Kana tapped her foot glaring at Ren who was sitting as patiently as ever as they all waited on Sho for the past twenty minutes. She didn't understand how he could be late when he was the one who had set the time for this stupid date. They had all either showed up to the set of Oh!Darling dressed and ready to go or brought their outfits there to change into. Fuwa Sho apparently was incapable of thinking that far ahead. He had to go back home to get ready.
"Can we just go in without him?" she asked crossing her arms. Her girlfriend was already waiting inside for her. She would need to be seen periodically throughout the night dancing with Ren, but it would be dark enough that she could get in some dances with her girlfriend.
"Mogami-san has to go in with him." Kuon replied glancing at Kyoko in the rearview mirror.
"You can call her Kyoko when we're alone." Kana snapped. She knew she was overreacting, but Fuwa was driving her crazy with his tardiness. Was he somehow more important than them that they had to wait on him?
"Kana-san, I'm sorry that you're having to wait on Fuwa-san. If it weren't for my relationship with Tsuruga-san and my connection to Fuwa then you could be inside enjoying a nice evening with you girlfriend." Kyoko apologized.
"This is why I told you to stay calm. She blames herself whenever he does things to irritate other people." Kuon said forcing his demeaner to remain calm and pleasant.
"Momose-san and Kijima-san already went inside. They aren't waiting on him." Kana pointed out.
"You two could go in without me…" Kyoko started but Kuon shot it down quickly.
"No." he said locking eyes with her.
"Fine." Kana sighed seeing that they had no choice but to wait because there was no way in hell, she was leaving Kyoko alone with the crowd of vultures snapping photos outside of the club.
"I'm sorry." Kyoko said meekly and Kuon released a long sigh. He didn't have the energy to argue with her about how it wasn't her fault.
When Sho finally arrived in his bodyguard's car they had been sitting in their car for over an hour playing I spy. Kana who had actually been having fun watching Tsuruga lose to Kyoko glared at Sho.
"You ready?" Kuon asked Kyoko as Kana exited the car.
Kyoko smoothed her hands over the outfit Kuon had chosen. It fit like a glove but felt nothing like her. But then that was the point. She wasn't herself tonight, she was Fuwa's girlfriend.
"Not really but the cameras are waiting." She answered conjuring a bright smile onto her face.
"That's my girl." Kuon praised despite how sick he felt over what she would have to do.
A genuine smile graced her lips accompanied by a blush due to his praise.
Kuon sighed, "You go ahead with Kana-san. I need a minute."
"I…"
"Don't apologize." He interrupted her and Sho knocked on the window. Kuon sneered at this but motioned for Kyoko to exit the car.
Sho's mouth went dry at the sight of long legs. He forced himself to swallow as his eyes took in the sight of the slinky red dress that hung dangerously low on the full hips. The material looked soft, and his fingers itched to glide over it up the curve of her breasts. A tongue darted out to lick cherry red lips which smirked at him. Kana fluttered her lashes at him, and he blushed for once embarrassed to have been caught ogling an older woman. He had forgotten his plan to take over Kyoko's heart, but he couldn't help it. How was he expected not to stare when Kana exuded sexuality and Kyoko didn't even try? Annoyed he knocked on the window wanting the two lovebirds to hurry up out of the car already.
Kyoko stepped out of the car eyes cast down and a pretty blush coloring her face. Sho took in the short red dress with black lace overlay and smiled. She had dressed up for him. And it was for him because the chunky black boots on her feet would never match with Tsuruga.
"You look nice." He said honestly.
Kyoko plastered on her smile betting that he was teasing her. Nevertheless, she whispered a thank you and let him take her hand. She did not throw a glance back at Kana or Kuon though she desperately wanted to.
Kana pursed her lips as Kuon exited the car too slowly for her liking. Sho was getting away with Kyoko and this infuriating man was acting like he didn't have a care in the world. She knew they should have done valet parking instead of parking in the lot themselves. Now they had to chase after the younger couple who were already entering the throng of paparazzi. She bounced on her toes as Tsuruga shut his door and leisurely walked over to her offering his arm.
Once they caught up to the couple Kana frowned as she found that Fuwa Sho had missed the memo on how to behave as a proper fake significant other. Where Kana held onto Ren without pressing her body to his, Sho hugged Kyoko flush against his side and flaunted her like an accessory.
"She's cute huh?" he asked the paparazzi and presented her to the cameras like a prize. Kyoko beamed up at him with a slight blush. Kana made a note in her mind to have a serious talk with Kyoko. She was being too accepting of her new role as Sho's girlfriend. Kana wanted to see her make it harder for him. She wanted them to go back to bickering and needing to be in separate rooms for everyone's peace of mind. She wanted Ren to stop smiling as though nothing were wrong with this picture.
