Shinning Golden Star: Hello…. I'm back, sorry for the hiatus, but I made this chapter longer to make up for it. I also changed the layout format to try to make it easier to read. If you like this new style please tell me, if not please tell me. I will try to write the next chapter in such a way that as many people as possible can enjoy it. The rest of my note is at the end of the story.
Kyoko: Please enjoy Shining Golden Star worked hard on this one.
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
Kyoko was still sobbing in her room her back against the farthest wall from the door. "Why?" she cried, face buried in her arms. "What did we do to deserve this?"
Lifting her head slightly she glanced around the room. It was by far the most elegant room she had ever seen; through frankly the nicest she had ever seen was the special suite at the Fawa's hotel through they were usually just merchants, fit for a princess.
With its light colored wall, cherry wood furniture. The bed had royal blue satin sheets with a real feather bed, not the straw bed she had at home, and blanket.
"How could this creature afford all this?" she pondered. "These are luxuries I could only read and daydream about."
Luxuries indeed, the bed alone would have cost enough for a week of food for herself Kanae and Choiri. Yet, despite all its beauty it had a stiff, cold and stale feeling attached, as through no one had been here in such a long time.
Not to say is was dirty, goodness know she only dreamed about attempting to achieve this level of cleanliness. However, it lacked the personal touch that she had with her own cottage, with its signs of life such as the portrait of the three of them in the main room which served as a living room and dining room. There were also the flowers which were picked weekly from the fields surrounding their home. Not to mention the handmade items which they occasionally decided to keep such as embroidery for the walls or a hair piece for special occasions. This room was clearly for someone of high rank in society.
Now make no mistake, she would be lying if she said she did not dream about similar rooms to the room she was in right now. In fact she spent quite a bit of her free time daydreaming about being a princess, or at the really least a rich young. It was just so hard to believe that a place she had dreamed about living in was now her prison.
"How is it I lost everything so quickly?" she wondered, through the answer came to her as she asked it.
Yes, I made the choice
For my friends, I will stay
But I don't deserve to lose my freedom in this way
An image of the creature that had caused all of her problems to begin with entered her mind.
"You monster!"
She spat resentfully, not caring whether or not he heard her. "He's a monster inside and out" she thought scornfully.
"If you think that what you've done is right, well then
You're a fool!"
She declared. "Nothing can justify what he did to us, nothing" she reasoned to herself. Then sadness dulled her rage and she spoke softly.
"Think again!"
She whispered as she lifted her head slightly more.
"Is this home?"
She asked this question to herself specifically.
"Is this where I should learn to be happy?
Never dreamed
That a home could be dark and cold."
She crossed her arms across her chest and rubbed at them in attempt to make the slowly growing goosebumps over her arms. Or rather, in attempt to comfort herself. The room was not physically cold, but it lacked the warmth of her cottage back home, the one she created with her friends.
"I was told
From the books in my childhood:"
Thoughts about how much fairy tales had substituted for a mother love and care forced its way into her mind but she continued on.
"Even when we grow old
Home will be where the heart is
Never were words so true!"
She told herself bitterly.
"My heart's far, far away
Home is too"
"My home is where Kanae and Choiri are" she reminded herself.
Is this home
Is this what I must learn to believe in?
Try to find
Something good in this tragic place"
"Just in case
I should stay here forever
"Will I be here forever?" she wondered "Away from everything I hold dear"
"Held in this empty space
Oh, but that won't be easy
I know the reason why
My heart's far, far away
Home's a lie."
She wept bitterly, as she stood up to look around once more
"What I'd give to return
To the life that I knew lately."
She thought of her dear friends, and all the memories they shared. The many times Moko scolded her, Choiri sharing her rage journal with her, even when they had turned her into Cinderella for that festival. That one glorious night, for once, she was not the plain peasant girl whom people whispered about. Then, she remembered her promise.
"But I know that I can't
Solve my problems going back"
She rubbed away tear that were spilling. She knew that should she run away, the monster would come after her and put Kanae and Choiri in danger as well.
"Is this home?"
She gestured around the seemingly perfect, dark, chilling room
"Am I here for a day or forever?
