REUNION.
As they reached the studio, Yashiro threw a sideway glance at his client from the corner of his eyes. Since the moment he had broken the news about Kuu Hizuri, aka the former Katsuki, being at this studio as well, for some odd reason Ren had pursed his lips into a thin, hard line and had gone gravely quiet. As ridiculous as it seemed, he almost looked nervous. And it was a highly unlikely sight for Ren Tsuruga to be nervous of anything, let alone a retired actor.
"You know what, Ren?" Yashiro broke the uncomfortable silence between them when they entered the building and walked along the corridor. "It'll be fine. Even if Kuu Hizuri is at this particular station, the odds of us running into him are almost none."
"I'm not nervous," Ren flashed him a smile so genuine that Yashiro was almost tempted to believe him and he would have if he didn't know any better.
Yeah, right. The manager rolled his eyes. He didn't blame Ren because he himself would lose it if by some fat chance they did run into Hizuri, because that guy was a walking legend.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, some kid jumped into their way with an ear-crunching thud and the two halted to a stop gaping at him with surprise.
Yashiro recognised those ginger hair almost instantly and he glanced at Ren to confirm his suspicions only to find his client equally flabbergasted.
Only after this person straightened to reveal a familiar pair of big, sparkling eyes and an innocent face, they recognised her and their suspicions were clarified. It was no other than Kyoko.
Oddly, she was dressed up like a boy. And there was no hint of recognition in those hazel eyes of hers as she stared back at them with a small, polite smile. The kind you'd give a stranger when you stumble upon his way.
Yashiro cocked his head back at Ren to look for some kind of explanation but found all the colour drained from his employer's face, almost as if he had seen a ghost.
"Wait I remember you!" Kyoko flashed a broad grin as she placed her hand on her forehead. "You're Ren...um, Tsuruga?" She pronounced his last name as if she wasn't quite sure it was right because didn't remember it correctly.
Why was that a question? Yashiro wondered, as he waited for an explanation from Kyoko or for Ren to ask her if she had lost her damned mind.
"You're the guy playing the new Katsuki in Dark Moon, right?" Kyoko asked.
The manager looked at Ren again but his client had not moved a muscle, as if he was frozen in time. His eyes were so wide that they could have popped off his skull any moment. His face was as pale as a sheet.
"I saw you," Kyoko went on, "in that video Boss gave me." Whenever Hizuri had talked to the President, he had either referred to him by his first name Lory or called him Boss. Kyoko assumed that if young Kuon was really here, he would also copy his father and refer to Takarada as Boss, so she did the same.
Upon hearing the word Boss, whatever doubts Ren had in his mind were instantly cleared and it all started making sense. He finally understood why Kyoko was behaving the way she was, it was because she was in character. And she was playing his own past self, Kuon. At first he only suspected it because of her appearance and her behaviour, but he was sure when she called Takarada Boss, since years ago as Kuon he used to do the same.
"Well, from from what I saw," Kyoko continued, "compared to the older version, your Katsuki was pretty lame."
"Kyoko, what are you saying? It's really you, right?" Yashiro couldn't take it anymore. When he didn't get an explanation from either of those two, he finally decided to intervene. "What on earth is going on?"
"You mean Kyoto?" She blinked cluelessly. "Isn't that the old capital in the west of Japan? What about it? "
"Wh-what the...?" Yashiro was bewildered. He turned to Ren, "did Kyoko ever mention having a twin?"
Before Ren could've replied, they were interrupted by the sound of heeled shoes clicking against the floor as someone climbed down the stairs. "What are you doing over there?" This newcomer asked as he slowly made his way towards them.
Even before Ren had a chance to turn to see his face, he knew exactly who it was because he could have recognised this voice from anywhere. Once again, all the colour drained from his face and it turned paler than before. But this time, Yashiro was equally hysterical after he glanced back to take a quick peek. "Ren, it's Kuu!" The manager exclaimed in a starstruck, whisper-squeak, as if it was the end of the world. "What do we do? What do we do?"
Taking a deep breath, Ren regained his composure before he turned to face this man who was his father. "He's not gonna eat us, Yashiro," he replied to his manager. His face suddenly turned poker, as if it was surrounded by a thick, impregnable wall of a fortress. "Just calm down already."
"You are the one who is way too calm!" Yashiro accused.
By the time Hizuri reached the end of the stairs, Ren was ready to see him. His face not betraying even the slightest hint of emotion or recognition. And neither did Hizuri's. But their eyes were sharp, exchanging a thousand words that were left unsaid as they bored into each other. Their ocular battle continued in silence for a few more seconds as if some staring contest was going on before Hizrui opened his mouth to speak.
With his eyes still fixated on Ren, he said aloud, "Kuon, we're going home."
Ren's eyes narrowed infinitesimally. At the same time, Kyoko ran up to Hizuri to go stand beside him. "'Kay Dad."
Dad? Yashiro grabbed his hair to keep his head from spinning.
Kyoko tugged Hizuri's sleeve while pointing at Ren. "Look, Dad. Its Ren from Dark Moon."
Hizuri flicked on her forehead, "Kuon, I've told you it's bad manners to point fingers at people!" He scolded.