"Let's head inside." Ren whispered near her ear and steered her away from the mosquitos with their flashing cameras.
"I want to wait for Kyoko." Kana protested. Ren should be the one who wanted to break Sho's arm. Ren should be the one who was upset about Kyoko's encouraging behavior towards Sho.
"She'll be right behind us." Ren said. "Let's go get a drink."
Kana fought the urge to glare up at him and let him lead her inside the club. She threw one last glance at Kyoko to see Sho planting a kiss on her cheek. The cameras flashed. The paparazzi were ecstatic.
Kuon clenched his jaw, but he would not lose to Fuwa. He would not give that kid the satisfaction of knowing he was getting under his skin.
"Ren!" Kijima called out to his friend from the dance floor. "Tsuruga, come dance with us."
"Maybe later." Kuon said making a beeline to the bar.
"Aw come on man. You're so boring." Kijima mocked with a pout. He waved to Momose, signaling that he would only be a minute.
If he were honest, his date with her wasn't going so well. She was more concerned that she couldn't spend time together with Kyoko if they didn't arrive soon, and he felt awkward. He never felt awkward with women but this one made him stumble over his words now that he had finally gotten a date with her.
"Tsuruga please come dance with Itsumi-san and tell her I'm not a bumbling fool." He pleaded when he caught up to Kuon at the bar.
"Scotch on the rocks, please." Kuon ordered ignoring his friend.
"Come on Tsuruga I helped you win Kyoko now you help me win Itsumi-san."
"First of all, hush, we're in public. Second, she isn't a prize at some carnival. Third, I don't recall you helping with my relationship at all. In fact, if I remember correctly you tried to steal her away." Kuon said accepting his drink and turning towards the booths.
"No, I backed off after you declared your intentions to me. And every conversation I had with her after that I included an anecdote about how good a friend you were." Kijima said stalking behind Kuon to one of the private booths in the darkest section of the club. "I even offered to beat up Fuwa for you, but you keep saying no."
"Because it's not necessary." Kuon said closing the heavy curtain on the booth he chose. "We're all here as friends right. Let's be nice and not bully Fuwa-san."
Kijima's lip curled up disgusted by the thought of being friends with Fuwa. After everything Fuwa had done, now he was blackmailing his best friend and forcing Kyoko to date him. Why now did they have to be nice to him?
"Where's Kana-san, she'll help me plot against that meddling brat." Kijima grumbled looking for the tall beauty.
"If I, were you, I would be more concerned with where Momose-san is. You'll lose her if you don't show her any interest. Then I'll probably have to hear all about it and console you." Kuon said finding that he didn't altogether hate the idea of comforting Kijima. It was weird to have a friend he actually wanted to spend time with despite how annoying Kijima was.
"She's only here to spend time with your girlfriend and I think she has a crush on the jackass trying to steal your girlfriend." Kijima said. He slumped into the booth and his head fell onto the table. "What am I supposed to do? I really like her."
"Maybe you should tell her that. She doesn't know you like her." Kuon said. "How can she when you flirt with everyone to the same degree that you flirt with her. Just last week you were fawning over Kotonami-san. Then you were telling Kyoko how cute she was right in front of Momose-san earlier today. You even flirt with me and Hikaru-san sometimes."
Kijima snarled with a playful lilt to his voice. "I don't flirt with you unless Kyoko-chan is around to tease. You won't play along with me otherwise. I like getting a rise out of people and seeing them blush. What is so wrong with that?"
"How is she supposed to know she's special if you treat her like everyone else?" Kuon asked. "I bet she thinks you're just teasing her or that you're a sleaze who just wants to get laid."
Kijima blinked a few times unused to Tsuruga speaking in such crass language. He shrugged it off assuming that he must have finally been accepted as the best friend.
Celebrating his victory over Hikaru he beamed up at Kuon and teased. "We're young Ren-kun. I may want something deeper but I'm not ready to settle down into an old married life like you. I still want to have fun." Kijima said noting Kuon's boring attitude towards going out.
"We have fun." Kuon argued.
"Right. Mom and dad have loads of fun getting to bed as early as they can after work and getting up early enough to eat a proper breakfast. So much fun." Kijima teased.
"We have fun." Kuon said more sternly. "We have tons of fun. Just not the kind I'm willing to share with you Hidehito."
"It's always the quiet ones." Kijima said. "And to think I could have had her."
"That was never going to happen." Kuon said downing his drink before adding. "Just like you and Momose-san if you don't go pay attention to her."
