Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Romeo and Juliet.
*Scene changes to Friar Laurence's cell. Uryu and Renji walk on stage.*
Uryu: This Thursday, sir. That's very sudden.
Renji: My father Capulet wants it that way, and I won't do anything to stop him from being this hasty.
Uryu: You said you don't know what the lady thinks about this. I don't like it.
Renji: She weeps constantly over Tybalt's death, and because of that I haven't had the chance to talk about this with her. Her father thinks it's dangerous that she gives in so much to her grief. In his wisdom, he hurries this marriage in order to stop the flood of her tears. If she cries too much, then she will be too depressed to function in society. Now you know why we're in such a hurry.
Uryu: *to himself* I wish I knew a way to stall this wedding.
Look sir, here she comes toward my cell.
*Karin walks on stage to stand beside Uryu and Renji.*
Renji: I'm so happy to see you, my lady and my wife!
Karin: You may call me that when I may be a wife.
Renji: Well that "may be" must be on Thursday, love.
*Last word causes Toshiro to twitch in annoyance. This is not gone unnoticed by Renji who starts to sweat.*
Karin: What must be shall be.
Uryu: That's for sure.
Renji: Have you come to make confession to this father?
Karin: That is a question I cannot answer to you.
Renji: Don't deny to him that you love me. *Feels icy presence off-stage.*
Karin: I will confess to you that I love him.
*Toshiro smirks and Ichigo growls.*
Renji: So, I am sure, that you will confess that you love me.
Karin: If I do confess it will be better if it were spoken behind your back instead of to your face.
Renji: Poor soul, your face is very wet with tears.
……
"Renji is correct, Karin has been crying." Captain Kuchiki observed with is keen eyesight.
"She does have a pleasant face." Shunsui commented as he gazed at her before yelping in pain since Nanao slammed a book over his head.
"You better be glad Toshiro didn't hear you say that or else we would be cutting you out of ice, Shunsui." Ukitake commented and Shunsui thought for a moment when a crafty smile appeared over his face.
"What are you thinking about, Captain Kyoraku?" Soi Fon asked the strange captain.
"It's nothing just a dirty thought." Nanao huffed and the group turned their attention back to the stage.
……
Karin: Are you busy now, Holy Father, or shall I come to you at evening mass?
Uryu: I'm not busy, nervous daughter. Excuse us, but we must be alone now.
Renji: Very well, Juliet I'll come to wake you up early on Thursday morning, until then goodbye. *Renji left the stage making sure he was as far away from Captain Hitsugaya as possible.*
Karin: Please shut the door, then come and cry with me. I am past hope, past cure, past help! *Karin starts to cry in her hands and Uryu looks uncomfortable for a moment but the moment passes.*
Uryu: Juliet, I already know why you are upset. I hear that you must be married to Count Paris on Thursday and nothing can stop it.
Karin: Don't tell me you heard about this unless you can tell me how I can prevent it.
……
"She seems desperate to get out of this marriage." Izuru muttered to his companions.
"Wouldn't you if you were forced to marry Renji?" Hisagi replied.
"That's not the point the poor girl is beyond herself and ready to kill herself. You don't think she will do anything, do you?" Isane commented dabbing at her eyes to wipe the tears out.
"This is just a play, none of it is real." Captain Kuchiki answered yet again.
"We all have eyes, Byakuya, maybe you should open yours up." Shunsui commented and the other captains looked on in confusion.
"What are you saying, Captain Kyoraku?" Byakuya asked, however his question went unanswered.
-
"Oh Karin, don't worry I'm sure things will turn out for the best." Yuzu softly spoke to herself as she was wiping her own tears out. Isshin and Ryuken looked at her sadly since she obviously didn't know the story.
……
Karin: Don't take too long to answer. I want to die, if what you're going to say is not a solution to this problem. *Karin turns as if to walk off stage.*
Uryu: STOP! I do see some hope if you are as desperate as you say. If you have the strength to take your own life instead of marry Paris, then would you try something that will put you into a sleep to appear as death in order to escape from death?
Karin: Yes, please. I'd rather jump from the top of that tower than marry Paris. Tell me to do anything that once made me tremble in fear and I will do it without any fear or any doubt if it will let me live a pure wife to my sweet love.
