Chapter 11: Risky Business
Ren dialed a number on his phone. Please pick up.
"Hello," said a voice on the other end.
"Hello, President."
"Ah, Ren, how are things going?" Lory asked excitedly. Ren quickly explained the personality change Kyoko had undergone from Kuon to Natsu.
"And now Kotonami-san called me to tell me Kyoko has gone missing. She mentioned something about going to school though."
"Hmm… you have a busy schedule today don't you Ren?" the president asked thoughtfully.
"Yes, I'm busy until around five o'clock."
"Then I'll handle her until then. Don't worry."
Before Ren could ask what the president had planned the call ended.
"I hope he knows what he's doing." He sighed as he thought of what trouble Kyoko could be getting into at school.
As it turned out, Natsu had found her way to Kyoko's high school. Luckily no trouble was caused through the morning. In fact, nobody was really aware of a change in Kyoko until lunch time arrived.
Natsu had purchased her lunch and was walking to a table to eat when she felt someone bump her hard from behind. Her tray toppled to the ground, food spilling everywhere.
"You shouldn't be so clumsy," a voice said.
Natsu turned and standing there, laughing at her was Mimori, Sho Fuwa's overly jealous girlfriend.
"I'll wait here while you go buy me my new lunch." Natsu told her coolly .
Mimori stared at her with her mouth open. She was confused because Kyoko didn't fight back.
"You aren't supposed to argue back!" she yelled.
Natsu laughed evilly. "And you're not supposed to be a spoiled brat. But I guess we can't all have what we want."
Mimori turned her back on Natsu. "Well, I'm not buying you a lunch when it's your own fault you dropped yours. Make sure to clean it up."
Before Mimori could take a step, Natsu had grabbed her by her hair. Mimori let out a scream. "Thank you for volunteering to clean up this mess."
Natsu shoved Mimori to the ground her face landing straight into the spilled food. She began to use Mimori as a human mop, that is until a teacher pulled her off.
They sent Mimori to the nurse's office and Natsu to the principal.
"Mogami-san, we've never had an issue with you until now. I would like an explanation for today." The principal ordered.
Natsu turned her head to the side. She allowed a small smirk to grace her lips. I have no intention of answering you old man. You'll have to call my parents if you want someone to talk to.
The principal ran a hand through his graying hair. "I guess I'll call your parents." He stepped to his desk and checked her file. There was only one emergency contact. "Lory Takarada." He picked up the phone and dialed the number.
Natsu watched the principal and could hear the faint ringing through the phone.
"Yes, Takarada-san. This is Principal Saho. I'm calling about your daughter. Oh I'm sorry. I misunderstood. Still, she was in a fight today. Yes, I'm afraid that would be best. See you soon."
Fifteen minutes later, Lory Takarada entered the school's office. He passed where Natsu sat looking at her phone in the outer office and entered the principal's office after greeting the secretary.
After several minutes, Lory emerged from the office to find the exact opposite of what he would've expected from Kyoko. If it were Kyoko she'd be sunken into a depression and probably have immediately thrown herself to the floor in apology. Instead, Natsu sat upright in her chair. She held a compact in front of her fixing her mascara.
He stepped in front of her and cleared his throat. She glanced up at him, then gave a loud sigh.
"Are we finally ready?" she asked, as she stood and gathered her things.
"Yes." He answered, Surprised at her tone. She sounds like a rebellious teenager.
But when Natsu turned around she gave him a polite smile that could rival Ren's. Did she pick that up from him? He wondered.
They headed to the car and climbed in.
"So I guess this is the kind of treatment I get because I'm dating the top actor in Japan." She said as she glanced around the limo.
Lory figured it was best to go along with her assumptions. "Yes, Ren asked me to come get you. You are to wait at the agency until he gets off work."
"Sounds fun."
He could hear the sarcasm in her voice even though her face didn't show it.
When they arrived at LME she sat in one of the presidents offices watching tv as she waited for evening to come. She had a sudden thought, and dialed Ren's number.
Ren glanced at his phone and was surprised to see Kyoko's name on the caller ID.
"Hello. This is Ren." He answered.
"Hi, Ren-kun." Her voice was flirty and he couldn't help but smile at it.
"HI Natsu-chan. How are you doing?"
"I'm bored." She replied with a laugh. "I'm stuck at your agency since I got in trouble at school."
"Yes, I had heard that."
Natsu sighed. "Will you take me out to dinner to make me feel better? I bought a really amazing dress that I'm sure you'd love to see."
Ren smiled. She's asking to be rewarded for fighting?
"Come on, please baby." She pleaded with him hearing his silence.
He couldn't hide the small blush that appeared on his face at being called "baby" by Kyoko.
He could hear Yashiro let out a squeal beside him. "What'd she say?"
Ren waved him off. "All right, Natsu-chan. I'll pick you up from the agency at six o'clock."
She blew a kiss into the phone. "Thank you, Ren-kun." She hung up the phone cheerfully.
On the other end, Ren sighed. "What have I gotten myself into now?" he turned to Yashiro. "What kind of place do you think she'd want to go to?"
Yashiro put a hand to his chin in thought. "If it was a Kyoko-chan I'd say she'd be happy with anything, but the way you explained Natsu… you'd better make it someplace really nice."
Back at LME, Natsu stepped into the room where the President was looking over some papers.
"Takarada-san?" she asked as she stepped near his desk.
He looked up. "Ah, Natsu-chan, are you staying out of trouble?"
