This be chapter two...! Whoot whoot!! Ehehe... I'm really lazy...
Disclaimer: Yoshiki Nakamura owns all!!! (Including my soul...)
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CHAPTER TWO!!
"Whaaaat...?!" Kyoko said as she stood in front of Director Shinkai, after a particularly harrowing day- in-the- life- of- Ren, "You want me to what?"
"Take the main role. Let's face it, Mayui isn't right for it. She will stay in cast as Suzanne."
"But...I'm not... Let me think about it."
"Excuse me Director," Ren said as he took Kyoko by the arm and began leading her away, "Just give me a minute, please."
He 'escorted' her over to a conveniently placed bench that had not been there until it realised it was needed, and was thus imagined into existence by the author. The room they were in was a spacious, wooden styled room. Wood panelling. A wooden stage. There was that faint smell one gets from wood, as if you were in a sort of forest. For a brief second, Ren's mind flashed back to the moment he first met Kyoko, a small girl framed with leafy boughs, asking whether he was a fairy. Of course, he couldn't resist saying yes, and the smile she gave him was enough to put the sun to shame. The next few months were bliss to him.
"Mogami-san, sit down," Ren looked at her."This is your perfect role! Rich young lady, inferiority complex-free? I know that you wanted a break from mean roles. " And I'd really love to work with you rather than Mayui-chan.
"I know, I just..."
"I told you we'd work on another project together. Do you not want to work with me...?" Please say no, please say no...
"No, it's just... well... I... Oh. I don't know why not to." She looked surprised and embarrassed.
Ren nodded, smiling. "I'll go tell Shinkai. We need to get you a script!"
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Kyoko watched Ren walk away. What was she supposed to say? No, I don't want to work with you because this is a romance and we're married in it and I have to kiss you and I don't want to fall in love? So she had put off the part. But then she got annoyed at herself. Why shouldn't she take the part? It was tailor made for her; she loved the storyline. Ren should be the one who's worried!
Ren walked back to her with the script. It had a summary of the story on the inside cover:
Hana Akai (aka The Scarlet Pimpernel )
In 1792, during the bloodthirsty, early stages of the French Revolution, Marguerite St. Just, a beautiful French woman, is the wife of the wealthy English fop Sir Percy Blakeney, a baronet. Before their marriage, Marguerite had carelessly made comments in private which had the unintended consequence of sending French aristocrat the Marquis de St. Cyr and his sons to the guillotine. When Percy found out, he became estranged from his wife. Marguerite, for her part, became disillusioned with Percy's dandyish ways.
Meanwhile, the "League of the Scarlet Pimpernel", a secret society of 20 English aristocrats, "one to command, and nineteen to obey", is engaged in rescuing their French counterparts from the daily executions. Their leader, the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel, takes his nickname from the drawing of a small red flower with which he signs his messages. Despite being the talk of London society, only his followers and possibly the Prince of Wales know the Pimpernel's true identity. Like many others, Marguerite is entranced by the Pimpernel's daring exploits.
At a ball attended by the Blakeneys, Percy's verse about the "elusive Pimpernel" makes the rounds and amuses the other guests. Meanwhile, Marguerite is blackmailed by the wily new French envoy to England, Citizen Chauvelin. Chauvelin's agents have stolen a letter incriminating her beloved brother Armand, proving that he is in league with the Pimpernel. Chauvelin offers to trade Armand's life for her help against the Pimpernel. Contemptuous of her seemingly witless and unloving husband, Marguerite does not go to him for help or advice. Instead, she passes along information which enables Chauvelin to learn the Pimpernel's true identity.
Later that night, Marguerite finally tells her husband of the terrible danger threatening her brother and pleads for his assistance. Percy promises to save him. After Percy unexpectedly leaves for France, Marguerite discovers to her horror that he is the Pimpernel—the very man she has endangered. He had hidden behind the persona of a dull, slow-witted fop in order to deceive the world. He had not told Marguerite because of his worry that she might betray him, as she had others in the past. Desperate to save her spouse, she pursues Percy to France to try to warn him.
Chauvelin is close to capturing Percy on several occasions, but the Englishman manages to outwit him each time. Percy rescues Armand and the Comte de Tourney, the father of a schoolfriend of Marguerite's. Percy is finally reunited with his frantic wife when they are both taken prisoner by Chauvelin, though luckily Percy is so well disguised as a despised Jew that the Frenchman does not recognize him. The couple later manage to escape.
With Marguerite's love and courage amply proved, Percy's ardour is rekindled. Safely back on board their schooner, the Day Dream, the happily reconciled couple returns to England. - Wikipedia ^-^
Kyoko loved the story. She'd read it as a child, one of the many 'happily ever after' books she'd devoured while still disillusioned that Shotaro was her prince. For a time after he dumped her, she decided that all stories were lies, and shoved the books into the deepest darkest corner of her room. Which isn't saying much. But the intention was there. However, eventually she realised that her actions were childish. I mean, Corn was a real fairy prince, right? So there must be fairies. And princes. And thus she concluded that it was just Sho being an idiot.
The Director came over to her, apparently anxious to make sure she kept the role. It seemed that Mayui Kosubo had been told earlier that day, and all the arrangements worked out with her manager, who seemed quite relieved at the change. As well she might. Mayui had money, and some charm but her skills weren't that great. You can get away with crappy acting in a TV series, where it is excepted that you've only just leant your lines and improve is a way of life, but with a movie, it's different. Every movement is scrutinised from different angles, lines are repeated over and over, make-up and dress checks happen every couple of scenes.
To be truthful, Kyoko enjoyed the feeling of being part of a major project again. And working with Ren. They had pretty much the same timetables these days. She was going to see a lot more of him.
Kyoko smiled.
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Ren watched Kyoko reading the script. Her beautiful, tawny hair was falling lightly over one shoulder as she bent over her page. Perfectly straight posture, though. As ever. She seemed happy. Suddenly she looked straight at him, smiling. They both jerked their heads in the opposite directions, blushing. Ren moved off stage and back to his dressing room, stopping to talk to Director Shinkai just outside the door.
"You knew she'd take the part."
Shinkai looked pleased. "Yes actually, I did. I arranged it with the crew, cast, Sawara-san and the President before you two even set foot on the set!"
Ren had to smile. The Director looked absurdly pleased with himself.
"She'll do very well, you know. You just have to wait for a little while, for her to get a feel of the character. "
"I understand." Shinkai nodded. "It's strange though. Maui-chan is rich and beautiful already. You'd think she'd be able to portray someone just like her. It must be the smart aspect of it. Mayui is obviously not that bright."
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Mayui smiled at her housekeeper as she shut her bedroom door. She walked over and sat on her bed. Took off her expensive shoes. And threw them at the wall.
"Yahhhh......! Arghhh!! How dare they! How dare they!! That stupid Director...! Urhhh...!"
She fell silent. They would pay, Mayui promised herself. They would pay.
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Yay, the psycopath makes her appearance!! (as a psycopath, that is). Take a guess what I'm going to ask. That's right. Please review. ^^