Roses Are Red
Kyoko barely noticed as the inspector leaned forward and gently took the paper back. She heard the sound of the plastic sliding between her fingers but was too numb to feel it. The inspector called her name sharply, his voice hitting her like a physical blow and her head snapped up reflexively.
"Sorry, what?"
He smiled patiently, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I said we believe this crime was committed by an unstable fan. Hiyama-san has not yet regained consciousness and all we have to go on at the moment is the doctor's analysis of the angle of the blows and such. We can't rule out either gender, though it's most likely a male, tall and physically strong. Do you remember meeting a fan like that recently?"
Kyoko shook her head slowly. "I don't have any fans."
"I'm very much afraid you have at least one, Mogami-san." Inspector Satoshi said with a wry twist of his lips.
"Do you really think someone could have done something like this because of me?" she asked, hands clasped and desperately wanting the answer to be no.
"Yes." Satoshi said mercilessly. "But you mustn't blame yourself for the actions of others. I'm sorry to have asked so many difficult questions, but we have to follow every possible avenue of investigation. Please take extra care until this man is caught."
"Yes sir, I will. Um, is Hiyama-san going to be alright?"
"I'm told she should make a full recovery, but it won't be quick. Here's my card; don't hesitate to call if you come across any new information that could help. Even if it seems silly or too trivial to mention, I want to know."
She took the card distractedly and put it away in her bag. She tried to stand as the two officers made to take their leave but her legs mutinied halfway through the procedure and she would have fallen in a rubbery heap if not for a strong arm snaking around her waist.
"Careful, you've had a shock." Ren said gently, pulling her back against his chest. "Here, sit down for a while." he added, tightening his hold briefly before letting his arm drop to take her hand instead and tried to guide her to the nearest seat.
She smiled at his concern but stepped away to stand on her own, willing her muscles in to a more rigid state. "I'm fine, really. I can't just fall to pieces and rely on you every time something bad happens." she said, stretching her smile until her face hurt in an effort to instil confidence.
Ren sighed and looked like he wanted to reply but a loud cough distracted them both from further discussion. Kyoko turned to find the inspector regarding her with a raised brow and a trace of a wry smile.
"Thank you for your time, Mogami-san." Satoshi said once he had her full attention. "Be careful, and be sure to call if anything relating to this case happens."
Kyoko nodded and bowed a farewell as he and his lieutenant left the office. The latter had not uttered a word, she belatedly realised, but had scribbled on his notepad throughout the entire interview. The squawk of a parrot startled her from her musings.
"You're leaving early today so Ren will be unable to take you home. I'll arrange a driver for you. I would do that much for anyone in LME unlucky enough to find themselves in this situation so do not feel you are being a bother. I want you to promise me that you will not travel anywhere alone until this case is resolved." the president said, his voice and face so serious despite his attire that she agreed automatically.
"I'll give you a ride in tomorrow morning." Ren's tone brokered no disagreement and Kyoko found herself unable to even try as she met his gaze. He took a pace closer, hovering just on the edge of invading her personal space and hesitantly reached out to give her arm a quick squeeze. "I know you don't want to be a burden, but please indulge me. Call me when you get home, I'll only worry if you don't and that might affect my work."
"Okay." she murmured and he gave her arm another squeeze.
Yashiro appeared beside them, prompting both to take a step away from each other. "Sorry Ren, we're going to be late for your shoot if we don't get going." He really did look apologetic.
"Ah! I'm late for Sawara-san!" Kyoko cried as she noted the time. "Thank you very much!" she called over her shoulder to the president as she bolted from his office.
After four hours of chaperoning an excitable idol, Kyoko was finally able to leave for the day. The Okami-san of the Darumaya had asked her to help out during the afternoon rush today and Kyoko had not even thought to refuse as the kindly soul rarely asked anything of her.
