Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I don't own that slight reference to Star Wars. That line just stuck to me that I can't resist putting it in. (I noticed I've been doing a lot referencing lately... Oh well xD)

Houjun had to literally drag Ryuuen away from the bustling crowd in the café. He glanced at the happy man, like the fight at the shop earlier never happened. "So where are we going now Ryuuen? Back to the studio?"

Ryuuen glanced at him thoughtfully. "Hmm… no not yet. We're not late yet so it's cool. Umm… I guess I could go for a milkshake."

Houjun stared at him. "Didn't you just say your appetite's ruined?"

Ryuuen waved him off. "Nah, just said it cause it sounded cool at the moment. You're not the only one who's an expert in dramatics. Ooh wait! There's the shop! Come on, and I'm gonna explain to you the basics while we wait!"

Houjun sweatdropped for probably the hundredth time that day. He let himself get dragged to the shop. No doubt people are always getting dragged away if the person you're with is Ryuuen.

Ryuuen entered the shop and promptly collapsed on a chair. He gestured for him to sit down across from him. He obediently did so and watched Ryuuen call the waiter.

"Okay, I'm gonna have a strawberry banana milkshake. How 'bout you Houjun?"

"Uh, just a plain chocolate one."

"You heard him. By the way Houjun, this one's on me too." Houjun was about to protest but he cut him off. "I'm the one who dragged you here anyway. It's okay."

Ryuuen then turned to the waiter. "Now go on and make it fast. We're kinda in a hurry."

After the waiter left, Houjun glanced at Ryuuen with a raised eyebrow. "Ryuuen, we're not really in a hurry."

Ryuuen grinned, "Well if it makes them hurry up with those milkshakes, then why the heck not?"

Houjun only sighed in defeat and shook his head in amusement. Ryuuen was quickly warming up to him, despite that attitude of his. And he kinda liked his company. Who knew that he would immediately have a friend just after what happened with Hikou? Let alone be friends with the happy-go-lucky Nuriko of the Suzaku seven?

No, his real self is Ryuuen. But it's still hard to distinguish them because they look exactly alike. Ryuuen probably only need his makeup and costume when going on set. He practically looks like Nuriko already.

"So how about those tips of yours? Isn't that the reason why we're here rather than the studio?"

Ryuuen grinned at him playfully. "Patience, my young padawan."

Houjun only raised an eyebrow.

Ryuuen pouted, "Aww, you're no fun. Well, alright. Guess I'll start with the crew. There's really only Mr. I-never-bothered-learning-his-name-which-is-probably-ridiculous-anyway director, and Yuu Watase, the producer, the screenwriter, and the all-in-all creator of Fushigi Yuugi. The others aren't really important."

Houjun chuckled. "Well that was extremely useful info."

Ryuuen winked. "I didn't say that anything I tell you will be important. Though the cast is the complicated ones."

That made Houjun stop and look at him. "Why? What's so complicated about them?"

Ryuuen clasped both hands in front of his face and rested his chin on them, face immediately taking on a serious look. "Well… you may have noticed by now that no one acts exactly like the characters they portray."

Houjun stared. "Well, judging by what I know, YOU act close like Nuriko yourself."

Ryuuen sniggered. "Yeah, I guess I do huh? But seriously, the others act TOTALLY different from their characters. For example, Araki Kae. Also known as Miaka Yuuki."

"The priestess?"

"Who else? Dude, that actress is the most stuck-up, snobbish, and the most annoying one of them all! She treats everyone like we're beneath her just because she got the lead role. Except maybe Kishuku Sou, who plays Tamahome. They're really the perfect pair! And I don't mean that in a romantic way. They could go rot in a hole for all I care."

Houjun blinked. "They're the last people I would think of as 'bad'. You sure they're really like that?"

Ryuuen glared at him. "You don't trust the guy who freaking works there himself?"

Houjun sweatdropped. "Good point no da."

"You're damn right! She's so irritating! To make you understand more, Araki's attitude is just like Mirror Miaka in that last episode. She doesn't even need to act. Made me so satisfied that I get to drop a boulder on her, even though it's just a prop." Ryuuen then cleared his throat. "Umm… problem is, no one believes that they're that bad. I mean, the other cast members know, but the crew won't believe us. Makes me wanna start a fight in there. But that would only make you lose your job for messing with the lead role. Besides, if you fight or argue with one of them, the other will just come running in. Ugh! I can't explain it! Just wait till you meet them, then you can join me on fantasizing which of us gets to slap them first."

Houjun chuckled nervously. "I'd rather not get in a fight with anyone on the first day of the job no da."

"Well then, we'll get in a fight in the LAST day of the job. No da." Ryuuen smirked. "And before you judge me, I'm not making them look bad. Even if they do deserve it." The last part was added in an angry murmur. "But trust me, they're the only nasty ones. Yet. The others are pretty nice just like me!"

"Somehow, I'm not really comforted by that na no da."

