REMINDER: I don't own Skip Beat and its characters; this work is purely fictional any scenes related to real life situations are purely coincidental. XD Beta and Proof Reading credits goes to Shirahane Aikawa who offered her help to proof read this story of mine kindly read her stories here in this site as well.
Chapter 72
To reach the island location where Remember Me will shoot, they must take a 30 minute ferry ride from the shore. The island is an uninhabited island that was formerly used as a strategic base of the Imperial Army of Japan during the Second World War that special permits were granted just for them to shoot at the said location.
The staff and production crew arrived first to arrange the equipment's and costumes to be used during filming. The stars arrived soon after and were given assigned rooms on their assigned bunk houses.
Kyoko who just arrived in the island was amazed at the beauty of the place for she never thought an untouched island still exists in the modern times with all the growing population and modernization. She was about to carry her own bags but Ren beat her to it, carrying her things in his arms.
"Tsuruga-san." She said surprisingly looking at Ren who cut his hair shorter for the movie role. His bangs just reach his eyebrows and his hair that reaches the nape of his neck now reaches just below his ear.
"Wait I can carry them myself." She said stopping Ren from walking.
"You know I will never let a girl carry her baggage Mogami-san." Ren said smiling and walking ahead of Kyoko who just remained standing still with a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Where did I hear that before?" She thought deeply, his voice and the words he said sounded familiar to her like it was a part of her memory.
"Five points for carrying Mogami-san's bag." Kira said writing the points in a notepad he's carrying.
Ren just shakes his head before putting down Kyoko's bag inside her assigned room in the female bunk house.
"What are you doing here in the female bunk house?" Ren asked looking at Kira suspiciously who is wearing aviator sunglasses, camouflage shorts and black tank top.
"I helped my sister carry her things of course just like how a gentleman like you will do." Kira answered defending himself.
"Whatever." He answered and walked back to his room where Kira is following him close by.
"I don't know why you are still going after her knowing she's engaged and all." Kira said seriously this time, he is Ren's friend and he has a responsibility to keep his friend from making a fool out of himself.
Ren's head shot up at this and said honestly, "I was like you once, having the time of my life exploring "things", having a string of girlfriends until I met her and found love. That's why I just can't give up on her."
Kira laughed and placed his arm around Ren's shoulders, "Say that to Kyoko not to me."
Ren smiled, Kira sure knows when to lift his spirits up.
"Don't you think it's a little early to shoot a MV?" Shoko asked thinking of the pros and cons on doing a MV so soon.
"I think it is just the right time, besides Sho insisted to make an MV as soon as the song is recorded." The producer explained.
"But the MV will not be released soon?"
"Yes he wants it to be released a week before his marriage, as for the song it will be released this week on the radio stations."
"I see and he wants it to be shot in Kyoto, this is the first time he accepted a job to be shot in that area."
"Yes, now that it is settled I need you to arrange his schedules."
Kyoko tried to call Sho as soon as she reached her assigned room, however there are no cell phone signals in the area.
"Sho will be mad at me if I can't call or send him a text message." She thought worriedly and decided to ask one of the production crew if there is a place where she can make a call.
"I'm sorry Mogami-san but the only means of communication from this island to the city is by two way radios. Aren't you informed by your manager before travelling here?" The tall production crew said.
Kyoko looked down, her worst fear just happened. "No."
"Oh…anyway you have nothing to worry about, the security crew are on full alert 24/7 no harm will be done to you besides no one lives in this island. We are the only people who are technically on the island. Do you have any more questions? I still have to set up the pyrotechnics excuse me Mogami-san." The production crew excused and went to the rest of his team to set the pyrotechnics for the evening war scene.
The 54th infantry squad battalion of the American forces whose numbers are cut into half upon arriving at the shores of Vietnam earlier that day are slowly threading the dark treacherous forest where a reported bomb making facility of the Viet Cong forces is located.
The walk was slow as the Viet Cong forces are known for their surprise attacks and landmines, Laurence a sergeant ranked Japanese-American soldier who specializes in tactics formation thread ahead of his squad mates.
"We should stop for now, the place is too quiet for our liking." He said to the rest of the squad.
"Do you think our support will arrive on time?" One worried soldier asked.
"Let's hope so, or we will end up like sitting ducks here. Any messages from Saigon?" He asked at the radio man.
"None yet sir."
"Status?" He asked at the sniper who is scouting the area with his scope.
"Around 20 men carrying ak-47s, machine gun at 12 o'clock position."
"Let's spread out, once the machine gun is taken out, we fire at will." He ordered and his men proceeded to go to their positions.
With a silent bang that took out the soldier behind the machine gun the 54th squad battalion fired at will that are answered back by the Viet Cong soldiers. Loud voices of wails of pain, firing of guns and explosions coming from grenades echoed the once quiet forest as both forces fought with each other for superiority. In the end it was Laurence's wise tactics that proved superior and annihilated the Viet Cong squad making them victorious capturing the reported bomb making facility.
As they raid the said facility, they were disappointed to find out that it was just false information and that what was reported as a bomb making facility was just a safe house lookout post. Disappointed that they wasted bullets for just a mere safe house Laurence banged his hands on the table.
"And cut, that's a wrap guys thank you." The assistant director cued.
"What can you say about my man Mogami-san?" Kira teased smiling handsomely and talked in English.