*"Karin has become an amazing actress." Chizuru commented as she stood beside "Ichigo."
"I don't think she's acting." Kon whispered to himself inside Ichigo's body.
"What was that?" Chizuru looked up to him.
"OH, you're right, she's amazing." Kon quickly amended his speech.*
Uryu: Then go home, be happy and agree to marry Paris. Tomorrow night make sure you sleep alone in your bedroom. *Produces a small tube from his pocket.*
Then, take this vial and get in bed after you drink all of this liquid you will start feeling a cold that will make you drowsy because your pulse will stop. No warmth, no breath shall testify that you are alive. The roses in your lips and cheeks will fade to pale ashes. Your eyelids will close as they do in death. Each part of your body will be deprived of blood and shall look like death, you will be stiff and stark cold. You will stay like this for forty-two hours and then you'll wake up like as if you had been asleep. When your bridegroom comes in the morning to wake you up, he will find you on your bed dead. Then you will be carried on the funeral bier in your best robes to the ancient tomb where all the relatives of the Capulets lie. Before you wake up, I will write to Romeo and tell him of this plan so that he will come here and we will watch you wake up and that very night you will go with him to Mantua. This plan will prevent you from the sin of being married to two husbands, unless some trivial reason or fear makes you have second thoughts . . .
*Karin snatches the "vial" from Uryu's hands causing him and the cast to blink in surprise.*
Karin: Give it to me! Don't tell me about fear!
Uryu: Now get going stay strong in your determination. I'll send a friar to Mantua quickly to tell Romeo of this plan.
Karin: Love, give me strength! And strength shall give us help. Farewell, dear father.
*Karin and Uryu walk off stage and Karin makes sure to avoid Toshiro. This action confuses the entire cast.
"Why is she acting like this?" Tatsuki asks the group.
"I don't know." Rangiku answers, she has also noticed that her Captain had been acting oddly lately too.*
*Scene changes to inside the Capulet castle. Shinji H. hobbles onto the stage relying on his cane and leaning on Orihime so he can walk.*
……
"What did they do to him?" Hisagi asked, he was amazed that the man was still alive and manages move let alone act on the stage.
"It looks like they beat him to a bloody pulp. Does this surprise you?" Captain Kuchiki asked in his emotionless voice.
"It shouldn't but for some reason it still does." Hisagi answered in confusion.
*
"OH MY, SHINJI!" Mashiro cries as she watched her friend hobble on to the stage.
"Serves him right for threatening Karin like that," Lisa commented with no emotion.
"It's only a play!" Hiyori growls through her teeth.
//////
"Dad, what happened to Shinji?" Yusu asked and Isshin just stared.
'I was angry at the guy too, but I think they went a little too far.' Isshin quietly thought.
……
Shinji H.: Invite all the guests on the list and hire twenty great cooks. Did my daughter go to Friar Lawrence?
Rangiku: Yes, she did.
Shinji H.: Maybe he'll do her some good. *Shinji H. was very careful about what he said about Karin, no matter what was in the script. He just couldn't survive another beating.*
*Karin walks on stage to stand in front of Shinji H. and blinks at his condition. She quickly recovers and recites her lines.*
Rangiku: See how she comes in with a happy face.
Shinji H.: Hello, my head strong daughter! Where have you been wandering? *He smiled as best as he could through a bruised face.*
Karin: Where I learned to repent the sin of my stubbornness and disobedience to you and your requests. Friar Lawrence commanded that I fall on the floor and beg your forgiveness. *Karin kneels on the floor in front of the beaten Shinji H.* Forgive me, I beg you. From this point forward, I will always obey you.
Shinji H.: Go tell Paris about this, this wedding will be performed tomorrow.
Karin: I met Count Paris at Friar Lawrence's cell and I notified him of my decision. *Karin stands up and faces Shinji H.*
Shinji H.: This is great. This is as it should be. Have the Count come here. Now, everyone in this city should be grateful to this holy friar.
Karin: Nurse, will you go with me to my closet and help me pick out the things I will need for tomorrow?
Orihime: No, there's plenty of time. It can wait until Thursday.
