing. Kyoko's high was short lived when she recalled that they would not be doing Sacred Lotus together. She felt like her portrayal of Momiji had not jived with Kanae's act as Chidori and ruined her best friend's chances for the part. The only reason Kyoko considered auditioning in the first place was to get the chance to work with Kanae again. It was sad that she would have to continue alone.
Kanae noticed her friend's mood change. She knew Kyoko was probably blaming herself for ruining Kanae's chances at landing the part of Chidori. "Mo! I know what you're thinking so enough. You did nothing wrong! It just means I have to work harder with you as my rival is all. Now get over here, these papers aren't going to fold themselves," Kanae scolded pointing to the stack they had yet to finish.
Kyoko happily took the seat next to her friend and without an exchange of words began a paper assembly line. She automatically assumed the task of folding the papers while Kanae stuffed and sealed them into envelopes. As the minutes ticked by, Kyoko sighed deeply several times over. She didn't notice that every time she exhaled, Kanae's eyebrow twitched in irritation. Kyoko's grudges instantly picked up on Kanae's anger. They stirred restlessly circling the pair of girls while they worked.
"Mo, what is it now?! If you don't tell me right now, this friendship is over!" Kanae exclaimed turning her back on Kyoko.
"Noooooooo! Moko-san, please don't say you'll sever ties with me. You're my most cherished friend. I'll tell you, I promise, just don't hate me afterwards," Kyoko said through teary eyes. Kanae turned to face Kyoko, her expression cold, waiting to hear her explanation.
Kyoko took a deep breath and released it. In a solemn voice she said, "I think I don't have long to live." Kanae gasped in shock at her friend's confession. Of all the things Kyoko had on her mind, she was not expecting to hear that she was dying.
"Mo! What's wrong with you? Have you seen a doctor?" Kanae asked unable to mask her feelings of concern. Kyoko admitted to her that she had not had a check-up and that it was just a feeling.
Kanae scowled at her friend. She should have known better than to worry over Kyoko. The girl tended to be overly dramatic most of the time. Kanae decided that she might as well ask or Kyoko would drive her nuts if she continued to mope, "Mo, then why do you think you're dying?"
Kyoko paused for a minute to think about her physical condition. She told Kanae about the flashes of aches she had been experiencing in her chest. She had experienced similar aches before whenever Shotaro hurt her but she never felt such unbearable pain to this degree. Kanae pondered her answer then asked, "How long has this been going on?"
Kyoko confirmed that it had occurred sporadically in the last few months but recently it had increased in frequency to several times a day.
Kanae had an idea of what could be ailing her friend but she needed more details. She wondered if Fuwa was harassing her again. "When did it start to increase? The exact day?" she asked pointedly. Kyoko squirmed under her scrutiny but Kanae refused to give her any reprieve. Kyoko broke down and told her that it was ever since the day of the Momiji audition.
Kanae narrowed her eyes thinking about the auditions, her brows furrowed with anger. Kyoko's grudges giggled and fed off the menacing aura radiating off Kanae. She recalled how Kyoko had been so distracted that she missed Producer Kuresaki's instructions during the second stage of the audition. If Kanae had not intervened, Kyoko would have been cut for sure. There was only one thing that caused heartache like that. Kanae had read a lot of shoujo manga to help with her acting research so she knew this feeling well even if she never experienced it firsthand herself.
Kyoko watched Kanae tap her chin repeatedly deep in thought as if her friend worked through a mental puzzle. Kanae's finger stopped its movement once all the pieces finally clicked into place. Kyoko froze as she realized the implications of what she had confessed to Kanae. Her best friend had figured it out with just that tidbit of information. Kyoko dropped to the floor begging for forgiveness. Kyoko rolled around all over the floor, weeping for Kanae not to hate her.
Looking down her nose at the flailing Kyoko, Kanae said in an aggravated tone, "you said Amamiya-san would be the one heartbroken over the news of Tsuruga-san's relationship with Morizumi-san? It was you, wasn't it?! You were talking about yourself! Why did you lie?"
Kyoko squirmed under Kanae's cold gaze trying to figure out how to get herself out of this predicament. Her first instinct was to lie but Kyoko knew that would be the wrong move. Friends, especially best friends, didn't lie to each other. Her shoulders sagged in defeat and decided to just come clean. She had bottled up her feelings for so long that they were weighing heavily on her body. She didn't want to burden her best friend with her silly problems but here was Kanae offering her a chance to bear it all by not shutting her out.
"I didn't want to disappoint you. Because of what she said I got distracted. If it wasn't for you, Producer Kuresaki would have dropped me. Thank you Moko-san and I'm soooooo sorry!" Kyoko confessed with tears streaming down her face.
"Mo! Wipe your face, you're an actress!" Kanae scolded, which immediately made Kyoko calm down. "Why did you feel the need to lie to me?" Kanae asked, a little saddened that her friend didn't feel comfortable confiding in her.
Kyoko replied, "Because, love makes a person do stupid things. I don't want to become that girl I was with Shota- Sho. I...I thought you would be disappointed at having such a weak friend that has once again succumbed to that disease."
"I doubt Tsuruga-san would ever treat you poorly the way that guy did. You're different now. Have you ever thought of Fuwa whenever you were acting? Did your grudge against him ever cross your mind while working?" Kanae asked, realizing this felt just like deja vu.
Kyoko shook her head vigorously no in answer. In fact, the only time Kyoko ever thought about Shotaro was when he stubbornly crossed her path. That guy had become so bothersome. He even had the audacity to kiss me again , she thought, shuddering at the memory.
"See, that's what I thought, you love acting! You do it because you enjoy it and not for anyone else. Well unless you count the fans. We are nothing without our fans. The girl who dedicated her life to please a selfish guy is no longer present. You deserve to feel and be loved," said Kanae.
She still wouldn't admit to Kyoko that she treasured their friendship. Her life had changed drastically for the better since meeting Kyoko.
"So are you going to confess to him?" Kanae asked, "Mo! You better not graduate LoveMe and leave me behind!"
Kyoko gasped rocking herself back and forth on the floor, "No, no, no! There's no way! I don't want him to hate me. He might think I'm a stupid girl with only love on the brain. Look at me! How could Japan's hottest bachelor even see me as a love interest?" She added in a sad voice, "plus, he's already in love with Morizumi-san."
Kanae wondered about that. Didn't Koenji's butlers clearly say there wasn't anything going on? What exactly had that man done to make her think this way? She could have sworn he was head over heels in love for this airhead best friend of hers. She couldn't blame him though, there was just something about Kyoko that drew you in, like a moth to a flame. Her friend was so clueless at her beauty that she broke hearts unknowingly. That Fuwa bastard sure did a number on her self-esteem.
Kanae scratched at the crown of her head trying to rid herself of this aggravation. This was why making friends was such a nuisance. Things just get so complicated when feelings are involved. Though it pained her to dig any further, Kanae made the conscious decision to help her friend find some solace. She sighed deeply and pressed Kyoko for more information. "Err, didn't those butlers say there was nothing going on between them. I haven't seen any scandals about Tsuruga-san with anyone."
Kyoko sighed, she might as well tell Kanae about the ring. She rehashed the conversation she had with Koga for Kanae and told her how Kimiko butted in with her White Day pinky ring story.
Kanae was as new to the industry as Kyoko so she didn't really know Kimiko. She thought how cunning it was for Kimiko to pick up on the fact that she could use this Baka's weakness for Ren to get in her head. She pointed out to Kyoko that those butlers also revealed that Ren was probably coerced into giving her that ring. It didn't seem plausible that a man of Ren's stature could be so easily duped.
"Perhaps, Tsuruga-san is in a one-sided love. If not Morizumi-san then definitely someone else," Kyoko mumbled.
Kanae pinched the bridge of her nose. She was starting to get a headache from all this. They were not making any headway on this subject. Something nagged at her, "why are you so sure he's in love with someone?"
Kyoko froze at her question. She debated within her mind the pros and cons of revealing Bo's interactions with Ren. In the end she decided that Kanae could be trusted with this information. Kyoko got off her haunches and grasped Kanae's hands tightly with a desperate yet serious look. Kyoko's minions swirled around Kanae binding her in place.
"Moko-san," Kyoko began eerily her face inches from Kanae's. "You have to swear on your life that you would not repeat a single word I'm about to tell you. It's a matter of life and death. I don't know what he would do to me, to us, if he were ever to find out."
Kanae tried to pull her hands free from Kyoko's tight grip but her friend was not budging. She didn't like the crazy look in Kyoko's eyes. She wanted to refuse after hearing such a condition but Kanae felt like something had attached itself to her head making her nod yes.
Kyoko let her friend go and smiled. Kanae felt her body go slack with relief. She could even move her head again. Kyoko told Kanae about her run-ins with Ren as Bo. How he'd confessed to the rooster that he was in love with a girl four years younger than him and still in high school.
"With that criteria and the pinky ring, I can only think he was talking about Morizumi-san," Kyoko concluded.
Kanae busted out laughing when Kyoko finally finished her story. She laughed so hard tears were streaming down her face and her ribs began to ache. This girl was such an idiot. The guy clearly confessed to her and she still didn't have a clue. She almost pitied Ren.
Kyoko was flabbergasted by Kanae's response. Her friend had never laughed like that in front of her before. Scowling at her friend, Kyoko scolded, "Kanae, I know you don't like him very much but Tsuruga-san is human too you know. He can't be perfect all the time. I don't see how this is a laughing matter."
Kanae tried to compose herself but her laughter wasn't letting up. Kyoko folded her arms across her chest and pouted. She waited for her friend to stop laughing.
Every time Kyoko thought she was done, another fit would overcome Kanae making increasing her scowl. Kanae held up her hands in apology trying to catch her breath.
After Kanae, finally pulled herself together, Kyoko narrowed her eyes and asked, "Are you through making fun of me?"
Kanae apologized for her outburst. She was even embarrassed by her immature reaction but the whole situation was absolutely ridiculous. There should be a limit to her friend's denseness. "When will you see him again?"
Kyoko's face sank into a depressed state before answering. "We're meeting up for lunch but I'm too scared to see him."
Kanae shook her head in confusion. Leave it to this girl to react so drastically. There were millions of women all over Japan, all over the planet probably, that would give their right arm to have lunch with this man so what in the world did this girl have to fear.
"Why are you afraid of him? Has he hurt you in anyway?" Kanae asked feeling the embers of anger igniting within her. She would give that blockhead actor a piece of her mind if that was the case.
"No, no, no, he would never hurt me. Even at his darkest time he didn't hurt me. It's just that, I was rude to him yesterday so he might be angry with me!" She told her about the flower ring fiasco. She was blatantly rude to him because of his playboy attitude. Every time he had tried to talk to her she would cut him off by changing the subject. She even found her behavior annoying but Ren never once lost his temper with her. She had forgotten about all that transpired yesterday when she talked to him last night. Her brain really malfunctioned whenever it came to him. If it wasn't for her acting skills she would have been a goner for sure.
Kyoko's face suddenly lit up. "I tried to test your theory last night and somehow managed to get him to call me. He asked me to dinner tonight so maybe everything will be ok," she told Kanae.
Kanae feigned confusion and asked Kyoko what she meant. Kanae had an excellent memory so she was just playing dumb. She knew Ren treated her friend differently. He had given her an expensive birthday gift hidden within a rose and made up some elaborate story just for her. He also gave her acting tips and sometimes gave her a lift. He definitely didn't do that stuff for anyone else at the company. She recalled absentmindedly telling Kyoko to throw that guy a bone once in a while in thanks. I wanted to see that guy's mask crumble at least once. Looking at her friend, Kanae thought, I guess she figured out what I meant.
"He sent me this text this morning. What do you think he meant by it? Do you think he's just making fun of me?"
Before Kanae could reply, she felt the temperature drop in the room and shivered. Kyoko's demeanor had changed as her thoughts turned dark.
Kyoko thought this could probably be the start of terrible things to come. Maybe he would tell her that he hated her and doesn't want her hanging around him anymore. If that's the case, I would feel lonely. Even if it's just a little, I want to remain by his side, she thought feeling the familiar pain in her heart resurface.
Kanae stood up wanting to get out of the room and away from this conversation. "Look, I don't know what's going on in your head. He asked you to dinner so that means something. Use this opportunity to clear up any misunderstandings you may have with him. He's a reasonable guy, if you apologize sincerely, I'm sure he will forgive you."
Kyoko leaped up and hugged her friend in thanks. Kanae allowed the hug since her friend seemed to need the recharge. She threw the finished envelopes into a box and left the room.
Kyoko locked the door behind her to change out of her uniform. She felt better after talking with her best friend. She was nervous, but come what may, she decided to just attack it head on. She would start off by apologizing to him.
Notes:
Hiya! Thank you for reading. I posted this chapter last year hoping for this girl talk between these two besties. I'm praying that Sensei shares her version with us in the upcoming chapter(s).
Until next time, sayonara! ^_^
Chapter 5: Can I Continue Like This?
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would totally troll the Sacred Lotus set.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Ren's body tingled all over. He felt like he was approaching the big boss at the end of a video game before he could save the princess. Plastering on his gentlemanly smile, he greeted Kanae despite her intimidating gaze. "Good afternoon, Kotonami-san."
Kanae narrowed her eyes and replied coolly, "Tsuruga-san."
Before he could continue with mindless pleasantries, Kanae's beautiful face contorted into a scowl. "Mo! I don't know what game you're playing but if you hurt her, you will have to answer to my sword," she seethed through clenched teeth.
Ren was taken aback by the malice of her words, surprise evident in his eyes. He recovered quickly and smiled genuinely at Kyoko's best friend. "I'm glad she has a good friend like you watching out for her."
Kanae flinched slightly. She had never been on the receiving end of one of his Godly smiles as Kyoko often called them. It was no wonder her friend never stood a chance against him. How could Kyoko not notice that she was the only one to see behind this man's mask? Kanae shook her head weakly, her friend really took dense to a whole new level. She really did feel sympathy for the guy.
"Mo, I'm her best friend so just tell it to her straight, otherwise, she just gets lost in her head with her insane logic," she said lecturing Ren.
Ren's face was a mixture of shock and confusion. What did she mean? Did she talk about him? Dare he have a little hope? This was the most words he had ever exchanged with the raven haired beauty, he didn't know what to make of her words. Was she actually trying to help him? Was he so transparent? If so, why was Kyoko the only one unable to notice his true feelings for her? "Thank you for the advice, Kotonami-san," replied Ren with a grateful smile.
With a huff Kanae said, "Mo! I'm not doing this for you! I'm doing this for her! You'll owe me!" Ren nodded his agreement and bid her farewell. Now that he passed the Boss, he continued his quest to confront his princess.
Ren took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly trying to steady his nerves. He knocked on the door of the LoveMe room and waited for what seemed like an eternity. He gripped the door handle when he finally heard her call out, it's open. Ren stepped in to find Kyoko adjusting the strap of her outfit giving him the indication that she had just finished changing.
His eyes swept over her taking in her appearance. She was wearing a light blue spaghetti strap dress that was fitted on top and flared out on the skirt with a pair of tights beneath and a pair of flats. Ren's heart rate sped up as memories of his delicious dream floated through his mind. Kyoko shivered and looked up, her eyes briefly confronted those of the Emperor of the Night.
Ren quickly regained his composure by thinking of random things; old unattractive men, Yashiro in drag, his mom force feeding him her food. When his blood was no longer pumping to his lower region, he flashed her a warm smile and greeted her. "Hello Mogami-san, are you ready for lunch?"
Kyoko returned his smile warily and bowed. "Go- good afternoon, Tsuruga- san!" she said nervously. I must have only imagined the Emperor . Before she lost her nerve completely, she bowed deeply speaking to the floor, "Tsuraga-san! Please forgive this lowly Kohai for her rude behavior yesterday! I don't know what came over me." She knew exactly what had come over her, she just couldn't say.
Ren felt relieved and returned her bow. "I should be apologizing since I was at fault. In the future, if you're displeased with anything I do, please scold me properly. I don't want to ever upset you."
Kyoko sprang up surprised by his own apology and responded waving her hand in front of her, "Ah Tsuruga-san, you did nothing out of the ordinary. It was just my overactive imagination jumping to conclusions. Let's forget about it. Okay?"
Ren wanted to press her on the subject but decided to add it to the ever growing list of things for them to discuss tonight. She was acting like her usual self at the moment so he would too.
Kyoko tried to contain excitement his words brought to her. She focused on the fact that he used the word "future." Perhaps, it would be okay to hope that everything would turn out fine. She could continue to stay by his side.
"Shall we go to lunch? You probably, no doubt, didn't eat a very good breakfast this morning," Kyoko scolded.
Ren feigned hurt by grabbing at his heart. "Hey, I resent that. I was good this morning, honestly. I promise I ate a proper meal." Kyoko giggled at his theatrics. She couldn't say he was acting the same as usual when it was just the two of them. He seemed to be more carefree today.
They bantered back and forth as they headed down to the LME café, LA Hearts. It was mainly Kyoko lecturing him about eating nutritious meals three times a day and Ren silently enjoying being admonished by her. According to her, he was too careless with his health. She didn't want him getting sick and fainting again.
"Oh I don't know. Falling ill once in a while isn't so bad. If I have the right nurse," he said whispering that last part. Kyoko felt a thrill run through her body but chose not to acknowledge his words, playboy!
People that they greeted on their way had never seen Ren look so relaxed and silently made note that the two looked really cute together. Women fainted from the pheromones Ren exuded as he walked down the hallway next to the woman he loved.
During lunch, they talked about her work. Stamping down his jealousy Ren asked, "I'm interested to know who they found to play the male lead in your new drama." She told him that it was Hiromune, Koga.
"I've worked with Hiromune-san before. He doesn't seem like a bad guy and takes his work seriously," replied Ren.
Kyoko was surprised by this information. She had not known that they had worked together before. Did he really not know that Koga disliked him and just by her association with Ren that petty guy didn't like her either?
"Oh? So you're familiar with him. I don't think he's very happy that I got the part of Momiji. He doesn't seem to like me very much."
Ren frowned in response. He couldn't understand why Koga or anyone for that matter would dislike her? She was gorgeous and talented. His thoughts turned dark making her grudges stir merrily. Could this guy actually be interested in her? He needed to do some recon, stat!
While eating, they casually spoke about her meeting yesterday for Sacred Lotus . The cast and crew she met weren't very welcoming. It was thanks to Ren's parting words that gave her confidence to be herself. She hoped, in the end, she made a good impression.
Ren assured her that he doubted anyone could dislike her. She was beautiful, hardworking, and humble. Kyoko struggled to keep her brain and heart from overheating from all his flattery. She had deflected his words so easily in the past, why was he catching her off guard so much today?
She blushed at his compliments and muttered, "Playboys have no problems uttering such sweet nothings."
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that Mogami-san," Ren asked leaning closer in her direction across the table his eyes dancing with delight.
"It's nothing, nothing," she said stuffing her mouth with food. He was just being biased since he sounded like Cain nii-san.
Ren made the conscious decision to stop teasing her no matter how easy she made it and focused on his food. Yashiro ended up joining them with 15 minutes to spare. He sighed in relief at the pleasant atmosphere that the two were radiating. He had been watching them, secretly, for the last ten minutes and taking pictures on his phone like a stalker. He would send them to Lory later. He thought it was a sin to interrupt them since they were getting along so well but duty called.
Ren's schedule was light today since he returned early from Guam. Yashiro managed to squeeze in two interviews; one for a popular men's magazine and the other for an entertainment network. He also had a modeling gig lined up but Ren had asked him to decline it. He didn't outright admit but he said he would be too busy. Yashiro snickered assuming that it was for the dinner he had planned with Kyoko. In actuality, Ren didn't want to be placed in a position where someone would be fiddling with his wig.
Since Ren's first interview started later than Kyoko's script reading, he asked to tag along. He wanted a sneak peek of her portrayal of Momiji.
Kyoko's amber eyes widened in surprise, "Why did you bother coming into the office? Wouldn't it have been better if you stayed home and rested?"
Ren chuckled. He didn't know the meaning of rest. "I had a meeting with the President here before lunch." She didn't need to know that his meeting with Lory was just an excuse to see her earlier today rather than wait for dinner time. He wanted to spend as much time with her before he dropped all his baggage on her. After tonight, she may no longer want to speak to him ever again.
Kyoko nervously chewed on her bottom lip as Ren held the door open for her to enter the building where the first Sacred Lotus script reading was held. Once they were all inside, he casually fell into step beside her as if it was the most natural place for him to be. Yashiro hung back walking behind his favorite duo. His inner fangirl was practically melting with moe at all the murmurs circulating around the pair.
He had never taken advantage of his status in the industry before nor had he ever done anything so unprofessional since establishing his name as Tsuruga Ren. His motives for coming along were impure and selfish. For one, he wanted to scope out his competition and two, he wanted to prolong the time he could spend with her. He wasn't sure if things would change for the worse or better after tonight. For now, he was going to spend as much time with her as possible. He planned on having her by his side for the rest of his life if he could help it.
His mood changed every time his ears picked up something another cast or crew member said about them. If there were positive, he was elated, leaving catastrophes in his wake. If they were negative, the demon lord reared his head and would glare down the offender. Meanwhile, Kyoko was squirming next to him. One minute her grudges would be swirling with glee, the next, they would be rendered useless by his Godly aura.
She wondered if she had done something wrong to upset him. Whenever she glanced up in his direction, he would look at her with a natural warm smile putting her at ease even if her heart was preparing to jump out of her chest. She soon realized that his moods were dependent upon the chatter around them when she glimpsed his fake gentleman smile aimed at two women.
The ladies did not hide their distaste for her standing so close to Ren and purposely spoke aloud for all in the vicinity to hear. Kyoko's heart plummeted. She was used to women disliking her. Back then it was because she was friends with Shotaro and now it was because of Ren.
She put more space between them when she overheard their comments. Ren was much too good to be seen with the likes of her. Ren felt a rush of cold air on his right side when he realized she had moved away from him. He closed the gap between them again, his body aching for the earlier warmth.
He leaned down and whispered, "All gossip whether negative or positive is good gossip. It means they're noticing you."
Kyoko smiled at him but she couldn't help thinking, no Ren they're noticing you with me . She looked up to his face and sighed internally, this guy was so clueless.
He continued, "You're an amazing actress and you earned this role. Your hard work landed you here so have more confidence." Kyoko brightened up, he was right, she couldn't give in just yet.
Koga glanced up when the door to the meeting hall opened. Well, well, well, looks like Kyoko-chan brought Tsuruga-kun with her. Amused, he watched as Ren glared at two other actors that were unabashedly staring at Kyoko. This is going to be so much fun, he thought, making a beeline towards the couple.
Notes:
As Always, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed!
Until next time, sayonara! ^_^
Chapter 6: Two Alphas!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would have a perfectly good explanation for that ring!
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
As soon as they entered the meeting room, Ren instinctively homed in on two actors ogling his girl. When the two finally noticed her male companion hovering over her, they froze. The deadly glare Tsuruga Ren shot in their direction was enough for them to see their short life flash before their eyes. Frightened by the tall actor, they scuttled about to face the other direction. Both men thought, another cute one lost to Japan's hottest man. They never stood a chance against a man like him.
Kyoko immediately recognized the change in Ren's demeanor. Her grudges went on high alert.
"Is something wrong Tsu - Tsuruga-san?" Kyoko asked nervously glancing up at him.
Ren smiled at her warmly making her grudges woozy. "Everything is fine, Mogami-san," he assured her.
Since her talk with Kanae, she decided whenever she was confused by his behavior she would just ask him. She wanted to press him for more but his damn smile had turned her brain to mush. She had no choice but to look away before her heart stopped.
Koga watched, fascinated by their exchange and slowed down his pace to prolong his observations on the couple. He was intrigued by the possessiveness Japan's most desirable man displayed towards this young woman. Hah! He chuckled inwardly when Ren quickly schooled his face as soon as he sensed Kyoko was turning in his direction. Koga found his nemesis' conduct remarkable, like he just discovered some rare species. He shifted his attention to the young woman standing next to his rival. He wondered how it was possible that this girl could bring this popular man to his knees.
Koga had only known Kyoko for a couple of days so his earlier assessment of her as an actress was favorable despite the company she kept. Overall, she was pretty and had a decent figure but that didn't sway him. Koga was used to supermodels throwing themselves at him and he was quite sure the same was for Ren. He gathered that she was a skilled actress judging from her portrayal of Momiji at the auditions. He had researched her past roles, Mio and Natsu, and found her performances impressive. He couldn't believe the same docile girl in front of him played those bully roles so perfectly.
What else was there? The curiosity was eating at him as he continued to walk towards them getting stopped by others along the way. He vowed to find out. An idea popped in his mind. He could easily tell that Ren was interested in her as more than a kohai. If Koga could redirect her attention his way, and make her fall for him for real during this production, he would for once, have the upper hand on the actor. Judging from her past performances, Koga had no doubt she would rise to stardom in no time. They could easily become Japan's darling couple.
Ren's radar perked up as he sensed another male encroaching on what he considered his territory. He did a sweep of the room and noticed Koga's curious eyes trained on Kyoko. Ren didn't like the look of wonder he saw in the man's expression. He shifted his position naturally so Kyoko would not suspect anything was off. Since he was a great deal taller and wider than her, her body was completely blocked from the other actor’s view.
Koga paused when the looming figure of Ren filled his line of sight. The actor's eyes made contact with Ren's. The look Ren gave him made him tremble but only slightly, they were both alphas after all.
From behind Ren, Kyoko noticed Koga staring at her and started to feel uncomfortable. She knew having Ren tag along was a bad idea. She felt a presence akin to the demon lord surface besides her making the hair on the back of her neck prickle. No, that wasn't quite it. The aura Ren was emitting was that of BJ and this time his attention was trained on Koga.
She had no clue what triggered Ren's change in behavior but she needed to act quickly to diffuse the situation. Stupid Kyoko this was a really bad idea. Why does Tsuruga-san have such a strong killing intent directed at Koga? Think Kyoko! He's Tsuruga right now, he can't be seen like this! She stepped in front of Ren and placed her hand gently on his arm. Her soft touch startled him and forced him to look down at her. Her golden eyes implored him to behave. Ren released the tension in his body, calming down. He had inadvertently let Kuon slip out. Kyoko removed her hand quickly when she felt the anger leave his body and mumbled an apology. Ren frowned. He didn't want her to be sorry for touching him so casually.
The anger and malice that Koga felt radiating off of Ren made him shiver. It was at that point Koga realized he really did like to keep his pretty face. The thought that the usually mild mannered gentleman wouldn't think twice about kicking his ass crossed his mind. He was relieved and intrigued by the easiness of Ren's mood change just by a simple touch from Kyoko. There was seriously something going on with them.
Koga decided then that his life was worth more than that of any woman and decided not to pursue the girl. A new idea began brewing in his mind replacing the previous immature plan he came up with seconds ago. This one would benefit everyone and required no bloodshed. He could clearly see the attraction between the two. He could encourage them to help realize their mutual feelings sooner. If the public realized Ren was off the market, Koga could easily surpass him to the number one spot. Koga smiled to himself at his intelligence, he doubted he needed to do much and decided to bully them instead.
Ren watched Koga approach initially with a general interest in Kyoko; however, at some point in those last few steps Koga had made a conscious decision to give up on Kyoko completely. Ren was quite proud of himself. Mission accomplished.
Koga spoke first when he finally arrived in front of them, "Hello Kyoko-chan, Tsuruga-kun."
Ren's right eye twitched in annoyance when Koga casually addressed her by her first name. He needed to fix this problem tonight. Why was he the only one still calling her politely? I knew her longer dammit! He thought, sulking inwardly. Kyoko and Ren both bowed and greeted Koga.
"So Tsuruga-kun, what brings you here? Last I heard, you declined to participate in this drama," said Koga.
Ren winced, cursing his manager for his efficiency. Ren upped the wattage of his professional smile then replied, "Yes, I was already committed to other projects at the time. I just couldn't fit this drama into my schedule with everything else I had going on."
Koga fought to keep his aloof expression as his thoughts raged. You picking a fight with me pretty boy?! Are you trying to rub it in my face that I was second choice once again for this job because you're so busy!
"But I guess there have been some issues with the casting that has delayed the filming. Which worked out well since now that Mogami-san will be acting as Momiji it's bound to be successful," Ren continued innocently.
Oh those are definitely fighting words! So what you're saying is that if it wasn't for Kyoko this project would be a total dud.
Kyoko flushed red from Ren's excessive praise. She prayed to Kami-sama that she didn't embarrass him after all this embellishment.
No, Koga. You gotta keep calm. This man is only overly praising the woman he loves. Look at her cute face from all his flattery. He's trying to score points here. He's not trying to be insulting.
Still blushing, Kyoko spoke up, "Tsuruga-san you're too biased. I'm still very new to the industry and have a lot to learn. I just hope I can portray a Momiji everyone can be proud of. I especially hope to meet Producer Kuresaki's expectations after he took a chance on a mere talent like me. I promise to work hard!"
"Of course!" Ren said proudly patting her head. Several pairs of eyes in the room noticed the action and concluded that they were a couple. Kyoko stepped back and ducked her head in embarrassment. He was treating her like a child again.
"Wow Tsuruga-kun, you sure are nice to your Kohais," Koga said sardonically.
Ren looked at Koga confused by his tone. What is he playing at?
"Just the other day, Kimiko-chan and Kyoko-chan were going head to head for the part of Momiji. As you can see Kyoko was the clear victor," Koga continued gesturing to Kyoko with a nod.
"Speaking of Kimiko-chan. She shared a rather interesting story with us, ne, Kyoko-chan. She was wearing a rather expensive pinky ring," Koga said pausing for dramatic effect. "A ring she claims you gave to her for White Day for good luck when she was having trouble with her work in Purple Down."
Kyoko kept her features neutral even though she was feeling very uncomfortable. The stabbing pains in her heart persisted after the reminder of Ren and Kimiko's relationship. Where is Koga going with this conversation? She hoped he didn't reveal to Ren what had prompted the conversation.
Ren stood there deep in thought, confusion knitting between his brows. I never gave Morizumi-san a ring! Is she still spreading lies about me? That drama was almost two years ago so his memory wasn't so sharp. After a few moments of contemplation, it dawned on him. His character in the drama gave his love interest, a promise ring as a white day gift. Did Morizumi-san try to start trouble with Kyoko the same way she caused tension on the set of Purple Down? He disliked that girl immensely and instructed Yashiro to refuse all jobs related to her in the future. She was pure malice and unprofessional in an unobscured way. Tsuruga Ren had to work hard to keep up his facade during that filming.
He glanced over at Kyoko. Her head was tilted down looking at the floor so he couldn't read her expression but she was wringing her hands nervously. He thought about the flower ring incident yesterday. No wonder she responded so weird after I fixed her ring. I even said for good luck! She probably thinks I use that line on every girl. He looked at her incredulously, dare he hope that she was affected by Kimiko's actions. Ren was elated by the thought. He needed to fix this misunderstanding.
"Morizumi-san must have been confused, my character in Purple Down gave a ring for white day. I, myself, never did such a thing," he said turning to Kyoko. He wanted her to understand that what Kimiko said was not true.
Kyoko's head shot up shocked by this revelation. She searched his warm brown eyes for the truth. Her heart hammered as she understood the sincerity in his eyes. He's telling the truth. She nodded in understanding making him smile with relief.
Morizumi-san really did use that ring to mess with my concentration. How did Morizumi-san know that I would take the bait? I really am such an idiot. I have to do better at hiding my feelings otherwise Ren might notice.
Her near death experience, by the hands of Kimiko, came flooding back to her mind. She really needed to tell Ren about the incident. He was so angry and upset when he was the last to learn about the Beagle issue in Karuizawa.
Koga figured as much, he played dumb at the auditions but he knew through the grapevine how spiteful Kimiko could be when she didn't get her way. Unfortunately, Kyoko just happened to be the one in her way right now. She had probably eavesdropped on their conversation and used that story to get in Kyoko's head.
Kyoko was relatively new to the business and didn't pay much attention to other celebrities unless she worked with them. She had no idea how cut throat this world could be especially among the women. Poor little lamb, Koga thought. It's a good thing she has a great big bad wolf protecting her.
Koga changed the subject and faced Kyoko, "This will be your first time acting out a serious love role. Do you think you've grasped that aspect of Momiji?"
Kyoko hummed and nodded yes. She was confident in her execution of Momiji. They both shared the feeling of unrequited love for the men by their side.
"Are you in love with me already?" Koga asked teasingly. He placed his thumb and index finger under her chin and tilted her head up to meet his gaze. "Or would you have preferred Tsuruga-kun was in my place?"
Kyoko couldn't control the blush that flared on her cheeks. She stepped back out of his grasp and told him he was a bully. Koga laughed wholeheartedly by her reaction. She glared daggers at him. Her grudges swirled around her ready to go on the offense should he try to touch her again. She would kill him if he gave her feelings away to Ren.
Ren was agitated by Koga's behavior. He used the full strength of his gentleman smile to show his irritation towards the guy. How dare he touch her! His heart raged at the fact that Kyoko, no Momiji, he corrected himself, had to be in love with him.
Before Ren could say anything, Producer Kuresaki and Director Morizumi entered the room, ending all further conversation. Ren waited his turn before approaching Producer Kuresaki. He welcomed Ren and told him he appreciated his interest in the drama. Ren asked permission to stay and watch while he waited for his car to arrive. Kuresaki gave the okay so Ren took his place in the back next to Yashiro. Kyoko took her seat up front with the rest of the cast. Kuresaki jumped right in and told them they would pick up where they left off on scene 21, The Confession.
Ren watched as Kyoko closed her eyes and got into character. It was always amazing watching her transformation. When she opened her eyes again all traces of Kyoko were removed and in the room sat Momiji. Kyoko stood up and moved in front of Koga. She found it easier to stay in character during readings if she could move along with the script.
The Director looked at the pair for confirmation that they were ready then called, "Action!"
Momiji bowed down before Shizuma. Her lithe body coiled with suppressed tension. She couldn't understand why her master was sending her away; all to protect some chit of a girl.
Unable to contain her frustration any longer, Momiji stands up defiantly. "Master please don't ask me to do that. I must stay and protect you! Why must it be her? Why not me? Choose me! I have been the one by your side all this time, not her!"
"I love you! I cannot go knowing that you will be in danger. I would rather die as your shield than see you with her!" exclaimed Momiji, trying to restrain her tears.
Shizuma was surprised by her outburst. This was the first time she had ever questioned his orders. He knew she loved him but he wanted more for her than this life of blood. He loved her like a dear little sister. It wasn't right that such a young and beautiful girl should think so less of her life.
He knew what he would say next would pain her but he needed to be honest. This way both women that he loved will be protected. He knew Momiji would give up her life for him. He didn't want her to carry that burden any longer. He wanted her to be happy.
"I love her Momiji," Shizuma said simply. Momiji fell to her knees, feeling as if she had just been stabbed through the heart. "I love you too, but not the way a man loves a woman, but as a brother loves a sister. The love I have for you will never fade our bond is too strong. You have quietly been by my side selflessly giving and for that I will forever be grateful. If you claim to love me as you do, then follow my orders. Please like usual, follow my one last selfish request."
Momiji shocked by her master's words, pulled herself together and resumed her kneeling position. She had let her emotions slip. She hardened her heart. When she spoke, her voice was distant and cold, "Yes, my lord." With barely a rustle of clothing Momiji vanished to do his bidding.
When the scene ended, Director Jouji called, "Cut!" He was satisfied with their reading.
Kyoko blinked as she came back to the present and returned to her seat. Several people giggled to break the tension, some clapped, and many wiped tears from their eyes. She was good and they were all excited to work with her.
Ren felt a stab of pain shoot through his heart. He had to remind himself that it was only an act and Kyoko was still his, maybe, somewhat, the point was he wasn't losing hope. He reaffirmed that even if she hated him after tonight, he would spend the rest of his life making it up to her. As long she was nearby, he would not give up begging her forgiveness.
Kyoko's eyes sought Ren at the back of the room. He smiled at her tenderly and gave her a thumbs up. She returned a smile so radiant that anyone in its path was annihilated. His heart skipped a beat along with several other men in the room. He really did love her and only she could complete him.
Producer Kuresaki said, "We're going to pick up with the lake scene with Chidori and Shizuma. We have to skip over some parts since the male antagonist won't be arriving until next week."
With Kyoko looking at him, Ren tapped his watch signaling he had to leave. She smiled and nodded.
"Tonight," he mouthed. She nodded again. With a smile, Ren took his leave before interrupting the next scene.
Kyoko ducked her head down in embarrassment. She was so happy right now that she almost forgot he still had someone else he loved even if it wasn't Kimiko. She tried to calm her heart telling herself everything was still okay.
Koga shook his head at the hopelessness of the girl sitting to his right. If she wanted to keep her feelings for Ren a secret, she was doing a terrible job at it. He watched her face go from happy to sad all of a sudden and wondered what just happened. He noticed their exchange before he left and gathered that they had plans later. Could she be sad because she already missed him? Oh, a maiden's heart is so beautiful, he thought.
As Ren stepped through the door Ruto held open, he spied a young man with short blonde hair wearing sunglasses swaggering towards the front entrance of the building. He paid no mind to the guy since his thoughts were filled with Kyoko at the moment.
Notes:
Dammit, I did it! I got rid of that pesky pinky ring! I hope Sensei doesn't make it that Ren, nonchalantly, bought the damn thing as a return gift...XD
Thank you for reading everyone!
Until next time, sayonara ^_^!
Chapter 7: T-minue 3 hours
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Sho would have been placed on LME's stalker list a long time ago.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The fighting was brutal, it was a good thing the enemy had begun to retreat because her strength was waning. Even through her exhausted haze, Momiji sensed an enemy from behind. He had an arrow nocked and aimed directly at Shizuma. She screamed to get her Master's attention as she ran towards him. He couldn't hear her over the chaos surrounding them.
As if time stood still, all Momiji could hear was her rapid heartbeat and shallow breathing as she desperately tried to reach her Master in time. Mid dash, she released a kunai at the archer but watched in horror as the arrow was released a second before her knife sank into the side of the man's neck. She threw herself in front of Shizuma to protect him. The arrow pierced so deeply that it actually went through her and lodged itself into Shizuma's shoulder. She coughed up blood, a clear indication that a vital point had been hit.
Shizuma screamed out in anguish as he took in the limp girl attached to him. By then, the fighting had ceased with the enemy commander dead.
"Somebody, help me!" He screamed as his men, other ronin, surrounded him to form a protective barrier. They dislodged the girl from him but there was little they could do to save her.
Gathering her in his arms his voice broke as tears slid down his face, "You baka, you were supposed to stay away and be safe." Momiji looked up at him with a puzzled expression, master never cried. She reached up and tried to wipe his tears away but instead she smeared blood on his face. She gave him a soft angelic smile once she realized he was going to live.
Chidori fell by her other side sobbing and grabbed Momiji's hand. Despite their differences, Chidori was fond of Momiji. She thought the ninja was beautiful, fearless, and fiercely loyal; everything she wished to be. Momiji shifted her gaze to the other woman, "Promise me you will take care of him." With difficulty speaking, she started listing all of Shizuma's horrible attributes that she thought Chidori should be aware of.
Shizuma let out a melancholy laugh, "My sweet Momiji, forgive me." He kissed her forehead. Momiji reached her hand to caress his cheek one last time.
"I'm glad I was able to fulfill my mission," she said with no regrets and took her last breath. A lifetime of memories flashed through his mind with different stages of their life together. He would no longer hear her calling out to him, "Shizuma-sama!" He felt a piece of his heart die that day.
Director Morizumi yelled "cut" pulling the actor and actresses out of their characters. The room erupted in applause while Koga helped the ladies up from the ground. He grinned at Kyoko for her ability to pull that kind of emotion out of him.
Sho had quietly slipped inside the large room as the scene unfolded. They weren't actually engaged in any sort of battle. There was no running or clashing of swords. It was just reading and yet even the simple movements and their change in voice was enough to pull him onto the battlefield. He watched as Kyoko “flung” herself in front of Koga to protect him from some unseen arrow. He was in awe at the imagination that these actors and actresses possessed for just a script reading. It had to be difficult to pull off the raw emotion required for such a scene without a proper set or even props.
His heart constricted when he saw Kyoko's face pale and contort in pain as the "arrow" pierced her. He felt the anguish roll off of Koga in waves as he held the dying girl in his arms. When the director had called “cut,” Sho realized he was holding his breath and his eyes were slightly moist.
He laughed feeling a little embarrassed. He noticed that many people, mainly women, in the room had the same reaction. He couldn't believe his childhood friend could pull off such a complicated scene. He observed her in the crowd bowing politely to everyone and thanking them for their hard work. He hardly recognized her. She was smiling and exuding a confidence he had never seen in her before. She's changed.
Sho snorted when he overheard some guys talking about how cute she was. Who's cute? That boring, no sex appeal woman, please? Sho rolled his eyes at the men that obviously needed to get their eyes checked.
A tiny thought that had been lurking at the back of his mind pushed its way to the forefront, s he's out of my league . He quickly dismissed that absurd thought. All he needed to do was remind her of how much she hated him and he would have the old Kyoko back. This plain, no talent girl could never beat him; he was Fuwa Sho, Japan's top selling musician, Tokyo Dome was within his grasp. Soon, he would be too high for her to even reach that she would feel lucky if he even glanced her way.
He watched her walk over to a man in a gray suit wearing glasses. That's the platform wearing bastard's manager. Why is he here? He scanned the room for Ren and was relieved to find that the actor wasn't there. Could he now be her manager? Sho dismissed that idea quickly, there was no way an elite manager like him will ever represent a talentless newbie like her.
Director Jouji called for everyone's attention, "Before we leave today, I want to introduce Japan's top artist Fuwa Sho. He will be working with the Music Director for the sound track of this drama. He will also be writing the theme song so you will be seeing him around the set for a bit."
Kyoko groaned internally at the director's announcement. She watched Sho make his way to the front with a smug smile plastered on his face. He cut his hair shorter .
The Okami had mentioned that he stopped by the Darumaya yesterday. Good thing she wasn't home then, she was in no shape to deal with him with all her mixed emotions. In her current state, she probably would have done something regrettable, like kill him .
She frowned, even with that thought her grudges weren't swirling around her like usual. In the past, the mere mention of his name or anything connected to him would send her on a rampage. The last time she saw Sho was when she kicked him in the shin for once again stealing a kiss from her. She knew, in his own way, he was trying to help her after the incident with her mother but she just couldn't forgive him. Thinking of that kiss; however, got her grudges fired up.
Yashiro yelped suddenly scared of his charge. He thought they were in the clear when she didn't respond to Fuwa's presence. He wondered why she had such a delayed response. Either way, it was his duty as her manager to keep that singer away from her if his presence interfered with her work. The boy had no business messing with her after the way he had treated her in the past.
The Director wrapped up their reading session but reminded the main cast of their pending photo shoot. Kyoko and Yashiro slipped out of the room before Sho had a chance to bother her. She needed to get to hair and make-up so she could transform into Momiji.
She really didn't want to deal with Sho today of all days. She would have plenty of time for that bastard since, apparently, he would be working on the music for this drama. She decided that she would be professional when working with him.
On the other side of Tokyo, Ren entered the building for his taped interview that would be aired in two days. Although it was being recorded, there would still be a live audience.
On his way to the studio he bumped into Kijima. "Yo, Tsuruga, how are things going? You're looking good; lighter, airier, dare I say relaxed. Better than the way you looked the other day. Soooo did anything good happen between you and Kana-san?"
Ren's happy bubble burst and his mood darkened. It was all this guy's fault! He tried to stamp down his rising anxiety as he glowered at Kijima. He had forgotten all about Kana and that stupid kiss.
Kijima laughed at Ren's expression. "I guess that's a hard no, poor Kana-san. So if it's not Kana-san that's got you in a good mood, things must be progressing with Kyoko-chan, eh?"
In order to make things perfectly clear to Kijima Ren stated boldly, "I have a date with Kyoko tonight." He hoped this didn't get back to Kyoko if things turned for the worse.
No honorifics, eh. Since when did they make such progress? Kijima clapped him on the back, gave him a good natured squeeze, then offered Ren some advice.
"So where are you taking her? The first date is crucial in a new relationship. Since she's horribly cheap, she would definitely appreciate being spoiled at a five star restaurant. Something like that would make her putty in yo-…"
Ren increased the brilliance of his smile giving Kijima the hint that he needed to stop talking. Kijima raised his hands in mocked defense, "I'm just saying, I'm pretty much an expert at wooing women."
When Ren made no attempt at hearing him out Kijima laughed, wished him luck, and went on his way. That guy is so easy to read these days. He is obviously smitten by Kyoko-chan so why couldn't he just be honest. I need to find me a girlfriend. Kijima cast a flirtatious smile towards two young giggling women he passed by in the hall and left, but not before turning his head and checking out their assets.
Ren's run in with Kijima reminded him of yet one more thing he needed to tell Kyoko; he didn't want her to misunderstand the situation. She already thinks I'm a playboy.
Thinking of his kiss with Kana brought his thoughts back to the photo of Fuwa kissing Kyoko. His control started to slip. It wasn't until he realized he was scaring people in the hall with his deadly aura that he tried to rein himself, Kuon, in. He reminded himself not to put too much stock into that kiss. Look what happened to me and I'm a grown ass man . He suddenly felt sexually harassed. He really should have unleashed dark Kuon on Kana when she kissed him. His Ren persona was too damn gentle for his own good.
He would bet money that bastard kissed her again without her permission. She was alone and distraught when he found her in the park that night. His heart told him that nothing further happened after that. I hope .
Regardless, for his sake, he needed to ask her plainly if there was any reciprocated feelings towards Fuwa. Her answer didn't really matter because he planned on filling her head and heart with only him. He hoped she was ready because he had waited patiently for her to finally heal her wounded heart.
Ren made it to the studio where he was shown to the green room by an assistant.
"Is what I'm wearing okay for the show?" he asked the producer once he gave his greetings. He didn't put much effort into what he wore today. He normally would wear something more formal to interviews. He was wearing a pair of black slacks, black dress shoes, and a dark blue button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
"You look perfect, Tsuruga-san, as always," said the Producer assuring him that he looked good. It was professional but still casual. Even as a heterosexual man he found Ren's look sexy and so would the rest of the female population. Curse you Kami-sama for being cruel and unfair. This man could wear a garbage bag and still look sexy.
The makeup artist puffed some translucent powder on his face and applied moisturizer to his lips. When the hair stylist tried to mess with his hair, he managed to subdue her with his charm and styled it himself. Ren was called shortly afterwards on stage and bowed to the host. They exchanged the usual pleasantries and talked about his upcoming work.
"So this is a common question asked at every one of your interviews. So, I'm going to make sure I do my part as a good host for all the ladies in the audience. Here goes! The million dollar question, are you dating anyone?" The host asked closing his eyes as if he really didn't want to hear an affirmative answer.
Ren chuckled at the host's melodrama and gave a long winded answer that didn't confirm or deny the possibility of him having anyone significant in his life at the moment.
They had a Q and A segment for people in the audience to ask him questions. One lady chosen was handed a mic and excitedly asked, "Ren-sama, what is your favorite color?" The question was common knowledge. Anyone that followed Ren's career knew his favorite color was blue but he decided to throw a curveball at them. He answered without hesitation, "amber" thinking of Kyoko's eyes. I could stare into them forever, he thought, dreamily.
The host cleared his throat to get Ren's attention making the audience giggle. The host made a mental note of his strange behavior. There was definitely something different about the actor today.
Another audience member asked him about his ideal woman. This was another common question that he was used to answering but today he went overboard. He smiled thoughtfully thinking about everything he loved about her. The host cleared his throat again.
"Someone with a beautiful soul that puts her whole heart into everything she does. Someone that's smart, kind, selfless, nurturing, strong, independent, a good cook, has a huge imagination, a lover of fairy tales, not afraid to show her emotions, able to scold me properly without being intimidated..." He continued on and on about everything he loved about her wondering if he was giving himself away.
Later, those that were close to the pair watching this interview would pick up on the traits he listed and link them to Kyoko, noting that Ren was getting serious.
The host commented on his detailed and extensive list. He described every man's ideal woman. The interview ended without too much of a hitch so Ren made his way back to LME to pick up his car.
Once home, Ren texted Kyoko. I'm home. I hope your day is going well. Please ask Yashiro for the key I gave him and let yourself up when you arrive. See you soon! He included another heart emoji before hitting send.
He suddenly felt nervous and decided to fix himself a drink. He hit the remote to turn on his sound system and music filled the room. He groaned at the depressing song that filtered through the speakers. "When you try your best but you don't succeed, When you get what you want but not what you need..."
He left it alone and headed into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of his favorite cognac in hopes that it would loosen up his nerves. He went back to the living room with his drink and sagged into the couch. "High up above or down below, When you're too in love to let it go, If you never try you'll never know, Just what you're worth..."
Fate definitely has a hold of my playlist . He had been listening to more English songs ever since his time as Cain Heel especially in Guam. Although the local people have their own native language, English was the main language spoken since they were a territory of the United States. It was easy to slip back into his American roots there even as the British man Cain.
When the song ended, he gulped down the rest of his drink and stood to take a shower. It's almost show time, he thought, glancing at the clock on his phone. She would be here in about three hours.
Notes:
Hi everyone! Thanks for continuing to read! I got extremely excited when Ren asked Kyoko about the Sho kiss in the car...I was like finally his mask is cracking! Naturally, I was disappointed with Kyoko's response though it was so typical of her...anyway I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
The song Ren was listening to was "Fix You" by Coldplay.
Until next time and since I keep coming back, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 8: Can You Stay Forever?
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would have given her his white day gift by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko bowed to the team of Yappa Kimagure Rock after the show, thanking them for their hard work. Hikaru stopped her on her way to change out of her Bo costume and asked if she wanted to have dinner. She respectfully declined like usual, stating that she had dinner plans already. The other Ishibashi brothers teased their leader for once again failing to get Kyoko to notice him. Kyoko was oblivious to all this since her state of mind was actually in chaos. She was so nervous about the upcoming dinner with her senpai that she kept missing her cues as Bo.
She couldn't wrap her head around the fact that he would be doing the cooking. His behavior all day had been different. It wasn't a bad different but she wondered if she should be worried. There was only one occurrence when his dark side seeped out for a brief second. She recognized that aura as BJ then but she still had a feeling that it was Ren's other self. She let out a frustrated sigh, there was no way she could ask him about it. He had something deep hidden within him that he wasn't ready to share with anyone. She was saddened by the thought that he would never trust her enough to become his confidant.
Kyoko rendezvoused with Yashiro in the lobby of TBM. The manager still had no clue what she actually did there since he easily accepted her excuse that it was boring behind the scenes LoveMe work. In the car, Yashiro handed her the card key that Ren mentioned in his text earlier making her realize she had never texted him back. She pulled out her phone and sent him one quickly, I'm on my way.
Kyoko examined the card in her hand closely. It resembled those cards used in hotels to gain access to the guest rooms. She couldn't contain her delight when she flipped it over in her hand and squealed. The picture on the card was from Walt Disney's Beauty and the Beast animation. It was a screen capture of the scene where Belle and the Beast danced in the ballroom to the magical song Tale as Old as Time .
She covered her mouth embarrassed by her outburst and looked at Yashiro with an incredulous expression. "Yashiro-san, have you made some sort of mistake? Is this really Tsuruga-san's key?" As many times as she went to Ren's apartment, she never paid attention to how he actually opened the door.
Yashiro squirmed in his seat trying to contain his glee. He wanted to confess that Ren made that especially with her in mind when he found out he could customize the cards. Earlier, when Ren passed the card over, Yashiro couldn't stop himself from snickering. He wanted to tease Ren with every fiber of his being but the look in his charge's eyes made him bite his tongue.
"Your love of fairy tales must have rubbed off on him somehow," Yashiro responded keeping his eyes glued to the road. "Ren said he would be too busy with preparations to retrieve you from the lobby, with this you can just let yourself up. You need to use it in the elevator to activate Ren's VIP floor and then on the door with the code 1979." This was just Ren's sneaky way of giving her a key to his apartment.
They rode the remainder of the drive in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Neither one knew just how nervous the other was regarding tonight's dinner. Yashiro was so anxious about this cataclysmic event that his inner fangirl was having a panic attack, he prayed that Ren didn't screw it up.
Yashiro had an epiphany while he waited for the traffic light to turn green. He turned to Kyoko, "You know it's really late and it will probably be even later when dinner is over. Maybe you should let your landlord know that you will be staying at a friend's house. I'm sure Ren wouldn't mind opening his guest room for your use." He said it in such a way so as not to alarm Kyoko oh his underlying intentions. His inner fangirl pumped her pom poms in the air cheering him on for doing his friend this one solid.
I might go to hell for depositing this innocent girl straight into the wolf's den. Yashiro convinced himself that Ren wasn't the type of guy to take advantage of an innocent girl like Kyoko. Even if he was in love with her, as Yashiro greatly suspected, he wouldn't try anything dubious like that with her, not this soon anyway, would he?
Kyoko nodded at the idea, "I'll clear it with Tsuruga-san first. I don't want to impose." It wasn't the first time she stayed the night in his apartment but now that she confirmed her feelings for him, she feared giving herself away. It was easy to disguise her feelings when she was hiding behind a role like Setsu but tonight she had to face him as herself.
Yashiro dropped her off in the parking garage where she could take the elevator up directly.
"Thank you, Yashiro-san. Please drive safely," Kyoko said as she bowed outside the car. "I will see you tomorrow morning."
"You're welcome, Kyoko-chan! Have a good night. Gambatte! " He drove away with an anxious heart. He did his part, it was now up to them. He had a feeling he wouldn't get a wink of sleep tonight.
Kyoko stopped outside of Ren's door trying to steady her nerves. You can do this Kyoko! You are an actress! Your Senpai is in there right now slaving away at the stove on your behalf. There's no running away. She took several deep breaths before lifting her hand then knocked on the door. Nothing. She knocked harder, still nothing. She pressed her ear against the door and heard a faint sound like music playing. He probably couldn't hear her because the music was too loud or what if he had an accident?
Her thoughts took a turn for the worse as she imagined him passed out on the floor in a pool of his own blood from a severed digit. Nooooooooooooooo! You can't be dead! Taking a deep breath she scanned the card, punched in the code and pulled open the door slowly. Loud music filled her ears as she peeked her head in doing a quick scan of the living room and finding it empty. She removed her shoes and dropped her bags by the door. She clutched her phone in case she needed to call emergency services. The song playing caught her attention since the instrumentation sounded like it was about to reach a crescendo. They had listened to a lot of English songs as the Heel siblings but she didn't recognize this one.
"Tsuruga-san?" she called when the lyrics started spewing out from the speakers. She made her way to the kitchen praying she didn't find his body lying cold on the floor. How would she be able to live with herself if she was responsible for his death? His fans would string her up for sure and she would welcome death. Living in a world without Tsuruga Ren was not worth it. She froze from shock at the entrance of the Kitchen and witnessed something priceless.
Ren slid the last egg onto the plate then raised the spatula in his hand towards his mouth in time with the song and lip synced the words, "I'm in love with a shooting star, But she moves so fast, When she falls then, I'll be waiting..."
Kyoko unconsciously lifted her phone and pressed the camera button to take a picture of the scene before her. What she failed to remember was that her phone made a shutter noise when a picture was taken.
Ren's body went rigid for a second then he whipped around towards the sound. His whole face flamed up a furious shade of red, embarrassed at being caught. Kyoko pressed the button again capturing his blushing expression.
Kyoko's body trembled trying to hold in her laughter but it came out as a snort. Overcoming his embarrassment, he stalked towards her making Kyoko scurry away in retreat. She didn't get far. Ren snaked out his arm and caught her by the waist before she could make it to the middle of the living room. They tumbled to the floor with Ren maneuvering his body so it would take the brunt of the fall. She was in hysterics fighting to keep her phone out of his grasp. What she had was pure gold and no one was going to take it away from her. As punishment, Ren began tickling her in hopes that she would drop the phone.
They came to their senses when the song ended followed by a chorus of Kyoko's stomach growling loudly. It was her turn to feel embarrassed by her rowdy stomach. Ren chuckled and reached out a hand to help her up. "Come my lady, your dinner awaits. I'll be right back."
Kyoko made to follow him but plowed into the solid wall that was his back when he stopped abruptly. "Sit!" he ordered her pointing at the coffee table.
Kyoko grumbled but did what she was told. She sat on the floor and started giggling as she recalled the scene she interrupted earlier. Ren's cool image was totally shattered in her eyes but her heart hummed with happiness. She was able to witness another side of Ren. I'll treasure this memory forever, she thought, stuffing her phone in her pocket in hopes he would forget about the pictures she took tonight.
Ren placed their drinks and chopsticks on the table then went back into the kitchen. He returned with the main dishes setting Kyoko's plate in front of her. Her eyes widened and her mouth hung open in a wide "o" when she saw the meal he prepared. On her plate was a perfectly cooked hamburger steak with egg on top along with white rice and a side salad.
She looked at Ren in astonishment, "You cooked this?" Ren nodded, very pleased with her reaction. "H- how, when?" she asked in amazement.
"Well technically Cain did back in Guam. It was out of character but I had a lot of free time at night." She didn't need to know that he had attempted this meal every night with the aid of cooking videos until he got it right.
"But why?" Kyoko asked.
"For you, it's your favorite right?" he asked, unsure if he had made a mistake. He assumed it was her favorite based on her delighted face over this particular food when they played as kids and when she was his temporary manager.
She nodded unable to trust her voice and ducked her head to hide the blush dusting her cheeks. No one had ever gone through the trouble for her like this. She knew his skill level at cooking so to have improved so much to produce such a dish must have taken a lot of effort on his part. She was overflowing with happiness again.
"At least try it first," Ren teased seeing her elated expression.
With an "itadakimasu," he watched her take a bite. She closed her eyes as she savored the flavors and said, "delicious!" She was suddenly ravenous and attacked her meal with more gusto. Ren laughed with relief then picked up his chopsticks and dug in to his own meal.
"Tsuruga-san, um…would it be okay if I stayed the night in your guest room. I promise not to be a nuisance and I will clean up after myself. I don't want to impose on you but I know you will insist on dropping me home at this late hour. This way Yashiro-san will only have to make one stop in the morning."
Ren was drinking when she asked the question and started choking on his tea. He was blindsided. Never in his wildest dreams had he once thought she would take the initiative to stay over. He had planned on thinking up excuses for her to stay anyway. When he was finally able to inhale normally Ren replied in a voice that wouldn't betray his true feelings, "You're always welcomed here. You can stay the night, or you can stay forever . Those rooms are practically yours anyway since you're the only one that uses them."
Kyoko latched on to his words feeling somewhat special, then she chided herself. It could just mean that other women don't use the guest room when they come over. Instead of getting lost in her dark thoughts she nonchalantly asked him with a curious expression, "Really Tsuruga-san? Nobody else, not even family visitors?"
He shook his head no , "Yashiro-san, and now you, are the only two that have ever been in here. I prefer my privacy."
Kyoko tried not to get excited by this new information. There were plenty of other places he could meet up with women, like a fancy hotel or even some love hotel.
Ren knew allowing her to stay the night wouldn’t change anything between them. She wouldn't have had the courage to ask if she didn't feel safe with him. She was probably comfortable in his presence due to their act as the Heel siblings. She saw him as nothing more than her Senpai or big brother. He sighed mournfully, recalling the moments she walked in on him in the shower as Setsu. She really doesn't see me as a man , he thought with a slight shake of his head.
When they were finished with dinner they cleaned up together. Kyoko argued that since he cooked, it was only fair that she do the cleaning. He disputed that since he made the mess it was only fair that he helped. When they were done cleaning, Ren gave her a knife, plates, napkins and forks for the dessert.
She sat patiently at the coffee table as he brought out a small cake box.
"For you," he said, pushing the box towards her.
She opened the box and unveiled a cute cake of white chocolate and strawberries. There was a little banner that read, Congratulations, Kyoko! She looked at Ren confused.
"For clinching, Momiji," he said with a proud smile. Kyoko could no longer fight the tears that had been threatening to come out since she sat down to eat.
Ren shifted nervously at a loss, wondering what he possibly did wrong to cause such a negative reaction. He only wanted to make her happy and celebrate her accomplishments. "I apologize, Mogomi-san, if I did anything to make you sad. Is the cake not to your liking? I'll be honest, I tried to choose the one that didn't look too sweet. That was selfish of me," he admitted. I should have bought the chocolate one with all the frills.
She shook her head and said, "No the cake is perfect, thank you. I'm just so happy. Nobody has ever done this for me." She dashed at the tears that strayed down her cheeks. Why was he being so kind to her? If he kept doing things like this she might misunderstand his intentions. She rearranged her thoughts that made more sense to the situation, he's probably treating me as he would his precious little sister . That thought made her sad but she didn't let it show on her face.
After they had their dessert, Ren excused himself to get something from his room. He opened his top drawer and pulled out a wrapped box. His eyes lingered on the handcuffs he had purchased earlier then sighed. He couldn't bring himself to actually use them as he intended right now. If she wanted to run, he would just have to chase her. He went back out to the living room and placed the box down in front of her. Kyoko looked at the beautifully wrapped box then back at him with another puzzled expression on her face.
"I'm sorry it's so late but this is your white day gift. Since I was on location, I couldn't pick it up sooner when it was finished," he sheepishly apologized.
"Ehhhhh!" Kyoko exclaimed, "But I didn't give you chocolate, isn't that the rule?!"
"Yashiro-san usually takes care of return gifts but I wanted to choose yours personally. I'm not too sure about the rules since this is my first time giving."
Kyoko was surprised by his response. Was it okay for her to hope that she was unsettled all this time for no reason. "May I open it?" she asked and Ren nodded.
She carefully removed the beautiful washi paper from the box and wondered if he had wrapped it himself.
"Do you like the paper? I didn't wrap it but I chose the paper with you in mind," he added watching her remove the tape with care so as not to rip the green paper adorned with gold flakes, butterflies, and flowers. He had a feeling she would probably reuse it to make some other craft with it. She was talented like that.
Ren looked like an eager puppy waiting for her to open his gift. She ducked her head to hide her giggle because he looked just like Cain nii-san at the moment. When all the paper was removed, she slowly lifted the lid to the box. Sitting on a bed of blue velvet sat a silver bracelet with three very detailed charms. Ren made it a point not to mention that the bracelet was actually made out of platinum. If she knew the price she would definitely refuse it. He didn't want to make up some elaborate story like he did with Princess Rosa just so she would accept this from him. He was betting on her love for the gift to make her selfishly keep it for once.
She lifted the bracelet from the box and looked at the intricate detail of the charms. The first charm had the delicate features of a male fairy, wings and all. The other charm was of a princess in a long flowing gown wearing a tiara. Between the two charms hung a heart with blue crystals that reminded her of her corn stone. She wanted to cry again. He had obviously wanted to preserve her love of fairy tales with this gift. In lieu of crying, Kyoko gushed at the cuteness, at the beauty, at the detail, and then she thought about the price.
She looked up at Ren ready to scold him for buying something so extravagant when all she did was give him gelee made with cheap wine. Her senpai had such a look of contentment that she lost all passion to get angry.
"Thank you, Tsuruga-san. I will always cherish this gift." She held out the bracelet to him and lifted her wrist. He took the bracelet from her and wrapped it around her wrist, his fingers tingled as they grazed her smooth skin.
He sat there a moment and watched her lift her wrist to admire the bracelet as it caught the light. It's now or never Kuon!
"Mogami-san," he said, grabbing both her hands in his. "There's something important I need to share with you." Kyoko gulped nervously and looked at him willing herself not to pull her hands away from his. She could tell by the clamminess of his hands that whatever he had to say was making him nervous. "I don't want you to hate me. I couldn't bear it if you hated me but I still have to tell you, otherwise I, no, we can't move forward."
Dread filled Kyoko's entire body. Is this where he tells me we can't be friends anymore because of his love for that high school girl?
Ren released her hands wondering how to start this difficult conversation. He had replayed this moment in his mind several times yet here she was right in front of him and he was drawing a blank. He inhaled a shaky breath and then released it slowly. "I need some liquid courage!" he exclaimed, chickening out and disappearing into the kitchen leaving a dumbfounded Kyoko in his wake.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read and I hope you enjoyed!
The song used in here is called "Shooting Star" by Bag Raiders.Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 9: What Should I call You?
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would have found the courage to confess everything to Kyoko as soon as he returned.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko was puzzled at Ren's behavior as she listened to him move about the kitchen. What did he mean by liquid courage? How could he just suddenly leave me with such a cliffhanger? She sat there waiting for him to return admiring her new bracelet. He must have remembered my story about Corn. This whole night had been a dream come true. Many of her misunderstandings were cleared up without her even asking.
What could he possibly say that would make me end up hating him? She could only conclude that whatever he had to say was in regards to the girl he loved. She rubbed at the center of her chest to relieve the dull ache that started anew. To distract her from her depressing thoughts, Kyoko called her landlords to inform them of her plans for the night.
When she ended the call, Ren returned carrying a glass of liquor. "Liquid courage?" Kyoko mused out loud trying to break the tension. The grave look on his face made her gulp nervously. Was it that bad?
Ren had spent an extended amount of time in the kitchen trying to get his act together but his needless detour did nothing to ease his dread. I really am still a chicken! He sat down in front of her again and decided to just take the plunge. He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly, I will deal with the fallout later.
His haunted eyes locked with Kyoko's as he began. "You know that Tsuruga Ren is just a stage name, right?" She gave him a small nod with a confused expression. "My...my real name is..." He took a deep gulp finding his mouth suddenly dry. He looked at his full glass of alcohol with longing but didn't reach for it. He felt Kyoko brush her fingers on the back of his hand quickly sending tingles up his arm. He ignored his drink and looked back at her, urging him to continue. He took another deep breath before finding the strength to continue. "My name is Hizuri Ku-on. I came to Japan when I was 15, with the President's help!" He blurted out quickly before the words got stuck in his throat again. Ren could feel his cheeks heating and looked down at his hands in his lap completely embarrassed. That could have come out smoother, you idiot! He counted a few heartbeats before meeting her eyes again.
Kyoko was frozen in place by his sudden confession. Hizuri Kuon, Otousan's Kuon? All the conversations she had with her pseudo father clicked into place. The traits Kuu had listed to describe his son came flooding back into her memory. In her book, Ren met every one of those characteristics. She also recalled Ren's description of his father as being the macho hero type when he fixed her flower ring, that was Kuu. How did she fail to notice? The similarities were uncanny. I really am an idiot, she thought, biting her bottom lip to keep it from trembling.
She looked down at her hands curling them into the fabric of her pants. "So Kuu Otousan is your father?" She asked him in a shaky voice. Ren nodded in response with a remorseful expression. Kyoko suddenly felt like she was played a fool by both father and son. Tears sprung at the corner of her eyes which she brushed away refusing to feel sorry for herself. She didn't want to be in the room any more. She needed to go somewhere, anywhere, but here.
Ren noticed her distraught expression as she started to rise. He now wished he had those handcuffs. He had intended on shackling her to him until she heard him properly since she had the annoying habit of running away.
He grabbed her wrist and said in a solemn voice, "Please, Mogami-san. It wasn't my father's intention to deceive you nor mine. I made a promise with my parents when I left them. We were not to have any contact until I was ready to face them with my own power. In my father's own way he was honoring that promise. Please hear me out until the end."
Kyoko looked at his pleading face then sat back down with a huff. She tried to ignore the feelings his fingers wrapped around her wrist invoked within her. He made no attempt to release her but sighed with relief. "Thank you," he said softly.
Ren continued, "I was born in the United States, to Kuu and Juliena Hizuri. They showered me with so much love and affection that it was somewhat stifling." Kyoko winced reminded of her own loveless upbringing. Is he trying to pick a fight with me?
Ren noticed her expression but continued his story. "Although my parents loved me very much, they were rarely home because their successful careers kept them busy. I was often left alone with the servants as companions when my parents had to work late. It was lonely but it was always my life long dream to follow in my father's footsteps as an actor. I wanted to be great just like him."
Ren paused as memories of his past wafted through his mind. He stared at his glass again. Although he poured it to calm his nerves, he didn't drink it. He had to face her on his own. "As a child I was often bullied because of my ethnicity; part American, part Japanese, and part Russian. I was treated as an abomination by the other kids. I couldn't worry my parents with such trivial things, they were too busy as it was. I didn't want to burden them with any of my problems. I think that's where it all started, I just bottled everything up. I tried acting as a child but I was often scolded by the directors, as well as fellow actors and actresses, verbally and physically, for not living up to my father's name."
Kyoko gasped, how could adults be so cruel to a child? I may not have been loved but I was never physically abused.
"After a while it became clear to me that I was only getting the roles because of who my parents were, not because of my ability. I started believing all the things that the people around me were saying. That I was a disgrace to my parents, a monster due to my heritage, and only used my good looks to get ahead with zero talent. It wasn't until I met Rick that things started to change. He was my best friend even though my mild mannered behavior annoyed him. He told me to start defending myself and to quit being a chicken. He was older than me so I looked up to him like an older brother. He taught me the ketchup magic to make my Maui omurice taste better. Even back then I tried to cook the Maui omurice with chicken to conquer the coward in me but it still came out mazui. To think more than 7 years later my cooking of that dish still has not improved. Even with your magic, I made you fall victim to it."
Kyoko shuddered at the memory of when he last cooked that dish. It was after that car mishap during Dark Moon filming, it seemed as if "Death" was knocking on his door that night. She blushed as she remembered how they had sat there in this same spot, with their hands clasped over Princess Rosa hoping to bring him luck.
"It wasn't long after, that I started fighting back whenever I was bullied. I was spiraling out of control fast to the point where I was involved with gangs; fighting almost every night for the pleasure of it. It didn't matter that they surrendered or apologized, I was in it for the thrill,"Ren finished softly, looking at her nervously. Does she see me as a monster now?
Kyoko thought about those moments when Ren had lost himself in the pleasure of being BJ and the many incidences they had as the Heel siblings. She had put him in a precarious position with those thugs that were hitting on Setsu. She felt during those times that a dark presence had overcome him, so it was Kuon all along . Her face softened as she looked at Ren. She admired his strength and bravery for taking on such a challenging role even if it meant facing his past then refocused on his story.
"Word got around and thugs started seeking me out, even jealous actors, and guys with girlfriends that were infatuated with me started pursuing me to fight. I obliged all of them. It was a good outlet. I found it thrilling whenever I won, beating them to a bloody pulp was my forte," he admitted. There was no point trying to gloss over his actions at this point. She needed to know exactly the kind of man he was beneath his gentleman persona.
"Things with my parents were strained by then. They were so busy they had barely any time to notice what was going on with me. They even turned a blind eye to my wrong doings and started bailing me out of sticky situations. I know they thought they were helping but all it made me think was that they were embarrassed and trying to cover things up so they wouldn't look bad."
Kyoko interjected here. "Tsu, Tsu, Hii-zuri-san...errr I don't know what to call you now," she said quietly.
"Ren is fine," he said and thought sheepishly, or my love, love of my life, darling, sweetheart, babe; those were all good names too. Clearing his throat he scolded himself for being whimsical when this was serious business.
"Okay R-Ren-san, " she stuttered as her face turned crimson from calling her senpai so informally.
"Just Ren, please Kyoko." He was telling her his deepest and darkest secrets. He wanted to drop all honorifics.
Kyoko's brain short circuited for a few seconds as her mind wrapped around the way he had said her name. She always knew it would be bad for her heart if he said her name like that. "R-Ren," she finally managed. "I know I only spent a small amount of time with Otousan but when he talked about Kuon, ugh you, I didn't get the impression that he was ashamed of you. The way he talked and bragged about you made me think he was quite proud. I think he felt that he had let you down instead. I honestly thought his son, you, were dead from the way he talked."
Ren paused and thought about his parents. He left with Boss without even a proper goodbye to them. His first encounter with his father after six years was thanks to Kyoko. He smiled and nodded to Kyoko, which in turn made her smile. She was glad she was able to convey Otousan's feelings to his son.
He was getting to the hardest part and looked to her for reassurance. She nodded at him giving him the courage to continue. His hand was still wrapped around her wrist like an umbilical cord, her fast but steady pulse was soothing.
"Things changed drastically one night when I was 15, a bunch of thugs cornered me in an alley. I was outnumbered but like a mad man I fought my way through. I was enjoying the slaughter and fed off of their fear. Rick and his girlfriend Tina came looking for me. By then, I had already destroyed the guys except for the one squirming in my hands. I was distracted with the appearance of Rick and Tina that the guy wiggled loose and ran off knocking Tina down in the process."
Ren grew quiet and closed his eyes. He tried to continue but a sob escaped his lips instead. His whole body shook as silent tears slid down his face. Kyoko was at a loss on what to do. She had never seen Ren so vulnerable even at his lowest. She could only guess that something terrible happened that night. Since her wrist was now free, she grabbed both his hands and gave them a gentle squeeze reassuring him that she was here for him.
After a few minutes, he pulled himself together and continued, "Rick tried to stop me but my head was consumed with rage, all I saw was red. I crossed the street, chasing after the guy wanting only to finish him off. But Rick, Rick he...," Ren's voice cracked.
He started hyperventilating, the memory of that night was so fresh in his mind. He was fifteen again on that street, the loud squeal of brakes, the distinguishable thud as Rick's body collided with the car. Tina screaming, Murderer! The blood, so much blood, Rick's blood! Then the icy blackness claiming his body as Rick's lifeblood tried to drown him.
Kyoko watched in surprise as the strong man before her curled into a fetal position on the floor his hands covering his ears as sobs racked throughout his body. She did the first thing that came to her mind. She moved so that she could position, his head on her lap.
She stroked his hair and whispered calming words to him, "Sssh, you're okay. I'm here for you. You'll be okay. I promise..." She swiped at the tears on her face that were dripping onto Ren. She didn't know what could have happened to have made him feel so broken. She waited for him to calm down and absentmindedly started threading her fingers through his hair but his hand stopped her. She held his hand instead and occasionally brushed the tears from her own eyes.
She wept with him. She cried for the boy Kuon that was beaten down by society based on his race, for the lonely beautiful child who had low self esteem, for the 15 year old that had to defend himself from attackers, and for the grown man who had begged earlier not to be hated. She still had no idea what he was about to say before he was pulled into the darkness and left crying on his floor.
As the sobs slowly ebbed, Ren suddenly sat up and looked Kyoko in the eyes. With barely a whisper he said, "I killed him, I killed Rick. It’s my fault he’s dead."
Kyoko gasped, she was not expecting such a confession. He killed his best friend? No, no, no, there's no way , she thought, shaking her head in denial. Ren's expression convinced her otherwise. The gentle Ren couldn't possibly be a murderer but the teenager Kuon might have been.
She needed more information so she coaxed him to explain.
"Rick followed me as I ran after the guy trying to escape. He told me to stop but I couldn't let my prey get away. Rick was struck by a car while crossing the road." He looked at his hands that were facing palms up on his lap as if seeing something there. "There was so much blood, so much of Rick's blood. Tina kept screaming at me. 'Murderer!'" he told her whispering the last word.
Ren felt warm arms encircle him as he stared at his hands. He let himself sink into her floral embrace. He had no doubt that she was his salvation.
Kyoko finally understood what happened. This poor man has been beating himself up over something that was out of his control. He was young and acting out the way some teenagers do and his friend was an unfortunate victim of his behavior.
She let go of him to hold his face, stroking his cheeks with her thumbs hoping it was soothing. This once strong man looked so frail in her hands. She stroked his face until he was through avoiding her eyes and finally made eye contact. "I'm sure you may have heard this before but I can think of no other way of saying it. What happened that night wasn't entirely your fault. Sure if you weren't blinded by rage, Rick wouldn't have had to chase after you. But you weren't driving that car nor did you make Rick cross that street. He was a grown man, he should have looked both ways. It was unfair of Tina to accuse you like that. She was distraught so I'm sure out of fear and anger she looked to the only other person there to blame."
Ren's body sagged. What she said was true, his parents, therapists, and Lory had said similar words to him in the past but he refused to listen. Why did it feel so different hearing it from her?
"Thank you for trusting me and sharing your story with me," she said quietly with a warm smile. Ren's eyes widened as he digested her words. She wasn't looking at him in disgust. In fact, if he wasn't mistaken her face was filled with love and concern. His heart swelled with relief.
Ren asked, "You don't hate me or think I'm a monster?" Kyoko shook her head no, in awe at how insecure he sounded. She really did love him and was glad he could share his story with her. If only he loved her and not...
"I love you, Kyoko! I'm in love with you," Ren blurted out interrupting her thoughts. He had not wanted to confess like this but he was overcome with so much emotion he couldn't hold back anymore.
Kyoko stiffened at his words and dropped her hands from his face, her brain malfunctioned. Did she just imagine what he said? She sat there motionless with glazed eyes. Was she so stupid in love that she was now starting to hallucinate? Her angels were going haywire with delight inside her head while her grudges were taking a beating.
Her silence worried him but he couldn't take back the words. It was the truth and he always planned to tell her tonight. He reached out for her hand but she snatched it away. She finally shook her head clear and whispered, "Lies!"
He knew this would be her reaction. In her eyes, as LoveMe member number one, she probably couldn't believe him. He did not falter though, he was determined for her to understand. "It's the truth, I think I've been in love with you since I first met you."
This finally got a reaction out of her as if her brain finally started working again, she said, "You hated me when we first met, you threw me out of the agency." Ren sighed wearily, he forgot all about their rocky start.
He nodded his head unable to deny her words. "I admit at that time I was displeased with your half-hearted reasons for entering showbiz and then later to find out that all you wanted to do was get revenge on Fuwa. I didn't like the fact that you took something so important to me, to many people, and reduced it to something impure." Kyoko cringed, she figured as much. Ren who took acting seriously really did dislike her motives for wanting to become a celebrity. After, she had discovered her joy in acting she thought less and less about her grudge against Shotaro.
"But I was referring to the very first time we met," he clarified. Now, he had her thoroughly confused.
Instead of explaining further, he decided to just show her and reached up to tug at his hair. Kyoko watched in absolute horror as Ren's hair fell off. He's bald! she screamed internally. He pulled off the stocking cap from his head making golden locks tumble out. Her mind was on autopilot now watching every single move he made closely. Her eyes tracked his movement when he placed the wig then the cap on the table. They stayed glued to his hands as he ran his long fingers through his blonde hair. He has blonde hair?! was the one recurring thought running through Kyoko's mind at the moment until his hands changed direction. Her eyes shifted down when he pulled out a little case from his pocket. Ren had to concentrate as his trembling fingers struggled to unscrew the caps from the case. It was difficult to perform the simple task under Kyoko's heavy scrutiny. I don't think she's put two and two together yet. He kept his eyes downcast the whole time he was removing his contacts. When he was done, he blinked several times, took a deep breath, then lifted his head to gaze at her.
Kyoko inhaled sharply as she stared into the eyes she knew so vividly since she was a child. She had met him when they were kids playing by the river and then again briefly on Guam. The emerald eyes of her Fairy Prince stared back into her golden orbs looking at her apologetically. "Corn?" she whispered, breathing again as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. He looked at her sheepishly and nodded.
He sighed in relief when she smiled warmly at him. "You disappeared so suddenly. I was worried," she said as tears spilled down her cheeks. She buried her face in her hands. He was reaching out a hand to comfort her, when she suddenly jerked up. He felt an explosion of pain on the left side of his face as his head jerked to the right. "Fuck!" he exclaimed under his breath. His hand instantly reached up to cradle his injured cheek. I deserved that! By the time he looked up, she was already heading into the guest room.
Ren watched her retreating back until she disappeared into the room. He heard the door slam and the distinct click of the lock. Well at least she didn't leave me...hooray for small victories! He tried to smile but winced from the throbbing pain on the side of his face. He sighed heavily and stood to get an ice pack. Time for some damage control.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read. All I need is a straightforward confession out of Ren. I can't wait for Sensei to give us her version, maybe 2020 will be our year! XD
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 10: The Aftermath
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kuon would have reached out to his parents already.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko practically flew to the guest room seeking refuge. Oh my God! oh my God! oh my God! I hit him! The Demon Lord is going to kill me! She thought, rolling on the floor freaking out as tears streamed down her face.
She didn't know what had possessed her. One minute she was so happy to know that the man that had been by her side all this time, guiding her, was indeed her fairy prince. The next minute she felt like a frightened mother whose child had gone missing and was finally found. After the initial relief of finding said child, the anger from fear set in and she just instinctively slapped him.
How could he have kept this from her for over a year and their time in Guam? My first kiss was with Corn, with Ren. Earth swallow me whole please, I beg you! Why didn't he just tell me the truth then! He had heard her rattle things off about her Fairy Prince Corn and even laughed at her when she tried to use her stone to help him. All this time, no wonder he was able to confidently say Corn grew up to be a proper adult. If she thought about it with a level head, she knew exactly why he had kept it from her. They had both changed so much in the past ten years. Their pasts were complicated and just like him, she had things in her past that she wanted to remain hidden. It had to be difficult for him to come forward. Her issues seemed so insignificant compared to his now that she knew the important parts of his past. She at least had Sho to keep her company even if he was an arrogant brat but Corn seemed to have no one by his side until he met Rick and even then, that was short-lived.
Kyoko didn't know how to feel about Rick. He seemed to want to genuinely help Corn, but his help backfired and made him destructive instead. Did it make her a terrible person to think that Rick's death was necessary to lead Corn back to her? If I think of it in terms that it was fated, it doesn't sound so bad.
She would have been devastated if Kanae was killed due to some action of hers. She once again thought about how brave and strong Corn was at such a young age. If the roles were reversed, she wouldn't have been strong enough to do what he did.
Knock! Knock!
Kyoko stopped rolling on the floor and jerked her head up in fear from the knocks at the door. "Kyoko," he called softly. Her name coming from his lips was a soft caress to her ears making her heart pound erratically. She couldn't help but think that it sounded right.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts and told herself not to be ensnared by the sound of his voice. "I brought you an ice pack. Your hand hurts, right?" She inspected her hand which was red, swollen, and throbbing. Oh my god! If my hand looks like this, what about his face? I slapped his gorgeous face! What if he hates me now?
"I'll leave it out here. I'll be here when you're ready to face me again. Good night...I love you," he said, his footsteps retreating from the door.
Eh? Is that it? He's not angry with me?
She was so overwhelmed by the fact that he was Corn that she forgot he had confessed his love for her. She could hardly believe it, so that time on Guam when he said those words... It finally sunk in that it was her that he was talking about when he told Bo about the girl; four years younger and still in high school.
He loves me! I love him! She frowned at the revelation. They shared a mutual love so why did it feel so complicated. She wanted to yank open the bedroom door and tell him right away but something held her back, fear. She was scared but not of him. She knew he would never hurt her, at least not intentionally. Was she ready to take that leap with him? If things didn't go well, would she be able to recover from this heartbreak? She brought both her hands up and smacked each side of her face. She had to stop thinking that way. She couldn't let that one lousy experience she had with Shotaro dictate her life.
Yet, she was still hesitant to open that door. She needed to talk to someone; Kanae came to mind. She grabbed her phone and was about to make the call when she noticed the time. It was late. Kanae would be super angry with her if she ruined her beauty sleep. She sighed in resignation, she would have to work this out on her own. She should just go to sleep and start afresh in the morning.
She realized she hadn't planned on staying the night and didn't have any supplies with her. She didn't even dare to face him and ask for something to wear. She looked around the room hopelessly until her eyes landed on a bag sitting on the bed with a card attached that read, For Kyoko.
Curious, she approached the bag and peeked inside. Within the bag, she found a pair of pajamas, a new outfit and two sets of undergarments which made her blush. The items were all moderately priced. She was sure he left the tags on just for her to see. She crossed her arms over her chest, shuddering, as she wondered how he knew her sizes. I should just accept this gratefully and reimburse him later. He was doing her a favor and saving her from having to face him directly.
She walked into the adjoining bathroom and found a basket of toiletries with her name on another card. He had supplied her with everything she needed and even included some cosmetics. She was astonished that he had gone through the trouble and purchased these items for her. To top it all off he provided house slippers and a bathrobe for her use. How presumptuous of him? She wondered if he had Yashiro plant the seed in her mind to stay the night.
Kyoko turned on the tap to run a bath adding bath salts as the water flowed. While she was in the tub, she thought about everything that happened tonight. The dinner, the cake, and the gift were out of this world. There was no other girl, it had always been just her. He was her Corn, her fairy prince, it was hard to stay angry at him. Her thoughts strayed to his troubled past. How lonely he must have felt? She admired him for coming to a foreign country at such a young age trying to rebuild himself. The way she was now, she didn't deserve him; however, she planned on keeping him.
She stepped out of the bath once the water grew cold and toweled herself dry. The robe he gave her was a soft pink that had the word princess embroidered on the back of it. She giggled trying to imagine Ren buying all these girly things. She was sure the sales associates were practically swooning from his presence. Little did she know, he went in disguise as Kuon and excitedly told them they were presents for his girlfriend. She dressed in the PJs and had another laugh from the design on the shirt. She laid in bed, wide awake, knowing that he was right on the other side of that door.
She looked at her phone again and discovered a text from him, I'm sorry.
Unsure of how to respond, she typed honestly, I just need some time.
Her phone chimed immediately after she sent her response, I understand! She looked at the gap underneath the door and could see light shining from his room. She felt content knowing he was there.
Good night, my Corn. She typed her response quickly and hit send admonishing herself for being so bold as claiming him as her own.
She smiled radiantly her heart humming with happiness at his reply, Good night my Princess, I love you!
She giggled giddily pressing the phone to her mouth to suppress her sounds. What was with all this princess business? Her heart was so full of joy, she thought it would burst. She couldn't sleep. She scrolled through her gallery of treasures. She laughed softly holding her hand over her mouth at the image of catching him lip-sync today while cooking. The pictures she took were priceless. She scrolled through the few she caught of them as the Heel Siblings. Seeing them in character she realized they were so obnoxious as siblings. She felt sorry for the poor Japanese people that had to deal with them during that little stint. She stopped at one of her most prized possessions, the picture she captured of Ren sleeping. Her phone had made a shutter sound then too but she was fast enough not to get caught. Her eyes roamed over the entirety of his face. Although he looked peaceful, she could now recognize the lingering tension on his face.
He sighed deeply, resigned to leave the ice pack outside her door. He didn't want to leave things this way but he knew she needed some space right now. He went into his room to prepare for bed. He inspected his face in the bathroom mirror and cringed. His cheek sported her distinct handprint on the left side of his face. He caressed his bruise and like the masochist that he was, he smiled. She had marked him, again. He had no clue how he would explain this tomorrow when he reported for work. Hopefully, he could cover it up with make-up so it would look natural. Perhaps, Woods-san...er...Ten-san could work her magic on me after she dyes my hair back.
He turned on his music player before climbing into bed hoping some music could lull him to sleep. He grimaced as the song resonated with his current mood.
"By starlight I'll kiss you, And promise to be your one and only. I'll make you feel happy, And leave you to be lost in mine...My life has been empty, my life has been untrue, And does she really know, who I really am? Does she really know me at last..."
As the song played on, Kuon decided to send her an apology text in hopes that she would see it before going to bed. He stared at his phone, hoping, waiting, willing it to chime. He was startled when his phone vibrated in his hand. He exchanged a few texts with her and was satisfied with how things were left for the night. 'My Corn?' He read her last text over again and confirmed that she definitely used the word 'my.' That means she is claiming possession of me, doesn't it? He was floating in the clouds with happiness right now. Although he said he was going to get serious with her, he wasn't sure how exactly. He wished there was someone he could confide in. Rick had been that person back then but now he was gone thanks to him. He had never had to actively chase a girl before so he didn't want to screw it up.
He went through a mental checklist of any friends he felt close enough to call. He vetoed Yashiro immediately. He needed to talk to someone that knew his past; that criteria only left him with two choices, Boss and him…?
Kuon scrolled through his contacts on speed dial then stopped on the one that had always been there but never used since coming to this country. It shouldn't be a problem calling at this hour, right? By the third ring, he moved his thumb to disconnect the call but the other party picked up, "This is Kuu speaking!" Kuon's breath caught in his throat unable to speak for a moment.
"Hey! Look here, whoever this is, better start talking or I'm hanging up," his father said with an aggravated voice.
Kuon managed to find his voice and finally spoke up, "Hi, it's me."
Kuu was quiet for a few beats processing the voice he just heard on the phone. "Kuon, is that you, son? Has something happened?" Kuu's voice suddenly filled with panic and concern for his son. He was ecstatic that his son had personally called him but also very worried that he had called him.
"I'm fine, everything is fine...it's just...I didn't have anyone else to call."
"Tell me what happened! I'll do everything in my power to help you, I hope you know that. I'm always on your side son." Did he have a relapse? Do I need to consult my lawyer? I have to call Boss!
"It's not what you're thinking. It's just...I told her everything... You remember her right. The girl that acted out young Kuon."
"Kyoko-chan? By everything, do you mean...?
"Yes, everything."
"How did she take it?"
"Well, she's pissed! I have a mean bruise on my face to prove it."
"Ouch!"
"I'm not sure how to make it right. I love her and I want a future with her, forever, but I don't think she believes me. I know this is selfish of me to contact you out of the blue but you were the only one I wanted to talk to about this kind of thing. I'm sorry for bothering you with this."
Kuu withheld his squeal of delight. His son was being serious now and needed some fatherly advice. He was reaching out to him. Kuu cleared his throat, "Don't apologize. Don't ever hesitate to call me for anything son. But back to your problem, typically I'd say you need to give her space. I'm worried if you do that she may think you don't care. Your violent past is a bit scary so I wouldn't blame her if she turned tail and ran."
"Actually, she accepted that part of me just fine."
"Huh? So what's the problem?" Kuu asked confused.
"Remember that time I went to Kyoto with you when I was ten? I met her there while playing by the stream behind that large Ryokan. She thought I was a fairy prince and I let her believe it. When I met her again last year, ten years later, I came to find out that she was the same little girl from that time. I knew and never told her the truth about me. I've been lying yet not lying to her all this time."
"Wow, okay...let me think."
"That's not the worst part of it. We had a job overseas so I had to change back to my original appearance for my flight."
"Yeah, we met up by chance. I was so afraid of her learning my identity that I panicked! I pretended I was her fairy from that time instead of just telling her the truth!"
Kuu sighed wearily. This was all his fault. If only he had been more of a father to his son he wouldn't be so clueless about love right now. Kuon didn't need to hear his apologies or regrets right now. There would be time for that later.
"So she feels completely betrayed. You have to show her how honest and sincere you are in your affection. My advice is to shower her with love and attention; it worked for your mother. Kyoko-chan doesn't seem materialistic so any gifts you send need to be inexpensive and meaningful. Oh and the biggest thing to remember is that women are jealous creatures, even Kyoko-chan. She's an amazing actress so she can hide it better than others. Your persona Ren Tsuruga, dubbed co-star killer, may be your nemesis. You can no longer treat all women equally. You need to actively draw a line with other co-stars to let Kyoko-chan know that only she is special."
Kuon grimaced, his dad was right. The incident with Kana-san was glaring proof of his aloofness when it came to women. Kuon heard his mother's voice in the background as Kuu told her that Kuon was on the phone.
Julie let out a yelp and snatched the phone out of Kuu's hand. "Kuu, I'm never speaking to you again! How dare you hog the phone when Kuon is on the line!" He heard her admonish his father.
"Jules, please darling don't be like that. Please forgive me. I didn't intentionally keep him from you. Kuon needs some fatherly advice right now." Kuu pleaded to his wife.
"Kuon baby, are you there," Julie cooed to her son ignoring her husband's pleas.
Kuon cleared his throat his voice cracking from emotion overhearing his mother's voice after so many years, "I'm here mom. How are you?"
"I have to run out but I wanted you to know that I love you and I'm proud of you. Come home soon and bring my daughter with you, the doctor said I only have 6 more months to live. I want to see you both before I die," Julie lamented from the other end of the line.
Kuon chuckled; she had not changed at all. "I love you too, Mom," he said with a quivering voice. He missed her. Soon, Mom, I promise.
"I'm giving the phone back to Dad, so call us again, okay." She said quickly and reluctantly passed the phone back to Kuu. Her teary eyes rested on her husband's brimming with love and hope. She had so much more to say to her son, six years' worth to be exact, but she left things like this. It was enough that he reached out to them, she didn't want to overwhelm him. She felt it in her core that soon they would have their boy back in their lives and it would be all thanks to Kyoko.
Kuon thanked his Dad and ended the call. He felt like a weight had been lifted off of him after talking to his parents. After all these years of enduring his selfishness, they still accepted him unconditionally.
Hours ticked by, and still, he was unable to sleep. He got out of bed quietly and slipped into the kitchen for some water. Sleep had also eluded Kyoko as she tossed and turned on the comfortable bed. She heard him rustling in the kitchen and decided to get this over with.
"Corn?" she called out stepping into the dim-lit kitchen. Kyoko stopped short when she caught sight of him standing at the fridge with a bottle of water tipped up to his mouth. Kuon froze as his green eyes met with hers, he wasn't prepared to face her so soon.
He stood there shirtless with his pajama bottoms hanging low on his hips giving her an eyeful of his muscular torso and the deep ruts on his lower abdomen. Kyoko's mouth ran dry as she took in this gorgeous man with his blonde hair and his piercing green eyes.
Kuon stopped drinking when he heard her voice for fear of choking on the liquid. He ran his tongue slowly over his lips to catch the drips of water that remained there. Kyoko's eyes homed in on the movement at his mouth making her body tremble slightly. Her eyes raked down his body slowly, appreciating the wideness of his chest, the tightness of his abs and lingered at the top of his waistband.
Her eyes narrowed in scrutiny. She could just make out the light hair dotting his lower abdomen dipping lower into his pants. Would she have known if she had looked properly when she walked in on him in the shower as Setsu that his hair was a lighter shade down there? Her face bloomed into a dark shade of red when Kuon coughed to clear his throat. What was I doing? I'm such a pervert!
Kuon couldn't help blushing like a virgin on her wedding night. He watched Kyoko completely eye fuck him as her gaze roamed over his body. She probably had no idea she was doing it, but he was, unfortunately, experienced with women to recognize the hint of lust filling her golden eyes.
Kuon had half a mind to take her right then and there on his kitchen floor but the Ren half of him kept him in check. His dick hardened as her eyes slowly made its way down and stopped at his crotch. If the main lights were on, she could probably make out his hard-on and run screaming for her room. He was thankful for the soft glow of the stove light.
She looked so damn adorable in the pajamas he bought her. It was a tank top and pants set with Being a Princess is exhausting in glitter print splashed across the front. He could tell she wasn't wearing a bra, her erect nipples were straining against the fabric. Is she trying to seduce me?
"Corn, I'm sorry about earlier, your face, does it hurt?" She asked quietly looking down at her feet. She was worried he wouldn't love her anymore.
"Yes, it does! You must have been very angry! How will you take responsibility?" he asked in a teasing voice. Her head snapped up to explain when she saw the humor and mischief twinkling in his eyes. Kuon continued seriously, "I wasn't lying either whether I'm Ren, Kuon or Corn, I would always love only you Kyoko."
"Corn I…" She began, but he interrupted her. "You don't have to say anything, you don't even have to respond to my feelings right now." He slowly stalked towards her." I just wanted you to know that I'm not backing down. I won't hand you over to anyone. I want to be the only man that occupies your mind and your heart. I won't lose to Fuwa."
Kyoko's eyes widened at the mention of Fuwa breaking the intense spell his words before it had cast. She shifted her eyes breaking contact, her lips trembled as tears threatened to spill from the corner of her eyes. Kuon looked at her with concern and asked, "What is it?"
"I'm impure!" she wailed at him as the first droplets of tears fell from her eyes.
It was Kuon's turn to look upon her with surprise as he halted his steps. What do you mean?! His mind roared. Are you and Fuwa already together?! Did that kiss mean something?! He was mere centimeters from her trying desperately to control his anger and conceal his pain. With every ounce of control he could muster he asked her in a distant voice, "Tell me?"
Kyoko panicked as she watched the range of emotion flitter across his face and settle into a mask of the demon lord. "I'm unclean! He soiled me! That's why you can't love me! If only you know… I don't deserve you," she gushed tearfully. Ren was working overtime to keep his cool whilst Kuon wanted to punch a fucking wall in.
He leaned heavily on Ren to remain calm, the last thing he needed to do was scare her away from him. He tried to think with a level head willing his mind to not think the worst. His body remained rigidly unable to physically replicate the calm in his mind and repeated quietly, "Tell me!"
In tears, Kyoko broke down and told him. "It was the night my mother denied my very existence on public television….before you came to me in the park. He…Shotaro…he…"
"What did he do to you?" he asked feeling the last remnants of control slipping. "He kissed me! I didn't initiate it. He did it on his own and I wanted to vomit. I failed you, I let my guard down! I'm so disgusting," she wailed in despair shuddering at the thought of that kiss.
The tension in his body evaporated immediately and was replaced with laughter. I'm such an idiot, of course, she would think that a stolen kiss from that guy was the end of the world for her. How could his thoughts turn so dark so fast? He still wanted to break Fuwa's neck for his transgression against her. Still chuckling, he looked at her lovingly. She was still his Kyoko-chan, so pure, so innocent. He had feared that he would taint her with his darkness but looking at her now, he knew in his heart that her light would never dim.
Kyoko scolded him, beating his chest with her "delicate" fists.
"What is so funny Corn?! My chastity is at stake because I broke the actor's rule of the heart!"
Kuon grabbed her hands to stop her from hitting him, she was starting to hurt him. She had no idea how strong a punch she packed. Holding her hands against his chest, he leaned his body into her, pinning her between him and the wall. "Show me where Fuwa kissed you," he demanded, the Emperor of the Night taking over.
She didn't realize she was unconsciously backing up until her back touched the wall behind her. Her body came alive as he pitted his body against hers. Every fiber of her being that was pressed against his body was hummed with delight. Her nipples grazing against his nude chest hardened painfully. She felt a new sensation tingling between her legs and dampness pooling in her underwear. She felt something hard pressing into the lower part of her abdomen and willed herself not to think about it. She focused on answering his question his smoldering green eyes rendered her speech incoherent. With her breathing shallow, she was able to restore motor functions to her hand and point to her lips. She licked her lips in anticipation unaware that her little action was sending him over the edge. He leaned down to brush his lips against hers, barely a whisper of a kiss.
An electric shock sparked between their lips making Kuon jump back as if suddenly burned. Regaining his senses, he ushered her to bed. She went to her room a little disappointed but happy he wasn't angry with her.
"Good night, Kyoko. Sweet dreams," he said placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Good night, Corn," she said with a shy smile before closing the door behind her. In their respective rooms, Kyoko fell asleep instantly. Kuon, on the other hand, tossed and turned into the wee hours of the morning.
Notes:
Thank you for reading everyone, I hope you enjoyed it! Bwahahaha I had to share my fanart for this chapter and that unnecessary bulge! I'm such a perv.
The song Ren played was "Starlight" by the Smashing Pumpkins.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 11: Small Victories
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, the important people would know about Kimiko's crime against Kyoko.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
For the first time since Rick's death, Ren woke up refreshed, though he only managed a few hours of shut-eye. He felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His thoughts wandered to the girl sleeping in the room across the hall. Her actions last night definitely meant something, didn't it?
Surely no woman could look at a man like that unless she felt something for him, be it lust or love. He really hoped the latter was the result of the first. Then again, he could be reading too much into it. Any healthy woman would have responded that way with a half-naked man in their proximity, right? She just felt so right pressed against him.
His whole body hummed with the need of wanting her. He was glad the static electricity that sparked between them had shocked him back to his senses. If not, he wasn't sure what he would have done. He needed to work on his self-control; otherwise, he might scare her off.
He got out of bed to start his morning routine. He did some plyometric exercises and topped it off with his usual cold shower.
Yashiro had texted him and said he would arrive in two hours. The President had scheduled an impromptu meeting with them. Ren assumed the President was just trying to check up on them to see how last night played out.
He finished getting ready for the day before waking Kyoko. He wanted to let her sleep a while longer after her trying night. When he was ready, he went out to make coffee. He paused outside of her room when he heard strange sounds coming from the door.
Curiously, he pressed his ear to the door. Moaning? Ren blushed slightly. You're imagining things! He pulled back from the door in shock when he heard it was she doing in there? Was she having a nightmare or was she…? He shook his head quickly to keep the perverted thoughts at bay. He didn't want to have to take another cold shower. He was tempted to open the door but restrained himself and proceeded to the kitchen.
...
She let out an erotic moan while her fingers delved into his silky blonde locks and kneaded his scalp. She arched her back from the intense pleasure he assaulted on her body. She whimpered as his long graceful fingers slid slowly in and out of her core her hips rising in perfect timing wanting more. 'God, his tongue!' His delightful and torturous tongue continued to flick over her clit sending her to new heights. He puckered his lips and sucked on her bud causing her to whimper and writhe beneath him.
He chuckled deeply at her reaction. The soft caress of his cool breath on her heated skin sent shockwaves throughout her body. She tilted her head down to look at him. Her golden orbs, dark from lust, held on to his mischievous pair of gemstones. She bit down on her lower lip, watching him watch her, as his mouth and tongue worked their magic on her body. Keeping his eyes on her, he reached his free hand up to caress her breast. His hand squeezed her mound gently while his thumb traced circles over her hardened nipple. She threw her head back and gripped the silk sheets desperate for an anchor. She felt like she would take flight from the new sensations his hands invoked in her. He increased his movements sensing she was close to her climax. Her voice rose and her breath quickened as pressure built up in the pit of her stomach. "Yes, oh yes," she cried out in ecstasy as she came.
Kyoko blinked her eyes open. She was startled to find one hand in her pants and the other fondling her breast. "Ehhhhhhhh!" She screeched, her face instantly heating up to a deep crimson. What in the world was I doing in my sleep? She pulled her hand out of her pants and found them sticky from her bodily secretions. How? How? How is this possible? I'm a pure Japanese maiden! There's no way I would know about something like that. Her face grew dark as she recalled eavesdropping on Shotaro and his friends at the Ryokan. One friend had boasted about performing such acts with his girlfriend while the other boys cheered him on. Grrr! That stupid ShoBaka! At the time, she couldn't imagine what they were talking about but now she understood. The way he licked his lips last night and the warmth he invoked within her as he pressed his body against hers was enough to conjure such an erotic dream from deep within her subconscious.
"Kyoko, is everything alright?" Ren called from the other side of the door.
"Ah! Yes, Corn, I'm fine," she said, burying her crimson-colored face into the pillow. There's no way he could ever find out about her dream. He would probably think she was a shameless woman. It was all his fault too. Why did he have to be so damn good looking and after last night... How can I face him? Her heart pounded at the memory of last night. Her body had come alive when he pressed against her. She knew she should have run away but she was too intrigued by the new feelings stirring within her.
"Yashiro-san will be here in less than two hours so please get ready and I'll make us some breakfast," Ren called from the other side of the door. He wasn't sure how long she needed to prepare herself; therefore, he wanted to make sure she had ample time.
"Thank you, Corn! I will be out soon." She scrambled out of bed and headed for the bathroom to take a shower. Despite her embarrassment, she was still eager to see him. When she was through with her shower, she dried her hair and tried on the new outfit he had gifted her last night. She stood nervously in front of the mirror and surveyed herself. The outfit was simple yet feminine consisting of a pair of dark skinny jeans that fit her like a glove and hugged her curves in all the right places. The top was a tiered spaghetti strap in a soft canary yellow with a matching cardigan in case she became cold.
She went back into the bathroom and gingerly touched the little high-end containers of face products and cosmetics. Her inner princess was dying to use the items on herself but the frugal, more logical Kyoko was hesitating. They are a gift for you. If you don't use it some other woman will! A hint of jealousy surfaced within her. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and took a deep breath. She hastily opened the glass bottle of serum before she could change her mind and spread the product on her fingers. She applied the expensive cream sparingly all over her face and neck. All it took was that first step for her to graciously accept his gifts. She excitedly applied moisturizer then moved on to the cosmetics. She smiled at herself after applying the final coat of mascara. She walked out of the bathroom fully satisfied with her overall look; Princess Rosa and her new charm bracelet were her only accessories.
When she was done she took one last glimpse at herself in the mirror, staring back at her was a hopeful girl with bright and excited eyes. Her outfit triggered memories of the Dark Moon party when Kijima had dressed her up that night. Ren had greeted her with his gentleman smile when she walked in on the arm of their co-star. She was unsure how she could have angered him but he seemed okay by the time of their interview. Could he have been jealous then? She wondered incredulously. What did he say again? She tapped her finger on her chin deep in thought. Something along the lines of if a man buys a woman clothes, it's because he wants something in return. Her face paled as she recalled that whole conversation before their interview; he lectured her that night and yet purchased everything she was wearing today down to her skivvies. Does this mean he wants THAT from me? Kyoko sighed, her thoughts returning to that night. She had channeled Natsu then but had failed miserably when the Emperor turned the tables on her. She wasn't able to handle him and the words he spoke afterward in apology only made her heartache. What does he see in me?
She had resigned herself to quietly nurture her feelings for him but his confession threw all her plans out the window. She had no idea how to face him now in the bright of day. He had reassured her that the one he loved was her; she couldn't help but have doubts. He was an amazing man that could have any woman of his choosing; why would he settle for me? She shook off all those negative thoughts, I have to give him a chance. She took a deep breath, opened the bedroom door and wandered into the kitchen.
"Good Morning," he greeted with a warm smile. Kyoko smiled at him awkwardly, her mind running on slow-mo as a result of his smile directed at her. He took advantage of her hesitation and leaned down to give her a peck on the cheek. She stood in a daze, blushing, as she reached her hand up slowly to trace the spot where his lips just touched.
Ren gazed at her, contemplating whether or not he should question her about the strange noises he heard coming from her room. He decided it was best to keep that to himself and instead admired her person. She looked dazzling in the outfit he chose for her. He frowned internally, I'm regretting those jeans though. They were way too tight for his comfort. He was going to have a hard time keeping the predators off of her.
Ren returned to the stove dressed for the day in designer jeans and a T-shirt. She was a bit disappointed to see that he had his wig and contacts in place. He was no longer in his Fairy Prince form but her Senpai was still so yummy too.
"I hope you like eggs and toast because that's all I can manage," he said with a laugh turning towards her. She gasped, with the angle and light just right, she could see the extent of the bruise she left on his face.
"Corn…err…R-Ren-san," she began.
"If it's just us you can call me Corn or Kuon but in public call me Ren, no honorifics okay," he said interrupting her. Kyoko nodded her agreement.
"Corn," she said picking the name that gave her the least anxiety and concentrated on their current problem. "What are we going to do about your face? You can't go out in public like that! Would you be open to putting some of my makeup on it?" she asked brightly. As an actor, he should be used to wearing some. Thanks to his face crisis, she found herself talking to him so naturally.
"That sounds like a good idea. I was planning on asking Woods-san if she could do something about it but I didn't have a solution on what to do before then...It's not so bad" he reassured her seeing her face contort with worry.
Kyoko cringed, I'm causing problems again. What if he gets in trouble with work? "I'll get my bag," she said, bolting to retrieve her bag. When she returned, she took her seat and thanked him while he set down her plate. Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, he kissed her crown inhaling the fragrance of her hair. He watched her blush slightly but not object as he sat next to her with his plate.
When they finished eating, she tended to his face. She leaned in closer for a better look, her fingers were gentle on his chin making his skin tingle as she tilted his head to and fro, dabbing concealer on the affected area. Ren closed his eyes in hopes to shut off the sight of her pink little tongue tucked between her lips as she concentrated on her task. His loss of sight only managed to heighten his other senses making him inhale deeply of her flowery scent.
With his eyes closed, Kyoko took the opportunity to check him out. How could this man have such flawless skin? Not a single mole or blemish dotted his skin. She cursed the Gods for being so unfair. She pursed her lips in dissatisfaction, to her it was still noticeable and another layer would only make it stand out more. “That’s the best I can do, I’m sorry. It will have to do until Muse-sama can cast her magic spell on it.”
She inhaled sharply as Ren opened his eyes slowly making contact with hers. Even brown, his eyes reminded her of her dream. Unable to hold his gaze, her eyes drifted to his full sensuous lips. Lips that she knew from the kiss they shared in Guam to be soft and sweet. What would it be like to kiss them again? She watched his lips tilt into a knowing smirk. She turned her head quickly to tidy up her makeup so he wouldn’t see her blushing. I’m becoming a pervert! It was because of last night, those images just carried over into her subconscious. Ren chuckled, pleased to finally see her affected by him; his inner self did a victory dance as she scurried off. He busied himself by cleaning up their dishes.
When she returned, she thanked him for all the stuff he bought. “Please, let me compensate you for the trouble!” She told him settling in beside him to help clean. Together they got the last of it done quickly.
“No, they are gifts,” he said flat out refusing her money. Kyoko tried to protest but he only shook his head again. “I have a compromise, how about you leave everything here for the next time you stay over.” Kyoko’s cheeks flushed red at the thought that there would be a next time from now on. Inner Ren shouted in triumph when she remained silent and didn't argue.
“Yashiro-san should be here in half an hour. The President wants to meet with us this morning,” he told her hanging up the dish towel.
Yashiro’s name reminded her that she had to tell him about the Kimiko incident. “Um Corn, there’s something I need to tell you,” she said her mood darkening.
Ren glanced down at her with a confused expression. What is with her ominous tone?
Kyoko took her seat before continuing, she was trembling from the memory of the incident and didn’t trust her legs. “Please don’t be angry for keeping this from you. It was all due to my misunderstanding that kept me from speaking up sooner. I was involved in something after the Sacred Lotus audition...with Morizumi Kimiko-san,” she said looking down at her hands and entwining her fingers nervously.
Morizumi-san? What happened? Why didn’t Yashiro tell me! Ren waited patiently for her to find the words to continue. His experience working with Kimiko wasn’t pleasant; he could only wonder what the girl did to his Kyoko. He felt uneasy.
"The reason the part for Momiji was re-auditioned was that the previous actress had an unfortunate accident. I happen to know this actress so when she heard I was auditioning for the part she warned me, well more her butlers, warned me. According to them, it was Morizumi-san that caused her accident but they had no proof. Morizumi-san thought she had the role clinched as the understudy but the other actress' family is powerful and the largest sponsor for the film so they pressured Producer Kuresaki into holding another audition. As you know, I was given the part but Morizumi-san had other plans. When Yashiro and I were eating..." she faltered.
Kyoko shrunk in her seat and began stuttering with her grudges slowly appearing feeding off the energy of the emerging Demon Lord. "Y-you s-see. I w-went to the restroom while Yashiro-san waited f-for me. O-on my way back I was taken by surprise.” This is Corn! There’s no need to fear him!
Her nerves finally settled after taking a deep breath but her grudges continued to swirl in anticipation. “I was taken by surprise by Morizumi-san and her manager. They drugged and blindfolded me. If Yashiro had not found me in time, I would probably be laying in a hospital bed right now after they tried to throw me from a balcony."
Kyoko closed her eyes to the brewing storm before her. Ren erupted the only way he could without completely scaring her. He let out several expletives in English under his breath. He paced the kitchen as he tried to control his rage all the while cursing Kimiko. Kyoko could make out some of his mutterings, "…kill that fuckin' bitch…ring her damn fuckin’ neck…and that damn Yashiro!"
Kyoko tried to contain her smile. She watched him struggle to withhold his anger for fear of scaring her. She could hear and understand some of what he was saying even though he was doing so quietly. They cussed like sailors as the Heel siblings but she guessed British cursing differed somewhat from American cursing. His American accent was quite adorable even while raving. She was actually relieved, how could she have thought this man was scary when he tried hard not to be so in front of her. Now that she knew how much of his emotions he suppressed due to Kuon, she was no longer afraid. She was glad he felt comfortable with her to let her see all his faces.
Kyoko said hurriedly, "I'm so sorry Corn if I wasn't such an idiot this would have never happened. I was never in real danger actually; I was just used as bait. It turned out that the actress before had a hunch that Morizumi-san wasn’t finished with me. She monitored the situation and caught the whole act on video. She needed evidence against Morizumi-san. We all came to an agreement that Morizumi-san was to no longer work in show biz and we would keep our mouths shut in return. If she breaks her promise, then everything will go public.
Ren was slowly calming down slightly comforted by her words. He was still quite upset that things could have ended badly.
"I'm sorry Corn, I should have told you sooner. Due to my own misunderstanding, I thought I was doing you a favor by keeping quiet," she said quietly.
He turned towards her, his anger finally reigned in. "What was the misunderstanding?"
She squirmed in her seat unable to meet his gaze. “I thought you and Morizumi-san were in a secret relationship because of her promise ring. I wanted to spare your feelings for the woman you loved.”
Ren balked at the insult, "How could you think I'd feel anything for that viper?"
“I’m so sorry, please forgive me! It was my misunderstanding.” She pleaded earnestly holding her hands up in prayer and bowing her head.
Ren knelt down before her taking her hands in his, "I'm sorry Kyoko. I should have been there with you. I should have been there to protect you. My thoughts were a little cloudy that evening after my meeting with the President. I had every intention of meeting up with you as soon as I returned but there was a misunderstanding on my part. Because of my stupidity, I was convinced to have a drink with Kajima to unwind. If I had been with you instead, Kana-san would never have kissed me."
"What?!" Kyoko gasped, pulling her hands out of his grip a fleeting moment of hurt flashing in her eyes. Ren had caught it. It was the same look she had yesterday when he put the flower ring on her hand. He now understood his father’s warning. If he had not been staring at her so intently he would have not have seen it; she was good at hiding her true feelings.
Of course, there were women throwing themselves at him, he was Tsuruga friggin’ Ren, after all, she thought bitterly trying to ease the pain in her heart.
Ren held her hands again and leaned his forehead to hers. "Please don't be hurt. It meant nothing to me," he said begging. "Because of my carelessness, she caught me off guard. No one has ever dared been so bold with me. I now understand how you felt when Fuwa did it to you...twice."
He knew he was being sly by throwing Sho in her face but he needed her to understand that the kiss was unwanted on his end. She bristled as she recollected Shotaro's forced kisses. The hurt and anger she felt slowly dissipated after understanding finally seeped in. He too has such horrible experiences. She gave him a weak smile. If I accept him would this be a common occurrence in our lives? Am I willing to let him go for something so inconsequential? No, contrary to what I told the President, I would never be able to smile and wish him happiness with another woman.
“Shit!” he cursed as his phone chimed. Their manager had arrived. He stood reluctantly and pulled her up in the process. “I want to continue talking to you about this but we have to get going.”
“I understand. I’m fine already,” she said hugging his waist. She let go much too quickly for his taste and rushed out to get her shoes and bag.
...
Yashiro stood by the car as his favorite couple exited the elevator. His inner fangirl squealed in delight. They look so good next to each other.
"Ren what happened to your fa…" his unfinished inquiry was cut off by Ren's fierce glare. Yashiro recoiled and looked to Kyoko who was bowing repeatedly in apology.
The bruise was faint but he had noticed. Is he wearing make-up? That’s not the issue here right now! Did he actually try to put the moves on her that she had to fight back? Ren how could you to such a sweet and innocent girl! inner Yashiro screamed. This was all his fault he was the one that suggested she stay the night.
"Yashiro-san, I wish you would stop looking at me in the rearview mirror like I’m some sort of lecher," Ren said flashing him his gentleman smile. Yashiro averted his eyes forward focusing on the road.
"By the way," Ren continued in his deadly tone, "Why did you not inform anyone about Kyoko's incident with Morizumi-san?"
Yashiro locked eyes with Ren's in the mirror and responded in an equally serious voice, "By anyone, you are in fact referring to yourself right?" Ren’s reflection flinched in surprise as his manager hit the nail on the head. "I left the decision to tell you to Kyoko-chan. As her manager, it is my duty to not inform anyone of her private matters and that includes you."
Kyoko sat quietly. She was upset that her carelessness had caused this strife between these two friends. Ren felt her unease and brushed the back of his hand against hers so their knuckles grazed slightly. A slight blush marred her cheeks as the physical contact soothed her. Inner Ren did a fist pump, congratulating himself on his small victory when she didn’t pull her hand away.
Ren let out an internal sigh. Yashiro-san was right, it wasn't his place. I understand why she didn’t tell me. He was mainly upset with himself for having once again failed to protect her.
Yashiro continued, "For your information, although we had it settled between Morizumi-san, Koenji-san, and Kyoko-chan, I could not withhold this information from the President. It was decided that If I am unable to stand by Kyoko-chan's side, Ruto-san would fill in from the shadows. Kyoko looked up in surprise by Yashiro’s declaration. She had no idea they had gone to such extent for her sake, a nobody like me. "Do you think I would have just dropped her off so casually yesterday if I wasn't confident that she would be safe. Please have more faith in your Manager," Yashiro said as he pushed up his glasses.
Ren gave Yashiro's reflection a curt nod. He was glad more precautions were being taken for her safety. He hated that he couldn't be by her side all the time but he knew he could trust them to watch over her.
Notes:
Thank you for your patience everyone. I hope you enjoyed. I was quite annoyed with Yashiro when he just nonchalantly drops Kyoko off at the set as if she wasn't almost murdered the night before so I had to do something about that...LOL. I know I'm slacking on updates but if you can't wait this is up to 103 chaps on FF.net.
I got an assist from besma0003 on this chapter. If you aren't reading her SB AU (Under the Rain) on FF.net, you're missing out.
Until next time, Ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 12: Doki Doki
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kanae would always look out for her bestie!
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
While walking through the parking garage of LME, Yashiro tried to discreetly get Ren's attention without alerting Kyoko. Kyoko watched from the corner of her eye as he whispered to Ren. She couldn't hear what was exchanged but Ren nodded to him grimly in understanding. Kyoko was curious to know what they were discussing but figured Ren would tell her in time.
Once in the building, Yashiro excused himself to go to his office while Ren and Kyoko headed up to meet with the President. Aside from greeting passersby, they walked in relative silence. Both were unaware of the gossip surrounding them.
Ren was deep in thought wondering if this new revelation would do too much damage to the little progress he had made with Kyoko. His day had been going great so far, he only hoped Kyoko would still understand when he had a chance to talk to her about it.
Kyoko was oblivious to her companion's inner turmoil and was lost in her thoughts. Am I expected to act differently around him now? Wait! Are we even dating? I haven't told him about my feelings yet! He told me he wasn't expecting an answer right away, so maybe we aren't dating! Maybe we're still the same… but how can that possibly when I know his feelings! Ahhhh! I don't know! I don't want to jump to conclusions anymore. I should wait! Yes, that's what I'll do. I'll just wait and see! I'll try to act like myself for now! But how?! The man I love reciprocates my feelings! It's crazy! Everything has changed! There's no way of going back to our senpai/kohai relationship anymore...
As they rounded the corner on the President's floor, a lone figure standing in the hall startled them out of their thoughts. Kyoko's eyes lit up with glee, "Mooooookoooo –san" she exclaimed and accelerated her pace towards her best friend launching for a hug attack.
Kanae easily sidestepped her friend's attack and stalked straight up to Ren. The angry ice queen, shoved a magazine into his chest, "Mo! You Asshole! Explain this now! If I'm not satisfied with your answer you can just forget about her."
Ren was not expecting this confrontation so soon but was not fazed by her anger since Yashiro had warned him. She had every right to be mad. The pictures contained in this tabloid were evidence of his illicit affair with that actress. He looked down at the article and winced making Kyoko curious. Ren didn't try to hide what was in the magazine, she deserved to know. The headline and content splashed sordid details supposedly about himself; True Colors, Playboy, Love triangle: Which one is he dating?
There were three pictures in total attached to the article. The first one was of Kana kissing Ren inside the club the other night. The night club's name wasn't explicitly mentioned but anyone that frequented the establishment would recognize the interior. Their reputation would take a hit from this article. The place prided itself on its security and privacy to prevent these issues from occurring, which was a big draw to their VIP clientele.
Looking at the picture, it was clear from his body language that Ren was caught off guard by the woman. The next picture showed Ren with his gentleman smile plastered on his face as he held the door open to her cab. Even offended, he maintained his composure and played the nice guy. Those closest to him would know that was Tsuruga Ren's angry face.
The third picture on the page was larger than the rest. It was an image of him with Kyoko having lunch together at the LME cafe, only yesterday. He looked completely smitten, fully engaged in their conversation while she was her adorable self animatedly talking to him. He knew exactly who was responsible for this picture. He would ask the culprit himself for a copy of the original and hold on to this magazine for his secret collection. It was their first tabloid together after all.
Kanae looked between the pair, if Kyoko was upset by the pictures she barely showed it but Ren seemed uneasy. She stared at Kyoko again, her friend didn't give any hint to being hurt by this information. She already knows! Kanae already concluded that the actress kissed him and not the other way around judging by his posture and the surprised look in his eyes. She wanted to hear him deny it from his lips.
"Kotonami-san, I assure you that this kiss was not initiated by me. I am deeply in love and devoted to only Kyoko," Ren admitted easily with a radiant smile. Kyoko's brain short-circuited as her face filled with hot blood. She forgot how to breathe.
Kanae was taken aback by his confession, she had not expected such a straightforward answer. She looked over at her friend who was now turning blue from lack of oxygen, "Mo! Breathe before you faint. I'm not giving you mouth to mouth, though it seems like this man would gladly volunteer." Kyoko gasped for air.
"It seems like you told her everything properly," Kanae said narrowing her eyes at the actor. Ren nodded in reply.
"Hmmph, I'm still keeping my katana sharp. Don't screw it up!" she threatened him with a glint in her eye. Ren gulped. Kanae whirled on her heel and walked away without saying another word. She ignored Kyoko's pleas to come back and waved over her shoulder.
Ren watched Kyoko take another glance at the picture. Even though she accepted his explanation, it had to still bother her to see it with her own eyes. I would be going insane if her kiss with Sho was publicized to all of Japan.
"Kyoko, I'm very sorr-," he started. Why? Why did this have to happen right now? Did Kusunoki-san plan this? That club was supposed to be free of paparazzi!
"You don't have to apologize again. I already understand," she said with a weak smile. Kyoko couldn't help comparing herself to the actress, she was gorgeous! She looked like the kind of woman that would compliment Ren. Why is he in love with me? I'm so plain and boring compared to this woman.
Without another word, she started walking towards the President's office. Ren glanced around ensuring the hall was empty. He took a few quick steps after her receding figure and wrapped his arms around her from behind. She let out a surprised yelp and felt her heartbeat, Doki Doki. All her insecurities evaporated as he whispered into her ear.
"I love you. You're the one I want. Please forgive me. I won't let it happen again…."
Her face turned red and her body trembled as his lips and breath brushed against her ear. She was glad he couldn't see her face, she was melting.
A cough from behind broke his spell making them jump apart. Ruto, the President's assistant, stood behind them dressed in a long-tailed tuxedo and top hat. Where the heck did he come from, they wondered. Just then some employees of LME turned the corner towards the other hall. Had he done that for their sake? Ruto walked forward and opened the President's door.
The President's office was transformed into an Opera house. The lights went out! Ren instinctively reached out his hand to grasp Kyoko's. A spotlight blasted the darkness and shone down upon them. Ren and Kyoko instinctively raised their free hands to shield their eyes from the offending light. The light slinked away from them, crossed the room and landed on the heavy red velvet curtains at the front. They spread open to reveal a small stage where a lone figure stood in a dramatic pose. They could only guess that it was the President since their eyes were having trouble adjusting after that light exposure. He wore a tuxedo with a cape and had a white porcelain mask covering half of his face. It was easy to guess today's theme, The Phantom of the Opera.
"Ren, Mogami-kun, good morning! Come my children have a seat," he said, flaring his cape to point to the red upholstered chairs in front of the stage.
The main lights came back on making Kyoko snatch her hand out of Ren's. She flushed red but quickly took her seat.
Ren sighed and followed after her. What does he have planned now?
"First, about last night," he inquired, looking at Ren. He noticed the faint bruise on the boy's face but said nothing. Ren just nodded in answer.
Kyoko squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. Last night? Who is this man? How does he know something happened last night? She instinctively prayed that the President didn't interrogate her right there in front of Ren.
Despite Kyoko's quick action, Lory saw how close they were when they walked in. He determined they would need to figure things out for themselves and let it be. Ren and Kyoko were relieved that Lory didn't dwell on the topic.
"Okay, next order of business," he held up the magazine opened to Ren's scandal page. Usually, Lory preferred to treat his children's issues independently but since this involved both of them he thought it would be fine.
Ren groaned, "Boss, I was accosted by Kusunoki-san! She took my lips without my permission!"
"Oi Oi, don't squeal like a high school girl who had her first kiss stolen. It's unbecoming of Japan's most desirable man," Lory said shrewdly. This boy's act as Tsuruga Ren had everyone fooled. He had never been in a romantic relationship since he came to Japan and before that, he had never fully invested himself, emotionally, in any of his relationships as a teen.
Kyoko giggled. Ren looked at her in shock then pouted while folding his arms over his chest. Lory cocked his eyebrow noting how well Kyoko was taking this information. It ruined his fun. He was hoping to witness first-hand the various emotions between these two love birds. Ren must have told her in advance.
"Kusunoki-kun already made her statement. She claims that she saw her opportunity and took it. What were her words...oh yes…you were just so adorable, like a lost puppy, but nothing further was going on with you two. You just have to make your statement along the same lines… I'm curious Ren, why did you look like a lost puppy to her? You're usually so good at masking your feelings from the world."
Ren glared at him. "You know why Boss," he said glancing in Kyoko's direction. It was his fault for showing him that picture of Kyoko with Fuwa. He almost lost his nerve to confess to her because of it.
"Well nonetheless, the problem is the picture of you two." They both looked at the picture of them having lunch. Ren shrugged seeing nothing wrong with it. Did these two not notice their faces? Anyone could see the love in their eyes?
Lory smirked, interesting. When the reporter had come to him yesterday asking for permission to use the pictures of Ren and Kana, Lory saw an opportunity. He told the reporter yes on the condition that he ran another picture along with them. The reporter was ecstatic, he couldn't believe his good fortune and thanked Lory for this golden opportunity. Lory wasn't trying to promote one or the other he simply thought this would push the two closer together but it seemed unnecessary by the progress they had made overnight.
"Are you two dating?" Lory asked bluntly. "The public will be speculating about it after today."
Kyoko's face went red with shock by his straightforward question. She was still trying to process Ren's confession in front of Kanae now she had to deal with her boss' need for all things love.
Ren spoke up, "I think it's too soon to say that we are when we haven't had a proper date. I only just confessed. I want to woo her properly and hopefully, she can feel the same about me in return."
Ren addressed Kyoko and said, "I don't want to pressure you into anything. Is that okay? I won't deny my feelings for you but I'm quite good at giving vague answers when it comes to my private life." Kyoko smiled and nodded in agreement. It would be fine like this.
Lory said, "Okay, we'll just leave that one open-ended and just have the public speculate as they please. This, however, means that everyone will be watching the two of you from now on. Keeping things private will be difficult." The couple nodded in understanding.
Lory presented them with another picture. Kyoko gasped in horror and looked at Ren. Her grudges swirled as the Demon Lord surfaced from the depths within him.
Ren had seen this picture but it still managed to make his blood boil. Easy Kuon! You'll only make her feel horrible again. He thought about her tears in the kitchen last night. How could she think he wouldn't love her anymore? As if something like that could ever stop me. He finally reined himself in and relaxed his body.
"Please explain this Mogami-kun? I shut down the article for this one. Can you tell me what exactly your relationship with Fuwa-kun is? This was the night of your mother's broadcast was it not?" asked the President.
Kyoko nodded numbly to his last question. Damn you Shotaro! You're always wrecking my life! Why can't he just leave me alone?
"I think they followed Fuwa-kun to your residence but now they'll be watching you as well. Can you explain? I know he was your reason to join showbiz but what exactly is going on with you two?" His meeting with Kyoko's mother did not yield any details. She only divulged what was necessary for receiving permission to have her daughter continue at his agency under his guidance.
Kyoko knew this moment would arrive sooner or later. She took a deep breath and released it. Here goes nothing.
"My mother left me in the care of Fuwa Sho's family when I was six years old. You can say we were childhood friends. I naively thought he was the love of my life up until last year before joining LME. I didn't want to be abandoned again so I tried not to be a burden to those around me. I did everything to please him and his family without complaint or regard for my personal feelings. When he asked me to follow him to Tokyo, I didn't hesitate to say yes. I was stupid and thought, how lucky for me to be chosen among all the girls at school. I worked several jobs here in Tokyo to pay for our living expenses while he focused on his music. Once he became a star, he had no more use for me and threw me away like trash. You already know that he was my sole reason for entering showbiz. I wanted to become someone greater than him so he would regret ever leaving me."
Kyoko glanced at Ren who sat eerily quiet next to her. "Thanks to Ren's harsh treatment, I was able to discover my love for acting. I was finally able to do something just for me. If Ren wasn't such a bully, I would probably still be wasting my time and energy on petty revenge."
Lory tried to stifle his laughter. Ren cringed at the imaginary stabs of sharp knives piercing his body as she recalled how harsh he was when they first met. He shrank in his seat and covered his face with his palm. Shit! I was such an asshole to her!
Kyoko looked at Ren shocked by his slumped posture. "Ren, I.."
Ren waved her off, sat up and gave her a small smile, "Don't worry about me, I deserved that. Keep talking, I want to listen." He already knew most of the details regarding Fuwa and her past but he could listen to her voice all day without getting bored.
Lory finally understood her aversion to love. He knew based on her outburst at the LME auditions that it had something to do with the musician but he had none of the details. He almost apologized for putting her in the LoveMe section but was reassured that it was indeed helping her to love herself.
Kyoko continued talking as if a dam had burst within her. Once she started she couldn't stop and the words just flowed. "I want to move on with my life but somehow he keeps coming back. He always finds my phone number and I heard from my landlord that he came looking for me the other day.
Ren's smile of earlier was wiped off his face. What? That punk is still sniffing around her! His body went rigid with anger.
Feeling the tension rolling off Kuon, Lory looked him dead in the eye, "Leave Fuwa-kun alone."
"But Boss! You can't be..."
The President cut him off. "Ruto," he said without any inflection in his voice. Lory's assistant was by his side in an instant. With just a nod from the President, Ruto disappeared to do his bidding.
Kyoko was startled and amazed by the interaction. She concluded that the man had to be from a clan of ninjas. The fact that he understood Lory's intentions without speaking was a feat in itself.
"Mogami-kun, I will handle things with Fuwa-kun. Please inform me if he tries to contact you again."
"Well, that would be difficult since we're on the same project. He has been hired to write the theme song for The Sacred Lotus in the Mire and assist on the soundtrack."
"Are you serious?" Ren could not hide his agitation regarding the news. He didn't want Fuwa anywhere near her especially when he wasn't around.
Lory tried to hide his Cheshire cat smile from Ren. He enjoyed seeing this boy rattled.
"Mogami-kun, try to keep things with Fuwa-kun professional. Yukihito-san and Ruto will do the rest."
Kyoko nodded in understanding.
"Now that the dirty business is over, I have some good news," the President said brightly. "You two have been nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress awards for your roles in Dark Moon. Dark Moon itself was nominated for Best Drama Series." Party poppers exploded around them as the President made this announcement. "The Award Ceremony will be held next month."
Kyoko was surprised that she was considered, "Sir, are you sure they have the right name?"
"I assure you Mogami-kun there is no mistake. Don't belittle your act as Mio, you performed her brilliantly. Though I prefer you play a love role….baby steps," Lory assured her.
"Congratulations Kyoko, you deserve this recognition for your hard work. My Katsuki would have been mediocre without your Mio," praised Ren.
Kyoko blushed from the high praise she received from her Senpai, though, she still found it unbelievable for a newbie like her to receive such an honor. "Thank you! Congratulations to you too Ren I know you will win." As for me, it just feels wonderful to be nominated.
"Kyoko, I know it's early but will you do me the honor of escorting you to the ceremony?" Ren asked hopefully, using the Cain puppy face as leverage that she could never refuse.
Not fair Kuon!
Lory piped up acting as Ren's wingman to clinch the deal, "That's a wonderful idea, Ren since it will be her first time, going with a veteran like you would be beneficial."
Kyoko looked between both men staring at her expectantly, she was uneasy to show up to such an extravagant event with him but it was difficult for her to decline after the President even endorsed it. She agreed, albeit, a little reluctantly.
Yes! Ren thought triumphantly, giving himself a mental pat on the back.
Kyoko hoped she wouldn't embarrass him since those types of events were usually broadcast on live television. It would be disastrous if she did something so stupid like trip over her own feet.
Lory dismissed them since that was all he had for the day and told Ren that Jelly was waiting for him in the private salon. Ren nodded his thanks.
He walked Kyoko to the door and asked, "Are you busy tonight?"
"Well, I promised to help out at the Darumaya tonight."
Ren nodded, failing at hiding his disappointment. He wouldn't be free for the rest of the week since his work had stacked up due to Tragic Marker.
They stood there awkwardly waiting for the other to say something more reluctant to part each other's company but they both had a schedule to keep. Ren wanted to kiss her goodbye but he could feel Lory's love-filled gaze burning bright with anticipation.
"I'll call you later," he said, caressing her cheek and brushing the pad of his thumb over her lips. His fingers would have to do.
Her whole body tensed from his touch while a blush crept upon her cheeks. She bowed, said her goodbyes then bolted from the room.
Lory could not hide his disappointment after she left, "Bah! You're so boring Ren!" Ren chuckled and went to the other room to see Jelly.
In the safety of the elevator, Kyoko's heartrate was finally slowed down. I can't believe I wished for his hand to be his lips! In front of the President too! I'm so shameless!
Her phone buzzed startling her out of her thoughts. Ren had texted her, Have a good day, I love you!
Kyoko couldn't help the blush that stained her cheeks and the smile that threatened to split her face in two.
She hesitated when texting him back, she hit delete several times before she finally settled on, Thanks, you too! She almost responded with the same words I love you but her fear wouldn't let her. She quickly changed his name in her contacts in case someone ever spied her phone, nobody should be suspicious with the name 'Corn.' The media was now interested in her thanks to her involvement with two popular men. Her quiet world of obscurity was coming to an end.
…
Yashiro stood in the lobby of LME and watched as his female charge walked towards him beaming with radiance. In the twenty steps it took to reach him, she managed to cause two separate collisions, one woman to smack the man she was with upside the head, and several men to strain their necks. He chuckled as she walked towards him oblivious to the chaos behind her. He almost felt sorry for Ren. Despite that mark on Ren's face, Yashiro hoped things were progressing with them because Kyoko was now being noticed thanks to that article.
Koga eyed the woman's ass walking in front of him appreciatively. She fills out those jeans well and those legs, long and lean. Perfect to wrap securely around me. I should get her number after I confirm her face is cute. His gaze trailed from her legs and edged its way up until his eyes settled on familiar cropped auburn hair. Son of a bitch! His troubled eyes darted to the companion in the gray suit beside her for confirmation, Yashiro-san?
"Damn!" he muttered regretfully under his breath. It was Kyoko. Who knew she was packing all of that?
"Kyoko-chan?" Koga called out from behind to get her attention. She turned around and smiled bowing politely. Koga's step faltered, did she get more beautiful overnight? Hmm… I think I'll have a little fun with her.
"Did you have a good time last night?" he asked her with a knowing smile. He speculated that they had a date last night.
Her face instantly heated up. What? Why do so many people know about last night?
Koga let out a hearty laugh. Her reaction was indeed suspicious, she was just too easy to read. He stood in front of her and inspected her from head to toe. Hmmm, I wonder if they did IT! It would be the most likely explanation for her current aura unless she was just blossoming into a young maiden in love. Could it be the latter? He looked at his costar observing her innocence and uneasiness, definitely the latter.
"Hiromune-san, please don't jump to any conclusions. I don't know what you're talking about," Kyoko said flustered.
"You're going to deny that you had a date last night with a certain tall and handsome actor?" Koga teased in a sing-song voice.
"Hiromune-san...shhh...don't speak so loudly. I don't want idle gossip to spread ruining innocent people's reputations," she scolded as she looked around to see if anyone else had heard him.
Yashiro snickered beside her. He was burning with curiosity but knew not to pressure his charges with questions on their evening together. His inner fangirl was appeased by watching her get flustered over Ren. This was new, she often hid behind her professionalism whenever it came to the man. He liked Koga, the man was very intuitive.
"Darn, so nothing happened. What is he some kind of saint?" Koga mocked. Can the guy even call himself a man? Judging from Ren's actions yesterday, Koga could only assume that he was serious about her.
Kyoko walked away in a huff to escape the insufferable man.
He leaned against the wall out of sight but within hearing distance of his sensitive ears. If anyone glanced in his direction they would see a good looking young man dressed in designer clothes oozing charisma. They couldn't see under his hat how his brow twitched in agitation as he eavesdropped on Kyoko and Koga's conversation. Sho was a pro at ranting inside his head while out in public.
Are they talking about that bastard? More importantly, what the fuck is she wearing? Did she think those trendy clothes looked good on her? She could barely fill out that top with her flat chest. And those jeans? Were they made out of some magic thread? How can a pair of pants make her bony ass look perky? Ugh…whatever? Why am I even looking? She looks stupid! She should just stick to that ugly pink jumpsuit, it suits her more! Look at her flirting with her costar! Two-faced whore, you're only Kyoko! First, that platform shoes wearing bastard and now this guy. What kind of love potion is she using?
Koga saw the sullen teen in his periphery as they walked by. Fuwa Sho, huh, what are you up to? He had noticed the guy up ahead as they approached the entrance and watched him stare down Kyoko possessively. Kyoko and her manager didn't notice the singer as she stormed off. Koga didn't like the glint he caught in the guy's eyes so he hurried to catch up to Kyoko. Without looking back, he made a note to keep an eye on him.
Notes:
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed! I'm still very annoyed that Lory showed that kiss picture to Ren first and as of yet still has not shown it to her.
Until next time, ja mata ^_^
Chapter 13: Like a Daughter
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Taisho would throw Sho's ass out every time he came around.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Shoko Aki laughed sarcastically to herself as she watched her charge. He was supposed to be conducting research on the film. Sho was ready to decline this gig until she baited him with Kyoko. As soon as he found out she would be in this production he accepted without reservation. His eyes were glued to his childhood friend. Shoko couldn't understand why Sho treated Kyoko harshly; the girl was beautiful, especially now, here in her element.
She sighed deeply. Why couldn't Sho just be honest with himself and admit that he was in love with her? It was painfully obvious given his latest hits. His songs had started to mature so why couldn't his attitude. His ballads had more depth and feeling to them ever since the Vie Ghoul incident. He had dominated the top spot on the Oricon charts for the last few months.
Shoko walked up to stand beside Sho. "How is it? Are you able to grasp the gist of the movie and start writing the song? You have a deadline for this, just one more week before your time is up."
Sho scowled at Shoko. "Quit nagging! I know what I need to do! You can't force creativity." He turned his gaze back to the scene before him. He barely recognized his childhood friend. Once the Director called action, all traces of Kyoko disappeared and the ninja took control.
The song was practically finished. He hated the direction it took and freaked out. He had thrown too much of his personal feelings into the song. Fuwa Sho did not feel despair or longing for anyone. He told himself that there was no way he could fall for someone like her. The more he declared it the less convincing it sounded; he was slowly losing the battle.
He had seen the tabloid article this morning of her with that bastard. He thought he could use that kiss picture of that loser to his advantage and get her riled up but that woman announced that it was a jest on her part. He was more concerned by the picture of her having lunch with the actor together. It was clear to him that the guy had become serious which pissed Sho off and made him anxious. He was losing his hold on her.
Watching Kyoko in this setting, she radiated confidence; gone was the unsure girl that only lived to please him. That was what infuriated him the most about her in the past. She was an incessant people pleaser. He hated it and yet he used it to his advantage. Back then, he didn't have the courage to come alone to Tokyo. If she had said no, he probably would have never left Kyoto. Sho was confident that her feelings for him would have made her say yes.
If she had declined, he had prepared a few follow-up scenarios that would have definitely convinced her to come. His last resort was a confession on his part which would have made him gag then. He was prepared to go that far and then break up with her once he made it big. A great star like him couldn't be seen with such a common-looking girl. He shook his head to clear those guilty thoughts from his mind.
Sho tried to approach her earlier but he was thwarted at every attempt by her manager or her costar. Since her hounds were watching him closely, he had to settle for just looking from afar. He had never seen her look as happy as she did when she was acting. She's moving on without me , he thought bitterly as he left the location.
Koga sought Kyoko during the lunch break. He plopped down opposite Kyoko with his bento and cut to the chase. "So Kyoko-chan, why is Fuwa Sho so interested in you?"
Kyoko was caught off guard and inhaled sharply, choking on her food. Yashiro handed her water while she tried to control her breathing.
"Eh, Hiromune-san, there’s nothing going on with Fuwa-san and me.”
“If that’s the case, why do I keep getting a stalker vibe from him? If having him here is going to cause problems to the production I’d rather know now before too much time has passed. Should I alert the director of my feelings?”
“No, no, no, there’s no need to involve the director. There’s really nothing to tell. We used to be childhood friends but we had a falling out. I understand in this industry there will be difficult people I have to work with, I'm using this as a learning experience. I promise not to let our personal problems affect my work," she pleaded with wide eyes.
Shit! Those golden eyes are dangerous!
Koga nodded and went back to eating his food. She was too naive. He would run interference as necessary until the singer’s work was done.
A delivery man was guided to their table by an assistant, interrupting their conversation. "Excuse me, are you Mogami-san? I have a delivery for you. Please sign." He handed her a stylus to sign on his mobile device. He thanked her and handed Kyoko the gift bag.
Kyoko peered into the bag and found a can of caramel popcorn. She read the card. I miss you! Love always, Corn. " She giggled at the corniness of his corn reference.
Koga gazed over her shoulder and read the card before she could hide it. "Corn? Is that a name?"
Yashiro flinched at Koga’s comment.
“It’s from a childhood friend I recently became reacquainted with here in Tokyo,” Kyoko explained. She glanced at Yashiro nervously. Would he suspect anything? Why would Ren be so careless?
“That’s very thoughtful of your friend,” Yashiro said calmly. Little did the actors know that he was panicking inside. Who the hell was Corn? He was relieved that it wasn’t a gift a lover would send. Ren, you baka! Someone is stepping on your turf!
Kyoko tried to contain her smile as she sent a thank you text to Ren. It was a good thing she had the hindsight to change his name on her phone. She wasn't about to give away her nickname to them. She didn't want him teased or his secret exposed.
Koga and Yashiro exchanged looks. They didn't like Kyoko’s giddiness over the gift.
Koga frowned. This type of behavior from her was usually reserved for Ren. Shit! Is there a new contender? His plan to knock Ren out of the number one spot was starting to become a pain in the ass. Why are there so many guys vying for this girl?
“Thank you for your hard work today, Yashiro-san,” Kyoko said bowing to her manager from the curb in front of Darumaya.
“You’re welcome, Kyoko-chan. Have a good night!” He said with a smile. Kyoko waved to him one last time before stepping into the restaurant. She was tired. After a long day of script reading and rehearsals, she was ushered to wardrobe for final fittings on all Momiji’s costumes. Once her costumes were situated, the planning for her makeup and hair took up the rest of her evening. They would begin filming the scenes that didn’t include the antagonist. She was startled when the director revealed the name of the American actor that would be joining them soon. Yashiro also expressed his concerns to her.
Kyoko stepped through the threshold to find a busier than usual Darumaya. Her eyes swept over the front room and rested on a tall young man placing four glasses of water down on a table. She stood frozen as she watched him take their meal orders. He was dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt but had an apron tied around his waist.
He looked like a host with his easy grace, charming his way through the customers. She grumbled under her breath at the fluidity of his movements while he balanced a tray full of glasses. Is there anything this man can’t do? Kyoko had no idea she would see him here today but he had yet to notice her entrance.
A regular patron called out to her. "Is that you Kyoko-chan? Welcome home."
Ren's ear twitched as his beloved's name rolled casually off the tongue of this Uncle. He pasted on his gentleman smile to hide his displeasure. He finished taking the table’s order before facing her.
His smile faltered as he took in her appearance. Her golden eyes twinkled in amusement when he finally met her gaze. Her hair was back to its natural black and cascaded down around her in soft waves. Time stopped. The noise and people faded to the background. It was just Ren and Kyoko gazing at each other, electricity brewing between them.
The people in the restaurant quieted and stared at the pair. The patrons that night would swear they had front row seats to an epic love drama. This was the climactic scene when the two leads finally meet, drawn together by fate.
The spell was broken once an inebriated patron interrupted their moment. "Nooooo!” He slurred. ”Kyoko-chan! Don't fall for this kind of guy. They're the most troublesome."
Unable to hide his irritation, Ren’s eyes shot daggers across the room piercing the man.
The man squeaked and dropped to the floor. "Please forgive me Tsuruga-sama,” he begged. A smile tugged at Ren’s face as he tried not to laugh at the man and his slip.
The patrons erupted with laughter. Another man stood and clapped Ren on the back good-naturedly. He winked at Kyoko. She giggled. The sound regained Ren’s attention on her. The men in the restaurant sighed collectively at her cute laugh.
“Good evening, everyone.” She bowed gracefully in greeting. “I will return to help once I change into my work attire.”
Her innocent comment made Ren frown. From the looks of the men, he assumed their dirty minds went to their happy place envisioning his woman changing her clothes.
The sound of a loud thud shocked them back to their senses. The male patrons jumped and turned back to their food. Ren looked at Taisho with newfound respect. Taisho nodded to him and resumed chopping ingredients.
Okami-san followed Kyoko into the changing room to assist her with the kimono. Even though Kyoko was a pro at putting one on by herself, it was faster with help. "Okami-san, what is Tsuruga-san doing here?"
...
An hour earlier, Ren took deep breaths as he approached the backdoor of Darumaya. Final Boss Time. Determined, he knocked on the door. He hoped he wasn't being too presumptuous by coming here. He was under the impression that Kyoko considered her landlords the closest thing to parents for her. It was only proper to introduce himself and receive their blessing.
Ren dropped into a deep bow when Okami-san opened the door. This wasn't his first time meeting them but this was his first time expressing his intentions.
“Tsuruga-san!” Okami gasped in surprise at finding the actor outside her door. “I’m sorry but Kyoko-chan has not returned home.”
Ren stood and smiled sheepishly at the woman. “I’m actually here to see you and Taisho.”
He handed her a bag full of assorted wagashi from a popular confectionery shop in Ginza and a bottle of high-grade sake. She let him inside where he presented himself to Tasiho bowing just as deep for the man.
Taisho grunted pointing to a seat at the bar. Ren did as instructed and waited. Within a few minutes, Taisho presented him with the fish dish. Ren had expected this challenge. He learned his lesson from his previous failure and was now confident in his ability to eat the fish cleanly. Taisho nodded in satisfaction while Ren dug into his meal.
When Ren finished, he got down on the floor and prostrated himself to the astonishment of the couple. “My main purpose for coming here is to gain your approval. Please allow me to date Kyoko. I promise I will do my utmost to make her happy!”
The couple looked at each other confused and then back to the young man kneeling before them. Okami spoke on their behalf, “Tsuruga-san, thank you for seeking out our permission but I don’t think we are in any position to dictate whom Kyoko associates with.”
“Ah,” Ren said lifting up but remaining on his knees. “It’s only proper since Kyoko considers you her family.”
Ren saw their eyes flicker with emotion. Even the usually indifferent Taisho seemed touched by the statement.
“This makes us very happy. We love her like our very own,” Okami admitted. “But honestly, we thought you two already had a special relationship.”
Ren’s eyes widened. Were his feelings so transparent to everyone but her?
“I apologize if my actions thus far have been inappropriate but may I ask why you thought so?” He wanted to know what gave him away.
“Well…” Okami glanced at her husband. Taisho nodded. “You always looked out for her safety, gave her rides, and work advice. She even makes you bento and,...”
“And?” Ren prodded curiously.
“And...well we noticed how joyful she is in your presence.”
Ren was shocked. He never noticed.
“I’ll admit I have loved her for a long time and my actions did convey my feelings. She was hurt by those she loved and trusted...and so I waited for her to heal.”
...
Taisho grunted in understanding. She had come a long way from the broken girl that moved in with them. He was proud of the young lady she was becoming. He looked at the young man and nodded, then returned to prepping his ingredients for the restaurant’s opening.
Taisho watched the actor move back to the seat and nurse his water. His wife asked Ren if there was anything he would like to eat or drink. The man declined politely with the excuse of being full. As the restaurant filled with customers for the dinner rush, Taisho focused on his work.
The actor fidgeted in his seat as more people entered, filling the place up. Taisho didn’t even miss a beat while slicing sashimi when Ren spoke. “Taisho, my skills may be lacking in the culinary department but I am confident in my ability to set a mean table. With your permission, I can help Okami-san with the front of the house.”
Taisho looked up at his wife as she scurried to fill drinks and take orders. The number of customers tonight was nothing they couldn’t handle on their own. He looked back at Ren. The actor looked so eager to help. If Taisho was capable of it, he would have laughed. He handed Ren an apron and a menu. “Memorize it.”
Taisho swelled with pride. This young man was willing to help in his humble establishment without regard for his reputation as Japan's top actor. He was impressed by Ren's ability to learn quickly. Taisho had always been wary of this man. He had known Kyoko felt differently about Ren. If it was him, Taisho felt Kyoko would be in good hands, unlike the singer. Although he had good manners, he could sense underlying anger rolling off Kyoko whenever Sho came around.
...
Kyoko blushed profusely as Okami explained Ren’s presence. She was happy with his gesture.
“Do you love him Kyoko-chan?" Okami asked tying her obi.
Kyoko nodded shyly to the woman she considered her surrogate mother. She had yet to admit that to anyone, not even the man himself.
"Then I think everything will be okay. He seemed very sincere earlier. It's rare to see that kind of consideration in young people today. Taisho, may not look like it but he actually approves." She gave Kyoko a quick hug and left her to finish up.
Kyoko returned wearing her kimono and instantly went into service mode. She started clearing dishes, sitting patrons, and taking orders. The pair of them developed a little routine while working the front. Everyone was impressed by their ability to orbit around each other anticipating one another’s moves.
To Ren's irritation, many were routine customers. They were the business type men of varying ages that came to unwind after a hard day's work. He was sure that they didn’t come here for a delicious meal but to enjoy Kyoko’s company. He admired her ability to put them at ease, calling them individually by name and asking about their families.
To the more abrasive male, those that were bolder in their flirting, Kyoko used a familiar face on those customers. Ren had an epiphany. It was the same face she used when she busted into his shower as Setsu. He dubbed it her super Okami-san maid spirit face. He chuckled, realizing that she was just as affected as he was that night.
Families also frequented the restaurant with their children. The men grumbled as their wives openly flirted with Ren. He was amicable and gracious to everyone using his gentleman smile when necessary. Kyoko tried to rein in her jealousy and shuddered at how daring women were especially those married.
Ren watched a little boy clinging to Kyoko on his way out with his parents. He had reached an all-time low. He was actually jealous of a toddler. Kyoko lifted the boy into her arms and gave him a kiss on his cheek. Lucky kid. Images of Kyoko carrying their future son in her arms floated through his mind making his heart thump at the prospect.
“Thank you both for all your hard work,” Okami said when the dinner rush finally subsided.
“It was my pleasure Okami-san,” Ren replied with a small bow.
“I can help clean up.” Kyoko protested as Okami ushered them upstairs.
“You both did more than enough tonight. Please relax and I will bring up a small meal,” she said leaving them no room to argue.
“Thank you,” they said in unison and headed upstairs.
Ren hummed with excitement as he followed her up the stairs and into her room. It was tidy and smelled just like her.
He chuckled while Kyoko scrambled to hide miscellaneous things. His eyes lingered on ripped corners of paper attached to the wall and wondered what could have been there before. Posters, perhaps?
He picked up the replica doll of himself sitting on her rolled-up futon. The details of the doll were uncanny, down to his styled hair and blue striped pajamas. He turned towards Kyoko holding the doll up as she flitted about.
"Can't sleep without me?" The Emperor’s voice filled the small space. Kyoko paused from shoving things into a drawer. Her face took on a deep red hue as she slowly turned in his direction.
Ren chuckled, enjoying her flustered face. Curiosity got the best of him. He tugged at the Ren doll's Pj bottoms. Kyoko lunged for the doll but Ren was too fast. He held it out of her reach, high above his head. He laughed as Kyoko jumped for his arm. She tried to use him as leverage to jump higher but lost her balance. Ren caught her to him to keep her from falling. His body came alive against hers. He could feel her hot skin through the material of the kimono.
Forgetting the doll, Kyoko glanced at his mouth and licked her lips. She closed her eyes and angled her face up, invitingly. Ren's eyes drifted to her glossy lips and brought his face closer to hers. As his lips neared hers, a noise from the stairs startled them. They jumped apart instantly.
Okami walked in with a tray laden with food and drink. She placed the tray on the low table. Oblivious to the tension in the room, she left them alone leaving the door open. Ren sighed and sat down to eat.
Kyoko sat next to him. Before eating she removed the pins from her hair. It had been so long since she had to put her hair up that it was slightly uncomfortable. Ren watched with rapture as the black tresses cascaded down her back. He reached out rubbing a lock of hair between his fingers. Kyoko stared at him quizzically. He dropped his hand and started eating.
“Does it look weird?” she asked self consciously.
Ren looked at her and shook his head. “No. It suits you perfectly,” he told her with a soft smile.
“The stylist thought extensions would be better than a wig. Momiji does have a lot of action scenes.”
“It looks very natural. The dark color against your ivory skin makes your eyes glow...very pretty,” he complimented, tucking a few strands behind her ear.
A faint blush dusted Kyoko’s cheeks as she stared down at her food suddenly too shy to meet his gaze. “It- it’s real hair. I have to keep it this way for the Lotus filming.”
They resumed pecking at their food while they chatted about their day.
“Thank you again for the gift. It was cute and tasty. Hiromune-san and Yashiro-san read the card. I blundered and told them you were a childhood friend from Kyoto. I’m sorry if it causes you trouble.”
Ren laughed. “I know all about it. Yashiro-san left me a panicked voicemail. It’s not a big deal. If we are found out we can just say it’s my nickname and keep them guessing how I received it. Kind of like how aviator pilots get their call signs. It’s usually given to them by their squadron based on how bad they screwed up while in a drunken state. We can come up with something funny like...maybe I inhaled while eating corn and the outcome was unforgettable.”
Kyoko made a disgusted face and shook her head vehemently. Ren chuckled and took another bite of food.
"Okami-san told me your reasons for being here today," she said shyly. "You didn't have too but I appreciate it. They've been very kind to me."
Ren reached for her hand. “I know how much they mean to you. It was only right that I let them know my intentions. I plan on being around for the rest of your life. Plus, I don’t think Taisho has a good impression of me. I needed the brownie points.”
Kyoko gulped. Her heart thumped loudly and wondered if he could hear it. Did he not realize that was practically a proposal? The blush on her cheeks extended down her neck and could be visible on her hands.
Ren looked away embarrassed and cleared his throat. “Are you busy tomorrow morning?”
“I have to hand in my assignments at school but I’m free to stay or go afterward. Why do you ask?”
Ren recalled his time spent prior to arriving at the Darumaya. He was at a fitting for his upcoming modeling shoot.
The man behind the brand R’Mandy, Fujiwara Hiroshi, was once against chittering around Ren for personal information based on the recent tabloid. He wanted details but Ren remained mum.
Fuji gave up. “So Ren, will you be attending the awards ceremony again this year?”
Ren nodded, “I’m actually a nominee.”
“Woohoo! I knew this was your year! I have to do something bold with your suit! Something that screams WINNER!”
Ren cringed, “Please don’t go overboard, Fuji-san.” He had no choice but to wear whatever the designer gave him. It was in his contract that he wore only the R’Mandy brand to those events.
“Would you, perchance, be attending with say a lovely woman?” Fuji closed his eyes and crossed his fingers praying to the Gods that his answer would be positive.
“I am,” Ren admitted.
Fuji groaned in disappointment then shouted. “Wait!... What? Are you seriously bringing a date this time?” The designer danced around the room excitedly. “Who is she? Do I know her? Tell me!”
Ren smiled at the overzealous designer. He wanted to shout her name from the rooftops. “She’s also a nominee and my costar in Dark Moon. The actress that played Mio, Mogami Kyoko.”
“Oh my God! Is she the young lady in the tabloid?! Or, oh, she’s the gorgeous woman that you interviewed with during the wrap party! Please tell me it’s her!” Fuji begged.
“Both her.”
“Yes! Oh my God, yes! Does she have a dress? Ask her if I can design a dress for her, pretty please!”
...
"What do you think Kyoko, would you like to wear R'Mandy on the red carpet? I was told you can keep the dress," Ren asked.
An R’Mandy designer dress?! On me?! Kyoko's brain went to LaLa land. She envisioned herself dressed in a sparkling ball gown— an Ojou-sama waited on hand and foot.
Ren laughed at her expression. She was probably thinking about Princess dresses. He cleared his throat bringing her back to the present.
"Is that a yes?”
“Is it okay for me to say yes? I’m just a nobody. R’Mandy is expensive. I can’t afford anything so luxurious. I’m not good—”
“Please don’t do that. Don’t belittle your accomplishments. You’re quickly making a name for yourself in this industry. You’re talented and beautiful and you work hard.” Ren lifted his hand to caress her cheek. “Someday, I hope you can see yourself the way I see you.”
Kyoko inhaled shakily and looked away embarrassed by the emotions threatening to bubble up from inside her.
“He has seen your performance. He knows who you are. I may have dropped your name in the heat of the moment but it’s up to you to seal the deal.”
She bit her lip unsure. The allure of wearing a designer gown tugged at her heartstrings. It barely crossed her mind what she would wear to the ceremony. If she showed up with Ren all eyes would be on them. She couldn’t embarrass him. The designer was offering her an easy solution.
“All you have to do is meet him tomorrow. I’ll admit his personality is a bit over the top so you may be put off by him. He’s just really passionate about fashion. If you like what he has to offer then it’s a win.”
“Okay, I’ll meet him. It would be rude not to do so.”
Ren smiled warmly. “I’ll let Yashiro-san know.”
Okami stood at the door wringing her hands. "I’m sorry to interrupt Kyoko-chan.” Okami glanced at Ren. “May I have a word with you for a moment.”
Kyoko nodded and stepped into the hall.
“I didn’t want to be presumptuous but Sho-kun is downstairs. Should we turn him away?" She asked quietly.
All hint of amusement left Kyoko's face as she absorbed Okami’s news. Dread washed over her as she looked back at Ren sitting in her room. He heard. He looked more annoyed than angry by the news which was a relief.
"I'll talk to him Okami-san thank you. I'll be down in a minute." Kyoko said. Ren got up to follow when she turned on him and with a Mio-like glare told him to sit. He did, obediently.
Kyoko didn't want him involved with this problem. If things escalated, she didn't want Ren punching Sho in the face. Though she admitted to herself, she would really love to see it. Kyoko didn't want Ren's reputation to be tainted by Sho at all.
Kyoko hurried downstairs to face her nemesis before the Demon Lord lost his patience.
"What do you want Fuwa-san? I'm very busy so make it quick," Kyoko sneered.
Sho’s eyes widened. Why was she treating him like he didn’t exist? He didn't come here to fight but she just fired him up these days. He couldn't get a handle on his feelings. Like the stupid man-child he was, his mouth spoke before his brain could process what he said.
"What the hell is your problem? What did you tell those guys that they keep interfering with me? I swear if you slander my reputation, I will have my lawyers sue you for everything you have and don't have!" He threatened.
Kyoko looked bored. She examined her fingernails as she spoke. "Such a difficult word Fuwa-san, do you know what it means? It's only slander if they’re lies. In your case, it's nothing but the truth. The only person that will hurt your reputation is you. If that's all you came here for then please leave."
Sho stood frozen in place. Her indifference angered him. His threat didn't affect her as he had hoped. It was infuriating being dismissed by her. "Jeez, when did you become such a cold-hearted bitch!"
The kitchen door burst open. Taisho appeared drying a large sharp knife with a rag.
Sho gulped in fear as Taisho stepped closer. "Sho-kun, I think it's time you left. Please never return. You are no longer welcomed here."
"Fuck off old man!" Sho screeched pointing at Taisho. He instantly regretted his words. Rather than apologizing, he made a hasty retreat. His rudeness shocked him. The Darumaya couple always treated him kindly. He didn’t want to risk making things worse. Kyoko stalked after him prepared to give him a piece of her mind. Taisho held her back.
"You better not forget your promise Kyoko!" Sho yelled. Kyoko looked at him blankly.
"Hah, you forgot already! I'll own you if you ever fall in love with that platform wearing bastard! Judging by the pictures in the tabloids it seems he has better taste anyway. You said you were only using him to steal his acting techniques to beat me remember! So prove it!" Sho stomped off after his final outburst.
Her face paled. She glanced upstairs. Did Ren hear that? She forgot about the bet Sho coerced out of her in the parking garage.
Taisho placed a hand on her shoulder making Kyoko jump. She promptly dipped into a deep bow, apologizing for the trouble.
“There’s no need for that. Are you okay?” He asked with a worried frown. This little showdown sealed the deal for him. He felt exactly like the father of this teenage girl.
She stood up, tears swimming in her eyes.
Taisho’s gaze softened. "He's a good man. I'm sure if you talk properly, he will understand."
Kyoko smiled weakly. She dashed the tears from her eyes. Feeling like Marie-Antoinette, she squared her shoulders and prepared herself for the guillotine.
Notes:
Hiya! Thank you for reading. I appreciate it.
I picture Ren being the perfect gentlemen and getting permission from Kyoko's pseudo-parents to date her. I'm assuming Taisho was aware of Kyoko's feelings towards Ren that's why he was always wary of him.
I disliked the fact that Taisho thought well of Sho just because he can eat a damn fish with good manners. I was like WTH Taisho…lol.Until next time, Ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 14: Canary in the Morning
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, RenKyo would have shared a mutual kiss by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko woke up excited for tonight she was going out with Ren, Yashiro and her friends. It would be her first time partaking in an outing like this. It had been days since she last saw Ren. He was on location for his photoshoot. He drove himself separately while Yashiro stayed by her side. They talked and messaged daily but it wasn't the same as communicating in person.
Every day he was away he sent her little trinkets: flowers, sweets, stuffed toys. She laughed every time she received something on set. It threw Yashiro and Koga into a tizzy when she told them it was from her friend. These two men assumed the roles of older brothers. She was lectured, in detail, daily of the lecherous ways of men. Koga never held back either. Kyoko learned some unexpected things about the male psyche. She didn’t want to give any man the wrong impression.
Kyoko recalled the night after Sho left. She trudged up the stairs and found Ren leaning against the wall. He had heard everything and yet he smiled. It wasn’t his cold gentleman smile. It was the Godly smile that blew all her minions to smithereens.
"Good thing you're not in love with a guy that wears platforms," he said cheekily. He opened his arms to her.
Kyoko threw herself into his embrace, relieved that he wasn't angry.
“I’m sorry, Ren,” she mumbled, sniffling into his chest. “I didn’t mean any of it. I just agreed so he would leave me alone.”
“I know,” he chuckled and released her. He tipped her face up to his then brushed the tears falling away.
“I just have to keep improving as an actor so you can never leave me, right? Seems easy enough," he said with a shrug. She smiled understanding his play on her words.
Sho stopped coming to the set. With Ren's help, she reported the incident to Lory. She didn't want to trouble anyone but he was rude to Taisho. That pissed her off.
Lory called the Akatoki President to formally request he put his singer on a leash. Ruto collected all the evidence he could gather regarding her encounters with Sho. They would be prepared with CCTV footage and testimonies if they needed to make a case. He told the Akatoki President that if Sho stepped out of line again, they would file a restraining order.
Sho completed the theme song. Kyoko had to admit that despite his shortcomings he was still talented. The song caught the true essence of the drama.
Her mind shifted to the following morning at the R’Mandy design studio. There, Ren introduced her to Fuji, the mastermind behind the brand. He was of average height with parted black hair cut into a bob that stopped at his chin. He was casually dressed in a grey and white striped long sleeve knit shirt with the sleeves scrunched up to his elbows, a pair of dark denim jeans and gold-colored high top sneakers. He seemed normal. Ren told her that he was in his mid-thirties but warned her never to ask his age. It was a sensitive subject for the man.
“Oh my God! You’re real!” Fuji leaned in and kissed the air on both sides of Kyoko’s cheeks. She tensed up at the gesture and stood awkwardly unsure how to react.
“She’s real!” He laughed turning to Ren excitedly. Ren directed his gentleman’s smile toward the designer.
“Fuji-san, you’re scaring her,” Ren warned.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m just so excited. I hope you say yes to the dress. I whipped up a few designs based on Ren’s portrayal of you.”
Ren was grateful that the designer did not elaborate on the extent at which he had gushed about her beauty, intelligence, and her love for all things fairy tale like a lovesick puppy.
“You! Go to work! Kyoko-chan is fine here. Right, Kyoko-chan? I want to show you my designs. We’ll surprise Ren on the night of. Won’t that be fun?” He asked her enthusiastically.
Ren flashed Kyoko a worried look.
“I’ll be fine. Please go to work. Besides Yashiro-San is here,” she said giving him a reassuring smile.
“Okay, I’ll be close if you need me.” Ren shot Fuji another warning look before leaving. Fuji rolled his eyes.
“I’ve never seen him like this before so, so possessive!” Fuji told her. “It’s refreshing! Come let me show you what I have.”
He led Kyoko over to the sitting area and placed a leather portfolio on the low table in front of her. Fuji sat on the floor at the table and opened the book.
“As I said, I made up some sketches with you in mind. I only have a few inked the others are rough. We can change anything you don’t like.” Kyoko leaned in while Fuji opened the book. He quickly discarded the first two sketches.
“Ooh,” Kyoko’s eyes widened at the detail in the next sketch down to the lace trim. The figure on the paper was long and lean, everything Kyoko wasn’t. Fuji included jewelry, makeup, and a hair design on the sketch.
“This one was inspired by your appearance at the Dark Moon party. You looked older that night. I couldn’t believe it when Ren told me you were still in high school. Your uniform confirmed it though. I think this one is a definite no for you right now. Maybe five years from now it would be a top contender. No point aging you. Enjoy your youth!” he said tossing the sketch in the discard pile.
Kyoko was a tad disappointed. The black dress was long and elegant. It was definitely something a woman worthy of Ren’s attention would wear. To Kyoko, Fuji basically told her in a subtle way that she wasn’t good enough yet.
“Ren told me you love fairy tales and princesses. I think I have just the one.” He flipped another page and found the sketch.
Kyoko winced. She hoped she didn’t come off like a little girl to the designer.
“This is the one. What do you think? Would you let me design this dress for you?”
Kyoko’s eyes sparkled with awe. “Is it really okay for me to wear this?” She asked reaching a shaky hand out and tracing the detail of the sketch. It was gorgeous.
Fuji chuckled. “Of course!” He stood up and gestured his palms wide into the air. “I can already see you on the red carpet. All eyes would be on you. Your hair and your makeup. I have big plans. Please say yes! Let me be your fairy godmother, Kyoko-chan!”
Kyoko’s gold eyes glittered brighter at the fairy tale reference. “Yes!” She said getting wrapped up in the designer’s enthusiasm. “Thank you for this opportunity, Fuji-san.” She stood and bowed deeply.
“She said yes!” He whooped with a fist pump.
...
Fuji was delighted with Kyoko. She was fresh and polite. It was something he rarely saw in his field. Many young models, male or female, were divas. He thought she was gorgeous and when he said so Kyoko instantly denied it. He turned to Ren for an explanation when he returned dressed in the outfit he tweaked for the upcoming shoot. Ren shook his head and mouthed "long story" to the designer.
"Kyoko-chan, are you implying that I have terrible taste? F-Y-I, I make a good living off noticing beautiful things. When I say you’re beautiful, you should take it as law," Fuji-san scolded.
"See?" He said pulling her to stand in front of a full-length mirror.
Kyoko unsure of how to respond just nodded staring at her reflection in the mirror. She had not meant to insult his profession.
“Do you see how cute you are?” He implored.
Kyoko thought she looked cute in her school uniform but there was such a thing called "uniform magic." It was Shoujo creed that a uniform amplifies a girl's cuteness no matter how homely she was. She figured, if he saw her in her streetwear he would think otherwise.
Fuji noted that she had perfect posture and long toned legs. With time, she would fill out into a great beauty. She might even grow taller. When Ren mentioned her yesterday, Fuji made it a point to do a little more research. He was curious about the young woman who snagged Ren's heart. In all the years he worked with Ren, he never saw him with a woman. They had an office pool that Ren was in a secret relationship with his manager. Fuji lost that bet. Looking Kyoko over, he was surprised that this sweet girl played the villainess Natsu. She was a chameleon. He needed to convince her that she was beautiful on her own.
While Ren continued to work, Kyoko busied herself by looking through the racks. Fuji and his assistant convinced her to try on outfits while she waited.
Kyoko was enthralled and appalled at the idea. This was designer clothing, meaning very expensive; however, it didn't take much for her to cave. This was a rare opportunity to wear such luxurious clothes. Kyoko found herself coerced into a mini photoshoot. She channeled Natsu and Setsu in some of her poses depending on the outfit. For the most part, she was herself. The next time Ren came out, Fuji pulled him to join Kyoko. Ren whispered to Fuji before he enthusiastically went to her side.
When the impromptu session was over, Fuji called the pair to view the photos. Kyoko couldn't believe that the girl on the screen was her.
“Photoshop?” She whispered as Fuji scrolled through the images. Fuji laughed.
“No, dear girl! This is one hundred percent all you,” Fuji assured her.
What kind of sorcery was in that camera? The make-up artist only used gloss on her lips. She couldn’t use makeup as an excuse. She was shocked that the photos came out so well.
"Do you believe me now? Don't ever doubt me again. Have more confidence in yourself," Fuji commented. Kyoko nodded hesitantly.
...
Fuji’s mind churned with an idea. He hit the motherlode as they clicked through the pictures. Ren and Kyoko's chemistry was amazing and it translated into the raws. He pulled Yashiro to the side as the couple continued to look at the pictures.
“You’re good,” Fuji said wagging his finger at Yashiro. Fuji managed to negotiate a deal with their manager to have Kyoko model in his next campaign.
“I have to be,” Yashiro said nodding to his charges. “Please send the contract to LME, for our review.”
During the shoot, Ren received a call from Matsushima stating that the club owner offered a complimentary VIP table to him and his friends. The club owner wanted to make good on Ren's breach of privacy. Ren asked Kyoko if she wanted to go stating that she could bring her friends along. He told her to let him know what time worked for everyone and he would book it with the club.
She quickly texted her friends, excited at the prospect of having a fun night at an exclusive club. The girls responded instantly. She relayed the best time to Ren.
Kyoko's phone buzzed bringing her back to the present. Butterflies filled her stomach as she read the incoming text.
Good morning, beautiful! I'm up for my shoot. Looking forward to seeing you tonight .
She responded: Good morning, Corn. Good luck with work. You need your energy so please eat properly. I’ll see you tonight."
The rest of the day went by in a blur. She couldn't wait to have fun with Ren and her friends. She made it through the filming of The Sacred Lotus without any hiccups.
Yashiro dropped Kyoko at Chiori's house. Chiori's mother led her to her daughter’s room. Kanae and Chiori greeted her when she walked into the room.
Kanae held her hand up, "Mo! If you value our friendship don't you dare mess me up with your hug attack! We just saw each other a day ago shopping."
Chiori laughed at Kyoko's pitiful expression. “Kyoko-san, you can use my shower.”
“Thank you but I took one on set. I was sweaty from filming.”
At precisely 8:00 pm, the Limo arrived in front of Chiori's house. Ren and Yashiro stepped out of the car as the girls filed out the front door. Ren wore jeans, a t-shirt, and a black blazer. Yashiro surprised the girls. He paired jeans with a buttoned-down long sleeve shirt rolled up to his elbows. His hair was brushed back and he ditched his glasses. Kanae released a small gasp that gained the attention of the other girls. Her cheeks reddened.
Chiori told her mother to stop taking pictures. This wasn't America and they weren't going to prom. Yashiro and Ren greeted and complimented the ladies from the curb after being instructed to stay put. They planned to put on a LoveMe runway show for the sake of showing off Kyoko.
Chiori strutted her stuff first. She wore a long-sleeve metallic body con dress with a low back that hugged her curves and matching strappy heels. Yashiro and Ren clapped appreciatively. They were surprised Chiori was let out of the house in that dress. They had to keep an eye on the pretty girl so no unruly men messed with her.
Next came Kanae. She wore a black halter jumpsuit with a deep "v" neckline. It was fitted on the top and tight on her hips then flared into wide legs. She looked beautiful and sophisticated. When she turned, Yashiro gasped. The back was open revealing her porcelain skin. Ren snickered and told Yashiro to close his mouth.
It was finally Kyoko's turn. Kanae elbowed Chiori in the ribs as they both stared at Ren. They swore he had the face of a groom that had his first glimpse of his bride in her wedding dress. Kyoko not to be outdone by her friends assumed her model walk. The same walk that Ren taught her.
Emboldened by the look of the Emperor, she took a calming breath and walked. Her dress was gold, almost strapless with small cap sleeves that served more aesthetic purposes than function. It was fitted on the bodice then flared out with the skirt stopping at mid-thigh. It was shorter than she was used to but her friends convinced her that it showed off her long legs. They clinched it by stating that it was definitely something a modern "Belle" would wear. She stopped and struck a pose right in front of Ren, her four-inch stilettos made her eye level with his mouth.
"My lady," Ren said with a flourishing bow. He reached for her hand wearing the charm bracelet and kissed the back. Kyoko blushed and giggled.
Kanae rolled her eyes. “Let’s go, I’m hungry. We shouldn’t be eating so late. It’ll make us fat.”
When they reached the club, chaos erupted when Ren stepped out. The car was swarmed by Paparazzi. Security from the club stepped up to keep them at bay. The number of reporters present was alarming and unexpected. He was thankful for security.
He ignored the questions shouted at him and reached into the car. He helped Kyoko out whispering to mind her dress. Photographers were notorious when it came to catching wardrobe malfunctions.
Yashiro helped Kanae out from the other side. Ren leaned back in to help Chiori out while Kyoko waited uncomfortably for the others to come around. Ren held out both arms for the ladies to take. He glanced back and saw Yashiro escorting Kanae. He smirked at his manager. He was going to tease him later.
Once inside, the ladies released Ren’s arms as he went to check-in with the hostess. The hostess openly flirted with him which he responded to with his professional smile. He knew not to piss off those in the food industry. One never knew what they would do for revenge. She escorted them to their table and handed out menus.
It was a gathering place for the rich and famous as they passed other notable people to reach their table. The decor was posh and the ambiance luxurious. Kyoko felt intimidated by the atmosphere but the confidence exuded by Kanae gave her the strength to ignore the gossiping guests. After being seated, the owner made his way to their table. He told them everything was complimentary tonight. The table was reserved for them here and another near the dance floor for the whole night.
The girls looked over the menu. Naturally, there were no prices listed. Ren told them not to hold back and order whatever they wanted. The waiter came around and took their drink order. The men ordered hard liquor while the girls settled for virgin cocktails; they were underage after all. The girls ordered moderately not wanting to take advantage of the owner’s kindness. When it came to Ren, he ordered more prepared to let the ladies experience the rare delicacies that came with a price tag. Kyoko wanted to scold him but she enjoyed trying the new flavors. When they finished eating the girls excused themselves to the restroom to freshen up.
In the restroom, Chiori with Kyoko's help started in on Kanae about Yashiro. Kanae would not be baited by her friends. She refused to admit how her heart thumped every time he turned those bedroom brown eyes in her direction. Was he always that handsome? She thought about how she wrapped her arm around his and felt the firm muscles of his bicep. It took all her strength to keep from squeezing. She had no clue he was hiding all that underneath his suit. The girls returned to the table to find people talking with Ren and Yashiro. Kyoko recognized Kijima in the bunch but she didn't recognize the other man or woman.
Yashiro and Ren both stood as the girls returned. Introductions went around. Kijima showed great interest in Chiori noticing how the other ladies seemed to be spoken for. Ren and Yashiro exchanged looks. Kijima was the worst kind of unruly man.
The woman made a snide comment to Ren and Yashiro about liking them young these days. Ren plastered his gentleman smile on his face and calmly retorted that a "mature" woman such as herself should have little interest in boys like them. Chiori snickered at the burn and the woman walked off in a huff.
Ren turned to Kyoko asking her if she wanted to dance. They walked hand in hand to the other room where the spacious dance floor and stage was located. This room had to be soundproof. She didn’t hear any music while dining. It was dark and crowded. The only lighting here was the colored strobe lights pulsing around her. Ren’s face blinked in and out with the timing of the lights. He pulled her into his arms and began moving.
Kyoko was confident in her ability to match his. She preemptively took lessons at the LME training school in case she needed to act out a dance scene. Yashiro, Kanae, Chiori, and Kijima joined them. Kyoko was having a great time with her friends and forgot about being self-conscious. After the third song ended, dim lights came on and the DJ announced the start of the karaoke competition. Only English songs were allowed. Competitors flocked to the stage to sign up.
They were shown to their high table and ordered more drinks. Ren and Yashiro stuck with water. They needed to keep their wits about them. The girls were receiving plenty of unwanted attention. Several drinks had come by their table purchased by men in the club. All were refused. The group chatted giving their opinion on the competitors. Some were good, others were terrible but everyone enjoyed the friendly competition.
They were waiting for the final singer when the DJ announced, "Kyoko-san, Mio-sama of Dark Moon, Natsu-chan of Box-R, you're up beautiful!"
Kyoko gulped, did he just call... my names? Everyone at the table turned to her shocked. She looked like a deer in headlights. A spotlight found her and shined down on the table.
Kanae spied the woman from earlier with the DJ pointing in their direction. She wore a smug expression. She whispered to Kyoko. Kyoko turned to see the woman staring at her. What the heck did I ever do to her? Is she trying to embarrass me in front of Ren? Even with age some women never change.
"Come on Kyoko-san! Everyone, let's give her some encouragement," hollered the DJ. The crowd cheered and clapped for her.
Ren whispered into her ear. Her face turned scarlet. Kyoko channeled Setsu as she made her way up to the stage. She heard Ren catcall from behind her, "Yeah baby!" He clapped and whistled obnoxiously. She looked over her shoulder and glared.
Ren chuckled, "Well, she can't be too nervous now." Their friends stared at him in disbelief. They looked at him as if his body was hijacked by aliens. Ren shrugged.
Kyoko made her way towards the stage. She could feel everyone's eyes on her. Ren was not helping at all. Earlier he whispered, "My lil sis sings like a canary in the morning.” He was referring to her morning showers as Setsu when she thought he was sleeping. She wasn't about to let that woman have her way. She was no longer a pushover.
Kyoko flipped through the list to find a suitable song and nodded to the DJ. Ren and her friends made their way closer to the stage to give her support.
Kanae gave her a thumbs up. She knew Kyoko had a great voice. They didn't just talk whenever they met up at the Karaoke box. She wasn’t confident in Kyoko's English.
Kyoko bowed to the audience and stammered out an apology in advance. “I’m sorry, please go easy on me. My singing is not very good.”
The audience laughed and cheered at her cuteness.
Nervously, she looked out to the audience. It was easy for her to find Ren. He towered over the crowd. He nodded to her encouragingly. She inhaled a shaky breath and released it as the song started.
As the guitar intro began Kyoko closed her eyes and started swaying her hips to the music. She lifted the mic to her mouth and opened her eyes, all she saw was Ren.
"I want to hold the hand inside you, I want to take a breath that's true…"
There was no one else in the room but Ren as she sang. Her voice was sultry. Her pitch was perfect. She sang in English without a hint of an accent. The audience was stunned to silence as they watched this young woman dressed as a modern-day princess sing this song full of hope and despair.
“Fade into you, strange you never knew…”
Ren's heart swelled as her beautiful voice carried across the room. Whenever she opened her eyes, she gazed directly at him. The song touched a nerve as he listened to her words. He was so entranced that he didn't realize the song had come to an end until the people around him erupted in cheers!
Ren pushed his way to the front of the stage never losing eye contact with her. He didn't care who was watching. He was tired of hiding his feelings for this woman. He hoped she didn't openly reject him. He reached his arms out to her. She didn't hesitate and leaned down to him. He embraced her in a bone-crushing hug. He had a strong urge to kiss her but feeling her arms encircle his neck was enough. He inhaled deeply into her hair. He hid his face in her neck until he could get a handle on his emotions blinking his eyes to clear it of moisture. She was amazing. He felt so undeserving.
Yashiro cleared his throat to get their attention. As much as he loved the public display of affection, there was a large crowd watching them. He was glad the club strengthened their security. They clamped down on video and photography but he couldn't stop word of mouth. The only photography allowed was from the PR department to promote the club.
Ren never left her side as people congratulated her on her win. Several record producers in the crowd gave her their business cards. She humbly bowed at the praise. She searched the crowd looking for the woman who falsely included her name on the list. She was gone.
Who would have thought that the music she listened to as Setsu would help her? The song had struck her at the time. She could feel her love growing for Ren but thought he would never return her feelings. She was afraid she would revert back to the stupid love-filled girl she was with Sho. She didn't want Ren to become her everything and lose her sense of self in the process. She realized now that Ren was different. This was different.
They had dessert, drank, and danced a little more. The club's PR director asked permission to use a few photos of them on the club's website. Yashiro looked them over and gave the okay. As a parting gift, the owner gave Ren a vintage bottle of Dom Perignon.
As they were walking out a foreigner with wavy dirty blond hair approached Kyoko.
“Hi, excuse me. I couldn’t help but pick up on your name when the DJ announced you. My name is Ric Bennett.”
Kyoko felt Ren stiffen beside her. She glanced at him and found his gentleman smile plastered on his face at full bore. Did Ren know him? No, Kuon perhaps?
“I believe we’re to costar in The Sacred Lotus of the Mire . I look forward to working with you.”
Kyoko winced when Ren directed his smile toward her and walked away. What did I do?
Kyoko bowed quickly unable to be rude. “It is nice to meet you Bennett-san. Please excuse me. I was on my way out. I will see you on set tomorrow,” she said walking after Ren.
Kyoko felt cold as she watched Ren walk ahead of her out of the club. The cameras flashed anew as he stepped out. He stopped suddenly realizing she wasn’t beside him. He smiled apologetically and held his hand out for her.
Kyoko’s anxiousness disappeared as she stepped up to him and placed her hand in his. He tucked her hand in his elbow as they joined their friends in the limo. On the drive home, they popped open the champagne. Everyone was in a celebratory mood. Yashiro fretted about the girls drinking. He didn’t want to leave Chiori’s mother with a bad impression of him and Ren.
“It’s fine Yashiro-san. My mother has been in this business for a long time. The point is we are on our way home and we aren’t hammered,” Chiori assured him.
They dropped Yashiro off first and then headed to Chiori's house where the girls would have a sleepover.
Kanae and Chiori got out first taking the rest of the champagne with them. They had sensed the mood between the lovebirds and decided to give them some space to say goodbye.
When they were alone, Kyoko turned to Ren. "Corn, did you know that man when you lived in America?"
Ren nodded.
“Cedric was the one that made my life a living hell there,” he admitted without looking at her. He didn’t say anything more. He was lost in thought, staring out the window.
Kyoko didn’t push him to speak. She reached for his hand at the side of his lap. He looked down at their hands as she entwined her fingers with his then up to her face.
He turned and reached his free hand to caress her cheek. "You were so beautiful up there singing. I used to wake up to your voice singing in the shower. Is the reason you can sing so well because of him?”
She nodded. Her eyes grew thoughtful with her own memories.
She felt special when Sho confided in her first about his dream to become a singer. She didn’t hesitate to study musical theory in middle school. She taught herself how to read notes and even dabbled with a guitar all to be helpful to Sho-chan. In her spare time, she would go to the Karaoke box alone and sing to her heart's content. It all ended when Sho caught her singing at home and told her she had a terrible voice. She realized now that he was being a jerk like usual.
Ren's thumb brushed her lips as he leaned in closing the gap between them to mere centimeters. Kyoko could see the vulnerability in his eyes. "Tonight, that song, were you singing for him?"
She shook her head slightly in denial. "I only see you." She leaned in and touched her lips lightly to his as she closed her eyes.
Ren's eyes widened. He closed them quickly and lost himself in the sweetness of her kiss. He didn’t move until she grew bolder. Kyoko applied more pressure against his lips. Ren buried his fingers into the back of her hair and positioned her head for optimal kissing. Kyoko melted into him as he kissed her back. After a few moments of gentle kissing, Kyoko lost her patience. She buried her hand into the back of his head to gain more leverage. Ren’s other hand snaked around her waist pulling her closer.
Kyoko gasped at his touch. He saw his chance to deepen the kiss. He slid his tongue into her mouth. Kyoko moaned against his lips but followed his lead. She entangled her tongue with his. Without breaking the kiss, Ren pulled her on to his lap. Kyoko straddled his hips and continued to kiss him back.
His hands ran up her thighs and under her skirt. He felt the hard muscles on her legs as his hands traveled up to cup her sculpted ass. His body felt like it was lit on fire as his fingers grazed the lace of her underwear.
Kyoko’s overwhelming feelings had her in a daze. She didn't have time to think about her precarious position or what they were doing. His mouth moved to shower her neck with kisses. He growled against her neck when she bucked her hips against the noticeable bulge between her legs. Kyoko tested his reaction again and rolled her hips one more time. This time Ren’s fingers dug into her and ground her hips against his hardness.
The roar of a work truck outside passing jolted him back to his senses. Ren froze and laid his forehead against hers.
“I’m sorry,” he said, trying to catch his breath. He gave her ass one final squeeze and with great reluctance moved her off him. They both gasped for air.
Ren watched her face grow redder with each breath. She looked thoroughly ravaged. Her hair was mussed up and her lips were red and swollen. Kissing her reminded him of fireworks on the fourth of July. It was dangerous and chaotic but beautiful and vibrant. She felt right in his arms. He closed his eyes in a vain attempt to shut her out and regain control.
“Corn, I?” Kyoko began but his lustful gaze stopped her when he opened his eyes. She gulped as she stared directly into the eyes of the Emperor.
“Please go inside, Kyoko. It’s late,” he said quietly. It was taking all his willpower not to reach out for her again.
Kyoko nodded. He inhaled sharply when she leaned into him. She pecked his lips and smiled knowingly. She bounded up the porch, turned and waved. She entered the house and leaned against the door with a dreamy smile on her face. She touched her lips. His lips were just as soft as she remembered.
Kanae and Chiori laughed hysterically at her disheveled state. They exchanged high fives
Notes:
I have this theory that Kyoko can actually sing and read music. She was a smart girl and devoted her life to "Sho-Chan" so it's only natural that she would research and learn about his interests. It is also my sincere wish that RenKyo's first real kiss is initiated by Kyoko. I hope Sensei makes this happen ;)
Thank you for continuing to read. I appreciate it.
The song Kyoko sang to Ren was "Fade Into You," by Mazzy Star. It was my inspiration for this chapter.Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 15: All My Firsts
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kanae would get her chance at Sho.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Ren swirled the amber liquid in his glass then finished it in one gulp. He leaned his head back on the couch and closed his eyes. Sensations and images of earlier flooded his mind. The feel of her lips on his lips, the taste of her sweetness as his tongue entwined with hers, the suppleness of her skin as his fingers traced over her… Gah! He groaned and ran his free hand roughly over his face to stop his thoughts. He needed to get a grip. She didn't make things exactly easy for him. This was new territory for her. He needed to take the lead and set the pace. But first, he needed to rein himself in. The last thing he wanted was to lose control with her. Her first time should be on her, no their wedding night. He could wait, she was worth it.
His thoughts shifted to the other matter. Why would that guy accept a role in Japan? It made his blood boil that he now addressed himself as Ric. Cedric was the first person aside from his dad that he had met from his past in over five years. Of all the people in Los Angeles, why did it have to be him? The last he saw of Cedric was when he was jumped by him and his lackeys. It was hardly a fair fight when the odds were six against one.
Cedric took advantage of being the son of a prominent family in Hollywood. Because their families moved in the same circles, he was always around Kuon. Cedric took great pleasure in tormenting the younger Kuon. He had the adults around him fooled by acting as the perfect little gentleman. Even if Kuon had spoken up, he doubted anyone would believe that Cedric could do any wrong.
It was the same with school. Cedric managed to turn the majority of the student population against Kuon. He even had the teachers on his side. To Cedric's dismay, it never stopped girls from throwing themselves at Kuon. The girls at their school were shallow; they liked Kuon only for his pretty face and his family connections.
When Kuon received more acting roles, Cedric was there undermining his achievements. His words cut deep. In the back of his mind, he knew what Cedric said was true. He accused Kuon of riding on his Daddy's coattails. According to Cedric, if it weren't for Kuon's good looks and his blood relations a half breed like him would never be considered for the roles he was given. Directors, producers, and other people in the industry expected so much more from him being the son of Kuu Hizuri. It was difficult to perform under that kind of pressure. He was doomed to fail.
One day he just cracked and started lashing out. Whatever roles he did get he ended up quitting or getting fired when he had a disagreement with the director or anyone on the set.
Rick taught him to stand up for himself and so he did. He started fighting back. Then the drinking and smoking cigarettes and pot soon followed. If a girl wanted him, he entertained them until they got bored with his indifference. He even slept with a few if that’s what they wanted from him. He at least had enough sense to use protection when he had sex. Because of his shallow relationships and casual sex partners he wanted to cherish all his firsts with Kyoko. In a sense, he was a virgin again experiencing these new sensations from a place of love. She was the first and last woman he would ever love.
His past experiences couldn't have prepared him for the emotions that bombarded him when he came in physical contact with her. Despite all the rumors regarding his personal life, he never had a relationship with a woman since coming to Japan. If one could call what he had in the States relationships. He closed himself off to those feelings. He had no right to them. Instead, he focused on his goal; however, Kyoko coming back into his life changed everything. Thanks to her, he felt like he could finally move forward.
Ren rose to wash his glass. He pulled up the sleeves of his shirt to keep them from getting wet and caught sight of his watch. Rick's watch. He covered the watch with his right hand and bowed his head. He didn't fall into the darkness as before. He was disgusted with his younger self. Everything changed when Rick died. Was it wrong to think Rick's death was a godsend?
If that tragic event hadn't taken place, where would he have ended up? Prison? Dead? Would his parents have buried him instead? His death the result of picking a fight with the wrong people. Or would he have ended up on the streets, a junky, using the hard stuff to escape reality?
He shook himself out of his morbid thoughts and washed his glass. The problem at the moment was Cedric Bennett. He needed to figure out what the man was doing in Japan. In the past, Cedric often belittled the Japanese blood flowing through his veins. Why would he purposely put himself among a race he didn't like? He had to make sure he wasn't a threat to Kyoko or himself.
He showered and got ready for bed. He sent a quick text to Kyoko, Sweet dreams baby. I hope you had a good time tonight. I love you. *kiss emoji*
He felt bold using the American term of endearment. He hoped she didn't have a nuclear meltdown from it.
His phone immediately buzzed. Good night, Corn. I enjoyed every minute with you. Sweet dreams. *heart emoji*
He smiled broadly as warmth spread throughout his chest. He couldn't wait to see her again. He put his phone on the charger and settled in bed to sleep.
After several minutes of tossing around, he picked his phone up and opened his webmail. He was too exhilarated by the whole evening to sleep.
He found an email from Fuji and opened it. When he clicked on the first attachment Kyoko's face filled his screen. Fuji had made good on his promise and sent him the pictures from the fitting with Kyoko. His heart squeezed as he scrolled through the pictures. He could see the different attitudes in her poses. Some he recognized as Natsu, others as Setsu but most of them were one hundred percent her. She was gorgeous in all of them.
He paused on the first photo with them together. It didn't look familiar. Fuji held back when he showed them the pictures at the studio. She smiled at the camera with a slight blush on her cheeks while his gaze was completely on her. He scrolled through several more photos. Every single one captured Ren's enamored expression trained on Kyoko. He was so obvious. His feelings were written all over his face and now immortalized on film.
He reached the last attachment labeled Bonus. In this shot, Ren looked off-camera while Kyoko gazed at him tenderly. Ba-bump. He brushed his fingers over her image. Did she always look at him like that? Could she already love him? He didn't think she would have reacted to his kisses if she didn't feel something for him. He was an insecure idiot. He didn't want to assume anything. He immediately saved the photo as his wallpaper.
Sho couldn't believe what he saw on the entertainment news channel that morning. Kyoko was hanging on to the arm of that bastard as the walked into a club. He had tunnel vision making him unable to notice the other woman with them. Despite his conflicting emotions, he couldn't help but compliment her. He hadn't seen her since the Darumaya incident. Shoko made it a point to schedule his time on the Sacred Lotus set when Kyoko was unavailable. She looked gorgeous in the dress and her hair was back to its natural state.
Were her legs always that long? The hosts were going on about how this was the first time outside of work that Ren had purposely been seen with women on a social level. They were speculating that he was now off the market.
Sho's ears twitched at the announcement. Was he too late? Had that asshole already made his move? No matter what, all I need to do is remind her of how much she hates me.
Pictures posted on the club website splashed across the screen. Kyoko, Ren, and others were shown holding drinks up and smiling for the camera. Another picture captured her on the dance floor with Ren and her friends. Sho froze at the photo of her holding a microphone on stage in front of a decent-sized crowd. He spotted Ren easily. It irked him that Ren stood easily above the rest of the crowd.
Sho tuned back into the host's commentary, "Rumor has it that Kyoko-san was the winner of the karaoke contest. She won a spa trip for three at an exclusive onsen. Apparently, she has an amazing voice and because of her gold dress those in attendance dubbed her, 'The Canary.' Several reputable record producers actually approached her after the contest. For those that don't know her, Kyoko-san is the breaking new actress known for her more popular roles as 'Mio-sama' in Dark Moon and 'Natsu-chan' in Box-R. From what I could see, she looked adorable last night. She's someone we have to keep our eyes on. Who knows, maybe she'll make her debut in the music industry?"
Sho gulped. He recalled the time in Kyoto when he caught her singing. He heard the most melodic voice coming from her room. When he confirmed the source, he reacted like an idiot. He realized now that it was out of jealousy. Kyoko was already perfect in his parents' eyes. Why couldn't she give him this one thing? He said some awful things to her that day. He never heard her sing again unless she ran off somewhere to do it in private much like she did her crying.
The sound director of the Sacred Lotus called him in with short notice to help with a portion of the music score. Sho saw this as an opportunity to see Kyoko, even though, President Akatoki warned him to stay away from her.
Sho was pissed that she ratted him out to the LME President and aired their dirty laundry to outsiders. He was warned to keep things professional and keep his emotions in check. Shoko was scolded along with him for not doing a better job. Her nagging increased tenfold because of it.
…
Shoko sipped her coffee while she watched the news report. She glanced at Sho waiting for him to change. She was surprised that he didn't turn into a Nio statue from the shocking news. Maybe he's actually maturing.
"Sho, you can't cause trouble on set today. This petty thing you have going on with Kyoko could ruin your career if President Akatoki wants to wash his hands of you. LME's president is powerful. He has more clout than our President. Don't mess with any of his talents?" Shoko warned.
Nag!
Kyoko woke that morning to the sound of her phone vibrating on the desk. She heard Kanae stumble out of bed and clamor around the room in search of the offensive device. She must have stubbed her toe on something because a litany of curses exploded from her friend's lips. Kyoko burrowed deeper in the covers not wanting to have her best friend's wrath directed at her. The ringing stopped as Kanae picked up.
"Mo! What the hell do you want? Do you know -?" Kanae halted mid-sentence.
Kyoko peeked from beneath the covers to look at her friend. She assumed it was Ren calling and enjoyed Kanae's overprotectiveness. Kyoko watched in fascination as Kanae turned various shades of red while stammering an apology. Kyoko smothered her mouth from "Kya-ing" out loud as she watched her best friend make the cutest faces. Kyoko closed the blanket when Kanae glanced in her direction.
She squirmed as her friend approached her futon. "Mo!" Kanae nudged then pulled the covers off Kyoko's head.
"Answer your phone next time," Kanae said with a glare. She thrust the phone down to Kyoko.
Kyoko smiled at her friend's still blushing face and reached for the phone.
"Hello, Mogami-san!" she said into the phone. Her eyes widened in shock at the voice on the other end. She watched Kanae's retreating back enter the bathroom. She cringed when her friend slammed the door shut behind her.
"I'm sure you're overreacting Yashiro-san. I'll be fine," Kyoko said into the receiver. "No, there's no need for that...I'll be okay…Thank you for your concern. I'll see you on set later." Kyoko hung up the phone.
Chiori made a loud groan from all the noise.
"I'm sorry Chiori-san. I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's fine," Chiori grumbled and covered her head with a pillow.
Kyoko took this opportunity to check her messages and found one from Ren.
Good morning, baby. I hope you slept well.
Kyoko blushed at the message. He called her baby again. She doubted he was making any reference to her age when he addressed her by the pet name. She heard it in foreign film before exchanged between lovers. It was actually so American of him. Kyoko felt butterflies fluttering in her belly as she responded back to his message.
She buried her face into the pillow before she began squealing as her mind wandered to last night. According to Yashiro, the internet was buzzing with gossip this morning. She even shared a hug with him in front of so many people. She couldn't resist falling into his arms. He reminded her of the dreams she had as he stood in front of her with his arms open. She didn't hesitate and took the leap. This time she was relieved she didn't grasp darkness. He was solid. She felt so secure in his arms even if his body was trembling. In every sense of the word, he felt like home. She knew she was too far gone. There was no going back or giving him up. Come what may she would tackle every possible challenge that was thrown her way be it the media or his crazed fans. She was ready for a fight.
Her mind shifted to more pleasant things. She kissed him first. Kyoko’s face flamed up as she thought of how she practically threw herself at him. She let out a silent squeal into the pillow as she rolled around on her futon. It was everything she dreamed. The kiss he gave her on Guam was sweet but brief. Last night's kisses were full of passion. It ignited a longing within her. Just thinking about it made her want to kiss him all over again and his hands were...oh god his hands were. She squealed audibly this time as her brain threatened to malfunction. How could she face him after her shameless behavior?
Kyoko stiffened when the bathroom door opened. She yelped when the pillow was snatched from her.
"Mo! You're so loud! Quit freaking out and get ready! I don't want you late for work. Producer Kuresaki will skin you alive."
They had a quick breakfast prepared by Chiori's mother and headed out the door to catch the train. Yashiro would accompany Ren this morning for a kick-off drama meeting. He wanted to make sure everything was in place for Ren per his contract.
Kanae offered to accompany Kyoko since her morning was free until she had to report to LME. She had a meeting with Lory and Matsushima to discuss the offer Kuresaki had extended to her.
Kyoko was excited to have Kanae with her but kept darting her head around as she walked. She knew Ruto had to be lurking in the shadows. Maybe she should have taken the company car that Yashiro offered to save him the trouble.
While they waited on the platform for the train, people glanced and whispered in their direction. Kyoko beamed with pride. They had to be admiring her beautiful friend. She felt lucky to have Kanae as a best friend. A gaggle of teenage girls approached them as the train pulled up but Kanae tugged her arm to get on the train. The girls didn't enter but stood there giggling among themselves.
Kanae scowled and tapped quickly on the keyboard of her smartphone. She grimaced as she confirmed her suspicions. She held the screen to face Kyoko. The tabloid site contained pictures that were posted on the club's website last night.
Kyoko wasn't shocked to see the article. "Ooh, you just reminded me. I want to save those pictures on my phone. You looked so pretty in your outfit Moko-san. I mean not that you don't look pretty all the time. It's just that last night was my first night with girl-!" Kyoko rambled as she searched her bag for her phone.
"Mo! Why aren't you more worried?" Kanae asked narrowing her eyes. "Did you already know?"
"Yes, Yashiro-san mentioned it this morning."
"So you knew and still dared to board a train without a proper disguise?" Kanae asked baffled by her friend's lack of foresight.
"Ehhh?! It's okay because no one ever recognizes me when I'm my plain old self."
"I beg to differ," Kanae muttered. "I think your blissful days of anonymity are over." She nudged Kyoko with her elbow as several commuters took their pictures.
Kyoko smiled weakly and tried to ignore the stares. They were probably only looking at her beautiful friend.
"Mo, this is a good thing. It will help your career. You should really start monitoring what the fans are saying about you."
"Eh? Me? That's impossible. I bet Moko has lots of fans. Me especially, I'm your number one fan."
Kyoko and Kanae arrived at the set to find a mob camping outside the studio. They turned on their heels to backtrack down the alley they passed. The director did mention a backdoor to the building for the cast and crew’s use. They rushed down the alley while looking over their shoulders to see if anyone spotted them. Kyoko collided with something and crashed to the ground. Rather than feeling hard pavement, her fall was cushioned. It took her a second to realize she was entangled with another person.
"Heh! I knew you still wanted me!" Came a familiar voice that made Kyoko's skin crawl. Just her luck.
"Let go of me, Shotaro!" She yelled at him and scrambled to her feet with Kanae's help.
Sho stood dusting himself off while ogling Kanae. Of course, he would appreciate Kanae's beauty. He had to be blind not to notice. He stepped back, confused, as Kanae glared at him. It was probably a first for him to find a woman that didn't like him.
He flicked his gaze back to Kyoko. "What the hell Kyoko! I've been trying to reach you for days. Why did you have to bring our companies into our disagreement? I'm now on probation by my President? Is this how you plan to beat me? What if I lose my fans and can't make a living? Did you ever think of all the people that are involved with my music that will be affected?"
Kyoko felt guiltier as Sho continued to speak. That was the problem with growing up with him. He knew what triggered her and troubling people was a big "no-no" in her book. Kyoko felt herself shrinking at the problems she might have caused with her actions. She looked to the ground as each word pierced her heart.
Kanae snapped her out of it. "Mo! Why are you even listening to this jerk? It's his fault if anything happens to his career. He's a big boy that can deal with his own problems!"
"Tch!" Sho responded and scowled at Kanae.
Kyoko looked at her friend then nodded. "Thank you, Moko!" Kyoko shook the negative thoughts away. Kanae was right. Sho kept showing up causing her and others needless trouble. Whatever befell him would be his fault.
Kanae looked Sho over. He stood arrogantly as she checked him out. This was their first time meeting him. She didn't seem impressed.
Kyoko took two steps toward the door when something brushed her hand as Sho reached to stop her. She was startled by feet shuffling and grunting sounds. She turned to find Kanae pinning Sho to the wall with her arm pressed into his chest.
"Let go of me, you stupid bitch!" Sho screeched in Kanae's face. He was stunned by the sudden altercation that he didn’t know what to do against a woman.
Kyoko's grudges flared up and charged. How dare he speak like that to Moko? She didn't care what he said and did to her but she would not tolerate any transgressions against her friends.
Before her grudges could make contact, Sho doubled over in pain clutching his crotch area. Kanae released her hold on him. Sho slowly slid down the wall and curled into a fetal position cupping the precious jewels between his legs.
“Ow, fuck, you bitch...my balls...I’ll sue you.” Sho moaned writhing in pain.
Kanae flicked her hair and looked down at him, “hmmph!”
Ruto suddenly appeared out of nowhere startling the girls. "I’m sorry. I should have intervened sooner. Mogami-sama, Kotonami-sama, you must hurry and get inside. The commotion has attracted some curious fans and media personnel."
Kyoko's eyes flickered down to Sho on the ground. She couldn't just leave him like this. It would be suspicious if Fuwa Sho was found in the alley in his condition. What if he told the press that he was assaulted by Kanae? She didn't want her friend to get in trouble.
"I will help Fuwa-san, Mogami-sama," Ruto said understanding her hesitation.
"Thank you!" The girls said in unison while Kanae pulled Kyoko into the studio.
Once they were safely behind closed doors Kyoko looked at Kanae with shocked eyes. She would never have expected that from her friend. When their eyes made contact, they exploded in peals of laughter. When they finally regained their composure Kyoko scolded Kanae.
"Moko-san! Please don't ever do something so reckless again! What if he presses charges or something?"
"There's no reason to worry about that. I know his type. He would rather cut off his right arm than admit to being bested by a girl," Kanae assured her. Kyoko smiled with admiration at her friend’s courage.
"Thank you, Moko! Thank you for saving me! Thank you for being my friend!" Kyoko told her sincerely as tears pricked her eyes.
"Mo! Of course, we’re best friends! I really wanted to punch his face in actually but that would have left a mark. I think ridding the world of future Fuwa's is a nice compromise!" Kanae said jokingly.
Kyoko had held back for too long. She sprung her attack and hugged her best friend. Kanae allowed it for several seconds until it became too much. "Mo! Get off me now. Go and get to work before you're late!"
Kyoko skipped merrily toward the set greeting everyone and looking for the director and producer. She stopped in her tracks as dread washed over her. She spotted them in conversation with not only Cedric but Kimiko as well.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read. I appreciate it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 16: Lowly Chicken
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kanae would have clinched the Chidori role.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kanae leaned against the back wall with her arms folded watching the scene unfold before her. For today's filming, the set used was a Minka, a traditional Japanese house. Although she loathed the character Chidori, she was disappointed that she wouldn't be part of the production. She mused at the LoveMe mission she was assigned by the President: Something Messy. It would have been exciting to work with her friend again. The two of them acting side by side testing each other's new skills and challenging one another to improve.
Momiji knelt on the wooden floor as she slid the door open. Inside she found Shizuma-sama scribbling on a piece of parchment at his writing desk. "Come in Momiji," he beckoned without looking up.
Kanae caught sight of Sho sitting off to the side. His eyes were locked on Kyoko. What she saw on his face was a mixture of awe and confusion?
She grimaced. This jerk's feelings are so obvious. There was no way she would let him get close to Kyoko again. From what Kyoko told her, Kanae concluded that he was an emotionally abusive asshole. That kind of guy was toxic. She wondered what Ren was doing that he couldn't send this guy packing. Kanae decided to take matters into her own hands. She approached the singer.
Sho turned to Kanae as if he had a sixth sense for sensing a member of the opposite sex approaching. His smirk faded and was replaced by a scowl. He bared his teeth at her. Kanae pursed her lips to keep from smiling at his hostile reaction. He must still be angry for what she did to him earlier. She could see the question, what the fuck does she want now? written all over his face.
Putting on a demure smile, Kanae asked, "Fuwa-san, can we please talk in private? I want to apologize properly for my earlier behavior." Kanae's cutesy voice almost made her vomit.
Heh! He smirked. I knew she wanted me. Probably put on some act for Kyoko.
Kanae wanted to slap the smug smile off his face. He probably thought he was God's gift to womankind. She bit back a retort and walked towards the door throwing a seductive smile over the shoulder.
...
Intrigued, he followed her out into the hall. They walked until they found an empty conference room. He arrogantly took a seat at the table, slouching and adjusted the crotch of his snug leather pants.
Kanae closed the door and locked it. Sho gulped. Was she for real? Were they going to do this right here? He was suddenly nervous. Shen didn't seem the type to be satisfied with sucking him off. He never went all the way before. He would die before he admitted that to anyone. He was no stranger to oral sex especially if he was on the receiving end. He couldn't stick his dick in just any woman. He watched his friends in middle school get strapped down into a relationship once that happened.
His trick was misdirection. Give just enough of himself that left them satisfied but not demanding. He had all the right moves and knew all the right words to keep the ladies guessing at his sexual experience. Heck, even Shoko was fooled. Even if she never did give in to his antics, he enjoyed having a hot manager. It inflated his ego. Many assumed they were screwing. It wasn't from lack of trying on his part. Every time he crawled into her bed or attempted to get her in the shower with him, she would lead him on. He was left hanging once she had him doing her bidding.
Sho shifted uncomfortably as Kanae's flirty smile was replaced by a menacing glare. She peered down her nose at Sho. "Look, Fuwa-san. I'm not here for whatever perverted thing you're thinking. I have one priority and that is my friend Kyoko. I'm giving you fair warning to back off. Let her live her life. I can tell just by watching you today that you're in love with her."
Sho stuttered in denial, " I- I am not in love with that plain talent-less boring woman!"
...
Kanae pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration and rubbed. She could feel a headache coming on. She had no clue why she was interfering. This was becoming troublesome.
She leaned down centimeters from his face. His eyes opened wide with shock and just as a smug crept upon his lips Kanae pulled at his cheeks pinching his face.
"Ow! What the fuck?" He grimaced, pulling out of her grasp. He rubbed at his face to relieve the sting but said no more.
Satisfied, Kanae stood back up and folded her arms over her chest.
"Perhaps when you knew her that was the case but I can see it now. You like the independent, charismatic woman she has become. Her confidence has amplified her beauty and no thanks to you she has people that love and care for her now. She would never thrive with you. You are such a narcissistic ass that you never saw the light shining beside you all these years. You had your chance Fuwa-san and you blew it. I'm warning you to stay away from her or else."
Sho's face flushed red with anger. He seemed to not care for her attitude. He also just couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"Or else what? Who do you think you are threatening me?"
"I'm the least of your worries if you continue to persist," Kanae warned before leaving the that would be enough to make him stay away. Otherwise, she may have to rely on Ren to do something about him if need be.
...
Sho remained sitting in stunned silence. She was right. The Kyoko he knew followed him around like a lovesick puppy. He didn't care for that version of her. It was the ambitious and talented girl here that stirred his heart. This one could help boost his...no that wasn't right, he thought. He shouldn't be thinking about what she could do for him. She used to do everything he wanted no questions asked. He didn't want her to become that girl again. Would she revert to her old self if they somehow miraculously began dating? How long would it take before she annoyed him again?
There was a gnawing thought at the back of his mind. He didn't want to dim her new light. She had friends and no room for him. He recalled how all the kids had alienated her back in school because of him. He sighed. Should he just accept defeat?
No! I'm Fuwa fucking Sho! I don't give up on what I want!
Sho's phone buzzed. He made his way back to the set just in time to watch a delivery man deposit a bouquet of wildflowers into Kyoko's hands.
Kyoko's face lit up with joy. He scrunched his face up in confusion. He recalled the happy expressions she showed him in the past. They were few and most were a direct result of his happiness.
"Mo! Did he send you those?" He heard her annoying friend ask.
"No, Moko-San this is from my childhood friend, Corn," Kyoko said holding the card to show her friend.
Sho's ears perked up as Kyoko quietly relayed the story that she told Yashiro and Koga. He was a singer so his ears were sensitive to sound. He heard everything she said. Since when? If there was such a person he would have known about it. She told him everything!
"Sho! Come over here now!" Shoko hissed and waved him over. Sho gritted his teeth and stalked over to Shoko and the music director.
...
Kanae snickered as she watched Sho stomp away. He had heard every word. She looked at her friend brimming with happiness. Kanae was more perceptive than any man. She knew this friend had to be Ren. She tried to stifle her laugh but snorted. She covered the embarrassing sound by clearing her throat. It was amusing that Kyoko gave that giant man a pet name and of a vegetable no less.
Kanae left Kyoko to attend her agenda. She was glad she accompanied her friend. Hopefully, her talk with Sho would make him think twice about bothering her friend again.
Kyoko sat in her dressing room giggling like a love-struck teenager. She was once again inhaling the scent of the flowers and thinking of its sender when a knock came at her door.
"Come in," she called out placing the bouquet down and schooling her face.
"Hello, Kyoko-chan," Yashiro greeted when he opened the door. He stepped in with Ren at his heels. She wasn't expecting to see him so soon.
Heat rose to her cheeks when her eyes met his. She wondered if her eyes reflected his. Delight and excitement. Her heart rate increased. She dropped into a flustered bow. I'll never get used to him looking at me like that especially after last night. She bit her bottom lip at the memory before straightening up.
Yashiro excused himself to get Kyoko's bento and some drinks leaving them alone.
Ren placed the bag of food he carried on the little table. Within a blink of an eye, he had one arm wrapped around her waist and the other grasping her nape. She didn't hesitate and encircled her arms around his neck. They kissed each other longingly.
By the time Yashiro made it back to the room Ren sat at the table removing their food from the bag while Kyoko adjusted her hair in the mirror. Ren gave a conspiratorial wink at her reflection making her blush. They weren't trying to hide their relationship from Yashiro but she would be mortified if anyone caught them making out especially their overly supportive manager.
"Ren, is it okay for you to be here?" She asked. Yashiro barely suppressed his squeal of delight at the casual use of his name. She tried not to laugh at their manager. She was sure he could die happy right now.
"Yashiro-san made it possible so we can have lunch together," he said taking a bite out of his food without her threats. She looked impressed and took her seat to eat.
Ren wished he could stay and keep watch over her. He didn't see Cedric when he arrived but he spotted another nuisance.
Keeping his head bent over as if focused on his meal, he let his eyes roam over her body starting at her feet. Her kunoichi costume was way too snug and way too short in his honest opinion. Was that seriously authentic to the period? Did ninjas dress like that back then? Shouldn't she be covered from head to toe in black including her face? He didn't like her long gorgeous legs exposed for all to see. He swallowed his petty jealousy with a big bite of food. It was something he needed to work on. He couldn't afford it in their profession and she deserved better.
"I saw Fuwa out there. Has he bothered you?" Ren asked lifting his concerned eyes to hers. He kept his voice relatively calm which was a feat in itself considering the inner turmoil he was feeling.
She bit her lip and avoided his eyes. "Ruto and Moko were by my side. Nothing happened."
"Oh," he responded, his gentleman smile graced his lips. She was hiding something. Kyoko squirmed under his scrutiny. Her little grudges circled feeding off his aura. Tell him, mistress!
Yashiro put down his chopsticks and joined in the silent battle against Kyoko. Normally, he would scold Ren for acting in such a manner but Kyoko was being suspicious. She needed to voice her concerns with him as her manager.
She finally blew out an exasperated breath and turned to face them. "Morizumi Kimiko was here. On the set."
The room's temperature became chilly as Kuon's anger gave rise. The number of Kyoko's grudges increased. This was why she wanted to avoid telling him. She didn't want to upset him with her problems. She understood now that not telling him would only hurt him more.
Yashiro gasped. "Why was she here?" She was violating their agreement.
"She pulled me off to the side and explained that she was here to see Bennett-san and let her uncle know she would be retiring from acting. It was under the pretense to develop her skills and continue her education. She put on a really good show for everyone stating how I had thoroughly defeated her and shattered her confidence. Everyone sympathized with her even myself. I felt like the villain when she was done with her speech. She's formidable." Kyoko bristled from the chills that ran up her spine. "She left soon after."
Ren and Yashiro stared at her a few more moments to discern if she was hiding anything else. "I will tell you if anything seems out of the ordinary." Kyoko supplied squirming in her seat.
The men nodded and resumed eating.
Kyoko went back to eating as well but became lost in thought as she recalled the scene when she first walked into the studio.
Kyoko swallowed thickly and with determination approached the group in front of the set. She dropped into a formal bow to the director and producer then turned to Cedric and Kimiko.
"Good morning Bennett-san, Morizumi-san." She focused on Cedric. "I look forward to working with you. Please take care of me." Kyoko stood up and caught the scowl on Kimiko's face. Kimiko whispered to Cedric in English. He returned her greeting in English.
"How do you two know each other already?" Kimiko asked placing her hand on Cedric's arm.
Cedric naturally stepped out of her grasp and retold the story of meeting for a brief moment in the club last night. "I had the privilege of hearing Kyoko-san sing. She has a very beautiful voice and her English is impeccable."
Kimiko's eye flashed with anger before she plastered a demure smile on her face. Kyoko hid her discomfort at his compliment. She thanked him and excused herself with the excuse of getting prepped. She didn't know what to make of Cedric. If he was someone that hurt Corn in America she would never forgive him. She made a note to be nothing but professional and polite until he showed his true colors.
She took another bite of her food and glanced up at Ren. She couldn't discuss things with him while Yashiro was in the room.
They continued their meal in silence as each one contemplated their thoughts. Yashiro tried to make small talk but gave up and quietly ate his food.
...
Kuon thought about his phone call with his father this morning as he ate. After exchanging the usual pleasantries, Kuu cut to the chase.
"Tell me what's bothering you son?"
"I'm sorry. It seems I only call you when I need something."
"Nonsense, this is my right as your father. I'm glad you can turn to me for advice. You can call me for anything even to discuss the weather. You have to do me a favor, you have to call back soon. When your mother finds out about this, she'll leave me."
Kuon chuckled. "Thanks, Dad, I promise to call mom." He went silent for a few moments.
"So…did you want to talk about it?"
"Yeah, sorry for wasting your time but… do you have any information regarding Cedric Bennett?"
"Hmm, why does he concern you?" Kuu asked worriedly. He disliked that kid ever since he was a child. He knew he tormented Kuon but since Kuon never came to him he figured his son could handle whatever the older boy dished out.
"He's here in Tokyo. He's in Kyoko's new drama. I need to know if he's here for me or if he will cause her drama any problems."
Kuu cursed at this knowledge. "There was a scandal involving him and a supermodel. There aren't any details so it's all hush-hush but possible sexual harassment. Women can be just as vicious as men in this business, unfortunately. His dad must have sent him to Japan until the heat died down over here. I'll ask around to see if I can get more details. Meanwhile, you need to keep him away from Kyoko. A girl like her would catch his eye."
Kuon paled at his dad's warning. "I promise. I will protect her. I'll never let anyone hurt her again."
Changing the subject, Kuu asked, "How are things going with you guys? Boss sent me some good pictures from last night. I didn't know she was a singer. I can't wait to brag to everyone. I'm one lucky man to have such talented kids."
Kuon smiled. His Dad had not changed. Still the ever doting idiot. He wasn't about to share with his Dad how he knew she could sing. His father didn't need to know about their play as the Heel siblings just yet. He might skin his real son alive if he knew Lory had them shacking up in a hotel room together. He didn't want the lecture. He told his Dad that things were progressing well with them.
"I want to plan a first date but I've never really been on one. I'm not sure where to start."
Kuu wanted to cry. "How could I have such a handsome son that was so clueless about love? Well just don't do something over the top. I'm sure she would like a date like any normal teenage girl. There will be plenty of time for fancy dinners. Has there been any trouble with the press?"
"It's all speculation but positive."
Kuu said, "It's probably the calm before the storm. It will only take one of them to print something negative and it will snowball from there. They are usually more ruthless on the woman as opposed to the man."
Kuon understood he was ready to defend her if needed.
"She will be accused of all ill manners especially with sleeping her way to the top to gain personal favor," Kuu continued.
Kuon groaned. He forgot about that aspect of the press. He hoped it wouldn't come to that. She had worked too hard to have it all thrown back in her face.
...
Kyoko held her chopsticks to his mouth, patiently, as he blinked his way back to reality. She forgot to be bashful about sharing chopsticks as she scolded him to eat more. She looked at him with concern. He spaced out for several minutes. What was he thinking about? Cedric Bennett, perhaps? From what she observed today, Cedric was a hard worker and generally cared about doing his best. When he emerged from wardrobe and makeup, he no longer looked like an American. He was tall. Just a few centimeters shy of Kuon but with the makeup he could pass as Japanese. The makeup team did a phenomenal job.
A staff member knocked on her dressing room door marking the end of her lunch break. She had five minutes before she was to report back to the set. Kyoko cleaned up their meals and readied herself to head outside. Ren held open the door for her and Yashiro.
As they walked, Kyoko gave details of her fight scene in the Minka today.
"Assassins will attack Shizuma-sama with Bennett-san's character, Yamada-san, leading the attack. This, unfortunately, would be the final scene in this Minka. The others here are only staged in the exterior. It's sad to see it get destroyed; the craftsmanship is amazing. We have been rehearsing the scene for over an hour before lunch. I'm nervous... Director Morizumi wants to film it in one go."
"That's usually the case with these types of scenes if it requires set destruction. To keep costs and schedules down, the director would want a successful first take," Ren explained. "It's okay to be nervous but I know you have the choreography memorized. I'm confident you'll do well."
Kyoko blushed. He had so much faith in her abilities. She had to do her best not to let her Senpai and coworkers down. The crew was putting final touches on the equipment. She could see several mobile and static cameras staged around the exterior. She was sure there was twice as much inside. She hoped it would be enough for what the director envisioned.
…
Sho looked up from the sheets he was reviewing when Ren and Kyoko walked toward the set. He gritted his teeth and fisted his hands. He ignored the tremor that ran down his spine as his glare locked with the actor's chilling stare. The guy was scary. Kyoko's friend's earlier threat floated through his mind. Was he the or else?
"Sho, you need to concentrate on work," Shoko warned. Sho brushed her off. His eyes trailed after Kyoko. He continued to watch as they headed to the set. Why is he even here? He has no business with this project. Did he have to walk so close to her? Did their hands just touch? He watched Ren smile down at her making Kyoko blush. What is that baka doing? She's being swindled by a conman! He took a step in their direction but Shoko grabbed his wrist. His manager shook her head sternly.
"Leave them," She hissed trying to be discreet. The sound director looked up from the laptop they were using to review footage. "Is there something wrong?" he inquired, confused by the shift in Sho's attitude.
"Everything is fine. I just remembered something I need to deal with," Sho replied smoothly.
He should add untrustworthy to his list of adjectives he had to describe her. She was breaking her promise. Even a blind man could tell something was going on with them.
Sho folded his arms across his chest to keep himself grounded. He watched Ren lean down and whisper to Kyoko. His lips were hairsbreadth away from making contact with her ear. When he was done he straightened up and strolled away. Kyoko touched her ear. Even from this distance, Sho could see the blush creeping across her face.
Ren and his manager walked toward him. Sho openly glowered at the man as he neared his position.
The actor flashed him a triumphant smile as he approached. "Fuwa-san," Ren said curtly as they passed each other. Fuwa gritted his teeth as Shoko whispered another warning. He wanted to punch that smile off of the bastard's face.
His gaze returned to Kyoko. Have I lost her completely? He was stunned by the thought. He caught her stare as she followed Ren out with her eyes. Still holding her ear, her unseeing eyes slid past Sho like he was nothing. He wanted to shake her out of her stupid love trance. What did that bastard say to leave her in such a daze? Don't tell me he said…that! He probably did judging by that stupid look on her face.
Later that evening, Kyoko finished the taping of Yappa Kimagure Rock's next episode. She squeaked down the hall in her Boh costume with the Ishibashi brothers.
"Great work, Boh!" Shinichi complemented Kyoko as they walked.
"I wonder how long you can continue as Boh, though," Yuusei said mournfully. "Kyoko-chan is becoming so popular. Right leader?"
"Ah, yes! It was a surprise walking into the studio today," Hikaru added shyly.
When Kyoko stepped into TBM earlier, The Sacred Lotus in the Mire promotional posters were strewn about throughout the building. The producers went overboard with the promo shots. The group posters featured Momiji, Shizuma and Chidori. There were even some couple photos of Shizuma with either Momiji or Chidori. Kyoko was surprised to see her solo image hanging with the leading cast. The photographer captured the essence of Momiji as she swirled under the moon's illumination wielding her short swords.
"Oh hey, look. It's Tsuruga-san and Yashiro-san. I wonder if Tsuruga-san is shooting a drama here," Shinichi said curiously.
Boh freaked. Why are they here? Yashiro usually waited in the lobby for her. If she was alone she could play it off but the Ishibashi brothers we sure to give her away. She tried to escape but bumped into Yuusei in the process knocking him over. She apologized and bowed profusely as best she could in a chicken suit.
"Whoa, what's going on Boh," Shinichi asked amused. The chicken squawked around the hallway. She looked like a chicken with its head cut off as she panicked to find a place to hide.
She looked back and noticed they were already upon them. The Ishibashi brothers greeted Ren and Yashiro.
"What brings you guys by here?" Hikaru asked.
"Ah, we came to see…" Ren began looking around the brothers for Boh. He jumped back in surprise when the brothers parted revealing the chicken.
Boh was on the floor in a perfect dogeza. "Fo- fo- forrrrggggiiiive me! Tsuruga-Saaaammmmaaaa!" the chicken screeched.
Ren exchanged looks with Yashiro. That voice! That Posture! He knew it well. There was only one person he associated these actions with. Ren kneeled in front of the chicken and yanked off the head. Kyoko remained glued to the floor trembling in fear awaiting her execution by the Demon Lord.
Ren fell over bursting with laughter. He held his sides as tears streamed down his face.
The Ishibashi brothers were surprised. They had never seen Ren laugh or act like that before. He always had an unobtainable cool guy image that seemed out of their reach. Right now he just looked… well normal. They watched with awe as Japan's number one most desirable man was bent over on the floor with one hand clutching his stomach and the other hand pounding a fist into the floor. He laughed hysterically.
Kyoko sat up pouting and narrowed her eyes. She cleared her throat. He kept laughing. She folded her wings over her chicken body with a loud humph.
"Ren, you don't have to laugh that hard. I'm sorry, I'm just a lowly chicken to you."
To his credit, Ren tried to stop his laughter but it just kept starting all over again every time he looked at her. Her pouting face was just too adorable.
Kyoko folded her arms tighter and jutted out her lower lip. "I'm never speaking to you again you idiot!" She tried to stand up and leave but he pulled her into his arms, chicken body and all. His body still trembled with mirth.
He stroked her hair trying to soothe her. When he was finally composed he pressed his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh. The fact that you're a chicken is not what I find funny. I'm just so relieved that you're Boh. It makes sense now. I'm glad it was you."
Kyoko nodded unable to trust that the lump in her throat wouldn't come out if she tried to speak. She was glad and a little sad the secret was out. Ren used to share certain aspects of his life with Boh. Now that the cat was out of the bag she felt a little lonely.
Yashiro's inner fangirl threatened to burst out of him. He kept his eyes peeled for any intruders. He was just as surprised as Ren to find out that this was her LoveMe job. Poor Ren must be shocked. He understood why she wanted to keep the secret. Ren had befriended the chicken. Yashiro now knew why Ren was so drawn to the chicken.
The Ishibashi brothers were shocked by the close interaction between Ren and Kyoko. The younger brothers patted Hikaru on the back at his lost love.
Ren helped Kyoko up to her feet. He bowed to the brothers. "Thank you for always taking care of Kyoko. Please continue to do so."
Hikaru-san had no choice but to admit defeat as he watched Kyoko cast a radiant smile at Ren. She looked happy. He boldly stepped up to Ren. "If you make her cry, I'll steal her away."
Ren smiled genuinely, stunning Hikaru. "Of course," Ren replied. "Kyoko is lucky to have such protective Onii-sans looking out for her. Now if you'll excuse us," he said turning to Kyoko. "Are you ready to go home?"
Kyoko's face went red at his phrasing and tried to clear it up. "Ren, please don't throw words around like that carelessly. People will misunderstand," Kyoko scolded.
Ren replied, "It wouldn't be a misunderstanding if you just moved in with me."
The gears in Kyoko's brain malfunctioned. Her earlier blush turned a deep crimson and traveled down her neck.
Ren chuckled and looked at Yashiro, "too soon?"
Yashiro replied sarcastically, "You think?"
Ren led a catatonic Kyoko by the hand to get her changed out of her costume.
The younger Ishibashi brothers fanned their leader since he nearly fainted from the confrontation.
Ren could still hear the younger brothers telling Hikaru that he was so cool for standing up to such an intimidating guy.
Notes:
Hiya, thanks for reading. I couldn't let Kyoko get away without divulging her own secret.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 17: Jealous Guy
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Shotaro would have realized his shortcomings already.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Cedric sagged onto the couch of his rented apartment. He was exhausted mentally and physically. He wasn't here a full week and already felt drained. It was tough playing a foreign role. His Japanese was spotty at best. He needed the help of an interpreter and a linguist just so he could execute his role to a level he could be proud of. Normally, actors would take months studying the language they were trying to emulate. He was coming in cold. He was relying on his ability to memorize and repeat then infuse his acting skills into his character.
He reached for the small player on the coffee table and slipped on the headphones. He picked up his script. It was conveniently written in English for him. He followed along with the scenes with the voice in his head. What made it possible for Cedric to not completely fail at this role was that his speaking parts were limited. His character relied more on body language to get his point across. Cedric was no stranger to mixed martial arts and stage combat, Hollywood style. With some rehearsing and training, he would be able to execute his scenes with authenticity.
He screwed up in the States. A lapse of judgment on his part. If he wanted to go home, he needed to play by his father's rules. This role was available when the issue with his supermodel ex-girlfriend, Viola, erupted. His agent, under the instruction of his father, sent in an audition tape of his work and like usual he got the part. Yes, he was running away from his problems. He found out too late just how ambitious Viola was. The accusations she flung at him were blatant lies for once.
He promised to help boost her career but her acting lacked depth . He couldn't possibly endorse her with that skill level. He suggested acting classes and starting from the bottom. She didn't like that idea. In a heated fight, the ugly truth spewed forth from his mouth. Her beauty could only get her so far. He couldn't associate her with his family unless she improved. That was a dick move on his part. He would have eventually apologized but the next day she responded with false accusations to the tabloids. Okay, they weren't quite that false but they were taken out of context. He may have been a piece of shit in his youth but sometimes she liked it rough and he always aimed to please.
He was glad to be removed from that situation but it was difficult being in a foreign land. His only reprieve was the Japanese women. They were so quiet and delicate which was a stark change from the women of his past.
His new costar was no exception but he couldn't understand what he had done to offend her. Had he behaved impolitely in some way that was considered wrong in Japan? He couldn’t think of anything. Why was she so skittish around him? Knowing she spoke English, he tried to engage in conversation with her. She would politely respond but end their talk by excusing herself. Since she was so sweet about it he didn't find her actions rude. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't quite call her delicate.
It was amusing to see her surrounded by hulking men. Momiji was a deadly weapon and by extension so was Kyoko. She needed no man to protect her. He admired her stage combat skills. It was like watching a well-choreographed dance of the deadly kind. They went toe to toe in the Minka attack scene. She made him and the other pros work hard to achieve the director’s desired outcome. It fascinated and terrified him how deep into her character she went once the director called for action. Momiji was ready to strike down anyone that threatened Shizuma's life. All instincts of self-preservation were eradicated from her mind as she tried to protect the man she loved.
Speaking of terrifying, that boyfriend of hers gave him the chills. How a sweet girl like her could get shackled with such a beast was beyond Cedric's comprehension? It had been a long time since Cedric felt such fear. He had been on the receiving end of one of Ren's threatening glares. The guy’s soft brown eyes turned deadly that Cedric actually felt death breathing down his neck. It made Cedric think twice about getting near Kyoko on a personal level. He didn't want any trouble which was exactly what he would be asking for if he tried to step up to Japan's top actor.
His thoughts turned to the other Japanese girl in his life. He met Kimiko in LA on a drama set. They became fast friends despite a slight hiccup in their relationship. She was demure and delicate, unlike most American women he knew that were brazen and outspoken. She had shown him around Tokyo when he first arrived and gave him the insider scoop to the city's hot spots. Hanging out with her was fun; however, she was becoming clingy. Cedric noticed right away her jealousy for Kyoko. He still couldn’t understand her reasons to quit acting. It made him wonder if he was finally seeing pieces of the real her. Perhaps more of America had rubbed off on her than he thought. He still had no clue why she quit acting.
He couldn't hold it against her. It would be like the pot calling the kettle black. Cedric would be the first to admit that he was a glutton for the finer things in life that his name afforded him. Yes, sometimes the choices he made got him into trouble. Nothing too serious until now. A few articles in the tabloids on his latest conquest or a night out drinking. As much as he loved to party, he eventually took work seriously. His professional attitude matured by leaps and bounds compared to his youth. He didn't care that it was his relations that afforded him certain roles. He made it a point to put all his effort into improving his skill. Someday, he would be recognized for his acting first and his family second.
He was getting antsy playing the good guy all the time. Japanese people were very polite. When he made a joke, they looked at him like he sprung an extra head. He closed his eyes and reminded himself that he needed to just do his time until his part of filming was over.
Ren sat against her rolled-up futon while reading a script for his current drama. He was a hormonal teenager again stealing glances at his "girlfriend." He didn't check with her, he just decided on his own that she was indeed his girlfriend.
Kyoko sat at her table working on her school assignments. She had school the next day and needed to review. She seemed distracted and kept peering at him under those adorably long lashes of hers. He shifted uncomfortably on the tatami mat and noticed her wipe the palm of her writing hand. Using the pen in his hand he added another tick mark to the once blank edge of his script. He had a tally going for every time she either wiped her hand on her pants or she glanced at him.
He added a tick mark on the other side of the page counting how many times he caught her biting her bottom lip. He longed to be doing the nibbling instead. He shifted positions again this time crossing his legs at the ankles reciting his mantra to keep his libido in check. He cocked an eyebrow when Kyoko shook her head vigorously and went back to work.
It never once occurred to him that his physical presence was distracting her. Since they shared mutual feelings for one another, Ren wanted to spend as much time as possible together. Whenever his schedule afforded him, which was quite often thanks to Yashiro's meddling, Ren joined her for a late dinner at the Darumaya. He often spent time afterward just hanging out, nothing more. Being in close proximity to her was enough and the perfect way for him to unwind. He still had a hard time believing this was all real. He discreetly pinched himself on the arm. Owww, fuck!
…
Kyoko stared down at the textbook in front of her reading the same paragraph again. She couldn't concentrate. At least, not with him in her room. It wasn't just his physical being that filled the space but his very existence. All she saw was him. All she heard was him, well that and her thundering heartbeat. Her eyes flicked to his legs as he shifted again. Biting her lower lip, she imagined the skin beneath those slacks, the well-developed muscles covering well-proportioned bones...nope, nope, nope. She shook her head violently to scatter the "creepy" thoughts occupying her mind.
What was with this situation? Why were they hanging out in her room, again? He was nonchalantly sprawled out on her floor like it was the most natural thing for him to do.
A small giggle escaped from her lips.
"Care to share what's so amusing?" Ren asked tossing his script down. He crossed his legs sitting up straighter.
Kyoko jolted in her seat as the heat rose to her cheeks. He wore an inquisitive expression as he waited for her answer. Kyoko sighed summoning her strength to not make up any excuses for her rudeness. She swept her arms open toward his person as if that was enough to explain the absurdity of their position.
Ren cocked his eyebrow expecting her to elaborate in words.
"You, Corn, here, in my room. It has to be uncomfortable sitting on the floor. Won't you be more comfortable in your apartment?"
"I'm actually quite comfortable," he said settling back against her futon. "Plus, you're here." He grinned and went back to reading his script. He didn't want to scare her with the truth. Meeting her here, with the threat of Taisho below, was much safer until he could get his hormones in check.
Kyoko's blush deepened. Sometimes she thought one day she would wake and find it was only just a dream. She continued to stare at him.
Ren cleared his throat, "Kyoko, you're staring."
"Eek," she ducked her head and went back to her homework.
"Would you like to go out on a date with me?" He asked casually, looking over his script.
"Huh?" She started at him dumbly.
"Are you free tomorrow night?" He asked with a chuckle. He knew she was free because he specifically asked Yashiro to schedule his time with her next early night. Kyoko's eyes widened.
"Let's go on a regular date. I'll take you to dinner. We can watch a movie that doesn't have either of us in it."
Kyoko snorted, "Hah, I wish."
Ren smiled, "Spoken too soon but you're nearly there. Soon everyone will get to see your Momiji."
Kyoko's eyes looked hopeful as she nodded in understanding.
"I'll drop you home before curfew so Taisho won't kill me. It'll be fun," he said with a dazzling smile.
"But people will recognize you! Your fans would never let us be!" She stated apprehensively.
"Woods-san gave me something good," he said, reaching in his bag. He pulled out a couple of blonde wigs. "How about we go disguised as well me, Kuon, and you as… Ella?" he said wiggling his eyebrows.
Kyoko giggled taking the long golden wig from him. How did he know her favorite princess was Cinderella?
"What do you say?"
"Just like when we were the Heels?"
"Well not quite...not really acting just us in disguise. Me, Kuon, on a date with my beautiful girlfriend, Kyoko...that I sometimes call Ella because she's my princess." He swallowed thickly unsure how she would feel about his proclamation.
She nodded excitedly, her cheeks flushing from his words. Could they really get away with this?
Since she didn't correct him, Ren took that as a sign of acceptance. He gave her a boyish grin before standing up. "I guess I should start heading home. It's getting late. Yashiro and I will pick you up in the morning for school."
He extended his hands down to help her. Once she was up, he put her arms around his neck and pulled her in closer. This was his favorite part of his visit. He leaned down for a quick peck but she held his neck hostage pressing her lips against his fervently. Kyoko giggled against his lips as he straightened picking her up with him. He gently touched his tongue against her parted lips begging entrance. She opened her mouth wider deepening their kiss.
Ren let out a tortured groan. He ended the kiss remembering that they were in Taisho's house with Taisho's knives.
"Wow," he exhaled, resting his forehead against hers. He could see the blush on her cheeks extend to her ears and down her neck. A few more seconds went by before he selfishly slid her body down against him. He groaned internally relishing in the feel of her.
She continued to hold him even with her feet back on solid ground. He smirked as she took another steadying breath before letting him go.
"Okay?" He asked with a teasing grin. She nodded shyly stepping back from him.
"You don't have to walk me out. I know you still have more work to do." He pecked her on the lips before she could protest.
"Good night," he whispered, tucking strands of her long black hair behind her ear.
"Good night, Corn. Drive safe." She mumbled holding the ear he just touched.
"I'll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams princess." He picked up his things and headed out. If he didn’t leave now they both wouldn’t get any work done.
He said farewell to Okami and Taisho before heading to his car.
...
Kyoko was still working on her homework when her phone rang. Did he forget something? She looked at the caller ID and squealed with delight. Her best friend in the whole wide world was calling.
"Mooo-" Kyoko was cut off right away by her friend.
" Mo! Turn on Japan today on the TV, it's important! Quickly! "
"Moko-san, what's going on?" Kyoko asked as she made her way to the common area she shared with her landlords and turned on the TV. Shotaro's face filled the screen once she flipped to the channel.
She cursed and immediately hit the "off" button on the remote.
" Mo! Are you watching? He's talking about you! "
"What?!" Kyoko exclaimed. "That Shotaro! I'll kill him!" Kyoko said through clenched teeth as she turned the TV back on.
" Well, only people that know about your history know he's talking about you. "
Kyoko sat down with her grudges swirling around her. It was a late-night interview. She rolled her eyes as the audience drank up every word that came out of his mouth.
"Fuwa-san can you tell us a little about the song you're singing tonight? The friend you mentioned earlier was your inspiration?" Asked the handsome show host.
"Yes, I've always been a fan of western music so I decided to try my hand at this one. I'm hoping my rendition appeals to Japan and to my friend," answered Sho flashing his gorgeous smile to the audience. The screams were ear-piercing.
"You'll hear it, first folks. Fuwa-san will debut his newest song tonight," the host continued, turning to the audience when they finally quieted.
The host engaged Sho again. "I heard it was an English cover. Are you fluent in the language?"
"Of course!" Sho replied with an air of arrogance and a sweep of his hair. "My plan is to gain international stardom. It’s only natural that I speak English well."
Kyoko gritted her teeth. This cocky bastard! It was all thanks to her. She spent so much time and effort in helping him with his English studies. She developed an easy teaching method just so he would feel comfortable learning the language. This reminded her of her blind stupidity for him in the past. Not even so much as a thank you from him even then.
Sho walked up to the microphone with his guitar strapped to him. "I'd like to dedicate this song to someone special. K, I hope you're listening and my words reach you."
Kyoko froze. K?!
The lights in the studio dimmed as a spotlight shone upon him. Strumming his guitar, he sang, " I was dreaming of the past, and my heart was beating fast…"
"I didn't mean to hurt you, I'm sorry that I made you cry, oh my I didn't want to hurt you, I'm just a jealous guy... "
Kyoko found the song moving and enjoyed the melody. His annunciation of the words was perfect. She gave herself a pat on the back for being able to teach the idiot so well.
When the song ended, the audience's cheers were thunderous. Kyoko exhaled the breath she didn't realize she held. Was this his way of apologizing? The song brought her back to the past when she could hear English music wafting from his room. She wasn't allowed inside unless it was to clean or help him with homework. If this was supposed to count as an apology, it was too late.
Kyoko turned off the TV without bothering to finish watching the segment. She returned to her room gripping her phone absentmindedly.
She smiled glancing at the spot where Ren sat in her room earlier. He was obviously uncomfortable sitting on the floor since he kept shifting positions. She made a mental note to pick up some floor pillows when she had free time. Sho's performance was easily forgotten as she tried to think of ways to make her "boyfriend" more comfortable on his next visit. She smiled softly to herself letting the warm feelings of love, she vehemently tried to deny for the past year, wash over her.
" Mo! Hello! Kyoko are you still there? " Kanae’s muffled voice came sounded over the receiver of the cellphone. The sound of Kanae's voice penetrated through her thoughts.
"Sorry, yes, I'm still here," Kyoko responded quickly. She forgot her friend was on the line.
" So? "
"So...what?"
" How did you feel about that guy? " Kanae asked exasperatedly.
"Ehhh?! What do you mean?"
" Are you moved by his apology? " Kanae asked after such a performance.
"I'm not sure what he's trying to achieve. Even if I do accept his apology, I don't see myself being friends with him. He took advantage of my friendship in the past...I'm in a good place now. I love Ren and I'm happy and terrified all at once."
" That's valid. Has Tsuruga done anything for you to doubt him? Because I'll kill him if he has. "
"No, he's very sweet and understanding. I'm doing better at not overthinking everything. I still can't believe that he loves me back."
" You two are both love idiots….What are you going to do about Fuwa? "
Kyoko groaned. "Can I just ignore him?"
" Well you grew up with him, will he cause trouble? He didn't say your name but who knows about next time. "
"Shotaro has always been selfish and arrogant. It only dawned on me that I never once received a thank you for all I did for him. There's no changing that attitude overnight but maybe he's trying. I'm happy now. I have you and people that care for me for just being me not for what I could do for them. In a way, I'm grateful to him. I probably would have been stuck in Kyoto working in the ryokan for the rest of my life if I didn’t follow him here."
" Mo, if you put it that way that I have to thank him too. We wouldn’t have become friends, otherwise ."
"Best friends!"
Kanae groaned, " Yes, yes, best friends! "
"Kyaaaa! Moko admitted to being best friends. I’m so lucky!"
" Mo, stop it! Don’t go off-topic. You need to tell that guy loud and clear that you've moved on. This kind of guy will continue to persist and could be detrimental to your career and your relationship with Tsuruga-san. "
"You're right Moko-san. Thank you for looking out for me!"
" I'm hanging up now since you're fine. I need my beauty rest. "
"Moko, can we hang out. We can go to the Karaoke box if you don't want ice cream."
" Sure, let me know the time. Goodbye! "
"Good n-" Click
Kyoko wasn't even upset that her best friend hung up on her suddenly. She felt like the luckiest girl on the planet. Her best friend called her first, worried about her, and even agreed to hang out with her soon.
She didn't like how the threat of Sho exposing her worried her friend. She had no clue what was his main objective. Was he really trying to apologize? When she kicked him on the shin she thought he had matured a little. Kyoko sighed and tried to push thoughts of Sho out of her mind while she resumed her homework.
Finally finished with her homework, Kyoko stretched her limbs and prepared for bed. She blushed as she stared up at her ceiling lying on her futon. She held the sheets to her nose wondering if his scent lingered. It didn’t.
It warmed her heart knowing that Taisho was slowly accepting Ren. Out of respect for her landlords, they kept the door open though Okami said it wasn't necessary. Her thoughts quickly became unsettled as she thought about how Sho could possibly ruin their new relationship. She had to call him and straighten things out right away.
She settled back into bed and made the call. He picked up after the second ring.
" Hey baby, miss me already? "
Kyoko's heart quickened as a sense of warmth settled over her. Her eyes watered. It was crazy how much she already missed him.
"I," she cleared the lump from her throat. "I did," she admitted honestly.
" What's wrong?" he demanded. " Did something happen after I left? Did Fuwa show u -?"
"How did you know?" She asked incredulously. He always astounded her with his insight.
" What did he do ?" Ren practically growled over the phone. Kyoko gripped her phone. Maybe this was a bad idea. “ I’m sorry.”
He was quiet as she told him about the broadcast. "I don't know why he's doing this. Shotaro rarely apologizes. I want to move forward with my life, with you. I don't want my past popping up turning everything upside down. In a way, I'm grateful to him. If he didn't ask me to come to Tokyo, I would have never discovered my love for acting…or found you again. Do you believe in fate? I think she has been weaving her threads all along. It may not have been easy but I'm glad she made me take the detour. It made me stronger."
" I understand very well. The issues I had growing up, Rick's death. I can't help but wonder if it was all planned to lead me back to you."
"I'm sorry you had to go through that alone.” Her voice barely above a whisper. The lump was back in her throat. It saddened her that she couldn’t have been there for him the way he had been for her.
The line was silent for a few beats before Ren finally replied, "I have you now. You make me stronger ."
Kyoko smiled as peace settled over her. She was glad she could be his strength now. They couldn’t change their past but they could definitely find joy in the future with each other.
“Thank you, Corn.”
They both settled into a quiet, each lost in their thoughts, content with knowing the other was on the line.
“Corn?”
“Hmm?”
“I think I need to talk with Sho but I don’t want to upset you.”
“I’m sorry. I keep giving you a bad impression of me. I’m working on reining in my jealousy but if he hurts you in any way..."
Kyoko heard the promise as his voice trailed off not finishing his threat.
“No, I don’t want you risking yourself, your career, or everything you’ve built here like that. I can handle him. Please trust me.."
“I do trust you! It’s him I can’t trust. Even if I don’t like it, I know you need this closure.”
”Actually, I‘ll let him seek me out instead if he really has something sincere to say. I’ll tell him clearly that my heart belongs only to you.”
“I love you,” Ren responded. Kyoko hummed in reply.
“I should let you get to sleep,” he added quickly. “I’ll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams, baby.”
“Good night, Corn.” She loved him too so why was it so hard for her to just return the words. Even if she couldn’t say them, yet, she could continue to show him.
Notes:
Gomen, everyone! I apologize for taking so long to post this. Thank you for continuing to read! I hope you enjoyed!
The song Sho sang was John Lennon's, "Jealous Guy."
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 18: Love Bento
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, RenKyo would have had an official first date by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko woke up refreshed and excited to start the day. Since it was early, she had enough time to make lunch for herself, Ren and Yashiro. Her face flushed as she put the final touches on Ren's bento. It was okay if she did this much occasionally. It wouldn't make her revert into a lovesick fool that slaved in the kitchen making his favorites only to not be appreciated. This time was different. Ren was different. She hoped her feelings could reach him.
Kyoko was waiting outside when they pulled up to the curb. She bowed in greeting and scanned the area making sure no one was around when Ren stepped out of the car. The coast was clear. He always insisted that she sit on that side of the car and never made her walk around to use the other door. He was stubborn but his consideration was sweet.
Once the car was on its way, Ren asked, "Did Fuwa try anything else?"
"Oh! He didn't," she replied. She was so engrossed with thoughts of school and Ren this morning that she completely forgot about Sho. She wasn't looking forward to eventually dealing with him.
"I made lunch," she blurted out, changing the subject before talking of Sho could sour their moods. "This one is for you, Ren." She pointed to the solid wrapped box. "And the other is for Yashiro-san."
"Me too?! Thank you, Kyoko-chan. I can't wait for lunchtime," Yashiro said from the front seat. His inner fangirl squealed when he saw Ren kiss Kyoko on the top of her head in thanks from his view in the mirror.
Kyoko blushed shyly but didn't pull away when Ren entwined their hands together. They made small talk throughout the ride about work. When they neared her school, Kyoko sat up straighter. Her head darted to and fro looking out the windows.
"Yashiro-san, please pull over here. I can walk the rest of the way."
"Ehhhh?! But it's still about two blocks," Yashiro protested but did as she requested. "Somehow I feel like a shunned father whose daughter is too embarrassed to be seen with him. Daddy is just so uncool?" He said with an exaggerated pout.
Kyoko giggled while Ren rolled his eyes at their dramatic manager.
"Yashiro-san, I'm sorry for the inconvenience. It's his fault. Ren's fans would mob us if we went any closer."
Kyoko did a cursory glance out the window and found the area clear of nearby pedestrians. This was her chance. She pecked Ren on the cheek and hopped out of the car. She dashed down the remaining blocks and ducked into the school gates without looking back. She thought she would die from embarrassment. She was so brazen this morning and in front of their manager.
She entered class short of breath and her face ablaze. Several of her classmates paused in conversation to look at her. Kyoko nodded a greeting and wound her way through the desks. As soon as she took her seat, the fine hairs on the back of her neck pricked up. The remaining brigade of grudges swirled around her gleefully. Slowly but surely they were being picked off one by one as she moved on from Sho's betrayal and embraced her relationship with Ren. Kyoko scanned the room searching for the source of the menacing aura. She made contact with Mimori's fiery eyes. Kyoko groaned turning back in her seat ignoring the girl.
Kyoko could only assume that her anger had something to do with Sho. Mimori knew their history. Perhaps, she was able to decipher Sho's cryptic responses last night. The "K" reference was a dead giveaway. She offered a silent prayer to the Gods that Mimori would leave her alone today.
…
For the first time in his life, Ren experienced one of Kyoko's brain malfunctions. Did she just kiss him? In front of Yashiro? In broad daylight? His fingers reached up tentatively to touch his cheek. A small smile played on lips as he fingered the spot. He could feel the residue of lip-gloss branded upon his skin.
Yashiro caught Ren's expression in the mirror and snickered. "It seems someone is having a wonderful sun shining day!" Yashiro bounced in the driver's seat unable to contain his joy. "I'm happy for you, Ren. I can already hear the wedding bells and soon after there will be little Ren's running aro…"
Yashiro made the grave error of glancing into his rearview mirror. His happy tirade came to a stuttering halt as he struggled to keep the car on the road. The reflection of Ren's ultra-gentleman smile was blinding.
Yashiro cleared his throat regaining his composure. "Do you plan to make an announcement?"
Ren sighed and shook his head. Things were fine. The media frenzy had somewhat died down from the club night. He didn't want to get in the way of her career. They had talked it over and her positivity left him surprised. He thought she would want to hide their relationship as much as possible.
"Hiding could be fun but in the end, it would be very stressful. All the secrets…," she admitted. He nodded in understanding. He knew all about secrets. He also knew what it felt like the moment he came clean with her. It was liberating. It was like rays of sunshine finally peeking through the clouds after a long rainy season. The vice-like grip that squeezed his heart every time he manipulated a situation or lied to her was gone. That pain was particularly strong in Guam. He could have told her the truth then but instead, his insecurities won out. He continued to lie to her. He was relieved by her optimism. The thought of hiding his love for her like it was some dirty little secret he should be ashamed of did not sit well with him.
"I'm worried. I told my dad about us." The shock on her face was instantaneous.
"Y-you told Otousan about m-me, u-us?" She stuttered nervously. "W-hat did he say?"
"He's supportive but he mentioned something unsettling." Ren paused, deciding how best to break this information to her.
"Please, don't do that," She scolded. "Don't try to choose your words carefully. Tell it to me straight. I can handle whatever Otousan had to say."
"I'm sorry. It's a habit. It will take some adjusting on my part," he said weakly.
"It's okay, we both need to work on being more open with one another," Kyoko assured him.
"He said the media, the fans, they may accuse you of sleeping your way to the top." He held his breath as he waited for his words to sink in.
"That's it? No one can get anywhere if they're being lazy…" Kyoko halted her reply as she stared into his imploring eyes. He watched her face turn to horror finally understanding the meaning of his words. Her blush extended down her neck and dipped into the flowy blouse she wore.
"B- but I didn't. W-we haven't. I mean I dreamed it! How could they think that?! It would be an outright lie! I would never take advantage of you like that." Kyoko paced around the room, furiously.
Ren felt his cheeks heat up. 'Did I hear her right? She dreamed about it? What exactly does she mean by that? Is she satisfied? Could I even live up to her dreams when the time came?'
"Corn? You believe me, right?" She asked breaking through his thoughts. 'Shit! I missed what she said.'
He followed his instinct and took a chance. "Of course I do but the media can be cruel. All they care about is selling stories," he told her with a slight bitterness to his tone.
She smiled at him with renewed determination.
"Even if I'm accused of something so outlandish, I'll show them through my hard work. I'll squash any lies they can come up with."
He frowned as he watched the fight leave her eyes. She looked down at her hands as she rung them nervously. The look in her golden eyes when she glanced back up at him made his heart squeeze painfully.
"What about you Corn? Are you okay with someone like me? Your fans, your ratings. I don't want to ruin your reputation." Her voice was thick with apprehension.
He pulled her onto his lap holding her tightly against him. He wanted nothing more than to hide her, to protect her from the cruelty of the showbiz world. He knew that was a selfish solution. The world deserved to watch her blossom into the fine actress he knew she could be. They sat for a few moments as he ran his hand up and down her back in a soothing gesture.
With his other hand, he tilted her chin up to gaze into her eyes. "I can afford to lose a few fans and my reputation could take a hit if it means having you in my arms. I love you, Kyoko." He leaned down and sealed her lips with a soft kiss.
During lunch at school, Kyoko wondered if Ren was eating too. An angry Mimori interrupted her dreamy thoughts. She slipped into the empty seat next to Kyokomaking her shift uneasily in her seat. What now? Conversations with Mimori were never pleasant.
The busty model leaned in close and hissed, "What have you done to Sho-chan, you evil woman? What kind of enchantment are you using to make him pay attention to you? Mimori loves Sho-chan the most, so why would he dedicate a song to you?"
She knew it. Mimori had caught on to his performance last night. Kyoko sighed trying to keep her grudges in check; this girl was a constant reminder of her blind devotion to Sho. She turned sympathetic eyes on her classmate.
"Nanakura-san. There's nothing more that I want than for him to leave me alone. We were childhood friends while in Kyoto because his parents were my guardians. I have no romantic interest in him whatsoever. Everything is his doing."
Mimori huffed with frustration. "You're telling me you have no feelings for him!"
"Zero, nada, nothing!"
"Do you think you're too good for him just because you're a little famous? Sho-chan is way more talented and gorgeous than Tsuruga Ren."
A vein twitched at her temple as Kyoko stamped down her anger. She used to sound this stupid. She wanted nothing more than to knock some sense into this girl. There was no way an arrogant, spoiled, selfish brat like Sho could ever compete on the same level as her esteemed Senpai.
"I'm saying that I've moved on and there's nothing between us nor will there ever be. I wish you all the best with him Nanakura-san. He's all yours!"
Mimori stood up and left the room.
Kyoko sighed with relief. That stupid Sho was once again screwing with her wonderful school life and he didn't even attend class here.
Kyoko's body suddenly vibrated shaking her desk noisily. She reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out her cellphone. She smiled reading the incoming text.
Yashiro carried the bentos Kyoko made for them over to the lunch table. He was always excited when Kyoko cooked because her food was five-star restaurant quality. He took this opportunity to tease Ren a bit.
"Ah, I'm so happy to eat a home-cooked meal made from such a cute girl. I'm sure you're doubly happy since it's from Kyoko-chan!" Yashiro squealed. Ren ignored him and reached out to grab a box.
Yashiro swatted at his hand. "Now, now, Ren. You know Kyoko-chan specifically prepared this one for you." He placed the other box in front of his charge.
Ren felt invisible beads of sweat pool at his hairline. Why were they specific? He could only conclude that she filled his box with more food. He groaned inwardly at the prospect. Although he loved her cooking, he couldn't eat the amount she expected. His eyes flicked toward his manager. The man looked at him expectantly. Yashiro would tattletale on him if he didn't finish every morsel.
"Ooh Tsuruga-san, you brought your lunch? Impressive," said a costar as he settled down to sit at their table. Several more of his costars joined their table, curiosity drawing them over. Ren nodded and unwrapped his food. He removed the lid from the box and froze looking at the meal before him. His face turned a vibrant shade of red as he stared down at his food. Yashiro noticed and stopped eating. He followed Ren's line of sight down to his food and almost choked.
The rest of the people peeked over to see what he was looking at. Some gasped while others giggled as they caught a glimpse of the contents in the box. Ren covered his face with embarrassment but not before everyone at the table caught sight of his Godly smile. He was so happy Kyoko had not overfilled his box but left him a pleasant surprise.
"A love bento?" A crewmember exclaimed as he passed by the table. "How lucky to be young again."
This one meal managed to dash away any doubts he might have had concerning her feelings. The nori sitting over his rice was cut to spell out the letter "I", a heart shape, and the letter "U" in English. A pretty arrangement of heart and flower-shaped fruits and veggies decorated the meal.
Ren was so surprised by his bento, he could not contain his smile throughout the meal. He even failed to notice that Yashiro took a picture of him while he ate.
Yashiro decided not to remind him that his face was slipping. He could feel the happiness radiating from his friend.
Ren ate every bite in his box with a slight blush on his cheeks and a distant look in his eyes. Many women and several men on site swooned that day reaffirming his title as the "costar killer."
That evening a blonde-haired, green-eyed Ren knocked on the back door of Darumaya. Okami's eyes widened with surprise as he bowed in greeting.
"Tsuruga-kun?" She questioned when he stood back up. He smiled at her and nodded.
"I almost didn't recognize you."
"That's the plan. I hope this way we can go out in public without interruption." He told her with a wink.
Okami gave him an understanding smile and beckoned him inside.
Thanks to Kyoko, he had no problems donning his true appearance. He was slowly accepting himself. Out of habit, he glanced at his ticking watch, Rick's watch. He now wore it in remembrance of his friend's sacrifice. Unfortunately, it took Rick's death to turn his life around. He owed it to his friend to live his life to its fullest even if he still wished he would never be forgiven.
"Kyoko-chan is in her room. Please go ahead."
He thanked Okami and stopped in the kitchen to greet Taisho. Taisho didn't even look in his direction as he expertly sharpened his sushi knife.
"Please have Kyoko home by eleven."
Ren gulped but bowed. "I will have her home on time. Thank you."
Taisho grunted in dismissal. Ren quickly left the kitchen but not before he caught Okami reprimanding Taisho. He chuckled to himself and took the narrow steps three at a time eager to see Kyoko.
The door to her room was slightly ajar so he knocked respectfully.
"Come in," she called out, allowing him entrance. Ren stepped in while she adjusted the long blonde wig. Her glimmering sapphire eyes caught his emerald gems in the reflection of the mirror. Kyoko stopped fidgeting with the wig and gaped at him.
"Hi Corn," she greeted. Her face split into a beautiful smile as her fairy prince approached. He was so gorgeous. He looked carefree in his natural form. She glanced at his casual outfit. He could pass as a student in his jeans and t-shirt. The only remaining pieces of Ren were his watch and necklace.
He strolled up and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Hi beautiful," he said kissing the top of her head.
"Corn, do I look okay? I wasn't sure what to wear."
He took in her outfit using the mirror. She wore a pair of high waist skinny jeans with a loose-fitting hello kitty crop tee. She could wear a paper bag and he would still find her adorable.
"You look cute," he said grinning. Her outfit showed off her curves and long slim legs. If she moved just right her shirt would sway revealing the porcelain skin of her midsection.
Kyoko huffed. She didn't want to look cute. She wanted to be pretty and feminine like she belonged at his side. She was thinking like an American tourist when she got dressed even though Kuon told her to be herself. "I think it's too juvenile. I don't want you looking like a Loli-," she bit her tongue before finishing her words.
He chuckled. She clearly meant to call him a lolicon, in other words, a pedophile. Her words stung a bit, reminding him of the age difference between them. It wasn't that drastic either so he needed to get over it.
Kyoko nibbled on her bottom lip worried she had ruined the evening before it had begun. She saw her words troubled him. Even if he looked younger than his age in his true form, she didn't want to look younger than her seventeen years.
"I'm going to change," she said decidedly. She absentmindedly yanked her top off and scoured her sparse closet to find a suitable blouse. She plucked a black laced peplum top from the hanger that was more sophisticated. When she finished dressing she turned around to find Ren looking in the opposite direction with a blush on his cheeks.
Kyoko's face flamed up realizing her blunder. Oh God, he saw me topless! Well not quite topless. He saw my bra. Wait, what bra was I wearing? God, I hope it was a cute one at least! She couldn't remember and was holding back the urge to check.
She couldn't face him just yet. Trying to get over her mortification, she turned to the mirror fiddling with her wig once more until she regained her composure. Finally, she turned ready to face him.
"I'm ready."
The emperor gazed at her appreciatively. His eyes lingered on her chest a moment longer than was appropriate. The bra she wore was pink, trimmed in black lace, and little matching bows on the straps. I wonder if her underwear matches.
Kyoko folded her arms over her chest. "Corn, you pervert!" She exclaimed.
He was startled by her accusation. "Kyoko, I'm sorry-," he began his apology until he was interrupted by the tinkling bells of her laughter. She was teasing him.
His expression turned predatorial once more closing the gap between them. "You shouldn't tempt me like that," he said tracing his finger over her jawline. A sound down below startled them.
Kyoko stepped back quickly. "Sh-should we go. We don't have much time."
"One minute. I have something for you."
He pulled out a flat box from his back pocket and held it out to her.
"Corn, you don't have to keep buying me things," she scolded but took the box. Kuon's green eyes with the puppy dog expression were merciless. Her room was already filled with little trinkets he sent her over the weeks. She opened the box and found a set of iridescent blue earrings that looked like a pair of butterfly wings. She squealed with delight as she danced around the room holding them up to the light. They were so beautiful. She threw her arms around him and kissed him soundly on the lips. She released him and bounded to the mirror to put them on.
"I knew they would suit you," he said grinning when she turned around to show them off.
The couple said goodbye with Ren assuring Taisho that he would have her home on time. They walked to his car hand in hand down the back alley. Kyoko decided that since he was Kuon, the American, she also wanted to practice her English. It was decided that they would be American tourists. When in public, they would speak Americanized English. It didn't take Kyoko long to adopt his accent.
For dinner, he took her to a whimsical themed cafe in Harajuku that he thought she would appreciate. Kyoko was giddy as the hostess led them to a booth that resembled a colorful layered cake. The booth's surroundings were so high that it afforded them privacy from the other diners. The food and desserts they passed were a work of art; Kyoko thought she couldn't possibly eat them.
While waiting for the waitress to appear, they looked over the menu.
"Kuon, are you okay to eat at a place like this?" She asked him nervously.
"Hmmm," he asked slowly looking up at her over the menu. "Do you not see anything you like? It had a good rating online."
"No, no, this place is magical. I'm worried about you. It looks like there's candy in everything," she whispered.
"I'm sure I can find something. This chicken with chocolate sauce looks promising."
They deliberated over the menu a few more minutes until the waitress appeared at their table smiling. Kyoko smiled brightly at her attire. Much like the hostess she was so cute with her blue-colored hair, outrageous makeup, and candied themed dress.
"Hello, welcome. Are you ready to order?"
Kuon took command. Kyoko bit her lip to keep from giggling out loud as he placed their order using a combination of English and terrible Japanese. Their waitress could barely function as she relayed their order. Kyoko couldn't blame her. She was another victim to Kuon's foreign charm and dazzling green eyes. The hostess' shy replies grated on her nerves so much as she answered Kuon's questions that Kyoko kicked him underneath the table after the waitress left.
"Ow! What was that for?" he asked, leaning down to rub at the sore spot. He was shocked that she had actually hit him.
"Oops, I'm so sorry," she said, covering her mouth. "Are you okay? I was adjusting my feet. You're so tall and your legs are so long I misjudged the space." Her eyes radiated with insincerity.
Kuon's eyes narrowed knowingly at her. He wasn't buying it but he smiled. He was happy that she was jealous. Kyoko looked away from him innocently focusing on their surroundings. She was in awe of how far they took their theme, especially with the lighting. They kept up an easy flow of conversation until their order arrived.
As they ate, Kuon asked, "Do you have any favorite spots in Tokyo? Anywhere you want to go next time?"
"Eh, well...I haven't been able to explore the city," she told him quietly. "I never thought about it."
Kuon shoved his anger aside. She didn't have to explain further.
"I'm the same. Since I came here, I threw everything into acting. Aside from work or work-related functions, I never really ventured out to enjoy the city. How about you think of places you would like to go and we can experience them for the first time together?" He told her reaching across the table to clasp her hand.
Kyoko brightened at the idea of exploring the city together. It saddened her to know that he lived here for so long and had yet to experience the area to its fullest. He had the adoration of the whole country yet he had remained alone. She squeezed his hand back and smiled. He happily laced his fingers through hers as they finished their meal.
Kuon checked out while Kyoko waited outside. He returned with one of the cafe's signature plushies. "To commemorate our first date," he said with a smile handing it to her.
They walked around the area checking out the shops. As usual, Harajuku was teeming with life. Many tourists, domestic and foreign, flocked to this district of Shibuya to experience its unique shops and fashion culture. They came across a couple of teen girls cosplaying in frilly dresses similar to Maria's style. Ella insisted that she needed a picture of her boyfriend with them.
Using an exaggerated American accent Ella said, "Come on babe, when will we ever get the chance again?"
Kuon rolled his eyes at his girlfriend's audacity but posed between the giggling girls.
Kuon put a protective arm over her shoulder and pulled her close while they continued to walk. He didn't want to lose her in the sea of pedestrians. If it wasn't for her blonde hair he would have lost her easily. He, however, stood a good ten centimeters above most of the crowd like a lighthouse with his golden hair. He was hard to miss.
Kyoko learned not to get overly excited about anything that caught her eye in the shop windows the hard way. Kuon pulled her into the first shop that caught her attention and ended up purchasing a pretty hairpin with cherry blossoms and crystals for her. He would have bought more but she simply left him behind.
They stopped at a crepe stand where after posing for a picture with Kuon in front of the large pink heart and angel mascot sign, Kyoko ordered a vanilla with strawberry crepe drizzled with chocolate.
She had no qualms about sharing the treat with her boyfriend. Kuon leaned down and licked some cream she had off the side of her lip.
"Mmmm, my kind of sweet."
Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest as she avoided Kuon's smoldering gaze. He chuckled as her cheeks heated up.
When they finished their dessert, they headed to the movie. He let her pick and said next time it would be his choice. She chose the movie, "The Lies She Loved." She was intrigued by the title. The main character's lover of five years had a brain aneurysm and fell into a coma. It was then that she learned that all this time, living together, he was using an alias. She hired a private investigator to find out the truth. What they discovered was heartbreaking? He had been a successful young surgeon up until his wife, unbeknownst to him, suffered from postpartum depression and killed both their baby and herself.
By the end of the movie, she was in tears. Kuon sat there silently watching her. That movie hit so close to home. He was glad he told her everything about him. He could never have imagined pursuing a relationship with her if she didn't know his past. He pulled her into his arms as she quietly sobbed into his chest.
"I'm sorry. It was just so sad and yet so beautiful. All this time she was anxious but it was her. It was always her." The character thought the worse of him only to find out this tragic truth. In the end, she chose to stay with him despite his lies. The movie ended suddenly with him waking up from his coma.
Kuon kissed her tears away and trailed his way to her lips. They sat in the dim-lit theater in their little world. Kyoko wrapped her arms around his neck returning his kisses. When they pulled apart she was smiling again.
On the drive home, Kuon turned the music volume down as they continued to discuss the movie.
"I hope someday I could move people with my performance like that on the big screen."
Kuon reached for her hand. "Me too, let's work hard together!" He said gracing her with his divine smile. She squeezed his hand in return and nodded.
As they sat in silence, the beat of the low music caught her attention. "Can I raise this?" She asked looking at Kuon. He released her hand and turned up the volume.
The electronic music filled the car. She tapped her hand on her thigh to the beat of the music. The female vocalist came on and repetitively sang, "I don't eat, I don't sleep, I do nothing but think of you..."
She turned wide eyes on her boyfriend. Was this the kind of music he listened too? He kept his eyes focused on the road avoiding her as a slight blush crept on to his cheeks.
"You keep me under your spell...You keep me under your spell..."
Her shoulders started to shake as laughter bubbled from deep within her gut. A small chuckle escaped his lips as he glanced at her. He gripped her hand again. She found another side to her cool senpai.
When Kuon pulled over a couple of blocks down from the Darumaya, he turned serious eyes on her and crushed his mouth to hers. The song reminded him of the yearning he felt for her over the past year. The longing had been unbearable. The need to kiss her, touch her but unable to do so for fear of tainting her with his darkness had left him lonely. She was here, solely his, in his arms accepting his flaws and all. He wanted to make up for the lost time.
He ran his tongue over the seam of her lips. She parted them knowing what he wanted her to do. Her tongue snaked out and touched his tentatively. Soon they were passionately exchanging kisses. She moaned into his mouth increasing his desire for her. Kuon knew he had to be the sensible one. He was getting too excited over the little sounds she made. He felt her shiver in his arms and knew they needed to stop. She was sensitive to his every touch and every kiss made him burn with need. He was the first to pull away ending their makeout session with tiny pecks. He stepped out of the car and took deep calming breaths of the cool night air before heading over to her side. It was nearing her curfew. He didn't want to get on the bad side of her landlords. He opened the door and helped her out of the car.
They walked hand in hand toward the entrance of the Darumaya. Kuon stopped her right outside the door and pulled her in for a passionate kiss goodbye.
She smiled in a daze and said good night against his lips.
"I love you, baby. Get some sleep. We have an early shoot."
She groaned at the reminder that her first photoshoot with R'Mandy was tomorrow.
"You'll be fine. Your esteem senpai will be right beside you."
With one final peck on the lips, he let her go inside. Kuon walked a few meters then turned back toward the restaurant. He watched her bedroom light up. She opened her curtains and waved. He kissed his hand and waved back.
He walked to his car like he was on a cloud. He didn't notice that two separate pairs of eyes watched him leave. The darker pair was steeped in hatred while the lighter pair blurred with moisture.
Notes:
Thanks for continuing to read. I hope this brings you all some joy during this time of uncertainty. Stay safe and healthy!
The song playing in the car was Desire's, "Under Your Spell."
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 19: I'm Sorry
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would have shut down Sho a long time ago... but then we wouldn't have such an amazing story. XD
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Shoko rapped lightly on the closed door and waited. Nothing. She repeated the process but knocked a little harder this time. She held her breath waiting for any stirring on the other side. Still nothing. She banged on the door frantically as worry overcame her. This time when there was no response she grasped the doorknob and opened the door. Shoko stomped over to stand in front of the teen slumped on the edge of the bed with his head hung low.
She looked him over and tsked. He wore the same clothes from the night before when he left for his walk. Before he stomped out the door last night, she reminded him of the consequences should he go near Kyoko. He left in a huff. He didn't answer any of her calls and sent her one insufferable text stating that she was not his mother and he would be back later. Annoyed by his behavior, she turned in for the night without confirming his safe return.
Shoko turned sympathetic as she took in his poor condition. By the looks of it, nothing good happened last night. He was agitated yesterday. She assumed he expected Kyoko to come crawling back to him after his public apology. It was at the tip of her tongue to ask him if Kyoko even watched the show but she kept her mouth shut not wanting to aggravate him further. As the day wore on Shoko could see his mood darken whenever he checked his phone. His foul mood didn't affect his work per se, but Shoko had spent so much time with him to recognize the subtle change. His smile was strained and his eyes lacked the vibrancy it normally had when he greeted his fans. The fact that he wasn't showing the usual thrill when his fans focused solely on him was a telltale sign that he was trying hard to conceal his true feelings.
Despite what many thought, Sho had a strong work ethic so she tried to appeal to that professional side of him. She went into manager mode and ranted about his tight schedule. They needed to leave in twenty minutes and still, Sho remained rooted on the bed. Was he sleeping?
"Sho, are you even listening to me?" Shoko asked exasperatedly. The guy was going to give her deep wrinkles.
She knelt before him and looked up to his face. "Hey," she said, touching him gently on the knee. The haunted look in his normally bright blue eyes made her flinch. She sighed at the dark shadows beneath his eyes. It was a good thing he liked wearing sunglasses indoors.
"Sho? Is everything okay?" Shoko asked, shaking his leg to get his attention.
...
Sho blinked rapidly. His eyes were dry from staring out at nothing and keeping his contacts on for too long. He refused to close his eyes to sleep. The scene he witnessed last night replayed in his mind whenever he closed them.
He grew bored waiting for any sign that Kyoko was home. It was bad enough she had him skulking around outside of the restaurant like a creepy stalker. There was no way he could enter. Not after the way he acted with Taisho.
Since she changed her number without telling him, none of his calls were getting through. He was aggravated that she had yet to show up begging him to take her back. Didn't she realize what a privilege it was for him to dedicate a song to her? Most girls would be tripping over themselves for such attention. In the past, she would have been right there waiting at home ready to lay on the heavy praise.
He watched a lovey-dovey foreign couple walk hand in hand towards the restaurant. Where were they going? The restaurant was closed at this time during the week. They spoke English. He caught a hint of their conversation from his distance. They were both attractive. Probably foreign models, he thought. He watched the woman look up at the man lovingly as he said something to her. He whisked her into his arms and gave her a passionate kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back enthusiastically. Sho eye-rolled them. Jeez, get a room. He heard the "I love you'' the man declared before they parted ways.
Sho frowned with confusion. He watched the man stop on the sidewalk turn around then wave. Sho followed the direction of his gaze. There, in an upstairs window, stood the girl he had known all his life waving back.
Realization crashed over him like a tsunami. He felt the air expel from his lungs as if he was just sucker-punched in the gut. Kyoko was the foreign woman. He wouldn't have believed it if he had not seen it with his own eyes. It had been her standing in the street minutes earlier for anyone to witness kissing, really kissing, a foreigner. Sho mentally shivered. If that was Kyoko in disguise then that man, considering his height, could only be no other than his mortal enemy.
Sho froze in place, grateful to be hidden in the shadows. His normal response would have been to rant about the powers of that soul-sucking demoness. He would have probably even gloated about his enemy having no originality; pfft not just any Japanese could pull off blonde hair. However, at that moment, he felt nothing but despair. He clutched at the pain in his chest. The world became blurry. His other hand drifted to his eyes rubbing at them. His hand came away covered in moisture. He didn't know how long he stood there in a daze huddled in the shadows. He eventually made his way back home and collapsed at the foot of his bed in defeat.
That was how Shoko found him that morning when she barged into his room. The nightmarish scene replayed in his mind over and over until he couldn't take it anymore. The way she looked at him. The way she smiled at him. The way she kissed him. But most of all the words she said to him. Sho paused in his musings as a faint glimmer of hope replaced his morbid thoughts. Could it be? He needed to talk to her as soon as possible before things escalated with him.
He was finally aware of his surroundings. He sat up straighter and blinked down at his manager. His eyes burned from lack of sleep but he didn't care. He was on a mission.
"Shoko what's my schedule for today? No matter what, there's something I need to do!" Sho told her with renewed determination.
Kyoko let out another loud yawn while the hairstylist put the finishing touches on her hair. The stylist laughed at her.
Kyoko blushed, "I'm sorry. I'm usually an early riser but today I can't seem to shake this fatigue."
Yashiro entered her makeshift dressing room handing her a cup of tea. "Thank you, Yashiro-san. I hope the caffeine wakes me up soon."
"You know, Kyoko-chan, it's not good for an actress or model, to be sleep-deprived. You need your
beauty rest. I hope you didn't stay up playing last night knowing you had to work early."
He couldn't resist teasing her. Ren was in the same state across the way in his dressing room. He knew for a fact that they didn't spend the night together because he picked them up in their respective homes.
Kyoko flushed red and stammered, "Eh! It's not like that! I was home at a decent hour. It was the sleeping part that was the problem. I was so excited about this job that I was restless." That and a certain blonde-haired green-eyed casanova kept invading her dreams.
With the prep work finished, Kyoko stepped out of the makeshift changing room in the retail space Fuji rented to use as the home base for today's photoshoot.
Fuji clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Come on beautiful people! We have a small window to get this done. I don't want to lose natural lighting." He walked up to Kyoko and caressed her face lovingly. "Absolutely gorgeous! I love it when I'm right!"
He directed the makeup artist to keep it natural. With the right hairstyle and outfit, she could pass for a woman in her early 20s. The artist used neutral shades of shadow, black mascara to volumize her lashes and a soft blush on her glowing skin. Her minimal makeup was offset with a bold red lip. Her long raven hair was slicked back with mousse and cascaded down her back.
Kyoko felt feminine and sexy for the first time in her life. The makeover she had for the Dark Moon party could not compare. The outfit Fuji put her in was a black body-hugging skirt that stopped below the knee. The top was a fitted cropped tank top that left her toned midriff bare. Fuji held up a metallic faux leather motorcycle jacket for Kyoko to shrug on. An assistant helped her slip her feet into a pair of suede peep toe ankle boots to complete the look.
Ren walked out of his side of the dressing room and caught sight of Kyoko. His heart rate instantly sped up as he took in all of her, starting with her feet. His eyes traveled slowly up her long shapely legs, to the round of her hips, pausing a hair's breadth at the exposed skin of her navel and continued until he met her...lips. She saw, more than heard, his sharp intake of breath. His body tensed. It was only for a second but she noticed. His eyes finally drifted to hers. His piercing gaze made Kyoko's toes curl.
Kyoko felt her face heating up and broke eye contact first. She distracted herself with his appearance. He wore a black suit effortlessly. His top buttons were undone accentuating his collarbone and his tie hung loosely around his neck. His hair was windblown and wild as if he used his fingers instead of a proper comb to rake it back. God, he was sexy.
Fuji cleared his throat. "Okay kids, let's not start any fires here." He was giddy with excitement. He loved their chemistry. He could feel the sexual tension radiating off of them.
"First off, let me introduce you to our photographer, Sousuke. He's a genius with a camera. Ren has worked with him several times so this is more for Kyoko-chan's sake. I promise he'll be nice today."
Kyoko bowed to the photographer, "Sousuke-san, please take care of me. I will try to do my best in delivering a favorable performance."
"I'm looking forward to working with you, Kyoko-san. Please take care of me as well."
"Okay moving on. This first part is crucial because we have a limited time," Fuji said, turning to Kyoko and Ren. "The concept is simple. You're both lovers of the night. Tokyo is your playground. We are shooting this after a night of revelry. Where the two of you happen to meet on the pedestrian bridge in the wee hours of the morning. We'll take individual shots first and then we'll move on to the couple shots."
Everyone moved outdoors to the site the crew had set up on the overpass. There were a few commuters on the road aiding Fuji's overall aesthetic for the shoot. Sousuke positioned Kyoko under the street light. To start he had her pose looking out over the streets into the distance. Kyoko leaned against the railing with her back to it facing the camera. She made subtle changes in her pose all the while Sousuke clicked away. He drilled into her two key things: keep the garment's shape in mind and always be aware of the lighting. He spent a significant amount of time on Kyoko until he captured the right expression for Fuji.
They moved quickly to Ren staged at the base of the stairwell. His vast experience in modeling was apparent to Kyoko. He needed little guidance as he nailed pose after pose. His session was done in half the time. Fuji scanned the footage and gave the thumbs up to move on.
For the couple portion of the shoot, Fuji gave them one simple instruction that left Kyoko baffled.
"Flirt."
Kyoko froze. Flirt? What do you mean by flirt? Natsu is the flirt, not me!
Ren wrapped his arm around her waist and nipped her ear. She should have been embarrassed but the action made her giggle. Ren took the lead until she relaxed. She pulled from her experience as Natsu and forgot about the camera. Ren relinquished control and let her take the lead for the remainder of the shoot. Before Kyoko knew it, she was pulling him down by the tie, closing the already small space between their lips. Ren went along willingly.
"That was wonderful you two!" Fuji exclaimed, interrupting them before they could kiss. Ren cast a furious glare at the designer but Fuji waved him away.
Kyoko blinked rapidly. She was in a very compromising position. She released his tie and bowed in apology to hide her crimson face. She covered her face with her hands to try and suppress the heat. A few crew members giggled at her and many congratulated her on a job well done.
"Okay," Fuji said, clapping rapidly to get everyone's attention. "We're moving to the next outfits before we completely lose the ambiance."
Kyoko noticed the sun peeking out over the horizon. The rest of the shoot went by in a whirl. It was a whole new experience for her. If she didn't have the guidance from everyone around her she would have been overwhelmed. She looked at her senpai with renewed awe. It was amazing that he could juggle both modeling and acting.
After the shoot, she settled next to Ren in the backseat as Yashiro drove them to her movie location.
"Tired?" Ren asked.
Kyoko nodded. Just a few minutes ago she was running on pure adrenaline and now she felt herself crashing fast from that high. She leaned her head on Ren's shoulder and closed her eyes. Just for a second, she told herself.
Yashiro peeked in the rearview mirror when he stopped outside the Sacred Lotus set. Ren had his head back and eyes closed while Kyoko laid against him. He giggled like a schoolgirl and took a picture of them. For their wedding day. They'll thank me later.
He cleared his throat loudly, startling them awake.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I slept the whole way. I didn't mean to use you as a pillow."
"It was my pleasure," he told her with a wicked grin. Kyoko could only blush at his words.
"Next time, I'll be sure to bring my sheep along," he said chuckling. Kyoko blushed deeper at the mention of the pillow she bought him for his birthday.
There were too many people outside of the studio today that Kyoko opted to get out of the car with one final squeeze of Ren's hand.
"Will you be okay by yourself?" Ren asked as she stepped out of the car.
"I'll be fine," she assured them. Kimiko had left her alone and only stuck to Cedric whenever she came to watch. She waved back to them before walking into the building.
Koga watched Momiji and Chidori act out their scene. Filming had been going well that soon they would transfer to the outdoor location. They were ahead of schedule despite the challenges with Cedric's language barrier. He was a quick learner and with the help of his assistants, he managed to complete his part successfully so far.
His eyes darted curiously to the young woman standing next to Cedric. Kimiko told them she was taking a hiatus from acting and came often on the pretense to regain her confidence. Koga wasn't buying that excuse. It was obvious that the girl had a crush on the American. When he asked Cedric about it, the guy responded with an, "in the past maybe but now we're just good friends," type of response. Koga noticed her shift of behavior whenever Kyoko was near. It was suspicious. He sounded paranoid but convinced himself that he should keep an eye on her anyway.
There it was again. He detected a small flicker of hatred directed at either the actress playing Chidori or Momiji. He decided it was probably the latter of the two. She was one scary actress if she could hide her true nature that well behind the cutesy teenage persona. Koga scratched his head. What a pain. He felt sorry for Kyoko; she really did have it rough.
Kyoko left her dressing room after a long day of filming when the person she least wanted to see called out and grabbed her by the hand.
"Oi, Kyoko, can we talk?"
Kyoko closed her eyes and counted to ten willing the apparition of her so-called childhood friend to go away. She opened her eyes and yet his figure remained. She sighed with resignation and nodded.
"Can we go somewhere more private?" He inclined his head towards her dressing room.
There was no way she was going to leave herself alone with him. Discretion never worked out in her favor in the past.
"No, Shotaro. If you want to talk to me. We do it out here."
She watched him struggle within himself as he fought a retort. He ran his hands through his bleached blonde hair and looked down the hall nervously. Kyoko shifted uncomfortably. Maybe this place wasn't such a good idea either. It was empty since filming was still underway.
"Did you hear my song? I...I sang it for you." Sho stuttered out, rubbing the back of his neck.
Kyoko's eyes widened with bewilderment. She never saw this insecure side to Sho. He was always so arrogant and prickly. Her grudges circled her protectively waiting for him to reveal his true motives.
"I wanted to apologize to you for...for everything."
Kyoko folded her arms around her and raised an eyebrow waiting for him to elaborate.
Sho took another deep breath before continuing. "For taking advantage of your kindness. For ditching you. For hurting you. For not being able to help you with your mom. I felt like I couldn't do anything for you since my parents showered me with affection. It was like rubbing salt in your wounds. I was...an idiot! I wish...I wish we could just go ba-." He shook his head, cutting off his words.
His sincere apology surprised her and made her sad. She didn't know her relationship with her mother disturbed him so much. She knew her crying troubled him that's why she sought solace elsewhere. It was there she met her fairy prince. She looked at Sho in a new light. It was because of him that she met Corn for the first time when she was six years old. She doubted things could have been different given that knowledge.
"C-can you say something?" Sho asked, apprehensively.
She didn't know what he wanted from her. There was no going back. She assumed he almost wished they could go back to the time when she was a foolish girl that followed after him blindly.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Shotaro. It's too late. Two years ago I would have been happy hearing these words from you. You were my rock, my prince, my reason for doing my best. I felt like I could endure anything if you were by my side. You threw that all back in my face and it hurt! You hurt me and you continue to hurt me!"
She told herself not to get emotional but her control was slipping. He needed to know now that he was finally listening. The residual hurt and anger that continued to fuel her need for vengeance were finally being released.
"Kyoko, I just ..."
Kyoko cut him off as she poured her heart out in anguish.
"Were we ever really friends, Sho? Friends don't treat friends the way you treated me! I've realized it now that our friendship was always one-sided. You've never done anything for me that didn't benefit you. I can't recall if you ever said a simple 'Thank You' to me."
Sho froze at the sight of the droplets pouring from her eyes. It was the same heart-wrenching sob she used to do when they were kids. The kind that always dumbfounded Sho. Even now, almost ten years later, he still didn't know how to comfort her. She cried like that only when it involved her mother. It dawned on him now that he was on an even plane with her mother. He did this to her. It made him feel wretched.
...
Ren and Yashiro walked into the studio looking for Kyoko. The plan was for her to accompany him on his last job for the night and they would have dinner. He glanced around the main filming area but didn't see her. He stopped and asked a crew member who waved him towards the dressing rooms. As he beaded in that direction, he noticed Sho's manager fidgeting at the entrance to the hall.
Ren's aura turned dark, startling his manager. He knew what her presence there implied. That jackass was probably starting trouble with Kyoko again. He hastened his steps and covered the distance in seconds leaving Yashiro behind. Shoko clasped his arm to keep him from entering. He growled at her. She released his arm taking a step back in fear.
"Let them be for now," Shoko said after taking a shaky breath. "They need to talk to move forward. He won't hurt her."
"Like the time he slapped her? What about emotionally? How many times has he done that?" Ren couldn't keep the venom out of his voice as he accused Shoko of not doing her job properly.
Shoko turned away embarrassed, unable to defend herself. He brushed past her and entered the hall. He could hear Kyoko's faint crying. He could tell that her crying came from deep within her soul. His heart wrenched. He wanted to go to her immediately and sink his fist into that punk's face. But something held him back from doing so. He needed to let this play out. She needed to find closure. They had yet to notice him. He hung back, leaning against the wall and watching them intently. He wanted to be near in case the bastard got physical.
...
Kyoko composed herself and dashed the tears from her eyes. She always felt better after a good cry and she was done shedding tears over him. Sho finally relaxed when she was finished.
"Shotaro, I will forever be grateful to you and your family. You took me in and cared for me in your own way. It was my need to not burden anyone that caused my problems. If you had not asked me selfishly to come with you I would have still been stuck in Kyoto. I found a new life here in acting, with my friends, with Ren. I love him and he loves me! I won't let you ruin things for me."
Sho stared at her in shock. It was the last hope he was hanging on to as he realized that last night the bastard was the only one that said the words. His eyes stung and a muscle in his jaw twitched as he listened to her.
"You're naïve Kyoko! A guy like him only wants one thing from you and that's to get in your pants! He can't possibly…" Kyoko's reflex was so quick Sho didn't see it coming. She slapped him across the face. She ignored the pain in her hand.
"You don't know the first thing about him! He has shown me more kindness in the last year than you've ever shown me in our lifetime together. I don't doubt that he loves me! He treats me like a queen and in his eyes, I am the most beautiful woman in the world. He loves me for me and not for what I can do for him!"
Kyoko closed her eyes and counted to ten. She inhaled slowly regaining her composure.
"Shotaro, I'm asking you now to please let's stop doing this. I'm already tired of it. I've already given up on you and my silly quest for revenge. You were my best friend growing up. Thank you for being there for me even if it was just my delusions. It helped me cope. I'm better now. I'm fine, so just let me go. I'll see you around." Bowing to him she turned on her heel.
Her steps faltered when she saw Ren. How much had he heard? She walked towards him, taking shaky breaths.
"Kyoko!" Sho exclaimed. Her name ricocheted off the walls.
She turned to scold him for being loud while they were still filming. It was her turn to be shocked. Sho kneeled on the floor dirtying his designer jeans and dropped into a dogeza.
"I'm sorry Kyoko," he said loudly but not screaming like earlier with his forehead to the floor.
Never in her life did she think Sho was capable of doing that for her.
She smiled and said, "Thank you, Shotaro." Kyoko waved and proceeded to Ren.
It was her old smile. The one that was reserved just for him. Images of their time in Kyoto flashed through his mind. She would never call him Sho-chan again and he would no longer receive presents or treats made just for him. Tears pricked his eyes as he realized he finally had to grow up and let her go. He could never have made her happy. He was just too selfish.
For a long time, Sho had been her reason for living. Now she was living for herself. She smiled radiantly at the man in front of her. A weight had been lifted from her. He smiled warmly and enveloped her into his arms. Arms that gave her strength and made her feel safe, cherished, and loved.
Notes:
Hiya! Thank you for reading and I hope this brings you joy. Friendly reminder that this story is at 122 chapters on Fanfiction.net in case you wanted something to read during these trying times. I'm simply using A03 to clean it up some.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 20: Divine Punishment
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, the LoveMe Girls would have more Karaoke time.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kanae sat with her legs crossed and arms folded. A vein above her eyebrow twitched as her irritation reached its maximum level. "They're five minutes late!" she grumbled to herself. Did they think she had nothing better to do with her time? It irritated her that her schedule was lax right now that she ended up arriving early for their outing. Just because she had time, it didn't mean she wanted to waste it. She took out her phone prepared to blast her friends through text.
The door to the karaoke box burst open. "Moookoooo-saaaaaaannn!" screamed her self-proclaimed best friend as the girl rushed to Kanae for some skinship.
"Mo! How long did you guys make me wait?"
She stopped Kyoko before she could launch her hug attack.
"I'm sorry, Moko-san," Kyoko said, tears springing to her eyes. "We tried to get here as soon as we could but we hit a bit of traffic."
"Are your phones broken?"
"We didn't think a few minutes would be a big deal," Chiori responded and took a seat on the opposite sofa.
"Mo, stop it. It's fine, just go sit over there already." Kanae said, waving Kyoko's pitiful self away.
Kyoko brightened again now that Kanae wasn't mad and took a seat next to Chiori.
"Moko-san, you have news right? That's why you wanted to meet up. What did Producer Kuresaki say? Are you going to be a princess? Or a rich lady? Or an action heroine?" Kyoko asked eagerly. Her big saucer-like eyes frightened Kanae.
Kanae sighed and shook her head. She didn't know how to break the news to her friend. Kyoko quieted down when she saw the serious look on Kanae's face.
"I did talk to Producer Kuresaki, but I'm still not sure about the role. He wants me to meet the Director first. There's nothing concrete right now."
"Ooh, that's good news! When do you get to meet the Director? I'm dying to know what role you'll be playing. I'll be sure to watch it."
"The meeting will take place in a week or so," she said dejectedly.
"That's great Moko! This could be your chance to act. Why aren't you excited about it?" Kyoko asked, tilting her head in a confused manner.
Kanae didn't immediately respond. She contemplated the discussion she had with Uesugi-dono. She went to him to apologize for not clinching the Chidori role after all the training she received from him. She felt like a failure. It surprised her that he wasn't angry or annoyed. He assured her that she was strong and she would be able to overcome this minor setback. He even wished her luck in her new role.
"I'm still upset about letting Uesugi-dono down. I may not have liked the role but I hate to fail." Kanae waved the air to change the subject. "Enough about me, what's new with you two?"
Kyoko and Chiori looked to protest but Kanae's stern face kept them quiet. They looked at each other and nodded.
Chiori went first. "I'm stuck doing that variety show. I swear I don't understand how those mediocre celebrities could go on TV and humiliate themselves. Have they no dignity? Takarada-san gave me an impossible challenge, but if this is what I need to do to get back into acting then I'll do it."
Chiori was the least busy of the three girls. These days she was the only one regularly in the LoveMe room reviewing annoying dramas. She still couldn't grasp the point of what Lory expected her to learn from watching Kawagoe Michika act. That was probably the reason for the ever-growing pile of DVDs to include other similar young actresses.
Kyoko and Kanae chuckled at their friend's plight.
"You guys laugh because it's not you," Chiori muttered. She had a lot to say in her notebook about them.
Both girls then turned to Kyoko, the most interesting of the trio.
"Mo, spill all of your secrets or I'm never speaking to you again," Kanae threatened.
"Moko-san, you're so mean! Please don't say you'll cut ties with me. I'll tell you whatever you want to know if I'm able to," Kyoko said, pouting cutely.
"I got one. Are you guys doing it yet?" Chiori asked mischievously.
Kyoko was aware of Chiori's bluntness but she didn't expect her to get right down to the juicy details. Her face flamed up with the blush extending over the rest of her body. She found herself stuttering nonsense in her embarrassment.
"Amamiya-san, th- there's no way. I'm only seventeen. It would be a crime for him to have such an intimate relationship with a minor!" Kyoko exclaimed.
"What are you going on about? The crime is not sleeping with him. You're already legal to get married. But what I'm hearing is that you're using your age as an excuse. If you were eighteen you would be jumping his bones, right?" Chiori teased.
...
Kyoko squirmed in her seat. Could Chiori read minds? Could she see all the dirty little thoughts Kyoko had of him?
"That's not what I meant at all," Kyoko exclaimed. "It's just I don't know if I'm ready to take that step. It hasn't even been that long since he confessed."
It wasn't necessarily a lie. Just because she dreamed of being with him intimately almost every night, didn't mean she was ready to make that a reality. Insecurities don't disappear overnight.
"Are you telling me that Japan's most desirable man hasn't tried to seduce you yet? How boring? We know you guys already kissed so just tell us the deets," said Chiori.
"He's very respectful and patient with me. All we do is k- kiss." Kyoko's cheeks turned a darker shade of red as she admitted that much out loud to her friends.
She would never tell anyone about her perverted dreams of Ren including her best friends. Her subconscious knew no bounds and continued to torture her in the wee hours of the night. It was her fault for researching the matter.
She used her phone to browse the internet and made sure to delete the history when she was done. She couldn't have anyone knowing what she was doing least of all him. Some images came on her search that she wished she never saw. The different sizes of men's intimate parts, especially those well endowed, frightened her. Taking his physical attributes into consideration, she wondered how big he was in comparison. There were instances when he brushed against her but she couldn't gauge the size just by that.
Her friends exchanged knowing glances.
"Mo! It's okay, right. When you love someone the feelings of wanting to kiss and touch them are normal." Kanae reassured her.
"I'm also afraid that he would get bored with me. What if he dumps me for a more experienced woman, like Kana?" Kyoko murmured.
Chiori chimed in first. "You can't think like that. Don't let those thoughts pressure you into doing something you aren't ready for."
"I doubt that. He's been pining after you for so long, it wouldn't surprise me if he already has a ring picked out," Kanae told her.
"Eh, what do you mean for so long? Moko-san you knew already and never told me."
"Mo! I told you he was jealous in this very room when you did that guy's PV! It was so obvious the way he treated you. You didn't see him offering me any acting tips or free rides. I'm his Kohai too. I swear you can be so dense," scolded Kanae. "Speaking of that guy, did you ever settle things with him?"
"You mean Shotaro? We talked and I think we resolved some things. I don't think he will be bothering me anymore. I haven't seen him on the set so maybe my talk with him worked and he's keeping his distance. Plus, his parents came to visit me. I was able to apologize properly for leaving. I think I can close that chapter of my life and continue to move forward with my dream."
"Well, that's good as long as you cleared everything up with him."
Kanae was relieved to hear that guy wouldn't be bothering her anymore. She could leave her knowing she'd be fine.
The discussion turned once again to work. Kyoko told them about her first photoshoot with R'Mandy but as she spoke it dawned on her just how she landed the job. She stopped mid-sentence with a disturbed look on her face.
"Mo, what's wrong?" Kanae asked, poking her friend on the forehead.
"Oh, uh, nothing. I just thought of something I forgot." Kyoko said, trying to cover her anxiety.
"Spill it!" said Chiori, "It will help if you can talk it through with us."
Kyoko inhaled deeply. "I just realized that it was my connection through Ren that landed me the job. I'm sure the media would have a field day if they knew," she said quietly, feeling inadequate.
"Mo! Stop that nonsense. You may have met the designer through Tsuruga-san but it was you, yourself, that snagged his interest. It's customary in this business to make connections this way. Performing the job successfully and building up a good reputation is up to you. Tsuruga-san can't do that for you."
Chiori agreed. "Kotonami-san is right. It's all about who you know. Then you have to back it up with talent and skill. We all know you have the means to back it up too. Don't worry too much about it. Anyone that says otherwise is a hypocrite."
Kyoko felt better with the support of her friends. She told Ren precisely that and yet when it finally came to light she reverted to her insecure ways. She needed to be stronger when the actual situation arose.
"I wanted to ask you guys if you were free before the awards ceremony. I was thinking we can cash in that voucher I won from the club. We can be pampered before such a nerve-wracking night."
Kanae bit her lip. "I won't be attending that night."
"Why not, Moko-san? Isn't the drama with Hio-kun up for an award too?"
Kanae nodded yes. "I'm not going because I have to meet that Director."
"Surely a meeting like that wouldn't take that long to complete," Kyoko asked her friend, still confused.
"Err, well you see the meeting is not local. The role I was offered is an international one," Kanae responded.
"What?!" both Kyoko and Chidori screamed in unison.
"Moko-san are you saying that you will be leaving? For how long?" Kyoko asked bewilderedly.
"As I told you, I still have to meet with the Director in America," Kanae said guiltily.
"America! So cruel Moko-san! Were you going to keep such fantastic news to yourself?" Kyoko asked with tears pricking the corner of her eyes
Kanae sighed in irritation. She planned on telling her while she was at the airport. She didn't want to be responsible for that hurt puppy dog look that her friend was displaying. Now that she revealed the truth she would have to live with the consequences until she left.
"Mo! I was planning on telling you. You'll be fine without me for a little bit. You can call me or send me an email... Mo! Stop looking at me like that. It's not like we're going to stop being best friends just because of a little distance," she scolded.
Kyoko perked up and threw her arms around her friend. She was so happy Moko-san said it herself that they were best friends.
"Mo! Let me go now. You're squishing me. How about you see if we can use the voucher in the city and we'll have another girls day before I leave?" Kanae suggested. She wanted to make Kyoko happy before she left. She wasn't privy to a schedule. She didn't know how long she would be away. The possibility of being sent packing after the meeting didn't even cross her mind. She was determined.
"Moko-san, I'm so happy for you. You're going to be an international film star. Soon the world will see what a beautiful and talented best friend I have. I can't wait to see your film. I'm sure you'll be incredible." Kyoko began gushing. She floated off to La La land as she continued to praise her friend.
Kanae cut her friend off. "Mo! Enough, let's sing before we have to get back to work."
...
After settling the bill, the girls walked out to find Yashiro waiting for them. He leaned against the hood of his car, ankles crossed with hands in his pockets looking off into the distance. He looked like he just stepped out of a magazine ad. He straightened up when he noticed the girls. Kanae felt the familiar tug at her heartstrings when he smiled and greeted them. How had she failed to notice that even in his professional manager attire he was good looking?
What's with this situation?
Kyoko and Chiori manipulated her into sitting in the front seat with him. She would be lying if she was a little disappointed that nothing had changed since the night of the club. She sighed internally. What was she thinking? She was striving to become a top actress; there was no time for romance. That, of course, was a lousy excuse. Her friend was living proof that one could have both. Regardless, she was leaving anyway so it wasn't wise to enter into a relationship. She stole another glance at the man next to her…. Maybe when I return.
Later that night, Yashiro bid Ren and Kyoko good night as he dropped them off at Ren's apartment. He handed them thick packets and told them to look over the job offers. He filtered them based on their schedule and appropriateness. He also told them that R'Mandy's preview shots and magazine were included. Their ads would go live in magazines, electronic billboards, and shop posters tomorrow. Once Yashiro left, Ren breathed deeply.
I can do this!
His resolve wasn't going to be tested just yet as they headed to the grocery store in the basement level connected to his building.
"Ren, what would you like to eat?" Kyoko asked while he happily pushed the cart. There was something incredibly domestic about this whole situation. He wished this could be an everyday occurrence.
"Can you help me make Maui omu rice again?" he asked sheepishly recalling the last time he cooked the dish for her. He wanted to replace the memory with a less loaded one.
Kyoko paused to look and face him. She was searching for signs that his demons were haunting him. "Did something happen at work today?" she asked worriedly.
He smiled genuinely and shook his head no. "I just want to be able to make it edible for you and hopefully improve from there. One day it might even taste delicious."
She nodded convinced that he wasn't hiding anything from her and helped him select the ingredients needed. In the checkout line, she convincingly made him go back for a missing ingredient that she knew for a fact this store didn't carry. He was better equipped to retrieve it quickly without holding up the line. He returned empty-handed. She giggled at having so cleverly tricked him to pay for the groceries without argument.
"You know, since I selfishly asked you for dinner, it's only right that I pay."
"You're always spending money on me. Please let me repay your kindness every once in a while," she told him as they made their way out of the store.
"I can think of more fascinating ways you can repay me," He told her in a husky voice reserved for the Emperor.
"Perhaps, it can be arranged," she replied in a sultry voice of her own. Tit for tat.
Kyoko spun on her heel and walked towards the elevator before he noticed her blushing. Inner Kyoko screamed in shock over her boldness. She knew he was teasing her but there was no way she was going to let him win. She reminded herself to keep cool. She turned around to him when her emotions were under control. He stood where she left him.
"Coming?" she asked innocently and pressed the elevator button.
That's what she said. He chuckled under his breath at his joke. His mind always went straight to the gutter. He was using tonight to test his control when they were alone. She had not been to his place since he confessed. He often chose to meet her at the Darumaya instead. He couldn't keep inconveniencing the owners especially if his presence eventually caused them problems. He needed to look temptation in the eye if he wanted to overcome it.
"What's so funny?" She asked as they stepped into the elevator. He shook his head but said nothing.
Once the doors closed, he turned hot eyes towards her. He stepped close to her as she backed into the wall. She felt like a cornered prey about to be gobbled up. He leaned down, his mouth close to her lips. She closed her eyes and waited with bated breath for his kiss.
Kyoko blinked her eyes open at the sound of rustling and the loss of his warmth. He stood away with a smirk on his face now carrying the grocery bags she was once holding. Kyoko huffed at his sneakiness. She observed her Senpai from the corner of her eye and found his body language curious. He appeared rigid, almost like a bowstring ready to snap. He teased her first but he seemed to be suffering as well. She smiled to herself knowing she had the same effect on him as he did her.
She set her stuff down and followed him into the kitchen. They cooked side by side in harmony with Kyoko giving him pointers on how to make the dish properly. It was her first time seeing his newly acquired knife skills in action. She was impressed. When the meal was done, it was a vast improvement from the last time but the egg wrap still proved difficult for him. He handed the bottle of ketchup for her to cast her magic. He smiled warmly when she asked him to garnish hers as well.
They moved to the living room to eat on the coffee table. He turned on the TV and put on one of his shows that he recorded. He scrolled through the list quickly. They were all her shows and some Dark Moon. He clicked on a past episode of Yappa Kimagure Rock he had yet to watch. He laughed as Kyoko groaned.
It shocked him that she was the chicken. The chicken was the only other person he spoke honestly with. That in itself should have raised a red flag for him. There was something about the chicken that made him drop his guard. Now he knew why. It still baffled him that she never caught on that the highschool girl he mentioned was her. After watching more episodes of the idol show, he didn't know how he missed it. Bo's mannerisms on the show were just like hers in real life.
"Corn, I didn't know you were a fan of teenage dramas."
Kuon blushed slightly. Darn, she noticed his list despite how fast he tried to scroll past. He didn't want to come off as a creeper.
"I'm not a fan of teenage dramas. I'm a fan of you," he admitted, making her blush.
There seriously had to be a limit to how much a person could blush. Kyoko was sure it couldn't be healthy to have so much blood rush to one's head several times a day when in the vicinity of this man.
With an itadakimasu, they dug into their dinner. They exchanged looks after the first bite and smiled. It was pretty delicious despite its appearance.
"I think Rick would be proud of this dish, Corn," Kyoko said.
For a brief moment, Kuon's eyes looked melancholy as thoughts of his friend filled his mind.
"I think you're right." He replied, taking another mouthful.
They cleaned up after dinner and then went through the packets. Kyoko's folder was significantly smaller than his but she was glad to have work. She had an offer for another bully role cameo on another long-running drama series playing a jealous ex-girlfriend. She looked over the role and didn't see anything wrong with it. She learned never to deny work. The most exciting thing in the packet was a CM offer for a high-end cosmetics brand. Kyoko couldn't wait to start that job.
Kuon found it enjoyable to have someone he could discuss work with on a personal level. Her drive to improve in the field rivaled his own. He wished some of these included her but he was glad she was being noticed. Every now and again he would ask her opinion on a role. She didn't realize it but she made the most interesting faces whenever he mentioned any romantic roles. He found her jealousy so adorable he just had to peck her on the cheek.
"What was that for?"
"For being cute."
Kyoko put her documents back into the respective folder. She would tell Yashiro about her decisions in the morning.
"Kuon, can I look at this?" She held up the R'Mandy envelope while he continued to sort through his offers. He glanced up and nodded.
Kyoko smiled appreciatively as she took in the picture of Ren on the front cover of a popular men's magazine. Although this was for men, Kyoko was sure the female populace of Japan would be the main consumers with him gracing the cover. The photo showed him leaning against the railing with hands in his pockets looking boldly at the camera. She flipped it open to the marked pages and found more pictures. The next picture was of them on the bridge under the lamplight. Her eyes were hooded with a glint of gold irises peeking between her lashes. Her head was lifted and cocked to the side giving Ren access to her neck as his deep brown eyes hypnotized the camera. Kyoko gasped. The Emperor stared back at her from the page.
Curious to her reaction, Kuon peeked over to see what surprised her. He was shocked. He didn't think himself capable of making such an expression.
A worried look crossed Kyoko's face as she thought about the influx of fans he's bound to acquire. The Emperor was no longer her secret.
"What's wrong?" He asked, sensing her mood.
"I'm just worried. I might have to fight women off of you now that you've shown the Emperor of the Night to the world," she grumbled.
He pulled her onto his lap and gazed into her eyes. "There will be no other woman for me other than you."
"I know. I'm just a bit sad that the Emperor has been exposed," she said quietly. At least in Dark Moon, he showed up in flashes. It was now captured on a photo for all to see as much as they wanted.
"Why do you keep saying, Emperor?" Kuon asked, looking for an explanation.
She lifted the magazine to him. "This guy right here is the Emperor. You unleash him on me several times a day. I'm just being petty," she said waving her hand in dismissal.
