Chapter 11. The Cinderella Transformation.

The shoot began. In the scene, Ruriko's character, Choko had to walk in the living room where her mother and cousin were having a conversation. They shot the scene more than a dozen times, but every time Ruriko walked in, the Director yelled, "cut."

He said that she wasn't walking the right way and then they would shoot the the whole scene from the top again.

Kyoko stood in the corner. She did not want to be in the way. Ren was standing opposite her on the other side of the room since he was not in the scene. Their eyes met. He mouthed some words to her from across the room. She tried to read his lips but it didn't make any sense.

When the Director shouted, "cut. Take a five," Kyoko crossed the room and asked Ren, "did you just say, 'you just met a hospitable purple squirrel?'" She somehow managed to figure out his words, but not what they meant.

"Close. But I said, 'you did not go to hospital, turtle girl,'" he replied.

"I am not a turtle girl!" Why did she even bother to come to him? "As long as I don't put my weight on my left leg, I am fine."

I can't believe her, thought Ruriko, who was watching Kyoko and Ren like a hawn. She's still playing the victim in front of him. And why is he talking to her? I'll teach her a lesson.

She suddenly pushed Kyoko from behind, who fell down because of the impact. "Oh, please. You weren't even hurt that bad. You're obviously pretending it to be way worse than it is so that everyone would pity you."

"Hey, are you alright?" Ren knelt down to help Kyoko, ignoring Ruriko's tantrum.

That made Ruriko even more furious, so she yelled, "I bet you tripped and fell on purpose, all because of your pathetic crush on Ren Tsuruga."

The room grew quiet. Everyone was looking at them now.

Kyoko was boiling from anger. She wanted to rip out Ruriko's throat for humiliating her like that, and for assuming her intentions, when she didn't know anything about her.

For once she was glad to have her injury because if she was able to stand, she definitely would have hit Ruriko this time. A million rude things came to her mind to say. But she swallowed them. If she would say those things then that would only prove that she was no better than Ruriko.

I'll get back at her, but at her own game. I'll get my revenge from everyone who mistreated me once I become a star. And in order to become a star she had to stay at LME and the Love Me Division. So she suppressed her anger and kept quiet.

"Ruriko, that was uncalled for," the Director, Mr Shinka, who saw the whole ordeal said. "Now Apologise."

All the eyes in the room turned to Ruriko, expectantly. All of them wanted her to apologize. No one was on her side. "Like hell I will," she muttered and stormed out of the room.

"I am sorry about her." He said to Kyoko and helped her up.

"It's fine."

.

.

.

Ruriko couldn't understand what was happening. They sided with a nobody like Kyoko over her. It didn't make any sense. Something was definitely wrong.

She fished out her cell phone from her purse and called her manager, who was supposed to be here before the shoot. It kept ringing. There was no answer. Why today of all days? She groaned in frustration.

When her anger was cooled off, she went back in to proceed with the shoot.

.

.

.

They were on the take 15 of the first scene. Kyoko listened to the conversation of Choko's mother and her cousin again. It was already etched into her memory. Ruriko walked in, but Mr Shinka shouted, "cut," again.

They started take 16. Kyoko leaned on the wall behind her. She had been standing only on her right leg all day, which was aching now. Ruriko pushing her didn't help either. She didn't even apologize but it's not like I was expecting her to. She winced from the ache.

"Ms Mogami, how about you take the load of that ankle?" Ren said as he shifted a stool towards her.

When did he come here? "I think I am good." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Hey, why did you suddenly start being all nice to me?"

"Isn't a person allowed to be kind to someone who just got hurt?" He asked with a poker face. At least he did not have that treacherous smile.

"Anyway, if Ruriko sees you hanging around or talking to me for no reason, she is gonna throw another fit." She shifted away from him. "So how about you just-"

"How many times are we doing this? It's just walking!" Ruriko shouted at Mr Shinka, interrupting Kyoko. The take 16 was cut as well.

