16th December
Kyoko, on the set for Ever After, was laid on the floor of her dressing room.
She was taking a break from filming, stretching out muscles. Filming for this movie was exciting and fun and she was learning so many new things but Gods did it hurt. One of the things she was learning was how much various muscles could hurt, including a couple she didn't know she had.
Okami had been wonderful, teaching her herbal remedies to help ease the aches and Ren had taught her a series of warm up and cool down exercises to help.
Someone knocked on her door.
"Come in."
She looked up from where she lay on the floor, straight into Ren's beautiful browns.
"Hi."
He closed the door and leaned against it.
"How you feeling?"
"Sore. Aching in places I didn't know you could ache."
He laughed.
"For now. You won't notice it soon."
She finished a stretch and asked him what he was doing in her dressing room anyway.
He pretended to look offended.
"I need a reason to come in and see my girlfriend?"
Kyoko blushed.
"Are you going to do that every time I say the word?"
She pouted and muttered a no.
"You know I'd have taken that more seriously if you weren't laid on the floor."
She poked her tongue out at him. He crouched down by her head and ran a hand through her hair. She closed her eyes at his touch and he decided to take advantage. He leant over with the intention of kissing her, when she opened her eyes. She almost knocked him out, trying to sit up and Ren narrowly avoided a Kyoko forehead to his. She grazed his chin instead.
"S-sorry. You were just so close, it surprised me."
Now it was Ren's turn to pout.
She place a hand on his cheek.
"Are you okay?"
"I think you might have got me."
And he pointed to his chin.
She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Oh no(!) Shall I kiss it better?"
He nodded and she leant forward and gave him a peck on the chin. He pointed at his nose and she obliged. He went to point again but she stopped him with a laugh.
"I think I know where this one goes."
She pulled him in for a kiss and she ended up sat between his legs, leaning against a wall. It was electric. Kissing him always was.
When he let her breathe, she giggled.
"It's like your apartment floor all over again."
"Not quite."
He loomed over her, pushing her gently to the floor. He started to places kisses from neck to chin and along her collarbone. One arm came around his back, the other in his hair.
A knock and a call for '5 minutes' interrupted.
Kuon growled.
"What is it with our private time and people knocking?"
"Maybe it's a sign?"
"Of?"
"We should stop kissing on floors?"
Kuon chuckled and Kyoko saw Ren come back to the surface. Ren gave her a final kiss and pushed himself up off the floor.
"One day..."
He left the thought unfinished and gave her a look that screamed Emperor of the Night.
She went scarlet from head to toe. Ren smirked and offered her a hand up.
She took it and was pulled up into a hug.
"I love you."
Kyoko squeezed him tighter.
"I love you too."
Another knock came. Ren growled this time. Kyoko laughed. Another.
"Kyoko it's Ryu."
"Come in."
Ryu opened the door as little as she could and slid in.
"I saw Ren-san come in and thought you might like a few moments but you're both due on set."
Ren looked at her with appreciation and reluctantly released Kyoko.
Holding hands as they stepped back onto set, Kyoko was excited. It was a new stunt today with pyrotechnics. She was rather looking forward to it.
Misako was already there, throwing a disgusted look at the couple. Director Shin clapped his hands.
"The scene later may have to be delayed. There is a slight problem with the stunt set up but it is being rectified. Instead we are going to film the rebels meeting so places people!"
Everyone scurried to their marks.
"And ACTION!"
The knight, the Princess and the rebels stood around a table covered in maps, in a basement of an abandoned building.
"If we place explosives here, here and here," the knight pointed, "and maybe here, then we can cut off the forest road to her. The Queens armies fear the forest and never stray from its path. No path, no army. Somewhere reasonably safe for us to hide."
Murmurs of assent and nods flew round the room.
"There are supply houses in the forest, here and here."
Everyone looked at the Princess, pointing at the map.
"Father used to take me there. They are emergency supplies the King set aside in case of famine, war, things like that."
She grew quiet. Everyone was staring at her. Had it been a stupid idea from a stupid girl?
"Father said that to be able to rule adequately I would have to know the kingdom I was to rule. He said I couldn't do it properly if I didn't know every facet."