Shut away
From the world until who knows when
Oh, but then
As my life has been altered once
It can change again"
"Yes" she told herself "there is still hope for me to get out of here" then another thought popped into her head
"Build higher walls around me
Change ev'ry lock and key"
Kyoko directed this challenge, not only at the beast that ensnarled her now, but the world which seemed to be against her. "First my mother, than Sho, now this beast" she muttered "But that does not matter" as she continued with her song.
"Nothing lasts, nothing holds
All of me
My heart's far, far away
Home and free!"
Kyoko step back, face tilted to the celling, panting slightly from the outburst of emotion. Nevertheless, she also felt much better.
That was when she heard a soft knock on the door. For a moment she froze thinking it to be the beast.
Then she calmed down. "He wouldn't be able to knock to quietly" she reasoned, walking to the door. "So it has to be someone else"
"Who is it" she called through a closed door. "Shoko dear, I am here to bring you some tea." "Thank you very much, come in" she called opening the door, to a deserted hallway. "What?" she asked briefly questioning her sanity. It would be understandable if she stared to hear things right?
"Down here dear" a kind voice called to her. Looking down she jumped back in surprise.
"A… teapot is… talking to me?" she gasped, walking backward "Now I know I have lost my mind, this is impossible."
"I know it is" another voice behind her, causing her to leap in the air. Turing around stiffly she froze as she noticed the wardrobe continued on as if the girl had not almost jump out of her own skin "but here we are!" Kyoko could have almost sworn she saw a cheerful smile on the wardrobe as she continued "I am ten by the way."
As Kyoko tried to collect herself, Shoko hopped in followed by two teacups, some sugar and cream.
"Come Marie." Shoko called to one of the young teacups. Obediently, the teacup did so and soon Kyoko found herself sipping the most wonderful tea she had ever tasted. "Thank you very much!" she told Shoko while bowing, feeling much calmer.
"You know, that as one of the bravest and most selfless thing I had ever seen." The teapot told the girl, in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"We all think so." the wardrobe added.
"But I lost everything." Kyoko sighed "Kaene and Choiri were the closest thing to a family that I ever had. They were my only friends and now they are gone. I wanted to travel the world with them. There were so many things I wanted to do, that I will never be able to do now." The two older objects looked at each other as Kyoko continued with a livid look. "Then that…that… that thing disrupts out lives." Kyoko looked down at Maria. "Through if I still had my curse dolls…" Kyoko muttered darkly.
This instantly snatched Marie's attention. "You use curse dolls too?!" she gasped with what the others, except for Kyoko, considered to be a rather dangerous glint in her eyes.
"Oh yes I make my own" Kyoko told her eagerly. "If you like…" she added noticing the teacup's expression and perceiving it as one of longing. "I can make you some."
Shoko shook her head is disbelief. "I was so close to having her give up that hobby." She thought glumly.
"I like her" Maria declared as through Kyoko had paced some sort of test. "I am going to call her 'big sister' for now on". Kyoko held back a giggle.
"Come Maria, Hiro" Shoko called from the doorway.
Hiro and Maria instantly bounded for the door. Hiro went thought the door pausing slightly to glance back at Kyoko before quickly leaving, possibly to hide the fact he was not as indifferent as he wanted the others to believe.
Maria on the other hand, stopped to turn and call to Kyoko "See you later big sister!"
Kyoko giggled and waved goodbye. "At least something happened to me today." She thought.
"Now then, how should you be dressed for dinner?" Ten mused out load behind her.
Kyoko frowned, remembering Ren's request or rather demand from earlier. At the moment, the last thing in the world she wanted was to be anywhere near him, let alone eat dinner with him as though they were friends. Just imagining being on friendly terms with him sent chills down her spine. "But, I doubt he would want to eat with a plain boring girl like me." She argued, using the first excuse that came to mind.
Ten seemed aghast at this proclamation. "Kyoko, do not put yourself down like that!" she scolded. "You are a rather cute girl and when I am done with you I promise you shall be the belle of the ball!" Kyoko looked at her questionably. "They call me the fairy Godmother for a reason" the wardrobe told her. "I pride myself on my ability to get girls ready for dat…dinner." Kyoko's eyes shone at the title 'Fairy Godmother'. "Then you are like a muse" she gushed excitement and sparkles lighting her face. "Uh… yes….I guess I am." Ten told her.
