Heels 15
Hello everyone! I'm back. I got some encouraging from you and I stayed hovering over my books for weeks. Better to get it over with. Now - bang! I have received my exam! And my first week working have been, wow, mind-blowing.
I think I will sleep for the whole weekend! Since there is a huge possibility of that happening; I thought – let's get this chapter out before then.
Cooooookie – Your wish is my command!
Ayuni Yuukinojo – I hope the giggle carries on in the middle of this chapter. ^^ More fluff to come in the next one ^^
Sasusc – Your comment made me soooo happy. I tried to keep a lot of people happy with the transition from Guam to Tokyo. Therefore, I cut it a bit abruptly. Not my proudest decision but I think I have some deep-rooted feelings about not poking the original story too much. I'm in love with it and dare I say – don't want to tint it with my colors? I'm thrilled about your honest review, thank you!
DarkPirateKing69 – Thank you for reviewing while reading! It was great for me to see how you reacted and how you experienced the original story. You and I have the same opinion. Sho is to me; only a sort of firecracker that startles KyoRen to act out. I will definitively look into the story you recommended now when, suddenly – without school, I have spare time! I have plans for the Corn/Kuon reveal that I'm currently polishing up. Thank you for your input, you gave me something to consider!
CamogianGrl – You really made me smile, thank you. The trip was wonderful! I like the expression Cancer-stick, it puts it whole into a good perspective. I didn't want to glorify it and therefore couldn't help myself. More evolution in this chapter. Hope you will like it!
Idanu11 – I don't know yet. I originally planned for only one chapter and then it exploded. As long as I have motivation, anything could happen!
Yukipolet – I have great plans for this one. I'm thrilled myself!
Minna Vipera – Wiiii! Fellow Swede. I have moved from Umeå to Karlstad this month and wow. From deep pits of snow to almost green grass. Still chilly but getting there. More fluff will happen in the next one but a bit of heartfelt moments could happen in this one too. *Tihi*
OniPrincess – Nope I didn't know the language in Vietnam(Also my native language is Swedish, English is my second language). It was hard as English is not that wide spread over there. I learn to ask for some things and some polite lines but my pronunciation must have been horrible because they barely got what I said. You are not the only one reacting to me jumping past the Ninja arc. However, I did it subconsciously I think. I guess it was my stubborn personality that didn't want to get anything wrong with this story (Like if she won't get the part but I said she did.). Also, this is a KyoRen fluff heaven and he didn't return from Guam until after the audition. I can't make this lovey dovey(see I learn) story with only half of my dream team. Hope you will forgive me. Hugs.
Setsuka e Cain – You won't regret traveling there if you make it. I'm happy you liked it! In Sweden we say "God fortsättning" that could roughly translate to "Have a pleasant future year." 'God fortsättning' to you!
Diana199692 – Thank you. Will happen a lot soon. However, this chapter had to happen. Hope you enjoy it too!
Ladygraywolf – You really know how to make an author happy. Thank you, dear wonderful reader, that you took time to put it down in words for me. You had a premonition… it's almost scary!
Black neko hime – I'm so happy you enjoyed it. That's what I'm aiming for! The ghosts will play their parts soon. Just wait and see… *wooooooAAAAooooo* *Ghosting away*
Malencia – Thank you for reviewing.
Guests – Thank you all for Reviewing! Hugs to you all! For real!
MyuPanChan – As long as you read and I still have more to tell – I will give it to you. Pinky promise?
Sargent93 – Here you go, sorry for the delay! Forgive me?
DreamIdol – I would appreciate any input you have time to give. Really thank you.
Anime-manga-music-lover – This is soon-ish. I promise to do better time-wise next time!
Chitzuki Kurenai – Thank you and I wish you a pleasant 2017!
TheAngleofOblivion-DarkMadness – *Fist bump* Hell yeah! I was in Ho chi minh-city, old Saigon, and the area within reach of day-trips.
Tabbykatroses – Thank you. Hope you had a wonderful end of 2016 and beginning of 2017. Hugs!
NatAttack2 – Your review gave me life. Give-give relationship… I like it!
Ktoll9 – You are very welcome. Thank you for reviewing!
… And now we begin…
Kyoko had to find a way to put her feelings away for a better time and place. She had to school her face to not make it soften too much or to let tears fill her eyes. The feelings were too close to the surface for comfort. She tried to use the concentration trick on her thoughts but failed miserably. She still fought the burn in her eyes when they reached the shed in the backyard.
Kuu went all out in his manager-play and pulled the door open for them. An avalanche of cold air enveloped them and Kyoko felt herself shiver. The shed was pitch black inside and a slight smell of old leaves decaying was carried outside. A path got lit up by a flashlight while they tried to glance inside.
"Two more?" A voice asked and Kyoko saw a dark-haired man in his late forties glance at her tag.
"Tsuruga… TSURUGA?" The man choked when he glanced down on the clipboard in his hand and then lifted the flashlight to hit Ren straight in the face.
"Thank you for having me." Ren said with a polite smile and the man quickly lowered the light. He turned it only for a moment towards Kyoko's face and then beamed a smile Ren's way. Kyoko could hear Kuu make a displeased snort.
