Author Note:
Welcome yet again. Chapter two has arrived! After only a few hours, haha!
So only like two people have read this story that I know of for sure...but who cares! Those two made me happy by reading.
To answer that review, I do believe there was a show made off of this but it was mainly a manga. If you go to and look up Beauty Pop you can read up on it and meet the characters! For some of the stubbly hinted characters -especially in this chapter- it might be helpful to do so.
So our plot thickens here. Meet the Dangerous and Mysterious Antagonist of the story! Or at least the first one ;3
Enjoy; heeere we goooo~
Glamor Isn't All Here
"Oh sweetie, your hair looks so beautiful when you let it grow out! Oh I remember when Kiri had long, luscious hair in those cute little pigtails! OOOOH I MISS THAT!" Emi Koshiba was practically gushing over her daughter beside her in the cab as the two were brought toward the set for the newest movie. As always, Kiri ignored the woman as she propped her arm up on the door and laid her face against her hand, her bored gaze reaching out to follow the swirling colours of the passing streets. When Emi grabbed a strand of her hair, Kiri swatted her hand away absentmindedly.
"It's only 7.6cm longer than it was last year," she said with a sigh, as she always did when her mother doted on her hair. Blocking out Emi's girlish sounds and annoying murmurs, Kiri simply took to chasing colours with her eyes. At one point she saw something that had her sitting up and turning in her seat until Emi was shouting at her to sit properly before something happened. Could that have been…? No…he wouldn't be here…probably busy with S.P. in Japan…. A low, stretched out sigh slipped from her slightly parted lips, pitched in a way that made a sound like a mournful song. Emi didn't miss it but instead of saying anything the woman simply pouted and watched her daughter as the young Kiri slouched once more. As Emi stared into the glass behind Kiri she thought she saw something in Kiri's reflection that actually chilled her to the bone; a mixture of fear and sadness. Shaking her head, she pushed the thoughts away, thinking it was just plain foolish. Nothing got Kiri to look like that-or at least that combination- besides blood and she was getting better with that.
A half hour from their hotel, the cab pulled up to a gray curve and stopped. The driver seemed like he might get out of the car but before he even had time to put the cab in park Kiri had opened the door and walked out with her hands in her pockets again. Sighing, Emi paid and talked with the driver for a little while before she ran off to catch up with Kiri. "Sweeeetie!" she'd chime as they walked onto the set. "You play nice now and if you give any haircuts you must promise mom one when we get home!" Emi had stopped walking to say this, even going so far as to strike a mothering pose with her large smile spreading across her ruby painted lips, but by the time she opened her eyes for an answer Kiri had already disappeared, having walked off as she spoke. Sighing, a small frown twitching at her everlasting grin, Emi just shook her head and went toward her trailer to work on today's makeup.
Hey guys, long time no see-or hear from. How'd you get my email anyway-is Iroi still after my wife? She's MINE! Punk. Anyway, check on Shampoo will ya, Kiri never stops asking about him (sometimes I wonder if she even remembers anything else about Japan…JOKING). Anyway, Kiri doesn't go to a normal school so any time is fine. She's basically already graduated at a Japanese level here so taking her behind a day or a few wouldn't be too bad. When you guys come in just have Iroi call me (I'm sure he has my number) and I'll send you guys to the right place, or keep Kiri here that day if you are in early enough.
I'm sure she'd love to see all her boyfriends again, hehe.
~Seiji K.
Reading over his email, Seiji instantly wished he hadn't sent it before reading it. There were a few mistakes and he probably shouldn't have put his actual thoughts in there but oh well. With any luck this would work out for the best, for everyone. Mainly Kiri though. For whatever reason, something had been really making things worse on Kiri and it was worrying him. Sure he wasn't the best at noticing things, and normally Emi was better, but he noticed how she was getting gloomier and gloomier. Emi probably didn't see it because she had been in America for so long as Kiri grew up with just Seiji. But then again maybe she did. Sighing, drilling his cig-but into the ashtray, he tightened his bandana and looked around. It was way too quiet here. Get up, he walked around the apartment once more to make sure things were all set for later before he grabbed his wallet and walked toward the door. A hotdog really started sounding great…oh and a coke too! Yeah, that would hit the spot.
