2nd January
First day back on set
Kyoko sat in the back of the car with Ren. Yashiro and Ryu were up front and when they had picked Kyoko up Ryu had had a huge grin on her face. Ren had a glint in his eye, but most definitely Kuons self satisfied smile on his face.
Ren had a small pile of upside down newspapers on his lap and Kyoko gave both them and Ren a curious glance. As Ryu pulled the car away from the curb, Ren handed over the pile.
She laughed as she turned them over and saw the first front page.
The top paper was a local tabloid and had a picture of Sho on the front. Dancing on a table. The headline read 'FUWA SHO-WS US A GOOD TIME!'.
She flipped to the next. It read 'Dancing with the stars' above a picture of Sho dancing with 3 girls at a club.
All the papers followed a similar thread. Kyoko got a brief feeling of joy out of it, but then it faded into pity. As annoying as Sho was and as much as he got on her nerves, he had worked hard to be where he was. Especially after Karuizawa.
On the other hand, they were funny and just proof that without Shoko he was screwed.
These were taken the night he had been caught by Sebastian outside of the Darumaya if the clothes were anything to go by. This must have been what he was up to before he came to the restaurant.
Ryu pulled up to the studio and Kyoko left the papers in the car upon exiting. Everyone looked at her.
"I just feel sorry for him."
Annoyance flashed across Rens face but Kyoko held up a hand. She explained her thoughts and when she was finished Ren hugged her.
"What was that for?"
"You're a much better person than I am."
Kyoko glanced around but it was just the 4 of them.
"Your mother may have pointed a few things out to me while we were shopping. And really it's his own fault. He knows better."
A second car pulled up behind them and Kyoko jumped, clutching Rens arm. He smoothed a hand over her hair.
"Shh it's okay. It's just your guards. Lory has become quite paranoid about you so I think you'll be seeing a lot more of them."
They exited their car and bowed to Kyoko and the others before taking up position a respectable but safe distance away.
Ren took her hand and with the managers in front and guards behind they walked into the studio, excited for todays filming.
The brief illusion of peace was shattered when they walked through the door and a voice like nails on a chalkboard resounded through the studio.
"So who are they then?"
Ryu and Yashiro headed for Director Shin to explain while Ren stepped in front of Kyoko.
Misako tapped a foot while glaring at them.
"Well?"
Ren simply looked down on her with disdain and stated,
"It is none of your business."
Misako opened her mouth to say something but settled with a huff and silence when she saw Director Shin heading for them with the managers. After introductions of the guards to Shin, the director turned to Kyoko.
"I have received the information from your managers and a very long email from Takarada-san and have a fair grasp of the situation. Takarada-san has also given us some extra security for the studio, so please feel assured you are safe here."
He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a look she couldn't quite place.
"Thank you. After this last incident, it would be nice to feel a little safer. After finding the GPS on our new, trashed car…"
"Enough Kyoko."
Ryu was shaking her head and Kyoko took the indication of 'say no more'.
Shin looked shocked, Ren pissed and Misako looked as though Kyoko had just declared that she was going to vacation on the moon.
"So you have a few accidents and decided that warrants an entourage?"
Kyoko sighed.
"They are not my entourage."
But Misako wasn't listening. She pointed a frosted pink talon at Kyoko.
"Letting your little bit of fame go to your head aren't you? You aren't that pretty, popular or interesting."
Kuon spoke.
"They are NOT an entourage. They are bodyguards."
Misako looked pissed that Ren had spoken out against her. Kyoko coughed lightly and shook her head at Kuon who shrugged.
Unfortunately the cough has also brought Misakos attention back to her, who shot her a venomous look.
"They aren't bodyguards. She used them to embarrass me on New Years Eve, the pomped up little bitch. I saw her with them at the party before I had to leave due to the distress she caused me by being absolutely horrible to me."
Everyone looked at Misako like she had grown a second head. Anyone who knew Kyoko knew that wasn't something she'd do.
"If I recall correctly you marched up to us, demanded Ren dance with you, throwing a tantrum when he said no. You then proceeded to embarrass yourself in front of everyone else. They stopped you from approaching me because that is their job as my bodyguards."
Misako was livid.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?! I don't get why you think you're so fucking special. So you have a few accidents and have to deal with a little bit of graffiti. A normal person gets over it and moves on. I don't get why your making such a big deal out of nothing."
Misako finished with a self satisfied smirk and waited for the cheers and clapping for calling out the trumped up little bitch out on her bullshit.
Instead she saw Yashiro and Ryu staring at her with open hostility, Ren and Shin were staring at her with disgust and Kyoko was open mouthed in shock.
Yashiro was the first to speak.
"No one but this group, President Takarada and the police know about the graffiti. We most certainly didn't tell you so how do you know about it?"
Misako blanched.
~Shit. Busted.~
They were all looking at her now but this was not the kind of attention she wanted.
"Well?"
Misako looked at them, the exits, fidgeting, trying to come up with a lie or escape plan. She realised she had dropped herself right in it. Yashiro was on his phone.
Shin stepped forward.
"Misako-san. Are you responsible for the stunts going wrong? For the explosion?"
Misako gaped like a fish.
Kyoko looked at her with sadness.
"Are you the one who tried to push me down the crossing bridge?"
"What?! No!"
Yashiro stepped back to them.
"The police are on their way. They want to question you Misako-san."
