Disclaimer : I don't own Skip Beat! and Keishichou Tokuhanka 007
Tension and Marriage Talk
Kyouko blinked when some rice grains fell on her body. Meanwhile, Kuon was horrified when he saw what happened to Kyouko. He let go of the wok and it fell on the stove with loud thud.
He quickly switched off the stove and pulled her along with him to his room's bathroom. He ushered her to stand below the shower. He turned the knob on and asked, "Are you okay? I'm sorry that I…" He sighed. "Sorry."
"I'm fine but…" She blinked and shivered because she felt a little cold. "It wasn't that hot, Corn. You have just put the rice in after all."
Kuon opened his mouth, about to say something but the words vanished right when he was about to spit it out. He closed his mouth again. He was confused as to what to say.
Kyouko touched his arm and he turned to stare at her. "I'm okay. Really… hatsyii…"
Kuon was about to open his mouth again, this time to voice his concern, but Kyouko had already turned on the hot water knob and not long after the water was lukewarm. "Nice response." Great! What a lame comment! he told himself.
Kyouko stared at him. "Um… yeah." What kind of answer is 'yeah'? she asked herself incredulously.
They stared at each other. Both were confused as to what to say. It was awkward with them both stood under the shower with wet clothes.
"You sure nothing hurt?" His eyes were full of concern.
Kyouko shook her head. "I'm really fine. See…"
Kuon let out a deep relieved sigh. "Okay. I think you need to continue your shower? You must be feeling sticky with all the rice over your body. Honey, I'm sorry, okay?" He tried to look at her face instead of her body. He could see the white shirt she was wearing clung tight to her body. She was wearing some dark coloured underwear. I should go out or I'll lose it very soon.
"I'm already at it, aren't I? It's fine, really. It was part of my fault as well." Kyouko smiled nervously. "You can…"
Kuon tilted his head to right, waiting for her next line. "I can what?" Can go out now? Or can join in her shower? He grimaced at his own thought. Not possible! She probably wants to kick me out right now.
Kyouko froze for a second. "…um… nothing." I must be crazy. I actually had wanted to say shower together. I must be really crazy. NOOOOOOOO…
"I'll get you some towel. Do you need me to bring your clothes from the other room?" Kuon stepped aside and got a towel from the towel rack to cover his shoulder. He tried to be sensible.
"If you can, please bring me the bathrobe from the other bathroom. I left one there."
"Sure."
"Thanks."
Kuon waved his hands and pulled the curtain close, leaving a flustered, confused Kyouko behind.
It wasn't Friday yet. They were just clamming up together in Ren's apartment. Both of them had one day off because they had just come back from Hakone on late Wednesday night. Kyouko had decided to stay till Saturday when she'd go back to Darumaya. Kuon was surprised when she had stated her wish to stay. She didn't say anything regarding why she wanted to stay.
They were supposed to have a cooking training session which would also serve as their lunch. Ren hadn't had a chance to practice after all.
He was distracted from the time he had seen her almost in nothing days ago in the onsen. He was aware of how close she was when he was cooking minutes ago in the kitchen. She didn't say anything actually and he lost it. He tried to loosen his strength as she had countless times told him to, yet with one strong flick of his wrist, the rice had all flown to her direction and was all over her body.
He wanted to kick himself for not being able to control himself better. He wasn't his usual self which frustrated him. How she looked under the shower, wet with her clothes clung to her body tightly didn't help matters. He couldn't help having the hot for her. He glanced at the closed curtain and noticed her blur silhouette. He wanted to get back in the shower and had his way with her.
Hold that thought, mate! You don't want her go running away from you. Or worse, hate you.
He sighed deeply and decided what to do. He straightened himself then started stripping out his wet clothes and put the clothes in the laundry box.
Leave now whilst you're still sane!
He covered his lower body and got out of the bathroom. He dressed himself decently fast and left his room. He then strode faster towards the other room where Kyouko usually slept in before they were an item. She no longer slept in that room and only used it to put her stuffs in. She insisted to still put her things there since she didn't want to invade Kuon's wardrobe and room.
He found what he was looking right at the place she'd told him. He groaned in misery when he smelt flowery scent from her bathrobe. The smell disturbed him. Gosh! Since when did I become such a pervert?
He huffed and walked back to his own bedroom before he lost more sense.
