Chapter 21: Imprint on the heart
It was Friday morning, Kyoko has been living in her new condo for the last 2 days, and she was still not fully unpacked. She couldn't finish her study until she retrieved some frames for her pictures that were left for her the first day. Later she learned that her father also had a set of the photos put into a scrapbook that was left on the coffee table, there was even put a note on the cover saying 'Don't hide this' so she just left it on the table.
Kyoko remembers she has a meeting with President Lory that afternoon, but it was only 8 o'clock in the morning, so she had a lot of time to run some errands like getting groceries and any other little things for her condo. After cleaning up from her small breakfast, she goes back to her bedroom to the en-suite bathroom to change out of her lace pajamas and to shower.
Once out of the shower, she changes into one of her outfits which consisted of long dark jeans, a corset style top with a leather jacket to match that she got from a designer from one of her modeling shoots that she planned to wear by setting it out the night before. After slightly blow drying her hair, she adds the finishing touches of light make-up and her jewelry that consisted of Princess Rosa, a pair of small earrings and the diamond bracelet Ren gave her so with everything ready the next thing was to just put her knee high boots on and grabs her purse.
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Kyoko was just locking up her condo door when she heard a door behind her open knowing who it was and looks over her shoulder to see Ren in his doorway wearing a black dress shirt that was slightly open at the top as usual and khaki pants. Just by seeing him it reminded Kyoko that she still hasn't dealt with the consequences for kissing him on the cheek in the early morning of her birthday.
"Good morning Tsuruga-san." She says now turned to face the man across the hall.
Ren was admiring Kyoko's body for a moment, "She really does look mature for her age and beautiful." He thought to himself as he admires the young woman who was pushing his control over his wants to pull her to him and kiss her. "Good morning Kyoko…You look lovely." Ren couldn't help compliment her of her beauty and using her first name felt good and normal to him even though they have only been going by first names for a few days now also when there isn't anyone around to hear.
Kyoko smiles and bows her head, "Thank you for the compliment." As she bowed her head, she sees the bracelet, so she lifts her head to speak again, "Also thank you for the bracelet, it's rather beautiful." She says as she moves her wrist which makes the bracelet sparkle with the lights in the hallway.
Ren smiles warmly, "You're welcome, I thought you would like it." He says even though it was more than just that he felt that she would like it, it was also that he enjoyed spoiling this woman. He looks from the bracelet than to the young woman's face, "Where are you heading to?"
"I have a few things to do than I have a meeting with President Lory." She says smiling at that man, still wondering why he hasn't scolded her about the kiss yet.
Ren adored her smile as those many months of not seeing it was unbearable. "Would you like some company? You are considered an international star, and knowing the President your presence back in Tokyo must be known now by a lot of people by now." He said seriously as his main reason for wanting to accompany her was to spend time with her to make up for the months they lost, also he had to see President Lory as well. But his reason was to get information about the movie he signed up for months ago later in the afternoon.
"It's ok Ren, I bet you have a busy enough day without accompanying me anywhere." Kyoko says as she opens her purse to pull out a clip which she uses to clip her chestnut hair up as well as pulling out a pair of designer sunglasses that she was given from her sunglasses commercial back in LA. Kyoko then looks back at the man who was still in his doorway looking at her, "I may be considered an international star but I am still the same girl I was before. " She says now putting a hat on her head then starts walking away when her arm is caught by Ren's hand.
"She isn't the same girl...She's more of everything, she pushes my control to its limit to not expose my feelings for her, the only thing that is the same is her smile and personality…looks she has matured so much to beautiful young woman any man would die to have." Ren thought to himself when he grabs her arm as he didn't want her to walk away from him not when he was hoping she felt something for him. "I don't have anything but a meeting so allow me to accompany you." Ren begins giving Kyoko the puppy dog look that he use to always use against her to get his way when they were Cain and Setsu.
Kyoko flinches at the look, "He still uses that face against me...That cheater! He knows I can't resist it."She thought to herself as she manages to look away.
