Imperial Entanglements

Disclaimer: I do not own SkipBeat! or any of the characters from the Manga. This story is entirely fictional and is not meant to cast aspersions on the true Japanese Imperial Family in any way. None of the names, personalities, or events in this story reflect true events in any way. The true Japanese Imperial Court is intricate and complicated beyond the easy understanding of a foreign commoner such as me. Nevertheless, I'm confident that someone will still be offended by my characterization of this fictional family. For that I can only apologize.

Chapter 25 – A tense morning

Nurse Kitako bit her tongue to stifle yet another protest as she realized that the irritatingly charming older man… with his long legs and his wavy, black hair and his perfect white teeth and… she clenched her fists and mumbled an imprecation on the man. She wasn't sure what irritated her more: his easy, charming way of manipulating her or her ridiculously happy feelings every time the man smiled on her. She was almost 50, for Kami's sake. What business did she have to react in this manner?

With that in mind, she snarled, "Takarada-sama! The patient had malaria and my doctor clearly instructed me…"

The tall, almost beautiful man who looked remarkably like Tsuruga Ren… Nurse Kitako never paid attention to the news or gossip columns, but she had seen the actor in several films… was already in the limousine before she could complete her tirade. Another man, shorter, dark and mysterious, closed the door and opened the front-passenger door for the older man. Takarada Lory smiled gently at the nurse, "Nurse Kitako, I have the deepest respect both for you and for your doctor, but I assure you that my doctor is more than capable of seeing to any of the patient's needs. For now, however, it is necessary that we relocate him and take him out of the public spotlight."

He reached out to take one of her hands and she flushed, "We thank you for all that you have done. You are a shining example of your profession. Good day. He kissed her hand and was in the car before she could find her voice to reply.

As the car drove away, Ren said, "Out of the public spotlight?"

"Okay, so I lied. It isn't too late to change your mind?" Lory looked back and gave Ren and Yashiro a benign smile. Yashiro, who was still trying to absorb everything that he had learned, looked rapidly back and forth between the two men.

Ren met the eyes of his boss, mentor, and friend squarely, but he didn't reply. His eyes said all that was needed.

oOoOOoOo

The Emperor of Japan watched silently as his son talked on his cell phone. From the slope of his shoulders and the whiteness of his knuckles, the father suspected that his son had been unsuccessful at making contact. He must be leaving a message.

The Emperor was correct. Imperial Prince Takahiro was trying to put deep meaning into a few stilted sentences without pushing Kyoko to make a decision before she was ready. It hadn't been easy. "… I have to go back in order to make it to class. I know that you, of all people, would not want me to shirk my duties… still, Kyoko, I would much rather remain here. I won't push, but I will say this: please don't make any major decisions while you're away. I will be waiting anxiously to see you again." He closed the phone, completely unaware that his words echoed the words of his arch-rival, spoken several days before.

He turned and saw his father quickly avert his gaze, but not before Takahiro recognized the look of commiseration on his father's face. He felt a warmth for the older man that he hadn't experienced in years. "Thank you, Father, for allowing me to come here to Kyoto. I'm ready."

The Emperor placed a strong hand on his son's shoulder and gave it a squeeze before both men climbed into the car. The Kempe Tai jumped into their cars and the whole entourage pulled away from the ancient seat of government.

In another part of town Kotonami Kanae was also saying her farewells. The morning shoot had gone well, but there was still more to be done. Kanae's own free time was over and she needed to board the fast-train to Tokyo. She hated to leave Kyoko in this situation, but she knew that Kyoko would expect her to fulfill her commitments. Besides, what she had witnessed earlier only served to confirm to her that Kyoko was able to handle the press.

Just this once, she allowed Kyoko to hug her tight, but that didn't prevent her from grumbling, "Mo! You're making a scene, Kyoko! Now let me go or I'll miss my train." Even though she said the words, she made no effort to extract herself from the shorter girl's grip.

Finally, Kyoko stepped back, her golden eyes almost worshipful, "Thank you, Moko-san, for being there for me this whole time. I wasted your whole vacation time being selfish, and I'm…"

"Kyoko! I went to Kyoto, spent the night in the Kyoto Palace, and got to see the sights. That's enough. Now I have to go back to work before you become so famous that I can't catch up. Now go back to the set or you'll make everybody wait… and then I will have to find a new, more responsible best friend."

