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. 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.
Musical
selection: "Sanctuary" by Secret Garden from the CD "White
Stones" copyright 1997, PolyGram Publishing, Norway, and "Pax
Deorum" by Enya from the CD "The Memory of Trees" copyright
1995, Warner Records UK.
*************************************************************************************************
Chapter 5.
Black Leaves and Dark Motives
Part A. A
Slut for Love
Roku-chan
calls together her four principal actors for the next 3 chapters - Chiriko,
Chichiri, Tamahome and Nuriko, plus the backstage crew of Chichiri's Girl and
Sorceress. She also alerts the tech crew of Kryssa and Kaze-chan by radio mike
to listen in.
Chichiri
approaches carrying a folding chair.
Chichiri:
(solicitously) May I offer you a seat, Madam Director?
Roku: Ha, ha,
very funny. (begins whining as she winces at her whipped behind) Now tell me,
was that fair?!
Chichiri:
(under his breath) Perhaps not fair… but certainly deserved!
Roku:
(glaring) I heard that, Mr. Smarty-Pants Magician!
Chichiri:
Ahhhh, witty repartee. Perhaps not worthy of Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin
Table, but certainly worthy of Spongebob Squarepants, at least.
Roku: (to
herself) Damn! The Vampire Princess must be rubbing off on me. (louder) Well, I
wish that I had time to engage in charming banter with y'all, but here's the
situation - we are seriously behind schedule and we're really going to
have to move if we want to get the crowd outta here by midnight. So I need to
know - are you guys up to transitioning from Chapter 4 through Chapter 6 with
almost no breaks? This will be particularly difficult between Chapters 5 and 6.
It's gonna require a lot of coordination and endurance - think you can do it?
Everyone:
Ochanoko sai sai, na no da!!!
Roku:
(grinning) You're all a buncha goofs, ya know that? (slaps palms with them)
Alright, let's go. Chiriko and Chichiri (whew, try saying that five
times fast) - you're up!
As the gang
breaks up, Chichiri's Girl sidles up to her idol.
Chichiri's
Girl: (in an undertone to Chichiri) I have two words for you - (breathes
huskily into his ear) Tantric… sex. Think about it…
Chichiri
blushes red but is rescued when a hand reaches out and grabs Chichiri's Girl by
one ear. The monk escapes onto the stage.
Roku:
(scowling) No blowing the actors' minds between scenes - got that, wench?!!
Chichiri's
Girl: Awwwww, I was only teasing him! You know what your problem is? - No sense
of fun!
Roku: Keep
that up and you'll find out just how humorless I can be!
The Director
breaks off and releases her sister when she sees yet another problem developing
- Chiriko entering the stage with his videoocamera cradled against his body.
Roku:
(frowning) Hey, Ko-ko!! Can't take the camera onstage with you - a little
anachronistic, if you know what I mean. Here, I'll hold it for you till you're done…
Chiriko:
(pale) N-no thanks, Roku-san - I'll just run it down to my dressing room real
quick, okay?!
Roku: Sorry,
kid, no time for that. Just hand it over… (stern) c'mon now!!!
Chiriko:
(tearing up again) Okay - but you have to promise to just hold it and not touch
any buttons, Roku-san! I set it up so that it might erase if you try to adjust
it, and I don't want to lose this footage!!
Roku:
(maternal) Alright, alright, don't get your knickers in a twist. I promise
already!! (smiles as Chiriko runs onstage with one last anxious glance over his
shoulder at her) Probably has "The Secret Life of Frogs" on here or
something! Boys!!!
But Roku-chan
is a woman of her word, so she tucks the camera under her arm without bothering
to try to look at the footage. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions…
Roku-chan
looks out at the stage, pleased with the work of Chichiri's Girl and Sorceress,
as well as Kaze-chan. The statue of Suzaku stands in its alcove on the
downstage half of the rotating stage, the gold-leaf paint transforming the
phoenix from a simple papier-mache creation into a realistic likeness of a
solid gold work of art. It is lit by two narrow beams from overhead spotlights,
illuminating only the curve of the phoenix's neck and the tips of its upraised
wings. Tiny swirls of smoke from the incense burners drift through the golden
beams. Upstage of the statue is a raised dais upon which rests the giant
cauldron that will be used in Chapter 12. This dais and the rest of the shrine
is lit in deep blue, making it appear mysterious and shadowed. Tiny beams of
light shining from the holes in the pierced ironwork of the two suspended
"oil lamps" seem to emphasize the darkness instead of relieving it.
Chiriko's form, kneeling beside the statue, is lit in a slightly brighter blue
spotlight but still remains indistinct.
Roku-chan
heads upstage to do a quick check on Tamahome and Nuriko on the hidden half of
the revolving stage. This set is much simpler, depicting only Tamahome's prison
cell with a single bench inside it. Sorceress is just leaving the cell, having
brushed dark circles under Nuriko's large violet eyes. Tamahome has already
assumed his position lying on the bench with his head in Nuriko's lap, wearing
the demon ward stuck to his forehead. The two young men are occupying
themselves with a vigorous thumb-wrestling match. Roku-chan is struck by the
gentler brotherly relationship that Tamahome shares with Nuriko as opposed to
his more combative friendship with Tasuki.
Roku: (very
softly to herself) And we haven't even begun to see combative, depending
on how the Miaka situation pans out! (shakes herself) Ah, well, to quote Amelia
Peabody - (assumes a British accent) Sufficient unto the day is the trouble
thereof! Or in the words of Miss Scah-let - Ah'll think abaht that -
tomahrrah!!
A deep gentle
voice suddenly speaks up beside her, startling her.
Mitsukake: Ah,
yes. Speaking - and replying - to oneself. In many voices, no less. One
of the first signs of multiple personality disorder…
Roku: (smirking
back at him) We resemble that remark! Ummm, just a sec, Mits! (calls up to
Kryssa) Okay, everybody's finally ready - hit the music, Kris, and raise the
curtain!
The audience
oohs and ahs at the set, which pleases Roku-chan, making her wriggle happily.
The music of "Sanctuary" is quiet, soulful, adding to the meditative
effect of the set. Just as the sense of peace seeps into the atmosphere, the
sound effect of a door slamming open startles the audience. Chichiri makes his
dramatic entrance onstage, a white spotlight tracking him as he strides around
the temple picking up holy objects. The blue spotlight on Chiriko brightens to
a lighter color and his form finally becomes clear, as he rises from his
kneeling position to approach Chichiri.
Chiriko: Chichiri-san?
Chichiri:
(whirling around, startled) Chiriko! What are you doing here?
Roku-chan
smiles as she watches the two pros turn in yet another perfect performance. She
turns to her silent companion.
Roku: (craning
her neck to grin up at the tall seishi) Sooooooo - you're here early! Can't
wait for your big scenes, huh? Whaddaya think - do your lines suit you?
Mitsukake: I'm
just happy to have lines at all, instead of being a rather large prop! (droops
his eyelids and crosses his eyes, speaking in a flat, robotic voice)
…or-to-be-a-ble-to-speak-in-an-y-thing-oth-er-than-a-mon-o-tone…
Roku:
(giggling) How many people other than me know that you're really a wild man
underneath that coooool, composed exterior?!
Mitsukake:
Well, Shouka, for one! And she knows better than you!!
