(A/N): Once again, thank you TohruKyoYuki for the continued support of this story! Also guys, she is a writer and has stories up as well! Check her out! For the unknown reviewer, I wish I knew a name to refer you by! Thanks for the review as well! I recently found out I have a tumor in my parathyroid so my writing has been spotty…please forgive me again. :'C
.-x-.
Mizuki woke the next morning and immediately noticed the lack of pressure on her head. Whatever Hatori did to fix her definitely did the trick! She slipped out of bed and walked to her doorway, immediately hearing voices downstairs talking.
"Oh crap!" Mizuki cursed loudly, before turning back around and snatching her script. How could she be so careless?! The play was later that evening…and she was the only one in the house not practicing at the moment!
Mizuki ran quickly down the stairs to her friends that were sitting in the dining room. Even Reiji, Uo, and Hana were there. "I'm so sorry guys! I can't believe I didn't wake up." Mizuki apologized as she threw herself down at the table.
Everyone gave her reassuring looks, and even Kyo didn't give her a hard time. "Why don't we start from the beginning then, since Mizuki-san is here?" Yuki offered, while giving the white haired girl a polite smile. She nodded profusely.
Reiji quickly cleared his throat before putting on a theatrical face. His deep voice filled the room as he introduced the play in a boisterous manner. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to 'Something Cinderella-ish.'"! As Reiji continued the introduction, everyone prepared for their part in the play. It seemed that the production would work out after all.
.-x-.
'Is that really the name of the play…?' It seemed that many people had that thought as a sign lowered in front of the stage. It was written in scrolled letters, very similar to the Disney font. It read "Something Cinderella-ish." The crowd was quietly waiting for the play, to see how much of a mess it was going to be.
The auburn haired male walked to the front of the stage and immediately the females of the crowd swooned. "Welcome ladies and gentlemen, to class 2-D's production of 'Cinnderella!'" His smooth voice filled the auditorium and his bright smile melted the hearts of the females.
Immediately, his face became serious as the spotlight focused on him and the rest of the lights dimmed. "Once upon a time in a faraway land…There was a beautiful, lovely girl named Cinderella." The lights then shifted over to three figures, Minami, Tohru, and Hana.
"For no apparent reason since Cinderella is such a lovely young lady, she was treated terribly by her step-mother and her two step-sisters. Despite the terrible treatment, the exquisite Cinderella endured the hateful nature of those around her." Reiji stated with a warm tone. His unique eyes glittered in the spotlight.
Suddenly, Minami, who was the step-mother, called out for Cinderella. "Cinderella! Where are you?! Why aren't you doing your chores? If you aren't doing them, you had best be finishing our dresses! The Ball at the Prince's castle is tonight, you know!" Minami stormed around, with a passive Hana and a nervous Tohru trailing after the girl.
A bright light moved to a white haired girl, who was currently punching a flour sack. As she turned to her family, the evil step-mother screamed at her. "What are you doing?! Why are you acting like you are in some Kung Fu movie?! With that little show, I'd best hope that our dresses are finished!"
Mizuki looked like a deer in headlights as she looked out across the auditorium, momentarily stunned into silence. She silently pointed to the dresses, which were exquisitely designed.
"Not enough jewels." The evil step-mother said simply, before dragging the impervious Hana and a shocked Tohru from Mizuki.
"Tonight is the Castle Ball…And according to rumors floating around, the prince is also looking for a bride. The step-mother wanted to have one of her daughter's marry the prince so that they may be able to live in wealth and comfort…" Reiji continued from the side of the stage.
Mizuki grabbed some gaudy jewels and pretended to try to sew them on. As Reiji continued narrating, Mizuki attempted to look pitiful as she looked into the ceiling. "Apparently, Cinderella was already in love with the prince…and wanted nothing more than to go to his ball."
With the flash of a blinding light, Yuki appeared in front of the crumpled Mizuki. He was dressed impeccably. "Cinderella, I am your Fairy God Mother, and I am here to grant you what you seek to fulfill."
Mizuki looked at him with large, mint eyes. "You'll get me a new punching bag in the shape of a man?" She exclaimed excitedly.
Yuki sweat-dropped and covered his mouth, attempting to hide his laugh. "No child, I am here to fulfill your wish to see the prince who is hosting a ball tonight! But, you must be back by midnight, or all will be lost!"
The lights blacked out, and glitter exploded where Mizuki stood moments before. When the lights turned on, the crowd gasped. Mizuki stood next to Yuki in a pale blue dress that complimented her. It sparkled from even the slightest movement. While looking bashful, the crowd talked between themselves of how beautiful she looked.
"Now go child, take the pumpkin carriage, and go to the prince!" Mizuki stood behind an orange cutout that was supposed to be a pumpkin. From the sidelines, a stage assistant was pulling the cutout to make it seem like she was being driven towards the castle. The lights dimmed and drifted away from that scene and back to Reiji, who was even more theatrical than before.
"With the help of the fairy god mother, Cinderella was whisked off to fulfill her desire of meeting the prince! Currently, the party was already lively, except for one person, the prince, who seemed to be very glum…perhaps from the lack of tuna."
The lights flashed to an orange-haired guy sitting in the middle of the floor. He was sneering at Reiji, who before the start of the play, took his tuna and said eating before the play would give him indigestion.
Uo stood above the sitting Cat, who finally gave up at giving death glares to the narrator. "You know prince, you should go and find yourself a nice lady." She stated halfheartedly, while her hands were placed firmly on her immaculately dressed hips.
He closed his eyes in irritation and dismissed her. "If that's the case, then you go out and find someone."
