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FIC: Unmasked, Part 19 of 25
Title: Unmasked, Part 19 of 25
Rating: NC-17 overall
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Pairing: Kikuchi/Onozuka, Iwaki/Katou
Characters: Kikuchi, Onozuka, Iwaki, Katou, Yoshizumi, Mochimune
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Word count: ~7,790
Warnings: Very AU departure from canon in this chapter.
Sequel to: Unexpected Opportunities, Comeback (Part 1 and Part 2), Forgiveness, Firsts, First Date (Part 1 and Part 2), Going Steady (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6), Audition (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Cookout (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Press Conference (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Sanctuary, The Prince vs. the Groupie (Part 1, Part 2), Family Visit: Tokyo (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5), Gigolo (Part 1, Part 2), Yoshizumi's Night Out (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Family Visit: Okinawa (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5), and Interlude. The series also includes two side-stories that are outside of the main timeline: Valentine's Day Surprise and Strictly Business.
Summary: The Academy Awards take place.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18
***
Kikuchi smiled with satisfaction when he saw Kojima--he had not misjudged; she looked good enough to hold her own against the movie starlets in a simple but elegant sleeveless gown of red silk cut just low enough in the front to show a hint of cleavage, and slit up one side to show off her long legs, but not low enough or high enough to be on the trashy side of revealing. Her hair was pinned up in a stylish chignon in place of her usual practical knot, and she wore a pair of gold-and-garnet drop earrings and a matching choker necklace. Even her regular glasses had been traded in for more fashionable red frames to match her dress.
"You look lovely, milady," Kikuchi said gallantly, bowing and offering her his hand to help her into the limo that the studio had sent to pick up him and the other "Love Reborn" actors, except for Asano, who would be attending the awards ceremony as part of the "Winter Cicadas" cast.
"Save your flattery for someone who will be impressed by it," Kojima said tartly. "Besides, I know that my alleged loveliness doesn't do anything for you."
"Ah, but I'm an actor," Kikuchi replied with a grin. "Which means that I'm vain enough to want an escort who looks good on my arm at public events, regardless of whether I want to sleep with her or not."
"Thanks...I think," Kojima said sarcastically, and Kikuchi laughed.
"You really do look beautiful, Kojima-san, but try not to scowl so much when we walk down the red carpet together."
Kojima rolled her eyes heavenward and sighed to no one in particular, "What did I ever do to be inflicted with a client like this?"
The limo picked up Onozuka and Asami next, and Asami laughed delightedly, "So you're Kikuchi-san's mystery date!"
Onozuka whistled appreciatively and exclaimed, "Wow, you look great, Kojima-san!"
"Thank you, Onozuka-kun, but you needn't sound so surprised," Kojima replied dryly. "That's a little less than princely of you."
Onozuka bowed contritely and lifted her hand to his lips with exaggerated courtly grace. "Please forgive my rudeness, Kojima-san--I was so stunned by your beauty that I momentarily took leave of my senses."
Kojima laughed and shook her head, saying, "You and Kikuchi-san are two of a kind!"
"In more ways than one, perhaps," Asami murmured, smiling slyly.
Onozuka's princely armor was fully intact now, and he graciously pretended not to hear that comment as he now lifted Asami's hand to his lips. "And of course you look beautiful as well, Asami-chan. Kikuchi-san and I are lucky to have such lovely dates--or perhaps unlucky, since no one will notice us with two stunning beauties at our side."
Asami burst into laughter and said with a grin, "Onozuka-kun, if there were an award for flattery, you would surely win it!"
"In this case, he speaks the truth," Kikuchi protested gallantly, although Asami looked more adorably cute than stunningly beautiful. She was wearing a bright yellow knee-length dress, much more flouncy and frilly than Kojima's, along with a huge sunflower hair ornament tucked behind one ear. It would look ridiculous on anyone else, but somehow she managed to carry it off.
Someone--probably their publicists or managers--had obviously coordinated Asami and Onozuka's "date" down to the last detail. Onozuka was dressed in a white shirt and gray suit that perhaps would have been a little too plain for the Golden Prince if not for the jaunty flash of color provided by a yellow tie and matching handkerchief tucked into his jacket pocket, obviously chosen to complement Asami's dress.
Kikuchi smiled as he watched Onozuka continue to flirt with the women, although inwardly he was slightly annoyed--both with the flirtation and his own irrational jealousy. At the same time, he had to grudgingly admire Onozuka's efforts--he had thought that the stern and serious Kojima was immune to the Prince's charm, but Onozuka had actually managed to make her laugh, albeit by mocking his own princely image. Which showed a sense of confidence and security in that he wasn't afraid to make fun of himself, since Kikuchi knew that many stars had egos too fragile to handle a bit of mockery, whether self-imposed or from a third party.
Onozuka paused long enough in his joking flirtation to ask Asami, "Is Kitamura-kantoku coming with us?"
"No, he'll be coming down on his own," Asami replied casually, but with a mischievous little twinkle in her eye, and Onozuka, Kojima, and Kikuchi all gave her suspicious looks.
They found out the reason for her good humor soon enough when they made their walk down the red carpet. Yoshizumi and Tanabe passed by the crowd of photographers and reporters without incident and with only perfunctory attention, while Onozuka and Asami commanded more attention and spent more time posing for photos. The interviewer for the official network broadcast asked eagerly, "Are the two of you dating? You certainly make a very lovely couple!"
"Oh, you're very kind, but we're just friends," Asami giggled.
