-Lights, Camera, Action-
Two woman sat in a sunny room facing each other.
One, slightly younger, waiting anxiously to hear the others story.
The other thinking of how to start it.
“It was always a game, always a show, a play - as you will.”
The older woman turned green eyes out the window.
“We never really cared, we never really had too. It could never go too far, because we didn’t have a limit. We acted, they believed…”
She looked back at the younger woman across from her.
Green eyes glittering in mischief and delight.
“It was amazing.”
Ootori Choutarou looked down at the cute first year that stood before him. “Anou, umm, I was…well I was wondering if you’d go out with me?”
Sighing inwardly he scratched the back of his head. “Sorry, I can’t do that.”
She finally looked up at him, teary eyed. “But, but I like you a lot. I’ve always liked you.”
Choutarou looked like he started to panic when he noticed her tears. “Oh, um, sorry, but I still can’t do that.” The girl was about to protest but he shook his head. “I have a girlfriend, so…”
Shock took over her features. “Girlfriend…” She grew suspicious. “Nuh uh, I’ve watched you all the time at school.”
Forcing down a growl the boy covered his rolling eyes. “Sorry…” He laughed nervously. “I do. So I can’t go out with you.” He turned and walked away. When he was far enough away he ran his fingers through soft hair. “Stupid girl…”
“Now now, Ootori-kun.” Oshitari smirked as he walked up beside his younger teammate. “What would the girls do if their sweet Chou-kun wasn’t oh-so sweet?”
Sending a glare to the genius he just shrugged. “Not my problem.” That was the end of the conversation as the two made their way to their destination.
Oshitari laughed and smirked. ‘If they only knew how Ootori really was.’
*-*_*-*_*-*
pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. “Girls…girls…”
The group of giggling girls turned towards her. “-sama, what’s wrong?”
“If you don’t have anything left to do then you can go home if you like. I’ll finish the line-up and give it to the coach.” Trying to keep her quickly enraged temper at bay, her voice came out strained.
The group of girls blushed in embarrassment, realizing they were distracting their captain. Turning and bowing, “we’re sorry, -sama! We will leave you alone.” They all quickly gathered their things and left the classroom. “Isn’t -sama really sweet?” One whispered as she closed the door.
sighed and sat back in her chair. “Finally…”
, now there’s a role model for all teenage girls. Beautiful, sweet, smart, adored, and level headed. Vice president of the student council, captain of the girls tennis team, and most wanted female (voted by males) in all of Hyotei. Basically*socially*she stood beside, the king, Atobe Keigo as Queen of Hyotei.
So, the rumors spread. All over the school, from first years to the thirds. Whispers got louder and neither denied it. “Atobe and have been officially branded as a couple by all of Hyotei.”
“Too bad for Oshitari, he was trying for her heart as well.”
“But -sama is a perfect match for Atobe-sama.”
“Yeah…”
It was the talk of the school and wanted to scream. The pencil in her hand snapped in half as she listened to conversation of the girls in the hallway.
“Aa, calm down .” Turning she came face to face with the very topic of her annoyance.
“Keigo, what are you here for?” Finding another pencil she finished writing what she started.
“What I can’t come visit my girlfriend?” He had a smirk on his face when she snapped her glare onto him.
“Don’t even say that word when referring to me.” She gagged and shook her head. “Horrific.”
Laughing Atobe turned his attention to the two boys walking towards him. “Well, I don’t know, the King and Queen are supposed to rule together, ne?”
“I suppose you’re right.” She stood and made her way to the window the boy stood on the other side of. Leaning onto the edge she came face to face with the boy. “And rule we shall.” She caught the two other boys out of the corner of her eye. “However, the king has his little fan girls, and the queen…”
Choutarou grinned a very un-Choutarou-like grin before hopping into the classroom. Coming up behind her he grabbed her and tilted her head up. He smirked, “the queen is mine…” He roughly kissed her, pulling her body against his.