Roku:
(sticking her tongue out) Now you're bragging!! Oh, I know a couple of others
who are hot for you, too!
Mitsukake:
(raising the back of his hand to his forehead and stalking off dramatically)
Ohhhhh, 'tis hard to be a god!!!
Roku-chan
suddenly realizes that the backstage area is uncharacteristically quiet -
someone's missing. She takes a peek behind Tasuki's screen and finds it
deserted.
Roku-chan: If
he's in Miaka's dressing room, he is soooooo gonna get it! (stops and frowns)
Wait - that doesn't sound right. He is soooooo gonna get it from ME!!! (stops
again) Wait, that sounds worse. Oh, just shut up, Roku, and find him!!
She knocks on
Miaka's door, but the young actress is alone, changing into her pajamas for
Chapters 6 and 7. Roku-chan continues on to Tasuki's dressing room and knocks
on the door.
Roku: Hey,
Gen-chan, you in there?
Tasuki: Yeah,
gimme a sec.
He opens the
door, clad only in his white trousers, wrapping fabric tape around his wrists.
Roku: Here,
let me help you.
She finishes
winding the tape and bites off the ends, fastening them securely.
Roku: By the
way, I never got the chance to tell you - absolutely brilliant work in
the purification scene, Tasuki! Not only did you not let me down - you made me
cry buckets!
Tasuki:
(blushing) Yeah, thanks, Roku-chan.
Roku-chan
suddenly notices a couple of red marks on his left forearm.
Roku: Hey,
Gen-chan, didja get hurt in that scene?
Tasuki: Nah,
that's just me pinching myself to see if I was dreamin' the last few minutes.
(looks at Roku-chan shyly) I wasn't, was I?
Roku: (melting
at his innocent face) No, you weren't, sweetie. (shakes herself and gets back
to reality) Yeah, we've got a few hundred witnesses to attest to that fact! But
listen, dearest - this is a very complicated situation that could blow up in
all our faces right in the middle of this performance! I know that I'm asking a
lot, but could you try not to…
Tasuki: Yeah,
I know. It can get ugly. But here's the thing, Roku - I can't shake the feeling
that this is all totally unreal, and that it's all gonna end with the ending of
the play. I just never believed that she would ever see me that way. And
now that she does - at least for now - I just don't wanna waste a single moment
of it. (sighs) I guess I'm not makin' sense, am I?
Roku: No,
you're making perfect sense. We've created a fantasy world here… but that
doesn't mean that this alternate reality will withstand the light of day. All
right, Gen-chan, I won't rain on your moment in the sun - but at least promise
me that you'll be careful, okay?
Tasuki:
(serious) I'll promise you that I'll try - that's the best that I can
do, Roku-chan. (sighs again) Being with her seems to take me to another plane
of reality, for some reason…
Roku: Yeah, I
noticed that, I think. Well, I'll have to settle for you trying, then. (makes a
goofy face) Geez, we sound like we're discussing a funeral here! Let's move on
to lighter subjects! So, you look ready for your Cirque du Soleil act coming
up.
Tasuki:
(snorts) Shit, this ain't nothin'! Chapter 9 is gonna take a little more effort
and thought. But hey, if I crash and burn on that one, it'll solve your
relationship worries, eh?
Roku: (pulling
his head down to meet hers) Don't you talk like that, not even as a joke! Bad
luck, or something like that. (frowns into his eyes) You do know that I love
you, right?
Tasuki:
(smiling at her) Yeah, I know. (quieter) But you love him, too, don't you?
Roku: Yeah - and
so do you. (cheerfully) I love all my boys… and girls! What can I say?
(releases Tasuki and sashays out of his dressing room) I'm just a slut for love
- can't help it!!
She is glad to
hear him laugh as he closes his door.
******************************************************************************************
Part B. The
Joy of Tantric Sex
Roku-chan
reaches the stage area just as Chiriko and Chichiri exit stage left to
applause. A few young girls in the audience hold up signs saying "Chiriko
Rocks!" Chiriko is happily flushed as he runs up to Roku-chan.
Chiriko: Eat
my dust, Aaron Carter!!
Roku:
(slapping palms with him) Damn straight, Chiri-chan! Here's your camera… and
no, I didn't touch anything!
Chiriko: (to
himself) I know that… 'cause you're not beating the stuffing out of me!
(louder) Oh, thank you, Roku-san! (runs off)
Meanwhile,
Chichiri walks around the back of the darkened stage and re-enters at stage
right, a single spotlight tracking him. As he walks, Chichiri's Girl starts up
the rotating stage so that Tamahome's prison cell set gradually rotates into
view. Kaze-chan slowly brings up the overhead spots, going through them in
sequence so that the two figures in the cell gradually become clear. Tamahome
and Nuriko are now in their proper positions, Tamahome still lying on the bench
with his head in Nuriko’s lap, while Nuriko slumps over him, head bowed as if
asleep. Their hands are gripped together, and tears shine on their faces.
At this time,
the music of "Sanctuary" changes key, and Kryssa brings up the volume
to mask any sounds from the hidden upstage portion of the rotating stage, where
Chichiri’s Girl and Sorceress are rapidly stripping the Shrine of Suzaku set
and replacing it with a simplistic depiction of a wide corridor lined with
empty prison cells upstage. Lighting and special effects will be the major
dressing on this simple set, the scene of the last part of the exorcism.
On the
downstage side of the rotating stage, Chichiri comes up before Tamahome’s cell
and stares in at the two sleeping figures…
Chichiri:
(softly) Children... they’re only children...
Suddenly, his
body tenses as he tightens his grip on the shakujou, his rage palpable and
realistic to every member of the audience.
Chichiri:
(almost spitting with anger) I have had enough of their suffering! I will
tolerate no more!
His spotlight
trembles and dims, darkness suddenly swirling up around him.
Roku: (softly,
on her radio headset) That was great, Kaze-chan! How’d you do that?
Kaze-chan: I
didn’t do anything! I think you have to thank your actor-magician for that
special effect!
Roku:
(impressed) Whoo! If he’s this cranked up already, whaddaya s’pose we’re gonna
see during the actual exorcism?!
Kryssa: I
dunno, but I, for one, can’t wait!!
Onstage,
Chichiri points his shakujou towards Nuriko. Nuriko takes his cue from the
jingling of the rings and lifts his head, wiping at his eyes. Chichiri beckons
to him, and Nuriko gently removes Tamahome’s head from his lap, setting him down
carefully on the bench. Tamahome stirs and sobs once, causing both of the other
actors to freeze momentarily. However, he returns to his somnolent state, and
Nuriko leaves the cell to follow Chichiri as they begin to pace towards stage
right. Chichiri’s Girl starts the stage rotating again, and the cell slowly
rotates out of sight as the prison corridor comes into view. Kaze-chan keeps
the corridor dimly lit in blue, with one soft yellow spot shining down on the
two actors, simulating the light from the oil lamp at Chichiri’s feet. Chichiri
places a bundle of holy objects on the floor, then moves towards Nuriko.
Chichiri:
(compassionately) Are you all right?
Nuriko nods
but sobs softly at the same time. Chichiri comes up to him, placing a hand
gently on his head. Nuriko appears to calm visibly under his touch.
Nuriko: I’m
sorry, Chichiri, it’s just that the last hour was a literal hell. (catching his
breath) Poor Tasuki… poor Tamahome...
