10th December
Lory's office was a riot of colour. Apparently he had taken his love for theatricality and Christmas a whole step further by simply setting off, what was assumed to be, a tinsel bomb in his office.
A particularly large, gaudy piece of tinsel moved, causing two of the women to jump.
"Umm... President?"
The tinsel moved and Sebastian's head appeared.
"No Mogami-san. The President will be here momentarily. If you would all like to take a seat?"
He nodded at Ryu, Kyoko and Ren. He raised an internal eyebrow at Shokos presence, but said nothing.
Ren and Kyoko sat on the sofa and Ryu took up a place behind them. Shoko sat in the arm chair, casting glances around, looking very confused.
The door burst open and she gasped, looking incredibly alarmed. The other 3 were laughing, hard. They loved outsiders reactions to Lory Takarada. Getting "acquainted" with his eccentricities was always a shock first time round. Though Ren and Kyoko wondered if you ever really got used to it.
Lory was spectacular, wearing an outfit of blue sequins. They ranged from dark blue to pale-almost-white blue. In all, he gave the effect of a rather large snow flake.
"Hello, my dear ones! I'm glad to see that everyone is in one piece! No new..."
He stopped when he saw Shoko in the chair.
"Surprises? Ah, excuse me. I am Lory Takarada, President of LME. You are Fuwa Sho's manager, are you not?"
Shoko didn't know if she could reply. She had heard rumours and whispers of the bizarreness but seeing it was something else.
She sighed and shook her head, afraid to speak for fear of laughing.
Lory was shocked.
"But I..."
"He fired me about half an hour ago."
Lory almost fell over. He sat at his desk and asked for an explanation, which came from Kyoko.
"...and in the end it's my fault he fired her. I offered her a job because he was being horrible to her. If I hadn't goaded him and lectured him, he would have had a cooler temper."
She was looking at the floor, upset with herself, when she heard a huff. She looked up at Lory who looked mad.
Ryu leant down and whispered in her ear, "Silver linings."
She scrambled for something to say.
"And that is why I brought her here. I was wondering if there was a job here for her. Perhaps with some ladies in a certain colour?"
Lory clapped.
"Well done Kyoko-chan. Very good outlook! I'm glad you remembered."
He gave her a sharp glance but with a soft smile.
"As it just so happens, there is a position available in that particular section with two young talents who could use her help."
The sofa trio smiled. Shoko looked like she was about to cry.
"Really?"
Lory nodded and snapped his fingers. Shoko stood and bowed deeply.
"Thank you so much for this opportunity."
"It is no problem. If Kyoko-chan and Ren-san vouch for you..."
They both nodded. Lory turned to the tinsel that had appeared.
"Would you please take Shoko-san to HR so she can register, then direct her to the LoveMe section."
It bowed and beckoned. She turned to Ren, Kyoko and Ryu and bowed to them.
"Thank you."
"Your welcome," they chorused and Shoko hurried after Sebastian.
They turned back to the President.
"Such talent that boy wastes."
He shuffled some papers on his desk and got a serious look on his face.
"The car was found, but it had been stolen. There are no prints. Same with the stunt set up. They will keep investigating."
Ren clenched his fist, Kyoko squeezed his arm. He took a deep breath and relaxed.
"That's all for serious now. Onto better things. Kyoko-chan. Maria-chan would like to see you. You know where she is. Ryu-san, I'm aware of a large pile of offers for Kyoko-chan in your office."
They both got up, Kyoko giving Rens hand a squeeze as she did and bowed to the President. Kyoko shot off, shouting good bye over her shoulder and Ryu went off to her office.
With Ren
Lory studied Ren.
"I have to warn you of something. Something dangerous is coming this way."
Ren paled and Lory, upon seeing his face, scrambled to provide context.
"Ah, it's nothing regarding our ongoing situation. I believe it's something more personal to you."
Ren looked confused now, so Lory handed him a piece of folded paper. Ren opened it and developed a serious annoyed-look tick in his right eyebrow.
It read.
'You will not outbid us. Why didn't you tell us? We loved the interview. See you soon."
"It's not his handwriting."
Lory shook his head. Ren read it again.
"Both of them?"
Lory nodded, feeling sorry for the man with the terrified look on his face.
"Bid?"
"Kyokos tea ceremony."
Ren paled again, almost deathly white this time.
"Kyoko is not going to like this. I'm not going to like this."
"Every time someone places a new bid, they simply up theirs."
Ren slumped.
"Ren. It's been months since you sent that video. Frankly I'm amazed she waited this long. You know no force on Earth is going to stop her coming here to meet Kyoko. Not after the interview."
"Which was your fault!"
Lory did look slightly apologetic before he shrugged.
