Kyoko stepped into the brightly lit restaurant and instantly felt the stares of its patrons. The Okami-san of Darumaya gasped when she recognised Kyoko. Her hands flew up to cover her mouth in her shock. Kyoko disregarded her surprised look but offered her a hesitant smile instead, while she walked briskly past towards the kitchen.
She was conscientious of what everyone was likely to think about her current appearance. Keeping her eyes trained on the kitchen entry, Kyoko tried to ignore the curious murmurs of the restaurants' customers.
It wasn't just the Setsu look that was already shocking but the added fact that what she was wearing was probably one of Setsu's more daring outfits, which was likely contributing to the increased murmurings. And as appalling as it might seem to everyone, the one person whose opinion that Kyoko feared the most was Mouko-san.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" she scolded herself for not having thought to change back into her regular clothes. But she had been in such a hurry to escape the hotel room that she didn't think to change.
Escape? Kyoko wondered why she had been feeling that way. A slight frown etched her face as she made her way towards the stairs in the back of the kitchen. Her frown darkened as she began to feel her body ache as she ascended each step.
Her legs felt heavy and cramped but there was an intense soreness coming from between her legs. A gelatinous discharge began trailing down her thighs as she climbed the last step.
The think liquid was beginning to seep into her shoe by the time she had walked the last few paces to her room. Taking her boots off by her door, Kyoko examined it. Sticking two fingers into one of her boots, she lifted up some of the sticky fluid to get a better look.
The dense fluid was odorless although it was a strange off white colour. It also had streaks of blood in it. Was this from her? Kyoko brought her hand up and mentally started counting the days of her monthly flow.
It couldn't be from that because it was still too recent. Kyoko scratched her head in contemplation since her calculations were certain, then what was this? Had she caught a disease?
But how could that be likely since she had never been exposed to such things? "Didn't you have to have sex before you could catch one of those diseases?" She wondered aloud.
"Could it be that I may have caught it when I was kissed by Shotaro?" she frowned as her face blackened instantly over the womanizing singer that had forcibly stolen her first kiss. Her mini Shotaro grudge, resembling Kyoko, emerged from her shoulder at the thought of him. It was very possible that Shotaro was a sexual disease carrying idiot.
But what about your most recent kiss? The Japanese maiden protection party asked her.
Kyoko's eyes widen instantly as she remembered throwing herself at her senpai. "Could it be? Was it by kissing Tsuruga-san that I may have caught this strange disease?"
Kyoko chewed on her lower lip in anxiety. Had she indeed caught something from her playboy senpai then it was likely her own fault. Since she remembered not just throwing herself at him and kissing him but she had also recalled an earlier episode of sexually molesting him, while he had been peacefully sleeping beside him.
Glancing down at her hands, she cursed herself for being so perverted. Squeezing her eyes shut over the embarrassing episode, Kyoko gritted her teeth painfully. Never the less, she needed to take precautions over her lust crazed body to ensure that nothing further happens in the future.
Swallowing past a dry lump in her throat, she vowed to keep her body reigned in, chaste and pure. She would not exceed the one kiss limit that her senpai had once allotted her for the actor's rule of heart.
More importantly, she definitely would not allow him to bed her even if they were now married. After all, their marriage was only just an act. Forcing herself to smile widely, she meditated on the notion.
"Everything was just an act, just an act", she repeated forcefully to herself.
A soft knock sounded on her door which interrupted her thoughts. Turning towards her door, Kyoko answered, "Yes?"
Kanae voice sounded sharp as she replied, "Kyoko is that you? Can I come in?"
"Yes, please do." Kyoko stated, while she unconsciously wiped her sticky hand on her leather miniskirt.
Entering the room, Kanae made a quick survey of Kyoko's room. Noticing the two posters of Fuwa Sho and Tsuruga Ren on the wall, Kanae tried not to smile. Instead she kept a straight face and pulled her eyes towards the gothic rocker figure standing in the middle of the room.
"Wow," Kanae said as she took in Kyoko's appearance. Looking her up and down, her face showed a mixture of awe and surprise as she studied her friend's coquettish appearance.
"Sorry, I haven't changed yet," Kyoko blushed a bright pink as she looked down at herself.
