Her outfit had to be perfect. She needed to look sweet and innocent. Zero sex appeal. Kuon was proving to be no help in this matter as his eyes kept sweeping over her with hungry approval. He liked the fitted blue jeans and simple peasant top outfit. He appreciated the pink floral maxi dress. He had actually growled when she put on baggy sweatpants and an oversized sweater.
"This isn't helping."
"It's helping me a lot." Kuon said as he watched her lift the sweater over her head.
"I need something that makes me look frumpy and boring. None of these nice clothes you and your parents bought will work. I need something from before. Something I would have worn when I was fifteen or sixteen." She grumbled crossing her arms over her lace covered breasts.
"Hey, I was looking at those." Kuon protested jokingly.
"Please be serious." Kyoko begged pulling a worn jean skirt from her closet.
"I haven't seen that in a while. I used to fantasize about that skirt and the cute boots you wore with it."
"You did not!" She screamed blushing profusely.
"I did." Kuon said with a lopsided grin. "Would you like to hear the fantasy I had the first time we bumped into each other at LME? Do you want to know how badly I wanted to spank you?"
"Kuon!" She covered her face not wanting to think that he was a pervert even then.
"Of course, back then I thought it was about punishing an insolent brat. Now I know it was my love's punishment kink that I could sense. You used to beg me to punish you even back then. I seem to remember a few instances on the set of Dark Moon where you begged me to tie you up and…"
"Corn please." Her heart was pounding as she recalled how brazenly and out in the open, she had begged him to punish her.
"Princess?" Kuon said somberly.
"Yes?" she asked perking up at his voice and listening intently.
"Promise me you'll be ok. If he hurts you," Kuon couldn't finish the sentence. He trusted her completely and he knew she was strong, but he also knew that she could be naïve and trusting. It didn't help that she didn't fully believe Sho wanted her.
"I'll be fine Kuon. I'll mess with his head a little bit until he gets annoyed and leaves." She said pulling a loose white t-shirt over her head.
Kuon gazed at her like she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She wiggled her hips as she pushed her sweatpants down and he bit his lip. Stepping closer to her laptop she turned around and bent over. His pleased groan made her smile as she stepped into a pair of baggy jeans and pulled them up. The jeans and shirt used to be much baggier on her, but she supposed that couldn't be helped. She was older and had grown some since she had last worn them.
"You look pretty." Kuon sighed as he watched her pull her shoulder length hair in a ponytail.
"I look dowdy." She said looking down at herself. There were holes in the jeans, and they weren't the fashionable kind that people paid too much for. "Frumpy. Plain. Inordinately drab and uninteresting."
"Impossible. You'd look gorgeous with mud smeared all over your face and a dress made out of a potato sack." He said and she smiled shaking her head at him.
"You sir are a fool in love." She said and he shrugged. "I miss you."
"I miss you too cuddle bear. I miss holding you in my arms and reading fairytales together. I miss the smell of your hair and the feel of your legs tangled in mine." he said wistfully.
She bit her lip. "If you were here, I'd let you strangle Shotaro this time."
"Oh, would you now? Could I break his legs too? Could I stomp on his fingers until I hear them snap ensuring that he can never play guitar again?"
"You came up with that too quickly." Kyoko said the smile on her face growing wider.
Kuon shrugged, "I've been plotting my revenge on him for a while. He hurt my girl and hasn't suffered enough for it."
"Oh Kuon." She sighed sitting down and placing her elbows on the table to stare at him lovingly with her head in her hands. "Will it always be like this?"
"I hope so." He said placing his head in his hands to stare back at her.
"You want to feel this miserable forever?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes. I never want to stop loving you so much that it physically hurts to be apart." He said and her heart fluttered. Then her phone alarm went off and she pouted.
"I don't know why I agreed to this stupid date. He pissed me off and scared me with his threats." She growled mussing up her hair in frustration.
"Sexy." Kuon said when her hair was sufficiently messy. She rolled her eyes, but her smile came back to her lips. "I'll call you tomorrow princess. Remember your training if he tries anything."
"Yes, sir." She said teasingly.
"And remember I'll kill him if he touches you."
"And handcuff me to your bed the rest of our lives I know." She said rolling her eyes. "As if that would be a bad thing."
"You want me to tie you down and keep you prisoner forever?" He asked.
