Authors Chat: I'm glad some of you enjoyed the last chapter. It seemed like filler even to me, but it was necessary, and so I was worried. There seems to be plenty of speculation about Tsutsui Kaminari though, and I like that! ^o^
I would greatly appreciate your comments and constructive criticism!
That being said, italics text are direct thoughts of characters, text is in quotes, noises are done with asterisks.
DISCLAIMER: Skip Beat! and it's characters are not my original creation, they are owned and created by Nakamura Yoshiki.
Story Timeline: Y'all know the timeline by now. If not, go back and read it in an earlier chapter! (taken out for length).
Playing With Fire
Act 26
Kyoko was ready and headed out the door the moment Kaminari pulled up in her blue civic, but that didn't stop Kaminari from stopping the engine and walking up to meet her as she turned to lock the door.
"Good morning Mogami-san! Is the owner awake yet?" she checked her watch to see the time. It was 6:37 in the morning. She had made good time from her home to here.
"Um, the Taisho is awake, but Okami-san is still asleep. Why?"
"Well, since I'll be around a bit I thought I best introduce myself."
"Oh, um, that isn't necessary. I already told them about you. "
"That so? Alright then. I'll introduce myself later. Lets go!" Kaminari turned back toward her car.
What IS it with this woman!? She never takes 'no' for an answer!
"You coming?" Kaminari ducked into the car, not waiting for an answer.
Kyoko smiled and ran down the walk toward the car then threw her bag in the back seat before getting in the front passengers seat and buckling herself in.
The car still had that 'new car' smell to it, but it was clear Kaminari was already comfortable in it. She had two bottles of juice set in the cup holders unopened and a small bag of sweets between their seats.
"One of those is for you," she motioned toward the juice, "and help yourself to the snacks. I wasn't sure how long it would take to get here from my place, so I missed breakfast. If I don't munch, I'll be hungry ALL DAY." She looked over at Kyoko who still seemed slightly overwhelmed by her presence. "I'm not very pleasant when I'm hungry." She smiled as she plucked a cracker from the bag and popped it into her mouth whole.
Kyoko giggled as Kaminari's cheeks bulged out around the cracker before she broke it in two inside her mouth and deflated her cheeks.
"Now." Cracker crumbs sprayed lightly from her lips. She covered her mouth and exclaimed, "Sorry! Sorry!" before licking her lips and swallowing the last bit of cracker before she spoke again. "So. Give any thought to the role last night?"
"Only a little."
"Well, no need to worry. I'm sure the director will thoroughly go over what's needed for the role as soon as we get there and finish having your measurements taken."
I wasn't worried Tsutsui-san… if anything, I'm scared! What if Tsuruga-san is in this movie again!? Kyoko nodded and turned to look out the window as the buildings flew by.
Kyoko never imagined she would find herself once again at that old beat-up ryokan where the first movie took place. She had mixed feelings about being there again. Ruriko had been her first REAL job as a Love Me member, and while it ended in a broken foot, her perseverance and determination seemed to have changed how people viewed her and the Love Me section all together. She could only remember fondly that Ruriko had given her 100 points after all they had gone through and even admitted to not hating her as much as when they first met.
She realized then that that had been the first turning point in realizing she actually WANTED to become an actor. If she hadn't accepted Ruriko's challenge in a tantrum, she would never have successfully completed the scenes she did and in turn would never have realized they were all because of the Fuwa family. She may never have realized how much she lacked in a sense of self. That was a frightening and saddening feeling.
All those emotions were overtaken with a fresh wave of nerves though as they pulled to a stop in the yard area which was used as a parking lot. It wouldn't be long before she found out if Tsuruga Ren was playing Seto Yuusuke again.
The way was clear though to the room Kyoko would be using for a dressing room, and a few ladies were waiting for her when Kyoko and Kaminari entered the room. They were plenty early but the moment they stepped through the doorway, measurements were taken, cloth went flying, make up brushes caressed her face, and she her hair was tugged up and fastened into a wig. Then, just as quickly, they pushed Kyoko out the door and down the hall to the living room set.
"Don't worry Mogami-san, just go with them. I'll find the director and find out what's going on."
