"Kyoko-chan! I wasn't expecting to see you here!," Yashiro greeted her as she slid into the back seat. She smiled.
"Ren and I decided that it would be easier if I stayed over last night so you wouldn't have to go to the Darumaya." They hadn't talked about letting Yashiro in on their secret. Kyoko almost felt guilty keeping it from him.
Kuon nodded. "And of course, there was just the added bonus of spending time with my Princess." He kissed Kyoko's hand, and Yashiro had to suppress a squeal. He would never get used to them being cute together. It was doing his heart good.
When they arrived at the studio, Kyoko followed Kuon and Yashiro down a long hallway toward a large room that was bustling with activity. Kuon glanced down at her, saw the worry on her face, and caught her hand. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.
"You're going to do great, Princess. Relax."
His warm smile reassured her somewhat, but she still felt plain and unattractive. He let go of her hand as they entered the room, and several people converged on them at once.
"Tsuruga-san! Wonderful to see you again!" The director bowed to him, and Kuon bowed back.
"Nagai-san, always a pleasure." He gestured to Kyoko. "This is Mogami-san. Mogami-san, this is Toshihiro Nagai, our director." She bowed to him, and the director gaped at her.
"This is Kyoko-chan?"
She straightened up with a sick feeling in her stomach. The director took her by the chin, causing her to jump in surprise, and he turned her face this way and that. She schooled her face, but the look in her eyes was intense. I wonder if all directors are this bold!? She thought. He smiled softly.
"Now I see it."
Kuon cleared his throat. "Is that really necessary, Nagai-san?"
Nagai lowered his hand and bowed to Kyoko. "Goodness. I'm so sorry, Mogami-san. I'm so used to working with models, and I forgot myself. I just couldn't believe it. You look much different on TV."
Kyoko blushed. "I may not look like much now, Nagai-san, but I do clean up nice."
He laughed. "Cute, and a sense of humor, too! You'll need that on my set." He snapped his fingers. "Ayumi! Yuka! I need these two in makeup and wardrobe now!"
The makeup artists appeared as if from thin air and whisked Kyoko and Kuon away to do their makeup. Ayumi fawned over Kyoko as she worked.
"This bone structure! And your skin tone is so lovely!"
Kyoko blushed. "Is it?"
Kuon did his best in the next chair over to keep his mouth shut. It would be awfully inappropriate for Kyoko's senpai to start waxing poetic about how beautiful she was.
Ayumi clucked her tongue and shook her head. "You young girls have no idea how good you have it. Give it 20 years, you're going to realize how cute you were looking back." Kuon's hair and makeup was finished in the blink of an eye. Yuka styled him with slicked back hair and a little airbrushing and then sent him on his way.
Ayumi airbrushed Kyoko, painted her lips, and brushed on a rose gold eyeshadow that faded into silvery gray. When she finished, she fitted Kyoko with a long black wig. She whistled under her breath.
"Stunning. Just lovely."
She moved so Kyoko could see herself in the mirror, and Kyoko gasped. "Oh, Ayumi-san, thank you! It's so pretty!"
Ayumi shook her head. "Silly girl, I just accentuated what was already there. Get your cute little butt to wardrobe." She shooed her out of the chair, and Kyoko went to the next room over where they had a series of sheets erected. The wardrobe attendant lifted a sheet and gestured for her to go inside. Once inside, she found a clothing rack with the most beautiful dress she had ever seen on it. Immediately, she was stricken by a sense of guilt over the dress that Julie had made for her. Sorry, Mother!
But the ballgown on the rack was in a class of its own. It was a soft champagne pink with tiny pink pearls sewn all over it, with a sweetheart bodice. The skirt billowed and shimmered in the light. The attendant cleared her throat.
"Shall we put it on, Mogami-san?"
Kyoko jumped out of her reverie and bowed to the attendant. "I'm so sorry! Yes! I just… it's so lovely!" Kyoko felt embarrassed about undressing in front of someone, but the attendant didn't seem to care. She helped Kyoko put the crinoline on and pulled the dress over Kyoko's head.
"Bra off, please."
Kyoko unhooked her bra, pulled it off, and clutched the bodice to her chest as the attendant laced up the corset-style back. When she finished, Kyoko stared at the dress in a mirror that was propped in a corner. Her mouth fell open.
"How much does this dress cost?"
