Always with You

Disclaimer: I do not own SkipBeat! or any of its characters.

Chapter 27 – LoveMe Graduation Day

Lory Takarada was pouting.

Well, what else do you call it when a grown man, the top executive of the top talent agency in Japan, locks himself in his room and plays romance role-playing games rather than get ready for the party he is supposed to officiate?

The truth was that this was a terribly sad day for Lory. Today Kotonami Kanae and Mogomi Kyoko would hand in their pink suits and become full-fledged actresses. The reader might say, "Wait, they're still going to be a part of LME!"

But to Lory the LoveMe section is special; instead of being the place where the misfits were kept, it was where he could nurture the careers (and personal lives) of the best and brightest. And his two best and brightest rising stars were leaving his little nest today. Essentially that is what he was experiencing: empty nest syndrome.

Now don't laugh. You should never laugh at a man who can dress as the Cyrano De Bergerac and make it look good.

Suddenly he heard the sound of a key in his office door. Maria stalked in and made a bee-line for his couch. "Grandfather, you're being ridiculous! Now there are over 300 people waiting downstairs for the host of the party to show up. Since you won't cooperate, I've decided to call in the big guns." She handed him a cell phone, "Here; she wants to talk to you."

Lory's eyes grew wide, "You didn't?!"

Maria smiled smugly, "I did. Now you let her set you straight and we'll be waiting for you downstairs."

Lory looked at his granddaughter and felt betrayed, "You're cruel." Maria pointed a commanding finger at the phone. Lory gulped and lifted it to his ear, "Hello, Julie?"

* * *

A much chastened President Takarada showed up at the party a few minutes later.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to honor two young ladies who have forged a special place in this company and in my heart, Kotonami Kanae and Mogami Kyoko." The gathered crowd applauded loudly and enthusiastically.

At first everyone at LME had thought that the idea of the LoveMe section was proof that President Takarada was slipping. But almost nobody thought that now. The three young ladies of the odd group in the pink jumpsuits had worked diligently and efficiently in every task that they were given. From being thought a joke, the LoveMe Section had become the place to call if you needed something done right. And nobody could deny that the two young ladies to be honored today had also proven themselves as rising young stars. Between them they had eighteen commercials, two music videos, and four successful dramas. And both were debuting with movies that were predicted to become box office favorites.

"Sawara-san and Matsushima-san, please come forward. Sawara-san, in your professional opinion, have Kotonami-san and Mogami-san fulfilled all of the requirements for graduation to the acting section of LME?"

Sawara-san felt surprisingly sad as he answered, "Yes, Mr. President, I believe that they have."

"Very well. Matsushima-san, do you stand prepared to assume responsibility for the continued growth and success of Kotonami-san and Mogami-san?"

Matsushima-san had once dreaded the day when Kyoko would become his responsibility. Now he was enthusiastic to see how far she could go, "Yes, Mr. President, I and the Acting Section are ready to assist, guide, and nurture these two young ladies."

"Very well. Kotonami Kanae, do you choose to become an actress under the guidance and support of LME?"

"Yes, Mr. President, I do."

"Mogami Kyoko, do you choose to become an actress under the guidance and support of LME?"

Kyoko, sitting in her wheelchair, grinned broadly, "Yes, Mr. President, I do."

"Then I congratulate you both and welcome you as our newest full-fledged acting talents."

The applause was drowned out by the sudden dull "woomp" of small firework charges far above the people's heads. Streams and streams of ribbon confetti fell like rain onto the heads of the crowd as trumpeters appeared at every balcony and blew a triumphant tune.

Leave it to Lory Takarada: sometimes late to the party, but always there with style.

* * *

Kyoko arrived home in the early evening with Ren pushing her chair. She was startled to find the place marked "closed."

When she was wheeled inside she saw Okami-san and Taisho sitting with another older couple. The other couple was facing away. When they saw the Darumaya couple look up, they turned their heads and Kyoko gasped.

It was Sho's parents.

They looked very sad.

* * *

It had taken three more days for Ren to have time to go with her. She had remained adamant; she wanted him with her when she confronted her mom.

A short airplane trip and a rental car allowed them to make the trip to Kyoto in the morning hours. She looked at the directions repeatedly, even though Ren had only needed to read them once.

Both Kyoko and Ren were dressed very nicely. They had travelled under disguise to avoid being swamped. Now they reached the address on the note. One look told them to expect to do a little climbing.

When she saw her mother's name Kyoko threw away her inhibitions and had Ren carry her right up to her mother, "Mom, I'd like you to meet, Tsuruga Ren, the man that I love."

When the incense stick finally burned away, Kyoko allowed Ren to pick her up and carry her down the winding path to the waiting car. By then she had run out of tears.

In a final act of cruelty and rejection Mogami Saena had never notified her daughter about the cancer that was spreading through her body. Worse still, in a way: she had died quietly without sticking around to see her daughter's success.

_______________________________________________

Notes: several people have reviewed and asked me to add Kyoko's mother to the story. Sadly, these last few chapters were set in my mind well before I posted the first chapter. My mind couldn't find a way to restore her to life. If that makes any sense.