Tink Tink
"…You've got to be kidding me…." Groaning slightly, Seiji closed the door once again and walked back to the desk. He opened the laptop once more and looked at the email that had popped up on his screen. He had expected it to be a quick email reply but instead it was directed toward Kiri. He really shouldn't…eh what the heck, he wasn't her father for nothing.
Kiri Koshiba,
I've decided our games have just begun. Today I'll jump things up a notch. The only way out is by skipping today-but then again it's already too late you're probably here. I win; again. Your talent will be mine.
-A.A.A.
Lighting another cigarette, Seiji furrowed his brows. Something wasn't right here…yet at the same time there wasn't too much wrong. It seemed like a challenge that's all, besides…if something really bad was happening Kiri would have told him or Emi. Right…? "I'm being an old fool!" Laughing at his own insecurities, Seiji got up and closed the laptop screen once more. He ran toward the door, not wanting to be bothered by another email. As he stood in the elevator he couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling in the back of his head.
Kiri walked through the set, her hands fumbling in her pockets, with her head tilted down. In reality, she had a feeling today wasn't going to be her day. She had a dream about Ken last night…she really missed that dog. It was too bad he had died last year…but at least he came back to say goodbye. At least she believed he did. Whenever Kiri was in trouble Ken had shown up…so now she worried that perhaps he appearing in her dream was an omen. A slow sigh escaped her as she shook her head, her hair bouncing as it brushed against her shoulder. I'm just imagining things…there's no reason to over think a dream.
As she walked deeper into the set and toward the building that held a room used as the 'school' she couldn't shake the feeling of someone watching her. At first she thought it was Ken again but then she remembered that wasn't possible. Shrugging it off, she pushed open the tall metal door and slipped into the still empty room. Instantly she wished she hadn't. The very thought of being alone in that room made her hair stand on end. It's just some stupid superstition…how lame.
Between ten and twenty paces behind her was a young man who also had his hands in his pockets. A smirk curved over his tan skin and his black hair fell down in chopped layers across his face as the straggly ends curled over his shoulders. He had a look to him that made him eerily handsome, but also made him look dangerous at the same time. And he had proven himself to be dangerous. That smirk only grew into a more prominent one as he stopped outside the door Kiri had just slipped behind. As he had been walking the young man had been typing away on his phone, sending an email to Kiri after he was sure there was no way she could check it in time. Sure it was underhanded, but that's what you had to do to get anything in this world. He had learned that lesson well.
Opening the door, he slipped in and propped a chair up against the knobs. Kiri was standing in the back by an open window, leaning outside with her head lying on her folded arms. She seemed to be staring off into dream land yet there was something alert about the stance she had. It proved reliable for after he took a few steps toward her the young woman stood up and turned around, slipping away from the window enough to make sure she couldn't be pushed out but she stayed close enough so people could still look up and see her. She had been learning.
"So you've agreed to my email! Wonderful, let the games begin," the mysterious man said with his smirk glowing darkly with his pearly white teeth. Kiri furrowed her brows, not knowing what he was talking about and not wanting to at the same time.
"What are you talking about, Alexander…"
"How many times must I tell you, Kiri," her name was like a purr on his lips, which only made her shudder in disgust, "that you are to call me by my proper name; Axel Anthony Alexander."
"That's too long to bother with." Yawning rather loudly, her mouth opening wide as her hand slipped up toward her face, she couldn't help but close her eyes; bad choice. Within moments Axel had her pinned up against the wall, one arm on both sides of her, and his face was getting exceedingly closer to hers. Pushing back against the wall as well as she could, Kiri looked up at him with her normal indifferent look but her fingers tensioned on the wall. She was use to this game too much to run; she knew it would just get worse if she ran. His lips were moments away from hers when the door began to rattle.
"What the heck! Something's blocking the door!"
"Ugh, it's probably Axel trying to get high or something."