"Please step inside. The second test will take place inside." The man said and pulled the door fully open to let them pass beside him. He smiled widely towards Ren and dropped the door before Kyoko could follow inside. Kuu managed to catch it before it hit her straight on the nose and Kyoko saw that her father's knuckles were white from gripping the wood too hard.
"Manners. Have people lost all their manners?" She heard him mutter beneath his breath and she couldn't help her smile.
"Tsuruga-san dazzles people everywhere he goes." Kyoko smiled and winked towards Kuu. She saw him glance down on her through his fringes. She saw that his mouth turned in a smile.
"He is amazing, right?" Kuu couldn't help but ask and Kyoko giggled slightly.
"Come here, please." The man called and shone his light towards a sofa in front of him. "Tsuruga-san, you and your partner will wait here." The man gestured towards the sofa and Ren nodded but not as politely as before. Kyoko could feel her antenna for anger vibrate.
"Mogami-san, please." Ren sat down on the ruff fabric and Kyoko could see a cloud of dust rise when he did. She could only nod and sat down on the other pillow.
"You will wait here in the darkness with the same rules as before. You are not to react to anything besides yourself and your partner's movement. You will not react to sound or touch or anything else." The man instructed and Kyoko jumped slightly when Ren shifted his weight just beside her. The pitch-dark room smelled strange and was slightly too cold for comfort. There had to be some sort of climate control inside because it was several degrees colder than it had been outside.
"Manager, you will follow me." The man said and then smiled towards Ren again. "There are other pairs inside of this room but they are included into the things you are not to react to."
"Thank you." Ren said but his voice was filled with held back anger. Kyoko glanced towards him but couldn't see anything when the path of light turned towards the door again.
'It is dark enough for me to kick the rude one if you want.' Setsu said with an ill-mannered glare towards the flashlight when he man walked past her. Kyoko couldn't help but smile.
'How will they see how we react?' Kyoko pondered about instead and Setsu snorted in annoyance.
"Darling?" Ren's voice cut through the darkness and Kyoko felt her heart move far to lively for an act.
"Mmm." She managed to choke out and her antenna stopped in its tracks. Ren wasn't angry anymore.
The change was so sudden that she stopped thinking of her own bursting emotions and turned towards him.
"Are you all right?" Ren asked worriedly and Kyoko exhaled slowly.
'Use the act to make up an excuse.'
"You know I don't like the dark." Kyoko said and Ren tensed beside her. She had no idea why he tensed but she felt her body relax the moment after. A warm hand had landed on her back and she immediately recognized it as his.
"Come here." Ren said and Kyoko scooted closer to his side. "I'm sure the power will be back eventually." Ren rubbed her back and Kyoko felt her blush burn brightly on her face.
'No one will see in this darkness either way.' She glanced around but still couldn't make out a single shape.
'I guess they have some sort of night vision goggles and will try to scare you. Even if you can't see Ren the same trick should do it. Focus everything on him. His smell and his touch.' Setsu said reassuringly.
'Right. His smell.' Kyoko inhaled deeply and initially only smelled some old dust and paint. However, when she tilted her head to rest on Ren's shoulder, his smell was everywhere.
"If you are here I will be fine." Kyoko said and Ren pulled her even closer. Kyoko closed her eyes and relaxed. Everything was his smell. If filled her up and she didn't want to smell anything else for the rest of her life.
'It won't be for the rest of our life. Ren isn't mine.' Kyoko succumbed to the ghosts of her mind before she managed to stop herself. The first tear rolled down her cheek and landed on Ren's shoulder. Kyoko tried to stop the followers but it was too late.
"Oh Darling." Ren suddenly said and Kyoko sobbed out for real. As Ren pulled her impossibly close, she decided she couldn't mind their situation any more. Kyoko climbed up in his knee and buried her head in the crook of his neck. "It's only you and me here. Let it out for now."
It was a lie. She wasn't acting at the moment but Ren had given her an out. She had no idea if he thought she cried as part of the act or for real. She guessed he knew that she cried for real.
"It's just scary." She managed to choke out and Ren patted her hair and collected her tears with his free hand. A cold hand also touched her arm but it wasn't Ren so she ignored it. It was strangely easy to do so.
"I know dear." Ren said and his voice was filled with emotions. Conflicting emotions that sounded precisely like her own.
'Ren is too good at this. I can't separate imagination from reality.' Kyoko forced herself to look at his emotions with some distance. It was just an act.
"Could you please tell me a story?" Kyoko asked.
'Distraction. I need time to collect myself and figure out how crying fits into it all.' Kyoko poked at Natsu and Setsu to wake them up and lend her their brainpower. She needed all heads into solving the mess she had caused.
"I know you have met my father. Did you know that he was part of his high school drama club?" Ren asked and Kyoko peeked up.
'I don't know if this is real either.' Kyoko thought but slowly shook her head. Ren must have felt her move by the hand on her cheek.
"He was. The club held an annual show every year. His first year, they did Romeo and Juliet." Ren said and Kyoko could see it for her eyes. Kuu in a Romeos fine colors and the fair Juliet on a balcony.
"Guess which role my father played." Ren said and Kyoko could hear a smirk in his tone. Something dragged its nails up her leg but she had no time to deal with it. She was trapped by the story.
"Romeo?" Kyoko guessed.
"No. He played Juliet." Ren said with a smirk and Kyoko couldn't help her laugh from slipping. Ren patted her head and waited for her to calm down again.
