"Look there she goes, that girl is strange no question. Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?"
Kyoko's lips mouthed with the opening song of Beauty & The Beast as if she knew the words by heart. Her whole body nodded and bobbed, as she swayed side to side with the melody. What surprised Ren was how similar the Japanese words was to the American version he had grown up with. Apparently at least one Japanese girl was as enthralled as the woman he knew back home.
Beauty and the Beast was not something he was interested in, especially as a typical young boy when the movie first came out. But his mother had adored the film and sung to it, much to the other family member's dismay. During movie night, when the famous couple planned a moment out of their hectic schedule to watch a film, his mother had suggested Disney films regularly. Still, beautiful as she was, a singer (as well as a cook), Julie Swann was not; no matter how much his father insisted. Ren shook his head as his ears rung painfully in memory, his mother "singing" Someday My Prince Will Come over a pot of beef "stew."
In fact, the thought of that song reminded him of his kohai, and her previous 'prince.' Hadn't he known her when she was at her peak of her fantasy beliefs, dreaming, like the heroine, of princes and castles and faraway places?
"Look, there he goes… Isn't he dreamy? Monsieur Gaston, Oh he's so cute!"
"He's not dreamy!" Kyoko shouted angrily to the three doting village girl characters, dark demons wafting out the back of her like smoldering smoke before a fire. Ren turned to watch the irate girl, mildly amused. "He's a pompous jerk who uses people! How could a women ever fall for such a selfish, uncaring man? I'm glad Belle can see through his ways and wants nothing to do with him!"
The image of the French hunter morphed in the actor's mind. Gone was the gun, drawn muscles and long black hair. In its place laid a lanky blond male singer, poising with a guitar. Ren snorted unconscientiously before he could help himself. It was very low, but just loud enough to garner her attention from the television screen. Kyoko was still glaring, but now at him. He hadn't seen her face so angry for a long time, when she had flipped him the bird. Why didn't it surprise him she'd get so upset over a fantasy fairy tale?
"What's so amusing Tsuruga-san?" Kyoko said heatedly. "Do you think so many women falling for brainless, cold hearted, pretty boy is something to laugh at? "
"I wouldn't say it's amusing…" Ren replied, whipping away all previous emotion off his face. "but Gaston isn't purposely fooling those women into falling with him. Not what I can remember from the movie at least. But still, Belle has an adoration for stories, princes, princesses, and fantasy. She is wise to his ways…The character doesn't strike you as familiar, Kyoko-chan?"
"Look there she goes a girl who's strange but special. A most peculiar mademoiselle…"
The pause hung in the air only for a moment. "…I guess he is a bit like you, Tsuruga-san."
The verbal "like you" dagger pierced his back right on target, hunching him over with its surprise attack. His hair hung over his eyes as he leaned over the table.
"I never knew you thought of me as a 'brainless, cold hearted, pretty boy' Mogami-san." His head creakily turned to her as if on a rusty pike. Ren smile was lightly annoyed and forced. Dangerous four point stars shot from his eyes at her like warning lights. "Surely you don't think of me like Gaston?"
"No no! It's not that!" Mogami waved her arms in denial. "It's just Tsuruga is tall, dark, strong and has thousands of admiring girls after him! Although you fit his description, you are definitely not like Gaston!"
"It's a pity and a sin, she doesn't quite fit in. But she really is a funny girl…"
"You are much better liar then Gaston could be! You smooth talk, you have a playboy attitude, and you're much more suited to be a con-artist!" Several more word daggers rained down on Ren as Kyoko paused for a moment, deliberating. She cheerfully continued as the thought struck her. "I'd say you're more like Jafar! You could mesmerize and charm anyone!"
"A beauty but a funny girl…"
The light waves of misery emanated from the actor's near lifeless body. Kyoko stuttered worriedly, as she watched her senpai emerge from the under the table with a stricken look on his face.
"D-D-Do-Don't worry Tsuruga-san! I would never fall for my senpai's handsome looks!"
"She really is a funny girl… That Belle!"
"I think I'm going to get myself a drink Mogami-san." The actor sighed, defeated.
No way this'll be done in two, three, or even four chapters. I'm going back to my old way of writing; short, sweet chapters that don't seem so daunting. That'll make easier to write, faster to post, and less nights I spend typing till 4am.