##############################################################################Ren was pacing back and forth in front a blazing fire place and quite honestly Lory was starting to feel slightly dizzy just watching him. "Ren" the candlestick began. "You know she won't come down any faster with you wearing down the floor like that."
Ren shot him a glare which lowered the tempter in the room to near freezing, despite the warm fire…or as far as everyone else in the room was concerned.
"Then perhaps you can tell me what is taking her so long to come down for dinner." Ren snarled.
Lory shrugged "It is well known that for every minute it takes a man to get dressed, takes a woman five."
"It is not just that" Shoko quickly put in before Ren could do anything else to demonstrate his annoyance. "In a few moments, she lost everything important to her; her home, friends freedom…"
"Well I think you are making this more complicated than is has to be" "Lory grinned all you have to do…
(Shining Golden Star: Just as a waring Lory is going to be rambling for quite a bit so for anyone who does not want to get bored with his 'romance in an hour' scheme please skip the next paragraph
Lory: hey!)
"… is smile lovingly at her when she enters the room. Then you must elegantly rise from your seat, you will be sitting with proper posture before she enters the room of course, and wily with dignity to her. After giving a sophisticated bow worthy of the emperor of the world giving to the empress, no the continent, of the world, the universe you must offer her your hand err… paw and give it a lasting, but brief kiss as well as gentle. Right after that you must offer her your arm and escort her to the table as through you are her knight in shining armor, which of course you are. Oh, I almost forgot, you must be wearing your best outfit, Shoko you must quickly get someone to give him a bath, goodness knows how long it has been just because you look like a beast doesn't mean you have to smell like one despite what some of those feather brain maids say. And going back to your outfit, normally I would say the lavender purple, but I don't think that would go with your fur all too well. Perhaps that black one, but I don't think it would be best in the dim candle light we will have….
(Shining Golden Star: Ok I can't take it anymore moving on)
"And that is how we shall break the spell by midnight" Lorry concluded glancing at his rather small audience with a rather self-gratifying grin… through he did not necessary get the reactions he was hoping for.
Ren was staring blankly at him while Yashiro was applauding, the only one as far as Lorry as concerned who actually appreciated his plan, and Shoko looked as though she would have face palmed is she still had hands and arms to do so. "…If you plan to interfere the way you just explained with… that idiotic… " Ren growled.
"I think I'll go check on Kyoko" Yashiro quickly interrupted before rushing out of the room.
Shoko sighed "Ok, let's start over, now Ren straighten up!"
#####
"Kyoko" Yashiro called through a closed door "It is almost time for dinner" he paused then added. "With the Master."
"Please tell him that I rather not." a voice called back.
Yashiro was stunned. "But… Ren told you to come down to dinner." He told her, while trying to figure out how on earth he was going to tell Ren who was already in a bad mood.
"Tell him I don't eat with a monstrous emperor of the night!" she retorted, thinking back to his earlier behavior.
"How on earth am I supposed to tell him that?!" Yashiro thought with a deadpanned as he made his way back to the dining room and wondering if his will was still valid.
"Kyoko, you know Ren does have a name." the Ten chided.
"First names are only used by friends" Kyoko replied. "Almost everyone here has treated me kindly, but that thing will never be a friend of mine…never." she stated bitterly.
Ten sighed dejectedly, how on earth could the spell be broken… if their one hope refused to even acknowledge Ren's name?
#####
Meanwhile, thanks to the nitpicking of Lorry and Shoko, Ren mood had shifted from impatient annoyance to an agitated dread. It was nothing even as remotely detailed as compared to Lory's earlier speech, it was just shorter and more to the point.
"And finally there is one thing you must always remember" Shoko instructed.
"What?" Ren demanded.
