Always With You
Disclaimer: I do not own SkipBeat or any of its characters
Chapter 12 – A mother's claws
Julie was staying in the same gigantic suite where Kuu had stayed the previous year. This was fortuitous for Kyoko because she now knew the hotel well. Shortly after arriving, Kyoko begged pardon and disappeared for almost thirty minutes. Just as the ladies were starting to get concerned there was a knock on the suite door. A bellhop extended a gold tray with a carefully hand-calligraphied invitation on it.
Mogami Kyoko
is pleased to invite
the ladies of the Imperial Suite
to join her
in the Grand Tea Room
as soon as convenient
* * *
The ladies removed their shoes and donned the slippers provided. Maria, as the youngest, rapped gently on the rattan sliding door. The door slid open to reveal Kyoko on her knees in a beautiful kimono. She bowed from her sitting position, rose, and bowed again. She smiled and gracefully motioned for the ladies to be seated. There were cushions on the beautifully polished floor set around two sides of a low table. After the ladies took their seats, Kyoko silently shuffled to her proper position and began the ceremony.
The girl and the ladies watched in awe as Kyoko revealed yet another side of herself. Her movements were beautifully graceful and flawless as she performed each step. Julie, as the eldest, was served first. She understood her role, lifting the cup to her lips and sipping. When she had tasted the tea, she nodded at Kyoko who then served Kanae, Chiori, and finally Maria.
No words were spoken as everyone enjoyed the ambience of the scene along with their tea. After a pleasant time spent in silence, Julie looked up into Kyoko's eyes and said the words that the girl longed to hear from her mother, "That was beautiful, Kyoko. I'm very proud of you."
Tears of joy streamed down Mogami Kyoko's face. Seeing this, Maria-chan ran around the table to hug her onee-sama. The normally undemonstrative Kanae reached across the table and grabbed Kyoko's hand. Poor Chiori still felt like an outsider and remained in her seat, though she did try to give Kyoko an encouraging smile.
Julie regarded the girl affectionately. "Kyoko-chan, did you buy this tea set so that you could perform the tea ceremony for your mother some day?"
Kyoko nodded tearfully.
Julie reached over and took Kyoko's free hand. "Thank you so much for sharing this with me."
* * *
Things settled down and the girls spent a pleasant evening talking and laughing in Julie's suite. Julie had a gift for making people relax around her. Everyone had fun until the girls started to drop off, one-by-one.
It was much later in the evening when Julie and Kotonami Kanae sat alone on stools at the kitchen counter. The other three slept on futons in the living room area. Julie looked affectionately to where Maria had crawled off of her own futon and cuddled up with Kyoko. "Kyoko will make a really good mother some day."
Kanae regarded Julie as if trying to make a decision. Finally she plunged in, "Julie-san, you're Tsuruga Ren's mother, aren't you?"
Julie looked at the beautiful brunette with alarm. She paused to catch her breath before answering, "What makes you think that, Kotonami-san?"
Kanae snorted, "Your reaction just confirmed it. I saw your silent communication in the LoveMe room today. I should have realized it when I saw your husband in LME. They look very similar, but their personalities are so different. Tsuruga-san is more like you. He also has your eyes and nose."
Julie smiled cautiously, "You are very observant, Kotonami-san. Yes, Ren is my son. He left the United States six years ago to try and make a life and name for himself away from his father's shadow."
When Kanae remained tense and silent, Julie spoke, "The question is: what are you going to do with this information?"
"I don't care about your secret," Kanae said evenly, "I'm only worried that you're playing some sort of game with Kyoko. I will be ruthless to anyone who hurts her."
Julie was relieved, "Then you and I are the same, Kanae-san." She looked over at the sleeping forms, "Kuu and I could never do anything to hurt Kyoko."
Julie regarded Kanae speculatively before making her decision. "In fact, I flew here to protect her. Maybe, if I tell you everything you'll have some good ideas."
* * *
Nishimura Rumiko couldn't believe how well her morning was going.
First, she had in her hands information that the upstart Kyoko had run away from to Tokyo with none other than Fuwa Sho, Japan's top music idol.
Then she had secured Choshi Kazu as a guest; he would be talking about how the same girl had connived her way into the lead role for Ronin's Children, stealing the spot away from him.
And best of all, Julie was going to be on her show!
Twenty-four years ago, when Rumiko was first breaking into modeling and acting, she had befriended the tall, beautiful American lady. Julie was three years older than Rumiko, and much more experienced with modeling. Julie had taken her under her wings and had guided her past the pitfalls. Rumiko had been there when Julie met Kuu for the first time on the day that he held a funeral for his former stage name. She had also been one of Julie's bridesmaids. It had been one of her saddest days when the beautiful couple moved to Hollywood and began sweeping the American people away with their charm and talents.
