As usual, thank you for all of you guys who faved, followed, and reviewed the previous chapters! I'm really sorry that I couldn't reply at all for those who reviewed, so here we go! A special space of review replies!
kaitlynchosenisme, chocolaty, Angeline G. McFellou, xXimmortalXx, animemanga luvr, and onliafaze: Glad that you guys love it :) Thanks for reviewing again and again.
mrs. zala: You'll probably strangle me after this chapter, but please don't.
dancingfingers: Wow. You didn't really fall from your bed, did you? Or else I'll worry more about your head - a big chance that you'd get hit on it if you did fall - but I'm glad that you like the appearance of Reino and Lory's zoo - albeit not direct appearance. I wonder since when my story slipped into the comedy genre.
Anon: Although Ren's a bit OOC, thank you for liking my story. I'll tell him to watch himself from slipping out of the gentleman persona.
Matelia-legwll: Oops, typo. Thank you for telling me; I'll fix it first chance I get.
Now, onto the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Skip-Beat!
Chapter 20: Crisis ~Closing In~
When Kyoko and Ren arrived at the court with Kento and Marina the next morning, two hours before the hearing commenced, the front entrance of the court building had already been packed with flashing cameras.
"KYOKO-san, is it true that your parents are both appealing custody over you?"
"KYOKO-san, we've heard that your mother was involved in a violent conduct just to see you; can you comment on that?"
"Your mother abandoned you when you were little; are you willing to let her get the custody if the court rules so?"
"KYOKO-san!"
"KYOKO-san!"
Feeling that the chattering would not stop even after she made it safely into the building, Kyoko was surprised when the reporters suddenly froze at their place without saying any other word, staring at something behind her with pale faces.
Turning around to see the object of their current attention, the girl's surprise turned towards the mild side as she spotted Yashiro glaring silently at them while a taxi drove off behind him. The bespectacled man strode towards her and her family – and boyfriend – still glaring.
"Thank you for coming, Yashiro-san," the chestnut brown-haired actress said gratefully.
"It's no problem, Kyoko-chan," Yashiro said nonchalantly. "I'm here to give you my support, after all. Now, why don't we go in?"
Unknown for them, a pair of dark eyes was focused on Kento with dread.
Feeling like being watched, the artist flicked his golden eyes towards the direction of the person he thought was watching him.
He could swear that he saw a glimpse of Saena before she ran away to a corner.
Instantly, he chased after her – earning a look from his daughter and her escorts – hoping to catch up to her and have a proper long talk. As he turned to the corner where he had seen her run into, she had vanished.
Meanwhile not far away, Saena was trying her best to not lose control over her raging impulses that always took over every time she saw that pair of golden orbs. She knew that when she had appealed for custody over her daughter, she had had to prepare herself to see those abominable ochre eyes of hers. Never had she thought that she would have to look at that particular pair of golden eyes that soon.
The memories from the old times came back to her like a flashflood, and the feeling of being loved tenderly only to be betrayed severely made her sob-screaming.
The hearing was not that interesting to the younger of the Akatoki siblings. Her niece of course was asked to testify by Kisaki against the claim made by Kitami that his client had not ever once neglect the girl.
"I was left in Fuwa ryokan when I was eight by my mother," the actress said – although she knew she was bored already. Repeating the same story again and again made her feel like a robot looking for sympathy from other people. "And she never came back ever since. I then helped around in the ryokan while going to school, until I went to Tokyo when I was 16 – 2 years ago."
"And no contact whatsoever from your mother?" the judge asked before Kisaki managed to.
"No, as far as I know."
And Kisaki was not surprised at all when Kitami had called Fuwa Kotoko to testify on the witness stand. The okami of Fuwa ryokan – being Saena's friend – told the court that Saena had always sent them some money for Kyoko's school fee and living needs.
When Kisaki cross-examined the elegant Kyoto woman and asked her why, if Saena had provided for Kyoko, the girl had had to work in the ryokan, the answer was rather expected.
"She asked to be taught on how to work in the ryokan."
Of course, Kyoko – with a sheepish flush and small grin on her face – had not been able to refute that statement.