Kyoko blanched and stepped back, but then she smiled, bowed, and turned away. Kanae watched her go before walking over to where Katsukawa Ichiro held the car door open. Kanae gave the man a slight smile before climbing in. Thankfully, the drive to the station was too short for the young man to work up the courage to express his interest. A man was the last thing she needed right at the moment… look at what it was doing to Kyoko!

oOoOOoOo

Director Asami Haruki watched in wonder as Kyoko used her dramatic skills to pull out the best from the other actors, the walk-ons, and especially Fuwa Sho. Anyone watching at that moment for the first time would never guess that the two former friends had an altercation just the night before… or that it had ended with Sho trying to kiss the girl and her leaving him with a bloody lip.

Make-up had done wonders, but it had taken Kyoko's natural skills to draw out the brooding singer/musician. Still… Haruki turned to Shouko Aki, who was watching with a similar look of fascination, "I think that this should be the last time we put the two of them in front of the camera together. Her skills have outgrown him. It's going to take some careful editing work to disguise the obvious truth about the disparity between their skills."

Shouko Aki grimaced and nodded. "Not to mention the volatility aspect. I don't even like to have the two of them together in the same city, much less on the same set."

The two of them, as Shouko put it, had managed to complete the second-to-last scene and were heading for the monitors when Sho put a hand on Kyoko's shoulder. She stiffened under the contact, but Sho said, "I just wanted to apologize again. I… the last thing that I wanted to do was make you hate me even more."

The sincere tone in Sho's voice struck a chord in Kyoko's heart and she turned to face him. "I don't hate you, Sho. I just can't respond to your confession in the way that you want. I think that, after you think about it, you'll realize that you don't really lo… think of me in that way."

"Let me be the judge…" Sho started to snarl, but stopped himself, "My feelings are real, Kyoko, but I understand that you don't return them." He glanced past her to where the crowd was still gathered. Grateful for the distraction, he said, "What are you going to tell them?"

Kyoko sighed, "The truth: I didn't ever even know my father's name. My mother didn't want me. The only true parent figures I knew as a child were your parents. What else can I say?"

Sho marveled at this altered, mature and more confident Kyoko. Even a year ago she would have gone into a meltdown by now. His heart ached, but he managed to say, "You shouldn't go out there and face them alone. Shouldn't you have…"

"Oh, don't worry. Takarada Lory, my company president, is actually on his way over here. He said that he'll be here before the last scene is in the can."

"That freak!" Sho scoffed, "I suppose that the man is going to show up dressed looking like the Sultan or Misore or some other ridiculous…"

"Takarada-shacho is the best company president around, Shotaro, and he takes good care of all of his employees, so don't you dare…!"

"A-hem!" Shouko Aki interrupted by clearing her voice loudly, "You do both realize that there are news video cameras over there, don't you?"

Kyoko's eyes squinted in frustration, but she bowed to the pretty manager and answered in a remarkably measured tone, "Thank you, Shouko-san. It seems that Sho and I still can't hold a civil conversation. It is probably good that this project is almost in-the-can." She nodded to both of them, turned, and walked back towards the set.

Sho flinched and ground his teeth at her reference to "this project." The song, the video, and even the trip to Kyoto had all been done in an effort to win Kyoko back… and it had failed miserably. To her this was all just "this project." He glanced away and happened to meet his manager's eyes. His jaw clenched hard as he recognized the fleeting look of pity in her eyes. Shouko Aki recognized the danger signals and promptly cautioned, "Hold it together for just a little longer, Sho. One more scene and it's all over."

"Yeah," Sho muttered as he watched Kyoko getting her face touched-up, "it will all be over…"

oOoOOoOo

The final scene took nine takes before it was finally accepted by Director Asami. Fuwa Sho seemed distracted and surly when he should have looked loving and heartbroken. It required a short break and another talk from Shouko Aki to set the boy straight. There was a collective sigh of relief, even among the walk-ons, when the filming was finally complete.

