Chapter 28. The Fated Reunion.

She had to squeeze out every ounce of willpower inside her to not strangle him on the spot. Finally, breaking the endless gazing session, Kyoko stretched her thin lips into a smile as sweet as a pot full of honey.

Sho frowned. Out of all the things he was expecting, a smile was not one of them. He was dead sure that it would be the same Kyoko he knew because it was too unlikely to be a coincidence for her to be someone else with the same name. So he was prepared to take any insult, slap or homicidal attempts from her head on and throw it right back to show her her real place. But, a smile!

The girl who stood in front of her had ginger hair, a beautiful face (in an ordinary way), big brown eyes and a very warm and cheerful smile - she looked nothing like the Kyoko he remembered, not to mention the fact that the old Kyoko would never have worn such a ridiculous pink jumpsuit if her life depended on it. But he was not stupid enough to believe that just by one look. If she was really her, then that was exactly what she would have wanted him to think. He was still going to keep his guard up.

Just then, she stepped forward and slapped his back nearly toppling him over, and squealed excitedly like one of those fangirls. "You surprised me, Fuwa Chi!" She exclaimed in a thick chinese accent and a high-pitched voice. Even though it was supposed to be a playful slap, she had used all her strength behind it. "You came out of nowhere!" Cupping her blushing cheeks she grinned. "Why did you do that to li'l old me?"

[Chi is suffix used by Chinese people after names. Like San and Chan are Japanese suffixes.]

Um...Fuwa Chi? Sho's frown was replaced by a confused look.

"I was so nervous when I found out I would be working with you, Fuwa Chi," Kyoko started prattling in her thick chinese accent and falsetto voice. "I'll try my best to not cause any trouble and be a good girl! It's so great to meet you!" She offered him her hand to shake.

What is she doing? Sho stood there with a dumbfounded expression. The Kyoko I know would rather die than shake hands with me.

"Are you one of those people who won't shake hands? What are you, a germophobe? You big rockstar!" She raised an eyebrow at him when he didn't offer up his hand.

"No. That's crazy!"

"Then what's wrong?" Her cheerful smile returned. "Go on. Shake hands!" She grabbed his moist, right hand and shook it energetically, trying her best not to squeeze and crush it. "It's nice to meet you. I am Kyoko. Let's try to have a good shoot, yeah? That sound like a plan?"

"Yeah. Of course" Sho led her out to the corridor and explained to her why they kept her waiting for so long.

"No way! you mean they had me waiting in the wrong room this whole time?"

"Yeah, we've been sitting around waiting for you for like an hour."

"No! That sucks so bad. Technically, it's not my fault since I wasn't late. But oh well." She flashed her teeth.

As she rambled on and on, Sho stared at her from the corner of his eyes to discern any resemblance to the Kyoko he knew but he was thoroughly disappointed because there was none. Zilch. Nada!

Kyoko stopped abruptly and shot another radiant smile which almost blinded him. With big, puppy dog eyes she exclaimed, "I just realised you came all this way to get me in person!"

"Yeah, I did."

"Aaaaaaaaaaah!" She squealed with joy and pushed Sho playfully. This time he did fall down but immediately got up before she noticed.

"You are so nice, Fuwa Chi! You're the best! I am so excited to start working with you!"

I am starting to think that this is a completely different girl, Sho thought. There's no way she is the Kyoko I knew.

"I see you're taking your time Sho," a woman's voice grabbed their attention as it's owner made her way from the other side of the corridor. "Sorry about the mix-up, Kyoko. There is no excuse to keep you waiting for such a long time."

"N-no worries," Kyoko blinked at the sight. Although the woman was in her mid-forties she had the most phenomenally curvaceous figure and the face of a cover model. Long, straight hair were falling all the way to her back, elegant makeup covering her face and a colourful patterned skin-tight work-suit hugged her figure revealing every nook and cranny of her body. Her chest and derriere bulged out in a way as if screaming, 'look at me!' at everyone within a five mile radius.

"I should introduce myself first," she said. "I'm the executive producer here, Haruki Asami."

"But you're a woman!" Kyoko blurted out without thinking.

Asami wasn't offended by the obvious surprise on Kyoko's face and the way her jaw was hanging from her mouth. She smiled knowingly. "I know," she chuckled. "You are not the first one who has been surprised when they meet me for the first time."

"I just-I'm so sorry for being so rude," Kyoko bowed. I can't believe this! I must have seen the name dozens of time in the credits for Sho's singles, but I always assumed that Haruki Asami was a man!

"It's quite alright." Asami smiled.

"So," Sho wrapped his arm around Asami's shoulder and whispered in a breathy, seductive voice. "Since I found our lost, little girl I guess we should get started."

"Are you sure?" Asami whispered back. "When you said you wanted to go find her, I thought you wanted a chance to be alone."

