Chapter the First: Once Upon a Time
(AMENDED NOTE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE READ IT BEFORE: THE STORY HAS BEEN CHANGED. IT TAKES PLACE AFTER GUAM STARTING IN THE MIDDLE OF APRIL.)
"Mogami-kun? Before you go, I have something else to tell you," Sawara, Kyoko's supervisor, called after her.
The girl, clad in a neon pink jumpsuit, looked back with one foot out the door. "Yes, Sawara-san?"
"Well, this might take a while to explain, so you'd better sit back down." The forty-year-old sighed, bracing for Kyoko's reaction to the news once he told her. He wasn't sure if she'd be elated, or if she would be so annoyed she'd be sending her little spirits to haunt him… He shuddered, remembering the terrifying nights he suffered through when that girl tried to wrangle her way into showbiz.
Kyoko froze, fear evident on her face. I hope this doesn't mean that the president really did tell Tsuruga-san about those deplorable feelings I harbor deep within my heart, despite his assurances he wouldn't… she thought, her mind a whirling storm of disappointed Tsuruga.
Oh, great. Looks like she's gonna be real receptive today, Sawara observed, his mind forecasting yet another sleepless night. "Mogami-ku—"
"Right!" Kyoko regained her composure. She was a failure as an actress if she couldn't at least make it through this. "Sorry!" She hurriedly sat down in one of the hard chairs in front of Sawara's desk.
"No worries." Sawara cleared his throat. "Now where do I begin…?"
"Wha…" Kyoko tried to restrain the rising feeling of panic clouding her mind. Get a grip, Kyoko. It's gonna be fine.
Taking a deep breath (which made Kyoko all the more nervous), Sawara asked, "Have you heard of the American tradition of Halloween? You know, pumpkins and skeletons and what-have-you."
"Ah-! Yes, I have."
Sawara, confused at the relief evident on Kyoko's face, continued, "Then, knowing our president's love for the exotic, extravagant, and bizarre, does it surprise you that he is throwing a mandatory Halloween gala that all company members must attend?"
"Not really, knowing him, but it's only April. Does he really plan that far in advance?" She sighed, thinking, It wouldn't be surprising if he is that much of an evil mastermind, planning things months—no, years—ahead.
"Who knows? Anyways, it's actually what he calls a 'Half-o-ween' party, marking the date equidistant from last Halloween and the next." Sawara lowered his voice. "Between you and me, Mogami-kun, I think it's just an excuse for him to have fun making a big mess. But don't go repeating that now."
"Yessir! Huh, that does sound just like the president…"
Sawara allowed himself a small chuckle. So far so good. "Anyways, more about this party. There will of course, be tricks and treats, as well as costumes—quite elaborate ones, mind you. This will be no dinky little costume party."
Kyoko smiled in anticipation. "Maybe I can dress up like a princess, or maybe a fairy, or maybe… a fairy queen!" She began fantasizing about what sort of sparkly ensemble she might wear to the party. This news was better than she'd hoped! And since it was a mandatory gala, it was inevitable that Mr. Tsuruga would be there… and maybe there would be a whole legion of knights there!
By now Kyoko had drifted off into La La Land, and Sawara was having difficulty pulling her back into the mortal realm, having waved his hand in front of her glazed-over (albeit sparkling) eyes many times.. "Mogami-kun..."
No response, excepting a few excited giggles tumbling from her lips.
Sawara hadn't wished to resort to drastic measures so soon in the conversation, but there was no helping it. This seemed to be the only way to elicit a response from her. "Mogami-kun, have you heard Sho Fuwa's latest single? My daughter absolutely adores it, says Fuwa is the hottest vampire she ever laid eyes on."
Snapping back to reality, Kyoko's hands balled into fists. "What's this about that jerk Shotaro?" she growled.
Quick to placate the girl-turned-beast before him, Sawara shook his head, saying, "Nothing, nothing. Anyways, I hate to burst your bubble, Mogami-kun, but you can't choose your own costume."
The blazing anger was replaced with a look of absolute dejection. "Ohhh….."
"The president will be assigning everyone their costumes."
"Wha-why? Then it's just like a job…"
"You can treat it like that, I suppose, as you must attend. Call it a Love Me assignment if you must. The reason your costume is assigned is that the president has volunteered you to be the evening's entertainment."
"Why meeeeee?" Kyoko shuddered as the terrifying mental image of her being grilled like a criminal before a panel of judges crept through her vivid imagination.
Sawara shrugged. "I don't know. You'll have to ask the president. What I do know is that it's not as bad as you think."
"Not as bad as I think?"
"Since you've had a fair bit of acting experience up to now, it shouldn't be difficult for you to act in a skit alongside Tsuruga and a few other people."
Kyoko was conflicted. Another experience of acting with Tsuruga-san was always good, challenging her in new ways (though she doubted anything would challenge her like the Heel siblings had), but on the other hand, it was another opportunity to accidentally allow her feelings to slip. "Oh," she said, smiling hesitantly. "What kind of a skit is it?"
"The president wanted to go with a Disney villains theme for the party, so all of the performances are going to be based around those."
"Oooh!" Maybe there still was a chance that she could be something magical. "Am I going to be Elsa from Frozen? She'smyfavoritecharacterIjustsawthemovieand—"
Before she could float away to the realm of fairies once more, Sawara cut in with a curt, "No. The president has chosen Sleeping Beauty as your skit…"
At this, Kyoko went a brighter pink than her work uniform. If she was acting with Tsuruga-san and they were doing Sleeping Beauty—how easy would it be for her to mess up? Heck, kissing was an integral plot point. Anything could happen. "What…"
"You didn't let me finish." By now Sawara was clicking his pen impatiently. This was taking far longer than it had to be. "I was saying that the president chose Sleeping Beauty, or rather Maleficent, seeing as the focus is on the villains, as that's more Halloween-ish or something."
"Oh. I still haven't seen that movie," Kyoko mumbled warily.
"Well, that doesn't mean you can't act it. I assume you're familiar with the original?"
"Of course!"
"You know that witchy thing—Maleficent? That's your part."
The first Love Me member was crestfallen. "Oh. Joy. Another Mio, yay." Secretly, though, she was relieved. This should eliminate any chance of intimacy with Tsuruga-san, if she was the villain, right?
"I'm glad to see you're so enthusiastic." Sawara pulled a small packet of paper from one of his desk drawers, sliding it across to Kyoko. "Here's the script. There's a rehearsal scheduled an hour before the gala begins, and that's it. It's more for fun than anything else, but as the president is orchestrating it all, you had better do your best."
She took the script, stowing it in her bag for safekeeping. "Right. Thank you. Is that everything?"
"Should be. You may leave."
"Thank you!" Kyoko stood and bowed, turning to leave for the second time.
"Mogami-kun?"
"Yes, Sawara-san?"
"I'm sure Tsuruga-san wouldn't mind running over the script with you."
"Y-yeah."
As much as she tried to deny it, Kyoko left L.M.E. that day with a spring in her step, unknowing of the tribulations ahead of her.
To be continued…
A/N: Thanks for reading! :D