Heels 14
Merry Christmas and Happy new year dear readers! This is my gift to you!
Sorry if I frightened some of you! You can relax, I intend to keep writing for a long time if you still want me to and enjoy the story.
Thank you everyone that have reviewed my story. I got a tip that my description no longer works and I will change it.
Anime-manga-music-lover – Your wish is my command! ^^ But seriously Ren is slow or maybe careful because he has been hurt repeatedly before. I find myself frustrated in the original story sometimes but think I get why.
Caetsu – You don't have to worry. Life came in between but I intend to update more frequently than I have between the two latest.
DreamIdol – I would love to hear about the errors. I have rewritten up to chap 4 with help from my dear beta. I will continue to fight with the grammar. But welcome to my story. I hope you will find the future enjoyable.
Akumaaaaa – Here you go!
Setsuka e Cain – Don't worry. I only fear that they translate wrongly but if they don't then I have no problem with it. Thank you for your constant support.
Black neko Hime – Thank you. It was wonderful!
Kurakuma – Da fluff is in tha' house!
CamogianGrl – Thank you so much. You really made me cry. Thank you for taking your time to tell me this. I feel treasured. Thank you, I hope you enjoy this new chapter.
Muntolove – update is here!
Tabbykatroses – I hope this one will make you smile. More emotional stuff will be in the next one but I hope this is an enjoyable read.
Guests – Thank you sooooo much for reviewing! I thank you dearly for it!
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This one lacks a lot of emotional development. It will all come in the next one. I just needed to set the stage for the next part. I still hope I will be able to make you smile with this chapter.
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Now, the long-awaited chapter!
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Ren felt his heart make a double tap in his chest and then it picked up its pace.
'Dad!' Kuon called out in surprise mentally and Ren almost let him out before he remembered the driver. Ren didn't recognize him and therefore couldn't trust him.
It was almost painful when he forced himself to smile politely.
"Mr. Hizuri." Ren greeted while he helped Kyoko back up on her feet. "I didn't expect to see you here." Ren said and felt Kyoko's confused gaze. Ren slightly tilted his head towards the driver and Kyoko inhaled sharply. She hurriedly got her bearings and patted her clothes into order.
"Thank you, Ren." She said all too prim and proper to seem innocent but Ren couldn't help his smile.
'She is too cute.' Kuon sighed but then turned his focus back on his father. Kyoko followed his gaze and started to beam again.
"Father!" Kyoko called out as she climbed into the car and rushed into Kuu's arms.
"My daughter!" Kuu greeted with the same enthusiasm and Ren felt a small twitch of envy when he saw them. It passed immediately when he caught Kuu sneak a peek his way.
"What are you doing here?" Kyoko beamed her wide smile as Ren climbed inside the car and shut the door behind him. Kyoko and Kuu sat on a seat to his left and Ren sat down on the sofa in the furthest back.
"Do I need a reason for visiting my child?" Kuu pouted and Kyoko almost turned to look Ren's way before she stopped herself.
"No, you don't!" She smiled and jumped up and down on her seat like a child.
"Belts on!" Kuu instructed suddenly and Ren moved on instinct. Both he and Kyoko fastened their seatbelts when the car began to roll.
"Where are we heading?" Kyoko asked and Ren thought about his schedule for the day. He had a radio show to begin with and some meetings later.
"We have a meeting at Tokyo radio station to begin with and then we are going to the President's mansion. It is a secret that I'm here so we can't be seen outside, unfortunately." Kuu sighed and patted Kyoko on her head.
'We are going to the same place then.' Ren thought in passing. 'But if it is a secret that he is here… Why is he going to the radio station?' It didn't fit but he didn't complain as he would be able to spend some additional time with them.
Ren felt himself smile genuinely when he saw how happy Kyoko was. It left a sort of pride inside his heart when he thought how amazing his father was.
'Not many celebrities would take their time to care for someone they had just met. Kuu has even invited her to our family and now honoured his invitation.'
"I saw your show yesterday!" Kuu said suddenly while he jumped up and down in excitement just like Kyoko had done some moments before. She started to blush faintly.
"That is the role you inspired me to take! I could never have done it without you!" Kyoko said and then turned to Ren. "Or you, Ren. I must thank you both." Kyoko bowed her head with a warm smile.
"Don't be silly." Kuu said and Ren nodded to second it. "You are the one who brought Natsu to life. An untalented actor would never have been able to pull a strong role like that, even with all the help in the world. Even an experienced actor would have difficulties to act as convincing as you did." Kuu said and nodded to emphasize his own words. Ren nodded too.
"You are amazing Kyoko." Ren said and caught sight of her bright red ears with a smile.
'Brace yourself. I have made it my new mission to make you realize how wonderful you are.' Ren smirked and Kuon yelled his support from inside his mind.
"What other projects do you have planned in the future Kyoko?" Kuu asked intrigued and Kyoko smiled.
"There have been several requests recently. I might even have to reject most of them out of lack of time." Kyoko sounded ashamed and Ren couldn't help to laugh out loud.
"It is only your fourth project and you are already sought after." Kyoko turned to him in surprise.
"Fourth?" Kuu asked with excitement. "I only know three. The Curara advertisement, Dark Moon and Box 'R'."
"She also played an angel in a PV." Ren pulled out his phone and started to search after the video. Enough time had passed for the video to be uploaded on several sources online and he quickly found it. He pressed play and handed his phone to his father.