"Though of course it's a great honor to escort such a beautiful and talented actress, even as a friend," Onozuka added gallantly.
"There was some speculation that you might come as Kikuchi Katsuya's date," the reporter said slyly, but Onozuka just smiled graciously, neither taking offense nor getting flustered by the insinuation.
"As you can see, Kikuchi-san already has a date of his own."
That was Kikuchi's cue, and he offered his arm to Kojima, who laid her hand on it gracefully, and they made their way down the red carpet. Although she had complained earlier about being forced to take part in this spectacle, she didn't show any visible discomfort, looking composed and regal as they passed the gauntlet of cameras and reporters, which was daunting to most newcomers. Kikuchi could see the flashbulbs going off and could hear the excited whispers of "Who is she?" He had to admit--if only to himself--that he was vain enough to enjoy all the attention, and that he'd chosen Kojima as his date partly to stir up a bit of commotion. Kojima knew him well enough to guess at his thoughts, because she gave him a very faint, wry smile, although he suspected that she would have a good deal more to say to him when they were no longer within sight or earshot of the media.
"Kikuchi-san!" the reporter exclaimed. "Please tell us, who is your beautiful mystery date?"
"This is Kojima Yuka, my very lovely and hardworking manager," Kikuchi replied.
"Oh," the reporter said, looking disappointed, although she quickly recovered and smiled brightly for the cameras. "You know, quite a few people thought that you and Onozuka-san might be each other's dates for tonight!" she said teasingly.
"Unfortunately, Asami-chan had already claimed Onozuka-kun for the evening," Kikuchi laughed easily. "So Kojima-san kindly agreed to accompany me."
"Are the two of you close friends, Kikuchi-san?" the reporter asked politely, although clearly the question didn't hold nearly as much interest for her as the possibility of a romance between Kikuchi and Onozuka.
Kikuchi smiled warmly at Kojima and said, "She's stood by my side since I returned to Japan, always working hard and her loyalty never wavering in spite of...ah...certain difficulties that have cropped up along the way."
"I was just doing my job," Kojima demurred modestly.
"Nevertheless, I'm very grateful for everything that Kojima-san has done for me, and there's no one else that I'd rather have by my side," Kikuchi said gallantly, then added with a mischievous wink, "Except maybe the Golden Prince, of course!"
"Kikuchi-san, you're such a kidder!" Onozuka laughed.
Kikuchi and the others started to move past the reporter and on into the ballroom where the ceremony was taking place, but came to a halt and turned to look curiously when the reporter exclaimed, "And here comes Kitamura Seiya, the director of the highly anticipated movie 'Love Reborn,' with bestselling author Mizutani Miwako!"
Kitamura was dressed in a black suit instead of his normal casual otaku-style clothing, and his long hair was pulled back into a neat tail for once. He was still wearing his thick, horn-rimmed glasses, but he looked presentable, even handsome as he made his way down the red carpet with Mizutani on his arm. She was dressed in an elegant kimono of dark blue silk embroidered in a plum blossom design, but what caught the reporter's attention was a sizable diamond glittering on her ring finger.
"Mizutani-sensei, is that an engagement ring?!" the reporter exclaimed.
A wide, rather silly grin spread across Kitamura's face, while Mizutani blushed and smiled almost shyly. "Kitamura--I mean, Seiya-san--proposed to me last night after the wrap party for 'Love Reborn.'"
"How long have you been a couple?" the reporter wanted to know. "There hasn't been even a hint of a rumor about you two being romantically involved!"
"Well, we spent a lot of time working on the script together," Kitamura explained, still grinning widely with the foolish look of the hopelessly besotted. "And we gradually grew closer, first as friends..."
"And then something more," Mizutani finished, smiling back at him--equally besotted, but she managed to retain a bit more of her dignity.
"But everyone thought that you were dating Suzuki-san!" the reporter said.
"And we denied that rumor many times!" Kitamura laughed. "As we've said all along, we are just good friends, nothing more."
The reporter turned to Asami and asked, "Suzuki-san, did you know that the director was planning to propose to Mizutani-sensei?"
"Of course!" Asami replied cheerfully. "He asked me for advice, as a friend, and I told him to go for it!"
"So then you're all right with the two of them becoming a couple?"
"Of course," Asami repeated, with genuine sincerity as far as Kikuchi could tell. "Miwako-san and I have become good friends, too, and now we'll be like sisters!" She flung her arms around Mizutani in an impulsive hug, and Mizutani looked startled, but laughed and returned the embrace.
"There is a slight age difference between the two of you," the reporter said delicately, and Kitamura frowned at the implied slight to his fiancée. "Did that cause any difficulties in your relationship?"
"Not at all," Kitamura replied indignantly. "And it's not that big of a difference...about ten years. No one would be making a fuss if I were the one who was older instead of Miwako-san." In spite of his anger, he relaxed and smiled slightly at being able to address Mizutani in public by her given name instead of the title of "Sensei."
Mizutani smiled at him soothingly, then turned to address the reporter. "To be honest, I did worry about the age difference a little at first," she confessed. "But Seiya-san convinced me it didn't matter, and that the things we had in common were much more important. The driving passion that we both have for our work is what brought us together."
"Well, perhaps I was a bit worried too, in the beginning," Kitamura admitted sheepishly. "Sensei...Miwako-san...is so beautiful and accomplished and talented, that I worried that I might seem young and callow to her eyes."
