No long introduction today. Italics are thoughts. Filming sequences are in bold. Enjoy!
As You Wish: Day One
Kyoko walked onto the set of Box R feeling very optimistic about the day ahead. She had learned from the Okami-san that Tsuruga-san carried her inside of the restaurant but that the Taisho had taken her up to her bedroom. Even though she was extremely embarrassed about being carried while she was asleep by Japan's number one man that women wanted to be held by, she was even more relieved that she didn't have to explain the Sho poster to him.
Today she had woken up extra early to prep herself for the shoot. Although she was now accustomed to putting on her makeup for Natsu, she would be working closely with a male co-actor and she was nervous. Normally Natsu would let her underlings do all of the dirty work while she watched and ordered them to be more aggressive until she was satisfied. Today however, she would start working on an episode where Natsu herself decided to steal a boy away from her supposed friend Yumika. She was upset that Yumika had someone else in her life that was making her question Natsu's overbearing and cruel nature, so Natsu was going to teach her a painful lesson.
It was bitter-sweet for Kyoko because even though she would be the one carrying out the actual act of cruelty and would therefore be the main focus of the next few episodes, it also signified that Box R was coming to an end. Soon the show would reach the point where all of Natsu's friends except for Kaori had left her and the series would be over. Kyoko pushed these sad thoughts into the back of her mind and entered her dressing room to get into costume.
She stepped out onto the set in full Natsu mode ready to crush all who defied her. Everyone was already used to her being in character so they didn't even bother addressing her as Kyoko anymore. The director approached her as soon as she entered the classroom set they would be filming in.
"Okay Natsu-san the purpose of this shot is to get Yumika's boyfriend Kieta to become interested in you. I'll let you decide how you want to do that but just be sure it's nothing too heavy. We only want to give him the feeling of wanting to know more."
Natsu smiled coyly at him. "Don't worry director, the only reason I don't play with boys more often is because they're too easy to manipulate. I'll get him where I want him."
With that she walked off leaving the director slightly shocked again at how easily the normally timid Kyoko could become this predator. He called everyone to their places on the set and stepped to the side of the stage eager to see what Natsu would do.
It was lunch time and Natsu had already sent Yumika to get sandwiches and drinks for the group. She was not happy about the fact that Yumika hesitated to carry out the order. When Natsu first told her to go instead of leaving immediately she looked over at her new boyfriend Kieta who was sitting in the center of a large group of guys laughing about something.
"Actually, Natsu I was planning on eating lunch with Kieta today so-"
"I'll take a meat bun and get me something sweet also, preferably warm."
Natsu's tone was final with no room for argument and Yumika only looked at her for a second before going off to buy the food. However, Natsu didn't like what she saw in Yumika's eyes before she left. It was rebellion. For that split second when she looked at Natsu she was debating whether or not to follow the order and as far as Natsu was concerned there shouldn't be anything to debate. Her word was final and people who didn't realize that had to be corrected immediately.
She got up from her seat and walked over to the boys that were surrounding Kieta hanging on to his every word like good little lap dogs. Natsu was almost interested in what he was saying. Almost.
"Sorry to interrupt." She said not sounding the least bit sorry. When they noticed her the group around Kieta parted without her needing to ask. Most of them had never been this close to her and they were in shock at being approached by the most unapproachable girl in school. She walked straight past without looking at any of them and sat on top of Kieta's desk facing him with her legs crossed at the ankles.
"Hello Kieta, I'm Natsu, Yumika's friend." She said as if he didn't already know. "Yumika really seems to like you. I can't blame her though you're obviously very likable." She gestured to the crowd of boys around him but kept eye contact with him. He stared up at her not saying a word. "I'm sure we'll end up liking each other too." She continued in a more seductive tone, grabbing his school tie and pulling him towards her. She leaned down just enough so that the Princess Rosa was dangling from her neck drawing attention to the cleavage that was just out of sight, and whispered in his ear, "Let's be good friends ne, Kieta?"
