Chapter 10: On Stage
"So what happened?"
It was the day before the play and the whole cast of Twelfth Night was putting their best in the last general rehearsal for that day. Students scurried along from one end of the stage to another, positioning the props for a particular scene or giving out refreshments for the tired actresses. Every single person in the auditorium was doing something with the exception of two girls who were sitting side by side at the far end of the building.
"What do you mean?" Blake was clad in a full-sleeved shirt, black breeches, shiny leather boots and a gold cape that was attached and hung around her shoulder by a silver chain. Her straight sable black hair was tied back in a loose and low ponytail and left ear lobe was adorned by a simple silver earring. She and her companion were waiting for their turn to go on stage while the other characters finished reciting and acting out their respective scenes.
Amane smirked at her friend beside her. For that particular scene, she wore her somewhat tattered full-sleeved shirt with one sleeve carelessly rolled up her arm and the other dangling in shreds. She wore dark maroon breeches with calf-high boots over it and held an equally tattered cape in her hands. "Don't play dumb with me Blake," she told the other girl. "I doubt that you or Shizuma would not pull something off on each other in the confines of your dormitory room."
The raven-haired girl scowled deeply at the equestrian as she felt her face flush in reaction. "That's not of your business," she muttered, smoothing her tied hair with one hand. "Would you like it if I asked about what happens to you in your room when you are alone with her?"
Amane shuddered and shook her head emphatically. "Good point," she replied. "I definitely wouldn't like to trade the happenings that occur in my room with you." The younger girl watched the actresses on stage for a few seconds before giving Blake a wide grin. "But seriously Blake!" she begged. "What happened? Did you proclaim your undying love for our Etoile?" She gave a yelp of mock pain when Blake punched her lightly on one arm. "Or was there something more," there was twinkle in her eye as she spoke. Amane's eyes widened as she exclaimed, "Don't tell me you have already bedded her!"
"Shut up!" Blake covered her friend's mouth with her hand. "If you're going to be so insistent with your questions then I'll tell you what happened then!" Blake rubbed her eyes using the sleeve of her shirt. "She kissed me alright? She was probably going to give me another one when you interrupted," Blake pointed out with annoyance. She happened to like that particular display of affection coming from Shizuma.
"Ah! So romance finally blossoms!" Amane enthusiastically slapped the other girl's back in congratulations. "Did you enjoy it? You do realize that perhaps over a hundred girls on Astraea Hill have dreamed to receive such a kiss from the Etoile?" She laughed when the raven-haired girl shook her head vehemently. "Oh come on! You've been here for this long and you still won't acknowledge that Shizuma has numerous admirers."
"I have nothing to worry about," Blake retorted, twisting her cape into its right position around her shoulders. "Besides, I should not bother to think about what those other girls think because their Etoile has already given me her love." She gazed towards the stage and could not help but smile upon seeing the platinum-haired Etoile act with so much passion. To Amane she said, "My denial kept me from realizing my feelings for her."
Amane nodded her head in agreement. "We all have some part of us that's in denial," she shared. She smiled at Blake when she gave her a questioning look. "Liking or even loving someone entails the possibility of putting your guard down and just being whoever with that chosen person. Letting go of that denial is part of putting your guard down."
The raven-haired girl stared intently at her friend for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. "You really are such a romantic Amane!" she choked out in between bouts of laughter. "Seriously though, I find sense in what you are telling me," she added in a calmer voice. "Thanks."
Amane waved off the thanks of Blake with slightly reddened cheeks. She of course felt flattered that someone found sense in her advice; all the more that the person appreciated it despite how overly mushy it sounded. She had nothing else to say to Blake so the both of them enjoyed the comfortable silence between them as they continued to watch the events happening on stage. It was about fifteen minutes later when Blake was finally called up to the stage to present the first meeting of Duke Orsino and the disguised Viola.
Miyuki was the director despite playing a role however minor it was in the play. She stood at the center of the stage in shirt, breeches and a dark blue overcoat and a copy of the script in her hands. She ordered the stagehands to bring out the assigned props for the scene as she beckoned Blake to stand by her side. "We'll do the same thing for your scene with Shizuma," she told the taller girl. "For the last part where you send Cesario to woo Lady Olivia, we made a few changes but Shizuma will mostly be the one carrying it out," she added, nodding to the approaching Etoile.
