CASTING STONES    by roku kyu

Disclaimer: The characters from Fushigi Yuugi are the creations and property of Yuu Watase and related enterprises. The characters from Inu-Yasha are the creations and property of Rumiko Takahashi and related enterprises. I do not own them and do not make any profit from this fiction except for my own enjoyment in spending time with them.

On the other hand, the original characters Mom and Dad are my original creations (actually, I’m their original creation) and they belong to me, as do other assorted family members. Also belonging to me are the plotline, original plot devices and dialogue. As to the reviewers and fanfic authors in this fic - they belong to themselves! But I get to "borrow" them for the duration of this fic - hee, hee, hee.

This story is rated PG-13 for Tasuki (and Inu-Yasha) language and for some adult situations. Rating may change in future chapters - we’ll just have to see, won’t we?

This is an Alternate Universe fic taking place in an unnamed yet easily recognizable major midwestern US city.

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Chapter 1.    The stage is set...

We observe the setting of this story in a major city situated on the shores of a large body of water. Impressive skyscrapers tower over smaller historic edifices in the downtown area, as we focus in on an old historic building decorated with a gaudy two-story neon sign in the artsy theatre district of this major metropolis. The theatre marquis reads in lights: WHITE STONES IN THE MOONLIGHT, FEATURING THE ALL-STAR CAST OF FUSHIGI YUUGI. The camera’s eye enters this restored edifice through the main entrance - then stops in shock at the myriad colorful and fantastical decorations gilding the lobby of the restored theatre. Multicolored glazed buddhas and large mosaics of an Indian prince and princess loom over the milling crowd. The camera ventures hesitantly into the main auditorium, where gilded decorations of grotesque animal figures, drummers, water-bearing maidens and a large seated buddha assault the eye. Tackiness vies with drug-induced hallucination to produce such classic works of art as elephants whose lower bodies segue into mermaid tails. This anarchy of bad art is loaned distinction by its great age, and historic restoration has kindly returned this edifice of questionable taste to the enjoyment of the masses.

 

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Part A.   The Reviewers

At the entrance to the main auditorium stands a short, stocky female figure, collecting tickets from the people filtering in. This is the director of the celebrated play that is opening tonight. So why is the director collecting tickets? Simple - because there’s no one else available. Her sister, Chichiri’s Girl, is already checking out the lighting and sound system, while young Kaze-chan wrestles with the props and scenery. The camera focuses in on Roku-chan from a distance, getting an impressive zoom shot on her rather snub nose. The nose twitches:

Roku: I get this feeling that I’m being watched somehow...

She spots some friends who have just arrived.

Roku: Ryuen! Mouse-chan!! Great to see ya! (slaps palms with them) I saved some really good seats for you up front - within spitting distance of Nuriko and Hotohori!

Ryuen: Ummm, Roku-chan, why are you the one collecting tickets and seating people? Aren’t you supposed to be busy with the cast right now?

Roku: Ahhh, the further I stay away from those lunatics, the happier we all are. And they all seem to have some ax to grind with me about the play... I dunno. Ingrates. Especially when you consider that I’m going to make them all famous, FAMOUS!

Purple Mouse: Eheheheheheh... um, Roku-chan, they’re already famous...

Roku: Yeah, well, I’m gonna make them FAMOUSER!

Ryuen and Purple Mouse wince at the lovely rendition of the English language that is Roku-chan’s normal way of speaking - extremely South Side!

Ryuen: (whispering to Mouse-chan) Listening to her talk, you’d never guess that she could write proper English, would you?

Roku: Heyyy, you guys are sooooooo nice! Coming all the way out here to support me... and bringing flowers, too! *sparkly eyes*

Purple Mouse: (hiding large bouquet of purple roses behind her back) Eheheheheheh. Ummmmmm, actually, these are for Nuri-chan...

Roku: Oh! (pauses) But look at all the things that Ryuen has in that gift basket! Just what I always wanted! Body lotion, cologne, combs, lots and lots of... hand mirrors?

Ryuen: Heh, heh... ummmmmm, actually, this is for Hotohori-sama.

Roku: (downcast) Didn’t you guys bring anything for me?

Ryuen and Purple Mouse search their pockets frantically.

Purple Mouse: (holding up a little foil-wrapped object): Ummm, how about half a stick of gum?

Roku: (snatches it) Done!! (pops it in her mouth while she waves them to their seats.)

 

Suddenly, Roku-chan notices some rather youthful looking people coming in.