He chortled, "Only you can bring this kind of expression out of me."
"Not true! Momose-san was able to do it during the Katsuki test," she said defensively.
"That was because of your help the night before. I just recalled the feeling of you in my arms on my kitchen floor. Do you remember?"
"How can I forget? You asked me if I had experience kissing like a perverted Sensei," she said with a slight blush on her cheeks.
He chuckled and ran his thumb over her lips just like that night. He held back that night but he was no longer playing the nice Senpai with her. He touched his lips to hers gently. He could handle light kissing.
All reason flew out the window when she shifted on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him back eagerly causing him to respond in kind. And just like that, he failed today's test.
He laid her down on the floor without breaking the kiss. He drank in the sigh that escaped her lips as his weight settled on her. He groaned as he felt himself pressing into her thigh between his legs. He hesitated for a moment waiting for any sign that she was uncomfortable. He got the exact opposite when she rocked her hips against his leg. If she noticed his growing erection, she didn't say anything and kept kissing him.
He let his free hand caress the length of her arm and down until it settled on her hip. She rocked again making him shiver. He knew he should put an end to this before things escalated beyond his control but his fingers itched to touch her skin.
She had to feel what she was doing to him by now. He was practically digging into her hip. His fingers slid under her shirt reveling in the feel of her silky skin. He lingered on the skin above her waistband before trailing his fingers up to cup her breast.
She gasped at the heat his fingers generated through her lace bra. No one had ever touched her so intimately before. He was close when she was Setsu but she narrowly avoided that encounter because she was genuinely angry at the time. Kyoko jerked her hips up in response to relieve the ache gathering between her thighs. She moaned at the new sensations his thumb elicited. He traced small deliberate circles over the tip of her breast. It felt so good. She kissed him harder, her tongue sweeping along the inside of his mouth. His fingers tugged at the lace and touched her bare flesh.
Kyoko was only half aware of what was happening to her. She could feel moisture pooling between her thighs and knew her panties were drenched. She let out a small whimper when he released her breast and moved it to her leg. He stayed there stroking her thigh gently. Kyoko felt herself calming down. His hand traveled up, gripped her ass and rolled over placing her on top. The quick movement broke their kiss and had Kyoko gasping in pain.
Kuon's eyes flew open and saw the pain registered on her face. Tears pooled in her eyes.
"Are you okay? I didn't mean to hurt you," He said sitting them up quickly. He had taken things too far. He realized things were getting out of hand and tried to slow things down. He had no intention of letting things go any further than making out and in this case touching. He didn't mean to be rough.
"I'm sorry. I ruined things with my silliness." She swiped at her eyes to wipe the tears that sprouted.
"No, I'm sorry. I let things get too far. I should have stopped long ago. I'm such an idiot." He cursed his stupidity.
"Oh no, Corn, it's not your fault. It's just I'm still sensitive there. I fell on set and didn't realize that the pain was still lingering. I probably have a bruise on my bu…leg. Nothing you were doing hurt me...I liked it." She said, giving him a shy smile.
He liked it too but now was not the time. "May I ask what happened on set."
"Oh! It's really silly how clumsy I could be."
Kuon frowned, she was too graceful to ever be considered clumsy. He waited for her to continue.
"It was during a fight scene. I lost my balance and landed most ungracefully on my backside."
She didn't mention that there was some sort of spill on the ground where her mark was that ensured her downfall. The Director was angry with the crew to have made such a mistake that could have caused big problems for not only the production but the safety of those on set.
"Can I get you some ice or something? Pain reliever?" he asked, hoping to make things better.
"I'm fine. It's only when direct pressure is applied that it becomes painful."
Kuon blushed at the reminder of his actions earlier. He couldn't see this situation as a total failure. He was working his way to calming them both down before the abrupt ending.
"It's getting pretty late should I take you home. I'm sure Taisho wouldn't be too pleased if I have you out too past curfew," he suggested.
"If you don't mind, can I stay a little longer? We can watch TV." She asked sweetly. Kuon smiled and moved to the couch patting the seat next to him.
Within a few minutes of her snuggling in his arms, she was fast asleep. Kuon sighed at her defenselessness. When did she become so unguarded with him? Kami-sama was playing cruel tricks on him again.
He reached for his phone and called Taisho. He explained the situation and told him that she would be staying the night in his guestroom. After the third degree, Kuon hung up and carried Kyoko to the guest room. He caressed her face and kissed her forehead. He left the room hastily before temptation could overrule his logic.
He took a cold shower that night to regain his focus. When that wasn't enough he guiltily masturbated under the cold stream conjuring erotic images of the delectable little creature sleeping in the other room. He didn't know how he was going to make it. She was far too tempting.
Kyoko woke in the middle of the night confused. She was on a soft mattress rather than her futon.
I'm in his guest room.
She went to the bathroom and prepared for bed. She slipped into the PJs he bought her and settled back into bed. She stared at the crack under the door for any sign that he was awake. She couldn't fall back to sleep. With her heart pounding, she made a conscious decision and rolled out of bed.
She found him sleeping soundly in the middle of the enormous bed. She slid under the covers next to him and into his arms. After what they shared earlier, sleeping in the same bed shouldn't be a problem. After all, they've done it before as Cain and Setsu. Kyoko forgot that she actually didn't sleep that night.
Kuon woke when he felt her crawling into his bed. He lifted his arm in invitation. He was shirtless but wore his pajama pants. He pulled her back towards his chest and kept his arm around her waist. She wiggled her bottom against his groin innocently trying to get comfortable.
Kuon groaned. "Baby, you're making it difficult for me to sleep." His hard-on came back full force. Whatever happened to the monk-like abilities he used to possessed? Kyoko yawned and apologized. Within a few seconds, she was fast asleep in his arms. It took him longer to fall asleep as he inhaled the sweet scent of her hair and relished how perfect she fit in his arms. This was definitely divine punishment
Notes:
Thank you for reading everyone. I hope you enjoyed!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 21: Delightful Dream
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Yashiro's work would never be over even after they become a couple.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko surprised Yashiro as she dashed out of the elevator with Ren trailing behind. His inner fangirl squealed with glee when he discovered that his female charge spent the night again. He doubted anything indecent happened since he knew Ren would treasure her.
As he drove to Kyoko's school, he wanted to take back his words. What was with this heavy atmosphere? Yashiro's sixth sense confirmed that something did happen. He glanced at Ren in the rearview mirror. Ren thought his usually impassive face was concealing his emotions. Unfortunately for him, Yashiro had become used to seeing Ren's "so happy together" face these last few weeks that he noticed something was wrong with his favorite couple. Did they fight? Already? This wasn't good.
He turned his attention to Kyoko. She was practically sitting on the door handle trying to put as much distance between her and Ren as possible. He couldn't see her face clearly since she stared intently out the window.
Yashiro sighed with dismay. He felt his workload increase as he racked his mind with ideas to remedy their situation. He knew from experience that if something negative happened between them it would bleed into their work.
"I was so surprised to find Kyo-," he broke off his sentence when he caught sight of Ren's ultra gentleman smile in the rearview mirror. He decided to wait until he was alone with Ren to badger him. He hoped Kyoko would be fine at school today without addressing the issue.
Yashiro dropped Kyoko at the same curb as last time. She scrambled out of the car and bowed to both of them. Her eyes made brief contact with Ren's making her face instantly flame up. She bolted off down the sidewalk and into the school gates.
"Ren, mind telling me why Kyoko is avoiding you like the plague? Wait?! D-d-did you guys….IT?" Yashiro stammered out. His inner fangirl did a back handspring to cheer Ren on for a job well done; however, his rational side tempered said fangirl.
"Yashiro-san, please don't jump to such dramatic conclusions because your heart desires it. It's not as bad as you're implying," Ren said, flinching then flushing red.
"Ah-ha! You did do something! It's okay as long as it's mutual consent and doesn't affect your work. I won't judge. But looking at the way she's reacting, you need to do some damage control otherwise you might end up back at square one."
Ren sighed. Yashiro was right. It would be horrible if she started avoiding him again. He couldn't bear it. He pulled out his phone to send a text, I'm sorry. Please don't shut me out, I love you. Have a good day in class.
Kyoko was bombarded by her classmates as soon as she took her seat. All of them talked excitedly at once. She had no clue what was going on until one of them pointed out her picture in a magazine for the R'Mandy fall collection. She was highlighted in the photo while Ren was a distance away. He was out of focus but it was still obvious that the model was him. She leaned against the railing and rested her chin in her hand. She bit her index finger as she contemplated the man walking toward her.
Her classmates talked incessantly about her clothes, makeup and overall how gorgeous she looked. Idol boys that never gave her the time of day struck up a conversation with her. They seemed to have forgotten that they never paid her any mind in the past. She didn't like their attention. She couldn't help but feel that they were only being nice because she was a little relevant and because Ren was her partner. She shook off these negative feelings and remembered the chat with her friends. She listened closely to what her fellow celebrity classmates said. They were complimenting her work in the piece and not merely focusing on Ren. Perhaps, maybe, they really are looking at her. She readjusted her mind and began responding appreciatively. After all, a celebrity was nothing without fans, especially a newbie like her.
By the time Yashiro picked her up, she declined three confessions and dealt with a couple of jealous senior girls tampering with her footlocker. Too bad for them, she had lots of practice with this amateur stuff. Naa-chan screamed to have a go at them.
"Rough day?" He asked as she slumped into the back seat, her perfect posture was forgotten. She told him about the attention she received at school because of the R'mandy photos.
He chuckled. "That's to be expected."
She grumbled about the confessions she received.
"I don't understand how boys can be so shallow. They didn't know I existed until those photos."
Yashiro cringed. "Unfortunately, that's how this industry works. One day you're in, the next day you're out." Ren, the world is starting to notice your hidden princess.
As they drove through downtown, Kyoko was astonished to find her face along with Ren's plastered everywhere: on digital displays on the side of bus stops, but most of all on the giant LED screens on buildings at the heart of Tokyo for all to see. Those screens pictured the Emperor. Right beside him was her image with golden flirtatious eyes, smirking red lips, and hand clenching the tie undone around his neck as he inhaled her hair with his eyes closed. Kyoko covered her face in embarrassment. How could she look so seductive? Natsu and Setsu were the sexy ones, not her.
Following Ren's eyes as they drove passed, she was reminded of what transpired this morning. Her face was now an inferno. She managed to get through her school day because she acted as the model student and never broke character. The lectures and classmates had kept her mind grounded; otherwise, she would have melted into a puddle of a mess right from the get-go.
Yashiro broke up her thoughts, "You and Ren were all the buzz wherever we went. The paparazzi followed him around all day. Naturally, his typical 'no comment' infuriated them. I won't be surprised if your offers increased after this."
Kyoko hummed her response. She kept her face looking out the window to keep Yashiro from noticing her burning face.
"Also, Fuji-san would like you to visit his studio for a final fitting of your dress. The awards show is fast approaching. I can't wait to see your beauty grace the red carpet." He gushed. "The crowd, Ren included, would be speechless that night."
The excitement over the dress Fuji conjured up for her managed to consume her mind. She couldn't wait to try it on again. According to Fuji's expert opinion, it looked sexy and cute at the same time on her. If she concentrated on the details of its fabrication she could skirt by an hour until she needed another topic to fixate on. Any other topic but him.
"By the way, Kyoko-chan, is your phone off? I believe Ren was trying to reach you earlier."
Kyoko felt her resolve crumble as her astute manager brought her attention back to him.
"Ehhh?" Kyoko fumbled for her phone and sure enough, it was off. The battery was dead. She forgot to plug it in last night to charge because she...No, don't go there Kyoko.
"Yashiro-san, can I please use your phone to call Ren? My battery is dead."
Ren checked his phone for the millionth time that day. He let out a melancholy sigh; no new messages or missed calls. It was out of character for her not to respond to him. Even in her most uncomfortable state in the past, she always returned his call out of proprietary. This was really bad for her to blatantly ignore him. He kept distracted from his thoughts while he worked but during long breaks like this one, images of this morning floated through his mind.
She felt real wrapped in his arms with his morning wood nestled against her firm behind. He licked and nibbled on the lobe of the woman he loved while his hand caressed her breast. With her eyes still closed, she turned towards him and threw a thigh over his hip then circled his neck with her arms pulling him closer.
He hooked a hand around her knee and pulled her in. He groaned in ecstasy as he rubbed his throbbing cock against her. She rocked against him closing her mouth over his. This was by far the most delightful dream he ever had. Their tongues mated slowly in a seductive dance. He lingered there enjoying the taste of her for a few moments then kissed his way to her neck alternating between nipping and sucking at the smooth column. She threw her head back to give him better access while her hips rocked to the slow rhythm he set. The little sounds she made threatened to undo him. He growled against her skin as she quivered in his arms.
Even in his dream, he was a masochist. To prolong his torture, he pulled his body away from the warmth of hers since he was on the verge of having a wet dream of his own. He trailed soft kisses down the length of her neck to her collar bone and slowly down her chest. She nearly came off the bed when his mouth closed over her breast. He found her nipple with his mouth and through her tank top he sucked at her mound using his tongue to slowly work her nipple hard. His other hand was softly caressing her other breast rolling her nipple between his index finger and thumb, tweaking occasionally. She arched her back and let out a low erotic moan that increased his desire.
Kuon was delighted to find that Dream Kyoko's breasts were very sensitive. With each lick, each suck, and each flick she writhed and mewled beneath him. If touching her through her shirt did this much he could only imagine how she would react without the barrier. He rolled up her shirt baring her breasts to him.
His eyes darkened as he took in the sight of her porcelain skin and rosy tips. He leaned down and sucked her breast into his mouth. Her reaction was instantaneous as she bucked her hips and dug one of her hands into his scalp holding him captive against her. It was painful but it only made him want to please her even more.
A hand slid its way down to the cleft between her legs. Even outside her pants, he could feel her wet heat. He stroked the entrance of her core and used the heel of his hand to press against her sensitive mound. Above him, he heard her gasp and she bucked into his hand. His tongue continued to roll over her hardened peak while his free hand flicked her other nipple. She finally released her hold on his head allowing him to lift up and gaze at her. Her head flared side to side and her fingers clawed into the sheets. Her reaction was so honest it was breathtaking. He could tell she was close as her shallow breathing and loud moans filled his ears. He never let up even when she was screaming his name and convulsing beneath him from the strength of her release.
"Oh, God," she said smiling blissfully down at him. Her lusty eyes blinked rapidly and then opened wide in horror.
"Oh my God!"
Kuon pulled off her breast with a pop. Confusion over her outburst settled over him. He knew in his mind that his expression of horror matched hers as realization dawned on him. In a blink of an eye, he darted off the bed like it was on fire. His chest heaved as the enormity of what just transpired between them finally clicked in his mind. His hands moved quickly to desperately cover his erection from her.
"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Kyoko screamed as she ran out of his room yanking her shirt down in the process.
Ren hung his head in shame. In a flash, his delectable dream turned out to be a waking nightmare. The erotic dreams that plagued him for so long had probably just cost him the woman he loved. She slipped into his bed in the middle of the night and managed to fall asleep in his arms with no regard for the danger. There was no one else to blame but himself. How could he have been so stupid? He needed to make this right somehow. He couldn't lose her. Not now, not after they were finally together. He would start with an apology even if it was a lie. He didn't think she would appreciate a sorry, not sorry from him right now. He loved every fucking minute of it and judging from her reaction, she did too.
He had chased after her only to have her slam her bathroom door in his face. He could hear her incoherent muttering from behind the door. It somewhat relieved him. She was adorable when flustered. He decided to leave her alone for now and pray she didn't leave while he cleaned himself up.
In his bathroom, he chuckled wryly after discovering his pants sticky with pre-come. It was ridiculous that he was still painfully hard when he stepped into the shower. He closed his eyes and let the cold spray help him focus. His eyes flashed open when he heard the echo of her moans loud and clear in his head. The cold water was absolutely useless. He stared down, willing his little head to shrink. He had endured almost a year and even survived the few weeks with her as the Heels. Why couldn't it obey him? He sighed in defeat and reached for the soap. There was only one sure way he could remedy this problem. He worked the soap into a lather over his length. He closed his eyes and let the images of her wash over him as he stroked himself. The memory of her writhing under him was enough to bring him to climax quickly. Biting his fist to keep his voice down, he exploded in his hand as he recalled her expression when she came.
She had locked herself in her room until it was time to leave. He thanked the Gods that she was still in the apartment when he came out of the shower. The threat that he was only drinking coffee for breakfast was not enough to coax her out to face him. It was only when he told her Yashiro was here that she came out. He felt like scum when she wouldn't look him in the eye. Since there was no hiding from him in the confined space of the elevator, he tried to broach the topic. She vehemently refused to discuss it. He kept silent after that since he was agitating her. She just needed time.
The knock on his dressing room door startled him back to the present. It was time to get back to work. He looked at his phone one last time and returned to the set with a heavy heart.
Kyoko was relieved she got his voicemail. She apologized for missing his calls and explained that her phone battery died. She paused and glanced at Yashiro. He had to be straining to eavesdrop on the call. She wanted to say more but hung up instead. She would call him later at home. Yashiro's crestfallen face in the reflection of the mirror made Kyoko giggle despite her conflicting emotions.
When they arrived at the Sacred Lotus set, many complimented her on a job well done with the R'Mandy ads. After greeting everyone, Kyoko entered her dressing room and found three different deliveries waiting for her. The first gift was an adorable stuffed animal with a small box of chocolate-dipped strawberries. The card read: Please forgive me my Princess, love Corn.
The second was a large bouquet of a dozen gorgeous deep red roses. Kyoko smiled and inhaled the sweet scent of the flowers before opening the card. She had a hunch of the sender. Please forgive me my Princess, love Ren.
The third was a gift bag from a posh department store. Kyoko removed the tissue paper from the bag and reached in to pull out its contents. It contained a box of perfume. But it wasn't any ordinary perfume. It was Odette! The designer perfume she gushed over that reminded her of the Swan Princess. Please forgive me my Princess, love K.
Kyoko let out a shaky laugh as she looked over the different gifts. What did the staff think when they were delivered? She hid the cards in her bag and hoped no one read them. She felt like she was stringing along three men. What was the silly guy thinking?
Her behavior this morning probably made him think she was upset with him. She was incredibly embarrassed by her actions and couldn't muster the courage to face him. She felt terrible now since the gifts were underserved and he spent so much money on her. She should be the one apologizing, not him. This morning was entirely her fault. She had impurely inserted herself into his bed last night. It didn't help matters that she thought she was having another one of her sexually charged dreams with him. She was sure she made the first move.
She buried her face in her hands ashamed of her hypocrisy. She just told her friends that she wasn't ready to get intimate with him and here she was unable to stop when things became heated. What she failed to tell them was that not only was she afraid that he would find her boring but he would also find her lacking physically. She didn't have the curves that men preferred on a woman. She was able to play young Kuon so easily because her body was suited more for a boy. She thought if he saw her, he would be disappointed.
And then the worse happened. With the dim light filtering in from the slits of the curtain, she saw the horror in his brilliant green eyes. It terrified her that if she could see him, he too could see her. His expression pierced her heart. The thought that he was disgusted by her lack of sex appeal instantly crossed her mind at that moment. It was only now after receiving his apologies that she once again might have misunderstood him.
She sighed loudly, glad that Yashiro wasn't in the room yet. It gave her time to sort her jumbled thoughts. The saying old habits die hard was indeed true in her case.
Her first instinct of self-preservation was to run and hide from him in the bathroom. In her state of panic, she was able to ignore him on the other side of the door. She stared at her reflection and marveled at the red splotches on her face, neck, and chest.
In her dressing room, she fingered the dark spot on her neck hidden beneath the cover of makeup. Her fingers glided down her blouse to where she knew another spot existed on her breast. Moisture pooled between her legs as her perverted feelings from earlier danced through her mind. She shuddered at the euphoric memory his hand gave her. She took a cold shower that morning hoping it would calm her down. It barely helped.
Kyoko was saved from her unsavory thoughts by the knock on her door. Yashiro entered the room with the makeup artist and hairstylist to get started on her Momiji transformation.
"Wow, Kyoko-san you're very popular today," the makeup artist commented. The set was buzzing about her photos with Ren.
Yashiro admired the trio of gifts. His lack of response gave Kyoko the impression that he was aware they were from Ren.
...
Koga flagged down Kyoko when she finally arrived on the set. She greeted Koga and Asahina, the actress playing Chidori, while they waited for the director's instructions.
"Ah Kyoko-chan, it looks like Japan is taking notice of you! I was very surprised to wake up to your gorgeous face on every corner of my lovely city. Has he been taking good care of you?" Koga teased. The crimson bloomed instantly over Momiji's natural makeup.
Koga chuckled at her embarrassment. Judging from that response things must be progressing well with them. They won't be able to hide their relationship for too long. He thought about tipping off the tabloids but something like that could easily ruin the budding relationship. He wanted to get them together, not split them apart.
He decided to prod her a little more just for fun. "Perhaps if you find him inadequate, I can always take his place."
"Hiromune-san, I assure you. You're not necessary. He's more than capable!" she responded, taking the bait. She covered her mouth horrified by what she revealed. She looked around hoping no one else heard. Asahina giggled at her expense.
Koga raised his eyebrows at her innocently. "Well, if it doesn't work out you can always come to this Onii-san. These arms will gladly take care of you."
He laughed when she folded her arms haughtily. She made this too easy. "I noticed you're still receiving presents from various men. At least there was one from him this time."
Kyoko blanched at him, she hoped he didn't find out they were all from the same person. She needed Ren to be more careful lest his secret got out.
...
"Cut!" Director Morizumi called out. "Kyoko-san, something is a bit off. Although you're still acting out the feelings of unrequited love, you're not hiding your despair as expected of Momiji's character. The expressions you are giving are wonderful but they should come as the film progresses."
Kyoko bowed and apologized. They had been filming for the past three hours, this was the last scene that the Director wanted to accomplish today. She managed to complete the action scenes flawlessly but now that it came to the scenes with quiet emotion she was struggling to get a grip on Momiji's feelings.
Kyoko closed her eyes to regain her composure. She clenched her fist to her chest and thought, I am Momiji. Her eyebrow twitched as horror-filled green eyes flashed in her mind.
She shook her head vigorously to clear her thoughts. I am a trained assassin living for only one man. This time a sexy smirk danced across her closed lids. She ignored it. She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly invoking the meditation technique of Hiou's grandfather. She could hear the stern old man's voice echoing in her head as he drilled the ninja creed into her.
I am Momiji!
Finally, Kyoko regained a grip on her character. She executed the scene flawlessly as Director Morizumi expected. She reverted to the time when she hid her feelings from Ren. With that life experience vivid in her mind, she was able to grasp Momiji again. Her relationship status with him had changed which unfortunately changed Momiji's feelings. It was painful but she went back to her state of mind before he confessed in order to get the scene right. Once she had a handle on Momiji's feelings, her old unrequited feelings, the rest of the filming progressed without any major hitches.
He gazed at the beauty holding a bouquet of roses as she walked the short distance from the main street to the rear entrance of the building. His chest constricted at the thought that he might have lost her. He admired her natural grace and committed her every move to memory like it was his last seeing her. She stopped when she was close to the door and turned. She waved down the street. It was only then that he noticed her manager waited until that moment to drive off. As luck would have it, the alley was too crowded tonight for the car to come down at this hour. The Gods had not forsaken him completely. This was his chance. He stepped out from the shadows to intercept her before she went inside.
"Kuon!" She screamed as she grabbed her chest in fright. After the initial shock wore off, she appeared relieved to see him. That had to be another good sign.
"What are you doing skulking in the shadows?" She exclaimed. "You nearly scared me to death!"
He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the shadows. "I'm sorry, baby. I had to see you. I became delirious when I didn't hear from you all day. If you have to tie my hands up at night just to feel safe around me then I'm willing to do it. Just please don't say that it's ov-."
...
Kyoko grabbed his shirt before he could finish and crushed her lips against his smothering his words. She caught him by surprise but he didn't hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted. He kissed her as desperately as she kissed him.
She realized she overreacted this morning due to her embarrassment. The look he gave her wasn't because he found her unflattering; it was because his actions alone filled him with guilt. There was nothing wrong with being touched or touching the one you treasured the most, even outside of your dreams.
"I only just found you," she confessed when they broke for air. "There's no way I'm giving you up!"
"I'm so glad," Kuon said with relief and buried his face in her neck.
Notes:
Hehehe I perv hard for these two. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 22: Earth Shakes
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would try to figure out Cedric's motives.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Okami-san roused Kyoko from her bed. Blinking the sleep from her eyes she realized that everything was shaking. Okami-san helped her to stand but before they reached the door it suddenly stopped. She was relieved that it was over. Although earthquakes were frequent in Japan due to its location on the Pacific Rim, Kyoko could never get used to them. They were glad to find it was only a small tremor. Aside from a few misplaced items in the kitchen and toppled chairs in the dining room, the restaurant came out relatively unscathed.
The set was a bit chaotic as crew members worked to right the studio. Kyoko and Yahshiro hung back, surveying the damage before greeting the director.
"Kyoko-san, good morning. Due to the earthquake, it may take some time before we start so please head to your dressing room to prepare," Jouji Morizumi directed her.
"Yes, Director." She bowed and headed for her dressing room with Yashiro.
"I wonder how such a small tremor could cause such significant damage," Kyoko said as she walked.
"I wonder as well. I'm so embarrassed that I slept through the whole thing," Yashiro admitted with a sheepish smile.
"I would have slept through it if the Okami had not roused me." Kyoko gave him an understanding smile.
In her dressing room, she ran her fingers over the silk threads of her beautiful costume. The kimono was a deep red with cranes rising from the hem and decorating the long sleeves. Her hands moved to the obi. The colors reminded her of a sun setting over the sea. The lead designer instructed her on how to drape the garment so it hung loosely on her in a provocative manner.
Wearing it in that manner exposed her collarbone and the lower half of her legs when she walked. Kyoko swallowed her embarrassment and embraced Momiji's undercover persona. When she came out from the changing screen, the assistant designer handed her a kunai and a cloth for her to practice the scene. Momiji would be undercover as a lady of the night.
...
"You could probably turn it this way and then tie it. Just make sure not to stab yourself." Yashiro gave Kyoko pointers on the best way to bind the blade to her leg without its detection. He was quite proud of her progress in this profession.
"Where did the modest girl I know go?" Yashiro teased by pretending to cover his eyes while Kyoko unabashedly displayed her well-toned leg right before him. Kyoko's cheeks heated up but she didn't cover herself.
"Yashiro-san, don't be silly. You…" She paused searching for the correct description for him. "You give off a big sister feel."
Yashiro nearly choked on his tongue. What did that mean? Did she find him feminine? Did he give off that vibe?
"I want to practice the scene. Do you think you can film me like you do Ren?"
The audacity! She really didn't see him as a man. He needed to find himself a girlfriend, stat! An image of a cool long-haired beauty flashed through his mind.
Yashiro didn't want to be accused of discriminating between his charges so he dutifully recorded the scene as requested with his phone. With a conniving smile, he happily sent a copy to Ren just to torture his friend.
...
Kyoko finished watching the video Yashiro filmed when a knock came at the door indicating that she was required on the set in five minutes.
Kyoko was in a good mood since everyone was being extra friendly to her after Yashiro left to make some phone calls. It was odd that several of the male crew members offered her refreshments before she even began filming. As she approached the set she bowed to Cedric and his translator in greeting. "Good afternoon, Kyoko-san," he replied in decent Japanese. His annunciation and accent of the greeting improved significantly since his arrival.
Kyoko stood wary of him. By her standards, she was blatantly rude and hardly interacted with him unless they were in a scene together. She felt it a direct betrayal to Ren if she conversed with him more than necessary for work. Everyone on the set seemed to get along fine with him. So far there were no issues regarding his work. Maybe he changed, just like Kuon.
Resonating with her undercover Momiji, Kyoko decided to do some reconnaissance. "Bennett-san, if it's not too presumptuous of me, may I ask how you find Japan?" If he was here for Ren it was her duty to protect him.
The translator went to work instantly and relayed her question. Kyoko realized she could have just asked him in English but decided to keep that added barrier between them.
"I like it well enough. Everyone is so kind and generous but it's not home. There are always certain aspects of home that a person can miss...food, friends, family." He rubbed the back of his neck before continuing. "Truth be told, I'm hiding from the American paparazzi."
"Huh?" Kyoko gawked after the translator repeated his words. A scandal? So he's still a bad guy.
"Hold on, don't sentence me yet. I just came out of a relationship that didn't end well. My ex is extorting me so I came to lay low. It's rough when you come from a well-known family," he said with embarrassment.
"Oh, I'm sorry Bennett-san. That was entirely too much information," She said bowing. Was over sharing an American thing? Kuon must have spent too much time in Japan since he was reserved. Cedric chuckled as the translator relayed her statement.
"It's okay. It's not a secret. My life is practically on display twenty-four seven in the States. I have nothing to hide from the Japanese. You have all been kind," he assured her with a crooked smile.
Kyoko was more confused than ever. Her grudges weren't detecting anything malicious from him.
"Ric," came a sweet voice from the entrance of the studio that grated on Kyoko's ears.
Kyoko hid her surprise when Cedric groaned. It was barely audible but she heard it. Kimiko bounded her way up to him and latched herself to his arm.
Cedric had no idea what had spawned this clinginess from her but it was becoming bothersome. She hinted at something more the other night but he knew better than to get entangled with friends. He would normally shake off women that gave off stalker vibes but she was obviously going through something right now. He wanted to be a good friend.
Kyoko bit the inside of her cheek and bowed to Kimiko. She hated that she had to play this game. Kimiko's eyes flashed after looking over Kyoko's outfit. She looked like she was about to say something but instead focused on Cedric.
"Ric, will you be my escort to the Award Ceremony?" Kimiko asked. She looked at him with large doe-eyes.
Kyoko kept her expression neutral as she willed him to decline. Having them there would put a damper on the evening. It was annoying that Kimiko found herself a loophole to Erika's ultimatum. Erika's deal was simple; Kimiko was not allowed to act again or she would release the balcony footage. Since Kimiko's family revolved around the showbiz world, there was no way to remove her completely from the limelight. She was technically not violating the deal.
"Kyoko-san, will you be attending?" Cedric asked without her answering Kimiko. If looks could kill, Kyoko would have died on the spot.
"Yes Bennett-san, I will be attending," she replied with a small nod.
"I'm surprised that you received an invitation since you're only a talento in your agency," Kimiko added innocently.
Kyoko's eye twitched at the jab. Her grudges stirred restlessly. They were well behaved these days thanks to a certain man that kept rendering them useless. Please, mistress, they begged. Let us have her. We still can't forgive her! She got off way too easy last time.
"She was nominated for best-supporting actress for her role as Mio-sama," Koga interjected as he stepped into the little circle.
Kyoko's grudges stood down. She smiled with gratitude and silently thanked Koga for saving the situation.
Koga stepped out of the dressing rooms and found Kyoko flanked by Cedric and Kimiko. He didn't have anything against Cedric but he didn't want the man falling victim to Kyoko's charms. He didn't want to add him to her list of admirers.
"What?!" Kimiko gasped. Her disgusted look of shock betrayed her good girl persona.
Kyoko bowed her head shyly. "I'm honored to be considered for this award. It's all thanks to Director Ogata and my experienced co-stars. With their guidance, I was able to pull off a decent performance."
"Don't be modest, Kyoko-chan. I hate people that can't acknowledge their achievements. You earned it," Koga scolded.
Kyoko squeaked and ducked her head in apology.
"That's great, Kyoko-san. Congratulations on the nomination," Cedric joined in the praise after listening to the translation.
Kimiko schooled her face and smiled sweetly congratulating Kyoko on a job well done. Kyoko shivered. Kimiko reminded her of a snake when she turned that false smile towards her. She looked like she was swallowing needles for all the sincerity she put into commending Kyoko. It was obvious that it physically pained Kimiko to compliment her.
She watched Kimiko switch off her malice and smile genuinely at Cedric. "Would you like to go? All you need is a suit. If you didn't bring one we can always go shopping?" Cedric agreed to attend with her, making Kimiko beam with happiness.
Kyoko was awed by their exchange. Kimiko truly liked him. Her first instinct was to warn Cedric about Kimiko's true nature but she refrained. For all she knew, they probably deserved each other.
Koga turned to Kyoko and waggled his eyebrows. "How about it Kyoko-chan? Would you like to attend with me? It will be a great promotion for our film. The audience would eat it up"
"Sorry, Hiromune-san. I already have a date," Kyoko said, blushing. Her heart pounded erratically at the thought of attending the large scale event with Ren.
"Tsuruga-kun?"
Kyoko bowed her head shyly as her cheeks grew hotter. Koga clenched his heart in mock despair. "Once again thwarted by Japan's number one!"
Kyoko rolled her eyes and giggled, "And thus remaining in second place."
Koga gasped and dropped to his knees dramatically. "How could you Kyoko? That was a low blow! Are his bad habits rubbing off on you? I knew I hated that guy."
"What are you talking about, Hiromune-san? He is my esteemed Senpai, he has no faults." It amused her to tease Koga.
Kimiko looked between the pair, confused by the conversation. Why were they talking so casually about Ren? How close was she to Ren? Wasn't there someone else? How did she convince him to attend the ceremony with her? In the past, he always declined a date. He usually chose to attend solo or with the cast. This revelation was colossal. The public would misunderstand and believe they were an item.
Didn't he care about his image? Why would he stoop to a talentless newbie's level? She was furious by the prospect. These venomous thoughts swirled through Kimiko's mind but her outward countenance did not betray her. Kimiko could have been a great actress if only she wasn't rotten to the core.
"Everyone, gather around. We managed to clean up the mess from the earthquake. We still aren't sure why that section was unable to withstand such a small tremor. Kyoko-san, please be mindful when executing your scene. It's a good thing the earthquake happened when it did. It was only a matter of time before that section collapsed. I'd rather it not fall on my actress," Jouji announced, staring at Kyoko.
Kyoko frowned and looked over the area in question. It was just where her main mark was for the day. With enough foot traffic, the vibration would have worked that area loose and fallen on her.
"Let's get started. We only have a few hours before we lose our main actors. I want to wrap up this scene before then." With that, Jouji walked towards the main cameraman.
SCENE 36 The Viper's Nest:
Momiji looked both ways before quietly stepping into the storage room ensuring that she was not seen. She moved to a dark corner of the room and withdrew the bundle concealing her weapons from behind a crate. She parted her kimono exposing a long shapely leg and used a cloth to tie the kunai around her thigh. She took the ornament that was together with blade and tucked it into her obi. If push came to shove Shizuma thought she could use the sharp end of the decorative piece to stab an eye or two. She hoped she wouldn't have to use it.
She left the room and made her way through the Ryokan where the guests were dining for the evening. She had stopped in the kitchen to bring more warm sake to Yamada's group. She needed to gather the intelligence required to thwart the enemy's plans. Men always had loose tongues when drink and women were plentiful.
Momiji sat in a seiza position next to a lone Yamada and refilled his cup with warm sake. He leered at her but she ducked her head shyly as her master instructed.
"CUT! Very good. Let's transition over to Momiji and Shizuma's flashback scene after reviewing the tape."
Shizuma ran through the details of Momiji's mission. He warned her that her eyes were a dead giveaway.
"What do you mean Shizuma-sama?" Momiji asked, confused. It wasn't like she could see her own eyes to understand what he meant.
"First off, your eyes are large. Almost too large for a Japanese girl. Secondly, they are an unusual color. Men would take one look into your eyes and beg to drown in those amber pools. Always cast them down to appear shy. We like that sort of thing."
Momiji's eyes widened in shock and her cheeks stained red as her Master's words washed over her. She trained her whole life to show no emotion especially to her most trusted beloved. She failed miserably at containing the love she harbored for him.
Shizuma coughed uncomfortably by her expression. "I know you can take care of yourself but I still worry."
"Cut! Kyoko-san, you aren't supposed to be affected by Shizuma's words," Jouji shouted into the megaphone.
Kyoko cringed inside. Crap! Did some of my personal feelings bleed into my character again? Those lines were definitely something Ren said before. Damn that playboy!
She apologized to the cast and crew for her blunder and ignored the smug look on Kimiko's face. Kyoko balled her hands to reign in her grudges. She managed to nail the scene on the next take.
Ren nearly dropped his phone when he opened the mail his manager sent him. He groaned as he watched Kyoko, no Momiji, place her foot on a stool for leverage and part her kimono. His heart rate accelerated as all the blood in his body rushed down to his groin. A part of him should have been angry with his manager but he wasn't thinking rationally at the moment. He waited impatiently with anticipation for the show to begin.
His eyes darkened as she revealed her ivory skin from her ankle to the top of her thigh. Ren's fingers twitched remembering the smoothness of her skin. When did she become a seductress? More importantly, when did he become such a pervert? His mouth ran dry as he thought of the tender flesh barely concealed by a few centimeters of silk.
He watched her small feminine hands tenderly wrap her leg with a cloth and tuck the blade into the fold. She flexed and wiggled her leg to make sure it held. Holding the phone in one hand, he adjusted the bulge in his achingly tight pants. He imagined those same hands gripped firmly around him. Ren gasped when she suddenly looked at him with a sweet smile and a giggle. "Let me see," she said, coming closer. It was his undoing.
He glanced at the time on his phone. They were shooting the other roles that didn't involve him. He stood quickly and locked the door to his dressing room. If I'm going to hell, I might as well enjoy the ride. He unzipped his pants and replayed the video twice until he reached fulfillment.
...
Later that evening, Yashiro and Kyoko met him on his set. Ren wrapped up his part early and was found talking to the assistant director when they walked in. Kyoko looked on in awe as she watched the veteran actors play out their parts. She was so engrossed with the scene that Ren took the opportunity to kiss the top of her head. Kyoko blushed and touched her hair. His action didn't go unnoticed. A ripple of murmurs passed through the remaining staff that witnessed his show of affection.
The majority of them heard the story of Ren's lunch and smiled at the young couple. Some women sighed with envy while others grumbled. Kyoko was oblivious to everything around her until Ren flashed Yashiro an ultra-fake smile.
Yashiro flinched at his friend's expression. He glanced at Kyoko that seemed to be engrossed with the acting to hear him and leaned into Ren.
"Ren, is this how you show gratitude? A simple, thank you Yashiro-san you're my hero would suffice."
Kyoko looked at the men confused by Yashiro's words. Instead of asking, she turned back to the scene before her. This is the caliber of actors that are worthy of acting alongside Ren. I have a long road ahead of me. She failed to recall that she already worked with Ren, twice. To her, the Heels act didn't count and it wasn't the same if she wasn't the leading lady.
Ren turned his attention to Kyoko. "Are you ready to go? We can stop for dinner on the way if we leave now?"
Kyoko looked at him in astonishment. It surprised her that Ren would suggest food given his poor eating habits. Ren chuckled at her expression. "I eat because you need to eat," he said with a wink, making Kyoko stamp with frustration.
Yashiro gave them their respective folders and bid them good night. Since Ren drove himself, he didn't want to be a third wheel. He would see them in the morning.
Kyoko eyed the thicker than usual folder in her hand. She was eager to see what new work it contained for her.
Ren parked his car along the side of the dimly lit street. It put them right between a Ramen shop and the R'Mandy studio. He turned to Kyoko and asked, "Did you bring it?"
She giggled as she dug through her bag. It was fun deceiving the world like the Heel siblings. They stepped away from the car walking hand in hand down the street.
"Kuon and Ella strike again!" he declared making her laugh.
Notes:
Hiya, thanks for continuing to read. I hope you enjoyed this chapter
Stay safe Lovelies!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 23: I Love You, Too!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would have a fairy godmother.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Ooh I want that one," Ella told him. Her golden eyes flashed as she pointed to the picture with the large bowl of tonkotsu ramen. She always did become manic when it came to delicious food.
Kuon cringed. It looked like excessively too much food to eat in one sitting but leave it to his girlfriend to not stop there. "I also want the gyoza. Do you want to share it with me?" He could never refuse those large doe-like eyes when they were pleading.
They changed in the car since he parked in a dim-lit area where there was little foot traffic at this hour. They helped each other adjust their hair but even as Kyoko dumped out every single item in her bag, she couldn't find the case carrying her blue contact lenses. Kuon assured her that it would be fine since her eyes were already a unique color.
He chuckled at her expression that begged him to eat normally for a man of his stature. He sighed in resignation. "Fine, don't blame me when you start getting fat from all the eating we've done on this trip," Kuon said, keeping up with their pretense as tourists. He pinched the non-existent flab on her lower back just above her waist jokingly.
"That's mean Kuon, you're not supposed to say that to my face." She squirmed out of his grip and pouted cutely.
He put an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. "Even if you did get fat, it's just more of you for me to love," he said suavely making Ella's cheeks grow warm. He never got tired of making her blush.
He inserted yen into the machine, opting to order the same thing as his girlfriend since he really couldn't decide what to eat. He collected the tickets dispensed from the machine, handed them to the employee at the counter, and waited for their order.
Kuon's heart sank when he saw the amount of food that came out for them. That picture was deceiving. The bowls he received were bigger than the display. They sat down to eat. Before he could stop himself he blurted out, "This is a bad idea especially before a fitting."
Ella paused with a portion of gyoza hanging out of her mouth. She slurped it up failing to chew and swallowed painfully. Pounding her chest, she took a quick sip of water and scrambled off the table. Using garbled Japanese and obnoxious hand gestures, she managed to ask the employee for some take-out containers which he happily handed over.
With proficiency, she placed all the food neatly in the containers. Kuon couldn't process what was happening until Ella stood holding the door open for him to follow.
When they were out on the street, he apologized for his lapse of judgment. "It was my idea to eat out. I should have known better."
"No, I'm glad you said something. I would have been miserable if my bloated belly ruined the final design after all the hard work that Fuji-san and his team put into the dress. If I'm going to continue as a model I have to be more aware of these sorts of things." Kyoko was disappointed that she didn't think earlier.
They got back into the car after looking around for the all-clear and turned back into Ren and Kyoko.
Kyororororo! Kyoko's stomach growled, breaking the silence as they walked down the street. Ren laughed while Kyoko willed her tummy to behave.
"Let's hurry so I can get you fed." He grabbed her hand and increased his pace slightly.
Ren smiled to himself as the tailor worked on his suit. The squeals of delight that his girlfriend emitted across the hall filled his heart with warmth. He was happy Fuji took a chance with her. She was amazing and although he wanted to keep her all to himself he knew he had to share her with the world. Sooner or later, they would all see what he had for a long time and embrace her.
His lips grew thin and his face hardened as he heard her say, "Are you sure it's okay for such an occasion? Can I show this much of my body?"
He caught sight of his image in the mirror and changed his expression to his ultra-gentleman smile as he heard Fuji's sassy reply. "Now, now, Kyoko-chan, this much is fine. For a girl your age, you should have no problems pulling this off. Trust me, it's very modest for an event like this."
A vein at Ren's temple throbbed. What did Fuji put her in? He tried to clear the negative thoughts of throttling the designer from his mind. He wanted to know what she was wearing. He wasn't sure if he needed to intervene on her behalf. He didn't want her uncomfortable that night because of what she was wearing on top of her already uncomfortable position next to him.
Fuji refused to tell him and Kyoko wanted it to remain a surprise. He had to wait for next week to find out. He became agitated by the unknown and shifted his stance. A pin pricked his inner thigh making him hiss between his teeth. The pain brought him back to his predicament as the tailor marked the changes necessary for his pants.
"Hold still Tsuruga-kun or I may accidentally poke you where you'll least appreciate it," the tailor threatened.
Ren complied and held himself rigid while the tailor continued. Kyoko's delighted squeals soothe him. He was impatient to see the result. He stared at his unfinished suit in the mirror and wondered how it paired with Kyoko's dress. There was not much that could be done with a suit but a well-tailored one did wonders for a man.
...
Kyoko twirled around in the mirror admiring the dress. Aside from the length, it fit perfectly. Fuji insisted that it was a sin to cover so much of her legs. The boning in the torso wasn't too restricting either but she knew if she had finished eating she would have been uncomfortable. She had no intention of dieting since that could do more harm than good. She just needed to watch her portions from now on.
Aside from the physical stunts for Momiji, she neglected daily exercise. Prior to Yashiro shuttling her around, Kyoko rode her bike everywhere which was more than enough to stay fit. She knew she would have to make some slight changes in the future to keep fit. Not everyone was blessed with the genes of the great 'Tsuruga Ren.' He probably had his father's high metabolism rate even if he didn't have the same black hole for a stomach.
"If you want, Kyoko, I can make a matching wrap. It shouldn't take me long to whip up something like that," Fuji suggested.
Kyoko bowed in protest, "I'm sorry, Fuji-san. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful. I don't want to cover up your beautiful design. Please don't disturb your creativity for my sake. I can hardly wait to see the final product. Thank you for doing this for a newbie like me."
Fuji scolded her for belittling herself. "The way to thank me is to wear this dress proudly and drop my name whenever someone asks who you are wearing that evening. In this number, you'll be the Belle of the ball."
Kyoko vibrated with excitement at his princess reference. She hoped she could meet his expectations that night. Fuji studied her and stroked his chin. Kyoko stood quietly and waited for him to finish his assessment. She had not worked with him long but she already knew that this expression meant he was inspired. He picked up a couple of pins and inserted it at the front of her bodice.
"That should do it," he said with a pleasant smile. "This will capture your essence as a young starlet. Cute yet sexy at the same time."
She looked down at the pins unsure of the change he would make there.
"Kyoko, I want you to come to my studio to get ready for the night. We'll do your hair and make-up and play with accessories. Is that okay?"
"Thank you, Fuji-san!" Kyoko squealed, clapping her hands together. "You truly are like a fairy godmother."
She changed back into her regular clothes and found Ren already in the waiting area. He looked up from his phone and gave her a captivating smile. Her heart thumped rapidly as she walked toward him. Her poor grudges shrieked with pain from the dazzling light of his Godly smile. They were barely conscious these days in his presence.
"Are you excited?" He asked, knowing full well that he could hear her from across the hall. It was his excuse to get a glimpse of what he heard.
"Very!" Her golden eyes flashed with delight. "Thank you, Ren." She said more calmly and blushed. If it weren't for him she wouldn't be experiencing this wonderful opportunity.
"Oh good, you're still here." Fuji rushed out from the end of the hall holding up two large bags. He handed a bag to each of them. Kyoko instantly declined when she glimpsed the contents in her bag.
"Fuji-san, I couldn't possibly take these. You're already doing so much for me."
"Nonsense Kyoko, these are the perks of being a model. If it makes you feel better, most of these are last season samples that I had in your size. Don't get me wrong R'Mandy designs are timeless, so they're all still trendy. It will please me if you could wear them. Otherwise, I would just have to scrap them."
Kyoko bowed and thanked him profusely, agreeing to wear the clothing as Ren took the offered bags.
"I'll see you two soon. Be safe and have a good night." Fuji let them out of the studio since it was now after hours. According to him, the real work would now begin.
Kyoko's stomach rumbled on cue as they walked back to the car. She was proud that her stomach had behaved while in the studio. Ren stayed to finish their take-out dinner at the Darumaya. He found he was famished and ate most of his meal.
"Um Corn, there's something I need to tell you," she whispered gravely after politely slurping her broth.
Images of the evening replayed through his mind but couldn't find anything negative that happened between them. He stared at her intently as she wrung her hands nervously. Is this the part where she tells me to get lost? He kicked himself mentally for being so insecure and decided to just hear her out.
"I talked with Bennett-san t-today," She stammered out as the Demon Lord aura seeped out of him and into her room. Her grudges stirred merrily feeding off this new dark energy. He tried desperately to control his anger while he waited for her to continue.
He watched her take a steadying breath and avoid eye contact. He cursed himself for scaring her but he struggled to relax. The thought of her being anywhere near that guy filled him with slight anxiety.
"I wanted to find out what he was doing here. I mean...more like if he was here to make trouble for you. He told me he was hiding from a scandal with an ex-girlfriend. It seemed like he was telling the truth but who knows," she said quickly then shrugged. The same annoying shrug that he was famous for using on her.
Ren deflated as the Demon Lord retreated. He took her hands in his. They were so much smaller and yet so much stronger than his large trembling ones. He placed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. He didn't want her to get involved with his problems.
…
He was quiet for a few moments, Kyoko was sure she did something unnecessary but at least his dark aura dissipated. That had to be a good sign.
"Thank you," he whispered hoarsely. Kyoko's eyes widened. She wasn't expecting him to thank her. She hardly did anything. He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. She leaned in and parted her lips to deepen their kiss but he pulled away from her abruptly. He must be mad, after all?
"I'm sorry," she bowed her head. "It wasn't my place to confront Bennett-san like that."
He looked at her like her sincere apology was nonsense. Kyoko licked her dry lips and tried to defend her actions.
"I love you! I thought I was helping. I want to be your strength like you are mine."
The last words barely passed her lips before his mouth crushed over hers. Kyoko didn't think about what was happening and responded by parting her lips. Their tongues made instant contact but he slowed the pace. They kissed to the rhythm of a slow waltz. Kyoko wasn't aware but he had been holding himself back. He was too terrified to touch her when his emotions were running rampant. He couldn't help himself when she was around. He knew what she sounded like when he nibbled on her lobe and how her body shuddered when his tongue licked her nipple. It was difficult keeping his hands off her knowing the silkiness of her skin. The car ride home had been long and punishing. He kept his fingers interlaced with hers as he drove, never letting go even to shift gears. The only thing holding him back, tonight, was the knowledge that Taisho was downstairs. It was right the right call to bring her straight home.
"Wow," she managed breathlessly with a smile when they finally broke for air. She opened her eyes and looked at him. His lips, his eyes, and his soul smiled at her all at once obliterating her grudges once again. He had a goofy grin on his face. It was unbecoming of Japan's number one actor but she found him adorable nonetheless.
"What was that for?" She asked him. All her earlier thoughts of him not wanting to kiss her vanquished.
"It was the first time you told me that you loved me," he replied like a giddy schoolboy.
"That can't be true. I'm sure I've told you many times before," she said. She frowned as she tried to think of past examples. She went through her memory of shared text messages, phone calls, but nothing came to mind. He was right; she never responded in kind. She looked down sheepishly. Here he was telling her daily of his love and she never once said it back. She was an idiot.
He shook his head. "The only time I truly knew was when you were talking to Fuwa. You didn't say it to me directly but it was more than enough for me."
"I'm sorry, Corn. I didn't mean to withhold such words from you when yours bring me extreme joy. I'll start telling you from now on and more often that I l-lo-lov." She tried saying. What the heck was wrong with her.
He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. "You don't have to push yourself. I'm already very happy."
She adjusted her posture and with great determination, she inhaled deeply as if going into a fierce battle. "I love you!" She blurted out loudly and unromantically.
He smiled and took her into his arms. He kissed her deeply once more. Before she could lose herself in his embrace, he ended the kiss and stood.
"I should go home now," he told her awkwardly. Between her declaration, her sweet smell, and her body pliable in his hands he twitched with excitement. He needed to leave pronto before things went further and Taisho beheaded him down below.
They carried the dishes downstairs where he bid the Darumaya couple good night. Outside in the back alley of the restaurant, he pulled Kyoko into the shadows and took his time kissing her one last time. He didn't care anymore that she could feel him pressing up against her. His hands slid to cup her ass and lifted to ease the strain of their height difference. Her center settled over him doubling his excitement. As the days wore on, he felt like a hormonal teenager again. He wanted her. She moaned into his mouth which only succeeded in making him harder. The rational part of him told him to step away but not before he ground his hips against her. He could feel the inferno radiating between her legs heating against his pants. This was bad!
With a pitiful groan, he put her down remembering where they were. They were lucky no one could see them back here and at this time of night, the area was practically abandoned.
"Good night, baby. I love you." He gave her ass cheek one final squeeze before releasing her.
She giggled and said bashfully, "Good night, Corn. I love you too."
She said it so cutely this time that his heart skipped. He smiled and gave her a peck on the lips then walked to his car. He would need to take a cold shower when he got home.
A week later, Kanae ignored the pitiful expression on her self proclaimed best friend's face. God, she looks like someone just kicked her puppy! Kanae rolled up the cord to her phone charger and stuff it in her carry-on bag. Time had flown by too fast and now she was leaving for America.
"Mo! Stop looking at me like that!" Kanae scolded. She was trying to do her best not to show too much emotion but Kyoko was making it difficult. She wasn't leaving Japan permanently. Kanae was regretting her choice to have Kyoko see her off at the airport.
"I'm sorry, Moko-san. I'm just going to miss you so much. You were my first and dearest friend in the whole wide universe. I'm going to be lonely without you," Kyoko wailed as crocodile tears fell from her eyes.
"Mo! Knock that off already. It's just for work. I'll be back. We're rivals after all so we need to work hard. And don't kid me with that alone bullcrap. You have many people that care for you. As a top actress, there will be times when you have to work overseas too. I'm sure Tsurug-." Kanae stopped abruptly. She shouldn't bring up that man leaving her for work right now. She had no clue what havoc those thoughts would bring to her friend. She didn't have the time or the patience to deal with that turmoil.
Trying to change the subject Kanae decided to distract her friend before she had to leave. She saw how Kyoko's eyes followed her every move.
"Aren't my nails pretty?"
They were a sparkly pink color that Kanae only agreed with to appease Kyoko. She preferred much darker colors when it came to polish color. Kyoko was able to change the voucher she won from the karaoke contest and used it at a sister location in Tokyo. Kanae wouldn't admit it but she enjoyed the full day of pampering and girl talk. If anyone asked, Kanae would never have passed up something free like this. The spa even provided complimentary food and drink which the girls made sure to take full advantage. Facials, mani/pedis, and massages were part of the package. With a lot of prodding Kanae and Chiori managed to convince Kyoko to get a Brazillian wax. For once Kanae didn't worry about bills or living a double life for work, she relaxed without a care in the world and had fun with her friends.
Kyoko's waterworks stopped instantly as she looked at her friend's nails. She was thrilled when Kanae decided on her suggestion. Just as they were getting closer, her friend was leaving her behind.
Kyoko looked at her manicured hands. Although she wanted to get every nail ornament at the salon, she opted for a more demure look with a French manicure. She didn't want to get something that would clash with Fuji's vision for the Awards night. She hoped he liked her choice. She suddenly brightened up. Kanae didn't deserve to feel guilty about leaving. She was working towards her dream and this was a big stepping stone for her.
"Mo, let's go before I'm late for my flight. I don't know why your manager agreed to give me a ride to the airport but it beats public transportation or paying the cab fare so I appreciate it," Kanae said matter of factly.
...
Yashiro rushed forward to help with her bags when he spotted them coming around the side of the house. Kanae thanked him for his help. She couldn't help but remember his firm muscles on his arms as he easily lifted her large suitcase into the trunk.
On the drive to the airport, he strained to hear the girl's conversation in the back seat. Kyoko asked Kanae, "How did Hiou-kun take the news that you were leaving?"
Yashiro's eye twitched as he glanced at Kanae in the rearview mirror curiously. He kept his face impassive as he struggled to hear her answer. He chided himself for actually being jealous of a pre-teen. Yashiro knew from experience that Hiou was not just any pre-teen. He was very talented and mature for his age.
Kanae made eye contact with Yashiro in the mirror, briefly before answering. Did she just look at me on purpose? Yashiro's mind was reeling from that fleeting moment.
"Mo! You know how he is. Kanae, be sure to do a good job. Don't embarrass Japan. I know you can do it...I swear he's like a nagging father."
Yashiro squeezed his lips to keep from giggling along with Kyoko at her impersonation of the talented boy. It was thanks to Hiou's generosity that Kyoko was able to train and nail the Momiji role. He was an amazing kid.
He pulled the car over to the curb of the departure area at the airport and stepped out to help with the luggage. Kyoko exited the car to hug her best friend. She already had tears pricking her eyes.
Yashiro handed Kanae's luggage over with a warm smile. "Best of luck Kotonami-san, I'm sure you'll do well. Be sure to give Kyoko-chan a call so we know you made it safely." He said that so smoothly he doubted she would pick up the fact that he had a vested interest in her safety.
Kanae bowed politely and thanked him. His pulse quickened as she smiled at him. Kanae turned her attention to her friend.
"Oh my gosh! It's Kyoko-san! Why is she here?" came a squeal from amongst the departees. That set off a flood gate of murmurs.
"Does she have a job here?"
"That's Kotonami-san with her!"
"Kyaa! They're so beautiful! Take pictures quickly."
Yashiro stepped up closer to the girls as the crowd increased.
Kanae glared at her friend. "Mo! Get out of here before you get mobbed! I'll send you an email when I land! Wait for me I'll be sure to catch up!" With a flick of her long black hair, Kanae walked into the airport without looking back.
Yashiro rushed to intervene as several fans swarmed around Kyoko.
"Kyoko-san can we get a photo?"
"Can we get an autograph?"
Kyoko was overwhelmed by the fan recognition. She dashed at the tears that escaped her eyes and took a few minutes to pose for photos and sign autographs.
"We need to leave Kyoko-chan," Yashiro informed her. They were still parked at the curb that was only used for unloading passengers.
She bowed to her fans and apologized. She couldn't disrupt the airport's protocols any longer. She thanked them for their continued support as Yashiro helped her into the car. She waved as they drove away.
"Wow, I can't believe that just happened!" She told Yashiro breathlessly.
"Believe it! You're gaining a name for yourself," he told her confidently. "Your offers are increasing too. Soon you'll be recognized everywhere."
Kyoko sighed. "I guess my peaceful life of anonymity is coming to a close."
Notes:
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed.
Stay healthy and safe everyone!Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 24: Only For You
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren's voice would incapacitate womankind.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko groaned as the alarm on her phone went off. She barely slept a wink last night. She hit snooze one more time hoping for more sleep but the sun shining through her window had other plans for her.
Finally, the day of the ceremony was upon them. She knew tonight would be a turning point in her career whether she won or not. The fact that she was showing up with Ren would be monumental in itself but she was willing to take the risk. She hoped Japan would accept their decision and find her worthy of him.
She was slowly closing the gap between them. More work had been trickling in for her ever since the R'Mandy photos came out. Last week, she sat down with Yashiro and went through her new offers. She recently finished her exams and was now on holiday so she could take on more work while she was out of school. She accepted and recently completed the CM for the expensive cosmetics company. She owned some of their products thanks to Ren.
The CM was a challenge for her. She had no speaking lines. All her "words" needed to be conveyed through her actions and expressions. They wanted her to act like she was sitting in front of a mirror and just top off her lips with lipstick and a long-lasting gloss in a shade of pink. She received several NGs before the director was satisfied with her performance. Her biggest hang-up was keeping the label of the product facing the camera as she opened and closed the containers without looking unnatural.
It was a relief that the director wanted her to look refreshing and cute, not flirty or seductive. She was selling to the female populace, after all. She channeled the charismatic good girl side of Natsu to complete the job.
It was nerve-wracking knowing that the advertisement would run this evening during the awards show for anyone watching at home to see. She was glad her lips were healed. By the time she finished the job, her lips were irritated and red from all the removing and applying that was done to them. But it was worth it. She happily accepted the bag of free cosmetics they gave her like a kid in the candy store. She really could get used to the perks that came with modeling.
Kyoko thought about her upcoming work schedule. She had a small cameo to play the jealous ex-girlfriend in another high school drama. Her character would cause trouble for the male lead and his current girlfriend. That contract was for two episodes but had yet to be scheduled.
She also chose to do a photo shoot. Yashiro managed to squeeze it in one day next week on a rare occasion that she was not needed on the set for the Sacred Lotus and before her regular TBM slot. The shoot was for a popular handbag line that she could only envy due to the high price tags. They assured her they would only need a few hours of her time.
Kyoko could hardly believe that she was already in a position to turn down work. The R'Mandy ads were spearheading her influx of work but Sacred Lotus filming was her priority. Although Kyoko was not a lead character, she would still be a part of the promotions that were fast approaching. The schedule was demanding since the production was behind schedule due to the Momiji casting fiasco. The director and producer were doing everything in their power to make up for the lost time which included making the cast and crew work demanding hours.
She was pulled from her musings by her ringing phone. She picked up on the third ring and smiled after glancing at the caller ID.
"Good morning, baby. Sleep well?" His alluring voice sent a warmth throughout her body that settled in the pit of her stomach.
Her mood brightened as he spoke. It was a good morning indeed. It fascinated and terrified her the way he could completely lift her spirits.
"Good morning, Corn. I didn't sleep well but hearing your voice has revived me," she confessed. "I'm too nervous. I don't want to ruin things for you. You've worked too hard to free yourself from your father's hands."
He was quiet for a few moments that she thought the line went dead. She looked at her phone and confirmed the connection was still good. "Hello?" She asked hesitatingly.
"I'm still here," he replied softly. "I was thinking about what you said. My reason for coming to Japan was to escape my father's shadow and my past. Then I met you again and everything changed."
Kyoko grimaced. She wanted to interject but he continued talking.
"My dream is still the same, just a bit altered. I'm still striving to be a top actor but I want to do that with you beside me. You make me stronger. I can now look in the mirror and barely feel the self-loathing that used to consume me. I'm still working on piecing myself together...and I know that's not fair to you...but it gets easier every day with you around. You bring out the best in me so let's do our best together! Together, we'll take on the world," he exclaimed with determination.
Kyoko swelled with love and giggled. "Yes," she gushed, pumped up by his enthusiasm. "You have always been there for me Corn. I am happy I can now be your support. It's thanks to you that I can have lofty dreams. I want to strive to be an actress that can proudly represent Japan across the globe. I'll do better at facing my fears."
"You don't have to face them alone. I will always protect you," he vowed. Kyoko smiled at the conviction in his voice. She knew he meant it.
"I'm feeling more positive about tonight. Thank you for calling but I have to help Taisho. I'll see you soon, love you." She hung up the phone after he said goodbye. She would see him later for a late lunch then he would take her to the R'Mandy studio. According to Fuji, he needed several hours to get her ready for the "Ball" when all Ren needed was a quick shower. It was completely unfair but she was sure the results of her transformation would be fantastic.
She checked her email quickly before she got out of bed. Kanae had sent her an email telling her that she had arrived safely in America. She wished Kyoko lots of luck on the award and mentioned that she would try to catch the broadcast if she had the time.
Kyoko washed up and went downstairs to help Taisho with the restaurant's lunch preparations. When the time neared for Ren to arrive she took a shower and made sure to shave her legs and underarms. There was no maintenance necessary in her nether region thanks to the spa day the girls had a few days ago. This was the first time since hitting puberty that Kyoko was bare below. It left her highly sensitive especially to the lace covering her.
The whole ordeal was an embarrassing and extremely painful experience. She never wanted to experience it again. According to Kanae and Chiori, every good actress should receive routine maintenance in that area. One never knew when she would be thrown into a job where she had to either act in lingerie or a swimsuit. With that said, Kyoko made a recurring appointment every four weeks for the upkeep.
Kyoko had no idea that her friends played a mischievous prank on her. They wished they could see the look on Ren's face when they ever got to that stage of their relationship. He should reward them for their meddling.
...
Ren enjoyed the view as his lady love moved with ease preparing their lunch. She looked gorgeous in her little dress even if it did show a little too much flesh. The white and blue wrapped floral dress swished at the hemline whenever she stepped riding up on her thighs. The thin spaghetti straps and cold shoulder sleeves emphasized the smooth skin at her shoulders. The apron she wore over it to keep herself clean while she cooked added domestic flare to the outfit. With her back to him, he imagined her in their house making them a meal. He offered to help but it was too crowded with Taisho in the kitchen, as well. Rather than be in the way, he sat and daydreamed of days to come.
Taisho grunted catching Ren's attention. He probably caught sight of his lovesick face. Ren coughed with embarrassment and immediately straightened up under the glare of the older man. He could swear he saw the corners of the man's lips twitch in what could only be described as a rare smile.
When the meal was complete, she sat to eat with Ren. Her landlords would eat when they had a spare moment.
While eating Ren asked, "How are you feeling? You're probably missing Kotonami-san right now."
Kyoko could only nod sadly at the reminder that her friend was so far away.
"Did you know you two are a hot topic?"
"Yashiro-san mentioned something but I didn't pay attention."
He reached for his phone and showed her the media traffic regarding their airport escapade. Kyoko's eyes widened as she read the thread shipping a relationship between her and Kanae.
Ren laughed at her expression. He was tempted to kiss her pouty little lips. He warned her before that the media could be ruthless. The next one read Canary Dumped and featured a picture of a teary-eyed Kyoko as she watched Kanae walk away.
"I wonder what they would come up with after the show we put on tonight," he joked. Ren felt the sweat break out on his back when her eyes lost all its luster.
"I don't like that they are insinuating that Kanae and I have such a progressive relationship. Kanae is an amazing actress. I don't want them to tarnish her image and I don't want them saying mean things about you because of me," she huffed.
"Hey, it's okay," he reassured her. "The media will do anything for a scoop. I'm surprised we have been able to lay low for so long."
She smiled softly at him. "I just don't like anyone talking about you or my friends negatively when they know nothing about you guys."
Ren agreed. "Unfortunately, it comes with the job."
Kyoko shook herself as if trying to clear the negative air around her. That was another thing he found fascinating about her. One moment she would have this dark cloud hanging over her and the next it would be gone.
He scrolled down to show her some more and found a slew of positive posts. It had pictures of her interacting warmly with her fans. They praised her for her beauty and her kindness. There were many complimenting her for her acting roles as Mio and Natsu. There were other posts about the R'Mandy advertisements. People were predicting that she and Ren were an item and if they weren't already a couple, they should be.
Ren smiled as he watched her face transition through a variety of expressions for every thread she read. He looked curiously at something that made her freese then blush.
"What is it? Let me see?" He asked, turning the phone in his direction.
The thread read: From their body language in the photos you can definitely tell they're doing it with each other.
The post conjured several delicious images of a very naked Kyoko in his mind. He used the excuse of putting away his phone to hide the light blush that crept on his cheeks. Fans could be so crude sometimes.
"Shall we give them something to talk about," the Emperor asked, turning smoldering eyes toward her. His eyes shifted around the area before kissing her passionately. When he pulled back from her, her lips followed his not wanting to break contact. It managed to breathe life back into her but left him breathless. It had the desired effect since she was now smiling goofily as if she was floating on clouds. With a chuckle, he pecked the tip of her nose. He glanced sideways and thanked Kamisama that Taisho was still in the pantry.
Ren held the door open as Kyoko slid into the passenger seat. With much trepidation, he placed her overnight bag in the trunk. Since it would be a long night, it was decided she would stay over at his apartment. His solution was to lock his door to keep the big bad Kyoko out. He ignored the tiny voice in the back of his mind that whispered but who exactly would keep you in. Taisho said nothing when he picked up the bag by the door as they were leaving. There was no need when his glare was loud and clear.
He entered on his side and started the car. The music he was listening to earlier came on immediately blaring through the speakers. "Sorry," he muttered and turned down the volume. He tended to listen to music loudly when he was alone. A new song started while they were stopped at a light. Ren shook his head and chuckled as the male vocalist sang, "You're no Dame, I'm no Duke, Somehow love is a fluke..." It was fitting for fate to play this song.
Kyoko was curious at the change in mood that overcame Ren when the new song played. She watched him from the corner of her eye. His head bobbed slightly to the slow beat and his mouth mimicked the words. She paid special attention to the lyrics until he did the most surprising thing she had ever witnessed in her life. At the next red light, he twisted in her direction and reached for her hand then kissed the back of her knuckles. He lifted his eyes to her and sang along with the song, "I don't care what the world has to say, You should know that I love you, I love you, I love you today..."
Kyoko's heart skipped a beat as he serenaded her in the privacy of his car. The tone of his voice was smooth and he sang in key. The sound of blaring car horns behind them broke the spell. Ren chuckled as she jumped in her seat. Still holding her hand he shifted gears. He continued to quietly sing along with the song until it ended.
A small smile played on his lips as he heard Kyoko grumbling under her breath. He caught words like playboy, fairy, and heart attack. He glanced over at her and found her pouting while looking out the window.
"I'm sorry. Did you say something just now, baby?" Ren teased.
"I said you're so sly. The Gods clearly favor you. That talent, that face, that body, and now that voice. I mean seriously! Is there anything you can't do?"
She wondered if he ever went into singing would he obliterate Sho from the charts. She knew he could learn an instrument at an alarming rate. He learned to play the piano for Dark Moon in mere weeks, so if he wanted a music career he could get pretty far.
He chuckled again and kissed her hand. "Oh, so you like my body?"
Kyoko didn't know if her face could get any redder. "That's not what I said," she sputtered, turning to face him. The thought of his body combined with his voice conjured up erotic images that left her wanting. Kyoko squeezed her thighs together as she felt the familiar ache between her legs.
"I'll only sing for you, baby," he assured her with a divine smile.
Willing her hormones to settle down, she responded in a matter of fact tone. "Good, because I don't think my heart could handle you singing to anyone else. I don't think the female population of Japan would be able to survive. You will obliterate our sex with that voice."
Kyoko missed the blush that flooded Ren's cheeks at her mere mention of the word "sex." He chided himself for taking the term out of context when she was referring to gender and not the act. He needed to get his thoughts in order; otherwise, it was going to be a long and grueling night.
They entered the R'Mandy studio to controlled chaos. The receptionist showed them to a private dressing room and went to inform Fuji of their arrival.
"Hello my beautiful people," Fuji said with more flourish than usual. "Excuse the craziness. Awards days are always hectic. Too many beautiful people to dress."
Kyoko stared at Fuji with stars in her eyes. He was an amazing and talented designer. Several people entered the room carrying two garment bags and accessories. One contained her dress while the other held Ren's suit.
Fuji addressed the assistant holding the slimmer of the two bags. "Please show Ren to another room. I want him to try on the suit before he leaves to make sure everything is absolutely perfect."
Ren kissed Kyoko on the cheek. "I'll pick you up later, baby," he told her before following the assistant out the door.
Fuji turned his attention to her. "Let's get started," he said, rubbing his hands together with excitement. "We'll start with your hair. This is Nana. She's my hair genius."
Kyoko bowed to the beautiful woman with spiked up purple hair standing with Fuji. Nana gestured for Kyoko to sit in the chair in front of the mirror. She took her seat and stared at Nana and Fuji's reflections. While Fuji brainstormed, Nana ran her fingers through Kyoko's long black hair.
"Kyoko-chan, I'm envisioning going short. I want to use your natural hair so no wigs. I want you and the rest of Japan to see your God-given beauty. Nana is going to remove your extensions for a…" He looked at Nana.
"For a shaggy bob," the stylist finished his sentence.
"Don't look at me like that…" Fuji scolded. "We'll replace it tomorrow, the director will never know the difference." Kyoko gave him an apprehensive nod and placed all her faith in him and his team.
It took an agonizingly long time for Nana to finish her hair. It surprised Kyoko that her hair had grown to her shoulders. Nana had to trim it to get the texture Fuji demanded. The stylist parted Kyoko's hair on the right and flipped it over to the left with added volume. Kyoko thanked the stylist profusely for her hard work. She gazed at her hair in the mirror. Fuji was right, the cut was edgy and whatever products Nana used made her hair glossy.
Fuji was pleased with the results. He was so excited to see the results that he urged the makeup artist Aya to get to work. Aya only laughed unfazed by his behavior. She was used to working with the man in this capacity.
"Aya, please give her a neutral smokey eye with more eyebrow definition. Ooh and use a volume-boosting mascara on her lashes, none of those fake lashes you ladies favor these days...I want her amber eyes to pop naturally tonight!"
Aya agreed and got to work. She complimented Kyoko on her beautiful skin and dusted her face lightly with powder mainly to control the shine. The whole time she worked on Kyoko she gave her tips on proper application. Aya finished by topping her lips with a pink gloss. She handed the tube to Kyoko in case she needed to reapply later.
Finally, it was time for the dress. Kyoko stripped out of her clothes with little hesitation. She was getting used to standing in her underwear in front of others in this new profession. She wore a black lace strapless bra and matching cheeky underwear.
"Lose the bra," Fuji instructed with a bored expression. Kyoko's face reddened. She always used a bra during the fittings. What spurred the change? "The dress has a corset so you won't need it," he stated simply.
"Trust me, honey, I have seen it all in my profession. All body types, male and female, and with less clothing than what you're wearing…"
Kyoko was only in her underwear. She understood his statement to mean that the other models were nude. Fuji kindly turned around for her. Kyoko breathed deeply as she removed her bra. She cupped her hands over her small breasts. The cold air instantly perked up her nipples. Aya quickly helped her into the dress. When she was decent again Fuji turned around. Kyoko was over her embarrassment once the dress was on. It fit her like a glove.
"Bellissima!" Fuji exclaimed clapping his hands together. Kyoko wasn't sure what language he spoke but she had an idea of what it meant. It had to be good judging by his reaction.
"Sit down young lady. I have your glass slippers." Kyoko giggled as Fuji handed her a pair of four-inch gold strappy stilettos to wear. Once she was standing again, he handed her a crystal-encrusted butterfly ring to wear on her index finger and a pair of teardrop earrings. Kyoko went giddy over the ring. It looked like a butterfly perched upon her finger.
"Fuji-san, can I wear my charm bracelet?" It was the gift Ren gave her and mean a lot to her if she could wear it tonight.
"What an adorable bracelet." Fuji inspected the piece and admired the detail. "It's fine to wear." He handed her a sparkly gold clutch to complete her outfit. Kyoko transferred her school ID, lip gloss, tissues, and money into it then proceeded to admire herself in the mirror until Ren's arrival.
...
Ren entered the room carrying a single blue rose. He caught her twirling in front of the full-length mirror. She stopped short when she caught his reflection. The smile she flashed him was unrestrained and brilliant; it could rival the sun.
He froze captivated by her beauty. His heart went doki doki when she smiled at him. A single thought flowed through his mind to describe the vision before him. Ethereal.
Notes:
Thank you for reading! I appreciate the continued interest.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 25: Red Carpet
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Maria would accept them with open arms.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Ren stood there for a few moments and let his dark eyes run the length of her. He started at her toes dragging his gaze up until he stopped at her doe-eyed stare in the mirror.
"Do I look all right?" She asked his reflection in the mirror with a smile that made him nearly weep from its beauty.
"Baby, you look wonderful tonight."He responded barely above a whisper as he tried to control his emotions. The flush on her cheeks told him that she had heard.
Their exchange triggered a memory from his childhood. His mother sat in front of her vanity and prepared for yet another cocktail party. He would sit on his parents' bed and watch her apply her makeup. Occasionally, she would look at him in the mirror with her sparkling emerald eyes and flash him a dazzling smile. He never got bored watching her and wanted to spend as much time with her whenever she was home.
It wasn't that Kyoko reminded him of his mother. It was the song his father played often as he whisked his mother in a dance around the living room before they headed out that came to his mind. It was so appropriate right now that he could hear the music clearly in his mind as he stared at the beautiful woman before him. Is this how his Dad felt about his Mom every time? He'd have to ask his Dad about the song or look it up himself. He had a general idea of the lyrics.
Earlier
Ren left the studio and headed for the President's mansion. As soon as Ruto opened the door, Ren was assaulted by a bundle of blonde curls and frilly lace.
"Ren-sama!" Maria exclaimed as she threw herself at him. Ren doubled over in pain as he hugged her. Maria managed to hit him right in the privates. He tried to hide his pain from her as he sucked in air. He didn't want to be the one to explain the male anatomy to the little girl. He scolded her lightly and told her a proper young lady did not jump on people. Maria apologized as he lifted her into his arms.
"I thought Onee-sama would be with you?" She asked, looking over his shoulder for Kyoko.
"She's getting ready for tonight but I'll be picking her up later," Ren explained.
They broke the news of their relationship to Maria a couple of weeks ago. Kyoko had joked that she expected Maria to retaliate in some way with bugs. It shocked them that Maria took the news rather well. She gave them both hugs and told them, "You two are my most favorite people in the world aside from Grandpa, Ruto, and Papa. Maria is very happy that you're finally happy together."
"Eh...Maria-chan, you don't hate me? Wasn't it your dream to marry Ren?" Kyoko asked the girl that she considered her little sister.
"Ren-sama is my ideal husband. If it's you Onee-sama, I'm willing to let him go. He is the only one worthy of you anyway. I will just have to find someone younger and better than him," she said with a humph.
Kyoko gave Maria another hug. "Thank you, Maria. I don't know what I would have done if you hated me."
"That's silly. There's no way I would do such a thing over a guy. I'm glad you finally admitted your feelings to each other and can now be happy. Sometimes Ren-sama and Onee-sama would make such sad faces that Maria has no idea how to cheer them up," she admitted sadly. "Maria is only a child. She could only stand by and watch those she loved hurt. Maria felt very helpless. Even though Onee-sama and Ren-sama always make Maria very happy, she couldn't do anything to help. I can do this small thing if it makes you two happy."
"You are such a big girl, Maria-chan," Ren praised, ruffling her hair. Even Maria noticed our feelings for each other before either of us did.
"Maria let Ren inside," Lory called from the other room pulling Ren from his thoughts.
With Maria in his arms, Ren strolled towards the room guided by Ruto. He found the President sitting in black silk pajamas, a smoking jacket, and slippers, with an unlit cigar in his mouth playing one of his love sim video games. Lory turned off the console disappointed by the latest development of his couple.
"Ren, my boy. How are things?" Lory asked, addressing the young man that was like a son to him. Ren put Maria down and sat in the empty chair Lory offered. She scampered off as he took a seat.
Lory could tell that the shadows of the past were slowly dissipating just from staring into the young man's eyes. Ren looked more relax and almost his age. His plastic facade was slowly crumbling. The walls he built up from when he first came to Japan were slowly breaking down. He had to thank Kyoko for bringing him out of the darkness. What they had tried to do for the past five years, she managed in such a short period.
Lory had a feeling it could only be love. Love transcends all. He couldn't wait to see his favorite drama play out.
"Tonight is a big night for both of you. Are you prepared for the ramifications?" Lory asked, lighting his cigar now that Maria was gone.
Ren nodded grimly. Although he reassured Kyoko that everything would be fine, he still couldn't predict how things would play out.
The American horror movie Carrie came to mind. He shook his head to clear his negative thoughts. That was the worst-case scenario. He doubted any Japanese would have the gall to pull something off like that. There was no way that would happen. He wouldn't let it.
"I'm hoping there's no crazy fan out there that would cause us trouble. Has there been anything through the mail Boss?" Ren asked.
"Nothing too concerning. Just the usual when your fans see you getting too close to another woman that's not them," Lory replied. It was the truth.
"Anything on your end?" Lory asked shrewdly. He narrowed his eyes at Ren. The young man had the tendency of bottling things up hoping to not trouble anyone with his problems.
"There's someone from my past. He didn't make things easy back then," Ren admitted but didn't elaborate. He hid most of his problems from his parents so he doubted Lory knew any of the details either. The last time he saw Lory before his move to Japan was when he visited with his father for the movie promotion.
"His name is Cedric. Cedric Bennett."
Ren missed the look of shock that flashed across Lory's face at hearing the name because he looked away unsure of himself.
"Our families go way back. I don't know why he's here but Dad said he's hiding out because he got into some trouble with a model. He's working with Kyoko on the Sacred Lotus. He doesn't recognize me."
Lory was surprised. He exchanged mail and phone calls with Kuu routinely with Kuon as the subject. His friend never mentioned this side conversation he had with his son. The name could be a coincidence. He would need to make a call to look into the matter. He didn't want this man causing trouble for Kuon prematurely.
Lory cocked a curious brow at the boy. Something else bothered him more than his past with this Cedric fellow.
"Don't worry about Mogami-kun, that girl is a fighter. She laughs in the face of adversity. Her role as Momiji will only skyrocket her career. Seiji-kun has already approached me for her debut movie. I told him a little about her family situation though she's under my care. He's willing to wait until she's eighteen so she won't need parental permission for work. He doesn't have a script yet just an idea brewing in his mind. He's trying to contact the author of a certain book to see if he can make it a movie. He wanted to let me know about it in case some other Director tried to beat him to the punch. She must have made quite an impression on him on the set of Ring Doh. He's actively following her career."
Ren was pleased to hear the news. He wondered what Seiji had in mind. Who would be playing the male lead? He would try to pull whatever strings he needed to play the role that was opposite of her.
Lory clicked his tongue and gave him a knowing smile.
Ren flinched. He hated how Lory had a sixth sense about him and knew exactly what he was thinking. He filed His thoughts on Kyoko's debut away for later. He had plenty of time to think about it before her eighteenth birthday. He would put feelers out to Seiji's assistant.
Lory knew the name of the book but didn't want to give anything away. He wanted to know what length Ren would go through to land the male lead acting opposite Kyoko. He didn't tell Ren that Seiji personally requested him for the role but was denied. As he was now there would be no way Ren could pull off the role. The whole production would look forced. The media would accuse them of using Ren as a publicity stunt. He didn't want the movie to be a dud.
"I'm ready for you, Ren-chan." Ten announced walking into the room.
Ren startled. He didn't realize she was already here. Nothing he said earlier gave him away. He stood and bowed. "Thank you for helping me Woods-sa-, Ten-san." He corrected her name when she flashed him an irritated smile.
Her smile softened. "That's better." Ren walked into the President's private salon and sat in the chair. "So are we going back to your natural color?"
He shook his head. He wasn't quite ready to shock Japan with his true identity.
Muse frowned. It was a pity that he continued to hide his gorgeous hair from the world. The Japanese would embrace his natural appearance. All she knew was that he was American and for some reason, he was hiding that part of himself. She ran her fingers through his hair and gazed at him in the mirror. She was happy to see the brightness in his eyes compared to when she first met him as a sullen teen. His eyes were dull and lifeless then. It baffled her. How could a beautiful boy have such a broken soul? She smiled knowing Kyoko was the direct result of his happiness. Darling was right, love heals all wounds.
"It's getting long and falling into my eyes a lot. I was wondering if you can trim it," Ren suggested to her reflection.
Muse smiled with a nod. That was an excellent idea. She had just the look in mind.
They made small talk as she worked. They mainly talked about Kyoko which was his favorite subject these days. Ten lectured him like a nagging mother about treating her right and not taking advantage of her. He was appalled that Ten would think him capable of treating her as anything less than a princess. The talk turned to gifts. Should he show up with one or not, he wasn't sure. She recommended he pick up a rose for her. She knew a shop that sold dyed blue ones. Ren perked up, Kyoko would appreciate a small gesture like that.
Ren thanked her again, satisfied with the results. He bowed and took his leave. He said goodbye to Maria and Lory and made his way toward the shop that Ten mentioned. He was glad he listened to her recommendation. The flowers at this shop were beautiful just like her. He found a large blue rose similar in size to Queen Rosa and hue to her Corn stone. It was perfect. He paid for his purchase and thanked the florist.
He sat on his couch staring at the clock on his phone willing time to speed up. He still had a couple of hours before he could collect Kyoko. He turned on the TV and watched an episode of Box-R from his list of recordings. Her Natsu captivated him. He frowned at how well she flirted with the boys in her class. Where did she learn to do that so well? Was it from him? No, she was still too pure and innocent to learn any of that from him, wasn't she?
She did have that moment as Setsu in the hotel room. He groaned remembering how it felt to have her thighs straddling him. Her short skirt hiked up, a hint of dark material peeking through. He closed his eyes recalling the feel of her hands traveling up his chest. The warmth from her heat set his abs on fire. He had to give himself props for keeping his cool that night even if moments before his heart was in turmoil over Fuwa. He laughed softly at what he had to think about to keep his erection in check after she broke the hold dark Kuon had on him; old ladies, drag queens, and his mother force-feeding him. Nothing deflated him faster like the thought of eating his mother's home-cooked meals.
No one would have blamed him should things have turned south that night. You could only put a hot-blooded man and woman in a hotel room for so long before they broke. He didn't know if he should have thanked or cursed Lory for his meddling. Either way, he managed to face his inner demons and her honestly thanks to Lory's interference.
He looked at the clock again. He was getting restless since there was still plenty of time left. He suddenly had the urge to call them while he waited. They always kept late hours due to work or other commitments.
"Hi, it's me. Did I wake you?" Kuon said as the line connected.
"Kuon! How are you?" Kuu responded, pleased to hear from his son. "Your Mom and I are on our way home from a party!"
"Hey, Sweetie! How are you doing?" Julie squealed delightedly to hear her baby boy's voice again. "You're on speakerphone. California laws, hands-free and all."
Kuon chuckled. He missed his parents. He tried to call his Mom after he promised his dad but she was in the middle of work so it was a short call. This was the first time since then that he was able to catch each other free.
"What's up bud? Something on your mind," Kuu asked with a concerned tone.
"Ah, no, I'm sorry I just had some time so I wanted to call and say hi! Is it okay that I did?" He was afraid of their rejection.
"Don't be stupid. Your Mom and I have been waiting for over five years for you to call us. We never need a reason for you to call," Kuu scolded. Kuon knew that if he had said that to his dad's face he would have earned a super flick to his forehead. The kind that stung and left a mark.
"Yes, sweetie, call us anytime you ever want to talk. If we can't take the call, then please leave us a message. We'll call you back as soon as we can," Julie reassured him.
"Thanks, Mom. I'll be sure to do that," Kuon replied softly.
"Hey, tonight is awards night, right?" Kuu asked, switching subjects. "Congratulations son. I hear you're up for the best actor and my daughter is nominated for best supporting actress. I sent her an email regarding it. I would have sent you one or called but I didn't want to break our promise."
"I'm just so proud of you both! Your dad has been boasting about Kyoko at work. We saw the R'Mandy photos. You two are so beautiful together. You should hear him talking about the good for nothing 'Tsuruga Ren' trying to steal his daughter's purity," his mom said with a laugh.
His mom's laugh was still the same, almost musical. Kuon smiled as he listened to his parents' banter. His Dad argued with her that it was true. He needed to go back to Japan and keep her locked up from all the dirty men.
Kuon scoffed, "Jeez dad, even your son!"
"Especially my son! The biggest wolf of them all. By the way, how is she doing? You guys okay? You're being safe, right? Not that I don't mind grandbabies," his Dad asked."Actually, forget I said anything. I want grandbabies don't be safe."
Kuon groaned, his Dad was still embarrassing and now contradictory. One moment he was inadvertently threatening Kuon to stay away from Kyoko the next he was talking about having grandkids. "We're great! We're more than great! I, I'm really in love with her. I've never felt this way before that it's kind of painful…" Kuon could feel his face heating up. He didn't know why he just said so much. He cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment. "Anyway, we're taking things slow."
He thought he would go crazy from wanting her. He searched the internet to see if an excessive amount of self-ejaculation was detrimental to one's health.
"We're so happy for you sweetie," Julie cooed. "Do you think you guys would visit us soon?"
Kuon grew quiet. He didn't know how to answer without disappointing her.
"We don't want to rush you. I just want to see you again. We miss you, honey."
"I know mom. I'm sorry for the way I acted. For running away. I'm getting there. Anyway, I should go now. I have to get cleaned up and pick up Kyoko. She's currently getting beautified for the ceremony. It's only been a few hours but I already miss her," Kuon told his parents.
His parents laughed which was a promising sound to Kuon. They weren't too hurt by his words. He felt like he was running away now that he was rushing off the phone.
"That love bug bit you hard," Kuu teased with more laughter ensuing on their end.
"HA! HA! Very funny guys." Kuon eventually joined the laughter. It was funny because it was true.
"Okay sweetie, thanks for calling. We hope to talk to you soon. Good luck to both of you tonight. Give Kyoko our love," Julie said, making blowing kisses sounds to the phone.
"Um Mom, Dad, if ever you want to call me or send me an email I would like it. Thank you for being patient and understanding. I love you guys," Kuon told them.
"Thank you, sweetie. That makes us very happy. We love you too. Have fun tonight and remember to stay out of trouble," his mom warned.
After a final goodbye, he hung up the phone with his parents. He was glad he called. It was becoming easier to talk to them without feeling ashamed or that he was troubling them.
Present
"Good evening Japan, this is Yuna here and this is my co-host for the night Abe-san, live from the red carpet at the Tokyo Drama Awards. We'll bring you the scoop on the hottest stars as they walk the red carpet and head into the ceremony."
"Yuna-san, it looks like the crowd of bystanders by the road are going wild out there again. I wonder who's pulling up this time," Abe exclaimed.
They watched Koga exit the Limo flashing his million-yen smile to the crowd. He had a gorgeous international supermodel hanging from his arm. He blew kisses and waved to the crowd as he walked down the carpet with his date. The screams from the women in the crowd were deafening.
Koga stopped to provide comments to several reporters and posed for pictures before he made it to the hosts.
He stopped for a quick highlight with Yuna and Abe while his date stayed off to the side and waited.
Yuna asked, "Koga-kun you're looking quite gallant tonight in your blue suit. Can you tell us who you're wearing?" Koga responded to her question and twirled to show off his outfit.
"Congratulations on your nominee for Best Actor. How do you feel about going up against Tsuruga-kun?" Abe asked.
The Japanese audience watching the broadcast at home shivered at Koga's version of a gentleman smile as he kindly and professionally took a shot at his competition. After a few more questions regarding his latest works, he made a shameless plug regarding his new drama the Sacred Lotus in the Mire. He thanked the hosts and made his way inside with his date.
The crowd was quiet as they waited for the next car to pull up.
"It looks like several cast members from Dark Moon along with Director Ogata and Momose-chan have arrived," Abe announced for the home viewers as the camera panned to the new arrivals. "Dark Moon is up for several awards tonight. Best Drama, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, to rattle off a few."
"As it should be, Abe. It was the most anticipated drama that people tuned into every week. The remake surpassed its predecessor in viewer ratings and polls. The acting was superb. Director Ogata did a phenomenal job with his rendition," Yuna added.
Yuna intercepted Director Ogata before he could slip inside. The poor director was nervous as always but he managed to stammer through her questions. Asami approached the platform to relieve her friend from the stress. He would need his energy for later.
The next car that pulled up did not disappoint the fans camping out on the street. When the door was open out stepped none other than Fuwa Sho.
The cheers for Sho could rival that of Koga. The young visual kei singer was basking in the glory as he blew kisses out to the crowd. He even went so far as to shake a few hands of his fans, the best looking female ones of course. A few fainted from being so close to the rock star. Sho had to be ushered along just to keep the flow moving.
"Fuwa-kun, it's good to see you this evening. You're looking dashing in your tuxedo. We heard through the grapevine that you will be performing a new song. Can you tell us about it?"
Sho was still schmoozing the crowd as the catcalls started to die down when Yuna asked her question. He blew a kiss in the direction where a fan yelled, "Have my baby, Sho-kun!"
He turned his full attention to Yuna. "Thank you, Yuna-chan. You're looking quite ravishing yourself," He praised while admiring the woman's well-endowed assets." The older woman blushed under his scrutiny.
Abe cleared his throat and interjected. "Fuwa-kun, can you give us a little hint about your song tonight?"
Sho rubbed the back of his neck shyly. "It's not my usual style but I was inspired by a situation that happened with one of my dearest friends. I appreciate if everyone doesn't judge me harshly. You have to stay tuned to get more than that." His expression was so endearing to the viewers at home that his fans doubled that night across Japan.
Sho's interview was disrupted by a thunderous roar that came from the front of the crowd as a white limo pulled up to the curb. Women screamed, cried, and fainted as Japan's most desirable man stepped out from the limo. To see the great Tsuruga Ren in the flesh was staggering for his fans. He stepped out and gave the crowd his professional smile as he waved to them.
A hush fell over the crowd as they watched Ren do the unthinkable and turned back to the car. In all the years they had watched Ren's career he had never once shown up to these events with a date and always opted to attend with the cast of his latest work. They watched, with bated breath, as his hand closed around a delicate hand wearing a crystal-encrusted butterfly ring he helped her out of the car.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read. I appreciate it. I also apologize for the cliffie.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 26: The Winner Is...
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Dark Moon would win all the awards.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Reporters and photographers flanked the car as they tried to get the inside scoop on this epic event. It was unheard of that Tsuruga Ren was escorting someone to the ceremony.
They watched the young woman place her well-manicured hand in his and a long shapely leg step out of the vehicle. Ren reached down to adjust the skirt of her dress and helped her to stand out of the car.
"Breath, just look at me baby," he whispered as he caught the fear in her eyes.
Kyoko had never been so nervous in her entire life. She looked into the reassuring eyes of the man she loved and felt instant relief. She inhaled and exhaled slowly as he instructed then gave him a curt nod smoothing out the skirt of her dress. It's too late to run, Kyoko. Be brave! She told herself.
When he got the okay from her, he stepped back for the world to see. The crowd was unusually quiet for such an event. They wondered who the beautiful woman was.
Kyoko grew nervous again as camera flashes went off around them. Ren squeezed her hand and whispered in her ear, "walk beautiful and don't show them your fear. These hyenas will eat it up."
Remembering her training at the Fuwa ryokan, Kyoko straightened her posture, plastered on her best Okami smile, and walked with all the grace of royalty.
It was a dull sound at first, then the murmurs of "Mio" spread like wildfire throughout the crowd. Someone shouted, "We love you Mio-sama," making Kyoko smile in that direction. Just like that, the tension was broken and the crowd's roar was thunderous. There was a fair mixture of excitement and anguish as they continued past the throng of onlookers.
Further down the carpet, the group of people thinned out because of the barricades. It wasn't as chaotic with just the media, staff and other celebrities vying for their attention at this point. The couple was stopped by several reporters for comments and photographs. There were often times when Kyoko found herself posing alone while Ren hung back to make sure she had her time to shine in the spotlight.
Sho was still on the platform with the hosts when the couple made their slow approach. A sad smile briefly graced his handsome features. He absentmindedly rubbed his chest to relieve the dull ache as he stared at his childhood friend walking with that platform-wearing bastard.
"Tch," he scoffed. He was almost happy for her. There was no way he could date a woman that would outshine him, which is exactly what she was doing standing next to Ren.
Sho excused himself from the hosts and went to intercept Kyoko. Kyoko tensed as she saw him approaching. There was no way she could outright ignore him in front of so many people as she would have rather liked. She felt the reassuring presence of Ren placing the tips of his fingers on her lower back. It was subtle but it was enough to give her the support she needed. People nearby hushed as they watched the scene unfold. There were rumors that these two men were rivals but what they rivaled over no one knew. Some would speculate that the reason lay with the pretty actress sandwiched between them.
"What do you want, Fuwa?" Ren asked through clenched teeth trying to keep his anger in check. Imaginary sparks flew between both men while Kyoko's grudges danced with glee. Ren wouldn't let this guy ruin the night for her. People around them wondered about the nature of their relationship. Whispers of the Prisoner PV could be heard around them. Could they be witnessing a typical shoujo manga love triangle among their favorite celebrities?
Sho held up his hands in mock defense. "Don't worry, I'm not here to cause trouble. I just wanted to greet my old friend. You clean up well Kyoko," he said with a slight bow. He tried to keep the strain out of his voice while complimenting her. This sucks, he thought while looking at her more closely. He noticed that her overall look was natural. He could no longer call her a succubus like an immature brat. Did he just refuse to see her beauty all this time? If she cared for herself a little more would he have found her physically attractive early on? Sho chuckled softly at his idiocy. He needed to stop dwelling on the past. He wasn't the pining type and he already accepted defeat. Maybe they could even be friends again someday.
"Can we get photos of the three of you together?" A brave photographer asked. They posed for a picture with fake smiles all around.
"I'll see you guys inside." Sho gave Kyoko a wink and strutted away flirting with beautiful women in the process.
Kyoko glanced at Ren. She probably had the same bewildered expression on her face as he did. "Did that guy just grow up?" He asked with wonder in his voice. Kyoko laughed. It was exactly what she was thinking. She was glad that he didn't start trouble. She guessed even Sho knew when to draw the line and act professionally.
Kyoko and Ren were summoned to the platform where Yuna and Abe were waiting to get a quick interview from the couple.
"Kyoko-san, Tsuruga-kun, thank you for taking some time with us. You two created quite the sensation tonight," Yuna exclaimed excitedly. Kyoko giggled and bowed apologizing for the inconvenience while Ren laughed.
"Well we definitely weren't expecting such a warm reception from our fans. It means a lot to us," Ren commented smoothly.
"We are all dying to know...and I'm sure the viewers at home are as well," Abe said turning towards the camera. "Is it safe to assume that the rumors that were circulating about for the past month were indeed true? Is Japan's hottest bachelor off the market?"
Ren chuckled and answered, "I'm afraid to say that those are not rumors. I'm completely smitten with her."
The crowd went wild at his declaration while Kyoko's face flamed up in front of the cameras. Her face threatened to split as she tried to control her smile. She smacked him playfully on the arm. "I can't believe you said that in front of everyone." She placed her palms on each side of her face willing her cheeks to stop burning.
"That's incredible news. There are going to be millions of broken hearts come daybreak. How do you feel about it, Kyoko-san?" Yuna addressed her.
"I'm very happy," she responded endearingly. Her cuteness on camera earned her more fans and more enemies that night.
"I could go all night talking about your relationship but I'm being signaled here," Yuna joked, nodding to her boss. "Kyoko-san, you look stunning in that dress. It's so airy. You remind me of Tinkerbell with dark hair...I also couldn't help but notice you two coordinating, very cute."
Kyoko giggled excitedly at the fairy reference. "Thank you very much! Fuji-san, the genius behind R'Mandy dressed us tonight. I couldn't believe he designed this dress just for me." Ren did a little circular movement with his finger so Kyoko twirled around to show the dress off. "He hand stitched all these petals. The best part is I could keep it." She turned to the camera to address the people of Japan. "Please don't judge me too harshly when you see me wearing this dress again while running errands. It would be a waste to keep it in a garment bag."
The hosts got a good chuckle out of her joke. "We want to congratulate you both on your nominations. Earlier, Director Ogata and some of the cast of Dark Moon made their way through here already. We wondered where the two of you were and now we know."
"Kyoko-san, how do you feel about being nominated as best supporting actress?" Abe asked.
"Oh my gosh. It's so overwhelming. It's truly an honor to even be nominated while I'm so new to the industry. It's like winning in itself," she gushed into the camera.
Okami dabbed at the corner of her eyes while Taisho grunted proudly as they watched the live show on TV. They had closed the restaurant early to watch the ceremony.
Most of the viewers of Japan fell in love with Kyoko instantly and found her adorable. They could understand why the Great Tsuruga Ren fell for her. Unfortunately, some fans weren't happy with their budding relationship. They lashed out on fan sites with malicious words full of hate and jealousy. No one took them seriously since the newly established pro RenKyo fan club outnumbered the haters by a landslide.
Yuna turned her attention over to Ren. "Tsuruga-kun, you are up for the best actor award this evening. How do you feel about surpassing the great Hozu Shuuhei in ratings with this rendition of Tsukigomori?"
"I'm very honored to have played the role of Katsuki and hope to strive to be as successful as Hizuri-san one day," Ren replied enthusiastically. He hoped his answer didn't offend his dad in some way.
"It was Hizuri-san's role as Katsuki that launched him into Hollywood. Will you by any chance make the same move?" Abe asked.
Ren's hands went clammy. He felt Kyoko slip her hand in his and give it an encouraging squeeze. He smiled down at her and answered, "Ah well, it's certainly every actor's dream to get a role in a big Hollywood production. I am no different. Should I receive such an offer that would be a great fit, I would happily accept it. Right now, I'm very happy in Japan."
"And Japan is happy with you. I think I speak for everyone when I say that we would mourn your departure. Well, we won't keep you any longer. Kyoko-san, Tsuruga-kun, thank you for taking some time with us. Congratulations and good luck inside."
The couple bowed their goodbye and headed into the venue where they greeted several acquaintances in the industry. Ren introduced her to most since he worked with so many.
Director Kurosaki from her Curara commercial and Director Shingai from Ring Doh walked up to the couple and offered their congratulations. The directors made Kyoko aware that they enjoyed her growth and were looking forward to working with her in the near future. Kyoko felt the butterflies flutter within her stomach, thrilled by the prospect of working with these talented directors again. The Directors glared at each other competitively. Kyoko had no clue what was going on since they seemed to have a private rivalry. Ren laughed. He knew they were probably fighting over who would get the opportunity to direct Kyoko's debut film. Lory probably left them hanging to keep all his options open.
The lights in the theater began to flicker indicating for the guests to take their seats for the beginning of the presentation. Kyoko sat on Ren's left while Director Ogata sat to the right of him. For the most part, the main cast of Dark Moon sat near each other. Kyoko turned her head around to take in her surroundings and caught Kijima's eye. He winked and smiled at her. Moments later his face grew pale and his smile faded. He turned away quickly. She looked up to find "Kuon" glaring at the poor guy. She scolded him to behave.
She didn't realize it but Ren had all the young men trembling in fear if they even thought about looking at his girlfriend. She was starting to feel nervous again as the night's host came out and did his spiel. Over an hour later, Kyoko's hands began to ache from all the clapping and her butt was falling asleep from sitting too long. During an intermission, she excused herself to the lady's room. She washed her hands and touched up the gloss on her lips. Before leaving, she lingered in front of the mirror to fix some wayward strands of hair.
Kyoko caught sight of the door opening behind her in the reflection of the mirror. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach when she saw who had entered. Kimiko's normally pretty face twisted in disgust. "Ugh, there's a bug in here. I thought this place was high class."
Kyoko pushed down on the grudge squirming to get loose. Please, mistress, let us out. There will be no witnesses here. More grudges began to stir.
Feeling spiteful and tired of being a target Kyoko mocked, "Oh Morizumi-san, it must be so nice to have a show-biz family to fall back on. Please do remember our bargain. It won't be long before you're irrelevant." Kyoko left one final parting shot before exiting the room, "good always trumps evil."
Kimiko's dark eyes glinted with malice burning holes into the door Kyoko just exited. That bitch! She looked around the lady's room rapidly. She wanted to throw things, scream, break something but this was hardly the place. It was all that bitch's fault that her life was going wrong. Her parents were getting tired of her antics. She lost her manager; the only person that understood her. Ren now looked at her with hostile eyes. She lost her livelihood and now even Cedric was pulling away. Irrelevant! Ha! I'll show her! She stomped around the restroom cursing Kyoko until she heard the door open. She instantly composed herself and pasted a demure smile on her face. She glided into a nearby stall, after all, she still needed the bathroom.
Kyoko took her seat shakily. Ren felt the tension rolling off her in waves and looked at her with concern. "Everything okay baby?" She felt her spirits lift and tried to smile through her discomfort. She tried to explain that she was fine but in the corner of her eye she caught Kimiko come through the door. Without even looking, Kyoko knew that the girl was staring daggers at her as she took her seat next to Cedric in the back. She felt a little guilty about the horrible things she said back there. She didn't even have the excuse to claim that Natsu took over.
She sighed again while Ren continued to eye her. She decided to just tell him. "I had a run-in with Morizumi-san in the restroom. I said some cruel things."
Kyoko flicked her eyes covertly to show the direction in which Kimiko was sitting. Ren, however, wasn't as subtle and looked completely over his shoulder. He made it so obvious that they were discussing her. He caught Kimiko's eye and glared. He flashed her his ultra-gentleman smile when she flinched. He had never openly shown her any hostility in the past despite her unprofessional behavior on their last job, but this time he would never forgive her for trying to hurt Kyoko.
Kyoko pinched him on the arm. "Ow!" He cried softly, rubbing at the spot.
"Why are you being so obvious?" She hissed at him.
"What? I just wanted to let her know that you aren't to be messed with especially after what she pulled on you," he said kissing her hand. His face turned solemn. "I could have lost you." He berated himself for not going straight to see her when he returned from Guam. He gave himself excuses for not turning up at the audition or calling her as soon as he thought they were over. The truth of the matter was he lost his nerve when Lory showed him the photograph of her kiss with Fuwa. He was glad he finally found the courage to tell her how he felt.
She placed her palm on his cheek and rubbed her thumb soothingly against his skin. "I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere. Please don't tarnish your reputation for me." He didn't care if anyone was looking, he caught her hand and kissed the inside of her palm. Kyoko's face turned as red as a tomato and was captured on the camera panning the room.
The lights suddenly dimmed and the murmurs quieted down. A voice over the speakers announced, "Presenting platinum recording artist Fuwa Sho." The curtain opened to reveal Sho playing the piano. Kyoko gasped. She had no idea Shotaro could play that instrument. She only ever saw him using his guitar.
She watched him lean into the microphone and sing in English, "Say something I'm giving up on you, I'll be the one if you want me to, Anywhere I would have followed you..." Kyoko gaped at the lyrics. What is he singing? A wave of emotions converged on her all at once. Who did this guy think he was? Why did the lyrics remind her of their past situation? "And I will swallow my pride, You're the one that I love, And I'm saying goodbye..."
When he finished the song the audience erupted with applause and gave him a standing ovation. Kyoko released a shaky breath. She didn't realize she was crying until Ren touched a handkerchief to her eyes. Despite their differences, her childhood friend would always occupy a space in her heart.
She gave Ren a small smile. Thank goodness the make-up artist was a veteran and had the hindsight to use waterproof products on her. Sho surprised her with that song. She had no doubt it would skyrocket his career internationally.
She joined the crowd and stood to clap as he bowed and blew kisses before running off stage. Kyoko sat back down and looked at Ren worried that he might misunderstand her reaction. "Ren, I..." she began. He shook his head and continued to smile warmly at her. "I understand," he told her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It was a good song and once again it was thanks to you that his fame will only rise. He owes you big time!"
She was close to tears again. How could he know her so well? She stretched and whispered into his ear, "I love you." His dazzling smile was all the answer she needed.
The announcements continued to run through the miscellaneous awards like best costume design or best title. The tension in the air increased as they approached the categories for the top awards. Kyoko watched on the edge of her seat as the big screen showed clips for each of the nominees for the Best-Supporting Actress award. If she thought she was nervous, Ren was the opposite. He fretted like a mother hen. It was comical that she was trying to calm him down and not the other way around.
She blushed when the clip of Mio successfully terrorizing Mizuki was shown. The announcer opened the envelope once they ran through all the reels of the nominated actresses. "The award for Best Supporting Actress goes to Matsui Haruka for her portrayal as the single mother Yui in the drama Sakura in the Spring."
The crowd was surprised by the results. The applause was a little stunted for the actress that won. Ren was heartbroken. He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "There's always next time," he whispered. Kyoko nodded. She smiled and clapped for the other woman that won. She would be lying if she said she wasn't a little disappointed but as she mentioned earlier being nominated was a reward in itself. She would give it her all in her future starting with Momiji so that one day she would be able to stand up there proudly before her peers.
Fans across Japan were outraged. Mio-sama was robbed was the outcry of the consensus.
The ceremony continued with the announcements of the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor. Soon it was time for the announcement of Best Actor. She was giddy watching the highlights of Ren's Katsuki on the big screen. She became anxious when they displayed the car scene with Katsuki expertly driving through the streets as the memory of that day came back to her. The fear that he might have been injured as she dashed towards the Dark Moon location was still fresh. She only felt relief when he responded to her touch.
When his clip ended Kyoko turned toward him. His eyes were completely focused on hers when the winner was announced. He couldn't hear. The thumping of his heart overpowered any other sound, and he was drowning in her amber pools. The crowd laughed as he was shown on the screen being shaken by Kyoko to get his attention. He won!
Ren made his way shakily up to the podium and accepted the award. He was stunned that he won and swiped at his watering eyes. He laughed nervously and took a breath before speaking. "Thank you everyone," he started as the applause died down. "I want to thank Director Ogata for taking a chance on me and not giving up on me. Thank you to my colleagues to the cast and crew of Dark Moon. You all made it and me so successful. There's one person above all that I want to thank. If it wasn't for her I would have been fired."
There was a collective gasp from the audience. It was difficult to imagine anyone else playing a better Katsuki than him. "Thank you, Kyoko, for helping me find my Katsuki. This award is as much yours as it is mine," he said beaming down at her from his loft on stage. He wanted nothing more than to thank his parents but to do so would stir questions he wasn't prepared to answer. "Thank you to all my fans! Without you, I would be nothing." He bowed and walked off backstage.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she watched the man she loved accept his award. He worked so hard for this accomplishment. Hopefully, now he would feel one step closer to achieving his dream. She was proud of him and knew his parents would be too. His tribute to her would be unforgettable.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
The song Sho performed was "Say Something," by A Great Big World.Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 27: After Party
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren and Kyoko would be lovey-dovey already.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
They stayed for the exclusive after-party and mingled amongst their peers. Many people congratulated Kyoko regardless of her loss. Dark Moon clinched the coveted Best Drama Award. Director Ogata received the award. Just like at the Dark Moon party he stammered and cried his way through his speech.
Shotaro had sought her out afterward and as arrogant as ever said, "Looks like you got close but I guess I'll still be looking down on you."
Kyoko scowled and stuck her tongue out at him. If it was the old her she probably would have thrown a fit vowing to get her revenge on him but instead, she smiled and didn't take the bait. "I'm just getting started, Shotaro. Besides, I'm pretty sure you owe me big time for that song."
Sho chuckled arrogantly but nodded. Kyoko's attention was soon pulled away from him by her Dark Moon co-star Momose Itsumi. Sho bowed and took his leave seeking out the beauty eyeing him from the bar. Kyoko rolled her eyes. He'll never change.
Meanwhile, Ren made his rounds talking to former co-stars. He strategically staged himself during every conversation where he could always have a view of Kyoko. He wanted to make sure nothing happened tonight. Female celebrities could be cruel, case, and point, Morizumi Kimiko. He was glad she and Cedric weren't invited to this party. It took all of his willpower to stay put when Fuwa approached her. He hid his irritation behind a professional smile while she conversed with her childhood friend. He sighed with relief when Momose intervened then scolded himself to get his jealousy in check.
As Kyoko talked to Momose, she caught Ren's heated gaze trained on her. She smiled shyly at him before turning her attention back to her friend.
"Kyoko-san, I knew you and Tsuruga-san made a good couple. It was so obvious on set how much you two liked each other. I'm happy for both of you," Momose said sincerely. "Congratulations on your nomination. Your Mio was brilliant. You made acting with you easy and enjoyable. I hope we can collaborate on something together."
"Thank you Momose-san. Congratulations on your nomination as well. I'm grateful to have worked with a talented actress like yourself. I've learned so much. I hope we can work together too in the near future," Kyoko replied.
"Congratulations on your award, Tsuruga-kun," Koga said, strolling up to him. Ren shifted his position so Kyoko was back in his line of sight before acknowledging Koga. Kyoko's co-star didn't look very congratulatory from Ren's point of view but he thanked him all the same.
Koga laughed exasperatedly and stood beside Ren following the path of his gaze. He smirked when his eyes landed right on Kyoko as she giggled at something Kijima said to her and Momose. This guy is totally head over heels for that woman. He broke so many hearts tonight, fans are bound to hate him. Soon it'll be my time to shine.
"I don't know whether to feel sorry for you or envy you," Koga told him with a squeeze to his shoulder.
"I don't know what you're talking about Hiromune-san," Ren replied innocently, increasing the wattage on his gentleman smile.
"Yeah, sure you don't," Koga responded sarcastically. "Soooo... When's the wedding? I hope to be invited."
"She's only seventeen. We can't get ahead of ourselves," Ren explained but did not deny that there would be one.
Koga held up his hands in surrender and snickered, "Judging from the hot looks you two have been sending one another all night, you may be having a shotgun wedding."
Ren blanched then blushed as he fully comprehended Koga's words. He looked toward the woman he loved and found her staring back at him. She turned her head quickly when she was caught. After a few minutes of listening to Koga and other women that joined them drone on about something, he noticed from the corner of his eye Kyoko stifling a yawn. She was probably looking at him because she was exhausted. She did tell him this morning that she didn't sleep well last night.
Koga chuckled when Ren excused himself. He expertly dodged people (more women) wanting to congratulate him and teleported across the room. Kyoko jumped slightly with a start when he materialized by her side. Just a second ago he was talking with Koga and some ladies.
"Are you ready to leave?" He asked, searching her eyes for traces of fatigue.
"But, everyone is still…" Kyoko stammered. "Wouldn't it look bad if the top actor just disappeared early?"
"I assure you no one would be offended," he replied with a warm smile. Kyoko could do nothing but agree since he would know best about the proper etiquette of these events. She was tired of being on her feet. They made their final rounds to some of their colleagues and left giving the paparazzi the slip.
...
Kyoko rested her head on Ren's chest as the limo drove them to his apartment. This has to be the King of Rosa, she thought twirling the gorgeous blue rose in her hand. The color reminded her of her Corn stone. She would need to search for a proper vase for him. Something sturdy and masculine that's capable of holding a King. She peered into the center of the petals for the millionth time to see if there was a Prince Rosa hidden within.
Ren smiled. He should have expected such a reaction from her. He worried that she might be disappointed if nothing showed up. If only he put a little more thought into a gift for her. He wanted to kick himself at the missed opportunity to spoil her.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders while his fingers gently stroked the skin of her upper arm sending chills throughout her body. It was a good night, no drama, no pigs blood, and all in all enjoyable since she was with him.
She yawned as she snuggled more into his chest. "You must be exhausted," he said whispering down to her.
"Yes and no. Mainly my feet are killing me. How a woman can go hours in shoes like these is a miracle? I guess I have to train my feet to withstand this much if I'm going to continue as a model," Kyoko confessed with a giggle.
He laughed but sympathized with her. Female models' feet always took a beating. Because of the job, they were sometimes forced to wear heels that were either too small or too big. "Here lean back," he told her, removing his arm from around her shoulders. She did as she was told and leaned against the far side of the seat. Ren took hold of her ankles and lifted her feet onto his lap.
"Corn what are you doing? It's gross," she scolded scrambling to remove her feet from him.
"Ssssh baby," he hushed and proceeded to remove her shoes. He shifted his body to the other end of the seat so her feet were close to his chest. With his hands, he used his thumbs to apply firm pressure to the sole of her left foot. He started at the tip of her toes and made his way to her heel and up her ankle.
She sighed contentedly and sagged in her seat as his fingers expertly worked the ache from her foot.
"Better," he asked with a lift of his brows. Kyoko nodded watching him oddly. Why did this seem so natural for him? How many women had he done this too? Kyoko lost her train of thought as he switched to the other foot and applied the same technique.
"Mmm, this feels heavenly." Her eyes fluttered close from the pleasure. "Where did you learn to do this?" She asked as he worked his magic. That question was much safer than the jealous one she really wanted to ask.
"My father used to do this for my mother whenever they snuggled on the couch," he told her, remembering those moments of his parents fondly.
Kyoko smiled at his memory. That would be something Otousan would do for his wife. She knew that Kuu loved her very much. When he was finished, she shifted her position in the seat so she could lean back against his shoulder.
"Thank you, my feet feel better already. Can you tell me more about your time in California? I'll listen to anything you want to share with me," she asked curiously.
Ren closed his eyes losing his train of thought as she absentmindedly ran her fingers through the back of his shorn hair.
She was surprised when he picked her up at the studio. He had cut his hair. It wasn't considered much but she had noticed. It was no longer falling into his eyes styled this way. The new-look made "Tsuruga Ren" appear younger.
"I can tell you about Brian," he said softly thinking of his pet.
"Brian?" She mimicked the way he said the name in English. "Was he a friend of yours?"
He nodded with eyes still shut. "He was a chicken that Rick gave me."
"A chicken?" She asked surprised and sat up to make sure she heard him clearly.
"As you can see I have a thing for chickens," he answered with a wry smile. "Rick gave him to me as a sort of test. He told me that the chicken represented the coward within me and that I should conquer that coward by eating it. I couldn't eat Brian. Rick was so mad when I ended up naming him instead." He recalled that day like it was yesterday. He could hear Rick's crude words loud and clear in his mind.
"I told him resolutely that I would eat it but I went to the local McDonald's and bought a 20-piece chicken nugget set. I might have missed his point but it was still chicken. I used those nuggets as ingredients for my Maui omu rice but it was mazui. Rick showed me the ketchup trick then. He told me, 'have the girl you love cast her magic on it.'" Ren opened his eyes to look at her directly, "I finally found you."
She leaned forward and kissed him softly then hugged him burying her face in his neck. She inhaled the heady mixture of soap, aftershave, remnants of cologne, and the underlying scent that belonged solely to him. She could get used to his smell. "Thank you for sharing with me."
The car came to a halt. Kyoko lifted her head from its resting place and said, "Oh, we're here already. Let me get my shoes on." She scrambled upright to find her heels.
"No need," he said, stepping out of the car with her heels firmly hooked on his fingers. She scooted towards the open doorway to reach for her shoes. He held them aloft then reached in with one fell swoop for her. She barely had time to secure her clutch and rose in her hand when he lifted her out of the car a la princess style.
He thanked the driver and bid him a good night then carried her towards the elevator. "Corn put me down! I'm heavy," she said, squirming in his arms.
"Yes, you're about 100 kilos," he joked and pretended to lose his grip on her which resulted in her tightening her arms around his neck.
He chuckled lightly. "That's better," he said, rubbing his face against hers. He pushed the button and waited for the elevator. "Hold me tighter. I don't want to drop you." When she was secured he maneuvered the hand under her back to remove his card key from his pocket.
After about a minute of waiting the elevator opened to reveal an older businessman dressed impeccably from head to toe in a designer suit.
"Tsuruga-kun," the older gentleman greeted with a small nod and smiled amusedly at Kyoko in his arms.
He must be another resident, Kyoko thought. It only dawned on her that she never actually saw the other residents in this building. She must look ridiculous right now.
"Good evening, Ichigo-san. Are you heading to the office at this hour?" Ren calmly held a conversation with his neighbor all whilst holding Kyoko in his arms. She couldn't believe this would be how she was introduced to his neighbors.
"It's never-ending. In the business world, one of your partners is always awake around the globe," Ichigo explained. Ren nodded with understanding. Kyoko just wanted to shrink into her boyfriend's jacket and hide out of mortification. "You must be Kyoko-san," he said holding the elevator open and gesturing for them to step in.
"Congratulations to you both on your awards. I mean on your nominee dearie," he smiled apologetically to Kyoko. "My wife and I think you should have won. We both enjoyed watching Dark Moon."
Proprietary dictated that Kyoko acknowledge the man no matter how embarrassed she was at the moment. "Thank you, Ichigo-san. I appreciate you and your wife's support and kind words." She gave him the best bow she could while perched in Ren's arms.
"You kids be safe." He gave them a knowing wink as the doors slid closed. Kyoko buried her red face in the crook of Ren's neck to hide her shame.
"I can't believe it, I'm so embarrassed. He must think I'm a wanton woman." She squirmed in his arms and demanded to be put down. She didn't care that she was barefoot but he refused. Just like he refused that time she hurt her ankle. That day seemed like such a lifetime ago. If he had told her then that he was her fairy prince she would have thrown it back in his face. Her arms tightened around his neck thinking how this could have all went the other way. Never meeting him again. Never falling in love with him. Would she have known her life was so empty without him?
"Hey, what are you thinking about?" He asked gently, feeling her apprehension through her body.
She smiled against his neck and simply said, "turtle girl." It was what she felt like when he discovered her floundering on that dirt path with her injured ankle.
He laughed and kissed the top of her head knowing exactly what she was referring to. He tightened his arms around her thinking about those earlier times when they didn't get along. They could have easily passed each other unknowingly. It seemed fate had other plans for them and now he was never letting go.
The elevator dinged indicating his floor. He expertly opened the door to his apartment with her in his arms. When they were finally inside he put her down.
Now that she was fully in his apartment, reality hit him like a ton of bricks. You can survive this night Kuon!
Kyoko's emotions were a mess. She stepped into the living room and placed her stuff on the low table. She heard the distinct click of the deadbolt as he locked the door. She turned to face him and looked at him oddly. She found him leaning his forehead against the door muttering to himself. She was feeling overwhelmed the moment her toes touched the floor. She didn't want this night to end. She didn't want to part with him even for sleep.
"Kuon," she said barely a whisper but he heard. His head shot up and looked in her direction. She gulped as she met the piercing gaze of the Emperor.
He couldn't help but think how right she looked standing in the middle of his apartment. The dress Fuji made for her was rumpled and her hair stood wildly on end. She never looked more beautiful to him than at that moment and he wanted her more than anything in the world.
Without thinking, he was on her in a flash. One hand buried itself in her hair while the other encircled her waist pulling her toward him. He leaned down angling his face towards hers.
She didn't hesitate. Her arms wrapped around his neck lifting on tiptoes so she could have better access to his mouth. She wished she still had her heels on. It would have been so much easier to reach him. She kissed him back hungrily as his tongue expertly navigated its way into her mouth in a sweet embrace.
Kyoko pushed away her embarrassment. All she could think about was how right it felt to be kissing the man she loved. Her hands moved on its own accord and undid his jacket buttons but she didn't stop there. She curled her fingers at the bottom of his shirt and pulled it loose from his pants.
Kyoko didn't realize it but they had somehow managed to kiss their way towards the bedroom doors. He pushed her up against the guest bedroom door. The door that led to her bedroom. He used his large dexterous hand to pin her wrists above her head while the other roamed her body touching wherever he could reach. His lips devoured her like a starving man. Her mouth, her jawline, the column of her neck, her collarbone, and the top of her breasts pushing out of the dress were peppered with hot wet kisses. He inflamed every part of her body. A moan of unabashed pleasure escaped her parted lips.
He pulled away suddenly leaving her to contend with the aftermath. He had been supporting her full weight that it took her a moment to gather her bearings and keep from falling face first. She steadied herself against the door and stared at him in confusion. She could see the lust clouding his vision but he looked frazzled as he raked his hands through his hair. Both of them stood apart taking ragged breaths from the exertion of their make-out session. Why did he stop so suddenly?
"Go to bed Kyoko!" He told her harshly pointing to her door. Without another word, he stormed into his room slamming the door shut in her face.
Kyoko was left in the hallway gaping like a goldfish at the sudden turn of events. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry about being abandoned so coldly. Instead, her brows furrowed and her lips snarled as anger built within her. He was infuriating! How could he just leave her feeling so, so, so horny? She could tell he wanted her. What was his problem? She didn't feel ashamed one bit about her lewd actions.
She smiled mischievously and walked into her room. She went to her bathroom to freshen up. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and cringed at the hot mess gazing back at her. Her hair was all over the place from having his hands buried in them. Her face, neck, and chest had whisker burns from where his mouth had kissed and her lips… It was her lips that she couldn't tear her eyes away from. She touched them gently with her fingertips. They were red and swollen from being thoroughly kissed. She smiled at her reflection. The prude little Kyoko of the past was no more.
He leaned back against his door mentally kicking himself for being so weak. The sound of a door opening and closing outside made him feel relief and disappointment all at once. He berated himself for feeling disappointed. It was his doing. He knew it was rude to leave her out in the hallway like that but he needed to get away quickly. He was still such a coward. He hoped she wouldn't be too angry with him in the morning. He couldn't take advantage of her innocence even if she was willing.
He sighed a sigh to end all sighs. It was the kind of sigh that released a piece of a person's soul. He raked his hands over his face one last time and pushed away from the door to get ready for bed. He emptied his pockets of his wallet and their cellphones on to the nightstand. He threw his jacket and tie on the sitting chair and walked to the bathroom. He washed his hands to remove his contacts then brushed his teeth.
As he walked from the bathroom he undid the buttons of his shirt exposing his broad chest and washboard abs. He sat down on his bed to take a minute and buried his face in his hands feeling sorry for himself.
Kyoko walked out of her room with her heart thundering in her chest and softly knocked on the door. There was no answer so she boldly reached for the knob. Whatever state he was in she told herself resolutely that she would not be embarrassed. He sat on the edge of his oversized bed with his head hung low propped in his hands. Kyoko's breathing calmed a little at the sight of him. His shirt looked undone but for the most part, he was still dressed. She let herself in without a word and stood in front of him.
Kuon was so deep in his lament that he didn't hear her knock or the door opening. He was made aware of her presence when a set of cute manicured toes filled his line of sight on the floor. Fuck! I forgot to lock the door! His startled gaze shot up and his heart quickened with anticipation.
"I thought I told you to go to bed." He tried to sound gruff but the tremor in his voice betrayed his real feelings.
He watched the slow smile spread across her beautiful features. She knew, and he knew that she knew.
"Kuon, can you please help me with my zipper?" she asked coyly, turning her back and stepping closer toward him. "I can't seem to reach it on my own."
He took a deep breath and reached a slow shaky hand towards the zipper. This was a simple task, one he was capable of doing for her. He only needed to get it partway and she would be able to take care of the rest. He could do this. She gasped as soon as the back of his knuckle made contact with her skin. Her body reacted honestly and shivered. He groaned internally when his cock twitched in response.
Kuon was fascinated as she convulsed just from the slightest touch on her back. He let out a steadying breath and took his time pulling down the zipper. As he dragged on the zipper, he purposely let his index finger trace the exposed skin. He wanted to gauge her reaction some more and was pleased to see her shiver again. He could have stopped then but his fingers had a mind of their own. They continued tugging when she didn't interject.
He felt the tightness in his pants intensify as his cock hardened. The whole night, walking on his arm and among their peers, she had been nude underneath the fabric of her dress. She was braless. He struggled to maintain control. He should have stopped. He should have chased her out. But he didn't. All he could think about was getting that zipper down after such an alarming discovery. Neither of them attempted to hold the dress up as it fell away from her upper body and clung to her hips.
Kuon let out a low guttural grow from deep within his chest as he took in her naked back. His eyes were mesmerized by the silky ivory skin over tight-knit muscles. He placed his hands on her slender waist unable to keep his hands off of her. She was so tiny that his fingers spanned the circumference of her waist.
Kyoko drew in a sharp breath as his hands electrified her exposed flesh. Just that touch weakened her knees. She feared they might give out but she willed herself to stay upright. She didn't want him to freak out again and toss her out.
With little effort, Kuon slid the rest of the dress past her hips. From there gravity took over and puddled the pretty fabric at her feet.
She was clad in nothing but black lace underwear. It wasn't quite a thong but it was revealing enough to highlight her apple-shaped bottom. With a desperate groan, his hands reached up to palm rounded cheeks. The skin was smooth and free of blemishes. He gently kneaded them in his hands reveling at their firmness. Riding a bicycle had paid off.
Kyoko parted her lips and closed her eyes while he caressed her behind. She could feel her face reddening with each squeeze. He didn't stop at his hands. She clamped her lips tightly when he leaned forward and planted a kiss on the small of her back. Her body trembled but she didn't try to stop him. His mouth trailed soft kisses on her lower back and then over her ass cheeks. Kyoko was sure she would faint from the onslaught of blood rushing to her head when she felt his lips touch her behind. She was glad he couldn't see her face.
Moving back up, Kuon licked and sucked on her lower back while his hands continued to massage the muscled ivory globes. As he caressed her ass, one hand dropped lower than the other. That thumb slowly traced a path under to her womanly center. He ran his thumb over the heated cleft between her legs through her panties. Kyoko felt the heat kindling deep within her gut. She feared her legs would buckle.
She let out an erotic moan and arched her back in ecstasy as a rush of moisture flooded between her thighs. She knew what was happening to her. She researched sex to bridge the gap of experience between them. She knew she wasn't his first but she vowed to be his last.
Kuon cursed under his breath. He could feel her slick wet heat through the flimsy material. She was so sensitive it turned him on. He couldn't stop himself from wanting to make her feel more. He moved his hands back to her waist and chuckled when he heard her soft whimper. It was clear to him that she didn't want him to stop touching her there.
Using one hand he fluidly undid his pants to relieve his cock of the zipper biting into his sensitive flesh. He gripped the edges of his boxers to pull them down but hesitated. This was more than enough for him. He pulled her down by the waist to sit on his lap with her back flush against his chest. He hissed at his sensitivity as her skin brushed against his pecs. He lifted her right leg and hooked it over his thigh then did the same with her other leg. The position left her legs wide open and his erection nestled in the crevice of her folds.
Kuon wanted to cry himself when she gyrated her pert ass against him. He had abstained for so long that it took all his willpower not to come right then. He focused wholeheartedly on pleasuring her. He pushed her hair aside to brush his lips against the spot below her lobe. He inhaled deeply of the sweet citrusy yet floral scent on her skin. It smelled familiar but different. This was what the perfume she dubbed Odette, smelled like when mixed with her natural scent. It was intoxicating. He trailed his lips from her lobe down the length of her neck and back up as he slid his hands around to cup her breasts.
Kyoko shuddered in his arms and let out an erotic moan rocking her hips against him. She lost all sense of reason as soon as he touched her breasts. Her only instinct was to relieve the ache building in the pit of her stomach. The urge to kiss him surged through her veins.
She turned her head over her shoulder searching for his lips. Their minty breaths mixed as he drew closer. Her hooded eyes locked on to the dark emerald eyes of the Emperor. She smiled at the lack of hesitation she saw in his eyes. When he smiled back she crushed her lips against his and drove her tongue into his mouth hungrily. Her hot kiss was met with a firm squeeze on her breasts. The kiss also heightened the sensation of his erection sliding against her center. He matched the rocking of her hips with thrusts of his own. He was driving her crazy with desire with his every touch.
Kuon found himself experimenting with how best to pleasure her. The crests of her breasts were rock hard but he found that rolling over them in a circular motion made her shake with a passionate need while tweaking them made her buck recklessly against him. He knew for sure that either way deepened her kisses. The little mewling sounds coming from the back of her throat drove him delirious.
Kuon released his hold on one of her breasts. The fingers of his free hand traced the contours of her abdomen relishing in its tightness until they touched the fabric of her underwear. He hesitated for a second but the thrust of her hips encouraged him to continue. He dipped his hand into the lace and growled into her mouth. She was so fucking wet. He plunged his tongue deeper into her mouth wanting to taste every corner of it. Kyoko wrapped her arm around his neck pulling him closer. He ignored the crick starting in his neck from being hunched over for so long. It had to be more uncomfortable for her but neither of them wanted to stop. All he could do was twist down further so she wouldn't hurt her neck. It never crossed their minds to change position.
Kuon's fingers slid over her wet folds and hovered over her entrance. He backed off from sliding his fingers further and moved them back up to her clit. His fingers rolled over the sensitive bundle of nerves making her body quiver from head to toe. Her reaction gave him the confidence to continue. He had pleased her before but at that time they were both under the influence of sleep. Tonight, they were both very aware of each other and their actions.
Kyoko gasped, breaking their kiss. She needed air and she couldn't get any whilst sucking on his tongue. The dull ache that had taken residence deep in her belly since he first kissed her in the middle of the living room was now a raging inferno. She felt overwhelmed being powerfully aware of the sensations he inflicted on her body. The last time he made her feel like this she thought she was dreaming. She had no idea what to do. "Ah! Kuon, I feel...Ah ..." She panted, unable to finish a coherent thought or sentence.
"Mmh...It's okay...baby," he whispered into her ear just as desperately. "I'm here." His ragged voice reassured her. She let out a small yelp when he increased the thrusts of his hips shaking her along with him. The strokes between her thighs left her gasping. "Ugh...just let go, baby," Kuon grunted. He was so close to reaching his climax himself. He couldn't believe that they were doing this. The real thing was ten times better than any wet dream he ever had of her.
Kyoko finally felt the tension that had been building inside her snap. Before she could stop herself she screamed his name. She felt weightless like she was floating on clouds when she climaxed. She was jolted back to reality while Kuon continued to thrust beneath her.
He felt her body relax against him and knew she had found release. With a loud grunt of his own, Kuon let go. He saw white spots at the edges of his vision when he finally came. He gave a few more shuddering thrusts until his orgasm died down.
Kyoko closed her eyes and laid her head back on his shoulder. A serene smile graced her flushed face. She felt loved, desired, sated, thrilled, relaxed, and overall happiness. "That...that...was," she whispered trying to find the right words to describe the incredible experience. She settled with just one, "divine."
"I'm glad," he chuckled and wrapped his arms around her enjoying the feel of her pressed against him. He peppered kisses in her hair and on her temple then nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck. He inhaled deeply enjoying her scent now mixed with his.
His emotions were in turmoil. He never felt such a deep connection, physically and emotionally, with a woman before. His arms tightened around her as he felt her body grow slack indicating to him that she had fallen asleep. These arms had held many lovers in the past that he would consider himself an expert in women; however, he could honestly say the emotions coursing through him right now were of another level. She felt so right in his embrace.
He lifted her gently and placed her on the bed. She burrowed into the pillows but remained asleep. He kissed her softly on the lips. He had never experienced anything like that before. He never so blindly lost himself in the act of lovemaking. Even if they didn't go all the way he had never been more satisfied.
He went to the bathroom to salvage his pants. It was a good thing Fuji said he could keep the suit. He wouldn't have been able to explain things to the outspoken designer with a straight face. He wiped it off to the best of his ability then tossed it on the bathroom floor. He would have the dry cleaners take care of the rest.
He moved on to wipe his now semi-flaccid penis off with another rag. He winced painfully. Although it felt fantastic at the time, his sensitive skin was chafed. He got a new washcloth and soaked it in warm water. He went out and did his best to clean up Kyoko.
"Kuon," she sighed in her sleep as he ran the cloth over her thighs. He wasn't strong enough to wipe what was covered by her underwear.
He shut off the lights after putting on a fresh pair of briefs. He pulled her into his arms and closed his eyes with a contented sigh. He fell instantly to sleep.
Notes:
Hiya, thanks for continuing to read. I consider myself an expert pervert when it comes to RenKyo, but putting it into words is difficult. I hope you guys enjoyed it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 28: Morning Interlude
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Setsu would have looked down in that shower.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko woke up shivering. With eyes still closed she reached out for her covers but her hands managed to land on something else, or more like, someone else.
She opened her eyes slowly, using the dawn light peeking through the curtains. Her cheeks heated up when she spotted Kuon softly snoring next to her. He was lying on his back sleeping without a care in the world. The covers were a tangled mess at the foot of the bed. He must have been hot last night since he was only wearing boxer briefs. Kyoko glanced down at herself remembering her lack of clothing.
She was practically nude save for her underwear. For some reason, her nakedness didn't embarrass her as much. Was it because he made her feel wanted?
She smiled as she recalled last night. Her body was no longer cold as the memory of last night filled her with warmth. She had mischievously barged into his room even though he told her to go to bed. She had wanted him and although they didn't have "sex" it was still very satisfying.
She had held still last night and just let him touch her. She didn't want to startle him and make him freak out, which he was prone to do. Kyoko didn't want him to throw her out of the room. She was glad he didn't do that because it felt wonderful to have his hands and mouth on her.
Kyoko propped herself on her elbow as she watched her man sleep, looking for all the world like the Gods favored Adonis. She reached out her hand tentatively to touch him. Her fingers started with brushing his hair from his forehead. She knew from last night that he had taken out his contacts so if he were to open them now they could be as vibrant as emeralds sparkling in the sunlight or like last night, during throws of passion, they could be as dark as a tempest sea.
She traced her finger over his chiseled jaw. She could feel the whiskers already sprouting through his pores. She moved to touch his soft pink lips. Lips that could set her skin aflame with just one touch. She had an urge to kiss him but she held back and opted for her fingers to do the work. His lips parted as she traced over them, stilling her hand she waited to see if she had awoken him.
When he didn't stir anymore, her hand continued its exploration. The pad of her fingers lightly ran the curve of his long neck and down to his collar bone. She stifled a giggle as her fingers played with one nipple then the other watching it harden under her touch. So this is the same for men as it is women. Her eyes dropped to his abdomen.
Her fingers lingered there tracing each muscle out slowly. She reveled at the tightness of his stomach so unlike hers. Her fingers circled his navel. She could feel the stubble of his hair and deduced that he shaved his body there. As she made her way to his waistband she inhaled sharply and pulled her hand back. She was curious to know if he was blonde all down there as well. She had never seen a man's penis. All she had to go on were the pictures she saw during her "research."
Kyoko glanced at his face with a worried frown. I'm being extremely perverted right now. This has to be against the law. I'm violating him in his sleep.
Kuon's lips twitched slightly as he spied his girlfriend's face of mixed emotions through slitted eyes. Her touch had woken him up when she was playing with his nipples and it took all his ability not to move.
He didn't want to break whatever spell had befallen her. She was touching him of her own volition and he fucking loved it. He watched her face go from a range of excitement, curiosity, guilt, and then back to curiosity. Her hand reached out for his groin area. Was she going to touch him down there? His heart raced with anticipation.
Forgetting to feign sleep, Kuon opened his eyes wider to watch her. She didn't realize he was awake since her eyes were once again trained on his crotch.
He watched her pink little tongue snake out over her lips as her hand neared his waistband. He lost. His erection grew under her eyes until his dick was pitching a high tent in his boxers
Kyoko's hand stopped short as she watched this phenomenon occurring in his pants. She flicked wide eyes to his face. He was awake! Her eyes locked with the piercing dark green of the Emperor. It was a tempest sea kind of morning.
Neither of them spoke as he reached out a hand to touch the curve of her hip. She shivered as he traced his finger up her side and over her breast. His finger rolled over her nipple. Kyoko arched her back wanting more of her breast to fill his hand. Kuon obliged as he palmed her breast, rubbing his thumb over the rosy crest. His eyes narrowed as she responded wantonly to his touch. She hummed with desire. Kuon pulled her closer, sliding his leg between her thighs and digging his erection into her hip. He kissed her slowly but passionately. She responded in kind and parted her lips entangling his tongue with hers. He wanted to take his time with her. He didn't plan on going all the way with her. Last night could attest to the fact that they could both find fulfillment in just touching.
Kyoko hooked her leg over his hip not knowing what she wanted. She only knew that it felt good to have him rubbing against her. Kuon broke the kiss trailing his lips over her smooth jaw and down to her neck. He lingered in the crook of her neck licking and sucking at the delicate skin.
The blaring sound of a phone buzzing broke their morning interlude. Kuon buried his head into her chest with an agonizing groan. He cursed the interruption making Kyoko giggle. Who the fuck was calling this early in the morning? He reached for the offending object and snatched it open. Forgetting his professionalism he answered the phone gruffly, "What?! This better be an emergency!"
"Mo! You bastard! How dare you answer the phone like that? Are you even Japanese? Didn't your parents teach you manners? Why are you..." Kanae's voice rang loud and clear in the quiet of Kuon's room. He felt emasculated as he handed Kyoko the phone not even listening to the rest of her best friend's lecture. There was no way he could continue after that dressing down. She was hitting a little too close to home with her questions.
"Mokoooo-saaaan!" Kyoko squealed into the receiver.
"Mo! I see your relationship is going good," Kanae teased with her cool voice.
"Eh, Mo- Moko-san I assure you I'm still..."
"Mo, it's okay! I'm not judging. I just hope you're both being safe. Your career is..."
"But Mo-..." Kyoko's train of thought cut off as she watched Kuon roll out of bed. Her mouth watered as he stalked to the bathroom leaving the door ajar. She heard him relieve himself before hopping into the shower.
"Mo! Are you even listening to me? Did you hear a word I said? Even if you didn't win, it was still a win for your career. Anyway it's good you're fine, that's all!" Kanae said quickly and hung up.
Kyoko stared at the phone while the dial tone hummed. It was so like Kanae. She didn't even get a chance to ask her about the States. She placed her phone back on the table and laid in bed listening to the sounds of the shower. She had a strong desire to join him but she wasn't brave enough to act on it yet.
Kuon took a nice cold shower while Kyoko caught up with her friend. He contemplated rubbing one out while he was in there, Lord knew, after last night he had plenty of material to help him come quickly. He thought better of it. They had the day off today so maybe they could continue later.
He turned off the water and realized he forgot a towel. "Baby, can you get me a towel from the closet?" He asked as goose pimples dotted his flesh. He heard the distinct sound of drawers and doors opening and closing outside.
He smirked when Kyoko walked into the bathroom wearing one of his T-shirts. She rummaged through my drawers. He didn't even try to cover himself up. She just stood there gaping at him in all his naked glory under the bright lights of the bathroom. He let her have her fill until the cold got the better of him.
"Thank you for the towel," he said huskily reaching for it.
Kyoko was startled from her thoughts when he took the towel. She blushed as she realized she had been staring at his crotch like a total pervert. That confirmed it, his hair was a darker blonde down there. As he was distracted drying his hair, she inspected his penis resting on his thigh. Even at rest, she could tell he was well endowed. Her eyes took on a calculated look, almost medical, as she mentally noted his measurements. She could refine her dolls with this data.
Kuon cleared his throat as his face heated up. If she kept this up he might have to take her on the bathroom counter. Before he could act on it, she scuttled out of the bathroom embarrassed. "I'll get cleaned up too." She wondered how her perverted nature could know no bounds.
Kuon chuckled a bit relieved. He looked down at his dick. He thought he was well proportioned for his size. She didn't seem disappointed. A dark thought entered his mind. Am I the first man she has ever seen naked? He knew she lived with Sho when they were kids and then over a year ago alone as teens. Did Fuwa ever forget his towel? Did she?
Kuon looked at his reflection in the mirror. Cold green eyes stared back at him as he imagined her walking in on "Sho-chan" in the shower or vice versa. He wondered if that was the reason she could act so naturally when she walked in on him while acting as the Heel siblings. Was she used to seeing men naked?
He snapped the toothbrush he held in his hand which brought him back to his senses. His insecurities and overactive imagination would only cause them problems. He knew nothing happened between them. Case and point the fiasco he witnessed on Valentine's Day. She was so distraught after that asshole stole her first kiss. He regretted not punching that jerk.
When his mind was in a positive place after taking him on a pointless downward spiral, he went to get dress.
He found his suit and her dress lying neatly on the bed. How did she manage to remove that from under his knows? He hoped she didn't notice his pants. He would be embarrassed if he had to explain a man's secretions. He prayed he never had to.
His phone chirped indicating new messages. He quickly dressed and reached for his phone. Sure enough, there was a message from Yashiro. Congratulations Ren, I hope Kyoko isn't too disappointed. President wants to see you guys in the morning. Lay low for today.
Kuon looked at his phone oddly. What was with the cryptic message? He decided to give their manager a call.
"Yashiro-san, what's going on?" Ren asked disturbed by what wasn't said in their manager's message.
"Ren, it's nothing serious or I would have called. It's just the media outlets are hunting for you guys. They are staking out Kyoko-chan's place. I'm not sure how they found out where she lived. Your apartment has high tech security so I'm pretty sure you're safe," Yashiro-san explained.
Ren could hear a but coming on so he waited. "But they also know she didn't come home last night. So here we are."
Ren cursed his stupidity. He didn't think about the implications of her coming home with him.
"That is why the President wants to meet with both of you. Anyway, you two just enjoy this rare day off together." Yashiro couldn't contain his glee any longer and squealed. "So Ren... how was it? Were you gentle? Did you make it magical? Having the woman you love in your apartment all to yourself..."
"Goodbye Yashiro-san," he said as he cut him off and hung up. He couldn't deal with his teasing right now. He had to figure out a way to protect Kyoko.
He looked up at the sound of a knock at the door.
"Come in," he called out.
Kyoko opened the door. She noticed his worried expression before he had a chance to smile at her serenely.
"Corn is something wrong? I heard Yashir. Did he say anything?" She asked concerned.
Kuon gave her a reassuring smile. "Everything is fine," he replied.
Kyoko frowned and stalked out of the room to start breakfast. He was hiding something from her again. She thought they were past keeping secrets.
Sensing her animosity, he reached out for her before she got too far. Of course, she was mad. She could tell something was wrong with him and he was shutting her out like usual under the pretense of protecting her. He pulled her into his arms and stroked her back. Kyoko stiffened in his embrace. He was trying to placate her using his body but she was not having any of it.
He sighed in defeat when she didn't return his hug. Why am I screwing things up already?
"I wanted to come up with a plan before telling you. Yes, that was Yashiro-san. He told me that reporters are camping outside the Darumaya."
"What?" She wasn't expecting that answer. She thought it had something to do with her actions last night and then again this morning.
"I don't think they know for sure that you live there, and I'm not sure who tipped them off. But if they go by the assumption that you do live there then they know you didn't come home last night. The lack of truth won't stop them from reporting on it. There may be some harsh tabloid articles coming out."
"Oh, that's all it was?" She asked wondering why that would be such a big deal. Was it a crime for a girlfriend not to stay with her boyfriend? She didn't know since this was her first relationship.
"That's it? Aren't you worried about your reputation at all?" Kuon asked bewildered.
"I think my reputation went out of the window the day I posed with you in those R'Mandy ads. Fans speculated we were sleeping with each other, remember? I don't see what the big deal is. It's none of their business where I spend my night," Kyoko said finally hugging him back.
He marveled at the strength of the tiny woman in his arms. How could she just see things for what they were?
"Plus I don't plan on letting you go so they might as well get used to it," she said with a matter of fact tone.
She pulled back with a worried look biting her bottom lip, "Does Yashiro think it would be a problem because of our age? I'm still in high school. I don't want you going to jail or anything."
He laughed. It was so like her to worry about everyone but herself. "We're meeting with Boss tomorrow. I think everything should be fine."
"I also don't want to cause my landlords any trouble." She would be heartbroken if she had to move soon. She enjoyed living with Taisho and Okami. They treated her like a daughter. With her work picking up, her income also increased. She used a good chunk of her R'Mandy paycheck to pay off some of her debts and put the rest into savings. She would be able to afford a modest apartment if her work continued at this pace.
Kyorororo!
Kyoko's stomach roared with hunger pains. She groaned. Her body chose the most inopportune moments to interrupt.
Kuon chuckled and pulled her towards the kitchen. "Come on. Let's eat some breakfast. I'll get things started, while you call your landlords. You're worried about them, right?"
Kyoko nodded and smiled. She swore he had to have fairy powers since he always knew what was in her mind. Kyoko went to call the couple she treated as parents. They assured her that everything was fine but told her she should stay away another night just until things settled down.
Feeling better about the situation, Kyoko went to help Kuon prepare breakfast. Knowing Kyoko was coming, he had the hindsight to stock his fridge and pantry with groceries. Kyoko was impressed by his selections. With his help, they made a modest breakfast of tamagoyaki, sausage, miso soup, rice, and salad.
When they were settled at the table in the living room, he turned on the TV. Kuon scrolled through a few channels until he landed on the entertainment news that was running a segment from last night. The hosts were coincidentally discussing them. This particular show critiqued the outfits worn by the celebrities during these red carpet events. It was a best and worst dressed type of scenario.
"Can we just stop and take a moment to focus on this couple's style? How adorable did they look tonight?" The female host smiled as cheers rang out from the audience receiving the reaction she desired.
They flashed through shots of Ren and Kyoko posing on the red carpet. "Let's start with Kyoko-san. Can we get a solo shot of her on the screen?" The female host asked the technical team.
A picture of Kyoko last night filled the large screen making Kyoko blush. She never watched any of these shows before so she was a little embarrassed that all across the city people were seeing this picture.
Kyoko had to admit that under Fuji's guidance she felt like a beautiful Princess last night. Kuon and Kyoko continued to eat while they followed the program.
"Isn't her dress just darling on her. Fuji-san sure knew what he was doing. The whole ensemble from her heels to her edgy hairstyle just worked in her favor," the hostess mentioned as they mulled over Kyoko's outfit.
Kyoko studied the dress closely. It was a strapless corset dress with a full skirt that stopped a few inches above her knee. Fuji had added a small "v" cut out right in the center breaking up the bodice. The dress was originally floor length but Fuji insisted on showing off her legs. The lining was nude with a smoky colored tulle over it. The sheer overlay had sea-foam green petals and beading hand-stitched into the material over the bodice and on the skirt which floated and shimmered in the light as she walked. Her minimum use of accessories only amplified the look.
"I love this lighter flirty take on her. She's a very gorgeous young woman. You're right! Fuji-san is a genius for putting her in this dress. She is the epitome of fresh and modern enchantment. And look at those large golden eyes. Women across Asia would pay big money to have eyes like hers. Ugh, just absolutely gorgeous!" The male host flamboyantly exclaimed.
"Let's take a closer look at the most coveted accessory she had on her arm shall we," he joked.
The audience roared with giggles when a picture of Ren replaced Kyoko. Kyoko held her chopsticks mid-air, momentarily stunned by the host's audacity. How could he lower her esteemed Senpai to nothing more than one of her accessories?
Kuon chuckled. He liked this host. No one ever had the balls to make fun of him like that on television. He wasn't the least bit insulted.
"Japan's hottest man on the arm of a beautiful woman. Who isn't loving them right now? I am a huge fan of this budding relationship," the female host chirped.
"Seriously, they say a maiden in love becomes more beautiful but the same can be said for a man. Have we ever seen Tsuruga-san look more relaxed and comfortable in his skin? Sure he's always been gorgeous but there's definitely something different about him. He seems almost approachable here," she continued as she studied Ren's appearance on the screen.
The audience enthusiastically agreed with her assessment.
"I also like what Fuji-san did with him. He adorned Tsuruga-san in a well-tailored charcoal silk suit. The slim fit showed off his great physique and the matching seafoam colored tie and pocket square pop against the dark gray. With Kyoko-san by his side, the color combination of his suit makes a lot of sense."
"There's not much to a suit but can we talk about his hairstyle for the night. It looks like he recently had a haircut. I wonder if he will style his hair this way from now on. It's refreshing to see this voluminous blown back look on him rather than his usual side part. I hope he keeps it up. What do you think ladies? Should Tsuruga-san keep this hairstyle?"
"Yes," the audience screamed with great enthusiasm.
"Well, there you have it! The fans have spoken. We hope you keep it up Tsuruga-san. That's all our time for tonight. Thank you for tuning in," the female host said signing off.
Kuon looked at Kyoko as she stabbed at her breakfast. His smile quirked as she muttered to herself.
"You know that's a really bad habit of yours," he teased. "What has you so wound up beautiful?" He tucked her hair behind her ear when she looked at him.
She laughed nervously, "It's nothing Corn. I'm just talking to myself."
"Hmm, I wonder if that's all," he said. He flashed her his sparkly gentleman smile.
"Ehhhh! I'm sorry. It was nothing. I was just having dark thoughts and being selfish," she explained.
"Care to enlighten me?" He asked thoughtfully.
"Ugh!" She got up frustrated and paced around the living room. Kuon stared at her with mild amusement. She didn't know how to put what she was feeling into words.
"I'm just worried. Worried that someone better would come along with the total package and snatch you away. Then where would that leave me? So many women are starting to notice the side of you that only I used to know," she said with a whine that was annoying to even her ears.
"Baby, I..." Kuon began but she cut him off.
She held up a hand to stop him from talking. "It's okay. You don't have to explain. Trust me, my logic will work me through this and I'll be able to move on." She thought hard about the situation. He loved her; she rationalized within herself. He showed her on numerous occasions. This was their profession, she had no right to be jealous. She held her hand to her chest and willed her heart to stop the negativity.
Kuon watched with rapture as she did exactly what he just did in the bathroom. He stood up and gathered her in his arms. "I'll love you for always baby, forever ever."
She sagged in his arms and buried her face in his chest. "I really am a love idiot."
"You and me both babe. Let's be idiots together." He kissed her smack on the mouth to seal it.
Kuon suddenly changed the subject to rid the place of the heavy atmosphere. "So... what should we do today? I'm pretty sure the paparazzi haven't found where I live yet otherwise security would have alerted me. Someone had to have tipped them off on where you're living."
"Perhaps Shotaro may have..." Kyoko began speculating.
Kuon shook his head. "I don't think it was him. I know he's been an extreme thorn in our sides but I'm quite sure he has moved on. It could very well be the photographer that followed Fuwa the first time. I guess in a way it could be him. Anyway, let's not think about that...back to my first question."
"Do you think you would like to come out and play with Ella," Kyoko asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"I think that could be arranged. What did she have in mind?" He smiled broadly excited to spend another full day with her.
Meanwhile on the other side of Tokyo, in an upscale apartment. Kyoko's red carpet face displayed frozen on the large TV screen.
"It's Morimoto. I need your discreet services," he paused as he listened to the male voice on the other end of the line.
"Target is Kyoko-san. Yes, the celebrity. No, it's nothing like that. Whatever it costs, just get me the information as soon as possible."
Morimoto ended the call and sighed heavily as he dropped the cell phone on the couch next to him. Ignoring the obvious sounds and smells of food burning on the stove, he removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. When he opened them again he stared at the beautiful young woman smiling at him from the screen. Despite her golden eyes, she looked just like her mother.
Notes:
Hehehe that cliffie again. Gomen!
Thank you for reading! I hope you like how I revealed their outfits.Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 29: Violation of Privacy
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, we would get the story on Kyoko's father.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Yashiro drove towards Darumaya. The street ahead appeared lively for the late hour. He glanced into his rearview mirror noticing a pair of emergency vehicles coming upon him. He pulled to the side of the road to allow them to pass safely. Their blaring sirens startled his charges from their stupor in the backseat.
"What is it?" Kyoko asked groggily as she watched the cars retreat into the distance.
Ren craned his neck to see. "I can't see much. It could be a car accident up ahead. Hopefully, no one is injured." He whispered the last part, tightening his arms around Kyoko. Kyoko hugged him back. He had to be thinking of Rick. All she could do was hold him with Yashiro in the car.
"This is the only road to your place Kyoko-chan. I'll try to go as far as I can. If we have to turn around you can always stay with Ren," Yashiro explained.
Kyoko nodded at his reflection.
Yashiro slowed his speed as they approached the area where the vehicles were stopped on the side of the road. It must have been serious since several News vans were camping out waiting for a big scoop.
Ren sat up straighter after realizing their location. "Yashiro-san?"
"I know. I see them," Yashiro responded. He pulled the car over and removed his glasses, jacket, and tie then rolled up his sleeves. It was as good as a disguise as any. He used his fingers to sweep back his hair.
"I'll check it out on foot. You two should head to the apartment. I'll let you know when I know something." Yashiro checked his pockets, wallet, phone, rubber gloves. He gave them a nod and walked off.
Kyoko had a bad feeling as she watched Yashiro walk toward the chaos. "What's going on, Corn? Do you think something happened at the Darumaya?" She wanted to chase after Yashiro and check on her landlords but she feared her presence could make things worse.
"I can't lie and tell you not to worry. Let's just try to stay positive until we hear from Yashiro-san," Ren assured her then turned the car around to head to his apartment.
Kyoko looked at the clock on her phone for the millionth time in the last five minutes. They had been waiting for news for what seemed like an eternity. She warred within herself to refrain from calling the restaurant and tried to be patient. She managed to take a shower and prepare a light meal yet still there was no news from Yashiro. She didn't have an appetite but the task kept her from going stir crazy with worry.
Finally, Ren's phone buzzed. The text from Yashiro read Everything is fine. I'm on my way. Ren responded with a simple, Be careful on your way.
Even with the news, Kyoko was still on edge. When the doorbell rang, she leaped to open the door before Ren had the chance.
Yashiro entered holding an overnight bag and a large glass with Prince Rosa in it. He looked grave for someone that said everything was fine as he removed his shoes.
"Don't worry your landlords are fine. Sorry for not specifying that news sooner. Okami-san is a bit shaken up though," he said and placed the glass on the table.
Kyoko sagged on the couch with relief. She was elated that her landlords were doing well. Her imagination ran amuck earlier thinking of the worst possible scenarios.
"What happened?" Ren asked.
Yashiro rehashed the story of what transpired after he parted ways with them. There were more reporters than expected. He heard Kyoko's name being used as they reported live at the scene. Kyoko would be the center of the tabloids again for a while. Luckily for them, a more newsworthy scandal had taken the place of Kyoko's story following the awards ceremony. He lingered along the side of the police perimeter trying to catch bits and pieces of what happened.
He flagged down Okami and Taisho's attention when they emerged from the building, bowing to a detective. They offered Yashiro to come inside.
No one knew who the man was that entered the restaurant with the owners. Maybe he was their lawyer or an insurance agent. All they could agree on for sure was that he was good looking.
Okami placed a cup of green tea in front of Yashiro and took a seat next to her husband. After he took a small sip, Taisho asked, "Is Kyoko-chan safe?"
"With all the commotion we failed to contact her. I'm glad she isn't home right now," Okami added.
"Yes," Yashiro replied. "We were on our way here when we noticed the emergency vehicles. I thought it was best she stayed with Ren tonight until I can figure out the details. Can you tell me what happened?"
Taisho turned to his wife and nodded. Okami began, "During our dinner rush, I heard a crash from upstairs. It left me curious because Kyoko wasn't home yet. So I came up to investigate and found a man rummaging in Kyoko-chan's room. I was so frightened. I turned and fled to get my husband. By the time we returned he had already escaped through the window. We called the police because we wanted the culprit captured. We asked for discretion since it was a non-emergency but word got out about the situation. We're sorry we caused needless trouble for her. We want Kyoko-chan to feel safe here."
Yashiro scrunched his eyebrows. Could this be the work of a crazed fan? I think it's time she moved to a more secure location. She had refused to move after the awards ceremony. She took the tabloid articles in stride like a true professional. The good press about their relationship outweighed the bad so she was able to get out of that mess relatively unscathed. It helped that she barely paid attention to the gossip rags.
The paparazzi became bored camping outside the Darumaya and nobody dared enter except to eat with the Taisho around. The Sacred Lotus took up a good chunk of her schedule between filming and promotional commitments. With her regular spot as Boh, the new CMs she accepted, and photoshoots with R'Mandy, she barely had time to come home and sleep. The President decided to let her be since other scandals cropping up in the industry drew reporters away. That was only a week ago. The President couldn't ignore this despite her desire to stay.
"I understand your feelings. I would have done the same thing if a stranger was found in my house. Do you have any idea if anything was stolen?" Yashiro inquired.
"I'm not sure, but the room was a lot messier than it was before I ran out. The vase holding the blue rose was the loud crash I heard." Okami brought the rose contained in a large glass over to the table. "I'm afraid Kyoko-chan will have to take a closer look."
"Do you mind if I see the room? Also, can you please pack some clothes for Kyoko?"
Feeling like an intruder himself, Yashiro followed Okami up to the modest Japanese girl's room. He smiled as he spied the poster of Ren on the wall. He didn't know it, but she had long ago disposed of the poster she had of Sho. All the gifts she had received from her friends were undisturbed on the shelf of her room; however, the clothes in her drawers were strewn about the floor. Out of respect for Kyoko, he ignored the pieces of lingerie he had to step over. He wanted to be able to tell her the state of her room should she ask. The items that normally sat on her dresser were scattered on the floor. Okami went about righting the room. Within ten minutes the mess was cleaned up and the bag was packed.
Yashiro thanked Okami for the bag. Before leaving, he turned back to the owners. "I'm sorry to say this but I think Kyoko-chan may need to find a more secure place of residence. I'm sure she will feel responsible for this."
"We understand. My husband and I have entertained the possibility of her leaving now that her fame has increased tremendously. We'll miss her dearly," Okami said, a slight tremor in her voice.
Yashiro thanked them again and headed out. By then, the commotion had dissipated and the streets were clear again. He walked down the block to a busier street where he hailed a cab back to Ren's place.
"You have to start thinking about moving Kyoko-chan," Yashiro said when he was done recounting the night's event.
Kyoko sighed heavily. Yashiro was right. She would only bring more trouble to her landlords if she stayed. She couldn't forgive the nerve of this thief for violating her privacy. She shuddered thinking about what would have happened if she was in the room at the time. Would the thief have been deterred or would something more devastating have occurred?
"Yashiro-san, was the thief apprehended?" Ren asked. He wondered if this was a one-time incident or if they were dealing with a stalker. Those types of perpetrators were common in their field. He was worried about Kyoko but he couldn't believe his good fortune.
"They don't have any leads at the moment," Yashiro informed them.
"You can always move in with me. We could be roommates," Ren piped up. He winced internally at the excitement in his voice since this was a serious matter and her safety was the top priority. He tried to dial back his enthusiasm to not frighten her away from the idea and began listing all the good reasons for her to stay. Yashiro even agreed as Ren ticked off each one.
"First and foremost your landlords will no longer be troubled with reporters or heaven forbid crazed fans. This building has state of the art security that will ensure your protection and privacy. You've spent a lot of time here already so you're familiar with the building and staff. You have your own space. The guest rooms are practically yours already. You have clothes in the closet and toiletries in the bathroom. Yashiro would only have to make one stop. Think of the stress it would reduce for Yashiro. "
Kyoko nibbled on her bottom lip as she mulled over the idea. Was it too forward of her to even consider moving in with her boyfriend? The last time she lived with a guy things didn't go over so well. What if he got bored having her around all the time? She could be put out again. But something inside her still wanted to say yes despite the risks. They barely saw each other as it was with their hectic schedules.
He saw her thinking and hoped what he said next would be the clincher. "I want to protect you. I'm worried that there's someone out on the loose that could potentially hurt you. I couldn't bear it if you were hurt," he told her entwining his fingers with hers. The look of anguish that flashed in his eyes made her aware that he was serious.
Yashiro had to keep from rolling his eyes at Ren's dramatics while keeping his inner fangirl in check. He was happy for his friend he could cry. He knew Ren would cherish Kyoko so he decided to be his wingman.
"Those are all valid reasons Kyoko-chan. What do you think? It would be convenient to only make one stop. Most of all your safety is our top priority. This building is as safe as it gets. It would be convenient to move in here. I could always call a realtor to find other options. There won't be another place with security like this one...then there are deposits. The cost of something similar would be high for a single person. I'm sure if you budget correctly you can find something but it may stretch you thin for a while before you can breathe financially until your work increases. Your so busy right now that any place you do choose will only be to store your things and sleep," Yashiro told her.
Still biting her lower lip she gazed at Ren apprehensively, "Is that okay with you Ren? Won't I be a bother and cause you trouble instead?"
"Are you kidding? I've been trying to get you to move in with me since the night I found out you were Boh! With our busy schedules, I would love to know that I'm guaranteed to see you again every night and hold you safely in my arms."
"Ehhhh! You were serious then?" She cried surprised. Her face was a new shade of red for what he just said in front of Yashiro. She didn't know he was serious when he mentioned it in front of the Ishibashi brothers. Since that day, even though the brothers knew about her relationship with Ren they didn't treat her differently. All three guys praised her tremendously for her nomination. Hikaru was able to act more naturally with her. He still invited her to dinner. She finally recognized that in the past he was asking her out on a date. When he asked now it was to share in each other's company as friends along with the other brothers. The problem was she still didn't have time for dinner since she chose to spend what little free time she had with Ren. Living with him would allow her to see him every day.
"I'm always serious when it comes to having you by my side," Ren said without batting an eye. He did it again. It still marveled her that he said such embarrassing things in front of Yashiro without regard. He must have been a playboy in another life.
"Okay, I'll do it. I'll move in with you. I realize this person was there because of me. I can't bring that trouble to my landlords. If it becomes a problem having me here then I'll think of something else. I don't want to cause you any problems. But I'll be a proper roommate. I'll pay for half of everything. The rent, the utilities, the groceries..."
"You don't have to do that. I have that covered," Ren interjected. He thought quickly as regret crept into her eyes. "How about you be in charge of groceries and cooking and we can split chores?"
"You do chores? It's unheard of. Do your fans know?" She teased looking around the tidy apartment. There wasn't much mess a single workaholic man could make. The place was barren. He didn't have much of anything that wasn't a necessity. The only personal touch to the room was the recently framed candid photo of them that Sousuke, the R'Mandy photographer, took before they for the awards ceremony.
"I prefer my privacy. I do all the housekeeping except laundry. My building offers the service for a monthly fee. Please feel free to use it too. What do you think? Does that sound like a deal?"
Kyoko smiled and held out her hand to seal it. Ren laughed and shook her hand.
Yashiro broke out in applause. His fangirl ran amuck at the idea of his two charges playing house together. He tried to imagine Ren's elated face when he came home from a busy day at work only to find his beloved waiting for him in an apron, Do you want to eat dinner or me?
"Kyaa!" Yashiro screamed with glee then waved away his perverted thoughts. Kyoko and Ren ignored their manager's outburst; they were used to it.
Ren cleared his throat and flashed his gentleman smile at Yashiro. The manager cringed under his sparkly smile and behaved.
"We'll need to set up some time to get your stuff tomorrow Kyoko-chan. I would be more at ease if you were in a secure environment right away. Plus your landlords weren't sure what was stolen so you will have to go through things slowly. I'll inform the President on my way home"
Kyoko wasn't worried. She didn't have anything of value in her room except for...her eyes widened. She grabbed her bag and dumped out its contents. She rifled through everything. It's not here! Tears pricked her eyes. She left her corn stone on her dresser that morning in her haste to head out. Please be safe Corn.
Three nights earlier...
Morimoto knocked on the seedy-looking basement door. A large man with a mean face peered through the small opening. "Password," he grunted.
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it," Morimoto replied dryly. He groaned knowing that the owner he knew for years still had a thing for Confucius.
He heard the distinct sound of the door unlocking as the man pulled open the door for him to enter. Despite the appearances outside, the interior was high class. It was a place for the rich to play in private. He passed through gambling tables and ignored the hostesses that propositioned him. He was here, for one thing only, to meet the owner. This was his first time at this establishment. The owner was an old acquaintance that he met during his early days on the street.
"Yo Tadashi! I haven't seen you since Brooklyn. Come and have a seat. I have what you asked for," His old acquaintance greeted from a secluded booth in the back.
"Sota," he nodded curtly to the man and slid into the seat across from him.
"Is that the way to greet your old friend?" Sota declared switching back to Japanese. He held up his hands with peace signs when Morimoto glared back.
"Do you have what I asked for?" Tadashi asked impatiently. He hated dealing with this guy. He was way too familiar but he knew he was good at his work. He could trust him to be discreet.
Sota passed a manila envelope across the table. Tadashi opened the envelope and took a quick scan of the contents. He retrieved a thick envelope from the inside pocket of his leather jacket and threw it down on the table. It was the agreed-upon payment for the information.
"I found this particular job interesting. Kyoko-San is very beautiful. A small blip in her past but nothing too tragic. All the details are in there. Could she possibly be yours? The timing adds up to when you disappeared."
Ignoring Sota's questions, Tadashi said, "I need something else….a DNA sample of hers. I'm sure you know her current residence. Can you make it happen?" He stuffed the contents back into the envelope and stood up to leave.
Sota sighed but nodded. "Return in two nights. I'll text you the new password."
Morimoto rolled his eyes, "You watch too many mob movies."
Sota chuckled as Tasdashi left. He wondered if this new development would change his cold "friend" back into the guy he used to know.
As agreed upon, Morimoto found himself knocking on the same door two nights later. He reviewed the information Sota provided last time. He had both mother and daughter's medical records, birth certificate, family registry, and the like.
The guilt ate at him knowing that he had ruined her life when he saw the medical records regarding her psychological welfare. He was stunned to see the word suicide mentioned several times.
He had browsed the internet for Mogami Saena and found the video clip of her TV trial. It was her. The woman that almost made everything he worked hard for come crashing down because he fell in love. The only woman that held his heart. Her words, I do not have a child echoed in his mind. She was no longer the woman he knew but at least she found a way to continue living. She was as beautiful as he remembered, though a little more statuesque. Cold as marble and unwavering.
Could he have made the wrong assumption? She admitted on television to not having a child and yet there was proof that this actress Kyoko could only be her daughter. Could there possibly be another Mogami Saena with similar information? No, she had lied on television which made him wonder why. The information provided said that she lived apart from Kyoko starting from when she was just six years old. That's a very tender age for a mother to abandon her daughter.
He may have been orphaned when he was younger but he knew parental love. His parents died when he was eight in a fatal car accident. He had been at school when that occurred. Having no other known relatives he was lost in the system passed on from one abusive home to another until he was smart enough to run away and survive on his own.
He did what was necessary to survive back in those days. Most of what he wasn't proud of but he didn't let it define him. All the challenges he faced as a child only strengthened him to become stronger as he grew. There was much temptation to give up, to give in to the seduction of drugs or death. He refused and continued forward choosing to do his best to become successful. He became obsessed with that one goal and eventually took things too far.
He was able to attend a public school and scrape by doing odd jobs. When he was of age he worked several jobs to continue his education. He even managed to get scholarships for a reputable high school and college to complete his education thus securing him a position as a junior partner at his company. With his high aptitude for business and good looks, he was instantly recognized for his achievements. His company was struggling to win the case against Jousei that had been dragging out for five years. It would cost them millions in yen and possible bankruptcy if they lost.
Tadashi came with a plan to infiltrate the opposing law firm handling the case. He confirmed Saena as his target. He observed her for a few weeks before making contact as Misonoi Kazushi someone he knew that would appeal to the hard-working and naive ways of Mogami Saena. He used a disheveled and clumsy approach to Saena. With her warm personality, she couldn't possibly leave a hopeless guy like him alone. He used a side of himself that he never showed in public these days so it wasn't a complete lie. Aside from the aspiring lawyer part, everything that transpired between them was the truth. He didn't expect to fall in love with her so fast or so hard. That love made him waver in his mission. In those last days, he tried to leave subtle hints to warn her about him. He believed she chose to ignore them.
The small hatch on the door suddenly opened startling Tadashi from his musings.
"Password," the same doorman from last time demanded.
"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated," Tadashi answered. He was convinced that Sota was finding enjoyment with his predicament.
Tadashi stood in his office gazing out at the Tokyo skyline. His corner office in one of the tallest buildings in Tokyo afforded him an unhindered view of the city. He had sacrificed a lot in his life to obtain his place here: friendship, love, and now family. At his age, all he had to show for it was wealth, power, and prestige. He asked himself again, was it worth it?
His thoughts were interrupted by his executive assistant, Tanaka Mya. He blinked to focus as he turned to the older woman. Mya-chan, as she liked to be called here in Japan, had been with him since the beginning of his ascension like a clucking mother hen. She always frowned when he made poor decisions but was always there to help him back up.
She was by his side almost eighteen years ago when he decided to make the life-altering decision to be selfish and choose his career over the woman he loved. When he broke down after he was given his position in the firm to run one of the most lucrative branches in New York City, she scolded him. He had no right to feel despair. This was his choice so he had to stand up and walk the path. He was on that airplane the very next morning never looking back.
He had been in Japan for less than two months now and slowly the ghosts of days past were catching up to him. He was here to close a business deal and then high tail it back to the States. Nothing was waiting for him in New York but a cold career and an even colder apartment. It was lonely at the top. He had several lovers over the years but none of them came close to occupying even a small space of his heart. Eventually, they all left him and he let them go.
Mya glanced at her boss's desk. There was a slew of papers scattered about. She caught sight of medical records and even spotted a birth certificate. There was a nondescript shopping bag on the desk as well. She wondered what it contained.
"Yes, Mya-chan?" Tadashi asked in English.
Mya turned to look at her Boss. He looked exhausted. His usually brilliant gold eyes looked haunted. There were shadows under his eyes. The whites of his eyes also appeared bloodshot. Was this place finally taking its toll on him?
"Sir, I'm just reminding you that your meeting this morning is still on. We should be closing this deal soon and be on our way back home," Mya said in a no-nonsense tone. Tadashi was relieved that she didn't ask. She was an intelligent woman and probably didn't miss anything on his desk. The fact that she chose to remain silent was one of the reasons he trusted her completely.
"Thank you for the reminder. I'd be lost without you." He chuckled and returned to his desk. Once she left, his attention fell on the gift bag. Sato gave him the bag last night in response to his request. Tadashi had a lab tech on standby to confirm the results as soon as possible.
If anyone were to look in the bag they would think he had a woman in his life. He rummaged through the clothing, past the brush that contained strands of hair, a hand mirror, and figurines until his hand clasped around the object he sought after. He opened the little pouch and withdrew the stone. He held it up and watched the brilliant blue color change as he held it up to the light of day. It wasn't a valuable stone on its own but the fact that it belonged to his daughter made it priceless.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read! I appreciate it! I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, Ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 30: One Glimpse
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren and Kyoko would be playing house by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Morimoto Tadashi tapped the glass conference table impatiently with the tip of his designer ballpoint pen. The sun had set a couple of hours ago and still, his team brainstormed for the best course of action to approach the project. It was already delayed several months before he was asked to intervene because he was Japanese.
He didn't notice that his actions were grating on everyone's nerves until Mya put a stop to it with her hand. She gave him a stern look. Tadashi straightened up in his seat and cleared his throat, embarrassed for not focusing on the discussion. As the marketing agent continued to drone on, he found his hand reaching into his jacket pocket to soothingly clutch the pouch that he assumed belonged to his daughter. He didn't know if it was important to her, he just assumed so since the stone was protected by a velvet cloth inside a small purse. Since it was hers, Tadashi found it priceless to have something his daughter owned and possibly cherished.
He was livid when Sota handed him the bag the night before. He looked at him blankly wondering what he was supposed to do with women's clothing until Sota informed him of the botched infiltration of Kyoko's room.
"How was I supposed to know that the soft vibrations of my footsteps would send an oversize flower in an unsteady vase tumbling," Sota exclaimed in defense.
"I take it since you're here you escaped successfully," Tadashi grumbled.
"In my haste to make it look like a robbery, I scattered and grabbed random things as quickly as I could then ran out of there." Sota slouched into his seat and sighed. "I'm getting too old for this." He usually hired people for this kind of work but since it was a personal request from his friend he had no choice than to do it himself. He gestured to the bag. "All the stuff in there are things I took to cover my tracks and yes there are hair samples on the brush you can use."
Taking the bag, Tadashi handed him the envelope and left. He didn't want to waste any more time and went straight to the lab. He felt excitement and fear when the results came back 99.9% positive that she was indeed his daughter. He paid the tech for his discretion and headed home to mull over the results.
It was already very late or early morning when he arrived home. He couldn't sleep. He looked at the results once more and then looked at the photos he found of her on the internet. He had perused fan sites, online magazines, her company profile, and just about anything that mentioned her. The latest news all tied her to the actor, Tsuruga Ren.
They made a cute couple. He felt a tinge of jealousy towards the young man. The loving expression on Ren's face when in her presence was enough to confirm to Tadashi that he truly cherished her. He was familiar with that look. It was the same one he used to wear when he was with Saena all those years ago. He stared at the image of his daughter on the computer screen. He was amazed at how his love for Saena resulted in creating a beautiful life. Looking at the timing of Kyoko's birthdate, she had to have been conceived during their last couple of weeks together. He closed his eyes remembering those days like it was yesterday. Saena had been exhausted back then which they both chalked up to overworking and stress. She could have been experiencing a symptom of pregnancy instead.
He now regretted drugging her with that sleeping pill that night. He was relieved that it had not harmed his daughter. At the time he thought his attentions were good. He just wanted her stubborn self to sleep peacefully for once. He knew she would refuse to take it if he had offered it to her. Regardless, it was wrong of him to give it to her unknowingly.
He wondered if he would have stayed if he knew beforehand that she was pregnant with his child? He wasn't so sure remembering how he was in those days. He was selfish and ambitious to the core back then. Would he make a good father? That was something he couldn't answer unless he tried. He knew in his heart that he wanted a relationship with his daughter. He wanted to make things right or at least put the decision on Kyoko to perhaps give him a chance.
He thought of possible scenarios that could play out in order to meet his daughter. Should he use deception? He could set up some sort of chance meeting if he knew her patterns and habits. He would have to rely on Sota once again for that. Another plan was to go through her agency. He could hire her for work. If he approached LME with a lucrative CM or photoshoot offer for one of his company's most popular brands he doubted she would be able to refuse. The company used celebrities and models all the time to promote some of their products. He discovered from his research that she had her mother's work ethic. After watching a couple of episodes of her recent drama Box R, Tadashi was astonished by her talent and beauty. Her Natsu character reminded him of her mother: beautiful, charismatic, and from what he had seen recently in that trial clip, cold.
His time in Japan was numbered. Could he think of a CM quickly that she would find worthy to accept? How would he get her to interact with him right away? It would look weird if he, as an older man, suddenly took interest in her work. He didn't want to cause her that kind of trouble. He wanted to make amends and not cause more strife. He ignored the tiny voice in his head that told him coming forward would still cause her strife.
Continuing to deceive her was not the correct route to go. She would probably be angry and upset as it is for the burglary. If only the man had done his job properly he wouldn't have this added mess. He would have to come clean about it to start on the right foot with her. At least the brush contained hair follicles that allowed the lab tech to do successful testing. He wondered if he should approach Saena but decided against it. They seemed estranged anyway.
"Sir, should we use this instead?" The agent asked, interrupting his musings. All eyes at the table were directed at him. Even if he wasn't paying attention, which he would never admit to, he was intimately familiar with the topic to cover himself properly despite not listening. He backtracked the conversation in a way that he managed to get the full story of what had been asked of him. He manipulated his questions to make it seem like he was just being thorough before answering. The only person in the room that knew he wasn't paying attention was Mya. He cringed when he met her gaze. The employee pressed on when he had successfully answered the question and had the agreement of the rest of the members in the room.
Tadashi's phone buzzed with a message from Sota.
The Package has arrived.
Tadashi's heart rate sped up. He stood and told those present that he had urgent business pop up in New York that needed his attention. He handed Mya authority to make necessary decisions to keep the project moving forward and excused himself for the night. He called his driver to pull the car to the front of the building and stopped at his office to pick up the bag. Hopefully, luck would be in his favor.
Distraught! That's how Kyoko felt right now. She was in utter despair internally as she packed her room. It was late in the evening with the dinner rush at the Darumaya in full swing; however, she was told by Okami to focus on her room. Kyoko looked around the place as she added her meager things to a box. This room had been a haven for her. A place of refuge when she had nowhere else to go. She would never forget the kindness of her landlords. They told her that she would still have a job for as long as she wanted it and would always be welcomed home.
She didn't want to express her feelings of just how upset she was about having an intruder in her room. Her landlords had been wonderful to her. She didn't need to make them feel guilty for something that was her fault. She couldn't say she wasn't missing much when in her heart the thief had taken everything. Right away she noticed the white day gift the Ishibashi brothers gave her was gone, along with some articles of clothing. She tried not to imagine what the thief was doing with her undergarments. She shuddered in disgust just thinking about it.
Her room was nearly packed and yet it was nowhere to be found. The beloved Corn stone that helped her survive her darkest times was missing. She would curse this thief and his offspring to oblivion for this irredeemable slight. Her grudges stirred happily around her, feeding off her hurt and anger. If she ever found the trespasser she vowed to make him pay dearly if he didn't have her treasure.
She didn't have time to stew in her dark feelings because Ren was helping her pack. They were alone after Yashiro had left to bring boxes down to Ruto. She swore he was doing it on purpose as he once again came upon something embarrassing she owned. First, it was her numerous collection of Ren/Kuon/Corn dolls. She had more than he initially thought and couldn't help teasing her.
"I don't know how I feel about this," he said making the doll in his hands do the talking. "It's creepy having so many little versions of myself in our home."
Kyoko huffed and snatched her beloved senpai doll out of his hands and gently packed him away with the others hiding the soft blush on her cheeks. Home. She loved how his eyes sparkled and his smile broadened when the word was mentioned concerning their new living situation.
"Can I have this?" Ren asked with his awestruck voice piercing through her dark thoughts. She turned to see what he had stumbled across this time. He had the box of Setsu's clothing that she had safely tucked in the back of the closet out in front of him. Ren had a lacey red thong stretched between his fingers. Kyoko's face burned, turning her deepest shade of red to date. She lunged for the lingerie but he was too fast for her. With a chuckle, he held it above his head out of her reach.
She cursed herself for being too short as she jumped for it. It was useless. She should learn by now that she was no match for his height. She needed to get him down. Thinking quickly, she used one of Momiji's moves to hook her leg on the back of his knee to get him off balance. He wasn't expecting it and stumbled. Kyoko didn't hesitate to take advantage of his weakened position. She tackled him to the ground and tried to wrestle the undies from his fingertips. It annoyed her that he couldn't stop laughing. She was finally able to grasp it but Ren still managed to hold on to a piece of it. She nearly had it when they both froze at the sound of a throat clearing. Ren let go before she did, sending the material sailing across the room like a yanked rubberband.
Yashiro walked into the room to find the two love birds wrestling on the floor over something in Ren's hand. Since they had 't noticed him, he took the liberty of snapping a few pictures. They were so engrossed in their love play that he had to clear his throat to gain their attention. His vision was impaired when something smacked him in the face catching at the edge of his glasses. He calmly counted to ten before removing the offending object. His eyes bulged out of their sockets and his cheeks blazed once he realized what he held.
Kyoko moaned with mortification and buried her face in her hands. She prayed to the Gods for the earth to just swallow her up whole.
Ren laughed harder at their manager's expense. After getting over her initial embarrassment, Kyoko joined him. His carefree laughter was contagious. And just like that her anger and sadness were replaced with mirth. Ren smiled when he realized he managed to distract her. He knew how much the stone had meant to her. It was really as he said when he first discovered it at the foot of the steps of LME's parking garage, a cheap stone he found while perusing local wares on one of his many exotic vacations as a child with his parents. There was no way he could easily replace it.
Yashiro handed the garment to Kyoko, unable to meet her eyes. He would have never thought that the Princess of Propriety would own such a pair of risque underwear. Ren's bad boy side had to be rubbing off on her.
"If you two are through horseplaying, how about we finish this up," he said sternly, acting like the grown-up for once. He busied himself with another box so the twinkle in his eye wouldn't betray him. It would be late by the time they got back to the apartment at this rate. It was good that he managed to push Kyoko's statement to later in the morning the next day, unfortunately, Ren's day started before hers.
Earlier that morning they stopped by Lory's office to make him aware of the situation. Yashiro gave him the quick version of what transpired last night over the phone but Lory wanted to talk it over in person.
When the three of them walked into Lory's office, they were blasted by icy cold air. Ruto materialized by their side offering thick puffy coats to keep them warm. The place was riddled with snow, frozen boulders, tents, and colorful flags. They discovered Lory and a few others climbing a make-shift version of Mount Everest. Kyoko never realized how high the ceiling was in his office until that moment. It was remarkable since it was over 32 degrees celsius outside. Lory was taking this new theme to an extreme. Kyoko could only imagine the air conditioning bill to keep the room this cold. They watched in fascination as he broke away from the group and repelled himself down.
"Good Morning, my children! Anyone want to have a go?" he asked, gesturing to the snow-capped mountain. They vehemently shook their head No with chattering teeth.
"Let's sit over here and get warm." They followed Lory as he led them to a large tent that was pitched on the other side of the room. Warmth greeted them immediately upon entering. Ruto handed them tin mugs of tea through the mouth of the tent then zipped it closed. It was awkward sitting in close quarters sitting in such close quarters. They sipped the warm liquid, willing the feeling back into their numb limbs before Lory spoke.
"Let's get down to business. How are you feeling Mogami-kun?" Lory addressed Kyoko first.
"All things considered, President-san, I'm doing fine." Lory cocked a brow, skeptically making Kyoko squirm under his scrutiny. "I guess I'm agitated that there's someone out there willing to take such a huge risk to break into my home without waiting for the restaurant to close. I'm worried that it may happen again. I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me," she finally admitted.
"I had Ruto get in touch with my contact at the police station. We have a copy of the report and what little evidence they acquired from the scene. It's a dead end. This man left no fingerprints, footprints, or any sort of DNA behind. An amateur would have left something traceable," Lory informed them, rubbing his chin with his hand.
All three were surprised by Lory's revelation. Was this the work of a professional? What did he want with her?
"So you've decided to move in with Ren?" Kyoko nodded shyly in response. "If you aren't comfortable with that decision Mogami-kun, I can help you find a secure place," Lory told her, ignoring Ren's scowl.
"Oh no, sir, that's not necessary. I am happy to be living with Ren," she gushed. "Thank you for the offer."
Lory smirked with satisfaction. "I will lend you Ruto tonight to help facilitate your move. The apartment's security is top-notch so you can't ask for a safer place. I will have Ruto install a personal alarm today on the apartment itself for redundancy. You can set the alarm when you leave for the day and set it at night before you go to bed. If anyone tries to get in while activated authorities will be notified," informed Lory.
"President, is this a serious problem? Does Kyoko have a stalker?" He reached out for Kyoko's hand to offer support and reassure himself. He was nervous about her safety. Who could be targeting her?
"I just want to be cautious. It could very well be nothing but me overreacting; however, with all the press that you two have been receiving I would like to take the extra precaution. There are some passionate people out there."
Lory addressed Kyoko again, "I have asked for a press conference here tomorrow. You can make a short statement that will hopefully quiet down the wolves for a bit and send them back to their dens."
Kyoko nodded. She wanted to get rid of the reporters as well. It was difficult just getting into the office since they were camped outside the parking garage and at the front of the building. She worried about the Darumaya couple. She didn't like that she had caused them trouble once again.
Tadashi was shown to a small table and placed his order. The place was busy with paparazzi still buzzing around the front. He hoped to catch one glimpse of her by dining at the restaurant where she lived. He waited all evening for Sota's message to notify him of her return home. Tadashi ate his dinner slowly to bide his time. His bento contained miso soup, salad, pickled radish, three kinds of sashimi, rice, and much more. Being a cook himself, he was impressed by the food quality the small establishment produced. He would like to cook for his daughter the same way he used to for her mother. He wondered if she had a talent for cooking or if she took after her mother in that regard.
He heard movement above but she had yet to come down. It was rude of him to stay any longer so he paid his bill and left. He made his way around the building where luckily no reporters lurked. There were two cars by the rear of the entrance and one of them looked suspiciously like a small moving van. Tadashi hid in the shadows watching a foreign man and the familiar Japanese agent of Tsuruga Ren place boxes into the van. This situation could only mean one thing, she was moving. He smiled at their quick response to ensure her safety. He was glad she had people watching out for her well being. He would have done the same after the security breach.
He held his breath when she emerged from the restaurant with the male actor carrying a few bags between the two of them.
"That should be everything," she said and handed her bags over to be placed into the van. She went back inside for a few minutes while the men waited. Tadashi needed to act quickly before he had to rely on Sota again to find out where she would be leaving. When she came out again, he stepped out of the shadows and approached the vehicle. He was startled when out of nowhere the foreign man blocked his path.
...
"Sir, please don't come any closer," Ruto warned. He eyed the distinguished-looking gentleman suspiciously. He noticed the man skulking about in the shadows a few minutes ago but decided to observe him.
"Is there a problem, Ruto-san?" Yashiro asked as he approached them. Ren and Kyoko were settled in the car unaware of the ensuing situation.
"Everything is fine Yashiro-san. Please go first and I will meet you there," Ruto assured him. He blocked the man again trying to take advantage of the small interruption to look at the car.
"Okay, but please call if you need help." Yashiro returned to the car and got inside.
After Yashiro left, Ruto regarded the businessman thoughtfully. He noticed the hopelessness marring the man's face as he stared after the departing vehicle. He had yet to introduce himself. Ruto's intuition told him that this man was not an enemy. He was skilled at reading people and deduced that this man had no malicious intent. Since he was at this location, he assumed he was here to see Kyoko.
Lory trusted Ruto to take the best course of action in this situation so he made a calculated decision. "If you have any business with them, please take it up with the President of LME," Ruto advised and handed him a card. He stepped into the van and left the stunned man in his wake.
Omake
Ren came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped low around his hips pronouncing the v-shape of his chiseled torso. He paused for a beat as he took in the sight of his girlfriend already laying on top of the covers of his, no, their bed. He didn't think he would ever get used to seeing her there every night.
His dick grew in anticipation with each passing step. By the time he made it to her side, all his blood was pumping to his groin. She was curled up in a fetal position soundly asleep wearing one of his T-shirts. The shirt rolled up in her sleep exposing her perky little ass. She undid him. The crafty little minx was wearing none other than the infamous red thong she so passionately fought him over earlier. Did she plan on seducing me?
His nostrils flared as his eyes wandered up her silky legs to the curve of her ass and rested at the core of her sex barely covered by the thin red lace. He let out a huge sigh. The kind of sigh that felt like his soul was departing his body. He lifted her slightly to free the covers beneath her and cover her body. He berated himself for taking such a long shower. When she was tucked in, he strolled back to the bathroom to endure yet another cold shower. Now that they were living under the same roof, they could take their time exploring each other.
Notes:
Thank you for reading. I appreciate it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 31: A Manager's Wish
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would make Ren blush so much more.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
He roused shuddering from the sense of cold loneliness. He reached out seeking her warmth only to find that side of the bed empty. He bolted upright from the bed searching the room. The sound of his pounding heart reverberated in his ears. She was gone! A clattering from outside directed his attention to the door making the sound of his heart dissipate. He smiled. She was outside and she was singing an English song. He loved her voice. This must be a regular thing for her. He only ever heard her in the morning while Setsu took a shower. She probably thought he was sleeping. He could get used to waking up to his little songbird every day.
"It doesn't matter if I'm not enough, For the future or the things to come, 'Cause I'm young and in love, I'm young and in love…"
"Ahhh!" She screeched as strong arms wrapped around her from behind.
"Good morning beautiful," he purred nuzzling the back of her neck. Kyoko shut off the stove and removed the frying pan of sausages from the burner. She twisted in his arms and slid her palms up his bare chest then encircled her arms around his neck. He wore his pajama pants while she wore his T-shirt.
"Good morning," she greeted with a smile. "I'm sorry I fell asleep first last night." She had every intention of letting him have the little red piece of lace. The day's events had taken its toll on her.
He decided to bully her a little. "Are you perhaps referring to the fact that you tried to seduce me last night? I had half a mind to wake you up and make you pay in full for the trouble." He pulled her closer, grinding his hips against her.
"I'm very sorry to have troubled you, Corn," Kyoko said meekly, ignoring his obvious erection. She rose on her tiptoes and laid soft kisses on him wherever she could reach. She only got as far as his collar bone since he was just too damn tall. A gravelly sound escaped from his throat when he grabbed her by the ass and sat her on the counter. She was almost at eye level with him since his countertops were higher than the Japanese standard.
She giggled shyly when he pointed to his right cheek. With eyes wide open she brushed her lips against the spot. He pointed to another spot and so she kissed him there too. They played that game for several minutes until his finger landed directly on the lips. She happily obliged. It was a sweet and innocent kiss until she became demanding. She licked and tugged at his bottom lip with her teeth until he parted his mouth. She dug her fingers into his scalp while her tongue took its time exploring the interior of his mouth. He let her take control of the kiss but pulled her hips against him. He trembled at the sound of her contented sigh.
Unable to contain himself, he broke away and yanked her shirt off. His greedy hands eagerly cupped a breast. She arched into him as his thumbs circled the tips to hardened peaks. Her face heated when she felt moisture pooling at the junction of her thighs. For a fleeting moment, she thought of how unsanitary they were being in the kitchen. His mouth closed hungrily over her breast and blasted all coherent thoughts from her mind. His every touch set her body on fire.
She leaned back onto her elbows making his mouth follow her body. She used the new position to secure her legs around his hips and lock her ankles together. She gasped at the sensation of rubbing the little bundle of nerves between her legs against him.
He straightened up with a loud groan and lifted her off the counter. He wanted nothing more to bury himself inside her but knew that their foreplay was more than enough to satisfy both of them. He carried her to their room and laid her gently on the bed. Her porcelain skin looked so provocative in the tiny red lace. She looked away bashfully as his eyes roamed over every centimeter of her body, committing it to memory. He smiled adoringly at her shyness even after they touched each other somewhat intimately many times since the ceremony.
She finally looked at him and extended her arms invitingly. He climbed on the bed and fell into her loving embrace rejoining his mouth with hers. As he kissed her, his fingers traversed her smooth toned leg until they reached their intended destination between her thighs. He swallowed her gasp as he caressed her hot silky folds through the soaked lace. He chuckled against her mouth when she bucked her hips against his hand impatiently. Giving in to her demands, he pulled the garment aside and slid his fingers against her bare flesh. She was so wet.
Her mewlings made him confident that he could take things a little further. He teased the entrance of her womanhood before slipping a finger inside. He groaned at the way her body swallowed it up and squeezed. It nearly broke him as he imagined that it was his dick encased within her but his blissful musings were short-lived. She hissed and broke away from his mouth tensing her body. He stayed his hand frightened by her reaction. Did I just fuck up?
"I'm sorry, baby. Does it hurt?" He looked at her with worry and tried to pull his hand away but she stopped him before he could do so. She left him baffled.
Kyoko gazed into his green eyes. Behind the uncertainty, she saw his love for her shining in them. She smiled reassuringly and caressed his cheek then rocked her hips against his hand. "I-it doesn't hurt. It's, it's just different. I never actually had anyone's finger in there before or mine for that matter." She felt her face flame with her admission.
"I should hope not!" He retorted. His thoughts immediately went to Fuwa. This was hardly the time to be going there. He counted to ten to calm himself down. He was being a jealous idiot of his own volition.
She didn't mean to make him angry. She was thinking more along the lines of a doctor when she said that. She had an appointment with a gynecologist coming up. Kanae warned her that it was high time she saw one especially given her new relationship. She needed to take responsibility for her health and body.
Kyoko brushed a finger over his lips soothingly. Her ego swelled at seeing this jealous side of him. It was endearing. "I did use this finger to touch myself though," she teased in a sultry voice. She had no clue where this brazen part of her was coming from. The way he looked at her and touched her made her feel confident, beautiful, and wanted.
His eyes smoldered to a darker hue. She stared into the deep sea-green eyes of the Emperor. He nipped at her fingertip then sucked it into his mouth. She trembled as his slick hot tongue rolled over her finger. Kyoko licked her lips to relieve it from their dryness and kept her lips parted. It was erotic the way his tongue played around with her digit.
The countless dirty dreams she had of him flashed through her mind. She often found herself fondling her body to relieve some of the tension. She couldn't ask Kanae not about this so she looked it up online. Many articles suggested the use of a toy to aid in her relief. She couldn't do it. She was too cowardly to purchase such a thing let alone use it.
He wiggled the finger still inside her. This time the sensation felt different, almost delightful. She thrust her hips again. Her golden eyes may have been clouded with lust but she was able to see the blissful smile on his lips.
He leaned down to kiss the delicate skin of her neck as his finger continued to stroke inside. The soft gasps escaping her lips spurred him on until she spread her legs further. It was all the invitation he needed for another finger to join the first. She clung to his shoulders taking shallow breaths as his lips worked its way down her skin. Every kiss and every stroke he placed on her body made her gasp with delight.
He groaned when her fingers clawed at his skin the moment his mouth closed over her breast. He had to smile at her sensitivity. He rubbed the heel of his hand against her clit while continuing to stroke her inner walls. He wanted her to feel it all. She bucked her hips urging him to go faster. He knew that meant she was close. He pulled away to watch her at the precise moment she orgasmed. The way she unraveled under his touch as she found her release excited him and scared him all at once. It was apparent in her eyes, she trusted him. He made a promise to himself never to betray that trust. When her shuddering stopped, he gathered her in his arms protectively. They dozed off again until the blaring of his alarm interrupted their short slumber. He thanked God that it didn't go off earlier. It would have spoiled the mood.
Giving her a quick peck, he rolled off the bed looking quite pleased with the state she was in. She stretched languidly with a soft smile playing on her lips. Her poor excuse for underwear left nothing to the imagination. He wondered if she had more. Now that they were living together, he had the rest of eternity to find out. If she didn't have more he would gladly supply her with some for his eyes only, of course. To think, Cain's naughty little sister wore such garishness out in public. He did right by buying her pants. He would have to punish her next time.
Kyoko's eyes raked down her boyfriend's body appreciatively and widened at the sight of his erection still poking at his pants. Her body and heart hummed with happiness but was it the same for him? Did he get any enjoyment out of it? She furrowed her brows with worry and nibbled on her bottom lip.
"What is it, baby?" He asked, noticing her expression. Did he take things too far? The feeling of uncertainty from earlier flared up within him. Is this where she tells me it's not going to work out because I'm a perverted old man? He held his breath and waited for her explanation.
"Kuon, I was just wondering... it has to be painful, right?" He blinked at her confused. Her face flamed up as she nodded toward his bulging pants. "Is there anything I can do to help?" She asked sitting up on the bed.
His lips twitched with amusement. Oh, there was much she could do to be helpful but there would be plenty of time for that. For now, he was content with what they had. He already took things further than he wanted since he was unable to keep his hands to himself. Trying to distance himself from her now would only result in hurting them both. He didn't want that. He knew that if he tried she would only misunderstand even if he explained it clearly. The thought of making her feel undesirable because he couldn't keep his hands to himself made him ill. Yes, this was more than enough for him.
"Don't worry about me, baby. Mr. Palm takes care of all my needs," he joked and held up his left hand wiggling his fingers. She giggled shyly with understanding. She knew how men pleasured themselves. Seeing her at ease, Kuon turned away and headed for the bathroom.
"Can I watch you next time?" She asked in an adorably innocent voice.
He staggered and nearly fell. Did I just hear her right? Once his stance was firm again, he turned to face her. His breath caught in his throat. She was a sight. The silk sheets were rumpled at her waist and her long raven locks laid over breasts concealing her pink tips from his eyes. He felt himself growing harder. He fought his base desires to ravage her right then and there. He inhaled deeply and focused on her question. Was she serious? Did she want to watch me jack off? He could easily comply if she provided the proper entertainment. He chuckled internally. Who the hell was he kidding? She didn't have to do a damn thing. Just the thought of having her watch him right now was about to make him explode.
"Y- you want to watch me...you know?" He stammered nervously nodding towards his crotch. He felt his face heating up to match hers. He couldn't say it directly as he stared into her wide innocent eyes. He suddenly felt nervous. What if he couldn't perform with her as an audience? The thought of disappointing her horrified him.
Kyoko pulled the covers up to her chin shyly but shook her head vigorously. She wanted to watch him pleasure himself. She was curious as to how it was done and, more so, how he liked it done. She had been too nervous to click on any of the videos that popped up on her phone during her research. She wanted to learn so she could please him in return with her touch.
He nodded absentmindedly and stumbled his way to the bathroom for a quick cold shower. Her curiosity was going to be the death of him. Of course, there were worse ways to go.
Tadashi's heart pounded in his ears as he sat in the limo across the President of LME. Since he was experienced in dealing with high tension situations, Tadashi kept on his poker face even though he was extremely nervous. Despite all the information, he could gather on the man in such a short amount of time, he didn't look as eccentric as all his sources made him believe. The older gentleman looked like a distinguished businessman in his dark suit, hat, and accompanying cane. There was no sign of the flamboyant personality that Sota had reported this man possessed.
This morning, Tadashi didn't hesitate to call the phone number on the business card the foreign man gave him last night. He already showed his hand, he might as well not prolong the inevitable any longer. His stay in Japan was originally short term but he was already making arrangements to relocate. He would have to go back to the States to close out his pending projects. If his business partners didn't agree with the change he would simply quit. He had more than enough assets and investments for him to retire comfortably if he had to and would still have a hefty sum left for his daughter to inherit.
Lory quietly studied the man. From his carriage, he could tell that this man could command a fortune 500 company successfully. On paper, Morimoto Tadashi had an impressive resume, but that wasn't what Lory was interested in. He wanted to know the man behind the designer suit. Ruto did a quick search on the man but could come up with nothing on his personal life. There were past articles regarding a few socialites in New York but aside from that, he was touted as a ruthless businessman and a workaholic.
Lory was surprised when he received the call. He thought the man would drag it out a few days before making his move. Ruto answered the call and confirmed that it was indeed the man he caught lurking outside the Darumaya last night. Tadashi had asked to meet with Lory and discuss Kyoko properly in person as soon as possible. Curious, Lory told Ruto to schedule a meeting. Lory chose to meet outside of LME for fear that they would bump into Kyoko during her Press conference. He didn't want her knowing until he was well prepared himself.
"Morimoto-san, please explain your business with Mogami-kun. She is part of my family. I don't take kindly to those that wish her harm,' Lory said shrewdly.
"I completely understand Takarada-san. I am grateful that Kyoko-cha- san has someone looking out for her well-being. I don't wish her harm per se but I believe making my presence known would undoubtedly bring her pain. Regardless, for my selfish reasons, I feel I have to try. I have already missed out on too much of her life."
The man's confession tugged at Lory's heartstrings. Inner Lory was in turmoil. He cried a raging river resulting in a terrible flood, but he kept his face impassive. He desired for Kyoko to feel the love of a biological parent. Kuu was somewhat filling the role at the moment but he was in California. There was only so much he could do from abroad. In a way, Tadashi's presence was unnecessary since she also had the Darumaya couple to fill the gap nicely.
Lory kept his face solemn and asked, "Can you please speak more plainly? I don't want to assume anything."
"To make it clear, I have recently discovered that without a doubt Kyoko-cha- san is indeed my daughter," Tadashi admitted. His shoulders lifted as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Sota did not count in his mind.
The only indication that Lory gave the man that he had heard was a grim nod. Lory had his suspicions on just how Tadashi came to that conclusion.
"Please tell me how you were able to accurately confirm your relation?"
For a brief moment, Tadashi considered lying to save any semblance of chance he might have. He suspected Lory had already put two and two together. He didn't want to insult the man's intelligence. Not when he was his best bet at seeing Kyoko. "I'll be honest. It was through unsavory means," Tadashi confessed rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I had a trustworthy friend do me a favor. I only needed hair samples but as you recall that turned out to be a fiasco. I plan on explaining myself properly and begging her forgiveness for the incident. I needed to know before I wasted her time and caused her needless suffering."
"What were you doing there last night?" Lory asked, pleased by his answer. He would have done the same if he were in his shoes. Why bring false hope to a person? If it turned out untrue the other party was none the wiser.
"Ah yes, I asked my friend to watch over the place. I figured it was my best chance to catch her given an actress' schedule. He was the one that informed me last night that she arrived home. I had no plan last night. I only wanted to see her even if it was from a distance."
"That doesn't explain how you even found out about her. Did Mogami-san get in contact with you?" Lory couldn't imagine Kyoko's mother going out of her way to contact him this late in the game.
"No, Sae-cha...Mogami-san doesn't know I'm in Tokyo. Errr more importantly she doesn't even know my real name." Some of Tadashi's professional mask crumbled at the mention of Saena.
Lory's face contorted with rage. What kind of deception did this man play on that woman? No wonder she closed her heart off to her daughter and to love. During his meeting with Saena last year, Kyoko was the only subject. He had a feeling she was hiding great heartache and here it was before him in its physical manifestation.
"I might as well tell you. I betrayed Sae...Mogami-san seventeen years ago all to advance in my career. If possible, I would rather not rehash where my mindset was back in those days. I've known now that I was young and selfish. But I will openly admit that my love for her was not false and the fact that Kyoko-san exists is a testament to that."
Lory's bottom lip trembled and his eyes swam with tears. Why were there so many love idiots in the world? Mogami-kun never stood a chance. It was already in her genetic code to experience such hardships with love. He was happy with the way things were turning out between her and Kuon. The two were being completely honest and open about their feelings and damning anyone that got in their way. It was better than he could have expected and the public was taking it all in stride whether they liked it or not.
"I happened to catch a glimpse of Kyoko on television and instantly felt a connection. I felt like I was staring at a ghost from my past. She looked just like her mother. At least when I knew her anyway; beautiful, hopeful and so full of life. I would never know if things would have turned out differently if I knew she was pregnant. I can't change the past. All I know is how I feel right now. I would like a relationship with my daughter if she is willing to have me. I don't need forgiveness but I must try. When I'm on my deathbed, I can at least go to hell with one less regret."
Lory gazed out the window deep in thought. His enormous heart wanted to help this man reconcile with his daughter but he needed to think of all parties involved. If Kyoko in love reminded him of the Saena he knew in the past then it was his poor actions that turned her heart cold. Could he risk allowing Kyoko to be involved with such a man that inadvertently hurt her once?
"You do know that Mogami-san has openly admitted to not having a child. That statement nearly broke Mogami-kun's heart. I found out recently that she talked to her mother properly; however, I don't know the details of that conversation. You will have to ask Mogami-kun directly. I will give you one chance and one chance only. If you are in any way insincere to Mogami-kun, I know several people, myself included, that would be willing to bury you. I will let Mogami-kun know of your intentions whether she's willing or not remains up to her. I take it you will remain in Tokyo for the time being?"
"Yes, I'm making plans as we speak to relocate back to Japan. I would have to go back to the States at some point to tie up loose ends but I plan on returning as soon as possible."
"Good, then I will leave it up to Mogami-kun. I will contact you if she responds."
"Before I go, please take this. When you make the request please hand this back to her." Lory arched an eyebrow as Tadashi handed him a small pouch. "I have the rest of her stuff that my man took back at my office. Hopefully, I can return everything to her properly in person and apologize." Tadashi disembarked the limo and turned toward the President, "Thank you for your time Takarada-san." Tadashi bowed and took his leave.
When Tadashi was gone, Lory lit his cigar and contemplated their conversation. I want to see how this new development will all play out. Will, she shed her skin again and grow more as an actress? How will she overcome this new struggle? He chuckled softly and took a puff of his cigar.
Yashiro felt the buzzing of his phone inside his jacket pocket. He carefully put on his rubber glove before answering. "Hello, Yashiro Yukihito speaking."
"Yashiro-san, something has come up. Please have Ren bring Kyoko over to my house when they are free for the night," the deep drawl of the President's voice filled his ear.
"Yes sir, I will let them know. We just wrapped up the Press conference. Kyoko-chan answered all their questions amicably. I'm pretty sure Ren coached her. Those two are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future," Yashiro said proudly.
"Thank you for your assistance with the matter. I'm glad the Press was satiated. I will let you go. Please have them come by no matter the time."
"Since Ren had a different schedule this morning he drove himself. He planned on picking up Kyoko-chan from the Lotus set so it should be easy to comply with your request. But more importantly, sir, should I be worried?"
"You will find out soon enough Yashiro-san. The only reason I'm bringing Ren in on this is that I know Mogami-kun would want him to know. Now, more than ever, I'm glad she has him by her side."
"Does this have anything to do with the robbery? Have the police apprehended the suspect? It's someone that Kyoko-chan knows, isn't it?" His suspicions leaned towards Fuwa but it seemed Okami would have recognized him right away. Plus, Fuwa was on a cross country tour right now so he should be ruled out. Yashiro made it a habit of keeping tabs on the singer since he had the tenacity to get under Ren and Kyoko's skin.
Lory was silent a minute. He forgot how astute Yashiro could be. It was the reason he chose him as Ren's manager. "Yes, I have caught the culprit more or less but he's not someone she knows. I won't say any more than that."
"Okay, thank you for disclosing that much sir. I can breathe easier knowing that Kyoko-chan is no longer in immediate danger." Yashiro sighed with relief when he hung up.
Yashiro supposed that since he would have the night off he would hit the dojo early and get a session in. He was studying to earn his seventh-degree black belt in Karate. As a high profile manager, he thought he should still be physically fit enough to protect his charges.
He looked over when he heard her laugh. She happily chatted with Sawara-san and another female employee. He wanted to protect that laughter and keep her smiling. She had been through too much in her short life. First her mother, then Fuwa, then her mother again. He wished that no other hardship befell her in this lifetime and she could just continue to be consumed with the joy of living.
Notes:
Thank you for reading! I couldn't miss out on an opportunity for Ren to perv on Kyoko. I hope you enjoyed it!
The song quoted here was “Love,” by Lana Del Rey.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 32: Cursed Production
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would make sure to draw the line with his co-stars without losing his professionalism.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Ren parked his car at the outdoor location of The Sacred Lotus set. He was greeted by Yashiro on the way in. "Hey Ren, how did the CM go today?"
Ren glared at Yashiro and shuddered at the harrowing experience.
Yashiro laughed at his reaction. "That one is on you Ren. As your manager I know your adverse reaction to food, so we've always declined those sorts of offers. What changed your mind this time, hmm?" His manager teased.
Ren remained silent refusing to indulge him. Yashiro knew exactly why he accepted the job.
"You wanted to get a sneak peek at the café didn't you? Maybe do a little research? Perhaps, one of those places that would make the eyes of a special kind of woman sparkle with joy while out on a date with her handsome Prince."
Ren scowled. "If you already know, why are you still asking?"
Yashiro squealed with delight. "Does Kyoko know they had you dressed as a European Prince?"
Ren shook his head. He wanted to surprise her when the time came. She might be disappointed that he had to act it with another female actress. The actress, unfortunately, kept missing her cue even after he offered professional advice to help calm her nerves. It made things worse. He lost count of the number of takes it took to complete the job and felt like a total failure.
Ren was cautious when he offered his help. He could tell that his co-star's infatuation with him was hindering their work progress. In the past, he was oblivious to such behavior and would offer the encouragement necessary to get the job done. Yashiro even pointed out this flaw to him several times which he dismissed as nonsense. Now that he thought about it, Kyoko bore witness to such behavior when she was his substitute manager. Ren groaned internally. No wonder she thought I was a playboy. Did I need to wipe her tears like that? God, I'm such an idiot!
He was no longer that guy. Since his co-star was smitten with him, he didn't want her to misunderstand his intentions and give her false hope. He never wanted to hurt Kyoko or make her feel anxious. He was, unfortunately, still receiving unsolicited invitations from female co-stars for after-hour cocktails under the guise of work. His age-old excuse had been to state that his schedule couldn't afford him the luxury. These days he was proud to acknowledge that he preferred to spend his off-hours with his girlfriend. That answer often shut them down fast regardless if they claimed it to be on friendly terms.
At the CM shoot, he kept things professional and left it to the director to sort out his co-star's problems. Their progress was stalled. It got to a point where he thought he would throw up if he had to eat another bite of the dessert they kept resetting before him. It made him wonder if Kyoko tweaked her recipes to suit his palette. He appreciated her thoughtfulness. He wanted to bring her here even more. As Yashiro said, he could imagine her golden eyes sparkling with pure delight. The owner promised him that he could have a private soft opening with Kyoko anytime in the next few days before the grand opening. He could even use the prince costume for the date; hence, why Ren had endured the torture. Her smile would be worth it. He already had the perfect dress and shoes picked out for her. He just had to figure out a good excuse for her to accept them.
"Speaking of which, Yashiro-san, can you please check our schedule for a good time in the next day or two? I will need your help in surprising her." Rather than fighting it he might as well ask his manager for help and endure his teasing. It was a minor inconvenience for ensuring Kyoko's happiness.
Yashiro's expression hardened as he pushed up his glasses, "You can count on me!" With that said the men went their separate ways.
Ren quietly approached the set when he heard the Director call "Action!" He watched in fascination as several shinobi creeped out of the shadows and converged on a single spot on the roof of the main building. He held his breath as he watched Momiji crouched unaware of her impending danger. Once she discovered them, she soundlessly dashed across the peak of the roof keeping low like a large feline. He was pleased to see her strapped to a harness safely attached to a crane. They would edit those out of the film during clean up so the lines wouldn't show. If the cameraman was good there wouldn't be too much work during post-production.
Ren's stomach clenched as the shinobi pursued her, from the ground and the roof. Without slowing down, she glanced at her pursuers below and behind gaging their distance then increased her speed. He held his breath when she ran out of the roofline and leaped. She faltered on her landing. From his vantage point, it appeared that her leading foot slipped. He gasped as he watched her tumble head over feet several times before skidding to a halt on the slope of the roof. The harness wires did little to help as they tangled around her limbs.
When the crew erupted in chaos, Ren realized this was not part of the script. He panicked and ran full speed to where Kyoko laid still on the roof. God, please let her be okay, he prayed. If he squinted, he could see the rise and fall of her chest. He looked around for something to use as leverage to get on the roof. He was tall but even if he jumped he wouldn't be able to reach. He froze when the man that made his youth a living hell knelt by her side first. Cedric was part of the cast pursuing her so it was only logical that he was there. Ren didn't even care that his childhood nemesis was touching her, he just wanted her to be safe.
Cedric waved down and exclaimed, "She's fine. Just a bit winded."
It was only when she sat up that he allowed himself to breathe again. The relief he felt was instantaneous.
"I'm sorry everyone," she hollered down. "I apologize for my clumsiness." The crowd around him rang out in applause and cheered. Cedic untangled her from the harness and helped her to her feet. She stepped away from him as soon as she was steady then formally bowed her thanks and apologized several more times.
Ren laughed with relief and cupped his mouth to amplify his voice. "Kyoko, are you okay?" He wanted to make her aware of his presence.
She flexed her limbs admirably but she wasn't fooling him. Her body had to ache all over after such a hard fall. She smiled down and waved to Ren. "I'm perfectly fine. I just have a bruised backside and a bruised ego."
Jouji Morizumi, the director, used the megaphone to call up to her. "Kyoko-san, I'm glad you're okay. We'll have you down in a minute." He told her just as some crew members placed a ladder against the roof to climb up. "Let's wrap it up for the night. We'll finish this tomorrow. We only need to complete the rooftop battle and that will be the end of the night scenes for now. Some of us can look forward to sleeping early again. But before you go, Kyoko-san, please have the doctor take a look at you."
Kyoko nodded to the director as the stunt coordinator removed her from the harness and helped her down the ladder. She would have argued that she was fine to continue but the truth was she was sore from colliding with the roof. She was grateful the director had made the suggestion.
Ren was by her side before her feet even touched the ground. His expression was closed off but his trembling hands that roamed over her body checking for damage told her plenty. She winced when he grazed over a tender spot. Several people stopped to watch his meticulous inspection. Kyoko felt embarrassment heat her cheeks when he demanded she open her mouth. He was checking for blood in case she bit the inside of her mouth. Kyoko complied with his order since he seemed shaken up. She didn't think to tell him Uesugi-dono taught her how to control her fall so she wouldn't get too banged up.
Uesugi insisted that the skill was critical for stage combat. If she fell, off-script, a controlled fall would look seamless so she could continue acting without disrupting the choreography too much. In this case, however, she got tangled up in the wires and couldn't get back up. Practicing on the mats was entirely different than doing it on set, the roof hurt. She reached up and touched his cheek. Worried dark eyes met hers.
"Corn," she whispered. "I'm okay. I'm not going anywhere." He pulled her into a bone-crushing embrace that had Kyoko gasping in pain.
"I'm sorry," he exclaimed and released her immediately.
"Are you okay?" he asked again. He wanted to kick himself for being an idiot. She nodded to reassure him that she was fine. "Come on." He took her by the hand and led her in the direction of the medical trailer. "Let's get you patched up."
They returned to Kyoko's trailer after a visit to the medic. As Ren closed the door, he caught a glimpse of Kimiko smirking in their direction. It annoyed him that she was overjoyed by Kyoko's pain. He found it odd that she was on set, but then again so was he. She could be here for Cedric. He dismissed it and shut the door to wait for Kyoko.
Kyoko did a quick wipe down in the bathroom and washed her face. She couldn't risk taking a shower and ruining her bandages. She spritzed herself with some perfume and changed into the outfit she wore earlier for the press conference.
When she exited the bathroom, Ren complimented her beauty making her blush. She owed it all to Fuji. The short floral circle skirt, white blouse, and mustard yellow blazer that she wore with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows were a byproduct of the designer's latest gifting. She stopped at her vanity and released her long hair from the Momiji ponytail then proceeded to untangle the locks. When she was satisfied, she slipped on her accessories including her charm bracelet. In the reflection of the mirror, she noticed Ren sitting on the couch content on watching her. He caught her staring and patted his lap like a perverted Uncle. Kyoko giggled shyly but took her seat on him. She was still at work and was quite sure her colleagues were gossiping about Ren being in her trailer. Right now she didn't care.
Ren wrapped her in his arms and held her tight. He leaned his forehead against her head and breathed deeply. She had a moment of panic and she wondered if her hair smelled like sweat. They sat there in silence while Kyoko stroked her fingertips over his forearm in a soothing manner. He was still worried about her. She waited patiently for him to gather himself.
He lifted his head and searched her eyes. "Would it be at all possible to let the stunt double handle the riskier stunts from now on? I don't like seeing you get hurt."
Kyoko stiffened in his arms shocked by his request. How could he ask me such a thing? She found it insulting. As a person that performed his stunts, he knew of its importance to keep the dynamics flowing and authenticity of the film. There was no way she could let someone else stand-in for her when she was perfectly capable of doing them herself. Plus, if I want to reach his level of acting I have to at least be able to do this much.
"You know I can't do that Corn. My pride as an actress won't let me. Especially, if I am more than capable of performing it flawlessly. I know my own body and I know its limits. I won't jeopardize the project with my stubbornness."
Ren nodded with a sigh. He knew that would be her answer but he at least had to try. It was her guts, after all, that attracted him to her in the first place. He kissed her slowly on the lips then patted her on the butt to get up.
"Boss is expecting us tonight," he reminded her.
"Since he's interrupting our dinner date, I hope he has food because I'm starving," she grumbled.
They bumped into Koga as soon as they walked out of the dressing room.
"Hey guys, so what were you up to in there?" Koga teased, unable to help himself. Any chance to make things awkward for these two was a bonus in his book even if his plan to topple Ren was underway now that everyone knew they were dating. Kyoko turned a new shade of red which left Koga curious.
"Hiromune-san, I assure you nothing of the sort of what you're implying occurred. Ren and I are both professionals. We take our jobs very seriously, we would nev-" Kyoko started chiding but was interrupted.
"Oh, I don't know. I'm pretty sure Hiromune-san is quite aware of what a hot-blooded man would be doing with his adorably hot-blooded girlfriend inside her trailer after hours," Ren said with a wink.
Kyoko gasped. She thought Ren would have agreed with her since all they shared was a sweet kiss and nothing more. He made it sound like there was more to it.
Koga chuckled. He likes to tease her. Maybe Tsuruga Ren didn't have a stick up his ass after all. Regardless, he was still his rival. "I feel your plight." He lifted his hands towards his face to imply that it couldn't be helped with such a gorgeous face.
"Ren, don't say things people will misunderstand especially, Hiromune-san. He will just use it as ammunition to bully me like someone else I know." Kyoko pouted and folded her arms.
Ren would have been angry at Koga for his unprofessionalism toward his girlfriend but she looked too darn cute that he couldn't muster the emotion. He chose to laugh along with the other actor at her outburst.
"Playboys are all the same," she muttered under her breath. That brought another wave of chuckles from the two gorgeous men before her.
"Yes, Princess as you wish," Ren said wrapping his arm around her shoulder and kissing the top of her head. He eyed Koga as a sort of warning which the other actor took with a smile.
"Are you sure you're okay, Kyoko-chan? It looked like you took a nasty spill?" Koga switched gears before his rival lost his temper and focused on his true intentions for stopping them. He was worried. Things like this kept happening on the set and even though he was being vigilant he could never find anything out of place. Whoever was doing this was covering their tracks well. It wasn't just happening to Kyoko. Asahina and a few others were victims of the so-called curse of the Sacred Lotus. There was idle gossip among the cast and crew claiming that the set was haunted. There had been too much bad luck surrounding them lately. Koga suspected Kimiko at first; however, there were times when she wasn't present for some of the incidents. Her absence at those times had him questioning his theory.
Earlier, he overheard the stunt coordinator explaining to the director and producer that the main cause of Kyoko's fall was due to tampered tiles on the roof. They found several others that were loose in the general area where her foot was expected to land. The stunt coordinator assured them that Kyoko wouldn't have fallen since she was wearing the safety harness but it still didn't protect her from hitting the actual surface.
Kyoko assured Koga that she was fine as they headed for the exit.
...
"Ne Yuki, what should we do? It seems someone among us is intentionally sabotaging our project. There's already a rumor circulating that the set itself is haunted," Jouji admitted to his friend after consulting with the stunt coordinator.
"Let's do a careful background check on everyone again, cast and crew. I will talk to our sponsors about hiring a reputable private investigator. They shouldn't be able to refuse given the amount of money they've invested already," Kuresaki said decisively. "I want to keep this quiet. I don't want to bring attention to the culprit or culprits before they are captured."
"Should we have a closed meeting with the leads?" Jouji suggested. Kuresaki shook his head in response.
"It's better if we minimize the number of people that know what we're planning."
"Okay, that's understandable. Should we close the set to essential personnel?"
"That's a good idea." Kuresaki agreed then noticed Koga walking with Kyoko and Ren. He doubted that Japan's top actor was a threat. He would create a list of people outside the cast and crew that frequented the set for approved access. He would also need to hire more security to keep the curious fans from getting too close as he heard the screams erupt outside once they noticed the stars. This movie was becoming such a headache. Although they were experiencing some hiccups, filming was still on schedule thanks to the perseverance of the cast and crew. He hoped nothing more serious would occur and they could wrap it up successfully.
Maria rushed out as soon as Ruto opened the door and threw herself at Kyoko, "Onee-sama! I've missed you!"
"Good evening Maria-chan. I missed you too. Have you been behaving?" Kyoko smiled as the little blonde nodded. Maria took hold of each of their hands and guided them to the dining room. They found the President seated at the head of a large banquet table dressed as an English King with a complimentary purple velvet robe and bejeweled crown. He looked like royalty sitting at the head of the table. Kyoko giggled and gave the President a curtsy rather than a traditional bow. Maria copied her.
"Ren, Mogami-kun, welcome, my loyal subjects. Please have a seat and join me for dinner."
Maria rolled her eyes and said, "Grandpa you're so silly."
He looked over Kyoko and took in the white bandages. "Mogami-kun, what happened? Why are you injured?"
"Oh?" she exclaimed, holding up her elbow. She forgot about her injuries. "I fell on set doing a stunt. I just received a few minor scrapes and bruises. I'm perfectly fine to work, sir. "
Lory hummed and narrowed his eyes, "Was it a dangerous stunt? I would think Director Morizumi would have stunt doubles for those scenes. I don't like my stars getting injured."
"No, no, no, President-san. It was just a little running...on a roof and errr... some jumping...from roof to roof." She lowered her voice toward the end because it sounded more dangerous than it was. She watched Lory's face darken at her explanation. "I was perfectly safe. I was wearing a safety harness to keep from falling to my death..." She bit her bottom lip regretting her poor choice of words when he glowered further at her. "You see…" She started doing stretches and aerobics to convince Lory that she was fine. Even though she was sore she didn't let it show on her face. "I just slipped is all. I would like to continue to do my stunts to increase my repertoire as an actress."
Lory sighed and nodded reluctantly. "Please be more careful next time. An actress's body is her selling point. It won't do any good if you injure yourself and can no longer work to your full potential. It would cause trouble for many people." Kyoko nodded and bowed her head like a chastened child.
"Please sit," Lory said again, changing the subject. "You both must be famished after a long day. "
They took their respective seats and enjoyed the delicious dinner prepared by Lory's private Chef. After dinner, Kyoko exchanged a few tips and tricks regarding the meal tonight with the Chef. She was well acquainted with him since he had helped with last year's Grateful Party. He knew of her culinary skill and enjoyed talking with her about food. When Kyoko was finished she bowed and thanked him for the meal.
Ruto guided her to the President's study where she found him sitting on the leather sofa reading a fairy tale to Maria. Kyoko's heart thumped as she took in the sight. A vision of him with their daughter floated through her mind. He would make a great father. She never thought about having children of her own due to her painful past. Seeing Kuon interact with Maria was slowly changing her mind. It wouldn't be awful to have a boy or girl that looked just like him.
He paused, flashing her a smile, and patted the space next to him. She nestled next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. She quietly listened to his rich baritone voice spin visions of the tale in her mind. By the time he reached the happily ever after, Maria was fast asleep. He kissed the crown of the little girl's head while Kyoko stroked her cheek. Ruto carried Maria off to bed.
Lory cleared his throat. The couple was so lost in their little world that they forgot about his presence. He had sat quietly at the desk watching them for the last ten minutes. They made a beautiful family and he had proof of it as he smiled secretly at the pictures he took. He was grateful to the pair for making Maria feel happy and loved. Thanks to them, his granddaughter had begun to heal and forgive herself for the death of her mother. She was even talking to her father regularly. It was a shame that he had to break up those warm feelings with what he had to do next.
He stood from his desk and walked over to the couple with a folder in his hands. He placed it down on the table in front of them. Kyoko's eyes widened as she saw her little pouch on top of the folder. She leaned forward and snatched it up off the table. She opened the pouch quickly and took out her stone. She took her time twirling it in the light, inspecting it for authenticity. When she was satisfied that it was her stone, she hugged it to her face and started gushing about how she missed him so much. She apologized to the stone for being neglectful. She went on for a few minutes until Ren cleared his throat.
"Boss, what is the meaning of this? Where did you find her stone?" Ren asked seriously.
Kyoko stopped in her revelry and turned to the President. That was right. It was stolen so how did it come into Lory's possession?
"It was returned to me, this afternoon," Lory explained.
"Are you telling us the culprit turned himself in? Is he in jail now?" Ren asked, relieved.
"The authorities were not involved. He gave me that pouch as a sign of good faith. He wants to meet you, Mogami-kun." Kyoko and Ren gaped at the President.
"What?! And you agreed to that? There's no fucking way I'm letting Kyoko anywhere near this person," Ren shouted getting to his feet.
Lory narrowed his eyes at Kuon. "On what authority do you have to speak on Mogami-kun's behalf? I didn't ask you, Kuon. I'm leaving it to Mogami-kun to decide."
Kuon sputtered, unable to form a proper retort after Lory reprimanded him with his given name. His grip on Ren was lost to him at the moment and he didn't care. He shot Lory a deadly glare and began pacing the room furiously. He hated it when Lory was right. Kyoko would decide if she wanted to meet with this man. Who could it be? As if a lightbulb flickered on in his head, Kuon stopped pacing and looked at Lory. Could it be? Lory nodded slightly. Kuon let out an exasperated sigh and sunk back into the couch. Why couldn't things just be easy for her for once?
"Please don't worry Kuon. I don't even know who this person is. All I know is that this person is a criminal and caused needless trouble for my landlords. Who is it, President? You met the person. I trust your judgment."
"Please take a look at the contents in the folder Mogami-kun." Lory gestured to the table.
Kyoko glanced at the folder suddenly afraid of what it could contain. She reached out a shaky hand and opened the folder. She stared at the picture attached to the document for a few moments before moving on. It was of an older unfamiliar businessman. She had never seen him before in her life. Her eyes drifted to his name. "Morimoto Tadashi, Chief Operating Officer of Rising Sun Industries." She had heard of the company. They were big in Japan and overseas.
"Is he my stalker?" What could a man of his stature want with me? She thought of that American movie where the billionaire makes a proposal to a man's wife to sleep with her for the night in exchange for a million dollars. She never watched it but she remembered it being offered to guests on the TV at the ryokan. She shivered as her mind imagined an infinite number of indecent scenarios that this man may propose.
"Look at the picture again, Mogami-kun."
Her eyes drifted back to the picture. He was a distinguished gentleman in his late 40s or early 50s with a touch of gray dusting the sides of his hair and fine lines at the corners of his eyes. She thought he looked handsome for his age. Her eyes trailed lower until they rested on his eyes. She froze. Starting back at her were eyes she knew well. Eyes that were too wide and too light for the common Japanese. Eyes that looked just like hers.
She stared up at the President. The look of sympathy in his eyes was enough to confirm her suspicions.
"P-president-san, are you saying this man is my f-father?" She barely whispered.
"Yes, Mogami-kun. If you flip to the back, there is a document confirming DNA testing."
She flipped through the stack of pages until she found the one she was looking for. It was there written in bold letters, 99.9% positive.
"B – but how did he even get my D-N…" She stopped her words as the answer came to her. The robbery. The things that were stolen from her room. One of the items had been her hairbrush. She'd seen it in dramas. They could use hair samples to complete the test.
Kyoko slumped back on the couch. This was too much for her to process. What did he want with her now? This man had hurt her mother so deeply that she was incapable of loving her daughter. He had put both of them through hell.
"Take some time and think about it Mogami-kun. He has expressed his deepest sorrow and wants to connect with you. I can tell you this, he plans to relocate to Japan. I think he will continue to pursue you until you give in. He has applied this tactic many times in his business and has always come out triumphant. This also reminds me of a certain person's attitude when it came to getting into show biz. I would rather you meet with him under a controlled environment than unexpectedly on the street."
Kyoko was still reeling from the news that she couldn't respond to Lory. She did register Kuon's large warm hand engulfing hers.
"That's all I wanted to share with you guys tonight. I'm sorry I don't have more pleasant news. All the information Ruto was able to gather is in that folder. Look at it closely and let me know what you decide. I would recommend a blood test of our own but that is again up to you."
He waited a few moments but Kyoko remained silent. "Do you have any other business you would like to discuss?" Lory asked in an effort to conclude their meeting.
The couple shook their heads, stood, and bowed good night. Ruto showed them out. Kuon put his arm around her shoulder hoping it would be comforting as he steered her towards the car.
On the drive home, Kuon glanced at her from the corner of his eye. He could see the whites of her knuckles from clenching her hands into tight fists. For the most part, she stared out the window without saying a word. He knew she was deep in thought trying to figure out how to approach this uncomfortable situation. He was at a loss for words himself. On the one hand, he wanted her to ignore the man but on the other, he knew she wouldn't be able to move forward if she didn't confront him. Kuon decided not to press her for now and wait until she was ready to talk.
When they were stopped at a red light, Kyoko turned to Kuon. "Corn, this song hurts my heart."
He looked at her confused. Of all the things he expected for her to say, she was concerned with the song playing. He raised the volume and listened. The male vocalist sang a sorrowful tune, "I am colorblind; Coffee black and egg white; Pull me out from inside; I am ready, I am ready, I am ready..."
His heart clenched as he listened to the song. She was right. It was depressing as many of his songs on his playlist were but to him this song was comforting. It spoke volumes to him. It reminded him of how he felt when he was lying and hiding his true nature from her then finally coming to terms with it all and letting her into his heart. He was ready.
"It's almost over. Do you not like it?" He asked quietly.
"No, it's beautiful." She reached for his hand and laced her fingers with his. She picked up his hand and kissed the back of it. "I think I understand now... how you use music to communicate your feelings."
He listened to a lot of music. He used to carry a Discman around with him until he upgraded to using his smartphone. During downtime, he would use music to clear his mind similar to athletes before a big game. He often listened to music when he was alone. He never turned it on if there were others in the car in case they questioned his tastes and it led to suspicion of his identity. It was refreshing to share this part of him with her now that she knew everything.
"Wait until I introduce you to the Cure. Talk about depressing," he teased.
Kyoko giggled. She was glad for the distraction.
"I've decided Corn. I don't think I want to meet him. I'll take my chances at trying to dodge him," Kyoko said with resignation.
"Are you sure that's the wisest decision?" His eyes darted between her and the road as he spoke.
"I've gone seventeen years without knowing anything about that man so why should I care now. He broke into my home...drove me away from a place I called my safe haven. He hasn't changed at all. He's still very manipulative and just does whatever he wants to suit himself. So no, I won't give in to his selfish demands."
When she didn't say anymore, he let it drop. Who was he to lecture her on what was best for her? He had been cowardly running away from his past for the last six years. He knew Kyoko was strong. She would overcome this obstacle. All Kuon could do was stay by her side and support her.
Notes:
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed.
The song playing in the car was "Color Blind," by Counting Crows.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 33: Prince Charming
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren and Kyoko would work together soon.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Ren's phone rang as they neared their apartment. It was Yashiro calling so he placed it on speakerphone.
"Hello, Yashiro-san. You're on speaker in the car. I'm here with Kyoko." He warned Yashiro just in case their manager disclosed any embarrassing information not meant for Kyoko's ears.
"Good evening Ren, Kyoko-chan. How did everything go with the President?" Yashiro asked.
He glanced at Kyoko. He would leave it up to her to decide if she wanted to share what they learned tonight. Driving through the gates, he traversed the parking lot until he found his space. He kept the car running while they talked to their manager
"Good evening to you too, Yashiro-san," Kyoko responded, in a hollow voice. "Since you're calling I should just tell you now. President Takarada found the thief or more like the thief found him..." Kyoko wrung her hands nervously. He squeezed the top of her knee, encouraging her to continue while Yashiro waited silently.
"You see...the person that broke into my room was none other than my biological father."
Yashiro's gasp filled the car. "What does he want?" He asked after a moment.
"According to the President, he wants to meet me...but I've made a decision. I don't plan on meeting with him in this lifetime. That man can rot in hell," she spat.
Yashiro remained silent on the other line at a loss for words.
Ren's eyes widened as he sensed the dark aura swirling around her. It had been a long time since he experienced this sensation.
Kyoko's grudges were having the time of their life feeding off their mistress's anger and frustration. She sunk deeper into darkness as she recalled her mother's story with this man and how he betrayed her. Kyoko blinked out of her trance when the car shook from the door closing. She was alone in the car. She struggled to get out of her seatbelt and chased after him.
"Corn!" She called out. He smiled as he heard her heels clicking against the concrete as she scrambled to catch up with him. He locked the car door behind her with the click of his key fob. He knew she would snap out of it if he let her be. It was in her nature.
"I'm sorry please forgive me! I didn't mean to get consumed by my rage!" Kyoko cried breathlessly. "Please don't be mad at me. I couldn't bear it," she said as tears sprung to her eyes.
He regretted leaving her in the car like that. Between the accident at work and now this man claiming to be her father, she had to be overwhelmed. He softened instantly. He wasn't mad. He just didn't like it when she went off in her little fits of rage that she forgot herself. He glowered as he thought of Fuwa causing this side of her. Thank goodness the reaction was becoming rare. He hoped he was healing her as much as she was him. It was sexist and selfish of him to think he could be the only one consumed by darkness. She had every right to be angry given the current circumstances but he didn't like seeing it consume her. He wanted nothing but happiness for her.
"I'm not mad, baby." He leaned in to kiss her forehead.
A squeal pierced his ear. He forgot Yashiro was still on the phone pressed to his ear. Kyoko giggled when he rolled his eyes. Their manager was something else.
"Yashiro-san, I'll call you back. We're entering the elevator and I'll lose signal." He hung up the phone then used his keycard to access their floor.
Once in the apartment, he called Yashiro. He wondered what was so important that his manager couldn't wait until morning. He glanced at the clock. It wasn't necessarily late by industry's standards but he'd rather settle down for the night with Kyoko.
"Hello Yashiro-san, can we make this quick?" He asked, hiding the impatience in his voice.
Yashiro chuckled, "So eager. Playing house must be a dream come tr…"
"Yashiro-san," he warned through clenched teeth not wanting to listen to any more teasing.
Yashiro could feel his gentleman persona coming through the phone. He cleared his throat and said, "Put me on speaker this involves Kyoko-chan as well."
"Kyoko," he called to her before she could disappear into the room. "Yashiro-san would like to talk to both of us." He gestured for her to sit on the couch next to him and placed the call on the speaker setting.
"Okay Yashiro-san, she's here," he said, putting his arm around her.
"Now that I have you both, please listen for a moment. There was some trouble regarding your CM today Ren. The Director called me while you were meeting with the President. The owner of the French cafe and himself were not satisfied with the result. They want to swap out the actress. Of course, they didn't have anyone in particular in mind as long as you were the male lead. So I happily suggested Kyoko-chan be the alternative which the Director immediately agreed. The problem is the schedule. I told them you were both extremely busy and I could probably squeeze you in tomorrow during lunchtime for about two hours. Technically it's not the romantic date you were looking forward to but the owner has promised to provide you a personal lunch. If you guys complete the CM with no problems you can have a mini lunch date afterward. What do you say Kyoko-chan, would you like to be Cinderella to Ren's Prince Charming?"
Ren grimaced. He was disappointed that the director wasn't satisfied with the job he did today. This was a first for him. His only conciliation was having Kyoko with him again.
"Prince Charming?" Kyoko parroted, perking up.
"Yes, Ren's character in the CM is a prince since the cafe itself revolves around 'happily ever after' aspirations."
She gazed at her boyfriend. He was offering her a chance to see her Fairy Prince dressed as a real-life prince? She wanted to see it! Her eyes turned glossy as her mind shifted into La-la land. She imagined herself walking through the forest singing and dancing with the little woodland creatures until she bumps into a prince. He sweeps her into his arms and they waltz through the forest. It was romantic.
Ren laughed lightly at her far away expression. She nodded her head vigorously, making him laugh harder. "I think that's a big yes for Kyoko," he told Yashiro.
"Great! I'll let them know that we are on for tomorrow. Ren, please share the script with Kyoko-chan. There isn't much to it since it's meant to be a 60-second clip. I'm sure she'll catch on quickly."
...
Kuon squeezed her hand after hanging up the phone. Now that work was over he could just be himself. This offer was perfect timing. It took her mind off her father and put her back in high spirits.
"Come on baby, how about a bath? The two of us together. Let's soak your sore muscles."
Kyoko was shocked by the suggestion "Ca..can we do that? D-do couples do that?" She asked blushing as red as a tomato. She thought of their time as the Heel siblings and felt stupid for asking such a naive question.
"I'm sure some do. I've never done it before but I plan on doing so with you. I can wash your back," he winked. "I won't wash your front. Your front might get me in too much trouble." Kyoko gasped, then giggled at his teasing. He walked to the master bedroom where he had a separate garden tub. She heard the truth in his words and felt relieved. This man's desire for her always made her feel loved. With a little probing, maybe she could get him to clean the rest of her body.
"Kyoko, bring some of those bath salts. I'm sure they would help relieve the aches," he called over the rush of water. She shook out of her thoughts and headed for the guestroom. She grabbed the stuff from her bathroom and suddenly felt nervous. Her hands trembled and her heart threatened to beat out of her chest at the thought of taking a bath with Kuon.
When she walked into the master bathroom. He was already submerged in the water. She frowned a little disappointed. Even though the tub was large, he took up most of the space. Could they both fit?
She ignored Kuon's amused expression and busied herself with the salts. Her hand still trembled as she poured the salt under the running tap and then turned the water off. She stalled for time and pinned up her long hair. She would have to wash it in the morning. The process to wash her hair extensions would take too long tonight.
Her eyes met his shyly but she couldn't look away when he gazed at her like that. His emerald eyes darkened as he watched her begin to undress. Emboldened by his heated gaze, Kyoko took her time. She doubted she could go any faster since her fingers fumbled with each button on her blouse. She dropped the garment to the floor after releasing the last button.
Kuon hummed appreciatively. He raked his eyes over her creamy skin. He was pleased to see the crests pushing through the lace of her bra, a good sign that she was turned on. He was already painfully hard and all she did was take off her shirt. He exhaled shakily and wet his lips as she once again took her time removing her skirt. She had to be doing this on purpose to torture him. He had tunnel vision on her hands. His eyes were trained on her dainty fingers hooking the waistband of her skirt and pushing it to the floor. His eyes watched her step out of the skirt then traveled upwards appreciating every centimeter of her long legs until he settled on the blue lace barring him from seeing all of her.
Losing some of her confidence and feeling a little embarrassed, Kyoko turned around abruptly. Kuon thought the view from behind was just as satisfying. She had the perfect figure and the cut of her underwear accentuated her perky ass giving him an eyeful. It was cute yet so very sexy but he knew she was hiding from him.
"Please," he croaked out. "I want to see you. You're so beautiful, baby." His mouth was dry. He moved his hand unconsciously and began stroking himself.
Kyoko straightened up at the sound of splashing and peeked over her shoulder. Her eyes widened. Her curiosity got the best of her and all embarrassment flew out the window. The water was clear enough that even with salts added she could still see everything.
"Take off your bra." Without taking his eyes off her, he slid his hand over his erection from hilt to tip and circled his thumb over the head before pulling back down. He couldn't believe he was doing what she asked of him just this morning. He worried that he wouldn't be able to get it up under her scrutiny yet here he was. The fact that he was now unabashedly jerking off in front of his innocent girlfriend and she still had not run away was a testament that his unease was baseless.
Kyoko did as he commanded. She reached up and unclasped her bra from the front then dropped it to the floor. His breath hitched at the sight of her rosy tipped mounds.
"Now your...ugh..panties, please..." he begged impatiently as he continued his tight slow strokes. His hips bucked underwater with every stroke.
Kyoko squirmed rubbing her thighs together. Her wet underwear had become increasingly uncomfortable. She had no idea that watching him stroke himself would make her so incredibly hot. His face of pure pleasure sent a new onslaught of liquid heat to the apex of her thighs. She felt a familiar sensation kindling in the pit of her stomach. She itched to touch him and his deep voice begging her sent waves of delight throughout her body threatening to make her come. The slightest touch from him would have made her snap.
This time when she hooked her fingers over the lace she trembled but not from nerves. She gingerly slid her underwear down her legs. Water splashed as she kicked her underwear away startling her. She stood back up her posture perfect lifting her small breasts and jutting out her toned ass.
"Ah fuck!" He stood up suddenly, stroking faster. He had never noticed that she was completely free of hair below. This sent him over the edge. Since when? Kyoko stepped closer to the tub. His free hand reached out desperate to feel her bare flesh. She gasped at his touch and gripped his upper arms to stay balanced. He watched her eyes cloud with ecstasy as his fingers stroked.
Kyoko gasped. It didn't take long before her breathing became shallow. She struggled to stay upright as the sensation in the pit of her stomach grew. She was so close to the edge. Kuon's grunts brought her out of her trance, remembering what he was doing. She stared wide-eyed in wonder as she watched him pleasure himself and her. She boldly reached out and took hold of his cock. Her hand seemed small in comparison to his. She wasn't sure if she could do it right.
Kuon groaned and stopped his hand. The feel of her small delicate hand wrapping around him ignited new sensations throughout his body. He gripped her hand and guided her. He was pleased that she was a fast learner. He used his free hand to steady himself on the wall. The added support allowed him to thrust his hips into her hand faster.
Kyoko gasped with delight at his change of pace. She had to be doing something right; however, she was barely hanging on herself. She loved the power she felt having him in her hands but then his groans became louder. She started to doubt. He looked to be in excruciating pain but he assured her that it felt, "so fucking wonderful." She laughed giddily, high off the euphoria of having the Emperor like putty in her hands.
"I'm close baby, faster," he rasped out. He stopped stroking her to reach for a nearby towel. He didn't want any of his semen getting in the water.
She whimpered when he withdrew his hand from her and suddenly felt lonely.
"I'm sorry, baby. I'm not done with you yet. I just…" His sentence was cut off by his moan when she tightened her grip.
That was all the reassurance Kyoko needed. She concentrated on her actions and smirked as Kuon braced himself against the wall to stay upright. "Harder!" He croaked. His hips rocked faster into her hand as pre-come poured forth from his tip. She gripped harder. It was all she could do to keep hold of him. Kuon still had enough wits about him to hold the towel against him when he shot his load. Kyoko squeaked as she felt the hot creamy substance coat her hand. She released him when his body stopped convulsing and he removed the towel
Oh my God! That just happened. He sagged against the wall trying to catch his breath. It was a whole different experience when she was the one getting him off. He swore he saw a kaleidoscope of colors when he came. He opened one eye a slit to peek at his girlfriend and make sure she was okay with what they did. She stood there watching him with a small satisfied smile on her face. The little minx enjoyed unmanning him. He watched the curious expression on her face as she looked at her sticky fingers. He gulped as she brought her fingers toward her mouth and flicked her little tongue out. He laughed loudly when her face scrunched up with distaste.
"Don't worry, baby. It's an acquired taste," he said as he stepped out of the bath and cleaned himself up thoroughly. He didn't know if it could happen but he didn't want to take a chance of getting her pregnant. He pulled her over to the sink to wash her hands. When he was satisfied, he stepped back into the bath then gestured for her to sit in front of him.
Kyoko climbed in and settled herself between his legs ignoring the semi-flaccid penis pressing into her back. If he didn't mention it, she wouldn't either.
She sighed as the hot water washed over her aching body and relaxed against his chest. Kuon began kneading her shoulders. Kyoko released a loud sigh of contentment and closed her eyes. After a few minutes of massaging her shoulders, he pulled the little strays of hair from the back of her neck and peppered her skin with featherlight kisses warming Kyoko for her core out.
"How long have you been bare down there?" He asked in a sensual tone as his tongue played with the lobe of her ear. Kyoko had to think hard about the question. She had no clue what he was referring to.
Kuon's hand trailed down her neck, passed her belly, and reached between her legs. "Here," he whispered into her ear again. "How long has it been?" His rich voice sent shivers down her spine as his words tickled her ear. Kyoko sighed with pleasure as the heat from earlier spread throughout her body once again.
"Mmm," she said, rocking her hips against the fingers stroking her. "Before the awards," she managed to finally reply.
Kuon growled against her neck. No wonder, her skin felt so soft and silky down there. He bit his tongue wanting so much to run it over her smooth flesh. The naughty thought caused him to twitch and harden against her. Kyoko sat up feeling his erection dig into her back. She cocked a brow at him in wonder. He chuckled and pulled her back against him; this time would be for her pleasure.
"Sir, Morimoto-san is on the line," Ruto announced the next morning.
Lory sighed. He was dreading this moment. He had heard the disappointing news from Kyoko earlier regarding her decision to not acknowledge the man. "I'll take it."
"Takarada Lory speaking." Lory paused as Morimoto spoke on the other end.
"I'm sorry Morimoto-san. I explained things to her properly last night. She informed me this morning that she didn't wish to see you." He waited again while the man responded.
"It was entirely her decision. There's not much I can do at this point. I will try to broach the subject again in a day or two once she gets used to the idea."
"Yes, thank you for your understanding." Lory sighed again as he hung up the phone. He was worried that Morimoto might do something drastic.
Yashiro maneuvered the car to the curb in front of the cafe. There was already a sizable crowd of fans and photographers swarming the area. They were all waiting to catch a glimpse of the megastar. A bystander had seen Ren entering the establishment earlier and posted it on social media. The crowd erupted when Kyoko stepped out of the vehicle with Yashiro. She waved to the fans while Yashiro ushered her to the door. Before they could reach for the knob Ren was there.
Kyoko practically swooned as Ren opened the door to the cafe with a sweeping bow and a kiss to the back of her hand. He took her breath away and looked dashing in the Prince's attire. His jacket was white with royal blue embroidery and gold filigree on the sleeves and shoulders. Gold buttons ran the length of his top. His white pants also bore the same embellishments down the side. He looked every bit of royalty. She could hear the non-stop sound of shutters clicking as Ren greeted her. She knew this would be in tomorrow's tabloids but she didn't care since her Prince was right before her.
Once they were inside, Ren looked over his girlfriend. The dress he bought fit perfectly. It was a deep forest green mini dress with a lace overlay that looked beautiful against her porcelain skin and highlighted her amber eyes. The lining underneath looked like it was a strapless dress that stopped above her mid-thigh. The lace continued several more centimeters but still managed to show off her long shapely legs. The neckline was high and the sleeves stopped above her elbows. The low block-heels she wore complimented her outfit. He was pleased that she liked the ensemble.
"Hello Kyoko-san, Yashiro-san. Thank you for agreeing to this on such short notice," the director said interrupting Ren's assessment. The director was giddy with excitement. The chemistry between the pair was apparent which was lacking in the shoot yesterday at no fault to the top actor.
Yashiro greeted him then found a spot in the back where he could see everything but also be out of the way.
Kyoko bowed. "Thank you Director for this amazing opportunity."
"Nonsense. I'm grateful Yashiro-san was able to pull this off. Let me introduce you to the chef and owner of the Mon Amour Café, Jean-Luc."
Kyoko watched as a short foreign man in his early 50s stepped up to her and held out his hand. "Bonjour, ma Cherie." Kyoko was hesitant and looked to her senpai for help. He nodded. She placed her hand in Jean Luc's and watched as he kissed the back of her hand.
Kyoko giggled. She wasn't fluent in French but she understood that much. He had called her 'darling.' It sounded more lovely in French. She wondered if she could get Kuon to say it to her like that, perhaps in the privacy of their bedroom. She shivered slightly. She needed to stop before she gave herself a nose bleed.
"We changed the script a bit. The concept is simple. Kyoko-san will walk through the cafe, look around in wonder and awe much like you just did earlier. Your Prince arrives and you sit and have dessert. Rather than the two of you eat, we will have Tsuruga-san feed you. I noticed during the playback of yesterday's film, a minuscule change in Tsuruga-san after he took a bite of dessert. It made me believe that he didn't like sweet things." Kyoko smiled as the Director hit the nail on the head with Ren's eating habits.
Ren winced. He thought he had done a good job of hiding his displeasure. He guessed he couldn't fool the director this time around. He hoped he wasn't developing a preference in his acting. If it wasn't with Kyoko would the audience start seeing through him? He bowed in apology for his poor performance. The Director dismissed it as nothing.
"That wasn't the problem, you were impeccable Tsuruga-san, nobody would have noticed the slight change. I happened across it because I was trying to piece together the sections where Fumiko-san was doing her best. She was too nervous around you and it showed in her mannerisms. It was my fault for accepting such shoddy work. I take full responsibility."
Ren sighed with relief. He needed to do better and find a middle ground with his co-stars in the future.
The director turned to Kyoko. "Kyoko-san, when you take the bite you look at your Prince dreamily and say your lines. There will be a "thought bubble" that will be filled with all kinds of happy things that the delicious dessert brings to mind. That would be done digitally so you don't have to worry about that part. We would like to get ideas of what makes you deliriously happy to include in your thoughts, okay. So, any questions before we get started?"
"Um, am I okay like this? Do I need a costume change?" Kyoko asked hesitantly.
"You look quite lovely already, Kyoko-san," the director complimented. He did have the makeup artist retouch her gloss and powder her nose.
Kyoko was shocked that the Director was satisfied with her usual style. She was about to protest when she was reminded of Fuji's reprimand. She needed to have more confidence in herself. Everyone else believed she was beautiful so why couldn't she. With Kuon's help, she was slowly getting there.
Matsushima stopped his report to the President when Ruto materialized out of thin air.
"What is it Ruto?" Lory asked, putting down the pen he used to jot notes.
"Sir, Morimoto-san has caused a slight disturbance at the front entrance," Ruto reported.
Lory sighed. He asked his section chiefs to take a 10-minute break as he followed Ruto outside to find Morimoto.
This morning about an hour after the call with Lory, Tadashi showed up at LME requesting to see the President. The receptionist informed him that the President was previously engaged and unable to meet with him. Tadashi thought the President was avoiding him on purpose and tried to sneak past the front desk. He didn't get far when he was intercepted by security and quietly escorted out of the building. Tadashi paced the building and discovered that security detail was doubled at all the entrances.
Lory was pulled out of his thoughts as he threaded his way through the lobby. People stared outside the large windows. He came to a halt when he noticed Tadashi sitting seiza style at the front entrance of the building in his designer suit. He also spotted a beautiful but older woman almost two meters behind the man sitting on a foldable chair talking on a cell phone while typing on a laptop.
Lory turned to Ruto, "Who is the woman?"
"She is Morimoto-san's executive assistant. She insists on being called, "Mya-chan."
Lory nodded to the security officers at the front entrance as he exited the building.
Tadashi looked up with surprise as the LME doors revealed an "Egyptian Pharaoh?" and his entourage. He recognized the foreign man in his traditional middle-eastern robes from earlier trailing behind. He concluded that the "King" walking towards him had to be none other than The Takarada Lory. So the rumors are true!
Lory stopped before him. "Morimoto-san, I cannot in good conscience have a man of your stature causing a scene in front of my business." Lory reprimanded but applauded the man internally. He was glad to see him taking the matter seriously.
Tadashi used the most respectful form of etiquette "Shin" to bow to Lory in apology. "Please allow me to continue like this as a sign of penance. I will humbly await for Kyoko to return. Perhaps she will be willing to see me if I wait here."
Lory sighed with sympathy. He wasn't sure if Kyoko would even drop by LME today. "Morimoto-san, it mayl be some time before Kyoko will return to the company. She has a very busy schedule today."
"Ah! If there is a slim possibility and if it's all the same to you, I'd rather continue waiting here."
"Suit yourself, but please don't pass out here. Stay nourished and hydrated. It won't do any good if you fall ill." Lory wondered if it would be good to make him fall sick. Maybe Kyoko would feel guilty and see him in the hospital. A sneaky smile crept over Lory's face as he walked away from Tadashi. Plotting was his favorite pastime.
Notes:
Ren is such a good senpai. He's always ready to teach is kohai...XD. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 34: Sibling Revival
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, there would be a Tragic Marker Premiere.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi woke up sore. His whole body ached in places he didn't know could. It was to be expected for a man of his age. Actually, age didn't matter, anyone kneeling on concrete for two days straight would feel the same pain. He bore it inwardly as penance for his past transgressions. He couldn't complain since it had paid off. He managed to see her yesterday. Of course, he couldn't be sure if she noticed him. He saw other people whispering curiously about him but she just nonchalantly walked on by. He liked to think that she knew he was there waiting for her.
He walked into the gourmet kitchen of his rented apartment to prepare himself a hearty American breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and a bagel with some fruit on the side. He would have to look into buying this place if he wanted to stay here permanently. He liked that it was conveniently located to all the places he frequented. He chose this place, particularly for its kitchen. He liked to cook and always enjoyed experimenting with new recipes. It had been a long time since he cooked for others though. There had been other women but they always preferred the luxury dining experiences New York City had to offer. They would look at him in surprise when he told them one of his hobbies was cooking. He used to cook for Saena in the short time he had known her. Had she changed any? Was she still working too hard and eating improperly?
When he finished cleaning the kitchen, he went to get dressed. He donned yet another suit as he prepared for his third day of atonement. He made a mental note to give Mya a bonus. The saint of a woman deserved it. She sat with him these past two days, bringing him any documents that required his signature or making decisions via phone in his stead. They had successfully concluded the project here. All that was left were some minor details that Mya was more than capable of completing while he selfishly took time to see his daughter.
Before he left his large walk-in closet, a box in the corner caught his eye. He wasn't sure why he brought it with him. It wasn't like he had the guts to give them to her. There was no way she would ever forgive him.
Stomping. That's how the other employees would describe LoveMe member number one's walk today. No one was bothered by her behavior. They came to accept that no matter how beautiful and talented, she was still a little...weird. They had grown used to her strange behavior that it was no longer surprising when she talked to herself or daydreamed in the halls.
Kyoko wore her hot pink uniform this morning as she stomped down the halls. She was fighting every fiber of her being not to glance out the large open windows despite how strong the temptation was to look. He was out there again kneeling in his expensive suit on the hard concrete waiting for a sign from her.
When she came to the company yesterday, she found it odd that the employee entrance was under renovation making all personnel come through the front entrance. Kyoko walked towards the front with Yashiro when she heard the murmurs of the other employees and visitors walking ahead.
"What are they talking about?" She asked Yashiro.
"I'm not quite sure. No one informed me of anything. Perhaps it's some kind of protest or demonstration. The more conservative Japanese tend to protest the impurity of the entertainment industry. Entertainers without modesty, that sort of thing," Yashiro said, waving the topic away out of distaste.
As Kyoko neared the entrance, she finally saw what was causing the commotion. An older gentleman in a business suit kneeled in front of the building. She watched as an older woman in a classy a-line dress with a contrasting blazer held some documents for him to sign. When he completed the task, the woman left a bottle of water beside the man and walked to a town car waiting by the curb. She watched the departing car curiously before turning towards the man.
There was something vaguely familiar about him but she couldn't put her finger on it. She groaned inwardly, reminded that her first day at LME began much the same way. Perhaps, like her, he was thrown out of the building. She wondered if the man was an unhappy office worker and was now trying his hand in the entertainment world. She would ask Sawara if he knew the story behind the man. Kyoko's heart went out to him. She hoped the man would get his chance to reinvent himself as she did. She didn't want to seem nosy so she turned her attention elsewhere when she got closer.
Tadashi's body came alive when he noticed her entering the building. He had wanted to approach her right away but the crowd of people kept him from doing so. He didn't want to cause her any problems at her workplace so he stayed in his position. He would have to remain patient and wait for her to acknowledge him.
Once inside, Kyoko headed straight to Sawara while Yashiro stopped by his office. This was a quick drive-by for her to pick up her offers from Sawara and for Yashiro to file the contracts from yesterday's CM with Ren. Her time with Sawara was coming to an end. They planned for her to move under Matsushima since she was known more for acting these days. She would still retain her job at TBM for as long as she wanted it. Despite her rough start with the idol show, she enjoyed her work as Boh the mascot. She had found great friends in the Ishibashi Brothers. It was heartwarming that they treated her like a little sister. Even their leader Hikaru was finally relaxing around her.
"Good afternoon Sawara-san, how are you today?" Kyoko said, bowing to the department head.
"Ah Kyoko-chan," Sawara greeted. "It's good to see you. How are your current projects going? We have had a lot of positive feedback from your previous assignments. Keep up the good work and you'll be debuting in no time," he said, giving her a thumbs up.
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity here in LME." Kyoko bowed more formally. "Without you, I would never have come so far and discovered my love for acting."
Moisture blurred Sawara's vision. Over a year had passed since he first met the spunky girl here at LME. She tried to barge her way into the showbiz world without a hint of what she wanted to accomplish once she made it into the agency. She stalked him for days before he finally relented and had her audition. With hard work, she was well on her way to stardom. He found it humorous that despite the bad first impressions she and Ren had in the beginning, they were now dating and hopelessly devoted to each other. He was happy that she recovered the lost emotion that got her disqualified from the second round of auditions. Thankfully, the president had seen her potential and created the LoveMe section to rehabilitate and nurture her.
Yesterday, during their weekly status meeting, he asked Lory when she would graduate from the LoveMe department. The President's response was cryptic but he still felt she was lacking some important component.
"Is there anything else you need Kyoko-chan?" Sawara asked, handing her a hefty manila envelope. "If not, please look over those offers carefully and get back to Yashiro-san when you have the chance."
"Yes, thank you, sir. By the way, Sawara-san, do you know what is going on with the man outside? Does he want to join LME?" She asked curiously.
"Are you referring to Morimoto-san? The businessman out front. I don't know the specifics but he seems to be waiting for someone. The President has already spoken to him and has allowed him to remain there. It's a big mystery to everyone here. Takarada-san has asked us not to approach him since the person he is waiting for would surely appear and know what to do. Today is his second day out there."
Kyoko felt her blood drain from her face and broke out in a cold sweat at the sound of the man's name. Was the man outside in the hot sun her biological father? If she heard the department head correctly this was his second day. She bit her bottom lip as worry nagged her internally. What should she do? This had to be some sort of ploy cooked up by the president.
"Are you okay, Kyoko-chan? You don't look so well all of a sudden," Sawara said in a concerned tone.
"I'm fine Sawara-san. I just thought of something unpleasant," she said with a strained smile. Sawara shivered at her expression. It had been a while since her creepiness scared him.
"Well if you insist. I'll talk to you soon. Keep up the good work." Sawara wanted to get away from her as soon as possible.
Kyoko met up with Yashiro and prepared to leave the agency. She stole a glance at where she saw the man kneeling earlier. He wasn't there. She looked all around her; high and low but he was gone. Maybe he finally had enough and left.
Tadashi was exiting the building when he glimpsed her retreating. His bladder just had to choose that time to rear its ugly head. He hoped she would return today as he reclaimed his position.
That was yesterday so today she was stomping. The insufferable man was once again perched in front of the entrance persistently waiting for her. Kyoko didn't know how to feel about this man who claimed to be her father. The fact that he was sitting outside LME similar to the way she had did not go unnoticed by her.
Even though her relationship with her mother may not have improved, Kyoko felt like she owed it to Saena for giving birth to her and providing for her in her own way. It still shocked her to learn that her mother had been sending the Fuwas money for her living expenses and school tuition. Kyoko would not let that knowledge spark any hope that her mother would change how she felt about her.
Similarly, she had suffered the same fate as her mother by blindly falling for a man that used her to advance his career then casually threw her away like a used tissue. She was aware that her problems with Shotaro were insignificant compared to her mother's. This imposter wormed his way into her mother's heart all to steal information from her client to give his company the upper hand in a legal case. Unfortunately, he had stolen more than information from her mother.
Her mother was a smart and sensible young woman that chose to love and believe in the man she had given her heart and body. Kyoko was glad things with Shotaro had not escalated to a physical level. Kyoko realized that her love for her childhood friend was nothing more than infatuation after recognizing her feelings for Ren or more appropriately, Kuon. Shotaro never made her feel the way he did. If Kuon ever betrayed her she would probably cease to exist. Her only salvation would be to cast away that destructive emotion once and for all. There would be no pieces to pick up. It frightened her to think that he could have such power over her but his actions and words assured her daily of his love. He had been by her side since she was six years old, first as her Fairy prince, then as her corn stone, and finally as her senpai. It had to be fate. Her heart was always at war whenever she thought of him. Thinking of Kuon would either make it beat erratically or fill her with ease. She had a feeling her mother had felt that kind of love with her father. The same heart-stopping earth-shattering kind of love that she felt with Kuon.
She decided that it would be a direct betrayal to her mother by acknowledging this man. Even if she was curious, she couldn't in good conscience be disloyal to her mother. She already caused her enough heartache from just being born. At least Kyoko convinced herself that was the sole reason for not meeting him. She didn't want to acknowledge the nagging thought that if she met him she might like him. She didn't want to get attached for fear of him leaving again. It was better to not get involved from the beginning.
...
"I'm so sorry Ren! It looks like the honeymoon has finally come to an end," Yashiro said in a tear stricken voice.
Kyoko stopped in her tracks. The voice of her manager pulled her out of her thoughts. She blinked up to find Yashiro with his palm over his face, distraught as Ren hid his face against the window sobbing into his arm. What did she miss? She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she failed to notice them as she stomped her way down the hall. In her attempt to not look out the windows while she walked through this corridor, she ignored anyone walking by.
Kyoko looked perplexed. What could have happened to him? She was by his side in an instant. "Ren, are you okay?" Kyoko placed her hand gently on his arm concerned by his uncharacteristic behavior in public. She looked up and down the hall to make sure no one was coming. They couldn't see him in distress. He must have received some bad news from the President or something. Maybe his parents...
"He's fine Kyoko-chan! He's feeling lonely and heartbroken. To think there was such a woman in the world with the ability to not notice his presence. He's just shaken up about being blatantly ignored by the woman he loves is all." Yashiro leaned in and whispered to Kyoko. "If you give him a kiss, I'm sure he would be revived." Kyoko considered Yashiro's words and nodded. She could practically see the fangirl in their manager doing a victory cheer.
Rather than kissing her boyfriend to cheer him up, Kyoko stomped away. "Ugh! I don't have time to deal with sissy boys right now," she exclaimed. Before she could get far, Ren enveloped her in his arms from behind and ignored Yashiro's squeal at their public display of affection. She smiled and tiptoed to kiss him on the cheek making him grin down at her happily.
"Want to tell me why you were staring at the wall muttering to yourself?" Ren asked without lettering her go. He had an inkling as to what was bothering her. It most likely had something to do with the distinguished-looking gentleman kneeling outside of LME right now. He had watched the man down below while he patiently waited for her. The man reminded him of the day when he first met Kyoko. He wondered if she remembered that day as well. Maybe she got her guts from him. Ren and Yashiro heard her stomping down the hall and turned away from the view outside to watch her. It was a complete shock to see her walk right past him.
Kyoko deflated. She just wanted to lose herself in his arms, drown in his reassuring scent, and leave all her problems behind. She told him yesterday that her father was camping outside LME waiting to ambush her. The construction work on the employee entrance even continued today. When she walked to the main entrance flanked by Yashiro and Ren, she could have sworn their eyes met briefly. She thought he would try to accost her right then but he didn't move which left her confused. Could she have been mistaken? Perhaps he didn't recognize her after all. She felt relieved as she walked through the main entrance.
Kyoko made her way to the LoveMe room while Yashiro accompanied Ren to his meeting with the director of his newest offer. Ren would be playing a heroic paramedic in this next drama. Kyoko performed a few LoveMe tasks while she waited for them to finish. It was when she had nothing to do that had her thinking of the man downstairs thus her stomping her way to the meeting with Lory.
"Are you ready? Takarada-san wanted to see us again." Ren held her hand as they walked to the President's office. Yashiro left them and headed back to his office. They could fill him in later. The couple braced themselves. They never knew what sort of environment they would be walking into given Lory's tenacity for expressive themes. Kyoko's smile broadened as Ruto led them inside. The place was transformed into a kind of candy land theme. Every surface was covered and decorated in some sort of candy. Kyoko plucked a piece of chocolate from nearby and tasted it. Her golden orbs widened when she realized that it was real. They had come upon Lory where he sat in his overly decorated sitting room with none other than Director Konoe. They greeted and bowed to the gentlemen.
Director Konoe practically jumped out of his seat with glee. He had not seen the actors since filming wrapped in Guam. Since then, he had paid attention to both their careers. He took in Kyoko's appearance in her hot pink coveralls. It was his first time seeing her in the flesh without the guise of Setsuka Heel. He knew he was right in thinking she was a good girl despite her outward appearance as Setsu. He thought about his time spent with the two on set. They had finally made it official that they were dating. He blushed slightly as he recalled the hickey on Cain. Now he was sure that it came from her. He apologized internally for assuming that Yashiro was the culprit. It was difficult to imagine that this sweet innocent looking girl could do something so intimate, but now that he knew they were a couple he was torn. They must have been secretly dating back then. He now understood why their eccentric President made them siblings instead of lovers. They were unapproachable if people thought they had a taboo relationship. He looked over at the President of LME. It was difficult trying to picture such a calculated plan coming from a man who was dressed in a purple velour suit and an orange top hat.
"Please have a seat. Director Konoe would like to discuss the upcoming premiere of Tragic Marker," Lory said, gesturing to the empty loveseat.
Konoe waited until the pair settled before he began. "As you both know, well Tsuruga-kun, the premiere of Tragic Marker is fast approaching. I'm sure both of you are familiar with such events."
Aside from the Dark Moon party, Kyoko had never been to such an event before. She wasn't about to interrupt the director just to correct his assumption.
"We would like Cain to make an appearance at the premiere. You can continue to portray him as you've developed him. Of course, what is Cain without his beloved little sister? We hope you will be in attendance as Cain's plus one as well," Konoe said, turning to Kyoko. Kyoko blushed slightly and was suddenly reminded of all the naughty things she did as Setsu. She wanted to crawl underneath a rock from the memory.
"It's at the after-party during the cast interviews that I would like to reveal Cain to Japan and the world if it's okay with you."
"I understand," Ren said nodding his assent. He knew this was coming.
"As far as revealing Setsuka-chan, I leave that up to you guys to decide. She wasn't part of the production so there's no obligation to tell anyone; however, I fear the cast and crew will begin to speculate about your relationship with her Tsuruga-kun. I, for one, am a huge fan, Kyoko-san. I hope we can collaborate again soon. I do enjoy a good murder mystery."
As a newbie, Kyoko was delighted by Konoe's assessment of her acting. She hoped to work with him again someday.
After the director left, the couple squirmed under Lory's scrutiny. Was this a change of tactic by him? They didn't know what to make of him staring while eating a rainbow swirl lollipop without saying a word.
The strain and silence had become so thick that the couple jolted when little people dressed in white coveralls with green hair and orange skin showed up out of nowhere and broke out in song. Both stars gazed at the troupe in wonder. Where in the world did Lory find them? When their performance ended, Kyoko applauded enthusiastically. Ren made a mental note to try and get a copy of the movie so they could watch it together sometime.
Lory finally put down the lollipop and addressed Ren. "Are you ready for this reveal Ren? Your reputation as Tsuruga Ren could take a hit with this one. Director Konoe was kind enough to give me an early release version of the movie and I must say it was disconcerting. I'm glad your talisman worked well," he said nodding to Kyoko. She wasn't entirely sure what Lory was talking about but smiled anyway. She would ask later.
"Aside from not being my kind of movie, I have to say your performance was superb. With this, I think you have surpassed your father at this age. Once this film is released, I have no doubt you would shoot to international stardom. You will have earned your way to Hollywood," Lory praised. He wondered what path Ren would take now that he had love anchoring him to Japan.
Ren shifted nervously and met Kyoko's gaze. Her golden eyes radiated with love and admiration at this achievement. It was always his dream to make it to Hollywood with his own power but all that had changed after falling in love with her. There's no way he would choose his career over her but he knew she would be disappointed if he gave it up for her. He would find a way to make it work so he could have both.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, boss. The role as BJ was indeed difficult but you were right. Having Kyoko by my side helped me succeed. It's all thanks to her that I was able to perform that role adequately. She is the reason I can finally accept my past and look forward to my future."
Lory smiled at the young man before him. He had come so far from the broken teenage boy he brought home with him. He was happy that Ren's eyes sparkled with new life. He was happier when those eyes brightened, even more, when he looked at the young lady beside him. The final step was for him to accept his true roots. He didn't think that time was too far off. Kuu, Juliena, Lory thought. Your baby boy is reviving and it's all thanks to the love of a special woman.
Changing topics, Lory turned shrewd eyes on Kyoko. "What do you plan on doing with the man that has become a lawn ornament in the front of my building? If he falls ill waiting for you, will you take responsibility?"
Kyoko sighed. She knew this would come up sooner or later. She was conflicted. Acknowledging the man would be a direct slap in the face to her mother. Knowing the pain he inflicted on her mother, she didn't want to add to it.
"It's your mother, isn't it. You're worried about her." Lory smiled. She never ceased to amaze him. It didn't matter that her mother had disowned her on national TV. She was still loyal to her. He liked that trait in a person. For Kyoko though, he felt a little pitiful for the girl. To him, it meant that she was holding out hope that her mother would one day acknowledge her.
"Eh? How did you know? Do you have ESP?" Kyoko asked skeptically.
"You're curious aren't you? What's his story I wonder?" Lory said, stroking his chin. "You had a long talk with your mother before, right?"
Kyoko looked down at her lap and nodded. She gripped the pink fabric tightly.
"She explained everything properly."
She nodded again.
"There are always two sides to a story. Perhaps his version might surprise you? You may regret having missed this opportunity." His tone turned serious. "You won't be able to move forward like this."
Ren had to agree with the president. It was similar to what he said last night when she told him about her father's presence at LME. Kyoko always faced things head-on. It was one of the many qualities he loved about her. She would eventually regret not confronting this man. This morning as they walked in he noticed the man perk up when he saw Kyoko. He was ready to intervene if he made a scene in front of LME. He knew the paparazzi following them were nearby just waiting for a big scoop. He was impressed that the man had enough sense to stay seated. Ren had a feeling that Lory intentionally shut down the other entrances to the building so Kyoko would be forced to see her father.
Kyoko nibbled on her bottom lip. She was still at a loss on what to do.
"How about calling your mother?" Lory suggested. "Maybe she could give you some insight. I don't think she would be able to ignore this situation either. I would have called her already but I left it to you to figure out."
Kyoko nodded weakly. Lory was right. Her mother at least deserved to know. She had been dreading this moment since she found out about her father. It wasn't like their relationship improved since their talk. Kyoko didn't want to once again be responsible for dredging up old wounds.
Notes:
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 35: Confrontation
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would meet her father.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
After meeting with the President, Kyoko parted ways with Ren and headed for the LoveMe room. Her job as the jealous girlfriend role today had to be rescheduled due to a conflict with the lead protagonist. She now had a couple of free hours here at LME before she needed to report to the Sacred Lotus set.
Kyoko bided her time doing remedial LoveMe tasks now that her schedule was free. She had hoped to run into Chiori but her friend texted her stating that she would not be in until later. She had another variety show taping today.
When she was tired of the busywork, Kyoko stopped to check her email and was delighted to see a message from Kanae. Her friend told her that she got the role, which Kyoko never doubted for a second. Kanae would still have to play a woman in love but it wasn't nearly as pathetic as the role of Chidori. She ranted about all the tabloid articles Kyoko was involved in with her pretty boy boyfriend. She was particularly concerned about the robbery. Kyoko could hear Kanae's voice scolding her as she lectured Kyoko about cohabitating with the megastar. In the end, Kanae admitted that she was glad she was unharmed and that Ren had stepped in to provide her a safe place to live. She would support her decision if it made her happy.
Kyoko's eyes swam with tears as she replied to her best friend. She told Kanae about the new work she had and assured her that she was handling the press. The robbery was solved and the thief was apprehended in a sense. She couldn't resist adding lots of hearts and flower emojis around the words describing how much she missed her before sending the email. Kyoko withheld the information concerning her father. More than ever she wanted to listen to the wise advice of her best friend. If Kanae knew, she would be worried and unable to concentrate on her work. She had already worried her with the strained relationship Kyoko had with her mother she didn't want to add to it. She would explain everything properly once she returned to Japan.
Kyoko closed her phone but hesitated to put it in her bag. She opened and closed her phone several more times before she growled in frustration. She was being such a coward right now. She usually tackled a problem as soon as it presented itself. With renewed determination, she sent a text to her mother. Hello Mother, I hope you are well. I need to speak to you in person as soon as possible if it's not too much trouble. She crossed her fingers and hoped her mother wouldn't find her bothersome. This was the first time she had reached out to her mother since their talk.
Kyoko cried out, startled, as her phone vibrated for an incoming call. The ID showed her mother was calling. She panicked and sent the chair she was sitting on crashing to the floor. She was expecting a response text with a time and place. She wasn't prepared to talk to her at this very moment. Kyoko pictured the frown growing deeper between her mother's eyes with each ring she let pass. She didn't want to add annoying her mother to the list today so she grabbed the phone and answered.
"Hello! Mogami Kyoko speaking," she said calmly hiding the tremor in her voice as she mentally berated herself to calm down.
"Kyoko, what do you need?" Saena asked tersely.
"M- mother, I'm very sorry for wasting your time. I was hoping to speak to you on a sensitive topic in person if possible," Kyoko replied, trying to relax.
"That's not possible," Saena replied immediately. Her words came out harsh and stung Kyoko.
This was a mistake. Maybe she didn't want me associated with her anymore.
"I am currently on a Shinkansen bound for Kyoto for a conference. I will be gone for the next two weeks so it'll be impossible to meet. If whatever you have to discuss can't wait until I return you have no choice but to tell me over the phone," Saena explained.
Kyoko sagged in her now righted chair relieved that her mother wasn't outright refusing to see her. She heard a man's voice in the background on her mother's end. "What is it Saena-san? Is Kyoko-chan in trouble?" Kyoko's eyes widened at how intimately the man called her mother's name. Was that Todoh-san?
Saena covered the mouthpiece of the phone but Kyoko still heard her muffled reply, "It doesn't sound like an emergency."
"Ah! It's not an emergency. It's something very sensitive. I wonder if this was a good idea. I'm sorry to have bothered you," she said, mulling over the idea of telling her mother.
"Kyoko, please don't waste my time and tell me why you called? I can't believe you still act the same way you did as a child."
Kyoko sat up ramrod straight and breathed deeply before proceeding, "There is a man here claiming to be my biological father." She held her breath as she waited for a reaction from her mother. The heavy silence that followed her news seemed to stretch on for eternity.
"On what grounds does he have to make such a claim? Have you spoken to him? What does he want from you?" Saena asked in a businesslike tone.
Kyoko thought she was eerily calm in her response. She sounded very much like a lawyer talking to her client. Perhaps this was her way of coping with the situation.
"President Lory had verified a hair sample paternity test but he thinks it should be followed up with a blood test. I haven't spoken to the man...yet. For now, it seems he only wants to talk."
"I see. I can't blame you for being curious about your biological father. I can only warn you of my experience. Don't be foolish like me and trust him blindly."
Kyoko pulled her phone from her ear and stared at it. Did an alien take over her mother's body? Was that all she was going to say? She thought she would want to confront the man herself and get her revenge. Kyoko stopped her negative train of thoughts when she remembered her mother was no longer angry with him. It wasn't fair that her mother blamed herself for his actions. Saena believed her frivolous nature caused her problems since she refused to acknowledge the hints he left her.
"Do you know how he found you? I partly denied your existence on television in case he was watching. What I told you before still holds. The way I treated you...I was never a mother to you. I have no right to stop you from meeting him. I leave it to you to decide what is best for you."
Kyoko was shocked to hear the other reason her mother claimed not to have any children. In her way she was looking out for her as best she could. Kyoko wasn't sure how he had found her. The President seemed to have the answer but he refused to share it.
"Thank you for taking my call. I think I have to talk to him properly or I won't be able to move forward."
"I understand. Goodbye Kyoko. I will be back in Tokyo in a couple of weeks. I would like to see you in person and please bring that boy along."
Kyoko gulped. What if her mother sent her back to Kyoto because of her relationship? There was no point denying it since they were all over the news these days. "Yes, Mother. See you then. Please have a good trip."
Tadashi thought he smelled something cooking. He realized it was just him burning under the sweltering Japanese sun. He was lucky the weather had been pleasant for the past two days given the summer heat. Today was unbearably hot and he secretly wished for it to rain just to cool off. He wondered how much longer his body would be able to keep this up. It would be extremely embarrassing if his health failed him. A man of his age should quit being stubborn and know his limitations.
His eyelids grew heavy as he stared down at his lap. Fatigue was slowly setting in. Three days was probably his limit. He still had hours of daylight left too but feared he wouldn't make it in this heat. It was as if the Gods had heard his plea. A cool breeze enveloped him and a cloud blocked out the sun casting him in shadow.
Tadashi jerked up when something cold pressed against the back of his neck. His startled face scrunched up into a smile. With the sun behind her back, it caused a halo of light behind her blocking him from the sun. Concerned golden eyes stared down reminding him of a guardian angel. It's her!
The true expression on Kyoko's face was far from angelic as she scowled at him. What intelligent grown man would put himself in such a perilous position? He appeared ready to faint from heat exhaustion if he stayed out here any longer. She shook the bottle at him again with more irritation. He reached up and took the cool drink from her.
"Thank you," he said. His golden eyes lit up and a warm smile spread across his lips as he gripped the bottle. Kyoko had the feeling that he was thanking her for more than just the drink. She looked at him properly now that she was closer. He had sweat right through his expensive suit. She frowned at the redness on his face and neck. He was sunburned. Japanese skin was sensitive to the sun that he could even have sun poisoning. She sighed and felt guilty for not coming out sooner.
After talking with her mother, she called Kuon to let him know her change of heart. She expected to get his voicemail but was glad he answered instead.
"Hello, Corn, it's me." Kyoko greeted him as soon as he picked up.
"Hi baby, miss me already?" He teased. It was lucky that she called on break at the R'Mandy shoot while he browsed his phone. He'd rather she was with him but due to their conflicting schedules, Kyoko would be posing for the women's winter collection at another time while he modeled the menswear today.
"Is it okay to talk? You can call me back when you're free."
"I have time now. What is it?"
"I've decided to face that man claiming to be my father. You were right. I won't be able to move past this otherwise. I feel guilty for making him sit outside of LME for so long."
"He decided to sit out there so you have nothing to feel guilty about. Nobody would blame you if you have nothing to do with him. I'm sure with the boss's help, we can get rid of him...and I don't mean like a hitman. I mean just ask him to leave and stay away." He didn't think this would fly with her but he wanted to let her know it was an option.
"Thank you, Corn, but I'll feel terrible taking that path without hearing him properly."
"He could be a con artist and want something else entirely," he argued.
"That did cross my mind and I've prepared myself to be disappointed...Corn, could you please come with me to talk to him?"
"Of course! There's no way I'm leaving you alone with him. Have you decided when?"
"No, I was going to talk with Yashiro-san. Is it okay if I work it with your schedule?"
"You don't have to ask, baby. Have Yashiro-san figure it out for us and I'll be there with you. You never have to face anything alone anymore. I love you. I will always be with you. Well, I have to caveat that since we have demanding jobs but you understand."
Kyoko's heart swelled at his sincerity. "I love you too, Corn! How did I get so lucky?"
He chuckled lightly. "I'm the lucky one, baby. I have to go! Fuji-san is tapping his foot in front of me. I think my time is up. I'll see you later. Love you!"
"I love you too," Kyoko said with a giggle and hung up. She could imagine the look on the frustrated designer's face. She felt more sure of her decision after talking to him.
Tadashi took the arm that she held out to assist him off his knees. He struggled while groaning in pain throughout the process but his legs had fallen asleep at some point. He couldn't stand just yet and instead sat with his butt on the concrete. The change in position was such a relief. He watched his daughter open the water bottle for him which took and drank gratefully.
Kyoko glanced around the area while her "father" recovered his strength. The street wasn't too busy and the paparazzi seemed to disappear with Ren. Her poor boyfriend had it rough but for once she was grateful for his popularity.
"Kyoko-chan," Kyoko and Tadashi both turned as Yashiro approached. Heels clicking on the concrete from the roadside also gained their attention.
Mya reached down and helped Tadashi to his feet. She clucked like a mother hen and scolded him for not taking better care of himself as she dusted his suit. When she was satisfied, she bowed to Kyoko and introduced herself.
"Hello, Mogami-san. My name is Tanaka Mya. I am the executive assistant to this awkward man, Morimoto Tadashi. Please excuse his rash behavior."
Kyoko bowed just as formally and returned the elegant woman's bow and introduction. She caught the glare Mya shot to her "father," making him drop into a bow as well. Kyoko pursed her lips to keep from smiling and wondered if they had a personal relationship.
Yashiro finally reached them and introduced himself while looking at her father suspiciously.
"I apologize for the interruption but, Kyoko-chan, we need to get going," Yashiro said looking at his watch.
Tadashi was crestfallen as he realized his time with her was already up. He didn't even properly introduce himself and had to let Mya help him out. He doubted he looked reliable in her eyes.
Kyoko nodded to Yashiro in understanding and turned to Tadashi. "I'm sorry, Morimoto-san. I have no time today to speak with you properly. Could we set up a more convenient time to talk?" Kyoko was impressed that she could speak properly. She had been so nervous confronting him but all that was quickly replaced with concern when she saw the physical state he was in. If she had taken any longer, he probably would have ended up in the hospital.
"Morimoto-san, can you please give your card to Yashiro-san? I would like to hear your side of the story. I would also like Ren to be with me when we speak."
The formal way she addressed him didn't even phase him. He hoped with time, she would be comfortable with calling him, father. Right now, he was elated that she was willing to hear him out.
"Yes! Could you come over for dinner?!" He asked excitedly. "I would like to cook for you both, if possible. Whatever day works for me."
Kyoko nodded shyly.
Tadashi turned to Mya with hope burning in his eyes. His assistant reached into her jacket pocket and handed a business card to Yashiro. "Please call me when a date is finalized and I will work it into his schedule."
As she left with Yashiro, Tadashi called out, "Thank you for giving me a chance, Kyoko-chan!"
She gave him a small bow in return and continued walking.
Lory smiled as he watched the scene below from his perch. The sands of time have continued to fall for her. His LoveMe number one was moving forward again.
Kyoko opened the door to their apartment and fumbled to reset the alarm since her arms were laden with bags of groceries to cook them a nutritious dinner. "I'm home!" She called out but there was no answer. If he wasn't here to greet her he was probably indisposed. She headed into the kitchen to put the groceries away. A smile crept over her lips as she heard the light sounds of water running and the most melodious voice ever to reach her ears.
She quickly put the cold stuff away and left the rest on the counter in favor of surprising her boyfriend. He was in the shower singing without a care in the world. She smirked as she stood in the doorway and listened to him. Was this something he did regularly before she came along?
"….and everything is quiet...and it's always, you and me, always, and forever; you and me, always and forever…ba, ba, ba, ba…"
Kyoko covered her mouth and stifled her giggle. She smiled mischievously as a naughty idea popped into her head. How many times had he asked Setsu to join him? She wasn't going to miss the opportunity this time, after all, they were lovers now. She stripped off her clothes, opened the glass door, and stealthily crept inside. It was easy to sneak in since his back was to her while he washed the front of his body. Her mouth watered as she appreciated his naked form. His back rippled with tight muscles tapering into narrow hips. Her eyes lingered as the water cascaded over his well-defined ass and poured down his long muscular legs. She stepped closer thinking to wrap her arms around him from behind and push her body up against him seductively. He'd appreciate that, wouldn't he? Kyoko screamed as the water splashed her skin. Why the fuck is it so cold?!
Kuon whirled around, looking completely surprised and guilty but Kyoko failed to notice his expression.
"Kuon, why are you taking such a cold shower? It can't be comfortable!" Kyoko scolded as she took control of the valves and turned the water to a warmer temperature. "That's better," she sighed with a satisfied smile as she stepped into the water.
The Emperor's green eyes flashed with hunger as he watched the little vixen commandeer his shower. Closing her eyes she arched her back and jutted out her breasts as her hands came up to run the water through her hair. His eyes sharpened as he watched the water droplets land on her hardened rosy tips, slide down her abdomen and pool at the bare center of her thighs before caressing its way down her sinewy legs. He licked his lips and wished he could be water right now.
Kyoko yelped as Kuon pulled her against his cool body, gripping her by the ass. Her face flushed with desire as his arousal dug into her hip. He crushed his mouth to hers while his hands continued to knead the toned flesh of her bottom. She stumbled backward as he pushed her against the wall deepening their kiss. The feel of his naked body against hers made her grow hot dispelling any traces of the earlier cold. Kyoko felt her control slipping as he turned her mind to mush. She forced herself to remember why she invaded his privacy in the first place. She wanted to be in control. She managed to catch him by surprise with her strength and turned things around on him. She forced him up against the wall just where she wanted him. She wasn't backing down. She stood on tiptoes pulling his head down and pushing her tongue inside his mouth with little to no resistance on his part. He pulled her tighter as their tongues intertwined with one another.
After a minute, she pulled her lips from his and nipped his chin with her teeth when he tried to reclaim her lips. Kuon groaned but leaned his head back against the wall giving her permission to do as she pleased. The next time her lips touched him she kissed the areas of his chest she could reach while standing comfortably. Her curious hands raked up and down the hard muscles of his back and squeezed his ass in the same way he did hers. She wondered if he got excited the same way she did and was pleased by the shiver that coursed through his body when her mouth closed over his nipple. She kissed, licked, and swirled her tongue around the hardened peak.
It was the first time Kuon ever had a woman do that before so it was a new sensation for him. When Kyoko was satisfied she had thoroughly teased that nipple, she moved to the other one and repeated the same torture. Kuon balled his hands at his sides into tight fists to keep from gripping her too hard. When she was done with his chest, her hot mouth licked and sucked its way down his abdominal wall. He was glad she didn't linger in one spot too long. He didn't want anyone thinking less of her if he was covered in love bites though he wouldn't mind a few from her.
Kuon's breath hitched when she dropped to her knees and looked up at him through her lashes. He didn't think it was possible but he felt his cock grow harder in anticipation of what was to come. He stared down into her molten eyes and managed to rasp out, "Baby, what are you doing?" He had barely asked the question when those sweet sensual lips skimmed the head of his penis. His hips bucked of its own accord. Kuon took deep breaths to keep from coming right then and there. The thrill of her sucking him off was overwhelming him and she knew it. Kyoko smirked and licked her lips making him groan. This time when she got closer to his cock her little tongue flicked out and quickly tasted him making his knees buckle. When did she become such a tease? Kuon knew he had to rein in his desire but instead, he leaned his head against the wall once more and let it wash over him. He closed his eyes to embrace the euphoria as her dainty fingers wrapped around him and squeezed.
A deep guttural sound rose above the sound of the cascading water as he steadied himself against the wall. He opened his heavy-lidded eyes and watched as she dragged her tongue on the underside of his cock from hilt to tip. "Baby, please," Kuon begged. Where the fuck did she learn that? He quickly told his mind not to answer that question.
Kyoko smiled. She was obviously doing something right and felt high on the power she had over him right now. She parted her lips and sucked in his tip. Kuon was so impatient he bucked his hips and shoved his cock deeper into her mouth. He didn't care that his sensitive skin scraped against her teeth. "I'm, I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean to do that," Kuon said, embarrassed by his lack of control.
Kyoko giggled with his cock still in her mouth but didn't shy away from him. The vibrations of the sound sent fresh shock waves throughout his body. She rhythmically moved her mouth up and down his length occasionally taking a break to leave petal-soft kisses on his head and swallow her saliva. He was so large that she had to use her hand to compensate for the part of him that she couldn't take in her mouth. Kuon's control wavered and buried his fingers into her hair. He panted loudly as he guided her head and rocked into her mouth. It didn't take him long for his orgasm to build up. She made him feel like he was coming up on the peak of a rollercoaster teetering over the edge before gravity took over and took him on a wild ride.
Kuon felt numb as the amazing feeling began to overcome his penis. His movements increased faster, the pressure building inside him until he was on the verge of zipping down. "I'm close, baby! You have to let me go!" The thought of coming in her mouth drove him to his breaking point. He knew she wasn't fond of the taste so he had to stop her. He pulled her head back roughly at the last second and blew his load all over her neck and chest. He managed to aim down before exploding on her face. After several moments of labored breathing, his eyes fluttered open to survey the damage. She knelt there with a smile of satisfaction on her face, covered in his semen. He had never seen a more sexy sight in his life. He stroked his dick until the last of his creamy substance was released. He vowed to pay her in full when they got out of the shower.
Two Nights Later
Kyoko fidgeted with her outfit while they rode the elevator. She hoped she looked okay. Her boyfriend reached out and grabbed her hand to keep from messing with her hair for the one-hundredth time. "You look beautiful, baby. Don't give away your hand before the game even starts."
Kyoko stared at him wide-eyed with confusion. "What do you mean, Corn?" He quickly explained the game of poker and the meaning of a poker face. She needed to devoid her face of all emotion and keep her face impassive. This way she would keep her opponent, in this case, her father guessing at what she was thinking.
"Are you ready?" He asked with a quick peck on the lips for luck. He knocked on the door when Kyoko gave him the signal.
Tadashi greeted them at the door with a welcoming smile. The delicious aroma from dinner accosted them and filled their senses. Kyoko immediately broke into a warm smile of her own. The place smelled heavenly to her.
Ren smiled at his girlfriend as she lost her poker face the moment she smelled the food. We need to practice that a bit more. He loved that she had no problems displaying her emotions. It was quite refreshing in comparison to his constant mask. He would keep up his gentlemanly appearance until he fully assessed the man. I won't forgive anyone that takes advantage of my Kyoko!
Notes:
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!
The song Kuon belted out in the shower was "You and Me," by the Wannadies.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 36: Confessions of an Idiot
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Susumu and Saena would be a thing.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Saena? Saaaeeeena?" Todoh Susumu called out in a sing-song voice trying to get the attention of the woman in front of him as he took his seat. They had made plans to meet for dinner before separating for their respective sidebar meetings. When he walked into the dining hall he had stood and watched her from across the way. He chortled to himself as she checked her watch for the time, clearly annoyed to be kept waiting. From his vantage point, he could see the deep lines etching its way between her brows. She must have received a text since she picked up her phone. He saw her brow burrow deeper as her frown intensified. It's probably from Kyoko-chan.
Ever since Kyoko's visit, Saena had been slowly emerging out of her shell. It was thanks to Kyoko's courage that made him finally work up his guts to confess his feelings for her. He was elated that she didn't outright reject him so here they were taking things slow.
Susumu watched in amusement as the beauty in front of him took her time to look him in the eyes. She pursed her pink glossy lips and cocked a brow as she glanced at her watch. "You're late, Susumu-san. You know I hate wasting time."
"Oh I don't know, you seemed rather occupied," he said with a sly smile nodding his head towards the phone. "Care to share with me?"
The corner of her mouth twitched as she tried to keep from smiling. This man was so infuriating. Instead of joining her right away, he made her wait on purpose.
"It was a text from Kyoko. She's meeting that man tonight, probably as we speak." She said rubbing her temples. She thought she had put all this business behind her but here he was once again trying to disrupt her quiet life.
"Are you worried about her? It's okay to admit that you are. It comes with the territory of being her mother." Susumu said, looking at her with concern. He used his family resources to find out more about this man that shattered the heart. It was easy now that he had a name. Morimoto Tadashi had a clean record and a reputation for being a powerful businessman on top of being good looking. Of course, this was the kind of man that would be attracted to Saena.
"Will you try to see him? I won't hold it against you if you do? You should take a page from your daughter and find your closure."
"You're right. I won't look for him but if he comes looking for me I won't run away. It's time I let go of the past," she said, returning his intense gaze. She wondered what he saw in her. She was a broken and used woman that already had a child out of wedlock. What would he gain from a relationship with her? He was quite handsome and could have any woman with his looks and background. She wondered why in the almost twenty-odd years she had known him, he never settled down and married. Several people in the office had asked him the same question but his reply was always the same, I'm waiting for the right woman. Her heart fluttered as she recalled the memory. Had he been waiting for her all this time?
He smiled with a big toothy grin, "what is it?" He was curious to know why she looked like she just had an epiphany. She didn't respond but a warm smile played on her lips that made his heart skip a beat. "Knock it off, before I take you to my room and lock us in there for the remainder of this conference," he said matter-of-factly. He chuckled as her eyes widened and her face turned a charming shade of red.
Tadashi held the door open and beckoned them inside. "Hello, welcome. Thank you for coming. Please have a seat while I bring out the dishes. I hope everything is to your liking," he said gesturing to the dining room as he went into the kitchen.
The couple greeted him and took their seats at the dining table. Ren reached for her hand and held it while they waited for his return. He glanced around the place curiously. It wreaked money. It reminded him of his place before Kyoko moved in with him. Aside from the cool modern furniture, it was devoid of any personal items and lacked warmth. He thought about the transformation she made to their place. The fresh flowers he often bought her that she placed in vases, the photographs of them in frames, and her figurines that dotted some of the shelves made it feel like home. His favorite item had to be the flower ring he fixed for her and placed on her finger. Even though she was upset with him that day, she still preserved and encased it in a glass box. It's what he loved most about her. She appreciated the little things. It warmed his heart that she treasured such a small token.
He smiled to himself and stole a glance at his girlfriend. She was fairing better than he expected. The smell of food must have calmed her down. She needed him to focus right now. He stood from his seat and walked around the area looking for any clues that would give them some insight into their host. He imagined himself as a sleuth while shamelessly invading the man's personal space.
Kyoko hissed and whispered, "What are you doing Corn? Have you lost your mind? What if he catches us? He could be Yakuza for all we know!"
"Shhh!" He said, placing his index finger to his lips then pointing towards the door. "Be a lookout."
Kyoko covered her mouth to suppress her giggle. This had to be the naughtiest thing she had ever done in her life. She stood near the door of the kitchen listening to Tadashi clang away inside. She turned back to Ren and gave him a thumbs up.
Ren nodded and continued his search. On the other side of the room, he spied a suspicious beat-up old shoebox sitting on the desk. His long legs had him there in a second. Ren opened the box and found it full of folded up sheets of paper. He plucked one from closer to the front and unfolded it carefully. It was an old letter written in Japanese. "Dear Sae-chan, forgive me! I hope this letter finds you..." Ren jumped, startled by a crash from inside the kitchen. He quickly refolded the letter and replaced it exactly as he found it then returned to Kyoko's side.
He stopped Kyoko from going in and motioned for her to sit back down. He made his way towards the kitchen; he rather it be him and not her alone with the man until they got to the bottom of all of this. This would be the perfect opportunity to question the man's motives. Ren thought about the letter he discovered. Sae-chan had to be Kyoko's mother. He wondered if the pile inside were all addressed to her.
Tadashi was so nervous that he dropped the serving dish. Luckily, there wasn't any food on it. He couldn't believe they were here, she was here. He took it as a good sign that she showed up. It meant she was willing to hear him out. He would start by impressing her with his cooking. People were more amicable after a good meal so he heard somewhere. It had been so long since he cooked Japanese food for anyone else. It also didn't help that he'd been living in the States for almost eighteen years. His version of Japanese food could be compromised.
Tadashi glanced up in surprise when Ren knelt in front of him and helped pick up some of the shattered porcelain. Ren's heart nearly faltered at the man's expression which was so very much like his girlfriend's with those large golden eyes.
"Thank you, Tsuruga-kun. I tend to get clumsy when I'm nervous," Tadashi admitted with an awkward smile.
Ren steeled his heart. He couldn't be sympathetic to the man that was at the very core of all Kyoko's pain. "Morimoto-san, as you well know, Kyoko means the world to me. I came in to warn you that if you have ill intentions towards her, even if you are her father, you won't come out of this unscathed. She has gone through enough with her mother. She doesn't need another person coming into her life that would give her false hope," Ren warned the older man with a deadly glare as he let dark Kuon seep out.
Tadashi didn't flinch nor did he cower as Ren had expected. Ren would even say the man's nervous behavior seemed to have evaporated.
"I'm glad she has you by her side," Tadashi said warmly with a smile that scrunched up his eyes.
Ren looked at him oddly. Was he not intimidated by Kuon? Am I losing my edge?
Tadashi wasn't fazed by such behavior coming from such a young pup. One doesn't run a successful company by being timid.
"Thank you again, Tsuruga-kun. Can you please carry that tray out?" Tadashi asked, holding a tray and nodding to the other for Ren to take.
A bit baffled by the man, Ren did what he was asked and followed Tadashi out.
Kyoko's mouth watered as she watched Tadashi place the dishes on the table. There was rice, fish, miso soup, salad, seaweed, sliced beef, tempura, tonkatsu, udon, and other seasonal sides. There was too much food. She decided to think about the night as they progressed. For now, she had been able to get by just thinking about the food. Now that she could place the smells with the actual ingredients, she could concentrate on eating.
Tadashi settled into the seat across from her. "I went a bit overboard. I wasn't sure what you both liked to eat. I hope with time, I can learn your likes and dislikes. Go on and eat as much as you like. Please don't spare my feelings if it's not to your liking."
"Oh no, everything looks delicious," she replied as she ran her eyes over each dish. She smiled at Tadashi and clapped her hands. "Itadakimasu!" She exclaimed with a small bow and began eating. The first bite was impressive that she moaned with delight. The dishes were simple home-style cooking but he had Kyoto style flavorings to bring out the essence of each ingredient.
Satisfied with his daughter's response to the food, Tadashi began eating himself. Ren ate quietly while listening to them talk about food, ingredients, and preparation techniques. There was nothing awkward about the conversation. It was as if this wasn't their first time meeting. How did she manage that with such ease when he could barely face his parents again? He smiled softly as he watched his cute girlfriend discuss cooking with a passion. He glanced at the man speaking with her and prayed that he didn't hurt her. He could already see the hope burning in the depths of her amber eyes. He thought she was distracted by the conversation but the subtle tap on his plate with her chopsticks reminded him that she was still keeping her eye on him. He took another bite to appease her.
When Kyoko finally shared with him the conversation she had with her mother, he loathed the man immensely. But sitting here after listening to the man speak with his beloved and discovering that letter, Ren's opinion of him was slowly changing. People could change for the better. After all, it was only recently he was hiding his true identity from her; however, this and that were two different things. He wasn't planning on going anywhere unlike this guy. His intentions were still a mystery.
After dinner and dessert, they settled in the living room with some tea that no one touched. Ren and Kyoko sat on the couch while Tadashi sat on the chair opposite them. They sat quietly and looked at him expectantly.
"Before you ask me anything, I want to reassure you that I want to stay in Japan and be a father to you. I can't make up for lost time but I very much would like to be in your future. If only I had the strength to look back, I would have known of your existence. I would have endured any hardship including your mother's wrath just to see you. I wanted you to know that."
Kyoko nodded and took a moment to find her voice. It was the moment of truth. Now that they didn't have the excuse of food she was suddenly very nervous. Growing up she never cared or dreamed about having a father. She had asked her mother about him once when she was a child. The kids at school had been teasing her that day. They made fun of her for not having a father. The reaction she received from her mother then was enough for her to never broach the topic again.
Seeing Kyoko's hesitation, Ren decided to speak first to ease the conversation. "Is Morimoto Tadashi even your real name?" He knew Lory had legit sources that confirmed his name but he wanted to act unsure and possibly catch him in a lie. Ren liked to think he was observant when it counted. Yashiro would beg to differ based on Ren's failure to read Kyoko. His girlfriend aside, he knew what kind of person they were upon meeting. He had to tread carefully here because technically this man was an actor. He could be putting on a front for them right now since he managed to successfully fool the woman closest to him for three months. Much like her passion for cooking, was acting also something Kyoko may have inherited from this man?
"Yes," Tadashi confirmed, looking at Kyoko. Ren's question made Tadashi aware that they knew the truth about what transpired between him and Saena.
Ren glanced down at Kyoko. She nodded and permitted him to continue as she wrapped her hand in his.
"How did you find out about Kyoko? Why are you making yourself known after all these years? Surely you're worried about the implications of your past crime?"
"I was watching the entertainment news channel one morning and they were recapping an awards ceremony. I knew instantly that you were at least Saena's daughter. You look so much like your mother when I knew her. Your vibrant golden eyes are what gave me hope that you were mine too," he replied softly.
"I needed to know as soon as I saw you on TV. I wasn't thinking rationally at the time. It was all that consumed me. I may not have gone about it the right way but I was hoping you would never find out. I blundered that too. I wanted to make sure before I confronted you. I'm so sorry. I went about it all wrong," Tadashi cried out. He fell to his knees and dropped into a dogeza. This action alone left Ren without any doubt that this man was of her blood.
Kyoko bent to Tadashi and placed her hand gently on his shoulder. She wanted to believe in him. "Please stand up," she urged. "I accept your apology but you'll have to face my landlords and properly apologize to them too."
Was that all it would take to get in her good grace? Tadashi saw that she was serious and nodded. He glanced at Ren when he heard the young man snort and then break into a coughing fit. Is he laughing at me?
Ren coughed to cover up his snicker as he thought about Tasiho's reaction to this man. He almost wished he could be there to see how it would play out.
Kyoko returned to her seat and patted Ren's back thinking he was choking. When he was finally breathing normally, she wrapped her arm around his and leaned into him. He gave her leg an encouraging squeeze. She looked up at him and was met with one of his heartwarming smiles. It was thanks to him that she learned that if a person apologizes sincerely there was no reason to hold a grudge
Tadashi settled back into his seat. He took a deep breath to regain his composure and continued. "For your other question, it seems you're aware of my betrayal. They didn't know my real identity. I had a hunch that a law firm of their magnitude would not let such a scandal be known. If a security breach of this proportion were to be made public, it would have crippled the firm. They would have lost all credibility and their reputation would have been tarnished. No, I believe the only person that would be looking for me would be your mother. If she wants to be a judge, jury, and executioner I'm willing to accept my fate. What I did to her is unforgivable."
The regret in his eyes was unmistakable. Suddenly he looked older as the guilt over the years registered on his face.
"Why did you do it? Betray my mother, I mean?" Kyoko asked, finally speaking out. She held her breath in anticipation of his answer. She knew that whatever he said should be for her mother's ears only but she was curious.
"I was an idiot," he confessed. "I was a cocky junior partner that was focused on achieving success. I came up with this elaborate scheme to put us in favor of winning the case that your mother was involved in. What I failed to take into account was falling so hard for your mother."
Kyoko looked at him skeptically. There was no way anyone could hurt the person they claim to love like that.
"I know it's hard to believe. I wanted to back out so many times once I realized my feelings were compromised. Unfortunately, my plan took root in my Boss's mind at that time. I tried to convince him that Saena was a dead end but he had me followed and our relationship was discovered. I was told to stick to the original plan and all will be well or someone else would take my place through whatever means necessary. I couldn't risk it. I couldn't risk her."
Kyoko gasped. He tried to protect her mother. She found herself being easily swayed by his words. It was plausible.
"I tried to leave her subtle warnings a couple of times but the deadline I was given was fast approaching. My employer was getting impatient with my progress. I had dragged it out long enough and he was no longer taking my excuses. For her protection, I had to let her go." He quietly wrung his hands in his lap for several moments before continuing. "I was on a plane bound for America the next morning. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and the next thing I knew years had passed and nothing to show for it. To say I never looked back or attempted to contact her would be a lie. A shoebox of unsent letters and calls I never dared to make was evidence of my regret. I didn't deserve her so I closed off my heart and drowned myself in work.
A few quiet seconds ticked by as Tadashi stared off with a faraway look. He had taken the disks that night she was in the shower. He was baffled that she kept bringing them home. His warning went unheeded. She was an intelligent woman. She had to know the risk of carrying this information out of her company. He had an inkling at the back of his mind that she was testing him instead. Unfortunately, he knew and she probably did as well, that they would both lose that night.
"Morimoto-san...Morimoto-san..." Tadashi blinked and shook his head to bring himself back to the present. He focused back on the angelic face of his daughter and smiled.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Talking with you has stirred up some old memories."
Kyoko nodded with understanding. It was probably difficult for him to talk about that time. Here she was once again opening up old wounds.
"May I ask why you returned to Japan now after avoiding this country for so long. Why did you suddenly come back?"
"I'm not sure if you already know this but I am the COO of Rising Sun Industries for the branch in New York." Morimoto paused to look at them. They both nodded no longer hiding that they had information on him.
"Well my Japanese counterpart had fallen ill and his second in command was struggling with a project that we were already in too deep to back out of. They were plagued with cost overruns and schedule delays. I was asked, being a native to Japan, to stanch our hemorrhaging. At first, I tried to handle it remotely through video conference and what not but I still couldn't grasp the whole picture. So I came here temporarily to complete the project. It's practically finished now."
Kyoko tensed at his use of the word "temporarily." Was he leaving then? What was the purpose of all this?
Ren felt the change in Kyoko. He knew what she was thinking because he was thinking about it too.
He looked at Morimoto shrewdly, "So now that the project is over you'll be returning to New York?"
"Oh yes, the project recently wrapped up but there are a few loose ends that need to be tied up before I leave." Tadashi quickly continued as he saw the crestfallen look mar his daughter's beautiful face. "I plan on coming back. I have to return to the States to close up my projects and hand over others to my team. Perhaps Mya-chan, you met her already, would be willing to take over my position there. I can still help remotely but I don't want to be in an important position, maybe more like a consultant or a lowly worker bee in the Tokyo branch. I want to focus more on you, my family, rather than work. I don't know how long it would take me but I plan on relocating to Japan permanently. Is that okay with both of you? I planned to live here even if you didn't accept me right away. I know it's presumptuous of me but I was hoping with time and persistence, I could probably break you down," he chuckled at his bullheaded personality.
Kyoko nodded shyly. She wanted to get to know him more too. She had more questions about her mother but she didn't know how to return to the topic without hurting him.
Ren could feel her squirming beside him as she contemplated what to ask next. He had more questions of his own. The flow of conversation had gone this man's way all night. Who was to say he wasn't manipulating them with his sob story. He glanced nervously at Kyoko. He hoped she would understand why he needed to ask his questions. He wanted to shake him up.
Ren cleared his throat bringing the attention back to him. "Are you aware of the damage your actions have caused to the woman you supposedly loved? I know you had your reasons but I can't accept you into Kyoko's life despite your good intentions. You have not been here to see the hardships Kyoko had to endure all alone because her mother could not bring herself to love her. Kyoko would forever be a reminder of her failure because she was your child. Like I said earlier, Kyoko is now in a good place. Don't do things half-heartedly. Ultimately, it's Kyoko's choice but I will be watching, waiting for you to slip up. So for her sake, I beseech you, please don't screw this up."
Tadashi looked thoroughly reprimanded. He knew of Saena's struggles through the years from what Sota had gathered. She had even tried to take her own life when she was pregnant. "I understand Tsuruga-kun. I can't change the past. After almost 18 years of living in the 'what ifs' I have concluded that I can only live for the future and show my daughter my sincerity from now on," he said looking at Kyoko.
Kyoko nodded looking at her father. She turned and smiled at Ren gratefully. He was so protective and always had her best interests at heart.
"Before I end my rant, Morimoto-san, there is something else I would like you to corroborate within Mogami-san's story. I don't mean to sound crass but depending on your answer I won't let you get any closer to Kyoko. Did you rape Mogami-san the night you drugged her? Her recount had all the warning signs."