Oshitari and Atobe just smirked as they turned to leave the two lovers alone.
*-*_*-*_*-*
lay on her stomach in her overly fluffy, overly large, bed. Bare back exposed as her soft, dark red sheet covered the rest of her naked form. “I heard you’ve had another confessor.”
Choutarou groaned as he came out of the bathroom, clad in only boxers. “Don’t remind me…”
chuckled laying her head on her crossed arms and peeking back at him. “Madoka Motoka, class 1-C… She’s rather popular, or so I am told.”
The boy smirked at her. “She was okay I guess, but she called me a liar. Me a liar!” He cringed as he crawled upon the bed. “And she cried…”
“Awe, my poor, poor Chou-kun.” She closed her eyes, smiling, as he hovered over her back. One of his hands holding him up on each side of her head.
He slowly moved the hair that covered her back and neck. “You know how I loathe when they cry.” He leaned down trailing kisses up and down her smooth skin. Lightly sucking on the nape of her neck his smirk returned. “Now you, you , on the other hand,” he nipped at her neck. “You, I think I want to see you cry.” He lightly sank his teeth into the flawless skin.
*-*_*-*_*-*
quickly fixed her hair as the door to her car opened. Stepping out she took a look at the stage of their play. Smiling was all she could do to stop herself from out right laughing. Nodding to her driver she started making her way to put on another amazing performance.
‘If they all only knew,’ she thought as she walked into the building. She glanced around at their audience. Eyes landing on the other key actors. Hiding her smirk behind a closed fist, ‘if they only knew.’
She continued her way to her first set. ‘Lights…’ Where this mornings play all began, for her at least. ‘Camera…’ Taking a deep breath she pulled the door open. ‘Action.’
Head raised high she made her way to her seat in the back of the classroom, nodding and such to the few that addressed her. Sitting down she gazed out of the window. This is how it always was, always will be. Or so they made everyone believe.
, now there’s a girl you wanted to stay on the good side of. Beautiful, stubborn, smart, charismatic, and rather pretentious. Natural born leader, but she had a temper like no other and can be, almost rudely, blunt. But above all else, a clever, cruel, vixen.
Oh, how she loved it. Fooling everyone around her, how they all loved it. ‘How long had it been? How long since Keigo, Yuushi, and I sat down and came up with this master plan? It was the students of Hyotei’s own fault that they were being fooled.’
looked around the courtyard, watching the Tennis regulars go about their morning practice. Surrounded by their usual morning fans. ‘How could such a large number of relatively intelligent people so blindly follow?’ She turned her attention away from the boys when the girl next to her began to chat with her. Smiling sweetly she half listened. ‘It was their fault…’ she continued in her mind, ‘for allowing us to get so bored.’
*-*_*-*_*-*
Feeling eyes upon him Atobe looked up, catching ’s right before she turned away. Shaking his head, Atobe turned to Kabaji as he started to explain the plans for practice. ‘If they had kept us entertained, like simpletons are suppose too, this would have never happened.’
Smirking, Atobe’s eyes meet the smiling eyes of Choutarou and Shishido, who were currently getting ready for a doubles match. ‘If they only tried a little harder, or dug a little deeper, they’d find the mountain of lies.’
Getting into place the two looked up to meet the mischievous eyes of Mukahi and Oshitari. ‘If they didn’t trust so easily, if they didn’t overlook the detail, they‘d see our true faces.’
As Mukahi went to serve Oshitari glanced to the bleachers, smirking as Jirou’s eyes popped open. ‘If only they didn’t bore us, we never would have preyed on their gullibility.’ He turned onto his back getting into a more comfortable position, eyes landing on ’s back through the window. Snorting as he closed his eyes pretending to sleep.
‘If they hadn’t been so goddamned stupid.’ Snapping out of her thoughts realized she had completely toned the other girl out.
“Don’t you think so to -san?”
‘Shit…’ Blushing she brought her hands to her mouth in an innocent gesture. “Oh my, I’m so sorry Yagami-san. I got lost in my thoughts.”
