I'm so sorry it took to so long to get this posted. Thank you for your reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter! ---
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Skip Beat or Tokyo Crazy Paradise.
Back on set.
"She's so lucky!" whispered a female extra. "I want to wear Tsuruga's pajamas!"
"Yuki-chan, you just want to get in Tsuruga-san's pants!" teased another female extra.
"Quiet on the set!" yelled Director. "Mogami-san, Are you ready?"
"Yes," replied Kyouko as she stretched out. They had been shooting for several days, but this was the first real action shot.
"Tsukasa had been trying to avoid Ryuji. She is unable to forgive him for collecting debt against her and forcing her to pay it off as his bodyguard. To make the matter worse he continually set up situations to increase her debt." said the director setting up the scene. "Three, two, one, action."
The set is a busy Tokyo street. It's early in the morning and many students are on their way to school.
Passerby 1: "It's noisy today too."
Passerby 2: "So what else is new?"
In an alley right behind the couple that walked by is a high school girl cornered by two high school aged thugs.
Girl: ".A....." Terrified she tried to back away from the two thugs. Hitting the wall of the building behind her she panicked knowing she'd was trapped. Too afraid to look at their faces, too afraid to move, she shook her head.
Thug 1: "You'll buy this won't you? We want your money," He pressed himself up against her holding a small clear container with some power inside.
Girl: "I... I don't want... I don't need......" Pleading with them, tears streamed down her face.
Thug 1: "You're going to buy this." Grabbing her by the hair, he wrenched her head back against the wall.
Girl: "No!" screamed the girl.
There is the sound of her being slapped. Two high school girls walk buy and notice the scene. (The same two extras who were commenting on Ren's pajamas.)
Girl 1: "...A... A girl's being assaulted. Should we call the police?"
Girl 2: "Nah, she probably has some self-defense weapons. She'll probably get away herself."
Girl 1: "That's true. There's no reason to get myself into trouble for the sake of others."
Girl 2:: "That's right."
From down the street a lone figure watched the scene play out.
Thug 2: "If you do these you'll feel really good," he laughed as he dangled the drugs in front of her badly bruised face.
Thug 1: "It doesn't seem like she can talk any more. Let's just take the money and try another one."
Thug 2: "What?! We're just going to leave her like this? That's too cruel. The least we can do is make her feel good," he slipped his hand up her skirt. The girl struggled against him, but he was too powerful.
Girl: "Someone please," she cried hoarsely.
Thug 2: "If you don't raise your voice then nobody will come," he laughed as he continued to violate her.
Thug 1: "Enough play already. Finish up and let's get on with it." As he turned to leave his face met with Ryuji's fist.
Thug 2: "You bastard!" yelled the other thug. Ryuji had completely knocked out the first guy with one hit. "What the hell did you do that for? I'll kill you!"
He grabbed Ryuji's neck. Like a gust of wind Tsukasa came flying from nowhere wrapping her chain around the thug's neck from behind and yanked him backwards.
Thug 1: "Ghuuaaa!"
Tsukasa: "Mom, Dad, are you watching? People are still so indifferent, and there are still people who gain pleasure from hurting the weak," she growled pulling the chain harder.
Coughing and trying to talk at the same time the thug attempted to plead with her. Smiling Tsukasa pulled harder on the chain. The actor playing the thug started to freak against the weight of Tsukasa's anger. Demonic energy swirled from her as she pulled a little harder. It felt like demons clawed at his face. His eyes grew wide as he grabbed the chain.
Thug 1: "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I won't do it again!" He blurted it out sincerely out of sheer fear for his life. As soon as she loosened her grip he and the other thug made a quick escape.
Tsukasa: "Man! The scent of liquor, cigarettes and cheap cologne. You're not going to grow up as a decent adult," she yelled after the two thugs. Quietly Kamo-san snuck up behind her.
Clank! Kamo-san snapped a collar around her neck.
Tsukasa: "Er.." She reached to her neck to feel what just happened.
