Voodoo Curse Chapter 8

Kyoko opened her eyes as the rays from the rising sun of Tokyo bled through the blinds on her bedroom window. As she sat up, a single beam of light settled in her direct line of vision and temporarily blinded her as she made her way to the bathroom. She leaned toward the mirror and under close scrutiny found subtle dark shadows under her lower lashes unfortunately not from the length of them, but from lack of sleep. She blushed again remembering last evening. Ren had such long eyelashes - why did he have to be so beautiful? Why did he have to make her heart-beat skip and flutter? It was always doing that when she was with him, or it would ache when she realized that his wasn't reacting the same way. He was well practiced at making love, she was sure, so it really wasn't surprising. Playboy!

Picking up her toothbrush, she glared at her reflection as she squeezed out the toothpaste, "I can't believe that knowing he's like that, you still fell for it! What a baka dummy!" she berated the girl in the mirror. She leaned forward and squinted at herself. On closer inspection she saw an unfamiliar dark smudge on her neck. She picked up her face cloth and dabbed at it.

"How did lipstick get down there?" She leaned closer to the mirror with an awkward twist to her neck and looked again sideways. She looked at the facecloth which bore no rouge marks. "Huh?!" She scrubbed harder and looked again. "Still there?...…! Oh No!" Tsuruga-san…? Arrgh!"

She heard her phone ring from the bedroom. A shot of adrenaline ran down to her fingers and up her scalp. She spat out the toothpaste and ran to answer it, but her hand hovered over relentless ringing coming from under the blankets. Who was it? Was it Ren? Did she want to answer it if it was? She didn't even want to look to find out. She'd be scared if it was, or disappointed if it wasn't. She picked it up squeezed her eyes and looked -it wasn't Ren. Her body slumped as it released its tension; she sighed in semi-relief and pressed to connect.

"Moshi Moshi? Oh hai! Sawara-san! Ohayou! Hai! I haven't forgotten, I'll be at LME in 20 minutes!"

Efficient as ever, Kyoko flew out the door after changing out of her pajamas within 15 minutes, with enough time to quickly put on a little make up, she grabbed her bike and peddled as if her life depended on it, to meet with Sawara.

After parking the bike in the rack outside the building she sprinted up the front steps with a fleeting thought of her first day there, stubbornly sitting in view of Sawara's office window all day. It gave her the strength to continue and, if she persevered, her feelings for Ren didn't matter. That wasn't important – her growth as an actress was, and her career would be threatened if she gave into that weakness even for a moment. Lory had seen that look on her face. She couldn't afford to have Ren see it too. There was that conundrum again. How to hide it from him while acting in love with him – what to do? The only way was to kill the feelings. But Lory had said they would make her improve as an actress. God, it was hard being an actress and having to show your vulnerability. It was like being publicly naked in a dream. There was no control and you were open to all kinds of scrutiny and criticism – and failure!

Kyoko made her way to Sawara's office – she was preoccupied, mumbling to herself and looking at the floor (she could find her way blindfolded by now). Coming up to a junction in the hallway she went to turn the corner.

BAM! She hit a hard wall of masculinity with a familiar scent! Ren! Oh no!

Just as Kyoko became aware of whom she had collided with, she felt his large warm hands grip her upper arms to hold her steady. She gasped at the contact. She refused to look up, not knowing what sort of face to show him.

"I'm late!" She muttered an apology, pushed out of his hold, and bowed then quickly started down the hall again.

"Good Morning Kyoko-Chan! Eh? Wh..?" She ignored Yashiro's voice nearby but walked determinedly towards Sawara's office. Until she felt a hand on her arm again. A very firm hand.

"Mogami-san!" Tsuruga's voice was controlled but she could sense underlying emotions in that control. She ripped her arm away and resumed walking.

"Are you aware we have a meeting together in 20 minutes?" Ren persisted.

"Are you ok Mogami-san? Do you need to…?...I think we need to talk! Give me 10 minutes!" Ren grabbed her arm, a hold that brooked no argument. "Come with me…please!" He insisted.

Kyoko couldn't resist this entreaty as he pulled her along to a small storage room with an open door.

Ren looked over his shoulder as he and Kyoko entered the room. "Yashiro-san, make sure we're not disturbed please?"

Yashiro, looked at his watch, a little disconcerted and confused until he saw the door shut behind them and the lock turn. "You've got some 'splaining' to do my friend!...Good luck!" He said under his breath with a devilish smile spreading on his face.

Ren cornered a very flustered Kyoko against the wall his arms bracketing either side of her so she couldn't escape.

"Kyoko!...Mogami-san! Look at me! … I won't let you leave until you look at me!" Ren had barely calmed himself down. There was no point in bullying Kyoko, she was as stubborn as he was and he knew she'd clam up more if he forced her. It was hard to coax her when he had so little time to do this before the meeting Sawara had arranged for Kyoko and him to attend with the producers of the new dramedy romance they were in.

"Listen to me! We don't have time to have a real talk right now and we need to be in Sawara's office in 10 minutes. For the both of us, we need to calm down and for you to please trust me! I lost my control last night and the reason is way too complicated for me to explain to you right now, nor will be easy for me when I do. It's too long a story to just blurt it out and it's something I'm still struggling with myself to try and understand so I'm asking you to please be patient. I'd never hurt or take advantage of you Mogami-san please believe that!"

Those puppy-dog eyes!

Kyoko had been looking into Ren's face and watched the myriad emotions shape and transform it, as he tried to muddle his way through his thoughts and try to get through to her. She was surprised at his vulnerability, that he was willing to let her see his true self exposed without his "Ren" actor persona. Feeling very uncomfortable she panicked, and changed the subject a little, but with complete sincerity.

Kyoko hung her head.

"I'm sorry I ran last night, Tsuruga-san. I was embarrassed and I didn't know what to do. I got in over my head with this movie. As you saw last night, I'm not ready and I want out. I'll ask Sawara-san to ask if the producers will allow me to break the contract."

Ren's heart lurched in shock and disappointment.

"You're not the Kyoko I know if you're quitting this early in the game!"