TCM Act 9: Obsession
"SHARKBAIT OOH HA HA!" --Finding Nemo
WARNINGS: Kyo's tongue is really sharp in this one, too.
[Scene 1]
Kyo raised an eyebrow before questioning him, "Who the hell is Jasmine You?" The foreign name slid off his tongue smoothly. It rolled around in the air, bouncing off the walls. The artist said nothing for a moment. He only stared at his sketch. (Kyo could only make out a kimono for now.)
"He was one of us," he answered. The artist pulled his gaze away from the painting and made eye contact with Kyo. A light smile painted his lips as he introduced himself as Teru. "Kamijo asked me to help you the other day. I'm not sure how I can be of assistance. Would you care to explain the situation as of now?" Kyo raised an eyebrow. He wondered if an atmosphere can quickly change from foreboding to friendly.
"Well, Hizaki and the rich blood named Bou happen to work in the same business, same talent agency. Hizaki says that it'll be difficult to put a hand on him with my style. I also happen to like my style, so I'm sticking to it. In that case, I'll need a plan to get close to him," Kyo responded, "but first, I'll have to gather some information, according to Hizaki." Teru nodded as the newly given information registered in his mind.
"If it's like that, then it's no wonder that Kamijo asked for my help. Of course, Hizaki might cooperate in this operation as well," Teru responded. He stood up and walked away from his stool to a corner behind a counter and grabbed the telephone. He dialed a number and greeted someone in a foreign language that sounded French.
"Allo. C'est Teru. Comment ҫa va? Moi? Pas mal. Pouvez-vous faire quelque chose pour moi?"
Kyo didn't understand the language, but he already knew what was happening.
"Oui... Oui... Merci. Au revoir et bonne nuit, mon ami."
Teru ended the phone call with a click of a button, but he dialed another number and spoke in another language (English most likely), "Hey, man. It's Teru. You want to help me out with something? I'm going to need that camera and a suit fit for a bodyguard."
He hung up as well and turned back to Kyo, leaning against the counter. Resting his chin in the palm of his hands, a light smirk was carved onto his lips. "I got you another job other than 'odd jobs,' Kyo-san," he chirped. "Meet me here at eight in the morning. We're going to LMC immediately." There was no doubt that Teru had close and distant connections. He probably knew nearly everyone on the whole entire planet. He'd be a scary guy to mess with. If you killed him off, there's no doubt that someone will come for revenge. In that way, he'll kill you after his own death--if he could die.
Without a single protest, Kyo nodded and exited the studio. Teru behind him kept that Cheshire-like smirk until his presence was completely gone. It dissolved away and was replaced by a light sigh. Despite his high position, being related to Kamijo and all, he refused to live in that mansion. Teru ran an art studio by himself now; unfortunately, his partner died from lack of nutrients. Now he was in charge of managing the art progress and the studio rent.
Regrettably, in spite of his hard efforts and ambition, the place might be snatched away from him because the landlord didn't like his work very much.
[Scene 2]
"What the fuck is this shit?" Kyo grunted now dressed in a business jacket a little bit too big for him over a white button down with a loose tie and black dress pants and shoes. He covered his dark eyes with a pair of aviators and prayed to the god-he-hoped-existed that nobody would recognize him. Teru smiled as he polished his professional camera, dressed casually, with a lens cloth. Kyo glared at the artist who was now adjusting his lens.
Somehow, Teru was able to get them positions near Bou in LMC. Even Hizaki was perplexed when he spotted them in the elevator with the new model. Teru raised the camera and began to snap some practice pictures, getting used to his old camera. Kyo was now Bou's low-pay-but-efficient bodyguard, and Teru was a photographer. Kyo didn't understand why Teru was still here, but it was probably to get in some inspiration for his next work. Artists...another thing Kyo didn't completely get other than celebrities and aristocrats.
