Lol. I got a review yesterday that just…totally made sense. AND it allowed me to give Yashiro a reason - doesn't really change anything in the story - just adds the funny.

Dedication: This goes out to The Dragon Guardian of the Sea for the inspiration :D

Urgh. Decorations. Bleurgh. This is probably going to be a short chapter. Also it's unedited at the moment (yes - you get to see my raws!) but I'll be posting the edited version later.

Edit: Ok, edited version is now up.

Advent '08

December 6th - 19 days to go

Kanae grumbled under her breath as she mopped the floor. Taking a break she stood straight and stretched out her back, hearing her spine click into place. Kyoko stood ten feet away from where she stood and was still working hard.

She had been working hard all morning.

It was very suspicious. Especially since the only reason that they were mopping right now was because they never finished yesterdays To-Do list. And, from what Kanae could work out, the only reason that they didn't finish that list was because Kyoko had disappeared off somewhere for an hour yesterday.

"Hmmm."

Kyoko tensed at the noise and looked up.

She looked frightened. Which really only served to make Kanae more suspicious. Where had she gone yesterday? What had she done?

Thoughts tumbled through Kanae's mind as she tried to figure out different scenarios that fit.

Kyoko had been quiet ever since she had come back yesterday. Kanae thought that it might have been because she was feeling sorry that she had run off and abandoned her with everything to do.

Kanae 'hmmm-ed' again and looked Kyoko over carefully.

Yesterday she had been pissed and had completely ignored her friend, choosing to believe her own version of what had happened. Now though…

Now she wasn't so sure she had been right. Kyoko had been wearing a very faint pink blush the entire morning and Kanae knew that that had nothing to do with feeling sorry.

It looked like something had happened. Something to make Kyoko blush.

Kanae smirked. It looked like she was going to have to go talk to Yashiro as soon as possible. Today if she could manage it.

Until then…

"Hey Kyoko-chan?"

Kanae watched with amusement as Kyoko started violently.

"Y-yes, Moko-chan?"

"I was wondering…where did you run off to yesterday?"

Kyoko fumbled for a moment to find something to say, her mouth opening and closing.

"Nowhere. I didn't go anywhere."

"Really? I only ask because you've been awfully quiet…"

"Quiet? I haven't been quiet! Look! See? I'm just as I always am!"

"And now you're covering. That's even more interesting. Just what did happen?"

"Um…er…I don't know what you mean…?"

Kanae just looked at Kyoko. She didn't honestly expect her to believe that did she? Well, there was always more than one way to crack a nut. Feigning hurt, Kanae placed her hand over her heart.

"You…you don't want to tell me? Don't you trust me Kyoko-chan?"

"Ur…"

She sobbed a little and buried her face in her hand, the other still holding the mop.

"I thought we were friends."

Peeking between her fingers she was pleased to see that Kyoko had fallen for her play, hook, line and sinker and was now staring at her with tears in her eyes.

"Oh, Moko-chan! We are friends!"

"Then why won't you tell me? Did someone say that you couldn't? Are you in trouble? Are you keeping secrets from me? Friends don't keep secrets from one another!"

Kyoko was visibly starting to crack. Kanae felt a little guilty at the fact that she was manipulating a friend with her acting skills but she squashed down that feeling. She couldn't afford to feel guilty, she had to find out what was going on around here.

Her curiosity was killing her!

So caught up in her thoughts , Kanae was taken completely off guard when Kyoko tackled her round the middle, knocking the wind from her.

"Ooof."

"I'm sorry Moko-chan! I didn't realised that you were so upset! Don't be angry, I'll tell you!"

Kanae tried to pry her way out of the bone crunching hug she found herself stuck in but gave up after a few failed attempts. Kyoko seemed completely glued to her, luckily she could still breath in a little.

"K-kyoko-chan?"

Kyoko either ignored her or was completely absorbed in her apology that she just didn't hear her desperately trying to gain her attention.

"I'll tell you everything! Don't be upset anymore!"