Blake tried to a hide a smile as she watched Shizuma walk out from backstage and towards where she and Miyuki were standing. She had changed from her previous costume of a typical renaissance dress of pale yellow hues that was a little shredded at the hem of its skirts. As she was walking towards the Saint Miator student council president and the raven-haired girl in a simple full-sleeved white shirt, brown breeches and boots, she was tying her long platinum hair into a ponytail. Her chest was considerably smaller under her shirt obviously due to a special corset to make her appear more like a man.
Miyuki nodded her approval after looking both of them over and signaled for the lights and sound team up in the upper box to know their cues. "Alright you two," she started as she looked from Blake to Shizuma. "Just to make sure, I'll run you through with where you're supposed to be when you say your lines. Blake, you'll be the only one on stage then you will call for Cesario to do your bidding. Once Shizuma bows, sit down on that bench-," she pointed at a stone bench sitting under a makeshift alcove. "-and rest both of your hands on your cane between your legs." She watched as Blake stood at her first position then went to sit according to what Miyuki described to her. "As for the part when you send Cesario to Olivia's, you must hold out your hand and let Shizuma grasp it as she bows to you. She will then recite her aside after she lets go of your hand. Angle your body so that your back is seen by the audience in a slanted position and just don't move from your spot." She looked at Shizuma who was smoothing out her shirt. "Shizuma will do the rest from there."
"Perfectly understood, director," Blake told Miyuki with a nod of approval for the girl's work.
Shizuma also gave her own nod of approval to her friend and went to her position hidden behind the curtains at the side of the stage. "Shall we start then?" she called out. She watched as all the rest of the students on stage except for Blake vacate the area. The lights dimmed to near darkness as the narrator's voice sounded from the speakers located all over the auditorium.
"After the storm and acknowledging the fact that her dear brother Sebastian may be dead, Viola disguises herself as a young man and enters service in the Duke Orsino's court," Tamao the narrator recited as a lone spotlight lit to show Blake standing at the middle of the stage in a commanding but cool posture. "The Duke Orsino was a wealthy and well-known noble of Illyria who yearns for the beautiful Lady Olivia, but is not yearned for by the said lady. Here he calls for his new servant Cesario to bear his message."
As the lights once more brightened the whole stage, Blake tapped her cane on the wooden stage and called, "Cesario! Come hither my lad!" Blake watched solemnly as Shizuma strode out onto the stage and towards her. When Shizuma halted in front of her and gave a bow Blake continued, "Cesario, I have already unveiled to you my deepest feelings for the lady. Good lad! For my sake go to her doorstep and do not leave until she grants you an audience!" she sat heavily on the stone bench and made herself look love struck.
Shizuma stepped towards Blake and held her fist over her heart. "I will go my lord, but she will never admit me into her home!"
Blake shook her head and tightened her hold on the head of her cane. "Then let the lady Olivia know the passion of my love! She will take it better coming from a youth like you." She motioned for Shizuma to take a seat, but was not heeded.
Shizuma let out a loud sigh and shook her head at her lord. "I think not my lord! She cannot be so easily swayed by your words of passion that leave my mouth!"
Blake looked pleadingly at Shizuma and said, "Believe it lad! With your youthful appearance and your sweet and youthful voice, she will hear you out. Make this a success and you shall live as freely as me." Blake held out her hand to Shizuma and kept her other hand on her cane.
Shizuma bowed her head in submission and grasped the outstretched hand. "Hark! I will do my best to woo your lady!" She let go of Blake's hand and watched shortly as the other girl stood from her seat and turned her back on the audience and stood still. She then walked towards Blake and positioned herself to have their backs slightly touching each other and said with pain and longing in her voice, "Whoever lady I woo will be his wife, but I myself yearn to be his lady!" As the lights slowly dimmed, both girls took to opposite directions and disappeared from the stage.
