111. One Last Reunion

720 Words

The very moment Satsuki arrived at the hall on Ken's arm, Mitsuo swept her into a crushing hug. Ken shook his head at the troublesome duo's reunion, and greeted Izumi.

The general pleasantries were exchanged all around, and then the actual talk could commence.

"So how was the move?"Izumi asked Ken.

"It went very smoothly. It was surprisingly easy to fit all Satsuki's things into my apartment."

"Not even the slightest temptation to go back to the bachelor life?" Izumi teased.

"None whatsoever," Ken replied firmly.

"Congrats , I heard you're doing a movie next!" Satsuki gushed to Mitsuo.

"Thanks! I've been told you're filming, too. How's that going?" Mitsuo asked.

"Great! I'm doing another drama, this one is a romantic comedy. I actually just did an episode where Morikawa-san did a guest appearance!"

"Oh, that reminds me! Guess who are working together again?"

"Who?"

"Akio-kun and Mamiko-chan! They are playing step-siblings in a family drama."

"No way!" Satsuki exclaimed. "Where did you hear that?"

"Izumi bumped into Himeko the other day, and she told her," Mitsuo shrugged.

Satsuki laughed.

"Well that sounds familiar; Himeko was always up to date with the newest gossip. Has she come already?"

"Yeah I think I saw her here somewhere…" Mitsuo paused, glancing around the room, until he finally spotted the fashionable actress, who was standing on the other side of the room, chatting amiably with Kouji. "Well there's a surprise," Mitsuo snorted.

"Is that her husband?" Satsuki wondered aloud.

"Probably."

Satsuki felt a light tap on her shoulder, and turned to her boyfriend with a ready smile.

"Look who just got in," Ken told her, nodding towards the door.

Satsuki turned to look. Taiki was grinning, as always, and Izumi had already rushed over and pulled Noriko into a warm hug.

Taiki sauntered over to them and greeted them, which in Mitsuo's case included some patting on the shoulders, for Ken a polite nod, and Satsuki got a little peck on the cheek.

"How's life treating you people?" he asked in his usual casual manner.

"Good," Satsuki smiled.

"How's the wedding planning going?" Mitsuo grinned.

"It's a hassle, but luckily the womenfolk are the ones in charge – that means Noriko and our mothers, mostly. We've set the date – it'll be in May. The ceremony will be a small one, just family and our closest friends… But the reception will be a big one. You're all invited there, by the way. The invitations will come whenever the ladies have ironed out all the details."

"Sounds like you're on schedule, then," Satsuki told him.

They stood around chatting for a while longer, catching up with one another, before Satsuki and Ken excused themselves. They went around the room, to meet and greet their other former colleagues. They smiled at Kouji's affectionate teasing, and were introduced to Himeko's husband. They exchanged a few words with Kyouda-san. She had come despite a strained ankle. Ken and Morikawa-san chatted amiably while Satsuki got to know his wife and caught up with their son Akio-kun. Mamiko-chan latched herself onto Ken at some point, and glared daggers at Satsuki, who was just as unimpressed by the snobbish child as she had always been. They were saved when director Takahashi made her way over to them, congratulated them for moving in together, and inquired about their work life. Ken and Satsuki even briefly exchanged words with the eccentric writer, who seemed to be very excited about her latest project.

Finally, it was time, and director Takahashi asked for everyone's attention.

"Colleagues and friends," she began, once the chatter in the hall had quieted down. "We have all gathered here today for a very important occasion. Over a year ago, we began to work on something special, a TV drama that is a particularly close to my heart. I'm sure we all have been humbled by how well everyone has received our show. The numbers have been phenomenal, and the TV company has been singing praises to us. So, you have every right to feel proud, as we will now embark on our very last journey, and watch together the very last episode of Inuyasha!"

Cheers and applause erupted in the hall, and smiles rose to everyone's faces as they saw all the culmination of all their hard work come to life.

THE END