"Be pampered and pleasured by my handsome emperor all day and night. I can't see a downside." She said though she was mostly joking.
"The downside is that your emperor can't cook, and you would miss your beloved Moko-san." He teased, "Then I'd have to kidnap her as well and she's an even fussier eater than I am."
"Kuon don't call her Moko-san she'll get mad." Kyoko chided ignoring her phone alarm again.
"You should go check on the dinner in the oven love." Kuon said a little jealous. That should be his meal.
Kyoko pouted. "Did you eat a good breakfast?" she asked hoping he wasn't skimping on his meals.
"Yes, princess. Breakfast is the most important meal, and I would never skip it and risk disappointing you." he said holding a hand to his heart. "It was an American breakfast though so I'm not sure you would find it completely suitable. I had a bowl of oatmeal with some fruit on top."
She pursed her lips wishing he had eaten more. "As long as you ate, I suppose that will have to do."
"Nothing will ever compare to what you spoil me with anyway." He said and the two said their goodbyes before they ended the call.
Shotaro was meant to be at her place at nine thirty. Her call with Kuon had ended at nine fifteen so she had time to set the table. It was a traditional Kyoto dinner that Yayoi would be proud of. At ten Kyoko checked her phone for a message from him. By ten thirty the food was cold and Chiori had arrived home. She eyed Kyoko's lack of makeup and old clothes but shrugged knowing that it was a date with Shotaro. Kyoko reheated some food and Chiori happily ate before going to her room. At a quarter to twelve Shotaro finally showed without an apology, and he was not pleased to see that Kanae was home and eating the dinner she had made for him. He glared at Kyoko but before he could open his mouth to berate her, she enthusiastically shouted his name.
"Sho-chan! Sho-chan you're home. How was your day? I saw you in an interview on tv! You looked so handsome on stage singing! But then you always look handsome no matter what you're doing! I loved the new song! I'll bet you made so many new fans today! You were so awesome and brilliant and…" She was talking a mile a minute and so loud that he had to cover his ears.
"Why is your friend here?" He grouched interrupting her squealing praises at him.
"She lives here silly." She said with a giggle. Her hands went to his coat, and she began to pull it off.
"Stop what are you doing?" He said shoving her hands off his forty-thousand-yen coat as though she was trying to steal it. She fought the urge to roll her eyes. Kuon's socks probably cost more than Shotaro's entire outfit. Not that something like that impressed her but she knew Shotaro cared about things like that.
"Helping you to be more comfortable Sho-chan." She said eyes large and doting.
"I know how to make myself comfortable." Sho said narrowing his eyes at her beaming face. He curled his lip in irritation. "I told you no friends."
"I live here. Did you expect her to just kick me out for the night." Kanae said daring him to say yes.
Shotaro bet if he were Tsuruga she would have told her friends to scram. He clenched his jaw and thought for a moment. What would Tsuruga do?
"Of course, not Kotonami-san. This is your home," if one could call the shabby apartment a home, "I would never dream of kicking you out."
He congratulated himself on sounding sincere. He almost sounded sincere to Kanae even though the smug look on his face ruined his acting attempt.
"Are you hungry Sho-chan? I made all your favorites exactly the way you like them." Kyoko took his hand and led him over to the table.
He took a moment to examine her outfit and couldn't help the sneer that crept onto his face. Sho bet that if he were Tsuruga she would have dressed up. If he were Tsuruga she would wear makeup and do her hair up nicely. He would put money on her greeting him at the door wearing only an apron and stilettos and they would be alone. He sulked as he took his seat.
"What would you like to eat first Sho-chan?" Kyoko asked with a pleasant doe-eyed expression. It made him sick. She was reminding him of their old life at the ryokan.
"Stop that!" He shouted and there was the sound of chopsticks snapping from Kanae's direction.
"Stop what Sho-chan?"
He narrowed his eyes at her sparkling expression. "Stop calling me Sho-chan it's embarrassing."
"But I've always called you Sho-chan."
"No, you…" Shotaro stopped and clenched his jaw. What would Tsuruga do? "Sorry you haven't called me that in so long that it gave my heart a start." He said rubbing his chest. "Dearest you don't have to serve me. I am perfectly capable of doing that myself." His voice matched her in sweetness and his eyes shown with adoration. If he thought his act would make her falter in hers, he was sorely mistaken.