Kyoko gasped. How could Ren come to such a conclusion from that part of her mother's story? All her mother remembered was a warm gentle hand stroking her head. Nothing sinister happened that night, right? She stared at her father.
All the color drained from Tadashi's face and he broke into a sweat. He thought he was going to be sick. He stood on shaky legs and excused himself to go to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face and stared at his reflection. Is that what Saena thought of him after that night? If she did think that way, why did she continue to see him afterward? What in the world was going through her mind then? He toweled his face and hands-off and went back to his guests. He made his way to the minibar and poured himself a stiff drink. He offered them something but they both declined. Gulping the contents of his drink, he felt the reassuring burn of the whiskey slide down his throat.
He placed his empty glass on the table and sat back down. He looked at Ren evenly. Well played young man. Ren had managed to do what so many in the past have attempted; make him lose his composure. Tadashi thought that it worked in his favor that he showed his daughter his true emotions though.
"I remember that night you speak of well, but no, I may be a coward but I would never do anything so despicable. Especially, when we were already lovers. She was always willing throughout our time together. She did cringe whenever I tried to kiss her in public though," he smiled softly, recalling the times he would kiss her while they were out. He remembered the warmth on her cheeks and the scolding that she would give him but not mean. She was so cute.
Tadashi hummed at the lack of reaction he received from having just divulged that Saena and he had intercourse before marriage. Of course, it wasn't secret knowledge, Kyoko was a testament to that. It's just that most Japanese would be embarrassed with such intimate talk. He narrowed his eyes at Ren. He noticed the way the young man gulped nervously. He turned his attention to Kyoko but she just stared at him doe-eyed and innocent. He concluded that they were already sleeping together. His beautiful Princess was already soiled and by this wolf in sheep's clothing. Did she know what kind of man she was dating? Tadashi decided that there would be time for that later. For now, he would keep his eye on this young man that held his daughter's innocent heart. He hoped they were at least being safer than he had since one of the condoms apparently failed. He didn't want her to have a surprise pregnancy at her age. If it did happen, he would be there for her.
"I did want her to get some rest. She was pushing herself too hard at work. Her sleeping and eating habits had turned for the worse. I was worried she would fall ill. I admit that night, I drugged the drink I prepared for her so she could get some decent sleep for once." He didn't miss the fact that the young couple stared at each other worried. Tadashi winced. Did they think he drugged their food?
"I promise there was nothing wrong with the food." Kyoko and Ren both smiled at him sheepishly having been caught thinking the worst. "I knew if I told her to take the pills outright she would have stubbornly refused. The lines on her forehead would have surely grown deeper with disappointment." He said touching the spot between his brows. "One thought that did cross my mind recently was that she also could have been exhausted because she was already carrying you in her womb. I read that it's a common symptom in pregnancy. I'm relieved that my selfishness didn't harm you in any way. To be honest, my motives weren't completely pure that night. I had searched for her work bag and found the data I needed. I couldn't believe she brought it home so carelessly. I tried to leave her an obvious clue that I had tampered with her stuff but she either didn't notice it or simply chose to ignore it. I left her another one but she never once confronted me so I just let her be. Then I received a call from my Boss telling me my time was up. That's the last time I saw Saena. The rest is history."
Several seconds ticked by but no one spoke. The silence was broken when Kyoko stifled a yawn. Hearing his voice was soothing given the touchy subject. She wondered what it would have been like to have him read fairy tales to her at bedtime. Would her life have been different? Would she have never met Corn? No, she felt it in her heart that the red strings of fate would have pulled them together. They would have probably met and fallen in love under different circumstances.
Tadashi chuckled. "I seem to have taken up a lot of your night. I'm sure in your professions you have had a rather long day so I won't keep you any longer."
"I'm sorry!" Kyoko said, bolting to her feet and bowing repeatedly. "It's just... I found your voice pleasant," she admitted.
"I'm glad. I appreciate you coming. If it's not too much trouble, here is my number. If either of you has more questions or even would like to have dinner or lunch again, please don't hesitate to call. If you take too long, I will seek you out again," he said with a smile giving them his card.
"Thank you for tonight and your honesty Morimoto-san, I do have a lot to think about. One thing I know for sure is that you should see my mother. She deserves to hear your side," Kyoko suggested. She knew her mother had accepted the result of her past. The problem was she put the blame heavily on herself. She held herself responsible for putting love first instead of focusing on her career at that time.
All Tadashi could do was give her a curt nod. He knew he needed to see Saena and apologize. He wouldn't hope for her forgiveness since he didn't deserve it.
As the couple headed for the door Tadashi stopped them. "Just a moment Kyoko-chan." Kyoko stopped to turn to him. She watched him grab a bag from the floor near his desk and a leather folder.
"This is yours. I'm sorry again for causing so much trouble." He said, handing the bag to her. She looked inside and saw that it was the rest of her stolen stuff. Her cheeks blushed as she saw that there were also some of her undergarments in there.
"And this is for you from me. No strings attached," he said with a smile. "I would have done it even if you refused to see me."
She opened the folder to preview its contents. It looked like bank statements and receipts from her high school and the LME acting school. "What have you done, Morimoto-san?" she asked incredulously.
"First of all please stop calling me so formally. One day I would love to hear you call me 'Daddy' but until then please refer to me at least as Tadashi, with no honorific. That my dear is my first step to taking responsibility for you as my daughter. You no longer have to worry about tuition fees. Please work towards being an actress and finish school without any financial burden." Kyoko protested but he held his hand up to stop her. "Let me do this for you. I am not trying to buy my way into your heart. As your father, I shall provide for my daughter. I have also opened a bank account in your name. Be a frivolous teenager, go shopping, hang out with friends, or whatever the kids get into these days besides drugs. By the way, I know you've moved out of the Darumaya. Do you have a proper place to live, with high security? I want my daughter protected."
Ren wrapped his arms around her shoulders possessively. "She's living with me now Tadashi-sa..Tadashi...Tadashi-san. Our building has a state of the art security system." Ren kicked himself mentally. Why didn't he think of paying off her bills? He knew she would never have accepted his money. She was too independent. As it was, he had to negotiate just to keep her from paying him rent.
Tadashi sized up Ren. Why was this guy so unusually tall for a Japanese? Tadashi was taller than the average Japanese man but he looked short in comparison. "That's good to know, Tsuruga-kun. I leave her in your care."
Notes:
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 37: Stage Name
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, someone would try to pry into Ren's past.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
What should I do, Corn?" Kyoko asked, nibbling on her bottom lip. She was once again turning to her Senpai for his wisdom as they rode down the elevator. The man that claimed to be her father just shared his version of what happened with her mother over seventeen years ago and she was feeling more confused than ever. Despite his betrayal, she couldn't bring herself to hate the man.
Ren looked down, warmly at his girlfriend. He loved that she always turned to him for advice. It made him feel needed; however, in this case, he wasn't sure how to approach it. He came away from tonight's meeting, thinking that her father may be the real deal and just what she needed to have that familial love she had been denied all her life. Sure his Dad had practically adopted her, but he didn't live in Japan, so there was still that disconnect. As much as he wanted to keep her to himself, he knew she needed this.
"As I told you, baby," he began, caressing her cheek, hoping to soothe the worry from her face. "It's your decision. You already know my thoughts on the man. I can tell he already sways you", and that's what I love about you. You always see the good in others. You don't let their past mistakes cloud your judgment without giving them a chance."
Kyoko frowned. Was he talking about himself? He needed to stop punishing himself for the things that he couldn't control in his past.
Ren continued missing her facial expression. "He sounded sincere enough. So I would give him a chance. Innocent until proven guilty, I guess. He hasn't personally done anything to hurt you, aside from breaking into your room. I should thank him for that since it got you to move in with me." He chuckled as she playfully shoved him. "You also have to understand that he is new at this, and so are you so there will be a learning curve. The fact that he was willing to go through such lengths for you makes me believe that he already loves you unconditionally as a parent should."
All conversations came to a halt as the elevator opened to the ground floor. Kyoko and Ren made their way through the parking lot, where Ruto waited with the limo. It was Lory's idea to bring Ruto along should things escalate unfavorably.
Kyoko bowed to Ruto. She felt terrible that he had to wait for them. "Thank you for your hard work Ruto-san."
"It was my honor Mogami-san. Is everything okay?" Ruto asked as held open the rear door.
"Yes, Ruto-san. You may inform the president," Ren replied, then climbed into the car. He knew Lory would be on edge, wondering how things went.
After Ren and Kyoko left for the night, Tadashi went about cleaning the dishes. His mind was running through all the father and daughter things they could finally do together when she accepted him. Maybe he could take her to Disney. They could have a father-daughter date. He saw that a new French cafe was opening up; perhaps he could take her there someday. He sighed as his dreams were dashed, recalling the guard dog by her side. It seemed like he may have also inherited a son. As protective as that boy was of her, Tadashi doubted that he would get any alone time with her soon. He didn't mind; it would allow him to get to know the young man. He hoped Ren truly loved his daughter and wasn't stringing her along for benefits. He knew how easily it was to deceive and manipulate Saena when she was so young. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to get Sota to look into him just for good measure.
His imaginary Tadashi angel popped up on his shoulder. "No, no, no, you can't go around thinking every guy is a scumbag like you! Things are already in a good place; you shouldn't go around trying to stir things up!" The angel scolded.
The Tadashi devil popped up on the opposite shoulder. "They're already living together. What kind of man of his stature has a thing for little girls? What if he's a Lolicon and into S and M? Do you want to leave your baby girl in such perilous hands?"
Tadashi angel intervened, "You saw how protective he was of her. There's no way he would do anything to hurt her."
Tadashi devil countered, "He is Japan's top actor for crying out loud! It's his job! He can fool anyone with his skills. He can have any woman in the world with his good looks and fame. Why would he choose her of all women? She's still a child!"
"Maybe because he has good taste. And Kyoko is not a child! With parental permission, she is old enough to get married in this country. Any man would be lucky to have her. She's gorgeous, intelligent, independent, talented, humble, kind, a fantastic cook..." The angel kept listing all his daughter's great qualities while the devil stopped listening.
"But is he even Japanese? He seemed a little forward for one. Isn't it a bit suspicious that he's so ridiculously tall? Don't you want to protect your flesh and blood from future heartache? If you discover anything now, you can let her know before things get more serious between them. It's your duty as a father to protect her from lecherous men."
The devil had hit the nail on the head with that last statement. The angel had no choice but to throw in the towel and admit defeat. Tadashi finished cleaning the dishes and wiped his hands. Tadashi didn't know the first thing about being a parent. He made a mental note to pick up some self-help books tomorrow. He felt one thing for certain, like the devil said, it was his duty as her father to ensure her safety. It wouldn't hurt to do a quick check on him. He picked up his phone and made the call.
Kuon emerged from the bathroom, in the buff, toweling off his hair. Now that Kyoko was comfortable, well he wouldn't quite say comfortable, with his lack of clothing, he could once again walk around their home as he pleased. She still blushed despite their intimate time together, which he found adorable. He was relieved to see her already in their bed albeit asleep.
She had started acting weird as soon as they got home and locked herself in the other bathroom. Kuon wondered if her stomach felt unwell after dinner. He took a moment to focus on his body; he felt fine. He went to knock on the bathroom door but stopped when he heard the shower running. That was odd. Ever since she had barged into his shower, they made it a point to shower together. They had even done so that very morning. He wondered if he had done anything to upset her.
He pulled on a pair of boxer briefs and strolled over to the bed, crawled between the warm sheets then shut off the light. He snuggled up to Kyoko and felt that she was wearing her full pajamas. Most nights, they usually went to bed practically naked. Tonight she was fully clothed, which he found very suspicious. He pulled her closer, but she shied away. What did he do wrong? Why was she pulling away from him? He felt panic and stabbing pain in his heart. What was going on here?
"I'm sorry. Good night, baby. I love you," he whispered, his voice chock-full of the rejection he felt. He turned on to his side, facing away so he wouldn't be tempted to reach for her again.
Kyoko turned over, suddenly realizing her mistake. "I'm sorry, Corn. I didn't mean anything by it. I don't think you want to get close to me because I'm onmyriod." She mumbled the last words embarrassed but worried he might be mad at her.
Kuon turned over and squinted in the darkness. He could barely make out her silhouette, so he turned on the lamp. He propped himself on his elbow, curious to know what was troubling her. "What was that, babe? I didn't quite catch the last part, since you mumbled."
Kyoko closed her eyes as the bright light came on. She opened them slowly and found him watching her anxiously.
"Please don't be mad at me!" She cried, tears pricking her eyes.
Kuon sighed heavily. Why was that always her first assumption? It was a bit aggravating.
"I'm not mad. Just a bit upset. You have been acting strange since we got home. I don't know what I did wrong if you don't tell me. Are you sure it wasn't something I did?"
She shook her head, vigorously. He smiled relieved and waited for her to tell him. Kyoko's face heated with embarrassment. She didn't know where to start. He might find what she had to say disgusting. What if he kicked her out of the room? Did he even know about a woman's monthly cycle? Of course, he did! Kyoko mentally smacked her head since he bought her feminine products before. She breathed deeply and decided just to tell him outright.
"If I'm acting weird, it's because I got my period tonight. I wasn't sure how you would take it. I didn't want you to be disappointed while I'm on my cycle. If you want me to sleep in the other room, I understand."
Kuon chuckled with relief at her silly notions. As if that would bother him. There's no way he would let her sleep apart from him. Wait? Did she just imply that I'm a complete horn dog and can't keep my hands off her for a couple of days out of the month? He couldn't entirely blame her. It was challenging to keep his hands off her, especially at night. He still couldn't believe that she was here in the flesh, in his arms, and living with him. The cute little pout on her lips started turning him on. He cleared his throat to regain his focus.
"Kyoko, there's no way you're sleeping away from me. I'm perfectly capable of keeping my hands off you for however long you are indisposed," he said thoughtfully.
She lifted a brow mockingly. "Oh? This, I would like to see."
"You'll see! I can wait; how long does it last...a day...two. I can live with that," Kuon retorted.
"Try more like five to seven days," Kyoko corrected.
Kuon's mouth hung agape. How was he supposed to hold out for that long? Kyoko threw a pillow at his pitiful face. She laughed at his shocked expression when it nailed him.
"Why you?" He threatened.
Kyoko shrieked as Kuon tackled her and started in on his infamous tickle torture. She cheated by kissing him soundly on the mouth. His tirade ended as he focused on returning the passionate kiss.
Forgetting himself, Kuon's hands slipped down to her waistband. Kyoko gripped his hand and guided it to her breast instead. He thumbed her peak as he kissed across her jawline blazing a hot trail toward her chest. In between kisses, he muttered, "So down there...kiss... is off-limits,...kiss...but everything above is still...kiss...fair game?"
"Yes," She gasped as his mouth closed over her covered breast. It was hard to deny him that much when he made her feel so good. Kyoko boldly skimmed her had down his body and reached between them to cup his erection. She felt the heat of his groan through her saturated shirt, making her giggle. She loved the way he reacted to her touch. Since he was distracted, Kyoko easily pushed him on his back and straddled him.
Kuon's hands instantly reached for her hips and ground his hardness into her center. She didn't object which meant this was okay. They may not have been going all the way, but he was entirely satisfied with their level of intimacy.
Kyoko was surprised that she could still feel all the usual sensations as she rocked her hips into him. His hands slid up from her hips to cup her breasts and squeezed. When he had her quivering above him, he sat up and helped remove her shirt. He engulfed her in his strong arms grazing her back with his fingertips. It always amazed her how solid his broad chest was in comparison to her soft flesh. She sought his mouth, and slipped her tongue passed his lips. Their tongues collided with long, languid strokes as she pushed him down against the bed. She broke away and took her time kissing her way down his neck as he did to her, pausing to suck lightly on his erratically beating pulse. She continued the slow torturous descent down his body.
Kuon held his breath as she slid her body down the length of him and hovered over his cock. Her nipples grazing his thighs was a new level of hell for him. The scratching of her nails curling around his waistband made him eagerly lift his hips to help remove the offending garment. His dick sprung to attention when it was finally set free. Her golden eyes crossed with amazement as she eyed his throbbing cock. His dark emerald eyes rolled back into its sockets the moment her hot wet lips closed over the tip. Before he completely blanked out from pure ecstasy, he thought, I could definitely manage a week.
The Next Day
The photographer, Sousuke, paused while the make-up artist dabbed translucent powder on Kyoko's nose. Even with the air conditioning at full blast in the studio, she was sweating under the bright lights. Trying to model winter clothes during the end of summer was proving a bit difficult. Fuji had warned her that this is how things were since they had to get advertisements for clothes completed before the actual season. She paled when he told her to wait until he got her in a swimsuit during the winter months. It wasn't the temperature that she feared. The fact that she was expected to wear a swimsuit in front of the camera was what agitated her. Taisho would possibly filet someone when those photos hit the street.
For this take, Kyoko wore a pair of rather very short patent leather hot pants, a snug black mock turtle neck sweater, and an unbuttoned gray tweed trench coat. A pair of heeled booties complemented the outfit with a small black handbag. The stylist curled her lengthy hair, and the make-up was kept natural save for the blood-red color on her lips.
"Okay, Kyoko-chan, saunter towards me," Sousuke instructed. A fan was turned on, giving the illusion that a breeze was blowing her hair back and billowing her coat as she walked. She felt awkward having to walk so slow, but somehow she managed. She tried not to giggle as Sousuke buzzed around her like a busy bee to capture different angles. He shouted orders such as, "turn your head this way, chin up, mind the lighting, good, your arm is stiff, you're a city girl…" Her head was buzzing by the time he called it a wrap. She was relieved that it was the last outfit for the day.
Ren had entered the studio with Yashiro when the fan turned on. He smiled when she assumed "the walk." He thought fondly of that night in his apartment hallway. He had taught her how to walk like the most beautiful supermodel he had known in the world to grasp her role as Natsu. In the right pair of heels, she could easily conquer the runway by storm. He stood at the back wall and admired her while she worked. She looked gorgeous in the outfit, but in his personal opinion, her shorts were a little too revealing for his taste. Her long, lean legs were perfectly accentuated for all the world to see, making him glower. He had to hand it to Fuji, though; he knew how to bring out the best in her. When the shoot was a wrap, she shrugged out of her coat and handed it along with the handbag to the wardrobe assistant.
His heart skipped a beat when she flashed her brilliant smile at him. Clad in all black, she walked like a panther towards him and Yashiro. His eye twitched as he watched every male head in her path turn as she passed. He chuckled softly. She was still so oblivious to the effect she had on men and even some women. She paused when she heard a crash behind her and stopped to inspect the disturbance. A couple of crew hands had collided with each other from staring at her too hard. She approached them with concern. Ren watched amused as the men tried to recover and stuttered at the beauty before them. He almost felt sorry for them but understood their plight all too well. When she was assured that they were okay, she continued towards him.
Kyoko gave them a small bow in greeting, remembering her attire. She was worried her butt would fall out of these shorts. Yashiro handed her a bottle of water and a towel.
"Good work, Kyoko-chan. You looked very comfortable in front of the camera. Didn't she, Ren?" Yashiro praised. He looked at Ren expectantly.
"Stunning," Ren added, which made her blush.
"Thank you, both." She used the towel to pat the sweat off her brow. Even though the studio was cold, the harsh lights used for the shoot generated a lot of heat. Wearing a coat and sweater didn't help matters.
"It looks like modeling has become your forté as well, Kyoko-chan. We've had several companies come forward asking for you specifically to endorse their products. I managed to segregate the few that would work with your schedule," Yashiro informed her. His inner fangirl was satisfied ever since these two hooked up. He enjoyed the lovey-dovey atmosphere surrounding them when he picked them up this morning. It meant the issue with her father didn't put a damper on her spirits. Yashiro was eager to meet the man that made up half of her gene pool. According to Ren, he was intelligent, and even as a man found him good looking. He was probably biased because it was Kyoko's father. Ren's opinion of the man was favorable, but he did caveat it with a so far.
Ren was quite pleased that she was getting noticed for her work rather than as his girlfriend. From the feedback she shared, there were some jobs where the directors initially thought she was nothing more than a pretty face. Her professionalism and talent eventually won over their hearts before the tasks were complete. She was steadily making a name for herself.
Fuji eyed the trio after confirming the remainder of the shots were perfect. It was now or never. He broached the topic with the LME President and was surprised how the cosplaying mogul took control of his request to suit his needs. Fuji thought his plan was brilliant, even if he was skeptical that it would work.
He approached the trio just ask Kyoko was hounding Ren about what he ate for lunch. "Excuse me, Ren, Yashiro-san, good to see you again. Are you guys here to pick up Kyoko-chan?"
"Fuji-san, good to see you too," Ren greeted, and Yashiro bowed.
"Yes, they both have different jobs scheduled at TBM this evening," Yashiro informed him.
"Oh, wow, it must be difficult on you as their manager to juggle their schedules and try to be at two places at once," Fuji commented in awe of their super manager.
"Not at all, it's rather simple. Plus, I'm blessed with two responsible young stars that make my job easy. It's almost a wonder why I still have a job," Yashiro chuckled. It was the truth, unlike some of his counterparts, his charges were very reliable and professional. The other managers were jealous of him. For the past five years as Ren's manager, Yashiro was almost bored; it wasn't until now that Kyoko came into the picture that these two began stirring up the waters. Even then, it wasn't so infamous as some of the other stars their age.
"Don't be modest, Yashiro-san; I would be lost without you," Ren said, and Kyoko nodded in agreement.
"My life is less frazzled, having Yashiro as a voice of reason. He's good at his job, especially after adding me to his plate. Thank you, Yashiro-san, for taking care of me," Kyoko added with another small bow.
"It's my pleasure Kyoko-chan." He was glad she didn't know the real reason for him taking her on as his charge. If one were to ask him, he would say that her workload was increasing and needed protection. The President had shared with him the problems she was having with Sho. He was glad that the singer was out of the picture. Then there was the Kimiko issue; he had a nagging feeling that the ex-actress wasn't done with Kyoko just yet. Yashiro's real reason was a bit selfish. He wanted to create some opportunities for her and Ren to spend more time together. It was excruciatingly painful to watch them dance around each other before they got together. Like a dutiful manager, it was his job to intervene. He didn't have to try hard before the two became a happy couple leaving his heart's desire fulfilled.
"Well, before you leave Kyoko-chan, I wanted to bring up the topic of fashion week. I already cleared it with Takarada-san. I would like you to accompany me and the team to Los Angeles, California's, fashion week in October. I know it's a little soon, but I wanted you to keep that week open. I'm finishing up my avant-garde collection for the catwalk. I want you there as my "IT" girl. You won't have to walk the runway and help assist backstage. Quite frankly, I just want to show you off and have you wear some of the more 'ready to wear' versions of the runway outfits to the events. There will be photoshoots as well to take advantage of the foreign location," Fuji informed her. Yashiro was already penciling it into his notepad as Fuji talked.
Kyoko's eyes sparkled at the prospect of going to America, especially Los Angeles, where Otou-san lived with the Fairy Queen. She wanted to go. Then it dawned on her as she turned to her boyfriend, "Ren, are you going as well. Of course, you're going. You're the top male model for R'Mandy. Why didn't you tell me?" She asked a little upset that he kept her in the dark.
Fuji smiled sneakily. This was precisely the reaction the president expected. Fuji was a little pessimistic when Lory suggested the plan but so far things were moving accordingly. Lory told him that he could no doubt count on Kyoko to ask Ren about it. That guy would go chasing after Kyoko without hesitation.
Ren kept the surprise off his face. Every year since he became a model for R'Mandy, Fuji had asked him to participate in LA fashion week. Every year, Ren had declined, claiming he could not fit it in his schedule. He, in fact, always had Yashiro double book him for that month so that he wasn't genuinely lying.
"Um, Kyoko-chan. You see, Ren is always so busy that time of year and never participates in the show. I have an international model from Europe with the same build for this event. He usually walks in his place for su…."
"I can go!" Ren heard himself interjecting before even considering the ramifications of his decision. "I mean if it's not too much trouble to include me. I would like to represent the brand and attend, as well."
Hook, line, and sinker! Fuji thought. The President was right; Ren was too easy to catch when using Kyoko as bait.
"Are you sure, Ren? Fashion week is a big deal for me, so if I use you as my model, you can't back out on me due to a conflict. I swear if you screw me, I will terminate your contract and never use you again!" Fuji added for a dramatic flair.
Ren gulped, he had never seen the designer so serious. "I won't let you down, Fuji-san. Thank you for the opportunity."
Kyoko looked at him, concerned. She understood why Ren would refuse events in the States, but why was he doing it now. She would have to ask him later when they were alone.
"Wonderful, I'm so excited to have you both representing the brand. This fashion week is going to be my best one yet. I'm feeling rather inspired," Fuji clapped excitedly and floated away to his workstation.
After their conversation with Fuji, Kyoko changed so they could head to TBM.
Later that Night
"He who learns but does not think is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger," Tadashi recited through the hole in the door. The guard let out a little noise that sounded very much like a snicker before opening the door. It was then as he stepped through the threshold that Tadashi wondered if Sota was just playing a trick on him.
Tadashi grumbled a greeting as he slid into the booth occupied by Sota. "What's got you in a bad mood?" Sota asked.
"I have the sneaky suspicion that I'm the only one in this club that needs a password to get in," Tadashi grumbled, folding his arms.
Sota laughed heartily. "You finally found me out. I was hoping to keep it going a little longer, but I was struggling with some good quotes. I got this last one from google sensei."
Tadashi narrowed his eyes at his friend, "Do you have what I asked for?"
"More or less," Sota said with a shrug.
Tadashi opened the packet and took a glance; there wasn't anything in there that he couldn't get from the internet.
"What is this? Where's the rest? Birth certificate, family, school?" he asked, shuffling through the sparse sheets.
"As I said, more or less. It's a stage name. Many celebrities do it, so it's not uncommon. All the information I could find was in the past five years back to when he debuted in Japan. The rest is unknown."
"What about your source? Surely he could provide something more." The lack of information on this man was making Tadashi panic. He just wanted a little inside scoop on the guy, maybe find a few scandals or violations with the police. This revelation was far more than he bargained.
"My government source said that his files are sealed, and that's all they had on his public record. Someone powerful is protecting him. Maybe, you could try to be a normal father and just grill the guy with questions."
"I thought about that, but I don't want her to hate me."
"Really? If she found out you did a background check on her boyfriend, she would hate you," Sota admonished.
Tadashi cringed at the reality of the situation. "I just don't want to see her get hurt if he turns out to be someone other than he claims," Tadashi sighed heavily. He found being a parent of a teenage daughter was quite stressful, and it was only day one. He was three chapters into a parenting book, and he already felt lost. He almost wished he left things alone. There was no turning back now since a father's spirit was ignited within him. He needed to know who the man was now that he was living together with his daughter.
"He could be under the witness protection program. You know to hide in plain sight. Although being a celebrity is stretching it a bit," Sota suggested.
Tadashi contemplated his friend's words. Could it be as simple as that? He doubted Saena would know anything. She seemed to have wanted nothing to do with Kyoko at all, let alone her associates. That only left one person. He checked his watch; it was late. He would have to try in the morning.
Notes:
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 38: Showdown
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would have shared some of her background with Taisho and Okami by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
A Circus! That's what the couple discover in Lory's office that afternoon. There were dancing animals, acrobats, clowns, and...trapeze artists swinging from the ceiling? Kyoko swore Lory's office expanded up and out depending on the theme of the day. They held their breath when the petite female released her grip on the bar and did an elaborate series of somersaults in the air before the muscular man swinging on the other side caught her. At the center of it all was Lory, the ringmaster, dressed in a vibrant red coat, top hat, and holding a bullwhip.
He held his arms wide and with a booming voice, "Lady and gentleman, welcome to Lory's Magical Circus." The performers put on a short show filled with dancing, singing, and tricks. When it was finished both Kyoko and Ren found themselves clapping enthusiastically. After bowing, the performers exited Lory's office taking the animals with them.
"Come with me, my children. Let's talk in my small office."
The couple followed the president to a door off to the side that led them to an inner office. Kyoko had no idea the room existed and found it laughable that he called it "small." It was the size of the living space of their apartment, maybe even bigger. The two sat on the leather chairs while Lory took his seat behind the desk. Kyoko saw the opportunity to glance around the room, waiting for the president to speak. One wall was lined with the large windows of LME while the others were lined with books from floor to ceiling. It reminded her of the library in Beast's castle.
Ren chuckled as he watched his girlfriend's eyes turn to stars as she ventured off to La-la land. He leaned in and whispered, "If you ask the President, I'm sure he would lend you some to read. I recall seeing a few books on Fairy Tales."
"Really?" she gasped, eyeing the books to see if she could make out any titles. She scrunched up her nose in distaste as she read title after title that seemed to promise romance and love.
"I have to warn you though, Grimm's fairy tales aren't as happily ever after as Disney makes them out to be. They may not be to your liking."
Kyoko's face drooped. Ren patted her head and kissed her softly. He apologized for inflating and then swiftly popping her happiness bubble.
Lory sat back and watched the latest episode of his favorite drama with a small smile. As if reading his thoughts, Ruto handed him a bowl of popcorn. The crumbling sound as Lory reached in brought Ren back to his senses.
"Oh, by all means, don't mind me. It's just getting to the good part," Lory teased waving his popcorn-filled hand for them to continue.
Ren groaned. Kyoko bolted upright as her face turned a deep crimson. She forgot they had the worst kind of audience watching them. Lory would no doubt tease them mercilessly.
"Why are we here, Boss?" Ren asked in an attempt to distract Lory.
"Why? Because I asked you here? Is there something wrong with a Boss wanting to check in on his employees?"
Kyoko shook her head but Ren stared at Lory defiantly. There was always an ulterior motive. Lory ignored the boy's expression and addressed Kyoko.
"Mogami-kun, how are things going? Everything at home fine? No pressure from you know who? If it becomes too much, we can always find you another place to stay," Lory offered.
Kyoko's face heated to another level of red and shook her head. "Everything is fine, President-san!" She exclaimed bluntly.
Ren glared at Lory. He wanted to slaughter him. As if, Ren would take advantage or pressure his princess. He had to be the voice of reason most of the time. Her boldness in their love play had left him speechless on more than one occasion.
"What about on the Sacred Lotus?" Lory queried.
Kyoko's eyes made contact with Lory's. How much did he know? She glanced nervously at Ren.
Ren had a feeling they were hiding something from him. He stared back and forth between them. "What's going on? Kyoko, what aren't you telling me?"
Kyoko squirmed in her seat, unsure how to begin. Lory took the opportunity to speak instead. "I received a call from Producer Kuresaki informing me that there is a possible saboteur on the set of Sacred Lotus. Yashiro's and Ruto's reports corroborate his story. Kuresaki-san has called all the other stars' agencies as well. I had half a mind to pull you off the production but Kuresaki-san begged me to let you stay. He assured me that he has increased security and has done a thorough check on all people coming and going on set.
"When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me any of this?" Ren grilled Kyoko.
"I thought there was nothing to tell," Kyoko confessed apologetically. "We all thought there was a vengeful spirit playing pranks among us. I meant to consult Maria-chan about it since she's an expert on spirits and the afterlife. I thought she would have a cleansing spell so the spirit will depart earth and find peace in the afterlife. Unfortunately, I've been too busy to meet her."
Ren smacked his forehead with his palm. It was so like her to think a supernatural entity was involved rather than a real-life person. She never fails to see the good in people.
"Have you ever felt threatened by anyone on set? Yashiro-san told me Morimoto-kun has been frequenting the place. Has she done anything suspicious?"
Kyoko shook her head. "She usually sticks to Benett-san. The last time I had real contact with her was during the awards ceremony. I tend to avoid her if possible."
Lory nodded. "Okay, good. Keeping away is a good option as long as it doesn't interfere with your work. If you think you're in any danger, you need to tell someone. I don't want a repeat of Karuizawa." Ren and Kyoko both stared at him in shock. "What? You didn't think that incident would not get back to me. Don't underestimate my reach."
The couple shuddered at his threat. It was scary to think just how much power Lory possibly had over their lives.
"Okay, next item on the agenda. Fuji-san has informed me that you both decided to attend the L.A. fashion week." He looked directly at Ren, "Does this mean what I think it means? Are you ready to go home?"
"I've decided to go as Ren. I'm not quite ready to make myself known here in Japan yet."
"Phooey!" Lory pouted in his seat, disappointed.
Ren ignored him and continued. "I discussed it with Kyoko and she's fine with it. I do, however, want to see my parents as Kuon. If it's at all possible to get there a few days earlier or stay a few days later, I would like to bring Kyoko home to meet my parents." Ren reached for Kyoko's hand and laced their fingers together.
The sparkle returned to Lory's eyes. They misted over as he thought how happy his old friends would be to see their baby boy again in the flesh. Maybe Julie would forgive him and stop referring to him as a kidnapper.
"President, we want his coming home to be a surprise. Please don't give anything away to Otou-san and Juliena-san. I will let them know that I will be coming and would very much like to visit," Kyoko pleaded.
"How boring, but fine. I will help in any way I can. Let me know the details when it's finalized," Lory agreed, reining in his glee. He was excited for his old friends. They had been waiting a long time for this moment. He knew Kyoko would give him the strength he needed. The boy always needed that extra little push to make the step forward. He had surpassed his father a while ago with his Katsuki and still dragged his feet at returning home even for a visit.
Lory shifted subjects. "Are you guys ready for Tragic Marker premiere? More like Ren, are you ready? You are the one that was cast. Mogami-kun did this as a LoveMe assignment so there's no pressure to reveal her, yet. Can you think of anything that would have a backlash on your reputation once you're revealed?"
There were too many to count. Ren glanced at Kyoko. She kept her head down wringing her hands nervously.
Lory's brows raised. Something more happened and he wasn't aware of it. He cleared his throat to get their attention. "What went on behind closed doors of the hotel is nobody's business so if that is what you're worried about you can feel at ease."
Both looked uncomfortable as they recalled the night Setsu left a hickey on Cain. That night was an emotional turning point for Kuon.
Ren finally spoke. "There was a time when Setsu marked Cain as hers."
Lory's eyes widened with shock while Kyoko squirmed in her seat. He didn't need details to understand what Ren meant.
Ren cleared his throat to continue. "Let's just say that Cain proudly bore the mark for all to see. There may be some chatter regarding that incident."
Lory smirked. He couldn't believe such progress was made back then right under his nose. He was worried that the boy was becoming a monk or something, but to find out it was initiated by Kyoko herself was a bonus. He stared at the bowed head of his LoveMe number one and coughed to cover up his chuckles. He underestimated her.
"There was also that first night. Some thugs were harassing Setsu. Kuon kind of seeped out. Setsu stopped me before anyone was seriously hurt. There were a few bystanders so I'm not sure if they would put two and two together of that night. The men were intoxicated so I don't think their testimony would hold up in court especially since they admitted that night to vandalizing a restaurant and leaving without paying," Ren admitted, ashamed of his actions that night. All he saw was red when that thug threw her down.
Lowry's lips pursed. That one may cause us some problems. The mark was nothing since they were in a relationship. They can play it off that they were secretly dating. "Is that all?" Lory asked.
Ren rubbed the back of his neck. It was like admitting all his crimes to a judge. It wasn't like he ever had to stand before one when he was a teen. His parents always took care of the authorities when he got into trouble. Kuu could charm anyone out of pressing charges and when Juliena came into the picture all coherent thought would cease in the men's brains leaving Kuon free to go.
This time Kyoko spoke. "There was a time on set that Cain fought with Murasame earnestly. They almost ended up killing each other. I suppose since they completed the film together there were no longer any hard feelings."
"Murasame also had a strange fascination with Setsu. I'm afraid if he knows her as Kyoko he might try something with her." His voice was thick with jealousy.
Lory turned to Kyoko, "What do you think, Mogami-kun? Have you ever felt threatened by Murasame-kun as Setsu?"
Kyoko shook her head. "It's nothing Setsu can't handle. He's insignificant in Setsu's eyes. All she cares about is her Nii-san. She doesn't notice anyone else."
"I will be able to take care of him the same way Cain took care of him. We can handle it, Boss," Ren said with certainty.
"Okay, good. We'll figure it out if it becomes a problem," Lory concluded. "Anything else I should be concerned with before you go public?"
Kyoko and Ren began to shake their head but a light bulb flashed in both their minds as they remembered the incident with Manaka.
Kyoko nibbled her bottom lip with worry. This time it was her rash actions that caused problems. She played it off as Setsu at the time. Just seeing that girl cling to Cain drove her to the brink of insanity. Before she knew it, she had pried the girl off him and threw her across the floor. Kyoko managed to cover it up Setsu style, but she knew she was out of character. She wondered if Ren had known as well.
"Well, sir," Kyoko began timidly. "Setsu kind of got physical with the female lead in a fit of jealousy." Kyoko stood and paced the office as her old feelings welled up recounting the Manaka incident to Lory, and what led to it.
Lory couldn't help but smile at the girl. He snuck a glance in Ren's direction to see how he was holding up.
Ren was besotted. Kyoko's jealous ranting made him deliriously happy. It was this reaction that solidified Ren's decision to never let a woman think there would ever be more to his actions than professional courtesy. He had been stupid for patting Manaka on the head. She reminded him of Kyoko when she used to quiver from what she called his Demon Lord persona. He thought it was just Setsu being possessive, but now he knew it was all Kyoko. Setsu's feelings just happened to resonate with hers.
Ren didn't want his costars getting the wrong idea, especially while playing a role. His feelings as the character did not stem from his real life. He would still be kind and cordial, but if they tried to make romantic advances on him he would immediately put the kibosh on their feelings. If his costar could not overcome his rejection and continue filming, she was not a true professional. He didn't want to make his girlfriend feel anxious or any heartache. All he could do was constantly remind Kyoko how much he loved her, verbally and physically. He hoped his feelings were getting through to her.
Lory nodded in understanding. He knew from what he had witnessed on the set before the Guam trip that Kyoko was behind Setsu's actions. Even if she claimed to want to hide her feelings rather than admit her love for Ren, in the end, she couldn't help it. Her personal feelings leaked into her character anyway. Just then the desk phone buzzed interrupting his musings.
Lory excused himself and picked up the receiver. He was expecting this call and was glad he timed everything perfectly. "Yes, now is fine," he said into the line and then hung up. It seemed they may have a lot to deal with once Cain Heel is revealed.
A minute later, Ruto opened the office door letting in a visitor.
Tadashi stopped in his tracks, surprised, as he took in those present. He had called this morning requesting an audience with Lory, but he did not divulge the nature of the conversation. He saw confusion register in the young couple's eyes. So they weren't expecting him.
Tadashi glared at the head of LME. It was difficult to take him seriously when he was wearing another ridiculous outfit. Tadashi knew that his outfits were probably a ruse to throw off his opponents. Those familiar with Lory's antics would have thought the opposite. If he was wearing normal business attire something was very wrong.
Ren gulped nervously. He swore he heard the song, "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," from an old western movie his parents allowed him to watch, playing in the background as the two men stared each other down ready to duel.
Leave it to his girlfriend, bless her heart, to not read the atmosphere. Kyoko stood quickly and spoke excitedly, "Morimoto-sa err Tadashi...-san, good afternoon." She added the "san" after a pause because it felt so improper to address him so informally. By Japanese standards, he deserved more respect.
Tadashi broke eye contact first to look at his beautiful daughter. It wasn't his imagination. She was excited to see him. Seeing her face washed away all the bitterness he felt towards Lory for blind-sighting him with their presence. He had to admit he had met his match with this president.
Tadashi smiled in return. She was already the apple of his eye. His little princess. "Kyoko-chan, I asked you to call me with no honorific until you can call me with the title of Daddy," Tadashi said in a slightly disappointed tone.
"I'm sorry. There's no way I can address my father so casually. You may be used to it because you have lived in America for so long but here in Japan it's considered impolite." She admonished, explaining her decision.
Tadashi's face beamed with delight. She said "my father," he thought with glee. He cleared his throat to get a grip on his emotions. "I understand if it's too difficult for you guys, I guess I can make an exception. I don't want to make you uncomfortable. Thank you for the courtesy."
"May I ask what you're doing here Tadashi-san, if I can be so forward," Kyoko asked suspiciously. What were these two men cooking up now? It couldn't be good if the president was involved.
Tadashi opened and closed his mouth several times trying to figure out how to explain himself before Lory spoke. "Yes, Morimoto-san, please explain to us why you are here?" Lory had an idea of what this was about. His contact at the Public Security Intelligence Agency notified him that someone had tried to access Ren's files. He wondered who it could be until he received Tadashi's call this morning. Lory wasn't even upset by his trespassing. He was proud of him for already acting like a true father.
Tadashi turned shrewd eyes on Lory. The man had to have ESP. How else would he have preempted his moves if not for having some psychic ability?
"Please sit down Princess, and I'll try to explain."
Kyoko sat down reluctantly unsure why the mood turned so serious. She couldn't even enjoy the moment when this man called her a princess just like a real father. She looked at Ren who gave her that annoying shoulder shrug again.
Tadashi startled Kyoko when he knelt in front of her. What was he doing? Ren shifted uneasily beside her while Lory stared on with an amused smile. Kyoko shuddered and felt a little sorry for Tadashi. He surely got snared into one of Lory's traps.
Tadashi didn't pay attention to anyone else but his daughter. His somber gold eyes bore into hers as he took her hands into his. "Princess, I have to explain where I'm coming from. You know I lied to your mother when we were together. I gave her a false name. I'm here because I know that Tsuruga Ren is not his real name and that no information on him exists before his debut. If you tell me he's nothing like the scumbag that I am, then I will believe you. I just don't want you to follow in the footsteps of your mother."
Ren jumped to his feet. He had vouched for this man. How dare this stranger, this hypocrite, this father for a day, accuse him of being false with Kyoko. He paused at the thought. Maybe he was being a hypocrite? He tried to justify his reasons for hiding his true identity from her up until a few months ago. Ren sat back down as his temper simmered. He couldn't fault the man for looking into her older, high profile boyfriend, and digging further when said boyfriend had nothing on record.
The others had turned to Ren expecting an outburst of deniability but no words came as he suddenly sat down. Lory cocked an eyebrow considering his behavior. Ren scowled at him in answer. Somehow, Lory knew what he was thinking.
Kyoko was relieved that Ren sat back down. He seemed to have been warring within himself before he finally felt defeated. She squeezed her father's hands. "I assure you Tadashi-san, I am well aware of Ren's real name and past. We have no secrets between us. I have even met his father. Until he is ready to share that information with you, I implore you not to press the issue." Kyoko paused and waited for her father to agree which he did by nodding.
"Good, otherwise you would upset me. I might just end up hating you!" She pouted, folding her arms for a dramatic effect. A small threat should be a nice reminder. She had watched enough dramas of girls acting spoiled when things didn't go their way. She hoped she did a convincing job to emphasize her point knowing he was becoming one of those idiot fathers just like Kuu. Ren smirked at her theatrics.
"No! Don't hate me Kyoko-chan!" Tadashi pleaded. "My life finally has some meaning. I will do everything I can to repent. I'm truly sorry and understand my mistake. Please forgive me and give me another chance."
"I'm not the one you need to address. You should apologize properly to Ren. You made a poor assumption on his character and invaded his privacy," she explained, nodding toward Ren.
Tadashi bowed deeply before Ren. "I'm sorry for my actions Ren-kun. I thank you for being honest and open with my daughter. Thank you for taking such great care of her."
"I understand where your concern stems from. Thank you for acting as a true father and worrying over her," Ren said with a forgiving smile. Tadashi smiled with relief. He was starting to like this young man.
"If you're free tonight, would you like to join me for dinner? Kyoko will be working at the Darumaya. I was thinking of having a meal there while I wait for her. You can even meet her landlords properly." Ren knew he was being petty, but the man had come close to discovering what he so desperately wanted to keep hidden. His mouth twitched with amusement when Tadashi's body twitched. Great, I'm already bullying him. He was not helping his cause.
Tadashi narrowed his eyes at Ren. He was on to the actor's game and could see through his creepy fake smile. Rather than shy away from the challenge, Tadashi grinned. "I would love to join you."
Ren's smile faltered when he gave in so easily. He didn't even squirm at the thought of facing Kyoko's landlords.
Tadashi concluded that Ren was testing him. He might as well get it over with so they could all move forward from here. He addressed his daughter, "Is that okay with you, Kyoko-chan? I won't be a third wheel or anything?"
"That's a great idea! I'll cook for both of you tonight," she clapped enthusiastically.
Tadashi needed no more convincing. He could endure anything that would befall him tonight if it meant eating a delicious meal prepared by his daughter.
Tadashi paced the sidewalk outside his apartment complex, clutching a shopping bag. He hoped the slacks and buttoned-down shirt was respectful enough to beg forgiveness. He was adjusting his shirt collar when Ren pulled up to the curb. The young man insisted on giving him a ride to the Darumaya. The hopeful expression on his daughter's face made him unable to refuse the offer. She probably thought her boyfriend was very kind and wanted to get to know him better. Tadashi wasn't fooled. He knew Ren would have words for him after the stunt he pulled.
Tadashi plopped down into the passenger seat. "Thank you for the ride, Ren-kun. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
"It was my pleasure, Tadashi-san. Your home is convenient, so it was no problem at all," Ren assured him.
After minutes of riding in silence, Tadashi was the first to speak, "Ren-kun, can we please get on with it?"
"On with what, Tadashi-san? We will be at the restaurant in another fifteen minutes depending on the traffic."
"More than enough time to get on with whatever you had planned by offering me this ride," Tadashi replied sarcastically.
"You're very perceptive, Tadashi-san. I did indeed want to speak to you. Mainly about what you have been able to uncover about me. I know you let the matter drop earlier, but I guess I wanted to explain to you how important your daughter is to me." For some reason, Ren felt like he could confide in Tadashi. "I have nothing to hide from her. I love her very much. She is my salvation. She pulled me out of the darkness and into her light on more occasions than I'd like to remember. I speak from personal experience when I tell you that your life will only get better in knowing her. I have a goal to obtain as Tsuruga Ren. It's within my grasp. Soon I will go public with my identity, but until then I hope you can respect my privacy."
Tadashi-san's eyes glistened with unshed tears. This young man just poured his heart out, treating him like a real father-in-law. He felt very lucky. Fate must have had a hand in bringing him back here to Tokyo. This was his second chance to make things right.
"Ren-kun, you surprised me. I was expecting to get grilled and talked to harshly by you. I mentally prepared myself for such a brutal talk too. It means a lot to me that you were able to share your feelings, even though we just met. I hope to earn your trust completely in time. If there is anything you or Kyoko need from me, please don't hesitate to ask. I will do everything in my power to help."
"Thank you for the offer Tadashi-san. I hope we can continue to get along, for her sake."
A nod of Tadashi's head ended the discussion. They rode the remainder of the ride in companionable silence.
Ren and Tadashi walked through the front entrance of the Darumaya and were welcomed by an adorable Kyoko wearing a kimono. Any patron in the establishment could attest to the expression of the men as the young waitress smiled radiantly at them. There was no doubt that they adored her.
Kyoko brought them to the kitchen to greet her ex-landlords. "Taisho, Okami-san," Kyoko called out to get their attention.
Okami peered up from the tray she arranged and smiled. The only acknowledgment the men received from Taisho was a curt nod.
"Good evening, Okami-san, Taisho," Ren greeted with a formal bow. He stepped back to let Tadashi take his turn.
"Good evening, I am Morimoto Tadashi. Please accept this gift as a token of my apology. This in no way makes up for the problems I have caused your establishment. If there is anything I can do to make things right please let me know."
Tadashi caught sight of Kyoko's panic-stricken face behind Taisho. She waved her hand erratically at her throat which only managed to confuse him. He was adamant about apologizing that he ignored his daughter.
Taisho slammed his knife onto the chopping block and glared at Tadashi. "What problems have you caused?" Taisho asked now that this man had his full attention. He didn't miss the fact that he had the same colored eyes as his Kyoko.
"Who are you?" Taisho demanded, holding his knife up in a threatening manner. He had about enough of mysterious men bothering Kyoko.
Kyoko bowed in apology. She didn't have time when she came in tonight to give the couple, who were practically parents to her, the low down of the recent developments.
Tadashi gulped and bowed deeply to the couple. "I apologize for the incident regarding the robbery that occurred in your establishment. I assure you that there was never any danger and it will never happen again. I intended to obtain a DNA sample from Kyoko."
Tadashi swallowed thickly. His throat was getting dry but he continued. "I needed to know if I was her biological father. I'm sorry for causing trouble. I understand if you wish to call the authorities and have me arrested. I'll go willingly."
Kyoko gasped. It never occurred to her that Taisho would contemplate reporting him to the police. Technically, the case from that night was still open.
For a fleeting second, Taisho's normally impassive face contorted with surprise. Okami fanned herself at this new revelation. It was just like one of the dramas she always watched.
"Father, you say? What kind of father lets a young girl like Kyoko-chan run off to the city with some punk boy that takes advantage of her, makes her work herself to the bone to pay his living expenses, and then tosses her off to the side without a care."
Tadashi stared at the man confused. As Taisho continued, Tadashi's face grew dark with anger. By the time Taisho was finished, Tadashi was ready to kill someone. He looked to Ren and Kyoko for an explanation. Did this happen to her? Sota's information contained some significant vital holes in her personal life. He knew of the jobs she worked before joining LME, but not the reasons behind it. He wanted to hunt this boy down and teach him a lesson.
Being at a disadvantage, all Tadashi could do was bow lower to Taisho and give him his sincere apologies. He had no excuse for not protecting Kyoko from the harsh reality of the world.
Tadashi turned to Kyoko and bowed low to her. "I'm sorry, Kyoko-chan. If I had known of your existence you would have never suffered so harshly. It is truly all my fault that I was never there to give you the love and protection you needed as a child."
"Eh? It's okay, Tadashi-san. You didn't know. We have plenty of time to get acquainted with one another," Kyoko said, hoping to get away from the subject of her time with Shotaro. The way Taisho reiterated her failure in life made her feel pitiful.
Taisho returned to his cooking indicating that the conversation was over. Okami-san ushered them to the private room to chat and eat without the prying eyes of the public.
Ren sat at the low table across Tadashi while Kyoko and Okami excused themselves to bring refreshments and take care of the other tables. He felt a tinge of guilt for the man for having put him through that unknowingly. He, too, had to rein in his anger toward Fuwa during Taisho's rant. Tonight was the first time Ren had ever heard Taisho speak so much. His tongue was as sharp as his santoku. He reminded himself never to get on the bad side of Taisho.
Taisho entered the room and placed a mackerel fish set in front of Tadashi. Ren knew that Taisho was testing him since he had to undergo the same treatment months before.
Tadashi's eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled gratefully for the meal. He enjoyed the food here. Although he wanted to try his daughter's cooking, he couldn't refuse the food placed in front of him. His love of food probably stemmed from living off the streets when he was younger. His next meal was never guaranteed during those dark days. He clapped his hands together and said, "Itadakimasu." Taisho left him with a satisfied grunt.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read, I appreciate it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 39: The Trial
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Taisho would have words with Kyoko's father.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi stopped eating when he realized that Ren didn't have any food. He placed his chopsticks down and patted his mouth with a napkin. "I'm sorry, Ren-kun, that was rude of me to eat before you even received your meal."
"Ah, don't stop on my account. I already passed this boss," Ren boasted, gesturing to continue eating.
"If you're sure," Tadashi replied, eyeing Ren as he continued to eat. He didn't understand what the young man meant, but he assumed he was undergoing some sort of trial by Taisho. He hoped he could get on the good side of the man even if they got off on the wrong foot. He felt like he was off the hook quite easily.
Kyoko walked in with Okami bearing trays laden with food and drink. "Oh, I see Taisho fed you fish. I think he'll be pleased with the results," she said, removing the empty dishes and replacing them with more food.
"Did you cook this, Kyoko-chan?" Tadashi asked. Her cheeks flushed and she nodded shyly. Tadashi was as eager as a kid in a candy store. He was elated that he could eat his daughter's delicious cooking. It would be wonderful if one day they could cook a meal together. He went off to his version of La-la land as he imagined them together in the kitchen coming up with new recipes.
"Tadashi-san, is everything okay? Is there anything not to your liking?" Kyoko asked, concerned. Tadashi shook himself out of his thoughts.
"Everything is perfect. My precious daughter cooked a delicious meal for me, so I will eat it all," Tadashi assured her.
Kyoko smiled at the familiarity of his words. They reminded her of Kuu when she had played young Kuon with him. Could this be a natural trait among fathers?
"I will be right back with more dishes and then I'll join you." Kyoko narrowed her eyes at Ren, "I want you to eat everything on your plate." Ren gulped but picked up his chopsticks obediently. There was already too much food on the table.
"Ren-kun, is there something you don't like?" Tadashi asked, curiously. If he was going to get close to the actor, he wanted to know what his preferences were too.
Kyoko answered for him, "It's not that he doesn't like the food; it's that he doesn't eat enough. How he keeps up his amazing physique is beyond me when he eats like a bird?"
Ren smiled and teased, "You think my physique is amazing?"
"Hush! Not the time nor the place, now eat!" Kyoko said sternly, as the blush already dusting her cheeks deepened. How could he say that in front of her father? So embarrassing. She left the room with Ren chuckling after her.
Ren cleared his throat at the glare Tadashi shot him. Tadashi knew exactly what two people in love living together did behind closed doors. The fact that this guy before him was having relations with his teenage daughter didn't sit well with him. There was nothing he could do about it. It was his blunder that made her move in with him so fast.
"So why does Kyoko-chan think you don't eat enough? If you don't mind me asking?" Tadashi inquired, trying to fill the awkward silence as he watched Ren pick at his food.
"Ah, well, I was traumatized as a child. My mother is a horrible cook, and she used to force-feed me her food. Since then, I've had a strong aversion to food. I only eat what is required of me. Kyoko has made it her mission to fix my poor eating habits. I've been eating more since I met her. Her food is very delicious."
Kyoko and Okami returned with even more trays of food. There was seriously enough food for at least ten people when Kyoko sat down to eat.
"Kyoko-chan, did you cook all this too?" Tadashi was amazed at the variety and skill of the food before him. Kyoko nodded. "Will Taisho and Okami-san be joining us then?
Kyoko shook her head and said, "They would be joining later since they are still serving the last of the customers."
"Oh good, I was scared for a minute that this was all for us," He said, waving his hand over the elaborate spread.
"It is. I made most of this for you, Tadashi-san. As you know, Ren doesn't eat much, but don't all fathers have large appetites?" Kyoko asked. Her innocently golden eyes were the size of saucers anticipating his answer.
Ren started coughing as food went down the wrong pipe. Of course, she would think the man had the same black hole stomach as his father. He was her only reference. Kyoko patted and rubbed Ren on the back until he was finally able to breathe again.
"Are you okay, Ren?" She handed him a glass of water. He nodded weakly. Her reasoning was too cute! Ren glanced at Tadashi, silently apologizing for his father. Tadashi, not missing her reference, decided he would not lose to the man she already called "Otou-san."
Not wanting to disappoint his daughter, Tadashi worked on eating all the delicious food before him. She was indeed an excellent cook. When he was nearly finished, he broke out in a cold sweat. Kyoko looked at her father concerned as he took his last bite and then laid his head down on the table for fear of regurgitating all the food he just packed in his stomach.
Ren was amazed by the man. He couldn't believe he was able to eat all that. He thought only his father was capable of that feat—the things fathers do for the happiness of their children.
"Are you okay, Tadashi-san?" Kyoko asked timidly. She was worried the food made him sick and didn't want him angry with her.
Tadashi caught the fear in her voice. "I'm fine, Kyoko-chan. It's just more than I'm used to eating, but I couldn't let your efforts go to waste. I'm sorry you have such a weak father that couldn't handle this meager amount of food. I was just too happy to have had a meal cooked by you," he confessed.
"I'm sorry, I thought you ate a lot, just like Otou-sa...Ren's father." She said, looking down at the table.
Tadashi smiled and patted her head. "I'm glad Ren- kun's father has been there for you. He sounds like a good man. I would like to meet him someday," he said sincerely.
Kyoko's face brightened at the idea. She knew they would get along.
"Now that dinner is finished, can someone tell me what Taisho was talking about? He mentioned a punk boy making you slave away to pay living expenses." The temperature in the room grew cold as Tadashi became serious. A smidgen of his anger seeped out. Ren and Kyoko caught a glimpse of the ruthless businessman hiding behind the nice guy facade.
"Ah, it's no longer anything. I have moved on from that chapter in my life, so I'd rather not open the past. Let's just say I'm grateful to him. Otherwise, I wouldn't have become an actress. I wouldn't have met Ren. I especially wouldn't have met you if I was still in Kyoto," She added with a small smile and clasped Ren's hand.
Tadashi couldn't help but return her smile. He vowed not to look into it even if he wanted too. He would just wait and see if the pest came back into her life. If she needed his help, he would be there for her this time.
Taisho and Okami joined them for a drink bringing the sake Tadashi brought as a gift. The tension in the room rose exponentially.
Ren refused a drink. "I'd like to keep my head clear since I'll be driving home with precious cargo."
Taisho and Tadashi nodded with approval of his decision. Kyoko and Okami tried to make small talk to fill the quiet room with noise. The restaurant was already closed, so the muffled sounds of guests were gone.
Taisho put down his sake cup and stared at Tadashi, making him gulp his drink down. The heated liquid slid down his throat smoothly and burned.
"Why didn't you just talk to Kyoko-chan first? Why the need to sneak around?" Taisho asked out of the blue halting Okami and Kyoko's chat.
Tadashi sweatdropped. He wasn't entirely off the hook just yet. "I apologize for the intrusion. I wanted to secretly obtain her D-N-A so as not to cause her any distress. If it turned out to be false, she would be none the wiser, and her life would not be affected. The first time I saw her on TV, I knew in my heart that she was mine. I didn't want to scare her right off the bat with accusations, but it seems I did anyhow. I have already missed out on so much these past seventeen years, I didn't want to waste any more time. My impatience caused needless trouble," Tadashi said apologetically and bowed again.
Taisho nodded in understanding, "Kyoko-chan tells us you live and work in America. Will you return?"
"Yes, that's true. My branch is in America. I will be returning there in a few weeks," Tadashi informed the owners.
Kyoko gasped and tried to hide her disappointment. She knew he was leaving, but she had no idea it would be so soon.
Tadashi ignored her and continued, "I will be turning over my workload to someone I trust and returning to the Tokyo branch. I plan on relocating to Japan permanently," he said, looking at Kyoko. He hoped that she would be agreeable to having him here. The look of relief on her face told him that she was happy with the decision.
"I can't abandon my company. There are too many employees depending on me. I don't know how long it would take, but I promise, I will be back in Japan at least for your eighteenth birthday." Tadashi didn't like the way that came out. The word abandon didn't sit well with him. He technically abandoned her mother and unknowingly her as well. Yet here he was being the hypocrite again and telling her he didn't want to abandon a company for her. The company and the people had been, in a sense, his family for a long time.
"That came out wrong. I'm trying to say that I have a responsibility to many people. Once everything is secure there, I will be back here with you."
Taisho polished off his drink and grunted. Without another word, he stood and left the room. Tadashi looked at the retreating back of the owner, confused. This did not look good. He tried to respond honestly to all the questions. He ran over his answers in the last few minutes to determine where he went wrong. Did I just fail?
"Don't mind him, Morimoto-san. That's just the way he acts. He is quite pleased that you are here. Kyoko-chan has many people that love and support her, but the love of a parent is always good for a child. You can be at ease while you're away that we will keep her safe. Please have another drink." Okami poured the sake into his cup.
He wasn't quite sure if he made a good impression on the man, but the relief from her words was profound. "Thank you, Okami-san. That means a lot to me. Thank you for taking such good care of her in my stead. I just wished her mot-…never mind, that's on me." He picked up the small cup and drank.
"So I'll see you at lunch then?" Kyoko asked as she slipped on her shoes.
"Of course, baby, I'll see you then," he said, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. She circled her arms around his neck and allowed herself a minute to lose herself in his kiss. With lips locked, she opened her eyes and looked at her watch. She tried to pull away, but he just followed.
"Ren, you need to let me go. Yashiro is already waiting," She laughed against his mouth, trying to pry his arms from around her. He was already Ren since he put on his brown contacts. Sometimes she felt like she was dating different men, but one thing she knew for certain, her senpai was becoming more playful.
"He can wait a few more minutes; I need you right now," he muttered against her lips. He pushed her against the front door and deepened their kiss. Kyoko couldn't resist him. She moaned as his hand grazed down her side, lifting her leg over his hip and squeezing her butt from inside her skirt. He ground his hips against her letting her feel his throbbing need. Rocking her hips, Kyoko rubbed herself against him. She plunged her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer. His hands roamed over her body inflaming her skin wherever he touched. He kissed her neck as he rhythmically bucked his hips against the heat of her center. A light sweat broke out on her skin as moisture pooled in her lacy underwear. She would have to change them before leaving. Her soft breaths quickened as their movements became desperate. They were so close to the edge.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
They froze. Seemingly doused with cold water from the loud raps on the door. Kyoko paled. Her eyes were wide like a deer caught in headlights. How much time had passed? It dawned on them that Yashiro had a key to the place. If he wanted to use it, he would find them in a very compromising position.
Kyoko pushed Ren away and frantically tried to fix her clothes. Why was the clasp of her bra undone? More importantly, when did he undo the buttons of her blouse? He had to have some latent superpowers when it came to undressing her.
The impatient knock came again. "Yashiro-san, is that you?" Ren asked trying to buy some time.
"Yes, Ren. I was worried when Kyoko didn't come down after 10 minutes, and neither one of you was answering your phones."
"Ren, can you please explain why I am still talking to you through the door?" Yashiro asked in an exasperated voice.
"Wait, Kyoko, you missed a button. Let me help you…"
Yashiro heard the frantic voice of Kyoko from the other side of the door, "Ren, stop, let me do it. You can open the door now. I don't want Yashiro-san to wait any longer. No wait, you aren't wearing-"
Yashiro tried to keep his expression impassive and tried even harder to hide the smirk threatening to split his face when a shirtless Ren finally opened the door. He pushed his glasses up and looked over his male charge. Ren's hair stuck up at odd angles, his brown eyes were alight with mischief, but best of all he had Kyoko's smeared lip gloss all over his mouth and neck. He could pretty much guess what he interrupted. Ugh! As a hetero male, Yashiro found him incredibly sexy. If the public ever saw this side of Ren, there would be a shortage of blood at the blood bank because of all the nosebleeds he would cause.
"Did I interrupt something important?" Yashiro asked, keeping his fangirl in check.
"No, not at all. I was just helping Kyoko um… find her shoes," He replied, coming up with a lame excuse. He felt like a teenager that was just caught in his room, messing around with his girlfriend.
Kyoko poked Ren in the rib. He grabbed at the spot and turned in her direction. She gasped in horror, "Oh my God!" She used the sleeve of her cardigan and rubbed harshly at the makeup on his face.
"Ow Kyoko! That hurts," Ren exclaimed, reaching up to stop her barrage on his face.
"This is all your fault! Grrr, you idiot!" She huffed and stomped out the door towards the elevator. She wished the earth would swallow her up before she died of embarrassment.
"Kyoko, wait," Ren shouted, running after her half-naked and barefoot. It was a good thing this entire floor was theirs; otherwise, the neighbors would think they were looney.
He grabbed Kyoko and kissed her passionately, "I love you, baby. I'll see you at lunch."
"Not fair!" She cried out but was unable to contain her smile. "I love you too," she called back before he reentered the apartment. He flashed her a gorgeous lopsided grin and winked before disappearing inside.
Yashiro stood stunned by their altercation. If he weren't so fascinated with the scene, he would have had enough sense to have recorded everything. Lory was going to be so jealous when he told him what he witnessed. He followed an embarrassed Kyoko into the elevator.
"Good Morning, Muse-sama!" Kyoko exclaimed when she met miss Jelly Woods in the President's private salon at LME.
"Morning Kyoko-chan, how many times have I told you if you can't call me Ten then at least drop the same," Ten scolded the girl.
"Eh, sorry, Muse-san. I keep forgetting," Kyoko said with a nervous laugh.
"That will have to do. How is everything going with work? With Ren-chan? Darling was right; you two make a cute couple," Ten winked.
"Everything is going good with work... and with Ren," Kyoko blushed as she remembered her departure this morning.
"That's good to hear. Ren-chan finally looks happy. Darling's plan to pair you up as the Heel siblings worked like a charm."
"Ehhhhhhhhhh!" Kyoko screeched. Was this part of the president's master plan? Since he already found her out, did he also know about Ren's feelings for her?
"Oh no, no, no, what I meant is that Darling knew that the role of Cain Heel would be difficult with Ren-chan's poor eating habits compounded with Heel-chan's personality. He was worried he'd live off beer and cigarettes the whole time corrupting Ren-chan's body in the process," Ten explained, trying to salvage the situation after seeing Kyoko's troubled face.
Kyoko nodded, accepting Ten's explanation. It was true that Cain would have eaten less than Ren ever would if she wasn't around. She supposed she should be grateful to her meddlesome boss since her dangerous mission allowed her to see another side of Ren.
Ten let out a sigh of relief and changed the subject. "I'm a little heartbroken that you turned to Fuji-san to help you with your awards ceremony dress. Even if he did do a fantastic job, I'm still pretty jealous. That's why this time I'm not holding back. I have the perfect dress for Setsuka-chan to wear to this premiere. I just want to make sure it fits you right, that's why I asked you to come in."
Jelly walked over to the clothing rack and unzipped a garment bag. She pulled out a dress and showed it to Kyoko. Kyoko clapped with excitement. Setsu would approve, but she wasn't sure if her Nii-san would. She couldn't wait for the premiere to find out.
...
Kyoko glanced at her watch and cleared the table. She had been sorting papers for Matsushima all morning after her dry-run with Ten. Kyoko tried on the dress, which only needed small alterations on the bodice. Kyoko was dismayed by her barely B-cup breasts. Ten assured her that she was still growing and would fill out more plus the dress will enhance all her assets. With the dress on, Ten had Kyoko try on various wig styles until she was satisfied with the overall look.
Kyoko closed her LoveMe locker when she was done changing and looked sadly at the other two lockers. It was a bit lonely without her friends here. The last time she had seen them was the spa date before Kanae left. She winced as the memory reminded her that she had her waxing appointment the day after tomorrow. That was the price of beauty. Maybe, she could look into the laser hair removal process she saw in a magazine. Now that she was debt-free, she could afford to splurge on something like that if they offered a payment plan.
…
Tadashi smiled when Kyoko waved to him from her seat with Ren. He was pleased to receive a lunch invite so soon. It had only been a couple of days after their night at Darumaya. In between that time, he had been exchanging mail with his daughter. He would text her in the morning to wish her a good day, and in the evening asking her about work. He wasn't sure if that was something fathers did, but he knew that it made him happy to receive a response from her. He planned to ask her today if it was too overbearing. He didn't want to come off too pushy.
The couple rose and bowed to him when he finally reached them. "Good afternoon, Tadashi-san," they greeted.
Tadashi bowed in return. "Thank you for inviting me, Kyoko-chan, Ren-kun. How are you both doing?"
"Were good," she answered for them both as she looked at Ren. He nodded in agreement. "I want to spend as much time with you as I can. You're leaving soon, right?" Kyoko told him honestly.
"Yes," he said with a slight bow of his head. He blinked as his eyes misted over. He was such a lucky man for having such a thoughtful daughter with no hard feelings. Was it just her sweet nature, or did the Fuwas raise her well?
Today they decided to use the counter service option and ordered their lunch. Tadashi insisted that as the parent he would pay. While waiting for their lunch to be delivered, Kyoko asked him about his family, wondering if she had any extended relatives in Japan. He told her about the unfortunate incident that occurred with her grandparents when he was just a boy.
"I'm so sorry for asking." Kyoko wanted to kick herself for having once again opened old wounds.
"It's no problem. I was young when it happened. I've mostly forgotten about them. Their graves are in Osaka. I haven't been there in a long time. I pay a caretaker to look after their gravesite. It's only right that you would want to know about the rest of your family, so don't apologize. Don't hesitate to ask me anything."
"So, were you all alone, or did you have a family friend to take care of you as the Fuwas did for me?" To save her grief, Tadashi told her he grew up as a ward of the state in foster care until he was old enough to work and afford his place.
Ren started to expand on Kyoko's question when the food arrived, ceasing all talk on the subject. Ren, having lived these past five years evading the truth, could tell he was hiding something from them. He didn't buy his story completely and planned to question him when the two of them were alone. It seemed like something he didn't want Kyoko to know about, but maybe he could get him to talk.
While they ate, Kyoko asked him about safer topics, like living in New York City. Things about the climate and culture. He told her that Manhattan reminded him very much of Tokyo: the hustle and bustle, the noisy streets, the tourists. It was a melting pot for different cultures, so it was easy for him to find authentic Japanese food there. There was even a Japanese confectionary shop that sold wagashi sweets that he frequented. The one thing he noticed different was the cleanliness. For some reason, he had to admire the way the Japanese kept their streets clean. He told her about his apartment right off Central Park. He could just walk out to his balcony and enjoy whatever entertainment was going on in the park that day from the comfort of his home.
Yashiro came to collect Kyoko for her Sacred Lotus job right on time. She would be at the studio for the rest of the day. She bowed her goodbyes leaving Ren with Tadashi.
Tadashi stood to leave as well but Ren stopped him. "Tadashi-san, may I please have a few moments of your time. I was hoping we could talk."
Tadashi gulped nervously and wondered if Ren was truly only twenty-one years old. He felt like their roles were reversed right now, leaving Tadashi feeling like a child.
"I felt like you were hiding something earlier of your life after your parents' death. If it's something that would affect Kyoko negatively I'd like to know. I want to protect her, and if that means I have to protect her from you, then I won't hesitate to do so."
Tadashi slumped in his chair and gave Ren a sad smile.
"You have good intuition. I withheld the details because I don't want her to feel pity for me. I don't deserve her sympathy."
"Are you trying to dissuade me from pushing the issue?" Ren hesitated but persisted.
Tadashi gave him a wry smile, shook his head, and told Ren the truth. He was abused when he was in foster care and ran away when he was about ten. He lived on the streets for a few years. He did unsavory things such as lying and stealing or worse to survive. It was on the streets that he learned to hide his identity and manipulate those around him in his favor. He watched friends in similar circumstances succumb to the harsh life. A few had overdosed from drug use and died whiled others were arrested and doing hard time in prison. He turned his life around when he was finally old enough to acquire a legit job. His father had instilled the value of education in him so he studied as best he could until he entered a tuition-free public school. From there, he was able to get a scholarship for a reputable high school and then go to college. Somewhere along the way, he became obsessed with success. The thought of being homeless again frightened him. As he said before, he saw a chance at rising to the top when Saena's case proved troublesome for the company. He thought he had everything planned out, but he failed to take one thing into account; falling in love with her.
"I thought I was doing her a favor by leaving. I didn't deserve her love, and I didn't deserve happiness. When I saw Kyoko-chan on the screen, it was a sign, a possible second chance. I wanted to do things right this time."
Ren thought of Kyoko's father in a whole new light. This man was dealt a heavy blow in his young life and still managed to come out unbeaten and successful. He felt ashamed as he thought about his life in the States, the land of opportunity. He grew up with two loving and successful parents. Anything his heart desired, he was given. How did he repay them? By rebelling like a typical over indulged teenager that had everything given to them on a silver platter. He wasn't the first celebrity child to suffer from the success of their parents. It was a common occurrence among the privileged upper-class adolescents of Beverly Hills. When they're routinely ignored by their parents, have endless credit, and are not held accountable for their actions, the result is self-destruction for attention. Coming to Japan had been a wakeup call for Kuon. He wasn't sure how his life would have turned out if Rick didn't die. Something told him his outlook wouldn't have been so good.
Tadashi couldn't read his expression once he was through explaining. "I'm sorry for troubling you with my story Ren-kun. I wanted to be honest. I understand if you feel you need to tell Kyoko the truth about me. I don't want my troubled past to interfere with her success."
Ren chuckled. "Thank you for your honesty, sir. I think you should share your story with her when you're ready. You need to give her more credit. She's not as fragile as she looks."
"I feel like you have more to say about it though, Ren-kun," Tadashi hesitated.
Ren shook his head softly. "It's not what you're thinking, Tadashi-san. I'm ashamed of how I lived my life as a teenager. Compared to you, I was an extremely spoiled brat that took my life for granted. I caused my loving parents a lot of pain with my rebellious nature. Since meeting Kyoko again, I can now find the courage to face them and apologize."
"Again?" Tadashi asked.
"Ah," Ren said, realizing his slip. "Well, uh, you see," Ren rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Ren decided it was best to come clean here. Sharing how they met wouldn't give much away about his identity if he kept it vague. "We met as children in Kyoto. My father had business there, and I tagged along. I believe she and her mother lived at the Fuwa Ryokan when I met her. We used to play by the river together."
"So lucky, Ren-kun. You knew her when she was younger. I'm very jealous. Can you tell me a bit about her during that time?" Tadashi asked, looking at him with those same large golden eyes that Ren could never refuse.
"One second," Ren pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to Kyoko. He smiled when he got her swift response. "She says it's okay but not to exaggerate anything."
Notes:
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 40: Soulmate
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own skip beat, for if I did, Ren would press Kimiko to give herself away in front of others.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
With music playing at a respectable volume, Kuon relaxed on the couch waiting for Kyoko to get home. He had his head tilted back and eyes closed while holding an empty glass in his hand. Nothing serious happened today at work, he just enjoyed a drink now and again to help him unwind after a long day.
He contemplated his conversation with Kyoko's father. The man was insatiable and asked him about every little detail when they met as kids. He did his best to remember that significant time of their lives: her outfit, her hairstyle, the games they played. He thought he should know how upset she was about her mother that first day but didn't elaborate. He didn't want to push too much guilt on the man. Tadashi thankfully wasn't ready to pursue that topic either. Instead, Kuon retold the day they hunted for hamburger steak shaped rocks so she could cook him a meal. Cooking was a passion for her even if it was only made belief back then. He decided to keep the fairy prince part to himself. It was easy to confess something so embarrassing to his parents since they would never judge him.
He was glad Tadashi was open about the details of his past as well and permitted him to share what was said with Kyoko. He still thought she would appreciate the truth coming from him instead. She might have questions that he wouldn't be able to answer.
He had to admire the man for his strength and ambition. After talking to him, he could tell that Kyoko shared a lot of his traits. He had yet to meet her mother to determine if they shared any other similarities aside from the physical features. The fact that she denied Kyoko's very existence on a live broadcast made his opinion of her very low. Coming from a loving home, he couldn't imagine the level of rejection Kyoko felt from her words.
He was glad that fate intervened and allowed him to be there for her that night. At the time, he wished he had listened to Ten and kept his blonde hair. He would have been able to offer her more comfort as Corn rather than Ren. He wasn't ready to face her then as Corn because he had made a vow that the next time she saw him in his natural appearance he would tell her everything. He couldn't drop that bomb on her and head back off to Guam. He had decided to bare it all to her when he finally returned after completing Tragic Marker. He recalled how that song he heard that night finally helped him find his courage. Kuon knew in his gut that she was his soulmate. All the events they endured in their life was necessary before they could find true happiness and heal each other.
His thoughts shifted to the love of his life. A faint smile played on his lips at how she had yet to realize how selfless and loving she was despite her stigma as the number one LoveMe member. It was second nature to give and help those around her when she could. The issue with Fuwa may have tarnished her idea of love momentarily, but in the end, she couldn't fully rid herself of the emotion. He couldn't fathom anybody not being swayed by her generosity and inner beauty. He was happy that she was surrounded by people that appreciated and reciprocated her love in friendship, and now family.
The one drink he had must have gone to his head because his thoughts eventually turned dirty. That love and generosity extended to their bedroom. Images of her initiating some intimate moments floated through his mind as if running through one of those antique film reels. He never expected her to please him in that way but he was grateful. He chuckled softly to himself, recalling her words, It's for my selfish pleasure too, Kuon.
Kuon groaned as he felt himself harden over the memory of that conversation. She admitted to thoroughly enjoying the feel of running her mouth and hands over his skin and taught muscles. She loved the control she had over him when she made him feel good. The thought of her sweet little mouth wrapped around his cock had him unzipping his fly and gripping himself. His eyes flicked in the general area of the front door remembering how he ground against her that very morning. His eyelids fluttered closed as he remembered the taste of her skin, the smell of her hair, the melodious sounds of her erotic voice, and the wet heat of her center pressed against him. He shakily stroked himself.
Speak of the little devil. His cock twitched with excitement as he heard the front door open and close. Rather than retreat and hide his actions he gripped himself harder, easy boy.
"I'm home," Kyoko called out smiling as she found him "relaxing" on the couch with the music playing in the background.
Her breath hitched when the Emperor's green eyes opened and stared at her. "Welcome home baby," he greeted in his husky voice, setting his glass on the coffee table. The lusty sound sent a shiver down her spine. Butterflies fluttered in the pit of her stomach and a hot sensation shot straight to her groin. She devoured him hungrily with her eyes. His dress shirt was unbuttoned revealing his washboard abs, the fly of his slacks were undone, and his hand. He wasn't even hiding what she caught him doing. She smirked. I could get used to such an interesting welcome. She pulled her gaze from his crotch and raised them to meet those intense eyes again. Her attention was pulled to his pink pouty lips when his tongue flicked out to wet them. The throbbing between her thighs intensified remembering the pleasure the pink muscle often offered. She continued her descent to his neck, over his broad chest, and settled once again on his bulge. She rubbed her thighs together as her hot juices moistened her panties at the sight of this magnificent man pleasuring himself. She craved him; she wanted to touch him, kiss him, lick him, and most of all suck him.
The Emperor's lips quirked as she completely eye-fucked him. He watched her body tremble with need and lust cloud her golden irises. As if on cue, the next song rang out appropriately, "Whenever I'm alone with you, You make me feel like I am home again, Whenever I'm alone with you, You make me feel like I am whole again..."
"Come here baby," Kuon rasped as he beckoned for her to come closer. He knew what she wanted because he wanted it too. Kyoko didn't hesitate and walked over to him, dropping her stuff on the floor without a care. She approached eagerly, her eyes trained on the bulge he stroked as she neared. He pushed down his pants and freed his erection from the confines of his boxer briefs. Kyoko sank to her knees in front of him licking her lips with anticipation.
"Kiss me," he whispered, his hand sliding down the base of his shaft and back up. She leaned in poised to press her lips to his erection, but he stopped her bringing his face closer to hers. "Kiss me," he begged again with his lips so close. Finally understanding, she raised herself higher and sealed her lips with his. Teeth clashed and tongues mated in a passionate embrace as they kissed each other longingly. Between them, Kyoko could still feel his stroking.
She moved her hand from his thigh to touch him. Kuon hissed breaking the kiss as she wrapped her hand around him; he was already so hard. He groaned when her fingers wound themselves tightly around his cock and squeezed.
She brushed her lips softly against his head and flicked her tongue out swirling it around his tip. He groaned again as he rocked his hips forward wanting more of her mouth. She moved her hand to the base of his cock letting the short blonde curls tickle her fingers and sucked him gently into her mouth.
"Ah baby, what you do to me," he murmured, stroking the side of her face lovingly. She looked so beautifully content with her mouth full of him.
He buried his fingers in her hair and held the base of her neck. In a less than gentle way, he thrust himself deeper into her mouth. His tortured groan empowered her. She loved the way he reacted to her when she did this for him. She tasted his salty pre-come on her tongue as he thrust again. Breathing through her nose, she opened her throat to take him deeper. She wanted more. She wanted to make him come and this time she wanted to taste all of him.
He whimpered when she pulled back slowly swallowing her saliva mixed with his saltiness. Aside from the low music, soft suckling noises and his sexy moans filled the empty apartment. The sound drove her wild as she looked up at him through her lashes. The dark green eyes of the Emperor were barely visible through his hooded lids.
He caught her staring at him, making him hornier than ever. He held her head in place as he bucked his hips quickening with the tempo of the music. "That's it, baby. Take me all in," he gasped, throwing his head back.
She sucked harder, in and out, grazing her teeth and circling her tongue over the length of him. After several moments, she felt his body tense and his cock swell in her mouth. He was so close.
"You have to stop, baby! You're going to make me come!" He weakly tried to push her away from him as the pressure rose but she only sucked him harder, pulling him in deeper till his tip touched the back of her throat. "Oh fuck, baby! I can't! I can't hold it! I'm coming," his ragged voice cried out.
Kyoko fought to keep from gagging as his seed exploded in her mouth. She swallowed as fast as he came but the bitter white substance still ended up making her cough as she tried to take every last drop of him.
Kuon moaned deeply as his body convulsed from his climax. He couldn't think. He could barely breathe as he struggled to fill his lungs with air. Releasing himself in her mouth was a dream come true. It was the closest he felt to being buried deep inside her core and it was magnificent. He rocked his hips slowly as he came down from his orgasm, depositing the last drops of his semen on to her tongue. She pulled off of him lapping up the substance that dribbled from her mouth. She happily smiled after she licked him clean. He loved her so much. He felt it in his very soul. She looked so beautiful with her glistening lips, bright golden eyes, and untamed hair.
He pulled her up to him roughly and crushed his mouth against hers, just as the song ended. He had a feeling that whenever he heard that song again, he would think only of this night and how she rocked his world. He could taste himself on her lips, which only fanned the flames of desire burning within him. Their tongues dueled as he stood up, lifted her by the ass, and wrapped her legs around him. Not breaking the kiss, he carried her to the bedroom where he would return the favor, tenfold.
The trio parted ways in the LME lobby the next morning: Yashiro to his meeting, Kyoko to the LoveMe room, and Ren to one of the conference rooms in the main hall.
Ren had a script reading to play the role of a fireman EMT for a long-running drama. The director had asked him to do a cameo role to boost ratings. In these episodes, a strong earthquake would rock the city, leaving destruction in its wake. Ren would play one of the first responders on-site working to rescue people from a collapsed building. Earthquake aftershocks and close brushes with death would leave the audience on edge. He was contracted for three episodes before his character's luck ran out while rescuing a child among the rubble. The child survives but he doesn't.
Kyoko had encouraged him to take the role for purely selfish reasons. She wanted to see him in uniform. She even asked if he could bring home the outfit when all was said and done. She always wanted to play the damsel in distress. Ren blushed as she voiced her erotic fantasies with him while they laid in bed basking in the afterglow of one of their hot oral sex sessions. When she first mentioned it, his first thought was of the male strippers in the States. They would often dress up as firemen or police officers for bachelorette parties. He guessed it had to be a female fantasy to see a man in uniform no matter the country. He shuddered, wondering if she would expect him to wear a thong. The thought of having that material tucked between his ass cheeks appalled him, but for her, he would consider it.
Kyoko entered the LoveMe room and was accosted by Maria, "Onee-sama!" Since Maria caught her off guard, they both fell over crashing to the floor.
"Ow, ow, ow, Maria-chan, you hurt my backside. You're getting so big. Have you grown again?" Kyoko asked hugging the little girl.
"Mmhmm, I've grown almost two centimeters."
She didn't realize anyone else was in the room until Chiori reached down to help them up. "Get off the dirty floor you two. Maria-chan, you have to be more careful with an actress's body. What if Kyoko-san hit her head?"
"I'm sorry Onee-sama, you aren't hurt are you?"
"I'm fine Maria-chan but Chiori-san is right, you don't know your strength," Kyoko said patting the girl on her head.
"Chiori-san, good morning." Kyoko surprised her friend by crushing her in a fierce hug. Chiori realized that this is probably how Kanae felt every time they met, no wonder she always tried to avoid it.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I've missed you and couldn't help myself. It's been so long since I've seen you," Kyoko said teary-eyed at seeing her friend again.
"It's okay, I can now understand how Kanae-san feels. It makes me happy that you consider me a good friend," Chiori said happily as she sat down at the work table. She had a deep affinity for Kyoko. If it wasn't for her, she would have never tried to recover her love for acting. Kyoko nodded eagerly and smiled at her friend.
"Do you need some help? I have yet to see the department heads for any tasking but I can help you with this instead," Kyoko said observing what Chiori was doing with the envelopes. Chiori welcomed her help and even Maria joined them.
Chiori laughed. "I had a choice between this or review Michika Kawagoe's latest drama that the President handed me this morning. I took the less painful job," she joked.
Kyoko cringed at the idea of having to review another one of those dramas. The last one she watched was cringe-worthy. The idol was pretty but her acting skills needed improvement. Even Ruriko-chan managed to pull off something great in Ring Doh. She wondered if it was because Ren was her co-star. Kyoko hoped one day she would be good enough to act alongside him as the lead female and be able to hold her own against him. Her time spent as Setsu didn't count in her eyes.
"Chiori-san, how are things going with the variety show? Do you feel like you're getting the hang of it?" Kyoko asked as she tried to come up to speed on what her friend's life.
Kyoko noticed her friend's slight blush. "I'm starting to have 'fun. Taichirou-san puts all his heart into every episode that it makes it enjoyable. I used to look down on such shows thinking it was degrading as an actress to stoop so low just for a few laughs, but you were right. It has separated me from the bully in Box-R. I was offered a part in another drama but President Takarada thinks it's still too soon.
"That's great Chiori-san, even though he's hard to take seriously, our President always has some underlying reason for his actions. You will get used to it." Chiori nodded, coming to the same conclusion.
Kyoko turned her attention to Maria and asked, "How have you been Maria-chan? Is everything going well with your father?
"Yes, Maria is quite good. Everything is good with Papa, I write to him every day."
"Are you being a good girl? Not causing anyone trouble at work?"
Maria averted her eyes guilty. Although her antics to protect Ren had lessened since they became a couple, there were still women that needed to learn a few lessons. Those that bad mouth her onee-sama was sure to get spiders placed in their bags.
"I try to be, but there's no way Maria can stand by as these no-talented people bad mouth my onee-sama. I can't stand ugly old jealous women. I promise I didn't do anything too bad that would interrupt their work."
"Maria-chan, I thank you for looking out for me, but I don't want you to get into trouble over it. Can you promise me not to do it anymore?"
"But they were..." Maria started, but the look of disapproval on Kyoko's face stopped her. "I promise!" Kyoko pulled the girl into a hug, proudly.
"Onee-sama, I know it's still months away but I was wondering if we can do the Happy Grateful Day party again? Maria had so much fun last year."
"Of course, Maria. I have a feeling this will become a tradition of ours for as long as you want. It would be wonderful if your father could come again." Kyoko smiled remembering that her father had promised to be back for her birthday. There was so much to be grateful for this year.
"Thank you, Onee-sama!" Maria said, giving her another crushing hug. "I have to go now. I need to get fitted for my new uniforms."
"Eh, uniforms? For what, Maria-chan? Have you joined some new dance troupe?" Kyoko asked, genuinely interested in what Maria had to say.
"Onee-sama, did you forget? The break is almost over and next semester starts up in two weeks. Because I grew, my current uniform is now a bit snug."
Kyoko's eyes went blank. She rummaged through her bag for her datebook. She stared at the date in horror. Maria was right! She was due to go back at the same time. How could she have forgotten about something so important to her? Her father even went so far to pay the remainder of her education. She had to start reviewing. She wondered if she grew any over the break. She would have to try on her uniform and maybe pick up a couple more as backups.
Chiori and Maria giggled at Kyoko's face. She did forget, they thought. She was so excited to attend high school and now was too preoccupied with life that she forgot.
Maria waved goodbye and left. So this was why Yashiro isn't booking me for anything in the morning and early afternoon after the Tragic Marker Premiere. Her manager remembered that she had school even if she didn't.
"Kyoko-san, are you going to be okay?" Chiori asked with concern.
"Mmhmm, I'm going to be just fine. I have a super manager now," Kyoko boasted and went back to helping Chiori stuff the envelopes. She didn't want to worry her friend, but the idea of returning to school made her nervous. She wondered what kind of bullying she would have to endure now that it was public knowledge that she was dating Ren.
Lory held his head in his hands. He felt like he aged rapidly in these past few months. This was going to be a scandal of epic proportions. Okay, epic would be exaggerating as long as they got in front of it now. He glanced up when he heard the knock at the door. Ruto wearing a suit and a wool bowler's hat opened the door and ushered Yashiro inside.
"You wanted to see me, Mr. President?" Yashiro asked with a bow taking in the theme of the day. It was quite demure for the President. He wore a tweed suit from an earlier era, a cloth cap with a herringbone pattern, and a bill on both ends. Despite the hot weather outside, he wore an ulster. Yashiro wasn't sure who he was supposed to be this time or why he was holding a magnifying glass up to read the papers on his desk.
"Ah Yuki, thanks for coming on such short notice. Do you recall why I assigned you to Mogami-kun?" Lory asked, placing down the magnifying glass and picking up an old black clay pipe. He put the pipe in his mouth and lit the end with a match. He took a few puffs and blew out smoke.
Yashiro's mind went haywire but his face remained calm. Why the sudden question? Was it a trick? Did he want him to give his honest opinion?
"Sir, wasn't it to allow the two of them to meet with each other. That's the main reason I can think of aside from the usual professional ones," Yashiro replied in an even tone pushing up his glasses.
Lory looked at him disappointed, "Do you know me so little that you would come to that conclusion?"
"It's because I know you so well that I came to that conclusion. It was written all over your face when you told me of your decision."
Lory chuckled. "Well, that's not the only reason. You are the best in the business in my opinion. I knew you could handle both of them. I wanted the best working with her and someone she already trusted. I've realized now your shortcomings."
Yashiro's body tensed. He couldn't tell if the President was praising him or scolding him for incompetence. He still had no clue what he did wrong?
"It's my fault you have only worked with Ren for the past five years and never had to encounter such issues," Lory told him despondently.
"Sir, I'm not following. If you could cut to the chase, I will gladly correct what I did wrong so I can improve in my job."
"This Yuki! This," Lory said as he threw down what looked like a pre-release of a tabloid article. Yashiro looked at the familiar image recalling the appointment. The picture depicted Kyoko exiting the clinic with him by her side. She wore a hat and sunglasses for anonymity, but any fan would know it was her, especially since he was present.
His eyes bulged out of its sockets when he read the headline, Japan's Celebrity Princess Pregnant with Manager's Baby!
He sputtered trying to get a coherent thought out of his mouth. "Sir, I assure you there is nothing between Kyoko-chan and I. Ren and she are a solid couple. I would never do anything to compromise their relationship."
"Oh, can it, Yuki! That's not the point. The point is the evidence is clear you were captured in this photograph leaving with her from an OBGYN clinic. In this industry, the public is going to speculate the worst. Did you think of the consequences when she went in there? I'm disappointed Yuki, a little more discretion next time."
A light bulb lit up in Yashiro's head. This was what Lory meant by his shortcomings. There are certain things that people would take out of context. In this instance, a typical routine checkup for a female celebrity would lead to a scandalous conclusion while a male celebrity going to a doctor was no news at all.
"Sir, I'm quite sure they aren't having sex yet but that's beside the point. Wouldn't this be considered slander against Kyoko-chan's name? Almost sexist? When a female visits this kind of doctor without verifying facts, they assume she's with child. It is common knowledge that every woman over the age of sixteen should start seeing this doctor to make sure she is in good health."
"How do you know they aren't having sex?" Lory asked curiously. The conversation took a wrong turn. If Ren ever found out that they were discussing their sex life they would both be murdered.
"Sir, did you not hear a word I said about the seriousness of this matter?" Even though Yashiro said that he recounted to Lory what he witnessed yesterday at the apartment. During Yashiro's usual teasing, Ren uncharacteristically over shared and admitted that he wanted to wait for marriage. He wanted to give Kyoko her fairytale wedding including her magical first night with him as her husband. Yashiro couldn't tease him anymore since he felt sorry for the guy.
Lory smiled approvingly. He liked the idea of them waiting, but he knew how passion worked, especially when a couple lived under the same roof. "What do you think the odds of Kyoko losing her virginity before the wedding night are?"
"Sir, we can't possibly bet on th...10 to 1 in favor of them not making it to the wedding night," Yashiro said quickly.
Hmmm, Lory contemplated the odds. "How about we make a bet? I say they are going to make it to the wedding night."
Yashiro smiled. It would be a sure win for him since he was with them all the time. He knew they couldn't keep their hands off each other. Unless Ren planned on proposing in the next month, it was only a matter of time before one or both of them caved. His inner fangirl giggled at the thought that Ren didn't know his innocent girlfriend was already preparing for that fateful night. He wondered if she already started taking the medication prescribed by the doctor.
Ruto appeared like a ninja and cleared his throat, "Takarada-sama, the main point." He reminded Lory of the reason Yashiro was there in the first place.
"Oh yes, I had planned on calling up the owner of this magazine and threatening to ruin them if they posted such an outlandish article full of false accusations. It would only make them look like a chauvinistic magazine and further tarnish their reputation among their top demographic of readers. When women see how they discriminated against the fairer sex in this country, I doubt this magazine will survive," Lory explained. A small magazine like this would fold under such heavy threats. He would offer them something else in return. Perhaps, an interview article with Kyoko would suffice.
"Ehhh? If it could be handled so simply, why did you get me worked up?" Yashiro asked, trying to hide his exasperation from his boss.
"Yuki, were you not listening? I merely wanted to point out your shortfalls as a manager of a woman," Lory scolded.
"Oh, right," he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I will be more aware next time. Is there anything else, sir?"
"That is all for now, thank you for coming by," Lory said as he picked up his phone to make the call to the magazine.
Yashiro bowed and took his leave.
Ren was shocked when he walked into the outdoor studio of the Sacred Lotus that afternoon accompanying Yashiro to drop off Kyoko. The men had about an hour to kill before they had to be at Ren's next job location. It was the first day of his cologne campaign so Yashiro needed to make sure things progressed in accordance with his contract. Ruto would be silently watching out for Kyoko while Yashiro was away.
Ren doubted anything would happen with all the security added since the last time he was here during that heart-stopping night when Kyoko fell on the roof. It made him nervous to see the barricades and extra security. He was downright flabbergasted when he was stopped at the entrance. The security guard told him that he was just following protocol as he consulted his list of approved outsiders nervously under the glare of the tall actor.
"Ren, behave," Kyoko whispered, jabbing him in the rib with her elbow. The poor guard shook like a leaf as he tried to do his job. Ren did his best to hide his annoyance and gave the man the most gentlemanly smile he could muster when he was allowed to pass.
Kyoko's lips quirked. She knew he was pouting inside. It was probably the first time her superstar boyfriend was denied entry right away anywhere.
What Lory told them was true. The sponsors weren't taking any more chances with this production. Ren wondered if they found something disturbing in their investigation and this was the result. He noticed Koga waving them over from across the way while talking with Cedric.
"Good afternoon," the actors greeted once they joined them. Ren forced himself to keep Kuon calm in Cedric's presence. He had a nagging suspicion that he may be the one causing the issues here. He probably had help too. He was never one to act alone, Kuon could attest to that. Ren couldn't understand what his agenda was though. What did he have to gain by sabotaging this production? From what Kyoko told him, Cedric had been acting seriously and was also concerned about the mishaps. She told Ren that Cedric let it slip that his father wouldn't be too pleased with him if there was any trouble during this filming.
Kyoko threaded her fingers through Ren's as they stood talking to the two men. She wanted to reassure him that she was there. It had to be difficult for him to face one of his childhood tormentors.
Koga didn't miss Kyoko's move. Whenever they were in the presence of Cedric, Kyoko always tensed up or came up with some excuse to leave. It wasn't obvious, but he noticed Ren also behaved strangely. If Koga wasn't so obsessed with his rival, he would never have seen the subtle change in his behavior. He wanted to tease and prod them for their weirdness, but Kimiko interrupted them.
She laid on her sweet girl act thick today for the sake of appealing to both Ren and Cedric. "Good afternoon everyone, Ren-san," Kimiko said, cutely addressing him personally.
Kyoko bristled at the way she said her boyfriend's name. Her hand tightened in Ren's as her dormant grudges started purring awake. They halted when Ren gave her hand a small squeeze and smiled down at her ignoring Kimiko.
While Ren's head was turned, Kimiko sneered at Kyoko. She schooled her face as soon as he turned back to her. He smiled making her squirm. It was a smile she was familiar with, but today it seemed less friendly.
Ren upped the wattage of his gentleman smile and said, "Good afternoon, Morizumi-san. What brings you on the set today? I heard you were taking a break from showbiz which is an unfortunate shame. I thought you were quite skilled, why would you stop?"
Kimiko's hand flew up and pressed below her throat. She didn't miss the malice coated beneath his courteous words. She stepped closer to Cedric to protect herself from Ren. She was livid. She was convinced Kyoko spilled their secret pact to him and he was just trying to get her to admit her crimes.
Koga was confused by the girl's reaction to Ren's words. Although Ren had said everything good-naturedly, Koga guessed that there was more to the story regarding Kimiko's retirement. Did Ren know the reason?
Kimiko recovered herself and answered, "Ren-san, even though I still have time I am taking a break for my university exams. I want to study criminal law. It's quite fascinating learning about all the loopholes within Japan's judicial system. So I want to focus on my studies for now."
"Amazing, Kimiko-san," Koga said, clapping lightly. "You are already in your third year of high school and are taking your studies seriously. I can see you being a lawyer or even a judge."
"That's the plan," Kimiko winked, smiling at Koga. "I needed a break from my studies so I stopped in to observe today's taping."
While the rest praised her, Ren, Kyoko, and Yashiro inwardly thought that it would be the worst kind of idea to further fuel the psychopath's knowledge of the law. She was unpredictable. Director Morizumi eventually broke up the little gathering as he told everyone to change into their costumes.
Notes:
Thank you for always reading! I hope you enjoyed it.
The song playing was "Love Song," by The Cure.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 41: Proud Parent
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Koga would fall hard for Kyoko. Not romantically, but brotherly.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi smiled as he saw the incoming mail from Kyoko. He had planned his next steps and he wanted to tell her and Ren how it all went tonight. His time to go back to the States was fast approaching. He had already leased the apartment he was renting in Tokyo for another year. He needed to get back to New York and finalize his departure from the company. There was a bit of a hiccup when he announced his decision to relocate to Tokyo. His business partners saw it as an opportunity for him to take over the Tokyo branch as CEO while his predecessor retired due to health issues.
Tadashi had to tactfully decline without offending anyone. He didn't want to leave them in the lurch so he offered to accept the job temporarily while he trained the current deputy to take over. He would then remain a consultant and part of the board. He wanted to be flexible so he could spend more time with his daughter who had a hectic schedule of her own. He had missed too many years and he wasn't planning on missing anymore for work. He had invested his money wisely and could afford to continue his lavish lifestyle without a steady paycheck; he could easily retire and just take up golfing full time. He had always worked hard and knew he wouldn't be able to remain idle for too long so the parttime work was the perfect solution.
"Tadashi, Tadashi, Tadashi!" Mya called sternly, waving her hand to get her his attention. He was daydreaming again like usual these days. She was happy for him that he was able to reunite with his daughter. She had watched him grow from a young man to the capable businessman he was today. It was difficult, in the past, to watch him deny himself happiness as punishment for what he did to the woman he loved. She was aware that their old boss left him no choice in the end to betray Saena. It was because he loved her that he had to walk away to ensure her happiness.
Mya only knew the details of Saena that she was privy to on the internet. Tadashi had to know more, but she didn't have the heart to inquire about her. It was none of her business. She was just sad to see that his sacrifice was for naught. She gathered that the woman seemed to have turned herself into stone to protect herself from future heartache. No one could have predicted this outcome, not even Tadashi.
"Oh, Mya-chan, what is it?" Tadashi asked startled by the interruption.
Mya glared handing him a sticky note. Tadashi's gold eyes widened at the contents of the note, Viride General Law Office, 81 3-2656-1979.
"Thank you Mya-chan! I owe you one," Tadashi told her flashing her that boyish grin that many women found adorable.
Mya rolled her eyes at him. He always made good on his I-O-Us. She wondered what she should hit him up for this time. She was admiring a new designer handbag she saw in a magazine. It was pricey but he was always generous with his gifts. She could also tack it on as a promotion/goodbye gift to her. Hmmm, maybe I should also ask him for an autograph from both Tsuruga-kun and Kyoko-chan.
Pushing the thought of presents out of her mind, she turned serious, "You know, you don't have to do this right? What if it backfires? How could you possibly be a good father if you end up in jail or better yet, dead? Kyoko-chan would never forgive you if you abandon her again, even in death."
Tadashi waved off Mya's warnings. "You're being dramatic, Mya-chan. I definitely won't go to jail nor will I die. Saena's not like that, I think. This is something I have to do, not for myself but for her. If the roles were reversed, I would want closure."
"Are you confident that she wouldn't want you dead? What if she sends someone after you? If I was a woman scorned the way she was I would be thinking of revenge and more."
Tadashi gave a lopsided grin to the woman that helped him all these years. She was like a mother to him, or as she liked to correct him, an older sister.
"Thanks, Mya-chan," Tadashi smiled softly rather than defending himself. He knew what he was getting himself into by contacting her.
Mya's eyes misted. He may not have been her blood, but he was family. She would miss him dearly.
Tadashi cleared his throat as he watched her eyes water. "You're a stupid boy," she huffed.
His smile grew broader. "I know."
"I'm not helping you find a lawyer to get you out of jail or arranging your funeral so you better fix things properly," she argued.
"I understand. Are you all packed up?" He asked suddenly changing the subject.
"You know I can stay to help you, and we can head back together," she suggested.
"There's no need for you to stay for nothing. We're pretty much done here. Head back home. I'm sure your husband and the kids miss you terribly. Plus, I need to selfishly ask you to get things started over there for me."
She sighed. "They are ready for me to come home. The latest technology has made it easier for all of us. But if you're sure then…my flight leaves tonight. Call me if you need anything in the meantime."
Tadashi stood, came around the desk, and pulled her into a warm embrace. "Have a safe flight, Mya. I'll see you soon."
"What are you going to do in the meantime?" She asked as he walked her to the door.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to spend time with my daughter. I just received a mail from her. She said I can come and see her at work later. After I set things up with Sae, Mogami-san, I'll be heading over to join her."
"What?! You didn't even invite me! I have taken care of you since you were this small." Tadashi laughed as she held her hands up about a foot apart from each other to indicate just how tiny he was when they met. "This is the thanks I get. Koga-san is even her co-star this time. I would have loved to have met him. You better get me his autograph or I won't speak to you again."
Tadashi gasped. "Mya-chan, I didn't peg you as a cougar."
"What are you talking about? I'm happily married, but I can still appreciate pretty young things. Speaking of which, I would also appreciate it if you could get me an autograph from your daughter and Tsuruga-kun. Walk with me to my office. I'll give you a magazine for them to sign."
Tadashi chuckled. Even at her age, she was still such a fangirl. After rummaging through her packed box, she handed him the magazine. It contained an article of their CM for the French restaurant Mon Amour Cafe. He smiled broadly at the picture captured for the article. It featured his little Princess looking darling while Ren was on bended knee kissing the back of her hand. Could this be a prelude to their future?
After saying goodbye, Tadashi took a quick look at the magazine Mya gave him. He read the section talking about the restaurant. He wondered if the young couple would be willing to join him for dinner there again. He reached for his cell phone and typed his reply to Kyoko's mail. He still had a few hours before he would meet her at her filming location. He turned his attention to the sticky note that Mya had given him earlier. It was now or never.
...
"Hello, thank you for calling the Viride General Law Office. How may I help you?" The receptionist on the other end of the line greeted through the speaker on his desk phone.
"Hello, my name is Morimoto Tadashi. I'm looking for Mogami Saena-san. I require her services," Morimoto explained in his no-nonsense business tone.
"I'm sorry sir, Mogami-san is out of the office. If you would like to leave a message, I will be sure to pass it on to her."
Tadashi contemplated her question. Maybe if he left her a message now she would be able to prepare herself before actually talking to him. Kyoko had informed him that she was aware of his real name and that he was in the city. Since she knew he was here, it would be cowardly if he didn't reach out to her. Winding up dead wasn't the problem. There was a nagging thought at the back of his mind that this might be a mistake. What if it did backfire as Mya mentioned but in a different way. What if him contacting her affected Saena negatively. Would she become depressed all over again? Would she try to take her life because of him? All he could do was deal with the consequences of his actions later. He decided to leave a message and put the ball in her court. He would leave it up to her to reach out to him now.
Tadashi walked up to the entrance of the outdoor studio location Kyoko gave him. With his bouquet of wildflowers, he thought he was visiting a prison facility with all the fencing and security around. The only thing that made him believe he was in the right place was the fans and photographers surrounding the entrance. He heard the whispers running through the crowd speculating at his identity. He wondered if this was a good idea. He didn't want to cause any trouble for her.
He smoothed down his suit and ran his hand through his hair. If he was going to get photographed he might as well make sure he looked good so as not to embarrass her. He finally made it up to the guard, who asked for his name and identification. Tadashi reached into his jacket pocket a pulled out his wallet then handed his ID over. He looked beyond the guard and stared in awe at the detailed set within the fence. After consulting his list, the guard handed him back his ID and waved him through.
Tadashi walked through, taking in the sights. He felt like he had stepped into feudal Japan. He headed towards the crowded area, where he thought Kyoko was bound to be. He stood in the back for a moment and took in the scene. There she was, dressed as a kunoichi. In this scene, she trained with a man dressed as a samurai that he assumed to be Koga in costume. Several other cast members kneeled around the two as they took in the match. His breath caught as she threw her swords in the air and watched her do several backflips to avoid being attacked by his sword. The samurai was fast, when she was done flipping she had to immediately raise her swords to block his attack. The samurai relentlessly bombarded her with blow after blow putting all his strength into his attacks. Tadashi could tell she was getting tired. When she tripped from obvious fatigue, he watched her hand grab some sand and throw it in the samurai's face. Tadashi smiled at the cunning move. As a kunoichi, she had to use her wit against stronger opponents even if it meant fighting dirty. Her actions slowed him down long enough for her to get the opening she needed. She swiped the back of his leg and had him sprawling on his back. She straddled his chest, a triumphant smile on her face, as her blade pressed against the artery on his neck.
"Cut!" The Director called through the megaphone. "That was great people. Let's take fifteen minutes while I review the footage and then we'll shoot that same scene at a few more angles. Koga-san, Kyoko-san great work. Let's keep that momentum going after the break. We have to get in as much of the remaining scenes with Kyoko-san since she has another important commitment for the next three days."
He watched his daughter humbly bow to her colleagues as she moved off the set. She thanked the staff member that handed her a bottle of water and a towel.
Tadashi walked towards his daughter to get her attention with a look of love and pride on his face. Kyoko smiled as she bounded towards him excited that he could make it. "You were amazing Kyoko-chan!" He praised when she was close and handed her the flowers. "I'm so proud of you! I had no clue you had that kind of acrobatic skills. It was terrific."
Kyoko blushed and ducked her face into the bouquet. She had waited her entire life to hear those kinds of words coming from her mother. She was equally as happy hearing them from her father that her eyes filled with moisture and tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them.
Tadashi looked stupefied as he watched his daughter start to weep. Was it something I said? He bowed several times, apologizing for anything he may have done to upset her.
Kyoko laughed through her tears. "It's nothing. I'm sorry I'm a bit emotional," she explained swiping at her tears.
Tadashi stood confused. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief which she took gratefully.
"I'm just so happy," she continued to explain. "I'm glad you could make it." She used his handkerchief to dab at her eyes and blow her nose. She knew her face was a mess and would need the makeup artist to fix everything.
Koga eyed the man talking to Kyoko suspiciously. Why is she crying all of a sudden? Did he hurt her? He had never seen this man before so how did he get past security. Why did Ren and Yashiro choose this day to leave her alone? He supposed it was up to him to intervene.
As Koga approached, he took in the appearance of the man. He was wearing a well-tailored dark blue designer suit with brown dress shoes. The man had to be almost six feet tall which was rare for a Japanese. He had a medium build and a full head of hair which he wore short and swept back. He even brought her flowers. Sugar daddy? So what was Ren, a cover? A lot of celebrities lived scandalous lives so that scenario wouldn't shock him if it was the truth.
"Is everything okay over here," Koga asked interrupting the man's apology. "Is this man bothering you Kyoko-chan?" Koga asked observing Tadashi.
Kyoko laughed and dashed the remaining tears away. Tadashi felt a little stab pierce his heart. His poor daughter had been deprived of a parent's love for too long that even a small compliment from him could bring her to tears.
"Hiromune-san, I'm okay. I was just moved a bit by something," Kyoko said not bothering to explain. Nobody needed to know her life story especially this guy. It would just be ammo for him to tease her in some way.
"I'm glad it was that. I thought he hurt you in some way," Koga said still skeptical. She bowed slightly and thanked him for his concern. Cain aside, this was how she imagined a protective older brother would look after his sister.
"Oh no, no, no, he would never hurt me, at least not intentionally. Would you?" She asked turning to her father.
Tadashi tensed. I would never hurt her! It was true that he was still trying to gain her trust so he could understand her misgivings. Their relationship was progressing by leaps and bounds but it seemed she was still insecure. The fact that he was leaving again probably wasn't helping.
"Of course, Princess. If I can help it, I would never hurt you on purpose." He patted her on the head, his words poured out with all the love a father could have for a child.
Koga's eyes widened at what he just walked into. This man loved her. He wondered if Ren was aware of it. Kyoko could be so oblivious when it came to these things. He cleared his throat to regain their attention.
Tadashi turned to the young man and bowed. "Forgive my rudeness. I am Morimoto Tadashi, please to meet you."
Kyoko added quickly while Koga bowed in return. "This is Hiromune Koga-san. Hiromune-san, please meet my father."
Tadashi's heart nearly jumped out of his chest at her warm introduction. He wasn't sure how she wanted to introduce him so he tried to keep his greeting vague.
A sigh of relief escaped Koga's lips. That would explain the weird vibes he was getting off the man. Boy, did he feel stupid? He was thinking the worse here.
"Morimoto-san pleased to meet you," Koga greeted with a more formal bow. "What brings you by the set?" Koga asked for idle chit chat.
"Well when Kyoko-chan asked me to come by I couldn't say no. The scene I walked into was amazing. You both performed brilliantly. I can hardly wait to watch the film," Tadashi gushed. "But I warn you, young man." All traces of the carefree man disappeared as he faced Koga seriously. "If you hurt my baby girl during filming you would have to answer to me!"
Koga gulped and nodded as the hair on the back of his neck stood up from the threat. Who was this man? He had the same oppressive aura as Ren when it came to Kyoko.
Tadashi's face crinkled into a smile again and asked him for his autograph. "Please make it out to Mya-chan?" He asked holding the magazine Mya gave him earlier and flipped to the feature with Koga. He even managed a photo with Koga holding the magazine. When Koga finished, he bowed and left them alone.
"Do you like the flowers? I wasn't sure what your favorites were but Ren-kun told me you like the outdoors so I thought these were appropriate."
Kyoko took a deep inhale of the fragrant smell, appreciating them more now that she was calmer. "They're lovely, thank you! Shall we go to my dressing room? I have to retouch my make-up before we resume filming."
Tadashi followed her to her trailer. She stopped and asked a crew member to send the makeup artist over as soon as possible. Inside her trailer, Tadashi saw the trinkets and stuffed animals all over the place. Are these all from her fans?
He watched her enter the bathroom and emerge with a vase of water. She arranged the bouquet in it and placed it near a gorgeous bouquet of roses. Kyoko caught him eyeing it. "They're from Ren. He sends me some whenever the previous ones begin to wilt."
Tadashi smiled. He was pleased that her boyfriend treasured her properly.
"Most of these are from Ren," she said waving at all the little fairytale tchotchkes littering her table. "This one is my favorite," she told him and held up a rectangular wooden box hand-painted with vines and flowers. She twisted the cog beneath it and opened the lid. A golden-haired fairy princess began a ballet dance over the mirrored bottom as Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" song filled the air.
Tadashi was ecstatic that she still had a sweet and innocent side to her and that Ren had no problems indulging in it. He looked at all the various pieces she had, maybe he could find her something to add to the collection.
Notes:
Thank you for always reading! I hoped you enjoyed it, though it was lacking Ren.
Until next time ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 42: Close Call
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, the sexual tension between RenKyo would have been released by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Yashiro-san," Ruto said, materializing out of the shadows in The Sacred Lotus set parking lot.
Yashiro let out a less than manly scream as the President's assistant took him by surprise. "Ruto-san, how do you do that?" Yashiro gasped, clutching a hand to his chest.
"I apologize for scaring you, Yashiro-san," Ruto said with a bow.
"It's okay. You would think after five years I would get used to you popping up out of nowhere by now. Is everything alright with Kyoko-chan?"
"Yes, Mogami-sama is fine. There have been no problems. Morimoto-san is with her now." Ruto didn't think it was necessary to mention her moment of distress earlier. The father and daughter had worked out the misunderstanding.
"If there is nothing else you need from me, I will return to the President."
"Thank you for keeping an eye on her Ruto-san," Yashiro bowed.
"You're welcome," Ruto said, returning the bow. He too had a soft spot for the young lady and wanted to see her safe and happy.
Yashiro was glad her father made it. He requested special permission from the Producer to allow Tadashi on to the set for the day per Kyoko's wishes. Her busy schedule made it difficult to spend time with him, otherwise.
Yashiro approached the filming area and was stunned by what he discovered. Tadashi had stepped into the role of acting manager for Kyoko. He watched as several staff members consulted him on a few items Yashiro typically took care of such as on-site accommodations, scheduling, refreshments, and breaks.
Tadashi approached Kuresaki to ask for a break for his daughter. He could tell she was getting exhausted. Since Kyoko would be unavailable for the next few days, the director was pushing hard to complete all of the scenes he wanted to reshoot.
Tadashi noticed this and frowned every time the directed repeated, "again." He was already catching on to his daughter's work ethic and reminded him of her mother. She was strong-willed and didn't want to burden anyone. She stubbornly refused to take a break for herself if it meant a delay in the schedule. To her, she was already inconveniencing them since she would be gone for three days. She was trying to make it up to the director and other members of the production by pushing forward.
Kuresaki whispered to Morizumi. The next time he called cut he instructed everyone to take a ten-minute break since Kyoko was looking winded.
"It's not a problem, sir. I can continue, " Kyoko protested panting as she tried to catch her breath after a repetitive sequence of action events.
"Kyoko-chan!" Tadashi called out in a very firm father-like voice that left no room for arguing.
Kyoko felt like a scolded child as she took the seat her father offered. She hoped her behavior didn't anger him. "I'm sorry," she whispered looking down at the ground.
He frowned while handing her a cold bottle of water. Something in the way she apologized tugged at his heart. Did he bring back memories from her childhood? Her smile looked forced when she thanked him.
"Kyoko-chan, you don't have to apologize. I'm sorry for interfering with your work. If I want to be a good father, I couldn't sit by and let you continue. I know you don't want to cause trouble for everyone, but if you keep pushing yourself like this without breaks your work and body would surely suffer. Soon your fatigue would show on camera causing Director Morizumi to accept the footage they have to move forward."
Kyoko nodded feeling thoroughly reprimanded. He was right. She couldn't jeopardize the film like that and Ren would be upset if she got hurt again.
Yashiro sauntered up to the father-daughter pair. Am I even needed here? Tadashi was handling her like a pro. Yashiro was aware of how stubborn Kyoko could be when it came to working without any regard for her health. She and Ren shared that same quality when it came to working.
It wasn't unheard of in this industry that parents of young celebrities became their managers. Yashiro often felt like the parent watching over his babies with these two. He had the incredible honor of helping his charges with both the business and social aspects of their lives. Some of his coworkers had to deal with issues like ending relationships or solving drug problems. Yashiro thanked Kami-sama that neither of his clients had those issues. He swore he would cut off his right arm if they ever called their relationship quits. He knew full well that would never happen. With the way they were together, he could tell that what they shared was the stuff of legends only read in books. They made him believe that true love existed. He never met two people more suited to each other in his life and felt incredibly lucky to have bore witness to such a perfect pairing.
"Hello, Kyoko-chan, Morimoto-san. I see I left Kyoko-chan in some capable hands. I couldn't help overhearing your discussion. Are you alright to continue? I can talk to the director. This often happens in showbiz so he won't be disappointed. Exhaustion could lead to injury which, in the long run, would cause bigger problems for the film's progress. If you're too tired, please let me know. I'm here to help you. We don't want a repeat of Ring Doh."
Kyoko stiffened at Yashiro's reference to that event. She was hell-bent on winning against Ruriko that she stubbornly disregarded her injury. Her bullheadedness caused more problems since she ended up fainting from the excruciating pain and suffering a fractured ankle.
"Thank you for the reminder, Yashiro-san. I will keep that in mind," she admitted guiltily.
"What happened during this Ring Doh?" Tadashi asked genuinely interested after seeing Kyoko's reaction.
"It was nothing, but a minor inconvenience," Kyoko explained, waving the topic away.
"So minor that she had to be hospitalized because of her stubbornness. Even Ren couldn't do anything about it," Yashiro rebutted, sarcastically.
Kyoko glared at Yashiro when he ratted her out.
"What? How could you let this happen to her Yashiro-san and Ren-kun too? Why did you let her push herself so far that she needed to seek medical attention? I thought you guys were better than that." Tadashi laid on the guilt rather thickly making Yashiro sweat.
"Oh no, Tadashi-san. It wasn't like that at all," Kyoko explained coming to his defense. "I only met Yashiro-san the day I hurt myself. Ren and I weren't exactly close then," she said quietly, feeling the familiar ache in her chest.
Tadashi looked at her confused, "But I thought you and Ren-kun knew each other as ki—".
Kyoko cut off Tadashi before he could finish his sentence. Nobody knew that information, not even their manager. She was surprised Ren had not warned Tadashi to keep the little tidbit to himself. She doubted her father would have made such a slip if he knew. She would have to talk to him about it later when they were alone.
"Ah! The thing is, Tadashi-san, I had just started at LME. Ren didn't like my reasons for entering showbiz in the first place so we didn't get along."
"That's true. I thought his behavior was strange. Ren is usually nice to everyone, but he tends to act immaturely and sulky only around you. He disliked your motive for joining showbiz for the sake of getting revenge on Fuwa Sho."
"Fuwa Sho?" Tadashi inquired. "Is he the guy that took advantage of your kindness and then abandoned you?"
Kyoko nodded looking down at her feet feeling chagrined. It amazed her how her life had changed completely since she learned of Sho's betrayal. She had a man, friends, and now family that she loved and they loved her in return. If someone told her that this would be her life a year ago she would have scoffed at them. She no longer felt that way or felt any hatred for Sho. Maybe in ten years or so they could almost become friends again.
"Can you please tell me the whole story regarding him. I won't judge your past mistakes, that would make me the biggest hypocrite of all time. I just want to know about him because it's a part of you."
Kyoko hesitated. She didn't like sharing her shameful past, but it was only right that she shared with him. "I'll tell you, just not here." Kyoko didn't want to air her dirty laundry at work. There was too much potential for eavesdroppers.
...
Kimiko smiled sinisterly as she read the text from her source on the set of the Sacred Lotus. She knew just where to plant this little seed.
"Are you sure you won't join us, Yashiro-san?" Kyoko asked leaning down to talk to her manager.
"You guys enjoy. I'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon. Please catch up with your email and ask Ren to do so as well. Have a good night!"
"Good night, Yashiro-san." Kyoko bowed and then walked in the door her father held open.
Ren arrived at the restaurant first. Although the dining room was abuzz with his sudden appearance, they were gracious enough to leave him alone while they took their not so secret pictures. The hostess guided him to a lone table apart from the main dining area, but still within the public's view. It wasn't long before he saw Kyoko approaching with her father. He stood and pulled out a chair then greeted her with a peck on the lips. There were several audible sighs throughout the restaurant and equally as many groans. Kyoko blushed and ducked her head as she took the offered seat. Ren shook hands with Tadashi once she was settled.
It amused Tadashi to see a manly man such as Ren sitting amongst the frill and lace. The decor was completely within his daughter's taste.
Jean-Luc, owner and head chef, came out to greet the VIP guests. "Ma cherie, it is so lovely to see you again," he said to Kyoko in his heavy French accent. Kyoko placed her hand in his so he could kiss the back of her hand. He greeted Ren with a handshake then moved on to Tadashi.
"Jean-Luc, this is my father, Morimoto Tadashi," Kyoko announced.
"Oh, your papa. Good to meet you, Morimoto-san." Tadashi placed his hand in the offered hand and shook.
"Likewise, I saw the feature article of Kyoko-chan and Ren-kun and thought it would be nice to try your dinner menu together," Tadashi explained. Kyoko told him it would be a great idea since she and Ren barely scratched the surface of the delicious food during their work date.
"Well sir, you are sitting at the illustrious Chef's table. If you don't mind, I would like to prepare you all a special meal for the evening using the freshest ingredients, but only if that's amenable to everyone," he asked looking at each of them.
Kyoko clapped her hand with excitement. She never expected to have such high-class treatment in her life. The restaurant wasn't as expensive as her father or Ren was probably used too, but it was nice to get the rich experience.
He proceeded after receiving head nods from everyone. "Delightful! Now before I get carried away, is there anything at all that is off-limits? I don't want to cook something you already dislike though I'm tempted to rise to the challenge."
Kyoko was about to say she would eat anything when she caught Ren's amused expression. "Frog legs! I will not eat them, even if you tell me how delicious they are. It could be somebody's prince! I refuse," Kyoko exclaimed vehemently. Kyoko's face heated up at her outburst. Jean-Luc chuckled and went to prepare their meal with that aspect in mind.
Ren held his palm against his mouth to keep from laughing. His whole body shook with mirth. He recalled how he had threatened her with eating frog legs when she was acting as his manager last year. She had a similar passionate reaction then. She must have remembered that night as well.
Tadashi looked at his daughter incredulously and made a mental note to never cook her frog legs. He smiled as she scolded Ren for making fun of her.
"Have you ever had frog legs before?" Kyoko asked directing her question to her father.
"Yes, fried ones. When I was in New Orleans for work. They taste just like chicken," Tadashi teased.
Kyoko paled. She thought she might gag just imagining eating frog legs like a chicken wing. She gulped and thought about the Disney movie to get past her momentary disgust.
"You've been to New Orleans?" She asked dreamily. Tadashi took the opening to describe his experience which wasn't much since he worked most of the time he was there.
After several minutes of chatting, the waitress returned and set ramekin bowls of soup before them. Kyoko excitedly pressed her spoon, cutting through the perfectly domed puff pastry revealing the wonderful aroma of French onion soup. It was delicious.
"Your hors d'oeuvres," the waitress said, returning to the table placing a plate before them. Kyoko's eyes bulged out of her sockets as she swallowed hard. Are these...snails?
"W- what are these?" She asked the waitress before she could leave.
"Escargots a la Bourguignon...snails," she replied and went on to describe the technique and ingredients used to prepare the delicacy.
Ren having grown up with this kind of food, being a rich boy, showed her how to hold one with the thong and use the small fork to extract them. He held his fork out to her and watched her mouth close over it. His hand shook a little as her pink lips closed around the meat and slid it off his fork. He couldn't help thinking about all the sweet things that little naughty mouth was capable of doing.
Tadashi cleared his throat, not quite sure what he was interrupting. He had enough sense to know something was going on between them. Ren sat up straighter while Kyoko smiled heavenly at the taste of the morsel. Despite the strange texture, it tasted delicious. The meal progressed like that all night with Jean-Luc surprising them with special dishes and idle chit chat about their day.
"I'll be leaving at the end of next week," Tadashi informed them. He noticed the sadness flash across his daughter's face. "I want to make sure I'm back in plenty of time to celebrate your birthday. I've missed too many already, I'm not about to miss one more."
Kyoko nodded with understanding.
"This is the key to my apartment," he said, sliding a small envelope to Kyoko.
"Oh! Are there plants that need attention?" She asked, pulling herself out of her melancholy as she tried to recall the interior of his apartment.
"No, nothing like that, but you're both welcome to use it as you please," he insisted.
"Okay." Kyoko took the envelope and placed it in her purse.
Aside from minor tasks at work, Tadashi had one last thing to do before he left. He didn't tell her that it involved her mother. There was no point sharing right now since things were still unknown on that front. Maybe after the meeting, he could tell her the results but until then he wanted to keep it to himself. He didn't want to cause her needless pain again.
"Hopefully, we can meet up when you return from your other project before I leave. Still can't tell me what it's about?"
They both shook their head so Tadashi didn't press them for details. He knew in their line of work there were things such as non-disclosure agreements binding them to keep quiet about certain productions.
The waitress returned to clear the dishes followed by Jean-Luc. For dessert, he brought out an impressively shaped chocolate sphere for Kyoko. The men had declined the treat. Kyoko squealed in delight as he poured the hot chocolate syrup over the sphere. The hardened shell of the ball melted to reveal the delicious filling within.
"Please enjoy," Jean-Luc said, stepping back to watch her reaction.
Kyoko took a scoop and moaned with delight over the decadent dessert. She ate every last bit happily after offering some to Ren and her father. At one point, Ren reached over with a thumb, swiped the chocolate off the corner of her mouth then licked it off his finger. Kyoko stared at his mouth as he sucked his thumb.
Ren leaned in and whispered into her ear. "If you keep looking at me like that I just might have my dessert in the car." Kyoko blushed fiercely and continued to eat her dessert never looking up.
Tadashi groaned. He felt like a third wheel here. After giving Jean-Luc feedback on the food of their likes and dislikes and possible improvements, they called it a night.
"Are you sure you don't need a ride home, Tadashi-san?" Ren asked the older man as they walked out of the restaurant.
"I couldn't impose. I live on the other side of town. Oh, there's my driver now," he said as the luxury black sedan pulled to the curb.
"Thank you two for having dinner with me. I wish you a good night. I hope to see you in a few days." He made to bow but Kyoko gave him a quick hug instead.
"Thank you, Tadashi-san, for today. Having you on set was a lot of fun." She smiled shyly when she pulled away.
Tadashi was stunned by the close contact. His eyes shined as they watered with unshed tears. He bowed one last time and stepped into the car. He waved at the couple as the car pulled away.
Ren took her hand and led her to his car. Finally alone! He opened the car door but before she could get in, he wrapped her in his arms to give her a long sensual kiss. It was full of the promise of things to come. He deepened the kiss pushing her against the car.
"Ren, someone will see," she whispered against his mouth still eagerly kissing him back.
"Let them," he replied, unable to stop himself. He moaned as she put all her strength into her arms and pushed him away.
"Later," she promised.
Her promise had him moving quickly. He got in and started the car. The music blasted through the speakers as the engine cranked over.
"The lyrics go on the attack, my tongue gets tied and that's no lie, I'm looking in your eyes, I'm looking in your big brown eyes..."
"Sorry I forgot I had that on so loud," he said, reaching to switch it off.
"Leave it on, I never heard a song like this before," Kyoko commented, bobbing her head to the beat.
"It's called reggae," he explained, turning it down to a reasonable level. He hoped she wouldn't pick up on the actual meaning of the song. He didn't when he was younger. He wouldn't know how to explain himself if she asked. He let the song play on to not raise suspicion.
"Girl, I want to make you sweat, sweat till you can't sweat no more, And if you cry out, I'm gonna push it, push it, push it some more."
Kyoko's mind raced as she listened to the song. This is about sex, right? The man is singing about having sex with a brown-eyed girl? She turned her head toward her boyfriend and narrowed her eyes at him. She understood his reasons for waiting and wanted to respect his wishes. She knew that when they finally became one it would be mind-blowing. She could wait until he was ready to take that leap with her. Until then, she would continue to tease him.
He felt his girlfriend's hot gaze burning a hole into the side of his head. He could even feel a sweat drop running down his temple which was unheard of for him. He concentrated intently on the road pretending the song was no big deal. She already knew he had been jamming it out in his car; probably even singing along. The "brown eyes" was a dead give away of just whom he was thinking about while singing it.
"Pervert!" He flinched as her imaginary dagger stabbed him. "You're like a dirty perverted old man!" Stab, stab, stab, as more of her daggers pierced him. He deserved it.
He turned to face her at the next stoplight and saw her eyes bright with laughter. She was making fun of him and enjoying it. "I'll show you how perverted I am when we get home."
"Promise?" She replied in her sultry voice reserved just for him. She peeled with laughter when the light turned green, and he gunned on the accelerator. She rolled her eyes and sang along with the song.
"A la la la la long, a la la la la long long li long long long, Yeah..." Which then made him join in with her. When the catchy song ended they were both in high spirits.
At their apartment, Kyoko yelped as he swooped her up in his arms carrying her like a princess. "You walk too slow, baby!"
She squealed for him to put her down. He smiled mischievously and pressed his lips to hers kissing her to silence. Kyoko forgot all her senses and enthusiastically returned his kiss.
They broke away at the sound of a familiar voice, "Oh young love."
They didn't hear the elevator's arrival or Ichigo and his wife coming out. He lost his grip and put Kyoko down since she was struggling like crazy in his arms. Her cheeks flushed a brilliant red as she greeted and bowed deeply to their neighbors. They exchanged a few pleasantries, but before they parted ways Ichigo told them he expected to read about an engagement between the pair quite soon.
He gave the older man a wink and said, "If she would have me," just as the elevator doors closed.
"I can't believe you said that," she admonished him as her heart fluttered.
"What? It's the truth," he said backing her up against the elevator wall. He leaned down and kissed her neck softly. "I can't wait to make you my wife," he whispered, his breath a hot caress against her skin. He wanted to be Kuon Hizuri again before he proposed. She deserved that much from him. He put his index finger to her lips to shush her before she could protest. His lips trailed up her neck and kissed their way to her ear. "And it's not just so I can make sweet passionate love to you all night long and into the wee hours of the morning." The whole time he whispered in her ear his right hand itched to roam over her body. He held it back. This was as far as he dared to go under the watchful eye of the security camera. The elevator doors opened to their floor and he pulled her to the apartment. "Come on, let's take a shower."
"Oh? Are you going to wash my back for me?" She teased.
His eyes darkened when he replied, "that and more, much, much more."
Kyoko entered first and shut off the house alarm. She dropped her bag on the ground and kicked off her shoes. The apartment phone rang immediately. It was the front desk calling that a package had arrived and wondering if they could deliver it. "Get started, I'll meet you in there," he told her as he waited.
Kyoko nodded and headed towards the bedroom. She knew he was watching and shimmied out of her skirt dropping it in the middle of the floor. Her round globes teased him as she entered the bedroom and was no longer in his sight. He hurriedly took the package from the concierge and rudely shut the door in the man's face. With quick strides, he made his way to the bedroom. She had left him little breadcrumbs of clothing for him to follow. The trail started with her skirt outside the door, then her blouse, followed by her bra. He found her white lace panties sitting right outside the shower door. He picked them up and discovered them slightly moist. Like the pervert she accused him as, he held them to his nose and groaned inhaling deeply of her sex. Such a pure color for such a naughty girl. He grew hard at what awaited him beyond the frosted glass. He loved that she was his angel by day and hellion by night. He made quick work divesting himself of his clothing and contacts.
Kyoko was barely under the hot spray when the shower door flung open. A very aroused green-eyed Emperor stepped in, filling the space with his overwhelming presence. She tugged at the bottom of her lip with her teeth as she took in the magnificent sight of him. As he stepped closer, the water cascaded through his hair then ran down his neck and over his broad chiseled chest. It trickled over his abs and disappeared into the short thatch of blonde curls at the junction of his thighs. He reached out for her and pulled her tight against him, his hands caressing up and down her back. Her hands wrapped around his waist fingering the hard muscles on his lower back. As water bombarded them, he backed her into the wall and rocked his hips against her pressing his erection into her abdomen.
His lips brushed tenderly against hers and trailed soft fluttering kisses across her jawline to nibble on her lobe. His gentle lips moved lower to kiss the pulse of her neck. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she reached down to touch his arousal, but before she could take hold of him, he pulled away.
"Turn around," he demanded gruffly. Kyoko looked at him slightly confused but did what she was told. He reached for her hands and placed them above her head palms on the wall. He used his thigh to nudge her legs apart. Kyoko arched her back and jutted her ass out searching for relief against the thick muscular leg. She whimpered when he removed his leg. The heat of his chest against her back made her whole body hum that even the cold tile grazing her nipples flooded her core with hotness. She wanted to pull him towards her but he growled into her ear, "Keep your hands on the wall." She abruptly brought her hands back up, pressed her forehead and palms into the cold tile, and waited for his next move.
From her periphery, she saw him reach for the body soap. She could almost hear the sound over the water as he worked up a lather in his hands. Her body burned with anticipation that when he finally touched her she jerked and hissed. His hands covered the top of her wrists and worked their way down her arms. Shivers ran down her spine as his pectoral muscles brushed against her back. She trembled when the tip of his cock grazed the top of her ass.
He refilled his hands with soap and kneaded her shoulders using his thumbs to work the knots on her upper back. His hands were magic. When he was done with her back, his arms circled her. His fingers slowed as they ran over her breasts, squeezing them gently. Her nipples grew harder under his attention as he flicked and tweaked each peak. Kyoko's hands curled against the cold wall. She wanted to turn around and touch him. She was panting by the time his right hand slid over her taut stomach and dipped lower. His fingers slid over her most tender flesh parting her soft folds. A cry escaped her lips when his fingers brushed over her clit. His left hand took turns kneading each breast while the fingers of his right hand moved to flick her clit. He rolled the bundle of nerves between his fingers making Kyoko gasp. She felt tortured. Her whole body was alive and sensitive. The water beating down on her only enhanced the sensations that he assaulted on her.
"Kuon," she choked out. "Let me turn around. I want to touch you," she begged.
He chuckled. Kyoko groaned as the vibrations from his laughter transferred to her making her body hum with sensual delight.
He nipped her shoulder then sucked the spot. She didn't know if she felt pain or pleasure.
"Just feel baby," his sultry voice caressed her ear. Kyoko screamed as he slid one then two fingers into her pulsating core. Kuon let out a tortured groan of his own as her slick wet heat closed around his fingers and squeezed. Her passionate moans intensified as he pumped his fingers in and out of her.
"More, Kuon," she cried. He growled behind her and pulled away suddenly. Kyoko blinked rapidly as the hot water ran down her face trying to figure out what happened.
Before she could turn around, his hands gripped her hips roughly. He slid her further up the wall. Her toes left the floor as he lifted her ass in the air. She clung to the wall to regain some sense of balance. She gasped as his cock poised at her entrance. Her heart hammered in her chest and she licked her lips. Is he going to put it in me right now, like this? The thought sent a wave of hot juices flooding to her entrance. She pushed her hips back against him wanting him in her right now. "Kuon, please. I need you inside me," she managed to gasp.
"Easy baby," he said steadying her hips, "not tonight." He lifted her higher so the heat of her folds sat on top of his cock and clung to him. He rocked his hips and let out a satisfied groan as her arousal coated him. He tensed as he tried to fight the urge to stick his dick inside her tight pussy, but kept up the tempo. It would be so easy right now to give in to temptation. As it was, he was torturing them both by going this far, and yet he couldn't stop.
Kyoko screamed as the tip of his penis hit her clit. "Yes, oh yes!"
Kuon felt his dick get harder, larger even, at the sound of her fervent voice. He took long deliberate strokes as his cock glided against her. His pelvis pushed hard against her ass before pulling back.
"Kuon, please," she begged. His slow strokes were driving her crazy.
Kuon chuckled again. "Tell me you want me to go faster, baby. I want to hear your sexy voice."
Kyoko hastily complied with an impatient growl. "Faster…harder...just fuck me!"
That took him by surprise. His fingers dug into her hips as he pumped faster. Kyoko held on to the wall for dear life as he pounded against her. His cock rubbing every inch of her was pure bliss. They hardly noticed the water grow cold with their overheating bodies. The slaps of Kuon's thighs against her ass thundered over the water. Kuon was so close he grunted from the exertion. He reached forward with his right hand and found her clit. Kyoko cried out in ecstasy as his fingers made little circles over her tight bud.
"Come with me baby," Kuon gasped. He was straining to hold on. Kuon groaned as a starburst of color filled his vision when he found his release, shooting semen against the shower wall between her legs. He didn't let up until she cried out falling over her edge as she orgasmed. She pressed her head against the wall as her body trembled and tried to breathe. Kuon eased her down, but her legs instantly collapsed under her. He reached out to steady her.
After a quick clean up of the two of them, he shut off the water. He dried himself quickly first, then Kyoko, and carried her naked to the bed. She was asleep in seconds. Kuon crawled into bed and pulled her tightly against him. That was a close call, he had almost lost control. How am I going to make it to the wedding night at this rate? He let out a worried sigh but was asleep in seconds.
Notes:
Hiya! Thank you for continuing to read. I appreciate it.
The song playing in the car was "Sweat" by Inner Circle.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 43: My Angel
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, RenKuonKyo would be the balm for each other’s tortured souls.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko was startled awake from Kuon thrashing in his sleep. He was having another nightmare. He told her the dreams had ceased since she moved in with him, but they were starting up again. If she thought about it, they began after he made the conscious decision to attend L.A. fashion week. She wondered if it was a good idea to make him go. Maybe he wasn't ready yet. She felt guilty for forcing him. Of course, she wasn't forcing him per se, but it felt like her going was forcing him to go along with her. He was tight-lipped when she confronted him about the dreams brushing it off by claiming he couldn’t remember. Kyoko couldn’t refute this argument having experienced similar dreams herself. She would try to persuade him to talk about it later, but first, they needed to get through the next few days as the Heel siblings. She hoped they could get through them unscathed.
As soon as she reached out for him he calmed down, her touch soothing him. She adjusted her body and guided his head to rest on her bosom. The fact that she was still naked hardly fazed her anymore. He quieted down as she stroked her fingers through his silky hair like a mother would a child and sang softly, " It's just like heaven being here with you, You're like an angel, too good to be true, But after all, I love you, I do, Angel baby, my angel baby... "
Tears gathered in her eyes as her heart clenched. Kyoko’s voice shook with emotion, but she continued to sing. " When you are near me, my heart skips a beat, I can hardly stand on my own two feet, Because I love you, I love you, I do, Angel baby, my angel baby... " The tears pooling in her eyes slowly rolled down her cheeks. She quietly sniffed. She cried in his stead since he refused to show her any more weakness. He always assured her that he was fine, but on nights like these, his subconscious said otherwise.
Her breath caught as his arms circled her waist and squeezed. It broke her heart to know that he was still suffering, still blaming himself for what happened in the past. Her strong, handsome, and brave Senpai clung to her in his sleep like a toddler, fearful that she might disappear at any moment. He was slowly on his way to redemption. It would just take some time. She knew there will always be residual pain since it was the same with her. With time and each other, the pain would subside, replacing bad memories with good. She hummed a little more until his breathing evened convincing her he was in a deep sleep. She kissed the top of his head just before her eyes fluttered close.
Later that morning, Kyoko laid on Kuon's lap while he absentmindedly threaded his fingers through her hair. They lounged on the couch in companionable silence as each of them caught up with their email. They normally tried to stay off their devices when they had time alone together, but the numerous emails in their inboxes could no longer be ignored. Yashiro told them that there were emails that needed their attention. Since they were going to be Cain and Setsu for the next few days, they needed to take a break from each other, and respond to work emails.
“Moko-san sent me a reply,” she squealed in his lap as she came across an email from her best friend. Kuon smiled at her excitement and patted her head she read the latest adventures of Kanae in America. Kanae had impressed the director and producers and ultimately got the job as Kyoko expected. The Director seemed satisfied with the way Kanae developed her character. The other cast members treated her well but to Kanae’s annoyance, she had to fend off countless American men. They were different from Japanese men and very persistent. She told Kyoko she almost wished Hiou was there to scare them off.
Kyoko sent a reply stating that it was because Kanae was so beautiful, and smart, and talented, and gorgeous, and kind that even other countries, not just Japan, fell in love with her instantly. She also told her about coming out for fashion week and wondered if Kanae would still be in L.A. at the time. She highly doubted it, but that didn't stop her from dreaming of having an overseas adventure with her best friend. She debated telling Kanae about her father but decided their friendship depended on her sharing this information. She figured Kanae might seriously sever their ties if she found out later or through other means. She assured Kanae that everything was fine and not to worry.
While she responded to Kanae, her phone chirped with a text from Chiori asking if she was available tomorrow. Kyoko had to decline. She would be tied up fulfilling her Something Dangerous LoveMe assignment for the next few days. She checked her schedule and found she had some time next week in the afternoon before her Boh slot. She responded to Chiori to find out if that would work for her.
“Something good?” Kuon asked curiously after a few messages were exchanged.
“I have a date with Chiori-san next week,” she gushed.
“I hope you girls have fun,” he chuckled and resumed stroking her hair.
Kyoko went back to her mail. She found that required her opinion on a product she would be promoting then moved on to one from her father.
He told her he enjoyed the time they spent together last night. He was impressed with the little cafe and the food they served. He hoped they could do it again or try a new place. He liked being the guinea pig for the Chef's new recipes.
Kyoko agreed. She enjoyed the surprise menu Jean-Luc had prepared for them too. What she didn’t agree on was the fact that their entire meal was free. It was odd not having to pay for something when she was finally earning a decent wage. She was shocked when Jean-Luc told them their money wasn’t good there yet they were always welcomed. Thanks to the CM, the place was thriving because of them. He showed them the autographed picture taken during the CM that he framed and hung on the wall. Having them endorse the place was more than enough.
Her father’s email contained an invitation for dinner at his home once they were through with their assignment.
“Kuon, Tadashi-san would like to have dinner at his home sometime after our return. Would you be available?” She asked biting her lower lip. This was an opportunity to get to know him better, and she would be more comfortable with Kuon’s presence.
“That should be fine if it’s later in the evening,” he replied.
“Okay, I’ll let him know which day works best for us after talking to Yashiro-san.”
The last email in her inbox was one from Fuji. It contained the pictures of her latest photo session. She was always amazed at her modeling shots. She couldn't believe that was her in the photographs. Fuji and Sousuke were magicians. She opened the attachment that Fuji claimed required her attention.
“Kuon, do designers normally ask models for their input on their clothes?” She asked, interrupting the silence again. She wondered if he found her questions bothersome.
“It depends on the designer. Like Fuji-san, for instance, he prefers that his models love the clothes they would be wearing so it’s not unheard of that he would reach out for your opinion. Is it from him?”
She nodded.
“Feel free to be brutally honest. He would appreciate it.”
“Okay,” Kyoko said quietly and studied the designs. She liked them all, but she couldn’t tell him that. It would be useless feedback for the designer. She looked them over again and took her time giving her honest opinion on color, cut, and neckline. When she thought she provided an honest response, she opened the last attachment.
Kyoko gasped and gawked at the fashion drawings included.
“What’s wrong, Princess?” He asked pausing from reading his mail.
“Fuji-san wants to hold a photoshoot on the beach while we’re in L.A.,” she whispered.
Kuon frowned when she didn’t say more. Kyoko turned her phone in his direction.
"Oh!" He exclaimed, looking at the sketch. The drawing model wore a very tiny bikini. He groaned. Is that supposed to be a swimsuit? Is Fuji-san taking advantage of the fact that they would be in the States where wearing something this revealing was considered normal? Her thumb clicked on the button to scroll through the images of more swimsuits. He was glad none of them were more revealing than that first one.
"Maybe I should go on a diet and start working out more,” she sighed. I thought I had until spring to worry about this sort of thing. She suddenly remembered Fuji’s warning about clothing and seasons. Swimsuit shoot in the Fall season would be right on track for a summer release. Kyoko was worried she wouldn't look good in such mature swimwear. Sho's old words threatened to burst forth from the far reaches of her mind.
Kuon knew exactly where her thoughts were going. "Don't you dare start thinking like that! I don't mind if you do those things for health reasons, but if you think your body is inadequate you are dead wrong." He leaned down and pulled her into a passionate kiss. He left her breathless when he pulled away. "Trust me I'm an expert in you. You are stunning just the way you are.” His fingers trailed from her hips to cup her face. “There's nothing that needs changing. As a model and actress, there's a certain image to uphold so I understand the need to stay fit just don't go overboard. We can work out together if you like. I have some equipment here, but I think that it would be too heavy for you. We can use the gym at LME if we can ever find the time."
Kyoko nodded and kissed him. She laid back down and finished her response to Fuji. She would try to do her best.
She was finally done reading her mail and looked up at her boyfriend. He had significantly more to go through than she did. She felt bad for having taken up all his time since she moved in. He was not the type to ignore work.
Kuon scrolled through his email. He sighed while continuing to run his free hand through Kyoko's hair. What had he been up to until now? There were many emails from women he had worked with in the past. Looking at the messages, it was no wonder Kyoko thought he was a playboy. He was disgusted with his public persona. Why did he make Ren be a gentleman to everyone? He thought that he went public with Kyoko this behavior would cease. It only seemed to increase and the women had become bolder. He stopped reading the content after the first few. What did they see in him anyway? They hardly knew him and he made sure to keep it that way.
He was startled from his thoughts when his girlfriend reached up and caressed his cheek. "What's wrong, Corn? Did you get some bad news?"
Kuon smiled down at Kyoko and turned his head to kiss the inside of her palm. For a fraction of a moment, he contemplated omitting the truth somehow. "I'm a big idiot. I'm still receiving emails from former female colleagues. It's like they are blatantly ignoring the fact that we're in a committed relationship."
Kyoko tensed in his lap. He winced as her face quickly went through a slew of dark emotions: jealousy, sadness, anger then nothing. He didn't want her bottling up her feelings. This was exactly what he was trying to avoid. He didn't want his past actions causing her any heartache. Before continuing, he quickly replied to Director Konoe’s email informing him of the change of plans for the Tragic Marker premiere. Kuon agreed to the change. A glance told him that none of the remaining emails were work-related. He selected all and deleted everything. He put his phone down and gathered her in his arms giving her his full attention.
"I'm sorry, baby. I can't change Ren’s, my, past. I’m guessing it's because I’m dating you that they think they have a chance of coming between us. Before, the emails were mainly about work anything beyond that was declined so I don’t know why they continue to message me. I'll spare you the details but they have become daring in their invitations."
Kyoko sagged against him. He tipped her chin up and kissed her softly on the lips. He was relieved when she returned his affection. He pulled away to look at her and continued to run his fingers through her hair.
It was useless to hold it against him. He was just too kind and way too good looking. Who wouldn't want a chance to date him? She understood how all the women felt. She was just as guilty. She had put him on a pedestal and revered him a God at some point. She had judged him as someone completely out of her reach. She still couldn't believe he chose her among the millions of beautiful women in this world. She closed her eyes as his long fingers ran through her hair. It was nice to just sit like this.
"I did get an email from Dad,” he began, hoping to navigate them to a more pleasant mood. “I feel bad since he sent it a while ago. It was buried among the junk mail. I had asked him a question on something I thought of the night of the awards ceremony. Do you remember what you asked me when I first walked in and caught you twirling around in your dress?" He waited as she thought about it.
Kyoko smiled as she recalled that night fondly. "I saw you standing there staring at me so intently so I was wondering if something was out of place. I asked you, 'Do I look alright?' and you said 'baby, you look wonderful tonight.' The way you looked at me that night made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world."
Kuon frowned. "I hope I look at you like that always because it's the way I feel about you 100 percent of the time. Even first thing in the morning."
Kyoko laughed. He was such a liar but she loved him for it. She sat up and gave him a peck on the lips in thanks for the compliment. "So what did Otou-san say?"
It was Kyoko’s turn to be confused. Instead of answering her, he slid her off of him and went to turn on the stereo system. He grabbed his phone and after a minute of tapping a slow song emitted from the speakers.
He put his phone down and held out a hand for hers. Kyoko felt ridiculous. Although they washed up, they were still lounging in their pajamas. If you could call them that. She was clad in his T-shirt while he wore a pair of silk pajama pants. She placed her hand in his and stood. Kuon immediately wrapped her in his embrace and swayed slowly to the song. She laid her head against his bare chest and let the song wash over her while they moved as one to the song.
"It's late in the evening; she's wondering what clothes to wear. She puts on her make-up and brushes her long blonde hair; And then she asks me, Do I look all right? And I say, Yes, you look wonderful tonight... "
Kyoko’s head shot up in amazement and smiled broadly. That’s why he played this song. It was exactly the exchange they had that night. Kuon tilted his head down and kissed her forehead.
They continued to dance while gazing into each other’s eyes. "My dad used to play this song before he and my mom used to go out for the evening. They would dance in the living room or the kitchen. I was always so happy watching them. Although I was happy for them, this song also reminded me that I would be left alone in this large house for the rest of the night. I don’t mean alone in every sense of the word, there was always an adult to watch over me, but you understand my meaning. They were so in love with each other. It sometimes made me feel lonely like I was intruding in on their party of two."
Kyoko's eyes glistened as a tear escaped the corner of her eye. He sounded so sad as he recalled the memories of his childhood. He must have been so lonely back then. Kuon kissed the tear away. "I understand now that I'm older and I have you. I know how my parents feel about each other. I was a product of their love."
"I'm so glad you were born. I'm sorry you were so lonely as a child. I wish I could have been there for you somehow. You gave me corn. Thinking of you kept me from falling into despair. I'm sure that Otou-san and your mother didn't mean to make you feel left out." She leaned her head back on his chest and tightened her arms around him.
"I'm scared...of going back home...of finding my room converted into a craft room or something...of being forgotten. I mean, what if they had another child to replace me?" He was such a coward. He had told Tadashi that he was ready to face his past, but here he was still having these thoughts.
Kuon felt Kyoko's body shaking in his arms. Is she okay? He backed away from her to look at her properly.
Kyoko tried to suppress her giggle, but her shaking body gave her away. He was trying to be serious right now, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that his fears were groundless.
Kuon turned away and pouted. Here he was being honest and she was laughing at him.
Kyoko hugged his large frame from behind. "Corn, I'm sorry. I don't mean to laugh right now, but you have to understand that what you’re saying is quite funny. I doubt your parents would have been able to hide a second child from you or the paparazzi. Plus, the way Otou-san and Julienna-san gush about you on our email exchange I'm pretty sure they have left everything the same to preserve their memory of you. If anything they probably built a shrine and have scrapbooks filled with your accomplishments. You're the bravest and kindest man I know. I will lend you my guts when its time to meet them. You’re no longer alone. We're no longer alone. We have each other now so lean on me sometimes."
Kuon turned in her arms and lifted her princess style. He felt invigorated by her words. "I love you Kyoko! With you by my side, I feel like I can do anything. You make me braver." Her arms squeezed around his neck tightly as he twirled her around the room. He kissed her dizzily and carried her to their bedroom. Kyoko's heart thumped rapidly with anticipation; she could never get enough of his loving.
"Koki, Queen B is on the line for you," the receptionist called out from her desk. The reporter for Boost magazine quickly snatched up the receiver of his desk phone. He had been in a slump these past few issues and needed something good to get out of this rut.
"This is Koki. What do you have for me?" he listened to his source at the other end of the line and tried to contain his delight. "There are no guarantees. I have to research it thoroughly before it goes to print. It will take me a few days to confirm then write something up. Thanks for the tip." Koki let out a hoot when he hung up the phone. He could usually count on her to provide him insider information. He knew she was an actress. He just had no clue which one and honestly didn't care to find out. One or both of these celebrities must have royally pissed her off.
She was his only source that didn't want any compensation for her information. He had asked her about her name and she responded with a superior air that the "Queen" was the most powerful piece on the chessboard as for the "B" he would have to use his imagination. She once told him that seeing her fellow celebrities go up in flames was a reward in itself. He felt terrible for anyone that crossed her in showbiz. Most of his successful "exposés" were based on her tips. Sure, he twisted the truth a bit to fit his agenda but the masses didn't care. The leeches would latch on to any half-truths and take it as gospel. If Queen B was bringing this to him, she must have heard it first hand. He turned on his laptop and got to work.
Kyoko walked into Fuji TV with Yashiro. She was meeting the rest of the main cast for a promotional interview for The Sacred Lotus. She wore her long hair in soft waves and applied her makeup tastefully. She was getting better at applying her make-up thanks to the tips from Muse and the R'Mandy makeup artist Aya. Her outfits were also improving. Today she wore a gray bodycon midi skirt that stopped below her knees and a matching blouse with three-quarter sleeves. For accessories, she made sure to wear Princess Rosa and her charm bracelet for added luck. Ren had assured her that she looked sexy yet professional. She accused him of being biased, but the heart-stopping kiss he gave her was convincing enough.
Kyoko was excited to see him tonight. They would be transforming into the Heel siblings. She wasn't sure how their new intimacy would translate as brother and sister. She knew that once they were in the room Ren would take his role seriously and become Cain Heel completely so she would do the same. Even if things passed the appropriate level of boundaries of their brother/sister relationship, they could relish in the fact that they were indeed not related should anything happen.
Kyoko and Yashiro were led to the green room by an assistant. She was a few minutes early and the first to arrive. She didn't wait long when Koga walked in with Asahina and Cedric in tow. She bowed to greet her costars. The same assistant returned and led them towards the stage.
Kyoko was always nervous when it came to live audience interviews. One would think she'd be used to it by now since she was an actress after all. There was something different between acting in front of a camera where you could mess up and redo it as opposed to a live interview. She felt like she was being scrutinized. The bright lights shining on the stage made it difficult to connect with the audience so she felt uneasy talking to a void. Thank goodness it was only a half hour segment. After the interview she had a CM shoot for a designer watch brand then she would meet up with Ten to become Setsuka. The premiere was on for tomorrow night but Lory thought it was best to give them a day to get back into their roles before it was showtime.
Kyoko walked on to the set with her costars when the hostess announced them. She greeted and bowed politely then took her seat at the end, to the right of Cedric. Most of the initial questions were directed at Koga and Asahina since they were the main leads. The host was very professional with including all four stars.
The hostess addressed a question towards Cedric. "Bennett-san, how are you enjoying filming in Japan? Can you tell us some of your experiences here that may be different from what you're used to in Hollywood?"
Cedric cringed. He only understood a few of the words that the hostess had asked him in Japanese. He was able to get away with his acting because he had a translator and a linguist to help him with his lines. He didn't have many lines in the movie. What he lacked in dialogue, he made up in action.
Kyoko glanced at Cedric when he was hesitant to answer. She realized he probably didn't understand the question. She leaned towards him and translated for him. Cedric looked at his costar surprised. He had forgotten that she spoke perfect English. He concentrated on what she was saying. Cedric nodded as he listened to Kyoko. He turned to the hostess to apologize for his poor knowledge of the Japanese language. He tried his best to respond in Japanese but ended up speaking English as well which left the hostess confused. To his credit, what he did say in Japanese came out perfectly annunciated. He gave Kyoko a pleading look to bail him out.
Kyoko turned to the hostess. "What Bennett-san was trying to say is that 'there are not many differences in the execution of the production here in Japan versus Hollywood. Everyone he has worked with on this production can easily work on a big Hollywood film. They are all very skilled and passionate about their jobs and he doesn't think that they are inferior to an American team. He admires the professionalism and work ethic of the Japanese."
The hostess responded and thanked him for his kind words to the people of their country. Kyoko translated for Cedric which he gave a small bow from his sitting position. He leaned in and whispered, "Thank you, Kyoko-chan. You’re a lifesaver. " Kyoko smiled and bowed her head.
The host then turned to Kyoko. "Kyoko-san that’s amazing that you’re fluent in English. Even if people learn in school they still have little opportunity to practice their English unless they live in heavy tourist areas."
"I've had the opportunity to work in a Ryokan so it was necessary to learn English," Kyoko replied with a smile.
"Amazing Kyoko-san! Can I ask what it's like for you to play a kunoichi after playing antagonist roles like Mio and Natsu?"
"Yes, Momiji is very different from the previous roles I have acted. Even though she was raised an assassin, trained to show no emotions, she still could not cast off her maiden's heart. I have to portray her with having a wide range of emotions that she is not always able to suppress."
"Oh, that's right. If I recall the original work, your character is hopelessly in love with Koga-san's character. How is that going? Any sparks flying on the set between you two?"
Kyoko managed to blush rather than glare. She was unsure of how to answer the annoying question. If sparks were flying, wouldn't it be between the leads? Everyone knows I’m dating Ren...calm down Kyoko. Ren warned you about this. It’s how they keep things interesting.
"I assure you that aside from Momiji being in love with Shizuma-sama. Hiromune-san and I are just colleagues," Kyoko responded with a small smile. She was tempted to add that she was happily in love with Ren but didn't want to take away the focus from their movie.
"You wound me, Kyoko-chan. I thought after all the bloodshed we've been through, we were at least friends. She doesn't see any other man but Tsuruga-kun so we can't hold it against her though," Koga joked.
Everyone laughed at his jest. Kyoko ignored the heat on her cheeks and gave Koga a blank stare. Well, there was nothing she could do if someone else involves him. Before the hostess could bite on that tidbit, Koga, ever the manipulator, steered them right past it.
"Kyoko-chan is right though. We are all professional and are all dedicated to giving a great performance. We hope everyone will support us and enjoy our movie when it is finally released," Koga told the hostess and turned to the camera to address the audience as well giving them his trademark winning smile.
"Speaking for myself, I’m very excited about this film. I’m sure the audience is also.” Cheers and applause filled the audience in response. “With that said, we're almost out of time. Before we say goodbye, we received a clip of teasers from the movie. Let's take a look, shall we?"
The two-minute-long segment was a mashup of various scenes: Shizuma having a tender moment with Chidori, Shizuma trading sword blows with Yamada, and then Momiji in an intense battle against five enemies. The clip ended with her 'dust whirlwind' attack defeating her attackers and flicking the blood off her short swords. The camera zoomed in on her intense golden eyes then the screen went black signaling the end of the clip. The audience roared to life with applause. When they finally calmed down, the hostess said her parting words to the camera. They received the signal that they were off the air allowing everyone to move freely. Kyoko rose and bowed to everyone for their hard work.
Kimiko threw her drink at the television after watching the Sacred Lotus interview. This bitch! Who does she think she is? Is she already so bored of Ren-san that she’s moving in on my Ric? Is it the same with Fuwa Sho? She had heard the guy's latest songs. It was obvious that someone broke his heart. It had to be that two-faced bitch. She had to save Ric from being ensnared by her and also help Ren see her true nature. Kimiko thought back to all her failed attempts at getting rid of Kyoko ever since she caught her with Ren at that restaurant. How could he even associate with someone that lived in a dive like that?
Kimiko’s blood seethed with hatred that night. She staked out Kyoko's place hoping to figure out a way to get out of the agreement she was for to make with Erika when the foreign couple approached. It didn't take her long to figure out that it was Kyoko and Ren in disguise. They were secretly dating. She thought about exposing them but thought twice about it. Everyone assumed they were an item after that club feature.
All the traps she had set up throughout the set had failed to do major damage to her prey. Some were even triggered by other people before Kyoko could get to them. Even Mother Nature interfered with her plans. The earthquake was unexpected that it probably ruined her best chance to inflict permanent harm to her. If only the earthquake didn't happen, Kyoko would have been flattened by the set that was rigged to topple over on her during one of the scenes. Kimiko was running out of patience. If Koki didn’t pull through soon, she would need to figure out a new approach. Kyoko didn't deserve these men fawning over her. Kimiko knew a good girl act when she saw one. She needed to save these men from her. If Kimiko couldn't act, it was only fair that neither could Kyoko.
Notes:
Thank you for always reading! I hope you enjoyed it.
The song Kyoko sang to RenKuon was "Angel Baby" by Rosie and the Originals. The song they danced to was Eric Clapton's "Wonderful." (Can you imagine Kuu and Juliena dancing to this song as well?)
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 44: Shinigami
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, we will see the return of Cain and Setsu!
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi thrummed his fingers on the armrest of his leather desk chair. He gazed outside of his office window deep in thought. He was contemplating his next move. He was a man of action. He hated the waiting game. Saena had yet to return his call. Granted, it had only been less than 24 hours since he tried to contact her. Could she possibly be refusing to see him? Should he just give up and let things lie in the past? He turned in his chair and opened his desk drawer. He removed the old shoebox that contained all the letters he had failed to send so long ago.
In the beginning, he had written one every day for the first few months. Over time as his workload increased, it started to dwindle to a few a week until it finally trickled to a halt. After a year had gone by, he realized the time for him to act had long past. There was little hope back then that she would forgive him after so long. Tadashi opened his drawer and pulled out a few blank sheets of paper. He penned his final letter to her and placed it in the box. If she didn't call him by this time tomorrow, he would take action.
"Mo! What the hell is this crap about your father? How could you send me something like that and think I'd be satisfied! You better call me back anytime as soon as you can or I'm never speaking to you again!"
"So I'm guessing Kotonami-san didn't take the news well about your father," Yashiro commented, overhearing the message as he drove Kyoko to the hotel where she and Ren would be staying as the Heel siblings.
Kyoko cringed at the voicemail Kanae left her. She must be very angry at her to leave such a message with, call me back anytime.
"Yes, I told her in an email about how I met him and how our progress has been. I guess I need to talk to her properly," Kyoko sighed. "Do you mind if I call her now?"
"I have no problems with it," Yashiro replied smoothly, hiding his excitement. He was eager to learn how she was doing in the States.
"Mo! It took you long enough! You're lucky I'm not sleeping. I would have turned off my phone so my rest wouldn't be interrupted," Kanae scolded as soon as the line connected.
"I'm sorry Moko-san!" Kyoko wailed into the mouthpiece. "Please forgive me!"
"For what? For forgetting your best friend. For dropping a bomb like that on email. For making me worry so much that I messed up at work. For keeping me awake tonight hoping you would call," Kanae laid the guilt on thick.
"Eh, Moko-san. I'm so sorry for all of that. You are my dearest best friend. Please don't hate me!" Kyoko wailed into the phone.
"Kyoko-chan, please don't scream like that. You scared me. I almost ran off the road," Yashiro admonished her.
On the other end of the call, Kanae tensed up as she heard Yashiro's voice through the receiver. They were in the car meaning that even if she wasn't on speakerphone, he would still be able to hear what she said.
"Ah, sorry, Yashiro-san. Please excuse me. I'll be quieter," Kyoko apologized.
"Mo, is your glasses manager with you right now? He knows everything already about your father, even before me?" Kanae got herself worked. If she was in Japan, she wouldn't have been the last to know these things. She knew she was being unreasonable given the circumstances. She was overseas, but she couldn't help sulking. This is why she never bothered with friends; they were so tiresome.
"It couldn't be helped. My father was behind the burglary at the Darumaya! It's only right that Yashiro-san knows about him from the start," explained Kyoko.
"What the hell? Your father was the robber and you only tell me this now! How has the President or Tsuruga-san not have him in jail right now? Ugh, you're such a big idiot!" Kanae pinched the bridge of her nose to release the tension between her eyes. She couldn't believe her friend had got herself into so much trouble in the short time she had been gone. She was like a poster child for negativity.
"That's harsh, Moko-san. Tadashi-san, that's his name, if you remember. Of course, you remember, you have an excellent memory and you're so smart..."
"Mo! Get back to your point!" Kanae shouted.
"You don't have to yell, Moko-san. As I was trying to say, he was remorseful for his actions so I've chosen to give him another chance," Kyoko explained, hoping her friend would understand her choice.
"I know you crave parental love given your relationship with your mother, but did it ever occur to you that he could be duping you?" Kanae asked with concern.
"I'm not that stupid," Kyoko grumbled. "There's always that fear in the back of my mind, but I'm trying to look at this positively. I don't see why he would, Moko-san. He has nothing to gain from a relationship with me. He seems to genuinely want to make up for the lost time. In fact, he is relocating from New York City to Tokyo so he can be closer to me."
Kanae sighed. Her best friend still had no clue how much she was worth. "Has your mother even met him to confirm his identity? I mean, how are you so sure he is who he claims to be?"
"A DNA test was done. President Takarada has confirmed its validity. There's no doubt we are related biologically. There are also things about him that can't be refuted. You'll see when you finally meet him. Even if that wasn't done, his story jives with what my mother has told me.
Kyoko heard Kanae sigh again and grimaced. She didn't like troubling her best friend. "I'm sorry Moko-san. I didn't mean to cause you trouble with my problems. I didn't know how to tell you without interrupting your work, and I didn't want you to hate me for keeping it from you when you returned home."
"Mo, it's okay. I think I understand now. In the future, please don't hesitate to call me if you need me. I know you have a boyfriend, but I want you to know you can still count on me."
Kyoko brightened. Her friend just gave her permission to call her, "Yay, Moko-san, you're the best friend a girl could ever ask for! I'll be sure to seek your counsel.."
"Mo, wait! Hold on a damn minute that doesn't mean you come to me for every little problem, you got that! I don't want to hear about your petty little issues with your boyfriend or any of that cutesy lovey-dovey talk either. I might seriously barf," Kanae sputtered, trying to retract what she said a moment ago. She knew if she gave Kyoko a centimeter she would consider it a kilometer.
Kyoko smiled. It was so like Kanae. Even though she tried to act like she didn't care her feelings were the total opposite. "Neh, Moko, when are you coming back? I miss you!"
"Oh, please. It sounds like you have plenty going on to keep you busy. Even if I was there, you wouldn't have time for me," Kanae sulked.
Kyoko thought she sounded cute but knew better than to mention it. Her friend sounded homesick.
"That's not true, Moko-san. I will always have time for my best friend," Kyoko assured her.
"If you must know, I'll be wrapping up here in two weeks. Matsushima-san already has something new for me there. It's another drama, but it seems to be an even larger role than the last. Before you ask, don't, because I don't have any details either!"
"Okay, then please let me know your schedule. We'll be sure to pick you up from the airport." Kyoko was excited to hear about Kanae's newest project, but nothing trumped her best friend coming home.
"Mo! Who are we? Surely your boyfriend has better things to do than chauffeur us around."
"No, silly, Yashiro-san and I, of course."
Kanae pulled her phone from her ear as the sound of blaring horns and screeching tires filled the receiver.
After the initial shock wore off, Kyoko suppressed her giggle at Yashiro's reaction, but nearly causing her manager to lose control of the vehicle was no laughing matter.
"I'm sure your manager would have better things to do as well. I can just take the train home," Kanae told her, not wanting to see that man so soon. She, annoyingly, found her thoughts wandering to him on more than one occasion since the night of the club. Her goal was to be a top actress. She didn't need any distractions right now.
"One moment, Moko." Kyoko covered the mouthpiece of the phone while she discussed with Yashiro about the prospect of giving Kanae a lift from the airport.
"Hello, Moko-san, are you still there? Yashiro-san said if you send us your information he would make sure that we're there to pick you up."
"We're almost there, Kyoko-chan. You may want to wrap up your phone call. I'm not sure if the signal is good down there," Yashiro warned. The reception was always bad in these lower-level parking lots. All the concrete and steel above tended to weaken a signal.
"I have to go now. I'll be finishing up my 'something dangerous' LoveMe assignment, so you won't hear from me for a few days. I'll talk to you soon. Good luck with your work!"
"Wait, Kyo-!" Kanae stared at her phone, shocked that Kyoko was the first to end the call. She was starting to get a migraine. She wanted to know just what the President had her doing. She looked at the clock and groaned. She needed to get some sleep or she would be extra crabby in the morning.
Kyoko hung up with her best friend before she could grill her on what she was doing. She still couldn't tell her the truth about her mission. Kyoko bounced excitedly, in just two short weeks her friend would be home.
"Thank you, Yashiro-san. I'm sorry for assuming that you would have nothing better to do than drive two girls around. If it's inconvenient, Moko-san and I can work something out."
"Kyoko-chan, I said we would pick her up; therefore, we would. It shouldn't be a problem." Yashiro made sure not to show any excitement over the young actress; otherwise, he would be on the receiving end of his charges' merciless teasing.
"Maybe I can plan a welcome home dinner for her that night. I'm sure Taisho and Okami-san wouldn't mind if we had it at the restaurant. Although, I don't want to trouble them." Kyoko folded her arms and tucked her chin between her index finger and thumb while she pondered an alternate location.
"How about at your apartment? It's as much your place as it is Ren's so I'm sure he won't mind," Yashiro suggested as he turned into the hotel's basement parking lot.
Kyoko smacked her right fist into her left palm. "That's right! I'll ask Ren about it next time I see him. I still have time to plan. You'll come right, Yashiro-san? I'm sure Moko-san will be happy to see you there."
Yashiro-san pulled the car next to a trailer in the darkest recess of the basement lot and parked.
"Why would you think my presence would make Kotonami-san happy, Kyoko-chan?" Yashiro knew he was fishing, but he wanted to know if the raven-haired beauty ever talked about him.
"Eh, isn't it because we're friends. We all got along at the club so surely the more people to welcome her home the better, right?"
"Oh, of course," Yashiro-san replied, hiding the disappointment in his voice.
Kyoko pulled out a little notebook from her bag and jotted some notes. "I was thinking of inviting Hiou-kun, but he doesn't know that Ren and I are living together. I'll have to ask Ren about it. Chiori-san already knows about us." Kyoko sighed and put away her notebook. It was useless to get ahead of herself. She still needed to ask Ren. He would be Cain Heel the next time she saw him so it would have to wait until after they completed this part of the mission.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to her manager. "Thanks for the ride, Yashiro-san. You're meeting up with Ren after this, right?"
Yashiro nodded. She didn't know how to ask her manager for this favor without feeling like a total pervert.
Yashiro waited for her to continue. It seemed like she needed something from him, but was having difficulty finding the words.
"Umm, Yashiro-san, can I ask you a favor?
"Anything, Kyoko-chan," he replied eagerly. It wasn't often that she asked him for a personal request.
"Can you please keep it from Ren?" Kyoko asked tentatively. Yashiro looked at her nervously. What did she want from him that she couldn't tell Ren?
"Oh, never mind. I can't possibly ask you to do it!" Her face flamed red as she moved to get out of the car.
"Kyoko-chan, wait!" Yashiro reached out, placing a hand on her forearm. "I know I'm Ren's manager, but I'm also yours. I take my job seriously, so if there's something I can help you with, exclusively, I can keep it from Ren. As long as it doesn't bring harm to either of you, personally or professionally, I can be discreet. I'd like to think I already earned your trust in that department." He wondered if this had something do with the doctor's office. He didn't tell Ren about her checkup nor Kimiko, so wouldn't that qualify him as trustworthy.
Kyoko nodded realizing her slip up. Of course, she could trust him. "It's nothing that serious, Yashiro-san; it's actually quite juvenile. I'm almost too embarrassed to ask you."
"I won't know if I'm able to help unless you ask. I promise not to judge you. I'd like to think that I'm more mature than that, so please let me hear your request." Inner Yashiro applauded his self-control. He hoped he could convince her to tell him what she wanted. He was brimming with curiosity now.
Kyoko eyed him skeptically. She knew very well just how their manager behaved when it came to their relationship, but this could be her only chance to get one. She wanted one and she could only ask him.
She resigned herself to ask. "Fine, you can just tell Ren. He already knows anyway. Just promise not to laugh, okay?" Yashiro nodded. She took a deep breath, "Can you please take a picture for me of Ren in his fireman costume?"
Yashiro started coughing in an attempt to control his laughter. He was so relieved that her request was such a simple one. By the look on her serious face, he thought it would be something more drastic. As mature as she acts, she still had this cute side to her. Ren would be happy to know that his girlfriend was fangirling over him.
"Yashiro-san, you promised," she pouted. "Never mind," she said with a huff as she got out of the car. "I knew it was silly."
"Kyoko-chan, wait. I'll do it!" He exclaimed before she could run away.
"You will? Thank you, Yashiro-san. I know it's stupid but I want to see him act out a hero role," she smiled happily and bowed. Yashiro returned her smiled and waved as he pulled away in the car. Ren didn't know how lucky he was to have such an adorable girl like Kyoko loving him. He hoped his male charge didn't screw things up.
Kyoko watched Yashiro drive away before turning to the trailer. She knocked then opened the door when she heard the voice inside tell her to come in.
"Good afternoon, Muse-sama," Kyoko greeted, bowing as she entered.
Ren stepped out of frame of his outdoor set pulling off the full face breathing apparatus then removed his helmet. He paused in slipping off the tank on his back as one of the camera technicians removed the miniature first-person body camera that was attached to his jacket. The Director thought it would be a great addition to the drama to have footage using a first-person's point of view. Ren had never used the technique before so he was excited to see how the Director incorporated it into the episode.
Yashiro approached Ren while tucking his phone back into his jacket pocket. Kyoko would be very pleased with the shots he took. They were magazine-worthy if he'd say so himself. Yashiro handed him a towel and a bottle of water.
Ren dribbled water over his head to cool himself off. Unbeknownst to him, his actions caused three women in the vicinity to swoon. Yashiro smiled tightlipped as he watched Ren's female co-star go down behind him. Seriously, why was this man so blessed by the gods?
"You're smirking, Yashiro-san. Dare I ask the reason behind it?" Ren narrowed his eyes at his manager, oblivious to the commotion behind him.
The costume designer came by and retrieved the props from Ren including the heavy jacket. Ren's navy undershirt he wore was plastered to his body with sweat. The tight shirt enhanced his bulging biceps, chiseled chest, and washboard abs. His co-star went down again behind him, only this time from an apparent nosebleed. The corner of Yashiro's mouth twitched with amusement.
"Ren, we need to get you out of here before you do any more damage," Yashiro suggested, dragging him to the trailer. "Oh, but first stand right here a moment." Yashiro maneuvered Ren in front of his trailer.
Ren stood confused but waited. Yashiro put on his gloves and whipped out his cellphone. He started snapping pictures.
"Yashiro, what are you doing?" Ren asked, staring at his manager like he was crazy.
"I've got a special request from a certain someone," Yashiro mentioned by way of explanation.
Ren smirked. No doubt his pretty little girlfriend put their manager up to this task. He figured he could indulge her a bit. He leaned against the trailer of his dressing room and folded his arms. Click! He pushed back his sweaty hair and held his hand there while gazing into the camera. Click! He flexed his biceps in a bodybuilder's pose and flashed a boyish grin at the lens. Click!
"Alright, that's enough," Ren called a halt to the impromptu photoshoot when people started to notice what they were doing. He furrowed his brow and wondered what happened when he noticed the state of his costar. She didn't look too well as her manager used a document to fan some air at her face.
He figured she was in good hands as the site medic approached her and let himself into his trailer. Ren peeled off his t-shirt. As he was pulling it over his head, he heard the distinct sound of a camera shutter.
He glared at his manager. "Yashiro-san, now that's just creepy. I'm starting to feel violated."
The manager chuckled as Ren walked into the adjoining bathroom to take a shower. While he waited, Yashiro prepared the email to send to Kyoko with all the photos he snapped. He grumbled as he thumbed through the photos of the overly handsome actor. He didn't recognize his charge. Kyoko was rubbing off on him for the better. Ren still kept up his gentleman persona while working, but now and again he would let his face slip. Yashiro didn't think it was necessarily a bad thing. He liked this side of Ren that showed more emotion and acted his age. He was happy for his friend.
Yashiro and Ren were walking out to the car when his costar caught up with him. She placed her hand on his arm, familiarly, which made him promptly step away.
She was taken aback by the clear sign of rejection but persevered. "Tsuruga-san, do you want to get dinner or drinks? I thought we can talk over our characters and maybe get to know one another."
Yashiro grimaced as Ren pasted on his most brilliant gentleman smile. "I'm sorry. I have plans tonight with my girlfriend," Ren stressed with an extreme emphasis on "girlfriend."
To the woman's credit, she hesitated before continuing, "Oh, perhaps another time. When are you free?"
Ren increased the wattage on his smile. "I apologize, I'll say it more plainly. If I'm not working, I'm happily spending my free time with my girlfriend. We are both busy so I cherish every minute of alone time I can get with her. In other words, I am never free. Have a good rest of your evening." Ren bowed to his co-star leaving her rooted there in shock.
Lory lit his cigar as he watched Ten put the finishing touches on Ren for his transformation into Cain Heel. They were in her trailer in the hotel basement parking lot. Lory was once again clad in black leather befitting an acquaintance of the Heel siblings. Surprisingly, he looked normal compared to the other outlandish outfits he tended to favor. He could pass as the Boss of a biker gang.
"So Director Konoe informed you of the change?" Lory asked, directing his question toward Ren.
Ren nodded. "He changed his mind about revealing the man behind Cain Heel to the public completely."
"It's a good move on his part. He wants to stir up the masses first. Get them talking about the actor Cain Heel then drop that bomb on them after the movie has been out for some time," Lory told him taking a puff of his cigar.
Ren agreed. That was originally the plan. What was Director Konoe thinking? In the email, the director had begged him to not let Cain Heel be late for the premiere. Ren had to smile at how his alter ego was almost always late for work. Ren was the total opposite. He had a reputation in the business as the "never late king," in which he prided himself. Cain Heel had no such obligations. He was all about doing whatever he wanted, but this time he promised he would be there on time.
"All done, Ren-chan. Here are your contacts," Ten said, handing him the small case.
Ren washed his hands in the adjoining bathroom and removed his dark brown contacts to reveal his green eyes. Switching his contacts this go-around was so much smoother. He had become used to looking at his natural eyes thanks to her. The anxiousness he felt before taking this role was nearly non-existent. He inserted Cain's blue contacts and emerged from the bathroom.
"You'll need this," Lory told him and handed over a black wallet with a metal chain that would connect to his belt loop. It was full of Yen and a company credit card under his pseudo name. As Cain Heel, he couldn't exactly carry Ren's cards around. A fake ID was also included. Knowing how thorough the President was, Cain probably had a whole background in the system. If the police were to run a check on him, he had no doubt they would be looking at a fabricated profile on him. Ren had no desire to test that theory.
Ten clapped her hands with glee. Just like his sister, he was truly a masterpiece. Ren bowed to his companions and left, eager to meet her again.
The God of Death emerged out of the darkness in the corner of the basement lot at the hotel. He was dressed in his signature black clothing, worn combat boots, and long leather coat despite the warm weather. He was back in Tokyo, for the premiere of his latest movie.
Took these bloody people long enough to edit a fucking movie!
The only upside to this gig was that his cute little sister was already waiting for him in their room. I better get a smoke in before seeing Setsu. He didn't want to sully her precious lungs with his bad habit. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. The flame from his lighter revealed his dangerous eyes. A car in the parking lot drove passed him. Cain snorted as he heard the woman passenger scream in horror to her male companion that she just saw a Shinigami. He assumed the driver saw his wraithlike reflection in the mirror since the car accelerated away with a loud squeal of tires. Cain took a long drag of his cigarette as he sauntered up to the elevator.
He imagined the cute little blonde, tapping her manicured nails on the table wondering when her nii-san would arrive. She would most likely be pouting and demanding to know what took him so long. She was so adorable when she did both. He couldn't deny his precious little sister anything. He loved spoiling her. He hoped what he had planned for tonight would make up for his tardiness. He couldn't wait to hold her in his arms again. No one could fault him for " loving" his little sister. What man wouldn't love having a sweet adoring woman like Setsu clinging to him? It was a guarantee that no other man would ever find out. She belonged to him. It would be over his dead body before he let anyone else have her. But even then, he would come back from the dead to make sure that never happens.
Cain squashed his cigarette with his boot heel before entering the lift. He stood in the back corner with his arms crossed and a menacing look in his eye. His jaw clenched and neck muscles twitched as other guests or employees in the hotel refused to get on the elevator once they spied him in the corner. His glare probably didn't help matters. Every stop made him more irritated when nobody got on the lift. They were eating up his precious time with his sister and it was pissing him off.
The few pitiful souls that failed to notice him before the doors closed barely survived the elevator ride, confined in a small space with his suppressing dark aura. Cain smirked. He swore he could hear their knees knocking as they quivered in fear in the opposite corner. Not realizing they were all holding their breath, there was a collective sigh of relief as he finally reached his floor and exited the elevator.
Cain traversed the hall quickly and was at their room in seconds. He raised his hand to knock but caught himself. He used his card to enter the room and dread filled him. Why was it so dark? He switched on the entrance light and stepped into the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. He strained his ears for any unusual sounds. It was quiet, too quiet. Every muscle in his body tensed as he moved slowly down the hall, careful to mask his footsteps. It was out of character for her not to greet him. The dark and vacant bathroom he passed told him she wasn't in there. He paused at the end of the hall and heard faint sounds coming from the main room. The relief he felt rapidly coursed through his body. He discovered the object of his affection fast asleep curled up on the couch like a kitten.
Notes:
Thank you for sticking with me, I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 45: Nightmares
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would be suffering from sexual frustration.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
He was relieved to find her sleeping on the couch. Like the phantom he portrayed, he stealthily walked into the main room, removed his coat, and sank to his knees in front of her. Guilt washed over him. Even though they had a late morning today, he knew she didn't sleep well because of him. First, he had selfishly taken her in the shower the night before if one would call grinding against her as such. The sound of her voice begging to be turned around continued to ring clear in his head. He knew that if he saw her face in the throes of passion his last remains of control would splinter. Then, he had woken her up with his nightmares. Kuon had been doing better since she moved in, but something was prompting the dreams again. Was it because of Cain or was it the terrifying idea of facing Rick again, even if it was just his headstone?
Feigning sleep, he remembered being lulled back into a dreamless slumber by her beautiful voice. He had squeezed her tight when he heard her trying to suppress her tears. He hated himself for making her cry for him. This morning he tried to get her to talk because he couldn't ignore her red eyes. She told him that she was just restless because of her upcoming interview and couldn't sleep well. He figured it wasn't a total lie and left it at that. Since she was fine the rest of the morning, he let her be. He had caught the interview on his phone and thought she did wonderfully. He didn't like how close she sat to Cedric, but couldn't fault her for caring. The guy seemed to have changed but Kuon would remain wary of him. He couldn't let years of torment go overnight.
He studied the angelic face sleeping before him, so soft and smooth. Worry filled him as he thought about the backlash she would experience if her role as Setsu was exposed. He didn't want people thinking that Kyoko was anything like Setsu in her everyday life. Now that they were in a relationship, they could easily play off the public displays of affection as Lory suggested. No matter the outcome, Kuon would be there to protect her.
He brushed the back of his knuckles across her cheek in a gentle caress then dragged his index finger against her pouty red lips. His fingers trailed down the side of her long porcelain neck leaving a streak of red lipstick on her skin. He paused as her eyelids fluttered but did not open. His hand ran over her collar bone down the top of her chest and over the mounds that her corseted top pushed up. His cock twitched inside the tight leather pants. The feel of his tip catching against the seam painfully brought him to his senses. He needed to be Cain right now. He hung his head in shame trying to get a grip on himself and get back into character. It didn't take him long to become Cain again. His head shot up at the sound of her shifting in front of him.
"Mmm, Kuon," A lustful sigh escaped her parted lips while she dozed. Every muscle in Cain's body tensed. His baby sister was talking in her sleep. Setsu shifted her legs and her hand slipped down to cup between her thighs. The patent leather miniskirt made it easy access for her. He bared his teeth when her tiny pink tongue flicked out to wet her lips.
Cain became livid as he realized that his little sister just called out another man's name in her sleep. He tried to look away but his eyes lingered on her gloved hand rubbing at her center. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Kuon," she moaned again, sending him grasping for his sanity.
Kuon knew his way of thinking was completely fucked if he was getting jealous over himself, but right now Cain's little sister was having an erotic dream and he wasn't in it, technically.
He knew it was Kyoko's subconscious dreaming of him touching her, but he was struggling to stay in character. He had to wake her up but damn her moans were making him so fucking hard. This is the test! Lory wanted them to take this first night together so they could work on getting back into their roles. He even reserved them a room with two separate beds. An obvious sign that he wanted them to play by the rules of siblings. He contemplated pulling up a chair and letting this play out. She would never know that he was here, watching her like a sick pervert.
What would Cain do? He knew what Kuon and Ren would do? Either one of them would be ripping her panties off right now, suckling her, stroking her, licking her. Fuck! He needed to stop. His dick was threatening to rip through his tight leather pants. He was Cain right now. He needed to think like Cain. Right now she was Cain's sweet baby sister dreaming of another man. He swore not more than ten minutes ago that no man would ever have her.
Kuon tried to push through the surface as he reached for his phone hoping to get a video of this gorgeous creature pleasuring herself. Cain squashed that idea fast.
Ah, fuck! He covered his face and peeked through his fingers. She was now sucking on one of her fingers. Her pink little tongue flicked and twirled around her digit like it was the most delicious thing she ever tasted. He thought he would come when her panting increased and her lust-filled voice reached his ears, "Kuon...harder...ugh...please don't stop...God, yes!"
Seriously! How good is this guy?
Cain had reached his limit. He had rushed here and she wasn't even paying any attention to him. "Setsu! Wake up!" He growled through gritted teeth.
Setsu's movements halted. Her blue eyes fluttered open but were glassy from sleep. She was startled to find a shadow looming over her. The room was dim. The only source of light came from the hall casting an eerie glow into the main room. In her sleep-induced state, she did what any other sane girl would do; however, it was so unlike Setsu, she screamed at the top of her lungs! The man was quick. His hand clamped down over her mouth. The thundering sound of her beating heart filled her ears as terror seized her rendering her tiny force of grudges useless. It was the Kmiko incident all over again. She kicked and struggled like a banshee as tears pricked the corner of her eyes. There was no way she would make it easy for this man. She tore at her attacker, her nails digging into flesh as she scratched. All her training as Momiji went out of the window as fear gripped her. He was big and he was strong. It took her a minute to register that he was speaking to her over the pounding of her heart.
"Shhh, it's just me. It's me, baby," Kuon cooed into her ear rocking her in his arms. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, baby. I didn't mean to scare you." He held her tightly and pelted her with soft kisses. He felt like such a shit.
Kyoko finally calmed down once she realized her assailant was Kuon. She overreacted and lost her hold of Setsu. She would have automatically known it was her brother. Kyoko berated herself. She should have known instantly that it was Kuon even if she was sleeping in an unknown place.
"Nii-san, you jerk. Why did you scare me like that?" Setsu whined. She beat on his chest with her small fists getting into her role again.
"Setsu, it breaks my heart that you think I'm scary. Anyone else but you," Cain sulked. Kyoko felt her heart lurch as she struggled to regain her hold on Setsu. She had a feeling he was talking more about himself than Cain.
"Silly, Nii-san, I'm never afraid of you. I know you would never hurt me. I feel the safest in your arms," she assured him and burrowed further into her brother's embrace. Cain tightened his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
"I was having a nightmare so it may have lingered when I woke." She ducked her face as a deep blush bloomed on her cheeks. She hoped she didn't give anything away while she was sleeping. She couldn't tell him that she was having an erotic dream of him, well, of Kuon. Even though they were intimate most nights, she still couldn't help dreaming of them making love.
"A nightmare, huh?" Cain replied, trying to keep the smirk out of his voice. If this was the angle she wanted to take, he would go along with it. He would take his sexual frustration out on her when this play was over.
"The boogeyman has nothing on you, but I think we need to work on your defensive skills. At least emotionally, so it would help you keep calm during high-stress situations. All that training you do is a waste if you forget it when you panic."
Setsu felt like a little girl again being scolded. She hated it when he treated her like one but he was right after all. It seemed like he was raising the bar on her role as Setsu again. He was implying that Setsu was skilled in martial arts.
"I'll teach you how to recognize the danger and stay calm so you can properly react to certain situations."
Setsu gave a small nod into his chest. He was probably thinking about the incident with Kimiko as well tonight. Would she have been better prepared to take on Kimiko after the auditions if she was in a calm state of mind? She had sensed something in the hallway before Kimiko and her manager had accosted her. Would he be able to help her increase her awareness and reaction time to avoid potential attacks? She was willing to give it a try.
His martial arts skills were top notch. When those thugs had attacked him on their first night out in Tokyo, Cain had managed to dodge several blows to his head by sensing his opponent's attacks from behind. At the time, she wondered if he had eyes in the back of his head. She didn't think much of his training or the discipline it took to be able to read an enemy like that back then because she was panicking. If she would have stayed calm, could she have done more to defuse the situation? Her poor attempt to help him only escalated the matter. Cain nearly killed the guy after she was thrown down. With her training now as Momiji, she could easily disarm that seaweed haired bastard.
"Go and freshen up. I did promise you a date." He tilted her face up to his by the chin. He wanted to make sure she was okay. Her eyes shown with excitement at the prospect of spending time with her brother. He released her when he was satisfied that no lingering fear lurked in her eyes.
"Oh shit," she exclaimed when she finally got a good look at him. He had distinct scratches down the side of his neck. She looked down at her hand and could make out the flesh beneath her nails. She jumped off of him and disappeared into the bathroom. She returned holding a warm washcloth. He hissed when she gently dabbed the cloth at his wound. The skin was broken in a few spots drawing blood but for the most part, it was just irritated.
"I'm so sorry, Nii-san. I didn't mean to hurt you," she said trying desperately to hold on to Setsu, but her emotions were overwhelming. How could she have done this to him?
Cain grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it.
"I've had worse, Setsu. This is nothing," he assured her. "I deserved this and more for scaring you. I'm sorry I scared you."
"It's not fine," she pouted. It was unforgivable that she hurt his beautiful body. She pulled away from him and rummaged through her bags searching for the first aid kit she had packed as a precaution. She hated that they would need for her carelessness. His blue eyes focused on her every move as she gently cleaned the wound with disinfectant and applied the antibiotic ointment.
"Setsu, I'll take any brand you want to give me, be it love bites or scratches. If they're from you, I'll wear it proudly," Cain confessed. I would much prefer her scratches down my back, Kuon added.
Setsu blushed. "Stupid, Nii-san. Care about yourself a little sometimes."
"Are you done?"
Setsu nodded and moved to clean up the mess she made it.
"I'll do. Go and get cleaned up. There's somewhere I want to take you."
Kimiko entered the French cafe with Cedric. She had been wanting to try it since they opened. It took several tries to convince Cedric to take her since he was too busy filming. Mon Amour Cafe had received great reviews so she wanted to try it. The feedback touted that it was an excellent place for couples to go on a date. Naturally, she wanted to go with the person she liked.
She studied the decor as they waited to be seated. It wasn't her taste despite her outward appearance. She gave off this cute, princess aura whenever she was in public so this place fit the persona she was projecting. The only person that knew her true personality was her former manager, her cousin. She even managed to hide it from her immediate family. She did slip and give her Uncle Jouji the guilt trip when she didn't get the part of Momiji. She glanced at Cedric, if he knew, he didn't mention it.
Kimiko hid her irritation behind a sweet smile as the hostess showed them to their table. Walking down the hall, Kimiko stopped as a couple of portraits on the wall caught her eye.
Cedric turned around when he noticed her not with them and walked back towards her. He gazed at the picture she was staring at so intently. "Hey well, what do you know. It's Kyoko and Tsuruga." He spoke in English so he didn't bother referring to them with honorifics.
The hostess noticed she was alone and circled back to them. Kimiko addressed her and asked, "Why are these pictures on the wall?"
"Oh. It's because Kyoko-san and Tsuruga-san did the CM for the cafe before it opened. It has already aired so you should have seen it on TV."
"What?" Kimiko couldn't help the stupefied expression that crossed her face.
" Kyoko-san and the head chef are good friends now. Chef-san told us that she has great culinary skills of her own. They've dined in here several times since the filming. Thanks to them the place is always busy," the hostess explained with admiration in her voice.
Kimiko struggled to keep the scowl off her face. She suddenly lost all luster to eat at the same place as that girl. She turned to Cedric, "Ric, maybe we should find another place to eat."
"Don't be silly. You practically dragged me here. We're here now so let's just order." Cedric replied showing his obvious irritation. He had no clue what her deal was with Kyoko. So she lost a part, it happens! A good actress gets over it and moves on. A talented one, like Kimiko, doesn't just up and quit. He had a feeling there was more to the story that she wasn't sharing. He wasn't buying the whole I want to focus on my studies excuse one bit. He didn't push for answers because he didn't want to get too involved.
He told Kimiko when he first arrived in Tokyo that he wasn't looking for a relationship. She seemed mature about it and agreed to be friends. He probably should have never slept with her back in LA while he was wallowing in self-pity. He was surprised to find she was still a virgin, the dots of blood on his sheets was proof, right? She had never said anything to him. He would never have gone that far if he knew for one her age and two that he was her first. He avoided virgins like the plague. It was common that when you deflower a virgin they started to get clingy and demanding.
Kimiko, however, proved the exception. She hadn't changed and they had grown closer as friends. Well, that's not true. She had slipped a few times around Kyoko. He guessed she noticed him pulling away from her that she changed back to the sweet and demure girl he adored whenever they hung out. Of course, he had not slept with her since either. He gave her some bullshit excuse that she should cherish herself a little more and find a man that could love her properly. Once Lotus wrapped he would be heading back home. His father, in the end, paid Viola to go away. He hoped Kimiko didn't follow him back either and cause trouble. He didn't want an out of the pot and into the fire type of situation with her. His dad would kill him.
To save face Kimiko smiled and resumed following the hostess to the table. After about fifteen minutes, Cedric regretted his decision to stay. It was this night that Cedric realized that Kimiko had a knack for twisting her words around so that the other party felt at fault. She had managed to complain but not complain throughout every course of the meal. Cedric saw no fault in the food. Everything was delicious, so her behavior was mind-boggling.
The head Chef even came out hoping to rectify her experience, but nothing he prepared seemed to please Kimiko. At the end of dinner, the Chef ended up comping their meals since he couldn't satisfy her taste buds.
The Heel siblings walked down the street as one. Anyone watching them wouldn't have known where one began and the other ended. Cain had his leather coat arm draped possessively over her shoulder. Setsu had her arm secured around his waist while her other hand was interlaced with the hand on her shoulder. Pedestrians gave the dangerous-looking foreigners wide berth when they came across their path. The siblings were so engrossed with one another that they took no notice of anyone else as they walked. Setsu had no idea where they were heading. Her brother would give her no clues wanting to keep it a surprise. Since this might be their last night to have fun in Japan, he thought he would spoil her a bit.
A young Japanese woman and a foreign man exited a cafe in front of their path. The woman was too intent on her grumblings about the lousy service and the even lousier food that she failed to notice the dark couple and bumped into the shoulder of Cain. She turned doe eyes up to Cain to apologize for her rudeness. She took a trembling step backward instead as she noticed the disdain burning in Cain's eyes. The look Cain gave her was that of someone even lower than a cockroach.
"Oh, pardon me. I..." she began but her voice caught when she saw Cain's expression. Kimiko wondered why this total stranger was looking at her like she was some loathsome creature.
Cain assumed no one had ever looked at the prissy woman in such a way before by her shocked expression. This pampered princess probably had people fawning over her to do her bidding all over the place. He hated that type the most.
"Jeez, I thought all Japanese were polite. Apologize properly," Setsu demanded, annoyed that this bitch dare touch what was hers. Kyoko screamed internally. Of all the millions of people living in Tokyo, they just had to run into Kimiko. She reminded herself to stay cool. She was Setsu right now. This was the ultimate test.
Kimiko glared at the petite blonde. Her outfit was so outlandish for Japan. Her leather mini-skirt showed off her long shapely legs and her cropped top exposed her toned midriff. Even with all the piercings, Kimiko could not help but admit that she was gorgeous. She had to be a model with the way she carried herself. Kimiko didn't know why but this girl pissed her off.
"Hey, easy. The lady is trying to apologize. She didn't mean to bump into you," Cedric butted in addressing the Cain.
Cain sneered at the couple and said "whatever" with an I don't give two fucks kind of attitude and began to walk away. Kuon wasn't going to be Cain forever so as much as he wanted to take advantage of his disguise he did not doubt in his mind that whatever they did tonight would backfire. The thought of apologizing to these two assholes when the jig was finally up, turned his stomach.
"Setsu, let's go. This place doesn't suit you," Cain stated as she eyed the cafe through the window.
"You're right brother. This place reeks of pretty princess shit. Makes me want to gag." Setsu wrapped herself around her brother again as they headed down the street. She hoped her little insult wouldn't be heard by Jean-Luc.
Cedric stared with relief as the British couple walked away. That could have gone horribly wrong, fast. She called him brother though. Were they siblings? Wasn't that against the law or was it different in other countries? He wasn't familiar with the laws there. He recalled that aristocrats would often marry within the family to keep their bloodlines pure. Perhaps it wasn't frowned upon in their country. To each their own. Love always finds a way.
Cedric frowned as he watched the couple retreat in the distance. Something about that man's sneer conjured up images from his past. He felt a shiver run down his spine and tried to shake it off. No sense dwelling on the past. He tried to put his crappy adolescent self out of his mind. He didn't have anything against other races, he just couldn't stand that guy back then. He had no clue where that guy went after the accident, Cedric just knew his attitude and acting significantly improved since he was gone.
"Here, Setsu. Let's go in here." Cain said, stopping them in front of a shop. They had turned down a corner and walked a few more blocks from the cafe. She was relieved that their mission wasn't compromised.
Setsu arched an eyebrow at her brother. "Nii -san, if you think a shop like this is going to sell food you're sorely mistaken."
Notes:
As much as I wanted Setsu and Cain to torture Kimiko and Cedric, I realized that there would be consequences when all is revealed.
Thank you for reading! I appreciate it!Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 46: Forbidden Kiss
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Cain would take Setsu on that date.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Koki felt like he hit the treasure trove with his latest assignment. His fingers flew over the keys of his laptop as he felt inspired by the information he gathered in less than twenty-four hours. The puzzle pieces were all coming together. He had learned long ago to never underestimate the obsessiveness of fans. It was through fan sites that he was able to link the two together. The information on their respective agency sites did not have their full names; however, there were some fans on Fuwa's site claiming to have known him in middle school.
A good reporter didn't dismiss any leads. Fans tended to embellish stories just to get attention, so he decided to probe a little. Using his fake alias, he used his secret technique guaranteed to get him what he needed. He called them all liars. Nothing incited a fan faster to reveal everything than being called out on their false claims. In less than fifteen minutes, he managed to get the prefecture where he went to school and possibly a full name on the singer. He called one of his contacts at the police station to track down, one Fuwa Shotaro in that area. Armed with an address, he was now on the last shinkansen out of Tokyo heading towards Kyoto while typing up a rough draft for his editor.
Yashiro was entering his apartment when he heard his phone chirp several times. He was wearing a pair of gray joggers and a tightly fitted tee that showed off his slim yet muscular frame. His hair was still damp from the shower he took at the dojo.
Before checking his messages, he went to his fridge. He grabbed one of his protein-packed prepped meals and popped it into the microwave to heat it. A portion of his Sundays was carved out for meal preparations. This allowed him to always have food on the ready during the week despite his hectic schedule. He grabbed a beer from his fridge, took a refreshing gulp, and relaxed against the counter waiting for his food. A glance at the clock told him the Heel Siblings were underway. He hoped everything went alright for them recalling how much this role had changed Ren. His friend seemed to have been struggling with something on his own at the time. All Yashiro could do for him was quietly stay by his side and support him. He thought getting his license while he was on Guam would be a good way to ease his burden.
The microwave beeped when the timer was up. He retrieved his meal and sat at the bar. On one hand, he donned a latex glove so he could check his messages while he ate. The glove was a must-have for him when handling any electronic devices for more than ten seconds. The microwave was able to survive since he never touched it for that long.
There were a few messages regarding contracts and schedules for his clients that would require his attention later. For now, the notifications for one of Kyoko's and Ren's fan sites caught his attention. He closed his phone and decided to visit the sites on his laptop. He finished his meal, drained his beer, and cleaned up his mess. Before heading to the living room, he grabbed another beer. He settled on his couch and turned on the TV to the entertainment news channel.
With the TV playing in the background, he put on two latex gloves and opened his laptop. He signed on to one of Kyoko's fan sites. Yashiro grimaced as he read what was floating around about his female charge. This "Queen B" was seriously a Royal Bitch as her name suggested.
Queen B: I have it on good authority that the Kyoko-san is sleeping her way through celebrities. I mean come on she was with Sho-san as his angel. Then she moved on to Ren-san because of Dark Moon. Did you see her at the Dark Moon party interview? She said Kijima-san dressed her up. Who's her next target, Koga-san? If nothing else at least she's a first-class whore!
Yashiro took a swig of his beer, cracked his knuckles, and went to work.
RenKyo#1fangirl: Careful Queen B your green is showing. We all saw that Dark Moon interview with Ren-san by her side. It was completely obvious that there was chemistry between them even back then. Give Ren-san more credit, I'm sure he's more than capable of keeping her satisfied. Those other men are mere minnows to Ren-san's shark. Friendly tip, be sure to stay away from water wouldn't want to see you melt.
Yashiro hit send, satisfied with his response. If only those two knew the things he did to ensure their happiness. He clicked on the next site and found the same post from her royal pain in the ass. Yashiro had no shame going toe to toe with a teenage girl, typing out another witty and appropriate response.
Yashiro cheered when several other fans went on the offensive. He always appreciated the responses from VoodooPrincess1224 and DramaLoveMonXoXo. IceRaven was also growing on him. Although their responses were very blunt, they were usually in favor of Kyoko. He took another swig of his beer as he hunkered down for a long night of defending his favorite couple.
Setsu looked at her brother skeptically. Why would he bring her here? It was not quite Setsu's style to be seen in one of those.
"Nii-san, why are we here?" She asked him with an air of boredom.
Cain sighed disappointedly and tugged on his sister's arm. "Isn't it obvious Setsu? When coming to Japan you need to buy a Kimono right, as a souvenir. Come on, let's go in."
"This shop is too expensive! The quality of Kimono is too much for a mere souvenir," Setsu argued.
"Oh? How would you know?" Cain countered. Setsu set her mouth in a firm line and didn't answer. Internally, Kyoko was waiting for Ren to call an NG on her. Setsu should not know anything about Kimonos or the quality of the shop based on its outside appearance.
"Setsu, there is a yukata in here that I chose just for you. I thought my darling little sister would look cute in it. Don't deny me this one pleasure. The price means nothing if I can see you happy." He caressed her cheek softly and gave her the level two puppy dog eyes.
Setsu instantly melted at his pleading look. He was just so adorable. All she wanted to do was squeeze him and pet him and never let him go.
An idea popped into her mind, one that she hoped he would indulge her in. She smiled slyly at him. "I'll wear this Kimono on one condition, but you have to say yes first before I tell you what it is."
Cain didn't hesitate for one second and instantly agreed. He could deny her nothing.
"You didn't even try to consider it. What if I said to go die? Stupid Nii-san just goes with anything I ask," Setsu pouted.
"If you know already, then tell me what you want from me."
She knew she could whine a bit more and he would give in to her. The thought of receiving another 'NG' had her hesitating. She decided to take advantage of this situation instead.
"You have to dress up as well. No take-backs or I'll walk away right now." Ever since she heard Yashiro mention that Ren was initially asked to play the role of Shizuma-sama, Kyoko had wanted to see Ren in traditional clothing. She looked to the heavens and thanked her lucky stars that her wish would be granted.
"Done!" Cain smiled as he pulled his sister into the shop. That was an easy enough request to get her changed.
The owner and his wife greeted them instantly with a deep bow and fear in their hearts as they took in their customer's appearance. "Welcome, Mr. Heel we've been expecting you." The owner's voice trembled as he introduced himself as Suzuki.
Cain had talked to Suzuki a few days ago over a yukata he had seen on the shop's website. "We have what you requested. My wife, Ume, has put together the finishing touches to compliment the yukata."
"This is Setsuka, my sister. The yukata is for her. I hope for your sake you can please her."
"Of course sir," he said with another bow as sweat pooled at his temples. The owner turned to address Setsu, "Ms. Heel, if you can please follow my wife she will help you change. May I ask that you remove your shoes here and wear these slippers? It is custom that shoes are not to be worn on the tatami mats."
Setsu grumbled but unzipped her thigh-high patent leather boots and stepped into the proffered slippers. She turned back to her brother before following the female Suzuki. "Your promise, Nii-san." She flicked her eyes to the owner that looked confused.
"It seems that my sister would also like to see me in traditional wear tonight. Do you have something that would suit me?"
The owner looked like a kid on Christmas morning as his earlier fear fled him. He had just the perfect outfit that would suit the tall ruffian. His excitement overtook him and he began gushing passionately about the men's Kimono line and motioned for Cain to remove his shoes and follow him. Suzuki stopped short when he realized he was being obnoxious with his chatter.
"Just hurry up. I want to be finished before my sister comes out. I don't want her waiting for me."
"Right, right, apologies Mr. Heel. Please follow me this way." Cain followed the owner to the opposite side of the store and went behind a large shoji screened area that segregated the changing area.
Setsu followed Ume Suzuki to her changing area on the opposite side. Her jaw hung agape, forgetting she was supposed to be Setsu. She schooled her face quickly as she took in the yukata draped on the stand. A hand absentmindedly reached out to touch the finely spun silk. She could tell from running her fingers over the fabric that it was of high quality. Shotaro's mother had taught her how to spot the differences in quality.
"Do you like it, Ms. Heel?" Ume queried, giving Setsu a serene smile.
"It will do. I've never seen one like this. Aren't these usually bright and full of spring flowers?" Setsu asked, wrinkling her nose in distaste. How in the world did her brother find this place?
"Our daughter designed this yukata with the modern and fashionable young woman in mind. As you can see she has unique tastes. She will be pleased that she found someone that appreciates her artwork. Currently, she is studying fashion in New York City. Our skilled craftsmen worked diligently to translate her design into this finished product."
Setsu nodded but she was impressed that her daughter could be so brave to study abroad.
"Are you ready to try it on?" the older woman asked. Setsu nodded in response.
"Then please use the screen and change into these undergarments. Let me know if you need help."
Since Kyoko had worn Kimonos most of her life, Setsu emerged quickly after changing.
Ume noted that there was more to the young lady than meets the eye. The speed at which Setsu changed was impressive. Looking her over, everything seemed to be in place. The yukata was removed from the stand and draped over Setsu. Ume went about tying and adjusting the garment until it laid nicely on her body.
The owner's wife was doubly impressed with Setsu's knowledge of dressing in the yukata but did not comment. It took less than half the time to get her ready. Setsu had known where to put her arms or hold to assist before Ume could direct her. She assumed that since Setsu looked of Japanese descent, she must have taken some Japanese etiquette lessons. Setsu moved like a natural in the garment.
Ume and Setsu made their way out to the main area. She addressed Cain who had his back to Setsu, "Mr. Heel, I hope it's to your satisfaction."
Cain turned slowly savoring the image of his sister. The yukata's bold print consisted of thick vertical alternating black and fuchsia stripes. It had large "pop art" roses in pink, black, silver, and white that varied in those colors depending on if it was on the black stripe or the pink stripe. Most of the roses were so large that half of the rose was silver or white on the fuchsia background while the other half would be white and pink on the black stripe. He knew Setsu could pull off the look. Her ice blonde hair with pink highlights accented the outfit and her piercings kept her edge. The soft obi in silver complimented the overall look.
"It suits you, Setsu. Do you like it?"
It took Setsu several moments to recover from her shock. The faraway sound of flutes, followed by drums combined with a sorrowful voice filled her being. She stared at him as the song wafted through her mind, "motomeatta kanashisa yo furishikiri tsutsunde yo mae mo miezu, iki mo dekizu anata dake o omou..."
Her brother looked every bit like a bushido samurai now turned ronin due to his master's demise. Refusing to follow his master to the afterlife, he wandered seeking justice for a wrongful death until he came across a woman.
He looked exactly as she imagined and more. She wasn't sure if seeing him like this was good for her heart as it hammered loudly in her chest. Her eyes pierced with jealousy as she thought about the many women that would find him attractive in that outfit. Would he change back if she asked him to?
Cain didn't miss the plethora of emotions that flickered across her beautiful face as she gazed upon him: awe, sadness, love, lust, jealousy, curiosity, then blank.
"I like anything you pick for me, Nii-san," she sighed, lifting a hand to her brow. "It's as I thought, you look way too cool."
Cain smiled smugly. If she wasn't Setsu right now he wondered what Kyoko would have done in response to his outfit. He'd like to think she would have jumped him by now.
Suzuki cleared his throat to break up the heavy atmosphere in the shop and distract the siblings from whatever sparks were flying between them. He did not want to entertain the notion of what kind of twisted relationship they shared. "Mr. Heel, please take these. It will look good with the outfit." The owner handed Cain two wooden replica katanas. A samurai was no good without his weapons.
"May we please take photos of you? I would like to send my daughter a picture of the woman that bought her yukata," asked the older woman.
Cain and Setsu melded into each other as they posed like the obnoxious siblings they were. Cain slyly handed his phone to the owner to take pictures for himself. He had already taken care of the bill while waiting for Setsu. She didn't even want to know how much everything cost. It was worked out by Cain that Suzuki would deliver the original clothes back to the hotel as they said their farewells.
When they exited the shop a cab was waiting to take them to their next destination. Before stepping into the car, Setsu narrowed her eyes at her brother. "Somehow, I feel manipulated."
"I would never manipulate you Setsu," Cain pouted, jutting out his lower lip.
"So you say, Nii-san, but there's not an inch of my skin showing while wearing this yukata," she commented tersely and stepped into the car.
Cain grimaced. She needed to stop wearing those tight miniskirts. What the fuck happened to all those trousers I bought her?
Setsu looked on with wide eyes as they pulled up to a summer festival. The majority of the people attending wore yukatas. "Nii-san are you sure about this? There's a lot of people here. We hate people." Setsu declared with an unenthused tone. There was too much potential for trouble in such a crowd.
"I was thinking of you, Setsu. It should be fun."
She arched a sarcastic brow and snorted at his use of the word fun. The word sounded foreign coming out of her brother's mouth.
He ignored her and continued explaining. "You should at least experience some of your heritage while you're here. It will be something we can both experience for the first time together."
Kyoko thought that this was probably Kuon talking. He could never show up in a place like this as Ren without being mobbed. With that thought, she decided to just enjoy their time together.
Before she could respond, her angry stomach reared its ugly head, "Kyorororororo..." Setsu's eyes widened and her face reddened. She clutched at her stomach hoping to drown out the sound. So uncool!
"The sleeping monster wakes, let's go," Cain chuckled.
Setsu should not have been surprised by the people's reaction to them. Even though they were dressed like the masses, they still managed to give off a menacing aura. She hardly noticed the crowd because they kept a good distance away from the couple. It was like there was an invisible force field surrounding them keeping others out.
It was difficult trying to keep Kyoko from pushing forth and gushing over every little aspect of the festival. This wasn't her first time attending one, but it was the first time she attended with someone that wanted to be with her. It was like she was experiencing everything for the first time and technically she was, as Setsu. The lanterns lighting up the rows along the stalls seemed a little bit brighter, and the signs on each stall were artistically drawn beckoning her to visit. The traditional drums playing from the main stage helped set a rhythmic beat that oddly sounded like her thumping heart. She was on a date with her most important man, just like he promised.
There were no lines for them anywhere as crowds parted when they approached food vendors. Cain led the way while Setsu was led by the hand taking in all the sights. They purchased takoyaki, yakitori, and a variety of delicious festival fare before Setsu was satisfied they had enough. Cain carried the bag with their food and drinks then headed for the riverbank. They found a dim secluded area where they could eat away from prying eyes. To Cain's amusement, Setsu plopped herself on his lap and began to feed him.
A few minutes into their meal, the dark sky lit up as fireworks exploded over the river. Cain watched the delight play across his sister's face. This was his ultimate goal for tonight. He supposed he was stretching their role a bit by participating in such an event. The siblings were supposed to be hardcore: all skulls, blood, gore, and death. At the core of it all, he just wanted to see her happy.
It was a close call when they ran into Kimiko and Cedric earlier. He had half a mind to wreak havoc on them, but the professional side of Ren wouldn't let him. He couldn't compromise what they've both accomplished thus far for mere revenge.
Cain adjusted his sister, so she was sitting between his legs, leaning against his chest, for a more comfortable view. Tomorrow would be their last night as siblings. It was somewhat bittersweet. He was sad to see this role end but found solace that it would end with the woman he loved right where she belonged, in his arms.
When the fireworks ended, neither one of them spoke or moved for several minutes. They were content to stay just as they were. The stillness of the night washed over them as the sounds from the festival faded in the background.
Kyoko's dreamlike thoughts pushed to the surface. She imagined a young lady meeting her rogue lover on a riverbank, stealing whatever they could from each other in the cover of darkness before the duties of family and country crashed down upon both of them. Her fantasy was interrupted when Cain spoke.
"Setsu, thank you for being here with me. You are the most powerful omamori I have ever known. I could never have survived this without you by my side. Thank you," he said, nuzzling his face in her neck.
She knew he was talking more from the heart of Kuon rather than Cain. She had to thank the President someday for meddling in their lives. Right now she didn't want to think of the LoveMon or anyone for that matter. All that mattered was the man embracing her. She tilted her head to look up at him suddenly wanting to be kissed. Whether she was Setsu or Kyoko, even if it was forbidden, she still didn't care. All she wanted right now was to feel his lips pressing against hers.
He inhaled sharply at the look she gave him. Knowing what she wanted, brother or not, he didn't hesitate as he touched his lips to hers gently. After a few moments, he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth. He laid her down on the soft grass, cushioning her head with his arm. He took his time relishing in the sweet taste of her while he laced his fingers of his free hand with hers. He wasn't sure how much time had passed as they laid there in the grass exchanging chaste and passionate kisses. He could have kissed her all night. A cacophony of cheers coming from the festival brought him back to his senses.
"Come on," he said, helping her up. This was no place for them to be caught making out. He brushed the grass off both of them and straightened out their clothing. When they were presentable again, they headed back to rejoin the revelry. They enjoyed the rest of their night as best they could as the Heels. A few hoodlums looked like they would start something, but one glare from Cain kept them at bay. They managed to watch some of the entertainment with Cain's ability to push through the front of the crowd. Setsu was able to watch the dance troupe and the talented magician without anyone obstructing her view. As a treat, Setsu convinced her brother to try some taiyaki by feeding him again. The warm sweet fish-shaped pastry reminded him of that email exchange she had with Kijima and tried not to let it bother him. He made it a point to let her know that he thought they were tasty.
Setsu stopped abruptly in front of a game booth causing Cain to stagger. Her stoic gaze landed on a very large Tinkerbell plushie. Cain smiled. He guessed she couldn't completely strip herself from Kyoko's feelings.
"Setsu, is something interesting?" he asked, amused.
"You can win, right nii-san?" Setsu challenged, flashing him a wry smile as she pointed towards the booth.
Cain studied the game in question. Cain smirked at the carnival-like version of an archery contest. Child's Play. He had recently received a refresher training course in Kyudo for a role under the tutelage of Uesugi Kotetsu himself.
Setsu eagerly whipped out her phone to take pictures of her brother playing the game as another one of her fantasies had come to fruition. She had to hold her nose for fear that it would start bleeding at any moment. Between his traditional outfit and the confidence in which he held the bow, no woman in the vicinity, she included, could withstand his sexiness for too long. He managed to hit the bullseye three times in a row winning a large prize. He was surprised when Setsu chose a stuffed puppy over the Tinkerbell she had coveted. She cuddled it close and told Cain it looked just like him.
...
Back at the hotel, Cain smoked out on the balcony bare-chested with only the Hakama pants hanging low on his hips while Setsu cleaned up in the bathroom. He stubbed his cigarette out when he heard the bathroom door squeak open. Setsu emerged wearing a black lace camisole with a pair of matching panties. She smiled at him as she climbed into bed cuddling her stuffed puppy. He groaned inwardly as he headed for the bathroom to wash up for the night. As payback, he came out wearing only his boxer briefs. Two can play this game. He climbed into his bed and rolled himself up into a cocoon.
He smiled to himself as he heard the rustling of covers then felt her climbing into his bed. "Nii-san, give me some room," Setsu whined as she tried to get comfortable on the tiny bed. Cain shifted so her head laid on his chest. "Nii-san, I need a good night kiss," she demanded.
He kissed her passionately, the way a brother should never kiss his sister, tugging on her bottom lip with his teeth when the kiss ended.
"Now go to bed!" He scolded shoving her head back down on his chest. She giggled as she burrowed herself into him and was asleep in minutes. Cain prayed for mercy as the leg thrown over him brushed his hard-on. They completely failed as siblings tonight.
...
Kuon stirred from his slumber feeling painfully aroused. It took him a moment to shake off sleep and realize that Kyoko's hand held him hostage, stroking his length as she rubbed herself against his thigh. If this was a dream he prayed he never woke up. Kuon groaned in agony, readjusting himself to face her properly, and pulling her lithe pliable body closer to him. His mouth descended on her with a fiery passion. He pushed his tongue past her lips with little resistance, delving deep into her mouth with all the pent-up desire he had endured all night, starting with her erotic dream.
Kyoko returned his kisses with a hunger of her own. In the dark, they were just a man and a woman in love, pleasuring one another. The hand around her waist slid up and down her back before descending and cupping her backside in a tight squeeze. It continued its downward path, hooking on to her knee, and pulling the core of her heat against his throbbing erection. Satisfied with her position, his hand caressed its way back up her thigh once again resting on her ass.
He chuckled against her mouth as her hips thrust against him impatiently. He could tell how much she wanted him by the way her body trembled with need. He still couldn't get used to having her like this in his arms so willing and giving. He broke away from her lips wanting to taste more of her. He peppered her jaw with kisses, dragging lower, sucking, and licking her silky skin along the way. With a little contortion on his part, he leaned down freeing a nipple from the top of her lacy camisole.
Her response was instantaneous as his hot tongue swirled around the pink crest of her soft mound. She moaned and arched her back allowing him to suck in more of her supple flesh. He pulled back to make room for his hand to slip between her thighs and hooked his fingers on her already drenched panties giving him access to her dewy folds.
She gasped as pleasure soared through her body when his thumb brushed over her most sensitive spot. She was so hot and so ready. Her arousal coated his fingers as he slid them back and forth teasingly from her clit to her entrance. Kyoko whimpered, thrusting her hips impatiently against his hand.
"Easy, baby," he purred against her breast. She started this, so he was going to end it on his terms. He had the pleasure of feeling her shudder against him as a fresh wave of her hot juices gushed on his hand. When he thought she had suffered enough from his teasing, he slid a single-digit past her nether lips, and into her heated core. Kuon nearly came as he felt her inner walls contracting and closing around his finger, searing it with her slick wet heat. He stroked her languidly as his mouth continued to wreak havoc on her other nipple.
Kyoko growled in frustration, bucking her hips against his hand wanting more of his touch. At some point, her movement caressing him had stopped, too overwhelmed by the pleasure he gave her to concentrate on him. She redoubled her efforts and squeezed her fingers around his throbbing cock. Beads of his pre-cum trickled over her hand, lubrication it as she tugged on his length in time with the pace he set.
Kuon let out a guttural sound from the back of his throat and flicked his tongue rapidly against her pebbled nipple. The skin of his cock tightened as he grew under her careful ministrations. She must have noticed too because her grip tightened as she dragged her delicate fingers from the hilt of his cock to his tip, occasionally pausing at the head to torment him with her thumb before pushing down again.
After a few minutes of slow torturous strokes, he became impatient and bucked his hips, urging her to go faster then slipped a second finger inside her to join the first. She cried out as his adept fingers continued to explore the depths of her womanhood until he found the spot that would bring her the most pleasure. Kuon shifted his hand so that his fingers could continue while his thumb strummed on her swollen clit. The sudden change in her breathing to small gasps had him bucking his hips faster, thrusting wilder in her grasp.
Like she did him, he was driving her mindless with his hand and mouth. Kyoko could feel the familiar burning sensation building from deep within her gut. She was so close to climaxing.
Kuon pulled back from her breast as he started grunting of his own. He too was close, matching the thrusts of his hips to the speed at which his fingers plunged into her over and over while her sensual mewlings spurred him forward.
Kyoko would have screamed when she finally found release, but Kuon captured her mouth in an erotic kiss drowning out the sound of her ecstasy and his triumph as they came together in each other's hands.
The hot sticky semen poured over her fingers, but she held on as Kuon continued to thrust his cock into her hand until his orgasm ceased. He did the same with her stroking slowly until her shuddering came to a halt. She released him but was unsure of what to do with the cum on her hand.
Kuon removed his fingers from her, lapping and sucking at the sweet juices of her orgasm. Following his lead, Kyoko did the same with her hand.
His emerald eyes darkened while watching her lick his seed from her hand like a feline bathing its paws. He felt himself twitching as her pink little tongue licked and swirled around every finger until she was satisfied they were all clean. When she was done, he grabbed her, pulling her roughly against him to claim her mouth, tasting himself upon her lips.
"I'll be right back," he announced hoarsely, pulling away from her. Kuon rolled off the bed and stalked to the bathroom to clean himself up. He couldn't risk getting his semen on her. He returned with his boxers fully removed and holding a couple of warm rags.
Kyoko was glad the room was bathed in shadow, otherwise, he would have seen the deep blush dusting her cheeks at his nakedness. Kuon gently wiped her face then her hand with a rag. He pulled off her drenched panties and proceeded to use the other rag to clean between her thighs. Kyoko smiled at how thorough and thoughtful he was. Throwing the rags in the sink, he crawled into the bed and fell asleep with her limbs wrapped possessively around him.
Notes:
Thanks for sticking with me, I hope you enjoyed it!
Also, I squealed over the recent chapter in the manga confirming that Super Manager Yashiro monitors Ren's fan sites...XD!
The song Kyoko heard at the shop was "Haru no Katami" by Hajime Chitose. My Japanese is terrible but I really liked this song and as I was typing out this chapter I heard it in my head so I decided to include it. I hope you native speakers can correct me if it's out of context. I googled the English translation of the lyrics, what I got on the part I used was: "We found each other in our sadness and in the pouring rain we held one another, Before I can no longer breathe or see I will think of nobody but you."
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 47: Now or Never
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Cain & Setsu's relationship would go incestuous.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kimiko sat on the soft velvet couch in the sitting area of her bedroom as she sipped her ice coffee. She flipped through her "favorite" channels on the television consisting of various entertainment news until one caught her interest. The hosts were discussing a new movie, Tragic Marker, premiering tonight. They were describing it as a slasher film that promised endless scenes of blood and gore. Kimiko smiled. That was just her kind of movie. She made a mental note to check it out later. Maybe she could invite Cedric, "as friends" as he caveated their outings. As if Kimiko was too dumb to understand that he didn't feel the same she did about him. He had been brutally honest with her since the beginning. He wasn't looking for a relationship.
The first and only time they slept together had been wonderful, although he cherished her during the act, she could tell his heart wasn't in it. She had acted demurely and even managed to convince him that he was her first. The little drops of blood from her pricked finger that she dripped on his sheets after he fell asleep corroborated her story. He had felt guilty when he noticed the next day. Ha! Serves him right!
Her first time had been with one of her costars in America. He was her age and a virgin too. It was awkward and unmemorable. She had slept with a few others afterward until she met him. She fell in love with Cedric: cool, older, talented with an underlying hint of bad boy. If the old rumors about him were true, he was her ideal. She liked the man and his family name just happened to be a nice bonus that she would happily capitalize on to advance her career. There was just one pesky obstacle in her way, his supermodel girlfriend. It was easy enough to get rid of her. Their relationship was so fragile that all it took was a few words to have the insecure woman doubting him.
Kimiko had planted her little seeds here and there to get him in Japan. She planned to isolate him in a foreign country where he couldn't speak the language with only her as a friend. She was too prideful to trap the guy by an unexpected pregnancy. That kind of thing didn't work in this day and age. With her luck, she would end up alone with a brat and stretch marks. No, her end game was to have him fall in love with her and reap the benefits of being his wife. She was convinced that if they spent more time together, he would come to love her. She was running out of time. The Sacred Lotus schedule was very aggressive and soon he would be on a plane back to the States.
She tuned back into the program. They were discussing in great detail the mysteriousness of the antagonist, Cain Heel. They had no picture or other film references for the actor. He just seemed to show up out of nowhere. Director Konoe had also been tight-lipped about the actor he chose to portray the character "BJ." Cain Heel has never appeared for any of the promotional interviews so he was a complete phantom to the public. All the other cast members would say about the guy was that he was scary on and off the screen. From the sound of the name, it was obvious he was a foreigner.
They played the trailer for the movie. It eerily flashed through scenes of victims being stalked, a wisp of a shadow, a knife dripping with blood, a crime scene with mutilated bodies. It was a perfect teaser never once showing the killer except for a moment of demonic red eyes before the screen went black, marking the end. Kimiko shuddered in her seat. The hair on the back of her neck stood and goosebumps sprouted on her arms. She continued to listen to the hosts as they admitted to feeling chills from just watching that trailer. They joked that they might even have nightmares tonight after watching the movie. Before they ended their segment, they reminded the audience and viewers that they would be covering the red carpet before the premiere as well as interviews at the after-party. It seemed interesting so Kimiko would try to tune in later for the show. She then waited for the daily entertainment news to come on next.
She was expecting a shocking news report on Kyoko this morning, but there was nothing. She turned on her laptop, hoping that perhaps it was posted to the sites and had yet to air. She scoured the internet but couldn't find anything. What was that Koki doing? It never took him this long to release something this juicy. She wondered if he had stumbled onto something good or maybe nothing at all. She couldn't call him. That would make him too suspicious and probably turn his attention on her. She couldn't have that at all, not when she was trying to make her comeback. She logged on to the fan sites to see if her responses instigated any problems in her favor.
Her lip curled into a snarl. She had stayed up late last night throwing insults out there about Kyoko, the "RenKyo bakas" as she so dubbed them, seemed to have obliterated her hard work. Who the hell is DiabolicalPen666? What right did they have to spew such nonsense? This person didn't know her. She or he was telling everyone on the forum that Queen B was acting out of pure jealousy because she probably failed at becoming an actress herself. She refused to admit that person had hit too close to home.
She responded angrily, mashing at the keys, her emotions ruling her logic. What was this person talking about Kyoko being a fairy with the high probability of becoming the actress to represent Japan? Kimiko was a talented actress, not her. She had already worked in America so surely she already represented Japan. Her hand hovered over the key, halting before she could hit submit. She needed to get a grip on herself. She almost gave her identity away. Kimiko logged out and shut down the computer, then put it away before she could do anything rash. In the middle of taking several calming breaths, a knock sounded at her door. She relaxed her face, put on a pleasant smile, and in her sweet voice said, "Come in."
Tadashi rolled his bottom lip between his fingers. Mya had pointed out a long time ago that it was a bad habit he developed when he was concentrating on a problem he found difficult. His temporary assistant walked in delivering the updated proposal for a preexisting project. Mya needed him to give his final approval so the team could award the contract. He thanked the young man as he took the folder.
He decided to distract himself with work and picked up his pen. There wasn't much that needed to change since they had already combed through this document several times as a team. For a time, his mind was occupied as he went about reading the document and confirmed the information was correct. He was startled when the alarm on his phone rang out indicating that his time was up. He marked his page and closed up the folder. He picked up his phone to shut off the alarm labeled, "Sae time."
It was now or never. He did a quick check of his messages to see if Kyoko had sent him anything. She had told him they would be unable to communicate, but he still sent messages to her so she would see it as soon as she returned.
Tadashi pressed the buzzer on his desk phone for his assistant.
"Yes, sir?" the young man answered immediately.
"Please have my car brought to the front."
"Yes, sir, right away."
He pulled out the shoebox from his locked drawer and strolled outside. His assistant was out there holding his suit jacket for him. Tadashi shrugged into it.
"Do you need me to come with you, sir?
"No, thank you. Please hold down the fort while I'm away. If you need me I have my cell. I'm not sure how long this would take."
"Understood, sir."
Koki scratched his head, exasperatedly. He had never met a more stubborn lot in his life. Even though he didn't introduce himself as a reporter to the ryokan owners, all the staff were fiercely loyal to the family. His innocent questions were met with stubborn silence or skilled deflection. Not a single one of them would spill anything about their young master Sho and he still had no concrete information on Kyoko. He didn't even have her last name. All he knew was that they were from the same prefecture, attended the same school, and coincidentally left for Tokyo at the same time. He was hitting a wall. He wanted his story to be based on facts, not the twisted garbage he usually churned out.
He decided his next best bet was to hit up the local places and see what they had to say about the two. Locals like to brag about hometown celebrities. His first stop would be the middle school they supposedly attended. It wasn't his first rodeo chatting up school officials. He found that they often liked to gush about their star pupils. It made their school more appealing if parents knew that an elite individual had once studied there.
Cain groaned as he woke and reached out for Setsu, but was met with only cold sheets. She was in the bathroom. He stretched all six foot three inches of naked masculinity on the small bed. Japanese beds were not made for his size, but he still felt refreshed and sated after their bout in the middle of the night. His face broke out into a dazzling smile unbefitting of Cain's image. It radiated all the love he felt as he heard his canary in the shower. Her beautiful voice rang out through the thin walls, "To know know know him, Is to love love love him, Just to see him smile, Makes my life worthwhile.; To know know know him, Is to love love love him, And I do..." He rolled off the bed and decided to join her.
Setsu was startled to silence when she heard the distinct sound of Cain urinating beside her. I guess the honeymoon is over. She stifled a giggle as he groaned in satisfaction when his bladder finally emptied. She cocked an eyebrow at him as he pulled open the curtain, intending to join her.
His eyes simmered with lust as it ran down the length of her naked body.
"I'll wash your back for you, Setsu."
She rolled her eyes at him. Where have I heard that line before? She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him when he stepped in. As siblings, they were going to hell, but at least they would be going together.
Fifteen minutes later, Cain wrapped a towel around his waist with a satisfied smile plastered on his face. Setsu stalked past him. Her face remained stoic, but underneath Kyoko was red from head to toe. She sat at the vanity in the hotel robe mumbling that her brother was a big bully and a pervert.
For a short time during their shower, he was putty in her hands as she demonstrated on him exactly what her mouth was doing as she sucked her finger in her sleep. He had seen and heard her as she dozed on the couch waiting for him yesterday. He demanded to know what transpired in her sleep. When he was through interrogating her in the most pleasurable ways possible, her head was full of no one but him. His mouth and his hands had driven her over the edge repeatedly until she was begging for mercy.
When it was all said and done, both of them panted for air. He had kissed her hard and rasped, "I will punish you again if you ever call out another man's name. I don't care if it was only a dream." He stepped out of the shower leaving her stunned.
Her blush extended throughout her whole body as the realization of the situation finally sunk in. She would have laughed at the little temper tantrum he just threw, but she was too embarrassed. He reminded her that he had watched her pleasuring herself in her sleep. Now he knew she had dirty dreams of him.
Setsu couldn't even look him in the eye. He lazed on the bed bare-chested with his arms folded behind his head and the fly of his leather pants undone. He wore a smug smile, content to watch her apply her make-up as Ten instructed. The process took significantly longer since her eyes kept wandering over his naked torso in the mirror's reflection. She refused to meet his gaze, knowing she'd only see the teasing laughter in his eyes. She was becoming a pervert. It was times like these when she didn't have work that her thoughts often wandered to him. Her hands always itched to touch him. Only after she applied the gloss to her lips did she flick her eyes up to meet his gaze. His hooded eyes watched her every move. Could it be? Do I invoke the same feelings of lust in him?
Feeling confident, she decided to test out her theory. She innocently disrobed in front of her brother like it was something she did every day. Her body hummed in satisfaction with his reaction as Cain covered his eyes and groaned. Knowing he was peeking between his fingers, she started to dress in front of him nice and slow, slipping into a pair of black lace panties. She smiled mischievously; this was payback for the shower. He growled from where he sat, watching her now unabashedly making her giggle. She went to slip on her bra and noticed three new love bites on her breasts. She looked up at her brother startled.
He shrugged, "You're mine Setsu!"
Setsu smiled and fastened her bra. Yes, I am his. And he managed to mark me as he wanted too all those months ago. That night seemed like a lifetime ago. Because of his role as BJ, Kuon started to surface. Somehow, she managed, by the skin of her teeth to pull him out of the darkness. It seemed that night he had finally embraced the part of him that he had tried so hard to suppress as Ren. She still got a glimpse of the occasional darkness, but she knew he could handle it. There was so much more to Kuon than just violence. He was her sweet and playful Corn, her warm and guiding Senpai, and her jealous and possessive lover. She loved everything about him including his darkness.
"Put on pants, Setsu! I don't want anyone looking at what's mine," he commanded. She rolled her eyes but complied. Wait until he gets a load of my dress tonight.
"Setsu, let's go out for breakfast. You've worked me up an appetite." He chuckled as her blush threatened to turn her wig red. He was probably not talking about food.
Tadashi stepped out of the car in front of the Viride General Law Office. Taking a deep breath, he told himself to man up and quit being a coward. He walked through the glass doors and straight up to the reception desk holding his shoebox of letters.
He smiled at the receptionist. She instantly smiled back with a slight blush on her cheeks. Tadashi knew he was a good looking man and often used it to his advantage. He had never lacked female attention. For the few months he was with Saena, he had toned down his looks and showed her the relaxed side of him. He became the cute clumsy guy, the dork, the guy that lacked fashionable attire, and the hopeless guy that capable women just couldn't leave alone. So as not to make her uncomfortable, he had worn glasses and let his hair go shaggy hoping he would appeal to her more. She was so cute and insecure back then. She didn't realize that her beauty, charm, and intelligence made her a great catch. She could have any man she wanted and yet she chose him at that time.
"Good morning, sir. How may I help you?" the receptionist asked flirtatiously.
Tadashi made it a point not to cringe and returned her smile with a beaming one of his own. "Yes, I would like to see Mogami Saena, please." Tadashi didn't miss the way her smile had faltered when he had said Saena's name. He assumed it was probably from jealousy.
"I'm sorry, sir. She's not in the office yet. She was returning from a conference in Kyoto but has yet to come in. Do you have an appointment scheduled with her?" the receptionist asked sweetly.
"Ah, no. I don't have an appointment. I do have something to discuss with her. Could I please borrow a pen and note pad? I'd like to leave her a message with this box," he said, putting the box up on the counter.
"Of course, sir. Here you go." Tadashi thanked her as he scribbled his note. The front door to the office chimed indicating that someone else had entered. He heard the clicking of heels behind him.
"Good morning, Mogami-san. Welcome back!" the receptionist called out.
Tadashi whipped his head up from the note and stared at the woman he loved so long ago in the flesh. She was digging in her bag so she hadn't noticed him yet.
She finally looked up, "Good Mor-." She stopped in her tracks as she gazed upon the man standing at the front desk. Tadashi stood there awestruck, his heart rate speeding up. Images of the past wafted through his mind. The many smiles, meals, and intimate nights they shared seemed like only yesterday. She had aged beautifully.
"Mogami-san, this gentleman is here to see you. He doesn't have an appointment though," the receptionist said, intruding in their reunion.
Saena was shaken out of her trance. He looked so different with his clean-cut hair and his designer suit. He reeked of power and money. She no longer saw any trace of the man she thought she knew until his face broke into a smile. "Sae-chan," he whispered. Her traitorous heart almost stuttered as he called her name the same way he did eighteen years ago.
"I...I..came because you didn't return my message. I'm sorry to have bothered you at your workplace. Even if you didn't want to see me, I at least wanted to give you this," he said nervously, holding up the battered shoebox.
Saena's eyes flicked from his eyes and looked at the box. It reminded her of how he used to show up at her place with a bento box, unannounced. No, even if his outward appearance had changed and his name had changed, he was still the same man. That thought pissed her off, making the great Mogami river run deep, as she scowled at him.
She ignored him and walked up to the receptionist. "Do you have any messages for me?" The receptionist scrambled to give her all the messages she had missed in the last two weeks. She was fascinated by the drama that was unfolding between one of her bosses but not just any boss, the Ice Queen herself, and this very good looking businessman.
Saena finally addressed Tadashi. "Wait for me at the Vivian Cafe. It's a few blocks down that way. I'll be along shortly."
Tadashi smiled and nodded. He thanked the receptionist before leaving and headed out in the direction she had told him, carrying his battered box underneath his arm.
Saena took her messages and went to her office. She closed the door, sat at her desk, and tried to regain her composure. Why did I agree to meet him? She felt ambushed. She looked quickly at her messages and found one from him. It was dated two days ago. That's why he thought she was avoiding him. He did say he was just dropping off whatever was in the box. Damn that Susumu, where was he when she needed him. No doubt he had overslept. She pulled out her phone and called him.
"Good morning, beautiful."
Saena scowled. He was always too carefree with his words when it came to her.
"Do you know what time it is? You're late for work!" she scolded.
"I overslept. I was up late playing my detective game," he laughed. "Do you need me for something? I should be there in fifteen minutes if traffic holds."
"No, nothing. I just wanted to let you know that he came here. I'm meeting him at Vivian Café in a few minutes. I thought I'd let you know."
"Sae-"
Susumu began, but she already hung up and shut off her phone. She didn't need him distracting her. She said she would face him and so she would. Saena grabbed her purse and headed out. She told the receptionist that she would return in time for her first appointment in case anyone was looking for her.
Cain watched as the businessman entered the café and asked for a seat in the back where there were fewer people. His dark blue eyes briefly locked with the man's gold as he followed the hostess to a table across from them but still within Cain's peripheral vision. The man didn't even flinch as Cain's dark blue eyes threatened him in that brief moment. He watched the man's face light up at a thought then smile.
From the corner of his eye, Cain watched the gentleman pull out his phone. He glanced at his sister. "Setsu, is your phone off?" Setsu reached one of her fingerless gloved hands into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She assured him that it was off. She had made sure she turned off her phone yesterday. She didn't want a repeat of that night when Sho called her. Setsu looked at her brother, he seemed to have tensed up in the last few minutes.
Cain had managed to scare all the other patrons to the front half of the café, but the same scathing glare didn't work on this man. He groaned inwardly. His future father-in-law was surely formidable. He wondered if Tadashi may have a knack at seeing through his disguise much like his daughter. Could he have given himself away by glaring at the man? He hunkered down and sunk himself further into being Cain. At this stage of the game, there could be no slip-ups. He took another sip of his coffee and returned his full attention to his sister.
His sister had yet to notice the man since her back was to him. If he stayed true to his role, she would not falter either. They could survive this test. His eye caught sight of the shoebox in his hands. If it was the same box, he had snooped in when they had dinner at his apartment, then it contained letters to Kyoko's mother. Don't tell me that...
Cain kept his face neutral when the woman walked in while Kuon was freaked out inside. What in the world was with this development? This was all Cain's fault for suggesting they ate breakfast outside. It was all because he couldn't control his hormones around his sister in that tiny little room. The little minx enjoyed torturing him. If they had stayed in, he had no doubt he would have had her naked again. Since they were in a relationship now, Cain couldn't help but act on his deepest desires for his sister.
The man stood up with his face lighting up as he waved to the woman and called out, " Mogami-san." Cain's gaze shifted to his sister to gauge her reaction. To Kyoko's credit, she didn't break character. The only tell that she had heard the name was her knuckles turning white from clenching. The businesswoman walked toward the man gracefully but purposefully. This was the first time Kuon had ever seen Kyoko's mother in person. She was tall, graceful with a beautiful face that looked as if it was carved out of marble.
Cain was relieved by the distraction when their food arrived. He shoveled his meal down quickly. Setsu looked at him eyebrow raised over her food, "Nii-san, you'll get a stomach ache if you eat that fast."
"I'm just really hungry," he told her.
Setsu hummed. "Never in your entire life have you ever been "really hungry."
"If that's the case, then it's because you wore me out...twice," he stated as he took another teasing bite. He had the pleasure of watching her blush. She muttered something under her breath about perverted older brothers then froze as she looked at him. Inner Kyoko was screaming that she was the pervert in both relationships.
He paused mid-bite and looked at her wearing a worried expression. "Setsu, what is it? Did you forget your outfit in the wash again?" Setsu smiled weakly, "Am I so transparent?"
"I alone am the only one that understands you. You don't have to worry about anything. I will take care of you," he told her.
"I love you! You're the best brother," she said and continued to eat.
Cain's character faltered and smiled, "I love you too." Then he schooled his face back into a scowl as the waitress came up to their table.
The young couple ate the remainder of their meal in silence. He couldn't hear what her parents were discussing. It seemed like it was going well so far since there was no drama.
Cain stood when his sister finished eating and threw some yen down to cover the meal. He needed to get Setsu/Kyoko out of here before drama ensued, and their cover was blown. He wasn't sure if Kyoko would be able to stay emotionally detached. He did not doubt that Tadashi would be understanding, but her mother might demand an explanation. Cain could feel the older Japanese couple's eyes following them out of the cafe. He anticipated some third-degree interrogation from her father as well as Taisho once his identity was revealed.
He patted his sister's head once they were outside passing a man in a suit leaning against the building. "It will be okay. They're at least talking. This way everyone could move forward and the past would just be the past."
The man, leaning on the building, glanced up at the couple when he heard them talking. He shook his head as he took in their hard rock appearance and dismissed them.
Setsu looked up at him and smiled, then wrapped her arms around his waist as they continued to walk, killing time before they had to meet Ten for tonight's premiere.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read, I appreciate it!
The song Kyoko sang was To Know Him Is To Love Him by the Teddy Bears (Amy Winehouse does a great cover but I prefer the original).
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 48: Thank You
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Saena would change for the better after her talk with Kyoko.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi entered the cafe and asked for a seat in the back where there were fewer people save for a gothic-looking couple on the other side of the room. The girl looked to be no more than Kyoko's age. His eyes locked with the dangerous man sitting with her for a fraction of a second. Tadashi didn't even flinch as the dark blue eyes threatened him in that brief moment. He couldn't help but smile. The look in the guy's eyes reminded him so much of Ren. Could two people in the world give off the same kind of dark aura? It was only a glimpse but he remembered how Ren had threatened him if he ever hurt Kyoko. He wondered how his daughter and her boyfriend were doing as he took his seat. He placed the shoebox on the table and took out his phone, deciding to send her a quick message. He would have to tell Kyoko about this couple the next time he messaged her.
He checked his work email to distract him while he nervously waited. The chime on the front door made him look up from his phone. Gulping nervously, he put it away when he saw that the customer was Saena. He stood and waved, calling out to her, "Sae-ch...Mogami-san," He corrected himself once he realized he no longer had the right to call her so intimately. She nodded her head in his direction to the hostess and walked over to where he held her seat out before returning to his.
Now that they were both sitting, Tadashi tugged nervously at his collar. He had run several scenarios in his head for the past two days on what he would say and how she would possibly react. He used this same tactic successfully when conducting business, but at the moment he couldn't think of a single thing he practiced. He sat there looking at her, looking at him, her face calm and cold.
The waitress came over and took their order. Tadashi ordered coffee, black, while Saena ordered tea. They sat silently while they waited for their order. Meanwhile, Tadashi could faintly hear and understand the dark couple's conversation near him. It appeared the girl was scolding the man's eating habits very much in the same way his daughter would reprimand Ren. Could it be?
He took a sidelong glance at the two so as not to draw suspicion. The chances of British doppelgängers right here in Tokyo were slim to none. What were the odds that they were in this very cafe, in disguise, while he was talking to Saena? It was too coincidental. Judging by their outfits and mannerisms it was just so hard to believe that it would be them. They were actors after all so he shouldn't put it past them. He would have to subtly bring it up when he met them again. Whatever they were doing, it was obvious that they didn't want to be exposed. For now, he would ignore them in case he was wrong and focus on what he came here to do.
The waitress returned with their drinks returning his full attention to the woman in front of him. Saena took a sip of tea as she stared at him, "Let's not drag this out. I'm expecting a client," she told him coolly.
After taking a sip of his coffee Tadashi began, "Uhm, thank you for meeting me here. You didn't have to but I very much appreciate it."
"Misonoi-san," Saena said before pausing. "Ah, that's not right." She searched her mind to remember the name Kyoko had told her. "Morimoto-san, if that is even your real name. If you've come to me to apologize and ask for my forgiveness then you are wasting your breath," she told him in a flat voice.
Tadashi sighed shaking his head. "Sae- I mean, Mogami-san, yes, my real name is Morimoto Tadashi. I wanted to meet you not to apologize for what I did to you eighteen years ago or ask for your forgiveness. Somehow, I knew you wouldn't want to hear it. What I did to you was unforgivable and I plan to live with that mistake for the rest of my life. You see, I...I wanted to thank you."
His admission startled Saena. "Thank me? For what?" She asked confused. The lines between her brows etched themselves deeply on her beautiful face as she thought hard on his words.
"For Kyoko," he said simply with a dazzling smile. Saena sat staring at him as she fought to regain her composure. Her throat constricted and unshed tears burned her eyes from the sudden sorrow she felt. She thought she had let go of these feelings. There was no way she would give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She had wondered back then, during her pregnancy, that if he knew her condition would he have come back.
As if reading her mind, Tadashi said, "I would have stayed if I knew you were pregnant but I didn't even wait to see the results of my actions. I was an ambitious man back then, on the fast track to success. I would have probably made a terrible father and an even worse husband since I was dedicated to my work. Because of my choices, I could say clearly at my deathbed that you would always be my biggest regret." There was more to his side of the story but he told her what she needed to hear.
Saena didn't know how to respond swallowing the lump in her throat. She didn't trust herself to speak just yet, so she sat there staring down at her tea.
A noise to her right caught her attention as the foreign couple stood to leave. She stared at them absentmindedly, rudely per Japanese standards. Their departure served as the distraction she needed to compose herself. She observed the young girl's rebellious style with her navel exposed, piercings on her face, and a head of unnatural platinum blonde hair. Thank goodness Kyoko dressed modestly for her age. She thought of her daughter as she watched the girl. She had left her in Kyoto when she was six-years-old after Katagiri Kenichi, her boss, and his sister, Yayoi, confronted her.
They could see Saena self-destructing again. She was repeatedly taking out her stress on the innocent child that soon Saena tried to close herself in her office and ignore the girl. The girl was a constant reminder of her failure at love and work. Katagiri-san had offered, no, more like demanded, that Saena make up for her mistake by taking a position at his law firm in Tokyo. He hoped that by burying her in work, she would be so distracted that she wouldn't have time to contemplate killing herself again.
Yayoi had offered to become the guardian of Kyoko until Saena was either ready to take her back or she was of age to stand independently on her own. Saena had resigned herself to being a failure as a mother. The little girl would often barge into her home office hoping for any kind of affection from her mother, her large golden eyes once again reminding Saena of the man that shattered her heart. Her wide golden eyes often pleading with the unspoken question, Why don't you love me?
Hoping to not further damage the girl with her inability to love her, she left her behind. She couldn't trust herself around her anymore. Everything the girl did was infuriating to her. Saena was slowly hating the person she was becoming. Drowning herself in work after coming to Tokyo, Saena had retrieved some semblance of peace. Yayoi kept her abreast of Kyoko's life. The proprietress of Fuwa Ryokan was always full of praise for the girl's exemplary grades and good behavior. Saena assumed she was trying to appeal to her, but even then, she couldn't bring herself to think fondly of the girl.
She had made the right decision leaving her behind. Thanks to Yayoi, the girl had grown up decent: intelligent, hard-working, and self-sufficient. Her biggest blemish was chasing after a stupid boy who, in turn, discarded her when she was no longer useful. Saena blamed herself. It was probably her cursed past that led to Kyoko making the same foolish mistakes. Like mother, like daughter.
She pursed her lips as she thought of her daughter's current situation. The foolish girl had thrown herself at yet another man, but not just any man, Japan's top actor. The tabloids were constantly reporting on their relationship which further aggravated Saena. She had agreed to let her stay here in Tokyo since it seemed she was serious about acting. At least this new relationship had not hampered her career. Saena could still see that she was pursuing her work seriously in the articles that weren't saturated with a love story narrative. Saena had noticed her daughter's face popping up in more ads across the city and on television. Her daughter's ability to adapt to different roles was surprising. She probably inherited that skill from this man. Now that she was back from the conference, she wanted to follow up with Kyoko and figure out that man's true intentions.
Saena's eyes flicked briefly to the man with the girl. She took in his dangerous appearance and wondered, what parent would let their young daughter hang out with such a hoodlum. She had no business questioning other parents' abilities when she, herself, lacked the skill. When they were out of her sight, she glanced back to Tadashi. Her judge of character was suspect since this man had hidden his true colors underneath a coat of lies so who was she to judge.
Tadashi's intense gaze trailed after the couple as a knowing smile played upon his lips. The young man placed a hand on the girl's head affectionately as they walked past the cafe's front windows. Once he lost sight of the couple, a man in a suit watching the couple retreat caught his eye. It was suspicious that he was just hanging around outside. His attention turned back to Saena when she spoke.
"I don't need your lip service. I didn't do anything," Saena responded, getting back to the topic. The couple leaving had allowed her to clear her mind of useless thoughts.
"That's where you're mistaken. You were incredibly brave, considering the circumstances with me. You were alone yet you had her anyway. I'm truly grateful, thank you," Tadashi said, bowing to her in his seat.
"I was never alone," she clarified. He nodded in understanding. If it wasn't for her Boss, Susumu, or Yayoi, she would have taken her life back then along with the baby growing inside her. He was thanking her for nothing.
"I tried to kill myself, you know. The guilt of my mistake was eating at me at an overwhelming rate. I tried to end my life once I found out I was pregnant, but I was too far along to have an abortion. No doctor would touch me for fear of complications since I was already emotionally unstable. I even decided on the method. I failed at that too," She said softly but with no bitterness.
Tadashi already aware of this information but it still broke his heart hearing it directly from her. He smiled softly at her resting his chin on his hand. All he could do was admire her strength. Most people think suicide is the coward's way out but they couldn't be more wrong in his opinion. He thought it took a lot of courage for a person to decide to give up living and act on it. She may have failed at her attempt, but she clawed her way out of the darkness and was now living her life.
Tadashi replied unfazed by her words, "Yet you lived and you had the baby. You continued to do your best instead." She looked at him startled again by his words unsure how to take them. She had not changed at all...still as cute as ever. He knew there could never be anything between them. There was no coming back from his betrayal and its repercussions after so many years.
"I know you must hate me. I hate me. You probably even want me gone, but I can't acquiesce to your request. I'm moving back to Tokyo permanently. I want to be near Kyoko-chan and hopefully, build a relationship with her. I'm leaving for the States at the end of the week to pack up my meager life there and wrap up some business."
She tried to school her face when he mentioned the States. So that's where he was hiding.
Tadashi picked up on the little expression and continued, "I left for the States the following morning after I left you that night. To say I never looked back would be a lie. I don't mean to trouble you with this but I have to say it. The feelings I held for you back then were real. I truly loved you. So I'm happy that the love I held for you resulted in a beautiful, talented, and kind little girl. For me, she is an incredible reminder of the best time of my life." He didn't think telling her the circumstances of why he had to leave her was necessary. It would be selfish of him to do so.
She gazed into his eyes for the first time. The sincerity of his words finally sinking in. This time her eyes blurred as tears threatened to spill over. It had been a long time since she last cried and she wasn't about to start now. The fleeting thought of what could have been crossed her mind. Would she have been a happy wife to a beautiful daughter right now? She shook off those useless thoughts and decided to leave it all in the past.
The words tumbled from her mouth, "I don't hate you. I made peace with what happened years ago. You tried to warn me and like an idiot, I chose to ignore all the red flags. It was my fault for being duped. As for that girl, in all these seventeen years, I don't think I did a single motherly thing for her."
"That's not true you gave birth to her. That act alone is proof that in your way you cared. I'm sure Kyoko is grateful to you," Tadashi assured her. Kyoko had told her as much but Saena still didn't deserve that much.
"You're wrong! It was my pride to uphold the law that made me give birth to her. I was incapable of holding her, of loving her, as a true mother should. I even denied her existence on public television, so the Japanese would not associate her with me." Saena defiantly waited for him to look at her in disgust and call her a monster but his words shocked her further.
"Don't worry about that. I plan to love her for both of us. She told me you two talked properly and she now understands where you were coming from. This was all my doing so please stop tormenting yourself. If you need someone to blame, then blame me." That part of her hasn't changed. She is still so hard on herself.
Saena's phone chimed reminding her that she had fifteen minutes before her appointment. "I have a client coming. I have to leave."
"That's okay. Thank you for your time... Just curious, is he with you?" Tadashi asked, nodding his head toward the front of the building. "Should I be worried that I would be getting my butt kicked or going to prison? I'll take it willingly if that's what you want? I contacted you knowing that it was a possibility. I'm just sorry I have to let Kyoko down."
Saena looked at him to see if he was joking. He seriously thought she would bother with something like that after all this time. The way he talked and saw through her reminded her of their past conversations. He seemed to be the same man she knew just with a different name and a lot less clumsy. She turned in her seat to find Susumu pacing outside the cafe. He did resemble a detective. A smile of relief graced her lips. That idiot? How long has he been out there? He's probably sweating in his suit.
Tadashi didn't miss the look of love that crossed her face when she gazed at the man outside. His heart clenched knowing that she would never look at him like that again. "I'm happy for you, Mogami-san. I'm glad there is someone to cherish you as you deserve. I wish you a lifetime of happiness."
She continued to smile as she turned back to Tadashi. "I am quite lucky." She stood up and picked up her purse. "Well Morimoto-san this is goodbye," she said with a bow.
Tadashi grabbed her wrist before she could leave. "Wait, please take this. You can burn it if you want but I had to give it to you no matter what."
Saena took the box he offered and walked out of his life. It wouldn't be for good since they still shared the connection with Kyoko.
...
Susumu had been waiting patiently outside for Saena. He came straight to the cafe after she ended the call with him. The stubborn woman wouldn't pick up his call. When he finally arrived, he saw them through the window talking solemnly in the back. He decided to wait outside choosing to stay close in case he needed to interfere. He leaned against the building and unlocked his phone to pass the time. He clicked on his gallery of pictures and thumbed through the photos they took over the last two weeks. He smiled at the first picture he came across. She would kill him if she knew he had taken a picture of her sleeping peacefully beside him. She looked peaceful without her brows furrowed. He made the next picture his phone's wallpaper, capturing it at the right moment by calling out to her. She was looking back at him with a carefree smile; her hair blowing softly in the wind. She looked so beautiful with her hair down from its usual tight bun and wearing a light blue yukata instead of a prim suit.
The chime of the cafe door caught his attention making him look up to see who was coming out. He was surprised to see a hard rock looking couple decked out in leather and chains exiting the establishment. He made brief eye contact with the girl that appeared startled by him. Did she think he was a perverted uncle or something? Even if he was, he had some sense of self-preservation, her companion was scary as hell. He might even kill him for just looking.
He went back to perusing his phone until he heard the guy speak in English as they passed, "It's going to be okay. They're at least talking. This way everyone could move forward and the past would just be the past."
His detective instincts kicked in as he looked at the retreating couple under the guise of browsing through his phone. Their conversation was way too coincidental. Could that have been Kyoko? It would explain her expression when she made eye contact with him. If it was her, then the man by her side judging from his height and build could only be her boyfriend, the actor. What was up with those outfits? Was that guy a bad influence on her and fooling all of Japan? They could also be on break from a job. Could they have been spying on her parents? He wanted to run after them and ask but what if he was wrong. He didn't want to get beaten up so early in the day. If they ever had a chance to meet again, he would ask Kyoko about it. He started pacing up and down the sidewalk to calm his nerves thinking about what the couple said.
After some time had passed, he peeked into the window again but didn't see her sitting anymore. He heard heels clicking on the pavement behind him. He turned and saw Saena walking briskly in the direction of the office. He recovered quickly to fall in step with her. Susumu didn't say a word as he walked beside her. He would have to come back for his car later.
"Are you going to ask?" She addressed him, breaking the silence and continuing her brisk pace.
"Do I need to ask?" He wasn't sure which question she was referring to. It could be any of the following floating through his mind: Do you find him handsome? Do you forgive him? Are you still in love with him? Will you leave me? Do you love me?
She stopped and turned to him. She looked up and down the street checking for other pedestrians. When she confirmed it was all clear she grabbed him by his tie and kissed him breathlessly then proceeded to walk. It took him several moments to get his bearings.
"What was that for?" He asked when he finally caught up with her again.
"A thank you gift," she told him not slowing down or looking at him.
"A gift?" Susumu asked still confused.
"For then and for now. You have always been there haven't you? I'm sorry it took me so long to realize."
Susumu chuckled. "If you're finally aware, let's put your name on my family register."
Saena almost tripped as her heart stuttered. Susumu reached out and steadied her by the elbow. She looked into his eyes to see if he was teasing her as always and found no laughter in them. He was serious.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a jeweler's box. Dropping to one knee, he opened the box revealing a large emerald cut solitaire diamond ring.
"Saena, I've been waiting for you forever and I'll wait for you longer still if I must. I love you! Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"
She kept walking her face scarlet from embarrassment. Stupid Susumu! Is he trying to give me a heart attack! She looked back and saw him still on bended knee looking dejected.
She walked back to him frowning. This guy just seemed to do whatever he wanted at the spur of the moment. "Why me? I'm old and I can't give you any children."
He stood up and looked at her seriously. "It has always only been you." He held up his hand to keep her from speaking. "You were broken. You needed time to heal. I didn't want to force my feelings on you so I waited patiently for you to face your past. I don't need children. I just need you. Say yes to me Saena. Say yes to us. I promise I will never leave you and I will make you happy!"
She turned her face away from his, embarrassed by the love she saw in his eyes. She clenched her jaw as tears swam in her eyes. She loved him as well, she just wasn't good at expressing her feelings. A weight had been lifted from her shoulders ever since her talk with Kyoko. She started to let herself feel again. She had erected barriers around her heart to protect it from ever feeling that kind of pain again. Susumu had started chipping away at her walls and before she knew it she was wondering if he would like this color lipgloss on her. She was still scared of letting someone else in again. This year's love had better last. Heaven knows it's high time. I've been waiting on my own too long. She glanced at the man that just bared his heart to her, if it was him, she was willing to take the leap.
She plucked the ring from the box and placed it on her finger then continued walking. Susumu scrambled after her and caught her in a bone-crushing embrace while Saena managed to hold on to the shoebox.
...
Tadashi smiled at the couple down the street as he climbed into his car. Even though his heart was still a bit raw, he was glad to see her happy and moving forward in her life. Now that he felt like his ghosts of the past were no longer haunting him, he could move forward too. He sent a quick text to Mya. He had no doubt she was worrying like a mother hen.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read and hope you enjoyed it! I'm not a fan of Saena but holy did her story slay my heart.
The thought that Saena had was quoted from David Grey's song, "This Year's Love," hence why I italicized it. I hope it worked. It was my inspiration for her and Susumu in this chapter
I'll be picking back up on the Heels in the next chapter.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 49: Underworld Royalty
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, the next time RenKyo became the Heel siblings it would be as a couple. I'm counting on Sensei.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Cain sprawled out on the small hotel bed, knees bent over the edge, and feet planted on the ground with arms spread wide. Setsu peeled off her boots and flopped down next to him. She turned her head in his direction to gaze at him. His eyes were closed so she took her time studying his profile, and committing each feature to memory: his aristocratic nose, the luscious lashes forming perfect crescents on his high cheekbones, and those soft sensual lips that proved to be both sweet and demanding all at once. As she thought before, he had to be a descendent of the favored Adonis. Tonight all would be reveal and she would have to share this part of him with the masses. Loneliness engulfed her.
"You'll get wrinkles if you keep making that face," he commented, opening an eye to peek at her. Setsu’s scowl deepened as she propped her head upon her arm.
He turned and smiled, his rare smile, the one she liked to think was reserved only for her.
"What is it?" He asked reaching out a finger to caress her face.
"Nothing, I’m just annoyed that nii-san is so good looking. Soon, everyone would know and they’ll all see what I see. I'm afraid you’ll leave me behind," she sulked. Now she had done it. She had voiced her true feelings. She wondered why that came out so naturally for Setsu. As herself, she would have never said something so selfish. Ren was way more talented than her, Kyoko couldn't even begin to compare herself to him.
How conceited could she be, thinking she was being left behind when she still had yet to catch up?
"You know you have already achieved so much more in this business than I ever did at your age. Are you trying to rub it in my face that I could only accomplish this much now?" He asked, dejectedly. They were no longer talking like Cain and Setsu but he went along with it.
"That's not true at all! Nii-San is the most talented actor I know."
He groaned at her naivety. "Setsu, your assessment of me is biased. Your view is too narrow. There's a slew of actors out there with more talent."
She snuggled up to him and laid her head on his chest. He was probably thinking of his father in particular. She was just feeling a bit insecure. She knew Corn would finally take flight. Is this what he felt like when he was a child in his father's shadow?
"I only see nii-san. You’re still young too. You will only grow in talent and climb higher in the industry. I can only hope to achieve a tenth of your skill by the time I'm your age," she said, rising again to gaze at him.
Cain pinched her cheeks and pulled them apart. "Is this mouth fishing for compliments? How many ways do I need to tell you that you're good? Since when are you so modest. You're my sister, you'll surpass me in no time."
"Ow, ow nii-san that’s mean," she pouted, rubbing the pain away from her face when he finally let go. "I'm happy that you think I'm good. It's all thanks to you that I could make it this far. Being in the same league as nii-san is my goal, but is it okay? I still feel like I'm cheating since I'm just learning from you and not improving on my own."
"Ha, this sister of mine is hopeless. What cheating? I just give you a hint here and there from lessons I've learned on the job. You're the one that has to take what I give you and apply it. You have to make each role your own. Don’t sell yourself short, you’ve taught me some important lessons as well."
Setsu kissed his cheek in understanding, rolled away from him, and began tidying up the room. She grabbed the shopping bags full of the workout gear they bought today and threw them in the closet.
She protested earlier when Cain dragged her into an athletic store to pick up some workout clothes.
“Setsu doesn't do exercise,” she whined.
“If you want to improve your skills, you need the proper attire to train.”
Kyoko was worried about shopping as Setsu. She didn’t want to end up with a plethora of black, skin tight outfits that she would never wear as herself. Somehow, with his help, they managed to find clothes she could wear no matter who she portrayed. She was grateful to him for the distraction as it took her mind off her parents' meeting, and helped her to focus on acting as the Heels.
She grabbed the hotel issued robe and headed for the bathroom to wash the sweat off her body. She wouldn’t advise anyone to walk around Tokyo in the summer months wearing black leather.
Cain turned on the TV while Setsu was in the shower as a distraction. He stopped on a rerun of Dark Moon just as the car chase began. The sounds of squealing tires of the past echoed through his mind. He closed his eyes in anticipation of the darkness sweeping over him. He blinked them open when he felt nothing more than a dull ache in his heart.
The sounds from the show faded and were replaced with her sweet voice as it consumed his mind.
"... Everybody just wanna fall in love. Everybody just wanna play the lead...Watch out Cupid, stuck me with a sickness; Pull your little arrows out and let me live my life..."
Cain chuckled at the lyrics she belted. What in the world is she singing? Katsuki's voice suddenly caught his attention on the screen ending the car scene. He got off the bed, grabbed a beer, and headed to the balcony for a smoke. That scene would always remind him of the day that little boy ran out into the street as the cars came barreling down. It had triggered his memories from Rick's accident and froze him in place. Just thinking about that part of his past used to result in a panic attack yet today was different. He didn't know when it happened, but he no longer felt the overwhelming guilt that threatened to suffocate him. It was all thanks to her.
Setsu came out of the bath and noticed Cain on the balcony. "Nii-san, is everything alright?" She asked, noting the two beer cans on the floor and the third in his hand.
He gulped down the rest of his beer and turned towards her. "I'm just fine," he smiled. "You need to hurry and get dressed. The car will be here soon to take you to see the witch."
"You aren't coming?" She asked her bottom lip protruding in a cute pout.
"Setsu, it takes hours for you to get ready for these events. There's no way I'm sitting through that. I'll pick you up when you're done and I promise to bring dinner."
"But?” she began to protest then caught herself. “Why dinner? Won't there be food afterward?" She had never been to one of these events so she could be wrong.
"Yes, but that would be too late for you. Your stomach would be growling loudly during the suspenseful scenes of the movie. Everyone would just laugh during the crucial moments," he teased. "Then again it does make an eerie sound. Maybe your stomach would add some great sound effects and frighten them instead."
Setsu smacked him in the arm for making fun of her.
"Well, don't drink anymore, nii-san. I don't want you falling asleep during your movie. I’ll call you ahead of time in case you decide to take a nap. I don't want you missing your premiere," Setsu warned.
Cain sat in one of the luxurious white leather seats of the lounge waiting for Setsu to come out. Ten had let him inside with barely a glance and gestured to the sitting area. He felt out of his element waiting in such a glamorous setting. The furniture was made of leather, chrome, and mirrored glass with zebra stripes and a splash of hot pink to add color to the area.
This was his first time coming to this location and was glad that it was closed to the public since she only took clients by appointment. This arrangement worked best, allowing for a more flexible business. The majority of her time was spent on runway models, overseas shoots, and drama sets. Ten was in high demand throughout the industry. He knew that Lory had gifted her this place as a reward for the hard work she did with LME and him. Lory wanted her to have her own space whenever she was back in Tokyo. Her relationship with Lory was still unknown to him. It seemed like Ten was in love with the man, but he couldn't tell how Lory felt. After knowing him his whole life, his boss was still such a mystery.
He had brought enough dinner for the three of them from a five-star restaurant. They even provided him with porcelain plates and utensils with the assurance that he could keep it or throw it away. Kyoko would skin him alive if he threw perfectly good China away. He busied himself by setting the food and plates on the coffee table in front of him.
Cain recalled what had transpired in the restaurant. The Maître D was speechless when he walked into the restaurant looking every bit like a rogue English lord and demanded 'take out' in his heavy British accent. The man attempted to argue with Cain stating they didn’t offer such a service to preserve the authenticity of their food. He looked down on the man shrewdly with an air of aristocracy and boldly explained that his lady was in dispose and couldn’t dine in person. Like an arrogant foreigner, he refused to leave until his request was fulfilled.
The Maître D eventually obliged as guests became uncomfortable by the glaring man occupying the entrance. He had sent one of the waiters on an errand to procure bento boxes to use as containers to transport the food. Cain thanked the man as he was given two large bags of food. Although tipping was unnecessary in Japan, since he was a foreigner, he ignored the custom. He had prepared beforehand knowing he would be unreasonable and handed the Maître D an envelope with a generous tip. "For the trouble," he stated and left with his bags. On cue, Ruto pulled up in a black limousine just as he left the restaurant.
Setsu had been at Ten's salon for the past few hours getting ready for the night. He knew from personal experience that the result would be worth the wait. He tried to imagine Setsu in a red carpet type affair. A movie premiere was nowhere near the caliber of an Awards Ceremony, but there would still be a good deal of media coverage at the entrance, especially for a highly anticipated film like this one. Everyone in attendance would be dressed to impress.
He slowly became aggravated after imagining what Ten would make her wear. Judging by Setsu’s everyday outfits, the images in his mind were either too sexy, too short, or too tight. He prayed to Kami-sama that Ten put her in exactly the opposite of his perverted thoughts. He tried to imagine her in something conservative, a drab-colored, high collared, long-skirted dress. He was satisfied until he saw her gorgeous face in said dress. Her beauty would be amplified in something so modest. She would need a hat preferably one that came with a veil.
His thoughts were interrupted when Ten returned acting all giddy. "Ren-chan, I knew that outfit would suit Cain,” she praised, now that she had time to appreciate his appearance. “I have outdone myself tonight. I can even gloat over Fuji-san's awards outfits. Even though no one would ever know, I think I did a better job. The two of you complement each other perfectly. I have to make sure to take pictures for Darling."
Cain stood up from his seat eagerly ready to finally see her.
"Kyoko-chan, we aren't doing this again, are we? You have to show all of Japan what a masterpiece you are, my Mona Lisa. Don't you want to see Ren-chan? He looks like the Dark Prince himself," Ten insisted, trying to appeal to the fantasy-loving side of Kyoko.
Setsu strutted out confidently in red studded stilettos and struck a pose. Ren's eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets. He screamed internally as he took in his girlfriend’s appearance from head to toe. She's wearing 'come fuck me' heels! In his mind, Kuon licked his lips perversely and imagined those heels thrown over his shoulders.
"What do you think, O-nii-chan? Doesn't she look gorgeous?" Ten asked, teasing him. She was proud that Setsu was going to cause quite the stir at the premiere.
Setsu looked at her brother daring him to say something. The question was written all over his face, where the fuck is the rest of your dress? Ten was unaware but Setsu could tell that he was controlling himself. It made her feel good that he was so possessive. The dress made her feel sexy and mature. The fact that no one knew her identity boosted her confidence. It was decided earlier that they wouldn't reveal her tonight along with him which Kyoko was more than happy to agree with. This night was about him. She was already satisfied that the important people, Director Konoe, and the Tragic Marker producers knew the truth and were pleased with her work.
Cain was at a loss for words. It was as if the Gods were laughing in his face. He had asked for a long high collared dress and they had given him one with a twist. It looked like she was wearing two dresses in one. On the one hand, it was a very short body-hugging dress with a choker-like collar and a low cut-out neckline that pushed up the tops of her breasts.
What kind of bra is she wearing? Wait? Is she even wearing one?
His eyes drifted down to her long shapely legs exposed high on her thighs. She was less than two inches of material away from showing everyone what belonged to him. He rolled his eyes heavenward praying she was wearing underwear. The other half of the dress was lace that extended down the length of her back to the floor. Her 360-degree twirl confirmed, no bra! He should be grateful that her butt was at least covered with the layer of material of the short skirt.
Ten had put her in a platinum blonde wig that came straight down her back with blunt bangs and pink streaks. She gave her a dark smoky eye making the blue pop with heavy liner and a red lip.
Reverting to Ren momentarily, his lips split into an ultra-gentleman smile. "Ten-san, you did an amazing job. She looks gorgeous and the dress suits her."
"Right? I call her Gothic Princess. My designer friend helped me draw up the dress and then we had a skilled seamstress make it. It was something inspired by Setsu, a real one of a kind, but very inexpensive without the fashion labels. It's considered a high-low dress since the skirt is short in front and long in back."
Setsu raked her eyes over Cain while Ten spoke. He looked like the Demon King himself in his suit. His black brocade jacket with dark red trim came down to his knees with silver medallions adorning the lapels. He wore a black collared shirt with a red tie. His vest was of the same material as the jacket. His knee-high black leather boots with his pants tucked in was a nod to his heritage as an English gentleman. As usual, his hair was mussed up, amplifying his dark sexy vibe.
Cain walked up to her, even with his blue contacts, she could see him transforming from the Demon Lord into the Emperor of the night with each step. She trembled and felt the familiar ache between her thighs. He leaned down and inhaled her scent which drove her wild. He placed a soft kiss on her neck beneath her earlobe then whispered so only she could hear, "you seduce me."
He had the satisfaction of turning her face beet red. "Shall we have dinner, my Princess?" He bowed with a flourish, making her laugh with relief. Cain had to keep things light before he ditched the whole affair and took her back to their hotel room. He was dreading the reaction of everyone in attendance to this gorgeous specimen.
"Director Konoe, can you please tell us a little about what we can expect in the film?" The hostess from Fuji TV news asked. They were reporting live on the event tonight.
"Ah, you know I can't give anything away. If you're curious, you will just have to flock to theaters and see the movie. You don't want to be the only one unable to talk about it. I will give you this one spoiler, it is not for the faint of heart," he warned, addressing the camera.
"We have yet to see Cain Heel arrive, will he be appearing tonight?" She asked excitedly.
"Indeed, I received confirmation that Cain will be in attendance." The Director dabbed at his sweat with his handkerchief. He promised he wouldn't be late, but the doors were closing in about 15 minutes. Where were they?
"Thank you, Director. I hope we have a chance to speak with him tonight." The reporter turned to the camera, "for you viewers at home tune in later for our exclusive interviews with the main cast during the after-party."
There was an announcement for everyone still loitering in the area to start making their way into the venue.
"Right on time," Cain muttered as the limo pulled up to the curb. Kyoko had been internally squirming in her seat while Setsu just looked bored out the window. They were cutting it close. Cain told her that it was so he could spend more time with her. He wanted to limit his, no her, exposure with people before the show. Besides, the Heels never arrived on time so they couldn't expect them to come any earlier than this.
Cain was instantly swarmed by photographers and reporters when he exited the limo. He sent them a menacing look as he crossed to the other side of the car, making them back off. The vultures descended upon them hoping to capture a photo of his date once Ruto opened the door. He used his body to shield her as she stepped out. When she placed one leg out of the car, he caught a glimpse of red under her dress. He noticed a mischievous glint in her eye, making him think she had flashed him on purpose.
When she was by his side, they posed for a few pictures wrapped up in each other and proceeded to walk the carpet. They ignored everyone with Cain refusing to answer any questions. The paparazzi tried to move in closer, but once again, their dangerous aura erected an invisible forcefield around the couple. No one could get close, so they resorted to shouting questions at them.
"Heel-san, how do you like filming in Japan? Could we see you in future productions here?" A reporter bellowed out.
"Is she your girlfriend, Heel-san? What’s her name?" Hollered another. The arm around his sister’s waist tightened. He noticed every male in the vicinity practically broke their necks trying to catch a glimpse of his sexy yet elegant partner. He fought the urge to remove his jacket and cover her up.
"What other films have you done? Why have we never heard of you?" A male reporter exclaimed. Cain returned that reporter's question with an expression that clearly said, "piss off wanker!" The reporter took the hint and backed down.
"Heel-san, can you tell us if you used any life experiences to prepare for this role?" Setsu felt her brother's body tense beside her. His grip on her waist became slightly uncomfortable, but she didn’t complain. She flashed the reporter her cruelest smile making him cower with fear.
Director Konoe halted his entrance into the cinema when he heard the uproar at the other end of the red carpet. He was relieved to see the couple, true to their character, leisurely walking wrapped up in each other. The King of the Underworld and his loyal Queen had finally arrived.
The director shook with excitement. Tonight was going to be a mind-blowing experience for all in attendance as his trump card made his way towards him. He had taken extreme precautions for the after-party announcement to be successful. Konoe bowed to the couple when they finally reached him then shook their hands. Photographers circled them, catching their interaction on camera.
"Thank you for coming, Heel-san!" Konoe said addressing Cain. "It's a pleasure to see you again as well Setsuka-chan, you look lovely. I admire the loyalty you have for your brother."
A murmur went through the crowd of reporters. "Did you hear that? Her name is Setsuka," a man reported.
"She has to be an international model," another declared.
"They're brother and sister?!" A reporter blurted out unsure of the gossip spreading.
"Is that how they treat their sisters in England?" A female reporter asked the male colleague beside her.
The man responded jokingly, earning chuckles from those that heard him. "I have a sister and she doesn't have legs like that."
That statement earned him a deadly glare from Cain. The reporter swore he saw his brutal and agonizing death when he locked eyes with the actor. He dropped to his knees begging forgiveness for his rude outburst.
Cain and Setsu ignored the man and continued into the venue with the director. A hush fell over the crowd as the couple entered with every eye now upon them. This was the only downside to making a late entrance. They followed Director Konoe to their reserved seats at the front. This particular cinema was where most highly anticipated films premiered. The seating was designed such that the front rows were not close to the screen compared to conventional movie theaters.
The director stopped and chatted with a few acquaintances introducing the couple. The siblings returned their greetings with silence and bored expression. Konoe nervously laughed off their behavior. Konoe continued walking realizing that it was pointless to introduce the pair in their current state. On their trek down the aisle, they noticed many other celebrities and directors in attendance. She recognized Ogata and Morizumi right away. Since Setsu didn't know them, she glanced away, uninterested.
As she swept her eyes over the splendid decor, she caught sight of Koga staring at them. Although she dismissed him, it wasn't before she caught the look of interest on his face. She turned her attention back to Cain and gazed at him adoringly, praying that no one agitated her brother tonight until Ren was ready to take the helm.
Her thought was short-lived as they arrived at their seats where Murasame Taira stood with Manaka.
"It's so good of you to grace us with your presence!" Taira spat with a voice full of contempt.
Cain responded with a sarcastic chuckle.
"You have an obligation to this movie as one of the leading cast members to put in your time. Doing interviews and promoting the movie is part of the job! Would it have killed you to get here a little earlier?" Taira continued his tirade in a low voice.
Ignoring the actor, Cain flopped down in his chair. Setsu followed wrapping her arms around his. She exaggeratedly crossed her right leg over her left as she cuddled into her brother. The movement distracted Taira immensely. He couldn't tear his eyes off her toned silky legs. She’s smoking hot tonight! All his blood rushed to his groin as his eyes worked its way up her legs, lingered at the cutout above her bosom, then finally reached her face. She stared at him with a knowing smirk. I’m so dead, he gulped.
Staring at her longer than appropriate garnered a low warning growl from the man she called brother. Taira’s eyes darted to Cain quickly. His body went cold as dread filled him. He could feel the droplets of sweat forming at his hairline as Cain stood up and glared down at him. The Brit clenched his hands into tight fists, sizing Taira up. He was only a few inches shorter than Cain, but Taira couldn’t stop the shudder that coursed through his body. It had been months since he felt this kind of fear.
Cain was so close that Taira could feel his hot minty breath on his face. The random and insane thought that this dangerous man had fresh breath took him by surprise. His fear diminished significantly. Taira stepped closer and straightened to his full height so they were almost nose to nose. The distraction was enough for him to pull some courage from his days as a gang member. He clenched his fists anticipating a brawl. This time he wasn't backing down.
He didn't even have a chance to say a word when he was suddenly shoved away from Cain. Did he just assault me? He stared at Cain and found Setsu with her arms around his neck possessively with a hint of death in her eyes.
"Stay away from him, Murasame-san. The only one that gets to be close to nii-san is me!" Setsu threatened, her black aura rivaling Cain's. "Since there's a crowd I'll let you off this time. If I ever catch you touching him again, I'll carve out every piece of flesh from you that touches him. Tonight it would have been the tip of your nose. Consider yourself warned."
Setsu’s deadly voice sent a chill down Taira’s spine. He glanced back at Cain and swore he caught the madman trying not to laugh at him.
"Murasame-san, I think you turned on my sister's switch. I would be careful now. She's quite skillful with a knife."
Cain sat back down and Setsu joined him in the same position that started this whole mess. They ignored Taira and gazed lovingly into each other's eyes. He looked at them suspiciously. Something had drastically changed. They seemed to be more in tune with one another and didn’t care who watched. Once again, he asked himself, disgusted by their affectionate display, are these two really siblings?
The nearby audience returned to their seats when the hostility between the co-stars fizzled, amounting to nothing.
Taira trudged over to his seat and sat on the other side of Manaka. The air-head actress whispered to him, "It's a good thing Setsuka-san intervened when she did. It would have ruined the night if you two had come to blows. This real fight might have eclipsed those in the movie if the tabloids got wind of it."
Taira looked at Manaka. Sometimes the dimwitted actress surprised him with her logic. He took one final glance towards the idiotic couple. They were whispering to each other intimately as if conspiring against the world. He saw the gorgeous woman in a whole new light. His heart thumped as she smiled at something her brother had said. Taira frowned as he continued to watch them. Her expression screamed that of a woman deeply in love. He almost felt sorry for her. Their relationship could never be accepted by society. She needed someone else to help her forget about those unnatural feelings she had for her brother. No matter how beautiful he thought she was, he refused to volunteer for that task. He would leave it to some other poor sap to take on her brother. Hopefully, they would return to their country and he wouldn’t have to see them ever again.
Notes:
AN: Thank you for continuing to read. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I've included one of my first fan arts I did a while back for this chapter since it came out pretty decent for my lack of skill at the time even if Setsu's dress didn't come out entirely as I envisioned it. I'm also adding another early fanart I recently updated to Chpt 10 in case you guys are interested in checking that out.
The song Setsu sang in the shower was "Sick Muse" by Metric.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 50: Goodbye Nii-san
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Fuwa's parents would have raised Kyoko as their own.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Koki sat across the Okami of the Fuwa Ryokan sipping his tea. She stared at him with not a single ounce of emotion showing through her professional mask. He had just disclosed to her that he was a reporter from a popular tabloid magazine in Tokyo seeking the truth. If she wasn't willing to help clear the misconception between her son and his childhood friend, he would have no choice but to continue with his train of thought using the information he gathered from their middle school and the local high school hangout. He sat there biding his time as she mulled over his questions.
Yayoi's mind was churning at the stupidity of her son. She thought that this was all behind them after visiting them in Tokyo. She had no idea why that stupid son of hers thought they were grooming Kyoko to marry him. The idiot had the nerve to tell some of his peers that she was the family maid. She was embarrassed that the fruit of her loins turned out to be so conceited. She blamed herself for overindulging her only child. She had a complication during the delivery of Shotaro. The doctor had informed her that she could bear no more children so she and her husband showered the boy with unwavering love and affection.
Yayoi was happy when Kyoko came into their lives. Often, she wondered why Kyoko couldn't have been her biological child. She was the daughter she never had. Kyoko was beautiful, responsible, kind, and intelligent to name a few of her redeeming traits. The girl didn't have a single selfish bone in her body, thinking of others before herself. Yayoi had enjoyed passing on her wisdom of the traditional Japanese woman down to her. Maybe there was a smidgen of hope in the back of her mind that Kyoko would become her real daughter through marriage with her son, but it would have been weird. They were, after all, raised like siblings.
Kyoko worked hard to not be a burden. The girl probably worried that she would be sent away if she misbehaved in some way. That thought had made Yayoi sad but no matter what they did to show her equal treatment as their son, the girl refused to be selfish. Kyoko's behavior towards Shotaro reflected the way Yayoi treated him. Even though Kyoko thought of him as her Prince, the innocent girl didn't realize that her love for him wasn't the romantic kind shared between a man and a woman, but the filial love one has for a brother. She was still young so Yayoi assumed she would eventually grow out of it.
Unfortunately, Kyoko figured it out thanks to the cruelty of her son. Yayoi was proud of what the young girl had accomplished for herself in Tokyo. She managed to turn a hopeless situation into a rewarding one. She even seemed to have found her true Prince. Her running away was the only and most selfish thing Kyoko had ever done. If it wasn't for Shotaro checking in now and again she would have worried to death. It wasn't until Shotaro finally admitted that Kyoko had left on her own accord that Yayoi decided it was time to call Saena. Since the police had not shown up, they figured the girl was fine. It wasn't until Saena was contacted by the President of LME that Yayoi could breathe easier. Now this man was sitting in front of her ready to ruin everything. If only he had shown up a day earlier, she would have had Saena and her friend's legal knowledge to help with how to proceed in this situation. Since it was her responsibility, her hackles were raised, no one was messing with her babies.
The lights in the theater flashed indicating for everyone to take their seats. Director Konoe made his way to the front and was handed a microphone. He stood for a minute as he waited for the applause to die down before speaking.
"I just want to take a moment to thank everyone for coming and showing your interest in this film. I see a lot of familiar faces from the industry. Many I have worked with and many I would like to work with in the future," he said the last part looking directly at the Heel siblings. "I would also like to thank the cast and crew of this project. Your skills and talents allowed me to execute my vision and make this movie successful. Thank you all for your professionalism and dedication." He paused as the theater erupted with applause and cheering. When it finally died down he continued, "Now without further ado, I present to you, Tragic Marker."
The theater grew dark as the foreboding music began. When the entrance credits were over, the screen went black for a few moments, plunging the audience into darkness. The quiet was filled with plenty of gasps, a few screams, and nervous chuckling. Setsu thought that perhaps there was a technical problem as people began to murmur similar thoughts. Finally, the screen came alive with what looked like CCTV footage, captured by security cameras, of people working in an office. A black shadow is seen darting around the room slashing each person before they even had time to register what was happening to them.
Blood splattered against the camera's lens. The shadow disappeared from view, but the footage showed the bloodbath left in its wake. Suddenly demonic eyes pop into the frame, eliciting screams from the audience. When the eyes came away from the camera a message was written on the ground with the victims' blood, Jack is still here. The movie shifted to Detective Koji, Taira's character, investigating the crime scene with the forensics team. He was a kid the last time this killer struck, he vowed that he would finish him once and for all.
Setsu struggled to keep Kyoko in check. She didn't twitch or scream as she wanted to but kept a death grip on her brother. She looked up at Cain to see a trance-like look in his eyes as he watched himself on the big screen. She frowned with worry and slipped her hand in his giving it a reassuring squeeze. It was a good sign that they weren't as cold as ice. He turned his gaze on her and smiled, picking up her hand to kiss the back of it. She returned his smile, relieved, and laid her head on his shoulder. He was doing fine. She watched the rest of the movie with relative ease and was glad for the opportunity to work with him. The experience she gained from observing her brother, the other actors, and the director's work was monumental for a newbie like herself.
The film progressed in a tense fashion. The audience would find that amongst the gore and action, Director Konoe managed to create a "mind fucking" masterpiece. The fact that her brother's character had no speaking lines made BJ ten times more disturbing. It was interesting to watch the victims try to reason with the wraith. They begged to be spared, stating they had family as if that would appeal to their cause. BJ, unfortunately, did not discriminate.
Setsu's lips twitched whenever someone in the audience screamed at a particular jarring part. Is someone crying? Setsu looked around curiously since the whimpering sounded nearby. She found the source easily. Manaka had her face buried in Taira's chest. Hang in there Manaka-san, inner Kyoko shouted. Setsu had noticed that some people left the theater midway. The movie proved to be too much, as Director Konoe put it, for the faint of heart. The ending left everyone stunned including Setsu. It seemed Director Konoe included yet another little twist to the movie, setting it up for a possible sequel.
The theater was silent while Setsu fought Kyoko's need to squirm in her seat. She had never been to a movie premiere so she wasn't sure what kind of reaction was expected afterward; however, as soon as the ending credits rolled a wave of thunderous applause rang out. Setsu took note that Cain Heel's name was featured as the actor for BJ. She hugged and kissed her brother on his cheek proudly. "Congratulations, nii-san! You were superb! I think I'll have nightmares for three years after watching you work. I'm looking forward to you hunting me down in my dreams."
Ren felt the rush of relief when Kyoko hugged him without hesitation. He had been worried that she would truly view him as a monster after watching him play this role. She wasn't afraid of him, right?
"Am I a monster?" He asked softly into her ear.
She pulled back and searched his eyes. Kuon stared back at her with insecurity blazing in his blue-contacted orbs. Her heart went out to him. He was so good and so brave. She hated that he thought of himself as otherwise because of his past behavior. He had put himself in a precarious position to grow as an actor and as a person. He opened past wounds to face his demons. He wasn't a demon, to her, he was a slayer.
She smiled running her fingers through his tousled hair. "Never! You're my overprotective, scatterbrained older brother, someone that loves me unconditionally. So you can't be that bad. I love you and I'm proud of you." She declared, moving her hand to sweep back the hair that fell over his eyes. She leaned up to kiss him but the loud sound of someone clearing their throat distracted her.
She was an inch away from touching his lips when the two of them turned in the direction of the annoying sound. Director Konoe stood over them along with a few others, including Manaka and Taira. Konoe bristled with fear for the first time since he was now a direct recipient of Setsu's deadly glare. Her unspoken words reverberated in his ears, how dare you interrupt my lovey-dovey time with my, nii-san. I will make you suffer.
"Forgive me Setsuka-chan. There are a couple of people I would like Heel-san to meet," he explained in a trembling voice. He thought people were exaggerating when they told him that she was just as scary as her older brother. He didn't expect any less from the actress that starred as Mio.
Setsu leaned back in her seat and folded her arms. "Fine, go to work, nii-san," she said dismissively. Cain kissed her on the forehead before he stood, making Taira groan with disgust. The deadly look Cain flashed made him swallow whatever retort the other actor had planned to say.
"If you head through those doors, Setsuka-chan, the adjoining banquet hall has been set up for the after-party. You can get some refreshments in there," Konoe told her as he pointed off to the right where many familiar faces from the set were heading.
Cain began to argue that she remained with him, but Setsu stood abruptly. "I'll be fine, nii-san. Just don't leave me alone too long. You know what kind of mischief I can get into when I'm bored," she warned and headed off in the direction Konoe had pointed, seductively swaying her hips.
She left them all gaping, including Manaka. It was the hamster's voice that broke the spell the men were under. "She's my idol. Sexy and bad fucking ass!"
The men turned toward the usually meek girl, stunned by her outburst. "What?" The young actress shrugged.
"Let's get this over with Director, for your sake, I shouldn't keep my sister waiting," Cain glowered, irritated that everyone was looking at his woman including other women.
Setsu walked through the double doors and followed the crowd down the elegant hallway. There was a line when she came through the adjoining doorway. Four men and a woman were conducting thorough security. They had erected a scanning machine similar to the ones used at the airports. It turned out guests had to check in all mobile devices and their persons scanned for any hidden cameras or recording devices. Setsu didn't even question it. She assumed this was all part of the process for such an event. When it was her turn, she handed over the fake ID the president had made for her to run it against the guestlist. They rummaged through her clutch and confiscated her phone, tagged it, and gave her the other half so she could claim it on her way out. Her next step was the metal detector.
"Bloody hell!" She cursed as the machine beeped on her. Setsu fumed as the security officer waved the wand over her and discovered her studded heels were the culprit. At least she wasn't the only one having a hard time with the machines; thanks to the price of fashion. Setsu snatched her shoes off the conveyor belt, miffed by the whole situation. Before she could move on, she had to sign a form. What is with all this security? They didn't do this at the Awards ceremony! She made a beeline for the bar, opting to ignore anyone greeting her for a drink to improve her mood.
Now that she was at the bar, Setsu was conflicted since she was still underage. She racked her brain for an adult beverage that wouldn't make her seem so juvenile. All she could think of was Sake or Ren's drink of choice.
"What will you have?" The friendly bartender greeted. Inner Kyoko's eyes bulged but Setsu kept up her aloof attitude. She knew, appearance-wise, Setsu did come across older, but was it this easy to be served alcohol.
Setsu flashed him a sly smile and slipped onto the nearest barstool, crossing her long lean leg over the other. "I'll have a cognac on the rocks," she answered confidently and waited for the request for identification.
"You got it," he winked and proceeded to make her drink. The bartender placed the drink in front of her and moved on to another guest. Setsu glanced around to make sure no one was watching her break the law. The liquid was cool when it touched her lips. Inner Kyoko almost fainted as she swallowed a tiny sip. The alcohol content had to be higher than the Sake the Okami let her drink on occasion. That drink seemed like water in comparison since she could only manage small sips.
An extra in the movie sauntered up to the bar next to her and ordered a drink. He used this opportunity to strike up a conversation with her while he waited. Setsu paid no attention to him as he droned on and bragged about the minuscule part he had played. "So what did you think about it Setsuka-san?" he asked, attempting to engage her in his one-sided conversation.
Setsu pretended not to hear him and took another sip of her drink, but more than she intended. How can Kuon drink this without getting drunk? She took another sip, then pushed it away from her.
"Is that drink not to your liking? Would you like me to order you another one? Maybe a margarita would be more enjo-?"
"Get lost prick," Cain snarled from behind them. The man practically pissed himself scrambling away. He turned his attention to his sister when the guy was finally gone. "What did he want?" he asked through clenched teeth.
Setsu shrugged. "Beats me. I think he was mental. The bloke kept talking to himself."
Her unexpected answer caused Cain to laugh out loud. The people around them froze. They had never heard Cain laugh before in all the months they worked together and wondered if the world was coming to an end.
Setsu absentmindedly reached for her discarded drink and took a bigger sip. She grimaced as the liquid scorched a path down her throat.
"How did you get a drink, you're still underage." He took the drink out of her hand and had the pleasure of Setsu calling him a "party pooper."
"I barely drank it, so don't get your knickers in a twist. TSA friggin' security was annoying to get in this damn place. What the hell was that about anyway?" she asked him.
"Don't know. I guess the director has something major planned. Even the food staff had to be thoroughly checked upon entering," He explained with a conspiring grin.
Setsu looked around the room. There were at least a quarter of the people that were in the theater here.
"Why aren't there more people here?" she asked. She didn't see Director Ogata or Koga around.
Cain shrugged. "Guess it depends on how the sponsors want to handle things. Looks like they only invited those associated with the movie."
Setsu's heart raced as he took a swig of her drink. The Japanese considered that an indirect kiss. It was a silly thought but it still made her blush internally even though they've shared much more than that intimately.
Cain drained the contents in the glass all the while looking at his sister from the corner of his eye. His residual anger dissipated when he tasted the drink. It was adorable that she picked the drink he usually had to wind down. He could tell by what was left in the glass that she hardly drank it. It was a good thing he made it back before she could get herself wasted. He nodded to the bartender and ordered two glasses of water.
"Come on, let's move to a table. There are too many people around here. Are you hungry?" he asked holding her close and escorting her through the crowd.
"I'm fine," she replied and tucked into his side. They shouldn't have worried about the people. They easily scrambled out of their way. It was nothing new but people were now avoiding them like the plague. She took her seat on her brother's lap struggling to maintain her Setsu face. She wanted nothing more than to laugh at their reactions.
"Nii-san, I think these people believe that you're BJ incarnate. It's safe to say that you've touched many people with your acting by inflicting fear in their hearts. Your movie is going to break records. I think you might even get the Best Villain Award." She beamed with pride as she caressed his hair. For the next half hour, Setsu had her brother all to herself again. No one dared to interrupt them.
Taira strolled up haughtily to their table. "Heel-san, if you can tear yourself away for a few minutes, they are calling us for the interview."
"I see the lead actor is still playing the gopher. I would think you would be promoted by now," Cain sneered not moving from his comfortable position.
"Whatever," Taira muttered and rolled his eyes. "It's because you're so fucking scary off-screen that no one would get near you. With an attitude like that, you'll get typecast and only be able to do horror roles. Just you watch, I plan on going to Hollywood," Taira argued.
Setsu snorted at Taira's big speech. "Hollywood? Murasame-san, please don't make us laugh. You can't even speak simple English. You'll never leave this rock. My nii-san will make it to Hollywood before you."
Setsu had the pleasure of seeing Taira's face turn red, not from anger, but embarrassment.
Dammit, she's right! Unless there was a Hollywood film that called for a Japanese-speaking action star, he didn't stand a chance. He would die before admitting it in front of this jerk. "Just watch me. I'll take lessons and make my dream come true," he huffed and stomped off in the direction where the interviews would take place.
"I'll make this quick." He kissed her cheek and helped her off him. Setsu covered her mouth to keep from laughing as the crowd parted eagerly to let him through. These people were in for a huge surprise later. She walked to the food tables to kill some time while she waited. Kyoko was salivating at the delicious offerings. She chose a few bite-sized desserts and sauntered over to watch her brother's interview.
Cain nodded to Setsu as she stood against the wall in front of him but behind the cameras holding a plate full of desserts. He was pleased to see her indulging in the food.
"Okay, I think we're all set. We're going live soon. Is everyone ready?" The Fuji TV news host asked with a trembling voice. She cleared her throat. Two out of the three men sitting with her nodded. She needed a shot of tequila. The aura Cain emanated was creeping her out off-screen as well. It was a crying shame because he was dangerously sexy, but how do they expect me to interview such a man on live television? It was no wonder the director insisted they be interviewed together. It should make things easier.
The hostess took several calming breaths and turned to the camera when the tech signaled they were now on-air. "Good evening Japan, this is Mikasa, reporting live at the premiere party for Tragic Marker. Earlier we got our first viewing of the movie. I don't want to give away any spoilers but I have to say that the audience will be shocked by the amazing performances of all the actors and actresses involved. I am joined here tonight with Director Konoe, the mastermind behind the film, Murasame Taira who plays Detective Koji, and the infamous Cain Heel who plays the villain Black Jack."
Director Konoe and Taira politely gave the appropriate responses. Cain, however, just nodded towards her from his laid back position in his seat. Mikasa writhed in with discomfort. Cain's attention drifted to Setsu when she coughed, hiding her laughter.
Cain continued to sit in his relaxed position even though he was fighting against every fiber of his being from going to her. His aura turned menacing as a man, one of the crew members, approached her. To his relief, Setsu ignored him leaving the man no choice but to retreat.
"Heel-san, do you think you can tell us?" Mikasa prodded Cain. He had been too intent on watching Setsu he didn't hear the question
Cain turned his intense blue gaze in her direction, raising the hair on the back of her neck.
"Can you repeat the question, my Japanese is spotty." Taira clucked his tongue beside him but said no more. He could have easily called out Cain on his lie but didn't. Ren respected him for that decision.
"Was portraying BJ particularly hard for you? You had no speaking lines so you could only communicate with the audience through your actions. Trust me I got your message," she said laughing nervously.
Cain shrugged and responded nonchalantly, "Not particularly."
The hostess paused expecting for him to continue answering. It took a few seconds for her to realize that was all he would say.
"Well, a man of few words I see. Perhaps the role was fitting," she joked. Her next question was very general so she addressed all three men. "How was the team dynamics while filming? Did everyone get along well?"
Director Konoe and Taira shifted uneasily while Cain just looked bored. The other two men turned to him expectantly. They wanted to say so much but didn't want to bad mouth the Brit. Cain answered the host, "I didn't succeed in killing anyone."
This response left the hostess baffled. "Director Konoe, would you care to elaborate?"
"Well, yes. What Cain is trying to say is that given the challenging roles they each had to play, there were a few times when strong personalities did collide. As you can see Mikasa-san, we all came out as a team and produced a movie we can be proud of," Konoe added.
Mikasa wanted to know more about that but continued to ask her questions. Whenever there was one directed at Cain specifically, he would respond with short answers exasperating the woman. She eventually gave up on him and started focusing her questions on Director Konoe.
Only half-listening to the reporter, Cain glowered as another man approached Setsu. Is she a damn magnet for pests tonight? He should have made her wear his jacket as a bug repellant. She was way too sexy in that dress. This guy seemed a bit more persistent but Setsu flipped him the bird without even looking at the guy. The man immediately took the hint and left. He heard a snicker coming from Taira making Cain's jaw twitch. Taira could also see her, but there was nothing he could do about it on live TV.
The bimbo reporter was taking too long with her brother. The heated gaze of his eyes on her made the wait more tolerable. She was sure he saw the men brave enough to talk to her and wondered if he was getting jealous. Keeping her eyes on him, she absentmindedly grabbed at the remaining dessert on her plate. A stick of dango was all she had left. She glanced down at her plate and confirmed that he was watching her through her thick false lashes. Smirking to herself, she thought of something fun. She picked up the dessert and brushed it against her lips. Using her little pink appendage, she licked and swirled the flavored ball before sucking it into her mouth. Her eyes fluttered closed as she savored the delicious flavor of the red bean paste.
Cain groaned internally. This is what happens when Setsu gets bored. She was making it "hard" for him to keep his composure in front of the camera. It would not bode well if he pitched a tent before all of Japan. He repeated his usual mantra in his mind, guaranteed to negate his boner: old lady, mom force-feeding him, Yashiro in drag. She was torturing him on purpose. He watched her eat the other two pieces on the stick with a similar fashion then drag her tongue excruciatingly slow over her lips. He heard a small hiss come from his co-star. Cain instantly sat on his dominant hand and bit the inside of his cheek. He hoped that was enough to keep from sinking his fist into the guy's face. Thanks to Taira, Cain's anger managed to replace his lust. He made a mental note to punish her later for being such a tease.
Taira cleared his throat and tugged at his collar when Cain caught him staring at his sister. Could anyone blame him? Why did he let her come out in that dress anyway? It attracted too many bees wanting to get at her sweet nectar. They didn't care that the beautiful rose came with deadly thorns.
"Director Konoe, we're curious. We've all done our research on Heel-san and have come up short. Where on earth did you find him?"
"Mikasa-san you ask an excellent question that requires a long explanation. I'm not willing to disclose that with the public just yet so I will delay my answer on that one," Konoe chuckled nervously.
His response, or lack thereof, made Mikasa's imagination run wild. The most realistic assumption she could come up with was that Cain was a convicted felon. His recent release from prison was something the Director didn't want to share on-air or so soon. At least, not if the news could ruin the ratings.
"It looks like our time is up. That would wrap up our interviews for the night. Thank you gentlemen for all your time. Congratulations again on your amazing film. All of you at home be sure to check out Tragic Marker now playing in your local theater. This new psycho-thriller will not disappoint you. I'll be honest I heard a few members of the audience crying from fear."
When the camera stopped rolling, Director Konoe whispered in Cain's ear before heading over to Mikasa.
"Mikasa-san, I have another important announcement to make tonight. I will not allow any cameras or recording devices while I break my news. I'm sure your supervisor has already informed you about the request. He won't know what I'm about to reveal tonight."
"Yes, Director. Your announcement tonight will be for our exclusive release in one week. I believe another interview is planned for the public then. We are willing to hand over our equipment until the evening is over and comply with your security," Mikasa told him. This announcement must be important since they had to give up their cell phones and sign non-disclosure agreement forms when they entered the room.
"Splendid! As soon as I get the green light from the head of security I will make the announcement so please try to pack up quickly."
Cain made his way quickly to his sister and pulled her backstage for some privacy. Now that they were alone he leaned and whispered in her ear. "That wasn't very nice Setsu. You almost put me in a tight spot. I wonder how I should punish you later."
The light brush of his lips against her ear sent tiny delightful shivers down her spine as he whispered all the things he planned on doing to her. "Maybe I'll use my tongue," he said, licking her lobe. Her body trembled as a hot flush worked its way to her core. "Maybe I'll use my fingers," he promised, trailing his fingers up her back.
"Yes," she gasped.
"If you're this eager could it even be considered a punishment?"
"If I begged you not to torture…"
Cain cursed the interruption when Director Konoe's amplified voice over the speakers drowned out her reply and put a damper on the mood.
"Test, test!" Konoe said into the microphone. "Excuse me, can I have everyone's attention. I have an important announcement to make," Konoe declared, now that he had their attention.
Backstage, Cain pulled out a contact lens case and swapped his blue eyes for brown. Setsu watched her brother anxiously as the time had finally arrived.
"Before I continue, I bet many of you are wondering about the security. It's a bit dramatic but necessary for this announcement. I don't want what I say leaving this room tonight. I'll remind you that you all signed a non-disclosure agreement. If anyone leaks the information I'm about to share, I will find you and I will sue you for everything you've got," Konoe told the audience adopting a serious tone. "Anyone that can't handle the secret I'm about to share is free to leave right now." He waited a beat to see if anyone would leave, but no one left. Their curiosity kept them rooted in place.
"Wonderful," he smiled cheerily. "Let's get on with it. I wanted all of you, my friends and colleagues, who had poured their blood, sweat, and tears, literally, into this production to hear this first hand from me. I didn't think it would be right for you to receive the same news along with the public. I am hoping that you all don't violate my trust. I promise this is bound to boost ratings of Tragic Marker. Most, no, all of you have wondered about the identity of Cain Heel. I'm here to tell you the truth once and for all. The truth is...well…" Ever the trickster, Konoe slowly glanced around the room until he was satisfied people were barely hanging on by a thread. "You see the truth is I made him up."
The crowd remained quiet for a moment while his words sunk in and then chaos erupted. Questions were being fired at him from all angles.
"What do you mean Director?"
"Who did I just watch on the screen?"
"We've been working with him this whole time!"
"Who is he?"
"Calm down everyone, let me finish," he shouted over the crowd, waiting for them to hush before continuing. "He was simply a product of my imagination. Figuratively speaking, of course. He's still a real actor. I gave the man that brought him to life a few characteristics to adhere to and true to his craft he made Cain Heel his own and far exceeded my expectations."
"I guess this is goodbye, nii-san." Her eyes unexpectedly blurred with tears. "Ah, I don't know why I'm crying so suddenly. It feels like I'm really losing you." She was having a hard time letting him go.
He cupped her small sweetheart face and kissed the tears rolling down her cheeks. He understood her pain too well as his eyes brimmed with moisture at the sudden loss. This was the problem with method acting. One could get too deep in a character and sometimes get stuck, leading to the demise of their career. It would take them some time to recover from the loss.
"Kiss me one last time, nii-san," she pleaded through her tears. Cain happily obliged. He pulled her closer, hands wrapping around her waist lifting her off the ground so they were eye level. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with all of Setsu's heart as hot tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
"Heel-san, please come and help me out," Director Konoe called.
When the siblings pulled apart, Ren was there dabbing her face with the cuff of his jacket. Ten might have used waterproof makeup on her because she still looked perfect to him even with her red puffy eyes.
"That's my cue, baby. Are you going to be okay?" he asked full of concern. He reluctantly released her hand when she nodded yes. "I promise it will get easier with experience," he said smiling softly. "I love you," he told her and kissed her forehead.
"I'll always love you too, nii-san," she replied sadly as she watched his retreating back.
Setsu stepped out from backstage towards the side so she could witness the reveal. She accidentally made eye contact with a confused Taira. I must look awful right now. Her eyes burned and her face was probably blotchy from crying. She took several deep breaths to pull herself together and ignored the actor.
Taira stared at Setsu leaning against the wall, looking very much like a wounded bird. He had never seen the feisty woman look so vulnerable. What the fuck is going on? He was torn between going up to her and staying put to make some sense of the director's announcement. He started walking towards her but halted immediately when Cain emerged from behind the curtains. The actor stared at his sister with what Taira could only describe from his distance as a forlorn expression. It boggled Taira's mind to witness it. Cain tore his eyes away from the young woman and settled them on the director. If this guy wasn't Cain Heel, who the hell was he?
Director Konoe's eyes lit with mischief. "Wonderful, wonderful! Without further ado ladies and gentlemen, I give you the man behind the mask," he paused a beat making sure he had everyone's full attention. "He's none other than Japan's number one actor, Tsuruga Ren!"
Notes:
Forgive me for leaving you with that cliffhanger. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 51: You Asshole!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Murasame would surely faint when Ren is eventually revealed as Cain. I hope Sensei shares it with us.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Taira stood among the gaping crowd thoroughly confused. His ears had to be going bad. He made a mental note to get them checked out by a doctor.
"I'm sorry, Director Konoe, what are you implying? Did you say, Tsuruga Ren?" Taira's mouth had asked the question, but it sounded muffled like he was underwater. The room began to swim, as well. Did I have too much to drink or something?
Konoe didn't respond and turned toward Ren expectantly. The actor was still emanating Cain's aura. "Tsuruga-kun, would you please?"
Ren closed his eyes and ran his hand through his hair, sweeping the dark locks off to the side. He shredded the last remains of Cain Heel and opened his eyes. As he gazed out to the audience his whole demeanor had changed. No longer did he have anger and indifference radiating off of him. The killer vibe he emitted was gone. The murderous glint in his eyes was replaced with a friendly stare. The sneer of contempt he often wore when not in the presence of his precious sister now bore a professional smile that was known throughout Japan.
Taira thought he was going to be sick as he watched the actor he had despised throughout this project sink down into an eloquent bow befitting a true Japanese.
Ren addressed his peers while maintaining the formal bow. He spoke loud in clear Japanese, "I apologize to everyone for having deceived you all this time."
He remained bowed until he heard a distinct thud of a body falling to the ground. He straightened his posture to investigate when he heard the panic gasps in the crowd. Taira was by Manaka's side as the young woman seemed to have fainted. She was already regaining consciousness when Ren reached them.
Setsu saw the little tart fall unconscious when Cain's true identity was revealed. She crossed her arms when the actress came out of her swoon and threw her arms around Ren. Kyoko's jealousy boiled over instantly as Manaka clung to her man springing her grudges to life. It had been a while since they had any fun. The angels had been lording over Kyoko's domain for some time that not even the presence of Kimiko could get rid of them. The sharpness of her nails digging into her arms kept her from doing anything rash. She wanted nothing more than to stalk up to the woman and yank her off of him as she would have with her brother. That reaction was impossible now. She couldn't do anything that would jeopardize Ren's reputation. She remained where she was and let her darkness surround her. It served as a nice little barrier to keep everyone at bay.
