Disclaimer: The author does not own any of the trademarks used or referenced in this chapter.

Author's Note: I must say, this was even more complicated than the previous chapter.

So I finally got to play around a bit with Kei's side here while still using Hiou's POV. I might've mentioned this before, but when it was announced that Kei was filming a period drama was the exact moment I decided I really want to do this crossover. The setup would've been simple: Kei comes in and trains stage combat with the best instructor in the industry in Kotetsu, and then she meets Hiou and Kanae. But then it was revealed that the period drama wasn't going to be set in the feudal era and that left me scrambling (among other things). It wasn't until not too long ago that I thought of focusing her training on the more spiritual side of things. I realized that, while Kei might've been able to overcome the strain of getting in-character, she hadn't been able to do it on her own (as in without anyone telling her to snap out of it), so I decided to go from there...

Still groping my way outside of my comfort zone here. Tried going back to chapters that showed Kotetsu, but I'm not sure if I've given him justice here. I also wanted to add a touch of Zen or wisdom, but didn't want to overdo it. Anyway, hope this had been at least palatable, if not on par with the previous chapters!

Actors and Monsters Chapter 3: Depths and Ghosts

Hiou had read about how petrifying the experience was in comic books before. He never imagined that, in the comfort of his own home, he'd ever see death incarnate standing between himself and his grandfather and hacking away with a wooden sword.

To think Kei Yonagi had, up until that point, belied her killer instinct under the facade of a normal high school girl trying to make it into the entertainment industry. Well, relatively normal, at least. Putting aside her initial giddiness in meeting him, Kei was a bit aloof. They had breakfast together at his grandfather's behest, but she didn't really speak to him unless she was spoken to. Still, she made an effort to be amicable whenever he asked her something. Mostly trivial questions that an internet search about her already answered for him. It couldn't be helped - the extent of his own cordiality didn't amount to anything more than a series of quickfire questions.

The conversation only felt weirder for the third generation actor when he'd confirmed some of her personal details. She didn't have any parents, but is living with her brother and sister, Rua and Rui, in a small apartment downtown. Being an actress was all she wanted to do, and prior to getting her big break she was constantly being shown the door at every audition she went to for some weird antics she candidly admitted to. After a while it started to feel more and more like he was talking to a version of some girl he thought he knew who came from a different timeline, one where she allowed Kyoko Mogami's to rub off on her a bit more.

"You've only done one movie?" Hiou pointed out while looking at her filmography. In that one movie, she'd been credited together with a bunch of nobodies.

Kei nodded. "I did get the chance to act with Chiyoko Momoshiro, though it was only for a few minutes and I got killed off soon after." The last part she stressed humbly, downplaying what has since become a sleeper debut of a talent whose face currently adorns most billboards and posters across the city.

"And after that, it's just stage plays, 'Shinjuku Girl,' and commercials?"

"I did a short film my friends from school for our culture festival, but I guess that doesn't count? We kinda ended up causing a lot of trouble especially when it got leaked to the press," she replied sheepisly.

"Kinda, huh," he snorted, already starting to see why her management enrolled her in his grandfather's care as some sort of disciplinary action.

She then droned on about her fun experiences with said friends, but Hiou tuned that part out. He didn't feel like a dismal number of projects justified the attention she was getting. Putting it to perspective, she's already the star of two huge productions and the face of at least two major brands about a year into the industry. Looking her up on the internet some more to see if there was anything he was missing, he found pictures and clips from 'Night on the Galactic Railroad,' as well as the link to the full 'Princess Iron Fan' play she starred in. By pure coincidence Hiou also happened upon some... shots Kei did for a weekly gravure magazine. Nothing too racy compared to what some starlets do, but it was enough to keep him staring for at least half a minute... Not that his hormones were acting up or any of that crap. Before he could ask Kei about any of what he'd uncovered however, Kotetsu walked in on them and whisked Kei away to discuss what they were going to do for the special training.