Kuu was like a child on Christmas as he watched the video. His expressions made Ren guess what part of the video that was currently playing.
'To think that I have watched it to the point of remembering every scene.' Kuon sighed. Ren couldn't help but feel conflicted every time he saw the video. Kyoko was a divine beauty that always entranced him but he also got more and more convinced of Sho's feelings every time the last scene played.
Kuon discretely watched the different expressions on his father's face and he couldn't help the smile. He saw astonishment mixed with proudness.
'It is the final transformation.'
"You are so beautiful my daughter!" Kuu almost squealed in excitement. Kuon nodded in agreement and felt his mood lighten when he saw Kyoko blush.
"You are just doting on me." Kyoko mumbled beneath the embarrassed face.
"I would never!" Kuu exclaimed and Kuon almost laughed out loud.
'Father... you are the model of a doting parent.' He smiled and then continued to watch over the loving family that he belonged to.
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Ren was on a radio show at the moment and Kyoko almost bounced out of her chair when Kuu and her were left in a secluded room at the end of a hallway.
"Father!" Kyoko almost tripped over the words in her eagerness. Kuu smiled widely her way to show that he was listening.
"Ku…"
'Wait!' Setsu barked at her and Kyoko suddenly realized that there was a problem. She cut her words short.
'Ren might not want Kuu to know that I know...'
"Oh. You must have some other reason for visiting than seeing me, right?" Kyoko asked instead and Kuu's smile turned a bit complicated.
"I have something else that I need to do during my stay but it's no rush." Kuu said as he got a thoughtful expression.
'Ohh it must be about Kuon!' Kyoko could feel the smirk on her face grow until she forcefully stopped it. There was a strange silence while Kyoko bit back the truth from slipping past her lips.
"Is there anything special you want to eat later?" Kuu suddenly changed the subject and waved his phone with a grin. "Your President is asking."
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Ren couldn't concentrate on the show like he had desired but managed to pull through without any accidents.
'Why is father here?' Kuon had popped the question over and over again. As Ren had said his last goodbyes to the crew, could he finally process the question.
'It could be because of the strange call you made him. You still haven't explained it to him, right?' Cain gave Ren a mental nudge.
'Probably.' Ren thought as he headed for the room that Kyoko and Kuu had hidden inside.
'I didn't expect that the meeting my father was talking about was my show.' Kuon couldn't help the small smile. 'I wonder why the President asked Yashiro to clear my schedule.'
He knocked twice before entering and was met with two brilliant smiles directed his way.
"Ren, are you done?" Kyoko jumped up from her seat to meet him at the door.
"I am." Ren nodded and glanced sideways at Kuu. A perfectly honed mask of polite professionalism was on his father's face and Ren found it somewhat strange.
"Kyoko," he called and leaned in close to her ear. "haven't you told him that you know?"
"Was I allowed to?" Kyoko beamed his direction and Ren let a chuckle slip from his lips.
"We might as well tell both the President and father when we arrive at the President's mansion." Ren smiled her way and Kyoko nodded enthusiastically.
"When it is safe, call me by my name." Kuon winked Kyoko's way and her eyes immediately lit up with a mischievous light.
"What are you kids whispering about?" Kuu asked in an amused voice.
"Nothing!" Kyoko exclaimed far too quickly to pass as innocent. Ren smiled politely towards Kuu and held the door open for them to pass. Kyoko rushed out of the door first while Kuu stared at her in confusion.
"Mr Hizuri." Ren called his attention and Kuu made a little jump before he followed her out of the door.
'I wonder how they will react when Kyoko calls me Kuon.' Ren thought with a soft smile before he followed them out.
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Kyoko looked like she was sitting on an anthill during their whole drive. Both men couldn't help but to smile when they saw how she fought with her excitement. It was a half hour drive and they talked about light subjects like the weather and rising talents.
Ren caught his father glancing at him out of the corner of his eyes more than once with a smile on his lips.
'He really loves me with all his heart.' Kuon thought softly and the borders between his mind and Ren's began to blur.
"Ren." Kyoko called his attention and Ren snapped his mind back into focus. "We are here!"
Kyoko smiled widely and pointed into the distance where the humongous building began to show behind a row of trees.
"Ah." Ren couldn't help the little sound slip out when his body suddenly filled with nervous energy.
"We will have a light lunch when we arrive." Kuu said as his stomach made a ferocious growl. Kyoko turned to him with an amused smirk filled with doubt. Ren didn't know that he pretty much mirrored her expression.
The car halted in front of the doors and the three of them climbed out of the back.
Kuu led them inside like if he owned the place and both Ren and Kyoko guessed correctly that it was his stomach that quickened his steps.
"Your meal is this way." The voice of Lory's assistant suddenly sounded to their right and he gestured towards a hallway beside him. Kyoko made a little jump of surprise because of the sudden appearance but Kuu was like a bull with a goal.
"Thank you." Kuu said and took the lead with long strides. Ren couldn't help the smile on his lips. He let the back of his finger slide against Kyoko's arm to wake her up from her frozen state and then led them to follow the hungry actor.
They were guided into a small dining hall with "just" ten chairs alongside a beautiful maple wood table. Four seats in the middle of the table were prepared with table ware and both Kuu and Lory waited for them, one on each side of the table.
The President smiled widely when the two young actors caught up with Kuu. Ren caught Kyoko hesitating inside the door and he walked up beside her.