"Great!" Miyuki said enthusiastically from her position at the front seats of the auditorium. "You did that perfectly you two!" She called out the stagehands to get ready for the next few scenes that still needed rehearsing as Blake and Shizuma came back out. Blake plopped herself down on the front of the stage with her legs dangling off its edge. "Now for the rest of the scenes just do as you have been doing like in the past rehearsals." She crooked her finger at both Shizuma and Blake to come closer. "You both know that your characters will end up together in the end right?" She watched as both girls nodded their heads. "I have a favor to ask. Blake when your character asks Viola to be his wife, I want you to kiss Shizuma."
Blake's jaw dropped. "I must have heard you wrong," she said. "Did you just say that you want me to kiss Shizuma at the end of this play?"
Miyuki nodded her head. "I know that it is unnecessary, but we believe that it would be a better ending for the audience." She carefully observed any reaction coming from Shizuma but did not see any coming from her friend. "I'll leave it to the two of you on how you will do it. Alright let's do the next scene!"
Blake remained motionless until Shizuma set her fingers on the raven-haired girl's chin and closed her open mouth. "Tell me that I was just hearing things," Blake mumbled out as she rubbed both her eyes tiredly.
"I'm afraid you heard it correctly," Shizuma pointed out without any pity in her voice. She had a feeling that Miyuki and the other student council presidents from each school would pull something off like this. "Come on, we have to clear the stage for the next scene." She dragged the girl up to her feet and towed her backstage.
"It's completely unnecessary."
Shizuma sighed and tried to soothe Blake by trailing her hand up and down the girl's forearm. It was past supper and the two of them were spending their time sitting by the fountain of the dormitory gardens. "We cannot do anything about it if Miyuki and the other student council presidents want it to be that way."
The raven-haired girl continued to grumble. "I just don't like it especially since we have to do it in public," she admitted. "Doesn't she realize that she's just going to add more fuel to the fire?" She shuffled her feet, while leaning against a tall oak tree. "It's like they want us to showcase our relationship."
"Are you ashamed of showing people that?" Shizuma asked quietly, her hand dropping to her side. Of course, she felt somewhat hurt that Blake was ashamed of their relationship. The Etoile walked a few feet away from Blake with her arms crossed over her chest and let out a long sigh. "It saddens me that you feel that way."
"Shizuma," Blake called, striding forward and gently hugging the shorter girl against her body. "I did not mean it in that way." She nuzzled the other girl's hair with her nose. "It's just that I don't want our relationship to be showcased like the relationships of celebrities. What we have," she said into the other girl's ear. "It is special and I want to keep it for myself."
Shizuma hummed out her pleasure after hearing the raven-haired girl's answer. "You are saying that you want to have me to yourself alone?" The beginnings of a smile formed on her face as she felt the familiar rumble of laughter from Blake's pressed chest against her back.
"I don't want anything or anyone in fact to get in between us," she whispered in a low and husky voice. "There's nothing wrong with my intention of wanting you for myself only." She twirled Shizuma around so that she was face to face with her. "What's wrong," she worriedly looked at the Etoile's face.
The longhaired beauty shook her head and placed her hand over Blake's heart. "I want to hear it," she told the girl with an alluring smile. Shizuma reveled at how the pace of Blake's heart quickened after just saying those words. All the girls that she had flirted with had the same reaction, but Blake was different. She knew that unlike the other girls, the reaction wasn't bounded by infatuation.
"Hear what?"
Shizuma gently laid her hand against the other student's cheek. The wind swept across the open space of the garden and carried their clothing and hair into a gentle dance. She tucked some of her platinum locks behind an ear and resumed gazing at her paramour. "I want to hear you say it." She didn't want to elaborate any further.
Blake gave a small smile and positioned her hands at the small of Shizuma's back. "For an Etoile, you sure are an insecure girl," Blake pointed out. She pressed their foreheads together and closed her eyes. "I've fallen for you, alright?" The raven-haired girl could feel her face heat up as this time she burrowed her face into Shizuma's shoulder. "You took me for all I was; my insecurities, my ill beginnings and my denial. You made me fall hard for you." She took her head away from Shizuma's shoulder and looked deeply into the other girl's amber eyes. "Do you need any more convincing?"
Shizuma just smiled up at Blake upon hearing that question. She grabbed hold onto the collar of Blake's shirt and pulled the girl down inches away from her face. "You better do you best here if you want to convince me," she said with wanton laced in her voice, then pulled Blake down for a deep kiss.