Chichiri:
(firmly) Nuriko, I wish we had time to grieve, but we don’t. (darkly) Now is
the time for retribution...
The darkness
once again swirls around him briefly. Nuriko takes an apprehensive half-step
back from him. Roku-chan is entranced once more by the talents of the actors -
but is again fated to miss out on the action. She feels a touch on her arm and
looks up to see Tamahome at her side, somewhat pale.
Roku:
(smiling) Oh, Tama, I meant to tell you earlier- great job on Chapter 2!
(frowns) minus the feathers, of course…
Tamahome: Umm,
Roku, can I ask you something? Ummmmmm, do I really have to… (drops his voice)
you know… lick Chichiri and… do that other stuff to him in
Chapter 5?! (shudders)
Roku: Tama, we
went over this in rehearsal. I told you that you didn't have to do anything
like that until the actual performance. I believed you when you promised to
come through onstage - especially after Chapter 2 tonight! You were brilliant!
You didn't hold back with Tasuki at all!
Tamahome:
Wellllllll… (bursts out) that was Tasuki!! I'm used to being on
top of him!! (suddenly grimaces) I sooooooo did not mean what that
sounded like!!
Roku: Relax,
this is me you're talking to, remember? I know what you mean - you're used to
lots of physical contact with Tasuki in all your brawls. But you know, Chichiri
has assured you that he won't take offense at anything that the oni does. Plus
remember - he's a Method actor now… (under her breath) or at least is pretending
to be one…
Tamahome:
Yeah, but still… it's like coming onto your uncle or something. Sick!!
Roku: Okay,
time to reset the point-of-view here. (looks out at the Nuriko-Chichiri scene)
We've got about one minute before I have to tie up Gen-chan and suspend him
from the rafters - and I don't mean that the way it sounds either!!! (muses
briefly) Maybe I have a little too much Tasuki torture in this play?
Tamahome: Ya think?!!
Not that I object, but…
Roku: Alright,
shut up, we're talking about your problem, remember? Here's the problem
- you're thinking about this like a sexual come-on - like the oni's goal is to
bed Chichiri.
Tamahome:
Well, isn't it?
Roku: No,
that's only a pleasant side effect for him. The oni’s real goal is to
overpower, degrade and humiliate Chichiri the way he did Tasuki. As I told you
before, rape is a crime of violence - sex is secondary to the rapist. If simple
sex were the primary goal, then the average rapist would be happy to visit
prostitutes for mutual benefit. But consensual sex doesn’t thrill the rapist at
all. It’s the fear and the violence, get it? So maybe you’ll be a little more
comfortable with this scene if you interpret it as the oni wanting to brawl
with Chichiri - but with dark psychological elements thrown in. Does that help?
Tamahome:
(downcast) Yeah... thanks, Roku.
Roku: Okay,
then go put in your freaky contacts again while I go tie up Fang-Boy. (runs
off)
Tamahome: (to
himself) Great - now I only have to picture myself wanting to beat up my
mentor instead of bed him - yuck either way.
Chichiri’s
Girl has been listening to this interchange between Tamahome and her sister -
and sees that her sister has failed to motivate Tamahome. She gets one of her
brilliant ideas.
Chichiri’s
Girl: Psssst, hey, Tama!
Tamahome:
(still downcast) Yeah, what?
Chichiri’s
Girl: Just thought you’d like to know - I completely understand how you
feel! Chichiri is such a good friend to you and Miaka, it must be near impossible
to think of manhandling him.
Tamahome: You
got that straight, CG. But Roku doesn’t seem to get it...
Chichiri’s
Girl: Nah, I totally understand. Chichiri does so much for you both. In
fact, I overheard Chichiri earlier talking to Miaka and offering to teach her
the tenets of Tantric Sex!
Tamahome:
(enraged) He what??!!
Chichiri’s
Girl: Oh, I’m sure that he just meant it in an academic sense. It’s probably a
birthday gift or surprise for you. You see, he told Miaka to make sure that she
kept this a secret from you. So you see - surprise party!
Tamahome:
(steaming) Oh, he did, did he? What did Miaka say?
Chichiri’s Girl:
Not much, really, but she seemed pretty excited. I think they’re trying to
figure out which downtown hotel to meet in - just for the privacy factor, ya
know? Or should I say ‘no da’? Gosh, how that girl cares for you! There’s
nothing she won’t do for you!
Tamahome:
(thoroughly pissed off) Well, we’ll just see about that, won’t we??!! (stomps
off to put in his contacts)
Chichiri’s
Girl: (smirking to herself) Hah! And Roku-chan thinks that she’s the
expert in motivating her actors! That wench is an absolute amateur next to me!
Sorceress:
(walking up to CG after hearing the last part of the exchange) Gosh, it’s hard
to believe that Chichiri would ever do anything like that!
Chichiri’s
Girl: (airily) Oh, he didn’t! That’s just me trying to get Tama to feel a
little more aggressive towards him!
Sorceress:
(doubtfully) Are you sure that’s wise? Tama seemed more than slightly
aggressive - homicidal is the word that comes to mind!
Chichiri’s
Girl: Ahhhh, don’t worry! I watched my sister do this a hundred times! It
always works out in the end, you’ll see.
Sorceress:
(still hesitant) Well, I can’t ever recall Roku telling the actors outright lies
to get them motivated, but if you say that it’s okay with her, I guess I have
to go along with it...
Chichiri’s
Girl: (cheerfully) You worry too much, Sorcie - gotta learn to relax more!
(walks off whistling happily)
Sorceress: (to
herself) Ooooh! Bad luck to whistle, too!
She stays in
the wings, taking over Roku-chan’s duties as Director while Roku-chan is
working on special effects.
Meanwhile, on
a catwalk high above the stage, Roku-chan and Tasuki crouch in the darkness,
fastening the acrobatic wrist bindings to his taped wrists. Although they
tested the system earlier in the day, Roku signals Tasuki to stand as she pulls
the wires so that his arms are above his head. She then signals him to let the
wires take his weight. He bends his knees so that he is suspended above the
catwalk, swinging gently. Satisfied, Roku indicates that he can put his feet
down again. She will stay on the catwalk to control his descent to the stage
during the nightmare sequence at the beginning of Chapter 5 - ever since the
disastrous "hamster wheel" incident in the Prologue, she doesn’t
trust his safety to anyone else. Tasuki removes his wrists from the bindings,
and they crouch on the catwalk, watching the drama unfold below them as they
wait for their cue. Roku-chan also has a bag of her beloved black leaves beside
her.
Onstage,
Chichiri has just informed Nuriko that Nuriko must kill him if he gets taken
over by the oni. Nuriko falls back and covers his mouth with his hands.
Nuriko: (in a
whispered shriek) Gods, no, no, you can’t ask that of me, Chichiri!
There’s no way that I can ever do that!!
Chichiri:
(desperately) Listen, Nuriko, this oni is obviously able to access the thoughts
and memories of the body he possesses. It is not my intention to brag about my
learning, but I have far too much knowledge of this universe and how to use
powers untapped by most magicians. If the oni gets hold of this information, he
will be invincible, and not even Suzaku will be able to save us then. Do you understand?!!
Nuriko just
shakes his head in horror, backing away from Chichiri as he wraps his arms
around himself, trembling. Chichiri strides up and grasps Nuriko’s arm, shaking
him vigorously.
