A/N: Here we are, just over six months after I started this fic, and I can't believe it's done. I have loved every minute of writing it, from the sweetness of Ren x Kyoko, to the revelations of Bo and Kuon, and the script for Lotus. By far, though, my favorite was the craziness of Shoga. Who would have thought that a wild idea on who to pair Sho with for his journey into owning his actions and owning himself would take such deep root in my heart?
I'll probably be posting Shoga one-shots in the future, so if you have inspirations please send them my way! I'll be posting some fanart on my tumblr and the Ao3 version of this story, because golly gee whillikers why not.
Thanks for absolutely everything. You may not know it, but by reading you were there for this momma during a time of life with drastic ups and downs and I won't ever forget it.
Persie loves you!
And without further adieu—
The Final Chapter
Six Months Later
Koga smoothed his jacket down over his hips, pulling it taut so the shoulders lay just right. His hair was combed back in an attempt to tame the waves. The new look made him feel slightly self-conscious. Actually, everything about tonight made him feel self-conscious. He couldn't blame it on the hair. That one curl sprang back out to lay in its favorite spot near his temple. He frowned at it.
The moon was already high in the afternoon sky; he could see it just cresting the cherry trees from their apartment windows. Tokyo was blooming for the Event of the Year, even the kamisamas joining in to decorate their land for the celebration.
Kuon Hizuri had no reason to invite him to his wedding. The event was notoriously private, only fifty-odd people having been invited. Immediate family and their closest friends — and Sho, in what Kyoko had termed an "olive branch" to restart their friendship. She and Kuon had just returned from filming Mulan, only in town long enough for a bride and groom shower a thousand times larger than the wedding itself at the Takarada mansion. All of their costars, past and present, as well as members of the domestic and foreign media had been invited to that event.
Fifty-odd people made the transfer from that circus of a gala to the wedding itself.
And he was one of them.
He pulled at his jacket sleeves again, situating them the perfect inch above the crisp white cuff of his shirt. Arrogant, curt, belittling. Those were the words he'd use to describe his less-than-stellar interactions with Kyoko since he'd discovered her ties to the man he'd called Tsuruga.
Clumsy, awkward, inept. Words for his conversations with said Tsuruga.
And yet he made the list.
Koga chewed on the inside of his lip, still embroiled in private debate when strong but slender hands slid around his neck, drawing a silk tie under his starched collar. Sho kissed the back of his neck, then moved to stand between him and the mirror. He smiled at Koga, adjusting the tie straps to lie perfectly even before looping the knots. He'd been practicing, Koga noticed. This was their ritual. Every formal function, be it a dinner or premiere or night out, if Koga was wearing a tie, Sho would tie it. The first knots had by all accounts looked like they'd been tied by a third grader. Koga compensated by rolling up his sleeves and mussing his hair, claiming a grunge chic look instead of retying the knot when Sho finally gave up and called it a mostly-win.
Tonight's knot was even and crisp, tied with hands deft enough to release Sho's eyes to wander their way up to Koga's as he finished. He smiled, then dropped his eyes again.
"Is it because it's him?" Sho asked, his voice soft.
"Who?"
Sho stepped back, leaning against the mirror with his arms crossed. He looked out over the Tokyo skyline. "Tsuruga. Hizuri. Poster boy. Is he why you're so wound up?"
"What? No—"
Sho studied him, staying silent.
"It's not. I—" He searched for words. "I don't understand why they invited me. Do you think they know?"
His partner's grin was cocky, a challenge thrown at the world beyond their windows.
"And if they do? Koga, you should know by now." He pushed off the wall to stand in front of Koga, holding out his own tie. Koga took it, reaching up behind Sho's neck. Sho turned his face to brush against Koga's just as he leaned in closest. "How long have we been living together?"
Koga drew the ends of the tie down, tugging to straighten them. His hands rested on Sho's chest for a moment before moving to start the knot. "How many fights have we had?"
"Do the ones over how many cabinets you use for pudding count?"
Sho smirked, shaking his head. Koga finished the knot and finally met Sho's eyes. "You're an ass," Sho said. "But you're my ass."
He reached over to their dresser to grab Koga's watch off the top, sliding it over his wrist. "And I'm not going anywhere, no matter who knows what or what they have to say about it."
Koga leaned into Sho, resting his forehead on his lover's. He sighed.
"We'll be careful," Sho said, his breath a whisper over Koga's skin. "If you're not ready, you're not. I love you anyways and I'm the only one that needs to know."
"I thought you wanted the world to know."
"I do, idiot. But not until you do too."