She gave him a polite smile but no answer. "I seem to have left my new clothes from yesterday at Moko-san's house. You can send somebody to go get them right? I have a date with Ren-kun tonight."
He was impressed by how charming she could sound. "Actually you're lucky. Kotonami-san brought them by this morning." He stood from his chair and led her into a nearby room.
The room was filled with all sorts of clothes, there was a small changing room and even a make up table. "Your clothes are next to the make up table. You can use anything in here to get ready."
Natsu smiled and hurriedly went to go examine the treasures that were currently available to her.
After finishing work, Ren had gone home to get dressed for his date. He found himself agonizing over what to wear. I should dress nicely for the restaurant, but what if she dresses more casual and I look like an idiot.
He looked at himself in the mirror for a moment. "I already look like an idiot. Why am I acting like a teenage girl? I've been on plenty of dates."
He decided on a suit and got dressed. It wasn't until he was driving that he realized Natsu would surely expect some flowers.
He glanced at the time. He'd definitely be cutting it close but he was betting on her taking a while to get ready.
He went into a local flower shop and looked at the various bouquets. He saw a lot of different styles buy none stuck out to him.
Ren wanted something special, and then he saw it. A beautiful bouquet with various pink flowers in different shades and a single deep pink rose in the middle. Threaded through the flowers were strings of small sparkling rhinestones.
"I'll take that one." He told the shopkeeper.
She took it out of its case and carefully wrapped it for him. "Your girlfriend is certainly a lucky young lady." The woman told him.
He left a generous tip and then headed to his car. After checking the time, he sped over to the agency. By the time he reached the President's office it was 6:15 but when he was let in by Sebastian there was no sign of Natsu.
He glimpsed the president hiding around the corner with a creepy grin on his face. Ren sighed. "You're enjoying this too much I should think."
Lory stepped out from his hiding place. "Just wait until you see her, Ren."
Now Ren was nervous. He heard footsteps from down the nearby hall.
"I hope you weren't waiting for me too long, Ren-kun."
He looked and saw Natsu. She had her hair pulled up into a bun with only a few small curls left to dangle out on either side of her face. Her dress was a forest green and it fell to just around knee-length. It was long sleeve though the sleeves were mostly lace and the top of the dress stopped just below her shoulders leaving them in view.
Seeing that he was watching her, she slowly spun around and he noticed that the back of her dress was open down to her waist.
"What do you think?" Natsu asked, shocking him out of his thoughts.
Ren stepped towards her. "You look radiant, my princess." He took her hand and kissed it. Then he held out the flowers to her. "These are for you."
Natsu smiled at him as she took the flowers. "Thank you, Ren-kun. So where are we off to?"
He gestured towards the door. "Our destination is a surprise. Shall we?"
She laughed at his charming behavior. They waved good bye to the president and headed out the door.
Lory sighed as he watched them leave. "I didn't even get to take a picture of them."
When they arrived at the restaurant, Ren handed his keys to the valet and then took Natsu's arm to lead her inside the upscale restaurant.
They were quickly seated and Ren watched Natsu to see her reaction to the restaurant. She looked around taking in the décor and atmosphere.
"What do you think?" he asked when she didn't say anything.
She gave him a fake smile, "It's nice, dear."
Is that how people feel when I use my fake smile? He wondered as he shook off the effects of it. "Why don't you look through your menu and decide on a drink?" he suggested.
She nodded and they both looked through their menus.
After a moment, their waitress arrived at their table. "Welcome!" she said cheerfully. "Can I get you started with drinks?" she turned to Natsu with a big smile on her face.
"I'll have some tea." She pointed to a flavored tea on the menu.
"Of course! And for you sir?"
Ren chose a glass of wine and an appetizer and the waitress went on her way. But she couldn't help but glance back one time towards the handsome Ren.
Ren had noticed her but was grateful she hadn't been over attentive. He glanced at Natsu and saw an annoyed look on her face.
"Are you okay?" he asked. And her smile returned immediately.
"Of course, Ren-kun. I'm just a bit bored." She smirked at him. "You'd think I'd never get bored if I'm dating someone so exciting, right?"
Ren was surprised at her words. But at that moment their waitress had returned. She was carrying their drinks and everything seemed fine but as she neared their table she tripped and the drinks were sent flying everywhere.
She jumped up from the floor. "I am so sorry!" Their waitress was in tears.
Ren helped her up from the floor. "It's really no problem. If you could just bring us some towels I'm sure we'll be fine."
As the girl hurried off, Ren turned to Natsu. She had a pleased look on her face, but she quickly hid it upon noticing his gaze.
"What a clumsy waitress. Perhaps we should switch tables since ours is now covered in water?" she went to stand and Ren placed a hand on her shoulder.
"We are fine here. A little liquid never hurt anyone." His tone was forceful but he had a bright smile on his face.
Maybe he's more interesting than I'd thought.
They finished dinner without anymore incidents. When the waitress brought their check she apologized again.
"Again, I am so so sorry about the spilled drinks." She bowed in apology.
Ren smiled gently at her. "It really is no issue. There was no damage done."
She nodded to him and then turned and left. Ren stood and helped Natsu up from the booth. They headed outside and he handed his ticket to the valet.
As they waited for the car, Ren turned to her.
"Did you enjoy yourself?"
Natsu sighed. "It was nice enough." She looked at him with a smirk. "I just thought going out with you would be more exciting. I like something with a bit more danger." She winked at him then headed towards where the car awaited them.
Exciting? Dangerous? What exactly is she looking for here? He wondered as he began to drive away.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'm already working on the next chapter. Please read & review! Thanks!