Chapter Five: First Day of Shooting

Kandis woke up the next morning and stretched happily as she sat up. She rubbed her eyes then turned to the left.

"Good morning Toh. Huh? Where's she at?"

She found her downstairs in the kitchen making breakfast.

"Good morning Tohru" she replied with a smile as she entered the room.

"Good morning Kandis. Did you sleep well?" Tohru smiled back.

"I sure did. Boy you're up early this morning."

"Oh this is the time I always get up. Are you hungry? I made breakfast."

"Sure. Sounds good" Kandis said with a nod.

They both sat down at the table and began to eat. Tohru had put out the three extra plates for the guys as well.

"Mm. This is delicious" Kandis replied.

"Thank you."

"So where are the guys this morning?"

"Oh Kyo's in the backyard. Lifting his weights as usual. And Yuki he's still sleeping. He's not really a morning person."

"Oh. And what about."

As if on cue Shigure entered the room.

"Good morning girls" he said with a grin as he sat down.

"Good morning Shigure" Tohru replied.

"Yes good morning" Kandis added.

Shigure stretched then turned his brown eyes to the young American.

"I trust you slept well Kandis?" he asked.

"Oh yes. Very well. Tohru is an excellent host."

"Yes. Tohru is the best isn't she?" he smiled at her, "She's quite the young lady."

"Ahem!"

Shigure froze for a minute as he realized that Kyo was standing right behind him.

"Oh good morning Kyo" he said nervously as he looked back and saw his angry face, "I didn't know that you were up."

"Yea otherwise you wouldn't be spouting such words would you?" Kyo replied angrily as he sat down next to Tohru.

"Good morning Kyo" Kandis grinned as she watched him take his place.

"Morning" he said shortly.

"Tohru said you were lifting weights out back. Do you play a sport of some kind?"

"Martial arts" he answered as he picked up his chopsticks.

"That's right" Tohru nodded, "Kyo takes martial arts lessons three times a week."

"Wow. You been doing it long?"

"Since I was like six" Kyo replied.

"Oh I almost forgot" Kandis said realizing, "Shigure I was wondering, did any of you guys leave clothes in the middle of the hallway last night?"

Tohru, Shigure, and Kyo completely froze at the question.

"I almost tripped over some when I was on my way to the bathroom. So I picked them up and took them to the laundry room."

"Clothes?" Shigure replied nervously, "No I don't think so."

"Good morning" Yuki interrupted his thoughts.

"Oh good morning Yuki" Tohru replied.

"Yes good morning" Kandis added.

"Oh" he looked at her with a smile as he sat down, "Good morning Miss Ward."

"Yuki" Kandis shook her head; "I think that we have gotten to know each other a little better by now to call me by my first name, it's Kandis."

"Uh" Yuki looked stunned.

"Oh don't worry about him Kandis" Shigure replied, "Yuki does that to be polite. He still even calls Tohru by her last name. By the way Yuki" Shigure looked at him as he slowly picked up his chopsticks, "Kandis just asked us a very interesting question."

"What's that?" Yuki asked as he scooped up some rice.

"She was wondering if any of us had lost any clothes in the middle of the hallway last night?"

Yuki let the rice drop from the chopsticks slowly as he looked up.

"Oh really?"

"Come to think of it" Kandis put a finger to her lips, "They did look like your clothes Yuki. Did you lose some?"

"Yea Yuki" Kyo added smirking teasingly, "Did they belong to you?"

Yuki glared at his cousin briefly but turned back to Kandis.

"As a matter of fact I did misplace some clothes last night. Thank you for asking Miss Ward."

"Don't mention it. I put them in the laundry room for you. Hey Tohru can I help you with the dishes?" she asked as she saw Tohru heading for the kitchen with a bunch of them in her hands.

"Sure" Tohru nodded.

Kandis gathered some dishes of her own and then followed her in. Once out of sight, Yuki turned on Kyo.

"You stupid cat" he was fuming, "How dare you make a fool out of me twice in one week?"

"A fool out of you?" Shigure raised an eyebrow curiously, "What did he do?"

"Ah don't get your shorts in a twist you damn rat" Kyo replied placing his hands behind his head, "You deserve what you're getting anyway."

"I what?"

"Now, now boys. Now is not the time for this little argument. After all we have company" Shigure held up his hands.

Yuki nodded but continued to glare at Kyo as he stood up.

"I'll behave for now" he thought, "But mark my words Kyo. You will be sorry. I promise you."



After they had finished the dishes it was near the time when the limo was to arrive, so they got ready and then prepared to go out the door. Shigure said goodbye to them in the hall.

"Well we should be on our way" Kandis replied, "We'll see you later Shigure."

"Okay. Good luck today Tohru" Shigure said with a smile.

"Oh thank you Shigure" Tohru smiled back as they exited, the boys right behind them.

They walked down the short path and waited at the end for the limo to arrive. It pulled up at exactly nine. Ben the driver got out to open the door.

