A/N: I do not own Skip Beat!
A Christmas present to the Skip Beat Fandom! Happy holidays everyone. Inspired by Cindy's Mistletoe Song - I really only know it as such. So if anyone knows it by anything else, I'd be happy to make note of it.
Cheers! AB
It was early. Too early for really anyone to be up. Even the sun didn't want to wake up this early, but it was necessary. They all agreed that this year – this year! - it would be different. The three girls crept through the empty hallways. Their footsteps barely made a sound as they looked all around until they reached the LoveMe Room. By the time No. 1 arrived, No. 2 was already there with only the emergency light shining in the room.
"Where is No. 3?" No. 1 whispered as she approached No. 2.
"She went upstairs to verify the peacock's location."
She gasped. "Is that safe? There is no telling what he may do if he catches her."
"It had to be done," No. 2 whispered. "We couldn't get the schedule down right. Every time we think we know where he is, he appears out of nowhere. Even when we think we are safe, and the damage was done, he comes back to wreak more havoc. There was no telling as to when he may approach. Even now, he could appear through that door. Bursting through with…"
The door jerked open and No. 3 came rushing in making the two other girls jump. "It's clear!" She came over and sat down next to them. "But we have to hurry, because I saw the boxes set up near his office."
"How many were there?' No. 1 asked trepidatiously.
No. 3 shook her head. "Too many to count. I don't think it will only be us putting it up."
"And that is why we need to make sure we get That box. Last year was a total disaster and I for one do not want a repeat of that event."
The other two girls hung their head and wholeheartedly agreed.
"But how are we going to stop it? Surely, he would notice that they aren't up," No. 1 asked.
"Oh, we are going to put them up," she stated and pulled out several rolls of paper and placed them in the middle of the group. On them were blueprint like drawings of locations all around LME.
"Wow, Moko-san, this is great!"
"SHH!"
"Sorry, No. 2," she amended.
"Now, I've located the emptiest, least used, God forsaken places in the building. We will divide up the building and make sure that no one will fall victim to the plant," No. 2 explained as she divvied out the papers.
It was difficult to look at the drawings in the dark, but it wasn't necessary at this time.
"Will this really cover all of it? We put up at least a hundred last year," No. 3 stated unsure.
"Yes, but if he got more, I have marked areas that we have never or rarely stepped foot into. The point of this ladies is to keep us out of the danger zones marked in RED." She tapped on the paper where huge blocks of hallways and rooms were crossed and highlighted in red bold marker.
No. 3 groaned. "Is all this effort really…"
"12 times!" No. 2 seethed and her hands crunched up the papers in her hand. "Twelve damn timed did I have to yield to that useless, asinine, sexist tradition!" She jerked her hand over to point sharply at No 1. "How many?!"
"8," she whispered sadly.
No. 3 tossed the papers to the side. "I'm only here once a week, and they can't force me to ki… w-what?"
No 1 and 2 stood up with murderous intent gleaming in their eyes. The room got colder and darker as they stared her down. Her head jerked back and forth between the two of them as they spoke with eerie voices.
"You honestly think you can escape?"
"You would turn your back on us merely because you don't work for LME."
"The President isn't the only one that came make your time here a living hell."
"We know this building better than you."
"No matter where you go, it will be there"
"And you will kiss them, because you want to stay."
"They will kiss you, because tradition dictates it."
"OKAY! OKAY! Stop! I'm Sorry! I'll do it! I'll do it," she screamed with her arms wrapped around her head, hiding in fear. The room warmed up and brightened, causing No. 3 to slowly remove her hands. A stack of papers was shoved into her hands.
"Don't fail us," No. 2 stated.
"You'll be safe from it too if you help," No. 1 comforted.
Suddenly the lights turn on blinding all of them. They hid the papers in Kanae's bag at her feet and then stood up all while blind. When the girls managed to see again, a group of 6 men and women came in singing a Christmas song acapella style.