The other girl only giggled. “Awe, were you thinking about your Atobe-sama?”
‘Ugh.’ wanted to gag but instead her blush suddenly got deeper. “N…now what were we talking about?” Thankfully Yagami smiled and started her entire conversation over again.
So another day began at the prestigious Hyotei…
*-*_*-*_*-*
The Green eyed woman folder her hands delicately in her lap.
“Worshiped, loved, adored.
These were things we always had, things we always knew…”
“Bored…” A younger version of Keigo sat in his chair and frowned.
“Boredom was something new.”
“Hello Keigo…” A younger version of walked into the room, followed by a younger version of Yuushi.
“What are you doing here?” He spoke aloud, but all knew its malicious undertone was referring to alone. Keigo really had no problem with the other young boy in the room.
ignored his ignorant attitude, she had become accustomed to it throughout the years. Sitting down on the sofa, Yuushi soon followed suit. “I have a proposition for you, Atobe Keigo.” The way they talked, you’d never guess these were only children. Then again, you didn’t stay a child long in the world they lived in. “Something to cure your sudden state of boredom…”
Catching his attention he sat up straighter and finally looked as though he was finally interested in what the girl had to say. “Please, continue.”
*-*_*-*_*-*
“That day, the plan was born…
Cruel, beautiful, and clever became the sweet, shy, adorable Queen.
Quiet, shy and loyal Yuushi became the smart assed, cocky, laid-back Playboy.
Selfish, ignorant, and loner Keigo became the arrogant, charismatic, aloof King.
Slowly after that things fell into place, people fell into place.
Jirou, Shishido, and Mukahi came about in our first year.
Then last but not least Choutarou was added.
As the actors lined up, the play became more alive, more elaborate.
Each day we all grew further and further away from our dreaded boredom…”
Her cell went off, and the green eyed woman looked over the screen. Smiling she picked it up.
‘I’ll be there in a few.’ Said the voice on the other end. ‘Be ready.’
“I will. See you soon.” She hung up and turned back to the other woman smiling slightly. “Where was I?” She thought for a moment, “oh, yes…”
*-*_*-*_*-*
“Ore-sama doesn’t see why he has to be here for this.” Atobe sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.
“Well, you’re the president Atobe-san. You have to come to some of the meetings.” The student council secretary pointed out from his seat.
Atobe smirked. “You need Ore-sama’s help for everything. Ore-sama thought you would all be able to handle such trivial things as a festival, but supposes he could have been wrong.”
All eyes turned to , the peacemaker. She looked up and groaned inwardly. “Now now, Keigo…” She blushed and stuttered. “I…I…I mean Atobe-kun.”
Atobe smirked, ‘she gets better at this everyday. If I didn’t know any better I’d think she was shy and innocent…if I didn’t know better.’
stood and smiled. “We are very capable of doing this on our own and you know that. It’s just that we’d like your input as well.” She looked down at her hands blushing more. “It’s your festival too, and we want everyone to have fun. With whomever they bring.”
All eyes turned back to Atobe.
looked up at him and smirked, ‘if I have to do this crap so do you.’
“Fine, if -chan asked how could Ore-sama refuse?” He smirked as a few of the female council members giggled.
quickly rolled her eyes before smiling a shy sweet smile. “Thank you, Atobe-kun.” She whispered as she sat down and the meeting continued. Shortly after Atobe snuck out.
*-*_*-*_*-*
After her meeting stormed into the tennis locker room. Quickly glancing around at the regulars she quickly found her target. “You bastard!” She growled out at Atobe, who only laughed.
“, did I upset you?” He finished pulling his shirt over her head.
“Upset? UPSET is an understatement!” She poked him hard on the shoulder. “How dare you leave me with those…those fan girls?”
Choutarou came up behind his girlfriend. “What did Atobe do now?” He wrapped his arms around her neck.
