Shelf #031
The following day, things went well as usual at the bookshop. Kuu decided to make it to Ukyo-ku disctrict in the afternoon. Kuu had pointed out to Martin that he will be leaving the rest of managing the sales to him.
He got off the bus and arrived at the filming set in wide sweep of Ukyo-ku. Kuu was entirely alone, walking along the road under the big shade of trees. He looked up to the sky and noticed it was slightly gray and wind was sweeping around him. It will rain soon. Kuu continued and marched up the hill –– went over the crest of it. . . and there it was.
Kuu saw a huge film crew in black shirts and hundreds of Japanese extras, dressed during the years of the Meiji Restoration, moving about the historical neighborhood being used as a set for filming. The natural weather today that covered the entire place in a mantle of grey atmosphere was perfect, as the production team will later film scenes that would involve swordfights under the rain.
There was a beautiful house a few yards away from a lake, and Kuu approached it. Now closer to the house, he came across a barrier –– where he was himself approached by a tall and muscular security.
"Can I help you, sir?" came his low, booming voice. He towered over a good inches above Kuu.
"Uhm. . Yes –– I was looking for Julienna Scott. . ." Kuu answered, looking up at him. He thought that damn huge build would break bones in a snap.
"Does she know you're coming?" the security asked.
"Uh no. No she doesn't," Kuu replied honestly.
"I'm afraid I can't let you through, sir," security said, shaking his head.
"Oh right. I mean, I am a friend –– I'm not a lunatic but –– no, you basically. . ."
But the security shook his head.
". . . Sorry. Can't let you through sir," he said.
At that moment –– about thirty yards away, Kuu saw a trailer door open. Out of it came Julie at last. . . Looking extraordinary –– in a silk, white kimono with a blue obi around her waist, and a flowing purple shawl; full, beautiful make-up; rich, silky straight jet black wig that greatly suited the contrasting glow of her fair skin like mother of pearl, and the green eyes were replaced now with midnight black contacts. She had a necessary cluster of people about her. Hair, make-up, costume and the third assistant who had collected her. Then Yashiro came out the door next, talking briefly to her.
Julie walked a few yards, and then casually turned her head. And her eyes finally saw him. Her face registered not just surprise, certainly not a simple smile. His being there was a complicated thing. Yet deep within the depths of her heart, Julie couldn't stop the fluttering rhythm that seemed to burst out. . He was finally there. After all the times of trying to reach him on the cell phone, with the message replying to her instead, and he never answered, still he was finally here on the set to see her. . . It was hard for her now to find such words. . If only he knew how really happy she was. . How she missed him so much. . .
Kuu waved his hand and did a small wave. She paused, staring back at him as the whole paraphernalia of the upcoming scene passed between them. The movie divided them, but then she began to walk through it calmly, and followed by her cluster, she fluidly made her way towards him.
Kuu felt the knot in his chest ache so much. He couldn't deny the true feelings in his heart, as he watched the ethereal goddess who he lost for six months walking towards him. . If only she knew how much he still loved her. . Yet it hurt that he couldn't easily go and talk to her.
When Julie reached him, the security guard stood back a pace, and her people held back. She didn't really know what to say. . . . She was at a loss for words.
"This is certainly. . . ah. ." Julie spoke. Her black eyes twinkled in her stare.
"I only found out you were here yesterday," Kuu said.
"I tried to ring you. . . all this time –– but, uh. . . I didn't think you'd want to. ." she spoke softly, breathing nervously.
Kuu blinked. She did? How he wanted to smack his head for ignoring his important cell phone. What a stupid idea of not wanting to hear her after she left, really.
Kuu was about to talk just in time when the thirst assistant was under pressure.
"Julie. ." the third assistant called.
Julie looked around and saw her third assistant really nervous now –– and the first was approaching. She turned back to Kuu.
"Uhm. . It's not going very well, and it's our last day," Julie said.
Kuu nodded. "Absolutely. . . you're clearly very busy," he said.
Their eyes never broke this deep gaze. For how long did they missed each other?
"But. . . wait. . . there are things to say," Julie spoke softly, looking deeply in the eyes.
Kuu's eyes pierced back with the same warmth.
"Okay," he said softly.
Julie flashed a little smirk. "Drink tea –– there's lots of tea. ."
She was then swept away, four people touching her hair and costume. A little bit away from Kuu stood Yashiro. He pushed his spectacles up and smiled at him from afar.
"Come and have a look. . ."
A good shower of rain fell as Kuu and Yashiro made their way towards the set, umbrellas up. . .
"Are you a fan of Nobuhiro Watsuki?" Yashiro asked, looking up at Kuu. Yashiro thought this guy was incredibly taller than Julie, who was already as tall as her manager.
