9th December

"And cut!"

Director Shin beamed and bounced towards Kyoko and Ren. They had just finished the scene where the Princess and the Knight first met.

"That was beautiful! Just beautiful!"

He rushed off to check the film. Kyoko stole a peek over his shoulder. She blushed when her on screen counterpart blushed after she bumps into the Knight. She had fallen down and the Knight enquired as to her hurry. She explained that she was running from the guards, while the Knight lent a hand and pulled her up.

She blinked as the Director started clapping and cheering. She took a step back from the overexcitable fellow.

"Right, right! I would like to film the first chase scene. Everyone involved in the rooftop chase... Up you go!"

He pointed up.

Kyoko took a deep breath. Her first stunt, and so high. She was incredibly nervous. Ren gave her a small smile and offered her his arm to escort her to the scissor lift that would take them into the rafters. Ren loved their relationship being out in the open, being able to touch her in public without repercussions.

They stepped into the lift and greeted the stuntmen at the top, who were there to help Ren and Kyoko into their safety harnesses. They stepped into them and the stuntmen adjusted and rigged them up.

The scene was; they were talking, guards find them and chase her. Following a small chase Kyoko was to step up onto the parapet and jump to freedom.

"You ready?"
Kyoko nodded.
"You see down there? About 20 foot below the parapet?"
"Yes"
"It is the airbag you'll land on. It's a soft landing."
"It looks like a giant pillow. It looks a little fun actually."

Ren laughed and shouted down that they were ready. Cameras and boom mikes were positioned, last minute checks on gear. Ren and Kyoko took their places.

"And action!"

["I must do something," insisted the Princess, "just look at what she's doing!"
She gestured down to (the green screen that would show) the townspeople being harassed by guards, angry and growing desperate, beginning to turn on one another.
"And just what are you going to do? Cry at her?"
"I know I'm useless but I'll learn. I have to! There must be something I can do!"

The Knight opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by
"Oi you! Stop in the name of the Queen!"

The Knight froze but the Princess screamed "Never" and took off across the rooftops with the guards in pursuit. She reached the parapet amd climbed up.
"Get down and surrender!"

She stood tall and defiant.
"You'd have to kill me first."
She took a step back.]

Kyokos harness had guided her along the walkway and helped her dramatic exit. Something in her brain screamed something was wrong though.

She snapped to a stop 10 ft above the crashbag, swung in an arc and slammed into the scenery. The thud could be heard throughout the studio. Ren abseiled down in his rope and harness. Yashiro, Ryu and the Director came running over, with the Director screaming to get her down in the bag safely.

Rens heart stopped. He looked up and noticed that her rope was shorter than his.

"Director!"

"Not now Tsuruga-san. It cannot be important."

Ren just pointed up.

The Director, with a huff, looked up to where Ren was pointing.

"How can she have stopped 10ft short when her rope is supposed to be as long as mine?"

The Director looked shocked.

He and Yashiro went up to the setting. Ren joined them after climbing back up. They reached the parapet and saw not only did Kyokos rope have a loop tied into it, a small hook, barely noticeable had been placed to catch the loop.

"Oh Gods! Who would do such a thing?!" exclaimed Yashiro.

"It could simply be an accident, Yashiro-san."

The Director looked furious.
"My stunt team is one of the best in the world! They would never make such an amatuerish mistake!"

"Then you need to call the police Director."

He blanched at the thought but looking at Ren and Yashiro, and down at the ground, where Kyoko now lay after the crew had got her down.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I will call."

When they got down to the ground they rushed over to Kyoko. A crew member stepped in front of them.

"She is breathing but unconscious. We aren't going to move her anymore as we don't know what's wrong. You can sit by her, but do not move her."

Ren nodded and went to sit by her. Yashiro looked at Ryu.
"I will inform the President. Go to her."

Ryu rushed to join Ren at Kyokos side. She placed her hand on Rens shoulder.
"She'll be okay Ren-san. It's our Kyoko. She is a strong girl. When she wakes up she'll probably start apologising."

Ren gave her a small smile.

Sirens sounded in the distance and a few minutes later hit their crescendo. Paramedics came rushing in and headed straight for Kyoko.
The police arrived seconds later and headed straight for the Director.
As he was explaining who, what, when and everything, the paramedics loaded Kyoko onto a stretcher and headed for the door. One of the policemen stopped Ren who refused to let go of Kyokos hand, which stopped the stretcher. Ren gave him a death glare and the policeman recoiled. Ryu stepped between them.

"We will be happy to await you at the hospital or come to the station. Here is my card."

The officer looked again at the man attempting to kill him by stare and the woman in front of him. He glanced at the figure on the stretcher.

"Is that?"

"Yes."

"And that's?"

"Yep."

"We will come to the hospital. I hope she is okay."

Ryu bowed and gently nudged Ren who bowed and apologised.

As they were leaving she muttered to Ren.

"She'd be angry if you scared the nice policeman."

Ren snorted.

"As long as she's okay, I don't care."

Ryu's phone chimed.

"Yashiro has our belongings and will meet us at the hospital with the President."

Ren nodded, eyes never leaving Kyoko.

He didn't remember much after they took her away from him at the hospital. He was still pacing the waiting room when Yashiro, Lory and Sebastian arrived.

Lory looked furious.
"Where is she?"

"Still being looked at."

Without another word Lory swept away. 15 minutes later they were all ushered into an empty room.

"Kyoko-chan will be brought here. We can wait here as well. Now explain!"

Ryu launched into an explantion with Yashiro adding in details. Lory was on his phone in seconds. The police, the Director, anyone and everyone who was there.

The door opened and a nurse brought an awake Kyoko into the room in a wheelchair. Ren was by her side in an instant.

"I do not know what Mogami-san is made from but aside from some bruising on her arms she is fine."

"So why is she in a wheelchair?"

"Hospital policy. We'd like to keep her overnight, keep an eye on her, make sure there are no longer lasting effects. If all stays well she can leave tomorrow."

She helped Kyoko into bed, bowed to the room and left.

"I'm so so..."

She was interrupted by Ryu bursting into laughter, pointing at Ren and Yashiro handing Ryu a 10,000 yen. Even Ren had to laugh, and everyone relaxed.

Lory spoke.

"Itawa-san, can you make it so that her schedule is light for a few days? Yashiro, same for Ren. I am going to the studio."

With a flourish, he left.

Kyoko rubbed her eyes.
"Everyone else just saw a reindeer leave right?"

"It's the President and it's December. Well... Are you okay Kyoko?"

"Except for the fact you seem to be crushing my hand Ren, I'm fine. Look."

She showed her arms, dark bruises blossoming already.

"This is it, there are no other bruises. I am fine. I guess my arms will be a little sore for a while but other than that I'm good. Are Okami and Taisho aware?"

Ryu nodded.
"I have kept them updated. They will be at home when you get back tomorrow. Visiting hours are over so they can't come up and we should really be leaving."

She caught the look Ren was giving her.

"By we, I obviously mean myself and Yashiro."

They left and Kyoko settled back. Ren wouldn't let go of her hand.

"It was hard enough to watch you do the stunt. When I heard the thud and you didn't move..."

She raised a hand to his face.

"The doctor said it was probably the shock of the impact that caused me to lose consciousness."

With a very intense look and voice Ren said,
"We will find who did this."

"I know."

She yawned. Ren smiled.

"Sleep, I shall see you when you wake up."

He gave her a kiss and settled into the chair next to the bed.

"Night sweetheart."

She blushed, he winked.

She burrowed under the covers, ignoring the tall, dark and handsome man in the chair and fell asleep.