"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas; Everywhere you go; Take a look at the five and ten, it's glistening once again; With candy canes and silver lanes that glow…"
President Takarada came strolling in as the group sang in a bright red suit. No, not THE red suit, but just as impressive with the same red color as the main palette. The coat was long going all the way down to his ankles. It hung open from his shoulders with a white fuzzy trim with flecks of black going all along the edges around his neck and at the base as well as around wrists of the loose sleeving. Beneath was a shimmery red dress shirt with pearl buttons. A black belt cinched his waist of his pants that were the same color as his coat. Knee high black boots completed the "Santa" suit.
His voice bellowed louder than the other singers towards the end of the song. Thankfully, he had a nice singing voice – loud, but nice, "But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be; On your own front door; Sure, it's Christmas once more." He grinned at the three ladies that huddled together for support and warmth. One would think it would be a merry little grin; however, to them it was like the Grinch contemplating how to ruin Christmas for Whoville.
"Are we reading to bring in the spirit of Christmas back to this dark, barren land!" he bellowed out rhetorically.
All three girls spoke out at once…
"Must we really do…" Chiori started.
Kanae said, "I've got this thing I need to…"
"You know I'm more of a Buddhist, so I don't…" Kyoko reasoned.
All three girls tried to leave talking all at once and Lori slammed a black cane with two sleigh bells tied to it against a bench in front of them. The sound of the slap followed by the crash of bells made them stop. They all sunk their heads and shoulders in defeat.
"Now Ladies, I know what is making you so sad," he said as he picked up his cane and jingled the bells on his cane. The girls looked up and turned ghost white as three more "helpers" came into the room holding up green Christmas elf dresses. There was something red draped over the side of one shoulder and a pair of black boots for each of them.
"No! You can't be serious!"
"You really don't expect us to wear that!"
"That is not part of the agreement that I"
"ENOUGH!" He snapped and they all quiet down.
"You don't want to wear the dresses?" All three girls shook their head. "Fine," he huffed. "Then I want you three to sing and dance this year at the…"
"WE WILL WEAR THEM!" They said in unison.
"Oh, Really?" Lori asked with a raised eyebrow. "I won't force you to wear them if you don't want to."
"We want to!" Kyoko stated and the other two nodded.
"Are you sure? I thought they would be a nice break from the LoveMe Pink this month, but if you prefer to wear your normal uniform."
"Um," Chiori chimed in. "We would have to wear them all month?"
"Well, that or you can wear them at the charity event I'm hosting. We can have you three work there. One night assisting with serving the biggest starts in showbiz. We can even have you perform a song to entertain the guest. We can do a most popular song: All I want for Christmas is you. Maybe have you sing it to a special someone… Ladies?"
All three of them rushed over and grabbed the dresses. They quickly started to undress not caring at all about who was there because they would all rather burn in hell than do that charity event.
"Everyone out!" Lori commanded and the extras left.
"Ladies," he called out to them and they stopped and looked up at him. They had clothes underneath their jumpers, so it really wasn't a big deal yet. "I may have you work there anyway, to make up for this little act of yours."
Their eyes grew wide.
"I want the building sparkling with Christmas cheer. Got it?"
"Yes, Sir!" They shouted together.
The red thing that was draped over the shoulder were leggings. Thick warm ones that would battle the cold, especially since the skirt hit mid-thigh. The boots went up to their knees at least, and the sleeves were long. There were little red cuffs at their wrist which matched the red collar around their neck. Down the middle of the dress were three white palm sized poof balls that looked like buttons going down the front until a black belt cinched their waist. The dress actually zipped up from the back. The A-line skirt edging had more white fluff to make everything all match.
"We look ridiculous," Chiori gripped.
"It's no worse than the LoveMe pink," Kyoko tried to reason.
"Whatever," Kanae snapped. "The whole building already knows about the crap he makes us do. This is nothing so long as we keep it in house. No way do I want everyone outside of LME knowing the things I'm forced to do on the President's whim." She stormed over to the door and jerked it open. "Let's get this over with! Remember to get the box with the mistletoe first! Then grab some other junk to decorate with. This dress must be the only thing we have to suffer through this Christmas."