"But she did indeed work at your place, didn't she, Fuwa-san?" Kisaki asked sharply.
"Well, yes–"
"Then how come she has never received a paycheck from you?"
"My husband and I have thought of her as a family, so–"
"So you thought it was meaningless to give her a proper payment for her work," the female lawyer continued the sentence rather abruptly. "You know, Fuwa-san, there is a logic that I can't fathom from your statement so far. You said Mogami Saena-san sent money for Kyoko-san's needs, correct?"
The woman clad in the silk traditional kimono gulped. "Yes, I did say so."
"Then actually you didn't have to make her work in the ryokan, right? Why did she have to work, then?"
"I have told you already–"
"She's practically a guest in your residence; you're not supposed to make her work – serving older customers that couldn't be trusted at that."
Sho's mother's eyes narrowed at Kisaki. "For your information, Kisaki-san," she hissed in irritation, angered that her dignity and professionalism were trampled by the queen of the law court. "I was always by her side everytime she was in the room with the patrons."
"Which still doesn't answer my initial question," Kisaki said. "Why did she have to work, then?"
"She is like family to me! Isn't it natural for me to teach my family everything I can about the family's business?"
The bespectacled woman raised one eyebrow at the witness. "Apparently, you did not teach your own son about the said business."
"Is it my fault that the boy didn't want to listen at all?" Kotoko screeched in irritation. "I had no choice but to train Kyoko-chan, whom I have hoped to be his bride, so that they can inherit the ryokan and manage it properly in the future!"
Julie – who, along with her husband, had insisted to come to the hearing and give her support to Kyoko – growled under her breath, "She has no right to decide my baby girl's future!"
"Your Honor!" Kitami protested. "I believe Kisaki-san is harassing the witness."
"I agree," the judge mumbled. "Kisaki-san, I know that you think you're going somewhere in your favor, but can you please tone it down?"
"I beg your pardon, Your Honor," Kisaki said grimly. "Putting the issue of your heir aside, Fuwa-san, do you have the proof that Mogami Saena-san has sent that money all these years? Bank slips, letters, book keeping, anything?"
The witness blanched in terror. Everyone in the court almost could not make it out when she murmured a 'No'.
Some time when Kotoko was screaming on the witness stand about her stupid son, the said son sneezed loudly in his booth in Akatoki Agency office building.
"Sho-chan, are you okay?" Nanokura Mimori asked him in an obvious worry on her face. "Are you catching a cold?"
Sniffing and rubbing his nose, Sho scowled. "Someone must be talking about me somewhere." I bet it must be that pinhead actor and Kyoko.
Speaking of Kyoko, he remembered immediately his conversation with Saena the previous day. An unpleasant chill quickly went up his spine.
If Shoko didn't interfere yesterday, I really don't know whether I would still be alive right now, he thought, shivering – which Mimori interpreted as him having the chill from being sick with flu.
Sho always knew that Mogami Saena was someone who he could never mess with, but he had never imagined that the woman could be that scary. And to be honest, he found it rather ridiculous that Saena had been so worked up over the fact that Kyoko had been living in Tokyo and working as an actress.
Every mother should be proud of her daughter's achievement, especially the ones that were difficult to achieve. And for Sho – albeit grudgingly – being a popular actress in a short time counted as one.
Apparently, not for Saena.
One sentence from Saena had struck him as uncanny, but he had not decided to pay attention to that. And now, when he tried to remember, he could not get anything from his memories about the dreadful encounter with the 'scary aunty'.
But, not able to shove the bad feeling from his mind, he decided to call Kyoko.
It rang three times before his call was picked up. To Sho's dismay, his childhood friend was not the one who answered the phone.
"Hello?" a deep baritone, gentleman-like voice greeted.
The bottle-blonde's scowl appeared once again. "Tsuruga."
"Fuwa," the reply was as venomous albeit sounded sweet. "What do you want?"
"I have to talk to Kyoko. This is important."