Better get myself together so then she wouldn't suspect anything!
That was his last thought before he knocked back on his own bathroom's door to deliver her towel and bathrobe.
Kyouko sighed and sat under the shower after stripping herself bare. She felt powerless.
Great! I actually have some indecent thoughts about Kuon. That's all because the onsen. I wonder how long I would get over it this time.
She wanted to hit herself. She screamed inwardly whilst rolling on the bathroom's floor, frustrated with her own thought. She then got up and punched on the bathroom's tiles, trying to get herself sane.
Not to mention, we're going to sleep in one bed like usual. I'm staying till Saturday after all. It's good that we aren't living together yet but… how am I supposed to handle living together if just staying longer than a Friday already makes me feel like a total pervert with overly active imagination.
She cried inwardly and hoped that she wouldn't have to get out of the bathroom soon. She was sure that it would be full of awkwardness. She saw how he looked at her earlier and she noticed Emperor was there. She had a fluttering feeling in her stomach when she was remembering it.
She stared down at her own body and another frustrated sigh was out from her mouth. I don't even have curves. My breasts are too small. She almost shrieked in horror when she realised what she was thinking. What am I thinking? No! I'm really turning into a pervert. I am no good. Help! Help! Please help knock me back to my senses.
At the right time, she heard a knock on the bathroom's glass door.
"Kyouko, I'm getting in. Just want to put the towel and bathrobe."
Kyouko froze in her place. His voice made her body tingle and she resisted an urge to jump. "Thanks," she forced out an answer.
"I'll be out again. I'll clean up the mess in the kitchen, kay? Don't worry! By all means, we'd still have our lunch." He chuckled.
"Okay." She willed herself to be calm.
She heard his steps fading away and she let out a relieved sigh afterwards. I'd better get myself together or he'd be disturbed and suspect that something is wrong. I don't want him to misunderstand me! With that, she turned on the knob for cold water. I need a very cold shower!
Kuon had managed to save the lunch and it turned out decent. He even managed to cook the egg soup with only the directions Kyouko had written before they started the training session. Both of them had an awkward lunch afterwards.
They also had an awkward night when they got under the bedcover. They kissed each other goodnight on cheeks and immediately felt there was something wrong with their interactions the whole day. They realised that they weren't quite themselves for their own reasons.
Intentionally or not, Kyouko averted her eyes from Kuon several times and it made him raise his brows in confusion. Kyouko wasn't a good actress when it came to Kuon. Kuon, on the other hand, managed to keep himself together though he wouldn't deny that he was rather stiff and tried too hard to maintain a calm demeanour.
None of them had a good night sleep. When Kyouko was sure that Kuon was asleep, she woke up and stared at his sleeping face. She restrained herself from touching his face. She bit her lips and let out an inaudible sigh then finally went back to sleep.
When she was finally asleep, he woke up because of his occasional bad dream. He still dreamed about Rick's death sometimes. But when he saw her sleeping face, he immediately felt at ease.
He had an urge to touch any part of her to make sure that she was real and not leaving him. His breath hitched when he heard her soft sigh. He turned and locked his gaze on her lips. He groaned inwardly when he saw her soft swell of breasts beneath her camisole. He quickly pulled up the blanket and covered her up to her neck and then released a relieved sigh.
He willed himself to calm down. He turned his back to her before he lost himself and attacked her when she was being defenceless like this. This way is safer. But with the bad feeling he had felt since he woke up from a bad dream, he turned back to face her again. He took her hand in his and then went back to sleep as well, knowing he'd feel safe that his talisman was with him.
Kuze and Fuyuki were walking in the direction of an apartment complex where some neighbours spotted them. They got acquainted with the neighbours. Kuze introduced himself and then Fuyuki as his wife.
They rented an apartment in that complex and were living there as newlyweds. There had been a report from the apartment complex that some harassment had happened, such as someone leaving dead animals in front of the main entrance, dumping waste into mailboxes. It happened since a year ago and Kikuchi had been concerned about it –or in fact, he was forced by his wife to solve the case. His wife's friend was living in that complex after all and it was disturbing.
The victims of the harassments were always newlyweds. Thus, the case was assigned to Fuyuki and Kuze since Kikuchi couldn't find a better match for Fuyuki though he was reluctant to let someone as cute as Fuyuki to be Kuze's wife, even if it was only pretending.