Kamo-san: "Sandaime, we've captured her." His face never changed from its' constant smile as he handed Ryuji the leash.
Tsukasa: "A! Dammit!" She whirls around and directs her anger at the person at the other end of the leash.
Ryuji: "Well done," he replied to Kamo-san. Turning to Tsukasa he smirked. "How funny that you come flying no matter where I go."
Tsukasa: "You idiot! You put yourself in danger just so that you could catch me!" she yelled pointing at Ryuji accusingly while her other fist was clenched and shaking slightly.
Ryuji: "My, what nice reflexes you have. I thought I was about to get strangled," he laughed as he rubbed his neck.
Tsukasa: "Shut up! Why did I even come back?" she cried while pounding her fists against the sidewalk crying like a child having a tantrum.
Ryuji: "Here's your reward for returning home," He crouched down to her and popped some food in her mouth.
Tsukasa glared at him about to attack until she notices the girl behind him. She sat slumped against the wall only half conscious and completely unable to move.
Ryuji: "Ah. That's right, she was surrounded by those two earlier." Looking over at what had distracted Tsukasa.
Tsukasa: "I should have finished them off. I hate rapists the most," She crouched in front of the girl. Ryuji watched silently. Tsukasa turned back to Ryuji with a worried almost maternal expression.
Tsukasa: "Ryuji? Can we take her to the hospital?"
She glanced at Ryuji expecting him to have his serious expression.
Kyouko jumped when her gaze is met by Ren's emperor of the night smile. Realizing she had been forced by Ren's acting skills to react a certain way she glared at him.
Tsukasa: "Mom hated rapists the most, but Mom, Dad, there some people that I hate equally: the yakuza!" she screamed to the heavens.
"And cut!" yelled the director. "Yuki-san, Sano-san you both did well. Your both finished for the day. I'll need you again in three days. Everyone in the next scene can take a fifteen minute break while we change scenes."
"Kyouko," called Julie. "The stains on your clothes were really set in. Yashiro and I dropped them off to be professionally cleaned. I picked up a new dress for you on the way back." She held up a pale blue wrap dress with long sleeves. "Do you like it?"
"It's beautiful!" said Kyouko. "Oh mom you shouldn't have. I'm fine just wearing pajamas."
"Dear, didn't you say you have another job after this?" asked Julie. "Would it have been okay to show up in pajama's?
"Uhh.." Kyouko stammered. She hadn't told Kuu and Julie about her second job yet. She was just so used to hiding it from everyone. "About that, I have a uniform that I have to wear when I'm there."
"Oh," sighed Julie. She had imagined Kyouko was an assistant to a director or something along those lines.
"The dress is beautiful though!" said Kyouko trying to cheer Julie up. "I can't wait to try it on!"
"Mogami-san," called Yamamoto Sano as he walked over to Kyouko. "You were amazing in the last scene! I really thought you hated me!"
"Thank you," said Kyouko politely. "Yamamoto-san also did very well."
"Please just call me Sano," he blushed. Unfortunately for him a dark ruthless man was watching. "I was wondering if you had..."
"Kyouko!" called that dark man. "What time do you have to be at your next job?"
"At 16:45." replied Kyouko a little embarrassed to hear Ren yell her name from the other side of the room. "I'm sorry Yamamoto-san, I should go see what Tsuruga-san wants." Kyouko walked over to Ren in a surprisingly calm manner assuming Ren had some very important reason to yell her name like that. "Tsugura-san, did you need something from me?"
"Ah, no. I just want to know if you need a ride to the studio," he mumbled looking at his feet.
"I would appreciate that," said Kyouko before she realized what she was saying. Ren just looked too embarrassed about asking for her to decline.
"Okay everyone please take your places," yelled Director Skinkai.
Kuryugumi headquarters is a large western style mansion. The set is of a grand entrance hallway. As Ryuji, Tsukasa, Kamo-san and Bun-san walk in they are greeted by a dozen bowing men.
Kumiins: "Welcome back home Sandaime!"
