85. The Truth
363 Words
"Oy, Satsuki!"Mitsuo shouted after the actress, bewildered, startling director Takahashi.
"What is it?" she asked, frowning.
"Beats me," Mitsuo huffed. "She just ran away all of a sudden."
Director Takahashi's scowl deepened.
"I have no time for this," she muttered to herself. "We're on a pretty tight schedule here."
"May I go talk to her?" Ken asked politely.
Mitsuo studied the charismatic actor through narrowed eyes.
He wasn't dumb. He knew something was going on here. Satsuki's sudden flight had to have everything to do with Ken.
Mitsuo decided to speak up.
"I'm not sure that's a –"
"Thank you," director Takahashi cut in. "That would be a huge help," she told Ken with a wan smile.
The tall actor glanced at Mitsuo, and gave him a smirk in passing, before he set out to look for their missing heroine.
He found her, sitting by a stream. He intentionally stepped on a twig, to announce his presence. She whipped around, clearly on alert. She paled when she saw him.
He studied her for a moment, remaining few metres away to allow her space.
"You feel uncomfortable doing the scene with me," he bluntly stated. Straight to the point. Going around in circles would lead nowhere with Satsuki.
She bit her lip but didn't reply.
"I assume it is because of what happened earlier this week?"
The actress flinched.
"Do you believe I am without honour?" Ken asked dryly. "That I would take advantage of a woman even when she is in a defenceless state?"
Satsuki's fingers worried the hem of her skirt. The immediate, defensive answer was Yes, but deep down, she knew that Ken was not as bad a guy as she frequently wanted to believe.
"I.. uhhh…" Satsuki swallowed nervously.
"Especially one like you, whom I respect?" His eyes were piercing, even though he was wearing the contacts for 'Sesshoumaru'.
Satsuki's troubled mind suddenly went completely blank.
"You… respect me?"
A faint, crooked smile appeared on his lips.
"Really, my dear Yukino-san, that cluelessness of yours is endearing."
She scowled then.
"Cut to the chase, Narita-san. What are you getting at?"
"I'm trying to tell you that nothing happened that night."