Kyoko bit down the need to shove him away. Bile rose in her throat. She felt like tiny bugs were crawling all over her skin everywhere he touched her. He escorted her inside the club and the second they were out of view of the cameras Kyoko wrenched herself away from him. Sho grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to his side.
"Where are you going?" He asked then hissed in her ear. "Everybody is watching us still. Don't think you can run off to Tsuruga just because we're inside."
She nodded her head resigned to continue the charade. At least for a while. Kuon had already rented out a privacy room for them. The key to it was burning a hole in her pocket as she itched to run and hide from all the prying eyes. Sho pulled her towards the dance floor.
"Dance with me." he demanded against her ear. The loud music made it necessary for him to press his lips to her ear as he spoke.
She wanted to decline but she could feel people watching her. Jealous eyes judged her in the too short dress as she let him pull her to his body. She had never been to a night club before and had not expected it to feel so suffocating. Scantily clad bodies gyrated all around them, pressing them closer together. She didn't know why anyone would want to be in a room full of intoxicated sweaty people. Especially when you had to yell at your friends or whisper in their ears to communicate. Though if she were with Kuon the whispering wouldn't bother her. If she were being yanked onto the dance floor by Kanae or Chiori the bodies around her wouldn't make her feel so anxious.
"Dance with me." Sho hissed. She was just standing close to him without moving. It made them appear awkward. He could imagine what the tabloids would say about them in the morning. Other celebrities would give anonymous accounts about how uninterested she was in him. The fan sites would spread rumors about him forcing her to go out with him. He gripped her tighter.
"Ow," she said pushing on his chest.
"Kyoko…" he was trying to be nice, but she always had to pick a fight.
Remembering that she couldn't lose to him and noticing that everyone nearest to them was staring, Kyoko plastered on a bright smile and began to dance. She hated every moment of being close to him. She hated how happy he looked as they danced. She really hated that her phony smile and compliance was enough to convince him that she was ok with this situation. If he were Kuon, no if her were any one of her friends, he would notice how uncomfortable she was. Even Koga who knew her for the least amount of time would be able to see the discomfort in her eyes. So why couldn't the one person who should have known her best see that she didn't want to be on the dancefloor?
"You used to love dancing remember?" Sho asked taking advantage of the noise and pulling her close so she could hear.
What she remembered was begging him to let her dance. He used to dance to music but always told her that she looked like a headless chicken and should just sit down before she hurt herself. It could have very well been the truth since she had been ten and she didn't know how to dance, but he couldn't have been that much better. He was only ten too and had no one around to teach him either. Not that she would have noticed if he couldn't dance, not back then.
"You know they have private rooms here." Sho said leaning into her ear.
When Kuon whispered in her ear like that it gave her a pleasant tingling sensation and she always leaned back pulling his arms more tightly around herself. When Sho did it however, the only thing she felt was the need to vomit. Where was Kuon? She wanted to know. Maybe he was already hiding in their private room, waiting for her to come find him. That wouldn't do he needed to be seen with Kana.
"Do you want to go?" Sho asked mistaking her silent shudder for intrigue and lust.
"Yes," Kyoko shouted, "I want to go far away from here." She wanted to say you but there were too many people around.
Sho gripped her hand and tried to pull her off the dance floor but an arm around her waist stopped him. He reeled around ready to scream at Tsuruga for daring to touch his date but the feminine body holding Kyoko tight was not Ren.
"Kyoko-chan, could I steal you for a dance?" Momose asked appearing hugging her distressed friend. She wasn't so naïve as to not notice how uncomfortable Sho was making Kyoko.
"I'm sorry Momose-san but," Sho began but Momose yanked Kyoko away from him.
"Just one song I promise!" She shouted to the singer before vanishing into the throng of dancers with Kyoko.
Sho ground his teeth together biting his tongue making himself calm down. He would not lose to Tsuruga even with everyone around the couple working hard to try to make him look bad.
"It seems we are both without dance partners." A sultry voice said.
He perked up not recognizing the gorgeous woman looking up at him with a sinful gaze. She bit her plump bottom lip and leaned into his chest to purr in his ear.
"Dance with me?" She asked walking her fingers up his arms.
He was a sucker for tall older women with nice bodies. He placed his hands on her body and the two danced. Only Sho didn't notice the scathing looks he was receiving from many of the other dancers around them. Even those among the club goers who were his fans were judging him. He was flirting with some stranger as Kyoko innocently danced with a friend. It was too bad that despite photography being banned in the club cellphones were not confiscated at the door. Though everyone adhered to the no pictures rule, out of fear of getting their own picture taken, they did not have any qualms with posting things they saw on forums. Gossip and rumors disguised in the form of theories.
