Kyoko was restless. She was fed up with the whole taking it easy thing.
~What kind of health professional would think that utter boredom would be peaceful and a good idea!?~
Yes she loved working in the kitchen with Taisho, but there were only so many vegetables one could peel and rice they could cook before they went out of their minds. She was so grateful that it was Friday. Today the doctor would give her the all clear and she could get back to work. Hopefully. She looked at the clock.
12:15
She only had 3 and a half hours before her appointment. To fill the time she was reading the script for her new drama that Ryu had dropped off on Tuesday. She was so excited for this one! She finally got to play a princess! A rich, elegant princess!
~And it's my first lead! I'm going to debut! I am going to be an actress!~
She grinned like a certain cat and went back to the script. It seemed that the story line was that of a Wicked Queen ovethrowing the King of the land and exiling him, the princess and all of the castle's inhabitants. They now live in the town with the common folk and they try to make the lives of the townsfolk easier who have been made slaves by the Queen.
Her character would be weak against the Queen and her guards but would do her best for the townsfolk. She would meet a knight and he would help her discover herself. She would discover a mischievous side, a strong side. Her character would be able to stand up to the Queen and take her rightful place at the throne. The end of the script wasn't written in yet, but from what Ryu said it was being a closely kept secret.
The script looked like fun. Stunts to do, pranks she would get to play on the Queen and Guards. She was using a highlighter to mark out her parts, when Okami placed a dish in front of her.
"Kyoko dear. We're leaving now. We'll be back Monday. We made you some lunch and..."
Okami looked embarassed.
"It's okay Okami! It's nice to have someone worry about me. If I get lonely then I can always phone Kanae-san or Ryu-san and they'll come keep me company."
"Do you have everything you need?" Taisho asked.
Kyoko nodded.
"Ingredients stocked, everything scrubbed."
She rolled up her sleeves.
"I'm going to make a start now!"
Taisho nodded at her and looked at Okami.
"It's time for us to be leaving. Kyoko will be fine."
Okami looked worried, but Kyoko smiled at her and nodded. It was like having normal parents. It warmed her a little bit.
"Ryu-san will be here at 3pm. She will take me to the doctor. We will both come back here, and I will start cooking."
"What if...he... turns up?"
"Then I will use all my knowledge as a Ryokan host, everything I have gained from here and everything I have learnt as an actress, to keep calm and polite. Though he may not come. Moko-san may hurt him."
Taisho smiled slightly at this comment. He liked Kotonami Kanae.
With a promise that she would phone them when she knew what the doctor said, they told her to be safe and they left.
Kyoko looked around the kitchen. With the piles of ingredients, she decided to make a start. She decided to prepare everything so that all she had to do when she got back would be to cook the main parts.
At half 2 there was a knock on the backdoor. Wiping her hands on her apron she opened the door to find Ryu stood on her backstep.
"I hope I'm not being an inconvience by coming early" Ryu said.
"Of course not! Come in Ryu-san!"
"Can I be of any help?"
"No, no Ryu-san. I have it all handled. I enjoy cooking. I usually cook for Tsuruga-san as he's terrible with food. He considers a convience store onigiri to be actual food! If it wasn't for me he would rarely eat properly!"
Ryu took her notebook out and with a raised eyebrow started scribbling furiously. Kyoko had stopped chopping. She had realised what she said, and looked down at the countertop with tears brimming in her eyes.
~I won't be able to cook for him anymore. Or lecture him about his diet. Or see him at all really.~
She hadn't realised how much she missed him.
"Kyoko. Is everything okay?"
Ryu looked worried.
Kyoko waved her hand in front of her face.
"It's nothing really. It just occured to me that I won't be able to cook for Tsuruga-san anymore, or go over for script help and advice."
"Well, why ever not?"
"I don't think his new girlfriend will like it. Plus I doubt they want me hanging around."
Ryu didn't know what to do. She had been sworn to secrecy about Ren's side of the story, with Yashiro saying that it was Ren's duty to tell her. She didn't like keeping it a secret but she knew why she had to. Kyoko would only believe the explanation from Ren himself.
Kyoko returned to preparation. She was silent as she chopped and Ryu didn't break it. She figured that Kyoko needed this time to compose herself. She pretended not to hear the sniffling.
At 5 to 3 Ryu spoke up.
"Kyoko, you might want to start covering food or whatever you need to do. We have to leave soon."
Kyoko nodded and covered up the food. She took off her apron and washed her hands and face. She turned round with a grim grin on her face.
"Right. I'm ready to go!"
She had such a grim look on her face that Ryu couldn't help but laugh.
