PS: Long update, huh? Forgiveth me, but I had much to do...hehehe

The Legend of the Forgotten Myth

By Hikari Toda

Chapter 2: Foreword

"Okay, people! Let's get ready rumble!"

Raiha danced crazily as the people around him stopped what there were doing and smiled at him. He's a great dancer, if you must know.

He then strode toward the producer, Mayuko, who was busy talking to the scriptwriters with the top of her voice.

"What do you mean that the script's not ready yet, huh? I gave you 3 days to finish it, and what do I get? The ending not even complete! Oh, hello Raiha!", she cut in abruptly before continuing on with her speech. "Now, come on, people, and work with me here! I told you so many times already that I want this finished by today! And what do you give me? A lousy, not-yet-finished screenplay! I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS!" Mayuko was, by that time, REALLY angry that you would think that she had columns of smoke rising from her nose. She then took the bundle of papers from the hands of the writer Amino and threw them to the ground with a growl. She then got the cup of coffee from a nearby table and began to furiously sip the drink.

Raiha sighed and looked expressively toward the playwrights. He then picked up the papers and headed for Mayuko. "Mayuko-sama, daijoubu? It's the third time this week that you got angry at them just for not hurrying up with the script. Why don't you give them Time and another Chance? It's quite hard to write a script after all now, isn't it? Come one now, don't be too hasty...", said he, with a tender voice that seemed impossible to refuse.

Mayuko smiled and took the script from Raiha. "As usual, you're right, Akimoto-sama", this she said with a bit of a flourish "...I should give them another chance. Thank you for making me see that again." She then walked in the direction of the writers and gave it to them with a little bow and the words, "I'm sorry if I was being thoughtless...I'm just too pressured nowadays...will you forgive me?" in the sweetest voice ever that it made Motoyo, the head scriptwriter, say 'Yes, of course!' at once.

Mayuko then walked to her chair beside the camera and took hold of the amplifier waiting for her on the table to her right. She then nodded toward the actors and actresses on the set and bellowed the following words into the loudspeaker, "Okay, everyone, places! You all know what to do now, right? And no, Raiha, you cannot play with the tree props. Cameramen, set? Okay...lights, camera...ACTION!"

The scene that was built on the set was amazing. It featured the Royal Gardens of Hotohori, the emperor. Its remarkable landscape could not be found in anywhere else but in that set alone. Pity that someday they'll have to remove that scenery...but at least it will be remembered in the heart of those who will watch the series, "Fushigi Yuugi". Author coughs.

The set was in the middle of a huge dome that was built in a private sector that belonged to the Akimotos. The soundproof glass wall that surrounded the setting did not only serve as a boundary between the set and the world outside, but also a barrier from the noises that may distract the actors and actresses. It also was a window for those who won special contests e.g. Meiko and the others to see their favorite stars while filming.

Of course, the set did not take up the whole space of the said dome. A rim of metal that held it surrounded the set itself. And, of course, in front of this stood the director's chair (Mayuko was seated here), plenty of cameras and lights, people (extras, scriptwriters, etc.). This was all extensively set up, for, as I have said earlier, it has been such a long time since such a series has been made.

Rumors say that it was Raiha himself who came up with the screenplay for the series, but, of course, these were proven to be false. Raiha was just being himself when BZZT! the scriptwriters got the idea.

"Miaka-san..."

"CUT! Raiha, how many times do I have to tell you to stop smiling! We've been doing this for about 4 times in a row now! Stop it already!"

Raiha looked at Mayuko with his mask still in tact. "I'm not smiling...it's the mask, okay!", he said, as everyone giggled, for it was a common fact that Chichiri, the role that Raiha was playing, always had on a beaming mask to hide his face.

But Mayuko still didn't heed his words. She stood up and removed the mask deliberately to reveal Raiha's tears because he had been laughing only too hard. "What's that? Do you think that I'm THAT stupid that I can't see that grin you're trying to hide? Stop it already!"

Raiha just looked at his director open-mouthed. He then sighed as he said, "Yes, ma'am." He went back to his original place, sat down beside Mizuki a part of the cast and got his fishing pole that stood there, waiting to be picked up.

The 5 girls who won the contest cried out their defenses on Raiha. They were, as I have said, behind the soundproof wall, but they had a way of getting to listen to what was going on in the set. How they have done it, I have no idea...but I believe that Nakuru had something to do with it.

"Hidoi!", cried Meiko as she bounced up and down in excitement, "What are you talking about? It's under the mask! Who would see such?"

Natsumi stood up coolly and said, "Excuse me, but I do think that it will be even more help to you if everyone could see his beautiful smile...hello!"

Raiha turned around to look at the girls as the beads of perspiration on his head bounced off in all directions, creating a REALLY sexy effect. Once the girls saw this, they all screamed at the top of their lungs and fainted all at the same time.

Everyone laughed at the display, for it was, after all, funny. Raiha was laughing along when he noticed that one person wasn't laughing...

