Chapter 2
Dangerous Affiliations
Ok heres the second chapter I was so touched by the reviews i got after i just published the first chapter it made me really wanna write the next one so here ya go! Enjoy!
"HEY KYOKO! OH MY GOD IT'S BEEN SO LONG! So what have you been up to? How's the acting thing going? Ooo are there any guys in your life?" Kyoko suppressed a laugh as her eccentric American friend continued babbling on in an ecstatic rampage.
"Hey, yes yes I know. I'm fine. not much really just some dramas and things. How have you been doing? Hows the singing thing going?" Kyoko replied dealing with each question one at a time in a feeble attempt to calm down her friends bubble of excitement.
"Oh yes I'm fine darling! Oh so many things have been happening I can't keep up with it all! *Laughs* I'm releasing a new album and of course I shall send you a demo and make sure you are the first to hear it!"
"Haha okay I'm sure it's great!" Kyoko laughed unable to contain it any more. Oh how she missed this, back in the days when she was younger they would sit on the roof with their deck chairs, blanket and soda's and just... talk for hours on end over so many things. Kyoko sighed to herself over how much things had changed so fast.
"Well I still need a couple more songs on it at the moment. OHHH I know you could help me write them! You were always so good at writing songs! You can even do a duet with me if you'd like! Ya'kno for old time's sake?"
"No way you know I don't sing anymore. It was just for fun back then but now I really want to do acting as a career... it's the only thing I've ever really wanted to do in my life"
"*sigh* I know but it was fun while it lasted... but then I guess we've all grown up since then. *Sigh* I miss those days" Kyoko knew exactly how she felt. Her friends in America had come to be like a family to her in her time of need, the family she had never had, and she missed them greatly. None of them really ever talked anymore; they had all ventured on to much bigger and better things.
"Yeh" Kyoko agreed regretfully "Anyway I wanted to ask you about something" Kyoko hesitantly suggested knowing exactly what would happen as soon as she told her about the audition.
"Sure what is it?" Her friend asked quizzically
"Well you see I've been offered an audition in America next week and I'm wondering if I should go for it because—"
"OH MY GOD YES!" Kyoko jumped almost dropping the phone on the floor. Of course as soon as she had mentioned she might be coming over to America her friend would jump in with two feet at the idea.
"You have to come over please please please! It will just be like old times! We can hang out and you can tell me about everything oh it will be great! When is it?" Kyoko sighed as it sounded like she didn't really have much choice now she had mentioned it.
"Umm the audition is on Wednesday but—"
"GREAT! Come down this weekend for the week! Oh I'll have to organise things to do and places to go and everything! Where are you staying? Well of course you can stay with me!"
"Yes but—"
"Wonderful ok I have planning to do, ok text me when you get here and ill pick you up from the airport!"
"Thank you but I don't even know if—" I should do it, kyoko finished in her head before being inevitably interupted.
"Ok darling I'll see you next week bye-bye!" And with that she hung up and her voice was but a faint ringing in Kyoko's ears leaving her standing in her bedroom dumbfounded. Well that's just great Kyoko finally thought as she got over the aftermath of the explosion of excitement from her friend. Now I'll have to go or I fear the extent of her anger should I disappoint her.
Kyoko knew there was no point ringing back, she had been given no choice and she would have to be subjected to go to the audition whether she felt she should or not. She sighed and climbed into her bed as she drifted off to sleep not even bothering to worry any further about the audition; there was just no helping it. Her friend had spoken.
Kyoko's day had gone smoothly; she had been filming for Box-R in the morning then gone for lunch with Ms. Amamiya afterward before bidding her goodbye as she went off to her next shoot. Kyoko walked in the opposite direction towards the metal fencing framing the park they were shooting in where she had chained her bike making a mental list of all the things she had to do to get ready for her dinner with Ren tonight. She needed to have a bath, brush her teeth, sort her outfit... wait. What if he was taking her somewhere fancy? It seemed highly plausible seeing as he was a world famous actor and she supposed would usually prefer a more high class lifestyle. She would have to ask the agency for an outfit. Again. She certainly had no attire suitable for formal and she would be mortified if she showed up to dinner at a posh restraunt in jeans and a t-shirt.