"Of course, Sho-chan I was just trying to make you feel welcome in our home. I'm sorry about Kotonami-san and Chiori-chan but they do live here too. I could ask them to leave if you wish. Sho-chan is my number one person after all." She said the words with such saccharine adoration that his heart really did skip a beat. Beneath her smile however she was grinding her teeth over having to gush such nonsense. Kuon would never be so rude as to ask their friends to leave.
"No, they can stay." Shotaro said though he wanted to scream at her that she was stupid for not throwing them out sooner. If he were really her number one, then she would have a table filled with warm food ready for him to eat and her friends would be out of sight.
Kyoko took a seat next to him but didn't make herself a plate. Begrudgingly Shotaro filled his plate with food unused to serving himself. He stole glances at her as she smiled lovingly at him still not eating.
"Are you not going to eat?" He asked though he supposed it didn't matter. It was bad enough that he had already had to share his food with Kanae.
"Well, I sort of ate earlier when Chiori-chan came home." Kyoko admitted and looked down preparing for his outburst.
Shotaro grit his teeth. She would have waited for Tsuruga. To distract himself from his annoyance he stuffed his face with food. To his surprise it tasted even better than he remembered. He closed his eyes and savored the delicious homecooked meal. It had been so long since he'd tasted something that reminded him of home. The thought made him sneer. Sure, he loved his mother, but he could do without the reminders of being stuck in that small town. There was no way he would ever return to that life of obscurity. Nothing could make he become his father's obedient son and heir. He swallowed hard and looked at her.
"Thank you." He forced himself to say. Then assuming it was what Tsuruga would do he leaned over and kissed her temple. Kyoko squealed, startling him, and shoved him with so much force he was thrown halfway across the room.
"Wah! Sho-chan just kissed me! My cheeks are burning!" She enthused covering her bright red face.
It was red from ager and not embarrassment but only she knew that. Kanae and Chiori knew too actually, but Sho was oblivious to her acting. He was starting to become convinced that she was still the same stupid lovesick girl who annoyed him. Tsuruga would like this kind of doting idiot. Sho forced himself not to look disgusted.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overstep your boundaries, Kyoko-chan." He refused to call her princess like that simpering idiot. She wasn't royalty to be fawned over. She didn't even know how to dress herself properly. A princess should wear makeup and fashionable clothes, and she should comb her hair. Sho seated himself at the table again and looked at the dowdy girl beside him her face still bright red and her eyes shyly downcast. He rolled his eyes.
"So, how was your day?" Kyoko asked as Shotaro resumed eating his food. She was supposed to get upset over him being late, but she was pretending like it hadn't happened. Shotaro wanted to rile her up. He wanted to bring out her passion so he could show her where it would lead.
"This is too salty." He lied ignoring her question pushing his dinner around. Tsuruga would not complain about the taste of the food, but Shotaro couldn't help himself. He needed her to fight with him. Preferably with Kanae out of the room. Then they could fall into a passionate kiss like they did in all those stupid romances she loved.
"I'm sorry I thought I had made it to your liking. I can remake it if you'd like." Kyoko said and Shotaro pouted. Why did she look so sad instead of angry.
"No, it's fine." He said glaring at Kanae. It was probably because she was there that Kyoko was acting strange.
Despite his complaint Kyoko noted that he had seconds and thirds. Then after letting out a belch, he pushed the plate towards Kyoko. What happened to the manners yayoi had brought them both up with.
"Would you like more or are you ready for dessert?" Kyoko asked cheerfully taking his plate to the kitchen.
"Dessert sounds lovely." He said wishing Kanae would disappear. Then he could have the kind of dessert he'd prefer. Didn't she have a room she could go to like Chiori?
"Alright, here you go." She said with glee as she set down a plate of his favorite pudding. He frowned at it then at the girl who was watching his every move without looking at him. "I made it special just for you. Kotonami-san doesn't like to eat too many sweets and Chiori-chan doesn't care for pudding. She prefers cakes and little pastries."
Shotaro didn't care what her friends liked. He wanted them gone. He wanted it to be just her and him. Then he could seduce her and rub it in Tsuruga's face. His frown deepened at the thought. He shook his head and lifted his spoon to eat his dessert. His eyes closed as he savored the taste; it was as good as he remembered. Kyoko's cooking had always been the best. It was probably the thing he missed the most about her. He opened his eyes to look at her warmly and was greeted with the smile he was beginning to recognize. It was the one she had worn their whole life together, but he realized now that there was no joy in the eyes. He tried to think of a time when he had seen her smile in such a way that her eyes genuinely lit up, but his thoughts kept landing on Ren. He took another spoonful of pudding and scrunched his brows together. On set she would wear a small grin as she watched Ren act. There was a sparkle in her eyes and an aura of peace around her even when she was just sitting still in silence.