She startled.
"What? Why!?"
"You admitted knowledge to a crime you shouldn't know about unless you committed it. It's likely you'll be arrested for vandalism and assault."
Kyoko looked confused for a second before realisation came crashing down. She stepped towards Misako, pointing a finger in her face.
"You attacked Okami? What is wrong with you?! She's an innocent woman and you attacked her!"
"She surprised me okay? Yes I sprayed the shop but I didn't go with the intention of hurting anyone. I had just finished when she came out and surprised me and I just reacted."
"Why?!"
Kyokos shout echoed throughout the studio.
Everyone looked at her, unused to seeing her shout or being quite this angry.
The sound of boots entering the studio made everyone turn from the pair.
The managers and Director Shin headed them off and began a very intense discussion. Kyoko turned back to Misako.
"Tell me why."
Misako crossed her arms and glared at her.
"I don't have to tell you anything, you pathetic, worthless…"
She was cut off from finishing as the policemen marched up to her. One pulled her hands behind her back and cuffed her.
"Misako Mia you are under arrest for vandalism, harassment and assault."
She began to struggle against her cuffs.
"You can't do this to me! Do you know who I am?!"
They started escorting her away and she burst into tears.
"This is all her fault. Everything she's stolen from me and I'm the one in the wrong? She ruined my life!"
The police officers turned and looked back at Kyoko, the question obvious in their eyes.
"I have never stolen a thing in my life."
Misako was sobbing now.
"You stole me job! You stole my chance to model for Hizuri Julie! You've humiliated me repeatedly. You stole Ren from me!"
Ren gave her a look of utter disgust and loathing.
"I was never yours to begin with."
Misako was led away, kicking and screaming that it was all Kyokos fault, that they would regret this and did they know who she was.
Kyoko looked shaken.
"I had no idea," she whispered, "I had no idea she hated me that much."
Ren put his hands either side of her face.
"This is not your fault."
She clung to his arms and stared desperately into his eyes.
"This is not your fault" He repeated slowly and carefully.
She nodded.
Director Shin clapped his hands together, making everyone jump.
"I don't think we'll be getting any work done today. It would seem I have an actor to find. You are all dismissed for the day."
People began filing out, murmuring.
The director came and knelt in front of Kyoko who had been gently lowered into a chair.
"Kyoko-chan. Are you okay?"
She was trembling slightly.
"Not really. What did I do?"
"Absolutely nothing."
"But she said…"
Shin shook his head and took one of her hands.
"You didn't steal her job. Technically Kotonami-san did. She lost her own job after that farce on Live TV. You didn't know Hizuri-san would pick you for the modelling job. And as Tsuruga-san said. She never had him to begin with so how can you have stolen him from her?"
"I couldn't. I wouldn't."
"Exactly. So what ever Misako-san believed is not your fault. That was in her mind. People are all wired differently and that is the reality she made for herself."
She nodded. Shin studied her with a look that screamed 'do you believe me' and she merely nodded again.
"Go home Kyoko-chan. Get some rest and do not worry."
He patted her hand before rising and walking away. Kyoko stared after him.
~what a strange man~
"Come on Kyoko. We should go."
She looked at Ren questioningly, fully expecting a trip to Lory's office.
"Home Kyoko. If we're not filming today then perhaps you could use the spontaneous day off to unpack the boxes that will be arriving at the apartment later."
"But shouldn't we tell the President?"
"He already knows," said Yashiro, "I've already informed him."
Ren held out his hand and she took it. He pulled her up out the chair and wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in tight.
"It's only 12. The movers aren't due at the restaurant until 2. It'll be a while before they're at your apartment."
"Our apartment Kyoko. Our apartment."
She blushed. He chuckled.
"I'm so glad I can still make you do that."
She swatted him with her hand.
"I know what you could do that would make you feel better Kyoko."
This was from Ryu behind them. Kyoko spun in Rens arm so she could hold it for balance while walking backwards to talk to Ryu.
"You could go to the restaurant to tell Okami and Taisho the good news, check you've packed everything for the movers and then wait for them and then supervise them."
Ryu caught the look on Kyokos face.
"And yes you do still have to use the movers. You cannot throw everything into the back of the car. You cannot be seen moving into his apartment. Also you are supposed to be on set. While the Misako thing wont stay quiet for long we need to maintain the illusion of normalcy."
Kyoko huffed.
"Now like I was saying. You could do that, but wouldn't you rather do something more fun?"
"Like what?"
"Like going to tell Okami and Taisho the good news and then going for lunch with your best friend? Kotonami-san text me earlier and asked if you would like to join her for lunch. I was going to surprise you."
"Ooh! Lunch with Moko-san! Lunch with Moko-san!"
She was smiling widely now before it dropped a little and she turned to Ren.
"It's okay. You can unpack later. I'm not brave enough to get between to and Kotonami-san. The apartment isn't going anywhere and we can supervise the movers."
She hugged him tightly almost causing them to fall over.
Everyone laughed.
The day was looking up and she had a huge smile on her face as they all got into Ryu's car.
Authors note
Hello everyone! I'm very sorry it's been a while since I updated but I got super stuck. I know how I want it to end and I have managed some bits in between but I couldn't figure out how to get from here to the end. However! The block has lifted! I have more chapters on the way! Thank you for sticking with me and I hope you enjoy it!