"Come please sit." Lory eager them on and Kuu gestured for Kyoko to join him.
"Is it safe to talk?" Kyoko burst out when the door closed behind them and Lory's assistant disappeared out of sight.
"For half a minute before the food arrives." Lory said with an intrigued frown and Kyoko started to beam happily. Ren could see her turn his way with an excited tint to her gaze. Kuon got one moment to brace himself.
"Then, Kuon, you should sit beside your father." Kyoko grinned widely towards Ren and he couldn't help to chuckle nervously.
'I really like when she calls me Kuon.' Kuon had enough mental reserves to marvel over her smile before the adrenaline buzzed his brain again.
"Wha..." A choked sound came from the President and Ren glanced their way.
Kyoko was shifting her weight rapidly while she waited for their responses.
Kuu and Lory both looked like someone had slapped them. The shock seemed too great for them and they couldn't speak.
The choked sound had been nothing but an exhale and then they had quieted down again.
Ren could see the hope start to flicker in his father's eyes as they filled up with moisture.
'He looks like he can't believe it.' Cain commented in an amused tone. Family meant the world to the Heels and Cain liked the feeling in their shared body at the moment, it buzzed with family love.
Kuu took an uncertain step towards him and Kuon felt his body respond to the movement. He didn't have time to do more than think about moving before the doors opened behind the President. A maid pulled a trolley with food inside and the four of them froze.
Lory's assistant stepped inside behind the young maid, carrying a bottle of still water. He halted in the door when he caught the tension in the air.
Ren and Kyoko regained their composure first and broke the silence.
"Take this side, please." Kyoko said and showed on the right side where Kuu was frozen halfway down the table.
"I will do that, Kyoko." Ren smiled her way and took the seat to Kuu's right. Kyoko giggled and joined Lory on the left side.
Both men clenched their jaws like if they forced themselves to stay quiet and stiffly sat down on their chairs.
Lory's assistant and the maid quickly unloaded all the food and then left the way they came.
As soon as the doors closed, Kuu's tears started to fall.
"Kuon?" He asked in doubt and then turned to look at Kyoko for an answer. Ren felt the emotions flooding out of his father and his own heart clenched.
"It has been 5 years, right?" Kyoko smiled widely and Ren forced himself to calm down.
"I met him as Ren a few months back." Ren explained and Kyoko gasped in realization.
"That was why you were visiting!" She blamed and turned to Kuu. "Then why did father leave early?"
"My mother was worried about me. I left in a poor state without saying goodbye. She has been hurting all these years. Therefore, I made a video message to my parents that Father brought back with him to my mother." Ren explained and Kyoko nodded. "As he thought it would take more time to find me and convince me, he had originally planned a longer trip." Ren caught Lory twitch a small smile and began to observe their conversation with interest.
"You really worried your parents, Kuon." Kyoko scolded him lightly and Ren couldn't help to chuckle embarrassed.
"Ren." Lory called his attention and Ren lifted his gaze towards the president.
"Yes?" He asked innocently and Lory immediately made an annoyed face.
"Since when has Mogami-kun known your real name?" Ren couldn't hear a single hint of blame in his voice and he felt grateful for it.
"Since yesterday." Kyoko smiled widely and Kuu blinked, waking from his daze. It was like their conversation suddenly caught up with him.
"Kuon. You even told Kyoko about me?" Kuu's voice trembled from held back emotions and Kuon nodded.
"I want to take it slow but I also wanted Kyoko to know first." Kuon said with a crooked smile.
Kuu looked like he was too scared to talk or even move. Like if he was lucid dreaming and was afraid to disturb the wonderful dream.
"I know that Mother would like to be here, as it is the first time I meet you as my parent since I left. You need to send her my apologies." Ren said with a crooked smile and Kuu nodded.
"She will understand."
"Ren, may I ask if this is you telling me you want to reveal this soon?" Lory asked with a pleasant smile.
"Soon, but not yet. I will let you know." Ren said with an apologetic frown.
"We can wait some more. Don't push yourself before you are ready." Kuu said with a firm expression over his brow.
"I know." Ren said before they finally dug in on the food. There was a comfortable silence between them for a few bites (Kuu had finished his first plate in the same amount of time).
"May I ask what made you change your mind?" Lory broke the tension and Ren pondered about what to answer while he swallowed his bite.
"I passed a huge hurdle with the job on Tragic Marker." Ren said slowly. "The hurdle was higher than I expected and I stumbled repeatedly on my way conquering it. I even lost hope more than once." Ren lifted his gaze to look at Kyoko in front of him. A small smile warmed his expression. "Kyoko made me succeed. She pulled me back on my feet and guided me towards the light. I still have a long way to go, I am only at the border, but I feel lighter than I have in years." Ren saw the stunned express on Kyoko's face.
"It is the truth. I am forever in her debt and didn't want to lie to her anymore." Ren or Kuon said, he didn't know who was in charge, "She is precious to me and I want to honour that."
He could see the stunned expression on Kyoko's face and he felt an almost hurtful pang of love in his chest.
'Damn it, I love this woman so much.'
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Kyoko didn't know where to look. Ren, no Kuon, had said so many nice words about her that she felt like it was hard to breathe.
"I did nothing." Kyoko said with a shaky voice and shook her head.
"Kyoko." Kuu said before Ren had time to open his mouth. "It was not easy for Kuon to say this. Believe him and don't question it. If he felt like you assisted, then it is good enough."