Blake brought up her hand and buried it in the masses of platinum hair as she slanted her mouth against the Shizuma's lips repeatedly. She breathed in deeply as they kissed; finding that she liked the scent of the Etoile. It was just like what Amane had said that loving someone entailed putting your guard down and just letting go of yourself when you are with the person you love. Under the clear night sky and the wind gently dancing in their midst, their embracing figures seemingly melded into a single entity.
The endless murmuring of the students reverberated in the full auditorium. It was long expected that the turnout of students would be this great. From the stage, it seemed like an endless wave of black, white and beige-red and this truly was testing Duke Orsino's actress. Blake nervously paced in a small corner backstage as Miyuki, Shion and Chikaru gave last minute reminders and pepped all the students involved in the play a few feet away. As the huddle of students dispersed to reveal the three student council presidents and the Etoile, Blake drew attention to herself by noisily thudding her back against the wall and letting out a frustrated sigh.
A worried looking Shizuma clad in her costume of a storm-tattered dress walked over to the raven-haired girl. "What's wrong?" she smiled up at Blake when the girl stopped pacing. "I thought I was able to rid you of all that pent-up nervousness last night." She reached out and straightened the other girl's cape.
"It's nothing," she shrugged, letting out a long breath. Blake put up her hands in defense when Shizuma narrowed her eyes at her. "It's just my first time to perform in front of such a big audience," she admitted, letting the Etoile get hold of her hands. "There's also the fact that acting was never a forte of mine."
Shizuma let out a chuckle and proceeded to give the tall girl a quick hug of assurance. "You'll be fine," she told Blake with firmness in her voice. "All the rehearsals and the one-on-one practices that you went through will definitely pull you through this play."
The sound of hands clapping loudly together made them look to see Miyuki signaling everyone to take their places. "Everyone please go to your positions and for those students who are to appear in the first scene, please go to your places." Miyuki caught Shizuma's eyes and motioned for her to get on the curtained stage.
Shizuma nodded her head to the president before turning to Blake with a smile on her face. "Looks like I have to get ready. Don't be nervous! Just do it like how we did it in rehearsals and imagine that there's no audience there!" She fluttered her fingers at Blake before turning on her heel and disappearing into the darkness of the stage.
Blake watched as Amane too gave her a quick wave before following Shizuma. She had quite a long wait to do since her first appearance would be a few scenes later. For now, all she could do was get a grip on her nerves and wait patiently until she was needed on stage. Blake listened as she heard the almost silent sound of the curtains being drawn and the sound of Tamao's voice echoing across the auditorium.
"On a ship tossed about the perilous waves of the sea, a brother and a sister clung to each other, praying that the other would not lose their hold and be lost to the dark depths of the ocean. The winds mercilessly pounded on the voyager's ship," Tamao narrated as sounds of harsh winds and crashing waves played in the background. A loud thunderbolt blasted through the auditorium's sound systems followed by the dull snapping of wood. A woman's scream tore through the air. "Her cry was drowned out by the endless downpour of rain as she watched their once noble ship break apart before her eyes." A long pause. "Then morning came."
The stage brightened as Shizuma and a mustached Remon both in storm-ravaged clothes staggered out from backstage. As soon as the students caught sight of the Etoile, they emitted coos and sighs at the beauty of their leader. Shizuma stumbled forward and looked far across the audience. "What country is this, my friend?"
The mustached Remon took her soaked hat and wrung it in her hands to get rid of the water. "We stand on Illyria soil, Lady," she replied to the older girl as she watched sailor clad students stumble onto the stage.
Shizuma bowed her head down and asked softly, "What be it that I am here in Illyria? My brother… he is in heaven," she looked up hopefully as the spotlight focused on her. "Perhaps he has not drowned. What think you, captain?" she turned to look at Remon.
The green-haired girl shook her head mournfully. "It is chance that you yourself were saved."
The Etoile dropped to her knees and buried her face into her hands. "Oh my poor brother! Sebastian!" she cried out with sorrow in her voice.
Remon walked to the kneeling form of the Etoile and tenderly placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Fear not milady! After our ship split, I saw Sebastian bind himself to a strong broken part of the mast," she smiled reassuringly at Shizuma when she looked up. "I saw him holding on for as long as I could see him in the sea."