Perhaps they're just publicity dating. One poster wrote hopeful that Sho wasn't doing anything wrong when he groped the mystery woman.
No way! This is just the way Fuwa is. Poor Kyoko-chan. Another poster wrote.
On and on it went as onlookers sent scathing glares at show and the woman. Some tried to dance closer to listen as Sho flirted with the woman.
"What's your name?" he asked practically licking his lips.
"Does it matter?" she asked back noting the couple dancing close by so they could listen in. "You have a girlfriend. This is just a dance, right?"
"I only want to know my lovely fans name. As for the girlfriend thing, she's a young naïve maiden and a man has needs. She won't begrudge me a bit of fun with a fan." He said and the woman had to clench her jaw so she wouldn't shove him away. The sleazy way he spoke was enough to make even her skin crawl and she wasn't exactly a naïve maiden.
At the bar Kuon accepted another drink as he surveyed the dance floor. He shook his head seeing Kana walk over to him with a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"Buy me a drink as a thank you." she said sitting on the stool beside him.
"Careful. It could be bad for her to be seen with him." He said before calling the bartender over.
"She's wearing a proper disguise." Kana said not the least bit worried. "Besides she insisted on doing it."
"And when Mogami-san finds out?" Kuon asked knowing that most people would be inclined to feel sympathy for Kyoko. Though there would be some who would place the blame on her.
"I'm sure she'll be so devasted." Kana said voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I'm sure." Kuon agreed with the same amount of enthusiasm. "Of course, he'll find a way to weasel out of a breakup."
"He can't. This is fool proof. Both their fans will demand an apology and agree she deserves better." Kana said with certainty.
Kuon sighed and shook his head. "You don't know Fuwa Sho. And you don't know their relationship. He'll manipulate her into covering for him. He always does."
"But she knows he's an evil narcissistic buffoon?" Kana said questioning Kyoko's sanity.
"Yet she insists that he can be kind and has compassion. We're childhood friends. You don't know him like I do Tsuruga-san. Like that and I'll have to concede, or we'll fight." He said mimicking Kyoko so well that Kana was taken aback.
"That's stupid." Kana said after a pregnant pause. "How do we get her out of this then?"
"Just wait it out." Kuon said with a shrug. "They're going to fight eventually, and he'll disappear for a while. He always does. Then he'll pop up a few months later. He's like that annoying relative that you have to acknowledge on holidays. He'd get along with my cousin."
"Is your cousin also an asshole?" Kana asked accepting her drink from the bartender.
"Yes." Came Kuon's curt reply. "On second thought they wouldn't get along because they both always have to be the center of attention."
Kana cocked her head at him wondering and not for the first time what his relationship was like with his family.
"Look this is only going to make things worse for Mogami-san in some way. Please go get your girlfriend away from Fuwa." Kuon said downing his drink.
"No, he needs to be punished." Kana said.
"He needs a good ass beating, but he's not going to get it." Kuon hissed back looking around them to see if anyone was paying attention. Spotting a couple eyes, he placed his arm around her waist and hissed in her ear. "You know that his fans will find ways to blame her. You know that the media will never be fair to her or take her side."
Kana feigned a blush and nodded. She was sullen but she had to act as though they were having a flirtatious conversation. She knew exactly how cruel the public could be to a young girl like Kyoko.
"Fine I'll message her." Kana said feeling Kuon's warmth leave her. "Where are you going?"
"To brood in silence alone." Kuon said half joking.
Kana rolled her eyes. "You're going to go wait for her already? Shouldn't we dance first? You know so people can talk about how we were all over each other." She said holding out her hand to him.
Kuon smiled a broad annoyed grin. Kana giggled at his discomfort but they both walked onto the dance floor.
"Look Hidehito is finally mustering up the courage to ask Momose-san to dance." Kuon pointed out and the two of them watched Kijima idling close to Kyoko and Momose.
Kijima looked down at his feet and rubbed his arm. A couple times it looked like he was about to open his mouth to interrupt the dancing girls, but he stopped himself and looked away.
"That's kind of sad." Kana said.
"He's normally a lot more forward. I wonder if he really does like her?" Kuon said.
Another girl sidled up to Kijima and said something. Both Kana and Kuon hung their heads in shame as Kijima nodded. Then he was dancing with her.
Kuon heaved a giant sigh.
"That's your friend." Kana said gesturing to the poor guy dancing with the wrong woman.
"I think I'm going back to my booth to drink alone." Kuon said, "I can't watch him fumble this badly."
