When she awoke the next morning, Ren was gone. She started to feel a little sad until she heard the voices. The raised ones from just outside her room.
"I want to see her! After this maybe she'll realise!"
"Realise what?"
"That this stupid acting thing was never for her. That she should have stayed with me!"
Kyoko flew across the room and threw open the door, ready to step in if it got out of hand.
She stopped stock still when she saw the scene.
Kuon was leaning against the wall, a smug smile lightly gracing his face.
The other voice, obviously, belonged to Sho. A Sho who was very nearly purple with rage that Ren wasn't playing his game and wouldn't rise to his bait.
Kuon/Ren snorted. They knew Kyoko, knew what she thought of Sho and was safe in the knowledge that she was theirs.
Kyoko looked at Kuon and shook her head. He tossed her a beautiful smile and Kyoko saw Ren take back the reins.
Shoko came up to Kyokos right from behind Sho. She bowed low.
"I'm so sorry Mogami-san."
"It's okay Shoko-san. I know."
Shoko took a look at Kyokos face. She gave a grateful smile to Kyoko then took a large step back. She was about to explode and Shoko knew that even with Kyoko injured, Sho was no match for her.
She was furious.
"Get in here now!" She snarled.
Sho threw Ren a smug triumphant smirk. Ren snorted, shaking with laughter. He recognised the tone in Kyokos voice. It was the one she used when she lectured him about food.
Sho brushed past her into the room.
Kyoko held her hand out to Ren and he took it. He planted a kiss on her head and helped her back into bed. He knew she didn't need it, but he also knew it would wind Sho up no end.
After tucking her in, he retired to the chair by the window, because a certain blonde, obnoxious VK artist had thrown himself over the one by the bed.
He opened his mouth and Kyoko stopped him with a glare.
"What is wrong with you Shotaro!?"
He gave her a blank look. Then confused.
"What?"
She took a deep breath.
"You come into a hospital. A PUBLIC hospital and then proceed to scream and shout like a small child. You've disturbed patients, annoyed me and let's not start on how unbelievably lucky you are that the LME President has made sure that the press can't get within 20 feet of my room, so that your tantrum won't be spread across the front page of every paper and magazine from here to Karuizawa!"
Sho looked like he'd been slapped, Kyoko was breathing heavily and Ren was shaking with confined laughter, but betrayed nothing on his face.
Outside the door, Shoko was laughing silently. When Ryu turned up a few minutes later, she was on the floor, clutching her side and gasping for air. Ryu went to knock on the door, but Shoko stopped her, shaking her head.
"Listen... Just listen."
Intrigued, Ryu pressed an ear against the door and listened. And listened. And joined Shoko in laughing.
Kyoko was reading Sho the riot act. She was berating him for being a child, obnoxious, unaware, stupid and any other reason that apparently popped to mind at the time.
Ryu composed herself. A few deep breaths and then she knocked on the door. Upon opening it she deliberatly avoided looking at Ren for fear it would set her off again.
Kyoko was sat up in the bed, finger still pointed at Sho, who did in fact, look like a scolded child.
"I think he gets it Kyoko-chan."
She scoffed. "Probably not. His head is too thick."
Sho shot upright, ready to argue but one look at Kyoko told him he was not going to win this one. He slumped back, pouting.
Kyoko turned to Ryu.
"Good morning Ryu-san."
She looked like her usual happy self.
"Can I ask... What is going on?"
"I'm teaching Shotaro a lesson on public etiquette."
Sho made a vague noise of objection. Kyoko glowered at him and he sunk further into the chair with a scowl on his face.
"He was stood in the hallway shouting at Ren. He was disturbing other patients and making a scene."
"Where's his manager? I assume he has one."
"The lady in the hallway," Ren pointed.
A noise came from the chair.
"Pffft, Shoko can't control me. She was handed to me as basically a handservant. Maybe a maid. She's alright at cleaning and cooking I guess but her managerial skills aren't for a star of my popularity."
Kyoko wanted to smack him. It was basically the same thing he'd said about her. Ren was gripping the arm of the chair.
Kyoko had a dark look on her face, with perhaps a touch of murderous intent, when it suddenly cleared, like the sun breaking through clouds.
She called out.
"Shoko-san?"
The door opened and a flushed face poked round.
"Yes Mogami-san?"
"Would you like a new job?"
Shoko gaped like a fish, fully expecting to get blamed for Sho's antics.
"I-I'm sorry ... What?"
"I know of a company with a President who's a little... Eccentric, but it's a good company and I know a section you'd fit in well with. Also a talent who could use your skills."
Ryu made the mistake of looking at Kyoko, who winked at her. Ryu covered her mouth so she wouldn't laugh out loud. She pretended to cough and waved off concerns, stating she just had a bit of a dry throat.
Shoko looked at Kyoko.
"Are you serious?"
"Certainly," she turned to Ren, "I don't see that weirdo having a problem with it. Do you?"
Lory would love to steal the manager of the man who had hurt Kyoko so badly in the past and who continued to annoy her to this day. He wisely kept his mouth shut.
"Ryu-san."
"Yes Kyoko-chan."
"Would you give Shoko-san a card please. I'm sure the President would love to meet her."
Ryu rummaged through her notebook and passed an LME card to her. Shoko took it and looked at it as if it might bite her.
"You're not going to take that are you? Without me you'd still be pushing paper around a desk!"
Kyoko looked at him.
"Without her chasing you around Shotaro, you would have been kicked out of the Akatoki agency ages ago. She apologises for you, covers up your indiscretions, of which I am sure there are many, she does all your work and yet you say that? You're always late, rude and a pain in my arse so it's obvious you don't listen to a word she says. When we were in Kariuzawa, how many times did I have to deliver you back to her? Where would you be without her?"
Sho was furious.
He sneered, "I'd be exactly where I am now."
Shoko looked as if he'd slapped her.
Sho jumped up from the chair.
"I've had enough! I don't need to be lectured by a no talent, no looks bitch like you. I can see that stilt wearing bastard and your pathetic excuse for a manager laughing at me. You're all worthless! I'm wasting my time here. Shoko. You're fired."
And with that he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Ryu guided Shoko over to the recently vacated chair.
She was trembling.
It began muffled at first.
"After everything I've done for him! I can quite see why he makes you so angry."
"Eh. Not anymore. He's not worth the energy."
"I'm sor..."
Ren held up a hand.
"You don't have to apologise for him anymore."
This seemed to perk her up.
"No more walks that end up with him causing trouble? No more covering up all his nonsense?"
Kyoko shook her head. Shoko smiled.
"Anyway. Ryu-san, why are you here?"
"Oh. Kyoko-chan can leave. I came to pick her up and take her to LME."
Kyoko fist pumped and jumped out of bed. She ran into the bathroom and emerged not 2 minutes later, washed and dressed. Ren laughed.
"Umm... May I come too?" Shoko said from the chair.
The three looked at each other. Ryu nodded.