 

Roku: Hey, you don’t look seventeen. I’m afraid I’m gonna have to request some I.D. This play isn’t for kids, you know!

Chaotic Serenity: (producing an impressive stack of papers) Yes, in actual post-partum years, I’m somewhat less than seventeen years old. But this set of test scores shows that when you combine my I.Q. with my chronological age, I’m at the intellectual maturity level of the average college English professor. (under her breath) Probably more mature than you...

Roku: (swirly eyes as she tries to make sense out of the vast array of numbers on the papers) All right, all right, you can go in. (suddenly puts out hand and stops Chao-chan) Hey, what’ve you got there next to your hip?!

Chaotic Serenity: (quickly hiding the long whip) Ummmm, it’s a prosthetic device that helps me walk ever since I became afflicted with hip problems...

Roku: (blushes) Ummm, sorry, didn’t mean to discriminate against the physically challenged... Can I help you to your seat?

Chaotic Serenity: Oh, no, I’m quite able to get there on my own. Thank you anyway... (smirks to herself) Just you wait, Roku-san. My Tama-chan will be avenged!

Roku: There’s something about the way she talks that seems strangely familiar... (shudders briefly, then shrugs) Ah, well - no time to worry about that now...

 

Roku-chan turns her attention to the other youthful-looking girl.

 

Roku: Soooooo, how old are YOU?!

Bashou-chan: (gives puppy eyes) Well, in U.S. years, I’m fifteen, but in Canadian dollars, that translates into approximately twenty-two.

Roku: (scratches head) Let’s see now, I’ve always been bad at the U.S.-to-Canadian conversions... do you multiply by 1.5, or divide, or is it 1.8...? Ohhh, go on in! I’ll figure it out later...

 

Roku-chan suddenly gives another shudder, and the camera shot zooms out as two short figures attempt to sneak around her.

 

Roku: I still get the feeling that I’m being watched... Hey, you two!! Hold it right there! I can tell that you’re underage for sure!!

 

Miaka and Chiriko freeze in place.

 

Roku: Oops! Didn’t realize that it was you guys. What are you doing up here? You’re supposed to be getting ready for the play!

Miaka: Chiriko wanted to practice with the video camera your sister loaned him. She wants him to get some behind-the-scenes footage of the play.

Roku: Chichiri’s Girl loaned you a camera?

Chiriko: No, it’s your other sister - the Vampire Princess.

Roku: (awestruck) The Vampire Princess is here? Early?! I didn’t expect her till halfway through the play, long after dark... Hey, you two had better get downstairs before I get in trouble for letting in underaged kids!

Miaka: (tossing her head) Yes, well, you can hardly get on your high ropes about the age restriction when you consider what’s going to happen to me in Chapter 10!!

Roku: Um, ah... but you’re not really fifteen anymore...

Miaka: But the audience doesn’t know that. And I’m supposed to be playing a fifteen-year-old...

Roku: Heh, heh, heh... Get outta here! (kicks them towards the stairs)

 

Roku-chan looks up to see a long line of youthful faces holding out tickets: schnickers, shadow priestess, GiNgErSnAp, Chibigreenwizardmon, and more...

 

Roku: (throwing her hands up) Oh, I give up! Everyone come in! But if your mothers call, I know nothing, you got it?!

Crowd of youngsters: (sotto voice) That’s not hard to believe...

 

Roku-chan suddenly catches sight of an adult face - Aikido-chan.

 

Roku Oh, thank Suzaku, Aikido-chan! You don’t know what a relief it is to see another grown-up here! You're the first person I've seen above voting age since Mouse-chan and Ryuen arrived! With this crowd, you’d think that I was staging a Sesame Street play, or something...(sobs) You know, I took care to put up an "R" rating, and strong content warnings, and everything! (weeps into Aikido-chan’s blouse)

Aikido: (pats her kindly) Well, you know, Roku-chan, that’s just like putting up a big "Come and get it!" sign for this age group - I did tell you, the more explicit the warning, the more they want to see what they’re being warned against! After all, what were you reading when you were their age?

Roku: O.o;;;

Aikido: You see what I mean. They’re no different than you... and you didn’t turn out to be a violent pervert, from what I can see. And neither did I. ^ ~

Roku: (under her breath) Just don’t ask Tasuki what he thinks of me...

 

Aikido: (looks up) Here are some more adults now. (waves at LinaIX and Adriana1210, both wearing RabidFanGirls T-shirts)

Roku: (brightens) Hey, gals!

