Okay, so this one was on time!! Anyway, school's going to be over soon and all, so I hope everyone is having a nice relaxing time...
Thank you to all the people who reviewed!! I now have 47 reviews~! Help me get it to fifty!!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. And I mean anything. (apparently nothing is actually yours until you're 16...)
CHAPTER SEVEN!!
Ren watched as Kyoko engaged in polite small talk with Daijiro Tanaka, before they both were called to move to their places. Kyoko was smiling as Daijiro made an elaborate bow over her hand. Ren could feel the acid churning in his stomach; the man was such a flirt. He could also feel Yashiro smirking at him. The actor sighed inwardly. It seemed that he'd have to work on the jealousy issue if he was to function properly on this project, because Daijiro was a natural womanizer and Kyoko's character was a guy magnet. Could there be a worse set of circumstances?
Kyoko was now sitting on a seat in their house, or rather, the set for one of the rooms in their house. A minor actor playing the butler announced the arrival of a visitor, and Kyoko lazily told him to show whoever it was in. And up walked Daijiro with a smile that looked more like a smirk on his self satisfied face. Admittedly, that expression was what he was supposed to be wearing, Ren just didn't like it. The other actor waltzed over to where Kyoko stood and lightly kissed her hand. Ren gritted his teeth. Yashiro almost laughed. Kyoko was so immersed in her character that the blush that should have been on her cheeks was absent.
Kyoko rose and exclaimed, "Chauvelin!"
"At your service, citoyenne."
"How good it is to see someone from France!" Kyoko smiled, "But what brings you to England?"
Daijiro shrugged, "I could say the same to you, my lady."
"Oh, you know me. I was bored. A climate of fog and virtues would never suit Marguerite Saint-Just" she said, turning away from the other man as she did.
Daijiro, or rather Chauvelin, shot her a sharp glance. "You surprise me, citoyenne. And within a year of a romantic love match! That idyllic folly did not survive the lapse of weeks?"
Kyoko frowned at him, "Idyllic follies never last, Chauvelin."
"Well," smiled Daijiro, "I happen to have a cure to your boredom. It is called work."
"Work?" Kyoko looked interested.
Daijiro's face changed to one of earnestness. He stepped closer to Kyoko, too close for Ren's liking, and whispered "Will you render France a service, citoyenne?"
Kyoko suddenly looked much less happy. "Another service?"
"I'm sure you have heard of the Scarlet Pimpernel, citoyenne. For weeks now, this agitating Englishman and his little band have been helping aristocrats across the channel. Each escape is daring, each is different, but the one thing they have in common is the fact that they are directed by a young Englishman whose brain seems as resourceful as his identity is mysterious. Find him for me, citoyenne! Find him for France."
Kyoko looked put out now.
"No favours, Chauvelin! Besides, where in the world am I to look? Whoever he is, he is brave and noble. As soon as you find him, he'll be taken to France and guillotined."Daijiro's face seemed to confirm her suspicious, and Kyoko continued, "Never would I lend a hand to such villainy. That is my last word. Good day, citoyen Chauvelin."
Kyoko turned and started to walk to a door on the side of the room. Daijiro's face became more determined, and he strode after her and grabbed her hand. Kyoko turned, apparently shocked by this lack of manners.
Daijiro sighed. "I had wished for your willing cooperation, citoyenne."
"Well, you won't get it, willing or otherwise!"She glared at him.
They stared at each other for a time, matching wills. Suddenly, the actor turned and asked, "How is your brother, citoyenne?"
Kyoko, or rather Marguerite, looked taken aback. "He's well, thank you. Armand is en route to France; I spoke to him just three days ago..."
"Hn..." the actor gave a self-satisfied snort, " I see... Well, it may shock you to know that your brother, Saint-Just, is in deadly peril."
Kyoko's eyes widened slightly but her expression did not change.
"The other day, I obtained possession of some papers which reveal some instructions from that archmeddler, the Scarlet Pimpernel, to some of his circle. It may surprise you to know that Armand is a helper, if not a member, of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel."
Kyoko turned pale, shaking her head slightly, before exclaiming, "Another of your imaginary plots, Chauvelin? Armand, helping the aristocrats whom he despises? Armand a follower of the Scarlet Pimpernel?"
Daijiro stepped closer, and Ren felt even more annoyed at the man. Not only had he kissed Kyoko's hand, he'd grabbed her and scared her and now he's moving onto personal space violation?! The man has no morals... Then again, he was forced to acknowledge that he wasn't acting badly. Just his character. Apparently.
"Let me make my point clear, citoyenne. Through a note of his own making, Armand is hopelessly compromised."
"Let us understand each other. You are going to force me to do some spying work for you in exchange for my brother's safety, is that is?"
"Ugly words, fair lady. All I'm saying is that you do a small service for France in exchange for a free pardon for Armand Saint-Just. That is all. Just watch for me tonight, at Lord Grenville's ball. The Scarlet Pimpernel will be there."