"Juliet? Why?" Kyoko asked and tried to force herself to not picture Kuu in a long gown but failed miserably.
"Well, it was an all-boys school to begin with. Juliet had to be a boy. As of why my father got the part was mainly due to his looks. He was quite stunning in his youth." Ren said and Kyoko smiled.
That, she had no problem visualizing.
"How was the turnout?" Kyoko asked in English and Ren chuckled.
"What do you think? It was a huge success, of course." Ren said and now Kyoko knew that the story was real.
'Only I know that he is talking about Kuu. And if it's Kuu then it is obvious it was a hit.' Kyoko thought and giggled. Her tears had stilled and as if Ren knew it, both his hands found her face again and dried it carefully. The smell intensified and she managed to keep the amused feeling on the surface.
"My father told me over and over again about the time he played Juliet and most important about how people had treated him." Ren said with an obvious smirk on his face. He apparently enjoyed the next part of the story.
Suddenly it hit her.
"No way?" Kyoko gasped and she could hear Ren chuckle.
"Apparently, he was quite the looker. He got catcalled and got to hear several less polite attempts to get his attention. He took it to heart." Ren said but Kyoko could hear the proudness in his voice too.
Kyoko remembered Kuu's first advice to her. "You should look around and observe the real thing. Got it? Inspiration is everywhere in the world around you."
Kuu had probably done the same to play Juliet and had found out that he didn't like the way people treated women. It probably woke some slumbering gentleman-gene in his DNA.
"That's why he acts like a gentleman towards all women." Ren finished and Kyoko could only nod her head. It made sense. "More people should follow his example." He snorted and Kyoko guessed he talked about the man that had showed them inside the shed.
"His teaching was passed on to his son at least." Kyoko said and sat a bit straighter in Ren's knee. A scream suddenly sounded from behind them but it was filtered out from the important stuff in Kyoko's mind. Important stuff like the heat that transferred from his hand to her thigh or the movements of his ribcage when Ren breathed.
"Oh, you think so?" Ren asked and even if she couldn't see him she knew he smirked.
Kyoko easily fitted her hands on either side of his face and traced his smile with her thumbs. She was right. He was smirking.
"I hope?" Kyoko squealed and rightfully so as she suddenly felt his hands land on her sides like if he would tickle her.
"I'm not thinking a gentleman's thoughts at the moment." Ren confessed and bit her thumb that she had traced across his lip. She felt strange sitting turned away and instead moved to straddle him and she got up on her knees.
Kyoko inhaled sharply and leaned closer to Ren's body.
'Go for it!' Natsu and Setsu called out and Kyoko fell back into routines. There was only one way for newlyweds to act in this situation.
"Neither am I." Kyoko said with shaky confidence but the tremble passed as excitement rather than uncertainty, so it went well. She could hear Ren's sharp inhale and then she melted their lips together.
.
.
.
Ren didn't know what to do when the slight tremble and the wetness of his shoulder registered to him.
'She is crying.' Ren thought and it felt like all air left his body.
'What happened?' Kuon asked in horror but neither of them had an answer. It was too sudden and unexpected for them to grasp it. Ren had been conflicted but mostly happy about their act in the house. He was proud and thrilled about the way Kyoko had acted.
But, it seemed to have made her cry.
'No! There could be a million reasons.' Kuon said stubbornly and Cain seconded it.
'Dislike or horror being two of them.' Ren though and forced himself to inhale calmly.
'Fear of darkness is another one. Like the one she just mentioned?' Kuon said and Ren grasped the opportunity to turn the situation around.
"Oh Darling." He said and pulled Kyoko so close that it almost got painful. He couldn't help to sigh in relief when she climbed into his embrace on her own. However, the sob she slipped broke some of his heartstrings. He decided to ignore the audition and focus on her. If she needed to cry, he would be there for her. "It's only you and me here. Let it out for now."
He wanted to make her believe it. Even if she broke down completely, he would somehow make the crew stay away until she was ready. If she needed to cry, he would be her rock.
"It's just scary." She said and Ren had no idea if she meant the darkness or whatever had made her cry in the first place.
'You don't make it easy for a man to keep his hopes up, you know.' Kuon sighed and Ren realized he had assumed it was his fault again.
"I know dear." He said because he could feel it too. It was scary not knowing if she cried because of him or not.
'She relaxed in your arms. She didn't need to fake that. That is real.' Cain landed some hard evidence and Ren calmed down somewhat. He had pulled her closer and patted her hair.
She fitted so well into his arms. It was like she was made for his embrace only. A cold hand touched his nape but it was nothing. He didn't even have to try to ignore it. It was nothing when Kyoko cried in his arms.
She asked him to tell her a story and he did. He felt a bit smug when he knew Kuu was close by and probably listening. He continued to smirk when he started to tease her and felt a bit relived when she moved to straddle his lap.
Ren felt a bit weird about the possibility of Kuu watching but he calmed himself down with the fact that he had done far worse in several dramas.
However, he had planned to stop at their position. Never would he have thought that the recently crying girl would press her hot lips against his and render his mind useless.
'Tastes like salt.' Ren thought as he followed her movements. Kyoko soon pushed on and deepened the kiss. Something scratched his jaw but he was bathing in fire and a little ice had no chance to shift him.