Shizuma straightened and sat on her calves. "For saying so, then there is hope. Do you know this country?" she asked the captain as she looked over the survivors of their ship.
"Aye madam. I was born and bred not three hours away from this coast."
"And who governs this place?"
Remon helped carry a wounded sailor and set her onto the hard wooden stage. "That would be the Duke Orsino."
"Orsino!" Shizuma exclaimed, putting her hand on her chin. "I have heard his name from my father's lips. I knew that he was a bachelor then."
Remon nodded. "He is until now, Lady Viola. Although a month ago, he sought the hand of the Lady Olivia. I hear that she is sought for by numerous men."
"Captain," Shizuma called as she got to her feet. "I ask you to conceal my identity and present me as a page in the Duke Orsino's court. To this time, I will commit to serve in his court as a lowly page."
Remon bowed to Shizuma and led her across the stage. "I will be mute and do what you wish. Let us be on our way then." The lights on stage dimmed as Shizuma and Remon exited. Tamao's voice came back on and continued to narrate for the next few scenes.
"You did well."
Blake wiped her brow and smiled at the flamboyantly dressed Chikaru. She had just come from performing her first two scenes with Shizuma. She had just sent Cesario to bring her jeweled ring to Olivia to further convince her of Duke Orsino's undying love for the lady. They had received a generous applause from the students after they both exited the stage. Right now, she was keeping Chikaru company as she was getting ready to do her scene of receiving the disguised Viola who bears the message and ring of her master. "I'm just glad that it went by really quickly." Her smile wavered when she remembered that she still had a more scenes to do later on in the play.
Chikaru giggled as she patted Blake's back. "You'll do alright. It's only a few more scenes for you." She spotted a student signaling for her to take her position. "Alright, I'll talk to you later," she smiled cheerfully at the raven-haired girl. She walked out onto the stage with an air of importance with servant-garbed students flanking her sides.
Blake watched with interest in her eyes as she watched the veteran actress do her work from backstage. The Lulim president was clad in an off-shoulder gown that swept across the floor as she walked. For today though instead of her usual two bows, she wore a single one at the back of her head.
Lady Olivia arranged her skirts as she sat on a stone bench at the middle of the stage. She looked on with flirtatious eyes as a servant led the shirt and breech clad Shizuma towards her. "Close the garden gate behind you and leave us be," she ordered and sweetly smiled at the Etoile. "Give me your hand, sir. What is your name?"
"Cesario is your servant's name, princess." Shizuma replied with respect in her voice.
"My servant?" Chikaru raised her finely shaped eyebrows. "You are the Duke Orsino's servant."
Shizuma knelt on the floor with her head bowed down. "And he is yours. Your servant's servant is your servant, milady."
Chikaru flapped her hand and turned to face the audience. "I think not of him!" the president exclaimed. Oh! By your leave, I pray that you never speak again of him." Her lips curled up in a smile. "I would rather that you undertake your own love than hear anything else," she reached out, grabbed hold of Shizuma's forearm and forced her to sit on the vacant seat on the bench beside her.
Shizuma let shock show on her face as she struggled to get away. "Dear lady!"
Chikaru laced her arm securely into Shizuma's. "I did send a ring after you when you were last here. What might you think?" she asked hopefully.
"I pity you," came the blunt reply from the platinum-haired girl.
"That's a degree of love!" Chikaru cried out happily.
Shizuma scowled and tried to pry the other girl's arm off. "It is not a degree of love for we often pity our own enemies." She stood up only to have Chikaru tighten her hold.
"Stay! I pray thee that you tell me what you think of me!"
Shizuma sighed and replied, "Only that you do think you are not what you are."
"If you think so then I think the same way of you"
Shizuma's scowl deepened as she finally pried the lady's hand off her arm. "Then you think right, milady; I am not what I am." She turned away and proceeded to walk a few feet away.
"I think you were as I would have you be!" Chikaru cried, getting to her feet and running towards Shizuma with her skirts fisted in her hands.