Ren pried Manaka off of him with Taira's help. Kyoko was still Setsu. Who knew what she would do if she saw this annoying hamster clinging to him? The thought that she would probably do nothing made him a little sad. He was no longer her brother so she shouldn't care. Kyoko, herself, wouldn't interfere because she was a professional. Thankfully, Taira grabbed Manaka to keep her away from him which left Ren searching for Setsu. She was a bit out of sight but remained where he saw her last. Director Konoe kept him from going to her.
"Tsuruga-kun, thank you so much for everything you have done to ensure this film's success. I'm looking forward to working with you again in the future," Konoe said, shaking his hand while bowing.
"I would also like to thank you, Director Konoe, for the amazing opportunity to act out dual roles. It has allowed me to expand my repertoire as an actor and prove to myself that I am capable to act out a villainous role, " Ren bowed.
"Your portrayal of Cain Heel was brilliant. I couldn't have asked for a better performance from you. I feel like I could retire from the industry alone riding on the coattails of this success, but alas, I still have plenty of creativity in me," Konoe chuckled.
Ren twisted his stance during their conversation so he could face Setsu. He could feel her heavy gaze boring into him. He flashed her an apologetic smile as Mikasa, the reporter from Fuji TV news, walked up to him. A soft blush dusted the reporter's cheeks as she bowed to Ren. She had interviewed him on two occasions before this and not once today did it ever occur to her that she was doing so again. Director Konoe's announcement was shocking. The prank they played on the Japanese audience was phenomenal. It was killing her that she couldn't report on this breaking news right away. Per the agreement between her company president and the director, she would have her shot next week.
"Tsuruga-san, I am deeply embarrassed that I was fooled by you today. I would never have guessed you were the ex-convict looking man sitting next to me," Mikasa admitted flustered.
"Ex-convict?" He asked innocently. His professional smile brightened.
"Yes, I thought that before this movie you were released from prison in England. The vibe you gave off just screamed, he's dangerous and he probably killed a person or two."
Ren winced, internally. She had hit too close to home. He struggled to push thoughts of Rick out of his mind and cling to his Ren persona.
"I think you have reaffirmed why you are Japan's reigning top actor. I can't wait for next week. Many people will be talking about Cain Heel leading up to our interview. Your fans will go nuts when they learn the truth," Mikasa squealed unable to contain her excitement.
Setsu, no Kyoko, felt a slight pain in her chest as she watched Ren get pulled into one conversation after another. The gentleman's smile gracing his lips was her only solace. It was the tell-tale sign that he was masking his true emotions. This was bound to happen. Setsu was by no means a wallflower, but she didn't want anyone to question her relationship with Ren. It was best she kept a low profile. They had been intimately close as siblings so it was only a matter of time before all the hoopla died down and they began speculating about her; the actress that wasn't his girlfriend. Keeping silent might become troublesome.
Manaka finally got a hold of Ren after he had finished talking to the producers and sponsors for the movie. He had already expressed his deepest apologies to most of the crew and cast members so it was time to address the main cast.
"Manaka-san, thank you for putting up with me these past few months. I'm sorry to have treated you like the pest that you were throughout the filming process. Please accept my apology," he said, turning his smile up to full wattage.
The actress failed to take the hint and radiated with joy. "I just knew Cain-san was like Kyoshiro-sama. Deep down, the good guy I glimpsed underneath Cain-san's horrible nature was Tsuruga-san all this time. That was a terrible trick you and Director Konoe played on us."
Ren kept his professional smile pasted on his face as he gave another small bow to Manaka. "I am sorry. It seemed my character slipped that time. You reminded me of a rodent," he explained pointedly.
Manaka laughed hysterically as if he made the greatest joke. Her laughter opened him up to other co-stars that were reluctant to speak with him. Ren found himself flanked by more female cast members asking him many personal questions that he refused to answer in detail.
Taira stared at Ren, agitated by the turn of events. The guy had fooled him for the past months that he had no clue how to approach him right now. He was torn between apologizing for his behavior and punching the guy in his face. Cain had been looking down on him because he had the skill of a true professional and the talent to back it up. Taira had boastfully sworn to himself on Guam that he would steal all of Cain's techniques and have him recognized as a first-class actor. To think that he had already lost from the beginning was what was irritating Taira the most at the moment. This guy probably had a good laugh with his sister on his behalf.
His sister?! Tsuruga doesn't have a sister; at least not one known to the public. The top actor's personal life was very private until recently.
Speaking of sister, where was the woman called Setsuka? He had not seen or thought of her since the announcement. He glanced in the direction where he last saw her but she was gone. Was it part of the plan to have her just disappear during the commotion? He recalled her expression right before the director's announcement. She appeared heartbroken then. Did his identity come as a shock to her as well? Was it possible that she was being used as a cover for Cain Heel without knowing the truth?
Taira could pinpoint several instances where he witnessed the young woman's loving gaze trained on "her brother." Was she his next victim? Like so many of Ren's past co-stars, had she succumbed to his charm and fallen head over heels in love only to be doused with a cold dose of reality that he could never be hers? Cain's whole "I love my sister more than life itself" was all an act for Ren. She may have acted as his sister but it seemed that she thought Cain Heel, like the rest of us, was a real man. Taira's anger began boiling again. Even if he was playing a role, how could he play with a woman's heart so easily?
Setsu had retreated out of plain sight to a spot where she could still see him. Now and again, her eye would catch his. He would flash a genuine smile her way making her heart flutter. Even among all the chaos, he was still keeping an eye on her. A couple of the stage crew had moved to the back wall and spotted Setsu down the side of the stage. They had tried to approach her for a friendly chat. Despite her prickly attitude, she was still smoking hot to them. When they felt the murderous intent rolling off on her in waves they bee-lined it to safer territory. They had thought Setsu was an act just like Cain Heel, but it seemed she was the real deal. They wondered how a gentleman like Tsuruga could work with such a crude woman.
After being spotted, Setsu moved from her position and paused to look around seeking solitude while she waited for Ren to make his rounds. Director Konoe came straight up to her, "Setsuka-chan, you're still here. I wanted to thank you for working so well to keep Tsuruga-kun's identity a secret. We couldn't have pulled it off without your help."
"Eh, this little bit was easy enough," she told him while yawning. "He wasn't so boring as Cain Heel. Now that my nii-san is gone, I think my work here is done, Director. These kinds of events are such a drag." Kyoko leaned in close and whispered so no one else could hear, "Can you please tell Ren that I will be waiting for him in there?" She averted her eyes to indicate one of the back exits. "I don't want my continued presence to cause any trouble."
"I understand, Setsuka-chan, have a good evening. I look forward to working with you in the future," he replied and took his leave. Setsu took one more look at Ren as the director whispered into his ear. He caught her gaze and nodded.
There were audible surprises from some of the guests that were near her when the director found her. They had completely forgotten about the woman known as Cain Heel's sister. She heard the special effects makeup artist talking about her with two women from the wardrobe team. They were being obnoxiously loud even though they were whispering. Am I being bullied? She heard the makeup artist mention the hickey that Cain sported while they were filming. She wanted to get swallowed up by the earth when she heard "teeth marks" and "deep bruise." It probably wasn't wise for her to tell them she had improved since then, no matter how tempting it was to brag. Maybe she'll seduce Kuon into letting her have a do-over tonight.
"Isn't Ren dating, Kyoko-san?" asked the first wardrobe lady.
Setsu paused from leaving and decided to eavesdrop when she heard her name.
"Yes, the actress, and she's R'Mandy's newest model! Do you think that darling girl did that to him?" the makeup artist inquired.
"Maybe she has us all fooled and she's kinky in the bedroom. I heard from my male friends in Uni that the innocent ones usually are hellions in bed. I mean she needs to be to keep a man like him satisfied," said the other wardrobe lady. All three women stared at Ren with hearts in their eyes.
Setsu fought the blush that scorched her cheeks. The woman had hit the bull's eye. She was insatiable when it came to him.
"I don't know. They weren't dating during that incident," the makeup artist replied.
"If it wasn't his girlfriend, then could it have been her doing?"
The women turned towards Setsu. "Could he have been fooling around with her before Kyoko-san?
"Is it even considered cheating if they were technically acting?"
Inner Kyoko screamed for Setsu to abort Operation Eavesdrop. She needed to disappear pronto before her presence conjured up more ideas for these women.
"We all saw how he treated her on the set? Who is she anyway? She has to be someone in showbiz to connect with Tsuruga-san. Do you think she could be Kyoko-san herself?"
The ladies studied Setsu's retreating form as she walked away. The way she carried herself and walked looked vaguely familiar, but they couldn't place it. They all burst out laughing at the silly notion. Kyoko was innocence personified in their eyes. There was no way the naughty vixen was her. They wondered if the Director's prank was still ongoing. The gag order was for one week. They weren't sure what would happen after the expiration date, but no one was stupid enough to violate it. They had all worked too hard on this project to ruin it now.
It was good that Setsu left when she had while the women continued to talk. She didn't want to expose herself while defending Ren. She slipped out the back door and found the hall deserted, regretting her choice to come this way. What am I supposed to do now? Exhausted, she leaned against the wall contemplating her options.
She turned her head abruptly in the direction from which she came when the door opened. Ren, no, it was Cain that strode towards her. She supposed he would still have to play Cain for one more week based on Director Konoe's plan.
"Nii-san, I thought you left me for good?"
"I got worried Setsu. If the director hadn't told me, I would have torn this place upside down looking for you," he reprimanded.
"It's because Nii-san was ignoring me," she pouted, looking away.
"Forgive me, Setsu." He hooked her chin with his fingers and turned her to face him. Kuon's heavenly smile shone down on her, blinding her, and obliterating the grudges that had manifested earlier.
"I'm sorry baby," he whispered and kissed her softly. He had waited all night to kiss her sweet lips. She slid her palms up his chest and encircled her arms on his neck, losing herself in his kiss. He pinned her against the wall, deepening the kiss, his tongue slipping between her soft lips and finding hers hot and willing. One hand wrapped around her waist while the other crept down the small of her back and cupped her ass. This was no place to be making out but he couldn't bring himself to care. They were so intent in their love play that they didn't hear the door open behind them.
The opportunity to confront Ren, away from prying eyes, presented itself as the actor ducked into one of the doors at the back of the ballroom. Is he trying to leave without getting caught? Taira had been stopped several times on his way to the door that by the time he walked through it, he thought he had missed his chance. Instead, he discovered Ren practically making love to his sister or whoever she was, up against the wall. Taira's first instinct was to back out the way he came from and give the two some privacy. He wasn't a cockblock. Then it dawned on him that Ren had a girlfriend; the gorgeous and talented Kyoko.
What the fuck is this guy doing with another woman?
If anyone else had caught them it would have been immediately splashed on the tabloids. He could see the headline already, Japan's Top Actor A Cheating Playboy!
This was the final straw for Taira. First, this two-faced guy fooled him with his acting, and now he was taking his role too far by toying with women's hearts.
Taira had been a fan of Kyoko since the moment he saw her in the Curara commercial. He was enamored when she portrayed the dark angel in Fuwa Sho's PV. He became devoted when the R'Mandy adds came out. His heart had shattered into tiny pieces, with the rest of the male population, when they made their relationship very public.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, asshole?!" Taira seethed through clenched teeth hoping to keep his voice down so as not to attract others from the celebration in the other room.
Ren pulled away abruptly, looking guilty at being caught in a precarious position. It took Kyoko a minute to realize why he had stopped. Her eyes widened with shock as it landed on a furious Taira standing behind Ren.
"You know, you're a real piece of work. I acknowledged your skill as an actor. You're fucking brilliant, but man, this...this is completely fucked up." Taira told him pointing his index finger between the pair.
"You don't know what you're talking about Murasame-san so I suggest you mind your own fucking business," Ren retorted in a deadly tone.
Taira felt his resolve falter as Ren stared him down. How much of Cain Heel was an act? He refused to cower in front of this guy anymore even if his trembling body betrayed him. The guy was human and he made human mistakes.
Taira took a step forward regaining his courage. "You have all of Japan fooled with your charm. It's almost laughable how good you are at acting. You probably don't even know the real you, anymore. Does Kyoko-san know what a fucking bastard you are?"
"Shut the the fuck up, Murasame. What goes on with me and Kyoko is none of your business?" Ren growled.
"Oh, fuck off! You have a beautiful Japanese girl like Kyoko-san waiting for you at home and you're willing to fuck that up for what...this whor—!"
The wind was knocked out of him as he was slammed into the wall, then lifted off the floor by the lapels of his tux. Taira looked down into Ren's cold-blooded gaze as he struggled to free himself. The guy had a death grip on him. Why is he so strong?
"What the fuck, Tsuruga? Let me go, you fucking asshole!" Taira shouted using his forearms to push out against Ren's arms. It was a defensive move Taira had perfected on the streets, but it wasn't working on the actor.
"Ren, let him go. He doesn't know any better," Setsu commanded softly placing her hand on Ren's arm in hopes it would calm him down.
"You're too nice, Kyoko." Ren released him immediately. "Shit!" he cursed realizing his slip. How could he have made such a simple mistake?
Taira fell to the floor from his sudden release. The cogs in his mind turned slowly mulling over Ren's change in behavior. He finally understood that Ren had said her real name.
"It's fine. I don't think we could have hidden it forever. Plus, I don't think Murasame-san would go blabbing to everyone!"
Taira watched dumbfounded as the actress shook off the cloak that was Setsuka Heel and bowed formally.
"I'm sorry, Murasame-san, but it seems I also have a secret. Ren and Director Konoe were just trying to do what was best."
Taira picked himself off the ground and gaped at the actress. "Are you really, Kyoko-san?"
"Yes," she confirmed with a slight nod. "I am very sorry, but my part was necessary to protect Ren's identity. If you meant what you said earlier about being a fan, can I trust you to protect my secret as well?"
Ren stared at Taira curiously as the guy agreed, nodding his head vigorously. The man's admiration intensified as Kyoko smiled at him with relief. It wasn't manic or dark that would raise suspicions, but sweet and innocent. Ren groaned inwardly as yet another man fell under her spell. The number of would-be suitors just kept piling up, waiting for him to screw up.
"Now that you are aware, Murasame-san, you need to apologize for jumping to conclusions. Let this sink in. Kyoko is the love of my life. I would never ruin what I have with her, but I have to thank you for defending her."
Taira's eyes bulged at the obvious affection Ren displayed for Kyoko. The man was hopelessly in love with her.
Kyoko stared at Ren in the same manner. The loving expression Taira observed Setsu giving Cain before the movie had to be Kyoko shining through all this time. Taira was so relieved. It had disturbed him greatly that a sister would gaze at her brother like that. Their 'baka' sibling act was all a sham to keep everyone at bay. Rather than being a couple, as siblings, they could alienate themselves from the cast and crew with their antics. These two had taken their roles that far. Taira had a long way to go before he could run in their league.
"Why were you following me anyway?" Ren asked irritatedly, breaking through Taira's thoughts.
"Yeah, ugh sorry for ugh um interrupting you two," Taira stammered out an apology. He was so embarrassed now he couldn't look Kyoko in the face.
Kyoko covered her red face in her hands now that the drama was over. She couldn't believe they were caught doing that in a hallway of all places. Her boyfriend was blushing cutely, as well. She couldn't even blame him, she didn't think twice about what they were doing.
"And for my outburst. I shouldn't say such derogatory words when I don't even know the person. I'm sorry!" Taira bowed deeply.
"Ah, it's okay. I accept your apology. I did give you that perception of me. Setsu is willful when it comes to her brother and often takes over. Thank you for thinking kindly of me though," Kyoko told him red-faced and still unable to look in the eye.
"I followed you because I thought you were leaving before I had a chance to speak to you. I didn't want an audience in case I embarrassed myself further. I was mulling over the last few months for any weaknesses in your character that I may have missed. It left me defeated when I could find none. To think this whole time I was working with Tsuruga Ren and I never noticed. I feel like you've manipulated me into reacting to you this whole time. I'm such an amateur. It made me realize that I have a long way to go. I meant what I said though. Someday I'll get to Hollywood like my idol Kuu."
For the first time since they met, Ren smiled genuinely at Taira. "You're a good actor Murasame-san. I enjoyed working with you. I was impressed by the dedication and seriousness you put forth into your work."
Taira blushed at the compliment. How could he say something to a man so smoothly?
"I look forward to acting alongside you without the pretenses in the future and I apologize for Cain's behavior. I hope there are no hard feelings between us," Ren bowed.
Taira chuckled shyly, enamored by the actor's humbleness. "It's no problem. That's what we actors do best. You were hired to act out a role and you nailed it. If we do work together, I plan to gleam every skill I can off of you."
"Deal," Ren smiled, holding out his hand which Taira took without hesitation. The trio was startled by Director Konoe bursting through the door.
"There you are! I thought Tsuruga-kun and Setsuka-chan left," Konoe exclaimed, barely remembering to keep Kyoko's identity in mind. "It's clearing up outside. Is everything okay?" he asked, looking between them.
"Everything is fine, Director. Murasame-san and I were just clearing the bad air between us," Ren informed him. "There is one thing, um...Murasame-san knows the truth about Setsu. He has promised to keep it to himself. Right, Murasame-san?" Ren's gentleman smile was back on his face, promising his co-star death if he sold-out Kyoko.
"Ugh, that's right. I won't tell anyone. I promise!" Taira replied bowing to the director.
Director Konoe looked worried. He had not thought about the fallout between Ren and Setsuka. He would wait and see how the week played out before devising a new plan.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read. I hope you enjoy it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 52: Feeling Love
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Tragic Marker premiere night would end on a hot note!
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi sat on his floor laying out wrapping paper, ribbon, and decorative tape on his coffee table. He had spent the entire evening looking for the perfect parting gift for Kyoko. He could have left for the States already but he prolonged his trip until the end of the week so he could spend more time with her. It was a vacation long overdue.
He tried to play up to her whimsical side but everything seemed either too intimate in a lover sort of way which he would leave those gifts to Ren or not personal enough for his liking. He hoped Kyoko would be surprised with his practical gift and wouldn't think him creepy. He paused in his task when the program on the TV showed footage from a premiere that happened earlier. The reporter was going on about the mysterious antagonist, Cain Heel. They had finally captured some candid shots of him as he entered the theater.
"Now that we have all put a face to the elusive Heel-san, everyone is wondering who the blonde bombshell by his side could be. We have reports identifying that her name is Setsuka-san and she is supposedly his sister. We haven't confirmed that relationship yet," the reporter stated.
Tadashi's eyes widened at the sight of the "siblings" he had seen this morning. They both looked great. He didn't even frown at the dress the young woman wore. It was probably because he spent almost the past twenty years in New York City. He was accustomed to all manner of fashion. The dress was trendy and fit her image.
"We are taking you live to Mikasa-san, who is currently attending the after-party and has been interviewing the cast. Let's take a look at what she's doing now," the reporter continued.
Tadashi smiled. Cain Heel was the complete opposite of Ren. No one would be able to tell that it was him because it was too inconceivable. If he had not glared at Tadashi this morning, he would have never made the connection. He wondered which character was closer to the truth behind the man, Ren, or Cain. The boy had some underlying issues, but he wasn't worried about his daughter's safety. He knew Ren would do everything in his power to protect her. He could tell in the way the young man treated her, and that's why it never once crossed his mind that Ren would be a danger to her. Tadashi resumed wrapping the gift when the interview was over.
"Are you going to look inside?" Susumu asked Saena, pointing to the beat-up shoebox she had brought home from work. He knew it was something that Kyoko's father gave her this morning.
Saena's brows were already furrowed as she reviewed the deposition of her latest case on her laptop. The Mogami River deepened when Susumu reminded her about the controversial box. "I wasn't planning on it. Whatever is in it won't change my feelings?"
"You can't know that. I think you should take a look. The man has been keeping it for all this time, judging by the condition of its exterior. I know you. You'll probably bury yourself in work just to keep from thinking about it. How about we just rip that annoying band-aid off now?" He suggested with a sinister smile.
Saena glared at him and closed her laptop. Susumu wasn't going to leave her be until she looked inside. He was probably more curious as to what it contained. His latent detective spirit must be springing forth again.
Susumu had two motives for pushing her to look at the box. The first was he wanted her to have complete closure with Tadashi. The second was he wanted to know if it contained his reasons for betraying her. She had disclosed to him some of what they discussed this morning. Susumu still disliked the man for what he did to Saena all those years ago. He had almost lost her in more ways than death because of him. If he had not betrayed her would the love of his life now be happily married to a successful man raising a beautiful daughter? He felt terrible thinking about how she had to suffer just for him to have her by his side. Perhaps it was predestined by the Gods.
Susumu stood to leave the room and give her some privacy. Whatever was in there was none of his business. Saena looked at him startled.
"Where are you going?" She demanded.
"I'm going to bed. Don't stay up too late," he told her, then kissed the top of her head.
Saena frowned again. What a weird man. Saena gasped in surprise as she opened the box. It was full of folded papers. There was one laying on top of all of them, open. The date at the top told her it was written a few days ago.
Dear Sae-chan, this will be my final letter. If you are reading this, it means I found the guts to give you this box. The letters in here are a poor excuse of an apology. If I am able to talk to you in person, I wonder what I would say...probably 'I'm sorry' for starters.
In the past, I would probably compliment you on your beauty or how cute the deep ruts between your brows looked, but I have lost the right to say such things.
In the end, I'm not sure what I would say or how you would respond. If I do get the chance to talk with you, I'll probably just have to wing it.
If I don't speak with you, I wanted to tell you Thank You for our beautiful daughter. The instant I laid eyes on her my heart fluttered with excitement. Perhaps the Gods were granting me a second chance. A chance to finally redeem me. I am aware of your feelings towards her and all I can say is I understand. Thank you for the wonderful blessing that is Kyoko.
If you continue to read after this, may I suggest you start with the one I labeled Day 1? If you don't feel like going on afterward, please feel free to toss the rest. You don't owe me anything.
Forever grateful, Tadashi Morimoto.
Saena closed the lid on the box after reading the next letter he mentioned. It made her realize she didn't know the man she had claimed to love all those years ago. He had been the one asking all the questions back then. She could even claim it was under the guise to better infiltrate her. She couldn't be sure. At twenty-eight years old, one would think she would be able to ask him the more personal questions that would have brought them closer emotionally. Her shyness prevented her from doing so. She was glad she knew the truth behind that incident. He had not wanted to leave her and even thought about bringing her with him. He knew her pride wouldn't allow it once he revealed the truth. He didn't want to implicate her along with him should things take a turn for the worse. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She chose neither.
Saena placed the box on the counter. Tomorrow, she would shred the rest and put a close to that dark chapter of her life. She glanced at the ring on her finger and smiled as she thought of the man waiting for her in the other room. It was as if she had to endure that past heartache to appreciate what was by her side all along.
Koki was on his second pot of coffee. He typed erratically from all the caffeine flowing through his body. He had asked his chief editor for an extension on his piece. He needed to talk to several people in Tokyo before he could attach his name to the article. If he played his cards right with his first meeting in Tokyo, he could guarantee the rest of his plan would fall in place.
He shuddered as he looked at the picture he had acquired from the middle school. It was a group picture of Fuwa Sho and Kyoko with others from their class during a school festival event. They had done a cafe with Samurais and Kimonos as their theme. He could see the segregation of the girl compared to the rest of the kids. All of the other teens were clustered around Sho while Kyoko stood awkwardly apart. The slight only made the viewer's eyes wander to her curiously. The beauty and grace she exuded in her Kimono compared to the other girls showed the training she received from the Okami at the Fuwa Ryokan.
What made him shudder was a chilling memory he had following a tip for the filming of Ring Doh. After seeing this photo, he did not doubt that the beautiful young woman he saw in the Kimono that evening had to be this girl. That murderous glare that Tsuruga Ren flashed him that evening when he tried to garner an interview from the girl is what scared him now. Everyone knew that they were the hottest celebrity couple in Japan. Koki wondered if mutual feelings began to develop at that time. He was curious to know how her fairytale all began.
He needed to get this article right and not anger the actor. One mere mention of his distaste for the publication to his fans and he could easily be out of a job.
"I have to stop in the restroom to change my contacts. I'm still Cain," he told Setsu as he handed her his ticket. "Can you go ahead and get our stuff? I'll meet you in the lobby."
Setsu strutted up to the bag check window and handed the ticket stubs to the attendant. In turn, she was given two phones. She unlocked both phones before leaving, verifying that they were indeed theirs. Kyoko knew the code on his phone and he knew hers. She never needed to use it until now. Inner Kyoko blushed at his background image and quickly hid it from view. She didn't remember seeing this photo in the preview Fuji sent them.
Setsu leaned against the wall in the lobby for her brother to join her. She could feel the curious eyes on her, but no one said a word. They were out of the safety of the room which put the disclosure agreements into effect. She had to hand it to them; they were true professionals. They looked apprehensive when Cain walked out and led her to the waiting limo. Setsu was thrilled to have her Nii-san back. The crowd reacted instantly to the change in atmosphere and were once again fearful of the couple.
Once in the safety of the car with Ruto driving, he pulled her onto his lap and just held her for a few moments.
"I'm sorry," he finally whispered against her hair. She had no idea what he was apologizing for and turned to him confused.
"What for?" She asked, taking his face in her hands. He seemed to have something serious on his mind, so she mentally scolded herself to not be fascinated by the light stubble pricking her palms.
"For getting you mixed up in all this. Maybe we should have revealed you with me. I don't like the conclusion Murasame-san jumped to when he caught us. I noticed the way the others were looking at you as we left. They were all thinking along the same lines."
Kyoko started giggling.
"You know you have a really bad habit of laughing when I'm trying to be serious here," he scowled, making himself look cuter to her.
"I'm sorry. You're so adorable when you worry for my sake. That's one of the things I love about you," she told him and placed a small kiss on his lips.
"I do find it a little funny that people think you're cheating on me with me. How fun would it be to prove to them otherwise?" She smiled mischievously.
"What do you have in mind?" He asked with raised brows.
"Maybe we can talk to Director Konoe about revealing me," she suggested.
She pressed her lips to his to get him to be quiet when he began to protest. Rather than be annoyed with her, he reacted instantly, kissing her back and entangling his fingers in her platinum locks. She pulled back from him with eyes alight with mirth. "I wasn't finished...behave. I wanted to say before you so rudely interrupted me..." she admonished.
"I'm innocent! Remind me who kissed who first," Kuon asked in an accusatory tone.
Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits. "What I was trying to say if you please kind sir is that I'm not worried about my reputation. I'm worried about you. I don't want people attacking you for your illicit affair with another woman. I guess it would make me look pathetic too. Now I understand your fear," she said, nibbling on her bottom lip.
"I don't want anyone thinking you couldn't satisfy me or questioning my love for you," he explained, brushing his thumb over her lip to stop her from chewing on it. "It would only be a matter of time before the NDA expires and the gossip about our actions on set leak out to the public. I don't care about me. I don't want to see you humiliated because of me," he declared tucking her hair behind her ear. He knew they had to do what she suggested to avoid the issue. He would ask Lory to talk to the Director when he returned.
Kyoko leaned her forehead against his. "I don't regret taking this job. It brought me closer to my esteemed Senpai after all," she smiled.
"Are you finished? Can I kiss you now?" He asked. Kyoko gave him a playful smack then obliged, closing the small gap. He took his time which surprised her since he was so impatient just a moment ago. He kissed the corner of her mouth, then moved to the other corner. His hands held the nape of her neck delicately tilting her head at different angles so he could better kiss her. He laid a soft kiss on the middle of her mouth before skimming her jawline with his lips.
Kyoko tilted her head back when he moved to suck on the delicate skin beneath her ear. A moan escaped her lips as his hot tongue teased her skin. He was going to leave a mark. She pulled away from his mouth with a loud pop. My turn! She wanted a do-over. His large hands dropped to the small of her waist kneading her hips as she explored his neck.
With her lips, she could feel the remnants of the scratches she had inflicted on him yesterday. She kissed every inch of his wound in apology for hurting him. When she was done, she found the coveted spot and sucked, hard. Like a good student, she applied what she learned and sucked repeatedly over and over to mark him as hers.
Kuon was delirious with lust as his hands rocked her hips against his arousal. While her mouth agonizingly tortured him with pleasure, a hand found its way to her thigh inching up until it disappeared under the skirt of her dress. He needed to thank Ten for such a convenient dress.
She hissed against his neck as his fingers found her hot and wet, eager for his touch.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
They were slow to respond when the knock on the window sounded again bringing them back to their senses. Thank goodness the tint was dark from the outside because they could clearly see Ruto standing outside. They were so lost in lust that they already arrived at the hotel. Kyoko burned with embarrassment. Did he know what they were doing in here? Would he report to the president that she was shameless? How many times was she going to lose herself in public?
"Let's continue this upstairs, shall we? I'll make you feel my love," the emperor promised, smoothing her dress so they could exit the car. He hoped his jacket would hide the raging hard-on threatening to burst through his pants.
Kyoko thought her hair would set aflame by the hot looks Kuon gave her from the other side of the elevator. The emperor had a predatory gaze in his eyes that promised an endless night of pleasure. Once in the safety of their room, he pounced on her. Gone were the sweet kisses of earlier. He was a hungry beast ready to devour her and she welcomed it. He pushed her against the hard wooden door while his hands slid up and down her body. His left hand delved into her faux blonde hair holding on to the nape of her neck as he stole her very breath with his kiss.
Kyoko's hands moved of their own accord, tugging his jacket off him and throwing it to the floor. Without breaking the kiss, she divested him of his vest and tie, then yanked his shirt out of his trousers. Kuon shivered as her hot hands sought the bare flesh of his abdomen. Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt until she finally got the blasted thing off tossing it to join the rest of his outfit on the floor. Impatiently, she undid his belt and the fly of his pants.
Before she could plunge a hand into his pants, Kuon grabbed her hands and secured them on his shoulders. If she touched him down there now, he would easily come. She had worked him up all night in her sexy dress that he was bursting at the seams. He kissed her neck as his hands sought the soft mounds on her chest. She moaned lustily, arching her back so his hands could fully cup her breasts. Through the material of her dress, Kuon could feel her nipples perking up under the ministrations of his thumbs.
His mouth descended, kissing and sucking the delicate skin that pushed out of her dress while his fingers tweaked her hardened peaks. Kyoko bucked her hips as his mouth closed over her nipple and began to suck through the material of her dress. Her breath came out in short gasps as he teased her sensitive breasts. Moving to suck the other peak, his hands slid slowly down her body stopping on the bare flesh of her exposed thighs. Yes, he very much liked the convenience of this dress. His fingers curled around the hemline of the short part of the skirt and hiked it up to her waist exposing her bottom half.
He dropped to his knees before her, blazing a hot trail of kisses down her clothed abdomen. Kyoko was overheating. She wanted the dress off to feel his flesh on her flesh without the barriers of the material. She returned to her senses as his kisses descended further. He nudged her womanhood with his nose and inhaled deeply. I haven't showered in several hours, she panicked. Is he planning on doing that right here, right now?
"Kuon...ugh...I haven't showered," she cautioned, rocking her hips against his face. Her body betrayed her words making him chuckle.
Kyoko let out a tortured moan as he dragged his tongue over the seam of her lace-clad pussy. "Mmmm, but you taste so sweet right now," he told her in a voice full of arousal. She was so wet he could taste her juices seeping through the red lace. Impatiently, he hooked his fingers on to the edges and pulled them down until her stilettos stepped out of them. He had fantasized about her in those heels all night. His large fingers wrapped around her dainty ankles and caressed their way up her legs. He stopped at her left knee and lifted her leg, hooking it over his shoulder. The tip of her heel dug into his back sending more pleasure than pain throughout his body. He was a masochist.
Kyoko's standing leg threatened to buckle under her as his fingers slid through her soft folds. She steadied herself by pushing her upper back against the door. She leaned her head against it and closed her eyes as she let the feeling of his love wash over her. Her fingers delved into the silky strands of his hair and waited with bated breath for him to touch her clit. Instead, his fingers moved to tease her entrance until he thought she had enough. His patience was worth it when she nearly collapsed once his tongue finally flicked over her the tiny bundle of nerves. He swirled his tongue over her nub, then lapped languidly toward her damp entrance and back up.
Kyoko trembled when he inserted one finger, then two. His mouth closed over her clit and sucked as he slid his fingers out and in. The loud erotic moan that filled their quiet room startled her. Embarrassed, she held the back of her hand against her lips to suppress the uncontrollable sound she was making. They were still at the door, after all, anyone walking by could hear her.
Kuon continued to slide his fingers leisurely in and out of her until he hooked it just right finding her special spot. He glanced up at her through his lashes as her walls clenched around his fingers. She was so fucking beautiful in her aroused state. He wanted to see more. He changed up the way he was tonguing her clit and was rewarded when her hands moved to fondle her breasts. He didn't think it was possible but his dick grew harder as she licked her lips. The image of her pleasuring herself last night was rooted deep in his mind. He returned his full attention to tormenting her sweet spot with his mouth and alternated between licking and sucking. He was pleased to discover that whenever he sucked her whole body would spasm, so he continued to do so intermittently.
Kyoko's body tightened right before she exploded in ecstasy. She cried out as her body shuddered from her release. A wave of hot juices trickled down her thighs. It didn't stop Kuon from sipping up every last drop and continue his barrage on her. She could feel another orgasm building deep in her gut. Kuon released her leg and stood abruptly. He pressed his body against her and kissed her deeply.
Kyoko's tongue mated with his tasting the remnants of herself in his mouth. He pulled away to remove her dress and drop it to the floor in a puddled mess. The dress! Ten is going to kill me tomorrow! Kuon paused to admire her body. He removed her wig and let her long black hair loose. Kyoko felt sexy as her long hair swirled around her torso. He pulled her against him and lifted her by the ass. He carried her to the couch where he sat down with her straddling his hips, heels, and all.
She moaned as she settled over his covered cock between her legs. It wasn't fair that she was completely naked and he wasn't, but it didn't stop her from rubbing against him. He let out a lusty moan of his own when he felt her very wet and very warm center against his erection. He was ready to explode.
His hands and mouth sought her breasts like a dying man. She arched her back and thrust her hips against him with a steady rhythm until she sensed the familiar ache of her orgasm building up.
She dug her fingernails into the back of his shoulders and held on tightly. He pushed down on her hips and ground into her, thrusting his hips faster, closing in on his release. Quickening her pace to match his, she leaned her head against his shoulder, biting his flesh to keep from screaming out as he threatened to send her over the edge once again.
Her lips sought his as another orgasm racked through her body. She assumed he had come too since he wrapped his arms around her back pulling her closer and kissing her hard. His whole body convulsed beneath her as he continued to thrust his hips until the shudders stopped. He kissed her softer this time, his tongue taking on a slower rhythm against hers. They finally broke away coming up for air and panting from the exertion.
They sat there for a few minutes wrapped in each other's embrace, sweaty, and sated. The more she sat the redder she became as she thought of what they had just done against the door. She wondered if she would ever get over her embarrassment at her reckless abandonment. Laughter replaced the sound of their heavy breathing as one of her heels landed on the floor with a resounding thud. She couldn't believe she had managed to keep them on.
Notes:
Thank you for sticking with me and my pervy-ness. I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 53: Yin and Yang
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, we'd have more personal Yashiro panels.
Chapter Text
Yashiro Yukihito groaned as his ringing cell phone sitting on the nightstand disturbed his deep slumber. His blurry eyes fell on the bedside clock. It was still early, but by his standards, he had slept in. He would have slept longer if not for this caller waking him. Before his hand could close over the device, he remembered to put on a rubber glove. By the time he was ready, the ringing had stopped. Damn! He checked the phone to find the President's private line flashing on the display. This can't be good.
He rubbed the sleep from his face and sat up in bed to return Lory's call.
"Good morning, sir. I'm sorry I missed your call," Yashiro apologized.
"No worries, Yuki. I apologize for disturbing you so early on your day off. Did you perhaps have some fun last night?" Lory teased wondering if there was a woman in the straight-laced manager's bed at the moment. He didn't know much about Yashrio's private life, the man was almost as closed off as Ren. Being the manager of a high profile celebrity like Ren was very demanding. The hours were early or late and most of the time very long. He doubted Yashiro had time for a personal life.
"Not particularly, sir. I was able to catch up on work last night." It was true since he counted fangirling over the Tragic Marker special on Fuji TV news as work. He made sure to record the sections that contained the Heel siblings. With a little editing, he could make an engagement or wedding gift out of the footage. Setsu's appearance and dress last night made him blush. He had never met them while they were playing the Heels and was impressed by Kyoko's acting skills. If he had not known it was her initially, he would never have guessed it to be her. He couldn't believe the spokeswoman of Japanese decorum could walk out in public in that garment. When Setsu winked into the camera, Yashiro knew that this version of Kyoko was painfully aware of how many casualties she left in her wake. He snickered just thinking about how Ren probably fretted the whole night. He couldn't wait to tease him when he returned.
Yashiro almost turned to stone when Cain was interviewed. Ren was such a complete ass as Cain; he almost hated the guy. As a Japanese watching the interview, his short and rude answers infuriated him. He assumed it was the same for the other millions watching that interview. Since he never interacted with Cain, he had no idea this was the character that Ren had been portraying all this time on the set of Tragic Marker. Damage control won't be easy. Yashiro had always been in awe of Ren's talent but this brilliancy was on a whole new level. He had no doubt more offers would pour in for his male charge. If they could somehow leak it out that Kyoko was Setsu she would reach new heights as well.
"You're just as boring as Ren, Yuki. I'm so disappointed," Lory replied solemnly. What was wrong with young people today? Youth was a time to embrace life, take risks, throw care to the wind. Why did they have to act too responsibly...too old?
"Eh, it's a bit difficult to find time for personal matters when juggling two stars...not that I'm complaining, sir. I can handle both of them. I'm just saying I enjoy my work and I doubt a woman would understand the demands of it. For now, I'd like to concentrate on my career while Ren and Kyoko-chan are still growing," he quickly told the President hoping that would be the end of the discussion.
"I appreciate your dedication, but there is a saying All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," Lory told him rehashing an old proverb.
Yashiro knew what he meant. Eventually, if all he did was work, his life would be fruitless and boring. "I understand, sir. I will keep that in mind. Did you need my help with something today, sir?" Yashiro asked trying to steer the conversation away from his non-existent personal life and back to the reason for his call.
"Yes, I know you all have today off, but something has come up, and I need to meet with Mogami-kun later today. We can meet at my office at LME," Lory informed him.
"Should I be concerned, sir? What of Ren?" Yashiro asked in a calm voice, but he was freaking out internally.
"It's fine if you and Ren come along. You should turn on the news Yuki or perhaps sign into one of the forums you like to troll," Lory chuckled.
Yashiro was at a loss for words, but he shouldn't have been so surprised that the President was aware of his internet escapades. The Lovemon had a knack for finding out everything.
"Oh ho, so you're not even going to deny it," Lory mocked.
"If you have that much information, you already know the truth. There is no point denying it," Yashiro admitted with a sigh of defeat. "I'll get in touch with them. Is there anything else you need from me?"
"No, that will be all Yuki, see you then," Lory said then hung up after Yashiro said his goodbye.
Yashiro covered his face after ending the call. His ears burned from embarrassment. The President knew about his after-hours extracurricular activities. He probably even knew his handle as well as everything he had said about his favorite couple. There was no point hiding it now. He hoped he wouldn't tell Ren and Kyoko what he was up to.
Now that he was wide awake, he thought it best he does what the President had suggested. He got ready for the morning and headed out to the kitchen to make himself a breakfast smoothie. When he was finally settled, he turned on the TV to the entertainment channel. Nothing new was said from last night. They were talking about the movie and of course speculating on the Heels. The cast and crew were holding to the NDAs. He put on a pair of latex gloves and decided to check Ren's fan sites first. His eyes bulged when he saw the 150 plus posts that occurred while he was sleeping. What happened?
He scrolled quickly down the usual, Ren is so dreamy fanfare, until a post caught his eye.
RenFan1: OMG! Not to deter from Ren-sama but did anyone see the Tragic Marker interview last night? I think I found another love. Cain Heel-san's brooding dark looks pierced my soul.
RenFan2: Yassss! I think I got pregnant when he glared straight into the camera!
Yashiro choked on his smoothie. He had to move his computer as his coughing fit persisted. He could feel the remnants of the drink enter his nasal cavity and clear his nose. It would serve him right to try to drink while he was reading. It seemed he was mistaken there were many people (women) not annoyed with Cain Heel's interview. He forgot how crass some of Ren's fans were. Japanese were uninhibited when they hid behind a computer. He cleaned himself and his computer once he could finally breathe again. Yashiro gulped down the rest of his smoothie before returning to the site.
RenFan1: I'm glad I wasn't the only one. My heart did somersaults watching him. I love how sweet Ren is but there's a lot to be said about a bad boy.
LotusLover1: I agree! Ren-sama is the epitome of grace and charm. He's Prince Charming incarnate. Cherry blossoms and hearts billow around him whenever I see him. While Cain-san, on the other hand, is the antithesis of Ren-sama. A Prince in his own right...of the underworld that is. He's surrounded by roses dripping with blood and hearts with thorns pricking them.
RenFan2: Hahaha that's about accurate LotusLover1. It's like they're Yin and Yang.
LotusLover1: True there is a bit of darkness in our Ren-sama...we did see it in his role as Katsuki. I fell in love with Ren-sama all over again after watching Dark Moon. He has grown so much as an actor since then.
LotusLover2: Has anyone seen the Tragic Marker movie yet? I think I'm going tonight with my boyfriend. I love horror flicks but my boyfriend is weak against them. I guess I'll let him cling to me. ;)
RenFan1: It has only been out for one night and the critics are already raving about it. I will be going with a bunch of friends tonight too.
Yukihito continued to scroll down the various posts discussing plans to see the movie. He needed to see it himself. He was interested in seeing Ren's performance. This was the first time he was not privy to the filming process since he was unable to accompany Cain Heel as his manager.
As he continued to read, they started talking about Cain's physical appearance and the facts that were revealed about the actor. He was British and of Japanese descent. He mainly acted overseas. Quick research on the internet came up empty-handed of any of his previous work. The topic had turned to the mystery behind Cain Heel. There were many theories on why they couldn't find anything on him. The most simple one was that he was probably using a new stage name and this was perhaps his first big role. The extreme one was that he was a murderer recently released from prison and Director Konoe hired him for authenticity's sake. This was backed up by the many interviews of the Tragic Marker cast that never included Cain. The cast was vehement in describing Cain's ability to be terrifying and dangerous on and off-camera.
Isn't that slander? Judging from Cain's interview it probably didn't count since it seemed to be the truth. Yashiro stopped scrolling as he came across an alarming post.
DramaLoveMonXoXo: Ooohhh. I just came up with a crazy theory after thinking about Ren-san's role as Katsuki. What if the reason Cain is so mysterious is that he is Ren-san and doesn't want anyone to know?
RenFan2: That's impossible! I know Ren-san is an excellent actor but to be a completely different person. That's a bit much.
RenFan1: It's a good theory, but it will be difficult even for Ren-sama to explain this. Click the link and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Yashiro clicked on the link that was attached. It was a photo of Cain and Setsu on the red carpet in a close embrace.
RenFan1: These two are wrapped around each other as only lovers could be. Ren-sama is devoted and only loves one woman. Any which way I look at this, that woman is not Kyoko-san. If this is Ren-sama, are you saying he's a cheater?
DramaLoveMonXoXo: There's no doubt about Ren-san's love for Kyoko-san but I can't help thinking it. Maybe she was hired as an actress to help him with his role. I just can't get past the fact that Cain is as tall as Ren-san, but that's where the similarities end.
RenFan2: Foreigners are all a lot taller than most Japanese. Ren-san seems to be the only exception.
LotusLover3: Not true. Murasame-san and Koga-san are pretty tall. Not as tall as Ren-san but taller than average. Even Kuu-sama is tall but he's half Japanese. The Japanese National basketball team also has many players taller than Ren.
They continued to banter about other tall actors until Yashiro finally reached the end. Yashiro had a theory that this person was the President and stirring the pot. Is this his subtle way of easing the fans into the idea of Cain being Ren? He forgot how obsessed fans could be with their theories. It would cause problems for the couple once Ren was revealed. He had to anticipate that a tabloid would pick up on these fan theories soon. They always did. He closed his computer and sent a text to Ren and Kyoko regarding the meeting with the President. Ren had responded that they would be meeting with Ten this afternoon to change and could meet at LME afterward.
Cain and Setsu made their way down to the breakfast buffet offered by the hotel, oblivious to what was happening outside. Other guests and staff openly gawked at the two and many whipped out their cellphones indiscreetly to take photos of the couple. Everyone was equally ignored by the Heels. Setsu's mind was simple. It was filled with her brother and breakfast.
She was famished this morning. Her growling stomach had woke them from their slumber of entangled naked limbs. Kyoko didn't know what made her blush more: her body draped over Kuon's wantonly or her rumbling belly.
Kuon thought he had died and gone to heaven. He had woken up first to Kyoko's long hair and lush body wrapped possessively around him. He didn't tell her, but his hands may or may not have caressed the length of her back while he waited patiently for her to wake. She finally stirred when her stomach growled. Kuon's thoughts of ravaging her that morning were dashed away as the need to feed his woman came first.
He chuckled when her stomach growled punishing him with her body rubbing against him. Blushing at her precarious position and his hand greedily cupping her ass, she raised her head off his chest and looked up at him. "Good Morning, beautiful," he said with a husky voice. He was rewarded with a smile in return.
"Good morning, why didn't you wake me?" She asked, a small frown marring her angelic face.
"And give this all up," he teased, giving her butt a firm squeeze. Kyoko squealed and tried to squirm out of his grasp, but he held her tight. Her lithe body writhing on top of him managed to reignite his arousal for her. He rolled them over, laying to the side of her with his erection pressing into her hip, and gazed into her amber eyes.
Kyoko held her breath as she stared up at him, her golden orbs burned into the passionate green of her Emperor. He dipped his head down and kissed her softly on the mouth. She responded instantaneously unable to get enough of his kisses. This morning he seemed to be taking his time, making her feel delicate and treasured. Kyoko reached her hand up to the back of his head and threaded her fingers into the soft black tresses. She parted her mouth when his tongue begged entrance. Their tongues danced a slow waltz as he slanted over her mouth. A few moments later he groaned and pulled away from her.
"Why did you stop? Don't you want to...um..you know," she asked confused and embarrassed with having to say that much.
He gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Oh, baby, there's no doubt that I want to continue with...you know, but you're starving. If your stomach rumbles on me in the middle of our lovemaking, it just might deflate me."
Kyoko blushed and as if always on cue, her stomach growled. Kuon laughed. "Come on, baby, let's get cleaned up. It will take you a while to get into Setsu mode. We didn't have time to pick up groceries last night so we can't cook in here unless you prefer I go out myself and get something. It would be faster."
"No, I'll get up. I read that this hotel serves breakfast in the dining hall. We can eat there." Kuon scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom. He had to put her down to start the shower. His lips twitched with amusement as he watched her do a little dance while she waited. "It's hot now. We can go in," he said after testing the water.
"Um... can you please go in first? I... uh...um...still need the toilet."
Kuon chuckled at her cuteness. After everything they have shared, she could still be so shy in his presence. He entered the glass shower and faced his back to her to ensure her privacy. Eventually, she joined him, but it was nearly an hour later that they made it down to breakfast.
In the dining hall, Setsu tried not to drool over the different choices offered. She debated on whether or not she would have a western-style breakfast or a traditional Japanese breakfast.
"Nii-san, what do you want to eat? And don't say you're good with coffee. Coffee and cigarettes do not make a meal," she grumbled as he slid into a booth in the back corner.
"Whatever my cute sister decides would be just fine with me," he smiled wryly.
Setsu's brow furrowed in annoyance as once again she had to be the adult here. She stalked off muttering under her breath about how sometimes she felt like his mother. Kyoko pondered Setsu's food choices. Either one she made would play up to the Hee sibling act, so she stood in line with the thought of getting a bit of everything.
The omelet station was her first stop. She would get this out of the way and then pick up more items at the buffet. A gaggle of girls she noticed in the corner of her eye stood about three meters away discussed her loudly while consulting a newspaper.
It's definitely her!
Are you sure?
Let me see the paper.
So we've already made the news. If the Japanese were smart, the internet should already be blowing up with news on her brother. She watched as two of the girls broke away from the bunch and approached her.
"Um...excuse me, is this you? Are you Heel-san," stammered the prettier girl of the two in Japanese.
Setsu turned her bored expression on the girl. Her intense blue eyes inspected the girl, slowly, from head to toe. Cute boots but what an annoying sheep. The girl gulped nervously. Setsu smirked, ignoring the girl she returned her attention to the line.
The girls scurried away with a squeal.
Oh my gosh, she smiled at you!
You are so lucky, Fumi-chan
Maybe you should have asked her in English, no? She's British.
I'm too embarrassed to talk to her again. Did you guys get pictures of us?
Setsu tuned the girls out when she finally made it to the counter. She ordered a veggie and cheese omelet that was made to order. When she got her eggs, she went back to the table and placed them down. She lifted a perfectly arched brow as she eyed the silverware and drinks already on the table. All he did was shrug to her quiet inquiry. Kyoko almost broke character from that annoying response. Instead, she took the high road and walked away from the table twice. The first time, she returned a minute later with a tray piled with pancakes, ham, potatoes, and sausages. The second time yielded fish, rice, miso, tamagoyaki, and pickled vegetables. She hid her smile as her brother's earlier arrogance slowly dissipated with each new plate she placed in front of him.
"What did those girls want?" Cain asked, nibbling on the food she set before him.
"It appears we've made the tabloid papers, nii-san," she explained.
He nodded in understanding. Cain suddenly lifted his hand, startling her, and flipped off a guy behind her. The photographer that just snapped a picture of them dashed away. He couldn't believe how quickly things escalated after just one night. The Japanese media could not be underestimated, they were insatiable when it came to celebrities. A guest or staff member from earlier must have posted their whereabouts on social media.
"We have a meeting later with Boss this afternoon. I wasn't given any details so let's hurry and get out of here," he told her. Ignoring everyone around them, they continued to eat while talking about the differences in preparation and execution of the western-style food by the Japanese. Setsu listened to her brother with apt rapture. Kyoko knew that Kuon was sharing pieces of his own experiences in America.
After breakfast, they headed back to their room and began the tedious process of packing their belongings. She nearly lost it when Cain began balling up his clothes and stuffing them into the duffle bag. Setsu had to let it go and pray none of his clothes were ruined in the process. As derelict as they looked on him, she knew the clothes were still designer. Then with a little bit of water and some elbow grease, their premiere outfits were salvageable. All evidence of what transpired after they left the theater was removed thanks to her skillful cleaning.
Cain surveyed the street below from the balcony. As a Veteran actor, he was used to the media dogging his heels. He easily identified at least six different reporters and photographers staking out the front of the hotel. Their efforts were futile since they were meeting Ten in the basement parking lot. He doubted any reporters would be waiting for them on the bottom floor of the parking lot. If it was alright with Ten, she could drop them off at LME where they could meet up with Yashiro.
Kyoko changed out of her Setsu outfit in the makeshift dressing room of Ten's work truck while the talented stylist returned Ren's hair to the usual brown. She sat in the vacant chair and occupied herself with her phone while she waited. Her eyes opened wide with shock at the sheer volume of messages she received over the last few days. She happily clicked through her father's messages, then paled when she made it to the one he had sent yesterday morning.
Ren watched her reflection go pale as she read something on her phone. "What is it, Kyoko? Bad news?"
Her gold eyes flicked up to meet his brown in the mirror. The frown between her eyes deepened with worry. "I think my father suspects that we were the Heel siblings in the cafe."
His skin turned pallor. "What did he say exactly?" Ren asked curiously
"I'll read to you that part. I am currently at a café waiting to meet with your mother. We can talk more about it on your return, but the funny thing is there is a foreign couple here that has an uncanny resemblance to you and Ren-kun. I can't quite put my finger on it. It's not their appearance but their manner. Maybe it's the way the young man treats his adoring sister with such tenderness or possibly the way she scolds him about eating properly. Then again, it could have been the murderous glare he directed at me when I first walked to my seat so similar to Ren-kun's the first night we met. I just can't shake the feeling that I've met your doppelgangers. Oh well, talk to you soon."
She glanced at Ren when she had finished reading the text. He was deeply embarrassed at having been called out by her father and couldn't meet her eyes.
"What do you think?" she asked anxiously.
Ren should not have been surprised by Tadashi's perceptiveness. In the short time he had known them, Tadashi had picked up on their habits. He thought he was being vigilant in his Cain act that morning, but it appeared her father had seen right through them. Is my acting getting sloppy?
"I don't think I have to worry about your father. It's Taisho that's going to filet me alive when he finds out," he bemoaned.
"Quit moving, Ren-chan," Ten scolded as she continued her work.
Kyoko giggled at his impending doom reaction. He knew Taisho so well. He would give them both the cold shoulder for a while when all was revealed, but eventually, he would come around.
Chapter 54: Sell Out!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Sho and Kyoko would have a platonic friendship by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kimiko sat outside the dressing room waiting for her mother to try on a few outfits. Her father was taking her to a dinner party and her mother had " absolutely nothing" to wear. Since Kimiko's class didn't start until the afternoon, her mother decided to drag her shopping. Kimiko could shop with the best of them, but she was anxiously awaiting to hear the good news today.
Since she didn't have time this morning before her mother so rudely accosted her for this impromptu trip to a high-end boutique, Kimiko was now using her phone to check in on her usual sites.
The entertainment news sites were still clinging to the Tragic Marker story. There was non-stop talk about the movie and cast all night and into the morning. Doesn't any of these news outlets have something better to talk about? She was hoping to have news from Koki blowing up her phone by now. What was the incompetent fool doing, she thought angrily while keeping the demure smile plastered on her face so as not to betray her thoughts.
"Excuse me, Kimiko-san, can I offer you any refreshments while you wait?" The posh saleswoman asked.
"That would be lovely. I will take an iced green tea, please," Kimiko responded cutely, her smile growing appreciatively. She returned her attention to her phone once her drink arrived and the saleswoman had moved on.
The more she browsed, the more she found posts centered around that disgusting goth couple she had run into outside that awful French café. She had been looking forward to watching Tragic Marker tonight too. Cedric even agreed to accompany her. Now that she knew that jerk was the antagonist in the movie, she was reluctant to go. Her desire to spend time with Cedric far outweighed her hatred for that rude man. Who knows, maybe she could get some enjoyment out of it if his acting turned out to be mediocre and stereotypical of slasher films.
Kimiko logged on to Kyoko's fansite. There were usually one or two people that sided with her when it came to badmouthing the annoying talento. Perhaps something there would cheer her up.
The posts in progress made her groan. This was Kyoko's fansite. Why were they talking about those dreadful siblings here too? She scrolled up to read the previous posts. Fans couldn't wait for the next season of Box-R because they were missing Kyoko. Someone just had to mention that the Heel siblings have been a great distraction while enduring the wait. Kimiko quickly read over some of the more nauseating posts that began with discussing their coordinating outfits and how cool they were toward the reporters on the red carpet until things took a turn.
KyoFan1: Didn't the sister, sort of, remind you of Natsu-chan? I mean, the way she walked and posed for the camera it seemed something Natsu would do if her exterior matched her innards.
DiabolicalPen666: No way! I'm an expert on darkness and Natsu still has goodness in her. That's why she can fool everyone with her good girl persona, but this girl Setsuka seems scary. Mio-level scary too. Like she would whip out her butterfly knife and stab a bitch for looking at her wrong.
KyoFan2: Yes, you could just feel the malice in her sneer while she posed for the camera. She's like a mash-up of both, so fashionable yet so evil.
Kimiko decided to join in and add her two cents. She noticed the saleswoman bringing more dresses for her mother to try on; she still had time.
QueenB : I met them on the street a couple of nights ago. They weren't anything special IMHO. Just because the girl is a little pretty she's getting so much attention. It's probably because she's showing so much skin that the reserved Japanese are exaggerating everything. She's not even an actress.
Kimiko was reaching. Those siblings made her feel lower than scum and all she did was bump him slightly by accident. She was so tiny in comparison. How much damage could she have done to his arm? For a second, she wondered, if he was one of those hoodlums that she read about in the news where they hit you on purpose then demanded compensation for their injury. Instead, the man looked at her like she was a cockroach and kept walking with his weird sister hanging on him like she was his lover.
DiabolicalPen666: That sounds like a total cry for attention if I ever heard one! Picture or it didn't happen. Even if it was true, of course, they wouldn't scare a heartless person like you. You need a soul to feel anything.
KyoFan2: Jeez Queen, why are you always so jealous of other women? She looked good in that dress. That's her style. A lot of idols and musicians dress like that here in Japan. Well, the female idols don't wear black since they're all pink and bubbly, but their outfits are still just as skimpy, if not more. Fuwa Sho can be over the top compared to them. He wears a lot of black leather and chains when he wants to stand out.
Kimiko clenched her teeth. These bitches were pissing her off. She started tapping out a heated response when her mother called out to her.
"Kimi, is something a matter?" Her mother asked, staring at Kimiko curiously in the reflection of the wall of mirrors while wearing a long silver sheath gown.
"Everything is fine Kaa-san. I was a bit agitated since I have not heard from a friend," Kimiko recovered with a smile. Kimiko abandoned her post and joined her mother. She needed to stop making these fans get to her.
Sho laughed hysterically at a variety show he was watching on his phone. The headphones over his ears made it impossible for him to hear Shoko and Asami walk into the room behind him. It wasn't until the producer of Queen Records threw down a tabloid magazine in front of him, that he became aware of their presence. Sho jerked, startled from the action. He shut off his phone with a sheepish expression at having been caught looking so uncool. He shrugged it off and glanced at the front page of the publication. He tried to hide his shock at the person on the cover.
He tossed a questioning glance in Asami's direction. "What am I supposed to do with this? Is there a good article about me inside?" He asked, flipping through the pages.
"No, Sho," Asami explained. "The girl on the front cover. Her name is Heel Setsuka-san. Doesn't she look perfect to be on the cover of your new single, Devil May Care?"
Sho felt sweat pool on his brow as he looked at her picture more intently. She looked like the chick he got stuck with inside the elevator. Her hair was styled differently, but the blonde with pink streaks was a dead giveaway. If it was her, he wanted nothing to do with her. That devil-worshiping creepy bitch nearly stole his life force with her blood lust. She even dared to assault him. He recalled how she had kicked him in the shin similar to what Kyoko did to him during the prisoner PV. Of course, he didn't report her. How uncool would he look to be scared of a little girl? He was so fucking terrified then, he didn't realize that she was smoking hot.
That kick got him thinking as he stared at the picture. Kyoko would never wear clothes so revealing. He dismissed that idea, deciding that the kick was just a coincidence. The R'Mandy outfits she wore floated through his mind like a bad dream. Nope, there was no way that platform wearing bastard would let her roam around scantily clad with another man, especially one so dangerous looking. His mind was settled and all thought that she could be Kyoko was gone. He could be simple-minded when it came to the unthinkable.
"No, she won't do; she looks like a poser. Like she's trying too hard to be rocker chic. I don't want my name associated with a fake. She's just some random girl. I need someone that could make me look good. What about that supermodel, Aoi-chan?" Sho hoped he sounded convincing. He would rather die than admit that he was scared for his life. Aoi-chan was more his style, older and well-endowed.
"Don't be unreasonable Sho. This girl is hot news right now and she fits our agenda without even trying. Even if this would be her first gig, a person has to start somewhere to break into this industry. It doesn't look like she's unfamiliar with the cameras. It turns out she's from England so before she leaves the country we have to strike. I'm sure we aren't the only ones targeting her," Asami explained.
"As I said, I don't want to work with her," Sho scowled, crossing his arms stubbornly.
"Sho it isn't like you to be so unreasonable when it comes to working. Is there another reason?" Shoko asked. She knew him the best these days so this kind of reaction, unless it involved Kyoko, was a first for her.
Sho clenched his teeth racking his brain to find another answer that didn't make him sound so childish. He came up blank.
"She would boost your sales with the male population. Your sales are stagnant because you only have half the population of Japan on your side. It's too bad we already finished the PV; otherwise, I would have come up with a new concept to use her. I think having Heel-san as our model with you on the front cover and in the accompanying booklet would entice guys to buy your album."
"I don't want anyone buying my music if they're only interested in who is on the cover," he replied angrily. He didn't give two shits about increasing his popularity among the male population.
"Your goal is to become an international star, so you need to appeal across the board to get that far. Heel-san will be opening a door for those new fans that didn't give your music a chance. It's a win-win for you either way. They already spent their money. If they end up liking your music despite their motivation for purchasing the album, then you've gained more fans. You do the singing, let me and Aki work on the logistics for the photoshoot."
"Tch!" Sho couldn't argue with that logic, but it still pissed him off. He assured himself that it would be fine with others around. Who knows, maybe he'd get lucky and she would refuse the job.
Asami left the room to make some calls. She would start with the director of Tragic Marker. She didn't want to miss her opportunity to hire this girl.
This was the last week of his tour before he could head back to Tokyo. Sho had finally finished the song he started over a year ago when things got messed up with Kyoko. It morphed into something else entirely as he came to terms with his feelings. He wanted to play it for her first before anyone else heard it. He was hoping when he returned that she would give him some time just like when they were younger. She used to listen to him sing and offer him some encouragement. He knew those good old days were gone, but it didn't hurt to try. He missed his friend.
Lory stared out of his office window. For an off day, the area was still bustling outside with traffic and people. There was only a skeleton staff here at LME, but because it was business, it was only proper to meet in the office.
LME's Director of Public Relations had called him early this morning and alerted him to an email he had received from a reporter regarding Kyoko. It required Lory's immediate attention since he had given LME an expiration date on the article he wanted to run. Lory had read both articles. The first one would negatively impact Kyoko's career now; however, he still considered it a good opportunity to get the dirt out in the open while she was young. The only place to go after hitting rock bottom was up. The problem he saw with that was that there would be innocent casualties. Kyoko would never agree to that version.
The other article was unfinished. Lory had an inkling that the reporter had started with the first one as a bluff so they would have no choice but to agree to the second one. This route was clever. Lory couldn't stop either story since this was a disreputable tabloid magazine. They printed whatever they wanted regardless of truth and readers ate it all up as fact. He was surprised that this guy went to such great lengths to seek the truth. He would leave it up to Kyoko to decide which route to take.
Ruto watched quietly as Lory sat down at his desk with a grave expression. After a minute, Lory's lips contorted into a smile full of conspiracy.
"Sir, your face is showing its true nature," Ruto warned quietly.
"Bahh! Who would have thought the Heel siblings would cause such a stir? I wasn't expecting Setsu-chan to make such an impact in one evening."
It was thanks to Ruto's discipline that he was able to withhold himself from snorting sarcastically or rolling his eyes at his employer. "I take it that Director Konoe had some interesting news," he inquired.
"He thinks it would be wise to reveal Mogami-kun to the public with Ren. It seems keeping Setsu-chan quiet would cause strain on both Ren and Kyoko especially with what was witnessed on the set."
Konoe was reluctant to share what happened until Lory wore him down. He wanted an outsider's point of view. The couple had already told him about the scandalous incidents: the Ren hickey and the disagreements with other cast members. Konoe had added more regarding the endless touching and lap seats. Ren you sly dog. You were living the dream this whole time.
The signature smile that Ruto had dubbed as "the President's plotting smile" crept on his lips again.
"I understand that you are a lover of theatrics, but is the request too mild for you," Ruto asked his Boss.
"No, the reveal would be enough for me." He already skillfully planted seeds on fan sites so the fan theories were out in full bloom. Some were even linking Setsu to Kyoko and that wasn't his doing at all. He wondered if he had even needed to interfere.
Yashiro raised his hand to knock on the President's door. He still felt out of sorts after his earlier experience. It took him a moment to realize that Ruto had already opened the door in anticipation of Yashiro's approach. It was mind-boggling that Ruto had that extra sense. He took in Ruto's outfit. The man was dressed as an ancient Roman soldier. Yashiro prepared himself for the President to be in something just as outrageous.
"Good afternoon, Yashiro-san. You are the first to arrive. You look a bit pale, can I get you something to drink?" Ruto greeted, shutting the door behind him.
"Thank you, Ruto-san, I'm fine. I'll take some tea if it's no trouble," Yashiro replied trying to shake off the lingering feelings.
He bowed to the President before taking a seat. Lory was expertly draped in a white toga trimmed in purple. Who was he supposed to be portraying today, a philosopher or a politician?
"Yuki, is everything okay? You don't look so good," Lory noted, observing him closely.
Yashiro let out a shaky laugh. "It's the after-effects of watching Tragic Marker. I figured since I wasn't able to see the production I should at least do this much."
"Did Ren's performance scare you?" Lory asked, amused.
"Scare? Scare is an understatement! BJ was terrifying! I fear I will be looking over my shoulder, jumping at shadows, and sleeping with the lights on for the next year, sir," Yashiro confessed, his voice rising as his agitation grew, making Lory chuckle.
"I had no idea Ren was capable of that caliber of acting, but I know why you paired Kyoko with him. Ren is a method actor. You were worried that he would get stuck in BJ's darkness if left to his own devices," Yashiro insinuated, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his knows. He had an inkling that Ren was hiding a dark past. Maybe one day Ren would trust him enough to open up to him. Kyoko had to be privy to all his secrets. Relationships were built on trust, he doubted Ren withheld any of his secrets from her. Yashiro was a little jealous of Kyoko.
"That was exac-," Lory began but was interrupted by the knock on the door. He looked up as Ten, Ren, and Kyoko walked through the door Ruto held open. They gave their greetings to Ruto then strode deeper into the room, exchanging greetings with Yashiro and Lory.
"Darling, I delivered these precious babies as promised. Don't forget you owe me a reward," Ten cooed, giving Lory a wink.
"Thank you, Ten. We couldn't have pulled this off without you," Lory smiled warmly at the spunky woman.
"You're welcome, Darling. I'll be running along. I have another client in an hour," she announced and left after a whirlwind of goodbyes.
"Ren, Kyoko, you two have caused such a stir and it's been less than twenty-four hours. Before we get down to business, I want to congratulate you both on a job well done as the Heel siblings. The response from the media and the public was more than I could have imagined." Lory address Ren, "To put it bluntly, how's your sanity? I've seen your BJ, should I be worried."
Ren flinched. Why is he asking this in front of Yashiro-san? Didn't we have this talk already as soon as I returned from Guam? He had been living fine, well almost fine, with Kyoko. He still had residual nightmares of Rick but they were becoming infrequent since he finally accepted his past. He still had a ways to go.
"If you are questioning my sanity because you fear that I may inadvertently slip into BJ unknowingly then there's no need to worry. I've been in control all this time. I still have my talisman after all," Ren assured him.
Lory stroked his chin deep in thought. This was the biggest step Ren had ever taken towards moving forward. It seemed Kyoko was exactly the right person to lead the charge. He looked at the girl in admiration. She was indeed special. Kyoko had accomplished so much in a short time and now the media was taking notice.
"On a related subject but not the initial reason for your presence, Director Konoe said he has been flooded with job requests for the Heel siblings, especially for Setsuka-chan. He is advocating for Setsuka's reveal at the end of the week with her brother since she caught the eye of so many people. He thought it only fair to make Kyoko known so she can take advantage of all the lucrative jobs coming through for her. If you're against it, we can work it out so that Setsu is her own person and you can still take the jobs as her without revealing yourself."
"Ehhh! People want to hire Setsu?" Kyoko asked incredulously. She couldn't believe that just accompanying Ren to one event would yield such rewards. They had come intending to ask the President to talk to the director about revealing her but it seemed they didn't have to.
"Ah, so it seems the Director was one step ahead of us and had already made a decision on the matter," Ren turned to Kyoko and smiled.
"Oh did something happen last night to make the Director come to such a conclusion?" Lory already knew the details, he just wanted to tease them a bit. He was amused when they both flushed. Ok, maybe he didn't know all the juicy details.
"No – no - nothing too serious happened. It's just that…," Kyoko stammered as her gaze focused on her tapping fingers rather than Lory. Her face was now crimson as she recalled the situation Taira had caught them in. There was no way she was saying that out loud in front of anyone but Ren especially the President.
"Um… it's just that many of the cast and staff members were accusing Ren, not to his face, of cheating on myself with Setsu. I don't want that kind of horrible rumor spreading about him; therefore, I, no we, thought it best if I come clean as well," Kyoko finished. She bit on her lip as she finally looked up to meet Lory's eye.
Yashiro was squirming in his seat. He wished more than ever he could have been a fly on the wall to witness the Heel siblings in action. He would definitely tease Ren later and try to get the details.
"Awe Ren, I bet you're feeling truly loved right now," Lory said to the boy he considered another son. Ren couldn't hide his smile.
"So you're willing to make such a sacrifice for his sake? Even I can't predict the fallout you may receive if you reveal yourself," said Lory to Kyoko.
"I think revealing her is the best option. If we stay quiet, Ren looks like a cheater and I would just look like a pathetic girlfriend that accepts his cheating ways. I am not embarrassed about having played Setsu so thoroughly. It would only expand my reputation as an actress, " Kyoko told him confidently.
"You do have a point, I'm sure the offers for Setsu would extend to you as well. Okay, so it's settled. I will talk to Konoe-san. As for the offers, I will tell him to pass a note to the other parties to try again next week after the interview if they are still interested."
Lory gave Ruto a slight nod. "Moving on to the next order of business. The main reason I called you all here concerns Mogami-kun." He paused as Ruto handed them each a copy of both articles that the Boost reporter had proposed.
Yashiro shook like leaf. It felt like he was in the movie theater all over again. Sitting beside his two charges left him feeling the maximum effects of their killing auras. Kyoko's was just as strong as Ren's. The familiar presence of Mio and BJ terrified him. He almost felt sorry for the reporter that had the gall to splash the sordid details of Kyoko's past with her family and that damn singer in the tabloids. He thought they had finally moved past that guy, yet here he was invading her space once again.
Ren paced the room angrily. Kyoko's career was just taking flight. He wasn't sure what the consequences would be for an article like this.
Is this Fuwa's revenge?
His anger dissipated when he glanced at his girlfriend. This was no time to lose his cool. He noticed the way her hands bunched in fists while she stared down at her lap. He couldn't see her face since it was hidden behind her long hair. He knelt in front of her and placed a soothing hand on her cheek. It was only when he touched her that he realized she was trembling. His hand prodded raising her chin so she would look at him. The golden eyes he had come to adore swirled with anger for but a moment until they locked on to him. He liked to think that his presence somehow calmed her as if he truly possessed some sort of the magic she believed in.
"Sir, are these drafts? Why are there two articles? They give off two different vibes. This is Boost magazine, right? They're notorious for making stuff up to lure in readers. Isn't there anything we can do?" Yashiro asked the President.
Kyoko and Ren turned their attention to Yashiro. Their manager always kept a sane head on his shoulders at a time of crisis.
"Did Fuwa Sho sell himself out to the tabloids?" Ren asked when the President didn't immediately answer Yashiro's questions.
"I'll get back to your questions Yuki. I'll answer Ren's first. I'm not sure who put the reporter on Mogami-kun's trail, but it seems he went to their hometown to get answers. As for Fuwa being behind it, I had called the Akatoki President who vehemently denied such an accusation. I also sent him the article. He knows the business and knows that discretion is key. Akatoki is in the mindset that he almost wants this article to be released in hopes that this would humble Fuwa-kun. He also knows that this would be a small blip on Fuwa-kun's career, so he's leaving the decision up to us. He will deal with any damages caused on his end." Lory paused as he let them digest his words.
"Now back to Yuki's questions. My theory on why there are two articles is he's trying to bait us with the damning one to publish the story he wants: the unfinished one, which would require input from Mogami-kun herself to make it credible," the President continued.
"So what you're implying is he's giving Kyoko-chan a choice to decide the method in which she wants to share her past information. I'm surprised he's being so generous, "Yashiro contemplated.
"Do you mean like how in the first article Fuwa Sho's name is explicitly stated while the second article simply identified him as a childhood friend, removing my connection to him specifically," Kyoko replied in understanding.
"I wonder if it's that simple. What's next, President? How do we get the reporter to agree to dismiss the first article and publish the second one instead?" Ren asked.
The trio gulped nervously as they watched Lory's sneaky smile cross his face while resting his chin on his interlaced fingers. Lory's scheming was never good.
"Oh, I don't know. I think I have to agree with the Akatoki President. Get all the dirty laundry aired out while Mogami-kun is still a fledgling in the industry. This way the past won't come to haunt her again. It may cause a few setbacks but I'm sure she could overcome it. I leave it to Mogami-kun to decide."
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Before anyone could respond, they twisted toward the sound. Ruto opened the door revealing a disheveled looking man trailing behind.
Notes:
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, Happy Holidays!
Chapter 55: A Cinderella Tale
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, we'd see Kyoko get her happily ever after with Kuon, of course ;).
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Saena sat across Susumu that afternoon in the Vivian Cafe having a late lunch as usual. It was a day off for most, but she had to work overtime for her latest case. All unpleasant thoughts were pushed aside as she immersed herself in work. Now that they had some downtime she would have to talk to him. They often came to this cafe because it was so close to work and the food was decent. Still stalling, she sipped her tea and looked at him curiously as he read a gossip magazine.
"Susumu, I didn't peg you as a fanboy that read those types of articles," Saena remarked, curiously.
"Sorry darling, that was rude of me," he said, putting down the magazine. "I was just interested in this new actor that erupted overnight." The English couple he saw here the other day seemed oddly familiar. It could have just been a mere coincidence at the time.
"It seems his new movie is quite a sensation. It's about a detective trying to unravel the mysteries of a serial killer that keeps popping up decades later. Even though he has been reportedly 'killed' and captured many times, the killer's corpse often disappears from the morgue. The murders begin anew decades later in a similar fashion," Susumu gushed, explaining the movie and possible theories.
Saena smiled. The movie's premise must have hit his Detective switch. He took great pleasure, like a closet sleuth, in unraveling the plot for these murder mysteries. "Shall we go see it then?" She suggested making an effort to appeal to his interests. She didn't like gory movies but she was willing to endure it for him. She feared he would keep talking about this plot if he didn't find out whether his theories panned out.
"Are you sure? I don't want you to force yourself. I'm used to going to these movies alone," he said, patting her hand. "I appreciate the thought though." He knew something was bothering her since this morning, but waited patiently for her to tell him.
Saena frowned. "You want to go alone? We're always working so it would be nice to do something different."
He took her hand in his and smiled. "I would love to spend time with you. I'm just afraid you might have nightmares. According to the reviews, it's pretty gruesome."
"Then I'll just hide my face during those parts," she told him stubbornly.
"If you're sure…" he said, giving her another opportunity to back out. Saena raised an annoyed brow at him. "Okay, it's a date. On our next free night, dinner and a movie it is. If you end up having nightmares I'll just comfort you," he promised, placing a kiss on the back of her hand.
He used this opportunity to ask her what was wrong rather than wait for her, "Is everything okay? It's not like you to agree to something this frivolous if you could be working? Not that I'm complaining. I enjoy my fiancée's company, but I wish you would willingly share with me without me prying. Is it because of the calls you got earlier?"
He always saw right through her. She blushed at his use of the word fiancée. Hearing it made her feel like she had butterflies fluttering about in the pit of her stomach. They had carved out some time this week to head down to the local ward's office to register. She didn't want a ceremony or any of the frills that came with a wedding. She just wanted him. Saena clung to the hope that he would still want to marry her after her past came to light in the media.
She gave him a small smile and explained the particulars behind the calls from Yayoi and the LME President. It seemed a reporter had caught wind of Kyoko's background thanks to her connection with Shotaro and was writing an article about her daughter. Yayoi thought she deflected most of the bad news to soften the blow, but he was still a tabloid reporter. They tended to write whatever they pleased.
Saena took another sip of tea. This was exactly why she told that President she didn't want anyone to associate her with Kyoko. Katagiri sensei would be troubled all over again. This article would only be the beginning. The press would hound her relentlessly, especially after her public denial on live television that she was a mother.
"Are you going to talk to Kyoko-chan and try to appeal to her?" Susumu asked. Just when things were aligning, a wrench was thrown into the mix. He contemplated their course of action.
"I wonder," Saena said simply as if that was an acceptable answer to his question.
"What are you thinking?" He asked.
"I don't think there's much I can do until the article is released. The LME President said they were having a meeting today. From what I know of Kyoko, which is not much, she is intelligent and selfless. It's about time I put my fate in her hands."
"Maybe he called you in hopes to provide support to Kyoko-chan," Susumu asked.
Saena's frown only deepened. "I wasn't sure. I felt like if I went I would only look like a hypocrite."
"So you felt like Kyoko-chan would think you were only there to ensure that your reputation was not tarnished," Susumu said with a soft smile. This woman is so hopeless when it comes to her daughter.
All Saena could do was nod in response.
"I doubt Kyoko-chan would think that way, not after you have explained properly. Perhaps you can call her later. I'm sure she would be happy to hear from you," Susumu suggested.
She nodded again. His words didn't give her the encouragement he was hoping for since she seemed so down.
Susumu felt that nagging feeling that she was going to tell him something terrible, "So we leave it to her and deal with the fall out just like last time. As always, I will be right by your side," Susumu promised. I hope after all this, Saena would stop torturing herself with the remnants of her past.
Saena stared into her teacup. She was going to suggest they take a break until this all blew over. She didn't want him to get dragged through the mud with her. She glanced at him through watery eyes.
"Are you okay with staying with someone like me?" Her voice trembled.
"Don't be silly, you can't get rid of me that easily. I'm never letting you go," he told her as he intertwined his fingers with hers and watched her smile grow. He turned their conversation to possible approaches to countering the media. A simple libel lawsuit might be the best course of action, but even then, those were difficult to win. He would need to do some research.
Sho pressed the send button on his phone for the umpteenth time. He didn't know why he kept calling as if she would miraculously answer the phone. It was clear to him that she changed her number a long time ago. Sho sighed heavily. Is this her ultimate revenge?
"Sho, is Kyoko-chan not answering her phone?" Shoko asked walking into the dressing room. Just looking at his frustrated face was enough of an answer.
Their agency's president had surprised them with news of the impending article. Sho had denied having anything to do with it. He defended Kyoko and explained why his childhood friend would never stoop so low, especially now that she had moved on with her life.
Sho tried calling his mother to ask for Kyoko's new number. The woman gave him a tongue lashing instead. His usually sweet mother told him to only call her again when he finally learned to stop being an idiot and be a decent son then ended the call. He wondered what the hell he did to make her so angry. Sho didn't even have a chance to ask her for the phone number and she refused to answer his call when he tried again.
"Well, the President did say he talked to LME so I'm sure they're working things out. Kyoko-chan's career is at stake as well, so I doubt it would be published," Shoko assured him, trying to convince herself as well. She didn't think this was Kyoko's doing. If it was a tabloid, neither agency would have much say in what gets printed, truth or not. This sort of thing was typical in the industry.
Koki stepped out of the taxi in front of LME and stretched. He had sent his stories off in the wee hours of the morning to the LME Public Relations email address reserved for the media. He had written two articles. One was finished with minor tweaks remaining. It was the kind of destructive article that Queen B would be expecting. Kyoko had to be her target. The girl was fascinating and seemed to have endured a lot growing up over the years. It amazed him that she endured such a past and was now one of Japan's rising stars. It was often said that those who suffered adversity usually ended up successful. She was a testament to that.
He wondered if Kyoko was even aware of the overflowing feelings that her guardians held for her. Yayoi had proved a formidable opponent. At the end of the conversation, it was she that helped Koki formulate a plan of attack that would work out in favor of both his magazine and Kyoko. She had no qualms doing so as long as her loved ones were not exposed so harshly to the world. She had opened old wounds and re-ignited his flame as a writer. When he was younger, he wanted to be a reporter for a reputable newspaper, bringing the truth to the people. Somehow, life didn't work out that way and he found himself writing about the dirt on celebrities, albeit the truth, to sell magazines.
Koki was hoping this story would redeem him somehow. His editor wanted a draft pronto, but Koki refused to give him one. The man would immediately print the one with all the dirt regardless of who it may hurt. The President of LME himself had called Koki later that morning to schedule a meeting, but it had to be today because of busy schedules.
Koki was tired. He was not expecting such a quick response and had been up all night writing. All he wanted to do was sleep. He told the President that he would catch the next Shinkansen out of Kyoto and be there as soon as he was back in Tokyo.
It was a disheveled looking Koki that entered the office that afternoon. He had cleaned himself up before leaving the Ryokan but that didn't last long as he journeyed. Now he wished he had taken the soldier's offer to freshen up. He was wearing his frumpy writer's attire that consisted of jeans, a t-shirt, and a pair of zoris.
The Roman soldier had startled him in the lobby that he couldn't think properly. He turned to the receptionist manning the front desk in question. He just smiled at Koki as if there was nothing weird about the armored clad man approaching him. He had heard rumors of the eccentric behavior of the elite agency's president, so he guessed this cosplayer was a common occurrence here. He stood there mouth agape at the office full of beautiful people all staring at him with curious eyes.
The reporter had not been expecting to go before the firing squad right off the train. He thought he would first discuss with the President then hopefully interview Kyoko and as a bonus, Ren at a later date. Koki gulped and shuffled behind the soldier toward the enormous desk. He could feel their eyes bore into him as he passed.
Caesar? His eyes widened with shock at the LME president draped in a white cloth. It would make sense given the Roman soldier. Did "Caesar" wear a toga? His history was a bit spotty when it came to the Roman Dictator. Regardless, he was confused by the man's attire.
The President's outfit had managed to calm him down. It served as a good distraction as Koki tried to scroll through his limited knowledge of ancient Rome in his mind. Images of Julius Caesar's clothing floated through his head. He was a general so he often wore armor. Koki's mind was drifting like it usually did when he latched on to an interesting topic. He was pulled from his thoughts when Lory cleared his throat. His attention was jerked back to the man in front of him.
"Kagayama Koki-san, I presume," Lory greeted, amused. Koki nodded and swallowed hard. "We've been waiting for you. I figured we get all the players in the room and hash this out, no? This is the best day for everyone since it's a day off. I hope you don't mind."
Lory had thought he had more time to discuss the article amongst themselves before the reporter made his way to LME. He had talked to Kyoko's mother but was unable to reach her father. Saena seemed to have resigned herself to the inevitable and placed the decision on her daughter's shoulders. Was she trying to be a martyr?
"No, not at all, please call me Koki. I should be thanking all of you." He bowed to Lory and then turned to bow to the trio. "Thank you for sparing me some time. I never thought I would get this lucky to have both Kyoko-san and Tsuruga-san here."
Kyoko's upbringing dictated she be polite and assumed he was the writer of the articles. She stood and bowed even though she was upset with him. Ren on the other hand was not so polite and just nodded to the man. Yashirofollowed Kyoko's lead and introduced himself with a bow.
"Shall we just jump right in? Please have a seat," Lory said pointing out the single chair near the trio. Koki took his seat nervously. At least he was near the manager and not the celebrities. They both looked like they wanted to throttle him.
"I think everyone in here would like to ask you questions, Koki-san, regarding the two articles you have prepared. One is certainly damning and would hurt Mogami-kun's reputation along with her parents. While the other is, dare I say, written in her favor? We all know Fuwa-kun could bounce back from this easily either way. It's just the nature of the business, especially when you're at the top of your genre."
Darn that Shotaro even now that I moved on he was still such a thorn in my side, Kyoko thought to herself as Lory talked. She didn't even have time to assess the situation. This idiot President always did things as he pleased.
"Yes, the first article is the one I initially meant to publish. It's the kind of story that the public would eat up instantly. Even if it's hard to believe, I do prefer to research my stories thoroughly before releasing them. People tend to be less offended when the truth is written. I went to Kyoto to provide credibility to my article. While there I simply had a change of heart as I unraveled the story of Kyoko-san's past. Well, it was more the chat I had with the Okami-san at Fuwa Ryokan that swayed me," Koki explained trying to answer Lory's question.
Kyoko gasped at his revelation. Did Yayoi-san talk to this man? Is that why he had so many details of her and Sho?
"Are you saying that Yayoi-san was your source?" Kyoko asked surprised. She didn't think the proprietress of Fuwa Ryokan would ever talk to a reporter.
Koki nodded. "She wasn't my only source though. There was your middle school principal, several high school students that went to your middle school, the local grocer, and the karaoke box manager to name a few. I found out some disturbing things about how cruel kids could be these days. Almost makes me glad that part of my life is over," he chuckled but stopped when no one else laughed.
"Fuwa-san and her staff were the most difficult to deal with. No matter what tactic I applied to the staff, none of them talked about you two. They were all fiercely loyal to their employers. It was only when I forced her hand that she relented," Koki assured her.
"What now, Koki-san? I don't want that first article printed. It was inevitable that my past with Fuwa-san would come to light, but I didn't think it would happen so quickly. My parents, especially my mother, have been through way too much. I don't want her being targeted by the media. She shouldn't have to suffer anymore because of me."
"I have no problems throwing out that article if that's what you wish. Fuwa-san was right about you," Koki said with a smile.
"Wait, so just like that you're dropping the story," Ren asked suspiciously. This kind of scandal would have magazines flying off the racks. Why would he drop it so easily?
"I still plan on writing your story, Kyoko-san. In exchange for dropping that story, I'm hoping to get more insider information on how Kyoko-san came to be. How did you start in show biz? How you two met? And where you are going from here? As you can see, I have many questions that my readers would love answered. Would you please allow me to print your story? A sort of Cinderella tale, I suppose." When Koki finished his last statement, Kyoko instantly perked up at the mention of Cinderella.
"I will agree to answer your questions on two conditions you leave my parents out of the article, and you refer to Fuwa-san not by name but as my childhood friend like you did in the other article. I understand we can't omit him from the story completely," Kyoko recommended, turning to the president for his support.
"It's a deal," Koki told her. "Thank you so much for agreeing to this. Can I ask you one thing? Why wouldn't you want everyone to know the truth about Fuwa-san? You could be doing woman-kind a favor by sharing your story," he asked curiously.
"It's simple for me. I've already had my revenge. I moved on and found my true love," she confessed, her cheeks heating up.
Koki nodded somewhat placated by her answer for now. "Takarada-san, is it okay if we start now?"
"By all means, if this is the route Mogami-kun is willing to take." He turned to her for acknowledgment. Lory continued when she simply nodded. It was such a good chance too to get all the unpleasantness out of the way, but he knew she would choose this route. "Ruto will show you to another room with a table," Lory told them.
Ren stood with Kyoko. She loved that she didn't even have to ask him to tag along. It was like they were a packaged deal. Ren smiled down at her warmly and held her hand as they followed Ruto and Koki out of the room.
The pair sat across the reporter as he nervously set up his recording device and notepad. He had never been this close to Ren before so the actor's intimidating presence was making him fumble more than usual. All his peers mentioned that Japan's most desirable man was a joy to work with. He wasn't feeling any of that joy right now despite the actor's dazzling smile directed at him.
The tension was broken when he heard the actor say, "ouch!" and the actress hiss "behave!" Koki glanced up from his notepad and found Kyoko looking at him with an "Okami-san" professional smile plastered on her face. She must have learned that from Fuwa-san. His gaze shifted to Ren who was now rubbing a spot on his arm. What did I miss?
Kyoko felt almost sorry for the reporter as he nervously tried to prepare under the heavy pressure of Ren's ultra-gentleman aura. The man probably had no clue what was causing him to be so nervous. Many outsiders didn't know the true meaning behind Ren's smile. It was something she picked up early on when she first began at LME. To the world, his smile was heart-stopping making many swoon; however, it was his way to distract the audience from guessing his true feelings. He often used it on her in the past whenever she made him angry. The more he didn't want anyone to figure him out the brighter his smile. He was using full wattage on Koki.
"So shall we start from the beginning of your journey? I have the gist of it but would like to hear it from your point of view," Koki suggested. His earlier nerves were forgotten as he went into reporter mode.
"It seems you already know the basic story of my parents and I don't plan on sharing more. The Fuwa's raised me. My mother left me in their care when I was six years old. I hope you can understand what that could do to a young child. Fuwa-san was my saving grace up until I was sixteen. Like a naive girl, I thought I could endure any hardships as long as I had him by my side. Everything I did up until then was for the Fuwas. I didn't want them to send me away and be left all alone," she explained rather calmly despite the dull ache in her chest. The pain was hardly noticeable now, thanks to Ren and her friends. She finally found a place where she could belong and was appreciated.
"If they sent me to school, I studied hard to get the best grades. If they gave me a place to live, I made sure to pay them back by helping at the ryokan. If they gave me food, I made sure to learn how to cook it properly for them and learn how to make their favorite dishes. I do enjoy cooking though. Seeing their happy faces when they ate something I prepared was heartwarming. When I think about it calmly, I wanted to please Yayoi-san so she could praise me. It was something my mother never did."
Kyoko sat quietly as Koki scribbled notes on his pad. He nodded for her to continue when he was done.
"Fuwa-san and his parents were constantly at odds towards the end of middle school as they pressured him with the responsibilities of running the business. Once we graduated from middle school, he decided to fulfill his dream as a singer and run away to Tokyo. When he asked me to come to Tokyo with him, I was so happy. Out of all the girls who loved him at school, I felt special to have been chosen. I didn't even hesitate when I said "Yes." I was so lost in my delusion that I didn't realize I was being used."
"Can we talk a bit about your school life? The principal had some disturbing things to say regarding the treatment of you from your peers."
Ren stiffened. He had never heard the details regarding this aspect of her life and wondered what Koki uncovered. She glanced at him nervously. He squeezed her hand gently, reminding her that he was there for her. He had his fair share of suffering due to his heritage and could only guess what she endured herself.
"It's true," she said dejectedly. "My whole school life I was bullied and alienated by my classmates. I never wanted to cause trouble for the Fuwa's. I made sure I was on the good side of the teachers and studied diligently to keep my scores up. The main reason I was bullied was due to the closeness I shared with Fuwa-san. His fans, all through primary and middle school, tormented me, making my school life quite difficult."
Difficult was an understatement, Koki thought, recalling some of the hateful things that the principal recounted. Even the high school kids boasted about the harsh treatment she received. He had shocked them to silence when he told them that the celebrity was indeed the same Kyoko they used to bully. Koki stared at the brave girl in front of him. Her strength amazed him. School bullying on that level, for that many years often resulted in severe depression or suicide, yet here she was defying all odds.
"How did you overcome that phase in your life? I'm curious. In cases like yours, it usually doesn't end well for the victim. Many kids are bullied each year, perhaps your story could help them persevere and give them hope. You'll make an excellent role model."
Kyoko smiled. She had never thought of it that way, but she was still very insecure to be a role model for anyone. She had Shotaro to make her forget those unpleasant moments at school. When he wasn't enough, she also had another guarantee to make everything right again. She looked at Ren for permission and reached in her bag, pulling out the little pouch that held her most treasured possession.
Notes:
Happy new year, lovelies! Thank you for always reading. I hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 56: Trials and Tribulations
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would have a parent that cared.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"It's okay, let him through," Lory instructed then hung up the phone.
Only fifteen minutes had passed since Kyoko and Ren left with the reporter, yet Yashiro was starting to feel anxious. It didn't sit well with him that he had no clue what they were discussing without him. He found comfort knowing that Ren was with her. As a seasoned actor, Ren was a pro at deflecting any questions he didn't want to answer, so Yashiro was sure Kyoko was in good hands.
Even though Kyoko had chosen the article with the least impact, it would still sting. No woman wanted the world reading about their failures in love. It was like she had to go through all those trials and tribulations at a young age to find her way into the world of acting. If she had not responded in the cliche way of the proverb, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned because of Fuwa Sho's betrayal, the world would be less bright without her as a star.
A sharp knock on the door at the other end of the vast office garnered his attention. The person on the other side didn't even wait for permission to be admitted and flung open the door.
"Where the hell is she Takarada-san?" Tadashi challenged and swept through Lory's office looking for his daughter. His chest heaved from the tussle he had with the three security guards downstairs and the sprint to the office. If he wasn't in such a panic, he would have walked into the building calmly and followed visitor protocol. Instead, he had burst in through the front doors and rushed towards the elevators. He had to hand it to the President, his security was quick at restraining him.
Since Tadashi was a judoka himself, he easily deflected the first guy, but there was strength in numbers. He was eventually subdued by the other two. Memories of his younger days flooded his mind as he felt the cold of the tile floor pressed against his cheek. The guard holding his arms together and pressing his knee to his back made him realize he had acted foolishly. "Call your boss, he's expecting me," Tadashi spat out in resignation. I must be getting old.
He hoped his little escapade did not harm Kyoko. The only other person in the lobby was the receptionist, so at least there weren't more to witness his folly. After an exchange, over the portable two-way radio, Tadashi was helped off the ground and let through. The long elevator ride up to the top floor where the President of LME's office resided was just slow enough for Tadashi to imagine all kinds of scenarios he could find his daughter in.
Tadashi devil: They are probably interrogating her right now. She's probably scared and helpless.
Tadashi angel: Quit feeding him lies. She is a survivor. She has gone more than seventeen years without his interference...oops!
Tadashi hung his head in shame at the thought. He had missed so much of her life.
Tadashi devil: Who knows what the reporter is asking her? Those tabloids could be ruthless.
Tadashi Angel: I'm sure she is with Ren-kun. I doubt he would allow her to face the wolves alone. He's been in this business longer, so he would know how to react to a question.
Tadashi Devil: What if she's crying? The best gossip is in her past. It would mean opening up a lot of old wounds and displaying them to the world.
Tadashi Angel:...
Tadashi could not counter that thought with something more positive. He was starting to get agitated and angry at himself. It was his fault for arriving too late. He felt like a typical deadbeat Dad right now. When she needed him most, he was out frolicking around.
Tadashi wrapped the towel around his waist as he stepped out of the shower after his ten-km run. He wanted to keep physically fit so he could run after his future grandbabies. He picked up his phone from the sink counter and sent his usual morning message to his daughter then went about getting ready for the day. On his stroll to his favorite coffee shop a few blocks from his apartment, Tadashi's attention was snagged by a newsstand. He bought two copies of each newspaper and magazine that featured the Heel siblings.
With coffee and two of his favorite chocolate-filled croissants in hand, he sought his regular spot in the park. Tadashi sat on the bench and proceeded to eat and drink while he watched a flock of ducks lazily glide across the pond. Enjoying nature and the outdoors was his favorite part of the day. It was the main reason he lived so close to Central Park in NYC. It was practically the only place with trees in that concrete jungle.
As the ducks drew closer, he tossed some remnants of his croissant into the pond. He was excited to see a few ducklings among the group. He pulled out his phone to snap a few photos to send to Kyoko. Tadashi hummed. The phone he just pulled out of his pocket was the one he used for business. It was inevitable that he would get them mixed up since he used the same phones. He liked this brand and style of phone, so he bought two: one for work and the other for personal calls.
'I should buy a case to distinguish between the two.'
The office was closed today so no one should be calling him. He would have to send the pictures to Kyoko whenever he made it back to the apartment. When the ducks realized he was out of food, they went on their way. Tadashi sat back and opened the bag with his purchases. He had asked the clerk to bag them separately, one for reading and one for his collection.
Tadashi took his time looking at the photos and reading the articles on the siblings. His children were indeed impressive. An article touting the top ten places to take your significant other in Tokyo caught his eye. 'Ooh, this restaurant in the tower of this hotel looks like a good spot.'
He used his phone to pin the location on the map. 'A planetarium café?', pinned. 'Best dolphin show ever!', pinned.
"As I thought DisneySea is also high on the list," he muttered to himself. He doubted she would have a whole day to dedicate to playing there right now. It would have to wait until he returned from New York.
A glance at his phone told him that he had been sitting here for almost two hours. He placed the magazines back in its bag for him to look at later. He hoped Kyoko would have time this week so he could take her to some of the places he marked. He was looking forward to some daddy-daughter dates…plus Ren.
Tadashi called his driver to pick him up. It would take at least 40 minutes with traffic to get to the movie theater. Sure there was one closer to his location, but this particular theater offered 4D and had full surround sound capability. Many of the reviews said that it was the subtle sounds in the background that made the hair on the back of their neck prick up while watching Tragic Marker. It supposedly amplified the eeriness of the movie. Tadashi had to take it one step further to get the full immersion of the movie.
Tadashi returned to his apartment later that afternoon with groceries to make a light dinner. He didn't think he could stomach anything after watching that bloodbath, but he knew a nutritious meal was necessary to keep a healthy body. He sat on the couch thumbing through another magazine. He stared at the picture of Cain Heel. Even though Tadashi was good at deceiving people back in the day, he didn't know the first thing about acting techniques. What he did was purely for self-preservation. He wondered what kind of training an actor like Ren would have to undergo to pull off a role so devoid of human emotion as he did with BJ.
PING! PING!
Tadashi's ears perked up at the sound of his other phone. He retraced his steps trying to recall where he left it. It wasn't in the bathroom or on the dresser where he often left it. He heard the pings again coming from, "the closet?"
"Morimoto-san, it's good to see you again. If you had called beforehand, I would have made sure Ruto was downstairs to greet you. I'm afraid your timing is rather late; Mogami-kun is currently in an interview," Lory explained in a boisterous tone.
"I did call! The receptionist said you were in a closed meeting and could not be disturbed. The voicemail you left was cryptic. I needed to see her for myself, she's still a minor after all. Don't you need a guardian's permission for this sort of thing? Have you informed her mother?"
"When it comes to matters of work, Mogami-san has given me full disclosure on Kyoko's behalf. If it eases your mind, I did talk to Mogami-san and made her aware of the situation. Have you not spoken to her?"
"Well, I, um, I couldn't impose on her." His earlier courage him. He wasn't sure how to face Saena now that they had spoken. He knew their paths would cross again someday; he just didn't think it would need to be so soon.
Poor Mogami-kun, her parents were like newborn calves, Lory thought. But at least he's trying.
"Please, have a seat while we wait. It shouldn't be too much longer. These things usually go quickly to not take up too much time for the celebrity. Would you like a drink?" Lorry offered.
Yashiro greeted Tadashi and bowed. He almost felt sorry for the guy. The way Kyoko's father was breathing spoke volumes. He could only imagine what kind of thoughts were racing through Tadashi's mind as he rushed to get here. Knowing the President for so long, Tadashi probably played right into his hands.
Tadashi resigned himself to wait. He greeted Yashiro in return and took his seat. Ruto set the glass of ice water Tadashi had requested before his butt hit the cushion. He eyed the soldier suspiciously. How is he so quiet in that armor?
"Can you fill me in on what exactly is going on?" Tadashi asked Lory directly after taking a few sips of his drink.
"Certainly, we can start with you taking a look at the documents in front of you." Lory gestured to the draft articles that were left behind on the table.
Yashiro squirmed as a dark aura seeped out of Tadashi's while he read the article. He had never heard the full story of what that singer did to his daughter and now he was livid. He wanted to get his hands around the boy's neck and squeeze. How dare this kid do this to his daughter?
Tadashi looked up with a murderous glint in his eye. "Is this article true? Did Kyoko endure such hardship because of this boy?"
Lory and Yashiro both nodded in assent.
Tadashi stood and started pacing. He was livid and needed to walk off his anger. It explained why she was hesitant to talk about this boy and this probably dredged up some terrible memories for her.
He took his seat again and hung his head in his hands. This story wasn't just about Kyoko. It talked about her upbringing and targeted her mother too. It's all my fault. How can I fix this?
Tadashi felt a glimmer of hope as he continued to think then looked at Lory. "If this story is already written, why is Kyoko in an interview? Is the reporter trying to corroborate the information on here? It hasn't been printed yet?"
"That's true, but you can't very well go around threatening reporters Morimoto-san. That's bound to backfire in your face. Think of how Kyoko would feel if you took such drastic measures," Lory warned.
Yashiro watched Tadashi weigh his options. He had a feeling that Kyoko's father was thinking of doing more than just threatening. How much did the President know about this man? There was a scary side to him. Yashiro had seen enough movies that exaggerated a father's sense of justice when it came to their daughters. This was not that kind of situation.
"Before you get to hasty. Do read the other article first," Lory suggested, nodding to the other document.
Yashiro was able to breathe easier once Tadashi's murderous aura evaporated as he read the other article.
"Is this is the reason for the interview? How can you guarantee that the other version won't get leaked? Is this reporter even trustworthy? I need to make some calls."
First, he had to call Sota to get him everything he had on this reporter. Then, he needed to call his lawyers. Tadashi was not new to being in the limelight. The PR director at Rising Sun should have some contacts within the media.
As if reading his mind, Lory said, "there's no need. I have already asked the legal team here to draft up a contract." Lory stood up and passed a folder to Tadashi. "This in no way guarantees that another reporter won't jump on the story and conduct their research. Unfortunately, the route Mogami-kun chose just delays the inevitable. However, I have a feeling there will be more exciting news in the tabloids that will overshadow this one next week."
"This is my treasure. This stone has magical healing powers that absorb all my sadness," Kyoko told him, letting him in on her biggest secret.
Koki looked skeptical as he peered closely at the stone she held in her hands. He wasn't a geologist, but he had never seen a rock of that hue before. Is it a sapphire? The sentimental value of it made it priceless.
"Where did you get such a stone? Did you find it while playing outside perhaps?" He inquired.
"It was given to me by a fairy prince when I was six years old," she told him with such conviction. Koki's brows scrunched up in confusion. He glanced at Ren for some sort of explanation. The actor just smiled and shrugged.
"So you're saying you had an imaginary friend as a child?" Koki asked trying to rationalize what she just said in his mind. She must have picked up the stone while playing pretend outside.
"Oh no, he's real! You see, after a very upsetting day, I sought my sanctuary in the woods by the river behind the ryokan. When I burst through the trees, he was there by the river in all his glory, dazzling in the sunlight. For several days we played by the river together. When I was with him, I was able to forget all my troubles. It was the best memory of my childhood. When he left, he gave me this stone to cheer me up in his stead. Whenever something significantly painful came my way, I sought solace with this stone that reminded me of happier days."
"I see, so you use fairy power to overcome your sadness. I don't think that would work for everyone. Not many people are believers these days. I'm curious, did you ever manage to see your fairy prince again?" Koki said playing along. The reporter hummed curiously at her guilty reaction and the blush on her cheeks.
"Ugh, um un-unfortunately, I have not be-…" She stuttered trying to deny that she ever saw him again.
She cut off her words when Ren squeezed her hand, "I was the one that gave her the stone when we were kids."
Koki looked between the two of them incredulously. This was a huge scoop. They had known each other as children. "Are you telling me that you guys knew each other as children?"
"Yes, we only recently reacquainted with each other when we met at LME after ten years. Our feelings of friendship as children blossomed into romantic love as we worked and spent more time with each other," Ren confessed. This was his first big step to sharing his past with the public. It was all he would say regarding the matter even though Koki tried to press him with more questions. All he would reveal was that he was accompanying his father on business. Koki was extremely happy with that small piece of information.
The interview moved on to more questions regarding how she even started acting. She told him about the bet she had made with her childhood friend to get her revenge. Kyoko shared with him how Ren had thrown her out that first day she came to LME. Koki could not help looking at them in adoration as they bickered back and forth like an old married couple. He did not doubt that many of her revelations were going to surprise the readers and was excited to get to work.
"I just have one more question that I hope you could answer. What exactly were you doing dressed up in a kimono at the hotel with Director Shingai of Ring Doh? I never did get to ask my questions back then."
"Ehhhh, that was you? I didn't know." Kyoko wailed. She couldn't say exactly what transpired because it would make Ruriko-san and the Director look bad if she confessed to trying to steal the role.
"I was assisting Ruriko-san as one of my LoveMe member tasks. I did such a great job that the Director rewarded me with a makeover. We were taking photographs in the hotel to commemorate the moment. I was so happy it was my first time having my make-up done by a professional," she gushed enthusiastically over the power of make-up in hopes that Koki would drop it.
Koki smiled and stood not wanting to spoil his luck. They gave him more than enough information for him to spin a tale so grand that the fans would embrace the dark parts of this revolutionary princess. There was no doubt she was going to make waves in the acting community.
Bowing, he said, "Thank you, Kyoko-san, Tsuruga-san for your cooperation and time. I hope my article helps increase your popularity, Kyoko-san. I look forward to your growth as an actress. Everyone has a few blemishes in their past that they aren't proud of but it's what you do to overcome those struggles that make life worth living that is important. I expect great things from both of you for years to come."
Ren knew Koki was talking specifically to Kyoko but his words left a lasting impression on him.
Kyoko was startled to see her father waiting after they returned to Lory's office. She was taken by surprise when he jumped at her appearance and pulled her into a hug.
"Are you alright?" He asked pulling away to look at her. "He didn't force you to say anything you weren't comfortable with, did he?"
Before Kyoko could answer, his eyes shifted to look behind her.
"You!" Tadashi accused. His gold eyes flashed with anger as they settled on the stranger that walked in behind the young couple. "You should be ashamed of yourself! How could you even think about writing something like that about a young girl? Even if it were true, do you know what kind of damage this can do to her?
"Um, Tadashi-san…." Kyoko began but her father continued to rave. He had grabbed Koki by the t-shirt and glared at the man.
"Who put you up to this? I know you reporters all have a source! And don't give me that baloney about protecting your source if you know what's good for you!"
"A little help please," Koki squeaked out fearful for his life now.
"Tadashi-san, please," Kyoko looked to the other men to see if they were going to interfere. They all just stood around watching. To be fair it was all something, they wanted to do to the reporter themselves.
"If you want a story that sells write about me. I'm Morimoto Tadashi of Rising Sun. If you need secrets exposed, I'll give you mine. I'm privy to the seediness of politicians and business moguls if I'm not good enough, which one do you want?"
"Father! Please stop!" Kyoko yelled to be heard over his voice. He was acting rashly. There was no way she would let him compromise his company for her.
Tadashi stopped yelling abruptly. His face melted. Did I hear her right? Did she just call me Father? The hand gripping the reporter's shirt loosened as embarrassment flooded his body. Tadashi bowed an apology to everyone for losing his composure.
"No, I'm sorry. I deserved it," Koki told him. "It was in poor taste for me to attack an innocent girl on paper like that. I respect your daughter and I hope the article I write helps her in some way."
"Thank you for trying to make me feel better, but we all know the reason why Kyoko-chan even has such a story to tell is because of me. Had I been there for her, things would have been very different. I overdid things trying to make up for the past. I'm sorry, Kyoko-chan," Tadashi said weakly.
"It's okay, father. Thank you for being here now. I'm more than fine," she said beaming a smile at him.
Tadashi was elated. He felt so damn lucky to be the father of this angel. He needed to extend his stay in Tokyo to be here for her, just in case. Tadashi cleared his throat and went back into businessman mode.
"I promise my intentions are sincere; however, I've been in this business for a long time, some other reporter won't be as nice," Koki warned them.
"I want to know your source. You reporters all have one," Tadashi demanded.
"My source is anonymous. She has never used her real name when contacting me and I never bothered looking into her. She calls herself Queen B and considers herself a chess master. I will say this, her tips are usually right on the money so she has to be in show biz!" Koki divulged.
Yashiro gasped! Everyone in the room turned to him.
"Do you know who that is Yashiro-san?" Ren asked their manager.
"I don't know exactly, but it's a name I've noticed on a few fan sites. This person is very vocal about their distaste for you two, especially Kyoko-chan. Just the other day, she implied that Kyoko-chan was um...sle- dating her way through celebrities to further her career."
"What?!" Tadashi, Kyoko, and Ren shouted in unison.
"Please don't kill me. I'm just relaying what circulated on social media." Yashiro cringed at the suffocating aura the trio were emitting in his direction.
Kyoko's grudges swirled around her as she became deep in thought. Who could this person possibly be? It has to be someone in show biz that's out to get me. The first person that came to mind when thinking in female terms was Mimori. The girl despised her for being close to Shotaro in the past. No, that can't be right. She loved Sho and wouldn't jeopardize his career. That only left...
"Kyoko, Kyoko," Ren said calling her name. "Is everything okay?" he asked looking at her with concern. She nodded and smiled as her grudges retreated from Ren.
"I don't like these rumors one bit," Tadashi said with a huff. "I'm putting my guy on it just in case."
"I'll also have Ruto investigate," Lory included.
"If there's nothing else for me. I would like to get going. I want to get to work," Koki said then bowed. He made a move toward the door, but Lory stopped him.
"Before you go, there is one other thing," Lory announced. Ruto handed Koki a folder containing the contract. "It's not that we don't trust you. We just need some assurance."
Notes:
Thanks for sticking with me!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 57: Waiting Game
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would noticeably perv out every time he saw Kyoko in uniform.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi refused the invitation Kyoko had extended to him for dinner. They just returned from work and needed to settle back into a routine; he didn't want to intrude. At least that was the excuse he gave her as he hung back in the President's office. He wanted nothing more than to spend time with them, but unfortunately, he had more pressing matters to attend to. Tadashi had sent a text to Sota to look into Queen B using the elite hacker he had on payroll. His old friend would probably have more information for him in the next hour.
When the trio had left, Tadashi settled into the seat across Lory's desk. The eccentric president raised his eyebrow at Tadashi's forwardness.
"What are you not telling me Takarada-san? I have a feeling you know more than you are letting on. Has she been threatened or receiving hate mail by fans? Going public about dating Ren-kun couldn't have gone over so well considering how popular he is. If someone is targeting her, I want to know about it. If I need to hire a bodyguard for her, I will. Yashiro-san looks sturdy enough, but he can't be in two places at once. I want to know, as the President of this organization, how do you plan to guarantee my daughter's safety?"
"Morimoto-san, I assure you that Mogami-kun is safe. She knows that when Yuki isn't around, Ruto is lurking in the shadows. It's an arrangement that has been successful thus far, so please don't accuse me of not taking care of my employees. They are all my precious children."
"I appreciate that, Takarada-san. So something did indeed happen if you are sending your right-hand man out to play bodyguard to a newbie actress. I'm not belittling my daughter's talent, I'm just stating that it looks suspicious to me that a greenhorn like her is getting special treatment. I need to know."
Lory sighed. There was no getting anything past this man.
"Your daughter is a magnet. People are drawn to her. In the short time she has been with LME, she has changed many lives. I watched her single-handedly thaw my granddaughter's heart. She has a couple of talented directors already squabbling over who will get to direct her debut film and more lining up to work with her. What I'm trying to say is that there are a lot of envious people in this industry."
Tadashi looked at him blankly waiting for him to get to the point.
"As you know, Mogami-kun is in the middle of filming The Sacred Lotus as Momiji. She auditioned for that role and won it when her contender Morizumi Kimiko failed. Well, Morizomi-kun had another plan up her sleeve guaranteeing her that part. She and her manager drugged Mogami-kun and tried to throw her from a three-story balcony."
"They did what! Tell me these bitches are in jail right now Takarada!" Tadashi shouted, as he stood and paced in front of the desk releasing a litany of curses.
Lory lifted his eyebrow again finding it amusing that Tadashi had started speaking in English.
"Jail would be too good of a punishment for anyone trying to harm my little girl," Tadashi snarled.
Lory responded in kind. "They have been dealt no punishment unless you count that your daughter and Koenji Erika of the Koenji group are now blackmailing her to stay out of anything show biz related."
"You mean to tell me these women are running free after attempting that stunt with my daughter. Where is your sense of justice? Is that why you have Ruto-san following her? You can't guarantee that they aren't still a threat, and what do you mean by blackmail?"
Lory explained the reasons for Erika's involvement and how she had used Kyoko as bait to collect the evidence needed to trap Kimiko. Yashiro had managed to catch them in the act before any serious harm could come to Kyoko.
"I want to see the evidence. Please tell me you have a copy. I'm acquainted with Koenji-san we've made deals on the golf course before in Hawaii. If I have to go to her father with this I will," Tadashi told him sitting back down reverting to speaking Japanese.
All Lory had to do was nod his head slightly and Ruto appeared like a ninja with a laptop.
It was on the car ride home that Ren revealed to Yashiro that he had met Kyoko when he was ten years old. It probably wasn't the wisest decision to break that kind of news to their manager while he was driving due to his propensity to freak out. Yashiro nearly veered off the road before he safely pulled over. He turned in the seat and peered into the shameful faces of his charges.
"How long have you two known of each other?" Yashiro asked as he narrowed his eyes at the pair of them.
"It took me some time to recognize her but I've known she was the little girl I met in Kyoto over a year ago," Ren admitted.
"And you Kyoko-chan?" Yashiro asked directing his gaze to her.
Kyoko flushed. She had been in denial for so long. Even when she met Corn on Guam, she still refused to acknowledge that they were the same person. She refused to see it.
"I admit I was six years old at the time so my memories of those days are a bit hazy," she hoped she could get through this without giving up Kuon. Her memories of that time spent with her fairy prince were as clear as yesterday. She couldn't admit that she didn't recognize him since he had changed his appearance. She needed to protect his secret until he was ready. "The clues were there, but my heart would not let my brain accept it. I could no longer deny it when Ren confessed to me a few months ago," Kyoko admitted embarrassed. All this time her fairy prince had returned to her side. Helping her the same way he had when they were kids.
"Ren, I can't believe you kept such a secret from everyone. If you had told her sooner, you guys could have saved us all a lot of trouble," Yashiro admonished easing the car back onto the road.
"I was giving her time to heal, at least, that was the excuse I kept giving myself. The truth was as time progressed, it just got harder and harder to tell her the truth." He turned to Kyoko, "I was worried you would hate me and feared rejection."
Kyoko responded with a sweet smile and laced her fingers with his.
"Wow! Honestly, Ren, this is the first time I've ever heard you voice your true feelings out loud especially with me around," Yashiro admitted stunned. The manager had lost count of the many conversations they had while in transit regarding his feelings for Kyoko. Ren would often deflect or deny Yashiro's accusations. Hell must have frozen over if he's speaking freely right now.
"Wait! Why are you telling me this now?" Yashiro asked skeptically, glancing at them in the rearview mirror. This had to be bad.
"Koki-san will be using this information in the article. We didn't want you to find out with everyone else. You're our important friend," Ren explained. Yashiro wanted to weep tears of joy.
"Not to change the subject, I'm touched that you finally admitted we are friends but speaking of friends...Kyoko-chan, have you asked Ren about Kotonami-san?"
"Ah! I didn't have the chance. Ren, Moko-san is returning from the States soon…errr you see the thing is…um…I was hoping to throw her a welcome back party bu-," Kyoko stammered. How could she ask him to give up his personal space like this and let strangers into his home?
"Kyoko, our apartment is your home too. If you are trying to ask permission to have your friends over to celebrate you don't have to. I just ask that you warn me whenever they are coming over. I don't want them to catch me in my boxers," he teased.
Kyoko groaned. Her face burned with embarrassment, "Can you please not say unnecessary things around Yashiro?"
Yashiro's inner fangirl squealed with delight as he noted that she in no way denied the fact that Ren walks around their house practically naked. Did this mean he already won the bet he wagered with the President? How on Earth were they supposed to confirm such a thing without asking the couple outright. He didn't think posing the question, are you guys having sex, would bode over well.
"So when are they coming over? Is there anything you need me to do? I can order food," Ren asked trying to be helpful. He had never had to organize a party among friends so he wasn't sure what had to be done.
Kyoko gave him a quick peck on the cheek. She loved him so much. "Thank you, I'm waiting on Moko-san to confirm when she would be returning. It should be soon."
"Well, I would suggest not having it right after she arrives. Give her a day to settle in, she'll be very tired from the jet lag."
"Ah, I didn't even think of that. It is indeed a long flight and then the time zone changes. I wonder if it's even wise to have one. Moko-san might think it's an inconvenience," she replied, dejectedly.
"It won't hurt to ask right. Even if Kotonami-san is a bit abrasive, she usually goes along with you," Ren said trying to cheer her up.
"Ren's right, Kyoko-chan, you could entice her with a low-calorie Japanese meal. I'm sure she was homesick even if she wouldn't admit it," Yashiro added. He tried not to show his enthusiasm for Kanae's return lest these two pick up on his feelings.
They talked a little bit more about the dinner party before Yashiro pulled into the parking garage. "I've sent you both your schedules so check your mail. Ren, you'll be very busy trying to make up the lost time. Kyoko, you'll be starting school again soon so we can't accept too much. I will pick you both up at 7:30 am tomorrow for your R'Mandy fittings. It was the only spot I could squeeze that in since Fuji-san couldn't wait a few days."
"Kyoko, what are you doing?" Kuon asked as he stepped into her room. He inhaled sharply, as he watched his girlfriend try on her school uniform, reminding him that she was still in high school. Was he a pervert for becoming extremely aroused looking at her in the uniform? Probably.
Kyoko's breath hitched, as she looked intently into his green eyes through the mirror's reflection. "What is it?" She asked, noticing his troubled face.
Without answering, he entered the room and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He let his chin rest on top of her head and stared back into her amber eyes. Even if the uniform made her look younger, he knew that she was very much a mature young woman.
"Do I look funny? Is my skirt too short? I think it got shorter. The skirt's waist is sitting higher on my hips," she told him.
He sighed heavily. "It's no good. You are too enticing in this get-up," he told her as his hands and lips began roaming over her body.
Kyoko giggled and squirmed out of his arms. He pouted giving her the Cain level two puppy face.
"There's no time for that right now," she said unconvincingly. "We need to set everything to rights now that we're home. I'll start cleaning in the kitchen after I change."
Kuon sighed and went out to begin the arduous tasks of cleaning their apartment. Yashiro had dropped them off over an hour ago, but it was still early evening. He was still a bit nervous for her about the article. They weren't quite out of the woods yet, and now, a person was lurking behind a computer screen out to harm her. He had the sinking feeling that he could be the cause of all this, perhaps a deranged fan or a jealous person lurking on the sets that wanted to ruin her and their relationship.
Kyoko walked past him as she headed for the kitchen. Kuon held a feather duster in one hand and fiddled with his phone in the other, most likely looking for music. He admitted that it made cleaning fun. It was a habit he had picked up from his parents. She found it hard to believe that the Hizuris did their cleaning. He told her that they did indeed have a housekeeper during the week but his parents did assign him chores around the house to keep him from being spoiled. On weekends, they fended for themselves. When he was younger, on Sundays, they would clean as a family. Kyoko was happy she moved in with him. Living together gave her little tidbits of the complicated life her boyfriend led. There was so much to learn about him.
Wearing her rubber gloves, Kyoko began cleaning the stove when the song came on.
"Hey where did we go, days when the rains came, down in the hollow..."
This was a new one for her. She smiled as she heard him singing along as he dusted.
"Our hearts a thumpin' and you, my brown-eyed girl, you're my brown-eyed girl…"
Kyoko rolled her eyes as blush crept on her cheeks. This man and his songs! She wondered if he had a secret playlist with all songs that had brown eyes in their lyrics. I should look into songs that paid homage to green eyes.
She peeked around the corner to spy on him. It was as she thought. Dust a little...hold said feather duster like a microphone, then dust a little more. She tip-toed to her phone where it charged on the countertop. Assuming her hiding spot, she rapidly clicked the camera button to capture him in action. This is going in her treasure pile. She smiled at her current wallpaper on her phone. It was the photo that Yashiro had sent her the other day with Ren flexing his biceps in his fireman gear. The pictures she received from their manager was more than she could ever dream of.
"Do you remember when, we used to sing, Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da..."
She covered her giggle and went back to cleaning.
Kyoko was glad Kuon didn't have a housekeeper. The mundane task of cleaning always calmed her when she was feeling particularly anxious. She thought about this Queen person and her rage flared instantly, awakening her grudges. She scrubbed vigorously at the stove until the stainless steel shined brilliantly. Could Morizumi-san still be targeting me in a roundabout way? Technically, she wasn't violating the agreement with Erika. It appeared that she was trying to take Kyoko down with her. Kimiko would be sorely mistaken if she thought that Kyoko would just roll over and accept her poor treatment. Kyoko decided she would wait to see if her father and Lory could confirm her accusations before she went accusing the woman. She didn't want to be wrong.
"Wow, who would have thought that creepy guy we saw on the street was capable of pulling off such a performance, eh Kimiko?" Cedric asked glancing at the young Japanese woman as they walked out of the movie theater playing Tragic Marker. Cedric was a sucker for slasher films. He had been interested in the movie even before Kimiko's invite. While watching that guy's interview after the premiere, Cedric had made the connection with the couple on the street. It made him even more inclined to watch it. He had accepted Kimiko's invitation, only because he thought she would be a good interpreter. His Japanese was spotty, but he was able to follow along due to all the suspenseful and action scenes.
Kimiko moped beside Cedric. She was annoyed by her response to the film. She had been hoping to criticize the BJ actor, Cain Heel, for his weak performance; instead, she found herself praising the guy in her head. No wonder he could afford to be so arrogant the other night. He had the skill to back it up and look down on others.
"Kimiko, did you hear me?" Cedric asked, nudging her on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry Ric, what did you say?" she asked in her sweet voice turning her full attention to him.
"That was the guy, right? The one we bumped into on the street with his sister. I wouldn't have recognized him in the movie if I had not seen the interview and photos of Cain Heel. I wonder if he did his own stunts?" Cedric asked enthusiastically. He continued to talk giving her no room to respond.
"That ending was genius, but it left no room for a sequel. Which is good, I guess. Hollywood takes sequels a little too far if you ask me. I think we're on like SAW 5000 right now."
Kimiko agreed. There were a lot of movie sequels out there that should have stopped at one.
"Do you want to get a bite to eat?" Kimiko asked Cedric not wanting to end the night even if it was getting late. His time here was numbered and she was no closer to getting him to return her feelings. She hoped tomorrow's forecast would lift her spirits.
Tadashi made his way down to the basement stairs and pounded on the door. The same burly looking guard opened the little window. He saw it was him and demanded the password.
Tadashi scowled. Is this guy for real! Angrily he pulled out his phone so he could berate Sota. Before he could make a snide remark, the guard burst out laughing as he opened the door.
"Man you should have seen your face. You were ready to kill someone. Boss ruined the fun."
"Tch!" Tadashi clucked annoyed and brushed past the guard. He headed straight for the table where Sota usually sat and slid into the seat across his friend.
"Yo, Tadashi, how's life? You look exhausted. Kid not keeping you awake at night is she?" Sota teased with a grin.
Tadashi gave Sota a bleak look. His teasing was not funny.
"Is that for me?" Tadashi asked nodding to the folder sitting on the table not bothering to answer his friend's questions.
"Cold as ever bro," Sota said with a smile. He pushed over the folder in time for Tadashi to push over an envelope packed with Yen.
Unable to wait until he got home to peruse the information, Tadashi opened the folder and looked at Sota. "Is this information accurate?"
"Come on man. What do you take me for? My guy was able to bypass those firewalls on those websites like it was child's play. He even installed a backdoor so when she logs in next time it would alert him."
"Why are you so interested in this girl? Don't tell me she's another one of your long lost daughters?"
Tadashi grimaced. His words were a stark reminder of his past error.
"What did the princess do to earn the ire of this girl? I've printed out the posts with her handle. I swear girls are scary especially the high school ones. Her family is practically royalty when it comes to Show-biz here in Japan. They have their hand in everything."
Tadashi relayed to him all that he had learned today regarding his daughter and Kimiko Morizumi. On top of the balcony incident, Lory had informed Tadashi of the occurrences taking place on the set of Sacred Lotus. The sabotage had seemed to cease altogether the moment extra security was put in place. They had suspected Kimiko as the mastermind behind those accidents, but the girl couldn't be in two places at once. Plus, she didn't have access to some of the props and set locations.
"That could only mean she could have had inside help. Maybe somebody on the team was leaking her information for money," Sota suggested.
Tadashi had suspected as much but hearing it from Sota, an outsider, made it all the more credible.
"If I get you a list of everyone associated with the Sacred Lotus, would you be able to figure out who is in cahoots with this girl?"
"I can try. Usually, I can pull credit reports and see who needs the money. If they're paid with cash then it would be a lot tougher to narrow down."
"I'll call Takarada-san right now and see about the list. Can you send me a softcopy of this information? I want to send it to him." Tadashi said then stepped away to make his phone call.
With a few taps on his phone, Sota had sent the information to Tadashi. Even though they had some fun times in America, Sota was happy to see his friend caring for a woman again even if it was only his daughter.
Notes:
Thanks for sticking with me! I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
The song Ren cleaned to was Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl."
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 58: Battle Armor
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would get a modeling contract ;)
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kimiko stared at the ceiling feeling restless. She picked up her phone to look at the clock and groaned. It was already five in the morning and she still couldn't sleep, tossing and turning for the past few hours. The night out with Cedric left a bitter taste in her mouth. He had spent the entire time at dinner talking about the movie they had just watched and complimenting the antagonist actor, Cain Heel's acting prowess.
"You're missing out Kimiko. I don't know why you insist on quitting just to focus on school. Many actors do both even if it takes them longer. You might regret it in the future. It's hard to get back into the industry when you're older and your skills have deteriorated."
It was as if Cedric was rubbing it in her face that she couldn't act anymore. She would have gladly liked to act along with a talented guy like Cain Heel even if he was a complete asshole. Based on his interview, she could just imagine the nightmare it was working with him. Unlike her, that man didn't even have to put up a fake persona in real life. She hated and admired him for being true to himself and not giving two shits about what others thought. It probably helped that he wasn't a Morizumi. Kimiko had balled her hands into tight fists under the table as she listened to Cedric drone on. It had taken all her mental effort to keep from screaming at him to shut the fuck up. If she thought about it, he was only trying to help her as a "friend."
Kimiko almost lost her composure when he asked her seriously for the real reason she gave up on acting. She was tempted to tell him that she was being blackmailed by his co-star. Would he believe her if she told him? No, she wasn't confident that he would accept her story so blindly. He would most likely confront Kyoko on the matter. Kimiko wasn't ready to incriminate herself even if it was him. Instead of the truth, her smile never wavered as she responded with her usual excuses on why she retired from acting. What she was doing now could be considered acting practice, right? It took skill to keep up her pretenses in front of others, in front of him. She was biding her time until she could figure out a solution to the agreement she made with Erika. Until then, she was content with trying to bring Kyoko down with her.
Kimiko decided she couldn't sleep and sat up in bed reaching for her laptop, wondering when tabloids updated their articles for the day. Surely Koki would have something to report by now. Don't all reporters have a deadline to meet? How do they get paid if they aren't reporting on newsworthy material daily?
She checked the usual news outlets. There was no update for the day yet. Perhaps it was still too early, she thought, as she logged into the fansite. She had avoided them the rest of the day since she was starting to easily lose her patience. She focused on her studies instead and considered her next step on bringing Kyoko down. She was counting on Koki's article to completely humiliate her. Soon, all of Japan would see Kyoko for what she really was — a talentless two-bit whore. She was looking forward to seeing how fast her contracts dissolved once they saw her true colors. It would serve Uncle Joji right for choosing that no-name talent over me. I hope their movie gets terrible ratings because of her.
Her lip curled into a snarl as she began to read the recent posts. Someone had done a side by side analysis between Kyoko and Setsuka leaving the fans divided.
IceRaven: Mo! If she is Heel-san her acting is on a whole new level. It pisses me off! I'm not convinced, but I'm not dismissing the idea.
VoodooPrincess1224 : My One- Kyoko-san has more talent than that girl. Although I love her dress, reminds me of something I would see at Jeanne d'Arc, Kyoko-san would normally not choose something so dark and revealing.
KyoFan1: Her Natsu was pretty badass, so maybe?
QueenB: For those of you that are suggesting that Kyoko-san is capable of portraying someone as complicated as Heel-san you are all idiots.
RenKyo#1Fangirl: B we've missed you! It was getting pretty boring here without your snide remarks.
Kimiko scowled at that post and stuck her tongue out at her screen. This person always had a way of getting under her skin. The fact that he or she resorted to addressing her as B was not lost on her. She had thought herself quite clever when she chose her username, something no one would associate with her sweet persona.
DiabolicalPen666: That's where you're wrong, Queen. Kyoko-san is more than talented enough to pull off a look like Setsuka-san. Her performances as Mio-sama and Natsu-chan are completely different from her original self, but this isn't a role so I'm saying Heel-san is her own person.
IceRaven: Mo! You have no right to insult her! If you want to say degrading things about her then join show biz and come at her on an even playing field. Prove your worth through your actions. Hiding behind your computer is cowardice. I'm out of here. I don't know why I bother with these sites you people just irritate me.
"This Bitch!" Kimiko hissed as she read the post. Calling her out on something she had no control over. If she had her way she would be acting Momiji right now instead of that talentless newbie.
RenKyo#1Fangirl: Bye Bye IceRaven. Looks like you chased another one away B.
QueenB: oh shut up ..l..
RenKyo#1Fangirl: Guess someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. What's wrong? Didn't ruin anyone's life today, or is it still too early?
Kimiko's eyes widened. What was this person suggesting? Did they know it was her? That question was hitting a bit too close to home. She stopped her hand as she was about to slam her computer shut. If she did something like that it would only make her look guilty.
QueenB: Please, I don't know what you're on about. My greatest joy is criticizing Kyoko-san. I'm out I have more important things to do.
RenKyo#1Fangirl: Later B, I'll be seeing you soon.
Kuon grazed his fingertips up and down the bare skin of Kyoko's back inhaling deeply of the flowery aroma of her hair. He loved waking up to her warmth pressed against him. If he had his way, he planned on waking up to this feeling for the rest of his life. Pulling her closer, he placed a soft kiss on the top of her head. She felt so small and fragile in his arms, but he knew she had more courage and strength in her pinky finger than he had in his entire body. If he was true to her roots, her blood probably coursed with that of a samurai warrior. He hoped some of that courage would continue to seep into him the longer he stayed by her side.
She stirred in his arms, stretching as much as his embrace would allow. Her lids slowly fluttered open revealing beautiful wet sleepy eyes. When her cloudy eyes finally cleared, she smiled noticing him awake.
"Were you watching me sleep again, Corn? You know that's so unfair," she pouted reaching to caress his face. The rough stubble on his jawline pricked her fingers.
He placed a soft kiss on the inside of her palm. "I can't help it. I love watching you sleep," he admitted with a dazzling smile. She pulled herself up and kissed him softly on the lips. Before she could deepen the kiss, he pulled away from her.
"How are you holding up?" he whispered while tracing a fingertip along her jawline.
She blinked several times confused until he elaborated. "The article, your mother... Queen B?"
She made a silent "oh" with her mouth. Waking up in his arms always turned her brains to mush. She couldn't think when they were like this. The problem wasn't that she couldn't think; it was because she only always had one thing on the brain — touching him.
"Do you have any suspicions who it could be? I'm sure Boss or your father would have some info by now."
"My only suspicion could be Morizumi-san; however, I haven't been in contact with her. The most recent being in the street the other day. Aside from that, I don't know, maybe one of your fans. I'm used to women disliking me. It started with Sho when we were kids and now with you,"
His body tensed. "I'm sorry. I've been so wrapped up in my happiness with you, I didn't know you were struggling."
"Ehhh, no. I'm sorry that came out wrong. I'm not struggling or being bullied. Just because they loudly whisper hateful things at work or school, and hide my shoes, or write on my desk doesn't mean I'm having a hard time."
"Um...babe, that's being bullied," Kuon deadpanned.
"Really? But Naa-chan does so much more drastic things to bully people so I didn't think it counted."
Kuon shuddered. He hoped he never had to cross paths with her Natsu persona. She sounded like a nightmare.
He stroked her hair while she drew tiny circles on his chest with her index finger for several quiet moments.
"I guess I am a bit anxious," she began quietly expanding the circumference of circles. "I didn't want anyone to know about me and Shotaro. I was such an idiot back then. To top it all off, we're meeting my mother for lunch. She might be very angry about all this and send me back to Kyoto."
He grabbed her hand in his to stop her assault on his chest. Her innocent gesture was getting him worked up and she didn't need that now.
"We'll face your mother together," he assured her, kissing her fingertips. "Regarding Fuwa, I don't think you were an idiot. You were lonely and he was your closest friend. I guess I'm grateful to him for being such a complete ass and not recognizing the treasure he had beside him."
Kyoko lifted her head and smiled. He took the opportunity to fuze his mouth with hers. It started slow and sweet, then morphed into something more desperate and hungry. He kissed her until she was delirious, voiding her mind of all rational thought. That's all they did until they were startled by the alarm. Kuon groaned as Kyoko rolled off of him.
"Come on, baby," she said mimicking his favorite American term of endearment for her. "We can't go to the gym today, but we can get a workout here at home. L.A. fashion week is just around the corner!" she told him and strolled to the bathroom to clean up.
"I can think of another way to workout, guaranteed to get the heart rate up and burn calories," Kuon suggested in the sensual voice of the Emperor. She paused at the bathroom door, her lean unclad body enticing him as she looked over her shoulder at him. "I promise you'll be bathed in sweat and panting when we're done."
He patted the side of the bed next to him. The Emperor's green eyes smoldered as they raked down her naked flesh. Her body shuddered and her mouth went dry considering his tempting proposal. She strutted back to him with hips swaying, slowly, seductively. Those mesmerizing green eyes grew darker with every step she took. Every nerve in her body ached to be touched by those rough confident hands, but she wouldn't be affected by his charms.
She leaned over him with lips hovering over his, teasing him. Her fingers dug, raking up his thigh over his hips and stopping at his chest. He groaned in pleasure from her touch. His eyes were hooded and thick with lust that he failed to notice the mischievous gleam in those golden pupils that held him captive. A blast of cold air hit his body as she yanked the covers off of him and jumped away before he could retaliate. Kuon was rooted to the bed, stunned.
"Get out of bed, my Emperor," she laughed. "I promise I will serve you well when we are done. Thirty minutes is all I ask of you." She bolted to the bathroom before he could catch her and locked the door behind her.
Saena sat next to Susumu as they looked over the article about Kyoko. It confused them no matter how many times they read it. There was no mention of Saena or the complicated dynamics of her family. They touched on how she grew up with her best friend's parents, and that was it. They had already done extensive research yesterday on a counterattack and even had Sensei Katigiri's weigh in on the whole mess.
"You're meeting with Kyoko-chan for lunch today, right?"
Saena nodded without looking up from the page she read.
"I'm sure Morimoto-san will help clear the air," Susumu told her confidently. That statement warranted a glance at her fiance from over the sheet. He was being extremely cool and understanding about this whole affair. If he was jealous or worried, he was doing an incredible job at hiding it.
The door to the conference room opened and the couple looked up as Tadashi was escorted in by the receptionist.
"Good morning, Mogami-san, Todoh-san," Tadashi greeted with a bow. "No, no, no please stay seated," he insisted, taking the seat across them and placing his bag on the table.
"Ah, I see you've read it," he nodded to the articles in front of them. "Thank you for meeting me so early. That's part of the reason I asked to see you." Tadashi secretly applauded himself for being able to face them so calmly. I guess when it comes to Kyoko-chan everything else is inconsequential. He wanted to ensure his daughter's happiness and if that meant cooperating with his past love and her future husband, so be it. Tadashi half expected to be arrested the moment he walked into the firm, but now felt more at ease since that hurdle had passed.
"I don't understand, Morimoto-san. I was under the impression that the article would be detrimental to her career, to us. I see no evidence of that here. It seems like a normal celebrity article, though I have nothing to compare since I don't read these magazines," Saena informed him expecting answers.
Tadashi filled them in on everything that came to light yesterday. The reporter having a change of heart and Kyoko's conditions regarding the article.
"It seems everything is fine yet you still look grim," Saena said, clasping her hands on the table. She narrowed her eyes at him as she would a client when she's trying to get the whole story out of them.
"There's something else you should know," Tadashi confessed. He explained the Morizumi Kimiko incident to them as he understood it from Lory. "She has it in for Kyoko-chan, but I won't let her have a second chance."
Saena's frown deepened. "I should have sent her back to Kyoto when she finally turned up."
"That wouldn't have been the right solution. Kyoko-chan loves the life she built here. She shouldn't have to run away because of some psychopathic girl. I am currently monitoring Morizumi-san's movements. If she tries to hurt Kyoko-chan again I think it null and voids whatever little agreement these girls made with each other. As a lawyer and her mother, I was hoping that you could help put together the case if need be. If it's too much, I can get my lawyers on it instead. I just thought to ask you first lest you be insulted for not knowing anything."
Saena nodded. "I understand. I'll take…"
"We'll," Susumu interjected.
"We'll... take the case when the time comes," Saena corrected, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Thank you, both of you." He replied holding Susumu's gaze for a moment longer. "I appreciate it."
Before taking his leave he handed Saena a thumb drive. "This has the video and photographic evidence of the incident."
When he was gone Saena turned to Susumu, "Is that okay? I didn't ask you and just assumed. I can do it by myself."
"Nonsense, we're a team, rely on me a little more." He kissed her on the lips making her blush. "Mmm, it's cherry flavor," he murmured, licking the lip gloss residue off his lips. Her blush turned a deep scarlet and extended down her shirt collar.
"That's against the rules. Not in the office," she scolded. He chuckled and left her behind in the conference room.
They sat down at the coffee table in the living room for breakfast. Kuon smirked while watching her from the corner of his eye delighted by the slight blush remaining on her cheeks. They both managed to get the workout they wanted this morning. To him, the first workout was thirty minutes of pure torture. Kyoko in spandex coupled with doing squats was enough to drive him to the brink.
Kuon reached for the remote to turn on the TV but Kyoko stopped him. "Could we just pretend for a little while longer that the world isn't judging me right now?" She asked meekly, staring at her wringing hands on her lap.
Kuon put down the remote and lifted her chin so he could gaze into her eyes. There was so much uncertainty reflecting in them. "Whatever awaits us out there we'll face together, okay? I'm not going anywhere. I wish I could stay by your side today. Maybe, Yashiro could rearrange my schedule and I can tag al-."
"No! You can't do that! Think of all the people you would be inconveniencing! I'll be just fine. Jeez, I can't believe you would suggest such a thing. So unprofessional! You can't shirk your responsibilities for me. Terrible idea!" she exclaimed.
"There's the girl with all the guts I fell in love with," he said with a smile. He knew that would get her fired up, but he still would have loved to watch her work.
Kuon's phone rang so he stood up to answer it. Yashiro wasn't due for another half hour so he wondered who it could be. He looked at the caller ID and groaned.
"Good morning, Boss!" Kuon answered and rolled his eyes. "I'm putting you on speaker."
"You two break my heart. I raised you ever since you were babies and this is the thanks I get. I'm regulated to finding out like everybody else. I'm heartbroken,"
"We aren't following. What are you talking about Boss?"
"Kids! You two met as kids! I remember that particular trip when you came with your father. He was here to promote his new movie and brought you along. He was so glad he did since he felt that you had enjoyed your time in Kyoto. Now we all know why."
"Oh, right," Kuon replied.
"That's it? That's all I get?!"
Kyoko covered her mouth to keep from giggling. The melodrama in Lory's voice had reached another level.
"I told my parents about her months ago. Since my Dad tells you everything I assumed he told you. Sorry Boss."
"That backstabbing Kuu! I gave him updates on you and this is how he repays me. I bet he didn't tell me because Julie probably forbade it. She still hates me for kidnapping her precious baby boy after all."
Kuon snickered. That was something his mother would do to make Lory pay for her agony. He would try to put in a good word for Lory to get him back into her good graces.
"I take it neither of you has seen the news. All of Japan will be watching you two even more from now on especially after the interview. I'll be sending reinforcements today to aid Yuki in his duties. He'll rendezvous with you at R'Mandy."
"Roger! Anything else, Boss?" Perhaps some information regarding Queen B or something.
"That's all. Good luck today," Lory answered and ended the call.
The couple went back to finishing their meal then prepared for their manager's arrival.
…
In the car, Yashiro chattered about what he had seen and heard so far regarding the article drop less than an hour ago.
"Everyone is already in an uproar, and it's not just one single thing about the article. The morning entertainment newsgroup couldn't decide what was more shocking; the fact that you were once betrayed by your best friend slash first love."
Kyoko cringed at Yashiro's statement. To have Shotaro referred in that way made her queasy.
"Or that you two knew each other as kids. Koki-san did well on his promise and completely neglected the circumstances of your upbringing. I have a copy here if you want to read it." Yashiro held the magazine over his shoulder for them to take.
Kyoko's eyes bulged as she stared at the cover photo of the magazine. "Yashiro-san, where in the world did they get this picture?"
It was the photo of her smiling into the camera in her god awful hot pink LoveMe coveralls pointing her fingers like she was shooting a pistol. She recalled that particular photo session with her two best friends. Lory explained that it was to commemorate and promote the LoveMe section. The girls were messing around with poses and started thinking of themselves as Charlie's Angels; however, in their case, it was more like they were Lory's Angels taking on missions to obtain Love and Peace.
"Koki-san had called last night requesting for a photo to use since his editor wanted you to be on the cover. That is what the President had provided him. I think it was a good choice by Takarada-san, it gives you that je ne sais quoi feel you have as a LoveMe member."
Naturally, it was President's idea.
Kyoko read the headline on the cover page: BETRAYAL, REINVENTION, LOVE. The subheading in smaller font read, LoveMe Member #1 paving her way to her happily ever after. Inside scoop to Kyoko-san's struggle to stardom, pp. 15 for the full story.
Kyoko turned quickly to page 15 and read eagerly with Ren hovering above her. Right off the bat, the article started with her reasoning for coming to Tokyo. She groaned when Koki went into detail about her sacrifices to support her friend and their falling out. Once she got past that embarrassing part of her life, the rest of the article was bearable. He included a timeline of photos from her beginning to Momiji.
When they arrived at the R'Mandy design studio, Kyoko stood stiffly as Fuji immediately gathered her into a bear hug.
"You poor beautiful thing. Come with me. Big brother Fuji has a surprise for you," he said with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Fuji-san," Ren and Yashiro greeted him. Ren felt ignored but not at all bothered by the way the designer was fussing over his girlfriend.
Fuji rebuffed Ren's greeting and pulled Kyoko along with him. She stared back at Ren with an equally bewildered face. What was going on? She thought as he dragged her towards the dressing rooms.
Ren groaned and exchanged glances with Yashiro. They slowly followed them towards the back.
"Father!" Kyoko exclaimed surprised to see Tadashi waiting in the room. Tadashi smiled and crossed the room to hug his daughter. "Are you the reinforcements the President sent?"
She took in his appearance. He was wearing designer jeans, a button-up shirt, and a sports jacket. He looked so casual and relaxed without the business suit. "Do you not have work of your own?"
Tadashi chuckled, "I volunteered my services. How are you holding up?"
Kyoko's shoulders slumped in embarrassment unsure of what she was feeling. The article was well written and highlighted her in a positive light. She was just feeling overwhelmed. The president was right, she was going to be in the spotlight until this all blew over.
"There will be none of that. You stand tall and keep your chin up. Don't show any weaknesses to those vultures," Fuji clucked as he led her to the salon chair.
Ren, Yashiro, Nana, and Aya walked in a minute after them. The hairstylist and make-up artist both gave her hugs. "Don't worry sweetie, we big sisters we'll prepare your armor," Nana told her.
"Armor? Wasn't this just a fitting?" she asked confused.
"To battle the media. This won't take long. We already have a good foundation to work with all we are doing is enhancing your beauty," Aya responded.
Ren and Yashiro greeted Tadashi while Fuji and the ladies fussed over Kyoko. Ren could already see the magic reviving in her eyes. Soon she would be off to La La land again. It never got old watching her face light up when it came to getting a professional makeover.
"Good morning, I hope you guys don't mind me tagging along. I asked my assistant to clear my schedule today. I'll be sticking around another few weeks until things settle down with Kyoko-chan," Tadashi informed them.
"I'm sure Kyoko would be very happy having you with her Tadashi-san," Ren told him with a smile. He was grateful he wasn't abandoning her in her time of need. He wondered if Tadashi had received any information from his informant already and didn't like what was discovered; hence, why he changed his travel plans. He needed to talk to him later in a more private setting.
True to their craft, the ladies were done with her make-over by the time Fuji returned with a beautiful sleeveless dress for Kyoko to wear. It was designed with a fitted bodice and a skirt that flared out at the waist. The color was white, but large embroidered flowers in varying shades of red helped to keep it from washing her out. Kyoko giddily went behind the changing screen to put on the dress.
Ren smiled like a besotted fool when she stepped out from the screen wearing the dress. He groaned, inwardly, when she twirled around. The back had an oval cut-out exposing a good portion of her porcelain skin. No bra, again.
Fuji handed her a pair of white strappy low block heels. Once he was satisfied that she looked impeccable in the outfit, he instructed her to remove the dress so they to continue with the fitting. Fuji had her try on various outfits that she would be wearing throughout their time in Los Angeles. He pinned and marked where the changes needed to be made. The men were all enjoying her mini fashion show.
"Ehhhhhh!" Tadashi and Ren stood quickly when they heard Kyoko's scream. Then relaxed as they heard their conversation, "do I have to wear this?!" Kyoko cried in mortification.
"Yes, it's a beach shoot. I made my design more conservative to make you get comfortable with the idea. You have a beautiful body, and it looks good on you. Quit complaining and stand up straight before I poke you with this pin!"
Tadashi was on the verge of marching back there and demanding to know what Fuji was doing to his daughter. There was no way he was going to make her wear something she wasn't comfortable in. He stopped in his tracks when she stepped out from behind the screen and crossed her arms over her chest shyly.
She was wearing a modest yet adorable two-piece teal bikini. The top was a striped racerback that looked like a cropped tank top and the bottom was a ruffled skirt. Tadashi cocked his head sideways, confused. It was just a normal swimsuit. He was used to the revealing swimwear in the States. A lot of women wore G-strings on the beaches and many women went topless overseas.
"What's wrong with it?" he asked to understand the problem.
"Ehhhh! You don't think there's too little fabric, Father?" Kyoko whined.
"Well, in the States and Europe, the swimwear is more revealing. I guess you can say I'm used to more skin showing. I think Fuji-san did a fantastic job in considering your feelings. I believe this design would appeal to the younger and conservative Japanese women."
She nodded a little relieved by her father's words and turned to Ren. He wasn't even looking at her. I must look hideous to him.
"You look cute, Kyoko-chan," Yashiro offered. He looked at his male charge and caught him blushing. Ren had to have seen her in less if they did that already. Could it be that the bet is still on?
Yashiro elbowed Ren and whispered, "Ren, don't you think Kyoko-chan looks cute. She's looking dejected because you're giving her the cold shoulder. She might even think you don't like it on her."
"That's not true," he blurted, turning in her direction. She stood there expectantly, arms still folded with a deeper blush on her cheeks than the makeup allowed. He felt his blood pumping to his groin as he gazed at her scantily clad body. One would think seeing her naked often would diminish his attraction for her, but that wasn't the case.
"You look very beautiful, Kyoko," he said trying to control his male anatomy by repeating his mantra in his head. Kyoko's answering smile dazzled him, making him lose his grip. "If you'll excuse me, I need to find a restroom."
The room erupted with laughter at his hasty retreat, leaving Kyoko confused.
"That's all I have for you today, Kyoko-chan. Now that I've confirmed the way the suit lies on you I can begin designing more. I'll work on Ren when he returns."
"I'll go find Ren," Yashiro offered. He left the room to find him and return some phone calls.
Sousuke, the photographer, entered the room to take photos of her in the swimsuit and more candid shots of Kyoko in her new dress. He even offered to take some of her with Tadashi, which delighted both father and daughter. Kyoko didn't have any pictures with her mother, so to have some with her father made her very happy.
Ren returned ten minutes later, once again composed but still receiving the cold shoulder from Fuji.
"Fuji-san, can you please tell me what I did to anger you? I will correct any of my wrongdoings."
"I'm just being petty. You knew Kyoko-chan when she was young and you couldn't even protect her heart from that good for nothing so-called friend of hers. It's unfair of me to hold that against you. You were a kid yourself and had no control over the situation. I'm sorry."
"No, you're right, I should have stayed in contact with her somehow." If only I wasn't hell-bent on keeping her fairy prince fantasy alive when we were children maybe things might have been different for them.
Ren's fitting went smoothly afterward. Fuji's assistant came to inform them that the media had somehow found them and were now camping outside the studio. Since the fitting took longer than expected, Yashiro and Tadashi had decided to divide and conquer. Tadashi would take Kyoko to the Sacred Lotus set while Ren and Yashiro headed to the studio for his fireman drama. They managed to sneak out the back door undetected.
Kimiko let out a "whoop" as she watched the Entertainment news. She had finally fallen asleep as the sun began to rise. It was already late morning by the time she stirred. She had immediately launched herself out of bed to check the news. The footage on TV showed Kyoko getting out of a sleek sedan with an older man. She was immaculately dressed as the man protected her from the onslaught of reporters. Koga and Cedric joined the man in trying to get Kyoko to the safety of the security gates. As the footage switched to the hosts in the studio her delight quickly turned to confusion. What are they talking about? Who did they admire?
Notes:
Thanks for sticking with me! I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 59: Love and Support
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Shoko would stop spoiling Sho and do her job as a proper manager.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Sho's fingers gracefully strummed over the strings of his guitar playing the melody rattling inside his mind. He immediately paused to write down a couple of notes on the music sheet balancing on his knee. Shoko walked into the studio just as he tucked the pencil behind his ear.
Annoyed by the interruption, he glanced at his manager, "What is it Shoko? You know I prefer to be alone when I'm composing."
Ever since the Vie Ghoul incident, Sho no longer allowed anyone around him when he was writing his songs. It stung Shoko that this rule extended to her as well. Ignoring him, Shoko strolled over to Sho and threw the magazine down on the table in front of him.
His body filled with dread as he looked over the front cover. What the fuck? How lame is her agency that they couldn't stop this? Fuck, is this the end for me?
"It's not what you think Sho, read the article. There's no mention of you specifically. Only those that know your history with her would know who she's talking about."
Setting his guitar aside, Sho reluctantly flipped through the pages and found the article. As he read, his eyes bulged several times at certain parts of the article.
Shit, why did she have to go and spill her guts like this!
Why that girl!
I fucking knew it!
This is total bullshit she would have told me if she met a boy when they were kids.
Shoko watched the range of emotions cross Sho's face as he continued to read: dread, anger, and...realization? She had worried how he would take the news and was glad he wasn't transforming into the deva king anymore when it came to Kyoko. It was hard to deal with him whenever he was in that mood. When he finished reading the article, he threw the magazine on the table and resumed writing his song.
Finding his reaction odd, Shoko stepped up and placed a hand on his forehead and the other on hers. He didn't feel warm, so he wasn't sick.
"Knock it off, Shoko! I'm fine!" He pulled his head away from her hand.
"Your lack of reaction is a bit disconcerting. I thought you'd be quite angry after reading it."
"I'm no longer that irrational guy. What she does is none of my business?" He replied nonchalantly.
"Good, that's what I wanted to hear. She obviously refused to give up your name so that should count for something. Quite honestly, you got lucky. Any other girl would have gone to the press with their story by now. You did a lot of things to her in public, and by public, I mean on set in front of staff and cast members. It won't take them long to figure out who this childhood friend of hers is. They'll start talking. We may need to get in front of this. It helps that she said she's grateful to you, so fans are a little more understanding."
"Tch," Sho clucked his tongue. "She should be grateful! If it wasn't for me, she would still be a maid back in Kyoto. See what I've created right there." Sho arrogantly pointed at the picture of Kyoko on the front cover. "She would still be nothing if it wasn't for me."
Shoko sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She had thought he had matured some in the last month, but he was still saying things like this about his childhood friend. He's going to be the death of me.
Before she could scold him, Sho stared at her in resignation. "At least that's what I eagerly want to believe, but I can't keep thinking that way. She may have followed me here, and I may have provided her the reason to join show biz, but it was all her hard work that led to her success. I had nothing to do with any of that." I'm glad she no longer only has stupid dreams of becoming my bride. It irked him that she probably had dreams of becoming that bastard's bride now, but at least she also had other aspirations.
Shoko leaned over and ruffled his hair like she would a little brother. She didn't mistake his growth. It was a shame that it took the loss of Kyoko to invoke this change.
Kyoko smiled up at her father as he gave her hand a little squeeze. She was glad to have him with her but was still very nervous. As they neared the shooting location for the Sacred Lotus, Kyoko's eyes widened as she saw the crowd of fans and reporters loitering around the entrance. Producer Kuresaki and Director Morizumi stood just beyond the barrier, with Koga, Cedric, and several other cast and crew members watching the spectacle.
Her father's driver stopped right in front of the gates, but it was still a good five meters away. She would have to brave the crowd. It had been a while since she had to do this as herself. Normally, they were protected by back entrances and underground parking lots. Yashiro knew all the tricks to avoid paparazzi. Those tricks didn't apply here. Ever since they strengthened security on the set, this was the only way in and out.
"Are you ready?" Tadashi asked giving her a reassuring smile. "I'll protect you. You don't even have to say anything just keep walking until we're in the clear. Just smile and wave."
Since the window tint was dark, the crowd was unsure who was in the car right now. Tadashi's driver came around to open his door and helped security keep the crowd at bay. Tadashi stepped out first and turned to help his daughter. Kyoko made sure to mind her dress as Ren had often reminded her. She didn't need any wardrobe malfunctions being captured right now.
By the time she righted herself, Koga and Cedric had flanked them. Kyoko didn't think this was overly helpful since their presence added fuel to the frenzy.
Questions were being shouted at her from every direction along with the nonstop sound of camera shutters.
Kyoko-san, could you tell us the name of your childhood friend?
Are you sure you aren't still in love with him?
Is it true that you're only using these celebrities to gain fame? Who's next on your list?
Koga-san has she tried to put the moves on you yet?
Is there any romance between you two?
The usually easy-going Koga glared down the reporter. "Back off," he seethed through clenched teeth. The reporter shivered as he glimpsed the deadliness of the wandering samurai Shizuma-sama.
Kyoko managed to smile and wave at the adoring fans that shouted their love and support her way. There were a few obscenities thrown her way, but she refused to acknowledge those fans. It wasn't until they managed to get behind the gates that Kyoko allowed herself to finally relax.
When they were away from the prying eyes of the crowd, Kyoko swooped down into a deep ninety-degree bow to the director, producer, cast, and crew in the area.
"I'm terribly sorry for the trouble I've caused everyone!"
"It's fine, Kyoko-san. This is free publicity for our movie; however, if you tell me you can't perform under these circumstances I will surely regret my decision to cast you," Producer Kuresaki stated in his usual not too thrilled voice.
Kyoko straightened and took in her colleagues' expressions. She was relieved they weren't angry with her.
"Go and get ready! I want to finish up the courtyard scene before lunch," the director instructed, shooing everyone away.
"Yes, sir!" Kyoko exclaimed, her spirits lifted as she walked towards the dressing rooms with her father and costars.
Koga fell in step beside her with Tadashi on her other side. "By the way, you look very beautiful this morning, Kyoko-chan. I like your hair blown out in waves like that. Tsuruga-kun is indeed a lucky man."
Kyoko rolled her eyes at him. "Such playboy words, no wonder you are still single? But thank you for the compliment."
"Sliced again by your verbal katana!" Koga said in a wounded voice. Kyoko and Asahina-san giggled.
"Looking poised is the best way to show you didn't let the article bother you," Koga explained.
"To say I'm not bothered though is rather..." Kyoko said thoughtfully.
"Koga-san is right, as the saying goes, 'the show must go on,' even though internally your thoughts are in turmoil, you must be able to continue and complete the job successfully. At least that's what they say in Hollywood. Do they say something similar here?" Cedric asked as his translator repeated it in Japanese.
"Yes, thank you, Bennett-san. That was one of the first things Ren taught me about show biz. So I guess Fuji-san knew what he was doing this morning when he gave me this dress. I needed the confidence booster today," Kyoko replied in Japanese for the sake of her other costars and left Cedric's assistant to translate.
"Is that a R'Mandy dress, Kyoko-san? It looks very pretty on you." Asahina-san said, complimenting her outfit.
"Fuji-san and his team of magicians made me over this morning. I felt like Cinderella getting ready for the ball."
They chuckled at her dreamy expression and parted ways when they reached the rooms.
While Kyoko was getting her hair and make-up done for Momiji she was able to check her messages. Last night she had messaged Kuu and Kanae about the upcoming article. She didn't want either of them to be hurt by being kept in the dark. She knew if she didn't inform Kanae, her best friend would probably want to sever ties with her. She had completely forgotten to tell Chiori.
The message she had received from Chiori had her smiling: I dedicated three full pages of my notebook to why Fuwa Sho should just go rot in hell. I'll let you read it next time. ;)
Kyoko sent a quick, but thoughtful response thanking her friend and apologizing for not letting her know about it. She, also, confirmed their ice cream social later today.
Kijima had sent her a message too: Keep your head up beautiful, this will all blow over. A large throbbing heart was added to the message.
Why am I surrounded by playboys? She took a moment to thank him for the message.
There were messages from the Okami, Box R girls, and Momose-san. She was near tears as she read all the supportive messages from her friends and coworkers. Maybe she could stop in the Darumaya sometime this week and show her former landlords that she was A-OK.
Knock! Knock!
Tadashi who had been preoccupied with his phone stood to open the door to her dressing room. A delivery woman greeted him and handed over a large bouquet of roses. Kyoko smiled and thanked the woman while her father signed the delivery slip. After the woman left, Tadashi carried the roses over to her. The ladies working on her stopped to watch her with romantic hearts in their eyes as they gossiped about the sender. She took a long look at each beautiful rose then inhaled the sweet scent.
She finally plucked the card from the bouquet and announced for the sake of her beauty team, "They're from, Ren."
Her face bloomed to a similar shade of the flowers as she read his message, You got this baby! I love you! ~Always yours, Ren
Kimiko anxiously sat on the edge of the couch in the sitting area of her room as she watched the entertainment news channel.
This can't be right. Why are they sympathizing with Kyoko-san? They should be carrying torches, and pitchforks, and screaming off with her head, not talking about what a strong and talented young woman she is! This is bullshit?!
There had to be some sort of mistake. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Knock! Knock!
Kimiko turned toward the sound at her bedroom door.
A maid called from the other side. "Kimiko-sama, your parents are wondering why you haven't come out yet. Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine, please tell them I'm studying and don't want to be disturbed," she called back.
"Yes, miss, can I bring you some breakfast?" the maid asked.
"No, I'm not hungry right now."
Kimiko continued to watch the hosts debate some new information about Kyoko and Ren. The fact that they had known each other as kids and the way she started off on the wrong foot with Ren were the biggest topics.
"Who would have thought that Japan's sweetest couple would have had such a rocky start. Can anyone believe that our beloved Tsuruga-san threw her out of LME? We need to get these two in for an interview as soon as possible. I have so many questions," the hostess gushed.
As they droned on, Kimiko opened her laptop to check the article that they kept referring to in the broadcast. She was holding out hope that this wasn't Koki's story. When she found the article online her hope disintegrated. There it was, confirmed, written by Kagayama Koki.
That damn traitor. Of all the ways he could have spun this story, he goes and writes this trash. I handed her to him on a silver platter and this was the best he could do. The man was losing his edge.
She picked up her cellphone and dialed the magazine number. The call rang a few times before it connected. "Good morning, thank you for calling Boost magazine, how may I direct your call?"
"Good morning, I would like to speak to Kagayama Koki-san, please."
"I'm sorry Miss, Kagayama-san is no longer affiliated with Boost."
"What? Did something happen to him?" Kimiko demanded, confused.
"I apologize, Miss. I'm not at liberty to discuss his circumstances with anyone. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Kimiko ended the call. Screaming in frustration, she angrily threw her phone. It hit the framed movie poster of Purple Down causing it to fall and shatter on the ground. The sound of quick footsteps approaching her room caught her attention.
"Kimi dear, is everything okay, sweetie?" Her mother cooed from behind the door. "What was that noise?" Her mother asked jiggling the doorknob. "And why is the door locked. Please open the door!"
Kimiko stared between the mess on the floor and the door. She had to think quickly. She picked up a shard of glass and nicked her finger on the edge causing a bead of blood to seep out then rushed to let her mother in.
"Kimi open this door right no-"
Kimiko opened the door quickly catching her mother by surprise
"I'm sorry, Kaa-san. I accidentally lost the grip of my phone and knocked over my framed poster. I was trying to clean it up, but..." Kimiko purposely drew attention to her blood finger.
"Is it bad," she asked with concern inspecting the finger.
"No more than a papercut," Kimiko assured her.
Her mother nodded and walked in surveying the damage with pursed lips. "Is that the only place you were hurt? Do I need to call the doctor again?"
Kimiko's smile twitched but held. Her mother's question implied a little more than Kimiko wanted. She didn't want her mother thinking that she had slipped again. The first and only time she was caught, she managed to weasel her way out of the mess. It helped that she kept up a good girl appearance act that her teachers and classmates often backed her up as being the victim. Kimiko had always been good at twisting the truth to work in her favor. Regardless, her parents often paid off the family so as not to stain the Morizumi name with such a scandal. They thought it best to send Kimiko off to the United States until things blew over. She had remained in the States for longer than her parents anticipated for Cedric. She only returned because her plan to get him to Japan had worked.
"I'm fine, Kaa-san," Kimiko softened her smile. "I'm sorry for the mess. I'll clean it up right away."
"No! I don't want you hurting yourself again. I'll call the maid," her mother said and moved to leave. She turned around and glanced at Kimiko with a frown. "Why are you still in your pajamas? It's quite late. Get yourself cleaned up and come downstairs."
"Yes, Kaa-san," Kimiko replied meekly internally berating herself for being an idiot. Hopefully, she was convincing enough. Now she needed to buy a new phone. She would figure out her next steps later. Ever since they hardened security on the set, her informant and fellow saboteur no longer wanted a part of her scheme. She would leave him alone for now, make him feel safe, but she was far from done with him. It was good to lay low since her uncle and the producer were too suspicious right now.
"They are totally soul mates..." Ren whispered, reading the post.
Yashiro jumped out of his seat at the sound of Ren's voice behind him. He caught the manager perusing the fansite while waiting for him to finish filming.
"Ren you scared the heck out of me. Don't you know that it's rude sneaking up on a person, let alone reading over their shoulder?" Yashiro scolded.
"Yashiro-san, I've been calling you for over a minute now. You were so engrossed in whatever you were reading; I merely got curious."
"Do you really want to know?" Yashiro teased with a sneaky smile. "I'll tell you if you answer something for me first."
"Forget it, if it comes with conditions," he declined, walking toward his dressing room.
"So even if it involves the sites that 'Queen B' frequents? She is currently posting damning things about Kyoko-chan. Are you sure you want to pass this chance up to defend your beloved?"
Ren paused and turned around. "Fine, but ask me in the dressing room while I change. We have to meet Kyoko at LME for lunch."
When they were securely behind the closed door of his dressing trailer Ren turned on Yashiro expectantly.
The manager wasn't expecting Ren to be so compliant. He didn't even have a good enough question prepared for such a monumental occasion. Yashiro racked his brain for a question to ask him. What's your real name? No that one he would never answer. Where are you from originally? No, that's another one he wouldn't answer.
"Yashiro-san, if you don't have a question, your condition is invalid so let m-"
"Are you and Kyoko having sex?!" Yashiro winced at the blatantly personal question he just blurted out in his haste to think of something good.
"Shit," he muttered under his breath. Why in the world did I ask that one of all things? He wanted to kick himself right now. He handed his phone over to Ren defeated at having wasted this great chance. "Don't answer that. I don't even know why I asked such a personal question. What you and Kyoko do in your personal lives is none of my business. I mean you only are in love and living together so it's only natur-."
Yashiro shut his mouth as Ren increased the brilliancy of his smile.
"Aiii, I'm so sorry!" He apologized.
"RenKyo#1Fangirl?" Ren replied dryly with raised brows.
"Ahhhh! I forgot about that aspect of all this," Yashiro shrieked in embarrassment.
"Is this even legal? You're a grown man posing as some teenage girl. Do you have a secret fetish that I don't know about, Yashiro-san?" Ren taunted, making his manager squirm as payback. Did I just stumble upon something I didn't know about him. Could he be a pedoph...
"Ren," Yashiro began interrupting his thoughts. "I know you're thinking the worst of me, but please disregard those terrible thoughts. I, in no way, take advantage of anyone on these sites. Plus, they know I'm male, they all just assume I swing for the same team."
Ren's laughter unabashed laughter filled the trailer making Yashiro cringe.
"You don't have to laugh that hard," the manager pouted. "I understand that I don't exactly hide my enthusiasm when it comes to you and Kyoko-chan. I do this for you by the way. I try to thwart any attacks on you and Kyoko's characters by making minor suggestions. Anyway, would you stop laughing at me and read what they are saying about you two."
Ren's laughter slowed as he turned his attention to the phone.
RenKyo#1Fangirl: Is anyone as excited as me to know that my favorite couple knew each other as kids!
KyoFan1: Ikr! They are totally soulmates. To think they've been apart for ten years only to find each other again. Talk about a small world! Too bad she had to get involved with that douchebag in between.
KyoFan2: I'm so excited to learn that about them. They had to be cute together as kids.
RenKyoFan1: I love her more because she's super relatable. The same thing happened to me. I wonder if her friend was my friend. Jerk faces!
VoodooPrincess1224: I'm in the process of making a voodoo doll so I can stab this so-called friend with needles for hurting my Kyoko-san. I just need a strand of his hair. Any clues who this moron could be?
Ice Raven: I suggest a lynching party once his identity is known. Since he seems to be supposedly famous, we should organize a boycott on whatever he produces.
KyoFan3: The Fuwa Sho fan sites are blowing up that it's him. Some girls claim they went to school with him. If it is him, I ship them. How great did they look in the Prisoner PV together? But what are the odds of Kyoko-san knowing two amazing guys when she was a kid? How lucky!
DiabolicalPen666: KyoFan3, what's your name, birthday, and address? I would like to come by and knock some sense into your head. There's no way in hell that Fuwa-san would ever have a chance with Kyoko-san even if he was her friend. That chauvinistic pig can just go die! His music isn't even that great either!
KyoFan1: I thought you were a fan of Kyoko-san. Why would you support a relationship between her and that dick?! Can't you read? He treated her like crap.
"Yashiro-san, how do I respond on this site? I want to leave a comment." Ren glanced at the manager innocently.
Yashiro smirked. "Barely on for five minutes and you're already caught up in the chat. I warn you, if you start now, you'll become addicted."
"Just tell me, someone has already figured out that it's Fuwa. There are Fuwa fans that went to school with them," Ren explained with an edge to his voice.
"What?! I was hoping it would take them at least a few days to figure it out, not mere hours. Ugh, I'm always underestimating the power of fans. All you have to do is tap here and then type," Yashiro pointed out.
RenKyo#1Fangirl: Ha! Fuwa's an idiot if it is him! His lost. She totally upgraded with Ren-san. He's taller, hotter, more talented, smarter, sweeter, kinder, more generous, more professional, and maturer. He may not be a rock star on stage, but I bet he rocks her world…in bed. For the record, Ren-san is also super lucky to have Kyoko-san in his life.
With a sly smile, Ren hit submit and handed the phone back to Yashiro. He stood proudly and began to change his clothes.
"Ren! I can't believe you posted that! That's real 'mature' of you. You better hope Kyoko-chan doesn't find out about this… ever!"
Kyoko and her father were the first to arrive at LME. The vultures were already circling the front of the building ready to swoop down on their dying prey. It was a good thing LME's employee entrance was gated so she was able to avoid them completely. Since the Sacred Lotus filming went smoothly, they were early. She introduced Tadashi to Sawara-san.
The branch head was taken by surprise, recognizing that the man that had sat outside of LME was none other than her father. He thought it best not to bring up those events. Sawara-san had made the connection and apologized profusely for not understanding her situation with Fuwa. He regretted blindly sending her to the show Yappa Kimagure Rock thinking she was a big fan. He was embarrassed that he got it so wrong. Kyoko told him it was her fault for not explaining things more clearly to everyone. Sawara-san was relieved that she didn't hold a grudge. He shuddered, remembering how scary she was in her early days at LME. She had certainly grown into a fine actress. He handed her a thicker than usual envelope containing her latest offers and informed her to pass it on to Yahiro. Kyoko and her father bowed and took their leave.
Their next stop was the LoveMe room. She had been hoping to see Chiori, but unfortunately, it was empty. I guess we'll see each other at our ice cream social later.
"Father, it's getting close to the meeting time. Are you joining us for lunch?"
"I'm sorry, I have an appointment of my own. Plus, I think it's best if you met your mother without me since you made the plans with each other. We can have dinner tonight. Are you free? I read about this great place the other day. Ask Ren-kun along too, okay?"
Kyoko smiled. "It will be late. I have Yappa Kimagure Rock filming tonight, is that okay? You don't have to stick with me the whole day. I'm sure you have more important work to do with your company."
"Nonsense, you're the most important thing to me. I enjoy watching you work. I'll see you after lunch and we can talk about dinner. It may have to be something quick instead. You've already had a stressful day, so I don't want to keep you out too late."
Kyoko's eyes watered, not trusting her voice, she nodded and bade him goodbye.
Kyoko made her way toward the café in LME. Many people stopped to wish her well, but others weren't quite as pleasant with their gossip. She told her grudges to calm down and kept her head high.
LA Hearts was crowded, but she immediately caught sight of Ren's head sticking up above the other patrons in the far corner. She paused for half a beat when she saw him sitting across her mother and Todoh-san in awkward silence. Unable to let old habits go, she glanced at her watch for the time. She wasn't late. Ren spotted her as she threaded her way through the other diners. He flashed her his heavenly smile, giving her the courage to move forward.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 60: Proper Lunch
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Lory would direct his café to celebrate all special occasions.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
After leaving his daughter, Tadashi made his way up to the president's office. He didn't have an appointment with him per se but figured he might as well follow up and exchange information. Tadashi was greeted at the door by a police officer that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
Ehhhhhh! Did something happen to the President?
"Morimoto-san, how can I help you?" the police officer addressed him.
"Ruto-san, is that you? Why are you dressed like that?"
"This is today's theme, Morimoto-san," was all the explanation Tadashi needed.
Upon closer inspection of Ruto's uniform, the insignia was of bright pink lettering and read LME Police Agency.
"I would like to see, Takarada-san, is he available?" Tadashi asked Lory's assistant.
"One moment. He was currently playing his latest otome game. He should have been slapped by now."
Tadashi waited but a few seconds before Ruto opened the door and allowed him to enter.
"Morimoto-san, please come in and join me for lunch," the president announced clad in his LME version of a Commissioner General's uniform.
"Thank you for the offer, Takarada-san. I will be happy to join you," Tadashi replied and took a seat at the small table. There was quite a lot of food on the table for one person. Tadashi glanced at the door across the cavernous office. Is he expecting someone?
"I'm not intruding on something, am I, Takarada-san? I apologize for coming without warning."
"No, I had a hunch that you were on your way here and had my chefs prepare, so please dig in."
He probably has surveillance on the place and was instantly aware of my approach.
Regardless of the reasons, Tadashi was relieved. This worked out perfectly since he wasn't one to skip meals.
"I assume you're here to discuss what you have discovered about the person behind the alias 'Queen B.'"
"Yes, my informant has confirmed that Morizumi Kimiko is 'Queen B.' So far, all she has done is try to ruin Kyoko-chan's reputation with her tips which backfired on her. Her family is very powerful in the celebrity world so I know it would do no good to anger them prematurely. I have a guy tailing her in case she slips up."
"Hmm," Lory hummed. "I see, so you're also worried that she may take action after the article failed to achieve what she expected. Have you made any headway on the cast and crew list of The Sacred Lotus?"
"My guy is still working on that. He's good at what he does, so if there's anything he'll find it. I'm hoping to hear from him soon. I did meet with Mogami-san this morning and handed her the evidence we have so far. She agreed to put together a case for Kyoko-chan. I think even if Morizumi-san doesn't slip up we would need to press charges against her."
"Yes, I have the same feeling. Mogami-kun would never feel safe, and we won't be able to stop worrying as long as that girl is running loose."
Kyoko bowed in greeting to her mother and Susumu. Ren stood and held the chair out for her. He wanted to kiss her, but he didn't think that was wise. Sitting here uncomfortably for the past five minutes while waiting for Kyoko, Ren concluded that Mogami Saena was the final boss of his RPG. He did not doubt that he would encounter her in the future until he finally saved the princess. He hoped he was ready for round one.
He hid his feelings behind the mask of Tsuruga Ren completely. This was the woman that had hurt his beloved, time and time again before she was born. The same woman that tried desperately to abort the baby growing in her womb and when that failed tried to kill herself. Only a few months ago, this woman had denied her daughter's very existence on national TV. Now that he knew her story, he could no longer hate the woman. It was through her harsh treatment that he met Kyoko that fateful day by the river in Kyoto.
Kyoko smiled and took the seat Ren offered. She couldn't get a good read on her mother. Was she angry? Was she disappointed? She couldn't tell from the stoic expression her mother always wore.
The waiter in his butler attire stopped at their table and set down a glass of ice water for Kyoko.
"Good afternoon, have we made any decisions yet?"
"Could we get a few more minutes with the menu," Susumu responded.
"Of course, sir." The waiter left them to continue perusing their menus.
Kyoko tried not to gape at the casual interaction between her mother and her colleague. Her mother's features had softened some as she observed her talking to Susumu. Is this my imagination? She ducked her face behind her menu when her mother's gaze flicked up to her. Ren also ducked behind the menu with her.
"So what are you having?" he whispered and kissed her on the cheek behind the cover of the menu. Kyoko's face instantly flamed up, making Ren chuckle. It was fun teasing her.
Ahem! A throat cleared, making the young couple sit up straighter.
Kyoko peeked over the menu to find her mother staring at them sternly with knitted brows. Her mother probably thought she was frivolous and boy-crazy without a single serious bone in her body.
"Are you two ready to order?" she asked, cooly. Kyoko nodded. Saena signaled their waiter over. Kyoko ordered for Ren since she was sure he had not put any thought into what he wanted to eat.
They sat in silence for a few moments until Kyoko couldn't take the tension anymore. She decided to speak first and get her worries out of the way.
"Mother, I'm so sorry about the article. It was never my intention for that information to get out in the media or cause you any trouble."
"There's no reason to be sorry. I heard you tried your best to control what was printed. I still think you should go back to Kyoto bu-"
"What?" Kyoko and Ren gasped in unison.
"Surely, you can't think tha –, " Ren began until Saena's glare silenced him, making him gulp. His mother-in-law was even more formidable than his father-in-law. Will I be able to pass this round?
"As I was saying, my initial thought was sending you back to Kyoto. Your father has told me that would be the wrong move on my part. Tell me, Kyoko, with all this press, are you prepared to continue down this path?"
Kyoko nodded vigorously.
"Even though you know that there is a potential target on your back?"
Kyoko gaped at her mother in surprise. How did she know?
"Morimoto-san has told me everything that had occurred between you and that other actress."
"Father told you?" Kyoko asked cautiously. Tadashi didn't tell her anything about their meeting.
Saena's eyebrow twitched at her calling him father so intimately. She picked up her teacup with her left hand and took a sip to cover her irritation.
Kyoko's eyes bulged at the size of the diamond glittering on her mother's finger. That's a wedding ring, right? Left hand, ring finger, it had to be. Experience told her it was best not to say anything until her mother mentioned it, but it was so beautiful and sparkly she wanted to see it up close. Gone was her apprehension she felt toward her mother while a dreamy-like countenance took its place.
Saena watched her daughter's eyes home in on her engagement ring. She had forgotten about it. It was one of the things she meant to tell her when they finally met. "Ah," a tiny gasp escaped from Saena's lips as a faint blush dusted her cheeks.
"That's a beautiful ring, Mogami-san. If it's not too presumptuous of me, is it safe to assume that you are the lucky groom, Todoh-san?"
Susumu had been quietly observing the pair for personal reasons. Is this young couple leading a dangerous double life as the Heel siblings? He was looking for any hints in their mannerism. A gut feeling told him that these two were none other than Cain and Setsuka Heel. He just didn't have an answer to the question, why? Perhaps the clue to the mystery lied in the movie he had yet to watch.
Susumu chuckled lightly and clasped Saena's hand in his. She tried to pull her hand out of his grasp, but he held firm. "Dear, I feel your burning love scorching the side of my head. Please stop scaring the children."
Kyoko gaped in horror. How could he joke so easily like that with her mother?
It took all of Ren's acting skills to suppress his laughter. His anger and anxiety he held towards the woman petered out. He knew something in her had changed. Probably sharing her story with Kyoko and talking with Tadashi properly had provided her with closure. She could open her heart and look towards the future.
"Well then, we offer our congratulations to you both. We wish you many years of marital bliss," Ren toasted using his glass of water.
"I'll drink to do that," Susumu cheered, tapping Ren's glass. The ladies followed awkwardly and clinked their glasses.
The waiter had overheard their toast as he brought their meal out and offered his congratulations as well. Saena was beet red by this time, a look that Kyoko had never seen on her mother before.
While eating their meal, Susumu made small talk with Ren and Kyoko. The topic being, of course, Tragic Marker. Unfortunately for him, Kyoko and Ren were not familiar with the production nor had they watched the film. There was little they could add to the conversation.
Kyoko ate slowly, anxiously studying the scene before her. This was indeed a strange luncheon with her mother. She had expected Saena to reprimand her about the article, about Ren, but so far they ate and conversed like a normal, dare she thought, family. Although Susumu and Ren were doing all the talking, it didn't matter. This was a first for her and her mother.
As the meal winded down, Saena spoke, "I had a purpose aside from the article for meeting you both today."
There it is. Kyoko knew it was going far too well.
Saena focused on Ren and lowered her voice, "Just who are you, Tsuruga-san? There is no record of you in the system before six years ago. What are your intentions towards Kyoko? The fact that you claim to have met her as a child is a bit suspicious."
The warm picturesque atmosphere of a moment ago was dashed away.
"Mother, Ren is – "
"I'm talking to, Tsuruga-san," Saena chided, making Kyoko feel like she was five years old again. "I'm sure he is more than capable of speaking for himself."
Here it is. Round one with the final boss has commenced. He wasn't sure how to answer her question. Kyoko was still a minor. Would she forbid their relationship if he screwed up? He decided to take the same approach he did with Tadashi and tell her the truth as much as possible.
"I assure you, Mogami-san, my intentions towards Kyoko are pure. I love her with all my heart and I can't imagine my life without her."
He lowered his voice unsure of who might be eavesdropping on their conversation. "Tsuruga Ren is my stage name so there won't be anything in my file before I started acting available to the public. Due to some personal circumstances with my family, I'm not at liberty to share that with you right now. Kyoko and the President of LME are the only ones that know my real name. In fact, Kyoko has met my father already."
"Is this true Kyoko?"
"Yes, I'm aware of his family and history. Ren has been nothing but honest with me," Kyoko assured her.
Ren winced internally. He regretted not being honest with her sooner. It probably would have saved them a lot of heartache. He smiled down at her and covered her hand with his.
"Fine, what about where you're living? Is it safe for you?"
Kyoko was relieved that her mother seemed to have readily accepted his excuse and moved on.
"Ah yes, after the incident," Kyoko thought it wise not to specify which incident caused her to move, she didn't want her mother thinking negatively of her father any more than she already did. "It was decided that I move into a more secure place."
I said that smoothly right. She doesn't suspect anything. If she knew I was living with Ren she would probably follow through and send me back. Inner Kyoko was sweating bullets. Before her mother could continue her line of questioning, they were interrupted by a commotion near the kitchen.
Ren and Kyoko turned in their seats when they heard clapping and singing. The wait staff appeared to be approaching their table with a little cart holding a cake lit up with sparklers. Congratulations were written in chocolate sauce on the tray. Saena sat frozen, mortified by the unwanted attention she was receiving. The young couple could only assume that this was standard protocol for the café based on Lory's preferences.
The whole café clapped for the couple and some yelled well wishes to Ren and Kyoko. It was Kyoko and Ren's turn to be embarrassed. Ren tried to correct them. "It's not for us but thank you for the sentiments." He had no doubt this new rumor would spread like wildfire. Several people had already captured the spectacle on their phones and were probably posting it on social media.
The manager had explained that their waiter had notified him of their happy news. It was café policy to celebrate all special occasions. Saena's pending marriage was no exception.
After dessert, Ren and Kyoko parted ways with her mother and Susumu. She was grateful for the interruption since her mother couldn't have gotten out of there fast enough.
"Ren, Kyoko-chan," Yashiro waved as he stepped off the elevator with Tadashi. "Looks like our timing was pretty good."
"Did you both manage to have a proper lunch?" Kyoko clucked like a mother hen.
Both men answered her dutifully with a "yes."
"How was the talk with, Mogami-san? She wasn't too angry was she?" Yashiro asked.
"No, the whole thing was very surreal. I guess she changed." Kyoko felt the seed of hope sprout. Perhaps her mother's heart was thawing toward her.
"Well, that's good, right? It sounds like she's moving on from her past and embracing the future," Ren tried to assure her. He could sympathize with her because of his past trauma.
Reading the awkward atmosphere, Yashiro changed the topic.
"I gave Tadashi the rest of your schedule. You have a department store CM in forty-five minutes. Then you have a half-hour scheduled with Chiori at the ice cream parlor, afterwards, you're due back on The Sacred Lotus to film an added dusk scene. TBM is your last stop tonight. You'll probably be done before Ren. He has a lot of work to make up."
"Then I'll see you at home," she whispered to Ren.
Tiny little butterflies fluttered around his heart. He was truly the luckiest man in the world to come home to the most beautiful woman every night. Ren brushed his knuckles against her cheek causing her to blush. They gazed into each other's eyes - amber on brown. Nothing else existed at this moment, but them. He took a step closer to her, his head leaning down to ready to seize her lips.
"Ahem!" Yashiro cleared his throat noisily and pocketed his phone. His charges jumped apart immediately. They both forgot they weren't alone; in fact, they had a very large audience in the LME lobby. And just beyond the glass doors lied the predators, waiting to catch their latest scoop on the couple.
"I'll see you at home," Ren whispered, then kissed the top of her head before they went their separate ways.
"Kimi dear, how are your studies going?" Her father asked treading softly, while they ate their lunch. Kimiko managed to hold a convincing discussion with her father about her criminal justice classes.
"By the way, Tou-san, what are you doing home?" Kimiko asked her father with an air of curiosity. He normally conducted business during his lunch hour, so it was strange to have him home.
"Is it a crime to want to have a meal with my favorite ladies?" He asked in reply. Kimiko wasn't buying it. He often used this time to meet up with sponsors or his production team.
"Did Kaa-san call you?" Kimiko inquired, glancing at her mother. "This morning was an accident! I just lost my grip when I was picking up my phone," she explained anxiously.
"What are you talking about? What happened this morning?" her father asked.
Kimiko gasped at her slip up. Did Kaa-san not call him? She might have just given herself away and needed to salvage the situation.
"I'm sorry, Tou-san. I just thought you would be angry with me for breaking the picture in my room. It was an accident," Kimiko implored in her sweetest voice and stare at him with doe-eyed innocence.
After she lost the Momiji part, Kimiko's sweet persona had taken a huge hit. She took her anger out on her Uncle Jouji which she had never done before. She had pestered her father for days about blacklisting Kyoko and Erika from showbiz. The only reason she could give him for doing so was that she had unfairly lost the Momiji part. She couldn't tell him the truth of her crimes, so she tried whining to break him down. Usually, her father would give in to her demands, but this time he denied her request with a firm no. She didn't know her father called Jouji and asked why she failed to get the role. He had to admit that his daughter was average in acting and didn't stand out. They had always given in to her demands when it came to a role, so he was surprised when she told him she didn't get the part. When Jouji informed him that Yuki Kuresaki went against all his principles and accepted a 'talent' for the part, he knew she had to be exceptional. There was no changing their minds to choose his daughter.
"Kimi, if you say it was an accident then it was an accident. Material things are easily replaceable, you are not... You would tell us if anything is wrong, right?"
Kimiko smiled and nodded in reply to her father. When he smiled back, she knew she was in the clear.
"Don't you have any big productions going on? It's so rare having you home, Tou-san." Kimiko asked smoothly, focusing the discussion on him.
Her father sighed heavily. "I've been trying to weasel the agency name of Cain Heel from Director Konoe, but that man is being extremely tight-lipped. He told me to wait a few days for an answer. But what is the difference of a few days?"
"Cain Heel? The Tragic Marker actor? What do you want with him?" Kimiko asked failing to hide the surprise in her voice.
"Oh, you've heard of him. I want him to play an ex-Yakuza boss turn ruthless multi-millionaire tycoon. I saw bits and pieces of Tragic Marker, and although he didn't speak any lines his performance was superb. When I finally heard his voice during the interview I knew he was my leading man."
"Are you sure you want that kind of guy associated with your name? He seems like a nightmare to work with, and he has that weird sister that hangs on to him like they're a couple."
"The eccentric ones are usually worth the hassle. If his performance is as amazing as the critics' rave, I can endure that kind of a diva." He had seen his fair share of celebrities with snobby personalities without a lick of talent to back up their attitudes. At least Cain Heel appeared to have the necessary skills.
"He's violent, rude, and his sister is just as notorious. Everyone keeps talking about them on the internet. Has Japan gone mad? Are we so bored by our native celebrities that foreigners are taking over the limelight? People online have been talking about them non-stop. They're even speculating that the sister is Kyoko-san in disguise. "
Her father perked up. "THE Kyoko-san, the one Yuki cast for Momiji?"
Pure malice flooded Kimiko's entire body as she realized the look on her father's face. It was the expression he wore when he discovered a person with great potential. She had never seen that look directed at her once. He didn't even know Kyoko or her abilities and yet here he sat with that stupid look on his face. This was her home, her retreat, why must that girl invade it.
"So even you, who had broken your father's heart by saying you are no longer interested in acting seem to know a lot about them. I thought you had cast out all interest in show-biz, yet I hear you're visiting Jouji's set often. Care to enlighten me on why you always turn up over there?"
Crap! She got a little carried away at the mention of that disgusting couple. She didn't need to lose her shit right now before she could achieve her goal. The question he asked was an easy one. She didn't even have to act to answer it properly. Her face flushed red and her eyes took on a dreamy look.
"I'm visiting the man I love," she confessed.
I did it. I just infiltrated enemy territory. I told myself I wouldn't stoop so low and yet here I am, Yashiro thought, as he entered the fan site for one Fuwa Sho.
VengefulAngelFan has joined the chat
Notes:
Thank you all for continuing to read, I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 61: You're the Chicken!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko and Chiori would have a bonding moment over ice cream.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Yashiro regretted his chosen login name the moment he entered Fuwa's fansite. They were like piranhas that got a small whiff of blood as they tore into him.
ShoLOVESpochi: VengefulAngelFan, you have a lot of nerve coming in here right now using that name.
ShoLover1: If you're a fan of that lying bitch you can see your way out of here.
ShoLover2 : Just because she's a little famous now, she thinks she can bad-mouth our Sho-sama!
Whoa! Yashiro had to tread lightly here. These vicious fans were on a whole other level in here. He had to keep this a secret from Ren and Kyoko. His female charge would probably char him on the grill if she knew what he was doing.
VengefulAngelFan: Excuse me? I'm not following. I'm just a big fan of the Prisoner PV. Didn't you see the end when the Angel killed Sho-san? I felt a deep connection between them.
ShoLOVESpochi: There's no way! Sho-chan loves Mimori's angel the most, not that ugly girl that can only look good with professional make-up.
Yashiro groaned loudly. Some women were just so evil. He was on this site because of a post on Kyoko's site mentioning that Queen B was actually on Fuwa's fansite leading the charge against Kyoko.
He had baited Ren earlier by telling him Queen B was stirring up trouble in Kyoko's fansite. To tell the truth, she had not signed on since this morning. It was a good thing Ren had been preoccupied with the other content that he didn't realize Yashiro's slip-up just to get him to answer a personal question. At least now he knew what Kimiko was up to.
QueenB: Pochi you're such a pathetic case. Kyoko is clearly referring to Sho-san in her article. How much more evidence do you need?
ShoLover3: sp_nicovideo_jp/Sho_jptoday This is the video when Sho-san did that live performance on Japan Today. Listen to what he says in the beginning.
Yashiro clicked on the link curiously and turned up the volume. OMG! Yashiro's inner fangirl exclaimed. It was completely obvious to anyone that knew of their relationship who he was referring to when he said "K." Yashiro glanced up as a paranoid reflex to being Ren's manager. He was safely tucked away in Ren's trailer at the moment.
QueenB: Don't forget about this one sp_nicovideo_jp/Sho_intermission_DA . Watch until the end.
ShoLover2: I love him! He sang his heart out that night. I cried watching him on TV and immediately pre-ordered my copy of that single.
ShoLOVESpochi: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Sho-chan loves Mimori!
Yashiro recalled this particular performance because he had watched the whole broadcast of the awards ceremony. At the end of the video, the camera just happened to pan to Ren and Kyoko. It was obvious Ren was trying to comfort her as tears trailed down her cheeks. How she managed to cry so elegantly that night was beyond him? If this was circulating the web, it looked very suspicious. People would begin to speculate that perhaps Kyoko was the one that broke his heart instead.
Yashiro sighed as he put away his phone and removed his gloves. He left the privacy of the dressing room to watch Ren in his latest drama.
Yashiro was amazed by the easy way Ren got along with all his new costars. He was surprised that Ren could show such an unguarded expression to anyone but Kyoko. The gorgeous dark blonde in his arms wagged her tail appreciatively. Ren chuckled as the golden retriever, Rosie, licked his face with the flat of her tongue. Ever the professional, Ren was able to ad-lib the scene and finish it.
His character was the son of one of Japan's richest families that hated the life planned out for him: perfect education, perfect friends, perfect unloved girlfriend. When he finally graduated from high school, using an alias, he chose to leave that unfulfilling life behind and pursue his dreams of becoming a veterinarian. One day he meets Rosie and falls in love with her owner. Just when things seem to be going well for him, his family interferes when his father falls ill.
Ren had resonated with the part since it reminded him of his current double life. The fact that he could play with animals was the best perk.
Yashiro pocketed his phone after capturing Ren's expression perfectly. He knew Kyoko and the President would appreciate the photo.
Kyoko wasn't sure what happened between lunch and now to have increased the number of hateful fans she saw in the crowd. Words such as "liar, manipulative bitch, and tease" were shouted above the reporters' questions and the camera's shutters. She wasn't sure how they kept finding her either. Her father assumed that they were being tipped off by the staff.
Tadashi had wrapped his arm around her and guided her through the crowd with the aid of security personnel.
When a reporter threw out the question, "Is it true that you broke Fuwa-kun's heart to pursue Tsuruga-san?"
Kyoko managed to keep her face neutral while her grudges stirred within her and replied with, "no comment." How in the world had they jumped to such a conclusion based on the article and why was Shotaro singled out among all the other celebrities her age?
Work had been the best distraction and put her in a good mood until now. The CM she finished today was a lot of fun since she got to play dress-up with beautiful clothes. All they wanted her to do was move to music, walk to the beat, and add a few twirls here and there. The director wanted her to portray a flirty person in front of the camera. Easier said than done. Kyoko had fifteen minutes to nail down her character while the director finished preparing the set. Studying her face in the mirror, she had tried several times to find the right expression. She appeared more and more constipated with every face she made.
The reflection of her father sitting behind her gave her the idea to ask for his advice even if it still felt a little strange having him around.
"What do you think father?" She asked as she struck her flirty pose channeling Natsu. Naachan was a shameless flirt when it came to hot guys.
"Do you have a tummy ache, sweetie? I can pick up some medicine."
Kyoko let out a frustrated groan. "Ugh, so using Naachan right now is no good. She's usually my goto girl when it comes to flirting."
"Naachan?" Tadashi asked a bit confused.
"It's my nickname for my character in the Box-R drama. I thought if I channeled her, I can do a good job with this commercial, but I'm having trouble conjuring her up completely right now."
Tadashi was familiar with Natsu. Of course, he bought the entire DVD set of Box-R as soon as possible. He was in awe at how she played a charismatic high school girl that took great joy in torturing anyone that annoyed her. Her character was so unlike the young woman before him which was amazing. His daughter was truly talented.
"Well, perhaps somewhere in the back of your mind you want to try to complete this job as yourself, no?" Tadashi suggested. He hoped he sounded helpful and wondered if Yashiro could have offered her better advice.
Kyoko's eyes widened, realizing he was right. That could be the reason why she couldn't fully commit to using Naachan's image. They wanted her, not Natsu.
"I can't wrap my head around it because the plai-...ugh me now, doesn't know how to be flirty," she confessed, dejectedly. Kyoko almost slipped into her old habits and called herself plain. She was a model now and becoming more popular every day. She had to remind herself that no one saw her as plain but years of that emotional abuse heaped on her by Shotaro was hard to overcome.
"How about you make it simple? Imagine that Ren-kun is taking you on a shopping spree and you're just giving him a mini fashion show as you come out of the dressing room. You've been with him a long time, you know his expressions. I'm sure they be would be blissful from seeing you in the new outfits then you can react naturally to it."
Kyoko smiled. It wasn't a bad idea. Her boyfriend took great joy in spoiling her; it would be easy to imagine.
A staff member knocked on the door announcing the five-minute mark. Kyoko hugged her father quickly in thanks leaving him stunned and so very happy.
The Director and store owner were both pleased with her performance that she walked away with three new outfits including shoes and jewelry. They only asked that she do them the favor of wearing their merchandise proudly. Kyoko was so grateful that she would later refer to their store when anyone asked about an item she was wearing.
After shooting the commercial, she had just enough time to make it to her engagement with Chiori.
Kyoko walked into the ice cream parlor with Tadashi in tow. Chiori waved her hand when she spotted her friend. The customers hushed as she walked past their tables. The brave stopped her for autographs and pictures. Chiori lost her patience at the fifth stop.
"Hey! You people leave her alone. She is on my time and you're cutting into it," she shouted angrily to the other patrons in the ice cream shop. That was enough to settle them down and leave her alone. Kyoko nodded in apology to the customers and quickly closed the distance to Chiori's table.
"I'm so sorry, Chiori-san, I should have known better with everything that's happening today and worn a disguise. "
"No, you're fine. It's all these rude people in here that can't comprehend that your time is precious," her voice rising as she glared at those staring at them.
Ignoring the loud whispers, Kyoko took her seat to try to hide from the prying eyes. Forgetting that her father was behind her she popped back up. "Where are my manners? Father this is Amamiya Chiori-san. She's one of my closest friends and an amazing actress. Chiori-san, this is my father Morimoto Tadashi."
Chiori stood quickly and bowed, "Morimoto-san, I am very pleased to meet you."
"Likewise, Amamiya-san. Thank you for taking care of my daughter," Tadashi greeted, flashing her a dazzling smile.
That smile coupled with those large amber eyes were enough to make Chiori blush. Her friend's dad was a hunk for an old guy. Her heart rate sped up as he complimented her performance as Yumika in Box-R.
"I'll leave you girls to catch up. Call me when you need to settle the bill. I'll take care of it. I'm going outside to make some calls," Tadashi told them.
The girls watched him walk up to the counter and talk to the female store manager. They watched in amazement as Tadashi turned the woman to mush with only a short exchange. He handed his card over as he pointed out the two girls. The woman smiled again and bowed.
"Your dad is a real ladies' man."
"What do you mean?"
"It's because you're practically married to Japan's hottest man that you are too dense to notice anyone else. Tsuruga-san sure is lucky. I get it. He's your dad, so it's gross to think of him in that way. But didn't you see all the women in here watching him? Heck, the shop lady almost swooned as he approached her."
Kyoko blushed at her friend's insinuation about her relationship with Ren. She looked at her father, through the shop window as he talked on his phone. He was taller than the average Japanese man but nowhere near as tall as Ren. He had a full head of hair, swept back in a trendy style with only a hint of silver at his temples. She watched in amazement as two young women passed by stealing glances at him and giggling like school girls.
"Earth to Kyoko-san," Chiori said snapping her fingers.
Kyoko snapped out of her thoughts and stared at her friend. "I'm sorry, Chiori-san, you were saying?"
"Sheesh, your head is always in the clouds. Are you ready to order?" she asked, nodding toward the waitress Kyoko had failed to notice.
"Yes, sorry! I'll have a classic banana split in a waffle bowl please!"
The waitress nodded and left to fill their order.
Within ten minutes, they received their ice cream and dove in. Chiori had ordered the strawberry shortcake sundae. Before Kyoko could forget she brought up the welcome home party she was planning for Kanae. Chiori agreed to come and to help out in any way she could. After a few minutes had ticked by, Chiori brought up the elephant in the room, a topic Kyoko knew she couldn't avoid. She was grateful her friend acted like a fangirl instead of touching on the more sensitive subjects.
"I can't believe you knew Tsuruga-san as a child! How is that even possible?" Chiori asked unable to contain herself. "Because of this revelation, I am now a complete believer in fate."
"You can ask me you know. I'll try to answer any question if I'm at liberty to do so," Kyoko told her. It was refreshing to have friends she could share her life with and not get judged for her stupidity.
Chiori's eyes narrowed as she studied her friend dressed to the nines. She looked good today. She contemplated asking Kyoko about Setsuka Heel but decided to wait.
"We can wait for Kanae-san to come back and have a Karaoke girl's night. This way you don't have to say things twice. She knows right? About the article? She would kill you if she's blind-sighted by the news. I, myself, was so surprised when I saw it this morning!"
Kyoko was reminded that she didn't tell Chiori in advance that it was coming. "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you earlier. My mind was a bit distracted and I barely had time to process it all. I did manage to tell Moko-san through mail. She's probably mad at me anyway. There were a lot of things in the article I withheld from her," Kyoko mumbled. She was close to tears at the thought of Kanae hating her.
"Hey, hey, that's enough of that. I'm sure she's just busy, give her some time. You'll ruin your face if you cry. Eat some more of that mountain of ice cream, it'll make you feel better. I don't know how you can pack all those calories and not get fat. I almost hate you for it."
They enjoyed the rest of their time together talking about their latest work until it was time for Kyoko to leave. Chiori's manager had arrived right on time and was conversing with Tadashi as he settled the bill.
Now they were back at the Sacred Lotus with Shotaro's fans throwing accusations her way about breaking his heart. It was like middle school all over again. She held her head high and ignored them. She was going to give Shotaro an earful if he was behind this influx of hate.
"Welcome to the club, Kyoko-chan. It's tough for beautiful people like us. There's always somebody wishing to be in our shoes," Koga told her as they entered the set with Cedric and a few stuntmen.
Director Morizumi summarized the scene before yelling "action."
The scene called for a heated battle in which Shizuma-sama is injured with a life-threatening cut to his torso while fighting Yamada-san and his minions. Momiji bursts into the fray without regard for her life and drives the enemy back with the help of Shizuma's men. Momiji calls a truce with Chidori for now as they work together to close her master's wound. Chidori being the daughter of a noble would have the steadier hand from a lifetime of embroidery lessons. She takes control and stitches up Shizuma's flesh. At this moment Momiji sees the love blossom between them and for the first time in her existence she feels inadequate as a woman. She was only good for killing. The scene ends with Momiji slinking into the shadows before her tears could fall.
...
Morizumi Jiro stepped on the set of the Sacred Lotus that evening to observe the filming. He had given himself away at lunchtime. Jiro had secretly looked up Kyoko's acting credentials after talking with Jouji about the auditions. The whole industry knew what a snob Yuki was when it came to using non-actors to fill roles. For this 'talent' to change even his mind, she had to have shown him great skill at the auditions. He had been busy the past few days and had missed the rumors that were circulating the web of Setsuka Heel. His daughter had caught him off guard with her outburst that he forgot to hide his interest. He made it a point when his daughter lost the part to never speak of Kyoko in front of her. Prone to theatrics, Kimiko would think her father had thrust a knife in her back if he just thought about the actress.
He knew that even though she seemed over the audition failure, her ego and confidence had taken a fatal blow. The fact that her Uncle didn't pull through for her was like twisting that knife deeper into her back. Jouji told him that it was time he stopped coddling her when it came to acting or her skills would never grow. He thought that some adversity would do her some good. Little did the family know, their tactic to help her grow had backfired on them. When she announced she was quitting altogether, Jiro was devastated. He had tried to bribe her back with a part in his next project, but even that failed to change her mind.
Jiro contemplated sending her back to the United States. It had seemed to do her some good after that incident with her classmate. It had been a nightmare, but he believed in his daughter. She had her share of outbursts, what teenage girl didn't? The accusations from that girl's family were asinine. There was no way Kimiko had anything to do with that girl's attempt at suicide. He ended up paying for the girl's medical bills and giving the family a large sum of money in exchange for not going to the press. When they took the money willingly, he knew that they had to be lying about his daughter. Jouji had told him to just give her time before shipping her off again. The fact that she kept coming back to the set was proof that she wasn't completely done with acting.
Now that he knew her reasons for coming to the Sacred Lotus set wasn't for acting, he wished his cousin's daughter had never quit being her manager. Kimiko, obviously, still needed guidance. Since Kimiko was no longer acting, it left her manager jobless so he understood her reasons for moving on. He had offered to take care of her salary, but she still declined, stating she didn't want to be a glorified nanny any longer.
Earlier, when Jiro returned to his office after lunch, he had asked his assistant about Cain Heel. His assistant had no luck getting anything out of his contacts that worked on Tragic Marker. It was strange to him that not a single one could offer any more information about the actor. All their responses were similar. Many feared his scary face and didn't want to get anywhere near the guy let alone speak to him.
Jiro thought that was quite weird. How could so many people on set not know a damn thing about who they were working with? It was all too suspicious.
"What about his sister? The rumors surrounding her. Do you think they may be true?"
His assistant left the office and returned quickly tossing down a tabloid magazine with Kyoko on the cover. The assistant tapped on the front, "I have no doubt she's talented but to disguise herself as someone else and not reveal it to anyone where is the upside to that for a budding actress. Have you made any headway with Director Konoe?"
Jiro hung his head, it seemed like it was a dead end. He had no choice but to wait until Konoe would give him the information he wanted. Scanning the article, Jiro was surprised at what was revealed about the young actress. The images supplied showed how her appearance changed from role to role not looking anything like her original self. Since he had some time, he got the brilliant idea to visit his brother's set and see this girl for himself. As a novice, she might betray herself.
Jiro was speechless as he watched the brilliantly choreographed scene unfold before his eyes. She went toe to toe with the men and managed to put such strength and power behind her moves no matter how long it went on. He felt her anguish as she blended into the shadows, her heart breaking as she watched the man she loved direct his attentions to another woman.
"Cut!" Jouji shouted into his megaphone. He let out a whoop and started clapping. "That was brilliant everyone. Let's review the tape shall we and then call it a night." They all huddled behind Jouji to watch on the playback screen.
After about ten minutes, Jouji announced, "that's a wrap for the night, everyone!" The crew scattered to secure the site for tomorrow.
"Onii-san!" Jiro exclaimed, interrupting Jouji as he dished out final instructions. The group turned toward him with curious expressions.
"Yo, Jiro, you came. You're late. Did you at least see that last scene?" Jouji asked with a proud grin. Jiro smiled and nodded to his brother.
"Aren't my actors brilliant? I have a good feeling our ratings will be high."
The main cast stood apart as the brother's conversed to not be rude, but was still close enough to hear everything.
"I'll offer you my congrats now brother. If the rest of the drama is anything like that scene I just witnessed I won't be surprised if you get nominated for many awards. You all did well," Jiro complimented, addressing the actors.
"Here let me introduce you to the leads," Jouji told him, introducing Koga and Asahina.
"This is Ric-san, he's a talented American actor that Yuki found," Jouji committed then laughed at his brother's surprised face. "With the right wig and makeup technique, he could pass as Japanese right?"
Jiro was stunned at how this American man could pass as a Japanese just using makeup. Are makeup techniques that good these days? He never had to have someone change their ethnicity for a role so he had never seen it done before.
"And this is Yuki's gamble, Kyoko-san, the one we spoke about."
The cast each took a turn bowing as they were introduced. When it was Kyoko's turn, he stared at her intensely. His scrutiny made her feel a little uncomfortable that she found the urge to fold her arms over herself in protection.
"Kyoko-san, you're causing quite the stir. I'm looking forward to watching you grow. Perhaps in the future, we could work together." Hopefully, Kimi would have matured by then.
Surprised by his words, Kyoko bowed and thanked him.
"Everyone, this is my younger brother Jiro. He's a director/producer as well. It's in our Morizumi blood."
"Ah, so you're Kimiko-chan's father," Koga exclaimed at the realization as he pounded his fist into the palm of his hand. "I'm a fan of your work, sir."
Kyoko thought she was going to be sick. This man was the father of the snake that tried to hurt her. She wondered what kind of man he was to raise a daughter like that. No wonder he was looking at her so closely. Maybe he knew about the Kimiko incident. Is he here to confront me?
"What brings you here, Jiro?"
"I had some free time so I thought I'd stop by and see how you were getting on."
Kyoko relaxed after his response, berating herself for overreacting. Director Jouji so far has treated her fairly so maybe Kimiko just had her family fooled.
"Konoe still not giving up Cain Heel's agency?" Jouji asked. Jiro glanced at Kyoko briefly to see if she would show any recognition to the actor's name. To her credit, the actress didn't even twitch at the name.
"Nope, he's telling me I need to wait a few more days and nobody on his staff is willing to talk."
Cedric spoke up excitedly as his translator relayed the conversation between the brothers. "You want to use Cain Heel in your next project? I watched Tragic Marker. His performance was phenomenal. I can't say the same for his personality though." Cedric's translator was quick to relay the exchange without missing a beat.
"Do you know him then?" Jiro asked hopefully. Since this actor was an American, maybe he knew the Brit.
"Ah no, sorry. I met him by chance on the street. Um, with your daughter, sir. We watched the movie together and she helped translate." Cedric gulped as he watched the smaller Japanese man narrow his eyes at him. He wondered if Kimiko had talked to her family about him.
Jiro smiled. This has to be the man Kimi loves. She failed to tell him that he was a foreigner and that they went on dates already. "Oh, are you dating my daughter?"
"Dating?! No, sir, we are just good friends. We met back in Los Angeles. She has been nice enough to show me around the city."
Jiro's smiled tightened. My poor Kimi. He guessed the man didn't share in her affection beyond friendship. "How about we all go out for dinner? My treat!"
As everyone was agreeing, Kyoko had to decline. "I'm sorry. I have another job after this. Thank you for your consideration. If you will excuse me, I should get going."
"Wow, Kyoko-chan, I still can't believe that you're the chicken! Boh's antics are hilarious too. I admire you for sticking with it even though you're in demand now. I'd be afraid it would ruin my image. I'm too good-looking to hide this face behind a mask. It would be such a waste for my fans!" Koga explained to her.
Kyoko rolled her eyes. "Maybe a mask is just what you need, Koga-san, since your regular face still isn't getting you the top spot."
"Burn! You set yourself up for that one, Koga," Cedric blurted out as he laughed at Kyoko's jab. Kyoko giggled at Koga's wounded expression.
"It was my first gig and it's loads of fun. I can't give it up yet," she confessed. Plus, it was the first time I was able to talk openly with Ren, even if I was in disguise. She bowed and left.
Kyoko was glad TBM studios had a back entrance for employees. This allowed her to avoid the growing crowd of paparazzi for now but it didn't stop the legit reporters with passes in the studio from cornering her. She knew that anything she said in the heat of the moment could be misconstrued and used against her. Instead, she smiled sweetly and replied tersely, "no comment."
When she arrived at the studio, Bridge Rock's manager, Kouji, was there to greet her.
"Kyoko-san, I'm glad you're early. Things have been in a flurry today. The show tonight is probably going to be the most-viewed episode in Yappa Kimagure Rock's short history thanks to you." Kouji turned and talked, walking with her to her dressing room. It took him a moment to notice the man with her. Kyoko always came alone or most recently with Yashiro so he was surprised to see her with someone else.
"Oh, please forgive my rudeness. I'm Toyokawa, Koujirou. Are you Yashiro-san's replacement?" Kouji asked bowing to Tadashi.
"It's no problem," Tadashi bowed in return.
"I was rude too. I just got swept up at the moment. I keep doing that. I'm sorry father," Kyoko fidgeted, worried that he would be upset with her. Tadashi patted her head gently and smiled.
"I am Morimoto Tadashi, Kyoko-chan's father. I have permission from Takarada-san to help out Yashiro-san now and again. He is still her manager," Tadashi responded, bowing.
"That's great. I'm sure Yashiro-san has his hands full managing two charges. I don't know how he does it. Ren-san alone is a handful, and now Kyoko-san is on the rise too. It has to be hectic, but please follow me. The producer has some changes for tonight's show. It's minor but it will make a big impact."
Kyoko introduced her father when they ran into the Ishibashi brothers on their way to the producer. Her father was familiar with the show and individually complimented each young man for their hard work, making them blush.
"Your fans are out in full force, Kyoko-chan," Yuusei informed her, excitedly.
"Everyone is rooting for you," Shinichi added.
"How are you feeling?" Hikaru asked with genuine concern. The news had traveled like wildfire on the set that Fuwa was possibly the childhood friend she mentioned in the article. It would explain the animosity she had towards him during their first broadcast. He hated himself for not realizing that Fuwa was such a bastard. It angered him that the arrogant musician took advantage of her kindness and treated her so terribly.
"Thank you. You are all truly like the older brothers I've never had."
"That's right! We got your back little sis," Shinichi boasted. "You let us know if Fuwa messes with you again. Your Onii-sans will take care of him." The other two Ishibashis nodded in agreement.
Kyoko giggled and thanked them again. She was happy to receive their protective feelings. There was no point denying that Sho was the ex-friend she alluded to in the article.
The producer had added a reveal at the end of the show where she removed her chicken head. They changed the script slightly so Boh never left the stage. They didn't want to give anyone any doubt that Kyoko had been in the costume the whole night. Whenever she needed water, she turned around and lifted her head slightly to drink from a straw. It was a nice little tease that drove the audience wild. The Ishibashi brothers had been very supportive. When her head finally came off at the end of the show the cheers were thunderous. She made a theatrical bow as best she could in the costume she wore proudly.
Kyoko had a quick dinner with her father at a nearby curry restaurant. They didn't talk about Kimiko or her mother or Shotaro. They ignored the heavy stuff and instead talked about each other's random likes and dislikes. Tadashi had shown her the pictures he took at the park the other day. They found that their love for nature was another thing they had in common. They made plans for tomorrow to have dinner since Tadashi would be tied up at the office during the day. He had something to give her then.
Kyoko flopped on their couch glad to be in the safety of their home. A glance at her watch told her it wasn't too late by industry standards. She got up to take a shower and go to bed. Unable to sleep, she tossed and turned in bed. She decided to browse her phone when she came across an American celebrity stating that she often had a solo dance party to relieve her stress after a long day. Kyoko contemplated this idea. Kuon enjoys listening to music when he wants to decompress. I'll try it out.
She padded out to the living room barefoot and set her phone to use the stereo output. The first song was slow and rhythmic. She danced lazily with her eyes closed, arms floating through the air, and hips undulating to the beat.
By the third song, Kyoko was sweating and dancing like a goof, all technique abandoned as she hopped and twirled around the room barely missing the coffee table. The female voices filled the room, "...here comes the breath before we get a little bit closer...here comes the rush before we touch, come a little closer..."
It was during this song that Kuon walked through the door. They both froze. Kyoko's face flamed up at having been caught. She had lost track of time. Is this how he feels every time I catch him in the act? Kyoko joyfully laughed off her embarrassment. The song was catchy so she danced her way towards him reaching for his hand.
Kuon's heart hammered in his chest as he caught her dancing in the light blue nightgown gown he bought for her. It was similar to the dress she had worn often in his dreams. He quickly kicked off his shoes and joined her for an impromptu dance party in their living room. He expected to come home to find her depressed over the day, but what he found surprised him. She was simply amazing and her laughter was contagious.
"It's not just all physical, I'm the type who won't get oh so critical, so let's make things physical, I won't treat you like you're oh so typical..."
Near the end of the song, he lifted her under her arms and spun around the living room. In a fit of laughter, he collapsed with her onto the couch. Panting to catch their breaths, they gazed intensely into each other's eyes. Within moments, they pounced on each other, hands and mouth seeking one another greedily. With his help, she changed positions so that she was straddling him without breaking contact with their lips. He thrust his tongue deep into her mouth making her melt against him. His hands slid up and down her back tracing her spine. Her hands delved into his dark tresses in an attempt to pull him impossibly closer against her. On instinct, she rocked her hips against the bulge hardening between her legs eliciting a painful groan from Kuon. His hands slid under her ass and stood, carrying her into their bedroom where they took their time exploring each other's body with their mouths and their hands.
Notes:
Thanks for continuing to read, everyone, I hope you enjoyed it. I was a bit all over the place but I hope you were able to follow. Was Kimiko's father's part believable? I made up his first name by the way since it wasn't revealed when I wrote this...LOL.
Kyoko and Ren danced to the song "Closer" by Tegan and Sara.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 62: Old Friends
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kuon would be talking to his parents by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi watched his daughter enter the resident elevator before he turned to get back in the car. He had wanted to deposit her at her front door to make sure she got in safely, but she insisted she was fine. The security of the place was top notch so he reluctantly let her go. As he stepped into the car, he received a text from her stating she was safely inside.
Tadashi replied, happily, bidding her good night again. He stared out the window thinking about the day. He had planned on taking the whole week off before he left, but since he was extending his stay Mya asked him to look over a proposal. He would deal with work tomorrow and get it out of the way.
Sota had called him earlier during her act as Boh, but he couldn't leave Kyoko's side. He was now on his way to see his old friend.
When he arrived, Tadashi stepped out of the car and made his way to the basement club full of elites. He skirted past patrons and some of the hostesses that were all vying for his attention.
"Yo, Tadashi, you want a drink?" Sota asked waving towards the sake.
"Sure, I'll take one," he replied as he waited for Sota to pour their drinks. He lifted his cup in salute.
"Kanpai!" they cheered in unison, clinking their cups, and downing the drink.
"Ah, there's nothing better than having a drink with a good friend. It's like old times, eh. Remember that night in-" Sota began, but Tadashi gave him a look that told him to not recall that memory out loud.
Sota gulped. "Noted. I won't reminisce on the good old days. You're a new father now, after all."
Tadashi poured them another round. Sota raised his eyebrow, I guess we're drinking.
"Rough day at the office?" Sota asked as Tasdashi sipped his sake.
By his third cup, Tadashi was feeling a little more relaxed. "I got exhausted watching my daughter's day. I seriously don't know how she does it. I put in long hours, but all I do is sit in a comfortable desk chair. She has to work physically and mentally. If they don't nail the take just right, they have to repeat a scene over and over until the director is satisfied."
Sota laughed at his friend's expression. He couldn't miss this chance now that the liquor was talking.
"Are you drunk already?" Sota asked, testing the waters to see how much he could get out of his friend.
"It will take more than this to get me drunk. I've spent a lot of time training my body to tolerate a high amount of alcohol."
Sota laughed. "What kind of training is that? I thought you just pretended to drink. I've seen you at some events. You may have had the people around you fooled, but you use misdirection to let them think you're drinking with them."
Tadashi stopped his cup midway and looked at Sota in surprise.
"What? You think I didn't notice that your jolly drunk act was all a sham. Your daughter seriously got her talent from you!"
"Sheesh, what the hell are you doing staring at me so hard? Are you in love with me or something?" Tadashi grumbled then smiled. He liked the idea that some of his daughter's talent came from him even if it was just a tenth of it.
Sota laughed again, "That's right I love you, man! You're my oldest friend. Look at us, a bunch of brats off the streets living the good life."
Tadashi cracked a small smile. He couldn't have agreed more. A moment later he frowned.
"Hey, don't spoil the mood. We'll figure things out. It seems fate has brought you back into your daughter's life at the moment she needed you most. We should drink to fate!"
"To fate!" They cheered and drained their cups.
Sota snapped his fingers and one of his henchmen presented a thick folder. "Here's the information you asked for. My guy went through all the people associated with The Sacred Lotus. I have no doubt this is your man, Hanazawa Soujirou."
Tadashi looked over the first file his eyes resting on occupation Lead Set Designer. In that position, it would be easy to pull off the "accidents" on set without anyone noticing.
The incident report Lory had provided him stated that all the problems that occurred on set could easily be dismissed as coincidental. A weak tree limb, a spilled drink, an overlooked loose tile, and an earthquake to name a few. It was difficult to pin such things to outside tampering, but the director and producer had instilled fear into the cast and crew's hearts. The incidences were few and far between now that they had re-established safety as a top priority on set.
Tadashi scanned the information. He had a sick wife and was trying to raise two daughters that were younger than Kyoko. He looked over his financial situation. His debt to income ratio was very high. Probably medical bills. He couldn't possibly be making ends meet on his salary. A desperate man would probably do anything for money even commit crimes against others.
Tadashi shifted to the next document. I'll take care of him tomorrow.
"Here's the more in-depth information you asked on the Morizumi family. My guy managed to find a deleted police report from a couple of years back. Usually, in cases like those, it was probably settled personally."
"Can you get me the name of the officer that filed that report? Maybe I could talk to him."
"I'm one step ahead of you. His name and contact number are on the next page. Do you think this family is covering up this girl's crimes or are they just ignorant?" Sota asked.
"I think it's both. Kyoko's current director is a Morizumi. He didn't choose his niece for the part that's why she's retaliating. Her father was on set today too. I hung back to observe. I did not doubt that if I inserted myself into the conversation, he would be alerted to my animosity. You may think I'm a good actor, but I'm not professional enough when it comes to my daughter yet. I didn't want him to put up his guard."
"So like you to observe the enemy from a distance. Did you learn anything?"
"My gut is telling me he doesn't know anything, at least regarding Kyoko. He praised her for her talent and even mentioned working with her in the future. I could tell he adores his daughter the way he mentioned her. I'm not so sure if I would act any differently than him. If our roles were reversed and Kyoko was causing the trouble, I'd do what I could to help her even if it was the wrong choice."
"Good for you my friend! You lucked out. Kyoko-chan is a good girl."
"I'm going to follow up on this man. Maybe this has nothing to do with the girl. This guy could be responsible for the whole thing. A disgruntled employee, perhaps?"
"That girl is still stirring up trouble online though. I printed out her latest posts. She's now on that singer's website. I guess she found people that would listen to her. She's still trying to sell the idea that he and your daughter were more than just friends."
The loud ring tone of Sota's phone halted any further conversation.
"What do you have for me?" Sota was quiet as he listened to the speaker. "Really, okay I'm on my way." Sota ended the call, drained his cup, and stood from his chair.
"Let's go!" Sota told Tadashi as he put on his leather jacket
"Go? Where are we going?" Tadashi asked, grabbing the file and following after Sota.
"I'll tell you in the car. Call your driver."
Tadashi called his driver as they walked through the club. Sota flirted the whole way with some of his female employees. By the time they reached the street, his car was waiting. Sota told the driver to head to the police koban downtown.
"Koban? What the hell is going on? Who was on the phone?"
"I had a guy tailing the Morizumi girl since she left her house."
"I didn't ask you to do that?"
"I was sure you would appreciate that I did. You're getting too soft."
Tadashi scowled at him. He had thought about doing just that but it felt creepy. Paying someone to follow a young girl didn't sit well with him, so he concentrated on just making sure Kyoko was safe.
"Anyway, that guy just said he followed her to a sketchy part of downtown. She disappeared down an alley for a good ten minutes before emerging in an angry huff. Apparently, cops showed up and took three delinquents into their custody. He thinks she called the cops on them. He stuck around like a bystander instead of following her. The boys claimed they were innocent and just having a smoke. They didn't do anything wrong. She came to them."
"That's it? So why are we going to the police station again?"
"Oh yeah, he said he heard one of the guys say Kyoko-san."
"What the hell?!"
"Yup, he called me when he heard her name so he figured I'd be interested. Hopefully, we get there before their parents are called."
At the police station, Tadashi and Sota arrived right on time.
"Hey man, how long are you going to make us kneel here. This is bullshit! You're not even doing your job," the orange-headed delinquent taunted as Tadashi walked in.
That irked the policeman sitting at the desk. He stood up and demanded, "give me your school ID you good for nothing. I'm going to call your parents." All three boys groaned at the threat.
Tadashi took in their appearance. They looked the part of delinquents with that angry chip on their shoulder, wearing their school uniforms in a way that violated the dress code. Physically, they weren't scrawny; fighting probably kept them in shape. They had the signature dyed hair, and multiple ears, nose, and lip piercings typical of delinquents these days.
"Come on, sir. We didn't do anything wrong. My mom is going to kill me," he pleaded with the officer.
"Well, Jin-kun," the officer began, glancing at the ID and addressing the orange-headed kid. "Next time, stay home and study like a good student."
"Excuse me, officer. I'm here to pick up the boys. I'm Jin's uncle. A friend of my sister saw him getting into trouble and called her. She asked me to take care of the situation since she couldn't leave her shift at the hospital. She's a nurse," Tadashi lied smoothly.
"See, boy! Your poor mother is working hard this late at night to provide for you, and you're just slacking off like scum," the cop lectured.
"Officer, I don't know this Oji-san. My mom doesn't even hav-." Tadashi stepped up to the boy and smacked him upside the head.
"Ow, shit! The fuck was that for!"
"Damn, still so rude! Be quiet if you know what's good for you," Tadashi growled. Jin was about to protest, but Tadashi poised his hand ready to smack him again.
The boy shielded his head in fear. "Fuck, okay, just don't hit me!" Tadashi hit him again.
"What the hell old man?!"
"Language," Tadashi said, turning back to the officer. "I try to step in as a positive role model for him to help my sister out, but kids are just so disrespectful these days."
"Tell me about it. Back in my day, my dad would beat my ass when I stepped out of line. These days, it's all just spoon-feeding them until they get to college where they crash and burn alone."
Tadashi chuckled and nodded, agreeing with the cop.
"I didn't process any paperwork yet, so you can just take them home."
"Could I ask what exactly happened?"
"We got a call from a girl saying she was sexually assaulted by three delinquents at the precise location we found these guys."
All three boys exploded in unison, "That ugly bitch is fucking lying!" "That fucking whore is a liar!" "That lying bitch!"
"We have high standards, you know!" The boy with the bleach blonde hair added.
"People think just because we're delinquents that we have no honor!" Jin finished. "We're not the ones looking for fights."
"Hey, settle down! Anyway, we found these boneheads there and decided to bring them in for questioning. Since that girl wouldn't come in to make an official statement, it's pointless. She called from a payphone too. I think it was just a prank."
"Thank you, officer," Tadashi said bowing. He reached up and shoved each boys' head down to bow. "Put your head to the floor you punks, and apologize for wasting hard-working people's time."
"Alright! Get out of here!" Tadashi shouted, ushering them out after they apologized.
The boys tried to run away as soon as they came out of the station but ran right smack into Sota.
"Whoa, not so fast boys. Let's have a nice little chat shall we," Sota threatened with a menacing smile and he pushed them into the car. Tadashi climbed into the front seat with the driver.
"Shit, man, we're going to be ass raped and killed. Please mister, I'm too young to die. I promise I'll study harder," Jin begged.
"Yeah, mister. I'll stop smoking and get a job to help my mom. Please just let us go," the bleach blonde kid wailed.
The darker blonde kid was quietly sobbing.
"Shut up, you damn morons! We just want to talk about what went down with the girl. In exchange, we'll buy you a meal," Sota promised.
"Fuck, thank god! I didn't want my first time to be with an old dude," Jin confessed.
"Damn, kid. How old are you, and you still haven't gotten laid? That's sad!" Sota snickered.
His friends forgot their fear and started laughing at him. "Fuck you guys! Like you're any different. I'm waiting for the right girl."
"Yeah, bro sorry to break it to you, but Kyoko-san is taken. She's got herself a real man. He's tall, rich, handsome, did I mention rich?" The bleach blonde guy teased him.
"Fuck off! I know. It's because I'm stuck in a school with a bunch of ugly assholes that I don't have a hot girl," Jin grumbled.
The car pulled up to a nearly deserted Mos Burger joint where the boys scrambled out and headed in to order. They took advantage of the invitation and ordered enough food and desserts to feed ten people. Sota grumbled as he paid.
"You little shitheads better eat every bite! There are starving kids in the world. Now tell us what happened," he demanded once they were seated.
Jin, the obvious ring leader, decided to speak with a mouthful of food. "Me mmerrre mmmhmmiinding..."
"Shit stop eating and talk!"
Jin swallowed what was in his mouth and took a sip of soda before he started again.
"As I was saying, we were minding our business having a smoke watching the rerun of tonight's YKR when this ugly chick, well she wasn't ugly at first, walks in acting like she owns the place and says." His voice changed to a high pitch nasally sound that they all assumed was his version of a girl's voice. "'Hey, I heard for the right price you would kick someone's ass.'"
He changed his voice back and forth as he told his story. "So I shut off my phone and looked at this chick. She reeks of money, brand-name shoes, clothing, bag. So I say, 'Yeah, so, you want us to fuck up your ex or something?' Then she says, 'I'll give you 100,000 yen if you harass the actress Kyoko-san. I'll triple it if you bruise her face.'"
Sota looked at Tadashi. The man's golden eyes had grown dark with anger. "Easy, we can't do anything rash. You won't be able to help her if you're locked up."
"Yo, Oji-san wha- what's w- wrong with y-you all of a sudden," Jin stuttered as Tadashi tilted and cracked his neck to loosen the tension.
"Don't worry about him! Then what happened?" Sota demanded, bringing Jin's focus back on him.
"We laughed. She even showed us the money. I told that bitch that Natsu-sama was our idol and Kyoko-san was our goddess. Anyone that had a problem with her had a problem with us. But I would never hit a girl so I told her to get lost. It was the first time I ever saw a chick turn ugly due to her insides. Her face got all scrunched up with anger and jealousy when she started insulting Kyoko-san. She was pissing me off, badmouthing my goddess, so I charged at her. I acted like I was going to hit her and she got all scared then left. The rest is history," Jin finished and began eating in earnest.
Tadashi showed the boys a picture of Kimiko on his phone. "Is this the girl?" The boys looked nervously at each other. "Is it her or not?"
"Well it looks like her I guess. It was still kind of dark?" Jin said rubbing the back of his neck.
"You just said you saw her face turn ugly and her brand name stuff," Sota said exasperatedly.
"Well of course the part I did see so I imagine the rest of her face was ugly. If I saw her again, I'd recognize her for sure. She had all that cash so she had to be wearing expensive stuff, right?" Jin replied, defensively.
"You fucking, idiots! Give me your goddamn cellphones. We may need you to tell this story again so you better remember it." After Sota made sure he got all the boys' names and contact information, he threw down some bills and told them to take a cab home.
Kimiko was livid (though she didn't show it) when her father had mentioned Kyoko this afternoon. She couldn't think rationally. She was in a better mood after stirring things up on the Fuwa fansites. The gossip channels were eating up the fan theories of her and Fuwa being an item. There were so many public references on Fuwa's part to link them together that it was easy to convince them. After the broadcast of Yappa Kimagure Rock that night, she thought Japan would finally see what a total loser she was for playing a mascot on a variety show. With such a demeaning job, she had no business staying by Ren's side. Naturally, the people in the audience were all idiots. The legit entertainment news channels were advertising how humble and sweet she was for sticking with her first on-camera job no matter how popular she was becoming.
She changed the channel and caught a portion of Ren's live interview. The guy looked like a lovesick puppy on TV as he talked about him meeting Kyoko when they were kids. She wanted to barf! She changed the channel and caught sight of a short clip showing Koga and Cedric being bombarded with questions as they left the Sacred Lotus site. The fact that Cedric was also praising her was the last straw. Kimiko's mind was so clouded with rage and jealousy that she didn't think of what she was doing and sought out those hoodlums. They didn't attend her school, but the gossip at school made them notorious enough to be helpful.
Now she was standing in the shadows outside of Cedric's apartment freaking out. What had she done? How could she make such a careless mistake by confronting outsiders without a proper disguise? She was so pissed off she didn't think twice about calling the cops on them to get them in trouble. At least she was smart enough to call using a payphone. Hopefully, those guys wouldn't talk to the police about her. She pulled at her hair in frustration. What would be the best thing for her to do? Kill them? No, she preferred maiming her enemies. Killing is too permanent, I prefer they live on and suffer. I could try paying them to keep quiet, but that never works in movies. They would keep blackmailing me. Her best bet was to hope it was dark enough that they wouldn't recognize her. She could always deny being there. Society would believe the sweet rich girl over some Yankees. For now, she would go see Cedric and remind him that she is the only Japanese girl he should care about.
Cedric opened the door in surprise wearing a t-shirt and pajama bottoms. "Kimiko, what happened? Come inside," he said opening his door wider for her to enter.
Cedric closed the door quickly behind him and looked at Kimiko in the better lighting. Her hair was in disarray, her shirt ripped, there was a hint of a bruise starting on her cheek, and a small cut on the corner of her lip. "Who did this to you?" Cedric asked, gently touching her cheek.
"Do I look that bad?" she asked her eyes welling up with tears. "I couldn't go home. My parents would be all over my case. I didn't want to make trouble for them."
"I'll get you some ice and make us some tea. You can tell me what happened. Call your parents. You can stay here tonight if you like."
"No, I couldn't intrude. I should just go home. I'm sorry for bothering you."
"It's fine, you're no bother. Make the call," he said firmly as he went into the kitchen.
"Ric, can I use your bathroom?" Kimiko asked after finishing her call. Her mother was too lenient sometimes. Shouldn't she get a little angry at her when it was this late?
"Sure, it's the door on the left."
Kimiko made her way to the bathroom while Cedric was busy in the kitchen. She cringed as she took in her appearance. She had hit herself harder than she thought. It was a small price to pay since her little act had managed to earn her a night's stay and she didn't even have to ask. This had to be a sign that he wanted her here.
Cedric knocked on the bathroom door. "Kimiko, I brought you some clothes and a towel if you want to get cleaned up."
Kimiko opened the door and smiled. "Ouch!" she hissed. It really did hurt to smile. Cedric scowled. "Are you mad at me?" she asked, timidly making her eyes water on cue.
He sighed. "No, we'll talk after you clean up," he said closing the door.
Kimiko was settled on Cedric's couch, in his t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts icing her face between sips of tea.
"Are you going to tell me who assaulted you?" he asked in a strained voice. He may not love her, but she was still his friend. He was pissed at whoever hurt her.
Kimiko trembled as she recounted the ordeal for Cedric. "I was so scared. I thought I was going to be raped or murdered or something. They were trying to steal my purse and I fought back instead. I should have just given them the thing. One of them backhanded me before they took my bag and left."
"We need to call the police and report them."
"No, please, no police. They didn't really hurt me. I don't want my family's name dragged into a negative light because of me."
"Dammit!" He was part of a show biz family so he understood her reasons for wanting to keep this quiet. The press would have a field day with them. He felt frustrated that he couldn't do anything for his friend.
"Well, where were you at? How many of them? Give me any details of their description," he stood up heatedly.
"No, please, that's not what I want. I didn't come here for you to avenge me or anything. I- I just wanted to feel safe again. I always feel safe with you," her voice trembled and a floodgate of her tears opened. Guys were usually helpless against a crying woman. She hoped Cedric wasn't the exception.
Cedric's anger left him. He knelt in front of her and gathered her in his arms. "Hey, shush, it's okay you're safe with me. I'll keep you safe." She felt so small and fragile in his arms as her body shook with sobs. Only cowards would hit a woman.
Kimiko smiled into his chest. This was exactly what she was hoping for. Let's see how far I can take this.
"It's okay," she said trying to push away from him. "You won't always be here so I can handle this on my own."
"Don't be silly. You don't have to act strong in front of me," he replied caressing the back of her head as he pulled her closer. She accepted his comfort and melted in his arms.
Shotaro was lounged in the living area of his hotel room, finally unwinding after tonight's performance. Reporters and fans were all demanding answers from him. It was the first time in his career that he was unable to bask in the glory that was him. He hightailed it to the waiting limo before he was mobbed. Now, he was watching the replay of Yappa Kimagure Rock on his phone. He wanted to confirm what was being said on social media. She had admitted it in the article, but he still couldn't believe it. He shut it off after she removed her chicken head! That damn girl made an ass of me that night. Kyoko was trying to exact her revenge. If only he knew before, he would have had a loaded weapon to use against her. This was the best she could do back then, but he couldn't stop himself from laughing at her antics on the show.
Shoko walked into the room carrying a bag of his requested pudding. It was pointless to hide his immature taste buds from his manager. She knew too much about him as it was for him to keep up his cool guy facade. Plus, it was exhausting. Shoko looked at her phone and turned on the TV to Japan's late-night ET news just in time.
"Fans have been speculating all day who the mysterious childhood friend of Kyoko-san could be and I think they've stumbled upon the answer," the reporter announced.
"Kyoko-san's story hit shelves this morning in, surprisingly, the popular tabloid magazine Boost. This magazine is notorious for publishing false information on celebrities; however, in this case, it has been confirmed by LME, Kyoko-san's agency, that she was interviewed specifically for the piece. The article highlights many aspects of the young actress's ups and downs in the showbiz world. The main topics that have dominated on and off-line discussions have been her relationship with Tsuruga Ren that appears to have started when they were mere children, her long-time spot as Boh the chicken in Yappa Kimagure Rock, and this so-called mysterious childhood friend. "
"Tch!" Sho clucked his tongue. This was not looking good as he continued to watch the broadcast. No wonder he couldn't catch a break today.
"Tonight's topic focuses on the childhood friend who took advantage of her kindness trying to make it big in the showbiz world. Our online sources all point the finger towards our country's top idol singer, Fuwa Sho, and we have proof."
They replayed clips of his dedication to "K" during his live performance on an interview, his red carpet declaration of the inspiration of his new song, and finally, the Yappa Kimagure Rock episode featuring Fuwa-kun and Boh interacting.
"Neither agency of each party is confirming or denying these speculations. I'm sure we'll get clarification soon. The question to leave here with tonight is, was Kyoko-san really betrayed, or is this just a ploy to 'boost' her popularity?"
Shoko shut off the TV when the segment ended. "The President wants you to do an interview with Kyoko-chan. We'll be heading back in a few days. You should try to get in touch with her again before then. It's late so go to bed."
This was such a pain in the ass. It's all that stupid girl's fault! Sho thought as he trudged to his bedroom.
Kuon was half asleep when he tried to reach over and shut off his alarm. He kept pressing, but it wasn't stopping. He disentangled himself from Kyoko as he searched for the source of the offending sound.
"What is it?" Kyoko asked as she stretched.
"It's your phone, I think," He said as he picked up his phone to check.
"It is?" she exclaimed bolting upright to find her phone. She opened the bedroom door and found it where she left it the night before.
"Hello," she answered breathlessly without checking the caller ID.
"Mo! What took you so long to answer? I thought you were an early riser!"
Kuon heard Kyoko exclaim, "Mooookkkoooo-san!" He smiled when he heard her excited voice as she talked to her friend. He had just pulled the covers back over his head when his phone started ringing.
Kuon threw the covers back with a sigh and answered his phone, "Hello?!"
"Morning, son, I hope I didn't wake you!"
Notes:
I apologize for the lack of RenKyo in this chapter. I tried to salvage it by giving you a teaser of what's to come. I had to go back and tell you what else happened during the RenKyo dance party.
Thank you for continuing to read and I hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 63: Wake-up Call
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would share more stories about his childhood with Kyoko.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Ow! Don't shout! You'll break my eardrums!" Kanae scolded through the phone.
"I'm just so happy, Moko-san, you called me. I thought you would never speak to me again," Kyoko cried, happy tears welling up at the corner of her eyes and spilling over.
"Mo! Stop crying! I bet your face is getting ugly. Why would you even think like that? Is there something you're not telling me that warrants me not speaking to you again? Perhaps you're living a double life or something and you aren't really who you say you are?"
Kyoko stopped her tears quickly and squirmed under Kanae's direct questioning. She thought about all the press Setsu had been generating. Could it have reached Kanae in the States? She couldn't lie to her friend, but she couldn't tell the truth either, not yet.
"I'm sorry, Moko-san, there is something but I signed an NDA. I can't tell you right now even though I really want to share it with you."
"I figured as much. We can talk about it when you can," Kanae said sounding very understanding.
"Eh, you're not mad?" Kyoko asked hesitantly.
"Of course, I'm mad! I do not doubt that LoveMon President is behind all this but it's work right, so it's fine."
"I'm just so happy. Moko-san called me," Kyoko wailed anew.
"Why wouldn't I? I wanted to make sure you weren't wallowing in the depths of despair like usual! You sound fine considering..."
"Eh?" Kyoko perked up not following.
"The article?! Jeez, Kyoko, have you forgotten already? Mo, forget it. I knew I shouldn't have wasted my time worrying about you," Kanae replied exasperatedly.
"Ugh, that stupid article. Even though the writer adhered to my conditions, I had underestimated the public's need to unravel a mystery," Kyoko grumbled. "But Moko are you not mad at me because of the article?"
"Why? I practically know your background story. The only thing I didn't see coming was you knowing Tsuruga-san when you were children. If I'm mad at anybody, it's him," Kanae said through gritted teeth.
"Ehhhh, why?" Kyoko asked genuinely confused at her friend's anger towards Ren.
"I'm pretty sure that guy knew exactly who you were for a while and said nothing! I'm going to give him a piece of my mind when I return," Kanae's voice rose getting fired up.
Kyoko glanced up as Kuon approached her. He handed her the princess robe and mouthed it's my parents, pointing to the phone at his ear then whispered, "when you're ready, they want to talk to you."
Kyoko's cheeks heated up as she hastily put it on the robe. She had completely forgotten she was practically nude.
"Mo! What's going on? Is that bastard near you? Of course, he's near you. Like a damn puppy," Kanae grumbled, annoyed by the interruption.
"No, he just came out for a second. He's on the phone too. Moko-san please don't be angry with him. He apologized already, and I uh, sort of, kind of slapped him for not telling me about it sooner," Kyoko confessed feeling terrible about hurting him. Kanae erupted with laughter.
"Did you seriously slap him? I would love to have seen that. I bet he was shocked especially coming from the girl he loved," Kanae gasped out between residual peals of laughter.
"Don't laugh! I slapped him so hard the handprint had to be covered up with makeup for a few days. I was so scared after I did it. What if he sued me or something? An actor's face is their life," Kyoko wailed.
Kanae sobered up, "that's true it's our biggest commodity, but he deserved it for keeping that a secret from you. I'm getting mad thinking about it again."
"It happened so long ago I would prefer to leave it alone. It wasn't one of my finest moments. I'm so embarrassed. Please don't be mad at him," Kyoko pleaded with her. "I do appreciate Moko-san being angry for my sake. I feel so loved. It's true, that saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"Mo, don't think up weird scenarios all on your own. Anyway, you sound like everything's good. My lunch break is almost up. I'll be home in two days my flight lands in the evening. I'll message you the itinerary."
"Really?! You're finally coming home!" Kyoko screeched enthusiastically.
"Don't forget to pick me up. Got it?"
"Yes!"
"See you then! Keep being you, don't let those haters from the Fuwa camp get you down," Kanae added and abruptly ended the call.
Kyoko smiled at the phone, more tears pricking the corner of her eyes. It was so like Kanae to be sweet and hang up because she was embarrassed. She was so excited her friend was finally coming home and jumped up to tell Ren the good news.
"Hey, Dad! I'm awake. Is everything okay? Is Mom okay?" Kuon asked in a worried tone. He rarely ever got calls so early in the morning, but when he did he anxiously wondered if it would be bad news. Would this be the call letting him know that his mother really did only have three months to live and her time had finally come? Would she pass away to the afterlife without him having seen her once to reconcile with her? He didn't think he could live with that kind of guilt. What if his father was severely hurt on set? Would he find the courage to go home and see him, or would he use work as an excuse to avoid them forever?
Kuon was still working through his anxiety about going home for LA Fashion Week. He still had nightmares now and again, but the warm talisman curled in his arms would instantly chase the shadows away.
"I'm here too, honey. There's no way I'm leaving this world without seeing my baby boy again or holding my grandbabies," Julie's musical voice rang out.
"Hi, mom! What are you guys doing?" Kuon smiled. The thought of having babies with Kyoko warmed his heart and sped it up all at once. Would he make a good father? Given their professions would their child feel lonely if they had to work late or go overseas. No, he would make it a point to prioritize his family. Even if it meant taking fewer roles, he would never make his child feel lonely.
"Kuon, did you hear me, son? Are you still there?" Kuu asked.
"I'm sorry, Dad. What was the question? I was a bit distracted," Kuon replied, tuning back into the conversation.
"Is it a bad time son?" Kuu asked earnestly. He knew how busy an actor's life could be.
"No, I just kinda got lost in the clouds when mom mentioned babies," he blurted his thoughts without thinking. He must still be half asleep if he said that out loud.
Kuu chuckled and Julie squealed. "Made you think about the future, did it?"
He could hear Kyoko talking excitedly with her friend on the phone in the living room. A new wave of warmth flooded his body, he was looking forward to their future together.
"Only if it's with her," he confessed, smiling to himself.
"Oh, my baby! I'm so happy for you! When's the wedding? I have to start planning," Julie exclaimed. She had been waiting for this moment forever.
"Mom, stop! It's too soon. She's only seventeen. Her career is just beginning and she's still in high school." Kuon explained, but he already had plans brewing.
"Semantics! It's just a matter of time. You guys are living together already. Ooh, maybe a shotgun wedding?" Julie said with such hope in her voice.
Kuon groaned. "We aren't really at that stage in our relationship. I want to wait for marriage."
Even to Kuon's ears, it sounded unconvincing. They've touched each other intimately every way they could minus actual penetration. At the rate they were going, he wasn't sure if they were going to make it. He told himself every day just a little taste would be enough to curb his appetite for her but with each passing day, his desire to possess her completely, body and soul grew. It took every ounce of his control to draw the line, especially when she begged for more. Kyoko had seemed in a good mood last night when they danced around the living room, but when they fell into bed together she was more demanding, insatiable even. It was late by the time they collapsed into a peaceful slumber finally sated. I'm not going to make it.
"Sure, how is that working out for you?" Kuu asked wryly. He could hear his parents trying to suppress their laughter. He cleared his throat loudly to get their attention.
Kuu coughed to disguise his laughter and changed the subject. "Is Kyoko still sleeping?"
"No, she's talking with her best friend. I'll go out and let her know you're on the phone." Kuon stepped out of the room with the phone to his ear and noticed Kyoko sitting on the living room floor in just her underwear. He wasn't any better since he was only wearing boxers. She had to be cold so retrieved her robe from the guest room. He handed it to her and told her his parents were on the phone then went back into the bedroom.
"How is she doing by the way?" Kuu asked. "We read the article and the online gossip about the singer. Next time I'm in Japan, I'm going to wring that punk's neck. It explains why she was so dejected by that broadcast of him when she was my assistant. My poor son. If only this lousy Daddy knew the full story. I would have given that punk a taste of his own medicine."
"What are you talking about?" Kuon frowned trying to recall the news during his father's visit. He never paid attention to any of that stuff so he was clueless.
" While I was there, I had the entertainment news channel on when she walked in and that singer was the main topic. His songs were dominating the charts. She suddenly became extremely depressed. So depressed that she neglected to make my food. When she did finally cook something, she piled the ingredients so high, ugh, I was so hungry too. I had to call the concierge to try to salvage it. Her cooking is so delicious and sh-"
"Oi, don't stop in the middle and start talking about food," Kuon scolded. "She seemed fine when I ran into her acting as young Kuon."
"Right, that's because this Daddy learned from his mistakes with you. I intercepted her call to Sawara-san. She wanted to decline all the job offers she received because they were all antagonist roles. She didn't tell me any of her problems with that jerk, but after talking about her feelings regarding acting, I managed to knock some sense into her brain. That's why I gave her that acting homework as Kuon. I hoped it would help pull her out of her slump. You told me you met as kids a while ago, but now that I'm thinking of the time we spent together, I now realize that she acted young Kuon so well was because she had already met you. She just didn't know it."
Kuon chuckled. I was so surprised she remembered so much about me from the few days we played together. She really treasured our time together. I, on the other hand, forgot all about her until we met again.
"It seems your treasured cordierite stone managed to help her over the years." Neither of them admitted that Kuon had lied to him about losing the stone in Kyoto. "I remember the day you bought it. You believed it had some magical powers. I think you were seven."
"No, he was only six. That was when I was in India for a shoot and you guys came along. I was tied up with work so you and Kuon explored the local market and cuisine," Julie interrupted.
The vague memories of that trip wafted through Kuon's mind. Although he had an amazing memory, he couldn't recall the vivid details of the trip.
"It was so long ago, I couldn't remember the details of the stone, so that's what it's called," Kuon commented.
Kyoko walked in as Kuon finished that statement. He pulled back the covers in the bed to let her in. She snuggled up to him and laid her head on his chest.
"Kyoko is here now. I'm putting you on speaker," Kuon announced and switched the phone over.
"Hey, good morning son! How are you feeling? We wanted to check up on you."
"Kuu stop calling her that. She's a beautiful girl call her daughter. I always wanted a daughter and now I have one," Julie squealed delightedly.
Kyoko buried her face shyly into Kuon's chest. She was so overwhelmed by the warmth and outpouring love his parents displayed towards her it made her want to cry.
"Hello Otou-san, Julie-san. Thank you for calling, but I'm really fine. I'm quite surprised with all the love and support I have here from Kuon, friends, coworkers, and fans. If I focus on the positive I feel like the negative doesn't seem so bad."
Kuon tightened his hold around her and kissed the top of her head.
"Dad was about to tell me where your stone came from. Do you want to hear it?"
"Yes, please! I would love to hear about Kuon when he was young!"
"Be careful what you wish for," Kuon whispered
"When you're here for fashion week I'll show you my albums, Kyoko-chan," Julie promised.
"Thank you, Julie-san. I'm looking forward to my visit," Kyoko replied. She couldn't wait to see where Kuon grew up.
"Mom, please don't embarrass me," Kuon groaned. He knew just what albums his mother was thinking of too. Kyoko giggled, she envied Kuon a little. The pictures she had of her childhood were taken by Yayoi. The majority of them were of her with Shotaro.
"I wish you were visiting with her, but I understand that you will when you're ready," Julie said sadly.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I'm working on it," Kuon replied. He felt terrible omitting the truth, but he didn't want to spoil the surprise.
"Anyway, the story of the stone," Kuon insisted sensing the subtle change in her mood. He thought a story like that would cheer her up.
"Yes, so we went to a Bazaar while waiting for Julie to finish her work. The place was crowded with merchants and food vendors. The smells were delicious. It was our first time seeing it. Kuon gravitated to a stall selling rocks." Kuu started laughing all by himself thinking about the memory
"Kuon looks up at me in confusion. He stands in front of the booth staring at all the shapes and sizes of the rocks. Then he asks, 'Dad are people really stupid enough to buy rocks?'"
Kuu had changed his voice to fit in the story mimicking his little boy. She imagined wonderful bedtime stories in the Hizuri house. Kyoko stifled her giggle as Kuu continued.
"I was so embarrassed, I had him apologize to the vendor. The merchant looked at Kuon and said, 'young lad, have you ever learned not to judge something for its cover? Even beneath the accumulated dirt of this rock lies something beautiful. Pick one and I'll prove it to you.' Kuon picked a good size rock and the man proceeds to chip and clean away at the rock. The result was your stone."
"I remember now! I didn't have enough money to buy it, but Dad taught me the art of negotiations. I was able to get the stone with my allowance. I had eight dollars saved up," Kuon beamed proudly.
Kuu laughed nervously. He didn't need to tell his son that he had secretly handed over the difference in the amount to the merchant for the trouble. He didn't do it to undermine his son or insult the merchant. Kuu made a lot of money and wanted to always be generous. The man had taught his son a valuable lesson and made him happy.
"I guess it's about time we let you kids go. We've taken up enough of your time. We love you both." They exchanged their goodbyes and ended the call.
Kimiko woke up to find herself alone in bed. She had fallen asleep, safe in Cedric's arms, forgetting her problems. She could hear him clamoring away in the kitchen. For a moment she allowed herself to imagine they were a real couple with him calling out to her to wake up for breakfast. She would apologize for not waking up sooner and cooking for him instead. She had no clue how to cook but that was beside the point. Rolling out of the comfy bed that smelled like her crush, she used the washroom and changed into her now cleaned clothes sitting on the edge of the bed. He had replaced her ripped shirt with one his to wear with her skirt. She picked up the shirt and inhaled the scent of his detergent before slipping it on. She was elated by how fashionable she looked in his clothes. Smiling, Kimiko stepped out of the room to find her new beau but was doused with a cold dose of reality. The couch was upset with a pillow and blanket; evidence that he had left her alone once she fell asleep and slept on the couch instead.
Kimiko felt like such a fool. She dug her fingernails into her clenched fists to keep from losing her temper. Of course, he wouldn't want to share a bed with her.
"Whoa Kimi, I didn't hear you come out. Is everything alright? Your face? Is it still bothering you? Kimiiikooo...helloooo?" Cedric asked waving his hand in front of her. Her gaze was locked on the couch lost in thought.
"Why?" She whispered and slowly turned toward him.
"Huh?" He responded utterly confused. Why is she so zoned out?
"I could have slept there if you didn't want to share the bed," Kimiko said failing to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
"I thought it would be better for both of us this way," Cedric replied rubbing the back of his neck.
She smiled and nodded before things got even more awkward.
"I'm going to go. Thanks for letting me sleep here. I apologize for inconveniencing you," she said cheerfully as she slipped on her shoes and left.
As soon as Kimiko left the apartment her problems from last night flooded back into her mind. Being around him does that to me. She walked down the side of the building and fished out the purse she had hidden the night before. Her earlier hurt forgotten as she searched her phone for any news regarding the guys she had propositioned last night. She let out a small sigh of relief as she hailed the first cab she saw. The message she found on her phone had her returning the call.
Cedric didn't try to stop her. It was for the best that he let her go. He knew how she felt about him and she knew how he felt about her. She was a good friend and nothing more. He walked into the kitchen and gazed at the now too much breakfast he had made when it dawned on him that she had no way of getting home. All her stuff had been stolen. He pulled on a jacket, stuffed his feet in shoes, and ran out after her in his pajamas. Running out to the street, he spotted her climbing into a cab talking on her...cell phone? He didn't miss the purse slung over her shoulder either. What the fuck? he thought as he watched the car pull away.
Tadashi had come into the office early to finish the report on the proposal Mya had sent him. It was slow going since every so often his mind would wander to his daughter. Was it dinner time yet? He had to stop himself several times from checking on her. He had already done his morning check-in and received her warm reply; any more than that and she would get annoyed with him. Yashiro would be with her the whole time so there was nothing to worry about. He told Yashiro that if there was any conflict to call him right away and he would be able to assist.
He had stayed up most of the night pouring over the information Sota had given him. The Morizumi family seemed to have their hand in every part of the entertainment industry. He was still trying to figure out the best way to approach the whole situation. Tadashi wanted nothing more than to expose Kimiko for her deception and dangerous actions towards innocent young women; however, if he didn't tread lightly this could all blow up in his face. He may inadvertently harm his daughter's career prospects in the process if he wasn't careful. The devious plan he cooked up was petty, using the teen Morizumi's tactics against her. It would be a matter of time before the teen cracked under the pressure.
Tadashi rubbed his face tiredly. He needed to finish his day job so he could put his plan into action. As much as he didn't want to leave his daughter any time soon, he needed to get back to the States. It wasn't fair to dump all this work on Mya even if she was better than him, in his humble opinion.
Yashiro's eyes bulged at what he just read on his phone. It appeared that Kyoko acquired a loony fan on her site. He would ask the President to have Ruto look into it just in case this person was a crazy stalker. He was scanning the site for any sign of Queen B when he came across the new name. She seemed to be MIA since yesterday and didn't make an appearance on the set yesterday, but her father did. Kyoko had shared with him what little had transpired yesterday concerning Cain Heel.
The manager pursed his lips as a new post popped up taking a shot at Ren.
EmeraldEyedFairy: Did anyone else go googly-eyed over Kyoko-chan's appearance yesterday? She was too adorable; my heart went doki doki for her! If Ren-san's not careful, I just might steal her away to Faerie!
Before Yashiro could defend his friend, a text message popped up on his phone. The President wanted to meet tonight no matter the time. Kyoko's schedule was fine, but Ren's obligations ran late. He sighed and closed the site and went about rearranging Ren's schedule making a mental note to look into this new fan.
Notes:
I hope Sensei gives us a Corn stone backstory. I would love to know how Kuon got it.
Thank you for continuing to read. I appreciate it!Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 64: Counter Attack
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kimiko would get a taste of her own medicine.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi rubbed the back of his neck and shoulders to relieve some of the tension that had settled there. He had managed to finish the report for Mya a while ago and was now able to focus on Operation Take Down the Evil Queen with Sota's help. His friend was on board to help in any way when it came to the Princess.
Sota was in the process of acquiring the information needed to launch their first attack. Going this route left Tadashi feeling immature and petty, but no one could blame him. His foe was a teenage girl, after all. He tried to make sure everything planned was legit by consulting his lawyer. Everything was sorted out for later tonight after the meeting at LME. The eccentric president was left in charge to schedule said meeting once Tadashi brought him abreast on the current situation and plan.
Tadashi stopped kneading his aching shoulders when the car came to a halt, signaling his arrival. He stepped out of the car, leaving instructions for his driver to take a break nearby, and walked through the sliding glass doors of the high-rise corporate office.
"Morimoto-san, welcome," an executive greeted him immediately upon entering with a formal bow. "The Chairman has been expecting you."
Tadashi returned the greeting with a small nod of his head and proceeded forth at the man's insistence toward the private elevator. They made small talk about their respective company's latest achievements as they took the elevator to the top floor. Each man was knowledgeable in the projects and contracts the other had executed recently. They exited the elevator and headed down the short hall that led to the Chairman's office.
Three handsome and well-dressed young men fidgeted outside the large mahogany doors of the office. The assistant gave them a curt nod as they bowed to them. Tadashi eyed their presence peculiarly but nodded as he entered the office with the assistant. Once inside, he was greeted by Koenji Katsumasa and a girl that appeared to be a year or two older than Kyoko. Tadashi could only deduce that she was his daughter Erika and those men outside were her bodyguards that helped his daughter. I wonder if I can convince Kyoko to at least one bodyguard.
"Tadashi-san, so good to see you again. I heard you were relocating to Japan," Katsumasa inquired enthusiastically and reached out to shake his hand.
"Katsumasa-san, likewise, and yes I'll be here permanently by mid-December at the latest. I was supposed to return to the States to tie up loose ends there, but I have a personal matter to clear up before I can leave Japan," Tadashi answered returning the handshake and smiling hello at Erika. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I know you're a busy man, so I'll try to make this brief."
Erika stared at the man in his well-tailored designer navy suit which paired with brown Italian leather shoes. The man wreaked money and was on good enough terms with her father to call him on a first-name basis. He seemed vaguely familiar, but she could swear on her life, they had never met. As heir to the Koenji empire, she prided herself in knowing the nuances of her family's corporation. From what she gathered, he wasn't based in Japan. That would explain why he was unfamiliar to her.
"I understand," Katsumasa nodded. "This is my daughter, Erika. When we spoke earlier you said this had something to do with her, so I hope you don't mind that she's here."
Erika gasped and stared like a deer in headlights at her father and this man! What in the world? What did I do? I don't know him at all.
"Erika-san, I know you're confused so I shall try to explain," Tadashi addressed her, trying to put her at ease. "My name is Morimoto Tadashi. Your father and I have conducted business before, sometimes in collaboration but most of the time as rivals. It makes for a more interesting golf game." He chuckled along with Katsumasa at his joke.
Erika raised an eyebrow, unenthused by the humor of her father's friend.
Tadashi stifled his laughter and cleared his throat to continue. "I believe you're acquainted with my daughter."
Erika searched through her mental Rolodex of possible girls at school that could be this man's daughter. The fact that he lived in the States had her drawing a blank, making his daughter a mystery.
"I'm sorry, Morimoto-san. I don't know any girls at school with your last name."
"Ah, she uses her mother's last name and I don't think you attend the same school. I'm quite sure you know her well through the show-biz industry. Unfortunately, she has been all over the tabloids of late. Her name is Kyoko."
Erika scrunched her brows in confusion until it clicked.
"What?!" She blurted, jumping from her seat. "Are you talking about that poor girl that wears second-hand clothing and that awful pink uniform! This has to be a lie!" She clamped her hand over her mouth realizing that she just insulted her father's friend.
"Erika!" Her father glared at her. I swear this uncouth daughter of mine. Well, at least she recovered her spunk.
"I'm so sorry," she bowed to Tadashi. "I'm sorry father," she said, her face scarlet from embarrassment.
Tadashi chuckled and felt his collar suddenly become too tight from the nerves. He didn't want to disclose family matters to anyone so he played it off. "It's quite okay. She's very humble and prefers to use her own strength to fulfill her dreams."
Erika felt his verbal knife stab in her gut and twisted it for good measure. It was only when she was thoroughly defeated by the pink duo during the Curara auditions that she accepted Kanae's challenge to stop relying on her family name. Erika completely misunderstood Tadashi's words and related Kyoko's situation to hers. Even though it was at her disposal, Kyoko didn't use her father's name or wealth to get ahead in the industry. The girl even went further and denounced her father's money. She consistently wore the same no-name branded clothing or those god-awful pink overalls. Erika shuddered thinking about that eye-sore of a uniform. Her indifference to wealth was one more reason for her to loathe Kyoko. Her very existence negated Erika's. She had to draw the line at pretending to be poor. There was no way she would survive without the afforded luxuries that came with her family name.
Tadashi noticed the change in the girl. Was it something I said?
"Are you okay, Erika-san?" Tadashi asked worriedly. Perhaps she was still experiencing side effects from the accident she suffered at the hands of that evil girl.
Erika sighed in defeat. "I'm fine. Thank you for your concern." The pain in her tongue as she bit on it kept her from snapping in her usual fashion. This man was her father's acquaintance in business. She couldn't treat him how she did everyone else, even if he was her nemesis' father. Plus, she was tired of being treated like a fragile female by her family. After exacting her revenge on Kimiko and with the help of a therapist, she had found the will to recover her mental state. She was still undergoing physical therapy, but she had regained mobility of her legs.
"Tadashi-san, please excuse my rude daughter's outburst! All those etiquette lessons have clearly not paid off."
"No, it's quite fine. I'm sure your daughter was taken by surprise," Tadashi assured him.
"Thank you, please have a seat and tell us what this is all about," Katsumasa gestured to the leather chair across his desk.
Tadashi took his seat and filled him in on Kimiko's attempt on Kyoko's life, his daughter's role in saving her, and the conditions made to keep Kimiko out of show biz.
With each word, Erika shrank lower into the chair. Her father's demeanor grew darker and darker as Tadashi continued to weave his tale. She had never told her father about the incident involving Kyoko nor how the issue was resolved. She was in deep shit.
Tadashi paused when he sensed the same anger radiating off of the Chairman as he had felt when he was made aware of the occurrences.
"I'm sorry, Katsumasa-san. I can see now that Erika-san never told you any of this. I'm burdening you with this because I have reason to believe that Morizumi Kimiko is still after my daughter. There have been numerous accidents on the set of The Sacred Lotus and I have good reason to believe that she is the mastermind behind them."
"The Koenji group is the biggest sponsor for that production. Yuki Kuresaki has made me aware of the issues regarding security and the threat of sabotage, but I didn't know they knew who was behind the incidents. I approved the addition of increased security and safety measures on the set. This Kimiko Morizumi is related to the director, is she not? How could that fool let her get away with such atrocities?" Katsumasa scowled, outraged by Tadashi's news.
"I'm going to call Yuki right now and demand an explanation," Katsumasa declared, reaching for his phone.
"Katsumasa-san, please. I'm asking you not to do anything and let me handle this. I have a plan that would hopefully expose Kimiko-san's true nature. Meanwhile, my daughter is being protected in the process. I came here today because I may need to use the video and images Erika-san had taken the night after the auditions for my plan to work. I didn't want you or her to be blind-sighted should this leak out to the media. I don't doubt that Kimiko-san may even try to contact you," Tadashi told Erika. "If you can deny everything that would be most helpful."
Erika clenched her jaw in anger while Tadashi and her father continued to talk. Of course that bitch would continue her underhanded tricks. I didn't anticipate this move by her. Technically, she's still sticking to her part of the bargain, so I can't interfere. I'll leave it to Kyoko's family to handle this round.
"Tadashi-san, surely you can't expect me to sit on my hands and do nothing here. The filming is almost complete and so much money has already been invested in the project. Pulling Director Morizumi off or scrapping the whole thing would be difficult but not impossible."
"Please don't do that. I don't think the Producer or Director looked further into the matter. The cast and crew have worked very hard to make the production successful. It would be a waste to pull it now. Plus, shutting it down would be playing right into her hands in my opinion."
Katsuma quietly contemplated his proposal for a few moments then nodded. "I'll leave it to you then. Should you need my assistance…" Katsumasa trailed off.
"I'll be sure to contact you first," Tadashi bowed in appreciation.
"Thank you, Erika-san. If it wasn't for your sharp mind and quick wit, my daughter would be severely injured or worse," Tadshi's voice trembled slightly with emotion. He shook it off and smiled warmly at the young lady. "I look forward to your success in show-biz."
His compliments threw Erika off guard and elicited a charming smile out of her. As the door closed behind him, he heard Katsumasa direct Erika to call her lackeys inside the office.
Tadashi stopped before the three men still waiting outside and bowed respectfully to them. "Thank you for your efforts in saving my daughter's life."
The men exchanged surprised glances with one another but returned his bow unsure of whom he was referring to. Tadashi straightened and said, "If you're ever in need of anything please contact me." He handed his business card to each of them and took his leave. Erika's manservants would learn within moments the name of said daughter as well as receive a grueling dressing down from Katsumasa.
Yashiro pocketed his phone and closed his notebook. He had just finished rearranging Ren's schedule so they could meet with the President later this evening. Kyoko sauntered over to him looking spent. She crossed her arms over her chest, in and out, in a similar fashion that an Olympic swimmer would loosen up on the pool deck before a race. Yashiro frowned as he watched her coming towards him.
"Kyoko-chan, is your body okay?" He asked as she stood there stretching her neck from left to right and rubbing her shoulders. She looked at him with wide-eyed confusion. He didn't think the scene she just acted out was heavily physical so he wasn't sure.
"What do you mean, Yashiro-san?" Kyoko asked looking over her body to see if something was out of place.
Koga couldn't help but overhear and chimed in. "He means you keep stretching between takes. Is there something wrong? Do you need more time to recover?"
"No-no-no-no! Please don't! A lowly actress like me? I couldn't delay filming because of this. I think Ren and I just took things a little too far this morning. I have to learn my body's limits," Kyoko gushed innocently.
Yashiro let out a yelp that was a mixture of horror and mortification. Ren, you pervert! Koga had been in the middle of drinking water when she said that and proceeded to choke. His eyes welled up with tears; water spat out of his mouth and nose as he coughed to breathe. Kyoko immediately moved behind him and pounded on his back. Her beating sent him into another fit of coughing to suck in oxygen. She was hitting him too hard. When he finally recovered, he looked at her in a whole new light and proceeded to give her another lecture on lecherous men.
"I don't understand what you mean, Hirom-" she mumbled as the blush on her cheeks deepened at his insinuations, but the actor gave her an amused look. "Ugh...I mean, Koga-san," she added quickly, glancing around to see if anyone was listening to them. She had managed to start calling him naturally by his first name after he threatened to call her without honorifics. Now and again when she slipped up, he would call her name intimately in retaliation in front of the cast and crew where rumors could easily soar. He was such a bully. When he didn't respond to her error, she continued. "Ren and I went to the LME gym this morning. He thinks I should learn self-defense. I guess if I can handle a man of his stature, I'm bound to be able to take care of myself in a pinch."
Yashiro sighed loudly in relief. So that was why I met them at LME and not at home. He replayed the conversation he had with them in the lobby. Ren had mentioned that they were preparing her for future eventualities. At the time, their conversation was interrupted by both Sawara and Matsushima handing him folders of their recent offers. He still had yet to completely go through the first batch Sawara had given for Kyoko. On the drive over they discussed some of the roles Kyoko hoped would be in the batch. Her ideal roles involved being a princess, a water sprite, a goddess, or a high priestess. Yashiro couldn't help but chuckle. He hoped there was something in that pile for her along those lines.
"Ugh!" Koga growled in aggravation. "Kyoko-chan, you have to watch your choice of words. Anyone could misunderstand what you just said. If the paparazzi had overheard you just now your name would be dragged through the mud," Koga warned.
Kyoko looked at him dryly as if he were kidding. Had he forgotten that her name was already in all of the tabloids? Today's news preyed on dissecting the original article. She was still thankful her parents were spared from all this foolishness but unhappy that the more ill repute gossip rags were linking her with Shotaro. She may or may not have taken some of her aggression out on Ren on the mat this morning. If her body was sore, she wondered how he was doing? He was a grown man, surely she didn't hurt him too badly. She wondered what she could do for him as an apology.
"Um, excuse me?" A soft feminine voice interrupted. "I have another delivery for you, Kyoko-san," The voice came from behind a large vibrant bouquet of wildflowers. "Please sign here," the delivery woman said after she handed the gift bag and flowers over to Kyoko. The woman bowed and tried to make a hasty retreat.
"Please wait! I would like to ask you a question!" Kyoko called after her before the woman could escape. The woman hesitated, adjusted the brim of her cap so it sat lower on her brow before turning around.
"Yes, how may I help you?" She said with a warm smile.
"I was wondering how much time does your company need for a same-day delivery?" Kyoko asked returning her smile.
"Our company prides itself on having high-quality products on the fly so one hour is all we need. We collaborate with many local businesses to make it possible. Of course, there are the occasional custom items that would delay an order. Also, out-of-stock items are beyond our control, but we always suggest a suitable replacement to the customer. If you go to our company website, we have a list of readily available items for purchase. Please, take our card," she offered, removing a card from the breast pocket of her delivery uniform and held it out to Kyoko with a bow.
"Thank you very much! I appreciate you taking the time to answer," Kyoko replied bowing profusely after taking the card.
"Oh, please don't bow to me. We appreciate your business. Good luck filming and I'll see you tomorrow," she said with a knowing smile. Kyoko blushed. The woman had become a regular on the set thanks to Ren's propensity to send her gifts from the same shop. It wasn't bold of her to assume that Ren would send her something again tomorrow. Kyoko returned her attention to her new bouquet and inhaled the sweet fragrance of the flowers.
"Tsuruga-kun sure does treasure you. Ugh...I need to find someone to treasure me," Koga groaned, hugging himself in a lonely embrace.
Kyoko rolled her eyes. "Koga-san, I think you're missing the point here. YOU need to be the one doing the treasuring."
"That's old fashion thinking, Kyoko-chan. Women of today love their independence."
"Yes, but we also appreciate the occasional reminder that we're always on our significant other's mind. I'm going to my dressing room to put this in a vase. I'll be right back." She bounded off leaving Koga and Yashiro to stare after her.
"CUT!" The director hollered into his megaphone and dismissed them for a thirty-minute lunch.
"Good girl, Rosie," Ren praised his co-star while playfully scratching behind her ears. Rosie returned her gratitude with sloppy wet kisses all over his face, making Ren laugh without restriction. The female staff jealously muttered among themselves, wishing they were the dog right now. Ren rolled his eyes at their ridiculousness.
He sighed as he stood. From the corner of his eye, he could see them eagerly waiting to pounce on him to have lunch. Dog slobber coated his face. He wiped his face using the handkerchief he kept in his pocket, ignoring them as he passed to retrieve a bento. He thought it was best to attempt to eat something so it wouldn't be a complete lie when his girlfriend grilled him later about his meals. Thanks to the delicious meals she cooked, food was starting to grow on him. He realized that he had no problems eating his meals because she was his company. He would often get lost in their conversations while eating and would end up finishing all his food in the process. He knew Kyoko had to also have noticed his gradual change because he could swear the little minx was increasing the portions on his plate.
"Tsuruga-san, you have a visitor," an assistant called out as he headed for his trailer. Ren turned in the direction he pointed and found Tadashi waving to him, sheepishly carrying a large plastic bag.
Ren gulped as he walked over to his father-in-law. In his mind, he was already good as married to Kyoko.
"Tadashi-san, is there something I can do for you?" Ren bowed, using all his acting prowess to show that he was unperturbed by the sudden visit of Kyoko's father.
"Forgive me, Ren-kun, for barging in on your workplace. I was in the area and thought we could have lunch," he said raising the bag. Giving Tadashi's demeanor and tailored suit, it was quite easy for him to gain access to the set. The staff was correct in assuming that he was someone of importance to the actor.
"Perfect timing," he smiled, hoping it sounded genuine. "We can eat in my dressing room. It's more comfortable," private he added internally, leading Tadashi to his room.
"I brought some for you too, Ren-kun. It's just cheap food-court food, but it's so delicious," Tadashi gushed, emptying the contents of the bag onto the low table in the dressing room. Ren watched him remove two containers of chicken karaage, four packages of onigiri, and two bottles of green tea. Something about the simple food put him at ease. Nothing in Tadashi's actions deserved for him to remain on guard. Ren relaxed and set aside the bento to save for later. Yashiro had changed his schedule so he wouldn't be able to join Kyoko and Tadashi for dinner.
"Kyoko would be scolding us right now if she knew we were eating this. She calls it a high-calorie, low nutritional snack and shouldn't be eaten as a meal," Ren joked, lovingly.
"Eh...but there's lots of protein here and this one is even a vegetable," Tadashi replied in defense. Ren chuckled. Is that what my excuses sound like when I use them on her.
"Please have some," Tadashi gestured, handing Ren a pair of chopsticks.
"Thank you... itadakimasu," he replied with palms together.
He started with the onigiri and took a bite. Tadashi was right, it was delicious. After a few exchanges of the tasty food, the silence between them dragged for several minutes as they continued to eat. Ren could feel Tadashi's gaze on him between bites, but whenever he glanced up, the man would be concentrating on his food.
"So why are you really here, Tadashi-san?" Ren finally asked when he couldn't bear the quiet any longer. "Do you have something to say about Kyoko?"
"Oh, sorry, it really was on my way. As for Kyoko, we can discuss it tonight with everyone. I'm curious, how did you manage it?"
"Manage what?" Ren asked pausing mid-bite.
Tadashi looked around the room as if expecting someone else to be in the room. He leaned in closer to Ren and whispered, "how did you manage to become Cain Heel?"
Ren's eyes widened with shock. He had forgotten that Tadashi had made them in the cafe. Is this where he tells me to stay away from her.
"Ah, so you found us out," Ren sighed in defeat. "Apparently, I'm not as skillful as I thought if I was easily recognized. What gave me away?"
"You did. You just confirmed my suspicions," Tadashi smiled with a gleam in his eye so like his cheeky daughter.
Ren smacked the palm of his hand to his forehead. How could he have fallen for such a cheap trick? He stood quickly and dipped into a deep bow.
"I'm very sorry for the deception and for dragging Kyoko along with me."
"No apology necessary. I'm not in the least upset. Please sit down and finish your food or Kyoko-chan would scold us both," Tadashi replied.
Ren took his seat and resumed eating, assured that Tadashi wasn't angry with him. For some reason, he was very comfortable with this man. Maybe, it was because he was so similar to Kyoko. He thought about his father. Not counting his recent visit or their phone conversations, it was long before Rick's death when he stopped talking to his Dad. He just didn't want to burden him with any of his problems.
"I'm pretty sure Kyoko-chan would tell you that the experience gained acting as Setsuka was an invaluable lesson," Tadashi added after a few moments of eating. "Plus, I found your performance as both Cain Heel and Black Jack remarkable."
"So you've seen Tragic Marker," Ren asked, staring down at his hands once again nervous. He wondered if Tadashi would see through the special effects makeup and realize that the man underneath it was indeed still a monster. Would he now demand he stay away from Kyoko for fear of her safety?
Tadashi sensing the actor's anxiety and depression stated, "I don't know anything about acting, but whatever past experience you pulled from to play that role successfully is just that, in the past. I'm in no position to judge. All you can do is take one step at a time to a happier future with her."
Ren's gaze shot up and locked onto the pair of golden orbs across from him so similar to his daughter's— brilliant, steadfast with a tinge of sorrow but most of all acceptance.
"The moment you stop making her happy is when I'll swoop in and break your legs." Ren gulped as Tadashi's eyes turned deadly. All he could do was nod to the man since he was pretty sure his voice would come out as a squeak from fear.
Tadashi's phone rang interrupting the suddenly tense atmosphere. Ren couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped his lips by the interruption. Saved by the bell, literally.
"Please excuse me," Tadashi told Ren, standing to answer the phone.
"Did you manage to get it?" Tadashi listened quietly. Ren could hear the other man talking and knew this was in regards to Kyoko.
"Okay good, just like we planned. Only send the one message for now," Tadashi instructed the caller.
"Well, if that happens then do what you need to until it's read. Yes, let me know." Tadashi finished and hung up the phone then turned to face Ren.
"What changed? If you're making a move against Morizumi-san something had to have triggered you. What did she do?" Ren demanded.
"She tried to commission some delinquents to rough up Kyoko-chan last night," Tadashi admitted and slumped into his chair.
"She did what? I'm going to end this bitch right now!" Ren growled, jumping to his feet.
"Hold on! Confronting her will not solve anything. I have a plan which I was going to share with everyone tonight but I'll tell you now."
For the remainder of Ren's lunch break, Tadashi told him about what unfolded with the teenage boys and how they gave him the solution to their problem.
Kimiko put down the makeup sponge she was using and stood from her vanity. The bruise she made on her face last night was now camouflaged. She reached for her phone as a new message chimed.
He sent flowers and chocolates again.
Kimiko mentally filed that information for future purposes. She turned on the TV and once again flipped through all the news stations verifying once more that there was no suspect report from the police looking for her. She wondered if she should change her appearance. Did she still need to look the part of an ideal Japanese maiden? She didn't get the part of Momiji nor were her affections returned by the man she loved. Today she would lay low and called her hairstylist to make an appointment for tomorrow.
After the call, she sat down at her computer. It had been some time since she checked her blog. Now that she was no longer working, she didn't have anything noteworthy to report. The thought of becoming completely irrelevant horrified her? She needed to figure out a way to get back into the limelight. Maybe she could return to when she first started writing about fashion, restaurants, celebrities, and things she just enjoyed. She was in a better mood thinking about doing something constructive.
When her blog page finally loaded, she was greeted with a flood of comments from her fans.
You look cute with your natural hair color. Welcome back to Japan!
Good luck with the auditions. I'm sure you'll get the part!
Ugh, she had forgotten that her last update was of her latest hairstyle and also mentioned that she was auditioning for a new role.
Did you get the part? Can't wait to watch you on the big screen.
Where are you?
We miss you? Are you okay?
You haven't updated in a while.
Are you having health issues?
Those comments were over a month old. As she typed out an apology, she decided to play the sympathy card, admitting her failure to readers. She mentioned her hiatus from acting to focus on her studies and wasn't sure when she would return to acting. She hit the submit post. Within minutes she had a PM from a reader.
I know.
Kimiko involuntarily shivered as she gazed at the strange message before deleting it. Probably some SPAM mail, she thought, trying to comfort herself with the weak excuse.
She jolted in her desk chair when her phone chimed. With a shaky hand, she lifted it off the table and read the message.
Check your email.
She immediately deleted the message. It chimed again, displaying the same message. She glanced around her room nervously. How did that just happen? She deleted it again.
Her phone rang making her yelp with surprise. This time the caller ID showed the number of her stylist so she picked it up. The voice on the other end was not that of the over-exuberant falsetto of her male stylist. "You should check your messages Morizumi-san, you don't want this ending up on your blog," the synthesized voice threatened.
"Who are you? How di-," she shouted into the receiver but the line went dead.
Great, I need to change my number. I have a creeper now.
She had every intention of ignoring the call, but curiosity got the better of her. Whoever was calling just threatened to post something on her blog. How did they get my number and email? Both were private information. Using her computer, she logged into her email and found a recent one with the subject line, Is this you?
Kimiko didn't think that the link would contain some computer virus and click on it impatiently. Fear gripped her as she stared at a clear still shot of herself using the payphone outside Lawson's convenience store downtown. It was dated and time-stamped last night when she made the anonymous call to the police.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read. I appreciate it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 65: Well-Loved
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko's loved ones would band to protect her.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Morizumi-sama, welcome home," the maid greeted with a bow as he walked in the door.
"Thank you, Ayako-san. Is my wife and daughter home?" Jiro asked just before his wife walked through the door behind him.
"Hello dear, is Kimi not with you?"He asked, kissing his wife on the cheek.
"No, she should be home."
"Morizumi-sama, actually Kimiko-sama has been in her room all day. She has instructed us to leave her alone. I tried to bring her lunch, but she left the food untouched."
Jiro glanced at his wife, her brow furrowed with worry. "I'm sure it's nothing dear. I'll go check on her. You can see about dinner," he said giving her a reassuring smile.
He headed upstairs towards his daughter's room and paused outside the door to listen. All he could hear was the faint sound of the television. He knocked lightly on the door, waiting for several beats for an answer that never came, so he turned the knob.
"Kimi?" he called softly, the darkness of the room making him frown. The illumination from the TV was the only source of light. Suddenly worried, he barged into the room heading for the couch and was relieved to find her curled up on it, sleeping.
Jiro went back to the door and flicked on the light switch chasing the darkness out of the room. Kimiko bolted upright on the couch. Her head darted to and fro in a paranoid manner before she relaxed. She was in the safety of her room.
"Kimi, are you okay?" Her father's voice startled her from behind. "You look a little pale," he said, coming over and feeling her forehead.
"Oh, Tou-san, I'm fine. Just a bit tired," she said stifling a yawn.
She wasn't about to reveal the source of her exhaustion. She was being blackmailed or threatened? The sender had not revealed any demands so she wasn't quite sure their motive. Unless the ultimate goal was to drive her crazy. It was something out of a cliché horror movie. She half expected to wake and find a killer with a knife standing outside her window.
Her phone pinged. Kimiko nervously stared at the thing. What would it be this time? As if the picture wasn't enough, they followed it up with an audio file of her making the call to the emergency dispatch. Of course, both mediums could be easily faked with today's technology. She wasn't taking any chances until the caller revealed their price. For now, she would lay low.
"Kimi, did you hear me? You can invite Ric-san to dinner tonight. I met him at the Lotus set," her father informed her. "Jouji has a brilliant cast and the things you can do with stage makeup...astounding. I never thought of casting..."
Her father continued to talk but his voice was muffled. A single thought replayed in her head over and over until she was seeing red. He thinks she's brilliant!
Tadashi cleared the gate security at The Sacred Lotus set with an extra pep in his step. Due to Ren's tight schedule, they would have time for a daddy-daughter date before meeting everyone at the LME office. He had a couple of places in mind for dinner but would leave it to her to make the final decision. They would have plenty of time when he returned from the States, permanently, to spend time together, so whatever she wanted would be fine by him. He was glad he took the initiative to spend some time with Ren this afternoon. The boy seemed to be loosening up around him a bit more.
Tadashi spotted Yashiro talking with a group of people and walked toward him. Yashiro stepped away from the group and greeted Tadashi.
"Tadashi-san, how are you?"
"I'm good. How are you, Yashiro-san? Thank you for taking care of my daughter today," Tadashi bowed in gratitude.
"It's no problem at all. As her manager and friend, I only want her to be safe," Yashiro said pushing up his glasses. Plus, Ren would surely kill me if anything happened to her again right under my nose.
"She's lucky to have you, Yashiro-san. Where is she by the way?" Tadashi asked, looking around the set for his daughter. They were still filming a scene, but all he could see was Koga and the actress that played Chidori.
"You're right on time. Kyoko-chan is done filming for the day, so she's getting changed," Yashiro informed him.
"Do you plan on meeting up with Ren-kun after this? If not, would you like to join us for dinner?"
"Oh no, I'll pick something up on my way back to the office. I have to catch up on looking through their offers and running it by their schedules. With all the media coverage lately, Ren and Kyoko are the hot commodities right now."
Kyoko approached Tadashi and Yashiro with all the grace of an angel. Several extras and crew members on set followed her with their eyes. She was wearing a white R'Mandy short sleeve eyelet dress that stopped mid-thigh with a pair of camel-colored wedges. As usual, unaware of her charm, she left casualties in her wake.
"Father, Yashiro-san, sorry to keep you waiting," she said bowing profusely.
"It's no problem. I just arrived. You look lovely by the way, Kyoko-chan," Tadashi complimented her. "Yashiro-san, can you please take a photo of us? I plan on starting on a family album. I have to get some of Koga-san, Mya-chan would be so jealous."
Tadashi and Kyoko posed while Yashiro took their photo. They even got someone else to take a photo of the three of them. Ren is going to be so jealous, Yashiro snickered to himself. When the Director called for a short break, they went to say their farewell to the Director and other colleagues. They headed for the exit, but not before Tadashi got a few pictures with Koga to tease Mya.
"Well, are you ready to brave the mob outside? I'll help get you to the car," Yashiro said.
As they neared the exit, Cedric was off to the side frowning at his phone. Whoever was calling, he was clearly ignoring them. She tried to walk past without engaging him, but he caught sight of her that Kyoko's breeding made it impossible for her to ignore her colleague.
"Bennett-san, thank you for all your hard work," Kyoko said cordially and bowed. It was hard to believe that this same guy had caused Kuon so much pain in America. She remained wary of him.
"Thank you for your hard work, " he replied and returned her bow. "Here let me help escort you."
As soon as they exited the gate, the reporters and photographers descended upon them. Tadashi wrapped his arm around her as they pushed through the crowd. Yashiro and Cedric flanked them, intimidating the mob with their auras and clearing a path to the awaiting car.
Safe inside the car, the father and daughter duo breathed a sigh of relief. "So where do you want to eat?" Tadashi asked as the car eased away.
"I know it's nothing glamorous, but do you mind if we dine at the Darumaya?" Kyoko asked her father sheepishly. She wanted to see her old landlords and reassure them that she was doing fine.
Tadashi knocked on the back door of the Darumaya before allowing Kyoko to get out of the car. Paparazzi were known to lurk around the restaurant. He bowed, greeting Taisho when he opened the door. Kyoko quickly got out of the car and bowed to her former landlord. It had only been a couple of weeks since she saw him last, but it felt longer. Taisho ushered them inside glancing down the alleyway before shutting the door.
Okami pulled Kyoko into a motherly embrace. "You look very pretty today, Kyoko-chan. Come sit down and chat with me. Taisho will make us some dinner. It's not the dinner rush yet, so we have some time. Tadashi-san, you too, would you like something to drink?"
"Don't worry about me, Okami-san, please catch up with Kyoko-chan. I'll give Taisho a hand if he doesn't mind," Tadashi told her. Taisho said nothing but handed him an apron. That was all the approval Tadashi needed to help the man. He served the ladies drinks. Between the two of them, they made quick work with dinner leaving Taisho impressed by his culinary skills.
"How is she?" Taisho asked, breaking the silence as he cut thin slices of salmon for sushi rolls.
"You know her better than I. She's quite stubborn and refuses to make this get to her. She wanted to reassure you that she was fine," Tadashi reported.
Taisho grunted and gazed at the girl he thought of as a daughter smiling while she talked with his wife. He sighed inwardly. There had been so much hidden from them the whole time she lived under his roof. It made him angry to learn that she had such a childhood with that Fuwa punk. Absentmindedly, he brought the knife down with excessive force making a loud thunk sound as it connected with the cutting board.
"Don't mind him, dear. He's working through some things. We were very surprised with your article, and also very proud. It was sweet of you for mentioning us." Okami lowered her voice to a whisper, "I swear his eyes watered."
Taisho grunted, hearing their conversation.
"If it weren't for you and Taisho taking me in, I would have never made it this far. I will forever be grateful to you both."
"Don't start crying, dear. You'll ruin your pretty face. We're just happy to have you. Please keep coming to visit us, okay."
"Of course, Okami-san. Thank you!" Kyoko replied.
While they ate, Okami and Kyoko kept up most of the lively chatter. After eating and cleaning up the dinner dishes, Kyoko hugged her landlords before heading out. Since dinner had finished early, Kyoko and Tadashi had a few hours to kill before the meeting.
In the car, Kyoko turned towards her father and said, "Thank you, father, for indulging me. Since we have lots of time, is there anything you would like to do?" Tadashi's eyes lit up with excitement. He knew just the thing.
Kyoko reached for Kuon's hand after he shifted gears while driving. He laced his fingers with hers and kissed the back of her hand. They were on their way home after leaving Lory's office. He was already aware of the plan so nothing Tadashi said surprised him. It didn't surprise Kyoko that Kimiko was the notorious "Queen B" that had prompted Koki to investigate her and Sho's background. It didn't even shock her that she had tried to once again wish her bodily harm. What did rattle her was the fact that Lory and the Akatoki President scheduled an interview with her and Shotarou for tomorrow morning.
"Corn, are you going to be okay?" She asked in a worried voice.
Kuon couldn't help but laugh. "You continue to amaze me. All of this is going on around you and you think of my feelings. I should be asking you that question."
"It's, it's...because..." she began but couldn't finish. She didn't want to accuse him of losing control of the darkness he fears inside him. Although, her grudges weren't picking up any negative vibes from him at the moment. His lack of reaction was disconcerting.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't angry. I had lunch with your father, remember? He told me everything then so I've had time to compose myself. Fuwa, however, is another story. If he hurts you again all bets are off."
"I understand, but I still don't want you getting into trouble because of him. But thank you, Corn." She leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the cheek when they stopped at the light. He smiled and gave her hand a small squeeze. "So what did you and my father talk about?" She asked curiously, changing the subject.
"Our favorite topic, of course, you." She gave him a dry look. "And he cleverly got me to confess that I was Cain."
Kyoko gasped. "Oh my god, how did he take it? Was he angry? He never said a thing when we were together."
"I think he took it quite well considering that he only threatened to break both my legs if I ever hurt you."
Kyoko giggled, "quit messing around."
"I'm telling you, babe, you're well-loved by that man. I almost feel sorry for Morizumi-san. Your father is a tactician at mind games."
Kyoko hummed and thought about the meeting they just had at LME.
"It will only be a matter of time before she implodes. She's starting to make careless mistakes," Tadashi said after disclosing his plan to all present in Lory's office.
Kyoko couldn't understand why the girl hated her so much. She didn't like getting her father involved in her problems and suggested they talk to her parents to make them aware of her problems. They had evidence that she was still trying to cause harm to Kyoko. "Wouldn't they believe us over their daughter?" She sounded so naive saying that out loud.
"Mogami-kun, you do realize Morizumi-kun tried to kill you and Koenji-kun," Lory reminded her. "She just failed to do so."
"Sweetie, Morizumi Kimiko is dangerous," her father stated. "She knows her family has the means to get her out of trouble. Who knows how many victims came before her and how many would come after. No parent wants to believe their child is capable of such atrocities."
Tadashi had discovered that the Morizumi family had paid off one of her earlier victims to keep things quiet. When it was put like that Kyoko couldn't argue any further. She pushed those unpleasant thoughts to the back of her mind and focused on her boyfriend.
"By the way, what did you eat for lunch?" Kyoko felt the subtle twitch as his hand tensed in hers. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"My father-in-law treated me to a meal," he said defensively. "There was no way I would turn him down."
Kyoko laughed while he squirmed in his seat. "Okay, I'll let you off the hook. Did you eat dinner? I can make you something when we get home."
"I had a bento on set, so I ate properly," he replied without any hesitation. Kyoko could tell he wasn't lying.
"I'm sorry I couldn't join you for dinner. Did you guys have a good time? I see several shopping bags back there. Get anything sexy?"
"Ew gross, I was shopping with my father. There's no way I'd be buying sexy things with him around."
"So you do buy sexy things, just not when your father is around?"
"Quit it, you perv! He took me shopping for my return to school. He said it's something parents in America do all the time. I got a pair of shoes, a new bag, and lots of school supplies." Kyoko got excited describing the new pens, markers, paper, and folders her father insisted on purchasing. "There's even a bag back there containing two gifts from him. I'm not sure what they are since I haven't had a chance to open them."
"Yeah, I remember those days. Mom used to go all out buying me the trendiest clothes and bags. The fact that I wore a uniform didn't faze her," he said with a chuckle.
In the apartment, Kyoko arranged her new bouquet in the vase. "You know Corn, you don't have to keep buying me gifts. You've already given me so much."
"I doubt it," He countered wrapping his arms around her. "You have given me so much more than I could ever give you. I didn't know what I was missing until you came back into my life. Like the blazing sun has nothing on your light. You've chased away all the darkness and warmed me from the inside out. You have given me the drive to move forward."
Kuon broke away and moved towards his bag. "Plus you gave me this," he said pulling out the mug she had delivered to him today. The screenprint on the cup was filled with descriptive words touting him as The greatest, charming, kind, handsome, trustworthy, etc...boyfriend. "I have to keep going if I want to maintain this level of excellence. At least until I'm upgraded to fiancé then husband."
Kyoko blushed scarlet. "I'm sorry. I wanted to make you feel treasured like you always do me and this caught my eye. I didn't think flowers were appropriate and you don't care for sweets. I did heavily consider a stuffed animal, but you get those from fans all the time. So I thought, you're mine so I have every right to send you this kind of gift. I'm sorry if it troubled you."
It was Kuon's turn to blush at her claim on him. The fact that she went through the effort of sending him a gift in return stirred his heart. Kijima, who was in this episode of his veterinarian drama, witnessed the gift unveiling, and wouldn't let him live it down. Kuon didn't care. He was teased relentlessly for the hopelessly in love expression he wore for the remainder of the filming. Naturally, it caused him and his coworkers a few NGs. In the interview he had before the LME meeting, he specifically asked for them to use his mug during the broadcast. It even became a hot topic of conversation. Wanting to show off, he planned on carrying this mug from set to set.
"Are you kidding? This is my favorite mug and I think Kijima-san was a tad jealous," he smiled. "Open the gifts from your dad."
Apprehension settled over her. She had no clue what was inside the boxes, but if his shopping tastes were anything like tonight, it was probably very expensive. Kyoko pleaded for her father not to buy a designer backpack or the overly priced black loafers that would just get scuffed up. In the end, she lost the battle since he was quite persuasive, obtaining Cain-level status with that guilt trip.
"It's a gift, so it would make him happy if you accept it with good feelings regardless of the cost. I'm sure he struggled to choose something just for you."
"You're right. It's just hard being spoiled when all my life..." Kyoko didn't finish her sentence. There was no sense dwelling in the past. She was still getting used to being cherished and having a parent that doted on her.
With new resolve, she dove into the bag and pulled out the bigger box with a note taped to the beautifully wrapped gift. She wondered if he had wrapped it himself. Kyoko-chan, I hope you find this helpful with your schoolwork and career.
Kyoko carefully removed the tape from the paper to save the gorgeous paper. She could reuse it for something else. The paper revealed that Tadashi had bought her the latest laptop computer.
Kuon had to hand it to Tadashi, he knew exactly what he was doing. Knowing his girlfriend, she couldn't refuse something so practical. Kuon offered to open the box and plug it in to charge. He gestured for her to open the smaller box.
Kyoko unwrapped the next box and found a smartphone similar to Kuon's. A small envelope was tucked inside the box. I hope I am not overstepping more with this gift. I thought it would be nice if we can video chat when I return to the U.S., but only if you want to and you're comfortable. Please don't feel pressured to do so. The fees are covered, so please don't worry about that. Use it as you see fit, for work or personal.
Kyoko glanced at Kuon with blurry eyes after reading her father's note. Her father had gone out of his way to purchase these expensive items so they could stay connected while he was away.
"See, very loved. Let's plug this in as well. You can take it to the President tomorrow. Ruto-san can back-up your data and discreetly transfer everything over to the new phone."
Kyoko paled at the thought of Ruto and the President going through her files especially her prized pictures.
"Something you don't want them to see?" Kuon's eyebrow quirked. She nodded her head vigorously not denying it. Now he was curious about what she could have on there.
"Is it something you can show me?"
She immediately shook her head no then changed it to yes when hurt flashed across his face.
"It's okay. You're entitled to your privacy," he said quietly turning around and heading towards the bedroom.
"Wait!" She said pulling on the back of his shirt with such force he almost lost his balance.
"Here, please don't judge me," she said handing him her phone. He chuckled at her uneasy look.
"It's okay, baby. Let's get cleaned up for bed. I'll help you transfer the files tomorrow when we have time," He assured her, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead and leading her by the hand. "If you still want me to see, you can show me when we lay down, okay?"
Later that night, Kuon would learn just how long Kyoko had been observing him and of all the pictures she took of him in secret.
"Nurse! Nurse! My wife, where is she? Di- di- did she..." He couldn't even finish the sentence. It felt like his heart was breaking.
"Hanazawa-san, your wife is fine. She was moved to a private room," the nurse informed him of the exciting news.
"A private room? I can't afford the bill. Who authorized it?" He replied as panic seeped into his pores.
"It's okay. The bill has been settled. She's right down there," the nurse assured him.
"What do you mean settled? By whom?" He couldn't comprehend how this happened.
"See for yourself. I believe your friend is still in there. He wanted to wait to surprise you, but I guess I ruined it. Your wife didn't seem to mind, so we allowed him to stay."
Hanazawa walked in to find a man professionally dressed man engrossed with his cellphone. The man glanced up from his screen as he entered and brought his finger to his lips, indicating for him to be quiet since his wife was asleep. There was something oddly familiar about him, but he couldn't quite place his face. Not wanting to be rude for staring, Hanazawa's eyes swept over the machines to make sure they were all beeping properly reassuring him that she was still alive. The man stood quietly and whispered, "I'll be waiting in the lounge down the hall when you're ready to talk. Ten minutes later, Hanazawa joined the man in the deserted rest area taking the seat across him.
"You're Kyoko-san's manager right? What is the meaning of this?" He asked nervously.
"My name is Morimoto Tadashi. I am Kyoko's father. I was made aware of several incidences on set that resulted in my daughter getting injured. All the clues pointed to you. Please explain yourself."
It didn't take much pressing from Tadashi before Hanazawa Soujirou broke down and confessed everything.
"As you can see, my wife is ill. I needed the money but drew the line when Kyoko had taken the tumble on the roof. I thought if I could cleverly rig things to do minimal harm, Morizumi Kimiko would still pay me per our deal. I also overheard the conversation about Fuwa Sho and passed the information on to Kimiko-san. I've been living with the guilt this whole time. I love my wife and I was desperate to help her. I broke off all contact with Kimiko-san and took up a second job," Hanazawa explained trying to get Tadashi to understand his reasons. He rarely saw his girls, but they understood he was working hard to help their mother.
"If this story ever went public, the Moizumis would use you as a scapegoat and have you blacklisted from every set in the industry."
"I have no one else to blame but myself. I will accept the punishment. I just don't want my family to suffer because of my poor choices," Hanazawa pleaded, dropping to his knees and bowing his head to the floor.
"I'll do what I can to help you if the need arises. You don't have to worry about your family. They will be cared for," Tadashi assured him.
"Why would you do that? After what I did to Kyoko-san," Hanazawa questioned, sitting back on his heels.
"Don't misunderstand, my daughter is selfless and forgiving. Everybody makes mistakes and they deserve a second chance. Yours is nobler than others," Tadashi told him as he stood to leave. He handed him his business card and left the room after Hanazawa thanked him.
Notes:
Thank you for your patience. I hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 66: Love Triangle
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would have already drawn the line with Sho.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The next morning Kyoko turned on the entertainment news to watch while they ate their breakfast. A mug company seemed to be dominating the discussion at the moment. Kuon chuckled, turning up the volume on the television.
"In just under 12 hours, this mug company has sold out of its personalized boyfriend and husband mugs after Tsuruga Ren's endorsement last night during a live interview. The megastar claimed that it was a present he received just that day from his steady girlfriend, model, and actress, Kyoko-san. They have been dominating the tabloids ever since they announced their relationship at the Awards Ceremony, so it's not surprising that this would become a headliner. Here is a clip from last night's broadcast," the news reporter announced.
The screen switched to footage of Ren's interview.
"Tsuruga-kun, I see you insisted that you use your cup for your coffee tonight. Can you share with us the significance of it?" the interviewer asked curiously.
In the footage, Ren picked up the cup and smiled as if he was doing some sort of advert by holding out its screen-printed side for the audience to see. The camera zoomed in on the mug which was displayed on the big screen behind the chairs in the studio so everyone could read the font.
"I received this mug by delivery while on set from my beautiful and talented girlfriend Kyoko. Today, everything I drink tastes better coming out of this cup. It's the little things she does for me that I treasure most." There was a collective sigh throughout the audience. Ren took a dramatic sip from his mug and smiled.
It switched back to the news reporter, as she continued to discuss the influx of sales due to Ren's little sales plug.
Kyoko groaned, laying her head down on the table. She was so embarrassed. How was she supposed to show her face at work today? She could hear Kuon chuckling beside her. She turned her head to peek up at him just as he took a sip of his coffee from that very mug.
"You're not even worried about your reputation are you?"
"Nope!" He deadpanned.
"Even if they start calling you what is the word the guys at school liked to use...whipped?"
Kuon smiled broadly at the idea, "I'll take it as a compliment."
"You're hopeless!" Kyoko groaned again.
"Hopelessly in love with you," he retorted.
"And extra cheesy," she teased, throwing her arms around him.
"In other news, Fuwa Sho's concert was disrupted last night because of an argument that erupted in the stands. It's rumored that the disagreement escalated when Fuwa Sho's fans clashed with Kyoko-san's fans. There has been no word from either of the agencies confirming if Fuwa-san was indeed the other party in Kyoko-san's article," the woman reported.
Kyoko broke from Kuon and stared at the TV. Could this be the reason for the interview? Is Shotaro under attack? She didn't follow social media or watch much TV, so she wasn't aware of the total damage the article had done.
Kyoko squeaked down the hall in her Boh costume with Bridge Rock, their manager, and her father. It was embarrassing facing the brothers this morning as they gushed at how lucky Ren was for having a thoughtful girlfriend like her. They were at TBM early for an autograph signing and fan greetings for Yappa Kimagure Rock. Due to the extreme popularity of Boh and Kyoko, the producer reluctantly included her as well. When the cast stepped through the side door to the area where they would be greeting fans, the auditorium erupted with applause and squeals. Kyoko was in awe by the scene. She couldn't believe the hundreds of fans that woke up early to meet them this morning.
"Wow, I can't believe there are so many people at this hour?" Kyoko exclaimed.
The Ishibashi brothers laughed and joined in on her enthusiasm. This was Boh's first time being part of this kind of promotion, so they could understand her amazement. It had been the same for them.
"A lot of the fans in the front row were probably already here the night before. This is the largest turnout yet," Hikaru commented. "It's all thanks to you, Kyoko-chan. Boh is an integral part of the show because of you. Your fans are out in full force."
Waving to their fans, they crossed the stage and took their seats at the table. Kyoko was delighted to see that she had a huge stack of Boh headshots in various outfits to sign.
The hour that was allotted for Kyoko to sign autographs had flown by. In that time frame, she had written love Boh more than a hundred times, took just as many pictures with fans, and probably carried about forty babies and toddlers in her wings while the young mothers took their picture with her.
Kyoko was slowly coming down from the adrenaline rush of it all as she walked towards her changing room with her father. Tadashi carried her head since there was no longer any point in hiding her identity. Everyone knew who was inside the Boh costume now. There was still another hour for the promotion, but her backup had already replaced her at the front lines. She had stayed in character as Boh the whole time even when fans insisted on addressing her as "Kyoko" she didn't respond. In less than an hour, she would be facing Japan with Shotaro in the seat next to her.
In her dressing room, she stepped into the stall to take a quick shower. There was no way she was going into the interview smelling like sweat. While she washed, she thought about what had transpired last night in Lory's office.
"Mogami-kun, President Akatoki has requested that you have an interview with Fuwa-kun regarding your childhood sometime next week. He wants to use this interview to confirm that the friend you mention in the article is indeed Fuwa-kun. He thinks that if fans see you two behaving amicably together, they would move on from harassing either one of you."
Kyoko stared at Lory like he was crazy. Is seriously asking me to go before a live audience and interact with Shotaro? The last time we were on stage together was a disaster.
"I refused the President's request for next week," Lory continued. Kyoko sighed with relief, but it was short-lived. "I told him it was only possible if it happened tomorrow at the latest or not at all."
Kyoko gasped. Whaaa?
"Sir, why impose such an impractical schedule? Wouldn't next week be the better option?" Yashiro interjected on her behalf. The manager part of him was thinking about the already tight schedule Kyoko had the next day.
"This timing could not be more perfect. In this industry, there is always something better to replace old news," Lory explained. There was a collective "aha" moment throughout the room. The only person that looked confused was Tadashi.
"I don't understand. Is there some plan that I'm not privy to?" Tadashi asked, looking around the room.
Ren spoke up next. "It's okay to share with you since you already know the secret. The day after tomorrow we plan to reveal the Heel siblings to the nation. What the President is trying to say is that this current news, Kyoko's article, her connection with Fuwa, would all be old news and less significant when this new information is released. It's the nature of the business."
Tadashi's eyes widened in understanding. "I see now, so the media will have something bigger to focus on."
Ren nodded. "Yes! Unfortunately, Kyoko will still be at the center of it all, but it would be for her acting prowess rather than her personal life."
"Exactly!" Lory responded with a proud smile and threaded his fingers under his chin.
Done with her shower, she shook off the thoughts from last night and turned off the faucet. The broadcast they saw this morning probably had no bearing on the decision to have the interview. It seemed with the timing that this was something that happened afterward. Kyoko came out of the bathroom dressed for the interview and sat down at her vanity to apply her makeup. Today she was wearing a two-piece ensemble that Fuji gave to her. It consisted of a dolman sleeved crop top with three large stripes of red, pink, and orange. The matching skirt was a high waist pencil skirt of the same three colors but with thinner stripes. It gave her the look of a professional, but the colors and cut of the top kept her young and fresh. Kyoko styled her hair, topped her lips with pink gloss then left to meet up with her father in the lobby.
Sho climbed out of the van when they arrived at TBM studios. Unlike most notable celebrities that used the underground parking lot to enter the building discreetly, Sho eagerly disembarked at the front entrance with a dramatic flair. He swept his fingers through his hair and tilted his head up to the sky just right so the sun would glint off his perfect profile. The place was teeming with reporters, photographers, teenage girls, and young adults. Someone must have leaked out his location ahead of time so fans could gather.
He reached back into the van pulling out his guitar and slinging the instrument over his back while he waited for Shoko to join him. Sho was annoyed that it took all of two minutes before someone recognized him. It was two minutes too long for Sho's liking. This is all her fault was the single thought that had been crossing Sho's mind every time something went wrong in the last two days. The fact that he had to fly out late last night after his concert to be here already put him in a shitty mood.
He was Fuwa Sho! Why did he have to be at her beck and call? What was that stupid President thinking agreeing to this? Then there was that stupid news broadcast this morning. What fight? There had been one post with a picture on social media of a group of girls arguing at his concert. Of course, the hashtags didn't help. They insinuated that the argument was over Kyoko. The media was blowing things out of proportion. He had a meeting with President Akatoki this morning. He told Sho to look apologetic and keep things professional. Even though this was a taping to be aired later, there would still be a live audience.
Sho smiled and felt rejuvenated by all the pretty women surrounding him begging for an autograph. He posed for a few pictures before he made it inside.
"Sho you have a half-hour before the interview starts. I hope Kyoko-chan is already here so you guys can speak beforehand."
The squeals coming from the auditorium on the left caught his attention as giggling girls came out holding papers to their chest and talked excitedly among themselves. Sho's sharp ears twitched as he heard "Bridge Rock" and "Boh" in their conversation. He walked toward the door and spotted his intended target on the stage. Sho strutted to the front of the room and bypassed all the fans in line. He smirked at the chicken.
"Oh my God! It's Sho-san!"
"What's he doing here?"
"Wasn't he supposed to be touring until next week?"
"Why is he just staring at Boh like that?"
"Could the rumors be true?"
Sho walked up alongside Boh and gave the chicken a friendly pat on the back. He wrapped his arm over Boh's shoulders and cockily posed for the cameras. The fans shouted for them to look this way and that way as they took pictures.
Under his breath, Sho said, "I can't believe you're still doing this stupid job, Kyoko. Think about your image. You always were one to do degrading work." Sho could feel Boh shaking with anger as the chicken shook out of his grasp.
"Tch! Why are you mad?" Sho asked defensively, holding up his hands in surrender. The chicken was on the verge of going rabid. "Hey, I'm just thinking about your reputation. Plus, how long are you going to stay here? Don't you dare think about showing up to the interview in that getup?"
Hikaru who was sitting nearest to Boh heard everything Sho had said. He stood up and stepped up to the singer. "Wow, Fuwa, you're a real asshole. It's a wonder Kyoko-chan hasn't completely cut you out of her life. A stuck-up guy like you doesn't deserve her friendship. If you pulled your head out of your ass every once in a while you would see what a hard worker she is. Boh is just as important as any of us on the show, but a shallow guy like you wouldn't understand."
"Tch," Sho clucked his tongue. The other brothers had stepped up behind the smaller guy and were looking just as angry. He looked up to see the fans nearby whispering and taking pictures. This was looking bad. He leaned down towards Hikaru and whispered, "I see, you're in love with her. Good luck with that," Sho sneered patting him on the shoulder and heading for the exit.
Hikaru let out a shaky breath. "Leader you were so cool standing up to that guy," Shinichi exclaimed.
"Kyoko-chan would have been so moved if she saw you in action," Yuusei added.
Sho picked up his guitar where he had placed it down next to Shoko and left the room.
"Sho, what was that all about? You can't go around causing trouble at other people's work location."
"It's fine Shoko. Wouldn't it be good for people to see us getting along?"
"Yes, that's true, but it looked like something happened with the Bridge Rock group. What did they say?"
"It was a talk among men. You wouldn't understand," he replied in his usual chauvinistic kind of way which always pissed her off.
They walked towards the waiting room that the assistant producer had pointed out. Sho waited for Shoko to catch up before opening the door. Glancing in the room, Sho noticed Kyoko stand from where she was sitting next to a man. Shoko saw her and tried to greet her, but Sho pulled her back suddenly, shutting the door.
"Sho! What are you doing?" Shoko hissed as she tried to steady herself on her high heels. He had thrown her off balance.
"Shoko, that was Kyoko in there right?" Shoko nodded. It appeared to be the girl. There was no longer a trace of the awkward girl of long ago. As a woman, Shoko could appreciate how pretty Kyoko looked today. She had always thought the girl was beautiful and couldn't understand why Sho always insulted her by calling her plain. Today she knew her charge couldn't say anything derogatory about his old friend's appearance.