It took them a few days to decorate the building but they managed to hide every sprig of mistletoe throughout the building. The girls did their best and even placed some of them in the more populated areas, so that Lori wasn't suspicious of their plan. The lobby, the cafeteria, and a few here and there where they were sure not to appear at, conference rooms and such. They made sure to mark where they put them and got together for dinner to compare notes.
Overall, the girls were set and ready. With the whole building decorated with Christmas cheer, their green elf helper dresses blended in more than those LoveMe pink jumpers ever did. It really wasn't so bad. That is until it wasn't.
She stood behind a corner fighting herself. It really shouldn't have mattered. He was alone and it was late. The chances of anything happening was slim to none. The only reason she ran into him was because she wanted to avoid people. Which was probably the same reason why he was there. She peeked around the corner and flushed as he sat there innocently on his phone. Her eyes looked up at the mistletoe above his head and glared at it hoping it would burst into flames. When nothing happened, she sighed and retreated to her hidden spot.
Maybe I can get him to move without actually approaching him. Taking out her phone, she texted him.
Good Evening, Tsuruga-san. She peeked over at him and waited. There was no sound or buzz and it was difficult to tell if he received the message since he was already looking at his phone, but a moment later his thumbs started moving over the screen.
Turning back to her phone, his message immediately popped up with a ding. Kyoko flushed and quickly turned off her sound. Her heart slammed into her chest, and she stared at the open space beside her waiting for him to appear and bust her in the act. When nothing happened, she opened the message.
Ren: Hey. Nice to hear from you. How are you tonight?
She unconsciously smiled. Good. She bit her lip trying to think of what to say. Are you busy right now?
Ren: No. I'm waiting for Yashiro-san to give him a ride home. You?
His office is down the hall. Why would you wait there? Don't you know how dangerous it is for you to be alone like this?! I'm done too and about to head home. She wracked her brain trying to find something to get him to move and she could only think of one thing. I know this may be out of line, but would it be possible to get a ride? Her thumb hovered over the send but she shut her eyes and forced herself to push it.
She held her breath as she waited for the reply. Except that he decided to call. The phone buzzed in her hand and the shock of it almost made her drop it. She quickly caught it, clenching it against her chest. Before it went on too long, she rejected the call.
I can't talk right now! Sorry!
She risked a peek at him and he was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees frowning and typing on his phone. Her phone buzzed. Ren: Oh, sorry. Where are you?
Damn. I didn't think about that part. Stupid, Kyoko! She knocked her fist against her forehead. She thought it was a simple request because she knew they were both in the same building, but he didn't. She wasn't supposed to know where he was. I'm at LME. She begrudgingly typed and sent it to him.
Ren: Oh, well that's convenient. I'm here too. I'd be happy to give you a ride home. We can meet you at the LoveMe room once Yashiro-san is done? Or you can come wait with me up here.
Kyoko groaned. Why is he so determined to stay there!? She looked at him and he didn't seem in any rush to leave. Suddenly she heard voices - female- voices coming and she twisted around to see a pair of office ladies walking her way. She watched them, the pounding of her heart matching their footsteps as they chatted softly and walked straight towards her. They are coming this way. They will go down the hall. They will see the mistletoe and kiss him!
Without thinking she twisted around the corner and rushed up towards him. His eyes widened in surprise to see her there and he smiled happily until he recognized the panic on her face. He frowned and started to stand when she grabbed his hands, looked up over his head and started pulling him forward a few steps.
"Mogami-san, what…"
His eyes caught movement behind her and looked up to see two ladies round the corner. Kyoko's hands dropped immediately and swung around her back. Her face was bright red and she didn't say a word about what was going on. The ladies noticed them and bowed slightly at the handsome actor to which he smiled politely, and they continued on their way with the giggles.
He turned to look at Kyoko but she was already bowing deeply in apology. "That was incredibly rude of me. I am very sorry."
"Mogami-san," he sighed, placing his hands on her shoulder to lift her up. "What was that about?"
Her face turned ten times brighter than before. "I was trying to save you!"
That statement did not help. "From what? I don't understand."