Kyoko stumbled in her mind and opened and closed her mouth before giving up and nodding once.
"You have to realize how amazing you are, Kyoko." Ren said and trapped her eyes with his. There was no doubt on his expression. He believed his own words and she felt like she couldn't question him.
"Thank you." She stammered instead and then felt a hand pat her back.
"You are a celebrity now, Mogami-kun. You have to learn how to accept a compliment." Lory said with a smile. "Especially when they are true." He continued and Kyoko felt her face burn.
"I… I'm not used to it. I have never received compliments about my person before." Kyoko stammered and the men got complicated expressions on their brows. "But thank you."
"No need to thank us." Lory said and patted her back again. "This actually brings me towards the topic that I wanted to process with you." Lory said and fished out a remote control out of his pocket. He pushed a button and the mechanic hum of a small motor could be heard.
A screen lowered from the ceiling at the far end of the table. It was big and buzzed alive while it descended. Kyoko felt her cheeks turn hot when she realized what she saw.
"This is your kids latest project." Lory said innocently towards Kuu as a picture from the Demon commercial came into full focus.
Kyoko knew that Lory had picked the photo, only to tease her. It was one of the "Hungry" ones and just looking at it made the feelings stir inside her again.
The picture showed her from the shoulder up and Cain held his face just a few millimetres from Setsu's. Her desire and his evilness mixed perfectly into an almost beautiful picture.
Kyoko couldn't help but recognize herself in the features on Setsu's face.
"Oh no." She breathed in a low voice but Lory seemed to have caught her words.
"What's wrong, Mogami-kun?" He asked and Kyoko felt every gaze on her.
"People will recognize me." Kyoko said in horror.
"That's you?" Kuu asked in shock and pointed towards the picture. Kyoko turned to him in confusion and saw Kuu squint his eyes. "And Kuon too."
"Mogami-kun, you don't have to worry. I had to look twice before I saw that it was you two." Lory said and Kyoko closed her mouth. She turned to the picture again and saw the same thing as before.
"The picture turned out well." Ren said to her right and Kyoko refused to look at him. She knew she wouldn't be able to handle whatever was showing on his face.
"This is the only teaser I got. The other ones are going through some processing." Lory said and Kyoko caught Ren tilt his head slightly towards the President through the corner of her eye. She felt the same way. There was no way they would only send one picture. The other pictures were probably too innocent to use as teasing-material.
"Was this the topic you wanted to discuss?" Ren asked and Kyoko thought she heard some annoyance in the voice. It seemed directed towards Lory rather than herself.
"It is part of it." Lory said and smiled. "This is far too good to let go to waste." Lory said and gestured towards the screen.
Kyoko felt conflicting emotions in her heart when he paused his speech for a dramatic effect. Ren didn't give him any slack.
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't be so high strung." Lory pouted. "I just wanted to discuss an interesting offer." Lory said and pushed a button on the remote. A picture of a man Kyoko recognized appeared.
"Director Kurosaki?" She wondered as the characteristic look brought her flashbacks to the Curara commercial.
"Yes. A fellow enthusiast." Lory didn't specify what Kurosaki and he shared interest in. "He has an intriguing audition set up." Lory almost shivered with excitement and Kyoko felt every cell in her body protest. Whatever Kurosaki had set up, if Lory felt excited about it, then it would most likely mean hell to her.
"President…" Ren started and Lory ignored him and turned to the screen again with a pout when he heard the tone of Ren's voice.
"Read the description." He said and Kyoko wondered if her eyeballs could shake of fear because she couldn't seem to focus on the sheet of text that had appeared.
"A movie?" Ren asked and turned towards the president. "There is no way my schedule will allow this!"
"If it hasn't already been included of course." Lory said in passing and Kyoko forced her eyes to find the words on the screen.
"Audition for a lead actor and actress to a drama. A love story turns into horror. ONLY apply if you are completely sure you will be able to handle it. WARNING. Actors may not suffer from heart disease or other life-threatening conditions when auditioning." A cold chill travelled Kyoko's spine.
"I have gathered some additional information about the project. It is a psychological horror of a pair of lovebirds that slowly get possessed by the horrors of their home. They turn into the horrors that they feared. It is all very intriguing. Kurosaki has promised that it will be a steppingstone for whatever actor that makes the final cut." Lory said and glanced towards Kuu. "You could say that this movie would be a first step out into the world."
"Why?" Ren asked while Kyoko still collected herself.
"Well because it will have a worldwide premiere." Lory said and smirked. Kyoko felt her heart stop in her chest.
'Worldwide premiere?'
"And it will be in English." Lory said and Kyoko frowned.
"President. I don't understand… Why are you showing this to us?" Kyoko asked carefully and Lory turned around to beam a smile her way.
"You will audition for it of course." Lory said and Kyoko heard a choked whine escape her.
"There is no way I will win!" Kyoko said and Ren turned to her.
"You will. Your English is flawless and you fit the lead actress perfectly." He said without any room to argue.
"I can't be the lead actress!" Kyoko gasped and the three men turned to her with different looks of disapproval.
"Mogami-kun, you will do it!" Lory said. When she was about to argue, he added, "As a love me assignment."
"It is just an audition. The final cut will be tough and a lot of talented actors will fight for it." Ren said to Kyoko and she lifted her gaze to him.