“First off, if you ever, and let me emphasize ever, call me -chan in that tone of voice again I will rip your tongue out!” She took a few deep breaths, the scent of her boyfriend slowly calming her anger.
Which quickly came back as she heard Jirou laughing in the background. Her glare turned to the messy haired sleeper. “Second, do you know how much bullshit I had to go through because you called me so?” Choutarou chuckled as he kissed her neck. “I had to smile so sweet, I thought my teeth would rot!”
Atobe stood and made his way over to the slowly raging girl. “Awe, but it’s so fun -chan.” He quickly jumped back when she lunged for his throat.
Choutarou quickly picked up his fiery little girlfriend and threw her over his shoulder. “We’ll be borrowing the back room for a bit.” He winked at his teammates as he closed the door.
Oshitari chuckled as they made their way to the courts. “I suppose our needs a bit of a cool down.”
Throwing , not too gently, onto the couch Choutarou climbed on top of her. “Have you calmed down?” He spoke calmly as he started to untie her uniform.
Pouting and turning away she refused to answer. Choutarou was not amused, but knew that.
“, I asked you a question…” He whispered huskily into her ear. Nodding she turned placing a chaste kiss on his lips. “I don’t think I like you showing so much attention to Atobe…”
Smirking, her anger disappearing completely, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He leaned down and kissed down her neck. “Is my sweet, adorable, Choutarou jealous?” Glaring up at her he bit her collar bone. “How cute…”
*-*_*-*_*-*
walked into her home and sighed. She rubbed her arms as she made her way through the huge cold, empty house. Or she thought it was empty.
“-sama.”
Without even turning she continued her track to the kitchen to eat. “Yuushi, how can you still call me that?”
The boy stepped out and followed behind her. Rubbing the back of his neck he blushed. “Sorry, force of habit you know.”
Chuckling as they entered the kitchen, she started walking around making something to eat. “So, why are you here?”
Sighing and looking away he sat on a stool by the breakfast bar. “I figured your parents would be gone again.”
Glancing back at the boy she kept herself busy with dinner. “And?”
“Regardless of our relationship at school, you are a and I am an Oshitari.” Yuushi stood, sat the young girl down, and proceeded to finish her dinner. “We, Oshitari’s, may be of equal status with the now, but…” He placed a plate of food before her. Sitting across from her he smiled. “We’re still taught to protect and serve you. That’s part of our birth right.”
“Some birth right, Yuushi.” snorted sarcastically as she began to eat. “It’s weird having you watch me eat. Get something to eat for yourself already!” She growled slightly.
“Thank you, -sama.” He smiled as he got up to prepare himself something to eat as well.
*-*_*-*_*-*
“We created a bond that no one could break. No one even dared to try. We created a world, that only we knew wasn’t real.”
The green eyed woman smiled as though it was an extremely fond memory.
“At that time I don’t even think we knew what we had created within each other.”
Her smile quickly turned into a frown.
“It was probably that bond in itself that started to destroy us.”
*-*_*-*_*-*
The Hyotei team regulars sat on the bleachers at some out door tennis park. It was relatively empty, so they only had to half act. Hopefully no one noticed.
“Ne, Atobe?” Shishido leaned back looking up at his captain. With a nod from Atobe, indicating for him to continue. “Why does hate you so much?”
With this almost all the regulars turned towards Atobe, minus Choutarou and Oshitari. It was an interesting question that probably plagued all their minds one time or another.
Chuckling Atobe shook his head. “Multiple reasons…” Oshitari only smirked. More than a little disappointed none of the members pushed any further.
Choutarou looked up at his senpai, ‘does really hate Atobe as much as everyone thinks?’
“Oh look it’s the monkey king…” The boy looked down at a white capped boy on one of the courts.
‘Oh well, act two I suppose…’ Was basically what they all thought as they fell into their rolls.
*-*_*-*_*-*
Choutarou lifted his girlfriend and pinned her against the wall. “We’ve been busy lately.”
nodded, running her hands around his neck and through his hair. Roughly pulling his head to meet hers, she captured his lips.