He fought for a while to stay in control but soon relaxed completely. Kyoko had dug her hands into his hair and tugged gently. Ren gasped into her mouth and he felt the smile on her lips.
"I love you." Kyoko said and Ren felt the blow directly to his heart. Longing, deep desperate longing for it to be true. However, he knew it wasn't and therefore it also hurt.
"And that's why I know you are mental." Ren said to keep the teasing going. He had to put some sort of façade going and teasing was easy, teasing was safe.
"Guilty by association." Kyoko snorted and made him laugh for real.
"You, naughty woman." Ren said and his hands found themselves conveniently at her sides. He startled to tickle her and her jubilant laughter seemed to fill the whole shed.
He didn't know if his eyes had adjusted to the darkness or if she actually lit the room up with her smile but he had started to make out rough shapes.
Ren could make out several shapes in the small room but it was only one he cared about. He managed to find the sweet spot that made her twist and turn in his lap in her attempt to flee.
"No, no, no, no." Kyoko laughed and changed her tactics to trying to grab his hands. "Please, have mercy!" Kyoko begged and Ren smiled.
"If you tell me ten things you like about me." Ren teased and Kyoko gasped for air between laughs.
"I will! I will!" Kyoko begged and Ren paused for a moment. It took her several breaths to get herself together but Ren didn't let her pause.
She had adjusted to the light it seemed, as she visibly flinched when he closed in with his hands again.
"Beautiful!" Kyoko called out and the comment stopped him for real. "You are beautiful!"
'Beautiful is the first thing that came to her mind?' Kuon asked in confusion.
"Wise! You are wise!" Kyoko continued and Ren got intrigued.
'Beautiful and wise?' A real blush started to spread on Ren's cheeks.
"Continue." He said without a though on their audition. One of the shadows seemed to grip Kyoko's shoulder but neither of them reacted to it. Ren only wished he could have seen her face clearly.
.
.
Kyoko felt the blush spread further on her body and the cold hand on her shoulder turned out to be a blessing.
'Go on.' Setsu pushed Kyoko with a wicked smile. 'Eight more things to go.'
'It is an act.'
'Which could also be practice for real life.' Natsu hummed amused from a corner of her mind.
"Kind." Kyoko said and felt Ren's hands land on her hips. The air was full of tension around them and Kyoko almost choked on it.
'He has given me advice and helped me in the middle in the night if I needed to.' Kyoko thought and remembered the model training and the late-night hug when she had seen the program with her mother.
"Generous."
'With both his time and energy.'
'All of these are safe.' Setsu pouted. 'Tell him what you think about his looks. Well, other than beautiful.'
Kyoko ignored her gladly.
"Entertaining."
'I like the Heels smart mouth banter and his teasing.'
'Come on. Tell him about your feelings.' Natsu rolled her eyes at the girl's hesitation.
"Talented."
'The safest expression so far. This is going the wrong direction.' Setsu sighed Natsu's way and the bully hummed in approval.
'Help me instead!' Kyoko begged but was met with stubborn silence.
"Strong."
'That was pathetic.' Setsu snorted and Kyoko started to feel the tears burn in her eyes again.
'I CAN'T! I can't let him know! It is not because I am too weak or too cowardly. It is because I love him! I can't force him to feel responsible for my feelings!' Kyoko voiced her frustration and the other two let their unwillingness go. Ren waited for the next description and Kyoko felt like she was walking a thin line.
'How about mature?' Natsu finally sighed and Kyoko felt her heartrate even out.
"Mature."
'What about protective? That is a safe one too.' Setsu offered with a groan.
"Safe." Kyoko changed it and felt herself smile a bit at that. It wasn't more than a day ago she had reminded him of how he protected his friends.
"And the last one?" Ren breathed and Kyoko relaxed when she heard the tone of his voice. He was still intrigued and a bit amused. Her antenna for danger didn't tremble in the slightest.
"Steaming hot." Kyoko smiled as she stepped into the cover of her role.
"I guess you are safe then." Ren chuckled and pulled her hips closer to him, bringing her whole body flushed against his. He lifted his face to her and traced his lips along her jawline.
"Steaming hot and beautiful?" He snickered.
"Don't grow a big ego." Kyoko snorted and raked her hands through his hair, slightly pulling it. A pleased hum sounded from him and it put a smile to her face.
"Of course I will get a big ego. You agreed to marry me. The only explanation is that I am awesome." Ren said as a matter-of-fact and Kyoko laughed.
"If I remember it correctly, it was I that asked YOU to marry ME." Kyoko said teasingly.
'Ad lib is fun.' Natsu hummed pleased when she felt Ren's lips pause at the angle of her jaw on the left side.
"I have loved you for far longer than you know. I just didn't dare to believe you would be able to love me back."
"I guess we fought with the same insecurities then." Kyoko said from the cover of her role. "Everything was worth it in the end. We are together, in this shed, in our own yard, with our own house on it, ready to start our lives together."
"I would love that." Ren said and nibbled on the soft skin between the angle of her jaw and her earlobe. He murmured only a few but they were heavy and filled with emotions.
Kyoko felt herself gasp for air. Her heart felt bruised from the constant abuse. This was what she wanted but every moment felt like a proof of how impossible the dream was.