The memories of the forest trips hurt and saddened her.
The Knight placed a hand over hers.
"He was a good man."
Silence reigned as they all gave a moment to remember the King.
"We do it at night. No innocents that way."
The Knight nodded.
"You know your jobs and positions. Go."
The rebels left in two and threes until only the Knight and the Princess remained.
"Will this work?" She asked.
"Yes it will. It is a great step to beating her."
"CUT!"
"That was beautiful, just beautiful. I've spoken to the tech team and they say that the problem with the stunt has been resolved so we can continue."
Ren had to know.
"What was wrong?"
Director Shin waved it off.
"One of the charges was misplaced. It has been found and placed where it is supposed to be."
Ren looked skeptical.
"I promise Ren-san. Now. Places!"
The charges were set and the rebels lie in wait to keep an eye out on the road, to make sure any innocent stayed away and all went according to plan.
A whistle. The signal. It was time.
BOOM. One. Trees fell into the path. Another. Boulders blocked what the trees didn't.
They waited.
"CUT! WHAT NOW?!"
The actors got up from where they had been laying. A tech shouted out.
"I don't know Director. Checking now."
"Sigh. Everyone take 5."
Kyoko turned to her dressing room.
"Where are you going Kyoko-chan?"
"To my dressing room Director, I forgot my water."
Ren said that he'd go and before anyone could protest he was gone.
Kyoko and the Director were discussing her characters reactions when the third explosion finally went off.
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" bellowed the Director, turning to the stage, where he had expected the explosion to come from. He was about to lecture the team about setting it off when he realised they were all heading towards the dressing rooms.
Kyokos heart stopped.
"Ren."
And she ran.
She skidded to a stop outside her dressing room, as close as she could get with the crowd.
When someone called for a medic she pushed her way through.
Ren lay unconscious on the floor.
Director Shin was shouting and demanding answers. People were calling for ambulances and security was trying to usher people away. Kyoko slipped past them and knelt next to Ren, taking his hand.
Ryu and Yashiro appeared behind her. Ryu placed a hand on Kyokos shoulder and Yashiro slapped on gloves and began making calls.
Police and paramedics swarmed in and rushed to Ren.
"Kyoko... Kyoko."
Her name finally penetrated, and she looked up at Ryu.
"You have to let go for now."
She shook her head.
"If you don't the paramedics can't do their jobs."
Kyoko dropped Ren's hand as if it had burnt her and moved back. Ryu placed her arm around Kyokos shoulder.
"He'll be fine. It's Ren. He's strong."
Kyoko nodded. Yashiro had hung up his phone and was talking with the police. He rushed over.
"The police said you can take your personal items, like your coat and bag but you must touch nothing else."
In a fugue state, she grabbed her belongings. She noticed wrapping paper dotted around.
~Weird~
Ren was gone when she came back out, Ryu waiting for her.
"Come on. Yashiro has gone with Ren and the President has a room waiting."
The drive was tense, Ryu checking every mirror repeatedly and often and occasionally glancing over her shoulder. Kyoko, though worried about Ren, was also worried about how Ryu was driving.
"Ryu-san, are you okay?"
"Hmm? Oh yes fine. I'm just keeping an eye for clear lanes and traffic so I can make it to the hospital as quickly and safely as possible."
Weak excuse as it was, it seemed to placate Kyoko, who went back to worrying about Ren.
When they arrived at the hospital and were just down the corridor from the room Ren was supposed to be in when Kyokos grudges popped out, basking in the anger emanating from the room.
Opening the door, they saw it was the President pacing back and forth, in a brown suit.
"I didn't know you owned so many normal suits."
Lory stopped and Kyoko slapped a hand over her mouth.
Ryu looked amused. So did Lory.
"Yes Kyoko-chan, I do own 'normal' clothes."
"Is there any word on Ren?"
"Not yet. Yashiro is with him downstairs. He's getting a scan."
Kyoko sank down into the chair by the bed and stared at the door. Lory resumed pacing.
"What on Earth happened?"
Ryu shrugged.
