Chapter Nine guys! Maybe it might be a bad idea to might AU with the real anime. Instead of slight AU, it's mostly AU isn't it? :P But, since it got my train rolling, I'll keep it going, but please give me any criticism whenever you feel something wrong. As of right now, this chapter is dedicated to the AU part. I need the Shaman Tourny for the sequel, but I'll talk about that later. Thankies a bunch mankinfan! Oh, another note to mankinfan, I've never read the colored manga before. T_T I don't know where to read or buy it, so when I read, I never imagine any colors besides white, black, grey, or perhaps blonde. I'm sorry. T_T I never realized that his eyes weren't yellow. Again, it's in my fanfic already, and I'll deal with it with your guyses help. (And remember, it's a fanfic!)
Here's the play, the rewritten version, slightly edited. I realize that I skipped the part where the Capulet and Montague persons brawl on the streets, but I wan't exactly focusing on the family rivalry if you may understand.
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"In the time of chaos, in the midst of all the trouble were two families, the Capulets and Montagues, who were at each other's necks." the narrator said. "The young heir of the Montague, Romeo, was in deep despair. He had just been rejected, just as everybody else, at Rosaline, who had instead chosen his best friend and cousin Mercutio. So now, Mercutio sneaks into the Capulet ball with Benvolio and Romeo to see his love. Little do they know, they'll find more than just a reunition, but new found ties that may be the end to the family's rivalry..."
The auditorium was completely silent for a few moments before Yoh spoke.
"I thank you, my friends for accompanying me to the Capulet ball." Yoh said. "For I would have no courage to see Rosaline if I were to face her alone."
"Tis no problem my cousin." Ren said, reading off the script. "But a favor you owe me when it ends."
"Harsh you are, Mercutio." Chocolove said. "Let us hurry, before the ball ends without us."
Taking in a quiet breath, Ren stepped forward into the castle that was splitting in half with Yoh and Chocolove. Students danced around them and music played as they slowly moved towards the middle. Lyserg was on the camera on the side of the stage, filming their performance. The Chinese heard Yoh act out a gasp and run off to dance with Anna and Chocolove disappeared halfway through so he sat down on the marked bench to watch the rest of the students dancing.
"You're not going to dance?"
The violet haired teen turned to look at Horohoro, who stood against the pillar next to the bench and also watched the rest of the dancers with a smile on his face. Instructions scrolled through his mind's eye and Ren's physical eyes hardened into a glare. The Ainu faced to meet his glare and nearly flinched seeing how real it looked, but managed to keep smiling.
It probably is real seeing how much he didn't wanna do this.
"You're not going to dance, Montague?" he repeated.
A look of surprise flitted across the younger's features.
"You have no need to worry, I don't intend to give the three of you away." Horohoro said. "If I did, what fun would it be?"
The elder extended his hand and Ren carefully examined his face before hesitantly taking it to be swept up by his friend.
Friend... the Tao thought.
They were another blade of grass in the field of dancers. They were dancing so close to each other that Horohoro had to dip his arm so that Ren wouldn't have his face collide with it and his chin all but rested on the younger's shoulder.
B-bmp...
"So what brings you to an enemy's celebration?" Horohoro asked.
"A friend and close companion of mine." Ren replied. "He wanted to see the maiden Rosaline."
"Is that so? Ah, but it does not explain why you are here."
"If that is the real question, then I have no answer."
"Undecided are we?" Horohoro asked. "Shall I decide for you?"
A genuine smile was on his face. The pure innocence in his features knocked the wind out of Ren momentarily, but he shook his head in dismissal.
"I am afraid that you already are." Ren said. "I'm not the one leading this dance."
"That is true." the Ainu said with a laugh.
Within the instant that the band played their last note, they pulled apart and turned to see curtains of a balcony pulling apart.
"It seems that my sister has come to join the ball."
"She looks beautiful." Ren replied.
Not more beautiful than you.
