Wow! I got this out much sooner than expected! Apparently after rewriting the first chapter I got a sudden burst of ideas! That's great news for you guys! :) Not so much for me considering it's 4:50 am here xP whoops.
Now I had rewritten the first chapter so read that first if you haven't.
Now for the bad news: I will be starting my college semester soon, so I definitely won't be updating that often but trust me when I say that I have plenty ideas for this story so just bare with me. I'll try to do monthly updates but no promises.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the songs I am inspired by, nor the characters, nor Skip Beat!
Song lyrics were flowing from the Love Me locker room. Kyoko had this song stuck in her head ever since she watched Tsuruga-san's new movie. It played in the most heartbreaking part of the movie, when Tsuruga-san's character betrayed the female lead in order to protect her. It was a slow song but it had stuck with her for some reason, especially since she wasn't all that interested in music.
The lyrics soothed her especially after the jobs she had to do again.
Dealing with pompous actors who have long lists of demands is very tiring, they should be grateful for the success they have achieved instead of ordering everyone around, like Tsuruga-san. Thought Kyoko slightly blushing.
When I saw that Tsuruga-san's movie came out I couldn't stop myself from buying it, and he almost caught me too. Thought Kyoko while recalling the memory.
Kyoko had just walked into LME ready to start the day of work and she was carrying a small silver bag with the movie store logo.
"Kyoko-chan!" calls Yashiro-san.
"Ah Hello Yashiro-san, Tsuruga-san" replies Kyoko while bowing
"Mogami-san, what have I told you about the bowing?" asks Ren
Kyoko stiffens slightly and stands up straight while avoiding Ren's eyes "That there is no need to be formal?"
Ren smiles "Right."
Kyoko gets shivers down her spine. It's that gentlemanly smile again, he must be angry with me
Yashiro was just watching the exchange between those two. "Well Kyoko-chan what brings you here today? I thought you were filming for 'Box R'?"
Kyoko gives him an incredulous look "Um well yes but it seems the Director had some other business to attend to so I thought I should do some love me work considering that I have not so in a while."
Yashiro nods "I see, are you planning on watching a film too?" he asks while gesturing to the bag in Kyoko's hands.
Kyoko looks at the bag in her hands "Oh um yes, it looked like an interesting film so I thought I'd buy it" she smiles nervously.
Yashiro looks at her a with a mischievous grin "You know, Ren's movie just came out and I personally think it's a good film."
Kyoko glances at Ren "Oh um really? I'll look it up" she smiles nervously.
"So what film are you planning on watching? Can I see?" asks Ren
"NO!, I mean it's not a popular film, I don't think you will be interested in it Tsuruga-san" replied a nervous Kyoko.
Ren looked suspicious "Mogami-san I'm sure it is an interesting film if you had personally picked it out" he smiles.
Oh it's the Demon Lord! Yell Kyoko's Grudges Run away!
Kyoko nervously laughs, Yashiro sees how uncomfortable Kyoko is getting so he decides to stop teasing her
"Come on Ren, if we don't leave now we will be late for your next job" said Yashiro
Ren nods "Well it was nice to see you again Mogami-san"
"Yes, same here Tsuruga-san" Kyoko smiles weakly
Kyoko watches as Yashiro-san and Ren make their way out of the building
Well that was close, I didn't want him to know that I had already bought his movie, he'll think I'm some crazy stalker."
Thought Kyoko as she made her way to start her day.
Kyoko continued changing while singing that song
Unbeknownst to her, she left the door to the locker room slightly open which allowed her singing to flow out into the hallway.
A flamboyant looking man was riding his camel down this hallway when he heard her singing voice
Lured by its sweet melody he was surprised to find it coming from the Love Me Locker room.
President Takarada dismounted his camel and slowly crept closer to the door.
After a few seconds his curiosity was getting the best of him so he burst in through the door.
"Aahhhh!" screamed Kyoko as she dropped her bag in fright, luckily she had finished changing.
"Mogami-san! I didn't know you had such a voice!" said a smiling President.
Kyoko let her heart settle before she spoke.
"Mr. President, I didn't realize that I had been singing out loud, I assure you it won't happen again" she reassured with a bow.
"Won't happen again? Well why not? It was a very nice voice, I wouldn't have pegged you for a singer" he replied.
I knew she would be filled with a lot of surprises, she never fails to amaze me. He thought with a smile.
"With all due respect Mr. President, I'm not a singer, I just happened to have a song stuck in my head and was subconsciously let it out through my mouth." She argued with a nervous smile.
Lory let out a boisterous laugh which made Kyoko jump slightly.
"That's what singing is my dear child" said Lory still smiling widely.
"Now I want you to come to my office first thing tomorrow morning" said a mischievously grinning Lory.
"B-but sir I have a job tomorrow in the morning" replied an anxious Kyoko
"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of everything, well until tomorrow Mogami-kun" said Lory with a flourish wave as he gracefully mounted his camel once more.
Kyoko was left dumbfounded.
You'd think I'd be used to his antics by now, but how did he even get a camel in here?
She shook her head
I think it's better not to know
She sighed before she gathered her stuff and headed home to the Daruma-ya.
The next morning Kyoko nervously headed for the elevators at LME
I wonder what the President wants to talk to me about, I hope I'm not getting fired! Or worse, forced to start from the very bottom again.