Ryuji nodded to them as he walked past. Tsukasa, still not used to seeing Ryuji greeted in such a manner, walked a little closer than normal. Ryuji stopped suddenly and Tsukasa slammed into him. She peered around his side to see why he had stopped. A huge cake was being carefully moved across the hall.
Ryuji: "Ahem," he cleared his through then nodded toward Tsukasa.
The cake movers stopped in front of Tsukasa and handed it to her. She staggered unable to balance the cake.
Tsukasa: "Hey! What the hell are you making me carry?" she murmured.
Ryuji: "That's a 1.2 million yen cake for someone's birthday tomorrow. It's important, so if you drop it I'll have it billed to your debt," he explained casually.
Tsukasa:"Well if it's so important then why don't you.." She turned to face Ryuji.
Ryuji: "Uh oh."
The cake wobbled at first like a building about to come crashing down.
Tsukasa: "A?"
Cake splattered all over the floor and covered Tsukasa.
Bun-san: "That'll be another 1.2 million yen." He pulled a calculator out of his jacket and totals her debt.
Tsukasa: "Aaaagggghhhhhh!" She turned to Ryuji in tears with her hair standing on end. He smirked.
Kyouko wasn't about to let Ren get away with what he did earlier. Two could play at that game. She walked up to him almost pressing her body against his, her glare never strayed from his eyes. She reached up to his face almost as if to caress it. Shocked Ren couldn't move. He closed his eyes and leandc in as her hand caressed his face. Yashiro dropped the calculator totally overwhelmed by the atmosphere. Ren's eyes flicked open from shock as he touched the frosting covering his cheek.
Ryuji: "Heh." He wiped the cake from his face and grinned evilly.
Kyouko took a step back trying to prepare for Ren's outburst.
Ryuji: "Oh yeah that's right."
Ren knew if he followed the script his chance for payback would arrive.
Ryuji: "I forgot to add the food reward from earlier." He strode over to Bun-san, picked up the calculator of the floor and handed it to him.
Bun-san: "That's 10000 yen for the special truffle. Together that makes 101227563 yen."
Tsukasa slumped to the floor in despair, her head down.
Ryuji: "Oh and the 90000 yen for ambulance and medical fees for that girl from earlier. You've sure accumulated a lot haven't you." He strode into a living room and sat down on the couch. Grabbing a cigarette from his pocket he reached for his lighter.
Tsukasa: "Thanks to you and all those dirty tricks like the one you just pulled," she walked over to him and yanked the cigarette from his mouth.
Ryuji: "It's because you're neglecting your job. You're the child of the police, aren't you? You're going keep your promise, aren't you? Didn't you say that you were going to pay back by being my bodyguard?" He calmly replaced the cigarette with another one.
Tsukasa yanked the cigarette out of his mouth again and stormed off down the hall only to be whipped back by the chain. She glared at Ryuji.
Tsukasa:"I want to go change shirts," she huffed. Ryuji released the leash and let her storm off.
Tsukasa mumbling to herself: "Damn that guy. Picking on me like that all the time. What do you mean 'a bodyguard makes more money than a regular job,' when he uses dirty tricks like that to increase my debt! I wish I had thought more clearly after my parents died in that yakuza dispute. My brothers and I had nowhere to go, so I thought of using Ryuji since he was a yakuza. Boy was that a bad idea."
Standing in the corner of the living room wearing a clean long sleeved shirt Tsukasa watched as a kumiin spoke with Ryuji. They exchanged words and the kumiin bowed in appreciation to Ryuji and left.
"Cut." the director yelled. "Mogami-san in this scene your not supposed to be glaring at Ryuji. Your questioning yourself as you stare at him. Why do you instinctively save him? Why do you keep coming back if you hate him so much? Then you watch him interact with his kumiin you notice his expressionless face. You feel protective of his true shelf that he only shows you."
"I'm sorry Director," said Kyouko. "Please let me try again."
"Okay, let's take it where the kumiin walks out of the room." said the director. "Three...two...one, action."
Tsukasa watched Ryuji as she walked closer to him.
