Hi again. Edited and Ready. Ive enjoyed writing it. Gotta think out an ending. Help me out,if you can or if you want to. R&R. All sugesstions appreciated! :)

Disclaimer : If you still havent figured out that i dont own it, then ... its a MIRACLE! ^^

...

What a week it had been. The team had expanded and the cast was HUGE. Kyohei and Sunako's fancy fairy tale had made everyone excited to do this. It was fun and quirky and pools of talent flooded the team. And mostly everyone got a bit to do… even the junior wing was roped in to do a small kite flying scene, which would undoubtedly be liked by everyone who saw their short film… Sunako on returning found everyone busy and excited and she too caught the frenzy when she started as the director.

She remembered the week really well… everyone had a little change in them…

When Kyohei came home (naw, he'd bounded home!) on the day after that test, he'd found her in her room watching another horror-flick. He'd lifted her in his arms, smiling so happily that Sunako could only scream in agony ("the light, oh damnit, the light!!"). He'd danced and spun her around and taken her down to the porch (she being still carried) and given her her favorite green-tea ice-cream as a treat. He'd only lost 6 marks on the test. 3 for each question he skipped! His happiness and newfound confidence had made Sunako smile for a moment. And stop screaming. He'd also been ordering people about and getting the scenes together… and from what she heard from other sources, he was pretty good at it. No bother, she could beat him.

Then, Noi and Takenaga had become masters of research. Somehow they were researching on the technical work behind a set and they surprised Sunako with some cool ideas for the horror part of the movie.

Yuki and Ranmaru were acting and so was Kyohei… Ipsita had said that faces of Creatures of the Light would be a plus for the movie…as if they were building some kind of international blockbuster. But Sunako had to agree…the world was different from her, and a little taking-advantage-of-good-looks wouldn't hurt anyone.

So the team had spent after-school hours shooting. And the team spent evening till night in the Nakahara mansion stuck to Ryu's laptop editing and re-editing the scenes.

The most surprising thing was Ipsita's way of handling things. She was methodical and knew what and when to do stuff. She aced all tests that week even beating Takenaga's scores…even after ordering about every person in the short-film everyday after school. She was there at the dance rehearsals, at the choir practices and at the actors' end… and always behind the production team, always helpful and with solid advice.

Her experience with a drama club had made her understand how to go about stuff. At lunch she'd sit with different groups at different tables everyday; chatting, joking and laughing all the while. But she'd always leave the last five minutes to be with Kyohei and Sunako. She was undoubtedly the most liked person in school, if not the new most popular.

"I want you and Kyohei to dress up, look smart and get to The Regal tomorrow night. At eight." Ipsita told Sunako in a whisper. They were sitting in the Nakahara mansion, editing the final scene. Sunako nodded, watching the editing process intently.

"And...its… DONE." Ryu exclaimed triumphantly. He was pleased with his work. No longer was he the classic nerd. He was the guy everyone depended on to make them look good on the camera. And this dependence made him feel a whole lot better than he usually did. He liked the team. Ipsita was kind, and great with advice. Kyohei and Sunako would fight over little decisions but end up with the perfect solution. Takenaga and Noi did the lighting so well on set that he'd had no problems with editing. And little Nana-san… she was a genius with her art. He liked her a lot. What's more she liked him a lot too. The rumor mills were churning hard at school during the film week!

Everyone clapped and shook hands. This was it. All their work and sweat. Literally. It was 40 degrees outside. They celebrated by having coke and chips and talking about the film. It was a wonder to realize that they'd done it. They'd made a flick in a week. And it was done.

So they sat down to watch it together… whether or not the judges liked it, they'd done wonders and were proud of it.

"Aw crud, I look like a monster!" moaned Sunako, the next evening. She was looking at herself in the mirror.

A simple black frock and a silver belt with a shiny buckle. She'd gotten her hair into a stylish little bun, from a look from a horror magazine, only it still looked cute. She'd be killed by Hiroshi-kun. She didn't want to dress up, this was only for Ipsita. She tried repeating that to herself. It sounded fake to her; even though she knew it was mostly true. If there was no good reason for this, Ipsita was in for a good pow-wow.

