Kyouko stirred from their nap and rubbed her face into Kuon's chest. Long fingers were combing through her hair threatening to soothe her back to sleep. It was the buzzing that was waking her though. An incessant distant sound that was somehow familiar, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She breathed in deeply and settled her head over his heart. The buzzing stopped before she could pinpoint where it was coming from.
"How long have you been awake?" She asked around a yawn.
"Not long." He fibbed.
With a knowing smile she said, "So about an hour."
"Somewhere around there I suppose." He replied with a kiss to her head.
There was that buzzing again. It was low and seemed to be playing a specific beat. She hummed along to it then lifted her head realizing it was Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast, Yashiro's ringtone on her phone.
"Kuon my phone is ringing." She said trying to sit up.
"I know. Mine was too." Kuon replied holding her to his chest.
"Why didn't you answer it?" she asked pushing his hands away and sitting up. Straddling his chest, she looked around the room wondering where her phone could be.
"Didn't wanna wake you. Besides no one is supposed to contact us today." He said placing his hands on her thighs and drawing gentle circles.
"Except Yashiro-san in case of emergency." Kyouko said covering his hands with hers to hold them still.
"Fine." He said sitting up. "I'll find our phones."
Depositing her on the couch he got up to search for their vibrating phones. For once she didn't try to offer help. Knowing that he would just carry her back to the couch anyway, she busied herself with watching him walk around their apartment completely naked. She bit her lip wishing she had his confidence.
He found her phone in her jacket which he had carelessly discarded by the door. There were five missed calls from Yashiro. He sighed listening to the voicemail Yashiro had left.
"Did something happen?" She asked pretending that she hadn't been staring at him.
Kuon sighed again and walked over to her. "I have to tell you something about last night." He said causing her heart to sink.
"I knew it I did something wrong. You didn't like it and now you want to break…
"Kyouko." He said pressing a finger to her lips. "Never ever entertain those kinds of thoughts again." She nodded and he dropped his hand.
Taking a seat beside her and taking her hand in his he started to explain. "You know how I said nothing happened and that that guy wasn't even there?"
"Yes?" She said giving him a leery look and leaning away.
"He wasn't there, that was not a lie." Kuon said quickly, seeing the hurt her eyes. "I didn't lie but I also didn't tell you the whole truth."
"What didn't you tell me?" she asked in a rigid voice that made Kuon tremble.
"Fu… that guy finished singing then he had some words to say to you before Koga jumped up and discovered it was just a recording on his phone." Kuon explained as he thought of the best way to explain everything.
"What words did he have to say to me?" Kyouko asked catching the way Kuon tried to gloss over the subject.
"He said happy birthday, I believe then he," lowering his voice Kuon finished said in a rushed mumble, "said he loved you."
"What?" she asked thinking she must have misheard him.
Sighing he said more clearly, "He said he loves you."
"Gross why?" Kyouko asked feeling annoyed with the stupid boy. It was probably some joke that only Shoutaro understood.
"Probably because he's in love with you." Kuon said wanting to see her reaction.
Kyouko rolled her eyes and shook her head. "He is not." She protested. "Is that why you didn't tell me? You thought I would be dumb enough to fall for his declaration and run back to him. Give me a little more credit please Kuon. I would never trade take whiny and selfish over doting and sweet. Even if that doting comes with clinginess and the sweet comes with a jealous possessive streak."
"I'm not jealous, I'm protective of what's mine and you can be far worse than I am sometimes." He said.
"I am not worse than you." she stated crossing her arms.
"Really because Manaka-san is still terrified of you."
"That was Setsu!" she said then whispered, "And Manaka-san needed to learn to keep her hands to herself."
"Yeah ok." He said pretending not to hear the last part. Then he confessed, "I didn't tell you because I didn't want to have to tell you who helped him."
"Someone helped him?" Kyouko asked cocking her head to the side. "Why would anyone want to help that jerk pull a prank on me? The only people there were friends and family."
Kuon massaged his forehead saying, "It wasn't a prank Kyouko, and you know it. Fuwa is in love with you."
"He isn't in love with me." she said glaring into Kuon's eyes. After a moment she relented. "He isn't in love with me; he's obsessed with owning me. There is a difference."