"Good morning Miss Ward" Ben replied with a smile.

"Good morning Ben" Kandis smiled back, "You're right on time," she said as she climbed in.

"Good morning to you as well Miss Honda" he bowed.

"Oh good morning. These two are friends of mine who are riding with us today" she pointed to Yuki and Kyo.

"Very good Miss" he replied as she too climbed into the car.

Yuki and Kyo looked at Ben and then climbed in as well. Kandis was sitting in her same spot, but she had encouraged Tohru to sit across from her so they could see each other when they talked. Yuki was angry with Kyo and since he sat next to Tohru, he sat on the opposite side, trying not to face him. The limo took off and headed in the direction of the city. Ben called to the back with the intercom.

"Where to Miss Ward?" he asked.

"To the movie set Ben" she replied.

He nodded and then continued to drive.

"So" Kandis said as she looked at Yuki and Kyo, "You guys ever been in a limo before?"

"Uh no. Actually never" Yuki spoke up.

"It's not much different then a real car. Except someone actually drives you. You guys look as nervous as Tohru did the first time she rode in one."

"Uh" Kyo said hesitantly.

"But that's okay. That's to be expected. You see over in America we use them all the time. I guess you guys don't really need them over here."

"Not really" Kyo replied, "We live in a city. You can walk wherever you need to go."

"Not to say that we don't have cars over here" Yuki added, "But we don't really need them."

"Wait" Kandis interrupted them, "Are you saying that you don't have your licenses?" You are sixteen aren't you?"

"Seventeen actually" Kyo said.

"And you don't have your licenses?"

"Like I said before. Who needs it in a city?"

"Yea. But what if you want to go to someplace other than the city? Like travel?"

"Well let's just put it this way" Yuki replied, "Our family doesn't really stray far from home."

"Oh I see" she turned to Tohru to change the subject, "So Tohru are you ready for today?"

"Oh uh huh" Tohru nodded.

"Don't be nervous about today, okay? You're going to do just fine."

"Thanks Kandis" Tohru said with a smile.



The limo drove onto the movie set and Ben got out. Once more he opened up the door and the four teenagers jumped out. Kandis took Tohru's hand gently and they walked over to the sound stage, where Jill was pacing.

"Oh you're finally here" Jill replied throwing up her hands.

"What are you talking about Jill?" Kandis said looking at her watch, "We're like two minutes early."

"Oh I know. I just wanted to make sure she got here" she replied indicating to Tohru.

"Gee thanks."

"Not that you're not important dear, but you know. Tohru I am so happy that you could be here" she replied as her eyes wandered over to the two Sohma boys who were standing to the left, "And that you brought such handsome extras" she started to move toward them but Kandis pulled her back.

"Down girl" Kandis said, "These are guests of Tohru. This is Yuki Sohma, he is Kyo's cousin and Kyo is Tohru's boyfriend."

"Oh well anyone can make a mistake. Welcome boys" she said shaking Yuki's hand and admiring his looks.

"Good morning all!" Kintaro replied as he came over, "Tohru sweetie right on time."

"I told you I would get her here on time" Kandis said.

"Thank you Kandi. Did you two have a good night?"

"Oh yes. Excellent. Everyone was really nice."

"That's good. Well I don't want to hurry things along, but you and Tohru need to get in make-up and costume. So Kandis why don't you take Tohru there, and Tohru honey I will see you later on the set."

"Okay" Tohru nodded as Kandis led her away.

Kintaro turned to Yuki and Kyo.

"Let's see if we can get you guys some chairs. Oh uh" he was looking around him, "Oh Lee!" he called.

A young eighteen year old with jet black hair ran over.

"These are guests of mine" Kintaro ordered, "I want you to get them some chairs and anything they may need."

"Yes sir" Lee nodded sprinting over to the chairs.

"I'll see you guys later" Kintaro said with a smile, "Enjoy the show."

"Oh thank you" Yuki replied as the chairs were brought over and they sat down.



Onto the set two more people arrived. One was a young boy who looked to be about the Sohma's age. He was talking to an older gentleman with glasses that eyed the Sohmas as he entered the stage. Kintaro went to talk to the two of them briefly. A few moments later the boy walked off with Kintaro while the older man continued to gaze at the two boys. Since they were so busy watching everything that was going on, they didn't even notice him. He scratched his chin then walked to his trailer. The name on the door was Tom Quincy. He opened the door and walked over to the bathroom. The desk in the room was littered with all sorts of papers and on the top was one single piece with these words written:

THE CHINESE ZODIAC: MYTH OR REALITY?



Authors Note: Hi guys! I decided to write Tuesday and Thursday of this week instead. Anyway I hope you enjoyed it! I will write the next chapter and then the next two on Thursday!

Next Chapter: Movie Magic

Kandis shows Tohru what making movies is all about. Off stage the Sohmas meet one of Tohru's co-stars. Find out whom!