Shinji H.: Go with her nurse, we're going to church tomorrow.
*Karin and Rangiku leave the stage and Karin glances back at Shinji H. who is leaning heavily on Orihime.*
Orihime: We're not going to have enough food and it's almost night now.
Shinji H.: Don't worry, I will work it all out, and everything will be fine. I guarantee it, wife. You go help Juliet get ready and you leave me alone to take care of everything here.
*Orihime helps Shinji H. walk off stage as the scene changes to Juliet's bedroom.*
*Rangiku and Karin enter the stage and walk to her bed.*
Karin: Yes, those clothes will be best but gentle nurse, please leave me to myself tonight. I need to say many prayers to prepare myself for tomorrow.
*Orihime walks in to join the pair.*
Orihime: Do you need my help?
Karin: No, madam, we have all the things that are necessary for the wedding tomorrow. Please leave me alone, and let the nurse sit up with you tonight. I am sure you have your hands full with this sudden marriage business.
Orihime: Well, good night. Go to bed and rest.
*Orihime and Rangiku exit off stage where they quickly turn and watch Karin in her scene. Ichigo creeps up to the edge of the stage as well. He knows what's coming but he never is prepared for it. Chad and Renji stand behind Ichigo to stop him so that the play can continue without any more mishaps.*
Karin: Farewell! Only God knows when we shall meet again. I have a cold fear that scares my veins and almost freezes the life out of me.
*
"It could be all that ice on stage!" Hiyori mumbles and Kensei clamps his hand over her mouth to keep her quiet so they all can hear.
……
Karin: I must act this dreadful scene alone. Come with me, vial. *Removes vial from her right pocket.*
But, what if this doesn't work at all? Will I be married to Paris tomorrow morning?
No, this dagger will forbid that from happening. *Places dagger underneath her pillow on the bed. Notes the bed is very cold with ice gracing the sheets, Karin gulps and regains control of herself.*
What if this is a poison that would kill me so the Friar would not be dishonored since he married me to Romeo? I fear that it is, and yet, I don't think it is a poison. He is a holy man after all. I won't think on such a bad thought.
But what if I wake up before Romeo comes and I am in the tomb where the bones of my ancestors lay and Tybalt will not be too far since he has just been killed. That's another scary thought! And, if I should be smothered in the vault where no fresh air can enter, will I die before Romeo comes?
If I wake up early won't I be distraught when I'm shut up with these hideous fears?
Oh, look! I think I see my cousin's ghost looking for Romeo who killed him. Wait, Tybalt, wait! Romeo, I'm coming! I drink this to you.
*Karin puts sealed vial to her lips tilts her head back and falls on her bed in the curtains.*
-
"Oh my," Yuzu cries into her tissues along with Isshin. Ryuken stays dry eyed and breathes a heavy sigh in annoyance.
……
"To think she would do all of that just to escape a marriage." Ukitake noted to the group of Captains and Lieutenants.
"It is just a play." Kuchiki continuously repeated as he stared down as the props changed for the next scene.
"It may only be a play, but they are doing so very well portraying this story." Nanao dabbed her tears once again as she sits crying in between Kyoraku and Ukitake.
//////
"This is getting very interesting." Kisuke mutters to himself.
……
*Backstage
The bedroom props on the stage were changed to make it look like the inside of a castle. Ganju walked up to the bed where Karin was laying down and looked down at her.
"Hey kid, are you alright?" Ganju asked and he heard her sob and her shoulders shake.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Karin muttered to herself. Ganju felt guilty and sat down beside her.
"Look, I don't know what's going on but this play is almost over. There's only one more act and then you can put this whole drama club behind you." Ganju's words only produced more tears from Karin.
"Yeah, I know." Karin spoke before she closed her eyes and drifted off. She didn't want to leave this bed since it was still cold from Toshiro's power surge earlier that night before he beat the crap out of Shinji H. No one probably even knew, and she didn't care. She wanted to stay there, wrapped up in Toshiro's spirit energy.*
*Rangiku and Orihime walk on stage.*
Orihime: Take these keys and go get more spices, Nurse.
Rangiku: They're also asking for dates and quinces in the pastry.