Chichiri:
(firmly) Then think about this, Nuriko! The first place that this demon
will go, hidden in my body, will be to pay another visit to Tasuki. Is that
what you want?!
Nuriko
suddenly stands still, no longer trembling. He pulls himself up and clenches
his hands into fists.
Nuriko:
(hissing in fury) I’ll see him in Hell first!
He suddenly
seems to stand in a mystical light, violet flames seeming to lick around his
form. Roku-chan stares in wonder.
Roku:
(whispering) I don’t know if that’s due to Chichiri - or if it’s one of
Nuriko’s hidden powers...
Tasuki:
(awestruck) I dunno - but it’s fuckin’ awesome!
Chichiri and
Nuriko finish the scene, agreeing on their secret signal and walking off
towards stage left. As the crowd applauds, a purple rose sails through the air
towards the actors. Nuriko casually snags it out of the air and places it
between his teeth, winking cheekily at the audience as he strides offstage.
Chichiri: Nice
catch! and nice rose, too!
Nuriko:
(taking the rose out of his mouth) Oh, this is from my girls - Mouse-chan and
Ryuen! They’re always looking out for me, ya know. (frowns) Except for what
almost happened to me in Yet Another Story. (shakes himself) Oh, well, at least
nothing came of it. And Mouse-chan never abuses me as badly as Roku does Tasuki
- ya know, it’s tough being the favorite seeishi of these rabid fanfic authors!
Chichiri:
(shuddering) Tell me about it!! And now, Roku has turned her attentions to me!!
Nuriko:
(sympathetically) Well, hang on to your britches, that’s all I can tell you!
Chichiri:
Anyway, I hear that we’re all in for a rough ride in the White Stones
sequel - you and Hotohori, too!
Nuriko:
(interested) Oh, yeah? I thought that we were dead at that time point or
reincarnated into little kids or something... How’s she gonna pull that one
off?
Chichiri: She
won’t say - merely smirks and says "Wait and see!"
Nuriko: Well,
whatever it is, we can be sure that there’ll be angst!!
Chichiri and
Nuriko march off behind the stage towards the opposite wings, chanting
"Angst, angst, angst!!" They run into Tamahome as he prepares to
re-enter the stage for the nightmare scene.
Nuriko: Hey,
Tama-chan, you ready for your big scene?
Tamahome:
(sullen) Yeah, I guess.
Chichiri:
(reassuring) Don’t worry, Tamahome, everything will be fine. And remember not
to hold back with me, either!
Tamahome:
(glaring coldly at Chichiri) You can count on that, friend!! (continues
onstage)
Chichiri:
(confused) Is it just me, or did Tamahome seem somewhat... hostile?
Nuriko:
(frowning) No, it’s not your imagination, ‘Chiri... (his expression brightens)
Hey, I get it - he’s just getting into the "oni" state of mind! Your
Method acting must be rubbing off on him!
Chichiri
noogies him affectionately, and they continue to their entrance point in the
stage right wings.
******************************************************************************************
Part C. An
Exercise in Exorcism
Sorceress sees
that the actors are in position for Chapter 5, and she calls in to Kryssa to
raise the curtain and start the music of "Pax Deorum." The stage is
completely dark as the low thunder of breaking waves fills the auditorium,
followed by the susurrant hiss of the waters as they recede from shore. The
sound of the distant waves are joined by the eerie whistling of a relentless
wind. A single white spotlight comes on and shines dimly on a figure standing
still and alone. The spotlight gradually increases in intensity and the figure
of Tamahome becomes clear, standing downstage, surrounded by darkness. A fan in
the stage left wings sends a strong breeze to ruffle his hair and clothes. The
starkness of the white spotlight against the unlit background gives the scene a
black-and-white effect.
Tamahome turns
slowly and faces upstage, his back to the audience. Up on the catwalk,
Roku-chan releases some of her black leaves, and they drift eerily through the
spotlight. The sound of the wind and waves is joined by the low thrumming of a
string bass. Tamahome shivers in the wind and brings up his arms to encircle
his body. Tasuki speaks softly into his radio mike which is set on reverb.
Tasuki: (in a
haunting, mysterious voice) Sou Kishuku, Suzaku no Seishi...
He pulls off
his radio mike and slips his hands quickly through the wrist straps. Roku
watches tensely as Tasuki climbs over the catwalk rail and stands balanced on
the edge. Roku pulls the wires taut so that Tasuki’s arms are now stretched out
over his head. He puts one foot out into space and is satisfied when the wires
hold his weight.
Roku pushes
the controls for the mechanized pulley system that runs the wires, and Tasuki
steps off the catwalk to begin his descent towards the stage. Kaze-chan lights
him in another white spotlight as Roku tosses more black leaves to fall around
him. Although his arms are suspended over his head instead of spread-eagled,
there is still something in Tasuki’s pose that provokes images of crucufixion.
The music increases in intensity, a pulsing drumbeat now adding to the tension.
Tasuki’s eyes
are closed, his face expressionless, as his descent stops just short of the
stage floor. He is now swaying gently approximately 6 inches above the ground.
Onstage, Tamahome gasps and staggers forward as if pushed, catching his balance
by grasping Tasuki’s shoulders. Tasuki’s eyes fly open and he fixes Tamahome
with an intense, almost panicked stare. Tamahome lifts a trembling hand towards
Tasuki’s face as more black leaves drift down around them. His fingers gently
trace the line of Tasuki’s jaw.
Tamahome:
(wonderingly) Beautiful... beautiful...
Suddenly, he
staggers back as if pulled by an invisible force. Tasuki’s eyes widen in shock,
then he turns his head aside in despair. Roku-chan starts up the pulley, and
Tasuki rises rapidly upward, the black leaves swirling around him (with help
from Chichiri) and obscuring his form until he disappears from view. On the
catwalk, Roku-chan reaches out and pulls Tasuki’s swaying form in towards the
railing, keeping her hands on his waist until she’s certain that he has
regained his footing. Onstage, Tamahome stumbles towards the spot where Tasuki
had stood.
Tamahome:
(despairing) Noooooooo!!!
The lights go
out, leaving the stage in complete darkness. The ominous music continues,
holding the audience in apprehensive anticipation of the next scene. Guided by
glow-in-the-dark tape, Sorceress runs onstage under cover of darkness and
pushes a broomful of black leaves offstage. She then calls in to Kaze-chan to
bring up the spotlight over the cell. The light illuminates Tamahome’s form
lying on the bench. Panic-stricken, he pushes up into a sitting position.
Tamahome:
No!!!
The white
spotlight shines down on him in a tight beam so that he sits alone in a sea of
darkness. He brings his hand up before his face but appears not to see it.
Tamahome:
Where am I? I can’t see anything!! (in a frightened whisper) Am I in Hell?!
Upstage,
towards stage right, a faint light appears. It moves slowly closer, and
Tamahome turns towards it in desperation. Kaze-chan brings up golden overhead
lights slowly, illuminating the forms of Chichiri and Nuriko as they approach,
lantern in hand. Tamahome stares at the bars of his cell, then turns away,
closing his eyes in despair. Chichiri hands the lantern to Nuriko and crouches
before Tamahome, raising his hand over Tamahome’s head. Tamahome slowly relaxes
and opens his eyes to meet Chichiri’s gaze.