She leaned back just enough to look him in the eye and she liked what she saw there. There was obvious confusion but just below the surface she saw the hunger in his eyes. She looked up and saw Yumika enter the classroom through the door behind Kieta's desk. Natsu smirked at her friend's shocked and fearful expression. The game has only just begun Yumika, she thought to herself, I'll show you just how fickle and easily swayed men really are.
'You just refuse to see the difference between lies, lust, and love.'
Natsu sat back quickly. What the hell was that voice?
Suddenly the image of a pale woman with dark hair blowing in a fierce breeze surfaced in Kyoko's mind shocking Natsu's spirit out of her. 'But I know a way to show you.'
That whole time Yumika had been saying something to Natsu but Kyoko hadn't heard any of it. The director called cut through the megaphone snapping Kyoko out of her trance. Oh no, I was supposed to say another line and I zoned out. Now I'm forcing everyone to do a retake. Just as she was about to apologize the director walked over addressing her and Yumika, "That take was perfect! I think I'll just cut it at where Yumika walks in and Natsu smirks at her so we can move on to the next bullying scene…"
Kyoko's mind began to wander again. She was glad that the scene wouldn't have to be re-shot but why had her conversation with Orihime come back to her so suddenly? She was sure that she had become Natsu completely and yet her thoughts had somehow strayed and took her out of character. She was pulled out of her thoughts by the director speaking to her.
"The rest of your scenes for today will be with your group. We'll get back to the scenes between Natsu and Kieta when we resume filming four days from now on Monday." The director walked off with Chiori to discuss what he wants from her in the argument scene where Yumika tries to tell Kieta to stay away from Natsu. Kyoko turned to Sano Akira, the actor who was playing Kieta, and bowed deeply to him.
"Thank you for the hard work Sano-san. I look forward to working with you more on this project."
Sano smiled down at her. "Please Kyoko-chan, call me Akira. It would make working together more enjoyable if we weren't so formal with each other." His voice lowered a little as he leaned closer to her, "Let's be good friends ne, Kyoko-chan?" he said, repeating the line she had improvised during the scene.
She blushed and looked up into his face. He had a mischievous smile and his eyes held a similar expression to the one they had when he was in character except now there was no confusion, there was only hunger. Kyoko stepped closer to him and grabbed his tie pulling him down until he was eye level. What am I doing?
For some reason there was a disconnect between her mind and her body and Kyoko couldn't stop herself from leaning forward until the tips of their noses almost touched. She locked eyes with him and whispered seductively, "I don't see that being a problem. After all, I've never been hard to get along with. Are you hard? To get along with I mean?" She let out an innocent giggle that was completely contrary to her sexual statement and put on an innocent expression. What was that?
Akira grabbed the front of her blazer and pulled her body close to his so that they were inches from touching. She shivered as she felt his warm breath on her ear.
"I could answer both questions right now, but I'll just say that I have a feeling we'll develop a very strong bond before filming is over."
Kyoko was screaming inside her head. Stop giggling! Get out of here now damn it! What would Tsuruga-san think if he saw you like this!
Suddenly Kyoko pushed Akira off of her. "I have to go umm…be somewhere." She said as she rushed to her dressing room.
Akira watched her run off like she was being chased by death itself. He was extremely confused by how her flirtatious demeanor suddenly changed but he smiled to himself as he headed over to speak with the director. He was looking forward to their next encounter.
Kyoko ran into her dressing room and slammed the door shut behind her. She leaned back cradling her head in her hands.
"Day one."
Her head shot up at the sound of a woman's voice and she gasped. For a split second she could have sworn she saw Orihime's reflection in the mirror across from her but now she only saw herself standing alone and looking very pale. She remembered hearing that phrase before and her dream came rushing back to her. Kyoko had wanted to write off the encounter with Orihime as just a hallucination, but no matter how much she wanted to believe it wasn't real she still felt uneasy. Something was very wrong and she was nervous about what the rest of 'day one' had in store for her.
Author's Corner: *dodges brick thrown from somewhere* So as the title says this is the beginning when everything starts to unfold. I truly love all comments but let me just say that if it's something like, 'Kyoko is acting out of character' then I assure you I already know this and it is completely intentional and necessary to the story. Hoped you enjoyed it! Until next chapter, laters!