*Shinji H. hobbles relying on his cane to stand beside Orihime and Rangiku.*
Shinji H.: Come on, let's get going. It's almost time the second rooster has crowed and the curfew bell has rung.
Rangiku: Go on you busy body. Go to bed or you'll be sick tomorrow because you stayed up all night supervising.
Shinji H.: No, no. I have supervised many times all night before and I've never been sick.
Orihime: Yeah, you have been a real weasel in your time, but I will watch you to keep from staying up all night.
*Orihime and Rangiku walk off stage leaving Shinji H. to lean on his cane and talk to extras.*
(Shinji H. is supervising all of the comings and goings of the random servants.)
Shinji H.: Count Paris will be here very soon with music since he told me he would. I hear him nearby. Nurse! Wife! Nurse, go and wake up Juliet. Go and get her ready for her wedding while I go talk with Paris. Hurry, hurry the bridegroom is already here. Hurry up.
……
"I wonder what they will do, when they find her." Hisagi asked as he watched the props change to the next scene.
"Just prepare for the water works, it's going to feel like a lake in here if all of these people start crying." Shunsui stated and regretted it once Nanao hit him on the head with her book.
//////
"Well, this play is almost over." Kisuke admitted to himself and his little group.
"Yeah, finally we can get a few days of peace and quiet without someone screaming and trying to kill one another." Jinta protested only to be given a power noogie from Tessai.
"Those are not nice things to say, Jinta." Ururu quietly pointed out making Jinta pout and Kisuke to smile down at her.
"You are so right, Ururu." Kisuke smiled as he looked at her underneath his hat.
……
*Shinji H. hobbles off stage as extras change the props back to Juliet's bedroom. The bed is pushed out to the stage. Karin has fallen asleep on the bed, again.*
*Rangiku hurries on stage and looks at the bed, a few sweat drops run down her face. Before she fully approaches the bed, she feels for Karin's spiritual energy and senses it. With a sigh of relief, Rangiku skips over to the bed and proceeds with her lines.*
Rangiku: What are you still in bed? Come on, it's time to get up. Look at how sound asleep she is. Madam, madam, madam! *Rangiku's voice grew in intensity with each word.* Yes, let the count get you out of your bed. He'll scare you awake. Won't you get up?
*Rangiku pulls aside curtains and sees Karin on the bed with some ice on the blankets and forming on the tips of her hair. Why is there so much ice?*
What? You're already dressed! I have to wake you up. *Rangiku touches Karin and gasps in shock.*
You're cold! HELP, HELP! My lord! My lady!
*Rangiku calls off stage and Ichigo runs in as a soul reaper and stares down at Karin. She looks cold and she feels cold.
"What happened?" Ichigo whispered to himself then he sees her chest moving up and down he collapses in the middle of the stage in relief.
"For a minute there, I actually thought she was dead." Ichigo whispered and he looked off stage where Toshiro is staring at the bed and looking slightly pale.
…
"Is everything alright?" Ukitake whispers to Shunsui.
"Yes, everything is fine. She's only asleep. I can still see her spirit energy is very strong." Unohana calmly spoke. Still, her tone didn't ease their worry.
-
"K-karin?" Yuzu starts crying her eyes out and Isshin stares up at the stage, he knows that she's okay but there's something about hearing so many people acting like she's dead that makes a man worry.
"You shouldn't be worried. You can still feel her energy." Ryuken stated almost bored.
///
Jinta stares at the stage and gulps.
"Are you alright, Jinta?" Kisuke asks as he glances over at the boy. He remains silent as he stares in shock.
…
*Orihime runs on stage where Rangiku is kneeling at Karin's bed and she sees Ichigo collapsed on the other side of the bed with Zangetsu set beside him.*
Orihime: What's going on here?
Rangiku: O lamentable day!
Orihime: What's the matter?
Rangiku: Look, look. *Orihime walks over to the bed and sees Karin on the bed.*
Orihime: Oh no, my child, my only life! Wake up, look up or I will die with you. Help, Help! CALL HELP.
*"It's in the script. She's fine. I'm sure of it." Ganju whispered to himself as he stared at the scene.
"What are you talking about?" Toshiro asked as he stared at him.