The attendant covered her mouth and giggled. "Honey, if I told you that, it'd kill you. Sit down so we can get your shoes on."
Kyoko sat down on a folding chair and the attendant opened a shoebox. Kyoko gasped.
"Are those-!"
The attendant chuckled and slipped them onto Kyoko's feet. "Glass slippers. Not really glass, of course, but the closest thing you're going to find."
Instantly, Kyoko understood the assignment. "Cinderella."
The attendant nodded. "Let's go see how Prince Charming is faring, shall we?"
Kyoko followed the attendant onto the set.
Kuon was in the middle of a conversation with Nagai-san when he caught sight of her. He stopped talking and his eyes widened as she approached. Nagai raised an eyebrow and followed his line of sight, and then smirked. So this is how today is going to go… he thought.
"Tsuruga-san."
Kuon shook his head and snapped his attention back to Nagai. "I'm sorry, Director. I got distracted."
Nagai laughed at him. "I can see that. That's all well and good for my purposes, though. Prince Charming should be smitten with Cinderella."
Kyoko took in the dashing white tuxedo that they had put Kuon in and fought to suppress her blush. The Director approached her and stopped. "What is that necklace around your neck?"
Kyoko froze and looked down. She had forgotten to take Princess Rosa off. "Oh! I'm so sorry, Director. I had forgotten I was wearing it."
He shook his head. "Leave it on."
She blinked. "A-are you sure?"
He nodded. "It looks great with the dress. The necklace I had wanted you to wear, it seems too much now that I'm seeing this necklace with the dress. What brand is it?"
"It's homemade, sir."
His eyebrows raised in surprise. "Homemade!? You made it yourself!?" When she nodded, he turned to Kuon. "Tsuruga-san, you didn't tell me this girl was so talented. She'll have a career in fashion yet!"
Kuon smiled brightly. "Mogami-san is certainly multi-talented." The thought of being in a commercial with his girlfriend while she was wearing the gem he had given her was setting his soul on fire.
The Director waved over a photographer. "We're going to do some still shots before we actually film the commercial." He looked at Kuon. "I'm trusting that you'll be able to guide Mogami-san."
Kuon nodded. "I don't think she'll need much guidance, but I'll do my best."
Kuon and Kyoko took their places on the set in front of a green screen. The photographer started with his instructions.
"Okay. I need you two to look like you're about to kiss."
Kuon smirked at the flare of color on Kyoko's cheeks. She approached him timidly, and he put his arms around her. "Just pretend they aren't here," he whispered. He positioned his hand at the back of her neck to cradle her head and brought his lips within inches of her own. Kyoko tried not to panic.
"Mogami-san," said the photographer, "You look like you're about to get eaten alive instead of about to kiss Japan's number one bachelor. Can you lighten it up a bit?"
Kuon let go of her and smiled brightly at the photographer. "If you don't mind, I'll take care of Mogami-san. This is her first time modeling, and I'd like to not scare my kohai away from it. Thank you."
The photographer cleared his throat, chastened. "Very well, Tsuruga-san."
Kuon tucked her wig behind her ear and cupped her face with his hand. He ran his thumb over her cheek. "Your dress is killing me," he whispered.
Kyoko blushed. "Do you not like it?"
He smiled softly. "It's the kind of thing I've envisioned marrying you in."
She blushed. "That's the exact thought I had about your tux."
He looked down into her eyes and got closer…
Several flashes went off at once. "Fantastic! Just the shot I wanted! Now, I need Mogami-san to look like she's ready to run, and Tsuruga-san, you need to be ready to chase her."
"Story of my life," he muttered.
"What was that, Tsuruga-san?"
Kuon smirked at the photographer as Kyoko covered her mouth, laughing. "Nothing."
The photoshoot went well after Kyoko got warmed up. When they got to actually shooting the commercial, she slipped into the Cinderella character with ease. She and Kuon had to run across the set. He would catch her, spin her around, and pull her in for a kiss. Fairly simple.
Unless, of course, you happen to be Kyoko Mogami.
The Director called for action, and Kyoko set off running, holding her skirt upward. Kuon was close behind her; he could, of course, have caught up if he wanted to, but this was for the camera. She was almost to the marker when her foot slipped out of her glorious R'Mandy glass slipper, and she tripped. She gasped and closed her eyes, expecting an extremely painful impact as her momentum carried her forward.