"We'll continue resetting the entrance until you get it right." The Director replied. "Your character is the daughter of an ancient and eminent family. I need to see that in your each and every movement."

"I know that and its exactly what I am doing." Ruriko shot back.

"It is not. Right now, it's just you walking in a kimono. We'll take it from the top. This time hold your back perfectly straight, tuck in your chin, your centre of balance should be a perfect arrow from your crown to the soles of your feet."

For Kyoko, the Director's words brought back some memories from the past. She remembered how Mrs Fuwa had trained her when she was young, the traditional japanese etiquettes. It took her days to just learn how to stand properly. All those countless, hard lessons she endured just to please the Fuwas. She never thought that they could be required in a place like this.

"That's it. I am not some actress, I am an idol. I only agreed to do this project because Ren begged me. You know what, I quit. Good luck replacing me."

Mr Shinka didn't reply.

"You wanna pull this amateur crap, be my guest, just use her." Ruriko pointed at Kyoko. "She'd do anything to earn a couple of points."

That'll show them, Ruriko thought smugly. She was irreplaceable, now they will have no choice but to treat her respectfully if they wanted her to work in this project. She also got the chance to get back at Kyoko. Two birds with one stone!

"That sounds a lot like a challenge to me." Kyoko stepped forward. "I could perform this scene in a single take." Her determined eyes gave a hint of dangerousness. It was obvious she was sure she could do it. "You finally give me the chance to step into this industry. Now watch, see what I can do."

"Well, I say we give it a try." The Director said. "Ms Mogami seems pretty confident, and Ruriko will also get some time to rest."

Ruriko stormed out, again. The Director followed her. He peeked from the door and saw that she was anxiously calling someone.

She must be calling her manager, he thought. Good luck with that but she won't be picking up or stopping by. Because she is also a part of the President's plan.

"You're letting this happens." He heard Ren's voice behind him and turned. "You are pining those two against each other. I am telling you, nothing good will come of this."

"It's the plan." The Director replied with a duh-look. Ren also knew about the plan.

"Why am I not surprised? President Takarada's another master plan. We can try, but you are the Director. You are the only one who can stop her from storming off the set every time something doesn't go away."

"Look Ren, I have no use of a bratty actress who's just gonna cause me problems."

"Very well, then." He turned and left.

The plan seemed perfect to Mr Shinka. It was devised by President Takarada to cultivate Ruriko's talent as an actress. She had a lot of potential but since she topped the music industry at such a young age, her arrogance was holding her back. The President thought that she needed to face some competition in order to be successful. That's where the newest Love Me member, Mogami came in. They were the same age and they both had no real experience in acting. so he asked the crew to give no special treatment to Ruriko and to make them both compete with each other.

So far, the plan was working out as expected.

.

.

.

Ruriko smashed her cell phone down. What was the point of having a manager if she was going to ditch her in a crucial moment like this?

She turned back to see if anyone had followed her. There was no one. It's weird. Where are they? Normally when I quit, everyone comes out to deal with it.

It's all that stupid Director's fault. Who does he think he is? Giving my role to that Love Me trash.

It doesn't matter anyway, because it's not like that girl could actually act.

"Ruriko." A familiar voice called out.

She turned, "Tsuruga."

"Listen, Mr Shinka is serious about letting her try. It may have been a bluff but you did say you quit. If you want to earn your place back, you'll have to do your best." The plan's in motion anyway, I should help out, Ren thought. He wanted to give Ruriko that competitive edge, which Mogami already had. That was why he was here.

That's all he had to say to me, Ruriko thought angrily. He is the one who begged me to costar with him. Why isn't he is sticking up for me? That wretched Love Me girl has ruined everything.

.

.

.

A young woman from the crew, who introduced herself as the cast makeup artist, took Kyoko to a room to get her ready for the scene. She was quite friendly.

"What an amazing opportunity!" She said excitedly. "Imagine if this kicks off your whole career, you'd be quite the Cinderella story."

"I'd be like Cinderella?" Kyoko asked with stars in her eyes.

