Disclaimer: Nothing of Skip Beat belongs to me, only the original parts of the plot for this fanfiction.
Warnings: Implied m/m, but nothing bad. I hope. ;-)
Note: Thanks again to all readers! It is so entertaining to read all of your opinions and expectations - let's see what'll happen! ;-)
The Harem Flower
Part XI
August 2010
"Good morning, Kyoko-san, it is very good to see you again," Asami Haruki, chief producer of Akatoki Agency, said in greeting. She also inclined her head to Kanae who really had found the time to accompany Kyoko to the meeting with Sho.
Kyoko returned the friendly greeting and then introduced Kanae. With that out of the way, she plowed on to what was really weighing down her conscience. "Asami-san, please let me apologize for Director Ogata's behaviour last weekend." She bowed deeply. "I honestly didn't ask him to call you so late at night."
The woman surprised both girls with a hearty laugh. "Don't worry about it, Kyoko-san. I'm used to it by now and I almost believe that he enjoys being screamed at from time to time."
"Screamed at … ?" Perplexed, Kanae looked from one to the other. "Kyoko, just what happened at your set party?"
"Oh, nothing really-"
"Ah, now look who we have here," boomed a pleased voice through the entrance hall. People stopped what they were doing and stared at someone at the far end of the hall. Only seconds later the owner of the voice appeared next to Asami-san and smirked at Kyoko. "Back again so soon, Kyoko?"
Kyoko reared back and looked Sho over. Granted, the boy was handsome, but his clothes were much too outrageous for her taste. All of his things were either ripped or studded or both and showed his legs and torso more than hide them. The ragged look actually made Kyoko want to patch his clothes up with her emergency thread-and-needle-kit. Of course, all the other people in Akatoki's entrance hall didn't think so. All the females and even some males eyed Sho with great interest and varying degrees of hysteria, even though they all were in the entertainment business themselves.
"Hello Shotaro, it's nice to see you. Not." She smirked at him, pronouncing his name just loudly enough to make people's ears prick up. Sho smirked back, obviously not the least perturbed about her cool words.
Kanae glared coldly at Sho when he looked her over appraisingly. Kyoko noticed and felt a wave of relief sweep through her. No matter how silly it seemed, for a second she had actually feared that Sho would be able to sway Kanae's opinion of him and lure her away. She was beautiful enough to tempt him, every man was tempted, but with just one look she made it perfectly clear that she could not stand the singer. Therefore, with perfect male logic, Sho returned his attention back to Kyoko, who was studying him dispassionately.
Some things will never change, she thought. Once a player, always a player. I just didn't see it before.
"You look good," Sho drawled, disrupting Kyoko's unkind musings. "Did you do something with your hair?" When she just snorted, he continued: "Well, it can't be your ugly get-up, it's just as horrible as ever. Still … hmmm." He looked her up and down, lingering on her chest and hips.
Both of the girls had appeared in their pink jumpsuits and right now Kyoko was glad they had. They hid more than enough and made it harder for men like him to get a good look. It was embarassing enough as it was, being ogled like a piece of meat on display. Even Asami-san, who was used to Sho's callous behaviour, finally had enough.
"Sho-kun, why don't we start the meeting?" she suggested, subtly pushing his wandering hand off her shoulder. "I'm sure that Kyoko-san and Kotonami-san are very busy."
"Yes, let's," said Sho, straightening arrogantly.
Asami-san led the group through a maze of hallways and into a small meeting room. She ignored the people that passed them and gave Kyoko and Kanae curious looks. A beamer was set up and running at the one end of the conference table. The producer motioned for the others to sit down.
"Now, I heard that President Takarada volunteered you for this job," said Asami-san once everyone had sat down. "And while Sho-kun requested you for his PV I want to leave the final choice to you."
"Oh," said Kyoko, surprised, "that's very nice, Asami-san."
Sho scowled. "Of course you'll take the job. This is my best song so far, you'd be stupid to pass this chance up."
"Now, don't be hasty," said Asami-san calmly. She looked at Kyoko who was trying to burn a hole into Sho's skull with just her glare. "The decision is up to Kyoko-san. If she doesn't like the project I'll just sign another talent." She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Alright, that being said, please have a look at the presentation. It shows the rough outline of the video to the song. The director has a very specific vision for it so I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves."