Kyouko couldn't help comparing Tsukasa's feeling to her own. She knew so many sides of Ren that no one else had ever seen. In front of everyone else he always stays cool and calm. In front of her Ren seem to let his guard down. Was this why Tsukasa wanted to protect him? Was it the same feeling. With every step her expression softened a little. He looked up and noticed her standing right behind him.
Ryuji: "You uniform will need to be dry cleaned. I'll add it to your debt," he smirked.
Tsukasa: "You're such a jerk! How low can you go?" her face turned back to her normal scowl.
Ryuji: "Hoho. Since you don't like the idea of being bodyguard I was going to tell you about a job where you can easily make about 1200000 yen a day," he stood up and stalked over to her.
Tsukasa: "WHAT!? Is there really such thing?" She took a step closer to him.
Ryuji smiled slyly. Sweat drops slid down Tsukasa's face as she took a step back. She started to fall over the back of the couch. Ryuji grabbed her arm and pulled her into him. Tsukasa panicked for a minute thinking of the promise to her parents to never let anyone find out she was female. It was the first promise she had ever broken.
Ryuji: "I would pay you 100000 an hour for that body of yours." He whispered as he leaned in close to her ear. Tsukasa pushed him back with both hands.
Tsukasa: "Y... You're such an unlikeable person!" She punched him hard in the chest tears started to stream down her face. "Ryuji-kun...You hate me don't you Ryuji-kun."
Those words hit too close to home for Ren. Was this what would happen if he did make a move on her? He stared at this tiny woman in front him. She looked up at him with her huge eyes brimming with tears.
Tsukasa: "I know that for sure now," she sniffled.
Ren stood there totally forgetting his part. He didn't know what to do. Those tears looked so genuine maybe he went to far.
Tsukasa: "You love to hurt me so that's why you make that unfair debt." She shoved him again hard starting to regain some of her fury. "It's because of who I am isn't it. Police kids and yakuza kids are forever enemies." She stormed out of the room.
Ren still just stood there like a newbie.
Kamo-san: "Sandaime if you don't hurry up and clear up the misunderstanding you're going to lose her! Tell Tsukasa-san that the debt is not to torture her, but that it's the only way you can keep her by your side longer. She should know the truth." He walked over to Ryuji and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Cut," yelled the director. "Great job everyone."
"What?" stammered Ren finally regaining his composure. "Are we finished?"
"Yes," said the director as he started to walk off. "Please excuse me."
Ren stood there in shock. Had anyone noticed he'd completely lost character?
"Oh my. Does she always make you lose face?" snickered Kuu.
"Ugh," sighed Ren. Of course he would notice.
"That's an interesting game the two of you play while on set," laughed Kuu. "How does it feel to be completely beaten by an actress who doesn't even have half your experience."
"You'd better watch out for her," sighed Ren. "She'll get you too."
"She has before," laughed Kuu as he remembered Kyouko playing the part of his son Kuon. "She doesn't even realize how amazing she truly is."
The two men walked off towards the dressing rooms. Kuu grabbed Ren's arm just before he turned to go into his room.
"It seems my wife is quite smitten with you," sighed Kuu. "We planned on surprising Kyouko with dinner tonight after she finishes work. She happens to be working in the same building as the Bridge Rock talk show. I thought we could go watch it while we wait for her to finish work and then have a nice dinner."
"I'll have to pass on tonight," replied Ren. The idea of spending any more time with the three of them sent shivers down his spine. That would certainly be suicide for Tsuruga Ren. "I have a photo shoot after this."
"That's too bad," sighed Kuu. "Julie will be so disappointed."
"Ugh..." sighed Ren. He knew how his mom could be when she didn't get her way. He would never hear the end of it. "Alright, if you give Kyouko a ride then I can get to the shoot early. I'll meet you there as soon as I get finished."
"Good, I hate to see my wife disappointed," laughed Kuu as he slapped Ren on the back.
"I never wanted to be a disappointment to either of you," murmured Ren as he stormed off, too tired to keep up the charade.
"You never were," sighed Kuu to himself.