KARUIZAWA.
As far as the eye could see, there were trees. Lots and lots of thick, tall and lush green trees. The air was fresh and filled with a nice musky scent. The gentle breeze lightly kissed the tip of her skin making Kyoko shiver. She inhaled deep to smell the musky fragrance of the place as she took in the beautiful view of the small town Karuizawa.
Kyoko turned around and found that the others were equally excited, chatting about how gorgeous this little town was.
Their hotel was barely a yard away, so they got off the bus early and decided to walk the rest of the way through the vacant and beautiful jungle, which also gave them a chance to enjoy the picturesque scenery.
As Kyoko followed the crew, she looked around wondering why this place seemed so nostalgic to her. Only when she heard someone describing it as 'magical' did it hit her. It was because this jungle reminded her of the one she used to go to meet Corn.
"Kyoko!" Someone called out to her from afar. "Don't just stand there or you'll be left behind!" It was then she realized that the whole group was way ahead of her.
She quickened her face until she found another person lagging behind, admiring the view. It was the leading actress, Itsumi. Both girls joined each other, chatting the rest of the way.
"We'll probably get to meet some pretty famous musicians once we get to the hotel!" Itsumi exclaimed excitedly. "As an actress, I get to meet so many well-known actors, but not much people from the music industry. So it's gonna be pretty fun..." She flashed a cheerful smile.
"You've got a point there," Kyoko stroked her chin. "I've never met anyone from the music department of my agency. Wait, what did you mean when you said we'll get to meet them here?"
"You haven't heard?" Itsumi cocked her head in surprise at Kyoko, making the waves of her blonde, smooth hair dance prettily around her shoulders. "Karuizawa is very famous because of some well-known studio being situated here. Some hollywood singer used it in the past, since then all the top artists in the music industry come here. It's right next to our hotel so there's a pretty high chance a lot of them will be staying there as well!" She batted her blonde eyelashes in a cute way as she went on, "that's one of the reasons why I was looking so forward to this trip."
"Wow! I really had no idea," Kyoko admitted. "Now that you mention it, I realize I don't know a lot about the music industry."
"That's probably because it's a completely different genre form ours." Looking up at the sky, Itsumi sighed dreamily. "It's pretty common for us to meet well-known celebrity actors but not musicians. This trip will be a great opportunity to make some new connections." She blushed slightly. "I know it's kinda silly but I always get starstruck when it comes to guys who sing."
"It's not silly at all," Kyoko replied. "It must be the same for them as well, to get starstruck when they meet a famous actor. Take Tsuruga for example. We get to see him on a daily basis so it's not a big deal for us, but don't you think that a lot of famous female singers must get really nervous if and when they see him."
"Yeah. It's a very persuasive argument." After a short pause, Itsumi added, "man, I get so envious of!"
"You mean Ren?"
"Yeah. It takes my all just to keep acting, while look at him! He is on another level as an actor, plus he's also a top model and the brand ambassador of some of the best brands out there! That man has so much talent that it's practically oozing out of him, while he's also dripping with good looks! Don't you think it's kinda unfair?"
Kyoko had always been amazed by Ren's achievements, but she never thought of it as unfair before. Because she knew that it didn't just get handed to him on a silver platter. She had seen it with her own eyes just how he works himself to the bone to stay at the top.
"Where does that leave us?" Itsumi went on. "We are only focusing on acting. We've got such a long way to go if we ever wanna get to even near his level!" She sighed.
Kyoko smiled. She wanted to catch up to Ren as well. Talking to Itsumi was almost like talking to her own self. She had no idea they had so much in common.
Kyoko abruptly halted to a stop and grasped both of Itsumi hands. "Let's be friends!" She suggested cheerfully.
"I was gonna say the same thing!" Itsumi replied and both the girls ended up laughing.
Suddenly, Itsumi's smile faltered as her eyes flickered over something past Kyoko. Kyoko whirled around to follow her gaze and was almost shocked to find a familiar face looming there. There he stood, a few feet away from her in a plain dark shirt and jeans. His smooth, blond hair were glistening under the golden sunlight, fluttering on his head in the light breeze. His sharp, brown eyes first glanced at Itsumi before fixating on her, widening with surprise.
Neither Kyoko nor Sho had expected to run into each other in Karuizawa.