"She can't answer right now. If it's that important, just tell me, and depending on what you want to talk about, I can forward the message to her," Ren said smoothly – and Sho could imagine the dark-haired actor smiling gentlemanly over the phone as if they were talking face to face. "However, make it quick; the recess is almost ending."
Recess? Sho asked in the back of his mind. Oh, yeah, right, they're having another hearing today. "How's it going so far with the hearing?"
There was a hesitant pause from the other side of the phone – which meant that Ren was caught off-guard by the sincerity in the singer's question. "It's going in our favor, that's all I can say. Your mother's here, by the way, just letting you know."
Geh. "Anyway, Tsuruga, what I want to say to Kyoko," Sho brought the conversation back into the track once again. "Just be careful of her mother. I talked to her yesterday."
He could hear a soft gasp. "Do you know where she is?" Ren asked him sharply.
"How should I know?" the younger man replied in annoyance. "And I don't want to see her again, ever. I know she's crazy, but she looked like she wanted blood in her hands."
It was silent for a few seconds before Sho heard a grunt of 'Thanks'.
When he closed his cell phone, he was rather caught off-guard himself when he saw Mimori tearing up in front of him. Hesitantly, he asked, "Err… Pochiri, is something wrong?"
"It's always KYOKO!" the girl wailed. "Sho-chan is always talking about KYOKO! Even when you have Mimori here! Why is it always her?!"
"Pochiri–"
"That time during the PV, even though you said that you two were enemies, you always had your eyes on her! You even forgot the script when you saw her cry, even when you knew it was just acting! And then on Valentine's Day, you k-k-KISSED HER! Even when you have Mimoriiiii!"
Not knowing what else to do, Sho did what he always did – drawing the busty black-haired girl into his arms.
Unfortunately, this time it failed miserably as the model kept screaming against his chest. "And then you asked me to cuff her so that you could talk to her in private! THAT HURT, YOU KNOW! Even when you have Mimoriiii!"
"Pochiri, listen to me–"
"And then you confessed to the media and humiliated yourself!"
That struck him right on the sensitive, healing part of his heart.
"Sho-chan, you baka, baka, baka!"
He finally used his final resort. Mimori was immediately silenced when he locked his lips with hers.
Someone cleared his throat and caught Sho's attention. When he pulled away from Mimori and turned his head to look at the newcomer, he froze when he saw Akatoki Seijuro at the doorway.
"Wow, Sho-kun," the older Akatoki shook his head with a smile. "You're such a player, aren't you? You got rejected by my niece, and now you have a new girlfriend already? That's great!"
And the boss left the employee gaping with a girl swooning in his arms.
"In the end, Mogami Saena didn't come, huh?" Kisaki mumbled, patting Kitami's shoulder in sympathy. "It's been hard on you."
A bit afar from the attorneys at law, Kento stared at them silently. She did come, you know, although I didn't know where she went to.
"At least all of it's over now," the other lawyer sighed tiredly. "I just have to persevere until we wrap up the violence conduct charge. And somehow, I'm kind of glad that I lost this custody appeal. I won't entrust such a sweet girl as KYOKO-san to a labile woman such as my client. Although I'm sure that whichever the judge's decision was, the media is going to have a picnic."
Kisaki crossed her arms against her chest. "Then why did you receive it in the first place?"
"Well, she came to me with signs of being punched all over her body–"
Courtesy of Marina-chan, Kisaki noted grimly.
"–and when she told me she wanted to appeal for custody over the phone, she sounded desperate. Of course I accepted the case. But when she met me the next day, she was cold, distant, and it scared me to hell when she suddenly bolted out of the office when I pointed at her daughter on TV."
"You've told me that one," the bespectacled brunette said.
Kitami sighed again. "She looked sick, you know? Not physically, I mean, aside from the small injuries here and there."
"You mean mentally, then."
"Yeah," he replied. "And I'm totally curious about what have happened in her life that such a middle class woman can be so stressed like that."
Kisaki hummed absently. Mentally sick, huh?
Saena was completely enraged when Kitami called her and said that they had lost the custody.
Abruptly ending the call with a harsh push on the 'End' button, she quickly strode towards her bedside table and grabbed her memo – which contained Kyoko's schedule up to the end of the week.
