Author's Notes: Okay more chaos and musical numbers and a bit of an original scene concept in the middle with the "step-mother"
As always, please read and review ^^
Songs Used: Stepsisters' Lament (R&H)
Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful (R&H)
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--Act VI--
Back inside the palace, Renkotsu picked himself up off the ballroom floor and stormed over to where his two sons in drag stood.
"Ginkotsu, Kyoukotsu- did you see who that was?"
Shaking their heads in the negative, the step-father gave them a shove towards the doors, "Then go find out. I'm going to keep seeing if I can get on the good side of the King and Queen- you get that Prince to choose one of you or," He paused, drawing a line across his throat indicating the fate that awaited them if they failed.
Nodding in understanding, the two began to stumble and trip their way towards the garden, seeking out the mysterious 'girl'.
Outside, the Prince shot nervous glances up at the 'Princess' as they entered the beautiful gardens through the rose-trellis arch. He paused, pulling his hand free and walking over to small fountain looking down at his reflection in the rippled water. Jakotsu started to follow when one of his sleeves slid down. Panicking for a moment that the Prince had seen, he quickly pulled it back up before going over and standing beside Bankotsu.
From some nearby bushes, Ginkotsu and Kyoukotsu looked on, tugging at their not-so tasteful dresses and muttering to each other.
"That's a guy!" Ginkotsu noted, pointing to the 'Princess.'
"It is?" Kyoukotsu asked.
"Did you not see his flat chest?"
The teal-haired man scratched his head, "You know, she does look kinda familiar…"
"Yesh, she does…"
Kyoukotsu continued, "Well if she had her hair pulled up in a loop and was wearing a plain peasant shirt and pants…she'd look just like…" He paused.
"Like who?" Ginkotsu asked nudging him.
"I'm not sure… let me keep thinking."
The red-haired man spoke up then, "If it is a guy, Renkotsu's not going to be happy. We should probably try and do something."
"Like what kind of something?" The taller of the two asked.
"Yesh, I don't know- hey maybe if the Prince sees that she's actually a he he'll pick one of us instead."
"But um…" Kyoukotsu stopping thinking a moment then finished his sentence, "aren't we guys too?"
Ginkotsu sighed, "Well he doesn't have to know that. We have to try it or Renkotsu's going to be…"
"Very very bitchy…" He finished.
"Yeah…."
"Hey Ginkotsu…"
"What?"
"I feel this strange bubbling inside me…" Kyoukotsu whispered, holding his stomach.
"You probably ate too much," He reasoned.
"No, I just feel like I need to burst into song or a greater power will make me."
Ginkotsu blinked, "A greater power? Like what?"
Kyoukotsu thought, and thought, then answered, "I think it's called a 'Director'"
Said Director glared from the sidelines as the orchestra continued vamping the intro to the musical number over and over as the two characters kept missing their cue.
"Oh, well I guess we should sing something then."
"Okay, here goes," Kyoukotsu said beginning into the song,
"How could a guy think that that's a her
His muscles ought to tell all
And if Renkotsu knows that this occurred
We will no longer be."
Ginkotsu picked up the next verse as the two quietly snuck behind the Prince and 'Princess' seeing that they were walking further into the gardens,
"He's a sly, seductive, temptress,
And the Prince is unaware
If we don't change things on the double
We will have to get health care!"
Stumbling over each other as they made they're way out from the bushes, they sang the next part in unison
"Oh oh,
How could a guy think that that's a her
He must be blind or something
And if Renkotsu knows that this occurred
We might as well be dead."
As they peeked around the edge of tree, they alternated versions, Kyoukotsu starting off first,
"I guess he is prettier than most."
"But it's not like that compensates for gender."
"You know on the honeymoon they'll find."
"That he's just a really big pretender."
Kyoukotsu leaned around the fountain edge,
"We've got to get the Prince to fall for us."
Ginkotsu sang, following suit,
"Or we'll be accused of being lazy."
"And if he chooses him for a bride"
"I'm sure that Renkotsu will go crazy."
Standing up on the ledge of the fountain, they both leaned around the ornate clay sculpture in the center as they both sang the final part,
"Oh how could a guy think that that's a her
It's not really that convincing
And if Renkotsu knows that this occurred
We might as well be dead.
We've got to show that it's a man
In whatever way we can
Or that's the end of our great plan!"
As the last note was hit, the two large forms toppled forward into the fountain, sending water spraying everywhere.
-------------------------------------------------------
Inside, Renkotsu wasn't having any luck at getting close to the King and Queen and if he didn't know better, he would have sworn they were purposely trying to avoid him.
Then again, given how he looked in that red-hooker dress and blonde wig, no one would blame them for doing so.
Figuring that it was worth a try, the evil step-father leaned over to the servant from before, "I do hate to bother you again, but I just heard an awful rumor about that mysterious Princess."
Kouga blinked, "What's so bad about her?"
Renkotsu looked about, and then whispered to him, "I heard that she's been disowned by her family and that she's just trying to get the Prince to marry her so she'll have a real royal title again."
"That's horrible!" He exclaimed, quickly being shushed by Renkotsu.
"I mean, I don't mind if the Prince doesn't choose my daughters," He lied craftily, "But how I would hate to see the poor young Prince get his heart broken by a hussy like that."