She hoped on her bike and headed to the agency hoping to ask Sawara-san if they had anything she could borrow, whether she would tell him the reason would be another matter entirely. She would have to come up with an excuse or god knows how it could get relayed back to the President or Yashiro-san! Lately the two eccentrics had deemed the two to be a perfect couple and had taken any small detail in the biggest way, pfft! like she would give them anything else to gossip about!
Ren waited outside the Darumaya in anticipation, if all went smoothly tonight they might just progress somewhere towards the relationship he longed for, he sincerely hoped so. He had been trying for a long time to get her to open up her heart to him so he could show her how he deeply cared for her and he hoped she would in turn accept him. Wiping the sweat from his hands onto the pants of his black suit he lifted his head up and almost gaped at what his eyes caught.
She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She wore a dark blue flowing dress down to just above her knees it was fitted around the waist to accent her figure perfectly and the straps came in an X of bunched material across her chest. Her hair had extensions put in and was bunched up around the side of her head letting auburn curls fall down to her shoulder just behind her ear. She approached the car gracefully as he stood there speechless, she lifted her eyes up at him through her long eyelashes in a way that made his heart beat rapidly against his torso.
"Sorry is it too much? I couldn't get away when jelly-san insisted she would do my makeup for the evening" She was apologizing?
"No of course not, you look.. breathtaking" He said as a gorgeous smile graced his face and he gently lifted the back of his hand up to stroke across her cheek. She was perfect "Ready?"
"Umm yes" Kyoko stumbled her reply in the shock at the action. Why is he stroking my face? She screamed in her head utterly surprised and at a loss of what to do with herself.
Luckily he stopped and opened the door for her allowing her to sit down and calm her heart still in shock from the innocent exchange.
Ren felt a chuckle bubbling up in his chest and quickly supressed it when he had seen her face as he stroked his hand across her cheek, she looked so surprised and at a loss for words he had to bundle her into the car as soon as possible before he did something else that would make her hate him.
Thankful for the steering wheel to keep his hands busy, They drove off down the road and onto the highway before Ren broke the silence creeping up between them.
"How has your day been?" he glanced down at the fragile mass of quivering surprise in the passenger seat and had to tear his eyes away before he burst out laughing. Geez if this was how she reacted to a stroke of the cheek what would she have done if he'd kissed her?
"Umm yes good thank you... you?" Kyoko replied slowly regaining her willpower to instill a sense of calm to her facial expression, but failing in her attempts, she could still feel her cheek burning red hot from the warmth of his skin and she was sure she was blushing like crazy.
"Yes it went well, I haven't really had much to do on my schedule for once. So I thought I would like to spend my time off with you" He glanced down at her from the side of his eye and acknowledged his words hadn't really gotten through their meaning. With a sigh he could predict this would be a long evening for him.
"Good" she replied not really registering what he had said her thoughts still distracted with the memory of the feel of his skin brushing against hers. In another attempt to regain her composure she looked out the window to distract herself and spotted a take-away joint on the corner as they pulled up to a traffic light providing a new train of thought that she desperately grasped at. "So where are we going?"
Ren chuckled and she turned her head to look at him quizzically "Have you ever heard of a place called Bronto's?" He asked her charmingly.
"Seriously! I have always wanted to go there I hear they have really good ice-cream! But it's so expensive and always booked up, how'd you get a reservation?" Ren couldn't help but let a light grin warm his face in amusement at her unknowingly cute antics.
"The owner is an old friend of the president" Lory did have his uses.
"Oh cool" Kyoko looked down nervously worrying with the hem of her dress and biting her lower lip.
"What's wrong?" Ren automatically caught onto the change in atmosphere around her and couldn't help but worry. He didn't want anything to ruin tonight.
"Well... it's just quite expensive and I'm not sure if—"
"Don't worry I'm paying, you can have whatever you like" Ren found it cute how she expected to pay her half, he was taking her out on a date of course he would pay no matter what she wanted as long as he could gaze upon that beautiful smile all evening.
