Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat!
Gate of Heaven
Chapter 02
Lory told Ren about Mogami involvement as an actress who play Himeko just after he agreed to accept the role of Kyoshi. Then he told about the deal which offered by Amagami Corps.
He said that he had no objection to the deal and Amagami Corps. itself because Kyoko accepted that role happyly-no matter how compromising the offer and the company were. But he did not like, never like, Amagami family which behind Amagami Corps. So he asked Ren to keep Kyoko with caution and alert.
Despite all his own problems—including those which related to a particular honey-eyed girl, Ren was the only person who was capable to watch over Kyoko without arousing Amagami's suspicion. Ren knew that and he saw Lory's sincerity in worrying Kyoko. Hence, he swallowed his own frustration of having to act in romantic scene with his one sided love which should not be known by anyone—especially by the girl in question, for himself.
Since then, Ren did some sort of investigation about Amagami Corps. and Amagami family. There was little online-information about Amagami Corps., and zero information about Amagami family. Almost all the information he got were stories which circulated among people.
Amagami Corps. was established two years ago only by business capabilities and connections of its founder and current CEO, Kasuga Hikaru. During that time, Amagami Corps. had been growing rapidly and moving in many fields so that had become one of current big companies that lead Japan's economy. Currently, the company expanded into the entertainment world.
While Amagami family was a traditional main family of an ancient family that had once centered in Kyoto. It's family's center has been moved to Edo (now Tokyo) since the Tokugawa era. This nobel family was able to survive until nowdays because it never showed itself in public or involved in political affair-although according to gossip, a lot of branches family's members engaged in various scope of work and founded companies in various fields.
In other words, they seemed normal and harmless enough for a large company which led by a genius and an ancient noble families who refused to use its influence.
Ren clenched his fist. All those information weren't relieving enough for him. If Lory's hunch was right—and it usually was right, there's no reason for Ren to loosen his guard.
Today was the first day of promo poster's shooting for the Gate of Heaven. According to the plan, all of the main cast would meet for the first time and there would be representative of Amagami Corps. overseeing the shooting. Haruka Yumeno must be come, and there was possibility of Kasuga or Wakamiya would attend—if he's lucky, both of they might come.
Ren stepped into the studio. In the studio, he saw Aoyama-san, the director of photography who also would become director of their movie. He was talking seriously with a slender girl with straight black hair.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw Kyoko was talking to a sweet curly-brown-haired girl. Ren recognized her as Yumeno Haruka—when he investigated about Amagami, Ren also investigated about that actress whose name was skyrocketed since three years ago. Then Ren saw Kyoko laughed. Cheerful face of his one-sided-love-over-year melted his heart.
Ren sighed heavily. This was his first opportunity to survey his 'battle' field, and he couldn't waste that opportunity, but he was distracted in the first second he saw his personal interesting-creature.
Yashiro grinned. "Kyoko-chan looks gorgeous with her white kimono. It will be difficult to concentrate on director's and photographer's direction when they take your intimate pictures with her. Aren't those right, Ren? "
Ren refrained himself for face palmed. He almost forgot the joker ¬ which is still referred to himself as his manager. "So, Mogami-san is already here? That's good, " he pretended not to know.
Yashiro scowled and grumbled in a whisper. "You need more to pay attention, you know? Or you should not protest when Kyoko was captured by others. For example, by a young man who keep watching her from behind Haru-chan. "
Ren turned to his manager, then to Kyoko. Surely, behind the girl who spoke to Kyoko, a young slender brunette leaning on the side of table while occasionally watching Kyoko. Ren realized that teenage boy was more often paying attention on Yumeno-san and that young man was not Fuwa, but the young man made him nervous, in a different way Fuwa did. The young man made his stomach feels frozen.
Ren ensured his eyes met Kyoko's eyes before he walked over to Aoyama-san.
"Good morning, Aoyama-san," said Ren with a typical Tsuruga Ren's smile.
"Oh, Ren-kun! You're early. Good morning, well, even though it was noon. You know the strangeness of this world. " The director laughed. Ren smiled politely. "Have you had lunch?" The director asked.
"Yes, I have eaten before," Ren said as he nodded. He glanced at the girl who had spoken with Aoyama-san. The girl realized his glance but ignored it. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Kyoko was walking towards them with Yumeno-san and the young man.
"Good, good. Have you met with Wakamiya-san? She is Amagami Corps's representative who will be overseeing us today. Earlier, we talked about how the first ad Gate of Heaven will be a massive aired by Fukuyama Corps. "The director stepped aside so that she could go forward and introduced herself.
"Wakamiya Tsukiyo. Nice to meet the actor who play our Kyoshi. "Without a smile, she shook his hand almost indiferrently, just showed little care in professional capacity.
"Surprised, are not you? If you don't see her by your own eyes, you won't believe that the right hand of Kasuga Hikaru is a beautiful teenage girl. I hear she makes Fukuyama agreed to finance the entire campaign without us having to put their name at the end of our movie. Do not be fooled by her appearance, Ren, or she'll make you to be a second Fukuyama, "joked Aoyama-san.
