"You're sure he's going to be here?"
"I told you, Takeda told me he would be!"
The paparazzos sat on a bench beside the entrance to a large hotel in downtown Tokyo. The taller of the two took a drag off of his cigarette.
"Takeda, huh? When the fuck is Takeda ever right, Hiroshi?"
Hiroshi glared at him. "Even a blind squirrel will get a nut sometimes, Kota. He said Hozu will be here, so he'll be here. Not like we have fuck all else to do today anyway."
Kota snuffed out his cigarette and threw it on the sidewalk. He patted the camera that sat beside him. "Says you. Kimiko Kamio is attending a birthday party on the other side of town. I could have been photographing that fox."
The shorter man laughed. "Fox, huh? Awfully big hips for a fox." His friend licked his lips and pantomimed grabbing a woman by the ass.
"I'd grab her by those hips and let her–"
"Shhh! Fuck me, here he comes!"
A dark red Jaguar pulled up to the curb in front of the hotel, and an obscenely tall man unfolded himself from the driver's seat. He wore a tan suit with a light blue tie and sunglasses. He checked his dyed blonde hair once more in the rearview mirror. It was combed back neatly, not a strand out of place. He straightened his tie, stepped away from the car, and gave his keys to the valet.
"Hozu-san! Hozu-san, look over here!"
Christ. Do they ever take a day off?
Shuuhei Hozu smiled a dazzling smile for the cameras and waved. "Gentlemen. Nice day, isn't it?"
They kept snapping pictures, rapid-firing questions. "What are you here for today, Hozu-san!? Are you meeting a lady!?"
The mega star of TV and film laughed good-naturedly. "If I was, you'd be the first to know about it. Please excuse me." He disappeared through the doors and into the lobby, allowing himself a small sigh of relief.
"You're late, Kuu."
Shuuhei Hozu, otherwise known as Kuu Hizuri to his friends, rolled his eyes. "It's a pool party, Lory, not a red carpet."
Lory Takarada raised an eyebrow and gestured at his friend. "And yet you've come dressed for a red carpet."
Kuu chuckled as they made their way to the elevator. "You said we're here to beg money from Eltra Duris for Tsukigomori, right? I don't think it would reflect well on our mission if the star of the show showed up in his swim trunks with a pool floatie around his waist."
They got into the elevator and Lory hit a button. "You really should lighten up, Kuu. You don't know Tora like I do."
"Be that as it may," said Kuu, "I do know my business, and I know how to handle it."
Lory shrugged. "Have it your way."
They rode the elevator up to the top floor. When the doors opened, it was to a rooftop paradise packed with people. Though it was on the roof, it was an indoor pool. The sun shone on them through glass panels overhead, which blocked out the coolness of the early April air. The entryway was flanked with two large potted palm trees. It opened up into a wider area with a pool, surrounded by dozens of lounge chairs. The smell of grilling meat wafted over them.
"Takarada-san! Hozu-san!"
A slight man with a light brown ponytail was making his way toward them. Kuu smirked; he was also wearing a suit. At least the Director knows the score.
"Date-san." Lory bowed to him. "I'm glad you're already here." They made their way toward the pool. Several people bowed to Lory and shook his hand as they moved through the crowd. Lory was nothing if not gifted at networking. There appeared to be a game of Marco Polo happening, and the spectators were laughing as they watched the participants flee from the seeker, a middle-aged blonde man.
"Marco!" he shouted.
Most of the people around and in the pool saw Lory's approach. He put his finger over his lips.
"Polo!," boomed Lory, from outside of the pool.
The man looked suddenly puzzled. "Lory, is that you!?"
The group, and Lory, roared with laughter. "Get out of the pool, Tora, I need to raid your bank account."
Eltra Duris laughed and opened his eyes. He climbed out of the pool and grabbed a colorful striped towel from a nearby chair. They hugged and he ruffled Lory's hair. "It's been forever!"