"You look kinda pretty, actually." said a voice from the door. Sunako turned and saw Kyohei leaning against the door frame of her bathroom. She blushed hard.

Kyohei was wearing a black coat over his white tee and smart jeans. He showed off his tee which read "I'm the Director!". He was smiling. "I got one for you too!"

Sunako mumbled a thanks and returned to getting ready, a little flustered and worried. "I'm not bleeding. What's going on?!"

Kyohei, still grinning, asked, "You're not bleeding, something the matter? Got someone to beat up? Crushing over someone?" He was being deliberately annoying… she knew it. Kyohei was thinking hard, "Hmm… no blood-shower yet. No effect of being bright. Trying to look pretty. No responses. Cutting or otherwise. Something is definitely going on."

Sunako was wondering the exact same thing. Her hands were sweating as she reached for her earrings. Kyohei at the doorway was some kind of an evil presence, she thought. He looked exceptionally smart, though. He's a Creature of the Light. He has to.

Thinking all of this, she couldn't even put her earrings on right. And suddenly, her hand was brushed aside and Kyohei took the earring from her hand and moved close to her, reaching for her ear. Sunako couldn't breathe. He was too close, way too close and her nose was on the brink of a dam-burst. It wouldn't flow, but it was hurting like hell. He put on the other earring while she just stood there and stared at him, her nose reddening a deeper shade than her flushed cheeks.

"There you go. NOW can we go? I'm dead hungry and you've taken an eon to get ready! That's the first time so I forgive you!" he added playfully. She nodded couldn't breathe as yet and said she'd be down in a minute.

He went, stunned that she didn't breakdown. Or spay a rain of blood. Gee, she's changing. And she looks pretty. Better go tell the others for a look. Possibly there wouldn't be any such event before LONG long. He did that.

If Sunako was blushing, it couldn't be compared to the color when the others saw her and commented. She was flattered, no doubt, but it couldn't be she couldn't be as beautiful as them. She couldnt. She wasnt supposed to. But He did say I looked pretty, she thought.

Ipsita was waiting at the Regal Entrance. She was wearing black too. A black silk cocktail dress and a thin white coat over it. Her smile made up for the lack of jewellery… She looked simple… and simply beautiful that night.

Which took the breath out of a surprised Kyohei.

As if he wasn't already fascinated by how she took him for a friend without caring about his "Brightness", helped out with the test, saved his head, took the film by storm with her advice and ideas, made every person a fan of her one-liners ("ignorance is a virtue."; "life is any color you like"; "trouble and me, we're Siamese twins"; and his personal favorite which she told Sunako "They call me a bright kid too, but I ain't a creature of the light!"), and most of all, was a great friend to have.

Kyohei looked around, partly to not stare at her and partly to make sure. "What are we doing here??? Will we be washing dishes after dinner then?" Kyohei asked laughingly. He was poked by both the girls. "Shut up, Blondie" said Ipsita. She'd gotten used to his pseudo-rudeness. And she liked it.

"Oh, its my birthday today." She said it so nonchalantly, that Sunako and Kyohei wouldn't have noticed her statement at all, if they hadn't cleaned their plates full-out. The food was delicious. That's why they'd asked her what the occasion was.

"Oh my!" Sunako gushed. She felt a little awkward. Her friend's birthday, and she hadn't bothered to ask before.

Kyohei just looked on, a little stern. "Why didn't you tell us before?" She shrugged. "I'm weird that way, y'know?" Kyohei blew some air out of his mouth, miffed. He looked around elsewhere.

"Happy Birthday!!!" Sunako went to hug her. Kyohei just sat and watched them, miffed. He didn't have anything on him except enough cash to get home by cab(stolen from that Ranmaru's bag). He stood up and went towards the restrooms. He took a detour on the way back and did a little jugaad on the way back.

Jugaad is a way of finding a twisted way when you're in a twist yourself.

