Chapter 7: Friction
Stepping up to the large window, Ren fiddled with the maroon silk tie around his neck. After his third attempt, he finally managed a passable knot. Turning away from the mirror, he walked over to the bed and fetched his black wool-blend blazer. Picking it up, he slipped his lean, long arms into the sleeves, eyes falling onto the empty bed. It had been three weeks since Kyoko had accepted the assignment with his evil, twin brother. Three weeks since he had felt the warmth of her body against his. Three whole goddamn weeks since he had been able to spend any time with the woman he loved more than anything and everything.
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself away from the constant reminder of his loneliness. Striding into the kitchen, he poured himself a third cup of the blissfully strong and rich coffee. It was a special Kona blend that his father had sent him from Hawaii. Downing the liquid heaven, he put the empty mug into the sink and momentarily contemplated calling the old man. Maybe there was something that Kuu could do to about Kuon. Ren felt so afraid, so angry, and so very desperate that he was willing to try anything at this point. He knew he wasn't the best brother to the natural blonde look-a-like, but he also knew that everything dulled in comparison to Kyoko. She was what kept him going, kept him working hard, and made him happy. If Ren lost her…
"No," he said sternly. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and picture the loving way she would look into his eyes. "I trust her. I'm being a total fucking idiot." Stepping out of the kitchen, he fetched his wallet and keys before exiting the apartment.
The drive to pick up his best friend was a rather short one. Feeding his driving with the storm of thoughts that plagued him, Japan's number one had arrived much too quickly for comfort. Calling Yashiro down, he waited impatiently, wondering what Kyoko's day would be like today. Maybe I can surprise her for lunch? The door opened and then slammed shut as a suited up, devilishly handsome and innocent manager slid into the leather seat.
"Good morning, Ren!" He greeted cheerily.
"Good morning, Yukihito." Ren answered rather blandly.
Oh great, not another one of those moods…Yashiro thought bitterly. Buckling up just as the actor sped off to join traffic, he held on tight to the belt, stealing a quick glance to Ren's profile. "Are you going to be okay?" He asked slowly, afraid of the answer.
"What makes you think I'm not okay?" Ren replied taking a left turn with squealing Yokohama rubber in his wake.
Swallowing the bile that was starting to rise, Yashiro pushed his glasses up and glared at the baka Tsuruga. "Gee, I wonder…" he quipped sarcastically. As the Porsche came to a stoplight, the manager sat up higher and better composed himself. "I take it that you still have not heard from Kyoko-chan?"
Silence.
Figures.
"What's on the agenda today, Yukihito?" Ren inquired, desperately needing the distraction from his dearly beloved busy girlfriend.
Deciding not to argue so early in the morning, he flipped the leather planner open and read the notes written in his special shorthand. "You have a meeting with the President and then we have to make the final preparations before your flight tomorrow. I suggest we pick up the script tonight so that you have ample time to read it on the trip in the morning."
"Flight?" The actor's voice suddenly became confused. Looking over at the lanky megane, he added, "What flight?"
Snapping the planner shut, Yashiro exhaled with mental exhaustion. "Ren, do not tell me that you actually forgot about the overseas filming? It's been in the books for months now."
A blank expression came over the Hizuri's face.
"We are going to London for the next three months, Ren. This is one of the biggest projects you've gotten so far this year."
"I thought that was another two months away?"
"Didn't the president tell you? The dates were moved up." Yashiro gently shoved his glasses up as he watched multiple expressions play on the actor's complexion. "Ren, you're supposed to leave tomorrow. I could have sworn Takarada-san had informed you of the changes?"
Coming upon the LME parking garage, Ren downshifted roughly and sped into the parking structure. As he drove around and around, approaching the top level, his mind screamed loudly at how inconvenient this change would be for him, especially given Kuon's newly found residence in his life. "This is bullshit," he muttered under his breath. Impatiently turning the steering wheel, he spun his car into the reserved parking spot with a wake of hot rubber and black tread marks on the grey cement. Not bothering to wait for Yashiro, he grabbed his coat and exited the vehicle, taking long and hasty stride to the elevator.