As soon as he was finished with his meal, Hiou followed them to the training hall, where his grandfather was having Kei read through the same script Kyoko used when she was still preparing to be Momiji - if Kyoko's ugly doodles were anything to go by. Kei didn't budge, let alone look his way when he entered the hall, her attention stuck on the pieces of paper she was holding.

Observing Kei while she internalized for some thirty odd minutes, and then proceeding to act out a lengthy scene escalating from an exposition into a swordfight shortly thereafter, Hiou was amazed by how she was quickly able to match Kyoko's acting from when Kotetsu finally deemed her ready for the Momiji audition. The stuntwork was also impeccable: Kei was far more athletic than either Kyoko or that other woman (if her figure hadn't spoiled it already), and she'd clearly learned stage combat beforehand judging from the way she kept up with Kotetsu's movements while still managing to convey the story packed into the whole sequence.

"Wow... This is like a watching a scene from RuroKen in person," Hiou thought. Whatever doubts he was having about her fame, she'd most definitely slashed it away by then.

Everything was going well with the demonstration between Kei and Kotetsu. It wasn't until the latter whispered something to the up-and-coming actress when theit weapons clashed that she was set off-kilter.

Sitting a couple of meters away, Hiou couldn't quite hear the words his grandfather planted in her ear, but parrying one of Kei's strikes and creating some distance between them, it was plain as daylight that Kei's expressions had darkened. He didn't need to be a film buff to notice it. While she was still playing Momiji as was instructed to her, the absolute elegance that Momiji's technique was supposed to evoke had been sullied by the animosity bleeding from the aura that had possessed her. Her movements became rougher, and her attacks more forceful than necessary, like she was really out to kill Kotetsu after that revelation only the two of them knew about. While he wasn't quite familiar with how the adaptation worked, Hiou was fairly certain that Momiji wasn't supposed to turn into a bloodthirsty slasher. But there stood Kei, her eyes that earlier conveyed the quaint vastness and wonder of outer space, were now cold and perpetual like two black holes looking to devour anyone standing in her way. For a moment Hiou felt genuinely afraid for his grandfather's life that he wanted to step in and call the session off, but the same fear had turned the legs beneath him into stone.

Fortunately, his grandfather happens to be one of Japan's most revered martial arts actors of his time. He knew exactly what he was doing when he unhinged the beast inside of Kei. As Kei whirled around for a powerful blow, Kotetsu planted his feet and, at the very last moment, moved out of her way and used her own momentum against her by tripping her, causing her to fall flat on her face. She dropped her weapon as she landed, capping off her decisive 'loss.'

"I think that's enough for introductions," Kotetsu declared. He didn't even break a sweat despite the intensity of what had transpired.

Kei, on the other hand, was left gasping for air as sweat trickled down her face and soaked the wood beneath her. She seemed visibly shaken, as if she too was surprised that something horrific had come out and possessed her for a few minutes.

"I'm sure you understand that no matter how far you wish to take your character, dragging your co-stars down with you and putting them in harm's way is wrong. An actor willing to go that far cannot be trusted no matter how good he is."

"I... I understand, sir," she labored the response in between breaths.

"You still couldn't quite control your own impulses when faced with certain emotions and experiences. I can see your effort in restraining yourself, but you can't always rely on your co-stars to rein you in whenever you cross the threshold."

"Restraining?! She was still holding back?!" Hiou almost blurted out from the sidelines. "What the hell's with actors these days? First, that bimbo bullies Meino on set just to get a good reaction out of her, and now here's one who looked like she's literally going to hurt someone in a fight scene..."

But even Hiou had to admit that in both instances, he felt exactly the kind of emotions that a casual audience should when watching the scenes unfold. The realization that actors operating at a level far beyond what he, a decade-plus veteran, wasn't capable of, made him feel even smaller than he did yesterday. "Is this what show business is really like for adults who are serious about acting?"

As the actress picked herself up, Kotetsu continued. "Do you have the resolve to swim against Sanzu River's currents with your own strength and make it back to this earth without being tethered back in?"

