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Gate of Heaven
Chapter 01
Her world shattered. Wherever she looked, she only saw darkness. Somehow, she managed to return to her room at Fuwa's inn.
"Saena, take her out of here," that's Kyoshi's last words when she left him in the main house, six years ago. At that time she didn't cry. No, no matter how broken her heart was, due to leave her soul mate there. Because her tears would destroy her husband's determination. At that time, she smiled and nodded. She left while letting their minds connected with each other.
Then early that day, for the first time in those six years, she couldn't feel his mind anymore. In their last contacts, Kyoshi asked her to keep her away from them. Then their mental connection suddenly had been cut.
Kyoshi, Kyoshi, what happened? Please, answer me. She tried again to reach his mind. She waited for an answer and then tried again, and again, and again. But Kyoshi's mind was remain blank, dark, without life. As if ...
No! She pushed the thought away from her head. She slumped in front of kotatsu. Her face sunk in her hands. Her shoulders trembled. She tried to calm herself down, but the thought of them come to her. About who they were, what they're capable of, what they would do in order to maintain the power of Amagami family.
Those thoughts undermined the strength of her heart. Without realizing it, tears were blurring her view. She was terrified. Really terrified. What should she had to do if she lost Kyoshi, the only sun in her life? She would be alone. Truly alone.
She wanted to run to where Kyoshi was. To do anything to save him. That desire was so strong, but Kyoshi's demand tied her in place. She should not go there, or Kyoko's existence would come out. Kyoshi's words tied her strongly—it was stronger than her desire to leave. And she finally realized, Kyoshi uses his strongest kotodama on her.
Saena had used to believed that however her family was, they would not hurt a fellow member. She had used to trust and respect the honor and dignity of her family, especially her father's. Until that time, all of it evaporated as she felt hope had slipped between her fingers . Her sense of regret for leaving Kyoshi under her family's authority turned into hatred toward them. An icy burning hatred that froze her heart. Never in her life, she did so hate someone or something more than she hated her own family at that time.
At that time, a small hand touched her elbow. From the corner of her eyes, she saw a pair of golden eyes were staring at her. Golden eyes as her were, as her father's were, as all direct lineages of Amagami family's were. And she could not stop herself to hate those eyes.
Roughly, she dismissed that hand. She glanced at those golden eyes with all hatred she felt. She didn't care about fear and hurt of the little girl had felt. If only that child wasn't there, she didn't has to leave Kyoshi, she could run to where Kyoshi was, trying to save him, or at least gathered his remains, she wouldn't mind too much. But she couldn't, because she had been tied to that child.
Her aversion felt doubled. Right, that child was the primary descendant of Amagami family. Without any intention or any effort, that girl could destroy anyone near to her. No matter what she and Kyoshi did. That child would always be an Amagami, and one day, when she returned to them—which she believed as inevitable—she would be Himiko, a center of Amagami family.
Lory Takarada just met a devil. A beautiful devil. The devil who gave him a movie script as alluring and dangerous as the devil's herself for any normal young man who worked in the entertainment world.
Well, Lory was not young anymore, and he was far from normal, and he knew that the arrival of the devil and the manuscript offered a deal which was dangerous and tempting. But the script was too fit in, too compatible, too suitable ... In other word, all of those make Lory—third time in his life—nervous.
Technically, his met with the devil had been happened a few days ago. But that time, as he waited for his number-one-LoveMe-member's answer, the meeting was felt as if happened some times ago.
A knock brought Lory back to his real world. Sebastian bowed respectfully in the doorway.
"Miss Mogami has come," said the assistant.
Lory nodded and ordered that the girl was allowed to meet him.
A few moments later, a petite girl came in and bowed politely in greeting. Lory invited the 17-year-old girl to sit on a seat across him.
"So?" Lory stared at her golden eyes. Smile bloomed on her face.
"Yes, I accept the role as Kaneda Himeko. This movie's genre is very dark and intense, and Himeko was very representative character of this movie. But I can't leave this script just like that. I feel Himeko called me to be her. On the other hand, the story is also very fascinating. "
"There is a romance that involves Himeko as the main character." Lory looked for a doubt in the girl's decision. Lory did want to cure her phobia of love, but the idea of forcing a love act to her for that purpose made him nauseous. He wants her phobia was cured in a more natural, not coercion, way.
And yes, the story was very fascinating. He believed the movie would be successful and rised Kyoko's name. But there was something in that story, and the way it immersed the audience, especially the way it came to his desk, making the danger alarm in Lory's head blaring like crazy.
"Himeko-sama has no heart, she grew up to lead and control, not love. She was condemned to not trust anything or anyone, until Kyoshi-sama came into her life and gave her a living heart. Didn't you say they will not produce this movie if I didn't play Himeko-sama? If I reject this offer, this story wouldn't be produced, Himeko-sama wouldn't met Kyoshi-sama. Each princess has a right to be free from the curse. "Kyoko's eyes shined as if she was a persistenced knight who decided to save The Princess. Kyoko was already bound by the script for reasons that Lory had never expected.