"Ren!" The manager shouted, irritation blooming. "Will you wait?!" Oh this day will be positively delightful, he thought bitterly, giving chase to the brooding beast.
"CUT!" Shingai-san shouted. He waved the actors over, indicating that he needed to discuss something with them. The scene, while rather simple in nature, was one that would set the tone for the rest of the film, including the chemistry between the two leads. The other scenes consisted of the actors being alone, or with other people, not each other. He understood Kyoko's apprehension with it, but that didn't make it any less frustrating for him. Reaching up with his right hand, he rubbed the bridge of his nose, a pulsing of a mild headache settling in for the long haul. Lifting his chin to admire the twosome, he narrowed his gaze at the awkward tension that hung between them, causing him to smirk. Interesting, he pondered. Suddenly it all makes sense. He chuckled.
Upon approaching the director, Kyoko immediately bowed. "I'm so sorry, Shingai-san. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong here."
"Kyoko, please that is unnecessary. Let's discuss it, I think I've finally discovered the issue here."
Standing to her full height, she nodded and gave him her undivided attention. "I'm sure that whatever is wrong, I can fix it."
Glancing over his shoulder, Shingai signaled for the staff working nearby to leave so that they could have privacy. After they had departed, he sat up straighter and addressed the duo with total sincerity. "I'm going to ask you an extremely personal question, but for the sake of this project I need you two to be honest with me, okay?"
Both actors nodded. Kuon could feel it in his gut, the director's question would be terribly misguided, but then again there was no way to truly explain the situation to him, was there? Looking down briefly, Kuon tried to gauge Kyoko's thoughts. Over the past three weeks he had come to see just how seriously she took her work. Complete professionalism and kindness was always a given, even towards him, at least during work hours. During all of the time he had spent on set with his father while he worked, Kuon had never seen anyone strive for such perfection, other than Kuu of course. His respect and admiration for Kyoko had increased exponentially, leaving him with an abundance of mixed feelings.
"Are you two sleeping together?" Shingai asked point blank.
Kyoko found herself stunned to silence while a lovely shade of crimson began to spread across her cheeks.
"Why would you ask that, out of curiosity, Shingai-san?" Kuon inquired in turn, hoping that the insight would help them both, but specifically Kyoko as she was the only one who didn't realize the tension's true motive.
"The awkwardness between you two, the stiff nature of your interactions, I have seen similar behavior between co-stars who were having an affair of sorts," the director replied truthfully as a matter-of-fact leaving behind any tone that could be construed as judgment.
"Absolutely not!" Kyoko replied a little too loudly for her tastes. "There is no way in hell I could ever have an… that sort of involvement with this man!" She added as if her life depended on it.
"Gee, thanks," Kuon mumbled feeling a bit rejected.
Forgetting herself amidst the embarrassment that was engulfing her, Kyoko turned to him. "How could you possibly think that I would have any interest in you at all? You are a jackass, nothing more and nothing less."
"Well, if your taste in men is any indicator at all, I figured assholes and jackasses would be right up your alley. Or is that only a specific breed of self-absorbed, entitled fuckers get you wet?" Kuon snapped back with equal ire. "Oh wait, you'd have to be able to tell the difference now wouldn't you? We already know you're a failure at that."
"How dare you? You filthy, rude—"
Clearing his throat loudly, Shingai simply grinned from one cheek to the next. No, it was my mistake wasn't it? He wondered. It's not that you are sleeping together, it's that you so desperately want to but can't see past your differences. How very interesting, indeed. "Okay, okay. Please, calm down you two."
Returning her attention to the director, Kyoko's eyes grew, as if she was noticing him for the very first time. "I'm so sorry, sir. I'm not… I don't know what got into me."
"Probably too much of Ren," Kuon added bitterly.
"That's enough," the director emphasized. "I can see now that I was wrong to have asked such a question. It's quite apparent now that you two don't have that sort of involvement."