She landed hard, but realized upon opening her eyes that Kuon was wrapped around her on the floor. "Are you okay?"
Kyoko sat up and was on the verge of tears. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to ruin the shot!"
"No no no." He held her hand. "You haven't ruined anything, your shoe slipped off. These things happen. It's just like a regular commercial, we can go again. Okay?" He looked off to the side at the wardrobe assistant. "Could we get some double-sided tape for Mogami-san's shoe?" They brought him the tape and he ripped a piece off. He stuck it inside of the heel and put it back on her foot. "There." He smiled at her. "We're going to go again, and you're not going to lose your shoe this time. Now," he said determinedly, "Show them what you're made of."
She swallowed, and then nodded, finding her actor's spirit. They went again, and she ran to the marker, where he caught her arm and spun her around. He pulled her to him, and was almost about to kiss her…
"CUT!" yelled Director Nagai. He whistled under his breath. "I'm telling you, that was phenomenal! If I didn't know better, I'd think you two were dating." He waved them over. "I wasn't intending for this to happen, obviously, but you two need to see this shot."
On the screen was a picture of Kyoko sitting on the floor, and Kuon putting her shoe back on for her. She wore a timid, watery smile, and was maddeningly beautiful, and Kuon looked as he had felt; upset that she was upset, but madly in love with her. The way he was tenderly holding her foot and putting the shoe back with such care, it was only too easy to understand the feelings that he had for her. Kyoko blushed, and Kuon smiled. "It's a really great shot, Director."
"I know you two weren't in character at that moment, but with your permission, I'd love to use it."
Kuon shrugged. "I have no objection. Do you, Mogami-san?"
Kyoko frowned. "But I'm all weepy in it. Are you sure this will really be good for the brand?"
The Director laughed. "Tsuruga-san, where did you find this girl!?" He shook his head. "Mogami-san, trust me. It's a gorgeous shot. May I use it?"
Kyoko gave him a small nod. "If it's what you think is best."
The Director knew that it was best. He had not captured Cinderella and Prince Charming; he had captured Ren Tsuruga and his girlfriend, and he knew it. As soon as he had seen Kuon dive to catch Kyoko, all of his doubts had vanished. The way the man lit up when holding her, talking to her, acting with her, and the way she was so subconsciously drawn to him, they hadn't even needed roles. Nagai had worked with Tsuruga many times, with many different female models, and though he had always been cordial with them, not once had he been so attentive.
They took a few more pictures of the two of them by themselves in their outfits and then they went back to the wardrobe room to get back into their street clothes. The attendant helped Kyoko undo the laces of her corset and then stepped out so she could get re-dressed by herself. When Kyoko finished, she walked over to get her makeup and wig removed. Yuka was helping Kuon take his makeup off.
"I don't know why they always insist on airbrushing you, Tsuruga-san. Your complexion is perfect."
He laughed good naturedly. "I wouldn't go that far. If anyone doesn't need airbrushing, it's my fabulous kohai."
Ayumi nodded as she unpinned Kyoko's wig. "Mogami-san has beautiful skin, and she's cute as a button."
Kyoko blushed and shrunk in her seat. "I-it's not that great." She swallowed. "Speaking of which… Ayumi-san, could I leave the makeup on? It's so pretty."
Ayumi nodded. "I don't see why not." She ruffled Kyoko's hair to fix it after squishing it under the wig cap. "If we're not taking it off, you're all done, pretty girl!"
Kyoko stood up and bowed to the makeup artist. "Thank you so much, Ayumi-san."
Yuka finished with Kuon and he stood up. Kyoko followed him out to the set. The Director bowed to both of them.
"Tsuruga-san, Mogami-san, that was magic. R'Mandy's winter campaign is going to be a hit, I guarantee it."
"When will the commercial air?" Kyoko asked, excited yet afraid of the answer.
He tapped his chin in thought. "Hmm… October. Yes. That sounds right. The pictures will be out in magazines around then, too. Maybe a little earlier."
Kyoko sighed with relief. Being that it was the second week of August, she had a little time to prepare before this went public.
The Director smiled. "Prince Charming won't even be here for it! You're headed to the US soon aren't you, Tsuruga-san?"
Kuon nodded, doing his best to look excited about it. "Yes. I'm leaving in two days."
