Kimiko waved to the myriad of fans screaming her name, cameras flashing from all directions. Her latest film had been a resounding success, and the premier just so, but she was ready for some downtime.

Her bodyguards ushered her along the red carpet, allowing her to stop and speak to a few newscasters as if it hadn't been carefully planned in advance.

"Hizuki-san, what's next on your list?"

"Hizuki-san, will you be reprising this role?"

"Do you do your own stunts?"

After the last question had finally been answered, the last reporter finally appeased, she stepped into the back of her town car with a sigh, bodyguards slipping into the driver and passenger seats.

"Did you have fun tonight?" the younger one asked.

"Kohaku, don't bother Kimiko-san," the driver admonished, adjusting the mirror before quickly pulling out of the parking lot.

The starlet chuckled, staring out the window. "It's alright, Sango. His questions I do not mind answering." She pulled the large pelt off her shoulders, throwing it next to her, glad to be rid of it. Why her agent thought the niche of wearing fur all year long was a good idea, she'd never know.

Rolling her shoulders, she kicked her stilettos off as well. "It was fine, little one. The usual. Though I would have enjoyed a bucket of popcorn."

Her bodyguards chuckled. The siblings had come highly recommended by her son, who was in charge of training all the stunt people for the industry. They'd been naturals when it came to hand-to-hand combat, but it was an incident involving a miscalculated explosion that had caught his eye.

Instead of running for shelter when the wrong side of a building collapsed, the siblings had run towards it, pulling two camera operators out of the way of falling rubble. Her son had known instantly that they were in the wrong line of work and immediately brought them to her attention.

Their protectiveness was second only to their loyalty, something Kimiko was eternally grateful for.

"Are you sure you don't need us to accompany you on this trip?" Sango asked, taking a quick detour to lose the paparazzi behind them. "You know how ruthless the vultures can be."

"I am sure." She started to pull hairpins out of the complex updo her stylist had insisted upon, silver locks falling around her face in waves. "It will be comforting to live off the grid until the next project starts."

"You'll have your satellite phone with you?"

Kimiko smiled at the genuine concern in Kohaku's voice. "I always do." They pulled onto the runway, her private jet buzzing and ready to take off. Not bothering with the cumbersome pelt, the starlet slid across her seat, stepping onto the tarmac and grabbing the small suitcase and overnight bag Sango had pulled from the trunk.

"I will call you when I am on my way back," she said, giving the siblings each a hug in turn. "Make sure to bother my dear son while I am gone." They all shared a chuckle, then Kimiko turned and climbed onto the jet, depositing her luggage in its rightful place before sauntering up to the cockpit.

"Hello, my love." She pressed her lips to the pilot's temple, the woman flashing her a smile.

"How was the premier?"

"Exhausting." Kimiko slumped into the co-pilot's seat, uncaring of how unladylike it was.

"I'm still waiting for my invitation," the pilot said, already turning the plane around and preparing it for take-off.

Kimiko snorted. "Kagura, my sweet, I would not subject you to those vultures. Besides, I prefer to keep you to myself."

"I'm not complaining." Kagura soon had them in the air and on their way, Kimiko reaching across to intertwine their fingers once it was safe to do so.

"I trust we will not be bothered once we land?"

"Free and clear, love, as always." Kagura turned and winked at her. "It's usually your phone that goes off, anyway."

"Perhaps I will turn it off this time and cause a scandal." She opened the glove compartment. "Did you bring any food for the trip over?"

Kagura gave her a knowing smirk. "There's popcorn in the back."

Kimiko's eyes lit up, and she squeezed the other woman's hand. "What would I do without you?"