"You should get used to that outfit. You'll be wearing it for a while," Teru remarked. Kyo scowled and glared ever-so-slightly at his prey. He was the next one who was nearby, but why did he have to be an upcoming celebrity? It was such a pain in the ass!
The young man was dressed up in a Gothic Lolita dress. (Kyo was positive that both he and Hizaki have no pride as a man.) Silently, the assassin observed as Bou was being smothered by a crowd of restless individuals that fixed his hair, his clothes, and his make-up. It was clear and completely obvious that he was not used to all of this attention. In fact, he was being too transparent. Even when he was taking pictures, you could tell that his real emotions are trying to seep through. (The young "man" was too flustered.) He was not the world's best actor, yet Teru said nothing as he continued to snap pictures--yelling at some parts (which was a shock to Kyo, seeing that he thought that Teru was a man of silence).
"Good job today!" Teru exclaimed as he handed his camera to a woman who claimed to be his assistant. The artist turned his head to face Kyo, but the assassin was looking elsewhere--at his next target. "Isn't he cute?" Teru mused.
A light grin, humored, cracked on Kyo's lips. He laughed--completely amused. "Cute?" he repeated. "More like disgusting. I hate Lolita." Teru rubbed the back of his head and chuckled alongside the entertained "bodyguard." The artist said the wrong thing. Perhaps this mission won't be as easy as he had thought. At that moment, Teru spotted Bou excusing himself from the set. He wasn't the only one who noticed, however, because Kyo saw the entire scene.
"Bou-san! Where are you going?"
"The shooting is over, right? I have to go somewhere."
Teru didn't know whether to push Kyo forward or not. If he placed Bou (dressed in Lolita clothing that was disgusting, according to what Kyo previously said) and Kyo together, there was not much doubt that Kyo would bite off the Lolita's head. The number of people who noticed Kyo's hateful glare towards the model were already afraid that the bodyguard would end up as a murderer (although he really was).
"Alright then," Kyo spoke up before moving towards the exit as well, "it's time for me to do my part. See you, Teru." He followed Bou out of the studio, out of the building. The two blondes strolled down a familiar street. As they continued down, the street grew thicker and thicker with new bodies. Eventually, it transformed into a jungle of humans that was nearly impossible to weave in and out.
Kyo had lost Bou.
It was only temporary, however, because he spotted a certain ice cream parlor... He pushed open the doors and found the model sticking a small pink spoon into his mouth. Kyo rolled his eyes and groaned inwardly. Although he would not admit it, he was exhausted. The sea of people outside was neverending, and, if he had known that this was the destination, he could have taken a shortcut.
He had no time to complain.
With this in mind, he sat down across from the model and grumbled, "You're such a pain in the ass."
Bou was close to choking on his ice cream. His big brown eyes widened even more before a light, "Huh?" left his pink lips.
"You heard what I said," Kyo remarked. "Really...you're so professional. Even that Hizaki knows better than to just disappear after hearing the words 'good job!'" Kyo taunted.
There was a certain approach to things, and this was how he began a good relationship with Bou. From what Byou said the other night, the best way to wrap someone around your finger (especially if they just started their career) is to insult them while giving them advice (if that made sense). In a way, Kyo had understood...once Byou gave out examples and elaborated.
"What if," Kyo continued, "you had to do retakes--or if there was a different style that the photographer wanted to try out. After all, you are only the model. The photographer, from what I am aware, is the one who is taking the pictures--models are only there to look pretty. They're easy to replace--Hizaki could take your place."
Bou bit his lower lip before putting down his ice cream cup. He bowed his head and apologized. Kyo scoffed before slouching in his seat. "Moreover, you took a hell of a street to get all the way here. I know an easier and less crowded way, you know? If you don't want to get your girly ass trampled, you should take that way," Kyo mentioned. Bou raised his head with those doe eyes staring innocently at Kyo. "Don't you know how to talk?"