Chichiri:
(compassionately) Better, Tamahome?
Meanwhile, up
on the catwalk, Tasuki removes his wrist bindings after climbing back over the
rail. He and Roku-chan exit the catwalk silently, not speaking until they reach
the backstage area. Once there, Tasuki pulls a black leaf from where it has
become entangled in his hair and hands it to Roku-chan.
Tasuki:
(irritated) Here, take these damn things! (pulls another leaf from the
waistband of his trousers)
Roku:
(pleased) Hey, that was a really great job, Gen-chan - you and Tama both!
(stuffs the leaves into her bag)
Tasuki: Yeah,
and as a special reward for my efforts, I get to pull these damn things outta
my shorts for the next hour! (produces another leaf from his waistband)
Roku: (grins
at him) Hey, cheap thrills courtesy of the house - no extra charge!
Tasuki sticks
his tongue out at her, then holds out his taped wrists before her
Tasuki:
(hesitantly) Ya know, that was a really weird moment between me and Tama
onstage...
Roku:
(innocently) Weird? In what way? (begins unwinding the fabric tape from his
wrists)
Tasuki: I
dunno - weird, that’s all. (shakes his head)
Roku: It's a
nightmare scene, you know - it's supposed to be weird. (finishes pulling
off the last of the tape) Well, you’d better hurry up and get your jammies on
for Chapter 6.
Tasuki:
(snorts in contempt) Jammies! (runs off)
Sorceress
approaches Roku-chan, having overheard this last exchange between Tasuki and
the Director.
Roku: Hey,
thanks, girlfriend - great job running the show!
Sorceress: No
problem - it was pretty easy. (in an undertone) Do you think that Tasuki’s
catching onto... you know...
Roku: You mean
all the homoerotic imagery that occurs later in the play? A little, I think -
but hopefully not enough to freak him out. (smirks) This is fun, ya know - just
because I don’t do any shounen ai except between Nuriko and Hotohori, the guys
aren’t catching onto my somewhat subversive imagery. Nothing overt - just
enough to tease! (frowns) ‘Course if they do catch on - especially Tama! -
it’ll be hard to get them to relax into their roles. He was pretty uptight over
this upcoming scene with Chichiri as it is...
Sorceress:
Speaking of that, do you think that you’ve taken the right approach in
motivating Tamahome for that scene? It seems... I dunno...
Roku:
(sighing) Yeah, I know - ineffective, right? Well, I couldn’t think of anything
else to tell him. We’ll just have to see if he can come through for us - and
we’re about to find out right now!
She moves to
the downstage wings to get a clearer view of the exorcism scene. Sorceress
frowns, walking towards the backstage controls.
Sorceress:
(troubled) Ineffective isn’t the word I was thinking of - I was going to say
"dangerous"...
The
confrontation between Chichiri and the oni is well underway. Tamahome stands in
a tight green spotlight in his cell, his eyes and oni symbol fluorescing with a
yellow-green light. Chichiri stands facing him in a white spotlight, while
Nuriko stands further upstage near stage right, in a deep purple spot that
helps him blend with the shadows.
Tamahome:
(sneering) What makes you think that I’m so hungry? I just had Tasuki last
night – very fine he was, too – and today, I’m feasting on Tamahome and
Nuriko. (gloating) I think that I’m positively full! I don’t think that you can
tempt me, little monk… maybe just as a brief mouthful for dessert.
Chichiri:
(coolly) Oh, no? Well, consider this. Those are just children that you’ve fed
on – children in anguish, it’s true, but their pain is still only a reflection
of what you’ve inflicted on them.
His voice
suddenly drops, becoming low, seductive.
Chichiri:
(purring) What would you say to a man’s anguish – aged for years, yet still
intense enough to drive him to be a monk! Just think about it - pain that you had
nothing to do with, so that for you, it will be totally new.
Tamahome moves
forward suddenly, grasping Chichiri’s wrist and yanking him in towards his own
body.
Tamahome:
(hissing) All right, then, let’s have a taste!!
Chichiri’s eye
has widened slightly at the intensity of Tamahome’s response, but he goes on
with his line.
Chichiri:
(firmly) No, first you have to answer a few questions. What is it that you
want? What exactly do you feed on?
Roku-chan
stares in amazement from the wings. Chichiri’s Girl comes up beside her.
Roku: (softly)
Damn! Tama’s really coming through on this - although he’s a little early with
that level of hostility. I was just hoping that he would do at least the minimum
level of Chichiri abuse - but he really seems to be getting into it!
Chichiri’s
Girl: (smugly) Yeah, it’s amazing what the proper motivation will do for an
actor, right?
Roku-chan is
distracted by the reappearance of Chiriko with videocamera.
Roku: (fondly)
Here’s Chiri-chan with his ever-present camera again - isn’t it so cute the way
he wants to capture everything on film? Oh, that reminds me... (calls into
Sorceress on the radio mike) Are you ready for the screening, Sorcie?
Sorceress:
(from the backstage controls) Yeah, just cue me when it’s time.
Roku: Right!
The onstage
action has progressed, and the oni is now moving in on Chichiri.
Tamahome:
(snarling) Enough of the questions! Now you have to pay if you want any more
answers!
He extends his
arm towards Chichiri, his hand out as if to grip Chichiri’s throat - then
slowly turns his hand until it is palm upward, drawing it slowly back into his
chest in a gesture both seductive and commanding.
Tamahome:
(purring) Come here...
Chichiri turns
pale but obeys, stepping closer to Tamahome.
Tamahome:
(smirking cruelly) Now take off your cloak.
Chichiri:
(apprehensive) Why? It’s my memories you want, not my body.
Tamahome:
Maybe I want both!!
Chichiri:
(agitatedly) That wasn’t part of our agreement!
Tamahome:
(snarling) Just do it, or this will be the last time you see me before I strike
at one of you in secret again!
Chichiri
slowly unclasps his kesa and lets it fall to the floor. Tamahome leaps at him
suddenly and yanks the magician’s body into his in a spoon position so that
they are both facing downstage. Chichiri falls back against him, his face
reflecting his shock.
Tamahome: (in
a sensuous growl) Now isn’t… this… nice?!
Helifts one
hand towards the rafters. Kaze-chan takes the cue, and thin green laser beams
shine down around the two men, forming a cage of light. Tamahome reaches around
Chichiri, placing his thumbs against Chichiri’s throat. He pauses there for a
moment, then trails his hands downward to Chichiri’s shirt. Tamahome grasps the
simple collar - then viciously tears the garment apart, the force of the motion
causing Chichiri to fall forward. Tamahome grasps Chichiri’s chest and yanks
him back into his own body once again.
Tamahome:
(growling again) Very nice... there’s a lot more to you than meets the
eye, little monk!
Chichiri
grimaces at his rough handling. Kaze-chan brings up the violet spotlight that
shines on Nuriko, brightening it so that his face can be seen. Nuriko seems
frozen in shock for a moment, then starts forward in anger.
Nuriko:
(hissing in an undertone) This is obscene!! I can’t take much more of
this!! (stops and draws back) But how the hell am I supposed to break through
that barrier?!
Kryssa brings
up a recording of Chichiri’s voice.
