+ Into the Façade +
In the world where the boundaries between acting and living fade, life becomes confused… unreal… and almost as if imagination had taken over reality… The façade goes into place and life then becomes a living stage.
Flawlessly, the scenes played out, flowing languidly at the actors' own individual pace. Behind each mask may lie someone totally unlike the character he was playing- evil playing good, peaceful playing violent… never was it fair but yet it was a must. Beneath each façade, nothing counts. It was the surface which fully portrays and brings a masterpiece together.
Thus as time passed, Ann grinned appreciatively at her talented cast as the acts unfold and tumble through the intricate plot. Touching scenes were made touching and violent acts portrayed anger and hostility. But soon, the story would reach its climax, the final highest most point before it all ends with a gentle downward epilogue. That was the main event to which Ann anticipates with utmost impatience…
---
"Cree! For YOU of all people to trick us… I'm going to ask you one last time, did you or did you NOT see Riore?" Cree's amber eyes slid away from the sharp crystal glare being punctuated in his direction.
"Sorry Rie…"
A beer glass standing on the bar table crashed to the ground.
"Fine! So you are admitting that ALL this while you had been leading us on another wild goose chase while earning some quick bucks! What is this? Perhaps you had been doing so EVERY SINCE we met a year ago? I can't believe this!"
Rie's exasperated tone was drowned out by the rowdy crowd of the local bar they were at. Somewhere in the background, a bartender said, "You'd better pay for that," but Rie neither heed nor care to whatever anyone has got to say. Their closest friend they had ever known ever since they started roaming the streets had just played them the fool. Slamming some notes onto the table, Rie stalked out of the bar followed closely by Tensuke.
As the night air swirled past him, he could not help but let out a cry of despair.
Lean arms suddenly found their way around Rie's shaking shoulders and he soon he was engulfed within the warmth and care of his partner.
"Hey… there'll always another way," Tensuke breathed into his ears.
"Yeah, I guess so. Though I find it hard to believe…"
Knees no longer able to take the shock, Rie slumped against Tensuke, body resting heavily on the other.
"We have gone through so much. Yet failed so many," Rie whispered against the cotton shirt. "What have I done so wrong to deserve this? All that I'm trying to do is find my brother… My poor poor brother…"
Soundlessly, Tensuke hefted his half-conscious partner into his arms and slowly, the pair made their way to the nearby motel.
"We'll find him Rie. I promise. Soon enough, we will find him. And when that happens, all your sadness would simply be washed away. That day will come Rie… I have a feeling it will arrive very soon."
Unknown to them, a pair of vivid golden orbs were watching them amidst the darkness of the alleyway before heading to the entrance of the bar.
As the door of the bar swung back into a place, a bare handful who had yet to be drunk glanced up to see who the newcomer was. With silky locks curled gently beneath small delightful ears along with a dear face which held beautiful shimmering orbs, he was indeed a looker to both the females and males currently in that room. And the sadness present in his eyes completed the whole image of a fallen angel.
"Riore? Come, let us sit down." Apparently, the guy he came to meet had approached him and invited him for a drink.
"Thanks Cree… I really owe you one."
"I beg to differ. I merely repaid a debt. You saved my life. This counted as nothing compared to that."
Riore glanced up… But I made you lose a friend… Yet no words were passed between the two men.
The duo had settled into a blanket of silence, with the lively noises from the drunks and bargirls filling in the empty space. It was Cree who finally spoke.
"Riore, if you pardon me asking, why don't you want your brother to find you? Won't it be better to be finally reunited?"
Cree stole a glance at Riore and was shocked to see tears sliding down pale cheeks.
"I wanted to escape from him. That was one of the reasons why I ran away from home. He should not get close to me. I'll just bring him pain and suffering. That's the only thing I'm good at."
Cree recalled how emotionally riled up Rie had been upon not being able to find his brother and comparing it to Riore's words, it contrasted so greatly.
Chuckling softly, Cree ruffled Riore's hair and muttered, "Sometimes, I don't think you understand the true meaning of love. Well, come on. Drink up."
---
Chapter 005- And so the Act continues…
By fannychan
"Oh my gosh! That was absolutely BRILLIANT!" Ann squealed softly to herself from her place in the director's seat. The stage lights were dimmed as backstage crew scrambled with the props for the next scene.
"I guess expectations of Ryoma were not totally unfounded. He indeed is a very rare talent. This is only his first rehearsal and there has yet to be a single flaw! It's astounding!" She mused, very pleased.
---
"In a world of chance and fate, was it possible for the brothers to be reunited and happy? Or is destiny once again going to tear them apart? Only the fateful day shall tell…"
---
The curtains drew open to reveal the scene.
---
"So what are we having for dinner tonight Rie?"
"Hmm… how does instant noodle sound?"
Immediately Tensuke made a face.