——-
The church was blooming. Kyoko has asked Sho's family to provide flowers and greenery local to their ryokan in Kyoto, and they'd gone above and beyond, creating a lush backdrop of plants that made it feel like the wedding was in their carefully tended onsen gardens. There was even a small fountain near the back of the sanctuary with funny flat rocks that looked vaguely like hamburgers for guests to write well wishes on and decorate the scene.
He and Sho mingled separately in the small crowd before casually sitting on the bride's side, halfway back. Takarada Lory was resplendent in his officiant's tuxedo, notably understated compared to his raucous daily outfits. He saw Fuwa and waved unexpectedly, excusing himself.
"Fuwa-san, what a pleasant surprise. And Koga-san as well! Welcome, welcome." He leaned down between them, his voice lowered conspiratorially. "Congratulations."
Koga flushed, turning to him with a rush of sudden anger but Sho cut him off.
"You are too dedicated, Takarada-san, following my career as if you want me for LME. My last album did destroy the records again, though, so maybe it isn't that much of an achievement." He sneered at Takarada. Something told Koga he was enjoying the excuse to kick back into old habits of sarcasm and pride as a shield a little too much.
"Ah, did it? That's good. But no, no," Takarada continued, his face beatific. "I was referring to your graduation from the LoveMe Section."
Sho almost stood up in shock to confront him, but Koga gripped his elbow, holding him down.
"I was never in your ridiculous club."
"Mmmm, so you say." He glanced at Koga, nodding acknowledgement. "Anyways, just wanted to pop over to give recognition where it's due. Off to do the angel's work!" He strode back to the front of the room, beaming over the assembling crowd like a proud father. Sho sat back against the pew, his face blank.
The music started, a beautiful piano piece. Yashiro Yukihito and Kijima Hidehito filed in from the right wearing light gray tuxedos with a small cluster of white daisies in place of a boutonnière. A pause, and Hizuri Kuon followed. He was in the same garb, but his slim build, blonde hair and green eyes made him look otherworldly. Or perhaps that was just the aftershock of the look on his face: a blend of hope, love, and anxiety that twisted you up inside just by looking at him.
He shook hands with Takarada, then stepped down from the slightly raised stage to embrace his mother, who was already crying. Hizuri Julie kissed her son on the cheek twice, then pushed him away, gesturing for him to quickly rejoin the line. The music was shifting, drawing out to a smoother and softer cadence as the back doors opened.
Amamiya Chiori entered first, her head held high and a knowing smile on her lips as she boldly stared at Hizuri while she walked down the aisle. Kotonami Kanae followed her. The woman was classic elegance, not a single jet black hair or footstep out of place as she followed her friend. It was hard to believe, looking at her in the gauzy silver evening gown, her hair studded with tiny pearls to match Amamiya's, that this was the same woman who had not hesitated to destroy the entire acting career of one of America's most beloved male stars by exposing photographs of him trying to sexually assault her to the media. Rumor was it she'd purposefully allowed herself to be caught alone on set after dark. And that she'd ensured with some well-placed self-defense moves that even if he got out of prison, he wouldn't be having children. She smiled at Kuon, a warm and bright smile from her heart that jarred Koga out of his reflections. Wait— no, she was smiling at his best man. Koga smirked. Yashiro had his hands full with that one.
The music crescendoed, then stopped. Hikaru Ishibashi stood from a few rows in front of them, a violin tucked under his youthful chin. He was smiling, but it was a tender, broken sort of smile, the kind you give when you know something precious is slipping out of your hands. He closed his eyes, caressing the smooth wood of the instrument and then drawing his bow across the strings. The violin's song started with a plea, then soared high into a merry celebration of life by Hayden. It was the perfect song for Kyoko; she was the light of life captured in a human soul, and without further signal the assembly stood as one.
Hizuri Kuu stepped forward into the open doorframe first and bowed, smiling at his son so far down the aisle, then extended his hand, capturing a delicate, white-gloved hand in his. His smile turned gentle, the look of a father for his daughter on her wedding day.
Kyoko stepped to his side, one radiant glance for her adopted father before her entire being was drawn toward the altar where her love waited. She smiled, tears shining in her eyes that matched the diamond forget-me-nots pinning back her ebony hair. She began the walk to his side, Kuu walking by her side, her white mermaid-cut dress shimmering in the light as she moved. She looked ethereal in her simplicity, like a she had stepped out of a fairy tale into life.
As they neared the altar, Kuu released his adoptive daughter's hand, taking his son's and drawing it to link with Kyoko's. Clasping their joined hands for a moment, he then stepped back to join his wife. The pair sat, and the rest of the assembly followed. Koga was intensely aware of Sho by his side, as if her walk down the aisle had awoken his senses to a new level.
Takarada spoke, his bellicose voice ringing out over the gathering.