Her tight fitting corset was wrinkled in several areas and the black leather miniskirt that matched it was stained with the same unknown grayish white substance that had been spilling down her legs.
Kyoko's jaw dropped open. Had she wiped her hand on the skirt? Quickly grabbing at a tissue, she wiped vigorously at the white stain. Hoping that the white tint would come out, Kyoko made a mental note to hand wash it later that night.
Staring with her eyebrows arched high at her friend who was now spot cleaning an obvious white discolor on her skirt, Kanae took a step forward. "I don't think I would have recognised you had I not already known that this was you!" Kanae stated, her voice held a sense of wonder.
Mouko-san's presence threw Kyoko off balance. She hastily flung the dirty tissue into a nearby trash can before facing her friend. Standing at attention, tall and erect, her face grew flushed from the intense scrutiny of her friend.
Kanae's face however, was a mixture of awe and fascination as she drew up closer towards Kyoko. Pointing at the white smear on Kyoko's skirt she asked, "What's this?"
"It's just some whipped cream that I accidently got on my skirt when I had dinner with Tsuruga-san during our date," Kyoko hastily fabricated. Beads of sweat were forming at her forehead but she quickly wiped them away.
Touching the stain, Kanae licked at her fingers. "That's strange, it's salty."
Kyoko forced herself not to flinch as she watched her friend taste the bodily secretion. God help her should Mouko-san ever find out what it was that she had actually tasted. Feeling a sense of guilt over having lied to Mouko-san, she swallowed a dry lump in her throat, while she pretended ignorance.
Squinting her eyes in distaste, Kyoko forced herself to lick her own fingers after touching the same stain, before she dryly replied, "It doesn't taste as good as it did earlier."
Tasting her fingers again, Kanae offered, "Maybe it went bad?"
Reaching out to remove Mouko-san's hands from her mouth, Kyoko tersely changed the topic, "So what do you think of my appearance?"
Kanae smiled widely at Kyoko as she walked a full circle around her friend. Fingering a lock of Kyoko's blonde wig, she adamantly stated, "This wig must be very expensive, the hair on it seems to be of a really high quality."
Kyoko nodded before shakily replying, "Yes, I am sure that the President made sure to get the best of the best for the dangerous mission that I am involved in."
"Yes, that must be so. Didn't you say that Tsuruga Ren was involved in this as well? Hmm, I wonder what he must look like…." Her voice held a tinge of speculation as she tilted her head to the side imagining the tall actor in a suitable male counterpart outfit.
"Please Kanae, don't ever mention to anyone that you have seen me in this costume, otherwise we both may get into deep trouble," Kyoko begged as she flinched from the idea of getting caught.
Looking Kyoko directly in the eyes, Kanae replied cynically, "I understand. I won't tell anyone that my dear underage best friend is parading around Tokyo, wearing skimpy underwear like clothing, while living with and going out on dates with Japan's most desirable man, Tsuruga Ren…."
Pausing for effect, Kanae continued, "Mo! Does the president know how crazy that is to team you up with him? Was this Tsuruga-san's idea? What a dangerous mission this must truly be!"
Nodding her head then shaking it vigorously, Kyoko countered, "Yes but this was not Tsuruga-san's idea at all, this was the President's"
"Then I wonder what that eccentric love crazed president is trying to do," tapping a finger against her chin Kanae eyed her friend.
"Well, never mind, it's obvious that he's playing match maker with the both of you," Kanae absently mumbled to herself. Turning away, she walked over to the posters hanging on the wall to allow her friend some privacy to dress in peace.
Kanae was worried for her friend. Did Kyoko even understand that Tsuruga-san was very likely in love with her? Staring at his face pinned up on the wall; Kanae could envision the stormy romance that he would offer her non-suspecting and naïve friend.
This would not be an easy nor comfortable relationship, as he was such a popular celebrity. In fact, this could be disastrous to Kyoko's career. Her hands folded over her chest as she contemplated his feelings for her friend.
Did he really have any feelings that went beyond that of a sempai for his kohai? Although she had only heard from Kyoko, of his anger in regards to her relationship with Fuwa Sho, she could not be absolutely certain that what he felt for Kyoko was genuine love.