"Oh, having flash backs of your own misguided courtship?" Kana teased holding on to him tighter so he couldn't run away from her. "Kyoko looks like she's having fun."
"Yeah, she likes dancing." Kuon said a bit sad. He could never take her dancing just the two of them.
Kana pressed her lips into a thin line and let him go. He wandered over to a private booth and pulled the curtain closed. She sighed and ordered him another drink at the bar as she shot off a text to her girlfriend.
"I wanted to be alone." Kuon grumbled but that didn't stop her from sitting across from him.
"Too bad. We're still a couple and people are watching us too." She said closing the curtain. "All those nosy people are probably already posting about how you hid in here right away and I was nowhere to be seen for a bit."
"Now they're gossiping about Fuwa Sho dancing with a gorgeous unknown woman while Kyoko innocently dances with a friend." Kuon said as he watched Kana typed on her phone. "I might also point out that you are one of those gossipers who is always posting about us."
"Yes, but I only post good things about how cute you are together." Kana said fluttering her lashes at him playfully. "To get the fans to see that you belong together."
"Gossip is gossip and gossiping about your friends is wrong." Kuon said pretending he had come up with it. Really it was something Kyoko had said when he tried to pry information out of her about Koga.
"Oh, wise Tsuruga please teach me more about how to be a proper friend." Kana mocked. "You know, how much time I should spend avoiding them and how to politely turn down invites. I especially want to learn all about brooding in private when I do finally manage to grace them with my presence. Or let's skip to the part where you teach me to convince my girlfriend to leave early so, I can get to bed because work and sex is all I ever think about."
"Work and sex are not all I ever think about. Her health is the main reason I want us to get home at a reasonable time." Kuon countered.
"Yes, her health requires her to be in bed by ten every night even when she doesn't need to be anywhere the next day until noon. It has nothing to do with your wish to monopolize her time and get laid." Kana said only mostly teasing.
"Would you stop implying that I'm some sort of lecherous horny slimeball." Kuon growled.
Kana snorted, "Lecherous horny slimeball." She continued to laugh even as the curtain was pulled open.
"Is this seat taken?" A sultry voice asked Kuon before sliding into the booth beside him.
"Yes," he replied. "By my gorgeous wife."
"Senpai, I didn't know you were married." Kyoko gasped.
"Yes, I am Mogami-san. To the most beautiful woman in the world." He said leaning down to nuzzle her neck. "You smell good."
"Ugh, the two of you are worse than hormonal teenagers." Kana said. "Can't you go one night without touching each other? I'm gonna get myself another drink." The two of them barely noticed her leaving as Kuon continued to nuzzle against her neck.
"Tsuruga-san, don't do anything stupid just because we're alone." Kyoko said but her hand caressed his thigh.
"Stupid? Like pulling you onto my lap?" he asked kissing her behind the ear and pulling her over to sit in his lap. "I could slip my hands under your skirt and…"
"Did the two of you really come here just to make out in this booth?" Kijima asked popping into the booth and sitting across from them. "Go home if you're going to bang."
Sighing Kuon asked, "Did you ask Momose-san to dance yet?"
"No." Kijima sulked. "She was with this one." He said gesturing to Kyoko. "Then she bumped into another friend of hers."
"And you made another friend as well." Kyoko said accusingly. "She saw you dancing with that girl."
"And I saw Fuwa dancing with someone else as well. Shouldn't you be making some sort of scene about that? Then you could force him to call off this farce." Kijima said his eyes narrowing at her. "Or do you like this little arrangement?"
"NO! I can't stand letting him hold me and try to steal kisses. My skin is still crawling just thinking about having to dance with him." Kyoko declared. "However, if I go and accuse him of cheating, he'll turn it on me somehow. He'll blame me for leaving him alone or he'll say that it's because I'm unbearably unattractive. Then all his fans will gossip about how much of a shrew I am or how ugly I am." She was used to Sho's fans hating her. Accustomed to their snide remarks and crude accusations. At least these fans couldn't get to her so easily to pull pranks.
"So, you won't even try to fight this. The two of you are just going to play along with him and keep up the Tsuruga and Kana charade too?" Kijima asked frustrated by them.
"He'll get bored of picking on me in this way eventually." Kyoko said with a shrug. "In the meantime, I do not intend to lose to him."
"Lose?" Kijima asked cocking his head. "Now I feel kind of sorry for that asshat. You think this is a game but he's clearly serious about liking you."
Kyoko rolled her eyes and sighed. "Now you sound like him." She jabbed her thumb at Kuon. "I'll have you know that Fuwa and I have never and will never have that sort of relationship. Not only because I detest him but also because he would never find me appealing. I'm not his type."