Kuze told Fuyuki to get some information from the neighbour ladies and then to just act intimate in front of everyone in that complex. She was horrified yet she had to do that.
Fuyuki's first attempt at being a wife was to wake her 'husband' up. Kuze was a heavy sleeper. He didn't even budge and pulled Fuyuki to bed with him. Fuyuki tried to resist then tried what Yuuji had told her before. She whispered Kuze's name in his ear and he opened his eyes and finally awoke.
Fuyuki and Kuze had an arrangement. Kuze would go to station during the day and Fuyuki would stay to gather information. She felt a little lonely since they would act individually, even only for temporary.
"CUT! No Good!" Shingai yelled impatiently. "What's with that stiff posture, Ren?" Shingai shot him a sharp glare. "Kuze was supposed to be cool as usual and of course, touchy feely. No hard feelings. He's always a casual guy."
He turned to Kyouko. "Kyouko-chan, you seem tense as well. Whilst Fuyuki would of course be flustered with Kuze's touchy feely way, she wouldn't be that tense. Seriously! Your facial expressions were okay but your body weren't relaxed. You looked like you had sticks up your arses and I can assure you that even my grandma could recognise that stiff acting and would think that it was bad. REALLY BAD!"
He drummed his fingers impatiently then barked out his order. "RETAKE!"
They had stumbled upon the scene where Fuyuki waved goodbye to Kuze, her pretend husband when he was going to work. Ren actually did well when he was wiping the lipstick from Kyouko's lips, so did Kyouko. Their acts started to crumble when they got into a close proximity where Ren had to lean close to Kyouko's ear whilst touching her face and whispered in her ears that he'd help her put on her lipstick starting tomorrow.
The close proximity caused them hyperaware with each other's scent and body heat, especially with the shot being the close up shots. They had actually stuck on the scene on the bed where Fuyuki woke Kuze up before Shingai okay-ed them in the third take.
They stared at each other and gave each other assuring smile. Both of them knew that they couldn't help the tension between them. They were trying to assure themselves that they had to forget the fact that they were Ren and Kyouko and started to think that they were Kuze and Fuyuki.
They managed to get an okay for the retake.
Whilst Kuze went to the station and was soon interrogated by Kikuchi due to the lipstick trace on his collar, Fuyuki was having talks with her neighbours.
The neighbour ladies teased her about before -going –to-work kiss they had witnessed the earlier morning. Fuyuki blushed red but the ladies kept teasing her about it till the talks led to a warning. They told her to be careful since she and Kuze were the lovey dovey type, they could be the target of the harassment happened in the apartment complex.
The ladies told her all the harassment happened in that complex like what Kikuchi had told them before. Only the ladies told her more details happening and with conclusion, the closer the couple, the worse the harassment was.
Right at 06.00 pm, Fuyuki welcomed Kuze's home. She was wearing a cute frilly apron and with a ladle in hand when she opened the door for Kuze. Kuze was confused and asked her why she wore that apron. Fuyuki told him that Arizono said that the apron was necessary for their house playing.
Kuze moved in and got his hands around Fuyuki waist. He untied the apron and closed the door. The ladies nearby saw it and squealed like fan girls over the scene.
Turned out Kuze only fixed the tie. He walked past Fuyuki and she followed him to living room. Whilst he was putting his coat on the chair and loosening his tie, he asked what Fuyuki had got for the day. She told him about all the harassment happened in that complex from what the ladies had told her.
Kuze sank himself on the couch and commented how terrible it was. Fuyuki commented that those harassments seemed petty and voiced her guess that the culprit could be a woman. Kuze disagreed and said that there were also narrow-minded men.
Since there were nothing more on the case, they decided to just wait and see. Kuze then said to continue their newlyweds game and confused Fuyuki. He then made Fuyuki sit on his lap.
When Fuyuki asked him what he was doing, he answered that they had to choose one of the tasks of the game, which were 'eating a meal', 'taking a shower', or 'eat you'. Either she really didn't get what he meant, or she played stupid, she told Kuze that since she couldn't cook so eating a meal wasn't an option. Afterwards, she told him she was hungry. He sighed and said that stomach defeated the signal of love which made Fuyuki get even confused.