Kyoko stared at him in horror and backed off a step, then another. She started shaking her head. "No more, Chauvelin. I won't do any more favours for you."
She turned around. Daijiro watched her predatorily before bowing slightly.
"Very well, citoyenne."
He started to walk away. Kyoko's carefully composed face began to tremble as she blinked back tears.
"Chauvelin!" she cried, her voice half-breaking.
He turned, smiling. Kyoko swallowed.
"Do you promise to give me that letter?"She asked in a smaller voice.
"If you render me assistance tonight, I shall give you the letter...tomorrow."
And away he walked.
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Kyoko whirled stared after the other actor with a look of trapped desperation on her face. The look of a girl whose beloved brother, who'd taken care of her since their parents died, was on danger. In her overactive mind, she could see a dark haired man who looked surprisingly like a male Moko-san kneeling at the guillotine. She pressed her lips together as tears filled her eyes, blinking until she got under control.
"Okay, cut!" called the Director.
Kyoko felt slightly exhilarated after stepping off the stage, as she always did. There was nothing like the thrill of living in someone else's life, and Marguerite had the life that was only seen in stories; handsome husband who is madly in love with you, beautiful house and clothes, status and a pretty face. Plus a bit of adventure, with a happily-ever-after ending.
She saw the other actor, Daijiro Tanaka, walking towards her from the wings and smiled at him. He was quite a good actor; nothing on Ren, of course, but quite good all the same. He smiled back and walked over to her. He'd been talking to a female crewmember. She was moderately impressed; some of the more famous actors she'd met had thought such people were below them. They didn't seem to realise that what the lighting men did, what the make-up artists did, what the editors did, were all just important as the acting. Ren was never like that. He'd talk to anyone. Kyoko let her eyes skim the room until she saw him. Her sempai was talking to Yashiro.
"Good take, Kyoko-chan."
Kyoko turned to face Daijiro.
"Thank you very much, Tanaka-san!" she said, bowing, "I only hope we don't have to redo the scene."
"Aw, don't worry, we'll be fine." He said, "You know, for an actress who has only been working for a year, you've become quite well known. Care to share the secret of success?"
Kyoko blushed. "Well, I'm really not sure. I've just been very lucky."
"I see... Hey, Kyoko-chan, would you like to take a walk to the inside garden with me?"
Kyoko thought for a second. There was apparently a small garden inside the building somewhere, but she didn't know where. She did want to find it. On the other hand, Ren was waiting for her to take her back to his house to get her belongings. And he had waited for her; it would be impolite to stand up her sempai for a plant.
"Um, I'm sorry Tanaka-san, but I'm going home with Ren now... I appreciate your offer though." She blushed.
"Oh." Daijiro looked taken aback, "So that's what he meant... Well then, Kyoko-chan, I'll be seeing you tomorrow? "
"Of cour-" she started to say, but stopped abruptly when an arm slipped lightly around her shoulders. Ren had come up behind her and was now smiling at Daijiro, the one that told Kyoko he was angry at something. His hand lightly gripped the top of her arm. Kyoko immediately stood a little straighter, mentally comparing her situation to the proverbial rabbit caught in fake, glittery headlights. Daijiro looked a little put out.
"Good evening, Tanaka-san, I believe we'll be taking our leave now." Ren said, smoothly guiding Kyoko away and out the door. He didn't let go of her until they reached his car. Yashiro came hurrying out moments later. They drove the rest of the way in silence, ate mostly in silence and dropped Yashiro off at his house, again in silence. Kyoko was dreading to get back in the car with Ren, who seemed to be in a brooding mood today. Kyoko was agonising mentally about what could have possibly happened to put Ren in a bad mood. When the car pulled up outside the Darumaya , Kyoko had had many ideas, ranging from getting out of the wrong side of the bed to food poisoning.
Finally, after an unusually abrupt goodbye from Ren, she reopened the door. When he looked at her, Kyoko realised she didn't actually have anything to say. Blushing and smiling, she managed to blurt out something before she ran inside:
"Don't forget to eat well! Good night, Ren."
Ren drove away smiling.
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Kyoko woke up early with the feeling that today was going to be a really good day. She dressed modestly in a cute and slightly frilly top and cardigan, with a knee length skirt and her favourite boots. At the LME office, all her LoveMe jobs were done with vigour and she was especially pleased to have Moko-san with her today. When the time came for her Hana Akai shift, she took off her uniform, returned to day clothes and half-skipped out the front door to walk to the set. She was waiting just on the corner with a crowd of pedestrians to cross a busy street. Suddenly, a hard shove to the small of her back sent her falling off the pavement and onto the road.
Kyoko's eyes widened as she fell.
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Gasp! Don't tell me you forgot about that aspect of the story!!
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