CHAPTER 59

I do not own skip beat! Yoshiki DEVILISH Nakamura does.

The pact of the Shutters: Hush, we will.

A surge of journalists marched their way to the biggest conference room of LME, on the third floor at the end of the long corridor. Upon reaching the big folding door they were greeted with no other than the president of the agency along with Irina Kuno and her director already waiting for them.

After brief salutations, they all proceeded to enter, every single one of them. Irina recognized each of her colleagues or in some cases, rivals. In the same category she worked in, celebrities news, gossips and the such: Fleur, Hush-hush and Hoshi magazines.

Then, there were the under-scopes. The magazines that did not look twice before publishing something based on the whisper of allegations or rumours such as Idols magazine, Glimmer, Scoop, Pretty mags.

Less known and tinier magazines followed but those she didn't necessary recognize the people.

For each of the magazine publishers, there were at least one journalist and the director of said periodic. It was the recommendation Takarada-san had advised when her director had contacted him. In his opinion, it will help make every single person and publisher agency it was a serious matter.

At the end of the queue, the journalists of standard newspapers were the last. They were only one of each and none was accompanied with their director. Those were not papers focused on famous people life usually and it was normal they would need less awareness of the matter. When they did publish about a celebrity, it was most often on major events like awards ceremonies or other important events. So, she already knew it would be much easier to convince them.

She trailed behind in line when the last person passed the door, and all has settled on one of the seats surrounding the enormous oval table.

She went over to where her director was and quietly lowered herself on the chair while the lavish and imposing president of LME greeted them all once more.

Then, without further delay, he quickly announced it was one of their compeers that had requested this meeting and his presence and that he himself only had an imprecise idea of the subject to discuss. He continued by saying he had been informed it was about some of his protegees, but nothing more.

He glanced at Irina then and she nodded before raising from her seat and joining the president to the front.

Heaving deeply, she grabbed the remote on the side desk on her right and turned back to her peers and she pushed the 'on' button. A slide made its appearance on the sheet screen, portraying a skilful collage of recent pictures they all knew well. As expected, most people were not surprised the subject of this gathering were them.

A few people were ready to open their mouths when she finally spoke under the attentive gaze of LME's president.

"I'd like all of you to take a good look at those pictures, a very keen one even", she required, "then I will present another one and eventually I will show you the interview we shouted earlier but didn't released yet".

Some seemed bemused, other clearly bored and a few even annoyed but they all did as it was asked of them. She knew the reason behind the born feelings and even understood better the annoyance. Out of all the women in this room, most were fans of their most famous bachelor and did not see in a good eye what those pictures screamed. Incidentally, some men too.

Oh, did she know it would a challenge.

Once they had all take a good look at it and were for the most part staring at her with confused eyes, though she noticed some more seasoned compeers had a new twinkle in the eye; she switched to the picture that was such a sight of barely contained secret.

"I think it's Fleur magazine that took this one, right?" she asked after asking once more to pay attention to it. "A very good shot if you ask me" She added after they confirmed it.

And then,

"Much better than any of you could ever imagine…" Irina added.

Some frowned at the people from that magazine with jealousy, other sneered, clearly in disagreement or looking down on them.

But remained the picture, the unexpectedly enlarged brown eyes yet hooded in emotion glazing at the feminine figure. The smile perked up in genuine amusement, but one corner crooked a bit higher, showing affection in the cheekbone nearly touching the low of his lashes. Like happiness and longing were touching at this very spot were his smile and eye faked collision for a frozen second. Pretences lying at his feet.

This expression was what permitted her to proceed without being interrupted. What prevent even the stubbornest to ignore the elephant.

"I have one question", she quietly asked before pausing to be sure she had her colleagues complete focus, "How many of you think they are together?"

Again, only the experienced ones, refrained while a ninety percent raised their hands.

She heard Takarada-san chuckled lowly in his corner, apparently barely containing to intervene. The old fox knew it all, she bet. It was rumoured he was playing cupid agent as a hobby, she was sure he was nosing his way in this all-too-succulent-to-resist fruit too.

"I thought so too "she calmly said to the room and heard several refusals of and gasps before she continued, "Because how could it not be? How could it, right? When you see this picture…"

"What are you trying to say," A woman in the back said with a sneer, "That they aren't? Don't be foolish. Not that it makes me happy, but evidently, they are together, pretending otherwise is stupid".

Some people nodded, far too convinced it was the case to give her the benefice of doubt like that. She pushed on the remote so the picture would place itself in the top right corner and diminish.

I'm pretending nothing, you'll see" she replied and the woman as long with a few other journalists scoffed at her.

"Yes, I know", Irina said, "I know it looks like a vulgar trick or ruse to fool, I know because it's in the profession to doubt everything and I know because I myself would have react like all of you just a few hours ago. I wouldn't have believed any of it without solid proofs and even then, I would have been sceptical."