"Haha… I was just kidding. Hmm… Want to give Curry Rice a shot?"
"Why not?"
"You know. Curry Rice was Riore's favourite food. He could eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even supper without complain. Mother was every good at making Curry Rice but I watched. Hopefully it will turn out okay…"
"What? You mean you are using my stomach as a guinea pig? No way Heteru Rie. Not in a thousand years."
"No silly. I've made it before… though it did give father diarrhoea."
"Rie!"
"Haha, just kidding… Don't worry. Riore had said it was good."
"You know, sometimes, I'll get jealous. It seems like you love Riore more than you love me…"
"You're just hallucinating. I love my brother but I love you more Tensuke."
And as if to prove that, Rie leaned over to give Tensuke a peck on the lips.
Yet from where the audience sat, no one could miss the fingers held behind Rie's back, crossed and taut …
Twirling around, Rie made his way offstage. Yet before he disappeared behind dark velvet curtains which draped at the edge of the stage, he gave a backwards glance at Tensuke who had seemingly fallen asleep on the couch.
"I'm so sorry… Tensuke." And he was gone.
---
Sadly, another scene came to an end but it merely added on to Ann's growing impatience. "The next scene… yes… finally…" A smile tugged on her lips as the lights slowly came back on…
---
Riore sighed as he felt the heat of the spotlights glaring down at him.
"Hey Riore!"
Riore turned to look at who had come to disturb his moment of solitude only to realize it was one of the gang members, Bobby.
"Hey… something's up?"
"Yeah. The head said the gang's going to meet at the same place, same time later today. So I was thinking how about we head to the nearby supermarket to get some beer."
"Ran out of cash again?"
"Haha… Riore you only know me all too well."
"Well, what can you expect from me after sticking with you all these months?"
"Yeah I guess…"
But as Riore was about to turn around, Bobby grabbed onto his sleeve. "Hey, did I ever tell you how pretty you look Riore? Almost like a female…"
"Don't say such weird things. Come on. Let's go or we won't make it." Riore brushed off Bobby's hand and headed out of the alley, eyes misted over with a strange hint of grey.
More people soon started appearing on stage and it now seems like the duo were walking down a crowded street-way.
"Riore, we passed the supermarket. What on earth are you thinking?"
"Oh?" Riore glanced back. "I'm sorry. It's nothing really. Come on, let's go in."
"But as Riore pulled at the door of the prop shophouse, another person had been emerging and they crashed into each other. A plastic bag was flung a distance away.
"Ouch… watch where you're going… no…" Riore stopped mid-speech and hurriedly, he scrambled away from Rie. "This can't be happening… this is not real…"
"Riore… Riore is that really you?" Rie reached out quickly, desperately hoping against hope that this was not another hallucination. But he never had the chance to confirm it as Riore immediately turned to dash across the 'street'. Suddenly, a red cardboard car sped directly for Riore. But before the car could hit him, a shrilling shriek erupted from his throat with crystal clarity before Riore simply collapsed, hitting the ground with a loud thump.
---
The only problem was that that had not been in the script…
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ryoma, Fuji or anyone from POT . … /sniff/ No matter how much I wanted to… hehe… Hmm… I guess there's nothing more to add… okies… going to rush off to study… sighz.
Fanny Chan: Okieee… I know I STILL took a long time. But it was coz' I temporary forgotten bout' it… Oops… and my Microsoft words is malfunctioning… still is but oh well… Anyway, this was written some time ago and now it is done… better started working on the next chapter… hee… actually I think I'm splitting the one chapter into 3 now haha. My 'Plan' had for chapter 5 had been to put previous chapter, this and perhaps the next chapter into one. Hehe… well… guess u have to wait for the next chapter for the FujiRyo moments… sighz… SO SO SORRY!
Chibi fanny: fine fine… you are ALWAYS SO IRRESPONSIBLE! But dear readers, if you stop reading this and stop reviewing, I'm afraid fannychan will die of malnutrition. It's seems that reviews gives her the energy to write the next chapter…
Fanny Chan: WAHHH! PLEASE R&R!
Chibi fanny: See what I mean?
Fanny Chan/on hands and knees/ Please please please… if you angry with me delaying it and all, dun be angry with my fic… it means the life to me… /teary eyed while cuddling ficcy-chan/ I can't promise I won't do it again (meaning taking a long time to post the next chapter)… but I'll try my best to get the next chapter up… please bear with me… a response is better than none at all… /sniff/ But I must thank anyone who has stick with my lazy self and read this fic up to this point. LOVE YOU ALL! -
And I'm sorry to disappoint those who had wished to see the FujiRyo moments… I'll stock up on extra ammunition and dumped all I can to make the perfect FujiRyo moment come TRUE! In the next chapter. Keke…
I'll get the next chappy up by the end of this month I think… well, the more feedback I get the harder and faster I'll work -… see ya in the next chapter. BYE BYE!