She hung her head down and her arm shot out to point at something high above his head behind him. He twisted around to look and it took him a minute because what he saw was not something he thought was important enough to cause such a reaction. As soon he understood the problem, he started laughing.
"It's not funny!" she seethed but he couldn't help it. It was just too much!
She crossed her arms and waited for him to finish. Tears started to form in his eyes and he forced himself to breath and calm down. Even then, she was taking this so seriously that he couldn't stop the humor in his voice. He smiled brightly at her as she pouted so cutely and casually slipped his hands into his pockets.
"So you came up to wait with me and saw that I was about to fall victim to the travesty that is Christmas tradition and decided to save me?" He jested and it only seemed to irritate her.
She snapped to attention and glared at him. "I'm starting to regret it! Maybe you don't think anything of having random people kiss your cheek simply because of a stupid plant over your head, but when you get kissed by 8 complete…"
"8?" All humor drained from him in an instant, and everything around them grew dark. "You were kissed by 8 other men?"
"Ah, um..." she nervously shied away. "Not this year," she said timidly.
"Last year too?" He snapped and she nodded a little too frantically. "Why are you letting them do that?"
"I'm not, well I guess… but President Takarada… he…"
Ren groaned. "He cannot force you to accept kisses because of his Love Mon ways. You can say no!"
She started to blink back tears. "But last year he said he would force us to do a kissing booth if we didn't and this year, he said we would need to sing and dance at a celebrity charity event wearing these stupid dresses." She wiped away a stray tear and swallowed a lump in her throat. She then shut her eyes tightly and shouted, "This is the lesser evil!"
The tears calmed him down. He was still upset about it, but he didn't want to jump down her throat about it. "Mogami-san, you don't have to kiss or be kissed by anyone. And who is going to tell him if you did or did not?"
"We thought that too, but Moko-san tried to do that last year and it got back to him. We really don't know how but it did, and then she had to be a Santa's helper for a week-long Children's Santa event where she was dealing with over a hundred children a day. She did not come back the same after that. Letting some person kiss my cheek for 2 seconds does compare to what Takarada-san would do to us."
Ren looked up to the ceiling and sighed, asking God why they worked for such a sadistic president.
"This year we are prepared though!" she continued and he returned his sight to her. She beckoned him closer, and he leaned down slightly for her to speak softly, "We planted the mistletoe only in empty and rarely used places throughout the building. We put a few in populated areas, but we know exactly where they are so we can avoid it. Not once have we been caught," she declared proudly. He stood back up with a smile.
Her smile fell and she timidly looked up at him. "But then you were sitting there and I was coming down from a job and saw you and it was there and I couldn't. I couldn't let you stay there giving anyone who passes by the opportunity for a kiss."
She doesn't want anyone kissing me? His chest swelled with joy, and his head got all fluttery. This should not have made him so insanely happy.
"My hero." He beamed, and she flinched away at the brightness of it.
"I wasn't… I just didn't…"
He enjoyed watching her flounder about and he was really tempted to give her a reward, but knew it would be more for himself than her. In the midst of her stammering, Yukihito appeared around the other corner.
"There you are," he said and then noticed Kyoko. "Hi, Kyoko-chan. Is everything alright?" He asked both of them.
"Everything is fine," Ren assured him. "Mogami-san simply wanted a ride home."
Kyoko squeaked to object but then backed down when both men looked down at her. "Ah, yes." She bowed down and quickly said, "I would very much like a ride home."
Ren bit back a chuckle, leaned down, and whispered, "Your chariot awaits, my knight."
She jerked up with a flush and stormed off. Yukihito sighed. "Ren, you shouldn't tease her so. It does not make you look good."
Ren frowned. "Then stop looking."
Days past since then and Kyoko had dismissed the event as a successful avoidance of the evil plant. Kanae and Chiori both reported that they too avoided all encounters up to date. Today, Kyoko was in the middle of taking a box of clothes to the dance section. It wasn't really heavy and it was a simple job, so she wasn't paying attention to what was happening and accidently knocked into someone leaving a conference room. The box dropped to the ground spilling its contents, Kyoko jumped back in shock and immediately apologized.
