PLEASE REMEMBER TO READ CHAPTER 12 BEFORE YOU READ THIS.
I'm still so sorry about yesterday – you honestly have no idea.
I really thought that with the chapter already having been uploaded onto the website I would still be able to update my story – but…apparently not…
So this is today's chapter.
Heh heh…there's a lot more than just hugging going on…
So, sorry if you're getting a little fed up about Sho – but today is the last day of filming…
And Ren comes back on the 15th! Look forward to that.
Advent
Day 13 – 12 days to go
Filming VI
The ending.
They were shooting the ending today.
It wasn't often that the very last scene was shot on the last day…but that's what the director had wanted and who was Kyoko to argue?
Of course this also meant that the kiss was going to be shot today.
She was going to have to kiss Sho.
He would have her first kiss.
Kyoko was unsure how she felt about that.
He had been acting so weirdly around her lately and she didn't know what it meant.
She wished that she had Kanae here with her to explain what was going on.
But she didn't…
So she would just have to figure this out on her own.
She had a shower and got ready with a certain sense of doom about today.
This would be her first kiss.
Her first kiss!
What was she going to do?
She couldn't just give it away that easily.
In fairytales the Princesses first kiss went to the Prince! Her one true love!
Hers was going to Sho!
What did that mean?
Well…it wasn't as if she had a choice really…it was a part of the script.
Though it wouldn't have been if she had just kept her mouth shut…
Argh! This was so confusing!
She took a deep breath and tried to look at it logically.
After all, what was the big deal?
People kissed all the time in films and on T.V., it's not like it meant anything.
She nodded.
That was right.
It's not like it meant anything at all. It was just a kiss.
Still…it felt like it was being stolen.
It was meant to be with someone special! Someone she chose of her own free will!
Not forced upon her.
She really needed help.
Picking up her phone she looked at it warily.
Who could she call?
Scrolling down the names she stopped when one leapt out at her.
Ren.
Could she call him?
He was still away filming something so he might not answer.
She debated it and was about to press the call button when she spotted the time.
She was going to be late!
Se stuffed the phone in her pocked and rushed out of the house.
She could call him later.
The car was warm and felt slightly claustrophobic.
Kyoko couldn't help but think that it was driving faster and faster so that she would get to the set quicker.
Little things kept standing out in her mind that alarmed her.
Everything kept reminding her of what she would have to do today.
She looked down at the phone in her hand.
She should call him.
No, wait…she shouldn't he might be busy.
But she really needed help!
She chewed her lips as she thought, then steeled herself.
Scrolling down to his name she pressed the call button.
She kept chewing her lip as the phone connected through.
After the second ring her nerve failed her and she quickly hung up.
She fumbled with it a moment and instead called Kanae.
The phone was picked up on the first ring.
"Hello?"
Kyoko let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Moko!"
"Hi, what is it you want?"
"Moko I need your help! I don't know what to do?"
Kyoko heard Kanae sigh over the line.
"Okay, what is it? You'll have to tell me about it so I can help you."
Kyoko was about to begin when she stopped.
She didn't really want Kanae to know who she was kissing.
"I…er…"
"Yes? What?"
"Well…the thing is…I have to kiss someone in my role and I don't really want to."
"Why?"
Kanae's question was short and to the point but it raised a good question.
Why indeed?
Kyoko could feel herself blush as she thought about it.
"Well…er…it's just that…I've never…it'd be my…um…"
"Ah…" Kanae breathed down the phone, understanding perfectly what her friend meant.
"This would be your first kiss. I get it."
Kyoko felt her blush deepen.
"I say go for it."
Kyoko was stunned.
"Whu…what?"
"Well," Kanae explained "the guy's probably cute. Why not?"
"But…!"
"You believe that a first kiss should go to someone you love?"
"Exactly!"
"Well…doesn't your character love him?"
Kyoko blinked.
"We…well yes. She does."
"So what's the problem?"
"The fact that I still have to kiss him!"
Kanae sighed.
"Look. The way I see it is that a first kiss is with someone you love, okay?"
"…right."
"And your character loves this guy…right?"
"Yes."
"So it's your character's first kiss with his character."
"Huh?"
"You're not there at all…only in body. It isn't you kissing this actor…it's your character."
"So…what does that mean?"
"That it should be fine as it won't be your first kiss. How can it be yours when you're doing it as a completely different person?"
"Ah! I get it!"
"Good. Is that all?"
"Yes! Thanks Moko!"
"You're welcome."
Kyoko rung off and then switched off her phone.
That conversation with Kanae had made everything so much clearer.
She was completely right! How could it be Kyoko's first kiss when she wasn't being Kyoko?!
She arrived at the set feeling much happier than before.
"Okay people!" the director's voice called out. "This is the last shot."
Kyoko stood nervously in her position.
This was it…The Kiss.
She could almost taste the capitalisation.
All the filming before this moment had been done. All that was left was this and a few lines.
She could handle that.
She could feel Sho standing a little ways back behind her.
He had to enter running. Like he was running to chase her.
She felt the noise quieten down and got into the right mindset.