"She would have seen it eventually. Or he would. I just shortened the time between then and now. You can't stop this I'm afraid. Nothing you can say will stop them from coming to see you and Kyoko-chan."
Ren placed his head in his hands.
"I don't know if I'm ready."
"Will you ever truly be?"
He thought about it. He was, himself, amazed that she had stayed away for this long. Especially with how he left.
"No but I don't really have a choice."
"You needn't worry anyway. She loves you."
An image flashed through Rens mind. He had an evil grin on his face as he turned to look at Lory.
"You on the other hand..."
Ren felt better. What was coming his way was nothing compared to the wrath that was heading Lorys way. He started laughing as he watched the Presidents face drain of blood and a fine tremble came over him.
He stood.
"If that's all?"
Lory nodded and Ren headed for the door. With his hand on the doorknob he turned back to Lory and with a smile pronounced,
"You are in so much trouble!"
He threw open the door and strode out, laughing all the way.
With Kyoko
Skipping towards the Curse Room, Kyoko felt pretty good. Sure, there were no leads yet, but she knew the President would get answers. She had faith in him. Plus she had saved Shoko from Sho!
The door to the Curse Room flew open.
"Nee-san!"
A small blonde blur almost knocked her into the opposite wall.
"Hello Maria-chan."
"You were a saviour with those butchers nee-san. Everything is ready to go! Only two more weeks!"
"EH?!"
"What's wrong nee-san?"
"Two weeks?! I haven't got my outfit yet and I haven't done my invites!"
Maria tapped her nose.
"I sent out some invitations on your behalf."
She started ticking names off her fingers.
"The Kimagure Rock guys, your landlords, Director Ogata, Director Shin, some of the casts from Dark Moon, Box R and Ever After. I have blank invitations here for anyone else you wish to invite."
Kyoko swept Maria up into a hug.
"Oh thank you Maria-chan!"
After a moment, Kyoko released her.
"So, you wanted me for something?"
Maria grabbed her hand.
"Yes, this."
She gestured towards the piles of paper on the table in the middle of the room as she pulled Kyoko in.
"We have menus to finalise, paperwork to sign off on and double check everything."
Kyoko pushed up her sleeves and dove into a pile.
After about 15 minutes Maria excused herself, claiming she was going to get drinks. Instead she headed for Ryus office and knocked on the door. Ren, Kanae and Yashiro were inside.
"I have her doing paperwork for the party, but I can't stay long. She thinks I've gone to get drinks."
Ryu stood.
"Is everything set?"
Yashiro held up a jewellery bag, Kanae; a new fairytale make up set, Ren had a dress bag and a shoebox.
Maria clapped in glee.
"She's going to look beautiful!"
"Is the cake sorted Maria-chan?"
"Yup. Set to come out on the final stroke of midnight."
Ryu seemed giftless.
"What about you Ryu-san?"
"I'm afraid I can't say. It would ruin the surprise."
They all turned to look at her. Ren asked,
"What is it?"
Ryu laughed.
"You'll never get it out of me!"
Maria stuck her tongue out at her, gaining laughs from around the desk. She caught sight of the clock.
"Ah! I've been gone ages! I gotta go!"
She skidded to a stop outside the Curse Room door, collecting herself. When she went back in, she found Kyoko asleep at the table, with menu designs and paperwork surrounding her. She crept into the room and snagged a blanket from the sofa. Quietly she placed it over Kyoko and snuck back out the room. She bumped into Ryu and Ren just outside the door.
"Shh, she's asleep."
Ren smiled.
"Unfortunately I have to wake her up. Okami and Taisho are expecting her for dinner. They are quite looking forward to seeing her."
Maria pouted but relented and stepped aside.
Ren loved it when she was asleep. She looked so carefree and untroubled. He crouched down beside her and swept a lock of hair of her forehead.
"Kyoko... Kyoko sweetheart."
He tapped the end of her nose.
She sat bolt upright, shouting,
"Table 3 needs the table cloth rotated!"
She glanced around wildly and turned pink when she saw everyone watching her. Ryu chuckled.
"Come on. Okami and Taisho are waiting for you."
Kyoko lit up, and in a flurry of activity was packed up and ready to go before Ryu could say anything else. Ren took her hand and they walked to the garage where Ryu's new car waited.
Ren and Kyoko just stared. It looked like a tank.
"Little overprotective isn't he?"
Ren kissed Kyoko goodbye and headed for his own car as Kyoko stepped up into hers. It was spacious and had luxurious leather seats. She dozed in the back and when they pulled up to the restaurant, Kyoko invited Ryu in.
They spent the evening talking, laughing and after a while Kyoko felt the tension leave her.
All the stress of the events of the last few weeks melted away.
She was home, with people who loved and cared for her, eating good food.
Nobody noticed the eyes at the window.