"Then you too. If I audition, you will too." Kyoko said boldly and Ren looked a bit taken back. Kuu chuckled and both turned to him.
"Don't mind me." He said and Kyoko turned back to stare at Ren. The old patterns of folding and begging for forgiveness surged in her mind but Setsu blocked them before they took over.
"Then, does it mean you want to play opposite me in this movie?" Ren asked and Setsu reacted immediately with the teasing tone.
"Of course, I would love to." Setsu replied in a sassy way.
"Kids." Kuu said and both Ren and Kyoko flinched. "We kind of have to go if you want to attend. The audition starts in just a little more than an hour and a half."
"What?" Both called out in surprise.
"We didn't expect Kuon to drop the bomb like that!" Lory said and showed that he considered the pressed schedule their fault.
"But! Father!" Kyoko didn't want to part from him yet.
"I will join! Not as myself but as your manager." Kuu chuckled and started to spin a webbed fabric on his finger. "This will be fun."
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Both Kyoko and Ren doubted it would be fun when they saw the building that the audition took place at. The tons of people outside didn't make the situation better.
The house looked western, two stories high with a porch and tile roof. Four windows, two on each floor were facing the street. The yard, or the pieces of yard they could see beneath the feet of all participants, were wild and overgrown. Twigs were nestled in long grass and gave an unhealthy impression. The house itself looked like something out of a scary movie too.
'Fitting.' Kyoko supposed.
"There are a lot of people here." Kuu said with excitement and Kyoko glanced at him.
The actor looked ridiculous with striped, grey hair that covered his eyes and made him look dull. He wore a cheap suit with obvious wrinkles and large glasses under his fringe. No one would ever be able to guess who he was.
"They seem to have taken notice of us." Ren said and Kyoko glanced at the yard, expecting hordes of people storming out of them. However, no one moved outside the open gate.
A woman in a pantsuit sat behind a desk outside of the fence with a pile of papers in front of her.
"Next!" She called out and Kuu pushed them forward. Ren wore a baseball cap and sunglasses but Kyoko guessed everyone knew who he was either way.
"Tsuruga Ren." He said when the woman barked out to him to reveal his name.
"And you?"
"Kyoko. From LME."
"Fine." The woman said and typed some characters on her paper. "I guess you are a team?" She asked and Ren glanced at Kyoko with a confused expression.
"Yes! Yes, they are. I'm their temporary manager." Kuu said and pushed a paper on top of the pile in front of the woman. She frowned slightly but then moved on.
"When you step into the yard you have to keep the noise down. You enter as a pair but either, none or both of you may proceed to the next cut. You are not to set a foot inside the house without permission and if you walk out the gate without passing the test, you have failed. If you talk to anyone outside the fence, you have failed. If you talk to anyone outside your team, you have failed." The woman said in one long stretch and Kyoko focused on hearing her every word. "Here are your tags." The woman said and held out two badges with the number 45 on them.
'Does this mean there are 45 pairs here?' Kyoko wondered and saw some badges on the people inside the fence. Every number was lower than theirs.
"Managers may step onto the lawn but may not enter the house." The woman said and Kuu bowed towards her.
"Thank you dear." He said and a bit of life flared the woman's eyes. It passed quickly when Kuu pushed his two children inside the open gate.
Some of the people inside looked ready to burst from excitement when Ren stepped inside but the major part looked devastated. The male candidates sighed out loud and the women threw open stares at Kyoko by his side.
"I don't think people like me here." Kyoko said with uncertainty as they pushed deeper into the crowd. Some girls reached out to touch Ren's arm and he didn't react when they did. Kyoko felt a sting of something she didn't want to identify. The whole situation started to tear on her.
"They do. Your characters are not the most likable but they make an impact on everyone that sees them." Ren said with a smile and Kyoko heard a few women in her proximity make fainting noises when they got hit with the divine rays.
"I don't think they recognize me." Kyoko said and Kuu laughed.
"I don't believe you. Mio is well known by everyone. Even the people that didn't follow the series know that your Mio was amazing." Kuu said but trailed off then several people that heard their conversation turned to Kyoko with a snap and then either dropped their jaw or looked doubtful.
Kyoko felt the attention turn to her and fidgeted beneath the gaze.
"I guess you look a bit different but…" Kuu started to say but got silenced when several people started to stare at him like if he was stupid. Kyoko felt like prey beneath the stares of several predators.
"Tsuruga-san." Kyoko didn't know what she wanted but the stares made her uncomfortable. Ren glanced around and smiled. He touched the tip of her chin lightly and she lifted her head.
"Mogami-san, I will teach you a trick that my father taught me." Ren said and Kyoko had to stop herself from looking towards Kuu. The disguised actor smirked. "You can use this whenever you want. When too much is happening or the world turns confusing. All you have to do is look at me, talk to me and tune out everyone else. If you only want us to be here, then there will only be us here." Ren said calmly and low enough to only get fully heard by the two of them.
'Is this visualization again?' Kyoko thought but turned her focus to the two men that joined her. 'Ren, Father.' She slowly adjusted her eyes and the world seemed to fade outside the two people she focused on. The buzz of people grew fainter and fainter and finally disappeared. Kyoko knew it was still there but she neither saw nor heard anyone outside their little bubble.
Her shoulders relaxed and she pulled her first steady breath since they arrived.
"Mogami-san, are you okay?" Ren asked and Kyoko beamed a smile again. "Everything important will still slip through, you don't have to worry about anything."