Having a firm grip on Sho's collar with one hand, Kyoko knocked on the door to the studio from the other. Not long after, the door swung open revealing a genuinely surprised Shouko. She was shocked to see Sho being dragged through his collar by a girl, but even more shocked when the girl turned out to be Kyoko.
"What on earth...?"
"Well basically," Kyoko explained. "I found him wandering in the forest so I forcefully dragged his lazy ass back with me."
"Kyoko, what are you doing here?" The manager inquired. "I mean in Karuizawa?"
"Actually, I'm here with the Dark Moon crew for an on-location shoot. While I was on my way to the hotel with another actress, this idiot turned up." She remembered how Itsumi had excused herself the moment she saw Sho, almost as if she didn't want to be the third wheel. She must have gotten the wrong idea about their relationship. Just when we were finally warming up to each other, Kyoko thought bitterly and gave Sho's collar a nice squeeze.
"Sho, you can't just barge out in the middle of recording!" Shouko scolded him. "Everyone was worried sick looking for you! What were you up to anyway?"
"I went for a walk," he replied coolly.
Kyoko tugged hard at his collar almost choking him in the process. "He is lying! I can bet he was going to the hotel to get drunk and mess around."
"What the hell?" He jerked away from her grasp as he shot her a glare. "What do you know?"
"Just because you didn't feel like it, you actually walked off in the middle of recording! That is so typical of you!" Kyoko shot back.
"I said I only wanted a change of pace!"
"You could have done that here at the studio as well! Isn't that proof that you weren't taking your job seriously? It's precisely because of your laziness and this fake cool attitude of yours that you are losing to those mere beagles!"
Her words stung Sho just like it was intended. However, only until the nickname Kyoko had given the Vie Ghouls registered in his mind. When it finally did, Sho snickered, trying to resist the rising fits of laughter inside him, but failed miserably. At last, he ended up cracking so hard that he fell on his knees, hugging on the ground. "Beagles...?" He wheezed. "Of God... I can't take it...!" The sound of his loud chuckling somehow lightened the mood even though neither nor Shouko nor Kyoko joined him.
"it seems that one really got to him, huh?" Shouko commented. She was amazed to see Sho react so childishly since he was usually withdrawn trying to act all cool.
"It's no big deal," Kyoko brushed it off. "He has a knack for getting worked up about silly things."
"Still, you're amazing!" The manager smiled gently. "Thanks a lot. Not only for bringing Sho back but also for cheering him up. He is not usually the type to walk off like that. Something happened during the recording today and since then he had been pretty bummed out. But thanks to you, he is in good spirits again."
The reality of the situation finally dawned on Kyoko. Without realizing, she had actually helped - she shuddered in disgust - her nemesis! The truth was, she only brought Sho back with her because the thought of those no-talent pretty-boys staying on top pissed her off to uncalculable lengths. And the one who should be working hard to show them their place was leasurely strolling through the jungle, skipping work! It was unforgivable!
What's done is done! Kyoko sighed and excused herself, deciding not to think too much about Sho. It was bad enough that they were staying in the same hotel. So she decided not to waste any more time thinking about him. And also to proceed with her original plan of enjoying each day to the fullest.
Once she was outside, she saw a large variety of instruments put on display behind a glass wall of the studio. She studied the shiny, colourful guitars with wonderstruck eyes imagining herself playing one in front of an audience. The mental image was so ridiculous that it made her chuckle.
Suddenly, her eyes flickered over to something or rather someone past the rows of guitars which were sitting on the display. He was inside the studio on the other side of the far end of the large hall, surrounded by a bunch of teenage guys in plain clothes. He should have looked completely ordinary despite his full black get up, since he was too far for Kyoko to actually see his face, but the mop of those silver hair on his head made him stand out like a sore thumb.
Kyoko, having seen those platinum blond threads from up close before, was pretty sure that she was not mistaken about who those guys actually were.
It's the beagles! She squinted her eyes and finally noticed their faces. Why the hell are there in Karuizawa too?
As much as he didn't want to see it, Kyoko could tell that those copycats being in the same studio Sho was using on the very same day simply wasn't a coincidence. Immediately, Shouko's words rang in her mind.
He is not usually the type to walk off like that. Something happened during the shoot today that got him really bummed out.