"True, there is a difference, but love can make one obsessed." Kuon said.
"Who helped him?" she asked fearing she knew the answer.
Kuon shook his head not wanting to tell her. He sat back as she advanced on him climbing onto his lap.
"Who, Kuon?" She needed him to say it. She needed him to tell her that it was anyone other than who she thought it was.
"He wasn't trying to hurt you Kyouko." Kuon said knowing she understood that he meant the Taisho-san and not Shou.
She opened her mouth to protest. It couldn't be the Taisho-san. She didn't want to believe it, but he was the only logical conclusion. Everyone else close enough to both her and Shou didn't like Shou.
"Was the mic and the phone set up correctly?" she asked admitting the truth to herself. "It had to have been since we all heard the song."
"I don't know, why does that matter?" Kuon asked rubbing her back as she curled up against his chest.
"The Taisho-san can barely work the television. It would take him hours to play back a recorded message on a phone and set up a mic. The Okami-san however…" she left the sentence hanging, too hurt by her former landlords actions to keep talking.
"They weren't trying to hurt you princess." Kuon reiterated. "They love you and they thought they were helping."
"How does ruining my birthday help?" she asked closing her eyes against the tears that threaten to spill.
Kuon took her face in his hands and wiped her tears away saying, "They don't know what he's like. To them he's the better option for you. It's me they want to hurt not you. They love you."
"So, this is my fault." She asked refusing to open her eyes.
"No!" he exclaimed going over his words in his head to figure out how she had come to that conclusion. Unable to figure it out he asked, "No. Why would you think that?"
"I never told them about how he really is. I've seen how they favor him, but I never took the time to explain to them that he's an evil rotten and selfish jerk and that he is nothing like he pretends to be in front of them." She explained.
"Don't do that." Kuon said stopping her from bowing to him and begging for forgiveness. "Do not blame yourself for that what jackass does. He's a jackass and now we have a bigger problem."
"What?" She asked blinking her eyes open to look at his worried expression.
"Yukihito called. The president knows about us, and the media knows that Fuwa confessed to you." he said watching her curious eyes widen with horror.
"What time do we have to meet with him?" she asked accepting their doom. The president would show them no mercy.
"As soon as possible." Kuon informed her in a grim voice.
In the president's office Shou smiled smugly at the back of a tall leather chair. He had been surprised at first when he had entered the room to find a dark office with three chairs facing a desk where a large leather chair was turned towards the windows. Intimidating people in suits stood tall with blank expressions on their hard faces. Yashiro was among them, the odd man out as he was the only one who didn't give off the air of a hitman. Ruuto also dressed in a dark suit with a threatening aura had escorted Shou to his chair in front of the desk. Shou spent a long moment with fear in his heart but then he recalled the rumors about LME's eccentric president. Concluding this was all normal for the eccentric president, Shou relaxed and fixed his face into an expression befitting of one who had won. He chuckled to himself. There was no way Kyouko could deny him after this. Let her try, and he knew she would. He knew that she would throw a tantrum and curse him, and he knew that LME would back her up. Fortunately for him he already had a backup plan. No matter how well liked she was by her company's president there was no way she would be protected over Tsuruga Ren.
In the chair beside his Shoko sat with her best professional expression. LME was much bigger than Akatoki and could demand anything they wanted. Shou could be forced to make a public statement and apologize, though Shoko doubted he would ever do that willingly. Even with the killing atmosphere Sho seemed to her to not understand that he was the one in trouble.
Slowly the chair turned to reveal Maria in a pinstripe suit and a fedora. Her curls were pinned up under the hat and she placed her elbows on the desk folding her hands to rest her chin on and stare him down.
"Is this a joke?" Shou asked having expected the president.
"I have no idea if this is a joke or if you just have so much free time that you decided to come annoy all of us, but we really don't have time for this. I refuse to play along." Maria said and one of the men in suits crossed his arms and grumbled something about her being no fun. "You hush grandfather. We will not be handing my Onee-sama over to this jackass."
"Maria-chan!" Lory hissed at her language.
"Sorry, I got carried away." Maria said waving her hand to dismiss her grandfather.
"Can somebody explain to me what's going on?" Shou asked ticked off that the child was having a meeting with him and not the president. They weren't taking him seriously he realized, and his jaw clenched.