The one that had to bring the end to all of this mess, apparently, had to be herself.
Once again, Sayaka was comfortable in her Victorian-like dress, walking and twirling around in sultry excitement. Sometimes, she would look at the camera seductively, taunting everyone that dared to claim themselves more beautiful than she was.
"KYOKO-chan, lift your skirt up a bit! Show us some legs!" Sugimoto Karen yelled a bit, her eyes sticking to the actress through her trusted camera. "Step onto the roses! Now just peek over here!"
On the side, Yoshimoto just looked at the hectic scene in front of him. Must be hard being the photographer, he thought, staring at Karen who was practically shouting her throat hoarse.
The photographer then shouted again. "Ok, KYOKO-chan, take thirty! Wardrobe! Kazuha-chan!"
"Coming!" a very tall woman with short black hair replied instantly, walking towards Kyoko. "KYOKO-chan, come over here to get changed, okay?"
"Okay," Kyoko answered, immediately following Kazuha towards the changing room.
Once the door was closed, the beautician quickly opened the zip to Kyoko's dress and then let the girl get out of the apparel while she grabbed the next outfit. The chiffon was not less grandiose than the previous one – ruffled long bell skirt with simple, flexible petticoat, corseted torso, one long ruffled sleeve while the other arm was sleeveless, and cotton carnations lining from the bare shoulder to the skirt where it then flared up to reveal the messily stitched up white fishnet stockings.
Kazuha whistled in awe. She knew that Fujisawa Eiko had something special about gothic in her heart, but this one looked completely–
"This is so emo!" she exclaimed with a goofy smile. "I bet the image is a vampire princess turning into an incubus! So sexy! I mean, look at all this black, golden, red, and white! KYOKO-chan, hurry up and put this on! I'm dying to see you in this!"
Kyoko giggled breathlessly and with Kazuha's help shrugged into the petticoat that came to halt around her petite waist. Next, the ravenette bent down and spread the wide skirt around on the floor. Kyoko stepped into it and the older woman efficiently pulled the whole gown up her body. The actress had to hold her breath when the beautician tied the corset on her back.
After the elaborate gown was safely tucked onto her body, Kyoko was directed towards the seat in front of the mirror while Kazuha prepared her equipments.
The foundation and face powder were applied a little, but evenly on her face. Next, sparkling silver with glitters was spread on both of her eyelids, followed by black eyeliner. Kyoko could feel Kazuha applying nude blush onto her cheeks and maroon lipstick and clear gloss onto her lips.
The tall woman's hands glided gracefully over her hair – pulling the blonde wig off her chestnut brown locks and straightening the shorter hair before putting intricate bandana adorned with small bead crown, feathers, and pearls.
"Oh, no," Kazuha said suddenly, gaining Kyoko's attention. "I'm running out of hairspray, and now I have to go to my car to pick up my spare."
"Can't we just leave the hair like this?" Kyoko asked, eyeing her hairdo. "I mean, this is really good."
The older woman groaned. "No; Karen told me specifically to make it spike out on the back against the neck. Well, I can always call Maki to get here and bring me the spray, but I don't think it'll hold up until he comes. And it'll get difficult to get it back to the places I want it to be." She put down the curler in her hands onto the dressing table and turned towards the door. "I'll be back shortly, KYOKO-chan."
The golden-eyed girl sweat-dropped when she could hear Kazuha dashing towards the parking lot as if her life depended on it.
Not long after, the door opened again. Kyoko raised one eyebrow in surprise. "Kazuha-san, that was quick–"
Her eyes widened when she saw her mother in front of her, murder lurking beneath the dark eyes.
Shorter than usual, I know, but this is going according to my planning :p And with this chapter, 'The Next Episode' is ending soon.
Additional Disclaimer:
-I do not own Kisaki Eri, Aoyama Gosho-sensei does.
-I do not own Sugimoto Karen, Sugimoto/Akiyoshi Kazuha, and Sugimoto Maki, Hidaka Banri-sensei does.
Please review :) Thank you!