"Yeah, absolutely."

She is right, Kyoko thought. It happened so fast, I snapped and accepted Ruriko's challenge but this is my chance! Now I'll have to show her up for real.

"Okay, my assistant is finding an outfit for you from the wardrobe. So let's get you into makeup."

"What did you just say?" Kyoko asked in a shocked expression.

"Let's get you into makeup."

Kyoko grabbed her shoulders and exclaimed loudly, "say it again!" She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Let's get you into makeup," she said uneasily.

"I can't hear you."

"Let's get you into makeup."

"Again..."

Kyoko was on cloud nine. She was going to wear actual makeup done by an actual professional. She was indeed Cinderella, who was about to be transformed.

.

.

.

"Thanks for waiting everyone," The makeup artist went in first and said, "She's ready now."

Kyoko remembered a passage from the story Cinderella, which she read when she was young. It was when Cinderella was on her way to the ball, because that was exactly what Kyoko was feeling like when she was about to enter.

Cinderella only watched, wishing she could be there. Poor Cinderella, in her rags and ashes, could only stare at the glamorous far off ball, wishing from all her heart she could attend. In a sudden flash, her fairy godmother appeared before her and that simple girl was transformed into something completely new, utterly beautiful, perfect fairytale.

At long last, Cinderella arrives at the royal ball, thought Kyoko. And now my story begins.

And in she walked. The pink kimono draped around her slim, lean frame had flower-shaped patterns on it. The satin sash around her waist exposed her statuesque curves. Her head was covered with a wig of dark, straight locks of hair falling softly behind her back. Her olive skin was creamy. Her face, with quality makeup backing it, had the perfect contours, highlighting her chiseled jawline and high cheekbones.

And her eyes, they were every shade of brown anyone could imagine, a raw umber and caramel mix, dotted with bits of dark chocolate. They glowed with humor and playfulness.

She stretched her angelic lips and smiled. It was like a gentle touch, honest and pure.

She was greeted by gasps and stunned faces. They were all very still, their jaws dropping in awe. Ren Tsuruga was also one of them.

Ren gasped and blinked his eyes. He looked around to make sure that he was not hallucinating. It was the same girl whom he had found in the mud this morning, all sweaty and stinky. Now, her beauty was on par with Ruriko, if she was not prettier.

"Mogami, is that really you?" A woman from the crew finally broke the silence.

"Yeah."

And the next moment they were all surrounding her. They started showering her with compliments.

"Wow, I can hardly believe you are the same girl. You look like a princess."

"Doesn't she? I just made a few small adjustments to her wig and she totally transformed." The makeup artist confided.

Her wig had small bangs covering her forehead, which were swept askew and pinned to her temple. It gave her a poised look.

"Wow, thank goodness you're so plain." Ruriko said sarcastically. "All it takes is throwing a ton of makeup and magically you look like a completely different person."

"It's crazy, I know!" Kyoko exclaimed in a shrill voice, her tone was of a kid who just got ice-cream. "It's just wonderful, like a spell that turned me into a princess from a fairytale."

"That's not what I was trying to say." Ruriko said irritatedly.

Kyoko continued babbling like a child with sparkling eyes and butterflies in her stomach, "it's like I am living inside a dream, I always wanted my makeup done like this and now a professional made me gorgeous on a real movie set..."

"Why aren't you listening to me?" Her babbling irritated Ruriko even more.

"... I thereby declare total world happiness." She was lost in her own world. She threw up her arms in the air, "this is the greatest moment that my sixteen years of life got to see. "

She turned to Ruriko and held her hands with a bright smile, "I never would have got this chance without you, Ruriko. Without your arrogance and your selfishness and your cruelty. Thank you so much."

Ruriko snatched away her arms angrily, "is this your weird way of picking a fight?"

"Of course not, Ruriko. I just want this moment of pure happiness to last-" she stopped smiling and continued in her normal voice, "by destroying you." Her eyes were dangerous again like before.

