Quick Note:I couldn't find the names of the roles Moko and Hio play so I just found some manga names in the adds for other manga in the backs of some of mine. -- Hio's role Takuya -- Moko's role Sachie
Love Me Days
-Chapter 2-
"Was that my parents?"
"Yes. They're running late because of this storm, they called to ask me if I would stay the night and keep an eye on you."
"Terrific."
"Awe, come on, we can have lots of fun. I'll even let you stay up and watch a movie, just as long as you smile and start thinking positively. The world has got enough negativity in it without you adding to it."
Hio couldn't hold it in any longer, he burst out into fits of laughter ending the scene and forcing the director to shout "Cut!" at everyone.
Moko sighed, she knew the line was corny but it wasn't like she wrote it. Hio's inability to do the scene seriously was really starting to rack her nerves. It was both annoying and depressing all at the same time. A good actress knows how to keep going, even with mistakes. She should have just gone along with the laughter and improvised as if it was Takuya's reaction in the script and not Hio's.
"What is Hio's problem anyways? He is supposed to be a professional, he should be able to get through a whole scene before he looses it, not directly in the middle. Kids."
"Hey Kanae," Hio spoke up slowly recovering from his fit of laughter, "Don't you think the script for this scene stinks?"
Kanae turned to look at him. He was watching her carefully from his seat on the blue sofa. He flicked his bangs absentmindedly as he waited for her to reply.
"Yes, I guess. I mean it does seem an odd thing for Sachie to say to Takuya. She would already know why he is depressed and just want to distract him, or get him to open up about it," Kanae worked her thoughts on the scene aloud.
"Exactly!" Hio smiled up at her gesturing wildly. "That's my problem with this whole scene. How can we make this scene seem real with a script like this? It's so stupid."
"Alright Everyone!" the director shouted on set, interrupting them. "We're going to take an early break, but I want everyone back and ready to shoot by 2:00! I want to see Uesugi and Kotonami before you break."
Hio and Kanae exchanged a glance that quickly filled with dread.
"Did he really have to make an announcement like that, couldn't he just walk over to us. We are on the set here in plain sight." Hio grumbled as he stood up from the couch and followed along side Kanae over to the director who was waiting with his assistant and one of the writer's.
- - - - - - - - - -
Kyoko hit the elevator button with her elbow since her arms were full of scripts and one large brown package addressed to the president herself. Unfortunately, when she received it she was told to deliver it before anything else. She was struggling under the weight but she forced herself to concentrate on her job and not the pain just as she had learned to do as a child when she helped at Shotaru's parent's hotel.
"I wonder what kind of costume the president will be wearing today…" Kyoko's thoughts drifted as she waited.
Kyoko stopped imagining elaborate prince costumes when two women came face to face with her as the elevator doors appeared on the president's floor.
"Oh, excuse us," They said politely stepping out of the way for Kyoko. Normally Kyoko would bow to thank them, but because she had her arms full, she just bent her head down with her thanks as she walked out and to the secretary's desk.
"Um, excuse me. I have a package here for the president. I was told to deliver it right away," Kyoko explained to the woman sitting behind the desk. She was bent over her desk filling out paperwork and without even glancing up at Kyoko she waved her in.
Kyoko hesitated but then realizing the woman was not going to do or say anything else to her she went straight into the president's office.
If Kyoko didn't know the president had an eccentric side, she would have been surprised by the large office, with décor that seemed to change almost as often as the president's costumes. She quickly noted that the president was on the speakerphone so she slowed her steps so she wouldn't interrupt.
"Well, I just thought I should warn you he's on his way, probably means to surprise you. This way you'll be prepared." The president spoke up, but because his back was turned Kyoko couldn't actually see him.
"Gee thanks," a young woman's voice replied to the president. Kyoko didn't believe the voice.
The president suddenly turned his chair and noticed Kyoko, who jumped slightly at his action. He smiled.
"I have to go my dear, I've got a delivery to see about," he said clicking off the phone before the person on the other end could reply.
Kyoko couldn't help but gawk at the president and his overly shiny matador costume, complete with a cape draped over his left arm.
"Ms. Mogami how nice to see you. You can bring that package here please." he gestured for her to come forward.
"Yes sir," she replied as she coupled with his request.
"I'm so excited!" he admitted with a child like look of anticipation to the box as she set it down in front of him.
Kyoko couldn't help her own curiosity about the contents of the box. She wondered to herself if it was rude to stay and see what the president was so excited about.
If the president had minded, she was sure he would ask her to leave, but he didn't so she stayed.
He pulled out a brass letter opener inlayed with rubies on the handle from his desk drawer and opened the box. Kyoko's curiosity was put on hold as she only saw the packing material on top. The president stuck his hands down in the box and pulled up two short stacks of paperback books, which Kyoko quickly realized were manga.
"Only five, that's disappointing…" Lori commented aloud. He wasn't aware Kyoko was still in the room until she make a soft squeaking sound of recognition of the manga title.
"That's the manga Mr. Matsushima gave me!"
It didn't take Lori long to recover from finding himself still with company.
"Yes, I know. It was a very exciting bit of news last night when the mangaka expressed her interest in you for her main character. I had him pull together everything he could to get you informed about the part for when we get the rights to the manga series."