They had no idea that they held the same though. Ren realized that little phrase had more meaning than he meant and shook it away and Horohoro just sighed, knowing that it couldn't possibly happen. The curtains closed.
"Okay! End scene one, act one." Dr. Thespian called quietly. "Benvolio, Mercutio, Paris, and Romeo. Now, prepare for scene two. A teacher shall stand next to Juliet on the balcony as Lord Capulet and greet the ball. After that, just follow the script as you remember it written. Lyserg has put small microphones on the collar of your shirts, so he will signal when to begin."
Nodding, Yoh and Chocolove dashed to where they had been standing and Horohoro and Ren walked to where they had been talking. They had about fifteen minutes before the curtain call for the next scene because Lyserg was getting the cords ready so he could film different parts of the stage. The blue haired snowboarder grinned at his friend. Ren raised a brow when he saw the elder mouthing something. Horohoro shook his head and made a guesture as to say he was going to tell him later.
I have no courage. I'm just too afraid of what he'll do to me if I tell him. Horohoro thought.
Images of Ren leaving him beaten to a blood pulp popped in his head and he laughed. Ren hit him over the head in reality and it brought him back to his senses as he rubbed his skull.
"Shut up." the younger hissed. "The curtains are opening."
"Oh." Horohoro said, watching them gradually part. "Okay."
"Ready. Go." they heard Lyserg say.
"I thank you for having my hand tonight." Horohoro said. "I bid you a farewell."
"I thank you for not giving me away, it would break Mercutio's heart if had to leave so soon." Ren said.
The Ainu gave a bow and disappeared into the crowd. The teacher stepped out on the balcony and everybody's attention was turned to them.
"I welcome my guests to our ball and I do hope that you are enjoying yourselves." the Lord Capulet said. "Ladies, we are dressed in our best gowns I expect and gentlemen, we are here to take hand of our ladies, are we not? Let us continue to have a joyous time and dance! A hall! Give room, foot it girls!"
The band started up again, but this time, Ren sat back down on the bench. He watched the attendees dancing and twirling before he spotted a waiter and grabbed him by the shoulder.
"You. Who is the blue haired sir that attended this ball?" he asked.
The student said, "I know not. But I do know that he may be a relative to the young mistress who stands on the balcony. Is that who you speak of?"
The waiter pointed at Horohoro who appeared besides Pirika on the balcony. After Ren's gaze had been averted, another student came pushing through the crowd.
"With that talk, you surely sound like a Montague!" he accused, pulling out his sword. "Thy scum of Montague, you have no right to know of my kin and will have the honor of being slain by the blade of my rapier!"
Ren turned to face the student, placing his hand on his kwan dao. The threatening sound it made when the metal clinked was drowned out by Capulet interveening.
"Now now, what disturbs the elegance of the celebration?" Capulet asked.
"Uncle, tis this Montague that dares intrude on our celebration." Tybalt cried. "For me to strike him dead shall not be sin."
"You will not strike anybody that this time." Capulet said. "Now who is this gentleman that has come to bless with us? Romeo is it?"
"I am Romeo." Ren said.
"If it is the Romeo that Verona praises so, I shall not cast a bad light onto him for all the riches. If you respect my will, you will leave him be and continue the smiles of our gathering. You shall endure him."
"If I shall be set to endure him, then I would rather take my leave." the Tybalt actor said.
"Then so be it." Capulet said. "If it is for the good of my guests."
With a huff, the student left and the teacher smiled at Ren before disappearing.
"Romeo! Romeo! We must take leave!"
Inconspicuously rolling his eyes, Ren whirled to see Yoh and Chocolove rushing forward and grabbing him by the arms.
"Why must we take leave in the noon of the-" he was interrupted by a hand convering his mouth.
Paris will say goodbye to Romeo and disappear and Romeo will ask a servant who he was. Mercutio, Benvolio. You will meet up with Romeo after Tybalt overhears Romeo and Lord Capulet shall come and resolve the confrontation.