"Not at all," Mizutani said firmly. "Maturity is something that can't be measured solely in chronological years. Seiya-san is an extremely dedicated director and has worked very hard to reach a level of success that many older men have yet to achieve."
"Ah, they're both hopelessly in love!" Kikuchi exclaimed in mock disgust and everyone laughed, breaking the remaining tension caused by the reporter's question.
"So a real love story has blossomed out of a movie romance!" the reporter declared, then added with a sidelong glance at Kikuchi and Onozuka, "Although perhaps not the romance that everyone was expecting. Congratulations on your engagement, Mizutani-sensei, Kitamura-kantoku. Do you think that the two of you will work together again in the future?"
They glanced at each other and Mizutani replied, "We'd like to, since it was the movie that brought us together in the first place. I have an idea for a script that I'd like to work on, but it will have to wait until after 'Love Reborn' has completed its run."
The reporter congratulated the happy couple one more time, and then they all headed to their assigned table towards the back of the ballroom--the tables closest to the stage were reserved for the nominees, presenters, and a few select VIPs. As they took their seats, Kikuchi slapped the director on the back and laughed, "Kitamura-kun, you sly dog! You were using Asami-chan as cover so that no one would guess that you and Mizutani-sensei were seeing each other--you even managed to fool an old pro like me!"
"I've always told the truth about me and Asami-chan," Kitamura protested. "It's not my fault that no one believed me!"
"But we did want to avoid media scrutiny, at least until filming was complete," Mizutani admitted. "We weren't intentionally deceiving the press, but it was convenient that they were so focused on Asami-chan that they weren't able to guess at the truth."
"And now I understand why you spent so much time on the set, Sensei," Onozuka gently teased. "I thought it was a little excessive, even for the author of the screenplay."
Mizutani blushed deeply and Kitamura smiled that silly, love-struck grin again while everyone else laughed. And then suddenly Yoshizumi exclaimed, "Ah! So that night at the inn in Okinawa--it was Sensei that you were sneaking out to see, not Asami-chan!"
Mizutani turned even redder, while Kitamura looked mortified and Asami burst into peals of laughter. For a split second, Onozuka looked aghast before he managed to regain his composure, and Kikuchi felt equally chagrined since it meant that Yoshizumi had probably overheard Onozuka sneaking into his room that night as well. Then he mentally shrugged it off--with or without that incident, it was obvious that Yoshizumi had guessed at the truth and he hadn't revealed it to anyone. Still, it wounded Kikuchi's pride that Yoshizumi had been able to fool him so easily.
Tanabe and his date, who had not been present that night at the inn, naturally wanted to know what had happened, but Kitamura was spared from further embarrassment by an unlikely source.
"Congratulations on your engagement, Kitamura-kun," Mochimune said, walking over to greet the other director on his way to his own table.
According to the stories Kitamura had told about his former classmate, there was little love lost between the two men, but Kitamura was still euphoric enough over his engagement to accept Mochimune's congratulations with a sincere, "Thank you, Mochimune-san."
But then Mochimune turned to Asami and asked, "And when are you going to let me direct you in a real movie, Asami-chan?"
A collective hush fell over the table as Kikuchi and the others waited to see how Kitamura and Asami would react, but Kitamura just chuckled and Asami replied pertly, "I know you're just teasing me, Mochimune-san, because if you really wanted me, you'd move heaven and earth to convince me to star in your film, as you did with Iwaki Kyousuke."
"Point taken," Mochimune laughed, regarding her with more respect. "But while Iwaki-kun did take some convincing, 'moving heaven and earth' is a bit of an exaggeration. In all seriousness, if I wrote a role for you, would you consider it?"
"It would depend on the role," Asami replied. "To be honest, it would have to be a really spectacular role for me to accept. I've been with Seiya-san all this time because we get along well and have fun working together. You're a brilliant filmmaker, Mochimune-san, but I know from past experience that working with you isn't much fun."
Mochimune stared at her in consternation and asked, "What on earth does fun have to do with it?"
"Well, why would I have taken up acting if it wasn't fun?" Asami replied reasonably, and Mochimune looked even more nonplussed.
Kikuchi snickered; the "brilliant maverick director" (as Mochimune was referred to by the press) was clearly not used to being turned down or having his brilliance brushed off so dismissively.
Mochimune turned to regard Kikuchi, his eyes narrowing in annoyance, but he quickly recovered and smiled pleasantly. "Speaking of roles, Kikuchi-san, you would be perfect for one in my next movie."
"Really?" Kikuchi said indifferently. Of course he was interested, but he didn't intend to be taken for granted by the brilliant but arrogant young director. He was the veteran star, after all--in some ways a fallen star, perhaps, but a star all the same. If he seemed too eager, Mochimune would probably see it as a weakness. Let the upstart auteur work at courting him rather than the other way around; he had no fear of losing the role by acting too coy. Judging by everything he'd heard about Mochimune, if the director really wanted him for the role, he wouldn't let himself be deterred by a bit of coolness or even outright resistance.
"Really," Mochimune purred confidently, not at all put off by Kikuchi's show of reluctance. "There are a few contractual details that need to be worked out before I can officially announce the project, but as soon as that's taken care of, I'll send you a script."
"Send it to Kojima-san," Kikuchi said carelessly. "She handles all the business details for me."