"We come here today to celebrate life. Life that doesn't always run the course we most desire, life filled with bruises and tears, with shouts of anger and moments of great loneliness. Life at its worst.
"We come here to celebrate life. Life that weaves threads we call fate, stringing hope by hope until it becomes a waterfall of expected joy. Life that carries us through the worst of days because we know we are destined for the sun.
"We come here to celebrate life. Life that is filled with abundant love. Life that we may pray to be blessed to see reflected in the loving eyes of another. Life that by its very nature takes our souls and transforms them into something eternal.
"We come here to celebrate life. And it is this life, in all its facets, that Hizuri Kuon and Mogami Kyoko have pledged to one another."
He pulled his gaze from the guests to smile down at Kuon and Kyoko. Koga brushed his fingertips against Sho's. He desperately wanted to feel him, to know their connection was real at this moment. Sho's hand moved, wrapping tightly around Koga's. He felt his pulse start to hammer at the risk of being seen, but to move away would be a small death. Sho casually picked up his program, looking at it briefly, then laid it down open over their hands.
"Hizuri Kuon, do you take Kyoko to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, til death do you part?"
"I do," Kuon said, his green eyes shining with joy as he looked down at his bride.
"Mogami Kyoko, do you take Kuon to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, til death do you part?"
Kyoko's smile trembled, so full of emotion. "I do," she said, her voice just above a whisper.
"By the powers vested in me and with all the pride and joy in the world I hereby pronounce you man and wife!" Takarada threw his arms out, looking like he desperately wanted to leap in the air. "You may kiss your bride!"
Kuon bent low, his every move shouting out how desperately he loved the woman standing in front of him. His hands were shaking but his smile was bold and brilliant as he leaned forward and kissed Kyoko, her chin raising to meet him. Tears fell down her cheeks as she kissed her husband. There was no one else but them in the room, a man and a woman -- once, a boy and a little girl -- wholeheartedly in love.
——-
The reception afterward was at Kuon and Kyoko's new home, much larger than his apartment but meek compared to the Takarada palace. Sho strode ahead of Koga into the mix of people and alcohol and seafood hours d'oeuvres after a quick whispered, "I promise to behave until we're home. Then all bets are off."
Koga filtered off in the other direction, looking for Amamiya. She'd co-starred with him in a drama over the winter and he wanted to hear her upcoming schedule. Sho was chatting boisterously with the Ishibashi brothers, his arms over Hikaru's shoulder as they exchanged shop-talk on guitars and roadies. He hummed with life, emotions flashing over his face one after the other as he talked. Disgust, favor, interest, boredom. Koga loved that about his face. So transparent. He wanted to lay his fingers over his features and just feel the way they moved as he changed expression. He settled for popping some sushi in his mouth and scooping a glass of champagne off the tray of a passing waiter.
He had two more films scheduled this year, and one was with Seiji Shingai. Shingai was among the few invited; he'd just spotted Koga and was making his way over. Koga smiled politely, angling himself to receive Shingai where he still had a clear line of sight to Sho, who was now chatting with Kanae. Now that was an interesting pair. Shingai was talking to him about scripts, and character design, and he really should pay attention, but he couldn't stop wondering exactly what the woman was saying to Sho. Sho was smiling, and it wasn't his fake smile. Koga refocused on Shingai.
"--mid-century vocabulary, if you think you can handle the shift?"
"Mmm, shouldn't be a problem." What had he just agreed to? "Would you send me that in writing?"
"Ah, sure, sure," Shingai said, giving him a look. He nodded over at the newly married couple, raising his glass to them in miniature salute. "Guts," he said, the single word speaking volumes from him.
"Guts," Koga said, raising his own glass.
"What's with the intestinal talk?"
Sho had wandered over. Koga fought to keep himself normal. He was a professional actor; this shouldn't be that hard, but when every nerve was screaming that this man, this beautiful man was standing beside him and he shouldn't touch him it was very, very difficult to stay calm. Maybe he should just grab him and run. Watching Sho introduce himself boldly to Shingai and strike up a conversation about thematic score composition, he felt pride bubbling up deep inside. He really had meant it when he said he'd leave it all and become Sho's manager, hadn't he? Koga felt himself smiling at himself in disbelief.
They were seated for dinner at a table with the Ishibashis and the owners of the Darumaya, who seemed to love Sho. Sho scooped fish out from the family style platter, serving the Okami first and then Taisho before serving himself. Koga looked at his own empty plate. He knew Sho did it from love. He knew it was exactly what he'd asked for, and yet— ah, he felt like an elementary age child bursting with the need for validation. Koga gripped his chopsticks and served himself, then slid one of the most succulent looking pieces surreptitiously onto the edge of Sho's plate.