"Quiet." Maria demanded and Shoko place a hand on Shou's shoulder to keep him from jumping up and yelling at her.
Shou sneered pulling out his phone. He had all he needed to destroy Ren. All he had to do was press one button and the ogre of an actor would be ruined. That wouldn't be any fun, however. Shou wanted to make Tsuruga hurt and punish Kyouko at the same time. Once Kyouko refused he would reveal his hand and she would beg him to date her. He would make her grovel at his feet and have her as his servant again.
"You be quiet little girl. Shut up and bring me Kyouko or I'll post all these interesting photos I have on my phone to every forum I can find." Shou snarled opening his phone to a picture of Tsuruga Ren on his knees in front of the restroom hugging Kyouko.
"That proves nothing. We'll just say they were rehearsing a scene." Maria said even as Yashiro and Lory were panicking. Some fans might believe that but there was no guarantee that the general public wouldn't assume the worst about Ren and Kyouko.
Ignoring her Shou continued to speak, "Her ego has gotten too big lately. She thinks that because that oaf likes her that she's actually become beautiful or something. In reality he either has poor eyesight or he's using her. It's more likely the latter."
Shoko frowned at him knowing that none of this was going to end well. The little girl in front of them was the granddaughter of the president and her expression was only growing darker. She had warned Shou not to anger LME further. Their own president had ordered the two of them to fix the mess he had caused, but Shou still thought he had done nothing wrong. The boy was more trouble than he was worth sometimes.
"Shou, do you remember why we're here?" Shoko whispered to her charge. "Our president wants you to apologize and make things right. This will be bad for all of us if it comes out that you routinely harass Kyouko. Don't think they aren't prepared to use that against you. It'll be even worse for you after she publicly rejects you. That girl has friends in high places who will back her up if she labels you a stalker."
"Whatever, let Tsuruga agree with her all he wants. I have my own friends who will say she's been stalking me." Shoko looked around for these friends but then realized she was the only one in the room supporting him. She was certain that even Mimori wouldn't lie for him now. Not after he declared his love for Kyouko after denying it for years.
"Yes, she has Tsuruga-san in her corner." Shoko informed him. "As well as many other actors, directors, musicians, producers, and all the stagehands on the set of Oh! Darling whom you've alienated. She brings them treats and remembers most if not all their names. All these people can make it hard for you to move freely in the entertainment world."
"My fans will protect me. Akatoki has to have my back too. I am their biggest money maker after all. And you have to start helping me too." He said narrowing his eyes at her. "I am your only source of income."
Shoko clenched her jaw. Shou was increasingly becoming more arrogant and self-centered. She refused to believe that he had always been this bad. Sure, he'd always been cocky and a little selfish, but she had thought that he cared about her at least a little. She eyed him miserably hating to admit to herself that all he cared about was owning Kyouko. He didn't even love his childhood friend enough to let her be happy.
"You know I can hear you right?" Maria asked annoyed by the pompous jerk.
He was threatening his own manager. She doubted he had any friends who would back him up, but she wasn't an idiot. She was well aware that his fans would eat Kyouko alive. A lot of the comments online were proof that they would happily rip her to shreds if she broke their beloved Shou's heart.
"It's not happening." Kuon said walking into the president's office. "Whatever you're plotting it's not happening." He reiterated looking at the president rather than Shou.
"Mogami-kun," Lory spoke to the short girl desperately tugging on Kuon's arm in an attempt to hold him back. Anger was vibrating off him in dark waves aimed at Lory. She didn't want him to do anything he might regret.
"No, boss it's not happening. Don't even try to convince her that it would be good for her career." Kuon said his eyes finally landing on Shou.
"You decide these things for her now?" Shou asked glaring at the hands sliding down Tsuruga's arm.
Kyouko firmly grasped Kuon's hand. He would never attack the president, but Shoutaro was another story entirely. She knew that Kuon often dreamed of killing the musician.
Shou leapt from his seat wanting to shove the two of them apart. What gave her the right to hold someone else's hand? Raising his voice he asked, "What if she wants to date me? I am after all what she was after when she joined the entertainment world. She hasn't quite reached my level yet but now that she has some popularity, I am prepared to let her worship me again."