"I..." Kei finally managed to stand on her own and meet Kotetsu's stern gaze. Hiou couldn't see what kind of expression she had then, but it was apparent that she was back to her normal self. "I don't know... I suppose I'll have to let myself get swept away over and over until I find that resolve," she answered.

Kotetsu grunted at the cheekiness of the response. "Now I'm starting to see for myself why that fool Iwao took a liking on you. If only he'd remembered to teach you how to resurrect yourself..."

"You knew Mr. Iwao?"

"That's a tale for another time. For now, you've got a lot of work to do." Kotetsu then produced a list from his sleeve and passed it over to Kei. "I heard earlier that you have quite an uncanny focus and ability to pick up things by watching them. With that, I compiled a list of films and dramas for you to consume and study. We have everything archived in some form or another so you don't have to worry about seeking them out."

"These are mostly period films and taiga dramas," Kei commented as she perused the list. "I might've seen a few of the Kurosawa films before."

"I'll be quizzing you about them so make sure you pay attention to each and every one. Once all that is finished, perhaps I'll tell you all about your old mentor over some tea... Yonagi-kun."

If Hiou hadn't been so worn out after all the revelations unfolding before him since yesterday, he would've been more staggered by his grandfather's acknowledgement of Kei. He figured it had something to do with that mentor they were talking about, but still...

Upon receiving Kei's assent, Kotetsu walked over to where Hiou was sitting on his way out.

"I know you must be occupied at the moment, but when you can, will you watch with her, Hii-kun?" he whispered to his grandson.

"I can try, but why do I have to join in on her studies?" Hiou asked back.

"Putting aside the need to look after our guest, I reckon you might learn a thing or two about how to overcome the challenges you're facing as well. After all, learning has always been more productive at the company of another student." Seemingly exhilarated by the mock duel, Kotetsu encouragingly patted him on the shoulder before stepping out of the training hall.

As the sliding door grated against the gasket and found closure with a decisive thud, Kei immediately melted on the floor, like a warrior who had willed herself through a gruesome battle only to succumb to the injuries she sustained as soon as word of one side's defeat spread across the field she'd unleashed her carnage in. Per his grandfather's instruction, Hiou approached the slumped actress to tend to her. "You okay?"

"Just exhausted, but I'll get to this list once I freshen up," Kei haplessly replied, her eyes trained languidly at the ceiling above them.

"What the hell was that all about anyway? Did grandpa tell you to not to hold back?"

"Well... He wanted me to act the scene out while diverging from the script a little."

"There's more to it than that, right?" Hiou poked further. "C'mon... You've got to tell me after putting me through a scare."

"Mr. Kotetsu... He..." Reluctance and weariness were evident in Kei's voice when she began, but she went ahead regardless. "...He asked me to play Momiji as if she'd just discovered she was the illegitimate daughter of her lord who, as it turned out, was responsible for ordering the raid of her home village... That they purposely killed her mother in front of her to drive her into living the life of a ninja."

The third generation actor's eyes widened. "That's... Quite the departure from the story." He didn't have to take on the role himself to get how heavy it must've been to incorporate that change. Not that he could actually do it with his current level.

"Isn't it?"

The silence that followed implied that Kei didn't want to delve into the matter further. Hiou wasn't all that enthused in pursuing it either, still struggling to make sense of everything that's been going on up until that point. Looking to break the ice anew, Hiou took the list off of Kei's hand. "Anyway, grandpa told me to watch these with you." His head began to spin as he moseyed through the list. He recognized some of the movies, but he could only think of them as old black and white stuff he'd slept through. He gathered that he'll find appreciation for them in time, but it wasn't going to be this soon. "But can we at least start with something from the aughts?"

"I don't mind," Kei replied. "Is there anything on the list that you'd like to watch first?"

"...How about 'Musashi' from '03? I like Musashi..."

"Hmmm... I was about a year old when that aired... Well then, 'Musashi' it is..."