"YOU MUST CONTROL YOUR TEMPER" the duos concluded with more force at him, since before the curse.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. Ren bolted into an upright position with toothy smile and perfect posture, for a mix match creature of ho knew how many different traits, only to revel a very jumpy Yashiro who honestly looked as though he rather be accused of treason in England then be in the same room as Ren. "Well" asked Ren who clearly was attempting to keep his composure with a frightening amount of sparkles. "Where is she" "Who" Yashiro asked faking an innocent look. More sparkles and a wider smile sent shivers down everyone's' backs. "Oh yes Kyoko…well….. considering everything that has happened to her today…. I am sure that you will be able to understand…. She's not coming" For a split second there was silence, the kind that happens just before all hell breaks loose. "WWWWWWHHHHHHAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT" Ren roared, all composure thrown to the wind as he threw the doors wide open and tore through the halls with the three objects bounding after him.
########
Kyoko felt her room shake as she heard the distinct and completely audible thunder or rage. She turned to Ms. Muse and with a tone that should have been illegally cheerful asked the wardrobe "Would you mind if you help me barracked the door?"
############################################################################## "Your grace" Yashiro called.
"You're Immanence" Shoko pleaded.
"Let's not be hasty" They both cried out in desperation, trying to reason with him.
Lory, on the other hand was enjoying the whole thing. "This is better than that event between the maid and butler" he mused.
Ren, however, ignored the objects and within a few minutes of receiving the refusal, was outside the girl's room and pounded on it furiously.
"I thought I told you to come down to dinner." He snarled to the closed door.
"I'm not hungry" a muffled voice retorted.
"If you don't come out" Ren threatened "Then I'll rip that door…"
"Ren, I could be wrong, but I do not think that Kyoko is the type of girl who would be attracted to threats." Lory interrupted, before Ren could finish.
"I can almost assure you that won't win her affections." Shoko told him sternly.
As if to prove their point a clear and distinct click of a door being locked came from Kyoko's door.
"At least attempt to be a gentleman" Yashiro told him with a nervous glance at the door.
"But she is being so difficult" Ren protested angrily as a second clicking sound was heard.
Three pairs of eyes bore into his and Ren grunted. "Will you join me for dinner?" he asked flatly. Three glares were sent in his direction. Ren rolled his eyes "please" he added sarcastically
"No thank you" Kyoko told him firmly.
With that, Ren snapped. "You can't stay in there forever!" He pointed out angrily.
"Oh yes I can" Kyoko retorted with a tone that clearly said 'watch me'.
Then, what little hope the cursed peopled had left was doused with what seemed to be the sound of the bed being shoved across the floor confirmed her conviction.
"Fine" Ren told her in a deadly whisper as wrath materialized around him in a dark cloud of fury. "Then stay in there and stare to death."
He glared at the three stunned enchanted servants next to him. "Unless she eats with me, she will eat nothing at all." He ordered. With that, he stormed out of the room. "Well, that did not go very well" Lory sighed.
"You think!" the other two snapped at him.
Lory shrugged the best he could, particularly when one considers the circumstances of being made of brass and being without anything resembling shoulders. "I'll keep an eye on her." He told them and then added with a glint in his eye "It will be fun."
Now both Shoko and Yashiro knew that Lory had a rather twisted sense of 'fun', mainly if it meant he could act as the self-proclaimed 'massager of love' he claimed to be. Yet, the situation left them with few other choices. Guest or no, there were still numerous other duties to attend to and Lory was the only one who had a chance of reasoning with Ren and had enough time to keep an eye on Kyoko.
Nodding, both the teapot and the clock left the room, leaving behind Lory who looked as though he was playing the part of Alexander the Great based off his side and random order to foot soldiers who were not really there. In other words, there was nothing new to see.
##############################################################################
Ren stormed into his room….at least what was left of it. Throughout the years of is rage and misery not a single piece of furniture, taspery, painting or bit of cloth was left undamaged. A single table was the only exception, with a rose enclosed in a glass dome and a hand-held mirror lying beside it.
"I asked her" her growled as a chair was thrown into a wall "nicely and what does she do?" a table was knocked overly roughly "What does she expect me to do? Get on my hand and knees to beg?!" He spotted the hand held mirror and snatched it. "Show me the girl!" he commanded.
Instantly the image on the glassy surface changed from his own furious expression to Kyoko's room. She was lying on the bed crying with her face in her hands, while Ten was attempting to comfort her.