Nodding the servant turned towards where the King and Queen were, looking as serious as one can while in this silly story, "Thank you for letting me know this, I will make sure that their majesties are told immediately."
"Oh, just trying to help, that's all." Renkotsu said sweetly, hiding an evil smirk until Kouga turned his back.
Walking with determination, Kouga approached the thrones and bowed, "Your majesties, I have overheard a rumor going about that I thought you might want to know of."
"Oh? What's that?" Suikotsu inquired, looking up from his conversation with the Queen.
Explaining what he could remember of that which Renkotsu told him, Kouga set the stage unknowingly for the evil step-father's plans.
"Well, she was hesitant to speak of her family…" Kikyou mumbled.
"Ah, rumors are just rumors. I'm sure some jealous bitch just started it up so we'd go break them up and make Bankotsu marry someone else. I mean, the girl did compliment me, so she can't be that bad." The King said with a laugh.
The Queen frowned, "Whether or not someone likes you isn't grounds for innocence."
Suikotsu offered a smile, "Come on now, Dear- can't we trust our son to make the right decision in this matter? If Bankotsu's been so picky about girls before I don't think some trickster like what the rumor says would be able to please him either. There's just something different about this one."
"I suppose you're right, Suikotsu. This is Bankotsu's decision- but if she does turn out to be a hussy like that, I wouldn't hesitate to find our son another bride." Kikyou replied looking over to her husband.
"Um…should I do anything about this, your majesties?" Kouga spoke up.
The King replied, "Not yet. If a problem arises, we shall attend to it then."
"Uh…okay…" The servant said, returning to his post.
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Out in the gardens, Bankotsu walked beside the 'Princess,' finally bringing himself to speak.
"I'm still sorry if my parents said anything to upset you earlier."
Jakotsu turned and smiled, "Oh no- they're wonderful compared to my family."
"I want to meet your family," Bankotsu said with a smile in return.
"No. You don't," He firmly replied.
The Prince blinked, "Why…not?"
Sighing, Jakotsu replied, "Well, let's just say that they didn't want me to come here tonight."
"I'm glad you did," Bankotsu said, pausing then looking off towards the palace, "To tell you the truth, I almost didn't come myself."
"How could the Prince not show up at his own ball?" The 'Princess' asked confused.
"Don't you think it's silly? All these people fighting over who gets to marry me. I feel like some prize they're trying to rope in." Jakotsu laughed, and Bankotsu continued, "Go ahead and laugh. But I'm serious. If I have to be stuck with someone the rest of my life…well, she's got to be…"
"Well, they should be attractive…and a devoted companion to serve you for the rest of your life." The taller figure spoke up.
"I have servants that can do that. What I really want… is someone I can talk to. Someone I can relate with. You know what I wish? I wish that…" Bankotsu began, but he was cut off.
"You know what the problem with most people is? They sit around wishing for something to happen, but never try to do anything about it." Jakotsu said, thinking back on the times he'd tried to find a way out of Renkotsu's control over his life.
After a moment of silence, the Prince replied, "You're right. Can I…ask you something?"
Jakotsu nodded.
"Do you think it's possible to meet someone and know in an instant that she's the one?" Bankotsu asked, looking down and blushing slightly.Smiling, the mysterious 'Princess' replied, "It's very possible. I mean, I think that most fairytales and trashy romance novels are based on that concept."
"I feel strange. Like I'm not myself… or maybe, it's just with you, I am myself. Not the self I have to be around the Palace but my real self…" The Prince paused, looking over to the taller figure, "I'm not making any sense, am I?"
"Actually- you're making perfect sense to me. That's what's so scary."
"Scary…and confusing… and wonderful all at the same time…"
Jakotsu sighed, "We have to sing again now don't we?"
Bankotsu frowned a bit, "That's what we get for being cast in the lead roles I suppose."
"Okay, you're first then."
The braided-man nodded and began,
"Do I feel like this about you
Because the storyline, makes it so.
Is my longing for you just loneliness
Or is my loneliness just a plot point.
Is this romance because it's a fairytale
Or it is a fairytale, because the romance.
Are we intended to be involved like this?
Or am I just doing what the plot insists."
"Maybe you're imagining me, or maybe we're just caught up in some crazed person's idea for a parody." Jakotsu said before singing the second verse,
"Am I hoping that this works out somehow
Because if it doesn't now, I won't get some.
Do I want you because you're wonderfulOr are you wonderful, because I want you?"
And, if you hadn't guessed it already, they sing the last verse together,
"Are we intended to be involved like this?
Or are we just doing what the plot…insists."
And before the scene closes, we are treated to a typical mushy romance scene.
"Your highness, may I…" Jakotsu questioned, gently reaching towards him.
"Um…well…I suppose," Bankotsu replied blushing, not watching where he was walking as he moved forward and tripping on a rock; falling forward towards Jakotsu.
Landing ontop of the 'Princess', the young Prince sat up, and bit his lip, "I'm sorry I…" He paused then, looking down at the one pinned beneath him.
The sleeve of the blue dress had slid down, revealing the flat chest of Jakotsu.
"You're a…guy…" Bankotsu managed to stammer, his eyes wide, and the mushy romance was kind of/sort of…well ruined for the moment, leaving the act closing on a rather… cliff-hangerish note.
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Preview for Act VII-
The Prince has discovered the secret of the "mysterious Princess" and this story has to have a happy ending somehow… so how will things work out?