Kuze then volunteered to cook with Fuyuki by his side. Fuyuki was happy even if it was only a game. Eat, chat, make jokes and live under the same roof with Kuze made her happy.
They did okay in the scenes including the cooking scene. Nobody was surprised at the fact that Ren did well with the cooking scene despite their knowledge that the actor in question hated eating so he was probably a bad cook. Since he was the top actor of the country, they didn't doubt his ability to do the scene perfectly.
Whilst they had overcome their nervousness on screen with their determination as professionals, they still had Friday dinner and night. It was rather awkward with both of them trying their best to act normal.
It was even more awkward when Kyouko's advert for a wedding function in Osaka with Adam flashed on the television.
Kyouko's body tensed. She felt uncomfortable and about to reach for the remote when Kuon said, "What are you doing?"
She squeaked. "Um, changing channel."
"Why?" He asked incredulously.
"Err…" she opened her mouth then closed it again. What should I say?
Kuon stared down at her. He was heated inside, angry with that advert though in his professional's mind he knew that it was only an act. He acted calm so then Kyouko wouldn't get uncomfortable but he sensed it anyway. She probably feels bad though she should know that I'd view it as work. Personally, I'm not happy. Who would when they have to see their lady love 'married' another guy, even for job's sake? "How about watching movie instead?" He tried to lighten the situation.
"What movie?" She stared up at him with inquiring look.
"You name it." He grinned. "We can go to cinema if you want. We rarely go on a date after all."
She laughed. "You are teasing me. It'll be soon 10.00pm. Where do you want to watch it? It would be too late to go to a cinema at this time. Maybe we should find something on the cable."
"Maybe comedy or horror would be nice." He took the remote and started to flip the channel.
"Comedy is fine but horror? I don't know that you like horror movie," she sounded amused.
"So I can have you scream 'kyaa' and cling to me. Totally what a man would do to get his woman in his arm." He laughed.
Kyouko looked startled. She giggled. "That sounds very high school…but I have to tell you that horror movies don't scare me."
"Sure. You're far scarier than the ghosts."
Kyouko pouted. "So is said by the man who'd played the reaper."
"Are you accusing me of being scarier than your Mio?" He played with her hair and kissed her pouting lips.
She tensed for a mere second before she started responding to his kisses. The television was left forgotten. They were into their kisses. She fell on her back with him on top of her. Her both hands were on the back of his neck whilst his hands were on her back rubbing her and made her tingle with needs.
Her soft sexy moan when his lips went down to her neck startled them both.
How embarrassing! She opened her eyes wide, scared all of a sudden and also flustered. I've acted so shamefully.
Ren could feel her body trembled. She's scared. He lifted his face and stared down at her. That was very sexy though. Get a grip! He was waiting for her to say something.
Her lips trembled and she choked out some words, "I'm scared. Not ready for that."
"That?" He asked. He gave her an inquiring look.
"The 'eat you' part. I know you probably expect that but…" Her hands grew cold. Kuon felt it and took her hand to his and put it against his heart.
He was astonished. She isn't as dense as I thought. "I won't force you though it would be a lie to say that I don't want you that way."
"Even when I have no curves that could please you?" The moment she stated that spontaneously, she wanted to take it back. I sounded so pervert.
He stared at her body and went back to her face. "You have curves. I'd sound very dirty if I have to say it out loud." He smirked. "I'd got quite a view of you in the onsen."
Her eyes widened even more. Her cheeks felt hot and she thought she was blushing. "Hya… you really saw it! No! I was so scared, embarrassed and…" She bit her lip and averted her gaze from his face.
He smiled. "You should have told me when you feel that. I'm sorry that I scared you. Was it why you grow tense when we were in close proximity?"
She stared back at him and fidgeted.
"It's a yes then?" He laughed a little.
"Kuon, it's not that I don't want you that way but…" She blushed redder. I said that? She suddenly felt the need to bury herself deep inside the ground for stating it.
"But?" He stared at her flirtatiously.
"I want to wait but I also don't want you to feel disappointed in me." She gave him a wary look. What's said is said.
"Kyouko, I don't mind waiting. Patience is a virtue, ever heard of that?"
She nodded. "Even if…" she stopped again. She wanted to avoid saying the 'M' word.
"You know you can say anything to me. Say it, honey! I want to hear. You want to wait till marriage, right? If so, say it."