"Ne?" Kyoko asked wondering what this blonde guy is talking about.
Kira face palm himself, "I'm talking about Ren."
"He's good." She answered simply.
"That's all nothing else?" He inquired more.
"Kira." Ren's cold voice calling his name stopped Kira and fake surrendered and left.
"Is he annoying you?" The handsome male asked who are still wet with sweat with grime and soil covering his arms and army clothes from crawling in the ground for his scene.
"Not really." She said blushing. "He's sweating and dirty and he still looks marvelous just how that is possible, and did I just say he looks marvelous?"
"Here you go Tsuruga-san the showers are there." The assistant said and handed over his toiletries and change of clothes.
"Excuse me Mogami-san." He said smoothly cutting the brunette out of her trance.
For the next two days the scenes shot involved only war scenes until Ren's character 'Laurence' is shot and was thrown into a ravine. Kyoko was preparing for her scene with Emiko and is still worrying how Sho is feeling now that they were not able to talk to each other for two days already, she hopes that her manager Sawara-san will explain to him that there are no cell phone signals in the area where they are shooting.
"You look troubled is there anything wrong?" The kind voice of Emiko asked.
"No, I just missed talking with my fiancé that's all." Kyoko said blushing slightly at the thought of her fiancé.
Emiko smiled sadly, she can see how much Kyoko loves Sho right now. It was the same look she had on her face when she used to love Ren before.
"You'll be seeing him soon once were done shooting for the week." Emiko said and went ahead of Kyoko. "I don't know how Ren is taking this, seeing the love of his life in love with another man."
Rachel a beautiful Japanese-American lady who just arrived from New York to her hometown in Japan was welcomed by her best friend since childhood the cheery traditional Japanese girl named Ayaka.
"Rachel it's been long how have you been?" Ayaka asked smiling at her dearest friend.
"I'm fine." She said sadly.
"Why is there anything wrong?"
"My husband…he's been declared KIA during the last Vietnam War but his remains were never returned to me and I am hoping that he's still…" Rachel cannot control the tears she was hiding and let them fall from her blue eyes.
"We'll find him Rachel I promise." Ayaka promised to her friend while consoling her.
"There's been a problem a storm is brewing and we must leave the island as soon as possible." A producer said who just received a message from the shore sent through the two-way radio.
"What?!" Director Cameron exclaimed. "Tell the production crew and staff to keep the equipments safely inside the store room and gather all the actors and actresses and prepare for evacuation back to the shore. We will resume filming once the storm passes."
The producer nodded and run as fast as he could to inform the people about the situation at hand. Ren and Kira and the other male stars helped in carrying the equipments inside the store room to save more time. While Emiko and Kyoko stayed with the directors and producer while waiting for their ferry boats to arrive.
"Are they going to be ok?" Kyoko asked worriedly, she's worrying for Ren and the other men's safety in carrying the equipments up the steep road towards the store room with the wind blowing violently and light rain already pouring.
"Don't worry Ren is used to that kind of work." Emiko said assuring Kyoko.
"He is?" Kyoko asked looking surprised for how can a popular actor like Ren be used to a job such as carrying heavy equipments.
"Go ahead." Ren told Kira and his co-stars.
"What?" Kira said and pushed Ren lightly.
"I'll carry this up you should go ahead." Ren said and carried a lighting equipment and run as fast as he could carrying the heavy load.
"Damn you and your heroism Ren!" Kira screamed to him and urged the other men to come along with him back to the shore where the rest of the staff is waiting.
"Where is Ren?" Emiko asked upon seeing her brother and the other stars.
"He's still up there carrying the last of the stuffs." Kira said while catching his breath.
"You left him alone?" It was Kyoko who asked.
"Yeah…"
"Come along now, is everyone here?" A PA asked who is helping the crew to ride the ferry.
"No, Tsuruga-san's not yet here." Kyoko answered.
"We must go now, there is still another boat coming." Emiko said asking Kyoko to come along with her to the ferry boat.
"I will wait for him. You should go ahead, we'll just wait for the next boat." Kyoko didn't know why she wanted to stay and wait for Ren but something inside her heart and mind is telling her to do so.
"Kyoko…"
"Come now sis." Kira said and pulled her sister along with him.
When Ren arrived at the shore he was wet from the rain and sweat from carrying heavy equipments and running, his black slacks and leather shoes are soiled with mud.
"Mogami-san why are you still here?" He asked panting, surprised to see Kyoko is the only one left.
"I can't leave you…I don't know why but I just can't." She said honestly.
Ren pulls her towards him not minding if they are both wet from the rain he just wanted to hug her for staying behind with him.
After what seemed an eternity with the rain pouring heavier a ferry boat arrived for them.
"You should hold into the railings tight or you will end up falling to the sea!" The boat driver screamed to both Ren and Kyoko.
Both Ren and Kyoko hold into the railings tight and to each other's hand.
"A big wave is coming into us hold on tight!" The boat driver screamed and maneuvered the boat into a sharp turn to avoid the huge wave of water.
However Kyoko's hand slips from the railing and from Ren's hand that she falls to the sea. Ren noticing immediately that the source of warmth in his hand was gone.
"Kyoko!"
"Ren!" She called gurgling, gasping for air while trying her best to float in the cold sea water.
AN: A big thanks to the reviews, follows, favorite and everyone who reads this story.