Immediately, Uo retaliated. "That's the reason you're still a virgin, you know." She told him nonchalantly.
Kyo's face darkened as he began screaming. "Why don't you mind your own business? OH, AND BY THE WAY, go out and buy some class while you're at it! Sheesh!" He yelled.
The two began to bicker back and forth as the crowd looked on at the mess unfolding in front of them.
Reiji tried to bring the play back together. "The friend's sincere-" Reiji coughed slightly, trying to hide a laugh. "The friend's sincere persuasion to dance was obviously in vain, for the lonely prince did not wish to dance with anyone until he met the right one."
One by one, he told the girls who asked him to dance to leave him alone…and not too gently either.
"As the prince's patience level was blatantly dwindling…Cinderella arrived." Reiji stated, as Mizuki walked onto the stage, looking confused.
Tohru swooned at how pretty Mizuki looked, and Hana nodded in agreement. Uo looked over her shoulder to Kyo, who was eyeing Mizuki out of the corner of her eye. "Hey look, a really pretty lady has arrived. She seems to be nice, go dance with her."
"The prince fell in love with Cinderella as soon as he laid eyes on her. He decided instantly that he wanted to dance with the fair maiden." Reiji stated.
"Uh, Hell no!" Kyo retorted, as a vein popped in his head. Reiji swiveled to the Cat and sent a careful glare to the Cat. "You will do as I say. We are on a time schedule. Hurry up, please, or I will give you a wedgie." Reiji said, trying to cover the mic. He failed, and the auditorium erupted into laughter at the Cat's expense.
Kyo rolled his eyes and stormed over to Mizuki, who was examining the food. "Yo, dance with me!" He stated gruffly, even though his face was beet red.
Mizuki gave him an incredulous look, before smiling brightly. "I would love to!" Music filled the auditorium as Kyo grabbed Mizuki and began dancing with her. They moved fluidly together, holding each other gently.
"It seems as though the prince has a soft spot for the newfound Cinderella…" Reiji acknowledged thoughtfully. The two continued dancing. The two were blushing, but Mizuki had her eyes cast down as Kyo stared intently at her.
As if to save them, a bell sounded. "Oh I have to go!" Mizuki stated, as she turned, she slipped and fell hard onto the floor. One of her glass shoes fell off, as she groaned.
Kyo ran to help her up, but she bashfully declined, and scurried to the edge of the stage. Reiji looked at the commotion and sighed in exasperation.
"The magic that allowed Cinderella to go the Ball would end as soon as the clock finished striking twelve. Unfortunately for Cinderella, she spent half of that time on the ground because she tripped…heh…Luckily though, she managed to leave before he saw her change back into her servant-like state." Reiji finished, although with a grin on his face.
"As soon as Cinderella left, the prince decided he wanted to find the maiden who stole his icy heart. He decided to make every woman in his domain to try on the glass shoe. For the lady whose foot fit perfectly into the shoe was the lady he was looking for. Obviously his memory must be terrible, because any normal person would remember that person's face…" As Reiji finished, a prop came flying at his head, which he quickly dodged.
The scenes showed Kyo and Uo attempted to find the girl whose foot fit into the slipper. "Eventually, the irritable prince made it to Cinderella's home." Uo was trying Tohru's foot, who ended up telling the two that there was another girl by the name of Cinderella.
Mizuki appeared and stood in front of Kyo, who immediately blushed when she stopped in front of him.
"And so, the Prince kissed Cinderella, and they lived happily ever after." Reiji stated, a mischievous glint flickering in his eyes.
Kyo and Mizuki balked at Reiji, who shrugged casually. That was not in the script! Kyo looked at Mizuki who looked at him in confusion. He was blushing hard, and he began to slightly lean in to her. As soon as he did, she shoved her small hand to his mouth, effectively pushing him away. She did this all while squealing in embarrassment. The curtains fell shortly after.
.-x-.
Despite a few girls' embarrassment, Kyo was tearing his clothes off when a familiar voice filled his ears.
His eyes snapped to see his Shishou speaking politely with Mizuki. "Shi..Shishou….why…are you here…?" Kyo asked, dread apparent all over his face.
"Hey Kyo, good effort at the play. Your friends said you did well. And why haven't I met Mizuki-san before? She is quite a lovely young lady!" Shishou said amiably.
Kyo was blushing as he sent a look at Mizuki, who returned the blush. Mizuki quietly excused herself to leave the two to talk. She immediately found Kisa and Tohru hugging, and was pulled in for a group hug.
"Shishou…who told you about today?" Kyo asked quietly.
A white haired teen appeared behind Shishou and rested his arm on his back. "Who was it…?" Haru asked nonchalantly.
"You're here?" Kyo asked Haru. The blank teen nodded slightly. Immediately Kyo's eyes examined the teen in front of him. "Why?" He asked.
Haru shrugged noncommittally. "Hiro, Kisa, and Momiji are here. Plus, I wanted to support-" Haru was cut off.
"You haven't talked to her or approached her on your own accord. Why even show up then?" Kyo spat. Haru's eyes immediately narrowed and darkened.
Before things could escalate, Shishou stepped between the two adrenaline-filled teens and attempted to calm them both.
"I cannot stay, Kyo. I had to sneak away just to come see you…so I'll have to bid you farewell for now. Haru, why don't you come home with me…you know how disoriented you can get." Shishou lead the white-haired teen away from his son.
"Visit soon Kyo. We have much to talk about apparently." Shishou winked. A knowing and wise look filled his grey eyes as he looked at his son. Kyo continued to stare hard at the backs of the retreating men after Shishou turned around. His eyes shifted to the side.
Shishou was right. They definitely had a lot to talk about.