"I was getting their new filming schedules with Yashiro-san, when I heard the explosion and ran back."
"EXPLOSION?!"
Kyoko nodded, shocked out of her door staring vigil by his outburst.
"We were filming with pyrotechnics today. The Director had to put it off because there was a problem. They said it was sorted out which is why we went ahead."
Lory frowned.
"What problem?"
"I don't know. The director didn't say. Just that it was sorted and we could go ahead."
Lory made a motion for her to continue.
"We started filming but one of the charges didn't go off. The director called cut and the techs went to investigate. I was talking to the Director when the explosion sounded."
Kyoko started crying. Ryu moved to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"If only I'd gone and got it myself!"
"Got what Kyoko-chan?"
"My water. I'd left it in my dressing room and said I was going to get it but Ren went instead. I should be downstairs not him."
"The explosion came from your dressing room?"
"Yes. Rens hurt because I let him go get my water."
"KYOKO!"
Lory had rounded on her.
"This is not your fault. What would Ren say if he could hear you?"
"Hear what?"
They hadn't noticed the door open.
Ren was sat in a wheelchair, Yashiro by his side, Nurse Ito pushing. She pushed it over to the bed and made Ren get in. As soon as he was settled Kyoko rushed to the bedside.
"So?"
Nurse Ito looked at Lory.
"I don't know what is looking out for these two but you should thank them. There is some slight ear drum damage from the pressure of the explosion. It's caused by the air being pushed from the room. He'll have some bruises from where he fell but that's it. He's okay. If you'll excuse me."
She bowed to the room and left.
A wave of relief swept through the room. Kyoko hovered by the edge of the bed. Ren grabbed her hand and pulled her up next to him.
"Are you okay?"
She looked at him like he'd grown a second head.
"Really?! You get blown up and ask me if I'm okay?!"
"It was meant for you."
"You don't know that."
"I can. It was in your dressing room Kyoko. Not mine."
He turned to the room at large.
"I went to get Kyokos water for her as I'd had a bad feeling ever since the Director told me the problem with the stunt. One of the charges had gone missing. 'Misplaced' they said. Then it was found and then doesn't explode?"
Kyoko looked horrified.
"I went to her dressing room and noticed the door was ajar. She always closes it. Always. So I peeked my head in and saw a box on the table. I found a broom and nudged the lid off. BOOM. If I'd actually opened the box I would have been seriously injured."
SMACK
The sound reverberated around the room as jaws dropped. Kyoko had smacked Ren square across the face.
"If you were suspicious why not tell security or Yashiro or anyone! Why open it?! Why would you do such a stupid thing?"
She was crying now and fled from the room. Lory nodded at Ryu, who took off after her.
"I must say Ren. I quite agree with Kyoko-chan. How could you be so stupid?"
"I wasn't thinking. I needed to see if I was right. Who could hate her that much? Even Fuwa doesn't. I had a hunch. I can't see her in here again. Or worse."
He was looking pleadingly at Lory, begging him to understand. He did. He wouldn't have let her go either but neither would he have gone alone.
"This is getting serious. The first couple of incidents could be classed as accidents, but this was blatantly malicious."
Lory started tapping away on his phone.
"She's getting security. Any time she is not inside LME or your apartment she will have security. If she is not or can't be with one of us then they will be."
"What about the grateful party?"
"That already has security because of who attends. I've worked with them before, so I'll be using them for Kyokos personal security as well. They are discreet and unobtrusive."
"Any leads?"
Lory shook his head.
Ren got out of bed.
"What are you doing?"
Both Lory and Yashiro exclaimed.
"I have to go and apologise to Kyoko, then I am going home. I don't need to be taking up a bed for some bruises and ringing ears."
Glancing at Lory, who looked as if to object he added,
"If I feel worse or there is a hint of something wrong I will come straight back to the hospital."
Lory pondered for a moment then nodded. Ren pulled the curtains so he could change into the clothes that Sebastian had brought. He wasn't sure when he had come or where he had gone but he was grateful. Once dressed, he headed for the door with the determination to search this place floor by floor if necessary until Yashiro placed a hand on his arm.
"She's on the roof."