"I'm so sorry. Please excuse my clumsiness," she yelled to the ground in a deep bow.
"It's fine Mogami-san. I should have been looking to see if anyone was coming by."
Kyoko jerked up at the sound of Ren's voice. "Tsu-Tsu-Tsuruga! I...uh..."
"Excuse me, Tsuruga-san, may we?" Ren was the first one walking out of the room and the others in the meeting room wanted to leave.
"Ah, yes. My apologies." He bowed slightly and stepped away from the door towards Kyoko. She squatted down and started to gather the spilled items to stuff them back into the box. Feather boas, scarves, veils, they were all frilly accessories to who knows what, hence the reason why the box was so light. Ren squatted down beside her, his large body taking up the space between her and the wall. His arm, his knee touched her and she felt blood rush to her face as her heart started to race.
"I've got it. You are busy," she told him as she quickened her pace.
"Actually, we are on a break now," Yukihito answered instead of Ren as he stepped out of the room. She looked up to see him turn off the light behind him and smiled down at Kyoko. "I'll see you in two hours, Ren."
Kyoko and Ren stood up, one looking nervous, the other with an easy smile. "Thanks Yashiro-san. Enjoy your lunch." The manager smiled knowingly and promptly left.
"Enjoy your lunch then, Tsuruga-san," Kyoko said trying to escape but of course one step forward and he took a meandering step with her. She sighed and surrendered even before trying. "How was your meeting?" She asked and started walking with him beside her.
"Good. A normal meet and greet for a possible film."
"Oo, is it a fun project? Are you hoping to get it?" she asked curiously.
"Yes, actually," he said with a smile. "Do you know Akitomo Endo?"
Kyoko nodded. "Yes! He does all those spy movies."
"He will be in this film, so I think it would be an honor to work with him. Plus, it would be pretty grand to star in one of those spy films, so this may be a way to get there."
"You would look pretty good in that suit," she looked up at him and smiled, making his heart race.
He smiled mindful of the people around them and whispered, "All the more reason for me to try then."
She blushed and stopped finally reaching where she was going. "I'll be right back," she said and then hesitated. "Are you taking off?" She asked softly with her eyes casted down shyly . "For lunch, I mean?" she amended looking up at him.
"I'm in no hurry to leave," he assured her. She nodded and leaned to move, but he called out to her. "Mogami-san." She stopped and looked up at him. He pointed up and her eyes followed up, up, up… to the mistletoe over her head. She jerked her head back to the man and her eyes went wide as he leaned down towards her.
She froze. Is he… is he going to kiss me?! She snapped out of it when he grabbed her hand. Her eyes blinked as she watched him lift her hand and gently kiss the back of it. He smiled gently at her. "I'll be waiting."
Kyoko quickly jerked her hand from his and disappeared into the room. She had completely forgotten about the mistletoe in the area. She was so lost in conversation with him that it slipped her mind. And to have him of all people break the perfect score. I can't tell them – especially No. 2! WAAAA Moko-san, don't hate me!
"Is everything alright?" Ren asked once she reappeared.
"Yes, why?" She replied as she quickly ran through the door with its offensive garland overhead.
"No reason." It took her far longer than it should to simply drop off a box, and he noticed but wouldn't mention it. He stood up from leaning against the wall. "Now, where to?"
She frowned at him. "It's your lunch time, so to eat?"
"Okay, where to?"
"Are you asking for a recommendation?" she asked clearly confused.
He chuckled. "Yeah. What sounds good?"
"How am I supposed to know? It's your stomach."
He pretended to give it some thought. "Then I guess I'll skip it," he declared and started to walk off.
"Now wait a minute!" Kyoko ran up and around to face him. She glanced around nervously looking for someone who may be watching them but everyone seemed to be minding their own business. "Don't think I don't know what you are doing. You've been doing this kind of thing for a year now. I am on to your games ever since…" she hesitated and blushed. "Then and… and… I am not your keeper!"
"You are right." He nodded sharply and moved around her.
She quickly ran around him again to stop him. He stopped and looked at her getting all wiggly and flushed in her cute little green dress. "So then ask me properly so we can get going."
