Chapter Four
I want to thank all those people who have reviewed. You don't know how much you've inspired me. Again, thank you.
I know my chapters are short, like some of you have told me. So the chapters here were intended as my fourth and fifth, however, I just merged them together.
There was somebody who asked me to give her a hint as to where the story will lead. I couldn't answer her because I also didn't know. I was intending to just write a three to five part story, but considering my speed and thinking/creative process, I don't think I'm that good of a writer. I'm not even a good writer; I'm an amateur at best. This is not really my forte but I'm trying, so, guys please be patient with me. Thank you.
And lastly, there will be some discrepancies between my fic and that of the original manga/ tv episodes. So just bear with me.
This was it…. Show time, here I come.
Tsukushi took a deep breath, and then stepped outside. Instantly, a hundred shouts were simultaneously heard. Pictures were being snapped at. Blinding lights and rabid fans were suddenly clamoring to step forward.
Thank God for the twenty or so bodyguards blocking their way. Tsukushi inwardly sighed. If everyday gets like this, I swear I'll quit doing this job. It's not that she hated her job. No, not by any means. Being an actress is great...sometimes. Because if one really thinks hard about it, there were also a lot of sacrifices being made. Especially if you were Tsukushi. You have to wake up in the ungodly hour of four o'clock for a shooting, be jet lagged because of a promotional tour or something to that effect and feel like crap because of lost sleep. But at least you get the pay.
That's what counts isn't it? Real world will always mean you need money. If you don't have any then poor you. Tsukushi smiled faintly. Again, the fans roared their approval.
She inwardly chuckled. A small smile and it makes them happy? She smiled wider and waved to her audience. The blinding lights almost became unbearable and you can hear shouts and shrieks of various people. Teenagers, adolescents, college students, working class and even some elders, you name them.
This is what sometimes bothers her about the job. So many people would recognize you. Whether you go out in a casual or just a formal event, somebody will always be bound to know you. This was the reason why she took the train. Nobody would expect a movie star to just ride a train like a normal girl.
But of course, never underestimate the power of the media. Too bad for that reporter. Grr…She thought she could get away with it as she did in the train. So of course, Tsukushi being Tsukushi just up and went downtown. She went to 'The Grill' that night and lo and behold, and a sneaky reporter just trailed after her without her knowledge. And now, here she is. Great, just great. Grrr….All and sundry know that she's back in Japan! Just because of that sneaky bastard. If I get my hands on him….Grr…Just wait!
" Ahhh… my lovely leading lady has entered the scene. At last, I will be lonely no more." A deep and firm voice said, jolting Tsukushi back to the present.
Tsukushi raised he eyes to that of her co-star in her next movie, Jeice Matsuki. She had to admit, he was one of the best-looking guys she has ever laid her eyes upon. Standing a proud six foot three inch height frame with a muscular body and a perfect posture. Not to mention a pair of dimples and an adorable cleft chin. It was no wonder that he had many fans all over the world and many movie offers. If she just wasn't in love with a moron and if Jeice wasn't one of her few close friends, she would probably be holding a torch for him and also running after him.
" You know as well as I that you can never be lonely. Men like Adonis always has a lot of admirers trailing behind." Tsukushi quipped.
Jeice just looked at her in a bemused fashion, " You may be right then again, maybe not." He just pulled her chair for her then proceeded to guide her to her seat. Again, many cameras clicked with this action.
While trying to assist her, Jeice leaned closer to her, nearly kissing her ear, "Kushi, Kata and Tony wants to meet us backstage later."
Kata and Tony were Tsukushi and Jeice's managers, respectively. Tsukushi was curious as to what the meeting was all about. They hardly, if ever, had a meeting. All they say are 'go for it' and the usual things that managers do- fix appointments, try to get the good deals, bargaining and negotiating with the companies, and of course, taking care of their charge. " Do you know what the meeting is all about?"
Jeice just mischievously smiled and conspiratorially whispered, " Something about your actions yesterday, I think…or maybe a Hanazawa Rui in particular or was it Domyouji Tsukasa?"
"Wha--!"
" Close your mouth, we wouldn't want the press to get the wrong idea now, would we?" he said with a twinkle in the eye and then in a louder voice, "What a very beautiful sight you make, Kushi, all pink and…shocked? Didn't you ever think that I could also be a gentleman?" And then Jeice also took a seat.