Kuu grinned beneath his hair too and then joined in a conversation about work and the project. They all had different guesses about what would happen inside the house.
People got called up, five pairs at the time. More people filled up the yard behind them until the 60th pair joined. The woman then packed up her stuff and closed the gate.
It was about 20 minutes between every summon and they were only at thirty when Ren and Kyoko arrived. It took more than one hour before they got called up. Kyoko had then perfected her way of selecting her world and felt completely calm again.
"Good luck kids." Kuu said as they stepped up on the stairs. "I will wait for you by the car. Call me if you need anything." He said and Kyoko smiled brightly.
"I will."
"Number 45." Someone said and Kyoko immediately turned around and held her full focus on the man that spoke. "Please follow me." The other pairs had already walked away with a guide each.
Their guide was a blue-haired man in his mid-twenties with a clipboard and an earpiece in his ear. As soon as the door closed behind him the guy flashed a bright smile.
"Tsuruga-san, I am a big fan. I had no idea you would be here today."
"Neither did I." Ren said with a smile that left the man a bit confused. "Thank you for supporting me." Ren added and the man started to smile again.
"I will explain the audition now. You are only allowed to speak English. You will play a couple that lives in this house. You are restricted to just the one room I will lead you to. You must make the director feel like you belong there and feel at home with the setting and with each other." The man said and glanced Kyoko's way.
They reached a large kitchen. It was worn but looked fully functional. Kyoko couldn't help but smile. It was perfect for her.
"You will be tested on how well you perform this. You also must remember; it is just the two of you in this room. You may not interact in any way with any other person. Dead or alive. You must make us believe there are only two living people in this room." The guy said and Kyoko turned to Ren. She couldn't help but wonder if he had known. She had just done an exercise like that on the yard outside. Well, except the dead part.
"Then Mogami-san, how do you feel about a lovey-dovey take on this scene?" Ren asked and Kyoko blushed when he completely caught her off guard.
"How about newlyweds?" She asked in revenge and Ren hummed.
"I like it." He said and turned to the man with the clipboard. "When do we begin?" Ren asked brightly and the man smiled.
"Ready when you are." The guy said and joined a small crew by the wall across from the kitchen. Two doors led to the room and they were standing in the corner between them.
In the corner opposite of the crew, was a major part of the kitchen. Two windows, both covered with some light fabric, sat on the two door-free walls.
Kyoko pulled a breath and thought about Ren's apartment. She had cooked him meals there and they had learned how to function together. She could just ramp up the mood and add some of her love to it.
Kyoko nudged Ren and then walked up to the fridge.
'Ren. There is only Ren.' She thought while she observed the contents of the fridge with a sceptic eye. She heard steps behind her and couldn't help but smile. Warm arms embraced her from behind and she recognized them.
"Welcome home." Kyoko smiled when Ren put his face to her neck.
"I missed you." Ren whined and Kyoko chuckled.
"Rough day?" She asked and turned around to wrap her arms around his neck. Ren picked her up and sat her on the counter. He could straighten his back some but still held his face to her neck. She dug her hands into his soft strands of hair and inhaled his scent.
"No, I just missed you." He sighed out loud and made a content sound when Kyoko dug her fingers into his hair and scratched his scalp.
"I missed you too." Kyoko said and pulled his head up until they were face to face. She smiled confidently and kissed him shortly on his lips. Ren beamed happiness and Kyoko felt a little faint.
"Do you know what else I missed?" Kyoko asked deviously and Ren perked up even more. He pulled her flush against his body and smirked.
"No tell me." He made it quite clear what he insinuated and Kyoko had to kick start Setsu to be able to suppress the blush. Setsu smirked and moved closer to his lips and breathed through her mouth. Ren's eyes grew wide and Natsu fuelled Kyoko next.
"MY frying pan!" Kyoko cut the mood with a smirk. "I have no idea where you have put it but it sure isn't in the right place!" Kyoko pushed him away as punishment and Ren let her do it.
"I haven't seen it." Ren said with a pout and Kyoko jumped down from the bench.
"This is the last time I let you dry the dishes!" Kyoko snorted and Ren groaned.
"But I hate it when the pieces of food touch my hands." Ren complained and Kyoko found that her mind had let her notice something on the floor. She bent down and picked two thick rubber gloves off the floor.
"Tada! A gift for my brave-as-a-mouse husband, to fight off the dangerous wet food!" Kyoko laughed. She caught the smile on Ren's face when he snatched the gloves from her and immediately put one glove over his thumb and stretched it out like a rubber band. Kyoko's eyes grew wide when she saw that he aimed it for her thigh.
"Oh no, you don't!" Kyoko squealed and moved to put some distance between them. She rounded the corner of the cooking island and Ren immediately followed. He aimed his stretched rubber glove towards her with a mischievous grin on his face. Kyoko couldn't help but laugh.
She saw something move in the kitchen with them but she was far too focused on Ren to even see what it was. She took the inner lap to avoid it but had no time to see it as Ren's long arms and legs put her at a disadvantage.
"What did you call me?" Ren asked mockingly and Kyoko ducked behind the fridge.
"My tall handsome husband." She yelled out with a smile as she pretended to hide behind a jar that she had snatched from the top of the fridge.
"Tall, handsome and strong as…" Ren pushed and Kyoko wailed when Ren aimed at different parts of her body and she shifted her jar to always cover her somewhat.