"I know", repeated Irina, "but can I show what was recorded today? Can you refrain any judgment until after?"

Most agreed with a nod though still displeased and unconvinced she was sure. Nonetheless, a new tension rose in expectation.

"This is the interview of Kyoko-san from earlier today", she explained, "it will only be posted if we come to an agreement today. That's why camera and phones had been taken from you at the reception". Her peers grimaced, clearly this had been another thing they hadn't like. A journalist camera and phone were everything, she was not one to remind that to.

She lifted her hand holding the remote toward the connected laptop and shifted again to her reluctant public. It was important for her to be the most honest she could if she wanted the tiniest chance it would work. And even, she knew it would be a gamble, a risky one.

"I'm not going to lie so I will already reveal in big lines what might be asked out of all of us" She said. "After showing you this", she started again, "and with the accord of the president, what I will be proposing to all of you, myself and my director included will be to sign a nondisclosure contract redacted by Takarada-san himself, on a few terms to not used, to not poke some matter for the time being. It won't be forever, and you will still have some freedom, that is something I can guaranty you."

She turned her eyes to LME's president who was grinning sickeningly at the confusion her colleagues.

She shrank her eyes at him in suspicion.

"You already have guessed everything Takarada-san, am I wrong?" She asked, trying to stay polite and not be annoyed at one of the most powerful man of this industry, if only for the sake of her career.

He curtsied at her and the rest of the room with an even bigger smile before standing to his full height again. Then he smiled, potently dangerous as he replied.

"Yes, I know of it. In fact, if everyone here were so kind and refined to accept this agreement, "the president uttered with such a calm yet unyielding demeanour everyone wondered if they would be able to exit this room at all if they sign whatever paper he would want to,"I can let you in the confidence, the contracts are already made."

Irina squinted her eyes at him all the more.

"I thought you hadn't seen the interview yet?!"

"I didn't, I swear", he protested one hand crossed on his heart before his eyes glimmered again, "But walls have ears and I have my own methods to protect my protegees and keeping a close eye on them."

The under-message contained in his words did not meet deaf ears and the You touch anyone of my agency. You are dead ringing loud and clear in the mind of everyone.

-R-right. Well, thank you for your words president", Irina said, fright rising tenfold and patting herself on the back for the choice she had made today as she saw how affectionately Takarada-san was smiling at her compared to the icy feral grin her compeers just received, if everyone is ready, I'll be playing it."

Not a breath of a whisper was heard this time and she pressed the play button.

The interview proceeded as she remembered. The arriving of the beautiful actress and the questions that followed. During all the time sheets were lightened and the interview rolling, not a single word came out of the journalists present. But to each insisting question she had asked a few hours ago, when she had refused to let go and accept it at once, when she was still seeking for leaks, other reasons, flaws in the young actress's replies; the room became tenser.

Only when came the point where Irina had understood what was in front of eyes and only then, a few breaths were let go of.

The actress left and the screen turned black.

The silence was maddening. As were the gaping stares of every people in the room. Only the president of LME was shaking his head in-between chuckles and akin to tender resignation on his face.

One of the upfront young people was the first to break the silence.

"…There is no way…"

Uproars exploded at once as everyone started to talk at the same until one of the more measured guys from the Japan official newspapers' voice rose above and asked:

"Is it the original footage? No copy was made yet?" he asked.

Irina nodded as her director came to the front and joined her.

"Yes," she said, "If I push on the delete button, this will go into oblivion."

The man shared an intense gaze with a long minute, checking if she was saying the truth? She wasn't sure.

Then, he exploded in laughs.

"This", he said in an amused tone, "is the juiciest piece you could have come across, that any of us could have. To the point even regular newspapers like us would have jump on the occasion and you want all of us to shut up about it?"

Other voices mirroring this raised but the man kept his gaze locked with Irina, challenging her, testing her.

"Yes, that's what I want and that's what my director and show want too."

The man's eyes twinkled, and he waved at her to pursue while further protests were made.

"I'd like to clarify something first by asking a few questions about what you just saw", she said and with that, the room quieted again as they listened.

"Do any of you still doubts my words of before? Do you still believe they are together now? "She asked.

This time, the majority shook his head with disbelieved yet acceptive looks.

"But come on", said the woman of the back earlier, "Why wouldn't she want to?"

"That, I do not know. Let me be clear, I am not stating I know what Kyoko-san is feeling. But it was about their relationship statute, I was asking," she affirmed, "and she is an actress, she could very well be hiding it." "Girls are more skilled in hiding this sort of things, you know that don't you not?" She added toward the woman.

Vehement protests arose again.