"Would it be better than I am now?" Shizuma retorted. "Adieu my dear madam! Never more will I bring my master's tears to you anymore." She bowed stiffly and strode off the stage as Chikaru gazed at her retreating back.
"Yet come again! For perhaps you may move my heart to like his love!" Once again, the stage lights dimmed as the narrator's voice blared on the speakers once more. Chikaru followed the small light coming from backstage and bumped into a smiling Amane and Blake. "Ara! Why the wide smiles on your faces?" she asked jokingly. "I would think that Blake here would be jealous that I shamelessly flirted with the Etoile right in front of her own eyes!"
Blake shook her head vigorously. "Why would I be jealous?" she demanded. "It is just acting after all!"
Amane nodded her head and smirked at her friend. "I really believe it would have been better to watch if Shizuma had played Lady Olivia and you were Cesario in this scene!" She cocked her head to the side. "Shizuma would have done a brilliant job flirting with you and you of course would have done a great job being flustered." Amane jumped back and avoided an elbow aimed at her ribs. "Well who's being defensive here?" Amane laughed before taking her leave and going on stage for her own scene."
"Why does she keep teasing me?" Blake muttered under her breath, feeling her cheeks heat up in reaction.
Amane looked annoyed as she watched Kizuna clad in a jester outfit jump around her on stage. "Leave me. You are but a foolish fellow who has mistaken me for another."
"Then I do not know you, nor I am not sent to you by my lady, nor your name is not Master Cesario, nor this is not my nose neither.Nothing that is so is so!" Kizuna exclaimed with sarcasm in her voice.
"I pray thee then that you vent your folly somewhere else then! You know not who I am!" Amane let out exasperated just as Kaname and Yaya entered as Sir Toby and Sir Andrew.
Yaya, whose long brown hair was tied in a tight bun, smirked as she gestured at Amane. "So we meet again! The lad that dares to take the hand of the Lady Olivia from me!" She strode over to Amane and slapped the girl.
"Are you mad?" Amane demanded as she unsheathed her dagger that hung on her waist.
"Hold lad!" Kaname shouted as she grabbed hold of Amane's arm.
"Nay let him be!" Yaya shouted. "Let me take him some place and have my action of battery against him for taking my prize!" She unsheathed her sword and pointed it at Amane threateningly. "Take up your sword!" she shouted.
"Let go of thy hand, sir," Amane growled at Kaname before unsheathing her own sword. "I will be free from you!" He pointed his sword at Kaname who developed an angry look on her face.
"Then I will have an ounce of blood from you too!" Kaname shouted as she drew her own sword.
"Hold Toby!" Chikaru's voice called out as she came running onto the stage. "On thy life, I charge thee to hold!" she ordered with panic in her voice.
Kaname dutifully lowered her weapon. "Aye lass."
To Yaya Chikaru said, "Away with you, you wretch!" She walked to Amane and smiled at her. "Be not afraid dear Cesario!" She glared a dismissive look at Kaname and Yaya before focusing her full attention on Sebastian. "Come with me to my house, dear sir and let me explain to you the foolish pranks of those ruffians and how it was botched up. Perhaps it would make you smile upon knowing this."
Amane looked over to the audience and rubbed her eyes. "Be this a dream? Perhaps I am still asleep and dreaming!" She put a hand on her forehead and looked up to the ceiling. "Or perhaps I am going mad!"
"Nay! Come with me!" Chikaru insisted as she grabbed hold of Amane's hand.
"Aye milady, I will come with you."
Chikaru smiled up at Amane as the lights dimmed once more. "Oh say so and so be it!" They both disappeared from the stage through a small opening at the back before Amane almost immediately reappeared from the left side of the stage by herself.
She slowly walked towards the middle of the stage with a distant look on her face. "The sweet air and the glorious sun," Amane murmured. "Where is my comrade Antonio? The town talks that he has been ranging all over town in search for me." Her eyes widened as she turned her head to see the approach of Chikaru and a fifth year student in the long flowing robes of a priest. "The lady comes."
Chikaru stepped closer to Amane and pressed a gentle hand above the heart of the other girl. "If you mean well, you will go with me and this holy man," she said with passion. The suggestion issued a collective gasp from the student audience while a few others squealed in delight. "Before him," Chikaru gestured at the priest. "And underneath that consecrated roof, you will assure me of your faith. What say you?"
