Chapter 2: The Act Begins
A week and a half later, It was finally time to begin filming the first episode of Keishi that Ren would be guest starring on. The director had secured a filming location in a nearby beach town for them to spend the next three days filming at. He had also gotten a shuttle bus provided to transport the actors to the location. Kyoko was riding next to Ren on the bus with Yashiro riding behind them, and Yukia and James were seated on the bench in front of them.
Kyoko stared out the window as they drove , entranced by the different sceneries. Yukia turned in his seat to talk to her as the went.
"This is so amazing! It's my first time going anywhere in Japan besides Tokyo." He told her.
Kyoko beamed. "I've only been to a few places for on location filming so I still get excited every time." She turned to Ren. "You've probably been so many places for filming that it doesn't even faze you anymore."
Ren laughed and shook his head. "Just because I've been to a lot of places doesn't make it any less special now."
Yashiro leaned forward resting his elbows on the back of their seat. "Although, this is the first time in a while since I've seen Ren look this happy to go on location for filming." He gave a mischievous smile as he glanced Kyoko's way.
Ren shot his manager a glare, then turned to James. "What about you, James-san? This is your first time to Japan as well, right?"
James nodded. "It is. I'm still trying to get used to how beautiful everything is."
"I'm looking forward to seeing the Manor we'll be filming in." Yukia said. "The director said it's supposed to be huge."
Kyoko's eyes widened as she realized that up until now, any scenes of Kimi's home had only been sets in a studio so the scenes with her grandmother's Manor would be the first time it would feel real. "I'll be like a real rich young lady!" she exclaimed.
She blushed when the others chuckled at her outburst.
"Yes," James agreed, "Just in time for you to refuse all your family's money."
Kyoko scowled. "I guess that's true."
The others all laughed at Kyoko's reaction before continuing the conversation about the upcoming filming. After some time, they each left the conversation to do their own things. Yashiro began to do some paperwork and answer some emails, James and Yukia began to play tic-tac-toe in a notebook that James had brought, and Ren put in some earphones to listen to music while they drove.
Kyoko stared out the window, enjoying the scenery surrounding her. It was still early in the day, since they had left from TBM at 6 AM, and they were due to arrive at the set by eleven.
Suddenly, Ren felt something against his shoulder. He glanced down and saw that Kyoko had her head leaned against his shoulder, her eyes closed. He smiled. That's right. She could hardly sleep last night because she was so excited about today. He gently moved his arm out from under her and wrapped it around her, pulling her close as she slept peacefully.
An hour later, the bus pulled up in front of a large hotel. The director stood up to address everyone.
"I'm going to go get us all checked in so you can come see my assistant for your room keys. Go freshen up in your rooms and we'll meet back down here in an hour to head to the Manor we'll be filming at." He said before climbing off the bus.
Everyone else began to exit the bus, but Ren waited until it was mostly empty before waking Kyoko. He gently rubbed her arm.
"Kyoko," he called to her softly, he leaned closer to her ear. "Sweet heart, we're here."
She opened her eyes slowly, "What?" she asked, groggily. She looked around.
"We're at the hotel. The director said we have an hour to freshen up and then meet back here to head to the location." He told her, trying not to laugh at the confused look on her face.
"I-I fell asleep?"
Ren nodded. Kyoko suddenly looked sad.
"I missed seeing what everything looked like when we first got here." She mumbled.
Ren leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You're so cute. But don't worry. We'll have a bit of time for sight seeing while we are here." He stood and held out his hand to her. "Let's go check out our hotel rooms."
After collecting their room keys from the assistant, Ren and Kyoko went upstairs to their hotel rooms. Kyoko searched for her room as they walked down the hall.
"203, 205, 207… Ah! 209!" she exclaimed when she had found her door. She turned to Ren who was smiling.
"And I'm in 210 so I'm right across from you." He told her. "You go ahead and freshen up and then I'll come get you in a little while."
Kyoko nodded and watched as her boyfriend entered his room. She turned to her own door and slid the key card. She heard the click of the door unlocking and opened the door.
She gasped as she stepped into the room. It was a large room, with a king-sized bed in the middle of the far wall. She noticed that her suitcase was already placed on the bed.
The staff must've brought up all the luggage. How nice! She thought as she ran her hand across the blankets. "It's so soft! I just want to climb in bed and go to sleep."
She sighed. "But I can't be so unprofessional!" she scolded herself. "What would Ren say?" Kyoko unzipped the main pocket of her suitcase and dug around until she found her miniature Ren doll.
"You're an actress now. How can you still act so unprofessional as to want to slack off when you haven't even begun working? I can't believe I am so unfortunate as to have to guest star on a drama with a newbie like you." Her Ren doll scolded her harshly.
Kyoko smiled. "Thank you, Ren. You always know how to put me in my place." she gave her doll a quick kiss and then glanced at the clock.
"Oh! I'm wasting time. I should get ready."
She hurriedly pulled out a change of clothes and changed out of the outfit she had traveled in. Then stepped into her large bathroom (where she was once again surprised) and washed her face and fixed her hair.
Just as she had finished, there was a knock on her door. She hurried to the door and opened it. Standing in the hallway was a refreshed looking Ren Tsuruga.
"Are you all ready?" he asked her.
Kyoko nodded then grabbed his hand. "I'm ready, but you have to see my room." She pulled him into the room and the door closed behind him.
"Look! They gave me my own room and I have a huge bed, and my bathroom has a tub and a shower! And I even have a balcony!" she moved to pull Ren towards the window, when she felt resistance from him.
