Being ground under Setsu's Heel
Disclaimer: I do not own SkipBeat or any of its characters.
Kyoko has completely embraced her new character as Setsu, Kain Heel's sister. But how is this new character affecting Tsuruga Ren? And what will happen when the pair of them meet up with Fuwa Sho?
Author's Note: I have been amazed and gratified at the level of response to this story. This was supposed to be a one-shot story, but enough people asked me to write more that I decided to continue. I hope that you enjoy it.
Chapter 2 – The Other Mogami
Shouko Aki didn't even try to speak to Sho after the concert. It had been a disaster. His performance was lackluster, his romantic songs were angry, and his normal "rock rebel" look had devolved into something akin to the look of a crazed maniac. Tomorrow she would try to talk with Sho, but for today she drove him to his apartment, watched him stomp into the building, and then drove away to go and find a drink.
Shouko drove to her favorite spot, a large club that featured music from different eras and offered a large dance floor. She loved to dance. Her father and mother had met on the dance floor and still danced to this day. As soon as she was old enough to walk she had danced with her parents. That had been one of her talents when she tried, unsuccessfully, to break into acting.
She wasn't sure that she wanted to dance tonight, but she did need to get her mind off of Sho. If that boy would just grow up and man-up he might still have a chance. She sighed. She liked Kyoko. The girl was strange, that was true. But she was real, honest, and sincere in everything that she did. Shouko had been so surprised when Kyoko had actually confronted Sho about Vie Ghoul. Shouko had been powerless to make the boy fight back, but a few words from Kyoko completely revived him. Not only did he revive, but in the last months he had become the powerhouse rocker of Japan, dominating the charts with a string of hit songs. If only the two young people could reconcile!
It will probably never happen. Sho's stuck in tempermental teenager-mode and Kyoko's growing up more everyday.
Shouko hadn't recognized Kyoko at first when she and that hoodlum walked by the limo that afternoon. It was her golden eyes that had given Shouko the clue. Mogami Kyoko transformed completely with each character she played, but the make-up artists had wisely left those beautiful golden eyes alone. Without Kyoko realizing it, those eyes were becoming her trademark. Shouko quickly realized that Kyoko was in-character, probably studying for some new movie or television role. Shouko remembered Sho's shock and the way that Kyoko had effortlessly destroyed her childhood friend with a single sentence. That one comment had paid Sho back in-full for the way that he had treated her.
"Shouko Aki… Miss…?" Shouko was shocked to realize that someone was trying to get her attention. She looked up into the handsome face of Yashiro, Tsuruga Ren's manager, as he held out a hand. "Would you care to dance?"
Even as Shouko was discovering a talented new dance partner and forgetting Fuwa Sho, the young man in question was wearing out his carpet stomping back and forth.
"WANABE PUNK!" Fuwa Sho shouted, "I'll show her! I'll… I'll…" But Sho was at a loss for what to do. Kyoko's words had been insulting and painful, but it was the way she had looked that had defeated him. Kyoko as the killer angel had been… captivating. Kyoko as Mio had been powerful. Kyoko as Natsue had been fascinating. But now Sho had seen Kyoko in the character of a rebel punk-girl, a rival to his own star persona, and he was lost. There had been lots of hot, beautiful girls who had come to his concerts dressed in that way. He had even had background dancers on stage who were dressed that way.
So why was it that she was having such an impact? It wasn't that she was the most beautiful woman in Tokyo… Sho snorted, far from it! But somehow she impacted his senses in a way that no other female did or could. Deep inside Sho knew that he wanted Kyoko back, but he had become too self-centered, too arrogant to admit it, even to himself.
In an effort to distract himself he flipped through the mail strewn on his table. He picked up the letter from his parents. Earlier in the day he had read the last paragraph, scoffed, and thrown it down. He had been amazed at the audacity of that woman for approaching his parents. He couldn't believe that that woman would actually request him to endorse her company. After all of these years! After the way she talked to me and about me! After the way she treated…
Sho had started walking in circles again, but when the sudden thought sprang into his head he stopped so quickly that he almost fell over. So, she wants me to endorse her company? I wonder just how far she would be willing to go for that endorsement?
An evil smile spread across Fuwa Sho's face that would have made the Grinch envious.
It was Kyoko's turn to be in agony now. How could I have allowed myself to do that! How could I have allowed myself to act so… casually with Tsuruga-sempai!
As she writhed on her bed she recalled every time that she had touched and even hugged Tsuruga Ren during the day. Of course she was in her character as Setsu and she was responding to him as her big brother Kain, but still… The poor man! What must he think of me, acting like that?
Kyoko knew that Tsuruga Ren only tolerated her because he felt it was his responsibility to help her grow as a talent. The tall actor was a professional who seemed to care about LME almost as much as Takarada Lory did. Tsuruga-san even made regular stops in the LoveMe section just so that he could offer advice and guide the three fledgling actresses.
Chiori Amamiya liked to tease that Tsuruga Ren was only stopping in to see Kyoko, but Kyoko knew the truth. He spends so much time with me because I need the most guidance. He is trying to keep me from being an embarrassment to LME.