Although only a select few people knew even a portion of the behind-the-scenes drama of the past few days, they could still sense the explosive tension. They had expected Kyouko to be the one with the problem; after all, her life was being laid out before the public eye day-after-day. They were amazed, therefore, when she continued to deliver almost flawless performances. Some explained it as proof of her worldly-wise ways behind her innocent façade. Others believed that she was unconcerned because she was innocent of the accusations being thrown her way. Most agreed that, regardless of her true personality, she was most-certainly a professional.

Of course they were unaware of the terrible inner turmoils that were eating away at her. Between the problems with the two young men that she had left at the palace on that same morning and the revelation that she had a father after all, her head could barely grasp it all… and so she grasped for the one thing that seemed to offer any solace: immersing herself into her role.

But now that the camera crews were packing up their equipment and the cosmetologist was removing the last vestiges of her makeup, her temporary shield was gone. Waiting only twenty yards away was a crowd of fans, anti-fans, and… worst of all… reporters.

And she had promised to answer their questions.

"Kyouko-sama, are you all right?" the make-up lady asked with genuine concern, "You're trembling."

Startled, Kyoko looked down at her hands. For a moment she clasped them together. Then she took a deep breath. When she expelled it, she had put on her mask again. She was in-control, sophisticated, ready… "I apologize for worrying you, Kitamagi-san. I'm fine now."

The short, slightly overweight but very cute lady looked at Kyoko with eyes that were so brown that they looked black. "For what it is worth, Kyouko-sama, we're all rooting for you… I mean me and all of the others in make-up and wardrobe. We all support you." She blushed at this frank speech and continued her ministrations.

Kyoko was deeply touched by this. Most of the people on the set worked for either Akitoki or for Studio Magic. None of them worked for LME, so they had no obligation to support her... which meant that their good feelings were entirely sincere. "Thank you, Kitamagi-san."

Once the film makeup was removed, Kitamagi Nieko immediately began reapplying new makeup. When Kyoko's eyes met hers inquiringly, the short lady smiled, "We can't have you going in front of the reporters without your war paint. Makeup is a woman's armor, didn't your mother teach…" Kitamagi gasped and covered her mouth, "Oh! I'm so sorry! I'm such an idiot! Truly, I'm sorry! I didn't mean…"

Kyoko laid her long, slender fingers on the distraught makeup artist's arm, "Nieko-chan…" Her use of the lady's given name halted the apologies. "I can't change the past. My mother didn't love me. My father didn't want me." She smiled sadly, "but I have people who care about me now… some who might even love me. The rest doesn't matter."

Kitamagi Nieko gave Kyoko a spontaneous hug. "You're so mature! And you're right. A lot of people love you now. Now… just a swipe here… and a little blush there… voilà! Perfection! Now you go and show those reporters that you're better than all of them."

Kyoko walked out of the tent and into the early afternoon sun. Naturally, her eyes turned towards the crowd. She was alarmed to see Fuwa Sho's bleech-blond hair and realized that he was in the midst of an interview with the reporters. Walking briskly, she proceeded towards the spot. As she approached, she began to make out Sho's words. "…wasn't raised by… My mother and father … closest family… love her dearly… polite, well-mannered and very traditional. I can assure you that, no matter what her mother did when she was younger, Mogami Kyoko is the epitome of grace, honor, and good upbringing. My mother and father invite you over to the Ryokan at any time if you would like to see the truth about the environment that shaped the actress Kyouko. So please… don't spread any more damaging lies about her. Thank you. I have to go now. I have a concert to prepare for. Good afternoon."

Kyoko had stopped just shy of the crowd barrier. Now she watched gratefully as Sho walked towards her. As he neared, he looked at her with sad eyes and said, "That's the last thing that I can do for you. You are on your own now. Take care of yourself."

Kyoko nodded and bowed, but Sho, shadowed by Shouko Aki, merely passed by.