"Ne, Mizuki, what's wrong?", he asked, as he turned toward her with the mask in his hand and a smile on his face. "Did anything happen?"

The person Raiha was talking to shook her head in reply and no sooner than that had the serious expression upon her face disintegrated. She was none else but Mizuki Nagai. This actress had shoulder-length, wavy, brown hair that almost curled at the edges. She has crystal blue eyes always seemed to sparkle whenever she laughed. She had the most beautiful smile that one could ever imagine...and to top that all, seldom was she seen without a smile. Obviously, she was loved by all, but most especially by Raiha Akimoto. Oh, yes, in case I haven't told you yet, she stars as 'Miaka' in the series Fushigi Yuugi. She was a famous dancer too...

"Ah...iya, Raiha-kun. I was just thinking about something...but we must go back to polishing our scene. This show is due sometime next month. Come on now, please stop messing it up, as they say...", she replied, as she placed a hand upon his and smiled to see that he blushed.

"Ah...hai, hai!" He then laughed once again and wore the mask.

Finally, the day was done and the actors and actresses went on to go home. Raiha yawned as he removed the mask on his face. "Geez...thank goodness we're done...are you doing something tonight, Mizuki-san?"

The dancer stared at him and smiled. "I'm afraid that I am going to do something tonight...forgive me. Maybe some other time?"

Raiha sighed and shook his head with a sad look upon his face. "Ahh...okay then. I'll see you tomorrow then." He took her right hand once again and squeezed it affectionately. He then bent down on one knee and kissed it, just like those guys in the conservative age of our time.

Mizuki just smiled back at him as he stood back up. She then kissed him on the cheek and went off with a "Good-bye!"

And so there he was. Raiha Akimoto in glory. Of course, the others were laughing at him for what he had just done, but he didn't care. All he needed to know was that she loved him too...Wait a second...did I say LOVE! Author faints.

Feeling content, he walked back to his dressing room in a dreamlike state. All the people passing by still looked upon him and smiled, but they knew that when he was like this, there was nothing else they could do but wave at him. He was in his own happy dream world whenever Mizuki-san would do that...

"Hey Raiha!", called one of his fellow actors from behind as he ran to catch up with the famed blue-haired actor. Raiha was walking quite briskly, if you must know.

"Raiha!"

Raiha turned to see that his pursuer had already stopped running. He was panting, with his bright orange hair all over his face. Where has he been, Raiha asked himself, as he scratched his head. He wasn't at the shooting today, that's for sure...or was he?

For one thing, Richard Smith was indeed found to be nowhere near the set while Raiha and the others were shooting. But then again, he was, after all, he who starred as 'Tasuki' of the series 'Fushigi Yuugi'. He had stunning bright orange hair that was somewhat messy, but it always gave him a gorgeous air but not more gorgeous than Raiha, of course.

"Raiha!" Quite annoyed, Richard then took out a great paper fan it was a prop just like Chichiri's staff and mask and promptly whacked Raiha on the head hard...really hard.

"OW!" Raiha shook his head and rubbed his nape before facing the fiend. "Hey! What was that for?", Raiha inquired, as he held his staff with both hands and posed a la Chichiri. His eyes became menacingly dangerous.

Richard waved his hands in front of Raiha while he nervously tried to keep the great fan behind his back. "Eh, Raiha...I was just joking..."

The blue-haired actor left his words unheeded. Not breaking his pose, he ran forward and brought his hands to play as he twirled the staff like a baton. Closer and closer he came to the unfortunate Richard...closer...and closer...and CLOSER...

"Ahh!" The great paper fan fell prostrate on the ground. 'Tasuki' gasped upon seeing the awesome move that Raiha had used...then he fell down to keep his fan company...but the only difference was that he was out cold.

"I...just...wanted...to...ask...", began 'Tasuki', but he stopped short as signs appeared in his eyes. .

Raiha laughed and went back on his way...with the same dreamlike manner he had before.

Upon reaching his room, Raiha saw that Naoko was sitting down on a chair by his mirrored cabinet with a face towel in hand. She had already prepared everything for him, as usual.

"Raiha-sama, are you okay?", asked she, as Raiha seated himself on the chair in front of the mirror. His mask was already off, of course, so all that his assistant needed to do was to wipe off the make-up, clean up his props, and deliver his costume to the nearest dry clean center and her work was done. She was feeling jealous once again, for she knew Raiha's moods, and this was definitely one that she had seen many a time...

"Ahh...I feel happy Naoko-chan...happier than I have ever been...", he replied in a surreal manner with the same grin still on his face.

Aiyah! That dratted Mizuki woman! & her! Happier than he had ever been, huh? But...since I love him, I must learn to let him go..., thought Naoko, as she took the staff in Raiha's hand and set it aside by the door. She tried to hide the tears that were near from falling from her eyes...

Parting her mouth to say something, Naoko hurriedly closed it once again and smiled instead. She then proceeded to remove the façade she had placed on him only this afternoon.