Chapter 1
A/N: This is set after they filmed the scene where Miaka finally returns to the book world after two months (though to her it's just a few hours) in season 1, (I've never read the manga, so this is all based on the anime). In other words, it was just before Chichiri's full appearance in Episode 9. This will focus mainly on Nuriko and Chichiri, as they struggle to survive in the acting industry, (especially Chichiri, cause it's his first TV show to star in, and a very popular one at that).
This is partly based on the mini series, 'Hang in there Nakago!' which is about a timid and weak actor of Nakago who's always getting bullied around by Tamahome and Miaka. I dunno how to explain it, so it's better to just watch it on youtube. xD
These will be the actors' names here: (it's just like their real names cause it feels wrong to give them new ones. With a few minor changes.)
Suzaku:
Ryuuen Chou - Nuriko
Houjun Ri – Chichiri
Shu Seishuku – Hotohori
Araki Kae – Miaka Yuuki
Kishuku Sou – Tamahome
Genrou Kou – Tasuki
Myo Juan – Mitsukake
Doukun Ou – Chiriko
Seiryuu:
Yumi Touma – Yui Hongo
Ayuru Gi – Nakago
Koutoku Bu – Amiboshi
Shunkaku Bu – Suboshi
Kaen Haku – Soi
Tomo Aono – Tomo
Otomo Ryuzaburo – Ashitare
Nakazawa Nirusha – Miboshi
BTW, I also changed some of the characters' ages here, to better fit the story. Read and review please!
Riiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiiiing!
"KOOOOUURRIIINN! Pick up the phone will ya?! It's disturbing my beauty sleep!"
"I'm busy making your breakfast! It's just outside your door, pick it up yourself!"
Riiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiiiing!
"KOURIN! I swear I'll smash that phone to bits if you don't pick it up right NOW!"
"Ugh, fine! Just a sec!"
Kourin Chou rolled her eyes when her brother Ryuuen gave a happy grunt and went silent, probably dozing again. She dusted her hands off and finally snagged the offending phone from the receiver.
"Yes? Hello? Ah! Shu-niichan! Are you looking for Ryu-niisan? Hehe, no I haven't. I'll wake him up now. By the way, nii-san just thought up a very elaborate prank on Araki. You wanna join?" *sighs* "Ohhhh alright…"
Kourin pouted sadly and raised her head in the direction of the bedroom upstairs again and gulped some air…
"RYU-NIISAAAAAN! THE PHONE CALL'S FOR YOU!"
A startled yelp and a loud crash sounded in the bedroom and Kourin grinned. "OW! What the f-?!" Kourin immediately heard a nervous laugh and she knew Ryuuen almost said something vulgar. For some reason, Ryuuen thought that Kourin was still innocent so he absolutely refused to swear in front of her. Of course, he didn't know she was always exposed to those things in school, and she didn't plan on telling him. "Why don't you try yelling a little louder Kourin! I think the people all the way in Osaka's still asleep!"
"Ha ha, very funny nii-san. By the way, he's still waiting and he doesn't sound happy."
"Ugh, I guess I'll be down there soon then. Chat the guy out first!"
Kourin immediately pouted again, and she glanced longingly at the phone. "He's not interested!"
"Ugh fine!"
Two minutes later, Chou Ryuuen slammed open his bedroom door and leaned on it tiredly, eyes drooping and long purple hair disheveled. "Alright, I'm up. Who is it?"
Kourin only handed him the phone in reply and grinned playfully. Ryuuen groaned and brought the thing to his ear. "Ryuuen Chou speaking. Who're you?"
-"Ah! Frank as always Ryuuen! Took you long enough to answer. Kourin's been a little too playful this morning."-
"Ehh? Shu-chan?"
-"Yep. Just called to wake you up as usual. You do know it's already 9 in the morning right?"-
Ryuuen's eyes went wide and he glared accusingly at Kourin, who just smiled sheepishly in reply. "No. Way?!"
-"Yes way. Now get up and get ready! Today is the day Watase-san will introduce the new member of our cast, remember? You cannot afford to be late!"-
"Yeah yeah... So fill me in, he's the guy who'll play Chichiri's role right?"
