Chapter 02: Faltering

Kyoko walked to the edge of the curb, holding her sweater tightly around her small form. Her grasp grew stronger, until her knuckles started changing colors. Closing her eyes, she tried to take deep breathes to calm her nerves. Her lids ached as the dam of tears threatened release once more. Kyoko could feel a powerful shriek working its way up her throat but she held her breath and tried to force herself to calm down. After a few moments of suffocation, she exhaled coughing. Ragged spurts of air trickled into her lungs making her chest burn. Opening her eyes, she slowly turned towards the towering glass building which had been her sanctuary for the past five years.

Her first day here was the night that she had married Sho. She still remembered how anxious she had felt about their wedding night—the nervous butterflies and the exhilaration of lying with the man she had loved for so long. Sho had unlocked the door. Then he swept her off her feet insisting on carrying her over the threshold. As he carried her in, the atmosphere took her breath away. There were white candles everywhere, along with large bouquets of red roses. White and red petals decorated the barren hardwood floors. It was such a magical evening.

The painful memory of their first time together seared across her heart like fiery coal. Was that all a lie as well, Shotaro? "Why," she whispered. "Why did you have to do this to me?" Large teardrops began to run down her face, warming her cold skin. "I wish I never married you… "

Feeling a flourish of emotions starting to overwhelm her again, Kyoko broke into a run. She ran as hard and as fast she could, without a care as to her destination so long as it carried her far away from this hell that would haunt her nights to come. The world around her quickly became a blur of lights and blobs of people as her eyes flooded relentlessly. Kyoko tried to concentrate on the people, but eventually they all merged into one mutated form. Roughly shoving shoulders with a passing man, she could hear him shouting and cursing at her fleeing back. Many more similar curses chased her down the streets until her lungs burned with agony.

When she finally slowed down and eventually came to a complete halt, she hunched forward gasping for air. Her heart started to slow its pace and she forced herself to stand up straight. Seeing bright lights out of the corner of her eyes, she turned towards the source and noticed that her destination ended up being her home away from home—LME. Sighing with relief, she walked through the double doors and leaned against them after they closed behind her. The warmth inside was a welcome comfort against the harsh winter night. Pressing her head back against the glass, Kyoko closed her eyes and felt every last bit of energy instantly leave her. Her knees shook and she crumbled to the floor. Sitting there with parted lips, breathing softly Kyoko pictured Sho's teary-eyed plead for her to stay with him. An ink of guilt started to cloud her judgment as her lids became very heavy. She tried to open her eyes again but they held tightly glued as one. Eventually she began to tilt to the side until she was horizontal. The burdens of her evening started to lift as the welcoming darkness absorbed her consciousness.

As the elevator chimed, a man with long tasseled brown hair stepped off, yawning graciously. Clad in simple blue jeans, a black cotton t-shirt and matching chucks, he looked down at the script in his hands. He flipped through a couple of scenes and smirked at the dark humor in the lines. After another minute, he flipped it shut and then looked up. His green eyes broadened as his heart skipped. Stopping in his tracks, he slipped his bag off his shoulder. "Kyoko?" He said quietly. Tossing the script atop the bag, he jogged over to her and knelt beside her. "Kyoko," he said louder, placing his hand upon her shoulder. Shaking her lightly, he saw her scrunch her eyes with discomfort. He gently pulled the actress into his arms and fingered her hair from her face. Her cheeks were moist and icy to the touch. "Kyoko, can you hear me?" He continued shaking her again. The only response he received this time was a soft moan. "Kyoko!"

"No… Sho…," Kyoko whispered trying to shove away from the man. "Let me go…" She shakily lifted her hand to his shoulders and shoved again. But the effort required too much energy and suddenly she fell limp and unresponsive.

"Okay babe, hold on." He answered kindly. Slipping his free hand behind her knees, the actor heaved her off the floor. He gently tilted her head onto his shoulder and then turned around, heading back to the elevators, which chimed again releasing another figure.

"What are you still doing here?" The younger man said. He had black hair and hazel eyes dressed in a similar casual fashion. "Whoa, who is she?" he asked stepping up beside the duo.

"Kino, I'm glad that you're here. Can you please grab my stuff and follow me?" He felt Kyoko stirring in his arms. Looking down he noticed that the furrow of her brows wrinkled further as if she was in severe agony. He then looked back to his comrade. "Come on, we should hurry."