"I told you, Shingai-san, it's impossible." Kyoko answered with a bit too much enthusiasm.
"However, unless you two are able to work through whatever differences you have, this scene will continue to be a failure." Seeing that he had both of their intense interests now, Shingai decided to address them both personally. He began with the script's author. "Hizuri-kun, you have an amazing potential to create something phenomenal here. But when you're with her, the character not Kyoko-kun, you become uneasy of what you must do. When you are looking at her while you're up there," he pointed to the set, "you shouldn't be seeing Kyoko the actress. You should be seeing the character, the woman with whom you are utterly infatuated with. The woman whom you've been literally starving for, does that make sense?"
Kuon nodded, "Yes, sir. I understand and I will admit that my anxiety does come from knowing Kyoko-kun… personally."
"I know," Shingai smiled. He turned to the LoveMe member and added a tenderness to his voice that he hoped wouldn't back fire. "Kyoko-kun, you have an ability to take any role out there and turn into something fantastic, especially if you give it your own interpretation. I need you to do that now. You need to look at her—her sexual confidence, her inability to lose, her desire to conquer everything she sets her mind to—and create a creature that you think will make this film bloom. But you cannot do that if you hold on to your personal feelings for Hizuri-kun, understand?"
"I-I think so, Shingai-san," she replied sheepishly.
"I wanted to work with you because you are brilliant, Kyoko-kun. Please, don't let something petty interfere with your professionalism."
She nodded.
"Now, I want you two to take the rest of the afternoon and evening to work out whatever issues that you may have. Hell, I'll even give you tomorrow. We'll come back afterwards to shoot this scene, and I want nothing short of perfection. I know you are capable of doing it. But, if you can't and I'm wrong, I will drop this project immediately. Do we have an understanding?"
Kyoko and Kuon nodded silently like two naughty children.
"Good. Now go, learn to be friends." Shingai hopped out of his chair and walked off, leaving them behind.
After a handful of awkward moments had shuffled on by, Kuon turned to Kyoko and sighed. "Look, I know that you hate me, but you need to put that shit aside, just for the sake of the film. After we wrap this up, you can go back to hating me and plotting my demise, okay?"
"You are so full of yourself," Kyoko snapped irately. "Do you really think I can just turn my feelings off like a switch? What you did really hurt me, not to mention how much it hurt your brother."
He opened his mouth to argue, but was abruptly silenced when she raised her hand.
"I know, you two have your 'issues' and all of that, but you're still family at the end of the day. I want nothing more than to make this film and watch it be a success because, contrary to how I feel about you, this script is marvelous. But I'm not a playboy with no feelings like you. I can't just turn my feelings on and off to suit my motives." Kyoko turned around and stormed off towards her dressing trailer.
"Oh, I don't fucking think so," Kuon muttered and gave chase. As she climbed into the trailer, Kuon hopped onto the step, catching the door's edge against his palm. Walking into the trailer, he closed the door behind him.
"What the hell are you doing?" Kyoko shrieked, stepping away from him.
"Do you honestly think you can just say your bit and storm off like that? Don't I get a chance to defend myself?" Kuon retorted defensively.
She opened her little pink mouth to reply, but was immediately silenced by his towering presence. He walked up to her, looking down with the greenest eyes she had ever seen in her life. Even in the shadows of close quarters, she could see them vividly and it took her breath away.
"First of all, I'm not some goddamn zombie who doesn't feel anything. Just because our first interaction was a very bad one, my fault I know, but that doesn't mean that I'm not a human being with feelings. Yes, Ren and I hate each other, but have you ever bothered to find out why? Or do you just blindly believe everything Ren tells you? I've seen your work and with the way you yell at me, I can tell that you're a lot smarter than some dumb little girl who'd listen to whatever the pretty boy says."
Kyoko swallowed uncomfortably at the truth behind some of his words. She felt ashamed and angry all over again.
