(Summary continued) Rosa Morera is chosen to play the leading role in an 18th century drama titled A Lolita Scorned. And it turns out a certain red-haired fox demon is cast as the leading male - of course, none other than Shuichi Minamino, better known as Kurama. When filming ends, Rose finds herself with nowhere to go. Graciously, Kurama opens his home and takes her in until she can be reunited with her sisters. Little does he know she won't be the only one sleeping over...Join the Yu Yu Hakusho gang and a few new friends as they all troop to Kurama's estate for an unexpected, extended "visit." It's vampires, pyromaniacs, stalkers, loudness all around, and over-the-top comedy galore in Standing Room Only!
Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho and all of its respective characters are the intellectual property of Yoshihiro Togashi and the licensed property of Studio Pierrot and FUNimation Productions. Rose, Ofelia, and Mariel Morera, Sen, Freya, Z, and any other characters not presented in the manga or anime adaptation are the intellectual property of Sakura Amadare.
Authoress Note: Hello to everyone and welcome to Standing Room Only! First of all, I'd just like to thank you for your interest in this story. A lot of love and hard work has gone into it, and I'd be delighted if you loved it as much as I do.
But before we take our first step into this long and (hopefully) fun-filled journey, there are some points I'd like to discuss. I don't want anyone going into this with any misconceptions.
1) If AU stories don't suit your palette, this is not the fic for you. My story picks up five years after the anime ended and takes place in a completely different setting. If you were looking for a story set in the pure, canon YYH Universe, you won't find it here.
2) If you have any ill feelings toward original characters, especially when they are paired with canon characters, this is not the fic for you. There are a total of six prominent original characters in this story and, yes, two of those O.C.'s end up with two canon characters (give you three guesses which ones). Flames and the words "Mary Sue" will not be tolerated. If this is too high a hurdle for you to clear, please hit the back button now.
3) Lastly, if you are particularly fond of frequent and regular updates, I am not the author for you, lol. I am a procrastinator by nature and suffer from chronic writer's block often. If this will be a problem, you may want to consider finding another fic - no offense...
If you can live with these three things, then I happily welcome you to immerse yourself in the world of Standing Room Only! Enjoy!
Chapter 1
And the Part Goes To...
: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA :
(Our story begins in a long room. Three of its walls are paneled with mirrors; the remaining wall is painted white with a single black door centered perfectly on it. Four people, two men and two women, sit at a long table with their backs to the door, conferring with each other)
(Just outside that door is another room where five girls are seated in a row against the wall. Each of them regards the black door with varying degrees of anxiety. This is a callback audition for the role of Elizabeth, the main female character in the vampire drama A Lolita Scorned, set in the 18th century. The story follows her slow, tragic descent into madness as she is torn from the human life she loves and forced to become a monster she cannot bear to be. All of them want it, but only one can be cast as the leading lady. Who will be the one to emerge victorious?)
(A rare occurrence, the five potential actresses were asked to attend the audition in costumes appropriate to the period. While the other four's dresses display tell-tale signs of costume-renting stores, the fifth girl's dress appears remarkably authentic. She is the calmest of them, keeping her eyes mostly on her lines rather than on the door. It suddenly opens and a small, stout woman steps into the room with a clipboard)
Assistant: (Glances up from her clipboard) Barbara Hutchinson?
Barbara: (Her heart leaps with fear and she rises from her seat much too quickly, almost losing her footing) Here!
Assistant: (Shakes her head at the girl's clumsiness, motioning her into the audition room)
Barbara: (Walks toward the doorway, shooting one last fleeting glance over her shoulder before the door is shut behind her)
(One by one the girls are called, disappearing into the room and remerging about ten minutes later. At last only the quiet girl with the bona fide 18th century gown remains. She has small, delicate features and short brown hair cut in layers, floating just above her shoulders. Her hazel eyes have not once left the paper in her lap. The assistant comes out for the final time)
Assistant: (Smiles ironically) I take it you're Rosa Morera?
Rose: (Finally looks up at the casting assistant, immediately breaking into a friendly smile) Please, call me Rose.
Assistant: (Nods) All right, Rose. You're up.
Rose: (Glances at the four empty chairs beside her) Looks like it (Tucks her lines into the leather folder on her lap and gets to her feet, strolling calmly through the door. She goes around the table and crosses the hardwood floor to the single chair that waits on the other side, greeting the four people before taking her seat. She places the folder beneath the chair, no longer needing her lines)
(The director sits at the left corner of the table, his eyes already scrutinizing her attire and seeming pleased. The other three beside him are the executive producer, the casting director, and her assistant)
Casting Director: (A stern woman with horn-rimmed glasses, she has an air of pure business) Have you memorized your lines, Miss Morera?