She had a few trepidations about what sort of transport the president might provide her, but she had come to the conclusion that she should not be ungracious and would be happy with anything that was not pink, gold or longer than thirty feet. He had sent her the license plate number, but nothing more and she couldn't help but remain dubious until she'd seen it.
If she ever got away from Sanada Ryuma she could look for herself and end her misery. The idol was very limpid-like and found everything fascinating, not least of all Kyoko. He professed to be an avid watcher of Dark Moon and Box-R and seemed to find it amazing she had played roles in both.
He was a usual sort of idol, tall and lean with a handsome face and hair straight out of a shampoo commercial. He had explained to her in great detail how he had recently moved to Tokyo and LME after enjoying huge success in his hometown of Sapporo, Hokkaido. His manager would not be joining him until later in the afternoon, and he was thrilled to have Kyoko assigned to look after him on his first day as a temporary stand in.
Four hours was a long time in his company, and he seemed determined to extend it as long as possible even after his manager arrived. In the end she had to use a very childish diversion tactic that she was surprised had worked and made a run for it.
While she was surprised that "look, an elephant!" had caused anyone over the age of six to whirl around and search frantically, she was truly shocked at the car she found waiting for her outside. It was a blue Honda Civic with a reasonably sized exhaust and no flames up the side – it was normal. She got in, sending a silent thank you to the president and a verbal one to her driver, and spent the ride home reading through the latest Box-R script.
She heard the driver pull away after she had entered the restaurant and closed the door behind her then nearly tripped over a suitcase in the entranceway. She took off her shoes, confused at its presence, and went in search of her landlords. They were located in the kitchen and she greeted them politely.
"Ah, Kyoko, I'm glad you made it in time." Okami-san said, smiling, while her husband sat at the table in as masculine a sulk as Kyoko had ever seen.
"I'm sorry I'm late, I got held up a bit."
"No, that's fine dear, I just didn't want to have to leave without saying goodbye."
Kyoko's suitcase-induced confusion deepened. Then she remembered. "Oh! Yes, of course."
Okami-san's sister had recently become a grandmother, and they were going to visit while the mother and newborn would be there. She remembered Okami-san mentioning an overnight visit and needing her to help in the restaurant but had somehow not connected the two events.
Her stomach fluttered a little at the prospect of being alone in the house all night but she pushed the feeling aside. The locks were secure and the place became a fortress after closing. Normally she wouldn't be bothered at all, but today a tingle of unease remained.
"I hope you find your family well and that you have an enjoyable visit."
"Thank you dear." Okami-san said happily, ignoring the face her husband pulled – clearly he would rather stay in his restaurant than deal with a baby but refused do something unmanly like admit it. "Nagisada-san is already working and the new girl's shift won't end for another hour before you'll need to take over."
Kyoko smiled at the mention of Nagisada-san. He was a retired master and an old friend of Taisho-san who chose to help out during busy periods in the year or on rare occasions such as this. He was flashy and liked to show off and his antics amused Kyoko as much as they made Taisho-san grimace at the abuse of his cutlery.
"Oh! The taxi's here." Okami-san said as a car horn beeped outside. Taisho-san didn't take the news well and shuffled off to take the suitcase out after favouring Kyoko with a stout nod.
"He'll enjoy himself once he's there, he's a lot gentler than he seems." Okami-san said with a fond look at her husband's retreating form. "Thank you for this dear, I haven't seen my sister for a long time even though we live in the same city. Ah! I almost forgot, I meant to tell you this morning but you were in such a rush – too much of a rush to notice it then I'm sure. I left a little surprise in your room last night, I think you'll like it."
"You shouldn't have!" Kyoko beamed, anticipation flooding through her.
"No, I-" Another honk from outside cut her off. "It seems I'm keeping them waiting – good bye dear."
Kyoko went to wave them off, then bolted upstairs to investigate her room. The surprise was found on the dresser, and she had indeed completely missed it this morning during her frantic stop to change clothes. It was the sort of thing she could never miss unless she was in a mad dash knowing she was keeping Tsuruga-san waiting.