"Kyoko, I want to work with you because I honestly don't think there's any other actress out there, in all of Japan, who has the talent to do this role like you do. You and I can go on hating each other for a long time. I know that you're an extremely hard worker, I've see your compassion and your kindness. So, whether you believe me or not, I do understand that it's not easy to turn feelings on and off. While I'm good at hiding it, I do suffer from the same affliction. If we can't turn them off, then at the very least we need to find common ground. Do you think you can at least do that much? Please?"
Her mind felt rushed with many thoughts. Kyoko contemplated the situation. If Kuon was anyone other than Hizuri Kuon, Ren's twin brother, there is a good chance that she wouldn't be fighting it this hard, especially where her career is involved. Yet… here she stood, fighting it.
Suddenly an image of Kuon's face between her thighs while she writhed upon his bed, fettered to the frame by a simple belt, engulfed her mind. The sound of her voice moaning his name in sexual frustration echoed within her ears. Her mouth ran dry and her heart thrummed a million miles per second. Stupid day dream, it meant absolutely nothing!
"My apology for being a dick to you was sincere, I swear it, Kyoko," Kuon pleaded, misreading her penetrating expression. "Just give me one chance, give us one chance."
Startled by his chosen words, she reacted warily. "What do you mean give us a chance?"
"To find common ground?" He asked, baffled by her random behaviour. "Give us a chance to figure our problems out so that we can continue to work on this project, to make it a success."
Exhaling with relief, Kyoko knew that there really was no other choice. After what felt to be an eternity, she nodded slowly. "Okay. Let's give it a chance. While I absolutely hate to admit it, you are right. We do need to find some sort of common way to work together."
"Thank you, Kyoko. I promise you won't regret this."
"So, how do you propose we do this?"
"Well," Kuon said, thinking quickly. "Why don't you join me for dinner tonight? I can cook us some food, my way of apologizing again, and we can talk then. My father used to tell us that there's nothing that can't be solved over a good meal."
Kyoko smiled despite herself. "Your father sounds like a nice guy."
"He has his moments," Kuon added hesitantly. "So, what do you say, 8 o'clock?"
"Okay, fine. Why not?" A dark pool began to settle into her abdomen. Kyoko didn't know why she was so scared of this dinner, but she also didn't want to admit that somewhere deep inside of her, she was excited too. "I'll have to double-check with Ren."
Kuon nodded once. "Quite the leash he has you on."
"It's not like that at all," she countered quicker than she intended. "We had plans this evening. I want to make sure they don't conflict with…this." Ren… I'm sorry, please don't hate me for this…she wondered nervously, that dark feeling getting infinitely worse.
Ren sighed heavily. "That trip isn't scheduled for at least another two months," he said with building frustration.
"I'm sorry, son," Lory replied, empathizing with the young man's plight. Dressed in a shockingly simple black suit with a matching tie, the president looked positively out of place in his luxurious office this morning. "The model chosen to participate in this short series with you, recently signed on to make her debut in a French film. She is only available for the next three weeks."
"Then find someone else," Ren answered matter-of-factly, folding his arms over his merlot colored, silk shirt. "Now is not a good time for me to be out of the country, and you know that very well." Feeling the judgmental gaze of his manager spearing into him, the actor turned to his left and addressed Yashiro. "I know I sound unprofessional, but I figured at the very least you would be on my side, Yukihito." He opened his mouth for a response but was brusquely cut off by the superior being in the room.
"Ren, stop acting like a child." Lory's tone was filled with an anger-ridden authority that sent shivers down Yashiro's spine. He knew that LME's glorious cosplayer had moments of rage, but to be witnessing it so directly and towards his charge, made him vastly uncomfortable to say the least. Yet, Yashiro knew the elder was in the right, even if his heart did go out to his best friend. "Kyoko is an adult and a professional. She is capable to taking care of herself."
Tsking with growing fury of his own, Ren stood up and began to walk towards the large windows of the office. "You know that this isn't about Kyoko."
Lory laughed, voice husky with amusement.