"Now now, don't be silly," he replied. "I've never been one for immature girls. Not my style."

Kyoko, who had been witnessing the whole ordeal with wide-eyed horror, had her jaw dropped down so low that it hit the floor. As she followed them, she noticed how Sho's arm slowly slid down from her shoulder to her waist as he pulled her closer. And the worst part was - she didn't even seem to mind!

What are you doing? She is your freaking producer! Kyoko screamed at him silently with a disgusted scowl. Don't tell me you've been fooling around with every woman you work with! Unbelievable! I knew you were a lecherous sleazeball, but this is INSANE! How can anyone stand to watch you salivate all over her like that? How can she stand it?

At last, they made it to their destination, which turned out to be another brightly-lit conference room with a table in the middle but it was much smaller than the first one. Kyoko stopped gagging when the two finally broke apart and stood at a socially and professionally respectable distance from each other.

Just as they entered, a girl who was about the same age as Kyoko, jumped up from her chair with a smile as sweet as sugar plum and exclaimed, "Sho, you're back! I miss you so much!"

"I left for like ten minutes," Sho pointed out as he rolled his eyes.

But the girl chose not to hear his snarky comment and hugged his arm. "Don't leave me like that! "

Asami stepped forward and cleared her throat. "Let me introduce you. This is Mimori Nakamura. She is from Sho's agency. She is going to be in the music video as well. I am sure you two will do wonderfully together. Mimori, you already know about Kyoko Mogami."

The two girls studied each other. Kyoko eyed Mimori's cute face, her green and white midi and the straight dark bangs covering her forehead with unmistakable curiosity. She nodded at the girl but all she got in return was a stay-away-from-him-he's-mine! look as Mimori's grip tightened around Sho's as if he could get stolen by Kyoko unless she held on to him.

"Why don't you all take a seat? Let's go over the game plan," Asami said.

Kyoko, Mimori and Sho settled on one side of the table, Asami on the other, as she explained the theme of the music video.

"We want to make this video a fantasy. A fantasy about heartbreak and love," Asami began while the others listened to her intently. "The main characters in the story are a cold, soul-less devil and two angels with pure hearts. The devil is scared because he has never known love. When he lays eyes on one of the angels, however, he falls for her instantly. They know their love will end up destroying them. There romance is fated to fail and soon the day comes when their love must end. The Angel's dedication to the devil is so strong that it endangers her own life. The other Angel sees this and chooses to kill the devil in order to save-"

"Please!" Kyoko's hand shot up and she jumped out of her seat interrupting Asami. "I want that part. I can totally be the one who slays the devil. Pick me!"

"Well, okay then." Asami gave her a small, relieved smile. "I am glad to see you're excited because you are the one I already had in mind for that part."

Mimori squealed happily and hugged Sho's arm even tighter. "Which means I'll get to be the other Angel. Wonderful! We get to be star crossed lovers and show the whole world our true love!"

"Honestly, I am really glad you offered it." Asami gave Kyoko a guilty smile. " I must warn you, the fans are not gonna be happy about what you do to Sho. Playing a villain has its consequences."

"You just leave it all to me!" Kyoko exclaimed. "I am ready." Of course I am, I've spent almost every waking hour dreaming about how exactly I'd slay this devil.

"Okay, we'll start right after lunch."

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Kyoko scrubbed the skin out of her hands at least a dozen times in the washroom before lunch, specially the one she used to touch Sho, all the while she flung silent curses at him. As she made her way back, she heard Mimori speaking through the door and her words made her freeze on the spot.

"... LME. They have him there, don't they? He's just a no-talent pretty boy."

No-talent pretty boy? Why does that sound so familiar? Scratching her chin, Kyoko wondered.

"...he is no match for you, Sho. He looks stupid if you ask me. Ren Tsuruga's brain must be super tiny..."

No! Kyoko sank to her knees and hid her face in her arms when she finally remembered. These are the things I used to say! It's like the ghost of Kyoko past coming back to haunt me! How could I have said such stupid things! I am such an idiot! Ren, please forgive me!

"Ahem," Kyoko heard Asami clearing her throat from behind and straightened back to join the others for lunch.

All four of them were served boxed lunches from a liveried guard, but Mimori returned Sho's and took out a bigger and much better looking lunch box from her bag and unpacked it in front of Sho.

"I woke up extra early just so I could cook the special lunch for you," Mimori said with a shy, demure smile.

Kyoko felt a bitter feeling creeping inside her heart, followed by a deeply evoking pathos for Mimori. She couldn't help but sympathize and relate with her. That poor girl! She is gonna be tossed aside just like me.

Sho took the first bite and Mimori eagerly waited for him to shower her with a barrage of compliments. Instead, he pressed his palm to his mouth and blinked. Kyoko immediately recognised that reaction.