"A-Ano... E-Eto... I-I'm sorry...?" Bou responded. Kyo palmed his forehead. This guy was really...feminine. Much more feminine than Shou or Jui--maybe even more feminine than Hizaki! In that case, he was probably easy to break. In other words, Kyo would have to be careful... Gentle maybe.
Kyo sighed. "Whatever," he brushed it off. After all, he had a job to do. He had to lead this Bou somewhere. "Let's just start over. I'm Kyo, your bodyguard."
"M-My name's Bou..."
"I know. I just haven't introduced myself yet."
"O-Oh... I-I'm--"
"Sorry? Don't be. Anyways, about that shortcut..."
[Scene 3]
Bou leaned against his door before sliding to the ground and shivering in utter delight. A light smile lingered on his lips. It was hard to not smile. It was hard to not blush. The end result was both happening anyways, so it didn't really matter if he did blush or smile. A giggle escaped from his lips before he stood up and staggered off to the bathroom.
He ran the water and stripped off his clothes before stepping into the shower. The burst of warm water splashed onto his milk-white skin. His platinum hair became soaked and clung to his face. In the end, he could not stand, and his knees caved in. He smiled as he collapsed onto his knees before sliding into a new position.
Hugging his knees, he buried his ecstatic face in his arms.
"Hey, Kyo-san, what kind of woman do you like?"
"...One in a kimono."
That was how they first met, right? It was fate that they met again... It was fate that he was protecting him...that he was his bodyguard.
But the expression he had given him in that dress... It was unpleasant.
"Ano... Kyo-san," Bou spoke up in the middle of the "tour." The shortcut indeed had a lot more space. However, it was a longer walk. The model was a little worn out, but he did not dare to admit that out loud. "Do you not like Lolita?"
"Not like it?" Kyo repeated with an amused tone. "I hate it more than being called short or cute--and trust me, that's pure loathing."
Bou pouted. Never again would he wear Lolita... Never. He grabbed the bottle of shampoo and began to lather--scrubbing his scalp thoroughly. The young man was looking forward to tomorrow and whatever tomorrow brings.
"But... Even though I detest Lolita... It really suits you."
[Scene 4]
"Byou... What are you doing?" Saga questioned as he stepped into the apartment. The male prostitute only looked away from his cell phone resting on the coffee table just ever so briefly before saying that he wasn't needed anymore. "Not needed?" Saga repeated, questioning his roommate.
"It seems that Maya-san got back with Aiji-san, so there is no place for me in his heart any longer," Byou replied with a devilish grin. "I'm all yours tonight!" he chirped. Saga cringed from the sudden attitude change.
"What's wrong with you? You seem a lot more depressed than what you're showing right now," Saga stated, "the air around you is destroying the plants. Jeez, stop being so sad... You're used to being used, right? Is this Maya different from the others?"
"Nope. Not at all," Byou answered--his grin fading away. He picked up his phone before chucking it several feet away indignantly. "It's just... I'm a person who is in love with being in love. I want to be cared for, and I want to care. I suppose that's just how lonely I am." Saga stood still for a moment or two, allowing the silence to absorb both young men. Then Byou cleared his throat and teased the policeman, "So... Saga... You doing anything tonight?"
I just about confessed to you there, Saga...
"Well... There's something bothering me. I want to look into this case more," Saga replied to Byou bluntly. Byou scowled inwardly to himself. Of course, it was just like Saga to turn him down.
[Scene 5]
Hiroto entered his brother's bedroom, wrapping his arms around the college student who was feverishly studying.
"Tora-nii... I have a really bad feeling in my gut."
[Scene 6]
"Uruha-kun? What are you doing in here?" Kai questioned as Uruha and Aoi entered the café. Uruha raised an eyebrow while Nao and Aoi greeted each other casually. A nervous laugh left Kai while he flailed his hands back and forth. "I'm not saying you can't be here! It's just a shock! That's it! That's all!"
Uruha rolled his eyes before commenting, "Hey, Kai, Shou and Jui died with an Uroboros somewhere near them apparently... Something weird is going on."