She started the beamer and then sat down. Instead of watching the presentation she watched the faces of the two girls, though.
Kyoko was admittedly curious about this project, but once she saw that the PV was supposed to be a sleazy love story she clammed right up and scowled. It didn't matter how high-class the scenes seemed, or how good the song was, there was not a chance in hell that she would play a part in this … thing. Kanae in the chair to her right was even grinding her teeth.
Four painful minutes later, when the presentation was finally over, Asami-san smiled weakly at Kyoko. "Well? What do you think?"
Kyoko's demons were having a wonderful time, swarming out and suffocating everything in their vicinity. At last they started attacking Sho who did not know what was happening to him. In her blackest voice, Kyoko said: "I'm very sorry, Asami-san, but I don't think I'll be able to accept your offer. I'm still a minor and don't want to sully my career with cheap porn."
Even though Asami-san seemed rather concerned about Kyoko's bad mood, she could not help but snort in agreement at her words. "Yes, I understand completely, Kyoko-san. Don't worry about it. President Takarada won't give you a hard time over this, I promise."
"What were you thinking, you idiot?" Kanae snarled at a smug-looking Sho. "What exactly did you want to achieve with this lame challenge? Prove that Kyoko is not a slut? Well done, smart boy but you could've have known that without wasting everyone's money and time!"
Sho uncrossed his legs and looked her over again. His sneer was visibly riling Kanae up. "Calm down, little lady. I just proved that she's not a top-notch actress. Not even close. A true actress wouldn't have a problem acting the part."
"Oh please, don't insult her! A true actress may be able to play the part, but she only accepts roles that she feels will further her experience and her career."
"Why won't you let Kyoko speak for herself?" he asked in his most grating voice and then smiled patronizingly. "I made sure that the job pays well, and of course she would get lots of attention. Where's the problem?"
Having enough of the argument, Kyoko's black glare settled on Sho, who, despite his smug smirk, stood straighter as if awaiting a physical strike. "Oh, for you there's no problem," she said icily. "Your fans already see you as the useless rascal you are but please allow me to not want to follow in your footsteps. I'm better than that," she pointed at the screen where a painted naked man and woman were lying in a bed, kissing sensually. "I don't have to prostitute myself to get attention, and I certainly don't need you to get it."
"I'm not prostituting myself!" Sho shouted angrily. "It's a love story!"
"Well, I'm sure one can portray a love scene more tastefully than that," Kyoko replied calmly, flicking an imaginary piece of lint off her sleeve. "Now, if you're done insulting me and my profession, I have somewhere to be and things to do."
Hiding a smirk behind her hand, Asami-san nodded. "Yes, that'll be best. Come, let me escort you out."
The three women left the room, leaving a stunned Sho standing where he was.
"Please excuse me for dragging you into this mess," said Asami-san apologetically once they were well on their way to the reception hall. "Sho just wouldn't relent and then Takarada-san heard of it being a love song and … well."
Kyoko smiled weakly. "It's not your fault, Asami-san. I'm sure you'd never even have considered me for the part, and with good reason."
"I'm just glad that you told the idiot off," Kanae growled. She looked ticked off and menacing. "I can't believe him, offering you such a lousy project."
Asami-san sighed. "I'm still sorry for making you come here and wasting your time, even though I was sure that you'd reject the offer."
They turned the last corner and promptly ran into several people. This close to the entrance it was rather loud in the hallways so they had not heard the other people's footsteps.
"Oof!" Kyoko choked out when she ran smack-dab into a broad, leather-clad chest.
"Watch where you're going, stupid bint!" a male voice snarled menacingly.
Rough hands shoved Kyoko away. Still disoriented, she saw that only Asami-san was treated with grudging respect. Kanae, however, looked close to hitting the one she had run into. The guy was still holding her arm.
Kyoko's eyes travelled up the man's body that still blocked her path. With every inch her suspicions hardened, until they turned into recognition. When she finally reached his face, a cruel little smile graced her lips.
"Oh, hello Harry-kun," she purred out. "Long time no see."