Chichiri’s
voice: (soft, with reverb) Calm down, Nuriko…and stay ready…
Nuriko
grimaces but subsides, moving back into the shadows as Kaze-chan dims his
spotlight.
Roku-chan
stares at the unfolding scene in shock.
Roku: (softly)
This is dark... really dark. (shudders) It’s creeping me out.
Kryssa’s voice
comes up over her radio microphone.
Kryssa:
(sarcastic) Oh yeah... this from the author and director!
Roku:
Ka-ching! Two points for Kris! (quieter) But seriously, this is a lot more
intense than even I pictured it. I kinda thought of the oni toying with
Chichiri like a cat with a mouse. But Tamahome’s playing it even darker and
angrier, with less sexual subtext and more violence. (sighs) ‘Course, I guess
that’s the way I told him to think about it, so I’ve got no one to blame but
myself. I just hope that nobody gets hurt -physically or emotionally. (smiles
ruefully at Chichiri’s Girl) See? Ya gotta be careful when giving motivational
speeches - the effects can surpass your furthest expectations...
Chichiri’s
Girl: (pale) Ulpp!!
Roku: (turning
to frown at her sister) Didja say something, Beem?
Chichiri’s
Girl: No, no... heh, heh, heh. (to herself) Holy Shit!!
Meanwhile,
Roku-chan sees that the question-and-answer session between Chichiri and the
oni has proceeded almost to the point of the segue into Chichiri’s past. She
calls in to Sorceress to lower the large vidscreen. It descends silently,
hovering approximately 8 feet above the upstage area and to the right of the
actors.
Tamahome:
(sneering) That idiot bitch Taiitsukun didn’t even pause to check out the
integrity of the power she borrowed from Hell! And the next thing I knew, here
I was, in such a lovely young body. All I needed to do was to lie quiet for a
short while, learning about all of you… until it was time for me to feed! Ah,
these reminiscences are making me hungry again! (fiercely) So show me what you
have for me, little monk!
The lights
suddenly go out in most of the set, leaving one white spotlight shining on
Tamahome and Chichiri, with a dimmer violet spotlight shining on Nuriko in his
stage-left position. Tamahome and Chichiri still face downstage in their
"spoon" position, their backs to the screen, but Nuriko faces upstage
towards the vidscreen. The music of "Pax Deorum" segues into its
peaceful, lyrical bridge. Sorceress starts up the video that depicts the
memories of Chichiri’s childhood, followed by the subsequent tragedy in his
life and the loss of his eye.
Kryssa: (over
the radio mike) Awe-some!!!
Roku: Yeah,
it’s okay. (sighs) You know, Chichiri had offered to do holographic
special effects of these scenes, which would have looked really cool.
But I just found the thought of asking him to re-enact the events leading to
the loss of his eye to be too tacky even for me. So I hope that the video isn’t
too anachronistic-looking...
Kryssa: Nah,
it’s all right. (pauses) Okay, it gives a slight rock concert feeling to the scene,
but it’s not too jarring...
Roku: Good
enough, I guess. Well, here we go - out of the segue into the fire, Kris!
Kryssa:
Gotcha!
The music
segues back into its ominous whole notes with the pulsing drum accompaniment.
The last image of the young actor playing Chichiri sitting in the ruins of his
home with a bloody bandage over his eye fades from view. Nuriko flinches in his
spotlight, biting down on his fists to suppress his sobs, while Tamahome
writhes in pleasure behind Chichiri.
Tamahome:
Yessss!! It’s just as wonderful as you promised! (triumphant) You’re mine
now!
He reaches his
right hand up and grasps Chichiri's ponytail, pulling his head back until
Chichiri is looking up at the ceiling. Tamahome tightens his left arm around
Chichiri's body so that the monk can't move, then slowly bends over him until
his face is only an inch away from Chichiri's. He glares into Chichiri's eye -
then assumes a slow, evil smile. Chichiri begins to struggle involuntarily,
appearing genuinely frightened. Tamahome licks his own lips… then puts his
tongue out, dragging it over Chichiri's scar, from the bridge of his nose
across to his left eyebrow. Chichiri has stopped struggling and appears frozen
in Tamahome's grasp.
The audience
groans and shudders at the violation. Kaze-chan brings up the spotlight on
Nuriko, who is standing with his fists up to his mouth, obviously trembling
while repressing a scream.
In the wings,
Roku-chan rubs furiously at the goosebumps on her arms, while Chichiri's Girl
turns pale.
Roku:
(whispering) Damn, damn, damn, damn - did I really write this shit??!! I must
have been possessed at the time!!
Suddenly,
Chichiri twists out of Tamahome's grasp, snatching up his shakujou and
shattering the green bars of light. He leaps through the hole in the
"cage" and takes off running towards stage right, hotly pursued by
Tamahome. They shoot past Nuriko, who leaps up in shock. Sorceress starts the
revolving stage rotating again, so that the two men end up in the prison
corridor set. Tamahome leaps forward and catches Chichiri by the shoulder,
spinning him around, then pulls his arm back and swings it towards Chichiri's
face, hitting him hard with a back-handed blow. Chichiri's head snaps to the
left, and he falls back violently, skidding across the floor.
In the wings,
Chichiri's Girl sobs involuntarily, clutching at her sister's arm.
Tamahome:
(glaring at Chichiri with narrowed eyes) Just for this tiresome little
interlude, I’m going to make you pay double! Double the pain, double the
fun! What I’m about to do to you will make your friend Tasuki’s
experience look like… (pauses, then smirks)… a pleasant… afternoon’s… outing.
Chichiri gets
slowly to his feet and starts backing away. Tamahome follows him with the
predatory grace of a large cat.
Chichiri:
(pleadingly) Please… please don't do that to me. (sobs) Not like Tasuki! Please…
He turns as if
to run, Tamahome leaping after him. But Chichiri suddenly spins around,
bringing up his left hand to his face, index and middle fingers pointing up and
last two fingers folded down. He begins chanting spells, and red beams of light
shoot out from various points in the corridor, pinning Tamahome in place.
Tamahome struggles against the beams, and they appear to stretch and pull
against him.
Roku-chan stands
in the wings, relieved that the exorcism is well under way and that the violent
parts of the scene are finished. Chichiri's Girl, however, remains antsy and
depressed, even through the ooh's and ah's emitted by the audience and Director
as Chichiri's special effects light up the set. As the crowd laughs and cheers
at Nuriko's and Chichiri's final interchange, Chichiri's Girl finally breaks
and grabs her sister's arm.
Chichiri's
Girl: (agitatedly) Roku, you've got to bring the curtain down! I have to talk
to Tamahome!
Roku:
(frowning) But I want to transition straight through to Chapter 6, you know
that!
Chichiri's
Girl: (tears shining in her eyes) Please… just this once, can you do this for
me?!
Roku:
(confused, but yielding to her sister's agitation) All right - but I'm only
giving you one minute!
She calls in
to Kryssa, and the curtain comes down. Chichiri's Girl bolts onto the set,
running up to Tamahome's prone figure and turning him over.
Tamahome:
(irritated) What? What is it?!
Chichiri's
Girl: (desperately) Tama, you have to listen to me!! I lied to you before!!
Chichiri never said any of those things to Miaka - that was me
propositioning him!!
Tamahome:
(sitting upright in shock) What?!! Do you mean that I just beat the shit
out of him for no reason?!!