Kyouko did her best not to react to him knowing how much it bothered Kuon. She refused to enter another childish spat with the annoying jerk. Unfortunately, that made her afraid to even open her mouth. She squeezed Kuon's hand and his thumb began to rub circles in her palm.
"Kyouko-chan, I have a statement prepared for you to reject him and establish that you are not looking for a relationship at the moment." Yashiro said and Kyouko nodded gratefully.
"That's bullshit." Shou said stomping closer to the couple but stopping dead in his tracks when Kuon fixed him with a glare. It wasn't a killer stare like the henchmen had but one that promised slow and painful torture.
"Language Shou." Shoko hissed embarrassed by his behavior. Shou was never going to learn and grow up. If he wanted Kyouko than he needed to act more mature and stop trying to corner her.
"It is bullshit though. It's a lie. Everything about these two is a lie. Kyouko pretending to be innocent and Tsuruga acting like a gentleman. I have proof though that she isn't innocent, and he isn't a gentleman." Shou sneered holding his phone up to Kyouko and Kuon.
Yashiro grimaced at the image of seeing Kuon go from angry to murderous.
"Date me or all of Japan will know?" Kyouko asked her words oozing with disgust. "It's just a hug and we could say it was practice for Oh! Darling."
"That's what I said." Maria declared proudly. "That can be the story we go with."
"And the kissing?" Shou inquired flipping to the next picture. "And what about you going to his apartment every night?" He flipped to the next and the next.
"Stalker!" Kyouko accused and this time Kuon had to tighten his grip on her hand to hold her back. If he couldn't punch Fuwa than she couldn't either. A brief image of her slugging Shou in the jaw caused the corners of his mouth to twitch up and everyone in the room tensed at how wicked it made him look.
"I'm not a stalker. My mother made it my responsibility to look after you while you remain in Tokyo. You were there when we had the conversation." Shou stated crossing his arms unwilling to admit that the demon who's hand she so carelessly held scared him shitless.
"I am grateful to Yayoi-san for raising me, but she is not my legal guardian. My living situation was already okayed by her." Kyouko stated keeping her voice as even as she could while thinking of how little her mother cared for her.
Kuon had offered to meet with Seana to reassure her that Kyouko would be safe with him, but Seana claimed there was no need. Kyouko could still hear the iciness in her voice as she called her a fool for trusting a man but that she could do as she pleased. Officially her place of residence was with Kanae, but she had wanted to update her mother on her life.
"There's no way Seana-san would approve of this." Shou shouted though he knew Seana would dismiss Kyouko and tell her to do whatever she wanted, as long as Seana didn't have to get involved. Shou was certain that Seana would only care if someone somehow connected her to Kyouko. Briefly he thought of making the threat to expose her to the press but decided that was too cruel even for him.
"Mogami-kun," Lory addressed Kyouko again. "I hate to put you in this position, but your reputation is on the line as well as Ren's."
"That's bullshit." Kuon snarled.
"Ren!" Kyouko scolded.
"He doesn't care about our reputations." Kuon said gesturing towards Lory. "He's just upset that we fooled him, and he wants to play with our lives like one of his damn video games."
"It doesn't matter because Fuwa has us backed into a corner." Kyouko said closing her eyes detesting her own words. "I won't risk your reputation and he isn't going to back down."
"Onee-sama don't give into this demon. We'll deny it all. No matter what he says or how many pictures we have to suppress, I won't hand you over to him!" Maria protested earning a sad but grateful smile from Kyouko.
"No, we'll play along with Shoutaro and I'll be his little girlfriend. Of course, that means group outings with all our friends. Takarada-sachou won't let me go on couple dates you see. I have to be chaperoned by the Ishibashi-oniisan or Kana-oneesan. On occasion even Tsuruga-senpai will act as my guardian." Kyouko explained hoping that the thought of spending extra time with people who clearly disliked him would kill his fun.
"Fine whatever." Shou said startling even himself. Let her friends torment him as long as she was his it didn't matter.
"You understand that it would all be fake right?" Kuon asked wrapping a possessive arm around Kyouko. "Publicly everyone will think you're courting her but privately she'll always be mine."
"Possessive much." Shou sneered.
"Yes." Kuon admitted without shame. "She. Is. Mine."
