Authoress Note: Yes. Chapter two is here! I hope the anticipation didn't overpower you… (Crickets chirp) Right, so since I don't really have anything to say, let's just get on with the story, shall we?

Disclaimer: (Lol, as if you don't already know this) None of the Yu Yu Hakusho characters belong to me. Any other fictional characters featured in the story do belong to me. Laurence Dunmore, however, is a living person and true director. If any problem should arise from using his persona fictitiously in the story, I'll have no problem replacing him.

Recap: In the previous chapter, Rose was cast as the leading female protagonist in the period drama A Lolita Scorned. She shared the exciting, wondrous news with her sisters and then proceeded to ready herself for her departure to Sony Pictures Studios…

Chapter 2

What Is UP With That Guy?

: NEXT DAY, A QUARTER TO NOON :

(A taxi arrives at Sony Pictures Studios. All of her belongings, including a cooler filled with undisclosed contents, take up most of the backseat so that Rose has to sit in the front with the driver. The entrance to the studio is gated, so the driver pulls up to the guard post and rolls down the window)

Guard: Name and ID, please?

Rose: (Reaches into her purse and pulls out her wallet) Rosa Morera (Slides her ID out of its slot and passes it to the driver, who hands it to the guard)

Guard: (Checks his clipboard for the name, nodding, and then inspects the ID carefully, comparing the face in the picture to the face of the girl in the cab. Finally, he nods and returns the card) A Lolita Scorned is located at Stage 23. Enjoy your stay, Miss Morera, and good luck with the movie.

Rose: (Slides her ID back into place and puts her wallet back into her purse) Thank you, sir.

Guard: (Disappears into the guard house, and soon the gate eases open)

(The taxi sails into the studio and the driver navigates his way around until he finally reaches the lot where A Lolita Scorned will be filming)

Driver: (Slows to a stop) Here we are, Miss.

Rose: (Pulls the hood of her shirt on over her head and covers her eyes up with a big pair of sunglasses)

Driver: (Regards her curiously, thinking the black-and-gray striped hoodie is excessive for the sweltering California weather. Knowing better than to ask, he simply shrugs it off and helps her unload her two massive rolling bags and the mysterious cooler)

Rose: (Pulls four crisp, twenty dollar bills from her wallet and hands them to the man) Keep the change.

Driver: (It is an intonation he has come to recognize and adore, and he nods appreciatively at the girl) Thank you, Miss Morera. Good luck with your movie.

Rose: (Smiles at him)

Driver: (Gets into his cab and drives off)

(Almost simultaneously, a car pulls into a parking space nearby)

Rose: (Taking little notice, she turns to face the door of the studio labeled "Stage 23," her heartbeat suddenly picking up. She wonders absently to herself whether she should knock or just wait)

(As if to save her the trouble of deciding, the door suddenly swings outwards and a woman steps out, a tiny headset attached to her ear and a small clipboard in her hands)

Rose: (Thinks to herself, amused) 'Office supplies stores must make a fortune off of the movie industry, with all these clipboards going left and right.'

Actors' Assistant: (Glances up from her clipboard and beholds Rose in her all-too-warm apparel without giving it a second thought. She has grown accustomed to the sundry eccentricities of countless actors and has long since decided not to wrack her brains about it) Miss Rosa Morera?

Rose: (Cringes at the use of her full name) Rose…just Rose, please.

Actors' Assistant: (Nods absently, her gaze focused somewhere just beyond Rose's shoulder, a slightly dazed expression on her face)

Rose: (Tilts her head curiously, wondering if perhaps the woman is on drugs)

(A soft, medium-pitched voice suddenly speaks from behind her)

Disembodied Voice: Good afternoon, ladies…

Rose: (Whirls around, incredulous that anyone managed to escape her detection)

(And yet there he is – the guy with apparently light footing. His fiery red hair hangs in long, subtle waves to the middle of his back. He has long-lashed doe eyes, strikingly green. His attire consists of a brown polo with thin, white horizontal stripes and a pair of faded blue jeans. Standing a full foot taller than her, he makes Rose feel like a midget)

Rose: (Frowns slightly at him, still mulling over how he could have possibly snuck up on her)

Actors' Assistant: (With hurried steps, she brushes past the younger girl) Mister Shuichi Minamino! So good to see you again… (Bats her eyelashes)

Kurama: (Is amused by her blatant flirting, but takes this in stride and flashes the woman a warm smile) Yes, it's a pleasure to see you too, Miss Constance (Bows his head slightly)

Actors' Assistant: (Clucks her tongue in disapproval) Mister Minamino, didn't I ask you to call me Sherry? (Her smile is positively smoldering)

Kurama: (Chuckles lightly) Ah, my apologies, Miss Sherry.