"We'll look forward to receiving the script, Mochimune-kantoku," Kojima said. To Kikuchi's amusement, she pulled a business card out of the small clutch purse she'd brought with her--he had thought that it was only decorative, but he should have known that Kojima would come prepared for any possibility. "Kikuchi-san will consider your offer very seriously," she said, proffering the card to Mochimune with a respectful bow. Her tone of voice was politely neutral and without a hint of censure, but Kikuchi could pick up on the unspoken message being directed at him: You had better be considering it seriously!
Mochimune casually took the card from her with one hand and tucked it into his pocket, rather than accepting it with both hands and carefully putting it away in a card case as proper business etiquette required. However, no one--Kojima included--seemed to expect much politeness from Mochimune.
As he pocketed the card, Mochimune's gaze drifted over to Onozuka for a moment. Kikuchi frowned slightly, recalling Asami mentioning a rumor that the director was interested in men as well as women, and his frown grew deeper when Onozuka immediately gave Mochimune a charming, princely smile.
"My friend Miyasaka had the honor of meeting you at your birthday party, Mochimune-kantoku, and he said that you were kind to him."
"Oh, but I am never kind, Onozuka-kun," Mochimune said with a fierce, predatory grin, and Kikuchi scowled. No one was allowed to smile at Onozuka that way but him--or at least, that was the way it ought to be!
Onozuka hid it well, but Kikuchi noticed a brief gleam of satisfaction in his eyes when Mochimune mentioned him by name without needing an introduction. "Well, I was trying to be polite," Onozuka laughed. "Let us say instead that he was grateful that you agreed to consider him for a role in your next film. If he's lucky, maybe he'll be able to act alongside Kikuchi-san again."
"Luck has nothing to do with it," Mochimune retorted. "If he wins the role he will have earned it by giving the best audition."
"Of course," Onozuka agreed, bowing his head contritely.
Mochimune seemed placated and he smiled pleasantly--if a bit patronizingly--at Onozuka and said, "You'll also have the opportunity to audition if you wish. A few of the roles will be pre-cast, but the others will go to open auditions. I like to have as wide a selection of actors to choose from as possible."
"I am greatly honored, Mochimune-kantoku," Onozuka said humbly, bowing again. Mochimune smirked in amusement, which probably meant that he wasn't buying the "Prince" act, and returned to his own table after congratulating Kitamura one more time.
Once Mochimune was out of earshot, Asami rolled her eyes and said, "Well, he's as arrogant as ever!"
Kikuchi was sure that Onozuka agreed with her, but he was much too circumspect to risk his princely image at such a public event. "Well, Iwaki-san found Mochimune-kantoku difficult to work with, but felt that the end result was worth it," Onozuka said diplomatically.
"He might be a talented director, but that doesn't excuse how rude he was to you," an indignant Mizutani told Kitamura.
"Oh, that's just the way he is," Kitamura laughed. "He's pretty much rude to everyone--there aren't many people that the great Mochimune considers worthy of being his equal." He reached out and laid his hand over Mizutani's and smiled at her. "Besides, nothing could possibly ruin my good mood tonight."
Her expression softened then, and she smiled back at him, saying, "Well, I guess I'll forgive Mochimune-kantoku, then."
"Why am I always surrounded by nauseatingly lovesick couples?" Yoshizumi groaned, so comically that even Mizutani laughed instead of taking offense, although Kikuchi thought that he wasn't entirely joking.
It took a long time for all the guests to be seated, but eventually the ceremony got underway. Honestly, awards shows like these were pretty boring if one wasn't a nominee--the pre-show drama on the red carpet with the surprise announcement of Kitamura's engagement had been far more interesting than the actual ceremony. Still, as Kojima would no doubt say, it was important to stay in the public eye by putting in an appearance whether one was nominated or not, and at least he got to spend some time in Onozuka's company.
So Kikuchi smiled and applauded politely for the winners as the ceremony dragged on, until finally the award for Best Actor was about to be presented. Onozuka had also been feigning polite attention, but now he leaned forward eagerly to see if his friend would win.
"And the award for Best Actor goes to...Iwaki Kyousuke for 'Winter Cicadas'!"
Onozuka must have been rooting for Katou, but if he was disappointed, he hid it well and applauded with all apparent enthusiasm. Iwaki took the stage and gave a very gracious (and rather boring) speech thanking the writer, director, producers, and just about everyone involved with the film, closing with a final thanks "to my partner Katou Youji, who has challenged, supported, and encouraged me in both our professional and personal lives."
And that caused only a minor stir, even though it would have been unthinkable a decade ago. The public and the press seemed to accept them as a happily married couple, never mind that their "wedding" in the States had been purely ceremonial and that same-sex marriage was still not legal in Japan. Kikuchi felt a twinge of the old bitterness that had caused him to hate Iwaki and Katou before he'd ever met them--why should those two have it easy when his career had been destroyed for the very same thing? But then he glanced at Onozuka and his bitterness eased slightly when he thought that the public's acceptance of Iwaki and Katou might make things easier for him and Onozuka if they were ever outed. Kikuchi wanted to protect Onozuka's career and reputation for as long as possible, but he knew better than to believe that they could keep their relationship hidden forever--assuming, of course, that they still had a relationship, which was somewhat in question at the moment.
And then Kikuchi wondered that if the public had been more accepting of gay relationships ten years ago, would he still be with Kenji now? He had been in love with Kenji at the time, but it was hard to picture himself with Kenji today--especially since that meant that he wouldn't be with Onozuka. In fact, just trying to envision that alternate reality in which he and Onozuka had never become lovers filled Kikuchi with a sense of panic, and he had to take a deep breath to remind himself that he was being foolish. He certainly had enough real problems without inventing imaginary ones!