"No! No I couldn't ask you to do that! I'm sure I can scrape together enough if I withdraw some money from my bank account on the way" Kyoko flustered, her face looking adorable with worry.
"No of course you won't. I asked you on this date so I'll pay" Ren announced with determination and authority that made her insides quiver. He would have no speak of silly matters like that, tonight would be perfect she needn't worry about a thing.
With a huff she resigned into her seat as they pulled up in the parking lot of the bistro. There was already a queue of people outside as Kyoko stared up at the fine establishment in adoration at the statues, water feature and overall elegance and charm that oozed from the old building. Before she knew it Ren had opened the door in front of her hand extended in an offering to help her out of the car and lead her into the building.
They strode straight in without a question asked and were escorted to their table almost instantly. Their table was situated in a booth at the far corner of the bistro where the lighting was low and the decoration from that of the romantic's period. Wow Kyoko admired to herself, being a well-known celebrity has it's perks. Ren pulled out her seat for her to sit down before taking his own place at the round intimate black marble table. The waiter handed them their menus before bowing in the most professional way Kyoko had ever seen and taking his leave to greet other guests.
"Like it?" Ren peered up from his menu at the girl opposite admiring how her gaze searched the room in wonder and amazement at the beauty of it all, but of course failing to realise how her own beauty outshone it all.
"Yes wow it's so amazing, there's so much detail and beauty. I never would have thought I would be lucky enough to come to a place like this" Kyoko was truly astounded at everything about the place, intricate chandeliers hung from the ceiling framed by dark red drapes leading off to the corners of the walls which then descended down into curtains around the windows like a waterfall. The waiters and waitresses were perfectly uniformed and all emitted a profound elegance as they walked and spoke. Even the woodwork around the booths the people were seated had intricate little engravings and etchings of winding flowers and leaves. Just the building itself was like a work of art let alone the paintings gracing the walls! It had a sort of magical atmosphere to it; she could almost imagine the fairies dancing in and out of the drapes.
"It is rather" Ren continued to watch her fondly as she gazed in admiration before settling her eyes back to his, her expression changing speculatively.
"Thankyou so much for bringing me here but ... You don't usually like eating yet you asked me to dinner" she chuckled to him jokingly. Ahh she had him.
"Well I just thought it might be the sort of place you'd enjoy and would allow us to have a conversation, we can always go to see a play or something if you'd like?" He sincerely hoped not, he wouldn't want to mar his reputation here by walking out before they had even ordered, not that he supposed the joint would care much but he worked so hard to keep his reputation clean.
"No of course I love it! I was just joking. Thank you so much" She smiled at him warmly to convey how much she truly did love the place.
"Good, have you decided what you'd like?"
"Oh erm" Kyoko pondered over the menu. Wow there was so many nice sounding things she liked the look of but so much to choose from! She gazed over the choices of delicately assorted food before settling on a dish she liked the sound of that wasn't too pricey.
"Erm I think I'll have the Chirashi Sushi with Miso Soup"
"Yeh, I think I'll have the same" He smiled at her charmingly causing her heart to flutter but she knew full well he hadnt even looked at the menu provoking her to roll her eyes at him before he waved over a waiter and placing their order.
In the meantime they chatted over work and various things, Kyoko's animated descriptions causing Ren to relax and easily fall into a comfortable state of enjoyment before their food was brought over.
It all looked so yummy and Kyoko gazed upon it with delicate fantasy before picking up her utensils and setting to work. When Ren was quiet also starting on his food Kyoko decided now was the time to unveil her worries to the unsuspecting actor.
"I've been offered an audition for the lead role in a movie" Ren looked up at her brightly with a smile that almost made her heart melt into slush in her chest.
"Wow that's great, Your becoming a fine actress" She was indeed and a fine young lady, he thought to himself as he raised his glass of Umeshu to his lips and gazed over her womanly features, a slender face, delicate warm eyes prettier than the sunrise and a beautiful feminine blush creeping over her soft cheeks.