And until she was absolutely sure, she would be protective of her friend's heart for the sake of Kyoko's goals and welfare. Surely there must be a way to ascertain the actor's true feelings? Kanae's eyes narrowed in on his handsome face as she tried to find a way to do so.
Perhaps she could evoke some jealously in the man to evaluate the true nature of his feelings. But how was she going to do that? Stealing a quick glance over her shoulder to assess her friend, Kanae made a quick calculative judgment of their situation.
On the other side of the room, Kyoko was frozen stiff with eyes that had widened into large saucers as she digested what Mouko-san had mentioned. Was the President really thinking to do something that absurd?
Nonsense, the president might be overly wrapped up in meddling with the concept of love but Kyoko had never known him to be directly involved in Tsuruga-san's love life. Straightening up, Kyoko reached for her clothes.
Aside from showing a slight concern over Tsuruga-san's acting during the Dark Moon episode involving a few love scenes, the President had not given much indication of involving himself in Tsuruga-san's affairs.
In fact the idea of anyone trying to meddle in Tsuruga-san's love life was preposterous. Wasn't the emperor of the night able to get any girl he wanted, why would he need anyone's help?
A small frown drew her face into an angry scowl and her face started to darken. Her thoughts started to echo loudly in her head. Get any girl he wanted. Get any girl he wanted. Get any girl he wanted.
Yet now that she had become his wife, was he still going to do that? A slight vein started to visibly pound along the side of her temple. Kyoko wasn't sure of why she found the thought of Tsuruga-san getting with another girl disturbing but she certainly did.
As long as she was his wife, she would not tolerate his playboy ways. In fact, he had better reign himself in and behave. An image of him laying in bed with an unknown woman and licking her body down to her naval played across her overactive imaginative mind.
Now where did that thought come from? Kyoko's mouth straightened into a tight line of indignation.
Kyoko, can you hear yourself? What are you saying? Do you realise that you sound like a jealous wife? Her inner voice questioned her.
"But I am a wife now even if it's only in theory," Kyoko mumbled softly to herself, while she started to unzip her corset.
Yes but have you forgotten your promise to Fuwa Sho? The one where you swore you'd serve as a waitress at his ryokan for life if you fail?
Kyoko's hand stilled midway in unzipping, as she recalled the day Shotaro had cornered her in the parking lot to harass her about her feelings. She gritted her teeth angrily at the way he had accosted her.
Her tiny Shotaro grudge poked out of her shoulder a second time, at the thought of her most hated nemesis. Grabbing the smaller version of herself, she shoved it back into her back, now just was not the time to be wallowing about her hatred for him.
Addressing the cautionary voice of her reason, she considered her vow during that moment. It was only made when Shotaro had accused her of becoming someone with a mind filled with love that Tsuruga-san could easily subdue.
"Yes I remember that promise but that is simply if I fail at becoming a top actress and instead surrender my goals for the sake of becoming a love sick victim to Tsuruga-san," she continued mumbling inaudibly to herself.
Then are you sure you are not already in love with Tsuruga-san? Her inner voice questioned her frankly.
Behind the voice, Kyoko envisioned herself standing at the cliff with the bright sun climbing into the horizon. She was surrounded by several thugs that suddenly divided in half to form a clear passage.
Was Tsuruga-san walking down that passage towards her? Kyoko took another step back onto the edge of the cliff; she had no more room to go before she would fall. Was this going to be her end?
"No. No. No. I'm not going to lose! I won't lose no matter what," Kyoko stated heartily and loudly, while she shook her head at the idea.
A new light entered her eyes. This was not just because of a promise she had made to Shotaro but rather because she could not and will not allow herself to foolishly fall in love again. Especially with Tsuruga-san, the last thing she wanted was to appear utterly detestable to her senpai.
"Won't lose to what?" Kanae asked as she heard the dramatic statement.
"Oh, I was talking about how I must ensure that I do a good job teaching you everything I have learnt from my date. Or that I won't lose to being a good teacher!" Kyoko contrived as she realised her slip.
"Then you are prepared to ensure that my love scenes improve no matter what?" Kanae asked as a dangerous spark entered her eyes.
Swallowing audibly before answering, Kyoko forced herself to smile brightly, "Yes, definitely."
Kyoko's phone began to vibrate; the soft buzzing sound was enough to snap both girls out of their individual contemplations.