 

Warm greetings are exchanged between all parties.

 

Roku: (catching sight of a familiar face) Excuse me, guys... Heyyyy, Krysssaaaaa!

Kryssa: Heyyy, Rokuuuuuuuuu!

 

Kryssa and Roku-chan do the Tasuki-Kouji bandit dance. Everyone else sweatdrops. The two girls then join hands and do their jump up and down to their White Stones chant.

 

Kryssa, Roku: Psychic connection, PSYCHO CONNECTION!!!! Yaaaaaaay!

 

People in the lobby avert their eyes discreetly.

 

Kryssa: So, Roku-chan, you said you had a favor to ask me?

Roku: Yeah…instead of props, would you mind working the sound board for the taped music? You really seem to have a handle on where the music fits in…

Kryssa: No prob. I'd love to! Just point me where I'm supposed to go…

 

Roku-chan points Kryssa toward the sound booth higher in the auditorium, then wipes her forehead.

 

Roku: Whew! One more job delegated… This may be easier than I thought!

 

Ah, but Roku-chan - you know that you're tempting Fate when yyou say that…

 

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Part B.    The Anime Characters

More reviewers filter in, along with some characters from other anime series. Roku-chan suddenly catches sight of a familiar red kimono.

 

Roku: Heyyy, Inu-Yasha! And Kagome! Nice of you to show up!

Inu-Yasha: Feh! The wench made me come here.

Kagome: Neeeeeeeee, Inu-Yasha. Be nice, onegai. (to Roku-chan) Forgive his bad mouth. He's really very sweet… and he just loved that story you wrote about him and Sesshoumaru when he was little…

Inu-Yasha: Gaaaaaahhhhh… Feh!! Like I ever liked that bastard Sesshoumaru!

 

A tall, extremely beautiful young man dressed in an ornate white kimono, with flowing white hair and a fluffy tail draped over his shoulder, suddenly appears beside them.

 

Sesshoumaru: Kisama! You worthless hanyou - you should be grateful that I, Sesshomaru, even honor you by calling you "brother."

Inu-Yasha: Bastard!

 

They draw swords and begin to fight. The lobby crowd flinches away from them. Roku-chan exchanges weary glances with Kagome.

 

Roku: I didn’t think I’d ever see anyone worse than Tama and Tasuki, but these two have got them beat cold. Especially since they use sharp pointy objects. (Roku-chan ducks a swing by the Tetsusaiga.) Damn, that was close! Kagome, if you please?

Kagome: Hai! Inu-Yasha - OSUWARI!

 

The prayer beads around Inu-Yasha's neck begin to glow, and he crashes face-first into the tiled floor. Sesshoumaru sheathes his sword, then deliberately steps on Inu-Yasha as he walks past.

 

Inu-Yasha: Teme! Why'd you do that, wench?!!

Kagome: Eheheheheh. It’s time for us to go to our seats, Inu-Yasha.

 

Roku-chan points them toward the balcony.

Various other characters from other anime series stroll in, but Roku-chan decides not to name them since she’s tired of listing disclaimers. She suddenly catches sight of some all-too-familiar faces.

 

Roku: Damn! What are they doing here?! (stomps up to a painted freak type hanging near a stunningly gorgeous blond man.) What the hell are you doing here?!! You’d better not have any cute ideas in mind.

Tomo: (wearing a black half-mask across his eyes) Kekekekekekeke! Ahem. How did you recognize me?

Roku: Oh, like the freaky face paint and the feathers aren’t dead giveaways. You really think that some pathetic eye-mask is gonna hide your identity? Duuhhhh...

Tomo: (to himself) Damn! It always worked for Zorro and the Lone Ranger...

Nakago: (coolly) Greetings, Director of White Stones. Forgive me, but I was under the impression that this play was open to the public.

Roku: Yeah, well, why the hell would you be interested in seeing a play about the Suzaku Seven? It’s not like the Seiryuu crew have any significant roles in this!

Nakago: Hmph. I merely thought that it would be amusing to see at least the first part of the play. It will be most entertaining to watch the minions of Suzaku boink each other.

Roku: (gagging) Did I just hear what I thought I heard?! Did you actually say the word "boink"?!

Nakago: (evil smirk) Forgive me, but I thought that you wished to keep this story at a PG rating for as long as possible. It would be no trouble to me to use a more... explicit term.

Roku: Just forget it! Shut up and sit down! And speaking of "boink," isn’t that Soi over there looking for you?