Chichiri's
Girl: (beginning to sob) I didn't mean for that to happen! I just wanted to
help motivate you…
Tamahome:
(angry and distressed) Didn't anyone ever tell you that it's wrong to lie to
people?! (gasps) How am I ever gonna face Chichiri again?!
At this
moment, Chichiri walks up to the two agitated people.
Chichiri:
(pleasantly) Is there a problem here?
Chichiri's
Girl: (wailing and burying her face in his kesa) I'm sooorrrrryyyy! It's all my
fault that Tama beat you up!!
Chichiri:
(frowning) What? He never laid a hand on me…
Chichiri's
Girl: But I saw it! He… he… licked you, and then he slapped you really
hard and knocked you down and… and…
Chichiri: Oh,
that! That was just our choreography. I'm glad that it looked real, but Tamahome
never actually made physical contact with me. He felt kind of shy about it, so
we worked out the moves ahead of time…
Chichiri's
Girl: (totally foozled) What?… what?… what?…
She turns to
look at Tamahome - and sees him smirking evilly at her.
Chichiri's
Girl: (still confused) So you knew that I was lying all along…
Tamahome: Not
at first. But the more I thought about it, the less sense it made. I mean, I
know Chichiri, and Chichiri would never do anything like that. (smugly) Plus
that's not like Miaka at all. She would never fool around on me…
Chichiri's
Girl turns pale, but for once in her life keeps her mouth shut.
Chichiri's
Girl: So, you did all this just to teach me a lesson?
Tamahome: Not
entirely. Roku-chan was right - the scene did play better with a violent
subtext. However, there was some thought in my head to put you through a little
stress. You see…
He leans in
towards Chichiri's Girl and smirks into her face.
Tamahome: Two
can play at mind-fuck - just you remember that!!!
******************************************************************************************
Part D. Shin
on the half-shell
Roku-chan
watches wearily from the wings as Chapter 7 gets underway. She grins briefly at
Tasuki's line, "Are you trying to tell me that I could be
PREGNANT?!", then relaxes as Mitsukake and Tasuki play out the nuances of
the panic attack.
Chapter 6 had
gone smoothly for the most part. Tamahome had perfectly conveyed the angst and
anguish of regaining the memories of the attack, and Nuriko had positively
glowed with compassion, loyalty and love, causing Mouse-chan and Ryuen to leap
out of their seats, shouting "Nuriko, Nuriko, Nuriko!!! We love you,
Nuriko!!!"
There had been
only one dicey moment, when Tasuki and Miaka had first gotten into bed on the
upstage part of the revolving set. They had begun giggling and tickling each
other, and Roku-chan had been forced to smack them both, reminding them in a
harsh whisper that Tamahome was just on the other side of the stage.
Tamahome had
returned to his dressing room immediately after his last scene in Chapter 6,
weary from all of the strong emotions that he had displayed. This serendipitous
event avoided the problem of Tamahome witnessing Tasuki and Miaka in bed
together, but Roku-chan now worries about how to keep him out of the way for
the end of Chapter 7 without having to lock him in his room again.
She rubs her
forehead, trying to jump-start her brain, as Aikido-chan appears backstage once
more.
Aikido:
Problems, Roku-chan?
Roku: Oh,
nothing serious. Just the usual… how do I keep this production running without
the whole thing blowing up in my face?! I dunno why I'm suddenly feeling down -
maybe I'm just getting tired.
Meanwhile, out
in the audience, Nakago shifts in his seat, the psychoanalysis of Tasuki
failing to hold his attention.
Nakago:
(bored) This grows wearisome. (smirks evilly) What we need is a little
something to make the action interesting. Tomo!
Tomo leaps up
from where he had been dozing against Nakago's arm, hastily wiping drool from
his chin. On the other side of Nakago, Soi rolls her eyes in disgust.
Tomo: Hai,
Nakago-sama!
Nakago: We
need a diversion from this unbearably slow-moving warm-and-fuzzy drivel. I
suggest that you make your way backstage unobtrusively and see what… interesting
things you and Shin can come up with. You may want to start with the Director
of White Stones - she appears to control most of the onstage events. Just
imagine how diverting it would be if you could control her.
Tomo:
(excited) Kekekekekekeke! Most diverting, Lord Nakago! I leave now to do your
bidding! (hastily pulls on his Lone Ranger mask and runs off)
Soi:
(skeptical) I do not wish to question your actions, Lord Nakago, but do you
really feel that it's wise to send that ass on such a complicated mission? His
chances of success are very small - almost as small as his brain!
Nakago:
(bored) Whether he succeeds or fails is of very little consequence to me - it
will prove diverting in any case, even if all he accomplishes is to get himself
killed by the Suzaku Seven. (frowns) At least, it will provide a refreshing
change from him getting killed by his own brother warriors! (sighs) And in any
case, I stopped that idiot from drooling on my shirt. (brushes in disgust at a
wet spot on his sleeve.)
Soi: (glowing)
Oh, Lord Nakago, how clever you are! There are none so wise as you! I stand in
awe of your superior intellect! You are the most…
Nakago: (bored
again) Put a sock in it, Soi.
Soi: Hai,
Nakago-sama!
By this time,
Tomo has made his way backstage and skulks furtively near the curtains. He listens
in on the conversation between the Director and her friend.
Aikido: Yeah,
there does seem to be a high level of stress associated with this production.
Listen, I think I know what you need.
She pours a
quantity of pills and capsules of varying sizes, shapes and colors into
Roku-chan’s palm.
Roku: What’s
all this?
Aikido: This
one’s Vitamin C, here’s Vitamin E, B1, and B12, and a calcium pill, this is an
aspirin for your headache and oh yeah - this one’s St. John’s Wort - wonderful
for the nerves!
Roku: (looking
doubtfully at the GNC sampling in her palm) I dunno - I’m not used to taking so
many pills at once - I have trouble swallowing them...
Aikido: Big
baby! Here’s a cup of water, now, on the count of three - down the hatch!
Tomo sidles closer,
trying to cackle quietly while remaining hidden in the curtain.
Tomo:
Kekekekekekekeke, Evil Director of White Stones! Soon you will be enslaved by
my world of illusion! And then all of the Suzaku seishi will dance to my
tune!!
But Fate is
against Tomo as usual. At this point, Chichiri runs backstage, pursued by his
most ardent fan. Chichiri’s Girl snags him by his kesa, bringing him to an
abrupt halt. She waves a book with Chinese characters on its cover at his face.
Chichiri’s
Girl: Come on, sweetcakes, just give it a chance! Here, take a look at Chapter
14 - some verrrrryy interesting illustrations there...
Chichiri
desperately pulls his kesa out of her grip, accidentally sending her spinning
towards the curtains, just as Tomo opens the clamshell containing Shin.
Chichiri’s Girl hits into Tomo’s arm, and Shin goes flying to land unnoticed
into the group of pills in Roku-chan’s palm.
Aikido:
...three! Now swallow!
Roku-chan
obediently flings the handful of pills into her mouth and lifts the cup of
water to her lips - only to have the cup knocked out of her hand and two clawed
hands fasten around her throat.
Tomo:
(desperately) No!!! Don’t let her swallow...
Roku: (choking)
Gak-gak-gak-gak...