Pulling back reluctantly to breath he turned his head to torture her neck. Feverishly he ran his hands under her shirt. ‘Does she really hate Atobe?’
“Chou….Choutarou.” couldn’t put her finger on it but something was wrong.
She was ignored as he continued his assault on her neck. He pulled her from the wall and fell on top of her onto the bed. Making quick use of his hands to take her clothes from her body.
“Ow…” She struggled under him a little. “Hey…Choutarou!” She pushed him off of her and he went stumbling back, a small bit of blood on his lips. brought her hand to her neck, feeling the light flow of blood. “What the hell is wrong with you?” She hissed before getting off the bed and making her way to the bathroom.
Choutarou wiped his mouth of and took a seat on the bed. He heard a noise and spotted ’s cell phone ringing on her dresser. Standing he went over to it. [Atobe] read the caller ID. He picked it up.
“Yo, .”
“…”
“, you there?”
“…”
“Oi, don’t make me repeat…”
-click-
Choutarou threw the phone on the bed and quickly got dressed, leaving the room.
opened the bathroom door, dressed in a robe, dabbing her neck dry. “Geez, Choutarou, when did you become a vampire…” She looked up and found the room empty. “Choutarou…” She frowned, ‘was it because I pushed him away…?’
*-*_*-*_*-*
Choutarou had been acting strange since that night. glance at him as they sat in the library. ‘Did I do something wrong?’ She bit her lip, they were at school. She couldn’t risk them being caught together that way. ‘What should I do?’ She looked down and tried to read the page for a third time.
He looked over and saw the worried expression on her face. ‘Maybe I should apologize; I did run out on her.’ Quickly he ripped a small piece of paper and jotted something down on it. His teacher came in and announced that his class had to leave. He prepared all of his things, as he walked past her he dropped the small note on her book. Letting his fingers lightly run through the ends of her hair.
[Sorry…]
turned and smiled as she watched him leave the library. Atobe entered the library and quickly found the person he’d been looking for.
“Ne, are you busy?” She looked up and shook her head. “Good, walk me to practice we need to talk.”
She saw his serious expression and stood immediately, they left together.
*-*_*-*_*-*
“Oshitari is worried too ya know, you been acting odd lately. Choutarou too.” They made their way towards the court.
Smiling a smile he’d never seen her wear she shook her head. “Everything alright. Just a little rough patch but it’s alright.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded as they approached the locker room. “Can I wait for Choutarou in here?”
He held the locker room door open for her. “Well, if you say so. Don’t make me and Oshitari worry about you so much! It might be normal for him but I don’t like it!”
“Atobe you are an idiot.” She laughed and pushed at his arm. “You could careless if I’m upset or not!” He frowned and held her with both hands on her shoulders.
His expression was serious. “I’ll only say this once so listen! , you’re like a sister to me…” The locker room door opened, “I do care about you.” His voice sounded gentler then she thought he could ever muster up.
Choutarou stopped in his tracks as the other regulars barreled in after him. ‘Did I just hear… ?’ He finally started to move again and turned the corner.
stood leaning against the wall, normal smirk in place. His eyes darted to Atobe who rummaged through his locker, acting as if nothing happened.
‘I’ve had it…’ Choutarou made his way towards . “I’ve had it with this game!” He growled out under his breath.
“Chouta…” He slammed his fist into the wall beside her head. All eyes turned towards the two. stared wide eyed at Choutarou. “What’s wrong with you?” She all but whispered.
She was taken back when his cold, cruel eyes met hers. “You are an amazing actress .” He laughed bitterly, leaning down and licking the shell of her ear. “Even I believed you when you clung to me every night…” He moved back, evilly smirking. Before any of the other boys could even react a loud slap sounded across the room.
