On the First Day of Christmas

"How are we today, LoveMe?" asked a daimyo-cosplaying President Lory Takarada as he waltzed through the neon pink door into the pink and white room where three young women in neon pink jumpsuits watched a drama and took notes.

"Beyond irritated," replied Kanae Kotonami, the woman on the far left. "This girl's only good point is her dancing ability."

"The plot does seem a little contrived," added Chiori Amamiya, the woman on the right. "I mean, really? The dancer falls for the cold, mean dance teacher who suddenly becomes the ideal lover? That's so fake."

"President, I must object as well to this drama," said the woman seated in the middle, Kyoko Mogami. "This drama is about an abusive relationship. It teaches girls to accept awful behaviour from men, even if it destroys them!"

"But it received such positive responses from critics and viewers," protested Lory, pouting slightly. "And it's one of my personal favourites."

"The way the teacher treats her isn't loving," said Chiori. "It's manipulative. And he drives her to dance herself to death in the end and just gets away with it. How is that romantic?"

"The direction is awful as well," said Kanae. "It's clunky and badly edited."

"It had potential," said Kyoko, looking over her notes. "With a slightly altered script and better direction, it could have been really good even with the flawed acting."

"Thank you for looking for some good parts in it," grumbled Lory, accustomed to the three LoveMe members ripping apart any and all dramas they viewed. Often, he had them watch pilots of different shows to let the director know where the show was lacking. Their criticism had saved many a project from tanking. "I'll keep that in mind if they decide to do a remake."

"Don't cast me," said Chiori immediately. "I can't dance to save my life."

"You were in a good mood when you came in," said Kyoko, changing the subject before her friends could get themselves into more trouble with their odd boss. "Could it be because Christmas is coming soon?"

"Ah, you guessed correctly!" said Lory, regaining his joyful energy. "I am collecting a list of things that my wonderful people have always wanted, but for some reason couldn't have. So, what is it that you might wish for?"

"Cosmetic surgery on my neck," said Chiori immediately. "The burn scar reminds me of terrible things, and it limits what I can wear, which restricts the roles I can play. I'm really self-conscious of it, but the surgery is expensive."

"Steady jobs for my siblings," said Kanae with a sigh. "I'd love them more if they didn't always freeload at my place with all of their kids."

"That is pretty hard on relationships," said Chiori, nodding agreement.

"Hmm," said Lory, adding their requests to his list with his own special notations beside them. "I see. And you, Kyoko?"

Kyoko fidgeted uncomfortably. "It's a bit - well, very embarrassing. I've always wanted to know who my biological father is. My mother never told me, and his name isn't on my birth certificate. I have my mother's family name. It's always bothered me."

Lory blinked twice and then added her request to his list. "Maria wanted to know if you would co-host the Grateful Party again this year."

"I would be happy to," said Kyoko, her face lighting up. "I'll have to call her later about the guest list. Oh! If I don't leave now, I'll be late for filming. See you later, Miss Sigh, Chiori!" And she flew from the room in a flurry of neon pink. Her friends exchanged looks.

"What was her mother thinking, not telling her anything about her father?" asked Kanae derisively. "I bet lots of kids picked on her for not knowing who her father was."

"It doesn't matter to me," said Chiori. "She's still a great actress, regardless of who her parents are."

"Yeah, but it would be awkward if she fell in love with her brother by accident," said Kanae. "Or something like that."

"That would be just awful," agreed Chiori. "I should probably go, too. I won't be late if I leave now, but I still want to talk to Kyoko about a new year's sleepover. You should come too, if you want."

"I'd like that," said Kanae. "I'll let you know what my shooting schedule is going to be like around then. I might get more sleep at your place then at my own." Chiori laughed, waved and hurried out the door. Kanae gathered her own things, waved to the president and headed off to another one of her jobs.

Lory returned to his office with his now completed list in his pocket. Sebastian met him at the door to the office. Lory sighed, "I'm going to need help for this one. Could you call my travel agent, my personal physician and a private detective to my office for me?"

Half an hour later, Lory had sorted out who wanted to go where and when they could go and turned that list over to his travel agent, who set herself up in an empty office nearby and began booking hotels and flights for over two hundred people. The physician would be arriving in a few hours after making his rounds. Lory was just waiting on the private detective, who was a few minutes late.

"Mr Yuki Ichihara to see you, sir," announced Sebastian from the door. A slight, bespecled man in a light grey suit entered and bowed to the president before sitting down.

"My apologies," said Ichihara sincerely, "I just came from another client. I had hoped to have more time to get here, but the circumstances were unusual."

"As are these," said Lory, staring the young man down. "I understand that you are very, very good at your job."

"I've never failed a client yet," said Ichihara evenly. "What or whom are you looking for?"

"One of my talents wishes to locate her father," said Lory. "I'd like the information by the twenty-third of December. There are two issues: she doesn't know his name, and she doesn't know where he might have gone to, if he's still alive."

"That makes things a bit trickier," mused Ichihara. "May I know the person in question's name?"

"Kyoko Mogami," said Lory. "Though her stage name is Kyouko. Her mother's name is Saena Mogami. Both were born in Kyoto."

"Saena Mogami from Kyoto," said Ichihara with a sharp nod. "That's as good a place to start as any. I'll bill you when I bring you the information. I will see you at three on December twenty-third, if not sooner."

"I very much look forward to your results," said Lory. "I would assume that you won't be sharing this information with the press."

"Of course not," said Ichihara. "Confidentiality is part of the transaction."

Lory looked at him critically. "Yuki Ichihara isn't your real name, is it?"

Ichihara laughed at that. "Of course it isn't. My teacher's name was Ichihara, though that wasn't her real name either. A friend of mine once told me I was as pale as snow with the personality of an avalanche. I believe I threw a pasta bowl at his head in response."

"You must have been good friends," observed Lory.

"We still are," said Ichihara with a tiny amused smile. "Until the twenty-third."

Sebastian shut the door behind him with a slightly worried expression on his face. He asked, "Do you really think that he can do it? He doesn't seem very reliable."

"Many friends recommended him to me," said Lory. "He has never once failed to find every relevant detail to a case he took on. The results are more than impressive. I believe he will deliver the information."

"And if he doesn't?" asked Sebastian. "What will you tell Miss Kyoko then?"

"That there are twelve days of Christmas," said Lory, "and she must wait to get her present through the days. He will find her father for her. Have some faith, my friend. It's Christmastime."