Wait, I know that look, she thought. That lunch must be way too sweet.

Sho cocked his head to the side so Mimori couldn't see him and his eyes darted around searchingly before setting on the dustbin.

Wait! No, don't you dare! Kyoko stared at him with disgusted horror. It was like watching her own past right before her eyes. He's really gonna throw it away because he doesn't like the taste! That girl woke up early, she put her heart and soul into making that for you!

Unbidden, her hand moved and slid the salt pouch across the table to Sho before she could realize that it could very well blow her cover.

Sho looked up from the salt pouch to her face and at last, he saw it. The look in her eyes, the message in them, it was as clear as day. It seemed to be saying, 'Eat it, Sho. Even if you have to force it down, finish every last bite for her.' Even through the brown contacts, he finally recognised those eyes because he had spent the past twelve years with their owner. He wondered how he didn't see the resemblance before.

There was no doubt about it, the girl who was glaring at him from across the table was the same Kyoko.

It was such a shame that she could only hold on to her stupid disguise for so long. Oh Kyoko, Sho smirked. I'm so going to enjoy ripping that fake made-up skin off your face.

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This is bad! If I just gave away my intentions and the whole plan is ruined. Kyoko sulked in the corner of the dressing room where the stylists were putting makeup on Mimori. Kyoko was next. She would have being excited about it if it wasn't for the stupid stunt she pulled during lunch. How could I have been such a giant idiot? A salt packet? I gave him a salt packet? All because that girl was fawning over Sho like I used to!

The door burst open after an almost inaudible knock bringing Kyoko back from her thoughts. Two more stylists filed in with two costumes, followed by Sho.

The incessant sound from his black boots stomping on the floor already announced his presence. The moment Kyoko looked at him, her breath got away. He was dressed up in black jeans and a black velvet tailcoat drooping behind his back which flustered as he walked. It was decorated with silver chains draped around his shoulders and waist, and glittering metal buckles. There were also dark blue and purple sashes stuck around it. A silver choker was wrapped around his thin, long neck, which matched the silver of the spiky wig on his head, falling behind his back. A pair of large silver red earrings hung from his ears... making him look breathtakingly gorgeous. His eyes, which were covered with bright red contacts, swept across the room searchingly before fixating on Kyoko.

Apparently, Kyoko wasn't the only one whose breath got away because all the stylists were blushing. Mimori jumped up from her seat with little hearts inside her eyes and pounced on Sho to give him a big hug. "Sho, you look amazing! You're so handsome and dashing and gorgeous and beautiful," she drooled all over him.

Sho held her off before she could hug him. "Down girl," he replied coolly. "Your make-up is not dry yet. It will ruin my costume."

Turning away from Mimori, he sauntered over to Kyoko and bent a little to face her.

"W-what?" She stepped back until she was pressed against the cold wall.

"Nothing," his lips curled. "You were staring at me."

"I was not!" Her fake Chinese accent gone." I snuck a peek because you look absurd in that get up!"

"No need to lie," stepping closer, he bended even further until his lips almost touched her ear, and breathed, "I know you love the sort of stuff."

"W-what are you saying?" Her voice came out hoarse and she desperately tried not to flinch away.

"Stories of fairies and angels, those were always your favourite," he pulled back up to look into her eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Putting her fake chinese accent back on, she prayed he would buy it again. She chuckled, "you are just being silly, Fuwa Chi!" She inched sideways to get away from him.

He firmly placed his hand against the wall cutting her escape. "Stop pretending to be someone else," he came closer until their faces were only inches apart. "Call me by my real name," he whispered. "Call me Sho like you used to. Please, I need to hear it."

Never! I'll never call you that again! Kyoko panicked as she found no other way to escape, but thankfully, she was rescued by Mimori, who pushed her to the ground and pulled Sho away from her.

"I can't believe you could be so mean, Sho!" Mimori barraged him with endless, light punches and cried out, "how can you hit on her with me right there? I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!"

After a little while, all the stylist surrounded Mimori to get her into her costume so Sho and Kyoko went outside. Once they were alone, Kyoko came clean, since there was no use in pretending anymore.

"Now that you know the truth, aren't you going to fire me?" She spoke in a dangerously low voice and matched his gaze head on. Her eyes burning, without an ounce of fear.

"What? Fire you?" Sho pretended to sound surprised. "There is not a single thing you can do to hurt me. What possible reason could I have to fire you? It's really sad, you came all this way and you'll never get your revenge."

In answer, Kyoko's eyes sharpened, showing a lot more than thousand words could say.

"I am impressed you made it this far. I am actually kinda curious, I want to see. I want you to surprise me. I'm not running from you. I am not scared of you. So please, try as hard as you like, come get your revenge. Bring it on."