'Not now.' Kyoko forced the smile on her face and blinked away the tears. 'Not now.'
.
.
Ren felt himself smile like an idiot. He was living the dream, and even if it was only a moment, he knew he would be able to live on the memory for days.
He loved every word she used to describe him. He loved how she said the things he had dreamed of for months.
It was an act and he knew it, but it was like dreaming about your most impossible dream. He still felt somewhat happy. That was why he couldn't help but continue to tickle her mind.
"What should we name our kids?" Ren teased. "I want five of them." He laughed and felt Kyoko inhale sharply.
"FIVE?" She yelped and Ren knew she stared at him in horror.
"At least." He smirked and Kyoko made some sort of choked sound.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Kyoko mumbled and Ren saw something move over her back but she was too terrified already to react to the mild annoyance.
"You will be a great mother." Ren said confidently and it felt like the temperature in the shed dropped five degrees. Ren saw three people behind Kyoko flinch and back away from the girl in his lap.
"What is that I wonder?" Kyoko asked with a voice from the bottoms of hell.
Ren frowned for a moment when the sudden changed threw him out of the loop for a bit. However, he could guess what bugged her and he filled up with determination.
'Let's help her, if we are able to.'
"A person that dedicates herself to every task." Ren said and stroked Kyoko's back to get her attention. He felt the temperature climb slightly again. "A person that takes care of you when you are sick, feeds you when you are hungry and takes a genuine interest in your wellbeing." Ren continued to stroke her back with a gentle smile.
"Someone who makes you a bento-box and makes sure you eat it." Ren felt her shift in his lap and guessed she blushed. He knew she remembered when she had made him a bento. He could survive comparing himself to a child for the moment if it could help her.
"Does that sound hard?" He tried to make his voice kind. The temperature slowly returned to normal again and he heard a few relived sighs around the shed.
"No." Kyoko mumbled and Ren caught her face with his hands. He slowly bent her head down to kiss her eye-lids and nose. He took his time and moved slowly.
"There you see." He cooed her gently. "I will be by your side the whole time."
'Don't get to emotionally involved.' Kuon warned Ren from their shared mind and Ren promptly ignored him.
'It's just an act.'
'You aren't fooling anyone.' Cain snorted but Ren didn't even listen.
"But five?" Kyoko asked and Ren relaxed when he heard some amusement in her voice.
"It's not a fixed number." Ren smirked and rubbed her back again. He leaned in and continued to kiss beneath her jaw. He loved how the soft skin shivered beneath his sensitive lips.
"Five children." Kyoko said again but this time it sounded like she was thinking about it. Ren laughed again softly.
"Well, we begin with one of course." Ren said smugly and Kyoko hummed.
"First lights, then babies." She said and Ren guessed she blushed. She didn't sound opposed the idea at least and he hoped that he maybe had been able to give her some peace with her ghosts.
"First lights, then dessert and at the same time babies. Who said a guy can't multitask?" Ren kissed her skin softly again and she shivered as a response.
Another pair of voices sounded from somewhere in the shed. Ren distantly heard them talk about food and evening plans before the girl's voice cut short with a scream.
Ren pulled his full focus back on the girl in his lap. He picked up a conversation about decorations plans for the kitchen that she easily picked up on. She had several great ideas that even a kitchen-rookie like him could understand.
They sat for maybe one hour and Ren distantly heard the door open and close twice.
More people talked but as soon after they did, one or both of them, would scream or freeze.
Ren didn't know why it worked so well between him and Kyoko but they never stumbled or as much as flinched.
It wasn't until a beam of light suddenly blinded the two of them and Kuu excitedly shook their shoulders that they snapped out of their little bubble.
.
.
Kyoko felt the light burn her eyes and felt grateful for her eyes tearing up. She would be able to blame any puffiness on those tears rather than the ones that she shed for real.
The same man and Kuu gestured for them to follow and Kyoko climbed off Ren's legs with a slight awkward glance towards Kuu. He only smiled and winked her way. She stumbled twice before they reached the door and Ren finally gripped her hand be able to help her keep her balance.
It took longer than she expected to realize that her hand was within Ren's. She had fallen into the habit from Guam without thinking and Ren didn't seem to have bothered letting go.
Kyoko started to loosen her grip of Ren's hand but he gripped her harder in return. When she lifted her head to glance at him, he was facing forward.
The same man that had been rude to her before led them out of the shed, into the light and Kyoko almost fell backwards when she walked straight in to Kurosaki.
Ren managed to steady her with a slight pull on their joined hands.
"You okay?" Ren asked her worriedly and put his other hand on her lower back to support her.
"YOU ARE AN ACTRESS!" A mad voice sounded like a whip over her head and all color left Kyoko's face. She recognized it. "You are not allowed to get harmed before we shoot this movie."
"He is right." Kuu seconded it and gave Kyoko a stern gaze. However, he smiled when he saw their joined hands and close embrace.
"I'm sorry. I was blinded by the light. I will be more careful in the future." Kyoko blushed in embarrassment. The air around her got filled with tension and she lifted her gaze. Kuu and Kurosaki were both staring at Ren and her with gleeful faces.
"I will keep you safe." Ren said to her side and tightened his grip of her body. They were flush against each other and Kyoko realized what made the men smile like that.