"If that was Kyoko, then who was in the chicken suit?" Sho asked sweating bullets. What exactly had he said earlier? Words like "degrading," and "embarrassing," came to mind. He hoped he would never run into whoever was in that suit ever again. He inhaled deeply and allowed his shroud of arrogance to drape over him then opened the door and walked in.
Kyoko lifted an eyebrow in his direction when Sho finally decided to grace them with his presence permanently. Tadashi had been showing her the features of her new phone when he came in since Kuon had managed to transfer her contacts and data over this morning. Her father made it look so easy but she was still getting used to the tactile functions.
"Oi! You have a phone, why haven't you tried calling me?" Sho demanded, marching straight up to her.
"Oh, I'm sorry Shotaro," she replied sweetly with a roll of her eyes. "Maybe it's because I don't want to talk to you!"
"Shhh!" He said covering her mouth with his hand. Kyoko pried his fingers off her face angrily.
"Get your filthy hands off me. So unsanitary! I don't where they've been."
Sho was taken aback by the low growl that came from the unknown man standing close behind her.
"W-well, stop saying that name out loud in public," he stuttered nervously, glancing at the man glaring at him. Who the hell is this fucking guy? "W-what if someone overheard you?" He hissed. "My life would be over."
Kyoko rolled her eyes again. "Get over your name already." She ignored him and turned her attention to his manager. "Hello Shoko-san, let's work well together today," Kyoko bowed.
"Likewise, Kyoko-chan," Shoko said, returning her bow. The manager's attention fixed on the man in the room. He was handsome, well dressed, and gave off a commanding aura. He looks really pissed. Is he her new manager?
"Hey, don't just ignore me," Sho whined, stamping his foot.
"Hello, I'm Shoko Aki, Fuwa Sho's manager," Shoko said ignoring her charge, bowing, and presenting her business card. "You must be Kyoko-chan's new manager."
"I'm sorry Shoko-san, he's not my manager. This is my father, Morimoto Tadashi," Kyoko announced proudly. Tadashi bowed and presented his card in return.
"I am, however, accompanying Kyoko as her acting manager while I have some free time," he clarified. He pierced Sho with an icy glare. This is the arrogant brat that hurt my daughter. Tadashi studied the singer and concluded that the boy never suffered from a hard day's work in his life. His only struggles came from producing music. Tadashi did not doubt the boy was talented in his field. It was just a shame that he had the inflated ego to go along with it.
Sho scoffed and glared at Tadashi for a moment before pulling Kyoko off to the side. "Are you fucking insane? Are you so desperate for a parent's affection that you latch on to the first man that comes claiming to be your father? Did it ever occur to you that this guy is just taking advantage of you?"
"I'm not that stupid, naive girl anymore, Sho-ta-ro! And not everyone acts like you. He has shown me more kindness in the few weeks I've known him than you ever have."
Sho balled his hands into tight fists, "that's not true! I've..." A knock on the door interrupted whatever he was going to say. The assistant opened the door and informed them that they had ten minutes.
"Listen Sho, I know in your mind you think I'm still that silly girl you knew from Kyoto. You have opened my eyes. I believe in Tadashi-san and I don't need to explain my relationship with him to you. I'm begging you, when we go out there, please don't drag our parents into this. Let's focus on our 'friendship.'"
"Fine," Sho growled, clenching his jaw. He looked over her shoulder at the man staring back at him. A shiver ran down his spine giving him the chills. I have no clue what she's thinking. The man is clearly dangerous.
It had been less than two minutes when another knock rapt on the door. Everyone turned to the door to see who was coming in. Ren peeked his head in and smiled when his eyes landed on Kyoko. He strolled into the room, giving Shoko a curt nod, and openly glaring at Fuwa. The actor gracefully bowed to Tadashi and laid claim on Kyoko by kissing her on the forehead. Kyoko's face flushed immediately. It was an innocent gesture, but it felt more intimate in front of their small audience.
"You look beautiful," he whispered into her ear. Kyoko had to fight to keep from shuddering at his closeness.
"What are you doing here, Tsuruga? Out of work already?" Sho snickered, challenging Ren.
The actor ignored Sho and focused on Kyoko. "Are you nervous?" Kyoko nodded tilting up to meet his gaze. She wasn't sure what questions the host would be hurling her way. Ren and Yashiro had given her pointers in the car so she hoped she could steer the conversation in her favor if necessary.
"Where is Yashiro-san?" Kyoko asked, looking around Ren. On cue, their shared manager popped into the room greeting everyone present.
"Ren walks entirely too fast. I was only a few minutes behind finishing up some business and yet I couldn't catch up," Yashiro complained.
Sho decided he couldn't let it go as he watched the girl he grew up with interact with this stranger. He approached Ren and asked, "could I talk to you outside Tsuruga?" Ren nodded and followed Sho out. It had been a while since he had any kind of confrontation with the singer. Now that he and Kyoko were a couple, all the insecurities he felt towards the guy were gone. He still didn't like the jerk but he would at least hear him out. He didn't want him hurting Kyoko anymore.
When they were outside in the hallway and a few feet from the room, Sho stopped and looked up and down the hall before speaking, "have you and Kyoko both lost your marbles?"
"I'm sorry Fuwa, I have a hard time understanding idiocy these days," Ren mocked.
"You're the only fucking idiot around here, asshole! How could you let a man like that get so close to Kyoko? So close that she's deluded enough to call him father."
"It's none of your concern, Fuwa. I don't own Kyoko. I don't dictate who she lets into her life. If I did, this conversation, this interview you're having with her would not be happening with you right now. Despite all the terrible shit you've pulled on her, she still can't cut you off completely. I might not like it, but it's one of the many things I love about her."
"That's not the same. He could be toying with her emotions. When he's done playing daddy and slinks off to God knows where then what?" Sho asked in a frustrated tone. Ren couldn't blame the guy for being worried for Kyoko. He knew this guy had his moments when it came to protecting and caring for her.
"Kyoko knows the risks and I trust Tadashi-san. If the inevitable happens, he will answer to many people," he said, flashing deadly eyes on him. "I'll always be here to protect her."
Sho snorted. "Yeah like Karuizawa," he muttered.
The temperature around them dropped to frigid degrees as the actor's aura turned deadly. Oh, fuck! Sho gulped. The studio door down the hall banged open, saving his ass. There was no further talk on the topic as the assistant strolled down the hall to get them. "Hello, Tsuruga-san, the producer told me you made it. It was still a surprise when your manager called us this morning and said you could make the first ten minutes of the show. We are more than happy to have you."
"Yes, I wanted to support Kyoko even just a little bit," Ren replied, plastering on a brilliant smile that made Sho shudder.
"What the hell is this? Why is this guy involved? He's just a third wheel here. This is supposed to be about me and Kyoko," Fuwa argued with the assistant.
"Ah, Fuwa-san, sorry for the change. It wasn't set in stone that Tsuruga-san would be able to make it due to his busy schedule. Please understand that it is only for a short while. The remainder of the time will focus on you and Kyoko-san," the assistant explained trying to placate Sho. I guess the rumors were true about this guy being a diva.
The assistant brought the party to the back of the stage where they waited for their mark. Kyoko made it a point to steer her little group away from Sho, especially when she saw Ren's professional smile at maximum wattage.
"Are you okay to stay?" She asked curiously, happy to have him here but worried about his schedule.
"I may have shamelessly inserted myself into the show a bit," he confessed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. He looked so cute and nervous waiting for her reaction that Kyoko could only squeeze his hand in thanks.
"Five minutes," a staff member announced while final instructions were being given to the live studio audience.
The hostess of the show followed shortly with only enough time for introductions. "I'm Dr. Kenishiro Reino. Thank you all for being on the show."
Kyoko and Ren bowed respectively while Sho just had to open his mouth.
"So you're a doctor," Sho began flirtily but was instantly stopped by pain erupting in his foot. Kyoko had ground her heel into it to keep him from being unprofessional.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Fuwa-san," Kyoko covered her mouth in shock trying to stifle her laughter. Sho glared at her as he tried to walk off the injury, cursing and muttering to himself. He ignored the snickers coming from Ren.
"Reina-san, you're up," the assistant called out.
"I'll see you all out there. Let's have a good show." Reina took her place in the chair and addressed her audience. Once the audience was nice and primed, she called on her guests.
Kyoko walked out between the two men trying to fight down her nervousness. She channeled some of Ren's calming aura to walk without tripping. In heels, her normally brisk pace was slower than usual. Sho was already pulling ahead of her, but as always, Ren slowed his pace to match hers. His hand brushed hers as they walked towards the couch, sending a wave of tingles up her arm. The audience's applause and shouts were exhilarating, helping Kyoko to rein in her nerves by their outpouring of support. They had no clue all three of them would be on the show. Kyoko felt like a piece of bologna, sandwiched between the two men as they settled on the loveseat. Anyone watching the show would conclude that this was a cliché love triangle troupe found in every Shoujo manga. Special effects were unnecessary as sparks flew between the two men above her head.
"I'm sure you are all surprised at today's guests. I'm very excited since these three have been the hottest topic in the news. Kyoko-san, Tsuruga-san, and Fuwa-san thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to join us today."
They bowed their head slightly, greeted Reina, and thanking her for having them on the show. "Since you're all here, I'm assuming that it is safe to say that Fuwa-san is the friend mentioned in the article? So you were all childhood friends, I'm sure the audience would love to know what that was like?"
Sho scoffed, "Who's friends with this guy?"
Ren chuckled. "Dr. Kaneshiro that is an inaccurate statement. Fuwa-san and I were never friends. Kyoko and I met as kids. It was through playing with her that I learned about 'Sho-chan' though." Ren raised his voice several octaves to mimic a cut six-year-old Kyoko making the audience laugh.
Sho scowled at the immature use of his name and Kyoko pinched Ren's leg. He didn't even flinch which annoyed her. Ren was teasing her, but it was nice that they could joke like this now. She remembered the dark days when she had no clue why Ren would get so angry over just hearing Sho's name.
"Eh, so it was like that," Reina commented ignoring Sho. "Kyoko-san, I think all of us are eager to know what you and Tsuruga-san used to play when you met as children."
Kyoko's eyes went sparkly thinking about the past. "We played pretend a lot. I know we hunted down stones that reminded us of hamburger steak that I would pretend to 'cook' for him. He showed me how to skip stones in the river. What else?" She asked smiling at Ren, but before he could add anything she started again. "Oh, even as a kid Ren was good at acrobatics. My six-year-old self thought he could fly when he jumped through the air."
"Lies," Sho muttered under his breath. He forgot he had a small mic attached to him so any sound he made was amplified.
Dr. Reina turned her attention to Sho. The whole premise of her show was to have all parties talk things through like family therapy. Lory Takarada had hand-picked her show for them to hash things out. "Why do you think they're lying, Fuwa-san?"
Sho was surprised by the question. Everyone stared at him expectantly, so he answered honestly. "I was closest to Kyoko. She never once mentioned meeting him. Don't you think it's weird for a young girl not to go around flaunting that she made a new friend that could fly?"
Everyone turned towards Sho, astonished that something intelligent came out of his mouth for once. Sho shrugged at their looks like it was no big deal.
"Kyoko-san, do you have anything to add to that? Fuwa-san is implying that you two meeting as kids is a publicity stunt," Reina clarified, glancing between Ren and Kyoko.
Ren's gentleman smile intensified. He didn't know Sho well but he was sure the singer was not implying that at all. She was reaching to keep her audience engaged by drumming up a non-existent scandal. Reina was preying on the biggest downside to Kyoko's article. Many saw it as a ploy to increase her popularity.
"I'm not sure if anyone would believe me, but I wanted to keep him as my little secret. I didn't have any friends aside from Fuwa-san growing up. I didn't want my warm memories of him to be defiled by anyone, even my so-called best friend," Kyoko answered sincerely.
Sho scowled but didn't contest it. So what she told him in the hallway during the PV shooting was true. She did run off and cry all on her own. That's probably when she met him.
Reina smiled at Kyoko. "I think we can all understand those feelings, Kyoko-san...We're going to take a short commercial break. Tsuruga-san has to leave us, but we thank him for taking time out from his busy schedule to be here with us. When we return we'll talk more with Fuwa-san and Kyoko-chan."
Kyoko stood with Ren and squeezed his hand. He looked down at her and tucked her hair behind her ear. He wanted to kiss her goodbye, but they quite literally had a full audience watching them this time so he held himself back.
"You're doing great. Just be yourself and everything will be fine," he assured her, caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers. Sho made loud exaggerated gagging noises feigning sickness.
"Something wrong, Fuwa?" Ren asked, irritated by the singer.
"Yeah, you! Go before I lose my breakfast. The break is almost up," Sho huffed and crossed his arms over his chest cockily.
Ren gave Kyoko's hand a final squeeze and waved goodbye to the audience. Before leaving, he leaned down to give Sho one final warning, "If you hurt her." That was all he said and stood back up satisfied by the fear in the singer's eyes. He would leave it to Sho to fill in the blanks of what he would do to him if he hurt Kyoko again. He walked off the stage toward Yashiro and Tadashi with a heavy heart. It took all his willpower to leave her behind with that jerk.
"Ren, is it okay to leave her like this?" Yashiro asked concerned.
"She'll be fine," Ren said with conviction. He glanced one last time at Kyoko and caught her staring at him. She flashed him a cute smile and waved. Hidden from the audience, Ren lifted his hand and blew her a kiss. He smirked at the little blush forming on her cheeks from his little action. Just fine.
Sho grumbled, witnessing the whole exchange, "you really are a love idiot."
Kyoko smiled happily. "Thank you for the compliment."
Sho stared at his childhood friend stupefied by her response. It wasn't meant to be a compliment.
"We're back!" Reina announced, engaging the audience. "Tsuruga-san had to leave us, but we can shift focus to these childhood friends. If you're just tuning in and if I didn't make it clear, Fuwa Sho has confessed to being the childhood friend mentioned in Kyoko's article."
"Kyoko-chan, knowing Fuwa-san's popularity, why didn't you want to disclose that you were friends in the article?"
"Well, Dr. Reina-san, I thought I was doing the right thing by protecting his reputation."
"Tch, protecting me...you shouldn't have gone mouthing off to a reporter in the first place."
"What? It's your crazy fans that talk too much. The reporter was already going to write whatever he pleased. He was nice enough to let me get my say in before publishing," Kyoko argued defensively.
"Oh, so you're saying this is all my fault!" Sho sulked. "I can't control what people say about me."
"I know that! I only thought to give him facts that wouldn't hurt anybody and protect your anonymity. I didn't want people to associate me with you. If I had my way I would have kept my past with you in the dark forever. I never wanted the whole country to know what a naive girl I used to be. I'm embarrassed, but this is the price of being an actress. Sooner or later, this would have come to light so I wanted to do it under my terms."
Sho opened his mouth ready to argue to the point of death. Watching Kyoko keep her cool while he looked like a juvenile, made him bite his tongue and kept him from retorting.
"That's great Kyoko-san, girl power!" Reina began clapping with the audience immediately joining in. When the applause died down, she resumed questioning Sho seriously. "Fuwa-san, if the article is to be believed, you took advantage of Kyoko's feelings for you on your way to stardom. Do you feel any remorse?"
No matter what excuses Sho made up to explain his behavior, he would look like the bad guy. He repeatedly told himself not to smirk. It would damn him in front of everybody if he smiled cockily right now. President Akatoki would be angry and kick him out. "Of course, I feel terrible. I apologized didn't I?" He said with a smirk. Damn you, stupid face and your arrogant reflexes! Why are you smirking?
Reina stared at him skeptically. Jeez, this guy! That is not the face of someone that feels terrible for the things he did to his friend.
Kyoko tried to salvage Sho's response. Why was he being an idiot right now? "It's true! He apologized to me properly. I've moved on with my life, but I'll be lying if I said there wasn't any residual pain left over. Like I said before, I'm grateful to him. If he had not asked me to come to Tokyo so selfishly and throw me away like a used tissue, I wouldn't be acting right now. I wouldn't have met Ren again. I'm still healing and working on my self-worth. It's getting easier with friends, family, and work I enjoy. If someone told me over a year ago that this would be my life sitting here like this, talking with all of you, and having my love reciprocated, I would call them crazy. But I'm so happy right now," she declared, hiding her flushing cheeks in her hands. "So I say to all the young women out there, don't stop believing in fairytales. You might have to kiss a few toads before finding your Prince charming, but true love exists."
"It sounds like you've pretty much forgiven all his transgressions towards you, Kyoko-san. You're a stronger woman than I. There are a few exes of mine that can just burn in hell," Reina added with a cackle. She cleared her throat when her guests stared at her awkwardly.
Sho spoke up to defend himself. "I admit, I'm an immature and selfish person. I knew Kyoko had feelings for me and I took advantage of them. There was no one else that I could rely on. She already knew all of my bad habits. I knew she would forgive me and continue to stay by my side. I guess this time there was just no going back. I might not be making much sense, I think. I'm better at expressing myself through music," he finished with a lopsided grin that had all the ladies in the audience swooning, including Reina.
"That's right, Fuwa-san! You just reminded me of the English song that you sang at the awards ceremony. Did that song have anything to do with you two?"
"I selfishly wrote that song inspired by emotions I thought people felt over having to make the hard decision to move on from a failed long-term relationship. What everyone needs to understand is that the viewpoint of the song is not my own. The meaning of the song varies from listener to listener. What I'm trying to say is, even if their interpretation differs from mine it doesn't mean they're wrong. That's the beauty of music, it moves people differently."
Kyoko gaped at Sho, awestruck by his clarity.
"If you don't mind I wrote another song," Fuwa told Reina.
"Fuwa-san, you want to sing right now?" Reina asked. She cast her eyes backstage searching for the Producer on the sidelines and received a thumbs up to proceed.
"Yes, if you don't mind. I brought my guitar. I don't need anything else."
"No, it's okay right, Kyoko-san," Reina gushed, leaving no room for the actress to disagree. They were going to hear one of Sho's new songs on her show. This was going to be great for her ratings. His manager met him halfway on stage to hand him his guitar.
Kyoko shifted uneasily wonder what Sho was scheming. She hoped her grudges didn't try to kill him in front of a live audience. Sho strummed his guitar and made minor adjustments to the tuning keys until he was satisfied. He nodded to Reina that he was ready. Receiving the green light, he strummed the melody for over a minute. Kyoko began to think that there were no words until he added his voice singing in English.
"I once knew a girl, in the years of my youth, with eyes like the summer, all beauty, and truth. In the morning I fled, left a note and it read, someday you will be loved..."
Kyoko's eyes widened in surprise as he sang directly at her. Never in a million years would she have thought Sho capable of writing such a song. That was a lie. She always had faith in him. The moment reminded her of their early days when he used to sing his songs to get her critique. She had been so infatuated by him then that every one of his songs sounded amazing to her. Sho could do no wrong in her eyes back then. Hypnotized by the words, the song invoked images of the man that was now her boyfriend, the love of her life. For a second there, she got lost in her thoughts thinking of nothing but Kuon. Kyoko shook her head slightly trying to refocus on the song. Her childhood friend had come a long way from the boy sitting on the couch with the oversized instrument sitting on his lap. Now he was a successful man that captivated millions of hearts but no longer hers with his music.
"You'll be loved, you'll be loved like you never have known, And the memories of me will seem more like bad dreams, Just a series of blurs like I never occurred, someday you will be loved."
Kyoko clapped enthusiastically when the song came to an end. She dabbed at her watering eyes with the tissue Reina handed to her. Even if his fans couldn't understand all the words, they would have felt the emotions Sho emitted while singing. She didn't like that it implied they had some sort of relationship beyond friendship, but she had to admit it was a great song. She had no doubt this would boost his career internationally.
Notes:
Thanks for continuing to read, I appreciate it.
The song Sho sang was "Someday You Will Be Loved," by Death Cab for Cutie.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 67: Justice for Boh!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Sho's true nature would be exposed to his fans.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Ren sat across from Lory waiting for him to say something, but the infuriating man just sat there smiling to himself in that creepy conspiratorial way that always put him on edge.
"Don't look so worried, my boy. I just wanted to congratulate you," Lory said offering him an olive branch and yet the creepy smile persisted.
Ren glowered. What is he scheming now? He couldn't think of anything he had done recently that warranted a congratulation.
"I heard you imposed yourself on Kyoko's interview this morning," Lory smirked proudly, then bellowed with laughter until tears escaped the corners of his eyes. Ren scowled, annoyed by the president's amusement at his expense. It was so out of character for Tsuruga Ren to do something unprofessional for personal reasons.
"Have there been complaints? I'll apologize properly if it caused any trouble for the network. Although, I would do it all over again if given the chance."
"Quite the contrary. The producer was very excited about the turn of events. He didn't mind at all. I'm pretty sure their ratings would go up once it airs later tonight. It's a shame you didn't have more time. Dr. Reina might have had you spilling your guts," Lory smirked again.
"What are you saying? If given the time, she would have picked up on my past? Please give me more credit, Boss."
"We'll never know now, would we? Some of your directors and producers have also noticed a change in your behavior. They attribute it to you being in love and I have to agree with them. I think your feelings for Kyoko have allowed you to love and accept yourself a little more."
Ren contemplated the changes within himself. He did not doubt that he was more accepting of his past. He wouldn't have to face it completely until he was back in L.A.
Lory stared at the young man in front of him and pondered his words. Was it so shocking to find chunks of his armor coming loose?
"Are you ready for the interview tomorrow? I'm still curious to know how Morimoto-san found out about the Heel siblings. I couldn't ask last night since a lot was going on."
"Ah, well, he had coincidentally seen us in a cafe one day and assumed with his observations. Unfortunately, he asked me a trick question in which the answer resulted in giving us up."
Lory hummed. Interesting. The boy was lowering his guard around Tadashi that he was easily tricked into answering such a loaded question. It was a good thing they were no longer delaying the reveal. People tended to make mistakes with time. Lory was surprised that so far no one from the premiere party of Tragic Marker spilled the beans.
"How did the interview go this morning? It's airing tonight on prime-time television. I think it's more than enough time to let that news settle over the people before we knock them out with another punch."
Ren sighed, "People might think our meeting as kids was a total lie. Fuwa brought up some valid points so there might be some backlash. I know why Kyoko didn't tell anyone about me. Keeping it a secret was part of the game we played together."
"Kyoko-chan, you can't tell anyone about me, otherwise I would be unable to return to this world," the fairy prince warned her.
"I can't even tell Sho-chan? He's my bestest friend. I wanted him to see you fly."
"Especially your precious Sho-chan. My magic only works on the truly devout. Promise me, Kyoko-chan! Promise me you won't tell anyone.'
"I promise Corn! I won't tell anyone!"
It was his fault that she didn't tell anyone about their friendship. He thought it would add drama and mystery to his character and keep the adults from butting into their playtime together.
"I wouldn't be so sure of Fuwa-kun. That boy has a habit of digging his own grave," Lory said seriously. He had no doubt he would be getting another call from Akatoki soon.
Ren cocked a curious eyebrow, but Lory refused to elaborate. He wondered what the ass could have done in the last few hours to land him in hot water again. It better not involve Kyoko.
"More importantly, Ren, your choice of login name on Kyoko's fansite isn't very original. Please be more aware of what you post on there. Your last one had Yuki running to me. He said you could be a potential stalker and that I should look into it."
"What did you tell him?" Ren squirmed in his seat. If Yashiro knew he was Emerald-eyed Fairy, he'd never let him live it down.
"I told him you were a harmless thirteen-year-old girl that fancied herself in love with Mogami-kun."
"Why did it have to be something so extreme Boss?" Ren exclaimed, covering his face with his hand.
"That's the least of your worries. I'm pretty sure that man has already investigated that name for the same reasons Yuki wanted me to look into it. Unfortunately, he has the resources to find out it's you right away. I can't help you if he tries to confront you again regarding your identity."
Ren pursed his lips. He didn't think about the implications of his login name. Would Tadashi probe further?
"Shoko Aki, seriously, why do I pay you so much when you can't even manage a few hours without that idiot getting himself into trouble?" President Akatoki bellowed out of her phone, causing her to pull it away from her ear.
Their flight had just touched down on the tarmac from their short trip to Tokyo when Shoko noticed the two missed calls from the President. Gnawing on her thumbnail nervously, she had called him back right away.
"Sir, there must be some mistake. Sho did the interview then we came right back. The new song apologizing to Kyoko was a huge hit with the audience."
"Check your messages, Aki. I'm sending you the link. Call me back after you've watched it properly," Presided Akatoki said before the line went dead.
Shoko sighed and rubbed her temples in an attempt to relieve the migraine that was threatening to develop.
Shoko gathered up her belongings as the crew readied the plane for them to disembark. Sho's driver was already waiting for them as they headed to the car. Once they settled in the car, Sho looked over at his manager fumbling with her phone.
"What did the old man want Shoko?" Sho asked pulling off his headphones.
Shoko ignored him as she clicked on the link that the President just sent. The image shown before playing the clip was of Sho standing with the chicken from earlier. Shoko knew that what she was about to witness was going to require more work on her end. The video was titled Justice for Boh!
Sho leaned over to look at her phone as she hit play. Shit! Sho thought. One of the fans at the Bridge Rock signing this morning had caught Sho's exchange with not only the chicken but also the confrontation with Hikaru.
"Sho, how stupid can you be? I swear every time I think you've grown up a little you go and do something stupid! You're going to take a hit, the president is pissed off right now. You'll have to make a public apology! It's the only way to salvage this."
"Tch!" he clucked his tongue. "Why should I? I thought it was Kyoko. She knows how I am. If anything, that person in the chicken suit should apologize for deceiving me. My time is precious. I would have never wasted it on that loser if I knew it wasn't Kyoko."
"Ugh, that's not the point idiot! Kyoko-chan is the nation's darling right now and you've gone and insulted her regardless if it wasn't her in the suit. I have to call the president back."
"Tch, that old man won't say anything. I'm his biggest moneymaker," Sho boasted, rubbing his pinky finger in his ear in a juvenile gesture to show that Shoko's nagging was irritating him.
Shoko smirked at his attitude, hoping the president had a suitable punishment for him.
"Hello, sir. Yes, I saw the video...Yes, I know, sir, I told him. I think that would be our best option right now. Okay, I'll let him know. I'll report to you as soon as it's over." Shoko hung up the phone and closed her eyes, releasing a deep sigh. Sho swore he saw a part of her soul escape.
"Well, what the hell did he say already?"
"You have a press conference in an hour. The president wants you to make a public apology."
"What?! You call him back right now and tell him I'm not doing it! I'm his biggest star. He can't treat me like this! It's bullshit! "
Shoko opened her phone again to show him the video on various social media sites. "Do you see this number Sho? That's how many times this video has been shared and viewed by the masses. This video has gone viral. Look at these comments. They are calling for your head. You've worked so hard to cultivate your image these past two years and in just under an hour you've managed to ruin it. You act like such a child whenever Kyoko-chan is involved. You need to fix this!"
"Tch! What a fucking hassle! It's your job to get me out of this, Shoko!"
"Not this time! President Akatoki said he would fine you 50 million yen if you don't apologize!"
"What the fuck?! That greedy bastard just wants my hard-earned cash!"
Shoko glared at him unamused. His comment didn't even warrant a rebuttal.
"Fine, I'll do it!"
"He also wants you to apologize in person when you return to Tokyo after the tour to not only Kyoko-chan, but the Bo actor, and Bridge Rock."
Sho bit back a retort and shoved his headphones on to drown out Shoko. Can this day get any fucking worse?
Kyoko looked confused by the onslaught of questions the press threw her way as she tried to leave the Sacred Lotus site.
"Kyoko-san, do you have a response to Fuwa Sho's public apology?"
"Does this confirm that he is your childhood friend?"
"Kyoko-san is this the kind of abuse that you have endured at the hands of Fuwa-san growing up?"
"Is Fuwa-san still bullying you?"
Kyoko kept her face neutral and ignored the questions as she entered the car. What did that idiot do this time? I thought we were putting this all behind us.
"Father, do you know what's going on?" Kyoko asked Tadashi. She had been so engrossed with work that she only managed to return her boyfriend's messages during a break.
"It seems Fuwa-san made a blunder before the interview this morning. I was waiting to tell you until after today's work. I didn't want you worrying," he explained and handed her his phone to watch the viral post. Kyoko's eyes widened as she watched the video. His condescending way of demeaning her had not changed. She didn't care if he insulted her alone, but that idiot had dragged in the Ishibashi brothers and her Boh substitute into the mess. It was unforgivable. Her grudges who had been on hiatus for quite some time had started swirling around her, feeding off her anger.
Tadashi sighed. This was the second time he had glimpsed his daughter's dark side. He supposed it was inevitable that she would develop such characteristics given her history.
"Shall we go break his legs?" Tadashi asked, cracking his knuckles.
"Eh?" Kyoko squeaked out, staring at her father while trying to decipher if he was being serious or not. "No, no, no, there's no need for all that. You don't have to go that far," she backpedaled, making her grudges retreat. She didn't want to see her father go to jail for that guy.
Tadashi laughed. He was glad he was able to take her mind off of that little punk. He didn't like seeing that dark miasma surrounding her. He wanted her to always be happy. Kyoko was relieved when she realized he was joking.
"Anyway, you should click the link below," Tadashi told her, pointing below the first video.
In the video, there were several fans and some people dressed up as mascots holding up signs as they chanted, "Fuwa has to go! Justice for Boh!"
The chanting ceased when Sho took his place at the make-shift podium to speak.
"I wanted to apologize for my rude behavior earlier towards Kyoko, Boh, and Bridge Rock. I realized now that the things I said were malicious and insensitive. I have been trying to work on my immature behavior, but it's obvious that I still have a long way to go. I thank everyone for reminding me of the proper conduct befitting a Japanese idol. I didn't mean to undermine the work of a mascot. They have an important function in the entertainment business bringing joy and laughter to those around them. I plan on apologizing in person to all parties involved when I wrap up my tour here. Thank you for your time."
Sho ignored the questions being fired at him and headed into the hotel.
...
Tadashi had dropped Kyoko off with the promise that he would help her in the morning to prepare for Kanae's arrival. She had decided to hold the welcome back party that following night. She knew Kanae would be tired from the long trip, but Kyoko knew her friend well. If she didn't ambush her tomorrow, she would never get this chance again. She missed her friend and wanted to spoil her.
Kyoko made dinner that evening. It had been a few days since they were last able to eat together. She had texted him when she got home to gauge what he would like to eat. Surprisingly, he quickly responded with hamburger steak. All that talk during the interview had probably sparked his interest in the meal. As she waited for him to get home, she briefly thought about Sho. She wondered if he would ever be able to grow out of that terrible personality of his. He had his good moments, but those were few and far between. It served him right that he would be suffering from his little stunt for a while. She had texted the Ishibashi brothers on their group chat and apologized for Sho's behavior. Their responses were unanimous, stressing that it was not her place to apologize for his actions and adding that they were totally fine. She put her phone away when she heard the tones of the code for the front door being punched in.
"I'm home!" he greeted, beaming when he caught sight of her in the living room wearing one of his t-shirts and a pair of leggings. He loved it when she wore his clothes. It made him feel possessive.
"Welcome home, Kuon" she replied with an equally dazzling smile. She rushed to give him a hug and a kiss that he returned enthusiastically.
"Go wash your hands while I set the table," she instructed and disappeared into the kitchen to bring out their dishes.
Kyoko was carrying out two glasses of green tea when Kuon finally joined her. Her heart skipped a beat when she peered into those gorgeous green eyes. Even though she went to bed and woke up gazing into those emerald jewels, it always took her by surprise at how beautiful his eyes were.
They sat at the coffee table and Kuon turned on the TV, finding their interview from this morning already being aired. The screams and cheers through the television speakers were just as loud as she remembered. She can hear the chants of the almost all-female audience call out both Sho and Ren's names. Someday soon, she hoped they would scream her name out loud with similar enthusiasm.
Kuon was pleased by how cute they looked together as they took their seats and loved how Kyoko unconsciously leaned more towards him while he was there. During the commercial break after the brief segment with Ren, Kyoko thought it was best to tell him.
"Corn, um, there's something I have to tell you about the interview. You see… um... Shotaro sang a song and um, it eluded to some things that weren't true. I had been stressing about how to tell you this whole time. Please don't be angry."
"Oh really?" Kuon said a hint of Ren's gentleman smile playing on his lips. "How touching of Fuwa to write another song inspired by you?"
"Please don't hate me, Kuon-sama! The one I love is you and only you!" Kyoko wailed tears pricking the corner of her eyes.
Pfffft! She's so cute! Kuon chuckled happily at her outburst. "Nothing you could do would ever make me hate you. Even if you shatter my heart into a thousand pieces, I would still always love you." He gathered her in his arms and kissed her gently until he became distracted by Sho's song. Damn! This guy is good. A song like that sung from raw emotions would thaw even the coldest of hearts. He heard Fuwa's message loud and clear and frowned as he watched the song play out.
"What were you thinking about here? You're staring at him so intently, yet I could tell you aren't looking at him."
Kyoko's face blushed a deep red. She mumbled, "Iwasinkingoutyou."
"I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that. Can you say it louder?" He leaned in closer, cupping his hand over his ear in an attempt to hear her better.
She shoved him playfully since he was teasing her. "I said I was thinking about you! The song was good, but I liked it mostly because it reminded me of you. He got it wrong though, I had already met you. It just took me a long time to admit it."
"Yes, you made me wait entirely too long," He teased, capturing her lips in a heated kiss. The rest of the interview was forgotten as they deepened their kiss.
"Judging by that song, it seems the two of you were more than just friends. Wouldn't you agree audience?" Dr. Reina said, teasing the pair. There was a clear distinction between "Yesssss!" and "Boooo!"
"Ugh no, don't be deceived by the lyrics. As a top-selling artist, I wrote the song knowing that it would appeal to a wider audience. I think I was still able to express my feelings to Kyoko clearly," Sho admitted with no reservations.
Kyoko waved her hand in front of her as if shooing an annoying fly. "That feeling towards this guy has been gone a long time. The adolescent love I thought I had for him was nothing compared to the love I feel now..for Ren," Kyoko confessed, holding her burning cheeks. "I can't believe I said that so easily," she giggled nervously. "Please forgive my rash behavior."
"Oh, don't apologize, Kyoko-san, we're all secretly wishing to have the affections of Japan's number one actor. Am I right ladies?" There was an undisputed "Yes!" throughout the studio. Even some of the backstage women answered up. Kyoko wanted to sink into the couch.
"Tch! What's so great about that guy! I'm just as good!" Sho whined.
Kyoko laughed hysterically at Sho's comment for a long while until she cleared her throat and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Please excuse me," she said composed again and smoothed out her skirt. She focused on Reina as Sho shot daggers at her.
"You don't have to laugh that hard! Jeez! Just because you're a little famous now doesn't mean you can look down on others," Sho sulked.
Kyoko took a deep breath. 'Don't take the bait, Kyoko. He's just trying to rile you up.'
"I apologize. It's probably because of my feelings for Ren that I find it humorous that you're even comparing yourself to him," she replied with a sweet smile.
"Just you watch! I'll become more famous than that guy!" Sho declared.
"My, oh my, I can see someone is a little jealous right now. Is it because Kyoko's attention is on some guy other than you?"
"What? I get plenty of attention. I like to think of myself as belonging to everyone. I can't tie myself down to any one person, right ladies?" Sho answered arrogantly, appealing to the audience. The ladies loved it and cheered for him.
"If you say so, Fuwa-san," Reina smirked. "Unfortunately, that's all the time we have today. Thank you to our lovely guests for coming on to the show. I wish you both all the luck in your future endeavors. I'm looking forward to seeing you grow in your respective career choices."
Kimiko's eyes were glassy as she watched the interview. Her hair was tangled and stood up on the sides of her head. Lately, she was in the habit of pulling at her hair in an attempt to free her mind from the paranoia that threatened to consume her. She had not showered or dressed for over twenty-four hours. Reaching for the remote, she calmly shut the TV off and rose from the couch. Numbingly, she shuffled over to her bed, buried her face in the nearest pillow, and screamed. She screamed and screamed until her throat ran dry. When she was through with her little tirade her mind felt a little clearer.
He has feelings for that bitch! The thought echoed through her mind. If I can just see him and talk to him I'm sure he would want to bring her back to his side. If Ren-san saw them together again then he would break up with her. All of Japan would turn their backs on that cheating slut.
Kimiko's shoulders shook as she sat in front of her computer with greasy hair draped over her face as she waited for it to boot up. If anyone walked into the room they would have thought, she was hunched over her desk crying. If they looked closer, they would see her wild eyes and sinister smile as she giggled quietly to herself.
Her thoughts of triumph were short-lived when her phone chimed. She turned her pale face to the device sitting near her on the nightstand. The ominous sound of her phone chiming again was a reminder of her current situation yet she couldn't bring herself to turn it off. She flinched as it chimed again then extended a shaky hand, grabbing her phone to read the message. It was worse much worse than she anticipated.
Ric: Sorry I was busy and didn't see your message earlier. I'm beat so I'm going to crash early.
Kimiko felt her heart lurch as the man she loved once again blew her off. This was the second night in a row that he used that excuse. Is he avoiding me? That thought sparked some semblance of anger in her. She decided to call him.
"Ric's phone," came the low sexy purr of a female voice that clearly did not belong to a grown man.
"Hey, what are you doing with my phone?" Kimiko heard Cedric ask from a distance in broken Japanese.
"Noth-!" Beep. Kimiko held the phone to her ear a few moments longer listening to the disconnected tone. She needed to step up her plans and return to acting before she lost him completely.
Notes:
Thank you all for sticking with me. I hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, Ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 68: Glasses Magic
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Yashiro would cause Kanae to have palpitations.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi followed Sota into the backroom of his club. It reminded him of a small meat locker; however, instead of meat powerful computer servers lined two walls. The equipment required a lot of cooling; hence, the low temperature in the room. A large desk stood in the middle of the room facing a wall of screens. Each screen had something different displayed from news stations to business databases. It looked like the lair of an evil genius plotting to take over the world. Sota handed Tadashi a thick coat to wear and introduced him to the master of this domain. The lanky college-aged man had thick coke-bottle glasses and a bent posture from years of slouching behind a computer desk. He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose before letting his fingers fly across the keyboard.
"What is he doing?" Tadashi asked Sota.
Sota turned his question over to his hacker, Spectre.
"I'm uploading the files you brought in earlier and putting it in a location for quick access," Spectre explained without looking away from his screens.
"Please send that information to Mogami-san at the Viride law firm too."
"No problem," Spectre assured him.
"When was the last message sent to Morimoto-san?" Tadashi asked to no one in particular, but Spectre answered.
"I've been alternating between the picture and the dispatch recording every two hours as instructed. Even if she turns off her computer the piled-up messages would be waiting to bombard her once she turns it on again."
The sound of a door opening filled the room. Tadashi glanced back at the way they entered then back at Sota confused. His friend pointed to the speakers mounted on the ceiling.
"It's his surround sound. He likes to play his video games and hear all the sound effects," Sota told him with the air of an annoyed father.
"That's the notification to let me know when Morizumi is back online," Spectre told them. "Let's see what she's doing." With a few quick keystrokes, a screen on the left acted as a repeater to Kimiko's computer. They could see exactly what she was doing on it.
Spectre rapidly clicked the mouse and entered commands on the keyboard to make another large screen light up. All three men gasped. The illumination from the computer screen was all that lit the room. Spectre had successfully hacked into her computer's camera. The ghost of a young woman stared back at the screen as all the timed messages flooded her monitor. She kept glancing over her shoulder as she clicked feverishly to close the pop-ups.
The lighting wasn't very good but Tadashi frowned at the glimmer in her eyes. He couldn't be sure if it was insanity or hope, but he wasn't giving up. He knew something was going to happen soon.
"Send the scan of the incident report on Sacred Lotus then proceed with alternating between the information I got from the detective of the other girl and disconnect from her camera. Don't do that again. It was disconcerting to know that with the right skill set anyone can access a camera from a personal computer. Tadashi's first thought went to Kyoko.
"Can you show me how to enable and disable the camera from the computer I bought my daughter?" Tadashi asked Spectre as they watched Kimiko's screen log on to her blog then moved on to the fansites.
"It's really simple," the hacker replied and proceeded to demonstrate how to turn off the camera.
"Have you given any more thought to your daughter's boyfriend posing on her fansite?" Sota asked.
"He's fine, let him quietly support Kyoko like this. It will only help our cause if she sees that so many people love her," Tadashi answered. He thought it was cute that Ren would use a name that would spark Kyoko's fancy. He did not doubt that there was more meaning to it, but he would let it go, trusting the young man.
Yashiro had just finished fielding press calls following the interview with Fuwa. Most of the time he had to tell them that he didn't represent Fuwa and those questions should be directed to the musician's agency. He could only speak on behalf of Kyoko and Ren. Japan was probably really confused with Fuwa's actions today. First, he insulted Kyoko about her work, then he wrote and sang such a heartfelt song to her in front of a live audience practically implying that they were once a couple. He hoped that it was clear to Fuwa and the rest of Japan that Kyoko and Ren were solid.
He glared at his desk phone when it rang and decided he wouldn't answer any more calls unless they were from the President, Kyoko, or Ren. Everyone else would have to wait until tomorrow. Think of tomorrow had him deep in thought for a whole other reason. It was going to be another long night; however, for a few hours in the evening, he would shut off work and enjoy the company of friends. He flipped open his schedule book and absentmindedly circled the appointment reminding him to pick up Kanae. Blinking at the page he noticed that the circle he was drawing closely resembled a heart. He blushed furiously and quickly tried to hide the shape by circling it furiously over and over. Much better.
Still wearing his gloves, he turned on his computer to see the damage today's events had done to his favorite couple.
KyoRenFan1: Help, I'm torn! I don't know if Sho-san is good or bad. I saw the video of him dissing my girl and then he follows it up with that amazing performance on the Reina-sensei show. Confused!
DiabolicalPen666: He's on my shit list for that comment he made about her to Boh. It just goes to show the way he treated Kyoko-san when they were supposed "friends." He's still an egotistical snob. I don't buy his apology with that song.
KyoFan1: So hear me out, everyone! Please don't hate me. What if that's Sho-san's immature way of showing he cares? He's obviously worried about her reputation. He's also acknowledging that she's talented and should be using her time more wisely.
KyoRenFan1: That's the kind of feeling I got. Like he was being intentionally malicious to hide his true feelings of wanting to support her.
DiabolicalPen666: That's seriously reaching!
KyoFan1: He did apologize properly so I can't stay mad at him, especially after watching their interview. It's so obvious he has feelings for her and is just hurt.
It was as Yashiro thought, Fuwa was dominating the discussion.
RenKyo#1fangirl: How cute was it to know that as kids Ren-san and Kyoko-san played pretend? I bet they didn't realize they were already acting at such a young age. I can see Kyoko-san playing a chef while Ren-san was her customer with all that talk of hamburger steak!
KyoRenFan2: Yup! Yup! Now I want to know even more how adorable Ren-san looked like a child. He probably had chubby cheeks and talked with a lisp. Kyaaa! Kyoko-san is so lucky.
KyoRenFan1: Yes, Ren-san has adoringly talked about Kyoko-san in pigtails and how cute she was then and still is. I liked how she said he was talented even at ten. I can picture him doing his best to show off to the girl he loves.
Yashiro snickered as the other members immediately took the bait. My work here is done. He scrolled through older posts. There had been no sign of that person he had asked Lory to investigate nor were there any posts by Queen B. He wondered if Tadashi had scared her off for good. At this rate, tomorrow was going to be a good day, particularly because a blue-eyed beauty would finally be coming home.
"Good Morning, beautiful," Kuon murmured as he wrapped his arms around Kyoko from behind. He nuzzled his face into the side of her neck, knowing how sensitive that area was to her. Kyoko shivered and tilted her neck giving him access to pepper soft kisses on her skin. She put down her knife and twisted in his arms, sliding her palms up his bare broad chest and lacing her fingers behind his neck.
It was his turn to shudder as she buried her face in his chest and inhaled. "Mmm," she moaned. "You smell so good." She loved the intoxicating smell that the mixture of his aftershave, soap, and personal brand created. Kuon groaned, his arousal imminent or occurring. Any other morning he would have thrown her over his shoulder caveman-style and hauled her into their room for a comment like that. He stepped back from her, his expression filled with lust and deep longing. Kyoko giggled sexily, thrilled that she was the cause.
"Do you have time for breakfast? I made enough for everyone."
"Yeah, Yashiro-san texted me. He should be up soon. Is your father coming?" Kyoko nodded as she started plating their food. The doorbell rang a few minutes later.
"Good morning Ren. I ran into Morimoto-san in the parking lot," Yashiro greeted.
"Good morning, Ren-kun," Tadashi bowed slightly.
"Good morning, come in. Kyoko is getting breakfast set up." Ren held the door open to let them inside. "Can I take some bags?" He asked gesturing to the groceries they carried.
"Sorry for the intrusion. Yashiro-san was kind enough to help me out. If you just direct me to the kitchen I can put some of this away," Tadashi said, stepping inside and removing his shoes.
Kyoko stepped through the kitchen door with the last of the plates and greeted them both. She took the bags from Yashiro and told them to start eating while she and Tadashi put the stuff away. After putting the cold food in the refrigerator, they finally sat down to eat breakfast.
Kyoko had prepared a traditional Japanese breakfast for a party of ten that consisted of grilled salmon, tamagoyaki, miso soup, rice, fresh fruit, pastries, and pickled vegetables.
"I feel so blessed right now to have Kyoko-chan's delicious cooking so early in the morning," bubbled Yashiro blissfully as he took another bite of his egg roll.
"If Kyoko-chan wasn't spoken for I would ask for your hand right now," Yashiro continued. "Did I say that out loud?" Yashiro asked when he heard Kyoko's giggle.
"Yes, yes, you did!" Ren glared at his manager.
"Please forgive me, oh great Ren-sama," Yashiro begged. "You can't blame me for thinking with my stomach. Kyoko-chan's food is very delicious. I'm so jealous you get to eat like this every day."
"Yashiro-san, you praise me too highly. It's just simple home-cooked dishes. Maybe if Yashiro-san found himself someone special, she could cook like this for you every day," Kyoko teased. She had a certain special girl in mind too. Even though she acted cold and insincere, Kyoko saw firsthand how much Kanae cared for her family. She also noticed the slight changes in her friend around her manager the day they had dropped her off at the airport. It didn't even phase her that Kanae might hate her after today.
"Don't discredit your abilities, Kyoko-chan. Your food is very tasty. I have eaten in a lot of high-quality restaurants. In my opinion, you can be head chef for any of them," Tadashi complimented while continuing to eat.
"Thank you, father, but I have a feeling you would have said the same words even if my cooking was terrible," she laughed. Tadashi winked at her. She thought about how Kuu praised the lousy breakfast she had made when she was acting young Kuon. This breakfast she made was not even close to being as horrible as the meal she served Kuu, but she had a feeling that Tadashi would have reacted in the same manner if it was him at that time. They were both Oya- bakas.
"Kyoko, although I love and appreciate your cooking, we have to work on your portion control. You made entirely too much," Ren grumble rubbing his already full stomach. He couldn't eat another bite and there was still so much leftover.
"Silly! I wanted to make sure we had enough. I can wrap whatever we don't finish for tomorrow," she told him. Ren nodded and smiled in relief. He was glad she wasn't going to force him to eat more. Ren stood to clear up his dishes. Kyoko got up when she heard the water running in the kitchen.
"Ren, please leave it. You can't be late because of dishes."
"But you cooked I can't let you clean also."
"How about this, tonight you can help clean up? Deal?"
"Deal! I'll see you at Jelly-san's then. Will you be okay? I'm sure the Fuwa thing will be the hottest topic this morning."
"That's the easy part. It's facing the people after they all find out I'm Setsu that's terrifying. What if they feel let down or disillusioned? Setsu became a sensation overnight. Fandoms have popped up for her. Young girls are already copying her style," Kyoko wailed, suddenly overwhelmed. The calm she had while cooking (which resulted in too much) was lost.
"Hey, hey, I will be right there with you." He said pulled her into a hug and stroked her hair. "You just need to remember that Setsu is a part of you. You created her; therefore, her fans are your fans."
Kyoko relaxed in his embrace as his soothing words washed over her, calming her down.
"We're going to shock them, aren't we? Your fans are going to faint when they find out that Tsuruga Ren is the actor behind not only BJ but Cain Heel. I'm so excited to experience this moment first hand."
"We're going to make headlines, baby!" He teased squeezing her tighter.
"Ren, we have to go," Yashiro announced, knocking on the kitchen door. Tadashi and Kyoko cleaned up the breakfast dishes then prepped for tonight's dinner party. Afterward, they had just enough time to make it to the Sacred Lotus set.
"Kimi, you're coming with me to work today. If you say you're still unwell I'm taking you to see your doctor. I don't want you cooped up in this house another day," Jiro told his daughter.
"Okay, tou-san. Do we have time to stop by the cell phone store? I think there's a problem with my number and would like to get it changed." She had already changed her email and login information in hopes to thwart her cyberbully. She put a hiatus status on her blog, no longer inspired to write about her perfect false life.
Jiro was surprised at how cooperative his daughter was being. She had them worried for the past two days that he thought she would put up more of a resistance.
"Sure, sweetie, that would be no problem," he said patting her hand with a warm smile. He was glad she seemed like her old self again even if she didn't look like it. "Please take a shower and get yourself ready."
Tadashi was reluctant to leave Kyoko behind. He couldn't accompany her while she was Setsuka Heel. He had been seen with her too often over the last few days that it would blow their cover. When they arrived at the location of Ten's trailer, Tadashi formally introduced her to Sota.
"Kyoko-chan, this is my friend Sota. I got permission from Takarada-san before bringing him in on this secret. He will be escorting you in my place. I trust him with my life. I know you will be with Ren-kun, but it will be good to have another set of eyes assessing the situation."
Kyoko eyed the man that had the bearing of a Yakuza boss in his black suit, slicked black hair tied in a ponytail at his nape, and dark sunglasses. She greeted him and bowed before entering the trailer. This will be a great opportunity to ask about her father. They had to be really good friends if he was going this far for her.
"Muse-sama, it's good to see you again. I am in your care," Kyoko said with a bow.
"Hi, Kyoko-chan. I'm sorry, I've been overseas and didn't realize what was going on. From the look of things, you seem to be holding up well, but how are you really doing?" Ten asked as she draped a cape over Kyoko's shoulders. She started with expertly twisting Kyoko's long hair into a low bun so it wouldn't show under the wig.
"I'll be honest, I'm very nervous but also a little excited. Not all of it is positive and I'm aware that most of it stem from jealousy. So I'm trying to focus on the outpouring of love and support that everyone has shown me. I just hope I'm not ruining Ren's reputation in the process."
Ten hugged her. "You sweet girl. It sounds like you have the gist of it. Are you sure you're only seventeen? But don't worry about Ren-chan, he's a big boy."
Kyoko sighed. Everyone was so supportive and encouraging. She needed to try harder and take their advice.
"Now let's put on Setsu's armor," Ten smiled warmly as she organized the makeup she wanted to use on her.
Kyoko giggled. "That's similar to what Fuji-san said to me the other day. Your both true professionals."
"With age comes wisdom. You'll get there. So Fuji-san was behind your adorable look the other day?" Ten asked as she wiped Kyoko's already bare face one more time before starting with moisturizer. They made small talk throughout the process of her transformation from makeup and hair to nails.
When it was finally time to dress, Kyoko felt the last vestiges of herself fall away as she zipped up the thigh-high patent leather boots over fishnet stockings. Setsu smirked back at her in the full-length mirror. She exited the dressing room in the back just as Ren entered the trailer and leaned against the wall picking at her nails.
"Nii-san are you acting a boring guy again? Hurry up and change. You know what happens when I get bored," Setsu snapped in her heavy British accent.
"Forgive me, Setsu. Give me a minute to get ready," he replied with a husky tone and dropped into the seat at Ten's station. He gazed at her in the mirror as she sat in the white leather chair behind him. She expertly crossed her right leg over her left causing the poor excuse of a skirt she wore to ride up on her thighs. He shifted in the chair as his throat went dry. The long sleeve sheer overlay worn over the patent leather bralette left nothing to the imagination. She's going to be the death of me, he whimpered inside.
Ten laughed understanding Engling. "It's great watching you two in action. Japan is going to have quite a shock!" She said excitedly as she got to work on him.
Kanae made a beeline for the nearest ladies room after disembarking the plane. She fussed with her appearance for a while until she scolded herself for wasting time. She didn't know why she bothered to make herself look presentable after such a long flight. Her friend was just giving her a free ride after all. Her heart rate increased, drifting to thoughts of the man that would be driving. Realizing that she had done so, she shook her head and told herself to focus. Her only goal for the future was to become Japan's top actress. This last project allowed her to get one step closer to her goal.
Kanae exited the last security checkpoint for passengers and braced herself to be pounced on at any moment. When a minute passed and she was still safe, Kanae glanced around oddly when Kyoko didn't come shouting her nickname immediately. She had confirmed before leaving that they would be here to pick her up.
"Kotonami-san, welcome home," Yashiro called out, attracting her attention as he walked up to her with a gorgeous smile plastered on his face. Kanae blinked several times when she realized what was happening. Somehow, he had removed her small carry-on luggage from her shoulder and started walking away from her. He turned around wondering why she wasn't following.
"Are you okay, Kotonami-san? Do you need anything?" He asked with another charming smile that made her heart flutter.
Kanae shook her head in response to his question. Seriously, was she in some cliché Shoujo manga where glasses magic exists? She wished he was wearing his boring gray suit and glasses right now, acutely aware of the ladies taking second glances at him. He was dressed casually like the night they went clubbing wearing dark jeans, a white t-shirt, and a blazer with his hair styled like he only used his fingers to brush it back. Kanae quickened her pace to stand next to him.
"Then shall we collect the rest of your luggage?" He asked, proceeding only after she nodded.
"No, wait! I can carry my bag," she said a bit flustered reaching for her carry-on.
"Nonsense, I'd like to think my mother raised me to be a gentleman," he grinned and proceeded towards the baggage claim area with her large tote slung over his shoulder.
Kanae wasn't expecting to be so flustered and hurried after him. Chasing him allowed her to notice that he was quite tall when he wasn't standing next to Ren. She had to take three steps to his one drawing her attention to his long legs.
"Yashiro-san...um...where is Kyoko? Is she in the bathroom?" She asked, suddenly remembering that her friend had yet to accost her.
"Ah! Did Kyoko-chan not tell you? She had a job to do today."
"Mo! She never told me a darn thing! If I had known I would have just taken a taxi or the train home," Kanae said feeling irritated by her friend's lack of decorum. What was she thinking letting Yashiro be her lackey.
"It's okay. I insisted to pick you up. I have some free time after all and I did promise."
Kanae observed him from the corner of her eye. The fact that he was picking her up on his time off wasn't lost on her.
"I'm sorry you had to waste your free time on me. I'm sure you had better things to do, but thank you for picking me up," Kanae said as they waited for her bags to come out.
"It was my pleasure," he said flashing her another dreamy smile. His inner fangirl which was usually reserved for Ren and Kyoko was doing somersaults again. Stay cool Yashiro!
"Do you see how cute that guy is over there?" Kanae overheard a young female passenger ask her friends as they giggled.
"His girlfriend is beautiful too. They could be models," another girl commented.
Both Kanae and Yashiro flushed slightly, realizing the gaggle of girls was talking about them.
"Ah, that one with the blue ribbon is mine," Kanae said moving forward to grab her large suitcase from the carousel. Yashiro reached out to stop her and moved forward to retrieve her bag when it came around.
"Is this all of it?" Yashiro asked to which Kanae responded with a nod.
"Kyoko was hoping I could bring you to her worksite, but worried you might be jet-lagged," Yashiro said making conversation as they headed to the car.
"No, I slept plenty on the plane. I wouldn't mind meeting up with her," Kanae replied. I'll give her a piece of my mind while I'm at it. I'm throttling her as soon as I see her!
"Great, we'll head there then. They would have already started by the time we arrive, but I'm sure we can still catch the best part."
Cain and Setsu stepped out of the black town car with Sota acting as a bodyguard. The man was quiet. Like those bodyguards on TV, he wore his sunglasses indoors so it was difficult to get a read on him without seeing his eyes. She had hoped to ask him questions about her father, but she was Setsu now and couldn't break character.
Sota's corner of his mouth twitched in an attempt to hide his smile at the girl. He was floored by the transformation that overcame the two youngsters as they exited the trailer. These two were scary and would probably make excellent infiltrators. He heard the banter between the "siblings" and had to keep from laughing most of the time which is why he had to keep his mouth shut. Their characterizations of a brother and sister were completely fucked up. If he didn't know it was them, he would find it uncomfortable. Tadashi had told him it was meant to make people so uncomfortable that it kept others from getting too close. He wanted to meet the mastermind behind this plan. It was pure fucking genius.
When they pulled up to the Fuji TV station, the usual small crowd of reporters lurking at the entrance was there in hopes to ambush celebrities frequenting the building. The paparazzi turned their attention to the car as Sota opened the back door to let the siblings out. It didn't take long for them to be swarmed by reporters when they were finally spotted.
It lasted a whole millisecond. If Sota was any other person, he would have flinched from the anger and hatred exuded by the siblings. Their superpower kept the reporters from getting no closer than 2 meters. Sota wondered if he was even needed here.
"Heel-san, will you be doing another project in Japan?" A reporter shouted over the crowd.
"Setsuka-san, please smile and look this way," a photographer asked, his camera rapidly flashing as he took pictures of the pair.
Setsu snarled at the reporter and flicked him off with her free hand as she kept walking hand in hand with her Nii-san. Sota couldn't believe this was the same sweet girl he had met only a couple of hours earlier. She was brilliant.
"Heel-san, can you put your hood down so we can see your face?" The same photographer demanded.
Cain snarled at the request which had the man backing down. Ten had put him in his signature black leather pants tucked in combat boots, a shredded black tee, and a hooded leather jacket. The hood was used to conceal a good portion of his face. Underneath it, Ten had styled Ren's brown hair to fit Cain's bed-head style. It hung over his eyes to cover as much of the brown of Ren's colored contacts. This would make it easier to change from Cain to Ren in front of the live audience today. It was up to him to keep people from discovering what was under the hood through Cain's carriage and attitude.
Director Konoe was already waiting for them in the green room and turned surprised eyes towards the duo when they walked in.
"Heel-san, Setsuka-chan what a wonderful surprise. I was worried you two would be late," Director Konoe exclaimed excitedly.
"It just happened to be this way through no fault of our own. I'd rather have Nii-san all to myself than waste our bloody time with you lot," Setsu snapped plopping herself on her brother's lap when he sat down. Cain's hands instantly wrapped around her hips and he buried his face into her hair while they waited.
Notes:
I ship YukiNae!...lol. Slowly but surely, I'm getting to that reveal! XD. Thanks for sticking with me and continuing to read. I hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 69: Just Ask Her!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would definitely get credit for Setsuka.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Kimi, is something wrong?" Jiro asked, touching her forehead. "You're looking rather pale. Maybe we should have gone to the doctor instead."
"No, I'm okay, Otou-san. I'd like to continue with you," she told her father giving him a weak smile.
Kimiko couldn't tell him that her plans for a new phone were a dud. Nor could she share with him exactly what was happening with her. He would demand answers. She had been feeling quite confident today as she watched the guy at the store power up her new phone to make sure everything was working. Everything seemed fine while he was giving her a quick tutorial on her new device, but as he was about to turn it over to her an influx of messages came chiming through.
"Wow, that's unusual for someone to have access to this number so quickly. Do you know this person?" He asked, showing her the message ID. She snatched the phone quickly out of his hands when he tried to open the message.
"That's rude you know!" She snapped, snatching the phone out of his hand. "You shouldn't read other people's messages!"
"I'm sorry miss. I was just trying to be helpful. I needed to see the content to check if it's an already in use number. There's no other explanation for you to be getting messages this soon."
"If I have a problem with it, I will bring it back," she huffed. Kimiko rushed out of the store towards her father's car not liking the exposure. She glanced around the area nervously. Someone had to be watching her.
Konoe squirmed uneasily while sitting in the waiting room with Setsuka and Cain Heel. He forgot how unbearably uncomfortable this pair could be when draped all over each other and conspiring against the world.
"What do you want to do after this, Setsu?" Cain asked, amusing himself by twirling her hair between his fingertips.
Setsu tapped her finger against her cheek cutely trying to think of something good that would suit bother their interests. She smiled mischievously and replied, "Maybe, we can find a dark cave where I can cuddle up with Nii-san and shut out the world forever."
"Won't you get hungry? You do become a handful when you're hungry."
"You're all I need. Decades from now some annoying bloke will discover our corpses intertwined with each other."
"You'd make a beautiful corpse."
Konoe glanced at the siblings, disturbed by their strange conversation. His eyes flitted to the door, knowing that on the other side there was a strange man standing guard. Did they get mixed up with a Japanese crime lord or something?
Curiosity getting the best of him, he decided to ask, "Heel-san, can you tell me why that man is outside?"
Cain scowled at the interruption, but Setsu whispered something into his ear that made him scowl. "Bodyguard," he eventually answered.
"Have you been threatened?" Konoe exclaimed. It wouldn't do them any good to reveal that he was Tsuruga Ren if Cain Heel had enemies.
"It's necessary," Cain replied to placate Setsu after several seconds had passed. Ren couldn't exactly tell him the truth.
"But…" Konoe began to protest, but a glare from Cain shut him up. He could only nod and trust that the actor had everything under control. That thought process allowed him to breathe easier.
Muffled voices on the other side of the door had the three of them turning in that direction anticipating an interruption. Several moments later Sota knocked then opened the door. The staff girl that came to call them was trembling with fear.
"I...uhm...was to t- t- told to call you to the set," the young woman stammered nervously glancing back at Sota. He gave her a slight nod.
Setsu raised her eyebrow at Sota, curious by their exchange. She guessed he did his job thoroughly. The poor thing was shaking like a leaf. If Setsu could look behind his sunglasses she would have seen his shocked eyes. It wasn't his fault the young lady was so frightened.
Just minutes before, Sota had watched the woman hesitantly walk towards the door. Despite her timid appearance, Sota was on guard for any potential threats. Tadashi would have his hide if he screwed up. He was doing his best to keep his face stern but felt sorry for the poor thing. She couldn't bring herself to walk any closer so he had called out to her with a friendly tone and a smile. After she explained her fear, he assured her the people inside wouldn't bite and to do her job properly.
They followed the assistant to the studio that would be used for the interview. As usual, anyone that came in their path gave them a wide berth for fear of the Heels. Director Konoe was practically vibrating with excitement. He was going to miss this feeling, but the jig was up. It was time to let the rest of the world in on his little secret.
Tragic Marker was already playing internationally and was so far well-received. In Japan, it was the top-grossing movie of the week. He hoped this little stunt would provide another push to get people into theaters. There had been some speculation about the identities of the Heel siblings linking Setsu to Kyoko in the fan sites, but no respective magazine would publish such an outlandish theory without any facts. The tabloid magazines tried to get something on print, but Kyoko's article hit the shelves burying it in the process.
Mikasa, the Fuji TV Producer, and the President of the station were all waiting to meet their guests. Mikasa, being in the know, yelped when she spotted the hooded figure of Cain Heel walking down the hall with his arm possessively around the waist of the scantily clad young woman known as Setsuka Heel. She narrowed her eyes at the pair. It was time to get to the bottom of their relationship. Her hand was itching to slap Ren for fraternizing with another woman that wasn't Kyoko-san.
After reading her story, Mikasa's heart went out to the young actress. Kyoko had experienced some serious heartache at such a young age and fans could see how much Kyoko cared for Ren. Lately, she wore her heart on her sleeve when it came to the actor. Even if it was an act to uphold Cain Heel's identity, Mikasa didn't like it. She hoped he was prepared because she was putting him through the wringer for this one. He also deserved it for practically scaring her to death at the last interview. Even now, she shivered from fear as he approached. There was no denying the dark energy exuding from his being. It was simply amazing to bear witness. She breathed deeply, reminding herself not to blow his cover before the show.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Mikasa reporting live from the Fuji TV studios and boy do I have a great treat for you. With me today is Konoe-san, director of Tragic Marker that hit theaters last week. If you're on the fence about watching this psycho-thriller, I guarantee after this show you would be flocking to the theaters to see it."
The camera panned to Director Konoe sitting at her right with a broad grin across his face looking every bit like the cat that ate the canary. The audience clapped and cheered welcoming him.
Kimiko glanced at her father confused as they stood in the lobby of the Fuji TV station watching one of the many large screens throughout the building. Why were they here? Did her father have so much free time to stand around and watch talk shows? She remembered their conversation a couple of days before regarding Cain Heel. Was he here to ambush Director Konoe?
"Tou-san, are we here for something in particular?" She asked, trying to glean answers from her father.
"I got a tip Cain Heel was here so I want to try and talk to him before he leaves again," Jiro answered and turned back to watch the interview unfold.
...
"Thank you, Mikasa-san. I'm very excited to be here today," Konoe replied then went on to discuss the ratings of the movie and the challenges and successes the cast and crew endured while filming. Finally, after about ten minutes of chatting about the film, Mikasa saw an opportunity to steer the conversation toward the big reveal.
"Now, I understand Director Konoe that you had this script close to your heart for a couple of years. Can you tell us why it took so long to finally get it on film?" Mikasa asked.
Konoe chuckled. "That's because I couldn't find the right actor to play BJ. As you well know, the fear that BJ instills in the other characters is the movie's whole premise. I needed the perfect antagonist that could also instill the same terror for those watching. I wanted the audience to leave the theater feeling like a potential victim and jumping at their shadows. I was very fortunate to come across Cain Heel."
"Well, from my personal experience you achieved your goal. After watching Tragic Marker, I had to sleep with the lights on for a few days," Mikasa admitted making the audience laugh.
Mikasa continued acting as if she had no idea what was to come, "Speaking of an antagonist, where on earth did you find Heel-san? You were tight-lipped during our last interview. I think we're all interested to know."
"Do you really want to know?' Konoe teased.
"Yes!" The audience shouted in response.
"What I'm about to reveal might be life-changing? Do you think you're ready?" Konoe grinned, feeding off the fan's enthusiasm.
The audience all responded with an even louder resounding, "Yes!"
"Well then, I can't deny you after that...Heel-san, can you please come out," Konoe called out.
There was a clear inhalation of breaths throughout the studio as the wraith-like man stepped out from the shadows. The heavy sounds of his boots filled up the quiet that settled over the crowd. Anyone present would confess that the tiny hairs on the back of their neck prickled with each step that brought him closer. The hood concealing most of his face only amplified the dreaded feeling in the pit of their stomachs.
It was like the crowd needed to reassure themselves that they weren't alone in this horror movie and began whispering among themselves to break the silence.
"Shinigami!"
"He's so terrifying!"
"Oh my God, Heel-san is so hot!"
"He can stalk me anytime!"
Rippling through the audience, the excited murmurs were mixed with lots of nervous giggling. When Cain stepped up beside Konoe and Mikasa, he stood there for several moments facing the crowd until they grew quiet with unease. His large gloved hands reached up grabbing the edges of his hood, causing a collective inhale to tear through the crowd. He tugged his hood back and revealed his face.
It was so quiet and still in the studio that one could hear a pin drop. The silence remained for another second until chaos erupted. The audience went wild. Their screams were deafening. It was far too much for any one person to process. No one could believe that Cain Heel aka BJ was none other than Japan's number one actor, Tsuruga Ren.
Ren bowed to the audience while Mikasa clapped enthusiastically getting swept up by the excitement. Even though she expected it, Ren's transformation from Cain Heel was still thrilling.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" and "Holy fuck!" were the expressions that the Producer and President used respectively when Ren pulled down his hood.
Setsu smirked as she stood there with her arms crossed watching the reactions. She was so proud of her man.
The Producer turned towards her, "Don't tell me you're...".
Setsu held her index finger against the man's lips to shush him. "Let's not spoil the surprise now boys," Setsu purred with a seductive smile.
The Producer blushed like a teenage girl and nodded weakly at the blonde bombshell before him. Setsu removed her finger and gingerly wiped it on his jacket. Can't have his germs on me.
The exclamations in the lobby rang out equally as loud, rivaling the roar that escaped the studio down the hall. Everyone's eyes were riveted to the large screens scattered throughout the station. The live footage was updated with a scrolling message at the bottom of the screens, Tragic Marker's Heel Cain revealed as Tsuruga Ren.
The reporters not affiliated with Fuji TV were instantly on their phones trying to get a piece of this big scoop. The chatter in the lobby increased as people began talking about this monumental reveal.
Kanae folded her arms and huffed as she stood in the lobby of Fuji TV station beside Yashiro. They had arrived at the station while Konoe was being interviewed and was present for Ren's big reveal. So this is what Kyoko has been hiding from me. If Cain Heel was Ren, then there was no doubt that the girl playing his sister was none other than Kyoko. She had tried to dismiss the online theories since she couldn't imagine her friend wearing such outlandish outfits. Such a lame excuse was poor thinking on her part. If she wanted to be a top actress, she needed to act in any role despite the costume. She had once again underestimated her rival.
She narrowed her eyes at the manager. "This was a LoveMe assignment for her, wasn't it?"
Yashiro nodded. He was surprised Kanae was taking this all in stride.
"The President put her up to this didn't he?" She asked, folding her arms over her chest.
Yashiro gulped and nodded again.
Before Kanae could continue her line of questioning, a hearty laugh from the man in front of her caught their attention.
"Konoe, that sly son of a bitch. No wonder he kept me waiting. I didn't expect this at all!" The man exclaimed clapping his hands together. "Isn't this great Kimi, Cain Heel was right here under my nose. Ah, Tsuruga-kun continues to amaze me. I want him even more now for my movie."
Kimiko fumed at the man on the screen. All this time, Ren had been that man on the streets. He had glared and treated her like the lowest scum of the earth. The only reason he would look and treat her that way was because of that girl. She was poisoning him against her. I'll make them pay for mocking me. She dug her nails into the palms of her hands until she felt moisture on them. It was a telltale sign that she was bleeding.
Yashiro stared daggers into the back of the father and daughter standing about ten feet in front of them. Kimiko turned away from her father. Her face contorted with rage. Her eyes met with Yashiro's, startling her. Even with a face full of makeup, she looked haggard with shadows of concealed circles under her eyes.
Kimiko averted her eyes and excused herself to use the restroom, starting to escape. Jiro turned to follow her retreating form when he noticed Yashiro.
Jiro approached Yashiro with a broad grin crossing his face. "Yashiro-san! It's you, right? I hardly recognize you without the glasses. You don't know how long I've been searching for Cain Heel. I need to talk to yo-"
"That's Yashiro Yukihito!" Someone shouted at them.
"He's Tsuruga-san's long-time manager!" Another one hollered.
Yashiro, Kanae, and Jiro were instantly surrounded by the reporters and photographers, hanging in the lobby.
"Yashiro-san, can you tell us what's going on in there?"
"Did Tsuruga-san act as the psycho killer BJ?"
"Sorry, Morizumi-san but we have to go!" Yashiro wrapped his arm around Kanae's shoulders to shield her from being mobbed by the press. Once they were free, he released her but grabbed her hand as they ran through the TV station to find a place to hide. They ended up outside and circled the building to his car while reporters chased them. When they got to his car they managed to duck in and hide. Kanae shook and covered her mouth. Yashiro leaned over to comfort her, thinking she was crying.
"Hey, I know that was scary, but we're safe now," he cooed, hoping he sounded reassuring.
Kanae gazed at him with her piercing blue eyes and couldn't contain her laughter anymore. She covered her mouth again when they heard voices in the parking lot. Yashiro lifted his head to peek out the window then sat up when the coast was clear.
Kanae sat up in her chair, her mirth not entirely gone since every few seconds laughter would bubble out of her.
"Well, that was thrilling. Aren't you glad to be home?" Yashiro said humorously.
Kanae beamed a gorgeous smile in his direction and nodded. It was great to be home.
"Shall we wait here for them? We can watch the rest of the show on my phone," Yashiro suggested, wanting to fill the awkward silence in the car.
Ren bowed to the audience before taking his seat next to Director Konoe and shaking his hand. His heart was racing with adrenaline. Everyone would now know that he was Cain Heel the actor that played BJ, including them. Now that they were communicating again, he had no doubt they would be calling him as soon as they got the chance. He smiled at the relief and excitement of the audience. They weren't at all upset that he had duped them all. Would they be as accepting when he stepped out of his role as Tsuruga Ren and became Hizuri Kuon again?
Mikasa tried to take back control of her show and asked the audience to settle down.
"Can you guys believe it? Those present at the Tragic Marker premiere party were privy to this information. We were all sworn to secrecy until we revealed his identity today. I have to say Director Konoe was very convincing about the horrors that would befall us should we even make a peep about it before it was time." She turned her attention back to Ren. "Tsuruga-san, please tell us why you took on this persona as Heel-san to shoot the movie? Why not just act it as yourself? You have the skill."
Ren chuckled. "It was Director Konoe's brilliant idea. He wanted to play up the mystery of the actor playing BJ and so Cain Heel was born."
"How did you do it? How did you keep from getting discovered?"
"I approached Cain as I would a character in any other script. Director Konoe gave me a short bio of Cain. He was a British actor of Japanese descent who was sullen, short-tempered and lived off cigarettes and booze. He had to be proficient at martial arts and be able to wield any weapon be it gun or knife," Ren told them.
"When Cain Heel walked on set that first day he was was two hours late. As everyone here knows Tsuruga-kun has been dubbed the 'Never Late King.' I thought it was brilliant. That wasn't the only time he was late too. He was late almost every single day which enraged Mursame-kun to no end." Konoe added with laughter.
Ren looked sheepish and apologized for his terrible behavior.
"Don't apologize! Heel-san's behavior on set made it impossible for anyone to get close to him. Aside from myself and the Producers, no one had a clue that they were working with Tsuruga-kun."
"What sort of things did he have to do to keep from getting discovered?" Mikasa asked, curiously.
"On the first day, on top of being late, he pretended he couldn't speak Japanese and spoke English with a British accent. Um, you witnessed some of it first-hand at the party Mikasa-san. He had this menacing aura that scared the daylights out of everyone. The only person brave enough to approach him was Murasame-kun and that never ended well," Konoe explained with another chuckle.
"Sounds like you had your hands full," Mikasa replied. This was her chance to get to the bottom of his relationship with his so-called sister. "I'm curious Tsuruga-san. How did your girlfriend, Kyoko-san, feel about you taking on this alternate persona? Was she scared of you?" More like, how did she handle another woman hanging around you?
Ren smiled. He wasn't sure if Konoe had prepped her beforehand, but he had been waiting for an opportunity to bring her out. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. "How about we just ask her?"
Inner Kyoko was freaking out entirely. She wondered how Ren was able to act so calmly during his reveal. She inhaled deeply still channeling Setsu.
"That's your cue, Heel-san," the Producer stated while pointing to the stage. Setsu winked and went out there, strutting like a supermodel that didn't give a shit. I am low-tension. Just look at Ren. Don't trip.
"Are you fucking kidding me!" Mikasa exclaimed as her hands immediately flew to her mouth, covering it as soon as the words came out. She removed her hand and mouthed the words I'm sorry towards the Producer. The hostess's attention turned back to the young woman gracing her stage. Her mouth hung open in a wide "O" and her eyes bugged out of their sockets as Kyoko, dressed as Setsuka Heel, neared their seats.
Kyoko stopped where Ren had stopped and dropped into a formal bow. Konoe and Ren clapped along with the audience's loud cheers. Kyoko rose from her bow and looked at Ren when he patted the seat next to him.
When Kyoko settled next to him, Ren reached for her hand and threaded their fingers together. She must be really nervous, he thought finding her hand cold and clammy. He rubbed little circles with his thumb over her soft skin, hoping it would soothe her. He smiled down at her when felt her relax into his side.
"I'm speechless right now! I'm a reporter and I'm having trouble finding the words! There are so many things amazing about this. First off, I'm a huge fan, and second...OH MY GOD!" Mikasa screeched unable to contain herself. Kyoko bowed her head slightly embarrassed by the woman's outburst.
"Okay, okay, okay so how did this happen? Director Konoe was this part of your plan as well?" Mikasa asked, addressing Konoe.
"Unfortunately, Setsuka was not my doing, although I wish it was. I was just as surprised as everyone here when I found out she was Kyoko-san," Konoe explained.
"Tsuruga-san, did you just want your girlfriend close to you?" Mikasa teased. The crowd ooh'd at the statement, making Kyoko blush a deeper red.
"Well our President was the mastermind with having Kyoko join me on this adventure. He wanted to test my character development of Cain Heel to see if people would recognize me, so he thought who better than someone close to me. Kyoko, unfortunately, figured me out right away. I failed the test," Ren confessed, shaking his head.
"That's not true!" Kyoko added. "His Cain Heel nearly scared me to death with his glare that I thought I made a mistake when I called out to him. The blood lust and a killing aura radiating off of him had me shaking in my shoes. I was petrified! It took almost fifteen minutes before I could move again."
"So what gave him away?" Mikasa prodded.
"Do I have to answer? It's quite embarrassing?" Kyoko covered her heated face with her hands.
"Ooh, now I'm even more curious. He was able to fool a lot of people, but not the person closest to him. How did you figure him out?" Mikasa urged. "I'm sure all of Japan is dying to know."
"She knew ALL of my measurements," Ren grinned mischievously, adjusting his jacket and sitting up taller.
"Ren!" Kyoko spluttered aghast by his phrasing and smacked him on the arm as her face burned hotter with the added embarrassment. "Don't say it like that, people will misunderstand!" She covered her face with her hands again. "Oh my God! I want the earth to swallow me whole right now."
Ren chuckled along with the rest of the audience at her adorable reaction.
She removed her hands from her face as Mio came to the forefront and sneered, "You better explain right now or you will regret it."
"Okay, I'm sorry! What I meant to say is that Kyoko has an eye for detail. She was able to recognize me because of my...ugh this is so embarrassing. What I said earlier made me look cooler," he pouted cutely.
Mio in a blonde wig and blue eyes continued to glare at him. I'm so dead! "Okay," he resigned, holding his hands up in surrender.
"She was able to tell it was me because like a scientist, she analyzed my bone structure, the length of my bones, the muscles, the length of my feet, the placement of my ears..." Ren continued, trailing off.
As Kyoko listened to him ramble, she realized that she couldn't get out of this. It was just a more roundabout way of saying that she indeed knew ALL of his measurements. People were bound to assume she knew THAT measurement too, and she did.
"You see!" she said, holding up his hand trying to save some face. "It was easy to tell that his hand was xx centimeters long and xx centimeters wide." She turned his head to show his ears and the placement from his jaw bone. She continued like that for a few minutes before Mikasa got the picture.
"Wow, Kyoko-san, you do pay attention to detail."
"As an actress, I try to be as observant as possible, Mikasa-san. I can tell that your waist is 68 centimeters and your shoe size is a 24," Kyoko replied innocently. Mikasa pulled her cardigan closed, hoping the girl didn't shout at her bust size next.
Kimiko laughed maniacally as she stood by her father. Jiro stared at her, confused by her strange outburst.
"I'm sorry father I just can't stop laughing," she admitted with teary eyes. The irony of it all. Today, just kept getting better and better. First Ren and now that whore! How could she even go on television dressed like a slut? She obviously seduced Ren in the process. She probably even seduced Cedric!
"Excuse me, sir. Can you and the young lady come with me?" asked a station security guard. When they were in the control room, the man along with his supervisor brought up footage of Kimiko entering the ladies' room and exiting about ten minutes later. Another woman was shown going in and coming right back out.
"That woman, sir, alerted security that the restroom had been vandalized." The supervisor showed him pictures of the scene. Vases and mirrors were shattered along with chairs up-ended and thrown about.
"What are you implying?" Jiro fumed at the guards.
"I'm saying that this young lady was the only one to enter that bathroom before the alert," the supervisor stated.
"You think my daughter did this? Do you know who I am? I'm Morizumi Jiro. My cousin is one of the top executives in this station. If he hears that you're making false accusations towards his niece you'll lose your job. I suggest you quit wasting innocent people's time and find the real culprit," Jiro seethed at the guards, his eyes flashing angrily.
"Yes, sir! I apologize for the misunderstanding. I didn't realize who you were," the supervisor bowed along with his subordinate.
"Let's go, Kimi!" They left the office with the men still bowing. Kimiko smirked as she followed her father out. The little reminder of her family's influence in the industry gave her a boost of confidence.
When they were down the hall of the office, her father stopped and glared at her. "I don't know why you did it, and I'm sure you have your reasons, but you can't bring your issues into a place of business. You can't inconvenience people! The cost of damages will be pulled from your account!"
"Father, I..." Kimiko began but stopped when he held up his hand to quiet her. "I don't need your excuses. It's over and done with. Let it go!"
Shoko glanced at her phone, sitting next to her laptop as she worked what a message from Haruki came through.
Turn to channel 6, u won't believe it!
Shoko looked at Sho lazing on the couch with one hand under his shirt as he laughed hysterically along with a variety show. She stood up and took control of the remote, flipping through channels.
"Hey, come on, Shoko! I was watching that! At least let me relax before my next gig," Sho whined, thinking of his concert later that night. It was bad enough that he was being harassed by random people dressed in mascot costumes, now he couldn't even enjoy a show.
Shoko ignored him and continued flipping until she found the one mentioned on a commercial break.
"Shoko, come on! Quit fooling around and give me back the remote," Sho grumbled, trying to swipe it from her hand, but Shoko was too quick.
"Be patient, Sho, Haruki said something interesting was going on," Shoko said, sitting beside him on the couch.
Sho groaned and covered his eyes with his arm. I might as well get some shut-eye.
"And we're back! If you are just tuning in, we have just found out that not only is Cain Heel-san, Tsuruga-san but the young woman playing his younger sister Setsuka Heel-san is none other than our beloved Kyoko-san..."
Sho jolted from his reclined position and stared at the TV in utter disbelief. That soul-sucking demoness! He sat up straighter and paid more attention to what the host was saying. This had to be some sort of lie. Kyoko would never in a million years wear anything so revealing or act so rude.
Shoko pursed her lips and glanced at Sho with a worried expression. Would this affect his performance tonight? She looked for any sign that the deva king was emerging. Shoko's attention was drawn to her phone again when another message from Haruki came through.
Are you watching?
Yeah, Sho might be in shock! Shoko replied.
As he should be! Right along with the rest of Japan. Now we know why they wouldn't give us an answer on Heel-san.
So are we going to scrap the whole thing or find someone else? Shoko asked, knowing it wouldn't be a good idea for Kyoko and Sho to work together.
Has the deva king shown up yet?
Shoko gazed up from her phone and studied Sho, trying to gauge his reaction.
"I'm fine, Shoko. You can stop looking at me like some worried mother hen!" Sho told her, rolling his eyes.
"But I'm worried, Sho! Will you be able to perform later?"
"Don't insult me Shoko! This doesn't concern me," he answered coolly. Sho proudly crossed his arms tipped up his nose. I could be an actor with how cool I just sounded. Staring at the television, Sho had no clue who the girl was on the TV. She was like a total stranger to him, flaunting herself in front of that platform wearing bastard all this time wearing next to nothing. Is she wearing a bra for a shirt? He was going to give her an earful when he returned to Tokyo.
Notes:
Thank you all for continuing to read. I hope you enjoyed this reveal. I hope Sensei brings back the Heel-siblings in the manga before she calls it quits.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 70: Pick a Fight!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kuon would surely surface when he learns of Kimiko's treachery.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kanae sighed as Yashiro once again had to swipe his gloved finger over his phone to decline another call. At this rate, they were going to miss everything. She did find it amusing when he donned rubber gloves just to handle his phone. While he sent a quick message to the President and Kyoko's father, he explained that he had some curse that rendered all electronic devices useless within ten seconds just from handling them with his bare hands. She looked skeptical at his confession. He told her he would prove it to her another day since right now they needed his phone. All Kanae heard was that they would see each other in the future.
"Mo! Are you sure you don't need to answer any of those calls?" Kanae asked him. "We could use my phone instead."
Yashiro sighed. He didn't want to be interrupted by work right now. He was enjoying her company too much. "They'll still be there tomorrow. I'm off today," he smiled wickedly. He knew that the calls were all from producers, directors, designers, reporters, and the like that just saw the reveal on TV. They could wait.
His smile nearly melted Kanae. Unsure how to handle this onslaught of new emotions she didn't what she knew best. She scowled to keep her composure. "I thought you took your job seriously, Yashiro-san!"
"Oh, I do, but some annoying LoveMon told me all work and no play makes a dull boy," Yashiro teased, as his gaze bore into her.
The President! Kanae blushed slightly under his scrutiny and turned her attention back to the phone screen without replying. Her heart was pounding erratically as it just dawned on her that they were quite close and very alone in his car. She could see him from the corner of her eye reluctantly turn his gaze back to the screen as well.
"I'm surprised you're taking this reveal so well. Kyoko-chan was very worried you would be angry with her," Yashiro commented, trying to fill the awkward silence.
Kanae faced him, "she told you that?" Yashiro nodded. Kanae sighed and leaned back in her seat. "That baka! Of course, I'm angry that she hid it from me, but honestly, this was work so I can't be too upset with her. I'm just speechless at how far she has come while I was away. The TV station was filled with adverts featuring her and here's another commercial featuring her...ugh!" Kanae put her hand over her face in frustration. She was being left in the dust. As she watched Kyoko's department store commercial, she relaxed and smiled. She didn't feel jealousy or resentment. She was, in fact, very proud of her friend. Kanae burned with excitement from the challenge of catching up. She needed to step up her A-game.
Yashiro smiled. "Kyoko-chan is lucky to have you as a good friend. She'll be very happy that you're home."
"Best friend!" Kanae corrected him, "but don't tell her I said that." Yashiro chuckled as the commercial ended and returned to the interview.
Kyoko sat next to Ren with her wig and contacts removed. She looked a little more herself with her long black hair cascading over her shoulders.
"Kyoko-san, tell us, was it difficult portraying Setsuka Heel? What exactly was your purpose?" Mikasa asked, curious to know why Kyoko was needed in the first place.
Kyoko nodded vigorously. "It took me some time to get a grasp on her, but anyone can attest that working with Ren makes it easy to get into the role. Our first night as the Heel siblings he almost NG'd me!"
Gasps echoed throughout the studio.
"What? No way! I can't believe it! What happened?" Mikasa asked, leaning in closer, practically at the edge of her seat.
"Well, to Setsuka, her Nii-san came first, second, third, fourth, you get the picture. No one else mattered. Some of my true self seeped through and I wasn't acting spoiled enough for him. You see, Cain loved two things, his sister and acting. In that order," she smirked. "Like her, nothing else mattered to him. It didn't take me long to realize that a little of Ren was seeping into Cain since he likes to spoil me."
Ren lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "I like spoiling you. You deserve it." Kyoko blushed deeply. Heat immediately bloomed on her cheeks and extended down beyond her neck.
The whole studio erupted with an "Awwwweeee..."
Mikasa smiled. "If you aren't already, you're going to be the most envied woman of all Japan, Kyoko-san. And the other question?
"As for my purpose, the direction I received from the President was that I couldn't leave my Nii-san alone or it would cause a host of problems. I interpreted that to mean that I would be filling the role of his manager since Yashiro-san could not accompany him. My top priority was making sure he eats his meals," Kyoko told her.
"His meals? He's a man don't they all love to eat," Mikasa joked. The audience joined her laughter.
"You would think so, right?! With a physique like his, one would need to eat a well-balanced diet to maintain it. He gets so focused on work he often forgets to eat or just eats junk food. That habit and Cain's personality would have been disastrous. He would have sustained himself with nothing but booze and cigarettes. If I wasn't there to nag him, he would have surely fallen ill."
"Hey! I resent that. I'm perfectly capable of feeding myself. Onigiri is a perfectly healthy meal by the way," he objected, coming to his defense. Kyoko rolled her eyes. "It has rice and depending on which one you get protein or vegetables," he stated proudly. He was hopeless.
"Thanks for the insight. Tsuruga-san, now I see why Kyoko-san was so worried. We just learned something new about Tsuruga-san," Mikasa announced with a chuckle. "We can all add it to our diaries."
"Kyoko-san was this a paying job for you to act as Setsuka-san?" Mikasa asked curiously, the feminist in her roaring to the forefront.
Kyoko shook her head no. "Although I wasn't paid to do this, I was amply rewarded with observing Ren act out a role he has never done before. Just seeing how the rest of the cast and crew of Tragic Marker executed the production was more than enough. As a newbie actor, I learned valuable skills from being on set. Plus, creating Setsu and acting her out also helped me grow as an actress."
"I confess, I thought Setsuka-san was a whole new level of your bully roles. You gave off a menacing aura of your own at the premiere party. I'm looking forward to seeing you on the screen more. I don't doubt that this reveal will have more work pouring in for you."
"They already are. It wasn't planned to reveal Setsuka-chan's identity, but I had received many calls over the week concerning these two that I thought it would be a disservice to not let Kyoko-san take the credit. It was always the plan to reveal Tsuruga-kun and it was only decided later to also bring out Kyoko-san. I couldn't be more pleased with the turn of events," Konoe added, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"May I ask about your styling? Did you two come up with your outward appearances alone?" Mikasa asked.
"I had a vague idea of what Cain would wear. He doesn't care about name brands or keeping up with the latest fashions. I needed to dress him to make the Japanese completely uncomfortable. The all-black attire added to the dangerous and murderous vibe I was trying to portray. People kept away and never discovered my identity. Woods-san was the one that fleshed out the details of Cain's final look. She also helped with Setsu," Ren added.
"Woods-san? Are you referring to the witch of the makeup world?" When they both nodded, she focused on Kyoko.
"Yes, Mus—, I mean Woods-sama transformed me into Setsuka to match Cain. She gave me invaluable guidance on make-up and fashion. She is truly a magician, without her help, I don't think I could have pulled off the look on my own. As you can see, Setsu's style is a little more extreme than my usual taste, but Woods-sama scolded me properly to do my job as a professional. Once I got into my role, all insecurities flew out the window," Kyoko added. She was trying desperately not to fidget in her seat. She wanted to tug at the short skirt and cross her arms over her chest. Now that she was herself again, she felt exposed. As if detecting her restlessness, Ren squeezed her hand for reassurance, making her relax. She decided to take the new wardrobe experience as part of growing as an actress.
Mikasa turned her attention back to Ren since the last interview with him regarding Tragic Marker was a bust. Cain had been so stubbornly uncooperative. She wanted Ren's honest response on the production and cast members.
"Taisho! Taisho!" Two regular patrons burst into the Darumaya in excitement. They ran up to the counter area where they found Taisho preparing some sashimi for another customer. Taisho looked up at the men and slammed his knife down onto the cutting board in a loud thump. That was warning enough for the men to settle down. They apologized to Taisho and the other patrons before taking a seat at the bar while one of them held up his phone.
"Look Taisho, it's Kyoko-chan and Tsuruga-san on TV. It turns out, you see, that Tsuruga-san is the actor that played the psychopath in that new movie Tragic Marker. He plays a very disturbing antagonist," the man shuddered.
The other man spoke up when his friend was done. "And all this time, Kyoko-chan was playing his sister off-screen as a sort of pseudo manager, but look at her. She had to take on a persona to fit in with this Cain Heel."
The man held the phone closer for Taisho and Okami to see. Taisho's eyes slid over the screen briefly, then went back to his preparations. Okami smiled and patted Taisho's arm. She knew he was trying to process seeing Kyoko dressed so provocatively.
"Ehhhh? Taisho aren't you concerned? This Tsuruga-san is a bad influence on our sweet angel. We barely get to see her anymore, too," the man pouted dejectedly. Taisho's knife slammed down on the chopping block once more making them flinch.
"Do you two plan on eating or are you just here to cluck like a bunch of hens?" Taisho glared at them as they scrambled to place an order.
In the Viride General Law Offices, Saena's frown deepened as she watched the broadcast on one of the screens in the conference rooms. Her daughter and that boyfriend of hers just revealed that they were the ridiculous foreign couple she had seen the other day at the Vivian Café. They had her duped so easily with their acting that she had to applaud them. It irked her that she still hadn't changed. No wonder I was such an easy target for him. Her only defense was that she had been estranged from Kyoko for over ten years. She knew next to nothing about her except what Yayoi reported. Saena was only ever interested in her grades, manners, and work ethic.
What is she wearing? Kyoko left little to the imagination which did not please Saena's sense of propriety. The fact that she took on a job like this, without payment, meant that the President was taking advantage of her. She had no business interfering in Kyoko's life, but as a woman in a predominantly male workplace, she felt the injustice. She had left Kyoko completely in his hands since she had no desire to be a part of her life, but things were different now. Saena still had a long way to go on her road to redemption; however, she was going to give that man a piece of her mind.
"Susumu, did you know about this?" Saena asked, wondering how he could talk about the couple so objectively.
"Not one hundred percent, but I did have my suspicions. I saw them leaving the café that day and my detective senses were activated."
She was just like her father, Saena thought. Her thoughts went back to the case she was building for her daughter's defense. The evidence Tadashi was collecting on this other actress was quite disturbing. How could a privileged young girl be so calculating?
"Oh my God, oh my god, oh my god! Is, is, is that m-my Kyoko-chan," Fuji squealed as he and the team gathered in the sitting area of the R'Mandy design studio watching the news unfold. "And that man there next to her is Ren?" He fanned himself erratically with a magazine that was sitting on the nearby coffee table. He thought he was going to faint from this revelation.
"Looks like you don't have to look for the Heel siblings anymore," Sousuke chuckled, patting Fuji on the back.
"Ugh, I'm such a failure. How could I not have known?" Fuji said his eyes still glued to the TV. This was incredible and Ten had everything to do with their appearance. Fuji had a spurt of inspiration when he spied the Heel siblings on the cover of the tabloid magazines the morning after the premiere. When he surfaced from his drawing desk with some rough sketches to fit the goth couple, they went about hunting them down. Their first and only stop was to contact the Director. They were quickly told that the Heels were unavailable and to try again next week. I wonder if Ten-chan dressed them for the premiere night as well. He needed to call Ten as soon as this program was over.
"Wow, Ten-san, really pulled off something amazing again! Her skills are incredible. One day I hope to obtain her level of artistry," Aya gushed to no one in particular. As a professional make-up artist, she greatly admired Ten and looked up to her as a mentor.
"Don't sell yourself short, Aya-chan. I would be lost without your skillful hand to fulfill my heart's desire," Fuji praised, turning to face Aya and Nana. "You both have amazing skills that are invaluable to R'Mandy. I'm so glad you're part of the team."
Aya and Nana hugged Fuji, "Aweeeee! You're the best Boss ever!"
"Do you think Kyoko-san would wear some of those designs? They are a bit risque for her and she's not even eighteen yet." Sousuke asked Fuji a bit worried.
"I don't think Kyoko-chan would be comfortable, but if we have her tap into her Setsuka persona, she should have no problems. Ah! I'm too excited to worry about details such as age. Now that I know they are both capable of such characters my imagination is running away with me."
Backstage, Ren removed his jacket and held it open for Kyoko to put on then rolled up the sleeves so her hands could peek through the ends. She was completely dwarfed by the garment, but he was glad she felt more comfortable.
"Better?" He asked rubbing his hands up and down her arms. She was still trembling a bit from the nerves of being out there and exposed.
"Yes," she said, releasing a shaky breath. "Thank you so much." Her heart seemed like it was going to burst from the love she felt for her boyfriend's consideration. It nearly overwhelmed her. She was no doubt the luckiest person alive.
The producer of the show and the president of Fuji TV greeted them excitedly. Many of the backstage crew called out their praise to the couple. Kyoko and Ren found themselves bowing repeatedly to everyone that greeted them.
Sota stepped up to Ren, "I've checked all the exits to this place. They aren't going to make this easy for us to get out. I've asked the station's security to help. I also received a message from Tadashi, it seems Yashiro has spotted Morizumi Kimiko-san in the lobby."
"Morizumi-san is here?" Kyoko asked, puzzled. Why? More importantly, if Yashiro is here that means Kanae is here too. She was ready to leave so she could meet her friend.
"She's here with her father. Do you think he's a threat?" Sota asked looking at Ren. He already knew the extent of Kyoko's encounter with the Morizumi patriarch, but Ren was the one that worked with the man.
"I never had a problem working with him in the past. His only flaw is seriously his daughter. I can't fault the man for doting on her, but to turn a blind eye to the animosity she created on set was unprofessional. I also can't forgive her for trying to hurt Kyoko."
"Ah!" Kyoko said as a lightbulb lit up in her head. "He could be here for Cain. I'm sorry it slipped my mind to tell you. He came to visit Director Morizumi on the set of Sacred Lotus. He had mentioned he was trying to get in touch with Cain's agency."
All three of them turned towards Konoe when they heard someone call out his name. Ren raised his guard at the man approaching and Sota followed suit, trusting the actor's instincts.
"Hey, Jiro-san," Konoe returned the greeting to the other director with a mischievous smile. "You made it!"
"You slick devil. Only you would pull a stunt like this! Brilliant my friend," Jiro grinned, shaking Konoe's hand enthusiastically.
"Tsuruga-kun, Kyoko-chan," Konoe waved as he walked over to them with Jiro.
Kyoko looked around the room for any sign of Kimiko. Didn't Sota say she was with him? She relaxed when the girl was nowhere to be found.
"Well done you two. I'm extremely surprised by both of your amazing performances. You have Japan in an uproar. I have been earnestly searching for Cain Heel since the release of Tragic Marker. To think that you've been in plain sight all this time; how spectacular. I have no doubt, young man, that your performance will inspire directors throughout the world," Jiro announced proudly. "And you, my dear, are an extreme surprise. When I came to the set of the Sacred Lotus I wanted to test out the fan theories online claiming that you were probably Setsuka-san. When you didn't react to the mention of Cain I thought it was a dead end. You fooled me with your amazing acting by not giving yourself away. Joji struck gold hiring you for the part of Momiji. I also look forward to working with you in the future."
Kyoko bowed deeply at his praise. "Thank you, Morizumi-san. For a newbie like me to receive high praise from such a distinguished person as yourself in this industry is unfathomable. I hope I can live up to everyone's expectations." As soon as the words left her lips, Kyoko's grudges emerged in full force when feelings of pure hatred entered their vicinity.
Kimiko had appeared next to her father, making him glance nervously at her. She looked tired. Maybe he should have left her at home to rest. He hoped she didn't make a scene here and assumed her little tantrum in the bathroom had something to do with today's reveal.
She cozied up to Ren and wrapped her hands around his forearm while batting her eyelashes at him. "Ren-san, it's incredible that you not only acted out BJ but also Heel-san. I would be most grateful if you can teach me how to act like you. My father has a new project that he wants to use Heel-san in and promised to give me a part in it as well. It would be great working with you again," Kimiko flirted, directing a mocking smile to Kyoko.
Ren shuddered and tried to pry himself away from Kimiko as discreetly as possible. Kyoko struggled to reign in her grudges.
Please mistress we've been waiting for this moment.
How dare she touch what's ours so casually.
What is this talk of acting again?
This violates the agreement.
Her grudges retreated when she felt the weight of Ren's arm drape over her shoulders and pull her in closer. Kyoko's face heated up and her heart melted when he beamed at her affectionately. He faced Kimiko flashing her a brilliant gentleman smile.
"Morizumi-san, I'm sure you know my girlfriend. It seems you two were the top contenders for the Momiji role, but I'm glad your Uncle had enough sense to choose talent over blood this time around," Ren said in a completely friendly tone. His professional smile was still plastered on his face, but his words betrayed his outward appearance. Anyone not within earshot would think they were having a nice little chat.
Kyoko's grudges emerged again, only this time they were giddily circling Ren's, no Kuon's, dark aura. Was he trying to pick a fight with Kimiko, right here, right now with so many people around? Kyoko had no idea what he was thinking.
Director Konoe's eyes widened with surprise at Ren's remark. He must still be under the influence of Cain. There was no way Ren would have said something so callous.
Kyoko watched in amazement as Kimiko's usually pretty face broke down and was replaced with anger and hatred.
"Tsuruga-kun surely yo-" Jiro began trying to defend Kimiko and his family but he was interrupted by his daughter.
"She cheated! Producer Kuresaki had cut her right from the start, but she barged into the auditions anyway. Who does she think she is? A newbie like her acting all arrogant?! She doesn't even know proper show biz etiquette. Continuing to date her would only be a blight on your perfect image Ren-san. She obviously seduced you! I mean look at what she's wearing! She probably fucked her wa-"
Well, that escalated quickly! Ren thought he would have to insult her a few more times before she showed her true colors. He smiled internally prepared to defend Kyoko.
Slap!
Kimiko gasped, holding the left side of her face. The pain was unlike anything she ever felt in her life, emotionally and physically. "Tou-san, you too?" Kimiko sniffled with resignation as tears slid down her cheeks. Even my father is against me.
"That's enough Kimiko! You have said enough! I thought you were over your jealousy by now but clearly, I was mistaken. Apologize at once!" Jiro scolded. His face went purple with rage directed at his daughter. His hand stung from the slap he had just given her and regretted it the moment he had hit her, but he had to keep his face firm; otherwise, she would continue to act like a spoiled brat. To hear his flesh and blood, his pride and joy, spout such malicious things about another actress in front of so many of his colleagues was atrocious and embarrassing.
Kimiko stared at her father, shocked by the dressing down he was giving her in public. He had never raised his hand at her before. She glared at Kyoko briefly and noticed the audience her outburst had attracted.
That's Kimiko-san, how embarrassing?
What a disgrace to the Morizumi name?
She's jealous because she can't compete with Kyoko-san.
I guess she pissed off Daddy this time, serves her right.
Did anyone hear what Ren-san said to her?
Kimiko glanced around the area. People were staring at her like she was crazy while Kyoko and Ren looked at her with pity. She fled the room, away from the whispering and the giggling, but most of all from the sympathy she saw radiating from her nemesis' golden orbs.
"Kimi! Kimi!" Jiro called after her. He sighed deeply when he saw it was no use. "I'm sorry everyone. I apologize for my daughter's rude behavior. I hope we can still work together in the future. I have to go after her." Jiro left the room already pulling out his phone to try to find his daughter and possibly salvage what just happened in there. He may need to take her back to the psychiatrist. Maybe sending her back to the States would be a good change for her.
Breaking the tension, Sota let out a low whistle letting a little of his personality escape. "I thought she was going to go all Carrie and kill us all." Ren snorted, but Kyoko stared blankly at Sota. "Come on? You never heard of that movie? It's a cult classic in America. You need to ask your Dad about it."
"We better take our leave before people start getting nosy," Sota told them, watching the idle gossipers nearby. He would have to report this to Tadashi. This was the kind of reaction they had been hoping for; it meant that what they were doing was working.
The couple apologized for the commotion and said farewell to everyone before leaving.
Three security guards waited outside to escort them to their car at the front entrance of the building. It didn't matter whether they picked the front or rear exit there were equal amounts of fans and paparazzi camping out at both. The upside to going out the front was that the distance from the door to the car was significantly shorter. Ren held Kyoko close to him as they braved the gauntlet of media and fans. It reminded her of the time she acted as his manager. She had done so many things wrong that day, but Ren was right there to help her out. Once again, he was protecting her. Sota and the guards did their best to keep the mob at bay.
"Kyoko-san, Tsuruga-san," a familiar voice from the crowd gained their attention. Kyoko lifted her head to confirm the voice.
"Koki-san!" Ren and Kyoko exclaimed in unison as the Boost reporter fought his way to the front of the pack. They stopped for a few moments to chat with the reporter.
"You two are amazing! Thanks to both of you, I was able to move on," he declared, holding up his Fuji News Reporter press badge. The exclusive article he had written about Kyoko-chan was enough for him to get hired by the reputable news company.
"That's great, Koki-san! I'm glad things are working out for you," Kyoko told him trying to ignore the shouted questions and camera flashes trained on her.
"We have to move. The fans are starting to press in," Sota warned. Ren and Kyoko said a quick goodbye as they continued to the car.
"Good luck you two! I hope I can get another exclusive soon!" Koki called out to them. Ren held up a thumbs up in response before he ducked into the car after Kyoko.
Notes:
Thanks for sticking with me! I apologize for the delay in posting here. Life has been busy. Friendly reminder that this story is at Chpt 180 on fanfiction.net which is my priority.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 71: Meeting the Family
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, YukiNae forever.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Duuuddddeeeee! What the fuck?" Cedric exclaimed angrily brushing the water off of his costume. He grabbed a few napkins and dabbed at his face, hoping his stage makeup wasn't ruined. He was covered in water that Koga had just sprayed after taking a swig from his bottle.
"Oh, man. I'm so sorry, Ric," Koga quickly apologized putting down the bottle and handing Cedric more napkins to help him dry off. He tried not to laugh, but he had to admit it was pretty funny.
"What the hell man?" Cedric tried to ask in his limited Japanese as he sat back down at the table. "That's disgusting."
"You can't blame me! Take a look at this," Koga replied, leaning over so they could both watch on his phone. The director had called a fifteen-minute break earlier and they were just waiting to get back to work. Witnesses of their little water incident gathered around to see what had shaken up Japan's runner-up.
Although Cedric understood some of what was being said on the show, he was still slowly piecing it together. Where the heck is my translator when I need him? He recognized Kyoko and her boyfriend instantly. Why are they dressed like that? His eyes widened when the hostess mentioned Tragic Marker and Heel since the names were in English. He looked closely at their appearance as Kyoko responded to the questions and something clicked. Are you fucking kidding me? Kyoko-san was the girl we saw with Cain on the street.
Cedric tried to wrap his head around the fact that Tsuruga Ren had played a double role and fooled the public. He wondered what Kimiko thought and if she even saw this broadcast. It would be a good excuse to call and check in on her later. He should have called her back when Asahina so rudely answered his phone the other night, but at the time he was upset with her for lying to him. He still didn't know what kind of game she was playing with him or why. It was about time he stopped avoiding her and just asked her directly. He thought she was different, a good friend. He didn't need to add another altercation with a woman to his record here in Japan too. His father's disappointed face flashed in his mind.
An extra cast member crowding around the phone let out a low whistle and asked, "Is that seriously Kyoko-san? She's smoking hot!"
"How have we been working with her for months and not noticed her sex appeal?" A prop assistant added.
The guys all took a moment to think about the Kyoko they knew on set. She was cute, respectful, a little dense sometimes, but most of all, she was serious when it came to acting. Most of the men admired her skills in swordplay and acrobatics. Between her boyfriend and Koga watching out for her, no one dared look at her as anything more than a colleague. Now it seemed that her boyfriend being the illustrious Cain Heel, actor of BJ in the movie Tragic Marker, pretty much guaranteed that no one would dare try to get close to her on a personal level.
Koga's mouth was set in a tight line. His fierce competition had just upped the ante. He thought he had a leg up on his competition by acting out the brooding samurai, Shizuma, in all its seriousness and action. This was finally his chance to show all of Japan and the world that he was more than a type-casted rom-com actor. He sighed as he thought about how his rival was yet again one step ahead of him. He could only hope that the guy's image would take a hit after playing a psycho.
Koga pulled out of his thoughts and returned to what was being said around him. Somehow, they had bravely moved on to talking about Kyoko's physical assets. Innocent locker room banter. The problem was this wasn't a locker room. "Hey! Let's not get carried away with our free talk here. What you say out of work and during your free time is your business, but if I hear any one of you disrespecting Kyoko-chan like you are right now, there's no guaranteeing your safety from that guy."
On another part of the set, Producer Kuresaki and Director Jouji were alerted of the interview by an assistant. They were watching it on Jouji's fully charged tablet. Both concluded that this project was the reason Ren couldn't take the part of Shizuma. The actor was at the top of his game. They couldn't dismiss the young actress sitting next to him. Kuresaki had never been so delighted to be proven so wrong in his life. He was embarrassed, but he would never admit to anybody that he had gone so long in his career dismissing anyone that didn't hold the title actor or actress. This talent had made him aware of his narrow-minded point of view.
"Ne, Yuki, I think we need to strengthen security until this dies down," Jouji considered quietly to his friend. Kuresaki nodded in agreement and stepped away to call Koenji.
"Leader! Leader! Pull yourself together!" Yuusei and Shinichi both exclaimed as they tried to slap some life back into Hikaru.
"Ah! His nose is bleeding! Quick, get some napkins!" Shinichi panicked.
Yuusei returned with a bunch of napkins and held it to his friend's nose. They had stopped to watch the interview during their TBM rehearsal when one of the other crew members came in screaming that Kyoko was on TV and they wouldn't believe it. Not wanting to miss a second of their co-star's screen time, the brothers rushed to the nearest TV and were floored by what they saw.
"K- K- Kyoko?" was all Hikaru was able to mutter before his eyes rolled into his sockets and proceeded to faint. It was a good thing the other brothers were able to catch him before he hit the ground.
"Should we call an ambulance?" Yuusei asked as they dragged their leader to a more comfortable spot. Shinichi shook his head as he tried to fan their friend. The poor guy just had a big shock.
"Ren, please enlighten me as to what you were trying to accomplish back there?" Kyoko asked Ren as they drove away from the station heading for home. They had the rest of the night off for the surprise welcome home party. Ren shrugged, raising her hackles. The gesture infuriated her. She couldn't express how she felt about it without giving away some of his lineages.
Instead, she did the next best thing and narrowed her eyes to stare at him until he squirmed. After a few moments, she watched him fold under the pressure of her gaze as a little bead of sweat ran down the side of his face.
"I'm being childish again, aren't I? I just didn't like that snake acting like we were ever close, especially right in front of you." He took her hand in his. "I'm sorry that what I said caused her to say those malicious things about you, but she wasn't wrong, you know?"
"What do you mean?" Kyoko asked, astonished that he would agree with anything that the vial woman had to say. Which part? She turned the words that Kimiko had thrown in her face earlier over in her mind. Corn would never think like that about me, would he?
"Well, you did seduce me," the Emperor leaned in and whispered in her ear. The soft caress of his breath on her skin sent a wave of heat straight to her core making her flush red. She pushed the insufferable man away with a huff. He chuckled and wrapped his arm over her shoulders. Even if she was currently miffed at him for putting his reputation on the line for her sake, she couldn't stop her body from leaning into his warmth. She couldn't believe Kimiko lost control like that in front of so many witnesses. The look of betrayal in her eyes as she stared at her father made Kyoko feel sorry for her.
"I'm being serious, you idiot! Did you see how shocked Konoe-san and Morizumi-san were? You pretty much insulted the whole Morizumi clan. I heard they are very powerful in this industry. What if they blacklist you? You've worked so hard to obtain your position as the top actor in Japan. For what? To get a little revenge on her for me." Kyoko turned her face up to him so she could scold him properly. Level two Cain puppy dog eyes, Cainmaru, looked down at her. So not fair!
Ren sighed. "I would do it all over again," he said, kissing her forehead. The point was to test Kimiko's limits. He was prepared to say more insulting things before she cracked. He was surprised it only took one time to trigger her right in front of her father and so many witnesses. This wasn't the last they were going to see of Kimiko. Ren hugged her tighter, loving the way she fit perfectly against him.
"Dinner?!" Kanae was horrified by the prospect of having dinner with Yashiro tonight. Okay, it wasn't just with him. He had told her that the plan was to meet up with the others too. She had just come off an almost 12-hour flight; there was no way she was going out to dinner in her travel wear. She needed to shower and put on fresh make-up. "I'm sorry. I feel like I need to wash the travel grime off of me. Could you please just drop me home? I'll make plans with Kyoko for another day."
Yashiro racked his brain for something that would help him convince her to stay with him. Kyoko had been working hard all morning for her friend's surprise party. "We could st-" Yashiro was interrupted by Kanae's phone ringing. Kanae sighed when she saw that Kyoko was calling.
"Mo! What the heck have you been up to?" Kanae answered coldly. Yashiro chuckled to himself. It was cute how she tried to act like she didn't care, but he could tell from her expression that she was happy to hear from her friend.
"Mookooo-sannnn, welcome home. I missed you Moko-san. I want to see Moko-san the most and tell her everything." Kyoko's excited voice filled the car even though she wasn't on speakerphone.
"Don't you realize I just came off a long flight and I'm tired," Kanae replied laying on the guilt trip thick.
"Kotonami-san, I'm sor-." Yashiro tried to apologize but Kanae held a finger up to her lips telling him to be quiet. Yashiro couldn't help but stare at the delicate finger she held against those red pouty lips. He was so confused.
"I'm sorry Moko-san. It was selfish of me," Kyoko replied dejectedly. Her tears could be heard through the phone. Kanae sighed in resignation.
"I guess I can come out for a bit tonight. I need to go home first and clean up at least." She glanced over at Yashiro in question. He smiled and nodded. If that's what it took to get her to Kyoko, he would agree to anything at this point.
"Yay!" Kyoko exclaimed, revived now that she would see her friend later. "I can't wait to hear about your adventures in America. I hope you took pictures. I'm sure you took pictures. What am I saying…."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll see you later," Kanae retorted and hung up the phone. She leaned her head back on the chair and closed her eyes. Kyoko could be exhausting, but she was eager to catch up as well. A lot happened while she was away. Although she kept up with the news and gossip, Kanae still wanted to hear her friend's side of the story.
"So, your house first?" Yashiro asked, starting up the car.
Kanae nodded and told him, "thank you."
As they approached her house, Kanae asked him to pull over before reaching it. She looked up and down the street and cautiously exited the vehicle. Kanae reached to take her luggage from him, but Yashiro insisted that he carry it for her. She looked around the hedge for any sign of her family.
The corner of Yashiro's lips quirked, amused by her actions. What was going on? When she confirmed the coast was clear she rushed Yashiro as best she could to her secured room in the back. She sighed with relief once she threw close all the locks behind her. Leaning against the door, she realized Yashiro was inside her room, alone, with her.
Yashiro curiously looked around taking in all the details. It was his first time seeing the inside, since the last time he was here he had waited for her and Kyoko outside. The large room had a small kitchenette with no windows or adornments on the walls. It reminded him more of a bunker than a young woman's bedroom. The only furniture was a coffee table, a dresser, and several boxes stacked in a corner. There was no bed so he assumed she still slept on a futon that was probably stashed in the large closet. The bottles of perfume and cosmetics sitting on top of her dresser next to a vanity mirror were the only evidence that she lived here. There were two doors on the back wall which he assumed led to an en suite and maybe more storage.
Kanae cleared her throat a little embarrassed at her situation. "Yashiro-san, thanks for the ride, but you can leave now. I can find my way to the location for dinner."
Normally Yashiro would take his cue and leave, but today he was acting boldly. "It's no problem, I can wait," he blurted. "I'll wait for you in the car until you're done then we could head over together."
Kanae opened her mouth to protest but he continued before she had a chance.
"I'll return some of those phone calls so it's not a big deal. Since I'm already here, I don't mind waiting. We're going to the same place after all." He had no clue where this boldness was coming from. Yashiro was usually an agreeable fellow and knew how to read the atmosphere. It was probably from watching Ren dance around Kyoko for so long that was making him have a little more courage. He was glad those painful days were behind him now that they were officially a couple.
As if to further prove his argument, Yashiro's phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, gesturing to Kanae, and moved towards the door while pulling on a glove.
Kanae stopped him as her sixth sense perked up. She placed her hand over his mouth when he tried to talk and kept it there. Placing her ear against the door, she listened as childrens' voices walked past.
Isn't Kanae nee-chan supposed to be home already?
I miss her. I want her to buy snacks.
Come on, let's go play at the park to kill time.
She turned back to Yashiro, noticing the blush on his cheeks, and snatched her hand away like she just touched something hot.
Still flushing, Yashiro raised his brows, confused. "Why are we hiding?" he whispered. He was curious as to why she was hiding her return. When he came with Kyoko to take her to the airport there was no one around back then, now he knew she had siblings. Kyoko had told him that she lived with her family but didn't provide any details.
"Mo! You wouldn't understand those little leeches. For now, handle your business here." She pulled the low table from the side of the wall to the middle of the room. "I'll get ready quickly so we can leave at once. Can I get you something to drink?" Yashiro shook his head no. Once she saw that he was settled, she quickly ran through her room swooping up things she would need. She couldn't believe she was doing this with a man in her room and not just any man either, but THIS man. The one that had never been too far from her thoughts while she was in America. She tried not to think too hard about it as she locked the bathroom door.
Yashiro busied himself with email rather than phone calls to minimize the noise. There were many people in the industry contacting him about Ren and Kyoko. The sound of the water coming from the shower momentarily distracted him as his mind flooded with perverted thoughts, envisioning the water cascading over the attractive woman in the other room. Quit being a perv and focus on your work! With renewed determination, he tried to concentrate on his emails. Ah, this is the brand Maria likes! They want Kyoko's Setsu to represent their brand and they want Ren's Cain to be in some of the photos with her. He flagged the email to follow up.
A good half hour had passed by when he finally realized he had been reading the same email over and over. He had to stop due to the distraction coming from the other room. He put his phone down on the table and pocketed his gloves. With his eyes closed, he laid his head on the table and prayed to the Gods to forgive him. Yashiro thought he was going to lose his mind listening to her hum while she got ready. He wondered who he had pissed off in another life to be tortured like this. He shut his eyes for a moment until he heard the sound of a door opening. Eh? He bolted upright thinking he had drifted off to sleep. Turning his head towards the sound, he locked eyes with a young man who was the spitting image of Kanae with short hair peeking through the other door not used by Kanae. Before Yashiro could introduce himself, the guy quickly closed the door as quietly as he opened it. He rose from the floor and headed for the door. It must lead to the main house. He could make out several voices of men and women talking on the other side of the door.
Kanae brought home a man!
Our little Kanae has finally become a full-fledged woman.
We need to commemorate this momentous occasion.
What? Kanae nee-chan is home! Came a loud squeal from beyond the door.
Yashiro stepped back from the door and stared at the ceiling as it vibrated. He heard something thundering above him then make its way across the floor above from where he stood. Stampede? Whatever was making that sound had made its way onto the first floor and appeared to be coming straight for Kanae's room.
Kanae burst from the bathroom smelling like a floral garden in spring. She looked like a supermodel in a pair of skinny jeans and a plain black tank top. She told him to hurry up and get his shoes on while she put the chain on the interior door. Why is this undone? I probably would have noticed if I wasn't so distracted by him. She had to change her door locks again. The lock manufacturer was going to hear it from her. Obviously, their guarantee was no match for her brothers. She hurriedly threw on a long beige gauzy floral print Kimono-type cardigan over her outfit and stuffed her feet into red pumps. Yashiro had no clue what was happening but decided to act per Kanae's instructions. In a matter of seconds, the door was breached but the chain held, barely. Yashiro stared in horror as child-size limbs poked through the narrow opening of the door like tentacles.
"Mo! We have to go!" Kanae shouted holding the exterior door open. Yashiro grabbed his cellphone and raced out the door. He stopped short when he was confronted by a pair of couples armed with a camera.
"Kanae, wait! We need a picture for mom and dad!" The male version of Kanae shouted.
Kanae ignored him and grabbed Yashiro's hand. She pulled him along as the exterior door to her room burst open and almost a dozen kids came streaming out.
"Oh shit, run faster!" Kanae screamed as they made a break for his car. Yashiro finally catching on picked up speed and took the lead gripping her hand. He dared not go any faster since she was running in heels. A feat in its own right, he thought.
The shrieks of "Kanae nee" and "maki" echoed behind them as they ran. Yashiro managed to unlock the door to the car before they got there. Reluctantly letting go of Kanae's hand, they ran to their respective doors. He started the car up quickly and sped off with Kanae yelling at him to "go, go, go!" He watched the kids disappear in the rearview mirror as they poured out onto the street finally giving up the chase.
He looked at Kanae who was still trying to catch her breath. "It seems people keep chasing us around today. Are you ok?" He asked. Kanae nodded a little embarrassed. "What in the world was that back there?" Yashiro asked willing his heart to slow down.
"You have just witnessed the enormity of the Kotonami clan," Kanae confessed with a slight blush. She had hoped to avoid letting him see them and vice versa.
"Mo! Do you smell something?" Kanae asked sniffing the air. It smelled like burnt metal and plastic.
Yashiro sniffed the air then groaned. He knew that familiar smell. He looked down briefly at the center console where he had deposited his phone. In his haste, he had run out with his phone clutched in his hand, his very bare hand. Kanae followed his line of sight that rested on his phone. She lifted his phone to inspect it. It was fried. She looked up at him incredulously. "Superpowers," he answered sheepishly.
"I'm sorry because of me your phone broke. I'll compensate you for the cost. Please just give me the bill and I will pay you back," Kanae offered, feeling terrible. A manager of his stature would be lost without his mobile device. She grumbled under her breath about her family causing her problems the moment she returned home.
"Don't worry about it. I have an old one I could use. But more importantly, why did we run from your family?"
"If we got caught by them, we would have never made it to dinner. They are a drain on a person's wallet and energy. If they even had a minuscule thought that we were...ugh…um...together, they would think you're family and extort money out of you."
Yashiro chuckled. So this was the kind of family atmosphere that surrounded Kanae. It was quite refreshing from the cold and serious woman she portrayed at work.
"Were they all your siblings?" He asked curiously, hoping she would share.
This is why she didn't want him to wait for her. Now the cat was out of the bag. Kanae sighed, she might as well tell him. "I have two older brothers, one older sister, seven younger siblings, six nieces and nephews, and two sisters-in-law that live at that house." Kanae held her breath waiting for him to judge her, them.
"Wow, that must be wonderful having such a large family and everyone together," Yashiro replied, smiling warmly. "My parents and older sister don't live in Tokyo so we only get together for the holidays when my schedule allows it."
Kanae released a shaky breath and looked down to hide the slight blush upon her cheeks.
"Yes," she answered softly. Although they were numerous and poor, she never felt lonely or lacking in love from her family. Kanae was slowly warming up to them ever since joining the LoveMe section. She realized how lucky she was to have them. There were some people like Kyoko that would yearn to have a family like hers.
"Hi dear, so she's home?" Jiro asked with relief as he came through the front door. He had scoured the TV station and immediate area looking for his daughter for the past few hours. She had refused to pick up any of his calls or anyone else's for that matter. Jiro started to feel like the worse father on the planet. He should have handled the situation with a little more tact. He, like his daughter, was swept away by his emotions and reacted irrationally. He hoped his cousin could do some damage control.
He wasn't quite sure what had come over Ren. From working with him in the past, he was always thoughtful and polite. After running into Konoe again during his search for his daughter, the director had mentioned that he thought perhaps the soul of Cain was still residing in Ren. It would clearly explain the bizarre change in the man's behavior. He couldn't even be angry at Ren for insulting his family when he had this burning desire to work with this villainous side of the actor even more.
Jiro started for the stairs, but his wife stopped him. "Dear, I think she just needs some time. Let's let her be. Come and sit. Tell me what happened." Jiro allowed his wife to lead him towards his study where they could have more privacy to discuss their daughter's recent behavior.
Kimiko had just put her finishing touches on her little gift. Now she just had to wait for the right moment to present it. She smiled when her phone rang, displaying Ric on her screen. Looks like fate is finally on my side, she thought with a twisted smile.
Notes:
Thanks for continuing to stick with me, I hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 72: An Evening with Friends
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Saena would eventually take an interest in her daughter's life.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Dressed in Arabian robes, Ruto managed to quietly manifest before Lory holding the telephone. "Sir, Mogami-san is on the phone," his right-hand man announced stoically.
"Bahhh!," Lory pouted, unbecoming of the fine white silk and embroidered Sultan robes he wore. This call signified that he just lost to Ruto. While watching the Heel sibling reveal, Lory and Ruto had made a friendly bet on how long it would take for Kyoko's mother to call him. Lory had counted on her not watching the reveal and being unsure of her place in Kyoko's life that it would take a day or not at all for her to demand his head. Ruto, on the other hand, announced that she would call before the day was over.
Lory reluctantly put down the draft scripts he was reviewing and propped himself up on the ornate chaise he lounged on. He answered the call, "Takarada Lory." It was all he said for a few minutes as he listened to the tongue lashing Kyoko's mother gave him about the discrimination of women by the crude young woman he made her daughter portray and the revealing clothing he made her wear.
When he was finally able to get a word in edgewise, Lory went on the defense. "Mogami-san, while it warms my heart that you are showing so much affection for your daughter, might I remind you that you left her in my care. Even if my methods are unconventional, I saw this opportunity and took it to help Mogami-kun grow not only as an actress but as an individual."
Saena continued to ask questions while Lory volleyed answers, "Yes, I do believe in the equality of women...this was a LoveMe task so there will be no compensation...Yes, I assure you I have several lucrative job offers for her...I will do what's best for her to further her career….Yes, thank you for calling," Lory replied and hung up the phone with a smirk. Saena's detached lawyer voice throughout the conversation was still cold but he was thrilled by the progress. This was a giant leap for their mother-daughter relationship.
Elated by his loss, Lory went back to the scripts he received just that morning. The urge to produce both of them was there, but he needed to make the final decision on which one would go first.
The welcome home party was slowly dying down. With her father's help and Ren's improved kitchen skills, Kyoko managed to make several low-calorie dishes that Kanae could enjoy. She even made a few delicious desserts that were guaranteed to not expand the waistline. Kanae was not thrilled by the ambush. She thought they were just having dinner and wasn't expecting a party in her honor.
Earlier, Kanae had been surprised when they pulled up to a security gate of a very posh-looking building and the guards greeted Yashiro with familiarity. She didn't miss the way a guard gave Yashiro a thumbs-up sign while subtly nodding her way. To keep from blushing, she focused on the seriousness of the security personnel. The place had to be very exclusive.
"Is there a restaurant in this building?" Kanae asked Yashiro while gazing at the high-rise through the windshield.
"There's a restaurant here on the lower level," Yashiro commented as he made his way through the parking garage and found a visitor space. This place catered to their residents making it one of the most private residences in Tokyo. It also came with a huge price tag. As Japan's top actor, Ren, now Kyoko, needed all the security they could get. If Kyoko knew the cost of living here she would have a heart attack.
"Wait!" Yashiro stopped her when she tried to open her door. He hopped out of the car and came around to open it for her.
Smooth, she thought and placed her hand in his to step out. Is this some kind of date? She dropped his hand, fearing the way it made her feel, and followed him to the elevators. She watched him use a little key card to push the button to the floor. She frowned, wondering why they were going up and not down toward the restaurant he mentioned.
Continuing to be the gentleman, Yashiro allowed her to step out first when they exited the elevator. Kanae stepped out into a long elegant hallway that had a door on the right side halfway down. She could tell the carpet was expensive and luxurious as she walked on it following Yashiro. As they walked toward the door, Kanae's eyes roamed over the large black and white canvas prints that decorated the walls, recognizing a few of them. The Golden Pagoda, bamboo forest, and the Torii gate tunnel were easy to place, but the other prints seemed like random nature scenes around Japan. A few feet to the right of the door stood a console table of dark wood and metal framing. On top of the table sat three tall bluish-gray ceramic vases with faux long-stemmed cherry blossom branches inside them with a large circular mirror mounted behind them.
Kanae couldn't help but admire her reflection next to Yashiro's as they strode past. Given Ren's status, this had to be some super-elite restaurant, but where were all the people. She couldn't afford to dine in a place of this magnitude. The confidence she normally possessed was replaced with insecurity. Kanae wished that she had rethought her outfit choice. It didn't help that Yashiro had been his usual cryptic self when she tried to ask him about the place.
They paused in front of the door as Yashiro pushed the buzzer. It was only when Kanae noticed the "welcome" mat on the floor that it dawned on her that this was someone's home. She heard rustling as someone approached the door. It was yanked open excitedly with a loud, "Moookkkkoooo-saaan."
Kanae easily side-stepped her best friend's attempt to bear hug her.
"Mo! What are you doing to a person as soon as you open the door!" Kanae scolded with a flip of her hair. She was quite satisfied that her instincts had not dulled while she was away. She looked down at her friend who had fallen to the floor after her failed attempt to accost her. Kyoko rubbed her backside with tears threatening to spill from the corners of her eyes.
Kanae sighed. Kyoko looked so pitiful. With a terse apology, she reached down to help her friend up and braced herself for the hug to follow. Kyoko's face lit up and she launched herself, wrapping her arms around her Kanae and praising her mercilessly.
Ren cleared his throat behind them. "Kyoko, please let Kotonami-san come inside. I'm sure she's famished after her journey." Kanae glanced at Ren and saw the adoration he had for his girlfriend evident in his eyes. She nodded in greeting towards Ren and then looked into the place.
With one final squeeze, Kyoko let Kanae go albeit reluctantly. Kanae was relieved to be able to breathe again. "I'm so sorry. Where are my manners? Please come inside, everyone is waiting."
"What do you mean every-" Kanae began but was cut off by party poppers exploding, sending colorful streamers sailing through the air. She was greeted with a loud chorus of "Welcome Home!" from Chiori, Hiou, and their managers.
Her eyes swept across the people and the luxurious apartment. She briefly looked around as she stepped in to greet her friends. It was obvious that the place had a feminine quality to it. The floor-to-ceiling drapery with a light blue cherry blossom pattern that hung the length of one wall had to be Kyoko's doing. She could tell that her friend also had a hand in the choice of rugs, throw pillows, knick-knacks, and photographs of the couple that were strewn throughout the spacious apartment. It had a cozy atmosphere which probably didn't always exist before her. She wondered if Ren had always lived in this huge place alone.
"I wanted to have a welcome home party for you. I hope you don't mind," Kyoko said happily. Kanae pasted a small smile on her face as she took in those present. The only person Kanae didn't recognize was the middle-aged man standing next to her friend's beau. Kanae watched Ren whisper something to the man making him freeze up in response. He had to be Kyoko's biological father based on the color of his eyes alone.
"Welcome home, Kanae-san," Chiori and her manager greeted. "I can't wait to hear all about your project and time in Hollywood," Chiori added and stepped back to allow the other guests to greet her.
"Oi Kanae, welcome back! I hope you did your work properly and didn't cause any trouble," Hiou greeted her with the air of seniority.
Kanae smiled. "It's good to see you, Hiou-kun. Did you get taller?"
Hiou blushed happily. She noticed. He had to feign indifference after watching her enter with the manager. Are they dating? Why did that usually dull manager with glasses have to end up looking so good on his off time? He also caught how her eyes kept glancing off the guy as if she was confirming his presence in the room.
"I grew three centimeters," he puffed proudly. He had hit a growth spurt while she was gone and was nearly up to her shoulders.
"That's great Hiou-kun. I could tell," she replied. "You'll be taller than me before you know it."
"Excuse me, Hiou-kun. Can I steal her for a minute? I'd like to introduce Moko-san to my father, please," Kyoko interrupted, hooking her arm around Kanae's. They walked over to where Tadashi was chatting with Ren and Yashiro.
"Father, this is um Mo- err...ugh… Kotonami Kanae-san, my best friend in this whole world. Kotonami-san, this is my father Morimoto Tadashi-san," Kyoko gushed. She hoped they would get along. Kyoko knew Kanae's feelings regarding her father. She was happy her friend was looking out for her.
Kanae's cool blue eyes gazed into the amber eyes of her friend's father after they bowed in greeting. She sized him up, hoping to get a read on him.
"Thank you for taking care of my daughter all this time. I know you don't trust me, but I hope in time and through my actions, I can prove to you that I am sincere when it comes to Kyoko-chan. I have a lot to make up for and I plan on spending the rest of my life doing so," Tadashi declared with another deep bow. Ren had told him she was one of the last big bosses he had to face here in Japan. Hopefully, with time the cool beauty would warm up to him.
Kanae was taken aback by his straightforwardness. He had lived in America all this time, so perhaps this confidence came from that foreign atmosphere. His eyes were bright, burning with stubborn determination so similar to that of his daughter's. He was serious. Kanae didn't mince any words when she responded with a warning, "I will be keeping my eye on you."
Tadashi nodded and smiled warmly, happy that she was giving him a chance to prove himself.
Yashiro stepped in to help them out of the awkwardness. "Kotonami-san, perhaps you would like to eat?"
Across the room, she noticed Hiou scowling at Yashiro as he led her reluctantly toward the food table. She was very hungry and knew she would probably binge on Kyoko's cooking. The food laid out could have rivaled a five-star restaurant quality. Everything looked delicious and was beautifully presented. Kyoko walked over to her friend and pointed out the items that were low in calories. Kanae had worked her butt off during non-work hours while in America to keep some of the fried food she ate often there from wreaking havoc on her body. She was happy to be home and no longer tempted by the generous portions in America.
She was surprised that several of the items she chose were made by Tadashi. So they even have their love of cooking in common. While they all ate they talked a little about some of the places and people Kanae had met while shooting in LA.
"Oh, Kyoko, that reminds me. I met Hizuri Kuu-san on set on my last day there. He had a small part in the drama. I told him I was with LME and he excitedly asked if I knew you. I could tell he wanted to talk about you, but his manager had to rush him out," Kanae told her. Kuu had lit up like a light bulb when she was introduced to him. He was ready to burst at the seams when she told him they were in the same section. His manager had to drag him away from her as he was shouting things for her to tell Kyoko from him. "I didn't understand some of the things he said though. He said 'tell my son that she's adorable and I miss her!'"
"Eh? Ot- Kuu-sama was in your drama? That's amazing!" Kyoko exclaimed with a look of pure admiration. In her eyes, the man could move mountains with his amazing acting skills. The encounter must have slipped his mind. "When he was here he treated me like his child when he gave me acting lessons to portray his son. He made me feel what it was like to have a father." Kyoko gasped, realizing her slip, and glanced apologetically at her father.
Tadashi felt the cold hard stab of jealousy flood through his body. He knew it was senseless of him to feel this way and should be grateful to the man for taking his daughter under his wing. He was familiar with the Hollywood actor, but it seemed the man had become a father figure to her. Tadashi knew his daughter was feeling terrible right now and probably a bit afraid that he would be angry. She still had the past trauma of her mother abandoning her fresh in her heart. His poor sweet girl. If he could only turn back time.
Tadashi patted her head. "Of course, leave it to my amazing daughter to have the famous Hizuri-san wrapped around her little finger. I'm glad you have him looking out for you. He sounds like he cares for you very much. Poor Ren-kun over here has it the worse. How many fathers does that make it now...three? four? I can only imagine how many onii-san's she has acquired," Tadashi joked. Ren groaned making everyone laugh. The heavy atmosphere of earlier dissipated instantly.
Kyoko smiled warmly at her father, relieved that he wasn't mad at her or going to leave her.
After about an hour, Hiou and his manager took their leave. He had another project to get to before he retired for the night.
Now that things were winding down, the subject had turned away from Kanae's adventures to the Heel siblings.
"Mo! Turn on the television so we can watch the news. I still can't believe you acted out the Heel siblings," she said hanging her head in shame. "I should never have underestimated you just because the outfits weren't to your taste. I have a long way to go as an actress."
"No way, Moko-san is the best actress. I hope someday I could have a tenth of your skill! Moko is so beautiful and smart and pretty and talented and..." Kyoko continued to list off all of Kanae's great qualities.
"Mo! Stop that! You are beautiful and talented too. You are just as amazing so don't put yourself down like that, otherwise, you can't be my rival," Kanae scolded.
"Moko-san, is that how you truly feel?" Kyoko asked her voice trembling with emotion. Kanae nodded regretting her words. She once again braced herself as Kyoko threw her arms around her.
"I'm so happy to have you home," she squealed.
"Ooh, we should check the fansites. I bet they are blowing up right now in light of these events," Chiori suggested. "Do you have a computer?"
"Fansites?" Kyoko asked confused. She remembered Yashiro had mentioned something about it last week but she never looked into it. At the time, Queen B was on there slandering her name.
"Come on, Kyoko-san, every actress should be aware of what the fans are saying about her," Chiori told her.
"I have fans?" Kyoko asked doubtfully.
"You are the most popular up-and-coming actress in Japan. Of course, you have fans silly!" Chiori reprimanded her.
"Oh," she squeaked as her cheeks heated at the idea of having fans.
Kyoko stood to get the new computer her father had given her.
Tadashi stopped her once it was booted up. He came up with an elaborate story about an article he had read on hackers tapping into a computer's camera system. He showed her how to enable and disable the device based on Spectre's instructions. They let Chiori take over as they crowded around the computer.
"Does anyone have an account?" Chiori asked looking up. All she heard were crickets. No one was willing to lose their anonymity by giving up their online identity, even among friends.
"Well in that case I think we can sign on as a 'guest.' This way we don't have to waste time creating an account. What do we want our name to be?" Chiori asked looking at Kyoko in particular.
"Ooh, ooh, can it be anything?" Kyoko asked enthusiastically. Chiori nodded. "How about Princess Bella Rose? Or Princess Aurora? Or even Fairy Princess!"
Her friends started laughing. They should have figured that she would choose those kinds of names.
"Oh, I have a good one that adequately describes you." She typed in, Immortal Butterfly, and then hit submit.
"Immortal butterfly? It sounds so ethereal almost like a fairy," Kyoko commented, daydreaming about the beauty of butterflies. She found it fascinating how a caterpillar encases itself into a cocoon and radically transforms itself to eventually emerge as a beautiful butterfly.
"It's just my personal opinion from watching you act. Your transformation into Setsuka-san has solidified it for me." You might just be the one he's looking for along with that guy, Chiori thought, glancing at Ren chatting with the others.
Chiori gasped when the page finally uploaded. The room quieted down as all eyes turned toward the screen. She covered her mouth with her hand as she quietly read what the fans were saying about both Kyoko and Ren.
"Oh my god! I can't look," Kyoko moaned covering her eyes. "I think I'm better off not knowing. They say ignorance is bliss." Kyoko removed her hands from her face when she heard the telltale sound of a giggle escape from Kanae. Chiori was also trying to hide her laughter. What was so funny?
Unable to contain her curiosity, Kyoko looked at the screen. There was a lot of text but what caught her eye was the picture of Setsu on premiere night, sneering at the camera. Cain had been cropped out from the shot and in bold print the words, HER FACE WHEN SHE SEES HIS TRUE SIZE.
Her friends were holding their sides in full-blown laughter now. She looked at them confused, "I don't get it." The girls sobered up quickly and stared at Kyoko like she had grown another head. Kanae and Chiori looked at each other and at the same time screamed, "not it!" They instantly fell into a game of janken. Kanae's paper lost to Chiori's scissors.
Yashiro and Ren stood up to see what had enraptured the girls. They felt like they were intruding on a rare girl bonding moment. They took a quick look at what had caught their attention. When they read what was the source of their behavior they retreated a safe distance away, hoping the girls would ignore them. If this was the kind of backlash they could expect from Kyoko playing Setsu, then it would all blow over in time.
Kanae looked at Ren, "Tsuruga-san, how is this even possible?" In other words, Kanae wanted to know, how in the world after dating and living with Japan's voted sexiest man, can her friend still be so naive.
"You know as well as I do that Kyoko has a pure soul. Let's not say anymore. I do want to grow old with Kyoko," he said chancing a glance at Tadashi who was too busy taking pictures. Kyoko blushed at his confession in front of so many people. Ren didn't care if they made fun of him. He loved her and he was no longer afraid to show his feelings.
"You see Kyoko, this is what is called a 'meme.' It's something humorous that is shared through social media. You see this number...396k+. That means this particular picture has been shared three hundred ninety-six thousand times and counting among internet users. This particular meme is implying that you make that face when you realize..." Kanae stopped and leaned in to whisper into her ear, way too embarrassed to say it out loud. "When you realize that a man's penis is smaller than he implied."
"What?!" Kyoko was aghast. "But why would they associate something like that with me. I don't know! I mean, I wouldn't know about that sort of..." Kyoko turned around and glared at Ren looking as innocent as can be. This was all his fault. If he hadn't said that so unnecessarily during the interview people wouldn't be thinking she had a superpower to analyze men's private parts.
"Hey don't worry about it. You have to just laugh off these things. Let's look at what else they have to say," Chiori advised, trying to improve the mood. Whose stupid idea was it to look at this site again? Mine, of course. She scrolled to the top of the page to read some of the older posts.
KyoRenFan1 : Holy shit! Did any of you see the Fuji broadcast? Ren-sama and Kyoko-san have just revealed that they were the Heel siblings...SURPRISE! in case I ruined it for you. Check out the link HEEL -FujiTV
KyokoFan1 : I knew it! I had a feeling it was her! Kyoko-san is the greatest of all time in my book. I'm looking forward to her new drama. I hope they give out free posters at the first showing. I'll wait in line all night for that.
KyoRenFan2: I feel cheated! Here I thought I'd have this dark brooding actor to love on along with my white Knight and it turns out they're the same guy.
RenFan: I can't believe it either. My love for Ren-sama just increased two-fold. I hope we can see more of him as Cain, BJ was entirely too creepy.
KyokoRenFan1: KyoRenFan2 you'll just have to double the love on Ren-sama. I'm getting a nosebleed just thinking of his bad boy side. Now I'm not sure who is the Dom in the relationship.
KyokoFan1: I stand firm that Kyoko definitely takes the reins in the bedroom. I can't get it out of my head that Ren-sama worships her body.
KyokoFan2: I wouldn't be surprised if Kyoko-san is in first place this year as the hottest female celebrity. Her Setsuka is sexy AF!
Her friends were giggling while Kyoko became this pathetic puddle on the floor blushing from head to toe. It's all true! Was there a hidden camera in our bedroom? How did they know I behave so wantonly behind closed doors? No one can blame me, he's irresistible. His hands, his mouth, his… it was all too enticing. Kyoko turned redder as images of her and Ren flashed through her mind. She let out a strangled moan of embarrassment.
Yashiro started freaking out. "Ren, Ren do something, Kyoko-chan might seriously waste away. Maybe reading that stuff is too much for her right now." He looked at Ren who had an amused smile on his face. The guy was no help, so he turned to her father. "Morimoto-san, are you not concerned?" Yashiro asked. He had wasted his breath on her father. The man had been taking pictures all evening and he wasn't missing a chance at capturing this new expression.
"Mo, cut it out! You can't blame them. You two are the hottest couple right now so they are going to talk crudely," Kanae told her, hoping to breathe some life back into her friend. Kyoko had gone from red to blue as she began to hyperventilate.
KyokoRenFan3: OMG! Is anyone familiar with Morizumi Kimiko? This two-faced bitch has a lot of balls! Click the link! KimikovsKyoko_TKO_FujiTV
"Oh! Someone just posted another video. What's this about? Isn't Morizumi that show-biz family?" Chiori asked and clicked the link, getting everyone's attention.
The video appeared to be secretly taken from a cellphone backstage at the TV station earlier. The angle was bad, but one could clearly recognize the players involved. The video started with Ren's snub which was delivered with a pleasant face by the actor. Anyone that watched the video would never think terribly of Ren. It was Kimiko's reaction that would gain the public's interest. The apartment filled with Kimiko's voice as she screamed at Ren and Kyoko after the interview. The slap she received from her father was caught as well. Everyone cringed when Kimiko's head jerked at the force of the hit. This was bad! It was circulating online at a tremendous speed. It was too late, there was no stopping it.
Kanae scowled and cocked her eyebrow at her friend, "explain!"
Kyoko gulped. She realized she had never told Kanae about Kimiko. That one word was like a death sentence to Kyoko's ears. She was so dead.
"What do you mean you can't stop it! I thought you said you handled it at the source before it could spread," Jiro spoke heatedly into the telephone. He had called his cousin after the incident to try to contain and clean up his mess. He shouldn't be getting angry with him.
"I just can't believe those website moderators can't pinpoint who is posting the video. Can't we just shut down the sites altogether?" He knew it was a long shot but it didn't hurt trying. "I guess I'm going to have to face this one head-on. I just hope Kimi doesn't see it."
"How is she doing by the way?" His cousin asked, concerned.
"I'm not sure how she's doing. I'm giving us both space right now. She only returned about a half-hour before me, so we still don't know where she was or what she did before coming home. It might be best until this blows over. Thanks for your help." Jiro flopped into his chair after he hung up the phone.
"Is it bad news dear?" his wife asked walking into the room. She went up to her husband and rubbed his neck and shoulders working the tension out of the muscles there.
"It looks like footage of the incident at the station is circulating the web. All of Japan now knows I'm a terrible father."
"That's not true! You have always been a wonderful father and a good husband. This just shows you're human. Kimi knows how much you love her. It might be best if you apologize and explain. I'm worried about Kimi though. What if this agitates her further? I think I should make an appointment with the doctor just in case."
"Oh, Kimi!" Jiro called out jumping from his chair. He rushed towards the open door to his study when she walked by. How much had she heard?
Kimiko stopped in her tracks and walked into the study. She was holding a decorated gift bag in her hand. She bowed to her parents with her usual sweet and demure smile. She had touched up her make-up to hide the bruising on her face. It was a good thing she had iced it right away, otherwise, there would have been swelling.
"Kimi, I'm sorry for earlier. My emotions got the best of me," Jiro choked hugging his daughter. "I should have never lost my temper. I'll always be on your side, sweetie." He couldn't forget the look she gave him after he had slapped her. He hoped she could forgive him.
"No, Otou-san, I should be apologizing. I embarrassed you. I embarrassed the family. I will accept whatever punishment you may have for me," Kimiko insisted with another bow while shifting the bag in her hands.
Her father's face softened as he hugged her again. Kimiko smiled triumphantly to herself. She really did deserve an Academy Award for her acting even her parents were clueless.
"We need to talk about the repercussions of today's incident. Can we sit down now and talk?" He was relieved that she was being so amicable.
"Of course, Otou-san, please let me put this bag away. It's a gift for a friend," she said with a smile. As soon as she turned away from her parents, her smile disappeared and her eyes hardened.
Notes:
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 73: The Godfather Calls
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kanae and Chiori would definitely protect Kyoko.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kimiko stomped up the stairs and slammed the door to her room. She thought she had easily fooled them by being calm and collected. The little family meeting they had was a disaster. She refused to go back to the States until this whole thing blew over. She completely lost her composure when they suggested that in the meantime, while they made arrangements for her departure, she should see her psychiatrist again. They tried to assure her that it was so she could have someone to confide in if she couldn't talk to her parents about her problems. She had thought they would take away her credit cards or ground her for a month; she didn't think they would really consider sending her away.
Her parents had been watching her closely. The paranoia, the emotional outbursts, and her obsession with Kyoko did not go unnoticed by them over the last couple of days. Today was the last straw for them since she had exploded in public, causing her father to react unthinkably. There was a video circulating of the incident on the internet that was going viral as they spoke.
Kimiko had insisted that if she just apologized to Kyoko everything would be fine. She pulled out all the stops and even turned on the waterworks— the heart-wrenching kind she had perfected that came from deep within her soul that they couldn't resist. She saw them slowly giving in as she continued to sob. She upped the ante by playing the family card. She would miss them and feel lonely in a foreign country.
Her mother promised that she would go with her. She could finish out her last year of school and then move on to an elite university. Realizing that she was unable to sway their minds, she stormed out of the room.
Now she was back in her bedroom. She found everything around her offensive and started tearing up the place. The sounds of pillows ripping and glass shattering could be heard throughout the house.
Jiro stood at the bottom of the stairs flinching with every crash he heard. He was about to climb the stairs when his wife stopped him. She told him to let her calm down first. He supposed that this was better than her going out and causing trouble in public.
"What if she hurts herself? I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if she took drastic measures," Jiro voiced his concerns to his wife.
His wife knew deep in her heart that there was no way Kimiko would ever hurt herself. It seemed her daughter preferred to hurt others. How many more others, she couldn't say? It was better to take her away before her reaction became more than just words.
Kimiko crumpled to her floor in exhaustion, sitting on ripped-up pages of magazines, feathers, glass shards, and bedsheets. She felt much better after her little exertion. The telltale ping of her phone caught her attention. Naturally, both her phone and computer went unscathed during her tantrum. She smirked ironically as she thought that it had to be from her stalker, wanting to gloat about her self-destruction today. It chimed again alerting her to a new message. Her stalker seemed to be impatient right now.
She got off the floor careful to step around the broken glass as she made her way towards her phone sitting on the desk. She looked at the missed messages and found two from Cedric, Are you ok? and Call me, 911. She had talked to him earlier so she wondered what could possibly be so urgent as she called him back.
"It's about time you called back. I saw the video. It's not like you to go off on someone like that. Is everything okay?" Cedric spouted without saying hello.
"I don't know what came over me. I wasn't thinking. I let my petty jealousy cloud my mind. Because of my little stunt, my parents are sending me back to the States."
"What? Why? If anyone should be leaving it should be your father!"
"No, my father is a good man. I took things too far. I deserved that slap."
"Good or not, no man should ever hit a woman. Couldn't you just apologize? You Japanese seem to forgive easily if it's a heartfelt apology."
"Perhaps, you're right. I don't want to trouble my family anymore."
"I'll do whatever I can to help."
"Thank you, that means a lot to me," she smiled as her heart soared. He was worried about her.
"No need to thank me, we're friends."
"Thanks for being my friend," she managed as she struggled to keep the pain from his words out of her voice. "Good night, Ric." Kimiko ended the call before she gave herself away.
"Thank you for all the love and support you've shown me! Good night everyone," Sho shouted breathlessly into the microphone as he bowed and blew kisses to the screaming audience. Tonight had been better. He didn't have any crazy mascots chasing him, nor were there any Kyoko fans chanting outside his hotel or his concert venue. It was like the past couple of days never happened. The news about Kyoko and him had been quickly replaced with the Heel siblings. He always knew that tall pretty boy had a dark and sinister side to him. Sho had been on the receiving end of a few of Ren's deadly glares. How much of Cain Heel was just an act?
Sho made his way backstage where several scantily clad fans were waiting for his autograph. This was the best part of his night. To Sho, there was nothing better after a hard day's work than having beautiful women fawning over him. He signed a few posters and a few questionable parts of a couple of the bolder women's flesh.
Shoko came by chasing the women away as she clucked at Sho to get back to his dressing room. She bared her fangs at the young chick that dared to call her an "old hag." Maybe this job is aging me. I need a spa day.
"Damn Shoko, why are you killing my game? You're not my mother," Sho whined as he plopped down on the couch.
"Please, Sho, remove all that makeup and those girls would look barely sixteen," Shoko scolded pulling out her phone and taking a seat.
"They were pretty luscious to me for a bunch of second years," Sho retorted, smirking.
"I'm just glad you were able to perform satisfactorily after the shocking news today with Kyoko-chan," Shoko told him changing the subject.
"Tch! Why do you have to bring her up all the time and spoil my good mood?"
"Asami-san still wants to use Kyoko-chan's Heel Setsuka persona on the cover of your single."
"What?! Why do I have to work with that soul-sucking demoness!" Sho would take it to his grave the fear that Setsuka had instilled in him during that short elevator ride they shared. The thought of her coming on set in character freaked him out a little.
"Jeez, you're still calling her that. If she accepts the offer, this collaboration could show that you two are putting the past behind you and moving forward as friends."
"Of course she would accept. She should be honored to be associated with me!"
Shoko rolled her eyes. The boy just didn't get it.
Sho's dressing room door burst open, startling him by the intrusion. He was half expecting mascots to come crashing through the door. His expression quickly turned bored when Pochi came storming in.
"Sho-chan, Mimori's glad you waited for her to come," the girl cried as she threw her arms around him. This had to be the President's doing. He was given specific instructions to wait until the crowds dispersed after each show before leaving. All the Kyoko and Ren fans should have turned their attention to the Heel siblings so the coast could be clear by now.
"Oi, Pochi, how did you get in here?" Sho asked slightly annoyed. At least he could enjoy her E-cup tits pressed up against him as they pushed up out of her low top.
"So mean, Sho-chan," Mimori pouted, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. "Mimori worked hard so she could come and see Sho-chan. Even though the director was mean, she endured it because Mimori knew Sho-chan was waiting."
Sho sighed and pulled away from Mimori to lay back down on the couch. He wasn't in the mood to deal with her whining. "Pochi, if you just came here to cry like a baby you can just go back now," Sho told her dismissively.
"Mimori is sorry, Sho-chan. Please don't send me away. I know what would cheer you up the most," Mimori said pulling out her phone. For a second there, Sho thought she somehow found out his love for pudding and brought some with her.
"See, Sho-chan, read what your fans have to say," Mimori said sweetly. She knew Sho always loved when people praised him.
Sho took her phone. With each thread he read, his ego grew larger. His fans were the best.
ShoLover1: Sho-san is hands down the best singer ever!
ShoLover2: I agree he's so passionate about his music. I love his latest songs. I can't wait for his next single.
ShoLover3: I just came from his concert tonight and he sang that song he wrote for Kyoko-san. It was full of sorrow and regret. She doesn't deserve his affection!
ShoLover4: Yassssss! Sho deserves someone so much better! Ren-san can have his leftovers.
ShoLover2: Did anyone see that video of Morizumi Kimiko-san insulting her. I mean she was only saying what we all thought. It was rude of her father to interfere.
Sho's initial high came crashing down. He had no clue what these girls were talking about. What video?
ShoLover3: Yeah, Kyoko-san claims it was all an act but was it really? Did you see how slutty she was dressed at the interview? Talk about not leaving anything to the imagination. Ren-san is being duped.
ShoLover2: I don't get what everyone's obsession is with her anyway. She's not even that pretty. Take away the make-up and she's just blah! Maybe Ren-san needs his eyes checked.
Sho handed back the phone to Mimori, unable to read anymore without getting angry. He would look up the video they were talking about later. He was feeling pretty rotten about the way his fans were trashing Kyoko. Is this what she had to put up with the whole time we were growing up? Sho contemplated their childhood together. She had suddenly stopped being a crybaby after her mother left and always had that stupid infuriating smile on her face. He recalled how she often said, "If Sho-chan's happy, I'm happy!" He was such an idiot. He thought he knew her best but all this time she was probably always enduring it. He had already apologized. Perhaps he could tell his fans to lay off her. Kyoko would appreciate that, wouldn't she?
"What's wrong Sho-chan? I thought this would cheer you up. Isn't it great how no one likes that gi-" Mimori gulped unable to finish her sentence. Why is Sho-chan glaring at Mimori? She wrapping her arms around her body protectively.
Sensing the mood change Shoko said, "Mimori-chan, I think it's better if you go. Sho seems to be a bit tired right now." Shoko guided the girl out of the room.
"But Sho-chan he…" Mimori protested, trying to look around Shoko to see Sho.
"He just needs time. It's been a long day. We'll see you back in Tokyo, okay. Bye, now," Shoko said quickly shutting the door behind the girl.
"Um, excuse me, is it okay that I hear this? I feel like I'm intruding," Chiori's manager, Yoshimoto asked uneasily. She had been engaged in conversation with the others while the girls were catching up. Now it seemed the party atmosphere had dampened. Like the rest of them, she had crowded around to watch the video on the screen and was shocked at its contents. She had no clue there was any animosity between Kimiko and Kyoko. She was interested to know what had spawned such a vehement reaction from the other actress. It was unprofessional of her to be so curious, yet she wanted to know if anyone was attacking Kyoko so she could help in some way. She owed the girl a lot for helping her and Chiori. She had grown to love the other LoveMe girls and felt protective of both Kyoko and Kanae. If she needed to use her connections to help, she would need to be in the know. Kyoko assured Yoshimoto that she was more than welcomed to stay and could be trusted with the details.
Yashiro, Kanae, and Chiori stood before Ren and Kyoko. The couple sat on the floor in seiza position as they faced the firing squad. Kanae demanded to know what was going on as she glared down at her friend.
Kyoko threw herself into a dogeza, "Mookkkooo-san! Please forgive this lousy best friend of yours. I'll understand if you want to cut ties with me. I don't deserve your friendship!" Kyoko began berating herself as big droplets of tears puddled the floor. Ren reached out a hand to comfort his girlfriend, but the look Kanae gave him made him hesitate; however, he defiantly continued and rubbed her back.
"Mo! Stop that, just explain it to me properly. How did you manage to make an enemy out of Morizumi-san?"
Kyoko inhaled and exhaled deeply trying to pull herself together. When she was somewhat calmer, she spoke, "Morizumi-san and I had an agreement so I couldn't say anything. I should have confided in you, but I thought it was over. My mind was occupied with other matters," Kyoko explained with a sidelong glance to Ren.
"Ren, what were you thinking? How could you have been so insulting to the Morizumis? This co-" Yashiro began his lecture, but Kanae cut him off.
"Yashiro-san, we can get to that part later. I want to know how she got to this point!" Kanae demanded, holding up her palm and cutting him off like a boss. Yashiro instantly shut his mouth and blushed slightly. He found her bossiness sexy. He just might be setting himself up for a world of pain if he pursued her. Kyoko's thoughts, on the other hand, went straight to dreamland, imagining Kanae as a Queen that just silenced her loyal subjects. Her best friend was amazing.
"Mo! You're thinking something weird again, aren't you?" Kanae addressed Kyoko. Her brow furrowed in annoyance as her friend's face took on a dreamy expression.
"I'm sorry your Royal Highness Moko! I beg of thee, please spare this lowly peasant!" Kyoko blurted out as she bowed her head to the floor again.
"What the hell?" Kanae huffed as her irritation meter increased a notch. The rest of the people in the room found it amusing and tried to suppress their laughter.
Kanae sat down cross-legged in front of Kyoko. "Enough, tell me what happened. Just from Morizumi-san's outburst, I can see this has something to do with the auditions."
Chiori plopped down next to Kanae while Kyoko explained the situation regarding Kimiko without breaking her promise to Koenji Erika. She told them of how Kimiko had tried to injure her after the auditions, the persistent accidents on set, and Queen B's role behind the article. The two other LoveMe members sat eerily still while Kyoko spoke. Their eyes both widened when she had mentioned Queen B. They were surprised to know that the person trashing their friend all along had been Kimiko. They felt better for defending their friend against that snake.
When Kyoko finished, Kanae could no longer sit calmly. She stood up and started pacing. Why was no one doing anything to stop this girl from hurting Kyoko? Then it dawned on her that everyone was so calm. Morizumi-san had been doing everything in the shadows until now, something had changed? Kanae looked at Ren, then Yashiro, and finally Tadashi.
"Moko-san, are you okay? I didn't mean to hide it from you guys," Kyoko explained, feeling a little more confident since it looked like Kanae wasn't angry anymore. Her friend's expression had quickly changed from confused to understanding.
"We aren't mad, Kyoko-san. Right Kanae-san? We're mad at this Morizumi! How dare she think she can rid this world of the Immortal Butterfly. If I get my hands on her, I'll give her a piece of my mind," Chiori announced vehemently.
"Oh no, please Chiori-san. I don't want either of you mixed up in my mess. Bad enough Ren went and said what he did today," Kyoko begged her friends.
"I was wondering about that," Kanae said. "You were trying to provoke her, weren't you?" Kanae asked Ren. Ren nodded. Yashiro perked up. They were finally at the part of the conversation he was trying to allude to earlier.
"I was wondering why Kimiko was getting away with all this, but you have a plan, right?" Kanae addressed Ren again.
"It's his plan," Ren admitted, nodding towards Tadashi.
Kanae jerked in surprise. She was not expecting that response. She had thought maybe Ren and the President were working to help Kyoko. She couldn't believe Kyoko's father was taking point on this issue and didn't hesitate when she saw the seriousness in her friend's father's eyes when she bluntly stated, "I want in!"
"Ehhhhh? I just said not to get involved. I don't want your career to be ruined. You want to be a top actress. I won't be able to live with myself should anything happen to you," Kyoko sobbed hanging on to her friend. Kanae ignored the heavy aura that Kyoko was wreaking on her body and stared at Tadashi.
Tadashi nodded with a chuckle. He bent down beside Kyoko and said, "It's okay, right, Kyoko-chan? I'm sure they understand your feelings, but you also have to understand theirs. You have great friends that just want to protect you. You don't have to be strong alone. You are not a burden." He handed Kyoko his handkerchief so she could dry her eyes and hoped he sounded fatherly. After all, he was still learning.
Tadashi stood and looked at the other girls. "There's nothing you need to do. The news and fans are doing all the work for us. It was just perfect timing that Ren happened to trigger Morizumi-san today. That video of the incident could either be the end game or the tipping point."
"What do you mean?" Kanae asked confused.
"The more Kyoko-chan grows in popularity, the more Morizumi-san's mask crumbles. It was just a hunch on my part, but it seems that girl hates to lose. I'm pretty sure the Heel siblings reveal shocked her. Ren's insulting words just sent her over the edge," Tadashi continued to explain.
"Do you think she would retaliate?" Kanae asked him.
"It's plausible, but her behavior was witnessed by her father and now, with the footage, all of Japan as well. If we're lucky this could be the end of her harassment against Kyoko," replied Tadashi.
After another half hour of speculation, Kanae not so discreetly released a loud yawn. The jet lag had finally caught up with her. She was tired. Kyoko had suggested that she stay the night in the guest room which she politely declined. She wanted to go home to greet her family. The rest of the party left, leaving Ren and Kyoko alone to clean up what little mess remained. It didn't take them long since it appeared Tadashi had covertly cleaned up throughout the night.
…
Kyoko's breath hitched as her eyes locked with Kuon's. His beautiful gemstone eyes glimmered from the reflection of light coming from the screen of his phone. The device was forgotten as soon as she emerged from the bathroom wearing his favorite light blue silk chemise. She blushed as his gaze roamed appreciatively over her form from head to toe. The nightgown accentuated her curves in all the right places and its thin spaghetti straps showed off her creamy shoulders. The plunging neckline trimmed in lace highlighted her small, but perky breasts. Kyoko was no longer oblivious to the effect she had on him. She climbed into bed on her side and snuggled up to him laying her head on his bare shoulder.
"Tonight went surprisingly well," he told her as he trailed his fingers up and down her bare arm while Kyoko innocently traced her fingers through the dips and valleys of his abs. It always amazed her how solid he felt.
"Do you think Moko hates me?" Kyoko asked, shifting to look up in his direction. Kuon made the mistake of looking down at her. Her breasts were practically spilling out of her nightgown with them pressed against his chest. He tried to focus on staring at her eyes but her breasts kept distracting him.
"Kuon?" She pouted at his lack of attention and pushed herself to a sitting position. She folded her arms over her chest, knowing what had him distracted.
"Eyes up here, buster!" She teased, hitting him with her usual choice of weapon. Kuon was prepared for her attack and blocked the pillow from hitting him. His victory was short-lived. Kyoko anticipated his move and had another one ready, landing a solid hit.
"Why you little imp!" Kuon exclaimed before retaliating with a tickle attack. He started at her sides, but every brush of his hands against her breasts sent scorching waves of heat between her legs and had her panting in no time. Her skin was aglow with a light layer of sweat from the exertion. Kuon couldn't help himself from staring at the rise and fall of her chest. He settled his body over her, intertwining their legs. He was practically nude save for his boxer briefs. Leaning down, he slanted his mouth over hers in a searing kiss. His tongue ran over the seam of her lips begging entrance. Kyoko parted her lips, eagerly inviting him to taste her. He captured her mouth, hot, wet and so very enticing.
Kyoko writhed restlessly beneath him as rocked his hips against her warm center while continuing to tango with her tongue. He ran the palm of his hand slowly starting at the back of her knees making her shudder at his touch. He discovered some time ago that the back of her knees was a sensitive spot for her and looked forward to discovering more ways to pleasure her. He trailed his hand up the length of her thigh relishing in the silkiness of her skin. He pulled back surprised as his hand reached her hip. Her eyes were alight with mirth and screamed surprise! She wasn't wearing any underwear. His control almost shattered in that instant as he pounced on her. Kyoko let out a shrill of high-pitched giggles as he rained kisses over her face and continued lower. Suddenly, he stopped his attack and frowned.
"Is that music? Where is it coming from?" Kuon groaned, keenly aware that it was close. "Is someone watching the Godfather?" Kuon asked, glancing up at the ceiling to the floor above. All the apartments in this building were soundproof, so it had to be coming from inside.
It took Kyoko a few moments to realize that it was her phone ringing. She jumped up to search for it and found it in the bathroom. A second later she rushed out with a bewildered expression.
"It's Otou-san! He's trying to video call. I need clothes! You need clothes! Oh my god, this is so embarrassing!" Kyoko yelled frantically as she ran around the room like she just got caught by her father doing naughty things with her boyfriend. She practically did.
Did I just get cockblocked by my father? How does she even know about the Godfather? A t-shirt smacking him in the face startled him from his thoughts. He pulled the shirt off his head a little amused. She really had a bad habit of throwing things at him. There were more important things he wanted on his face right now and the way she looked in his oversized sweatshirt was not helping.
While they were changing, Kuu's call ended. Kyoko made sure they both looked presentable before she returned the call. As the phone rang, she continued to fidget nervously. Kuon focused on how cute they looked on the picture-in-picture screen on the phone and kissed her full on the lips to get her to calm down.
Ahem!
A throat cleared while their lips were still locked. Kyoko heard it and shoved Kuon away from her with a scream. Not expecting the move, he was caught off guard. Kyoko squeezed her eyes shut and covered her gasp with both hands, unable to believe what she had just done. She had pushed so hard he went right off the bed. Kuon's legs were still on the bed, but his upper body was on the floor. He had been holding the phone when he fell over too.
"Hello! Is everything okay? Julie called through the phone. "Are you two okay? Kuu call that kidnapper! Our kids need help."
"I'm fine, I'm fine..." Kuon groaned. Kyoko crawled to the edge of the bed and stared down at him in shock. It was quite comical to see Japan's sexiest man looking so very uncool.
"I'm so sorry Kuon. I didn't mean to," Kyoko tried to apologize while suppressing her laughter. If only I caught that on camera. Kuon handed her the phone so he could get up.
"Are you sure you're both okay? Maybe you should go to the hospital," Julie insisted very worried that her son may have a concussion or something.
"I'm okay, Mom. I didn't hit my head or anything," Kuon assured her.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Julie was relieved both her babies were unharmed.
"Did we call at a bad time?" Kuu asked. "We wanted to congratulate you both for your remarkable performance as the Heel siblings. Your mother and I have watched the interview several times this morning. I can't wait to brag to my coworkers today about my gifted daughter and her 'boyfriend.' We have yet to watch your movie son, but we are penciling in some time for a date. Aren't we honey?"
"That's right, honey. We can't wait to see your movie. The trailer looked very promising," Julie exclaimed in excitement.
It was Kuon's turn to fidget nervously, "you don't have to force yourself. I know mom doesn't like gory movies, so it's okay if you don't see it."
"Blood and gore are not going to stop me from supporting my baby boy!" Julie replied with a burning determination which only caused Kuon more distress.
"What's bothering you son? You know you have our love and support unconditionally. Both of you."
Kyoko squeezed Kuon's hand, hoping she could comfort him in some way. She wanted him to open up more to his parents and be honest with his feelings.
"I'm just worried it would remind you of the past. How awful I was? And that I'm a cold-blooded kil-"
"Don't you dare! We would never think that! What happened to Rick was an accident?" Kuu scolded, "Stop blaming yourself for something outside of your control. You've come too far."
"But all the violence. I almost reverted to my old ways during filming," Kuon confessed. "If it wasn't for Kyoko I would have been lost."
"But you didn't let it control you. You conquered your dark side and grew as an actor. The love of a strong woman is a powerful thing. I know, I speak from experience," Kuu told him sagely with a wink. He wished he was there to flick some sense into his son.
Kyoko swiped at the tears from her face. It was so wonderful to hear Kuon sharing his feelings with his parents. She was glad she wasn't the only one tearing up as Julie dabbed at her eyes. She kissed Kuon on the cheek and smiled. He returned her smile in kind.
"We'll let you guys get going. It was great talking to you both. We love and miss you. Make sure to call us if you need anything. Kyoko-chan we're excited to have you here soon. If only time would speed up. I wish you were coming son, but we understand. We'll be waiting until you're ready."
They exchanged their goodbyes with promises to call again and hung up. Kyoko glanced at Kuon, wanting to ask him if he was okay. He looked like he was mulling something over in his mind. She wondered if he was still upset with how BJ stirred up the past he was still trying to come to grip with. What he said instead surprised her.
"Why is dad's ringtone the Godfather theme song?"
"Oh, you recognized it? It's because Otou-san is like my fairy godfather in acting. When I searched the best ringtones for a godfather that American movie popped up. I liked the song and decided to use it for him."
Kuon chuckled. Of course, it had to be something like that. He didn't want to tell her what the movie was really about.
Yashiro happily walked Kanae to her door. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek to thank him for taking care of her and disappeared before Yashiro could see her embarrassed face. Yashiro vowed that he would never wash that part of his face again.
…
Back in his apartment, Tadashi hit submit on his phone to deposit one million yen into Spectre's account. The young man deserved this bonus for taking quick action and retrieving the video before the Morizumis could pull it. He hoped this would be the end of it.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read, I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 74: Green Eyes
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, there would definitely be a lot of Kuu harassing Lory in the wee hours of the morning.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Lory paused the latest otome game he was playing and reached for the ringing telephone. He knew of only one person that would call him at this ungodly hour.
"Hello, Takarada Lory speaking," he answered formally just in case, for once, he could be wrong.
"Boss! How could you? I know it was all your idea to pair my sweet little girl with such a wolf!" Kuu was singing a whole different tune with Lory than he did hours ago when he talked to his children. He wanted to lock his daughter in her room and never let her out. He knew the perverts would start coming out of the woodwork sniffing around his precious little girl.
"You know that wolf is your own flesh and blood right?" Lory responded dryly, lighting his cigar.
"That's beside the point!" Kuu screeched into the phone so loud that Lory had to pull it away from his ear. "Couldn't you have covered her up a little more?"
"Now, Kuu, that's the father in you speaking. You know very well that Mogami-kun needs to overcome her distaste for certain roles to grow as an actress."
"I know, but still! All those red-blooded hounds are going to come sniffing around her and I'm not there to protect her," Kuu whined. Lory could practically picture Kuu's pouting face.
"You do know her real father is watching out for her; Although, he will be returning to New York City soon to close out some business. He wants to make sure things with Mogami-kun are settled before he leaves."
"Don't remind me that she has a real father," Kuu scowled, jealousy dripping from his voice. "He seems like a good man from the emails Kyoko-chan and I exchanged. I'm very happy for her. If there's someone that deserves to be cherished as a daughter, it's her."
Lory hummed his agreement.
"What's your opinion of him, Boss? You're second to none when it comes to reading people. Do you think he would hurt her? If he does, he'll have to answer to me and Julie."
Lory chuckled. He wondered if Tadashi was aware of just how many people he would have to contend with if he ever hurt Kyoko.
"So far, he has been sincere. I have no reason to doubt his intentions. He's committed to devoting the rest of his life for the sake of building a relationship with his daughter. He feels guilty for what he did, not only to her mother all those years ago but also for not being there for his daughter."
"I have no place to judge the man. We all make mistakes. I guess I shouldn't complain too much about missing the last six years of my son's life," Kuu replied quietly. "How is he doing, Boss?"
"I'm surprised you haven't called him yet. Aren't you talking again?" Lory asked, astonished. He thought Kuu would be bursting with excitement to call his children after he heard the news.
"I did call him. Can you believe that boy told us not to watch his movie? Do you know how much that hurts to not see your lovely son's performance on the big screen?" Kuu sniffled, choking back tears.
"Isn't it because Juliena is weak to those kinds of movies? It's very violent and gory. I'm afraid you won't recognize your cute son," Lory warned. Kuon probably didn't want to burden them with painful memories.
"Even still, Jules is determined to watch it until the end. No matter what, he's still our precious boy. I can't see him in any other light."
"Then I suggest you prepare yourself. He had to tap into his darkness to pull off the role. I'm ashamed to say that I selfishly used Mogami-kun as his omamori. She was able to bring him back into the light several times. He's close, my friend, I'm positive of that."
"What are you saying, Boss? Do you think he's ready to live as Kuon again?" Kuu asked hopefully.
"I'm not sure what kind of criteria that boy is holding himself to, but I'm sure you already know. To put it bluntly, he had surpassed you when he played Katsuki. He can only go up from here. Perhaps he's just waiting for the right moment?" Lory took a long drag of his cigar as he contemplated Kuon's actions. It would seem the boy needed another little nudge.
"Are you serious? I won't tell Jules right now. I don't want to get her hopes up. We can be patient."
Lory could tell his old friend was already full of hope. He wondered how long he would be able to keep these thoughts from his wife.
"Yes, it hasn't been easy, but you both have endured very well," Lory praised his close friend.
"Thanks for everything, Boss. We took parenting for granted and we're prepared to do better once he's ready to have us again. We couldn't have saved him without you..."
A short pause ensued before Kuu spoke again, his tone cold and deadly, "Are the Morizumis going to be a problem for my children?"
Lory sighed. It didn't look like he would be able to get his couple together anytime soon as he filled Kuu in on the past events. It baffled him why neither of those kids had disclosed anything to him.
Kuon woke with a start from his nightmare. Talking to his parents last night about Tragic Marker must have triggered the dreams. He looked to his right, seeking comfort from his girlfriend, and found Kyoko's side empty. Panicking, he looked at the clock on his phone, it was way too early to be awake. He sat up in bed listening for any sounds of her. When he heard none, he stood up quickly and frantically searched the bathroom, finding it empty. He turned to the bedroom door and noticed it ajar. They slept with the door closed and locked as an added security measure so if it was open she had to be outside.
Finding her sitting at the coffee table, she looked up from her laptop at his approach. The warm smile she gave him made all the anxiety in his heart melt away.
"Did I wake you?" She asked as he walked towards her in nothing but his boxer briefs. He shook his head and plopped himself behind her leaning against the couch, his legs stretching out on each side of her. Kuon wrapped his arms around her slender waist and laid his chin on her shoulder. Kyoko relished in the feel of him as his bare chest rippled against her back. She was now shamefully aware that she was still bare beneath her nightgown as liquid heat began to pool at the apex of her legs. It reminded her that they didn't finish what they started before his parents had called and instead went to bed.
"What are you looking at?" He asked gazing at her screen. She had completely forgotten what she was doing on the computer when she saw him coming out.
"Is everything okay?" He asked tightening his hold on her. "Why are you looking at our pictures?"
"I just couldn't sleep, so I decided to do something joyful by putting our memories on the computer." She clicked the keyboard and the screen changed to her wallpaper. It began scrolling through her saved pictures. He had seen many of them before but only through her tiny cellphone screen. "I wouldn't believe that this was my life without all this proof."
"Believe it! You're stuck with me for the rest of your life, baby. I'm never letting you go," he vowed, kissing her temple.
"I'm so blissfully happy that I don't care what the rest of the day may bring. Even if I'm hated for portraying Setsu, I don't regret my decision on becoming her; after all, she brought me closer to you," Kyoko confessed, twisting in his arms and kneeling between his legs.
Her breath caught in her throat as she stared into his gorgeous green eyes illuminated by the computer screen. She tenderly cupped each side of his face with her hands and declared in a trembling whisper, "I love you Kuon." She leaned forward and closed her eyes to kiss him.
Kuon was so overcome by emotion that his eyes involuntarily watered. "I love you too," he replied, his voice cracking like a pubescent boy. He closed the gap between them to receive her kiss. His arms encircled her waist once their lips touched, and his heart hammered in his chest as he pulled her closer against him.
Taking her cues from him, Kyoko parted her lips to deepen their kiss. As always, his lips were soft and sensual drawing her in for more. She knew she would never get tired of kissing him.
Kuon broke the kiss and lifted her, spinning them around so she was settled on the couch with her legs bent at the knee, hanging over the edge. Kneeling between them, he ran his hands up her smooth thighs, pushing her nightgown to reveal her sweet flesh. Feeling exposed when the air hit her bare parts, Kyoko tried to close her legs, but Kuon's body barred her from doing so. The man had the audacity to adjust the location of the computer so he could see her better, using the soft glow of the screen to light his view. Kyoko's cheeks burned when she realized why he moved it.
"You're beautiful, baby. Never hide from me. I want to see all of you," he rasped in a voice thick with desire. He leaned over her, his lips seeking hers once she was settled against the cushions.
Kyoko let out an erotic moan into his mouth, responding as his body rubbed against her mound. She reacted wantonly by bucking her hips against him, feeling her wetness gush between her thighs. She did not doubt that Kuon could feel her creamy juices slathering his lower abs. Would he think I'm disgusting?
Her action caused Kuon to pull back panting with need. He wanted her naked, stat. He pulled at the hem of her nightgown lifting it over her head and discarded it over his shoulder. He paused to gaze upon her as if it was his first time seeing such beauty. He stared deep into her eyes, drowning in the amber pools clouded with lust. Reluctantly, he broke eye contact and slowly trailed down the length of her neck to her breasts.
Her soft, pink-tipped mounds stood erect, begging to be ravaged by his mouth. Smirking, he planned to leave a love bite or two on her beautiful skin before he was done with her. His scrutiny continued down her toned abdomen, making Kyoko squirm under the heated gaze of her Emperor.
Kyoko's stomach clenched when his perusal halted at the cleft between her thighs. She watched in rapture as his body tensed and trembled, drinking in the sight of her. Another wave of wetness hit her when his tongue seductively slipped out, slowly licking the seam of his lips.
Kuon groaned in appreciation. She was still so smooth down there that he couldn't wait to taste her. Kuon tore his gaze from her just as she was about to cover herself with her hands. He reached for her hands and interlaced his fingers with them. Lifting them over her head, he crushed his mouth against hers. His kiss was hard and full of wanting. Kyoko instinctively lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist. He spent a long time just kissing her while he gyrated his hips so his erection rubbed at her hot center. Whenever he would thrust, she would thrust to meet his hips in return. He never thought dry humping a woman could be so erotic and fulfilling. He was on the cusp of his climax but he wanted to prolong this feeling.
He broke their kiss again and pried her legs from around his hips. Kyoko whimpered when he stopped. She was so close and needed more.
"Shhhh, baby. I'm not done yet." He promised in a hoarse whisper, brushing his lips against her ear. He nibbled and sucked her lobe before he moved to her neck. He made sure not to linger there too long. He didn't want to leave a mark that would trouble her at work. He moved to his next point of attack as his mouth covered her right breast, nipping and sucking at her supple skin. I'll leave my mark right here. He smirked and lingered on her breast, sucking the tip while rolling the other between his fingers. Kyoko flailed beneath him and rocked her hips rhythmically against him. "Ah...Kuon...don't stop," she managed to pant out. Her fingers delved into his silky hair holding him against her chest. He switched sides and began torturing her other breast with his skilled tongue.
His hand slid away from her breast and settled between her thighs. "Christ baby you're so wet!" He rasped out. He couldn't wait to taste her. His tongue blazed a hot trail down her abdomen and lingered over her belly button. He laid soft kisses on her tummy and pulled away again. He took her legs by the back of her knees and lifted them so her feet rested on the couch, spreading her wide. He wrapped his arms around her legs to hold her thighs apart. Kuon rained soft kisses on her inner thigh starting from her knee and working his way down. When he got close to her sex he switched legs and continued tormenting her. He stopped at the bottom and sucked gingerly at her skin to leave another mark. The heat and scent of her so close drove him mad with desire.
Kyoko didn't think she could take the torture any longer. Her body shook with need. "Kuon...please," she begged. She didn't have to beg him twice. He dipped his tongue into her entrance and ran it up the seam of her pussy, laying a soft kiss right above her sensitive button. Mmmm, she tastes so fucking heavenly.
Kyoko cried out in response making Kuon chuckle. The breath from his laughter on her pussy sent hot jolts coursing through her body. She opened her legs wider, welcoming him to do more. "Please Kuon...don't stop," she gasped.
Pulling his mouth away, he slipped two fingers inside of her and watched her golden eyes darken with lust as he slid them in and out, curling until he found her sweet spot. Unable to hold out anymore, Kuon used his free hand to reach into his boxers and grip his painful erection. The timing of his hands worked in unison. Every time he slid his fingers deep within her, he pulled back on his cock. He closed his eyes and imagined sliding deeply inside her hot channel. Hearing her labored breathing, he opened his eyes to watch her. She flicked her tongue over her lips, wetting them, then threw her head back and dug her fingers into the cushions as ecstasy overtook her.
"Uh...Ah... Kuon...it feels so good," she moaned, rocking her hips against his hand. Her carnal sounds were his undoing. His fingers pumped vigorously until a powerful orgasm crashed over him quickly as cum spurted into his boxers and coated his hand. When his body settled, he leaned down and sucked her clit into his mouth. He continued to thrust his fingers inside her as he nibbled and sucked on her delicious bundle of nerves. Within moments, Kyoko came apart at the seams as she climaxed, her orgasm racking through her body. That didn't stop Kuon's mouth from continuing its assault on her. He removed his fingers and tongued her entrance lapping at every drop of fluid gushing from her, relishing in the taste of her sweet nectar.
When he licked up every last drop of her cum, Kuon straightened his body and swiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then grinned down at her. She looked thoroughly sated and so was he. Having Kyoko like this was more than satisfying for him. She stretched languidly and let out a loud yawn. Kyoko covered her mouth quickly with her hands, ashamed of what she just did.
"Ouch," Kuon winced.
"I'm sorry, Corn! Please don't be mad! It's just that...um...what you did just now...my body that is... it's very relaxed," she stammered.
Kuon smiled proudly as her words bolstered his ego. He loved the way the blush from her cheeks extended down her neck.
"Looks like the princess needs her beauty sleep," Kuon teased as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to their bed. There was still time to doze before they needed to wake up.
"Wait! What about you? I want to, you know..." Kyoko suggested shyly as he laid her down on the bed.
"You're fine, baby. I took care of the both of us," he winked and kissed her sweetly. "I'll be right back." He gave her lips one more peck before disappearing into the bathroom and returned with a wet rag. He cleaned her up quickly and pulled her into his arms. Content, they both fell fast asleep.
Yashiro looked at his phone for the umpteenth time that morning. He was using his old phone until he had time to replace the one he broke yesterday. He told himself that he was just checking the time while Ren and Kyoko were currently upstairs in the LME gym. Kyoko was taking her training with Ren seriously so all Yashiro could do was support her. He thought it was a good idea that she took such interest in keeping her body healthy and fit; after all, appearance was key for a celebrity. However, there was the occasional role that called for weight gain, weight loss, or even muscle build-up. Those types of situations were monitored by a professional nutritionist and trainer to limit the damage done to the body due to the extreme changes.
He turned back to his work. Since it was still too early, he was focusing on returning emails rather than phone calls he received yesterday. His inbox was flooded by various people he had come in contact with since he had been in the industry. He had a filing system for prioritizing emails as he clicked through them. He threw "personal" emails received from acquaintances and other managers that were more or less sent out of curiosity than work-related into a separate folder. Those had a lower priority. He would prefer to delete them altogether but in this business, one never knew when the connection might be needed.
Yashiro clicked on the next one and zoomed over its contents. Another publication wanted to get the inside scoop of the Heel siblings as well as the story behind the Kimiko video. As he suspected, the Kimiko video was gaining traction. He had yet to see the morning entertainment news, but he hoped this tactic didn't backfire on them. His last folder contained interested parties in hiring Ren and Kyoko for future work. He was quite happy that Kyoko was getting her fair share of offers. The only problem with her was time. Kyoko was returning to school tomorrow and knew how important it was to her to finish her education. He would do his best to optimize her schedule without burning her out.
The manager's phone alarm went off, alerting him that he had twenty minutes to link up with Ren. They had back-to-back meetings this morning with the directors and producers for a watch commercial and a script reading, and an already established magazine interview. The questions for the interview were predetermined and cleared by the LME PR department. Yashiro hoped the reporter would not stray from the assigned questions. Since it wasn't live, Ren could easily decline to answer anything off-topic.
Yashiro made his way to the LoveMe room to rendezvous with Ren. He kept his eyes and ears peeled for a glimpse of Kanae and had strategically suggested they meet in the special section's room for convenience. Ren didn't even question him and was all too happy to spend more time with Kyoko. Of course, his ulterior motive was to try and find a reason to talk to Kanae again. Yashiro had received her permission to call or message her, but he didn't want to seem too desperate. He fought the urge to check his phone again and kept walking. Kyoko would be working LoveMe assignments this morning until it was time to meet with Lory. Coming up to the desired door a few minutes later, he knocked on the door but heard nothing. He opened the door gently and peeked inside only to find Ren sitting on the couch spacing out with his headphones on. He didn't notice Yashiro until the man was upon him.
"Ah, Yashiro-san, is it time already?" Ren startled, pulling his headphones off and tucking them into his jacket pocket.
"You were spacing out. You didn't even hear me come in. Is everything okay?" Yashiro looked around the room as if by some miracle Kanae would materialize out of thin air making him only mildly interested in Ren's response.
"Looking for something, Yashiro-san? Perhaps a raven-haired young woman clad in pink?" Ren teased his friend. Oh, how the tables have turned. Their strange behavior around each other last night didn't go unnoticed. Despite his fangirling tendencies, Yashiro was very serious and dependable. Kanae would be lucky to have him.
Yashiro pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose and answered, "Yes, I was going to ask her out on a date. I must have just missed her. I'll have to call or send her a message during our next break."
"What?!" Ren exclaimed, surprised by his manager's boldness. He was not expecting Yashiro to admit so easily that he was attracted to LoveMe member number two.
"Ren, not all of us are clueless in love as you are. You may have the face of a playboy, but the fact of the matter is Kyoko is your first and only love. You're no better than a newborn calf learning to walk."
"Ooh, low blow." Ren didn't have a good rebuttal. The shallow relationships he had as a teen were insignificant in comparison to what he shared with Kyoko. Bragging that he had lain with countless women in the past would only hurt Kyoko and him. He wasn't that guy anymore though he regretted his actions deeply. He felt like such a pervert holding Kyoko each night. It was too late now he was too far gone. He had tasted the forbidden fruit and was content to not let it go any further until she was properly his.
"Did Kyoko-chan get called away for an assignment?" Yashiro asked wondering why Ren was all alone in the room.
"If you must know, Kyoko and Kotonami-san, are in studio four. The cleaning crew were short-staffed and enlisted the girls' help," Ren explained while closing the door behind him.
"I see. I wonder how much longer Takarada-san would keep her in the LoveMe section. She is becoming quite popular. I've had several offers coming in for you both. I'm afraid you two will become even busier from now on. But not to worry, I have already penciled in your leave for fashion week as well as the additional days you both requested beforehand for a little R and R."
"Thanks, Yashiro-san." Ren lowered his voice and glanced around the hall before speaking. "I'm glad we're living together. No matter how late I work, we would always be able to see each other at home."
"Are you trying to pick a fight with me? No need to brag about the lovey-dovey good life you're living," Yashiro grumbled begrudgingly.
Ren laughed at his friend's sour expression. "I'm sure you'll be in my shoes soon my friend." He had convinced Kyoko at the gym not to interfere with whatever was brewing between Yashiro and Kanae. He figured those two weren't as dense as they were and wouldn't need their help. Kyoko had looked disappointed but agreed. Given Kanae's personality, would she really want her assistance in love? Kyoko knew he was right. She just wanted to help her friends find happiness.
As they walked down the hall, Yashiro noticed that many people were avoiding eye contact with them. Ren took it all in stride and kept his professional smile plastered on his face. The actor wasn't giving off any kind of aura so he wasn't sure what the problem could be until he heard the whispers.
It's Tsuruga-san. He played Heel Cain who played BJ in Tragic Marker.
I heard he and Kyoko-san fooled the whole cast and crew there. Truly amazing.
Really? What a scary actor?
Word on the street is he got so angry on set he nearly killed the protagonist. The cameras weren't even rolling. They said he just snapped.
Ehhhh! How do you know that? He could have just been stuck in character? That happens to the most talented ones.
Either way, he might have us all fooled. I wonder how Kyoko-san can date such a dangerous guy. What if he is abusing her? She's so innocent…
Heh, the innocent ones are usually the worst. She played that role so easily and looked like a total prostitute yesterday.
Ren's ears twitched at that last remark and turned in the direction of the speaker. His Cain switch was flipped on by the derogatory remarks made towards his girlfriend. Cain stalked up to the noisy women with Yashiro freaking out behind him.
It's BJ! Run for your lives, you idiotic women! The ladies were so engrossed in their chatter that they didn't notice he was walking towards them.
"Tsuruga-san, go- go- good morning to you," the ladies stammered as they bowed. When they stood back up they both gasped. Terrified, one lady's hand shot up to cover her gasp while the other took a step back. They couldn't understand why he was so angry with them. Ren switched to his gentleman smile pleased by the fear in their eyes. The women's demeanors went from scared to dreamy in an instant.
"I admire you ladies," Ren began, laying on the charm. "You must be very proficient at your duties that you have nothing better to do than gossip here like a bunch of Oba-sans. I have some pull with the President I'll be sure to let him know of your hard work," Ren offered, turning up the wattage of his brilliant smile.
"Fo- forgive us, Tsuruga-san, we didn't um mean to. It was unprofessional of us to be gossiping in the workplace."
When her apology didn't appease him the other woman tried instead. "What she means…. Is, in general, not just the workplace. It's unbecoming of a lady to spread gossip," she said in a rush.
"I'm sorry ladies. Please excuse this guy. It's a big peeve of his when he sees people not taking their job seriously. As a team member of LME, you should have more pride in your work, right Ren?" Yashiro broke out in a sweat and elbowed his charge in the ribs to get his cooperation. It would do him any good if he starts scaring away his colleagues.
"We're so sorry. We'll go back to work immediately," the ladies cried, scurrying away.
When they were finally gone, Yashiro spun on his charge. "Ren, you can't be going all Cain on people whenever you hear them talking bad about Kyoko-chan," Yashiro scolded.
"I got it. It was my mistake. I'll try to be more careful," Ren apologized and continued walking down the hall.
"You aren't wrong though. It made me angry as well to hear LME employees talking like that about one of their own. Unfortunately, jealous women will always be vicious. I hope Kyoko-chan is doing okay," Yashiro contemplated.
...
Kyoko was fighting her own battles at the studio. The crew manager obviously did not like her. Kyoko was given the task of taking out the garbage, wiping down the equipment, and mopping the floor by hand. She swiped her sleeve over her brow and looked over at her partner in crime. Kanae had the lovely job of serving refreshments to the workers. Her friend looked like an Ojou-sama hosting a tea party as she walked over holding a glass of juice.
"Moko-san, please tell me what I did wrong to deserve this? Why am I the only one doing the laborious jobs?" Kyoko whined and stood up to stretch her limbs.
Thanking her friend, Kyoko took the proffered cup of juice and took a sip. Kanae considered Kyoko's situation and couldn't understand it either. Her only conclusion was that the manager was picking on her friend.
"Oh, because you're a little popular you're now too good for the LoveMe section?" The manager asked overhearing her grumbling.
Kyoko stiffened at having been caught complaining. "Ehhhh? No, ma'am, that's not true….. Housework is my forte! Just leave it to me," she said, flexing her arm. "I'll have this floor shining in no time." Her super Okami switch was turned on as she sped across the stage floor, cleaning at maximum level.
"Hah, she's surprisingly simple," the manager blurted out, admiring Kyoko as she worked. She was a huge fan of the young actress and could say in good conscience that Kyoko was in fact as humble as rumored. The girl had done every demeaning task she had asked of her this morning superbly and without complaints. She was glad the young actress wasn't a fraud.
Kanae looked at the crew manager. She could tell the woman liked her friend. "You were testing her?"
"I'm a fan. I just wanted to see if she was genuine," The manager replied.
"I have a prior engagement soon so I have to go now," Kanae said bowing to the manager. The manager bowed in return. She thanked Kanae for her hard work and stamped her LoveMe book with one hundred points. This surprised Kanae since she didn't do much but pour drinks. She waved goodbye to Kyoko on her way out.
Kyoko admired the three one hundred point stamps she had received for her work at the studio. The manager had even asked for her autograph, making Kyoko blush with delight. She was heading back to the LoveMe room to wait for Ren and Yashiro to return. Passing through the lobby, Kyoko had to rein in her grudges before any irreplaceable damage could be done. They were feeding off the strange emotions of every passerby. She got it. The uniform was hot pink, but that wasn't what had people chattering.
No matter which way they looked at her, they couldn't believe that the young woman before them was the Setsuka Heel.
Kyoko hastened her steps to the LoveMe room so she could get away from all the prying eyes. Men and women were being more friendly towards her which she found very weird. She was used to being ignored. Once inside the room, she shut it behind her to change. She had about a half-hour to kill before she was due at her next job. This would be a good time to return some of the messages she had received yesterday.
...
Later that morning, Ren and Yashiro found a small crowd huddled outside the LoveMe room. Among the crowd, Ren recognized three of LME's branch heads, Sawara, Matsushima, and Nakazawa. He increased his pace and left Yashiro behind worried that something was wrong. Ren called out when he was closer, but they all frantically shushed him. It wasn't until he neared the door that Ren realized what they were doing. Kyoko was singing in the room.
Ren slowed and lightened his footsteps so he could hear too. Kyoko's beautiful voice could be heard clearly through the door as she belted out an English song.
"That green eyes, you're the one that I wanted to fiiiiinnnd...And anyone who tried to deny you, must be out of their miiiinnnd. 'Cause I came here with a load, and it feels so much liiiighter since I met you...Honey, you should know that I could never gooooo on without you..."
When Kyoko's voice grew softer Ren pushed his way through the crowd. The look on his face made everyone get out of his way. It took all his control to open the door softly then shut it behind him and turn the lock.
"...oh, oh, oh, oh...honey you are the rock upon which I stand."
Kyoko glanced up in alarm when she heard the door click just as the music faded with the song ending. Ren stood against the door staring at her intensely. She pulled off her headphones and stood up, a slight blush dusting her cheeks. His eyes bored into her soul, so full of love and tenderness her heart nearly stopped. "Corn, I'm sor..." He didn't let her finish. Using his teleportation power, he had her in his arms in seconds. His mouth slanted over hers stealing her breath away. Without hesitation, Kyoko wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with equal fervor. The room faded into the background, leaving just the two of them in their own little world.
Notes:
Gomen, everyone, I'm sorry it's been a while since I've updated here. Life has been busy this summer and I'm hoping to get back on track. Thank you for sticking with me and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
The song Kyoko sang was "Green Eyes," by Coldplay.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 75: Super Manager!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, there would be plenty of lovey-dovey workplace mishaps between RenKyo.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Jiro peeked out the front window of his house and sighed at the vultures that were camping out front. It was good that the perimeter of his property was fenced, but he couldn't stay hidden all day. He was due for a meeting with his assistant to finalize the plans on getting Cain, no Ren, on contract for his next project. He wondered if it was an utter betrayal to use the actor after he insulted his family in front of so many witnesses, in front of Japan thanks to that viral video. Ren was a professional. If he took the job, Jiro knew he would be serious about his work. It didn't cross his mind that the actor might decline.
The young actor was always so polite that Jiro was stumped as to why he reacted in that way towards Kimiko. Could it have been Cain slipping back into his consciousness as Konoe had suggested? There was a piece to the puzzle that he was missing here. He had tried to question Kimiko last night, but she had feigned innocence to the whole situation. Berating her would have proved to be a waste of time. It was obvious that his daughter was going through something since she supposedly quit acting. Distancing her from the situation seemed to be the best solution for now until she left with his wife in two days. It would give them the rest of the week to settle in Los Angeles and file the necessary paperwork for Kimiko to attend school.
Jiro had seen her first thing this morning and didn't like the look in her bloodshot eyes. He convinced himself that she was just sleep-deprived and still a little angry with him. To keep her occupied, he ordered her not to come out of her room until the destruction she made was all cleaned up. To prove his seriousness, he handed her all the cleaning supplies to complete the job. It was only material possessions, but Jiro expressed his disappointment in her behavior and lack of respect. Kimiko didn't respond but took the supplies without a fuss and shut her door in his face. Jiro gave the staff strict orders not to help her. He hoped this sort of punishment would somehow humble her and keep her out of trouble for a while. A little hard work could do her some good.
Kimiko ignored the cleaning supplies and stepped around the mess as she made her way to get dress. Going for a look that would have people questioning her gender, she put on a nondescript outfit consisting of a pair of loose jeans, a t-shirt, a hooded jacket, and sneakers. She didn't wear any make-up but tied her hair up into a bun and tucked it under a baseball cap. Walking to the bathroom, she stared at her reflection in the only mirror she had left. When she was satisfied with her disguise, she went back into her room and rummaged through the mess on the floor until she found the perfect piece.
Her lips curled into a satisfied smile as she sat on the edge of her bed, patting the smooth object against her palm. With her eyes trained on the small gap beneath the door, she didn't have to wait long for her prey to appear. Kimiko quietly opened the door and yanked the maid into her room, covering her mouth before she could let out a sound.
"Be quiet or I'll cut that pretty face of yours. Understand?" Kimiko sneered, waving the large shard from the broken mirror in front of the maid. The young woman choked down a sob and nodded her head vigorously, fearing for her life. Satisfied with her answer, Kimiko released her. The maid turned nervously, glancing at the door in hope of an escape.
Kimiko smiled tauntingly. "You won't make it," she warned in a sweet but deadly voice, "and my family will always side with me."
The maid hung her head in defeat once she processed Kimiko's words.
"Relax, I won't hurt you," Kimiko tried unconvincingly to assure her. "I need you to do something for me," Kimiko said with a sinister smile.
"Wh- what do you need me to do?" The maid asked cautiously and wrung her hands together.
"It's an easy task. I just want you to clean up my room," Kimiko smiled.
"B- but the Master to-told us not to help you. I could be fi- fired," the maid stammered. She couldn't lose this job. It paid well and the family was kind to the staff.
"It's fine if he doesn't find out, right? I'll even give you 10,000 yen for the trouble," Kimiko offered, flashing her a sweet smile.
"W- why would you pay me?" The maid asked, glancing warily at Kimiko's hand still gripping the shard of glass.
"I'm still my father's daughter. I believe in rewarding good people that do fine work." When the maid still looked fearful, she tried a different approach.
Kimiko blinked moistening her eyes for added effect then made her voice crack while she delivered her next lines. "I'm sure you heard that I have to leave the country. There's someone important I have to meet before I go."
The maid's eyes widened and the fear present a moment ago changed to sympathy.
I don't need your sympathy, you low-class bitch! Kimiko's sad angelic expression remained even though her thoughts turned volatile. The staff all knew that her parents were sending her away because of what had transpired yesterday. Kimiko hated it, but this was the exact response she wanted from the maid.
"You can help me right? All you have to do is keep the door locked and pretend you're me cleaning up until I return."
The sound of a car door slamming shut outside caught her attention. Kimiko walked to the window and secretly watched her father drive out through the tiny mob of reporters. Things just got easier with him gone. Kimiko looked dejected and threw the sharp piece back onto the pile of debris.
"I'm sorry! You're free to leave. I thought you would be more receptive to helping me if I scared you. I'm not very good at playing a villain despite what the media says," Kimiko told the maid. The lie rolled easily off her tongue as she dropped into an apologetic bow.
The maid gasped in shock. She couldn't believe Kimiko just apologized to her and was confused by her young mistress's actions. The other maids that had been here much longer than her, spoke about how Kimiko was usually a sweet girl. She had to be under a lot of stress from the media attacking her character. The maid scurried to leave but she stopped at the door to glance at Kimiko. She felt torn, leaving this way. It was her job to clean the house after all.
Kimiko walked over to the supplies and began the arduous task of cleaning her room. She grabbed the cardboard box and began throwing shards of glass and porcelain inside. "Ouch," Kimiko cried out real tears pricking her eyes from the pain. She had sliced the palm of her hand, deliberately, on a piece of glass. The dark blood dripping off her hand was fascinating. She couldn't stop staring at it.
"Oh, no, Kimiko-sama, we have to disinfect your hand right away. Please come with me to the bathroom!" The maid gently inspected Kimiko's hand and held it up, above her heart, to slow the bleeding. Kimiko allowed the maid to take control and wash her hand under the faucet, careful not to aggravate the wound further. The water stung her wound making Kimiko wince. Fuck, I hope I don't need stitches.
"Forgive me Kimiko-sama. Please bear with it. I think you should see a doctor though," the maid suggested, patting Kimiko's hand dry. She held the cloth to her hand and reached into the cabinet for the first aid kit.
"Thank you. I'll be fine thanks to your care," Kimiko told the maid when she was all bandaged up and went back to her room to resume cleaning.
"Please relax, Kimiko-sama, I will clean that up for you. You said you had to meet someone important, right. I'll do what I can here so please hurry back," the maid offered, taking up the broom to begin sweeping up the mess. She felt sorry for her young mistress if it was a boyfriend she was leaving behind.
"Really?! Thank you!" Kimiko exclaimed with teary eyes and threw her arms around the maid. "I'll be sure to return the favor."
Yashiro tried to follow Ren into the room only for him to shut and lock the door in his face. A little embarrassed by this development, he broke out into a cold sweat. The fangirl and the professional manager in him waged war internally. How long should he give them before he interrupted? Surely they weren't doing IT in there right now, were they? Yashiro's Bro instincts kicked in immediately. Controlling the blush on his cheeks, he decided to buy the lovers some alone time. The only problem with that was the many witnesses currently loitering behind him. With a small inkling of what was going on in said closed door, he spun abruptly to salvage the situation. The few women that were there were blushing profusely while the men just looked stunned.
What did I miss?" Yashiro asked no one in particular, confused by their expressions. Curse my short legs! While they were distracted he subtly steered them a good distance away from the door.
"I feel like I just saw something amazing," the older brunette woman cried breathlessly with a dreamy gleam in her eyes while fanning her face with her hand to cool down. "If I was younger, I probably would have been down for the count instead of light-headed."
"Me too! Kyoko-san is very lucky. These days my husband only has that look in his eyes when I'm holding a plate of Kobe beef," the light-haired woman joked. Age-wise, she looked to be in her late forties as well.
Yashiro resisted the urge to shake both women and ask them to clearly explain their cryptic remarks. From the ladies' reactions, he had a vague idea of what they were talking about. Since Ren's back was towards him, Yashiro couldn't see the face he was making. More importantly, he missed whatever was heard in the room. What was Kyoko doing in there?
After chatting with the ladies a bit more without getting anywhere, Yashiro walked over to the acting department head and asked, "Matsushima-san, what are they talking about?"
"You must have seen it before, right, Yashiro-san? That face Ren-kun makes when Kyoko is involved? His face was full of so much raw emotion that I was too embarrassed to look, and yet I couldn't turn away. I would never have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. I swear, even as a man my heart fluttered seeing such an expression. Ren's 'in love' face on screen is quite dangerous but his 'in love with Kyoko' face is lethal," Matsushima confessed.
Yashiro contemplated Matsushima's words. He had seen Ren's loving expression directed at Kyoko before but was it the same one as Matsushima described. He wished so badly to have seen it. He wanted to know what happened that would warrant a response from his charge in front of so many people. Ren was becoming a little less reserved when it came to displaying his emotions. These days he was a little more carefree that even his smile began to reach his eyes. Was this the power of love? Sawara and Nakazawa joined the conversation while the ladies went on their way.
"You recorded it, right?" Matsushima asked Nakazawa. The head of LME's singing section held up his phone and gave a thumbs up to his colleague.
Yashiro narrowed his eyes, suspiciously his aura turning cool. Did they eavesdrop and record something that was said in the LoveMe room?
Feeling the change in the usually mild-mannered manager, Nakazawa held his hands up in surrender. "Eh...Yashiro-san, it's not what you think. I'll play it for you. You'll see," Nakazawa explained, fumbling with his phone. He found the recording and played it for Yashiro to hear.
When it was finished, Yashiro peered at the three men, their eyes alight with excitement. Nakazawa had recorded Kyoko singing a cappella in English. Was it her voice that moved Ren? She did have a beautiful voice.
"We were coming from a meeting when we heard her singing. Her vocal range and her annunciation of the English language are really good. There's a small part we want her to play in a drama. The director still hasn't found anyone suitable, but those episodes will be fast approaching."
"Is it a singing part?" Yashiro asked. He knew that Kyoko wasn't interested in pursuing a singing career. She wanted to act. This could be a good opportunity for her to showcase her other talents while doing what she loves.
"The part calls for her to partially sing in a competition, but she would only be a 'passing' character. So one episode...two tops. Her singing skills are supposed to be superior to the lead character's. It's an underdog-type story. With a little polishing from Nakazawa-san and his team, I think Kyoko-chan would be perfect for the part," Matsushima explained.
"I agree, Yashiro-san. This would be good for Kyoko-chan and it's not a bully role. She inspires the rookie to succeed. Doesn't it sound just like the kohai-senpai relationship she has with Ren-kun? I doubt she would want to pass this up because of a little singing," Sawara-san added. The department head wanted to pat himself on the back for his clever thinking. It would surely convince the girl to take the role.
"Errr, well..." Yashiro began, rubbing the back of his neck. "Kyoko-chan is going back to school tomorrow. She won't have much time for all the new offers coming her way, but I will definitely let her know," Yashiro agreed. He would have to prioritize all the work he was receiving for her and make good choices to boost her career.
"Make sure you have her come see me if she thinks to decline it. I can be very persuasive. I'll send you the script along with the schedule," Matsushima informed him. Yashiro had just wrapped up his conversation with the department heads when Maria turned down the hallway.
"Yashiro-san!" Came the high-pitched squeal of the company president's granddaughter. Yashiro turned his head to see the rambunctious little girl dressed in her signature frills and lace come bounding down the hall. The department heads greeted Maria on their way back to work as they passed her. None of them brought up the fact that the door to the room was still locked.
"Maria-chan, how are you doing?" Yashiro asked with a smile. "It's been a long time since I've seen you."
"I'm good, Yashiro-san. How are you?" Maria glanced behind Yashiro after he answered, looking for Ren and Kyoko.
"Is Onee-sama and...um...Ren-sama not with you?" She pouted after confirming he was alone. She wanted to meet with both of them after finding out their big secret yesterday. She felt bad for doubting her big sister's ability to act out Setsuka-chan. What surprised her the most was that Ren was a natural at playing a scary guy. He was always so kind and gentle to Maria that she wondered if she had bumped into him on the streets as Cain would he have hated her?
"Well...you see Maria-chan," Yashiro began. He felt the sweat beads forming on his back again while he tried to think of a good excuse. Those innocent eyes boring into his expectantly were not making this easy.
...
"Kyoko, we... have to... stop," Ren gasped out between kisses. As much as he wanted to continue what he started, this was not the time nor the place.
Kyoko finally came to her senses when she heard Maria's voice outside the door. She quickly unhooked her ankles from around his waist and let them hang down the table, the same table she often sat with her LoveMe compatriots while they worked on some mundane task. Oh, Kamisama, I'm going to hell!
Ren was making little effort to quit as he rained kisses down her neck and over her collar bone. She pushed at him to stop and hopped off the table. She would need to wipe down the table. How could she have gotten so swept up in her emotions? Were they reaching their limit? She looked down at herself. The skirt of her dress was rumpled where he had hiked it up. She looked at Ren as she fumbled to right herself. He was in a far worse state than she was. He was completely topless, his fly was undone, and his usually perfect hair was in disarray from her grasping it. Kyoko's face burned with embarrassment. How could they have let things get so far... at work of all places?
"Ren! Fix yourself, where's your shirt?" she asked, looking frantically around the room. She found it lying in a heap underneath the table. She shook it out and handed it to him. "Here! Put it on quickly," she said, glancing nervously at the door. Luckily, Yashiro was distracting Maria with small talk. Thank you, super manager! She found the disinfectant wipes and vigorously scrubbed the table, then did one last sweep around the room for anything else out of place.
"Ugh, Houston, we have a problem," Ren admitted with an amused tone. Kyoko's gaze snapped in his direction to see what could be wrong. And who the heck is Houston? His shirt was missing all but one button. The top one, which was normally left undone anyway, was the only one that remained intact.
"Oh, my God!" Kyoko paled and covered her face. How could she have done such a thing? Images of them trying to rid each other of their clothing earlier flashed through her mind. She had been vaguely aware that there were people outside the door, but once their lips met, all rational thought went out the window. She had become so impatient she ripped his shirt apart without a care. I need to find his buttons! I have my sewing kit! I can definitely fix this! Dropping to her hands and knees, she crawled around the floor, furiously searching for the missing buttons and badgering herself internally. Did you not learn your lesson from last night, Kyoko? She was still considered a newbie in the industry and couldn't afford to be so unprofessional. They needed to establish rules at work so things like this didn't happen again.
"Kyoko..." Ren called, trying to get her attention while she scrambled around the floor. "Kyoko!" Ren repeated more firmly. "It's okay. I think I have another shirt in my bag."
"You do?" Kyoko exclaimed hopping onto her feet, dusting her knees, and straightening her clothes. "Where's your bag? I'll get it for you!" She replied eagerly, a ray of hope in her voice after only finding one button on the floor. Ren's eyes shifted to the door apologetically. That could only mean Yashiro had his bag. Kyoko stepped up to the door and breathed deeply before opening the door slightly to peek out.
Maria screamed when she saw creepy eyes peeking at her from the LoveMe room, "Onee-sama!" Kyoko quickly exited the room and closed the door behind her before the girl could push her way in.
"Forgive me, Maria-chan, but...um...Yashiro-san, Ren would like his bag," Kyoko interrupted their little chat. Yashiro nodded taking in her appearance and entered the room while she stayed outside with Maria.
"Maria-chan, it has been so long. How are you doing?" Kyoko asked squatting down to embrace the little girl.
"Onee-sama, are you sick your face is so red and your lips are puffy…" Maria asked Kyoko with a worried expression. She didn't like seeing anyone she loved sick.
Kyoko gasped as her hands shot to her face, trying to figure out how to explain herself. "Oh, I'm fine. I had a bad reaction to a new lip gloss I was supposed to be endorsing. As you can see, I'm not the right person for the job."
Maria hummed, accepting her explanation. Kyoko was grateful the intelligent little girl didn't question the name of the brand.
Yashiro chuckled at Ren's appearance as he entered the room. He handed the bag to Ren but said nothing while reining in his inner fangirl that was squealing to get out. He sat down at the table and noted that it had been wiped clean. He needed to lecture his charges on showing a little more restraint and discretion in the workplace. They lived together for crying out loud shouldn't some of that tension have been released by now…unless...
It was unnerving that his manager remained quiet while he dug in his bag for a shirt, but Ren decided to ignore him. He cursed to himself when all he found was a freebie given to him at some event or another. It was disconcerting that his manager still hasn't spoken, especially after Ren pulled on the t-shirt. Yashiro wasted no time opening the door once Ren was situated.
Kyoko breathed a sigh of relief to see Ren dressed, but raised a brow at the print of a busty and scantily clad female anime character on it. Ren shrugged in response and smiled sheepishly. She supposed it was better than nothing at all, but she was very curious how a t-shirt like that came into possession. It didn't fit Ren's image at all and was more something Kuon would wear on one of their dates.
Maria hid behind Kyoko a little apprehensive of Ren. "Maria-chan, what's wrong?" Kyoko asked the girl eyeing Ren warily. "Didn't you want to see Ren the most?"
Ren squatted down so he was at eye level with the little girl. Maria never acted reserved with him so he was a bit confused as well. He opened his arms and smiled warmly at her, hoping she would take the invitation.
"Ren-sama!" Maria finally greeted, jumping into his waiting arms and forgetting her shyness. Ren lost his balance and tumbled over under the weight of the child.
"Ah, Maria-chan, you have surely grown since last I've seen you," Ren managed, struggling to breathe. He thought he had planted himself well enough to withstand her attack, but apparently miscalculated.
"Maria-chan, you need to be more careful. You could hurt yourself or Ren," Kyoko scolded helping her little friend up.
"Ren-sama, is it true that Onee-sama had to scold you about eating again? You are a grown man you should eat properly," Maria lectured, sounding more and more like Kyoko every day. He glared over Maria's head at his manager.
Yashiro flashed him an innocent smile. It was the best story Yashiro could come up with on the fly that was remotely believable. He wasn't about to explain the birds and the bees to the eight-year-old girl.
"Speaking of lunch, Maria-chan, would you like to join us? I brought more than enough for everyone," Kyoko offered, picking up the large bag. She pulled out a three-tiered jubako from the bag and a separate bento containing rice.
"Maria-chan, can you please set the table using the plates and chopsticks we store on the shelf?"
The little girl happily performed the task with Ren setting drinks that Kyoko had procured earlier from the vending machine.
"Yashiro-san, are we okay on time for our meeting with the President?" She knew that their little escapade earlier ate up some time.
"We actually returned earlier than planned and I gave us a buffer for lunch. So we still have about twenty-five minutes until the appointed time," Yashiro told her, glancing at his watch.
Once the table was set, they all sat down at the table. Kyoko opened the first tier that revealed traditional tomogayaki and three kinds of pickled veggies. The next tier was filled with karaage, tempura shrimp and veggies, and potato croquettes. The last tier contained grilled mackerel.
"Wow, Kyoko-chan! I can't believe you had time to prepare such a feast. Please tell me you're getting enough sleep," Yashiro said, impressed by the spread before them. He truly enjoyed Kyoko's cooking.
"Eh, no, Yashiro-san most of this was leftover from last night. I only made the egg roll this morning. I apologize that this is all I have to offer. Maybe it's better if we ate something fresh at the café," Kyoko replied apprehensively. She was used to eating leftovers to save money, but now she was dealing with a top actor, his manager, and the President's granddaughter. Surely they were used to dining on luxurious meals.
"It's very delicious, Kyoko. Like I said this morning, there's no need to waste good food," Ren assured her, taking a generous bite to prove his point.
Kyoko smiled radiantly. He was so sweet even though she knew he was forcing himself. Yashiro and Maria also assured her that the food was very tasty. While they ate, Kyoko told them about her morning job and receiving big points for it. Ren and Yashiro were not happy with the treatment she received from the crew manager. Maria made a mental note to sneak some crickets, the last of the bugs she had left on her today, into that evil woman's purse. Their reveal as the Heel siblings, left Maria very busy this morning.
A soft knock at the door drew their attention.
"Come in," Kyoko called out to whomever it was on the other side. Ruto opened the door quietly dressed as a samurai in a Kimono complete with a small topknot on his head. He exchanged greetings with the trio and then turned to Maria.
"Maria-sama, I believe some of your pets were misplaced this morning," Ruto said, holding up a jar of spiders. "This caused a great disturbance in the training facility's locker room."
Maria folded her arms and tilted her chin in the air defiantly, "humph! It serves those ugly girls right for talking about my Onee-sama. Her Setsuka was cool. She has more talent in her tiny pinky than any of those girls combined!"
Kyoko gasped, "Maria-chan!" She could only imagine what had set off the little girl. Most likely they were saying terrible things about her roleplaying Setsu.
"And these guys were caught in the contracts department," Ruto continued, holding up another jar filled with roaches.
Maria had overheard the women talking about how sexy Ren looked as Cain. They made some pact about inviting him out for drinks later. "As if I'd let those old hags get close to my Ren-sama. Are they stupid? The only one good enough for Ren-sama is my Onee-sama. Let this serve as a lesson to them." That made two, so he still hasn't found the batch of worms I placed in the actress' lunch boxes. Those B-rated actresses deserve what was coming to them.
"Maria-chan, you can't go around disrupting people's work. Think of the time and money invested in our line of work. I appreciate you looking out for me though. Good job with the roaches," Kyoko winked, giving her a thumbs up.
"I got your back, Onee-sama," Maria grinned, returning the thumbs up. Ren cleared his throat hoping to not be forgotten. "And you Ren-sama. Leave it to me! No one will dare bother you anymore."
Ren patted the little girl on the head, adoringly. "Maria-chan, though I appreciate you taking care of us. I don't want you to get yourself in trouble for our sake. I want everyone to know that Maria is really the good girl that I know and love."
Maria blushed at his praise.
"Maria-chan, we must take our leave. It's almost time for your lesson and they are due for a meeting," Ruto reminded them and bowed.
"Hey, Onee-sama," Maria said tugging on Kyoko's sleeve. Kyoko leaned down so the girl could whisper into her ear.
Kyoko pulled back in surprise, "Ehhhh! Are you okay with something like that?"
Maria nodded vigorously and smiled.
"I'll see what I can do!" Kyoko promised, smiling back, and held up her pinky. Maria happily hooked her pinky with Kyoko's. She could always count on her Onee-sama.
Notes:
Hiya, I apologize for the delay, but thanks for sticking with me!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 76: The Ojou-sama Returns
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would have more "Bro" moments.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Sota looked at the message from Spectre that popped up on his phone.
She's on the move.
Sota stared at the house, blending in pretty well with the other reporters staking out the Morizumi household. He walked to the side to check on the only other exit of the house and saw nothing suspicious. The few reporters standing outside the side gate were just milling about, waiting for something to happen.
I don't see her, he typed back.
Spectre responded instantly making Sota laugh. You're getting sloppy, old man! She gave you the slip! She's on foot. Head south.
Sota sighed. He usually had peons to do this kind of job. Since this was personal, he couldn't just leave it to anyone. It was a good thing he wore comfortable shoes. Sota headed down the street in the direction Spectre had specified. They were lucky kids today were glued to their electronic devices; otherwise, they would never have been able to track her. Sota would still be bouncing surveillance between the main gate and the side gate while she roamed free. While he walked casually down the sidewalk, he saw someone that looked like a boy pop out of the alleyway a few blocks down from him. The boy's gait was suspicious, almost like he was trying too hard to walk cool. Sota was about to dismiss the kid and then it hit him. Very clever, little girl.
He kept his distance so he wouldn't be discovered tailing her. He eventually increased his pace to catch up to her at the crosswalk. It would suck to lose her because of traffic and would look suspicious if he suddenly stopped walking. So he pretended to be engrossed with his phone, confident that she wouldn't recognize him under these circumstances. Compared to how he looked yesterday, he was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and had opened his button-down shirt for a more casual look with his hair loose, cascading over his shoulders. The press badges he wore to mingle with the reporters were chucked in the garbage a couple of blocks ago.
Once they crossed the street, Sota stopped into the coffee shop on the corner. His longer stride would put too much distance between them if he didn't stop to buy some time. There was no line so he ordered a small black coffee while he waited for her to walk past. With coffee in hand, he continued the slow pursuit.
Ruto's costume should have been a clear indicator of what awaited in the President's office. Kyoko and Ren were transported back to the Tokugawa era when they stepped through the threshold. They removed their shoes to step onto the tatami mats that covered the floor of Lory's office. In all his Shogun glory, the President sat on a zabuton with four women dressed as Geisha entertaining him with music and dancing. Ren wondered if Lory did this on purpose just to trip up his visitors. The President knew he had an appointment so why would he continue this farce long into the allotted time. There was a small round of applause when the number ended and the women took their leave.
"My children, please have a seat," Lory welcomed, gesturing with a lacquered fan to the floor before him. Playing their part, Kyoko and Ren sat, tucking their feet under in an uncomfortable traditional way.
"You know why you're both here. I'm not going to lie to you, it's madness out there. You two have been in LME since early this morning so you bypassed all the mayhem. Everyone wants a piece of you now. Dramas, modeling contracts, and interviews galore from magazines, televisions, and radio hosts. While you were all having a nice party, I was fielding phone calls late into the night," He added begrudgingly and lumped Kuu's phone call with the rest of them. "So mean of you guys not to tell me about Kotonami's welcome home party," Lory pouted as big shining tears sprouted at the corner of his eyes.
The couple looked away guiltily. They had made the conscious decision not to tell the President because he had a propensity to turn a small gathering of friends into an extravagant affair. Case and point, the happy grateful party Kyoko and Maria threw for their friends and family.
"Sir, I'm very sorry. We wanted to keep things small because Mo- er um Kotonami-san would have surely declined the invitation if it was some lavish event," Kyoko explained, hoping not to cause Lory any more pain from the exclusion. It reminded Lory that they thought him too flamboyant for their tastes.
"Hmph," he huffed, folding his arms. He would have rented out a banquet hall for the evening if he had known. Ruto had deliberately withheld the news from him.
"So is this why you asked us here?" Ren arched an eyebrow, trying to get things back on topic.
Lory cleared his throat to get back to business. "They all want a piece of the scoop. This reveal has increased the revenue for Tragic Marker, but it also has stirred up a frenzy. I'm sure Yuki has his hands full today. We can't leave either of you alone and Yuki can't be in two places at once."
"Boss, Yashiro-san can support Kyoko. I'm fine alone if Ruto is occupied," Ren assured the President. He'd been in this industry long enough and was capable of taking care of himself. All he had to do was adhere to his packed schedule after this meeting. It wasn't hard to follow until it was time to meet Kyoko for dinner. Yashiro purposely arranged the date so the couple could be seen spending more time together. The complaint Yashiro received from the PR department stated that fans rarely saw them together and questioned if they were a real couple or if this reveal was just another publicity stunt. Their manager couldn't have anyone thinking their relationship was rocky. The media had yet to catch wind that they were living together and Ren wanted to keep it that way.
"It's true. I do have Ruto looking after Maria. I'm afraid, I can't trust anyone else to be quick enough to stop her mischief," Lory sighed wearily. His granddaughter had been quite active this morning. Lory would normally let her be while she pulled off her little pranks, but today she decided to go the extra mile and use live insects. If the health inspector got wind of this, LME would be in quite a predicament. Lory hoped Ruto would be able to contain her and he needed to consult a parenting book on how to properly discipline his granddaughter.
"Actually, Mogami-kun, your father has volunteered his services to be your temp manager. He should be meeting with Yuki as we speak to get your full schedule," Lory informed her. Tadashi had called Lory last night with his concerns regarding Ren and his daughter. He was convinced that the Morizumi girl was going to retaliate in some way, given how social media were sinking their teeth into the show-biz family.
"Ehhhhhh? Doesn't my father have work of his own? Will his company be okay?" Kyoko asked apprehensively. She didn't like troubling people.
Ren laid his hand over her knee and gave it a reassuring squeeze. This seemed like the best solution for both of them. He smiled at her when she looked up to him.
"It's okay, right? He wants to make sure you're safe. I wish I could be there with you, to protect you, but if it's Tadashi-san I can be at ease and focus on my work. I know you will be in good care," Ren told her warmly. Kyoko laid her hand over his and nodded with a smile.
"That's not to say that if you need me….please don't hesitate to call me. I will rush to your side. I'm going to leave my phone on with Yashiro-san," Ren pleaded for her understanding. He failed to protect her one too many times already and prayed to God nothing more happened to her.
"Eh, but I could never! You have to do your work properly! I'll be just fine," Kyoko tried to tell him with confidence, but she couldn't shake the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was probably just nerves. Everyone was so worried they were putting her on edge, especially since she didn't know what to expect today.
Ren unexpectedly placed his forehead against hers, "just promise me please," he pleaded again. His intense gaze mesmerized Kyoko and made her heart race. He was worried for her. She nodded against his head and smiled. For some reason, his concern calmed her and made her feel much better. They stayed that way for several beats until they heard a rustling sound. They didn't have to turn their gaze to know the President was up to something. Lory smugly aimed his cellphone in their direction. Kyoko pulled away red-faced while Ren glared down at the President.
A delighted smile crept on the older man's face. They forgot I was here! He could have seen more lovey-dovey expressions from his favorite couple if he wasn't wearing this noisy robe.
"Please don't mind me," Lory waved, feigning an air of innocence, hoping they would continue so he could capture a photo of them sharing a kiss. When they just stared at him blankly, he sighed knowing he lost his chance. He stood up from his seated position and stretched his joints. Sitting on the floor for long periods was getting harder on his body as he grew older. Lory headed towards his comfy leather desk chair and signaled the pair to follow.
He turned on the television to reveal the entertainment news channel. "This is what I wanted to talk to you about." The Heel siblings reveal was the hottest topic. Kyoko's article and affiliation with Shotaro was placed on the back burner; however, she was now in the spotlight with Ren.
Ren and Yashiro greeted the director on the set for his next CM then his manager excused himself to take a call. They had arrived a good ten minutes earlier than scheduled, reaffirming Ren's reputation as the never-late king. At each appointment, directors expressed how they wondered if he would adopt Cain's habit of being late for work. It was all thanks to Yahsiro's latent abilities to hold back fans and reporters with a sharp glare that allowed him to keep to the schedule. No one dared get too close whenever Yashiro was around. This was his last appointment before picking up Kyoko, and he hoped to have it wrapped up early enough to catch her in action.
It brought him great pride to watch her work. Sure, they often helped each other at home with script reading, but it wasn't the same as seeing her in costume and on the set. He was glad Yashiro turned down the opportunity for him to play Shizuma. He didn't have it in him to take on a role that would perpetually break her heart by loving another. One night, while they rehearsed, he had complimented her character development and the solid grasp she had on Momiji. Still resonating with Momiji's spirit, Kyoko had surprised him by bursting into tears.
She clung to him and confessed that if he weren't such a big idiot she would never have known such intense heartache. A tightness in his chest that he had no idea was there finally released. All this time, he had harbored dark thoughts that she channeled her painful past with Fuwa to act out Momiji. A broad grin split across his face and warmth flooded his body. He didn't even mind that she pounded on his chest in a weak attempt at being angry. It made him happy to know that it was her so-called "unrequited" love for him that helped her lock down the role. That night he enveloped her in his embrace and apologized repeatedly for his stupidity. Kissing her tears away, he showed her as much as he could, just how much he loved her. He hoped that when they did act together, it would be an epic romance with the two of them having a happily ever after together.
"Tsuruga-kun! Oi! Tsuruga!" Kijima snapped his fingers in front of the actor's face to get his attention.
"Oh, Kijima-san, you're finally here," Ren answered, shaking out of his lovely daydream.
"What are you talking about? I'm right on time. You're the one that just gets here too early! Anyway, the director wants us to get ready," Kijima said pointing a thumb over his shoulder towards the dressing rooms. Ren nodded and fell in step with the other actor as they walked towards their rooms.
"Were you thinking about Kyoko-chan just now?" Kijima teased while flashing a sexy grin at a female staff member. She returned it with a flirty smile of her own as they walked by her. Ren nodded, uninterested. Kijima made a note to get her number after work, maybe even invite her out for a drink.
Kijima stretched his arms up into the air as they walked, thinking of Kyoko from the Dark Moon days. She had matured so much in such a short time as an actress. "Man... to think that I let such a treasure like Kyoko-chan slip through my fingers. You're one lucky S-O-B."
Ren frowned, bothered by Kijima's comment. He still couldn't forget how the guy managed to dress up his girlfriend and walk in with her like they were a couple. Okay, so she wasn't his girlfriend back then. Semantics aside, it still peeved him that Kijima managed to do something he could not at the time. Ren knew Kijima was referring to the most recent events. He was elated that Kyoko was getting the recognition she deserved and from what Yashiro had told him earlier in the car, she had quite the offers stacking up. Yashiro had disclosed to Ren that Lory instructed him to refuse any leading roles for Kyoko. According to their manager, he had the feeling that the President had already planned Kyoko's debut role. Ren needed to follow up on some of his contacts. He wanted in on whatever Lory had up his sleeve.
"I was shocked when I saw your reveal yesterday. You know, I had nightmares after watching that movie. I even watched it twice. The first time I went, my date was so sick and terrified, I had to take her home in the middle...tch that was a total bust. She was so my type too. The second time I went alone. I still don't know which is scarier, you as BJ, or you as Cain Heel," Kijima contemplated, stopping outside their dressing rooms. He stared at Ren as if he wanted to say more then shook his head and headed into his room, leaving a confused Ren standing there. What was Kijima not saying?
Ren wasn't deaf. He heard the staff whispering as he walked towards the set and his ears twitched whenever he heard Kyoko's name. They had prepared themselves for the worse but he didn't think it would happen so quickly. This is how it was going to be for a while until some new story replaces it. Ren was tempted to text her again to see how she was doing until he spotted Yashiro against the back wall tapping away at his phone.
"Everything alright, Yashiro-san? You look quite...occupied," Ren commented, nodding to the phone in his hand.
Yashiro let out a deep sigh and looked up from the phone. "I'm just trying to respond to some PR questions. Nothing I can't handle." Yashiro held the phone up to his mouth trying to cover the teasing smile that threatened to grace his face. "Are you ever going to tell me what went on between you two while on Tragic Marker? It seems the members from the Tragic Marker set have a lot to say. There are a lot of questions from the press asking for confirmation on whether or not their stories are true."
"No comment," Ren clipped, ignoring Yashiro's knowing smirk. "Can you hold on to my phone? In case she calls."
Yashiro's smirk blossomed into a smile that spread across his face when Ren handed over the phone. It was so good to see all these different sides of Ren.
Kijima clapped Ren on the shoulder interrupting his conversation with Yashiro. "Yo! Let's get this over with. I've got a hot date," Kijima nodded toward the woman they passed earlier.
Ren laughed shaking his head at how fast the man moved. I guess he couldn't wait until after work.
They walked over to the director to receive their instructions. Even months after Dark Moon wrapped, the actors were still fulfilling contractual obligations. Today, they were filming a beer commercial for one of Dark Moon's sponsors.
Ren and Kijima took their seats at the center of the table that had been laden with food and drinks. They were a bunch of salarymen eating and drinking after a long day at the office. It was supposed to be comedic with the dialogue mainly between Ren and Kijima. At one point, they both had to chug down a pint of beer while the extras chanted "chug, chug, chug!" It was a close race. Ren and Kijima both slammed their glasses down at the same time. They cheered obnoxiously as only drunk men could. For authenticity and ease, Japanese directors tended to use real products during commercials. It was up to the actors to make it work. Ren had never been a rowdy drunk even in his younger days. He tended to sit in a corner and brood so this was something new for him. After a couple of NGs, he got the hang of it by imitating the other guys and creating his character. By the time the director called it a wrap, Ren was feeling quite proud of his ability to hold his alcohol. He joined the guys in one last celebratory drink before heading back to his dressing room.
While he was gone, the director found his manager. "Yashiro-san, I'm pleased with how things had turned out. I'm embarrassed that I was a bit worried. I thought this concept would be difficult for Tsuruga-san to grasp since he was always so…"
"Uptight?" Yashiro offered.
"Eh, I was going to say professional or serious. The original concept was a quiet evening between good friends. Lately, I've been getting a more cheerful vibe from Tsuruga-san that I wanted to try this route. It was a little rocky at first but I'm very satisfied with the outcome," the director told him with a bow.
...
Kijima intercepted Ren as he walked towards the exit. "Tsuruga-kun, thanks for the hard work. We should go drinking more often. You should bring Kyoko-chan too."
"Kijima-san, our lives are hectic. I don't want to share what little free time I have with Kyoko, with you," Ren stated seriously.
Kijima laughed. "So stingy. Well, you have my number if you guys ever want to hang out," Kijima waved and walked off to find his date.
Ren made his obligatory rounds on the set to say his farewell. The director congratulated Ren for fooling all of Japan for his act as Cain Heel. From the corner of his eye, Ren saw Yashiro put on a glove and pull out a cellphone. He excused himself from the Director and hurried over to Yashiro.
"We should get going," Yashiro told him handing over his phone. Ren looked at the message, Thank you for the gift! I'll see you soon, love you. Ren 's brows shot up! What gift?
Sota took a long drag from his cigarette while glancing out the front window across the street at the hotel entrance. The clock on his phone to him dusk was close. He had been sitting there for the equivalent of three cups of coffee and two slices of cheesecake. grateful for the breather. Sota had a few moments earlier where he thought his cover was blown. Sota wondered if the girl was actually aware of his presence and giving him the runaround. He followed her to a high-end boutique where she spent over an hour trying on clothes by the looks of the large shopping bags she was carrying. Her next stop was to an upscale salon and spa that was by appointment only. When she finally emerged from the salon several hours later, her hair was a lighter shade and hung in soft waves. From there, she stopped outside a gift shop. He watched curiously, as she switched gift bags with a female worker. Now he sat waiting for her to emerge from the hotel. Spectre had relayed to Sota that the room was under her name using her credit card information. The hotel's database indicated that she had rented out the suite since yesterday.
Sota's phone chimed with an incoming message.
She's moving again!
That was his cue. Sota stood and threw down a few yen bills to pay for his tab. After a few minutes, he saw the attendant open the lobby door. He watched the young woman exit the hotel wearing a lightweight, cream-colored, long sleeve shirt dress with a belted waist. Looks like the Ojou-sama has finally decided to grace us with her presence. Everything was in its place. Her hair, make-up, outfit, and accessories were impeccable. She reeked of money.
Sota climbed into the car that he had delivered to his location while he waited. His gut feeling told him that her "on foot" adventure was ending and he would need to keep up with her without inconveniencing a driver.
…
Kimiko thanked the besotted doorman as she stepped out into the evening air. Her father had called several times in the last half hours that she ended up blocking his number. He finally noticed that she was no longer at home. She feigned mock sympathy as she thought about the poor maid she left in her room. Her father probably sent her packing already.
The rear door of the car she hired automatically opened to allow her in. Kyoko handed the startled driver the address on a slip of paper and sat back to enjoy the ride. After a long luxurious day at the spa, she was feeling more like herself again. She made it a point to avoid all things that would agitate her until it was time to get ready. She had ordered room service and watched some variety show that had celebrities making fools of themselves.
Kimiko clenched the gift bag with her manicured fingers in anticipation of what was to come. As they neared her destination, a calm had settled over her and somehow she knew Everything was going to work out just fine.
Notes:
Thank you for always reading. I appreciate it.
Until next time, ja mata!
Chapter 77: Venomous Snakes and Simple Kicks
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kimiko would definitely go down dramatically.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Koga stood directly before Kyoko, but the girl failed to notice him with her eyes cast downwards. Annoyed by her lack of reaction, he brought his hand down over Kyoko's head in a karate chop. They were currently on a short break while the director reviewed the latest footage and had one last scene to finish before they could call it a night.
"Owww!" Kyoko exclaimed, rubbing the top of her head. "What was that for Koga-san?" She asked, aggravated by her co-star.
"Because you keep spacing out between scenes. It's creeping me out!" Koga scolded. "If it was going to bother you that much, you shouldn't have done it in the first place!"
Kyoko glared at Koga. "It's not that I regret it. It's just that…" Koga lifted his hand again when she stopped talking and got lost in her head again. When he brought his hand down again she blocked it between her palms.
"Can you please give me time to collect my thoughts before giving me a concussion?" Kyoko huffed. She wasn't about to let him catch her off guard again.
Koga flashed her a charming smile. "That's much better. I'd rather you be your spunky self than whatever state you call this." He waved his hand toward her. "If I had to hit you again, I'm pretty sure your father would pulverize me. He's quite scary. Are you sure he's not Yakuza?"
Kyoko giggled and waved towards her father who was glaring at Koga from the manager seats. His expression settled when he looked at Kyoko and returned her smile. She enjoyed having her father for company and tried not to think about him eventually leaving. He had promised to be back permanently in time for her birthday. Kyoko had tried to protect herself, but before she knew it, he had already ingrained himself into her heart. It would devastate her if he didn't return.
Earlier today, Ren and Kyoko had parted ways in the LME employee parking garage. The front entrance to the office had been packed with paparazzi trying to get in on the Heel sibling scoop. Outside the parking lot stood several more reporters beyond the gate. It was a slow process exiting as the reporters crowded around Yashiro's car. They had no idea Kyoko was in the dark-tinted car behind them. She noticed several reporters hop into their vehicles to follow Ren. Her father told her that this may prove to be a problem when Ren tried to go home. They could easily find out where they lived.
What the President had to show them on the television were the other cast and staff members of Tragic Marker that had firsthand accounts of the siblings on set. The clip shown at that moment was of the media hounding Taira Murasame for details regarding his relationship with the Heels. They focused on a comment from a staff member stating that Ren had lost control and almost killed both Taira and himself. The actor wasn't pleased with the accusation and had replied tersely, "It was an honor working with both of them. They were true professionals and devoted to their craft." The reporter shouted out more questions, but Taira waved him off as he entered the building.
Kyoko squirmed watching that footage. Now that the NDA was lifted, the other employees wasted no time talking about the siblings' behavior. Thank goodness Ren had only lost control that one time and it seemed Taira was being supportive. It would only be a matter of time before the other stuff surfaced. She had spoken bravely weeks ago that she would face this head-on, but saying and doing were two different things. Now that everything was finally coming to light, she started to panic a little. Okay, maybe a lot. Someone was bound to talk about the hickey she left on Ren's neck. It wasn't the fact that she put one on him that worried her. Now that they were in a relationship, she was more embarrassed that she had left such a terrible one on him, teeth marks and all. She didn't want anyone making fun of Ren for having such an inexperienced girlfriend.
Kyoko's thoughts were brought back to the present by her impatient co-star.
"Well, are you going to tell me what's going on in that brain of yours?" Koga asked, tapping his foot at the girl he thought of as a little sister. She was gaining too much media attention too fast. This was all that cursed Ren's fault. He didn't want to see her get eaten up and spit out by the press. In the short time he had known her, Koga realized that she had real talent and could make it far as an actress. This alter-ego of hers was a testament to her skill. Any way he looked at her, he still could not believe that she was Setsuka.
"It's just that..." Kyoko paused and stared at Koga. Could she tell him how anxious she was feeling about all the gossip being spread about them on set? Koga gave her an exasperated look. "Okay, I just can't help but recall certain scenes that may hurt Ren's reputation."
"Are you an idiot?! Tsuruga-kun is a guy. His reputation would never take a hit because of this. You should be more worried about yourself," Koga scolded her. "If that guy cared for you even a little bit, he should have never allowed you to go incognito with him. You didn't even get paid for that job."
Kyoko laughed with relief. It was good to have another popular actor's opinion. "I was paid in acting skills and I plan on milking all the best acting techniques from him."
Koga gaped in disbelief then shook his head sternly. This girl...
"I was able to grow as an actress from watching and experiencing it all first hand. Koga-san, thank you. I feel so much better now. I bet you're the eldest brother, aren't you? You make a great Onii-san."
If what Koga said was true then Ren would be just fine. The thought eased the anxiety her heart. "Since Ren will be okay, all I have to do is withstand this storm until it all blows over." She pumped her fist in determination. I won't lose to this, even if I have to claw my way out of it.
Koga tried to keep his expression firm, but he couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips. This girl was too dense for her own good. "You know, it wouldn't hurt you to practice a little self-preservation sometimes. Be more selfish!" His silly outburst made her giggle.
"Kyoko-san, you have a delivery," one of the assistants called out to her, interrupting their conversation. Kyoko looked up to find the usual delivery woman striding towards her holding a gift bag and a clipboard. She rolled her eyes as she stood to meet the woman. Ren was at his antics again. Telling him that he gave her more than enough already and to stop sending her gifts obviously didn't work. Plus, if it was sweets, he was not helping her cause to get fit for the upcoming R'mandy swimsuit shoots. His argument, of course, was to help small local businesses by spending the money he received from the general public. Kyoko couldn't even refute his reasoning.
"Hi, it's good to see you again. Thank you for taking the trouble," Kyoko greeted with a bow to the same woman that had been delivering her gifts for the last month.
The delivery woman smiled nervously as she returned Kyoko's bow. "Hello Kyoko-san, it's no trouble at all. My company truly appreciates the business you and Tsuruga-san have brought to us. I admit it was a bit scary trying to get through the fans outside the gate, but that's to be expected of such popular celebrities. After that, security was quite easy since they are familiar with me."
Even though they've met several times, it dawned on Kyoko that she didn't know her name. She didn't wear any kind of name tag to identify her. "I'm sorry we have been meeting like this so frequently, and I still don't even know your name. Would you mind telling me?" Kyoko asked the delivery woman.
"Oh, please, Kyoko-san, I am just so grateful that I'm able to meet you like this and come on an actual filming set. For someone like me to have this opportunity, it's a dream come true," the woman replied.
"Eh, umm..." Kyoko paused, waiting for her to supply her name.
"Oh, please call me Yuri," the woman said, bowing politely.
"Yuri-san, I'll be honest, show biz isn't easy, but I think if a person applies themselves and works hard, anything is possible," Kyoko told her as living proof of not giving up.
"Kyoko-san, five minutes and we'll be ready to start again," the assistant director called out from the set.
"Ah, sorry for keeping you. Please sign here and I'll be on my way," Yuri said, holding the clipboard. Kyoko did so and thanked her.
"If you are in no hurry, I can ask the director if you can stick around to watch the filming. I'll be right back," Kyoko suggested and disappeared like a ninja before Yuri could respond. Kyoko ran to her trailer to drop off the gift and text Ren quickly. She took a moment to peek inside the bag and saw delicious chocolates wrapped in pretty packaging.
"Wow! You're really fast!" Yuri exclaimed, amazed at the actress' speed. "I'm sorry, Kyoko-san, thank you for the offer, but I must finish up my wor-," Yuri's voice trailed off as a commotion at the front gate caught her attention. Kyoko followed her distracted gaze since it was unusually loud over there.
...
The front entrance of The Sacred Lotus set was loaded with paparazzi and fans. Another layer of barricades was erected to keep the people further back and let vehicles pass through. This new setup allowed the car to pull directly in front of the gate. The entrance was ablaze with lights now that the sun had set. Kimiko was counting on this audience recognizing her and using them to her advantage. Stepping out of the car, she watched it pull away, then glanced at the crowd in front of her before turning towards the security officer. That should be more than enough time for them to look at my face and take some photos. She soaked in the praise rustling through the crowd about her beauty and style. The security guard at the front entrance stood stock still, captivated by her beauty. Kimiko smiled sweetly and batted her lashes at him as a reward for recognizing true beauty when he saw it.
"Um, excuse me, my name is Morizumi Kimiko. I should be on the guest list," she announced loud and clear for those nearby to hear her introduction. It angered her that they didn't even recognize her. She had convinced Cedric that she sincerely wanted to make amends with Kyoko before she left the country. Her father didn't deserve to be chastised for any of her mistakes.
Did you hear that? She just said Morizumi Kimiko right?
Morizumi? The Morizumi?! As in the one from yesterday.
It had finally clicked and before she knew it, reporters were shouting questions her way while fans of Ren and Kyoko shouted obscenities at her. The security guards reacted fast to keep them behind the barricade. Once she knew that she was safe, Kimiko used this moment to address the press when someone asked if she was there to confront Kyoko.
She flashed them her most angelic smile and answered, "I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm simply bearing a peace offering. I'm here to apologize to Kyoko-san for my deplorable behavior yesterday. I'm glad my father was there to literally knock some sense into me," she admitted with a cute giggle.
"How could you laugh about something like that?" another reporter shouted.
"I'm not perfect. Even I feel anger and jealousy as much as any other person. I was wrong to have allowed it to consume me. I had a long talk with my father last night. We have forgiven each other and are moving forward, choosing to learn from our mistakes and be better versions of ourselves. I hope you all can forgive us. And if not me, then my father. He is good and kind. I wouldn't change him for the world," Kimiko pleaded and bowed deeply.
"Kimiko!" a familiar male voice shouted from behind her through the gate. Kimiko stood from her bow and turned, smiling broadly at Cedric. With a final wave to the crowd, she entered after collecting her purse and gift bag from the guard.
"Ric, thank you for this! I appreciate your help," she said, kissing him lightly on the cheek. "You're a good friend."
"You're welcome. I think everyone deserves a second chance. I hope someday I'm able to apologize and get mine."
As usual, Kimiko didn't know what he was talking about. He would often make references to something that happened in the past, but never elaborated on anything. She concluded that he was probably thinking of another woman he might have hurt, making her insides twist with jealousy.
"By the way, you look beautiful in that outfit and you changed your hair color back. It suits you."
Kimiko dipped her head shyly, blushing at his compliments.
...
"Kyoko-san, we're ready now!" the assistant called her over to the set. Kyoko briefly made eye contact with Kimiko, wondering why she was here. Remembering the delivery woman, Kyoko diverted her gaze back to her.
"Yuri-sa..." Eh, where did she go? She searched the area, but Yuri was nowhere in sight. A protective Tadashi joined her and together they walked to the set discussing quietly Kimiko's possible motives.
Tadashi promised to stay as close to her as possible and wouldn't allow the girl to harm his daughter again. Sota had messaged him ten minutes ago, warning Tadashi that Kimiko was coming here. His friend had briefed him on Kimiko's activities today. She had mostly pampered herself and Sota confirmed that the contents in her bag came from a reputable gift shop. When Kyoko was safe on the set, Tadashi pulled out his phone to make a call.
After hanging up, Tadashi intercepted Cedric and Kimiko. "Mr. Bennett, what is the meaning of this? Why have you brought Ms. Morizumi here? If she means to harm my daughter I won't forgive either of you."
Cedric and Kimiko were taken aback at the hostility rolling off Tadashi. The man had always been very amicable whenever Cedric met him on the set.
"Mr. Morimoto, I think you are exaggerating. Kimiko would never harm Ms. Kyoko. She may have said a few harsh words the other day, but Ms. Kyoko is strong. She won't be hurt by mere words," Cedric replied, trying to make peace with the angry father.
Tadashi ignored the young man and glared at Kimiko. It was obvious Cedric was clueless of the harm his friend was capable of dishing out.
Kimiko broke into a cold sweat. Staring into the man's hard golden eyes made her tremble. She could tell that he knew what she had down to Kyoko, but it was too late now. There was no going back.
Kimiko bowed deeply in apology. "Morimoto-san, I know I have wronged Kyoko-san in the past, but it is as Ric-san says. I will be leaving for the United States in a couple of days and would like to apologize to Kyoko-san in person."
Tadashi nodded, deciding to let this play out. If whatever she had in the bag was for Kyoko, he would recommend she throw it away, especially if it was edible. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was still off with this girl.
Cedric was completely confused, barely understanding their conversation. He had to be missing something crucial for the normally agreeable man to be so opposed to Kimiko's apology. Cedric mentally added it to the top of the long list of questions he had in store for her. The charade she had played on him the other night when she stayed over at his place was first on the list. Initially, he had reached out to her so he could get answers, but her desire to apologize was so convincing he couldn't say no.
Kyoko released all ties to herself and embodied Momiji as she acted out the next few scenes with Chidori. She caught sight of the trio standing back from the set while they paused to reset the props. The director wanted to film the same scene from a different angle with more emotion in Chidori's expression. She couldn't understand why Cedric was sticking around when his scenes were over. The nagging sensation that they were waiting for her stuck as she watched them linger. Her only reprieve to the awkward situation would be her boyfriend's arrival.
Kyoko hoped it would take them longer to nail the scene and couldn't in good conscience deliberately mess up just to buy herself time. The director had reviewed the footage and called it a night. While the crew went to work securing the set, Kyoko did her rounds, thanking the cast and crew for their hard work. When that didn't take long enough, she found herself doing remedial tasks to help.
"What are you doing?" Koga asked, folding his arms over his chest.
"I have no clue what you're talking about, Koga-san," Kyoko replied with an air of innocence and straightened up some props knocked over during taping.
Koga smirked. "I know you wear a chicken suit for work, but I didn't know that you were actually a chicken," Koga insulted, taking a stab at her cowardice.
"Fine! If anything bad happens, I'm blaming you," Kyoko huffed and stomped off to greet her nemesis.
...
Director Morizumi pulled Kimiko off to the side. His eyes bore into her eyes, searching for any sign of her earlier madness. He had known her since birth and watched her grow into the fine young lady. The last few days had left him questioning his instincts. What was she planning to do this time? He had allowed Cedric to put her name on the list because he still believed in the sweet little girl he once knew. He regretted allowing it when he saw his brother's text messages searching for his daughter. Confused, he replied to his brother's text before confronting Kimiko.
"Kimi, does your father know you're here? I don't want any trouble," Jouji whispered harshly.
"Relax, Uncle," Kimiko appealed, flashing him her sweetest, most innocent smile. "I'm here to make amends."
The smile he once thought cute on her looked sinister now, making him shiver.
"Oh, here comes Kyoko-san now," she announced giddily.
Kimiko stepped into Kyoko's path, startling the girl. She bowed deeply and stretched her hands out, holding the gift bag. Kimiko had been running this scene in her mind the whole ride over so she could get it just right. Speaking loudly and deliberately, she hoped to gather a small audience to witness her apology.
"Kyoko-san, I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you. My anger and jealousy of your talent got the best of me and clouded my judgment. Everything I wanted just seemed to come so naturally for you; acting, getting the perfect roles, and your relationship with Ren-san. I had liked him for so long, but he never once looked my way except out of politeness. I was frustrated by my lack of improvement. We're the same age and you managed..." Kimiko's voice cracked as a sob escaped her lips. Her body trembled, not from sadness, but from unuse to posturing for so long. "You managed to achieve something in such a short time that I've been trying to obtain since I was a small child. I have no excuse. It was my fault for relying on my family to further my career, and now, it's too late for me to do anything about it."
Kyoko assumed she was referring to the agreement she had made with Erika.
Kimiko stood up from her bow, tears pricking the corner of her eyes while holding out the gift bag since Kyoko refused to take it. "I'm leaving Japan soon but before I go I wanted to at least clear up my family's name. They did everything for me out of love so I hope you could forgive them. I know Ren-san is kind and understanding. He would never hold my shortcomings against them. As his partner, I hope you wouldn't either."
Kyoko stared at the same bag with the logo of the store that Ren often sent gifts from. In Kimiko's hands, it looked like she was offering Kyoko a poisonous viper. Everyone stared at her expectantly, but Kyoko was hesitant about taking anything from the girl. They didn't know the evilness Kimiko possessed. The incident with Erika Koenji, the balcony, giving out her Darumaya address to the press, the set accidents, and the article, were only of what Kyoko knew. Kimiko had done everything to make things difficult for Kyoko, yet the people around her, less Koga and her father were insisting she accept her apology. Thinking about Kimiko's misdeeds had Kyoko grudges stirring.
"Please, mistress, now is our chance to exact our revenge!"
Kyoko continued to stare at Kimiko trying to decide whether or not to accept her apology. She couldn't understand why someone, who had it all— family, beauty, and talent— could come out so corrupt. Kuon's face flashed in her mind. Kyoko shook her head quickly to dispel those thoughts. They weren't the same, and he was atoning for his past. Perhaps Kimiko deserved another chance too.
Kimiko stared at Kyoko, confused by her expression. Is this bitch really going to refuse my apology? I even fucking bowed to her in public, something I rarely do for my parents. How dare she embarrass me in front of all these people? She hadn't planned for Kyoko to refuse.
"I will not forgive you," Kyoko responded, making the crowd gasp around her.
How could she be so unreasonable? was the consensus of the collective.
"But!" She shouted to quiet them all down. "I will accept your apology on one condition."
Kimiko's eyes flashed with anger that only Kyoko witnessed, but the ex-actress quickly covered it up with wide-eyed innocence. "Wh-what is the condition?" she stammered, glancing nervously at their audience.
"I want you to change yourself for the better," Kyoko answered with a warm smile. "I'm sure you can do it!" Kuon had been working all this time to become a better version of himself. Kyoko was sure the girl could do the same.
Kimiko smirked inwardly. What an idiot?
On cue, Kimiko's face lit up with a dazzling smile. Clutching Kyoko's hand with hers, Kimiko gushed with happiness. "Thank you, Kyoko-san. I'm so glad I met with you! I promise to be better." She released Kyoko's hand and swiped at the tears that were threatening to spill over her cheeks.
The small crowd of bystanders applauded and cheered, relieved that the two pretty girls were able to make up.
"I wasn't sure what you liked, but I hope you can enjoy this little gift," Kimiko offered, humbly bowing once again to hand over the gift.
With everyone watching, Kyoko had no choice but to accept the bag.
"That's great, Kimiko! I knew Kyoko would be open to an apology. I'm going to change and I'll take you out for a celebratory/going away party," Cedric insisted when the girls parted.
"Thank you, Ric. I'll come with you. I need to freshen up my makeup. I got a little emotional there, but I'm so happy she accepted."
Kyoko watched them walk away until a loud ruckus coming from the entrance of the set distracted her.
"I guess your boyfriend is here," Koga said sarcastically and rolled his eyes heavenward. The screams coming from the front confirmed his words.
Kyoko's gaze locked on the gate until Yashiro and Ren popped in, heading towards them. Her heart rate sped up, beating erratically when he assaulted her with a heavenly smile, knocking out several coworkers on the way. Kyoko's face split into a big stupid grin in return.
"Oh, God, I think I'm going to barf watching you two make googly eyes at each other," Koga teased under his breath.
"Koga-san, if I didn't know any better, I would say you were jealous of me," Ren ribbed as he stepped up to Kyoko after greeting the director and gave her a peck on top of her head.
"Who's jealous? Your little stunt as Cain Heel may come back to bite you in the ass. I'll be looking down at you from my lofty perch next time," Koga challenged Ren. Every time Koga thought he was pulling ahead of Ren, his rival went and one-upped him. This playing a double life opposite his true nature was going to give Koga a run for his money. He needed to step up his game.
"I wish you all the luck," Ren chuckled. Those polls never mattered to him. As long as he was getting steady work that challenged his acting skills, he was fine with being below.
After talking to Tadashi, Yashiro greeted them and joined their conversation. "Oh, Kyoko-chan. I see you received something good, today, " Yashiro elbowed his male charge. Ren frowned, recalling Kyoko's last message to him. He would have to question her later.
"Eh, um, Morizumi-san gave this to me. A sort of peace offering, I guess," Kyoko shrugged, explaining how she came to possess the gift bag in her hand. She had been instructed by her father to throw away whatever was in the bag; however, she refused to look inside for fear she wouldn't have the strength to waste something so expensive.
Ren tensed beside her. "She didn't do anything underhanded to you, did she?" He asked, giving her a once-over to make sure everything was in place.
"I'm fine. It seemed all she wanted to do was apologize and so I accepted. Everyone deserves a second chance, right?" She asked, looking up at Ren. He smiled sweetly at her and nodded. It was so like her to see the good in others no matter how bad they were.
"Are you done for the night? I had wanted to watch you work, but it appears I was too late. I'll walk you to your dressing room," Ren offered. They nodded to those in the vicinity as they headed towards the dressing rooms.
When they neared the back area of the outdoor set, they heard raised voices. Kyoko and Ren glanced at each other and decided to investigate. Neither of them considered the risks of their hasty decision.
...
Kimiko had followed Cedric towards his dressing room so she could use the ladies' room nearby and touch up her makeup. Cedric had just entered his dressing room when someone called her name.
"Kimi!" The voice said in a loud whisper. Kimiko turned in its direction as a hand shot out and covered her mouth. "Shhh! It's just me!" the female voice pleaded as she removed her hand.
"Yuri! What the hell are you still doing here? Are you trying to get us caught?" Kimiko hissed, dragging the woman to a dimly lit but empty part of the set. She looked both ways and slid open the shoji door quickly and pulled the stupid delivery woman in after her. A glance around confirmed the room was empty. She stopped to look around the room only when her heels dug into the tatami mats lining the floor. The place was sparsely furnished with a cabinet in the corner and a low wide table sitting in the center. Scrolls in various states of completion covered the wooden surface along with calligraphy brushes and tiny glass bottles of ink. An oil lantern in a far corner and on the table cast a soft glow around the room. The state of the room meant that the crew could return any minute to secure the space for the night. Kimiko had to make this quick; she couldn't afford to be seen with this woman.
"Why the hell are you still here?" Kimiko demanded, glaring at the woman that used to be her manager before everything went to shit.
"I panicked, okay. I saw you and Ric coming in and I ended up hiding. What if he recognized me? He'd know something was up. Security is so tight here I didn't want to get caught. You have to help me get out of here! I need a change of clothes or something. If security questioned me for taking so long they would no doubt alert Uncle Jouji."
Kimiko pursed her lips, annoyed that this incompetent woman was her cousin by blood.
"Why are you always so stupid? All you had to do was deliver the gift from Ren-san and be on your merry way! Even as my manager you gave off this confident air around others, yet you always relied on me."
"I know! I messed up! Can you help me? I was just doing the favor for you!"
"Favor? Is that what you're calling it? If things go wrong, I'm pinning all of this on you!" Kimiko threatened, pointing her finger at Yuri.
"What? You can't do that? This was your idea. You're the one that couldn't just let things go with Kyoko-san. I've done nothing but try to help you. You can't blame all this on me, Kimi or…"
"Or what?" Kimiko taunted.
"I- I'll tell them the truth!" Yuri replied nervously.
"The truth?" Kimiko smiled evilly at her ex-manager. "Who do you think they're going to believe more? All I have to do is tell them about that incident you were involved in and they'll lock you up! I'm just an innocent girl listening to the Onee-san I trusted most in my life."
"I'll tell Ric! He'll believe me," Yuri screeched hysterically.
Kimiko laughed sarcastically, "Ric will never believe you."
"What about me?" Cedric growled, hoping he understood what she meant correctly. Both women turned startled as he stepped into the dimly lit room blocking the exit, his face contorted in anger.
Cedric had come out of his dressing room looking for Kimiko. He circled toward the back where the washrooms were located and heard voices coming from the side of the set they had used earlier. His Japanese was so shoddy he could only understand some of what they were talking about. He understood names perfectly and got a vague idea of some scheme involving his co-star and her boyfriend. It was about time to intervene when his name was mentioned. He was going to get Kimiko to talk and make sure it was in English.
On cue, Kimiko burst into tears and Yuri's face paled. It was all over unless they could lie their way out of this one.
"One of you start talking! What are you planning for Ms. Kyoko?" Cedric's voice was deadly and his eyes were cold. He was done playing games.
Kimiko gaped, shocked by the way he glared at her, and Yuri could only lower her gaze to the ground. If they didn't say anything they should be okay.
He stepped towards Kimiko, hoping his presence would be intimidating enough to scare her into submission. The girl trembled beside him, trying to transform herself into a small defenseless animal about to be devoured by a predator. If anyone walked into the room right now they would see a scene where Cedric was the aggressor and threatening these helpless women.
"What have you done Kimiko?" Cedric demanded, menacingly.
Kimiko dropped to the floor and covered her face as sobs racked through her body. She was shaking her head in denial. Cedric knew he wasn't going to get anything out of her so he turned to the other woman. He didn't recognize her at first but as he took a closer look realization struck him.
"You're her manager, right? Where have you been and why are you dressed like that?" He questioned, taking in the familiar uniform she wore. She looked different when she wasn't all dolled up.
Yuri pulled the hat lower on her brow and adjusted her uniform. It wasn't the most flattering thing she ever wore and her face without makeup showed all her acne scars. She would be unrecognizable to those that she only met a few times, but she had known Cedric from their time in America.
Ren and Kyoko finally found the source of the sound they heard. Rather than hang back and wait, they stepped right into the room, worried about the person crying. What they discovered was alarming, but unsurprising. Cedric was bullying Kimiko and the delivery lady.
Ren immediately saw red and his fingers clenched in anger. This bastard is still pulling this shit! He hasn't changed at all!
Cedric turned in surprise at the unexpected arrivals. Sensing the deadly aura Ren had aimed at him, Cedric held his hands up in surrender.
"Hey man, this isn't what it looks like," Cedric pleaded, taking a step back even though Ren was across the room.
Kyoko put her hand on Ren's arm to calm him down and looked objectively at the scene.
Cedric saw her gesture and relaxed. At least one of them wasn't so hot-headed. He was still unsure what he did to rub Ren the wrong way. It always seemed like the guy wanted to rip his head off for no good reason.
With wary eyes trained on Cedric, Kyoko walked slowly to comfort Kimiko. She didn't know what happened, but she could at least make sure the girl was okay. Before reaching her, Cedric shook his head no, making her hesitate.
"Bennett-san, could you tell us what's going on here?" Kyoko asked, staring at her costar, confused. Why was Yuri-san here as well? Was he in a relationship with her and Morizumi-san caught them? Kyoko was familiar with that feeling of hurt and betrayal from someone you loved.
"That's what I was trying to find out. I heard these two conspiring against you, Ms. Kyoko," Cedric folded his arms stubbornly. Kimiko cried harder and soon Yuri joined her.
Oh, I was way off base, Kyoko thought then bristled at what he said. I knew it. Her grand gesture earlier was a setup. She wanted me to drop my guard. "Yuri-san? Did she pay you to spy on me?" Kyoko asked, addressing the delivery woman.
"She's actually Kimiko's manager. She can speak English," Cedric informed her.
"What?" Kyoko and Ren cried in astonishment. A vision of an attractive woman in a business suit at the auditions flashed into her mind. She looked nothing like the woman before her. Kyoko's minions told their mistress not to think of her as a kindred spirit just because she was unrecognizable without makeup.
Kyoko elbowed Ren in the ribs and whispered, "You've worked with her more in that last drama! Shouldn't you remember what she looks like?"
"Would you believe me if I told you they all look the same to me? If it's not you, I don't really notice," Ren answered with a sheepish grin.
"Smooth, playboy, real smooth!" Kyoko responded, winking at him.
Cedric marveled at the pair, a little annoyed by their flirting. How could they joke around at a time like this? He almost envied their relationship. Then he remembered how his last one crashed and burned. He wasn't planning on getting serious with anyone again.
Kimiko squeezed her eyes closed hoping to shut out the loving banter between Ren and Kyoko. She would never have that kind of relationship with Cedric no matter the lengths she went to make it happen. When Kimiko's phone buzzed in her purse, something in her snapped. Right on time, Stalker-san. Her shoulders began to shake in earnest and she picked herself up off the ground, head still bent as if crying.
"Kimiko, tell us what's going on? I'm sure we can fix it," Cedric pleaded with his friend. The noise she made no longer sounded like crying. His face turned to shock when he realized she was laughing. What the fuck?
Kimiko lifted her head, abruptly cutting off her laughter. "You won't ever return my feelings would you Ric? She asked, her tone full of bitterness.
Cedric was caught off guard. He had no clue how to answer her. If he said the wrong thing she might fly off the handle so he stayed quiet.
"Even after all I've done to save you," Kimiko whispered, her gaze still locked on him.
Now, Cedric was really confused. What was she talking about? "I'm sorry, Kimiko. I never had those kinds of feelings for you. You deserve someone that wou-"
"That bitch didn't deserve you! I had to make you see that she was only using you for your family connections!" Kimiko screamed, her frantic eyes flashing with desperation.
"Are you talking about Viola?" Cedric chocked out, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"That idiot was so easy to manipulate. Wasn't it so convenient how this part became available?" Kimiko responded with a sinister giggle. "I had it all planned out. I would be Chidori. You would be Yamada-san. You would see me as your ideal Japanese woman and we would live happily ever after," Kimiko sighed wistfully with a dreamy smile playing on her lips.
Holy shit, this chick is psycho! Cedric thought. He was feeling very uncomfortable for having spent so much time with her and felt at fault for unassumingly leading her on. While he appreciated the purity and sweetness of Japanese women, maybe mentioning it to her to make polite conversation was a big mistake.
"So when you couldn't nab the role of Chidori, you went after Momiji? You injured Koenji-san and tried to throw Kyoko off a balcony just to get the part…and when you didn't get it, you still caused trouble for Kyoko and the people on the set!" Ren accused, through clenched teeth forgoing his British accent. His anger rose as he glanced between the two women, fingers curling in tight fists as he struggled to keep calm. Nails dug into the palms of his hands, welcoming the pain inflicted to distract him from going dark. It pissed him off that she had planned this all to gain the attention of some guy. No, not just some guy, him.
"Ren? Kyoko-chan are you in here?" Yashiro's voice called out. The manager finally made it to their location through another sliding door on the other side of the room. Tadashi, Kimiko's uncle, and her father were right behind him. Tadashi and Yashiro took in the situation and had an inkling of what was happening, but the Morizumi men were totally confused.
"What's going on? Kimi? Yuri?" Jiro asked, taking in the scene. The two actors appeared to be very angry with his daughter. What did she do now? Jouji told me she had apologized properly. Was it all a ruse?
"Father, thank goodness you're here. These men are threatening me. I only did what Yuri told me to do," Kimiko confessed, shying away from Cedric and Ren out of fear and upping the waterworks.
"You're lying! It was all Kimi's idea, Uncle. I had to go along with it because…because…" Yuri couldn't finish her sentence. Was she ready to condemn herself if she said any more? No! What happened years ago was between her and Kimiko. Yuri couldn't let that truth come out.
Kimiko smirked at her older cousin. That hit-and-run incident was a secret that she held over her cousin's head for years. She was only eleven years old when she came to America to visit her sophisticated cousin studying abroad. It was very late and the street was dimly lit. According to Yuri, the guy just darted out into the middle of the road. Yuri couldn't stop in time. She had been drinking, so not thinking clearly, she fled the scene. When she got back to the apartment she tried to hide the evidence by setting her car on fire behind a deserted warehouse. The car was easily reported stolen the next morning, and Yuri begged Kimiko to tell the police that she had been home with her all night. When the news reported that the man she hit had died from his injuries, Yuri steeled herself to take the secret to her grave. Ever since then, she had become a puppet to Kimiko's whims.
Yuri glanced at her cousin realizing her life was over no matter the outcome. If she somehow got out of this unscathed, she would suffer a worse fate under Kimiko. She decided to take her chances with the devil she knew and gave in. "It's true! It was all Kimi's idea, but it doesn't excuse the fact that I was always there helping with her latest scheme. I will take full responsibility as the adult here."
"No, that's not right! Kimiko should take some blame too!" Cedric shouted, once again hoping he didn't misinterpret what Yuri just said. He hoped Ren or Kyoko would correct him if he was wrong. "If what Tsuruga said is true, you've hurt too many people, put the movie behind schedule, and caused cost overruns. And you did this all for what? For me to notice you? This is too much! Did you mean any part of that apology you made to Ms. Kyoko earlier? I believed in you! I should have known something was up when you lied about being mugged that night."
Kimiko gasped, surprise written all over her face. Her features became ugly, turning accusatory eyes on her cousin. She must have told him the truth!
"Did she tell you that? She's lying!" Kimiko spat.
"She didn't have to tell me anything! I followed you! You're really sick, you know. Did you pay someone to hit you or did you actually do that yourself?" Cedric asked disgustedly.
Kimiko clenched her fingers into tight fists, her heart shattering into a thousand pieces. It hurt to hear the man she loved talking so harshly to her. The way he looked at her now made her feel like trash.
"Ric, please... I love you," Kimiko begged, reaching for his hand as he tried to walk away. He shrugged her off of him his face finally registering pain. "Ric, please! I'm sorry! I can fix this! We can be like before! We can still be friends!"
"I'm sorry too," he told her quietly, glancing at her one last time. He turned to the rest of them. "I'm so sorry for the trouble. This is all my fault." He bowed deeply for several seconds then moved to leave the room.
"I would throw that away if I were you," he gestured to the gift bag she held before leaving. Kyoko gave him a weak smile and nodded.
Kimiko was blind with rage. In her eyes, Cedric had just chosen Kyoko over her. Not giving her a second glance, Ren and Kyoko turned to follow him out. With their backs to the angry woman, they didn't see her pick up the nearby lantern and heave it in their direction.
Everything happened in a blink of an eye. Yashiro was the quickest to respond, executing a simple mewashi-geri with his left leg that would have made his Sensei proud. He sent the lantern flying in the opposite direction thus successfully protecting his charges from harm. The lantern shattered from the force of his kick as it flew through the air. The fuel in the lamp ignited as it sailed on a collision course straight for none other than Kimiko. Nobody could react quick enough to stop it. Kimiko raised her arms in a weak attempt to shield her face as liquid flames splashed over her. The smell of singed hair and burnt flesh filled the air as the room erupted in chaos. Agonizing squeals of a pig to slaughter could be heard all the way to the parking lot.
Notes:
Bwahahaha I did that! Only fire can cleanse evil! Was it believable, anticlimactic, or completely ridiculous? Let's see if you guys can guess what I did there.
Thanks for sticking with me and I hope you enjoyed it! I'll do my best not to leave you all hanging for too long.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 78: Karma
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, there would be some sort of confrontation with Kuon's bully in the past.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Good evening, Japan. We interrupt your current broadcast to bring you breaking news. Our investigative reporter, Kagayama Koki-san is live outside the set of The Sacred Lotus in the Mire where he has brought it to our attention that an incident has occurred," Mikasa, the news anchor announced. Everyone across Japan watching the Fuji TV channel was now witnessing this live broadcast.
"Koki-san, can you hear me?" She asked as the screen split in half to show the front gate of the Lotus set riddled with reporters and fans. Koki held the mic with one hand and pressed on the earpiece in his right ear with his other hand. No one would have recognized the ex-Boost reporter since he had cleaned up nicely for his new job. Gone were the T-shirts and unkempt hair and its place was a clean-shaven man wearing a crisp button-down dress shirt.
"Mikasa-san, I can hear you," he replied. "I'm just a bit nervous. I'm used to writing rather than being on camera. This is a whole other world for me. Is this what celebrities have to go through daily?" Koki rambled on. He had been staking out The Sacred Lotus set in hopes to get another scoop. He heard a rumor that the drama had experienced delays, actress changes, and several mishaps while filming. What had him curious was the fact that the security had been beefed up several times over in the last few weeks. He had a good hunch that there was a story here and just needed facts from a trustworthy source. When Kimiko showed up at the front gate, Koki called his boss for guidance. A film crew was sent over immediately and Koki was directed to report on the outcome. His boss' foresight turned out to be right on the money.
"Koki-san, deep breaths. Can you tell us what's going on over there?" Mikasa asked, trying to get him to focus on the story.
"Yes, I apologize, Mikasa-san." He cleared his throat and began again. "Just a few minutes ago emergency personnel arrived on the scene of The Sacred Lotus in the Mire. I questioned the head of security at the front gate for details. Apparently, a fire broke out on one of the sets and we know at least one person is injured. We don't know the identity of the injured person nor the extent of said injuries at the moment. This could be unrelated, but I can comment as an eyewitness that Morizumi Kimiko entered the set earlier." He paused as the screen changed to show a short video clip of Kimiko's intentions to apologize to Kyoko then it shifted back to Koki. "Not only is Morizumi-san here, but Tsuruga Ren was also seen entering the location about an hour after her. I'm sure everyone knows that Tsuruga-san is dating the actress and talent Kyoko-san that is part of this production so seeing him on the set is not uncommon here. I do have to add that Morizumi Jiro-san was seen entering a few minutes before the alleged incident occurred."
"Wow, that is significant! So there is a possibility that any of the high profile people on the set could be involved in the incident," Mikasa replied, astonished by the number of A-listers currently inside.
Koki's voice grew solemn. "It's a possibility. I was out here with the crowd when we first heard the screams of pain. As you can see, there are many fans here praying earnestly that no one is severely injured. So far, nobody has come out yet. I'm told that this is the only way in or out of the set. I'm hoping to have more information soon."
"Thank you Koki-san, please keep us posted," Mikasa stated before returning viewers to their original scheduled programs.
Earlier
Among the people in the room, Kyoko was the first to react when all hell broke loose. Yashiro was taken by surprise when she used her newly acquired skills of undressing a man and instantly divested him of his suit jacket. Kimiko was flailing her arms in agony making it difficult for Kyoko to put out the flames. Upon seeing Kyoko in harm's way, Ren tried to help her extinguish the flames on the other girl's person. With his aid, they managed to eventually lay the girl on the floor and put out the remainder of the fire. Kimiko had stopped screaming and laid on the ground, moaning in agony. Although covered by the jacket, the rise and fall of her chest was evidence that she was still alive.
While Yashiro and Cedric battled the areas of the set that had caught fire, an alarmed Koga entered the room carrying a fire extinguisher. Koga had been in his dressing room nearby when he heard the panicked voices and the piercing screams. Someone had yelled "fire," so he reached for the nearest extinguisher and ran in the direction of the screams. He had a sinking feeling that those screams could belong to someone he knew and prayed he was wrong.
Director Jouji ran past Koga calling out for the medic while running to the main site. They had finished some time ago so Koga wasn't sure that the doctor they had on staff was still around. When he entered the set with all the commotion he was horrified by the sight and smell. What the fuck happened here? Kyoko and Ren were patting down a person on the floor which he assumed could only be Kimiko. Yashiro and Cedric were stamping away at smoldering portions of the set that had caught fire. Without hesitation, Koga ran in and began spraying the remaining flames.
When the fire was out, Koga took in the scene trying to gain some semblance of the situation. He turned towards the sound of whimpering in the corner. He wondered why the delivery woman was still here. There were just so many questions.
Jiro collapsed to his knees, clearly in shock, while Tadashi efficiently called for emergency services. The onlookers started showing up. Tadashi instructed the security personnel to keep them back. The man wasn't a key figure in the production, but his tone was commanding that everyone obeyed his orders.
Kyoko stared grimly at Ren. He nodded before reaching to remove Yashiro's jacket from Kimiko's body. The pandemonium had only lasted a minute, but pulling off the jacket from Kimiko revealed that the damage was severe. Her wounds needed tending. Ren's knowledge gained from playing the firefighter EMT role came in handy. Although it was only a cameo in a few episodes, he had done extensive research on how to treat victims in his "profession." He tried to remember what the consultant on set had told him as he went through the checklist of a first responder.
Everyone gasped when they saw Kimiko's injuries. The pain had to be unbearable. Her arms and chest area were severely charred and a section on the side of her face was blistering. She was covered in third and fourth-degree burns, but she was still breathing albeit shallow.
"We need to get her out of here. The smoke isn't good for her," Ren instructed. He laid Kimiko's arms over her, careful not to agitate her wounds further. Once the fire was contained, Cedric and Koga placed themselves on either side of Kimko. Yashiro and Ren took her legs and Kyoko guided her head. They all did their best to lift her without putting too much pressure on her wounds. Kimiko screamed from the pain as they moved her slowly to the outside air. It was dark out so the visibility wasn't very good. The onlookers were spared viewing the gruesome details of her wounds.
Tadashi shook Jiro into action and told him to go to his daughter. Once he saw the man moving, he went to the woman in the corner and told her she needed to get out as well. The smoke wasn't good for anyone to inhale.
"We need to keep her sitting up," Ren ordered in a no-nonsense kind of way.
They gently lowered her legs to the ground so she was in a sitting position. Cedric shifted carefully behind her so she could rest against him. He leaned down toward her unaffected ear and whispered soothing words to help keep her calm. Never in a million years would he have wished this kind of punishment on his worst enemy. His heart ached at the sight of her suffering.
Jiro sat next to Kimiko praying to all the Gods to save his daughter. Sirens blared in the distance. A reassuring sign that rescuers would be arriving soon. Tadashi instructed a few people to direct the medics this way and for the rest to make a clear path.
Ren paced as he went through the checklist in his head. It was difficult to think with all the chatter going on behind him. The others watched helplessly as they waited for more instructions.
We don't have any sterile dressings so we can't cover her wounds to cool them off. Ren's face lit up as he thought of something else they could do.
"Raise her arms above her shoulders!" Ren shouted.
Jiro and Koga instantly moved to do his bidding, making sure not to touch the damaged skin. Kimiko released another agonizing wail when they moved her, making the crowd hush. It was a good sign that she was still aware.
"That's all we can do until the medics arrive," Ren resigned.
He walked over to Kyoko and inspected her body the best he could in the dim light. "You're not hurt anywhere are you?" he asked, pressing his forehead against hers. At this distance, he could make out the soot spots on her face. She shook her head no against his.
"Are you sure? What about your hands?" He pulled back to examine her hands, relying on his touch to determine that there weren't any burns on them. Aside from being dirty from the ordeal, they seemed fine. "You almost gave me a heart attack when you jumped in there head first to help. Would it kill you to think a little more about your safety?"
"Ren, I..." Kyoko began to argue, but Ren cut her off, kissing her softly.
"You were so brave," he declared after pulling away. "You managed to pull us all out of our stupors and get us to take action." His admiration was clear in his tone.
Kyoko snuggled into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She closed her eyes for a moment relishing in the safety of his arms. It was all over now. He was safe. They were safe. She opened her eyes and stared at Kimiko. She couldn't help the one dark thought that clouded her mind while looking at the injured girl, Karma.
…
The paramedics, police officers, and firefighters all arrived on the scene at once. The reporters and fans that were already huddled outside the gate were in an uproar. All were trying to get a glimpse of the incident inside. Unfortunately, the front gate was the closest these first responders could get to the scene. Since the fire was contained, the firemen ran in leaving the hose behind. The medics rushed in with a gurney full of equipment. They were updated on the patient's condition while en route, so they knew what to expect.
Cedric and the others relinquished their hold on Kimiko once the medical team took over. They did a quick assessment of her and determined that she was good for transport by ambulance. Jiro was determined to stay by his daughter's side, forgetting about the media waiting outside.
Jiro was surprised when he had received the call from Tadashi earlier. The man had introduced himself and informed him that Kimiko was at The Sacred Lotus set seeking out his daughter, Kyoko. He had tried to reach Kimiko the moment he discovered she had left the house. He didn't know the man. Tadashi had warned Jiro that if his daughter was harmed in any way he would have no choice but to take legal action. Jiro hopped in his car and headed to the set as quickly as possible while texting his brother. It was while he was talking with Tadashi, Jouji, and Yashiro about the situation that he realized his mistake. He had left his daughter unattended for too long. A stagehand had informed Jouji as he stood with all of them about an altercation taking place in the back between two women. Jiro's heart stopped. A gut feeling told him that Kimiko was somehow involved. He was too late.
Jiro ignored the shouted questions from the media and climbed into the back of the ambulance with his daughter. There was no containing this mishap. Once she recovered enough, they would need to leave until this all died down and find her the best medical care in the world.
...
When the paramedics left, the police officers began their investigation. They needed to question everyone present in the room. Ren glanced at the time on his phone. He wouldn't make his next work assignment on schedule.
Yashiro was already on it and explaining the situation to the President of LME.
"It's all over the news already. I'm relieved no one else was injured. How are Ren and Mogami-kun holding up?" Lory queried.
"As well as they could be, sir," Yashiro replied.
"How are you doing, Yuki?" Lory asked gently. "I know you are feeling responsible for Morizumi-kun, but find relief in the fact that you protected them. You're a hero."
Yashiro bit the inside of his cheek. He didn't feel very heroic at the moment.
"Anyway, sir," Yashiro began, changing the subject before Lory could continue to sing his praises. "I have to go. I was hoping you could have Ren's remaining assignments rescheduled for the evening."
"Of course, I'll get one of the other agents on it. Please don't hesitate to call me if there are any problems."
"Thank you, sir." Ending the call, Yashiro collapsed on the edge of a platform, struggling to remove the glove from his shaky hand. The enormity of the situation was finally sinking in as his shock wore off.
"Yashiro-san, please have some water," Ren offered, handing his friend a bottle of water. He could tell by the guilty expression on the manager's face that he blamed himself for the turn of events. Ren was intimately familiar with that feeling, but at least there were no casualties.
Kyoko sat down next to Yashiro, sipping water from her bottle. They sat in silence and watched the police officers take statements from several people like something out of a crime drama. A forensics team entered the set to tape off the area, take pictures, and gather evidence. Not long after, two detectives dressed in dark suits approached the trio asking for a rehash of the incident. The couple could only describe the events starting from the moment they heard the loud voices to the moment emergency services arrived.
Yashiro filled them in on his actions to prevent his charges from getting severely injured by the lantern that was thrown at them. Their backs were turned to her, so they couldn't have reacted in time. The detectives told them they would need to eventually come down to the station to fill out some paperwork and give their official statements. The trio nodded in agreement.
Tadashi joined his daughter once he handed Yuri over to the police. He had tried to get the young woman to talk, but she remained tight-lipped. He instructed Spectre to shut things down regarding the Kimiko incident surfacing on the web and gather information on her ex-manager. He wanted to know everything since she had somehow remained under their radar.
Tadashi bowed deeply in front of Yashiro; his heart swelling with emotion now that his body recognized the danger was over.
"Ehhh, Morimoto-san! Why? What are you doing?" Yashiro panicked, embarrassed by the respect paid to him. Why was this powerful man bowing to him? Ren, understanding Tadashi's action, joined the bow.
"Yashiro-san, thank you very much! If it wasn't for your quick actions, my daughter and son would be getting transported in that ambulance right now. Thank you for being a selfless and loyal manager to them," Tadashi resounded chock full of emotion.
"Thank you, my dear friend," Ren added, "for putting yourself in harm's way and protecting us."
Kyoko's eyes watered as she bowed to Yashiro, grateful for his amazing reflexes. He had saved them.
Yashiro laughed nervously trying to hide his overwhelming emotions and stared at his favorite couple bowing before him. Even though the guilt was eating at him, he didn't regret it. He would do everything in his power to protect their newly found happiness. Fate had put him in the right place and at the right time to shield them from bodily harm. All the hours of training with a strict sensei finally paid off as he watched his charges exchange lovey-dovey looks. A thought suddenly popped into his mind, dimming his somber thoughts for a moment. He stood quickly and leaned into Ren.
"Ren! Do you know what just happened? Morimoto-san just referred to you as his 'son.' I bet you're extremely happy right now, aren't you? I can practically hear the sound of wedding bells," Yashiro gushed an enthusiastic whisper and elbowed Ren in the ribs.
A hint of a smile graced the actor's lips, but he said nothing. Ren was ecstatic by Tadashi's little slip, but he remained stoic in front of Yashiro. The guy would tease him mercilessly for a long time.
Kyoko exchanged smiles with her father. With his small gesture, he managed to make Yashiro feel better about what happened. His words were exactly what Yashiro needed to hear. He would have hated himself more if he did nothing to protect his friends.
Cedric and Koga joined them after giving their statements to the police.
Koga sighed loudly, taking a sip of some water, "Oi, that was very scary. I didn't think she would snap that badly. I mean, I've heard the rumors concerning her but wow! That girl was loony. Oops, sorry Ric-san, too soon? I know you had a thing for her."
Cedric shook his head and chuckled sarcastically at his predicament.
"I'm sorry. This was all my doing. I took advantage of her being a friendly face from the States. I knew she wanted more than I could give. I guess this is what they call karma. No matter how much I try to change and live to be a better person I still tend to ruin lives. Whether I'm being sincere or treating someone harshly, the outcome seems to be the same," Cedric confessed, looking down at his clasped hands, too embarrassed to meet anyone's gaze as his translator did his thing.
Kyoko glanced nervously at Ren. Was Cedric perhaps referring to their time as kids? Her boyfriend didn't seem to show any kind of emotion to the other man; however, he was a professional at masking his feelings.
"I'm sorry, Kyoko-san. I thought I was helping. I thought everyone deserved a second chance, you know. I didn't like what Kimiko was becoming due to anger and jealousy. I've been down that road. It's dark and lonely. There was a guy from my past in LA that I couldn't stand. He was kind, good-looking, talented, and came from a famous family. My father often compared me to him which only fueled my contempt for him. I saw what a hard time he had growing up, always being compared to his father. Rather than understanding, I took my frustration out on him." Cedric laughed nervously, "I don't know why I'm telling you guys all this. It's stupid."
Koga squeezed Cedric on the shoulder, "Don't worry pal. We all make mistakes in life more so when we're young and stupid. It seems you're working hard to be a better person. Don't let this stop you from continuing."
"Koga-san is right. We all have a past we want to forget. But it also helps to have someone to talk to, no? Kyoko added, giving her support. She wasn't sure how Ren would take her being friendly with his childhood nemesis.
Ren found himself asking the question, "Whatever happened to the guy from your past? Did you manage to make amends?" Cedric looked up in surprise. It was the first time Ren had shown any interest in him. Aside from greetings, they never spoke to each other.
Cedric shook his head and smiled sadly. "I broke him too. He was always a strong and athletic guy, but he never fought back. He used to spout some nonsense about not using his fists on others. Then one day he just had enough of it and snapped. He started fighting back to the point that the instigators were always left in a bloodied hea-…anyway. His work suffered. I heard his best friend died in an accident. After that, he just up and disappeared. I don't know where he went, but I can't even apologize. Of course, any apology I give him would just be to make me feel better."
A heavy silence settled over the group once Cedric's translator finished, leaving Ren and Kyoko deep in thought. Yashiro not knowing the history between the actors was stunned by his oversharing. He assumed it was because he was a foreigner that he had no problems speaking his mind. Tadashi on the other hand filed away the information but didn't think much of his story.
Kyoko was not going to miss this opportunity to help Ren put a piece of his past behind him even if he couldn't reveal himself just yet. Before she could speak Cedric broke the silence.
"You know, you remind me a little of him."
A moment of shock ran through Ren before he could compose his face.
"Not necessarily, physically, but your eyes. The way you glare at me whenever I'm around Kyoko-san reminds me of him."
Koga's laughter cut through the tension. "See, Tsuruga-kun. You need to stop glaring at every guy within the vicinity of Kyoko-chan. It's ruining your gentleman persona!" Ren redirected his glare at Koga, making the rest of them laugh.
Director Jouji hung up the phone after filling Yuki in on the situation. They would need to do some damage control with the press and their sponsors as soon as possible. It was going to be a long night. He scowled, walking toward the humorous bunch. How could they be laughing at a time like this? His niece had just been seriously injured. As the director of this production, the responsibility rested with him. Who would have thought Kimiko would be so reckless. He was equally floored when he found out that Yuri had been aiding her, as well. He had to call his cousins and let them know what their daughter had done.
When Jouji stood before them arms akimbo, everyone bowed and apologized. Yashiro felt the guiltiest of them all.
"It's okay, it's okay," Jouji said, softening to their sincerity. "I should be apologizing," he added with a bow. "As the director, I should have protected you all better. Thank you for your quick actions. Things could have been so much worse. I'm told that if you have already spoken to the police you can go home. I've canceled filming for tomorrow so I hope we can get through this quickly. The assistant will be in touch with the new schedule. Please have a safe and good night."
They watched silently as the director trudged away, defeated. Koga's face scrunched up as he looked at Ren and broke the silence, "Tsuruga-kun, what are you wearing?"
Ren glanced down at his anime t-shirt and shrugged. Kyoko blushed profusely at the reminder. Why did he wear that shirt all day?
"Ah, I forgot. My shirt was ruined earlier and this was all I had on me. Looks like this one is ruined too," he said eyeing the soot spots marring his shirt. He glanced at Koga then Kyoko in her Momiji costume; they were all a mess. Everyone but Tadashi was covered in grime be it on their clothing or their person.
Koga chuckled as he headed to his dressing room. Judging by the severe blush on his co-star's cheeks, something told him that he had new ammunition to use against her.
Back in her dressing room, Kyoko changed out of her costume quickly. She used her adjoining bathroom to wash some of the dirt off her face while Ren and Yashiro headed to the public restroom to get cleaned up.
Her father knocked on the door when she was done and entered. Tadashi searched the room until he found what he wanted. Glad that she hadn't thrown it away yet, he confiscated the two gift bags she received today to have Sota's connections run an analysis on their contents.
"Yashiro-san, please sit and eat," Kyoko motioned to the spread of food on the coffee table once her manager emerged from the bathroom. "Thank you for letting me use your kitchen to cook you a meal."
"You guys don't need to stay. I'm perfectly fine," he insisted, taking a seat across Ren.
"Kyoko just wanted to thank you for saving us. Perhaps we should have asked Kotonami-san to join us?" Ren teased. As if on cue, an impatient knock sounded on the front door.
"Who could that be at this hour?" Yashiro asked, getting up to answer the door. All Yashiro saw was a blur of black hair as Kanae rushed past him.
"Mo! I had to see for myself." She glanced at Kyoko then Ren until her eyes finally landed on Yashiro. They all looked fine.
"Mokkkoooo-san, you said you weren't coming!" Kyoko squealed and hugged her friend. "You were worried about us weren't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. I only came because you said there was food and I was hungry." Kanae cringed at her blatant lie, but they were kind enough to ignore it.
"I'll get another setting. Please sit down, Kotonami-san," Yashiro beamed, thrilled to see her lovely face tonight. He had been planning to ask her out to dinner and accompany him to buy a new cellphone. LME usually provided phones for their employees but after the third phone Yashiro broke, Lory told him he was on his own.
"You guys are all over the news. Remember that reporter for Boost that wrote your article?" She paused as the others nodded their heads. "He was actually outside the set, reporting everything. They put him on the air."
"Really?! I'm so happy for Koki-san. I'm glad my story was able to help someone achieve their dreams," Kyoko clapped, finding some small joy.
"So everyone knows that Morizumi-san was injured," Kanae continued, reaching for more food on her plate and coming up empty. She had eaten everything already. Counting the number of calories she just inhaled halted her thought process.
"Maybe we should turn on the news?" Yashiro suggested. It was high time he stopped avoiding it. He reached for the remote and flipped through the channels until he found the news. A representative from the Morizumi family was holding a press conference outside of the hospital.
Reporter1: Sir, can you please tell us the extent of Morizumi Kimiko-san's injuries?
Spokesperson: The doctors are working diligently on Kimiko-chan as we speak, so I can't say for sure. Her arms, upper torso, and a portion of her face were all damaged by the fire.
Reporter2: Was this an accident or are police considering foul play?
Spokesperson: I am not at liberty to speak on that topic as of yet. The police are still conducting their investigation.
Koki: Can you please identify the woman that was placed in the squad car? Is she a suspect?
Spokesperson: Again, I am not at liberty to touch on anything that would hinder the investigation. That's enough questions for now.
The news channel ironically cut to a skin cream commercial. Kyoko looked around at the group as a thought struck her. "Could the police somehow blame this on us?"
Yashiro shook his head, "No, Kyoko-chan, just me."
"What? That can't be! We were all there. There were a lot of witnesses. Even her father saw what she tried to do," Kyoko exclaimed.
"They are Mirozumis. They're going to want someone else to take the fall for this," Ren grumbled. This was the darker side of the industry.
Another sharp knock at the door drew their attention. Yashiro sighed and stood up to answer it. He had been expecting them all night. He opened the door revealing the two detectives from earlier.
"Yashiro Yukihito-san, you're wanted for questioning at the station. Will you comply?" One of the detectives asked after introducing themselves and flashing their badge.
"Hey, what's the meaning of this? He has done nothing wrong! You can't just…" Ren said intimidatingly. Flashes of his youth filling his mind when he had no respect for authority.
"It's okay, Ren, just inform the President. Everything will be fine. Lock up before you guys leave alright," Yashrio instructed, sounding braver than he felt. He pulled on a hoodie, grabbed his wallet, and slipped on his shoes. "I'll be fine."
Kyoko and Kanae both had tears shining in their eyes as they watched Yashiro close the door behind him.
"I'll call the President!" Ren exclaimed as soon as the door closed.
"I'll call my father!" The response came so naturally to her. "He would know what to do!" A warm fuzzy feeling spread within her chest. It felt good to rely on a parent.
Kanae stare out the window, a lump forming in her throat as she watched him climb into the back of the police car.
Notes:
Thank you for always reading, I appreciate it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 79: Like a Felon
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Saena would have more opportunity to shine as a lawyer.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi stuffed the DVD resting on the seat beside him into his jacket pocket and stepped out of the car. Once inside the club, he dropped the gift bags on the table and slid into the chair opposite his friend.
"Aww, thanks, buddy. I feel so loved," Sota joked, hoping to lighten the mood. Tadashi responded with a grunt. Sota took a drag of his cigarette and blew out the smoke before focusing on the contents in the bags.
Tadashi reached for the bottle of warm sake and poured himself a cup, downing it in seconds.
Sota paused in his perusal of the bags, cocked his brow, and watched his friend pour himself another cup of the alcohol. Tadashi had a ridiculously high tolerance for alcohol so his attempt at drinking himself into a stupor was futile. Sota knew his friend was regretting what happened to the girl even if it was an unexpected freak accident.
They thought they were in the clear after Kimiko's very public apology. She would leave peacefully and all would be right in the world. Judging from the two gift bags in front of him, Sota had an uneasy feeling that it wouldn't have been that simple. As usual, Tadashi was blaming himself for the outcome of tonight's event. The plan was simple. Play off the girl's paranoia and convince her that someone was always watching. In turn, she would keep a low profile and accept defeat. The girl was more disturbed than anyone could have anticipated. This incident was just one more thing his friend probably felt he needed to atone for.
Tadashi could feel his friend's scrutiny on him as he took another shot. He sighed and leaned back against the chair. "Ok, out with it," he said gesturing with his hands for Sota to spit out whatever he was thinking. "It seems you have something to say."
"You don't have to take all the blame for this one. What happened to that girl is not your fault. If Yashiro-san had not reacted as he did, two innocent lives maybe even three would have been ruined judging on how close the American was standing next to your kids."
Tadashi deflated. There was no use telling him that. He would take the blame for this one. It was by pure luck that Tadashi's actions did not lead to the harm of his daughter. He would have never forgiven himself if his presence in her life had caused her injury.
Sota decided to just let his friend be and turned his attention back to the bags and read the cards that came with them. One claimed to be from her boyfriend and the other from Kimiko. Since the writing appeared to be printed by the same shop, there wasn't much to glean from them.
"Don't mix them up," Tadashi prompted. He wanted to make sure he knew which box was which even though they looked identical.
Sota asked the nearest hostess to bring him a marker and removed each box one at a time, labeling them properly with their corresponding cards. He opened the boxes and took a cursory look at the chocolates inside and noted that the molds differed in appearance between the boxes. Sota picked up a piece of chocolate from the box he identified as Morizum. Binging it close to his face, he inspected the candy meticulously looking for some sign of tampering. Even sniffing it warranted no clues. It looked and smelled fine.
"I wouldn't eat that if I were you," Tadashi warned. "How long do you think it would take to run an analysis?"
"My guy should be here with his equipment soon. Do you think they were laced with something?"
"I don't know what to think anymore. Maybe I'm just being paranoid and she did mean to walk away after apologizing. Ren-kun said he didn't send Kyoko any gifts today so someone is using his name to send her gifts. The fact that Morizumi-san's ex-manager delivered the gift couldn't be coincidental. Then again this was not the first time she had delivered gifts," Tadashi grumbled, still peeved at himself for not suspecting the delivery woman as a threat.
"Spectre is working on gathering everything he can find on her. He would need a day or two to put together a report," Sota informed him taking a sip of his cup. He told Tadashi about the exchange he witnessed earlier between Kimiko and a female employee. He wasn't one hundred percent that it was the same woman since he only saw them from a distance.
Tadashi's phone rang as they continued to retell their run-ins with the woman. His eyes went wide as he looked at the caller ID. Sota stopped talking and leaned in curiously to see who was calling. Tadashi scowled at him and rose from the table to find a quieter spot to answer the call. He inhaled deeply and pressed the talk button.
"Morimoto speaking?" he said, all business.
"What happened? The girl has not returned my call!" Saena's cool voice came across his receiver.
"She's fine. The Morizumi girl tried to hurt her but instead, she was the one injured in the process," Morimoto tried his best to explain what had happened.
"I can barely hear you. Why is the music so loud? Turn it down!" Saena demanded. Tadashi could picture the Mogami river running deep between her brows right now.
"Are you seriously in a nightclub right now?" Saena asked, reprimanding him when she heard two flirty hostesses pass calling him by name.
Tadashi cleared his throat embarrassed. This hallway leading to the restrooms was clearly not the right place to hold this conversation. "I'm conducting some business here. I should have more information for you in the morning. I will call your office for an appointment. Ok bye-bye!" He hung up quickly as another woman approached.
"Wai-" was all he heard her say before he hung up. He walked back over to Sota who smirked at him. Tadashi sent a quick text to his daughter, Please call your mother. She's worried. He felt so fatherly sending such a text.
"So how is your baby mama, Sae-chan, doing?" Sota asked, teasing his friend. He had glimpsed the caller ID before his friend could hide it.
"Please don't patronize me," Tadashi warned. He poured himself another cup of sake and gulped it down. "Can we go to the back there's something I want to take a look at?" He pulled out the DVD he received earlier from his jacket pocket. Sota nodded curiously.
They were greeted by the sound of gunfire and explosions filling the room as soon as they stepped inside Spectre's domain. Sota groaned. The punk was playing video games instead of working...again. The two men stepped up quietly behind the young man. Spectre was laughing maniacally into his headset as he trashed talked the enemy team. A sign that his team was dominating in whatever soldier sci-fi game he was playing.
"Oi!" Sota said, smacking Spectrr upside the head to get his attention. This caused Spectre's character to drop his guard and take a shot to the head.
"Damn, dude! You got me killed! Don't you know proper game etiquette, old man? I was about to surpass my kill count," Spectre grumbled rubbing the spot on his head where Sota hit him.
"What the hell am I paying you for? Anyway, you're making me look bad in front of our client," Sota scolded, trying to sound boss-like.
"I'm multitasking while my program runs in the background," Spectre explained. With a few strokes on the keyboard, he pulled up his business displays. "You see this screen right here. I created a program using a few known variables on that Yuri chick so now it's searching all my usual databases for me. It should be done in a couple of hours or less."
The two older men nodded their heads, impressed. "Can you put this on?" Tadashi asked, handing him the DVD. Spectre took the disc and inserted it into his drive. After a couple of clicks of his mouse, the high-resolution footage from a CCTV camera came on screen.
"This is the set of the Sacred Lotus," Tadashi murmured as he recognized the room from earlier. The decor, the writing desk, the damn oil lamps, all was as it seemed before the fire. After a few moments, the sound of footsteps and talking could be heard coming closer. Kimiko and Yuri were now clearly visible on the video as they stood towards the front of the room arguing. The glow of the soft lamps still lit in the room provided enough ambient lighting to leave no doubt who the two women were in the video. Even if their faces were hard to make out the clear use of names was damning enough. The video caught them admitting to the plans they had in store for Kyoko which made Tadashi's blood boil.
"Holy shit, man. This is all the evidence we need to put them away. Where did you get this?" Sota asked Tadashi once the video ended with everyone exiting a smoke-hazed room.
Tadashi told him he had not seen the contents of the disc until now. After leaving Kyoko safe with Ren and Yashiro in the parking lot of the set, he had headed to the Koenji Corporation. Katsumasa had called him while he was trying his hand at interrogating Yuri before the police showed up. He told Tadashi he had something very important to discuss regarding tonight's incident. It was during that quick exchange that Tadashi received the DVD. It turned out that Producer Kuresaki called the Koenji group to increase the security on the set as a result of the Heel Sibling reveal. They anticipated that they would have an increase of problems with the fans and media because of Kyoko's increased popularity. Katsumasa wasted no time protecting his investment. He had the forethought to hire a reputable security company to work tirelessly overnight to install hidden cameras though out the set. As soon as he received word on the incident, he had the security team pull up the footage in question. He was so shocked by the evidence recorded that he had to call Tadashi right away.
The sound of fireworks filled the room followed by a twinkling sound. Sota and Spectre were already accustomed to this man's unique ring tones. Tadashi pulled out his phone and answered it quickly. "Kyoko-chan, is everything okay?" he asked with a panicked voice without saying hello. "Yashiro-san?...Yes...yes...of course. I'll take care of it. I'll start making some calls...Ren-kun is talking to Takarada-san right now? Okay, I'll coordinate with him. Please try not to worry about your friend. I will help him. I'll call you soon. Bye-bye!"
"Is the Princess, alright?" Sota asked his face full of concern.
"Yes, she's fine, but the police took Yashiro-san in for further questioning. Do you think you can find out which station they're taking him to?" Tadashi asked turning to Spectre. He needed to call Lory.
Jiro sat on the little couch in the hospital room with his arm wrapped around his sleeping wife. He gazed at his daughter, covered in bandages as she slept. The sounds of the machines beeping around her were soothing, letting him know she was alive. The doctor said the next few days would be critical to her recovery. Contrary to what she looked like earlier she only suffered second-degree burns on her face and chest area. Her arms took the brunt of the fire and suffered deep partial burns. She would need reconstructive surgery and the doctor was confident that she would recover with physical therapy.
Jiro recalled the conversation he had with his cousin while Kimiko was in the emergency room. He was in control of all the legal affairs of the family and thought this should be handled by his firm. He wanted to charge the manager with assault with a deadly weapon. Jiro had talked his cousin out of taking such drastic actions. He didn't tell him, but Jiro was afraid it would all backfire on them if the truth came out. The guilt he felt at not recognizing the warning signs these past few days was overwhelming. Kimiko had to be a better actress than he gave her credit for if she had hidden her true nature all this time. It didn't matter anymore. She was still his beloved daughter, no matter her behavior. He just wanted to focus on taking care of her and being a better father. It was a good thing he had not started any new projects. It would cost some money to break the few contracts already signed, but nothing was holding him back in Japan. Maybe, he would look into moving to Korea. The country had many highly rated doctors that specialized in plastic surgery. He was sure he could find someone to help his daughter live a normal life again. Tadashi's threat to press charges against his daughter if Kyoko came to any harm by her hands had to be invalid now. Kimiko should be off the hook since technically it wasn't his daughter that was hurt. Surely the man was not so callous as to kick her when she was already down.
Yashiro sat in one of two chairs at the table in the small 2.5-meter square room. This was the real version of an interrogation room unlike those used on set where it was spacious to allow for crew and camera maneuvering. Reality hit him that this was not a movie. This room was used for thieves and murderers. He felt like one of those criminals right now. The walls were a drab cinder block of painted beige. There was nothing in the room except for the table, chairs, and phone. There was no two-way mirror on the wall as seen often in every movie featuring an interrogation room. He was now grateful for being able to eat one last delicious meal before he could be imprisoned for the rest of his life. It was short-lived, but he was happy to see Kanae's beautiful face one last time too. It was a good thing he hadn't entered a relationship with her. She had no business associating with a criminal like him.
Tired of sitting, Yashiro stood and paced the room. They had taken away his personal effects as soon as he checked into the building but not before he had managed to text Lory his location. Yashiro's thoughts wandered to how long he had been in the room. He had left his apartment without putting on his watch and there was no window or clock to give him some concept of time. One of the detectives led him to this room and asked if he would like something to drink. He locked Yashiro inside the room alone after he declined the offer. There were a lot of "If Only" scenarios running through his mind right now. The biggest one being the angle at which he kicked that lantern. If only he had timed it right, he could have used a different kick to send the light flying sideways rather than back.
"There's no point! You know very well that there was a high probability of missing had you gone that route," he scolded himself out loud and running a frustrated hand through his hair. How long do they plan to make me wait? What if they forgot I'm in here? At least criminals had companions. He might go mad from being locked in this tiny room. Yashiro moved to the door and jiggled on the handle. It was still locked. He started banging on the door. "Hey! Hey! Can anyone hear me?" he cried out. "Hello!" he called, continuing to knock on the door. After a minute of obnoxious banging someone finally opened the door.
"Hey, what's your problem?" the Detective growled. "People are trying to work properly here."
"I need the bathroom. You left me in here for god knows how many hours," Yashiro lied, hoping he could get a change of scenery.
The detective glanced at his watch. "It's barely been an hour. We're waiting for someone. He should be here soon."
"Really? It felt longer. Well now that I have you here, may I please use the restroom...um Detective..."
"Narimiya!" The detective supplied his last name. He waved Yashiro to follow him and waited outside for him to do his business. Though it was only an excuse to get out of that small dingy room, Yashiro found himself needing to use the bathroom. Not ready to give up his newfound freedom, he decided to wait until the detective became impatient. His reprieve lasted about five minutes when Narimiya came knocking. He flushed the toilet and washed his hands. Sighing, he opened the door to the scowling detective. Yashiro did his best not to laugh as he passed the man. When they returned to the room, a vaguely familiar man in a suit and the other detective was waiting inside.
Yashiro took his seat, sitting up straight. The moment of truth had come.
"I apologize for all of this, Yashiro-san," the man in the business suit spoke first. "My name is Hayashi Kento. I'm the legal representative for the Morizumi family."
Yashiro frowned, confused by the man's presence. He turned a questioning gaze towards the detectives staring at him blankly. He was no lawyer, but he was sure this was a clear violation of his rights. He had thought the man was the police commissioner or something. Now he remembered why the man looked so familiar. He was the spokesman outside of the hospital in the news broadcast. This was Yashiro's chance to get an update on Kimiko.
"Hayashi-san, can you tell me how Morizumi Kimiko-san is doing?" he asked. Did I kill her?
"Kimi-chan is in recovery now. Thanks to you she would never be the same beautiful niece I once knew. I'll tell you right now we plan on pressing charges for aggravated assault. These detectives will be taking your statement. I will have justice for my niece," Kento threatened. The lawyer was kind of pissed that Yashiro turned out to be some handsome preppy looking guy. It would be difficult, but not impossible to get the public on kimi's side. There has to be some dirt I can dig up on him to use in court.
The detectives didn't look thrilled about the situation. They had taken his statement with the others at the location. All the other testimonies were the same. The guy had protected two actors and one actress from harm. In their eyes, it was an open and shut case. The girl was at fault and ultimately responsible for her injuries. Now, this fancy lawyer with all his connections turned up and thought he could tell them how to do their job.
Before the detectives could get started, there was a sharp knock at the door. A startlingly beautiful woman dressed in a black skirted suit opened the door immediately after knocking.
"Excuse me, can we help you? This room is in use at the moment," Kento announced stunned by the intrusion. He took a step back when the woman pinned him with her cold hard glare.
"Hayashi-san, I presume? You do know you are violating the rights of my client for detaining him like this. I want any information you have coerced from him stricken from the record," she demanded, taking a moment to stare down all three men. She moved towards the table and picked up the digital recorder, ignoring the men's protests. She checked the list to delete anything that may have been saved.
Before Kento could object, Detective Narimiya spoke, "Ma'am you came right on time. We haven't even started." She gave him a curt nod, handed her card to each of them, and made for the door.
"If you have any need of my client again, please go through the proper protocol and contact me at the office. Rest assured you will be hearing from me soon," she promised, gripping the doorknob. She turned back towards the men finding them reading her card, Mogami Saena, Senior Attorney, Viride General Law Office.
"Yashiro-san, please close your mouth and let's get going," she snapped, flicking her gaze towards a stupefied Yashiro. He got up quickly and followed her out of the room.
"Thank you for getting me out of there, Mogami-san," Yashiro said appreciatively when he finally caught up. She paused mid-stride to stare at him. The expression on her face was one of utter disappointment.
Yashiro yelped and bowed deeply in apology. He stayed in that position until she started walking away, then followed after her quickly. Kyoko-chan, I understand now. Your mother is truly intimidating.
After collecting his personal effects, Yashiro followed Saena out to the sitting area where he found it packed with his friends. A poorly disguised Ren, Kyoko, and Kanae stood as they approached. He couldn't decide whether to scowl or smile at them for their reckless behavior. He chose the latter, happy to see their faces again.
Kyoko, Ren, and Kanae bowed their thanks to Saena. The Mogami matriarch nodded and walked out.
Kanae rushed up and hugged him. Yashiro was stunned by her unexpected show of affection, especially in public. Before he could wrap his arms around her she pulled away and smacked him hard on his arm, then stomped out of the police station. Ren and Kyoko exchanged amused looks and bit back their laughter as Yashiro chased after her.
"I somehow feel like we just had a glimpse of how their relationship would be in the future," Ren told Kyoko, wrapping his arm over her shoulder as they followed them out. Kyoko giggled in agreement. That was Kanae's way of showing her affection.
Outside the police station, the group stood beside the large eye catching limo of the President. Kyoko and Ren sauntered up towards the group that now included Susumu and Tadashi. Tadashi had been filling him in on the latest information while they waited for Saena to bring Yashiro out.
"Now that my work here is done tonight, I'll be taking my leave. Susumu we're going home!" Saena ordered leaving no room for argument.