For a while the two ladies had kept up their correspondence, but time and busy schedules had slowed communication down to a trickle. Rumiko tried transitioning to full-time acting, but was never successful. It was her husband, a producer, who talked her into creating her own talk-show. Soon she started compromising her ideals in order to gain ratings. The last time that Julie had visited Tokyo the two of them had met, but Julie had made it clear that she was disappointed with the direction Rumiko was taking her show. Their friendship had been greatly strained by the argument.
That is why Rumiko was surprised when Julie's agent had called to say that she was available on this particular morning. She could come complete with her newest fashions and even provide models to wear them. This was wonderful, but the real crowd pleaser was Julie herself. Not only was she beautiful, but she was a fascinating person with a wonderful sense of humor.
Rumiko was waiting in her dressing room for her old friend to arrive. Julie was coming early so that they could visit and catch up on old times before the 10 am show. Even though she was successful with her show, she still felt like the younger newbie as she waited for Julie to be escorted in.
Julie arrived two minutes early. The two women hugged affectionately and then sat down together for tea so that they could catch up on old times.
"Julie-chan, I'm so happy that you took the time to appear on my show today. But I was a little surprised, since we're not the show that designers usually choose to showcase their work. What made you choose me?"
"Well, actually Rumiko, I needed to ask you a personal favor."
"Me? Do you a favor? Of course, you name it Julie-chan."
Julie's eyes turned from friendly to cold in a heartbeat, "Actually, Rumiko, you can back off and stop harassing my children."
* * *
Fifteen minutes later Rumiko sat alone in her dressing room again and tried to process the amazing information she had just been given. Tsuruga Ren had sat right in front of her on the show and she had never noticed the similarities. And what an amazing story! To drop off the face of the earth and re-invent yourself in a new country; that was the stuff of legends!
It was a lesson in Julie and Kuu Hizuri's power that they had been able to deflect inquiries from the media into their son's disappearance. Julie had made it quite clear that she was willing to use that power to destroy anyone who hurt either Tsuruga Ren or Mogami Kyoko.
Although Julie didn't admit it, it was clear that Julie considered Kyoko to be the future mate of their son. Why else would they let the girl call them Otou-san and Okaa-san? Although Julie had only skimmed over Kyoko's past, Rumiko suspected that there was much more to the story. But she would keep her end of the bargain.
Eventually, very soon probably, Tsuruga-san was going to need to come clean about his identity. Julie had promised her that he would reveal himself on her show. It would be the biggest coup of the decade. In return, she promised to kill the story about Kyoko.
On the question of what to do about Choshi Kazu, Julie had asked permission to deal with that in her own way.
* * *
Choshi Kazu was the type of person who had never done anything wrong in his life. When he failed a test in school because he stayed up playing video-games, it was because 'that stupid teacher doesn't know how to write a #$% test.' When he wrecked his parent's car after graduation it wasn't because he was drunk; it was because the &%$ lights from an oncoming car where too #$& bright and he couldn't see the light pole.
His good looks, athleticism, money and family name had always allowed him to press on and ignore those minor glitches in the road.
Then the President of Nippon Premiere Talent called Kazu into his office and told him that, after careful review, he had decided that Choshi-san wasn't ready to make his movie acting debut after all. Choshi Kazu didn't hear the same thing that the president said. He did hear the part about that &*%$ Kyoko taking over as the lead. As if a girl could ever replace me!
The President had tried to ease Kazu out of the role gracefully, to prevent embarrassment. He fabricated a story about a reoccurring old injury that had flamed up. He even offered to send Kazu to Karuizawa on an extended vacation so that he could "recover" in style.
He also informed Kazu that he was being enrolled in the agency's acting school so that he could be better prepared for his next role. Acting school! I don't need to go to any %$&# acting school!! This is all because of that little commoner trash Kyoko! I'll get her! I'll destroy that little insect!
He didn't even give a second thought to the president's firm injunction against making any public statements.
* * *
The Rumiko Show opened as usual with Rumiko introducing each guest individually. Today her first guest was the very athletic and handsome former Olympic swimmer, Choshi Kazu. Her other guest was a woman who has been described as the 'Most Beautiful Woman in the World,' and who was also a famous clothing designer and the wife of Japan's own Hizuri Kuu, Julie Swan.