"Do you see the kind of willful denial of the painfully obvious that I had to contend with?" Kuon asked and Kijima nodded in sympathy.
"Look on the bright side Tsuruga. Even if he chased her down like you did and declared his love, she would only take it as a prank." Kijima said then slumped his head into his hands. "And at least you have her in your lap. Poor me has no one."
"Because you flirt with everyone." Kyoko insisted but pat him on the head.
Sho barged in on them then and pouted down at Kyoko. He had seen Tsuruga pout like that to get his way. If it worked for that platform wearing freak, then it should work for him too.
"What do you want?" Kijima asked.
"I came to find my date so I could dance some more." Sho said intensifying his pout.
"Did the pretty blonde you were dancing with ditch you? What happened, you stepped on her toes too many times?" Kijima asked mockingly.
"She was a fan." Sho said crossing his arms and leaning against the booth. The way he held the curtain open made it necessary for Kyoko to slide off Kuon's lap and scoot further away from him. "Where are your dates?"
"Getting herself another drink." Kuon replied.
"You didn't offer to get it for her. How ungentlemanly of you." Sho said as though he were scandalized by the very idea of Tsuruga letting a woman get her own drink.
"I can assure you that Kana-san is more than capable of ordering her own drinks. She isn't helpless like you Fuwa-san." Kuon said wanting to dig at the musician.
"I'm not helpless…"
"I heard you can't even go shopping for yourself." Kuon bit back.
"I'm too famous, I can't risk being seen and bombarded by fans." Sho countered. "I've never seen any photos of you out shopping. I bet you have your manager run around doing your errands all the time."
"Our manager is too busy negotiating on our behalf to be out doing our chores. Besides, my girl likes it when I go grocery shopping with her. Like a married couple ought to." Kuon smirked as he spoke.
"You're not married." Sho said clenching his jaw. "That's just something you told the idiot so you could get under her skirt."
"Yeah right!" Kijima chuckled. "The girl was practically begging him to…"
"Hidehito that's my wife." Kuon cut him off. There was no way he was going to brag about having sex with Kyoko. Especially not to Fuwa.
"Sorry." Kijima said hanging his head and zipping his lips.
Sho's top lip quivered, and he glared down at Kyoko who was busy looking anywhere except for at Sho.
"You are right though, Fuwa, I should be spending time with my date." Kuon said sadly. "And Mogami-san should be dancing. No matter what she might say, she does enjoy dancing."
Kuon and Kyoko locked eyes and Kuon tried to convey to her that she wasn't allowed to lose to Fuwa. It took her a moment to collect herself but with a deep calming breath she pulled a smile onto her face.
"Sho-chan I thought you would never ask. Of course, I would love to dance with you." she enthused, and Kijima's jaw dropped as he watched her latch onto Fuwa's arm and be led to the dance floor.
"You're just gonna sit back and let that happen!" he asked in an aghast whisper. "Let's go kick his ass already."
"I told you we're not doing that." Kuon said. No matter how much he would like to break every bone in Fuwa's hands he couldn't allow himself to. He also couldn't send his friends to do it for him. That was something Satoshi would do. It was what an abusive controlling asshole would do and that was the last thing Kuon wanted to be. Because despite what she said she cared about Sho.
"You're just going to watch as Fuwa puts his slimy hands all over your girl?" Kana asked falling into the booth beside Kijima.
"Nope. I'm going to get another drink then I'll hide in my quiet private room to sulk." Kuon said getting up from his seat.
"Tsuruga." Kana growled.
"You want me to make a scene in the middle of the club? To jump up and declare my love where all these rich snobs can see?" Kuon asked in a low growl of his own.
Kana wanted to smile smugly and reply in the affirmative, but she couldn't. If he did that it would cause trouble for her as well.
"No, but you could yell at him for cheating. A gentleman wouldn't stand for that." Kana goaded.
"As far as anyone knows he only danced with a fan. He didn't go off with her or make plans to meet up later. Rumors and gossip are just that without picture proof. He has picture proof of us, but we are in a club which bans photography on the inside." Kuon said. It was the sulkiest he had allowed either of them to see.
"So, I need to find a different way to trap him." Kana schemed.
"No, you need to finish your drink so we can dance. We wouldn't want people gossiping about how you staid at the bar all night and I hid in a booth sulking." Kuon said with a deep sigh.
"Don't sound so enthusiastic Ren-sama, a girl could get the wrong idea." Kana drawled then downed her drink. "But you're right, we should get back on the dance floor. Even if the gossipers won't have to proof."
Sho pulled Kyoko close and whispered, "I believe we were interrupted before when we were discussing going to a private room together."