The breath that Kanae had managed to regain caught in her throat as Kyoko squeezed harder. She could also feel her ribs grinding against each other and it was not a pleasant feeling. Unfortunately she now couldn't draw in enough air to call out Kyoko's name anymore, instead she could only manage a wheeze.

"Kyoko-chan."

Fortunately Kyoko chose that moment to let go of her and Kanae sucked in a gulp of air gratefully.

Okay…she had forgotten how good her acting skills were along with Kyoko's tendency to over-react to anything pertaining to friendship. She surreptitiously rubbed her ribs.

Urgh. Those were going to bruise in the morning.

"So? What's going on?"

"Well, you know how there's that winter award ceremony ball thing?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, Tsuruga-san doesn't want to go. So Yashiro-san asked me to help try and convince him."

"Help. Yashiro-san convinced you to help get Tsuruga-san to go to the awards?"

"Yes."

"…why?"

"Because he'll disappoint his fans if he doesn't!"

"Yes. Because I can see that."

Kyoko smiled happily and Kanae managed to smile and not show her own disbelief at Kyoko's…Kyoko-ness.

Patting her friend on the shoulder she went back to mopping the floor, biting her bottom lip to prevent herself from wincing in pain when she tried to twist.

Something just wasn't right here. Kyoko had said that Yashiro had wanted her to convince Ren to get him to go but why couldn't he have just done that himself? He was Rens manager for goodness sake! Surely if he put his foot down and said it was for the good of his career Ren would have to listen.

If that didn't work he could have just gone to see the President.

No.

There was something going on around here and she was going to find out what and then after that she was going to get in on it. She was not going to be denied.

And it all led back to just one person.

Yashiro.

---/---

Kanae was finishing off one of the last jobs on her list for that day when she caught a glimpse of Yashiro on his own entering his office. Remembering her decision earlier that morning she smirked and quickly followed him.

Forgoing knocking on his door she entered quickly. Yashiro jumped in surprise and quickly shoved the top draw of his desk closed. Kanae shot him a confused look and raised her eyebrow. She had come to confront him about Kyoko and whatever he had planned but he was acting suspicious himself and that just made her want to find out why.

Locking the door behind her to prevent escape she eyed Yashiro in a predatory manner, her gaze flicking down to his desk. She was going to have to get him away from there so she could get into the drawer before he knew what she was doing.

Yashiro narrowed his eyes and straightened up, standing next to his desk.

"Kotonami-chan? Is there something I can help you with?"

First things first though…

Kanae strode over to him before poking him in the chest with her finger.

"I don't know what you're up to Yashiro-san but I do know you're up to something."

She smirked when Yashiro began to look uncomfortable.

"I don't know what you're talking about Kotonami-chan."

"Nonsense. You have a plan don't you? Are you trying to set Kyoko-chan and Tsuruga-san up?"

"How did you know?"

Kanae grinned as she caught the slip.

"Well, I wasn't sure until just now."

She watched as realisation slipped over Yashiro's face which was quickly followed by despair.

She was not prepared for Yashiro grabbing her hand and pulling her towards him. Caught off balance she let out an involuntary gasp as she fell into his body. She jerked her head up, prepared to yell at him but the look he was giving her silenced her admonitions.

It was a look of pure evil.

She swallowed in fear.

"You're not going to say anything about this to anyone. Do you understand."

Shivers raced down her spine as his silky voice slipped over her skin. Wide eyed, she nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

"Wonderful. I am so glad. I was hoping that you would."

He smiled but something in her rallied up. He was still holding her to him, pulling her off balance, so she reached up and fisted his shirt.

"Wait one moment."

He seemed surprised that she could move and that buoyed her even further.

"I want in on this."

"Really? Why?"

"You're trying to get them to go to the Winter Awards right?"

"That is correct. But how did you -?"

"I put two and two together. I'm not an idiot." She smirked. "Besides, it's what I would have done."

"Interesting. So what do you want?"

She paused. She wanted to know what he had shoved in his top draw but she also wanted to see what was going to happen with her friend.

Hmm…tough decision.

"I want to go. Managers of invited stars are invited too. When Tsuruga-san takes Kyoko I want you to take me. Besides, I wouldn't want to miss that sight."