At forty-seven years old Julie looked no older than thirty, and there were no doubts in any of the audience's minds why she had earned the title 'Most Beautiful Woman.' Julie was already a favorite in Japan, not only because of her marriage to one of the countries brightest stars, but because of her own contributions. Julie had loved the country and the people of Japan since she had first moved there with her businessman father as a young teen. She had always treated the people with sincerest respect; she had even designed many of her fashions to suit the Japanese woman. In fact, many of her newest designs were introduced in Japan first.
And when she wanted to attract attention, Julie could dominate any stage. This morning she had pulled out all of the stops and she was more devastating than usual. As she stepped out of the waiting area and onto the stage Kazu was fixated on her. The live audience was almost too busy sighing to remember to clap. Even the normally self-confident Rumiko was feeling slightly frumpy and old.
Rumiko spoke with Julie first, letting her beautiful friend fill the audience in on how her and her famous husband had been doing in the United States. Then she had Julie present her newest designs. Kazu was torn between staring at Julie and staring at the models who paraded her clothes across the stage. The camera-man captured his openly-lustful face several times during the presentation.
At any other time Kazu would have been impatient and irritated at being made to wait until the last for his turn to speak. But this morning he was too interested in Julie and the models to even think about his own concerns. The live audience responded very enthusiastically to Julie's clothing line. Early in her career as a designer she had made it a practice to have a random audience drawing at each presentation. The audience was on pins-and-needles as Kazu was asked to pull a name out of the hat. A middle-aged woman ran from the back of the auditorium to the stage to receive her choice of dresses. She was so enthusiastic that she hugged Rumiko, Julie, and Kazu. The camera caught Kazu's open look of disgust as the older lady hugged him.
Then it was Choshi Kazu's turn. Rumiko almost regretted changing the festive tone of the morning to focus on this sour young man. Julie had given her no clue about what she intended, so Rumiko felt nervous and on edge.
The interview started out normally. They discussed Kazu's life, his Olympic career (seventh was his highest placing), and his decision to transition into the world of acting. Finally Rumiko steered the conversation to the subject of Ronin's Children. "I was very sorry to hear that an old injury caused a delay in your acting debut, Choshi-san. Can you give us any details?"
Kazu sat up and tried his best to look competent and dignified, "Actually, Rumiko-san, there was no injury. I was removed from the movie by the connivance of that little…"
"Stop!" Rumiko, the audience, and especially Kazu jumped at the deep, stern, and commanding voice that came from off-stage. Uchida Juno, a former actor and the President of Nippon Premiere Talent, stepped out of the waiting area and stalked onto the stage. He made an apologetic bow to Rumiko, Julie, and the audience before turning to a startled Kazu with open disgust on his face.
"I must apologize to everyone for interrupting this show, but it would be inappropriate to allow my young charge to continue with his intent. He turned to face an angry young man and continued speaking, "Choshi Kazu (honorifics deliberately omitted), you have decided to ignore my specific injunction and have chosen to speak to the public about your removal from Ronin's Children. Because you have done this, I have no choice but to make the true facts of the matter public: Choshi Kazu was removed from his debut movie because he was not adequate to the task. He was undisciplined and unprofessional in his approach to the role. I blame myself, as the president of his agency, for allowing him to debut before he had developed the discipline, talent, and skill to perform his task.
"Because of my failure, the producer of Ronin's Children was left without a lead. Luckily he already had one of the most promising young ladies to hit Japan in many years acting in a supporting role. Producer Shino has decided to completely re-structure the story around Kyoko's character, Enoki Masami."
The camera was focused on Choshi Kazu's inflamed and angry face as President Uchida continued, "I have been privileged to watch outtakes of Kyoko's performance, and I am confident that Ronin's Children will become a box office sensation. As the President of Nippon Premiere Talent I deeply and humbly apologize to Japan for my failure. I promise to conduct business more carefully in the future."
Seeing that he was finished speaking, a stunned Rumiko called for a commercial break. She watched as Uchida Juno left the stage, followed closely by a livid Choshi Kazu. She turned her gaze to the woman who had just destroyed the arrogant young man without even getting a drop of blood on herself. Julie returned her gaze with a clear message in her eyes: If you mess with my children, I will show you my claws.
The message came through loud and clear.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Notes: This is a long chapter, but I chose to keep the two parts together for a reason. I wanted to show both sides of Julie: the caring mother and the fierce protector.
Thanks to everyone who has been reading and reviewing this story. The pace of the story will begin to accelerate from here.
A tribute: The Julie that you are reading about here is patterned after a lady who is very close to me. Like the character, she 'adopts' girls and boys who are hurting in the way that some children adopt stray animals. Once a child is adopted, she is unfailingly generous with her love and kindness. She is also fiercely protective of each and every one. There are many young adults walking around who have healthy lives because of her motherly heart. Thank you, "Mom." We all love you deeply.