She quirked a brow up at him. "No thanks." She said leaning away from him, so she didn't have to feel his breath on her skin.
Sho smirked down at her misinterpreting her discomfort as shyness. She had always been nervous about physical contact. He was certain that there was no one she had actually had sex with Tsuruga. There was no way her princess brain would allow her to lose her virginity before marriage. Sho was pretty sure that she would hide under the bed on her wedding night. He imagined himself having to coax her out with the promise of expensive make up or princess jewelry. He thought that it would be fun convincing her to spread her legs, but he knew he would grow bored if she was like that every time. And he had no reason to believe that she would ever be anything but a self-conscious pure maiden. With that in mind he looked around for his voluptuous dance partner from before, but she was nowhere to be seen. He had been hoping to get her number before he lost track of her. Once he had stolen Kyoko back from Ren, he would be free to give the other woman a call.
As he was thinking this Kyoko was looking around for Kuon and their friends. It took everything she had not to kick Sho in the shin and run off to hide in the private room. She had hoped that Kana would come save her as Momose-san had done before but she spotted both Kana and Ren dancing together. Kijima was with another girl playing up his playboy charms even as he kept glancing over at Momose-san who was conversing with another friend.
"Kyoko?" Sho questioned finally noticing that she wasn't paying any attention to him. He followed her gaze to Tsuruga and sneered rolling his eyes. "What kind of dumb woman are you? He takes her on dates. He proudly shows her off to all his fans and the press. You are nothing more than a concubine, his perfect little geisha there to serve him meals. I really envy him Kana, but I can't comprehend why he would choose to keep you around. Even made up and dressed in expensive clothes you are only halfway decent." He had forgotten to play nice as his jealousy reared its ugly head.
"If a man can have anybody, he wants then why does he chase after a pathetic low-level actress who has no special attributes?" He questioned expecting her to yell at him and make a scene. If she was just going to stare at Tsuruga all night anyway then he might as well have a bit of fun with her. There was no one else who could rile her up like he could, and he was going to make sure that Tsuruga knew that.
Sighing Kyoko yanked herself away from him and he waited with a smirk for her outburst. She bowed to him and said, "Excuse me Fuwa-san but I need to use the restroom."
Before he could catch her arm, she vanished into the throng of dancers. He cursed mentally berating himself for being unable to keep up his act. He was supposed to be nice and seduce her away from Tsuruga dammit. He shoved his way through the dancers and found the restrooms to wait for Kyoko. After some time, past however when she didn't come out he scanned the dance floor quickly for any sign of her.
Searching the swarm of bodies melding together on the dance floor he managed to spot Momose then he found Kana at the bar speaking with a gorgeous woman. Kijima was dancing again but with a different girl as he kept his moping eyes on Momose-san. There was no sign of Kyoko. In shocked horror he realized that there was also no sign of Tsuruga Ren.
He checked his phone noting that he hadn't seen Kyoko in almost forty minutes. Lips curling in annoyance he marched over to Kijima to demand to know where Tsuruga was.
"Dude how are you not getting this?" Kijima asked instead of telling Sho where to find Ren or Kyoko.
"Just tell me where that platform wearing pretty boy dragged my girl off to." Sho sneered crossing his arms. He didn't even care if Kijima liked him. The only person he had to worry about was Kyoko. She had to see him for the dashing prince he was again and ditch the ogre she had allowed to kidnap her.
Kijima pinched his nose feeling a headache coming on and said slowly. "Why do you think photography isn't allowed in here? More importantly why do you think everyone follows that rule?"
Sho stared at him with a blank expression. He didn't have time for a lesson on club etiquette from Kijima.
"Just about everyone here is up to no good. If they take a picture, then that opens the door for them to get their picture taken. Spreading rumors is one thing but nobody wants picture evidence that they were in the back corner over there snorting shit or that they are secretly dating a producer or director."
"I don't care about any of them. Where is Kyoko?" Sho said through gritted teeth. He had to remember not to let anyone else hear that he had lost his girlfriend. It would do to be seen as so undesirable that a wet noodle like her could dump him.
Kijima huffed realizing Sho was never going to get it unless he told him directly. In a low voice he hissed, "Instead of cock blocking Tsuruga, you made yourself into a decoy so he could whisk her away to fuck her brains out in one of the private rooms here."
"My Kyoko would never..." Sho grit out through clenched teeth.
"Not with you, no." Kijima said with a smirk. "Because she isn't your Kyoko."
"Tsuruga has Kana." Sho sneered.
"Kana?" Kijima rolled his eyes and said, "Seventy five percent of everyone here came with one person so they could have a secret rendezvous with another. She is a decoy dumbass. Just like you."