"Yes, dear," Susumu smiled, wrapping up his conversation with Tadashi and taking the offered DVD. If what Tadashi said was truly on it, the video would be crucial to winning the case. Susumu had a feeling that long nights awaited them. Everyone bowed their thanks to the lawyers before parting ways.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that Yashiro-san. They didn't do anything to you in there, did they? You weren't harmed in any way?" Tadashi asked, inspecting Yashiro for any sign of abuse. It had taken them almost an hour to round up the cavalry. To some, it was probably nothing, but it was probably long enough to scar a man like Yashiro.
Kyoko gasped. She had not thought of the conditions Yashiro was faced with while behind bars. The guilt weighed heavily on her. It was her fault he had been in there in the first place. Is there something wrong with me? Why do girls always end up hating me?
"I'm so sorry!" Kyoko exclaimed, dropping into a dogeza on the dirty sidewalk.
"Kyoko-chan, please get off the ground. It's dirty and unnecessary," Yashiro pleaded. He looked to Ren to help him out. Ren reached down and helped his girlfriend up, dusting her off.
"It wasn't anything like you're thinking. I was just detained in a small room the whole time. Mogami-san walked in right before they were about to start questioning me," Yashiro assured her.
"Is that true or are you just trying to make me feel better?" Kyoko asked sheepishly.
Yashiro chuckled. "It's the truth. I promise. Anyway, I think we should all get going before anyone spots us. Your disguises are terrible."
Tadashi kissed his daughter on the temple and said goodnight to everyone. He had driven himself separately from Sota's club. After talking to Lory, he called Saena asking for her help. It was difficult to make the call after the way he had hung up on her earlier. Thank goodness she didn't hold a grudge. It didn't surprise him that she was still at the office. Her work ethic had not changed after all this time.
The young adults climbed into the back of the limo that would take them home.
"That's surprising. I was half expecting to see the President back here," Yashiro commented as he settled next to Kanae. Ren and Kyoko took the seat opposite them. It was easy for Yashiro to pretend that they were returning from a double date rather than picking him up from jail. He told them about the Morizumi lawyer's threats about pressing charges against him and that Kimiko was recovering.
"Your mother showed up right on time. I have to admit she swooped in and commanded the room. Those men are probably still reeling from her intrusion. She was scary...I mean... she's very good at her job," Yashiro said, correcting himself. He shouldn't be bad-mouthing his savior after all.
Ren shuddered, "I'll second that. She is quite scary!"
Yashiro chuckled, "Just think, when you marry Kyoko-chan, she will become your mother-in-law." Ren groaned making everyone laugh. Kyoko blushed at how easily that was said and accepted.
"Mo! Mogami-sensei is a strong, intelligent, and independent woman. If she hadn't mistreated Kyoko, I would have admired her wholeheartedly. I don't know her full story so I should stop judging the woman, but she seems to be striving to make amends," Kanae added thoughtfully.
"Thank you, Moko-san!" Kyoko cried tearfully. She leaned over and tried to hug her best friend but Kanae held her away by the forehead.
Ren and Kyoko were conveniently dropped off at their apartment first. Ren couldn't resist giving his friend a teasing wink before closing the car door behind him.
…
Yashiro tried to make awkward small talk with Kanae. They talked about work, Kyoko and Ren, and the events of the day until they ran out of things to say.
"You didn't have to stick around, you know? I can understand if you would rather not get involved with someone as dangerous as me. I'm like a felon now," Yashiro confessed, filling in the quiet space.
Kanae snorted trying to contain her laughter but failed. She held her stomach as she laughed with relief. He was seriously such a dork sometimes. Once she was done laughing, she turned her body so she was facing his way and stared at him. The weak nervous smile he flashed her was so adorable.
"What part of you is dangerous?" she asked, trying hard to keep the laughter from her voice. The man before her was gentle yet strong. A dangerous man is selfish and doesn't put himself in harm's way to save his friends.
"Your actions saved our friends," Kanae assured him. She reached for his hand and laced her fingers with his. "You can feel as terrible as you want for hurting Morizumi-san, but that was an accident. A freak accident even. So stop blaming yourself. I'm just glad everyone I care about is okay thanks to you that makes you a hero in my book."
When the limo pulled up to Kanae's house, they walked hand in hand to her room on the side. Kanae stayed on high alert, looking out for her siblings. It was late so they should all be sleeping. At her door, she released his hand and said goodnight. She used her keycard to open the door and head inside. Yashiro reached for her hand before she could disappear inside and tugged her towards him, wrapping his arms around her waist. He leaned his head towards her part of the way and waited.
Kanae's heart threatened to beat out of her chest as she gazed into his eyes. She leaned into him, closing her eyes whiles eliminating the remaining gap between them. Yashiro took it as a sign of permission and kissed her softly. If he had to go to jail, he wanted to go with having kissed her at least once.
After a minute or two of kissing, Yashiro reluctantly broke away and was quite pleased with the expression on her face. "Sweet dreams Kotonami-san," he whispered, beaming with happiness.
Kanae was dazed by that incredible kiss, that all she could do was nod in return. She lingered at her doorstep watching Yashiro walk away. As if sensing her gaze, he turned and waved before ducking into the car.
With a sigh of contentment, Kanae closed the door behind her and switched on the light. The room erupted with cheers and congratulations on her first kiss. Her siblings, nieces, and nephews had witnessed their exchange at her open door. Her eldest brother held up his camera proudly.
"I caught it all on camera with the ambient lighting on the street providing the perfect backdrop," he boasted.
Kanae groaned in annoyance and headed straight for the bathroom, ignoring her family.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read. I had to include some YukiNae time. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 80: Back to School
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Skip Beat, for if I did, Sho would secretly still worry about Kyoko.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kuon absentmindedly ran his fingertips up and down Kyoko's smooth skin as they settled into bed. It had become a habit of his to caress her skin like this every night. He found it therapeutic in a way. So many things had happened in the last twenty-four hours that kept his mind racing. They were both worried about what would be in store for their friend when they woke up and didn't care about any of the consequences that would befall them as long as Yashiro was fine.
It was a surprise to see her mother and Susumu waiting, upon their arrival at the police station. Kyoko had no idea her father had called Saena for help and was glad he did. It turned out her parents thought something like this would eventually occur; however, it happened much sooner than they anticipated. They already had a plan in the works.
It took Saena less than five minutes to get Yashiro out of "jail." Kyoko wished she could have seen her mother doing what she loved best. Yashiro had recounted the scene for them in the limo, making everyone laugh at the expense of the flustered lawyer and detectives. It worked as a good distraction for the real reason Yashiro was there in the first place. The lawyer mentioned that Kimiko would never fully recover physically. In other words, her career in this cutthroat industry was over.
Kyoko snuggled into Kuon, thinking their pillow talk was over, but she could still feel the tension in his body. "I'm sorry Corn," she apologized. She was causing problems for him again.
Kuon flinched. What is she thinking about now?
"What do you need to be sorry for my love?" He asked, genuinely curious about what was on her mind.
"For ruining your reputation and making things difficult for you! All your dreams could have literally gone up in flames because of me," she explained, shifting to get her point across.
Kuon failed miserably at concealing his amusement. Leave it to her twisted logic to shoulder all the blame.
"You don't need to apologize, Baby. You did nothing wrong. Morizumi-san was not right in the head. She was obsessed with that guy way before she met you," he replied, trying to assure her of her innocence.
Kyoko still felt terrible about Kimiko. The girl had tried to throw her off a balcony and still, Kyoko couldn't wish such a punishment on her.
"Do you understand?" He asked, tucking her back into his side when she didn't respond immediately. Kuon needed to have her close after the scare tonight. He didn't want to think about how differently tonight could have ended if Yashiro had not reacted so quickly. "I'm happy that you're safe. I wanted to be the one to protect you, but I'm grateful somebody did."
Kyoko nodded. Is that what was troubling him?
"But because of me you could have been injured as well had it not been for our super manager," she argued. Although Kuon chuckled at her statement, she could still sense that something was wrong.
"What is it, Corn? Is something else on your mind?" She prodded, talking against his chest. Moments ticked by as his silence stretched on. Kyoko held her breath, thinking he would push her away instead of talking.
"What Bennett-san said had me thinking about the past? Does he really feel that way about me now? He bullied me for most of my life in LA and as he said, I snapped and started fighting back," he finally spoke, resuming his light strokes on her back. He didn't trust this Cedric. The little bit he shared about what happened that night didn't sit right with him. It was like he wasn't even there. Probably covering his ass, as usual.
Kyoko took a moment to digest his words. It was like Kuon, Cedric, and Kimiko shared similar problems as products of the show biz world. While Kuon and Cedric seemed to have somewhat overcome their issues through distance, Kimiko seemed to be stuck continuing as she pleased. Had Kimiko been given a few more years, would she have been able to move past all this as well? Kyoko stopped her wandering thoughts and focused on Kuon.
"Do you want to talk about Bennett-san?" Kyoko offered. Perhaps talking about things would make him feel better. Kuon hummed thoughtfully at her suggestion.
Lifting her head, Kyoko became flustered. "I mean, I'm not trying to be nosy. It's your business. I didn't mean to be so presumptuous that you would share something so personal. I just know that I always feel better whenever I talk things out with you or Moko." When he remained quiet, she nervously added, "I know I'm still young and naïve. I can't begin to tell you that I'm an expert at actually giving advice, but I'm a good list— mmm." Kyoko was silenced by the press of Kuon's lips to hers.
When he pulled away, Kyoko blushed deeply. He had just used her tactic against her.
Kuon smirked, knowing her face was probably beet red. He couldn't confirm it since the only source of light was the few beams shining through the curtains from the street lamp outside the window. He loved that she always had this demure reaction to him. It was about time he shared with her that part of his past.
He told her about his childhood with Cedric and how the older boy used to always pick on him. Kuon now knew why the boy had had it in for him. He knew exactly how terrible it felt to always be compared to his father. He could only imagine the pain he would have felt if his father was constantly comparing him to another boy. He shared with her some of the things that he experienced at the hands of Cedric and others while desperately trying to find his place in the acting world of America. He told her about the abuse he endured by his jealous costars and directors. By the end of his story, Kyoko had soaked his chest with her tears and her snot. He didn't mind and held her against him, rubbing her back in soothing circles. They lay there until she stopped sniffling.
"You're right, baby. It does feel good to talk it out," he admitted, feeling lighter. He never told anyone the extent of his suffering as Kuu's disappointing son, aside from Rick. "I think that with a little more time and of course when I'm me again, I would want to talk to Bennett-san, hear him out. It's time I put that part of my past behind me."
Kyoko reached up and pecked him on the lips. "Have I told you lately how amazing you are Kuon?"
Kuon laughed. "It's been a few days, but I'll forgive you," he responded lightheartedly. Kyoko smacked his bare chest softly, her hand landing with a wet plop.
"Oh, God," she screeched and without thinking she frantically wiped at the mess she made on his chest with the sheet. Kyoko shortcircuited mid-stroke. The sheets were now dirty.
"Don't even think about it," he scolded as if reading her mind. He held her lithe little body firmly against him so she couldn't get out of bed which was a very bad move. Kuon wasn't sure how much of her squirming he could take, but he endured until she settled down. "Let's get some sleep. You have a big day tomorrow. Sweet dreams, Princess. I love you." He kissed the top of her head and snuggled her closer.
"Good night, my fairy prince. I love you too," she whispered back, content having his arms wrapped snugly around her.
"Shotaro! What do you want? You know this time in the morning is very busy here!" Yayoi exclaimed with an exasperated tone. It was currently the morning rush at the ryokan and she had many tasks to complete without this good-for-nothing son wasting her time.
"Jeez, Kaa-san, is that any way to greet your one and only beloved child," Sho whined into the phone.
"Hmph! A beloved child would not have run away from home. What are you doing awake so early anyway?" Yayoi asked while she multi-tasked on the phone and greeted the fresh produce delivery man.
Sho kept quiet from answering that he hadn't slept yet. Or couldn't sleep. He had finished his concert late last night, then attended some lame-ass business dinner with the promoters of his latest single. Shoko had denied him from going with them afterward to a popular hostess club.
He was running on pure adrenaline after watching the latest news regarding the bitch that was badmouthing Kyoko in the secret footage. He spent some time browsing the web looking for anything he could find on that Kimiko chick. He had stayed awake the remaining hours downing energy drinks and writing a song about silver spoon-fed bitches getting their just desserts to kill time until he could call his mother.
Sho knew he had to approach this delicately since his mother wouldn't give in to him so easily. He was trying to butter her up by praising her ability to keep the inn running smoothly. After all his schmoozing, she was bound to give him Kyoko's phone number.
"Ooh, all these look wonderful, Atsuko-san," Yayoi praised, essentially blocking out every single word Sho spoke.
"Maaa! Are you even listening to your precious son?" Sho wailed into his cellphone.
"Ha! What, precious? Shotaro, if you're calling about Kyoko, she's fine. I talked to Saena already so stop bothering me. I'm busy!" Yayoi scolded and hung up on her son.
Sho held the phone up to his ear until the dial tone sounded. Damn that woman! She'll never treat me nice again unless I come home for good! Sho flopped on his bed staring up at the ceiling, relieved by the news. Just three more days and he would be back in Tokyo. A wave of fatigue he didn't know he was feeling washed over him and was out cold in seconds.
Kyoko snuggled against Kuon's warm body trying to get more sleep. It was already morning, but she refused to get up and face the day. She whimpered against his chest when her traitorous stomach betrayed her.
Kyoko's burrowing had woken Kuon up and the monstrous growl from her stomach made him chuckle.
"Wake up sleepy head..." he whispered, giving her a little nudge. Kyoko groaned instead. "Today's your first day back to school. Something to look forward to right? Aren't you excited?!" Kuon asked, trying to think of something positive to start their morning. He didn't want to think about what waited for them after yesterday's events.
Kyoko shook her head side to side against his chest. For the first time in forever, she was dreading going back to school. So much had changed since she was last in school. It was now public knowledge that she was dating Ren. The Ren Fanclub might not like that very much. Then there was the embarrassing article linking her to Shotaro. The Sho Fanclub will have a lot to say. It was, also, revealed that she was Setsuka Heel. The Ren and Cain Fanclubs are going to destroy me. And to add icing on the cake the Kimiko incident was all over the news. Am I bound to use up my lifetime of press releases in just a matter of days? Just how long would it take for all of this to blow over? She did not doubt that the kids at school, particularly the girls, would have a lot to say to her today.
"Hey, what's this? Where's the girl with all those guts I fell in love with?" Kuon asked, lifting her chin so he could gaze into her eyes.
She could have hidden her feelings from him, but that was the old Kyoko. Kyoko wanted to share everything with him, the good and the bad. He wouldn't dislike her if she admitted to being a coward right now, would he?
Using the rays of sunlight peeking through the cracks of the curtains, Kuon could see the apprehension in her eyes. This was all too much for her, too fast. They had not planned on her article or the Kimiko ordeal becoming so big. He was banking on the Heel sibling reveals to continue to triumph above all.
"Would you still love me even if I told you I'm not feeling very gutsy right now?" Kyoko mumbled, childlike.
"There's nothing you can do that would make me ever stop loving you," Kuon confessed without hesitation.
"Really?" Kyoko asked, running through "what if" scenarios with him.
"What if I gained an excessive amount of weight?"
"Nope!" He pinched at the little fat on her side, making her squeal.
"What if I had a disgusting habit like picking my nose?"
Kuon snorted. "Nope! You have an adorable nose."
Kyoko rolled her eyes.
"What if I...um...cheated on you, and I don't mean just kissing. I mean l-like s-sleeping with another man," Kyoko stammered out.
Kuon knew that it was completely impossible for her to ever do that to him, but he still felt a stab in his heart. He flipped her over, pinning her to the bed with his body.
"It would shatter my heart, but even then, I would still only love you…As long as you're happy," he answered with a forlorn look in his beautiful green eyes.
"I will always only love you too, Kuon," she vowed, wrapping her arms around his neck. She pulled him down and kissed him softly for a few moments. "I'm sorry for putting that thought in your mind. I was a little scared of what today might bring. Somehow, I feel much better. With the power of your love, I shall persevere," she pledged, scrambling out from underneath him so she could get ready. She might as well get the first day over with by ripping off the bandage quickly.
...
Their morning had been incredibly busy. Yashiro had informed them that he needed to meet with the President first thing and wouldn't be able to pick them up. Ren assured him that he could drive Kyoko to school and get himself to his first project on time.
His parents had called while they ate breakfast. To say that Kuu Hizuri was angry about the incident last night would be an understatement. He was positively livid. Kyoko watched her usually softhearted father pace back and forth angrily. Kuon had never seen his father lose his temper off-screen as he watched his dad's fist curl and uncurl. Kuu had never raised his voice or his hand towards his son ever, even when Kuon was a royal screw-up in his teens. Kuon mistook his father's kindness and understanding for not caring. Kyoko and Kuon glanced at each other, unsure of what to say. They waited for Kuu to calm down until Julie's voice was heard in the background.
"Kuu! What are you doing? Are we calling the kids?" Julie inquired, finally coming into the camera's view.
"Hi, Mom!" Kuon called out to gain her attention. Julie screamed, jumping half a foot in the air out of fear. She was not expecting to hear him.
"Hi, my darlings! Are you both okay?" Julie cooed immediately recovering from her fright. "That kidnapper told us everything. I'm so glad to see you both looking safe and healthy."
"We're fine thanks to Mr. Yashiro...but um...is Dad going to be okay?" Kuon asked, afraid his father would finally tell him what a burden it was to have him for a son.
"He's fine, honey. He's trying really hard not to fly over to Japan right now and rip the Morizumis to shreds is all," Julie explained, her angelic voice a clear contrast to the words she just uttered.
"Otou-san, I'm so sorry! It was all my fault!" Kyoko cried and stood to execute a formal bow. She was near tears. "Please, I don't want you to ruin your career!"
Kuu finally calmed down hearing his daughter's tearful voice apologizing.
"Oh, sweetie. You guys are more important than my career. Can I come? I want to help! If the Morizumis think they have enough clout to stand against me, they have another thing coming. I have the people of Japan backing me up." Kuu said, puffing out his chest with pride.
"You can't come!" Kuon and Kyoko cried in unison.
Feeling the full brunt of their rejection, Kuu sat down and pouted.
"I know you want to help, and I'm grateful. My..ugh...umm...father...that is my ugh...real father and even...m- my mother are actually taking care of things," Kyoko added, feeling guilty. She kept her eyes downcast not wanting to see the hurt in their eyes.
"That's wonderful, Kyoko, but I have to say I'm very jealous right now. I want to be close to my kids too!" Kuu sulked. Kyoko looked to Kuon for help. She didn't mean to make his parents feel bad.
"Don't mind him, Kyoko. We're just feeling a little left out. When we heard how close you two were to being severely injured, we panicked. We're halfway across the world. We would be too late if anything would have happened to either of you. I don't know if I could ever forgive myself," Julie said, her voice cracking with emotion. Kuu wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulder as she dabbed at her eyes.
"Kuon, we don't want to pressure you. We'll always be waiting for you when you're ready to come home."
Kuon nodded to his father. There was an emotional lump stuck in his throat. He didn't trust his voice. It would be so easy to tell them he was coming with Kyoko, but he didn't want to ruin the surprise. They could all be patient for a couple of more months. Until then, phone calls would have to suffice.
Ren drove right past her school without stopping. The front gate was littered with reporters and students waiting to ambush somebody, most likely her. He pulled to the curb on a side street a few blocks down, hoping the vultures didn't recognize his car.
"I knew I should have just walked or ridden my bicycle," Kyoko sighed, popping up from the passenger seat she had slouched down in to hide. It was a futile attempt since Ren couldn't hide. As if not seeing her in Ren's eye-catching silver Porshe would go unnoticed. He was more of a target than her. Ren peered outside to see if anyone had recognized them. He looked at his girlfriend and couldn't help but laugh. She looked adorable in her disguise.
Kyoko had plated her hair into one long braid that came around the side of her head and rested over her shoulder. She had attempted an old fashion double braid, but that style exposed her extensions. She wore a pair of fake rimmed glasses that Ren had managed to scrounge up from one of his past jobs. The hem of her uniform skirt was ripped apart to make it longer. It was his mother's suggestion to have her enter the school in this kind of disguise. With Julie's insistence, she had video chatted with her as she prepared her costume. Julie had chased Kuu away for this momentous mother-daughter bonding moment.
Kyoko and her future mother-in-law had come up with a ridiculous backstory for Kyoko's nerdy school character. Ren and his father, who was let back into the conversation were floored by Kyoko's dramatic transformation. It wasn't necessarily her appearance, but her whole demeanor had changed. She exuded the aura of a girl that just wanted to go unnoticed and fade into the background.
Kuu had praised his daughter for improving her character development technique. He was proud of how much she improved since he first met her in Japan.
"Are you ready to do this?" Ren asked, with a cursory glance her way. Kyoko nodded vigorously. She was going to nail this role. The students would never know when she passed them. "Your father will be picking you up this afternoon, so please look out for him. I'll let him know the situation for you. He may want to bring help when school lets out."
"Thanks, Corn. I'll see you later!" She smiled, getting out of the car.
"Wait, don't forget this," he yelled, reaching for the bento in the backseat. He handed it to her and said, "Aren't you forgetting something else?"
Kyoko glanced down at herself, but couldn't find anything wrong. She ran through her mental checklist and found she had everything she needed for the day. "I don't think so," Kyoko replied after a thorough inspection of her person. Meeting his gaze, she found Ren subtly tapping his lips to give her a hint. She rolled her eyes at him, glancing up and down the street. It was safe. She leaned in and gave him a heated kiss goodbye filled with promise. "I love you, baby!" She murmured against his lips then pecked him one last time.
"I love you too!" He called out to her before she shut the door completely.
Kyoko hefted her school bag onto her back and waved as Ren drove away. She wondered if this would actually work. Julie had called it hiding in plain sight. As she walked down the street, Kyoko pulled out her ultimate prop. She opened the novel in front of her face and proceeded to make her way to the front gate. She slowed her gait as she approached the crowd in front of the school and held her book higher. No one gave any notice to the bookworm that expertly weaved through them and entered the school. She was relieved that she passed the first wave unscathed. She stopped in her tracks when she noticed girls swarming her footlocker. Why does this not surprise me? She hoped they at least left her shoes unharmed in there.
"Think, Kyoko!" She chided herself under her breath as she sought refuge in the closest open doorway. They didn't notice her, did they? Kyoko peeked out slowly. A throat cleared startling her. Kyoko jumped and turned towards the noise. A female teacher sat at her desk in her still empty classroom.
"Can I help you with something, miss?" The teacher asked with an amused smile.
"Ah, no. I'm sorry for the intrusion," Kyoko replied quickly with a bow. She laughed nervously and scratched the back of her head. "I'll be going now. Have a nice day!" Kyoko scrambled out of the room. She had no choice but to do what Ren had told her was a sure way to get out of a situation like this one. Kyoko was skeptical, but Ren assured her that it would be effective with her acting skills. Kyoko took a deep breath and released it.
"Oh, my God! Is that Ren-sama's car pulling up?" She exclaimed, channeling the annoying fangirl that she often used on Shotaro. Kyoko had thrown her voice so no one knew exactly who had said it. She was pushed against the wall as the stampede of teenagers rushed outside. Taking this opportunity to retrieve her shoes, her grudges stirred at the state of her locker. It had been vandalized with words such as Ugly, Loser, Thief, and a lot harsher words written all over it. The inside was no better. They had filled it with trash and letters, probably death threats. She pulled her indoor shoes out quickly and stuffed all the trash that fell out in the process back inside, then ducked into the bathroom to salvage her shoes.
Ugh! What is this stuff, spaghetti sauce! She thought sniffing at the substance. How could they waste food?! She wiped vigorously at the mess until she admitted defeat. Her valiant effort only managed to smear the red sauce further into the material. The color was no longer uniform regulation. She threw the shoes into the trash and headed for the office to purchase a new pair.
Kyoko took her time getting to her classroom after morning assembly. She didn't want to have to sit in class for too long without the teacher there. When she finally made it to her room, the class was nearly full. She nodded good morning to her classmates which left them stunned. Since they were all in the special section for those in the show biz world, Kyoko knew most of her classmates. She let out a sigh of relief when she didn't see Mimori. She didn't want to deal with her today. Kyoko took the empty seat in front of the teacher's podium. The whispers began once she sat down.
Who's that girl?
Doesn't she know this is a class for celebrities?
Someone that looks like that doesn't belong in here.
Hey, you should tell her she's in the wrong class. She might be too stupid to know the difference.
Don't say that she might hear you. Just let the teacher handle it.
Kyoko did her best to ignore them. She couldn't help the angry twitch that started at her temple or the black aura surrounding her. Even if she was in disguise, it was very rude to talk like that about someone they didn't even know. Things certainly have not changed in this classroom. Her classmates were so shallow they couldn't even recognize her under this flimsy disguise. She opened her English textbook to review her first subject while they waited for the teacher. Her studies had taken a hit while she was on break. Perhaps, she could even ask Corn to practice English with her at home. She didn't want to embarrass him with her ignorance while they were in America for L.A. Week.
Kyoko was deep in thought when the classroom door slid open. She didn't notice the person standing in front of her until a hand slammed down on her book.
What the hell? Kyoko glared up at the offender then groaned. She stared into the angry face of Mimori. Shit! How did she recognize me so quickly?
"Is this supposed to be some kind of joke, Mogami-san?" Mimori sneered in that high pitch whine that grated on Kyoko's ears.
"You may be able to fool our classmates, but Mimori knew right away that it was you!" It was easy to spot her. Kyoko was the only one in class that ever looked at a book when lessons weren't in session. Ever since the Prisoner PV, Mimori often observed her love rival.
Kyoko sighed. The jig was up. She removed her glasses, folded her hands together on top of her desk, and fixed Mimori with a bored expression.
"It's all your fault, Sho-chan, is angry at Mimori! Why does he have to care about you?" Mimori sulked like a petulant child.
"Look, Nanokura-san, I don't know what sort of delusion you are in, but Fuwa-san has never cared about anyone other than himself," Kyoko explained and tried to return to her book.
"That's not true! Sho-chan is always kind to Mimori. If you didn't air all your dirty laundry in that magazine, Sho-cha-."
Before she could finish, Mimori was shoved out of the way by their classmates wanting to get a piece of Kyoko. Most were fascinated at her brilliancy to transform into an unattractive girl just to sneak into school. Their attitudes were a complete one-eighty and were overly nice to her. Some were cordial and talked to her about her work, while many were interested in her work with Koga.
Kyoko kept her demons at bay when a girl on her left, a teen magazine model, commented, "If a nobody could nab a guy like Tsuruga-san then it was possible to get any high profile man."
Her friend elbowed her in the ribs.
"I didn't mean anything by it," the girl whined defensively. "It was a compliment!"
Kyoko heard it in their high-pitched voices and fake giggles. None of them were sincere when complimenting her. It was odd that aside from that one comment, no one asked her about Ren or Kimiko.
…
Kyoko walked out of school contemplating her first day back. It could have gone worse. She had braced herself to be hated by Ren's diehard fans, but not a single one confronted her. Instead, they did petty things to mess with her without getting caught. During gym class, Kyoko had come back to the classroom to find some of her male classmates cleaning off graffiti from it. She thanked her classmates for their help.
Mimori was at every corner ready to pounce and remind her of how inferior Kyoko was to her. "They did that because they can't stand the fact that a nobody like you is dating Tsuruga-san. They're just too scared to say it to your face for fear of getting theirs burnt off."
Kyoko's eyes flashed with understanding. No wonder she was having a pretty peaceful first day at school, but it infuriated her.
Why should I be cast as the villain and Morizumi-san the victim?
She had to control herself from retorting. It would do her no good to try and defend herself. Not everyone was mean, practically all the boys in class tripped over themselves to aid her. If the teacher passed worksheets for her to hand out, the stack was quickly snatched from her hand by several boys willing to take over the task. She caused a frenzy when she dropped her mechanical pencil. Kyoko was glad more than ever that her skirt was a little longer today and made a mental note to keep her uniform skirts this length from now on.
She didn't realize that her good girl uniform only aided in driving the hot-blooded males crazier for her.
Kyoko stopped as she exited the school building looking for her father. He had texted, stating he would be waiting out front. She spotted him with his friend Sota and the principal while reporters hovered nearby waiting to sink their teeth in her.
As if sensing her presence, Tadashi glanced up and waved to his daughter. He was ecstatic that he could fulfill one of his fatherly duties and pick his daughter up from school. She looked adorable in her uniform and wanted a picture with her. Tadashi bowed to the principal and met his daughter halfway.
"Kyoko-chan, can you take a picture with this old man of yours? I want it for my memories," he pleaded. Kyoko laughed but obliged him while Sota took their picture. They took another moment to pose for the press photographers and students. She had no doubt these pictures would be on social media before she even left the school grounds.
Notes:
Thank you all for reading! I appreciate it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 81: Best Friend
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Yashiro would definitely have his own fan club.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
When Saena stepped into the office with Susumu that afternoon, the receptionist handed her a large manila envelope. She was told the packet had been delivered about a half-hour ago by courier. Saena's eyebrow twitched with irritation as she read the sender's address. That man, Hayashi Kento, worked fast. He had no idea what was coming his way.
With Susumu in tow, Saena sat at her desk and opened the package. She scowled immediately as she scanned the top sheet of the document.
"A lawsuit! They're even seeking restitution for future loss of income," she huffed and handed the document over to Susumu.
Saena had to commend the man for his quick response. This was a very wise move on their part. She needed to nip this case in the bud before further damage to the manager's reputation could ensue. There was also a high possibility of the negative ramifications trickling down to his clients and company. Saena and Susumu had been building a solid case against the Morizumi girl just for this precise moment. The video evidence Tadashi had given them last night was quite disturbing. She imagine it would be like watching a teenage drama series if she ever saw one. The various emotions the young woman displayed were Oscar-worthy. Without this evidence, Kimiko could easily dupe any judge or jury with her acting.
"This is pretty smart of him," Susumu commented. "I wish we could have had this information this morning though," he said as he took the paperwork to his office.
The lawyer couple had spent the morning at LME in discussions with the President, Tadashi, the PR director, and the man in question, Yashiro Yukihito. They had assured Yashiro that they would do everything in their power to help him. The lawyers along with the PR director briefed Yashiro on the proper way of dealing with the press. They simply wanted him to reply with "no comment." Anything he said could be detrimental to the case and could be used against him if taken out of context. Yashiro was stunned that everyone was doing so much on his behalf. Lory had felt insulted that he would even doubt the company's loyalty. Yashiro was once again reminded that if it wasn't for his quick actions more people would have been severely hurt by Kimiko. Saena was under the impression that they were also talking about the girl's future victims.
Once the PR director and Yashiro left, Tadashi had presented them with the toxicology report of the chocolates "Ren" had supposedly gifted to Kyoko. She watched the man's neck muscles tense as he verbally summarized the report for them. The toxicologist found traces of tetrodotoxin, a poison typically found in Fugu also known as the blowfish. She could see the control he exerted to maintain his anger. His eyes grew cold as he relayed the information from the toxicologist. By ingesting just a single piece of the chocolate would have been enough to hospitalize the victim. Depending on the victim's health, it could also result in death. Saena couldn't believe the young woman would have the gall to pull such a stunt. Surely, the smell of the fish would have given things away. Tadashi told her that it was very faint since the girl had used a mint extract to cover up the smell.
Saena had finished up the necessary paperwork for the case and submitted it to Susumu and Katigiri-sensei's inbox for their peer review. Saena glanced at her watch. Tadashi should be calling her soon with Kyoko's permission to proceed.
Before hooking up with Ren after his meeting at LME, Yashiro headed up to his desk since he had some time before the next appointment. He wondered if the other managers would welcome him there. Would they think he was dangerous? There were whispers and stolen glances in the halls as he passed through the corridors of LME which made him nervous. They seemed to be more out of curiosity than malice. Those that knew him well actually gave him their full support.
Yashiro took a deep breath and released it before opening the door to the office. The room grew still as his colleagues noticed his arrival. Yashiro could have heard a pin drop in the usually loud and busy room. He bowed and made to leave when they all scrambled to stand up. He was stunned when they gave him a standing ovation. His part in the incident had spread like wildfire throughout the industry. Everyone in the room seemed to know Kimiko had tried to harm Kyoko and Ren. Yashiro had stepped in as a stellar manager and protected his charges. They greeted him with words of encouragement for the future which made Yashiro feel more at ease. He sat at his desk and did his best to focus on work-related to Kyoko and Ren. He ignored all inquiries regarding the incident unless it was to ensure the directors of their current contracts that they were both unharmed and able to continue their current schedule.
...
Yashiro tried to concentrate on the scene before him. He wondered if he should have taken Lory's advice to take the day off since he was causing quite a disturbance on Ren's set. At the time, he believed the President had been testing him to see if Yashiro would crumble under the pressure. He was used to dealing with the media when it came to his charges. Now that the tables were turned on him, it was a whole other ballgame. The gossip was spreading around the set. Several curious staff members and other managers had no problems asking him questions directly. Taking his lawyer's advice, he chose to provide vague answers to their inquiries. He knew in this business nothing would stay silent. Someone was always trying to make an extra buck by selling information to the media.
Since this was Ren's veterinarian drama, they were at the scene where his father had eventually passed away. His final will and testament were being read by the family lawyer. The scene was a small reminder of Yashiro's current situation. Despite all the reassurances by his friends and colleagues, Yashiro couldn't help but feel that at any moment he would be apprehended by the police. He hoped they didn't come when he was near Ren. Now that I think about it, I really should have taken the day off. Yashiro shook his head to clear it of all negative thoughts. He had to keep faith in Kyoko's parents. They were both sure that this case would be won in his favor if it did go to trial. They were hoping, for his part, not to let it get that far.
Yashiro opened his phone to check their current situation. If he shook one of those magic eight balls right now he was pretty sure his fortune would have read, Outlook not so good. The media was spinning things out of proportion and were currently at odds with each other. The news outlets that had the Morizumi name tied to them painted Yashiro as a monster, Kyoko a role thief, and Ren as a womanizer of young actresses. Kyoko was apparently his latest conquest. Though they couldn't say what benefit it would be for him.
A shadier online tabloid chomped on this bit of information and ran with it. They accused Ren of getting close to Kimiko to garner favor from her family. They rehashed the photo that was taken of Ren holding Kimiko's hand at the Purple Down party to bring attention to their story. If they had been there, they would have seen Kimiko trip and Ren offer assistance like the gentleman he came to portray. They even had quotes from various people that worked on the set with them admitting to their relationship. Yashiro knew Kyoko and Ren had the habit of ignoring the news so he wasn't sure how aware they were of this story. He had yet to check the fan sites to determine what was being said there.
He wondered if Kyoko's first day of school was faring better. Ren, on the other hand, pasted a gentleman's smile on his face at full wattage and managed to keep everyone in check. How women, minus Kyoko, swooned at the smile was still a mystery to Yashiro? At least the men had enough sense to cower at his oppressive aura.
Yashiro shut his phone and checked his watch. They had less than an hour before they needed to be at Ren's next location for a commercial. As if on cue, the director gave the thumbs up for Ren's scenes and allowed him to leave for the day. Out of habit, Yashiro handed Ren a bottle of water and a towel. The latter often went unused since Ren rarely broke a sweat unless the role called for it. How he did that was another one of his charge's many mysteries.
"How are you holding up, Yashiro-san?" Ren asked concerned as he dabbed the non-existent sweat from his brow with the towel. Yashiro looked at him curiously as he wiped behind his neck.
When Yashiro didn't answer immediately, Ren stopped and asked, "What is it?"
"I think the important question here is, are you okay Ren?" Yashiro said, nodding towards the towel. "You seem to be drying sweat that isn't there. Are you feeling anxious?"
Ren looked at the towel and frowned at his actions. He learned to control his sweat glands a long time ago so he often didn't use the towel given to him. The only time he would sweat unknowingly was when Kyoko caught him off guard and that was often.
Ren thought about dismissing Yashiro's question then thought twice about it. "I'm worried about Kyoko," he admitted as they walked towards his dressing room. "She had been so excited to attend high school last year, but this morning she was dreading going back. She texted during her lunch break that 'everything was fine.' I was with Kijima-san at the time and he told me that when a woman says she's fine it means the exact opposite. What do you think, Yashiro-san, am I worrying for nothing?"
"Well..." Yashiro began after entering the dressing room. "We are talking about Kyoko-chan here. She doesn't act like most women so she may really be fine. Without hearing her voice or seeing her reaction in person it would be difficult to know. She should be out of school by now, maybe you can call her on the way to your next location."
Ren nodded, he would do just that.
While Ren changed back into his clothes and removed the stage makeup from his face, Yashiro thought it was the perfect time to break the news to him.
"Ren, there's something else you should know," Yashiro said, putting on his gloves and pulling out his phone. He opened the news article and held up the phone. Ren finished drying off his face and reached for the phone. Yashiro squirmed as he watched Ren's face turn grim.
Ren returned the phone and sat in the chair opposite Yashiro. He hunched forward with his elbows on his knees and threaded his fingers together, resting his chin on them. He stared off into space for a few moments as he digested the news. What were they talking about? Did he give off such an impression? Once again, his gentleman persona was biting him in the ass. Ren stood quickly startling Yashiro. He put on his necklace and shrugged on his jacket.
"Let's get going. I want to call Kyoko," Ren explained, holding the door open for his manager. Yashiro scrambled to get his stuff and followed Ren out. They said goodbye to the director and the staff. Before leaving, they were warned that the paparazzi were still waiting out there.
Ren and Yashiro stood at the exit gauging the mob they would have to get through. He could see his car in the parking lot across the street about 30 meters away and wondered if they could make it. Yashiro had arrived by taxi so they wouldn't have to take separate cars throughout the day.
"Let's do this, Yashiro-san," Ren told his manager as he took a step towards the door. He pasted a smile on his lips that would freeze anyone with its high beam.
Yashiro pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose and narrowed his eyes at the crowd. It would be over his dead body before anyone got close to his charge. When they walked out, a communal shiver ran through the crowd. They actually feared him.
Yashiro's concentration was broken when a woman from the crowd called out, "Yashiro-san, I love you!" The declaration was unexpected. The little outburst broke the dam and everyone started shouting towards them.
You're my hero, Yashiro-san!
He's so manly!
Isn't he handsome?
He's the perfect man to be at Tsuruga-san's side!
I heard he trains in martial arts!
Yashiro started turning red from embarrassment. Ren got his fair share of love from his fans too but most of the attention was on his manager. Not to be outdone by the fans, the reporters filed forward shouting questions.
Yashiro-san, Tsuruga-san, can you give us a firsthand account of what happened last night?
"No comment!"
Do you know how Morizumi-san is doing or do you not care?
Yashiro paused, wanting to defend them, but Ren stepped in. "No comment!"
Tsuruga-san, how can you continue to work with a man that hurts little girls? Don't you care about your reputation?
Yashiro felt like he had been punched in the gut and couldn't breathe.
Ren stopped short and glanced at the press badge around the guy's neck. He had to be affiliated with the Morizumis. Ren stood at his full height, towering a good ten centimeters foot over the man. He stared at the reporter with eyes that even the God of death would fear. The reporter let out a terrified yelp but managed to hold his bladder.
"Ren, you're scaring everyone. Let's just go," Yashiro pleaded, but Ren shook him off easily. He was already desperate to talk to Kyoko, but this man was completely out of line.
"Is that recording?" Ren asked the reporter. He looked around at the people around him. "You are all testament to what I have to say regarding this man."
"Ren," Yashiro hissed, tugging on his sleeve. "I'm pretty sure Mogami-san doesn't want us talking to the press," Yashiro warned, trying to get his charge moving.
"I'll make this quick," he told his manager.
"That's not the prob-" Yashiro began before Ren brushed him off again.
"I owe my life to this man. He is not as dangerous or detestable as some of you might think. Without regard for his safety, he put his life on the line last night to save me and Kyoko from danger. What happened to Morizumi-san was an unfortunate accident. We truly wish for her to have a full recovery. I ask that people respect the wishes of her family and not drag her name through the mud. You're all free to speak and report as you please about me, but I will not tolerate anyone speaking ill of my best friend. He's one of the most decent guys I know in my life. He doesn't deserve any of your contempt." With that, Ren and Yashiro quickly left the scene ignoring the questions being shouted in their direction. The reporters were quickly overtaken by angry fans that refused to hear them continue to bad mouth Ren or Yashiro.
"Ren, thank you for that, but just so we're both clear you will be the one answering to your mother-in-law," Yashiro warned, taking the keys from Ren and sliding into the driver's seat of his car. This would be his first time driving on the left-hand side of a vehicle but he was sure it would be fine.
...
Kyoko clenched her hands into fists on her lap as her father explained the situation to her on the way to the LME training school. Since Sacred Lotus was canceled for today and she had some time before the Yappa Kimagure Rock taping, Kyoko decided it was best to make use of the extra time and take those expensive lessons.
Kimiko had left her one final parting gift under the pretense of a peace offering. Her grudges stirred while her anger rose. The vile woman had managed to taint Ren's loving and kind gestures by adding poison to her favorite confections. Kyoko was familiar with the dangers of Fugu. Sho's father was a licensed chef on the delicacy. Many people came to the ryokan's restaurant to get a taste of the danger.
Fuwa-san never allowed Kyoko to train in its preparation. She was only allowed to watch and listen as he prepared the fish for their guests.
"Kyoko-chan, you're too young right now, but when you graduate from high school, I will train you on how to prepare Fugu so you can become certified."
Kyoko stared with rapt attention as Fuwa-san demonstrated how to choose the Tora-fugu, wild blowfish, the Kobe beef of all pufferfish, for its freshness. He pointed out little details for her to spot in its coloration, size, and shape, quizzing her every step of the way. She watched with fascination as he removed the fins and skin from the fish with precision just like a surgeon performing a critical operation. He placed the parts in a tray labeled properly as poisonous. It was the same instruction every time, meticulous and methodical. Any misstep was a matter of life or death for their customers. He showed her which knife to use and how to wield it so she wouldn't accidentally cut into the innards of the fish that contained the toxin. Her eyes filled with wonder as he sliced the fish's flesh paper-thin for sashimi. Her favorite part was watching him plate each sliver until it resembled a beautiful white blossom against the blue of the dish.
Kyoko sighed at the memory. She was glad to recall that time in her life more fondly now without her previous hate for Shotaro clouding her heart. Kyoko could still remember every word and every cut she needed to make to get it perfect. At the time, she couldn't wait to learn the new skill to please the Fuwas.
Kyoko shook her head slightly to clear her mind and focus. Because of her past, she knew how deadly the toxin in a blowfish could be to a person. It angered her that Kimiko had come to the set straight up lied to her in front of everyone. It made sense now why she was willing to bow out so gracefully. She had a trump card up her sleeve. If things had not gone awry for Kimiko, there was a high possibility that Kyoko would have been the one lying in the hospital right now or dead. If she had offered a piece to her friends and colleagues like she often did with Ren's edible gifts, they too could have fallen victim to the poison. That thought made her livid.
"Kyoko-chan, it's your decision. Your mother and I will respect whatever choice you want to make with dealing with Morizumi-san," Tadashi advised her when she slowly emerged from her thoughts.
"I understand what you're telling me, father," Kyoko replied with a sad smile. They were allowing her to make the final choice and would respect her decision.
Tadashi kept his thoughts on the matter to himself. He didn't want his feelings influencing her decision. For him, there was no petty revenge. Tadashi wanted justice. Three times! That girl had tried to harm Kyoko three times too many for his liking and he didn't want it quietly swept under the rug when Kyoko, along with Ren and Yashiro, were taking the brunt of the criticism. He had given her all the facts and wanted her to form her conclusion.
"What would you do father?" Kyoko asked, her large doe eyes staring into the similar ones of her father.
Tadashi smiled at his daughter and brought his hand up to her cheek. These last few weeks with her had been a blessing. Kimiko had tried to take her from him too many times. He didn't think the girl was capable of doing any more damage, but also didn't want to underestimate her.
"I don't possess the goodness that you have sweetie. I felt horrible that my actions triggered her so deeply that she lashed out like that last night. She was finally going to leave and you could live your life in peace. Then I think about how you could be the one lying in the hospital right now because of me. It would have been all my fault…" Tadashi gazed into his daughter's eyes brimming with tears. "I can't help but wonder if you would have been better off without me."
Kyoko covered her hand over her fathers. "Please don't say that. I'm happy you're here. Thank you for helping me and accepting me. I'm just sorry you had to be dragged into my mess."
"It's my duty as your father to protect you. You will never have a problem too big or too small that I would find bothersome. You can always rely on me for help. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Kyoko nodded, but the guilt on her father's face only lessened slightly. She sat quietly for a moment before speaking again. "It's not your fault. I think Morizumi-san made her bed, now she has to lie in it. Even if she grew tired of me, she would have probably found another person to torment."
Kyoko's eyes widened as soon as she finished speaking. She had found her answer. Her father picked up the phone from the seat between them and punched in her mother's number before handing it over to her.
Cedric looked up from his seat at the television set hanging on the dull white wall across from him. The news was once again covering the fire incident last night. They replayed the police statement that was made last night regarding the ongoing investigation. What investigation? It was an accident couldn't they leave it alone. They flashed a series of pictures of a happy and beautiful Kimiko on the set of one of her dramas. He watched the highlight until they cut to Ren defending Yashiro. They were condemning the wrong person. It was his fault that Kimiko had been so hurt and angry. He knew he should go to the press and tell them his side of the story, but he was still a coward. If his father got wind of his involvement, he would probably make good on his promise and blacklist his son from Hollywood. Cedric's father didn't seem to care that he had turned over a new leaf these past years and was becoming more successful in the industry by his own merit.
It was guilt that had Cedric sitting in the hospital waiting room, hoping that he could visit with Kimiko. He had been there all day and only crossed paths with her father once. The man's eyes were cold as he glanced over Cedric like he was nothing. Cedric couldn't even bring himself to speak, instead, he dropped into a chair where he could see down the hall and hopefully get his chance to apologize.
Tearing his eyes away from the TV, he watched as a nurse came down the hall. He had been doing that all day but her parents never came out. Several other family members had come to visit, but the nurse turned them away per her parents' orders. He pulled his cap lower on his head when his eye caught a man sitting across the room from him that had the bearing of a reporter.
Before he could think further on the guy, Cedric's attention was pulled towards the main hospital door by the buzzing from the media outside. The paparazzi camping out there had been stirred up by Jouji's appearance. Cedric saw this as his chance and jumped to his feet to intercept the director.
"Morizumi-san!" Cedric shouted breathlessly, dropping into a bow in front of the director.
"Ahhh, Ric-kun, you were here. How is my niece doing?" Jouji asked solemnly, forgetting Cedric's difficulties with the language. It wasn't going to stop him from communicating with the man since Jouji was the only one not holding a grudge against him.
Cedric thought of his response and knew he would butcher it in Japanese so kept it simple. "Kimiko, I don't know…Errr, ugh…not allowed."
Jouji hummed thoughtfully rubbing his goatee. His brother was probably still very angry. The two men turned as they heard heels clicking against the floor. The older woman was the spitting image of Kimiko. Although she looked tired with her eyes red and puffy, she was still very beautiful. This must be her mother. Jouji walked up to the woman and pulled her into a hug and asked how Kimiko was doing.
"She is recovering. They are watching for any sign of fever or infection, but she will nee-" her voice broke as a sob threatened to escape her. She cleared her throat and squared her shoulders. "She will never be the same. She is still heavily sedated to minimize her pain."
Her eye finally caught Cedric standing a few feet away. He watched her face contort in anger as she stepped towards him. Everything was in slow motion and Cedric welcomed it. She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face. Fuck! That hurt like a bitch! Cedric shook his head to clear it and tasted blood in his mouth. The little woman packed a mean slap.
"I deserved that," Cedric mumbled with anguished eyes. Kimiko's mother lifted her hand to strike him again but stopped short, remembering their location. Her tear-filled eyes swept over the people in the waiting room staring at them then landed back on Cedric. She stomped away after giving him a cold-hard stare.
"You should go home and ice that. We're back on set tomorrow," Jouji told him following after his sister-in-law. Cedric nodded and pushed back his hair. Well, that went well, he thought, rubbing his jaw. He flashed the shocked nurse a bloody smile.
"It's okay, I'm leaving," Cedric nodded toward her hand on the phone probably dialing security. Realizing he now had an audience, Cedric bowed and apologized to everyone before leaving.
Notes:
Hiya! Thank you for sticking with me! I appreciate it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 82: Doing the Right Thing
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, the Ishibashi brothers would protect Kyoko like a little sister.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
His heart ached, watching his daughters cling to their mother, fearing that they would never see him again. Earlier, he had broken down from the shock of Kimiko's accident and disclosed everything to his wife. After his confession, he indulged in a long relaxing bath at the insistence of his wife until the water grew cold. When he got out, he shaved his face then dressed in a pair of dark blue slacks and a gray pin-striped button-down shirt his wife had ironed for him. He stared at the mirror, unable to make eye contact with his reflection, and focused on lathering pomade into his hands. Satisfied with the texture, he dragged his fingers through his hair, working the product into the strands. Using a comb, he styled his hair to make it look a little more presentable. Once he was satisfied with his appearance, he joined his girls for dinner. Regret and guilt tore at him as he wandered into the dining room alight with laughter and happy banter. His poor decisions were going to deprive them of future nights like this one and leave them fatherless.
"We made all your favorites, Tou-san," his youngest daughter, beamed proudly. "I helped mommy cook!"
"That's wonderful, darling. I'm so proud of you!" He leaned down, kissing his daughter's forehead.
"Come sit, Tou-san, and let's eat," his eldest daughter said, coming to his side and taking his hand. He nodded, swiping at the tears that threatened to spill over. He allowed the girls to lead him to the table where he sat across his wife and smiled.
"Thank you for this sweethearts! Everything looks wonderful," he told the girls and his wife. He reached for his chopsticks and dug in since they waited eagerly for him to take the first bite. "It's delicious! You ladies really outdid yourselves," he praised, smiling warmly at his beautiful family.
Seeing his smiling face, the girls dug into their dinner. As they ate, they each shared stories about their day. It had been a long time since he was able to enjoy a meal with his family. The night could not have been more perfect.
After dinner, he helped clean up, prolonging the inevitable. Once the last dish was stowed away, he knew his time was up.
"Is it time for you to go away for work now, Tou-san?" His youngest daughter asked, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"I'm afraid so sweetie. Your papa has an important job to do from now on so I want both of you to take good care of your mama. We want mommy to remain healthy while I'm gone," he stressed to the girls and bent over to hug them one last time. He kissed each of them on the forehead and stood to address his wife. She had been home only a few days before he dropped this bomb on her. He smiled at her through watery eyes. No matter how much he regretted his actions, he knew in his heart that he would make the wrong choices all over again if it meant she could remain on this earth a little longer. It was worth it, to have her here, standing with them again. Knowing they would be taken care of while he was away made leaving more bearable.
He gave his wife a tender kiss goodbye and walked to the door. He took one last long look at his little family, hoping to commit the image to memory before shutting the door behind him. As he walked toward the stairs, he pulled out his cellphone to make a call. "Hello, this is Hanazawa. You gave me your card a few days ago outside the set of the Sacred Lotus…Can we meet now?"
He paused to listen to the person on the other line before answering.
"Yes, I know the place. I can be there in fifteen minutes…okay, see you then," he replied and ended the call.
They fussed over her like she was a fragile pampered princess. Although she liked the idea of being considered a princess, the rest was quite annoying. She felt ridiculous being treated like this in her chicken suit. So a few of her quirky stunts on set managed to knock her off her feet, that didn't mean she needed to be laying here on a makeshift bed, on set mind you, taking another break just because she was bumped on the head with a ball that ricocheted at her. With Bo's head, she didn't feel a thing. Any other time she could have played it off and kept the gags going, but nooooo, the Ishibashi brothers ruined it by freaking out and causing the director to halt filming until she recovered. It didn't matter that she told them that she was perfectly fine. No one would listen to her.
Kyoko tried to roll herself into a sitting position which was proving to be very cumbersome in the chicken suit.
"You can't get up yet, Kyoko-chan. What if you have a concussion?" Hikaru panicked, trying to get her to stay put.
"Hikaru-san, I assure you that I'm fine," she said through clenched teeth, trying to keep her grudges from attacking her costar. "The costume took the brunt of the force. I promise you I didn't feel a thing," she assured him, her tone softening. They were being overly cautious because of the incident last night. Even though she wasn't the one that got hurt.
"It's fine, leader. Let's help her up!" Shinichi advised him. They reached down on each side and pulled Kyoko to her feet using Boh's wings. The live audience clapped once she was on her feet again. Kyoko blushed and bowed sheepishly, waving to the audience. They were treating her like a professional athlete that was being helped off the field after an injury while playing the game. She looked nervously backstage and found the producer scowling at her. It's not my fault! Everyone is overreacting!
"Guys, can you please stop fussing over me? We are delaying the film and the producer looks ready to ring my chicken neck," Kyoko pleaded.
Hikaru looked dejected. She was right. This wasn't her first time having mishaps on the set as Boh. She improvised pretty well that her errors always appeared intentional. He was overreacting and it wasn't his place to do so. Hikaru felt very protective of her, like a brother would with his little sister. Girls in this industry seemed to gravitate towards hurting her because of their petty jealousy. He still wanted to kick himself for keeping quiet about the incident on the stairwell. She assured him that she took care of it and the problem with the girl resolved itself.
He had been in the industry long enough to hear the rumors regarding Kimiko. Several people on their set had shared their experiences with Kimiko on other job sites and confirmed she had always been on the shady side. According to the rumor mill, she often used her family name and money to threaten other actresses into quitting or doing her bidding. It was a known fact to many that worked with her that she used family connections to obtain roles. Although her uncle was the director of The Sacred Lotus, Kimiko was passed up in favor of Kyoko to play the role of Momiji. It led Kimiko to act irrationally, which was the understatement of the year. The fact that she tried to set Kyoko and Ren on fire last night, proved to everyone that the girl had finally gone bonkers when she didn't get her way.
"Okay," Hikaru said with a fist pump. "Let's finish this up and celebrate with some anpan in the cafeteria!" The other brothers pumped their fists enthusiastically and cheered.
Kyoko brought her wings up and crossed them into an "x" to veto their celebratory meal. There was no way she was going to place that high-calorie food into her body. Not when she was working on her figure for the upcoming R'Mandy shoots.
"Ehhhh!" The brothers cried out in chorus like a set of triplets.
"Kyoko-chan, you have to eat it with us, " Yuusei insisted.
"I'm sorry, but there's no way I'm eating that junk. It would blow my whole diet out of the water. I have to prepare my body for a swimsuit photoshoot," Kyoko stressed not realizing her words would KO Hikaru.
"S-s-swimsuit?" Hikaru managed to squeak out before keeling over.
"So much for thinking of her as a sister," Yuusei muttered under his breath to Shinichi. They caught their leader once again before he hit the floor. Kyoko had given him one too many shocks in the last forty-eight hours. He had barely recovered from finding out that she was Setsuka Heel. Kyoko had been embarrassed by the compliments showered upon her as soon as she walked into the studio. The contrast between her usual self and Setsuka had been too extreme, especially whenever she walked around wearing the unflattering LoveME uniform.
"Hey, you lot! Quit fooling around. We only have this studio until 9 pm and only finished half of the recording. Get back to work! The guest star is already waiting," the producer shouted from backstage. He turned challenging eyes on Boh, "especially you!" Kyoko squawked, flailing her wings. Why is it always me?
Hikaru sprung to life as the producer shouted at them. He apologized to everyone on the set and in the audience. The rest of the taping went much smoother. They managed to bring back the upbeat atmosphere and finished filming without further interruption.
Kyoko and Tadashi accompanied the brothers to the cafeteria but didn't eat. Her father awkwardly admitted that he had dinner plans with Sota while Kyoko wanted to go home and cook for Ren. Since he wouldn't be home for a couple of hours, she didn't mind hanging out with her friends for a bit.
On the drive home, Yashiro groaned as he spied the mob of paparazzi hanging outside his apartment complex. He was listed in the directory, so of course, they easily tracked him down. He wondered if he needed to find a new place of residence and pulled Ren's car over to the curb before they were spotted.
"Ugh, it looks like I have to go on foot from here," Yashiro lamented to the top star sitting in the passenger seat.
"Are you sure? What if you're attacked by a crazed Morizumi fan as you're walking?" Ren asked, glancing at his friend with a worried expression.
Yashiro chuckled. "Didn't you hear? I'm a wanted felon. No one would dare mess with me."
Ren grimaced, "that's not funny at all!"
Yashiro chuckled again and unlocked the doors. I thought it was funny. They stepped out of the car for Ren to get in the driver's seat.
Yashiro had enjoyed driving the little sports car. It had some good pep and was easy for him to adapt to the left-handed driver seat.
"I think I'll be great driving during fashion week in LA," Yashiro joked.
"Wait until you get on a freeway during rush hour. You'll also have to remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road. That's another challenge," Ren warned.
That did sound like a challenge. Before Yashiro could ask Ren if he had experience driving in the States, Ren explained about his time in Guam. Since the island was a territory of the United States, they had adopted the traffic laws and patterns of the mainland.
After saying goodbye to Ren, Yashiro had managed to enter his apartment unnoticed by cutting through the neighboring property and scaling the wall. He was glad all his exercise had paid off.
Yashiro came out of his room, rubbing a towel against his wet hair, relieved that he had managed to survive being the frontman today. With him by Ren's side, they were able to get to all of his jobs on time and with relative ease. He wondered just how much longer he could keep this up. He plopped down at his coffee table and cracked open a beer. Taking a generous swig, he sat in front of his laptop and put on his rubber gloves before touching it. It was about time he spied on his favorite couple but was immediately confronted with the bitter truth as soon as he logged in.
As he suspected, their fansites were clogged with posts about him. No one was damning him. Most were superficial discussions on his good looks. Some even linked him to the night they had all gone out to the club. It was a different side of him that the public was not privy to. Some speculated that perhaps the Boy Scout persona he exuded while with Ren was just a cover and he was low-key Yaskuza royalty. There was a petition, with thousands of signatures, demanding he gets rid of his glasses. Someone even linked a whole separate site dedicated to him. Yashiro didn't even want to entertain the idea of what was being passed around in there.
He made the mistake of reading the next line while taking a swig of his beer and found himself coughing up the drink from his mouth and nose.
"Oh my god, that fucking burns," he wailed as he hacked up the liquid. He used the towel around his shoulders to clean up the mess. What in all that is holy are these fans thinking and why are they discussing them on Kyoko's site?
KyoFan1: Oh my god, y'all! Did you hear Ren-san defending his man? I totally ship some much-needed bromance between these two, if you guys know what I mean *wink, wink*.
KyoFan2: Before Kyoko-san came along, it was highly suspected that Ren-san had a "close" relationship with his manager. They were always seen together at events.
KyoFan3: If you guys are interested, this link has photos of them together. Some of them are gold!
Yashiro's mouse arrow hovered over the link to see just what was being circulated about them this time. Oh Kami-sama, am I a potential rival to Kyoko-chan in the public's eye?
Ding Dong! The sound of the doorbell interrupted.
Eh? Who could it be? A reporter? Cops? Yashiro stood with a heavy heart and draped his dirty towel over the chair. He walked to the front door and looked through the peephole, releasing the breath he was holding in relief. All he could see was the back of the head of what appeared to be a teenage boy wearing a baseball cap. The kid turned to press the buzzer again. Yashiro thought his profile looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Um...I think you have the wrong apartment," Yashiro called from the other side of the door. He knew it was rude of him, but he didn't want to alert the reporters to his actual location.
"Mo! Oji-san, have you forgotten the cute face of your favorite nephew," the boy asked, stepping back and giving the door a wink. Yashiro's eyes widened with recognition. He scrambled to open the door and stuck his head out, looked both ways, then pulled the "boy" inside, shutting the door behind them.
"Kotonami-san, why are you here? It's dangerous for a woman like you to be out in the streets at this hour!" Yashiro scolded as his gaze raked over her attire. She was wearing a short wig, a baseball cap, jeans, a t-shirt, and a jacket that made her appear to be a very trendy youth of the male species.
Kanae didn't like his tone. Why is he berating me like I'm some child or helpless female? Granted, she was only eighteen. To this older man, she was probably still a child in his eyes. He was probably used to dating sophisticated women that could never pass as a boy even if they dressed like one.
"You know, I'm quite mature for my age and I am very capable of traversing the dark, scary streets of Tokyo without the aid of a chaperone. If my presence here is not wanted, I'll just see my way home," she huffed and grabbed the doorknob to leave.
"Wait!" Yashiro sputtered, grabbing her free hand. "I'm sorry! Please stay. I'm happy you're here. Can I offer you some tea? Coffee? I have some meals in the fridge I can warm up for you if you haven't had dinner."
Kanae scrunched up her face at the thought of eating a microwaveable dinner at this hour. Those frozen meals tended to be high in sodium and preservatives.
"It's not what you think. They're meals that I cook over the weekend for me to eat during the week. This way I don't have to think about what to eat when I get home late after work. They're very nutritious and high in protein."
Kanae's expression changed from disgust to something more akin to curiosity. "You cook," she murmured, awestruck.
Yashiro smiled. "Sit down," he gestured towards the coffee table. "I'll heat one for you. Maybe one day, in the not-so-distant future, I can cook a fresh meal for you," he offered, still smiling, and headed to the kitchen.
He turned before seeing Kanae's flushed face. It finally dawned on her that she was all alone in an attractive man's apartment. She had been here last night, but Kyoko and Ren were with them, making things easy. Why did she come here? To check on him? Make sure he still wasn't punishing himself for last night. If she wasn't working, her mind strayed to thoughts of him. She wanted to know more about him.
Kanae sat down at the table where his laptop rested along with a pair of discarded rubber gloves and a can of beer. She gingerly turned the can to read the label. It was the same brand her brothers drank at home. The content on his computer screen caught her attention and she couldn't help looking at it. This was Kyoko's fansite. As fans posted, the text scrolled up with each new one.
Pfft, of course, he would be RenKyo#1Fangirl. Their exchange on the site made a lot more sense now. She wondered if she should confess her chat name too, but decided to keep that little tidbit a secret for now. Forgetting that this was a horrible breach of the man's privacy, she read the screen earnestly.
Curious, Kanae clicked on the link that was being reposted. It was filled with very poor or perfectly-timed, depending on who you asked, pictures of Ren and Yashiro in compromising positions. It was nothing filthy related, but they were still hilarious. She studied the images, unable to determine if they were real or fake. Ooh! When was this picture of Tsuruga-san carrying Yashiro taken? There were many of them out at premieres or dinner parties together with Yashiro remaining right by his side. She could see why everyone thought they were lovers when they were together all the time.
"Ahem!" Yashiro cleared his throat to gain her attention.
"Oh my god, I'm sorry. It just caught my eye. That was very rude of me," she stammered out an apology, mortified by her behavior.
"Relax, Kotonami-san," he assured her with a soft chuckle. He was only teasing her. "I don't mind. I guess you must have seen..." his voice trailed off as he stared at the screen in horror. Placing the tray down with Kanae's food, Yashiro snapped the laptop shut.
"Um, it's really not what you think," he faltered. Why were people taking these pictures out of context?
"Oh, so you aren't Tsuruga-san's secret lover?" She retorted and picked up her chopsticks. Her dish had pickled veggies, salad, and steak all carefully proportioned.
Yashiro forgot what he was going to say while he waited with bated breath for her to take the first bite. She glanced at him with surprise and smiled. It was delicious! She ate with more gusto, only pausing to sip some of her tea. While she ate, Yashiro sat next to her and put his gloves back on. He opened his laptop and clicked out of the link then went back to the website. He didn't need to say anything to know that she had seen his screen name of choice.
"So you go in there incognito?" Kanae asked between bites. She had so many conversations with him while she was in the U.S. and she didn't even know it. It was so embarrassing now thinking about it. He would know exactly just how passionate she was about her best friend if she revealed herself now. She said nothing instead, while Yashiro confessed how involved he got with the fansites.
"Well maybe you can put a little something in there so they could stop talking about what a great couple you make with Tsuruga-san," she teased. She was feeling a bit jealous at all the attention the two men received for not being a real couple.
Before Yashiro could post something to redirect the conversation to a more Kyoko and Ren-focused chat a new post popped up.
KyokoMYGoddess: Da fuck is all this shit-talking. Kyoko-sama chose Tsuruga so quit opposing her choice with this nonsense. That dude is so not gay, his manager though…hard to say.
Yashiro glanced at Kanae as she happily ate her food feeling less guilty about eating at such a late hour.
"What is it?" She asked, chopsticks paused in midair alarmed by the serious look on his face.
"Do I come off as gay? Like if you saw me at work standing next to Ren, does my outward appearance scream 'he has to be gay'?"
Kanae wiped her mouth with a napkin and took a sip of tea. When she was through, she looked him dead in the eye and leaned in, touching her lips to his. Before he could register what was happening, she pulled away from him with a blush on her cheeks.
"Yup, you're definitely gay," she announced in a matter-of-fact tone and resumed eating.
Yashiro stared, stunned, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish. She couldn't hold it together any longer as her body shook with laughter, making the expression on his face priceless.
"You have a devilish streak in you, Kotonami-san," he said turning back to the screen. Yashiro wanted nothing more than to show her just how gay he could be but didn't trust himself to stop at kissing. The fact that they were two adults, completely alone in his apartment, was not lost on him. He knew she was only eighteen and assumed she had little experience with men. They haven't even had a first date yet. There was no way he would do anything that would scare her off.
Doing his damnedest to ignore the delectable creature beside him, Yashiro focused on the screen.
EmeraldEyedFairy: Good! Let his manager have him. I can swoop in as her true love and we would live happily ever after.
KyokoMYGoddess: Ahahahah fuck that! Your chances at having a shot at Kyoko-san are less than mine. She's not a lesbo!
EmeraldEyedFairy: I'm a guy, asshole! No one can rival my love for Kyoko-chan.
KyokoMYGoddess: Yeah sure, "bro!" Any guy calling himself a fairy is a fucking flaming homosexual in my book!
Yashiro hummed as Kanae leaned closer to read the screen. "Are these guys suspicious? What's with those names? I swear that girl attracts a bunch of weirdos!" she asked, following the trail.
"I would say everyone is suspicious to me after finding out Morizumi-san haunted the place. I did ask the President to look into this Fairy person and claims he's harmless."
"Well, if President Takarada says so...I mean these two alone are enough to lure her into a trap don't you think? Their names would appeal to her in a heartbeat. Maybe we should warn her just in case she ever does log in to these sites." Yashiro agreed she was still so easily seduced by fairy tales. It didn't help that Ren and her father fed her obsession.
These two fans alone were dominating the conversation and having a dick measuring contest of who knew the most about Kyoko. The information they were using was public knowledge so that was a relief to both Kanae and Yashiro! Anything more personal and it would have raised flags. The "Fairy" eventually left the chat stating that his lady love awaited.
KyokoMYGoddess: What the fuck kind of shit was that? All this time he already had a piece of ass waiting for him. Still not convinced that fairy is a dude.
"Now is our chance to test this guy," Kanae told Yashiro, turning the computer her way.
RenKyo#1Fangirl: KyokoMyGoddess you truly are a loyal fan, unlike that other guy. What's your favorite thing about her? Mine is how she commits her all to a role. I never saw Setsuka Heel coming!
KyokoMYGoddess: Shit yeah Setsuka nearly caused me a heart attack. I guess I love that she's genuinely nice and down to earth...you know, different. Like her fame hasn't gotten to her head like some of these other stars. If I could, I would crack Fuwa Sho's skull for hurting her. I'm surprised Tsuruga hasn't done so.
RenKyo#1Fangirl: I'm pretty sure Ren-san would want to be first in line to get a piece of Fuwa.
KyokoMYGoddess: Probably...I'm pretty jealous of Tsuruga but he seems to be treating her right despite what the tabloids are saying about him. I don't believe for one minute that he was interested in that Morizumi bitch even to get ahead in the industry.
RenKyo#1Fangirl: What makes you so sure? He could be a complete asshole and just using her like he did Morizumi…To help his career and all.
KyokoMYGoddess: Nah! There are other hotter chicks out there that could help his career more. You can tell he's totally entranced by her. The way he talks about her in interviews. His face when he looks at her. That guy is head over heels in love with her. Plus just cause you have a pretty face doesn't mean you're pretty on the inside. That bitch Morizumi tried to pay me and my boys off to harass my Goddess. Complete bullshit!
Kanae and Yashiro exchanged looks. What the hell was this guy talking about?
RenKyo#1Fangirl: Wait! So you met Morizumi?
KyokoMYGoddess: Yeah! I even tried to tell the cops that the bitch was a nut job. Good thing that gay manager took care of her ass!
Yashiro groaned. Seriously, would they stop with the gay jokes already? Could he possibly be the kid that Tadashi told them about? Yashiro thought. He pressed the kid for more details. If it wasn't the same kid, then they would have to look into his background as well. Kanae and Yashiro passed the rest of their evening, enjoying each other's company, and looking out for their best friends.
"Are you sure about this, Hanazawa-san?" the driver asked his passenger as he stepped out. "Your testimony alone should be able to help shift the public's perception of the manager."
"I wouldn't be able to look into my family's eyes if I don't follow through. I made my bed, now I have to lie in it. Thanks for all your help, Koki-san!" Hanazawa told the reporter.
"Thank you for doing the right thing. Good luck in there," Koki said, nodding towards the building behind him.
"Thanks again. Good luck with the article," Hanazawa said before turning around and walking towards the entrance. He entered the building and headed to the front desk.
"How can I help you, sir?" The officer at the front desk asked with a relatively pleasant smile. He tried to smile back, but he was too nervous. With his pulse rate running high, his heart threatened to beat out of his chest. Part of him wanted to run away, taking his wife and children and just going, never looking back. Instead, he squared his shoulders and took a deep shuddering breath.
"Yes, my name is Hanazawa Soujirou. I'm here to turn myself in for the crime of assaulting the actress Kyoko-san," Hanazawa confessed and broke out in a cold sweat.
Notes:
Thanks for sticking with me! I hope you enjoy!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 83: Worse Ways to Go!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would have more confidence...in bed. XD
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi had accompanied Kyoko shopping for tonight's dinner, then wished her good night after he saw her safely in the apartment. Before leaving, he reminded her to set the house alarm after he left, which she did dutifully.
Once alone, she put away their newly laundered clothing and discovered something alarming. Trying to push her negative thoughts from her mind, Kyoko took a shower before getting started with dinner. During her shower, she had thought long and hard about her predicament, finally coming up with a solution. Kyoko tried to focus on drying and brushing her hair to contain the blush that threatened to burn her cheeks as her thoughts wandered back to her decision. She had it all planned out in her mind and hoped she could distract him enough to execute it to its fullest without relying on any of her roles to get her through it. Kyoko wasn't planning to do anything new, except maybe that one teeny little thing. She just hoped he wouldn't be angry with her.
Once cleaned up, she prepared something light and nutritious for dinner since it was already so late. Kyoko was going back and forth between the kitchen setting the table when her boyfriend finally entered the apartment. Her earlier thoughts threatened to bubble to the surface at the mere sight of him. She managed to contain them and reacted normally.
"I'm home, beautiful," he greeted, flashing her a gorgeous smile and holding a vibrant bouquet of wildflowers. He reset the house alarm and made his way towards her.
"Welcome home, Corn," she smiled, receiving the proffered bouquet and inhaling its fragrance. She tip-toed, wrapping an arm around his neck, and thanked him for the flowers.
Kuon leaned into the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply. He loved the warm sweet smell she gave off naturally. If he could bottle up her scent, he would call it Home. He started to nuzzle her neck, making her giggle.
"Stop it! Wash your hands and let's eat before it gets even later," she scolded him with a soft smack to his chest.
"It smells good! I'll be right back," he told her and headed to the bathroom to wash his hands. She found a vase for the flowers and arranged them just like Yayoi had instructed her in Kyoto. She took her seat at the table and turned on the television, changing it to the channel that typically aired an American cooking show. This would start her English training now and teach her new western recipes at the same time. Maybe she could cook something for him next time.
When he returned, jeweled green eyes stared at her with a raised eyebrow taking in the cooking show.
"I hope you don't mind Corn. Can we start speaking in English? To help me with my school lessons. I also don't want people to think I sound weird when I'm in America," she explained, trying her best not to resort to the British accent she typically used while playing Setsuka. She stuck with the English she often used when disguised as Ella.
"Sure, I don't mind, but you have nothing to worry about. You're already fluent." He had a feeling it was Cain's fault for her insecurity. He had been jealous then, knowing that she had learned English for the sake of Fuwa's ryokan. At the time, he had covered up his pettiness by implying that her English was too polite for his rebellious little sister.
They ate their food chatting in English. Kuon told her about breaking his silence to defend Yashiro.
"Your mother might end up hating me for commenting," he sighed, disappointed by his lack of control. His behavior might have set him back concerning his mother-in-law, but Kuon knew he would defend his friend all over again if given the chance.
"Don't worry too much about it. My mother appreciates loyalty. She won't hold it against you," Kyoko assured him.
"So how was your day," he asked, glad for the easy opening.
Kyoko gushed about the ridiculous behavior of the Ishibashi brothers and the unfairness of the producer. The recount of her TBM job had him laughing.
Kuon watched her from the corner of his eye as she told him about her night. She sounds like her usual self so maybe everything really was "fine." As she spoke, he recalled some of the relationships he had in the past. The girls he dated halfheartedly used to say the same thing back then. He was young and oblivious in those days. Kuon didn't ever want to repeat his past mistakes with Kyoko. Perhaps Kijima was on to something. After all, the man had vast experience with the female psyche.
He laid his chin on the back of the hand holding his chopsticks and tilted his head towards Kyoko as she told him her story with such animation. Kuon could watch her forever and never grow tired. She was his all-time favorite show. He reached up with his free hand to push a lock of hair behind her ear.
"What's wrong?" She asked, stopping her story abruptly. Kyoko gazed at him, a small blush marring her cheeks. Whenever he stared at her with such love and concern like that, she couldn't help the erratic beating of her heart.
"You really are fine, right?" He asked her with a small smile while the back of his fingers moved to caress her cheek. "School, the press, everything went okay?"
Kyoko turned her face and kissed his fingers. The tenderness of his gaze made her brain turn to mush. She vaguely remembered all that happened at school today. Without thinking, she told him about her vandalized locker and how Mimori saw through her disguise. Aside from that, the kids weren't so bad if just a little fearful of her.
Kyoko instantly realized her mistake as Kuon's dark aura began seeping out. "I'm okay, Corn," she responded, hoping to get him to relax. "It was textbook bullying stuff. Nothing I couldn't handle," she waved off.
Kuon breathed deeply, calming himself. He wanted to call the school principal and demand these kids get punished for hurting her, but Kyoko forbade it.
What else happened today? She thought, going through her day with something to distract Kuon. Then it clicked. She knew what she had to tell him was going to spoil the mood.
Kuon became anxious by the dark aura surrounding her. Kijima was right, she isn't just fine. He waited for her to tell him what was on her mind. Kuon scooped up her hand and traced small circles with his thumb, hoping the soothing gesture would encourage her to speak to him. Breathing deeply, he told himself to keep an open mind and not to let his jealousy lead her to hide things from him. He couldn't bear it if he scared her again as he did in that hotel room. That night she had freed him from the darkness. If it wasn't for her acting skills he might have lost control.
"I...I..." She stammered. Kuon nodded patiently for her to continue trying to contain his anxiety. What did she have to tell him? Didn't he tell her this morning that he would accept anything as long as she was happy?
Kyoko took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "The thing is... I asked my mother to press charges against Morizumi-san and her manager. I'm so sorry I didn't consult you! I don't know what I was thinking! Oh god, this could damage your career," she panicked. What had she done without thinking about the consequences and those it would inadvertently affect? She had been angry and wasn't thinking rationally.
"I'm so sorry! I understand if you want nothing to do with me. I don't want to get in the way of your dreams," Kyoko wailed, throwing herself down into a dogeza. It had been so long since she screwed up like this with him.
"Like hell, you're getting rid of me that easily!" He growled and pulled her up from the floor. Wrapping his arms around her, he rubbed her back until she calmed down. Kuon assured her that everything would be fine. When she was finally relaxed against him, he asked her to tell him everything that led to her decision. By the time she finished recounting the bit about the poisoned chocolates, he was ready to rip someone's head off. It was now Kyoko's turn to talk him down and counsel him.
After talking things through, the heaviness in their hearts dissipated. They would deal with the future together. When they finished cleaning up the dishes after dinner, Kuon and Kyoko went through the packets of projects that Yashiro had given them. The Heel siblings had afforded them both new opportunities. Many producers and designers were chomping at the bit to nab them first. Yashiro had separated the individual offers into their respective folders then had a separate folder that wanted them together. Kuon knew that there were several projects not in her folder that the President had immediately rejected. Lory had a particular project he wanted to use for her debut, so he instructed Yashiro to turn down any lead roles that were coming her way. Yashiro gave him the shortlist of those projects, but that still left many more interested parties in the industry.
Kuon had reached out to Director Seiji's assistant and received a favorable reply. He needed to find time to look up the source he was given. The assistant had told him that the LME president had yet to give them a thumbs up so it could be a waste of time. It at least gave him something to work with. He wanted to be fully prepared for when the time arrived. There were many other directors interested in Kyoko that he could contact. The more he gathered, the more likely he was to stumble on the correct one.
They went through the folder that wanted them together. It was a bunch of advertisements for clothing, cologne, and alcohol. Kyoko's eyes widened when she saw that the Kimono shop they had visited as the Heel Siblings wanted to hire them. They accepted all the offers eagerly, willing to do just about anything to work with each other again. Kyoko was disappointed that there wasn't any drama work for them together, but as an actress, she hid it well. As a newbie in this industry, she had to be patient. Once they were done with the combined folder, they moved on to browse prospective jobs for them individually.
Kyoko groaned, spying a contract for Setsuka to model for Sho's album cover. Kuon leaned in to see what had soured her good mood.
"Ugh, why does this guy keep butting into my life?" Kyoko sighed wearily. She had long forgiven Shotaro but was hoping to keep a low profile until all the gossip about their childhood relationship became old news.
"That should be good. It would show the public that you two are still on good terms and are professionals," he commented, reading over the project description. Personal feelings aside, this would be good exposure for her.
"It looks relatively straightforward. A shoot like this would take a couple of hours tops. With you starting school again, it was probably why Yashiro considered it."
"Eh, you're okay with me working with him?" Kyoko asked, looking at Kuon in surprise. She felt almost disappointed that he was so mature about it. What am I thinking? Why would I wish he acted as he did in the past when it came to Shotaro?
"No, I'm not okay with it. This is work and though it annoys me to say this, he is Japan's top artist right now. It could only boost your popularity. If that bastard tries anything, I'll definitely kick his ass this go around!"
Kyoko giggled happily. His scowling face was so adorable. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek in thanks.
When they finished going through their packets, Kuon left her to shower while she submitted her assignment to the class's online portal. This was especially convenient for her class since most were busy with work and often missed lessons. This allowed them to keep up with their lessons and turn in school work from anywhere on the planet.
Kyoko shut down her computer and entered their room to find Kuon lounging on the bed, bare-chested with his computer propped on his lap. He flashed her that divine smile making her heart skip and belly clench. She smiled in return, her eyes straying to the headboard. Did he notice?
All evening, she struggled to keep from thinking about her plan for tonight. It wasn't easy to stop thinking about what she had discovered while putting away their clothes. Her mind had been in turmoil wondering what it could mean. Was it something he enjoyed in the past and was holding himself back because of her? Old feelings like anger and jealousy threatened to take control of her. During her shower earlier, she thought the best thing to do was to forget she ever saw it. There was no point bringing up something from the past, but the nagging question remained. Why would he keep them? Unless… After her shower, standing wrapped in nothing but a towel, she did what any teenage girl would do, she asked Google Sensei. After ten minutes of "extensive" research, she came up with a plan to show him just how unafraid and accepting she could be with a twist.
She walked into the bathroom, PJs in hand, leaving the door ajar. Kyoko used her nightly routine as an excuse to mentally prepare herself to take action. Brushing her teeth took twice as long as her mind kept wandering. With a clean face, she focused on applying her nightly skin products. It helped thinking about her best friend. Kanae had insisted that she adopt a skincare routine early for both day and night. Thanks to a recent skin line commercial, Kyoko happily received a plethora of creams and cleansers that would last her a while. When she finished moisturizing, Kyoko changed her clothes and proceeded to comb her hair, stalling. She was glad she took the time to wash out her extensions tonight. The shampoo she used gave off a nice citrus scent. One final look in the mirror confirmed she was ready. Ganbatte, Kyoko! She pinched her cheeks to bring some life to her skin.
Kyoko hadn't realized it, but if Kuon squinted just right, he could see her through the gap of the door. Looking up from his screen, he happened to catch the very moment she cast off all her clothes, panties included, and slipped on a tiny black nightgown. Knowing he was in for a treat, he mashed keys on his computer to finish what he was doing before she came out. Sensing her presence, he gulped when he laid eyes on her leaning against the door studying her nails. Unable to tear his gaze away, he absentmindedly closed the lid to his computer and moved to place it on the nightstand. The computer crashed to the floor, completely missing the table. Kuon didn't even care. The only thing occupying his mind at the moment was the sexy vixen strutting seductively towards him. For the first time in his life, their roles were reversed. For once, Kuon knew what it felt to be the small animal ready to be devoured. Oh, God! How in God's name am I supposed to keep myself from taking her when she's acting like this?
Trying to play it cool, he readjusted himself toward the center of the bed and sank lower on the pillows enjoying the view.
Fuck, she's so sexy!
His eyes roamed the length of her body appreciatively and stopped, mesmerized by the sway of her hemline threatening to expose her hidden treasure with every step. Knowing that she was bare beneath that silk made him lose his cool and had him giddy as a schoolgirl.
I'm a lucky man!
Kuon's sweet and innocent girlfriend had transformed into a seductive temptress. He had no clue what to expect and laid there dumbfounded waiting for her cue. The idea that she might be practicing for a role was fleeting, unable to think rationally. Regardless, Kuon vowed to do his part as all his blood seemed to be pumping straight down to his groin.
Fuck! His cock twitched excitedly in his silk pajama pants when Kyoko nibbled on her bottom lip. Visions of her heated mouth on him danced through his mind until she finally reached the end of the bed.
Kyoko moved slow, much too slow for his liking, and placed a knee on the edge. She smiled seductively, her bottom lip red and swollen from her bite. At this angle, Kuon had a clear view of her breasts down the low neckline of her nightie. On instinct, he licked his lips, impatient to have his mouth sucking on those creamy mounds.
His gaze flicked from her chest back to her face as she leisurely crawled up his form, knowing just how to work her body. Her usually vibrant eyes were dark with lust and the expression on her face had one thought blaring in his head, Empress of the Night.
Kuon's breath hitched and his throat went dry, again he licked his lips in anticipation when her hands made contact. She stayed low, running her palms up his thighs. He could feel the hardened tips of her breasts brush against his legs as she made her way up then settled herself across his mid-section. Kuon let out a tortured groan, feeling her hot wet center pulsating against his abs.
I think I died and went to heaven!
Without hesitation, his hands slid up her thighs and greedily gripped her naked ass. Kyoko frowned and shook her head "no," removing his hands from her body.
Kuon grinned, enjoying her bossiness. He made his body go slack and waited for her to take point. Kyoko in control always made him grow harder. She laced her fingers with his and positioned them over his head. Kuon closed his eyes as she leaned over him, licking his lips. Opening his eyes, he raised his head, seeking her retreating lips to deepen the kiss, but she pulled back shaking her head again.
He let his head fall back in understanding and was rewarded with her nipping and sucking on his ear lobe. The moment she released his hands, Kuon moved to touch her. Wordlessly, she grabbed his hands again and brought them back about his. It was enough of a hint for him to keep them up there. Satisfied with his cooperation, Kyoko rewarded him with a searing, toe-curling kiss, plunging her tongue into his mouth.
Who is this? Kuon's eyes widened in surprise then closed, letting his senses take over. The way she wrestled and sucked on his tongue thoroughly distracted him. He was so drunk on lust, Kuon didn't notice what her hands were doing.
Click! Click!
Kuon barely registered the sound until Kyoko pulled away from him abruptly. He wanted, no, needed to taste more of her. His eyes fluttered open, confused by the loss. It took a moment for the haze to clear and found Kyoko smirking down at him.
Kuon tried to move his arms and found them stuck. He looked up behind him and yanked on his arms only to be greeted by a rattling metallic sound.
Handcuffs! He stared at Kyoko alarmed. Not just any handcuffs; they were the handcuffs he had purchased for the night he confessed to her. He had forgotten all about them. Fuck, she found them. I knew this stupid purchase would come back to bite me in the ass one day. Is she pissed?
"Baby, this isn't what you think. I can expla-" he panicked, but Kyoko silenced him with a hard kiss. It was meant to be punishing.
There was a faint hint of copper in his mouth as she tugged on his bottom lip with her teeth and drew blood. Yeah, she's pissed. It turned him on. Kyoko pulled back and smirked, relishing in her handy work until she saw the state of his lip. For a brief moment, Kuon thought he saw a hint of pain or regret flicker in her eyes.
"Kyo—" he attempted to explain again, but she wouldn't let him. He tensed as she swooped down to claim his lips, expecting another painful exchange; however, she surprised him with a tender kiss. He moaned in satisfaction when their tongues intertwined. Whatever anger she had harbored seemed to evaporate from her body. Since she was intent on continuing, Kuon resigned himself to let her have her way with him. There would be time later to explain.
Kyoko was no longer angry that he hid this from her. She had almost stopped after realizing she had bitten him too hard at the taste of blood and expected him to snap at her for it. Instead, his lustful expression made her heady from the power she held over him.
The way he reacted to her every kiss and every touch delighted her. The sound of him trying to get free just to touch her did wonders to her ego. Kuon even appeared to be more sensitive than usual. Kyoko used this opportunity to apologize and covered every inch of his skin with her lips. Every gasp and every groan she elicited from him had her confidence soaring. Her tongue traced over his jawline, his collar bone, his nipples, and every ridge of his well-sculpted abdomen. Kuon hissed when her tongue dipped into the tiny opening of his belly button.
"Baby," he groaned, writhing under her ministrations, the clanging of the cuffs joined his sounds.
"Shhh, let me make you feel good, baby" she whispered sensually.
"Fuck!" Kuon moaned but settled down.
Kyoko followed his happy trail until she could go no further. Her fingers gripped his waistband and with his help tugged his boxer briefs and pants off in one fell swoop.
Kuon shuddered as his erection sprang to attention. He never felt so vulnerable in his life as Kyoko kissed her way up his inner thighs. She ran her tongue over his scrotum and traced the throbbing vein on the underside of his dick.
Kuon flailed underneath her. The handcuffs clanked loudly against the headboard as he tugged his arms. "Oh, fuck, baby! You'll be the death of me," Kuon gasped. Which wasn't at all a bad thing; after all, there were worse ways to go.
Kyoko giggled and gazed up at him through her lashes, rubbing his tip against her lips. Kuon couldn't tear his eyes from watching her pleasure him and bit his bottom lip drawing more blood. She curled her fingers around his shaft and laid petal-soft kisses up and down his length. When she was done kissing, Kyoko let her tongue take over, licking slowly as if she was eating the most delicious ice cream cone on a hot summer day.
Overcome by sensation, Kuon threw his head back when her lips finally closed over him and sucked him deep. She had him instantly panting.
"Fuck, baby….please…uh…let me…ahh..let me touch you," he begged, tugging on his restraints. She ignored his pleas and concentrated on taking him deeper until he bottomed out at the back of her throat. He was so large that she had to use her hand to make up the difference.
Kuon abandoned all attempts of coherent speech and let it all go, seeking his pleasure.
"I'm so close," he panted, thrusting his hips in time with her mouth. Knowing he was nearly there, Kyoko sped up her movements. Several thrusts later, Kuon grunted his release, his body tensing then shuddering while his cum gushed down her throat. Kyoko was ready for it, swallowing every drop of his essence. The heat of her mouth suckling him felt so good that it dragged out his orgasm. Groaning and closing his eyes, he enjoyed Kyoko licking the residue that had slipped past her lips until he was clean.
Kyoko rose from her position and smiled, satisfied that he looked spent with his chest heaving from the exertion on his body. She stretched on top of him and stared with a worried expression.
When he finally opened his eyes, she bit her bottom lip nervously and asked, "are you mad?"
Kuon chuckled shaking her body against him. "Mad? That was fucking incredible!" Kyoko smiled, relieved, and snuggled into him.
"Ugh...Babe. I love a good cuddle, but do you think you can release me now so I can hold you?"
"Oh, sorry," she flushed and scrambled off the bed to get the key. She knelt next to his head on the pillows while she opened the locks. As soon as he was free his arms snaked out, trapping her against him.
"It's my turn!" he growled.
Kyoko shrieked but didn't fight him as he eagerly ripped her nightgown over her head. She was hot and wet and so ready for whatever he had planned for her.
Not to be outdone by her, Kuon decided to take a gamble at something new even for him. He released her and laid back down, shifting the pillows beneath his head so he was flat, and said, "I want you to sit on my face."
"Excuse me?" Kyoko choked, her face turning scarlet.
"Come over here," he beckoned, reaching out for her. "There's something I want to try with you."
"You want me to s-sit there?" She gestured to the vicinity of his head.
Kuon nodded with a naughty gleam in his emerald eyes.
"N-naked?" she squeaked, making him smirk.
"There's no way!" Kyoko shrieked. "What if you suffocate or something? Your fans would murder me!"
"Then at least I'll die a very very happy man!" he replied with a goofy grin on his face. Kyoko smacked him. "Don't be shy, baby. I want to make you feel as good as you made me…please," he pleaded, turning level 3 puppy dog eyes on her.
"Fine," she giggled. She was powerless against those eyes, especially in green. Kyoko couldn't believe she was entertaining this idea and stood above him, legs spread with her feet just under each armpit, trying to figure out how to place herself without killing him.
"Fuuuccckk," he moaned, gliding his hands up the length of her legs. Kyoko gazed down and watched his eyes darken with lust. The rush of heat between her legs dispelled any embarrassment she might have had in this position.
"I need to taste you," his voice husky and heavy with desire. Kyoko's knees threatened to buckle as his hands slid past the back of her knees and further up. Kuon had to lean up to squeeze her ass.
"Come down here," he whispered, guiding Kyoko to place her knees on each side of his head. He groaned, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply. Her sex filled his nostrils, heightening his arousal.
Kyoko stared down at him, stunned by his passionate response, making her whole body flush when he pulled her closer. This was such a bad idea, he was sure to die from lack of oxygen. She tried to get off of him, but Kuon clamped on her thighs firmly and blew at the dampness between her legs.
"Mmmm," she moaned as heat shot throughout her body. She grabbed the headboard in front of her to steady herself.
Kuon chuckled, glad that she was aroused and not trying to get off him. He nuzzled his nose against her clit and inhaled again. This had to be paradise. Vowing to drag her pleasure out, he kissed her sex softly, deliberately, tortuously until she was squirming above him. His mouth moved over her silky flesh with the same tenderness he used while kissing her lips. Kuon continued at this pace until he had her begging and trembling above him for more.
Kyoko watched him through narrow slits. She couldn't tear her eyes away from what he was doing to her. The look of pure bliss on his face shook her to the core.
"Kuon," she gasped, gripping the headboard so tight that her knuckles turned white.
Kuon's eyes shot open at the desperate sound of his name, catching her stare. He licked, sucked, and kissed until she started whimpering, then tightened his grip on her thighs and thrust his tongue into her pulsating core, making her scream his name.
"Oh God, Kuon!" She moaned, arching her back and urging him to continue. She was so damn wet and the ache in her core intensified. Kyoko had held her hips still for fear of suffocating him, but her body had a mind of its own and began rocking into his face with every thrust of his tongue.
Kuon reached a hand between her legs and rubbed her clit with his thumb. Her voice grew louder, screaming his name over and over. He had her strung so tight until she finally snapped.
"Kuon!" Kyoko screamed, throwing her head back in ecstasy when the pressure building in the pit of her stomach finally exploded. Kuon continued to lap at the juices flowing from her core. Still trembling from her orgasm, she glanced down at him, making her sweat-soaked hair hang over them like a veil.
Kyoko was brought back down to earth when Kuon gripped her thighs and tried to pry them open. She had him in a death grip.
"Sorry," she yelped. Embarrassed by her inhibitions, Kyoko rolled off of him. Kuon followed, caging her body under him, and smirked.
"I take it, you enjoyed that as much as I did?" He asked curiously. Sated and feeling thoroughly fucked, Kyoko sighed happily. Kuon leaned down and kissed her then pulled back.
"Can I tell you why I have those handcuffs?" he asked earnestly, bringing them back to what started this all. Kyoko nodded. She might as well hear him out.
Notes:
Hiya! Thanks for continuing to read. I hope you enjoyed the little fanart I've included here from future chapter 2XX, whenever I finally get them to December. And yes, I branded her butt with my initials! LOL!
Happy Birthday to our dear Kyoko and Happy Holidays to you all!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
XoXo
~K
Chapter 84: Resiliency
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would have an opportunity to tease Yashiro about his love life.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kanae peeked out from under the covers at the sleeping form beside her. She couldn't believe she had stayed the whole night and in his bed. Her face flushed crimson while her eyes wandered down the toned chest of the man that was officially her boyfriend as of last night.
He has to be cold, she thought. Kanae gathered the covers and pulled them over him, causing Yashiro to stir. His eyes fluttered open and a smile graced his cute face. He turned towards her and threw his arm over her possessively. Kanae yelped, prepared to shove him away as she often did with her family, but a warmth bloomed in her chest. She rather liked his clinginess and snuggled into him, falling back to sleep.
Kanae woke slowly from something soft brushing over her lips. She stretched and rubbed her eyes until they focused on the man right in front of her.
"Mo, oh my God!" She wailed, pulling the covers over her face. He couldn't see her like this.
"Good morning, sleep well?" Yashiro greeted her cheekily.
Kanae did another scrub of her face before pulling the covers low enough only for her to see. No further. Yashiro was already showered and casually dressed while she probably looked horrible just waking up. Kanae nodded, refusing to speak in case she had terrible morning breath. Her eyes roamed over him slowly. He had on a pair of track pants and a t-shirt that showed off the contours of his fit body. His hair was already styled but he wasn't wearing his glasses. Kanae scowled, distressed that he was already cleaned up while she was a hot mess.
"I have to pick up Ren and Kyoko-chan in a couple of hours. You can stay as long as you want or I can give you a ride home."
"You wouldn't mind?" She asked, her voice muffled from behind the blanket. He smiled at her and tucked a strand of hair that slipped out from the covers behind her ear.
"I know last night wasn't planned so I have a new toothbrush for you. You can use the bathroom or shower. Anything I have here is yours to use. I'm sorry I don't have any feminine products. You'll come out smelling like you spent the night with a man. I mean...not that you spent the night with a man...I mean, you did...but we didn't do what people would think...but it's not that I didn't want to..."
Kanae leaned forward and boldly kissed him on the cheek then bolted for the bathroom. All Yashiro saw was a blur of long legs and black hair, then heard the water turn on. With a smile, he went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for them. After preparing breakfast, he paused to make a call. Yashiro was just finishing up when he heard her emerge from the bedroom. He was surprised to see her wearing one of his white dress shirts. The sleeves were rolled up to her elbows and it was belted at the waist. It wasn't surprising that she managed to make the outfit look stunning on her. She would look gorgeous in anything she wore.
Kanae took her seat on the floor and held Yashiro's face by the chin. She turned his head side to side narrowing her eyes while she inspected his skin. Smooth as a baby. "I used your moisturizer by the way and your deodorant. I hope you don't mind."
"That's perfectly fine. You're welcome to use anything here. I see you helped yourself to my cloth-..." His brain nearly short-circuited as a thought crossed his mind. His eyes dipped down to the hemline of the short little makeshift dress.
"I'm not wearing any if that's what you're wondering," Kanae stated bluntly. This time his brain ceased all function.
"I'm kidding," she laughed at his tortured expression. "I reversed my old pair...desperate times and all," she said, waving her hand nonchalantly. "Your boxers wouldn't work with this outfit," she teased, making Yashiro sputter and blush.
She reached for the mug of black coffee and took a sip. Just the way she liked it, hot and bitter. There was another glass in front of her filled with freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice. This must be his healthy concoction. Her plate was laden with eggs, rice, and fish. She looked over at Yashiro as he munched on some Japanese bacon. She reached over and snatched it from him with her chopsticks, making him laugh.
"I didn't think you would prefer bacon," he told her and sweetly placed another slice from his plate onto hers.
"Bacon is life. I can never pass it up," she replied, eating the piece he just gave her. It was a terrible addiction she had picked up while in America. Yashiro chuckled again and made a mental note of her preference for next time.
Kanae glanced up from her food when she heard Kyoko's name being mentioned on the television. She watched silently as the two anchors reported on an article that circulated overnight. Holy shit! Is this part of Morimoto-san's plan?
"Yuki?"
Yashiro's heart fluttered as she casually addressed him. It would take some getting used to, but he was ecstatic to hear his name on her lips.
"Can I come with you this morning? I want to see Kyoko. I can find my way from there," she asked Yashiro. Kanae didn't have anything on this early in the morning. Due to her amazing memorization skills, she had graduated a whole year earlier than her classmates so she was already out of school. If she didn't have any acting work scheduled, she would usually check in with her part-time job. If those didn't work, she would check if the LoveMe section had anything for her to do or head over to the LME training center.
Kanae thought it was only fair to tell Yashiro about her part-time job which took some time to explain. He didn't judge her even if he was a little jealous of her clients. She was an independent woman. Who was he to dictate her life just because they were dating? He did make her promise that she would rely on him if she was ever in trouble.
He hung up the phone with Yashiro and sighed. All of Japan now knew that Kyoko had been a victim of Kimiko's jealousy for quite some time. From the early morning broadcast, it seemed the lead set designer of her project had turned himself into the police last night for his part in attempting to harm Kyoko in exchange for money. The article had sympathized with the man by describing the reasons for his desperation. The fact that his wife had an illness and he had two daughters to support made him easy prey for the Morizumis. His guilty conscience had eventually made him come forward.
It was while Kuon was reaching for his cup of coffee that Kyoko noticed his wrists as the cuff of his shirt moved up. She gasped in mortification. His skin bore the telltale signs of having been restrained. It was chafed red and slightly bruised.
"Corn, I'm so sorry! I didn't think I would hurt you," she cried, reaching for his hand. She smoothed her fingers over the angry marks, then did the same with his other wrist. It didn't look any better.
"Trust me, baby, you hurting me was the last thing on my mind. I wouldn't trade last night for the world," he smiled devilishly.
Kyoko flushed red. She had acted so indecently last night, but she would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it as well.
"I know a trick to make it all better? I would need your help of course."
"I'll help you, Corn! I'll do whatever you say," she agreed without hesitation.
Kuon cocked an eyebrow, anything? "It's really simple, you see. All you have to do is kiss it and it will heal faster."
"You're so silly," she giggled but indulged him by bringing her lips to his wrists. She pecked her lips against every scrape and bruise then smiled at him when she was done.
"I'll check online for some lined cuffs for next time," he smirked, earning him a smack to the arm as she stood to get her makeup bag. She came back and dabbed some waterproof concealer on his wrists. It looked passable. She hoped the makeup would hold the whole day.
Jiro clenched his hands together as he watched the news on the television mounted to the wall of Kimiko's hospital room. Unable to watch anymore, he gazed at his daughter who had yet to stir for the morning. The doctors continued to give her medication to manage the pain. It left her very drowsy and unconscious for most of the day. Glancing at the clock, it was almost time for the nurses to return and change her dressings. They needed to be replaced often to prevent infection.
The truth was out there now. He didn't recognize the daughter they painted on the news broadcast. According to the report, she had taken advantage of someone's weakness and used it for her gain. It made him sick to his stomach, knowing that all those incidences Jouji had disclosed to him had been his daughter's doing. She had been terrorizing that girl ever since the auditions. Jiro felt horrible for not paying more attention to his daughter's activities.
The news article went deeper than his daughter's transgressions. They discussed the influence the Morizumis had within the industry. The coercion they exerted on actors, actresses, directors, and agencies to work in their favor was all being exposed. Someone had done extensive research on his family and it seemed more than a few people from the past had held a grudge or two.
They had used Kimiko's incident as the keystone to toppling the empire his family had built. He and Jouji had always tried to stay away from that part of the business and keep things fair. They were artists, visionaries, always wanting to improve their craft and discover the next rare diamond in the rough that would propel their latest work to new heights.
Jiro wasn't all innocent. He played the Morizumi card whenever convenient to help obtain special consideration for projects, and yes, he was guilty of helping his daughter excel in the industry. This made him no different than the rest of them. His generation and the one before it were responsible for the way Yuri and Kimiko had acted. They thought they could get away with anything because the family was always there to help clean up the aftermath. They deserved this fallout. He, however, wasn't prepared for them to use his daughter as the family scapegoat.
His cell phone began buzzing again. He had been ignoring his wife since she confessed to him that she went behind his back. She directed the family lawyer, their cousin, to pursue charges against Yashiro even after he explained to her why they should leave it alone and focus on their daughter's healing. He knew he shouldn't have blamed her. She thought she was trying to seek justice for their daughter. It was the fact that she didn't trust him enough to let things be that had hurt. She accused him of not caring enough and blamed him for Kimiko's accident. He accepted her harsh words then because he deserved them. He didn't want to face her at the moment. This was exactly why he didn't want to kick the hornet's nest. If they had not pursued Yashiro, this probably wouldn't have been happening right now.
Jiro's self-loathing thoughts were interrupted when the nurses came in to change Kimiko's bandages. The nurses were still cordial, but the warm treatment they had received yesterday was no longer present. It only proved one thing, they must have already seen the news.
Kyoko looked at Ren as they stepped out of the apartment elevator into the resident parking lot.
"Ren?!" Kyoko cried, grasping onto his forearm.
"Yes, beautiful?"
"Please tell me I'm not hallucinating and that is indeed my best friend standing next to Yashiro-san."
Ren laughed. "I assure you, Kotonami-san is perfectly rea-." Kyoko was gone in a flash before he could even finish his sentence.
"Moookkkooo-saaaan," she squealed, lunging for her best friend. Kanae stuck out her hand and held her friend at bay by the forehead. Kyoko's arms flailed in a desperate attempt to hug her best friend.
"So mean, Moko-san," Kyoko pouted.
"Mo! Let me borrow some mascara. I hate my eyes looking like I have no lashes," Kanae demanded, thoroughly sidetracking Kyoko from making her feel guilty. Kyoko's face lit up. Sharing makeup with Kanae was a true sign of friendship.
Ren caught up to them and greeted Yashiro and Kanae. His eyes bored into Yashiro and filled with mirth. He couldn't wait to tease his manager about this one. Yashiro sighed and got into the driver's seat while Ren took the passenger seat. Kanae and Kyoko climbed into the back.
"Moko-san, I love your outfit. It looks so good on you with your slim figure and long black hair. Just like a supermodel!" Kyoko bounced in the backseat, complimenting her best friend.
Yashiro started coughing and pounded his chest, trying to catch his breath. "I choked on my saliva. Sorry about that."
"I have a bottle of water in my bag, Yashiro-san. Would you like it?" Kyoko asked, holding it up to him.
"Oh no, I'm fine, Kyoko-chan. Thank you for the offer," Yashiro replied, clearing his throat one final time.
Kyoko put the bottle back in her bag and rummaged through it to find her little makeup bag. She found it and handed it to Kanae.
"By the way, Moko, what are you doing here?"
"I saw the news so I wanted to check up on you," Kanae told her while opening the bag.
"Really!" Kyoko asked, her eyes brimming with happy tears. "You were worried about me?"
Kanae nodded as she dug through Kyoko's cosmetics bag. She used her fingers to dab on some creamy blush and applied mascara to her lashes. Kyoko stared at her while she worked. Kanae was hoping her friend remained clueless enough to not notice that she had nothing on her. Dressing as a young man did not warrant her carrying a full purse, and it never occurred to her to bring a backpack. Her wallet, keys, and phone were tucked safely in the jacket she wore last night.
"Did Yashiro-san pick you up at home?" Kyoko asked hopefully. She was curious to know if they were dating. If Yashiro went out of his way to pick her up at home that would be significant.
"No," Kanae told her, concentrating on swiping gloss across her lips and keeping a straight face. From the corner of her eye, she could see Kyoko's disappointed look. Glancing up quickly, she made eye contact with Yashiro in the rearview mirror.
"I saw her on her way here, Kyoko-chan, and picked her up," Yashiro supplied. Kanae's reflection scowled at him briefly. Is she mad at me? Yashiro was officially confused. Did he misread the situation? He had thought she wanted to keep things under wraps.
"We're here," Yashiro called out, saved by their arrival. He pulled to the curb and parked a block away from the school. The vultures were already circling the area, waiting patiently for Kyoko to arrive. She didn't bother with a disguise today and decided to face them all.
"Ren, you stay here. I'll escort Kyoko-chan inside," Yashiro ordered, already removing his belt.
"You'll also add more attention. I'll take her," Kanae interrupted and stepped out of the car. She wanted some private time to talk to Kyoko.
"Mookooo-san!" Kyoko exclaimed with big heart shapes shining in her eyes. She was feeling very loved right now that nothing, not even Mimori, could ruin her day. This was shaping up to be the best day ever!
"Mo, just get out already before you're late for school," Kanae scolded, rolling her eyes at Kyoko's enthusiasm.
Kyoko quickly kissed Ren on the cheek and thanked Yashiro for the ride. The two men watched anxiously as their girls walked away toward the impending crowd.
"I didn't think I'd see the day when Kyoko-chan would be so affectionate with you in front of so many witnesses. I'm so happy for you Ren," Yashiro teased, sniffling and dabbing at fake tears.
"Why is Kotonami-san wearing your shirt?" Ren snickered. Yashiro's sniffling stopped. He sobered up real fast, a blush appearing on the apples of his cheeks.
"She stayed over last night and before you freak out, nothing happened...yet. We've decided to be exclusive, but things are still in limbo regarding Morizumi-san so I'm not sure how long this is going to last," Yashiro told him straight up. His honesty surprised Ren.
"Kyoko told me her mother is pressing charges against Morizumi-san and judging from the broadcast this morning I doubt the Morizumis have a leg to stand on against you. You acted in self-defense. Anyway, I'm happy for you and Kotonami-san."
Yashiro hummed in response. He wondered if it would be that simple. Deciding to change topics, Yashiro asked Ren, "what do you think they're talking about?" He nodded to the girls as they walked down the sidewalk talking animatedly. Ren was thoughtful for a moment. It was his turn to surprise Yashiro when he spoke.
"Ehhhh, Moko-san! Really, truly! You're dating Yashiro-san, now?" Ren piped up imitating his girlfriend's voice. It was ridiculous and the expression on his manager's face was comical. He almost broke character and started laughing.
Yashiro shook his head and chuckled, imitating Kanae with impeccable timing as she glanced over her shoulder. "Mo! Keep your voice down. He might hear you."
"I'm sorry, Moko. Please don't be mad at me. I'm just so excited that our best friends found love with each other."
"Mo! Your googly eyes are creeping me out. Quit staring at me like that."
"Ne, Moko-san, maybe we can do a double date. That's what best friends do right? It will be so much fun."
"Ugh, just hurry up or you're going to be late for school."
The two men stopped their immature banter when the girls approached the crowd. They didn't know how they did it but the girls managed to walk right through the parting crowd without complications. What the men didn't see from their distance, was how awe-struck everyone had become at the approaching ladies.
Before they reached the crowd, Kanae had told Kyoko to channel her inner Natsu. Kyoko, trusting her best friend's judgment, transformed into the charismatic bully. Kanae followed suit and exuded the same aura to match her Natsu. The girls slowed down in their walk and adopted the gait of supermodels. When they were finally spotted, the crowd was rendered speechless. All they could do was stand back and admire the passing girls. It wasn't until they were out of sight that they realized what had happened. Questions were shouted after them by reporters, but it was too late. Photographers were trying desperately to get a good shot. Students followed the girls in and stood apart from them, whispering and taking pictures with their cell phones.
"Mo, that was too easy," Kanae told Kyoko with a toss of her hair. Kyoko giggled.
"It's because Moko-san is so beautiful. They didn't know what to do. She's my best friend everyone! Mine! Myyy best friend!" Kyoko announced proudly, pointing between Kanae and herself.
"Mo! Stop that you silly girl. So embarrassing," Kanae scowled, covering her hand over her brow to hide her face.
"Anyway, if any of these bitches mess with you, let me know. I'll take care of them," Kanae threatened, eyeing the other students coldly.
Before Kanae could react to deflect her, Kyoko had managed to give her a hug attack. Normally Kanae would be cringing at her friend's smothering love, but since they had an audience she reluctantly hugged her back.
Kanae pulled away when Kyoko started sniffing her.
"Mo! What are you doing? Stop it, you're being weird again."
"Moko-san uses the same brand of detergent as Yashiro-san. It's cute that you both have that in common."
Kanae blushed bright red. She had not told her about last night. Her sole purpose was to check on her friend and gauge her feelings about the latest news. The conversation of Yashiro would have to wait until their next Karaoke date.
"Go to class. The guys are waiting for me. I'll see you after school at LME?" Kanae asked her before leaving. Kyoko nodded with a smile and waved goodbye to her friend.
Kanae had no problems leaving the premises since the crowd was just as dumbstruck with her departure. Yashiro and Ren were quite impressed as she approached the vehicle.
"Everything, go well?" Yashiro asked while she slid into the back seat.
"Yes, no problems. She's pretty resilient," she replied with a small smile.
Both men grunted in response. That was a perfect word to describe their Kyoko.
"Good afternoon, Miss. We're looking for Morizumi Kimiko's room," the man asked the nurse, flashing his badge. She looked nervously between the two men in suits and the uniformed officer, then called her Boss for guidance. The detectives introduced themselves when the hospital director arrived. The director showed them to the room and stood back while they knocked on the door.
Jiro opened the door to his daughter's room just a crack. The detectives introduced themselves as Narimiya and Harada and asked to enter the room making Jiro's heart drop.
"Sir, I regret to inform you, but we have a warrant to take your daughter into custody. Given her age, she might be shown leniency; but that depends on the justice system and her crimes," Detective Narimiya explained, handing the warrant over for his perusal.
"She's still recovering. Couldn't this wait until she's released from the hospital? How can you all be so heartless?" Jiro's voice rose in anger. "Isn't it enough that she's severely injured?"
Ignoring his outburst, detective Harada opened the door to let the uniformed police officer inside the room. "We understand she still needs medical attention, sir. This is officer Yano, he will be sitting outside the room to make sure you don't try to leave the city with your daughter."
"What? That's completely preposterous. I wouldn't think of..."
"It's protocol, sir," Narimiya interjected. "Unless you prefer I handcuff her right now to one of the bars on the bed?"
"That wouldn't be necessary! Now please leave gentlemen. My daughter needs her rest," Jiro huffed, glancing at Kimiko. He was glad she was still asleep from her last dose of medication. The detectives left, leaving Yano to sit outside the room.
Notes:
Hello, lovelies! Thank you for sticking with me and I hope everyone's new year is off to a good start. I had a lot going on in this chapter, but hopefully, you all enjoyed it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 85: Boys and their Toys
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, I would have panels of Ren tinkering with his car. I find mechanically inclined good-looking guys hot AF! You imagined Ren/Kuon, didn't you?! XD
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Lory took a long drag of his cigar, his gaze piercing the odd couple in front of him. He swore he had aged a little more this morning, blindsided by the article and news broadcast. Things weren't supposed to get so public. They had not considered that the set designer would go turning himself in and spewing his guts out to a reporter. Of course, the reporter just had to be Koki. The man was getting good at sniffing out a scoop.
Lory had contacted the reporter immediately upon hearing the news. Koki had, in good faith, explained how he caught wind of the issues at the Sacred Lotus set and launched an investigation of his own accord. He had drafted an earlier article regarding the Morizumis' influence within the industry, but he had been gathering concrete evidence before releasing it. He was only at the Sacred Lotus set because during his investigation he had heard about the incidences surrounding the production. It sounded highly suspicious to him. His initial theory was that someone had a grudge against Director Morizumi and was trying to ruin the project.
Koki had no clue that when Hanazawa contacted him, the man would disclose such a shocking revelation. The person behind the actual sabotage was indeed another Morizumi and for very petty reasons. This bit of information helped drive home his article. The young Morizumi thought she would not suffer any consequences because of her family.
Armed with Koki's information, Lory had called an emergency meeting with the pair to figure out a plan forward.
Saena's scowl grew deeper as she sat in uncomfortable silence across from the eccentric President of LME. Is he supposed to be some kind of flamenco dancer? The plunging neckline looked ridiculous on a man his age. Granted, she had no clue how old he was exactly, but the fact that he was a grandfather was telling. Shouldn't he have more modesty? For some reason, she couldn't keep her eyes off the velvet ruffled sleeves. It just looked so frivolous to her.
Tadashi could sense Saena's aura darken, noticing that she didn't care for the President's theatrics. At first, Tadashi thought the man used this tactic to throw off his opponent, but after getting to know him better, he found that it was just in his nature. The time to worry was when Lory dressed in a normal business suit. Tadashi took it as a sign that the man meant serious business.
"Did you know Hanazawa-san was going to turn himself in to the police?" Lory questioned, eyes bearing into the pair.
"This was unexpected. I did warn him that he would be blamed for everything should this be exposed," Tadashi answered.
"Of course, he is to blame. What kind of grown man gets manipulated by a teenage girl? Her lawyers are going to spin this in a way where Hanazawa-san takes the fall. If he had not been greedy for money, he would never have taken advantage of her and indulged her antics," Saena snapped.
"Hmmm," Lory hummed. "Greedy, you say?"
Saena folded his arms and lifted her chin defiantly. "What do you think, Takarada-san?"
"Well, people do desperate things for those they love. I can't fault a man willing to do what it takes to protect what's important to him. A terrible decision, but I can respect that it was made out of love," Lory countered followed by another puff of his cigar.
"I told him I would help him. His wife needs her husband and his daughters need their father. I'm sure Kyoko-chan would agree to help him," Tadashi added.
Aside from a small twitch of her eyebrow, Saena's face did not betray her irritation. "Are you suggesting that he get off scot-free for his involvement in hurting Kyoko?"
"No! I'm just saying I don't want him to take the fall. Morizumi Kimiko should take the brunt of the blame. He decided to turn himself in, so whatever the judges decide will be on him," Tadashi explained.
"I understand. If I was Morizum-san's lawyer, I would make her look like a victim of her environment so the jury would have pity on her and exploit the man," Saena told them, giving her professional opinion. She was not that kind of lawyer and did not represent those types of clients. Lawyers like that sickened her. They had no morals when it came to collecting a large paycheck.
"So where do we go from here?" Lory asked, his gaze resting on Saena. He didn't want to be overstepping his position. They seemed to have a good handle on things and were actively working together in the best interest of their daughter. All he wanted was for his LME children to be safe from harm; Lory didn't mind taking the backseat on this one.
"I've filed the charges and submitted the necessary documentation for Yashiro-san's defense. The long end of the pole would be waiting for Morizumi-san to be lucid enough to stand trial. I doubt that will happen anytime soon," Saena supplied, shifting into lawyer mode. "There is nothing quick about Japan's legal system unless you know the right people. Fortunately, the hard part is practically finished. We have been building our case and I think it's strong." Her gut feeling told her that the Morizumis would want to wrap this up quickly and keep it as quiet as possible despite a portion of it already out in the open.
Kanae had parted ways with the men outside to make her way back to LME. Yashiro had felt a little guilty about not sending her off properly, but it would have made them late. She assured him it wasn't a big deal since she decided to tag along. She gave him a peck on the cheek and walked down the street towards the station. Yashiro sighed, touching his face where her lips just were and followed after Ren, ecstatic that he had the chance to spend some more time with her.
Yashiro was glad this first job wasn't at a well-known studio. It was a bit of a reprieve to not have to dodge reporters first thing in the morning. He knew it would be different when they left as he spied various guests and staff tapping on their phones. It will only be a matter of time before their location would be reported on social media and fans started flocking to the area. It was still too early for any of the shops and restaurants to open, but office workers were slowly trickling into the building.
Ignoring the people, Ren focused on the flaming orange sports car parked outside the prestigious Otemachi Tower. He looked like a kid in a candy store as he admired the gorgeous sleek lines of the vehicle. This beauty would be his co-star for the day. He got excited mouthing off the specs of the vehicle to Yashiro and couldn't wait to see inside it.
Yashiro rolled his eyes. Boys and their toys! The whole front area of the building was roped off for filming. Security and staff were directing people around to use the side entrances.
"Tsuruga-san, Tsuruga-san! I'm glad you're able to fit this in this morning. I want to introduce you to the director of PR for Honda/Acura headquarters," the man said, approaching them with a foreigner by his side. "Fraser-san, this is Tsuruga Ren and his manager Yashiro-san."
"Director, Fraser-san, good morning. Thank you for the opportunity," Ren greeted and bowed with Yashiro.
"Tsuruga-san, so great to meet you. My wife and daughter are going to be extremely jealous. I didn't tell them about meeting you today; otherwise, I would never hear the end of it. I was impressed with your driving skills in Dark Moon, and I knew you would be the perfect man to handle our new baby," Fraser praised in fluent Japanese.
"Thank you very much, Fraser-san. I appreciate the faith. Does this mean I will be able to drive the car?" Ren asked, feeling a little giddy from the excitement. He didn't care much for material things, but he appreciated fast cars. He was content with his Porsche, but to drive a newly produced NSX was a privilege. With the money he made, Ren could easily afford the vehicle cash if he wanted it; however, he couldn't bring himself to spend that kind of money on just one item. His current car that he purchased with his first big paycheck here in Japan was in pristine condition. He tried to keep up with the routine maintenance himself, but with his demanding schedule, he had to rely on a shop for service due to a lack of time.
"Of course! We would be honored to have you drive it." Fraser stepped up to the car and opened the door. He gestured for Ren to sit inside.
Ren let out a low whistle, marveling over the high-tech features. The black leather and gunmetal accents of the interior were a beautiful combination. He stroked the soft leather of the steering wheel before closing fists around it. While Ren admired the interior, he exchanged questions regarding the vehicle's performance and workmanship with Fraser. The PR director was impressed that Ren was so familiar with the product. Ren asked questions geared toward the driveability and safety features of the car. He had never driven a car with a dual-clutch system and did not want to ruin the transmission. Fraser assured him that he would do fine. It was when they had their head in the trunk of the vehicle discussing the engine that they were interrupted by the director.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but we're ready for Ren to get into wardrobe, hair, and makeup. We can't go past our allotted time here."
"My apologies Director, my curiosity got the best of me," Ren replied with a small bow.
Yashiro rejoined Ren, stepping away earlier to answer a phone call. Considering he only just started driving, Yashiro didn't have too much interest in cars. He was lost listening to Ren and Fraser chat about the vehicle.
"Tsuruga-san, I have no doubt you will nail this in one go. Timewise, we'll be fine. On top of the commercial, we will also be taking a few still shots at each location with you and the car. This will be used on product pamphlets, showroom posters, and the website," the director explained, glancing at Yashiro. The manager nodded in agreement. This had all been negotiated into the contract.
"Yes, I understand! I will do my best to keep us on schedule," Ren assured him, then headed towards the small conference room reserved as his dressing room.
Once inside, Ren handed Yashiro the folders with the new projects they went through last night. He disappeared behind the screen to change and emerged tugging at the cuffs of his designer gray pin-stripe suit. He stood in front of the mirror to adjust the garment where needed.
With an unmanly giggle, Yashiro turned to Ren. "I see you two love birds accepted all the projects together. I bet you're ecstatic!"
"If it means I get to spend more time with Kyoko, then I don't mind," Ren responded, examining his appearance from all angles.
"Don't be so greedy. You get to see Kyoko-chan every day. You know your schedule is already so packed. I'll have to try to shift things around, but I'll make it work. Even if you have to sacrifice sleep," Yashiro chuckled.
Ren groaned. "I don't mind not sleeping, but I don't want Kyoko exhausted. Please do what you can to make the time reasonable for her."
"It's so refreshing seeing you all lovey-dovey. To think you could have been like this sooner if you would have stopped denying your feelings for each other."
Before anything more could be said, there was a knock at the door. An overly excited young man entered the room and introduced himself as Hina. He was Ren's hair and makeup artist. Yashiro said nothing more and busied himself with reading over the documents from Ren. Like every veteran stylist, Hina filled the silence with small talk as he went to work on Ren.
A few minutes later, Yashiro let out a surprised gasp.
"What is it?" Ren asked with closed eyes.
Hina stopped talking and continued to dust some translucent powder on Ren's face. Although he worked in silence while they talked, Ren knew the artist was soaking every word said.
"I'm just surprised Kyoko-chan accepted these two jobs," Yashiro told him. The manager didn't have to say anymore. Ren knew the exact work he was referring to since she had agonized over it.
"It did take some convincing, but apparently, Hizuri-san gave her some solid acting advice before he left." It was strange to talk about his father like he was a stranger, but there was no alternative. Yashiro still didn't know his secret. "While she was his assistant, Kyoko was ready to turn down her Natsu role because she 'arrogantly,' her words not mine, thought she would be type-cast as a bully. Hizuri-san intercepted her rash decision and gave her that acting lesson we happened upon."
"I remember! That time she was dressed like a boy."
"Correct," Ren nodded. "Since then, she's determined to grasp at every opportunity that would improve her character development."
"I see. I think this will be good for her after that article. Show the people that she has moved on and is still professional," Yashiro replied, shuffling through the documents.
"Okay, you're almost done, Tsuruga-san. Good luck out there," Hina stated, running his mousse-covered fingers through Ren's hair one last time.
"Thank you for your hard work, Hina-san," Ren said with a small bow. Hina collected makeup and brushes he would need for the set and tucked them into the pockets of the apron around his waist before following after the two men.
Ren walked down the hall to the lobby, as usual, oblivious to the mayhem he was leaving behind. Once they turned the corner, Yashiro stiffened as they headed towards the Director. Without breaking his stride, Ren found the source of Yashiro's behavior. Kusunoki Kana and her manager were talking with the Director and Fraser. Ren groaned internally wondering what she was doing here. Aside from her short apology for the mischievous kiss incident over the phone, he had not bothered with her again. Coming clean to Kyoko before it became public, had been the right decision.
There wasn't much backlash from the article after they both admitted, in separate press conferences, that there was nothing between them. Kana confessed to acting of her own accord and he moved past it with Kyoko.
Yashiro shivered when Ren plastered on his ultra gentleman smile. "Ren, let's try to behave, please," Yashiro pleaded.
Ren directed his smile at Yashiro, making the poor man cower in fear. The manager held his hands up in defense. "I didn't know she was part of this production. I knew there would be extras for this first scene, but I had no idea an actress like her would bother with it."
He didn't like this. After the stunt she pulled, Ren wanted nothing to do with her; however, he wasn't about to jeopardize this job. Pulling on his years of experience, he was prepared to be a professional and complete his work flawlessly.
Yashiro made a mental note not to leave Ren alone for even a second with the woman. They couldn't have BJ making an appearance here.
"Oh good, Tsuruga-san. You look the part of…well you!" the director laughed. "You remember Kana-san, right? I believe you worked together before. She's an extra in the first few seconds of the clip," he assured them.
The director had thought about using Kyoko for this job, but she didn't give off the right vibe. He needed that older woman, cougar effect to be exact, and Kana fit the bill perfectly. Plus, her manager had been desperate to get her work. At least she was somewhat relevant these days even if it was negative.
Ren gave her his business greeting.
"Good morning, Ren-san," Kana purred with an innocent smile. "I'm excited that I can work with you again."
"Kusunoki-san," he greeted with a small bow. "Let's keep things professional and do a good job," he said, increasing the brilliancy of his gentleman smile. "If you'll excuse me. It looks like I have to get to my mark."
Kana just nodded. She was taken aback by his dismissal and watched him walk over to the director's assistant. Following instructions, she took up her place.
"Ren, you were supposed to be nice," Yashiro scolded him.
"I was on my best behavior," Ren told him, giving him an air of innocence. He didn't say what was truly on his mind. If Kyoko had to work with Fuwa again, he could certainly get through this job.
At the planning meeting held the week before, Ren was briefed on the details of the CM. He was being himself for this shoot. A voice-over session was scheduled for two days from now to narrate his lines in the commercial. It would be recorded twice: one in Japanese and the other in English.
The English version would be used internationally including in America. The dialogue focused on his dreams and success as an actor. It compared the accomplishments of his career to the ingenuity of the supercar's design. They were filming a sixty-second commercial; the first part would only last about fifteen to twenty seconds depending on final editing.
"Places, everyone!" The director announced through the megaphone. "And…action!"
Ren adopted a confident swagger while he walked through the lobby. He pulled his jacket back and slipped his left hand into his pants pocket. While walking, he nodded and smiled at the people loitering along the way. He paused when the automatic doors swooshed open, blowing his hair and jacket back in a dramatic fashion. He stepped through the threshold of the main doors leading to the outside and continued to strut down the covered entryway.
Kana was helped out of the luxury vehicle parked before the valet stand. She hooked her arm around the handsome man she was with and noticed Ren approaching. Naturally, she shamefully eye-fucked the shit out of him. It took all his acting prowess to keep from rolling his eyes at the desperately obvious older woman.
Suddenly, he gracefully halted mid-stride, captivated by the beautiful sight in front of him.
Kana smiled invitingly with a come-hither expression. Ren, however, had a faraway look in his eyes not picking up on the vibes Kana was sending his way. Despite the man on her arm, Kana tried to speak to Ren thinking he was interested in her. Still grinning, Ren walked right by not even acknowledging the woman. Kana turned around once he had passed and caught him admiring the orange car behind her. Feeling embarrassed, she stomped off haughtily, annoyed at being passed up for a car.
"Cut! Brilliant, everyone!" The director shouted. "I want to take it from the top, but this time, I want Tsuruga-san in sunglasses. Wardrobe! Get him some sunglasses, please! Tsuruga-san, when you stop out here, I want you to tip the glasses down and sweep those captivating brown eyes over the car like you would a gorgeous woman. Kana-san, you were perfect in that scene. Your facial expressions were right on the money. Keep up the good work," the director complimented, oblivious to the woman's embarrassment. There were several audible snickers around the set. Most of the crew were familiar with Kana's failed attempt at seducing Japan's top actor.
Ren scowled at the unprofessional crew. He may not have liked Kana's actions, but he didn't like the crew brandishing her for it on the clock.
"Okay, everyone ready for another take?" The director asked as he took his spot beside his cameraman.
Ren nodded. For this job, he was already imagining the car as Kyoko. The color reminded him of her hair before she started her role as Momiji. He couldn't wait to get inside her, feel her purr beneath him, and take her for a hard ride.
The car! His mind screamed, correcting his thoughts just as action was called.
On the drive to LME after school, Tadashi glanced at his daughter and asked eagerly, "how was school today, Kyoko-chan?" It felt wonderful to ask her this question for the second day in a row. He would give anything to go back in time to see her after her first day of primary school.
Kyoko giggled at his excitement. She told him about some of her lessons, those she liked and those that were a little more challenging. Tadashi told her that he had always been a good student so if she needed it, he would be glad to help her.
"By the way, I received a call from the principal today. He asked that I come in for a meeting tomorrow, have you heard about it? Is everything at school going well? You aren't being bullied there, are you? Because if you are, I will do everything in my power to buy that school and appoint me as the new principal so you can attend in peace!"
"Whaaaa? You can't do that father!" Kyoko exclaimed. By his reaction, she definitely couldn't tell him about the students that were giving her a hard time.
"I'm just kidding, sweetie. Okay, I might have been a tiny bit serious," Tadashi teased. "If you're having trouble, you would tell me, right? I promise not to do anything except listen. I know you have Ren-kun and Kanae-chan on your side, but I hope you can depend on me as well. I have a lot to make up for so even just a little; It would make me very happy."
Kyoko nodded with a shy smile. She was very happy that he was concerned with her and shared how most of the students had changed their tune after today's broadcast. They were now cordial towards her. She joked about the third-year rabid Ren fans that covertly did petty things to her locker. She assured him that it was mere child's play compared to Natsu's antics. It didn't bother her at all. They passed the remainder of the drive talking about her primary school days and Tadashi's time as a student.
...
Kyoko rubbed her aching shoulders as she walked with her father to the LoveMe room. Tadashi made a mental note of his daughter's pain. She must be stressed with everything that is going on. He felt horrible that she had to go through this situation. Perhaps there is something I can do for her. I can ask Mya for advice!
At the LoveMe door, Kyoko knocked to make sure it was clear to enter. "Come in," came the annoyed voice of her best friend. Kyoko opened the door wondering what had made her so cranky.
Knowing his daughter was in good hands, Tadashi left the girls to their own devices. He took up residence in the sitting room and sent a message to Mya. He had something in mind but needed a woman's opinion.
Kyoko's eyes lit up when she saw her friends sitting in the room. Confusion set in when she saw a third girl sitting next to them in front of the television set. They were reviewing soap operas again, but why was Ruriko helping them? Kamisame, please don't tell me she joined the LoveMe section.
"It's about time you came to work! Why the hell are you slacking off? You know I had to endure this stupid drama while I waited for you!" Ruriko whined getting up from the table.
Kanae and Chirori rolled their eyes at the singer. "Yeah sure and I suppose those were fake tears you were shedding for this shitty plot," Chiori retorted snarkily.
"Oh shut your face! I can't believe all you guys do here is watch movies. I knew this section was a total sham!" Ruriko snapped, criticizing the pair. She had found them already watching when she entered the room twenty minutes ago and would never admit that she enjoyed the show immensely.
"For your information, this work was assigned to us by President Takarada himself. Do you think we like wasting our time watching crappy dramas and even crappier acting?" Chiori asked, glaring at the singer. Of all the LoveMe tasks that were thrown her way, this was Chiori's least favorite. Heck, she even preferred making a fool out of herself on the variety show compared to this slow torture. At least the show was more productive of her time. If she wanted to regain her love for acting, at this rate, it would take her years. "Kyoko-san is here now so state your business and be on your way."
"Hmph!" Ruriko folded her arms and stuck her nose in the air.
"Ruriko-san, is there something I can do for you?" Kyoko asked, placing her bag on the floor. "I was at school and only have a few hours here before I need to be on set."
"What? You don't even know why I'm here. Yashiro-san told us you accepted the singing drama. The schedule is already delayed so let's go see Nakazawa-san right away," Ruriko demanded, dragging her out the door. Pity was written all over her friends' faces as she was pulled away. She barely had time to grab her bag and wave goodbye.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read, everyone! I hope you enjoyed it! I threw a little Kana in there because I was peeved that annoying Nice Guy Ren might let her stunt slide. Of course, this was written way before the canon chapters caught up and HE DID!! I swear he better not invest any time/effort into this fake relationship...XD. Would it have killed him to get a little mad at her first...LOL. Obviously, I'm still seething about that deal he made with Kana even if it was to protect his true love.
Until next time, ja mata!
Chapter 86: Heart and Soul
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would have a talent for music.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Jiro placed his hand over the trembling hand of his wife. This was stressing her out. First, their daughter and now the family's way of life was being threatened. Hayashi Kento, their cousin and family lawyer, was giving the members of the Morizumi clan a breakdown of the fallout they were facing after this morning's broadcast.
Several sponsors were in the process of dissolving new contracts. Others had suspended funding on a few projects pending any legal action that would be taken against the Morizumis. They had to either redirect funds or prioritize current projects. Fortunately, some projects were heavily invested in and near completion that sponsors were willing to see them to the end. Jouji was informed that the Sacred Lotus would press forward thanks to Koenji Group's continued support.
What the Morizumis didn't know was that Koenji Katsumasa was ready to cut his losses and scrap the whole project. Tadashi knew how his friend's mind operated and immediately intercepted Katsumasa after seeing the broadcast this morning, imploring him to continue with the production. He told Katsumasa that if he was not going to continue, then to at least let him take over funding the project. His daughter and the rest of the team had worked entirely too hard for Morizumi Kimiko to get the last laugh. He knew that it would look like nepotism if he went down this path, but Kyoko's happiness was more important. In the end, Katsumasa understood his friend's feelings and decided to continue forward.
Jiro was relieved by the news. The continued support of the Koenji Group spoke volumes within the industry. Kento told them that there were still several companies not willing to compromise their long-standing relationship with the Morizumis so they would continue to support future projects associated with them.
"We can turn this all around right now. First and foremost, we have to formally apologize to the people, bow down for our arrogance, and admit that we were wrong in taking advantage of our positions. At the very most, several members of the family will have lawsuits filed against them for personal grievances. We can handle those easily, but..." his voice trailed off looking at Jiro apologetically. Jiro straightened his spine for the blow. Kimiko's case was a whole different animal.
"Just give it to me straight, Kento. Do they have a valid case against the girls?" Jiro asked him seriously.
"I'm afraid so. I was told by my contact that they have irrefutable evidence on both of them but more on Kimi," Kento answered grimly.
"Didn't that man Hanazawa, or whoever, work in secret. What possible evidence could they have besides his word and eyewitness accounts? No one was seriously injured by those acts," Jiro stated, his voice rising in frustration.
"I can't tell you for sure, but it seems they have undoctored footage of Kimi. I have put a request in this morning to obtain our copy. It's in our rights to know what we're up against."
"And Yuri? What do they have on my Yuri?" An older gentleman sitting a few seats down from Jiro's right inquired.
"I'm sorry, Etsuji, I was told she was in it too. The police said that she became a delivery woman so she could get close to the actress Kyoko-san," Kento said, explaining the nature of his daughter's involvement with the incident.
Jouji hung his head low when they glared his way. They blamed him. He blamed him. This had happened right under his nose. They already had that discussion. There was no point rehashing it here.
Knock! Knock!
"Come in!" Kento snapped, annoyed by the interruption.
The young female receptionist entered the room carrying a large brown envelope. "I'm sorry for the interruption, Hayashi-san. This was just delivered by courier."
Hayashi held out his hand for the package. He read the label and thanked the receptionist. When she was gone he ripped open the seal and spilled out the contents. He scanned the top sheet; his expression turned to surprise with every new word.
"Jiro, please put this in. It seems we already have our evidence. That woman doesn't waste any time to comply with a request," Kento told the room. He started flipping through the rest of the documents. The file also contained several photographs and a toxicology report. There was no denying the still images of the girls. He glanced up from the papers when Jiro switched off the lights and wondered what could be on the disc?
Tadashi was responding to a work email in the lounge when out of the corner of his eye, he saw a whirlwind of his daughter being dragged by a girl not much older than her. Feeling instinctively protective, Tadashi jumped to his feet with lightning speed and chased after the girls. He should have never thought that she would be safe just because they were in the confines of the agency. He couldn't underestimate anyone, even young girls these days.
"Stop right there, young lady! What are you doing with my daughter?" Tadashi demanded, grabbing the girl by the shoulder. The girls were startled to a standstill. They didn't hear his approach until he spoke. Ruriko dropped Kyoko's arm, terrified by the anger in Tadashi's eyes.
"Ah, father! It's okay. This is Matsunai Ruriko-san. She's part of the musical division of the agency. She's a singer here and very forceful, but she's not bad...anymore, at least. We did have a bad beginning, but I think we moved past that," Kyoko explained, trying to calm her father down. Aside from that time with Koki, she had never seen him so angry.
Ruriko nodded erratically, agreeing with Kyoko. Her fear ebbed just a bit after learning that the man was Kyoko's father.
"Sorry, Matsunai-san, was it?" Tadashi smiled sheepishly, removing his hand from the girl's shoulder and bowing in apology. "Did I hurt you?" he asked the singer, examining her when he straightened back up.
Ruriko bowed in return to the distinguished older man in front of her. She blushed as his golden eyes softened with concern for fear of having hurt her. She shook her head no, vigorously, unable to form an audible response.
"Ruriko-san, this is my father. Morimoto Tadashi-san," Kyoko said, completing the introductions. She was glad her father was back to normal. When Ruriko just stared dumbly at him without responding, Tadashi took it upon himself to break the tension.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Matsunai-san. I'm very sorry for my behavior earlier," Tadashi apologized again, rubbing the back of his neck with a boyish grin. He had overreacted and felt stupid right now.
"Eh, Ruriko-san is everything ok?" Kyoko asked, concerned by Ruriko's behavior. Did her father scare her that much?
"I'm fine," Ruriko barely squeaked out, finally pulling herself together. She blushed again before walking down the hall to the elevators. Why are you being such a spazz? He probably thinks you're a mute right now!
Tadashi and Kyoko quickly caught up to her. Stepping up to the elevator first, Tadashi pushed the button, then held the door to let the ladies inside. He smiled warmly at Ruriko, hoping to give off a friendlier vibe, but the girl could barely look at him.
Ruriko pressed the button to the floor that would take them to Nakazawa's office.
"Can either of you fill me in on what's going on?" Tadashi asked as the elevator ascended.
"Oh, sorry, father. I'm actually surprised that Yashiro-san was able to handle everything so quickly. I accepted a cameo in a new singing drama. It's a small part, but my character is supposed to have a positive influence on the protagonist. I'm excited that it's not a bully role again," Kyoko said with a gleeful smile. Her smile dropped when she thought about the other part of her character. She had to sing. A dark aura started to fill the tiny space of the elevator. Ruriko was feeling faint from the oppressive atmosphere.
"It sounds like a good opportunity," Tadashi praised, wondering why her mood had changed. Kyoko nodded but still looked depressed. "Is there a part you don't like in the script?" He asked curiously. If he had his way, Tadashi would negotiate whatever was making her unhappy out of the contract.
"I have to sing. I'm not sure if I'm any good," she explained, sinking further into despair.
Tadashi had never heard her sing before, so he was unable to give the concrete criticism that would help her out of this slump. He didn't want to lie to her, but his gut told him she would be amazing at it with a little practice. If need be, he would hire the best teachers for her. Before he could offer any fatherly advice, Ruriko managed to speak up.
"Are you stupid? Why would you think you would be offered this job if they thought your singing was terrible. You still kinda piss me off with that attitude. It was the same with Ring Doh, acting like you didn't know anything...and to think, I almost lost the part to such a newbie like you," Ruriko huffed, folding her arms across her chest.
Kyoko brightened at the singer's words but was still confused. "Ruriko-san, coming from you. I feel so happy, but you have never heard me sing before."
"Nakazawa-san has a recording of you singing," Ruriko declared. Kyoko's eyes widened again, still not understanding her statement. "There was also that karaoke competition. Eye witness accounts said you were good. I'm sure with a little vocal training, you will be able to do a good job."
Kyoko's eyes filled with hearts at having been praised by her senpai. Before she could ask more questions, the elevator door dinged and opened to their floor.
Ruriko stopped in the middle of the hall and turned to Kyoko. "Things won't go as well as last time. You are technically on my turf. I won't lose to you this time. I want this to be successful so be prepared to work."
Kyoko smiled with determination, "I am looking forward to working with you!" Ruriko-san has really changed since Ring Doh. She's taking her work more seriously.
...
"Ruriko-chan, you found her! Kyoko-chan, I'm so happy you decided to accept the part. Have you had a chance to look over the draft script?"
Kyoko bowed in greeting to the section chief, "yes sir! The part interested me greatly. I will do my best with the singing portion so as not to disappoint anyone."
"No worries, Kyoko-chan, I heard your voice while you were singing in the LoveMe room. With a little training, I'm sure you will be successful," Nakazawa assured her. Kyoko flushed red with embarrassment. Was she so loud that others could hear her in the hallway?
"Excuse me, Nakazawa-san. I am Morimoto Tadashi, Kyoko-chan's father, and acting manager today. I will do my best to represent her in Yashiro-san's stead. It seems like this job was accepted just today so I was not briefed on the details. What exactly do you have planned today? Kyoko-chan has another engagement in..." Tadashi paused to check his designer watch for the time, "under two hours."
"Pleased to finally meet you, Morimoto-san. Yashiro-kun had mentioned your involvement. He shared with us, me, and the other section heads, Matsushima and Sawara, Kyoko-chan's schedule so far. That's how I knew she was free for a bit today. Please come with me!" He motioned for them to follow. They went out of the hall and took the elevator up again.
Nakazawa took them to a room Kyoko didn't know existed in the building. It was a music studio filled with instruments, speakers, microphones, and other equipment necessary to produce music. Ruriko plopped down onto one of the black leather couches lining the back wall, clearly at ease with the place. A large desk full of computer monitors and more equipment sat before a large glass window. Beyond the double pane glass were more instruments in the adjoining room. There were a variety of guitars hanging on the walls, a complete drum set, a baby grand piano on one side, and several other instruments, including a large harp. They also had a secluded booth in one corner with a microphone hanging from the ceiling.
Kyoko's eyes strayed to the man sitting in the other room with a guitar propped on his lap and headphones over his ears. She watched him strum a few chords then pause to scribble on the sheets in front of him. He repeated the process of strumming and scribbling for a few moments without noticing them.
When he took a long pause, Nakazawa clicked on a button on the large equipment panel sitting on the desk in front of them and said, "Kei, I brought Kyoko-chan." His voice startled the man inside the other room, causing him to curse and drop his pencil. They watched quietly as he gathered his stuff and came out of the room.
Kyoko took in his appearance as Nakazawa made the introductions. Kei had straight messy black hair that flowed down to his shoulders. His skin was pale, almost translucent as if he rarely saw the sun with soft brown eyes framed by thick black-rimmed glasses. The way he was casually dressed in jeans and a band t-shirt made him look to be in his early twenties, but she couldn't be sure. Nakazawa explained that Kei was one of LME's top music producers. He was a composer for the drama and in charge of Kyoko's song.
Kei studied the actress in front of him. Initially, he wasn't familiar with any of her work. When he heard that they were pushing for her to fill the role, he immediately did his research. Being part of LME, he was familiar with the hardships she was facing right now. He ignored the issue that was happening with the other girl and focused on her interviews along with her recent article in Boost magazine. He wanted to know her, not the characters she played.
He was immediately drawn to the feelings that she had for Ren. It was obvious to him from the way she spoke about the actor and her reactions that he was her first true love. Using those feelings, he was able to compose a song that he hoped would suit her voice. The recording Nakazawa had given him was shoddy, but he heard potential in it. She came highly recommended by the chiefs so he couldn't argue with their choice. The director had readily approved when the Diva now sitting on the studio's leather sofa agreed to the arrangement. Apparently, she had some sort of rivalry with the girl and had something to prove.
The voice he heard didn't match her overall appearance. Kyoko looked like a normal pretty girl in her school uniform. She had a slight figure, but it was her eyes that captivated him. They were large and expressive with a very unique color for a native Japanese girl. Her look would fit the role as "Rika Sterling" really well with the right outfit and makeup. He would never have guessed that she was Ren's type. From the rumors he overheard from the female staff members, it would seem that this slip of a girl had Japan's hottest male wrapped around her little finger.
"If you're through ogling her, old man, can we get on with it?" Ruriko commented sarcastically and rolled her eyes.
"I was not ogling. I'm observing and we're the same age, you know. I'd like to get an idea of her overall appearance and determine if the song would fit the image she's trying to portray," Kei replied smoothly. "Why are you here anyway, and where is your manager? Don't you have some work to do?" He asked, annoyed by the singer's presence.
Ruriko stuck her tongue out at him. "She'll be along shortly to collect me, so hurry up. I want to hear Kyoko-chan sing."
"Ugh, fine!" he agreed, reluctantly. "Kyoko-san, can you tell me a bit about your knowledge of music? Can you play any instruments? Read music? That sort of thing."
"I've had no formal training. It was just something I was interested in during middle school," Kyoko began explaining. They didn't need to know that she had done it all to help Shotaro. She was glad she no longer held a grudge against him. She could now look upon things she did in the past as a learning experience to help her achieve her dreams. "I'm familiar with notes, but as for an instrument, I tried the guitar. I'm not very good," she confessed, feeling a bit dismayed. She thought of Ren and how he had practiced hard to learn the piano pieces for Katsuki. It somewhat cheered her up and gave her confidence.
"But I promise to work very hard so that I can grasp my role," she vowed, fired up with renewed determination.
"That's right, Kyoko-chan! We all have confidence that you can pull this off!" Nakazawa cheered, giving her a thumbs up.
"Well, at least that's something I can work with. For starters, how about you show me what you can do with this." Kei reached for the glossy black acoustic guitar he was using earlier. "If you tried the guitar then I assume you practiced a song?"
Kyoko nodded shyly, reminded of the song she played over and over, secretly in the music room at school, until she got it right. It had been years since then. She gave it up when Shotaro had made fun of her singing.
"Good! Find a comfortable seat and I want you to try," Kei told her. He handed her the guitar once she took her seat. Tadashi took off his suit jacket and handed it to his daughter. It seemed she was a bit uncomfortable with her school skirt. Kyoko smiled at him gratefully and covered her legs with it. She pulled the strap over her shoulder and settled the guitar comfortably. She took a few practice strums before glancing up at her audience in the room.
Kei nodded encouragingly. Her hand placement and movements looked good so far.
Kyoko took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to visualize the right chords. She positioned her left hand over the frets and began plucking single notes. When she had run through the song twice, she strung more notes together on the third try. Once she got the hang of it, her fingers flew confidently over the strings. She went through the song once more and surprised everyone by adding her voice, "Twinkle, twinkle, little star; How I wonder what you are; Up above the world so high; Like a diamond in the sky..."
When neared the end, she slowed down the tempo and added her little twist to the song before looking up. She was met with wide eyes and gaping jaws. Tadashi clapped enthusiastically before the others joined in. It was a beginner's song, but the way her fingers moved through the chords was impressive. His daughter was truly amazing!
Kyoko blushed, stood, and bowed her thanks. "I'm sorry that's all I can do," Kyoko said, apologizing for her lack of skill.
"Are you kidding? That was more than I could hope for," Kei shouted, enthusiastically. He had prepared himself to start from scratch on the guitar. She was obviously being modest earlier. He had watched her struggle at first trying to get her rhythm, but once she found it, she was unstoppable. If he showed her how to play this new song, she would catch on quickly.
"Your voice is good. You were on pitch the whole time. This is the song I have in mind for your Rika, but it's not quite finished. I've been working on it all morning. I'm sure you already know it's in English since Rika is an international star," Kei said, handing her the music sheets he had been writing on when they first walked in. He took the guitar from her and settled it on his lap.
"I'm going to run through it for you once. Then we'll try it again with you singing along. This will give me an idea of how to arrange the music to best suit your voice. Okay?"
"Yes!" Kyoko agreed, excitedly watching his fingers strum out the new song. Kyoko looked down at the sheets he had given her to follow along with when he started singing. His voice surprised her since he started in falsetto. From speaking with him, she didn't think he was capable of singing so high. His voice fell an octave or two, but he continued singing in perfect pitch and only rose on certain parts of the song. The melody was slow and the lyrics were powerful. He stared at her as he sang, making Kyoko blush.
She felt like she was intruding on something very personal. Her heart squeezed with every lyric. She could feel the raw emotion behind it. It was as if the song was broadcasting what she felt in her heart. The spell was broken when he stopped abruptly at the end of the second verse. He still had to work on the ending.
Kyoko blinked rapidly when a tear dropped onto the music sheet she held in her hands. She swiped at her eyes. Kei handed her a box of tissues, apologizing for making her cry. It was a common thing in this studio to have strong emotions when it came to music.
"I'm sorry that was just so...so moving. If it's not too personal, may I ask what inspired you to write this kind of song?" She wondered if he would tell her. Sho never told her no matter how many times she asked. He would always say something arrogant like he just thought of it on a whim.
"You did, actually," Kei confessed.
"Me?" Kyoko squeaked, blushing again.
"Yes! I mean, I draw inspiration from what is currently going on in a singer's life. This way, the songs I write are meaningful and relatable to the artists singing them. While listening to the song, did you ever think that this is exactly how I feel? Can he see into my heart? How in the world does he know?"
Kyoko's amber eyes widened with surprise. That's exactly what she was thinking as she followed along with him. He had to be a descendant of the God of music himself to have that kind of insight into her very soul.
"I've researched you. Not any of the characters you played, but you, yourself. There was one recurring theme throughout your recent interviews and that Boost article. Do you know what it was?" He paused, waiting for her answer.
Kyoko took a moment to think about her most recent interviews. There was the Heel reveal, then the one with Ren and Sho. She wasn't sure exactly, so she shook her head no, hoping he would explain.
"It's your love for Ren-san. I could tell right away that he is your first real love so I wanted to capture that emotion in the song. I think this song will be a mega-hit once you're able to pour your heart and soul into it," he confidently admitted.
Kyoko blushed scarlet. Was she so transparent in her love for Ren that this stranger had noticed? Was she becoming a love idiot again? She glanced at her father. He smiled at her warmly. No one was making fun of her for it. I will be just fine, she thought, smiling back at her father.
"Now, let's hear you sing along this time," Kei told her, readjusting the guitar. Kyoko nodded with a smile towards Kei. She looked down at the sheets. As Kei stated, she would pour all the love she had for Ren into this song.
Notes:
Thank you for continuing to read. I've once again added a new OC to the bunch *facepalm* so I hope he is believable. I'm not a musician nor have I ever taken any lessons long enough to count (but I used to kick ass at Rockband and Guitar hero XD) so if I used terms wrong, please don't hesitate to correct me. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it.
Oh and if you didn't know Kyoko sang/played the lullaby/nursery rhyme, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" which I think is a common beginner's song unless you play it like the OG Mozart! LOL
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 87: Bro Code
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren and Yashiro would have more personal talks by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Yashiro closed his eyes and tried to imagine that he was at a theme park, securely strapped into the most thrilling ride of the day. He always loved roller coasters— the velocity, the tight corners, and the sudden drops from high above that they offered. It made him feel like a daredevil. He especially loved when there were loops involved, the more, the better. Yet here he was sitting shotgun as Ren took them for one final spin in the little sports car praying, between squeals of fright, to Kami-sama that they wouldn't die.
One of Fraser's test drivers had given Ren pointers on how to drift the sports car in under ten minutes. They had just wrapped up the final scene of the CM using the straightaway portion of the manufacturer's test track and had some time before his next appointment. It was the obstacle course section of the track that had Yashiro screaming like a little girl. On this side, vehicles were tested on their handling and accidental avoidance features which meant there was always something appearing in their way rather quickly.
It was the challenge in Ren's voice, "live a little," old man, and the small smirk dancing on his lips that had Yashiro bravely climbing into the passenger seat. Could be fun, he thought as he figured out how to strap himself into the four-point harness seat belt. The robustness in the belt alone was already a bit disconcerting. He should have known better.
Yashiro opened his eyes a tiny slit when the car finally came to a halt. Am I dead?
As if reading his thoughts, Ren responded, "You survived, Yashiro-san. I didn't even go very fast." There's no way I would after what happened with Rick, Ren thought solemnly.
"Well, you went plenty fast in my opinion, Ren!" Yashiro scolded, making Ren chuckle. Yashiro's knees continued to tremble as they said their goodbyes to the director and the rest of the team.
Fraser-san handed Ren his business card and told him to call him if he was interested in a new car. He would gladly give him a deal he couldn't refuse. In other words, free. Ren thanked him and followed Yashiro out for his next appointment.
"Yashiro-san, are you still angry with me?" Ren asked while Yashiro drove them to the next site. Yashiro stared straight ahead with both hands gripping the steering wheel tightly in a proper ten and two o'clock hand position like he was taught at driving school. Yashiro shuddered remembering the little stroll Ren had taken him on.
Eventually, they came to a red light and Yashiro turned to give him a dry look. His face heated, recalling the unmanly squeals he had let loose while Ren drifted them around the track.
"It sounded like you were having a lot of fun," Ren stated, failing to keep the laughter out of his voice. He had never seen his manager so distraught in all the years he had known him.
Yashiro replied coldly, "Ren if you ever tell Kyoko-chan about my behavior today, I will make sure to sign you up to endorse every single food product that comes across my desk. That includes CM's, cooking shows, celebrity contests, etc… for the rest of your lucrative career."
"Eh…that's a bit overkill. Plus, I promised to always tell Kyoko everything," Ren teased. "If Kyoko thinks I'm starting to keep secrets from her again, I'm not sure what would happen to our relationship. It took us so long to finally get to a good place only to see it crumble over something so silly," Ren said with an exaggerated sigh.
"Ren, I'm asking you as your best friend. Honor the Bro Code. If you tell Kyoko-chan, she's going to tell Kanae. Girls talk, Ren! Don't you know that? Kanae probably already knows all the sordid details about your relationship," Yashiro retorted seriously.
"What?" Ren croaked, his throat going dry. He turned wide eyes toward Yashiro, his face draining of all color. Yashiro didn't register Ren's shock and continued his rant.
"You know what, just tell her! Just tell her! I'm comfortable in my masculinity. Any sane person would have been terrified in my position. After all, I'm a hardened criminal these days, no one would believe you," Yashiro boasted. He was mostly joking with that last part. He turned to Ren once he quieted down.
"Something wrong?" Yashiro asked, confused by Ren's expression.
"What exactly do you think the girls talk about?" Ren asked, after reining in his panic. While Yashiro ranted, he worked it through his mind that he had nothing to worry about. He trusted Kyoko. She would never tell anyone his secret, including her best friends. Now he was curious to know what else they might have discussed. Like, am I good in bed?
"The usual, I guess," Yashiro answered. Ren's hopeful face had him explaining in more detail. "I used to overhear my sister talking to her friends about nonsensical stuff. Like who was the best kisser. How lame was the last date? How far she got with what's his face. If he's packing or not. If they had some misunderstanding with a guy. They always seek each other's advice for that stuff...they talk. No topic is taboo with best friends."
Ren got a general idea. "I see. Well, I'll try not to tell her, but there's no guarantee. I can't lie to her if she asks."
Yashiro let out a sigh. "It's okay, I'll live. I just can't promise that I won't retaliate by signing you up for something food-related."
Ren winced. He supposed it was only fair after taunting and scaring Yashiro.
"So the meeting today is to go over the contract for your next drama. I did turn in all the red lines you had in the script over to the director," Yashiro said, changing the subject.
"Did the director mention anything about my changes?"
"He was a bit disappointed but willing to compromise."
"I'm not comfortable performing those kinds of scenes right now. I know I sound childish and unprofessional, but I don't want that to put a strain on our relationship."
"What if Kyoko-chan was the actress?"
Ren smiled slyly without replying. Of course, he would consider it in a heartbeat but was he willing to share her with the audience like that was another matter.
Kyoko and Tadashi made it through the security gates of the Sacred Lotus set unscathed. As usual, the vultures were waiting for their next big scoop. Since the barricades were behind the entrance, they couldn't get near them. She ignored the questions being shouted at her and handed her bag over to the security guard. After passing security, they walked into the courtyard to find everyone milling about at the center. Their focus changed to her. She could feel the glances and whispers directed her way. It was nothing malicious. She saw more sympathy and curiosity in their eyes. Koga spotted her and approached with a grim expression.
"Whoa, Kyoko-chan. I guess it's that time of the year already huh!" Koga teased when he finally reached her, gesturing to her school uniform. She had planned to change out of it after filming tonight.
"Koga-san, good evening," Kyoko greeted him with a graceful bow. She was relieved that he was still treating her the same. "I started school yesterday. Though it's a bit..." Kyoko didn't have to finish her sentence. Koga nodded in understanding.
"By the way, what's going on here? Will we be filming today?" Kyoko asked. It didn't look like the place was ready. None of the equipment was out nor were the sets prepped.
"I don't think so. Producer Kuresaki and Director Jouji wanted to make an announcement. I just hope it's not to cancel the project," Koga said in a depressed tone.
"What do you mean?" Kyoko asked, startled. Would they do that? lt would be a huge disappointment after so much blood, sweat, and tears were poured into this drama.
"Rumor has it that a lot of the sponsors for Morizumi projects are backing out because of everything that has happened," Koga whispered to her. "Ric-san is chastising himself in that dark corner over there." Koga pointed across the crowd at a dark spot in the set. If she squinted, Kyoko could barely make out a silhouette of a person over there. "He said something about his father getting angry with him if this project fell through and he also feels responsible for Kimiko-chan."
Kyoko felt a small pang in her heart. Nobody should blame themselves for the wrongdoings of others. It had taken her some time to convince her father that none of this was his fault. It would take Yashiro more time to come around since his direct actions were responsible for Kimiko's injuries. She shuddered at the memory of watching Kimiko flail around the room engulfed in flames. The biggest thing that would stick with her for the rest of her life would be the horrible stench of burning flesh. That could have been me! She thought, clenching her hands into tight fists. Worse! It could have been Kuon. Kyoko was pulled from her musings when the director and producer stood before the crowd.
"Good evening, everyone! I think we have everyone here now," Jouji announced, looking around the crowd. "It's already a few minutes past the meet time, so anyone late would have to be back briefed. For starters, I want to thank you all for coming! This is a bit awkward given the circumstances. I'll start with the good news...Kamisama knows we need some right now. I'm sure you are all anxious to know but we have received the green light today from our sponsors to proceed with filming." A round of applause and cheers from the team erupted from the news.
"Unfortunately, we lost a talented member of the team. Hanazawa-san's skill was superior to none when it came to historical design. It would be some tough shoes to fill, but I have high regard for the talent on our team. I want to extend this out to everyone here. I don't care if you are a lowly gopher or a top-paid actor. You are all important to the success of this production. To us…," he emphasized, gesturing between himself and Kuresaki. "You are all invaluable. So I can't stress this enough...if you are having any hardship at work or home, please come forward. I don't want the same mistakes to be repeated. And if you see something suspicious, I implore you all to please speak up. I am guilty of this act myself. I couldn't believe my adorable niece was capable of such horrific acts. We think we know a person and they just..." He trailed off, still in a little shock from the information he was privy to concerning his niece.
"Jouji..." Kuresaki whispered by his side, trying to get his friend to focus.
"Ah right! That's all I wanted to say today. I appreciate all of you showing up. If you don't have any work assignments tonight, you will be receiving an email from the scheduler. We will start fresh tomorrow morning. So those of you that can, please enjoy the rest of your evening. I'm afraid you won't have some free time for a while. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!" The crowd responded enthusiastically and clapped for him. A good portion of the stage crew remained behind to prepare for tomorrow.
"Kyoko-chan, since we have all this time now, would you like to have a bite with us? I plan on inviting Ric-san. I don't think he needs to be alone right now," Koga asked with pleading eyes. "I'm sure Ric-san will appreciate it. We can't invite Asahina-san though. I don't think Ric-san cares for her company."
"Asahina-san? Why?" Kyoko blurted, surprised. She thought the actress was pretty and performed well with a kind personality that people, especially, men loved.
"Something about an invasion of privacy..." he answered, waving his hand to brush off the topic. "Pleeeeaaase," he begged, holding his palms together. "I think you can help me make him feel better."
Kyoko sighed, staring at the hopeless form rooted in the dark spot. "Fine, but I get to choose the place. I don't want to hear any complaints!"
"Yes! Okay, I'll go let Ric-san know."
Kyoko giggled watching Koga bound away like a little boy to inform his friend.
"Father, is it okay if we go there?" Kyoko asked, turning to address Tadashi.
"Of course, sweetheart. I was planning on swinging by for take-out, but now that we have time, I'm sure they would be happy to see you are well," Tadashi smiled. He knew exactly where she wanted to go.
"Kyoko-san! Morimoto-san! Can we please have a moment of your time?" Kuresaki called out to them. Tadashi and Kyoko turned at the producer's voice. Kyoko bowed once Kuresaki and Jouji were in front of them.
"Kyoko-san, we owe you a sincere apology," Jouji began and he, along with Kuresaki, gave her a very formal bow.
"Morizumi-san, Kuresaki-san, please. I appreciate the apology, but you don't need to," Kyoko sputtered. It felt wrong to have her superiors bowing to her.
"No, Kyoko-san, it is necessary. We failed to fulfill our part of the contract. We did not ensure your safety while you were in our care. For that, we deeply apologize to you and you as well Morimoto-san," Kuresaki told them. The two men bowed again.
"Thank you both," Tadashi cut in, bowing to the two men. "I will leave my daughter in your care once more."
"Yes, thank you. We will learn well from our mistakes," Kuresaki assured him.
"We want to also thank you for intervening on our behalf Morimoto-san. We had a meeting before this with Koenji-san. It is thanks to you that we can continue," Kuresaki said bowing again.
"I didn't do much. I know how hard you have all worked to ensure this film's success. I am looking forward to the result of everyone's effort," Tadashi told them with another slight bow.
"Kyoko-san," Jouji began and fell into a dogeza. "What my niece has put you through is inexcusable. Allow me to be the first of the Morizumi family to express our deepest apologies. As her Uncle, I am also held accountable for her actions. I guiltily doted on her far too much that I created a monster. I am not asking for your forgiveness or your mercy. I just wanted to selfishly make myself feel better and apologize."
"Director Morizumi-san, please I beg you," Kyoko hissed and crouched awkwardly so as not to draw too much attention to them. Her effort was futile since those left on the site were staring at them, wondering what was going on. Kyoko helped the man to his feet.
"I think it's time we get back to work, Jouji," Kuresaki stated in his monotone voice. They bowed one last time before turning their attention to the set.
When they were out of earshot, Kyoko turned to Tadashi. "Father, was the film on the verge of getting canceled?"
Tadashi gave her a guilty look, "Koenji-san was ready to cut his losses. All I did was share my experiences on the set with him. It didn't take much to convince him to change his mind. I'm sure he wasn't too keen on the idea either."
Kyoko threw her arms around her father. "Thank you," she exclaimed. She was so happy to have him in her life. Tadashi chuckled, hugging her back. He would do anything to protect her happiness.
"Come on, let's go. It seems your friends are waiting," Tadashi said, pulling away from her. They headed towards Koga, his manager, Cedric, and his translator/manager.
...
Hi, how is work? I'm on my way to dinner at the Darumaya with Father and...don't get mad, Koga-san and Bennett-san. Think you can join us? Kyoko hit the send button.
A few minutes later her phone chimed, I hate contract negotiations the most about this job...Unfortunately, I'm stuck! I'd rather be with you. I'm not mad. If anything, I'm a bit disappointed that I'm unable to see Taisho giving those two a hard time.
Her phone chimed again. I'm glad I can't have dinner with you. Taisho would skin me alive for the Heel siblings. Maybe I'll wait until his anger has simmered a bit then beg for his forgiveness.
Kyoko paled as she read his last text. She had forgotten all about the Heel siblings even though tonight's job was part of it. Taisho could barely look at her when she first dyed her hair. How would he treat her now that he knew she was behind Setsuka?
I forgot! She typed back.
I have to head back in but don't worry. He'll come around. I'll see you tonight. I love you! *kiss kaomoji*
Do your best! I love you! *blowing kiss kaomoji, beating hearts, sparkles*
Tadashi smiled at his daughter as she giggled at her phone. They were almost to the restaurant. He had sent an important email of his own to Mya during their commute and hoped she would think his idea was a good one.
…
The group that walked down the street towards the Darumaya looked very suspicious. They wore hats and sunglasses to disguise themselves, but all it did was heighten everyone's curiosity about their commanding presence. Passersby couldn't help but follow them with their gazes as they walked up to the pair standing in front of the small traditional Japanese restaurant. Kyoko was glad that there didn't appear to be any paparazzi buzzing around disturbing her ex-landlords. When they entered, the whole restaurant went silent, stunned by the appearance of so many celebrities.
One inebriated loyal customer, whom Kyoko was familiar with, broke the silence. "Kyoko-chan, my dearie! Did you trade in that tall good looking guy for two lesser ones?" His friend on the stool next to him slapped him upside the head. The customers in the restaurant laughed and returned to their business. They knew Taisho didn't tolerate that kind of behavior and wouldn't hesitate to refuse them service.
Ouch! Koga grimaced at the burn directed at him. Cedric chuckled and shook it off.
"Kyoko-chan, it's so good to see you well," Okami-san greeted, taking Kyoko into her warm embrace. "And you as well Morimoto-san," she added with a graceful bow.
"Please don't be so formal. You'll always have a home here," Okami assured her. Kyoko thanked her and introduced the rest of her party. Before Kyoko followed Okami down the hall, she stopped to pay her respects to Taisho. She was relieved when he gave her his usual greeting and grunted in acknowledgment. Kyoko happily went down to the private room where Okami had settled her friends. They were already looking over the menu while Okami took their drink orders.
"I'll help!" Kyoko offered, following Okami out of the room. She wanted to spend some time with the couple while she was there. Kyoko entered Taisho's space and found him already plating his signature fish dish.
"Dear! You have to stop doing this," Okami scolded. Taisho feigned innocence and gestured for Kyoko to follow him with the other plate. Kyoko pressed her lips together trying to hide her smile. Ren already understood how Taisho operated. She wished she could capture this moment to share with him, but knew it would be too rude. Kyoko would just have to observe them properly to reenact their expressions for him later.
Koga and Cedric both looked confused when the plates were set before them.
"I'm sorry, sir, we didn't order this. Perhaps you have the wrong table," Koga said politely, trying to hand the plate back.
"Please have a meal!" Taisho growled, glaring at Japan's number two actor. Koga's eyes went wide with fear. He nodded, hastily picking up his chopsticks and pulling a portion of the fish skin back to take a bite. Koga smiled up at Taisho, "Mmm, delicious."
Taisho nodded approvingly. Then turned to Cedric. The American lifted his chopsticks but hesitated as he got close to the fish. He turned his head up to Taisho and knew how to say what he needed in Japanese. It was one of his usual phrases, "Can I have a fork, please?" The bleak look on Taisho's face told him that was a faux pas.
"I'll be fine," Cedric said, feeling the sweat pool at his hairline and proceeding with his chopsticks. Taisho left the room with Kyoko.
"Dude, I've seen you eat fine with chopsticks. What gives?" Koga asked. Cedric's Japanese was improving every day but he turned to his translator for help. He could read it better than understand conversation depending on the speed of the speaker or their use of slang. Koga had the habit of using a lot of slang so it took Cedric a while to dissect his words.
"Fish with chopsticks takes too long," Cedric grumbled, holding up a morsel of fish pinched between his sticks.
Koga laughed and continued eating. He had no clue why he was eating this fish when all he wanted was some meat. Once again, they even left without taking their order.
Koga stopped eating when he realized the others didn't have any food. He put his chopsticks down and apologized.
"Oh no, don't worry about it. Please eat your meal. The food here is delicious. I'm sure Kyoko-chan will bring us some good stuff," Tadashi assured him. Just then Okami-san entered with bottles of sake and beer. She refilled their water glasses before leaving with the promise of bringing them something to nibble on.
Meanwhile, Kyoko stood quietly in the kitchen next to Taisho attending to her workstation. She was chopping the ingredients needed to cook the main dishes while Taisho prepared the appetizers.
"So is that boy working tonight?" Taisho asked as he expertly sliced up some fish.
Kyoko smiled. He was addressing her like normal. "Yes, he has a meeting for his next drama."
"I will make a bento for him and Yashiro-san."
Kyoko hummed her thanks happily and bowed.
They worked in comfortable silence for a few more minutes until Taisho asked, "And you, how are you? That girl?"
"I'm doing fine. I have a lot of support. Thank you for worrying about me!"
"Please continue to take care, so I don't worry," he told her, turning to meet her gaze. Kyoko bowed again, tears pricking her eyes. "Here, take these now and join your friends."
Kyoko could hear the revelry filtering down the hall. It sounded like Koga was enjoying himself. She came in bearing a tray laden with karaage, steamed and fried gyoza, and a tray of various sushi and sashimi. Another employee brought in soup and salad. Kyoko passed out little plates and served the table as a good hostess. They ate and drank until the main dishes that consisted of noodles, tempura, unagi, fish, beef, various pickled dishes, and rice were served. Everyone was impressed with the meal.
"I can't believe I've never eaten here before. How did you find this place Kyoko-chan?" Koga asked with a mouth full of food.
"This place is like my second home," Kyoko beamed proudly. "The Taisho and Okami gave me a job here before I joined show biz. I try to help out when I can find the time. It's getting harder these days with my schedule."
Koga frowned looking at Tadashi. The man looked a bit embarrassed. He was going to ask another question but Cedric stuffed his mouth with food and gave him a look that told him to shut it. There was obviously some history there that was none of their business.
"Well, the food is delicious, Kyoko-san. I'd like to give my compliments to Taisho, but I think he hates me after my blunder with the fish."
Kyoko laughed, impressed that Cedric had caught on so quickly. "Don't take that to heart. Ren failed the first time too."
"Hah!" Koga exclaimed. He took great joy in knowing there was someone else out there that disliked that guy. "Wow, that Taisho is scary. So we were being tested or something? Do you know if I passed? Is it some rite of passage that every patron needs to go through to eat here?"
"He doesn't give it to customers like that so I'm not too sure of his motives," Kyoko commented cluelessly. Tadashi believed that he used the technique to judge the character of those trying to get close to Kyoko.
When Kyoko had finished eating, she started gathering the dirty dishes and told them she needed to get ready for her next appointment.
"Sho, tonight is your last concert before we head back to Tokyo. The President wants you to stay away from Kyoko-chan. She has a lot of negative press buzzing around her as it is, she doesn't need you to complicate things," Shoko warned, glancing up from her computer to pin him with her no-nonsense gaze.
Shoko could tell he was worried about his childhood friend even though he tried to deny it. His mother still refused to share the girl's phone number with him so he couldn't exactly call her. She had caught him earlier browsing Kyoko's fan site which was a surprise. Sho only ever bothered with his social media page. If he wasn't making music or watching variety shows, she would usually catch him on his site. He loved posting pictures of himself and basking in the glory as fans clamored for the top comment spot. It always amazed her how these girls could respond within milliseconds of his post. She had no clue the internet could work so fast.
"Sho? Did you hear me?"
"Yes, I heard you! Quit nagging," he groaned, exasperated. That stupid girl got herself mixed up in a heap of trouble this time, making him feel useless as usual. There were no other updates beyond this morning's broadcast. A few still shots of her leaving school with that man who claimed to be her father were shared, but that was it.
"Did Asami-san find out if she was accepted the job yet?" Sho asked, thinking that would be his best shot at talking to her again.
"No, Haruki hasn't heard anything. They could be delayed because of everything that's going on over there. I'm sure her manager has his hands full with his problems."
"Tch!" Sho clucked. He'd make her pay the next time he saw her if dared to turn this job down. He would also demand they exchange phone numbers.
Notes:
Thanks for sticking with me! I apologize for the long delay. Life has gotten busy so it's taking me longer to clean up chapters. If you're truly impatient, this story is at 201 chapters and is pushing 1 million words on FanFiction.net. Thanks for always reading!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 88: No Longer Alone
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would understand by now that she has family in the people around her.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"There, Kyoko-chan. You look lovely tonight," Okami praised as she put the last pin in the top knot of her hair, leaving the rest of her long black strands to cascade down her back in soft curls. Kyoko smiled gratefully at her pseudo mother as her heart swelled with love for the woman. It was nice having another maternal figure making a fuss over her.
"Thank you, Okami-san," Kyoko replied, then buckled the black belt around her waist. She stood in front of the full-length mirror and twirled around in the flowy knee-length skirt with its vibrant panorama motif.
It was quirky, yet elegant like its designer, and no matter which way Kyoko turned, the print was different at every angle. At her waist, the skirt was mostly white, then blended into snowcapped mountains to fields of red poppy flowers with female silhouettes dancing through the foliage. A river ran between the valley of the mountains, flowing through the flower fields carrying a steamship. As if the print wasn't busy enough, shiny black floral appliqués were stitched randomly into the skirt.
Kyoko had paired it with a black sleeveless high collared shirt that tied into a bow at the neck. On her feet, she wore white kitten-heeled pumps and white knee-high stockings. She had to thank Fuji for gifting her another beautiful outfit. She had applied a minimal amount of makeup using translucent powder, blush, mascara, and lipgloss just as Aya had taught her to finish off the look.
Once finished, she made her way back down to the restaurant. It had taken her nearly thirty minutes to get ready which included preparing the clothes she packed and curling her hair. Kyoko had left her costars to finish eating and wondered if they were still in the room. If anything, she still had to collect her father. Knowing him, he was probably working. She felt guilty and selfish for keeping him in Japan while he had responsibilities in New York.
As she walked to the private rooms, she received many compliments on her outfit from the patrons she passed on the way. Many had their cellphones out, snapping photos of her that would probably end up on the internet. The action was still so foreign and had her wondering if she would ever get used to the cameras outside of work.
Kyoko slid open the shoji screen, shocked to find Koga with his head on the table and Cedric slurring in English as he told him his sob story. Their managers were gone and Tadashi wasn't even in the room. There were several empty bottles of sake on the table that wasn't there when she left. How much did they drink in the short time I was gone? And where is everybody?
"Are you guys okay?" Kyoko asked worriedly. They were big stars. Wouldn't it be bad if they were found drunk?
"Kyoko-chan! Welcome back!" Koga exclaimed, lifting his head off the table.
"Youuuuuu, youuuuu kno sumthin'...I thought Kimi wassa friend. I thought Japanese were sposed to be nicesh...like Yamato Naaa…dessshh..ko...Ha!" Cedric shouted with an exaggerated laugh. "Haaaa! Good joke!" He messily poured himself another shot of sake and chugged it down.
"Kyoko-chan, you smell nice," Koga grinned lopsidedly and sniffed the air. "Tsuruga-kun is so lucky to have someone as cute as you. Waaaaa! I want a girlfriend too! Why is that guy always beating me?"
"Eng-ga-lish," Cedric demanded. "Annnnywaysss, as I was saying. I have more life experience than you, Koga. Liiisssten, liiiiisten to me! All… women... are... trouble, no matter where they're from. No offense, but you don't count," Cedric deadpanned the last part and pointed at Kyoko.
Kyoko's eyes widened, slightly offended. Why don't I count? Did he not see me as a woman? Do I really have no sex appeal? Is Kuon blind? Her grudges geared up to throttle the foreigner.
"You look pretty by the way," Cedric complimented, propping his chin on his hand and flashing her a lazy smile. Kyoko's grudges retreated, defeated by the simple praise and not caring that it was obviously done under the influence. "Do you still have work?"
Kyoko frowned, unable to decide if Cedric was drunk or not. One moment he was exaggerating his speech like a drunkard, then he was perfectly coherent. Either way, she was skilled at dealing with drunk customers from working here and the Ryokan so his behavior wasn't shocking.
"Yes, I came to say goodbye. Will you guys be okay?" She asked, flicking her gaze between them.
"Yesh, disishs nufthin," drunk Cedric answered.
"What about your managers?" Kyoko pursed her lips to keep from laughing at the switch.
"We sent them home," coherent Cedric sat up and reached for the bottle again.
Kyoko hesitated. Could she leave them alone in their state?
"Go," Cedric waved her off after overfilling his cup, making Kyoko cringe at the spill. The hostess in her wanted to clean up the mess before she left.
"Don't worry about us. We're big boys," he gasped after gulping the drink in one go.
Kyoko nodded. He was right. They were grown men and would have to suffer the consequences of their actions tomorrow. "I'll be leaving first then. See you at work tomorrow."
"Nooooo! Kyoko-chan, don't leave me alone with this guy," Koga wailed in agony, grabbing her heel as she tried to leave.
"Koga-san, this is your chance to help your friend. All he needs is for someone to listen," Kyoko hissed, shaking Koga off as gently as possible.
Ever the polite kohai, she bowed before rushing out of the room. From the hall she overheard Koga say he was going to call some friends to hang out with them. Oh boy! I hope they don't get on Taisho's bad side. Just in case, she went to apologize in advance to Taisho to ensure her costars' safety.
...
"Hello, Mya?" Tadashi answered his phone as he stood outside the back of the restaurant waiting for Kyoko. "I didn't mean to disturb you that's why I sent a mail. You didn't have to call me back right away! Isn't it early there?"
"Early? It's almost 7 AM here. I've just come from the gym. I wanted to hear you for myself. The only time we talk lately is on business calls. Is everything okay over there?"
"Things are a little complicated, but I had anticipated this kind of result."
"And Kyoko-chan. How is she coping?"
"That's the thing. I'm not quite sure if she's strong or keeping things to herself. She is the one comforting me. Shouldn't that be the parents' job? That's why I want to do something fun for her and her friends...So I needed your opinion."
"I think what you've decided is perfect. Spare no expense Tadashi. Make sure to include an assortment of sweets and tea. I'd say some bubbly, but she's still underage. I'll send you the name of the place I used while I was there. It's very elegant and gives off an Ojou -sama vibe. I think she will enjoy it. It will take long hours, so make sure to book it on her day off."
"Here you are, father, sorry for making you wait," Kyoko said, stepping out from the back door of the restaurant.
Tadashi turned around and smiled at the sight of his beautiful daughter with his ear pressed to his phone. Kyoko whispered an apology and waited patiently for her father to wrap up his call.
"Mya, I have to go. Kyoko just came out. I'm escorting her to her next assignment. We'll talk later."
"Tadashi, don't worry. You're doing great! Talk to you soon. I'll send you the info. Give my love to Kyoko-chan!"
"Thank you, Mya. I owe you!"
"I did have my eye on this new Prada bag..." Mya teased.
Tadashi rolled his eyes and chuckled. "You're an extortionist! I'll see what I can do. Tell Todd and the kids I said hello. I'll bring some goodies next time. Bye-bye!"
Tadashi's smile remained on his face when he turned his full attention to his daughter. She looked like she came straight off a runway.
"You look lovely, sweetie. Now do your Dad a favor and let's take some pictures." The back alley of the streets of Tokyo would make a perfect backdrop for a quick photo shoot.
"Just a few; otherwise, I'll get too self-conscious."
Kyoko was innocence personified. She reminded him of a young Audrey Hepburn as she leaned against the wall and smiled demurely.
"Can we take some together now?" She asked after he took some photos of her. She didn't have to ask him twice. They stood in the middle of the deserted street taking a few more pictures.
"Do you mind if I send this to Mya-chan?" He asked, holding up the picture that he snapped of them laughing together when Tadashi struggled to press the button. Kyoko nodded with an approving smile.
Her father and Mya seemed to have a good relationship. A pang of guilt rushed through her at the thought of taking him away from everything he cherished in America.
"Are you ready to go? Do you have everything?" He asked, opening the car door. Kyoko went back in quickly to say goodbye to the couple. She returned with her bag and the promised bentos with the words of Taisho echoing in her mind like a bad premonition, Tell Ren-kun, I worked hard.
Kyoko kept fidgeting throughout the long car ride. She wanted to ask her father about his life in America but was too afraid of the answer.
Tadashi frowned trying to figure out what was bothering her. She had been in good spirits just a few minutes ago.
"Kyoko-chan, is everything okay? You seem a bit out of sorts," Tadashi inquired. He always prided himself on his ability to read people; however, his daughter had him second-guessing himself all the time.
"I'm fine," she replied quickly. A little too quickly for him.
Tadashi cocked his brow curiously. He was experienced enough with women to know that I'm fine were loaded words.
Kyoko winced. Her response sounded suspicious even to her ears. Tadashi waited patiently for her to explain as he watched her take a deep breath. "It's just that…I feel like I'm taking up your life. I mean, you've built this whole life for yourself and you're changing everything for me. I can't help but feel guilty."
Tadashi smiled softly and took her hand in his, relieved that this was what had been troubling her. He had thought she was finally feeling the effects of the Morizumi incident and was at a loss on how to help her. Boy was he glad to be wrong. He liked that she threw him off his game all the time. It was refreshing.
"Kyoko-chan, finding you has been the greatest joy in my once dismal life. I can't imagine my life without you anymore. Please be rest assured that I'm exactly where I want to be...with my family. You and Ren-kun are my family. Is that...oh no, please don't cry..." He dug inside his coat pocket for his handkerchief and handed it to her. "Is your makeup waterproof? I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm sorry."
Kyoko shook her head and smiled through her tears. It finally hit her that she was no longer alone and was wanted and loved. It was nice to finally have a family. Her mother was even making an effort to be in her life. At seventeen years old, Mogami Kyoko was no longer lonely.
...
Yashiro and Ren leaned against the hood of the car waiting for Kyoko to arrive since his last appointment ended sooner than expected. The Director was amenable to Ren's changes making him open to a compromise that didn't take long at all. Yashiro would have suggested grabbing dinner to kill time, but Kyoko was bringing food from the Darumaya. They still had about forty minutes before the interview started and decided to wait outside.
Both were heavily absorbed on their phones when Yashiro's started to ring. Ren glanced up nervously from his screen, wondering who could be calling. He hoped Kyoko was okay. These days, he was always nervous when she wasn't with him, wondering if she was safe. There was a little nagging thought at the back of his mind that one day she would disappear leaving him shattered beyond repair. It wasn't a healthy thought, but he couldn't deny its presence. Accidents happen every day and evil people succeed at destroying lives. Ouch! That thought hit a little close to home.
"Hello, Yukihito Yashiro speaking!" The manager greeted, answering the call. The speaker on the other end was loud, making Yashiro pull the earpiece back to avoid damaging his eardrums.
"Yashiro-san, I don't care who I have to kill, I want my models in my studio as soon as possible," came the high shrill voice from the receiver.
Yashiro looked at Ren astonished. "Fuji-san, is that you?"
"Of course, it's me! Who else could be such a drama queen?" The annoyed voice of the designer was really loud for not being on speakerphone.
"Ehhh, I have them scheduled for the end of the week. Is there a problem?" Yashiro asked.
"Yes, there's a problem! It's a crisis! I am being stunted creatively and require my muses ASAP! I need them, Yashiro-san! The sooner, the better!"
"Okay, Fuji-san, I understand! I'll see what I can do. I will have to call you tomorrow to see what I can shift around."
"That's all I ask. Thank you, Yashiro-san. I apologize for being a diva. If there's anything I can do for you please let me know. I'm on your side."
"Thank you, Fuji-san. I appreciate your support. I will contact you tomorrow," Yashiro promised. They exchanged goodbyes and hung up.
Yashiro let out a deep sigh and pulled out his planner. He had to perform a miracle right now. Fuji sounded like he was under a lot of stress. To him, as the designer, the countdown to fashion week was approaching at the speed of light. Ren and Kyoko would be departing earlier to have a few days of much-needed rest and relaxation too. With all the new jobs they just accepted, things were getting tight.
"Fuji-san sounded in a panic. I wonder if everything is alright," Ren asked, his face scrunching in consternation. The LA job was important to him. It was the push he needed to get him to face his parents…face his past, and hoped it wouldn't fall through. He didn't know if he would find the courage again if he didn't go now.
Headlights bounced off of them as Tadashi's black sedan pulled up to the back gate. Ren's whole body shifted with anticipation at the arrival of Kyoko. He bookmarked the website he was exploring on his phone and closed the link. His research would have to continue later. Ren adjusted his clothing and ran his hands through his hair while he waited for the car to come through.
Yashiro tried to hide his smirk watching his friend. He cursed inwardly that he didn't have his smartphone on him. The quality of video from his older phone would have to do. He was not missing a chance to capture his friend's change in demeanor and the way he fidgeted. It was so unlike Ren. Yashiro fangirled as he thought he was getting a glimpse of the future. Is this the level of nervousness I should expect on their wedding day? His eyes glossed over as he daydreamed about his favorite couple on their special day.
The manager kept his phone on record while the car pulled up beside them, wanting to capture their reunion. Ren moved forward and opened the door to help Kyoko out. She stepped out quickly and threw her arms around Ren's neck. Yashiro caught the whole encounter on video. From the soft blush on her cheeks to the deep inhale from Ren as he nuzzled her hair. Best of all, the gentle meeting of their lips. Yashiro's inner fangirl kyaaa'd at the sweet display before him. He couldn't wait to rub it in Lory's face.
They pulled away from each other's embrace and stared deeply into each other's eyes. Ren frowned at the redness he saw in her normal vibrant eyes. "You've been crying? Who hurt you?" He asked, his anger slowly rising. He was going to kill Koga or Cedric or both.
"Ah no, these are remnants of happy tears," she dismissed with a shy smile. Ren's anger dissipated and was replaced with a tinge of jealousy. Who had moved her so much that she had cried from happiness?
"Sorry, Ren-kun, it was my fault," Tadashi confessed with a lopsided grin.
Damn! I can't be jealous of my father-in-law.
Ren greeted Tadashi and walked over to help the man. He was removing Kyoko's bags from the trunk and transferring them over to Yashiro's vehicle. Kyoko brushed him and pulled out a guitar case.
"Ren, could you get the other one?" She asked sweetly.
The other one? Sure enough, there was another guitar bag in there along with a rectangular hard case. "Is this one yours too?" he asked slinging the guitar strap over his shoulder and lifting out the hard roller? Kyoko nodded.
"The roller will have to go in the front seat. The trunk isn't large enough for all of this," Yashiro informed him. Ren walked to the passenger side and placed the case inside. "Is all this for your singing drama?"
"Kei-san wants me to practice with the acoustic guitar since it's easiest to bring along. The other one is an electric guitar used for the film. I can't wait to show you it when we get home. It's the most beautiful instrument I ever laid my eyes on. I can't believe they're allowing me to use it. It's going to be tough, but I hope to master the song in the next two weeks. Father took a video of Kei-san performing the song I need to learn. It's..." Kyoko couldn't finish since the blush threatened to burn her cheeks.
"It's what?" Ren prodded. He was feeling a little insecure with all this Kei-san talk.
"Kei-san said it was our love song...Kyaaa!" She couldn't believe she admitted that out loud.
"He wrote a love song for you?" Ren's ultra-gentlemanly smile began creeping on his lips.
"Not for me, silly." She gently pushed at him. "The song was inspired by you and me. Us. Our love…or more correctly, my love for you," she corrected, her face heating up to supernova proportions.
"Oh, I would love to hear it when we get home then." His fake smile retreated and morphed into one belonging to a higher order.
"Noooo! You can't! I'm awful right now. Please give me one week so I can perform it properly. Kei-san said I have the potential to learn it quickly," she pleaded.
Kei-san again. Ren would need to investigate this Kei-san thoroughly. He shifted the conversation to stop her talk of another man. It was childish of him, but he couldn't help it.
"You look beautiful by the way," he said, reaching for her hand and twirling her about to view her from all angles. Kyoko giggled as she turned. It was so easy to accept his compliments now that their feelings were mutual. She remembered not long ago when such words coming from him were taboo. It was funny how the same words she swore would surely make her wither and die now had the opposite effect. Coming from him, they made her feel confident and alive.
"Thank you, you look rather dashing yourself," she responded, smoothing her hands over the lapels of his jacket. The slim-cut burgundy suit and black dress shirt with a soft watercolor print of flowers in whites, pinks, and grays he wore complemented her outfit perfectly.
"Can we take a picture of you two?!" Tadashi asked eagerly. Kyoko's father and Yashiro stared at the couple with eyes aglow and phones at the ready. The couple laughed together and posed for the two addled men with them. When the photo shoot was over, Tadashi said goodbye to the couple. Before leaving, he pulled Yashiro to the side to get his daughter's schedule. He needed to know her next day off to finalize his plan.
"Shall we go inside? I brought the bentos from Taisho," Kyoko offered, holding up the large wrapped package. Once they were settled in the green room, Kyoko handed out the boxes that Taisho had distinctly labeled. Yashiro's bento was beautifully arranged and according to the man delicious. Ren's box, on the other hand, was equally beautiful; however, he also had enough to feed a whole family. Between the note, Please enjoy and the message he gave to Kyoko, Ren had concluded that Tasiho was indeed angry with him. Kyoko had insisted that Taisho was the same as usual tonight which meant he gave her a pass. His beef was only with Ren. It was up to Ren to beg for the man's forgiveness. Finishing the food before him would be a good start.
"Ren, it's okay if you don't eat it all. You can't appear defeated on camera," Kyoko scolded. Ren tended to act like he was on his death bed if he overate. He couldn't show that side to his fans.
Fifteen minutes later, Ren was laid out on the couch clutching his cramping stomach. He had stubbornly eaten too much too fast. Kyoko and Yashiro were unamused by his behavior.
"Thanks, baby," Ren groaned, sitting up as she handed him some digestive pills and a glass of water.
Just then, the assistant came by the room and called five minutes to the start time. "You are an idiot!" Kyoko stated flatly, smoothing her skirt as she stood. The man was insufferable when he was stubborn. She loved that he had made an effort to finish all the food Taisho had prepared for him but now he was suffering. She left the room first to collect her thoughts, wanting to get rid of her irritation before they got on stage.
"Ren, are you going to be okay out there?" Yashiro asked, watching Ren struggle to stand after swallowing the pills. The actor nodded confidently, but the grimace on his face did not convince his manager.
Ren took a deep breath, put on his game face, and went to find his girlfriend. He needed to make up with her before they went in front of the cameras. She was chatting with the husband and wife duo, Yuudai and Emiko Souma. The couple that would be their host and hostess for the night. She gave him a warm smile as he approached, melting away the apprehension he felt when she left the room. That was a genuine smile, right? Ren returned the gesture and joined the group. The conversation with the older couple was teasing and lighthearted, easing the tension between Kyoko and Ren.
Eventually, they were called away for showtime leaving Ren standing backstage with Kyoko. His hand slid to hers and intertwined their fingers. He lifted her hand, brushing his lips against the back of it. "I'm sorry," he whispered apologetically.
Kyoko hummed pursing her lips together to keep from smiling. She didn't need to reprimand him anymore, his pain was enough punishment for his stubbornness. "Are you okay now?" she asked, her tone laced with concern. He had looked terrible in the waiting room.
"No, my stomach is about to burst. I want to unbuckle my belt and remove my pants right now," he confessed. A loud "Kyaaa!" sounded behind them followed by a thud. A woman passing by had fallen victim to Ren's words and fainted on the spot. The couple looked on while people rushed to help her.
"Ren, let's keep the talk about undressing to the bedroom," Kyoko replied, forgetting lower her voice. Snickers and a series of coughs sounded around them. Kyoko's face turned bright red with embarrassment. They had heard her. "I meant in the privacy of his bedroom, undressing by himself. Not with me in the room...I mean...Oh, Kamisama, I'm going to shut up now," she gulped covering her face. Her explanation had made things worse as a few of the men chuckled and gave Ren a thumbs-up.
Kyoko was relieved when they were given their cue to go onstage. "Showtime baby," Ren resounded with a chuckle. He pulled her hand from her face and tugged her along beside him. When they were in sight of the audience, he slowed his pace so they could walk side by side and still hand in hand. They made a stunning pair together. It took several minutes to get the audience under control. It was comforting to hear Kyoko getting as much attention as Ren from the crowd. The majority of the audience seemed to favor them as a couple.
"Welcome, Tsuruga-san, Kyoko-san. Thank you for being on our show," the Soumas greeted simultaneously. The young couple thanked and bowed their greeting to them and the audience before taking their seats. Ren made sure they sat close together and never released Kyoko's hand.
"By the way, you two look fabulous in those outfits. I love the coordination, it's very cute. Kyoko-san, are you feeling okay. Your face is quite red," Yuudai asked with concern.
"Ah, I'm fine, Souma-san. It could be I'm flushed from all the excitement," Kyoko explained naturally. She fanned her face with her free hand hoping to get her blush under control. There was no way she was going to admit why she was so embarrassed.
"Understandable…this is after all the second interview you have done with Tsuruga-san since you two went public, counting the Heel reveal. We've been trying to get you two on our show together for the longest time. I'm glad the timing worked out so perfectly," Emiko chimed in.
What Emiko didn't say was how all the intrigue surrounding the couple was putting their show at the top of the ratings when it aired tomorrow night at its regular prime time slot. It was truly perfect timing that they had this interview scheduled before everything hit the fan. The team was instructed that under no circumstances were they to touch on the recent events with the Morizumis or the interview would be over. The Soumas were fine with that stipulation. They had more than enough content on this couple to keep their segment entertaining.
"So we're just going to get down to the nitty-gritty. We'll start with the most recent. There's been talk!" Yuudai announced.
"Lots of talks," Emiko emphasized, eliciting a laugh from the audience.
"I'm sure you two have heard the talk. People you've worked with, cast and crew, are spilling their guts to anyone that would listen about your behavior on the set of Tragic Marker!" Yuudai grinned mischievously, making the young couple gulp.
"We're here to extract the truth from the two of you. Put you both in the hot seat per se," Emiko added, her eyes alight with mischief.
"What my wife is trying to say is we're going to play a game using comments that are being said in the tabloids about the Heel siblings? You two will have to confirm or deny whether the statements are accurate," Yuudai explained.
Kyoko and Ren nodded unsure about what they were getting themselves into. Truth be told, they weren't up to date on the sibling gossip being spread by their colleagues.
"Great, let's get started," Yuudai said, pulling out a card from the stack on the small table in front of them. "Ooh, right off the bat, this one is for you Kyoko-san."
Kyoko sat up straighter her hand clenching Ren's nervously. He had to control his face to keep from wincing from the pain of her grip crushing the small bones in his hand.
"Manaka-san has boldly called you out on your acting skills. She says, and I quote, 'I'm a little disappointed that Setsuka-san was just a role. I was a true fan. One such incident on the set that left an impression on me would be when Setsuka-san actually pushed me down while filming on Guam. I was just trying to be friendly with Cain-san. It was such a Setsuka-san thing to do and now that I know she was Kyoko-san acting all along I'm inspired at her passion and ability to ingrain herself into a role.' Can you confirm or deny that you in fact had such an altercation with the lead actress Kyoko-san?"
Oh shit! That Manaka! Was she picking a fight with me? Is this her way of getting revenge? Will I be charged with assault if I admit to this? I have no idea how to answer this question. I much prefer to admit to giving Ren a hickey even though I would die of mortification. No one can blame me for wanting to touch him, he's Tsuruga freaken Ren. Wait a minute, Manaka had phrased it as 'pushed'. I practically threw her across the deck so maybe it will be okay to admit.
Ren squeezed her hand encouragingly.
"Well, you have to understand, Souma-san, my Setsu is extremely possessive. She doesn't share her precious Nii-san with anyone. Manaka-san was getting entirely too friendly for Setsu's taste," Kyoko admitted with a slight blush. Her response had the Soumas along and the audience in stitches.
"Okay, okay, so that one was true. Yikes, I feel sorry for any woman that sets their sights on Tsuruga-san. You heard that, right ladies? I've been in this business a long time and always a little bit of an actress' personality is in every character she portrays so you've been warned. Kyoko-san is very possessive," Yuudai declared with a chuckle.
"As she should be hubby. He is Japan's number one according to women in their twenties for the past few years," Emiko added.
Kyoko giggled and ducked her head while Ren beamed with delight. She knew she should deny their words but honestly, there was a lot of truth behind it. She trusted in Ren's love. It was his costars she was worried about. If this interview served as a little warning to anyone, woman or man (in their line of work, she couldn't discriminate), to think twice about getting close to her man outside of work she would use it.
"Okay, moving to the next one," Emiko said, picking up another card from the stack after receiving a signal from her producer to keep things moving. "Ooh, this one is for Tsuruga-san to answer. Okay."
"So this crew member claims, 'When we were on Guam, I knew something was off when we spotted Heel-san walking barefoot through the hotel lobby with sandy feet. I had this feeling that there was more to the guy than he was letting on. He looked lonely without his sister. Now we all know why.' Is this true, Tsuruga-san, we're you lonely on Guam?"
Kyoko stared at Ren expectantly. He never did tell her about the time he spent on Guam after she left. She saw every one of his videos of him eating and she knew he practiced cooking. It made her wonder what else he did when he wasn't working.
With a light laugh, Ren said, "It's true. I used to take walks on the beach at night after a long day at work. I'll admit, it was a little out of character for Cain to be out there, but it helped me relax and shrug off the remnants of BJ. Portraying him was a challenge for me. It was very intense." He turned towards Kyoko with a dramatic pause, "and yes when work was finished and I was left alone to my thoughts, she was always on my mind."
There was a chorus of "Awws!" throughout the studio. Kyoko tightened her hold on his arm and hid her face against his jacket sleeve. No one could tell which was redder his suit or her face.
"Okay, I can't take it. We're going off script here because we're dying to know," Yuudai exclaimed excitedly. "One thing a lot of these quotes have in common is the behavior you two had with each other on set. The hot looks, the hugging, the feeding, sitting on laps, among other things. This all obviously happened wayyy before you two made your public announcement at the awards ceremony. When exactly did you both start? How long have you been hiding from the public?"
Ren was curious to know what the among other things entailed. Was it the hickey she gave him or his violent behavior on set? It was decided beforehand that they would tell this teeny white lie to the public so that it would explain away their intimate behavior on set.
"Well we liked each other long before the Dark Moon days (he exaggerated) but didn't actually start acting on our feelings until right before Tragic Marker," Ren explained, the lie rolling off his tongue so naturally. This was the easiest way to keep Kyoko's reputation intact.
"I knew it!" Emiko shouted with a whoop. "You owe me ten thousand yen, darling," Emiko exalted. The duo had made a bet previous to the show on the timing of the couple's relationship and she just won. She knew that they had been secretly dating way in advance before that announcement. She felt the chemistry just from watching Mio and Katsuki interact with each other in Dark Moon. It almost felt like they should have been the fated couple in that drama.
"I'm just amazed at how you guys managed to keep your relationship so quiet for so long. That's quite a feat given that you're Tsuruga Ren. There was not a single peep of gossip regarding you in a relationship," Yuudai said in admiration. Everyone knew the truth behind Kana's kiss stunt, so he wasn't even going to bother to reignite that drama. There was no point giving that woman any sort of press for her deplorable actions.
Emiko nudged her husband, pulling him out of his thoughts, and extended her hand palm up. Yuudai sighed and pulled his wallet out from his jacket pocket. He handed a ten thousand yen bill over to his wife. Emiko winked at Kyoko as she tucked the money into her pocket.
Kyoko sighed in awe of the couple. She hoped in twenty years, she and Ren could be just like them, still doing what they love, together.
Notes:
Thank you for sticking with me. I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 89: Illegal Activity
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren/Kuon would reveal more memories of Rick.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Jiro sat hunched over the couch with his head bent facing the floor. His elbows were propped on his knees and his forehead rested on the backs of his interlaced hands. Sighing, he lifted his weary head, resting his chin on the back of his hands, and stared at his daughter. His chest tightened watching her sleep. Thick gauze covered the angelic face he had fallen in love with the moment she made her debut into this world. This was real life. He had to remind himself that what he witnessed in that meeting room with his family was not scripted for him to direct for an award-winning drama.
Jiro switched off the light with the remote and clicked on the first file. A slideshow of photographs popped up on the conference screens. The smaller flat panels mounted on each side wall repeated the content displayed on the large main screen. The setting was an outdoor balcony of a shopping plaza. Two women are shown as the photos scroll through their attempt to carry then push a blindfolded person over the railing. As the photos progressed the lenses zoomed in on the faces of the perpetrators and the victim. There was no denying the identity of his daughter and niece.
Once Jiro realized the photos were of Kimiko, he closed the file immediately. The outrage among his family was instantaneous. They demanded to know what they were watching. Jiro shook his head in denial. This had to be a lie and yet he knew in his gut that his daughter was capable of such horrific acts. His family insisted they see the rest of the files. The next file was a CCTV video of the same incident. This video captured the ladies emerging from the balcony doors, struggling to carry their bundle to the edge. He watched Kimi and Yuri's expressions turn to shock as they looked out across the balcony. Jiro caught the quick lighting changes on their bodies. It reminded him of premiere nights when numerous flashes from the media's cameras were going off simultaneously. Soon afterward, a man is seen coming through the doors. The girls drop the victim to the ground and address him.
A person in a wheelchair and another man carrying a laptop enter the scene. He heard his brother whisper, "Koenji."
"Is there any sound to this?" A cousin asked. The sound? Footage like this usually never had sound because it required additional wiring to do so depending on the tech. He went to the bottom corner of the screen and clicked to remove mute from the speakers. The voices were clear as if a recording device was right on them. Someone must have edited it to include the sound. It was much too clear for it to be part of the video. The truth was finally out. This was the reason why his daughter had quit acting.
He sighed again, trying to forget those videos. Jiro knew one thing for certain, he needed to speak to Cedric. Being in the film industry, many in the room could tell that the videos were not falsified. The last video showing Kimiko's madness with her failed attempt at harming the actors was the final nail in the coffin. This was incriminating evidence. It proved his daughter and niece were guilty. He was surprised that they gave Kimiko so many chances to walk away. Jiro had been too late in his intervention. Kento advised him that the best he could do with this kind of evidence was to counter with a plea deal. He promised Jiro he would have a plan forward by tomorrow morning. In the meantime, he wanted Jiro to try to talk to Kimiko.
Yuri was already booked and released on bond with an ankle monitor attached to her. Her sentence would be light since she was only considered an accessory to Kimiko's crimes. The one thing they had going for their case was the fact that none of Kimiko's acts were ever successful.
Kento had cornered Jouji after the meeting and asked him about the girl in the wheelchair. His brother looked pale as he recounted the story regarding Erika's casting as Momiji and then her accident resulting in a re-audition for the role. After hearing his brother's answer, Jiro knew that the girl was another one of his daughter's victims. Just how many more were there?
Jiro returned to the hospital expecting to find Kimiko lucid but the doctor had informed him that she had needed a sedative to calm her down lest she injured herself further. The doctor, with his permission, ordered a psych evaluation to be conducted on Kimiko first thing in the morning. He wanted to determine the extent the trauma had on her mind.
Tadashi shook hands and greeted a few businessmen as he weaved himself to the back of the club. He was becoming a regular here that as soon as he sat down a flask of his preferred brand of sake was set before him with a tiny porcelain cup. The hostess smiled provocatively at him and shimmied her hips as she left.
"I think she likes you," Sota smirked at his friend. Tadashi gave a derisive snort in response. There was no way he would get tangled up with any woman right now, especially one so young. The girl was half his age, probably only a few years older than his daughter.
"You can't keep living like a monk. Think of yourself a bit."
Tadashi chuckled and sipped his sake. "I'm happy. I've already lost a lot of time with my daughter. I prefer to spend it with her."
"So...did you guys manage to find out anything yet?" Tadashi asked, leveling his gaze with his friend's. The case with the Morizumis was practically a done deal, but Tadashi wanted to be thorough. He didn't like that they had completely missed the other woman's role in the whole mess. They had been monitoring Kimiko's social media, but not her phone. It was a total miscalculation on his part. Her phone was used as a source to send her reminders and track her by GPS. The only consolation for his blunder was the fact that Kyoko was safe.
"You're always all business, don't you ever have time to unwind and relax. Kyoko-chan is fine now."
"Fine, what do you have in mind?" Tadashi groaned, giving in to his friend. Sota snapped his fingers twice and in an instant, two girls (they were girls in Tadashi's eyes) slinked into the booth beside them. Tadashi glared at Sota for the move. He should have seen this coming.
"Ladies, please introduce yourself to my friend," Sota gestured toward Tadashi with a sarcastic smile.
"Hello, I'm Nina," the brunette woman sitting across from him greeted. He grimaced and nodded in response.
"Hi, I'm RiRi-chan," said the giggling blonde woman that slipped into Tadashi's side. He tried not to roll his eyes at the immature girl. The hostess that had brought his drink earlier tapped on RiRi's shoulder and told her to get lost. RiRi left pouting. Tadashi cocked his eyebrow at Sota who in turn shrugged. This woman was very bold.
"Tadashi, this is Hisa. Hisa, Tadashi," Sota introduced. Hisa reached for the bottle in front of Tadashi and refilled his cup. He raised it to her in thanks and took a sip. In return, He bought a drink of her choice. Hisa sat with him nursing her glass quietly. An odd contrast to the way she flirted when he first sat down. They didn't speak which Tadashi found strange but enjoyable.
When his sake bottle ran dry, Hisa moved to get up for another. "Don't worry about it, Hisa-san, the boss and I have important business. Thank you for the company," Tadashi told her, tipping generously. Sota and the other girl had left them alone earlier, but all they did was sit there and drink. No flirtation or witty banter was exchanged. She was just as content sitting there as well. So they sat, drinking, saying nothing for the last ten minutes until their cups were empty.
Tadashi made his way to the back of the club and entered Spectre's lair. The young man was once again engaged in some online party battle. Tadashi watched as the guy and his team tried to defend their territory. Sota eventually walked in a few minutes later and stood next to Tadashi.
Ignoring his employee's game, he turned to Tadashi, "The whole point of cutting loose is to have a good time. You know how hard it was watching you. It's not like you to be so rude and ignore a lady, what gives?"
Tadashi gave his friend a dry look, "I was thinking you would suggest a game of golf, maybe even some racquetball, not fraternizing with girls as old as my daughter."
"Good God man! Next thing you know you would be suggesting we sit in a sauna. Just how old do you think we are?"
"Hey, don't knock the magical powers of a sauna. A lot of big business deals are conducted there."
The two were bantering back and forth that they didn't notice Spectre watching them with an amused smile.
"If you two geezers are done," he said, turning around and pulling up the file he had stored. "I have all the information I could find on the manager." He clicked the print button so Tadashi could have a hard copy for his records and handed him a thumb drive with a soft copy of the same file. While the info was printed, Spectre gave them the highlights of the file. Yuri had always been close to Kimiko so it was a given that she would manage her career.
"She's clean as a whistle on paper, but I did manage to find something on her back when she was studying abroad in America, Los Angeles to be precise. It's an old police report of her car being stolen."
"Why is that even significant?" Sota asked. L.A. had its fair share of gang-related crime so a stolen car was not unheard of.
"Her family is rich, right? So of course, even overseas, she would live in an upscale apartment. What do all ritzy places like that have?" Spectre paused, waiting for one of them to answer his question. Both men shrugged.
"They have surveillance!" He yelled, exasperatedly. "You'll see..." he promised, clicking on a video file. "I pieced together footage from her building. This is her car entering the parking garage...look at the time stamp on the video and look at the front."
Sota and Tadashi looked carefully at the white BMW sedan as it drove into the garage. The silhouette appeared to be of a woman in the driver's seat, but the tint on the windows was too dark to identify the person behind the wheel. Spectre was right though, the front of the vehicle along with the windshield appeared to be damaged. Tadashi still wasn't following where the hacker was going with this.
"That car was later identified as the vehicle involved in a hit and run. The victim was killed." He pulled up a news article of the incident that was almost six years old. White male, late teens early twenties, died on impact after hit and run in downtown LA.
"Are you saying she's responsible for this accident? All it says here is eyewitness accounts stating that a white car hit the guy. How can you be sure?" Sota pointed out the obvious gaps in Spectre's story.
"I'm just hypothesizing here. It's in the police report when they recovered the stolen vehicle. One of the officer's made a connection to the accident based on the condition of the car. The word used was 'allegedly' but was never confirmed," Spectre explained with a shrug.
"The condition of the car?" Tadashi asked as he tried to speed read through the rest of the police report that Spectre had on another display.
"After the report was filed the next morning, police found the car at an abandoned warehouse, torched."
"Cars only get torched to hide evidence," Sota stated. "I'm surprised it didn't blow up."
"How in the world do you even find this stuff out?" Tadashi asked, staring at the young man with an expression of awe on his face.
"Everybody leaves a digital footprint nowadays. I just happen to know how to sneak into backdoors, even foreign ones," Spectre beamed with pride.
"Why the hell are you working for this Joe Schmoe?" Tadashi joked.
"Hey, I resent that. He is well compensated, mind you. What other Boss would let this guy play video games all day? He does some voodoo magic with the computer that he barely has to lift a finger."
"Just don't let me catch you doing anything illegal, illegal," Tadashi warned. Having Spectre hacking into servers wasn't exactly kosher, but Tadashi was prepared to bend laws for the protection of his daughter.
"Hey, I got out of that shady business a long time ago. I'm a legit club owner now that likes to stay in the know with his clientele. Your commission is the most illegal thing we've done in years. Do you know how many servers he had to hack to get your information…. No matter, it's fine. It gets old quailing scandals for those geezers out there. The most we do is dig up dirt on politicians, business opponents, but mainly, we investigate their wives. You wouldn't believe how many we've caught having affairs. These men have no problems having a little fun with the girls here, but God forbid if their wives do it. A bunch of hypocrites. What they do with the information we provide is none of our business."
"In that case, since it will be my fault, I know a good lawyer should you get caught," Tadashi added with a chuckle.
"You and the baby mama getting cozy again?" Sota teased, elbowing his friend in the ribs.
"Ugh no, that ship has sailed. She's married now, I think. I'm just saying she's an excellent lawyer."
"Do you want us to check? It would be child's play for Spectre."
"Check what?"
"If she's married."
"Let it go. Let's focus on the point here," Tadashi said, obviously irritated. He wanted to drop the subject. She was happy now and that's all that mattered to him.
Ren sat on the living room couch reading the final script for his firefighter role scheduled for tomorrow. He was contracted to do three episodes to help inflate the rating mid-season.
Buzzing from his phone resting on the coffee table alerted him to a new text. He reached for his phone to see who could be contacting him at this hour.
Dad .
Kuon was almost too afraid to open the message. Although they were aware of everything going on, his parents had to be upset that he had yet to contact them. He sighed and clicked open the message.
Hey son, just checking in to make sure you're both OK. I know you two can overcome this together, but please keep your parents' sanity in your thoughts and stay safe. XoXo, Dad.
Kuon tapped out a response of apology and told his Dad they were doing fine. He settled back down to review his script again. A few minutes later, Kyoko emerged from the bath distracting him. She looked adorable wearing the princess robe he had given her and hoped she had a relaxing time. Seeing her like this made him recall the talk he had with Yashiro after the interview. Tadashi had thought Kyoko could use some pampering and wanted to schedule a spa day for her and her friends on her next day off. Kuon was a little disappointed that he wouldn't get to have her all to himself, but he knew she would enjoy a day with the girls since he at least got to see her every day.
Kyoko flashed him a megawatt smile and settled on the floor in front of the couch, beginning the meticulous task of brushing out her long raven locks. If she didn't comb it thoroughly, she would wake up with her hair all knotty.
Kuon found his eyes gravitating towards her with every stroke. The ivory skin on the back of her neck was exposed as she pulled the brush through her hair. Thoughts of wanting to kiss that particular spot flooded his mind.
His lips quirked at the corners into a tiny smile as she cursed under her breath when the brush got caught in tangled strands. Since he was already distracted, he stood up from the couch and moved next to her. Kyoko stopped mid-stroke and stared up at him.
"Is something wrong, Kuon?" Kyoko asked, wondering why he just stood there.
Kuon held his hand out pointing towards the brush. Kyoko held it up to him, a question of this written on her face. He took the brush from her hand and motioned for her to scoot forward, settling in the spot behind her. Kuon parted her hair like he saw her do earlier and pulled the brush through the strands, working gently from the bottom up.
Kyoko couldn't stifle the satisfying moan that escaped her lips. There was something very intimate about having the man you love brushing your hair.
Kuon chuckled, kissing her softly behind the ear, making her burn with embarrassment. He loved that the little things he did to her, even the most innocent, inflamed her.
"How was your day, baby? Kuon asked, continuing to pull the brush through her hair.
"School was fine, I think? My father told me he has a meeting with the Principal tomorrow. I don't know what that's about. I hope I'm not in trouble."
Kuon laughed at her cuteness. She had to be the teacher's pet at school. He doubted the meeting had anything to do with her causing trouble, but perhaps the paparazzi may be causing problems.
"Have you ever gotten in trouble at school?" she asked curiously. She felt Kuon tense behind her. Kyoko, you're so stupid. You probably stepped on a land mine. "I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking asking you such a question."
Kuon sighed and put down the brush. He didn't know what to tell her. When was he not in trouble with school? He started skipping school when he was fourteen and when he did show up, he got into fights. If it wasn't for his ability to test well; and his parents' generous donations, he probably would have been expelled long before. Damn, I was such a shitty son.
"I just don't want to disappoint you. I've seen the inside of my Principal's office so many times I can even tell you how many degrees and achievement plaques he had on the wall behind his fancy oak desk."
"That bad, huh?" she commented, turning towards him with a sympathetic smile.
"I brought it upon myself. If I was just stronger emotionally, I could have made better choices…been a better son," he answered, hanging his head low. Kyoko reached up and lifted his chin so his emeralds clashed with her amber.
"If you were all that, then I would never have met you again," she said, casting her eyes to the side, no longer able to meet his gaze. Her lips trembled and her eyes burned with unshed tears. She felt wretched for saying something so selfish.
"Hey," he cooed, gently tucking a stray lock behind her ear. Even still, she refused to meet his gaze. "I would be lying if I said I would do it all over again if it meant being here with you. Somehow, though, I feel like fate would have eventually brought us together in some other way. Do you ever feel that way?" he prompted, skimming the back of his fingers along her jawline.
Kyoko caught his hand in hers and brought it to her lips. Of course, she did; she still believed in fairy tales and Princes after all. The lump in her throat slowly dissipated. Kuon pulled her onto his lap wrapping his arms around her. He was so large in comparison that she often felt like a small child in his arms.
"I don't have many fond memories of school. Things like friends or events, nothing like that. Rick was my only friend back then. He was older than me, so we never went to the same school."
"Um...can I ask...how did you two become friends?"
Kuon ran his fingertips up and down her spine— the movement therapeutic for him. It always calmed him down when he was feeling anxious.
"We didn't become friends right away. I was wary of him. You see, back then, people would approach me only to get on good terms with my parents. So I didn't trust them. One day, my mom dragged me along to one of her modeling shoots. I think she was just feeling guilty that she worked so much. Rick was there. His girlfriend was modeling the junior line. He sat a few seats down from me and just stared."
"Creepy," Kyoko shivered.
"Right! It made me uncomfortable. Then out of the blue, it was like a light bulb finally turned on in his mind and he said, 'you're that firestarter kid?'" Kuon remembered how he had clamped his hand over Rick's mouth so fast to keep his mother from hearing. He didn't want her to worry about him, especially while she was working.
"Why would he say that to you?" his girlfriend inquired.
Kuon sighed heavily. "Right before I met you in Kyoto, I felt defeated after a bad experience on set. I found an empty barrel and burned everything in my bag, scripts, audition forms, acting books. I guess I wasn't very covert as a kid. He somehow saw me and recognized me over two years later. I think he took pity on me because ever since then, he couldn't leave me alone. He was always trying to teach me something."
"Are you glad you met him?"
"Yes…and No," he replied, dejectedly.
He didn't need to elaborate, Kyoko understood his answer clearly. Yes, Rick filled the lonely void in Kuon, albeit negatively. And no, because Kuon still partially blamed himself for his untimely death. She was happy he had openly shared some of his past with her. It wasn't in great detail, but she hoped with time, he would be able to tell her more. She twisted on his lap, encircled her arms around his neck, and kissed him softly on the lips.
"Do you want to see my guitar?" Kyoko asked, running her hands through his silky hair. She thought it would be best to change the subject now.
Kuon gave her a small smile, grateful that they weren't focusing on him anymore.
"Is that code for…" His eyes raked down her body, unable to resist teasing her.
"Pervert!" She laughed and climbed off him, bounding over to the cases lying on the floor. She opened the electric guitar case first.
Her eyes sparkled as she cradled the guitar and walked back to him. "Isn't she beautiful? Kei-san said it's a Gibson Les Paul. I'm pretty sure that means it's very expensive."
Kuon took the guitar from her to inspect it closer. The neck was made of light maple, while the body was painted in pearl white with a large translucent blue butterfly over it. He smiled at the design and had to hand it to them. They knew exactly how to tug at her heartstrings.
After gushing over the guitar's beauty, Kuon handed it back to her. "So are you going to play something for me?"
"Eh? I only know one song…kind of," she told him, replacing the guitar carefully in its case.
"That's more than enough."
"Okay, but you have to promise not to make fun of me if I'm terrible," she pleaded, pulling out the acoustic guitar she had used earlier in the studio.
"I would never make fun of someone trying their best," Kuon promised.
Kyoko took a seat on the floor in front of him and crossed her legs. She adjusted the guitar on her lap and stared up into his expectant face. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star it is, then, she thought, as she began to strum out the melody.
Yashiro sighed as he stepped up to his apartment complex mailboxes. He had not had a chance to talk to Kanae all day. Somehow, he had managed to evade the few lingering paparazzi that were adamant about stalking his apartment. He put the key into his mailbox and looked inside to retrieve his mail. A small package sat in his box.
He stared at the box for quite some time. Yashiro had not ordered anything so he wondered what it could be. A bomb? He leaned closer to the package without touching it and tilted his ear towards it. All was quiet. Since there was no ticking, he searched the ground until he found what he was looking for. Holding his body back and stretching out his arm, he turned his head in the opposite direction and poked at the box with the stick in his hand. Still nothing. Poison? He tossed the stick back into the landscaping where he found it and reached for the package. Blinking twice, he wondered if the note attached to the top was accurate.
You owe me a real dinner, *heart* K.K.
K.K. It had to be from Kanae. Yashiro rushed to his apartment filled with anticipation. Would she be here again like last night? Yashiro's bubble deflated when he found no one waiting for him outside his apartment. He couldn't have expected her to wait without knowing his schedule. After entering his apartment, he found a knife to cut open the adhesive on the package. To his astonishment, it contained the latest smartphone.
She bought me a new phone!
Thrilled, Yashiro put on his gloves to open the box and turned on the power button to find it already charged with a picture of Kanae on the screen. Kawaii! He scrolled through the menus and found her number already listed in his contacts. Wasting no time, he excitedly dialed her number. Basically, she just gave him the okay to ask her out on a date. Yashiro planned to treat her to not just one but many fabulous dinners.
Notes:
Hi hi everyone! As always thanks for sticking with me. I hope you're enjoying all the fillers.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 90: Is It Hot in Here or Is it Just Him?
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, our boy would show off his dance skills... XD
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko felt like an incredible weight had been lifted from her shoulders once the principal explained his reasons for calling the meeting. She couldn't believe her ears either. He wanted her to skip a grade and move straight to her third year. He had been presented with proof of her academic prowess along with several recommendations from teachers for her advancement. The principal thought it would be a disservice to her if she continued in an unchallenging environment. Kyoko would remain a part of the special program dedicated to helping young celebrities fulfill their education requirements. As long as she continued to apply herself academically, the principal was sure she would have no problems in the new classes. Kyoko didn't think twice about accepting the principal's offer. If this would allow her to finish high school a year earlier, she would accept it. Now that she had found something she was passionate about, she couldn't wait to dedicate herself full time to acting.
After saying goodbye to her father, Kyoko excitedly headed to her new class; however, her mood plummeted upon entering the room. There were a measly four students present today, two girls and two boys. Somehow, she felt tricked by the principal. Did he use me to increase attendance for this grade? Is he looking down on me because I'm not as busy as some of the other celebrities here? She had half a mind to march down to his office and explain that her Super Manager purposely scheduled her work around school, knowing how much she enjoyed it! Kyoko sighed away the image of her standing over the man's desk and shaking him by the tie. She handed her work schedule for the week over to her new homeroom teacher and introduced herself with a formal bow.
The students present perked up at her arrival. To her chagrin, Kyoko did not recognize a single one of them. The teacher directed her to sit next to the boy with shaggy light brown hair to share a book until she received her copy. Kyoko introduced herself and thanked him. She needed to pay attention to the lectures to maintain her grades. At lunchtime, the girls offered to dine with her. This was the first time in all her school life that classmates had ever offered to eat with her. It was unfortunate that Kyoko had to decline. She apologized since she had to leave for work. As she walked out of class, she decided to bring something sweet tomorrow as a peace offering, hoping they would invite her again. Kyoko didn't want them to think she had shunned them on her very first day.
Sho peered out of the tinted window of his car feeling annoyed that he was kept waiting. Several minutes later, the busty brunette bounced her way towards his car. Being a guy, he admired her figure in the tight uniform.
Sho's irritation skyrocketed as she knocked on his window. He rolled it down about two inches, just enough to hold a conversation.
"Sho-chan!" The bubbly airhead squealed. Even with the window providing a shield, her voice still grated on him.
"Pochi! Are you trying to alert everyone of my presence?" He growled through the tiny opening.
"I'm sorry Sh-." Mimori stopped herself from blurting out his name again. "Mimori is just so excited you're here to see her."
"It's fine as long as you know. Do you have work? I did promise I would treat you to that dessert shop you've been wanting. So, if you're free, let's go."
"I am, I am, I am!" Mimori screamed with delight. She was so thrilled she could die. It was like they were going on a date. She ran over to the other side of the car to get in, ignoring her manager's anxious calls out to her.
"Was someone calling you?" Sho asked, scanning the outside. He jumped with fright when her manager threw herself at the window and knocked profusely on the glass.
"Pochi…" Sho glared at her. Mimori looked down in shame. She did have something scheduled, but it wasn't for another hour. Surely, they would have time to eat dessert.
"Mimori just wanted to have cake with you?" she pouted stubbornly.
He rolled down his window to her manager and turned to Mimori. "What time is your work?"
Mimori told him the time and location. Sho nodded and asked her manager to follow them to the shop. From there, she could take Mimori to work.
"Sho-chan, are you not going to order anything?"
"Just seeing your happy face is enough for me," Sho replied smoothly. It would ruin his image if he was seen eating such dainty cakes. He had his hat, mask, and sunglasses on hoping no one would recognize him.
"Kyaa! I can't believe Sho-chan is like that to Mimori!" the girl squealed happily, taking quicker bites of her strawberry dessert.
"Neh, Sho-chan, did you know Mogami-san is no longer in my class? They bumped her up a grade so she's a third-year now. I think they just want her out of the school faster because of all the paparazzi lately," Mimori prattled on as she ate.
"Tch!" Sho clucked his tongue in response, acting like he wasn't too interested. He was still stuck as a second-year since they both missed out on their first year of high school. It annoyed him that she would be graduating earlier.
Mimori had been testing Sho. She wanted to know if he was still interested in Kyoko. She was quite pleased with his lack of reaction and glad Sho wasn't asking her any questions about that girl anymore.
Sho was in no mood to endure Mimori's jealousy and whining regarding Kyoko, so he avoided the topic. He had received word that Kyoko accepted the job offer. It wouldn't be long before he could see with his own eyes that she was doing fine.
"Ren?" Yashiro called knocking on the trailer door before opening it. "They said ten minutes until you're needed on the set."
Ren pulled the earbuds out of his ears and wrapped them around his phone. If he visualized it in his mind, it would appear he had everything down for later. He could always improvise. It was convenient that on his last day of shooting this drama, he received the notification that his package was delivered to their building. He wasn't clear on the details of how her day went, but he hoped his surprise would cheer her up if she needed it. He shrugged his arms into the sleeves of the protective firefighter jacket, preparing to leave the trailer.
"Is everything alright, Ren?" Yashiro asked, staring at his friend with concern. His charge had been focused on something for quite some time. He was pretty sure it wasn't any of the projects Ren was currently working on. Ren had asked Yashiro to give him some privacy so he could read over the script. It wasn't uncommon for Ren to ask that of him; however, Yashiro found it odd that he had been listening to music in the process. Lately, Ren had been glued to his phone during breaks at work so he wondered if he was worried about something.
"I assure you, everything is fine, Yashiro-san," Ren replied and smiled politely. That was Yashiro's cue to drop his inquiry. It was good that Ren was a pro at regulating his sweat from the neck up. If his firefighter tee wasn't a dark navy, it would have given away the sweat he had worked up back there.
Ren walked up to the director when they arrived at the set, leaving Yashiro no more room to question him. Yashiro wondered if everything was going well between him and Kyoko. He didn't want to even entertain the idea that their relationship was in jeopardy. It was just yesterday that they were so lovey-dovey. He couldn't fathom anything could be wrong with them. Yashiro decided to observe them tomorrow when they were together at the R'Mandy studio.
…
Hours had passed since the last aftershock caused the most recent collapse. The sun had set long ago making the search difficult. Makeshift light stands were erected and helmet lamps were turned on. The men worked frantically trying to remove the rubble in the area he was spotted last. This was always the risk all of them took when they donned the uniform and answered the call. Another EMT led the hysterical children away earlier while the men tried to rescue their comrade.
'I got something,' one of them cried out signaling to the others. The other men moved to his section and began tossing debris out of the way. A hand was finally exposed. One of the rescuers gripped the wrist of the lifeless-looking hand covered in soot and smeared with blood. His pulse was faint but it was there.
'He's still alive! Work faster!' the guy screamed trying to recover their partner. This was a man he worked with side by side for the past few years. There was no way he would give up on him. They had to use crowbars and other tools for leverage to remove the heavier blocks until he was finally clear of the rubble. He was unconscious and although shallow, still breathing.
The medical team that was on standby watching them work moved in quickly with a spine board. Due to his bulk, it took several men to secure him to the board and carry him out. They groaned under his weight and struggled to carry him over all the debris. They rushed over as fast as they could while crouching in the open area. They kept their heads low when the medical helicopter that would evacuate their friend attempted to get closer and land.
"CUT!" The director called out. "Very good everyone. I felt the urgency this round and no one acted like they were the Incredible Hulk when picking off the rocks. I fear if Tsuruga-kun had to be buried again the prop crew would go on strike. Ten-minute break while I review the tape. We will have to CG the helicopter and the background into the final shot."
The men holding Ren on the stretcher let out loud sighs of relief and placed the actor gently on the ground then collapsed around him.
"Ah shit, Tsuruga-san, you're so damn heavy. My arms feel like jelly now," one of the actors cried dramatically. Ren apologized while the crew worked to unstrap him. He sat up when he was finally free.
"No, no, it's nothing for you to apologize. We all had a few NGs in this scene dragging it out longer than it needed to," the actor explained, laying down on his back and stretching his arms over his head. "So that's how much 190cm of solid muscle weighs. Sheesh, must be nice! I like to think I'm fit for my 35 years but I fear my age may be showing." His comment made them all chuckle. Japanese rarely looked their age. The man could easily pass as someone in his mid-twenties.
The Director made his way to the group still lounging on the ground, making no attempt to move as assistants catered to them. "Everything checked out this go around. That's the end for you, Tsuruga-san. I thank you for taking part in this series. Initially, we were supposed to kill you off but the idea was vehemently rejected by the fans," he admitted with a chuckle. "Though your screen time is over, your character will live on, off-screen. That should somewhat appease them."
Ren bowed to the director, cast, and crew. He walked to the trailer to take a quick shower and change his clothes. As he cleaned up, his body began humming with nervous energy about going home. To ease his anxiety, Ren tried to remember what he learned from his research. I must have confidence. He had everyone fooled into believing that he was a confident person and had his shit together. He only ever showed his true self in front of Kyoko. She knew the insecure man that lurked beneath the surface of his carefully crafted mask and she still stayed by his side. For her, he would prevail tonight.
When he got home, he found Kyoko sitting cross-legged on the couch with her guitar on her lap, wearing one of his shirts and he prayed nothing underneath it.
She put the guitar down and hopped up to greet him, throwing her arms around his neck. "I missed you, Corn," she said, clinging to him. He wrapped his arms around her tiny little waist, keeping his hands in safe territory while lifting her for a kiss.
"I missed you too," he murmured against her lips and set her back on her feet before his hands could wander.
"How was your day? Did you eat? I can make you something light," she asked, heading to the kitchen. He admired the way his t-shirt rode high on her thighs, innocently teasing him as she walked away.
"It was good, no big hiccups and yes, I ate properly. You don't have to make me anything."
Kyoko stared at him shrewdly, wondering if he was telling the truth. He held up three fingers to her. "Scout's honor," he said with a lopsided grin.
"Well, do you want me to make you some tea so you can relax?"
Kuon shook his head. "I can get me something. You can go back to what you were doing," he said, crossing the living room to the kitchen before she could get there. "I'm going to have a drink." Confidence Kuon. "Would you like something?"
Kyoko shook her head pointing at the cup resting on the coffee table in front of her.
"A package came for you today. Adachi-san brought it up when I got home," she called after him. Kyoko had fought the urge to peek in the box ever since the concierge dropped it off.
Kuon emerged from the kitchen with a glass of his favorite cognac and sat next to her taking slow sips of the liquor. She pointed to the box sitting in the corner of the room, just out of view to make it less tempting for her. The urge was ridiculous since she had no business snooping into his mail.
Kuon ignored the package, gauging her mood instead. He placed his glass down, reached for her bare legs, and settled them over his thighs. Absentmindedly, he took her foot in his hands and began to knead the underside. Kyoko moaned and settled back against the cushions while he rubbed her feet. It was something he did often ever since the night of the Awards Ceremony. His father would be proud of the attentiveness he showed his woman. "You had your meeting today with the school Principal. How did that go? Your mail said you would tell me tonight."
She hummed as he continued the massage. "I was asked to skip a grade and join the third-year class. He wanted to make sure it was something that I wanted to do."
Kuon paused his movements on her feet and gazed at her lying with her eyes closed. "What did you decide?" He asked when she finally opened her eyes.
"I agreed. I feel good about my decision. I'm happy that I'm able to finish high school and get my diploma earlier. This way, I can concentrate solely on acting once I'm finished. I think the Principal used me to increase attendance in that class though. There were five students there today, including me," she pondered with a giggle.
Kuon saw the elation in her eyes and knew she had no doubts in her mind regarding her decision. It would quail the small majority of jealous fans that had a problem with him dating a high school student if she graduated earlier. Even though that lot was small, he still didn't like fans degrading her because of him. He was sure Kyoko spared him from most of the sordid details of her high school life.
"If that's what you've decided, then congratulations! I'm happy you're happy," he smiled, leaning over and giving her another kiss.
Kyoko's fingers curled around the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer to her and parting her lips to deepen their embrace. Kyoko felt heady, getting drunk off him and the lingering sweetness of his drink as their tongues mingled together in a passionate kiss.
Kuon broke the kiss and pulled away from her before things went too far. He needed to stop or they wouldn't be able to get to his surprise. "Wait a minute. I have something," he stated and stood abruptly. He looked around the room at what he needed to do first, his eyes landing on her guitar. "Do you have anything more to do like homework or practice for work?"
Kyoko shook her head "no" trying to contain her smile. She had never seen him so jittery since the night he confessed. "Do you mind if I move your guitar?" Kyoko nodded her head. Kuon quickly put the guitar on top of the dining table. He looked at the coffee table in the middle of the room. "Are you done with your drink?" he asked, picking up her mug and his glass and then emptying the remaining contents into his mouth. Gah! It burned slightly on the way down.
Kyoko sat on the couch watching her boyfriend flutter about as he cleared the living room of all obstacles. He even went so far as to move the coffee table against the wall.
"What are you doing, Corn?" Kyoko cocked her head curiously when he picked up a dining room chair and brought it to the center of the large room. His next move was to pick up his phone and turned on the surround sound system. Kyoko could only guess that they were going to have an impromptu dance session, but the chair confused her.
When he was satisfied with the room, he guided her to the chair and pecked her lips. "Okay, give me five, no, ten minutes tops. I'll be right back."
She watched him grab the package on his way to the bedroom and left her sitting on the wooden seat, wondering what could possibly be in the box.
Kuon shut the bedroom door behind him and locked it for good measure. He tore into the package quickly and surveyed the contents he laid on the bed. Everything seemed to be there. Gulping, his fingers moved toward the red, stretchy material that came first. Fuck this! He thought, throwing it back in the box. Wearing that thing required a stiffer drink. He pulled off his clothes and went to the bathroom. He had already taken a shower so all he did was wash his face, slick back his hair with water, and spritz his chest with cologne. For good measure, he pulled open the waistband of his boxers and sprayed down there too.
He removed his contacts after washing his hands and went back into the room to get dressed. When he was done, he studied his reflection in the full-length mirror. Everything seemed to fit right. He had covertly asked the wardrobe designer several questions so he could purchase the most accurate size online. His custom order had taken some time shipping from overseas, but it was finally here.
Confidence Kuon! It's showtime!
He opened the door and peeked out. She was still sitting where he left her, browsing on her phone. Kuon slipped out quietly, dimming the lights with the switch on the wall, and pressed play on his phone. Kyoko glanced up at the ceiling startled by the lighting change and music filling the room. Her eyes landed on Kuon as he strutted out with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Kyoko's mouth opened wide in a large "O" and her eyes bugged out of their sockets with surprise. She was speechless as he came out dressed as her latest wet dream. Kuon stood in front of her in full gear; helmet, jacket, pants, suspenders, and bare feet. His open jacket showed off the tight muscles of his chest and stomach. The natural way he hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his pants and swayed his hips to the music had her drooling immediately.
Her heart rate increased rapidly when her boyfriend dressed as a firefighter began to move like he was the lead singer of some popular K-pop band. Kyoko had no clue which band, the moves just looked vaguely familiar. Getting into his performance, she clapped her hands in delight when he crossed his legs and expertly spun around. He pulled off his helmet and tossed it on her lap making her squeal. Kuon turned from left to right rolling his arms and sensually rocking his hips all the while, making her face heat with embarrassment. It was becoming difficult to contain her excited giggles.
"Whooo!" She whooped with enthusiasm and cat-called, "take it off baby," when Kuon grabbed the edges of his jacket and flung it open. He sang along with the chorus as he continued his undulations, slowly working the jacket off.
"When I found you, I found me, Nothin' around, far as I could see, You were the current that carried me, When I found you, I found me, Lines in the sands only you can read, My S.O.S., yeah, you rescued me..."
He tossed the garment in her direction and chuckled when it landed on her head. Kyoko immediately yanked the garment off, not wanting to miss a single part of the private show her boyfriend was giving her. She couldn't believe he did this for her, recalling the time when she had voiced her erotic wish to see him in his uniform. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine a striptease to go along with it. Kyoko wiped her mouth with the back of her hand to slop up some of the drool slipping out. She unabashedly watched her boyfriend slowly drop to his knees and worm his body towards the floor.
He turned back over to face her, holding his body up in a bridge position, and pumped his hips. He exaggerated his movements as he opened and closed his legs. Kyoko squeezed her thighs trying to quench the growing ache developing between her legs. She watched him essentially dry hump the air, the floor, and wished it was her. He was so fucking hot!
His muscles strained as he pushed himself up. She could see droplets of sweat running down his back but nothing on his face. He threw his head over his shoulder mouthing the words to the song as he continued to pump his chest and buck his hips. The smoldering dark eyes of the emperor locked with hers making her whole body shudder with desire. He smirked. He knew exactly how he was affecting her. Kuon shimmied his way towards her and nudged her knees apart with his leg. A gasp escaped her lips. The heat of his body already threatening to burn her. As if she needed more teasing, he lowered himself onto her thigh, the material of his pants grazing against her as he rolled his hips.
Kyoko was in a frenzy. She could feel as well as see that he was rock hard. Kyoko reached out, desperate to touch him, but he playfully smacked her hand away. He wagged his finger back and forth signaling that touching was off-limits. Pouting over this rule, Kyoko sat on her hands to keep from reaching out to him again. Kuon spread his legs to straddle her, using the back of the chair as leverage. He leaned back and gyrated his crotch inches from her body. He was so close that she could smell his delicious scent mixed with his cologne. His pheromones made her feel heady, causing a fresh wave of juices to flood her nether region. Suddenly, a brilliant idea popped into her mind. Waiting for the perfect moment, Kyoko closed the gap at the right second. With the flat of her tongue, she licked at the bare skin of his lower abdomen.
Kuon let out a torturous groan. Fuck! He felt defeated. His fingers tangled into her hair and crushed his mouth to hers. Their tongues mated in a tantalizing dance of their own. Kyoko released her hands and dug her nails into his back. Kuon pulled away from her, his chest heaving to catch his breath.
Kyoko flashed him a satisfied smile. She loved that she had the power to shake him just as he did her.
Kuon did his best to calm his nerves. He worried that if he continued like this he would take things too far. All his blood was now pumping to his groin, making it difficult for him to think straight. He concentrated on the song to get his bearings. It wasn't an ideal song to perform a striptease, but he liked it. He applied the choreography he learned from the LME training classes he took early in his career and a whole lot of K-pop dance routines. It worked well depending on how fast or slow he executed the moves. If he removed a little clothing and exaggerated his hips, he had a well-thought-out dance routine. Regaining his composure, he began to move again, getting back into a slow rhythm despite the fast tempo.
Kyoko squirmed in her chair resigning herself to watching her boyfriend's show until the end. At the next chorus, he ripped off the tear-away pants. She screamed and covered her red face. Why is he so good at this? She watched through parted fingers unable to take her eyes off his well-endowed cock and his toned ass whenever he turned around. The tight black boxer briefs he wore left nothing to the imagination.
"My eyes are up here missy," he teased, bucking his hips in her direction. He made it impossible for her to avert her gaze. Unable to take it anymore, Kyoko stood up defiantly and stalked up to him. Kuon didn't try to stop her this time. Instead, he improvised by hooking her leg over his hip and grinding against her. Before the song ended, he cupped her ass and lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist, and locking her ankles together.
"I'm glad you're here! I fear I might catch fire at any moment, Mr. Fireman," she said, delivering the cheesy line with a cute pout. She wasn't lying. Her body was overheating with lust. It would be so embarrassing for the coroner to declare that her cause of death was internal combustion.
"Well then, it's a good thing I brought my hose with me," he responded smoothly. That was the last straw. Kyoko threw her head back and laughed. Kuon took the opportunity to smother her neck with kisses while carrying her to their bedroom. It was time he did his job properly and put out her fire out.
Notes:
Ahahaha…this was pure CRACK I tell yah, but I couldn't stop myself. I couldn't forget Kyoko's wish back in chap 40 regarding Ren in uniform and then I took it to the extreme. My inspirations were of course Magic Mike (Joe Manganiello *drool*) and Chris Brown's "Take You Down" video.
Thank you for continuing to read. The takeaway from here is that I'm having Kyoko graduate from high school early. The rest is almost 3K words of pure selfishness on my part. I've also included my fanart inspired by this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.
The song Kuon performed was "Rescue Me" by Marshmello.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 91: Part of the Class
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would finally be accepted by her classmates.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko narrowly missed smacking Kuon's hand as he stole one of the bunny cookies she had yet to ice with frosting. He chuckled and stuffed the little cookie into his mouth.
"Too slow, baby!" He tease her with a mouthful and kissed her temple.
It was annoying that he was still too fast for her. She needed to hurry and improve her reflexes. They had not been to the gym since she started school, but continued to wake up early to get in some exercises at home. Kyoko focused on training the muscles in her legs, knowing that they were her strongest asset. The extra training was helpful when executing Momiji's stunts. She saw a vast improvement in the heights of her jumps and an increase in speed while running. Her stamina and agility had improved drastically as well. The stunt coordinator was always revising Momiji's choreography based on Kyoko's skills. He told her that she inspired him to push for more, and not just from her, but the entire cast.
"Heyyy, wait until I finish icing them. I made extra for you and Yashiro-san, so no more before you give yourself a stomach ache."
She had made two large batches of cookies using cat and bunny cutters, perfecting the recipe months ago so she could give them as a treat to Kanae and Chiori. It was low in calories and still managed to taste delicious. She recalled her best friend's frown when she saw the cute little creatures. Mo! What are you five? Can't you make cookies that aren't so embarrassing? Kanae ended up hating herself after eating the whole bag.
"Mmm, these are good, very light. It has a good texture and flavor...but can you maybe not put the icing on mine though?"
Kyoko reached up and pinched and patted Kuon's cheek as an affectionate aunt would do to their cute little nephew. "Of course, sweetie!"
"Why, you, don't patronize me," he growled, tickling her sides.
"Stop it! You're going to get icing all over us," Kyoko squealed, trying to fend off his fingers with her arms. Kuon's eyes smoldered to a dark green as he eyed the frosting in her hands and then her. His lips twitched into a predatory smile.
"Noooo! I have to finish this quickly so it can chill. Then I have to get ready for school and you, work." She shouted, backing away and returning to her cookies. It was the wrong move on her part as she watched him from her periphery.
Kuon held his hands up innocently and slid behind her wrapping his arms around her waist. His lips lightly caressed her ear as he rubbed his need against her firm behind. He slid a palm up slowly from her hip to squeeze her sports bra-covered breast. "Let's say, I help you. Would you have time then?"
Kyoko trembled as he licked and nibbled on her earlobe. She could feel herself swaying towards the idea until her eyes fell on the beautiful cookies she had decorated thus far. Her mind cleared as she remembered who she was making these cookies for. There was no way she could serve her schoolmates the type of decorated cookies that were bound to be massacred under the Emperor's tyranny.
Her knee-jerk reaction was to get out of his embrace before she was too far gone. She bucked her hips back, a little more forceful than she intended, and without thinking to make space so she could squirm away from him. Her action managed to hit him right in the dick with her tailbone. Kuon groaned and doubled over in pain. He fell to the floor cupping himself between the legs.
"Oh my goodness!" Kyoko exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hands and forgetting to speak in English. She was trying so hard not to laugh until she saw him writhing on the floor in agony. The panic began to set in.
"I'm so soorrrrry! Should I call someone?! A doctor?! An ambulance?!" She begged, kneeling beside him.
Kuon continued to moan on the floor ignoring her questions, eyes tearing up from the throbbing pain. He had never been hit like this with a hard-on. Was it supposed to be painful if it wasn't his balls? This was so mortifying for him.
"I'm going to get my phone!" Kyoko flew out of the kitchen.
"Nooo! Kyoko don't call anyone!" Kuon managed to gasp when she returned with her phone.
"Are you sure? What if it's broken? I'll call Yashiro-san. He'll know what to do?!" She could see the headlines already. His fans would come after her with pitchforks. She'll be known as the actress that broke Japan's top actor's penis. She would probably be extradited from the country for committing such a crime.
"No, whatever you do, DO NOT call Yashiro!" He cried ignoring the pain so she could understand the severity of his words. Calling Yashiro would be the last thing on earth he would want to do in this situation. His friend and manager would sustain himself for the rest of his life on this one humiliating moment alone. Kuon was sure he would never let him live this down.
"Oh, oh, I know." She thumbed quickly through her contacts without having to search long since it was a frequent number she used. Her phone rang a few times before the other end picked up.
"Kyoko-chan? Is everything ok? Why do you look so frantic?" Kuu's loud voice filled the kitchen space. She had called him over video chat and didn't care that she was scantily clad in her workout gear.
"Otou-san, I think I broke it," Kyoko wailed near tears. "He won't let me call an ambulance! He's in so much pain! I don't know what to do! Please, tell me what to do!"
"Kyoko-chan? Where's Kuon? Is that him moaning? Please change the camera view on the phone so I can see him."
Kyoko turned the phone towards Kuon who was now curled up in a fetal position.
"Son, it's Dad! Tell me what's wrong so I can help!"
Kuon groaned. He wanted the earth to swallow him whole right now. How could he tell his Dad his problem? I was making unwanted advances towards your daughter and her tight ass clocked me in the dick.
"If you don't tell me, I'm going to call emergency services. You're scaring Kyoko-chan right now and me. Tell me what's wrong!" Kuu demanded.
Kuon groaned again in response and reached for the phone, placing it on the floor so he could face his father. The pain had subsided a little, but his dick was still semi-hard. Shouldn't the pain have withered it down to its limp state by now?
"Hey Dad," Kuon managed, offering the man a weak smile.
"Kuon, tell me what happened so I can try to help," the older man looked back at his son with eyes full of concern. His son needed him and he couldn't be there.
"It's a bit embarrassing," Kuon told him a blush blooming on his cheeks.
Kuu's eyes widened at the sight of his son's expression. It had been so long since he made such a face in front of him and wished Julie was here to see how cute their boy looked right now. Kuu covertly took a screenshot. He would show it to her later.
"You can tell me anything. I'm your father. I won't judge you. I'll always be on your side Kuon. You know that."
Kuon sighed in resignation. He did need another man's opinion on the matter and he knew his father would never betray his confidence. He glanced at Kyoko kneeling about a meter away from him with her eyes shut and hands clasped in prayer.
"The thing is...err...um...have you ever got hit downthereduringanerection?" Kuon asked mumbling his last words.
"Come again? Hit? What? I didn't quite catch that last part!" Kuu responded quickly.
Kuon licked his lips nervously. Kyoko was now staring at him, her worried eyes encouraging him to ask. She felt so guilty.
"Are you someplace private?"
"Of course! I'm alone in my dressing room," Kuu assured him and stood up to lock his door. He couldn't risk any of the crew barging in on him while talking to his kids.
Kuon took a deep breath and tried again to put it more delicately, "I clumsily bumped my penis against something while…while it was...you know." Kuon was angling his head hoping his Dad would understand the situation without him saying more.
It took Kuu a second, but he finally understood his son's predicament. He had never experienced such a problem himself so he wasn't sure the level of pain Kuon was in. Kuu tried to think logically here since he admit to his son that he clearly didn't know. His boy was relying on him to have the answer.
"Is the pain unbearable?" Kuu asked. If he was still in excruciating pain he may have seriously hurt himself.
Kuon thought about it for a moment. It had reduced to a dull ache now that his penis was flaccid again. Talking
"It's not as painful," Kuon replied.
"I'd put some ice on it for now, but if you use the restroom and you see blood in your stream I would suggest seeing a doctor."
Kyoko squeaked! Blood in the urine? That would mean a serious problem. Kuon scooted towards her and held her hand. It couldn't be that serious. He would make a doctor's appointment if only to ease her worries.
"I recommend you see a doctor anyway. Just to make sure everything is A-O-K down there. I want grandkids after all."
"Dad!"
"What? Your mother and I had you around the same age."
"Look at how well that turned out," Kuon muttered sarcastically without thinking. He grimaced seeing the sad look cross his father's face. Shit! I'm such an asshole!
"I'm sorry, Dad. That was insensitive of me. I'm grateful to you and mom. Please know that I love you both and I'm proud to be your son. I definitely want kids with Kyoko in the future," he admitted, smiling at Kyoko and brushing the back of her hand with his lips. She beamed back at him. The prospect of having kids someday wasn't so terrifying to her anymore, if it was with him.
"Otou-san, you and Julie-san will make excellent grandparents," Kyoko added, trying to bring peace and love back to the conversation.
Kuu smiled appeased that they were talking about a future with them in it. "I'm glad!" Kuu exclaimed happily. There was an abrupt knocking sound from Kuu's end as the couple saw him turn his head. "I'll be out in a minute," he called to the person at the door. Kuu said his goodbyes to his kids and hung up the line reminding his son to follow up with him later.
Kyoko was already up and putting together some ice in a dishrag. She handed the makeshift ice pack to Kuon while he rested on the couch. It was still early with a good hour before Yashiro arrived. She let him rest and resumed frosting her cookies quickly.
Ren stared in surprise when Ruto, as usual, seemed to appear out of thin air beside his chair, holding a sealed envelope out to him. Ren tentatively reached for the envelope, cocking a brow at the man in front of him, confused.
Lory was dressed in a yellow silk robe with intricate embroidery of dragons and traditional patterns. The costume of the day reminded Ren of a Chinese Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
The president nodded towards the thin manila envelope in Ren's hands encouraging him to open it. Hesitantly, he broke the seal with the letter opener Ruto provided to him before the assistant once again disappeared into the ether.
He pulled out the thin document and glanced at it. "Why do you already have this information?"
Lory smirked, "Isn't that what you just asked me for?"
"Well, yes, but why do you have it on hand is my question?"
"Oh, my dear boy. Must I spell it out to you? You're so predictable. I knew the moment you decided to participate in L.A. fashion week what your intentions would be while there, so I made preparations. Are you sure you're ready for this?" Lory asked, his eyes narrowing shrewdly.
"No, but I've decided it's about time for me to face her…face them," Ren stated with a firm resolution.
"I'm proud of you…Kuon," Lory said with misty eyes. They had waited for a very long time for this boy to find the courage to face his past. At this rate, Julie was bound to forgive him after this seeing how well her precious son has healed.
Ren nodded but remained silent. He clutched the papers in his hand, praying she would be willing to see him so he could selfishly apologize and find some closure. The information Lory provided had her current home and work location. It seemed she was no longer a model. Now, she was the one behind the camera. It didn't surprise him that she was a photographer. Whenever he hung out with them, she always had a camera with her. She took photos of anything that caught her eye, be it scenery, them, or random people on the street. She seemed to have a passion for it back then.
"I have to ask, is this really how you want to return?" Lory asked, interrupting his thoughts.
Ren pursed his lips, unwilling to mask his annoyance. This question was getting old. Since his reveal as Cain Heel, several Hollywood producers and agencies have approached Lory to sign Ren under contract. None of the offers were for lead roles, but anyone with a brain knew this would be a great start to get his foot in the door in America. So far, Ren had refused every one of them.
"We had this conversation already. There's no shortage of work for me here. I don't have to jump at the very first offer. I've just accepted that lead role here too," Ren replied in a tone that told Lory he was finished discussing the subject.
"Is that the only reason? Is Mogami-kun aware of your decisions?" Lory asked.
Ren winced, "I plan on telling her."
"Really?" Lory asked sarcastically.
"There has been a lot going on right now. It's not a good time." There was no way he would leave her side right now even if it meant only for a few weeks. He had no intention of relocating back to the US any time soon. It didn't mean he was giving up on his dream to become a famous actor in the States. He planned to achieve that with Kyoko by his side. For now, he was going to continue to grow in Japan until the right opportunity presented itself. Plus, I plan on inserting myself into whatever you have planned with Kyoko's debut. Hopefully, she could understand his feelings when he told her.
Lory hummed in response. He could understand his apprehension. Perhaps when the dust had settled around them he would rethink his decisions. When no more was said on the subject, he decided to broach the topic he had initially called Ren for. Lory was reluctant about sharing this new information.
"What does your schedule look like after this meeting?" asked Lory with a grave expression.
Ren squirmed in his chair. What could have the President acting so serious all of a sudden? "Yashiro-san will be here soon for our appointment at R'Mandy. What is it, Boss?"
Lory pondered for a few moments. "Will Mogami-kun be with you?"
"Yes, but she will be arriving separately with Tadashi-san. Why does it matter?"
"I wouldn't have asked you here if I didn't think you could handle it. If you prove me wrong, I hope your omamori can help bring you back. I received some new information that you may find shocking." Lory opened his desk drawer and pulled out another sealed envelope that held the documents he received just that morning. Ren stared at the ominous-looking envelope. What could it possibly contain?
There was a knock at the door just as he closed his fingers around the flat parcel. Lory nodded for Ruto to admit the person. Yashiro strolled into the office and greeted the President. It was time for them to leave. Ren stuffed both envelopes into his messenger bag. He didn't need Lory to tell him to keep the contents private. He would have to wait until tonight to see what was in the other manila envelope and try to remain focused on work.
Kyoko was distracted the whole time at school except during lunch, happy that she had bonded with the kids in her new class. They found her cookies delicious after she told them of their low-calorie origin, trusting her easily. The girls, Gina and Hanami, were best friends that were scouted while out and about in Harajuku when they were in middle school. They typically appeared in popular fashion magazines for brands geared to teen girls. Both girls dreamed of one day walking the runway during Tokyo Fashion Week. Although both were beautiful in their own way, Hanami was unfortunately too short for the runway; however, her height didn't deter her from dreaming, which Kyoko admired.
She was delighted to befriend them. They gave her a lot of tips on makeup, clothing, and modeling. At one point, they stood up giving Kyoko some lessons in posing. The dark-haired boy with frosted tips, Gen, short for Genkei, joined in their discussion. He was also a model for the same agency as the girls. He had milky white skin, rosy lips, and naturally long lashes. He reminded Kyoko of a doll, so pretty. Gen was the only one out of her new friends that asked about Ren. The girls joked that Gen had a boy crush on Ren and even shortened his name to be just like him. Gen defended himself by simply admitting that he admired the man. His confidence was admirable. Of course, he proceeded to beg Kyoko to get him a signed headshot of her boyfriend.
Kyoko was a little disappointed that the shaggy-haired boy, Maru, was absent today. It was kind of him yesterday to share his books. She would have to give him his share of the cookies another day. They had told her that Maru was a gifted DJ, songwriter, and record producer. She wondered if he had any dealings with Ruriko or Sho in his line of work. The rest of her missing classmates consisted of one other girl that started as a social media idol and was now branching into singing and boys that made up another popular idol group whom Kyoko never heard about. Her classmates decided she was hopeless. They weren't trying to be malicious since her grudges could not sense any animosity coming from them. For the first time in her school career, she was for once, enjoying the company of her peers.
…
Aside from lunch, Kyoko had quietly fretted about Ren's health and his ability to reproduce. His fans would string her up if they knew how she hurt their precious celebrity and quite possibly deprived them of admiring his future offspring. She wasn't at all satisfied with the text updates he had sent to appease her.
The moment Kyoko met up with Ren at R'Mandy, she pulled him off to a corner so they could talk privately. "So, how was it? Is everything okay down there? Did you make a doctor's appointment?" Kyoko asked, whispering anxiously.
Yashiro looked at his charges suspiciously. He still had no idea what was bothering Ren these past few days and now here they were having a hushed conversation with Kyoko gesturing wildly and Ren laughing. During his work before this, Ren did not ask to be left alone, nor did he hang on his phone. Instead, Yashiro often found his friend, script in hand, absentmindedly staring into space. Yashiro could only conclude that whatever was initially bothering him was replaced with something new brought on by the President. When Yashiro inquired about his mood, Ren brushed it off giving the manager a vague answer. He could only wish, that someday, Ren would come to confide in him more. Watching the pair hug and kiss in the hall was enough to reassure him that his favorite couple was doing just fine. He hoped whatever Ren was hiding, he would at least talk it over with Kyoko.
In the hall of R'Mandy, Ren chuckled and assured her he was fine. So far, his urine was coming out clean and the pain was non-existent. He had made an early appointment for the next day. His usual doctor, a close friend of Lory's, was willing to see him before actual office hours. Ren knew the man had an obligation to report his visit to the President but he didn't mind.
Kyoko's golden eyes lit with happiness at the news. She leaned in to embrace her boyfriend, relieved that he was taking this problem seriously. Ren lifted her chin so he could place a light kiss on her lips. Kyoko blushed and looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to them. Everyone in the area was enraptured by the couple. They hurried to look like they were busy doing something else instead of watching their love story play out. They parted ways when one of the design assistants gave them their instructions with the promise that Fuji will flutter about momentarily.
...
Ren's head shot up at the shrill howl of agony coming from down the hall in the direction of where he parted with Kyoko not more than ten minutes ago. Absentmindedly, he hastily thrust his arms into the shirt he was trying on and secured a few buttons before leaving the tailor and assistant trailing after him. He found a small crowd standing outside of Kyoko's room.
"Is Kyoko okay?" He asked no one in particular. His heart was ready to beat out of his chest with anxiety. The sound of loud sobbing increased while he pushed past the people. His eyes landed on Yashiro and Tadashi already inside the room. He didn't see his girlfriend but saw a crumpled Fuji weeping on the floor. One of his assistants handed the designer some tissues to blow his nose.
Ren turned confused eyes to the two men and whispered, "What's going on? Where's Kyoko?" He asked, looking frantically around the room.
"She's behind the screen, changing," Tadashi told him and nodded towards the screen in the front corner of the room.
Ren was relieved that she was fine but wondered what could have happened to the man on the floor.
"And him?" He asked staring at Fuji whimpering on the floor.
"We're not exactly sure," Yashiro answered.
Ren approached the designer, worried that he might be overstepping his boundaries a bit, but if he could somehow help, he would.
"Fuji-san?" Ren asked reaching out a hand to place on the designer's shoulder. As he did so, the sound of seams ripping filled the room.
Fuji instantly stopped crying at the horrifying sound and watched Ren fingering a tear on the shoulder of his sleeve.
"I'm so sorry, Fuji-san. I should have been more careful," Ren apologized quickly as Fuji's crying eyes turned to fury.
"What have you two been doing? It has been less than two weeks! How could things have changed so drastically?! All of you get out of here and close the door," he yelled and ordered his design assistants to stay. Everyone scrambled to do his bidding. They, including Ren, were used to their usually sweet Boss becoming a dictator or a weeping mess whenever a fashion show drew near. They weren't affected by his behavior since, during the actual event, he was always steadfast and reliable. He often pulled off miracles during a crisis, resulting in a successful show.
"Kyoko-chan, get your perky ass out from behind there this instant," Fuji exclaimed.
"Fuji, you're scaring the poor girl," the female assistant warned.
Ren heard his girlfriend squeak and peer out from behind the screen.
"Come on out, sweetie! I promise I won't bite hard. See, look Ren-kun is here. Isn't his presence comforting?" Fuji asked, trying to coax the girl out into the open.
"It's okay, Kyoko. You'll get used to Fuji-san's mood swings with every fashion show," Ren assured her with a smile.
Fuji whirled and glared at Ren. "Take off your shirt, lover boy!"
Ren's eyes opened in shock. He pulled his shirt closer a little embarrassed by the order.
"I don't have time for you to get all virginal on me. Take it off!" Fuji barked, making the man react. Ren rolled his eyes to Kyoko and mouthed Drama Queen in her direction. "Take your pants off too!"
"Ehhhh?!" Ren gaped at the designer.
"Don't act all shy. We've all seen what you're packing in this room!" Fuji smirked when neither Ren nor Kyoko disputed his claim.
He wasn't lying. Ren was accustomed to quick change-outs at a fashion show in front of everybody. There was no room for shyness in fashion, but he hoped to hell he wouldn't make Kyoko undress as well. He would have to start reciting his mantra to keep his little head down. Ren kicked off his shoes and undid his jeans, placing both neatly on a chair.
Fuji turned to his assistants and told them to begin measuring him. Kyoko now understood what was going on and creeped out from behind the screen. She listened intently as the man known as Jay measured quickly and rattled off numbers while the female assistant, Chiaki, wrote them down. This would be good information to perfect her dolls.
Fuji circled her like a vulture. The loose black silk spaghetti strap top accentuated her creamy skin and toned arms. The pink sequin mini skirt he had planned to pair it with was stretched so far and rode so high that she looked like a 200 yen hooker working the streets of Kabukicho. It was a disaster.
He tsked at the monstrosity that was his design on the poor girl. Why wasn't anything fitting on her ass? Had he mixed up her measurements with another model? The first skirt Fuji had her try on ended with him crying in hysterics when the seams unraveled at the zipper. This was the scene Ren had walked in on. Chiaki assured Kyoko that it wasn't her fault. He was just under a lot of stress. Any little setback would set him off.
Fuji stopped behind her and stared. Kyoko felt like a specimen under a microscope as he stood there analyzing her form from behind. She didn't know why the bottoms weren't fitting her. Her only guess was that all the stunts and workouts she had been doing of late had rounded out her booty. She didn't notice the difference because she had been wearing a lot of flowy skirts and dresses. Even her LoveMe uniform was a poor indicator since the jumpsuit was always baggy on her. She hoped that her workout routine was the culprit. She would have to put herself on a strict diet if she was indeed getting fat.
Fuji was pulled from his thoughts when his assistants said they were done with Ren. He looked Ren over and tsked again. He could see it. The young man had put on a little more weight. In a good way. It was a running joke throughout the industry how this man, with the physique of a God, had the appetite of a tiny bird. Fuji could see how the love of a good woman was changing his model. He was ecstatic. The possibilities were endless with this couple. He had already started sketching designs for the Heel siblings. Fuji was also looking forward to the mini shoots he had planned in L.A. but first, he needed to salvage his current collection.
Notes:
AN: Hi hi! Thanks for sticking with me! So I had to ask my husband if such a scenario as above with a man's erection was plausible. His response, "Of course! That shit hurts!" He wouldn't let me reenact it so I could gather scientific data on the level of pain a man would experience in such a situation...XD. I told him we have enough kids so what was the problem. He still refused T_T! So I may have exaggerated all the pain Kuon felt for the sake of this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 92: Father
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kimiko's family would finally realize the kind of psychopath they had cultivated.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Cedric smiled gratefully at the maid as she set down the tea tray. She placed a cup and saucer in front of him and poured tea into his cup. She quietly gestured towards the sugar and cream on the tray. Cedric shook his head. He didn't need anything in his tea. The maid bowed and left, assuring him that the Morizumis would be along shortly. Cedric reached for the teacup for something to do while he waited since he was a jumble of nerves. It didn't go over well the last time he approached the Morizumis. Only Jouji was nice enough to give him an update on Kimiko. According to the director, she had a long road to recovery and it would be best for him to leave her alone.
Cedric was surprised when he received the invitation from Kimiko's father for this meeting and didn't hesitate to accept the invite, wanting to apologize properly. He never meant to hurt Kimiko, emotionally.
The sound of the door opening drew his attention as the Morizumis entered. He placed his cup back on the table, stood, and bowed deeply to the couple.
"Bennett-san, thank you for coming on such short notice," Jiro greeted in English with a thick Japanese accent. Kimiko's mother didn't say a word and sat down across from him. Cedric raised his head and looked at her parents. He couldn't keep the shock from registering on his face at their haggard appearance. They were still impeccably dressed, but the stress of the last few days had taken its toll.
"I would like to apologize for our behavior at the hospital. We were very emotional and not in our right minds," Jiro explained and bowed deeply. Jiro glanced nervously at his wife who sat there with a blank stare. His wife had taken the news of their daughter's prior transgressions personally. If she had been more of a mother, perhaps Kimiko wouldn't have turned out to be the opposite of the ideal daughter she portrayed. They didn't know their daughter at all.
The night after the family meeting with Kento, Jiro had returned home to find his wife sobbing and drinking wine as she flipped through a family album. She glanced at Jiro, waiting for him to blame her. She was a failure of a mother. The minute that video went viral she should have whisked her daughter out of the country to prevent further damage to her family. She had glimpsed instances of Kimiko's decline long before everything exploded and couldn't believe that the conniving young woman in the video threatening her cousin was the same sweet little girl that used to dream of becoming an actress. Kimiko had managed to deceive those around her, including her parents, with her good girl act. Jiro sat on the floor next to his wife and wrapped his arm over her shoulder. The feeling of wanting to assure her that everything would be alright weighed on him once again, but he couldn't lie to her. For the first time since becoming a father, he was at a complete loss on how to proceed. After re-watching the video of the accident, he concluded that Cedric had something to do with Kimiko's change in behavior.
"Morizumi-san," Cedric began then dropped into a dogeza. He wanted to convey his sincerest apologies for what happened to Kimiko. Cedric knew enough from that night that his actions, in the name of friendship, had affected the girl.
"Please stand, Bennett-san. There is no need to apologize to us in such a fashion. Kimi is responsible for her actions."
Jiro motioned for Cedric to stand and sit back on the chair. When the young man was settled, Jiro took his seat near his wife.
"We asked you here Bennett-san because we understand that Kimi has an unnatural obsession with you and the actress Kyoko-san. Can you please explain your relationship with my daughter?"
Sweat beaded upon Cedric's brow. How much should he tell him? Did he have to tell him that he deflowered his daughter and regretted it ever since? The fact that Kimiko was so mature about it the next morning eased his guilt. She had convinced him that she was fine and just wanted to remain friends. They could pretend the night had never happened. Cedric jumped at the easy out she gave him. He had known Kimiko still liked him, but he never once considered that his actions were hurting her to such an extent. Cedric decided then that the fact that he had sex with this man's underage daughter should be better left unsaid. He didn't want to spend the rest of his life in a foreign prison.
Cedric began with how they had met on the set in L.A. and became fast friends due to his fascination with the Japanese culture. The latest blockbusters were adapting more of the eastern culture into their films. He was shocked upon finding out that she was no longer acting when he met up with her in Japan and had tried many times to understand her reasons. As a good friend, he wanted to reawaken her passion for the industry.
Jiro was grateful to the young man for trying to bring his daughter back into acting. His efforts were futile since he wasn't privy to his daughter's reasons for quitting. Cedric told them that he had noticed the unhealthy grudge she had developed against the actress Kyoko.
He shared with her parents the night she stayed at his apartment after being "assaulted" and how he figured out she had orchestrated the whole thing. The Heel sibling reveal might have triggered her somehow. He recalled how the pair had acted toward her when they met on the street in front of the cafe. The couple had taken advantage of their disguises to take a few jabs at Kimiko that night. It wasn't until the accident that he realized the extent of her mania. Cedric gushed out all that transpired on the set that night and the revelation that she had a hand in him coming to Japan. For them to understand, he had to explain his problems with the scandal in L.A. and the circumstances with his family. He had no clue how she did it, but she somehow managed to time everything to work in her favor.
Cedric went silent after his confession and stared at the older couple nervously. They had let him talk for the most part with Jiro asking several questions throughout his story while his wife quietly listened. He could tell she was no longer angry at him. He even thought he saw a hint of sympathy in her eyes as he talked of his friend. It was sad that he never got to know the real Kimiko despite how much time they spent together.
After seeing Cedric out, Jiro sat next to his wife, contemplating all that the young man had revealed. It was quite eye-opening. The fact that his daughter had set her plan in motion ever since she was in Los Angeles made him shudder. It would have been successful except for one vital flaw; she had underestimated the abilities of Japan's up-and-coming actresses.
"I think we should just focus on getting Kimi the help she needs," Jiro suggested to his wife. There would be no justice here. He wanted to inform Kento that he needed to drop the charges against Yashiro immediately. Kimiko's psych evaluation revealed that she was unstable and had abnormal aggression towards the actress Kyoko. His daughter had refused to cooperate, opting to stare out the window in a catatonic state and ignoring all the doctor's questions. Bringing up the names of Kyoko, Ren or Cedric did not get even the slightest twitch from her. The doctor had the bright idea to turn on the television, stumbling upon a rerun of the recent interview with Ren and Kyoko.
Kimiko's violent response was instantaneous the moment they were in her sight. She screamed, cursed, and threw anything on hand at the television set. The police officer stationed outside her room had burst in, startled by the commotion. He helped the doctor hold the frail girl down as she tried to tear at her bandages. The reaction had resulted in her being placed in leather restraints to keep her from harming herself and others. The doctor did not hesitate to recommend she be moved to the psych ward for further evaluation. Jiro had refused to treat his daughter like a mental patient.
"How can we help her if she's in prison?" His wife had voiced the question that he couldn't answer.
Jiro grimaced. She had a point. I may have to consider a mental institution as an alternative. He would have to consult with Kento. Perhaps the judge would show leniency or grant some sort of plea deal for her. Jiro was already making plans to relocate his family to South Korea depending on the outcome. The country had a plethora of highly-rated plastic surgeons, surely one of them would be able to heal his daughter. He knew restoring her exterior would not fix what was broken inside, and would also have to seek out the help of a psychiatrist.
After today's fitting, Tadashi vowed to throttle Fuji if his daughter developed a body complex. She was still sulking as they entered the LME campus for her one-hour music lessons in guitar and vocal training. Fuji had apologized profusely for his initial outburst and insisted that these things often happen in fashion. Kyoko was, after all, still a growing girl. Even though Fuji appreciated the extra curves on her, she still took it hard that she was causing needless work to him and his team.
Kyoko stopped Tadashi's hand on the door handle making him look at her curiously. He watched in fascination as his daughter paused in the hall and closed her eyes. She took a deep shaky breath in and slowly released it. All the tension she was feeling earlier left her body. When she opened her eyes again, she smiled and nodded for him to open the door.
Kyoko had learned a hard lesson from Ren during their Dark Moon days to never bring baggage from one job to the next. Closing her eyes momentarily, helped her focus on improving her mood. Thinking of Ren scolding her properly back then always brought her out of her funk.
...
In all her seventeen years, Kyoko had never once thought that there would come a day when she would be sitting at the same dinner table with her mother and father. Sometime during her music lesson, her father received a call from her mother with a dinner invitation. Tadashi consulted her schedule and found that Yashiro had purposely included a gap so she could eat a proper dinner before she was needed on set. With Kyoko's consent, he accepted on her behalf to meet at a cafe on the way to her next job. Tadashi had every intention of leaving his daughter to eat with her mother, but to the astonishment of both father and daughter, Saena had insisted he join them.
Kyoko was glad they were seated at the back of the cafe with a few older patrons that didn't seem to recognize her. She knew that any interference by fans, or paparazzi, would surely sour her mother's mood. After they had placed their order, Tadashi attempted to make small talk to break the tension.
"Mogami-san, Kyoko-chan was promoted to her third year because of her excellent grades and conduct at school? She will be graduating on schedule," Tadashi beamed proudly.
Saena was shocked by the news and took a moment to recover. "So, do you have plans of taking any entrance exams for university?" Saena asked her daughter coolly.
Kyoko gulped nervously and fidgeted with the hem of her uniform skirt. As an academic, she knew her mother would be disappointed in her answer but she wouldn't lie about her dreams. "Ugh, well, I was planning on focusing on my acting career after I graduate," she answered quietly, peering up at her mother. "LME has a training facility that would allow me to improve my skills as an actress."
Her mother nodded curtly. "Well, as long as you continue to work hard that too is an acceptable path."
Kyoko stared, dumbfounded by her mother's reaction or lack thereof. Did I just receive my mother's approval?
"I have had the privilege to watch her work. She is amazing, Mogami-san!" Tadashi added and broke into a tirade of describing the myriad of skills their daughter possessed, down to the recent discovery that she could not only sing but also play an instrument. His boasting was interrupted when their food arrived, ending the need to speak as they dug into their meals.
"Mother, will Todoh-san be joining us tonight?" Kyoko asked between bites. She wondered if it would be awkward for her father to bring up her mother's fiancé. He didn't seem to mind it.
"He is finishing up some work at the office so I will order him a meal to go. It was his suggestion to invite you for dinner to take a break," Saena replied stoically. Susumu had given her the little push she needed to call and meet up with her daughter since she was still very awkward when it came to interacting with Kyoko. Wanting to prove that she had let go of the past, she hastily invited Tadashi to join them. What she had to say also included him. So far, it was turning out to be a pleasant meal.
Thank you, Todoh-san! Kyoko wasn't hurt that her mother had not come up with the idea herself. The point was she followed through and they were now sharing a meal. She was grateful for the lawyer's presence in her mother's life. She could see that the lines between her brows were not that deep today.
Saena could report back truthfully to Susumu that she had seen with her own eyes that Kyoko was fine. She didn't think it necessary to point out to Kyoko that in her chosen profession there would probably be more of these kinds of incidents in the future, especially since she was in a relationship with the nation's number one heartthrob.
When they were done eating, Saena decided it was time to tell Kyoko the other reasons for dinner. She reached down and removed a folder a fancy ball-point pen from her folder. "Kyoko, Morimoto-san, has approached me with the idea of putting you on his family registry," she stated, all business.
"He did!" Kyoko gasped, glancing at her father. Her cheeks heated at his adoring smile.
"Ah, I was going to discuss it with you beforehand. I was just looking for the right moment. I didn't know that was a topic of discussion tonight," he answered, glancing at Saena. He had reached out to Saena just that morning after sending her the most recent evidence on Morizumi's manager. Tadashi wanted to make sure it was okay before he broached the topic with Kyoko. The idea of having her take his name had been at the back of his mind for quite some time. He knew the timing wasn't right, but he wanted to get the ball rolling if there was the slightest possibility that she would agree.
"I couldn't respond to your mail since I was occupied with work… but I see no problem with it. If that's what Kyoko wants." This was the reason why Saena had asked Tadashi to stay. The lawyer in her found things to be a lot easier if all parties involved had an open dialogue. Saena could tell that in this short time, Tadashi made good on his promise to stay by Kyoko's side. She could see just how much the man had grown on Kyoko. She hoped for the girl's sake that this man kept his word.
"I'm sorry this is just so sudden." Kyoko's voice trembled with emotion. She had never thought that such a thing could ever be an option. Legalities aside, he had already made her feel like his cherished daughter.
"Susumu and I have already submitted our marriage license. I am now on his family registry."
"Ehhhhhh!" Kyoko screeched loudly. She stood up quickly from her seat making her chair clatter to the floor. Her outburst drew the attention of the customers near them. Kyoko apologized quickly and sat back down on the chair her father had righted. She looked up at her mother, the once shallow Mogami river was now running deep again. "I'm sorry, mother. Does this mean you and Todoh-san are ma- married now?"
Saena nodded a slight blush rising to her cheeks at the thought of being that man's wife.
Tadashi ignored the dull ache in his chest and congratulated Saena. He sincerely wished her a life filled with happiness. Saena smiled and looked at her ex-lover, noting that he seemed genuinely happy for her. She thanked him for his congratulations.
Trying to change the topic from her, Saena opened the folder. She had prepared the paperwork for the name change and also brought along the documents necessary for Tadashi's name to be added to Kyoko's birth certificate.
"Are you both okay with this?" Kyoko asked as a tear slipped down her cheek. The soft expression that briefly crossed Saena's face quelled Kyoko's inner turmoil. It dispelled any thoughts that the woman in front of her, her mother, was finally trying to get rid of her once and for all. In her own way, Kyoko believed, that Saena was trying to make amends.
"I would be very happy and honored to be legally recognized as your father," Tadashi told her taking out his handkerchief and dabbing her cheek. He was grateful to Saena for not hating him and bringing this wonderful girl into the world.
Kyoko sniffed and laughed through her tears. "I want that too," she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. She looked at her mother as she hugged her father and mouthed, Thank You.
Kyoko cursed and fumbled with the key card as she tried to open the apartment door. Juggling two guitars and her bag was becoming cumbersome. Before she could get the door open, Ren was standing in front of her wearing a pair of gray joggers and a black tank top that showed off every rippling muscle on his upper body. Kyoko's heart flipped at the sight of him looking so damn sexy.
"Welcome home, baby," Ren greeted her with a chaste kiss and unloaded some of her baggage. "Is your father not with you?" He asked looking into the hall.
"No, I told him I could manage coming up alone," Kyoko sighed, flopping on the couch.
"Good, I'll be right back." When he returned, gorgeous gemstone eyes greeted her. He sprawled on the couch and laid his head on her lap like a cute overgrown puppy.
"You're home early, did everything go well?" she asked, looking down at him and threading her hands through his dark soft locks. She wondered how Muse managed to keep his hair so silky even after the repetitive dye treatment.
He nodded with his eyes closed, loving the way she ran her fingers through his hair. They were like magic and always managed to calm his nerves. He wanted to enjoy this for a few more minutes before he decided to face the reality that was waiting for him in the bedroom.
He had flown through the rest of his schedule with no NGs to get home quicker; thoughts of the envelope pushed to the back of his mind as he worked. Yashiro had been grateful since he had a date planned with Kanae. He hoped his manager could have a quiet evening with Kanae and not get pestered by paparazzi. Ren had easily helped him book a table at the swanky Italian restaurant in one of Tokyo's prestigious hotels. He needed to take a page out of his manager's book and take his girlfriend out on a luxurious date.
Kuon didn't know what to do with the information Lory had given him, completely shocked by its contents He had skimmed the top sheet and cowardly shoved the documents and photographs back into the packet. He took shallow breaths waiting for the feeling of dread or anger to overwhelm him. As if on cue, he heard the front door jiggling. The sound of his cute girlfriend cursing at the door quickly filled his body with warmth. He hurried out to seek her comfort and her strength.
"How about you?" he asked, opening his eyes to admire her beauty.
"I had dinner with my parents," she answered thoughtfully.
Kuon bolted upright. "Your parents? As in Tadashi-san and your mother?" Kyoko giggled at his reaction and nodded. This is why she didn't text him about it. He would have been too distracted at work with worry for her.
"How did that happen?"
"And you know what else, my mother was the one that invited us."
Kuon rubbed his hand over his face in disbelief.
She told him about her dining experience with her parents. He wasn't shocked by her mother's quiet marriage. He figured his future mother-in-law would opt for something more practical than a ceremony. The proposal to take her father's surname was even less shocking. Even a blind person could see how the man doted on his daughter. He was happy for her that things were going smoothly with her parents. A black cloud loomed over him as he thought about his parental situation. The time to rectify his relationship with his parents was fast approaching. Thankfully, communicating over the phone had eased some of the tension.
"Corn, what's wrong?" She asked, gazing at him with concern.
"I have a lot to tell you, but first I want you to get cleaned up and ready for bed."
Kyoko frowned, wanting to press him right then and there, but she decided to do what he asked quickly. Since she had already taken her shower after filming Momiji, she was done in less than ten minutes. When she came out of the bathroom, Kuon was sitting on the floor leaning up against their bed. His green eyes pleaded with her and handed her a thick manilla envelope.
"Can you help me with this? I don't know if my mind is playing tricks on me."
Kyoko sat down next to him. Whatever was in this envelope had agitated him to a certain degree. She pulled out the sheets and scanned the first page. Her eyes bugged out from shock at what the document was implying. It seemed to all be speculation, but whoever put the document together had strung various evidence that pinpointed a crime, accidentally covered up by shoddy police work almost six years ago, against one Richard L. Johansson.
Kyoko sifted through the pictures that told a story, in chronological order, why the author of this report believed that the culprit for this crime was none other than the real owner of the vehicle, Yuri-san, Kimiko's manager.
Kyoko shook her head in disbelief and looked up at Kuon, "Is this about your friend… Rick?"
Kuon nodded. He was sitting with his knees bent, elbows propped on them holding his head. Kyoko looked at him seriously.
"Who gave you this information?"
"Boss gave it to me before we met with Fuji-san. I managed to ignore it because of work but as soon as I got home it was the only thing on my mind. I just skimmed the top sheet before you came home," he admitted in a tremulous voice thick with tears. If he had not been so distraught by his friend's death maybe he could have used his family's position in society to seek justice for him. Some stranger had managed to make the connections he could not.
Kyoko blinked several times to hold back her tears. With this new information, her poor boy had to relive the tragedy of losing his best friend. She knew that Rick was hit by a car, but she didn't know that he was a victim of a hit and run. She scooted closer to her boyfriend and pulled him towards her so that his head rested on her chest.
"Do you want to look at it with me properly?" She asked softly petting his head. Together they could think of a plan once they sorted through all the information. Perhaps this is the closure he needs to finally let go. From what Kuon told her about that night, Rick seemed to have carelessly stepped into the road, putting himself in harm's way. Emotions were running high that night and led to a tragic mistake. It was an accident, but Kyoko couldn't forgive the driver for not stopping.
Notes:
Hiya! Thanks for sticking with me! Surprise S and S got married and Kyoko's surname will be changing. Hopefully, that doesn't mess you, readers, up. A reviewer suggested Tadashi adopt her but since he was already her biological father, it would only be a matter of filing the right documents.
So naturally, when I wrote this chapter a year or two ago we didn't know Rick's real first name (SPOILER it's ERIC if you didn't know that) Imagine how disappointed I was when it turned out not to be Richard...LOL. I mean who "shortens" an already short name like Eric.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 93: The American Promoter
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, there would be more Kuu! XD
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Yashiro stepped out of the car, holding a bouquet and two large bags. He was a little nervous about meeting her family again. The last time he came into contact with them, he had fled for his life at the urging of Kanae. Though she complained about her family, he could tell she loved them dearly, even if according to her, they are all leeches. Yashiro shifted his bags so he could press the buzzer to the front door using his elbow. He didn't feel right about going around the side to what Kanae called her bunker. He wanted to greet her family properly this time.
He took a tentative step back from the door, as he felt the familiar rumble approaching and then suddenly stop. Mo! Get back, all of you! So help me! I will slip out of here without any of you meeting him. Go and sit down!
Yashiro tried not to laugh when he heard the shuffling of heavy footsteps as Kanae's family obeyed her orders. He tilted his head as quiet ensued and still, he waited. Why isn't she opening the door? Should I ring the bell again? No, Baka! She was just there. She knows I'm out here. I have to be patient. Yashiro felt sweat break out on his brow when another minute ticked by. Did she change her mind about me?
Kanae fidgeted in front of the hall mirror, fussing with her appearance. She ran her hands through her straight black hair for the hundredth time and adjusted the straps of her dress so less cleavage was shown. Is this color too bold? The neckline is way too low. He'll think I'm a hussy! What was I thinking? Why did I listen to my sisters? How could I possibly go out there in this?
"Kanae," her eldest sister whispered. "You look gorgeous. Quit stalling. Hurry before he thinks you don't like him."
Kanae glared at her sister. She summoned all her confidence and pulled open the door.
Yashiro let out a sigh of relief when the door finally opened but dropped his bags and bouquet reflexively from shock. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the gorgeous vision before him.
Any apprehension Kanae felt about her appearance was quickly dashed the moment Yashiro laid eyes on her. His usually warm brown eyes shone bright with surprise and his mouth hung agape as he gazed at her.
She was wearing a sleeveless red knit dress with a plunging neckline that opened down to her sternum. The dress itself was form-fitting and hugged every curve of her slim body down to her knees. The color of the dress brought out the creaminess of her skin and was a sharp contrast to the black in her hair. She looked devilishly sexy and yet remained classy at the same time. His heart rate quickened at the sight of her while he tried his best to keep all the blood in his body from flooding to his groin.
The sound of a shutter and the bright flash from her brother's camera startled Yashiro back to his senses. He blushed crimson and recovered quickly, picking up the bouquet. He gently swiped the bundle to remove any dust to buy him some time while he composed himself. Kanae cleared her throat trying to hide her amusement.
"I'm sorry for my clumsiness," Yashiro said quickly. "These are for you. You look very beautiful tonight," He added sheepishly, handing the roses to her. He wanted to kiss her in greeting but decided it was not wise to do that in front of her family at the first meeting. Kanae allowed a soft blush to grace her cheeks and thanked him for the flowers. She lifted the arrangement to her nose and inhaled the sweet fragrance. No one had ever given her flowers before unless she counted the fake dates she went on for her side job, which she didn't.
"Yuki, please come inside and meet my family. What are the bags for?" She asked, watching him pick up the two large bags.
"Ah, it's just some gifts I brought for your family. It's mostly snacks." Kyoko had told him about her first meeting with the Kotonami clan. Yashiro gleaned from her story that bringing snacks would make a good impression.
Kanae smiled softly and tiptoed to kiss his cheek, sending a new wave of blood to his face. It was sweet of him to think of the kids. She led him to the dilapidated living room where her family all sat on the floor, waiting to be introduced.
"Hello," Yashiro greeted with a nervous smile and a slight bow. "Thank you for welcoming me into your home." He made sure to glance over every person and child in the cramped living room, prepared to commit their names to memory. His quick assessment of the lot told him that there were eighteen in total.
Kanae introduced her older siblings first, her sisters-in-law, and their children. Then she introduced him to her younger siblings. Unfortunately, her parents were once again vacationing frivolously at some onsen in Hakone. He was previously under the impression that a lot of children lived in this house but had no idea that her family was so large. It was amazing compared to his small family of four. He hoped he brought enough snacks to go around.
After Kanae said the final name, they all broke out at once trying to bombard him with questions. Everyone was interested in "Kanae-nee's" boyfriend, particularly what he had in those bags.
"Mo! Enough! We have a reservation so we can't be late. You've seen him already so you should be satisfied with this much. Let's go, Yuki!" She commanded, taking the bags from him and placing them in front of the children.
Yashiro looked on in amusement as they descended on the bags like piranhas. It was so surprising to see that this usually composed woman had such a chaotic home life. He admired her all the more for how well she kept her personal life so private and was pleased she had no qualms about sharing her family life with him which meant she trusted him.
Yashiro bowed and gave his apologies. "Please enjoy, everyone. I hope they're to your liking."
"Wait, Kanae! This is your first date ever. We need a picture to show mom and dad," her brother with the camera insisted.
"First date?" Yashiro whispered letting that tidbit of information go to his head. He was feeling quite proud and nervous at the same time. He prayed it went well and he didn't disappoint her.
"Can we please take a picture? I would like to make a good impression on your parents," Yashiro asked, tugging at the cuffs of his navy blazer. He wore black ankle trouser pants, a black dotted button-up shirt with the top two buttons undone, and a pair of black loafers. It was a nice contrast from the usual drab gray he wore to work. He looked trendy and sexy with his hair blown back.
Kanae narrowed her eyes at Yashiro. "Fine, just one," Sse conceded, holding up a single digit to her obnoxious brother.
Yashiro's inner fangirl did a standing back tuck, cheering with glee. Her family looked at him puzzled while he put on a surgical glove and pulled out the new smartphone she gave him. He handed the phone over to her sister and asked if she would take a picture for him as well.
...
Kanae made a mental note to thank her sisters for dressing her up tonight. Yashiro had taken her to a popular Italian restaurant full of glamorous people. She didn't feel so out of place holding on to his arm. It was good that Yashiro wore contacts tonight instead of his glasses so he couldn't be recognized easily. Their date would have been interrupted by several celebrities and acquaintances he had met throughout Ren's career if he looked like his regular self. He told her he would inform Ren that this place, though sophisticated yet casual, may not be ideal for him to take Kyoko on a date if he was looking for an intimate setting. They would be recognized instantly if they didn't have a good disguise.
Kanae tried not to grumble while looking over the menu. She was thinking of just getting a salad so she wouldn't ruin her diet. She had often avoided Italian food because it was high in calories and carbohydrates. Yashiro had pointed out the lighter side to the carb-loaded menu and recommended the zucchini pasta with lemon garlic shrimp. Her meal was delicious and slightly guilt-free if she ignored the buttery flavor.
They had a steady flow of conversation with little to no talk of their two best friends. Yashiro asked her about work and gave her advice on how to approach certain jobs. He told her that if she ever needed help work wise he was more than eager to aide her. Kanae had declined his offer since he was already so busy with Ren and Kyoko that she did not want to burden him. She assured him that she was doing fine with the help of Matsushima and his assistants.
They ignored the elephant in the room that was the issue of Yashiro's future following the Kimiko incident. Kanae found herself talking and smiling more than usual, he even had her laughing at his lame jokes. He talked fondly about the family that he visited every New Year. He invited Kanae to join him on his next trip to see them. She thought for sure he would be running for the hills after meeting her family, but he seemed to be making plans for the future which had a warming effect on her heart. Kanae couldn't be sure since she never dated anyone in real life, but Yashiro seemed to be an exception. She found herself falling more for him as the night wore on.
After dinner, while waiting for the valet to bring his car around, Yashiro leaned down and whispered into her ear. "I know it's a small consolation compared to the price of the phone, but I hope you enjoyed dinner."
Kanae shivered at his closeness making Yashiro smirk. "I hope you will allow me to continue to show my appreciation."
She gaped, understanding the innuendo in his brazen words. Who would have thought Yashiro had it in him?
Once in the car, Kanae asked if he could drive her to another location. Not wanting to part with her anytime soon, Yashiro happily agreed. He plugged the new address into his GPS and took off. He was confused when they pulled up to an apartment complex.
"What is this place?" He questioned, glancing out the window.
"It's where I live."
"But your family? You don't live there?" Kanae shook her head in denial. She had always let him pick her up and drop her off at the Kotonami house.
"I live alone here. I can't concentrate with all the racket those people make. Because it's you, I'm trusting you with this secret. My family doesn't know where I live and I would like to keep it that way."
"Kyoko-chan?"
Kanae nodded. "She stayed over and showed me how to make chocolates because of the President's ridiculous demands."
"I remember that," Yashiro chuckled, recalling Kyoko's enthusiasm when she received Kanae's invite. He stepped out quickly and circled to the passenger side to help her out. If she brought him here, it had to mean something.
"I'll walk you to your door," he offered, taking her hand in his as they walked. They took the stairs rather than the elevator to the third floor to prolong their time together and work off some of that dinner. In front of her door, Yashiro looked up and down the hall but Kanae surprised him again. She grabbed him by the lapels and crushed her mouth to his. Yashiro's hands found her waist and pushed her up against the door deepening the kiss, his tongue thrusting through her parted lips. This was not the first time they had kissed like this nor will it be their last. They had made out like teenagers on his bed the night she stayed at his place They didn't go all the way that night, but there was a generous amount of indecent touching.
The ding from the elevator down the hall brought Yashiro back to his senses. He stopped kissing her and rested his forehead against hers taking her hands in his.
"I should go," Yashiro murmured against her lips his brown eyes gazing into her blue.
"Or you could stay," she countered suggestively. Yashiro's eyes widened at her invitation. He searched her eyes for any hesitation and found none.
"I have a shirt you can borrow," she teased. Kanae was referring to the shirt she borrowed last time. Yashiro pressed her back into the door and kissed her lips hungrily once more in answer, stopping only for her to open the door.
Meanwhile, in the City of Angels:
The minute Kuu woke up this morning he checked his phone. Kuon had not called him since the incident occurred last night, or more precisely, morning their time. He was quite worried about his son since he seemed to have been in a lot of pain. Kuu was now on set for his new movie, playing the male lead as a hotshot LAPD detective. Every time a break was called, Kuu automatically checked his phone. He knew he was being unreasonable. It was in the middle of the night in Tokyo so he wouldn't be getting any calls at this hour. He supposed no news was good news.
He had been tempted several times to call Lory. Kuu had no problems bothering that man at all hours of the night when it pertained to Kuon. He was most likely awake, watching some love drama or playing a dating sim game. Kuu hesitated to call because he wasn't sure how much Kuon wanted Lory to know about his embarrassing predicament. His kids had confided in him. He couldn't betray their trust and waited patiently for them to call. Julie was a bit miffed that she was unable to help Kuon in his time of need and vowed to never speak to Kuu for a week. He tried to explain that it wasn't the kind of situation a son could discuss with his mother, but she didn't care for his excuses. It hurt her that their kids didn't rely on her more when they had trouble. As a consolation, Kuu showed her the screenshot he took of their cute son to help allay her sadness and beg forgiveness. Kuon looked so innocent with his watery green eyes and blushing face. His expression reminded them of a time when he was younger and happier. They had Kyoko to thank for bringing their son back to them.
Kuu was interrupted from his musings when whispered voices caught his attention. He looked up to see who had entered the set and found the popular promoter, Callister Bennett, talking with his young co-star and her mother that doubled as her manager. The twelve-year-old girl was playing the role of his stepdaughter in the movie. She had a relatively small role but she would have to portray a physically weak child that suffered from asthma attacks and severe depression. He assumed Callister was here to scout her. He had made a name for himself in the industry both States side and overseas, inheriting the nickname of his predecessor. Once he set his sights on a talented person, they were guaranteed to be a success. Callister was at the top of the food chain of his business that he didn't need to do such things anymore; however, Kuu understood the man enjoyed finding new talent.
Kuu stood up quickly to catch the man that had been his "acquaintance" for so long. It took a lot of acting on Kuu's part to tolerate the man after what his...no…Kuu wouldn't go there. Instead, he thought positive. His "easy" transition into Hollywood when he first came to America could be attributed to Lory and Callister's mentor, the true Mr. D.
Kuu needed answers and this was the perfect time to get them. Why is his son in Japan? The man had eluded Kuu's attempts at bumping into him since he had been in Europe for the past month. Kuu had heard the same old rumors among his peers regarding Cedric's scandal with the supermodel. He wanted to hear it firsthand from the man himself. Kuu knew Lory had already gone straight to the man he trusted to get answers without giving Kuon away. His source checked out. He could not find anything out of the ordinary in the typical sordid life that the youth of Hollywood enjoyed.
There were no traces of Cedric actively looking for Kuon in Lory's investigation. Last Kuu heard Lory was still trying to track down the model in question at her last known location in the French Riviera. It was a known rumor that Callister paid the woman a hefty amount to retract her statements about Cedric. The rumor trail was running cold these days because in the celebrity world there was always a new scandal to easily replace the last.
Kuu pasted a warm smile on his face and approached the small gathering from the direction Callister was facing. Callister caught his eye and smiled.
"Kuu, old friend. I was wondering if I'd see you here. Seems I picked the perfect time to come by," Callister greeted, shaking Kuu's hand and clapping him on the back. They had known each other since Kuu first came to America and worked with his father-in-law. Kuu didn't have anything against the talented man except for how poorly his son used to treat Kuon. If he blamed the parents, what did that say about him and Julie?
"Good to see you too. How have you been? I see you have your eye on our young starlet here."
"I'm keeping busy…and of course!" Callister answered, spreading his palms up to the young actress. "I'm sure you've noticed working alongside her. I'm expecting good things from her. I already found a new project for her after this one."
"That's amazing," Kuu said, congratulating the young girl. The actress was called off for a wardrobe change leaving the men to talk. Kuu still had some time since the director was busy reviewing the tape and making changes to the set.
This was Kuu's chance to go fishing for information. "So I heard your son is working with my daughter in Tokyo!"
"Daughter?!" Callister shouted in surprise. "Did you have a baby out of wedlock? Does Julienna know about her?"
Kuu chuckled. "Jules knows. She's not my biological daughter. I unofficially adopted her when I was in Japan last year. She won my heart over with her acting, personality, and cooking. You'd like her very much."
"Really?" Callister said intrigued, pulling out a pad and pen from his pocket. "What is her name? So I can look this child up that so easily stole your heart and your stomach with her skills."
Kuu laughed nervously. He wondered if he should have said anything. Being associated with him had not worked out for Kuon, he didn't want the same thing to happen to Kyoko.
"She's coming to play in October for fashion week. Maybe I'll introduce you then. So how did Cedric end up in Japan anyway?"
Callister pouted and put away his notepad. He sighed heavily thinking about his son. The boy had managed to build a reputable name for himself in the acting world. Yes, a lot of directors and producers hired him for his family's reputation, but he was holding his own and improving his skills. If only his son were more charismatic like Kuu's son used to be, he wouldn't have had such a late start in the industry. He wondered how his son would have fared if Kuon was still around. Nobody knew what happened to the kid. The rumor that resurfaced now and then was that he was in a mental institute, driven insane by the death of his closest friend. It was sad to think of such talent wasting away like that. He had high hopes for Kuon back then, but the kid folded under the pressure of his family name and self-destructed.
He only heard rumors of the boy's mistreatment on and off the set. He knew Cedric and his friends used to torment Kuon. They were boys just being boys. A little bullying from other kids only made one stronger in his opinion. The celebrity world was harsh, a weak person would be eaten alive and spat out. Callister wasn't sure what spurred the change in his son but he watched Cedric finally mature into a fine actor over the past few years.
Though his son's career was flourishing, it was like with fame came stupidity. The kid had terrible judgment when it came to women. He had no clue where he got that from. Callister told himself that he should just be satisfied that his son was taking acting seriously and no longer harassing people to get ahead in the industry.
"His interest has grown over the years, especially with the increased use of stage combat and swordplay in these new action flicks. And the kid has this weird fetish for Japanese maidens. I'm sure you've heard. You're no stranger to scandal when it came to your son." Callister missed the scowl that briefly crossed Kuu's face at the small jab he took at his son. "Cedric got himself tangled up with some supermodel. Producer Kuresaki was looking for someone to play the antagonist in his project. Since the production was delayed, the original actor lined up for the part bowed out to chase a better opportunity. I snatched up the chance for Cedric to get away until the rumors died down and I could take care of things here."
"I see, well your son better not try anything with my daughter! I don't want to have to hide a body," Kuu threatened, making Callister laugh.
"Don't worry, my son has been warned to stay out of trouble over there or there would be consequences," Callister assured Kuu. "He's not stupid enough to disregard my request." Callister decided that he should check in with his son maybe he could even find out about the girl that Kuu took under his wing.
Kuu nodded. He didn't need rumors to tell him that Callister was still hard on his son. He used to witness it firsthand when Kuon was still around. He thought it best to keep quiet about the Morizumi incident if he didn't already know. Just because it happened on the set of Sacred Lotus, didn't mean outsiders knew Cedric was a witness. He had warned Kuon early on to keep that guy away from Kyoko, but it seemed his fears were baseless. The actor appeared to have been working diligently and had not caused any trouble for his kids. From what Kyoko told him, the Sacred Lotus would wrap up before she came to LA. Which meant Cedric would also be back in town. Kuu wondered if the guy was just waiting for the right opportunity to show his spots. He would have to tell Kuon and Lory about this conversation.
"While we're on the subject of Japan, are you familiar with the actor Ren su- ru, that's right it's spelled like how you would say tsunami so Tsu-ru-ga. Do you know the actor Ren Tsuruga?" Callister asked Kuu.
"Ah, I did meet him briefly in passing while I was out there." Kuu decided that it wasn't a total lie if he focused on their meeting in the parking garage and treated Ren as a separate entity from his son. It would be too suspicious if he did not meet the top star that had surpassed his ratings on the remake of Tsukigomori. "Why? Are you scouting him?"
"Of course! Did you watch Tragic Marker? He plays the villain BJ. I haven't had chills like that in a while."
Kuu and Julie went against Kuon's warning and watched a late-night showing of the psycho-thriller. Julie had forced herself not to look away from the screen. She didn't want to miss a single second of her baby boy's acting. Unfortunately, she still had nightmares from watching the horrifying movie. Kuu was proud of his son. It had to take a great deal of discipline to pull off the role of a cold-blooded killer. Despite what his son might think of himself, Kuu knew that Kuon had to tap into the darker side of his persona to achieve this success.
"Did you know he played dual roles for that project? Only the director and producers were aware that the actor that played BJ, Cain Heel, was, in fact, Ren Tsuruga!" Callister exclaimed. "He had everyone else fooled."
"I did watch it! I thought his performance was magnificent! It was shocking when all that unfolded! I do keep up with my homeland's gossip, especially on the actor that surpassed my Katsuki," Kuu confessed. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from overpraising his son.
"I've worked with producers and directors here and sent offers to his agency, trying to get him here, but they've turned down every one of them. I want to see how he could handle small roles before I start pushing for bigger parts."
Kuu clenched his jaw at what Callister just said. Kuon never told him that he was getting offers to come back to the U.S. Did he still hate the idea of coming home so much?
"Did they give you a reason for the refusal?"
"They were valid excuses. He's apparently committed to other projects at the moment. I just can't believe an actor would pass up an opportunity to come work in Hollywood."
Kuu was stunned and hurt. He couldn't formulate a good response. He was baffled by the idea that his son would turn down an opportunity to work here. Isn't this what we have been waiting for this whole time?
"I was hoping you could put in a good word with this Ren Tsuruga. He does work for your old agency. Maybe you can share your experience with a young actor and convince him to take a chance."
"I'll see what I can do," Kuu clipped, suppressing the pain in his heart.
Callister looked at him oddly but shrugged, "I took up enough of your time. I'll see you around." He shook Kuu's hand again and left the set.
Notes:
Hiya everyone, I hope you enjoyed this chapter despite the lack of our OTP. Instead of having them talk to Kuu over the phone, I decided to just take us to him. Callister is another OC of mine that I've cast as Cedric's father and the American Promoter. Of course, now we know that Mr. D is Eltra (Kuon and Cedric's grandfather) but I hope it still works in the story...more to come on that front.
Thanks for always reading. I HEART you all.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 94: Permission Slip
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren's car would be ahem tinted.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kuon froze mid-click on the mouse of his laptop when Kyoko stirred beside him, afraid of waking her. He knew he should have left the room so as not to disturb her, but right now he needed to keep her warm presence close to him. They had stayed up late organizing their thoughts and trying to get a grasp on the information that Lory provided. Even though the evidence stared him right in the face, he wasn't sure if it warranted a case.
He couldn't bear the thought that his best friend's case was filed somewhere in the LAPD's database, unsolved. If only he had contacts in the police department willing to reopen a case, particularly one like this with so many holes. Unfortunately, being on the other side of the table when he was brought into the station for fighting was not helpful. He should have been more cooperative and less of a smartass during those visits. Kyoko had suggested telling their boss or hiring a lawyer. The only lawyer he knew over there was his family's lawyer that always bailed him out of sticky situations. Would his father be willing to help him with this? Maybe Kyoko was right. He should start with consulting Lory. There was no point bothering his father just yet.
Kyoko suddenly shifted in bed and rolled to face his side. He tried to turn the computer in the opposite direction so the harsh light wouldn't wake her, but it was too late. Her face scrunched up in annoyance and she grunted softly. So cute, like a chipmunk! "I'm sorry baby. Go back to sleep," he cooed stroking her head. She moaned and stretched more like a feline beneath the covers until her eyes fluttered open. Burrowing herself into his side, she shifted up so her cheek rested on his shoulder.
"Did you get any sleep?" She asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"I slept some," he assured her quietly. Kyoko pursed her lips. Coming from him, that was code for not at all.
"Are you looking at her website again?" Kyoko asked, staring at his computer screen.
The website's main page showed the inside of an art gallery displayed on the screen. It wasn't the attractive woman smiling into the camera that caught his eye; it was the large black and white print hanging off-camera in the background that warranted his attention. If he closed his eyes he could remember vivid details of the day that picture was taken. He wasn't always angry or fighting. There had been some good days or at least days that started as good and then went to shit whenever the sun went down. The two young men stared into the camera, eyes sparkling, each holding a beer up in cheers with cigarettes tucked between their lips. Letting his mind wander, he could almost hear the faint sounds of seagulls squawking in the sky and the ocean waves crashing behind them at the Malibu pier. It was their easy go-to spot to surf. That day the water was flat so they hung out drinking and enjoyed the calming sounds of the ocean.
Kyoko recognized her Corn right away despite the hint of shadows in his light eyes. Kuon told her last night that the guy next to him was Rick. According to him, the picture was taken only a few months before his friend's death. They had clicked through Tina's gallery to see if he could find any more pictures of Rick but there were none.
Kuon didn't answer her. He closed his computer and placed it on the nightstand instead. Twisting, he wrapped the angel beside him securely in his arms and sighed in contentment.
Kyoko didn't press him for an answer and snuggled into his warm embrace. She would always be here to support him when he was ready.
...
When Ren walked out of the bedroom dressed for the day, Kyoko stared at him. It had finally clicked why she had thought Rick looked so familiar to her last night after seeing his picture. It seemed like Kuon had modeled his Ren persona after his friend down to the pendant he wore around his neck. Kyoko smiled wondering if she should voice out her observations. But what if he finds the comparison offensive? She thought biting her bottom lip.
"What is it?" he asked warily at the change of her mood. He could tell she was worried about something.
Kyoko shook her head and forced herself to smile assuring him it was nothing. The old him would have let her be and accepted the blatant lie until she was ready to talk, but he wasn't backing down.
"Please don't do that, don't shut me out. I want you to be able to tell me anything," he pleaded in a trembling voice and sank to his knees before her, snaking his arms around her waist.
Kyoko felt a sharp ache in her heart at the vulnerable expression on his face. What she had to say might hurt him? She remembered her vow to always be honest with him and tell him whatever was troubling her. Her arms wrapped around him, holding his head against her bosom.
She threaded her fingers through his hair and kissed the top of his head, hoping to ease his mind. "I'm sorry Corn. I didn't mean to. It's just that I had a thought but now I don't know if it would hurt you in the end." He tilted his head up to focus on her, his eyes urging her to tell him anyway. "I couldn't help but notice that your outward appearance is very similar to Rick-san's."
"Eh?" So that's what she was thinking. "You're not wrong. As my best friend, he did leave a lasting impression on me. As a newbie actor, I had to pull from my experience and those around me to refine Tsuruga Ren's image. I drew inspiration from both Rick and my Dad since they were the closest men in my life…men that I admired. After that, I just came into my own to portray a better man than my old self."
Ah! I'm such an idiot! How could I forget this important aspect of character development? She had done the same thing when Kuu had given her the assignment as Kuon. Because of his amazing ability, she often forgot that he too was once new to the acting scene. Kyoko held his hands, helping him stand up. She smiled up at him and reached her hand up to stroke his cheek.
"I love every aspect of you, Kuon," she confessed, encircling her arms around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss. "Now let's go before we're late for your appointment."
Kuon groaned, wanting to cancel the appointment since everything seemed to have been working just fine down there; however, Kyoko balked at the idea, insisting that she tagged along just to make sure he actually went. She went as far as calling Yashiro, instructing him not to pick them up, but to meet Ren at his first job. Something in that conversation had made her blush severely when she was talking to their manager. Kyoko had muttered Moko which was enough for him to gather that their date had gone well last night. He would have to tease his friend later if he was still in the mood; nothing could ruin his day more like another man fondling his junk.
Kyoko shook from the vibration of her phone. She pulled it out and saw a missed message from Ren, I enjoyed the pep talk! Have a great day, love you! *emoji kisses*
Kyoko stood frozen in place staring at her phone with fictional steam rising from her head. The sound of her rapid heartbeat pounded in her ears, drowning out the students talking outside in the halls. There was no responding to his message in her current state.
She rinsed out her mouth and splashed cold water on her face in the bathroom sink, then studied her reflection. Her face was beet red. Kyoko had been so brazen just ten minutes ago. Embarrassed by her shamelessness, she bolted, leaving her boyfriend behind. Every time she thought about it a new wave of heat flooded her face.
It started with a guilt trip. He looked so depressed she could only think of one way to get his mind off of the doctor's "invasive" examination. They were parked a few blocks down from her school on the usual secluded street as before where there was little to no foot traffic at this time of day.
"You poor baby," she teased. She leaned over and sucked his lobe between her teeth, her hand cupping between his legs. Ren practically jumped out of his seat looking around the street for reporters, witnesses, or anyone that could potentially be watching them.
"Kyoko as much as I enjoy you touching me, this place is very, very, public." He groaned as her hand stroked up and down the length of his growing erection.
Continuing her hand movements, Kyoko lifted her head to peer through the glass. The street was deserted, not even a stray alley cat was present. "I don't see any public. You even got this new tint on the windows," she replied, her voice lilting innocently.
Ren held in his whimper when she removed her hand and shifted. He was too busy trying to get his head back on straight, but all he could think about was the way her hardened nipples grazed his thighs as she leaned over him. An unmanly yelp escaped his lips, stunned when his seat moved into its reclined position.
"Oh fuck! We can't be doing this!" he scolded weakly, struggling to sit back up. Smiling mischievously, Kyoko gave his chest a forceful push sending him back down against the seat.
Ren was the senpai here. He needed to stop her before things got out of control. Physically, he could easily overpower her, but did he really want to. The thrill of doing naughty things with her out in the open overruled any remaining logic in his mind.
"That doctor's visit was my fault. I can't very well let you go to work in such a state. Just lay back and enjoy. I'll take care of everything," she purred, her voice thick with promise while she unbuckled his belt.
Ren didn't need any more convincing. His little head had already taken control. He couldn't believe his sweet innocent girlfriend just initiated this whole scenario in broad daylight and in the car. He lifted his ass slightly, aiding her to pull his pants down further. Can't leave any stains. His cock sprang to attention once it was free from its confines.
A smirk spread across her lips. His body is so honest. She wrapped her fingers around his length and was delighted by his responding groan. The softness of his skin and the contrasting hardness of his dick never failed to fascinate her. His body tensed when she ran the pad of her thumb over his tip.
His jaw dropped in astonishment as she gathered saliva in her mouth and let the spit seep between her lips down to the tip of his penis. It was unbelievable. Where the fuck did she learn to do that?
Ren was so shocked by her new skill that he couldn't even speak. He resigned himself to enjoy this little gift and laid his head back, moaning loudly as she pumped his penis harder a few more times before taking him in her mouth. There was no prolonging the torture, she sucked him deep and hard until his tip hit the back of her throat. It felt so incredible he had to watch. Ren tilted his head forward so his perverted self wouldn't miss a single moment of her pleasuring him. Her long black hair had draped over him, obstructing his view. He reached down and gathered her hair into a makeshift ponytail giving him front-row seats of her sucking him off. She smirked again around his dick when their eyes locked, making his heart go doki doki as he gazed into those deep pools of molten gold. She was the only one that could unravel him like this.