"Sorry."
"So," Hizuri turned his attention back to Ren, "you're the new Katsuki. Its a pleasure to finally meet you." he offered up his hand. "I'm Kuu Hizuri."
"The pleasure is all mine," Ren shook it. His demeanor polite but strictly professional. "Ren Tsuruga."
"I know. I saw your performance in Dark Moon, and I have to admit I was impressed."
"Thank you very much," Ren smiled politely.
"I hear that Dark Moon is getting quite amazing feedback from the fans. Boss told me, ah, I mean the President told me about it. Your Katsuki is quite different from what I portrayed twenty years ago, but deep down it's essence is the same. You did a fine job building his character."
"Coming from you, it means a lot."
"Honestly, as an actor, I was even a little jealous because your version is just so much better than mine."
"That is an honour. I can't even compare myself to you"
"What? No! You'll surpass me in no time. I mean it," Hizuri smiled. "Well, we should get going." He turned and started moving towards the exit. "Come on, Kuon. Let's go."
"Coming, Dad," Kyoko called back. She hopped back to where Ren was standing and stooped down to pick up her handmade squirt gun, which had earlier dropped. After straightening back up again she smiled. "Ren, I'm sorry about what I said before. I was wrong. Your Katsuki is not lame. It's even cooler than the old one because my dad said so."
With a polite nod, she bounced in the direction where Hizuri had disappeared.
For a whole minute Ren was too shocked to move, so he stood absolutely still, before he fished out his phone from his pocket and called Takarada.
"It's the first time you've called me during work hours," the President stated. "What? Is it an emergency?"
"Not really," Ren answered. "I'd like to come by tonight. There is something I want to talk about."
On their way back to the hotel, Hizuri looked at Kyoko with a small smile. Still being in character, she was busily admiring the view of the city as their limo drove ahead. She was acting the way Kuon would if it was his first time in Tokyo.
"You can stop now," Hizuri said when Kyoko pointed at a shrine and asked him to look at it. "I mean, your assignment is over."
Even though she didn't show it, an unexpected way of disappointment and sadness washed over her. She was so thrilled by playing young Kuon that she secretly wished for it to last longer so she could stay in his character for some more time. Not only did she enjoy being a mischievous little boy, but to spend a whole day with a father she never had, who not only loved her but doted on her, it was like a dream come true. She had never felt so whole before. But now that it was over, she could feel the heartache and the longing spreading throughout her body like a ripple in water.
"I take it you wanna know how you did," Hizuri wondered aloud, snatching Kyoko's undivided attention in an instant.
"Yeah, I do."
"Well, I have to admit that I was impressed. I think you are one of those types of actors whose characters build on their own along the way as they perform. It can be an advantage to you as long as you know where to start and don't get stuck beforehand." These types of actors are quite troublesome in the beginning, but once they get the hang of it, they can be quite scary, he thought as he stroked his chin.
"Was I really able to create the character properly?" Kyoko asked. In the beginning, she had planned to act out Kuon exactly as she remembered Corn but during her performance, the image of Corn she had set up in her mind completely dislodged on its own and she ended up playing and new version of Kuon that she created her self instead of copying someone else. So she was still not sure whether she did it well.
"Do you really need to ask?" Hizuri said. "Answer me one thing. Why did you introduce me to Ren Tsuruga?"
"Well, because as young Kuon, I was stuck by the idea of introducing my father to an actor who is playing the same role as him, since I was so proud of his skills and accomplishments." She blushed slightly.
"Was that all you thought?" Hizuri raised an eyebrow. "Didn't it even cross your mind that I could've been rude to him? After all I'm the guy who insulted him and asked you to make him eat those leftovers from the trashbag."
Kyoko's jaw hung so low it almost touched the ground when she finally remembered about it.
"You forgot all about it, didn't you?"
"Yeah. That and also for whatever reason you were mad that day, I know now that deep down you are a nice person." Kyoko tilted her face down to hide the burning blush tinging her cheeks.
Hizuri smiled. "See, it just shows how much you were in character that you are even willing to overlook your own personal thoughts for the sake of your character. You chose to behave how your character would in that moment."
Their conversation was interrupted when the limo halted to a stop upon reaching the hotel. Jumping out of the car, they made their way inside and up to the suite.
Once they arrived, Kyoko wondered aloud, "I got a question. Was I really like your son from the way you remember him? Because halfway through, I kinda split from the image of the young Kuon that I started with."
"You still don't realise the point of it," Hizuri sighed in disappointment. "I never asked you to recreate my son. I told you to make your version of him. But still, I never once thought that my son would've reacted any differently. That's just how accurate your imagination was."
"I see," Kyoko replied sullenly. All of a sudden, all the light was gone from her face and she looked plain depressed.
"What's with the gloom, kid?" Hizuri's curiosity took over. "Didn't you hear me? I said you did good."
Kyoko clumsily slumped down beside the kitchen table, her shoulders sagged. The same table on which she had shared the breakfast with her "father" this morning. Kyoko did not know that she would miss playing Kuon this much and it would feel this bad when it would be over.