Dinner was delicious. Koga's favorite part was when Taisho unexpectedly stood and asked to give a toast to the bride and groom. It was brief, gruffly spoken in a voice that projected across the room without a microphone.
"Two years you stayed with us after you were hired. You became as precious to me as my best knife. More. My wife," he looked down at her, asking permission with a glance. The Okami smiled at him, squeezing his hand in surrender. "My wife and I cannot have children. The gods gave you to us." He held out an old, worn Daruma doll missing its right eye. The Okami stood, handing him an ink pen. He bowed to Kyoko and then filled in the right eye. Kyoko stood, rushing out from behind the table she shared with Kuon to wrap Taisho in a bear hug. The older man grimaced, stiffening, then slowly unfolded, his arms wrapping tightly around her.
When she finally stepped back, Kuon stood by her side. Taisho held out the Daruma doll to the pair, shaking Kuon's hand after Kyoko accepted the gift. The Okami hugged both of them too, her eyes moist.
Then Kyoko was by Sho's side, complete Daruma in her hands. He stood, shoving his hands in his pockets. A moment of awkwardness, a smile from the bride, and the pair were suddenly locked in a hug that looked more like a wrestling match than a show of affection.
Kuon tapped Sho's shoulder, breaking the hug with his intrusion. Sho sized him up — Koga could tell he was trying to stand as tall as possible — then stuck his hand out to demand a shake. Kuon let him wait a beat before meeting him and letting the past fall away as they shook hands. Koga could feel the groom's gaze shift to him and busied himself with his water glass, spinning the long stem between his fingers.
"Koga-san," Kuon said. Koga sighed and stood, feeling like he was facing the guillotine. He put on his best game face, smiling brightly as if he hadn't a care in the world. Kuon was waiting for him, his hand outstretched.
Koga placed his hand in Kuon's, and suddenly he was being pulled forward into a hug of his own. A thousand memories of bygone dreams flooded his mind and he almost laughed out loud at himself. Kuon clapped him on the back, stepping back afterward to join Kyoko who was beaming at both of them. She shook his hand too, more shyly, and he found himself wishing he'd spent the duration of Lotus plotting ways to get closer to her as a friend instead of her husband as a lover.
The after dinner music cued up. Kyoko and Kuon were swept away by the Hizuris and it was just him and Sho, standing shoulder to shoulder, watching the couple share their joy. The song playing was a little loud and obnoxious, but soon it shifted to a slower tune. A few couples drifted onto the dance floor. A wild idea gripped Koga.
"Do you want to dance?" he asked Sho without looking at him.
Sho stilled, his hands returning to his pockets. "Of course I do," he answered under his breath, making sure the noise didn't carry. "But this is fine." He turned toward Koga, nodding back at their table. "We can clink the glasses and make 'em kiss till their lips fall off. It'll be hilarious to try and time it just right to interrupt every time they try to eat." Koga stopped him with his hand on his sleeve.
"I want to dance." He could feel himself burning. "With you."
Sho stood very still, his eyes watching Koga as if trying to bite into his soul. Then he nodded, and all at once he was holding Koga's hand and they were walking out onto the dance floor. He could already hear the whispers rising, threatening to flood over them, and all they were doing was holding hands. And then they were on the floor and Sho turned, and he pulled him close with one tug on his arm, and they were dancing.
Hands linked, his arm around his waist, cheeks pressed together to hide the rising blush as they felt the room around them still. But was it because the moment was perfect or because no one could breathe? Koga refused to open his eyes and see. They were dancing, his hand in his, and it was everything.
A hand touched his shoulder and he burrowed farther into Sho's shoulder but her voice was kind as she called to him. "Koga," Kyoko said. Just his name, that was all. He stood straighter, and opened his eyes to see his lover's smile and Kuon and Kyoko dancing next to them.
Sho was laughing, the sound bright and beautiful in Koga's ear. His hand was firm on his waist, a proud and possessive grip, his eyes flashing as he dared anyone to tell him that he couldn't have his love. Koga had never wanted to kiss him more in his life.
And so he did. Right there, in the middle of the dance floor, their faces lit by the flashes of cameras, he kissed him. They were dancing still, their bodies slowly moving together but now their lips danced too, and he knew he would remember this moment for the rest of his life.
Sho broke the kiss when Kuon whooped, just long enough to nudge Kyoko and call out a taunt— "Bets on who gets the headline tomorrow. You still haven't caught up to me, little sister!" Kyoko's mouth fell open and she turned, kissing Kuon hungrily. They all laughed, swaying as the music shifted up in tempo — then it burst into its rhythm and everyone was dancing and everything was a mess and everything was perfect.
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