The fact that those beagles followed Sho all the way to Karuizawa spoke in lengths about them. They even deliberately booked the same studio to copy him. Kyoko was fueled with a newfound, overwhelming surge of hatred. She gaped at those plagarists with disbelief, through the small gaps between the instruments, her features twitching in abhorrence. How low could they possibly get?
Suddenly the head with the silver mop of hair attached to it - slowly rotated in her direction as Reino fixated the cool gaze of his wickedly sharp, purple eyes on Kyoko.
Wait, can he actually see me? She ducked down even further to hide behind a huge drum beneath the guitars. Nah, that can't be it. He's too far away. Must be my imagination.
Only when a corner of his mouth quirked up in a creepy, lopsided smirk as his eyes stayed on her face - did Kyoko realize that he was actually looking straight at her. Her heart almost leaped out of her chest when she felt the heavy weight of his eyes on her. She jerked away from the window so fast that she almost fell. Hugging her arms tightly to stop the goosebumps from rising, she thought, what the hell was that? How on earth did he see me from so far? I've never felt such an intense chill before!
She took a few deep breaths to calm her racing heart and rapid lungs as she stomped towards the safety of her hotel.
Back at the studio, Sho slumped down on the chaise longue like a lifeless dummy, the moment he was done with the recordings. Except for the slow movement of his chest going up and down, he was completely still. His eyes were half-closed as if he didn't even have the strength to shut them properly.
He remained like that for a few moments until suddenly, the creative nickname Kyoko had awarded his creepy copycats popped in his mind out of nowhere.
...those mere beagles...
"Pffft..." He snickered. A new supply of adrenaline started rushing throughout his body as he roared with laughter. Holding his stomach, he twisted on the longue, but since there was no more room he ended up falling on the ground. What was unusual was that he still couldn't stop laughing. He incessantly punched the floor to utilize this newfound rush of energy as he kept on laughing hysterically. "Those egoistic beagles! No matter how much they show off they're still dorky beagles! Pffft...!"
Damn! He thought with a smile as he lay on the carpeted floor of his suite, once his laughter had subsided since he was too tired to keep going. I'll be not getting tired of this for weeks! Is that girl trying to laugh me to do death?
Still, it almost felt like a miracle for him to be wheezing with laughter specially at a time like this. Considering how hopeless he felt this morning when he found out that the Vie Ghouls har followed him all the way to Karuizawa to steal his new song.
How many months has it been since I've laughed like this? Sho wondered. Back when he lived with Kyoko, pretty much everyday was like this, messing around without a care in the world. But he had been too blinded by the spotlight to count the things he was losing on his way to become a star. All the things he thought didn't matter to him, like his home, his family and Kyoko, only when he truly lost them did he realize how much they actually meant. He couldn't help thinking if all this was even worth it.
Sho wanted to be a star so badly. Now that he was, all there was left was fear that someone else might snatch his spot away from him. Those beagles only copied his old songs in the beginning, but now they somehow managed to get their hands on his new songs as well, which weren't even released yet. The only explanation was that there was a mole in his team selling him off.
It seems like the whole world is out to crush me. When he couldn't even trust his own teammates, how was he supposed to to stand against those plagarists. The only option he could see was changing location again and hope that they don't follow him this time.
You're not even trying to show the world that the real thing is much better than some sad imitation! You're such a coward!
Kyoko's harsh words rang in his mind again, but for the first time they actually made sense. She is right! Why am I acting like a beaten dog? Running away and changing location, like hell I will!
He pushed himself from the ground and stood up straight with a newfound confidence surging through him. "They are the dogs! Never again will I be beaten by clones! If you're gonna copy me, fine! I'll show you just what exactly the real thing is capable of!"
With only a flimsy towel wrapped around her thin and petite form, Kyoko stepped inside the bath, which turned out to be unexpectedly huge. Ironically, though, there were only a couple more women soaking in the water and luckily, they were on the other end of the spacious tub minding their own business.
Kyoko walked ahead, squinting her eyes to see clearly through the thick fog. The cool, muddy ground which had been biting at the soles of her bare feet till now was slowly turning warm as she approached the hot spring.
This isn't embarrassing at all. So what if a bunch of old ladies see me naked! Kyoko thought as she slowly unwrapped the towel from her body and sank her feet in the the blazing hot water.
She was still a little bummed out about the fact that Itsumi refused to join her for the hot bath. Not that she minded coming here alone, but still she thought they were finally bonding. So she was pretty sure that Itsumi would come with her. But, her costar/her only other friend besides Moko, who was her own age – politely declined the offer saying that she doesn't do public baths because she gets embarrassed being naked in front of other people.