Kyoko was ushered directly onto the living room set and handed a script.
"Just start at line 146 Ruriko-san."
"But I-"
"PLEASE no arguing today, just start the line! We're already behind as it is!" the man ran offstage and got behind a camera and made ready to begin filming.
Kyoko found it hard to believe this man actually thought she was Ruriko. Though, he hadn't gotten a good look at her face, and the costume and wig would, of course, be the same, but still…
Oh well, if this is my role anyway, better learn the lines! It'll be good practice.
"aaaaand… ACTION!"
Kyoko tossed the script behind the sofa and started the scene. If the woman playing Choko's mother for the second time was surprised, she hid it well as the scene progressed.
…
Kaminari weaved through the people who were milling around looking for Director Shingai. She didn't get far though before someone else she knew caught her eye.
"Yukihito!" she called to him quietly as he entered the room.
Looking up, Yashiro seemed surprised to see Kaminari standing there waiving. It hadn't been that long since he had seen her, why was she here?
"Kami-chi! What are you doing here!? Are you finished with classes already?"
Kaminari smiled broadly, flashing her white teeth brightly. "I'm doing my internship now. Takarada-sama's made an exception for me, like he did for you when you were completing your internship. I've got a temporary assignment, and she's going to be in this film. Pretty exciting, huh? My first assignment, and already it's something good to put on my resume!"
"Wow, I'm surprised. Most of the actors here today have rather large parts. I haven't noticed many non-leading roles here. Who are you acting as manager for?"
Kaminari pointed up onto the set where Kyoko was seated with her back to the side of the stage where Yashiro and her were talking.
Yashiro raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You're Matsunai Ruriko's new manager?"
"No, no I'm the acting manager for her stand-in. Matsunai Ruriko had to withdraw from the role for unknown reasons."
"Then who is that?"
"Her name is Mogami Kyoko. I like her, she's got spirit." Kaminari smiled at Yashiro, but the smile slid from her face as panic gripped Yashiro.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" It seemed Kaminari had a habit of putting her foot in her mouth, and she never knew how deep she had swallowed.
"T…That is, no… but this is a rather big surprise. No one knows that Matsunai-san isn't here anymore, and there will be a very VERY big shock when they find out who has taken her place."
"Oh, so you know Mogami-san then?"
"You COULD say that Kami-chi." Yashiro looked at her, judging whether to say more or not, but the scene caught his attention from the corner of his eye and turned his head. "Here it comes."
"What?"
"Just watch. It's bound to be interesting."
…
"Choko, I am bound to serve the guests in the tearoom, but a very important someone has arrived whom I would like for you to serve tea for. You'll find them in the anterior tearoom. Please treat them kindly."
"Yes mother." Choko slid one foot forward and rose up steadily into a standing position before heading down the hall to prepare the tea.
There was a small seen change as the stage rotated to reveal a small tea room exposed to the outside air on one side.
The honored guest sat looking outside at the falling autumn leaves as the door quietly slid open.
He turned around in his seated position to see the young lady bowing and begging entrance to the room, tea serving utensils set down beside her.
Her black hair hung loosely about her face as her head rested against the backs of her hands. The collar of her iromuji pulled back well so a clear view of her neck could be seen. She had such creamy skin. A delicate contract to the dusty blue silk of her plain kimono and darkly ornate obi.
"Please, you may enter" Yuusuke said.
"I thank you for honoring our home," Choko said as if by rote, then slowly raised her head.
She slid her foot forward, collected the tea serving utensils, and rose steadily to her feet before entering the room and moving across from the honored guest. She did not raise her eyes until after she had kneeled down and set out the utensils in the proper arrangement to prepare tea.
It was good that she had not looked at him, or the scene would have been ruined. As it was, the emotion displayed on his face was beyond expectation of the director. Yuusuke was meant to be surprised to find Choko enter his room, and conflicted over how they had left things at the end of the last movie, or the end of their last experience together.
Ren's distress displayed perfectly on his emotion laden face.
What is SHE doing here!?!
Slowly, as if an eternity passed, Kyoko raised her eyes to meet Ren's.