Rose: (Raises a delicate eyebrow at the two as they continue to exchange pleasantries) 'Aaand apparently I've become invisible' (But she endures this for a few moments, if only to observe the sneaky stranger a bit more closely. It annoys her, the way he speaks - his imitation of a Victorian gentleman is so pretentious it's laughable. For a few moments she can't decide whether to dislike him or to feel sorry for him…At long last she clears her throat lightly)

Sherry: (Gives a tiny scream and whirls around, having forgotten that anyone was there) Oh…Miss Morera -

Rose: (With slight impatience) Rose.

Sherry: (Gives her a sharp look, not liking her tone) Right, Rose. Please follow me, I'll show you both to your trailers (Continues to eye Rose cuttingly for a moment and then turns to walk across the lot toward the trailers visible in the distance)

Kurama: (Glances discreetly at Rose, hesitating at the lack of friendliness he senses from her. In spite of this, he turns to speak to her) I don't believe we've been introduced (Holds a hand out and offers her a tentative smile) I am Shuichi Minamino.

Rose: So I heard (Stares down distastefully at his outstretched hand and then, stiffly, extends her own to shake it. There is no warmth behind the gesture, and she withdraws as quickly as she reached out. She does not feel the need to introduce herself - he's already heard her name)

Kurama: (Once again he takes things in stride, pretending not to notice the coldness with which she has treated him) May I help you with your bags? (Has only brought one piece of luggage himself)

Rose:(Flatly) No (Mounts the cooler atop one of the bags and, taking the handle of each bag, sets out after Sherry)

Kurama:(Is surprised by her abrupt antagonism towards him, wondering what he could have done to provoke such a hostile attitude. Then again...) 'A girl who doesn't trip all over herself at the mere sight of me...'

(It is an unexpected but refreshing change. The satisfied smile on his face is most bizarre to see as he trails after the two girls)

Sherry: (Reaches the steps of the first trailer and turns around, waiting for the two actors. When they've finally reached her, she beams genially at Kurama) This is your trailer, Mister Minamino (Fishes a key out of her pocket and holds it out to him)

Kurama: (Nods, smiling, and takes the key) Thank you, Miss Sherry (Climbs the steps to the door and unlocks it, disappearing into the trailer with his bag in tow)

Sherry: (Watches him starry-eyed until he closes the door. Then she turns to Rose, her expression suddenly sour) That's your trailer (Points to the one next door and plucks Rose's key out of her pocket, holding it high over her head)

(As the woman is wearing high heels, she towers over Rose's five foot figure)

Rose: (Stands her bags upright and holds her hand out patiently for the key, her blank gaze fixed on Sherry's face)

Sherry: (Jingles the key tauntingly, lowering it to just within Rose's reach before snatching it upward again)

Rose: (Her expression does not change, nor does she try to make a grab for the key)

Sherry: (Seeing something in her eyes, she drops the key into the girl's open palm and strides away hastily)

Rose: (Smiles smugly, going off to her own trailer. Once inside the door, she is surprisingly pleased by her surroundings)

(The trailer is a single, open space save for one wall with two closed doors at the end of the wide hall. To her right is a tiny living room with a love seat, a small stereo, and a nicely sized television equipped with a DVD player. To her left is the kitchen - just a few cabinets, a standard stove and fridge - and off to its side a small round table with two chairs. As soon as she spots the fridge, she approaches it with the cooler, stowing its contents in the freezer. Satisfied, she returns for her bags, abandoned by the entrance, and makes her way to one of the closed doors down the hall. She takes a peek behind door number one and finds a small bathroom with a walk-in shower. And behind door number two, as expected, is a bedroom with a full-sized bed and closet. Overall, the place isn't fancy but has a certain homey charm)