For the first time, it occurred to him that maybe everything he had gone through during the past ten years--the scandal, the humiliation, the respectable but never stellar career in America--had all been worth it because it had led to him meeting and falling in love with Onozuka. Or it would be worth it if he could convince Onozuka to reconcile with him...
"Kikuchi-san, you seem a little pensive," Mizutani observed, startling Kikuchi back to reality.
"I was just reflecting on past glories," Kikuchi lied, flashing a grin at her.
Yoshizumi gave him a shrewd look but played along by chuckling good-naturedly, "I suppose this is all old hat to you, Kikuchi-san. You've been to many awards shows and even won the Best Actor award yourself."
"Ah, that's all in the past," Kikuchi said with a show of false modesty. "That happened so long ago that I'm sure no one cares about it anymore."
"Oh, that's not true at all!" Onozuka immediately protested. It might have been for show or simply out of habit, as he was used to rebuking Kikuchi's frequent "old man" complaints, but Kikuchi appreciated the Prince jumping to his defense anyway.
The ceremony continued, concluding--not very surprisingly--with "Winter Cicadas" winning Best Picture, and Kikuchi smiled wryly as he applauded. He had jokingly accused Iwaki of anticipating a win, but it looked like tomorrow's dinner party would be a victory celebration, after all.
Once the show was officially over, they rose from their seats and began heading for the exit, along with everyone else. Kitamura and Mizutani naturally wanted to spend some time alone and planned to go straight home afterwards, but the rest of them were heading to an after-show party sponsored by the studio. There would be many more stars there, along with other influential people in the industry, and Tanabe and his date seemed pretty excited about it. Kojima maintained a more reserved demeanor, but she was clearly looking forward to the party as well, with a slightly smug look of anticipation, like a cat about to be presented with a room full of canaries.
Kikuchi leaned down to murmur into her ear, "Do you forgive me now, Kojima-san?"
"I suppose so," she replied coolly. "The party will be a great opportunity to make new contacts, and if nothing else, the evening wasn't a total waste if it leads to a role in Mochimune-kantoku's next film."
"Well, let's see what kind of role it is first," Kikuchi replied. "Though I must admit I am a bit curious to see the script that he deems worthy of honoring with his genius."
Up ahead, Iwaki and Katou were being besieged by reporters as they left the ballroom, and Onozuka said, "Excuse me for a moment; I'd like to congratulate Iwaki-san and Katou before we leave."
"Ooh, will you introduce me to them, Onozuka-kun?" Asami asked eagerly. "I'm a big fan!"
"I'd be happy to," Onozuka replied, and they began making their way through the crowd over to the celebrated couple. Kikuchi hesitated, then followed close on their heels, driven by some instinct that was probably jealousy, although he wasn't sure whether it was over Katou or Asami--both, but mostly the former, Kikuchi decided.
But before they reached Iwaki and Katou, a figure pushed his way through the crowd waiting outside the exit and raised his arm, pointing a gun at Iwaki. For a moment, the crowd of celebrities and reporters stood frozen in shock and disbelief, not sure if they were witnessing some sort of publicity stunt.
"That's InterPro's ex-president!" Kojima gasped, and then people began screaming as a gunshot rang out.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl for Kikuchi as the next few seconds stretched out like a movie scene played in slow motion. Katou shouted, "Iwaki-san!" and tackled his lover, knocking him to the floor; Kikuchi couldn't tell if the bullet had hit either of them or not. A heartbeat later, Onozuka screamed, "Katou!" and started to run forward, but Kikuchi grabbed him and forcibly pulled him down to the floor, shouting, "Get down, you idiot!" His father had often complained about how unrealistic his detective TV shows had been, but one thing Kikuchi had learned from them was that it was a good idea to duck for cover when people started shooting at each other; even his father agreed that it was common sense.
Kikuchi flung his own body over Onozuka's, partly out of protective instinct and partly to hold him down and prevent him from running into danger like a reckless idiot--like Katou, as a matter of fact. Then it belatedly occurred to him that he'd forgotten about the women while he'd been busy protecting Onozuka, but he saw that Asami had already hit the floor beside them, and the ever-practical Kojima had ducked for cover behind a table. Mizutani and Kitamura were still staring in open-mouthed shock, but joined Kojima behind the table once they saw the others taking cover.
Most of the other guests reacted less sensibly: some remained frozen in place, while others were screaming hysterically and running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Which did put himself, Onozuka, and Asami in danger of being trampled, but Kikuchi figured that it was safer to be stepped on than shot.
Security guards tackled and disarmed the ex-president, and Katou raised his head and asked anxiously, "Are you all right, Iwaki-san?"
"Y-yes, I'm okay," Iwaki replied, sounding shaken. Then he said with more force, "I should be asking you that, you idiot!"
Katou smiled with relief and whispered, "Thank goodness," then slumped forward and collapsed across Iwaki's chest. And now Kikuchi could see the gunshot wound in his back, a small circle where the cloth of his suit had been burned away. A dark stain radiated in a circle around it, not easily visible against the black cloth, where blood had soaked into the jacket.
"Katou!" Iwaki shouted, his eyes widening in horror. "Katou!"