"Karin was so sad earlier, and I mentioned the play was almost over she cried even harder." Ganju stated and Toshiro stared wide eyed and turned his attention to the stage.
'Are you worried, master?' Hyourinmaru spoke in the back of Toshiro's mind.
'What do you think?' Toshiro asked his inner dragon.
'Don't you sense it?' Toshiro closed his eyes and focused on Karin's bed in the center of the stage. As he closed his eyes and concentrated, he could feel her spirit energy strong but he also felt some of Hyourinamru's energy with her. Toshiro opened his eyes and growled at his inner dragon. He could sense the dragon shrug its shoulders.*
*Shinji H. hobbled onto the stage as he still needed the cane to walk.*
Shinji H.: Come along now, bring Juliet out.
Rangiku: She's dead, she's dead! *Toshiro bit his tongue and stomped his feet to the ground to keep himself from leaping onto the stage.*
Shinji H.: Let me see her. *hobbles over to the bed and feels her.* She's cold. Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff. Life and these lips have long been separated. Death lies on her like an untimely frost *glance over at Toshiro* upon the sweetest flower in all the fields.
……
"They are very convincing down there." Isane proclaims and they are interrupted by loud snoring.
"ZARAKI, WAKE UP!" Soi Fon yelled at him as he was startled awake.
"What?" Zaraki looked down at the small woman as she turns back to the stage.
*
"I know what happened, but it's still sad!" Mashiro cried in her hands.
-
"DAD!" Yuzu cries in her dad's shoulder.
"She's only sleeping, Yuzu sweetie." Isshin stated calmly but he still looked up at the stage.
……
*Uryu and Renji walk on stage.*
Uryu: Let's go, is the bride ready to go to church? *Uryu is the only calm one in the cast.*
Shinji H.: She's ready to go but never to return. Paris, my son, the night before your wedding day death has slept with your bride. Death is my son-in-law, death is my heir. I will die and leave him my entire estate.
Renji: I have long thought I would see this morning and it gives me this sight? *Renji looks over at Karin and sees her chest moving.*
Orihime: Hateful day! My poor one and only loving child, I had one thing to rejoice and take comfort in and cruel death has taken it from me.
Rangiku: Woeful day that I have ever seen! A day as black as this has never been seen!
Renji: Deceived, divorced, wronged, spited, slain! Most detestable death, I am deceived by you. I am quite overthrown by your cruelty. O love! O life! Not life, but love in death!
Uryu: For shame! Heaven and you yourself had part in this fair maid, now heaven has everything and all the better it is for the maid. Your part in her you could not keep from death, but heaven keeps his part in eternal life. The most you sought was her promotion to marriage, that was your "heaven" that she should be advanced. And you cry now, seeing she is advanced above the clouds as high as heaven itself? You love your child so badly that you are going crazy, seeing that she is well. Dry up your tears and stick your rosemary on this fair corpse. As is the custom carry her to church in all her best array because although foolish nature bids us all to grieve, still nature's tears are sanity's happiness.
Shinji H.: All things that we put aside for the feast has changed from white wedding to black funeral. Our instruments are changed from music to melancholy bells, and our wedding cheer is changed to a sad burial feast. Our solemn hymns are changed to sullen funeral hymns; our bridal flowers will be used to honor a buried corpse and all things are changed to their opposites.
Uryu: Sir and madam, you go inside, Paris as well. Everyone should prepare to follow this beautiful corpse to her grave. The heavens do put some sorrow on you. Don't make them angry by contradicting their high will.
*Uryu glances to the bed as he ushers all of them off stage. The curtain closes on the bed and Ichigo jumps off the floor and stands over Karin.*
"Okay, Karin. That scene's over." Ichigo speaks to her as he places his palm on her forehead. He gasps at how cold she felt and starts to panic.
"Orihime, what's wrong?" Orihime ran over to the bed and looked down at Karin.
"She's fine."
"NO, she's not. This isn't normal."
"Captain, please." Rangiku walked over to him and he calmly strode over and sat on Karin's side of the bed. Ichigo glared at him and he ignored the boy.