Rose: Yes (Rises from her seat and takes a few steps forward into the middle of the room)
Casting Director: (Nods) When you are ready, please begin.
Rose: (Glances quickly at one of the mirrors, making sure everything is in order, and then turns her attention back to the panel) I'm ready.
(She goes through the performance, speaking with loathing conviction while the assistant reads the antagonist Alucard's lines. At the casting director's request, she performs the scene a second time in a more melancholy tone)
Casting Director: (Smiles the slightest bit) Thank you for coming, Miss Morera. You should receive a call within the next two days.
Rose: (Gathers her leather folder from beneath the chair and approaches the table, smiling brightly at the casting panel as she shakes each of the members' hands) Thank you for your time. I can't tell you how much I value this opportunity.
Director: (Smiles warmly at the girl) Have a good day, Miss Morera.
Rose: Thank you, you too (Makes her way around the table again and out the door)
: THE NEXT DAY :
(Inside a standard motel room, there is a single king-sized bed and a nightstand with a lamp. A cell phone grows hot beneath the light filtering down on it through the lampshade. Rose had been going about her day normally, but finally ended up lying listlessly on the bed, waiting for the call. The cell phone rings, and it's in her hands after only the first three notes of "Famous Last Words")
Rose: Hello?
Caller: Rosie?
Rose: (Recognizes her agent's voice and smiles slightly) Hey Stan. What've you got for me today?
Stanley: Well, I think you should know that… (Drifts off, his tone troubled)
Rose: (Sits up and crosses her legs, her wild hopes taking a dive at the disappointment she senses on the other end of the conversation) Yes?
Stanley: (The smile is suddenly audible in his voice) You got the part.
Rose: (Her heart begins to race, but she has enough sense to keep her cool over the phone) That's great! Wow, I can't wait to thank the casting panel.
Stanley: You do that, first chance you get. Do you have a pen and paper?
Rose: (Reaches into the nightstand's drawer where a pad and pen await) Yeah.
Stanley: (Gives Rose the address to Sony Pictures Studios where they'll be filming) Be sure to pack for an extended stay. Your trailer will be ready for you when you arrive. Be at the studio tomorrow at noon, and bring your appetite cause they'll be serving lunch.
Rose: (Grins excitedly but keeps her voice level) Thank you, Stan. I'll be there.
Stanley: Congratulations, Rose. Knock 'em dead, kid (Hangs up)
Rose: (Clicks her cell phone shut and places it gently down, smiling blissfully for a moment. And then she jumps from the bed and dances around the room, squealing with joy) I'M ELIZABETH!!
(Her cell phone rings again. Without even glancing at the caller ID, she snatches it off the bed and answers, already knowing who it is)
Rose: (Elated) Ofelia!
: LONDON, ENGLAND :
(On the other side of the world and eight hours ahead, Ofelia Morera sits in front of her laptop. Having felt the surge of excitement from her younger sister, she immediately dived for her phone and punched the speed dial)
Ofelia: (Breathlessly) Don't tell me…
Rose: (Unable to contain herself, she positively shrieks into the phone) I GOT THE PART!
Ofelia: (Leaps out of her seat so quickly it may as well have grown claws and swiped at her) OH MY GOD! (Proceeds to scream in exhilaration)
Rose: (Screams right along with her at the other end of the line)
(The door to Ofelia's room flies open and Mariel Morera, the oldest of the three sisters, runs in, her eyes wide with alarm)
Mariel: (Screams to be heard over her sister) WHAT? WHAT IS IT?!
Ofelia: (Charges at Mariel and throws her arms around her neck) ROSE GOT THE PART!
Mariel: (Immediately understanding, she joins in the shrieking, latching onto her sister and jumping up and down with her) THAT'S AMAZING!
Rose: (Is the first to finally regain her wits and begins to quiet her sisters)
(It takes a good minute, but at last everyone is calm enough to continue the conversation)
Mariel: (Takes the phone from Ofelia, speaking into it with a watery smile) I'm so proud of you, Rose (Sniffles, her eyes brimming with tears) We both are. And we know that you'll do wonderfully (Her voice breaks on the last syllable and she brings a dainty hand to her mouth) I'm sorry, it's just…
Rose: (Her heart is warmed by the great love expressed in her oldest sister's voice) Aw, Mariel… (Can feel the tears starting in her own eyes and wipes at them, crooning soothingly in Spanish) You've been like a mother to me. Thank you for sending me here…for everything you've done for me.
