It started as a normal performance, with the normal audience of no one.
It's not that we're bad actors, it's just that people don't spread the word. We are traveling performers, going from one town to another putting on short plays, musicals, and even sometimes a magic show or two (children get in free!). I'm writing this because I want people to know why we did the things we did; one person in particular.
Anyways, our performance ended, and then out of nowhere came a mysterious person in a dark cloak. The person came up to us, applauding. "Excellent show."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Kaito, our leader, bowed with a flourish. He always was the charming one.
"I have a proposal for you," The stranger continued.
"Well, well." Kaito grinned at the rest of us. "We would be honored-"
"-If we didn't have somewhere else to be in the morning." Gakupo, Kaito's brother interrupted. He would always do something like that to prove his brother wrong. The most annoying part for Kaito was that he was almost always right.
"I'm sorry." Kaito pulled Gakupo away to talk privately. "What do you mean? This could be our chance to actually do something!"
"You don't even know what the person is offering." I wasn't the only who couldn't tell if the stranger was a boy or girl.
"Then, let's find out." He put an arm around Gakupo's shoulders, turning to the stranger with a charming smile. "I apologize for my brother. He tends to speak out of turn. What was it you were saying?"
"I wish to employ you for a very important performance." Kaito gave his brother an "I told you so" look.
"Please, continue." Gakupo rolled his eyes.
"There is a large mansion just a little ways further in the woods. I need you to perform a certain play every night. I will pay you well for your services."
"What play?" Gumi, our "joker", as it were, stepped forwards. She always had a wisecrack at the tip of her tongue.
"One that I have written," The stranger replied. Gakupo cleared his throat. He may have been the cautious one, but he was clearly annoyed. He was a magician with words; being the one that wrote all our acts. He hated it when people imposed on his authority to organize us.
"What is about?" Asked Luka, our songwriter.
"All will be revealed in good time," The stranger replied.
Meiko, the eldest girl spoke up. "Sound a little fishy to me." Kaito gave her a look, but she shrugged it off. Neither of them would ever admit it, but the rest of us could tell they have feelings for each other.
The stranger nodded. "I understand your concerns, I will tell you everything once we arrive at the mansion. I will pay you well; provide any clothing or costumes you might need and enough food and drink to last a lifetime."
"I see no downside to this arrangement." Kaito looked around at all of us, everyone nodding with the exception of Gakupo. He turned back to the stranger. "We accept."
"Excellent." It produced a scroll of parchment with room at the bottom for all of our names and a pen. "Please, sign here." Kaito took the pen, but Gakupo tried to stop him.
"You have no idea what we're getting into." Kaito shook him off.
"It'll be fine."
Everyone went down the line, singing their names without any problem. Well, with the exception of...
"I don't know how to spell my name!"
"Neither do I!"
Rin and Len, the youngest of our group called out in distress. I knelt beside them. "Don't worry. I'll help you." Putting my hand around theirs, I helped them write their names.
"Thank you, Yawane!" They both chorused.
Ah, yes. I almost forgot. I am the tailor. I make the costumes and the sets. My name is Yawane Haku.
Gakupo was the last to sign. He hesitated, then sighed. He wrote his name dejectedly, then went to stand by Kaito as the stranger rolled up the parchment and stuck it in the folds of its robe.
"I will go along with this," Gakupo whispered in his brother's ear. "But if anything happens, it will on your head."
The stranger smiled. "I'm glad you have accepted. Please... follow me."