Amane responded by offering her arm to the other girl. "I'll follow this good man, and go with you," she replied. "I have sworn the truth and I shall remain true to you."
Chikaru looked at the father after resting her hand on Amane's forearm. "Then lead on good father!" she told the priest. "May the heavens so shine that they may fairly note this act of mine!" The trio of girls exited to the right of the stage just as Shizuma, Blake and another student in servant attire walked out from the left wing. Kizuna still garbed in her jester attire, walked out from the back of the stage to receive the other trio of girls.
Blake straightened her shoulders and used a powerful stride to meet with Kizuna at the middle of the stage. "Do you serve the Lady Olivia?" Blake inquired as Shizuma still disguised as a boy stood at her side attentively.
Kizuna cocked her head to the side and twirled around. "Aye sir!" she replied cheerfully. "I am one of her attendants." She skipped in place to further solidify her role as Lady Olivia's fool.
"I remember you, good fellow," Blake told Kizuna while patting the shorter girl on the shoulder. "Hear me now and do not tarry. Tell you lady that I seek to have an audience with her."
Kizuna nodded her head and playfully bowed at the intimidating figure before her. "I will go sir!" The young girl skipped off the stage just as Miyuki and two armored students flanked at her sides came on stage.
"My lord!" one of the soldiers greeted. "This is the man that has done your nephew wrong a time ago. We have finally apprehended him and brought him forward to your presence." The soldier roughly pushed Miyuki forward.
Shizuma's eyes widened at the sight and stood on her tiptoe to whisper in Blake's ear. "My lord, this is the man I told you about who rescued me from the knight and the squire," Shizuma remarked. "He did me kindness, but spoke strange speech to me. I know not what he meant by it."
Miyuki gave a low bow to Blake and said, "Orsino, noble sir, that boy at your side I redeemed!" Miyuki exclaimed. "I gave him back his life. For his sake, I drew my sword to defend him but I asked that he return the purse I gave him not a half hour ago, which he denied doing!"
Shizuma looked appalled. "How can this be?"
"When did this lad come to town?" Blake asked.
Miyuki responded, "Today and three months past that he was with me both day and night."
Blake opened her mouth as if to ask another question when Chikaru walked out onto the stage. "Here comes the countess and it's as if heaven walks on earth," she sighed in longing. To Miyuki she said, "Believe me dear sir, this lad has tended upon me for three months so you must have erred."
Chikaru finally stepped into league with Blake, Shizuma and Miyuki. She looked disappointedly at Shizuma and said, "Cesario, you did not keep your promise with me!"
Shizuma took a step back in shock. "Madam?"
Blake took that cue and gave an elegant bow to Chikaru. "Gracious Olivia," she greeted, looking up to meet the eyes of Chikaru.
Chikaru narrowed her eyes at the other girl's company. "What do you say about this, Cesario?"
Shizuma gulped as she remained at her master's side. "My lord would speak to you and my duty hushes me," she explained hurriedly.
"If it be to the old tune, my lord, it is as fat to mine ear as howling after music," Chikaru sneered at Blake and reserved her smiles for the platinum-haired page.
Blake forced out a smile. "Still so cruel, I see."
Chikaru gave a fake sweet smile of her own. "Constantly with you, my lord."
"You uncivil lady. What shall I do? Why should I not kill what I love?" Blake demanded hotly from Chikaru. She put a fist to her heart and looked hard at the other girl. "But it is clear to the eye that my love cannot be given back." She turned to Shizuma and motioned for her to follow. "Come boy, we will take our leave and I will sacrifice this love."
Chikaru quickly took a step forward and grabbed hold of Shizuma's shirt. "Where are you going, Cesario?"
Shizuma pulled away from the girl's hold. "After him," she pointed at her lord. "I am loyal to my lord for he has been kind to me. I will love and serve him more than my own wife," she told the girl without any pity.
The Lulim president expressed pain in her pretty face. "How am I deceived!"
"Deceived?" Shizuma asked incredulously. "Who deceives you? Who does do you wrong?"
"Have you forgotten already?" Chikaru asked in confusion. "Let us call forth the priest!" she waved her hand in the air to signal for the priest to be fetched.