"Are you saying she is a better actress than Tsuruga Ren?!" said a man, "Why wouldn't he be capable of it if she can?"

She was ready to answer when Takarada-san coughed and came to the front besides her.

"I think I can answer that and honestly say they are both very skilled", he calmly replied, "But on matter on the heart, you cannot always be on your guard."

When other protests were brought out again, he seemed to decide something after a second of reflexion.

He lifted a hand and once the silence were back, he tilted his heard toward the last comment made by a young man on the right.

"Yes, Ren is an amazing actor and usually a discreet and private person and yes, I'm sure, up to some point, he is perfectly able to dissimulate what he thinks", admitted the president before smirking at them with understanding, "I'm sure many of you hit head-front with his capacities to not tell you anything when you were poking around to learn bits about it, nee?"

A few journalists squirmed under his scrutiny and had to agree with it.

"So yes, he is capable of it to some point", he repeated before locking his foxy eyes with everyone once more, "But what if he's past that point? Maybe he reached the point where he cannot pretend anymore."

They gaped at him; their tongues stunned as their minds worked it out.

Irina looked at the man like he was crazy. Was it okay to reveal that sort of thing about Tsuruga-san?

"Are you saying what I think-…" The muscled reporter from Japan news dropped out after a few more seconds.

"I can only say what I'm aware of", Takarada-san replied, "But I know I'm enough privy on this matter to know it's been years."

When the room was ready to explode again, the president gaze turned insanely dangerous as he lifted his index and grinned at them: "Naturally if anyone pretend I said this I will deny it and find ways to sue anyone that would share this would anyone think about repeating what I just said. I'm so happy we confiscated all of your mikes before you entered this room."

Chills run down as he smiled again.

"So, he is past that point…" said the brawny man from Japan news, more as a confirmation and the president nodded again while everyone started to ponder and whisper.

"If I can Takarada-san", Irina started, and he waved at her to do as she pleased. "It isn't really the matter, right?"

"Before we side-tracked, I wanted to ask everyone another question on what you saw", she explained. "Can everyone admit Kyoko-san isn't aware of-…the situation?"

"Clearly…" said one.

"It looked so obviously sincere I don't think anyone can doubt her, on that, I think we all agree, yes" recognized the same reporter with a sigh and all room agreed, "Where to do you mean to go with all this?"

Her director nodded at her and she breathed a good gulp. It was the moment of truth.

"If we can all agree she isn't faking, if we can all agree she isn't aware, if we can agree she was honest and, if we can all agree the only reason she came was to protect the very man in question from what she thinks would dirty his reputation-and that more than a few smiles were seen as they still couldn't understand how in the world the beautiful actress had come to the conclusion being associated with her romantically would sully Tsuruga Ren's reputation-then; We can all assume it would most probably hurt deeply whatever relationship-friendship they have if we are the ones to reveal what Tsuruga-san seems to be unable anymore to hide" She finished.

A deafening silence fell. Journalists and even more, paparazzi were not known to care about whatever the target of their next scoop would feel.

"I know that, myself included", -and the heads rose again to watch her as she continued talking-, we don't usually pay it any mind, what the people on the next front page would think or feel."

"But I don't know about all of you", Irina said, "but, for once, I don't want to play the cold card; To play the professional insensitive reporter that do not care."

"Because I can't", she told them looking them in the eyes, "I was touched by what I discovered, and I don't want to be the reason it's messed up."

"Of course, it's only my personal feeling", she admitted grudgingly, "But, don't you think this story is worth being protected? Doesn't any of you feel that way?" She asked and a long pondering void replied to her.

But she was staying positive. At least, countless protests had not rang instantly in the room.

After several more minutes, then strong newspapers guy's voice rose once more.

"What exactly are you asking to the full Japanese press, Kuno-san. Because at this point, it's to all the press of Japan, am I not right?" he finally demanded to her.

Her director stepped up and said he shall be counted in the request and then Takarada-san added.

"She isn't the only one asking" he told them though he knew despite his not-so-subtle threat, it would not be enough for such a scoop unless they were willing to actively participating in this.

Irina confirmed it.

"Yes, it would be a common effort of the press."

"We are asking to make it an open secret", she finally said, "All the press would be aware, but they would not talk about it, they would not utter a word about what Tsuruga-san or Kyoko-san for that matter, might be feeling."

Questions were shouted again but she lifted a hand.

"You would be able to take pictures of them and post them, though", she told them, and she saw some seeming like they were listening more, "this interview would be posted too, showing to the fans they aren't together, providing some answers for the moment. But removing the end that says all too much; the fans would be free to come to their own conclusions with time and reject or accept the situation."

"You would be able to comment as they have both Kyoko-san and Tsuruga-san qualified their relationship, you would be able to say they are close, that you wish they were together or on the reverse if you don't think they look good as that are the sort of deviated sentences allowed in people news" She added.