"You want me to let you in on my plan and take you to the awards?"

"Of course."

"And you won't stay quiet if I don't?"

"Nope."

She watched as he processed the situation.

"This is blackmail you know."

"Are you complaining?"

Yashiro smirked down at her.

"Ok. You've got yourself a deal."

"Wonderful. Now, how about you tell me all about this plan?"

Yashiro slowly let go and they separated cautiously, still smiling at one another.

"Of course, Kotonami-chan."

She moved around him and sat on his desk, crossing her legs and leaning back on her elbows.

This was perfect. She was in on the plan, she was going to get to go to the award ceremony and from this angle she could easily hook open the drawer and get whatever he had hidden away before he could stop her.

She was so busy formulating her plans that she completely missed the way that Yashiro was looking at her or the faint line of pink that appeared on his cheeks before he regained composure of himself.

"You might as well call me by something less formal if we're going to be working so closely."

Yashiro nodded and swallowed sharply, before outlining what he had planned and what needed to be done.

After he had finished Kanae sat lounging on his desk thinking through what he said. It was, all in all, quite a brilliant plan.

She smirked. Brilliant. And she was going to be a part of it and see it happen whilst it happened.

Glancing over at Yashiro, she saw that he was busy looking pleased with himself. Grinning with him, she slipped her hand back and slowly opened the draw. Feeling around slowly for the paper bag she kept grinning. After a few moments standing like that Yashiro narrowed his eyes.

"Kanae-chan? Just what are you -?"

She interrupted him by whipping out the bag and laughing triumphantly. She was prepared to be yelled at, to see horror pasted across his face when she held his big secret in her hands.

She was not, however, prepared for him lunging across the room trying to reach the bag that she held out behind her. She arched back trying to keep it out of his reach but he just kept reaching forward until she was flat on her back, pressed against his desk.

But, no matter how much he stretched, she stretched just that little bit more.

It was a stalemate.

Yashiro was breathing heavily, one hand planted on his desk to keep his full weight from crushing her completely, his fingers tangled in her long hair. She too, was a bit out of breath, but that was mostly from the shock at having him lunge across the room at her than having him practically lying on top of her.

She cleared her throat and watched as Yashiro turned a fascinating shade of red but didn't move.

"Yashiro…san?"

"Kanae-chan. Give me back my bag. It's rude to go through other peoples drawers."

She pouted up at him, giving him her best puppy dog eyes.

"But I was curious. I thought it might have something to do with the plan."

"Well it doesn't. Can I have it back now?"

"No. I want to see what's inside."

"Kanae…" he growled warningly.

"Oh, please? Please?"

He paused, thinking about it for a moment before shaking his head absolutely.

"No. You'll just laugh."

Kanae quickly made herself look serious.

"I won't. I promise."

Yashiro was torn. He dithered for a moment longer before finally coming to a decision. He peered at her.

"You promise?"

"Yes. I promise."

He sighed and lifted himself off of her and brushed himself down before polishing his glasses, his head down.

Kanae narrowed her eyes at him and slowly sat up. Seeing that he wasn't going to look at her anytime soon she opened the bag and tipped the contents of it onto her lap. A bright orange book fell out.

Placing the bag onto the desk beside her she reached down to flip it over so she could read the cover title.

"'Jump Melody' volume twelve?" She asked in disbelief. "You read Shojo manga?"

Yashiro blushed darkly and kept his eyes on the floor, waiting for her laughter. When it didn't come he slipped his glasses back on and glanced up. His jaw dropped when he saw that instead of sneering at him she was instead flipping through the pages, reading it.

"What are you doing?"

"Reading it. I didn't know volume twelve had come out already. You don't mind, do you?"

Yashiro was speechless.

"Um, no…you go ahead."

Kanae glanced up from the page and smiled.

Why…is everyone so oblivious? And why do I get the feeling that I should be raising the rating of this?

What do you think of the story so far? We're just over a fifth of the way through. Do you feel that everything is moving alone nicely? Is everything clear so far?

And I so want to read Jump Melody my fantastically made up series.

DS