"I trust her with my life," Ren continued ignoring the president's theatrics. Reaching the windows, he gazed out at the city. The light of sunrise was starting to peak in between the tall towers of Tokyo. Exhaustion settled into his bones like cancer as the events of the past few days finally started to catch up to him. Closing his eyes, he pondered his brother's arrival into his life, and began to grind his teeth. "It's that bastard I don't trust."
"If he's a bastard, then so are you." Lory kicked his feet up onto the glass coffee table in the sitting area of his office, and then pulled his cell phone out from a hidden pocket in his slacks. Flipping it open, he composed a text and tapped away with great speed. "I doubt your parents would appreciate such an insult from you."
"You know what I fucking mean," Ren snapped, turning around to glare at his father-figure. "He ruins everything he touches and I…" Recognizing that his emotions were starting to consume his composure, he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "I don't believe that he is back simply to make a name for himself. He could have done that anywhere in the world. He could have gone to Los Angeles and started this new life with our parents. But he chose to come here, where my life exists."
"If you don't mind my saying, Ren, you are quite full of yourself," Lory said unemotionally.
Yashiro's jaw fell open.
Ren's eyes narrowed into slits of ferocity.
Flipping the phone shut, Lory slid it back into place and then deftly found his feet. "Kuon has spent the past four years in prison, away from his family and his friends, serving time for a crime he didn't commit." Nonchalantly, the veteran cosplayer began to walk towards the celebrity. "Yes, he could have gone to America, but he didn't. He came here with a dream and a goal, just like you did once. God knows I love Julie and Kuu, but he doesn't need to be coddled. He needs to find himself, alone. Just like you did, Ren."
"That's complete bullshit," Ren quipped. Walking to close the distance between them, the actor knew that the situation wasn't nearly as black and white as Lory was hoping, or believing it to be. "Kuon is up to something, I can guarantee it."
"So what if he is?"
Caught off guard by the question, Japan's number one just gawked at his second-father with astonishment. "Excuse me?"
It was Lory's turn to fold his arms across his chest. "So, what? What if he is up to something? Are you really going to let him get beneath your skin in such a manner as to jeopardize your professionalism? Your reputation and your career that you've worked so diligently to mold? What about jeopardizing you trust and admiration with Kyoko? Is it worth it, Ren?"
Exhaling dejectedly, the tall beast walked three steps to the left and fell into the president's lavish leather chair. Rubbing his temples to soothe the ache that had begun throbbing, Ren contemplated those words. Allowing his lids to fall for a moment, he pictured Kyoko's face and imagined how comfortable and safe he felt with her in his arms. "I can't lose her. Now that she's mine, I just can't risk anything taking her away from me."
Leaning against the desk, the elder nodded. "I understand your plight, son. I truly do. But I have watched Kyoko for a few years now. While she has much growing to do, you must learn to trust her, believe in your love."
Lifting his head, he met Lory's affectionate stare.
"And, to be perfectly frank, if your love can't survive this then it was never really meant to be in the first place." Seeing the young man's eyes widen with disbelief, possibly even denial, Lory smiled. "That was probably not a wise revelation on my part, but grow up. Life can't always provide you with everything you desire. Somethings, even some of the people we encounter, are brought to us for a purpose. If you two do not survive together, then you shall learn to survive apart."
"I refuse to accept that," Ren yelled a bit too loudly. Shoving away from the desk, he stood up and began to pace before it. "I love her more than anything, I refuse to accept a life without her in it."
It was the president's turn to groan with frustration. "While we can argue that dynamic for quite some time, that is not the issue we should be discussing. Regardless of your feelings, as your boss, I'm telling you that you are going out of the country to complete this project. If you don't, you're fired."
Twisting on his feet, Ren glowered at Lory Takarada. "You wouldn't dare."
"You work for me, son. You are being disobedient and entirely unprofessional. If the occasion calls for it, yes, I would dare. Go to London, or find a new agency. What will it be, Ren?"