Lory nodded. "It has. I'd like to introduce you to my friends, the prospective Director of our project, Hirotaka Date, and the star of the show-"
"Shuuhei Hozu." Eltra looked Kuu in his eyes. "Hozu-san needs no introduction. I daresay there's not a single person in the Asian market that doesn't know his name."
Kuu bowed to him. "You flatter me, Duris-san."
Eltra shook his head, "Please, call me Tora." Though Eltra Duris was arguably the most powerful behind-the-scenes guy in show business, he was also the most modest. He turned his attention back to Lory. "If you'll follow me over here to my cabana, I'll write you a check. Date-san, Hozu-san, please have something to drink. There are burgers on the grill, or fish if you prefer. Lory and I will only be a moment." Lory followed Tora to the cabana, leaving Hirotaka and Kuu to stare at each other, dumbfounded.
"It was seriously that easy?," said Hirotaka, his face becoming pale.
Kuu nodded. "So it would seem." He blinked. "Director Date, are you all right?"
Hirotaka nodded once. "I'm going to go to the bathroom. Lory has once more… tested my nerves for nothing. Please excuse me."
Kuu followed him with his eyes, hoping the man wouldn't be too violently ill. He looked around at the party and decided to get himself a plate. Or maybe several. Who would notice?
He was halfway to the buffet when he heard someone yell in English, "CANNON BALL!"
He turned around with a smirk and watched the water burst into the air in a violent fountain as the cannon baller dove into the pool. The girl surfaced and kicked her way over to the edge of the pool where she pulled herself up onto the concrete ledge.
Kuu's breath caught, and it was like time slowed to a crawl. Her waist-length blonde hair clung to her body, framing her perfect breasts and her toned, tanned belly in the tiniest neon green bikini that Kuu had ever seen. He watched as the water droplets crawled down the siren's body as she got out of the pool.
His feet moved without the direction of his brain. He found himself in front of her before his brain had time to process the action.
"Hi." he said, his brain still not aligned with his mouth.
She looked up at him, and when the afternoon sunlight caught her glorious green eyes, he thought he might die. She blinked and then smiled widely at him.
"О, разве ты не милый? Если ты поймешь это, я могу позволить тебе пригласить меня на свидание. Может быть." Oh, aren't you cute? If you understand this, maybe I'll let you ask me on a date.
His brain stuttered back to life. "Was that… Russian?"
She sighed and frowned. "Какое разочарование. Бьюсь об заклад, ты тоже великолепен в постели. Приятно встретить тебя!" How disappointing. I bet you're great in bed, too. Nice meeting you! She winked at him, and then disappeared into the crowd around the pool. He heard muffled laughter coming from behind him and he turned around to find Lory laughing into his hand. Kuu looked toward the direction in which the girl had disappeared.
"Do you know who she is?"
Lory nodded. "You just met Julienna Duris."
Kuu's eyes widened. "That's-!"
"Eltra's daughter, yes. One of them, anyway. The youngest."
Kuu's jaw clenched. You are Shuuhei Hozu, the most celebrated Japanese actor of this decade. How the hell did you just let yourself be completely taken by some girl!? Get it together, man!
Lory saw the red tinge on Kuu's cheeks and laughed. "Don't feel too upset, my friend. Julie is to models what you are to actors. She's a natural born head-turner."
That is an understatement, thought Kuu. Julienna Duris was a knockout, probably the most beautiful woman that Kuu had ever seen. He cleared his throat. "You wouldn't happen to know what she said to me, would you?"
Lory shook his head. "I wasn't close enough to hear it. But I have it on good authority that if she likes a guy, she'll ask him for a date in Russian. If he can understand what she's said to him, she'll give him the time of day."
Kuu contemplated throwing himself from the rooftop for the briefest of seconds before replying to Lory. "Oh." He had missed his opportunity. He put Julie Duris out of his mind and focused on their original intent instead. "Did you get him to invest?"
Lory took a check out of the pocket of his shorts and waved it. "Of course. Tora believes in just about any project I believe in. He's a good friend like that."
"So, Tsukigomori… is a go?"
Lory nodded. Then he looked around. "Where is Date-san?"