Ruriko stepped back, startled. She finally found her voice, "no chance. I will never lose to some sad nobody like you. This role is gonna be mine!" She exclaimed.

The Director and Ren exchanged a look. Ruriko was finally taking it seriously, the plan was working.

.

.

.

Kyoko returned the script as the shoot was about to begin. She stood by the door to wait for her cue.

"Right on the set." She heard from inside. There was a pause, "and we're rolling. Action." There was a loud clap from the clapboard and the scene began.

"You are not serious, it simply cannot be true." Choko's mother said.

"Yesterday, Uncle Miyaki very nearly...it's not important, but someone claims that they saw Choko there." Choko's cousin, Midori said in a worried tone.

That was her cue. She was not Kyoko anymore, she was Choko. She walked in as gracefully as a peacock. Her body lithe and lissome. Her movement supple. Her feet landing as smoothly and effortlessly as a feather.

"What? Our Choko? Impossible!" Her mother said.

"Pardon my intrusion, were you talking about me, mother?" She said in a soft clear voice.

"Choko." Her mother was clearly surprised to see her. Her stance was as quiet as a predator which was about to pounce on its prey.

"It's so wonderful to see you here, Midori." Choko addressed her cousin. She bowed formally to greet her. Her back bended at exactly a thirty degree angle.

She maintained her bow for a few seconds and then straightened again, just as gracefully.

"Very well done." The Director whispered, clearly impressed. Kyoko had exceeded his expectations.

Ruriko heard the compliment. Her heart sank. She was becoming more nervous every second. What if I actually get beaten by her? What if they give her the role? I would never be able to face anyone again.

The scene was over. Kyoko did get it right in a single take. Afterwards, she was surrounded by some of the crew again, who were impressed by her performance. Ruriko's confidence kept stooping with every compliment she overheard from them.

"It was perfect, I absolutely believed you were the daughter of those old families."

"You seem so natural wearing a kimono."

"That bow was just so effortless looking. Be honest, you've taken some classes?"

More like I lived in a school, Kyoko thought. Aloud, she said, "well maybe, just a few."

"I called it." They all chuckled.

"Keep up the performance in the next scene, I am sure the Director will pick you."

Kyoko excused herself. The moment she stepped forward, she almost fell down. All the adrenaline caused by the excitement made her pain tolerable for a while, it gave her enough boost to complete the scene. But the moment it was over, all the juice was burned out. Her ankle was now on fire.

"You can try to forget that you fractured your ankle, but it's still gonna hurt." Ren said to her. He pushed the stool behind her again. This time she sat down clumsily without complaining.

The crew was leaving to prepare for the second scene, which was outside.

Ren knelt down and unwrapped the bandage from Kyoko's ankle to check her injury. "Listen, it won't heal right if you keep putting weight on it like it's okay."

"I had to, otherwise I couldn't walk smoothly. I needed to get the part." She reminded him.

Her eyes were full of determination, like this part was the most important thing to her in the world.

Her ankle was swollen even worse. He started rewrapping the bandage as he gazed into her eyes trying to read her mind.

He was clearly impressed by her drive. She was ready to suffer so much in order to give it her all. I misjudged her, he thought. At first she might have been here for revenge. But her passion, it's real. All that drive, it cannot be just for revenge. She must have forgotten about it by now. She did pretty well for her first time so she has earned my respect.

His gaze was making her uncomfortable. She blinked her eyes nervously. He took the hint and looked away.

He was done wrapping the bandage, "just sit out the next scene." His voice was surprisingly kind. "Trust me on this."

"Why would you say that?" She was not sure if she should trust him. He had been surprisingly nice to her and did nothing to break her trust, the whole day. Yet she still had mixed feelings about him.

"Its a tea ceremony. You won't make it."

"Oh, boy."

"Even if the first take is perfect, the entire scene will run for almost fifteen minutes. I guarantee if you put that kind of pressure on your ankle, the pain will be excruciating. You're just not strong enough for that."

"Not strong enough? I'll make it through. I don't have a choice." She replied in an adamant tone.