She approached the single red rose, held elegantly in a thin, creamy vase, and smiled at Okami-san's thoughtfulness. It wasn't as big as Queen Rosa of course, but it was lovely and had enough fairy tale quality to please Kyoko.
She reached out and gently grasped the stem to hold the flower in place so she could take a sniff, but ended up yelping and snatching her hand back. She blinked as a spot of blood welled on her finger and she shook her head as she found the rose still had all its thorns attached. Ah well, it was the thought that counted.
Sucking on her abused finger, she went off in search of a plaster and the rose was largely forgotten in her hurry to get ready before she took on Okami-san's usual role.
It was a busy evening, and Kyoko barely had a moment's respite from the moment she relieved the new girl the Darumaya couple had hired until she bid the last guests good night. She finally sat down some hours later with sore feet and an aching face from all the demure smiling.
Nagisada-san helped her clear up and departed, leaving Kyoko on her own. She methodically checked every door and window on every level before feeling sufficiently safe to take a bath. Just as she was getting out after a blissfully long soak, she realised she hadn't called Tsuruga-san yet. With one towel wrapped around her and another rubbing at her hair, she wandered back to her room and debated.
She had sent him a quick message earlier to confirm she had made it home alive, but he had replied and to say he was glad and specifically asked her to call when she could, no matter how late. She picked up her phone and chewed on her lip a moment before taking a deep breath and dialling his number. He picked up after a single ring.
"Mogami-san, I'm glad you called."
He sounded so relieved it made her toy with the corner of her towel. "Sorry it's so late, I hope I didn't wake you."
"No, I was just looking through a magazine. I take it you were busy tonight?"
"Yes, it was so hectic I don't know how Okami-san does it every day! She must be enjoying the break."
"Oh? Was she ill tonight?"
"Ah... no... actually, she and Taisho-san are away visiting her sister."
"You're not alone there are you?"
"Yes. But I made sure to lock all the doors and windows. It's just one night and I've lived away from home long enough to know how to be careful so I'm sure it'll be fine." she said, both warmed by and resentful of his concerned tone. "I'd forgotten all about it until I got back today and found them just leaving. There was nothing I could do so I thought I'd make the most of it. I couldn't ask Okami-san not to go when she bought me such a lovely gift."
She smiled as her eyes drifted over to the dresser. The smile faded slowly to be replaced with a thoughtful frown – she couldn't quite identify it, but something was out of place. It was the sort of inanity that would gnaw at her until she worked out what it was.
"Still... I'm not sure it's sensible to be alone after that attack, not in light of that note."
"I won't step foot outside or unlock anything until morning, I promise." she said distractedly, narrowing her eyes at the dresser. Was it the hairbrush? No it always sat there. Maybe she'd knocked something off this morning when she had been thrashing about. She stood and approached the infuriating piece of furniture to take a closer look.
"Just be careful then. I'll hold you to your promise."
His resigned voice registered in her brain, but she was too focussed on glaring at the flat top of her dresser to really pay attention.
"I will, really." she muttered, then realised some of her frustration had crept in and winced. "Is it still okay for you to give me a lift in tomorrow morning?" she asked in a more appropriate tone as she tried to give Ren the attention he deserved. Her eyes kept flicking down though despite her best efforts. It truly was annoying.
"Of course. Would seven-thirty be alright?"
"That would be perfect!" Kyoko grinned, though largely because she had just spotted something gold and squiggly half-tucked behind the vase.
On closer examination it turned out to be a rectangular piece of decorated card, not visible from most angles. She hadn't noticed it before, but then she knew who the rose was from so hadn't thought to look for a card. She picked it up and gazed lovingly at the fancy golden border – it looked like an invitation to Cinderella's wedding ball and she almost laughed at how well Okami-san knew what she liked. There was no writing on this side but just as she was about to turn the card over, she realised that something else was more obviously out of place. Her single red rose was now a pair.