-"I think so."-
"Cool. I bet he'll be a weirdo too."
Ryuuen heard him sigh through the phone. –"How many times do I have to repeat this Ryuuen? Don't judge others before you meet them. You made that same mistake once right?"-
"Yeah, with Araki. Worst day of my life." Ryuuen grumbled. "So you know anything about the new guy?"
-"Well, Watase-san said that his name is Ri Houjun, and that he's nineteen years old. One year older than us."-
"Huh. Then hopefully he'll be more mature than Araki and Kishuku. I swear those two are the worst!"
-"While I agree with your comment, you're still going to be late. This is the fifth day in a row Ryuuen! You have to be responsible if you want to be in Watase-san's good graces."-
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'll go get ready now. But if I'm still late later on, I'm blaming you."
-"Eh?! Why!? What did I do?"-
"You chatted me when I was supposed to get ready, so you're at fault too!"
-"What!? But I was the one waking you up-!"-
But Ryuuen abruptly ended the call and grinned evilly. Kourin raised an eyebrow, "So what got you so pumped up nii-san?"
"Good news. After that long break we had -and nothing relatively new has even happened- we're gonna start filming again. And this time, with a new cast member!"
"Really!? Who's the newbie?"
"Some guy called Houjun Ri. Gonna meet him now, so can't afford to be late! Catch you later Kourin!"
Kourin smiled and ushered him to the bathroom, "Go on then, and tell me all about him. But if he's something like Kishuku-san, then don't bother."
Ryuuen laughed and nodded. "You got it!"
Kourin shared the exact same views as his older brother, and for that Ryuuen was glad. If, somehow, Kourin liked Araki… ugh. He refused to even think about it. The thing is, both of them never liked Araki and Kishuku, the actors who played Miaka and Tamahome. They were annoying, stuck-up, and hard to work with, as expected of the self-proclaimed 'greats' of the acting industry. Not that they were actually "the best", but to Ryuuen, they pretty much behaved like they were. True, they've been child actors, and very popular ones at that, but they still have no right to do those things to their fellow co-workers.
Ryuuen grumbled to himself and started the shower, "Argh! Thinking about those two puts me in a bad mood. Let's think about something else, like what the hell am I gonna do with this hair?"
Ryuuen's purple hair, on the other hand, was long. As in, TOO long, for a guy. It reached past his waist in length and it's terribly difficult to maintain. (He always uses a truckload of shampoo and conditioner to keep its condition) Good thing Kourin's there or his hair would always look like a rat's nest. But don't get him wrong, he didn't choose to grow his hair this long, the director and Watase-san told him to do so because Ryuuen's hair was too 'beautiful' and too 'natural' that using a wig just felt so wrong.
Of course, Ryuuen complained. Big time. But the director would hear none of it, so he was forced to cope with the length, while his sister Kourin was always asked to braid it every day. Not that his sister minded. In fact, she loved braiding someone else's hair. Never mind that it's her older brother's hair.
"Nii-san? You done yet? You're gonna be late! And I'm gonna be late. I still have class you know?"
"Hai hai!" Ryuuen called and poured shampoo full speed on his hair and scrubbed. Argh, there're so many strands! It made him feel like Rapunzel or something. And it's a pain to comb it.
While Ryuuen is out there filming, Kourin has school. Kourin's in her second year high school now and Ryuuen's in his fourth. Well, supposed to be. He stopped his schooling because he just had no time to fit it into his busy schedule. They're always constantly filming, so there's no time at all. Almost all of the teenage actors in the studio stopped going to school, so Ryuuen is no different from them. He'll just resume when filming ends, hopefully with Shu-chan, who's a fourth year like him. But until then, that's wishful thinking, because Shu-chan would most likely go to a university or something. (He's damn smart)
Ryuuen soon finished brooding and bathing five minutes later, (that's a record), and rushed out of the bathroom, towel wrapped securely around his waist, seconds before Kourin dashed in herself.
"Don't go before I'm finished! I'm still gonna braid that you know!" Kourin called behind her shoulder and slammed the door closed. Ryuuen rolled his eyes and ran to his room, picking up clothes and a jacket along the way. He was quick at dressing, but what takes him too long was, you guessed it, his stupid hair. Good thing the studio is walking distance from their house, just a few blocks away. But that also means he has to run. He quickly picked up his converse and hurriedly put it on, then reached for his comb.