She was supposed to be devastated as there had been a huge misunderstanding between them and she thought that he had left her forever.
"ACTION!"
She started to walk forward, a silver tear trickled down her cheek.
She could hear Sho run up behind her so didn't flinch when he gripped her arm though she did manage to pull off the surprised look.
This was going so well.
Sho didn't say anything, seemingly out of breath from running so hard to catch her.
She was the character.
A look of pain and confusion crossed her face. This was the man who had caused her so much pain. He had abandoned her…
Or at least she thought he had…
And now here he was, panting because he had run so hard to catch up with her.
She raised her hand and, very carefully, gently brushed away some of his hair that was sticking to his forehead.
An unfathomable expression crossed his face and in one movement pulled her close.
He was still trying to catch his breath that he couldn't say anything…could explain himself or ask her to wait…
So he did what any other man would do when faced with his true love.
He crushed his lips to hers.
Kyoko's eyes opened wide.
She hadn't expected this amount of passion to be shown.
Or the fact that Sho slightly tasted of oranges.
After a moment she relaxed into the kiss.
She was the character.
When he finally pulled back he seemed to have gained enough breath to speak.
"Fumiko…I…"
He stumbled slightly looked at her with a hint of desperation in his eyes.
"…I…"
She stayed silent. Wondering where all this was going to go.
He made a grunt of annoyance and once again crushed her body to his.
She was slightly shocked.
"I'm so sorry." He mumbled into her hair. "I didn't mean to hurt you so much. I just thought…"
She stayed silent still.
"There's no excuse. None at all." There he paused. "…but at the thought…the thought of losing you…?"
Kyoko blinked as she felt small tremors run through his body and his shoulders shake.
"I just couldn't stand it! I couldn't stand it if you went! Please!" He begged, "Please don't leave me! I…"
Kyoko held her breath.
"I love you!"
Kyoko felt all her breath leave involuntarily and she hiccupped slightly. Tears came to her eyes as a smile broke across her face.
She clutched his back, finally returning the embrace.
"I…I love you too." She whispered and buried her face into his shoulder.
They stayed like that for a long while. The silence almost deafening.
"Cut."
The director's voice sounded subdued. It was so unlike him that Kyoko looked over.
Everyone watching had tears in their eyes.
Some of the women were crying freely but had smiles upon their faces.
The director made his way over to them.
"That was beautifully played." He said, sounding a little hoarse. "It was so believable! I think you had most, if not all, of my crew in tears!"
"Thank you." Sho said, "I do try."
Kyoko blushed, then blushed harder when she realised that she was still half hugging Sho.
She pulled away quickly.
"Um…thank you…" she whispered, her own voice sounding hoarse for some reason.
She glanced sneakily up at Sho to see what he was doing but he was looking elsewhere, his expression closed off to her.
"We don't need to do a retake. There's no way that we could even match that kind of emotion the second time round."
Kyoko blinked.
"So…?" she asked.
"So you can go home."
Sho bowed.
"It was a pleasure working with you."
"Yes. Thank you for acting."
Kyoko watched as Sho walked off, never once looking back.
She turned back to the director who had a knowing twinkle in his eye.
"Thank you for working with us Kyoko." He said. "It wouldn't have been the same if you hadn't agreed to act the part."
Kyoko smiled.
"And you were right. That last scene was perfect."
She blushed and smiled.
"Ah…I'm glad…"
"As a thank you we would like you to keep the dress."
Kyoko's eyes widened.
"But! But I couldn't!"
The director held up his hands, brushing away her protestations.
"Yes. Yes you can. You were wonderful. We all think you deserve it. Plus it wouldn't do much sitting around here. It'd probably never get worn again and it was custom made especially for you."
Kyoko opened her mouth to speak against it still but the director interrupted her again.
"Please Kyoko. It's a gift from all of us here to you."
Her will started to crumble. It really was a beautiful dress.
"Are…are you sure?"
The director smiled.
"Yes. And I won't hear another word on the subject. Now go and get changed. It was a pleasure working with you, one that I hope to repeat."
Kyoko bowed.
"It was a pleasure working with you too. And thank you so much!"
Kyoko sat in the car on her way home. Her dress hanging up from one of the roof handles.
This had been so much fun! She loved acting!
And the kiss hadn't been as bad as she had expected.
In fact it had turned out quite well!
Sho was still acting a little funny around her…and she still didn't know why, but that didn't really matter now anyway as it was all over and done with.
She sighed happily.
And she had gotten a beautiful dress out of it as well!
She couldn't wait to see what it turned out like!
For now though, she was going to have a relaxing bath and an early night.
Tomorrow she was back at work and she had to say goodbye to Kanae who was leaving for her holiday.
She had to remember to take in her present.
She couldn't wait!
Woot! Eleven pages!
Longest chapter ever!
I don't know about you but I went through so much with this chapter. I found the kissing scene sweet.
…
And then I laughed my head off at the response that all you RenKyoko fans would have.
Really cheered me up as I am ill.
The story seems to be progressing well and I'm happy with it.
But did you like the kissing scene? I don't know if it was good or not, please tell me your thoughts!
Well…on to tomorrows chapter!