"Okay everyone! Get onstage! Let's start from the top!" Takashi announced. The class rep was the mastermind behind this play. However, the term mastermind was used loosely. Many of the students did watch anime, after all. Still, even if he did turn a fairly serious anime into a "horrible, fan-girl-like romance" (A quote from Shark as he walked in the room for rehearsal), Takashi was still the director.
"For this scene we introduce our protagonist, Lelouch," Takashi said. Cautiously, he walked toward Shark. He may have become Yuma's friend, but the class rep couldn't help still being intimidated by the duelist.
"Um, Shark. For this scene, you're going to be walking all around the stage and interacting with your friends. By the end of the scene you want to be off stage with Shirley for the next scene," Takashi explained.
Shark sighed. He only continued with this play for Rio's sake. She really wanted to see him act. Rio always complimented her brother on his acting skills. Shark didn't believe he could act, but apparently he could perform well enough to become the lead in the play.
"Sure," he responded with boredom and moved onstage.
In the back of Heartland Middle School was an auditorium with a beautiful stage used for various performances. The room had rows of chairs set up in the middle with the entrances behind the seats. The stage stood a few feet higher than the floor. The base of the stage was dressed with a large black skirt to match the curtains when they were closed. Each side of the stage had a small staircase to easily navigate between the audience and backstage quickly.
Using one of these staircases, Kotori appeared from backstage and traveled to Takashi. "Hey Class Rep, have you seen Yuma anywhere? I found a wig for him, but I need to make sure it fits."
Kotori held the bright orange wig up. Takashi looked around for the male playing the female lead. "Yuma! Where are you? We need you over here!"
Tetsuo emerged from backstage with Yuma over his shoulder. "I think I found him."
Yuma flailed around in Tetsuo's grasp. "No! Let me go! I can't where that! I'll look like a girl!"
Kotori scurried up stairs and struggled to get the wig on Yuma's head. "That's the point Yuma!"
After a war with Yuma, Kotori finally managed to get the wig on. "There! It's perfect! How does it feel?"
"Hot and itchy. Take it off Kotori!" Yuma complained.
Tetsuo let Yuma down. "That's why you have to where the wig during practice so you get used to it, you know?" he told his friend.
Yuma was about to retaliate, but Takashi cut him off with instructions. The ensemble ran to their places for the first act and readied themselves for the scene.
Yuma wasn't entirely sure where he was supposed to be. Listening to Takashi's stage directions was just like class. Since he was in doubt, Yuma decided it was best to dash back stage and pop out from a random point when it was time for his lines. However, Yuma didn't count on smashing into someone else as he went backstage.
"Would you watch where you're going?" the person Yuma hit complained.
"Sorry!" Yuma said. "Didn't see you there!"
"I figure out that much. Wait, Yuma, that's not you, is it?"
Yuma blinked a few times to compose himself. He really hit this person harder than he thought. Slowly, he looked up to see the person he ran into was Shark.
"Yeah it's me," Yuma answered sheepishly. "Who else would it be?"
Shark's eyes widened. He turned away to hide the streak of blush that tinted his face a light shade of red. "Well, you really do look like a girl with that wig on."
Now it was Yuma's turn to turn a shade of red. It complimented the color of the wig quite nicely. "I-I guess that's good since I ended up with the girl's part in the play, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so," Shark said. "Aren't you supposed to be on the other side of the stage?"
"Oh yeah! I have to go now!"
Yuma ran off to the other side of the stage. Thank goodness Shark knew where he was supposed to be.
Yuma began scratching his head. This wig was really itchy. How did actors deal with this on TV? It was maddening! Yuma contemplated on taking off the wig, but there was no way he'd be able to get it back without Kotori's help. The one thing Yuma remembered from Takashi's directions was that Kotori was on the other side of the stage.
The boy let out a loud sigh and continued to scratch his head. Yuma scratched his head harder and faster, but it barely helped.
"Why are wigs this itchy?" Yuma vented his problems.
"Hm, so these masses of hair are used to change the appearance of one's own hair? How interesting," Astral said as he emerged from the key.
Yuma yelped as Astral revealed himself. "When did you get there?"
"Yuma, I have only been here for a few seconds. Moreover, shouldn't you be used to my constant presence? I am, quite literally, always with you."
Yuma rolled his eyes at the spirit. "I was in the middle of something Astral! You ruined my concentration! Not that this itch is going away anyway."
Astral stared as Yuma continued to viciously scratch his head. He wondered what was wrong with Yuma's head. It appeared that the pressure created by his fingers was helping the discomfort in his head. Astral had an idea. He extended his hand, touched Yuma's head, and began to perform the same motions the boy was doing.