God, this is it, the moment of truth. He placed his comb on his head with trembling hands, silently wishing for this hell to end.
Silently, Ryuuen began to comb, and the thing was almost immediately stuck through the tangles that was his hair. He gritted his teeth and began combing furiously, attacking the long strands with his secret weapon.
But it was no use. He was still struggling when Kourin stepped out of the bathroom, the comb hopelessly lost and buried in his hair. (He was using a second one now.)
"As expected. You lost another one huh?" Kourin commented. Ryuuen sighed in defeat. "I hate my hair. I want a buzzcut!"
"Eww Ryu-niisan! Don't EVER do that! Your hair is prettier than mine, so don't you dare vandalize it!"
Ryuuen sighed, "Whatever. Just help me out Koko."
Kourin reached for her drawer and pulled a brush out. "This should help. Now sit back!" Kourin narrowed her eyes and cracked her knuckles. "This is going to get messy…"
Ohh boy…
~oOo~
"There! All done!" Kourin grinned cheerfully and handed Ryuuen a mirror, which he gladly took.
As expected of Kourin, his hair's now so smooth and silky, and no longer as wild as earlier. And it was also braided neatly. The lost comb was also finally found, and was now sitting safely on Ryuuen's desk.
"You. Are. Awesome Kourin." Ryuuen grinned and opened his arms. Kourin gladly took the opportunity and went into them, hugging him hard.
"Now go on already!" Kourin pushed him out of the door.
"Hai hai! Expect your favorite Chinese takeout for dinner as thanks Koko!" Ryuuen waved wildly and dashed off, his quick and nimble build helping her older brother weave through the crowd and traffic with ease, though Kourin hoped it was enough. The studio was starting to complain about Ryuuen's tardiness, yet her brother always waved it off. Ryuuen's absolutely stubborn that way, a thing Kourin always loved about him.
Though she swears that stubbornness would really get him in trouble someday.
"Oh crap! I'm gonna be late!" Kourin gasped after doing a double take at the wall clock, and immediately grabbed her bag and bit on a piece of toast she'd been preparing before that phone call and ran out the house, frantically calling for a taxi along the way.
She completely missed the man rushing across the sidewalk, following the same path Ryuuen took, reddish brown eyes looking extremely frantic and anxious as they darted from the watch on his wrist and the traffic ahead.
I've decided to put a character profile on every chapter with a new character appearing on it personally for you to know them better. Isn't that neat or what?
Character Profile:
Name: Ryuuen Chou
Age: 18 years old
Year level: Fourth year high school student.
Likes: Being called a man, nice people, being rude and frank.
Dislikes: Being called a girl, or any girly term, Araki, Kishuku, his hair.
Abilities/hobbies: A black belter in the karate club in school.
Personality: Straightforward and direct-to-the-point, sometimes rude and tough, (especially when you insult his gender. He's very sensitive about that), but he's very kind to people who're nice to him. He's a good actor, but is always criticized because of his tendency to be late on set, which he doesn't mind at all. Even though Ryuuen absolutely hated being called a girl, (even going through lengths such as scolding and beating people up about it publicly) he loves to act like a woman, pouting cutely and flirting, which was why he got the role of Nuriko almost immediately. (He's pretty complicated). Ryuuen thinks that being a man's the best, and is very prideful about it. But he still gets called a girl nonetheless, much to his chagrin.
Character Profile:
Name: Kourin Chou
Age: 16 years old
Year level: Second year high school student
Likes: Braiding Ryuuen's hair, hearing stories about the acting industry, pranks.
Dislikes: Araki and Kishuku. And also horse carriages.
Abilities/hobbies: Pranking, matchmaking.
Personality: Very outgoing, and also playful and mischievous. She absolutely loves pranks. But she's still the kindest sibling between Rokou and Ryuuen. She has a healthy fear of carriages, which is probably triggered from something that happened in her past life or something. ;)
Please review guys! I've noticed that the stories here are getting ignored, so if you post at least FIVE reviews, I'll post the next chapter. Okay?