"Strong as a bear. Or two bears! Ten lions wouldn't dare to meet you in a dark alley!" Kyoko squealed and Ren laughed. Kyoko exhaled loudly when he dropped the gloves back on the floor but wailed again when he suddenly picked her up.
"Strong enough to pick up my wife." Ren teased and Kyoko snorted his way and stilled in his arms. She was a head above him by the way he held her.
"You call me fat?" Kyoko asked and felt the sensation of déjà vu.
"No, you are perfect. I actually would have wished you to be a bit less perfect as my obsession with you is doomed to only get worse at this rate." Ren said and Kyoko gave him a smile at that.
A loud bang suddenly sounded and they both jumped. A big meat knife sat in the countertop where it hadn't before. They both stared at it and Kyoko started to smirk.
"Seems like the counter committed suicide after hearing your corny pick-up line." Kyoko giggled and Ren snorted.
"It must have fallen from the upper cupboards." Ren thought out loud and Kyoko turned to him with a mock disappointed look.
"What?" Ren asked defensively.
"You put the knife in the cupboard?" Kyoko asked with hearable provocation in her tone.
"I did not." Ren defended himself and Kyoko lifted an eyebrow and hummed knowingly. "I know that knives are supposed to go into a drawer at least."
"Ah hum." Kyoko answered and gestured towards the several drawers in the kitchen.
"What drawer then, oh knowledgeable husband?" She tried to suppress her smile but she had far too much fun to hide it completely.
Ren glanced around and seemed to evaluate the possible options.
"If you pick wrong, you do the dishes for a whole month. If you pick the right one, I will do whatever you want." Kyoko said and Ren snapped his head in her direction. It was a challenge and he smirked.
"That one!" He said and pointed towards the drawer below where the meat knife was partly embedded into the countertop.
Kyoko had to give it to him. It was a good guess. She was as clueless as him and gestured for him to check. Ren shifted his grip of her and reached out to open it. Kyoko guessed she was about to lose when she saw the cut marks on the drawer top. However, the drawer only held a pen that rattled around when Ren pulled it out.
"Damn it." Ren cursed and Kyoko laughed.
"Shame on you." She teased and Ren muttered something when he put her down on the floor. "Not fair." She made his last words out and she sighed.
"Well then." Kyoko said and walked up to the fridge again. She felt like someone was standing just behind her but she had full focus on Ren and didn't acknowledge the person in the slightest. Kyoko pulled open the fridge and gripped one of the items she had seen earlier. "If you help me with dinner, I will make you some dessert." Kyoko said and wiggled a bottle of canned whipped cream in her hand.
Ren's fake pout turned into a devilish grin.
"If I help you with dinner. You become the dessert." He said instead and reached out to snatch the can away. Kyoko didn't immediately get it but Natsu did and relayed the innuendo to her. Kyoko had to use Setsu's powers to suppress the blush once again.
"That depends, if a certain someone has fixed the shower drainage yet?" Kyoko avoided giving him a straight answer.
"That certain someone fixed the drainage during his lunch break like he promised." Ren said smugly and Kyoko shook her head in an amused way.
"Fine. I will be your dessert then." Kyoko said and turned to the fridge again with a blush. "I swear, sometimes I think I married a child." She muttered as she reached for a package of meat and a few vegetables. She barely turned around before Ren had snatched them away from her and kissed her straight on the lips. He smirked even wider.
"Let's make one." Ren said and Kyoko started.
"What?"
"A child." Ren said and Kyoko blushed again. "Let's make one."
'This is a play. Take it easy. You are a newlywed.' Kyoko mumbled inside her head and pumped Natsu off some lines.
"You want a playmate?" Kyoko teased and Ren snorted a humph.
"Whipped cream is normal. I would be a child if I wanted caramel sauce and sprinkles too." Ren argued. Kyoko took a long look at him and then snorted.
"You want caramel sauce and sprinkles too now, right?" Kyoko laughed out loud and Ren blushed.
'He actually blushed.' Kyoko's brain melted a bit at that.
"Shut up. I won't get anything if the dinner isn't finished anyway." Ren pouted and Kyoko laughed again.
"Fetch the frying pan, then. If you find it." Kyoko grinned cunningly and Ren muttered something as he began to open door after door. Kyoko looked at him and saw him open the last. Someone was following him but Kyoko was too happy to get distracted. Ren opened it and made a victorious sound.
"Found it!" Ren said and Kyoko tried to hide her smile.
"That," She pointed at the door he had just opened. "is the sprinkle locker. It would have been restocked if I had noticed that it was empty."
"Woman, you have teased you husband far too long." Ren grinned and gripped the bottle of whipped cream and pushed out a lot in his hand. Kyoko only had a moment to realize what he was about to do before he did it.
He launched for her with a wide grin. Kyoko managed to dodge with her ninja training and he mostly missed. The cream only got over her lower face and on the right side of her neck.
"You did not!" Kyoko gasped with her pupils wide as saucers. Ren jumped on the place and added some more cream to his hand.
"I call this an appetizer." Ren said and Kyoko looked around in search of anything. She noticed someone behind her but she was looking for something to pay him back with and a person wasn't it.
Her eyes landed on the tonkatsu sauce on the kitchen island and Ren followed her gaze.
"Oh no. Don't you even try." Ren said and when Kyoko threw herself after the bottle, he reached out to grab her.