Nakago and Tomo walk into the auditorium, smirking.

Roku: (to herself) Tama and Tasuki are gonna kill me for sure now! I’m a dead woman! I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m dead - it can’t get any worse than this!

 

Ahhhh, but it always can. It always can.

 

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C.    The Family

Roku-chan suddenly catches sight of some terribly familiar figures - some terribly familial figures. Thhey are: a rotund cheerful American man and a small, deceptively delicate-looking Japanese woman clutching a rather large purse, both accompanied by a younger woman with midnight black hair cut into a Nuriko-style shag. Roku-chan turns pale and her knees give out - but luckily, Aikido-chan is there to catch her by the elbow.

Roku: That can’t possibly be...?!

Aikido-chan: Yep. Looks like your folks to me. And your sister, too.

Roku: How the hell did they find out about this?! I’m going to have a word with the Vampire Princess! Could you help me out here by taking tickets?

Aikido-chan: Sure. (sotto voice) I’m used to working at your family get-togethers...

Roku runs over to the group, who are studying their tickets to figure out where their seats are.

Roku: Mom! Dad! What are you doing here?! (gives her sister the evil eye)

Vampire Princess: (whispering to Roku) Don’t blame me - I’m just the transportation. You can thank The Other One for this!

Dad: Hi, Roku-chan. Chichiri’s Girl sent us these tickets to your play - she said that your feelings would be hurt if we didn’t show up for opening night!

Roku: (under her breath) I’m gonna kiiiiillll that wench! (louder) Oh, it’s not MY play - wherever did you get THAT idea?

Dad: (points to the program) It says it right here - White Stones in the Moonlight, written and directed by Roku Kyu.

Roku: (softly) Damn! (louder) Oh, well, this isn't such a big deal…you don’t have to stay. It’s really a veeerrry boring play - you know, kinda artsy?

Mom: Never mind. We itsa sit down now.

Roku: (grabs the tickets from Mom) Let me get you better seats than these! Oh, here’s some comfy ones over here - look, one for each of you! And just check out all the leg room!

Dad: But Roku-chan - these are out in the lobby.

Roku: Yes, the view isn’t perfect, but the sound is so much better out here!

Mom: (snatches tickets back) Never mind, you itsa go do your job, we get our own seats. Come on, Dah-dy.

She leads the way to front-row seats. Vampire Princess shrugs apologetically at Roku-chan, then follows them. Roku-chan staggers around the lobby, clutching her head.

 
Roku: I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m dead...

Aikido: (placing a comforting hand on Roku-chan's shoulder) You shouldn't be so upset. I think your parents will like this play. After all, your mom's really into anime: Inu-Yasha, Rurouni Kenshin, Fushigi Yuugi…

Roku: Yeah, but how do you think she feels about sex and nudity?! Probably about the same as your mom!

Aikido: (pales) That bad, huh. You're right - you are in it deep tonight!

Roku: (depressed) Tell me about it. (darkly) I'll bet she's brought The Slipper, too!

Aikido: The Slipper?

Roku: Yeah, The Slipper. As in Whap, Whap upside the head. Or other convenient portions of my anatomy…

Aikido: (sympathetic) My mom preferred a wooden spoon.

Roku: Ouch! Man, that's what we get for being born before the age of "Corporal Punishment Will Warp Your Child."

The two women spend a quiet moment in sad contemplation of What Might Have Been, had they been born in the Dr. Spock era instead of the Mr. Spock era. Finally, Roku-chan gives herself a quick shake.

Roku: Ah, well, as long as everything’s TOTALLY cocked up over here, I might as well check in on the cast...

 

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Part D.    The Cast

Here, in a room known as the greenroom, conspicuously free of any green coloring, several figures are busily engaged in touching up their make-up, studying their scripts, or just provoking each other into shouting matches. The actors display a veritable rainbow of hair colors, ranging from flaming red-gold to deepest midnight blue.

The red-haired one is bitching, as usual.

 

Tasuki: And didja see those god-awful elephant mermaids? Shit, where did Roku-chan dig up this place? She says that this is s'posed to be some goddam oriental motif. Oriental motif, my ass! If Hotohori ever decorated the Imperial Palace like this, you'd find ME out sleeping in the woods, just so I could avoid freak-ass nightmares!!

Tamahome: Ohhhhhhh, poor baby. Does the décor offend your "thenth of fath-ion"?!!

Tasuki: Fuck you, Obake-chan!