"What?! Kei Yonagi's been training with the Uesugis for three months now?!"

"Mmm. I haven't seen her practicing any weapon or technique so far, but she's been coming over to have meals or watch film with Kotetsu-sama and Hiou-kun sometime after you left for America." Matsuda confirmed Kanae's surprise as she drove. They'd just left the audition venue after receiving word that Kei had already left with her handler.

"That's a surprise given Kotetsu-san's reputation and busy schedule," Kanae noted, speaking from experience.

"One of the maids told me it was Arisa Hoshi from STARS who brought her in. I heard they're currently representing Yonagi-san on behalf of the smaller agency she's signed to."

Kanae grunted. "STARS? I guess that explains the amount of exposure she's getting now."

She'd heard about STARS before. An agency that was practically the antithesis of LME, they fostered talents based on their marketability among other things. Whether someone was actually talented meant little if he or she didn't have the looks and charisma that suited an image they're trying to milk. And they will milk that image hard, be it movies, serial dramas, ads and what have you. They have a lot of mediocre actors in their roster like Chiyoko Momoshiro who, until recently based on what other people have been saying, had about as much range as a computer-animated Barbie doll. But like Barbie, she is an established brand that drew ratings and sold tickets and merchandise regardless of the product or film quality. STARS definitely knew what they had with her and paved her way to the top with projects that highlighted her appeal the best. A true mainstream star by definition... Kanae may have her opinions about talents who prosper through anything but their actual acting merits, but she could at least respect the idea of commanding so much attention and driving millions in revenue as an ability in itself.

"But for STARS to represent a legitimate actress - not a star, but an actress - like Kei Yonagi... Did something change in their policies?" Kanae mulled over. "Or did she somehow compel them to rethink their principles...? Wait... Now that I think about it, I'd heard some talk about Momoshiro's improvement over the last few months. Is that just a coincidence?" Having seen what Kei was capable of firsthand, going so far as to rouse the interest of one of the industry's most sought after personalities before the audition even started, Kanae wouldn't put it past Kei making such great strides in this industry. "I guess that's another thing she has in common with that other frightening girl I know... No, she's already blown past that level as it is. And she's younger than either of us too."

For the first time since they left the cake shop, Hiou, who had elected to sit shotgun, finally spoke. "Don't you dare make light of Kei's talent, Matsuda. She may be connected to a huge agency right now, but she earned every bit of the fame she's enjoying."

"B-but I didn't say anything," the manager answered.

"You didn't? Heh... I guess it's just my imagination then."

"Ummm, Hiou-kun... Don't you think you're being too rude to Kanae-san?"

"Why would I be rude to someone who isn't even here? For all we know she's probably having steak with that guy right now." Without so much as giving Kanae or the rear-view mirror a second's glance, Hiou groaned with disgust. "I'd choke if I had to eat that much red meat."

"Actually it's well past midnight over there. If you hadn't suddenly stopped messaging me, I'd be winding down by now, bidding you goodnight and all," Kanae muttered to herself. She remained quiet after that, as if playing along with this stupid game he'd decided to play.

She couldn't really blame Hiou for being mad at her. She was confident he'd understand why she had to leave for a while... He was an actor too, and chances like the one she got were like hen's teeth especially for talents who have yet to earn first billing in any production. Even if she had to make that decision ten times over, she'd still choose to challenge herself without regrets. But perhaps she'd been a little too confident to the point of neglecting someone who she felt was... a friend and equal. While Kyoko and Kotetsu found out as soon as she was able to get in touch with them, Hiou had to hear about it from someone else. It wasn't until about a week before her flight, when all her travel documents were already ironed out and her English modules accomplished, that she finally sat down with him and discussed the matter.