"The only things forbidden would be talking about what you think or what could appear one or the other is feeling", She kept going, "even just suggesting it would be prohibited. And obviously, you cannot say they are together as it's not the case, as Kyoko-san especially took the hurdle to correct that. Again, suggesting they could be together would be forbidden and you would have to textually say it's not the case at least a few times or if anyone was asking."

She smiled, they apparently did things well because now, they were totally captivated by her words.

"Those following rules would be in application until further change from our side or if the statute of those two people 's relationship had evolved in any way" She finished.

A young girl on the left raised her hand.

"If I understand well", she said, "We would be able to take pictures of them, comment on them, give an opinion on what we see even as long as we follow those few rules."

"That's exact", replied the president in her stead, "We know we are asking a lot, so we are trying to let remain a maximum of freedom to all of you. Fans might ponder and maybe other interviews will need to be made but as long as this is the situation, it seems like the best approach."

People were still thinking and giving them a straight answer, but they seemed far more open that before now that they knew would still be able to publish articles about them.

Another man at the back barked out, seeming to have a hard time containing his hilarity.

"…Such a sight", he grumbled, "I can't believe this plan isn't coming from the grand Takarada Lory!"

"I can't have all the good ideas", the president replied, "though I 1 thousand percent approve of Kuno-san idea."

The man snorted.

"Are all of you three trying to make all Japanese press play guardian angel over those two and watch over them silently?! Buahahaha…." He was now holding his sides as he tried.

"What", said the president, "You don't like the role? It would stay in history that such a pact was accepted for the sake of love", continued the president with new mirth playing posterity bells to the hearts of every old children dreaming of being grant journalists. "I'm not robbing you of your jobs, just be patient and hope for the best. And one thing I can guarantee is that he has no intention to let her in peace so you will have plenty material to print, I'm sure".

Other snorts echoed in the room and discussions erupted again, but bubblier this time.

Irina crossed her fingers.

Then beefed man, the one that was testing her resolution earlier she was sure came to the front.

"I'd like to see this famous contract, Takarada-san", the man said, "to verify if this absurdly hilarious too-good-to-be-true deal is true and we will really be able to do all miss Kuno-san just promised."

The president waved at the table.

"But of course, Seito-san."

Everyone observed the man as he read through it and ten minutes later a new chuckle rang.

"It's true. Completely true."

"Katana-san, comes, you have to see this", Seito-san said to the other man that had spoken just earlier, "all Japanese press is going to shut their mouth and play cupid! I will be able to laugh for days!"

Kanata-san came and read through it too.

"If I could have imagined I would see the day the press would work by shutting the mouths and together at that!" he said, "No doubt, such a miracle is only possible because you, Takarada Lory haha.."

Irina, for her part, hoped it would be enough.

But they both signed and little by little every other journalists and directors came forward to sign too under the shining all-too-happy grin of the president. Even the scum of some less than recommendable magazines signed. They took with them a copy of that contract and after a bow to all three they were ready to leave when Takarada-san spoke again.

"It's my ultimate pleasure to be the witness of such a dignified press and work with all of you on this matter", he said with a bow of his own, "rest assure you will all be reward one way or another for this and I'll be sure you will be sending a badge of your new status of guardian angel fast."

They laughed and laughed and left. Agreeing on this but still not quite believing what had just happened.

The president turned to Irina, an asserting gaze staring at her.

"Dear one, despite what they said", Takarada-san said, "It's only thanks to you it was possible. You have great skills in scheming and playing Cupid", he noticed with a smirk and she blushed, not so sure how to take that, "I'm sure we will make a great team if you ever desire to do it again."

He lifted his hand to shake then and she could not help the giggle as she pondered his last words and raised her hand as well, maybe she did was natural in doing it. In any case, she had liked it far better than she had imagined.

"Maybe I will reach out again next time then", she told him, and he smiled at her, enchanted to hear that.

"It's always pleasant to have a comrade at the front lines", the president said in refer to her job as a journalist and on the show with another smile, "I'm rejoicing of our future collaboration."

She grinned as she shook his hand.

"Me as well."

And just like that the pact was made

PS: Hello everyone. My god, it has been a while. I deeply apologize for not posting earlier, I was really busy in January and then other things piled up. Then I was sick again and on.

Anyway, I hope this chapter will satisfy some of you and will meet your expectations.

I had a great time writing this one. It was really funny.

I hope you are all good and well. I wish you health, love and happiness for this first new chapter in the new year. I hope you are with your loved one for the couple and for any other person wishing to celebrate any kind of love. Romantic one, family one, friendship one or universal one.

Kisses to all of you.

Love.

Mimagfan.

AUTHOR OUT.