Nodding, Kino quickly obliged and then followed his senior into the elevator. "Which floor Kijima-san?"

"President's," Kijima replied. Looking from the digital display to Kyoko's face he felt his heart lurch. "What happened to you?" he whispered softly, admiring the tear streaks and pale complexion.

Noticing the fascination, Kino also looked down at the actress. Suddenly his eyes widened. "Wait… Isn't she Kyoko? The country's biggest celebrity?" His voice was filled with disbelief and excitement. He looked up at Kijima and found him staring with warning-full eyes. "I'm sorry," he mumbled quickly. "You can trust me Kijima-san. It's just unusual to find her like this, no?"

"That's an understatement, my friend." Kijima replied thinking of what his girlfriend would when she found out. "I wonder why she's here in such a way."

"Do you know her well?"

Kijima looked into those hazel eyes and smiled sadly. "Yeah actually. She's my girlfriend's best friend."

Kanae slipped out of her robe and draped it along the edge of her bed. Wearing a light pink cotton nightie she slipped in between the sheets, turned off the light and then slid down drowning in fluffy pillows. As she closed her eyes contentedly, a loud ringing startled her. Cursing, she pushed herself back into a sitting position, grabbed her phone off the nightstand and looked to see who the nuisance could be. "Why are you calling me?" she mumbled, irritated. She slid her finger across the bottom and answered rudely. "What?"

"Finally you pick up," a desperate male voice snapped to her. Her eyes widened as she felt the urgency that filled his tone. "Is Kyoko with you?" Feeling confused by his question, Kanae felt a deep sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"No, why would she be?"

"We…" Sho began but couldn't find the right words as he held her ring in his hand. Sitting on the edge of his bed he leaned back and placed his head upon the satin pillows. "We had a fight and she left."

The sinking feeling started turning to an awkward feeling of dread. "She left?" Kanae glanced to the clock on her nightstand. Her heart clenched. "At this time of night? You let her leave? What's the matter with you?"

"Look, I don't need to be yelled at like a fucking child!" Sho shouted. "I just need to find my wife, okay?! Are you going to help me or not?"

Kanae was stunned by his attitude. He must be stressed to death with concern for her. Mentally cursing herself for being so insensitive, she sighed. "I'm on my way." Her reply was sharp. She quickly disconnected the call and slid out of her comfortable sanctuary.

"Mo, what the hell happened to you?" She muttered as she fumbled around her closet for clothes. Settling on jeans and navy blue tank top, the actress hastily changed. Fetching her tennis shoes from under the bed, she put them on and tied them tightly. Exiting the bedroom, she snatched her keys off the counter and coat from the barstool as she passed the kitchen and headed out of the lavish apartment.

Once she was safely in the elevators, her phone rang. Seeing that it was Kijima, she smiled and answered sweetly. "Hey handsome."

"I'm sorry to wake you beautiful."

She froze. His voice sounded as equally as anxious as Sho's. "This is about Kyoko isn't it?"

"How did you know? Did she leave you a message or something?"

Kanae sighed. "No. Fuwa called me a few minutes ago. Did you find her?"

Kijima remained silent as he pondered the inquiry. "You can say that she found us, actually. We're at LME. Do you have any idea what's going on?"

Kanae shook her head intuitively. "I wish I did, but I don't. The only thing that he told me was that they fought and she left. She's not hurt is she?"

"Honestly, I don't think she's physically hurt, but I can't be sure. She was unconscious when I found her. Takarada-san called over a private physician who just got here. When he's done taking a look we'll know for sure. You should probably find your way here. I bet she's going to need you."

"Done, I'm on my way now. Did you want to call Sho or should I?" The elevator doors opened on the ground floor. She stepped off and walked out of the apartment building heading east towards LME. When he didn't answer her, she felt her heart clench again. "Hide, tell me what's the matter?"

Again, he sighed. "I'm not sure, but I don't think it's a good idea for him to come down here. When I found her, she seemed like she wanted to get away from him."

Kanae didn't like the sound of this at all. "He's a mess babe."

"Then let me take care of him."

"As you wish. I'll be there soon."

"I love you. And be safe, please."

Kanae smiled. "I love you too. I promise I will."