"Bathroom. Probably vomiting."
Lory ran a hand through his dark curls. "Shit. I didn't mean to upset his nerves. He seems so collected on the outside, but when he gets rattled…"
"Let's go get him, and get out of here."
Lory frowned. "You don't want to stay? But there's food! And women!" Lory had seen how Kuu looked at Julie. He knew true love when he saw it. Lory was sure he had looked at his late wife like that the night they had met. His heart twinged at the thought of her. She had only been gone a year and been taken entirely too soon, but if he had it to do over again, he would change nothing. True love, he thought. Julie's Russian test be damned. If his friend had a chance of having what Lory had had, then Lory would see to it that it happened. He was, after all, the LoveMon.
Kuu's stomach growled its agreement, but Kuu shook his head as his brain kicked him for failing to successfully pick up Julie Duris. "I'll pass."
Lory huffed. "Spoilsport. Date-san and I will stay and enjoy the party. You can go. You're not fun when you're heartbroken and moody."
Kuu rolled his eyes and walked away from Lory. He raised his hand in farewell. He made his way downstairs and back to his Jag. When he got inside and pulled away from the curb, his mind was once more on Julienna Duris. He sighed. I was one Russian phrase away from making her the future mother of my children. He reached a red light and planted his forehead firmly on the steering wheel. I gotta stop thinking about her, he thought. I'll probably never see her again anyway.
His mind was full of thoughts like that, and so he surprised himself when he pulled into a parking garage, put on his emergency disguise (a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes), and found himself walking down the street to an electronics store. When he got there, he went straight to the back wall of the store, which was full of instructional programs, and found the language section. His fingers itched as he pulled the box labeled "Russian" off the wall.
What the fuck am I even thinking? Even if I did see her again, I'll probably just make an ass of myself speaking broken Russian at her. Better yet, why do I even care!? I'm Shuuhei Fucking Hozu! I've got 30 women's numbers in my address book RIGHT NOW and could get 30 more before the night ends!
30 more and none of them would be Julienna Duris's, his inner Lory Takarada whispered back. He sighed and turned the box over in his hands. For a role, he rationalized to himself. This could be useful for a role later. That's why you're doing this, Kuu. Not because of the way her eyes sparkled in the sun, or the way that tiny bathing suit clung to her soaked breasts. FOR. A. ROLE.
He made his purchase quickly and speed-walked back to his car with his little plastic baggie. He set it in the passenger seat and drove away toward his apartment. When he reached the building, he parked in the parking garage and made his way to the front of the building where the doorman let him in.
"Hozu-san!" The man waved at him jovially.
"Shimada-san. How was your day?"
"It was a nice day, sir. Thank you for asking. And yours?"
Kuu smiled to himself. "It was… interesting. Have a good night, Shimada-san."
Kuu made his way through the lobby to the elevator and took it up to the fourth floor. He got off and walked down the hall to his door. He opened it up and flipped on the light switch. It was the epitome of a bachelor pad. The living room had two chairs in it, and a small entertainment center with a large clunky TV set on it, connected to a VHS player. Most of the space was occupied by a beautiful dark wood baby grand piano.
The script for Tsukigomori rested on the bench. Though the future of the show had been in question because of funding, Kuu had taken a keen interest in it. The character of Katsuki Tachibana, though similar to other roles he had played, was still somehow fresh and new. Katsuki was seeking revenge for the murders of his family at the hands of the patriarch of the Hongo family. Unfortunately, he begins to fall for the Hongo's cousin, Mizuki, when he is trying to target the patriarch's daughter, Misao. Kuu liked the complications that faced Katsuki, emotionally and otherwise. Now that the future of the show was assured, he was even more excited about the potential that the script held.
He set the Russian language box set on his kitchen counter. Though the rest of his abode was sparsely furnished, the kitchen was special. Kuu dearly loved to cook. His grandmother had made the tastiest food for him as a boy in Kyoto, and she had passed her talents in the kitchen on to him. He had chef quality knives and utensils and knew how to use all of them. He had impressed many a date with his cooking skills… and grossed out many a date with his voracious appetite. His appetite was insatiable; the stuff of legend. It was admittedly part of the reason he had turned Lory down for staying at the party. If Julienna Duris saw him eat like that… he shuddered at the thought.