How could I actually hug him! Oh, the poor man! He must have been really disgusted! But as Kyoko lay there and squirmed, she relived those casual touches, those hugs. They were supposed to be sisterly… but those hugs had felt so… nice. Kyoko tried to berate herself even as she lay there hugging her pillow.
Don't think that way! Don't even try to think that way, girl. You'll just get hurt again. He won't ever think of you that way…
But as she fell asleep, Kyoko kept seeing the way that the murderous expression on Kain Heel's face turned tender whenever he looked down at her.
She took her seat in first class as if it were her own personal throne. She was regal and powerful, even if time and overwork had stolen some of the blush from her younger beauty. Men used to flock to her, but now they tended to feel intimidated by her. They should feel that way, she told herself. She had worked tirelessly her entire life, devoting every minute to making her company successful.
The only glitch in her life had been a moment of carelessness resulting in that annoying brat. Maybe it would have been different if her daughter had been beautiful like she was. Maybe if the girl had shown even one speck of talent, she might have been interested in her.
And she had been so clingy! That annoying girl had followed her around all of the time wanting to be petted and praised for some insignificant accomplishment or other. Oh sure, the girl had been smart enough. She got good grades and she was never in trouble with the teachers. She was also a hard worker, which her mother appreciated because she didn't have to force the girl to clean her room or do the dishes. But she was so plain, so common, that a mother couldn't really be expected to care about her, now could she?
It had been a blessing when the Fuwa family had taken an interest in the girl. Fuwa Mina had practically adopted the little girl, teaching her the duties of an okami. Saena hadn't minded. She had been more than happy to have somebody else take responsibility for the girl so that she could devote herself to building her business.
And then the little brat had made life even easier for her mother by running off with that Fuwa brat. Now that is funny! Even though she didn't like the little punk, she had to admit that he was handsome and talented. She had always been amused that her plain little daughter had followed the boy around like a devoted puppy. Kyoko hadn't even understood that the little punk could snap his fingers and have twenty girls falling all over themselves to please him. Did she really believe that he wanted her?
Which is why Mogami Saena couldn't understand the one condition Fuwa Sho had attached to his endorsement of her company. Oh well, if that's what he really wants. It's about time that Kyoko pays me back for all of the trouble I had in raising her.
Ren tried to act casual as he waited outside of the Kyoko's dressing room while the makeup and costume artists worked their magic. In just a few moments Setsu Kain would walk out of that room, and his day of exquisite torture would begin again. Every sound made him look at that door, and his manager smirked when he caught the movement.
Ren was dressed as Kain Heel this morning. Takarada had insisted that he and Kyoko spend another day in-character to "firm-up" their roles. Ren knew perfectly well that Lory the Schemer was once again playing with his two favorite toys. He was relatively sure that Lory was writing a role-playing romance game with himself and Kyoko as the main characters.
He heard Yashiro humming quietly and glared over at his magager. "You seem to be unusually happy this morning, Yashiro," Ren grumbled.
Yashiro smiled, "I spent the evening dancing with a beautiful woman."
"Do I know her?" Ren asked, as much to distract himself from thinking about Kyoko then from curiosity.
Yashiro's smile became strained. He was glad that Ren glanced toward the door at that moment. He knew that Fuwa Sho was the only other person besides Kyoko who could break through Ren's urban exterior. Even the mention of Sho's name could cause Ren to turn on that cold and murderous look. I'll wait and see if Shouko Aki will see me again before I let Ren know.
Just then the door did open and Yashiro didn't have to worry about Ren anymore. The tall man sat up straight, never taking his eyes off of Kyoko as he fought to school the expression on his face. Yashiro smiled, That boy is a lost cause.
Kyoko was Setsu again, with that cold, disdainful look for everyone except for Kain. Yashiro had only seen her once in this new outfit, and only for a moment. As she walked toward the two men Yashiro saw her new walk and gulped. Then he looked up at his tall friend. He could see Ren's face twitching even as he inhaled deeply, Oh boy, Ren. You are in sooo much trouble.
Setsu greeted Yashiro off-handedly, but she smiled up at her brother. "Good morning, Onii-chan. Did you have breakfast?"
Kain adopted his dangerous, silent persona and nodded, but Setsu saw right through it. Her friendly smile faded, "Did you skip breakfast, Kain?"
Kain tried to glare back at her, but she held his eyes until he finally sighed, and nodded. She took a threatening step forward, "Baka, Come with me."
Yashiro smirked and shook his head as the small, sexy, punked-out girl led the tall, dangerous looking man away toward the cafeteria.
Ren meekly followed close to Kyoko because walking close kept him from staring inappropriately at her. Of course, that didn't prevent all of the other males in LME from looking. Ren was glaring at a middle-aged office worker who was staring for a little too long when Ren suddenly crashed into Kyoko.
"What… why'd you stop?" Ren had grabbed Kyoko's shoulders as he tried to keep himself from falling. He felt her tremble under his hands and he stepped to her side so that she could see her face. Setsu was gone, and a very bewildered-looking Kyoko was staring across the room. Ren followed her gaze to see a coldly-beautiful older woman in a business suit standing in the lobby.
"What's wrong, Mogami-san? Do you know her?"
Kyoko's eyes were confused and she seemed to have become timid, "That woman is my mother."