"It's in America" Kyoko added hesitantly continuing her meal as if it was indifferent.
Ren was interrupted in his contemplations of her beauty when he almost choked on his wine. "In America?" He barely choked out the repetition of her words unable to stop the surprise marring the features of his face.
"Yeh... well I might not even get it, I'm flying over at the weekend for a week to go to the audition but the actual filming wouldn't start until a few months later really" Kyoko's gaze wondered away unable to transfix her eyes on her partner after being caught off guard by his surprised reaction.
Next week! Ren repeated to himself in his head, why next week? Why so far away? I won't be able to see her at all? No accidental running into her or working on set with her, she would be truly unreachable should anything befall her. Causing doubts to stir in Ren's mind after remembering what happened last time she travelled. Stupid Beagle and Fuwa he thought to himself angrily. Of course neither of them two would be there but he had lived in America and knew that in some places it would be dangerous for her to venture out in the night alone.
"Don't worry I have an old friend to stay with, she agreed to let me stay there over the week, it's not like I'm going there alone" Kyoko tried to reassure him finding it unbearable to watch the worry etching itself into his face.
"Oh I see... well I'm sure this will be a great opportunity for you to really improve your career" Ren put on a gentlemanly smile to hide his anger over not being able to accompany her, damn it of course he wouldn't be able to, he had no reason to be in America she would get suspicious.
Kyoko jumped back slightly in her seat over the brightness of the smile FAKE! Her mind screamed at her. What could I have possibly done to make him angry? Kyoko worried herself running over the previous scene in her mind searching for anything she might have said to provoke such a reaction but brought up a short straw.
Ren sighed to himself, glancing down at his food he knew she had to do this and he wasn't intending to stand in the way of her career but he couldn't help feeling a tug at his heart at not being able to see her for a week after they had been working so closely together as the Heel siblings. All he wanted to do was reach across the table; take her delicate hand in his and pour out how he felt about her and have her return his love. But of course that wouldn't happen, her heart wasn't ready for confessions of that nature. He glanced up at her catching a worried expression as she continued to eat her meal.
"What's wrong?"
Kyoko realised Ren was watching her as he brought her out of her contemplations over going to America. "Oh its nothing, it's just far away and it's such a big role I don't think I'll be able to get it and even if I do I'd have to spend a month or two in America filming it and I don't really know if I'm ready yet for such a big thing like this yet"
Ren suppressed his feelings as the words month or two choked at his heart and straightened up ready to support his love in her time of need "Don't worry, we all have to do things we are worried about in order to progress in life, if you duck out of it now won't you forever wonder where it would have taken you if you had gone for it?"
Kyoko looked up at him through drawn eyelashes and knew in her heart of hearts what he was saying was true and she let his reassuring words take a hold of her heart and release the tension coiling her worries. "Yeh your right" She sighed as she felt herself relax and melt into his voice "I knew talking to you would reassure me" She gazed up at him with an expression that made him want to take hold of her in his arms and plant a kiss upon her soft lips.
Instead he busied his hands with his food as for the first time in his life he was suddenly fascinated by the food in front of him. "Just don't worry everything will be fine" He tossed her a reassuring smile that made Kyoko feel a strange fluttering feeling in the pit of her stomach that she quickly suppressed and ignored making sure the locks on her heart were still tightly sealed.
They finished their meal tentatively talking to each other throughout before Ren payed the bill and led her back to the black car parked at the back of the Parking lot. He went round her side to open the door for her when he caught sight of her face gazing at him framed by the moonlight and took a deep breath. For a moment he just couldn't help himself, she was stunning and he felt like he had been graced by the presence of a ethereal angel.
He slid his hand round to her back realising it was a bare-back dress which fuelled his passions even further as he leaned her slightly back resting against the side of the car. He swiftly lowered his head to her face and closed his eyes as he felt the warmth of her breath only centimetres away from his lips.
Then he felt her breath hitch in her throat.
So there you go! Thankyou so much for your kind reviews, they are what make me really enjoy writing when i hear people who like my stories! So please keep reviewing and the next chapter will come out quicker! ;D
~Sunny XD