Kyoko took that moment to suck him harder and tighten her grip around his cock, as it followed her mouth. She had the extreme pleasure of watching his eyes roll in the back of his head. He tightened his grip on her hair and thrust his hips impatiently to meet her mouth. She had him climaxing within seconds.
"Fuck, Kyoko," he panted, waiting for his body to return to earth. He released her hair and enjoyed the feel of her tongue as she cleaned him up, flashing him a smug smile when she was done. Wiping her mouth with the back of her, she glanced at her watch.
"Oh!" She needed to hurry or she would be late for school. Kyoko kissed Ren goodbye quickly on the lips and jumped out of the car magically grabbing her bag and acoustic guitar from the backseat.
Ren was flabbergasted staring at her retreating figure from the rear window. I can't believe she left me hanging! He was still literally hanging out of his pants. He quickly tucked his dick back into his pants and fixed the rest of his clothing. Feeling euphoric, he ran his fingers through his hair and laughed giddily to himself. It was akin to being high with Kyoko being his hard drug of choice. It wasn't the first blowjob he ever received in a car, but hers would be ingrained in his mind for the rest of his life. When he was finally composed, he texted her then started his car and headed for his first work location.
Kyoko was glad she had the hindsight to pack extra underwear in her bag. It was a necessity ever since she started dating Ren. The man awakened a raw sexual desire within her she never thought existed. It had started the night that she straddled his naked torso as Setsu and slowly escalated from there. If he had felt the moisture pooling between her legs that night he was kind enough to never mention it. Back then, her soul would have left her body if he did. She had come a long way since her first failure of a hickey. The fact that she could pleasure an experienced man like him stroked her ego; however, that nagging thought at the back of her mind served as a reminder of just how experienced he was compared to her, and yet he preferred to wait. Kyoko respected his wishes and didn't push him for more, for now. She would be eighteen in a few months, maybe then he would be willing to make her completely his and vice versa. Her face flamed up thinking about Christmas. To distract herself from any further perverted thoughts, she fumbled with her compact. She needed to get this blush under control before she headed into class.
The first bell rang while she was in the middle of dabbing powder all over her face to mask some of the redness that kept creeping up. In the end, she looked pale and sickly but it was better than looking like a strawberry. She threw everything in her bag haphazardly and dashed for class. Once safely inside, she stood by the door, resting her hands on her knees to catch her breath.
Is that the new girl?
Is she okay?
She's always like that! It's cute!
Ehhhh? Really? So that's The Kyoko-san! Is she a musician?
Kyoko felt the heat rushing to her face while listening to her classmates' comments. I did something weird again. She stood up and smiled awkwardly. There was a collective sharp inhale. Kyoko noticed their expressions of horror and winced.
"What is it?" she asked uneasily, looking particularly at Gina and Hinami. Kyoko's eyes swept around the room looking at the new faces. There was a full roster in the special class today.
Gina and Hinami quickly flanked Kyoko. They pulled the guitar case off her back and ordered Gen to put it against the back wall. Staring at her with concern, they instructed her to sit down.
"Please tell me you did not go through the front gates looking like this?" Gina asked, still staring at her face. The paparazzi camping outside could fuel themselves on her face for a week.
"Why, what's wrong?" Kyoko asked, putting her hands to her cheeks. Did I miss something on my face? she thought, fearful they would find some residue and figure out what she did.
"What's wrong? You look like a damn Geisha! That's all well and good if that's the look you were going for?...Hanami," Gina said, holding out her hand. Hanami handed her friend a makeup removal packet which she then handed to Kyoko. "You're very popular now you have to be careful with your image. One bad hair day or wardrobe malfunction could make or break you in this business."
Kyoko took the packet gratefully and started cleaning her face. Her red face that was hidden under all the white brought on another slew of questions. Was she sick? Did she have a fever? What did she do before school? The teacher entered the room, relieving her of having to answer any of their questions.
It was during the first break that the girls raided her makeup bag and applied cosmetics to her face just like the pros. Hinami had the skill to become a professional makeup artist and accepted Kyoko's praise humbly. She was introduced to the rest of the students in the class. They all seemed to be accepting of her and relatively nice. It was the other girl, Ayuko that was questionable. She was unfortunately a fan of Shotaro. She asked her several questions regarding him which Kyoko responded politely. Her angels gave her a solid pat on the back for not releasing her demonic aura on the poor girl. It proved that she had moved past that phase in her life. She was saved once again from answering awkward questions by the vibrations of her phone.
Kyoko's happiness meter grew astronomically when she received a message from Kanae, Get your permission slip for Sunday. We're having a girls' date!
Would Ren be okay with something like this? It was their first day off together this week, would it be selfish of her to want to spend it with her friends? She texted Ren quickly and was surprised to get a quick response. He must be on break as well.
Thank you for considering my feelings, but you don't need my consent. Have fun with your friends, babe! I have you for the rest of my life! *heart emoticon, chu!*
Kyaaa!
Kyoko had to calm her heart so she could respond properly to both her boyfriend and her best friend. She was so excited about the upcoming date.
Meanwhile in a courtroom in Tokyo
"Not guilty!" the head judge said announcing the unanimous verdict. A consensus was reached between the three judges presiding over the case. The trial took less than an hour to conclude after hearing the arguments from both attorneys and their witnesses.
The prosecuting attorney walked up to Saena's side of the courtroom while she was packing up her briefcase. Susumu had already left first to check on their client and sign the necessary paperwork for his immediate release to his family.
Saena cocked an eyebrow at the man as he addressed her, "Excuse me, Mogami-Todoh-san." Her new name was ridiculous and long, but Susumu had excellent negotiation skills. It was a compromise she had to live with. "I really can't believe you of all people defended him. Aren't you also representing the actress Kyoko-san? Isn't this a bit contradictory? He was paid to intentionally hurt her while working! I don't understand?"
Annoying. She would rather have ignored him than responded. Unfortunately, this was her job. Maintaining a professional relationship is crucial in her line of work. She might need to call him for help on a case someday. Saena had no choice but to answer him. "I'm not happy about his methods or his motives either, but given his backstory and the fact that no one got injured; I was hired to help him," Saena told him curtly and returned to packing up her files. The attorney sighed at his dismissal and turned away shaking his head.
Saena snuck a glance at the lawyer as he walked away, confirming he wasn't going to bother her again. She wanted to sigh but refrained. In her eyes, Hanazawa Soujirou, was guilty as charged for his crimes. It was Kyoko's and her father's wish to reunite the man with his family. Susumu convinced her to take the case, claiming she was already familiar with all the information, but she knew what he was doing. Her husband was trying to improve the poor relationship she had with her daughter.
It didn't take much time to release him. The judges didn't see the remorseful man as a threat to society. His name had already been dragged through the mud and his reputation in his field of work was tarnished. They were convinced that trying to live freely would be punishment enough for him. Since his victim and his employer weren't willing to press any additional charges against him, there was no point in wasting everybody's time. It would have been over sooner if the prosecuting attorney didn't push for all the formalities of a trial.
Saena picked up her briefcase and walked to the back of the courtroom where Hanazawa and his family waited for her to join them. The whole family including his daughters all bowed to her in reverence, adding her and Susumu to their list of saviors in their darkest hour. She gave them a small nod. Now that she had Susumu, she could understand the man's feelings a little more.
A swarm of reporters and photographers were waiting for them when they exited the building. She ignored their questions and followed the family to the waiting town car that would take them home. Once the family was on their way, she entered Susumu's car beside it. Tadashi would take over from here. He had taken it upon himself to relocate the family to a new apartment so they could start fresh. It would be ideal to have them leave Tokyo altogether, but they needed him to stay local to give his testimony against the Morizumis.
Saena hoped to return to the office and find that the charges against Yashiro were dropped. It was the only move they had left since giving them their collection of evidence against the young women, especially if they wanted any kind of plea deal. Any deal that they had planned to offer for Kusanagi, Yuri would be instantly rejected.
After reviewing the documentation Tadashi had sent to the firm yesterday, she planned to use the trial to have the manager confess, under oath, to the vehicular manslaughter crime she "allegedly" committed almost six years ago in the United States. It was risky, but there were similar case studies available in the public records for her to review. She had sent a formal request for copies of these files so she could develop a firm argument in court. Tadashi wanted closure for the remaining family of the victim in the United States and for Yuri to take full responsibility for her participation in these crimes. He didn't want her getting off easy as a mere "accessory" to Kimiko's actions if she was responsible, accident or not, for that man's death. It was a long shot, but if they could get her to admit to being the driver in that incident it would further solidify the calculative nature of the young woman and her cousin. Their long reign of terror that spanned two countries would come to an end.
Saena had already received several calls from other potential victims of Kimiko. Most were mainly threatened with the promise to end their careers if they did not simply comply with her requests. Saena had two junior associates following up and filing their stories by severity. There was the occasional blackmail and physical harm story which earned a place at the top of the pile. She would probably have to file a civil lawsuit case against the Morizumis for these additional victims if they so desired.
"I'm proud of you, you know," Susumu stated from the driver's seat, twining his fingers with hers. Saena huffed in response making him chuckle. She knew what he meant, he was proud of her for moving forward from the past. She turned her head to gaze out the window a small smile gracing her lips. This case was actually very stimulating. It was a great change of pace from the normal marital and custody battles she had been stuck with lately.
Ren clenched his jaw and glared at the cowboy in front of him. He had come to ask for help only to be told that he didn't need to do a thing. How was that possible? Wouldn't he of all people be the only one that could possibly do something? To be told to sit back and do nothing felt like a slap in the face.
"Your eyes are looking quite dangerous there, my boy," Lory prompted, taking a swig of his leather-encased flask. He was dressed in a white Stetson, a pair of blue jeans, white cowboy boots with spurs, and a set of rhinestone studded chaps in an illegal shade of pink. Ren's brow twitched as he tried to ignore the mechanical bull whirring around behind him in the middle of the President's office.
Ren broke his gaze from Lory's first and counted to ten to calm down. "It's not as if I'm telling you that nothing is being done. I'm saying that YOU don't need to do anything right now."
He wanted his friend's killer behind bars now. If he had to fly back to L.A. and present himself as Kuon, so be it. Ren clenched his fists, feeling helpless.
Lory's heart went out to the boy. After almost six years, his friend's death was once again looming over him. This reaction wasn't so bad either. It was better than him shutting down, but right now he needed to talk this boy down from the ledge.
"Morimoto-san has already forwarded the file to a reputable law firm in Los Angeles. He's hoping they could do something with it," Lory explained with a small pout. He was disappointed that Tadashi was so dependable and wondered when it would be his turn to shine? He hid his conniving smile as he thought about the script he had chosen for Kyoko's debut. He would have his fun once they returned from the States.
"Tadashi-san is? Does he know?"
"He doesn't know. He's just being thorough. He wants those women that plotted to hurt Mogami-kun and others to take responsibility for all their crimes."
Ren shuddered thinking about his father-in-law as an opponent. God help him if he ever upset Kyoko. Tadashi would have his hide and it wouldn't just end with him. Not that he would screw things up with her, but he would have to contend with Taisho and even his own Dad.
"Things will work themselves out so go to L.A. as planned, continue living your life," Lory instructed, walking towards the temporarily erected corral. "Do you want to have a go on Gloria?" Lory asked, changing the subject and pointing at the fake bull.
"You do know bulls are male?" Ren replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes. Of course, he would have a name for the non-living thing. Lory stared at him blankly as if to say, and your point?
"Remember what I said, Ren. Try to continue as usual. If Tadashi's method doesn't work we'll find another way."
Ren nodded and said goodbye. It would be difficult to not take action but he decided to trust the people around him.
Notes:
AN: Hiya! Thanks for continuing to read, I appreciate it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 95: Knock 'Em Dead!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren/Kuon would get scouted to play a Yakuza role!
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Something on your mind Ren?" the manager asked, stepping away from the wall. He pulled off his ear muffs and approached the actor.
"What makes you say that?" Ren responded with a quick sidelong glance at his manager. He evaded Yashiro's question by answering it with a question and continued what he was doing. He slid the empty magazine out from the Glock 19 and then placed the pistol on the table.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you've been so somber since meeting with the President and not to mention THIS!" Yashiro exclaimed, gesturing erratically at the paper targets. All five targets had kill shots; two perfect holes in the chest and one in the head. Not a single bullet went astray. Yashiro was not surprised by Ren's familiarity with a gun but was baffled by his accuracy.
When they first arrived for his marksmanship training this afternoon, Ren disclosed to the instructor and the drama stunt coordinator that he was somewhat familiar with guns since his father was an owner and taught him how to use one. It was news to Yashiro. Aside from the acting test for Tragic Marker, Yashiro had never seen Ren handle a gun. Japan had strict gun laws and only allowed citizens to own shotguns or rifles after rigorous testing. Yashiro mentally filed this information under the folder labeled Evidence that Ren once lived abroad.
Ren chuckled at his manager's overreaction. "I told you earlier. My father owned guns and instructed me on how to use them safely at a young age."
There were a lot of incidences in the States involving kids getting a hold of their parent's guns and accidentally shooting themselves or someone else because they were playing with them. His father kept his guns locked up in a safe, but he always stressed to Kuon the importance of gun safety. The gun itself was just an inanimate object; however, in the wrong hands, it could be wielded as a deadly weapon. His Dad thought it was a necessary skill to possess for action roles that required the use of a gun.
"Okay, gun proficiency aside. You can't deny you've been a little down. When I saw you this morning, you were practically overflowing with joy. All the women in the vicinity hyperventilated and needed immediate medical attention after just coming within a five-meter radius of you." The only person that could bring out that side of Ren was Kyoko. His inner fangirl was salivating, begging for any juicy details. Come to think of it. Ren didn't even tease him as he had fully expected. He was sure Kyoko knew that Kanae was with him early this morning. Yashiro's thoughts floated to the incredible night spent with his girlfriend. He couldn't wait for this day to be over so he could see her again.
"Yashiro-san, now you're just exaggerating," Ren replied dryly, replacing the old target sheets with new ones. His instructor and the stunt coordinator had stepped out to check on the setup of the outdoor shooting gallery. They wanted to make sure Ren had the nuances of a professional when he was moving at a fast pace with a gun as both a cop and a criminal.
For this new drama, titled Ryu, he would be playing Koyanagi Akira, a young and talented PSI agent deep undercover in one of Japan's largest organized syndicates. As the right-hand man of a highly reputable crime boss, he would covertly investigate the source of a drug that killed his older sister three years prior. Akira was in his third year of high school when he came home to find his parents clinging to each other in their grief. Since their parents worked full time, his sister sacrificed her high school time caring for him. When she left for university in his first year of high school, he felt a little lonely. His sister was always patient and kind to a brat like him, choosing to spend time with him over friends. She excelled at school and was very popular. He couldn't accept that she willingly took drugs and died of an accidental overdose. Overwhelmed with a strong desire to seek justice, he decided to take matters into his own hands to put away the people responsible for creating and distributing the drugs. He switched his focus from university and instead applied for the police academy. His top marks and extreme agility had various departments watching his progress. Upon graduation, he was unexpectedly recruited into a ghost section within the Public Security Intelligence Agency. His records were sealed and the alternate identity of the criminal, Ryu, was born. Building a reputation for himself on the street, it only took him a few months to get noticed by the Boss. From then, it would take him less than a year to rise through the ranks in the gokudo, while struggling to maintain focus on his mission.
"No, you're just blind to every other woman, but Kyoko," Yashiro bluntly replied. "You can rely on me a little. You don't have to solve everything on your own."
Ren sighed heavily and walked to the table where he left the gun. He wasn't ready to tell Yashiro about Rick, but that was only one part of his problem.
"I've received a few offers for work in Hollywood," Ren confessed.
"What? That's great! Is that why you went to see the President?"
Ren nodded. "I turned them down."
"What? Why? It has been your dream to act in the U.S."
"It's still my dream."
"Butttt?" Yashiro stressed, pressing him for more. Lory must be fielding these offers personally since nothing had come across his desk. "So what did Kyoko have to say? I'm sure she gave you an earful."
Ren looked away guiltily. Yashiro's eyes widened at his silent admittance. "She doesn't know, does she?"
"I'm going to tell her. We've just been busy."
"Right..." Yashiro said sarcastically.
Ren ignored his tone. "The right role has yet to present itself. Like I told President Takarada, I'm in no rush. It's not like I'm hurting for work here. This drama alone will take a good chunk of my schedule until the end of the year. Not to mention the influx of new work I've committed to taking."
Yashiro contemplated Ren's words. They made sense since Ren was only twenty-one years old. Many big stars in Hollywood didn't get their break until their thirties or even later in life. However, it would be beneficial for Ren to take on small roles. It would give the American producers and directors a sense of his capabilities. He would give Ren until the New Year, after that, Yashiro would probe him again.
Readjusting the safety glasses over his eyes, Ren picked up the gun to reload it. While Yashiro was deep in thought, Ren slipped the ear protection back on his head and looked over at Yashiro. The manager moved to cover his ears and stand behind him.
Ren released the safety and aimed. Once again, he ran through the targets keeping his mind clear of personal vendettas and reloading as necessary. When he was done, he removed the magazine from the gun and pulled back on the slide to empty the chamber. The instructor and the stunt coordinator returned while he was finishing up the last target. They clapped, impressed by his skill. Neither of them voiced their opinions on the actor's expert marksmanship. The instructor took the weapon from Ren and advised the men to follow him, shifting to the outdoor range.
Ren watched the stunt coordinator run through the course quickly, memorizing as much of his movements in the process. There was a planned scene of an epic gun battle between a rival syndicate right from the beginning. The first episode would be set in the future with the future episodes, backtracking to show the audience how they got to that point in the drama. For any TV show, the pilot episode was important to rope in the audience and get them coming back for more.
Ren was a little apprehensive about this role. It had an uncanny resemblance to his real life; the loss of an older sibling and the need to create an alter ego. The big difference was Akira didn't despair after losing his cherished sister. He chose to take action and seek justice so no one else would get hurt, even if he had to embrace the filthier side of humanity to do it.
Thanks to BJ, he was more in control and accepting of the darker side of Kuon. To act as Ryu, he would have to once again tap into the dark recesses of his persona and toe the line of good versus evil to maintain his cover. Like Tragic Marker, this would be a welcome challenge for him as an actor. This role would determine if I'm truly ready.
Tadashi hugged his daughter when he picked her up at the front gate, "How was school, sweetie?" he asked, ignoring the shutter sounds flashing around them. When would these reporters give up? After she assured him that she had a productive day, he turned towards the exit and escorted her out using his sharp gaze to keep the curious students and reporters at bay. It was a tactic he learned from Yashiro. Thinking of the manager, he wondered what Sota could uncover if he ever did a background check on him.
"Okay, before we head to the Sacred Lotus set, we are going to your voice and guitar lessons," Tadashi told his daughter, scrolling through the schedule Yashiro had sent him on his phone. "If we time it right, we can get a bite at this new place I found! It's a retro-style American diner. The reviews say we have to try the milkshakes! They have this oreo cookie flav-… ah, you probably won't want to eat that stuff. You have been training hard to keep up your figure. It was insensitive of me to suggest such a place."
Kyoko giggled at her father. It was surprising to see him in his distinguished business suit gushing over food like an excited teenager, like her.
"What?" He asked, cracking a warm smile. Kyoko shook her head.
"You're right, father! I've been working hard. I think it wouldn't hurt to treat myself every once in a while."
"Really? I don't want you to push yourself for my sake," he said, his golden eyes flashing brilliantly.
"I can't say no to an oreo cookie milksha-."
Kyurururu! On cue, her stomach let out a vicious growl. Blushing brightly, Kyoko quickly folded her arms over her stomach, hoping to muffle the sounds of her hunger. She had eaten her lunch properly, but talking about food had awakened her angry stomach.
Tadashi let out a hearty laugh and said, "Then that settles it. It's a date. We'll go to the diner. I wish I had the hindsight to pack snacks for you. I'll get you something from the vending machines when we arrive to tide you over."
"Eh, no, you don't have to go through the trouble. You're already doing so much for me as it is!" Kyoko froze as a thought popped in her head.
"You've been doing so much for me! What about your work? New York? You're not even getting paid to help me!"
Tadashi chuckled again. "You don't need to worry about that. I'm able to take care of all my work while you're in school and again after I send you home. The schedule works great for me because of the time zones. When I'm with you, everyone is sleeping. The time I spend with you is payment enough," he said, reaching for her hand.
"B-but, what about your sleep? Your health will suffer."
Tadashi smiled lovingly at his daughter. He was a fortunate man. "I make sure to eat healthy, exercise, and sleep. I don't want to miss a single moment I have with you and I want to live long enough to spend lots of time with my grandbabies." Tadashi thought that last part. He didn't want to make her feel pressured to start a family, but it would be wonderful to have more of her to spoil years down the road. For now, he was enjoying his alone time with her, even if it was just accompanying her to work.
Kyoko wondered when she would get used to his devotion as her heart filled with warmth from his words. It was a lot of fun having him around. It would be great if he could become her permanent manager, but she didn't dare voice that selfish desire out loud. His job was important and he was responsible for many people's livelihoods.
"Oh, before I forget!" Tadashi opened his briefcase. "Here is the latest script for your drama. I skimmed through it earlier. I hope you don't mind," Tadashi told her, handing over the thick document.
Kyoko smiled, shaking her head that it was no problem, and took the script from her father. She had been so focused on learning the music for the drama she forgot that there was an actual script. She was told that it was her performance as a musician that would have the strongest impact on Ruriko's character, so they wanted her to focus on that part. Filming would begin next week with her only on the schedule for a few hours for two days.
"Heart Beats," Kyoko murmured the drama title aloud. The first five pages were backstory and included a full bio of her character Rika Sterling. Style-wise, it seemed she would be dressing rocker chic, just like Setsu; however, Rika was more down-to-earth and sweet. Kyoko tried to imagine Setsu acting sweet to anyone: assisting the elderly, gushing over babies. Nothing like that came to mind. Setsu just didn't give a shit about anyone but her nii-san.
...
Kyoko walked into the studio and was shocked to see Kei in the room with her teacher. She gulped before pasting on her professional smile. She wasn't given any warning or indication that he would be present for her lesson. The plan was to consult her sensei for advice on how to approach the producer later. Did Maru-san call him? she wondered, thinking about the time she spent with her classmate during lunch break.
Since the class usually emptied for lunch, her classmates choosing to eat elsewhere, Kyoko had the room to herself. After inhaling her lunch, she sat down at the back of the room to practice with her guitar, strumming and singing the verses over and over until she reached in her bag to pull out a pencil. She chewed on the end of her pencil, wondering what she should do. The song itself wasn't like a role she could mold and make her own. It was someone else's hard work, and here she was thinking a newbie like her could do better. She put down the pencil, decided to leave it alone, and picked up her guitar to start at the top. When Kyoko got to the part where she was supposed to start singing, she stopped again.
"Why do you keep doing that?" a male voice asked in front of her.
Kyoko squealed in fright and nearly dropped her guitar. Thank goodness she had enough sense to put the strap over her shoulder. How long has he been sitting there?
"I've been here for five minutes," he responded, slightly amused.
"Esper?" she whispered.
"No, you said that out loud."
"Eh?" Her eyes widened in shock.
"You were so engrossed with what you were doing, you didn't even hear me come in. Your expressions are really funny. If you plan to debut as a singer, you have to remember your face. You can't make those ugly faces on stage."
Kyoko's grudges stirred. Did he just call mistress ugly?
Maru shivered as the room temperature dropped. He didn't know what was going on, but he could tell he said something to offend her.
"I'm just saying, if you pull funny faces on stage when you're singing, your audience will notice… and you definitely can't freeze up like you keep doing,"
Kyoko blinked, reining in her evil minions when she finally realized he was giving her advice.
"Oh right, I forgot. Maru-san is a musician," Kyoko said with awe. He was so accomplished at a young age.
Maru shrugged, sweeping his light brown hair out of his eyes, revealing the piercing in his eyebrow. "It looks like you're stuck on something. Maybe I can help."
Kyoko's eyes shined bright with expectation. This young professional was willing to give a lowly newbie like her some help.
"Maru-san, you're a songwriter, right? At least that's what our classmates told me."
He nodded in response to her question.
"As a songwriter, how would you feel if you wrote a song for someone else to sing and they went and changed it?"
"I would be pissed!" He frowned, answering without hesitation.
Kyoko's hopes were dashed. She knew it. She couldn't possibly make any changes. Perhaps she could just make the changes for herself and sing it that way for Ren.
No, I can't do that either. It would be like stealing his work if I don't ask for permission.
Maru covered his mouth to hide his laughter. She was funny and weird, but not as weird as his otaku girlfriend. He thought she would be a colossal bitch given all the news surrounding her and that "gorgeous" star, but she seemed genuine. She would get along great with Hime.
"But, I would take the criticism and be open to changes. Who is the writer?"
"It's Yamaguchi Kei of LME."
"Oh, Kei-ani? I've worked with him several times. You can just tell him Maru said so," he said seriously, then laughed at her doubtful expression.
Kyoko frowned, there was no way she could do that. Wouldn't that get him into trouble with his friend?
"I've got it," he said, glancing at his watch. They still had ten minutes left for lunch. "Let me see what you want to change. I can tell you if he would be opposed to it."
Kyoko looked at him suspiciously. Why was he being so kind? Did he want something? Everyone was being so nice to her. Her classmates knew of her association with Ren and Sho, yet they continued to be friendly with her. Is this what is called maturing?
"Why are you so willing to help me?"
Maru laughed at her. "I'm a music geek, so says my girlfriend. I'm interested in what Kei-ani created for you and why you want to change it. What kind of song is it anyway? I only heard a bit before you stopped."
Oh, he has a girlfriend. That's a relief. She studied her classmate once more. Judging from his easy confidence, she had to be someone glamorous, probably a model.
"It's a l-love song. He says he wrote it based on my feelings for Re...um...Tsuruga-san," she confessed with a deep blush.
"Can I see the sheets?"
Kyoko leaned forward and handed him the music sheets. She watched his eyes light up with enthusiasm as he scanned the sheets.
"This is pretty good. What do you want to change about it?"
Kyoko looked crestfallen again. She should just leave it alone. What did she know? She wasn't a songwriter.
"It will be easier if you just showed me," he told her, gesturing to the guitar. Kyoko resigned with a nod and exhaled to clear her mind of all the negative thoughts racing through it. She might as well get a professional's opinion while she practiced.
When she was finished, Maru was as still as a statue, unable to comprehend what he had witnessed.
"Maru-san? Was it that horrible?"
He shook his body to rid himself of the chills that lingered on his spine. She was good, like really good. Her guitar could use more practice, but her voice was insane. If she took up singing, she would dominate the charts.
"How long have you been playing?" he asked, all business.
"Actively? About two days. Whenever I have time."
"Da fuck, you say!" He screeched, jumping up and knocking the chair he was sitting on to the floor. She was performing to that level in only a couple of days. Hah, she's the naturally gifted type. No wonder that girl had beef with her.
Kyoko was taken aback by his outburst. Why was he mad? Did she say something wrong?
She got up quickly and bowed in apology.
"Ah, no, sorry. I'm just amazed by your skill level in such a short time," Maru explained his outburst.
"I've been taking lessons after school. All I know is this one song unless you count twinkle, twinkle, little star."
"I think Kei-ani won't have any problems with your changes. The next time you see him, perform it just like that. Tell him you got the stamp of approval from Maru."
Kyoko gave him a blank stare as the bell rang, marking the end of the lunch period.
Returning to the present, Kyoko pushed down her nerves and greeted her teachers.
"Sensei, Kei-san, good afternoon. Please take care of me today," she said politely, dropping into a bow. She was worried that he would be extremely offended by the changes she had made to his song. Maru had told her it was good, but she needed a second opinion. All she could do now was try. If Kei truly didn't like her changes, she would sing it exactly as he intended without any complaints. Kyoko would also beg for his forgiveness afterward.
"Welcome Kyoko-san, punctual as always," Sensei Kobayashi, her voice coach, told her, gesturing to the stool beside them. She was a woman in her early forties with light brown hair pulled up in a messy bun and wearing her signature collared shirt and slim pants. "You finally brought me someone good Kei-kun. She's so refreshing. Unlike, the other divas you send my way." Kyoko blushed at the compliment, setting her bags gently on the ground and taking the seat.
"I know you're probably surprised to see Kei-kun here. I invited him so he could make the final assessment of your progress. There's always room for improvement, but unfortunately, we are crunched for time," Kobayashi explained. Kyoko let out a sigh of relief. She was ready to throttle Maru.
Her father walked in a few minutes later, arms laden with what looked to be one of every snack in the vending machine. He wasn't quite sure what she was in the mood for, so he bought options for her and the instructors.
"Good afternoon, Kobayashi-sensei, Kei-san. I brought fuel for everyone," he greeted while placing the snacks on the table. They watched him pull out several bottles of green tea and water from various pockets in his suit. It reminded Kyoko of a clown car. Just how many bottles could he fit in there?
"Kyoko-chan, I know you love these," Tadashi said, handing her the light shortbread cookies with a dark chocolate coating. Kyoko didn't have the heart to tell her father that she was no longer hungry. Her appetite had left her the moment she laid eyes on Kei. Even though her stomach was filled with butterflies, Kyoko forced herself to eat the snack.
When everyone was refueled. Kobayashi had Kyoko run through her usual vocal warm-ups before jumping straight into the song. Her guitar instructor entered the room just as she finished her warm-ups.
"Good afternoon, Endo-sensei," Kyoko said, bowing to her guitar instructor. He made a small bow in return and sat down to converse with Kobayashi and Kei.
Tadashi handed Kyoko a bottle of water which she took gratefully and gulped down the bottle nervously. She felt like she was about to take an oral exam.
"It's time to show off what you've learned," Tadashi encouraged, sensing her apprehension. "Knock 'em dead!"
Revitalized by the mini pep talk. Kyoko made a small fist pump and walked over to prepare her guitar.
"Kyoko-san, let us know when you're ready," Kobayashi called out to her.
Kyoko walked to the middle of the room and did a mic check. Finding the classroom wire to the amp, she plugged it into her Les Paul guitar. It took a minute for her to get settled, strumming the guitar a few times and adjusting the amp according to the guidelines Endo-sensei taught her. When she finally got the overall sound she wanted, Kyoko stepped up to the mic.
"I'm all set," she announced to her audience and smiled nervously. Closing her eyes, Kyoko cleared her mind and channeled Rika. According to Rika's bio, she was always a bundle of nerves before a performance. Calm would wash over her once she stood on stage and allowed the music to flow through her body.
Kyoko opened her eyes and smiled confidently, "A one, a two, a one, two, three." After the third count, she started with the introduction, strumming away and pushing through the urge to stop whenever she messed up.
Oh ho ho! Kei was fascinated by her vast improvement over a short period. Oh, she messed up a little there. He was impressed by her quick recovery and that she didn't show any signs of distress. Kei picked up on all the subtle differences in his song and smirked. This cheeky girl changed some of my lyrics. She even increased the tempo by half a beat. Her performance would explain the cryptic message Maru left on his voicemail, 'Let Kyoko-san express herself.' He had no idea they even knew each other.
As soon as the song ended, Kyoko gingerly placed her guitar on the nearby stand and threw herself to the floor in a dogeza. "Forgive me, Kei-san!" Kyoko cried out to the tile floor, shocking everyone in the room but her father.
"Kyoko-san, don't be so dramatic. Get off the floor. It was good. I think I like your version better," he admitted when the girl finally lifted her head. "Your guitar needs work, but it's passable," he stared pointedly at Endo.
Endo nodded his agreement. He would drill it into her until she got it perfect.
"Tomorrow, come to the studio instead. I want to make a recording," Kei instructed, addressing Kyoko and her father. They both nodded in unison.
"Alright, I think we can call it a day for now. Did you happen to write down those changes anywhere? I would like to make a copy before you leave."
"Ah, yes!" she replied, getting up from her seiza position and retrieving the music sheets she scribbled on at school.
"I'll bring this back in a minute," Kei told her, leaving the room. He would need to hand this off to the band tonight and check their availability for tomorrow.
Notes:
AN: Hiya, thanks for continuing to read. We get to the part where Ren starts to prepare for his role as Ryu. I have been so thrilled that Sensei gave us a mafia RenKyo in these last updates. They are so friggin hot!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 96: Misconceptions
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, we would definitely see more of Momiji kicking ass.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko held her phone out in front of her, adjusting it until the camera focused. Click. She put her phone down and popped a steak fry into her mouth, deciding to send the picture of her food to Kanae and Chiori later. Kanae would probably scold her for the weight she gained just by staring at the picture. It was hilarious that her best friend thought she could gain weight by thinking of unhealthy food.
While she chewed on her fry, she looked around the place. Behind the counter were an antique register, soda fountain, and other retro gadgets one would see in a diner from the past. She peered through the service window, fascinated by the cooks in the back as they worked to prepare the food. American memorabilia covered the walls. There were license plates, posters of classic cars, and vintage ads. It was a small space that could fit no more than twenty at a time. It had black and white checkered tiled floors, white Formica countertops and tables, red vinyl seats, and chrome accents.
To get the full experience, they sat on the red stools along the counter with their backs facing the door and asked the waitress to take their picture. Closing in with their cookie milkshakes tilted to their lips, they posed for the photo. Tadashi thanked the waitress and happily retrieved his phone. Judging by the hush whispers, he could tell that the staff was slowly beginning to recognize The Kyoko. He had intentionally avoided using his daughter's name to maintain her anonymity so they could eat in peace.
Tadashi smiled, happy that his daughter was getting recognition, and focused on eating his food. The portions were a little smaller than what he would expect at a classic American diner, but it wasn't lacking in any way. The meat was well seasoned and had the perfect amount of juiciness to make it mouth-watering. He laughed at Kyoko's expression at the juices dripping down her wrist whenever she took a bite. She appeared happy about it.
Kyoko was slurping the remains of her milkshake when the owner/head chef came out of the double doors to greet her. In his hands was a copy of the Boost magazine with her picture on the front cover.
"May we please have your autograph, Kyoko-san?" The owner humbly asked.
"Oh," Kyoko blushed and wiped her hands to take the pen. "I didn't think anyone recognized me."
"It took us a moment," the owner admitted. "Your amber eyes gave you away immediately. We just couldn't believe a star like you could be eating in a dive like this."
"Oh," Kyoko replied solemnly, signing the magazine. Did she give off a bad impression?
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be insulting. I am ecstatic to have you eating my food."
Kyoko beamed, returning the magazine to the owner. "You should be proud of your establishment. The décor is fun and my food was tasty. I enjoyed it very much."
Kyoko excitedly began discussing the cooking techniques and the seasonings he used on her burger, engaging the owner. Entranced by the pretty actress, the owner had no problems giving away his trade secrets.
Soon, it was time to go. Kyoko promised to come again and try more of his milkshake flavors which pleased the chef.
"Could we also have a picture with you?" The owner asked on behalf of his staff.
Kyoko bowed her head shyly, giving consent.
"I can take it," Tadashi offered, taking the phone from the owner.
Kyoko twisted on the stool while the owner and the staff gathered behind her.
"Okay, on three, say Kyoko-san. 1, 2, 3!" Tadashi counted, holding up the phone to take the picture.
"Kyoko-san!" came the collective response from behind her. Kyoko smiled and blushed, holding up a peace sign, ignoring the other phones trained on her by the other customers.
"Thank you so much, Kyoko-san. Please come again," the owner said as she waved goodbye to everyone. The man made a mental note to look into what it would cost to have her endorse his restaurant. He was still paying down the loan on this location but planned to expand. He decided the rewards of having her in an advertisement far outweighed the costs. With her permission, the owner opened his diner's social media page and wasted no time posting the group picture with her. #TheKyoko-san.
He also sent the photo to his staff so they could have a copy. None of them hesitated to post up the picture on their pages. The owner didn't realize the power of social media and the popularity of Kyoko. Since he was so busy running the diner, he never looked at the page again for the rest of the day. The photo was shared thousands of times over the next 12 hours. The candid videos of the customers that were present at the time the photo was taken would also be posted. The sincerity of the actress interacting with the polite staff would improve not only the people's view of her but the diner itself. When the owner woke up early the next day to open his diner for breakfast there would be a line thirty deep waiting to be served. Among those in line, would be a famous food critic that would later write an article praising the diner's reputation allowing the owner to secure reliable investors and expand his franchise. The owner would eventually thank Kyoko for choosing to eat in his diner that evening.
When Kyoko arrived on the set of Sacred Lotus, she went straight to greet the director while her father went to sit with the other managers. Thanks to her Momiji training, she stealthily walked up to get a better view of the scene underway. Since the sun had set, the set was dimly lit by torch lamps that were part of the set. The whole crew was trained on the dark edge of the forest in anticipation. The director and a cameraman came out first walking backward with the camera aimed in the direction they emerged. Kyoko paused when a disheveled young boy about ten years old wearing a black kimono and hakama finally came through the trees. He carried an equally disheveled little girl almost half his size on his back. Her foot was bare but bandaged as if she had injured it. Judging by the little girl's attire, they had to be filming one of the flashback scenes between Momiji and Shizuma. If Kyoko remembered correctly, young Momiji jumped from a tree while tailing Shizuma and twisted her ankle.
"I'm sorry, Shizuma-sama," the little girl's voice pierced the silence though the area was bustling with extras doing their part for the scene.
"This is why I told you not to follow me," the boy reprimanded. The girl stiffened in his arms. Another camera followed the children from the side as they continued to walk. Even in the near darkness, Kyoko could see the little girl's frustration. Tears threatened to escape her eyes but she managed to hold them back.
"I'm sorry Master that Momiji is nothing but a burden to you. I promise I will get bigger and grow stronger."
The boy sighed and softened his face even though the girl could not see it. "Yes, I'm sure if it is you, you can do it. Next time just say you were hurt instead of enduring, okay?" He said in a softer tone. Momiji nodded into his back.
Ah, so this is the Shizuma before he became the wandering samurai. To a young girl like Momiji, who discarded her treacherous family, he was her whole world. There was no stopping her feelings, Kyoko thought, holding her breath as the children walked by her into one of the buildings.
"CUT!" Jouji shouted. The crew all clapped praising the children as they came out. Koga was already up there, giving the kids high fives.
Kyoko looked on at the scene trying to remember how petty Koga used to be when she first met him at the auditions. He had admitted to her at their first meeting how much he hated Ren. The more she worked with Koga the more she came to believe that her boyfriend and her costar would get along great as friends since they were both serious about acting. Her part in the project was coming to an end so she was already feeling nostalgic. Although she didn't get a chance to work with her best friend, she met some amazing people along the way.
"Kyoko-chan come quickly. Look, these kids are playing us! Well, the younger Momiji and Shizuma. Isn't mini-me, ahem, I mean they, aren't they adorable?" Koga called out waving her over to where he was standing with the young actor and actress. Rolling her eyes at Koga's narcissism, well that part of him hasn't changed, Kyoko went to join them after greeting the director and nearby staff.
"This is Megumi-chan and this is Take-chan," Koga continued when she finally reached them. Kyoko bowed a quick greeting to her costars.
"You both did very well. I was able to watch the scene earlier and was very impressed with your acting," Kyoko said bending down to praise the children. Koga was right they were both adorable and not at all cheeky like Hio as they politely greeted her in return. The little girl was actually eight years old but was playing a five-year-old Momiji. Her eyes weren't as light as Kyoko's but since she would only be shown briefly in flashbacks the Director and Producer thought she would be perfect.
"They've been filming the outdoor scenes here for the last two hours and are done for the day. The rest of their scenes are filmed in the studio using a green screen." Koga told her. Cedric joined them to give his congratulations to the children and greet Kyoko. He had not seen the children's performance but he had heard all the praise. Kyoko looked at Cedric curiously as he naturally smiled and chatted with Koga and the children. Yesterday wasn't just my imagination. He seemed different as he engaged in the conversation. It looked like the burden from Kimiko's incident had been lifted from him. He was no longer sulking in a corner like had been the norm these last few days. The kids eventually left with their parental managers and Cedric was called by the assistant director.
"Bennett-san seems to have recovered his spirits," Kyoko commented after the actor was out of hearing range.
"I'd attribute it to my awesome-ness, but it seems he talked to the Morizumis and got some things off his chest," Koga responded. Now that Cedric was no longer sulking, he could invite him out again as his wingman. He knew women would flock to them for his foreign good looks. "Ooh American," would be the first thing out of their mouths when they saw Cedric's dirty blonde hair and large hazel eyes. Koga still couldn't understand the allure of foreigners.
Kyoko looked over in Cedric's direction one last time before heading toward her dressing room. Saena had informed her that a restraining order was placed on Kimiko and her cousin. She was to have zero contact with either of them.
...
Kyoko emerged from her dressing room prepared to tackle Momiji. The stunt coordinator walked up to her holding the script so they could go over the scene they would be filming tonight. Cedric and three other actors playing the opposing samurai also gathered around as they rehearsed their scenes. The director was still occupied with filming Shizuma and Chidori so they had some time to nail it down before the camera rolled.
Kyoko was ready to execute the scene by the time the director arrived. Jouji swept through the set to verify that all the cameras, lighting, and sound equipment were in place including several smaller cameras mounted on trees and buildings.
"Okay, everyone. Please gather around. We will be filming the Bath House Scene. Koga will be…where is Koga?" Jouji asked, looking at the crowd.
"I'm here," Koga announced, walking up dressed in a terry cloth robe.
"Okay, good. Shizuma will be vulnerable while having a bath. He can afford to let his guard down and have a soak because Momiji is there to protect him. So, Kyoko-san, you will be perched on that tree. We are showing off Momiji's stealth in this scene. So silence is key. Shizuma will act like he's heard nothing and continue to enjoy his drink without a care in the world until he's interrupted. The reason for that is he has complete faith in Momiji's ability to protect him."
The team nodded, agreeing with the director's brief assessment. "Okay, get to your marks," Jouji told them, clapping his palms.
"Please keep Momiji in check and try not to peek at me in the bath. I'm a bit shy," Koga teased, waggling his eyebrows.
Kyoko sputtered in response making the crew and other actors laugh. Momiji would never do something so shameless though she may or may not have seen her Master bathe in the river a time or two on their journey.
Kyoko climbed the ladder to the high branch that concealed her in the tree's canopy. She inhaled and exhaled allowing Momiji's spirit to take over her body.
"And Action!" Jouji called from below. The sound of the clapperboard signaling to start immediately followed.
Momiji lounged on a branch, picking at her nails with a kunai while she waited for her master. She tried not to grumble at the fact that her master was now taking a cozy little bath in the small building beside her. 'It's all that woman's fault. She's making him soft.'
Her ears perked up, homing in on a soft rustling sound in the brush beneath her. With her animalistic senses, her eyes pierced through the darkness hunting for her prey. The sounds were too careful to be that of an animal. Shifting her position quietly, Momiji kneeled on her haunches ready to spring into action. She spotted a man to her left that would be crossing right underneath her perch. For a better vantage point, she stretched out and silently slipped to the branch below, melding her body to the limb to avoid detection. She counted two other men, one coming from the southeast side of the bathhouse and the other from the southwest. It was insulting that they only sent three men after her master.
She sheathed the kunai and waited for the third man to pass below her. Momiji steadied her heartbeat and slowed her breathing while he scanned the trees for any danger. It was so dark he couldn't see her. Momiji wrapped her hands over the branch, displaying great arm strength, and slowly lowered her body just as the man passed her. She wrapped her legs around the man's neck and twisted until she heard the cracking sounds of bones. Using her feet, she lowered the man quietly to the ground and then followed with a soft thud. She rushed to engage the man at the southwest side since he was closer, making sure to mask her approach. The man didn't see or hear her coming as she placed her small hand over his mouth and used her short sword to slice his neck from ear to ear, spraying blood everywhere.
The third man paused at the edge of the clearing, looking in the direction where his comrades should have emerged. He thought Yamada had taken care of all the sentries on duty tonight so what happened to his partners? Summoning all his courage, the man pushed through the growth, prepared to complete his mission.
Armed with ninja stars, Momiji flung the projectiles at the last man. One lodged in his chest while the other stuck in the cavity of his right eye causing blood to gush out of the wound. The man let out a short howl of pain before it turned into a gurgle as Momiji silenced him permanently.
She kneeled by the dead man with both short swords in her hands ready to strike until the sounds of swords clashing inside the bathhouse gained her attention. There was another culprit that slipped past her undetected. She rushed to the small building and found her Master engaged in battle with Yamada. Momiji did not hesitate and jumped in to assist her master. Although this building was called a bathhouse, it wasn't very large so there was hardly any room for adequate sword fighting. When Yamada spotted Momiji, he used the edge of the tub as leverage and crashed through the slotted wooden window. Momiji paused to look over her master. She ran her gaze up his body from head to toe, inspecting it for any wounds. It took her roughly a second before she concluded that he was fine. Using the tub's edge as a springboard, Momiji chased after Yamada by diving through the same hole head first. She tucked her neck in and rolled on the ground. Without missing a beat she sprang to her feet and dashed into the forest, following the sounds of the man in front of her.
"Cut!" The Director's voice rang out. "Good, good!"
"Koga-san, are you okay?" the assistant asked the actor after handing him his robe and slippers. Koga gave the woman a weak laugh and said he was fine.
How could she just keep such a straight face like that after running her eyes over my naked body? Okay, almost naked. He was wearing a loincloth, but still. Koga had been ninety-nine percent sure her reaction to his near nakedness would cost them an NG. His pride as a man took a huge hit tonight as he realized his body was nothing compared to her boyfriend in her eyes.
Tadashi handed his daughter a towel and a bottle of water when she finally emerged from the trees. She smiled at him gratefully and blushed from his overpraising. The medic and stunt coordinator checked her over to make sure she didn't hurt herself when she jumped out of the window. Kyoko assured them that she was fine. The cushion placed on the ground dulled the impact on her body so she felt no pain. They would have to reshoot her ground roll so the final cut would look like she landed on the hard earth vice a soft mattress.
"Take a break, everyone. Yuki and I are going to look over the film," Jouji called out. Of course, the break only applied to the cast while the crew went about doing their various tasks.
Kyoko bowed to Koga as he approached her. "Good work, Koga-san."
"Ah, yes, you too. Your work was admirable as usual. Not a single NG as expected of Tsuruga-kun's Kohai," he replied curtly. He wasn't going to let this go.
Oh, now you blush at the mere mention of that man's name! Koga was tempted to ask her how his body compared. If he knew what he was lacking, he could work on improving himself. His pride won out. It was just too pathetic. He needed to get over this inferiority complex. When are those polls supposed to come out? He had to at least come out on top as the number one bachelor now that Ren was off the market.
Cedric joined them a few minutes later. "Looks like we may have to redo some scenes," Cedric muttered, nodding to where Jouji and Yuki were reviewing the film on a laptop.
Jouji's expression was a bit disturbed while Yuki's expression remained stoic as usual. The director gestured for the stunt coordinator to take a look.
"What do you think we should do? Should we try to film it again and hope he gets it right or should we change it?" Jouji asked, wanting the stunt coordinator's expert opinion.
The coordinator held his fist over his mouth trying to suppress his laughter. The actor's face no doubt portrayed one of great embarrassment rather than fear of death. He watched the scene again, Momiji stealthily controlled her body to hang from the tree. She quickly wrapped her thighs around the man's head from behind and crushed his neck. This time he couldn't hold back his laughter.
"This is no laughing matter. How could something so deadly look so provocative?" Jouji scolded.
"I think it's good to leave in the film. It shows off Kyoko-san's strength. She gives off this black widow spider kind of feel coming out of the trees like that to kill her prey. I have an idea, let's try to film it again. Where's the actor?"
Jouji called for an assistant to find the extra. The assistant went through the crowd looking for the actor playing Samurai number one and brought him to the director.
"Oh, good, you're here. Please take a look at the scene we just filmed," Jouji instructed the actor and moved back. After watching the scene, the man's ears turned bright red with shame.
"Do you see what you did wrong here?" Jouji questioned the actor.
"We have to do a retake of this part because of your expression. You should be petrified by death. If it's too hard just think about what her boyfriend would do to you if he knew you were having lewd thoughts about his girlfriend when you're supposed to be working. If you can't get it in this take, I will replace you," Jouji threatened, striking fear in his heart.
The actor gulped. The threat of Ren coming after him was enough to sober him up and get it right the next time. Everyone on the set knew that Ren was very protective of Kyoko. Underneath his gentlemanly persona, lay someone that could easily become Cain Heel.
Ren was already buttoning up his shirt when Yashiro returned to the sterile backroom after making a few phone calls.
"All done, Ren?" Yashiro asked, glancing between Ren and the artist, Ryota. "Are there any specific instructions he has to follow to keep it intact for tomorrow?"
"It's waterproof so you can take a shower and sleep like usual just don't use anything abrasive on it. In other words, try not to scratch it."
Yashiro snickered making Ren cast an annoyed look at his manager.
"I'll be at the shoot tomorrow with my equipment so I can touch up anything that gets ruined," Ryota assured them.
Ren and Yashiro thanked Ryota for his time and left the exclusive shop. This was going to be an interesting night.
"Yashiro-san, there are a few stops I would like to make before we head home. If you have other plans, I can hire a car."
"That's nonsense! I'll take you anywhere you need to go until I see you home."
"Thank you. I will have to impose on you a little longer." Ren opened his phone and figured his stops into the Maps app. It gave him the most efficient routes possible on the way home.
Yashiro's inner fangirl radiated with glee as he pulled up to the final stop. This time he stepped out with Ren so he could pick something up for Kanae. Ren already thanked him with a gift for her at the second stop, though Yashiro wasn't sure she would appreciate it.
…
"Good Luck, Ren," Yashiro called to him as he shut the door. Ren was waiting for the elevator when two familiar tenants joined him.
"Oh look, dear, I think someone is in the dog house," the man's humorous voice caught his attention.
"Well, he seems to be reflecting quite nicely, so don't tease the young man," the woman responded.
"Good evening," Ren greeted, bowing to the Ichigo couple.
"So what did you do this time, Tsuruga-kun?" Ichigo-san asked curiously.
"Don't pry, honey," his wife scolded.
"Ah, it's okay, Ichigo-san," Ren said with a warm smile to the wife. The older woman practically swooned from his attention. "I have some things with work to explain and I hope she understands my decisions."
"Well, looks like you got the right of things. Gifts certainly will soften the blow," she told him, giving her husband a knowing look. Ren tried not to laugh as the older man tugged at his collar uncomfortably. They stepped into the elevator while the married couple continued to tease each other. On their floor, the Ichigo couple wished him luck and good night. His future with Kyoko in thirty years occupied his mind the rest of the way up.
When Kyoko heard the front door alarm chime indicating that Ren was home, she scrambled to clean up her workstation to meet him. Her boyfriend had added a crafting station for her against the back wall of the large guest room. Little by little, she was slowly filling up the shelves with craft and art supplies. Before coming home tonight, she had stopped at the art store with her father to pick up some metal studs she desperately needed to finish her latest project.
"Hi, I'm home," he announced in English, walking into the room. He had forgotten this morning and easily reverted to Japanese. He didn't miss the way Kyoko placed a piece of cloth over whatever she was working on. She thought she was being secretive but he already knew what she was doing and found it amusing that she would want to hide it.
"Welcome home," she replied in Japanese and greeted him with a kiss. "It's late but have you had dinner?" He nodded yes thinking about the quick, high-calorie, nutritionless meal he had with Yashiro between appointments tonight.
"Are you okay with your English lessons now?"
"Yes, it's fine. I'm more confident now," she concluded with a smile. "Thank you for your help."
"Okay, if you're sure…" he waited for her nod. "I have something for you," he said, pulling her by the hand out of the room. Kyoko's heart quickened in anticipation. The last time he had something for her he gave her a strip tease. He was always surprising her with something.
Sitting on the coffee table was a small jewelry box, a bouquet of red roses and white chrysanthemums, and a small dessert box.
Corn! What did you do? She looked at her boyfriend suspiciously. Something happened at work and he's trying to appease me.
She raised her eyebrow at him, "Did somebody steal a kiss from you again?"
"What?!...No," he cried, shocked by her reaction to his gifts.
"Ah, that's a relief…I'm sorry for assuming the worst. It just seems that Corn is trying very hard today." She kneeled at the table and lifted the flowers to inhale them, smiling as the sweet fragrance invaded her senses. He sat down beside her, crossing his legs as she went through his gifts.
"May I?" she asked and gestured to the box. He nodded excitedly. She picked up the box and opened it. Inside, on a bed of satin, sat a crystal charm in the shape of Cinderella's glass slipper.
"You can add it to your bracelet," he suggested with a wide smile. He had strategically given that bracelet as her return gift so he could continue to add to it. He had commissioned the jeweler to create this charm and was a nice coincidence that it happened to be ready a few days ago.
"Thank you, Corn. It's lovely!" she gushed, moving to his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. Instinctively, his arms slipped around her waist and pulled her close.
"So are you going to tell me your news or should we eat cake first?" Kyoko asked, brimming with curiosity. This was very reminiscent of the fateful night everything in their lives changed so she figured he had something big to tell her.
How does she know? Did she hear from Boss or Yashiro? It doesn't matter who, I have to tell her myself. "How about I tell you while we eat?"
"Sounds like a good compromise. I'll get some plates," she offered, trying to stand, but he held her in place.
"No need," he told her. She sat on his lap while he opened the box. Using the fork that was provided, he plunged right into the strawberry shortcake. Kyoko reached for the fork, but he pulled back, insisting on feeding her. With a huff, she finally complied and took a bite. Pleased, he took a bite for himself.
"Start talking," Kyoko demanded when after a few scoops. Kyoko refused to eat anymore until he told her what was going on. He sighed and put the fork down, resting his forehead against hers.
His silence terrified her. What could be so bad that he was having trouble finding the words to speak to her? She could only conclude that it had something to do with his family back home. Could it possibly be? Kyoko tensed in his arms.
"I received some job offers from producers in LA," he finally spoke. It wasn't at all what she expected.
Kyoko exhaled shakily, relieved and happy at his wonderful news. "That's wonderful, Corn! I'm so proud of you! For a second, I thought you had a hidden love child," she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him and raining kisses on his face. She stopped when she realized he didn't seem happy and pulled back to gaze at him.
Her words shocked him. What the hell is going on in her mind? First, I'm kissing other women and now I have a child. He took extra precautions in the past to prevent such a thing. He would be the first to admit that he had been young and stupid but he wasn't that stupid.
He ignored her words for now and focused on the purpose of this discussion, "I turned them all down."
Kyoko jumped off his lap. "What?! Why?! Isn't this what you've been working for? So you can return home to your family with your power!"
"You're my home! You're my family!" He confessed, his voice rising with emotion.
It was her turn to be shocked speechless. Kyoko's eyes grew blurry from the tears pooling in them and she bit her lower lip to still the tremble. While her heart soared with love over everything he just said, Kyoko couldn't stop the wave of guilt that followed.
Did he decline those parts because of me? Am I holding him back?
"Shit, no, wait!" He sputtered seeing her anguished expression. "Don't take that out of context. That's not why I declined the roles. Can you please listen to my reasons?" he begged, reaching out for her from his knees.
"The parts I was offered weren't leading roles. I know it's arrogant of me to not take what I can get and slowly build a portfolio in the States. I can't help but think that I'm still not ready if I can't even land a leading role straight out of Japan like my Dad. In other words, I'm still a coward."
Kyoko kneeled in front of him and flicked him hard on the forehead the same way Kuu had done to her when she played young Kuon.
"Ow!" They cried in unison. Kyoko cradled her aching finger and he rubbed his smarting forehead. Did I do it wrong? How did Otou-san do that?
"Kuon, I know if Otou-san was here, he would have done the same thing if he heard you talking bad about yourself," Kyoko scolded and wagged her hand in an attempt to shake the numbness out of her finger.
Kuon sighed in defeat. She was right, his Dad would have flicked his head, but harder. I'm so lame. Maybe I haven't changed at all. He shook that thought off since he knew it was far from the truth and watched his girlfriend massage her hand. He was grateful for that little wake-up from her and was sorry she hurt herself in the process.
"You're the bravest person I know Kuon, so stop belittling yourself! If you're having problems, you should tell me. I want to be your support the way you are mine."
He nodded, took her injured hand in his, and brought it to his lips for a kiss. That should make her pain go away.
She tried not to get distracted by his sweet gesture and asked, "So what's your plan? You can't hide in this country forever?"
"I'm not! I plan on continuing to strive for excellence in my work here until I find the right role even if I have to audition for it."
"Good, because if you haven't noticed, I'm kind of in love with you. The actress vying to represent Japan can't have such a lame-o boyfriend," she claimed, her eyes twinkling with mirth.
"Why you?!" He growled, lunging for her but missed. Kyoko was fast, pulling a few of her Momiji moves to evade him; however, he was always faster. She squealed as he threw her over his shoulder, lightly swatted her ass, and carried her caveman-style to their bedroom.
"Wait, Kuon! My cake!" she whined pitifully, glancing longingly at the rest of her abandoned cake.
"I'll buy you another one," he replied, giving her ass a hard squeeze. I need to get to the bottom of her misconceptions later. He couldn't change his promiscuous past, but apparently, she needed reminding of how much he loved her.
Notes:
I apologize for the delay and thank you all for continuing to read. I had to tease Kuon a little for his promiscuous ways as a teen like I do my hubby. XD
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 97: Water Under the Bridge
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would definitely land a role that would get him "inked."
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko woke the next morning to find her nude body shamelessly pressed up against Kuon's side. A sliver of the early morning sun peeked through the curtains casting a faint glow over his back.
Last night Kyoko had screeched, unbecomingly, at the sight of the intricate painting that started below his nape and covered his entire back until it dipped down into the waistband of his pants. He explained that it was only temporary for his new role and was required when he was shirtless in certain scenes. This morning, he would be taking promotional photos; hence, the irezumi before filming. The drama would target men with its theme of violence and action. The director wanted to exploit Ren's sex appeal to wrangle in the female audience.
Since the drama was for a mature audience, Ren had to negotiate out the explicit sex scenes the script demanded. He initially flat-out refused for his character to have any "sex" scenes. With Yashiro's help, they managed to reach a compromise that both parties were satisfied with. He would be willing to kiss and touch, but the act of having sex would only be implied. His character, Ryu, didn't have a love interest in the series. The women that he would come into contact with were merely pawns used to accomplish his mission.
During their innocent love play the night before, Kyoko couldn't stop running her hands over his back until he warned her not to rake her nails against him unless she wanted to broadcast to the world what a hell cat she was in bed. Her whole body flamed red at his admonishment and refused to touch his back further.
She was now tempted to touch him again. Kyoko watched the ray of sunlight dance along the eyes of the samurai mask, giving it the illusion that the eyes were glowing red. She traced her fingers around the outline of the armored samurai, careful not to use her nails. She moved the pad of her index finger to the large serpent dragon's maw releasing a large flame. Kyoko was amazed that someone was able to draw such detail down to the ferocious expressions of both the dragon and the samurai. According to Kuon, the person was so talented he could even do it permanently on real skin; however, the real work would take years to complete rather than hours.
Kyoko was in love with the idea of him having such a tattoo but knew it wasn't practical in their line of work. It made him seem mysterious, dangerous, and downright sexy. Thinking about him like that was causing her body to heat up again.
Kuon roused from his slumber relishing in the softness of her breasts pressed against him. He chuckled when the tip of her fingers grazed his lower back, "that tickles." She did it again making him rumble with laughter.
Kyoko stretched her body over the length of his back kissing him on the cheek and purred, "good morning," into his ear.
All the blood in his body flooded his groin. Before he could act on the lust her warm body induced in him, she was already heading for the bathroom. Kuon groaned and turned himself over to free his growing erection. I should get a real tattoo, remembering the feel of her tongue running up his spine last night. He released another painful moan and rolled out of bed when he heard the shower turn on. I think a nice shower might help.
...
Kyoko laced the wide black leather corset belt over a white long-sleeve shirt dress that stopped at mid-thigh. Satisfied with her outfit, she added a few more coats of mascara to her lashes giving her the illusion of wearing a set of falsies she normally wore as Setsu. Inspecting her reflection in the mirror, she wondered if the smoky eye and wing tip liner were a bit much since the makeup artist would most likely undo all her hard work. Either way, she was quite proud that the dramatic liner came out even. She pulled her hair back and clasped the lace choker she modified to hold Princess Rosa at her throat. It was the perfect way to keep her talisman close and maintain the image she wanted to portray at her job today. The large spacious closet of the guest room was now her space. She selected a pair of black suede thigh-high stiletto boots to complete her outfit.
Kuon sat at the table, reading over his script and eating his breakfast while Kyoko finished getting ready. Kyoko coincidentally chose the moment he drank from his Best Boyfriend mug to waltz into the room causing him to gag on the hot coffee.
"Wha-, whe-, wh-,...you look gorgeous," he finally said, settling on an appropriate greeting that wouldn't get his ears boxed in.
Kyoko cocked a perfectly defined eyebrow, amused by the range of emotions that flitted across his face then smirked. It didn't bother her that he covered up his words. In fact, it thrilled her whenever he openly showed his jealousy and possessiveness.
"I made breakfast," he continued, trying to distract himself from what he wanted to say. What the fuck are you wearing?! Where are your fucking pants?! Why must you dress so goddamn sexy?! He grumbled internally. His inner Cain threatened to come out.
"Thank you," she said, replying to both statements. She walked past him to place her boots and bags by the front door. She settled next to him on the living room floor and gave him a peck on his cheek, leaving a smudge of lipstick. Kyoko giggled at the idea of him wearing her mark while she wiped it off. In hindsight, she should have put on the rouge after her meal. She glanced down at the meal he had prepared just for her; two sunny-side-up eggs, wheat toast, and half a grapefruit.
"Itadakimasu!" She announced and dug in.
…
Yashiro concentrated on the road determined to protect the happiness that was overflowing from the back seat of his car. Ren had his arm around her shoulders while Kyoko leaned into him. He could hear them whispering to each other but couldn't quite catch what they were saying. Now and again he'd hear her giggle or catch Ren smile in the reflection of the rearview mirror, causing his inner fangirl kyaa! all over the place.
Yashiro had received the news from Lory early this morning, stating that he was now in the clear. The sense of relief he felt was instantaneous. He could finally let go completely of the Morizumi incident and move forward with his life without hesitation.
He glanced at the rearview mirror again, this time he caught Ren's eyes in the reflection as Kyoko whispered into his ear and chuckled to himself. He felt like a father that had two horny teens making out in the back seat of his car. Like every father, he decided to clear his throat. Kyoko squeaked and jumped apart from Ren, her face flushing with embarrassment. Ren flashed Yashiro a menacing look in the mirror, making the manager chuckle again.
"I spoke to the President this morning. Kyoko-chan, did you know you're all over the news again?" Yashiro asked meeting her eyes in the mirror.
"Ehhhhhhhhhh?!" Kyoko racked her brain to figure out what thoughtless thing she did this time that would land her in the tabloids.
"Don't worry, it was good publicity. The picture you took at the restaurant last night went viral. Your fansite has spiked again, but many of your admirers are wondering why they never see you two together on a date. Some are even speculating that you broke up due to the incident." Even if he was in the clear, he still found it difficult to talk about Kimiko Morizumi
"But we did that interview together so how could they even think like that," Kyoko asked exasperatedly.
"Well, they aren't wrong. You guys have been so busy that people haven't seen you together in a long time. Takarada-san wants you two to start a combined social profile since neither of you manages any social media or fan mail yourselves. He thinks it would take people's mind off the negative publicity of late." Quite frankly, this seemed like just another ploy for Lory to get personal pictures of his favorite drama pairing. The President sounded quite pouty when he talked about the concept.
"That sounds a bit troublesome. I would prefer to keep our life together private. What exactly would we have to do?" Ren asked, knowing Lory wouldn't let this go. They might as well try to control it as much as possible.
"I looked at the account already. It's quite simple to use, even a primary school student could figure it out. All you have to do is post photos as you see fit; food, behind the scenes, with friends or colleagues, as a couple, or individually. I will advise you not to post anything of you guys in or around the apartment. The piranhas would latch on to that information and dissect it into something cruel."
"We can think about it later tonight," Kyoko suggested. The thought of her personally exploiting their relationship made her cringe. It was something the President wanted so she could only comply with his request.
…
Kyoko accompanied Ren and Yashiro to his promotional shoot rather than attending school for a few hours. Her father would be picking her up to take her to her shoot later. She kept her face stoic as she watched her boyfriend pose for the camera. Her ears twitched in annoyance as the female staff chattered away and drooled over her man. She wished right now she was never revealed as Setsu so she could shut these women down.
I can't believe we get to see Tsuruga-san in the flesh. I could die now.
I can't wait to brag to my friends about this day for the rest of my life.
Oooh, he's turning again. Seriously my boyfriend needs to work out more!
Kyaaa! Those hakamas are cut so low you can kinda see where he shaves his happy trail!
Kyoko saw it! It was the tiniest of movements, but it was enough to let her know that he could hear their inconsiderate comments. She had to do something before he did, staining his reputation. Kyoko cleared her throat loudly and shot death glares at the women. They squeaked as she walked towards them prepared to give them a piece of her mind.
They looked very uncomfortable as the stunning young starlet approached. The others around them moved back so they wouldn't be a victim of her wrath, but not far enough to witness the showdown.
"Ladies, I see you enjoy watching my boyfriend perform," Kyoko sneered, staring down each woman. She had them shaking in their boots, but before they could beg forgiveness, Kyoko's aura changed rapidly.
"Me too!" Kyoko exclaimed excitedly her anger disappearing. The women stared at her with puzzled expressions. They weren't expecting the actress to be so friendly and agree with them. "I love watching him work since I'm always trying to improve myself as a model and an actress."
"Y-yes, y-you're right, his skill is outstanding. He is very professional," said the first woman, quickly agreeing with Kyoko.
"It's a dream come true to have a firsthand account of him working so diligently," the second woman added confidently now that Kyoko wasn't angry with them.
"Yes, you know, he's very strict when it comes to working. He especially appreciates the people around him that take their jobs seriously," Kyoko stated innocently.
"Really?! I just remembered I had some work to do," replied the first woman as she scrambled away to do the job she was being paid to do on the set. Perhaps Ren would compliment her on a job well done.
"Oh, I'll help you!" said her companion. Kyoko smiled, satisfied that she was able to get rid of the pests, and headed back to her spot.
Ren had to turn away from the camera while he tried to suppress his laughter. For a second, he thought there would be a bloodbath. He could tell Kyoko was seething with jealousy as she approached the women. She managed to handle the situation quite well and professionally by manipulating the women back to work.
The director nodded to her in appreciation. Kyoko could finally concentrate on the shoot. She listened to the commands the photographer gave Ren and watched how he executed the instructions. His movements were subtle, but in print, it would make a significant difference.
"Okay, Tsuruga-san, please turn around. Hold the katana so it's leaning over your shoulder and tilt your head down to the left to look my way, contract your back, and maintain that threatening gaze," the photographer instructed.
Kyoko watched as Ren adopted a familiar dark aura then tensed his back and arm muscles making the work of art on his skin appear to come alive. She had been shocked earlier when Ren dropped to the floor and started doing push-ups. After a minute, he flipped on his back and started doing sit-ups. She watched his muscles become more prominent and defined. "Tricks of the trade, baby," he smirked, pleased by the hot look she directed at him. It was something models did when they knew their upper body would be exposed in the shoot.
Ren's only attire for the first part of the shoot was a black pair of, hakamas, traditional skirt-like pants worn by samurai in the past. There were still worn today in certain martial arts practices. The material hung so low on his hips that anyone with eyes could see that the tattoo extended low past his waistline. He held that intense pose for a few minutes while the photographer fluttered around him.
"Thank you, Tsuruga-san. Please change into the tactical police uniform," the director informed him.
Kyoko stopped him before he could rush off to change. As much as she wanted to see him in his police uniform, her time was up.
"Ren, my father is here. Thank you for letting me tag along. I learned a lot today." Kyoko boldly wrapped her arms around his waist carefully to avoid his back. The artist had touched up the tattoo this morning and left so she didn't want to do anything to mess it up.
"You fell in love with me a little more, didn't you?" Ren teased, his hands going to her hips.
"Every day," She whispered and lifted her hand to finger the long strands of the wig he wore. She could get on board with him growing his hair out to this length. Ren took her hands off of him remembering that they were in the middle of the studio. His body was already reacting to her closeness that even the baggy pants wouldn't be able to hide.
"You should go. I should go. I'll see you later," he groaned, reluctant to part with her warmth. He raised her right hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips. There was an audible sigh throughout the room that made Kyoko turn crimson. She bowed quickly to the staff and forced herself to walk out calmly despite wanting to run.
Yashiro squealed behind her, following her out to retrieve her bags from his car. The tabloids won't be able to deny their relationship after that show. He wondered briefly if it was all part of their plan.
Kento looked over the report in front of him as he waited for his cousins to arrive. He had pulled an all-nighter to complete it, even though, he had his hands full salvaging the other investments and projects of the Morizumi family. He was blindsided by the prosecuting attorney's response to the plea deal he submitted only yesterday and was equally surprised when he received it less than an hour after submission. He could only guess at the motivation that would garner such a response. Kento had prepared for the worst, expecting hours of negotiations.
He should have anticipated it when the prosecutors did not come forth with the charge of attempted murder. They had all the evidence they needed to put both women away. His only conclusion was that they had sympathized with Kimiko's fate and gone easy on her. Kento tried to take advantage of that kindness and work out plea deals for both ladies. Kimiko would be institutionalized until her twenty-third birthday under the care of a certified psychiatrist in South Korea. She would be allowed to leave the facility under parental guardianship to attend medical appointments. On her twenty-third birthday, Kimiko's mental health would be re-evaluated before her release based on two consulting physicians' recommendations. If she, in any way, violated the agreement she would be transferred to a minimum security prison where she would serve out her time as a criminal and lose her privileges to consult outside medical care.
Kento looked up from the report when the conference room door opened and his cousins, Yuri's parents, walked into the room. They took their seats, confusion was written all over their face. Kento had assured them that Yuri would get off with a light sentence since she was only an accomplice to Kimiko's heinous acts. They had agreed that two years under house arrest and two years of community service was more than enough punishment for her participation in their niece's atrocities.
"I have some bad news. The plea deal was rejected. They want the case with Yuri-chan to go to trial," Kento explained. "They must know some very powerful people because they are expediting the case."
"What do you mean rejected? You assured us that it would be a done deal," Yuri's father exclaimed angrily.
"Sit down and let's hear what he has to say," Yuri's mother told her husband. "On what grounds do they have to object, Kento-san?" Yuri's mother asked the lawyer calmly.
"In a nutshell, they claim that Yuri-chan was the adult guiding Kimi-chan. She was only able to accomplish her crimes because Yuri-chan encouraged it," Kento regretfully explained. The prosecuting attorney was not wrong in her assessment. He too was curious as to why Yuri had not come forth when Kimiko was showing signs of violent behavior. His niece could have received proper treatment before everything escalated.
"Has Yuri-chan told you anything? Anything at all would be helpful. I can understand why the prosecutors would take this route. Is it possible that your daughter is the one calling the shots?"
"There's no way! Yuri is a good girl! She only ever said that she wanted to help her cousin's dream come true so she, unfortunately, made the wrong choices."
Kento let out a heavy sigh. "I will do my best to fight on Yuri-chan's behalf. Given all the evidence, she will most likely have jail time. All I can do is try to reduce the sentence. Please have Yuri-chan compile a list of people she can count on to testify on behalf of her character. Friends, colleagues. I need reputable people that would vouch for her. I'll visit Yuri-chan at home later tonight to explain everything in detail, but in the meantime, I've created this report for her. Please tell her to have the list of names ready tonight. I need to do background checks on all the individuals as soon as possible."
Normally, he would have months to a year to prepare for a trial case of this magnitude, but his gut told him that time was not on their side. Kimiko and Yuri had pissed off some powerful people. It was evident by the information he was provided. The other party had prepared ahead of time and was waiting for the moment the girls slipped up.
Sho paced the floor anxiously waiting for Kyoko to show up. His past self would laugh at him right now for arriving one hour early for work knowing that she would arrive early herself. He knew he no longer had a chance with her and made peace with that. The Fuwa Sho does not pine after women. His bruised ego would eventually heal. He would find someone even better for himself; it just meant that the bar was set extremely high for any future woman he dated.
He had not seen nor talked to her since their interview and wanted to make sure for himself that she was okay after that fire incident. President Akatoki had reminded him that he owed Kyoko an apology for his rude behavior towards the chicken that wasn't her. He had found the talento that was in the suit during the Yappa Kimagure Rock promo signing and apologized properly. The damn chicken man had the nerve to call things square only after Sho promised to have two VIP tickets at every single one of his Tokyo venue concerts available for him at the ticket booth. Sho bit his tongue as Shoko agreed that it was only fair that he be compensated for the distress Sho had caused him. Sho didn't need another mascot flare-up in Tokyo since he was already receiving the cold shoulder from other mascots in the industry.
When Kyoko arrived approximately thirty minutes before the actual start time, Sho did a double take before realizing that the sexy little vixen that walked into the studio was indeed his childhood friend.
"Sho, close your mouth before you start drooling," Shoko snickered at him. Sho gnashed his teeth and scuffed at his manager.
He instantly wanted to slip into his old ways and scorn her for wearing such provocative clothing that didn't suit her which would be a total lie. Shoko sensing his intention pinched his arm with her long nails and gave him a threatening look to behave. Like Sho, Shoko was stunned to have confirmation that Kyoko-san was indeed Setsuka Heel.
"Fuwa-san, thank you for your consideration," Kyoko greeted, bowing to Sho and his manager.
"Tch! What kind of play is this? Why are you treating me like some stranger and calling me like that?"
"Would you prefer I call you Shotar-..." Sho's hand shot out to cover her mouth, but Tadashi was quicker. He grabbed the singer's wrist before he could touch his daughter and squeezed. Sho scowled at the man that claimed to be her father and rubbed his wrist. A musician's hand was his bread and butter, Sho wouldn't be able to play his guitar if his wrist was injured.
Kyoko gasped, startled by the quickness of her father's movement. Get him, Daddy! Her grudges and angels cheered for once on the same side.
"Fuwa-san, I would appreciate it if you keep your hands off my daughter. This is a workplace. I don't want unsavory rumors to spread." If I will it, I can make you disappear boy!
"Look here pal, I've kno-," Sho began to counter until Shoko pushed his head down to bow in apology.
"Please forgive my client. He's still very immature and forgets himself," Shoko pleaded, giving Sho a stern look.
"It's okay, father. I'm fine. I can handle this guy. He's very simple-minded so he doesn't know anything about manners."
"Hey! You're the stup-" Sho began objecting. He cut off the rest of his rude sentence when Tadashi's threatening glare intensified. "Forget it. Call me whatever you want, just not that!...please," He grumbled making Kyoko giggle.
"Oi, are you really okay? That stuff with that girl. She tried to hurt you," Sho asked, rubbing the back of his neck, embarrassed to show such concern. "You aren't forcing yourself are you?" It always annoyed him how she would just grin and bear all the unpleasant things that happened to her in the past.
"Since I have a strong support system now, I'm more than fine. Thank you for your concern Fuwa-san."
Sho clucked his tongue again and felt the distance between them grow further. She was right. He never once supported her in the past. He was even the selfish prick that abandoned her. It was all water under the bridge. The damage was done, no point dwelling on something that has long passed.
"Did your tour go well?" Kyoko asked, making small talk as they waited for the producer and photographer to arrive.
"Of course! Fuwa Sho always puts on a good show!" He did catch some hell from the backlash of her fans, but she didn't need to know those details. He had to keep up appearances.
Asami finally arrived and briefed them on the details of the project. The photos taken today would be used for Sho's new single album cover and insert so things should be quick once the camera started clicking. Most of their time would be spent on wardrobe and makeup changes. Kyoko and Sho would take turns acting as both the devil and the innocent victim.
Kyoko sat before the mirror and tried not to cringe while the makeup artist erased all her effort from this morning. She kept Kyoko's makeup natural since she would be playing the innocent victim for the first part of the shoot. While the hair stylist worked on curling Kyoko's long hair into soft waves, a nail technician removed the black from her fingers and painted a clear coat on them. She also removed the paint on her toes since she would be barefoot on this shoot and the dark color would look out of place. When Kyoko was prepped, the wardrobe assistant held out what looked to be a long beautiful silk chemise in a soft blush color. Once Kyoko had the gown on, she was asked to step in front of the mirror. She watched in horror as the wardrobe director ripped and smudged the dress making it look ragged. What a waste?! The makeup artist added smudges and bruises to Kyoko's body. Just what kind of song did Shotaro write?! The concept sounded very similar to the Prisoner PV yet Kyoko looked like this would be a violent love affair.
Kyoko walked out wearing a robe and slippers. She stopped short when she saw Sho lounging on the demon throne dressed like some gothic lord in tight black pants, a red brocade overcoat with tails, and a black shirt with a neck ruffle. To complete the look he had on a black top hat and a cane with a skull handle. This devil was quite tamed compared to his other outlandish outfits.
"Sheesh, it's about time. We're all waiting on you." His black-colored contact eyes flashed at her with annoyance. His mouth always did ruin his handsome face. She wondered how long he could dupe his fans with that kind of attitude. Rather than being sucked into her old ways of arguing with him, Kyoko flashed her version of Ren's professional smile.
"Okay, Kyoko-chan, the expression I would like you to keep in mind is one of pure devotion. You've escaped an abusive relationship and the devil is your savior," Asami said, giving out instructions.
Kyoko groaned audibly, then apologized quickly making several people laugh and Sho scowl. They all knew what kind of relationship she had with Sho thanks to that stupid article and interview. She should have asked for more details about the shoot before agreeing to the job. It was too late to quit. She focused on Asami's instructions, hoping to end her misery quickly.
Sho watched as Kyoko removed her robe and took her mark on the floor beside his chair. What the hell? What is Asami-san thinking? Why is she dressed like I was the one that manhandled her?
"Sho, relax a bit more. You're too rigid," Asami directed as the photographer moved around them.
Relax! How can I when she's touching me like that?
Kyoko took her mark on the floor, arranging her legs so she was leaning against the side of Sho's leg. She placed one hand on his knee and laid her cheek on it. Her expression was serene with a small angelic smile tugging at her lips as she stared into the camera.
"Yes, that's it! Now, Kyoko-chan, hold that expression and turn your head to look up at your savior. He saved you from a living hell. You are so grateful to him."
Kyoko fought to keep her composure as she complied. Why must I look at this baka? No, no, no…Pull it together, Kyoko! You can do this! Her large golden eyes softened and she gazed at the devil adoringly. There was only one dark prince in her heart and she used her feelings for him to get through the shoot.
Sho was awestruck, his hand moving of its own accord to graze her cheek with the back of his fingers. So soft…. Was she always this beautiful? She was hardly wearing any makeup compared to when she walked in earlier. She had told Asami that she wanted to come in character as much as possible since it was initially Setsuka Heel they wanted to hire.
Kyoko fought to keep her poise, stopping herself from recoiling from his touch. Don't touch me, Sho-baka? Hurry up, Asami-san, and call it before I throw up! I can't keep imagining this guy as Kuon to keep up this act!
To avoid any mishaps, Kyoko's lids fluttered close. It was easier to imagine her love this way. Instinctively, her body relaxed and she absentmindedly leaned in, craving more of his touch. Kyoko lost all sense of time, losing herself in her thoughts.
"Okay!" Asami exclaimed, breaking through Kyoko's daydream. "We got some good stuff. You can change into the next outfit."
Kyoko jumped to her feet and shook off the act. She slipped into the robe the assistant held for her and left without a backward glance at Sho. He chuckled to himself as he headed for his dressing room. Once again, he managed to get pulled in by her act and it was only a photo shoot. For a second, he almost believed she loved him.
When Kyoko returned forty-five minutes later, she wore a silk burgundy and black corseted ball gown that was cut low on her chest. The dress pushed her breasts up making them look fuller than they were and cinched in her already tiny waist showing off her curves. Her smoky eyes, red lips, and red nails were returned with the steady hand of a professional. Her long black hair was covered by a red wig that extended down her back. Normally a ball gown, hoop skirt, and all would make her feel like a Princess but instead, she felt like a mistress of some English Earl during the Victorian era. A lady of the night.
When she saw Sho and he saw her, they both laughed hysterically at each other. Kyoko laughed louder and harder than Sho, bringing tears to her eyes. She blinked rapidly to keep from ruining her makeup. His prim boring suit, glasses, and side-part hairstyle made him look like a total geek. He was so far out of his comfort zone it made the first half of the shoot worth it.
Under Asami's guidance, they took their marks and began the second half of the photoshoot.
"Asami-san, this seriously can't be it," Sho grumbled as soon as the producer called it a wrap. "How could you possibly have any good pictures of me when I look like a dork? And you took more solo pictures of Kyoko than me!"
"I'm the creative director in charge. I achieved what I wanted. And…we did take flattering pictures of you!"
"You call those pictures flattering?! I was on my knees kissing her feet!" Sho complained crossing his arms. "It's my song! Shouldn't I get some say?" Sho complained.
Asami ignored his whining while she chatted with the photographer. She was a pro at dealing with Sho's tantrums.
As Kyoko changed into her clothes laughter kept bubbling up from her mouth. The image of Sho's shocked face when the producer told him to try to kiss her foot wouldn't leave her mind. The first time he reached for her barefoot, she had instinctively kicked his hand away. She apologized profusely, appalled by her reaction even if she thought he deserved it. Kyoko had been worried that Sho might successfully kiss her foot until Asami said it was good. The shoot ended with Kyoko posing alone in front of a green screen while the wind generated by a large fan billowed her hair and dress.
Kyoko made her rounds to thank and say goodbye to everyone until she was stopped by Sho on her way out.
"Kyoko, wait!" Sho called after her. Kyoko stopped and slowly turned on her heel to face her old friend.
He dropped into a bow. "I forgot to say this…I'm sorry for the comments I made about you when I thought you were in the chicken suit. I already apologized to the other guy, just so you know."
"Thanks, Sho-kun!" Kyoko replied, giving him a friendly smile. He seemed to have matured some since she last saw him. Working with him wasn't as unpleasant as she thought.
He stood there looking like he had more to say. "Can I…" he began, then shook his head. "No, never mind. Thanks for taking this job. See you around."
Sho turned away and walked back to the studio without asking her to exchange numbers.
Tadashi watched him retreat before turning to his daughter. The shoot went smoothly and the boy behaved throughout it. Sho no longer seemed to be a potential threat to his daughter.
"Would you like to grab a late lunch before heading to LME?" Tadashi asked as they resumed walking. Kyoko smiled and agreed glad to have him with her. She could pass some hours doing LoveMe tasks until her next appointment.
Lory smiled broadly as he looked over the documents on his desk. Everything was falling into place for his LoveMe member number one.
"Ruto, please see that these documents get to personnel and make sure another copy goes to contracts. Tell contracts they don't need to change anything that's currently in work, but they will need to provide an addendum to future jobs that are pending," Lory said, handing the stack of paperwork over to his right-hand man.
"Also, could you please have this expedited? She's going to need it to go to LA." Lory handed Ruto the small red book, headshots, and the necessary signed documentation. "Even expedited it will take about two weeks to have it processed. I want it in my hands as soon as possible so there are no hang-ups for Mogam-, no, Morimoto-kun. I have to get used to calling her by that name."
Notes:
Hiya! Thanks for continuing to read! I made up this whole Yakuza role for Ren just so I could share my vision of him with a back tattoo and longer hair with you all. I added one of my first fanart I did a couple of years ago for Ren's photo scene using Clip Studio Paint. I thought about redoing it in Procreate now but so lazy. I nearly died seeing Sensei's new art of RenKyo as Shiva & Freya from Tokyo Crazy Paradise. It was a dream come true. I hope she has made a full recovery and gives us more.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 98: Eternal Bond
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would no longer be able to hide his love for Kyoko behind his mask.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Kyoko-chan, is that you?" Sawara gaped at the young woman before him unable to believe his eyes. Sure he had seen the tabloids and the interview revealing her hidden identity, but it wasn't until now, seeing her with his own eyes, that it really hit home. Everyone in the office had been whispering about a new member in the LoveMe section; however, it turned out to be her. The girl that had stalked him for four days straight to give her a chance was on her way to becoming a fine young actress.
Kyoko let out a weak laugh and greeted the branch head of the talent section. He wasn't the first person to ask her that today. Did she really look that different with some dramatic eye makeup?
"What can I help you with today, Kyoko-chan? Anything that comes through here for you gets redirected to Yashiro-san."
"Ah, no, Sawara-san, thank you for all your help. I was wondering if you had any jobs for the LoveMe section today. I have some free time before I have to report to the studio. So if there's anything at all, I will be glad to do my part."
Sawara-san shook his head no. There was no way he was going to be the one to give her or any of the LoveMe girls a task again like cleaning toilets or scraping gum off the floor. LME had employees for those specific jobs, and the girls had already done their fair share of that work.
"Sawara-san? Are you sure there's nothing I can do? Nothing that needs to be cleaned or organized?" Kyoko pleaded with the section chief, her golden eyes shining brilliantly in hopes that he had something for her. She was technically still a part of the LoveMe section and owed this man for giving her a chance at the LME audition.
"I have asked all the section chiefs. No one needs any help today. I have barely collected any stamps in the past month because my schedule has been hectic, but I also don't want President Takarada to think I am shirking my responsibilities," she explained. Kyoko had wandered around the building for the last hour looking for LoveMe work.
Nakazawa and Matsushima greeted her similarly and talked eagerly about her part in the drama. They complimented her on her hard work, but in a nutshell, both said the same thing when she asked if they needed help with anything. Go and practice your guitar! She assumed Kei had reported her progress, or lack thereof, to them and left moping.
Kyoko wasn't trying to run away from practice; she just needed a break. Kanae and Chiori were given tasks outside of LME so she couldn't pass the time away with her friends. She wasn't sure when to expect them, and Maria had yet to return from school.
"No one that needs help with deliveries or anything of the sort?" She asked Sawara, giving it one final shot.
Sawara looked around his desk for something simple he could give her to do. I see that persistent nature of hers hasn't changed. His eyes landed on a brown envelope that needed to go to the mailroom.
"Let me borrow your LoveMe notepad, Kyoko-chan."
Kyoko handed over the small LoveMe kit she carried in her belt pouch. She watched him flip to a clean page, use the 20 stamp, and scribble a note. He then handed it back to her with the envelope to deliver to the mail room. Kyoko clutched the envelope to her chest and skipped away merrily. It was better than nothing. After this, she would return to the LoveMe room and practice diligently for her time with Kei. She had read over the updated script and found that Rika was part of a band. Kei had never mentioned her performing with a band and planned to ask him about it today. It was probably why she was so anxious to get better. She didn't want to let her unknown band down with her mediocre playing.
After dropping off the envelope, Kyoko peeked in on her father before heading back to the LoveMe room. He had made the usually deserted lounge down the hall his temporary workspace whenever they were at the agency. He was talking to someone using a Bluetooth headset and typing furiously on his laptop. He looks busy. I shouldn't bother him. Oh, I should get him something. She left him alone and went to the vending machine to get him something to drink. Tiptoeing into the lounge, she placed a hot can of coffee and a bottle of water on the desk beside him.
Tadashi acknowledged the gesture and smiled gratefully at her. He held up a finger and clicked on the headset. "Let's take a ten-minute bio break before moving on to the next topic." He pressed the headset again and settled back in his chair.
"Hi, sweetie, and thank you. Having a thoughtful daughter is every father's dream! Is everything going okay?" Tadashi asked, cracking the can of coffee open and taking a drink. "I needed this," he beamed. "These financial meetings get tedious."
"I'm sorry for taking you away from work even though I don't have much going on here."
"Nonsense, I'm only on this call because I don't want you to get annoyed with me following you around the building. Any luck finding LoveMe assignments?"
Kyoko shook her head no. "I've tried my usual go-to spots and some unexpected places. None of them seem to have anything for me to do. Moko-san and Chiori-san are apparently on LoveMe duty outside the building."
"Well, perhaps your time as a LoveMe member will soon be coming to an end. From what you have told me about the section, I believe you've met all of Takarada-san's conditions. You said the President gave you one-year, correct?"
Kyoko nodded.
"And that date has long expired?"
She nodded again.
"Then I think it's safe to assume that you are permanently a part of LME and the rest of the staff are aware of it. I'm sure Takarada-san has something in the works already. Yashiro-san could have some insider knowledge."
Kyoko hummed her assent. "Thank you, father. I'll go back to the LoveMe room until it's time to meet Kei-san."
"Okay, I will drop off this meeting before then. Text me if you need me." Kyoko smiled and waved goodbye to her father.
"Ow!" Kyoko moaned, holding her nose as tears pricked the corner of her eyes from the pain. She glanced at the door she had tried to enter to find an embarrassing make-up smudge on it where her face collided. She jiggled the knob again and found it locked. Did I accidentally lock the door earlier?
"Mo! Someone is in here! Be patient!" A scathing voice Kyoko knew so well shouted. Kyoko's whole face lit up at the sound of her best friend in the LoveMe room. Kyoko spazzed in the hallway in anticipation of seeing her best friend. She stood stock-still when she heard footsteps approaching the door. Kanae opened the door with an irritated scowl and then slammed it closed when she saw Kyoko standing outside the door.
Kyoko threw open the door and went in blazing, "Moooookkkkkoooo-san!" She had so many things she wanted to ask her best friend. At the top of her list was Yashiro. Kanae's firm stance in the room made her come to an abrupt halt.
Kanae stood in the middle of the room, arms folded across her chest, prepared to face her best friend. She scowled at Kyoko. "Why do you always look fine when people are worried about you?"
"Worried?" Kyoko tilted her head to the side, confused.
"Yes, worried, stressed, whatever you want to call it, but you don't look it," Kanae huffed. According to Yashiro, Tadashi thought Kyoko could use some pampering due to the current events, so Kyoko's father had prepared an elaborate spa day for them to enjoy.
"Eh, who said? Did Ren say something to Yashiro-san?"
"No, it's nothing. I have a CM scheduled, so I have to go. I don't want to be late. I'll see you this weekend," Kanae said with a flick of her hair and left the room.
Kyoko followed Kanae out of the room, wanting to ask her more about what she said, but held back not wanting to irritate her friend further. She called out instead. "Moko, I can't wait to see your new CM! I know you'll look beautiful!"
Kanae turned and flashed her friend a rare smile. "Thanks, Kyoko. Make sure you stay out of trouble. We'll talk more this weekend."
Kyoko's heart was brimming with joy when she walked back into the LoveMe room. She picked up her electric guitar, sat on the couch, and began strumming without using her amp. The soreness in her fingers that she experienced on the first day was receding with time. Her instructor had informed her that in a few weeks she would eventually develop calluses on her fingertips. Unfortunately, her part in the drama would come and go before that would happen.
Kyoko began to sing quietly along with the instrument until she ran through the whole song. If she messed up, she didn't start over, continuing as if nothing happened. She couldn't afford to show her mistakes. Her goal was to play through them without disrupting the flow of the melody.
When she was satisfied with her progress, Kyoko put her guitar away and pulled a notebook from her bag to sit at the table. Looking at the clock on her phone, she still had about a half hour left before she had to report to the studio. To take her mind off the upcoming recording, she decided to start her lists. At the top of a clean sheet of paper, she wrote the title The Happy Grateful Party. The first list was something she could decide on easily, her guest list. With her increase in work, Kyoko had a lot of people to thank this year. Ren was at the top of the list, followed by her closest friends and family. She was happy that this year she would have friends from school to invite.
Knock! Knock!
'It's open," Kyoko exclaimed as she continued to write, only looking up from her paper when the door opened.
"Onee-sama!" Maria squealed, bounding into the room wearing an adorable outfit of lace, ruffles, and ribbons.
"Maria-chan! I was hoping to see you today! You received my message?" Kyoko asked, opening her arms wide to hug the little girl.
"Mmhmm…They said there was a new LoveMe member, but I'm glad it was just you."
Kyoko giggled, "I guess people can't recognize me with all this makeup on."
"People are stupid. My onee-sama is pretty with or without makeup. Maria recognized you right away."
"Thank you, Maria-chan! How have you been? Are you behaving yourself?"
"Maria has been a good girl…mostly," she added, crossing her fingers behind her back at the little fib. There was no guarantee these days. She had to teach all these gossiping women a few lessons.
"I'm glad to hear! I brought something for you," Kyoko stood up from her chair, went to her locker, and pulled out a large gift bag.
"As promised," Kyoko beamed, depositing the bag in front of the little girl. Maria excitedly opened the bag and pulled out the first item wrapped carefully in tissue paper. She screeched when she removed the paper to reveal her own doll size replica of one, Cain Heel. Kyoko had dressed Cain in his usual black leather and gave him two expressions; brooding and death god. Kyoko had also made a puppy dog Cain face but decided to keep that one to herself. That moe face was just for her.
Kyoko pursed her lips as she watched Maria inspect the doll. Kyoko was proud of her work. She had managed to sculpt, mold, and chisel every contour of Cain's body down to the… Her eyes widened as Maria pulled Cain's pants down to find the space blank. There was no way she was including Cain's private parts.
"Maria!" Kyoko scolded, making the mischievous girl giggle. She vowed to preserve her little sister's innocence for as long as she could. It would be difficult with her growing up in such an adult environment. She acted too mature for her eight years already. Maria dug in the bag and squealed again, finding the Setsuka replica. Kyoko was a little embarrassed that Maria had also asked for a doll of Setsuka. She may or may not have made some minor body enhancements to her rocker-chic mini-self.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, onee-sama! Maria is so happy right now she'll never be lonely!"
"You're very welcome, Maria-chan. You know, if you're ever lonely, you can call me. If I'm busy, leave me a message. I'll always call you back and make time for you."
"Really?"
"Of course, pinky promise," Kyoko declared, holding out her pinky. Maria blushed and hooked her little finger around Kyoko's.
"Now, since you're here, and I have a good fifteen minutes before my job, do you want to brainstorm ideas for our next grateful party?"
"Yes! Maria thought hard about it. What if we have a costume party?"
"A costume party?"
"Like a Halloween party but on Christmas! I watched this animated American movie called, A Nightmare Before Christmas, which gave me the idea."
"But a costume party? Won't it be a burden for our guests?"
"We can put costumes as optional on the invitations. We can also have a costume contest. I'm sure Grandfather could round up some great prizes from his connections. You can dress like a princess and Ren-sama can dress like a prince. Wouldn't you like that Onee-sama?"
Maria hid her snicker as Kyoko's eyes glazed over. Her mind went to La La Land, imagining Ren in a dashing Prince suit much like the one he wore for their CM and asking for her hand to dance.
"Trust, Maria, I have it all planned," Maria said smugly, pulling Kyoko back to reality.
Kyoko wrote quickly as Maria poured out her ideas. She made a note to watch the movie Maria mentioned to get a sense of the black-and-white theme her little sister envisioned. When Ruto came to collect Maria for her next lesson, they had a full page of planning complete and divvied up the near-term tasks. Maria would be in charge of designing the invitations while Kyoko followed up on menu ideas. They would reconvene in two weeks to discuss their progress; meanwhile, Kyoko reminded her that she was only a phone call or email away.
Kyoko changed out of her LoveMe uniform and sat in front of the mirror to touch up the makeup she had smudged earlier. It would soon be time to put Rika into action. Kyoko picked up her electric guitar and went off to collect her hard-working father. She shut the door behind her only to find that Tadashi was already making his way down the hall in her direction. Punctuality was another thing they seemed to have in common. Although in their case they liked to arrive a half hour early to account for any unforeseen obstacles while in transit. Today was an exception since the music studio was located in the building.
…
Ren was relieved when the director called a thirty-minute break from the script reading. They had been going non-stop for the last two hours. He knew Kyoko was somewhere inside the building and planned to find her. He excused himself from his costars and quickly disappeared from the room.
"You won't find her there!" Yashiro's voice stopped him when he was halfway down the hall.
Ren was long passed playing coy with Yashiro. He was whipped and damn proud of it. "I know," he admitted, looking at the time on his phone. She would be in the recording studio at this time.
"Do you know where she is?" Yashiro asked finally catching up to Ren.
"No, but I was going to find out." He started walking towards the elevator again. His plan consisted of making his way quickly to the music branch head and getting the location from him. It seemed like the stars had aligned for him today since he now had time to see her at work. He knew how nervous she was to perform today, so he wanted to show his support.
"Morimoto-san texted me the exact location," Yashiro grinned, pressing the desired floor in the elevator.
…
Kyoko walked into the studio with ten minutes to spare, only to find Kei at the console with a headset on and music, her song, in full swing. She walked up towards the glass to get a better view. Kei gave her a quick salute and returned his focus to the controls. This was her band, Rika's band. Oh My Goodness! Rika's band is Bridge Rock! Kyoko thought she would faint as she watched Hikaru on guitar, Yuusei on drums, and Shinichi on bass guitar. They sound so good!
Hikaru made the mistake of looking up and saw Kyoko through the glass pane. He missed a string, a note, a beat… his fingers were now strumming air, missing the guitar altogether.
"Hikaru-kun, what the hell!" Kei cursed into the tabletop microphone. "Take five!" Kei put the studio on mute so whatever was being said inside would not be heard in the control room. He had a feeling Kyoko's presence was the reason for Hikaru's screw-up.
"Good afternoon, Morimoto-san," he said, nodding to the older man. "Kyoko-san, I see you came prepared for your role. It's not a bad look for Rika," he complimented, admiring Kyoko's outfit and makeup.
Kyoko bowed in greeting, then gestured to the Ishibashi brothers, "Is Bridge Rock going to be Rika's band in the drama?"
"You bet! Nakazawa-san and Sawara-san thought they would be perfect for the role. It would also boost the ratings for Yappa Kimagure Rock!"
"When was it decided?"
"When you were decided."
"Oh!" Kyoko said quietly. They were truly admirable to grasp the song so quickly. She couldn't expect anything less from her amazing senpais.
The brothers came into the control room after giving Hikaru a pep talk to pull himself together. Kyoko bowed, greeting her senpais.
"You guys sounded awesome! You're all so cool! I'm so excited we can work together again," she gushed with sparkling eyes.
"See leader, Kyoko-chan, is counting on us," Shinichi stated, clapping Hikaru on the back.
"Yes, like always. Please take care of me!" She said with another bow.
"Alright! Let's jump right in. Kyoko-san, please get your guitar and get set up," Kei instructed and the band followed.
"Ehhhh, bu- bu-but. I've never played with them. What if I ruin the song?" Kyoko stammered, nerves kicking in.
"This is why we're going to practice first. You guys will eventually synch up after getting used to playing together," Kei explained and settled in front of his console.
Kyoko's heart hammered as she stood at the mic in the middle of the room with Titania, the name she recently gave her electric guitar, slung over her shoulder. She took a few strums with her guitar pick to confirm it was still in tune.
"Whenever you're ready," Kei said through the speakers in the room.
Kyoko inhaled and exhaled getting into character. She nodded first to Hikaru, then Shinichi, and finally to Yuusei who then raised his drumsticks and counted down. She had a rough start and shook her head when her fingers stumbled over the chords. Kei's voice came over the speakers again, "just play through it."
Hikaru came close to Kyoko, "Kyoko-chan, don't look at your hands. I know you've memorized the song. Look up and be confident."
Kyoko stared into the kind brown eyes of Hikaru and smiled. He messed up but quickly regained his composure. Kyoko soon figured out that they were playing the intro over and over until she got the hang of it. Hikaru nodded to the microphone silently telling her to start singing this time around. Taking another deep breath, she set herself up the mic and began to sing. Her voice tripped up all three brothers when they shifted into the first verse.
"That was a good start," Kei called after they finally got through the whole song. "Let's run through it one more time."
Kei called a ten-minute break after the second pass so Kyoko could rest her voice. Tadashi handed her a drink of warm water, honey, and lemon that he prepared per Kei's instructions in the adjacent kitchen.
"I have already recorded the brothers' instruments individually. I want to record just your vocals, Kyoko-san before your voice gets tired."
Kyoko nodded sipping the soothing liquid. When she was done with her drink, she took her place in the small booth in the corner of the studio and slipped the headphones over her ears.
The booth was soundproof so Kyoko took all her aural cues through the headphones. "Okay, Kyoko-san, I'm going to start the music in three, just sing like usual," Kei instructed.
Kyoko nodded to him through the glass booth. Kyoko heard the music in her headphones, this would allow her to sing in time and tune, without the "bleed–through" of the instruments. The same music was playing in the control room but for now, her singing would be the only thing recorded. Kei would later arrange it with the instrument tracks.
It was during the instrument intro that Ren and Yashiro slipped into the room. All the guys turned towards the door as the actor and his manager quietly entered. No one protested, nor were they surprised to see him. Kyoko blushed and smiled shyly when she spotted her boyfriend towering over all the guys in the room. How did he find me?
"Focus," Kei reminded, his voice coming over the music in the headphones. Kyoko nodded.
She focused on Ren and sang, "Oh, my life, is changing every day, in every possible way. And oh, my dreams, It's never quite as it seems, Never quite as it seems…"
Ren let out an audible gasp, then quickly covered his mouth blushing with embarrassment.
Hikaru gave the actor a sympathetic look. He understood exactly how the man felt and he wasn't even her boyfriend. The lyrics were staggering if it was directed at the right person and Ren was the right person, judging from Kyoko's unwavering gaze. Everyone in the room became privy to the destruction of the actor's mask as his feelings for the woman he loved overwhelmed him.
Ren's eyes reflected Kyoko's, both shimmered with intense emotion. The other men in the room felt like they were intruding on something sacred. Hikaru's heart felt at ease watching Ren react to her song. He believed that even in another life these two would be destined to be together. What he read on love transcending time and space was probably written for couples like them; their bond was eternal.
I need to find a love of my own. Hikaru groaned internally.
"Now I tell you openly, You have my heart so don't hurt me, You're what I couldn't find. Totally amazing mind, So understanding and so kind, You're everything to me…"
Ren could see it. Her eyes shone with vulnerability as she appealed to him. I'd rather cut off my arm than ever hurt you! His eyes screamed back at her. They were having a conversation that only they understood.
Kyoko closed her eyes, trying to pull herself together as tears sprung from the corner of her eyes. It wasn't Rika singing. Kyoko had taken over the moment Ren entered her line of sight. "Oh, my life, Is changing every day, In every possible way. And oh, my dreams, It's never quite as it seems, 'Cause you're a dream to me, Dream to me…"
When the song ended, Kyoko opened her eyes to find several pairs of astonished eyes gazing back at her. It was the hidden set of green shimmering with similar emotion that caught her attention. Kyoko's face instantly turned red, and she did the only thing she could think of at this moment, she hid. She ducked in the booth, behind the low wall where she couldn't be seen unless they came close to the glass and looked down. Kyoko squatted on her haunches and swiped the tears from her eyes. Oh my god! My makeup is not waterproof!
She swiped roughly at her face cursing herself for not having the foresight to wear waterproof makeup.
"You'll ruin your beautiful face like that." The sound of his low masculine voice thick with raw emotion had her body humming. She squeaked refusing to look up, so Ren got down at her level, sitting on the floor in front of her.
"I'm sorry I just showed up. You probably didn't even want me here." He wanted nothing more than to gather her in his arms and show her how much he loved her. Since he was so tall, he could still be seen through the glass. He glanced into the control room and watched the men inside scramble to look busy doing anything else besides watching them. No chance of that happening!
"No, no, it's fine. I'm glad you're here," she replied, talking to the floor.
"You don't look glad. You won't even look at me," Ren pouted.
"Ah, yes, that… I'm sorry. I can't face you properly right now. I'm very embarrassed," she confessed and absentmindedly swiped under her eyes. Why did Setsu have to wear so much makeup?
"You're song was beautiful. I almost wish you passed on this part," he grumbled.
"What? Why?" she questioned, making the mistake of looking at him directly.
Pffft! Ren struggled to withhold his laughter. She looked adorable right now. Kyoko wailed in agony as she covered her face. He left the room and returned with a handkerchief and a bottle of water. She had left her bag in the LoveMe room and no man in that room would admit to having makeup remover wipes. He was sure her father would carry some kind of emergency kit on him from now on after they had to improvise.
Kyoko sat there while Ren gently cleansed the rogue makeup off of her face. It was such a simple thing to do that Kyoko felt her heart melt all over again. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in his lap and snuggle into his warm embrace. She sang the song many times before but it felt completely different when he was actually standing right in front of her.
"You never answered me. Why didn't you want me to take this part?" She asked quietly while he worked.
Ren sighed as he rubbed the mascara smudge from her right cheek. When it was clean, he rubbed his thumb over the slightly red spot before answering, "Because more people will see how utterly breathtaking you are."
"Lies! I'm a disaster right now."
"A beautiful disaster," Ren quipped with a lopsided grin. "All better," he said, placing his hand at her nape and kissing her forehead when he was through. His eyes lingered on her lips, but he knew they had an audience.
"Hey, lovebirds, I don't mean to wreck your moment, but time is money," Kei called through the open doorway.
"I have to get back to my reading. Are you going to be okay?" Ren asked, putting his arm on the small of her back and leading her out of the room.
Kyoko apologized for her unprofessional behavior and excused herself to the restroom after saying goodbye to Ren.
Ren forgot that he had slipped in without permission and bowed to Kei. "Ah, I apologize for interrupting your work. Thank you for taking such good care of Kyoko."
Pffft! Kei had never interacted with Japan's number one actor on a personal or professional level, his behavior today was quite unexpected. What he showed to the public was nothing compared to what he had witnessed transpire between the two lovers. I'm feeling inspired again!
"You're good, Tsuruga-kun. I have to say, I haven't been so entertained in a long time. I seriously thought I was watching a drama unfold," Kei joked.
Ren pasted on his professional smile, there was nothing fake about his love for Kyoko.
Kei hid his smirk. Ah, I must have struck a nerve. The mask is back. He ignored it while the others gave them an unnecessarily wide berth.
"I have to say I was inspired. Here's my card." Kei handed him his business card. "Hit me up if you ever want to put that sultry voice to song."
Ren was caught off guard by the offer. He decided that Kei would be added to the To be Determined List since the man didn't give off a threatening vibe…yet. As he walked down the hallway with Yashiro, he carefully placed the card in his wallet for safekeeping.
Notes:
Thank you for always reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I've also included another one of my early fan art of Kyoko in this scene. She came out looking more like Kanae...lol.
The song Kyoko sang was "Dreams" by the Cranberries. Their album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? was the first CD I ever purchased, so I wanted to work it in (my age is showing again).
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 99: Wavering Resolve
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would be calling Yashiro by his first name already.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
A soft knock on the door made Jiro look up from his laptop. He glanced at his daughter sleeping soundly on the hospital bed. After the latest skin graft operation, they removed the dressings from her wounds and letting them breathe for a short time before the nurse returned to cover them in gauze. The wounds appeared angry, glistening red from the smeared ointment.
"Jiro, sorry to disturb you. How is Kimiko doing?" Yuri's father asked. Jiro had given the hospital a list of approved visitors for his daughter with the strict instructions that they were only allowed in if he or his wife were present.
"Eiichi, good evening. Please come in," he offered, opening the door to let his cousin into the room. His cousin looked tired, a haunted look in his eyes. Jiro took his seat at the small table and gestured to the other chair.
Eiichi stood a moment longer, staring at his niece, the bane of their existence. He tried not to let his displeasure for her show on his face and instead pasted one of concern as he looked over her wounds. It wasn't right to have such ill feelings for a young girl, especially one that had learned a harsh lesson.
Jiro glanced at his cousin and then his daughter. "She's healing. The doctor said with proper care at home she could leave the hospital in a few days. We're setting up her room to accommodate her needs. They can't do any more operations on her until she's recovered more."
Eiichi nodded and took his seat.
"Do you want some coffee or tea?" Jiro asked, remembering his manners.
"No, thank you, please don't go out of your way."
"Thank you for visiting Kimi. I know the family is very angry with us, but she's my daughter."
Eiichi understood Jiro's feelings. They were experiencing the same contempt because Yuri participated in the matter.
"How is Yuri handling things? Have you spoken to Kento?"
"Yuri is very paranoid right now. She's worried she would be hauled off to prison at any moment. I did talk to Kento, her case is not looking good. They rejected the plea deal and are taking this to trial. The one saving grace is that Kento asked for a closed trial so as not to stain the Morizumi name further. He said it was a long shot, but the courts granted it before the day's end. At least this way, the details of the trial will not be public knowledge. He thinks whoever is pulling the strings must know some people in high places to get the trial rushed. What usually takes months in the legal system happened over a day," Eiichi sighed, rubbing his hand down his face. It was bullshit how the media frenzy and fans pushed the court to make this case a high priority. It's become too public. No amount of bribery could turn it over in their favor.
"I'm sorry. Kento didn't tell me," Jiro replied quietly. Taking Yuri to trial guaranteed that she would be serving time in prison given the evidence. It would be up to the judges to determine the length of her sentence. He couldn't get angry at the other party for taking this action. He was just glad they accepted the plea deal for Kimiko.
"Does he have a solid plan to help her?"
"He's trying to gather witnesses that can talk on her behalf, which brought me here. Do you think Kimiko would be healthy enough in a couple of weeks to help? She knows Yuri's good points best since they spent so many years together. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
"I don't think that's wise at all…Kimi is…" How could he tell his cousin that his daughter was untrustworthy without making it sound terrible coming from him? She might end up doing more harm than good in the end. They weren't playing the insane card just to keep his daughter out of prison. Jiro didn't need a professional diagnosis to know his daughter had severe mental problems, even if she had everyone fooled by her sweetness.
Jiro was not going to be fooled by her again. He would get the genuine help she needed in South Korea once they were cleared to leave the country.
Kimiko stirred when she heard her father open the door, but pretended to remain asleep as the men conversed in hushed voices. A sinister smile played on her lips. She shifted in her bed to make it known that she was waking up, making them immediately stop talking. Kimiko managed to open her good eye to a slit and smiled.
"Hello, uncle," she greeted, an angelic smile gracing her lips. It looked horrific with her injury on full display.
"How is my cousin doing? I miss her," she whispered, concern laced in her voice.
After enduring a couple more hours of script reading filled with numerous "NGs" and repetitive instruction from both the producer and director, Ren was finally free to move on to some much-needed physical exertion. To wrap up his night, he would try to work his body ragged to keep his mind clear of her; however, his thoughts kept drifting back to her whenever he had a quiet moment. I want to see her. I want to hold her. I want to make her completely mine. It was that last thought that had him running scared. He had been doing well so far in their relationship but after seeing her in that sound booth, singing for him; he fell deeper in love with her. He had managed to hold himself back in the studio, taking extra care not to embarrass her in front of her father and colleagues. He couldn't trust himself to hold back when they were alone; he wanted all of her tonight. Am I in heat or something? He thought he could wear himself down and overcome it by throwing himself into physical training.
For two hours, he had exclusive dibs on the largest indoor and outdoor parkour course in Tokyo to train for his drama. The place had a decent-sized indoor gym with walls of varying heights, inclined surfaces, and numerous bar transitions. He watched the owner and his team of two other men display their acrobatic skills while navigating the site. His eyes tracked the foreigner with his arms splayed out for balance, run the top of a 15-centimeter thick wall, then jump to what appeared to be a span of 10 meters to another wall. The guy didn't make it but he managed to grip the top of the wall with his fingers and scramble up to continue. He clapped when the owner jumped towards a lone bar with foam blocks beneath it. He did a few rotations like a gymnast and somersaulted to the other side sticking the landing. The other two men attempted the same move but both slipped off the bar and ended up in the foam.
When the men were through with their demonstration, the stunt coordinator for Ryu introduced Ren and Yashiro to the men. The owner's name was Oki, the other Japanese man was Ishikawa, and the foreigner was American and went by the name of Zeke. They took obligatory celebrity photos once Ren was changed into a pair of black joggers, some camo green trainers, and a gray sleeveless moisture-wicking t-shirt that hugged every contour of muscle on his torso.
"Tsuruga-san, do you mind taking the picture with this on? I'll be honored if you wore it."
To top off his outfit Oki gave him a new white flat-billed hat with their gym logo of a colorful caricature monkey on it. Ren thanked Oki, brushed back his hair with his fingers, and put on the hat. He looked like he was part of the crew with arms crossed over his chest displaying his muscular biceps in an intimidating pose.
"Tsuruga-san, I've seen your latest movie Tragic Marker, fucking creepy performance by the way," Oki said honestly, shaking the chills from his body. "Zeke here screamed like a sissy every time BJ popped up."
"Thank you all for your support," Ren said with an amused smile watching Zeke blush in embarrassment.
"I have to ask, not to be insulting, but did you really perform those stunts?" Oki asked curiously.
"Yes," he answered while nodding. The stunts Cain had to perform were nowhere near as complicated as what these guys just showed him. He had a feeling he would be sore and bruised come morning.
"Well, that would make this so much easier, let's get started. Do you want to free run so I can get an idea of your capability? Or should we play follow the leader?"
Ren raised his eyebrow unsure about the last one so Oki explained. "Follow the leader is exactly what it is. I'll have my boys run through some routine and you copy them. We can change it up as we go along. We'll start with something easy." Oki tapped on his phone filling the gym with some Japanese hip-hop music. "Gotta have the tunes… Ishi, why don't you go ahead?"
Ren watched the guy take a running start straight at the walls in front of them. Ishikawa stepped with his left foot on a low wall and jumped up into the back wall with his right foot. He ricocheted off the wall and did a backflip landing on his feet. Everyone watching applauded his skill.
"What do you think? Can you do it?"
Ren took a few small hops on his toes like a boxer before sprinting off. He executed the move with ease and since he was significantly taller than Ishikawa he had more height on his flip. The room erupted in a ruckus and "high fives" were exchanged with Ren.
"Shit! That was surprising! We have to bump up the difficulty level or Tsuruga will get bored," Oki said excitedly. He huddled with his boys as they thought of a harder routine for Ren. They looked back and forth between the looming structures before them and the actor.
"Okay, I think we got it. Let's try up there," Oki suggested.
They climbed to the highest platform in the gym while Yashiro waited on the ground with his camera at the ready.
"Tsuruga-san, please stand over here to have a better view. I'm a consultant for the chase scenes in the drama so let's see if you can handle something like this. Zeke will go first, then Ishi. This way you can see it twice."
Ren stood at the platform's edge and focused, prepared to memorize the moves. Zeke surprised him by running straight at the low wall with nowhere to go but down. He sprang off the low wall with his hands and did a leapfrog over to a wall about 6 meters away and half a meter lower. His feet landed on the wall. Keeping up with the momentum, he immediately jumped towards his left to pivot on the adjacent wall into a side flip that landed him on a lower platform. From there, he did a body roll, jumped to his feet, ran a few more meters, then jumped over some railings and grasped the high bar. He did several rotations over the bar before releasing and continued his rapid descent until he reached Yashiro at the bottom.
Shit! That looked difficult! If he could nail these stunts without a double for the chase scenes, this drama would raise his status as an action star. He focused on Ishikawa as he ran through the course in a similar fashion. It didn't take Ren long to realize that Ishikawa did things differently based on his ability but used the same parts of the course as Zeke. If he attempted his run with that mindset, he could pull it off without hurting himself. A lot of parkour was improvisation, after all.
Yashiro held his breath as he watched Ren attempt the course. He wanted to call timeout after the first man demonstrated what they wanted Ren to do. It all went by in a blur to him and now he watched through his phone as he tracked Ren with the camera. Yashiro had to admit that Ren's transitions were sloppy compared to the professionals. He winced when Ren reached for the bars and slipped, landing flat on his back on the matted floor. Ren shook himself before getting up and continuing down the course. By the time he reached Yashiro, he was only slightly out of breath but already sore from his spill.
The men complimented him on a job well-done, but Ren was far from finished. It was exhilarating to immerse himself in this type of exercise. The work had managed to switch his focus on the task at hand, perfecting this new skill. He continued like that for the first hour of the session with little to no rest but to dry his sweaty palms. They were becoming a hindrance when gripping the bars. Yashiro had no clue what had gotten into him. The threat to call Kyoko and tattle had him sipping on, at least, a bottle of water.
By the end of the night, the guys had bestowed the nickname, "Beast," upon Ren. Everything they threw at him, he attacked wildly with no fear, especially when they transitioned outside. They had moved to the outdoor course located on the rooftop. It had similar ramps and walls as the indoor course but was done in the open air in true parkour fashion. Oki even had permission from neighboring buildings to use their rooftops as part of their free run. Only the most skilled runner was allowed to partake in this extreme course. Anyone that participated in the free run between buildings had to sign a waiver relieving the gym of any responsibility for injury or death. Yashiro couldn't talk Ren out of signing the paper. Did he have a death wish?
Yashiro didn't record Ren jumping and running between the adjacent rooftops. Should an accident occur, he didn't want to have any evidence of such a devastating event. The manager breathed again once Ren returned, excited but worn out. It was finally time to go home.
...
They rode home in silence. Yashiro didn't think much of it since he thought Ren was tired. Heck, he got tired just from watching them perform all those stunts and tricks.
Unfortunately for Ren, he wasn't so weary and contemplated his options.
"Yash- Yukihito, I don't mean to intrude, and I know this is asking for a lot, but could I possibly stay the night at your place?" Ren pleaded with his manager as they headed home. He had already taken his shower. All he needed was a place to crash and a new toothbrush. There was the option of staying at a hotel, but he was unsure how long he would last without the distraction of someone else to keep him there. It was barely past ten o'clock. Kyoko would still be awake, probably waiting for him to come home.
He thought about what his girlfriend could be doing right now at home. He imagined her sitting on the couch in one of his t-shirts playing the guitar or, in her craft room, trying to perfect the chibi Corn phone charm she had been trying to hide from him. I should ask her to make me one of her for my phone. He had accidentally come upon it while looking for fabric scissors to cut the sleeves off a gym shirt that had grown too snug on his shoulders. Kyoko's thriftiness was rubbing off on him. He was bulking up from the regular meals and the routine exercises of late. Yashiro would have to update his measurements in his work profile at this rate.
Horns blared from other drivers as Yashiro dangerously swerved to the shoulder, pulling over the car. He put the car in neutral, pulled up the handbrake then looked over at Ren, gnawing on his left thumb nervously staring out the passenger window. It was the first time Ren had ever called him by his first name. This must be serious. Yashiro thought Ren had been acting a little off ever since they left the studio.
He had plans to meet up with Kanae, but he could cancel them for his friend. Kanae would understand, wouldn't she? He needed to know why exactly Ren couldn't go home.
"You can, on one condition. You give me a valid reason why you can't go home. Did you and Kyoko-chan have some sort of text fight today?"
"No, everything is fine with Kyoko… for now….It's me," Ren sighed.
"What do you mean? I've been with you this whole time. What's wrong with you? Are you sick? Should I take you to a hospital? I thought you were overdoing things tonight, so maybe..."
"No, Yashiro-san, I'm not sick."
"Please just call me Yukihito like before."
Ren nodded. Yashiro waited patiently, but Ren didn't elaborate.
"Well, sounds like you don't have a valid excuse, so I'll just continue to your apartment."
Ren let out a loud sigh. Yashiro was going to make him say it. He didn't know how much Yashiro knew or guessed about their relationship, so it would be embarrassing to admit this to his friend.
"I can't trust myself to be around her right now. I love her too much not to be able to hold myself back anymore."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute, hold on," Yashiro said, holding out a hand and rubbing the bridge of his nose with the other. "Are you telling me what I think you're telling me?"
Ren looked at Yashiro and nodded. He could swear he saw his reflections in the teasing sparkles of his manager's eyes.
"How is this possible? You two have been living under the same roof for months, and you still haven't done…IT? How are you functioning right now?"
Ren gave him a dry look, making Yashiro burst out in laughter. Damn it, Ren! Don't you realize I'm losing the bet right now?
"HA, HA. I'm glad my predicament amuses you."
"But, but, you're Tsuruga Ren...Voted number one male that women want to be 'held' by," Yashiro gasped out between chuckles. The notion that Ren was physically holding himself back was absurd, especially when he was living with the woman he loved.
Ren pursed his lips, waiting for his manager to quit laughing. It took a minute.
"So, Kyoko has expressed that she wasn't ready, and you are at your limit! You are a strong man Ren…You're like the enlightened one reincarnated."
"It's actually still just me."
"What?! Are you saying this pious living is self-inflicted? Are you a masochist?!"
Ren scowled at Yashiro. "I want…I want to give her the wedding night she deserves," he confessed.
Yashiro sighed heavily and stared at his charge with pity. Kyoko was only seventeen. How long did he plan on living like a monk? Yup, I'm definitely going to lose the bet, but if I'm lucky, a wedding is just over the horizon!
"I'll call Kanae right now and let her know."
"Wait, you had plans with Kotonami-san? If that's the case, drop me off at the nearest ho-."
The Bluetooth in the car suddenly lit up with an incoming call from Kanae. Yashiro hit the control on the steering wheel and answered. This feature was so convenient since he didn't need gloves while driving. He only had to tap the button for a second with his bare finger.
"Hi, Kanae. I'm in the car with Ren, so you're on speaker," Yashiro said, warning her to take care of her words.
"Hi, so you're still on your way to drop Tsuruga-san home?" Kanae inquired.
"Actually, there has been a change of plans. I hope you don't mind. Ren ne-"
"Yukihito will be dropping me off soon. Sorry to keep him out so late," Ren interjected. He wouldn't cock block his friend since they had little personal time as it was with his hectic schedule.
"Good, I actually wanted to talk to you, Tsuruga-san."
"Me?" he asked, surprised.
"Before going home, you need to stop by the convenience store. Pick up some dark chocolate and half a liter of double chocolate chip ice cream…that's all. Good luck," she said then hung up.
Yashiro and Ren exchanged confused looks. Kanae was always such an enigma, but Ren respected his girlfriend's best friend.
"What did she mean, Yukihito?" Ren asked, glancing at his manager to decipher his girlfriend's words for him.
"Maybe they talked earlier, and Kyoko mentioned wanting to eat that stuff," Yashiro guessed with a lift of his shoulders.
"So what do you want to do? You just ruled out my place. Are you going home or to a hotel?"
Ren was no longer hesitant. "Take me home!" There was obviously something going on with Kyoko, and he meant to find out what. His earlier reservations were dashed and replaced with concern. She loved sweets, but she rarely indulged in them these days ever since she heard about the upcoming swimsuit photoshoot.
"You're the boss!" Yashiro said as he eased back onto the road.
…
He opened the front door, carrying a plastic bag from the basement market and turned off the alarm. Kicking off his shoes in a hurry, he dropped his work bag and emptied his pockets into the glass bowl at the entrance table. He smiled at the framed photo of them sitting on the table beside a vase of flowers. It was one from their first impromptu photoshoot with Fuji at the beginning of their relationship.
"Welcome home, Corn," came the sweet voice he had missed all day. Kuon's smile faded when he found her curled on the couch under a blanket and wearing his sweatshirt.
Kyoko gasped when the next second Kuon was kneeling in front of her and leaning his head against hers. All I did was blink! It has to be teleportation jutsu!
"Are you okay, baby? You don't feel hot. Why are you bundled up? Should I turn up the temperature of the A/C?"
"I'm fine…" she replied, wincing as a slight cramp rippled through her abdomen.
Kuon's eyes widened as her beautiful face contorted in pain for a second. Kyoko gave him a weak but reassuring smile.
"I'm okay, really," she smiled and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm just having cramps from my period. I just wanted to be comfortable," she told him with a slight blush. There was no point in being shy at this stage in their relationship. After all, her boyfriend had no qualms about stocking his bathroom with her sanitary needs.
Kuon laughed with relief. He felt so stupid right now. How could he ever think of leaving her alone for selfish reasons? Mother Nature bailed him out tonight. He would use this night as a reminder whenever his resolve wavered.
"Did you talk to Kotonami-san tonight?" Kuon asked. Kyoko froze as she recalled her phone call to Kanae.
"Mooookkkoooo-saaaan, I'm dyingggggg! My stomach feels like it's being ripped into shreds!" Kyoko wailed on speakerphone as soon as her best friend picked up.
"Mo! What's your problem now?" Kanae asked, irritated. Kyoko tended to exaggerate every situation.
"This is what I dislike most about being a woman! Why must our bodies have to experience this pain every month," she grumbled.
"Mo, take some painkillers and suck it up! Where's that boyfriend of yours? Tell him to pamper you!"
"He's probably where ever yours is," Kyoko retorted.
"Okay, I'm busy, so just take it easy. Watch a horror movie until Tsuruga-san comes home…one with lots of blood and gore to fit your mood."
"That's gross, Moko-san."
"Bye…"
"Bye-bye, good night, Moko."
"Yes, good night."
"Did Yashiro-san tell you?" Kyoko asked.
"No, she called Yashiro-san and told me to get you this," he explained, holding up the bag. Kuon sat down on the couch, placed her legs over his lap then handed her the bag.
Kyoko dug into it to see its contents and kissed her boyfriend's lips. I'm so loved! Thank you, Moko!
She opened the bag of chocolate first and popped one of the individually wrapped squares into her mouth, offering one to Kuon, which he declined.
"They're for you."
Kuon watched her with an amused smile as she attacked the small container of ice cream. Using the prepackaged spoon, she took a bite and groaned in happiness.
Thank you, Kotonami-san. I owe you another one. I have to remember this for the future! What's today's date? If he remembered correctly from health class, this usually happened to a woman around the same time every month. He would better prepare for next month. How he hadn't noticed her pain in the past was beyond him.
"Will you be okay? You usually don't complain about pain during this time."
"It varies, but I'm usually okay after taking some pain medication."
"Did you take any yet?"
"Not yet. I couldn't bring myself to get up."
"I'll be right back," he said, moving her legs. He returned with a glass of water and two pills. Kyoko gladly took the medication with gratitude.
Kanae almost poked her eye out, startled by the unmanly squeal from the bedroom. She rolled her eyes and continued to pat the designer cream gently under her eyes, careful not to tug at the corners. She had read in a fashion magazine that wrinkle prevention at a young age was paramount for any actress or model. Finished, she washed her hands, shut off the lights, and walked to her side of the bed.
Yashiro looked up at his girlfriend as she exited the bathroom wearing a long silk nightgown in lavender that showed off her creamy shoulders and graceful neck.
"What are you doing?" she asked, snuggling against him to look at his computer screen. She tried not to laugh as he navigated the website using his surgical gloved-covered hands. If she didn't know him better she would have thought he was a serial killer.
Yashiro turned his head and kissed the crown of her head, then showed her what he had been looking at. "Take a look! This is the combined social media page that Takarada-san proposed to Kyoko-chan and Ren. They posted their first picture, and it's insane. I took this photo of them this morning at Ren's photo shoot. It looks like they decided to use it."
Kanae whistled suggestively. It was a side profile picture of them embracing each other. Kyoko was dressed in a rocker glam outfit, while Ren wore a pair of traditional hakamas. They both had dopey smiles on their faces.
"Hey!" Yashiro shouted in mock outrage.
Kanae giggled. "Does Tsuruga-san have an irezumi like that on him? It's quite bold."
"No, it's just for his role in the new drama. It's fake. But take a look. They posted this less than fifteen minutes ago. It already has hundreds of hits and comments. Guess who got the first comment by the way?" Yashiro asked triumphantly.
RenKyo#1fangirl: OMG! Can these two look any hotter together!? Are they in character for something big?
"Pffft," Kanae burst out laughing. "I swear you're such a loon when it comes to those two bakas, but that's what I like about you." Yashiro blushed at her comment and kept reading.
Renfan1: I died! I'm dead! He looks so yummy. I hope that tattoo is permanent!
KyokoMYGoddess: Legs for days…*drool emoji*
Renfan2: I say we petition for Ren-sama to grow his hair out long. I'm sure Kyoko-san would agree with us.
KyoFan1: Is she in Heel-san mode? She looks gorgeous in that outfit!
RenKyoFAN1: Are the siblings back because I'll die from happiness seeing more of them! I love my favorite celebrity couple, but their Heels' personas jive more with me.
RenKyoFAN2 : Is it me, or does Ren-sama look incredibly beefy?
Renfan1: *drool emoji*
Mori_T: My Princess is adorable when she smiles. I love seeing her happy!
"What was the President thinking by allowing this? Who is going to manage it? Those two are clueless when it comes to social media!" Kanae said, scowling. The number of comments and likes were growing at an exponential rate as they read. Most of the fans favored the couple, but a few trolls were posting negative comments. It didn't take long for the pro-couple groupies to get rid of those people. Are these two going to be okay? Eh?
"All they have to do is post a picture now and then. They don't need to respond to comments."
"Did that horrible comment about Kyoko just disappear?"
"What? Where?"
"I swore I read a comment shaming Kyoko, but it's gone now. Scroll down to find another one. There stop this anonymous person is calling Tsuruga-san a Lolicon….ah!" Kanae exclaimed, startled as the post she had her finger on disappeared.
"Hmmm, maybe the president has someone managing it already. I'll have to ask him tomorrow. Alright, enough of that. Do you want to watch a music video I just edited while you were in the shower?"
She didn't, but the look in his eyes softened her heart. "Fine!" She huffed, rolling her eyes.
Excited, Yashiro clicked on the video file and hit play. As they watched the video of Kyoko singing to Ren, Yashiro knew he would sleep happy later, knowing that Ren was already thinking long-term with Kyoko. He would stick to the Bro Code and not tell his girlfriend about his friend's current predicament.
Notes:
Hiya everyone! Thanks for sticking with me! I wanted Ren to start calling Yashiro by his first name already, so I made it happen. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 100: Girl's Date
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, we would see more friendship interactions.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kuon halted for a moment when he glimpsed his girlfriend in the kitchen. Sirens went off in his head as his whole body shifted to high alert mode. She was standing at the stove, cooking. Nothing strange with that picture, wrong! In that instant, he knew he was in trouble. He could smell the jasmine in her body soap above the scent of breakfast, which meant she had taken her morning shower. What had him on high alert was her apparel. She was only wearing his t-shirt: no sweatpants, not a hint of shorts, just his shirt. That could only mean one thing to Kuon after seeing her bundled up the last few days. The one thing that kept him sane, Aunt Flow, had concluded her monthly visit. Easy Kuon, you knew it was temporary. Get your shit together. You can still find physical pleasure with her without going all the way.
Once he felt in control, he moved in to test the waters. "Good morning," Kuon whispered, wrapping his arms around her and kissing behind her ear. Fuck, she smells even better up close!
Kyoko sighed, leaning against his bare chest while she rolled the tomagoyaki with a pair of chopsticks and enjoyed having him hold her. He had been a bit distracted these last few days, so for him to be so affectionate this morning was a relief. Now that her cycle was over, she hoped they could get a little frisky again.
"Can I help with anything?" He asked, glancing around the kitchen to see what else she had planned for breakfast as a good distraction.
"You can make us some toast and coffee." She had already prepared their meal and was finishing up with the omelet.
"I can definitely handle that, my lady."
Kyoko giggled, watching him work with enthusiasm. When he was through, he began setting the coffee table with the dishes she had made.
He turned on the television while he waited for her to sit down. It was nice having a day off after such a harrowing week. Who would have predicted that their combined page would lead to so many problems? The biggest one was a determined paparazzi actually following him home and camping outside their complex. The reporter had enough sense to keep this information to himself, hoping to catch a big break solo. Lucky for them, the building's security was top-notch and alerted all the residents of the intruder lurking across the street from the parking gate.
It was a wonder how they managed to keep the fact that they had been living together a secret for so long. The cat was still in the bag. Kyoko had to hide in the back seat whenever she left the building now. She thought it was exciting, Kuon found it a nuisance, and Tadashi had casually asked if they wanted him to handle it, which they both protested against. Neither of them wanted to chance exactly how Tadashi would take care of the reporter. They didn't think he would do physical harm to the guy; however, they weren't taking any chances. Both suspected that her father would be ruthless when it came to her well-being.
Kyoko sat next to Kuon, placing the egg roll on the table just as the commercial ended and the news resumed.
"Japan's most popular social media site has announced its completion of upgrading its servers after the site took a dive several days ago when the combined profile of Japan's darling couple, actor Tsuruga Ren-san and actress Kyoko-san, went active. The single picture posted of what looked like a new project for the couple as the Heel siblings, in a sense, literally 'broke the internet.' The site was down for hours while the administrators worked to restore it to normal operations. Apparently, they could not accommodate the massive influx of users flocking to catch a glimpse of their profile with their own eyes. The president of the site explained that although their servers could handle the numbers, they failed to anticipate the network traffic problem with all those numbers occurring simultaneously. He assures his users that there wouldn't be any further interruptions in the near future."
"I can't believe that happened," Kyoko giggled while the news transitioned to other topics occurring in Tokyo.
"People are unbelievable," Kuon responded as he ate his food. He wondered if Lory had anticipated such a reaction.
"So, what do you guys have planned today before we meet?" Kyoko asked, eating a bite of her fish.
"Well, I plan on driving you to LME and using the gym there. Yashiro said he would join me. After that, I'll just be lonely until I see you again," he sighed.
"Please make sure you eat lunch," she said, ignoring the puppy face he was casting her way.
"If I must," he pouted. Kyoko glared at him. "I'm kidding. I promise I'll eat. By the way, what do you girls have planned?" He asked, changing the subject.
"Oh, we're going shopping, then getting pampered by professionals. We haven't had a spa day since before Moko went to America," she gushed enthusiastically.
"Shopping, huh? Are you going to buy something sexy this time?"
"Would that please you?"
"If it's for my eyes only, I would be very pleased," the Emperor responded seductively and caught her mouth in a passionate kiss that threatened to set her hair aflame. He had resigned himself to only the simplest of touches over the last few days, refusing to take things too far and using her period as an excuse not to touch her too deeply.
He had meant to use that night he tried to avoid her as a lesson learned to quell his lust, but it didn't have any lasting effects. Every day his need for her grew stronger and somehow he managed to get it under control long enough to get through the workday. It was at night with her in his arms when he felt the most tortured as sleep escaped him until the wee hours of the morning. He told himself it was because he had abstained from holding her that made him feel like this. If he could just taste her sweet nectar again, he could endure a little longer. He was akin to a junky anticipating his next fix or, in Yashiro's words, a starving man refusing to eat even though a banquet lays before him for his consumption.
Kyoko returned the kiss hungrily, longing for his touch just as much as he, but they didn't have time this morning. Kyoko feared that once they went down that path she would be unable to leave him to meet up with her friends. With great reluctance, she pulled away from him.
"We can't. Not now, or I'll be late, then Moko will be angry."
"I'm sure Kotonami-san will understand the circumstances," he replied, leaning in to kiss her again.
"Eat, buster," she commanded, holding a piece of sausage to his lips. He opened his mouth and closed his sensual lips over the meat on her chopsticks. Kuon smirked when Kyoko stared at his mouth with a deep blush.
Once again their attention turned towards the TV, when the familiar music of the American artist, Beastie Boys' song Brass Monkey filled the apartment. As they suspected, the video of Ren running through the parkour course at the Funkee Monkee gym was displayed on the television. The guys he worked with at the gym held or wore Go Pros once Ren got the hang of the stunts pulled on the course, putting together this compilation of the "Beast's" best tricks. Oki had asked Yashiro for permission to post this edited version on their website. The manager consulted the PR department before authorizing them. Ren had kindly posted the picture taken with the crew on their shared media page, thanking them for their patience and professionalism.
"LME has confirmed that the video posted yesterday on Funkee Monkee's website was indeed actual footage of Tsuruga-san training for a future role. The video received thousands of hits and twice as many shares. Many people were convinced that Tsuruga-san had a very realistic-looking stunt double pulling off these maneuvers. Surely Tsuruga-san wouldn't put himself in such a precarious position by performing death-defying stunts. The footage of him following some professional runners leaping across rooftops left fans fearing for his safety. Fans speculated that this was connected to the photo the couple posted days earlier. We received word that there is a press conference regarding the new drama, Ryu, where Tsuruga-san has been cast as the male lead. Perhaps we will get more insight into the hints he's been dropping in the recent photos"
Kuon bowed his head as he concentrated on stuffing his face with food. He had shared his experience with her at the gym that same night and couldn't imagine the level of danger until he showed her the video a day later. She wasn't happy about it, but as a fellow actress, she understood his need to perform his stunts. It still vexed her to no end that he did something so dangerous. At least on set, there were safety harnesses and crash pads to keep from serious injury; he had none of that there.
Kyoko clucked her tongue at the news but said nothing more. She already voiced her fears regarding the situation and left it at that. It moved on to report on other entertainment news as they continued to eat and chat about the evening they had planned.
...
Kyoko had parted ways with Ren when she stepped off the elevator on the LoveMe floor and made her way down the hall. Her low heels clacked against the tile floor, making the place sound eerily quiet. It was a Sunday, only a skeleton crew was working today. They decided to meet at the office since it was centrally located near their homes. From there, they could head out together. She smiled when she heard her friends talking as she neared the room.
"Mo! Will she be okay wearing these? Won't she break her neck if she tries to walk?"
"That's the price of fashion, unfortunately."
Kyoko opened the door curiously, wondering what her friends were talking about.
"Moko-saaaaannnn," Kyoko screeched as she came barreling into the room. Kanae faltered and fell flat on her ass from surprise, making Kyoko pause mid-attack.
Chiori burst into a fit of laughter, ended up losing her balance and collapsing in an ungraceful heap next to Kanae.
"Ha! Serves you right," Kanae mocked while Chiori groaned in pain, rubbing her bruised backside.
"What are you guys doing?" Kyoko asked, curiously. Normally, they weren't this clumsy. She reached out an arm to each friend and hoisted them to their feet.
"Mo, I blame this all on you! Why do you have to be so loud?" Kanae scolded as she tried to stay on her feet.
"What are you guys wearing?" Kyoko asked astonishedly and eyed the sky-high black strappy heels the girls were wearing. They hobbled to the sofa using her for stability.
Kanae's feet were, unfortunately, bigger than Kyoko's. Her toes pinched inside them, making it painful to walk. Chiori's feet were smaller and slipped out the back of the shoes with each step.
"These are yours," Kanae answered, propping one foot on her opposite knee so she could unbuckle the straps from the heels and nodding towards the box on the table. Chiori was removing the same pair of heels but with studs on them.
Kyoko approached the table where a white paper sat next to the box. "We got curious. I hope you don't mind. It's not every day we get to wear R'Mandy shoes. These babies go for thousands in the store. I can't fathom anyone paying good money for something so uncomfortable."
Kyoko picked up the handwritten note: My darling Kyoko-chan, please get used to wearing these. Use the included inserts and tape to make them as comfortable as you can. Contact me right away if they are not the right size. Hugs and Kisses, Fuji!
"Eh? Get used to them? Does this mean I would have to wear them in LA?" Kyoko asked the girls.
"It appears so," Kanae said holding the shoes out to her. "Here try them on. Today seems like the best time to start."
"You're kidding, right? I can't be expected to walk around Ginza in these shoes. I would be as slow as a turtle."
"You have a point. Okay, how about baby steps? We'll pick a dress to go with them for tonight. Try them on. We'll help you figure out the inserts."
Kyoko looked at the suede platform heels Kanae handed to her, it had to be at least 15 cm tall. Fuji-San wants me to wear these all day!
She sat down and removed the shoes she was wearing. She folded up her skinny jeans to make space for the ankle straps. Once she had them on she stood but didn't wobble. She had practiced wearing tall heels as Setsuka the problem was prolonged wear. She adjusted her posture and walked the length of the room without any problems.
"God, I hate you," Chiroi grumbled. "How do you make it look so easy?"
"Setsuka is a fan of heels," Kyoko explained. "My problem is wearing them for too long. My feet would scream if I had to go hours at this steep angle."
"Mo, then add some of these cushions then let's get going," Kanae ordered. They spent fifteen minutes attaching sticky cushions and tape to both pairs until Kyoko's feet felt comfortable.
"Before we go put this on!" Kanae said, pulling out a long chestnut-colored wig and hair cap from her locker. It reminded Kyoko of the color she used to dye her hair. She arranged her hair in the cap and placed the wig on her head.
"Why aren't you guys wearing any disguises?"
"This girl, does she have to rub it in our faces that we aren't popular?" Chiori huffed, writing vigorously in her notebook.
"Aiiiii! I'm very sorry! Please don't curse me, Chiori-san. I didn't mean it like that at all," Kyoko exclaimed, bowing repeatedly.
Chiori laughed, "You're messing up your wig. I was just giving you a hard time. Friends tease each other, Kyoko-san. I've learned that as a regular on the variety show. Taichirou-san is always making fun of me."
Kyoko and Kanae gave each other knowing looks. Once they were ready, they headed down to the parking garage. Kanae said a car waited to take them around today. Kyoko was surprised to find her father's driver waiting for them downstairs.
"Didn't he tell you? He thought it would be a nice distraction, and we were overdue for some girl time anyway. Who was I to refuse a free spa day," Kanae commented with a flick of her hair.
...
The girl's hit the boutiques looking for outfits to wear to dinner tonight first. They thought it was best to get that out of the way and then move on to more leisure shopping. While Kyoko and Kane tried on dresses, Chiori went around the store, pulling out dresses for her friends to try. The dresses ranged from over-the-top ridiculous to outrageously sexy. Kyoko felt like a hostess with a flat chest in a skin-tight red dress that was baggy in the bosom. She would never wear such a thing, but they were having fun modeling the outfits. When Kyoko stepped out, Chiori was ready with her phone to snap pictures.
"Chiroi-san, how could you? That better not end up on the internet!" Kyoko scolded. "Please delete it."
"I wouldn't post this. These are our memories for today."
"Are you really not going to try any dresses on?" Kyoko questioned, worried that her friend wasn't enjoying herself.
"No point. I'm not going out to dinner with you guys."
"You're more than welcome to come with us. You know that?" Kanae frowned, emerging in the same dress Kyoko was wearing but in a deep green color that hugged her body in all the right places. Next to each other, they looked like they were attending a Christmas party.
"No thanks, I'd rather not be a fifth wheel," Chiori grumbled.
Kyoko felt terrible. She didn't like Chiori feeling left out just because she was single.
"What if you invited what's his name, Taichirou-san? Would that be better?" Kanae teased.
"What, no! He'll only find it a nuisance!" Chiori denied with a blush.
"It's just dinner. He's a guy. I'm sure he likes to eat," Kyoko supplied, trying to convince her friend to come along.
"You have his contact information, right," Kanae asked, snatching the phone out of Chiori's hand and scrolling rapidly through her contacts. "Oh look, 'Taichirou-senpai' texted you recently. How convenient?" Kanae teased while Kyoko blocked Chiori from interrupting her.
"Here, text him!" Kanae said, handing Chiori back the phone.
"The worst he can say is no, or would you prefer someone like Kijima-san?" Kanae asked, remembering how well they got along at the nightclub.
"Ugh, no. He's fun to dance with but to sit through a whole dinner trying to make conversation with him…" Chiori shook her head at the thought. "No, I don't think I can handle his one-liners."
"What about someone like Hiromune Koga-san? I'm sure if I asked him he would come out," Kyoko offered hopefully.
"You girls sound like my mother. Always trying to hook me up with random men."
"Eh? Your mother is like that?" Kyoko asked, wondering if that was how mothers behaved.
"I guess there really are some mothers like that, but it's surprising that yours is, given your per-" Kanae cut off her sentence.
"Thanks to my time in the LoveMe section, I was able to repair my relationship with my mother. It was a bit strained for a time when I was so frustrated with my lack of progress. Now that we're back to good she's the typical mother. I'm glad I met you two," Chiori confessed.
Kyoko sniffled, moved by Chiori's words, but Kanae refused to be deterred from the task at hand.
"Don't change the subject. Text him, or we'll have Yuki or Tsuruga-san find you a date. It will be a blind date if you don't do it."
"Fine! So bossy!" Chiori conceded and tapped out a message. She received an instant response making her eyes open wide in surprise.
"What did he say?" Kyoko asked as they closed around her phone.
Who? Where? When?
Chiori typed out the details he had asked for and hit the send button.
Pass!
All three girls' hearts dropped at his response, but her phone buzzed again.
If it's just you, I'm willing to meet up.
Kyoko squealed with excitement. Although their original intentions wouldn't be me, they urged Chiori to agree. Kyoko and Kanae left Chiori as she figured out the details of her "date" and cased the store for a dress for their friend.
After a successful shopping spree, all three girls walked away with new dresses and accessories for the night. They purchased refreshing drinks from a nearby café then headed to their appointments at the posh spa in one of Tokyo's prestigious hotels.
"Father? Why are you here?" Kyoko asked, giving her father a quick hug when she saw him in the lobby. Tadashi smiled and greeted the girls. They looked like they were having a good time to him. His daughter's amber eyes shone with happiness, enjoying the time off with her friends.
"I just wanted to make sure you girls were well taken care of here. Mya-chan gave me a list of details to follow to make your time most enjoyable."
"You didn't have to do that. This is more than enough. Thank you so much, father!" Kyoko smiled.
"Yes, thank you, Morimoto-san," Kanae and Chiori said in unison with a bow.
"You're most welcome, ladies," Tadashi nodded to the girls.
Tadashi turned to the manager waiting for him. "This is my daughter and her friends. Please take care of them."
"Of course, sir!" The manager bowed stiffly. Her father had been polite, but Kyoko heard the or else in his tone that made the manager tremble.
"I'll leave you, girls, to it. I'll see you tomorrow, sweetie," he told Kyoko with a quick kiss on her forehead.
"Please follow me, ladies. We have tea and a luncheon prepared for you in our VVIP room." The manager informed them, guiding them through the spa. The girls stared at the spacious room in wonder as they looked out the large windows giving them a breathtaking view of the Tokyo Skyline. It didn't take them long to realize that this private area of the spa was for the elite of the elite and probably cost a bundle. The place was compartmentalized into sections between the salon, massage parlor, and indoor onsen. She handed them each a menu of the services they provided. The girls had six hours dedicated to getting pampered today. They took their seats at the little sitting area by the window while small servings of salad, salmon, caviar, dainty sandwiches, tea, desserts, and much more were carted in from the hotel's five-star restaurant.
"If there's anything you would like to eat, please let us know. We take pride in accommodating our VVIP," The manager relayed before leaving them with a menu of the services offered.
The girls had been acting properly the whole time the manager was with them, but as soon as she closed the door, they exploded with rapture.
"Oh my God! I can't believe this place!" Chiori exclaimed, running to look at the view.
"I know! Everything looks so expensive. I don't even want to sit on this white leather. I might make it dirty," Kyoko cried, spinning in circles.
"If we don't enjoy this, your father's generosity will go to waste," Kanae gushed, sampling the salmon and looking over the menus. "Hurry up and eat so we can get started."
While they nibbled on everything, the girls decided on the package called the Nourishing Journey, according to the menu. It began with a body scrub and wrap, then a nourishing massage ritual, followed by a facial. Once they had their fill, they rested their bellies before contacting the manager to start their regiment.
Kyoko giggled as they lay there like mummies after the technicians left the room while they "incubated." She had never experienced such a thing before.
"Why did I agree to this? I feel claustrophobic right now," Kanae moaned.
"I have an itch on my face," Chiori wailed, scrunching her face to relieve it.
"We have to lay here for another half hour," Kyoko chirped merrily, enjoying every moment. There was no clock in the room, only the soft sounds of relaxing music and the smell of aroma therapy candles burning. Both of her friends groaned.
"Since we have time, let's catch up. I want to know if you and Tsuruga-san have done it yet," Chiori chimed in mischievously.
"Chiori-san, what if someone hears you?" Kyoko scolded. She had removed her wig before they began; if the staff recognized her, she wouldn't know. They were professional enough to look indifferent.
"Is that a yes or a no?" Chiori asked in a loud whisper.
"No! We haven't done it!"
"Really?!" both girls cried out in horror.
Kyoko blushed deeply.
"I knew it! He's impotent! That's why he never had a girlfriend before!" Kanae concluded, making Chiori cackle.
"He is not!" Kyoko exclaimed, defending her boyfriend. "He's j-just pure-hearted!"
"What?" Kanae snorted, and Chiori's laughter intensified.
Kyoko went into a tirade of all the reasons why they haven't taken their physical relationship to the next level. The promise of a fairytale wedding and a magical night.
"So all I have heard from you are his reasons and what he wants. What do you want?" Chiori asked curiously.
"I want?" Kyoko replied then went quiet as she thought about it. I always wanted to respect his wishes, but I never thought about what I really wanted.
"Yes, what do you want? Do you want to wait? He's more surprising than I thought, but do you really want to wait until marriage? Do you plan on marrying at such a young age? You're just getting started as an actress?" Kanae asked, turning to look over at her friend.
"That's easy. I would marry him if he asked, and I'll still pursue my career in acting. I guess that…" As she continued talking, the past few days floated in her mind. He had been a little distant physically. Whenever she tried to touch him more intimately, he would come up with the excuse that it wasn't fair if he couldn't return the favor. Her menstruating had never stopped him from receiving pleasure before, so she wondered what could be bothering him. He did act more like his usual self this morning. She could just be worrying over nothing, yet Kyoko couldn't shake the thought from her mind, I want him.
Kyoko found herself asking the most absurd question she could ever think of out loud, but curiosity got the best of her, "How do I get him to not stop?"
Kanae and Chiori whipped their heads toward Kyoko to see if they heard her correctly. Their sweet innocent Kyoko had seriously just asked that question. If Kyoko wasn't bundled up, she would have covered her red face from asking such a bold question.
"You're serious, aren't you?" Chiori asked.
Kyoko nodded, avoiding eye contact with her friends. She was at her limit and knew he had to be as well. She didn't know how to convince him that this was what she wanted of her own volition. When neither girl spoke, Kyoko turned towards them and held Kanae's eyes.
Kanae's face naturally blushed. Of course, she would look at me. She knows I slept with Yuki!
Chiori followed Kyoko's gaze as it held Kanae's before it clicked into place. "Kanae-san, did you and Yashiro-san sleep with each other already?" Kanae's face bloomed a deeper shade of red, making Chiori snigger.
"Best girl date ever!" Chiori declared. "Tell us everything!"
"There's nothing to tell!" Kanae countered, but Kyoko's begging eyes made her bite her lower lip.
"We had a connection, okay, and our mutual feelings led to it. I don't regret it for a second. He made me feel loved and cherished, which I'm sure Tsuruga-san would do the same. It's up to you, Kyoko. You need to tell him exactly how you feel, or he will never know. He's the king of cluelessness when it comes to you! How long did you guys dance around each other until you both finally admitted your feelings….too long, that's how long."
Kyoko laid her head back on the lounger, mulling over Kanae's words, lost in her thoughts. It wasn't too long later that the technicians returned to continue their treatment. After three-plus hours of nourishing therapy, the girls spent some time in the onsen that overlooked Tokyo. Afterward, they moved on to get their hair, makeup, and nails done. When they left the spa, they were completely relaxed and looked like they stepped out of a magazine. Passing by a lingerie boutique in the shopping area of the hotel made Kanae stop. She had an idea. Kanae grabbed Kyoko by the hand and pulled her inside the shop.
Meanwhile, back at LME, Kijima strolled up to the trainer working the front desk of the LME gym to sign in and check out a basketball. Looking up, he caught sight of Ren and Yashiro working out in the weight room. It was his first time seeing them here on a Sunday. A quick scan of the sign-in sheet showed him they had been here for hours.
"What have those two been doing here?" he asked the trainer, nodding toward the lonely pair in the room.
"They said they were killing time until they had to meet their girlfriends. Lucky SOBs!"
"Girlfriends? Yashiro-san is dating someone too?"
"You didn't hear? People have been gossiping. They've been spotted a few times around the office together. She's an actress here, the cool ice beauty, Kotonami-san."
Kijima let out a low whistle. He remembered them being close that night at the club but didn't think much of it. It was interesting that they were an item now.
"How long have they been in that room?" Kijima asked before barging in on them. He liked that the gym wasn't as busy on Sundays; it allowed him free rein on the courts.
"It's been over an hour. I understand Tsuruga-san, but I can't believe his manager can keep up with him too. Before they went in there, they swam laps in the pool. Before that, they were sparring on the mats. Did you know that Yashiro has a black belt in karate? I forget his rank, but he seemed pretty skilled."
"Wow, I learned something new. I guess that's why he was able to protect them during that Morizumi incident. Thanks for this, man," Kijima said, picking up the ball and heading toward the weight room.
"Yo, Kijima, are we gonna play?" A guy shouted from across the room. Kijima held up his hand to give him five minutes and ducked into the weight room.
Ren spotted Yashiro as he pushed the barbell away from his chest, then brought it back down. He did a set of eight reps and then placed it on the rack.
"Hey, you guys want to play some two on two," Kijima asked, approaching the duo while twirling the basketball on his index finger.
"Hey, Kijima-san, long time no see," Ren greeted, taking his place on the bench and performing the same exercise as Yashiro with a little more weight added.
"I don't know much about basketball. I might not be any good," Yashiro admitted. He had never been one for team sports.
"It's simple. You bounce the ball like so." Kijima demonstrated dribbling the ball on the floor a few times and then raised the ball over his head to mimic a shot to the hoop. "Then just try to get it in the basket."
When Ren finished his set, he sat up from the bench to catch his breath. "I don't know the rules either, but I don't mind trying. What about you, Yukihito?" Ren asked, turning to his friend.
Yashiro let an audible groan. Just how much steam did this guy need to blow off today? He might seriously injure himself if he didn't pace himself. How frustrated could the guy be?
"Well, we still have several hours before dinner, so why not." Yashiro thought about the countless other things he could be doing at home right now. Who was he kidding? All he would be doing was working on his rest day. At least, that's what he would have done before, but now that he had Kanae, he wasn't so sure.
It came as no surprise to anyone on the court that Ren was a bona fide natural athlete. For not playing the game, Ren and Yashiro gave Kijima and his friend a run for their money; however, Ren's height and long reach were no match for Kijima's skill. The other actor seemed at home on the court with his ability to shoot the ball accurately. A few patrons in the gym had stopped to watch their game, cheering on both teams. The game ended in a tie when Ren stuffed Kijima's attempt at the last second. Kijima's timer went off on his phone, marking the end of the game.
Ren laid down on the cool floor, heaving from exhaustion. He was officially spent and could do no more after this. Kijima threw a clean towel on him, which Ren accepted gratefully. He sat up to dry the sweat from his neck and arms since, like usual, his face was completely devoid of sweat. The guys hit the mini café in the gym for a meal replacement shake.
This definitely counts as a proper meal, no? Ren thought as he drank his peanut butter and chocolate protein shake.
"That was a fun game. We should do it again sometime," Kijima quipped with a wide grin. "Next time I'll definitely win."
"Where did you learn to play so well, Kijima-san?" Yashiro asked, drinking his nourishment. He admired the guy's skill. He managed to hang with Ren's height and tenacity.
"I was captain of my basketball club in high school. Surprising, right? I'm not cut out for conventional exercise. I just run and play basketball to try to stay in shape."
The men sat and talked for a few more minutes before heading to the locker room. Ren picked up his bag and told Yashiro he would see him later. He couldn't exactly get naked in front of these guys since he was overdue for some much-needed 'manscaping' below the belt.
…
Lory smiled mischievously as a new mail notification popped up on the website he was perusing. He typed out a quick post under the picture his LoveMe girls had just added to Chiori's page.
It looks like Morimoto-san spared no expense in pampering the girls today, he thought, looking at the luxurious space around them. He closed the site down and opened the email. He clicked through the contents and played the video as a broad smile spread across his face. He knew a few people that would appreciate the pictures and video Ruto had captured in the gym today. It was fate that Lory had forgotten to bring home the files he needed to prepare for his meeting tomorrow. Of course, when Ruto had informed the president that he had spotted Ren, Lory became curious and instructed his right-hand man to report his actions. He was glad he did so; otherwise, he would have missed something wonderful.
"Is that Ren-sama?" Maria asked, startling her grandfather out of his thoughts. Lory had not heard his granddaughter enter his study. He pushed back on his chair so she could sit on his lap and clicked through the files again.
"He looks like he's having a lot of fun."
"He does indeed," Lory responded, contemplating the changes that had overcome him since Kyoko came into his life. He was ready. Kuu had called him whining about how his son still didn't want to come home even though he received lucrative offers to act in America. Lory was tempted to spill the beans. Their prodigal son was coming home. Somehow, he managed to keep that to himself as he let his friend vent to his heart's content.
Notes:
Thanks for always reading. Nothing but fan service here, having the boys play basketball. *drool emoji* I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 101: Great Friends, Good Food!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, best-friend dates are a must!
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Once Ren entered their apartment, Ren pulled off his sweaty shirt and bee-lined it to the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge. He flopped to the floor, leaning against the foot of the couch, sipping his beer and browsing his phone. He went to their media page to catch up on the latest gossip. He was never one for these sites, but since it allowed him to show off Kyoko on his terms, he was on board with posting updates.
He smiled and clicked quickly on the new post Kyoko was tagged in by her close friend. I'm glad she's having fun. He tapped to the next picture and let out a low whistle. How did Tadashi-san find this place? I'll have to ask him so she can enjoy it again.
As he read over the many comments on the image, an email popped up on his screen from the head of security, inorming him that the reporter had returned. It was clear that he was indeed following Ren but continued to make sure all their residents were aware of the issue since many of them were high profilers. Any good scoop could be newsworthy.
He turned his attention to his email, ignoring those concerning work, and found one of personal interest. His expression softened as he read the note and opened the attachment. A melancholy expression briefly crossed his face before a serene smile replaced it. Kyoko is going to love this when they're done. He could imagine her expression clearly; it would definitely bring tears to her eyes. I should make sure I have a handkerchief on me. He typed out a lengthy response before hitting the send button.
Eh? A new mail popped up from their manager marked important. He immediately clicked on the message: I finally finished editing this. Thanks to Morimoto-san, I was able to make this happen. I think I have a knack for this kind of thing. I hope you both enjoy it!
Ren opened the attachment, wondering what it was when a video popped open. His breath caught in his throat as it began to play with the guitar intro to Kyoko's song. It focused on her as she started singing, but cut to him, capturing the emotion they both felt at the time. It was obvious Yashiro spliced two videos to get the different points of view. The other view had to be taken by father-in-law.
Along with the footage in the studio, perfectly timed images of them panned into the frame. Some of the photos were from long before they started dating.
Was I always so damn obvious?
Ren paused the video to replay the last few seconds over. When he got to the spot he wanted, he pressed pause.
This picture! How did he get this!? This was after my Katsuki test with Boss! The still image showed him kissing her corn stone, but Ren focused on her expression. The moment he closed his eyes to kiss her stone, he had missed the loving regard displayed on her face.
Why didn't he show me this? He didn't know whether to thank Yashiro or be creeped out by him for spying on them. Ren would have to ask his manager for copies of these pictures. He resumed the video and watched it all the way through. For an amateur, he thought the video was well done. Now it left him wanting more than ever. He played it again.
Eventually, he began the meticulous task of grooming himself for the night. Satisfied with his handy work, he stepped into the large shower and turned on the water. Ren shuddered and clenched his jaw as the icy water washed over his warm skin. He resumed his cold shower ritual the night he came home to find Kyoko laying on the couch. It helped that she refused to shower with him when she was on her period; otherwise, she would have scolded him for using cold water. It didn't matter to her that some quick internet research proved cold showers were highly beneficial to the human body. Ren didn't care about any of that he just needed to refocus and get his libido under control.
After taking a long invigorating shower, he spent the next half hour standing in his closet with his towel wrapped around his hips, figuring out what to wear. Ren had so much to wear yet nothing at all.
I should have gone shopping!
His closet was chock-full of designer clothes and shoes, embarrassingly, most with tags still attached. Most of them were given to him for free. It was weird how the more money he made, the less he had to spend since many things were gifted to him from modeling projects or endorsing products. Tonight would be their first time out in public together as "themselves." They often flew under the radar as Ella and Kuon when they wanted to go out. He wanted to look polished for her, but still his age.
He rummaged through his closet before settling on a pair of hunter-green slim chino pants that still had the tags on. He threw the pants over his shoulder and searched through his shirts until he found a dark blue cotton blend button-up to wear with them and got dressed. Since they were going to an upscale restaurant, he slipped on a navy tweed blazer and shrugged his feet into a pair of black Italian leather ankle boots. He lingured on his image in the mirror before tugging his shirt out of his waistband for a more youthful appearance. Much better!
...
The restaurant in Roppongi didn't have a designated parking lot. Ren had to circle the blocks until he came upon a "pay to park" lot. He handed the parking attendant two, one-thousand yen, bills to cover his space until midnight after the lot's gates were secured for the night. Ren didn't think they would be out that late since Kyoko had school the next day. He got out of his car and buttoned up his blazer.
A peek at his watch, Rick's watch, to check the time told him he had a good fifteen minutes to spare. He walked to the passenger side of his car and picked up the bouquet before making the trek to the restaurant a few blocks down the street. He checked the area around him, wondering if the paparazzi camping outside his home had secretly followed him. Ren assumed he was in the clear since the man wasn't in front of the gates when he left. Hopefully, he found some other prey to chase for the night.
Walking down the street, Ren nodded politely at the gaping mouths and wide eyes of passersby that recognized him. Up ahead, he noticed a large crowd gathering outside a venue so he crossed the street to avoid any unwanted attention. He didn't want to get tangled up in whatever was happening over there. He crossed back over when the restaurant came in to view and spotted Yashiro standing out front. At least he thought it was Yashiro since the man holding a similar bouquet under his arm was wearing surgical gloves while handling his phone. His manager had taken on a more casual appearance tonight, wearing gray jeans, a white button-up shirt under a maroon V-neck sweater, and a navy pin-striped jacket with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Ren had to chuckle at the pair of them as he walked up to join his friend. It was hard to believe they were here for a double date and not work.
"Mo, don't cry! I know your makeup is waterproof, but your face will become all blotchy and your eyes will be red." Yuki, you baka! Why the hell did you send this today? Kanae seethed internally.
Kyoko had turned on her phone once they settled into the car and found the pending email notification. Finding the attachment to be a video, the girls crowded around her to watch.
"Wow," was all Chiori could muster as she handed her friend tissues to dab at the tears forming. I thought that only happened in movies.
"How are you two not sleeping with each other yet?" Chiori asked Kyoko, her question completely serious. It had to be awkward to be any of those guys in that studio at the time.
"I told you, he..."
"Yes, we got that. I think that will all change tonight."
"What do you mean? How do I get him to...you know?"
"Mo! We told you already. You don't have to do anything, just be yourself. Everything else will follow naturally. If you get stumped talk and be honest with him. I think it will be more than enough, especially when he sees wants under your dress." Kanae and Chiori laughed at her expense.
Kyoko pouted. She chewed on her bottom lip to keep from asking more questions. She didn't want them to continue teasing Ren or her.
Kanae's pupils dilated as a thought occurred to her. "Excuse me, sir, could you please stop at the nearest convenience store?" Kanae told her friends to stay in the car stating that she forgot something. She came back carrying breath mints and handed them out. They dropped Chiori off at the meet-up location for her date. Kanae wished her luck and pressed something into her palm before they departed, ignoring her friend's bewildered expression.
...
"Mo! Will you stop fidgeting? You look gorgeous!" Kanae scolded Kyoko as they walked the short distance to the restaurant. The street had become congested with traffic as they neared the location so they decided to walk the rest of the way, carrying their shopping bags and thanking the driver.
"See, even those men think you're stunning. Let's pick up the pace before they get some dim-witted ideas!" Kanae commented as they ignored the catcalls and whistles directed their way.
Kyoko did her best to lengthen her stride while wearing the suede ankle-breaking heels Fuji had gifted her. They weren't uncomfortable, not with all the padding they put inside, but she did have to work to maintain her balance.
Kyoko continued to make small talk with Kanae when she was suddenly yanked back by the wrist. She would have toppled over if strong arms didn't encircle her to keep her from falling. It took her a millisecond to realize she was safe and in the arms of her boyfriend. She buried her face against him and inhaled his familiar scent mixed with cologne. Thank god I didn't fall! The night would have been ruined if I seriously injured myself.
"Do you gentlemen have a death wish tonight? Don't ever fucking touch what's mine again," Ren threatened, his voice laced with malice as Kuon came to the forefront.
"Hey, man, we're cool," the guy held up his hands in surrender and backed off. "She looked like she was losing her balance. I just tried to help."
Ren growled, taking as much of an intimidating step toward the men as he could, while holding her in his arms. He saw the guy grab her to get her attention. If Ren wasn't so focused on her, he would have been too late to catch her. There was no telling what he would have done to the guy if she got hurt.
"Dude, let's get the fuck outta here. We didn't mean any trouble," his friend said, dragging the guy away.
"That was fucking Tsuruga Ren, you fucking idiot! A-K-A Cain Heel! A-K-A Black Jack! You're lucky to be alive!" His friend informed him frantically as they walked away.
"No way!" The guy that grabbed her exclaimed. He glanced over his shoulder and felt chills run down his spine. The actor was still looking at them as if memorizing their faces for later. Shit!
Ren clenched his jaw with suppressed anger as he watched the assholes flee. The upside to being tall was he could see above everyone else. He had spotted the girls walking toward them down the street so he and Yashiro decided to head them off. They were walking behind a couple of guys when their male bravado was directed toward their girlfriends coming up on them. Ren moved to say something to the men, but Yashiro held him back shaking his head. Kyoko and Kanae were too focused on their conversation to notice the leering men. Ren saw one of the guys reach out a hand for Kyoko, making her stumble. Good thing he had her in his arms before she could hit the ground.
"Mmmm, you smell good," Kyoko whispered into the crook of his neck. The height of her heels gave her easy access to his neck. Ren's anger dissipated as his whole body lit up from the warm woman in his arms and her soft lips pressed against his skin. He hugged her closer and rubbed her back with his free hand.
"Baby, as much as I love you in my arms right now, may I remind you that we are in the middle of the street," his sexy voice purred into her ear, making her shiver.
"Oh!" Kyoko squeaked, moving back from him. Her flushed face made Ren smirk.
He smiled warmly as his eyes swept over her appreciatively. "You look beautiful tonight. No wonder those men couldn't control themselves." She looked ravishing in a teal mini-dress. It had a low yet tasteful scalloped neckline with the same detail on her fluttering sleeves. The dress cinched at her waist with a little bow, almost like a package. The hem of her dress stopped just short of mid-thigh and showed off her muscular legs encased in sheer black hose. He noted her high heels that allowed her to stand about 175 centimeters to his towering 190. Her makeup was neutral with golden hues and shimmering highlights, making her amber eyes pop beneath full curled lashes. The only adornments she wore were Princess Rosa, the charm bracelet he had gifted her, the new glass slipper on it glittering under the street lamp, and a pair of peacock feather earrings.
Kyoko's face bloomed red as his heated gaze roamed over her body. He always managed to make her feel like she wasn't wearing any clothes as his penetrating eyes devoured her.
The clearing sound of Yashiro's throat broke through Ren's perusal of the gorgeous woman in front of him. He was once again in trouble. Kanae gave Kyoko a knowing wink before turning to walk with Yashiro.
Kyoko giggled. So this is what they were talking about. Her boyfriend's reaction to her appearance was all she hoped for and more.
"What's so funny?" He asked, grasping her free hand and kissing the back of it.
Kyoko shook her head and replied shyly, "It's between girlfriends."
The conversation with Yashiro about how women talk floated through his mind. This was probably one of those instances he mentioned. Ren nodded, letting her keep her secrets.
"I see...these are for you. I'll trade with you," Ren offered, reaching for the bags and handing over the small bouquet. She lifted her face to kiss his cheek in thanks then inhaled her flowers. This particular bouquet had fuchsia-hued daisies, lavender roses, and pink lilies of the flowers she could readily identify. It was beautiful.
She squeezed his hand as they walked behind their friends and said, "You look very handsome tonight. Is that a new outfit? Wait! Let me help," she offered. Kyoko stopped him and buttoned up two of the remaining top three buttons of his shirt. It irked her that he liked to walk around with his shirt undone so anyone and everyone could get a glimpse of what was hers.
"It's something I threw together," Ren answered, then pursed his lips together to keep from laughing. He knew when he got dressed that those buttons would annoy her. He purposely left them undone to see what she would do. She also didn't need to know how he rifled through his closet believing he had nothing to wear like a spoiled teenage girl. "Did you have a good time today?" He asked as they resumed walking.
"Yes! I had a lot of fun. What about you? I'm sorry I couldn't spend the day with you."
"Don't worry about me. I had a very productive day getting my SWOL on," he replied with an impish grin and a flex of his bicep.
"SWOL?"
"I'll tell you more once we're settled," he chuckled, pulling the restaurant door open for her. The smell of delicious food wafted toward them, making her stomach growl. Thank goodness the restaurant was lively enough that it drowned out the embarrassing sound.
Since the place was more business casual, the men handed their jackets to the excited hostess to check along with their shopping bags. When everything was settled, the hostess escorted them to their reserved room in the back corner of the restaurant. They were greeted by a man who was both the owner and head chef of the restaurant standing on the other side of the grill. The men let the ladies sit directly in front of the chef while they took the outside seats. Kyoko had never sat in front of a teppanyaki grill before while a chef of his caliber cooked the food right in front of her so this was a new and amazing experience. After a short discussion with everyone, it was decided that they would let the chef have creative reign over the meal he would serve them tonight. Kyoko watched with rapt attention as the chef went through the motions of grilling seafood, vegetables, rice, and portions of Kobe beef and chicken. He put on a little show to display his cooking skills but nothing to the extreme that was seen overseas to entertain guests at similar establishments. They all ate a little of the different dishes as the chef served them and continued to another ingredient.
When the final dish was served, the chef excused himself to give them time to enjoy themselves together. Kyoko moaned in contentment as the high-quality beef melted like butter in her mouth. It was perfectly cooked. They chatted about the meal as they ate then turned to topics about their day. The guys told them about their gym experience and playing basketball with Kijima.
"Please tell me someone captured the moment. I want to see it! Moko! You want to see it too, right?" Kyoko asked, nudging her friend in the ribs.
"Did you manage to score any points?" Kanae asked Yashiro with a devilish grin.
"For your information, I did manage to get a few points on the board. I'm pretty athletic if you haven't already noticed," Yashiro replied, satisfied that he could make Kanae blush.
"Mo, stop your nonsense!" Kanae scolded, making Kyoko giggle.
She glanced at Ren watching her in quiet contentment and her face heated up. What is he doing? Why is he looking at me like that?
"Did you enjoy playing the game?" she asked shyly while Yashiro and Kanae had a conversation of their own.
"I had fun," he replied not taking his eyes off her. He reached out a hand to cover hers and rubbed his thumb along her skin reveling in its smoothness. "How was your spa date?" he asked, admiring her cute manicured fingernails with intricate cherry blossom designs. How did they do that? It looks like a miniature work of art!
"It was amazing, right Moko?! The place was incredible!" Kyoko gushed, trying to shift the discussion to the group. "The indoor onsen was so relaxing. It had this wall of windows so you could look out at the city while you soaked."
"It took over three hours to go on a nourishing journey," Kanae sighed contentedly.
"Nourishing journey?" Yashiro inquired for more elaboration.
"It's what they called the package we decided to do. We had a full body wrap, facials, and my all-time favorite was the massage," Kyoko chirped, staring off into La La land as she recollected her amazing experience, just like an ojousama. She would have to thank her father again. I should make him something as a thank you gift.
Kanae groaned, "That massage was relaxing. I think Chiori-san even fell asleep." Kyoko nodded, agreeing that she heard her snoring softly next to her.
The chef returned to check on them and proposed dessert after they all said they were completely satisfied with the meal. He left again with the promise to return with dessert.
"Yashiro-san, thank you for the music video. I didn't know you had that kind of talent," Kyoko complimented their manager.
"Ah, so you've seen it. I'm glad you liked it. It did take me some time to get it just right. Ren, have you seen it?"
Ren nodded to his friend withholding eye contact. He didn't have to look at his friend to know his eyes dazzled with amusement. Some friend. Yashiro knew how Ren reacted that day and still decided to torture him with an encore. Ren was guilty of watching that video several times since he received it.
"Yashiro-san, could we get a copy of those pictures you had in the video?" Kyoko asked, embarrassed by the secret photos he had of them. She had no clue he was photographing them at the time. The candid shots really captured their emotions.
"Of course, I'll give you a thumb drive with them tomorrow," he beamed, excitedly.
"Thank you," Kyoko smiled at her manager and then at Ren. The Chef finally returned with two orders of Banana tempura and vanilla bean ice cream for each couple. Kyoko and Kanae ate most of the dish while the men hung back to let them enjoy themselves.
"I'll take care of the check," Ren told Yashiro as they headed to the front of the restaurant to retrieve their things while the ladies used the restroom. "You can get it next time."
Yashiro agreed, knowing there would always be a next time.
"Yukihito, do you mind if I post this?" Ren asked while they waited for the women to return.
"I have no problems with it," Yashiro replied, biting the inside of his cheek as Ren expertly navigated their combined social media page to post a picture from their dinner tonight.
Kanae and Kyoko weren't like average women. They went to the bathroom together because they both needed use it, not babble about needless things in private. They finished up their business and headed back out. Kanae wished they had the hindsight to bring their purses with them and not leave them with the men. It would have made what she had to do so much easier. She did, however, have to admit that both guys managed to keep their masculinity while holding their bags. At least hers was a gold clutch that matched her sleeveless metallic shift dress in gray with gold foil woven into the threads. It didn't faze Ren at all to stand there with a black sequined cat-face-shaped purse slung over his shoulder while he waited for his girlfriend.
As they parted ways, Kanae surprised Kyoko with a friendly hug. "Don't look at it now. Wait until you're alone when you get home," Kanae whispered into her ear. Kyoko's hand crinkled over whatever Kanae had just slipped into her dress pocket. Kyoko nodded blushing, and took Ren's hand to head in the opposite direction.
"Thank you for the wonderful dinner. I learned a few tricks watching the chef," she said as they walked.
"It was my pleasure. I like watching the excitement on your face when it comes to food. You make me almost want to eat better."
"Almost?"
"You have to admit, I'm doing better."
"Yes, you are," she agreed. "Otou-san would be so proud of you."
"I'll never reach that man's level," Ren shuddered. He almost wanted to revert to his old eating habits at the reminder of his father's black hole of a stomach.
Kyoko stopped and looked across the street at the small crowd gathering outside a building. A bar? She could hear music, English music, and singing carry over to where she was standing.
"Something wrong, Baby?" He saw her staring at the spot that had the large crowd earlier.
"I know this song," Kyoko said, humming the beat until she found the words. "Do you think it's a live band?" she asked excitedly.
"We can check it out. It's still early. Do you want to?" Ren asked, hoping to prolong the inevitable time at home.
"Do you mind?"
"Let's put this stuff in the car first. It's only a few more blocks."
After dropping off her bags, Ren and Kyoko were back at the spot in less than ten minutes. He asked the people gathered outside smoking who was playing.
"Holy shit," the guy coughed up his smoke. "You're Tsuruga fucking Ren and you...you're Kyo- Kyo-" he stammered, his attention on Kyoko.
"Don't mind him. He's a bumbling idiot. It's a closed show but the doorman should let you in if he's not stupid."
"Thanks!" Ren grabbed Kyoko's hand and headed down the steps carefully so she didn't fall in her heels.
The doorman gawked at them but held open the door with no questions asked. Kyoko smiled at him sweetly, turning the large stern man into a drooling puddle at the door. Once inside, Kyoko took the lead pulling Ren behind her. Memories of the past slowly floated through his mind. The place reminded him of the bar where Rick used to play. That place felt more like home in that last year than his parents' empty mansion. Not liking where his thoughts were going, he shook his head and concentrated on the dainty hand clasped around his and the dancing figure it belonged to. The lights flashing around her made her seem otherworldly as he was pulled under her spell.
Kyoko let the music wash over her, filling her with excitement. So this is what a live show is like. Shotaro had never invited her to any of his concerts and she couldn't afford tickets on her own back then. Being so short, she threaded through the crowd and headed toward the front of the stage to get a better view of the band. As she walked, she threw backward glances at Ren with a beaming smile on her face. This is the kind of crowd Rika would definitely play for, she thought, as she did a 270-degree sweep of the room. No one was paying any attention to them; all eyes were on the band.
Kyoko got sucked in with the music swaying to the beat. Ren pulled her back up against him and held her hips in his hands so they could move together. They stood like that for two more songs while Kyoko watched as the band played up the crowd and each other, making mental notes on how she would execute the live scene in her upcoming drama. The band's next song led the crowd into an uproar as they began to sing along. It was more upbeat so Ren had to let Kyoko go as her movements changed to match the song's tempo. He was able to follow along and get lost in the music with her.
Familiar with the song, Kyoko joined in the singing. "What are you… holding out for? What's always...in the way? Why so damn… absent-minded? Why so scared...of romance?...This modern love... breaks me, This modern love... wastes me!"
On cue with the song, Kyoko threw her arms around him and kissed him soundly on the mouth.
"Let's go home," she whispered into his ear. She didn't have to tell him twice. He was ready to have her to himself. Ren gripped her hand while they made their way out.
Outside, swaying in the cool breeze, Kyoko exclaimed. "That was so much fun! Thank you!"
"It was my pleasure," he beamed, his eyes stalking her every move.
Ren followed after her as she continued humming the last song and moving to the rhythm in her head. She rushed back to him and encircled his neck with her arms, his arms automatically wrapping around her waist. "I love you," she murmured against his lips and kissed him. He was done for. Ren returned her kiss eagerly, forgetting that they were in the middle of the sidewalk. When they finally broke from their mini make-out session, they walked with their hands entwined, taking their sweet time.
The night air was cool but it felt refreshing on her hot skin. Kyoko shivered, not from the cold, but from their time in the bar. She could feel his semi-erection pressing up against her as they danced until she thought they had both endured enough for the night.
They rode home in silence, fingers still interlaced. Now and again, Ren would lift her hand to kiss the back of it. When they got closer to the apartment, Kyoko scrambled to the back seat. As she crawled to the back, Ren made the mistake of glancing up into the rearview mirror. He swerved a bit off the road when he got an eyeful of supple flesh, lace, and garters peeking out from beneath her dress. Kyoko screamed in the back as she was thrown off balance.
"Sorry, sorry, there was something in the middle of the road," he lied to cover up his perverted thoughts. He adjusted the crotch of his pants which had just become unbelievably tight. "We're coming up to the gate." Kyoko slid down in the backseat and giggled as she hid.
Maybe, I should ask Tadashi-san to deal with this reporter.
Later, in the City of Angels
"Kuu, what are you doing?" Julie called from the other room.
"Jules, come and see. Our babies posted another picture." Julie was in his study in a flash.
"Awe, they look so adorable. They look happy, right Kuu? Our baby boy looks really happy!"
"He looks very happy, honey," Kuu assured, standing up and kissing his wife's tears away.
Julie laughed through her tears, "what are you wearing?" He had on a pair of white coveralls. He gave her a lopsided grin and plopped a white cap on his head.
"This is my uniform! I figured it was better after the disaster I made to my clothes last night. I'm ready to finish painting."
"Are you sure you have time for this?"
"I don't have to go in until this evening. I want to help you. I wasn't here to help decorate Kuon's nursery so I want to at least help you with her room."
"Do you think she'll really like it?"
"Are you kidding? What girl wouldn't love a woodland fairy-themed room? The decor is still tasteful and age-appropriate. I'm fully committed to hanging that canopy over the bed today."
"Are you sure you can do it?"
"Of course, let me just consult some instructional videos before I attempt it," He answered and sat back down at the computer. She knew he was only using that as an excuse to look at more pictures of the kids.
Julie giggled and walked out of the room, "Don't respond on their page with your account Kuu. The Japanese don't need you trolling their young stars."
"I know! I know!"
"You have ten minutes then I'm starting without you!"
"I'll be right there!" he replied, typing a cute little response to the picture labeled, Good food with great friends!
Notes:
Happy new year, dear readers! Wishing you all many blessings for 2023! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I thought I'd shamelessly add my fanart for this one. It is one of my better ones drawn two years ago :). Plot magic made Kyoko really tall in those heels XD.
The song at the end was "This Modern Love," by Bloc Party.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 102: Heavenly
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, lemonade for all you lovely SB fans.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kuon locked the door and set the alarm behind him, leaning his forehead against the cold door, afraid of the vision awaiting him in the living room. He closed his eyes. Behind his lids, he saw the immaculate flesh taunting him from beneath her dress. The scent of her fragrant hair as they gyrated against each other in that smoke-infused bar haunted him. The whole time pressed against her, he had recited his mantra, hoping to keep his dick in check. If she felt his semi-hard penis pressing against her, she didn't let it show unless he counted the fact that she ground her pert little ass against him most of the time. He wouldn't be surprised if she sported welt marks on her hips from where his fingers dug into her skin.
Kyoko was so beautiful and oh so fucking tempting tonight. How did he end up right back here in this moment of uncontrollable love? Thanks to the eyeful he received in the car, Kuon was now so fucking hard; it was painful. He would have ravaged her in the elevator if not for the glaring security camera blinking up at the top right corner.
The security in their building was top-notch, and discretion was their forte, but Kuon refused to subject her to a bunch of men's locker room banter.
You can do this, Kuon! Just like before, you'll survive.
He twisted his body, his head the last to follow as he leaned against the door, only to discover the room devoid of her extraordinary presence.
Kyoko had left Kuon at the door and carried her shoes into the guest room to regroup. To calm her racing heart, she methodically removed her jewelry and thought of a game plan to seduce her boyfriend. Admittedly, Kyoko had little experience with the art of seduction. Some nights she initiated their love play but could hardly classify her actions as seductive. Her limited skills comprised of one night she successfully put handcuffs on him.
The thought of tricking him again and having her way made her cringe.
I can wear the nightgown, though; entice him that way.
Having a starting point helped her calm down. She reached up behind her in an attempt to unzip the dress but failed miserably. No matter which way she twisted, the darn thing was stuck. Blowing wisps of hair out of her face in exasperation, she tried to think through this new obstacle. Nothing worked. Kyoko resigned to seek his help.
So far, this is starting off as a failure!
The pocket on her dress caught her attention as she glimpsed herself in the mirror. She stuck her hand inside, remembering Kanae had stuffed something in there earlier. Kyoko's jaw dropped in disbelief, shoving the contents back into her pocket.
Thank you, Moko! She lifted her eyes upward in silent prayer to her best friend's foresight.
Kuon heard her discarding jewelry in the walk-in closet as he neared the guest room. He smiled sardonically to himself and went into their bedroom. He took off his blazer and tossed it in the bin for dry cleaning. Walking into the bathroom, he washed his hands to remove his contacts.
He was relieved that things weren't progressing as expected and splashed cold water over his face in a vain attempt to cool himself off. Kuon dabbed a dry towel over his face and came to a sudden halt when her reflection caught his eye. She stood there, staring at him, still wearing her adorably sexy dress. Her reflection smiled at him making his heart skip. He turned off the water and hung up the towel before coming out.
"Corn, can you help me?" she asked, her sweet voice doing things to his body.
"Of course," he murmured with a small smile playing on his lips. Kyoko turned around and pulled her over as he walked up behind her.
Kuon took over, gathering the long wavy hair and pulling it over her shoulder. He couldn't resist placing a soft kiss on the newly exposed skin. A tremor ran through her body as his lips lingered on the back of her neck. He took his time pulling away, inhaling deeply of her fresh scent and groaning internally.
God, she smells so fucking good!
Despite his vain attempt to stay in control, his hand shook, as always, when he reached for her zipper and slowly slid it down her back. The dress gave way to reveal the back of her sheer bra, with floral lace embroidered over it and trimmed in black satin she wore beneath. It was so her and so sexy. He was eager to see it in its entirety.
It was a familiar end to their night. Kuon had helped remove her dress many times since they'd been living together. Tonight shouldn't be any different. He pulled the side of her dress down to work it over her shoulder and placed soft kisses on her bare skin. It had been days since he touched her, tasted her. Tonight, he would take his time savoring every inch of her until his craving was satisfied.
Kyoko turned her head to watch his lips skim around her shoulder and move in front to trace her exposed collarbone. The emperor's piercing gaze locked onto her molten eyes as his lips pressed softly to hers.
He's turned on, and I didn't even have to do anything!
Kuon reached for the other side of her dress, pulling it down, achingly slow to reveal her shoulder. His parted lips touched hers again, sucking on her bottom lip while his hands pushed the dress to the floor. He tugged at her bottom lip before pulling away to look at her.
Hot! His libido screamed at the sight of her.
Aside from the colored lace, her undergarments were a sheer mesh teasing him with a glimpse of ivory flesh beneath the material. Traces of her areolas and rosy buds peeked out, enticing him from behind the flowers. His eyes raked down lower and lingered at the garter belt wrapped snuggly around her well-defined abs and the small of her waist. The green in his eyes smoldered to a darker shade as his gaze settled on the thin material covering her most treasured place, darkened by her wetness; he licked his lips impatiently, wanting to taste the sweetness of her nectar.
"You're so sexy, baby," he husked, his voice strained by desire. She was a vision with her wavy black hair cascading down her back in waves, dressed in black satin and colorful lace. Her bare flesh taunted him from beneath the sheer layer of light-colored flowers. The satin straps from her garter belt holding up her hosiery threatened to drive him to insanity. She had never worn anything like this before.
Kuon felt like he was unwrapping a highly anticipated present on Christmas morning. His fingers curled around hers and pulled her along until they reached the bed. He sat on the edge of the mattress, pulling her to stand between his legs. His fingers grazed her bare hips, traveled slowly over her abdomen, and moved up to cup her covered breasts.
Her reaction was instantaneous. Kyoko arched, pushing her breasts into his hands. She moaned as his thumbs swirled sensually over her nipples, rolling them to pointed peaks.
Kuon wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She cried out when his tongue flicked over the tip of her breast and dug her nails into his still-clothed shoulders as he sucked her nipple, lace and all, into his mouth.
"Uh...Kuon...mmmm," she moaned, burying her hands in his hair. She let him tease and nip at her breast until she could stand no longer. Using his shoulders as leverage, she lifted her legs onto the bed and straddled him, rocking her hips against his body to relieve the ache building between her legs.
Kuon moved his mouth to tease her other nipple sending a fresh wave of heat down her body and straight to her center. When he pulled back from her breast to smile wickedly at her, Kyoko held his face and claimed his mouth. Her tongue swooped between his lips, licking the inside of his mouth and sucking on his tongue. His hands shifted down to cup her thong-clad ass and squeezed. He eased them lower, kneading the flesh of her ass and the backs of her thighs. Reaching around the back of her thigh, he slid the fingers of his right hand between her legs.
Fuck, she's so wet already!
Kyoko moaned into his mouth, pushing her tongue deeper. His tongue continued to entangle with hers while his fingers applied light pressure to her entrance and moved slowly, stroking the seam of her soaked pussy. She broke the kiss, her need for air at critical levels. Her hands found their way back to his shoulders, digging her fingernails into him while gasping toward the ceiling. Her body hummed with pleasure reclaiming his mouth with hers when his fingers found her clit and flicked.
She wanted him naked and pushed him back to fall against the bed. The need to feel his skin against hers was pressing. "You have far ...uh...too much...ah...clothes on, not fair," she panted out between kisses as her mouth roamed his jawline and then latched on to his neck. Her hot tongue licked and sucked mercilessly at the delicate skin while her fingers fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.
Kuon chuckled beneath her and reversed their positions, pulling her mouth off him before she made too deep of a bruise. Not that he minded wearing her hickey. When he had her on the bed, looking up at him, he circled his hips and ground his bulge against her hot wet sex. What he saw in her eyes was an infinite sea of lust, love, and trust that threatened to undo him. Fuck, he wanted her so bad, it hurt.
Focus, Kuon! Just like before, you can enjoy the night without going too far.
"Please, Kuon," Kyoko begged, bucking her hips against him and pulling at the hem of his shirt, desperate to touch any piece of his solid flesh.
He stood up and made quick work divesting his clothes until he stood nude before her, his cock at attention, large and proud.
Kyoko's face heated, and her mouth went dry at the sight of her boyfriend's god-like physique towering over her in all his glory. He was stunning.
Her eyes strayed from his and traveled slowly down the length of him. She noticed his jaw clench with tension and the rapid movement of his pulse under the skin. Licking her lips, Kyoko wanted to feel that beating in her mouth again. Her eyes continued down his neck to his broad, muscular chest. A chest that she knew for a fact was capable of cuddling her in a protective cocoon, and the same could be said for his arms. She admired the roped muscles rippling beneath the fair skin. She would have to use tonight to update her data on his anatomy if she could only stay focused.
Kyoko licked her dry lips again and continued inspecting the lower half of his body. She noted every ridge of his abdomen and the deep ruts that reminded her of the head of an arrow sign guiding her to her destination right here, you have arrived. The blush on her cheeks deepened as she stared at his cock protruding from that point. She had seen it many times, touched it many times, tasted it many times, and tonight just like all those other times, it felt like her first.
Ah! Her eyes widened, and she moistened her lips again with her tongue. His cock twitched and grew under her heavy gaze.
"Gods, Kyoko!" Kuon croaked. He wrapped his hand around the base of his cock and squeezed it tight to keep from coming as she eye fucked the hell out of him. He had been pent up for days since she was on her cycle, holding himself back from masturbating. That was indeed a big mistake. He was worse off now than he was the night he heard her sing.
Kyoko smiled seductively at the cute blush on the Emperor's high cheekbones. She pushed herself up from the bed and reached out to touch him.
"Don't," Kuon whispered, stepping back from her caress. "You first."
Kyoko trembled, squeezing her thighs together as another wave of hot juices flooded her entrance. The promise in his words made her whole body hum in anticipation. She laid back on the bed in tribute, offering herself completely to him.
Kuon stepped closer and dropped to his knees like a man at worship. Tonight, like every other night, she was his chosen deity. He lifted her stockinged leg so that her foot pressed against his shoulder. His fingers caressed lightly, starting at her ankle until they reached the bare area of her thigh and unhooked the straps of her garter belt. He leaned in, inhaling deeply at the apex of her thighs, and gave it a teasing lick when she bucked her hips to his face. To Kyoko's dismay, he did not linger there but turned his attention back to her leg. He kissed and sucked at the newly exposed skin of her inner thigh, leaving a fresh bruise in his wake. As his fingers slowly rolled down the thin material on her leg, his lips followed, blazing a hot trail of wet kisses down to her foot.
Kyoko dug her fingers into the sheets and thought she was going to die from Kuon's achingly slow caresses. She willed herself not to die and just breathe. It was feeling way too good to pass on to the afterlife.
Eh? She opened her eyes and tilted her head towards him when he softly kissed the arch of her foot, making her aware of his intentions. She tried to pull her foot away, but he gripped her ankle firmly in his hand.
"Kuon, don't it's...dirty...uh," she moaned erotically as he kissed the pad of each toe, then slipped one into his scorching mouth. Kamisama, why does this feel so good?! His tongue swirled slowly around each of her toes before putting her leg down. Kyoko was so embarrassed by her reaction that she buried the side of her face into the sheets, unable to meet his gaze.
Kuon chuckled at her pure reaction to something so simple yet very intimate. He lifted her other leg and took his time repeating the same torture from the hickey on her thigh to the sucking of her toes.
When he finally put her leg down, Kyoko turned to her side, hiding her face in embarrassment. She didn't know she could react so strongly to something as licking toes. Toes that were in heels for a good portion of the night, sweating. How could something like that be so erotic? It had invoked some unknown sensation deep within the pit of her stomach, leaving her wanting.
"Hey," Kuon said in a hushed tone. Lying behind her, he draped an arm over her hip and caressed the taut skin of her stomach.
Kyoko's face, ears, and the back of her neck had taken on a crimson hue from her embarrassment. She tried to hide but became easily distracted by the movement of his hand, the solidness of his chest, and the heat radiating off his body grazing her back.
He's too good at getting me worked up.
Kuon kissed her bare shoulder softly and ran his hand up and down the side of her thigh to her hip.
"Did you not like that? I won't do it again if it makes you uncomfortable," he promised between the kisses he placed on her shoulder.
Kyoko shook her head in denial. She had enjoyed every moment his mouth was on her.
"Do you want me to stop? Are you tired?" Kuon asked, conflicted by her soft, warm body pressed against him. His mind simultaneously altered between, please stop me and please don't make me stop! He ached painfully to taste more of her.
Kyoko felt his hardness pulsating with need against the back of her thigh. No, she didn't want him to stop. She wanted all of him tonight, body and soul. His decision to wait infuriated her. She needed to respect his wishes, but it was nearly impossible when he inflamed her to such a breaking point. I'm at my limit; I don't want to wait anymore.
His dick pulsed against her back, taunting her. She had to take matters into her own hands if she wanted things to change. Tomorrow wasn't guaranteed. The recent fire incident flashed in her mind. What if she had lost him? Kyoko would have had to continue without him, without having loved each other to their full capacity. Her eyes rimmed with moisture, and she choked back a sob, forcing herself to focus on the moment. It was good that her back was to him, or Kuon would have worried. He was here, with her, alive and warm. The need for him tonight was overwhelming and she racked her brain quickly on how to get him to continue.
Just be yourself; it will happen naturally. The words floated through her mind. Kyoko shifted her body, her ass rubbing against his cock. She turned her head slightly to touch her lips to his.
Kuon hissed painfully at the change of position, but it was all the permission he needed to continue. He raised himself slightly, capturing her mouth. Kyoko parted her lips, allowing his tongue entrance while Kuon's wandering hand reached up to cup her breast, making her moan. He pushed his tongue into her mouth and lazily explored every centimeter of its interior in an agonizingly slow dance. Kyoko reached her hand up and around, burying her fingers into the silky strands of his hair, pulling him closer to her.
The sounds of their wet sloppy kisses filled his ears. He strained to keep his pelvis still while they deepened their kiss, only for Kyoko to roll her hips back into him. Kuon could not stop himself from releasing a tortured moan into her mouth. Their mouths mated until Kuon pulled back, allowing her to breathe and him to shift his lower half away into safer territory. Kuon couldn't be sure, but he thought he heard a soft curse escape her lips.
He kissed the back of her shoulder, his lips tracing over the knotted muscles. His hands roamed over every portion of her backside, reveling in the smoothness of her skin under his fingers.
Kyoko turned over to lie on her stomach, exposing more of the area for his lips to have better access to her back. Loving every touch, she buried her face into the sheets as he kissed, and sucked his way to the middle of her spine. She tilted her hips into the bed, trying to relieve the ache on her clit. The friction against the lace of her underwear and silk sheets only managed to intensify her need. Kuon's lips continued their teasing descent until he reached the clasp of her bra. In one fell swoop, the garment sprang loose, allowing him to continue downward to unfasten her garter belt.
At some point, Kuon had shifted his body to kneeling between her wide legs, his hands palming the exposed skin of her ass, left bare by the thong she was wearing. He squeezed and kneaded the firm globes thanks to all her hard work these past months. Sucking on her lower back, he lingered between her dimples, leaving another kiss mark in his wake. He was marking his territory in areas where nobody, but him was allowed to see.
His lips dipped lower and smothered the skin of her ass with his kisses. The thrill coursing through her body made her tilt her ass up, wanting to feel his mouth against her most sensitive spot. He was so close.
Kuon pulled his face away, growling at her reaction. He couldn't take it anymore. His fingers gripped her hips and yanked until her ass was perched high in the air. Kyoko yelped at the unexpected action and Kuon bucked his hips against her cheeks. What the fuck are you doing, Kuon? Have you lost your marbles? His mind screamed. Ignoring the voice of reason, he shut his eyes as euphoria washed over him and shuddered as he ground against her hot mound. The length of him settling between her thighs, finally. Erotically, he groaned as her hot sticky juices seeping through her lace coated his dick. The image of pounding inside her took over his mind as he continued to pump his hips against her.
"Uh...Kuon...so good," Kyoko panted breathlessly, pushing her ass back against him. He opened his eyes while he stroked his arousal against the lace-clad folds of her womanhood, transfixed by her body's honest reactions to his movement.
"Ah…Kuon… Mmmmm!" she cried, holding herself up on her elbows.
Fuck! Her voice laced with deep arousal sent him over the edge. All sense of reason flew out the window. His fingers grabbed the poor excuse of material barring him from feeling her flesh against him and ripped it apart.
"Oh, my God, Kuon! Yes!" she gasped in ecstasy when the hot tip of his penis grazed over her exposed clit.
Kuon groaned with absolute pleasure when he felt the full force of her heat on his cock and her petal-soft flesh cling to him as he rubbed against her. He couldn't take it anymore. He poised his cock over her entrance, prepared to slide in and take what he so desperately desired.
Sirens blared in his ears when she pushed back against him, making the tip of his cock brush her entrance. No! Stop, you fucking idiot! You're losing control! Kuon froze, blinking the lusty haze away. He sobered quickly and pulled his hips away in disgust. Shit! What the fuck am I doing? He sat back on his haunches, dragging his fingers roughly through his dark hair. He couldn't believe he was about to take her like that for the first time. Intense self-loathing slammed at him.
It took Kyoko several moments to register that Kuon had stopped. She lifted herself on her hands and glanced over her shoulder, "why did you st-?"
Kuon looked completely frazzled. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to take things so far! I don't know what came over me!" He stammered out in apology, unable to look her in the eye.
"Hey, hey, shhh… it's okay," she said in a soothing voice. She changed her position to face him. "Look at me, Kuon," she demanded gently.
It took a long moment, but he finally looked up. All Kuon could see was her bra hanging off her body, her perfect ivory skin soiled by his demands, and her shredded underwear clinging to her thigh. It was worse than he thought. I'm a fucking piece of shit!
"It's okay," she assured him again when his eyes misted at the sight of her.
"It's not okay," he denied, his voice trembling. "Your, no, our first time should be magical and special, not a quick fucking rut from behind. I didn't even think about protection. I don't even have any."
"Oh, right, there's that," she said sheepishly. Damn, why did I wait so long to fill the prescription? Kyoko had taken the first pill this morning as directed after her last cycle, but that didn't make things safe. She had to be on the medication for at least seven days before it could be considered effective. They had such things as Plan B, which they could have thought of later when they were both rational, but that was beside the point right now. She wanted him, and he obviously wanted her to the brink of losing all semblance of control.
Oh yeah! Kyoko scrambled off the bed, tossing what remained of the sexy lingerie she had purchased earlier to the side. If protection was what was stopping him, she had that covered.
Kuon watched her walk over to her dress and pick it up off the floor. She fiddled with it until she found the pocket and reached her hand inside, pulling out something he couldn't discern from his angle.
"Found them," Kyoko exulted triumphantly and returned to the bed. She knelt before Kuon on the mattress and let the gold foil packets unravel.
Kuon's eyes bulged out of their sockets. Magnum! Why were these in her possession? What was she expecting?
"Kyoko, I don't think w-"
Her friends' advice floated through her mind while she grasped his hands in hers, cutting off whatever poor excuse he was going to feed her.
"Kuon, I love you. I love that you want to marry me and hold me completely on our wedding night. I think it's sweet and thoughtful. I love that about you! I don't know about you, but I'm at my limit! Having to hold back and watching you hold back, it's just… I want to feel you. All of you when we hold each other like tonight."
Kuon's beautiful green eyes stared at her like she was speaking a foreign language he couldn't understand. "I'm saying I want you to make love to me, and I don't hold back! Right here. Right now. I love you. Please make me yours tonight." Kyoko made sure not to break eye contact, even though her face felt like it was on fire. Why did he have to make me say such embarrassing things out loud? She would die of embarrassment if he still denied her after she bared it all to him.
Kuon hesitated for a split second before pouncing on her, his mouth covering hers as he eased her back onto the bed. He pulled back and searched her eyes for any reservations and found none.
"I'm pretty big," he blurted, and immediately regretted it. "I mean, I love you too! I want you too, so bad! It's just…" He was so nervous his mind was a mess. She was his everything—his heart, his soul, his home.
"What's wrong," she whispered, caressing his cheek with her palm. He closed his eyes and nuzzled into the softness of her touch.
"I'm afraid I'll hurt you," he admitted.
"You can never hurt me," she countered, still stroking his cheek. A smirk graced his lips, and he opened his eyes. The intensity of his gaze, so full of love, made her breath hitch and her heart stutter. Butterflies took flight, fluttering within her.
"Once I start, I won't stop," he threatened, the tension leaving his body.
"Shut up and kiss me."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss her. Kuon slid a hand behind her head to deepen their kiss. I can't believe we're going to do this! I'm so fucking nervous now! What if I disappoint her?
She moaned into his mouth, making his doubts disappear. He shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts without breaking their kiss. Focus, Kuon. She's counting on you! Kuon got himself out of his head and concentrated all his attention on the love he felt for the woman in his arms. It didn't take long to reignite the flame from earlier as he drowned himself in her loving embrace. His lips moved to her neck, taking care not to linger in any one area. His mouth dipped down from her collarbone to suckle her breast, causing Kyoko to arch her back so he could take her deeper.
"Mmmm, Kuon, that feels so good," she moaned, a firm hand slipping into his hair and pressing his head to her breast. They were finally going to do this. He sucked and licked her nipple while his hand kneaded her other breast. The calluses on his hands heightened the friction against her sensitive flesh. Kyoko could feel herself growing uncomfortably wet between her thighs.
She moved her legs, hoping to guide him between her, but Kuon refused to budge. Now that he knew what awaited him, he wanted to prolong their pleasure just a little longer.
"Kuon!" she growled deeply, bucking her hips against the air. He chuckled at her impatience and moved his mouth back up her neck.
"Tell me what you want, baby," his sultry voice purred in her ear, cutting through her haze-filled mind.
"I want you! Now! Inside me!" She demanded, then whimpered with need.
"Aww, Baby, that would take some time. I need to prepare you for me," he replied patiently. He reached for her hand and guided it down to his cock. "Do you feel how big I am? You do that to me, Baby. Just you," he whispered, sucking her lobe between his teeth. He held her hand under his as they slowly stroked his dick up and down. Unable to handle the sensation, Kuon rested his head in the crook of her neck. Every stroke of her hand elicited a tortuous groan from deep within him. When he felt droplets of precum slip from his tip, he stopped her hand.
He threaded his fingers in hers and held it against the mattress, then resumed kissing every centimeter of her torso— her breasts, abs, and hips until he reached the sweet spot at the juncture between her thighs. Her skin in that area was pink and puckered from today's fresh appointment at the spa. He released her hand to wrap his arms around her thighs, lifting her and spreading her wide. Leaning in, he placed a soft kiss above her folds teasingly. When she tried to buck against his hold, demanding more, he obliged and sucked her sensitive button into his mouth.
If he had not had such a firm grip on her, Kyoko would have come off the bed. His tongue flicked over her clit rapidly and sucked whenever he needed to swallow. Kyoko jerked her hips against his mouth, writhing with excitement. She gasped as the hot feeling brewing deep in her gut threatened to boil over. He pulled his mouth away and replaced it with his thumb keeping his eyes on her while he slipped two fingers into her pulsating core. The heat of her walls clamping around him.
"Ah, Kuon, God, please!" she begged as he slid his fingers in and out of her, wiggling them to stretch her out until he found her money spot. Fuck! She's so tight! She's swallowing my fingers whole.
Kyoko gripped the sheets and bowed her back on the brink of coming. Kuon dipped his head back down to suck her clit again. A moment later, she screamed his name as her orgasm ripped through her and poured over his hand. He kept stroking until the spasms in her body ceased. He removed his fingers and sucked on them, cleaning every last drop off his fingers.
"Do you want to continue?" he asked, meeting her tired but satisfied gaze.
Her lusty golden eyes flashed with anticipation, "Make me yours, Kuon. I want you! I want to feel you deep inside me."
Not having to be told twice, Kuon reached for one of the foiled packages and tore it open with his teeth. Kyoko lifted herself on her elbows to watch him put on the condom. His hands shook nervously as he fumbled to put it on correctly. He was out of practice. It didn't help that this was the moment he had anticipated since he had fallen in love with her. He finally managed to get it on the tip and roll it down the length of his cock. Shit! I feel like a fucking virgin right now!
Kyoko smiled to herself. She laid on her back and licked her lips nervously as he positioned himself between her legs. Finally!
Kuon took his cock in hand and coated it with her juices, even though the condom was already lubricated. He was stalling, but Kyoko didn't seem to mind, moving her hips with him a small smile playing on her lips. She was ready. Fuck, just the thought of sinking inside her makes me want to come right now.
He laid himself down on top of her and kissed her softly on the forehead. Kyoko stared at him in awe as her body relaxed against him. He peppered soft kisses over the tip of her nose, her eyes, and her cheeks. His touch was so sweet and gentle that she felt her heart melting. He rubbed the point of his nose against hers, brushing his lips with hers. He closed his eyes and kissed her soundly on the lips this time. He repeated those open mouth kisses until he shifted himself up, positioning himself at her entrance. Kyoko clung to his body, running her fingers up and over the muscles of his lower torso, anxious for the moment she would be joined as one with the man she loved.
Their difference in size made the position awkward at first since all Kyoko could see was his broad chest. As if reading her mind, Kuon contorted his body, holding himself up with an elbow, and gazed into her eyes. He reached between them, taking his dick in hand, and teased her entrance. Kyoko spread her legs wider as the tip of his erection stretched the entrance of her womanhood. Kuon let out a painful moan as he slid his head into her, his intense eyes never leaving hers.
Kyoko eventually closed her eyes, the sensation too much, when he entered her. This was it. This was the moment she had been waiting for since they became intimate. It felt so right. She felt herself stretching to accommodate his girth. It wasn't painful, but she found herself holding her breath all the same.
"Breathe, baby…" Kuon's strained voice broke through her thoughts. Her eyes flashed open. He had stopped because of her. "Are you okay? Is it too painful? I'll stop if you want me to," he said, concern filling his emerald eyes. He would stop if she wanted him to, despite his boasting earlier. It would probably kill him, but he would do anything for her.
Kyoko let out her breath in a loud whoosh, shook her head, and smiled at him. "Please, don't stop. I'm fine," she assured him, wiggling her hips to continue. Kuon hissed and laid his forehead against hers to regain his bearings. She was already strangling the little bit of him that was in her. He could only imagine how it would feel to be fully sheathed within her.
"I love you," he whispered, pushing himself deeper into her core. He wasn't fully seated inside her, but he waited for her body to adjust to him and her breathing to regulate. It was killing him to hold back with her inner walls clenching him so tightly, beckoning him to take his pleasure out of her body. He was not a selfish prick to give in to his base desires. He wanted her to revel in the joy of this moment just as he was. When she squirmed beneath him, he looked into her watery eyes for a sign to continue. She smiled up at him and nodded.
"I love you," he reminded her again. With a final thrust, he buried himself to the hilt in her pulsing sheath. Kuon swallowed her gasp with a kiss as tears pricked the corner of her eyes. It wasn't as painful as she expected, but still a little uncomfortable despite his attempts to allow her body to get used to him.
"I'm so sorry," he murmured, kissing away her tears. He alternated between "I love you" and "I'm sorry," peppering her face with tender kisses. He was so adorably sweet, Kyoko couldn't help it as more tears gathered in her eyes. The overwhelming feeling of being whole consumed her. She was home. They were finally one; she would remember this magical night for the rest of her life.
She smiled up at him, reassuring him that she was fine. More than fine.
Kuon was beside himself as her heated walls pulsed around his shaft. All the oral sex and masturbation in the world couldn't have prepared him for the onslaught of sensations coursing through his body. The emotions he felt alone were enough to unravel him. He really did feel like a virgin again. His past physical relationships paled in comparison to the feelings he had making love with his most precious person. Even in his wildest dreams, he could not imagine anything more heavenly than this moment with her.
The pain from his invasion subsided and was replaced by a familiar dull ache in the pit of her stomach. She rolled her hips against him, trying to ease the ache building inside her. Kuon groaned and gazed down at her.
"Does it still hurt?"
Kyoko wiggled her hips in answer, eliciting an audible groan from him. When he started to pull away from her, she squeezed her thighs to keep him from leaving her. Kuon chuckled and pushed back into her. He repeated the movement until Kyoko caught on to the rhythm, bucking her hips to meet his. Her soft moans of pleasure became more audible as he stoked her core deeply.
"Oh, ah…ah…" Kyoko was startled by the intense desire flowing through her body. She had gone slick around him, making him glide inside her easily. The repeated motion, coupled with the heat of his skin and the weight of his body on her, felt blissful until he suddenly stopped. She looked up at him in confusion and bucked her hips, urging him to continue.
"Give me a minute, baby," he groaned, trying to gather his wits. Only a few minutes had passed since he started, but he was already teetering on the verge of his climax. Her sweet scent, her voice, and her hot center were enough to make him leap off that edge head first. Remaining partially inside her, he contorted further and sucked on her breast as a temporary distraction, rekindling the embers within her.
"Kuuuooon...mmmm...feels so good," she moaned breathlessly as he sucked and ground his length back into her. The dull ache inside her returned and grew as his thrusts resumed.
Kuon's mouth moved up her body until he was pressing his forehead to hers again. Their lips brushed, exchanging air as their breathing became labored.
Kuon interlaced his right hand with her left while his other hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him until she couldn't tell where he began and she ended. Their passion made her so delirious she couldn't think about anything but him.
"Mmmm…baby, it feels so good to be inside you," he whispered against her mouth, his intense green eyes trained on her.
"Uh...Kuon, ah...ah…" Kyoko pulled her thighs up higher on his hips, restricting him against her, so the only part of him that could move was his lower half as he drove into her. Her hand clenched his back in a death grip, afraid to let go. As often as he made her come in the past, this felt entirely different. It felt so right. His hips rocked back and forth, plunging deeper with every thrust. His mouth continued to hover over hers, kissing but not kissing while he pounded into her, fast and hard.
Her nails bit into his flesh as she felt the pleasure building inside her. His back was slick with sweat, and that's when she saw it. Looking closely at his face, she could see the little beads of sweat forming on his brow and temples. Her mind was swiftly jolted from that revelation as Kuon groaned propelling into her. Moments later, she cried out his name as everything exploded around her. Her vision blurred as sensation after sensation wracked her body.
Kuon released her hand, buried his face into the crook of her neck, and pumped faster. After one final deep thrust, he ceased his movement and groaned in ecstasy as he found his climax. After the shock from his initial release subsided, Kuon got his second wind, pumping feverishly against her as his load continued to pour out of him. His body eventually went slack, and his thrusting slowed to a stop.
Kyoko bore his whole weight on top of her, his body shaking from his orgasm. She was too blissfully happy to mind one bit and wrapped her limbs around him while they both caught their breath.
Kuon groaned and lifted his upper body off of her. He kept himself buried deep inside of her, not ready to let go of this moment. He knew he should pull out, but she felt so fucking good pulsing around him. Eventually, he pulled himself out and shifted down the bed to get clear of her. He closed his eyes when her hot juices rubbed against his abdomen as he slid down her length. When he was comfortably at eye level with her, he stopped and searched her face for any signs of regret.
Her beautiful golden eyes glistened with moisture that would have worried him; however, beyond the tears, only love and contentment radiated from her eyes. Kuon leaned down and kissed her sweet lips before drifting further to lay his head upon her bosom. He gathered her tightly in his arms and relaxed, delighted with how the night turned out. She was finally his and his alone.
He sighed contentedly as her fingers of one hand threaded through his hair and the other caressed his back.
This is where I wanna be. Where it's so sweet and heavenly. It was his turn to get emotional. His eyes moistened with the enormity of what transpired between them, and his breath hitched.
"Are you going to be okay?" Kyoko asked hesitantly. "I'm sorry for forcing you, my love."
Kuon sniffled and chuckled at the same time, raising his head to look at her. The vibrations of his body against her lower half caused heat to course through her. She hissed internally as his movement pressed his hard body against her sensitive nub. Her breasts tingled, and the dull ache of desire between her legs began anew.
"I have dreamed this moment a thousand times, maybe more, of when we would finally make love and become one. None of those dreams could have prepared me for this amazing reality. I love you, Kyoko. Thank you for choosing me," he declared, speaking from the depths of his heart and soul.
"I love you too, Kuon. Thank you for choosing me, too," she replied, matching his ethnicity. She encircled her arms around his neck and reached to kiss him deeply. Kuon ended the kiss when she tried to rub her heat against him.
Kuon kept his hands firmly on her hips to keep her from wiggling down towards his already hardening cock. It didn't surprise him how ready he was to have her again, but it was too soon for her. He needed to control his raging libido.
"Kuon," she breathed against his lips. "How soo-" she began, then flushed a deeper red at what she wanted to ask. He prodded, encouraging her to finish her question.
"How s-soon can w-we do that again...ma- make love that is?"
Kuon pulled away from her in surprise and kneeled on the bed, "Y- you want to do it a- again?" He stammered, a fresh blush rushing to his cheeks.
Kyoko nodded shyly as her need for him intensified at the sight of his nakedness, her eyes glancing at his condom-covered hard-on.
"You don't have to…" he started, covering his growing erection with his hand.
"I need you again, Kuon," she bit on her bottom lip, desire lacing her voice.
"I'll be right back," he shouted and bolted to the bathroom to clean up. In no time, he was pulling her back in his arms and ripping open another foil pack.
~xoxo~
And They Lived Happily Ever After – The End ("I kid! I kid!" ~Triumph)
Notes:
Hiya! Thank you for continuing to read. I apologize for the delay. RL has just been crazy busy and sleep kept winning. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I was really trying to get them to that wedding night but I'm a super perv when it comes to RenKyo.
My inspiration for this whole chapter was a song by the band Cigarettes After Sex called "Heavenly;" hence the title of this chapter and a quote (in bold) from the music in Kuon's thoughts toward the end.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 103: Comfort Food
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would do his best to pamper Kyoko.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Kyaaaaaa!"
Kanae didn’t so much as bat an eye at the sound she heard and let the hot water wash over her head. She counted in her head, 10, 9, 8, 7... The curtain was thrown open, releasing the perfectly good build-up of steam she had accumulated out of her shower.
She cocked an eyebrow at her intruder as he enthusiastically held up his phone for her to see. His excitement from the news faded and was replaced with another reason as he took in the goddess before him. It didn't take more than a heartbeat of watching the beads of water trickle sensually down her body before he discarded his phone, gloves, and clothes. Kanae squealed as Yashiro wrapped his cold arms around her, entering the shower and forgetting whatever he had come in to tell her.
...
Kyoko leaned her head back on the porcelain tub, closing her eyes as she let the hot water soak her aching body and soothe her tired muscles. She had received little sleep after a magnificent night with the man she loved. Every time her eyes shut, she was transported back to just several hours ago; to the time they shared joined as one. She smiled broadly, her face threatening to split in two, thinking about how good and right it felt to be with him.
She stifled a giggle as she heard a mixture of humming and cussing from her boyfriend outside. He had left the doors open in case she needed him, which she thought was silly. He was treating her like she was some fragile being. Earlier, because she insisted on going to school, he lifted her out of bed and placed her in an already-prepared bath with strict instructions not to fall asleep in the tub. She couldn't have asked for a more caring and loving man to share such a momentous event in her life. Kyoko could feel her face heating up, but she couldn't be sure if it was from the hot water of her bath or the sensual visions of their intimate night dancing behind her closed lids.
Kuon used a pair of chopsticks to turn the sausages carefully as he fried them up. At least, he tried to be careful. He played the cooking video again, taking his eyes off the meat for only a second. When he looked back at the pan, they were burnt. He kept getting distracted, replaying the blissful night he had shared with the love of his life. Watching the videos were supposed to help him stay focused, but failed miserably.
"Shit!" He pulled the pan off the stove until the heat died down and then put it back on the heat. In his mind, she needed sustenance to replenish her energy after last night. His eyes glossed over as his mind wandered again, remembering how she felt in his arms. The fragrance of her hair, the taste of her skin, and the sweet sound of her voice as he... A hissing sound jolted him back to reality. The miso soup he was reheating on the stove had boiled over.
"Oh, fuck!" He exclaimed, reaching for the pot handle to remove it from the burner. "Shit!" he cried, dropping the pot and flapping his hand; the handle was hot.
"Corn? Is everything okay?" He heard her call from the back room.
"Yes, babe, I'm fine!" He hollered back, running his hand under cold water from the sink. He dried off his hands and looked at the stove to see what he could salvage. The pot of miso soup appeared to have enough for at least one serving. He picked up a sausage and ate it. Not too bad! I can cut the burnt edges off. It should be perfect. The outside was crispy, but the inside seemed fine. What else? Hmm? Oh, the eggs! Those have a lot of protein. He picked up his phone again and played the video to make tomagoyaki. His brows knitted with deep concentration as he watched the beginning of the video again. I got this!
Kuon placed the tray on the coffee table and went to check on her.
"Feeling better? I made breakfast," he asked, stepping into the bathroom with a warm fluffy towel. Kyoko blushed at his presence but managed to step out of the bathtub in her nude state. She tried to take the towel from him, but he insisted on drying her off.
Yukihito in drag! Yukihito in drag! His thoughts reverberated in his mind as her pheromones assaulted his senses. I should just leave her to it and get the hell out of Dodge before I do something stupid. His whole purpose this morning was to pamper her, so he fought against the waves of desire rising within him and focused all his attention on drying her quickly. His brow furrowed, and his mouth was set in a firm line as he patted her wet skin with the towel.
"I'm sorry," he murmured as he continued to dry her. Frowning at the love bites littering her chest and back. Her lower body had bruises, evidence of how hard he had gripped her last night. I went overboard!
Kyoko could tell by his expression that his thoughts were going somewhere useless again. "I'm not sorry. Please don't apologize for what we did last night," she replied, reaching up to caress his cheek. Her amber eyes shone brilliantly with no regrets.
And just like that, she was able to dash away all his insecurities. Kuon reached up and covered his hand over hers, leaning into her touch.
"I love you," he whispered, kissing her palm.
"I love you, too," she smiled back at him and tiptoed to place a kiss on his lips. On cue, her stomach growled, ruining the moment.
"Let's get you fed, baby," Kuon chuckled. He pulled her robe on her and lifted her, slipping an arm behind her knees and at her back.
"Corn put me down. I can walk, you know," she scolded, squirming in his arms.
"I know, but I like this way better," he countered, tightening his grip.
"You're incorrigible," she huffed, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder.
"You know you love it!" He teased and carried her over to the couch. Propping her on some pillows, he placed the food tray on her lap. Luckily, she didn't question why he had put her on the couch. His sole purpose was to see to her comfort, and the floor would be too hard on her body.
"Thank you for making breakfast. I'm sorry for slacking off on my part of the deal lately."
"What do you mean?" He asked, glancing up at her in confusion from his seat on the floor. He sat on the opposite side of the table, facing her while they ate.
"I'm supposed to do the cooking. That was my part of the deal when I moved in here. I have more income now. I can at least pay f-"
"Is it that bad?" he asked, staring at her in worry.
"What?"
"The food? That's what this is about, right?" Kuon asked, nodding to her tray.
Kyoko looked down at her tray of food. She had toast with her favorite orange marmalade spread on top, fresh fruit, rice, two perfectly cooked sunny-side-up eggs, sausages that looked interestingly cut, and half a bowl of miso soup. She could see nothing wrong with what she had on her plate.
"No, there's nothing wrong with the food," she assured him and picked up a piece of sausage. It was a little dry and hard to chew, but she kept those thoughts to herself. Kyoko smiled at him once she swallowed the food and sipped her orange juice.
"I wanted to make you a hearty breakfast, but in the end, this is all I could manage," he admitted with a cute pout.
Kyaa! He's too cute when he's like this!
"Thank you, Corn. It's delicious," she praised, taking a bite out of her toast.
"It doesn't cost me any more money, you know… to have you here, so please get those thoughts out of your mind. Do you not feel like this is your home? I hope that's not the case. Before you came, this place was just a barren place for me to sleep. Now," he said, gesturing to the new décor, photos, and personal items around the room. "With you here, it feels like home."
"No, no, I feel very much at home here with you. I love it here," she replied quickly to clear up any misunderstanding he might be thinking.
"But…"
"But, I feel like a freeloader whenever I can't at least cook you a proper meal."
"Oh! I'm undermining you as an independent woman, aren't I?" Kuon replied as realization dawned on him. "I'm so sorry."
"No, you've never undermined me, Corn! You've been nothing but encouraging and loving. It's just the scales are tipped in my favor in this relationship. You do so much for me, and I can't even begin to repa-"
"Okay, I'm going to stop you right there. Apparently, I'm doing a terrible job at showing you your worth." He moved to crouch in front of her and took her hand in his. "You have done so much for me since you came back into my life. So much more that it would take an infinite amount of lifetimes together for me to call us even," he said thoughtfully.
Kyoko smiled, her vision blurry from the tears forming in her eyes. "I love you, Kuon," she said, leaning her forehead against his.
"I love you more, Kyoko," he whispered back, making her laugh.
"Okay, I'll let you get away with more today only because we need to eat and get ready…but just know that next time we go out, I'm paying!"
"Yes, my dear," he agreed with a chuckle, returning to his food. After eating, Kyoko stood from the couch to clear the dishes.
"I got it, sweetie! We still have time, you could rest some more. I know you didn't get much sleep last night because…" He stopped his words, seeing the heat of embarrassment creep up to her cheeks. "Or you can go and get ready for school. I know you'll need time to maybe apply makeup," Kuon suggested, trying to bar her from going into the kitchen.
"Kuon, do we need to revisit our conversation from earlier? You cooked; it's only fair that I clean," Kyoko reprimanded with a teasing smile.
He relented and stepped out of her way, then waited.
"KUON HIZURI! What have you done to my kitchen?!" Kyoko exclaimed, looking back at him. The place was a disaster. The stove was covered with food splatters and dirty pots. There was a discarded pan where he attempted to cook the egg roll but failed when it stuck to the pan.
"What's that smell?" she asked, sniffing the air. "Do you smell something burning?"
" Oh shit !" he brushed past her and opened the oven. A plume of smoke accosted him while he attempted to remove the pan containing mackerel from the oven. Kyoko grabbed a dishrag and began fanning the smoke away from the detector before it…too late! The smoke alarm blared throughout the apartment.
"Keep fanning," Kuon told her and rushed towards the home phone just as it started ringing.
"Hello!" He answered quickly.
"Tsuruga-sama, is everything okay? Are you in need of emergency services?" It was policy for security to call the resident immediately after an alarm was triggered. If nobody answered after three rings, security would relay to the dispatcher on another line to notify emergency responders.
"Yes, sorry, everything is fine here. No need for the fire department. Thank you, for your hard work." Kuon replied, hanging up the line. The alarm stopped as soon as he placed the phone on the cradle. Kuon flew into the bathroom to put on his contacts. He was back in the living room in a flash when a loud knock sounded at the front door.
Kuon rushed to the door, not wanting anyone to see Kyoko in her state. She was just too sexy this morning for anyone else to handle. He wondered if he could convince her not to go to school today. He didn't need any of those pubescent males sniffing around her.
"Good morning, Tsuruga-sama. We received the all-clear from our superior, but you know it's policy to follow up," said the familiar security guard as he bowed in greeting. There were two of them, both in black suits carrying fire extinguishers.
"Yes, thank you! Everything is fine; just a little smoke from cooking." Ren assured them, rubbing the back of his neck.
Kyoko walked out of the kitchen to see what the commotion was outside. Even with Ren trying to block the partially opened door, the guards caught sight of her. Blushing deeply, they sank into a bow.
"G-good morning, Morimoto-sama. Please pardon our intrusion!" he stammered out. Kyoko greeted the guard and bowed in return, trying to keep her dignity while wearing only her robe. She dashed back into the kitchen to hide but stayed close enough to hear the words exchanged.
Ren groaned internally. That's what I didn't want to happen.
"It has been a while since we had to respond to your residence like this. Please refrain from doing the cooking yourself, Tsuruga-sama," the security guard stated with a straight face. He heard Kyoko burst out laughing from the kitchen.
Ren scowled. "Thanks for your hard work, Goda-san!" he said, shutting the door rudely before the guard could make more jokes at his expense.
"Was this a regular occurrence?" Kyoko asked, stepping out of the kitchen. She was impressed by the security's quick response and his knowledge of their protocol.
"It only happened twice," he grumbled. Each time, he became distracted enough to forget to set a timer. After the second time, he gave up cooking until he made his omurice specialty for her. Having her here made him want to get better at it.
"You're so cute. Next time, we can cook together," Kyoko said, pulling a sulking Ren into the kitchen so they could tackle cleaning.
Yashiro leaned against the driver's side of the car, responding to the PR director's email regarding the latest news on his favorite couple. He put his phone away once he heard the elevator ding. The pair approached him with hands clasped and joy radiating from them. Oh boy, I should have brought sunglasses! Today may be difficult.
"Ren, Kyoko-chan, good morning! Kyoko-chan, you look radiant this morning. Did you start a new skin regiment?" He greeted in a chipper-than-usual voice, unable to contain his excitement. It was so obvious their intimacy status had changed. She was positively glowing and giving off a mature aura.
"Yukihito," Ren warned, his gentlemanly smile gracing his handsome face.
"Good morning, Yashiro-san. I didn't do anything differently," Kyoko replied, placing her palms on the sides of her red cheeks.
"Ahahaha," Yashiro laughed awkwardly, frightened by Ren's aura. It had been so long since the manager had seen that smile he had become complacent. "Well, whatever you're doing, your skin looks great."
"Thank you, Yashiro-san," she dipped her head with a smile before ducking into the car.
Ren glared at his friend after putting their stuff in the trunk and entering beside her. Yashiro smiled at him innocently.
On the drive to Kyoko's school, Yashiro asked, "Did you two, by chance, see the news this morning or look at the email I sent?"
"No, why?" Ren asked, reaching into his pocket for his phone. It was still turned off from last night.
"You'll see!" Yashiro responded with glee.
Kyoko booted up her phone and found several messages in her inbox. Two were from her father with his nightly and daily check-ins. His morning mail gave her the impression that he was worried about her. She quickly sent him a greeting, wished him a good day, and assured him that everything was fine. The other messages were from her friends inquiring about her night on a group text between the three of them. Messages were flying back and forth about Chiori's night out with her "senpai." Kyoko had to scroll up to the top to follow the current conversation.
They went to a movie…wow, Tragic Marker?
I'm glad they are supporting, Kuon, but who would pick that for a date…
oh, she did.
Ahahah Moko…I could believe that. Guys always want their girls to cling to them when things get scary….
Whaaa? He got scared and latched on to Chiori-san instead.
Kyoko giggled aloud, gaining Ren and Yashiro's attention.
"What's so funny?" Ren asked, looking over at her screen. Kyoko didn’t mind and moved so he could get a better view.
"Moko-san and Chiori-san are texting about her date last night. They chose to watch Tragic Marker and he ended up hiding on Chiori-san's shoulder."
"Who takes their first date to that kind of movie?" Yashiro and Ren asked simultaneously.
"She picked it and thought he was cute," Kyoko explained, glancing at her boyfriend.
"Well, there are some girls that would feel that way. It's quite surprising that Amamiya-san is that type. She must like this guy very much."
"You think so?" Kyoko asked, looking at Ren and then Yashiro who nodded in agreement.
"It shows that he likes her too. He went along with her choice even though it would show his uncool side," Yashiro added, bringing the car to a stop at the red light.
"I hope he's good to her. She's a really good friend to me," Kyoko commented and continued to read.
Oh my god! Moko gave her condoms too! A vision of Moko, the condom fairy, floated through her mind. She shook the image of Kanae in strawberry-flavored latex out of her mind. What are they talking about now? What pictures of her and Ren?
"I found it," Ren said, clicking on the link in his email. Kyoko leaned in to look. It was an article, complete with images of them last night, standing in the middle of the sidewalk. MAKING OUT!
"Oh, my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! This is all my fault!" Kyoko exclaimed. She had been swept up by the mood and the music last night and didn’t think about the consequences.
Where did those pedestrians come from? Wasn't it just us out there? No, Kyoko, you idiot! You were just delusional and only saw him! Everyone else faded into the background.
"I should have protected you from this…" Ren began.
"I'm the one that threw myself at you and kissed you!" Kyoko interjected before he could blame himself for the news.
"I'm not complaining," Ren replied with a sly smile. He loved it when she kissed him on the street last night without any reservations.
"It's definitely my fault! Yashiro-san, how do I fix this? I don't want Ren's reputation to be tarnished because of me."
Yashiro chuckled, "Kyoko-chan, nobody's reputation is ruined here, least of all Ren's."
"What do you mean?" She asked, confused.
"He means that, usually, with these types of scandals, the guys get kudos for their...ummm...how do I say this delicately... 'Conquest?' While the women suffer the stigma of being 'loose'...God, I'm so dead!"
Visions of Tadashi flexing his neck, Taisho sharpening his knives, and Kuu cracking his knuckles floated through his mind. Yup, so fucking dead!
"Oh!" She replied quietly. Kyoko went through her mental list of possible repercussions at school for her actions. Would this stir things up after everything had finally settled since she moved up a grade? Her classmates were more mature and experienced with celebrity life. They naturally accepted her relationship with Ren and didn't judge her for it. Her friendships with them were new, so she was unsure how they would take the news.
At the very least, I'll have to endure the hateful comments at school. My shoe locker will probably be vandalized again. Would someone steal my desk and hide it? The new friends I made in class might hate me. I don't have lunch, so they can't tamper with that. I was planning on buying some melon bread at the canteen, but maybe I'll skip it to avoid confrontations. Things will just go back to the way they were in the past. It’s my last year, I can endure anything.
"Hello?! Is anyone listening to me up here? Nobody's reputation is ruined. Yes, there are some negative comments, but the positive comments outweigh them. Your fans are thrilled by the PDA. I told you that people doubted your relationship. This, along with your combined social media, is boosting your popularity. The women love that Kyoko initiated the interaction."
"Huh?" Kyoko gaped unintelligently.
"We'll just play it by ear, okay? Right now, the PR director and the President think it's good press. We'll put out whatever fires flame up when they do. The whole of Japan knows you two are in a consensual relationship. It was bound to happen that things would eventually get… hot, steamy, intimate ," Yashiro broke off his sentence when he caught Ren's glare in the rearview mirror.
"Do you still want to go to school? You can skip today. Maybe head to the agency instead or go back home." This was Ren’s last effort to get her to stay home and keep her away from any hot-blooded males at school. Her admirers were probably going to increase tenfold after that article. She still had yet to realize her effect on the opposite sex.
"No, I have to face them head-on!" Kyoko chirped with renewed determination.
"Okay," he agreed, not wanting to undermine her decision.
"You have training this morning, right?" She asked, trying to change the subject before he asked her if she needed to rest again. She was a little tender from last night, but aside from that, physically, she felt rejuvenated.
"Yes, it's only a refresher course, but Uesugi-dono probably won't go easy on me."
Kyoko stared off dreamily, imagining Ren in traditional garb as he trained for his role as Ryu. "I really want to see."
"You do?! I mean, you can! Ditch school and come with us. You're a student of Uesugi-dono’s; he won't mind if you're there."
Kyoko laughed at his enthusiasm, "You are a bad influence when it comes to education."
Ren hid the guilty pang in his heart at her innocent jab. She was right, his attendance as a student, was pitiful.
"I have a solution. Yashiro-san, could you please?" Kyoko leaned forward in her seat to ask their manager.
"Of course, I can, Kyoko-chan!" Yashiro replied from the driver's seat knowing exactly what she wanted from him. He would gladly provide her with video and pictures of Ren at work.
"Thank you, Yashiro-san…see it's settled!" Kyoko said, beaming up at Ren. "I won't even have to miss school and still see your work."
"We're here now," Yashiro announced, pulling the car to the curb a block away from the school. "The amount of paparazzi isn't over the top. Shall we go, Kyoko-chan?" Yashiro asked, stepping out of the car.
Kyoko leaned in to kiss her boyfriend goodbye.
"I'll miss you," he murmured against her lips.
"I'll see you tonight," Kyoko whispered with a smile against his lips, then gave him another quick peck.
"Tonight is so far away," he lamented, kissing her again, eliciting a giggle out of her.
Yashiro knocked on the window, breaking up the lovebirds. His normally super professional charges were being extra lovey-dovey this morning. His inner fangirl was putting on a whole half-time routine, complete with cheering and tumbling for this event.
Saena smiled at her husband and took his proffered hand. She stepped from the car, smoothed her black pencil skirt, then took her briefcase from him. Squaring her shoulders, she walked determinedly towards the courthouse.
Today they would present the plea bargain to the judges regarding the case with Morizumi Kimiko. Saena and Susumu had reviewed the terms of the deal with their boss, Katagiri-san, and received his approval to proceed with only a few minor comments. As her mentor since graduating from university, his knowledge of the law was invaluable to Saena.
Saena and Susumu took their seats on their side of the room while the defendant's lawyer, Hayashi Kento, and his team took their seats. The lawyers alone were enough to execute this deal. Saena and Tadashi had made it a point to keep the information to Kyoko at a minimum. The less she knew, the easier it would be for her to go about her daily life. Their daughter knew the details of the deal and agreed to it; however, she didn't know that the decision would be reached today. Tadashi would break the results to her when he picked her up in the afternoon.
They were kept waiting for a few minutes before the judges and other people required to support this type of case entered the room. The judges were provided the case material days in advance so they were not coming to the table unprepared. It had taken many influential people to get the case expedited. Tadashi was willing to do everything in his power to finish this quickly, even if it meant playing dirty.
After a half-hour of asking clarifying questions to both parties, the judges were satisfied they covered every nuance of the agreement. All loopholes were addressed, and a few were even discarded after careful consideration. The agreement would have to be updated to reflect any changes to the language that was used before it could go through final approval and signatures.
The head judge deliberated quietly with his colleagues, then addressed Saena, "Mogami-Todoh sensei, are you quite satisfied with these terms? The court can't help but determine that the defendant is getting off lightly given her attempted crimes."
"Yes, sir. My client does not bear any ill will towards the defendant and only wishes she receives the help needed to heal."
"Very well. We would like to add one condition of our own. The court has taken the liberty to draw up the added term to be included in the final version." He held two folders out to the guard to pass them on to each lawyer and waited until they both looked over the document before he proceeded.
"According to the agreement, the defendant will be executing her sentence in a foreign country. Given the high profile of her victims, the defendant's passport will be flagged for travel during that time. She will not be allowed in Japan until her time is up and approval is granted by the court based on a two-party psych evaluation. Any objections?"
Saena shook her head and answered, "No objections, your honor."
She gazed over at Kento, who sat quietly weighing his niece's options before speaking. "Sir, according to this document, my client's rights to travel would still be restricted even when her sentence is up."
"We see nothing wrong with the restriction. Approved documentation is necessary when removing passengers from the no-fly list. Failure to do so would lead to detainment."
Kento could do nothing but agree to the new condition. He knew that even with the correct paperwork, it would take months before the travel ban was lifted. Jiro might not be happy with his decision, but there was nothing he could do to change the minds of the judges. They had been so generous with the agreement that Kento didn’t want to ruin his niece’s chances for a full recovery.
Saena breathed a sigh of relief when it was finally settled. Kyoko and her other victims would no longer have to worry about this young woman terrorizing them. The next thing she needed to focus on was the group litigation suit against the Morizumi Family and then the trial for the manager.
As soon as she stepped out of the building, reporters looking for a statement swarmed Saena and Susumu. The media's resourcefulness always impressed Saena. These big press companies tended to have numerous sources on their payroll to get the latest scoop.
Sensei! Sensei! Were you the prosecuting attorney? Can you please tell us the outcome of the case?
Are you satisfied with the Judges' ruling?
Will Morizumi-san serve any time?
Was justice delivered?
Susumu protected Saena from the onslaught of reporters. They both ignored the questions being fired at them as they walked to the car. Once in the vehicle, she turned on her phone to send Tadashi an email. He would be delighted to know of the clause the Judge threw in there at the end. Given the man's resources, she thought he would be able to use that in his favor if necessary.
Ren felt the droplets of sweat pool on his back as he knelt on the hard tatami mat under the grueling eye of his master. He had worked with Uesugi on several occasions so he knew silence and obedience were warranted now.
"You were distracted when the lesson began. Distractions can cause accidents on a set," his master critiqued.
"I apologize. I have no excuse," Ren bowed his head.
"Your skills are still quite impressive."
"You flatter me, Uesugi-dono. It's all thanks to a master like you."
"Do I look like someone that flatters people?" Uesugi asked sternly.
"Ah, no. Thank you, Uesugi-dono."
"I can tell you've changed. I don't think it's necessarily bad, but you must stay vigilant. You can't show the vultures an ounce of weakness, or they will tear you both apart."
Ren's eyes widened at how personal things just got. He knew the man was giving him sage advice. If his performance started to deteriorate, the media would no doubt blame it on his relationship with Kyoko. He had to keep giving it his best.
"Thank you for the advice, master."
Uesugi let out a derisive chuckle and dismissed Ren. "Come back if you need more training. I think you will do well in this role."
Ren thanked the older man again and left after bowing.
When Ren emerged from the room, Yashiro handed him a towel and a bottle of water. As he suspected, Uesugi did not go easy on him. After his conversation with the veteran martial artist, Ren confirmed that the old master was indeed punishing him. Just my luck. He probably didn't like the negative press of Kyoko either. Yashiro and the President might think it was good press, but he wasn't convinced. The images highlighted how beautiful and desirable she was, meaning more people would be attracted to her. The length of her dress accentuated her long shapely legs and he just had to be caught palming her perky ass.
Inside his private changing room at the combat school, he checked his phone for missed messages from her. He was thrilled to find one with a picture attachment of her with friends from class all giving a thumbs-up sign.
"Something good, Ren?" Yashiro asked, watching his charge's face.
Ren nodded and turned his phone to show Yashiro the picture.
"Oh, that's so good to see. I'm glad Kyoko's enjoying the last year of school."
"Yeah, she looks happy," he replied quietly.
He sat there for several seconds, staring at his girlfriend's cheerful face. He had broken his vow to her, to himself, last night and couldn't take it back. He didn't regret what they shared. He was just sorry he was rough with her. I need to work on my control!
"Ren…Ren? Did you hear me?"
"Hmmm," he hummed, pulling his gaze from his phone and looking at his friend.
"You should hit the shower. We have your drama press conference next, and then costume fittings. After that, you have another magazine interview. Get going. I hung your suit behind the changing screen. The upside to this packed schedule is that you get home early today."
Yashiro chuckled as his last sentence got the actor moving on the double.
Notes:
I apologize for the long delay in getting this one out. My life is not my own and sleep wins. Thank you for continuing to read and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 104: Metamorphosis
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, somebody would confess to Kyoko at school! XD
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko squared her shoulders and held her head up high as she walked through the school hallway toward her shoe locker. She felt the eyes of the students tracking her and heard the loud whispers. It shocked her that they weren’t being malicious at all. People smiled and greeted her as if she was their favorite celebrity. She had psyched herself up to expect the worse, but this behavior was foreign to her. She was almost afraid. Could they be playing a trick on her? Thoughts of the American horror film Carrie flashed through her mind. Carrie's classmates did the same thing to her. They gave her this false sense of acceptance, and then bam! Total humiliation in front of her peers; pigs' blood poured all over her during her Prom Queen coronation, and her King dead at her feet. Kyoko shuddered at the memory of the film Sota and her father had highly recommended. She was lucky her school life in Kyoto was nothing in comparison to the level of bullying Carrie had experienced and was in awe of the lead actress's performance in the film.
"Good Morning," she responded in return to anyone that greeted her. Although she was suspicious, her etiquette and upbringing dictated that she not ignore people.
Kyoko approached her shoe locker apprehensively; the exterior appeared to be undisturbed. She opened the door slowly, just a tad, to peek inside. If full of trash, she could catch it before it fell to the floor. There was nothing inside but her shoes. Kyoko sighed with relief and changed into her indoor shoes. Putting her regular shoes into the locker, she felt the presence of a person standing beside her. She closed the door and found Mimori standing there.
"Who are you?" the girl asked snidely.
Kyoko looked at her oddly, "Nanokura-san, are you not feeling well? Maybe you should visit the infirmary."
"Don't patronize me, Mogami-san! What's going on? Why are you so…so...so like your Natsu character when she's not being a total bitch?" Mimori spouted, trying to find a good comparison to the beauty and charisma Kyoko exuded this morning. It annoyed the idol that everyone was staring at Kyoko like she was some sort of goddess. If Sho saw her, he would fall head over heels in love with her again. She was angry that he had used this girl instead of her for his album cover.
"What? What do you mean?" Though she was flattered that Mimori watched Box-R, she looked up and down at herself in confusion. She was not channeling Natsu at all.
"Are you stupid, Mogami-san? You're practically glowing today; it's an eyesore,” Mimori huffed. “I can see the cherry blossom petals falling in the background as you walk." She wasn't about to admit to her love rival that she looked more beautiful today and exuded an air of sophistication in her bearing not typically present in a high school girl. Why do I have to admire her?
Kyoko kept her lip from curling as the girl's voice grated on her ears. Her name was now Morimoto but she wasn't about to correct Mimori. She had no idea what the girl was talking about but everyone's behavior was odd this morning. Could Natsu be taking over her persona without her knowledge? She hoped not.
"I don't know what you're talking about. If you'll excuse me I have to get to class," Kyoko said walking away.
"Just stick with your boyfriend and stay away from Sho!" Mimori called after her. Kyoko walked back to her quickly and got in her face making Mimori shrink back against the lockers in shock.
"Nanokura-san, I want to make something explicitly clear. Sho and I will never be anything of whatever you're thinking. I'm going to give you some unsolicited advice…forget Sho! Find someone that would treat you like you deserve before you learn the hard way. If you can't do that, then at least tone down the naivety." With that said, Kyoko turned on her heel and walked away ignoring the curious looks from everyone. Ugh, I hope this doesn't end up on social media. I have to watch what I say and do.
She entered her classroom and found her desk exactly where it was supposed to be. She smiled as her friends greeted her like usual. She placed her guitar against the back wall of the classroom and took her seat.
Gina leaned forward and whispered, "You owe us some details later." Kyoko ducked her head to hide her blush.
During their break, a good-looking third-year boy from the regular section, came to her classroom looking for her. Kyoko had never seen nor spoken to this guy before but she followed him outside when he asked for her help.
"Is there something you needed from me? Why are we out here?" Kyoko asked suspiciously.
"Morimoto-san, I just wanted to tell you of my feelings. I have admired you for a very long time and have grown to like you. I know I don't stand a chance against Tsuruga-san but I was hoping you could reject me properly so I can move on."
"Ehhhhh?!" Kyoko said jumping back from his low bow. This is a confession, right? Like a school confession in a shoujo manga . She didn't even know this person and here he was expressing his feelings to her a total stranger.
"Umm…please stand up. I'm sorry I don't know who you are."
"Ah, my name is Hosoi," he said, quickly standing up.
"Well, Hosoi-san. I am thankful for your feelings and as you say I am in a committed relationship with Tsuruga-san whom I love very much."
"I understand, thank you for your time. I won't bother you again. Good luck with your work. I'll always be a fan!" He said with a smile and a wave before leaving.
What a weird guy! Kyoko thought as she returned to her class. The cycle repeated itself at lunch. The boys at school had become bolder for some reason. When the third guy came to the room, Gina and Hinami sent him packing.
"What's with these guys all of a sudden? They know very well you are in a relationship," Gina huffed.
Gen laughed, "They're just fans using it as an excuse to talk to Kyoko-san. She's a popular celebrity after all and she's kind."
"Well, I'm just glad you guys are treating me like normal. I thought I'd be hated," Kyoko admitted with shame.
"Why? For kissing your super-hot boyfriend?" Gen asked and Kyoko nodded.
"Careful, Gen. Your man crush for Tsuruga-san is showing again," Hinami teased. Kyoko and Gina laughed at his expense. Kyoko felt at ease as they teased their classmate. She asked her friends to take a picture so she could reassure Ren that everything was just fine.
Yashiro pulled up to the hotel valet where Ren's press conference for his new drama series, Ryu , would be held. This event was initially supposed to happen at Fuji TV, but unscheduled maintenance of the studio had the production team scrambling for an alternate location. The swarm of reporters descended on the pair as they stepped out of the car. Ren pasted on his gentlemanly smile walking through the gauntlet of reporters shouting questions regarding the latest photos of him and Kyoko.
He increased the brilliance of his smile when a reporter had the nerve to shout if they had taken their relationship to the next level. That was none of their business! What he and Kyoko shared in their private time was nobody’s business. The reporter recovered quickly from his mistake and shouted safer questions with the rest of the reporters. Ren remained silent. Why couldn't they report on their work? Ren hoped Kyoko wasn't being bombarded by such intimate questions either.
In the relative safety of the hotel, Ren walked through the lobby, nodding in greeting to the hotel staff when an item in the gift shop window caught his eye. He stood looking through the glass at this colorful "vase," standing proudly with flat marbles on the bottom, filled with water to a quarter of the way, holding a floral arrangement. He stared at the stack of flat plastic sheets with the vase's design, wondering how this was possible, and read the product description.
"See something interesting in there, Ren?"
"Yukihito, those sheets there open up to vases!" Ren exclaimed.
"Really? Those are very convenient to have handy. We still have some free time. Why don't you go and take a look?"
"I think I will." Ren wondered if it would be weird to buy a gift in honor of their first time together. If things had gone according to his long-term plan, he would have at least had a ring to commemorate the night, but he got carried away. Ren perused the shelf of crystal figurines until his eye landed on a lotus blossom large enough to fit in the palm of his hand. He held it up and smiled at the way the prism refracted the light, causing an array of colors to pass through. Just like the Corn stone! He placed it back on the shelf and picked up one of the unopened boxes. It was only 2000Y! Kyoko would love this. The sales associate approached him, offering to hold his items at the counter while Ren considered a do-it-yourself candle kit. She always made crafty things for everyone; he wanted to make something for her in return. According to this, I could even put some of the flowers I buy her inside to preserve them. No, wait, that's just like her flower ring. What else can I do? He put the kit back and kept browsing.
The store had a variety of products, from sweet treats to nifty kitchen gadgets and everything else in between. As a child, he learned from his father's experience to never consider gifting a woman any type of household appliance, no matter how much she lamented she wished she had a new one. It implied too much, and none of it was good.
Ren ignored the flashes from outside the store windows. They could take their pictures; he was not embarrassed to be caught spoiling his girlfriend. He finally made his way to the back of the small store with all the stationery and papercrafts. The little origami-folded animals and flowers caught his attention immediately. He picked up the folded butterfly and smiled. He looked at the other designs and wondered, can I do something like this? I could surprise her with a new design every morning! He decided that Kyoko would not think it too childish and picked up several packages of the 25-count variety pack of floral washi paper. He would need the extra practice before he found it acceptable to give to her. For now, this would work until he could figure out something more permanent he could make for her.
Yashiro walked into the store with Kijima in tow as the saleswoman rang up his items. He nodded to them both and tried not to roll his eyes at Kijima when he winked at the saleswoman, causing her to squeak. His colleague was the epitome of a Playboy . Thank God he claimed Kyoko when he did; otherwise, this natural Cassanova would have swooped in and taken his place.
Kijima picked up one of the packages of paper and lifted his eyebrow in question toward Ren. "It's rude to touch other people's things, Kijima-san," Ren scolded, ignoring his friend's silent question. Kijima handed the paper over to the saleswoman with a smile. She blushed, taking the item from him and placing it inside the bag. As Ren pulled his card out from his wallet, another business card fell out. Kijima reached down and picked it up for him.
"Thanks," Ren replied, glancing at the card before putting it back in his wallet. It was the card Kei gave him at the studio. Hit me up if you ever want to put that sultry voice to a song. The music producer's words had Ren's mind churning with an idea. He reached over to the counter's display and picked out a small notebook and pen. He didn't care that it was pink and prissy; he just needed something to write on.
"Sorry, please add this too," Ren told the cashier and handed her a few yen bills to pay for the extra items.
Ren and Kijima kindly took a fan picture with the sales clerk before leaving.
As they continued to the conference room, the three did not utter another word since the media buzzed around them. They didn't want the vultures to misconstrue anything they said among themselves, so they chose silence instead.
Yashiro thought they were attending a funeral with all the black being worn at this press conference. It seemed all the top-billed actors decided to appear in character. Ren himself was in black from head to toe; black suit, black silk shirt and tie, and black leather dress shoes. Kijima, on the other hand, broke up his black suit with a blood-red silk shirt.
Kijima groaned as they entered the room. "Fucking, cock fest," he mumbled under his breath. Ren heard him and chuckled at his distaste for the number of men in the room. There were barely any women in the room save for a few reporters and the highest-billed actress on the cast that would be playing Akira's sister. There would be more women in the series, they just weren't here. These conferences were typically reserved for the main cast, the director, and the producer.
"Ren, I'll take your bags for you," Yashiro offered and sat next to Kijima's manager at the back of the room.
Ren and Kijima greeted the director and producer before taking their seats on stage. Kijima was playing Ryu's "brother" in the Yakuza family. Initially, Kijima only had a cameo in the series for two episodes, so he would not have attended this conference. Kijima's character was recently expanded at the last minute to add comedic relief and perform the few sensual scenes that Ren declined.
Ren was busy chatting with a few other cast members when he finally noticed Murasame Taira walk into the room. They had not met each other since the premiere night and would be working together again.
Taira nodded to Ren when the actor caught his eye and strolled to the front of the room, greeting others along the way. He was still a little miffed that he was passed over for the part of Ryu for Ren. Taira knew that since Ren played a double role as both Cain Heel and BJ he was the perfect candidate to play this role. He had accepted the next best role in the drama as the traitorous "golden boy" detective keen on destroying Akira's effort.
Ren stood when Taira reached him and shook the actor's hand, "Murasame-san."
"Tsuruga-san, I look forward to working with you again," the other actor replied.
"Likewise," Ren told him with a small smile while camera flashes went off around them.
"Tsuruga-san, Murasame-san, can we get a picture of you together? Can you please face this way while shaking hands?"
Ren and Taira both turned in the direction of the cameras and smiled. Ren had nothing against the actor professionally, but if he got too chummy with his girl, they just might have a problem.
"Hey, hey, we can't just focus on brawn here. You are missing the beauty in these photos," Kijima jested, inserting himself between the taller men. That garnered a round of chuckles and more pictures before everyone settled down for the event to begin.
The conference began with the director providing a synopsis of the drama without giving the plot away and provided a date for the pilot episode's airing. Ren would be in LA during that time frame. It would be great to watch that episode with Kyoko and his family in his childhood home just like they did in the past with some of his parents' shows. With that said, his schedule would be packed with rehearsal and filming right up to the day before he was supposed to leave.
The floor was now open to questions, and naturally, as the male lead, most of them were directed at Ren. He confirmed that all the training thus far they had viewed on social media was to improve his skill for the role.
"Tsuruga-san, how does this dual role compare to your time with Tragic Marker ? "
"I think this role is simpler. For starters, I don't have to hide my identity on the set; alienating myself from the cast and crew was difficult.” He glanced over at Taira and smiled. "I apologize again, Murasame-san. I hope we can start fresh on this project."
"Likewise, I look forward to working with the real Tsuruga Ren," Murasame agreed.
Ren kept his smile neutral. Wouldn't he be surprised? He wasn't sure if Taira would forgive him a second time, especially if he ever found out that he was, in fact, his idol's son.
"Cut! Take a ten-minute break, everyone. We need to get through this last Momiji scene before we transition sets. Please focus on executing your role properly, or we'll be here all night."
The cast and crew replied with a resounding, "Yes, sir!" and scrambled off to prepare.
"This is all your fault, you know!" Koga chided Kyoko as they walked to the refreshments table. They never had such a problem before while shooting, a few NGs here and there usually, but tonight's performance exceeded those.
"Whaaaa? Why me? I'm playing my part fine. The director hasn't said anything about my performance. What do you think I'm doing wrong?"
"There's something different. I just can't quite put my finger on it," Koga replied, tapping his finger on his chin and looking at her thoughtfully.
Everybody keeps saying that! Bridge Rock made a similar comment earlier. During her rehearsal at the LME training school, it took a good twenty minutes playing with the Ishibashi brothers before they finally caught their groove. Things, thankfully, went smoothly for the remainder of their practice. Is it my fault?
She turned away from Koga to hide her heated cheeks. I didn't look any different this morning besides his love marks all over my body. I don't feel different, either.
As a man of his caliber, Koga knew exactly what was different about her; he just refused to say it out loud. She had undergone some type of metamorphosis since the last time he saw her. The problem was she was more attractive today and affecting their costars. It would be a lie if Koga tried to claim that he wasn't affected. A shadow of a looming giant beside her kept his thoughts in check. Koga became suspicious only after he started seeing a pattern. Whenever Momiji was in a scene there were numerous NGs and a few casualties regardless of gender. When she wasn’t on set, her father stood close, standing guard. And speak of the devil.
Koga gave Tadashi one of his, look I'm not a threat, lop-sided grins. Tadashi eyed the actor suspiciously, refusing to be swayed by that innocent charm. He saw the women on set practically melt under the actor's sweet boy appeal. Today, he had to keep an eye on everyone. When he picked her up, she looked charismatic, conversing with her friends as they walked out of school. He could see the effect her laugh or smile had on those in the vicinity as heads turned to follow her. All he could think was that her time spent with friends and the love of her life yesterday had done its job. She looked happy and relaxed, which was his aim when he booked the spa date. He figured the progress regarding Morizumi Kimiko would also ease her worries.
He handed a towel to Kyoko and asked, "Is everything okay, sweetie?"
Koga fidgeted.
Kyoko thanked her father and patted the sweat off her brow without ruining what little makeup she had for filming. "Yes, thank you, Father. We're all working hard to get this right."
Momiji didn't have any action scenes tonight except for a silent killing in the dark recesses between the buildings. The set had been transformed into a rural night market filled with food vendors and revelry. Tonight, Momiji and Shizuma were on reconnaissance to smoke out a rat. She wore the outfit of a male youth commoner with a robe over it and a straw hat low on her brow to hide most of her face. Her actions spoke louder than words— a twitch of her head, her hand tightening its grip around the kunai hidden beneath her robe, and sidelong glances with her eyes. She had to interact with a few people in these scenes; a female waitress working undercover for Shizuma, a pair of boisterous soldiers from the enemy camp, and the rat. Somehow, all the scenes she was in took longer than necessary. The other character would freeze when it was their turn to act or forget their lines when they met her gaze. It was frustrating. How does Ren deal with this?
"You all are doing well! I'm sure you'll be able to pull it off in no time," he said, addressing Koga and her. They nodded their thanks in response.
"Okay, everyone, take your marks and let's knock out this next scene," Joji commanded, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention.
Kyoko excused herself and adjusted her clothing before taking her mark. She took a deep breath channeling Momiji as she sat against a wall of a building. Joji went through the rounds of verifying all systems was good to go and called "Action!"
...
After a few hours of grueling filming, Momiji's scenes were done. Kyoko and her father spent the next thirty minutes packing up her personal effects in her dressing room. They would be relocating to a much larger outdoor set to film the last of her scenes; the confession and her death. She would miss the role but was excited to start something new.
Kyoko didn't know that after she left the set that night, a rumor traveled among her peers, dubbing her the up-and-coming c o-star killer!
" Honey, I'm home!" He announced cheerfully as he came in through the front door. She had been on his mind most of the day and was excited to be home in time for dinner.
"Welcome home, Ren-kun," came a masculine voice from the direction of the kitchen.
Ren whirled around, surprised to find Kyoko's father standing at the door with an apron over his clothes. He gulped nervously. He didn't think he would have to face her father so soon. He kept the dread from showing on his face and smiled.
"I hope you don't mind that I'm here. We only just arrived. Kyoko invited me to stay for dinner. I hope you like tonkatsu and curry."
"Tadashi-san, good evening! Thank you for the trouble. You're always welcome in our home. I'll go wash up then come out and help. Is Kyoko in the kitchen?" Ren asked, putting her gift down on the table.
Ren had stashed the rest of his purchases in his bag, knowing she wouldn’t look in there. A good portion of his break time was spent jotting notes in his pink unicorn notebook and researching on his phone. The little extra time he had would need to be prioritized when he wasn’t working or with Kyoko to pull off his plans within the timeline. He came across something special, something he wanted to share with Kyoko when the time was right, and needed to keep it a secret. For now, he could do things on his own, but eventually, he would need the help of their family and friends for it to be considered a success. His plan to create various paper animals for her had already morphed into something entirely different; however, the initial concept was still there.
"She's inside the room changing. I started preparing the ingredients," Tadashi informed him.
"Okay, thank you. I will change as well, err I mean, I'll be right back," Ren corrected himself quickly and made a beeline for their bedroom.
Tadashi laughed, waving him off. It was much too late for them to be acting all innocent around him. They already lived together, for goodness sake. He wasn't the old fashion kind since he spent a good portion of his life overseas. He just wished the boy would hurry up and marry his daughter already. Tadashi walked to the kitchen in La La Land, envisioning his daughter's wedding day. She would be wearing a princess-like gown, with flowers threaded into her hair, and the best part of it all would be the joy radiating off of her person as she walked down the aisle. He hoped he could share her special day. He often forgot that she was only seventeen, judging by her high degree of intelligence and ability to handle complex situations calmly, but he was a firm believer now in holding on tight to those you loved. He had learned from his mistake with Saena. Maybe one day, he would give his own love a chance. For now, he was enjoying his kids.
Ren startled Kyoko as she emerged from the guest room. He fuzed his mouth to her before she had time to scream, wrapping his arms around her and pushing back into the room for privacy. Kyoko giggled against his mouth while he kissed her enthusiastically.
"Welcome home," she whispered when they broke apart for air.
"I'm home," he said, pecking her lips softly and rubbing his nose against hers.
"I hope you don't mind," she whispered.
"He's family."
"He is," she said, returning his warm smile. She tightened her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his chest, relishing in the comfort of his steady heartbeat. "This feels nice."
"It does," he agreed, kissing her head before letting go. "But we can't leave your father out there. I'm sure he wants to break my legs because of those pictures."
"Probably," she said in a serious tone, laughing when he stiffened.
"I promise to protect you. Now, go and wash up for dinner," she instructed. Kissing him on the cheek, she headed to the kitchen to help her father.
During dinner, they sat around the table sharing their day while they ate. Ren found himself speaking more openly with Tadashi with them. It was easy to be comfortable with the man. There were small things about him that reminded Ren of his girlfriend. They did, however, have to be careful not to slip up and leak out his secret. He wasn't quite ready to share that part of him with others just yet. If anyone deserved to know other than Kyoko, it would be Yashiro.
After dinner, Ren presented her with his gifts. He was excited to show her the innovative vases he found in the store. Kyoko couldn't believe it until she saw it with her own eyes partially filled with water and holding up the bouquet he gave her last night.
"Where did you find this?" Tadashi asked incredulously. He smiled at Kyoko as she watched, anxiously waiting for the thing to fall over. It never did.
"I found it in the gift shop at the hotel where the press conference was held."
"You went shopping while working?" Kyoko asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I had some time," he assured her. "I found something else I thought you might like." He handed her the box containing his next gift.
Both men watched in adoration as her eyes lit up with unmasked delight as she tilted the crystal blossom in the palm of her hand. She was amazed by the way the light created a rainbow effect as it pierced through the surfaces of the glass.
Tadashi pulled out his phone and thumbed through his recent pictures. He saved the photo of them smiling tonight as his wallpaper. Then he sent the same image in an email to Mya just to tease her. He didn't want to break up their happiness with the news of Kimiko nor tell them that he would be leaving Japan as soon as everything settled with her manager. He didn't want to leave but had pressing matters in New York. The faster he completed his business over there, the faster he could return to her permanently.
Notes:
Hiya all, sorry for going AWOL on you, but thanks for sticking with me. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 105: Love Notes
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would receive notes from a secret admirer...ahem...Ren.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kuon smiled with his eyes closed and tightened his arms around the love of his life. She wasn't tired or fearful of him after last night. He couldn't help himself after she told him of the love confessions she got at school yesterday. While she recalled her day, he instantly picked up on the reactions of her costars, making him feel bitter. He knew something like this was bound to happen and was glad she had good friends and her father around to protect her where he couldn't. He had wanted to give her body time to recuperate after their first night and felt guilty about his lack of control. A little of his jealousy seeped through, leaving him with a strong desire to imprint himself upon her. Kyoko wasn't fazed by his roughness and met him head-on, both seeking to fulfill their base desires for one another after a long day apart.
"What are you doing, baby?" He whispered, his voice thick from sleep. He rolled to his back and pulled her warm body to lay on him. He groaned with unabashed pleasure as her silk-covered breasts pressed against his bare chest.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied innocently, showering his jawline and lips with soft kisses. She had woken in the middle of the night, instinctively reaching for him. When she couldn't go back to sleep, she lay there quietly, watching the miracle that was him as he slept, unaware that she was creeping on him. When she could no longer just watch, her curious fingers began tracing the contours of his muscles, but soon that was enough. Her need to taste him again triumphed over her need to sleep. Soon her mouth followed her fingers, leading up to the moment he woke. Kuon smiled and opened his eyes a tiny slit to glimpse the nymph that had stirred him from his deep slumber with her sweet caresses.
"You don't do you?" Kuon teased as he ran his hands slowly up her back, then down her ass, stopping at her thighs. He gripped the back of her thighs and pulled up to spread her legs apart so she was straddling him. Desire filled his core as he rocked his hips, rubbing his erection against her heat.
"Mmmmm…." Kyoko moaned, sitting up and resting her palms against his firm chest. She arched her back and rolled her hips to meet his when he bucked up against her again.
"You still don't know?" Kuon purred, his hands traveling up her thighs over her hips and slipping underneath the blue silk camisole she wore to bed after their quick romp last night. His hands palmed her breasts and squeezed. He traced lazy circles over her nipples with the pad of his thumbs until they pebbled and thrust his hips again to meet her rocking.
"Ahhhhh...Kuon." Kyoko's body trembled with need as she rubbed her clit against his hardness.
"So, are you going to tell me?" He asked, releasing her breasts and gripping her hips to push her down against him while he circled his hips up to grind against the mouth of her arousal. He lifted his upper body so he was now in a sitting position and caressing her neck with his lips.
Kyoko tried to think about what he was asking her but all she could focus on was the warm feeling he was invoking within her.
"I may or may not have been trying to seduce you in your sleep," she admitted, wrapping her arms around his neck and devouring his mouth with hers. She slipped her tongue into his mouth without hesitation, entwining it with his. They exchanged slow, lazy kisses until the heat around them intensified, becoming more demanding. The quiet room filled with their slurping sounds and soft moans. Kuon released his arms around her and broke their kiss just long enough for him to yank her top off. Kyoko gasped as the cool air assaulted her nipples briefly until the heat of his body engulfed her once again. Kyoko wrapped her arms around him and fisted her hand into his hair while their mouths melded together again. Kuon's hands were back on her breasts, rolling and tweaking their crests, each caress sending hot jolts down her spine.
Kuon moved one hand between her thighs and thumbed her sensitive nub through the silk of her underwear.
"Kuooonnn," she moaned, throwing her head back and closing her eyes. She lifted herself on her knees and rocked her mound against his hand, begging for more of his touch. From this angle, Kuon tilted his head down and closed his mouth over a rosy tip. His hot tongue swirled and sucked on her nipple. He licked and nibbled the little pebble causing her to cry out in delight.
Kyoko's whole body shook in his arms, making Kuon moan around her breast. He had learned early on that her breasts were sensitive and made it a point to give them extra titillation. He pulled her underwear to the side and slipped a finger inside, penetrating her sweet warmth. Kuon groaned as her hot slick walls closed around his finger, sucking him in.
"Fuck, baby, you're still so tight," he whispered, pulling off her breast and leaning his head against her chest. He could hear the sound of her rapid heartbeat as he plunged his finger in and out of her.
"More...want more….Kuon!" She gasped out, bucking her hips in perfect timing with his hand. "You...in me!"
"Not yet, baby," he denied before moving his mouth to tongue her other nipple. They had time; he wanted to draw out their pleasure for as long as he could.
"Please…," she pleaded. Happy to oblige, he slid another finger inside her and increased the speed. With ragged breaths, her nails dug into his shoulders as her climax built.
"Kuon!" She gasped. Her whole body tightened and then exploded. She rested her head on his shoulder while her orgasm racked through her body. He continued to stroke her until her trembling stopped. She stayed like that for a few moments, content, panting into his shoulder, unable to move just yet.
"Do you want to go back to sleep? It's still early," he asked, his voice husky from the exertion of chasing her release. He wanted her so badly, but there would always be a next time for them.
"Mmmm," she moaned into his shoulder and shook her head no.
Kyoko finally found the energy to move off him and rummaged through the bedside table. She couldn't find what she was looking for in the dim light. Are we out? She switched on the lamp and found what she needed. Kuon was already lying on his back, boxer briefs removed, and stroking himself while he waited for her to return.
She returned the Emperor's wicked smile with one of her own. "This is our last one. My pill won't be effective until next week."
His hand stopped mid-stroke. "I can get more. I mean...if that's what you want, or we can wait until you're ready to try again," he stumbled, unsure if he was being too presumptuous.
Kyoko smirked. Too cute! He was always so sure of himself, It was a nice change of pace to see him flustered. "Oh, I'm sure I'll be able to keep my hands off you until then," she teased.
"Come here, you little minx!"
She squealed, laughing when Kuon yanked her to him and kissed her passionately. His hands roamed over her body until they hooked on to the silk material now drenched with her sweet nectar and peeled it from her flesh. It took less than half a minute until they were burning out of control for each other again. He tried plucking the condom out of her hand, but Kyoko was too fast.
"Let me try," she smiled impishly and pushed him on his back. Kuon gulped, his eyes never leaving her as she slithered down his body and between his legs. His breathing became shallow when she took his hard cock gently in her hand and placed a soft kiss on its head. He nearly stabbed her in the eye with impatience at the gesture causing Kyoko to giggle.
"Sorry," he said in a strangled voice as a blush crept to his cheeks.
She kissed him again and swirled her tongue over the top, eliciting a groan from deep within him. She loved the power she had over him when they were like this. The sounds of pleasure she evoked from him always gave her the confidence to continue. She licked the length of his shaft from hilt to point, then sucked in his tip. It took all of his willpower to keep his hips still and not thrust into the depths of her throat. He threw his head back, closed his eyes, and let out another tortured groan.
I have to be dreaming. It was still difficult for Kuon to believe that his sweet little Kyoko had broken through his barrier of resolve and initiated this last level of intimacy in their relationship. She had given him her most precious gift that he vowed to cherish always. Sex with her was incredible and intoxicating; he couldn't get enough of her. He thought his need for her would subside if he had her at least once. Kuon couldn't have been more wrong. When his mind was idle, she pervaded his mind until he could think of nothing else. He was more in control of himself this go around, the feelings of anxiousness long gone, brushed away by the sweetness of her love. He was leaving it to her to take things further; otherwise, he might scare her away with all his perverted thoughts. They had the rest of their lives to explore each other in various ways.
"Baby, please! You're going to be the death of me," Kuon begged, tilting his head down again to look at her. Fuck, she looked so damn hot with her sweet lips wrapped around him.
Ignoring his pleas, Kyoko took the length of him into her mouth and sucked him as deep as she could, then pulled back slowly, twirling her tongue against him the whole way out. She repeated the motion several times until he was panting and trembling to her satisfaction. It was only fair that she returned the favor after all. Kyoko got on her knees and ripped the package open. She laid the condom on his tip like she'd seen him do and rolled it down to cover every centimeter of his splendor.
Kuon looked it over to make sure it sat right. As much as he wanted her to bear his children, he wanted to be selfish and have her all to himself for a little longer.
When Kuon gave her the okay, Kyoko straddled his hips and rubbed her slit against his length, coating him in her arousal.
Kuon squeezed her thighs, desperate to be inside her. He held his breath as he watched her take hold of him and ease herself down centimeter by agonizing centimeter until his dick was fully sheathed within her.
Kyoko moaned with pure satisfaction. Her body shuddered as she stretched to accommodate him. There was no longer a burning sensation, but the sense of fullness remained. I'm getting used to him. Her heart fluttered at the thought.
"Kyoko! You feel so good..." Kuon husked, trembling beneath her as she lifted away from him only to slowly sink back down on his lap until her ass rested on his thighs. He groaned in divine pleasure while she surrounded him with her slick wet heat. His hands ran over every centimeter of her body he could reach. Her neck, chest, shoulders, arms, up her back, and down, finally resting on her hips, grinding up as she came down to take him deeper. He loved her on top, taking point and setting the pace, riding him like the strong warrior woman she was. In this position, he couldn't tear his eyes away from her; she captivated him.
Kyoko's whole body flushed red, but she continued to move slowly on top of him, her palms splayed out over the tight muscles in his chest for leverage. His green, eager eyes bore into her, watching her every movement as she rode him. She willed herself not to turn away from embarrassment and met his stare. She loved this man. His heady gaze gave her confidence to pleasure them both.
As if reading her thoughts, he whispered, "I love you," without breaking eye contact.
Kyoko's eyes widened then she smiled and responded in kind. She gyrated her hips when he was fully seated within her, then leaned forward and captured his mouth in a heated kiss that made her toes curl. Kuon wrapped his arms around her waist and drove himself up inside her. Kyoko's fingers tangled in his hair, speeding up her thrusts. She pushed herself back up and rode him hard and fast until Kuon sat up, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist and forcing her to slow down. He wanted to draw out their pleasure for as long as he could last, which wasn't long. He was on the verge of blowing his load at the pace she set.
"You're going to make me come, baby," he growled, trying to steady her hips.
"Isn't that the point?" She teased but slowed her hips, taking languid strokes.
Kuon kissed her smart mouth. He caught her bottom lip between his teeth and pulled gently. Their hips continued to rock against each other while they played their kissing game of lick and tug. Kuon's hands strayed from her hips to her chest and cupped her breasts.
Kyoko moaned erotically into his mouth, increasing the speed of her hips again. She could feel her climax building.
This time Kuon didn't stop her; instead, he increased the speed of his thrusts to match her new pace. He was at his limit.
"Ah...Ah...Ku-on." She buried her face into his shoulder and bit down. Kuon didn't know if he groaned from pain or pleasure.
Her mewlings spurred him on. He was close. She was close. In one fluid motion, he flipped them so he was on top and she was beneath. He hooked one of her legs over his shoulder, allowing him to penetrate deeper into her hot pulsating core.
Kyoko felt delirious from the sudden change in position. One minute she was up, and the next minute she was down. Once she got over her vertigo, she hooked her other leg around his waist and bucked her hips to meet his thrusts.
"Uh...Kuon," she could feel the tension building inside her again as desire swept through her body. "More!...Harder!"
Kuon groaned to do her bidding as he tunneled into her: harder, faster. His breath became harsh in the room as sweat broke out at his temples and his upper lip from the exertion. Judging from her voice, he was hitting a sensitive spot deep within her.
She screamed his name feeling weightless, her body stepping off the edge of the earth. Her vision blurred and her body spasmed as her orgasm rolled through her body in wondrous waves.
Kuon's movements did not cease until he reached his release. He gasped out her name and then collapsed upon her. He rocked his hips slowly as he continued to pulse within her flesh, shooting the last of his cum into the condom. He stayed buried inside her until the tremors in his body ceased, then rolled to his side, pulling her with him to unburden her of his weight. It took every ounce of energy for him to pull out of her warmth and clean them both up. Finished, he tugged her into his embrace and marveled at how well she fit against him. They both dozed until the alarm sounded, alerting them to start their day.
"One second, sweetie," Tadashi told his daughter while he answered his phone.
"Morimoto speaking."
"Morimoto-san, it's Mogami. Do you have some time so we can talk about the case? I prefer this done in person due to sensitive information, but it shouldn't take longer than ten minutes of your time. I can ask you over the phone if you are free."
"Mogami-san, are you in the office right now?" Tadashi asked, scanning the surrounding area outside the car windows.
"Yes, why?"
Kyoko's eyes went wide with shock. He was talking to her mother.
"Please hold on. If it's quick, I can stop by the firm." Tadashi checked his designer watch and covered the mouthpiece of the phone. He directed his driver to head for the Viride General Law Office.
"I'm in the area. I'll be there in a few minutes." With a few more words exchanged, he hung up the phone. He could already see the building down the street. What timing!
"I'm sorry, sweetie, but I have to meet your mother for a few minutes. Since we're over an hour early, I thought it would be okay. You can stay in the car if you'd like. I promise not to be too long."
Kyoko looked down at the outfit she was wearing. They were on their way to her drama shooting for Rika, so she was dressed in character as much as possible. Although she already got the part, she had learned from the Momiji auditions that first impressions were important. They were over an hour early and didn't mind the detour. Her mother would not approve of the outfit she chose today. She was more grunge than rocker chic with her ripped-up fishnets, studded combat boots, a pair of side lace-up high-waist leather shorts, and a shredded cropped tee of an American grunge band. The black leather jacket finished off the outfit.
Nope. Her mother would not approve at all. Kyoko would have opted to stay in the car, but she was curious about the case. Her father had told her just this morning that the negotiations for Kimiko's plea deal took place yesterday. It wasn't quite set in stone, but she should be leaving Japan soon. Kyoko could only breathe a sigh of relief from that information. If her mother was calling, maybe something went wrong.
"We're here!" Tadashi announced when the car pulled up to the curb. "I'll be right back."
"If it's okay, I want to come with you."
"Of course, this does concern you after all."
Kyoko stepped out of the car, prepared to face her mother. Saena had to understand that her costume was necessary for her line of work.
Kyoko squirmed under her mother's scrutiny. The Mogami river between her eyes deepened as she glared at her delinquent-looking daughter with her dark makeup and offensive outfit standing in her office's prestigious lobby.
She pursed her lips in dissatisfaction but said nothing as she led them to a conference room down the hall. Tadashi gave his daughter an encouraging wink before following after her mother.
Kyoko was the last to enter the conference room and was astonished to find Susumu seated at the table.
"Hello, Kyoko-chan. I wasn't expecting to see you as well but, I'm so glad you are here," Susumu greeted with a warm smile. This would explain why Saena opened the door in a foul mood. His wife could be so conservative sometimes.
Kyoko bowed politely and greeted the man who recently became her stepfather, "Hello, Todoh-san. Please, forgive my intrusion."
"Nonsense, you're always welcome," he greeted casually, leaving the invitation open for her. "Please take a seat. Do you two need anything? Water? tea?"
"Nothing for me, thank you. Kyoko?" Kyoko shook her head, declining the offer, and took the seat her father held out for her. "We are on our way to Kyoko's latest project. Mogami-san said this wouldn't take long."
"Oh! That's amazing. Are you playing a rebellious teen? You have this whole punk rocker vibe going on." Susumu commented, waving his hand toward her.
"Yes, I'm actually playing a musician, and I will be singing. I'm trying to channel my character with this outfit before getting on set."
Saena cleared her throat from her side of the table. "This is an actual job offer? You aren't impersonating that Setsuka Heel character?"
"Yes, for this drama. I've been signed on for two episodes. It isn't much, but it has allowed me to tap into my hidden potential."
"Do you plan on pursuing a music career also?" Saena prodded her daughter.
"Music has always been Sho's thing, so I never gave it much thought. Right now, I want to focus on acting."
Saena nodded her approval. Her scowl receded, knowing her daughter was in costume because she took her work seriously. She would have to give the President another tongue-lashing if she was doing something under the guise of Setsuka Heel and not getting paid for her work.
"Anyway, since we're short on time, I wanted to ask, Morimoto-san," she turned to Tadashi. "Where are you with the American case?"
Kyoko's ears perked up at American; they had to be talking about Rick.
"Well, I have a detective at the Los Angeles Police Department doing his investigation on the side with approval from his superiors. The problem remains that the evidence collected is all circumstantial; without a confession, he can't reopen the cold case."
"I can't guarantee a confession, but I hope to drag one out of her while she's on the stand," Saena replied thoughtfully. "If I manage to get her to confess, I think it would be best that the American detective is present to hear it firsthand. If I fail, perhaps he can think of it as a nice vacation."
Kyoko hoped her mother could pull this off. She wanted justice to be served for Rick. On that fateful night, only one life was lost, but many lives were changed forever. They were slowly putting all the pieces back together. It was a small consolation and it would never be the same.
"I'll see what I can do," Tadashi promised, standing from his seat. "We have to be on our way. Thank you both for your hard work."
Kyoko bowed and left with her father.
…
Kento slammed his phone down in exasperation. He dropped his head into his hands with his elbows propped on his desk. Fuck! He rubbed at his eyes, frustrated by the turn of events. He thought he was done with her part of the case! Now he had to deal with this new bullshit. The plea deal he had just negotiated for Kimiko was about to fall through unless they threw more money at the Korean bureaucrat. It was extortion! All they were trying to do was take advantage of Kimiko's mother's dual citizenship with South Korea for her to be extradited and serve her time overseas. This was the problem with bribing corrupt people; it was never-ending.
He picked up his phone again and dreaded making the next call. It needed to be handled quickly and delicately before the Japanese judges got wind of this predicament. They could easily reject the whole thing, sending them back to square one and negating the deal altogether.
"Jiro, it's Kento. We have a problem!"
Jiro looked up from his phone and peered at the sleeping figure of his daughter. She was finally home, safe, sleeping in the room she had since they first brought her home from the hospital two days after her birth. It resembled nothing of its original splendor. The whole room was remodeled to accommodate her new living arrangements. All electronic devices and dangerous objects were removed from the room including picture frames. If Jiro could find a way, using his vast imagination, to turn something into a weapon, it was removed. That left the room bare, except for the hospital bed, sitting area, and empty desk. All writing instruments were deemed hostile objects.
He left the room to take the call and locked Kimiko in behind him. He told himself it was for her own good as he walked away guiltily.
"Kento, are you there? What's wrong?" Jiro asked, taking his seat behind the desk in his study. Kento went into a tirade, filling Jiro in on the phone call he had regarding their plans to move Kimiko out of the country.
"I don't think this is plausible anymore. The man has become a liability. He's unpredictable and greedy. He may keep coming back for more money and even that may become not enough. Are you willing to take that risk? If he is dissatisfied in any way, you could go to jail for bribing an official. Prison here is a cakewalk compared to Korea. If the deal is not signed, I can still submit an amendment. She can serve her time at that private institution in Sapporo. Her cosmetic surgeries would have to be placed on hold until her sentence is up. She won't be denied medical treatment either. I'm sure we can work something out with the doctors to our advantage."
Jiro sighed heavily as he weighed his options. The logistics of his idea to relocate Kimiko to South Korea were flawed from the beginning. He was trying to bring in too many unknown variables to make this deal happen. All he wanted was to get her out of Japan so the public would forget about her and she can heal in peace. The daily phone calls from reporters wanting to interview her on the incident were grating on his last nerves. He was grateful the actress chose to keep the story quiet for now. His best bet was to follow Kento's advice. He wouldn't be able to help his daughter if he was behind bars himself. The downside to all this was she would have to live with the burn scars until her sentence was up or maybe the rest of her life if a plastic surgeon was unable to fix her in the future.
"Jiro, are you still there? Hello?"
"Kento, make it happen. I will apologize personally to the judges and the other lawyers for the trouble. Follow the law to a T. We're going to stay in Japan. I'll start making arrangements for our relocation to northern Japan. At least it's far from Tokyo."
"Roger!"
Kyoko sat next to her father and read the script for today's drama for the umpteenth time. She scribbled little notes on the side to help portray her version of Rika. She had yet to meet the director, but after talking to Matsushima and Ruriko he seemed to be a reasonable fellow and allowed the actors freedom to flesh out their characters. Kyoko silently prayed that she could please him with her acting. She had practiced running her lines with Kuon last night and rediscovered that he was a monster when it came to acting. He had managed to adopt all the subtle differences in facial expression, body language, and voice when portraying a female character.
"How do you do that so easily? You could play a woman!" Kyoko gushed with excitement.
"Yeah, I'll make one hell of a convincing tranny," Kuon joked.
"Tranny?"
He spent a good ten minutes of their practice time explaining to her the uniqueness of transgender individuals.
The quiet car suddenly filled with the sound effects of fairy dust magic. Kyoko apologized to her father for not silencing her phone. She was glad it happened here and not on set. Reaching into her side pocket, she moved to pull out her phone only to find something obscuring it. She lifted an intricately folded crane from her bag and twirled it in her hand. How did this get in here? Did he fold this? She pulled out her phone to read the text from her boyfriend.
R: Short break. I just wanted to say hi! I learned this new one. *Cute Face Emoticon with heart eyes and kissy lips* Did it work?
He included an image of a puppy with large round shiny eyes. So adorable! Just like Cain!
K: It worked. It's so cute!
R: I'm glad! Have a great day, Babe!
Ehhhhh? He didn't mention this crane.
K: Is this you? She attached a picture of the crane.
R: You found it!
K: Thank you!
R: You're welcome! Got to run! *kisses*
K: Love you! *kisses*
R: Love you more! *hearts*
She lifted the paper crane to admire its geometric shape.
Wow, he really folded this well.
A small script on the underside of the wing caught her eye, unfolding me. Unfold me? She shook the paper, wondering if anything was hidden inside. She heard nothing. Kyoko wanted to text him back but could not bring herself to bother him while at work. Deciding to follow the direction, she began the meticulous process of unfolding the crane. She wasn't worried about ruining it since she knew how to fold it back to its original form. She turned it over, and her heart filled with warmth while she read his short note: I know you will crush it today! Good Luck! I love you! ~ Forever yours, K.
"Something good?" Tadashi asked.
Kyoko nodded, her smile brilliant. "He wrote me a note."
"There's something to be said about handwritten notes from your loved one," Tadashi commented, a forlorn expression on his face.
Kyoko caught the sadness in his voice and remembered the letters they found while snooping through his apartment. She wanted to ask him if he had someone waiting for him in the States but thought it too personal a question.
As his daughter, shouldn't I be curious about these things?
"Father, do you have anyone special in your life back in the States?" Kyoko asked, finding the courage to get to know him more personally
Tadashi smiled warmly and shook his head. "No, not in the States, but I have someone special, and she's sitting right next to me."
Kyoko smiled shyly. He was being silly, but his response warmed her heart.
"It would be nice to have someone to come home to at the end of a long day. Maybe someday I'll meet someone that will compliment me. Until then, I'm perfectly content."
Kyoko's smile spread, reassured that her father was indeed happy with her. She texted her boyfriend quickly to thank him and spent the remainder of the drive refolding the crane to its original state. She would have to add this to her treasure box of items from Kuon when she got home.
Notes:
Hiya! My pervy mind got carried away as usual, but I hope you enjoyed it. I had to rethink my Kimiko strategy. I, unfortunately, don't know Japanese law. I made most of this shit up with lazy research and whatever I have planted in my brain from movies and such. Forgive me! If you see any glaring mistakes feel free to correct me!
Thank you for always reading! I appreciate it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 106: Too Much Moe!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko and Ruriko would have another chance at becoming friends.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Ren chuckled, closing his phone and storing it back in his bag. He had checked his phone as soon as he had a short break to see if she messaged him about his little gift. He thought he placed it in a spot where she would easily find it. Then again, Kyoko was different from most women her age, often forgetting about her phone. He thought of the genius plan to kill two birds with one stone by messaging her to say hi and helping her notice his art piece.
Mission accomplished. I wish I could have seen her reaction when she read the note. She would have blushed, and her eyes would have glowed a bright gold as if the sun shone upon them. The best part would have been her smile. It probably spread so wide her face ached. Those thoughts stuck with him, so he whipped out his fufu notebook and jotted them down.
Yashiro glanced up from his laptop curiously as Ren scribbled in the notebook again. His charge had been doing that often since he purchased the little thing yesterday. Yashiro thought the pad was for Kyoko and was surprised to find Ren using it. What is he writing? He was sure it had something to do with Kyoko. His professional mask almost always dropped when it came to his girlfriend. The manager was dying of curiosity. He already knew Ren was folding origami for her. Despite his attempts to hide his newfound hobby, it was easy enough to figure out what he was doing when he practiced with scrap paper and napkins at every chance.
Ren secured the notebook in his bag and stood to go to his mark. They were currently in the largest studio at TBM station that was transformed to represent the interior of Ryu's Boss' traditional Japanese home, a couple of apartments, and a nightclub that would be used throughout the series, including his personal space on the Gokudo property. They had this studio booked for the duration of the season and would only leave when a location shoot was necessary and available. He was dreading these first scenes and had a hunch the Director was testing his boundaries under the guise that today was the only availability for his costar.
Yashiro closed his laptop after negotiating a new job offer for Kyoko. It was another commercial/modeling gig with little content regarding acting. He hoped she would still be excited when he handed her the contract. Once she made her debut, he would have more acting roles for her.
With Yashiro in tow, Ren moved to the nightclub set. They would be shooting the bar scene first. He greeted the skeleton crew, doing final preparations, and the extra actors and actresses as he passed. He made his way to the Director who was having a discussion with his lead costar for the day. It was a closed set due to some brief nudity on his costar's behalf later. Once they were through with the bar scene, the extras would be released to limit those on the set. Yashiro would also need to leave.
"Good Morning, Director Aizome, Tsugumi-san," Ren greeted, dropping into a bow. "Please take care of me today."
"Good Morning, Tsuruga-kun. This Onee-chan will take real good care of you," Tsugumi purred while smiling suggestively at him. Ren did his best not to cringe. She was an attractive woman in her own right with her light brown hair and mature curves. He could tell she had professional work done on her nose, lips, and eyelids. Her profile said she was in her thirties but she had the face to pass as someone younger.
Ren ignored the innuendo in her tone and replied with a sparkling smile, "Thank you. With your skills, I'm sure we can finish this part quickly. I'm excited to get this part out of the way and get to the real action of this drama."
Tsugumi's smile faltered, unsure if the actor complimented or insulted her. Judging by his smile, it had to be a compliment, right? She would show him her skill once the cameras started rolling.
The director chuckled and walked away with Ren as they talked, "Yes, you've been training hard for those scenes. I can't wait to capture your ability on film."
"Director, we finished running through the checklist and are ready to begin," the assistant director announced.
"Okay, good, let's get started. We'll start with the hostess club scene. Tsugumi's character, Mari, is a small-time dealer of the same drug that killed Akira's sister. She sells the drug under the table to her colleagues and customers at the hostess club. The PSI drops this tip on Akira to have him investigate as Ryu. It's up to Ryu to engage with Mari and extract information about the supplier from her. In other words, Tsuruga-san, you have to seduce it out of her."
Ren nodded and took his place off-camera, waiting for his cue. He had practiced this scene with Kyoko before, so he hoped this actress could deliver the same caliber of performance as his girlfriend. If he could help it, there would be no retakes needed. Before he channeled Ryu, Ren let his mind reminisce briefly on the bedroom scenes he had rehearsed with Kyoko. They were more heated than what was expected in the script. There would be none of that with this actress, he would have full control of this scene.
The clapperboard was placed in front of the primary camera, ready to start the scene. The director called for order. "Places people….quiet on the set...ACTION!" The sound of the board slamming brought the set to life. Light jazz music, laughter, and voices filled the once-quiet space. On cue, Ryu, wearing his signature black suit, threaded through the patrons and headed straight for the bar for a drink.
Despite the detour to her mother's firm, they arrived with thirty minutes to spare. It allowed Kyoko to familiarize herself with the studio. The first set took up most of the space since it was a mockup of a stage, complete with lights and sound equipment. The other set was backstage, where most of the dialogue exchange would be filmed. It included a holding area for the various artists and dressing rooms. Kyoko walked around the area, imagining Rika performing on the stage. If she closed her eyes, she could visualize the crowd's response to her and her band belting it out on stage.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the whispers of those around her invaded her mind.
It's her, isn't it? Why is she dressed like that?
Is she trying to show off for the Director already?
It must be nice to have such a famous boyfriend. Fuck the right man, and you get things handed to you on a silver platter.
I bet she can't even sing!
Oh good; I wonder what poor singer won't get credit because she's lip-synching to their voice.
Didn't you hear? She's good at karaoke.
Kyoko ground her teeth and clenched her fists in annoyance. She was naive if she thought this place would be different. How could they think I would ever try to take credit for somebody else's talent? She disliked it when people made poor assumptions about her. Her grudges stirred menacingly, wrapping themselves around the dark aura being emitted by none other than her father. He's angry for my sake. That thought of him upset dashed all her dark minions away.
Kyoko pulled on the cuff of her father's jacket sleeve to get his attention. Two pairs of golden eyes blazed at each other with determination.
Her father whispered to her, "Let them eat their words!" Kyoko smiled and gave him a small fist pump.
The assistant director noticed her standing there and came up to greet her. "Hello, are you Kyoko-san?" He asked, looking through the papers on his clipboard until he found her profile. The picture he had on file looked nothing like the girl in front of him. The only giveaway was her large caramel-colored eyes.
"Yes, pleased to meet you. I am Kyoko-san from LME. This is my father and acting manager Morimoto-san," Kyoko introduced, dipping into a formal bow beside her father. The assistant chuckled lightly, having glimpsed the politeness of the girl despite her rebellious attire. He had heard rumors of her impeccable manners and professionalism; it was shocking to see for himself from one so young in the business.
"Please call me Dai. I am the director's assistant. If you follow me, I will show you to your dressing room for the next two days. I hope it will meet your standards."
"Thank you, Dai-san," Kyoko responded with a bow and followed the man down a hallway at the back of the studio to a door with her name in bold letters.
"The door over is Ruriko-chan's room. The plan is to get you situated with hair, makeup, and wardrobe before we go into script reading. You're a bit early, and I'm ashamed to admit that the Director is not here yet. Thank you on behalf of the production staff for agreeing to this role and the schedule change request."
"No worries! It was easy enough to change since this was during school hours. I'm in a special program that accommodates students in showbiz."
"Great, it's good to hear that we didn't disrupt your other work. Kei-san sent us your demo, and we're very excited about your performance with Bridge Rock later. Okay. I'll let you settle in and notify the stylists and makeup artists that you're here. Oh, before I forget, if you require refreshments, there is a break room with food and beverages down the hall. We will be bringing in food for you and your manager of course. Are there any food allergies we need to be aware of?"
Kyoko and her father both shook their heads no to his allergy question and then thanked him.
Tadashi set down her electric guitar and settled into one of the white leather chairs. He sent a message to Sota requesting his help. Kyoko set her bags down and looked at the room. It was spacious compared to her trailer on Sacred Lotus. She had a whole sitting area with two leather seats and a sofa. Did they expect her to do a lot of lounging in here? Why was it so luxurious for a newbie like her? She admired the large well-lit vanity in front of the chair and gazed at her reflection. There was a changing screen in one corner and a door leading into her private restroom.
A hard rap at the door interrupted her inspection of the room. She walked to the door and opened it.
"Hello Kyoko-san, I'm Rin, the lead costume designer on this production. My assistant should be coming shortly. He's in charge of accessories." The petite woman said pushing a large clothing rack into the room. She tried not to be overwhelmed or starstruck by the natural charisma radiating off the young starlet. She could see why the other ladies on set were gossiping about her without having met the woman. Jealousy is prevalent in this industry, especially among women.
"Good morning, Rin-san. I am in your care," Kyoko said with a sweet smile and a slight bow as she held the door open for the woman.
"It's nice to meet you. When I was informed that you would be playing this role my mind erupted with costume ideas for your Rika. It's a shame we have to restrict ourselves to two outfits," she said sifting through the clothes. "I was extremely surprised to find out that you were The Setsuka Heel. Woods-san is truly a gifted artist."
Kyoko nodded vigorously in agreement. It was always wonderful to hear the praises of her Muse-sama among her peers. Ten was indeed a magical witch in the fashion industry.
The room fell into silence while Rin went through the outfits on her rack and pulled out several to hold against Kyoko. She looked at Kyoko again and frowned at her selections. "The Director had a specific style in mind for your character but now that I have you here, I like what I see. I think we can forego this plaid skirt schoolgirl look and black tutus are a definite no. I like this outfit you're wearing so let's try to stick with that.
When another knock sounded on the door, Tadashi stood to open it so the ladies could continue their work.
A foreign young man of average height and honey-colored skin stood outside, pulling two large suitcases behind him. "Hi, I'm Antonio, the assistant designer." Tadashi greeted him and helped with the cases.
"Oh good, Toni, you're here. Come and meet Kyoko-san. We're trying to decide on the outfits."
Kyoko soon felt at ease in the presence of the two designers. They made her feel comfortable with their friendly banter; it reminded her of Fuji and his team. The next half hour flew by in a blur as Kyoko became a dress-up doll for the pair. She tried on countless outfits and paired them with many different styles of shoes and jewelry. It was amazing how just a simple belt or heel height could change the overall look of one outfit. Kyoko had to pose for a Polaroid picture each time so they would have evidence of the outfit combinations and make their final choices using them.
Within that timeframe, the director appeared to greet Kyoko and left her in good hands. He had carved out the morning to perfect Rika's outward image. Towards the end of the session, the hairstylist and makeup artist came to her room to check on the progress of her wardrobe.
"We're just about done," Rin informed them. "I want to get approval from the director first. What do you think of these choices?" Rin marked the blank space at the bottom of the picture with everyone's votes, then left to see the director while Antonio cleaned up the mess and to his dismay, with Kyoko's help.
Once her outfits were decided, the ladies went to work on her hair and makeup. When Kyoko stepped out of her dressing room, her rocker chic look was polished. Smoky makeup lined her brilliant blue eyes, making them pop. They had added extensions to make her hair go from black to blue ombre which Kyoko found exciting.
"Whoa?" Ruriko said, watching Kyoko walk towards her and the director. "Sheesh, it's about time you came out of there." Kyoko smiled and greeted Ruriko.
"Geez, don't smile like that. Are you trying to kill people?" Ruriko warned, gesturing to the men in their vicinity who looked ready to melt.
"Oh, sorry!" She said, covering her mouth to giggle. Kuon had lectured her last night after another round of lovemaking on this very thing. She couldn't understand what had come over everyone at her school and the drama site. He had to spell out the effect she had on men, and maybe even some women, and drilled it into her head that she was highly desirable. She should have been annoyed by him but only found his possessiveness endearing.
"Don't do that either; that's too much moe for people to handle. No wonder that man is so in love with you."
"Kyoko-san, you turned out fantastic," the director complimented her look. "Unfortunately, we're going to break for lunch for the next half hour. Do you think you can keep it together until then?"
Kyoko nodded, "Yes, sir! I won't waste everyone's hard work."
"Good, we'll do a quick table reading of the script and then jump into filming. Refuel, ladies!"
Ruriko groaned as another lovesick sap sauntered to the table to talk to Kyoko. Kyoko engaged every one of them warmly and politely sent them on their way so she could eat her food. She would have to warn her kohai later that her welcoming behavior is how stalkers were made. The girl had already experienced one rough patch with the Morizumis; she didn't want her to experience firsthand another dark side of the industry.
The upside to sitting at the shared table with Kyoko was the presence of her father. Ruriko still found him attractive for an old guy with his refined speaking style, gorgeous smile, and sparkling gold eyes. I need to get a grip. I have to find someone, preferably my age, to pamper me.
After lunch, they sped through the table reading. Kyoko and Ruriko had good dynamics and played well off each other. Although Ruriko's character was a year older than hers in this drama, Kyoko would be the more senior person in the industry. She was supposed to offer advice on how to overcome her performance issues and get along with the rest of her girl group. That group was made up of the girls that were gossiping about her earlier. Kyoko giggled when Ruriko called them "fake bitches."
"My acting skills have significantly improved because I'm able to convince the audience that we get along as best friends. The part of the script where we aren't getting along is one hundred percent just me, no skill is required. You're still too green. You'll learn how to spot these backstabbing bitches soon enough. Well, I guess, you have experience with that already," Ruriko commented.
Kyoko nodded slowly, refraining from talking about the case.
"I never worked with that girl, thank Kami-sama, but I know others that have. Let's just say you did Japan a favor by exposing her…them. Hopefully, nepotism would be frowned upon and give the rest of the little people a chance at shining."
"Thank you, Ruriko-san."
"You have to be vigilant. There are a lot of crazies in our profession, so be careful."
"You sound like Ren."
"He's a veteran. He knows what he's talking about. I'm sure he has to deal with it daily. I bet he gets women sending him their underwear through fan mail. Gahhh! I don't envy that man, and thank goodness LME screens the mail before it's handed over."
What Ruriko said was true. The fan mail she did receive by post through the agency was usually open when it got to her. Ren confessed that he didn't deal with his fan mail at all. There was just too much. If he started with one, he would have to do them all. It was just in his nature to treat all his fans equally. He trusted the staff at LME to appease the fans.
"Okay, let's get started. Kyoko san, Rika arrives earlier than her allotted time. She stops and watches the band before walking backstage. She finds a secluded spot behind some crates after watching Ruriko and her band rehearse on stage. Ready to go, everyone?"
"Yes, sir!" They all shouted in unison and took their marks. The extras took their places throughout the set with most of them playing stagehands.
The director used his megaphone to get everyone's attention. Once he received a thumbs up from his crew, he called, "Action!"
Rika opened the door carrying her guitar over her shoulder. 'Shit, I'm early,' she muttered under her breath as she looked at the band on stage. 'They're not bad, but the singer needs more confidence. Her nerves are overshadowing her performance,' she thought while she walked towards the stage. Her eyes met those of the lead singer, so she nodded and smiled, hoping to be encouraging. The girl ignored her and stopped singing altogether. Soon the rest of the band members stopped and started grumbling. 'Oh boy, time to go. Girl fights are never pretty.'
Rika ignored the girls' bickering and went backstage to kill some time. She walked down a secluded hallway crowded with boxes and crates until she found the perfect spot. She removed her guitar and plopped down beside it. She dug in her fringe satchel for her music player and headphones. Pulling her hair out of the way, she slipped the headset over her ears and thumbed her player to find the track she wanted. Bobbing to the song, she reached for her case and opened it. Rika's eyes widened with shock, and a faint blush crept upon her cheeks.
"Cut!" The director called out. Kyoko jumped up and bowed, apologizing for her error. Rika wasn't supposed to act surprised in this scene.
"I'm so sorry, Director. I won't let it happen again."
"Is everything okay with the guitar? You looked surprised. Was it vandalized?"
"Oh no, no, no, nothing like that. I just wasn't expecting something to be inside it."
"Is it a spider? I'll have Dai-san exterminate it for you. Dai-san?! Take this and kill the thing," the director ordered, rolling up the script he held.
"No, no, no, it's not a spider. It's just um… a crane!"
"A crane?"
"Yes," Kyoko explained, reaching down and picking up the little origami crane from inside her case. "Crane, you see? Their notes of encouragement left by my bo…ugh…friend," she finished, blushing a deeper shade of red.
"Wait? Are you saying that inside that note are words of encouragement from Tsu-Tsu Tsuruga-san?" The director stammered, his body vibrating with excitement.
"Well, I'm not sure unless I open it," Kyoko replied, squirming in her leather booties. Why did I just blurt that out? I'm an actress, for crying out loud! Why didn't I just lie?
"Would you like to check? Maybe it will help you complete the scene," the director encouraged eagerly. He was beyond curious to know what kind of advice Japan's top actor gave his girlfriend.
Kyoko nervously unfolded the crane. There was a collective "aww" by those present. Nobody knew what was written on the paper, but the soft smile on her face was a dead giveaway that it was something sweet.
Your voice is so beautiful and pure; I could listen to it forever. You got this, Babe! Love you always, ~Yours
"I'm sorry," Kyoko said, bowing low in apology for getting carried away.
The wheels in the director's mind started turning. It would add some severe moe factor if Rika found such a note in her case. It would be even better if they could have Ren narrate the note with a voice overlay. The ratings for this episode would go through the roof.
"I want to add this to the scene," the director insisted.
"What?" Kyoko asked, standing straighter with surprise.
"The surprise you showed when you found the note, the smile you had when you read it. I want to capture that in this scene. It would add to why Rika is so confident when performing. Let's take a ten-minute break while I work out the logistics. Kyoko-san, please come here. Could you maybe call Tsuruga-san and ask him if he would narrate a note for us? It would be five minutes of his life if that."
The director knew he was being sly, but connections were connections. If he could get a straight answer from the man himself rather than jump through hoops with his agency, he would take advantage of it.
"Ehhhhhh?!" Kyoko was flabbergasted by his request. She didn't want to interrupt Ren's schedule, but she couldn't outright decline her superior's request.
"Please!" the director begged. "This would improve ratings tremendously."
Kyoko sighed, "It won't hurt to try." This earned her nonsense compliments from the director. She walked off the set to find her father holding her phone to text Yashiro.
Yashiro-san, I apologize for interrupting your work. Can you please have Ren call me on his next break? This is not an emergency. I need to ask his permission on something for the drama! Thank you! PS. This is not an emergency!
Before Kyoko could hand the phone over to her father and give him the details of the director's request to relay to Ren, it vibrated in her hands.
She answered quickly, "Yashiro-san, I'm sorry to disturb you."
"It's me! Is everything okay?" Her boyfriend's panicked voice filled her ear.
"I said it wasn't an emergency, didn't I?" She huffed.
"But you saying it like that makes me think it's an emergency," he whined, making Kyoko giggle.
"I swear you're so silly sometimes. Okay, let me tell you quickly so you can return to work. Your note! I found your note in my guitar case. I was in the middle of a scene and was so surprised to find it that I was NG'd."
"Oops!" he grinned on the other end of the line.
"The director was inspired and wants to include it in the scene."
"The director wants to include the note discovery in the scene?"
"Yes, but that's not all. He would like for you to voice over me reading the note in my head?" Kyoko told him in an apologetic voice.
"I'll do it!" Ren agreed without hesitation. His wish to see her reaction to one of his notes in real time would come true.
"You will? Don't you have to consult with Yashiro-san?"
"Yashiro-san just gave me the thumbs up. He's on board. Tell the Director to work out the details with him. I have one condition, though. I must provide you with a new note to read on camera."
"What? But, but, wouldn't that delay filming?"
"Maybe, but if your director is unprofessional enough to demand favors of you, I can demand this from him. I have a backup plan if it's not doable. Trust me, babe!"
"I will," Kyoko replied softly, gripping the note clutched in her hand and recalling the warm feelings it invoked when she read it.
"Your voice is so beautiful and pure, I could listen to it forever. You got this! Love you always, Yours," he whispered the note's contents into her ear. Kyoko felt steam from her overheated head as her blush deepened from her face to her neckline.
"Foul play, buster," she scolded, trying to calm her beating heart.
Ren's deep chuckle filled her ears, "I have to go, but let your director know." Kyoko hummed in acknowledgment.
"And Kyoko...I love you."
Kyaaaa! He's trying to kill me. I'll need my makeup retouched after this call.
"I love you too, see you soon!" Kyoko managed quickly and ended the call. She took a few steadying breaths to calm her racing heart before she could join the others.
Notes:
Hi Hi! Slowly but surely I will get this one in sync with FFN. Until then I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 107: By Your Side
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Hikaru would get some loving too.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Wow! Did your father take this picture? It's good. It could be the front cover of Rolling Stone," Kuon complimented, looking through the pictures on her phone of her day on set. They cuddled in bed after Kuon's long day of filming. Kyoko had been home for a couple of hours before him since she only had the drama and the taping of Yappa Kimagure Rock that day. Kuon had walked in a few minutes before midnight while Kyoko waited for him, researching recipes for the Grateful Party. As intimate as they had been of late, snuggling close to each other and catching up on their day was nearly as perfect.
The photo consisted of her posing with the Ishibashi brothers, looking every bit like a legit rock band. Kyoko stood on the floor, leaning casually against the stage. She wore a yellow chiffon mini skirt and a matching yellow tee with a graphic of roses and pistols. A black leather moto jacket, knee-high socks, black suede wedge-heeled booties, and various spiked accessories completed the outfit. Hikaru sat on the stage, holding his guitar. The other two guys crowded behind him with Shinichi holding his bass guitar and Yuusei clutching his drumsticks. Her father had caught them off guard in the middle of talking and told them to look up, capturing the moment.
"He took them using his smartphone…keep swiping." Kuon chuckled as he scrolled through the pictures. He stopped at a group photo that included Ruriko and stared at it curiously.
"Are Hikaru-san and Ruriko-chan dating?" Kuon asked, studying the picture. He was aware that the man had a crush on Kyoko and would be relieved if he found someone special for himself.
"Ehhhh? What makes you think so?" Kyoko looked closer at the picture. While the other three smiled into the camera, these two gazed at each other softly, the way only lovers could do.
"Hmmm, you're right. I wonder if they are." She would have to observe them closely tomorrow.
Kuon continued to swipe. They had a lot of fun changing the poses from serious to playful. He laughed the hardest at the picture with Kyoko flapping like a chicken on the stage around the guys while they played their instruments.
"This one has to be my favorite. Boh being Boh, and that yellow outfit is fitting for a chicken…like a small Big Bird."
"Small, Big Bird?" She questioned.
"Small because you're small, but he's a giant yellow bird character, much like your Boh, from a children's show in America. It's been around for ages. My parents took me to a taping once when I was really young. I can't remember the plot of the episode but I remember this giant bird towering over me. They may still have pictures."
"Ooh, pictures of baby Kuon, I can't wait to see. I bet you were so adorable with your large innocent, green eyes and pale yellow hair."
"Oh God, what have I just voluntarily subjected myself to," Ren groaned, thinking of the volumes of photo albums his parents had of him. He hoped there weren't any embarrassing photos of him. "I think your Dad has a knack for photography," Kuon said quickly, trying to change the subject.
"I don't know how he does it. He said he was researching cameras to take better photos. I jokingly told him that he was worse than the paparazzi. Was that cruel of me?"
"Even your cruelest is too sweet, Baby," he teased. "How did he react?"
"He laughed. He said it was his right as my father, but he did ask if it made me uncomfortable. I told him no..." Kyoko went quiet for a moment, making Kuon glance down at the top of her head in concern.
"I think he's leaving soon. Do you think he'll come back?" Kyoko asked in a voice thick with emotion. A single tear slipped out of the corner of her eye and dripped onto Kuon's bare chest.
Kuon tightened the arm around her, put down the phone, and then tilted her chin up to gaze at her face. Her eyes swam with tears, and her bottom lip trembled. His heart went out to her. She had become so attached to the man in their short time together.
"Hey," he cooed, tucking a few strands of her hair behind her ear and swiping at the rogue tears on her cheeks. "I'm one hundred percent sure he will come back. Maybe you can tell him how you're feeling…" From what he observed of the father-daughter duo, it would be impossible for Tadashi to stay away from her. On the off chance that he didn't return, Kuon would gladly fly to New York City and drag the man back to her.
Kyoko sniffed, "You don't think that would make me too clingy?"
"I think your father is on par with mine. It would probably make him happier if you depended on him more."
"I don't think anyone can come close to Otou-san. He's on a level of his own."
"You may be right about that," Kuon chuckled.
"Kuon, thank you for making me feel better," she said, moving up to peck him on the lips.