Kyouko blinked. "I don't want to assume. Men hate commitment."
Kuon smiled. I don't hate commitment. In fact, I'm worried that she's the one with commitment trouble. "Say it first. I still want to hear."
She huffed and gathered her courage. "I want to wait till marriage."
"Okay. We'll wait till marriage, unless you change your mind."
She was surprised by his answer. "You aren't horrified at all?"
"No. Why should I? I've been waiting for you to look at me and I won't rush it to next step. Not if you're uncomfortable. I'll wait. I want a forever with you after all. What about you?"
She smiled and shyly said, "I do too."
He grinned, satisfied with her answer. He then cursed himself under his breath.
"What's up?" Kyouko touched his face.
"Sorry that unlike Tsuruga Ren, Hizuri Kuon isn't a romantic guy." He said gravelly. Is Ren romantic? He was incredulous. "I should have been on one knee and done a decent proposal with a ring. Look what I have done. Whilst you're pinned down beneath me, I asked whether you want a forever with me like some casual talk in a coffee shop." I'm hopeless. Sorry, Rick! The real Kuon is still this pathetic.
She laughed a little. "It's you and I don't mind that though I'm surprised because men hate commitment."
"Since you came to my house and I saw how you went along with my parents, I had already planned a forever with you in my mind. But that time you weren't even my girlfriend. Not every man hates commitment."
"Eh?" She blushed.
He leant down and kissed her softly. He then gave her what she had called 'Emperor of the Night' look. He looked predatory.
"You're lying. You said you'll wait yet... you're giving me that Emperor look." She pouted.
"What look?" He blinked confusedly.
NO! I actually said that out loud. I didn't mean to say that! It should be my secret alone. Her body tensed again. She was horrified and flustered when she realised something hard was nudging between her thighs. She didn't need to second guess. She wasn't stupid.
"Kyouko, you haven't answered my question."
She gritted her teeth. "Em…em…em…" she stopped. "Emperor," her voice was barely audible.
So I have another nick? Emperor. Do I look like one? "And why is that? I thought you said that I was a Demon Lord?"
Her breath hitched. She was embarrassed for getting caught again. "I can't explain but sometimes you stared at me like that -with that Emperor of the Night look. And whenever you do that, I'm scared that you'll eat me alive."
Ah! Something clicked inside his mind. He felt his cheeks were on fire. He blushed to her surprise. "Sorry. I thought I could do better. So I've been quite bold with you." He stammered. "I'm really no saint and I won't lie that you often aroused me. In fact, now…" he stopped and got off her. "Err… you know. I know we'd got a deal. I'll wait."
She went beetroot. "I trust you."
He smiled and pulled her up. "I'd do my best and wait. I can't help my body reaction but don't worry! Okay?"
"Um, sorry, Kuon."
"You don't need to."
They hugged and later the night, they went to bed with no lingering feeling since they had sorted it out.
Fuyuki and Kuze had waited a week but nothing happened. They had done their best with wandering around the complex. In one of their out of complex walks, Kuze inadvertently let out his feelings about his father. He said that there was some father who would pretend to love their children but when his children needed him, he didn't respond. Fuyuki was affected by that talk since she wondered whether her 'father' would respond if she called out to him. She cried and Kuze held her close, comforted her.
Some neighbours witnessed their hugging, including the harasser. Starting the second week, Fuyuki and Kuze started to accept ill meaning gifts. It started with banana peels in front of their apartment's door. They decided to ignore it whilst still pretending to be lovey-dovey couple.
Later the day, Fuyuki bumped onto a thirty something guy and wondered whether he was a resident there. She asked around and heard from the neighbours the guy was called Kawachi, and worked in some company and had just returned from a business trip. The neighbours also told her that two years ago his wife had suddenly walked out on him. Whilst she thought hard, the ladies noticed that Fuyuki wasn't wearing her wedding ring.
She was confused and was startled when Kuze suddenly appeared from behind. Kuze then told her to give him her left hand. She obliged and he slid on a ring on her ring finger. They managed to fool the neighbours and when they were just the two of them, Fuyuki confronted him about the ring. He then told her to just wear it. Apparently the culprit once again saw their lovey-dovey behaviour.
