The Demon of the Silver Screen
Quincey rubbed his arm, wincing playfully. He glanced over at the two alphas engaging in comfortable manly silence at the bar, then back at her.
"Pardon me, Miss Heel--"
"Setsuka. Miss Heel sounds like my mother."
"Setsuka, yes. Since our men are busy, would you like to join me for an aperitif?"
She glared at him from beneath lowered brows, suspicious of any French words crossing his lips.
"A light drink, Setsuka. Nothing but a drink. I could introduce you to my associate from Japan while we sip?"
Setsu studied him a moment longer, then nodded curtly. A final glance over her shoulder confirmed Cain's happy esconscement with his newfound friend. The two were swirling amber-colored liquor, holding the glasses up to the light before swigging the contents. Quincey guided her by the elbow to a small cluster of chatting people, clearing his throat politely to catch the attention of the man closest to them.
"My dear Mr. Shingai," he said, sweeping his hand dramatically as he introduced the pair. "I'd love to have the honor of introducing you to my dear friend, Setsuka Heel."
Setsu's eyes went wide, the sudden shock of recognition forcing Kyoko through for the briefest of moments. Seiji Shingai's eyes lit up, his smile a little too pleased for her liking.
"Setsuka Heel, you say?" he said calmly, studying her face carefully. "I believe I've had the honor of previous acquaintance."
"Mmmm," she murmured, shaking her head slightly as she willed the cold mask of indifference to reclaim her features. "Not likely." Setsu examined her fingertips, holding her hand out to receive a small cocktail from Quincey.
Shingai nodded in apology. "It must be a simple case of resemblance."
Quincey blurted a laugh. "You've met someone like her before?" He beamed at Setsu. "How genuinely interesting. I have never come across such a…" She glared at him, daring him to finish his sentence. Quincey swallowed hard. "Delightfully unique creature. I must visit Japan myself someday." He leaned in close to Setsu to whisper playfully in her ear. "Perhaps one of your look-alikes will indulge my French requests."
Setsu smacked his shoulder again, drawing forth dramatic complaints about tender skin bruising easily. She glanced at Shingai. He was still watching her closely, his eyes sharp and attentive to every gesture made.
"You are in town for the BHI?" he asked, sipping his drink.
"Yes," she said. "My brother was asked to promote his latest film."
"Ah. A brother-- and he is…?"
Setsuka frowned at him. "Mine."
Shingai laughed under his breath. Quincey gestured over at the bar. "Making nice with the natives," he said comically. "And raiding my aged Scotch collection in the process, no doubt."
Setsu crossed her arms. She was about done with this conversation. Time to go collect nii-san.
"How has your ankle healed?" Shingai asked as he waved for a waiter carrying trays of hors d'ouerves.
"Fine," she replied automatically, then blanched.
Shingai pulled two small plates off the tray, holding one out to her. He held the plate in his grip long enough to force her to make eye contact, smiling as his gray eyes met her golden ones. "Excellent," he said quietly.
Kyoko panicked beneath her calm Setsu mask. She'd blown it. He knew. She handed her plate and glass to Quincey, excusing herself. She could feel Shingai's eyes on her back as she forced herself to walk calmly away toward the bar. She needed to leave with nii-san before Shingai worked out an introduction to Cain -- or, perhaps worse, to Kuu or Julie and figured out Kuon's true connections to the Hizuri family. She worried at her lip, walking faster across the massive room.
The bar was empty. Cain and Tora had disappeared. Kyoko felt an urge to curse.
She needed to find mom.
A quick scan of the room revealed the beautiful Julie Heel engaged in a focused conversation with a man who appeared to be head chef. Setsu tried to walk as casually as possible over to her mother, aware of the continued amused scrutiny of Director Shingai.
"...personal favorite is Bleu de Bocage, but I am simply gushing over the goat cheese you used in these mushrooms. You must tell me the source."
"Madame, you are too kind, naturally it was Brunet. Would you like to take some home with you? It can be arranged-- please, come join me in the kitchen, a chef of your discerning palate would be most welcome in my humble domain."
"No." Setsu interjected firmly, gripping her mother's elbow before she could follow the unsuspecting chef. "Ah, thank you, but no." If even half the stories Kuu and Kuon told of her cooking were true, Julie mustn't be allowed anywhere near a professional kitchen.
Julie turned to look at her quizzically. "Dearest, is everything alright? Don't tell me Quincey has already proposed." Julie's smile was bright, illuminating her stunning features. "You do look simply edible tonight, but it would throw off your father's timetables by about a week if we were to have to move the expected nuptial date up."
"Mom," Setsu's voice rose in exasperation. "How many times do I have to tell you, I am NOT--" She drew in a deep breath, stopping herself. "Never mind. Please, mom, can we talk?" She glanced over Julie's shoulder at the chef, who bowed gracefully and retreated to the kitchens.