"Thank you." Kyoko said and patted her hand on Ren's chest. She knew it was an awkward movement but it had the desired effect. Ren frowned and let her go.
"What do you mean before we shoot this movie?" Ren suddenly asked and turned to Kurosaki.
"Did you kids even notice the people harassing you?" Kurosaki asked. "You really gave my guys a hard time."
"What guys?" Kyoko asked confused and saw Kurosaki give her a sullen expression. He quickly regained his jolly face.
"Never mind. You guys are hired. I have already called President Takarada to inform him and he accepted."
"I'm not surprised he accepted." Ren muttered over her head and put a hand on her back. Kyoko couldn't help to feel a bit calmer when the heat transferred to her skin.
"We have a lot of papers to fill in." Kurosaki smiled widely and gestured for them to follow him. "This is going to be epic."
.
.
Ren had felt that his father looked at him from even before they brought them out of the shed. He had felt his eyes on him even before the lights turned on. He knew that his father approved of him keeping the girl happy but not the way he had done it. Teasing her and letting her straddle him for that long were not exactly by his father's book.
The car ride back to Lory's mansion was calm. Kuu pulled off his wig and folded the fake glasses together while they traveled.
Kyoko confirmed that his story about Kuu had been true and his father even provided pictures of himself as Juliet. Kyoko giggled for real and Ren found himself admiring her.
Her body language was filled with class and style. She was a poster lady for a proper Japanese lady. Only her face was wrong. Her swollen eyes and watery eyelashes were like a sore nail in his heart and Ren weighed the pros and cons of abducting her from reality, find a secluded place and hug her for hours.
'She might want to get away from you.' Kuon pointed and Ren's mood plummeted. He didn't even manage to keep it off his face as the thought was too disturbing.
"Ren?" Kyoko called his attention only moments after and Ren snapped his head up. Kuu smiled sadly towards him and Kyoko looked worried and halfway out her seat to reach him.
'That must mean something, right?' Ren thought but he was in a bad downward spiral of insecurity.
"It's nothing. A bit tired." That wasn't a lie. That day's emotional turmoil had demanded his very last reserves and Ren thought for the first time in a while that he would like to sleep for a day. Preferably with Kyoko on his arm.
"I'm sure Lory will let you off soon." Kuu said as the car pulled up to the mansion. Ren glanced towards the entrance and saw a five-meter poster of him and Kyoko on the black silky bed. Ren felt his heart jump and it took a moment to realize that it actually was him and Kyoko in the picture.
"Wow." Kuu said excitedly and smiled a wide smile. "My kids are beautiful." He smiled and Kuon rolled his eyes.
'So much for "They only sent one.".' Kuon thought and snorted a bit irritated. Kuu pouted his way and turned to Kyoko for a better reaction.
"Kyoko?" Kuu asked worriedly behind him and Ren flipped his head their direction. Kyoko was staring at the picture with a pale face and it looked like she expected it to grow fangs at any moment. She didn't move and panted in shallow breaths.
Ren felt the fear climb in his body and he was halfway out his seat when Kuu turned to him and shook his head.
"Ren, go ahead. I will talk to her." Kuu said and Ren frowned before he noticed that the door had opened beside him and the driver waited for them. He really didn't want to leave her but moved after an encouraging smile from his father.
Ren felt stiff when he climbed out the door and closed it behind him.
"Could you give them a few minutes, please?" Ren asked the driver and saw the man blush slightly.
"Ah-h Sure. Of course, Tsuruga-san." He stammered and Ren gave him a professional smile.
Ren glanced at the car one more time and then headed inside the mansion.
.
.
'Keep it together. Keep it together.' Kyoko chanted in her head but knew she was losing. The tears burned in her eyes and there didn't seem to be enough air.
"Kyoko dear. It's only you and me here now. Please speak with me." Kuu suddenly said to her side and Kyoko flipped her head to the inside of the car. He was right. Ren wasn't in sight and the driver was outside, smoking a few paces away.
The last restrain broke and Kyoko felt the tears roll down her cheeks. Kuu only smiled kindly and enveloped her in a hug. Kyoko wailed out loud and let herself cry for real.
"There there." Kuu said and patted her hair gently while he rocked them both slowly from side to side. Kyoko faintly noticed it and felt her heart clench in gratitude towards the man that treated her like his own child.
She had no clue how long she wailed unhindered but it couldn't have been for long. The safety of Kuu's arms soon gave her some courage and peace again. Especially as the hug was undeniably familiar.
'You can feel that they are related.' Kyoko weakly chuckled inside her head and Kuu slowly lifted her head of his shoulder like if he had sensed her mood slightly improve.
"Sweetie. Could you tell me what bothers you?" Kuu asked kindly and the smile on his face pulled her in.
"I love Kuon." Kyoko whispered and glanced down. She didn't see Kuu's eyes widen as he had regained his composure before she lifted her head again.
"That is amazing!" Kuu said with a happy squeal but Kyoko immediately shook her head. Kuu frowned. "Of course it's amazing." His voice held a lecturing tone that made her smile for a moment.
"There is no way he will like me back… And it hurts so much." Kyoko said and hiccupped at the end of her sentence.
"You lost me." Kuu said in a tone that begged for explanation. Kyoko couldn't help feel a bit confused.