"Do you like it?" Kyoko asked her dull eyes staring into his.
No, he hated it. He wanted the fun Kyoko. The one who argued with him and made threats. He wanted her to dote on him out of love and admiration. The way he knew she must dote on Tsuruga. He wanted her to put effort into her appearance for him. He wanted to be greeted with a kiss at the door. He would walk into their expensive apartment, and she would take off his coat and his shoes. She would be his. He could come home and bury his frustrations in her. She would let him do whatever he wanted to her if he were Tsuruga.
"It's very good." Sho finally answered. This wasn't the date she had promised. He could bring that up and threaten her again. But Tsuruga wouldn't do that. How would Tsuruga get her to be alone with him? "Would you like some?" Sho offered scooping up a spoonful and holding it out to her. He had seen them sharing lunch before. Tsuruga would sneak her bites and she would brush prettily.
Kyoko's eyes bulged at the thought of sharing a spoon with Shotaro. It was the vilest most repugnant thing she had ever been asked to do for an act. She refused to do it. There was no way she was putting her mouth around that spoon that he had in his mouth. No way! But if she didn't do it then he would win. She thought for a moment about how her old self would act and she went with it. Like an overzealous love-struck idiot, she snatched the spoon from his hand.
"Wah! Sho-chan, you really mean it! Oh, but I mustn't. It would be inappropriate for us to share a spoon. We aren't even married!" She shoved the spoon back at him pushing it to his chest.
"Shit Kyoko! What the hell are you doing!" Shotaro shouted jumping up and wiping his expensive shirt off. "Do you have any idea how much a shirt like this costs? Fucking idiot!" He realized too late that it was the wrong thing to do.
"I'm sorry Sho-chan. You're right, I'm such an idiot. I'm so sorry." She was in tears prostrating herself on the floor.
Shotaro froze. He knew that Tsuruga would probably kneel down and lift her into his arms. That overgrown pretty boy would soothe all her worries and have her laughing in no time. No, he wouldn't have ever made her cry in the first place. Sho felt the cold icy gaze of her friend on him, and he opened his mouth. No words came out however and he closed it again.
Kyoko pressed her face to the floor wondering how long she would have to sob before Shotaro did something. Then she remembered that they used to sit for hours as she cried, and he would always watch her silently dumbstruck and useless. He never even had the decency to go get Yayoi-san or his dad.
"Oh, for the love of...!" Kanae said exasperated. "Kyoko come on get up. Fuwa-san's shirt is fine. It's just an ugly shirt in any case. Don't cry over something so stupid." Kanae dragged Kyoko up having had enough of the farce. "I think it might be time for Fuwa-san to go home actually. We all have early morning jobs."
Bullshit she wasn't allowed to end their date. Shotaro seethed as he watched Kyoko nod and Kanae wipe her tears. Why couldn't he do that?
"I'm sorry Kanae, I didn't mean to keep you up so late."
"Don't worry about it. We enjoyed having dinner and a show." Chiori said peeking her head out of her bedroom door. Shotaro jumped startled by her presence. "We can clear the table while you throw Shotaro out. I mean say goodbye to Sho-chan."
Sho narrowed his eyes at Chiori who smiled sweetly. This was not how the night was supposed to go. He had planned on charming his way into her bed and if that didn't work, he was going to remind her of the pictures. He had hoped to get more pictures of her to send to Tsuruga. That would teach the actor not to touch Shotaro's things.
"Sho-chan, you must be tired. I'll pack up some food for you to take home."
No, because he wasn't going home. He wasn't ready to leave. Not until he got what he wanted from her. Tonight, was supposed to be the night he reminded her of how much she loved him.
"I want you to get home safely and get a good night's sleep. Eat lots of vegetables and protein in the morning. We have an early shoot," she paused for a moment then in her most sugary sweet voice she addressed him as, "Baby," She resisted a shudder and continued speaking. "Come on get up and put on your coat. Shoko-san is waiting outside."