She turned to ask him what was wrong and was met with his lips. His hands moved up to caress her face as he kissed her passionately.
After several moments, Kyoko pulled away. "Ren!" she gasped out. "What are you doing?"
He laughed, "I'm trying to kiss my girlfriend."
Kyoko moved away from him. "Now, Ren, you really should be more professional. During this trip we are co-stars… not a couple."
Ren moved closer to her, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Are you sure we can't be both?" he whispered. He leaned down to kiss her again when there was a knock on her door.
"I have to answer that!" Kyoko exclaimed, jumping out of Ren's arms. She hurried to open the door.
"Kyoko-chan, have you seen Ren?" Yashiro asked when she opened the door. Yashiro spotted Ren behind Kyoko and the irritated look on his face. Then saw how red Kyoko's face was. "Ren!" he exclaimed, a look of shock on his face.
Ren sighed, stepping forward. "I didn't do anything for you to be so shocked." He told his manager. He turned back to Kyoko and held out his hand. "Are you ready to go down to the bus then?"
Kyoko nodded. "Yes, let me grab my bag."
When they made it back to the bus they found Yukia and James already waiting for them. Yukia waved to Kyoko.
"How was your room?" he asked her as they all boarded the bus.
"It's amazing!" she exclaimed. "The bath is the biggest one I've seen for a single room before. And I have a balcony."
Yukia smiled. "The rooms are really nice. We are lucky they were able to get us such nice rooms."
Once the director boarded the bus, lunches were handed out and then the drive began. It was a thirty minutes drive to the filming location, but Kyoko thought it was worth the wait when she saw the Manor they would be filming in.
The house was huge. With majestic white walls, and a large front porch. Ivy climbed the sides of the house, and Kyoko could already picture herself living there. She gazed longingly at the house. Ren leaned close to her ear, "Do you want a home like that someday?" he whispered.
Kyoko jumped, but shook her head. "No, it's far too big for just me."
Ren was surprised at her response. "Just you?" he asked, forcing himself to hide the hurt in his voice. "And what about me?"
Kyoko's face tinged red, "I-I just didn't want to assume-"
She was interrupted by Ren staring seriously into her eyes. "Kyoko, I will never leave you. I will be here for you until the day you say you don't want me."
Kyoko's eyes flicked downwards before returning his gaze. "I would never tell you that." She replied softly.
Satisfied with her answer, Ren let the conversation end. They followed everyone else off the bus and soon they were each whisked away in separate directions for hair and make up as the crew set up the equipment.
Kyoko was changed into a frilly dress that she felt fit perfectly for a rich young lady. She spun around in it watching the way the skirt flared out around her. Currently, she was standing in the living room of the Manor where the first scene would be filmed between her and Ren.
The director entered with an older lady who he introduced as the actress who would be playing Kimi-chan's grandmother.
Kyoko bowed, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miyaki-san. Please take care of me."
The actress bowed her head to the young woman before her. "I've heard wonderful things about your acting, Kyoko-san. I look forward to working with you as well."
Just then, there was the sound of movement on the porch outside the front door. They looked towards the door and saw Ren enter. He was dressed in an all black suit with a gray tie as the only accent. But there was something different about this suit from the ones he normally wore.
Kyoko found herself staring at the man before her, it's a good thing I'm seeing him like this before we begin otherwise I would've forgotten all my lines.
"Tsuruga-san, you look so handsome," Miyaki-san greeted him.
Ren gave a small bowl as thanks. Then his eyes found Kyoko. Her dress was long and flowy with many layers to its pale purple fabric. He was excited to see her in this character, but even more excited to be working with her again.
As the director began ensuring all cameras were in place, Ren took the opportunity to move closer to Kyoko. "You look lovely." He told her.
She blushed. "Thank you, you look very nice yourself."
Ren chuckled at her suddenly shy attitude.
"But be prepared," she warned him, "I'm not going to like you at all in just a few minutes."
Ren smiled at her, a glint in his eye. "Oh, really now?" he raised his eyebrows at her.
The director called for them before she could respond and walked them through their cues and places.
"Action!"
Kimi sat on a chair in her grandmother's living room. She was completely bored and hated that she had to spend her week off of school with her grandmother. In the past it hadn't been so bad, but now that she had changed her attitude about money, she only wanted to be back home hanging out with her boyfriend.
However, since her grandmother was in control of the family, Kimi had no choice.
"Kimi, are you even listening to me?" her grandmother asked, setting down her cup of tea on the table before her.
Kimi looked up, and smiled at her grandmother, struggling to hide her boredom. "Yes, Grandmother. I was just enjoying the tea."
Her grandmother nodded and continued her berating of the local families she knew who had allowed their children to marry commoners.
"You'll marry someone proper, won't you dear?" she asked.
Kimi grimaced. "Yes, of course I will."
Her grandmother looked pleased with her answer.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. She watched as her grandmother called for a servant to answer the door. A few moments passed in silence before they heard footsteps coming down the hall.
A servant stepped into the room followed by a tall, well-dressed young man.
"Ryuu-san, welcome!" Kimi's grandmother greeted him warmly. He gave a small glance towards Kimi before approaching the chair where her grandmother sat. He bowed in greeting and kissed her hand.
Kimi watched in confusion. Who was he? This stranger who had suddenly interrupted them.
"Kimi, stand and greet our guest." Her grandmother chided her.
Kimi stood quickly, and curtsied.
"This is my granddaughter, Kimi." Her grandmother said, "And this is Satoshi Ryuu. The man I have picked for you to marry."
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed chapter 2! Thank you for reading! :)