The Voodoo Curse Chapter 7

Yashiro had been patiently waiting several hours for Ren to regain consciousness, sobriety was just a hope. Upon his arrival at Ren's apartment after the garbled call, he had to knock several times, each time louder, until Ren finally staggered to the door and let him in. He had been in bad shape and in much worse condition since the unintelligible phone call. All he could do was to help Ren back to the living room couch; he was much too tall, heavy and awkwardly drunk to help back to his bedroom. As his manager, he had no pity for him and had just watched Ren pass out and sleep it off. He had looked at the half empty bottle of scotch on the coffee table with no glass, and shook his head. "I don't envy you tomorrow morning, Ren." He leaned back in the chair and lightly dozed. It would do if he, as a manager, was as tired as Ren would be tomorrow.

Ren woke up with a splitting headache and a killer case of nausea. He was still suffering the effects of the copious amount scotch imbibed the night before. His mouth was parched and pasty. Breathing evenly to hold back the urge to vomit, he cracked open a single eye to make sure the room wouldn't spin. He vaguely saw Yashiro, an unfocused blur, sitting in the chair opposite the couch Ren had crashed on the whole night. Ren slowly rotated the eye and checked the digital numbers flashing on his sound system and noted it was 5:00 AM. His internal clock, always reliable, hadn't failed him. He didn't remember letting Yashiro in but must have. He didn't look very happy.

Yashiro was greatly relieved Ren had woken up on his own. That indicated the alcohol had metabolized through his system and he was hopeful Ren would be able to muddle through the day, ever the professional, at least as an actor. He stood up, went to the kitchen, got a glass, turned on the tap then popped the lid off a small cylinder. He returned to the living room.

"Ren, here is some seltzer to settle your stomach." Yashiro's voice was grim as he leaned over to hand Ren the glass of water and dropped a tablet in it. It fizzed refreshingly and Ren gratefully reached for it as he struggled to sit up without making the vertigo he was experiencing get any worse. Sparkles of the carbonated mixture tickled his nose and he winced as he chugged the concoction down thirstily.

"Thanks Yashiro-san, I'm so glad you're such an efficient manager." Ren said dryly returning the empty glass, he was almost sarcastic but he toned it back. He couldn't afford to offend this man who gave him all his support. "I'm sorry but I haven't behaved professionally in so many ways" Ren sagged and let out a huge sigh.

"Ren? What happened last night?" Yashiro asked cautiously.

"I fucked up is what happened!" Ren snapped, pressing a hand to his forehead. "After all the times you harped at me to hit on her, I finally did and she rejected me! I know I deserved it, I knew better and I should've listened to my conscience but I let myself get carried away! Shit!"

Yashiro flinched as he stood there in the middle of the living room, his jaw hanging open in astonishment. He was stunned. He had never witnessed Ren swear or lose his cool. He had had little hints of Ren's temper and when it showed up it had been under the surface and stifled, but it had always been a concern because it manifested in very obvious sulking. Those were the times when Yashiro was reminded of Ren's actual age. He was glad this outburst was in the privacy of Ren's apartment. He really wondered what Ren had been like in his early teens, although this current behavior gave him a pretty good idea.

"Ren!" Yashiro could not suppress a gasp. "You devil! How far did you g….you didn't…did you?" Part of Yashiro's mind was jumping up and down fangirling. "Yes! He finally made a move!" The other part was horrified. "You….baka! I bet your timing was off – I can't believe it! Ren the co-star killer botched a move!" He pulled himself together and calmly pushed up his glasses.

"So what are you going to do about it, Ren? You know you can't just let her go right?" Yashiro knew there wasn't any purpose in lecturing him, it was apparent Ren could do that all by himself.

He glanced at his watch. "Well there's nothing you can do now - we only have half an hour to get to the interview promoting the new film you've just signed for." Yashiro saw Ren flinch. "What? What….no! Don't tell me Kyoko's in it too?"

Ren smiled wryly as he stood up. "That's how this whole mess started!" It was time to unburden himself and there was no-one better than Yashiro to lend his ear and sympathy. He was the best friend a guy could have, save for Rick. Ren felt his heart clench and his hands fisted simultaneously. He then raked his fingers through his disheveled hair and rubbed the morning stubble on his chin.

"I'll tell you all about it after the interview. Give me a minute to clean up and change and we'll go."

Yashiro's expression was thoughtful and curious as he watched Ren trudge down the hall to the bathroom. He started to gather his coat and briefcase.

Ren took little time to shower and get ready. He was expert at time management as a model and he was used to quick clothing changes. He exited his bedroom looking immaculately handsome with no trace of the hangover he was hiding. He met Yashiro at the apartment foyer.

"Damn that guy! He never ceases to amaze me! How can he pull that look in such a short time?" He nodded at Yashiro and they closed the apartment door behind them.