"If you follow Kasuga-san, you'd be surprised how easily people follow his will." Wakamiya's voice was flat and emotionless.
"Oh? Now you throw 'honors' to your boss, Tsukiyo? Fukuyama got something which more they want rather than the inclusion of their name at the end of this movie. And the art of negotiation—in case I have to remind you, My Comrade—is your expertise, not his. "A deep voice came from their right side. The voice was as soft as velvet.
Ren turned and found Kyoko's group already stood beside him. Kyoko bowed when greeting her senpai.
"Trying to defend a fellow Kasuga, huh, Tsukasa? Ah, not 'defend', but 'clarifiy' more precisely? " Wakamiya grinned slyly. The teenage boy who was called Tsukasa just offered his easy smile toward her. Yumeno frowned in annoyance. While Kyoko furrowed her brow.
He is Kasuga Tsukasa? Ren hid his surprise with a perfect mask. Within a year ago, Kasuga Tsukasa wrote two movie scripts and one drama script. All three of it had an interesting plot and success in market. And now Gate of Heaven.
That's not the usual teen-level skills! There are two genius Kasuga, a beautiful devil as an expert negotiator, and—assuming Yumeno as part of Amagami—one the best actress winner last year in Amagami. It wasn't hard to believe the gossip about Amagami family.
"Tsuruga Ren-san?" called the emerald green-eyed actress, "I believe this is our first meeting. I'm Yumeno Haruka who will portray Kaneda Yurika. "
The girl pulled away Kasuga from Wakamiya. "And he, is Kasuga Tsukasa. As we all know, our script writers, " she said proudly.
Although awared of the drama among the three teenagers, Ren still smiled politely and held out his hand to shake their hands. "Tsuruga Ren. I'll play Sakuragi Kyoshi. Yoroshiku. "
Yumeno blushed but Ren, being Ren, didn't interpret it as an interest. On the other hand, Kasuga immediately reached out his hand and grabbed Ren's to stop the handshake between Ren with the shoulder-length haired girl. Kyoko frown more deep.
"Minna-san, shooting will start soon. We will complete all parts of Haruka-chan first. Haruka-chan has to leave in three hours. Kyoko-kun, we'll need you in one hour later. And Ren-kun, we'll need you two hours from now. So you can relax in your room until we call you, "said Aoyama at one o'clock in the afternoon.
Kasuga withdrawed to the back of staffs, followed by Wakamiya behind him. They discussed something in a very low voice. Yumeno hug Kyoko before climbing onto the stage. Ren said goodbye then went to his waiting room to change clothes and meet his make-up artist.
As he walked away from the stage, he realized Kyoko kept staring at him. Ren stopped and turned. Kyoko, who feel caught, twitched nervously and ran toward him.
"I didn't know that you are going to play Kyoshi-sama untill just now," she said with a mixture of guilt and fear.
Ren smiled. "Takarada-san didn't know that I would accept the role when he received yours. And I forgot to warn you days before today. " He lied smoothly. Kyoko just nodded silently.
She followed Ren in silence until they reached his waiting room. The atmosphere between them had always been awkward since the night of Dark Moon last episode's celebration. And Yashiro, because he was Yashiro, awared of this and found a reason to leave the couple alone to resolve any issues between them.
"Mogami-san," called Ren after some time. Kyoko looked up and stared at Ren, trying to read his expression but not successfully concluded anything. Ren was enjoying his time, staring at the face of the girl he loved, until "You'll be here as long as I get dressed?" He asked shyly.
"NO!" Screamed Kyoko. People wouldn't expect to see a pale and blushing expression on the same face and at the same time, but Kyoko showed it as a mixture of shame, panic, and fear. Then she spoke quickly and incoherenly about 'inappropriate', 'rude', and 'shameless action'.
Although wounded by her blunt rejection, Ren couldn't help but chukled by seeing her rapidly-changing expressions. That, made Mio—who hasn't appeared fo a long good time—emerged. Ren immediately stopped his chuckles.
"Sorry, it's just ... Kyoko, please wait in your room. I will get you as I got my clothes changed and my make-up done. That is, if I do not misunderstand that there is something you want to talk about," he said. For several seconds, Kyoko stared suspiciously at her senior then she nodded in agreement and walked away.
Ren kept his words. Then they returned to Ren's waiting room as it's inappropriate for a senior to visit his junior's waiting room—Kyoko's reason.
Once the door closed, Kyoko did not waste her time.
"I can not do a love scene," confessed Kyoko bluntly. Ren was not surprised by her statement—after all, she is a LoveMe member, but he never thought that she would confess it to him of all people. Ren's waiting for her to continue because she was apparently still had something she wanted to say.
Kyoko's worrying her lower lip. "But I do not want to move according to the script just because affected by your act," she squeaked. As Ren remained silent for another minutes, a wave of panic hit Kyoko.