Reaching for her bag, Kyoko snatched up her cell phone, her eyes widened with a hint of surprise when she identified the caller. It was a very unusual occurrence and unsure if there was an emergency for this person to be calling, Kyoko answered the call without any hesitation.
"Hello, Kyoko?" a concern male voice appeared over the line.
"Hello. Yashiro-san is that you?" Kyoko asked back. "Is something wrong?" her voice was slightly high pitched in mounting unease.
"Kyoko, are you okay? Where are you?" Yashiro's voice was urgent and filled with worry, causing Kyoko to be immediately alert with his concern. Her knuckle turned white from clinging tightly to the phone.
"Am I okay? Yes I am! I am at home. Is anything the matter?" her own voice trembled a little with apprehension as she wondered why Yashiro would be asking her such an unusual question.
Her eye brows drew together in confusion but her heart began pacing irregularly at the possibility of something bad happening to her senpai. Unknowingly, she held her breath while she waited for Yashiro's reply.
"Eh, I thought something had happened to you. Ren said that you had left in a hurry without even telling him. Did something bad happen?" Yashiro's voice echoed Kyoko's initial confusion but his question helped ease most of Kyoko's anxiety.
"Ah, no, no, no. Nothing happened. I was just running late and had to meet up with my friend," her breathing steadied while her heart no longer raced in worry.
"Oh, is that so?" Yashiro's voice trailed off as he considered Kyoko's reasoning.
"Yes, I am sorry to inconvenience you and Tsuruga-san. Please apologize to him for me," Kyoko mentioned hastily, as she caught Mouko-san questioning gaze.
"Umm, well I think that you should call him, he has been worried about you. I think he might be heading over to your place right now." Yashiro's tone was clearly inferring something but Kyoko was too distracted by Mouko-san's eavesdropping to make the connection.
Turning away from Mouko-san, Kyoko replied "Yes, I will call him immediately and let him know that everything is fine."
"Ah Kyoko?" there was a slight hesitation in Yashiro's voice that caught Kyoko's attention.
"Yes?" she replied instantly.
"You mentioned that you were meeting a friend, which one would that be?" the mild tone in Yashiro's voice reflected only a general curiosity that Kyoko dismissed instantly.
"Oh, it's Kotonami Kanae; yes we are headed out on a date," Kyoko smiled briefly at the thought.
"A date?" Yashiro probed, his voice sounded louder as he echoed her last words.
Shaking her head at the phone, Kyoko corrected herself, "No not a date. I mean, we are going to get dinner right now."
A long silence passed before Yashiro replied, "Oh, I see. Well then have a good dinner. I am sorry to disturb you."
"Me too, sorry that I worried you, Yashiro-san," Kyoko hung up the phone; she was glad that nothing amiss had transpired from her impulsive vanishing act.
Turning to look at her friend, she explained to Kanae that she had left Tsuruga-san without giving him any notice. She did not mention that they had been alone in the hotel room when she had disappeared.
Nor did she remember the reason why they were in the hotel. In fact, Kyoko skimmed over the tale because of a lack of memory as to what Tsuruga-san was doing when she had left him.
As for the part about her sudden marriage to him, Kyoko chose not to discuss it with Kanae; after all, it was only an act that involved Cain and Setsu.
Yashiro's eye brows were drawn tightly together as he studied the phone in his gloved hand. Beside him Ren sat at the driver seat of the car waiting for an explanation.
"She's at her home now but she will be having dinner with her friend, Kotonami," Yashiro's tone was bleak. His eyes narrowed slightly when he mentioned Kyoko's friend.
Ren's hand gripped the stirring wheel of his car tightly as he pulled his car out and into the Thursday night traffic. He had been worried sick over Kyoko's sudden disappearance. The fact that she had left him in such a rush, only to hurry over to Kotonami's side was annoying and a little bit humiliating.
Did she really just viewed him in such low esteem that she would leave him like that? Especially after they had made love so passionately? Was what they had shared so meaningless to her that she could easily walk out as if nothing had happened? It was like a blow to his ego that she could leave so easily.
Ren couldn't help his negative thoughts as he clenched his jaw tightly. What was it about her friendship to Kotonami that Kyoko held so in high esteem? Ren could feel himself tense up over the raging jealousy that he was beginning to feel.