By the time her feet had adjusted to the heat, Kyoko crouched down in the tub until the scorching water burned against her pale, smooth skin up to her shoulders. She bit her tongue and winced quietly. Only a short while later, after her body had acclimatized becoming one with the water, was Kyoko truly glad that she came here.
The water, now only lukewarm, seemed to be showering every nook and cranny of the surface of her body with soft, moist kisses. Her tired muscles relaxed to the point that with a little push, they could have turned into jelly. She moaned.
Suddenly, the door to the bath swung open and another woman, with her curly, chestnut hair wrapped in a hasty bun, walked in. Unwrapping her towel to reveal her smoking hot body, she leaped in the water before her eyes adjusted to the dim lights and the fog, finally fixating on Kyoko.
"Kyoko, is that you?" She crouched down beside her.
"Yeah." Kyoko plastered a smile to give to Shouko. "I wasn't expecting to see you here." Despite everything that happened with Sho, his manager Shouko had always treated Kyoko with respect and politeness. So, keeping her grudges to herself, Kyoko did the same. However, as she noticed her bulging chest and her hour-glass waist for the first time, the cover of the dim lights and the thick fog suddenly wasn't enough for Kyoko to hide herself. Feeling extremely conscious about her small chest, she wanted to shrink into a ball and disappear.
"Ah, feels good, dosen't it?" Shouko moaned.
"Yeah. Anyway, if you don't mind my asking, have you ever considered becoming a model?" She asked half our of curiosity, and also to distract herself. "I mean, with your height and looks, you would do great."
"You're flattering me" Shouko chuckled modestly. "The truth is, when I was in university, I wanted to become an actress. But I soon realized that no matter how much I learned, I wasn't cut out for it, because I was lacking that certain it factor. So I quit and ended up becoming a manager."
The two ladies kept making polite small talk about each other's work and stuff for a few minutes, until Kyoko couldn't take it anymore. She stood up abruptly and fastened her towel around her body. "It's getting late. I should leave."
"Already?" Shouko raised her eyebrows.
"Yeah. I had been here for a long time," Kyoko lied smoothly. She was just too much embarrassed and conscious about her body to keep pretending that they weren't actually naked. Turned out, Itsumi was right after all. Stepping out of the hot bath, she turned to leave.
Stifling a yawn, Sho glanced at his wrist-watch and rolled his eyes. The hot bath was making him sleepy. He wanted nothing more than to drive back to the hotel and crash on his cozy bed, but he couldn't just leave Shouko. So he waited outside the hot spring for her to be done. Why do women always take such long baths? He thought grimly as his stifled another yawn.
Through the main gate, a shiny, black SUV pulled in. Sho looked up. Even before the owners stepped out of the car, he knew exactly who it belonged to.
One by one, all five of the Vie Ghouls jumped out of the vehicle and approached the counter to get tickets to the bath. They hadn't noticed Sho setting on one of the benches yet.
The moment Sho looked at them, he couldn't help but compare their faces with actual beagles. His creative imagination found a lot of resemblance, letting out a loud, hearty chuckle from his lips.
All five of them cocked their heads in the direction of the sound, and they finally noticed the presence of their rival. "What the...? Is he laughing at us?" One of them frowned anxiously.
"Why is he laughing at all? I was expecting him to cower in fear or at least show some resentment when we finally faced each other!" Another one crossed his arms.
"I know, right? Had he not realized yet that he's the turkey we're ripping off from?"
"Oh, so his one of those! The stupid types. Well, that sure sucks for us! It's no fun to mess with him if he doesn't even realize it."
"What can we say. Ignorance is bliss."
The glanced at Sho one last time with pity and slight frustration before the turned towards the counter again. Only the lead singer, Reino, who had been quiet during this whole conversation, remained on his spot.
Sho rose to his feet. The laugh lines on his face were immediately replaced by a cool look. He shot a glare to his Reino, who returned it with maximum force. No words were exchanged between them, but their eyes did the talking for them, flinging threats at each other. The slightly foggy air turned thick with tension.
When the others noticed that their lead singer, Reino hadn't joined them, they turned back again.
Before any of them got a chance to speak a word, the door to the ladies bath swung open and Kyoko stepped out.