After all they've been through, Hiou deserved a little more than being a footnote in her departure preparations. For him to suddenly act like she was invisible after being away for three months? A little immature to be cheeky for sure... Acting cheeky after being cool about the situation the first few days? Now that's a little suspicious. And if he wasn't being blatant about his grievances enough, he just had to bring Cedric Bennett up again. Of course, nothing egregious or scandalous happened between her and Cedric other than the paparazzi trying to earn clicks under their expense. Unfortunately for those bastards, she wasn't that big of a star for the photos to go viral for more than a day (one of very few instances where she was grateful of her relative lack of fame). Now she'd heard some pretty wild things about the guy, but that was none of her business. She came to America to audition for a role that could very well turn her fortune around, and she'll be damned if she allowed herself to get caught up in stupid crap in the middle of such a big opportunity.

"That reminds me... Wasn't he talking about doing a movie right before he started ghosting me?" the thought suddenly occurred to Kanae. Checking her message logs again, she confirmed that filming a movie was indeed one of the last topics he brought up before their line fizzled. She tried messaging and calling him a couple of times after to ask how things went, but by then she couldn't get hold of him anymore. Soon her own schedule became more hectic, so she decided to let him focus on his role until he replied back. Although Hiou never did, Kanae didn't think much of it. To her, a movie adaptation of a popular book with a pretty respectable cast was about as big as a Hollywood audition... Well, maybe not as mainstream, but nevertheless, a role in a movie still demands the same amount of effort and dedication especially when one is cast as the lead (or at least part of it).

"Say, Matsuda-san... Wasn't Hiou-kun filming a movie while I was gone?" Kanae asked.

"You mean 'Finding Our Way in This City?"

"I vaguely remember the serial novel it was based on, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't the original title."

"The source material had different titles for each arc in Rina and Kousei's story. They decided not to do multiple movies, so they came up with an encompassing title a week after production began."

"That makes sense. No matter how successful the original work may be, turning it into a franchise doesn't always mean it'll be a box office success." Her interest with the source material middling at best, Kanae diverted to the part she was curious about. "How did Hiou-kun do?"

The inquiry seemed to have lit up Matsuda's managerial instincts. "Well, Hiou-kun struggled a lot at first, but after a couple of days off he delivered a really amazing performance right on his first take back! Even the director and the co-stars agreed it was his best to date! I wish I could've taken a video for you, but you'll just have to take my word for it 'til the premiere."

Kanae hummed out her amusement. "Is that so? Looking forward to the premiere, then." For as long as she'd known both of them, Kanae had never heard of Matsuda compliment Hiou's acting so much before, and it didn't sound like an exaggeration either. She could only imagine how proud Matsuda was of her charge; she herself had always believed in the third generation actor's ability separate from the expectations his lineage demanded. If Hiou hadn't been messing with her, she probably would've expressed more elation.

"Quit embarrassing me, Matsuda... I never could've done it without her," Hiou said sullenly after a snort, denying any credit lobbied at him.

"Her? Are you talking about Yonagi-san?"

The third generation actor refused to answer any further and settled on looking at the view from the window beside him.

"W-well, I'm sure Hiou-kun's just very anxious heading into the premiere," Matsuda apologetically told Kanae. "It's a big role for him, and critics will have their eyes set on him more than they ever have before."

"That's true," Kanae nodded. "...But what's with Kei Yonagi?"

Matsuda could only shrug. "From what I remember, the first time she visited the estate was when Hiou-kun was told to take time off. She might've helped him get into his character."

"...I see..." Despite the way Hiou was acting in front of her, she was at least relieved to learn of his growth as an actor. At the same time she felt a a very slight tug inside of her. "It couldn't be helped... At some point our careers will diverge from each other..." She assumed she was just a little sad that she hadn't been around to have seen the whole thing unfold first hand. But...

"But why am I taking this harder than I'm supposed to?" While she wasn't as out of tune with her own emotions as Kyoko was, Kanae still struggled to parse what she was feeling. "Is it because that monster was involved in all this somehow? That she'd been there for him as he tapped into his potential, conveniently, while he was shutting me out?"

Kanae fell into the same awkward silence that had stifled her co-star for the rest of the ride, despising her own pettiness.

Chapter End.