She allowed herself one final lingering look at the retreating back of her childhood friend. Then she turned back, squared her shoulders, and began to walk towards the crowd-control line again. She couldn't see her company president anywhere, and she had made everyone wait as long as she dared. She decided to go ahead and start. The first reporter spotted her, called out, and almost immediately the clamor rose to riot-level. Once again, as before, she raised a hand imperiously. This time it took a little longer, but the crowd finally stilled. She bowed gracefully to them, one hand draped over the other just as she had been taught. "Thank you, everyone, for waiting so patiently. I will begin with a statement, and then I will take your questions."

It would be easy an impartial observer to forget, at that moment, that Mogami Kyoko was only eighteen and only had two years of acting under her belt. It might have been even harder to believe if the reporters had known that she would have behaved like a frightened woodland animal only four months ago. The events of the past weeks had made a change, instilling the self-confidence in Kyoko that she had always lacked. Whatever her final decision, her association with Takahiro and the Imperial Family had already altered her forever.

Of course, at the moment she was actually trembling inside… but nobody needed to know that… right?

"To the best of my knowledge, the report on my parents and the circumstances of their relationship are true. Beyond this, I cannot say much. When I was a small child, my mother told me that my father was dead. She raised me by herself during my living memory, except that she often left me with the Fuwa family… until she eventually disappeared altogether. I have not seen my mother since I was twelve.

"I was raised in the Fuwa Ryokan by the owners, a loving and wonderful couple. Fuwa Sachiko-san, the okami-san, taught me manners, decorum, and many other things. Fuwa Shikekazu, the taisho, taught me to cook and he taught me all about honor. They both taught me the value of hard work and duty. Any merit that I earn in this life goes to their credit. Any criticism belongs solely to me."

She paused, one deep breath giving the only evidence that she was nervous, "I will take your questions now."

The reporters went into a feeding frenzy, everyone speaking at once, shouting to be heard above the others until nothing could be heard at all. Kyoko was bewildered for a minute. She wanted to escape, but she forced herself to look for a familiar face. She found the man who had approached her at the gala ball, an event that seemed years in the past instead of being only a week ago. She pointed at him and the bedlam decreased until his voice could be heard over the rest, "Mogami Kyoko, my name is Miyamoto Taki, from Tokyo Entertainment Daily," he made the introduction to demonstrate to his accusers that he and the young actress were not associates. Several other reporters had accused him of being in-her-pocket after his two favorable articles. "If I may ask, what do you intend to do about Councillor Maeda? Will you meet with him? Has he attempted to contact you?"

But before she could answer, she saw Takarada Lory and a tall, beautiful man with blond hair and blue eyes walking toward the front of the crowd. Her eyes grew wide with alarm as she realized the implications of Tsuruga Ren appearing in public in this fashion. Her eyes met his shocking blues and she read a message of confidence and trust in his eyes. The eye-contact only lasted for a heartbeat before she quickly directed her eyes back to the balding reporter, "To be honest, Miyamoto-san, I haven't given it a great deal of attention. The past two days have been rather… hectic." She thought about it for a moment longer before nodding in decision, "I would not oppose the meeting, if that is his wish."

Kyoko searched for another reporter and chose a woman who looked kind. She turned out to be a poor choice. As soon as Kyoko pointed to her, her kind expression turned hungry, "Kyouko-san, how do you respond to allegations that, just like your mother, you are just a gold-digger who is trading up from man-to-man as soon as you find somebody richer?"

Kyoko felt the question like a body-blow, but her persona held and she replied, "My only response is that it is a ridiculous allegation." She tried to choose another reporter, but the woman shouted over everyone to ask, "But isn't it true that you pursued Tsuruga Ren as soon as you joined LME and you dumped him as soon as he left for Africa?"

Kyoko opened her mouth to speak, but a deeper voice overrode hers and said, "I would like to answer that question, Misako-san." Every eye turned to regard the unnaturally tall blond-haired, blue-eyed man who moved towards Kyoko. "After all, it pertains directly to me."

Notes: Okay, I said that Ren would have his time, but it will actually take place in the next chapter… aren't I cruel?

Actually, from this point forward, Ren will figure prominently in the story. You have to admit that most of what has taken place up until now wouldn't have been possible if he had been present. But he started sending me death threats, so I had to start writing him in. Jeez, these temperamental actor types…