"Well, Kuon… or Ren… he is amazing." Kyoko stammered and felt a slight blush on her cheeks. She felt like if she was sprouting nonsense. Everyone already knew that Ren was amazing.
"Still, I don't see a reason to feel sad about that." Kuu said matter-of-factly and turned her to face him directly.
Kyoko struggled to find the words that would express what she was feeling but everything came up short of the truth. Still, she wanted to tell him as much as possible.
"I don't know how much the President have told you about my…" She hesitated again. "shortcomings with feelings." She glanced towards Kuu's face again and saw recognition on his face.
"You mean why you were the first Love Me member?" Kuu asked and Kyoko nodded.
"I lost love once. I could feel love during my childhood and I was hopelessly enchanted with a boy." Kyoko said and couldn't help the slight frown. "He was my whole world and I only lived to support him. I was an idiot."
'My dark past.'
"Love often make us fools." Kuu said and Kyoko felt the pain in her chest again.
"I was the biggest fool. He didn't love me and I only loved the image that I had put on him. When I realized how wrong I was, I swore to never make myself a fool of love again." Kyoko still felt the passion of that promise burn close to her heart.
"Kyoko, that is not something you can help." Kuu said carefully but she still fired up.
"I know! I feel myself turn into a fool again and I can barely hide it! Ren… Kuon… He is for real. I love him. Not the image of him. Everything. His flaws, his tempers, his ticks and shortcomings. This time it is for real." Kyoko said in a haggard voice and she trembled from top to toe. "And I'm turning into a real fool." She turned towards the picture outside her window and pointed. "I'm jealous of myself. It was only a job to him but it was a dream to me. I want it to be real and I catch myself believing there is something real in our act." Kyoko's tears fell again and she sniveled. Kuu pulled her into a hug again and patted her hair. She didn't cling to him again but continued to talk.
"I accepted my feelings for him because the president convinced me that I could learn from it and use it in my acting. But now… I'm forgetting myself on set, I'm no longer acting but only playing out my own desires." Kuu started to make a schussing sound but she had to get it off her chest, he needed to understand everything. "I'm jealous of my past self that got to be near him because I know I will slip up. Ren… Kuon… He is struggling with his demons and he is trying so hard. I will ruin him with my selfish ways. I will…"
"No. Kyoko! Listen to me." Kuu interrupted her and trapped her head between his hands. His face was filled with pain for her and Kyoko felt herself calm down in his hands. Kuu could maybe not understand the whole knot of her pain and unease but he tried for her sake. "You have to stop this." He said and Kyoko felt a pang of pain.
'What? I can't stop loving him…'
"You have to stop thinking this low of yourself." Kuu said it like a curse and Kyoko hiccupped again when she returned her full focus on her father. "You are not a fool! Maybe you were before, when you were a child, but you are a young woman now. You have grown and you are not stupid enough to make the same mistake once again." Kuu said with an angry frown as he began to stroke her hair out of her face.
"You are my child and your feelings will never be wasted on anybody. If you love Kuon then he should feel honored. There is no way your feelings will ruin anything for him." Kuu sounded so sure Kyoko's tears stopped falling. She listened to him, memorizing every word.
Kuu made a displeased face and snorted before he continued. "I won't promise you anything but I will tell you some facts. You are an amazing young woman. You are a diamond among actors and a diamond among people. The one you decide to love will never be ruined by you." Kuu said and nodded to emphasize his own words.
"You said you are jealous of your past self who got to spend time with him, I say, be jealous of your future self who will have experienced a hundred times more time with the one you love." Kuu turned his lips into a smirk. "I won't tell you what to do regarding your feelings as that is for you to decide. I will however tell you to not fear them. The Boss was onto something when he told you it would be a powerful weapon when acting but it doesn't stop with that. We evolve ourselves by experience. Your feelings are a part of you and they need experience too. You had one tragic love story, now your emotions have experience and the same thing won't happen again. Your feelings make you evolve and you get stronger with them." Kuu smiled wider.
Kyoko wanted to understand but it was only one ray of sunshine in a cloudy sky. Kuu seemed to notice and sighed.
"Tell me. Would you have gotten this part if you hadn't played on your emotions you think?" Kuu asked and Kyoko frowned.
"No." Of that she was sure.
"That's probably right. There was no way to fake those emotions without actually knowing the feelings behind them." Kuu said and dried some tears of her chin.
"But that's the problem. I'm not acting!" Kyoko said and her lips started to tremble. "It will only be a matter of time before I call him Ren on set and then how will he be able to look me in the eye after?"
"Kyoko. First off. You know the director of this movie, right?" Kuu asked and Kyoko nodded. "Do you think that he would not recognize if you didn't do an act?" Kyoko frowned. She knew that it had been an act. Only… she had done the things she had wanted in the cover of the act.
"I guess." She hesitated only because she didn't know what he was hinting.
"You did an ad lib this time. How would you have been able to act without some sort of drive or clue about what you wanted to happen?" Kuu asked and Kyoko felt like there was a box opening in her mind. "That's right. This test was to see if you had strong emotions to play on. This was as much a test of love as a test of acting." Kuu smirked and Kyoko almost wanted to chuckle.
'That's why the boss was that thrilled about it.' Setsu snorted a chuckle inside her mind.