"Happy Birthday to you…!!!" the tiny restaurant was singing to Ipsita and a tiny cake had appeared on the table barely 5 minutes after Kyohei had gotten back. Good service, he thought. He saw Ipsita genuinely surprised and grateful to everyone singing and even Sunako smiling as she sang. Sunako smiled at him, she knew it was his doing. She mouthed thanks in between the lyrics.

...

After dessert, Sunako and Kyohei were so full, they couldn't sit upright. The food was deee-licious, and looked $$.

Ipsita leaned forward, "For treating you so well, you gotta promise me one thing." She waited while they nodded. "You both have to dance when I play the piano."

"But-"

"Anh-uh… you promised. And I play well, might I add." She had a twisted way with people. Kyohei and Sunako sighed.

"Why don't we-"

"You'll be washing the dishes then. Think about it." Apparently, she'd learnt a few tricks from the Landlady.

They sighed again. Pointless.

Sunako and Kyohei, awkwardly positioned danced along with other groups that had joined in when Ipsita started on the piano. The song was a fun, lively piece and everyone was dancing, moving fast with their partners. Ipsita turned from her seat and looked at them with her scary face. They decided it was best for them to dance.

And so, they danced. It was great fun, after you get over the trampling-over-your-partner's-shoes part. Kyohei started enjoying himself, so did Sunako. It wasn't hard to enjoy, her music was all over the place, it was that much fun. Sunako didn't even feel her nose aching as she stood against Kyohei, nearly face to face.

They all clapped when it was over. She's a star everywhere she goes, thought Sunako and Kyohei, proud of their friend.
Sunako offered to play the last song of the evening. That surprised the hell out of Kyohei and Ipsita. "You know how to play?" Kyohei had asked. "Mum taught me." Sunako had replied when she went off to the piano.

Kyohei was nervous. He was trying to shake himself off it. But she was coming towards him. Oh Lord, let me not mess this up. She looked him over, and he shivered inside. She was really pretty today.

Sunako had started. It was a slow and tuneful little piece. A last-dance kind. Not sad, or scary, which was surprising coming from her.
Ipsita, a little nervous herself, put her arms around Kyohei's neck and said, "She's one talented girl, isn't she?". Kyohei was looking at her and said, "Yea, you are – uh- I mean- yea, she is." Oh man, busted. She looked at him, curiously, as they began. He hoped she didn't notice his shaky hands on her waist.

"Your hands are shaking, aren't they?" She asked. Oh crud,you are SO gone. Busted, big time. He tried looking away, but she said :

"So am I, stupid! Look at my hands!" She let go of him to show him. They really were.

They laughed at each other and continued the dance, this time, feeling much better. She rested her head against his shoulder and he hoped to god she didn't hear his heartbeat, it'd make her laugh all the way back to India. The thought of India made him feel vaguely.... lonely. Sunako was going to end the piece soon.

Ipsita's voice came, "You know, you can do anything." "Huh?" Kyohei thought he didn't hear right.

"Errm, look at you. You're the director and you've done a fabulous job! You can get people to do what they cant, and your gave some kids hope that they're awesome. That girl who played Cinderella and they little middle school boy too scared to act in front of everyone… you were great with them! I haven't seen anyone get a restaurant full of people to sing since.... well... I'm really proud of you."

Kyohei was flattered. He hadn't heard this much praise from anyone in years. Excepting the math teacher who clapped when he declared Kyohei's marks last week. He wasn't able to say anything. His ears were turning the color of beetroots.

"I'm beginning to expect great stuff from you. You know how Sunako calls you the brightest of all??? I know why. I see the "brightness" in Oda, Noi, Yuki and Ranmaru. What makes you different to her... and me... is that you have a big heart, Kyohei."

She'd said his name. It came out in a near whisper. He was going to squirt blood now, he thought stupidly. But he was turning redder than the reddest shade of reds. He just focused on moving carefully. Everyone on the floor was dancing like they were. Close. Sunako was on her last notes; it was getting slower and slower.