Julie moved out of the main room to sit on a settee in the quiet hallway. "What is it, darling? Does your corset pinch? I told you we should've gone with the red one."
Setsu wanted to maul her own face with her hands. "Mom. Please. Listen."
Julie crossed her hands peacefully in her lap and waited.
"Director Shingai knows."
Her mother's head cocked, looking at Setsu expectantly.
"He… I auditioned for one of his projects at the start of my career. He recognized me somehow, even as Setsu." Her desperate cling to the character of the Heel girl was the only thing keeping her from dropping into a dogeza on the marble floor. "I'm not a good enough actress; I failed to keep the character. I'm so sorry, Julie-- he could figure it all out now-- you need to leave. If he connects you and Hizuri-san to--"
"Shh," Julie motioned, placing her finger gently on Kyoko's lips to still her voice, then drawing her into a gentle hug. "Shh, dear one." Julie glanced around over Kyoko's back, making sure they were still alone. Her hand felt warm on Kyoko's shoulder; it was growing increasingly difficult to keep composure beneath the gentle gesture.
"I should be better at this by now, I—"
"Setsuka." Julie's voice was firm. She pushed up on Kyoko's chin, making her meet her eyes. "You are an outstanding actress." She waited, watching her expectantly until Setsu looked at her through Kyoko's eyes, sniffing slightly and sitting up straighter. "Director Shingai, however, isn't called the Demon of the Silver Screen because of his predilection for filming slasher fics." She patted the lace draping Setsu's upper arms. "I'm afraid we all underestimated him."
Setsu waited. Julie would know what to do. That's what real moms did. They fixed things.
Julie's smile was tinged with sadness. "Just as I underestimated you." She cupped Setsu's face in her palm, her eyes tender. "I lost him once. I can't lose him again… I had to—" Julie sighed, squeezing her into a bear hug just as rib-crushing as any Kuu could deliver. "I had to try and find a way to make sure you weren't toying with him."
Kyoko gasped in surprise, then gasped again for air as Julie squeezed her tighter before continuing.
"Kuu got to meet you." She sounded like she was forcing the words out, her voice tight and tinged with regret. "I was left waiting, completely unaware of the woman my son was slowly tying his life to." She sat back from Kyoko, fingering the very tips of her blonde hair. "I wanted to make sure you loved him as much as he loves you."
Setsu's eyes grew wide. "So the engagement…?"
Julie nodded. "I'm sorry." She laughed self-deprecatingly. "A crude trick, dangling a rich British lord in front of you." Setsu shook her head in disbelief. "Especially since darling tells me you're far more interested in fairies than lordlings."
At that Kyoko broke through again with a giggle. "Julie-san, I have my fairy and my prince. And if he'll have me, I don't plan on going anywhere for the rest of my life."
Julie held back a squeal, her eyes glistening. She leaned forward and whispered in Kyoko's ear, hugging her gently. "Kyoko, I cannot wait to get to know you. Not Setsuka— whom you play beautifully— but you." Her warm gaze searched Kyoko's eyes as she brushed her bangs to the side. "And please, don't stop calling me Mom."
Kyoko fell into her hug, letting herself enjoy the moment. But it couldn't last — not yet. "Mom," she said, pausing to smile at the pronoun. "You and dad need to leave. If Director Shingai recognizes you…"
Julie nodded, her demeanor shifting. "I understand, dearest. I'll collect darling— on one condition."
Kyoko perked up, bracing her hands on her knees. She still didn't know Julie well enough to predict what would follow.
"Come visit us for Christmas. At least. Visit us often, wear out our front door!" She gripped Kyoko's hands in hers. "Move in!"
Kyoko coughed, hiding her embarrassment.
Julie gave Kyoko's hands a squeeze before standing. "We miss him. I miss him. But," she paused, taking a deep breath with a wistful expression, "I will try to trust you with him."
She brushed imaginary wrinkles from her skirt and wiggled her eyebrows at Kyoko suggestively.
"Consider this the end of our interruption of your romantic getaway."
Kyoko blushed. "We'll come home soon," she said softly. "I promise, mom."
Julie patted her head, carefully arranging a few stray strands. "Until then," she said, her voice barely audible. "Give him enough love to cover dad and I's contribution too."
Kyoko made a mock-grimace face. "Ay-yah, mom! I don't think there's enough hours in the day for that!"
Julie laughed, then turned and went to find Kuu. The room seemed slightly duller after her absence, as if someone had replaced the sun itself with a mere chandelier. Kyoko looked at her hands, a hesitant smile flitting across her face. "Home…" she whispered to herself. Every moment she spent with Kuu or Julie was another puzzle piece to the man she loved falling into place. She stood, straightening her own short skirt.
Time to find out where nii-san had gone.
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A/N: CANT STOP WONT STOP BINGE WRITING FOR VALENTINES DAY
PERSIE LOVES YOU!