"I know this is a rude and inapprotiate request and I know this will disrupt the process of shooting but I want to stand equal to you as an actress rather than as your doll but I knew I couldn't do a love scene, especially with you because I'm afraid that I will become one of the legendary co-star killer's victims because I was afraid to fall in love but I do not want to retreat from this role because I wanted to help Himeko-sama so please wait until I learn quite enough with Himeko- sama although I was still scared and unsure of myself but I promise to try ... "
"Stop!" Ren commanded. Kyoko immediately stopped her barrage of requests-excuse-explanation. Ren asked her to sit on a chair that had been available in his room. She complied. Ren sat on a chair in front of her.
Kyoko prepared herself to receive Ren's anger or anything else than that she heard later.
"I understand," said Ren. Kyoko stared with wided eyes.
Ren sighed. It would be a lie, if he said that he wasn't hurt by what Kyoko revealed right at his face. But he also felt proud of her courage to face her own fears, especially of Kyoko's seriousness to clash acting with him. And Ren understoond, just like when he had struggled to find his own Katsuki, it would be very hard for Kyoko to create her own Himeko.
Ren knew that sometimes his acting was strong enough to affect his co-star's acting. But he never intended to put other people in his position as when he had to face his father years ago. " I understand. But I have to apologize if I've become a shadow that is too big for you and make you uncomfortable. I will hold my ac ..."
"You're wrong!" Kyoko protested. "I don't want you to hold your act. To me, you are the best actor and a person beyond cloud. Naturally, I would get caught more than escaped from your act. "Kyoko's face reddened.
Exactly what I was thinking about Dad. Ren smiled. His eyes met Kyoko's eyes. Then he realized, Kyoko's one-hour running low. He stood up, reminded Kyoko, and escorted her to his door.
Kyoko knew those eyes. Although Ren smiled and even the color of eyes was different, Kyoko ever was that kind of eyes before. Corn, she said gently and affectionately. She paused in the doorway.
"What will Tsuruga-san do after this? How he would respond to my acting? How should I respond to his acting? Where was up the setting he already was thinking? Did I get away from his acting? Or was I caught without realizing? "Kyoko turned to meet a pair of dark brown orbs.
"Whenever I lose Mio in the middle of a take, those questions are that saved me from NG-cut. I'm always nervous when going to compete with your acting and all those questions were spinning in my head. Because when clashing act with you, I'll know how much closer I has been from you. And it makes me happy. "
Kyoko's expression forced Ren to spontaneously close Kyoko's face from his eyes with both of his big hands. Ren felt the warm blood rose up to his face. In that position, they couldn't see each other's face. Ren desperately fought the desire to embrace the petit body before him.
-o—o—o—
Saena sneaked into current householder's room of Amagami. Without a sound, she soon opened a drawer on the right of the room. She just had fifteen minutes until she had to return to the main parlor, which room was a hundred meters from the room.
After searching for a whole minute that seemed very long, she found what she sought. A black-gauze bandaged white-magatama. Cautiously, she opened the seal which bandage it. She did not want any clan's members to feel the movement of energy due to release seal.
Once the seal was released, she felt some familiar powers were returned to her. Her body was shaking with the sudden of overflowing power again.
When the power returns was almost finished, she felt a stinging cuts on her left ankle re-established. The fugitive's symbol of Amagami, which had formed when she fled 17 years ago, was re-formed.
While the pain wasn't gone yet, a newly incision was forming in her left arm. That time, it was the symbol of punishment for people who dare to steal from Amagami's householder. Fresh blood soaked her white socks and her left arm. Saena gnashed her teeth, was holding a scream.
Inwardly she cursed and protested. She only took back her power, not stole it. It's her father, who seized the power from her as she was caught ten years ago.
She need an extra minute to clean the blood and treat her cuts—although Saena already used her healer power. However, the incision scar would remain. Despite the curse as Sinner's Symbol only occured on clan's members who possesed power, once a symbol was formed, it could never be erased.
Saena left the room as careful as she entered. Then she quickly stepped firmly along a corridor to the main parlor. Onward, she must choosed suitable clothes to hide the symbols. Or clan would know that her strength was back. That would ended up with her be locked up in there. Again.
As the memory of that place invaded her conscious, she trembled inwardly.
But things as clothes could be delayed. Now she had to cope with Fukuyama. There seemed someone had provided information about Himiko's disappearance and Tsukasa's plan to the potbellied man. Saena's sure, Tsukasa did willed it to happen. Because she knew surely that the boy could prevent it if he really wanted it.
Fukuyama asked a third of the authority of Himiko because of his 'merit'. The elders made a fuss about it and planned to get rid of the poor man forever. Greedy clients and dirty plans. Saena's already sick and decided to not care about all that.
She didn't know why Tsukasa let an event like this in his plan. But, Saena saw that the man could be used to keep Kyoko from Amagami. So, she would take him from the grip of those blood-thirsty old-crows for her own plans. At least, her plan didn't involve taking someone's life.
AN/: I re-wrote this chapter either. As in Chapter 1, I changed it from present form to past form (At least, that's what I intended to do). I hope it more understandable than before.
Enjoy it, and hope you like it.
E.C.