He opened his refrigerator and removed a package of fish and fresh vegetables. He fileted the fish and fried it up with the vegetables. He ate it standing in the kitchen. It was enough food for probably three regular people, but after he had finished eating it, he was still in the mood for dessert. He removed an entire gallon tub of strawberry ice cream from his freezer and ate it straight from the tub with a spoon. Everyone that knew him was always shocked that he never got fat from the amount of food that he consumed on a daily basis. Kuu simply shrugged. He often wondered if perhaps the father he had never known hadn't actually been an American GI at all, but a space alien with a black hole for a stomach.
When the tub was emptied, he rinsed it and readied it for recycling and then his eyes settled on the plastic bag on the counter. He ran his hand through his hair with a frustrated roughness and snatched the bag off the counter. He took it to his bedroom, where his desktop sat on a plain wooden desk. He turned it on and downloaded the program onto it. As he moused through the lessons, his head spun.
And people think kanji is wild, he thought, as he looked at the Russian language characters. He put his headphones on and listened to the Russian pronunciations. He sighed. It sounded a lot better when Julie said it, he thought. He imagined her soft pink lips and heard the gentle purr of her voice in his head. He took his headphones off and shut the computer down before going to the bathroom to shower.
As he showered, he reflected on the events of that evening. Shuuhei Hozu had dozens of girlfriends and even more one night stands. Women threw themselves at him, and who was he to deny them the pleasure of his company? He rested his forehead against the cold tile wall. This was different, and he knew it. He had never been so entranced by a woman before. He had barely stopped thinking of her since meeting her, and it had been several hours. He cracked a smile. She probably doesn't even know my name. I'm not even on her radar. He had heard the rumors about the phenomenon before, but he was finally starting to understand how a woman could absolutely ruin a man.
He fell into an uneasy sleep that night, tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable. Every time his eyes would finally become heavy, those gorgeous green eyes would appear in his mind and set his heart racing. When his alarm woke him the following morning, he stared at the ceiling. I can't go on like this, he thought. He pulled his address book out of the drawer of his nightstand. The best way to get over one girl is to get under another one, he thought with a mischievous smirk.
He flipped through the pages. Nana Shida. Pretty, but I think she has a boyfriend now. Kaede Wada. Very married and very pregnant. Kimiko Kamio… is as mean a bitch as her ass is wide. He sighed, the image of Julienna Duris's long, lean legs coming unbidden into his mind. He shook his head.
I don't even know this girl. All I know about her is that she's beautiful. She's probably a horrible person. He sat up in bed and pounded his fist on his palm. That's it! That's the catch! She's probably a spoiled little rich girl with a bad attitude! Who wants that!?
He got out of bed, fixed his hair in the bathroom mirror, and dressed in a light gray suit with a pastel pink tie. He looked himself over in the full length mirror on the back of his bedroom door and dabbed on some cologne. There's a beautiful girl out there, Kuu. A beautiful girl with a good heart, a black hole stomach, and a body for days, and you're going to go find her. Forget about Julienna Duris. Your perfect wife is out there waiting for you. Go get her.
He left his apartment. That night he would stop at a bookstore and buy a Japanese to Russian dictionary. For a role, he reassured himself. Only for a role.
Firstly, I want to apologize to anyone who actually speaks Russian who reads this. The translation is probably awful, I used Google Translate, I'm sorry. Bo does not speak Russian. x'D Also, most everything in this story had to be pulled out of my giant feathery chicken butt because we don't know very much about Kuu & Julie or their pasts. I did use what I could glean from the source material, but a lot of this is just purely made up Bo-hooha. It is what it is, it's written how it's written, I'm not going to argue about canon stuff EVER, please don't even start with that mess, just enjoy it for what it is. :D Anyway, HAPPY FRIDAY. LOVE - BO