Never in his life had he ever thought that he would be jealous of a woman. But it was the fact that there was something particularly strange, almost like a romantic bond existed between the two girls that were causing the hairs on the back of his neck to rise up in alarm.
"This might be a good time to watch over her," Yashiro interrupted Ren's thoughts with his statement. He stole a sideways glance at the tall figure sitting beside him, who was clenching and unclenching his hands on the steering wheel as if he was about to strangle the device.
"Yes, she doesn't understand what is best for her and it's too impertinent of her to get involved with such scandalous friends," Ren nodded as he blankly stared ahead at the busy traffic, unconscious of what his hands were doing.
"That's true; Kyoko is too trusting and a very bad judge of character. She's about as experienced as a child when it comes to these things," Yashiro answered while he watched his overwrought friend impatiently wait in line to glide the car through the evening's traffic.
"Yes, it's too dangerous to leave her alone with friends like that," Ren replied tight lipped. He was beginning to feel the strain of losing Kyoko to Kotonami. He wasn't going to allow that to happen.
"Indeed, you really should keep an eye on her," Yashiro added.
"That was exactly what I was thinking," Ren answered through clenched teeth, as they headed down the road towards the Darumaya restaurant where Kyoko's home was.
Yashiro was not surprised by Ren's urgency to stop Kyoko from becoming corrupted by those wild friends of hers. They might not be able to control who Kyoko called friend but neither of them were going to idly stand by.
Watching the young actor that was filled with emotion over Kyoko, Yashiro wondered if Ren was ready to admit his true feelings for the younger actress. Despite his honesty about protecting Kyoko's integrity, was Ren actually feeling more than just a sense of protectiveness?
Yashiro rubbed at the bridge of his nose while he contemplated Ren's behavior. Was he fast approaching his limit, and if so what would Ren do should that happen?
"What?" Ren asked as he felt Yashiro's questioning gaze on him.
"Eh?" Yashiro asked, a little embarrassed to be caught staring at the actor.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ren asked as his eyes narrowed on his manager's focused look.
He was not happy about the events of the day and would be damned if he had to give an account of what had transpired between Kyoko and himself. Even the fact that he was now a married man was not something that Ren was likely to admit to anyone. At least, not until he understood the depth of what their marriage meant to Kyoko.
"Just wondering -" Yashiro started to say when his words were abruptly cut off by Ren.
"Nothing happened." Ren flatly quantified. His eyes rounded and darkened as he casted a 'don't you dare ask me' look at his manager.
"I wasn't about to ask about that! But now that you have mentioned it, I take it nothing could have happened otherwise your date would not have stranded you for her best friend." Yashiro couldn't help a smug grin from plastering over his face.
How was it that the most desired man in all of Japan could lose to a novice of an actress when it came to catching the eye of his young lady love? Shaking his head at the irony of the situation, Yashiro wondered if there was something he could do to help the situation.
Maybe it was time that Yashiro folded up his sleeve and got to work at managing more than just Ren's professional life. But what exactly could he do to help his charge out? Surely if there was a way to make Kyoko jealous, would she confess her real emotions to Ren?
But then again, there was no certainty that she even felt anything other than respect for her senpai. Wasn't she more than likely to spurn anything to do with love? Sighing, Yashiro couldn't help but wish there was something he could do about the frustrating situation.
"We're here," Ren's words shook Yashiro out of his revere.
"Is that them?" Yashiro asked as he pointed at two people that were leaving the restaurant.
"I'm not sure, it's too hard to see in the dark but if it is them, we can't let them see the car since Kyoko would recognise it instantly," Ren replied as he slowed down.
"Then should we follow them on foot?" Yashiro suggested as Ren pulled the car to the side of the street and turned off the engine.
"Are you up to it?" Ren asked as he flashed Yashiro a conspiring smile.
An answering glint met his inquiry and together the two men headed off on foot to follow their non-suspecting targets.
A/N: Hi everyone. Thank you for your support of my story so far, I hope you continue to support me with your reviews and let me know how you feel so far.
For those interested if it is possible for Kyoko to forget about her sexual encounter with Ren, google dissociative amnesia, things like that can happen in real life!