'Hyourinmaru, you've had your fun. Now release her.' Toshiro calmly ordered and waited for it to be carried out.
'Do you think I enjoy watching you suffer?' The dragon seriously asked his wielder.
'Do you?' Toshiro's question was met with silence as he felt Hyourinmaru's spirit energy lift off the bed and Karin.
"She just fell asleep, again." Toshiro stated as he never took his eyes off her.
"Well, we need her to wake up so that we can finish the final act." Tatsuki exclaimed as she stood over the pair.
"Okay. Hey Karin, I've got this new soccer ball and Tatsuki just opened up the soccer field. Do you want to go play?" No sooner had Toshiro asked the question but Karin popped awake and nearly knocked her brother out with how fast she got up.
"YEAH!" Karin yelled and looked around at the group.
"The field isn't open yet, is it?"
"You need therapy." Toshiro stated and walked away from her.*
//////
"Well, I told you she would be alright, didn't I?" Kisuke smirked as he adjusted his hat on his head.
"Yeah, you did." Jinta mumbled as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and pouted.
"How did you know?" Ururu asked Kisuke and he smiled down at her.
"It was rather simple, I sensed Hyourinmaru around Karin." Kisuke happily exclaimed as he pulled out his ever present fan.
……
"Well, I'm glad she's alright. She had us worried for a minute." Ukitake exclaimed as he dabbed his forehead.
"It all felt so real." Nanao wiped more tears from her eyes.
"This is only a play." Byakuya stated again.
-
"Dad is she alright?" Yuzu asked her father and he smiled.
"Yes, Yuzu my darling, our Karin is perfectly fine." Isshin exclaimed happily.
"You are getting carried away, Isshin." Ryuken noted as he turned back to the stage.
*
"They are really good. I thought she was actually dead." Mashiro exclaimed as she sat on the edge of her seat.
"Oh please." Hiyori scoffed.
"Obviously, you don't have anything to compare it to." Lisa stated as they all waited for the next and final act to begin.
Omake
*Ichigo walks over to Karin and towers over her.*
Ichigo: Okay, Karin. What's going on?
Karin: What are you talking about? *Karin glares up at him and he remains calm.*
Ichigo: That last scene you seemed to calm and a little too eager to follow through. I know you like to do well but that's getting a little carried away.
Karin: Ichigo, I am only doing this play to get a soccer field. If I don't do well, then my team won't have the advantage when we face those middle school team again.
Ichigo: Are you still trying to make me believe that you're doing all this for a soccer field? *Ichigo sweat drops and stares at her. She glares back.*
Karin: Yes, Ichigo, it is my motivation. Besides, I'm not getting carried away. Not like some brothers who will attack a person on stage for everyone to see, or beats a guy to a bloody pulp just for saying some stupid lines. Does that sound familiar, Ichigo? *Grinds teeth as Ichigo actually thinks.*
Ichigo: I can't think of anyone.
Karin: AAAHHHH! IT'S YOU, YOU BIG IDIOT. YOU TRIED TO KILL TOSHIRO AND NEARLY KILLED SHINJI ALL BECAUSE OF THE STUPID LINES IN THE SCRIPT FOR THE PLAY. *Starts chasing Ichigo and they yell at each other.*
Uryu: *calmly watching the spectacle.* And she says he's getting carried away. *Referring to doing well for a soccer field.*
Toshiro: I keep telling you she needs therapy. *Karin stops chasing Ichigo and stares at Toshiro.*
Karin: I DO NOT NEED THERAPY!!
Uryu: Maybe she does?
*Karin twitches at Uryu who ponders her actions and doesn't notice Karin sneaking up on him. She kicks him in the leg and starts chasing him around the backstage.*
Ganju: Just remember, it's almost over.
Soul Reapers: THANK GOODNESS!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A/N: Here is Act 4 of Romeo and Juliet. I know it's only a play but everytime I read where they find Juliet it always makes me tear up a little bit. So, I made the reactions to the soul reapers and anyone who hasn't seen the play the same. Maybe I'm just too sensitive but oh well. There's only one more act left and then this story will be over.
Thanks for all the sweet reviews I've been getting for this story. I'm so glad this story can bring a smile to everyone's faces (at least before now.)