Ren raised an eyebrow intrigued. "Mogami-san," he stated rather firmly as if he was going to scold her instead of asking a question. It raised the alarm in her brain and she was heartbeats away from bowing and screaming apologies for being so bold.
"Would you join me for lunch?"
The question, while expected, blew her away and she struggled to get a breath. Her mouth flopped open and closed like a fish until finally she sucked in enough air to give him a soft little, "Yes."
He smiled that heavenly smile that made everything inside of her melt and quiver. "Where to then?"
"Ha..nya..maaaa," she mumbled stupidly, making him chuckle softly.
She shook her head. "Hanayama's?"
"Sounds good." He raised his hand forward. "After you."
The next time was the very next day, and the day hadn't even started yet. Yukihito picked them both up and being the respectful, dutiful kohai she walked him to his meeting. It was not necessary for him to lean down and kiss her forehead because of the stupid plant above their heads! Why did they put the damn mistletoe on the conference room doors?!
After the fifth time, Kyoko was paranoid. Her eyes darted around for it wherever she went. Most productions slowed down significantly around the season, so she was in the LME a lot. That meant that Ren was around as well. And even though she was careful, even though Kanae and Chiori had YET to be caught, she was bespelled to oblivion every time he was around and would only snap out of it when he kissed her. It seemed that no matter how careful she was, the number of encounters was starting to creep past last year's.
That man! He had to be doing this on purpose. He was tall enough to move the mistletoe around. Maybe he had one in his pocket, and whipped it out when they stopped moving. Even outside of the LME building, he kissed her on the cheek at a restaurant! Does he not understand the implications of what that would mean if their picture was taken during that moment? He should have learned his lesson with Kana!
Luckily, he was the only one that ever kissed her, and his lips only lightly pressed randomly on her face and never her lips. The worst part about it was the way her heart jumped and her face flushed every time he did it. The smell of his cologne would linger in her nose. Her skin tingled for hours after he kissed her, and the soft, sweet smile that he would grace her with would stay on her mind all day. Towards the end of the month, she wasn't sure if she was watching for the mistletoe or looking for him.
It was Christmas Eve, and she was leaving the LoveMe room. The sole reason she came in was to give out her gifts to those she knew. At least to those that she knew would be there, or might be there. She was left with four little boxes left. It was slow since most people were out, preparing for tomorrow. She had tomorrow off and anticipated a peaceful day at home. Lori and Maria made arrangements to travel to spend Christmas with Kouki overseas and left earlier this week. Kanae even relented and said she would see her family for an hour… tops! Which meant she would be there all day.
She shut off the light and needed to drop some things off at Yukihito's desk. On the way there, she found Ren again, sitting alone in another conference room reading a booklet. She contemplated going in to give him the gift, but this time she did see the stupid plant at the door and sneered at it. She purposely walked past the door to Yukihito's desk where he was talking on the phone.
"No, it's not, but…" He frowned as he listened. Her presence was immediately noticed and he gave her a tired little smile in acknowledgment. He lifted his hand gesturing that he needed a moment and spoke again, "I'm sure we can speak about this after…" He was stopped again and rolled his eyes. "One…" he pressed his lips together. "One... ONE Moment, Please!"
He dropped his phone and shook his head as he pushed the mute button on his phone. "What can I do for you, Kyoko-chan?"
"I just wanted to drop these off. I didn't mean to interrupt," she told him and placed the two applications for open enrollment on his desk, as well as the green box with the demure red ribbon around it.
"No, please. This man is a pompous egomaniac. I welcome the intrusion. Perhaps a little time out will cool his jets," he complained making her smirk. He smiled at the little box. "For me?" She smiled and nodded. He put the phone down not caring a bit about making the man wait and opened it. His eyes grew wide. "Are these Christmas shaped wagashi? These are gorgeous!" In the box was four little wagashi she made at the restaurant with the Okami - a decorated Christmas tree, a red and gold present, a snowman with a red hat, and silver star. "They are too pretty. I don't want to eat them," he lamented making her laugh.