Kyouko rolled her eyes but didn't contradict him. "You can save face Shoutaro. Tell everyone that I have accepted your confession. For now, at least I'll play along. Don't think for one second however that anything else will go your way."
"Whatever. I can see straight through you Kyouko. I know how badly you still want me." Shou said smugly. "It'll only be a matter of time before you ditch the group dates and go out with me for real."
"Keep dreaming." Maria scoffed. "My Onee-sama would never choose you over Ren-sama. She takes her marriage vows very seriously."
"Marriage!" everybody except Kyouko and Kuon exclaimed.
"Maria-chan." Kyouko said with a reproving look though she didn't bother to deny the child's words.
Kuon shrugged smiling smugly at Shou.
"No way Seana-san agreed to that!" Shou declared. "You're not old enough."
"I believe her exact words were, do whatever you want. I washed my hands of you a long time ago." Kyouko said with no emotion in her voice. Kuon squeezed her shoulder easing some of her pain.
"My parents were more than happy to welcome Kyouko into the family." Kuon said kissing her head.
Shou gagged at the sweetness between them. He couldn't believe that Kyouko was actually blushing as that ogre kissed her head and hugged her close.
"Well, the public already believes we're together. Look at that they're congratulating you on nabbing a star Kyouko." Shou mocked scrolling through a fansite dedicated to him. They were all viciously cursing Kyouko and scream typing that she better not hurt their Shou-chan. "You and I will have great fun or else my fans will eat you alive."
"I have contracts drawn up already." Lory says. "It's all very standard." Kyouko was handed a contract by Ruto as Lory placed one in front of Shoko. "Yashiro-san already looked over it so all that's left is for you to sign Mogami-kun."
"Proof of Fuwa Shoutaro cheating will be exposed if he hints at a secret relationship between any other LME employees and Kyouko?" Shoko read off.
"Yes," Lory said and photos of Shou kissing not just Shoko, but also Mimori and other models and actresses were placed on the desk. "You can keep those we have copies.
"That doesn't prove cheating. I was with all those women before Kyouko." Shou proclaimed.
"Yes, you were with your manager here long before Kyouko. Akatoki wants nothing to do with that scandal. They are prepared to fire you both in the event that we threaten to expose you. I also had an exceptionally long chat with Yayoi-san this morning. She was extremely interested to know what you have been up to. I will now unfortunately have to tell her that you've been stalking our dear Mogami-kun."
Shou paled, who had given the president of LME permission to call his mom?
"She also said that Ren should call her soon as her husband was hoping to go on another fishing trip with him." Lory said with a beaming smile.
"Yes, I would love to go out fishing with him again." Kuon said almost excited. At least one set of Kyouko's surrogate parents liked him.
"…" Shou's jaw dropped, and he glared at Kuon. His traitorous parents actually liked Tsuruga! When had they met? His mother had never said anything about it.
"Close your mouth Shoutaro, you look like a fish." Maria chided sounding so much like Kyouko that Shou was taken aback.
With a growl he stomped over to Shoko and signed the contract with a flourish.
"Kyouko is mine now!" He said stomping back over to Kuon and Kyouko and attempting to grab Kyouko's arm.
"Line thirty-three, Fuwa-san will not touch Mogami-kun without her permission." Kuon said pointing to the line in the contract. "He will not call her names. He will not call her cell phone at inappropriate times or show up to her apartment uninvited. Fuwa will refrain from posting any and all photos of all LME employees without receiving permission. Should I go on or do you know how to read?"
"Where does it say what Kyouko has to do?" Shou said snatching his contract from Shoko. He skimmed over the document finding one line that said, "Mogami-kun is obligated to one public appearance with Fuwa-san a week. A week! Shoko-san do something."
"You already signed it and our president read through it without any objections." Shoko said a little thrill running through her at Shou's annoyed expression.
"Fine." Shou declared suddenly with a smile that was much too pleasant for anyone's liking. "I will accept these terms. Shoko-san we should go. I don't know about them, but I have important work to do." He said with a mocking smirk at Maria.
"Was that too easy?" Yashiro asked after Shou left with his manager.
"Yes." Kyouko answered worried.
Lory cleared his throat glaring at the couple.
"We should get going." Kuon said. "If you're ok with signing the contract I won't object."