"Aww come off it! Just play along or something!"

"Okay then. Who are these other people that's as nice as the person who beats up random customers in a café?"

"Hey! You have to admit, he deserved it." Ryuuen laughed, and he couldn't help but laugh himself. It was so nice talking to him, like they've been best friends for a long time. This was the second time he bothered to be friends with a male after his last experience with Hikou didn't go so well. Kouran's the best, but it's still different to have a male friend. He was probably lucky he got to meet Ryuuen first. If by some chance what Ryuuen was saying is true and he met Araki or Kishuku first….

Nah, he'd rather not think about it.

"So what exactly did they do that made you hate them so much?" He finally asked.

All of a sudden, Ryuuen looked furious. "They always tease me with girly things. It's NOT funny at all!"

Figures Ryuuen would hate them for that. It sounds a lot like Miaka and Tamahome are both bullies. Which is so hard to believe because they looked so nice in the show.

No one acts exactly like the characters they portray.

He should make an effort of remembering that saying. It sounds really important.

"Here are your orders."

They both looked up just as the milkshakes were placed in front of them. They nodded in thanks and watched the waiter stare at them in awe before hurriedly scurrying off. He probably heard the rumors travelling from the café earlier. Either he's fleeing from terror or he's off telling his colleagues that he just served a famous actor. (Houjun doesn't consider himself an actor yet. There's still the possibility that he'll get fired, probably because of his rotten luck recently)

"Hey, I really don't wanna talk about Araki or Kishuku right now. Whenever I see them or join them in some scenes it takes a lot of willpower not to smash their faces in. I'm always forced to pretend to act like everything is fine between us. It kills me to see her fake smile. Especially in that scene where I had to dress and wrap the wound in her chest… UGH! Makes me want to stab her for real for grinning at me so smugly." Ryuuen sighed darkly. "Moving on, you know Hotohori right?"

"Hotohori? The emperor?"

"That's the one. His real name is Shu Seishuku. That guy's the nicest and also one of my friends. Despite what the show says about him, he's not a narcissist with an obsession with Miaka. He doesn't even care what he looks like most of the time. He's a down-to-earth kinda guy, so he's pretty easy to talk to. And you know what I like about him? He also doesn't LIKE BakAraKishuku. That deserves some bonus points!"

"BakAraKishuku? Is that supposed to be an insult?"

"Yep! Pretty creative huh?"

"You just merged their names and added a 'baka' in it, no da."

"Whatever. Everyone likes it, so you better like it too!"

"Daaa… I think I know why everyone likes it already… no da…"

Houjun sweatdropped and continued to slurp his milkshake, though Ryuuen unexpectedly chugged his down to the last drop. Houjun stared amused when Ryuuen clapped both hands on the side of his head and winced. "Brain freeze~!"

Houjun laughed at him. "What do you expect if you drank your milkshake like that anyways?"

"Really cool ice powers?" Ryuuen grinned playfully.

They stared at each other and promptly burst out laughing, not caring if they were a bit too loud.

Ryuuen wiped some tears from his eyes. "Okay, so Hotohori is off the list. Next is probably Yumi Touma who plays Yui Hongo. That girl's another person you shouldn't worry about. Even if she's playing an antagonistic role, she's pretty nice. I like her a lot more than Miaka anyways. Shame she's with the Seiryuu gang…"

"What?!" Houjun exclaimed so suddenly that Ryuuen jumped back.

"W-What's what?"

"Yui's with the Seiryuu?!"

Ryuuen blinked at the disbelieving look Houjun sent him. "Come again?"

"Yui's the enemy?!"

Ryuuen cocked his head in puzzlement. But then, understanding filled his features and he laughed. "Oh yeah! I forgot you're new and you still don't know. Yep, Yui becomes the enemy and will band with the Seiryuu seishi and becomes their priestess. Pretty awesome huh?"

Houjun just sank down his chair. "Yeah… pretty awesome… that was a really big spoiler you just revealed there." He absolutely HAD to avoid saying that to Kouran then, or she'll be really furious and then he'll find himself without someone to talk to for three days. (She can't resist talking to him after the third day, and it's the same situation with him anyways)

Ryuuen sniggered. "Well you're about to get spoiled big time since you're part of the family now." He then glanced at his almost empty milkshake glass thoughtfully. "Huh. I guess that's it. Unless you want me to describe the extras? I know two people who were casted as Konan soldiers."

"Nah, I'm good." He waved him off. "We should probably get going. I really don't want to be late on my first day."

"Heh. They'll understand if they saw you with me." Ryuuen patted his back cheerfully and stood up. "Now come on!"

For what was probably the thousandth time that day, Houjun was dragged away by a very energetic Ryuuen.

A/N: Remember that this is set BEFORE Chichiri's appearance, therefore Yui siding with the enemy is not revealed yet. PLEASE REVIEW! Constructive criticism is more than welcome! :)