Chie: The last of "the party" arc. x3 Name list, once again: chierafied . livejournal . com / 1061 . html

The Morning After

635 Words

The following morning, the cast returned to the set. They were tired after their night of partying, but nonetheless happy.

With two exceptions.

It took them a while to realise that neither Satsuki nor Mitsuo were anywhere to be seen.

It was Kouji who finally found them. The both of them were in Mitsuo's dressing room, huddled in a corner, and for some reason, sitting on the floor.

Kouji blinked at the peculiar sight.

"Stupid Taiki and his stupid, stupid party," Satsuki groaned then, her voice muffled. She was hugging her knees to her chest, and her forehead rested on her legs. The black curtain of hair concealed her face completely.

"I shouldn't have been drinking so much," Mitsuo grumbled. He was leaning his head back against the wall and was staring at the ceiling in despair.

"What do you have to complain about?" Satsuki muttered sulkily, not raising her head from its resting. "The last I saw you things were looking up for you."

"They were," Mitsuo replied. "Before I went and ruined all my chances for good."

Well, now this was getting interesting. Kouji inched closer and plopped down to sit on the floor near the despairing duo.

"What did you do? Step on her foot?" Satsuki snorted, the sarcasm in her voice evident.

"No. I had one too many to drink," Mitsuo said, drowning in self-pity. "Towards the end of the evening we were sitting in a corner table and I just kept talking and talking and talking…"

"What did you tell her?"

"I don't even remember," Mitsuo grumbled in desperation. "But I do remember that at some point, I spilled the beans. I told her everything. That she's really talented and very nice, too. That I think she's really beautiful. That I like her."

Mitsuo groaned.

"I wish I would just die."

"I will kill you if you kill me," Satsuki offered helpfully. "But I'm not sure if it's that bad. Izumi's nice, I'm sure she understands."

"I won't ever dare to face her again."

"We can make a deal. I can keep Izumi away from you from now on, but only if you make sure Ken never gets within a five metre radius from me."

"What did you do?" Mitsuo asked suspiciously.

"Me?" Satsuki replied, indignant at Mitsuo's implication. "I didn't do anything!"

"Fine. What did he do?"

Satsuki was silent for a while, until she finally confessed rather sulkily.

"He kissed me. Twice."

At that point, a new voice joined in their conversation.

"Is that a bad thing? Because frankly, I think that Ken-san looks like a great kisser."

Mitsuo started and Satsuki came very close to jumping out of her own skin.

"Kouji!" she wailed, finally realising that the actor was sitting right by their side. "Since when were you there?" the actress asked suspiciously.

"Since 'stupid Taiki and his stupid party'," Kouji informed amiably. "I have to say, though, you two had a very interesting night."

Mitsuo groaned and Satsuki hid her face in her hands.

Then, Mitsuo suddenly straightened and stared at Satsuki.

"Wait. Ken-san kissed you?"

Satsuki nodded, her hands still covering her face.

Mitsuo turned to look at Kouji.

"I don't think I've ever seen him kiss anyone before… Have you?"

Kouji shook his head.

"Not unless you count the ones on the screen," he replied. Then, his eyes took on a dreamy quality. "But I still bet he is a great kisser."

"He is."

The words had slipped out before she had the time to stop them. Kouji and Mitsuo turned slowly, and the weight of their speculative stares settled on her as she squirmed nervously.

"I mean I… he… ARGH!"

Satsuki once again hid her face, which was rapidly nearing a vivid shade of red.

"Stupid Taiki and his stupid, stupid party!"