Rose: (Nodding appreciatively, she hoists her bags up onto the bed and unzips them for unpacking)

: ABOUT AN HOUR LATER :

(At this point all cast and crewmembers have arrived on the set and had time to settle in. Everyone is invited into a banquet hall in the studio for lunch. There are three long tables laden with plates, utensils, and trays filled with a myriad of victuals. Several tables have been pushed together to form one super long table lined with chairs. Once everyone has eaten, the director - seated at the head of the table - gets to his feet and calls for attention)

Director: (Speaks with a British accent) Welcome, everyone. For anyone who doesn't already know me, I'm Laurence Dunmore, your director.

(There are scattered greetings from everyone)

Laurence Dunmore: Now I know you're all going to moan and groan about this, but it's only proper than everyone introduce his- or herself, as the faces you see here are the ones you won't be able to escape from for the next few months.

(At this, someone suddenly leaps from their seat and looks around wildly at the many faces in the room)

Crewmember: (Breathes heavily, his eyes gleaming with madness) NO! NEVER! YOU CAN'T KEEP ME HERE WITH THESE PEOPLE! (Flees from the banquet hall shrieking)

Laurence: (Smiles at them all as if nothing had happened) So, we'll go all around the table, starting with you (Motions to the person on his left) Please tell us your name and your role in this production.

Rose: (Looks at the director with wide eyes) 'Why me?!' (Slowly gets to her feet, her heart pounding as she looks around the packed banquet hall) Um...hi everybody. My name's Rosa Morera and I'll be playing Elizabeth Van Alen (Quickly sinks into her seat again)

Johnny Depp: (Stands up, not even batting an eyelash at the number of eyes on him) Good afternoon. My name is Johnny Depp and I'll be playing Lord Nathaniel Barry (Sits down)

Rose: (Hadn't even realized she was sitting next to a celebrity) Mister...Depp?

Johnny: (Turns to her and smiles) Miss Morera?

Rose: Wow (Blushes slightly) I didn't know they were hiring A-List celebrities for this movie. I thought it was just...lesser-known actors.

Johnny: Looks like they're going for a mix (Nods at someone across and a little further down along the table) Helena's here too.

Rose: Helena... (Peeks at the woman in question, realizing it's none other than) Bonham Carter? (Struggles to keep her cool) Who's she playing?

Johnny: (Absently) Rosamund Van Alen (His attention is now elsewhere)

(The chain of introductions has reached the other side of the table, and on the opposite end from Rose a familiar redhead stands from his seat)

Kurama: (Smiles congenially at the gathering) Good afternoon. My name is Shuichi Minamino and I will be playing Count Vladimir Alucard (Sits back down)

Johnny: (Thoughtful) Hmm…Japanese? Doesn't look it (Quirks an eyebrow at Rose)

Rose: (Snickers) Not one bit.

(The introductions continue until everyone has had their turn)

Laurence: (Gets to his feet again, looking at all of them) It's a pleasure to meet you all, and thank you for coming. My crewmembers, you can go home now if you'd like, just be here on Thursday at 6 a.m. sharp.

(A din of chairs scraping and feet scuffing fill the banquet hall as crewmembers begin to leave. When at last they have all gone…)

Laurence: (Beams at the people who remain) And now, my actors. If you'll follow me, we've got a cold reading to get through and only… (Raises his arm to look at his watch) …four hours till sunset (Winks at them)

(There is scattered laughter, as everyone understands the reference to the plotline. With Laurence leading the way, the ten or so actors with major speaking parts filter out of the banquet hall)

Authoress Note: Ta-da! Now aren't you all relieved that a canon character was finally introduced? O.k., I know this chapter probably wasn't all too exciting, but just hang in there. I promise you, the story does pick up and, yes, the comedy will increase as the story progresses, lol…

Preview: The cameras finally get rolling and production begins on the film. After her rather snap judgment of him, Rose finds herself none too inclined to make nice with the charming Kurama. But can such pettiness hold out for long?