"Right." Kyouko said still trying to figure out was Shou would be up to now. There was no way he was done picking on her.
"You two aren't going anywhere." Lory said sternly. "Not until you sit and have a talk with me about this." He pointed between the two then turned to his staff. Not one of them seemed the least bit surprised. "Et tu Sawara-san?" He asked mournfully. "Matsushima, does our friendship mean nothing to you? Nakazawa-kun, how many nights have I expressed my concern to you about these two? Ruto you're my best friend. And you Ten? What do you all have to say for yourselves?"
The men and small woman stiffened at his sorrow filled words.
"Stop it boss. You know it wasn't up to them." Kuon said taking a seat. "Let them get back to work already. You can berate me all you want now."
Lory frown mumbling something about sneaky disobedient children as he dismissed his staff instructing them to leave their costumes with Ruto. Maria jumped out of her grandfather's chair to grab Kyouko's hand.
"Onee-sama come play with me for a bit." The child enthused but Kyouko hesitated.
"Go on I'll be fine. There's no need for him to scold both of us." Kuon said grateful to Maria. She may be young, but she could read a room.
"Are you sure?" Kyouko asked even as the little girl pulled her towards the door.
"I insist." Kuon said and Maria happily skipped away tugging Kyouko out the door behind her. Lory took his seat across from Kuon and placed his chin on his folded hands.
"Was that a hickey on Mogami-kun's collarbone?" he asked with a judgement glint in his eyes.
"Damn I thought we covered all of those." Kuon said with a sigh.
"Oh, darling they're young and in love let them have some fun. As long as they're being safe, you are being safe right?" Jelly said eyeing Kuon expectantly.
"Yes." Kuon answered quickly before jelly could get mad at him too.
"You what?" Lory exclaimed jumping up from his seat.
"Calm down mom, I was a perfect gentleman and waited for her to be ready." Kuon defended himself.
"The perfect gentleman? No Ren gentlemen wait until they are fully themselves. Gentlemen tell their partners everything about themselves. They don't keep secrets and lie." Lory said clearly believing that Kyouko still only knew Kuon as Ren. "Gentlemen wait until they can commit all of themselves to someone before taking them to bed."
"Yes, I know that." Kuon said reaching up and slipping off his Ren wig. "Which is why I told her everything a little over a year ago." Lory's jaw dropped causing Jelly to giggle. "She knows more about me than you do."
"Can I go now?" Kuon asked after a moment of staring at the president's dumbfounded expression. When Lory said nothing, he added, "I told you my parents are more than happy to have her as part of the family. We may not be legally married yet, but she is my family."
Lory couldn't believe it. He had been certain the Kuon would be a stumbling fool in a relationship and wait too long to tell Kyouko everything. It was frustrating watching them circle around each other without the slightest hint of getting together. Hell, Lory had thought that he would have to scheme and even bully them into confessing their feelings. But there they were his number one Love Me girl and is hopelessly in love false gentlemen were already talking marriage.
"I'm so proud!" Lory exclaimed finally then looked around to find himself in a mostly empty room.
"Tsuruga-san went home almost an hour ago and Woods-san claimed she needed to get to work about twenty minutes ago." Ruto informed him.
"Oh." Lory said deflating. then in a sudden boost of inspiration he exclaimed. "Never mind them I have a wedding shower to plan!"
A/N: Did you like it? Did you hate it? Did you just skim through to see if their was a lemon? (I know some of you do that) Thanks for all the reviews they are always the highlight of my day.
So I tried to make an Instagram for my dolls but I am very bad at social media. I'm bad at taking pictures as well anyway if anyone wants to check out the pictures I did take (which isn't much) here's a link.
mogami_kyoko_doll/
I have no clue if it's the right link or whatever I really don't know what I'm doing I barely know how to use facebook (I'm a failure at being a millennial) but my coworkers talked me into doing it so there it is. Hopefully someday I get more motivation to take pictures.
Also I keep getting comments and DM's for Nana fanfiction. I can't reply to some because it was a guest reviewer so I'll address it here. I made an attempt at it but honestly Nana sends me into depression really quickly. It's story and it's incomplete state just make my heart hurt. Maybe someday I'll try to revisit Nana again but I doubt that will be anytime soon. Sorry.