"And finally, Himeko fall in love with Kyoshi. You know, you're not ready to do a scene of Himeko's excitement when she realized her love. "Lory argued.
Kyoko hung her head and stared at her folded hands on her lap. Her superior's argument was true, very precise. It made her feel weak and hopeless. But she had fallen in love with Himeko-sama and nobody could help Himeko-sama, except her. Moreover, her soul had been adrift with Himeko-sama.
She glanced at her bag where she kept the manuscript neatly. She felt Himeko-sama smiled resignedly at her. She shook her head vigorously. No, I must be strong. Himeko-sama need me.
"I can learn with Himeko-sama. If I become Himeko-sama, at least I'll be able to learn and to get the lost emotion in myself, "Kyoko felt the danger from her own words, but she still tried to reinforce her decision. "If until the time comes and I still can't do that scene, I am willing to resign and accept the consequences. Let me try. I beg you. "Kyoko fell to the floor and did dogeza.
After several minutes of that seemed a very long time, Lory saw the tip of the girl's hand paled and trembled with fear. But she never backed away from that fear. Lory sighed heavily.
"You're stupid. I'm not going to help you when that happens. "Kyoko maintained her position. She woulldn't change her position until Mr. Takarada gave his permission. Lory grumbled, incoherently said 'love', 'too hasty', 'dangerous' and 'stupid' several times. Then ...
"You really are stupid. Do as you please. " Kyoko raised her head and shows a face full of gratitude. At that time, Lory know that the girl had fallen in love with the manuscript. No one could stop her to become Himeko.
With resignation he told her the information he knew would relieve her feelings.
"The main producers of Gate of Heaven, Amagami Corps., willing to bear all the losses if the film was stopped in the middle of production," he said. Kyoko stared with wide eyes. Then Lory expression darkened, "But, I believe you. I can believe that you will learn with Himeko, can't I? "
Kyoko jumped from her seat and stood up to salute military.
"Sir, yes, Sir. You can trust me, Sir."
"Good, now you may go."
Kyoko stepping lightly and happily as she exited Lory's personal room.
Lory took his cell phone and dialed Ren's number. He would offer him the role of Kyoshi. He knew that Ren would be interested in the script, even without the need to tell him about who they casted for Himeko.
Wakamiya Tsukiyo, who gave the manuscript to him, said that they gave the freedom to choose a male lead actor to LME and other matters to the director. They only asked to enter an actress named Yumeno Haruka to act as Himeko's rival and to make a movie based on a script that made by Kasuga Tsukasa as a single playwright. The offer was very tempting for any entertain management. But those all just makes the danger alarm in Lory's head rang loudly.
When Wakamiya-san entered his room with the manuscript, Lory knew that he-inevitably-will do a deal with the devil Amagami Corps had send. But he wouldn't give up his favorite girl away without second measure.
"LME gave news that Kyoko-sama accepts the role as Kaneda Himeko and Tsuruga Ren will be Sakuragi Kyoshi. With her ability as a method actress, if she was Saena-sama and Kyoshiro-sama's daughter, she will do kotodama to herself, "reported a long black haired girl with a flat tone.
"Hmm, so they gave us Tsuruga Ren as Kyoshi? Interesting. But until this point, everything goes according to plan, "commented a young straight-brown-haired man.
"I told you, she's not my daughter. You're just wasting energy, "Saena said with tired and disdain conveyed clearly.
Tsukasa, the young man grinned, a kind of grin that made him look even more handsome.
"If she's not your daughter, she could still live her life as an actress. In fact, this movie will boost her popularity. And Amagami Corps. would get benefit from releasing the movie in theaters. " He lifted his teacup to his lips. With the tail of his eyes, he observed Saena's powerful and emotionless feature. Saena-sama do deserve as Himiko-sama. Admiration and pride sneaked into the teen's heart.
"But if she was your daughter, she would come to this house. Amagami will regain its Himiko despite having to pay compensation, if it occurs in the middle of the movie's production. No harm to trying, is it, Tsukiyo? " he said dramatically.
Straight black-haired girl rolled her eyes, Tsukasa, and scheming, and drama. But all his words were correct. Amagami had suffered enough without Himiko for 17 years. Amagami could not suffer any longer. So she let Tsukasa had fun with his dramatic plans.
"It isn't," said the gray-eyed girl, made Tsukasa smiled with satisfaction.
"Do as you please," Saena stood by maintaining her emotionless stance. She came out of the drinking tea room with the grace of a Queen. But Saena could not deceive herself. Tsukasa's plan made her fingertips cold and pulsing fast. She had to sabotage his plan. But how?
AN/: I re-do this chapter to make it more understandable. Instead of present form, I re-wrote (intended to write) it in past form.
Hope you would more enjoy it.
E.C.