Onozuka managed to squirm out from under Kikuchi and immediately ran over to his friend's side, shouting Katou's name. Kikuchi got up and ran after him, feeling rather sullen. He knew that he was being a bit of a jerk for resenting Katou at a time like this, but he couldn't help feeling jealous that Onozuka was so concerned about Katou that he'd given no thought to protecting his princely reputation, let alone his own safety. And Kikuchi couldn't help wondering if Onozuka would've reacted the same way if he was the one who'd been shot instead of Katou. Oh sure, Onozuka would probably be concerned, even upset, but to the point where he completely lost control and couldn't think about anything else? As much as Kikuchi wanted to believe it, he couldn't quite manage to convince himself.
But Onozuka's face had turned white with fear, and his eyes were frantic and pleading as he looked up at Kikuchi from where he was kneeling on the floor next to Katou, and Kikuchi found himself wanting to reassure his lover.
So he assumed the character of the police detective he had once played, and started barking out orders as if he had the right to give them. "Call the police and an ambulance," he said crisply to one of the security guards who wasn't occupied with subduing the ex-president. Instead of questioning why an actor was ordering him around, the guard obeyed, looking relieved that someone was taking charge of the situation.
Iwaki had gathered Katou into his arms and was frantically shouting, "Katou! Katou, talk to me! Damn you, don't you dare leave me alone!" He began to shake Katou, desperate to provoke a response, and Kikuchi laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Iwaki-kun, I know you're frightened, but you could make his injury worse that way," Kikuchi said gently but firmly. "It's best to let him lie still until the ambulance gets here."
Iwaki looked stricken, and very carefully eased Katou back to the floor, gently cradling Katou's head in his lap. Meanwhile, Kikuchi tried to recall something useful from his many movies and TV shows. He had played detectives several times, but his characters had dealt mainly with dead bodies rather than injured victims. He had played a doctor just once, about fifteen years ago, but could barely remember any medical details from the show--his character had spent more time having an affair with one of the nurses than he had treating patients.
The bloodstain on Katou's back was still spreading, and Kikuchi said, "We should probably apply pressure to slow the bleeding." (That sounded right, anyway.) He was looking around for something that could be used as a makeshift compress when Asami ripped some of the ruffles off her skirt and handed them to him. "Thanks," Kikuchi said, folding them into a thick square and pressing it down on the wound.
Katou let out a little groan that at least seemed to give Iwaki a little reassurance that his lover was still alive. But a healthy man ought to be making more noise, especially when he was receiving somewhat dubious first aid from a hated enemy.
Blood quickly seeped through the ruffles, turning the yellow cloth red, and Kikuchi wasn't sure if he was doing any good or not. Beside him, Onozuka whispered, "Come on, Katou--who's going to protect Iwaki-san if you're not around?"
Kojima suddenly appeared with a middle-aged, bespectacled man in tow. He was dressed in a tuxedo, so Kikuchi supposed that he was one of the guests at the awards show. Kojima confirmed it a moment later by saying, "This is Murakami-sensei; he's a doctor."
"I'm a plastic surgeon," Murakami clarified nervously. "Gunshot wounds aren't really my speciality."
"Still, that's much better than an actor who's only played at being a doctor," Kikuchi said wryly, and stepped aside to let Murakami tend to Katou. The "plastic surgeon" reference reminded Kikuchi that he did know of the man by reputation even though they'd never met face to face before. Shortly before his own scandal had taken place ten years ago, a famous actress had caused a commotion in the entertainment world by marrying a plastic surgeon. In her late forties, she had still been able to pass for a decade or even two younger, and after her marriage, the sharp-tongued gossips had whispered that her youthful appearance was the result of her husband's skill rather than good genes and natural beauty. Kikuchi hadn't really kept track of her after he'd moved to America, but apparently both her career and her marriage had endured, if she and her husband had attended tonight's show.
Uniformed police arrived on the scene within a few minutes, and the ambulance shortly after that, much to Murakami-sensei's relief. A distraught Iwaki rode off in the ambulance with Katou, and Onozuka wanted to follow them to the hospital, but by now the place was swarming with cops--plainclothes detectives and police officials in addition to the uniforms--and they were politely but firmly told that they couldn't leave until their witness statements had been taken.
"It's not like the shooter is out on the loose!" Onozuka fumed. "He was caught red-handed in front of TV cameras and at least a hundred witnesses, so what do they need us for?!"
The ex-president had, in fact, been dragged off by the police a little while ago, just as the paramedics had been loading Katou into the ambulance. Instead of being remorseful or cowed, or even just angry that he had missed his intended target, he had laughed and taunted Iwaki, "You're finished--you and that office of yours!" Iwaki had spared him only one brief, murderous glare before climbing into the ambulance, but if Katou had not been so seriously injured, Kikuchi suspected that Iwaki might really have lost it and attacked the ex-president in spite of the police officers surrounding him.
"The police are just doing their jobs," Kikuchi told Onozuka placatingly. "You won't get anywhere arguing with them; let me handle this." The high-profile nature of the shooting had drawn out some of the top police brass even though their presence wasn't really necessary, since the suspect was already in custody--as Onozuka had pointed out. Still, high-strung celebrity egos needed soothing, and with the media watching, the police wouldn't want to be perceived as taking the case lightly. Thus, in addition to the rank-and-file detectives who were conducting the official investigation, the chief of Investigative Division One of the Metropolitan Police Department had turned up on the scene to supervise. Kikuchi had also spotted at least one superintendent and the Chief of Detectives.
"Sonoda-san!" Kikuchi called out, walking up to the Division One chief, who was a stern-looking man in his early fifties. The sternness eased and a broad grin spread across his face when he spotted Kikuchi.