The Director clapped him on the back. "Good luck on your project. I have no doubt that Japan's Gorgeous Star will knock them dead."
Kuon bowed to him. "Thank you, Nagai-san. You're too kind."
Nagai turned to Kyoko and smiled. "You did a fantastic job today, Mogami-san. I look forward to working with you in the future."
Kyoko blushed and started. "Y-you want to work with me again!?" She had fully expected to never model again after she had tripped and taken Kuon down with her.
He laughed at her and shook his head. He pulled a business card out of his vest pocket and handed it to Kuon. "When you need a videographer for the wedding, call me," he whispered conspiratorially. Kuon froze with a blush, but pocketed the card.
"Thank you, Nagai-san. I'll keep it in mind."
Kyoko, Kuon and Yashiro got into Yashiro's car, and he drove away toward a restaurant where he had made a reservation.
"So, Kyoko-chan, what did you think of modeling?," asked Kuon.
Kyoko smiled brightly. "It's like acting, kind of. It helps to have a character built in your head. As long as I kept thinking of myself as Cinderella instead of Kyoko, I was able to perform well. I liked it."
"For what it's worth, I thought you did great, Kyoko-chan!," said Yashiro from the driver's seat.
Kyoko looked at her feet shyly. "Thank you, Yashiro-san." She only hoped that she did well enough that when it came out eventually that she and Kuon were dating, no one would attack them. "I do wish I could have kept the dress, though."
Kuon's mouth quirked up in a smile, and his hand settled over hers. "The tux probably would have been useful at some point, as well." He fixed her with a warm gaze, and her stomach flipped. "But there will be other dresses and tuxes. Nicer ones."
Her cheeks flamed, and Yashiro pressed his handkerchief once more under his nose. IS HE SERIOUSLY DISCUSSING WEDDING PREPARATIONS RIGHT NOW? BE STILL, MY HEART!
They ate at the restaurant, and when they got back to the car, Yashiro-san peered at Kyoko in the rearview mirror.
"Do you need a ride home, Kyoko-chan?"
She shot Kuon a panicked look. Kuon simply smiled.
"That won't be necessary, Yashiro-san. I can take her home from my place later."
Yashiro noted the looks that they had exchanged in the back seat and blinked. Are they…? No. They can't be. Could they? He gave Kuon a look in the rearview as though he were x-raying him.
Kuon had to hold in his laughter. "Can I help you, Yukihito? Is something wrong with the car?"
Yashiro narrowed his eyes on him and put the car in reverse to back out of the spot. "Not at all, Ren. Not at all."
They pulled into the parking garage at the apartment a few minutes later. Yashiro turned in his seat. "All right, Ren. Tomorrow, you've got a clear schedule like you requested, and then the following day is the big day. I'll be over to get you at 6:00 AM."
Kuon nodded solemnly, unsure of what to say. He was glad that he at least had a full day for just him and Kyoko planned out.
Yashiro turned his attention to Kyoko. "I don't know that I'm going to get to see you until we get back from the states, Kyoko-chan, so I just want you to know what a privilege it's been to be your manager for the last few months. I regret that I can't stay behind for you."
Kyoko's eyes misted. "Oh, Yashiro-san. That's very sweet of you. But I feel so much better about Ren going to the US if you're with him. I'll be fine here. But I will miss you."
He sighed and shook his head. "This won't do." He got out of the car and held his arms open. Kyoko burst out of the back seat with a tearful smile and hugged him in the garage. He patted her on the head. "I'll look out for him, I promise."
She pulled back and wiped her eyes. "I know you will. I wouldn't trust anyone else."
Kuon got out of the car wearing an embarrassed smile. "You two act like I can't take care of myself."
Kyoko and Yashiro exchanged a look.
"I'll make sure he eats."
"And sleeps?"
"Yes, that too."
She smiled up at Yashiro. "And make sure you take care of yourself, too, Yashiro-san."
He bowed to her. "Always. I'll see you in a few months, Kyoko-chan." He got back into his car and pulled away from the garage. Kyoko watched his car until it disappeared, and then she turned to Kuon who hugged her to his chest while she cried.
I really hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I have to admit that I didn't edit it as thoroughly as I might have normally; I'm currently ill with a nasty head cold. x.x; ANYWAY, I'll catch you all next week when I'm hopefully feeling better. ALL OF MY LURVE - BO