"I know Ren can seem a bit harsh, but once you get to know him…" "I don't want to get to know him" Kyoko interrupted, her words stabbing Ren in the heart. "Why would I want to get to know the monster who stole the only good thing that ever happened to me? He was willing to let them rot in that prison, when they were so sick! He could have killed them." and turned away. Ren was stunned.
"Murderer!" a fait voice cried out accusingly from a painful memory. He clasped his head in his paws.
"Go away." He begged the invisible woman. "Haven't you punished me enough? I would have never allowed those girls to die!"
To be honest, he had not planned to have those two girls stay in the dungeon forever, just until they apologized to them. They trespassed into his home, the one place he could be without anyone seeing him like this. In fact they saw him, the one thing he did not want anyone near his castle to do, save those cursed with him. He did not even know what came over him when he demanded Kyoko stay with him forever when he was going to release them soon. He knew that this was all part of his punishment and that he should just accept it, but he couldn't.
In the end, he just wanted it to be all over; the curse, his guilt over Rick's death his grief over the and disappearance of his parents. Through nothing compared to the weight of knowing that the curse on those who stood by him was entirely his fault, and just when a chance to make it up to them appeared, it was dashed to pieces.
"How long must this go on?
This cruel trick of fate?
I simply made one careless wrong decision"
Ren snorted to himself "who am I trying to fool? Perhaps that guy was right when he said my birth was a mistaken in and out of itself." Then he remembered her. The blasted witch who turned him into this…this …thing! He gritted his teeth as he continued.
And then the witch was gone
And left me in this state
An object of revulsion and derision
Hated...
He stared at his paw with disbelief and disgust building. Then he felt an almost familiar despair return.
"Is there no one
Who can show me
How to win the world's forgiveness?"
Ren let out a bitter laugh. "Who the heck am I trying to fool" he smiled, coldly and sarcastically. "I am a monster and a murderer, there is no forgiveness for me" He placed the mirror back on the table. "It's hopeless."
He glanced down at the rose just in time to watch as a petal fell on top of yet another petal. Reality slammed into him, just as it had each time he had looked at it for these many years.
Now the reader should understand that the nerves are not meant for this type of surge, especially so frequently for as long as it had for Ren. It was this fear which made his temper almost uncontrollable and his servants knew it.
They knew him to be kind and even gentle. As a matter of fact he had been an extremely cheerful child before the death of his friend. Seeing him so broken from grief and despair was far more unbearable than any curse.
They did not just want to break the curse to have their human form back; they wanted him to feel the joy of loving and being loved. Even though none of them had spoken this out load, a number of them were willing to remain in their enchanted appearance if it meant Ren could be happy.
Ren on the other hand was still a far away from forgiving himself. If anything he saw his curse as punishment for Rick's death.
"What if we are all like this forever?" the thought involuntary entered his mind.
"No!" he thought franticly, jumping up. "I can't give up, not yet!" "But what should I … what can I." He fell upon a damaged chair, which miraculously help his weight. "Rick…" he thought pleadingly "You always seemed to know what to do… if you can find it in your heart to forgive me…even a little…please...tell me what to do!"
Then, he thought of when he was younger and remembered what would normally make a woman swoon. "Good Evening Kyoko." He told a shattered mirror next to him will giving his lady killer smile…. Only to grimace at the sight of a dozen reflections…well… perhaps what he saw is best left to the readers' imagination.
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
Shining Golden Star: It feels so good to be back. I also do sincerely apologize for the delay in updates.
Sho: Stupid, lazy author
Shining Golden Star: You know I can always have the wolves visit you when you're asleep
Sho: turns pale and runs in the opposite direction
Shining Golden Star: Now if only I could make Kyoko and Ren get married already, too bad Skip Beat and its characters are not mine(do not sue me).
Anyway please review. Constructive Criticism is appreciated, but please no hate reviews.
Also, as you can tell I am making quite a few changes to the story to match the characters, though I am keeping hat I consider to be classic lines from the movie as well as songs from the musical version. I also know that I cut out some of those songs, but in this case, I just do not see Shoko singing and 'No Matter What' plain and simple cannot work.