If possible Tsukushi became even redder in the face. She glared at him, then she gritted her teeth, and in a low voice she replied, " Jeice, I'm warning you, once I get you alone…."
He just spared her a sheepish glance, " I know, Kushi. Sorry can't resist."
And through all this, the media just kept on taping and clicking their videos and cameras. At last, the start of the press conference.
All throughout the conference, there were some teasing and laughter, all courtesy of the couple. The talk was kept light. The public exposure was mainly due to their upcoming movie, "Sands of Time." It was rumored to be one of the best films of the year, hence the flocking of the public and the media.
Personally Tsukushi thought that the press conference was a little too much. Almost everyday, there were fans and media that needed to be humored. She had to go through a dozen questions all because of the movie, which was scheduled to have its premiere six weeks from now. They were done taping just two weeks ago but the press was still covering them since the start of the script, which was about five months ago, until now. Don't get it wrong; she loved the fact that something she worked hard for gets attention and praise both locally and internationally. It's just that she couldn't see what it was that held the attention of the public. Almost the whole plot and scenario was out in the open and yet it was still a hot topic for everyone.
"Sands of Time" is about a woman searching for her lost love, which Tsukushi plays. She and Kian, the man Jeice was playing, were separated eight years before when she was having a crisis in her life. She wanted to go out and explore the world, she wanted to be free, and most importantly, she wanted to know whether what she was feeling was real or just an illusion. She was doubting her heart that time, because the man that she first loved, Kian's brother came back. And then eight years later, she came back and that is where the real movie begins.
Kind of like my life when one really thinks about it hard enough. Tsukushi thought and then she concentrated hard on the conference so as not to miss out much. Kind of hard when this will again be broadcasted later. Oh well, I should at least give my best. These people worked hard just to get here.
One reporter was insistently raising his hand in question for quite a while. Tsukushi felt like there was something brewing, but then you have to face everything. I would probably regret this. She then perked up and said, " You there! What's your question?"
"Miss Makino, is it true that the movie was somehow paralleled to your life? Is that the reason why there were some scenes you insisted on changing? What is your real opinion about the plot and the script? Will you give a comment about your real relationship with Mister Jeice Matsuki and the CEOs of Hanazawa Corporation and Domyouji Corporation, Mister Rui Hanazawa and Mister Tsukasa Domyouji, and I believe the rest of the old F4, whom you were seen dining downtown, two days ago? It was said that they didn't go out together anymore, so it really is somewhat a miracle that they were spotted downtown, with you no less."
Tsukushi wasn't phased out of the order of questions because she was an expert in those. However, she was slightly touchy about the subject being brought out. Personally, I think it is really none of your business. But of course, in showbiz, your business is everybody's business. Especially if it involved high profiled figures.
She really didn't know how to answer the question from the heart, fortunately she made plans accordingly when she read the front page yesterday morning.
She managed a small giggle. " Well, let's see. For your first question, I would say that there are some similarities; Sakura and I have both the same personalities. The name might suggest a fragile look but in character we're-"
"Miss Makino, I'm not referring to physical or emotional ties you have with the character, I'm referring to the basic plot, your romantic life, per se?"
A ripple of murmurs went through the crowd.
Tsukushi mentally frowned. " I was getting to that if you just had let me continue. As I was saying, physically and mentally, Sakura and I have some things in common. But as far as romantic figures go, I would say that there are some… things in common and some that were not. And next question, no, I draw the line between my professional life and my personal life. The scenes were changed for the betterment of the whole movie. Those that didn't make it to the final cut were not meant for it, I guess. Also, for more information, I wasn't the one who changed it, the producers and our director did." Well, actually they did technically, but she had influenced them just a tiny bit. She stopped and took a deep breath. " And my opinion about the script and the plot, is as I said five months ago, fantastic! As to my relationships with both Jeice and the F4, they are my friends. The F4 became somewhat… friends of mine in college while Jeice became a very good friend of mine, since our first movie, three years ago. And I hope that satisfies your curiosity."
" So Miss Tsukushi, would you say that there are no possibilities of you and Mister Matsuki? It seems like an eternity since you've been paired up with each other."
She just laughed gaily, " Oh, we're just friends."
The public and the media just tattled and laughed disbelievingly.
Oh well, that's what you get for saying the truth. Damn if you do and damn if you don't. And after that, the conference just went back to a normal light conversation.