Feeling stupid about getting so worked up, she opened her mouth to answer Hizuri as to why she was so depressed but before she could speak a loud bell from the telephone interrupted her.
Leaving Kyoko alone in the kitchen to reminisce about the day, Hizuri hurried to the living room to answer the phone. "Hello?"
"It's me."
"Ah. Boss."
"I got good news," Hizrui could almost hear the President grinning proudly on the other end. "Ren has agreed to stop by my house tonight. You can come here and see him."
"Really? He did?" His face lit up like a candle and he clutched the phone tighter. "When?"
"At eleven."
"Yes! Great! Of course I'll be there!" Hizuri let out a long sigh of relief and a smile made its way to his lips.
"Don't start celebrating yet." Takarada warned him. "He'll be there, but I can't say how angry he'll be. So you better be prepared."
"Im just so happy that he agreed to come. I have to say I'm surprised that the plan worked out."
"Only because you got him curious about Kyoko's role." Takara had called Hizrui this morning when he heard about this little stunt. "You failed to keep up the sadistic behaviour, and on top of that instead of bullying Mogami like you were supposed to, you even coached her to be a better actress."
"I know. It just felt wrong using her like that. And I felt awful treating her that way when she was clearly working so hard."
"You almost failed the plan. You should've been more careful, and bullied Mogami like I asked you. If it wasn't for your luck and Ren curiosity when it comes to that girl, you would've had to return to America without meeting him."
"Yeah, no kidding." Hizuri agreed. "But Boss, if you find a raw diamond, isn't it natural to get the urge to polish it?"
A corner of Takarada's lips quirked up in a lopsided smile. "Well, I understand how you feel."
"Right."
"So you sensed something in that girl too?"
"I did. There is only one weakness she has, and if she overcomes it then that girl will have the potential to become an actress of a rare kind."
"So you see? When it comes down to it, there's only one weakness you have that you must work on." Hizuri said after he hung up the phone and joined Kyoko in the kitchen again. "That is, to know the joy of living inside play."
"Joy?" Kyoko asked in confusion.
"That's right. When you are acting, you can ditch your true self and live the life of anyone at anytime. To be able to feel those numerous emotions like joy, anger and sadness of a different person, once you get a taste of that feeling you will be e overwhelmed. And then you'll enjoy playing any kind of character instead of being obsessed with the ones you like and dismissing the ones you don't."
Kyoko's mouth turned into a little o. He has seen through me, she thought. And the words were basically carved on her face.
"Yeah, I thought so," he nodded. "You have this really bad habit of only taking seriously the roles you prefer. If you don't like the person you're supposed to play, you don't even try it. He shook his head. "If you keep this up and running away like this, then you will never be a true actor." Think of it as eating a balanced diet. Just like you need all the nourishment to become healthy, the same way you need to experience playing all kinds of diverse characters to become an expert. And never say that two characters are the exact same just because they have a similar story. You get what I am saying?"
Kyoko nodded. "Play all the roles I can get my hands on to get experience. Got it."
"Exactly!" He smiled. "you haven't experienced the fascination of true acting yet. Once you do, you'll be addicted. You will be so obsessed with each and every character you play, that once their role ends, you'll develop a sense of loss and feel lonely."
This instantly reminded Kyoko of Kuon. After she was done playing his part, she was overwhelmed with grief, almost as if she had lost an important friend. She lowered her head and let about another depressed sigh.
"Why are you behaving like this? I'm giving you advice on how how you can make it big," Hizuri frowned. "At least show some enthusiasm."
Kyoko's gloomy mood didn't subside at all. "Yeah," she replied sullenly.
"Don't you yeah me! Say yes!" Hizuri admonished. "Now go and call that men from yesterday, and tell him that you'll audition for all the roles you've been offered. Got that?"
"Yeah," Kyoko replied absentmindedly.
"What did I just say?" Hizuri growled and stretched out his hand to flick on her forehead.
"Ouch! I meant yes!" That was enough to pull Kyoko back from her despondent thoughts. "Yes, Sir!"
"Good." He smiled.
On the carpeted floor of the lavish living room inside the President's magnificent mansion, Hizuri was pacing restlessly, while Takarada himself was perched up on a sofa smoking a cigar.
"Kuu, you're annoying me!" When Takarada couldn't take the incessant sound of his shoes clicking against the floor, he snapped. "Just sit down."
Hizuri flinched. Glancing at his watch, he demanded restlessly, "why isn't he here yet? It's eleven, isn't it? Is he not coming? What if he doesn't show up?" He slumped down beside Takarada.
"Calm down! There are still a few minutes left!" The President flicked the ash off his cigar. "Didn't I tell you to be prepared?"
"I can't not be nervous! It's been five years after all."
"You met him just this morning!"
"That's why I'm nervous. Dark Moon was the only thing I could think of to talk to him about and-"
He was interrupted when the door swung open, and Takarada's secretary entered. "President, he's here."
"Let him in." Takarada glanced at the clock, which said it was exactly eleven. "Right on time. Just what you'd expect from Mr Punctual."
As soon as Takarada's secretary disappeared, Ren walked in.