Mariel: (Dissolves completely into tears, blubbering incoherently on the other end)
Ofelia: (Snatches the phone away, speaking exuberantly while awkwardly patting her sister on the back) Hey, when I go see your movie in the theaters, don't think you're gonna get any slack in my review (Snickers) Sister or not, you'll be treated like any other actress.
Rose: (Grins) I wouldn't have it any other way, Ofelia.
Ofelia: (Takes Mariel by the hand and leads her to the red chaise, plopping down onto the cushions and pulling her down beside her) So, do you know who you're working with yet?
Mariel: (Slumps over onto Ofelia's shoulder, sniffling)
Rose: (Shakes her head, sinking slowly back onto the bed) No, actually. All the callback auditions were held separately. The only people I've met are the four girls that didn't get the part of Elizabeth.
Ofelia: (Cackles) Yeah, the ones that didn't get the part...because you did! (Gives a small squeal)
Rose: (Quickly shushes her before it gets her going again) But I'm going to the studio tomorrow, so I should get to meet everyone then.
Ofelia: What time?
Rose: Noon.
Ofelia: (Nods slowly) Be sure to suit up then (Changing the topic) So, think there'll be any big names working on it?
Rose: (Shrugs) Who knows? All will be revealed tomorrow.
Mariel: (Finally having composed herself, she holds her hand out for the phone)
Ofelia: (Looks at her for a long moment, surveying her expression carefully) All right, Rose, I'm putting Mariel back on (Mock whispers, cupping her hand over the mouthpiece) Watch what you say!
Mariel: (Flashes her sister a playfully disparaging look and takes the phone, cradling it against her ear) Now, Rose, be sure to keep yourself well fed.
Rose: (Nods) I will, no worries.
Mariel: (Fretfully) And don't overexert yourself. I know how these slave drivers like to work their actors to the bone sometimes...
Rose: (Nods more vigorously in response to the anxiety in her voice) You've got it. I'll get plenty of rest.
Mariel: (Some other concern occurs to her and she blurts out desperately) And don't--
Rose: Mariel! (Laughs, squeezing an arm around herself and vainly hoping Mariel will feel the hug across the distance) I promise I'll take good care of myself and I'll call every single day, okay? Please don't worry so much...I know the last thing you want is white hairs (Grins to herself, as she can already see Mariel reaching up to touch her hair)
Mariel: (Reaches up and strokes absently at her long pale pink tresses) No...no white hairs. All right, I'll try (Can feel tears welling in her eyes again and blinks them back stubbornly, forcing her voice to stay steady) I love you, Rose.
Rose: (Smiles) I love you, too, Mariel (Squeezes herself tighter as a pleasant warmth seeps through her body)
Mariel: (Holds the phone out to Ofelia)
Ofelia: (Takes the phone) You're gonna do great, I know it. Hang in there, sis.
Rose: (Clutches the phone harder, sensing the imminent end of the conversation) I will (Blabbers on, hoping to keep her a little longer) Don't let Mariel worry herself sick, okay?
Ofelia: (Snickers, glancing sideways at her older sister) Can't make any promises, but I'll do my best.
Mariel: (Tilts her head, frowning slightly) What is she saying about me?
Rose: (Speaks a bit louder so that Mariel might hear) Nothing, Mari!
Ofelia: (Smiles and shakes her head slightly at Mariel)
Mariel: (Sits back, feeling reassured)
Rose: (Laughs weakly, the sound tinged with sadness, and she is glad that only Ofelia can hear this part) I miss you...
Ofelia: (Her voice slightly betrays some affection) It'll only be a few months, and then we'll be together again.
Rose: (Noting the undertone in Ofelia's a words, a small tear escapes from her eye) I know... (Sighs, accepting their time is up) I love you, sis.
Ofelia: (Chuckles lightly) Yeah, me too. Bye Rose.
Rose: Bye... (Silently wishes that Ofelia will say something else, or that Mariel will grab the phone crying again, anything to stay on the line)
Ofelia: (Hangs up)
Rose: (Clings to the phone a few seconds, the sound of the dial tone making her feel empty, before hanging up) It's just a few months...just a few months... (Looks around the room, hoping for some sort of distraction. Her eyes land on the open suitcase in the corner and she considers that getting a head start on her packing won't hurt. Decided, she rises from her bed, already making a mental checklist to go through)
Authoress Note: So how was that for a first chapter? Please be sure to leave a review and let me know what you think, and check out the website I made just for the story sakura-amadare(dot)tripod(dot)com/standingroomonly
Preview: In the next chapter, Rose arrives at the studio for the welcome luncheon and meets our favorite fox demon for the first time. Sparks fly, but not necessarily the good kind...
Tune in for the next installment of Standing Room Only! See you then!