Shotaro jumped and blushed. She had called him baby. He had never even heard her calling Tsuruga that. Maybe he was getting through to her after all. Kanae snickered as she watched Fuwa stand up and do as Kyoko had commanded. The idiot boy had a shit eating grin plastered on his face and when he thought she was looking he appeared to congratulate himself in the hallway mirror. In the kitchen Kyoko scrubbed her face with a washcloth. She couldn't believe he had dared to kiss her. That vile, wretched, manipulative, dirty… she continued with her list as she squeezed the washcloth in her hands.
Shotaro smiled at himself too self-absorbed to notice Kyoko walking up behind him with a bento box. She raised a brow at him as he checked himself out in the mirror. She made a face at him that he couldn't see before she deemed it necessary to start talking for fear that he would stay in her apartment all night staring at himself.
"Sho-chan I packed you a lunch for tomorrow." She said in her sweet voice. He didn't seem to hear her though. "Sho-chan, Shoko-san messaged me to let me know that she is outside whenever you're ready. It seems you haven't been replying to her since you got here."
Still, he ignored her in favor of complimenting his reflection. It was only halfway out of vanity that he was doing this. The other reason was to irritate her. If he could get her to start yelling, then her defenses would be down, and he could get close enough to kiss her. Kyoko took a deep breath and held onto the character she had created. There was no way he was going to accuse her of sabotaging their date.
"Sho-chan you look so handsome. Even the stain on your shirt looks super cool because it's on you. I don't think anyone else could look have as cool as you in a pudding-stained shirt. You really are the greatest Sho-chan." She gulped before saying the next part. "Tsuruga Ren can't hold a candle to your excellence."
I'm sorry Tsuruga-san! Mentally she prostrated herself before a very pissed Ren who held a whip in one hand and a leash in the other telling her to choose. Too bad she would have to wait for her punishment. Shotaro saw the slight blush on her cheeks and mistook it as a positive sign for himself.
"Yeah. I am great, aren't I?" He asked wanting her to give him more compliments. Sure, he wanted her passion, but no one could stroke his ego like Kyoko. His wicked smile grew larger as he thought of her stroking something else.
Inwardly rolling her eyes she nodded eagerly as she retrieved his coat for him. "Sho-chan is the best. You're number one and number two and three. Number four is Kotonami-san of course but then you are number five and six. I love Sho-chan the most because you're my prince." She fought the urge to gag.
Shotaro took his coat gratefully and reached for his lunch. He looked down at the bento box examining her hands holding it. They were freshly manicured and just the perfect length for what he had planned. He took one hand and bowed down to kiss her knuckles. Every fiber of her being told her to pull the hand away. Her skin itched where he touched it. After what felt like forever, he finally rose up and she let out a small, relieved sigh. Now he would take his bento box and go, and she could relax. Maybe she would even send Kuon a video message before going to sleep.
The scent of Shotaro's gaudy cologne invade her senses as he leaned down closer. He tugged her to him with the hand he was still holding, and he bent down. Her eyes enlarged in shock, and she only had a split second to react before he kissed her.
"WAH! SHO-CHAN! This is so embarrassing! I'm not ready! It's too soon!" She exclaimed shoving her hands over his mouth and pushing him towards the door which Chiori had opened up. When had she gotten there?
"Ouch, dammit Kyoko!" Shotaro screamed at the still panicking Kyoko.
She played up her embarrassment holding her burning red cheeks between her hands and bouncing from right to left as she rambled about how unworthy she was.
"These lips do not deserve such nectar. I never dared to imagine that I would ever be kissed by such a handsome prince. But alas we are not married. Oh, what ever should I do? He's so handsome and great and I am plain and boring."
Shotaro frowned at her words.
"It would be like prince charming being forced to kiss a toad! I could never permit such an injustice. Sho-chan should only kiss beautiful princesses who are the best of the best with amazing bodies. Ugly, talentless peasants like me should never be kissed by the most handsome of princes."
"Kyoko," Shotaro started as he pushed himself up with the help of the wall he had been thrown into.
"Too bad. So sad. I suppose she'll just have to settle for an ogre." Chiori said smirking at Shotaro, "Goodnight Sho-chan." She slammed the door leaving him dumbfounded in the corridor.
A/N: I wasn't going to post yet this but I felt bad about letting y'all think I was going to let Shotaro get his way. He isn't done trying though.