"When do you think you'll know if you get them?" Kyoko asked curiously. She was still new to the showbiz scene and wasn't aware of all the technical stuff that dealt with the legal parts of the business. She had tried to take some notes from Mr. Yashiro once, but most of the stuff he talked about just confused her more.
"Oh, I'm not sure. I'm hoping after this Monday and Tuesday she'll be more inclined to want to negotiate with us, but one can never predict the offers other production companies will make."
That wasn't the helpful type answer Kyoko had been expecting, and her face mirrored her disappointment.
"Something wrong?" the president asked observing her.
"Nope, nothing at all. Sorry Mr. President, I really shouldn't be standing here when I have other files and mail to deliver." She bowed and turned to the door to leave.
"Wait a moment Ms. Mogami," the president called to her, "Thank you for delivering this to me, I appreciate the care in which you took bringing it here. May I see you Love Me section notebook please," he held out his hand with a strange beaming smile.
Kyoko reached into her pocket, produced the heart shaped notepad, and watched in odd silence as the president used his stamps to give her a 100-percent mark for her delivery service. All Kyoko could do as he handed it back to her was smile as she bowed her gratitude before she left to finish the rest of her errands.
"Traffic seems to be terrible today," Yashiro observed as he flipped through Ren's schedule book.
"No more than usual," Ren replied stoically staring straight ahead waiting for the light to turn so he could go. Yashiro eyed him suspiciously out of the corner of his eye. There was an odd moment of silence in the car until Ren seemed to sense Yashiro's gaze and turned toward him. Immediately Yashiro turned away and seemed too into the view out of his window for Ren not to be suspicious.
The light turned green.
"Whatever he's thinking, it's obviously not that important or he would have said something already. But he is acting rather strange." Ren thought to himself as he focused back on the road.
- - - - - - - - - -
Kyoko couldn't believe her luck as she skipped down the hall. She had been given a memo and mail package addressed to Kanae which meant she could finally get to see her acting in the drama she's been acting in with that boy Hio. Kyoko still thought Hio liked Moko, but they hadn't talked about it any since she had spent the day at Kanae's home. Not that it was all that important now that Hio wasn't causing trouble for Moko on set.
Kyoko wasn't paying much attention to where she was going so when she turned a corner she ended up smacking into someone else coming from the opposite direction.
"Ow, watch it!" Hio complained steadying himself. Kyoko bent over in an embarrassed bow and apologized. Their eyes met.
"What are you doing here!" Hio shouted jumping back while he had his arm out pointing at her as if she'd done something horrible.
Kyoko wasn't sure what to think of his reaction.
"I'm doing work, I've got some important memos to give Moko." she explained, "Do you know where she is?"
Hio looked back over his shoulder and then back at her with a weary expression on his face.
"I don't think she wants to be bothered right now, we're sort of in trouble with the director and she's not in the best of moods."
"What!? What happened?" Kyoko asked feeling the instant urge to save Moko from the evil director making her miserable. Her demons were already spouting forth and their aura was empowering her spirit. Hio observed her for a moment and decided it wasn't a big deal discussing it with her, she was Kanae's friend after all.
"We've been having some trouble with a scene that we've been filming all morning. The dialogue isn't working for either of us and the whole situation seems way to artificial. It just doesn't feel natural. When we kept messing it up, the director cut and sent the rest of the crew to an early lunch. We have had to stay and work on the scene, because the director and one of the writers said if we couldn't come up with a better scene ourselves, than we should perform the scene that has already been written for us. I thought it just meant that because we are the actors he didn't want us questioning the script and writers. But Kanae took his words entirely differently. She actually wants to come up with a new scene and perform it for them once everyone comes back from break. I tried to convince her not to so she won't get into trouble, but she wouldn't listen. So she's back there trying to think of a better scene-"
"And why aren't you back there trying to help her out?" Kyoko asked darkly giving him a slight glare. Hio's eyes widened.
"Hey, don't look at me like that, I tried to talk her out of it because I think it is a horrible idea!"
"No it's not!" Kyoko objected, though she wasn't entirely sure. "Come on, we're going back there and give her all the help she can get so that you two will have a scene to blow that evil director away!" She shouted with a determined look on her face as she grabbed hold of Hio's arm and dragged him back into the studio.
"Evil?" Hio thought as he let himself be dragged. He thought that was harsh considering it was him who hadn't been able to get through the scene once, but he wasn't about to tell that to Kyoko while she was acting like this. He kept quiet as he took over the lead since Kyoko had no clue where to go. They had to walk behind and around several sets before they found Kanae pacing back and forth softly speaking to herself.
"MOKO! We're here to help! We'll help you triumph and slay the evil director that's been enslaving you both!" Kyoko shouted as soon as she saw her friend. Kanae stopped and turned around completely stunned. Obviously, Kyoko had let her imagination run wild while Hio had brought her to find Moko. Kanae and Hio stared at her, speechless, as she held her confident pose, she really looked like she meant every word about taking the director down. Which was a slightly scary thought for the other two. Kanae found her voice and couldn't help how stunned she sounded.
"What are you talking about, and why are you even here?" she asked looking from Hio to Kyoko, hoping for a quick and sane response.