"Could you have done this before you realized your feelings?" Kuu asked smugly and Kyoko made a half snort. She remembered the Dark moon ad lib at Ren's apartment. No-one would have hired her on that performance. Kuu nodded.
"Now on that second topic." He said and Kyoko tilted her head slightly as a question. "How Kuon would react if he knew about your feelings…" Kyoko felt a shiver going down her whole body. Kuu smiled reassuringly her way. "...only he would know. However, I didn't raise him to take advantage of someone's feelings for him. He would never hold it against you." Kuu said with a proud smile and Kyoko felt herself blush a bit.
'Should I talk about this with HIS father?' She wondered but then pushed the thought away. Kuu had shown his willingness to talk about the topic from the start and nothing should have changed since then.
"Also, I know that he sees you, at the very minimum, as a friend. He takes care of his friends and would never hurt them on purpose. You must know this. I heard you speak with him in the bathroom not long ago." Kuu said and Kyoko gasped.
'Did the president bug the hotel room?'
'Of course, he did.' Setsu snorted.
"Avoiding you would hurt you, right?" Kuu asked carefully but Kyoko couldn't speak up. Her mind was in turmoil.
"As long as you speak with each other, you will move past any obstacle." Kuu said with a confidence she admired. Kyoko only felt the blush rise on her face but Kuu took it as an answer.
"You said it yourself so you must believe it." Kuu smiled and patted her hair again. "Now you know, Your feelings aren't hurting anyone and Kuon would never look down on you if he knew." Kuu said and Kyoko slightly nodded as she didn't know what else to do. "Tell me, is there anything else to worry about?" Kuu didn't sound confident but honestly wondering. He wanted to help her solve every knot in her heart.
'Is he right?'
'You said it yourself. Ren would never let a friend be hurt.' Setsu pointed out to her and Kyoko felt a part of the sky open up.
'But how will I continue to act with all these emotions?'
'How would you be able to act a character in love without these emotions?' Natsu rolled her eyes mentally.
Kyoko felt air flow easily in her lungs and her heart was jumping lightly in her chest. She couldn't argue against the things he had said. She felt herself accept the facts, at least to some degree.
"I don't think so." Kyoko stammered in amazement. "I feel better."
"Good. There will be times when it will feel like you will burst with feelings and some days you will wonder if you have any at all. You only have to learn how to get back to the middle." Kuu said and turned around quickly. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and tilted a bottle of water over it before he turned back around and handed it to her.
"I want you to tell me directly when it gets too hard to bear. I have experience with handling emotions that I'm more than happy to share. Or if you only need to talk. I'm here." Kuu said and smiled.
Kyoko accepted the cloth and dried her face.
"There, beautiful as a day once more." Kuu patted her cheeks dry and gripped her hand. "Ready to challenge the world again?"
'No.'
"Yes." Kyoko nodded and pulled a deep breath. She needed to get out and test her new footing.
She patted her cheeks and then followed Kuu out the car.
.
.
Ren was pacing inside the mansion. Back and forward for what felt like hours. It was probably only minutes but it felt like forever.
'Something was wrong. Seriously wrong.' Ren thought and Kuon hummed.
'She was like mist. I thought she would disperse if she was jolted wrongly.'
"Ren. Sit down. You are making me nervous." Lory said and Ren only glared slightly at the president before getting back to pacing.
"It hasn't been more than half an hour." Lory sighed and pulled up his phone like he gave up on the subject. "Kurosaki called again to confirm your signing. He seemed ecstatic."
Ren so didn't want to discuss that topic either with the president as he knew Lory would love it.
"What did you two do?" Lory asked in an amused tone that tickled Ren the wrong way. He quickened his steps and bit his lip.
'Should I head out? What if something happened?' Ren tried to find some reason to head out to the car but hesitated.
'What if it's the movie? What if she says she can't do it?' Ren stopped in his tracks and paled.
'So, what if she is, this is your shot right?' Cain asked but there was an amused tint to his words.
"I can't do this movie without Kyoko." Ren said and Lory smacked his lips.
"Well, speaking of the devil. Everything all right?" Lory asked and Ren turned around.
"Yes of course." Kuu said with a smile and Ren had to fight the blush on his cheeks when he saw Kyoko look at him with a happy smile on her face.
'I said that out loud.' Ren thought and Cain grinned inside his head.
"How about you, Mogami-kun?" Lory asked and Ren walked closer to the little group. Ren wanted to hear her response too as his heart was practically trembling with nervous energy. She was smiling for the moment but Ren couldn't make out if it was real or not.
"I'm great, thank you." Kyoko said and smiled widely towards Ren. She stepped up and reached out her hand to grasp his. She squeezed it lightly and held his eyes with hers.
He had no idea what had changed but a surge of energy ripped through his body and suddenly everything felt perfectly fine.
Ren felt himself merge with every corner of his mind and he enjoyed it. That way he could remember her sweet smile with every bit of his being. Kuon and Cain was a part of him and he finally saw where their pieces fit inside his mind. They had all been standing on the border between light and darkness, and as one man they had all lifted their feet to take a step forward.
When they put it back down on the light side, they were one man.
.. Author's note..
I'm sorry dear people. The next one is on its way. I needed this to happen to move on with the arc. I hope you could enjoy it either way and could understand my point of view.
Until the next time(maximum of two weeks this time, I pinky promise!)
Hugs from Sweden.