"Katsuya-kun!" Sonoda said heartily. "I should have known you'd be here! How's your father?"
"He's enjoying his retirement," Kikuchi replied. "He's been volunteering at the children's home in our neighborhood, teaching the kids judo and taking them on fishing trips."
"Good, good!" Sonoda chuckled, clapping Kikuchi on the shoulder. "I was afraid he'd be going out of his mind with boredom!"
Kikuchi could see Onozuka fidgeting beside him impatiently throughout the exchange of greetings, and decided he'd better get to the point. "Onozuka-kun, this is Chief Sonoda, the head of Division One, where my father used to work. Sonoda-san, this is my co-star Onozuka Yuu, who's been working on the movie with me."
Some of his princely training held despite his impatience, because Onozuka bowed and murmured a polite greeting. "Nice to meet you," Sonoda said in response. "I was partnered with Katsuya-kun's father when I was a rookie detective; he taught me everything I know." He turned to Kikuchi and said, "Your father really should have had this position instead of me."
"Well, we both know why he was passed up for promotion," Kikuchi said ruefully. Many of his father's colleagues held Kikuchi responsible for the way that Detective Kikuchi's career had stalled after the scandal, and he couldn't really blame them since he knew that it was true. Sonoda was one of the few who hadn't held a grudge and had even treated him with sympathy, which was why Kikuchi felt comfortable approaching him for a favor now.
"That wasn't an accusation, Katsuya-kun, just a statement of regret," Sonoda said. "Your father didn't blame you, and neither do I. You might have been the cause, but you can't change who you are. The damned brass care more about appearances and politics than actually promoting capable officers."
"If you're not careful, you might end up being demoted yourself," Kikuchi warned, glancing around to see if any of the "damned brass" had overheard that comment, but fortunately they seemed to be out of earshot.
Sonoda shrugged indifferently, looking unconcerned, and Onozuka began fidgeting again, reminding Kikuchi of why he had approached the chief.
"Onozuka-kun is a good friend of the victim, Katou Youji," Kikuchi explained. "Naturally, he's concerned and would like to go to the hospital to be with Katou-kun and Iwaki-kun. Would it be possible for someone to take our statements now so that we can leave, or for us to go down to the station and give them to you later?"
"I'll have Nakajima-kun take your statements so that you can leave," Sonoda told him. "There's no reason to keep you waiting since the suspect's been apprehended. Give my regards to your parents." He beckoned to a young detective who immediately hurried over to take their statements. Nakajima's youth and nervousness marked him as a rookie who must have just recently earned his detective rank, or maybe he had heard a lot of exaggerated gossip and rumors from the older detectives, because he seemed a little in awe of Kikuchi and more than a little intimidated by him. Still, he got through the interviews, and they were free to leave within a few minutes.
Meanwhile, the always efficient Kojima already had things well in hand. "I called Fujimoto," she informed Kikuchi, tucking her cell phone back into the same purse that held her business cards. "He's waiting in the parking garage to drive us to the hospital."
"Kojima-san, you deserve a raise," Kikuchi told her gratefully.
"Make sure to tell the president that," she replied dryly.
An anxious Yoshizumi asked for a ride to the hospital, and Kikuchi agreed readily. He didn't really have the authority to speak for Onozuka's manager, but he didn't think that Fujimoto would make a fuss about it under the circumstances, and neither Kojima nor Onozuka objected. Yoshizumi mentioned that Asano had already left with Iwaki's manager, Shimizu, which Kikuchi thought was just as well. He didn't want to cause a scene by publicly snubbing Asano, but he also didn't think it was a good idea for Asano and Onozuka to be confined together in a small space for even a short period of time, considering that Onozuka had cast aside most of his princely control.
During the drive to the hospital, Kojima noticed that Kikuchi's hands were stained with Katou's blood, and managed to pull out a handkerchief and a small bottle of hand sanitizer from her tiny and not-just-decorative purse.
"How on earth did you manage to fit everything in there?" Onozuka asked, momentarily distracted from his worries, and Kikuchi chuckled as he cleaned the blood off his hands.
"Efficient packing," Kojima replied serenely.
"It's like a bag of holding," Yoshizumi chuckled. When the others looked confused, he explained, "It's a magical item from the Dungeons and Dragons game. It looks like a normal sack, but can hold much more on the inside than is apparent from the outside."
"Samurai movies, host clubs, and Dungeons and Dragons," a bemused Onozuka said, shaking his head. "You never cease to amaze me, Yoshizumi-san."
"Host clubs?" Fujimoto asked in a carefully neutral voice, while Kikuchi scowled at the reminder that Onozuka had visited the Rusty Nail.
"Yoshizumi-san's friend manages one," Onozuka replied innocently.
"I see," Fujimoto said. Perhaps he would have pursued the subject further, but they were approaching the hospital, where news crews were already gathering outside.
Hospital security was keeping the media at bay, but Kikuchi and his companions were allowed inside and admitted to the floor where Katou was being treated. Security guards had been posted there, too, to keep out any overzealous fans, curiosity seekers, or reporters who managed to slip past the cordon outside.
"I asked Shimizu-san to vouch for us, and she notified security to let us through," Kojima said.
"Ah, and here I thought it was because I was such a big star," Kikuchi sighed in a tone of mock-regret.
"Or that the guards were overwhelmed by the Prince's charm," Yoshizumi joked, although his smile was tense and didn't really reach his eyes.