"Kyoko... You're going for a check up... not into battle! You're feeling better right?"
Kyoko nodded.
"Then it'll be fine. Once the doctor signs off then you'll be able to go back to work."
Kyoko perked up.
"Right! Let's go!"
Kyoko spent the drive worrying about what the doctor would say. Ryu was fighting an intense urge to laugh at her charge. When they got to the hospital, they made their way to the waiting area outside the doctors office. Kyoko fidgeted in her chair. Ryu couldn't help it any longer. She started laughing.
Kyoko glared at her.
"What's so funny?"
"You are. We're here so you can get a check up. What are you expecting to happen?"
"I don't know. I mean, I guess I'm nervous. This one man basically decides if I go back to work or not."
Ryu finally understood. Kyoko was worried she would not be allowed to return to work. She made more notes.
The seconds ticked by.
At exactly 3:45 the doctors office door opened.
"Mogami-san. I'm ready for you now."
Ryu turned to look at Kyoko.
"Would you like me to come in with you?"
"Yes please. As a witness. The president won't believe just me. He knows what I'm like."
Ryu snorted and followed Kyoko into the doctors office. They both bowed to the doctor.
"Mogami-san and... Who's this lovely lady?"
"This is Itawa Ryu. She's a friend of mine."
"Good afternoon Itawa-san. Mogami-san are you okay with her being in here?"
Kyoko nodded. The doctor gestured to the seats in his office and everyone took one.
"Well Mogami-san, how have you been?"
Kyoko explained that she now felt fine. She had felt a little sore for a while and that the bruise was fine unless she caught it by accident. Apart from that everything else was fine.
"Oh, and my incision is really itchy."
The doctor frowned. Kyoko started to panic. The doctor asked if she could lift her top up so he could check it out. He pulled at it, poked at it and made a disconcerting 'Hmmm' sound.
Kyoko couldn't take it anymore.
"What's wrong?!"
The doctor startled as if forgetting he had a patient.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. It's itchy because it's healing. It's healing very well."
"But you frowned."
"Oh. That wasn't a bad frown. More confused. I've never seen anyone heal quite like this before."
Kyoko smiled. The doctor got hit full force and was left a little dazed.
"So this means I can go back to work?"
"Huh? Uh yes Mogami-san. You can go back to work"
Ryu raised a hand. The doctor raised an eyebrow.
"In two weeks Mogami-san shall be wearing a harness and performing stunts. Will this be okay?"
The doctor looked thoughtful.
"I guess that would be okay but I would put something over the healing incision just in case. I don't mean to pry but what is it exactly that you do?"
Kyoko blushed.
"I'm an actress at LME."
"Wonderful. Have you been in anything I might have seen?"
"I did a CM for Kurara, I was in Dark Moon and I am currently starring in Box-R."
"Wow! No way! I loved Dark Moon! Tell me, the actress that played Mio...What was it like working with her?"
The doctor had such a starry look on his face that Ryu couldn't help but laugh.
The doctor frowned.
"Am I missing something?"
"Umm... I was Mio in Dark Moon." Kyoko said, a little embarassed and a little angry.
The doctors jaw dropped.
"YOU'RE MIO!? B-b-but you're so nice and polite and cheerful! Wow! That was some seriously amazing acting. She was scary!"
Kyoko discovered that she could full body blush.
"I'm sorry. This is entirely unprofessional of me, as was my outburst. Please forgive me."
He bowed his head.
Kyoko waved his concerns off and told him there was nothing to forgive. She always enjoyed meeting a fan.
"One last thing Mogami-san... and feel free to say no, but could I... That is...Could I have an autograph?"
The doctor looked sheepish. Kyoko looked shocked.
Ryu laughed. Hard.
"I take it that this doesn't happen very often Mogami-san?" she said gasping for air.
"No. It doesn't happen at all. He's the first one who's ever asked."
Kyoko shook her head but signed an autograph for the doctor, who had a very starstruck look on his face. Ryu was still laughing.
The doctor took the piece of paper and was staring at it ecstatically.
"Come Kyoko. I think we've taken enough of the doctors time."
Kyoko and Ryu both bowed to the doctor and thanked him.
They left him smiling.
"So Kyoko, how did it feel?"
"Great! I didn't expect a doctor to be such a fan. It is nice to be recognised and the look of shock on their faces when they realise is quite something. Plus it makes them happy and if I can make just one person a day happy then I will be too."
Ryu smiled. Her charge was going to be amazing! Humble, talented, modest and thinking of her fans more than herself.
She was going to be a true star.