"Oh, shit," Kanae groaned, rolling her eyes just as Harry-kun's band members paled dramatically.
Mio had come out to play, and it did not look as if she would be leaving soon.
"I can't believe you!" Kanae shouted. She obviously did not care that they were standing in a packed subway station and got a lot of attention with their bright pink attire. "I mean, how did you make that mountain of a man grovel like this?"
Kyoko, still feeling rather like Mio, grinned. "I met Harry-kun a long time ago. He was there when I developed Mio. Actually he stepped on my toes, talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time." Her grin transformed into an evil smile. "It's good to see that he hasn't forgotten his manners around a lady."
Groaning, Kanae slapped a hand over her face. "Forget it. Just tell me: how did you get us signed in for their next video again?"
Kyoko shrugged. "To be honest, I have no idea. I think their manager liked us. But isn't it wonderful, Moko-san? We both have a new job – together! We'll have so much fun!"
"Working for those hoodlums? Of course we will," Kanae grumbled half-heartedly. She sighed, looking heavenward. "Still, it's better than no job at all, so I guess I'll have to thank you for that."
"I'm really happy. It turned out to be a good day, after all," Kyoko chirped, shedding her Mio-aura and looking so innocent that the people next to her and Kanae were rubbing their eyes in wonder. "In a way we have to thank Shotaro for that."
"How much will they pay for the job, anyway?" Kanae asked. When Kyoko shrugged apologetically, she clucked her tongue. "Well, it doesn't really matter, but if it pays well enough I might just send that Fuwa idiot a flower."
"Mogami-kuuuun, what have you done now?" President Takarada exclaimed, once Kyoko had reported back to him. "I wanted you to have the part because it's a love story! You are in the LoveMe section! What's so hard to understand?" His heartbroken demeanor clashed with his glorious Maya king attire.
"Sir, with all due respect, that PV was more like an erotic movie than a love story. That's why I declined," said Kyoko calmly, trying hard to ignore the president's naked, tanned chest.
"Is that so?" Lory asked, frowning gravely. "Explain." Sebastian, who was standing to Lory's right, raised a questioning eyebrow.
Sighing, Kyoko described the rough draft of the script and the presentation of the song. She carefully held her own opinion back; she knew that the president had strict (if somewhat strange) morals and watched over his talents like a mother hen so it would be unnecessary to rant about Sho's impertinence.
"Is that true, Kotonami-kun?" he asked when Kyoko had finished, his face a mask of despair. When Kanae nodded, he leaned back in his chair and waved a hand. Like a shadow Sebastian first produced and then handed him a folder. "In that case you're excused, Mogami-kun. I'll transfer your task from Fuwa Sho to … Harry-kun, yes? What's the name of his band?"
Blushing, Kyoko lowered her eyes. "I don't know, sir. They seemed to be in a hurry and were out of business cards. But their manager said that he'd contact you right away."
Lory scribbled something on the paper and then closed the folder again. "Good, good. I'll handle it personally." His stern face loosened up and suddenly he was smiling gaily. "I'm glad that you have enough of a backbone to reject such offers, Mogami-kun. Be assured that LME will never want you to accept roles that you don't feel will further your career. Especially offers like Fuwa-kun's. And how fortunate for you to get something out of it as well, Kotonami-kun! That's the reward for true friendship!" He pulled out a LoveMe pad and a stamp and stamped two pieces of paper, ignoring Kanae's dark scowl.
Sebastian took the papers when Lory had signed them and silently handed them over, one to Kyoko and one to Kanae.
"You're giving us one hundred points?" Kanae asked disbelievingly.
Kyoko looked from her paper slip to Lory and back down, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Yes, of course! Mogami-kun went out and rejected an offer that wasn't morally justifiable and found herself another job just minutes later, and you, Kotonami-san, were a good friend in a time of need and reaped the reward." Lory looked as if he wanted to hug the girls. "I'm very happy with both of you today. See that it remains so."
"Yes, sir." Both girls bowed, grateful to have escaped Lory's wrath.
"And now I believe it is time for your regular work," Lory said kindly. "Run along, girls, and have a good day."
Smiling, Kyoko and Kanae excused themselves, leaving a very pleased Lory behind.
End of Part XI
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