"Hah, trying? He's always high!" Two voices, one female and the other male, echoed into the room from behind the door. The very conversations made Axel smirk before he moved his arms off the wall and took a step back. Kiri did the foolish thing and stood up straighter, thinking he was over. It was far from it. She had leaned forward slightly to get off the wall and seconds later his large hands were curved over her shoulders and she was pushed into the wall rather forcefully. Before she even had a chance to breath, Alex Anthony Alexander forced her to take his lips in a powerful kiss that had her cringing. As the door raddled again he let her go, even going as far as to thrust her onto the grown and laugh as he went to un-jam the door. Ignoring the fact that her eyes were slightly watery, Kiri got up and wiped off her mouth before she went to the back of the room and sat down, knowing no matter where she goes he would just be waiting to bother her.
As if on cue, the moment he stepped away from the door and turned to stand near Kiri both metal doors rushed open and a young pair, who obviously had been leaning against the door, fell forward and face-planted the red carpeted floor. Kiri never got a chance to see who was there because when her eyes lifted from the desk they were tracing Axel's arms, since he had put both hands on the desk and was leaning forward. She suddenly felt trapped as she noticed his hands were on her arm as he got up and leaned forward, putting pressure in sensitive areas. The grin on his lips showed he knew what he was doing; he was trying to break her arms!
"Axel…Axel…AXEL!" a shrill voice drifted in from the doorway until everyone had to turn and look toward the only reason they were all there. Alisa Ortiz, daughter to the leading star in the play Annabel Ortiz, was standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips and her upper body bent forward. She had long, curly brown hair that was pulled back into pigtails and tied with red ribbon, which matched her earrings and necklace. She also had piercing blue eyes that were burning with her anger at the moment. Alex Anthony Alexander seemed only amused and scoffed before leaning even harder on Kiri's arms, making her gasp out in pain at last. "Leave her alone Axel!" Out of all the other people, which there were only five people in the room at all, she was the only one who ever stood up for Kiri. She was also the one who always had the perfect timing.
Axel was about to get up and say something smart to her, or maybe push her around a bit since she was a good 15cm taller than her at least, but she hallow sound of heals clicking stopped the plan. Alisa smirked and tilted her head up as she pushed back Axel and walked over to Kiri, taking a spot beside her. Today she had on a pale blue dress with a white jacket and white boots and, as always, she looked like some sort of doll Chisami would have. A small smirk curved the side of Kiri's lip at the thought. Yeah, Alisa was definitely a doll for Chisami. She basically figured if the two girls ever met they'd hit it off without a problem.
As the clicking of heals continued Axel went into his seat, behind Kiri, as the other two-who had been keeping to themselves in the corner- took to sitting beside Alisa. The first, a young redhead with Lolita styled pigtail clipped up with red barrettes, was named Jezebel Fischer, an actress in the current play who still had to attend some of the 'school' while on set. Beside her was a blonde haired boy with bright green eyes and a few pale freckles on his pale skin. His name was Marcus Tamblen and he was an actor alongside Jezebel, which thankfully he got along great with her so they never had to bicker much. Both were dressed in beautiful, top of the line clothes that definitely would have made them stand out, even here. In fact, everyone in this room stood out for one reason or another.
Alisa stood out merely for the length of her hair and the piercing stare of her eyes, a stare that could literally make you blood run cold. Kiri stood out for the fact that she still dressed like a boy, even though over the past year she had started to develop more-though not much more- and could pull the look off pretty well. Jezebel and Marcus stood out because that's what they aimed for. Perhaps the one who stood out the most was Axel, simply because he looked like someone who, if they stood still long enough, could disappear into a shadow at any given time. A lot of people on the set were afraid of him-and with good reason. He was the son of not only the Director but the Producer, meaning everyone worked for his father. Don't do what he wants, you don't keep your job; as simple as that. The only person who didn't work for his father was the teacher, who worked for Alisa's mother.
The doors opened once again and a middle aged woman, with dirty blond hair mixed with a few strands of gray, entered dressed in a green dress suit, looking as if she were ready for a battle. With this small bunch of kids it was likely to be just that. Without a word she went to the board and began writing quickly, setting the overlay of today's lesson. Every day of the week she taught these children, meaning they were quiet ahead of any one in America and, mainly because Emi had slipped in and spoke with her, they were a bit ahead of Japan as well, though really only Kiri was since she was given extra work.
"Alright, today we'll be focusing on drawing." Kiri looked up and groaned out loud.