 
They begin brawling. The deep tones of the resident healer boom out.

Mitsukake: Break it up, you two! Before I’m forced to break it up for you!

Tasuki: Fuck you, Mitsukake! Who died and made you emperor?! Oh... hi there, Hotohori - didn’t see you standing there... hehhehhehheh...

Hotohori: Would you two mind keeping it down? The noise level in here is giving me a tension headache... oh, no! I think I see a frown line developing!!

Nuriko: (snatching up his makeup brush) Oh, Hotohori-samaaaaaaa - let me make that all better for youuuuuu.

Everyone else:   - -;;

Tamahome: I wonder where Miaka is? It’s getting late...

Nuriko: (giving Hotohori a neck massage) Oh, she probably just stopped off for a bite at an "All-you-can-eat" buffet - It shouldn’t take her more than ten minutes to shut the place down... Ehehehehehehe.

Tasuki: But where’s Chiriko? And Chichiri? It’s not like them to be late!

Mitsukake: Oh, Chichiri’s here, he’s just holed up in his dressing room for now. He’s decided to be a Method actor, and he’s trying to get into the bad-ass mindset for Chapters 5 and 11.

Everyone else:   - -;;

Nuriko: Well, anyway, the opening scene is only you and Tama, Tasuki. That gives the others a few more minutes to get here. Don’t you think you’d better finish getting dressed?

Tasuki: (pulling on his signature coat) Yeah, I’d better enjoy having clothes while I can. That pervert Roku-chan has me naked for about half this damn play! (waves a thick script at the others)

Tamahome: Well, it saves on costume costs, anyway...

Everyone else:   - -;;

Tamahome: Wait a minute... what do you mean, half the damn play? There’s only the two scenes at the beginning - Chapter 1, Aftermath and Chapter 2, Reprise. What other scenes are you talking about?!

Tasuki: (slams his script shut) Nothing! I was just exaggerating! You know me... bitch, bitch, bitch...

 

At that point, Roku-chan walks in.

 

Roku: Somebody call me?

Everyone else:   - -;;

Nuriko: (still trying to divert Tamahome) Ummm, we were just talking about the excessive nudity in this play. Do you realize that nearly every one of us has a nude scene?!

Roku: Nearly? Who did I forget?!

Everyone else:   - -;;

Nuriko: So far as we can tell, Chiriko, Mitsukake, and Hotohori-sama.

Roku: Well, there will be no Chiriko scenes - absolutely not!... uh-uh, none of THAT stuff in my play. But the other two - how could I forget youuuu? Aikido-chan is really gonna be ticked - she’s a real Mitsukake fan! Look, tell ya what - let me write up a quick hot springs scene or something...

Hotohori and Mitsukake: No, no, it’s quite all right.

Hotohori: Please don’t trouble yourself, Roku-chan.

Mitsukake: (sotto voice) I’ll keep my family jewels to myself, thank you very much!

Roku: Are you guys SUUURE? I mean, I don’t want you to feel left out...

Hotohori and Mitsukake:  Quite sure! Quite sure! We don’t feel left out at all... - -;;

Nuriko: (to himself) Damn!

 

Meanwhile, Tamahome has been glancing at the scripts that everyone else is holding.

 

Tamahome: Hey! I want to know why I just have this skinny little script... (he waves his abbreviated version) ...while everyone else has a damn phone book! Look, I’m missing Chapters 3, 7, 10, 12, the epilogue to the play...

Roku: (gives the glare of death to everyone else, then smiles brightly at Tama) Well, Tama sweetie, you’re just not IN most of the play. Why should you have to memorize lines for scenes that you’re not part of? Isn’t it more... economical this way?

Tamahome: (briefly distracted by his favorite word) Well, maybe... but wait! Why does everybody else have a full-sized script? They’re not all in every scene...

Roku: Ummmm, errrrrrr...

 

Just then, Miaka and Chiriko walk in, providing a life-saving distraction.

 

Miaka:   Tamahome!

Tamahome:   Miaka!

Miaka:   Tamahome!

Tamahome:   Miaka!

Miaka:   Tamahome!

Tamahome:   Miaka!

Everyone else:   - -;;

Tamahome: Where have you been? I’ve been so worried about you!

Chiriko: Well, Miaka went with me to film some exterior shots of the theatre. I wanted to get some footage of the crowd coming in.

Tamahome: (eyes grow wide) The audience is arriving already?! Ummmmm... see you guys later!