Shimizu, Asano, Kaneko, and Miyasaka were all in the waiting room hovering anxiously over Iwaki, who was sitting in a chair with his head buried in his hands. Onozuka looked startled to see his friend, and Miyasaka explained, "I rushed down as soon as I heard the news, of course."
"How is Katou doing?" Onozuka asked, and Iwaki finally looked up. His eyes were red and he'd obviously been crying.
"He...he's in surgery right now," Iwaki said shakily. "The doctors...they wouldn't say if he'd be all right, just that they'd do their best."
"That's not an empty promise," Shimizu tried to reassure her client. "The surgeon is one of the best in the country."
"Katou's a fighter," Kaneko chimed in, although he looked a little pale. "He won't give up so easily--he'll pull through, you'll see!"
Kaneko sounded like he was trying to convince himself as much as he was Iwaki, and Onozuka frowned worriedly. "What about Katou's family?" he asked.
"They're on their way and should be here soon," Shimizu answered for Iwaki, who was too overcome with emotion to reply right away.
"I'm sure Katou-kun will be fine," Yoshizumi said, patting Iwaki on the shoulder consolingly. "Once he's recovered, I'm sure he'll say something like, 'Who would look after Iwaki-san if not me?'"
"Isn't that exactly why he's in the hospital right now?" Onozuka asked sharply. "Because as usual, he was trying to protect you, Iwaki-san." He stressed the word "you" like an accusation, and Fujimoto gave him a warning look, which he ignored. "You always put yourself in dangerous situations," Onozuka ranted, looking a little wild-eyed. "And Katou always rushes to protect you--" His eyes darted briefly towards Kikuchi before shifting back to Iwaki. "--or avenge you. If Katou dies, it will be your fault!"
"Onozuka-kun!" Fujimoto snapped.
"You are way out of line, Onozuka!" Miyasaka shouted angrily.
Onozuka glared at his friend, and Fujimoto ordered in a steely voice, "Onozuka-kun, you will apologize to Iwaki-san right now!"
"No," Iwaki whispered, looking stricken. "He's right. It is my fault. When it comes to protecting me, Katou is so reckless and gives no thought to his own safety. I won't be able to live with myself if Katou..." His voice broke and he began to weep, and Shimizu, Kaneko, Miyasaka, and Asano all gave Onozuka accusing looks, while Yoshizumi gazed at him with the air of an elder brother disappointed by his younger sibling's immaturity. Only Kojima surveyed the scene with a look of cool interest, but she had no professional or emotional investment in either Iwaki or Onozuka.
Onozuka opened his mouth to say something that he would no doubt regret later, so Kikuchi grabbed him by the arm and said, "Let's go for a walk and cool your head, your Highness."
Part 20
***
Afterword: As mentioned in an earlier fic (I think it was the one where Onozuka meets Kikuchi's parents), Division One of the Metropolitan Police Department investigates homicides in Tokyo--or in this case, an attempted homicide.
I don't know if Yoshizumi really would play Dungeons and Dragons, but I used to, and I couldn't resist the "Bag of Holding" reference. ^_^ Maybe in his high school/college days?
I intended from the beginning for Kitamura and Mizutani to be a couple, but didn't want to give too many hints until the big reveal.
Onozuka's outfit for the Awards is based on what real life actor Shirota Yuu wore to the last Kouhaku Uta Gassen (an extravaganza music show that's become a Japanese New Year's tradition). As I mentioned in this Youka Nitta IJ thread, Shirota reminded me a bit of Onozuka, so now whenever I see him on TV I think of Onozuka. ^_^ Anyhow, the suit Shirota wore to Kouhaku is pretty much what Onozuka is wearing, except that the tie was more of a darker gold than a bright yellow. There was also one sunflower-themed song where the guest judges (of whom Shirota was one) were waving sunflowers as the performer sang, and that inspired Asami's outfit.
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Also... It is not as if I didn't believe in Asami before, on the contrary. But with the scene with Mochi, she sort of... how to explain it... mingled with Nitta-sensei's canon and became a flawless part of it. Very, very good writing there.
Mochi was of course brilliant - classic Mochi-as-we-see-him behaviour. <3 Ah, I love that man!
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Hee hee...I had so much fun writing that scene with Asami giving Mochi the smackdown, so I'm glad you liked it! And of course it was fun writing Mochi being his typical arrogant self. ^_^
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i loved the announcement of Mizutani-sensei and otaku Kitamura - especially when Yoshizumi mentioned the sneaking at the inn XDD.
Mochimune is an arrogant nerd. he really needs to learn some humility. like desperately falling in love with someone *thinks of other fics with Mochimune/Miyasaka* ~_^
great idea to rejoin canon for the awards with the tragedy about the shooting and the crazy ex-pres! so in character, i was totally surprised because i could remember the hooting but not the hospital scene, so i re-read the manga chapter LOL! i hadn't realized by then you were already back into fanfic universe and that Katou hadn't been really shot in canon ^^
wow, Onozuka must have been really shocked out of it to let his perfect mask drop like this..
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I'm glad the shooting worked so well that it blended into canon--that's very flattering! I'm happy that you liked the other details too, like the engagement and arrogant Mochimune. I'll work on humbling him in the sequel! ~_^
There aren't many people who could make Onozuka drop his mask, but I think that he cares enough about Katou and Miyasaka (and Kikuchi, even if he doesn't know it) to lose his cool if they were in danger.
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Perhaps too tight.
*iz cautioned by Sonoda*
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