Chichiri moves
in swiftly, hitting Tomo over the head with his shakujou. Chichiri’s Girl drops
to the floor, swinging her legs around to cut Tomo’s feet out from under him in
one of her kung-fu moves. After he falls, Aikido-chan pulls him up off the
floor and forces him into a kneeling position, twisting his wrist in the Nikkyo
move just used by Nuriko on Tamahome in Chapter 5. Meanwhile, Roku-chan stops
choking long enough to swallow most of the pills, although she can still feel a
couple lodged in her esophagus.
Chichiri:
(enraged) Tomo!! You stupid little git!! What the hell do you think you’re
playing at, attacking Roku-chan in front of all of us?!!
Tomo:
(wailing) Shin! She swallowed my Shin! My poor Shin is now inside of a... a...
a girlllll!!!
Aikido:
(shocked) Do you suppose he’s telling the truth?!
Roku:
(coughing) I can feel something stuck in my esophagus - maybe I can cough it
up!
She hacks a
few times, then her eyes widen. Tomo wrenches out of Aikido-chan’s grip and
runs over to Roku-chan, holding his hand out desperately. She spits something
into his palm - and his eyes widen in horror.
Tomo: (wailing
again) She melted it! That evil bitch melted my Shiiiiiinn!!
Aikido:
Impossible! This didn’t even make it to her stomach yet! Here, let me see...
(peering into the mess in Tomo’s palm) No, that’s just a busted Vitamin E
capsule.
Tomo:
(stunned) Then she still has Shin inside her! And I... I... (gagging) I have
Girl Spit all over my hand!! (runs off towards the bathrooms shrieking)
Aikido:
(worried) What should we do?! Call Poison Control or something?!
Chichiri’s
Girl: And tell them what? Help, my sister’s just swallowed a magical
illusion-inducing pearl-like object - what are the possible side-effects?!
Shit, they won’t know! All they’ll do is send the cops here to arrest us for
doing hard drugs!
Roku: I’m
afraid she’s right about that. Any ideas, ‘Chiri?
Chichiri:
(troubled) Not at the moment, Roku-chan. I’m not really familiar with all of
Shin’s powers. How do you feel right now?
Roku: Okay,
really - I just have this feeling that something’s stuck right about here
(points just below her collarbone) It’s uncomfortable but not painful...
Chichiri’s
Girl: (drawing Chichiri aside and talking in an undertone) Do you think that
Mitsukake can do something?
Chichiri:
Possibly - but since he can only use his powers once each day, I’d rather keep
him as emergency back-up in case things get very bad...
Chichiri’s
Girl: (very pale) Do you think that it will come to that?
Chichiri: Like
I said before - I have no idea what will happen. We just have to prepare for
the worst.
He looks up
and sees that Chichiri’s Girl is looking very sick, so he puts a comforting arm
around her - a gesture that she would have killed for five minutes ago, but now
all of her playful flirtatiousness is gone.
Chichiri:
(gently) Look, chin up - your sister’s one of the most stubborn people I know.
She’ll come through this okay - I feel sure of that!
Chichiri’s
Girl smiles a shaky but grateful smile at him. Meanwhile, Aikido-chan is still
crouched by Roku-chan.
Aikido: Maybe
you should go lie down or something...
Roku: (getting
up from her kneeling position) Forget it! I’m in the middle of a play here - I
don’t have time for this sickness crap!
Chichiri:
Look, Roku, I think that Aikido-chan might be right - it might be best if you
take it easy.
Roku:
(sarcastic) Oh, is that in the standard procedures manual for the treatment of
people who have swallowed Shin?!
Chichiri
winces, and Roku-chan immediately feels guilty.
Roku:
(remorseful) Look, I’m sorry for being such a bitch. But here’s the way I
figure it - either nothing’s gonna happen to me and Shin will pass peacefully
through my system - or I’m destined to die by head-implosion or aliens bursting
out of my stomach or something. In any case, lying down will do nothing except
give me time to brood over possible grotesque endings to my life. On the other
hand, working this play will take my mind off my troubles and if worst comes to
worst, be my final contribution to the Fushigi Yuugi universe! So are ya with
me on this or not?
There is a
moment of silence from the group, then Chichiri steps forward. He slaps hands
with Roku-chan and continues with the eight-count Suzaku handshake. Chichiri’s
Girl follows suit. Aikido-chan hangs back, and Roku-chan grins at her.
Roku: Nahhh,
you don’t hafta do it - I know that you freakin’ hate this handshake!
Aikido: Oh,
just shut up and come here. (does the eight-count handshake with her friend)
Just for the record, I’d like you to know that I find this almost unbearably
lame!
Roku:
(affectionately) Ahhh, bite me!
Roku-chan
finds herself suddenly filled with an inexplicable sense of exhilaration and
spreads her arms in her best Bob Fosse style.
Roku:
(crowing) It’s showtime, folks!!!
************************************************************************************************************
************************************************************************************************************
Author’s Note:
(8-12-02) Yet another double-length chapter of CS! My way of making it up to
you guys for posting a new chapter only once every couple of weeks! So what’s
with the long wait between chapters? A couple of reasons - having to switch
mindsets between this story and the more serious "Bridge" - but also,
the intrusion of the White Stones Sequel into my subconscious mind! That dang
movie playing in my head is getting more insistent each day, and I can only
relieve the pressure by knocking out a couple of chapters every so often, which
of course cuts into the time that I have to spend on my other fics! Sooooooo...
does this mean that you will be seeing the sequel earlier than its
estimated debut in the fall?! In a word… no. The chapters I’ve been writing
fall smack in the middle of the series instead of the beginning (yeah, I know
I’m weird that way), so they’ll have to just sit on my hard drive and back-up
Zip disk (yes, I have back-up!!) until I’m ready to start. Plus, as I said
before, it’s critical that the plot of Bridge is completely fleshed out in my
head (no, I don’t need to finish it on ff.net - I just have to get all
the details clear in my mind) before I can start on the White Stones sequel.
Sooooo... I
finally have a cliff-hanger at the end of one of my chapters! What will happen
to the play now that the Director has swallowed Shin? I’ll give you a sneak
preview: Bad things - bad, baaad, baaaaad things. Bad as in tragic? Only
if you find my sense of humor tragic (which many people do)!! We are gonna walk
on the wild side, taking side trips into the Twilight Zone and the lands of Bad
Taste and Plagiarism! My evil sense of humor will be the driving force on this
trip!
Speaking of my
evil sense of humor - I do appreciate all of your support for Chapter 4,
especially the Tasuki/Miaka relationship! But you must not pick on Chaotic
Serenity because, as you should know, her actions in Chapter 4 are purely the
invention of my own twisted mind!! Yes, when you agree to become part of this
story, you leave yourself open to such wild interpretations on my part! Just
ask Chichiri’s Girl! For the record, I would like you to know that Chao-chan
would never be so forward as to interrupt me during a play - nor would she ever
use physical violence against me! (looks around nervously for the whip)
Unbeknownst to
Roku-chan, a small black cloud forms above her head.
Roku: Ahem, as
I was saying - no, that sweet little girl would never raise a hand against me!!
A bolt of
lightning shoots down from the cloud and fries the author, turning her hair all
frizzy.
Soi:
Hohohohoho! That’s what you get for picking on my home-girl, you evil wench!!!
Roku:
Gackkkkkkk! (falls over)