By the time she realized where she was, she was already standing in front of the huge doors to Lory's office.
Nervously she raised her hand to knock.
The door was opened by a man dressed as a ninja.
Kyoko plastered a smile on her face "Good morning Sebastian-san"
Sebastian inclined his head forward, "Good Morning Miss, Master is expecting you"
Master? Thought Kyoko as she stepped into the huge office.
She paused to take in her surroundings. There were tatami mats on the floors, rice paper doors, and even a small little garden off to one side. The whole office was remodeled to look like a traditional Japanese home.
Kyoko got an unpleasant shiver down her spine as it reminded her of her days working at the Fuwa ryokan.
Sebastian led her to a set of doors and allowed her entry.
Sure enough, when she walked in she saw Lory dressed as a Feudal Lord, but that wasn't what had surprised her.
There was another person sitting in front of the President.
Kyoko stiffened in anger as she clenched her fists and stared into the face of a smirking Fuwa Shotarou.
Kyoko sat as far as she could from him without being disrespectful to the President.
"Mogami-kun, I bet you are wondering what this young man is doing here" started Lory.
"With all due respect sir, doesn't he work with a different agency? What is he doing here at LME?" asked Kyoko
Before the President could even respond, Sho answered for him.
"I was invited here as some sort of business proposal" he said with a smirk
Kyoko wanted nothing more than to smack it right off his face.
Lory gave him a look, "Now he was invited here because I happen to know that he is looking for a duet partner for his next single" Lory then turned to Kyoko with a big smile.
Kyoko visibly paled "Oh no sir, you can't possibly mean…"
If possible Lory smiled even bigger.
"I believe this kind of arrangement would be beneficial for both of our agencies, right Shoko-san?"
Kyoko was shocked to see the woman sitting a few feet behind Shotarou, she felt guilty for not noticing her sooner due to her anger towards Sho.
"Yes" she nodded "the publicity this gets would be most beneficial to both LME and Akatoki."
"Wait aren't we forgetting something important here? Kyoko is not a singer" said a smug Sho
Kyoko turned to glare at him
"On the contrary Fuwa-kun, Mogami-san here has a beautiful voice, I believe that with a bit of training she can do great things with it." said the President
Kyoko bowed her head to hide her blush
"Oh yeah? Prove it, I don't believe I've heard you sing all that often when we were kids" taunted Sho.
"I don't have to prove anything to you Baka" retorted Kyoko as she stuck her nose up in the air.
"Maybe it's because you know you can't do it, let's face it Kyoko, music has always been my thing, it's ok not everybody can sing" he replied haughtily.
Kyoko whipped her face back to glare at him
"Please, anybody can do what you do"
"Then why don't you show me then?" he smirked
Ugh there goes that infuriating smirk again!
"FINE, if it will get you to shut up!" she replied angrily
Shoko and Lory were just sitting on the sidelines while these two argued.
Kyoko closed her eyes in order to calm herself. She took a few deep breaths before she recalled the words to the song that has been floating in her head.
Sho had been smirking thinking he had won, that is until she started singing.
Her voice was shaky at first but it grew stronger as her confidence grew
Sho's smirk completely fell as soon as he heard her hold that longer note.
Since when did she have a voice like that?! He thought.
While she sang, Lory had the biggest smile, while Shoko sported an equally shocked face as her charge.
When Kyoko finished, she took a deep breath before she opened her eyes once more.
Everyone was stunned.
Kyoko fiddled nervously in her spot.
Oh no, was I that bad?
"Fabulous!" Lory was the first to speak.
Kyoko snapped her head up "Really?"
Shoko then came out of her stupor "Yes that was amazing" she said as she nodded in agreement
Kyoko smiled before she turned to look at the still quiet Sho.
Sho cleared his throat as she turned to look at him
"Eh it was alright, your breathing technique could be a bit better" he said in all seriousness
Kyoko was taken aback
Did he just give me a tip?
She reluctantly nodded. A still grinning Lory intervened into the conversation.
"Well Fuwa-kun, do you think she'll be perfect for the duet?"
Sho didn't want to admit that she was beyond perfect.
He shrugged "She'll do I guess"
Kyoko turned to glare at him once more
"Hold on, I never said that I would actually do the duet" she huffed.
"Now Mogami-kun, this could be beneficial to your career, don't you want to rise up in this industry?" asked Lory
"Yes but through acting, I don't know anything about being a singer!" she replied exasperatingly
"That's perfectly fine, this is just another learning experience" he replied. Before she could say any more, Sho interrupted her.
"Even if you do this, there is no way you'll become a bigger star than me anyway" he said with a smirk.
Kyoko turned red with anger
Oh yeah? Well we'll see about that!
"Fine! I'll do the duet and I'll make you eat those words" she stated with a determined fire burning in her eyes
Interesting thought Lory as he hid his smirk, Now we'll just have to wait and see what other wonderful surprises Mogami-kun has in store for us.
Ok it came out longer than the last one, Yosh!
If you want to know what I was referring to, it was "Familiar Taste of Poison" by Halestorm
It is one of my favorites and its definitely a song I felt would fit this chapter, although the lyrics are never stated, it was still the inspiration.
Just a quick reminder that this IS NOT A SONGFIC, so no lyrics. :/
Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I promise there will be more coming!