Yuma stopped scratching his head. There was something touching his head. It was moving around the top of his head at a moderate pace. Was this Astral? Whatever it was, the wig itch was immensely soothing.
Astral began to slow down as Yuma removed his hands from his head. Did he manage to help the boy? Or did the discomfort simply fade away?
The itch began to return as Astral slowed down.
"Astral, faster," Yuma said. Astral complied with the boy's wishes and began to rub his head at the original pace. "Faster," Yuma told him again. Once again, the spirit followed Yuma's request. "Faster!" Yuma ordered.
"That's what she said."
Yuma jumped. "Tonkunosuke! You startled me!"
The small boy snickered. "If you say so, miss."
Yuma furrowed his eyebrows, but before he could say anything Tonkunosuke continued. "Aren't you supposed to be onstage soon?"
Yuma's eyes widen. He looked onstage to see Shark exchanging a few lines with Kotori. Yuma quickly grabbed a script that was lying around backstage (he forgot his own at home) and found the page the actors were reading from. Just as Tonkunosuke said, Yuma's stage time was within the next two lines.
"Milly, you're impossible," Shark told Kotori.
Kotori smirked. As instructed by the script, she ignored the comment. "Well, look over there! Someone's here to see you Lelouch," Kotori said teasingly. She looked down at her wrist. "Now look at the time. Looks like I have something to go attend to. Don't get too crazy being alone!"
Kotori hurried offstage. The unprepared Yuma realized it was time for his line. He quickly dashed onstage and opened his mouth. "Hey there-"
"Cut!" Takashi yelled. "You were supposed to come onstage slowly and look around for Lelouch, Yuma."
"Something says he wasn't listening earlier," Shark said.
"Hey! I was too!" Yuma protested even though he knew Shark was right.
Takashi sighed. "Let's just continue with the scene from Shirley's line. Action!"
Yuma quickly found his character and put on a smile. "Hey there Lelouch! Are you doing anything right now?" he said in a high voice. Yuma actually sounded like a girl with this voice.
Shark smirked and chuckled slightly.
"Hey, why are you laughing?" Yuma asked, breaking his character.
"You make a really convincing girl," Shark told him.
Yuma blushed madly. "It's only 'cause I'm in character! I have to act like a girl!"
"Are you acting right now? Because the words coming out of your mouth sound like any other teenage girl in the world," Shark said. He laughed as the blush on Yuma's face deepened. "You're even blushing like a girl!"
Yuma felt a smile creep onto his face. He had never heard Shark laugh before. Sure, it was only for a few seconds, but he actually sounded happy for once. The amazing part was that Shark wasn't even in a good mood when he came to rehearsal. Yuma was glad he could give Shark some joy, even if he did have to embarrass himself.
"Come on guys! We have to get on with the scene!" Takashi reminded the actors.
"Oh yeah, that," Yuma mumbled. It was more fun having a good time with Shark than the actual play. Then again, without the play how would have this moment occurred?
A ring chimed onstage. It was Shark's D-Gazer. He pulled out the device and answered it, ignoring Takashi as he nagged him about the use of technology onstage.
"I'm leaving," Shark announced as he hung up from the call. He hopped down from the stage and began to head for the doors.
"Wait! You can't leave now! We're not even halfway through practice!" Takashi said.
"I have things to do. I need to leave now," Shark told the class rep. "By the way, I'll be leaving this time on this day every week."
Before Takashi could even protest, Shark was already out the door.
Yuma frowned. He really wished Shark could have stayed longer. Well, there was always tomorrow. Even with the knowledge, Yuma felt disappointed. What was so important to Shark that he couldn't stick around longer? Sure, he didn't even want any part of this play, but he made the lead. He had a responsibility to uphold because of that.
Yuma stopped his train of thought. Why was he getting so worked up about Shark leaving? Was he really that into his character that his normal feelings were being multiplied because of the mind of a girl? Yuma didn't feel as though he was in character, but what was going on?
Oh my god, I think I have might have a crush on Shark, Yuma thought. He paused. Wait, how long have I been gay?!
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
A/N: Here's the next chapter! As a heads up, this story is probably going to go pretty quickly. Feelings and other actions will usually happen throughout a chapter instead of a few chapters or a very long chapter. The story might actually be less than 8 chapters. I guess we'll just have to see with that one!
Thank you to all of my reviewers! I honestly didn't expect all of that feedback after one chapter! Also, this story will be a shonen-ai. I don't think I could write anything else when it comes to yaoi in all honesty!
I hope you all enjoyed!