Kuze was attacked with a plastic pot the next morning. There was something hairy inside their mailbox. The harassment kept getting worse. There were curse dolls on their door, thumbtacks on their apartment's entrance, also someone was attacking their door bell in the middle of the night, and one day Fuyuki fell because some sesame oil on the floor.
They still took it calmly. Kuze picked Fuyuki's up bridal style and went back to their apartment. After she was finished with her bath and they started talking about the case, Kuze grabbed Fuyuki and shielded her from attack. Their window was broken and Fuyuki saw the stone. She fussed over Kuze's injury then grabbed the stone. Using her power, she could see the person throwing the stone, it was Kawachi. She stomped and cursed angrily.
She chased after Kawachi with Kuze trailed after her. She then threw the stone whilst cursing Kawachi. The stone hit Kawachi's head and he wobbled. Kuze finished him with a slam and Kawachi fell down. Fuyuki then explained who Kawachi was and put things together they announced that Kawachi was the harasser in that complex.
Kawachi let out his desperate reason why he did it and Fuyuki brutally wounded him with her words. Afterwards, Fuyuki and Kuze confessed that they weren't married couple and instead police officers. Even though so, the ladies still mistook it and thought that Fuyuki was Kuze's girlfriend. Fuyuki denied it and the ladies were disheartened.
Kuze then helped Fuyuki put on her shoes. The ladies in the end still doubted them since they were so lovey-dovey. They still gossiped about the couple.
Meanwhile, Fuyuki kept asking Kuze whether he was sure to give the ring – the one they used in their assignment to her. He ended up giving his to her and said that he'd buy her the new one next time and left Fuyuki confused.
Kyouko gave back the props to the wardrobe. She liked the ring they'd used in the movie. She blushed when she was reminded of their talk nights ago. Her cheeks flushed pink.
"Kyouko-chan, we're done," her makeup artist said.
"Eh?" Kyouko was startled. "Thank you, Shimomura-san."
"I'll get going first." Shimomura winked.
Kyouko nodded. "Thank you for your hard work." She stood and bowed slightly.
Shimomura bowed back.
Once Shimomura was out of view, Kyouko got back to her things. She tidied up her scripts, books and loaded them into her bag. She then heard a knock on her door and without glancing she said, "Wait a sec, Hiro-san."
There was no answer and she heard the door being opened and closed. She lifted her face from her bag. "Ren? I thought you were Hiro-san."
He smiled. "I told Hiro that you'd go back with me."
Kyouko was surprised. "You don't have job tonight?"
Ren chuckled. "No. It is already 08.30 pm."
"Oh, you're right."
"You don't have job too right?"
"No." She smiled. "I'm finished. Shall we go then?" She put her bag on her right shoulder.
"Of course but before that…" Ren looked tense.
Kyouko stopped in her track and tilted her head, waiting.
Ren walked close towards Kyouko and stopped when he was close enough. "Give me your left hand!"
She held out her left hand though she was still confused. Ren took her left hand and let out a nervous breath and slid on something on her ring finger.
Kyouko gaped at the platinum band with diamond on it on her finger. "Err…"
"For you."
"Eh but isn't this expensive? It's not my birthday yet."
"It's not very expensive. Don't worry! I know that today isn't your birthday. But… Am I not allowed to give you gift when it isn't your birthday? Do we have to have special occasion for that?"
"No." Kyouko smiled. She didn't have the heart to reject his gift. She knew that he probably went for the trouble to choose and to buy it. "Thank you. I like it." She closed their gap and hugged him tightly.
He hugged her back. "I just want to give you something you could bring with you that'd always remind you of me. Unless we're on Keishichou Tokuhanka set, we rarely meet after all." He wanted to add 'unless you'd move in with me' but he restrained that thought since he knew she would feel uncomfortable.
She snuggled into his embrace more. She was touched. She then looked up at him and put a kiss on his lips and startled him. He lowered his head and kissed her deeply. "Kyouko, we have to go or I'll lose it very soon," he whispered huskily.
She flinched away from him and he laughed. He held out his hand to her and she took it with a smile, leaving her dressing room in a loud bam.
A/N : Next next chapters would contain spoiler of KT007 for those who haven't read past vol 6. I'm sorry it's been long. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the read! Thanks for reading, subscribing, favouring and reviewing.
Thanks to Shiroyuki76 for proofreading this chapter.