Kuu blinked in surprise. "This is Nobuhiro Watsuki film?"
He looked and saw that a complicated shot was about to happen –– with waves of extras –– and huge moving crane. Kuu and Yashiro ended up next to a huge parasol covering the sound desk.
"This is Harry," Yashiro said, pointing to a tall, fat man in black shirt concentrating on a few buttons on a certain panel. "He'll give you a pair of headphones so you can hear the dialogue."
Harry the sound man looked up and nodded brightly at Kuu. He was a pleasant, fifty-year-old balding fellow. He handed him the headphones.
"Here we go. The volume control is on the side," he said, pointing to a button.
"That's great," Kuu said. He placed the pair on his ears and sat on a silver chair.
Kuu, with the headphones on, surveyed the scene –– it felt to him as if he was on a day during the Meiji Restoration Era on a rainfall. The cluster of extras was along the line of houses, a full 80 yards away from the action, to allow a gracious sweeping wide-shot. He watched Julie near the gate of the temple, holding up a traditional Japanese umbrella. She was with her co-star in the Nobuhiro Watsuki film, a katana on the other side of his waist. He portrayed Kiyosato Akira, a bodyguard and Julie's character's fiance. His name was Lee James.
"We are living in a heavy cloudcuckooland –– we'll never get this done today," Lee said.
"We will, the rain is perfect," Julie said. "And we have to. I've got to be in New York on Thursday."
"Oh, stop showing off," he said. Lee watched extras moving about on the road. His sharp eyes studied an actress a few yards to the left. She had just fixed her kimono after picking up her small bag that had fallen on the ground.
"Oh God. That's an enormous arse," Lee muttered softly, staring at the actress.
"I'm not listening," Julie said.
"No, but seriously. . it's not fair––," Lee said, keeping his voice low. "––so many tragic young teenagers with anorexia nowadays. . . and that girl has an incredible arse she could perfectly well share round with at least ten other women–– and still be beg-bottomed."
"I said Lee I'm not listening––" Julie shot back low. "––and I think, looking at something that firm, you and your droopy little excuse for an 'incredible arse' would be well-advised to keep quiet."
Back by the sound desk, Kuu was listening and laughs while watching her. That's his girl. Julie cleared her throat and started preparing.
"Okay. So I ask you when you'll be coming back, and you say. . .?" she asked.
"'I won't be long. . I'll come back soon.'" Lee replied.
"And then I. . . right," Julie said, checking her sandals and started to take a deep breath just in time for a loud voice from a megaphone spoke in the air.
"We'll begin shortly in ten minutes, guys– so everyone to your position!" said the voice.
Lee checked the tightness of the katana wrapped around his waist and turned to Julie.
"So who was that rather difficult chap you were talking to on the way up, hmm?" Lee asked.
Julie raised her brows. "Oh. . . well, no one. . . no one," she lied calmly. "Just some. . . guy from the past. ."
At the desk, Kuu blinked.
"I don't know what he's doing here. Bit of an awkward situation," she said and looked away, watching two extras walking by.
Kuu had heard everything. "Of course," he muttered.
There was nothing else to watch more here. That was it. He took off the headphones and placed them gently down the chair.
"Thank you," Kuu said. Harry nodded with a smile.
"Anytime," he said.
Kuu began to walk away in the rain, never minding to get that umbrella on the panel. He never cared to look back at all. He walked on and on, swiftly avoiding the presence of Yashiro checking the scene. He left farther from the set, until he was out of the filming place and back on the stony road in the woods. Those words were as cold as the drops of water falling on him. The moment of hope was gone. He couldn't have had a clear reminder.
Kuu arrived home dripping wet. Along the way, he unbuttoned his silk shirt and took off his other shirt. He rushed upstairs to the bathroom, undressed the rest of his clothes off and took a shower. The cold water reminded him of the cold rain –– and the scene flashed across his mind again. . .
Later that evening, Kuu was barefoot on the living room, in his white shirt and black pants, emptying all Julienna Scott movie videos and live performance albums into a box. Outside, rain continued to pour harder.
Spike appeared moments after. He had just taken a nice shower, wiping his spiky hair with a towel and worn only his denim pants.
"Kuu-san. . What's going on?" Spike asked. He was surprised to see all the clutter of Julie on the floor. This was not a good sight, plus Kuu was in a temper.
"I'm going to throw out these old videos," Kuu fumed, his ears flushed soft pink. He slammed a pile into the box.
"No. You can't bin these," Spike said, walking towards the box. "They're classics, Kuu. I'm not allowing this."
"Right –– let's talk about rent. . ." Kuu shot back.
"Let me help," Spike said, rushing quickly across the room. He bent and gathered the rest of the videos. "We don't want all this shit cluttering up our lives."
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