"No. They kiss." Sho said but stumbled over his thoughts as he could not recall ever seeing Kana and Ren touch lips. And Kana was oddly encouraging towards Kyoko and Ren's relationship.
"Now you get it. You haven't won anything by forcing this relationship on her. You just placed yourself in the front row seat to watch their foreplay. Pervert."
"No." Sho said vehemently. "No."
"Yes." Kijima stated firmly. "And might I just say that even I have trouble putting up with their cutesy little nicknames and nauseating flirtations. It gets real awkward real fast with those two sometimes and we have to beg them to go home. I'm amazed that girl isn't pregnant already." He knew his words were making Sho sick. He could see that in the way the boy turned green and clenched his fists.
"NO!" Sho seethed leaning closer to snarl in Kijima's face. "My Kyoko would never do that. She better not have let that giant freak turn her into his worthless slut…"
The satisfying feel of bone cracking against his knuckles was worth the headlines. Kijima smirked to himself as the crowd around them stared stunned by the visual kei artist laid out on the floor clutching his nose.
"No matter what they have or haven't done I don't believe anyone is worthless. Except maybe arrogant celebrities who are a dime a dozen. I could pick out ten visual kei artists and they would all look, act, and sound just like your boring basic ass." Kijima spat stepping over Sho rubbing his knuckles.
He stomped over to Momose-san and asked, "Would you like to dance?"
"Uh, wha? Um, yes?" she stuttered looking from Kijima to Sho moaning on the floor.
Inside a dimly lit room Kyoko drew circles on Kuon's chest as the couple lazed on a leather couch.
"Shouldn't we both get back out there, you know, to be seen with our dates?" she asked despite having no desire to move.
"Your date was busy dancing with my date's girlfriend earlier. I'm sure he'll have no problem finding someone else who will fawn over him the way he likes." Kuon said running his fingers along her spine.
"Do you think we could dance? Not as a couple but in like a group thing with Momose-san and the others? I saw a group of five girls dancing together earlier." She said trying not to sound too bitter. If they were going to lay on a couch all night, they could have sneaked home instead. It would be less risky, and she would feel less like she was missing out on the fun. And dancing with Momose-san had been fun once she had gotten over the claustrophobic feeling of sweaty strangers surrounding her.
Kuon hugged her and kissed her hair. "Next time we have a day off we'll have to go out as Cain and Setsu. We can dance all night as them."
"Yeah, if they let us past the door that is." Kyoko said then concluded, "It would be better to just stay home. Setsuka would prefer to be alone with her brother anyway."
The couple was silent for a moment then they both groaned in realization. Kijima and Kana were right, they were a boring old married couple. Kyoko buried her head against his chest. She couldn't help but only want to dance with him and if she was dancing with him than she would rather do it at home. There was no need for the crowd or the music.
"You can go out there and dance with Momose-san. I promise I won't be overbearing and jealous. Go have fun." Kuon said though he wanted to tighten his hold on her and bask in their solitude.
"Momose-san has so many friends here that I didn't want to be greedy and monopolize her time." Kyoko explained.
"If she were Kotonami-san you would have no problem with it." Kuon pointed out.
"Moko-san is Moko-san. Besides she would never come here." Kyoko said.
"She's going with you and Julie-san out to lunch tomorrow though, right?" Kuon asked.
"Sarah-san." Kyoko corrected with a nod. "I'm so happy I'll get to see them both."
"And she'll be there on your next date?" he asked again hoping he didn't sound too possessive.
"Yes. it'll be her, Sho, and I at the movies. I'm still upset that you can't go." Kyoko sulked.
"I'm sorry princess. You know I'd be there if I could." Kuon said with a pout. It wasn't that he didn't trust Kanae to watch over her, but he felt anxious knowing Fuwa would be near her.
They laid for a moment in comfortable silence until her phone began ringing. Kuon plucked it up from the table nearby. Kyoko turned her head away snuggling closer to his chest.
"Moshi moshi," Kuon answered absentmindedly petting her head. "Kana-san hello." He said pleasantly.
As he listened to Kana speak his hand stopped petting her and his other hand squeezed the phone. Suddenly he sprang up catching Kyoko in his lap as he shouted, "Hidehito did what?!"
A/N: I feel like it's a little all over the place but I've reread and rewritten it so many times already that I decided to just publish it. I low key love Kijima a lot and I kind of dislike Koga. Not because I actually dislike Koga but because I wanted Kijima to take the role of nii-san/senpai in a platonic friendship with Kyoko. That's why it was him who got to hit Sho first, then Koga will deal some damage later maybe.