She got the bottle but he got her. They tumbled onto the floor and Kyoko screamed while she laughed.
"No, no. Spare me!" She laughed as Ren held her down and managed to smear some cream on her shoulder.
"My dear wife, you are in trouble." Ren laughed and Kyoko turned until she was on her back and Ren straddled her waist. They looked at each other for a moment and Kyoko then smiled. She quickly got some cream from her neck and pushed it under his shirt. Ren tried to grip her hands but her position was just right.
"Payback!" Kyoko laughed and Ren crashed into her lips. The giggling cut short and was replaced with the sound of their lips melting together.
"Damn it, I love you." Ren said and Kyoko gasped into his mouth.
"I love you too." Kyoko answered and Ren chuckled when he licked some cream off her jaw. Kyoko repaid by hiking up his shirt and he allowed her to get some cream off with her tongue.
They kissed and laughed and got cream off each other for a while. When Kyoko had sat up to get the last of his chest, she punched him hard in the shoulder.
"You bastard!" Kyoko cursed with a laugh even if she had wished she could have remembered some more innovative name in English to call him. "I have to shower now."
"I will make dinner. You take a shower." Ren asked uncertainly and Kyoko laughed.
"So… Pizza?" Kyoko asked and Ren laughed.
"How about I order and then come and join you?" Ren asked and Kyoko snorted.
"Appetizer, a second appetizer and then dinner. You will get spoiled if this continues." Kyoko said as Ren helped her up on her feet.
"I look forward to it." Ren said with a grin.
"And this feels like a good place to cut." A familiar voice said and Kyoko turned her head only to come face to face with Director Kurosaki.
"Nice to meet you again, Kyoko-chan." The director said and Kyoko beamed a smile.
"Nice to meet you again, Director." Kyoko bowed and the director laughed.
"Did you two even notice the other actors?" Kurosaki asked and Kyoko frowned.
"What other…" Kyoko glanced around and saw four people standing on the set with different kinds of horrifying makeup. She flinched severely.
"This is great. Good work both of you. Continue through that door." The director said and handed Kyoko a wet towel that she gladly accepted. "I will meet you later."
Kyoko glanced up on Ren and then bowed to the crew and the ghosts.
They exited through the backdoor and got herded towards a large shed in the back of the yard. Kuu waited for them there and Kyoko laughed when she saw him take in her cream covered appearance.
.
.
"We are behind schedule." A crewmember said but he didn't sound worried at all.
"I needed to see it." The director said with a smirk and the man with the clipboard smiled broadly.
"Tsuruga Ren, you can't help but admire him."
"Tsuruga Ren surprised me positively. But the girl was amazing." Another crew member said. "She acted opposed Tsuruga Ren like the most natural thing in the world. And she looked honestly surprised when she saw the Ghosts. I bet she didn't notice them for real."
"She should have no problem acting opposed to Tsuruga Ren as she has done it before." The director said and lit a cigarette.
"She has?" The man with the clipboard asked. "In what production?"
"Dark Moon." The director said with a grin.
"Oh? I don't recognize her." The second crewman said and the crew all looked at each other in confusion.
"She played Mio." The director pulled a long breath on the cancer-stick with a satisfied smirk.
Silence filled the room before a smile started to spread.
"This movie is going to be awesome." One crew member said and Kurosaki could only agree.
It was a beautiful day; he had a big show up on his audition, the audition turned out to be even more efficient in its selection than presumed, Kyoko and Ren had given him a long show to watch and get inspired from and finally, Kyoko had proved to him what he had suspected since their first encounter. The girl was a diamond.
.
.
.
Kyoko felt the emotions boil beneath the surface. Too much had happened during the scene that she would have to deal with at some point. It had come too naturally and before she knew it, she had acted with more of her own emotions than she had planned.
Setsu and Natsu had helped her but now she had to deal with the emotions she had let out.
She just hoped that she would be able to hold on until she was alone.
.
.
.
Ren pulled a deep breath when he thought it was safe.
'Too dangerous.' Ren said and felt the tension lock up his body. He could see Kuu glance at him from the corner of his eyes.
'Keep it together. Not now. I can't deal with it now.' Ren smiled a professional smile towards Kyoko that walked by his side and saw the girl stare at him with a complex expression.
Ren couldn't help it. He sighed again.
.
.
Author's note.
Hello everybody!
The long-awaited chapter. I must admit I lost my motivation in the middle of this. I couldn't get past four pages and every word felt painful to write. It was forced and not me at all. Until I suddenly had this idea for an arc.
The original story I had planned to go with didn't have this arc within. But I thought… Hell with it. Happy author = lots of chapters. I want to write it and it's an awesome idea. I typed 13 pages in one day! That's how much I liked this! My poor proof-reader will get a shock when I suddenly drop this on their lap. EDIT – She jumped with joy apparently! Puhh.
I had a blast in Vietnam by the way! What a cultural clash compared to Sweden. Everything was different and crazy and beautiful and wow. The food was cheap and tasted AMAZING.
I learned a lot and saw even more. I was left in awe. I recommend it to anyone who wants to travel. I only saw a part of the country but I got hooked. I will be back.
I will also be back with the next chapter. As my most-important-exam-of-my-life is 5/1 I guess… that next chapter will be out before then, because I don't want to study… Procrastination (with school) for life!
Please read and review.
Hugs from the freezing, snowy, dark pit that is Sweden this time of year.