"Always, my love. Are you ready for bed?" Kuon asked. Kyoko nodded. He moved to charge her phone and turn off the lamp.
"Kuon?"
"Hmmm," he hummed, clearly already falling asleep.
"I love you," she declared, cuddling him closer.
"I love you more, Baby," Kuon replied, making her giggle. He kissed the crown of her head and tightened his hold on her. He knew he was squeezing her, but she didn't complain. He fell asleep comfortably with her wrapped up in his arms.
The next day at the drama set, Kyoko went straight to hair and makeup. They had to recreate yesterday's look from head to toe. One wrong ring on her finger or shade of lipstick would become fodder for the critics; something so simple could be all a viewer remembered of the film. It was a good thing the professionals working on her were veterans of their craft and neatly labeled everything they used on her. It took the guessing game out of their work.
When Kyoko's look was finished, down to the right shade of blue for her eye contacts, they were ready to reshoot the scene where Rika discovered the note in her guitar case from her boyfriend. Ren had somehow coerced the director into redoing the scene with his note, supposedly putting her acting skills up for collateral.
"Tusuruga-san explicitly stated that you, Kyoko-san, would be able to make up any time lost on set to redo this scene."
"He really said that, Director?" Kyoko wondered out loud. Talk about added pressure. She couldn't let her Senpai down.
"Yes, his words exactly. I thought what we captured on film yesterday was perfect, but he believes this go-around would be more authentic. Do you know what's in today's note?"
Kyoko shook her head no. Ren told her not to peek, or it would ruin the surprise.
He was on a roll with these notes. She found folded origami cranes stashed throughout the apartment last night; her craft desk, her school shoes, her lingerie drawer. No place was sacred anymore. She even found a crane inside the fridge. Each one held simple notes that made her smile and think of her boyfriend. After she read each note, she folded them into their original design and placed them in a shoebox for safekeeping. She had six total at the moment. When she had free time, she would create an elegant box to store them in.
This morning, she discovered another crane in her purse. I love waking up to you in my arms. Your sweetness keeps me warm. She wondered how long he would keep this up.
"Okay, let's get ready everyone. We are reshooting the scene where Rika discovers the note from her lover inside the guitar case. Kyoko-san, I need you to make the note visible to the camera mounted on the wall above your right shoulder. A simple tilt of your hand in that direction should suffice. The technician will do the rest. We'll start with you walking through the back of the stage."
"Yes, sir!" Kyoko bowed, then took her mark off camera. The cameras aimed at the entrance backstage.
"Ready and action!"
Rika navigated backstage, hoping to find a quiet spot where she could kill time and wait for the rest of her band to arrive. She found the perfect spot behind a few crates and plopped down on the floor. While bobbing her head to the beat in her headphones and mouthing the words to her song, she reached for her guitar case. She flinched when she opened the case and cursed under her breath. Something had fallen on top of her guitar. She picked up the red paper that was folded into the shape of a rose and smiled. She looked the rose over, finding a small writing on the other side, 'Open me.' Rika carefully unfolded the paper, discovering a note written inside. Her eyes watered as she read the words to herself. She leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. A faint smile crept across her lips, and a slight blush dusted her cheeks as she lost herself in thought. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and glanced at the paper again. Rika refolded the rose and tucked it into her bra so he would be closest to her heart. She dabbed at her eyes, trying to keep her makeup from smudging, then picked up her guitar to practice.
"Cut!" The director called, clapping his hands. "Well done, Kyoko-san. That was a completely different reaction from yesterday but in a good way. I understand why Tsuruga-san wanted to redo the shot. Let's review the playback, shall we?
Kyoko followed the director to view the tape. The technician switched between cameras to confirm the director's intended viewpoints were captured. The director whooped when the camera mounted on the wall zoomed in on the words written.
"Wow, no wonder your reaction was incredible. You two are truly gifted. I can feel your chemistry with just this note. The audience is going to eat this up. Imagine what you could do as a couple in front of a camera…the outcome would be magnificent."
Kyoko blushed deeply from the director's praise and bowed. She would have to extend the director's kind words to Ren.
"You can take your break now, Kyoko-san. I will have someone call you and Ruriko-san when it's time to transition to the next scene."
"Thank you, Director." Kyoko took her leave to rendezvous with her father in the dressing room. He was currently on a time crunch with work and was focusing on getting that out of the way. His busyness was a stark reminder that she was taking up too much of his time. Taking Kuon's advice, she had broached the topic of her fear to him this morning. Tadashi admitted that he would leave once he knew she was safe from any repercussions of the Morizumi case. He assured her that he was most definitely returning to her to celebrate her eighteenth birthday. Her father vowed never to miss another one of her birthdays again for as long as he lived. His words were enough to settle her anxious heart.
On her way to her dressing room, Kyoko ran into two-thirds of the Ishibashi brothers. Yuusei and Shinichi had drinks in their hands, returning from the break room. She looked around for Hikaru. It was odd not seeing them altogether.
"Hello, Yuusei-san, Shinichi-san. How are you?" After exchanging pleasantries, Kyoko asked, "Where is Hikaru-san?"
"He's around here somewhere. We lost him on the way to the break room. That was about five minutes ago," Yuusei informed.
"We can head back to the dressing room, maybe we'll find him in there with my father," Kyoko suggested, sweeping her eyes around the set one more time. Kyoko had gladly offered to share her spacious dressing room to accommodate her friends. There wasn't much to their preparation before the scenes so they didn't need anything special. The lounge in her room was more than enough to suit their needs while they discussed their music in detail.
As they walked down the hall, the door to Ruriko's dressing room swung open to reveal Hikaru. Before he could take more than two steps out of the room, a slender arm reached out and yanked him back inside by his hoodie. The remainder of the Yappa Kimagure Rock team stood rooted to the floor for a few seconds, confused by what they had just witnessed before springing into action.
The trio slowed their steps and inched towards the open doorway when they heard moaning coming from the room. All three gasped as they watched their leader in a heated make-out session with none other than the Diva herself.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hikaru spotted his friends spying on them and waved his hand for them to go away. Good friends would have left and given them privacy, but this particular set of friends was so shocked by the scene they couldn't move. Ruriko pulled back from him, aware that he was distracted. She turned around to see what had caught his attention and gasped with embarrassment. She pushed away from him and fumbled to fix her appearance.
"Hi, all done filming? I was just telling Hikaru that...oh hell! You know what I was telling him. We weren't keeping it a secret," Ruriko huffed, folding her arms over her chest and looking away in embarrassment.
Kyoko and the guys did their best not to laugh at having caught their friends in such a compromising position. Hikaru's hair was disheveled and his mouth was smeared with pink lip gloss.
"Are you two dating?" Kyoko asked eagerly, recalling her conversation with Ren last night.
"No!" "Yes!" They both responded simultaneously.
"We are?" "We aren't?" Hikaru and Ruriko both looked at each other and laughed.
"We are!" They finally both agreed. Hikaru reached for Ruriko's hand and interlaced his fingers with hers to show his seriousness.
She didn't know how it started but she was happy for her friends. Being with Ren had restored her faith in love and wanted more people to share such wonderful feelings.
"Leader!" Shinichi and Yuusei cried out, tears forming in their eyes. Finally, their friend had found mutual love.
Ruriko had never considered the man joking around with his friends as her type. She preferred them to be more mature and taller. They had crossed paths at LME only a few times since he was in the talent section and she was in the music section. It wasn't until yesterday when she glimpsed him on stage during their rehearsal scene that she really looked at him. The confidence he exuded while performing was eye-opening for her and his voice. She discovered that he had a powerful voice hidden within that small frame as he harmonized with Kyoko. All he sang was, "Lalalala…," but it was enough for her to gauge his voice properly with her musical ear. She felt inspired and thought they could collaborate on a new song; therefore, a dinner invitation was extended when she ran into him on her way out the door last night. After a great conversation over dinner and drinks, here they were in a whirlwind relationship.
…
"Okay, everyone, this time we are shooting the scene when Himari, Ruriko-chan's character is outside brooding. Rika will bump into her wanting fresh air after her dress rehearsal."
The backdoor to the venue flung open wide as Riku used too much force on it. She was still so high on the energy from her practice that she didn't realize her strength. She didn't actually have an audience while they rehearsed unless one counted the stagehands but she felt confident that her band would win the competition tomorrow. She placed her hand over the top of her breast where she had tucked the note from her boyfriend. It was like her talisman.
"Hey! Watch what you're doing!" The girl from the band earlier cried out as she narrowly avoided getting hit by the door.
"Oops, sorry! I didn't know anyone else was back here." Rika said, apologizing.
"Well, I'm here!" the girl told her pointedly, taking a drag out of a cigarette and coughing up as she inhaled it wrong.
Rika tried to stifle a giggle as she watched the girl, clearly unused to smoking a cigarette, take another puff only to result in another coughing fit.
"Aren't you a singer? Don't you know that's bad for your voice?"
"It is?" the girl asked wide-eyed and threw the offensive thing on the ground. "I was told it would calm my nerves."
Rika moved to snuff the bud out under her boot and looked around for a trashcan. The other girl watched her curiously as she picked up the dirty thing and threw it in a nearby ashtray.
"You shouldn't leave that lit. It could start a fire, and you shouldn't litter," Rika lectured as she walked back, wiping her hands on her skirt.
"Well, aren't you miss goody two shoes," the girl retorted.
"Actually, my name is Rika Sterling. Why are you still here anyway? The rest of your band left a while ago."
"It's none of your business," the girl snapped and slid down to sit on the pavement.
"Okay," Rika said, reaching for the door handle.
"Wait!"
"Yes?"
"My name's Himari! People just call me Mari."
"Nice to meet you, Mari." When Mari said nothing further, Rika reached for the door again.
"How do you do it?"
"Hmmm?"
"On stage… I watched some of your rehearsals. You looked…so confident. This is my first big live and the thought of performing in front of so many people petrifies me…so how do you do it?"
Rika smiled softly down at the girl and sat beside her.
"Do you really think I'd tell my competition how to beat me?"
"Oh, uh, well, that's not the reason I asked. Sorry, you don't have to tell me."
"I'm kidding. The truth is…I'm terrified the whole time I'm up there."
"You are!?" Mari asked, astonished by the other singer's confession. "I couldn't tell!"
"I guess I can just fake it better than others." The girls sat quietly for a few moments. "The other girls in your band? Do you trust them?"
"With my life!"
"Surprising..."
"Why is that surprising?"
"I heard a bit of your fight with them earlier. Sounded more like a band breakup to me."
"There's no way! We've worked too hard and come too far to give up."
"Yet here you are, brooding alone. Do they know how you feel?"
Mari shook her head no.
"You should tell them. The reason I'm able to stand up there without running off the stage is that I know my friends have my back. You should have more faith in yours."
The backdoor opened again startling the girls.
"There you are!" Rika's guitarist called out. "Guys she's here," he said calling back into the building. "Am I interrupting something?"
Rika stood up and dusted her skirt. "No. We were just talking, Touma."
"The guys wanted to celebrate a successful rehearsal. Are you ready?" Touma asked her and glanced down at the other girl.
"Mari, do you want to come with us?" She asked, not wanting to leave the girl alone.
"Thanks, but no thanks. There's something I have to do," Mari replied with a determined look. "Thanks for the advice. May the best band win tomorrow!"
Rika winked at the girl and closed the door behind her.
"Cut! Well done ladies! The interaction and facial expressions were good. I'm going to check the tape and let you know if we need to reshoot anything. Please stay close."
The only part that needed reshooting was the beginning when the door first opened. Ruriko's expression was one of anticipation as if her character, Mari, was aware and expecting Rika to come through that door. When they emerged from the rear of the set, Kyoko was amazed at how crowded the area in front of the stage had become. The extras, standing in as audience members, were slowly trickling in through security to film the performance competition.
"Kyoko-san! Kyoko-san!"
Kyoko turned her head as she heard her name shouted from across the room. Her friends from school were waving wildly to her as they waited in line to be checked in. The director had told her that she could invite any friends to stand in as unpaid extras for this scene. She had extended the invitation to Kanae and Chiori. Both said they were unsure of their schedule.
Kyoko walked over to her friends, but the extras around them started to get overly excited to see her, Ruriko, and Bridge Rock. She stopped before reaching them, unsure of the right thing to do.
"Kyoko-san, we need you to get ready for the next scene," Dai said, pulling her in the direction of the dressing rooms. Kyoko gave her friends a small wave as she was whisked away.
When Kyoko and Bridge Rock emerged from the dressing room, they were ready to crush this performance. The set had transformed into a venue similar to the one Kyoko and Ren went to last Sunday. She could feel the tension of the crowd as they waited anxiously. Security guards who weren't present before were now escorting them to the back of the stage.
When Tadashi heard that the director intended for this part to be an open casting for the audience members, he enlisted the help of Lory to ensure that extra security measures were taken to protect his daughter. Every person who came through the door to participate had to provide proper identification and subject themselves to a wand scanning for dangerous objects. Bags were discouraged inside but not forbidden and were searched thoroughly. A real security firm was hired to act as venue security and provide safety for these scenes.
The crowd went wild, watching them walk to their mark. The director got on stage with a megaphone and addressed the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your enthusiasm and support for this drama. I'm asking for your cooperation to ensure successful filming. I wanted to create an atmosphere of a true live performance. I ask that you act like you are at a real concert, interact with the MC as expected, and enjoy the performance. It would be difficult if there were any troublesome individuals among you. The security you see here are trained officers. They have been instructed to react to anyone as they see fit so please let's all have a good time. Oh, and one more thing, whatever you do, please do not scream out their real names, okay? Thank you, everyone, let's do this!" The crowd clapped and cheered as the director walked off stage.
The main lights shut off, momentarily engulfing the place in darkness until the stage and surrounding area lit up with spotlights.
"Okay, everyone, we're going to get started," the director's voice boomed through the megaphone. "And Action!"
The MC walked to the center of the stage, hyping the crowd for their next competitors. He gave a brief introduction, calling Rika and the guys onto the stage. Rika smiled like a loon walking to her spot at the microphone. She was shocked by the sheer amount of people in the place, all cheering for them. She stood at the mic, waiting for the crowd to calm down.
"Thank you everyone, thank you. We appreciate all the love...this is Dreams!" As soon as she said the name of their song, Yuusei counted down with his drumsticks and began the song. Rika strummed her guitar exactly as they had rehearsed, never missing a beat. She was running on pure adrenaline already. Her whole body felt electrified, fueling off the crowd's enthusiasm. When she stopped strumming and reached for the mic the crowd hushed, eager to listen. For many, this was their first time hearing her sing, and her voice was mesmerizing.
The director had to intervene with his planted people in the crowd to change the momentum.
Someone cheered, and another one whistled. The crowd came out of their momentary trance, and mayhem resumed. Rika began strumming her guitar and singing simultaneously. She looked out into the crowd and almost missed a beat when someone in the back caught her eye despite the warm lights making it difficult to see. Seeing her falter, Hikaru joined her at the microphone, bringing her focus back to the performance. No one else noticed her milliseconds of hesitation but the guys on stage with her. She smiled and sang with him for a few verses before he moved back to play up the crowd. She scanned the crowd but didn't see the familiar silhouette again. When they finally finished their number, the crowd went wild with applause. They chanted "Rika!" repeatedly. She blew kisses to the crowd and bowed with her friends before rushing off the stage. Backstage, they embraced each other excitedly and congratulated one another for a job well done.
"Rika!" Came a voice she would recognize anywhere. She whipped around quickly at the sound of her name. He was standing there, holding a bouquet, wearing slim-cut jeans, a tight-fitted Ramone's tee, and a knitted hat on his head. Her eyes widened with disbelief, and then she ran into his open arms. He staggered under the force of her embrace but maintained his balance.
"I thought you couldn't make it! What about work?" She murmured into his neck, ecstatic to see him.
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world. You were incredible out there!" He said, pulling her closer. He looked up at her friends watching them and nodded his appreciation.
...
When the episode finally aired, the miscellaneous background noise that viewers heard would have faded into nothing. The low timbre of the beloved actor's voice would fill the rooms of those watching as he made a promise to his girlfriend.
Follow your dreams, my love. Whatever path you choose, know that I will always be by your side, supporting you every step of the way. I love you, always and forever.
The heartfelt reaction from the young actress would move many hearts. When the public learned that his physical presence in the drama was a total surprise to the actress, many non-believers boarded their ship and never doubted their love again.
Notes:
Hiya! Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it! I couldn't help myself with Hikaru. I wanted to have the little cinnamon roll find some love too, since sensei won't let him past puberty in the manga.
Thank you for always reading.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 108: Cheers to Success!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Darumaya would become the secret celebrity hot spot.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko entered the private room carrying a tray of appetizers while Ren followed up behind her with a tray of sake, beer, and water. It was humbling for those present to be served by the couple. Kyoko explained her connection to the restaurant as a part-time employee and practically adopted daughter of the owners.
They were at the Darumaya celebrating a job well done for the drama. The others present were Bridge Rock, Ruriko, and their respective managers, less Yashiro and Tadashi.
Tadashi had some business in another time zone, while Yashiro excused himself to dine with Kanae and her family, leaving the couple to enjoy the time with their colleagues. To squeeze the cameo into Ren's schedule, Yashiro performed a miracle. This meant the actor's upcoming days would grow longer until he made up the lost time. Ren seemed confident and promised that the schedule would not be interrupted further.
Shortly after Ren entered the Darumaya, he headed straight to the kitchen to find Taisho. He had plenty to atone for since he last saw the man: the Heel siblings, the Kimiko incident, and everything else in between that was captured in the tabloids, especially the recent PDA.
"I apologize, Taisho. I should have come sooner. I have no excuse," Ren bowed formally.
Taisho grunted and looked at the man. Kyoko stood at the opening and smiled. To Taisho, she looked happy and healthy. He saw nothing the man needed to apologize for but handed him a rag and pointed to the dishes. Ren bowed his head again slightly and helped without complaints. Taisho turned his full attention to Kyoko. He looked at Kyoko's attire and scowled at her hair before handing her an apron.
"We just came from filming. They let me keep the outfit." Kyoko said by way of explanation for her short leather skirt and blue hair.
Taisho nodded. "Was it successful?" He asked, engaging in conversation. He had not seen her in a while and found himself quite chatty.
"Yes," she replied, pulling the apron over her neck and taking her spot beside him. "It was a small role, but I played a rockstar. I learned how to play the guitar, and I sang on stage. It was a bit scary, but I had plenty of support." She glanced back to look at Ren washing the dishes.
A small smile played on the chef's lips as he caught the quick action. "Will you become a musician?"
Kyoko paused in her cutting and thought about the question. "I want to focus on acting out different roles. I've decided to continue my voice and guitar lessons. It would be a waste if I let my newly acquired skills dull." Taisho grunted in approval.
Taisho finished plating a generous portion of sushi and sashimi on separate plates. He turned to the hibachi grill and removed the beef and chicken skewers he had placed there earlier to a serving platter.
"You two take these trays to your friends and join them," he motioned to the trays of drink and food. "I can handle things from here." Ren and Kyoko left the kitchen with their trays just as Tasiho threw some fish on the grill.
They settled on the floor beside their colleagues and began picking away at the food. Kyoko went into hostess mode, pouring drinks for her friends.
"Ren, would you like some warm sake or beer?" She asked, holding the flask of warm sake in her hand.
"Ah, just one," he said, picking up one of the small ceramic cups.
"Wait!" Hikaru shouted, stopping Ren from sipping his drink. "Let's have a toast. To hard work and excellent performance. To our frontwoman, Kyoko-san, you were brilliant out there!"
Ren took the flask from her and poured her a cup of sake. They raised their cups and saluted while Kyoko burned red.
"Cheers!"
They refilled their cups for another toast. "To Tsuruga-san for pulling the biggest prank on us tonight! Well played, sir, "Yuusei exclaimed.
"Kanpai!" they cheered, raising their glasses again.
"My turn," Kyoko said, refilling glasses giddily. She was already slightly pink. Ren didn't know if her coloring was from her embarrassment or alcohol.
"Many thanks to my esteemed senpais, my coworkers, my friends. I could not have pulled that taping off without all of you," she said, staring at each one of them and lastly Ren. She held up her cup and clinked glasses with them.
When they finished the salutes, Ren started placing food on Kyoko's plate. "Eat," he said sternly. Kyoko giggled, making Ren smile. It had to be ironic to her that their roles have reversed.
"Kyoko-san, look at this. My manager filmed your performance." Ruriko handed her the small handheld camera from across the table.
Ren leaned in to watch over her shoulder as Kyoko pressed play. Her ears burned red with embarrassment as she watched herself perform for the crowd. She had used what she learned from the band at the live show she and Ren came across on their double date. She engaged the crowd and interacted with her bandmates similarly to the foreign singer that night. It was difficult at first because the crowd hushed when she began to sing, and her stomach fluttered nervously. She focused on her character's love for music to pull her through those tough few seconds and eventually, the crowd acknowledged her skill. The audience's positive reception fueled her to do her best.
"Ah," she said softly. "Hikaru-san, thank you for saving me there. You truly are a professional at putting on a show."
"That's what we're there for. Can I ask what happened at that moment?" Hikaru asked curiously. "You lost focus, but it wasn't a bad thing. It worked with the way the episode concluded."
"Ugh, I should have been NG'd. I'm so disappointed in myself."
"What do you mean?" Ren asked. Kyoko rewound the footage for several seconds.
"I got a bit distracted right...here," she said, pointing out the moment of her error. "I saw you in the crowd and lost my focus."
Ren chuckled. "Wow, but it's seamless. That kind of dynamic can only be gained by those with a close working relationship." He put great emphasis on the word "working."
Kyoko bit her bottom lip to keep from smirking. She thought to tease him later for his jealousy, but the back of Ren's fingers brushed against her exposed thigh beneath the table, shooting hot waves straight to her core. Kyoko didn't know what hit her. One minute, she was having a serious conversation about her performance, and the next minute, her body was hot with lust at the mere touch of her boyfriend. Kyoko felt parched. She took a sip of water and concentrated on Ren's words. The unintentional warmth his fingers exuded on her skin was distracting.
"You have all been working hard, not with just this performance, but on your variety show. I can guarantee your ratings are going to soar once this episode airs. If I were your manager, I would negotiate a salary increase when it happens," Ren complimented.
Kyoko scooted away. Ren frowned and scooted closer. When Kyoko attempted to scoot again, Ren clamped his hand firmly on her thigh to keep her from moving. His palm felt like a branding iron on her sensitive skin. He flashed her his gentlemanly smile to hide that he was pissed.
She smiled in apology, her cheeks taking on a deeper shade of red. He gazed at her with confusion. Her eyes drifted to his lips, her pink tongue licking over her lips. Ren stiffened beside her and let her leg go. This wasn't good. He glanced at his watch. Leaving too early would be considered rude. They needed to hold out for at least twenty more minutes.
He glanced at the others in the room. No one had noticed their small exchange.
"Woohoo! Tsuruga-san is right! Here's to the success of Yappa Kimagure Rock!" Hikaru exclaimed, raising his glass of beer. The couple was relieved by the distraction and picked up their waters eagerly. Everyone followed with their drinks and cheered again.
The topic turned to music preferences. Ren found himself engaging more in the conversation as a way to deter him from touching his girlfriend under the cover of the table. To Kyoko's surprise, he revealed his favorite foreign bands and songs, which impressed the brothers. Somehow, Hikaru's guitar was retrieved from his manager's car and they found themselves having an impromptu sing-along. Kyoko didn't even cringe when he played Sho's Prisoner song.
When that number ended, Ren discreetly checked his watch again. He thought they stayed a reasonable amount of time. He leaned into Kyoko and whispered. "Are you ready to go home, baby?" His lips brushed her ear, setting her body aflame. Kyoko ducked her hot face.
Ren smirked. He could only imagine her reaction if he said what was really on his mind.
Ren stood and held his hand out to Kyoko to help her up. "We have to call it a night. I have an early call tomorrow and Kyoko has school."
The others booed the party poopers making Kyoko apologize immediately. Ren dropped enough yen on the table to cover the tab and leave a generous tip. When they protested his generosity, he simply replied, "Tonight is on me. We are celebrating you guys, after all. Someone else can cover next time."
Before leaving, the couple said goodbye to the Taisho and Okami, then headed out through the rear of the restaurant.
Tadashi's regular driver waited for them in the alley behind the restaurant as promised to take them home.
Another person could have sat between them with the wide-open space in the back seat. Kyoko sat close to her side of the window, legs crossed and face flushed. She stared out the window, avoiding Ren's hot gaze. She may not have been acknowledging him but their hands were securely connected. She tried concentrating on the sights outside, anything to divert her attention from the heat his circulating thumb generated through her entire body. She trembled with need. Why is this drive taking so long?
Once the door to their apartment closed, they were all over each other. She pulled off his hat and buried her fingers in his scalp, pulling him down to her. Their mouths collided in a heated kiss. His hands slipped beneath her skirt and gripped her ass, pressing her against his hardness. She moaned into his mouth while their tongues dueled until they were both gasping for air. Kuon pulled off her studded leather jacket and proceeded to expertly remove her clothes until she was left standing in her knee-high stiletto boots and lacy undergarments. He was on her again, his mouth devouring every piece of silky flesh he could reach.
"Ow!" Kyoko winced. The doorknob pressed sharply into her back.
"Sorry," he muttered against her skin. He picked her up. Her arms encircled his neck, and her legs wrapped around his waist. Using his teleportation skills, they were in the bedroom in a flash. Kuon placed her gently on the bed despite his impatience. He pulled off her boots and socks, then yanked off his t-shirt and chucked it over his shoulder. Wanting to feel her warm body against him, he lay back down on top of her without removing his jeans. She opened her arms to receive him and wrapped her legs low around his hips. She gasped in delight when her center found his bulge. She pressed her heels into his back and ground against him. Her fingers raked down his back, feeling the coils of his muscles beneath his flawless skin.
He closed his eyes and groaned in pleasure. He held his upper body up, propped on his elbows, his hands holding each side of her face. His fingertips stroked softly, caressing her hair and skin. He brought his lips down to brush delicately against hers. He kissed her slowly, savoring her taste. He licked at her lips until hers parted, opening to allow his tongue entrance.
He wasn't drunk but she was intoxicating. Her smell, her taste, he couldn't get enough of her sweetness. He pressed his hips against her, rolling in slow, tantalizing circles as their tongues mated.
Kyoko's hand worked its way down his front and reached between them. She unbuttoned his fly and cupped his erection, stroking over his hard length. He closed his eyes again in ecstasy, his hips gyrating in time with her hand as she worked him toward the brink. He pulled back from her hand, wanting inside her. Kuon tugged his jeans lower on his hips and then froze.
Kyoko looked up at him, confused. "Is something wrong?"
Kuon released a tortured groan and rolled off of her onto his back. He covered his eyes with his forearm and cursed.
"Kuon?" She sat up, worried that something was seriously wrong. He didn't look sick or hurt but dejected as if his life was over.
"I forgot to buy condoms," he moaned in agony. Kyoko couldn't help but laugh.
Kuon eventually joined in her laughter at their ridiculous plight. It was already too late to go out. He knew if he called downstairs the concierge would be more than willing to help him out, but this errand was far too intimate.
"I seem to recall a time or two when I was able to pleasure you in other ways," she teased, stroking him as he lay there. His body reacted instantly to her touch.
Kuon's eyes rolled in the back of his head as the heat of her mouth closed around his cock.
Yashiro picked them up earlier than usual the next morning since Ren's schedule shifted. Kyoko had no problems going to school early. She could use the extra time to study her notes in case there was a pop quiz on any of her subjects.
The atmosphere that Kyoko had experienced days ago was still present. The school was quiet, but the few students that were there smiled and greeted her.
Kyoko turned the corner towards her locker and found her friends crowding in front of it suspiciously.
Gina turned around, eyes widening as soon as she recognized Kyoko. She smacked Hanami on the back, making the other girl curse.
"Ow! That hurt!" Hanami complained, turning to her friend.
Gina mumbled to Hanami, but Kyoko couldn't hear what was said. Hanami shut the locker door and turned around with a smile.
"Good morning, Kyoko-san! We weren't expecting you so early after such a long day of filming," Hanami said guiltily.
"You were awesome yesterday! We didn't know you could sing so well," Gina added, hiding something behind her back.
"Good morning, Gina-san, Hanami-san. Thank you for coming yesterday. I appreciate your support," Kyoko greeted with a slight bow. "Was there something interesting in my locker?" Kyoko asked, flashing a brilliant smile reminiscent of Ren's gentlemanly smile. The girls cringed at having been caught. They knew she was angry.
"I got them! I got them! It was the last pair in her size!" Gen said, running down the corridor from the other direction. He stopped short when he finally saw Kyoko hidden behind the other girls. "Oh shit!"
Kyoko looked at Gen, carrying a pair of new indoor shoes. He hid them quickly behind his back out of habit more like it.
"What's going on guys?" Kyoko asked, confused by their behavior.
Gina sighed. She pulled out what she was hiding behind her back: a pair of indoor shoes ruined by some red substance.
"Are those mine?"
All three of her friends nodded. "We were trying to clean it up like usual before you arrived."
"Like usual? How many times has this happened?"
"A few," Hanami admitted.
Kyoko inhaled sharply and looked up and down the hallway.
"This will also be the last time," Gina announced. "We wanted to handle this without your knowledge." Kyoko looked skeptical.
"Here they come!" Hanami announced. Kyoko turned to find Maru escorting three girls down the hall. The girls were tittering at the attention of the celebrity that they didn't notice her until she was right in front of them.
Their eyes widened with fear while Kyoko and her posse stared them down. Two of the girls hid behind one, distinguishing her as the leader. She tried to put up a brave front, but the fear in her eyes betrayed her act of courage.
"Wh- what is going on?" The girl stammered, raising her chin.
Kyoko stared at the girls coldly. Gina spoke, "We know you're responsible for vandalizing her locker."
"I don't know what you're talking about. We didn't do anything of the sort," the girl countered defensively.
"Really? Shall we show you our proof?" Gina nodded to Gen. Their friend took his phone out of his pocket and played the video of the girls vandalizing Kyoko's locker.
"This will serve her right. The slut thinks she could have any guy in school just because she's a little talented now. I can't believe he broke up with me, thinking he had a chance with her. Stupid! Baka! Idiot! Baka!"
The other two girls looked pitifully at their friend while handing her trash and a brush dripping with red. The final touch was an open can of sardines.
Someone could be heard off-camera talking to another, making the girls finish up quickly and run away.
When the video was over, Kyoko bowed to the girls in front of them. "I'm sorry. It seems you were hurt because of me."
"I don't need your pity," the girl spat, folding her arms over her chest. She blinked her eyes rapidly and bit her bottom lip, attempting not to cry.
"It's not pity, it's compassion. I know what it's like to be betrayed by a loved one. I've been in your shoes before."
The girl bowed her head in shame, her friends following along. Kyoko's falling out with Sho was public knowledge now, so they knew what she was referring to.
Kyoko stepped forward, the air around growing frosty. She took the girl's chin in hand. "With that said, don't cause any inconvenience to others. Handle your own problems."
The girl nodded vigorously, "Please forgive me, Kyoko-sama."
Kyoko let go of her chin and glanced down the hall as others started to enter the area. She couldn't be caught bullying someone. "You are forgiven. Don't forget, any guy that doesn't appreciate you for you is not worth your time."
The girls nodded and made a hasty retreat.
Kyoko sighed and bowed deeply to her friends. "Thank you very much. I'm sorry you had to go through the trouble. I'll be sure to compensate you all for-."
"Don't be stupid, we're your friends," Hanami interjected, mussing up Kyoko's hair as she bowed. Kyoko stood up and smiled radiantly.
"Whoa, whoa, reserve that one for Tsuruga-san," her friends joked, shielding their eyes from the brilliance of her smile.
Kyoko laughed and changed her shoes. They cleaned her locker thoroughly. It now had a fresh lemon scent.
Once they made it to the classroom, they groaned in unison. The desk Kyoko usually sat in at the front of the class was gone. Unfortunately, for whoever took it, there were more desks than students in their section, so it wasn't missed.
Kyoko and her father entered the studio where the Sacred Lotus production had taken up residence until the outdoor set was ready for their use again. Heavy rains overnight had left the ground at the location muddy. They weren't filming in this studio, but rather, perfecting the final scenes that would be filmed outside, minimizing the need for retakes.
Not seeing the director, Kyoko went straight to the crowded area where Koga and Cedric were in an intense battle wearing samurai armor.
"Oh good, Kyoko-san is here. Now the real fun can begin," the stunt coordinator said when he spotted her.
Notes:
Filler, filler, just trying to expand our OTP's friend group. I hope you guys enjoyed it!
Thanks for always reading!
Until next time, ja mata!
Chapter 109: Farewell Kunoichi!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, we would see more Momiji in action.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko sat starry-eyed. She was in seventh heaven as she sat across her best friends eating a late lunch at an all-you-can-eat buffet in Harajuku. The girls had picked her up early from school with the aid of her father. It was their way of apologizing, for not only missing her performance but also, being unable to attend the small gathering at the Darumaya. They chose this specific restaurant because of Kyoko's love for sweets. It offered a large variety of desserts and was easy on the wallet.
"You guys didn't have to do this. I already received your apology," Kyoko insisted.
"You say that, but I'm sure your feelings were hurt. I don't even know what kind of psycho carries a knife like that in their purse," Kanae said sarcastically.
Chiori stuck her tongue out at her friend.
"It's illegal to carry a knife like that in Japan, Chiori-san!" Kanae scolded their friend for the umpteenth time.
"I know! That's why we had to run. If they caught us, Kyoko would have to bail us out of jail," Chiori defended.
"We? Us?...Mo! It's your knife! Why did you have to drag me into it," Kanae sighed, annoyed by the drama that was her friends.
Kyoko had heard, or more like read this conversation and apology in their group texts, but it was ten times more fun watching the scene unfold before her.
"I'm sorry, Kanae-san. I forgot it was in there, and I panicked when the guard found it," Chiori explained.
"Please tell me you got rid of the thing," Kanae sighed again.
"No way! Wait, don't get mad..." Chiori pleaded as Kanae began her tirade all over again. "It's at home, tucked safely under my pillow."
Kanae groaned in annoyance and decided to drop the subject.
"Mo! From what I saw, you did a great job performing that role," Kanae complimented Kyoko, changing the subject.
"What? You've seen it! I was hoping someone would have snuck a phone in and leaked a video," Chiori asked excitedly. "I want to see Kyoko-san slaying it on stage too!"
"Oops! Yuki showed me what he had on his camcorder," Kanae answered apologetically. "The quality isn't good since there were arms in the way and people were so loud. I'm almost glad I didn't go." Kanae blurted without thinking. "Ah…, but don't get me wrong, you guys were great."
"Pssh! Lucky!" Chiori grumbled.
"I think Yashiro-san sent me the video. My father recorded one, but it's on my laptop. He went overboard. I didn't want a large file on my phone." Kyoko reached into her purse and pulled out her phone when something landed on the floor.
"Kyoko-san, you dropped something." Chiori reached down to pick it up and came up holding a crane.
"Oh my God! Is this one of the infamous love notes from Tsuru—." The end of her exclamation was garbled since Kyoko held her hand against her friend's mouth. Kyoko glared at her friend and looked around the restaurant. No one was paying attention to them since they were in a secluded corner. Kyoko didn't begin to think anyone would recognize them, but with Chiori shouting Ren's name, heads would turn.
"Let me see," Kanae said, snatching the paper from Chiori's hand.
Kyoko released Chiori and settled back in her chair, blushing. She told her friends what led to Ren's participation in the drama. However, his presence at the end of her performance was a surprise, even to her.
"Please be careful," Kyoko said worriedly. "And don't laugh!"
Kanae was beyond curious but slowed her movements as she unfolded the paper. Chiori leaned in eagerly to read what the actor had to say today.
Kyoko had already read the note. Nothing was incriminating in it this time...but.
"Break a leg and some noses and some necks. I can't wait to see your Momiji kicking ass on the big screen! Love always, yours," Kanae read aloud, imitating Ren's husky voice.
Kyoko covered her face with every word. Immediately after, she heard gagging and the beginnings of laughter. It started as a low rumble. Through the cracks of her fingers, she could make out the slight tremble of their bodies. She heard the first spurt of breath escape from Chiori's mouth. Kyoko watched Kanae's hand clap over her mouth to suppress the giggle threatening to escape.
Kyoko removed her hands from her face and pouted. "Go ahead and laugh since you both really want to. It's not his finest, but I love it all the same."
The girls released their laughter to the point that they doubled over, grabbing their sides. Kyoko held napkins out to them so they could dab at the tears pricking the corners of their eyes. Ren's notes were adorable, and she cherished every one she received.
It took her friends several minutes to calm down. When they took the napkins from her, Kyoko stood with a huff and decided to stuff her face with dessert. The training for Momiji was amplified these last two days. Since the rest of her day was dedicated to Sacred Lotus filming, she could afford to indulge a little and piled her plate with one of everything.
When she sat back down they finally pulled themselves together. Still pouting, she dug into her stack of sweets.
"I didn't know Tsuruga-san was such a romantic," Chiori said with a straight face then burst out laughing immediately.
"He has a way with words," Kanae interjected, trying to keep from laughing all over again.
"He's always encouraging me to do my best," Kyoko defended.
"Just how many of these do you have?" Kanae asked.
Kyoko was quiet for a moment as she did the math in her head. "I think I have over a dozen so far."
"What?!" Chiori and Kanae exclaimed in disbelief. Kyoko nodded.
"Wow, he's persistent. Does each one have a note inside?"
"Yes," Kyoko declared, blushing again.
"Well, I think it's really cute. It's so unexpected yet expected coming from him. The man is devoted to you. I guess throwing him some leg did the trick!"
"Chiori-san!" Kyoko gasped. She looked around to make sure no one heard.
"I'm joking. Nobody here cares. Well, maybe the staff is suspicious," Chiori nodded to their giggling waitress with her colleagues. The young lady and her coworkers across the restaurant were whispering and glancing in their direction.
"They aren't bothering us. Let me see the video now, pretty please," Chiori begged, batting her lashes at Kyoko.
"Are you going to pursue a music career? It's like you were born for the stage." Chiori said, handing back the phone when the video ended.
Kyoko blushed and waved her hand in front of her. "There's no way! Nakazawa-san and Kei-san have been hounding me ever since. It's only been a few days. The episode hasn't even aired. For all I know, the drama ratings might plummet because of me."
"You said that boyfriend of yours is in both episodes, right? Then, of course, the ratings are going to be high," Kanae said as a matter of fact.
Kyoko frowned at her implication, but it was true. Anything Ren performed was bound to be popular.
"I can't believe a veteran like him was used like that by the director," Kanae said.
"Isn't it more like he used the director," Chiori added thoughtfully. "Tsuruga-san just wanted to show off that he was her boyfriend."
"Hmmm, I wonder how long he can keep inserting himself into your work," Kanae commented.
"Is it bad?"
"It's not bad. If you keep challenging each other to improve, it won't be a problem."
"Even before I loved him, I admired his acting ability and work ethic. I want to grow as an actress and learn from the best. I hope someday we can all be in a project together too."
Her friends smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Oh, excuse me," Kyoko said, covering her mouth as she let out a yawn. She was on location for her last taping of the Sacred Lotus and jostled herself to try to shake off the remnants of sleep. She had been fine earlier, but once she sat in the chair fatigue began to seep in. This was the first time she had to stay overnight since the set was almost two hours outside of Tokyo. She had an early shooting today since the director wanted to use the sky's natural lighting as much as possible.
"Would you like me to make you some tea or coffee?" Tadashi asked, looking way too chipper for four in the morning.
"Thank you, father. I'll take a cup of tea."
She sat still until the artist finished applying Momiji's natural makeup. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail. When the artist finished, she stood and went behind the changing screen to don her Momiji costume for the final time. She would miss playing this role.
To take her mind off the sadness of her role ending, Kyoko thought about more pleasant things like the surprise she awoke to when she checked her messages: Payback: You little Vixen.
Her phone was still in silent mode when he sent it. She missed her chance to talk to him before he went to bed. He was up way too late for her taste judging by the time stamp on his message.
Kyoko was torn. She wanted to hear his voice, but she also wanted to let him rest. She wondered if he had as much difficulty sleeping as she did being apart from him. It felt weird sleeping in a bed alone again. Kyoko had to pull herself together. It was only one night, for goodness sake. She couldn't be too clingy in their profession.
She texted him so he could find her message when he woke. Hi! I hope you ate well and managed to get enough rest. I will be heading to the set soon. I miss you.
Her phone buzzed immediately after sending the message. The incoming video call was from Corn.
"Corn?" She answered quickly. Her phone screen filled with his handsome face as he lay in their bed. His hair was mussed and his green eyes were blurry from sleep. It wasn't fair how incredible he looked upon waking.
"Hi, I miss you too," he answered groggily, rubbing his face.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you," Kyoko said contritely.
"You didn't. It's difficult to sleep without you," Kuon confessed.
Kyoko was quiet for a few beats, "Did you have another nightmare? About Rick?"
He smiled at her worry. "I wouldn't call it a nightmare ...thanks to some naughty little lady leaving me wanting...ever heard of blue balls?"
The tinkling of her laughter filled both rooms. "I thought it would help you sleep. I'm sorry."
"It only served to torture me. You owe me the whole thing. Did you see my response?" He teased while Kyoko blushed.
"I did," she replied, her face heating up. She had to admit, the selfies he sent in several stages of undress were a total tease, including the one with him having a bubble bath. Stupid bubbles were in the way again. She knew exactly how it felt to have blue balls sans balls. She spent considerable time running her eyes over his delicious body, wishing he was with her.
They continued talking as she got dressed to head over to the set. Kuon laid back and enjoyed the show in real-time. He silently thanked the tech people that made video chat possible. It was like she was right in the room with him. Before they hung up, she told him to get some sleep and blew him a kiss.
Kyoko came out from behind the screen and sat on the chair to pull on her black wool tabi socks. She slipped on her straw sandals and laced them up her calf. The stylist tied the black band around her forehead when she was dressed. Usually, she would secure it with pins, but it wasn't an option today.
"Here you go, sweetie." Tadashi handed her a steaming mug of tea.
"Thank you, Father," she said, blowing on the warm liquid before sipping.
Kyoko perked up from the caffeine she ingested when the assistant came by to call her to stand by.
"It's chilly outside. Make sure to wear this until it's time for filming." Tadashi held up a robe for her to shrug into.
Kyoko stepped outside her trailer to join the others gathered and waiting for the director. They had already filmed Momiji and Chidori's pursuit to meet up with Shizuma the night before.
"We're going to pick up where we left off last night. Momiji and Chidori are approaching the fray. Shizuma has set up his camp as bait to lure the enemy to him, allowing the two women to escape to safety. The women are unaware of his plan, and he is unaware of their presence. We will be killing two birds with one stone today. I need everyone to focus so it integrates seamlessly. Yuki will follow the ladies. I will follow the men. This is our epic battle scene, everyone. No expense was spared with pyrotechnics. There will be fire but no explosions. Please keep the scenes going and improvise as necessary. There are a few of you that are wearing fire suits. Your role is to catch fire. The safety crew is on standby in case something happens. We've practiced this and timed everything. They know when to put you out," Joji explained, addressing the crowd using his megaphone.
Kuresaki leaned toward Joji. The director nodded while the producer whispered to him.
"I know what I said places a lot of pressure on everyone. If anyone is seriously injured, please notify an assistant. I can't stress enough that we want everyone safe on set. Any questions?" He paused for a few seconds and looked at each one of the main roleplayers.
When he looked at Kyoko, she shook her head no. She was eager to get started. They had worked hard to get this right! It was time she said farewell to her Kunoichi.
"Okay, let's get started!" Joji clapped his hands, and everyone scattered to get to their marks.
Chidori stood at the edge of the clearing in disbelief. Shizuma's encampment was under siege. The Shogun's soldiers had found him. The place was a sea of flames full of carnage and chaos. The screaming and smell were unbearable. She became weak-kneed, gripping the sword, a gift from Shizuma, and leaning against a tree for support.
"Let's go! We need to find Shizuma-sama!" Momoji yelled, unsheathing her short swords. She slipped into what little shadows remained and stabbed the first enemy soldier that she came across. He was dead before he could blink.
Chidori took several trembling steps out of the safety of the forest. Her legs felt like lead, and she tripped over her kimono. A soldier saw her lying on the ground and leered, raising his katana high over his head. All Chidori could do was shut her eyes and wait for the inevitable. She screamed as a heavy weight pressed down on her. She opened her eyes, startled to find the soldier dead. She felt bile rise in her throat as the stench of iron enveloped her. Fear gripped her as she struggled to remove herself from beneath the dead man. Once she was free, Chidori scrambled on her butt, grabbing the sword with her.
Momiji growled beside her, "Do you want to die?" Chidori shielded herself with her arm when Momiji raised one of her short swords menacingly. She squeaked as Momiji brought the katana down. There was no pain. She only heard ripping. She watched, embarrassed as the kunoichi sliced away at the fabric of her kimono, barring her legs.
"You're wasting time! If you aren't going to fight, go and cower in the forest. I'll save Shizuma-sama alone! You're slowing me down. Next time, I'll let them kill you!"
Chidori swiped away at the blood splatter on her face, resolute to follow Momiji. She was determined to help the man she loved. She unsheathed her katana just in time to block an enemy attack. The force of the man's blow was nothing compared to Shizuma's. From the corner of her eye, she saw Momiji engaging two men. She focused her senses like Shizuma instructed and concentrated on her foe.
They traded several blows. The man had the upper hand due to her lack of combat experience. She blocked another head-on attack. Her strength caught him off guard when she pushed, shoving him back half a step. She hit the man in the gut with the hilt of her katana. Chidori pivoted on her foot, sweeping the katana low and slicing the man's midsection open. She gagged as his entrails spilled at her feet.
She looked up just as Momiji came hurling at her. Chidori ducked, shielding her head. She grunted under the force as the kunoichi's foot pushed off her shoulder. Her eyes teared from the pain, but she turned in time to watch Momiji execute a flawless split kick on two more men. The sound of bone crunching was a clear indication that she had broken their jaws. One man fell to the ground closest to Chidori, gripping his face in agony. With a war cry of her own, Chidori lifted her sword and plunged it into the man's chest.
She leaned on her sword, still planted in the man, trying to catch her breath. She was barely in this fight and already winded. Despite her strict training, she had yet to build stamina. From her crouched position, she watched Momiji take on the other enemy. Unfortunately, this one did not fall from her kick.
Momiji twirled her short swords as she gauged the enemy samurai's skill. She let the man attack first while she defended. She dodged his katana easily. The man lunged at Momiji but turned in the direction of his sword. She spun away, but the tip of his sword grazed her upper arm. Momiji barely noticed the injury with the momentum twirling her. She used her body's rotation to bring down her swords and slash at the man's back. He cried out in pain and slumped to his knees. Chidori gaped in horror as the man's head rolled to the ground. Momiji delivered the finishing blow without remorse.
Chidori shivered as she looked into the cold calculating eyes of the female assassin. Her bloodlust was overwhelming.
Momiji stood and closed her eyes. Chidori watched her twitch, turning her head to the north of the encampment. 'Is that where Shizuma is?' She looked in the same direction but couldn't see anything beyond the fighting and flames.
"Move!" Momiji seethed through clenched teeth and took off. Chidori tried to keep up with her, but she was too fast. The kunoichi had the habit of disappearing and popping out to slay a nearby enemy just when Chidori thought she lost all traces of her. She felt a searing pain on her forearm as an arrow sliced her. She froze at the sight of her blood and gaping flesh. The cut was deep.
The sound of metal upon metal jolted her from shock. She gazed down to see another arrow and a shuriken lying at her feet. Momiji was at her side, removing the band from her head.
"Use this to stop the bleeding," Momiji instructed, handing her the cloth. No sooner did she take it from her hand when they were again attacked.
"Thank you!" Chidori cried gratefully.
"I'm following my master's orders. If he dies, I will kill you with my bare hands."
The kunoichi sliced through the air, stopping the next arrows from striking. They looked in the direction from which they came. Both sighed in relief as an ally took down the archer.
When Chidori finished tending her injury, they crept through the camp, trying to avoid detection as much as possible until they came to the heart of the fighting. They were spotted easily. Momiji sheathed her swords and sprinted at full speed toward the samurai in front of them without slowing down. The kunoichi deflected his sword strike using the iron and leather gauntlets on her forearms.
Chidori gaped at the fearlessness at which the girl gripped the man's torso swung her body around, and clamped her legs around the man's neck in a scissor's hold. The movement was quick. Momiji twisted her body down, flipping the man to the ground and snapping his neck in the process.
This takedown allowed Chidori to catch up since Momiji slowed at rising. The move must have stunned her. Chidori rushed to her side.
"Are you okay?" She asked Momiji breathlessly. Chidori could feel the throbbing ache in her body. She looked at the ninja by her side and assumed she was also tired based on her rapid breathing. She didn't know if Momiji was injured, but the kunoichi sneered at her question.
"Is any of that blood yours?" Chidori asked, trying to gauge Momiji's health status. The girl had taken on nearly a dozen soldiers on her own so far.
"Tch! Let's go!" Momiji dismissed her concerns and pressed forward.
Chidori could tell they were getting closer to the heart of the fight. They encountered more of Shizuma's followers. What confused the women was their use of armor. If it was a surprise attack, how did so many of Shizuma's allies have time to don their armor?
Chidori's heart sank. The enemy here was also dressed in armor. She saw the largest one mowing down their allies with not only strength but skill. Katanas broke against his armor. He was swatting them away like annoying flies.
Momiji hesitated to leave, apparently torn at seeing so many of her master's allies fall. Their numbers were crucial to his cause. She stopped to observe the last of Shizuma's allies engage in battle. A few enemy soldiers gathered around, cheering for their champion as he slew two more men.
Before Chidori could stop her, Momiji unsheathed her katanas and dashed toward the armored giant. Her body rolled to the side, his sword missing her by a centimeter. The sound of his blade cutting through the air with a loud whoosh was terrifying. The lock of hair at the end of Momiji's ponytail fell victim to the giant's steel.
Momiji twisted on her knees and sliced the back of the man's kneecap, finding one of the armor's weak points. The man grunted and slashed down, causing Momiji to tumble away. Despite his size, he was agile in his suit.
The man pivoted and swung his katana at Momiji. The ninja dodged, bending backward in a bridge position. She was upright instantly, blocking the heavy sword with both katanas. He applied pressure to his sword, pushing her back. He pulled his sword back quickly and swung down again with all his might. This time Chidori heard Momiji grunt. He was too strong for her. Momiji retreated, snarling at her enemy.
Chidori prayed to Kami-sama that Momiji could stop this man. The kunoichi began a deadly dance of strike and retreat. She used her agility and speed to deal quick hits in the weak points of his armor, jumping and flipping to avoid his katana. The man grunted in pain when Momiji landed a cut to the interior of his elbow. The injury failed to slow his arm as he backhanded her with his gauntlet.
Momiji flipped in the air and fell to the ground. She shook her head, stunned by the contact. She spat blood and swiped her mouth. The kunoichi growled, baring her reddened teeth. Momiji's slashes eventually grew slower. Chidori could see Momiji's body trembling with fatigue.
Chidori looked around for anything to help the ninja. Her eyes landed on a good-sized rock. She just needed to create an opening for her. Momiji growled in frustration as her strikes sparked off the man's armor. The man was now defending the chinks in his armor. He seemed to figure out her tactic.
Chidori ran for the rock and threw it. The samurai stumbled, momentarily stunned as the rock connected with his helmet.
Momiji saw her opening. She slid between the giant's legs, skinning her knees against the course ground. She slid almost flat to the ground, sweeping her katanas out behind her and slicing his Achilles tendons. Chidori felt the earth shake as the giant fell to the ground, howling in pain with blood gushing from his wounds.
Momiji didn't hesitate. She plunged her short sword into the narrow slit of his armor between the neck and shoulder to deal the final blow. Chidori turned her head away as blood gushed when Momiji pulled her sword out. Momiji flicked the blood off her blades. The three enemy soldiers watching the fight converged on the women warily. Heaving with exhaustion, Chidori held her katana in a ready stance. The women stood back to back prepared to fight off the soldiers.
Shizuma's allies in the area joined the fray, helping the women. Chidori glanced around, now that the large soldier was down, she could see many enemy soldiers retreating into the forest. The scales tipped in their favor, but there was still no time to rest. They still needed to find Shizuma. She scanned the camp.
"There!" She screamed, pointing toward the north. Shizuma was partially dressed in his red armor, making him easy to spot. He wasn't wearing his helmet or chest plates. The only thing protecting him was thick leather. His opponent dressed similarly. He still managed to look like a demon from hell as the nearby flames danced around him and Yamada. It was ironic that Shizuma's armor mimicked a red devil while the enemy's armor was white— the color of purity and goodness. Yamada was anything but.
Momiji sprang forth on pure adrenaline. Chidori followed behind. The enemy soldiers were few and far between as they closed the gap on Shizuma. Momiji engaged the stragglers only long enough to get them out of her path. She didn't waste time killing them off and managed to leave an easy route for Chidori to follow.
"Shizuma-sama!" Momiji screamed. Chidori looked up at the man she loved as he fought desperately with Yamada. He fell to one knee, narrowly blocking the next blow. She could now hear the faint clashing of their steel as they fought.
Her eyes pulled from Shizuma and focused on what was in front of her when an arrow whizzed by, barely missing her. There were still enemy archers in the camp. She watched Momiji's head twist over her left shoulder. It was the first time she had seen the girl's golden eyes widen with fear. Chidori followed the kunoichi's line of sight. An archer stood almost 10 meters away with an arrow nocked and aimed at Shizuma.
"Sakanoe!" Chidori screamed as tears blurred her vision. Her voice couldn't reach him. She watched him cut down Yamada, but it was too late. She turned to see the archer release his arrow. She stumbled to the ground, feeling the breath leave her as she heard Shizuma's howl in agony moments later.
She closed her eyes and gripped her chest as tears spilled down her cheeks. It was all over. They were too late.
Chidori's eyes shot open when she heard his voice. "Somebody, help me!" He roared vigorously, not at all like a dying man. She watched his men surround him to form a protective barrier. It was then she noticed through the gaps in the men's legs, Momiji, an arrow protruding from her body. A sob escaped her throat.
Chidori struggled to stand. It was like all her energy had fled her body. She growled with determination and used her sword to stand on shaky legs. She willed herself to take a step, then another. It was pathetic. She was barely injured.
Chidori dropped to Momiji's side, gripping her hand. By now, the sun was on the rise. Chidori could see the extent of the kunoichi's injuries. Fresh cuts and bruises riddled the girl's body. Her eyes traveled to the arrow in her chest. It pierced her heart. There was nothing they could do. Tears blurred her vision.
Momiji shifted her gaze to Chidori, "Promise me you will take care of him." Chidori nodded through her tears.
"He doesn't like to eat his vegetables. You have to mince them like you would for a child so he won't notice it in the broth," Momiji instructed. She started coughing, blood dripping down her chin.
"Shhh! Don't talk Momiji. Save your strength," Chidori urged. She used the underside of her sleeve to wipe the blood from Momiji's mouth.
"Don't let him drink too much sake. It will make him go bald and grow fat."
Chidori forced a laugh. Her heart ached as Shizuma leaned in, whispering to the girl he thought of as a sister.
"My sweet Momiji, forgive me." He kissed her forehead. Momiji reached her hand to caress his cheek.
"I'm glad I was able to fulfill my mission," Momiji murmured with a soft smile gracing her lips. She took her last breath.
"No!" Shizuma cried to the heavens, gathering the girl closer to him.
Chidori bowed her head and cried harder. This was her fault. If she wasn't so weak, Momiji could have easily saved Shizuma's life and her own. She vowed to fulfill the girl's dying wish. She would stay by Shizuma's side, loving and protecting him in her place for the rest of her mortal life.
The actors stayed in their position, improvising the remainder of the scene. "Oh, sorry, cut! CUT!" The director shouted. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes and nose. Those present had been so moved by the performance that they forgot it was all an act.
A round of applause erupted throughout the set. Fallen actors rose from the dead, including Yamada and Momiji. It was the only way for Momiji to go with dignity.
It took the crew a few moments to pull themselves together and begin the meticulous task of putting out what remained of the fires and cleaning up the set.
They would spend the rest of the time perfecting the scenes of Momiji. They had lost the natural light. Anything that needed reshooting could be easily edited since they had the baseline footage. Although the main part of Momiji's role was over, the special effects would still need to be perfected. Kyoko would have to return for any cleanup scenes.
Omake
Earlier, for the first time in a long time, Kuon came home to a cold and dark apartment. He sighed at the overwhelming loneliness that filled his heart. He needed to get used to nights like these when he or she was away for work.
He walked to the kitchen and bypassed his usual bottle of cognac. He went straight for the scotch. He poured two fingers worth into a glass tumbler and parked himself on the couch. He thumbed through his messages again from Kyoko and found the one he was looking for: Surprise! For Your Eyes Only!
He had been tempted the last two hours to steal away somewhere and open the message from prying eyes. If it was what he hoped, he wanted to take his time, enjoying the surprise. His imagination ran rampant with what it could contain; lingerie selfie was at the top of his list. Then his attention turned to the style and color of the lingerie. His mind kept lingering on red.
Now he was home and free to enjoy to his heart's content. Since he knew Kyoko wouldn't be home tonight, he had kindly pushed the director and his co-stars to continue filming. His persistence allowed him to get off a few hours early the following day. He could spend some quality time with her.
Kuon clicked on the message and found a video file attached. Her beautiful face greeted him, telling him about her day. How she spent it with Moko and how filming was going. The whole time she was talking, she was undressing. Does she know what she's doing on camera? He remembered the message title and wondered how far she had taken this.
Kuon took a swig of his drink and licked his lips in anticipation. The video paused before she could remove her undergarments and cut over to a new scene.
Kyoko was singing. "You make me feel like the Amazon's running between my thighs…"
Holy Shit! It took Kuon a moment to realize what he was watching. There on his phone was a very naked and very wet, literally wet, Kyoko taking a hot shower. Her back was to him. He gulped as the water cascaded over her long hair and down her smooth back, disappearing in her crack and down her legs.
She turned around, "You make me feel love, love, love, love, love... love, love, love, love, love..."
He gasped and instantly hardened.
She lathered soap in her hands and smoothed it over her neck, shoulders, and collar. Her eyes opened to narrow slits. She gazed into the camera with that lusty look that he had come to know intimately. He stopped breathing.
Her pink, pouty lips parted, singing the next lines with her smooth sultry voice.
"You make me feel like a candy apple all red and horny, You make me feel like I want to be a dumb blonde, In a centerfold, the girl next door…"
He had never heard this English song before. It had to be the sexiest song he ever heard. She swayed her hips provocatively under the hot spray, caressing herself. Kuon wished he had been there. Her hands dipped lower and began kneading her breasts. Her thumbs swirled over the crests of her nipples. She smiled seductively as one hand continued its descent. Over her abdomen and further, to cup between her legs. She shuddered.
The screen froze with her in the throes of ecstasy.
"Fuck!" Kuon cursed, checking his phone to see if it ran out of juice. He confirmed it. His little tease ended the video there. Two could play this game, he thought and replayed the video.
Notes:
I tried something different with the Lotus section and wrote it from Chidori's POV. Let me know what you guys think about it. Was it too random? After such a depressing scene, I thought I'd follow it up with some naughtiness. Hope you enjoyed it!
The song Kyoko sang at the end was "Feelin' Love" by Paula Cole. I think the song is a total hot sex edge-of-bed, couch, floor, and shower-type one.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 110: Murderer!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Saena would be the one to prosecute Kimiko and her manager.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kuon glanced at his phone for the time. Finally, she would be home soon. Her last text said they were fifteen minutes out. He had the evening off and wanted to surprise her. He pulled out the little dishes that Kyoko often used to plate the side dishes for their dinners.
He opened the rice cooker and filled two bowls of rice, doming the top as she taught him. He reached for the bag of food he brought with him and opened the containers. He ladled miso soup into two other bowls. The broth was still steaming. He continued plating the pickled vegetables, grilled fish, skewered beef, and salad. He left the food and started setting the table. He laid a white linen cloth over the coffee table first. Next came the candles and a floral arrangement for the centerpiece. It would have to do for a romantic celebratory dinner.
When he finished, he began setting the food on the table. It would be ready as soon as she walked in the door. He initially wanted to take her on a date, but her schedule, unfortunately, ran later than expected. Kuon had to improvise.
When the food was set, he sat at the table and folded his latest note. By now, he memorized every fold required to make the perfect crane. He put the decorated bird on her side of the table. He pulled out another sheet of paper and his unicorn notebook from his pocket. He flipped to the page he was looking for and smiled. This is a good one to use.
As soon as he finished writing his note, he folded the paper into another crane. He stuffed the extra crane and notebook into his bag, cutting it close. She could arrive at any moment and catch him in the act. He wanted to keep this game going until he reached his goal. She seemed to genuinely enjoy his notes, and as he hoped, she saved each one.
Kuon used his phone to take a picture of his table setting, focusing on the crane. He logged on to their social media site to post his picture. Before posting, he chuckled at the picture she posted this morning of her with the other leads and some extras: Epic battles are rarely pretty!
They were a mess. Their backdrop was a smoldering war-torn set. Kyoko stood in the middle next to Koga. She had foliage in her hair. Soot, fake blood (at least he hoped it was fake), and dirt covered her entire person. Although her face was a disaster, her bright eyes shone with happiness. Everyone held a "thumbs up" sign with their hands. Kuon's heart swelled with pride. He received an excited voicemail from her earlier detailing her participation in the scene. It indeed sounded epic.
He took a few minutes to read some of the comments. Many fans voiced their impatience for the movie to be released and were grateful for the mini spoiler. Kuon left a similar message of congratulations to the cast and crew anonymously. Of course, he had to single out his devotion to the actress starring as Momiji without sounding like a creepy fan.
He finally posted his picture: Dinner by Moi for my one and only Kunoichi. I had a little, okay a lot, of help to create this meal for her. I hope she enjoys it.
The comments and likes were instantaneous. Kuon was pulled from his phone by the sound of the front door. He jumped to his feet and rushed to the door. She was finally home.
"Oh!" Kyoko squeaked as she lost her balance from the sudden door opening. Kuon swept her into his arms.
"Welcome home!" He greeted, squeezing her tight.
"I'm home," she replied, smiling into his chest and inhaling his scent. Yes, this is home. She wrapped her arms around him in return.
"I missed you," he confessed, stroking her hair. They stood in the opened doorway for several seconds before he pulled away.
"Sorry. Let me help you." He reached out for her overnight bag and held the door open for her. "I made dinner."
Kyoko raised a brow skeptically. "I promise I didn't ruin the kitchen. I had help."
"Help?" She asked curiously. Who did he invite into their apartment to help him?
"Come and eat. I'll tell you all about it once you've tasted it."
Kyoko sat at the low table and stared at the food. It had all her traditional Japanese favorites and appeared to be cooked perfectly. She glanced at Kuon.
"You made all this for me," Kyoko whispered, awed by the spread.
"I had help," he answered with a smile and sat across from her. "I hope you like it."
Her eyes landed on the crane sitting on her side. She reached out and opened it eagerly. Kuon had the joy of watching her face light up with a soft blush as she read his note. She raised on her knees and kissed him softly on the lips. "I love you," she murmured against his lips and sat back down.
Kuon blushed at her loving gesture. He handed her chopsticks to distract himself from jumping her bones. Kyoko took them and bowed. "Itadakimasu!"
He watched her take a few satisfying bites before he joined her. After a minute of eating, she stopped. Her eyes widened in surprise as she mulled over the food in her mouth.
"Corn?"
"Yes," he asked, pausing mid-bite.
"Did Taisho help you cook this food?" She questioned curiously and took another bite.
"Wow, your taste buds are incredible, but yes, he helped me."
He laughed when Kyoko gazed at him like he was a heroic being who could slay demons and move mountains.
"How did this happen?"
"You, see, I initially wanted to take you out to celebrate, but...I didn't think you would be up for going out after an exhausting day. At least I wouldn't be if I was in your shoes."
"I'm sorry," she bowed her head. He lifted her chin to stare into her eyes.
"Don't be, baby. Your work is important. We're together now," he said, moving to thread his fingers with hers. "Anyway, I thought I would cook for you instead, but I didn't want to ruin it. I dropped by the Darumaya to ask the couple about your favorite recipes. I noticed you always eat the same thing when we dine at the restaurant, so I thought Taisho could help me with a grocery list. I was terrified when he let me into his kitchen."
Kyoko giggled. "I'm very impressed! Taisho must really like you if he made you touch his knives."
Kuon held his hand up to show a bandaged finger. "His knives are deadly. I never want to cross that man ever."
"It's delicious. Thank you for entering the lion's den for my sake."
Kuon rolled his eyes and smiled. They continued eating until every bite was gone. Kuon found he had an appetite again now that she was home. Yashiro would probably rat him out for skimping on meals these last two days.
For dessert, Kuon brought out bowls of matcha ice cream prepared by the Okami. Kyoko was in heaven as she took a scoop of the treat.
Kyoko paused eating when her phone buzzed for an incoming call. She looked at Kuon and stood to retrieve her phone from her bag.
"Hi, Father. Is everything alright? I have you on speaker."
"Kyoko, I'm sorry to disturb you two after you've only returned. I'm downstairs in the lobby. Do you two have a moment to talk? It can't wait."
Kyoko paled and tears swam in her eyes. Her voice caught in her throat, leaving her speechless.
"Of course, Tadashi-san. Please let security know they can call for permission," Kuon replied, intervening on her behalf and wrapping an arm around her.
"Thank you, Ren-kun. I'll let them know." Kuon hung up the phone.
"Hey, we don't know what he wants to talk about. It could be nothing," he assured her, kissing the top of her head.
The home phone began ringing. "That's downstairs." Kuon gave permission and headed to the bathroom to put on his contacts.
He waited in the hall for Tadashi to come up the elevator. Kyoko didn't know he was outside. She was in a frenzy cleaning up the dinner dishes. He tried helping, but she pleaded to do it alone. It would help get her mind off of things.
Tadashi stepped off the elevator startled to be confronted by Ren.
"Is something wrong?" Tadashi asked worriedly, glancing at the apartment door.
"You tell me. She's upset," Ren demanded, folding his arms across his chest. "Are you here to tell her you're leaving?"
"What? No. I'm not leaving...yet. Wait, she's upset because she thinks I'm leaving?"
"She lives each day thinking you're just going to up and disappear," Ren sighed.
"I've tried to reassure her whenever she asked. I guess she just doesn't believe in me yet," Tadashi replied solemnly. "No worries," he said, perking up. "Hopefully, what I have to say tonight would ease her mind."
Ren nodded, opened the door, and let Tadashi in. "Kyoko, Tadashi-san is here," Ren called loudly to give her a warning.
"Father, welcome. Please have a seat," Kyoko greeted, carrying out a serving tray of tea and cookies without the slightest crack in her smile.
Ren exchanged glances with Tadashi and shrugged. Oh boy, she's in full Okami mode right now.
"You didn't have to trouble yourself, sweetie. I won't take up too much of your time," he replied, kneeling at the low table. Her hand shook as she poured tea into his cup.
"I'm here tonight because of real estate. I came to ask for your permission. It's time-sensitive, and I don't want to let the opportunity pass me by, but if you two are even a little against it. I'll walk away."
Kyoko blinked, confused. "Real estate?"
"Yes, my friend Sota…you remember Sota, right?" He asked, looking at them for confirmation.
They both nodded. Her father's friend was hard to forget. They owed him a debt of gratitude for his help with Kimiko, even if he was on the shady side.
"Anyway, he just got wind that one of his clients is selling his home and thought I would be interested in it. The seller would be putting it on the market first thing tomorrow. I just came back from visiting the place. There are some things I would like to change, but other than that it has good bones. He's giving me one hour to decide if I want to place an offer. I had to ask you both first."
"Wait, a moment," Ren said, trying to piece together what Tadashi told them. "Let me get this straight. You are trying to buy a home."
Tadashi nodded.
"A permanent one. Right here, in Tokyo, not New York City."
"Yes. Why would I buy in New York? I'm trying to sell my home there," he asked, confused by the question.
Kyoko grabbed Ren's hand and smiled joyfully from her heart. She finally understood what was happening. Her father was trying to buy a home to live permanently in Tokyo.
"Yes! Yes, buy it!" Kyoko squealed enthusiastically. "I hear ownership is the better investment."
"Yes, that was the idea. Are you sure? You don't think it's too weird. We'll practically be neighbors. I mean six floors are separating us but still very close."
"The place you want to buy is here? In this building?" Ren asked.
"Yes, did I not mention it? That's why I wanted your permission. I don't want you two to think I'm intruding on your private lives. If it's a problem, I can look elsewhere. And please don't spare my feelings. Tell me the truth if it's weird."
Kyoko shook her head. She was elated at the idea of having him not only permanently living in Tokyo, but close by as well.
"I'll agree on two conditions," Ren said seriously.
Kyoko and Tadashi went rigid. She was so excited that her father was serious about staying here that she didn't even consider Ren's feelings before agreeing.
"One, no drive-bys," Ren needed to protect his identity. He wasn't ready to come clean to his future father-in-law.
Tadashi nodded in understanding. "Agreed, I promise to call first."
"We'll also extend the same courtesy," Ren responded, glancing at Kyoko. She nodded her agreement.
"And two, we will take turns hosting family dinners on Sunday night. Effective immediately, non-negotiable. We'll host until you're settled in."
Tadashi gasped, and his wide eyes turned glassy. Kyoko threw her arms around Ren and squealed, peppering kisses on his face.
"Babe, please stop. Your father is present. I want to live a very long life with you."
Kyoko pulled herself together and apologized.
Tadashi laughed and swiped the tears forming in his eyes.
"Thank you, Ren-kun. I appreciate you sharing her with this old man."
Ren chuckled as he watched the father and daughter hug and cry tears of happiness. They were so alike in that regard. He hoped he didn't regret this decision.
Tadashi called his realtor and asked him to broker the deal as soon as possible. He hugged his daughter, shook Ren's hand, and left for the night.
Ren locked the door behind him and pulled her into a hug.
"Happy?" He asked, tipping her face up to his and pecking her button nose.
"Very. What can I do to thank you?"
"I didn't do much, but should you feel so inclined. How about we start with a shower?" The Emperor whispered seductively into her ear.
Kyoko giggled and removed his arms from her waist. She clasped his hand and led him to their room. She supposed she did owe him a shower.
Kyoko took her days living life after Momiji in stride. She attended school regularly and settled into a routine. After school, she divided her time between LoveMe duties and the LME training school. She did have new work, but it wouldn't start for another week. She continued her music lessons and resumed acting classes to fill the time.
On this particular day, she sat nervously at the table beside her mother and stepfather. Today was the trial for Kimiko's manager and cousin, Kusanagi Yuri.
Kyoko twisted in her seat and smiled at Yashiro, Ren, her father, and a plain-dressed Lory sitting in the general seating area. Yashiro and Ren would be called upon as witnesses to testify against Yuri. Her mother stated that a verdict could be reached as early as lunchtime.
Given the nature of the case and the parties involved, the judges agreed to close the courtroom off from the public and media. Kyoko was grateful for that decision. She wasn't sure if she would have been able to hold it together under all that scrutiny.
Kyoko nodded to Erika and her butlers sitting on her side of the courtroom. Erika appeared to have a full recovery from her injuries. Aside from them, she didn't recognize anyone else. The others had to be important to the case if they were present. There were several foreigners in the crowd. Her eyes lingered on a pair of foreign men sitting toward the back that had the suspicious bearing of police officers.
Her eyes shifted to another dubious-looking individual wearing thick eyeglasses and a surgical mask over his face. His get-up was so familiar that she openly stared at him, trying to place his appearance. The man caught her staring. Kyoko quickly turned away, but curiosity won out. She sneaked another glance. This time, he pulled his mask down and lifted his glasses to wink at her. Kyoko's eyes widened with recognition. How did he get in here?
Her eyes shifted quickly to Ren so she wouldn't draw attention to the man. He looked at her with concern. Ren's eyes bore into hers, asking her the silent question, what's wrong? He looked over his shoulder but had no clue what or who he was looking for that startled her. Kyoko shook her head and smiled. She faced forward in her chair and looked at the defendant's table where Yuri sat with her lawyers.
The woman looked worn out and skittish. She jumped whenever her lawyer turned to talk to her. Kyoko didn't feel an ounce of sympathy for her. Her eyes narrowed with hostility. She reminded herself that this was the woman who killed Rick. She ran from the scene and left him to die on the street like roadkill. She deserved whatever punishment befell her today.
That side of the courtroom was filled with whom Kyoko assumed was the Morizumi clan. Kyoko could feel their harsh, cold stares directed at her. Even in the wrong, they banded together to support their own.
Her mother mentioned the defendant's lack of supporting witnesses. According to Susumu, the defense's strategy was not to get their client acquitted of the charges but to reduce the time served. They would try to play up her innocence in the whole situation.
The courtroom stood as the men and women judges filed into the room. There were nine judges in total: six citizens and three professionals. The six citizen judges were Japan's version of a jury in Western society. Following the judges came the various court officials, including the stenographer who would be recording all conversation in the room on paper. Kyoko watched a man come around and sit behind the defense table. He removed a pad of paper and pencils from his bag and began sweeping the pencil over a clean sheet of paper. Kyoko heard a scratching sound coming from behind her. A woman sat behind her, similar to the man, and was...drawing?
The head judge made a statement regarding the purpose of today's trial and turned the floor over to the lawyers to plead their case.
Kyoko watched in awe as her mother stood in her element and delivered her powerful opening statement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, on September XX, 20XX, the defendant Kusanagi Yuri entered the workplace of my client, Morimoto Kyoko, under the guise of a delivery woman bearing a gift of luxurious chocolates she claimed was ordered by none other than my client's beau, Tsuruga Ren-san. No one questioned her motives. She was a regular delivery woman on the set for a few weeks prior. It was common knowledge to those working on the set of The Sacred Lotus in the Mire that Tsuruga-san is notorious for sending gifts to my client daily," Saena stated, pinning Ren with a neutral stare.
Ren shrunk under her gaze as the attention in the courtroom fell on him. She made it seem like the fault lay with him for his overindulgence.
Saena went into the backstory that led to the fire incident that night, and Yuri's participation in delivering the tainted chocolates. She mentioned the failed attempt to throw Kyoko over the balcony when Kimiko lost the part of Momiji and her past participation in other victims such as Erika.
"And this is just the tip of the iceberg of what we know today. We have no idea how far back into the past her crimes extend without other victims coming forward, but that is irrelevant now. The statement she gave police the night of the fire blames everything on her younger cousin. The question you need to ask yourselves is, why a woman of her accomplishments and pedigree upbringing would take direction from someone almost ten years younger than her? Kusanagi-san was the adult in this relationship. In our society, the senior is respected by their juniors. As the senior, Kusanagi-san should have steered her charge in a positive direction...to take up the challenge and return better than ever at the next opportunity. And yet she didn't. Not just as her manager but as a family member, a cousin, and a loved one. Kusanagi-san condoned and participated in every one of her charge's actions. The evidence I present today, combined with various witness testimonies, shall provide proof that Kusanagi-san had to play the lead role in these events. I hope you make the right decision and that justice will be served so my client and others in the industry may have peace of mind."
Saena bowed to the judges after finishing her statement and took her seat. Kyoko gazed at her mother with admiration. Her focus turned when the head judge asked the defense team to provide their opening statement.
The Morizumi's defense attorney, Kento, stood and smoothed out his designer jacket before addressing the judges.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the prosecution has painted a picture of my client as calculating and cruel...as the mastermind behind these incidences. Though I can't prove Yuri-chan's innocence in these situations, I can vouch that her actions were a direct response made out of love and loyalty for the young woman she considers a sister…"
For the next fifteen minutes, Kento played up the ineptitude of his client. Her soft and caring nature for wanting her cousin to succeed in the industry her family loved was what led her to participate in such crimes. He shifted the blame of her actions to the cut-throat industry of show business. Her repeated failures at pursuing a career as an actress and a model, and then seeing her cousin fail as well led her to make poor choices. Kento pulled out all the big guns. He talked about her battle with depression and bulimia to gain sympathy but also showed her strength in overcoming those obstacles. His strategy was not to get her off the hook but to garner sympathy and shift blame. He hoped the judges would feel remorse for the woman and lower her sentence. Unfortunately, he was throwing Kimiko under the bus in the process. He figured it was a small price to pay given that she had the plea deal locked in place.
Seana and Kento took turns bringing up their witnesses to give their testimonies. Kento focused on people that he vetted on Yuri's list. It was a short list, but it was enough to accomplish what he intended. He made sure to keep things positive. Saena did her best at cross-examining those witnesses. She succeeded in making a few of those witnesses break down and cry. One woman caved under Saena's scrutiny. She confessed that she always hated Yuri for stealing the boy she liked in high school when they were supposed to be best friends. The woman's vehemence continued into adulthood since Yuri slept with her now ex-husband. The head judge called for order as the witness was removed from the courtroom.
Erika, Yashiro, and Ren eventually took their turns on the stand. After Erika's testimony was given, the balcony video was played for the judges to review. Their faces were grim. Kento did his best to water down the situation by turning things on Kimiko again and blaming love for clouding the ladies' visions.
Kento tried to pick apart Yashiro's character due to Kimiko's injuries. Saena, on the other hand, stated that Yashiro should be commended for his heroic deed, not chastised. She reiterated that it was Kimiko's fault from the start for attacking her client.
The topic of Yashiro's past work experience with Yuri and Kimiko on Purple Down was brought up for discussion. He explained the discord that Kimiko caused on the set and Yuri's superb managerial skills to navigate her client out of the sticky situation by blaming costars for their baseless assumptions. Yashiro made it public knowledge that he was given strict orders by Ren to not accept another job offer involving Kimiko.
Kento tried to turn the Purple Down incident on Ren while on the stand. Unfortunately for him, Tsuruga Ren was not one to be trifled with. The man remained calm and collected through the whole interrogation. He even provided specific examples of Yuri's competence as a manager when Saena questioned him.
Ren had the opportunity to recount his version of the night of the fire incident and mentioned Cedric. Cedric wasn't present in the courtroom. It wasn't from lack of trying on Saena's part to wrangle him in. Cedric refused to get involved, and Saena left it at that. She had more than enough evidence to nail Yuri without his testimony. In fact, it was at this point that she shared the security footage from the set with the judges. They heard the conversation between Yuri and Kimiko. They saw Kimiko decide to throw the lantern out of hurt, anger, and desperation. They even noted Yuri's proclamation to take full responsibility.
Things were not looking good for Kento. His last witness was Yuri herself. Her parents thought having Kimiko testify would have helped the case, but Jiro was against it. He made it clear that Kimiko was mentally unstable to be in the same room as Kyoko and Ren; therefore, they couldn't rely on her testimony. Kento didn't think Yuri would do any better. She was too frazzled right now.
Using the right questions, he managed to spin a tale of a perfect big sister who acted out of love not malice. It was one that indulged her younger sister in all her desires. Kimiko would only have to hint at something, and Yuri wouldn't hesitate to help her achieve it. Yuri's action came from a place of love but also made her guilty. Kento's questions became more specific. They were attacking in nature, pouring all the blame on Kimiko. He wanted the judges to know that every crime committed was initiated by Kimiko. He was able to achieve his bottom line. Yuri only involved herself to minimize the damage of Kimiko's crimes. At the end of the day, Kyoko was never seriously harmed thanks to Yuri's interference.
Saena wanted to laugh out loud at the bullshit Kento and his client were spewing. No one would believe from the evidence provided that Yuri was trying to help Kyoko. Saena stood to cross-examine her. She had listened to the sweet stories they shared as kids and caught on to when things had taken a drastic turn for the worse. It lined up with Kimiko's change in behavior at school following the hit-and-run accident in Tadashi's report.
Susumu and his assistants had dug deep into Kimiko's past. The purpose was to establish that it wasn't until she returned from the United States that her behavior turned to physically harming others. They found old friends, classmates, and teachers willing to testify against Kimiko. One teacher noted the change in the spoiled girl when she returned from a trip abroad. The teacher had called for a parent-teacher conference to discuss an incident that took place in the girl's restroom. What she got was Yuri. Kimiko, with the help of her cousin, threatened the teacher's employment. Needless to say, she buried her complaint in fear of losing her job.
Susumu even found witnesses willing to testify and bring to light some of Kimiko's and Yuri's misdeeds that took place in Los Angeles.
"You mentioned a few instances earlier that Morizumi-san became bolder in her actions. That it was becoming cumbersome for you. Why didn't you tell her parents?
"Kimi didn't act bad all the time. I couldn't bother her parents with something so silly that only happened once in a while," Yuri explained, wringing her hands together. "It was my job to handle it."
"Attempting to murder someone is silly to you?" Saena asked, raising a brow.
"Ah, no, sorry. That's not what I meant. We weren't trying to kill anyone. We just wanted to...I don't know. I wasn't thinking straight."
"You just wanted to hurt my client so severely that she wouldn't be able to work. This would only leave Morizumi-san as a suitable replacement, correct?"
"Objection, your honor. She's leading the witness," Kento exclaimed.
"Sustained," the judge responded and nodded to Saena.
"I'm sorry, sir!" Saena replied curtly. Saena took a moment before asking her next question. She had purposely made the last statement to put it all in their minds.
"Kusanagi-san, you have a degree, you studied abroad, the world was in your grasp. Why would you choose to be a glorified nanny for your cousin?"
Yuri laughed weakly before answering. "You're right! I could have chosen a different career, but show biz is in my blood. If I couldn't be in the spotlight, I wanted to at least be a part of it somehow. I found my calling as my cousin's manager. I wanted to help Kimi succeed where I could not. "
"So it's safe to say you enjoyed the job, yes?" Saena continued
"Yes, it was fun standing on the sidelines and meeting celebrities. I learned a lot on the job."
"Your cousin had a fairly successful career both in Japan and in the United States. Can you please tell the court who was responsible for finding her work and who negotiated her contracts?
"As Kimi's manager, it was my job to do all that for her. If she expressed any interest in a certain role, I pursued it for her. Kimi's tastes were very specific. I've known her for so long that I knew what her expectations were for each contract. Sometimes, I would have to rein her in to weigh the pros and cons of a job if a director wasn't willing to compromise. She could be reasonable most of the time and easy to handle."
"It sounds like you had a real knack for managing not only your cousin but her career as well."
"I—" Yuri squirmed. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish. She realized she had said too much. The picture of incompetency Kento tried to paint was immediately dashed away by her big mouth.
"Well, you see, it wasn't all easy. Like I said earlier, it has been more difficult to handle her lately. She wanted the Momiji role at all costs. I knew what we were doing was wrong, but I had no choice. I had to help her. I feared for my life," Yuri gushed, trying to cover up her mistake. She smacked her hand over her mouth. She didn't mean to say that.
"Can you please elaborate on your last statement? Why would you fear for your life?"
Yuri turned to Kento for guidance. He was angry, but he nodded for her to proceed.
"Please answer the prosecutor's question, Kusanagi-san," the head judge prodded.
Yuri trembled in her seat as tears dripped onto her lap. Saena handed the woman a box of tissues from her table. She gave Yuri a moment to compose herself.
"Has Morizumi-san threatened to take your life if you don't help her with her schemes?"
Yuri shook her head no and then nodded her head yes.
"Can we get a verbal response for the court's record?"
"Yes, she threatened my life, but not in the sense you think. She threatened to ruin my life forever, which equates to the same thing," she reiterated, sniffing and dabbing at her tears.
"How could she possibly do that? You're her loving older sister. You've helped her for so long. Why would she want to ruin your life?"
Yuri let out a long defeated sigh. She glanced at Kento again and gave him an apologetic smile.
Kento shook his head from left to right. He had no clue what she planned to divulge, but it couldn't be good.
"Your honor, can we take a short recess? My client is clearly distraught," Kento interjected. He had to damage control.
"Denied!" The head judge responded without hesitation. "Kusanagi-san, can you please tell the court why your cousin is threatening you? Let me remind you that you are under oath."
She mouthed the words to Kento, "I'm sorry."
There was a hush throughout the courtroom. Everyone waited with bated breath for the answer.
The tension was thick, and no one spoke, waiting for her to continue. The silence was broken by snickering, then a giggle. The sound became louder and became a full-blown cackle echoing throughout the once-quiet room. It was coming from someone on the Morizumi side. The manic laughter continued even while the head judge slammed his gavel down repeatedly, calling for order.
Everyone turned in that direction to see who could be laughing at a time like this.
"Bailiff, please remove that person from the room," the judge commanded.
The nearest police officer moved to do his bidding, but a woman stood up abruptly. She was dressed in all black and had a veiled hat protecting her anonymity.
She screamed across the room and lifted her hand with an accusatory finger, pointing at the defendant, "Because she's a cold-blooded murderer!"
Notes:
I apologize for leaving you dangling there, but thank you for continuing to read. Please feel free to call me out on my bullshit. I'm not a lawyer, nor do I know Japanese law. I will take advice to make corrections. I hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 111: Justice Served!
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kuon would eventually cross paths with Tina.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Her body trembled softly with nervous energy. The permanent squeeze around her heart was still there. It felt that way for the past week. She was either on the brink of a nervous breakdown or having a heart attack.
Why did I come here?
She swiped her sweaty palms on the legs of her navy pantsuit. Classy, she thought, looking down at the streaks on the material. She couldn't understand a lick of what they were saying. She glanced at the people sitting to the left of the room. She should have sat where there were fewer people. Her seat selection was a conscious decision. She wanted to be close to the door in case she needed to escape. There was one familiar face on that side. He conjured up horrible memories for her. A time in her life that she tried desperately to forget but failed. The thing about being over there, at least, he spoke her language.
Her eyes scanned the front of the room. She could barely see through the people in front of her, making it even worse. She would have a decent view of the judges since their seats appeared to be on a raised platform. She moved in her seat to try to see those sitting up front and only stopped fidgeting when the man next to her let out an annoyed huff. She apologized, bowing her head slightly. She at least knew how to say that much.
She gave up and fiddled with the coin in her hands, a stark reminder of her darker times. Someone moved to her right to squeeze onto the already full bench. She scooted over anyway but didn't look up.
She thought about the email that brought her to this point. It didn't surprise her. The detectives showed up at her gallery without warning, way before that email came. They had new evidence and a suspect.
"Ms. Flores, this was brought to our attention a few days ago by a law firm in Los Angeles. I'm certain this evidence was obtained illegally, but that's beside the point," the detective had said.
She forgot how to breathe. Years of therapy could not have prepared her for this new revelation. They now had a suspect. Rick's case had remained unsolved all these years. She buried him, blaming his best friend.
"I know it's difficult, but please take a look. This person, Yuri Kusanagi, is a Japanese citizen. At the time of Mr. Johansson's death, she was living in the area, attending college," the detective added.
She sat with a blank stare, gazing at the table, unblinking, lost in her memories of that night. She was chasing after them when Rick got hit. The car came out of nowhere. It happened so fast that she couldn't even tell the police what color, make, or model the car was. She was in shock. All she saw was Rick lying on the ground with his lifeblood seeping out. She had no one else to blame but the boy in front of her. She could objectively think of him as a boy. Now that she was in her mid-twenties, all fifteen-year-olds looked like babies to her. It was easy to forget how young he was when he was around them. He dressed and acted maturely for his age.
She lifted a trembling hand to sift through the pages and pictures. It walked her through a chronological story of that night and convinced her that this woman was responsible for her fiancé's death.
She inhaled shakily, then released her breath slowly and looked up at the detectives. Their eyes were filled with sympathy but firm.
"Is she in prison now?" She asked rather calmly.
"She's under house arrest but not for this crime. She was captured in Japan as an accomplice, attempting to assault a celebrity."
"How does this help Rick's case, umm detective…"
"Stevens, but please call me Mike. And this is my partner, Danny Nguyen. We've verified this report before coming here. It adds up."
"Can she be charged with the crime of killing Rick, Mike?"
"It's complicated Ms. Flores—" Mike began.
"Please call me Tina," she interrupted. It felt too detached being addressed by her last name.
"It's complicated, Tina. As good as this looks on paper, it's all speculation. Her defense could argue that her car was indeed stolen as the police report entails and the thief responsible for the crime," Mike said without sugarcoating the facts.
"What? So she just walks! My fiancé is dead, and she just gets away with it. If there's no hope of getting justice for Rick, why did you even bother coming here," Tina argued, shoving away from the table. Her earlier calm was replaced with frustration and anger.
"Well, we thought you would want to know. The lawyers here are working with their Japanese contacts to figure something out," Danny offered.
Tina stopped pacing. That aspect didn't make sense to her. "Why are these lawyers trying so hard? Who hired them?"
"Apparently, this woman messed with the wrong celebrity. It's her father that's seeking justice for her past victims. Your Rick is at the top of his list."
"Could I get the info for the lawyers in charge? I want to stay informed."
"Sure thing! I'll have them contact you," Mike offered.
Tina sent her assistant home for the day and closed the gallery after the police left. She lay on the foyer floor and stared at the large portrait of her late fiancé and his best friend. The sobs came fast and strong. The tears she suppressed in front of the detectives poured down her face in a torrent. She had lost both of them that night.
At the urging of her remaining family and friends, she sought therapy after the funeral. She immediately became addicted to the pills the psychiatrist prescribed. The doctor saw the warning signs and cut her off. She sought relief elsewhere. For six months after Rick's death, she lived in a dark, mindless fog. She lost her friends and her livelihood. All she was concerned with was getting her next fix. Until one day, she woke up in a hospital having overdosed. She knew she hit rock bottom.
She pled guilty to illegal possession of narcotics to avoid jail time. She had to complete 12 months of rehab to have her record expunged. During those months, she faced that night and came to terms with her mistake. She completed the program and took up photography full-time as part of her therapy. The first thing she did outside was to visit Rick's grave and beg his forgiveness for her weakness. The next thing she did was try to hunt down Kuon at their old stomping grounds. No one had seen him since that night. It was like he disappeared from the face of the earth.
She tried his house, but his parents looked devastated. Tina didn't have the heart to prod any further and gave them her card if he wanted to meet with her. That was about five years ago.
She had two relapses since she came out of rehab and had been sober for three years and two months. Her luck changed when she won the grand prize in a photo contest. It was not only a cash prize, but also earned her a spot in a prestigious exhibition where she could showcase her work. Her career as a photographer blossomed from there. With the help of an anonymous investor, she was able to fund her projects and eventually open her gallery. She even started dating again but had yet to find someone that moved her the way Rick had, except maybe him. This new revelation changed things.
The email she received from one Tadashi Morimoto, the father of the woman's latest victim, explained the current events that led to Rick's discovery. He reiterated what the detective had told her. He wanted justice before the woman could hurt more people. He enclosed a first-class e-ticket with the specifics of the court hearing. She only needed to reach out to him if she was interested in attending, and he would arrange the rest. Tina never called. With the help of her agent, she rebooked the ticket for a later flight at the last minute. She changed in the plane's first-class lavatory before landing and made it to the hearing before they sealed the doors.
She stood with the rest of the crowd when the judges entered and tried her best to follow along. She may not have understood, but she could tell by the body language of the two lawyers which side had the upper hand.
Tina was getting drowsy. She yearned for a strong cup of coffee; however, no one moved not even to use the restroom. Her last caffeinated drink wore off a while ago. The balcony video played for the judges was enough to perk her up. She almost laughed at the women's stupidity. It was like watching a bad telenovela. Who wrote this script?
A young Japanese man was called to the stand next. She could see his face since he was significantly taller than the others. He was very handsome. Her thoughts wandered to how he would look in front of her camera's lens. What caught her attention was his use of a name she heard before. How was Cedric Bennett involved? Whatever he just said aggravated the people on her side. Some shifted uncomfortably while others whispered, and the person beside her made unintelligible sounds throughout his testimony.
The next video shown was unbelievable. Tina tuned in completely since they spoke English. She didn't have enough backstory, but the young woman was acting out of some demented form of love for the American actor. The tabloids in the States buzzed only a few months ago about his scandal with a supermodel, and now this. It should have made prime-time news in the States, but she hadn't heard a peep. His family had to be paying big money to keep it quiet. She concluded that Cedric Bennett, America's playboy, was a psycho magnet.
There was a collective gasp throughout the courtroom as the lantern sailed through the air. The footage was cut short at the behest of the head judge. Tina bit her tongue so she wouldn't voice her disappointment.
Her body turned cold when the woman in question was finally called to take the stand. It was her first glimpse of her fiancé's supposed killer. Nervous, tired, and skinny were words Tina would use to describe the woman as she walked to the front. She looked fragile, but that didn't make her less guilty. She balled her hands into fists as she tried to follow along.
She watched Yuri smile as the attorney asked her questions. Tina's lip curled in disgust. She wanted nothing more than to march up there and slap that smile off her face. She didn't have to wait long for relief. It seemed the female prosecutor did a thorough job of putting her through the wringer. She was unmoved to see the woman cry. Tina could tell things were escalating. The judge became more vocal, and the woman's attorney kept interjecting. A hush settled over the court. Tina strained her ears to hear the woman's reply to the prosecutor's last question. She figured this answer was crucial even if she couldn't understand it.
Tina smiled as the woman squirmed in her seat. Finally, she was feeling the heat. Even if Rick didn't get justice today, the detectives were right, it was a relief to know she would be behind bars for a long time. Assault and battery were not light sentences, and this woman was guilty as charged in her eyes.
Tina let the elation wash over her. She wanted to whoop with glee. She spent enough time crying over her loss. It was time she let it all go. She pursed her lips to keep a laugh of relief from escaping and laughed internally instead. At least, she thought it was internal.
Air escaped clenched lips as if to suppress laughter. The people around her turned in her direction. She was bewildered by their glares. Did I just make that sound out loud? Perhaps fatigue was settling in and making her delirious. Then she heard it herself, a quiet sniggering. It wasn't me! She lifted her head to look at the others staring past her. She slowly turned her head to follow their gaze and gasped. The woman sitting beside her shook as she tried to contain her laughter.
She couldn't see the woman's face clearly since it was shrouded in a black veil. How could Tina have missed her seatmate? The woman was covered from head to toe in a black suit. She even wore gloves. Is she in mourning? Did she lose a loved one to this woman, too?
Tina sympathized. "Miss, are you okay?" She whispered. The woman ignored her. She cringed as the mysterious woman's laughter continued and became downright hysterical. She had no idea what was so funny even though minutes ago Tina wanted to laugh herself.
She flinched when the judge slammed his gavel down repeatedly. Tina saw the police officer walking towards them. She placed her hand on the woman's shoulder to try to calm her down before things escalated to a point of no return.
The woman pulled away from Tina's touch and stood. She shouted something in Japanese and pointed to Rick's killer. It had to be something profound because the room exploded in an uproar. An older woman up front screamed dramatically and then fainted.
The woman on trial was screaming something in response, but all the woman did was laugh. It was utter chaos as the head judge tried to restore order to the room.
The woman was now in the custody of the police, but she continued to scream as if in horrible pain. Unable to turn a blind eye to someone hurting, Tina stood and intervened.
"Let her go! Can't you see you're hurting her?" Tina shouted. Wasn't the Japanese supposed to be gentle? She didn't think police brutality existed here. The young officer looked at her nervously but didn't release his hold.
…
"Stop, stop! Don't touch her she's injured," Kento demanded, rushing forward. What in the actual fuck was Kimiko doing here? He bent down to inspect his niece. The foreign woman backed off when he approached and stood to the side.
"Kimi-chan, are you okay?" He asked softly. Kento lifted the veil, revealing his niece's scarred face. Her eyes were glazed over, and tears streaked her face while her body shook with the aftershocks of laughter. She had on a silk scarf used to conceal her bandaged neck, but it could not cover the injuries still healing on her face. Why isn't she bandaged up? He sent an annoyed look toward the young officer. "Call an ambulance…now!" he shouted when the officer hesitated. Kento put her veil back down and pulled out his phone.
"Jiro, where the hell are you?" he hissed into the phone.
"I'm at the office. How are things going?"
"Kimi is here right now!"
"That's impossible!"
"I'm looking at her right now. I don't know how to salvage this."
"She had permission to leave this morning for therapy! Why didn't the police notify me?"
"I don't know why!" Kento leaned down and picked up Kimiko's right pant leg. "The monitor is still here."
"I'm coming. I'll be there in twenty minutes," Jiro assured him. Kento heard rustling, doors slamming, and elevator dings in the background.
"I called for an ambulance. She'll be going to the hospital. Meet her there."
"Shit! Okay!"
Kento hung up the phone and turned to face the crowd behind him. He motioned for his sister to watch Kimiko and made his way to the judges, ignoring the whimpers from Yuri.
"I apologize, sir!" Kento bowed deeply. "I'm not sure how my niece was able to enter the courtroom. I called her father. She needs medical assistance."
"Is she going to be alright?" the judge asked with concern.
"She's still healing, sir. It's tough to say," he explained. He glanced up as Saena walked to him. She looked extremely annoyed.
"Hayashi-san, your honor. How do we proceed from here? His client was just accused of murder," Saena demanded, feigning ignorance of the matter.
"I don't recall any such thing, Mogami-san. I had my hands full with my sick niece," Kento replied evasively.
"Shall I ask the court recorder to read back the transcript of the last few words uttered by your clients?" Saena challenged, folding her arms.
The courtroom doors burst open, halting any further talk. Medics and police arrived to remove Kimiko from the room. Reporters didn't hesitate to shout questions and take photos through the open doorway. Security had their hands full, keeping them from entering. Kento's sister and their cousin accompanied Kimiko to the hospital.
…
The judge called order back to the room once Kimiko was removed. Kyoko watched her boyfriend's eyes linger on the American woman as one of the foreign cop-looking men waved her over to sit near him. Ren turned around quickly when she got close and locked eyes with Kyoko.
Ren smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He was pale, looking like he just saw a ghost. In a sense, he did, Kyoko thought. Kyoko smiled reassuringly and nodded. Tina's presence was unexpected, but this could be a good opportunity. She knew Ren was probably hurting and panicking at this very moment, despite his calm façade. They needed to figure out a game plan.
Both lawyers took their seats after conferring with the judges. A decision was made on how to proceed. The head judge glanced at the clock on the wall. It was still a couple of hours shy of noon, even with the interruption.
"Let's take a short recess. We'll reconvene in fifteen minutes." Everyone stood when the judges left the room. Kyoko saw her chance to corner Ren and excused herself.
"Ren, come with me." Kyoko gripped his hand and made a beeline for the door, pulling him down the hall without protest. There was no resistance from him, but was reassured when his hand closed over hers. She found the door she sought and pulled him into the stairwell. The heavy doors were usually loud, which was welcomed. They could hear anyone who entered. Once the door shut behind them, Kyoko gathered him into a hug, knowing it was what he needed most. He slumped against her and laid his head on her shoulder.
Kyoko stroked his back soothingly. "I know today is hard for you. Seeing Kusanagi-san up there, knowing she's responsible for Rick and unable to do a thing about it. You don't have to be brave in front of me. If you need to cry, I'm here, Corn." Her voice quivered with emotion.
Ren lifted his head and kissed the tip of her nose. "You're so sweet, baby, but I'm okay. She tried to hurt someone else that I love. She deserves whatever the judge has in store for her."
"What about Tina? You want to meet with her, right?" Kyoko asked cautiously.
Ren looked away, and Kyoko understood his fears. He had voiced his apprehension to her the other night. He indeed had every intention of talking to his old friend. It just felt too soon for him. He thought he had a few more weeks to prepare himself to face her again. It was risky talking to her here. What if she still hated him and exposed him here in Japan? All his hard work would have been for nothing.
"I. I don't know. I don't know... if she still blames me...I don't know," he replied, running his hands through his hair nervously and pacing back and forth. He stopped and looked at Kyoko. "What would you do?"
Kyoko smiled determinedly. "I know you're scared, but you have to rip the band-aid off sometime. I have a plan. Do you trust me?"
"With my life," he answered without hesitation.
"Then leave everything to me. We'll see how things play out."
Ren's phone buzzed. Yashiro was calling them back. Before they left the safety of the stairs, he pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her breathlessly. They walked back to the courtroom hand in hand feeling calmer.
Kyoko stood when the judges filed back in and took their seats. It would be her turn to go up soon. The judge gave a brief recap of the case and allowed Saena to proceed.
"The prosecution would like to call Kusangani Yuri back to the stand," Saena said tersely, addressing the court.
...
Tina adjusted the earpiece in her ear. If she had sat on this side of the room earlier, she would have been given a translating device courtesy of the Prosecution team. Now that she had one, she could understand what was being said through the disembodied voice.
There was something pleasurable in watching Yuri trudge back to the hot seat. In Tina's eyes, she was a dead woman walking. Tina wished that the other creepy woman hadn't interrupted her testimony earlier. Mike Stevens, the detective from LA, was sure she was ready to confess something big. It could have been about Rick or some other victim. The upside was that he and his chief, who accompanied him to Japan, would question Yuri and Kimiko after the trial.
"Kusanagi-san, your cousin Morizumi Kimiko just accused you of murder. Is there any truth behind her declaration?"
"No! It wasn't mur-!" Yuri caught herself from saying more. "No!" She reiterated firmly and glanced at Kento. Her uncle nodded in satisfaction.
Saena kept her face neutral at her response.
"I would like to readdress the previous question before the interruption...you claimed that your cousin was threatening your life. That she left you no choice but to comply with her wishes. Is that true?"
Yuri nodded slowly.
"Please verbalize your answer to the court."
"Yes, Kimi could be quite scary."
"Again, you said you two were close, like sisters. Why would she want to hurt you?"
"I don't know, Kimi is not in her right mind these days," Yuri stammered.
"Is your cousin blackmailing you?"
Yuri's head shot up.
"Objection, your honor. This question has no bearing on the case," Kento interjected.
"Prosecutor?"
"Your honor, I'm trying to establish to the court that Kusanagi-san had every intention of hurting my client to protect herself from her cousin."
"Please answer the prosecutor's question, Kusanagi-san," the judge commanded.
Yuri hesitated. She looked at her parents. Her mother had recovered after her fainting spell. She hid the truth from them for so long. It was wrong that they would find out this way. She stared at her father and confessed, "Yes."
"Can you tell the court why you were so inclined to act maliciously towards my client? What kind of leverage does your cousin have on you?"
Silence followed for several moments until Yuri once again broke down in sobs. It took several minutes for her to pull herself together, but the court waited patiently. Tears weren't going to get her out of this one.
"I was scared. I didn't mean for it to happen. He came out of nowhere. I didn't mean to..."
"What happened?" Saena prodded.
"I was driving home after drinking with my friends. He just darted out in front of my car. I couldn't stop in time. I didn't mean to kill anyone."
"Did you check on this man or call for help?"
"I panicked and drove away. I reported my car stolen. Kimi was visiting me. She was just a kid but smart and mature with the face of a cherub. I begged her to lie to the police for my sake. She didn't hesitate to help. She told me, 'Morizumis, look out for one another.' I owed her."
"No further questions, your honor," Saena said satisfactorily. She glanced at Kento as she returned to her chair. The man looked stunned and at a loss for words. His client just jeopardized the whole case with her confession.
"You can return to your seat, Kusanagi-san," the judge said dismissively.
Tina felt a nudge at her side. She looked at Mike and then down at his hand. He held a wad of tissues out to her. She didn't know when she started crying, but she could now feel the drops coming down. Finally, a part of her nightmare could be laid to rest. The other part would remain unsettled. She smiled at Mike and took the tissues offered. It was good to know. She knew Rick was partly at fault for rushing out in the middle of the street, but it was wrong of her not to take responsibility when she made the mistake. Tina couldn't hate her, but she would never forgive her.
From her view on this side, she could see she wasn't the only one crying. The Japanese actress was also crying. The tall Japanese man stood and reached over the rail to hand her a handkerchief. She saw the young woman's golden eyes look up with worry and then light up with love. She used to look at Rick like that. Tina concluded that they were probably lovers. That thought relieved her heart and made the viselike grip constantly lurking over it disappear.
Tina's focus turned back to the main judge as he spoke, "Does the defense have any further witnesses?"
"The defense has no more witnesses, your honor," Kento told the court and sat back down, sighing with resignation.
The judge nodded toward the prosecution lawyer.
The female lawyer stood. "Your honor, we would like to call on Morimoto Kyoko to give her testimony."
…
Kyoko stood shakily. She gripped Ren's handkerchief in her hand like it was an omamori. It was her turn to take the stand. She shared her firsthand account of what transpired on the balcony. The biggest thing she remembered from that time was the fear she felt. It was such a foreign feeling that she failed to notice the danger until they were upon her, smothering her with a rag.
"It left me paralyzed. I couldn't move my body. I couldn't scream for help…I felt...helpless," she recounted to her mother. For some reason, staring at her cold and fearless mother comforted her. She gave Kyoko the strength to continue.
"I think I was too heavy for them because they struggled and argued. I was blindfolded, but I recognized their voices immediately. I felt the wind on me, so I knew they brought me outside. Then, I felt my body lifting over a railing. I thought I was going to die. I didn't think anyone would save me," Kyoko said, her gaze fixed on her lap. I prayed he would save me. The pain of thinking he was in love with such a wretched girl came crashing down on her heart at that moment. She took shaky breaths to calm herself down and let those awful thoughts pass.
"Then what happened," Saena prodded gently. It was the first time Kyoko ever heard concern for her in her mother's voice.
She lifted her head and looked at Yashiro, cowering in his seat. She ignored the other important men in her life, sitting next to her manager. Her grudges danced around the vicious aura from not only her lover but her father as well. She watched Yashiro squirm in his seat beside the two angry men.
"My real-life superhero came to my rescue. Yashiro-san, my manager, saved me in the nick of time." She beamed gratefully at the man who saved her life, not once, but twice.
Kyoko continued her story for another ten minutes. Her mother was mainly interested in her interactions with Yuri rather than Kimiko. Saena interrupted now and again to ask clarifying questions and always steered the conversation back to Yuri.
"Thank you, Morimoto-san," Saena said with a hint of a smile. She turned to the judges, "I have no further questions, your honor."
"Your witness." Saena directed the statement to Kento.
Kento stood reluctantly and bowed. "The defense rests, your honor."
Kyoko was asked to go back to her seat. The judges would deliberate and return after lunch. Yuri was taken to the holding cell while the rest of the courtroom filed out.
After braving the reporters camping outside the courtroom, Kyoko found herself having lunch with her father, mother, stepfather, and the foreigners he invited, including Tina in a private room at a Japanese restaurant.
With Saena's permission, Ren and Yashiro excused themselves from joining in lunch due to his work schedule. Kyoko received a confused look from Yashiro when she immediately sent them on their way without even a strict warning to eat something.
She was doing her part to keep his identity a secret until he was ready to reveal himself. Though he didn't ask, she planned to do reconnaissance on Tina for him. She liked to think she was a good judge of character.
"Ms. Flores, my mother informed me about your fiancé, I'm very sorry for your loss," Kyoko said softly. It wasn't a total lie. Her parents did tell her, they just didn't know she already knew. Kyoko felt terrible for deceiving Tina.
"Your mother?" Tina asked, cocking her head.
"Ah, yes, she's my mother," Kyoko said, blushing and glancing at Saena.
Tina looked down at the end of the low table where the older woman sat and back to Kyoko.
"How did I not notice? She looks just like you."
Kyoko ducked her head shyly.
"Thank you for your kind words. Please call me Tina...um...Kyoko-chan, right?"
Kyoko smiled softly and nodded.
"It's good to finally know the truth. Your mother is amazing and your father too. They made this all possible. They went through so much trouble for someone they didn't even know. Even if she wasn't going to jail for Rick, it's a relief to know she won't hurt anyone else." Tina's voice cracked as the waterworks began.
Kyoko pulled out a pack of tissues from her purse and handed it to her. She couldn't possibly understand what Tina was going through. She could only imagine the devastation she would feel if she lost Kuon. She admired Tina's strength to carry on living.
"You are all kind. Just like he used to say," Tina said, blowing her nose with a tissue. Tina wasn't sure about the proper etiquette of blowing her nose at the table in Japan. She hoped they could excuse her bad habits because she was a foreigner.
"He? Did your Rick-san know many Japanese?" Kyoko asked curiously.
"Oh, sorry, not Rick. Our friend, Rick, loved him like a little brother. He was part-Japanese and visited Japan before. He told us the people were very kind here...a different kind of culture. He used to tell us stories whenever we ate sushi," Tina said, a nostalgic smile gracing her lips. But her smile didn't last long.
"Is everything okay? Ah, no, of course, it's not okay. Sorry for prying." Kyoko said, noticing her companion's sad expression.
"No, I was just reminded of how poorly I treated him when Rick died. He was a good kid. He didn't deserve my contempt. I wish I could take back how I acted that night."
"Perhaps he—" Kyoko began.
"Ladies, let's eat quickly so we're back in plenty of time," Saena said, interrupting their conversation. She glowered, unconsciously, at the two young women sitting on the opposite end of the table.
Kyoko and Tina both apologized and ate the rest of their food quickly. Saena's reprimand managed to make both young women feel like little girls again.
Ren took calming breaths in the hallway leading to their apartment before going through the motions of opening the door. It had been a long day. He was more exhausted mentally than physically. The most trying part of his day had yet to come.
He opened the door and stared at the figure sitting on the couch in the living room. His heart threatened to stop, and was startled by the door closing behind him.
"Welcome home, Kuon," she greeted him warmly from the living room.
Kuon froze. He was expecting her but was still at a complete loss on how to proceed. He watched the apparition in his living room stand and glide toward him.
She stopped several feet before him and dropped into a dogeza. With her forehead on the floor, she burst into tears.
"I'm so sorry...so sorry. Please forgive me," she wailed through her tears.
Kuon slumped to his knees and pulled the woman into his arms. They clung to each other in their grief, finding solace in one another. The movement was enough to forgive each other for that horrible night. They stayed like that for minutes, maybe hours. They weren't sure how much time elapsed. When they finally composed themselves, both laughed at the pain in their bodies from kneeling for so long.
"Did Kyoko teach you that?" Kuon asked, referring to the dogeza. He offered his hand to help her up.
"She said you were a sucker for it."
Kuon cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Okay, she didn't use the word sucker, but you catch my drift."
Kuon chuckled.
"Do you want a drink? I can make you one. I know, I could use one. Do you still drink gin and tonics?"
"God knows I need one, but I'll just take some water. I've been sober for three years now."
Kuon's step faltered as he walked to the kitchen. He turned to face her. "I'm sorry."
"Again, not your fault, kid," She replied, reaching up to ruffle his hair like she and Rick used to do in the past. She had to tiptoe and stretch a little further this time. He had grown so tall.
"Besides, I think I had it easier compared to you." She told him while taking a seat at the bar. At least I didn't have to change my whole identity to cope.
"Can you do me a favor," she asked when Kuon joined her with two bottles of water. Kuon nodded mid-swig of his drink. "Can you please take off those lenses?"
He gave her a weak smile. "I'll be right back," he said, putting down his bottle.
He quietly entered the master and tiptoed to where his angel slumbered. He knelt by her side and caressed her cheek. She stirred in bed. Not wanting to wake her, he kissed her forehead and headed to the bathroom.
He changed into comfortable clothes and removed his contacts. He found Tina looking over the photographs of him and Kyoko throughout the room.
"I can't believe I didn't recognize you today. All I thought when I saw you in the courtroom was that you would make a good subject for my black-and-white collection. This photo of you two is really good. The photographer captured the essence of your relationship with her. She's amazing."
Tina turned in his direction and smiled when she saw the familiar vibrant green eyes. The shadows of the past were slowly receding with each passing day.
"I know," Kuon agreed.
"Don't screw it up."
"I'm trying my best not to," Kuon chuckled.
They talked into the wee hours of the morning. She told him the hearing results. Justice was served, and Yuri was found guilty. Additional charges were pending following the investigation with the U.S. Tina told him how Kyoko convinced her to stay the night rather than check into a hotel. She didn't know why she agreed. Isn't this how horror movies are made? She enticed Tina with the promise of a scrumptious dinner. Tina would have married her on the spot when she took the first bite of her meal. She wasn't gay but for Kyoko, she could be.
It wasn't until after Tina was bathed and stuffed that Kyoko spewed out the truth about her motives. Tina was shocked at the way the young woman threw herself to the ground and groveled at her feet. If she had taken the chance to look at the few pictures in the apartment, she wouldn't have been so surprised. She wasn't even mad for being deceived. She was grateful for the opportunity to speak with him again.
Kuon confessed to having her personal information. He was planning to look her up when he went to L.A. for fashion week. He never planned to meet her here and wanted to push it off until his originally proposed time. Kyoko laid the guilt on thick over text. Enough with the excuses. Not everyone is as forgiving as me Corn. His girlfriend left him no choice but to face this part of his past, today.
They took turns filling each other in on their lives before saying good night. After parting in the hall, Kuon got ready for bed. He pulled back the covers and crawled in next to his girlfriend. He pulled the warm bundle into his arms, securing her back to his chest. She burrowed herself into him, making him smile. Placing soft kisses in her hair, he took a deep inhale of her fragrance. Kuon was fast asleep before he released his breath completely. He slept well that night.
Notes:
Sorry for leaving you hanging for so long. I hope you enjoyed Tina and Kuon's little reunion. I've also included this year's Christmas fanart. Please enjoy.
Merry belated Christmas!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 112: Morning Compliments
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would befriend Tina.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko slowly stirred from a fitful sleep, aching with need. She gasped as fingers tweaked her nipple through the T-shirt she wore and sighed as another hand slid down her belly, dipping inside her lace underwear. The erotic moan that followed as her lover rolled his fingers over her clit could wake the dead. She didn't even need to see. She knew these hands well, and they knew exactly how to please her. She tried to turn, but the strong arms held her in place. If that was what he wanted, she would oblige. Her hands gripped the sheets, and her legs parted, beckoning him to touch her most intimate flesh.
She felt hot lips on the back of her shoulder penetrating the soft cotton. The heat traveled up the side of her neck, causing a flutter in her belly. She arched her head to give him better access as his mouth caressed the sensitive skin behind her lobe. His teeth grazed over her neck and gently nipped. Her reaction was so strong she moaned loudly.
"Shhh, baby," came the sensual voice of the man that only earlier invaded her dreams. She bit her bottom lip from crying out as he pulled her lobe between his teeth and nibbled. The hand on her breast slid up her chest over her neck until the tip of his fingers traced her lips. She parted her lips and bit. Her tongue snaked out, swirling around the long digits. They curled and pushed slowly into her mouth. She sucked two into her mouth, hard. It was tantalizing. She imagined him filling her mouth as she ran her tongue up and down their length.
Kyoko bowed her back and rolled her hips to rub her entrance against his bulge. The teeth on her lobe bit harder as a groan escaped his throat. She bit in kind, making him hiss with pain, but his fingers remained. He ground his hips and pinched her clit instead. She inhaled sharply and released a shuddering breath when he rolled his fingers around her sensitive nub soothingly.
She trembled in his arms while his erection stroked her aching mound in an agonizingly slow rhythm. His fingers dipped. Kyoko spread her legs wider. He stroked her slit and then plunged roughly into her pulsing core. She gasped around the fingers in her mouth. Her tongue worked feverishly on his fingers, sucking and licking as both hands thrust within her.
"I love that you're so wet for me, baby," he whispered huskily into her ear, sending a flood of heat straight to the juncture of her thighs.
"Mmm," she croaked out. Her body quivered for release. He buried his face into the back of her neck as his dexterous hands worked her in all the right places. She could feel his hot breath coating her skin, sending shivers down her spine. Her hips bucked wildly against the heel of his hand as he increased his strokes. She bit down hard on his fingers when she finally reached her breaking point. He grunted into her hair and pulled his fingers out. He continued stroking until the contractions of her inner walls stalled.
When Kyoko finally returned to Earth, she turned her head, seeking his lips that trailed her jawline to find hers. His lips were soft yet firm as they closed over hers. She reached up, burying her fingers into the silky locks of her lover, and returned his passionate kiss. When they broke for air, she twisted in his embrace to face him, forcing his hands to stop teasing her body.
She raised her head to gaze into his emerald eyes in the faint light cast by the streetlamps outside. They were hooded and hidden behind his dark fringe. She swept his hair away and searched his eyes. He opened his lids fully, questioning her gesture. The twinkle she saw and the smile that graced his lips were all the answers she needed. He reconciled with Tina.
She smiled with relief, brushing the tip of her nose against his. Her arms encircled his neck, pulling him in for a steamy kiss.
...
Kuon broke away and rolled out of bed, saying nothing as he walked to the bathroom. He rummaged through the cabinet and then turned on the shower. He walked back to the room where Kyoko sat in bed her golden eyes wide with confusion. She looked breathtaking with her long hair tumbling wildly over her shoulders. He removed his boxers and gripped his cock. He fondled himself as he walked to her side of the bed. Kyoko uncoiled and licked her lips. He ripped the foiled pack and slid the condom down his length. He knew he didn't need it anymore but wanted the extra precaution. He would continue to use it until she was on the pill for at least a month. He was worried about any side effects that may affect her body. If she needed to quit the medication for some reason, he wanted them to be covered.
He reached down and pulled her up into a standing position on the bed, making her tower over him. Kuon wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. His fingers skimmed the hem of her shirt, tugging it up and off her. He loved that she always wore his shirts to feel closest to him when he wasn't around. She gripped his shoulders for balance as he shimmied her out of her underwear. Kyoko blushed beet red when he lifted the lace to his nose and inhaled.
"Pervert!" she hissed, smacking his shoulder. He chuckled and tossed it over his shoulder. He gripped her ass and devoured her chest, then made his way up to claim her lips. With his lips fuzed with hers, he lifted. Kyoko instinctively locked her legs around his waist and secured her hold around his shoulders. He carried her to the bathroom, stumbling when she rubbed her hot wetness against his abdomen. Kuon held her with one hand to open the shower door, letting a waft of steam surround them. He kept walking until he pinned her against the wall under the hot spray. Every nerve in his body came alive as the water caressed his skin. He could feel her tender flesh pressed against his abs, and her taut nipples brushing against his chest drove him to the brink. He was susceptible to every part of this woman touching him. Even the pain from her fingers digging into his scalp was pleasurable. His tongue entangled with hers passionately. All he could think about was sheathing himself within her. Reluctantly, he tore his mouth from hers.
He slid her down several centimeters hooking her thighs over his forearms and drove his cock deep inside her. She screamed against his chest as he invaded her roughly. He felt extreme gratification from the bite of her nails clawing at his shoulders as he rammed inside her with quick hard strokes. Kuon threw his head back and closed his eyes. He concentrated on feeling her heat surrounding him. He was worried that he was becoming a sex addict with her. Barely a day went by when he didn't claim her physically. It was torture not having her home with him for one day, physically and mentally. Kyoko whimpered against him, breaking through his thoughts. Was he hurting her? He looked down but couldn't see her face from this position.
He slowed his pace, worried that he was being too rough. "Uh, don't stop," came the throaty voice of the woman in his arms.
It was all the permission he needed. Kuon tightened his grip and resumed his quick pace. The sound of their wet bodies slapping against each other filled his ears, and the smell of their sex invaded his senses. It felt amazing to be inside her.
"Kuon...harder," she begged, panting against his chest. He felt her trying to wiggle against him, but there was no room for her to move. All she could do was hang on and go along for the ride.
His desire grew from the mewlings of her pleasure. He let out a guttural sound from deep in his chest and leaned forward, pulling her hips away from the wall for more leverage. He left her upper back pressed against it and spread her legs wider, jerking his hips powerfully. He fucked her harder.
"Fuck baby, you're so beautiful," he grunted between thrusts. "I can't get enough of you!"
Kyoko's cries grew louder below him, ricocheting against the small space. He knew they had a guest and thought the shower would deafen their sounds, but it was highly doubtful. If the main apartment walls weren't soundproof the whole complex would have received one erotic wake-up call. Her lips brushed his chest, causing him to react. Kuon pressed himself against her mouth, hoping to stifle her sounds without suffocating her. Kyoko latched onto his skin, sucking on his flesh. That hushed her voice some. She sucked harder, pressing her teeth against him. She was going to leave a bruise, and he didn't care. He rested his forehead on the wall above her and deepened his thrusts. He felt her tightening against him, her lips released him as she screamed his name.
A mere seconds later, everything blurred. Kuon saw white spots. His body convulsed from his powerful orgasm. His once sturdy knees now felt like jelly. He slid down the wall with Kyoko still in his arms. He kneeled on his haunches, seated deep inside her, but loosened the hold on her legs. His arms were heavy as lead but still had the energy to lift her chin to gaze into her eyes. The golden orbs glistening with tears tore at his heart. He cradled her face in his hands and licked her tears away.
"I love you," he cooed, kissing her gently. "I'm sorry, baby. I was too rough again."
Kyoko shook her head and smiled weakly through her exhaustion. "And again, I demanded it. Please don't ever hold back with me."
Kuon's smile grew with relief. They finished up their shower quickly and prepared to meet their guest.
"Morning, Sunshine!"
"Sota? What time is it?" Tadashi grumbled after picking up the offending device.
"Early or late, depending on how you see it," Sota answered cryptically.
"What's going on?" Tadashi asked, sitting up in bed and turning on the bedside lamp.
"We have a problem. The Princess's footage was leaked. It already spread."
"What? Isn't this what I pay Spectre for?"
"Sorry, man. He's only one guy, and you're not our only client."
Tadashi sighed. He couldn't be angry at them. "Was he able to take it down?"
"He's blocked it from most sites but shared exponentially. The damage is done. I told him to let it go. No point wasting resources."
"Can you figure out the source of release?"
"One step ahead of you there."
"Good. Send me the info. Can you put tails on the Morizumis?
"Will do, Boss."
Tadashi hung up the phone and looked around the room for his laptop. He spotted it lying on a moving box in the corner. He was packing his things in preparation for moving them to storage. He would be finalizing the purchase of his new place at the end of the week and hired an architect/designer to remodel the interior while he was abroad. Just when he thought things were settling down, it became complicated again. He had to call Lory.
Yashiro disentangled himself from the limbs of the raven-haired beauty that slept beside him. He searched his nightstand for gloves to stop the incessant noise. He slipped them on and then picked up his cell phone.
"Hello," he answered groggily.
"Yuki-kun, it's Takarada. We have a slight hiccup. Please clear Morimoto-kun and Ren's schedule this morning. I would like to see them in my office at ten sharp."
"Mmmm, Yuki, who is it?" Kanae asked sleepily.
"It's the President. Go back to sleep. I'll take it outside," Yashiro informed her, holding his hand to cover the mouthpiece. He knew the President had heard her. He waited for the LoveMon to make his usual comments, but they didn't come. This little hiccup had to be serious. He walked out to the living room and grabbed the throw blanket draped on the couch to cover his nudity.
"Am I interrupting something?" The president asked, amused.
Yashiro could imagine the smirk on the man's face at the other end of the line.
"No, nothing. No interrupting. Can you tell me what's going on, sir?" Yashiro asked in an attempt to deflect the president's curiosity.
Lory hummed. "Yuki, has life become so busy that you aren't trolling your usual sites? You'll see when you check your favorite couple. I leave you to inform them of the change. Please ask them to lay low until the meeting."
"Will do, sir. See you soon," Yashiro promised and hung up the phone.
He sat on his couch, staring blankly at the TV screen, then looked at the bedroom door. He could only think of one thing that would rattle the President at this hour. He picked up his laptop from the table and powered it on.
Once he was logged in, he pulled up his browser. His home screen opened to the entertainment page, giving him the latest celebrity gossip news. Grimly, he read the articles springing up. He knew there would be a few regarding the trial from the media coverage outside the courthouse. He recognized the main article by the Fuji News investigative reporter Kagayama Koki. It was so detailed that it was as if he witnessed the whole affair firsthand. He must have had a reliable source in the room because he wrote every minute occurrence. There was no crime in talking with the press about the trial afterward. It was only closed in the first place to keep it from developing into a media circus. Something like that would have hindered the trial's progress.
"Is everything okay?" Kanae asked as she walked out of the bedroom and snuggled next to Yashiro on the couch.
"It's okay. It's just that things are going to become a little hectic for Kyoko-chan again," he explained, turning the screen toward her. Kanae's lips pressed into a tight line as she watched the video.
"I have to call them," Yashiro said, reaching for the phone while the news video played.
"Good Morning," Tina greeted Kuon as soon as he stepped into the living room, startling him. She sat on the sofa holding a mug. Her eyes twinkled with mirth.
"Morning, I...um...hope you slept well," he stuttered, trying to hide his embarrassment. Maybe it wasn't his wisest move to have sex with someone else in their house.
"Not at all," she replied. Kuon flushed. She smirked, making him squirm. "Jet lag's a bitch."
Kuon nodded, trying to regain his composure. He had not made the flight from LA to Japan since he came here but easily recalled the exhaustion he felt the first few days until his body adjusted to the time change.
"Will you be flying out today?" He asked Tina.
"Yup, in a few hours. I have a high-profile client that I pushed off to come here. Gotta make that dough."
"I'll get started on breakfast. You can eat first."
Tina looked horrified at his suggestion. She shuddered probably recalling the two instances in the past when he attempted to cook for them.
"I'm good with...coffee?" She politely declined, holding up her mug.
"Tina-san, coffee is not a suitable meal to start your day! Is this an American thing? Does everyone over there only drink coffee for breakfast?" Kyoko scolded as she walked into the middle of their conversation.
Tina shrugged. "It beats whatever this kitchen disaster is attempting to feed me," she said, waving her hand toward Kuon. "It's a good thing he's pretty and can attract a wonderful woman like you, Kyoko-chan," Tina teased with a little laugh.
Kyoko giggled and blushed under the praise.
"FYI, I have improved," Kuon said with a pout. "I'll prove it." His phone rang, diverting his attention to the other room.
"Saved by the bell! Come on. I'll help you cook." Tina stood and pulled Kyoko to the kitchen.
"Yukihito? Is everything okay? It's quite early."
"Well..., the media is in a frenzy this morning."
"We knew they would be after the trial."
"Someone posted the footage."
"What? How?"
"I don't know. I'm rescheduling your morning. The President wants to meet. I'll pick you up in a few hours. It's best if Kyoko is picked up by her father separately."
"Okay, I'll see you then," he told his friend and hung up. Holding his phone, he walked out to the living room and overheard Kyoko exchanging recipes with Tina.
"Eh? So this is something Americans eat for breakfast?"
"Well, this American does. There's a diner that I frequent near my work. They make the best potato hash. It's a lot of carbs, but so worth it. While I still have my metabolism, I'm going to eat what I want. I starved myself for too long in my teens."
"Why? Why would you starve yourself?" Kyoko said, sounding aghast.
"Oh, I ate if you count salads as food. As a model, I was always on a diet and working out. It was such a pain in the ass. I think I was such a bitch because I lacked carbs. I may have put on some weight now, but I'm much happier with my overall self despite everything that has happened."
Kyoko's eyes widened at her choice of words. "Weight? What weight? You have a very nice figure, which is more than what I can say about my—."
"Kyoko-chan, please don't tell me you're one of those women that put themselves down just so they could get compliments out of people?"
"Wha? Wha? I would never! I'm sorry, Tina-san!" Kyoko exclaimed wildly.
Tina laughed genuinely. "I'm messing with you. Stop it! You might hit your head on the counter. "
Kuon leaned against the wall, covering his mouth with his hand to muffle his laughter. He could imagine Kyoko bowing profusely right now. Their conversation was so natural. No one would guess that they only met yesterday. It surprised him how casual Kyoko was around Tina. It would be perfect if Rick was here with them. He reminded himself that his current scenario would have never been if Rick survived.
"You're naturally beautiful inside and out. That's rare. Plus, Kuon thinks so too."
"He talked about me?"
"Yup! I may not understand Japanese, but I'm pretty sure I heard him saying how much he enjo —"
Kuon took this as his cue to intervene. Tina had no filter. "Oh hey, what did I miss?"
"We were just talking about how you complimented Kyoko this morning," Tina said, giving him a conspiratorial wink.
"Oh yes, I remember. We were talking about the pictures in the living room. How stunning you looked on awards night." Kuon interjected as a cover. He gave Tina a friendly but warning smile. It was a good thing Kyoko was late on the pickup and didn't realize Tina was teasing them. He came up behind Kyoko at the stove and kissed her on the cheek.
"But I think you're just as gorgeous like this," he told her, complimenting the oversized t-shirt and leggings she wore.
Tina cleared her throat. Kuon stepped away from Kyoko, wanting to kick himself. It was heartless of him to flaunt his happiness in front of her.
"I'm going to get my camera," Tina said, excusing herself.
"Is everything okay, Corn? Was that Yashiro calling?" Kyoko asked as she pulled the mixture of potatoes, veggies, and sausage off the stove and began cooking the sunny-side-up eggs to put on top.
"I have good news and bad news. Good news first?" He teased. Kyoko nodded.
"You get to skip school today." He smiled brightly and chuckled at her frown.
"I guess for someone like you who loves school, there's nothing good about that. Well, the bad news is we have to meet the Boss."
"That is bad news," she replied solemnly and shut off the stove.
"What happened? Did you two fight in the few minutes I was gone?" Tina asked as she took her seat.
"No, no, no, we didn't fight," Kyoko assured her, waving her hands.
Kuon's phone buzzed with an incoming mail. He opened the concierge's message. It was as he thought, only this time, more reporters were camping outside their complex. He glared at the message.
"Whoa, there's a face from the past. Bad news?" Tina asked, surprised to see his expression.
"Sorry." Kuon smiled weakly. "It seems today is going to be rather annoying."
Kuon turned on the TV when they were finally settled on the floor and clicked through the channels until he found what he was looking for.
"This is why Yashiro called." He raised the volume so they could hear the reporter.
"Oh my gosh!" Kyoko gasped as she watched the program.
"I already called the institution. They'll be expecting us today," Jiro said into his cell phone as he peeked out of the curtains to look at the front gate. "I'm waiting for the police transport to take Kimi to the airport."
"Is there anything you want to do about this?"
"Nothing will change if I did. If they want to do something about it, by all means, but count me out. I should have left with her sooner. Please tell them I'm sorry for what Kimi did yesterday. I'm afraid she made things worse."
"She didn't. Yuri-chan was on her way to self-destruction without Kimi-chan's help. I doubt it would have ended differently."
"How is Kusa-chan holding up?"
"She's devastated. She hasn't left her room or eaten anything, according to Kusanagi-san. Her beloved daughter was sentenced to twelve years in a maximum-security prison. They put her in solitary confinement early this morning for her protection. It seems Kyoko-san's Natsu character has quite the fan base in prison."
"Isn't that too much for Yuri? She's only just arrived."
"I'm afraid it's the policy if they see a threat to a person's life. This is considered her first offense since technically, her record is still clean. If she stays out of trouble, she can be up for parole in a few years. But then there's the investigation with the United States."
"What are her odds?"
"The Americans aren't messing around. They are charging her with aggravated vehicular homicide. Best case she's convicted of second-degree homicide by vehicle. Worse case and most probable case, she's convicted of first-degree homicide. With the circumstances surrounding her case, they'll push for the maximum sentence. If she had only stayed, even under the influence, she could have served at most a year of jail time."
Jiro could hear the weariness in his cousin's voice. "Are you going to continue to defend her?"
"If they extradite her, I'm going to have to transfer her case over to an American firm. I'm not licensed to practice law in the U.S. I can only provide guidance."
Jiro heard the uproar outside and stood to peek out the window again. He watched the black van and patrol car approach the gate while the angry mob of fans and reporters swarmed the vehicles. The gates opened to let the van in while the officers in the car controlled the growing crowd. They were respectful enough not to follow it in.
"Kento, I have to go. The police are here."
"Give Kimi-chan my love. I hope she recovers quickly and returns to her cute bubbly self."
Jiro bit his tongue, not wanting to tell him that her personality probably wasn't real.
"I'll be sure to let her know. I'm sure she would appreciate the sentiment. Good luck to you, Kento."
"And to you as well, cousin. Do you plan on ever returning?"
"I don't think so. After her release, we are relocating to South Korea near my wife's family. I don't think Kimi will be welcomed back in Tokyo, judging by the outpouring of hate outside my home. I'll try to stay relevant over there with K dramas or something. My biggest regret is not having worked with the 'Heel siblings,' but it's time I prioritize my family."
"I wish you well. Don't hesitate to call for anything. Kimi-chan has the right of it. Morizumis look out for one another."
"We do. Take care."
Jiro hung up the phone and went to find his wife and daughter. It was time to leave this place behind. He and his wife would be relocating to be closer to their daughter's institution. He wouldn't be an active participant in movies and dramas in Japan anymore, but he would continue to invest in them as a silent partner.
"Police already have the person in custody who released the videos. He was a court employee responsible for archiving the evidence. The police spokesperson should be releasing a statement soon," Tadashi reported to everyone sitting in the mahogany office of the LME President. He didn't think it necessary to tell them he was watching the Morizumis for any sign of retaliation. He hoped with this information, the family would see that they were not responsible for this leak and not take action.
It was difficult to hold a serious conversation when, every ten minutes, the sound of a crow cawing in the background would fill the space. Lory's office was transformed into a cornfield in honor of the Fall season. The place was decorated with various types of pumpkins, scarecrows, and crows. Ruto greeted them at the entrance wearing blue jeans overalls, a plaid shirt, and a straw hat. To get to the sitting area, they passed through the field in a maze-like pattern guided by Ruto. Lory was dressed in much the same fashion with a piece of straw tucked between his teeth. Today's theme would explain the green tractor sitting in the hallway with a trailer hitched to it. It was filled with straw and hay bails. Tadashi explained the hayride to those who were unfamiliar with the activity.
"Hmm, that information helps things. But it's not looking good for the Morizumis. The industry will bounce back from this." Lory contemplated while chewing on the end of his straw.
Lory turned to Yashiro, "Has any of Morimoto-kun's future projects expressed concern?"
"The only concern so far is if she can fulfill her upcoming contracts in light of the events," Yashiro replied, pushing up his glasses.
"Morimoto-kun?" Lory turned to Kyoko for confirmation.
"I'm fine, sir. I didn't get hurt," Kyoko replied firmly, placing the cup of herbal tea laced with pumpkin spice on the table.
"Physically, you aren't injured. You still experienced something traumatic that I failed to address. I couldn't miss how distressed you were yesterday."
"Ah, I'm really fine now." She assured everyone in the room.
"Really, I am." She emphasized, turning up to Ren as he rubbed her hand with his.
"Good to hear. Please tell me if that changes." Lory's eyes pierced Kyoko with a hard stare. It was like he was trying to determine if she was using acting to hide her true feelings from him. She was guilty of doing that in the past but had no reason to do so now.
Caw caw. The crow's cry broke the tension.
"Short term, I've set up a press conference for Morimoto-kun and Ren to address the media and their fans. A follow-up interview may be necessary if it doesn't settle the frenzy."
Kyoko and Ren both acknowledged the President's plan.
"There will be a time allotment of ten minutes for questions, which you may answer at your discretion," he explained as Ruto handed them the statement the PR director prepared. You still have a half-hour before the conference. You can use the time to prepare."
Kyoko stood with the rest, but her father remained behind.
"I'll be along shortly. I have one more thing to discuss with Takarada-san. I will tell you about it later," he told his daughter. Kyoko nodded apprehensively but left with Ren and Yashiro back through the corn maze.
…
As they walked down the hall, Kyoko received a text from Tina stating that she arrived at Narita airport safely. Kyoko was very happy that everything went well with Tina and Kuon. She would make it a point to stop and see her when they were in LA.
Yashiro excused himself to stop in his office. This left Ren and Kyoko alone in the LoveMe room, reviewing the page the PR director provided. It had a set of possible questions the press may ask regarding the trial. There were even absurd questions not related to the topic at all.
"Would they really ask these at such a serious event?" Kyoko asked incredulously.
"You'll learn quickly that reporters have a knack for blindsiding you. The trick is not to react and treat it with indifference," Ren advised. "Feel free to steal your Senpai's powerful phrase, 'no comment.' It infuriates them."
Kyoko giggled.
They were only in the room for about ten minutes when an insistent knock sounded at the door, interrupting the pair. "Come in," Kyoko called out.
"Onee-sama, Ren-sama! I'm glad I caught you!"
"Maria-chan," Kyoko cried in surprise as the girl bounded in. She hugged the little girl.
"Maria-chan, aren't you supposed to be in school?" Ren asked with a hint of reprimand while Maria hugged him.
"Don't tell Grandfather. I overheard him talking to Ruto-san and knew you would be here. I came to give you something," she said, holding a large gift bag.
Maria removed a wooden box with intricate carvings on its lid and sides. She flicked the latch and opened the box. Maria picked up the cards lying on top and placed them on the table. With reverence, she slowly peeled the silk black layer away. Kyoko and Ren peered over the little girl's shoulder to get a better look.
Maria turned up to them excitedly.
"Thank you, Maria-chan. Since I'm ignorant of the dark arts, can you please tell me what I'm looking at?" Ren inquired, feeling a little lost.
"Silly, this is a protection ritual kit. It will banish any negativity or bad luck. If those women weren't already being punished, Maria would have cursed them to oblivion." She shook her fist in the air and then sighed. "But, I'm only a child, and this is all Maria can do to help," she told them, finishing with a pout.
Ren and Kyoko exchanged glances and looked at the girl fondly.
"This is more than enough, Maria-chan. Can you tell us how each item works?" Kyoko cooed, taking a seat beside her little sister. Ren took the seat on the other side of her. They gave the sweet little girl their undivided attention.
"Yes!" Maria exclaimed, suddenly perking up. She picked up the cards and began explaining the significance of each item, starting with the black tourmaline crystal. They spent the remainder of their time studying each item in the ritual kit with their favorite little girl.
...
The press conference went over smoothly as Kyoko and Ren convinced the press that they were both fine and able to continue with work. They thanked everyone for all their love and support and asked them to respect the Morizumis and continue to support them in the industry. One or two individuals should not define a whole family. Kyoko added a shameless plug to The Lotus of the Mire. She was grateful and proud to have worked with Director Morizumi in his historical film.
She was blindsided by the question, "When is the wedding?" Kyoko had no idea how to answer. She didn't think "no comment" could be applied in this situation. She looked to her all-knowing Senpai for answers.
Ren smiled and leaned into the microphone, "It's a surprise." He winked at the crowd. He pulled a stunned Kyoko out of the room and dashed down the hall, looking for a place to hide while the room erupted with renewed chaos.
Notes:
I had to start their day out right and perv right off the bat. This was all over the place but I hope you enjoyed it.
I thought I'd share an old fan art since I wasn't able to finish the one I have in-work to celebrate the new year.
Thanks for always reading and wishing you all a Happy New Year!
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 113: Do-Over
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would have another chance at giving Kyoko a flower ring.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Tadashi stayed behind to tie up some loose ends with Lory. Their discussion took longer than expected, given the arrangements needed to be made before his departure.
Tadashi took his time reading and signing the papers Ruto had presented to him. He wanted to verify that what he was signing would benefit his daughter while she was once again under the temporary custody of the President until he returned.
"Despite your ridiculous appearance, I trust you have my daughter's best interest in mind. I will sign my permission for her to participate, but will she have a choice in the matter."
"She has no choice if she wants to graduate from the LoveMe division. This is her final exam, per se. If she can't complete it successfully, then she would have to remain in the program until I deem her fit to try again."
Caw caw.
"What criteria are you using to base her assessment? Is it feedback from peers and superiors? Or are you judging her on public ratings?"
Lory chuckled and wagged his finger at him. "You're good, Tadashi-san, but I won't give you any information that would help your daughter achieve her goal."
Tadashi shrugged, "I didn't think you would, but it was worth a shot asking. In the short time I've known her, I believe she can handle whatever test you throw her way."
"As do I. I gave her one year to prove herself to me. That date has long passed. She has exceeded my expectations."
Tadashi nodded and scribbled his signature on the remaining documents. He didn't want to think about the hardships his daughter faced in her early years to land her in this division. When they concluded their business, Lory invited him to stay to watch the press conference on a large flat screen hidden behind a panel in the wall. Lory's laughter filled the room at Ren's response. Tadashi wasn't thrilled with the young man's answer. It would only lead to the paparazzi hounding his daughter.
Once he thought about it clearly, it would be better for his daughter to be pursued over a love story rather than trying to exploit her involvement with Morizumi Kimiko. His daughter was a strong and proud young woman, she would never want to be seen as a victim.
"Takarada-san, I'll be taking my leave," Tadashi said, standing to shake Lory's hand.
"I'll come with you. I have a meeting downstairs. I'll give you a lift in my trailer."
"Ah, I really don't want to impose. I'll see you soon."
"Nonsense the—." Lory's words were cut short as Tadashi dashed out of his office.
Hmmph, no fun.
"Ruto, please gather the troops. We're going for a ride."
The president's assistant disappeared to do his bidding. He returned with a group of people dressed in denim and plaid, ready to start the procession through the halls of LME.
Ren and Kyoko turned down a few halls, passing and greeting colleagues on the way. Together, they had become a common sighting, so no one was surprised by their closeness. Ren pulled her into an empty conference room and shut the door.
They weren't even out of breath from the brief exertion of their escape.
Kyoko whirled around on him. "What were you thinking, Corn?!" Her eyes twinkled with laughter. "Now, the gossip rags will have a field day with this."
Ren looked at her and smiled, "Exactly!"
She started laughing at the fast one he just pulled on Japan. His little comment would reduce the Morizumi coverage by at least half. Japan would be speculating when and how this joyous event would take place. But he knew he also set a target on their back.
"You know I'm going to marry you," he said with promise, stepping toward her. His timbre voice sent tingles straight down to her core. How could her body react to him so easily? They made passionate love this morning, and still, it felt like it was never enough. She stepped back for fear of throwing herself at him again. They were at work, and Kyoko needed to control her libido. She made the mistake of gazing into his eyes. He wore his brown contacts, but she could see the green smoldering behind them.
He stepped again. Her back hit the wall. He took her hands in his and entwined their fingers together. He held her hands up against the wall and spread her thighs apart with his knee closing the gap between them. She trembled but held herself aloft, refusing to seek relief against his thigh. His eyes flicked to her charm bracelet briefly when it jingled on her wrist. Something registered in his eyes, but Kyoko missed it.
Kyoko's heart pounded in her chest as he brought his face close to hers. She licked her lips, releasing a shuddering breath. Her eyes closed in anticipation of his kiss.
He rested his forehead against hers and let out a sigh so deep he probably lost half his life force. Kyoko blinked her eyes open, confused by his behavior. His eyes were closed. He brought her hands down but kept them linked with his.
"I'm sorry," he breathed out.
"Corn? What's wrong?" She asked in concern.
"I feel like my words are just words. If there's no action behind it, it's meaningless. I keep boasting about how I want to marry you, but..." He looked away for a moment to take a deep breath. He turned back, piercing her with determined eyes. He whispered in case someone might be listening outside. "I, Hizuri Kuon, want to make you, Mog- Morimoto Kyoko, my wife, but before I can do so—"
She leaned up and kissed him soundly on the mouth. "I know," she said, pulling back with a smile. Her eyes watered, blurring her vision. "I love you, and I'll wait for you. When you finally get around to asking, I may even give you a favorable reply," she teased.
The smile he returned threatened to steal her breath away. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her senselessly.
"I have something for you," he said enthusiastically, breaking their kiss. Kyoko took several calming breaths to recover from his kiss.
Ren eagerly dug into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out a two-by-two-centimeter piece of thick navy silk. She looked at him curiously.
"Hold out your left hand," he instructed. He opened the clasp on the back of the material and shook out its contents. Kyoko gasped, covering her mouth with her hands as tears welled up in her eyes again.
"I needed a do-over," he told her nervously and nodded to her hand. Kyoko acquiesced and held her trembling hand out to him. He took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. With his right hand, he slipped the ring over her smallest finger.
"Not only for good fortune but as a symbol of my promise. I will always love you, Kyoko." He leaned down, and lifted her hand to his lips, kissing the ring. Kyoko felt her fingers tingle as he infused his magic into the precious metal. She was momentarily stunned as he pulled away. He tilted his head and waited patiently for her reaction. It didn't take long.
"Thank you, Corn. It's beautiful." She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him fervently. She felt horrible for tainting the exchange they had in the park because of her misunderstanding. But she couldn't have known how he felt about her at that time. It felt like a lifetime ago. They could finally put Kimiko in the past. Today would be a new memory, a good one.
She pulled back and studied the ring. Like always, she had to get past the price. Her mind worked feverishly to convince herself that the adorable little ring was only rose gold plated and the shimmering stones embedded in the chain of daisies were cubic zirconia and not diamonds.
Ren watched her beautiful face switch through various emotions until it finally settled on one. She flushed with joy as she stroked the tip of her finger over the intricate little flowers.
He was glad he came across the ring while browsing the web for inspiration and placed an order through his usual jeweler. This was the second step of many. He had plans. Most of those plans were still floating around in his head, at the moment, for fear of writing them
down anywhere she might see. His unicorn notebook was out of the question. He already wrote too much in there as it was.
…
Yashiro was finally able to break away after the PR director gave him an earful of all the work his charges just heaped onto his department. He kept his expression calm and his stride smooth as he walked down the hallway. He followed the trail of gossip from passersby left behind by his charges. He hoped they weren't somewhere getting carried away, again. He wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt.
When he turned a corner into an empty hall, he looked both ways. Yashiro's coolness melted away. The fangirl in him broke out into a happy dance once he confirmed he was alone. He pulled himself together after indulging himself in several joyful seconds of rooting for his favorite couple. The vibration of the phones he carried in his pocket was a clear indication of the mayhem they caused. Ignoring the phones, he walked down the hall slowly looking for any signs of them. He wondered if he should invoke the PA system LME used to make public broadcasts. Yashiro snickered imagining the halls and rooms with the announcement: Tsuruga Ren and Kyoko-san, please report to the President's office immediately. I repeat…
It would serve them right if they were interrupted by being called out as they would to a principal's office. As he neared the third door, he heard voices. I have something for you, he heard Ren say. Yashiro kept walking. He didn't need to eavesdrop. Ren was probably giving her the gift he picked up yesterday on their way home. Yashiro dismissed the idea that he could be giving her an engagement ring inside the confines of a conference room. How utterly unromantic? His eyes widened as the but, what if thought crossed his mind. He pushed the possibility to the back of his mind and prayed to the Gods that it wasn't the case.
Yashiro set up camp several meters down the hall away from the door to give the couple more privacy. They had plenty of time before they would report to the set for Ren's afternoon session for Ryu. He put on his latex gloves and pulled out his phone to indulge in his favorite pastime.
RenKyoFan1: Oh my God! What kind of answer is that?!
RenFan1: Ren-san is trolling us! T_T
KyokoMyGoddess: Nooooooooooooooo!
RenKyoFan2: Now I can't wait for a wedding! What a tease!
KyokoMyGoddess: Nooooooooooooo!
KyoFan1: KMG you're hilarious! LOL…It was bound to happen. Those two are soulmates. No one can compete with that bond.
KyokoMyGoddess: Ugh…I guess…as long as he makes her happy. Can we just focus on the fact that that crazy bitch tried to hurt my goddess, twice?!
KyoFan2: Kyoko-san asked us not to judge too harshly. What are you going to do, boycott her new movie because a Morizumi directed it?
KyoFan3: I think karma got that bitch good in the end.
RenKyo#1Fangirl: Do you guys think their popularity would drop if they got married at such a young age?
KyoFan2: Nah! I don't think it would change because of their marital status. It shouldn't affect them negatively as actors...I think.
KyoRenFan1: Is it just me or does the thought of them getting married make you love them more? I feel more obsessed with them as a couple than I do with them individually. They are so adorable together!
KoreKyoko: I ship them SOOOO hard! I want to see them act together...preferably nekkid! I DIE!
KyokoMyGoddess: I'll second that! I would like to see Kyoko-san in a mature sexy role. *nosebleed* But, I don't want to see Tsuruga in the buff. The guy shows off his impeccable abs way too damn much. Would it kill him to wear a shirt?
RenFan2: Nope, shirts should be illegal on that man!
KyokoMyGoddess: My life would be complete if Kyoko-san did a lingerie campaign.
Yashiro rolled his eyes at the fan comments that spawned from that statement. He supposed the interest wasn't bad but decided to change the subject.
RenKyo#1Fangirl: I can just picture their fairytale wedding. Wildflowers decorating the chapel. A voluminous white dress with pearls. The prince, awaiting his princess at the end of the aisle….kyaaaa!
The chat site blew up as fans clambered over each other to describe their version of the couple's perfect wedding. Yashiro chuckled and logged off. Mission accomplished! At least these loyal fans seem to be receptive to a wedding in the near future. There seem to be no signs of hostility...yet. I should start a poll!
…
Tadashi found his daughter, or more like his daughter's phone, by activating the GPS on it. This was his first time using the app and wanted to test its accuracy. It was a complete infringement on her privacy but necessary given her rising status in the industry. He would have embedded a chip on a piece of jewelry if he had any guarantee she would wear the accessory all the time. At least with the phone, he knew she would have it on her person ninety-nine percent of the time when she was out.
He put his phone away as he approached Yashiro in the hall. He would tell her about the safety feature and give Ren and Yashiro access later. He confirmed earlier that the President had something similar on the company phone she carried which was a relief. Their manager gave him a casual head nod to indicate that his daughter was in the room. He smiled when he heard laughter.
"Are they good on time?" Tadashi asked Yashiro.
"I was about to knock and ask them about lunch."
The pair walked back toward the door when it suddenly opened partway. Ren stuck his head out looking both ways to see if the coast was clear. He startled and straightened when he spotted Tadashi and Yashiro in the hall. He stepped out and opened the door wide for Kyoko to follow.
"Oh father, Yashiro-san. How long have you two been standing there?" Her face burned with embarrassment. She covered her blush with her hands.
Their eyes went wide and homed in on the new bling she sported on her hand. Kyoko noticed their gaze.
"Isn't it cute? Ren just gave it to me." She gushed holding it out to show it off to Yashiro like he was one of her girlfriends. It was easy to forget when the man went into fangirl mode over every little thing regarding the couple.
"It's a promise ring," Ren admitted to Tadashi, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. Tadashi's eyes twinkled with humor.
"You did well," Tadashi responded squeezing Ren's shoulder in a friendly gesture. He stepped toward Kyoko to get a closer look at the gift.
Kyoko's stomach let out a monstrous growl interrupting them. She blushed madly as the men chuckled. It was a unanimous vote to have lunch at LA Hearts. Their reasons were to feed the hungry monster quickly and minimize their time spent in the public eye until things settled down. They endured the gossip among their peers but at least they were respectful of the couple. They made it a point to sit far away from the windows to avoid the photographers trying to peek inside. Yashiro gave them back their phones at the table. Kyoko's had an exorbitant amount of messages just from Kanae and Chiori. She ignored them for now. It would need time to respond properly to her friends. Kyoko scrolled past her colleague's messages with the silent promise to respond to all of them. She looked up at Ren when one caught her eye. He nodded indicating that he saw the message. His parents were livid.
…
After lunch, Kyoko decided to follow Ren to his drama shooting while her father went to his office. Tadashi would pick her up later to resume her after-school schedule. Kyoko was excited to watch her Senpai in action. He warned her that the scenes scheduled for the afternoon would be boring. Akira would be taking the final agility test for the police academy. Kyoko had no clue what part of seeing Ren working out could possibly be boring.
Kyoko's grudges swirled around in bliss. It was rare that they came out these days. At the moment, they were basking in her boyfriend's ultra-gentleman aura and her manager's frosty countenance as they repelled the fans and reporters crowding outside the studio. Ren pulled her tighter into his side while they walked casually through the mob, ignoring the questions shouted at them. She wondered if the aura she used at school would be just as effective. Kyoko wanted to perfect the skill in case she ever had another LoveMe job as a substitute manager in the future. She failed to keep Ren from getting mobbed back then.
Ren released her once they made it inside, but twined his fingers with hers to keep her close. They walked hand in hand toward the set, stealing secret looks at one another.
"Kyoko-chan!" Called a familiar voice bursting through their little bubble. Ren groaned and tightened his hand around hers. Kijima pulled himself away from the pretty female costar he was talking to without so much as a backward glance. He walked up to greet Kyoko...and Ren. Kyoko didn't miss the hostile look the woman sent in her direction.
"Kijima-san, how are you doing?" Kyoko greeted him formally with a bow.
"I'm doing great now that you're here," he replied smoothly, flashing her a flirtatious grin. "You look beautiful today." He eyed her appreciatively.
"She looks beautiful every day, Kijima-san," Ren corrected him and pulled her closer to his side.
Kyoko kept herself from rolling her eyes. Kijima was a true playboy. How could she think Ren was anything like this man?
"I didn't know you were on the schedule this afternoon, Kijima-san," Ren replied without bothering to hide his displeasure.
"No, I've finished for the day. I was just trying to secure my date for the night before heading out," Kijima answered, glancing at the woman he left behind.
"She doesn't look very pleased with you right now," Ren commented, noting the woman's scowl.
"She's just pouting. Nothing a few sweet words can't fix," Kijima said with a chuckle. "But were you guys serious? Are you getting married? That's all anyone has been talking about since you dropped that bomb."
"That's the end game here," Ren responded without hesitation and smiled at Kyoko, making her blush.
"You shouldn't marry the first guy that asks, Kyoko-chan. You're young and beautiful. You have your whole life to settle down with some uptight guy, no less. Live a little. I could have shown you a good time," Kijima teased, taking a step back to guarantee his safety. "I still can," he propositioned, holding out his arms.
Ren was on the brink of losing it. Kijima was his friend, but he wouldn't mind punching him in the face right now. He knew they were young. Kyoko had lived a sheltered life compared to him. Maybe Kijima was right; she had barely begun to live her life before he came into the picture. Was it wrong to shackle her to him at such a young age?
Kyoko wrapped herself around Ren's arm possessively. Her warmth easily released the tension from his body and dashed the doubts from his mind. "I'm sorry Kijima-san. I've been quite spoiled by this man. No other man would ever satisfy my...uh...cravings. Plus, you aren't my type. Too pretty. Too skinny. You should really eat more protein," she teased.
Kyoko thought about summoning Setsu or Natsu to bail her out of this one, but she was able to handle things on her own in words Kijima would understand. It was so unlike her to be so bold or rude to her seniors in the company. She knew Kijima could handle it without being offended.
Ren and Yashiro laughed at Kijima's expense. He didn't expect such a flirty yet direct rejection from her.
Kijima clasped his hands over his heart and pretended to be wounded. "Aww, Kyoko-chan. I think I fell in love with you just a little more. If you ever change your mind, you've got my number." He winked and walked away to soothe his bruised ego.
…
Kyoko anxiously watched as the stylist secured the light brown wig over her boyfriend's head. Since he was enrolled in the academy during these scenes the shorter hairstyle made him look young and fresh. Kyoko admired him in a gray tracksuit with the police logo screen printed onto the jacket. She proudly posed next to Ren since Yashiro was more than willing to take photos of the couple.
Kyoko stood back with Yashiro while Ren took his mark. It surprised her that the studio had an outdoor sports arena behind the building. There was an actual four-hundred-meter track. Yashiro informed her that the set was used to film most of the track and field scenes in movies and dramas. She was told that Ren would be using the horizontal bars for his test as well as the intimidating obstacle course. The stage crew replicated Tokyo's actual police training grounds for this scene. It would have been ideal to rent out the real training grounds for this shoot, but unfortunately, the proposed schedule interfered with actual police training.
"Action!" The Director shouted through his megaphone.
Akira stood at attention with his arms stiffly folded behind his back. He barely batted an eye as his drill instructor screamed into his face the instructor's expectations for the test. He had a love-hate relationship with his superiors.
"More than half of you will fail this test. Only the strong will survive…" Akira tuned out his instructor.
He didn't have the eyes of an optimistic youth that was apparent in most of his classmates. The tragic death of a loved one could do that to a person. All Akira could think about was finally having the power to clean up the streets of Tokyo. He would work his way up in the force to become a detective in the narcotics division so he could put an end to the dealers that killed his sister.
"Get down on your back for sit-ups. You will need to complete at least fifty-eight reps in under one minute. The assistant instructors will be counting. Failure to do so would lead to automatic disqualification. You would have to start the whole program from the beginning to get another shot."
Akira took up his position awaiting for the whistle to blow and began his sit-ups. He concentrated on technique rather than speed. He trained for this. He knew exactly how many reps (sixty-three) he could do in the allotted time. It was about endurance rather than speed. He applied the same principle towards the 71 push-ups and the 20 pull-ups he had to complete. When it was time to run, he sprinted 300 meters in less than forty-five seconds.
Akira lined himself up to run the true test of endurance. He was tired, but he didn't let his fatigue show. He had to complete this in under three minutes. He ran several laps around the perimeter of the course for half a kilometer before engaging the obstacles. He had to climb a rope wall and jump over and under logs. He lay flat in the dirt and shimmied under the barbed wire obstacle. He had eight in total to complete. He finished all of them and managed to help some struggling classmates in the process. Covered in dirt from head to toe, Akira bent over with his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. A pair of shiny black shoes and gray slacks filled his line of sight on the ground.
The scene continued without the director once calling CUT. It kept the authenticity of the scene. Ren and the other actors were exhausted, but they pushed through to avoid doing it all over again.
Akira stood up to his full height. His chest still heaving from the exercise. The man handed him a card, "I'll be in touch." Akira glanced at the card and looked up confused. The mysterious man in the business suit was already across the training grounds. He looked at the card again and placed it into his jacket pocket.
"CUT!"
Later that evening, Cedric lay stretched out on his couch. The coffee table was littered with empty beer cans and take-out boxes. He contemplated turning off his cell phone since it was only a matter of time before he received the call. As if on cue, his phone vibrated on the table. He could ignore it. But ignoring it would only prolong the eventual ass-reaming he would receive. He groaned in frustration and snatched up the phone, grunting a hello.
"Ric-san, please don't tell me you're moping?" Koga's broken English on speakerphone rumbled through the apartment.
"Koga-san?" Cedric strained to hear the caller among the background noise of laughter, glasses clinking, and music.
"Who else would call your sorry ass? Come out, man. I have some supermodels that are interested in becoming U.S. citizens. Tell him, babe." Koga urged in his garbled English. Just enough for Cedric to understand.
"Ric, come play with us. I promise you will enjoy it." The heavily accented English of a woman purred with promise.
"See, come play, Ric-san?" Koga parroted with a chuckle.
"Yeah, fuck it. Text me the directions." He already fucked up. He might as well enjoy the good life while he still could. Maybe his father would surprise him this once and let it go.
Notes:
AN: Hiya! Thanks for continuing to read. I hope you enjoyed it. I nearly died when Sensei finally gave us that scene in the elevator. I was ecstatic to see something I could only put in words. I colored Sensei's panels and also tweaked them a little (okay a lot) to fit this chapter using the ibisPaint app.
Keep in mind these chapters are years old and all I'm doing is trying my best to clean up my shitty grammar. It's a small improvement. I apologize since I know I shift from 3rd pov to 3rd omni a lot. I appreciate you all still reading.
This story is up to 216 chapters on https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13070843/1/No-More-Mr-Nice-Guy if you're interested in reading ahead.
Happy New Year!
Until next time, Ja ne! ^_^
Chapter 114: International Calls
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, we would see the Fairy Queen.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Kyoko-chan? Hello, did I lose you?" Sho's mother's voice called from the speaker of her phone.
Kyoko quickly turned off the speaker setting and held the phone to her ear. "Hi, Yayoi-san. I'm sorry. It seems I was losing connection." She glared at him.
He looked at her innocently, wondering what he could possibly be doing wrong as he dried his wet hair with a towel.
Kyoko covered the mouthpiece on the phone and mouthed. Put some clothes on, Corn!
He smirked and strutted to his dresser. He purposely flexed as he pulled open his top drawer to pull out boxers. Kyoko watched his ass and back muscles ripple as he tightened them and threw a pillow at him, making him bump into the dresser. He turned around slowly, appalled by her action.
Sorry! She covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
She shook her head, pointing to the phone when his smile turned feral. He held his hand up with all five fingers splayed out. Still naked.
His thumb went down while the remaining fingers stayed up. He was counting down. She had a bad feeling about what he had in mind.
Kyoko's eyes widened. "Yes, Yayoi-san, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern." His pointer finger went down. "Of course, I'll be sure to get in touch with Sho. It's so kind of him to worry." She wanted to gag on her words.
Kuon scowled at the mention of Sho. His middle finger went down.
Kyoko suddenly felt vulnerable just wearing his t-shirt over her underwear. She pulled the blanket to cover her legs and pulled a pillow in front of her. It was a poor excuse for a shield. "Yes, thank you for the call. Good night to you and Fuwa-san. Talk to you soon."
His ring finger went down. He was toying with her.
Kyoko cut the line and threw the phone on the mattress. She burrowed beneath the covers, which proved to be the wrong move because now she couldn't see the enemy. Steadying her breath, she tried to listen but heard nothing. How could he mask such a massive presence? Kyoko couldn't bear it anymore. She decided an escape to the door was her best bet. She moved under the assumption that he was still on the opposite side of the room since she didn't hear any movement. Kicking off the covers in an attempt to run for the door, Kyoko smacked into something solid with a loud oomph. She bounced flat on her back onto the massive bed.
"I've got you," he snarled. Kyoko tried to squirm her way to safety on the other side of the bed. He gripped her ankle and dragged her back to him. Kyoko squealed with laughter as she halfheartedly attempted to free herself. Easily distracted, her eyes roamed over his naked body appreciatively. He was cheating. Lust clouded her vision as her gaze settled perversely on his shaft.
Kyoko gave up fighting and let him pull her toward the edge of the bed. She smiled mischievously as an idea struck her. She lifted her other foot to run along the interior of his thigh, starting at his knee. His body tensed as a shuddering breath escaped him. Licking her lips, Kyoko inched her perfectly pedicured toes higher. His grip on her ankle tightened as he groaned. Her gaze lifted to watch him. She tilted her foot, brushing the top against his scrotum. His jaw tensed, inhaling sharply between clenched teeth.
To her surprise, he didn't back away but instead jerked his hips into her foot. Kyoko was fascinated by his reaction. Her toes teased gently along the hilt of his cock. She felt the deep tremble run through his body, sending waves of aftershocks to hers. He tilted his eyes down, making eye contact as a blissful smile played on his lips. His dark green eyes urged her to continue. Kyoko tucked her tongue between her lips and concentrated. She ran the pads of her toes down the length of his hardening penis. By the time she reached his tip, he was fully erect. She licked her lips at the sight of moisture dripping from the tiny slit. Kyoko steadied her foot to avoid hurting him and wicked the liquid away, gliding her foot back down. When she reached the base of his cock she paused to gauge him.
"Again," he growled hoarsely. The Emperor's eyes burned into hers, demanding she continue. His free hand joined the other, gripping her leg. As her foot stroked his cock again, his hand raked down the length of her leg, grazing the junction of her thighs before coming back up. Kyoko sighed with pleasure.
"More," he commanded. His mouth locked on to her foot, nipping it with his teeth. Kyoko gasped, losing control of her foot momentarily. She tried to tune out her pleasure and focus solely on him. She curled her toes and stroked once more. Kuon pushed her feet away and sank to the floor on his knees. He lowered his upper body over her and ravished her lips. Kyoko locked her legs around his torso, returning his kiss.
His phone began vibrating violently on the nightstand, interrupting their pleasure. Kyoko broke from his kiss and glanced at the phone. There were only two callers they could be expecting at this late hour.
"Ignore it," Kuon growled and claimed her lips again. His mouth trailed hot kisses from her jawline down her neck. He grunted when the ringing stopped, only to begin anew. This time, the bed vibrated from Kyoko's phone going off. Kuon whimpered pathetically and dropped his head on her chest.
"Why does this keep happening? Should we change our phone numbers?"
Kyoko scowled at his suggestion and then pushed at him to give her some wiggle room.
"I was joking."
"That's cruel, Corn," she admonished and shimmied from under him to reach for her phone. Even with the two of them in it, the bed was too big. The ringing ended before she could get to it. She looked at the screen and turned it toward him.
Missed video call at 22:21: Fairy Queen
…
Meanwhile, in the City of Angels.
Julie hurried down the stairs to the first floor, clutching her phone. Her white silk robe hung open, billowing behind her by the wind her long strides generated. Her slipper-clad feet were quiet as she burst into the large open kitchen to confront her husband.
"They aren't answering my calls, Kuu," Julie moaned, pacing behind her husband as he cooked their breakfast.
"Jules, I'm sure they are busy with work. They'll call when they have the chance. You can't smother them."
"Smother?! You think I'm smothering them?! My concern for their wellbeing is smothering?! They could have died! Did you forget that?! We could have lost them both without ever seeing them again!"
Kuu sighed and turned off the stove.
"Honey, you know the doctor said not to dwell on the 'could haves' and the 'what ifs.' It would only upset you. Let's focus on the positives."
Julie pouted and plopped onto a stool as she watched her husband finish plating their breakfast. He placed the avocado spread over the toast and then topped it with egg whites.
Julie's eyes landed on his phone sitting on the counter. "Kuu, I'm borrowing your phone."
"Okay, dear," he said, placing a plate in front of her compared to his three plates of various breakfast items of meats and carbs.
Julie snatched up his phone, went to the messages, and found the group text to both Kyoko and Kuon. She made sure never to use his real name in a message.
One of you call us immediately! Emergency! 911!
She hit send. If they responded immediately, she would know they were avoiding her calls.
Kuu and Julie's phones both lit up with a response: Sorry, trying to get situated we'll call in a few.
"That's too calm! Didn't I say emergency?!" Julie huffed, taking a bite of her breakfast.
"The kids just know how you act, dear. Eat your food before it gets cold."
"But I used your phone."
"They know it's you, honey. Be proud of that."
Hmph! She went back to eating. She didn't want to have food in her mouth when they called.
"I'm still angry! The kidnapper downplayed the danger!"
Kuu nodded. Lory had held out on them. He had half a mind to call his friend and let Julie vent to her heart's content. If he had seen those videos earlier, there was no doubt in his mind that he would have been on a plane to Tokyo immediately. Thankfully, the young women were punished accordingly.
Julie's phone rang with an incoming video call. She went into a frenzy, fixing her appearance before answering.
"It's about time you two called. Are you trying to kill your mother?!"
Kuu cringed. No, hello. No, how are you? Just straight to the guilt trip.
Their faces looked crestfallen as they accepted the reprimand. "Hi, kids," Kuu greeted lightheartedly. He smiled and took his place closer to Julie to crowd around the camera.
"Hi mom, hi dad!" They greeted with a slight bow. "Sorry, we were preparing for the night when Mom called earlier. We wanted to get settled in so we could take our time talking to you."
Julie's anger and fears melted away at his words. Kuon still knew how to placate her.
"Sorry for being unreasonable," Julie mumbled. "I had to see for myself that you were both okay. Text messages tell me nothing. You’re both okay, right? You would tell us if you need us?" Julie gave a weak smile with tears glistening in her eyes.
"Yes, everything is fine. It's a little chaotic, but we can handle it," Kuon responded to avoid the waterworks threatening to fall from his mother’s eyes.
"Thank you, Julie-san, for being so caring."
"There's nothing to thank me for, Kyoko-chan. It comes with the territory of motherhood. Your time will come."
Kyoko nodded, her face heating up.
"Now that I'm satisfied that you are both healthy and strong, let me get a good look at the little ring he gave you."
Kyoko took off the ring and held it between her fingers as she put it closer to the camera. "He's always spoiling me. I suppose he gets that generous part of him from you two."
A harmonious sound filled the room and lifted the spirits of those near as Julie laughed. "He gets that from his father. It's useless fighting it."
Kyoko smiled and slipped the ring back on her pinky finger.
"It's one of my greatest joys! And I'm happy he picked up one decent habit of mine," Kuu beamed.
"Awe, this reminds me of when Kuon was younger. We used to go for walks in the park. You probably don't remember Kuon. You were only a toddler." Julie's face took on a dreamy countenance, recalling the happy memory.
"I remember," Kuon told her with a smile. "It was that memory that made me want to give her a flower ring. Dad used to make you one whenever we went on walks. I tried to copy Dad, but mine didn’t come out well."
"You remember? Amazing! You were only about four at the time. Maybe we can do that again, the four of us, someday soon," Julie hinted.
On the phone screen, Kuon looked at Kyoko and smiled. "We'd like that."
Julie beamed at Kuu with hope. This was positive. "If it gets too much over there and...and you need a place to lie low. You can always come home."
Kuu placed a hand over Julie's and shook his head. They couldn't afford to be pushy right now. Their son was talking to them again and even hinted at someday rejoining them. They couldn't force it.
"But Kuu, I'm not getting any younger!" Julie argued stubbornly.
Julie's eyes swam with tears. "Ah, it was great talking to you both. I have to get ready for an early shoot. I'll let you continue with Dad." She blew kisses to them and left the room.
"I'm sorry," Kuon mumbled to his dad in Japanese.
"Don't be. She's just overwhelmed by the news. It made her impatient." Kuu looked over his shoulder to make sure Julie wasn't eavesdropping. He approached the phone and whispered, "She's been going through a thing."
"A thing?" Kyoko asked in concern. "Is it serious?"
"Oh no, no, no, it's not serious, but if you ask her, it's a matter of life or death." Kuu covered the side of his mouth as if to keep some unknown person in the room from reading his lips. "She claims to have wrinkles forming here." He pointed to the outer corner of his eye with his free hand.
" Wrinkles? " Kyoko rolled the word around her tongue and then looked at Kuon. He explained the word in Japanese.
"Dad's talking about the fine lines that form on faces as people grow old," Kuon emphasized so she wouldn’t confuse it with the wrinkles in clothing.
Kyoko mouthed a big "O" in understanding, but her face scrunched up in confusion. It was impossible to imagine. The Fairy Queen always looked radiant and timeless to her.
"Shhhhh! She'll hear you!" Kuu whispered loudly. His face contorted comically to keep from being heard. "She'll kill me if she knows I said anything. She nearly took my head off when I told her she needed glasses because I couldn't see whatever she was trying to show me. I kid you not, she has one of those fancy mirrors that light up and magnify your face. Of course, at ten times magnification, you're going to see flaws that no human eye can see. It's practically a microscope. It's meant to see things at a cellular level!"
Kuon coughed to hide his laughter, but Kyoko could not suppress her giggle.
"Sorry, I got carried away," he said, smoothing his hair. "But you see what I'm dealing with now. Anyway, I kept you two up too long. You should get your rest. What your mom said was the truth. You're both welcome here at any time. Take care, kiddos. Love you guys."
Kyoko and Kuon returned the sentiments and hung up. Kuu pocketed his phone and placed the breakfast dishes in the sink. He would leave clean up to the housekeeper when she arrived.
Maybe calling Lory would help her blow off some steam. He took the steps two at a time, imagining Lory's bewilderment when his wife confronted him.
Cedric moaned. His body felt heavy, and his head pounded. Lying on his stomach, he attempted to twist in bed. He assumed he was in a bed but could barely move. He could feel the softness beneath him and the texture of smooth sheets surrounding him. He opened his eyes and blinked several times until the room came into focus. His eyes opened to see gold tendrils splayed across the pillow beside him. He cursed as a stabbing pain shot between his eyes while trying to lift his head. What was her name, Ana? Bea? Fuck, it hurts to remember. It felt like his head was splitting in two. He bit back bile and laid his head back down, trying to recall the night's events.
He met up with Koga. The guy had a small harem of international models surrounding him.
"Ladies, Ric! Ric, ladies ," Koga introduced him with a clap on the back. " Drink?" Koga's English had improved exponentially since befriending Cedric. That and he upped his lessons after learning that both Kyoko and Ren were fluent.
"I'll have…" Cedric paused, trying to think of the Japanese equivalent of the term. When he couldn't find it, he just said, "Scotch?"
Koga laughed and signaled the bartender. Two of the four models latched on to Cedric, flirting and making small talk. They stayed at the bar for an hour until the women began chanting for karaoke when Cedric admitted he had never been.
They went to a Karaoke bar that catered to the elite with VIP lounges. The private lounge they were in came with a personal bartender. It was their private little bar with bad singing and a lot of grinding. He remembered disco lights, American pop songs, and shots. Way too many shots.
Some memories of the night drifted through his mind. He remembered sleeping with the woman softly snoring beside him and… He twisted his head painfully, in the other direction. Sun-kissed skin and curly black hair entered his vision. He got an eyeful of her glorious breasts uncovered by the sheets. He groaned as he started to harden. He pushed himself out of bed, removing limbs draped over him. He needed to take a leak. The women moaned at the disturbance. He had to stand still a moment until the room stopped spinning. Judging by the excessive amount of feminine clothing strewn about, he assumed he was in their hotel room.
He stumbled to the bathroom and cursed. Two used condoms floated in the toilet, and a third stuck to his foot. Gross but not bad for drunk, he thought smugly. It was disgusting, but he gave himself a mental attaboy on his back. At least I was smart enough to wrap my shit up. He sighed loudly, relieving himself. He flushed and put the seat down out of habit. My mama taught me well, he thought bitterly.
He stood in front of the large mirror and looked himself over. Shit! He had love bites all over him, including his dick. Were they leeches? He closed his eyes to wash his face. Flashbacks of one woman riding his cock and the other riding his face danced behind his eyelids. He slurped water into his mouth and rinsed vigorously, then took generous sips. He eyed the shower but decided against it. He needed to get out of there. He turned off the tap and dried up.
He paused with the towel on his face. He could hear the women bickering in English with strong accents.
"For fuck's sake, shut the damn thing off!"
"Shut your whore mouth, Nat!"
Nat? Natalia? Cedric slowly opened the door. He looked between both women curiously. He didn't need any more trouble and just wanted to get his shit to leave.
"Your phone was buzzing ," the naked brunette said with a wicked smile. She held up the phone. " Grandpa?"
Cedric stalked across the room and snatched his phone from her, annoyed that she touched his phone.
"I didn't try to snoop. Don't get testy," she responded, stretching her arms over her head. She arched her back, pushing her perky breasts out, successfully catching his attention.
"Yeah, sorry. I have to go." Cedric said, shaking his head to clear it. He looked around the room for his pants.
"Are you sure? It looks painful ," she teased, eyeing his growing erection. " You can stay…" she offered, trailing her finger from her chest to her mouth seductively.
"I'll live ," he replied with a roguish smile and winked at her. He was amazed that he could still get a hard-on when he felt like shit. " Thanks for the offer, but no time. You ladies were remarkable."
He found his pants but no boxers. He pulled them on anyway, careful not to get his bits caught in the zipper.
"That's cool. Will we see you in LA? " Asked the gorgeous blonde, Nat .
He pulled on his shirt, buttoning it up quickly, then threw on his jacket.
"Well, LA is a big up in the air right now. I pissed off some people, so we'll see. I'll call when I get there," he said, pulling on his shoes. He kissed both women on the cheek and walked to the door.
He found his watch and wallet on the table nearby. "Until we meet again, ladies. Thank you for the delightful evening." He saluted. Both girls gave a forlorn wave before he closed the door.
Cedric had no clue where he was in Tokyo. He pushed through his headache and walked out of the building. The sidewalk was busy with pedestrians trying to get to work. He successfully hailed a cab at the end of the street and relayed his address. He winced at the sheer volume of missed calls on his phone, 17 in total: one from his grandfather, thirteen from his father, and three from Koga. He had four voicemails. One was from his grandfather, and the other three were from Koga. His father could never be bothered by leaving a message on international calls for him. He thought the missed call notification was enough to prompt Cedric to return his call.
Cedric held the phone to his ear, playing his grandfather's message. Good morning, my boy. Call your old pops once in a while. I miss hearing from you!
Cedric smiled at hearing his grandfather's friendly voice. No matter how many times Cedric let him down in the past, his grandfather's love never wavered. He sighed and looked out the window. I fucked up big time, gramps.
His phone buzzed with an incoming text.
Dude, are you alive?
Still Kicking!
Brunch?
Cedric laughed out loud. It was one of his mother's favorite pastimes. Was brunch a thing in Japan?
Are you some kept white woman?
Huh?
Cedric entertained the idea of joining him for a hot minute until he caught a whiff of himself. Booze and Budussy! He suddenly felt sorry for the driver. He would have to give him a generous tip.
Nothing, forget it. I reek. I need a hot shower.
Gotcha! I'll see you on set later, then.
See you then.
...
Before taking a shower, Cedric returned his grandfather's call but got his voicemail.
"Hey, Grandpa. Sorry, I missed your call. I had an eventful night. I know why you're calling, and I have no excuses. I'll call again soon. Love you, pops!"
He plugged in his phone to charge and went to the kitchen. He grabbed a bottle of water and some pills. He looked at the time. He wasn't due for set until late afternoon. They were back-filming the scenes he missed in the beginning while he was still in the States. Next week, he should be on an airplane back to LA after the Sacred Lotus wrap- party.
He chugged some more water and rubbed at his temples. He could use some more sleep but first, he needed a shower.
Cedric took a long, hot shower while brooding over the phone call he needed to make. There was no talking his way out of this one. His father hated bad publicity. It reflected poorly on him. If he couldn't manage his son, how could he possibly be good enough to represent top actors?
Cedric got dressed and picked up his phone. First and foremost, some sustenance. He called the ramen shop down the street and ordered his usual. His food was delivered within fifteen minutes. As he slurped the broth, his phone rang. He stood to retrieve it from the counter.
"Hey, Dad ," he greeted. " I was just about to call yo-."
" What the fuck is going on Cedric? I've been calling you for the last twelve hours. I have Japanese press calling the agency! You were supposed to lay low! We had a deal.
"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't see this coming. She was my friend."
" Have you learned nothing from your past mistakes with women, Cedric?"
Cedric cringed. He loathed how his father always said his name with that condescending tone. It was the reason he only went by Ric now when introducing himself. When he was younger, he felt entitled and enjoyed the pleasures that his name brought. Now that he was older, he saw the true face of those around him. He thought Viola was different. He tried to help her, but she was unwilling to put in the work.
"Yeah, I fucked up."
" Is anyone suing you? Do I need to consult my lawyers? "
This was new. His father almost sounded concerned. Cedric knew better than to read too much into it. His father was a professional con man.
"No, there's nothing for you to do."
"Good! I guess you have to let the gossip run its course. When are you coming home?
"Filming wraps next week. I'll be back soon."
" I want you to do something for me. That Japanese actor in that video with you. That's Ren Tsuruga, isn't it?"
" Yes, that was him."
" I want you to befriend him before you leave. Get a feel for what kind of films he's interested in as an actor. His skill is astounding for a foreigner. I want to promote him here in Hollywood. I haven't felt this excited over someone in years...and that actress. She's your costar, right? I want more info on her, too. Give me this, and maybe I'll be lenient. "
Cedric felt the familiar feelings of anger and envy digging its claws into his heart. It was always someone else in his father's eyes, never him. No matter how hard he worked or was recognized by his peers, it was never enough for this man.
"I'll see what I can do, " Cedric replied through clenched teeth. " If there's nothing else. I have to get back to work." It took all his acting skills to keep the resentment out of his voice.
"No, we're done." Cedric heard the dial tone. His father ended the call without so much as a goodbye or word of thanks.
Cedric balled his hands tightly and raged inside. He was red with anger before he could calm down again, chanting the words for me and no one else .
His father's request was simple enough. I'll get him the info he wants and continue to strive for the top actor for no one else but myself.
Notes:
Thank you for sticking with me, my dear readers. I went ridiculous in this chapter and got carried away with Cedric XDD. All I wanted to get at was his father's proposition and all that excess spewed forth. Oh, and if you have yet to notice, I am trying to work Uncle Tiger (as Cedric's grandfather only) into this. I hope it worked. Also, keep in mind that this chapter was written long before Sensei revealed to us that Julienna is a foodie too. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time, Ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 115: Autograph Time
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would grow his hair out.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The chime signaling the lunch hour rang through the speakers in the special class and the main cast of attendees took their time to disperse for lunch today.
"It's my turn to go to the canteen. Do you guys want anything?" Maru asked as he stretched out of his seat.
Various requests for melon bread, strawberry milk tea, and two cartons of black tea were shouted at him. He rolled his eyes as his school friends pushed the desks together for lunch. Thanks to Kyoko's lessons on healthy nutrition, the other students prepared their lunch at home rather than purchasing the high-caloric food provided at the school.
Hanami and Gina gushed about the weight they lost from changing their eating habits. Kyoko was kind enough to share some of the foods Ren consumed to keep fit with Gen. He now ate more protein-packed meals to mimic his idol than the fried foods he preferred. Maru was the only one in the class whose career did not depend on his looks, so he ate whatever he wanted.
Maru slid the door open, took one step out, and stepped back in, closing the door in front of him.
Kyoko noticed and scrunched her eyebrows. "Is everything okay, Maru-san? Oh right, let me give you some money." She dug into her school bag for her coin purse.
"No, um, it's okay. I got this. It's just that there's some sort of—"
The door slid open and a messy and tired-looking Mimori entered the room. The girl was furious as she stalked up to confront Kyoko, making her groan. She was probably here to rub the Kimiko incident in her face.
"What the hell is this?" Mimori demanded, slamming her hand down on Kyoko's desk.
Kyoko and her friends peered down at what Mimori had beneath her hand.
"We can't see with your big paw blocking it," Gen retorted sarcastically.
Mimori's cheeks flamed red with fury at the insult. She glared at Gen but removed her hand. It was a copy of Fuwa's single with her looking like the Demon Queen with geeky Sho worshiping her feet. Kyoko couldn't believe they used that one for the front cover.
Gen let out a low whistle.
"Wow, you look fierce!" Gina complemented.
"I can't believe Fuwa agreed to look like a complete dweeb," Gen commented.
"Sho-chan doesn't look like a dweeb. He is very handsome even in normal clothes," Mimori defended but they ignored her while passing the CD around.
"I bet this album is going to go Platinum. With you on the cover like this; it's bound to sell out. This was a good marketing strategy by Fuwa's team," Maru added with the critical eye of a record producer.
With all the commotion surrounding her these last few days, Kyoko didn't think it was dropping today. She would probably have known if she messaged Shotaro per her promise last night. Ignoring Mimori, Kyoko pulled out her phone to message her annoying childhood friend.
Hey, I just heard your new single was released. Congratulations!
"Who are you texting? Is it Sho-chan? Why would you? An ungrateful woman like you shouldn't be texting him," Mimori sneered, earning a bunch of eye rolls from Kyoko’s friends.
A commotion from outside the classroom drew their attention until the door slid open. Their classmate Ayuko, the social media idol now singer, stepped into the room with her back facing them.
"You're disturbing our classroom. Go away! This is school!" She shouted as students came closer to the door.
Wait! We just want Kyoko-san's autograph!
Is she in there?
Can you ask her to come out?
Ayuko shut the door in their faces.
"Goodness!" She said, whipping her hair behind her shoulders. Their classmate looked like a hot mess. She looked tired and her uniform was rumpled. "If anyone is getting your autograph, I will be first. I waited in a long line for my copy!" Ayuko declared, strutting towards Kyoko.
"Kyoko-san, can you please sign my album cover?" Ayuko asked, pulling the sheet from the case and holding it for Kyoko. "Here I have a cute red marker I use for autographs. You should get one. The ink lasts long and dries fast so there's no smearing."
"Excuse me! I was here first!" Mimori huffed, trying to push Ayuko out of the way.
"Oh Nanokura-san, I see you got your copy too. It pays to be a part of Sho-san's fan club. We got the exclusive update that he was having an early release."
"Early release?" Kyoko asked, "It wasn't supposed to come out today?"
"No, the original schedule was for this Saturday but we got a notification early this morning that the first two hundred fans in line would get this exclusive album release for free. I thought it was a scam but since I'm friends with the official fan club president she confirmed the news. I rushed to get down to the agency knowing people would be lining up already. There was someone there handing out numbers. I was the 123rd person in line. Can you believe it? I'm glad I took my time to look cute because, at five in the morning the place was crawling with all of Tokyo's photographers and news outlets. Sho-san didn't even arrive until closer to ten. Fans were griping but as soon as he showed up all was forgiven. He needs his beauty sleep after all."
Kyoko held herself from rolling her eyes along with her friends.
That would explain the phenomenon this morning. Kyoko was able to waltz into school undisturbed. A few paparazzi loitered the front gate but kept a respectful distance from her as Tadashi escorted her to the entrance. The students in the hall were mainly guys. They stared and greeted her like usual but for the most part, left her alone.
Kyoko found that the boys here weren't the gossiping type unless you counted the friends she made in her class. They were less reserved when it came to plying her with questions. All they wanted to know was that she was okay in the end. When they were satisfied, they couldn't stop teasing her about the cute non-proposal Ren made at the press conference. They took bets that the couple eloped after running from the press. The boys lost to the girls. Their reason: No self-respecting woman would let a man as rich as Tsuruga-san off the hook for giving her a dream wedding!
Kyoko scrunched her nose at her friends. They made her sound like a gold digger. "Wha? I'm not with him for his money. I don't need a fancy wedding!"
The girls laughed. "We're joking silly. We know you're just after his body."
"Gina-san!" Kyoko gasped turning a deep shade of red.
"Don't spaz...take away the wealth and you still have one hot piece of man. Am I wrong?"
"Well...you're not wrong. I would still love him even if he weren't rich or famous."
"Exactly!" Gina said with a wink.
"Hello! Mogami-san!" Mimori waved her hand in front of Kyoko's face bringing her back to the present.
"Oh, my family name is Morimoto," Kyoko corrected her. Mimori looked taken aback but didn't question it.
"Well, whatever! Are you going to explain this cover?"
Kyoko sighed. "I was hired to do a job, Nanokura-san."
"And you expect me to think that Sho-chan just went along with it?"
"It wasn't my concept. We did as instructed to complete the job. You need to stop coming to me with any insecurities you have with Fuwa-san. I'm in a committed relationship. Fuwa and I are barely friends these days."
Mimori stood shocked, her face red and her eyes burning with unshed tears.
"You heard her Nanokura-san! If you have nothing else, it's my turn. Kyoko-san, please sign this sleeve."
Mimori left the room in a huff. Kyoko felt bad that the girl was still pining over that blockhead.
She turned her attention to her classmate, "But Ayuko-san, I didn't do anything. You should ask Fuwa-san for his autograph. It's his song."
"I already have his autograph on this one," she said, pulling out a 20 by 25 cm photograph.
This time Kyoko covered her face in embarrassment. Of course, he wouldn't let things be. The photo was him looking roguishly handsome on his throne while a vulnerable Kyoko laid her head on his knee.
"Whoa, this is some major BDSM action going on here with these images. Like seriously, who was the creative director for this album," Gina asked genuinely curious.
"What's BDSM?" Kyoko asked with relative confusion. She looked at every one of her friends for an answer. No one would meet her gaze. Maru retreated out the door with Gen hot on his heels. They told anyone still out there to leave unless it was school-related.
"Come on guys, tell me," Kyoko pleaded. She hated feeling ignorant when her peers were so knowledgeable.
"Let's just ask Google Sensei to help us with this one," Hanami suggested, typing in her phone and then handing it to Kyoko.
Kyoko's eyes widened as she read. How could they suggest such a thing? She hoped it wasn't the case. She was worried he would misunderstand but something else popped into her mind. A certain night that involved handcuffs and dominance came to the forefront of her thoughts. She had no idea there were terms for what she did that night. She needed to stop thinking about it or she would have to dip into her emergency stash of underwear.
Her phone pinged jarring her out of her perverted thoughts. Grateful for the distraction, she returned the phone and looked at hers.
Really?! You almost fucking die and that's all you have to say! Stupid idiot!
"Ren, I got your updated schedule from the assistant," Yashiro called as he approached the open doorway. "Are you about ready to go? We only have two hours before you're due back on set and that includes commute time. Fuji-san would skin us alive if we cut into his time."
"Give me a few more minutes I almost got it," Ren replied standing in front of his dressing room mirror with the hairstylist. "So like this?" Ren mumbled with concentration.
"Yes Tsuruga-san, just scrape it up. I promise you I'm good at what I do. Handling it too roughly won't ruin it. Just follow what I'm doing. It doesn't have to be perfect. Now pull those strands down in the back. Good...good now just twist it a few times in this direction. This way the extensions don't show…okay, now use the tie as I showed you," the stylist said demonstrating every step so Ren could follow along.
Yashiro stood amused with his phone set to video mode. This had to be the tenth time Ren was trying to do this on his own. The actor held the knot in place and pulled the tie from his wrist, securing it around his hair twice.
"Okay, let's see how you did. Move your hands."
Ren held his breath and slowly removed his hands. His lips tilted into a boyish grin when the bun held.
"How does it feel? Shake your head back and forth."
Ren did as he was told.
"It's staying this time," Ren said triumphantly to Yashiro. Yashiro rolled his eyes and put his phone away.
"Thank you for your patience with me, Hekima-san," Ren said, bowing to the stylist.
"Oh, it was my pleasure. You're a fast learner. I'll see you later Tsuruga-san, good luck with your other work," Hekima said as she left the room.
Ren ignored Yashiro's snickering face as he fidgeted with his hair one last time. He took a look in his bag to make sure he had all his stuff then glanced toward the counter for his phone. He picked it up wrapping the earbuds cord around it. He was back to listening to music during his break time for inspiration. He still had plenty of notes to write Kyoko.
…
Ren walked into a chaotic R'Mandy studio which was commonplace this time of year. He may not have done fashion week in the States but he was no stranger to the European shows.
"Tsuruga-san, good to see you. Excuse the chaos. You are the priority right now...by the way, love the hair. It's a good look. New drama?" Fuji's male assistant designer, Jay, greeted them with a gush of words.
"Yeah, thanks," Ren said following Jay through the workroom as they dodged other models and staff.
"Hey, partner, Yashiro-san! Glad, you'll be in this show this go around. Should be successful," a familiar voice called, drawing Ren’s attention.
"Hey, Nick! It's been a while."
"Man, a lot of crazy shit has been happening to you. It's like you've been living one of your dramas…By the way, rumor here is you're engaged to that pink cutie over there."
Ren's eyes followed his direction and landed on his girlfriend, in her LoveMe uniform kneeling on the ground as she pinned the hem of a pair of trousers on another male model. She stood up when she was done, smiled at the guy, and then walked away to Fuji's other assistant, Chiaki. Ren frowned watching the model's eyes trail after his girlfriend.
"I haven't asked her yet but I damn well plan on it!"
Nick laughed. "I never thought I'd see the day. I've been working with you for a long time. We were surrounded by beautiful women yet none of them caught your fancy. So she's your type," Nick contemplated.
Ren chuckled and watched his girlfriend flitter about to complete more tasks. "No, she's not a type. She's one of a kind."
"You've got it bad, bro. I'm happy for you," Nick said, squeezing his friend's shoulder before walking off to change.
"Tsuruga-san, we're ready for you in here," the assistant called, waving to him. He cast one last lingering look in Kyoko's direction hoping to catch her eye. As if fate was on his side, she turned just in time. Her brilliant smile transformed her face as she waved to him from the other side of the room. Ren returned her radiant smile with one of his own. But the moment was lost when she was interrupted for help. He waved and followed the assistant. His warm expression was quickly replaced with his gentleman mask as he expertly navigated the minefield of female models vying for his attention.
…
"Ouch!" The model hissed as Kyoko accidentally pricked his arm.
"I'm so sorry!" Kyoko dipped into a deep bow. She could barely steady her hands since he entered. She felt his presence before she even laid her eyes on him. The brief moment her eyes met with his was enough to shake her up. She barely controlled herself.
Oh my God! Is he wearing Ryu's wig? It should be illegal to have him walking around like that! Look at all these predators ready to pounce on him! He's mine, you fiends! Her subconscious screamed.
Kyoko felt just a smidge guilty for not correcting Fuji when he brazenly congratulated her on her recent engagement with Ren. She tried to correct him in private but all the designer told her was, "Please honey, it doesn't matter whether it's now or later. I'm just speaking the truth. You'll thank me for this one."
Before Ren arrived, Many models still present saw her trying on the outfits Fuji prepared for her to wear in LA. He made her walk down the wide corridor that he used as a makeshift runway with each outfit. She wondered if the designer was bullying her by putting her in front of all these beautiful people.
"Even if you aren't in the show, I want you to walk like you're strutting your stuff on a catwalk. I want to see my garments move on you. When you get to that red 'x' on the floor pose and then walk back. Let's have Anika demonstrate. Anika darling, please show Kyoko-chan what I want."
Kyoko sighed with admiration as a gorgeous woman with golden skin and curly black hair stepped into the center and walked towards them. Even in stilettos, Kyoko felt like a dwarf standing beside the model. Anika eclipsed her by about eight to ten centimeters in heels.
Fuji introduced the ladies and repeated the instructions given to Kyoko earlier to Anika in English. Kyoko stood to the side and watched Anika. The model stood at the center, changed her posture, and walked. Kyoko along with several others clapped when she finished.
Fuji held out his hand for Kyoko to take her mark. Confidence, Kyoko! Don't give them any ammunition to doubt your place here! She took a deep breath and summoned her inner 193 cm tall supermodel courtesy of her boyfriend's late-night tutelage. She didn't have to adjust her posture by much but she shook her shoulders loose to relax. Lifting her head, she walked. Kyoko took long steady strides ignoring the shutter sounds as Sousuke hovered around her with his camera. The soft material of her long sundress caressed her legs as she walked. When she got to the red mark she paused placing her hands on her hips. She flicked her hip out to the left, then the right. She kicked out her foot with some sass and twirled to walk back.
"Very good, Kyoko-chan. Now go change into the next outfit," Fuji praised, clapping enthusiastically.
By the third outfit, someone had turned up the music and other models began walking with her. They had a mini runway show going. None of the other women thought she was inferior as a model; she was short, but not inferior. Envy still burned in some of their eyes. Just because they acknowledged she belonged, it didn't keep them from vying for Japan's most desirable man's affection.
Kyoko had to keep her jealous grudges in check and focused on helping not hurting since he arrived. She concentrated on the work in front of her.
"I'll live,” the model winced, rubbing the spot. “No need to go that far. Just be careful, please. I don't like seeing blood, especially my own," the model whined.
She stood up straight. "Right, I'm very sorry." Kyoko took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She placed a few more pins in her mouth and continued to tuck as instructed. Ten minutes later, Kyoko finished and called for Chiaki to check over her work.
"It looks great! Thanks for your help, Kyoko-san."
"You're welcome! What would you like me to do next?"
"Please take those accessories to Fuji-san, and unless he needs more help you are free to go. Thank you for your help."
Kyoko bowed and then scooped up the bags, hats, belts, and decorative chains from the table. She could hear Fuji's voice through the doorway as she approached the room and knocked on the door. When she heard the resounding, "Come in," by Fuji, she struggled to open the door with her full hands.
The door was suddenly tugged from her grasp as Yashiro opened the door. "Oh, it's you, Kyoko-chan. Please come in." He pulled the door open wider for her to enter. "Here, let me help you. I see the LoveMe force is hard at it today."
Kyoko bowed after he took some of the items from her hands. "This is training for the actual event since I'll be there to assist Fuji-san."
Ren came out from behind the screen wearing a gray and white turtle neck sweater printed with the R'Mandy signature logo and paired with navy ankle pants. The coat he had on was in a battleship gray, displaying the impeccable craftsmanship of the cut.
"Hi," Ren greeted kissing her on the cheek and then stepping in front of the floor-length mirror. Kyoko bowed her head to hide her blush.
Ren stood still smirking while Fuji marked some changes to the outfit. Kyoko stood dumbly staring at how gorgeous he looked with his hair pulled up in a top knot. She clasped her hands together to keep from embarrassing herself by running her hands through the luscious-looking locks; however, it didn't keep her from fantasizing about it.
"Ahem! Hell-loo...Kyoko-chan," Fuji called to get her attention.
"Yes!" she said with a start.
"Can you hand me that box of pins, please?" Fuji asked, amused by her antics.
The next forty minutes consisted of Fuji, meticulously reviewing every detail of his two designs on Ren. He wanted every piece to fit perfectly including the ornaments he chose to accessorize the outfit.
"Ren, don't you dare gain any more muscle in the next two weeks. I swear to Kami-sama, I will make you go down the runway in your boxers and call it couture!" Fuji threatened as Ren changed behind the screen.
Kyoko burst into a fit of giggles as she collected his clothing for Fuji. "Same for you young lady. I didn't sacrifice sleep to make you clothes only to have them go to waste. Stop working out! Stick to Yoga, stretch, lengthen out your muscles, and make yourself limber. I'm sure someone would appreciate it."
A fit of coughing came from behind the screen.
"Yes, sir," Kyoko replied resolutely. Fuji's words went right over her head. "I will do my best not to let you down."
"Yashiro-san, please come with me. I want to hold a dry run next week but I have to work it around Ren's schedule. It would be easier in front of my computer."
As soon as the door was closed, Ren stepped out from behind the screen. Kyoko was focused on tidying up the accessories to notice him. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her neck.
"I missed you, LoveMe girl."
"Ren, you can't do that here," Kyoko chastened.
"Do what?" he asked with wide-eyed innocence.
He pulled her back with him and sat down on the black leather sofa sitting her on his lap. She squirmed trying to get off him.
"Don't squirm, you'll make things hard for me."
She stopped fidgeting immediately and sat rigid in his lap. He wrapped one hand around her waist and used his other to rub the back of her neck.
"Mmm," she moaned with pleasure as his hand released the tension from her neck and shoulders. Kyoko found herself relaxing against him which was probably his aim all along.
"You looked like you were having a lot of fun today. How did your fitting go?"
"You missed all the commotion. I don't know why he did it, but Fuji-san made me walk in front of all these models earlier. We had a mini runway show," she gushed excitedly.
"None of those women were mean to you, were they?"
"No, at least not to my face , but um about that… Fuji-san announced to everyone that we were engaged and he wouldn't let me fix it."
Ren chuckled. "It's good that they know you're mine. I saw a male model making googly eyes at you."
"You lie! He was not!"
"He was, he practically drooled after you left."
"You shouldn't talk! You think I didn't notice all the women clambering to greet you?"
"This gorgeous face is the bane of my existence."
Kyoko rolled her eyes, "oh, you poor baby. Such a curse to be so pretty."
She snaked her arms around his neck, brushed her lips with his, and then tugged on his bottom lip with her teeth before letting go. The hand rubbing her neck applied pressure, pushing her lips against his. Kyoko closed her eyes and kissed him. Their exchange was soft and sweet as if they had all the time in the world. Nothing else existed but them. Her fingers threaded through his soft tresses, distracting her from his lips.
She pulled back and stared at the strands between her fingers. She twisted his head to the side to get a better look.
"Is this real?!" Kyoko asked incredulously.
Ren grinned at her. "They're like yours. Extensions."
"Are you telling me that your hair will be this length from now on?"
"Well, up until we leave for LA. I don't want to make more work for Jelly-san. Do you like it?"
Kyoko nodded enthusiastically. She ran her fingers through the strands. "It's so soft." She ran them through again, but some strands got caught on her pinky ring. Ren winced as his head was yanked back.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she said giggling. She gently disentangled his hair from her ring.
"Okay, absolutely no jewelry when touching my hair." He rubbed his head with a pout. Kyoko leaned in and kissed the hurt away. He smiled at her thoughtfulness.
Ren felt his heart swell with love. She'll make a wonderful mother one day.
To distract himself from groping her, he asked, "How was school? Any problems?"
Kyoko groaned. "Did you know Fuwa dropped his latest single today and students are asking for my autograph?"
Ren laughed. "What? How did that happen?"
Kyoko pulled her phone out of her pocket. She tapped a few times and then turned her screen to him. He let out a suggestive whistle. He laughed when Kyoko playfully shoved him. "No, wonder they wanted your signature…Sexy. Who do I need to pay to get you back in that dress?"
"You're impossible!"
"I'm serious. I want to meet this woman," the Emperor commanded piercing her eyes with his gaze.
Easy Kyoko, this is not the time nor the place. Someone could walk in at any moment.
"Oh, I'm sure it could be arranged. I know her personally," Kyoko replied sultrily, slanting her mouth over his in a crushing kiss.
Cedric knocked on the door before opening it. He walked in and plopped himself down on Koga's couch careful not to ruin the hours worth of makeup he just sat through. Koga laughed at his friend.
" Are you still hungover? " Koga asked looking up from his phone.
" Nah, I just needed to eat and sleep. I was out of practice. They wore me out. "
" I thought those ladies would cheer you up. "
"Oh they did," Cedric gloated.
" I take it your father called? "
" Bingo! "
" Have you been disowned? You can just live here man! I'll hook you up with my agency. "
Cedric chuckled. " That's tempting. I might just take you up on that offer. "
" So what did your old man, want? "
" He's scouting Tsuruga. Wants me to get a feel for him. "
" Are you fucking kidding me! Hollywood?!"
Cedric nodded.
Koga began shouting obscenities in Japanese as he stalked around the dressing room. Once again, his rival was outperforming him.
" Isn't this a good thing? Wouldn't this put you in the running for first place if he left Japan? "
" Winning by default is the worst! " Koga moaned, slumping back into the chair. He forgot about his lame brain plan to couple Ren with Kyoko so he could win the Bachelor poll. He wanted his performance as Shizuma to skyrocket him to the top.
" I feel you, man, " Cedric said sympathetically. " I'll leave you to mope...see you on the set."
Notes:
Hiya! Thanks for continuing to read. I've been dragging these last few months and trying to get back to this fanfic. When I wrote this chapter, I just discovered the webtoon Midnight Poppy Land and couldn't unsee Ryu with a man bun. It's such a great webtoon, I highly recommend it.
And if you guys are keeping up with the manga you'll realize Cedric is still a dick! I'm looking fwd to what Sensei has in store for him and his lackeys. I hope she doesn't let me down. This last chapter had me Kya'ing at RenKyo's cuteness.
Until next time, Ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 116: Sex Bomb
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would collect bath salts just for Kyoko.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Ren placed his bag and flowers next to him as he sat on one of the crates in the deserted hall. Fishing out his phone from his pocket, he unwound the earbuds and stuck them in his ears. He glanced at the time, still a bit early. He thumbed through his phone and started his playlist, turning up the volume a few more notches. The music washed over him and he bobbed his head to the beat.
He pulled his notebook and pen from his bag and flipped through the pages looking over the last days' worth of notes. He tried to keep his notes romantic, humorous, or witty but lately, all he wrote were lewd thoughts. The way she chewed on her bottom lip as she rocked slowly above him. How her breasts fit so perfectly in the palm of his hands. The erotic sound of her voice when he...oh, fuck. He needed to stop.
Think, Ren! Was this writer's block? Did it make him a piece of shit that he could only think about sex with her or the mundane things in their daily life? Just the small things about her that caught his eye. Like how she looked this morning standing in front of the stove wearing his shirt. He wrote sentences about the little birthmark on her rib cage under her right arm. He liked to think he was the only one aware of its existence. Smiling to himself, he began scribbling as inspiration struck him. The love of his life was simple. She appreciated the little things. Kyoko was the kind of woman who loved to stop and smell the roses. That made him pause in his musings. He lifted the roses to his nose. They smelled sweet, just like her.
He wrote a few more lines and closed his notebook satisfied with the progress made in the last ten minutes. He glanced down the hall, but there was no one.
It's been a while since I last heard this song. He turned up the volume and got carried away. Playfully, he tucked the pen to his chest and mimed playing the world's smallest guitar. He flipped the pen in his hand in time with the music. Suddenly, he was air drumming. He switched again holding the pen up to his mouth like a microphone and mouthed the lyrics blaring in his ears.
"This bed is on fire with passionate love, the neighbors complain about the noises above, but she only comes when she's on top…"
Once again the pen became a drumstick keeping rhythm with the instrument blaring in his ears. He closed his eyes and lost himself in the song. This reminded him of the days he watched Rick perform during open mic night at the bar. Sometimes he couldn't help jamming out, pretend that is, to a good song. Ren sighed heavily. Would his friend have been discovered if he wasn't dead?
He screeched when he opened his eyes again surprised to find Boh standing before him with his chicken head cocked to the side. His sad thoughts were immediately forgotten.
"God, Babe! You startled me!" He pulled off the headphones. "You caught me doing something embarrassing again."
"Ugh, Tsuruga-kun actually…"
"You didn't record me did you?" He pulled Boh closer by the wings and patted the costume down looking for her phone. Boh tried to resist and pull away, flapping his arms wildly.
"Oh, so you did! Where did you hide that phone?" He laughed, taking the chicken's resistance as an admission of guilt.
"Tsuruga-kun, you've got the—"
"Ren? What are you doing here?" The clear voice of his angel asked.
Ren froze. He turned and saw his girlfriend walking down the hall with the Ishibashi brothers. His eyes darted between her and the chicken in confusion.
"What are you doing here? Did you meet, Abe-san?"
"Abe-san?" Ren gulped staring back at the chicken. If he had paid more attention he would have found it odd that Kyoko would use a masculine voice and call him by his "surname." He and the rest of Japan already knew her secret.
The chicken removed his head revealing a middle-aged man with a small build. Abe gave him a lopsided grin. He moved in and whispered to Ren. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me, Tsuruga-kun. I won't be pressing charges." Abe gave him a thumbs up with his chicken wing.
Ren's face heated up. He was just caught groping another man by his girlfriend.
"Sorry," Ren bowed quickly. "I thought..."
Abe chuckled at the normally smooth actor's embarrassment. "No worries. No one would believe me anyway without proof."
The group finally reached them.
"Hi, this is Abe-san. He'll be my temporary replacement while I'm in Los Angeles. The producer wanted him to get acquainted with the role. Abe-san filled in the second half of the show tonight." Kyoko informed him.
"It's good to meet you, Abe-san."
"Likewise, Tsuruga-kun," he replied winking at the taller actor.
They exchanged small talk with the others for a few minutes before parting. After the other men left, Kyoko focused her attention on Ren.
"These are for you," he announced, handing her the roses and picking up his bag.
"They're lovely." She tiptoed on her ankle boots and kissed his cheek. He interlaced their fingers together as they walked down the hall.
They nodded and smiled at people they passed in the hall ignoring the personal phones trained on them by some.
"Is everything okay with work?" She asked looking at him.
"There was a schedule conflict with another actor. Rather than rearrange the set and schedule the director gave us a break. We're ahead of schedule anyway."
"My father, did he…"
"I called and met with him earlier. He was understanding."
"I should message him when we get home."
"Perhaps, do it in the car. We won't be home for a while. I'm taking you on a date!"
"A date? Did you bring our disguises?"
"We can't hide from them forever. Plus, there's somewhere I want to take you. Have you had dinner?"
"That depends, have you had dinner?"
Ren smiled sheepishly.
"You're hopeless! These muscles can't be maintained without sustenance. Where ever you're taking me they better sell food."
...
It felt right, and weird, to walk down the street as "themselves" in public. If they went out on dates they normally went out as Kuon and Ella. Lately, they didn't have time to do that much. Going out in disguise and seeing more of Kuon's personality was fun. She could see more of that playfulness shining through when he was supposed to be the perfect gentleman Ren. She heard the comments of their peers and read the tabloids. Love had changed him for the better.
According to Ren, they had one more block to go. Kyoko would be glad to get off the streets, she didn't think she would get used to the nonstop squeals! That's all Kyoko heard as they leisurely strolled down the street. It was his hair. She was sure of it. She had the same reaction internally when she first saw him. They ran into the occasional fan bold enough to stop them for a selfie. Thankfully, most just gawked and admired them from afar. Kyoko smiled and waved acknowledging excited passersby.
"I know this street. Are we visiting Jean-Luc's cafe?" She asked excitedly.
"Yes and No."
They walked past the adorable French cafe and stopped at the adjacent shop. Kyoko saw the French flags before reading the shop's name, Mon Amour Bakery.
"Bakery?" Kyoko questioned.
"Yup, Jean-Luc informed me that he opened a shop you might like. Want to go inside?"
Kyoko nodded vigorously as her stomach growled on cue. Ren laughed and opened the door for her. The bakery was busy. They took their place at the end of the line like normal customers. The smell of fresh ground coffee and fresh-baked bread made Kyoko's stomach growl again. She swayed back and forth trying to glimpse the offerings in the glass cases between patrons. A few caught her eye from the distance. An employee came through the line handing out menus with pictures and descriptions of their products. It would help the line move faster if they knew what they wanted before they got to the counter. Kyoko practically drooled at the thought of eating the salted butter bread topped with vanilla soft-serve ice cream.
"Ren, this all looks delicious. What are you having? You need a meal not just bread. We can go to the cafe side if you want."
"No need. They sell meal items over here. I can have this Beef croquette. It's meat," he replied pointing it out to her. Kyoko narrowed her eyes at him. The sandwich looked carb-loaded but delicious. It was better than nothing.
"Okay, but you need to order something else," Kyoko relented.
"Deal! Do you see anything you like?"
"I think it would be easier to ask me if I see anything I don't like."
Ren chuckled, wrapping his arm over her shoulder. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head ignoring the flashes around him from other patrons. Kyoko didn't notice as she continued to study the menu. "You can order whatever you want. We can take some stuff home too."
"I'd like that," she said snuggling into his side to wait for their turn.
At the counter, they placed their order and opted to dine inside. They found two vacant seats near the window of the small dining hall while they waited for their order. Ren settled on the beef croquette, a side of corn soup, and a cup of coffee. Kyoko ordered an array of sweet breads, croissants, scones, and Belgian waffles to go. For tonight she settled on the salted bread with ice cream and a scrumptious-looking soft bread filled with apple and cream cheese. Kyoko enthusiastically took pictures of the food and Ren eating. She captured a perfect photo worthy of a magazine cover as he sipped his coffee and tucked his hair behind his ear.
The couple took turns feeding each other off their plates until their food was gone. They long forgot it wasn't very Japanese-like to do so, especially in public. They were so wrapped up in their little world that they didn't notice the sizable crowd gathering in the small establishment until a familiar voice rang out.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry but we are exceeding the maximum capacity of the space. Please begin forming a line outside. I promise the kitchens will continue to produce fresh products. There is more dining space through the hall in the café."
Kyoko watched Jean-Luc set up the line outside. When he came back inside he spotted the couple.
Jean Luc, broke into a wide smile and wove between tables and people.
"Ma Cherie, welcome. I'm so glad you both could make it." He greeted kissing Kyoko on both her cheeks.
"Thank you, Jean Luc. This place is wonderful. I wish you all the success."
"Thanks to you two tonight, I believe, the business will increase all around," Jean-Luc said, nodding at the line forming outside the window.
They took some pictures with Jean-Luc and his staff before leaving with the promise of returning to try more items. The next morning their intimate date at the bakery would be the main topic of conversation on the entertainment channel. Pictures of them walking hand in hand on the street and eating together would be displayed on various online sites. These happy times would soon overshadow the Morizumi Kumiko incident; however, the public would never forget that she had tried to harm their darling couple.
"I'll prepare the water," he told her heading into the master bath as she went to the guest room. He turned on the taps of the large spa tub to the perfect temperature before letting it fill. He rummaged through the drawer of bath salts until he found the one he was looking for. Sex bomb, so aptly named for the occasion. He ran his finger over the little rosebud nestled at the center of the spherical mixture, then dropped the ball in the water and left the room. He glanced into the guest room where she was humming as she put her things away.
He glided to the dining table where the vase of roses stood and plucked a stem out. He was back in the bathroom in two shakes sprinkling petals over the scented and rose colored water. He stood there satisfied with his presentation. I should pick up candles next time.
…
Kyoko leaned against the door jamb of the bathroom. She eyed his naked form appreciatively as his muscles flexed to arrange the long hair on top of his head. She blushed deeply when she met his gaze in the bathroom mirror. His smoldering green eyes in the reflection made her shiver despite the warm temperature of the room. When he was done, he tugged her toward the tub while undoing the knot of the robe. He pushed the pink fluffy garment off her silky shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
"Beautiful," he whispered, trailing his eyes down her body.
He climbed into the tub first and situated himself. Kyoko took the hand he offered and stepped in. She chose the opposite side of the tub facing him, careful to arrange her legs so she wouldn't kick him.
He leaned back with an amused expression at her choice to sit away from him.
"This feels nice," she said, picking up a rose petal. "It smells nice. Jasmine?"
Kuon nodded. It was quite soothing and as a bonus, it contained natural aphrodisiacs. Not like they needed it. The thought of soaking in a tub with her with such ingredients did heighten his arousal. It had to be the bath bomb.
Water splashed over the edge as Kuon reached for her foot and lifted it to his chest. Using his thumbs, he began kneading the sole of her foot up and down from heel to toe. Kyoko closed her eyes and leaned her head back to rest against the cool white porcelain of the tub. Her rosy tips puckered beneath the warm water and her nether region tingled with lust. He was conditioning her to enjoy these little touches. She sighed with pleasure. The sound resonated in the large bathroom making her already pink cheeks darker.
Kuon's lips curled up at the corners pleased that he could make her feel good. He pecked the bottom of her foot and placed it back in the water. He held his hands out patiently nodding to her other foot. Kyoko deliberately dragged her foot up his thigh, past his growing bulge visible beneath the murky water, and up his abdomen. It was Kuon's turn to groan.
He took the foot in his hands and began massaging it. Kuon found out early that touching her feet brought as much delight to him as it did to her. The next moan she released was heavy with arousal as he rubbed the ball of her foot. Kuon never took his eyes off her. His fingers drifted from her foot and continued to knead passed her ankle over her silky calf. Kyoko stared at him captivated by his gaze. When he could reach no further, he tugged on her foot to get her closer.
She sloshed across the water crawling up the length of him and straddling his hips. Although the tub was large there was barely any room to put her legs on the side of him but they made it work. He sunk lower in the water and wound his arms around her palming her ass. Kyoko's heart rate increased from the pressure of his solid abs pressing against her sensitive little button and his very obvious hard-on nestled between her cheeks. He sat patiently, waiting for her to make the first move.
Kyoko slowly slid her palms up his broad chest savoring the feeling of the taut muscles beneath her fingers. She twined her arms around his neck then stretched over him grazing her chest with his. The peaks of her mounds pebbled as they brushed against the rigidness of his pectorals. She brushed the tip of his nose with hers and licked his lips until they parted. She kissed a corner of his mouth and then the other before kissing him directly on the lips. While her lips and tongue played with him, she fingered the few strands of hair that had come loose at his nape. Intrigued, she stopped kissing him and tugged at the tie in his hair. The long dark locks cascaded down his back and over his shoulders. He looked like Adonis incarnate submerged among the rose petals with the silky strands framing his perfectly masculine face.
Kyoko's fingers wasted no time delving into the tresses. She ached to do this all day since he walked into the studio. There was no doubt about it, this man was sexy and he was all hers. Kuon closed his eyes with a contented sigh while she ran the strands between her fingers.
"Do you like me touching your hair like this?"
"Mmmm..." He smiled. Kyoko found herself melting into the water the more she regarded him and brushed her fingers through his hair.
His eyes fluttered open. "Kiss me," he whispered, pulling his head up and grinding his hips against her ass.
Wanting to please him, she moved to capture his mouth in a breathless kiss. She unconsciously bucked against his abs, disturbing the water. Kyoko ignored the sound of the drips as they spilled over the sides and focused on her desire. Kuon gripped her ass, squeezing her cheeks around his erection as he slid between them.
Kyoko gasped and pulled away from his mouth. The sensation was different but not bad. She never felt him from this angle before.
"Fuck! You feel so good, baby," Kuon groaned out as he thrust again digging his fingers into the supple flesh of her rounded ass.
Kyoko leaned down again thrusting her tongue into his mouth. This kiss was fierce as she bucked against him with his every thrust. It wasn't long before she felt Kuon tremble beneath her as he climaxed first. He didn't stop thrusting waiting for her to follow. She rubbed her clit frantically against his abs trying to find her release.
Kyoko stopped dry-humping him and lifted her hips. Her hand wound around his length guiding him inside her.
"Wait! We can't! I just…"
Stubbornly, she silenced him with her lips. Kuon groaned with pleasure and pain as her heated entrance closed over his tip. She hissed as she pushed him deeper inside.
"Fuck, are you okay? Breathe, baby," he murmured, stroking her back lovingly. "It's the water, it causes a lot of friction. It takes getting used to this way."
His hands shifted to her breasts knowing it would arouse her quickly. Kyoko moaned and arched her back. His fingers continued their ministrations on her chest as she finally rested on his thighs. The tub was too narrow for him to fully sit within her. She needed more room to spread her legs wider. He took one hand off her breast and thumbed the little nub between her thighs, coaxing her arousal to coat him once more.
Finally, she relaxed against him. Kyoko smiled with relief, tears pricking the corner of her eyes. He caught her face in his hands and kissed her. She began to move on top of him. Now that she was doing better, Kuon had the chance to assess his situation. He was inside her without a condom and it felt so fucking perfect. If a baby miraculously resulted from this night it would have been conceived out of love.
He pressed his forehead against hers and cradled her head. "Kyoko, I love you," he whispered, looking deep into her molten eyes.
Her eyes welled up and nodded. "I love you too, Kuon." He kissed her softly then moved his hand to her shoulders, pulling her body down while he drove up inside her.
"Ah…" Kyoko cried out. He did it again, repeatedly, until they were both trembling for release.
"Kuon! I need you deeper….my legs…no room, I can't." He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off him. He waded to the other end of the tub on his knees. This time buckets of water splashed over the edge. Ignoring the pain in his knees, he set her on the small ledge of the bathtub against the wall.
He leaned her against the wall and spread her legs wide. He stroked his erection over her entrance until it was coated with her arousal.
"Hold on," he said, pushing himself firmly inside. He closed his eyes and stilled for a moment. He basked in the glory of her heat closing in around his uncovered flesh. His eyes flew open as she pulsed and contracted around him. He growled when she squeezed him again, smirking.
He wiped the smirk off her face when he pulled back and thrust powerfully into her.
"Ah!" she screamed, gripping the tub edge until her knuckles turned white. Kuon didn't let up. He pushed her legs further apart and tunneled into her repeatedly.
"Kuon! Yes! God yes!" She screamed with her quick release. He continued to pound into her his climax delayed since he came already. Their breathing became ragged. Kuon grunted loudly as he sought his release.
"Uh, Kuon again. I'm going to come again!" Kyoko screamed, now clinging to his biceps.
Her body tensed around him and he felt the rush of liquid heat surround him. With one final shuddering thrust, he joined her seconds later as they unraveled in each other's arms. He couldn't describe the rush he felt coming inside her with such recklessness. It was euphoric and unnerving. He pulled out of her and pulled her back into the water with him. He held her in his arms until the water turned chilly and their skin wrinkled.
Notes:
Hiya everyone! This chapter was written years ago as a bonus for Valentine's day. Nothing but fluff and smut here...XD
The song Ren was dorking out to was "Laid" by James.
Until next time, Ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 117: New Manager
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko and Kanae would have managers by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
For once Kyoko and Ren weren't at the complete center of today's gossip. The first episode she and the Ishibashi brothers starred in aired the night before. The reviews were instantaneous as the episode unfolded. Many eyes were open to the idea of Kyoko playing someone other than a mean girl and thought she looked cute. The shocker to most was the Ishibashi brothers. Their usual personalities that the fans knew and loved shone through in their comical banter making the episode endearing for both men and women.
Kyoko had missed it at the time but in that short interaction in the back alley with Hikaru's character searching for her, audience members noticed the brief exchange between Hikaru and Ruriko's characters.
The viewers speculated that this was the birth of their relationship, the couple just didn't know it. The musician couple had gone public with their relationship before the episode aired and were already collaborating on a duet single.
Nobody could forget the paper rose falling out of Rika's guitar case and Ren's voice was heard in Rika's head. Most praised the writers of the episode for including something so brilliant and wonderfully sweet while a few grumbled at how once again Tsuruga Ren was used to boost the ratings of another show. Those few were ignored.
What surprised Kyoko the most was the editing of the episode. They had shot almost an hour's worth of footage with Rika and her band rehearsing. The shared scenes showed them wasting time backstage as they discussed the competition. There was even a small mention of Rika's boyfriend not making the show due to his work. When they finally did get on stage to rehearse, it focused on the band tuning and adjusting their instruments. They started playing the song intro and just as Rika stepped up to the mic, the episode ended dramatically.
The popular theory out there claimed that Kyoko couldn't actually sing. Some even took to social media to state that the guitar she toted around was just a prop. Fans reminded the haters that she won a karaoke contest all those months ago. Amazingly, the people present during the taping of the actual competition scene had remained silent. The public appreciated when directors opened the set allowing them to be a part of the production in some way, they tended to follow the rules established. They didn't want to ruin it for everyone in future projects.
Kyoko ignored the negative feedback. She could only conclude that the director wanted to leave viewers returning for more. It would make an unbelievable impact in the next episode.
Water and suds trickled down the dragon tattoo on his back as he washed the shampoo out of his hair. He laid the showerhead on the faucet and shut the water off. His fingers ran through his wet hair brushing it out of his eyes then picked up the long washcloth and lathered soap into it. He lifted the cloth to his neck and jerked his head to the left. The fist sailed past him and slammed into the tiles ahead. Ryu was off the stool and on his feet within a millisecond, blocking the back of the fist of his assailant's other hand.
He held the arm in place and elbowed the man in the face. Ryu smirked from the pleasure of hearing the nose shatter from his hit. His attacker only grunted from the pain but didn't let up as blood poured down his face. Was this shithead on drugs? How could that hit not affect him? Now that he was aware of his enemy, Ryu put up his guard and went on the offense. He recognized this bastard. The Boss banished him for inappropriately touching a high school girl. "How the fuck did you manage to get in the mansion? I'll kill the fucks on guard duty!"
The guy was a few centimeters shorter than Ryu and built like a brick. Ryu slipped but caught his balance just in time for a fist to glance off his jaw splitting the corner of his lip. He swiped at the blood with his thumb and snarled at the man. The cut was nothing but any solid contact with those hard fists would have him seeing stars. He stayed quick on his feet coming in close, pummeling him with his fists, and then stepping back to assess the damage. The man shook his head and lunged for his throat. Ryu ducked at the last second and swept his legs from under him with a low spinning kick. The guy went crashing to the wet floor. His head bounced against the tile but he still attempted to get up.
Ryu wasted no time pouncing on the man. He pinned the guy's arms with his legs and dug his knee into the man's sternum obstructing his breathing. The man flailed under Ryu's weight and bucked to get him off. He didn't budge and slammed his fist into the guy's face. Ryu had to hand it to the man for trying. The bathroom was definitely when a man was most vulnerable. It was no secret that Ryu's daily routine started with laps in the mansion's pool. This piece of shit knew just where to find him and when he wouldn't have any weapons on him. Unfortunately for this asshole, Ryu's fists were just as deadly. He was unrelenting as he punched the guy repeatedly, rearranging his face.
" CUT !"
The set erupted with applause. "Great Job! Well done! Let's take a look at the playback."
A blushing assistant handed Ren a robe and a dry towel. Thanking her, he pulled the warm cloth over his body and then took the towel to dry his hair as he walked to the screen with the director. After a few minutes of review, the director wanted to make subtle changes to emphasize certain parts of the scene.
"Good work! Please head to the makeup team." The director called out to everyone on the set. "We need special effects makeup. I need gradual bloody faces and bloody fists. Please prepare to set up the damage and smear blood in these areas as the scene intensifies. We'll reshoot those moments to show the results of the blows. While everyone is preparing on this side let's roll right into filming Kijima-kun's part."
Ren bumped into Kijima as he headed for his dressing room.
"Shit, Tsuruga, I didn't know you were so stacked? I might consider turning gay for you," Kijima complimented squeezing Ren's bicep through the robe.
"That's sexual harassment, Kijima-san," Ren retorted pulling his robe tighter around his body.
"Hey, can you blame me?" Kijima said with a nonchalant shrug. "By the way, I loved how you inserted yourself into Kyoko-chan's cameo last night. I knew I recognized that velvety voice. Smooth, brother, real smooth."
"You watched it?"
"Of course, I'm a fan. I follow her work."
“For your information, it was her director's idea. I'll take any excuse to work with her again even the smallest of roles."
Kijima laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "I should try this commitment thing. It's doing wonders for your career. Does Kyoko-chan have any single friends? Kotonami-san still dating, Yashiro-san?"
"I'm not dating her for my career!" Ren scowled.
"You know what I mean," Kijima said with another carefree laugh
Ren set his mouth in a tight line. He felt it his duty to protect Kyoko's friends from this playboy.
"Ooh, what about that one cutie from the club? I thought she was fun. Ayako…Ay, something. I can't recall her name at the moment. You know who I'm talking about. She's in the LoveMe section, right?"
"Amamiya-san?"
"Yes, that's her!"
"I remember Kyoko telling me she was seeing someone."
"Darn, missed opportunity. She gave me her phone number too, I just forgot to call… Anyone else?"
"I don't know of any other friends that she's close to. Even if I did, I wouldn't recommend you to any of them!"
"Wow, that's harsh. I thought we were friends man."
"You're hopeless, Kijima-san." His colleague only smiled in agreement.
The assistant director ended their talk as he called for Kijima to get started.
Ren headed straight for his dressing room wanting to rid himself of the wet towel clinging to his hips. Though it appeared like a short towel used while showering in a public bath the waistline was elastic to keep it snugly on his waist like a terry cloth skirt. Beneath the towel, he wore a nude swimsuit so even in the event of a wardrobe malfunction he would be covered. He made sure not to throw any kicks during the scene except that low-sweeping one. He strategically set his arm between his legs to keep the towel from riding up his thighs. The review of the footage verified that he was in the clear; however, he still thought the director was sly for adding this scene.
"Hey, Ren. All done?" Yashiro asked looking up from his computer. His manager was cooped up in his dressing room working to fulfill Ren's request.
"For now, I need to get special effects makeup done to finish the scenes. How is it going? Do you think it's doable?"
Yashiro pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and stared at Ren with a serious expression. "Please don't underestimate me. Have you settled things on your end?"
"I'm meeting him later. If he doesn't want to take it on I can always ask Nakazawa-san for a recommendation. Thanks, Yukihito."
"Are you kidding? I've been living for this moment."
Ren went behind the changing screen and disrobed. He was thankful for the stacks of swimwear and towels he had for this scene. He put on a dry set and put on a dryer robe while he waited for the makeup artist to show up.
"By the way, here's what you asked for." Yashiro handed Ren two plain black notepads. "Sorry, it's not as interesting as your last one. Despite our LoveMon boss, the office supply closest doesn't exactly stock notepads with unicorns and rainbows gracing their covers."
"It was an impulse purchase and it served its purpose," Ren answered putting his notepads into his bag. He didn't say it out loud but he was rather fond of the cute notebook. The exterior matched its contents and reminded him of the woman he loved.
He felt like he was in a good place right now and could move forward with his plans. He wasn't sure how this drama would trigger his emotions as it progressed but so far it hadn't. Ryu had to be cold and ruthless to keep up his façade within the Gokudo but also never forget the righteousness of Akira. He was sure it had to do with the peace and love he felt with Kyoko. He still had the occasional nightmares but they didn't weigh on him during the day like in the past. He wasn't sure if his parents would appreciate him showing up out of the blue in LA. Though the constant communication with his parents had made the reunion easier, he would be lying if he said he didn't feel anxious about returning to his homeland. It was a good thing he would have his omamori with him.
…
Yashiro narrowed his eyes in suspicion at Ren. The guy was acting funny again. He carried the bento boxes Kyoko prepared for them over to the table where Ren sat with a pair of high school-aged actors on the set of Ryu. One of the young actors played the younger Akira during his middle and high school years. He could pass as a younger version of Akira with the right hairstyle and camera angles. The other actor was playing a high school dealer of the drug that killed Akira's sister. The boys weren't in any scenes together but became fast friends due to their close ages.
One would think that the drug dealer kid would look like a "Yankee" with outrageous hair and piercings; however, in this drama, he was a model student. He had good grades, was part of the student council, and never broke any of the actual school rules. Essentially, he was favored by the teachers and allowed to move freely at will without arousing suspicion of his true intentions. Yashiro thought his role was quite scary. When his character needed to snap out of the model student role, he snapped so convincingly.
Yashiro stood a minute and watched his charge engage with the students. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but Ren didn't look out of place sitting with them. If Yashiro didn't know Ren, he would believe he was watching three high school friends hanging out. It was odd how well his charge blended in despite his "mature" look. In fact, he didn't look mature right now as he broke out in unabashed laughter at something one of the boys showed him on his phone. The Ren of last year would have never done such a thing.
Yashiro felt every pair of eyes on the set turn toward the group. Many smiled and even laughed to themselves. They were seeing a more down-to-earth side to the top actor. He shook his head as he watched the many women and maybe some men in the vicinity fall for the unattainable young man.
He watched his charge mimic the mannerisms and speech of the young men. Although he was wearing Ryu's black suit, his bearing and countenance made him look younger than his twenty-one years.
Yashiro approached the table and sat next to Ren. He placed the bento in front of him along with a bottle of green tea.
"Thanks, Yukihito," Ren said appreciatively.
"Ooh, Tsuruga-san, you bring a homemade lunch to work. That's surprising!" said the boy playing the young drug dealer looking at the wrapped meal in front of Ren.
"It's not surprising, dope. If you kept up with celebrity news you would know that his wifey, the actress Kyoko-san, is an excellent cook. You're so lucky Tsuruga-san. I wish I had someone to cook for me," young Akira gushed admiringly.
Ren chuckled and said, "I thank my lucky stars she chose me."
He unwrapped the cloth and opened his box. Like usual the meal was elaborate. It contained rice with a pickled plum at the center, seared salmon, hardboiled egg, pickled veggies, skewered chicken, and a small salad. Everything was arranged prettily as always. He would have to talk to her about toning down the meals. It had to be exhausting waking up and preparing not only a meal for him but for herself and Yashiro as well.
The boys opened their provided bento and began to dig in. A mouth full of food did not stop them from talking. Ren joined in the chat while he ate which was out of character. The topic turned to food. Ren easily navigated through the conversation adding his commentary to meals he favored until somehow the discussion turned to dating advice.
"Tsuruga-san, as the more experienced man, no offense, Yashiro-san."
Yashiro waved the boy off. He was not offended.
"But can you give me some advice on how to get the girl I like to notice me?"
Yashiro let out a series of choking sounds as food went down his windpipe. Ren pounded his friend's back irritated by his reaction to the question. Once Yahshiro caught his breath he let out a small chuckle. Ren glared at him.
Yashiro gulped and rubbed his lips together to keep from laughing. He couldn't. He burst out laughing holding his sides.
"HA HA! Laugh it up," Ren retorted, begrudgingly.
"What is it? Did I say something funny?"
"My manager here is a comedian," Ren explained.
Ren gave Yashiro a pointed look and gave the boys the short version of how he wooed Kyoko. He left out that it took him almost a year to confess his feelings to her for fear she would reject him, skipping to the good part of how he had cooked her dinner and told her his true feelings.
"Ehhhh! You confessed first!" The boys shouted in unison. Ren cringed apologizing to those around them, shooting his friend a glare for snickering.
"Please don't be so loud. You'll trouble the others."
"Ah sorry. It's just unbelievable."
"The point is maybe she's already harboring feelings for you and is feeling insecure just like you. I think sincerity and chocolate might help you out here. Trust me, it's scary. I feared she would reject me but it turned out she liked me too and here I am eating her homemade bentos."
"Lucky!" The boys exclaimed together.
Kyoko groaned as she walked with Tadashi toward the three theater seats in front of the large stage. The President's office was transformed into a traditional Japanese theater with platforms flanking the seats and lanterns hanging from the ceiling.
"Oh, I didn't think Takarada-san would go this far with his themes. What do you suppose is behind those curtains?"
"It's usually just a dramatic entrance in costume but I can never underestimate him."
Ruto manifested in front of them in a traditional set of Japanese robes. How had he changed so fast from the suit he was wearing when he let them in the door?
"Please this way," he said holding his hand out to the empty seat.
Kyoko realized he was talking to someone behind her. She turned to see a woman of mixed descent in her late thirties walk around to take her seat. Kyoko stood with her father and bowed.
"Le-san, good to meet you again. This is my daughter, Kyoko."
"Thank you, Morimoto-san. Hello, Kyoko-san. I am pleased to meet you. I'm Linh Le. Please, both of you, call me Linh."
"Linh-san pleased to meet you." She returned with another bow. She looked at her father quizzically. He smiled and assured her that all would be explained.
"Please take your seats and enjoy the show."
Kyoko frowned. Was there going to be a show? She took her seat and waited. The lights above them dimmed and drums and flutes pierced the silence. The colorful curtains parted revealing a large set of the Imperial Palace from the Edo period. Standing on stage were half a dozen men dressed in armor with their faces heavily painted. One man stood out at the forefront in a statue-like pose. His face was painted with bold red stripes expressing justice and bravery.
Kyoko was floored by what unfolded. The costumes and the makeup were impeccable as she watched the Kabuki show. It was the first time she saw Lory participate in such a grand performance. It made sense now that he would own a talent agency. As the hero, Lory destroyed the enemy and freed the kidnapped princess. It intrigued Kyoko how well the female roles of the play were performed by men. When the ten-minute show was over. The audience clapped with appreciation when the cast bowed.
Ruto assisted Lory in removing the heavy robe before providing the President with a chair. "Welcome, welcome. I hope you all enjoyed my performance."
"Sir, I didn't know you were skilled in the art of Kabuki. Magnificent performance!" Kyoko praised earnestly. Her esteem of Lory rose another notch.
"Fu, fu, fu, there are many things you don't know about me Morimoto-kun. Now, since I shamefully took up so much of your time, I'll be brief. Morimoto-kun, this is Linh Le. She will be your new manager."
"What? But I thought Yashiro-san wou- "
"I have not informed Yashiro-san of this change yet. Your father has requested I provide you with a full-time manager capable of protecting you. Le-san may look harmless but I assure you she is a master in Taekwondo, Northern Shaolin, and Judo to name a few disciplines. She has served as a bodyguard and aid in the Prime Minister's detail for the last three years. Her skills are impeccable and highly recommended."
"The Prime Minister, that's a very important job." Kyoko gazed at her new manager with a starry expression.
"Le-san, interviewed for this position when I sent out requests to my acquaintances. She comes highly recommended."
"Surely, someone like me shouldn't require a manager of her caliber. There has to be a more deserving actor at LME."
"Kyoko-san," Linh said addressing. "I'm looking for a less demanding job but fulfilling all the same. I'm familiar with all your work and I am aware of your potential. I read in an article that your goal is to become an actress worthy to represent all of Japan. If you let me, I would like to help you achieve this goal."
"Kyoko, you know I'm leaving the day after tomorrow," Tadashi said, taking her hand gently in his. He told her and Ren both when he was leaving; however, his departure date was only dependent upon Lory finding her a capable manager. "Yashiro-san has been doing an excellent job thus far but as your workload increases, he can't be in two places at once. I would feel relieved knowing that you are in safe hands while I'm abroad."
Tadashi smiled gratefully at Linh making the woman blush prettily. Lory had conducted the interviews and sent his three top candidates for Tadashi to make the final decision. He only met Ling the other day. Tadashi wasn't expecting such overqualified candidates. Of the three, Linh was the only woman. Maybe Tadashi was prejudiced, but he immediately gravitated to Linh for the female guidance she could provide for his daughter. In his opinion, his daughter had more than enough men looking out for her well-being.
Kyoko looked away stubbornly and blinked back tears. She took in a shaky breath and then smiled. She stood and bowed. "I will be in your care, Linh-san. Please take care of me."
Linh also rose and bowed repeating Kyoko's words.
"Good! I'm glad that's settled. Le-san, I will pass your contact information over to Yashiro-san and he can bring you up to speed on Morimoto-kun's works."
…
Kyoko was overjoyed with the modeling work Yashiro had secured as they pulled up to a large yellow and black American-Victorian style manor. She had no idea that something so elegant existed on the outskirts of Tokyo. It was the exact house she envisioned a noble young lady would live in. Kyoko was ushered inside quickly when she was spotted in the circular driveway.
The assistant brought her to a fashionably dressed older woman going through the inventory. "Jenny, Kyoko-san has arrived."
"Kyoko-san, it's good to meet you, honey. I'm Jenny Chang. Please call me Jenny or Jenny-chan if you’re more comfortable."
"Please to meet you, Jenny-chan. Thank you for this opportunity, I look forward to working with you."
"Oh, what an adorable kitten you are. No wonder most of Japan is in love with you. And who are your friends."
"Oh, excuse my poor manners. This is my father Morimoto, Tadashi, and my manager Le Linh-san."
"Pleasure to meet you both. I can see where Kyoko-san gets her good looks," Jenny said, eyeing her father.
"You are too kind Chang-...Jenny-chan." Tadashi corrected himself after the glare Jenny shot his way. He frowned wondering what it was with women and their aversion to being addressed politely.
"I received your size from, I guess, your former manager, Yashiro-san. I would like you to try these five pairs to make sure they fit."
Kyoko looked at the shoes nervously. Jenny Chang was a high-end shoe designer. Every pair of her shoes were no less than 100,000Y, she was worried she might ruin them.
"Don't be bashful dear, I promise they are made of quality material and won't damage easily," Jenny encouraged as if sensing Kyoko's apprehension. "Please have a seat and an assistant will help you."
After trying on the shoes and swapping out a few pairs, Kyoko rushed to hair, makeup, and costume. She came out, with her hair slick back, her eye makeup natural, and wearing a strapless black ball gown with layers of organza at the skirt. Kyoko was led to a bathroom outfitted with ornate brass finishes and an antique clawfoot tub.
"I need you to be debonair. You are rich. You are snobby. You don't care about anyone but yourself. Do you think you can give me that?"
Kyoko nodded and immediately channeled all of the charisma she learned from Natsu but none of her flaws. Her inner hime was on full display. She was getting better at piecemealing the character traits she learned since entering showbiz.
"Remarkable!" Jenny murmured as she watched Kyoko transform before her. "Okay, please climb into the tub and sit."
Kyoko didn't question her instructions and climbed into the tub filled with padding. She sat as Jenny arranged her dress to make it look like she was bathing in a sea of black material. Kyoko leaned back and lifted her leg onto the tub's lip. She tried not to blush as memories of the last time she was in a tub drifted through her mind. Jenny slipped on a black patent pointed heel with a thick pearl strap securing it to her foot. The photographer took up his position and began snapping photos. Kyoko had enough photo sessions with Fuji-san to know that subtle movements were key to capturing the right angle and lighting.
Kyoko found herself sitting on a low settee in the solar of the house, as Jenny called it, wearing a pink suede strapless bodysuit. Her outfit reminded her of a modest one-piece bathing suit. Jenny was pleased with her curves and her muscle tone. The designer paired the outfit with a crystal-encrusted cream-colored peep toe high heel with an ankle strap. The assistant handed her a matching suede bag to hold as she leaned forward on the velvet sofa. When the photographer told her to tense her legs, she did. Kyoko found from looking at the raws that the action accentuated all the muscles in her legs drawing a consumer's eye down their length to admire the shoes.
Kyoko had three more outfit changes. She wore beautiful gowns with high-low silhouettes so the shoes were always visible no matter the pose. They finished the shoot outdoors by the fountain of the Italian gardens. By the end of the shoot, Kyoko had acquired a new skill. She now knew how to showcase shoes for an editorial magazine shoot.
As a bonus, Kyoko was not only allowed to pick out one gown and two pairs of shoes used during the shoot, but the manor's curator took them on a complete tour of the house and explained its rich history in great detail. Kyoko's favorite part was the gardens. With Linh's help, she was able to take photos with her father as they strolled arm in arm among the beautiful landscaping.
Yashiro sighed heavily as they entered LME that evening.
"Are you going to be okay, Yukihito?"
"I'm fine. I'm feeling a little lonely now that I know Kyoko-chan will have a new manager."
Ren chuckled at his friend's dramatics. He was sure nothing would change on Yashiro's end. His manager would probably continue to receive Kyoko's schedule.
"It's my fault for shirking my duties and letting it all rest on her father."
"That's not true, you were letting them spend time together. I'm sure they both appreciated the effort."
"Thanks, Ren."
"I'm a little early but I should head up unless you..."
"Go! Do what you came here to do. I don't know how late I would be."
"Nor do I. How about whoever finishes first is free to go home without the other?"
"Okay, I'll message you unless you message me first. Good luck, Ren. If there's anyone that can do this, it's you."
"Thanks, Yukihito," Ren replied as the elevator doors closed.
…
Ren found the room he was looking for and knocked. He waited several seconds but received no reply so he knocked again and turned the knob. He found the man he was looking for sitting at the table with headphones over his ears. He made as much noise as he could and came up wide so as not to startle the man.
It wasn't until Ren was upon him that he was finally noticed. A sly smile crept up his face. He put his pencil down and pulled his headphones off.
"You've finally come to accept my proposition, Tsuruga-kun?"
"Not really, but I will if you're willing to help me first."
"Intriguing. How could, I, possibly help Japan's top actor?"
"My time is limited. I only have so much of it in a day." Ren reached into his bag and pulled out a black notepad. He opened it up and tore several sheets from it." Ren handed over the papers.
"These are yours?" He asked with a glance at the content on the pages.
Ren nodded making the guy smile. "Not bad…. Tell me... the note in last night's episode, was that yours too?"
Ren nodded again.
"I think you and I are going to have a good working relationship."
"Thank you, Kei-san. I appreciate your help with this."
"Don't thank me, yet."
Notes:
AN: Hehe see what I did there. I hope you enjoyed it.
Fanart of RyuRen was created on my iPad using Procreate back in 2022. This is actually a redraw. I think I'm slowly improving.
Until next time, Ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 118: Family Dinner
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would feel that loving warmth by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyoko couldn't believe this was breaking news this morning. According to the broadcast, she was cheating, yet not cheating, on Ren. She groaned as she watched the bane of her existence fill the television screen as they played a clip of Sho's interview last night.
"Fuwa-san, I'm sure all your fans would love to know if your relationship with Kyoko-san was rekindled after working on this project. There's a lot of chemistry between you two on this album cover."
Oozing charisma, Sho chuckled straightening up in his seat and running his hand through his blonde fringe pushing it out of his eyes.
"This collaboration has definitely brought us closer..." he began with a warm smile akin to someone in love.
What?! Who's close to you Shotaro?! Why would you answer like that, Baka?!
"That was taken from an interview last night with Fuwa-san. This short clip circulated overnight and was shared and re-shared among fans making it go viral. Naturally, everyone jumped to conclusions. In this context, it is implied that there is some romantic development between the childhood friends. However, with just a few clicks of the mouse, our staff was able to find the whole interview and it appears not to be the case. Let's look at his full response," the reporter continued.
"The collaboration has brought us closer and you could say rekindled our relationship but just as friends. It's no secret anymore that I wronged her in the past. I'm happy we can move past our issues and work together amicably. We are both professionals in this field and take our work seriously. If fans are speculating about our relationship then we did our job well."
"As you can see, Fuwa-san's full response contradicts the rumors the edited video incited. Some still argue that it could all be a misdirection tactic…"
Kyoko shut the television off. She was annoyed that some trolling fan started all this by cropping out the rest of his words and the public ate it up. She couldn't even be angry at Sho since this wasn't his fault.
"Corn, I have no words. What they're saying isn't true. I would never…"
He was smiling, that sparkling ultra-gentleman smile that she loathed. She grimaced. His smile quickly turned apologetic.
"Sorry, I didn't realize I was doing that. This isn't your fault. Unfortunately, this is how the media works."
"When I accepted the job, I wanted to prove to myself that Shotaro and I could get along again. I didn't think it would raise any bad rumors," she explained, taking his hand in hers and entwining their fingers. "I don't even understand how they could possibly think I would cheat on you. I'd have to be insane to do that."
She moved to sit on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms instinctively wound its way around her waist. "You're the man of my dreams. My fairy prince. I love you, Kuon."
Kuon looked at her tenderly as her eyes fluttered closed. He tilted his head and closed his eyes, kissing her lips softly.
Keeping cool under extreme pressure was her forte. It was a necessity in her previous position and seemed to be a necessity in this one as she clutched the folders in her hand. She smoothed the wrinkles out of her blazer as she waited, finding any small excuse to keep calm. Her old wardrobe was professional and drab consisting of nothing but dark muted suits. She was excited to eventually add some color to her closet and needed to go shopping. When the elevator doors opened her face was pleasant as her heels clicked against the tile floor while she walked down the halls of LME.
Linh had learned so much about her new charge from talking with Tadashi. It surprised her that he only recently came into her life after so many years away. He came clean so she wouldn't judge Kyoko for any of the little quirks that could have developed as a result of his absence.
Her opinion of Tadashi rose at his honesty. She didn't even have to ask many questions since he had no problems sharing what he learned about his daughter during the photoshoot yesterday. She had pages upon pages of notes just from Tadashi alone. She concluded he was a proud and doting father who loved his daughter very much.
Before the job interview, Linh did her due diligence and researched Kyoko. She was up to date on all the rumors circulating the young starlet by the time she met her; however, she truly didn't know the girl herself. That would have to come with time.
Her meeting with Yashiro was also very informative. He made sure that his charges' schedules coincided as much as possible and asked that she try to maintain the same. She understood that he wanted to maximize their time with one another. It was important to keep their relationship thriving. She had yet to see the couple interact with one another, firsthand. From what she gathered during her research, the young man treated her with respect and love.
Linh became confused when Yashiro showed her Kyoko's current schedule.
"Yashiro-san, Kyoko is a very talented young woman. I'm not trying to doubt your skills as a manager but why do you only have her doing commercials for products and small cameos in dramas? Surely by now, she has earned some larger roles. What about after Los Angeles? It's blank except for here. Her schedule seems entirely too free to me. I'm sure you have Tsuruga-san's schedule filled in for the next six months. What is with these double standards?"
Yashiro sighed heavily and rubbed the back of his neck.
"You are aware that Kyoko-san is part of the LoveMe section, correct?"
Linh nodded. She thought the whole section was a sham concocted by the president to get young ladies to work for free.
"I can see by your expression that you aren't fond of our President's pet section."
Linh laughed softly. "Was I that obvious? I feel like Takarada-san is taking advantage of these young ladies' goodwill and getting free labor out of them."
"It would appear that way but..." Yashiro began.
Linh cocked a skeptical eyebrow at him.
"Okay, it is that way; however, it has been very effective for the members of the section. Each had lost that crucial emotion called love in some form or another but I've noticed them regaining it. Kyoko-chan is the founding member. The power to have her debut lies solely on the president. Any leading roles would have to go through him. Between you and me, I think she's ready. The president is working on his end but has kept me out of the loop for some odd reason."
"So the lull in her schedule is due to the President's meddling?"
Yashiro nodded solemnly. Linh accepted it and moved on.
They continued talking about the current work Kyoko had contracted but wouldn't occur until after her return from Los Angeles. For the work in LA, it was decided that she wouldn't attend since Yashiro originally planned on going alone. Linh would use the time Kyoko was away to complete her new hire training courses and attend the one-week managerial course offered at LME.
The final information Yashiro passed on to Linh was a listing of social media sites and online magazines that he recommended she follow. By following these activities as a manager, Linh would be better prepared to react if she knew at the start of each day what tabloids and fans posted. This would be helpful after the morning news. The media was grasping at straws. She felt sympathetic for the couple and thankfully, the situation resolved itself immediately with a little research.
The first thing Linh did this morning after arriving at the office was to visit Sawara-san. The head of the talent section brought her up to speed on his end of Kyoko's career. He received a call from the assistant of the singing drama to discuss releasing an MV of her song. The reason the director left out the rehearsal scenes of the first episode was to generate public intrigue. The buzz these days was, can she really sing? The poll was 68 to 32 in favor of Kyoko actually having the ability to sing.
The ratings of Yappa Kimagure Rock increased since the group's collaboration went viral over a simple picture posted to their respective media sites of Bridge Rock and Kyoko posing on the set as Rika's rock band. Sawara anticipated this swell and planned to r
ide the wave with Yappa's producer.
"Yashiro-san provided me with all the known information regarding the Yappa Kimagure Rock episode. This MV is new and would have to be worked into her current schedule. Right now her schedule is quite lax because of her upcoming trip…but this schedule is aggressive."
"Yes, sometimes these things happen on a whim. Unfortunately, this is how creativity works. You will get used to it."
Linh was actually used to last-minute schedule changes but to ask her charge to be prepared to perform on such short notice was too much.
"This only gives her one day to prepare and it's not just her but Bridge Rock as well. Will they be okay?"
"If it's them, I think they will do fine...ahh Koji-kun you received my message," Sawara called out to a young man who entered the office.
"Linh-san, this is Toyokawa Kojiro. He's the manager for Bridge Rock. Koji-kun, this is Le Linh. She will be managing Kyoko-chan from now on."
"Ah, welcome aboard Le-san," He greeted with a small bow. "It's good that Kyoko-chan will have a full-time manager. Her father was doing an excellent job but I heard he had a company to run and Yashiro-san has his hands full with Tsuruga-san."
"Thank you, Toyokawa-san. I will do my best to fill their shoes."
"Since I have you both here," Sawara said handing Koji a copy of the schedule for the MV. He filled Koji in on the discussion he just had with Linh.
"Kei-san knows this is coming. He suggested the new recording, which will also double up as filming for the MV. He wants Kyoko-chan to showcase her hard work. The director and Kei need one full day dedicated to this project. The majority of the video will consist of the drama's episodes," Sawara informed the managers.
He gave them some time to consult their schedules before asking, "Koji-kun, do you think this schedule is doable? I will talk to the producer about pushing off rehearsal for Yappa"
"Yes, Sawara-san, this should not impede the schedule."
Sawara turned to Linh. "It should be no problem for Kyoko-san. Aside from the Yappa Kimagure Rock rehearsal, she has school and lessons. I'll let her instructors know about her absence for tomorrow."
"Excuse me, sir, I apologize for interrupting but I have a meeting to attend and didn't want to leave these lying around for too long. These are the recent offers for Kyoko-san. I've divided them into three piles: one for modeling work and CMs, the second for lead roles for upcoming movies and dramas, and the third for cameo parts," an assistant said interrupting their conversation.
Linh noticed the thickness of each folder.
"Thank you, this is perfect timing now that Le-san is here," Sawara said taking the folders from the woman.
Linh held out her hands to receive the proffered folders. Sawara placed two out of the three in her hands. He placed the folder containing lead offers on his desk instead which made her frown.
"I'm sorry, Le-san. I am under instruction to send all lead work for Kyoko-chan to Takarada-san. I tend to do the first past then send the promising ones up to his office." Sawara said sympathetically noticing her expression.
"How many roles has he accepted so far?"
Sawara was slow in answering, "None."
"None?" She said with a little more attitude than she intended. Sawara winced at her tone.
She shouldn't be this stunned. Yashiro explained to her how the LoveMe debut worked. It felt wrong that Kyoko was missing out on all this potential work.
"Yes, sorry, our President is a bit eccentric. I have worked for him for a long time. His instincts are never wrong. I trust he has her best interests in mind."
"Would you mind if I take this folder to the president in your stead? I have business with him."
"Oh, by all means," he said handing the folder over with an amused smile.
"Thank you," Linh replied with a bow before leaving.
Linh sifted through the folder as she walked gauging its contents. It contained two scripts. Two was a lot, especially if they came daily or weekly. How much work was her charge losing out on because of Lory's conditions?
Since Yashiro couldn't give her a straight answer, she wanted to go to the source for information. She put the sheets back in the folder and pushed the button for the top floor.
She was calm by the time she stepped out of the elevator regaining her cool after thinking of updating her wardrobe. Both Yashiro and Sawara both trusted the president's intuition. She did learn that he created the LoveMe section because he saw potential in her charge. She would give the man the benefit of the doubt.
Ruto appeared at her side as soon as she raised her hand to knock on the door. The president's assistant was dressed in all white with a red handkerchief tied at his neck and a red sash tied at his waist.
"Good morning, Ruto-san, is Takarada-san available. I would like to discuss something with him regarding Kyoko-san."
"Yes, please this way," Ruto said with a bow and opened the office door. It was eerily quiet inside compared to yesterday's Kabuki theatrics. "Please have a seat and I will inform him of your arrival. May I get you some tea or water?"
Linh declined the beverage offer and took a seat. Ruto opened the main office door and disappeared for a few minutes. He returned stating that the president was ready to meet with her.
"Linh-san, I wasn't expecting to see you so soon. How may I help you?" Lory stood with a flourish dressed in a matador costume of red a cold. The red cape sat draped over the back of his executive chair. Linh's eyes fell on the virtual reality goggles that sat on the president's desk.
"Interesting choice of a theme today, Takarada-san."
"You've caught me. I've submerged myself into a virtual world where I am at the center of attention as a bull tries to open my entrails with his horns."
"Do you need to wear a costume to enter the world?"
"One always needs a costume to set the mood."
Linh's opinion of her new boss took a nosedive. Is this what he does all day? She shook her head to focus.
"Sir, I've come to ask you about Kyoko-san's work. I was talking with Sawara-san when it was brought to my attention that you have been refusing perfectly good lead roles for my charge. Care to explain?" Linh demanded, folding her arms.
Lory took his seat opposite her and smirked. "I'm sure you're aware of the LoveMe section."
"Yes, the section that gets free labor out of innocent girls. I'm quite aware of its purpose." She said tersely.
Lory bellowed with laughter. Linh kept her face stoic as the president continued to laugh at her caustic remark.
"Thank you for telling me how you really feel, Le-san. It's refreshing."
Linh was embarrassed for speaking so disrespectfully to her boss, "Please excuse my frankness, sir."
Lory waved his hand unperturbed. "It's no problem. I assure you there is more to the LoveMe section than you think."
"Yashiro-san has clued me in on the details. I am wondering why you are keeping Kyoko-san from debuting. I have in my possession two potential lead roles and I was told there were more in the past."
"Not just any lead role would due. It has to be the right one."
"So while you are waiting for this right one. Kyoko-san is losing potential jobs. Work that could help boost her career and achieve her dream. Won't refusing work make her look poorly within the industry? Directors could get the wrong impression about her and begin circulating rumors among themselves potentially closing off future opportunities for her."
"That's a risk I'm willing to take. If she's as talented as I believe, she will rise from this."
"Do you even have a role in mind for her?"
"Of course I do!"
"Do you have a script?"
"A draft one."
"Can I see it?"
"Yes." With a slight twitch of his head, Ruto manifested by her side holding a bound document. "You're free to take this copy. I'm expecting a completed copy by next week. Just in time to give Kyoko-san some light reading material for her trip."
Linh read over the quick synopsis and raised a skeptical brow at him.
"This is the script?"
Lory nodded with enthusiasm.
"This is the director here," she turned the page toward him and pointed. Director/Scriptwriter: Shingai Seiji.
"That's correct."
"I'm sorry if I don't believe you," Linh said placing the script on the table. "Director Shingai is known for his complex films, are you telling me that he would be directing this story?"
"It's shocking, but I assure you he is the director. He was challenged by a friend to try something out of his comfort zone; hence, its secrecy."
"Okay, so you get the updated script next week. With all the planning required to gather cast, locations, sponsorship, etc...it would be months before Kyoko-san started this project. Are you going to have her refuse all lead role work coming through for her? We have to strike while the iron is hot."
"Did you really just start yesterday?" Lory asked narrowing his eyes at the new manager. She was no pushover.
"I'll take that as a compliment, sir."
"Sponsors are secured and planning is seventy-five percent complete. We will proceed with everything while Morimoto-kun is away. She will join the casting calls when she returns from Los Angeles. You will be very busy while she's away."
Linh could come up with no other arguments. She rose from her chair picking up the draft script with her but leaving the two in Sawara's folder behind.
"Thank you for indulging me Takarada-san. I will get back to work."
"You're welcome, Le-san. I have an open-door policy. Please don't hesitate to call me if you have any further concerns."
"Yes, sir."
Tadashi held the door open for his daughter as they entered the apartment. Their arms were loaded with shopping bags full of food. Kyoko insisted that tonight's family dinner would be a celebration of sorts to send her father off to America with a belly full of delicious Japanese food.
Tadashi was happy that even after a long night of rehearsing, she was willing to spend his remaining night in Tokyo together. Kyoko put on some J-pop music while they prepared their workspace and ingredients. They started on the items that would take the longest to cook. Tadashi began chopping the veggies for the curry while Kyoko prepared the beef. Together they tagged teamed the entree and had everything simmering in a pot in half the time. Kyoko moved on to prepare a simple miso soup with greens and tofu using her homemade Japanese soup stock. She kept it in abundance since she used it almost daily.
...
Ren, Yashiro, and Kanae entered the apartment to find Kyoko and Tadashi sitting at the counter placing the finishing touches on a platter of sushi rolls.
Yashiro-san being the quickest at capturing memories was prepared with his gloves on and took several pictures before the father-daughter combo noticed their audience. Yashiro snapped again capturing identical pairs of startled golden eyes.
Kyoko tended to resemble her mother more in terms of looks but Ren thought side by side like this with the same startled expression, they looked very similar tonight.
"Yashiro-san, are you playing paparazzi again?" Kyoko asked with a smile.
"Look this way, chefs," Yashiro instructed. "Say cheese!"
Kyoko and Tadashi held up the impressive platter and smiled for the camera.
"Please send those pictures to me, Yashiro-san," Tadashi said after the manager took several shots of them.
"I got you covered, Tadashi-san."
Ren stepped into the kitchen carrying a box of dessert and kissed Kyoko on the cheek as he walked by and greeted Tadashi.
He looked over the food covering the countertops to find space for the dessert. "You two make a deadly combo," he said sliding over some plates.
Kyko giggled. "I may have gone a tad overboard."
Kanae placed a bottle of sake on the counter with a huff. "Mo! Who else did you invite to this party? There's enough food here to feed twenty people."
"Moookooo-san!" Kyoko squealed hugging her best friend. Kanae's arms were pinned at her sides making it impossible for her to move. Yashiro captured the precious moment with his phone.
"Mo! Yuki, you better delete that."
Yashiro gave his girlfriend a wry smile. "But you look so adorable."
"Yashiro-san, let me see," Kyoko said excitedly suddenly releasing Kanae. Her friend had to grab onto the counter to regain her balance.
"Ooh, Yashiro-san, please send this quickly to me before deleting it," Kyoko whispered behind her hand.
"No! Let me see it first." Kanae lunged for the phone but Yashiro had quick reflexes. "Yuki, you are going to sleep on the couch from now on!"
Kyoko stood in the middle of the kitchen squealing. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Are you living together?" She asked excitedly bouncing up and down.
Kanae's face flushed red at her slip. "No, no, we aren't living together."
"I've asked her to move in. She hasn't made up her mind yet even though she's at my place more than she is at hers."
"You're going home alone tonight, mister!"
"Yukihito…catch!" Ren shouted, tossing a spatula in his friend's direction. Yashiro caught it reflexively but looked at Ren confused. "To defend yourself, my friend."
Kanae stalked out of the kitchen carrying the platter of sushi to the main dining room table. Yashiro glared at Ren throwing the spatula back at him and chased after her.
"That was entertaining," Ren chuckled returning the utensil to its rightful place.
"Tadashi-san, would you like a beer with dinner?" Ren asked pulling out bottles of tea and water.
"Sure, I'll take one."
Kanae came back in with Yashiro on her heels. "Need one?" Ren asked Yashiro holding out a beer. Yashiro took the offered beer and opened it.
"Everything okay?" He asked Yashiro once Kanae took more plates of food out.
Yashiro chuckled, "Yeah we're fine. Despite her prickly exterior, she's quite softy inside."
"You don't have to convince me. She's a great friend to..."
"Best!" Kyoko exclaimed interjecting.
"I stand corrected. Anyone that loves my Kyoko is a good person to me," Ren said as he carried out the drinks.
Once seated, Ren held up his glass of water to propose a toast. "To Tadashi-san, thank you for making a positive impact on our lives and being there when we needed you most. Thank you for all your help and for making Kyoko happy. I, we, wish you safe travels."
"Thank you, Ren-kun. I appreciate all of this, my daughter, and all of you for accepting me despite my past mistakes. I'm only a phone call away while I'm in New York. If you kids ever need me don't hesitate to call."
Kyoko swiped her tears away and said, "Okay, let's eat. I hope you all like what we prepared."
They kept up a steady stream of conversation while they ate. Kyoko enjoyed watching Moko's expressions change from joy to hostility every time she took a bite of a new item.
No one noticed that Ren and Tadashi quieted down lost in thought as they took in the atmosphere. If someone asked them individually what was on their minds, their answers would have been similar. It's warm. They wouldn't have been referring to the temperature but the feeling of belonging that washed over them.
They were wrapped in a warm blanket of love and acceptance at that dining table. Both men had been alone for so long, Tadashi longer than Ren, that at this moment in time, they felt the full weight of this warmth. It was all thanks to one incredible young lady in their lives. They both smiled warmly as she laughed at something Yashiro said. The sound of her unbridled laughter brought them out of their mind space and back to the table.
When they all had their fill, Kyoko packed containers full of leftovers for Yashiro and Kanae to enjoy later. They cleared the table and brought out the dessert. The cake Ren purchased was scribed with, Come Home Soon! He thought they would appreciate the gesture and they did.
Everyone finished their slice of cake including Kanae. She grumbled each time she took a bite amusing everyone.
"Ooh, I have something for you too," Kyoko said rushing to the guest room. She came back carrying a small bundle wrapped in cloth. "It's not much but I hope you will accept it."
"Thank you, I'll treasure whatever you give me." Tadashi unwrapped the silk cloth slowly noticing his initials embroidered on it.
"The wrapping could be used as a handkerchief if you like," she explained.
Tadashi picked up the first item. She made him an acrylic phone strap containing a photo of herself and Tadashi together on one side and on the other side a photo of her and Ren. She even etched the word Family in English on both sides.
Tadashi instantly took out his phone and hooked the charm onto it holding it up triumphantly. Kyoko blushed. "I can't wait to show Mya," he said.
The other gift inside was a handmade omamori.
"It contains a talisman to keep you safe on your travels."
"Thank you, sweetie. I'll keep it on me at all times."
Yashiro and Kanae left after Kyoko forbade them from helping with clean up. She tried to get her father to relax since he helped cook for his own dinner party but he wouldn't. Ren took up residence at the sink and began washing dishes while Tadashi dried. The three of them had the place spotless in no time.
"Well, I should get going. I have an early flight and you both have had such a long day. Thank you for tonight."
"You're welcome, father. I know we've only had one family dinner so far but I hope tonight could count as one."
"This definitely counts as a family dinner. I'll host one as soon as I return. Oh, and before I forget, these are card keys to my apartment upstairs. Renovations should be done before I return but I wanted to give you these since I had you return the old keys."
"Would you like me to check on its progress while you're away?"
"You would do that for me?"
"Yes, I can stop in now and again the check on things."
"That would be helpful. Maybe when I return you can help me decorate it."
"I would like that very much."
"I'll see you soon my dear," Tadashi said his eyes already brimming with tears as he hugged Kyoko one last time.
"Ren-kun, I leave her in your capable hands," he said shaking Ren's hand and pulling him in for a hug which surprised the actor.
Ren patted his back. "You can count on me, sir." Tadashi nodded. "I'll call you when I arrive."
Kyoko nodded as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"I'll be home in no time. I promise." He called back as he stepped into the elevator. "I love you, sweetie."
Kyoko smiled and nodded, "I love you, too."
Tadashi took a seat by the row of windows at the back of the lounge. A server greeted him the moment his buttocks hit the seat.
"Good morning, sir. Can I get you something to eat or drink sir?"
"I'll start with coffee, black." He glanced at his watch gauging time. He was early. "And the breakfast special, please."
"I'll put that in for you right away, sir."
His phone in his pocket buzzed after the server placed his coffee in front of him. He tapped the button excitedly to accept the call and smiled as his daughter's disheveled morning state filled his screen.
"Oh good, I thought I missed you, Father. I overslept."
"I'm still waiting for my flight. I'm about to have some breakfast. You don't have to go to school why are you awake so early?"
"I wanted to call before you left and wish you a safe flight."
"I made a promise to you and I plan on keeping it. Be rest assured that I will return. Go back to sleep, sweetie. I'll text you when I land."
"Okay," she answered with a loud yawn that pricked tears in her eyes.
"Kyoko, good luck with the recording today. I look forward to buying the drama soundtrack."
"Thanks, Father," she replied with a sleepy smile.
He ended the call just as the server returned with his traditional Japanese breakfast.
Notes:
Thanks for continuing to read. I finally got her father to return to NY, so I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, Ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 119: Couple Tees
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Ren would dress his age.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Mo, are you still sulking?" She asked putting the mug of coffee in front of him.
"No," he said closing down his laptop and setting it off to the side.
"Really?" she asked cocking a perfectly arched brow at her boyfriend.
"Really! Have you seen my glasses?" he asked changing the subject to look around the immediate area.
She laughed and reached up to his head sliding the glasses down to the bridge of his nose.
"Thanks," he said, his face flushing with embarrassment. Forgetting his glasses on his head was such an old man thing to do. He was almost eight years older than she was. He couldn't go around acting senile. "You sit; I'll get the rest of our breakfast."
He was back in a minute with their plates of food and settling down to eat next to her.
"Yuki, you aren't going to eat while wearing those are you?" she asked tersely, nodding to the latex gloves still covering his hands.
"Oh I forgot," he said sheepishly and removed them.
"In all my life I never thought these words would come out of my mouth but I'm just going to say it," Kanae said, taking a deep breath.
"What?" Yashiro froze dropping the toast in his hand.
"You're so cute," Kanae said before taking a bite of egg whites.
Yashiro chuckled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "I love you, too"
"Mo quit being cheesy," she said, pushing him away with a blush.
"What do you say when those two leave early for Los Angeles, we take an overnight trip somewhere. Will your schedule allow it?"
"I was planning on quitting my part-time anyway. The new drama I'm in won't ramp up until the end of the month so I have some free time."
"Quitting? But I thought you liked that job."
"It served its purpose. I made my final loan payment to my parents' house. The payout and residuals from my acting work are good. If I continue to get steady work everything will be fine."
"I know a way for you to save on expenses?"
Kanae rolled her eyes but smiled as she took another bite of her breakfast.
"How about this," she began, "Instead of going on a trip, you help me move in with you."
"Are you serious?" He shouted excitedly.
"Mo, you said it yourself. I'm practically here every night. I hate wasting money! Unless of course, you've changed your mind?"
"No, never! I want to come home every night to you."
…
Ren had been ignoring his manager all morning. The man, just the day before, moped around acting like his favorite soap opera was canceled prematurely was now walking on clouds today. It served him right that Ren should tease him a little. It was a small payback for getting so much amusement from Ren and Kyoko's relationship. Ren could see it in his eyes. Yashiro was begging him to ask why he was in such a good mood. He already knew why Yashiro was elated. He overheard him talking to Kijima, quite loudly, on the set of Ryu for all to hear.
As they walked through the parking garage of LME for his next project, Ren decided his manager had been tortured enough.
"You seem quite excited at the moment Yukihito, did you receive some good news?" Ren asked, pushing the elevator button.
"Kanae's moving in!" The manager screamed at Ren.
"Congratulations. I'm happy for you," Ren said, stifling his laughter. "Do you need some help with the move?"
"Thank you for the offer but we'll be moving while you're in LA. We'll manage."
The elevator doors finally opened. Ren and Yashiro stepped to the side to let the people off and greeted them as they passed. Many that came out did a double-take at Ren before the doors slid shut.
"Yukihito, is there something on my face?"
"No, your face is gorgeous as ever."
"Did I spill coffee on myself or something?" he asked, inspecting his black t-shirt for stains. "They aren't the first people staring at me like I grew another head."
"I don't think anyone can handle seeing double of your gorgeous face."
"Will you stop messing with me? What's wrong with me?"
While the elevator ascended, Yashiro put on a glove and pulled out his phone to snap a picture of Ren in the elevator with his hands shoved into his tight gray jeans.
"This is what's wrong with you. They aren't used to seeing you dressed like this." Yashiro held up his phone to Ren. He was leaning against the elevator wall wearing a white collared shirt under a black t-shirt with the album cover of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon . In his youth, he was fascinated by the single beam of white shining through the prism splitting it into seven colors out the back. It probably didn't help that he was always high while staring at the poster hanging on his bedroom wall. Is that poster still there?
"Tsuruga Ren is usually polished and dressed to the nines. This rebellious look is good for your image. It reminds everyone of your actual age. Maybe it will keep the Cougars away. I'm sending this to Kyoko-chan. I wonder what cute outfit she's wearing."
"I hope it's pants," Ren muttered under his breath. She had put on a mini fashion show for him this morning to help her pick out her battle outfit for Rika which immediately led to them getting frisky in her closet. It was a mess when they left it, but he enticed her into a pair of Setsu's black leather pants. She had indulged him and worn them out that morning.
The elevator opened to the lobby and the men stepped out, nodding to those waiting. Necks broke, bodies swooned, and drool was swiped as the pair made their way across the open lobby to the main elevators. Many would claim that the t-shirt stretched snugly across his muscular torso did them in, while others would blame the messy man bun he confidently sported. Either way, Tsuruga Ren looked like a tasty piece of meat.
Yashiro and Ren stepped into the crowded elevator. When it stopped on the third floor, Ren flinched when several people exited the elevator. His mood turned dark as he glowered at the passengers looking back at him as the doors slid closed. He forgot to use his sparkling smile this time around. Yashiro moved closer to Ren, apologizing to the man he scooted over. Ren's dark aura dissipated when he sensed his manager. The two other men and the remaining woman glanced nervously at Ren. He flashed them an apologetic smile and bowed his head; however, the tension remained. The elevator felt like it took an eternity to reach their floor.
"Ren, did I miss something in there? Why were you upset?" Yashiro asked once they were free of the elevator and prying ears.
"I don't want to say, it's embarrassing."
"I don't care if it's embarrassing. Something upset you in there and I want to know what so I can help," Yashiro demanded barring his path.
"We're going to be late," Ren argued, trying to walk around his manager. Yashiro folded his arms and moved to block him from walking.
"Fine…" he conceded with a loud sigh. "Somebody touched me in the elevator."
"It's hard not to touch one another in a crowded elevator. It's the same way on trains," Yashiro replied, relaxing his stance and cocking his head to the side.
"I don't mean that kind of touch….this is why it's embarrassing. Whoever it was when they were getting out groped me from behind. Like…" Ren held out an open palm to demonstrate the action. He was shocked that something like that happened to him in Japan at his age. In Hollywood, it was a given. A memory from his past flashed through his mind. That was the last dinner party he ever attended with his parents. After that night, he avoided any functions his parents tried to bribe him to attend with them. He pushed the memory out of his mind. He had a job to do.
"What? I can't believe someone would have the nerve to do that to you…at work of all places! Do you know who it could have been? That's sexual harassment. It needs to be reported."
"What? No...I don't want to cause any trouble. I got angry because I was thinking what if Kyoko was the one assaulted like that? Ugh, and you just had to mention trains. She always took public transportation. I shudder just thinking about what could have happened to her." Ren made a mental note to ask if she ever experienced something similar.
"All the more to report it. The employees and visitors in this building have to understand that the President has zero-tolerance against such offenses, even a simple groping."
"You're right, and not just for Kyoko but every potential victim out there. I'll see the President after this job."
"I'll give Takarada-san a heads up," Yashiro said, pulling out his glove and phone again.
…
"Hello, Tsuruga-san, you're early. The rumors were true, you are never late," the assistant director greeted them when they approached Ren's next filming location.
"I've been late a few times before," he insisted.
The AD chuckled at his response. "One moment," he held his hand to the headset and listened. "Yes, he's here. I know...it’s true."
"Sorry about that. Would you follow me right this way? Our first stop is the costume designer. I think she’ll agree that you are looking fabulous already."
The costume designer stared at Ren and scrunched up her nose in consternation. She couldn't find fault with anything he was wearing. He looked the part completely. She thought to add a beanie but that would ruin his gorgeous hair. In the end, she added a studded leather cuff to his right wrist and popped the collar of his inside shirt. There was little for her to do. "Good choice in shirt, it's perfect. I fear you might have just put me out of a job coming dressed for the part today."
Ren chuckled softly. "It does help get into the role."
"Let's get you over to hair and makeup," the assistant said, ushering Ren to the next room. The AD handed Ren a synopsis of the scene while he waited.
"It's all going to be improvisation with just a bunch of friends taking a break. It doesn't matter what is said as long as we get a sense of camaraderie. All the dialogue will be removed in the final cut," the AD informed him.
The AD left the room while the makeup artist/stylist powdered his face and fussed over his hair. When he was done, Ren found the AD in the hall talking with another assistant carrying two large plastic bags loaded with food and drink.
"Ah, Tsuruga-san just in time, all done?"
Ren replied affirmatively walking up to the AD.
"They're almost ready for you and your props arrived," the AD said, gesturing to the bags. "Shall we head to the set?"
The AD nodded to the staff member guarding the hallway. The young man removed the barricade so they could pass through. Ren naturally entered stealth mode as they came across signs stating "Quiet Please" and "Filming in Progress." He was so quiet, that the AD had to keep glancing at him to ensure the actor was still there. Yashiro waved as Ren approached the main area.
Yashiro stretched up to whisper to Ren, "I'm meeting with Takarada-san to check the elevator footage and then heading to my office. Text me when you're done here."
Ren nodded, taking his phone from Yashiro. He confirmed the device was turned off and stuffed it in his back pocket.
"Okay, Tsuruga-san," the AD began but paused to listen to the direction in his ear. "We're just going to continue rolling. There will be cameras on you as soon as this door opens. Are you ready?"
Ren nodded shifting his posture to be more relaxed. The staff member handed him the bags of food. He'll be expected to eat. He took a glance at the contents of the bags. The first bag contained onigiri, chips, crackers, and candy. Kyoko wasn't going to be happy. The other bag contained black tea and water.
The AD stood behind the door to open it for Ren. He counted down from five with his other hand. Once he made a fist, he opened the door to the room and music blasted into the hallway. The soundproofing in the studio was incredible.
'They sound good,' he thought walking across the empty room and standing in front of the glass window. He smiled as he watched her belting into the microphone. She smiled back when she finally noticed him on the other side without missing a beat. He held up the heavy bags. The rest of the band saw him and immediately stopped playing. She huffed with frustration as the guys discarded their instruments in place of food. He opened the door and entered the space.
"Hubby!" the band chorused once he entered the room.
"I brought fuel!" he announced, shaking the bags. He chuckled as they converged on him giving him hugs and pats on the back.
"Hey, hey, let him be, he's my boyfriend!" she complained, pushing her way through the guys. They relieved him of the bags before getting out of her way.
"Hi," she greeted, giving him a hug and a kiss. "Thanks for stopping by." She pulled him along to sit in the middle of the floor to join the guys.
"I figured you guys needed a break. You tend to forget food when music is involved.
"Did you eat?" she asked, opening up an onigiri. She took a bite and held it up to his mouth to take one. He let her feed him, taking a bite and blushing. They took turns eating that way.
"Aww! You guys are so cute!"
"Look they're even wearing their couple tees."
"Rika, your wish came true."
"Her wish?"
"Her shirt, 'Wish you were here.' I'm assuming you are the 'You.' That is if we don't account for the rest of the lyrics."
He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in to kiss the top of her head. They spent the time eating and joking around until all the food was finished. They immediately went back to playing. He sat on the floor leaning against the wall to watch them run through the song, removing his phone so it wasn’t digging into his ass.
He heard her sing this song many times, but it took his breath away each time, penetrating his soul. She was singing to him. Tapping his phone on his knee to the beat, he got the bright idea to power it on. He stood up and began moving around the room snapping pictures and taking videos. He mainly focused on her, trying not to laugh as they took turns playing up to his camera. He was going to create a still shot of her blowing a kiss at him and use it as his phone background. When the number ended, they huddled together and took a group selfie with him in the center at their insistence. It was only right; he inspired the song after all.
"CUT! " the director's voice rang out clapping his hands with delight . "Very good!" He stood up from his corner and walked up to Ren. "Tsuruga-san, thank you for coming. The use of the cell phone was a nice touch. Can I please have a copy of the pictures and video you took in case I want to use it in the final cut?"
"Sure, I just need an email address to send them to you." He wasn't about to give over his phone for them to download the footage. It had too many private moments of him and Kyoko on it, including the all-so-delectable video of her in the shower. Those were password protected but he wasn't taking any chances.
"Okay, I'll let my assistant know. The Ishibashi brothers can take a break for now. I need you two in wardrobe quickly and onto the other set."
Ren and Kyoko hurried back to the wardrobe room down the other hall. Five minutes later, Ren was dressed in another band tee, joggers, and leather house slippers. His hair was released from its bun and hung loosely over his shoulders. He waited in the hall for Kyoko to join him. She came out wearing leggings and what could clearly pass as one of "his" t-shirts. The neckline draped softly off her left shoulder exposing her porcelain skin. Her long hair was gathered into a loose braid over her shoulder.
"Ready?" he asked looking her over appreciatively.
Their slippers shuffled down the hall as they walked hand in hand back to the set.
"Yes, perfect," the director exclaimed when they reappeared. "This scene will be a peek into your relationship," he explained, moving inside the room next door. The room was converted into a cozy living space complete with a fake illuminated window hanging on the wall.
"I'm asking you both to act like a close couple that lives together. If you two lived together what would you be doing? I want to see the mundane things that happen while sitting on this sofa. I know it's asking a lot but I'm hoping you can pull this off without it being scripted."
Ren and Kyoko exchanged conspiratorial smiles as they walked to the couch. The leather creaked as Ren took a seat at one end. Kyoko looked around at the furniture and props in the room then turned to the director.
"Can we get two mugs of hot tea? I think it would give it a homier feel…. Ooh and a cellphone."
"You can use mine," Ren offered, pulling it out of his pants pocket. Kyoko settled down on the other side of the couch once the mugs were placed on each end table. She made herself comfortable and tucked her cold feet into Ren's side, something she often did at home. Ren was not expecting it and hissed, flinching away. Kyoko only giggled along with some of the female staff present.
"This is great you two but wait until I call action."
"Yes, sir!" They replied in unison and settled back down.
The director nodded to his assistant to run through the checklist.
"Okay, static cameras ready?" the AD asked looking at the pair of technicians sitting at console-like laptops. They both nodded. They were responsible for operating the cameras mounted to the walls.
"Camera 1?"
"Ready!"
"Camera 2?"
"Good to Go!"
"Everyone standby," the AD scribbled the info on the slate board and stood in front of the nearest camera waiting for the go-ahead from the director to call action.
"Action!"
He flipped the page of the book in his hands while she browsed her phone, wiggling her feet against his skin and making him tense from the cold. Why were her feet always cold? He put down his book with a sigh and then moved her feet which had somehow burrowed themselves beneath his shirt. He stuffed them between the couch and the back of his thigh before resuming reading. Her eyes met his, a teasing smile playing on her lips as she looked at him over the phone. They exchanged smiles before returning to their respective activities. She started laughing hysterically at her phone.
"What's so funny?" he asked, chuckling at her amusement.
She slinked over to his side of the couch to show him. Putting his book down on the table he wrapped his arm around her as she snuggled into him.
They exchanged laughter and concern over the funny cat video she was watching. They couldn't help but laugh at the cats and then felt sorry if they hurt themselves.
"Let's take a picture since we look so cute today," she told him when the video ended. He took the phone from her and took selfies of every possible expression: silly, sexy, cute, and angry.
Their faces were so close. He stared at her and she stared at him. Her fingers curled into the front of his shirt pulling him closer. The phone was forgotten as the gap between their lips decreased.
"CUT!"
"Kyaaa!" Kyoko pushed him away from her with all her might sending him careening off the couch. She flew out of the room, embarrassed that she had forgotten herself. She was about to kiss him like she did many times at home. Only they weren't at home. They were at work. There were cameras on them and people watching. What was she thinking?
She paced in the bathroom fanning herself. Kyoko needed to be more professional if she ever wanted to act alongside him. Once her breathing settled she went back to the set to apologize. When she entered the room everyone smiled with understanding.
"Are you okay?" Ren asked, handing her a bottle of water.
"I'm sorry," she bowed to him. "I didn't mean to push you that hard."
"Kyoko-san, excellent work. You were so in tune with Rika's feelings that I have one more scene I want to shoot here and then Tsuruga-san can return to his other work."
Kyoko smiled with relief at the director's words. She didn't completely screw up. Later, when she had time to think about it she would realize that Rika's feelings toward her boyfriend were the same as hers toward Ren.
She laughed as he twirled her around in their tiny living room, pulling her close with one arm wrapping around her waist and the other secured over her palm. They swayed slowly to the music singing along with the words. Her words. When the song ended, they collapsed onto the couch together in a heap of laughter. This time when their eyes met, their lips did too.
"CUT! Perfect you two! I'm sad that this isn't more than a MV. Your chemistry is incredible! If I wasn't obligated to do projects for the next two years, I would jump at the opportunity to work with you two again. I'll be in touch in the future."
"Thank you, director," they both bowed at the high praise. Kyoko wondered if her excited face mirrored Ren's. Did he also want to act alongside her someday? She never asked him before.
"Okay, that's a wrap for MV footage. Kyoko-san, you will still have to check in with Kei-san in the studio. Tsuruga-san, thank you for doing this last minute. It helps that I'm good friends with your director. We agree that we have to strike while the iron is hot. Right now, you're Japan's favorite couple. Who knows how long that's going to last," the director commented thoughtlessly.
Kyoko noticed Ren's gentlemanly smile make its appearance as he said goodbye to the director. She wasn't worried about the underlying meaning of the director's last words. Kyoko knew it wouldn't be easy but she was positive they could overcome any adversity together.
Koga knocked on the door and let himself in when he heard the call from the other side. He stepped into the dressing room and flopped himself into a chair.
"Hey man, what's up? " Cedric asked, using English as Koga requested. He was packing some personal items he accumulated during his stay in Japan. Most of it was from local fans he managed to make while here. " Why are you still here? Don't you and Asahina-san have an interview?" he asked looking up from his task. He picked up a stuffed bear and threw it at Koga.
Koga caught the toy easily and tossed it back, "Kobe!" He shouted as it landed inside the box. Cedric chuckled.
"I have time before I have to leave. You're coming to the party tomorrow, right? Before you leave?"
"Yeah, I'll be there. I want to catch Kyoko-san. Do you think Tsuruga-san would show up?"
"I'll bet money on it, " Koga said bitterly. He'll receive more attention than me and I'm the male lead.
Cedric laughed. "Still a bit touchy I see."
"You know what pisses me off the most about that guy…he doesn't see me as competition! I need to up my game."
"Keep it friendly, keep it fair. Don't turn dark like I did when I was a kid. You would probably hate me if you knew me."
Koga laughed, "Probably! " Cedric threw another stuffed animal at him. " Do you need help packing your apartment? I can come over afterward."
"Nah, there's not much to pack. But if you want to hang I'm still watching Dark Moon. Those two are incredible actors."
"Research?"
"Yup, going to BS my way through dad's shit. I can see why he's interested."
"Alright, I'll see you then," Koga replied, leaving Cedric to continue packing.
Notes:
Thanks for sticking with me everyone! I had to give my YukiNae a little bit of love. Naturally, I was the one in that elevator copping a feel off Ren's ass in those tight jeans. Sorry, not sorry! XD
Hope you enjoyed it!Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
Chapter 120: The Couch
Summary:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would be an expert at kissing Kuon by now.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Lory's jeweled fingers wrapped around the intricately decorated goblet with a noisy clang lifting it to his lips. His pale blue eyes flashed with amusement at the boy he considered another son. He used the sudden need for a drink as an excuse to contain his glee. He wanted to laugh. The place was buzzing with gossip regarding Ren's new look that they only ever saw in gossip rags since he rarely came to the office.
Like many of his employees, Lory was seeing it firsthand. The shadows of the past were dissipating. He could see it in his bearing and his hidden eyes. In Lory's humble opinion, it made Ren look younger than his twenty-one years. This could work. Julienna and Kuu will be ecstatic to meet him again.
Ren folded his arms across his chest with an air of annoyance, but Lory took his time sipping his drink. When he finally put down his cup, he flicked his tongue past his fangs and over his lips, licking the remnants of the deep red liquid. His lips twitched aching to smile when Ren's face flashed with disgust. Normally, the boy wouldn't betray his feelings regarding his cosplays. It was exciting. Lory would have loved to tease him but they weren't alone.
"Unfortunately, Ren, the elevator was too crowded to determine who may have 'groped' you. There were too many people exiting the elevator at that time. According to the director here, I can't go around accusing people of sexual harassment without hard evidence," Lory began explaining.
"Not that your word isn't good here Tsuruga-san, the problem is you, yourself, don't know exactly who touched you," the director of HR interjected.
Ren sighed heavily and nodded in understanding. He knew this was a waste of time.
"Please don't be discouraged. This is a stark reminder that our policies must be more stringent. All employees will be required to take a refresher course on anti-sexual harassment in light of this event. A memo will be sent out reminding employees of our zero-tolerance policies."
Ren nodded in appreciation. It was better than nothing. The threat of immediate termination could make a person think twice about touching another, Kyoko, inappropriately.
"If there's nothing else, sir," Ren rose to leave but Lory stopped him.
"Ren, you are no exception to this training."
"I understand, sir. I will take the time to complete it."
"Oh, and one more thing," Lory called after him. "Just because you and Morimoto-kun are close does not mean you are an exception to the company's policy on workplace romance."
Lory had the luxury of watching Ren's face heat up before the actor gave him a quick bow and retreated. Once the door closed behind Ren and his manager, Lory let out a loud rumble of laughter. Tears sprung to the corner of his eyes. He was sure the boy would have glared him to his grave, instead, he received something better.
"Takarada-san, you're quite cruel. There can be exceptions if they are dating. Our policy on romance in the workplace isn't so stringent."
"It was worth it. Ruto, please tell me the cameras caught his expression."
"Hello? The HR director is still here! You, sir, are the biggest violator of the company rules. You will also need to complete the training."
Lory laughed loudly in response. "Bah! You're no fun. Okay, I'll do it. I'm insulted, though."
The HR director stood quickly and bowed formally. "I didn't mean any disrespect, sir!"
"You're fine. I won't keep you any longer. I'm sure you have plenty to do today. Thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you, sir. I will be on my way."
Once the HR director left, Lory turned to Ruto. "Can we capture quality images of the frame?"
…
Ren's embarrassment was replaced with annoyance. Well, this report backfired on me.
"The President is quite cruel. Is it considered harassment if it's mutual? Asking for a friend," Yashiro questioned as they walked down the hall.
Ren's step faltered. How could he forget? His friend was in the same boat as him. "I'll review LME's interoffice relationship policy while you're filming. I'm sure the President was just teasing."
"The President enjoys mocking me," Ren replied. "Thank you for looking into it. After bringing this to his attention, I don't want to look like a hypocrite. I wanted to protect Kyoko from others. I guess I didn't realize she may need protection from me. I don't like it if I have to stay away from her at the office."
"I think you're twisting things. It's been some time since I've read it but I don't believe the policy is that strict. It can't be with a LoveMon President like ours."
Cedric sighed and tossed his phone on his bed. His grandfather's voice didn't betray it but Cedric knew he was slightly hurt. He knew his grandfather was waiting for Cedric to ask him for help. He had mentioned his friend again. Someone his grandfather considered family. Cedric only vaguely remembered the last time he saw his grandfather's friend. He was much too young, and much too selfish to care about a foreigner. He wouldn't rely on anyone for this, especially his grandfather. He would figure out a way to deal with his father alone.
He went back to shoving his stuff into boxes. He couldn't believe he acquired so much in such a short amount of time. A moving company was coming to ship all the boxes to the States tomorrow. Cedric threw down the shirt in his hands and went to open his door when he heard the bell. He was expecting Koga and opened the door without confirming the visitor through the peephole.
"Hey! The man of the hour!"
Cedric plastered the fakest smile on his face. He screamed, what the fuck bro, as loud as he could at Koga with just his eyes. He was wearing a worn-out t-shirt and sweats. He wasn't dressed for that kind of company. He raked his hands through his hair hoping to tame it a little.
"Dude, don't do that shit with your eyes, it's creepy," Koga exclaimed. "You'll frighten the ladies." His friend was dressed casually carrying a large pizza box.
Cedric scowled at Koga then smiled at the women accompanying his friend. He stepped back and opened the door wider.
"Ladies, this is Ric, my brother from an American mother."
The women giggled and bowed slightly.
"Pardon our intrusion, Ric-san. Ko-kun, seems to have brought us here unexpectedly," said the dirty blonde-haired blue-eyed Japanese woman. He appreciated her speaking to him in English.
"It's no problem. I'm sorry for being rude. Please come inside. I wasn't expecting guests. The place is kind of a mess." I'm kind of a mess.
"Ric, this here is my good friend Honoka-chan. We've known each other since junior high and work for the same agency. She's my sister from another mister."
Everyone groaned at Koga's lame introduction.
Koga grinned. "And this is her friend, Isla," Koga added, introducing the other woman. Cedric was familiar with these types of women, exotic, tall, graceful, and confident. Just how many models did Koga know?
"Thank you for having us," Isla said with a bow of her head. She held up the plastic bag in her hands. Cedric noticed that they were all carrying something.
"Oh sorry, let me take those from you." He took the bags from the women and carried them to the kitchen. Koga followed placing the pizza on the counter while Cedric passed out beers from the bag to everyone and then began loading the rest into his empty fridge.
Koga began rummaging through his cabinets until he found plates.
"Let's eat, I'm starved," Koga said, grabbing a slice of a pizza that appeared to have clams, shells and all, as a topping. Cedric raised his brows at the strange pizza.
"Don't knock it until you try it. This is my favorite pie."
"What's in it?" Cedric asked, fighting back the urge to wrinkle up his nose as Koga sucked a clam into his mouth.
"It has clams, scallops, and shrimp marinated in a butter sauce. It's delicious."
Cedric shrugged and took a slice watching his companions for the proper way to eat it. He discarded the shells and began eating. They were all waiting for his reaction. He took a generous bite and smiled.
"It's not bad. Different, but not bad."
"Hey, I think we'll make a true Japanese out of him yet. Let's have a toast. To my good friend, Ric, may everything work out once you get home. If not, Japan will welcome a talented son."
They raised their beer cans for cheers and took a drink.
"Ko-kun told us you're moving back to America tomorrow night. His exact words were 'I'm throwing a bon voyage party for my friend, do you want to come?'"
Honoka explained.
"I don't mind the company."
"Ladies you'll never guess what he wanted to do on his last night in Japan. I'll give you three tries."
Isla blurted out, "Have a foursome!" Everyone looked at her aghast. She covered her mouth with a giggle. "Just me?"
"Isla!" Honoka scolded. "You just met them."
"Maybe myself and three women but not with another dude. No offense man," Koga said with a shudder.
"None taken," Cedric replied, taking another sip of his beer. He never had the urge to sleep with a guy and he wasn't about to even if women were involved. Friends or not an orgy right now would have been too much for him.
"Don't be crude," Honoka scolded him. "Who would want to sleep with you? You're the si…" Koga covered her mouth muffling the rest of her sentence.
"Now, now, Hono-chan. Keep your opinion to yourself."
"Any more guesses?" Koga said brightly returning to the subject.
"Take a long relaxing bubble bath?"
Cedric and Koga both looked at Honoka funny. "What? That's normally what I want to do."
"One more guess."
Honoka and Isla deliberated for their last guess. They looked at the men and answered in unison, "Sleep!"
"Wrong! This guy wanted to have a Dark Moon watch party."
"It's research, not a party." When Cedric had asked around the Sacred Lotus set, nearly everyone he spoke to recommended Dark Moon. Cedric was hooked after watching the first episode. He could now understand why his father was fascinated by Ren and Kyoko. After browsing the internet for more information regarding the series, Cedric discovered it was a remake and the original actor was now the Hollywood action star Kuu Hizuri. The name brought on a fresh wave of guilt. Cedric deserved to feel miserable.
"I'm a fan of Dark Moon. Kyoko-san and Ren-san were incredible in that series. I get chills watching them. It's creepy how two very sweet people could act like that," Honoka stated, shaking her body.
"You know them, personally?" Cedric asked.
"Well, I've modeled with Ren-san several times and the first time I met Kyoko-san was when she played the chicken when I was a guest on Yappa Kimagure Rock. Plus, Isla and I are working with them on R'Mandy's runway show in LA."
"LA? As in Los Angeles, California?" Cedric clarified.
"Yes, the runway show is coming up."
Cedric grew quiet, lost in thought. This could be his break. If he could somehow arrange a meeting between them and his father, he should be in the clear. The thought of returning home didn't seem so daunting now. Tomorrow night would be his chance to get them to agree.
Kyoko entered the dark apartment and turned off the alarm as it chimed. She reset it as soon as she locked the door behind her. Kuon would lecture her again lovingly if she failed to do so again. He was still worried about her safety since he would be late again tonight. She learned that before her, he always made it a point to work as much as possible. It kept him living. He didn't have to elaborate for her to understand.
She blushed as she passed the couch in the living room while heading to the guest room. It reminded her of the filming they had earlier. She was lucky that her personal feelings were so in tune with Rika that she forgot to act. Luckily, nobody seemed to notice the slip except Kuon. Kyoko needed to prepare herself to face him for the next time mentally. At least their next job together would be modeling work.
In the guest room, she went through the motions of putting her stuff away properly. The last thing she did before leaving was to remove a large box from a drawer of her crafting table. She added the cranes she acquired today with the rest. She still had no idea how he managed to sneak several into her LoveMe locker. When did he even have the time? She lost count but the box had to contain nearly one hundred of his sweet little love notes. Sifting through the box, it wasn't hard to find the one she was looking for. It was one of a kind in the flock of beautiful birds. She unfolded the red rose and read the note again. The note was given to Rika but Kyoko knew it was meant for her. He had signed it with a K like all his other notes. Why the letter K? Many fans would later try to guess the name of Rika's boyfriend.
Kyoko put all her things away and went about her nightly routine. Even though she wasn't expecting him to eat, she ended up in the kitchen. Cooking for him, especially now that he had a bigger appetite, always brought her joy. She was also happy to have one more person to cook for whenever he returned. She checked her phone. Still nothing. She busied herself by placing the food she prepared into containers. They would be perfect for their lunch tomorrow. After cleaning the kitchen she settled into the tub for a nice relaxing soak. It was so relaxing that she dozed off.
Her phone startled her awake. The cold water indicated that she had been sleeping for some time. Covered in goosebumps, she stepped out and dried off, pulling on her robe. Kyoko's eyes welled up as she saw the message.
Hi, sweetie. I made it safely to my apartment. I'm glad your filming went well today. I can't wait to see the finished product. Feel free to call me when you have a chance.
Her phone rang immediately after she sent him a message requesting a video chat. Tadashi's face filled her screen once the call connected. The dark shadows and redness in his eyes were signs he was tired.
"Hi, sweetie. I wasn't expecting you to be awake so late. Is Ren-kun working late?"
"Hi, I was up. And yes, Ren is still working."
"Your voice sounds scratchy. Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine, it's from overuse today. I drank tea."
"Hmm, that's good. Did you remember to set the alarm?"
Kyoko rolled her eyes, "Yes, Dad!"
Tadashi smiled happily as tears pricked his eyes. "Mya had my place cleaned and she stocked it with food. I don't think I brought enough gifts to thank her."
"Maybe, you can give her a day off at the spa? That was really fun. She might like it too."
"That's a good idea. I'll take it further and give her a whole spa weekend. She has been holding down the fort while I was away."
"I'm sorry. I've caused you so much trouble."
"There's no reason to apologize. I enjoyed every minute with you."
Sirens blared and horns honked loudly like it was right inside his apartment. "That's New York City for you. Let me close the balcony doors. I was trying to reacclimate myself with the place."
"Father, are you sure coming back here is what you want? Won't you miss it...your work, your home."
"Oh sweetie, everything I want is in Japan. Unless, of course, I'm being too pushy."
"No, no. I will be very happy to have you back here."
"Good, because the apartment renovations should be complete by the time I return. Would you mind helping me decorate when the time comes?"
"Yes, I would love to help!" Kyoko gushed.
"Great, I look forward to creating a space with you in mind. I'm sorry, we couldn't do it sooner," Tadashi sighed.
"Please don't be too hard on yourself. I'm happy with my life. You came when I needed you most and were in a position to help me. We have a whole future to look forward to," Kyoko assured him, trying to regain her father's chipper mood. He smiled and nodded, visibly happy with what she said.
They moved on to talking about their day. Tadashi, unfortunately, had nothing interesting to report on his long flight from Japan to New York. He admitted to watching the singing drama, from the very beginning, to support her and Ruriko. He enjoyed the drama of the young women trying to make their dreams come true. He could relate to their struggle.
Kyoko had him laughing as she described the way the Ishibashi brothers behaved on set. They made her feel like the older sister of silly triplets, but when it was time for the actual music portion they focused completely. She enjoyed working with them. Tadashi chuckled warmly as she gushed about working with Ren too. Her animated face on the small picture-in-picture screen of her phone was flushed with excitement. She looked ridiculous in her tiny box and imagined how she appeared to her father on a larger scale.
"It sounded like you had a very interesting day at work...and Linh-san? Are you two getting along?"
"Yes, she has been wonderful. Did you know that she could make a dragon lady face? It looks like this," Kyoko said, trying to imitate her manager's fierce expression.
"She uses it on the paparazzi and they scamper in fear. She's amazing," Kyoko praised then yawned absentmindedly.
"I'm glad it's working out, but I should let you get some sleep. I may take a nap myself. I'll be jet-lagged for a couple of days until my internal clock adjusts."
"How inconsiderate of me. You had a long flight, you need rest."
"I'm fine. I'm used to surviving on less. Get some rest sweetie. Is it safe to assume we can still maintain our daily texts?"
"Yes, I'll be sure to send a message tomorrow morning. Good nig- or well good morning more like it."
"Good night, sweetie, talk to you again soon," Tadashi chuckled.
Kyoko nodded then hung up the phone and glanced at the clock. Kuon should be home soon. She curled on the couch pulling the throw blanket over her as she browsed through her phone. Social media was blowing up with eyewitness accounts of his outfit today. She found a decent motion shot someone snapped of him while he was walking through the lobby at LME. How did he always manage to look runway-ready? Those jeans should be illegal! I have to hide them so he can't wear them anymore. There had to be some charity auction in need of a donation. They would probably go for millions of yen. If they were labeled as not washed after wearing, it would sell for a small fortune. All proceeds would be donated to a non-profit organization. She giggled at the mischievousness of her thoughts and saved the image as her phone's wallpaper.
…
He glided his thumb back and forth over the fingertips of his left hand. They were sensitive. He was told that he would eventually get used to it with time. He looked at his watch and sighed. He hoped she wasn't awake waiting for him. He wouldn't be able to do what was necessary if he knew he was keeping her up at night with worry. He didn't want to text her when he left in case she was sleeping.
He should have bought flowers or cake as a way of an apology but he was too in a rush to get home. The cranes he had in his bag would have to do. He felt a little like Santa Claus stashing away presents for her to find the next morning. The upside to ending his day at LME, he easily gained access to her locker in the LoveMe room. Tonight he spent a little more time arranging the little birds inside. He had to get creative and still had a long way to go.
Stepping off the elevator, he had a little more pep in his step anxious to snuggle up against her warm body. He was at the door in a flash placing his card against the reader and typing in the code. He gently turned the knob, easing the door open quietly. He had to move quickly to shut off the alarm. At the front entrance, he removed his shoes and emptied his pockets. The lamp in the living room cast a warm glow in the room beckoning him inside. He found her curled on the couch with her phone barely clutched in her hand snoring softly.
He smiled taking a seat in the small space beside her. He should have expected this. He removed her phone from her hand and placed it on the end table. He brought his hand up to her face and brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek. Her skin was so silky. Her eyes fluttered open unperturbed by his presence. In her sleepy state, she flashed him a smile so bright he swore it rivaled the sun.
"Welcome home," she whispered hoarsely, reaching up to take hold of his hand and kiss it.
His breath caught in his throat. All he could manage was a smile as words escaped him. He would remember this moment so he could write out his feelings in his notebook and express them properly in his notes. His other hand reached up and tucked the hair strands obstructing her vision behind her ear. He wondered if she would continue to wear it long like this. Either way, she would look adorable.
"I'm home, you should be in bed," he finally whispered back.
"In a minute." She scooted over on the couch and patted the space beside her.
He smiled in amusement and stretched out on his side tucking his arm under so she could rest her head on it. The couch was big enough to fit them snugly unlike the one they used this afternoon. He could stay like this forever.
"How was your day?" She asked, running her fingers through his loose hair. He closed his eyes and let the warmth from her fingers ease the tension of the day from his body. He draped his free arm over her waist and slipped his knee between her legs for a more comfortable position. This way he wouldn't roll off the couch. The gesture didn't phase her and she snuggled further into him.
"It was good. The director announced that the pilot and second episode are ready for release," he told her.
"Corn, that's wonderful! We'll be able to watch it with your parents. I'm sure they'll be very excited to see you," she exclaimed, her voice coming in and out. The excitement of watching him act a new role was apparent in her flashing golden eyes.
"You think so?" Kuon asked a little unsure.
"I know so," she confirmed, her voice cracking again. She swooped in for a peck on the lips and pulled away before he could take it further.
"Your voice?" He asked with concern. It was in and out but the more she spoke the more he heard it.
"It's raw from overuse today. It'll be fine in the morning."
"Then let's not talk," the Emperor replied smoothly. She rolled her eyes but happily obliged brushing the tip of their noses together before sealing his lips with hers. His hand trailed from her hip to cup her bottom. Kyoko did the same only she successfully wedged her hand into his back jeans pocket and squeezed. He groaned against her lips. Her actions overlapped the incident of earlier. He wouldn't mind if she were the one doing all the groping.
He took his time enjoying their kiss. Her lips were soft against his. A stark contrast to her demanding tongue sweeping inside his mouth, mating with his. She was a kissing expert and knew exactly how to get him riled up. His hand wandered up and down her back to her thighs kneading as they continued to make out. Her top leg popped out of her robe to hook over his hip. His eyes widened with disbelief. She always took him by surprise. Kyoko was bare beneath. He could feel her arousal hot and wet through his jeans.
His hand snaked into her robe aching to touch her bare skin. His fingertips tingled but he couldn't say the sensation was painful. She hissed against his lips and tried to pull away from him. She had nowhere to go. If his arm couldn't stop her the back of the couch surely would. He chuckled. It was payback for her using his body to warm her cold feet. It didn't take long for her to melt back into him once his hand warmed up against her.
Without breaking the kiss, he rolled her beneath him releasing them from their restricted position on the couch. He pulled back kneeling between her legs. Her princess robe had come partially undone exposing portions of her glorious skin. His eyes raked over her body, ingraining the beautiful image into his memory. She lay there staring at him, her golden eyes burning with untamed desire aching for his touch. Her tongue flicked out moistening her lips. They were bruised and red from the heated kisses they shared. He ripped off his layered shirts in one swift motion and tossed them to the floor. He swore he saw her eyes glow with appreciation making him swell with pride below the belt. His jeans had become unbearably tight.
He palmed the top of her thighs squeezing before sliding them up until he reached the tie on her robe. With a slight tug on the end, the knot came loose. Kuon spread the robe wider uncovering her body. His hands wrapped around the small of her waist kneading her abs with his thumbs. He slid them slowly up her rib cage finally resting on her breasts. Kyoko writhed beneath him. Her bare center rubbed against the bulge of his jeans making her moan in ecstasy. He continued his ministrations on her breasts delighted to watch her squirm under his hands. She threw her head back and gripped the couch cushions when his mouth closed over one rosy tip. He licked, nipped, and sucked at the peak until she was gasping. His hand slipped between her legs, finding her hot and ready for him. She sucked his fingers in bucking up to meet his hand.
"Please, Kuon," she whimpered above him continuing to thrust. Her throaty voice was music to his ears. Her begging did wonders for his libido. He looked up at her through his lashes tonging the other crest. Beautiful! He licked her juices off his fingers and then leaned down to kiss her. Her fingers dug into his scalp pulling him into a hard kiss. He met her tongue with the same need until he could take no more. The heat of her coating his abdomen drove his lust for her. He needed inside her. She refused to let him go so he was forced to use one hand to undo his belt and shimmy down his jeans just enough. He finally managed to work his erection free of the confines with his jeans hanging on his hips.
Still kissing her, he contorted his body enough to find her entrance to slip inside. He had long dismissed the need to wear condoms after that night in the bath. It was selfish of him but she felt too good to go back to wearing a rubber. Once he got a taste of what she felt like uncovered he couldn't get enough. He made peace with his decision and was ready to brave the future with her.
Kyoko gasped in shock finally loosening her grip on him. Kuon took this opportunity to prop himself up and slid deeper within her core. She reacted instantly and raised her legs high on his sides. Her hands slid down his back and plunged into his jeans to cup his bare ass. He hesitated a mere moment and looked down at her mischievous smile. She thrust her hips and pulled against her. She was setting a hard pace by gripping his ass. Kuon worked to accommodate her needs. Soon she was shuddering beneath him and screaming out in ecstasy.
…
Kyoko released her hold on him as her body shook from the aftermath of her orgasm. She felt a gush of wetness flow between her thighs and still, Kuon didn't let up. He wasn't done. He had yet to climax. Kyoko's eyes flew open after being yanked up against him. Kuon was on his haunches with her ass resting against his thighs. She found the strength to wrap her legs around his waist as he pounded into her. Clawing the cushions, she felt the slow crawl of another release approaching. She wasn't ready but Kuon had other plans. His fingers found her sensitive bundle of nerves and began his sweet torment. Every muscle in her body quivered as she gripped the couch like a life raft.
"Look at me, baby. Come with me...I'm close," he confessed breathlessly. She opened her teary eyes and stared into his bedroom-brown eyes. He was grunting from the exertion but when they made eye contact, his eyes softened and he flashed her that heavenly smile. Kyoko feared she died and went to heaven. Her vision blurred. She could hear Kuon praying to God as he rammed into her. Her body felt mind-numbingly wonderful after wave upon wondrous wave crashed over her.
Kuon collapsed on top of her with a loud groan once he found his release. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his sweat-slicked body.
"You were wonderful, baby. I love you so much," he whispered kissing her face. How did he still have the energy? She turned her head to meet his searching lips. She could never get tired of making love to this man. Kyoko laughed but helped him struggle out of his jeans. Maybe she could let him keep them just to wear around the house. Kuon didn't bother with cleaning up or removing his contacts. He found the blanket she was using earlier and covered them. Tonight it would be the couch. Laying snugly in his arms, she fell fast asleep.
Notes:
Hiya! Thanks for sticking with me. Tadashi survived. My mantra is fluff and smut there will be no angst here...LOL. I apologize for taking so long. Sleep has been winning when real life gets busy.
I attached the censored pervy fanart that went along with this chapter. You can find the uncensored version on Deviant art: https://www.deviantart.com/kaname671/art/SkipBeat-fanart-RenKyo-on-the-Couch-867987462
Until next time, ja mata! ^_^
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