“I thought you knew, Choutarou.” let her hand fall again, before looking up into his eyes once more. “Of all people I thought at least you knew…” She whispered as Choutarou took a step back. brought her hands to her face. ‘Wet…’ Laughing a little she looked back at him. “I haven‘t cried in years…” She mumbled more to herself than anyone else. Choutarou backed up more before turning and dashing out of the locker room. slid down the wall, unable to stop the tears; she buried her face in her knees. “I never acted in front of you…”
“But somewhere along the way, some of us noticed the change. The difference…”
The green eyed woman eyed the picture that hung on the wall.
*-*_*-*_*-*
It was the worst week of her life. She never thought anyone could make her feel like this. She was , how dare anyone have more control over her then she had over herself. Since that incident a week ago everyone pretty much avoided each other, even the audience noticed something wrong. Graduation was less than two weeks away and everything was falling apart.
There were whispers in the class as they looked upon . The main one, “I heard that Atobe-sama broke up with -sama.” Really, could care less. The room when silent as the door slid open and a male made his way to the seat next to her.
“…”
As if in a daze she turned her eyes over to the voice. “Yuushi, what do you want?”
His eyes widened at the use of his first name in school. That’s when the new rumors started.
“, are you okay?” He leaned in and whispered.
Nodding absentmindedly she turned her gaze back out the window. “I’m fine.” As if in her own word she whispered, “it was only an act anyway, right?”
*-*_*-*_*-*
“We noticed…that we didn’t know when we were acting anymore.”
Gently running her hand through her thick, long dark hair, she sighed.
“Could it be said that we grew as individuals? Or did we merely lose to our ‘other selves’? I‘m not sure, but I do know that we couldn’t tell where the real us began and the fake us ended.”
*-*_*-*_*-*
Graduation came soon enough. stood looking back at their stage, their school. Taking a deep breath she ran her school years quickly through her mind.
“It was fun while it lasted.” Oshitari walked up and stood to the right of her. She nodded but said nothing.
“I suppose we could all go to school for acting if we wanted.” Atobe cocky remarked, tapping his diploma case on his shoulder. She looked at him to her left and chuckled. She’d never have been able to get Atobe to talk to her civilly before. She’d never get Yuushi to look at her as an equal. But look a the three of them now, they could even be called friends.
“It wasn’t an act…” Both boys looked down at her. “Well, not all of it…” She smiled.
*-*_*-*_*-*
There was a knock at the door and both women looked as the door opened.
“I told you to be ready.” Atobe walked through the door way. “You’re still doing this; it was supposed to be over an hour ago!”
laughed, “Sorry, I got caught reminiscing.”
Rolling his eyes he leaned against the door. “Well, let’s go! We’re going to be late.”
“Yes, yes. I know.” stood and made her way to the door to leave.
“Wait!” The other woman stood, “what…what happened at the end?”
Atobe held the door open as smirked and looked back. “Maa, I wonder…”
She turned and walked out of the room, door closing slowly behind her.
She walked out to the limo with Atobe. She looked up to see Oshitari holding the door open for her.
leaned down and…
*-*_*-*_*-*
Oshitari and Atobe looked at each other then down at the ground. Oshitari bent down and picked up ’s discarded diploma. They both looked off in the direction she went running.
She threw the door open to the tennis locker room, eyes roaming till they found him. He leaned back against the wall. “You’re late…”
*-*_*-*_*-*
…a hand reached out and pulled her into the darkness.
“You’re late…” The voice growled.
She smiled. “But you’d wait for me right?” She couldn’t help but let a tear roll down her cheek.
He pulled her into his lap and buried his nose in her neck.
“You know I hate it when you cry…”
ran her hand through soft silver hair. “I know…”
-End Scene-
-Cut that’s a wrap-
AN: I don’t know where Choutarou's evil personality came from but I just think I was getting a cavity from his o’so sweetness!
I hope it’s not to confusing with the narrator or layout of the story.
[If it makes it any clearer the bold is an older (hopefully wiser) you (the reader).]
Don‘t hate me!!!!!!!!
©Wanna.Be