She sighs in defeat, "Fine, Tsuruga-san." She goes back to calling him formally to show that she wasn't happy with his devious tactics to make her give in and allow him to accompany her.
Ren knows she wasn't happy with him for what he did, but he didn't care as he was going to get her for the morning at least, "Thank you." He releases her arm as he goes back to his condo to grab his disguise.
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When he leaves his condo, he looks down the hall towards the elevator and didn't see the girl which makes him sigh, then quickly turns his head to the other direction when he heard a giggle to see the young woman learning against the wall with her arms crossed.
Kyoko giggles at Ren since he only paid attention to the one side of the hall. "You never said I couldn't move Tsuruga-san." She was now smirking like Natsu always use to.
Just how Kyoko was acting it was driving Ren nuts internally as he wanted so much to just kiss that smirk off her face but it took all his self-control to not do that. "May we go now?"
Kyoko pushes herself off the wall, "Yes we may…" She then walks past Ren and down the hall quite elegantly.
Ren sighs following Kyoko enjoying the view but notices things that have changed like how she walked but he knew she was still the same girl he loved since they were young and he would do anything for.
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Ren and Kyoko decided not to use Ren's car to get around. Instead, they walked around and enjoying themselves as they talked and laughed together. When it approached Noon, they both decided on just going to a small café to eat.
They were seated at a far booth where they wouldn't be seen by anyone if their disguises would fall or anything.
Well, they were both enjoying their drinks they couldn't help but overhearing two girls talking in the booth behind them.
"Hey have you seen the newspaper today? A star moved to Tokyo!" one girl says to the other.
"I know, and she is beautiful, and by the article, she was also born in Japan as well that is so great, I hope one day I could get the chance to meet her. She is a great role model." The second girl says to the first.
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Ren was listening and smiles slightly before talking to the woman in front of him who was smiling as well. "See Mogami-san, people know you're living here now and are happy about it that they wish to meet you."
Kyoko was listening, and smiles then heard Ren talk, "You are right Tsuruga-san, I just never expected my presence back in Tokyo would be a great thing like it seems to be."
"Your presence will get better known, and you will get more famous the more you take on here as an actress." Ren says to the girl that he was so proud of that went from nothing at the bottom to an international star in 2 years.
"Tsuruga-san, I am not just an actress I am also a model." She says now fully looking at Ren with a cute pout, "I did both back in America that helped my international fame."
The pout drove a shock through him that made him want to hold her. Ren knew all about the modeling from what his father told him, but he wanted her to mention it to him so she wouldn't suspect anything, "Well then Mogami-san that is great, and I am proud of you." He said which was true as he was proud that she was working so hard and doing what she enjoys.
Kyoko smiles, "Thank you Tsuruga-san." She was happy that the man she cared about was proud of her accomplishments.
They continued talking for what felt like forever but was really only 2 hours as they catch up on what happened to each other during the four months they were apart with only occasional phone calls.
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They walked to LME together as they both needed to be there for their meetings, but Kyoko's meeting was first so they enter LME side by side and heads to the elevator that Kyoko would need to take up.
Kyoko turns to Ren before entering the elevator to go up to meet Lory in his office. "Thank you for today, that was fun spending some time together." She says sweetly as she tries to hide the blush from her cheeks.
Ren smiles as he takes her hand and lifts it close to his lips, "The pleasure is all mine, I don't usually spend my day with such a beautiful actress." With that, he then kisses the top of her hand, once done he lets go of her hand. "Maybe I will have the pleasure of seeing you again tonight."
Ren knew that since they lived in the same complex, he would see her more but still missed having alone time with her. He gives her one last smile before she entered the elevator and he goes up the stairs towards a room he normally goes to for some alone time and as he goes into the room, he lays on the couch with a script in hand that he found on the table.
Kyoko was now in the elevator on her way up to President Lory's office, her cheeks were red as she looks at the hand Ren kissed. "Could my hopes that he does have feelings for me be right? Or was he just being a gentleman when he kissed my hand? I can't ask him without exposing my feeling for him, so I will just leave it at that." She thought to herself now smiling as she exits the elevator and heads to the direction of the President's office.