Kyohei, crossed his fingers and hoped not to die, when he leaned in to a hug for Ipsita. She was definitely surprised, but if she weren't pleasantly surprised, he'd be dead. She didn't turn into stone. And she was still moving. Which meant he was on safe ground. His face was buried in her hair, which smelled of the usual Jasmine which he really liked now. He could stay like this forever. But the music ended. And the applause began.

The shouts for an encore was heard soon and Sunako was pushed back to the dance floor by the employee at the piano. He wanted the right to play for the last LAST dance for himself.

Ipsita let go of Kyohei, before Sunako saw them and felt awkward. Indeed, she felt really awkward. Would she be able to talk to Kyohei normally after today? Possibly. Would he? No clue. She felt the need to be a little far away from him. She saw the little boy and his grandfather accross the floor to whom she'd given her camera earlier. They waved back at her. It hit her.

Kyohei felt awkward when she broke off suddenly. On spotting Sunako, he understood. Ipsita turned, with her usual cheeriness(?) and announced. "I have a promise to fulfill. Sunako, go on with Blondie." Abruptly, she left them.

Weilding their question marks, Sunako and Kyohei got into postions.

"I wanna go sit." Kyohei complained.
"So do I. But then we'll have to watch out for best-friend-turned-monster." moaned Sunako. She hated dancing, usually, and with Kyohei was over-kill. It really wouldn't do if the blood-dam-floodgates opened at the Regal. She could imagine that BrightOne teasing her for months.

"You aren't still mad at me???" Kyohei asked. He was half a foot away from her with his hands on her waist. And he was trying to look anywhere but at her. She looked away too. A-w-k-w-a-r-d.

Confused, she wondered what the apology was for. Then she realized.
"No." Sunako even surprised herself by saying it. Nevertheless, she knew it was true. Given the way she had been acting around him the past few days, she never even remembered their brawl at the hospital. It seemed like months ago. Kyohei looked relieved.

"All Hail the Lord of Mercy, the EvilOne forgives me... !" Kyohei proclaimed to no one particular. The kids dancing beside them looked at them with amusement, as Sunako winked at them and told Kyohei, "Do not take the name of the Lord in vain!"
Before Kyohei could come up with a reply, they saw Ipsita leading a bunch of kids in the train-dance formation. She was the engine and the kids formed the train.
The old man standing behind them was trying to click some pictures from what looked like Ipsita;s camera. Kyohei and Sunako forgot their talks and joined the train with a refrain that oddly sounded like an old train whistle. It was one of the best days they'd spent together.

...

It was a tight fit in the cab. Ipsita offered to pay. Kyohei had no complaints.

Sunako was squashed between Ipsita and Kyohei on either side. and being in contact with Kyohei irked her. She tried to distract herself by talking to Ipsita who looked impervius to her feeble attempts to put a few more millimetres of gap between her and Kyohei. Crud. Frustrating. She couldn't get over the weird feeling.

Ipsita got off and Sunako heaved a sigh of relief. Ipsita noticed and smiled, "Happy to be rid of me finally?" she asked as she was handing the money for the ride to Nakahara mansion to Sunako. Sunako's eyes averted to Kyohei and back again. Ipsita smirked as she looked at Kyohei who looked at her for a moment then slowly said, "I've been wondering and..."

Sunako and Ipsita both looked at him funny. He gulped and continued, "... if you could..."

Sunako felt goosebumps along with an evil foreboding. She was still gazing at him. Kyohei took a deep breath and blurted, "I-wanted-to-know-if-you-could-lend-me-your-physics-notes-too. I want to pass the test day after." He tried not to look too embarrassed. Admitting that he wanted to study was something that would have amused Takenaga... to a point that Oda would take up every single opportunity. Ipsita smirked.

"Only if you say 'Please'" Ipsita smirked.

"Please."

Sunako felt an unfamiliar expression take over the muscles of her face. As Ipsita returned with her notes, so understood what it must have been. Major Relief. She thanked her lucky stars they had not noticed it.

PS. changed the mistakes. sorry for earlier. im still stuck for an ending... ! :|