Roku: Hey, chotto-matte! Where are you headed? The curtain’s going to go up in about five minutes!

Tamahome: Don’t worry - I’ll be back in time for my scene.

Tasuki: Fuck, man!

Tamahome: Yeah, in time for that - catch you later!

 

He runs off.

 

Tasuki: (outraged) Grrrrrrrrrrr...

Miaka: Well, I’d better get ready for my scenes - oh, hi, Tasuki. (blushes)

Tasuki: (also blushing) Hey, there, Miaka...

Roku: Come on, Tasuki. We’d better start making our way backstage.

Tasuki: Yeah... um, see you in Chapter 3, Miaka.

Miaka: No, I’ll be seeing you in Chapter 3. (laughs)

Tasuki: (completely scarlet in the face now) Ummmmm, yeah...

 

Roku-chan grabs his arm and steers him towards the stage, while Nuriko, Hotohori, Chiriko, and Mitsukake grin and elbow each other.

 

Roku: (holding her hand up to her eyes) Ooh, bad color combination! That red face with the orange-y hair - ouch! You’d better get over the blushing thing before Chapter 3, got it, Gen-chan?

Tasuki: Shut up! Hey, don’t we need a flashlight back here?

Roku: Nah, that "wing" symbol of yours is doing a pretty good job of lighting our way. (laughs)

Tasuki: Fuck you, Roku-chan!

Roku: That’s "Fuck you, Madam Director" to you, buddy!

Tasuki: Ahhhhhh, bite me!

Roku: Hey, that’s my line!

Their argument fades into the distance as they head toward the stage.

 

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Glossary of Japanese Terms:

onegai - please

Kisama! - extremely rude form of "you", meaning something like "you son-of-a-bitch"

hanyou - half-youkai or half-demon. Inu-Yasha is half dog-demon, half-human, so he is referred to as a hanyou - meant to be insulting

Teme! - rude form of "you", meaning "you bastard" or "you bitch"

chotto-matte - Wait a minute. (This is also Roku-chan’s Dad’s name for Tamahome - and "Screaming Mimi" is his name for Miaka)

 

 

Author’s Note: (6-10-02) Well, here we are - a slow start, yes, but we will begin to pick up speed shortly, in the next chapter when the curtain actually rises!

Some quick explanations - First of all, you may have noticed that I refer to "chapters" instead of scenes. This is just for clarity with "White Stones" - especially since "White Stones" contains an average of three scenes per chapter, times 17 chapters… Gahhhh, you can see how complex it would be to keep track of actual scenes! So, yeah, we're sticking with the "chapter" designation here…

Next, I’m going to have some fun with the concept of "Method" acting. The actual Stanislavsky "Method" of acting is not the popular misconception - it is a legitimate philosophy that advocates approaching a role with as much background info as possible on a character (aka "subtext’) to help the actor fully express the range of that character. However, a few "extremists" from the 1970’s onward chose to interpret this as an actor having to actually experience the same (or close) experiences as the character, thus becoming somewhat as nutty as the characters (Roku-chan’s terminology). For example, an extremist "Method" actor would actually be unable to chat civilly between scenes with another actor who played his enemy because he would feel it necessary to maintain feelings of hatred or resentment against that person during the play. Or he might feel compelled to spend a sleepless night if the character did so. So I’m gonna do some jokes dealing with this extremist mind-set and just call it "Method" acting - no offense to any normal Method actors ouut there.

Speaking of taking offense - to my faithful reviewers; if I’ve used your name and you would prefer NOT to be mentioned here, please just drop me an e-mail, and I will immediately change the chapter to edit you out. I HAVE requested permission from many people that I’ve mentioned so far, but I’m sure that I forgot to ask at least a few of you, so please don’t hesitate to let me know how you feel! Conversely, if I forgot to mention you, and you would LIKE to be included, just let me know that, too! (Especially if you have a favorite character, or a distinctive POV, or something... for example, Chao-chan requested that I provide her with Nakago’s whip! And I did! Even though it’s gonna hurt me more than it’s gonna hurt her!)

Back to this silly fic: In the next chapter: The curtain rises... but where is Tamahome? What will Mom and Dad think of the play? Can Roku-chan prevent Mom from seeing the more risque parts of the play (and the actors)?! Can Roku-chan keep Tamahome from seeing the more risque parts of the play?!

Will the actors behave themselves? Will the audience behave themselves?! Well, of course not! Till next time!

Ja ne!

Roku-chan