"Take a picture then eat it," she stated sounding as if she had heard the same thing all day.
He laughed softly. "Thank you, Kyoko-chan. I have something for you too." He leaned over to reached into a bottom desk drawer.
He came out with a yellow box with a silver bow on top. "Merry Christmas, Kyoko-chan." She flushed and took it with a deep bow. "Thank you so much, Yashiro-san," she said with tears threatening her eyes. It was a tea sampler set with 24 kinds of single serving teas.
"It's not as creative as yours, but…"
"It's wonderful!" Kyoko burst and bowed down again. "Thank you so much! I will enjoy every single one of them!"
He chuckled again. "Think nothing of it. You know Ren is over…" he started to point at the conference room she saw him at when his phone rang. He frowned and groaned. "He hung up and called back." He took a deep breath. "Excuse me, please." Kyoko bowed in thanks and left without saying goodbye. Yukihito smiled as she walked away and then sat back in his chair as the man on the other line started to yell at him for "hanging up."
"I did not hang up on you, Takashi-san. I had something very urgent come up and I needed a moment to address it," he lied smoothly. He casually picked up the Christmas tree from the box and smiled at it before taking a bite.
Kyoko walked to the room and knocked. Ren looked up and instantly smiled at her making her breath hitch. "Hi," he greeted warmly as he straightened up in his chair and took out a pair of earbuds. That explains his self-isolation, she thought
"Good Evening, Tsuruga-san," she replied and walked in. She set her things down and started walking back to the door.
"Where are you going?" He asked and she smirked at him. Kyoko looked up at the top of door and he smiled noticing the mistletoe. She proceeded to jump up and snatch the plant from the frame and grinned in triumph. She crushed it and smugly walked over to sit at the table across from him.
"Feel better?"
"Yes," she smiled brightly making him laugh. "Why a parasitic plant became a symbol of love and friendship is beyond me,' she said and dropped the withered spring between them.
"Love and Friendship?" He asked and picked it up to play with it.
"Hmm, I looked it up wondering where the tradition came from. Lots of European cultures thought it had magic powers against evil spirits, and cured poison and infertility. The one I remember the most was from Norse Mythology. There was a story about the goddess of fertility asking all things in creation not to kill her son but didn't ask the mistletoe plant, so someone of course killed him with an arrow made from mistletoe."
"That didn't work out well," Ren commented as he twirled the plant between his fingers.
Kyoko snorted. "No, but imagine trying to find the one thing on the whole planet that could kill someone? That guy was determined."
Ren laughed, and she continued, "Anyway, in her grieving she made it into the symbol of love so that it could do no more harm." She reached over and gently took it from Ren's fingers and he let her. "In one version, as she mourned her son, her tears became these little white berries and her son came back to life. With that, she announced that anyone that picked the berry," she pulled one off, "would come to no harm and receive a token of love – which was…"
"A kiss," Ren finished and Kyoko looked up at him. She nodded as her cheeks flushed. She dropped it back on the table.
"I guess you have to stand underneath it to get the berry since it grows on tree branches, and it eventually morphed into stand under it, get a kiss," she rationalized.
"Makes sense. Traditions usually get muddled over time. Most of the original purpose of our decorations have been forgotten to it being simply pretty."
Kyoko giggled. "Yeah, I guess so, and speaking of which…" she reached over and grabbed a red box. It was the only red box in her set. "This is for you. Um, I wish I could have gotten you something else, but I can never think of anything you may want. I mean what do you get for someone who can buy whatever they…"
He opened it as she rambled. A soft smile graced his lips as he looked inside – a red stocking with little candies and toys peaking out, a decorated wreath, a poinsettia flower and, "Mistletoe."
"Ah… hahaha," Kyoko nervously laughed and bashfully looked away. "Yeah, that is a bit of a joke, because um, this year you were the only one that caught me under the mistletoe. In fact, you were the only one to catch any of us according to Moko-san and Chiori-san."
"Several times in fact." He picked it up with a satisfied smirk and ate it. Like everything she made, it was good.
"Right," she said softly. Ren looked up at her and had the strongest urge to kiss her again. It was part luck and part manipulation that allowed him to kiss her nearly a dozen times. Luck was on his side that he managed to see her so often. All he had to then was steer them towards a random one and it was easy to get her to stop under it. His cute, innocent kohai was easy prey, almost to the point of making him feel guilty. That is until she looked at him so adorably cute with those flushed cheeks and sweet expression. The only thing he wished for was the guts to actually kiss her lips.
He stood up and started to lean over the table towards her. His movement made her snap to attention and jerk her sight back up at him. "What are you doing?"
"You picked a berry. You are owed a token of love."
Her face burst into flames and she quickly scrambled out of the chair. "Th-th-that's j-j-just a st-story!"
He smirked at her. "It's tradition," he clarified and started to walk around the table towards her.
"One that is antiquated and grounds for harassment!" she stated as he pinned her in a corner.
"Even if it's from one who loves you?" he asked softly.
Kyoko whimpered, "Ren, please."
"Please what, Kyoko," he breathed in a husky voice making her heart hammer in her chest.
"Don't… don't say that so casually."
Ren reached over and gently stroked back a few strands of hair at her forehead making her gasp. "I don't say it casually. I say it sincerely." His fingers trailed down the side of her face, along her jaw and to her chin. She trembled as he lifted her chin up and her gold eyes gazed up at him surrounded by a dark red blush. "And the only tokens of love you should ever receive is from me. Never let anyone else kiss you."
Her head shook slightly and she sucked in a shaky breath before speaking, "I don't want anyone else to kiss me."
He started to move down and she immediately shut her eyes and licked her lips. Ren closed the distance between them. His breath caressed her face and she reached out and grabbed his jacket tightly in her hands. His smile turned into a smirk and he took a moment to take it all in. Her eager but nervous expression on her cherry red face, the flowery smell of her, and the soft pout of her lips. He wanted to ravage her mouth, but instead pressed a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth. He started to pull away, his hand dropping and his body straightening up when her hands tightened on the lapels of his suit jacket. He looked down at the clenched fists and then back at her who was now borderline angry.
"You did it wrong," she told him and he frowned not understanding. The words did not match the expression.
"What…"
"The one time it can be excused and you keep doing it wrong," she stated and then yanked him down and pressed her lips firmly against his.
His eyes widened. His hand flew back against the wall to catch himself. The moment his brain caught up with his body, he closed his eyes and kissed her back. His free arm went around her waist and pulled her against him. She squeaked in surprise but it was too late. She jumped down the rabbit hole and was falling into the dark depths. Ren tilted his head to the side and kissed her - kissed her softly, sweetly, but longingly. She moaned as his other arm wrapped around her and lifted her up, forcing her hands from his chest to around his neck. Her fingers sunk into his hair and he twisted his head to deepen the kiss. The tip of his tongue lightly licking her lower lip asking for entry.
Heat rushed through them as they tasted each other for a fraction of a second, before a sharp knock and a gentle cough sounded through the room. Ren dropped Kyoko which she was prepared for landing smoothly on her feet and both looked at the door to their noisy manager blushing delicately.
"Mistletoe!" Kyoko shouted and pointed to the plant on the table. Yukihito rose an eyebrow at them and Kyoko turned ten different shades of red. "I have to go," she declared and ran to her things. "G-g-goodnight," she stammered as she left clutching her things protectively.
Ren was making himself presentable again when Yukihito quipped, "Mistletoe, really?"
He licked his lips and cleared his throat. "Apparently, our modern interpretation of the tradition was wrong. Kyo… Mogami-san was merely clearing it up and correcting me."
"Oh, was that what that was?"
"Yes," Ren snapped. "Are you done now? We can go?" He asked as he leaned over and grabbed his things too.
"Yes, we are done," Yukihito said with barely contained laughter. Ren rolled his eyes and moved to leave the door.
"Do you want to keep the mistletoe?"
"No."
"You sure? For next time…"
"Stop."
Laughter. "Maybe I should have simply closed the door…."
"Yuki," Ren threatened, but it wasn't heard over the manager's laughter.