Blake turned impatiently to look at her page. "Cesario come away!" she ordered hotly.
As Shizuma turned to do her master's bidding, Chikaru once again reached out and grabbed hold of Shizuma. "Cesario, my husband, stay!" The audience balked at the turn out of the play as they watched their Etoile act beautifully in front of them.
"Husband?" Blake choked out more in anger than in confusion. "What is the meaning of this, lad?" she demanded angrily.
"He is my husband, Duke," Chikaru insisted. "He cannot deny it."
Shizuma looked at her lord with panic stricken on her face. "No my lord! Not I!"
"It is fear that makes you deny our love," Chikaru pointed out and tried to get closer to Shizuma. "Ah here is the father! Father I charge thee to reveal what has just passed between this youth and me," she told the student disguised as a priest.
The priest wrung his hands together. "A contract of eternal bond of love," he answered. "And from what I know, it has been a mere two hours since that time."
Blake made herself look angrier but put a sad glint in her eyes as she talked to Shizuma. "Oh you disloyal lad! Farewell and take her, but never show yourself to me again!" Blake shouted at her one-time servant and proceeded to walk away.
Shizuma ran after her lord with a distressed look. "My lord, I do protest!" she insisted.
"There he is!" An angry looking Yaya Nanto strode out onto the stage with her unsheathed blade in her hand. "My lady send for a surgeon for Sir Toby!"
"What is the matter?" Chikaru questioned.
"That man," Yaya pointed her sword at Shizuma. "Struck me on the head and has also given Sir Toby a bloody cut on his flesh."
"Who has done this, Sir Andrew?" Chikaru asked in confusion.
Yaya exclaimed exasperated, "That Count's gentleman, the one named Cesario! We took him for a coward but he is truly the devil's incarnate." Yaya advanced forward menacingly with the sword in her hand.
Blake stood and blocked the path of Yaya. "You say that Cesario has done this?"
"That he is!"
Shizuma shook her head. "Why do you speak to me? I never hurt you. You drew your sword upon me without cause but I did not raise a hand against you!" the platinum-haired girl explained to all the people around her.
Just then, Kaname came on the stage with Kizuna. "Hark! Here is Sir Toby with the fool!" Yaya barked. "You shall hear the truth from him!"
"How are you now, injured sir?" Blake asked noting the white bandage wrapped around her chest.
Kaname glared at Blake then glared at Shizuma. "That man caused this injury to me!" she said angrily. "Fool!" Kaname shouted at Kizuna. "Where be that surgeon?" she demanded crossly.
"He is drunk, sir!"
Kaname glowered at all the people present on stage. "Then he is a rogue and I hate drunken rogues!" She lurched forward as if in pain.
"Away with him! Get him to bed!" Chikaru ordered as all the main characters on stage converged.
Amane then appeared from the back of the stage. "Forgive me, my lady," Amane started as all the characters of the play turned to gawk at the appearance of the girl. "I am the one who hurt your kinsmen and I seek forgiveness especially since we have just made our vows to each other not long ago."
Blake stepped forward and exclaimed to the audience, "One face, one voice, the same habits but two persons!" She looked from Shizuma to Amane repeatedly, completely bewildered.
The equestrian walked over to Miyuki and clapped the girl on the back. "Antonio! I have looked for you for many hours and the time has tortured me so!" She became confused at the weird look that Miyuki was giving her.
"Have you made a division of yourself?" Miyuki inquired as she too began looking from Shizuma to Amane. "Which of you is Sebastian?"
Amane's eyebrows furrowed. "Do I not stand here before you? I never had a brother but I did have a sister whom the waves devoured not long ago." She stepped forward and looked closely at the Etoile in observation. "What kin are you to me? What is your name?"
Shizuma shook her head and also gave Amane the same kind of tedious observation. "My father's name was Sebastian and so too did my brother have that name. He is now though in a watery tomb," she explained.
Amane's eyes softened. "Were you a woman, I should my tears let fall upon your cheek, and say, 'Thrice welcome, drowned Viola!'" She turned to Olivia and said, "So comes it, lady, you have been mistook. You would have been married to a maiden."
Blake stepped towards Shizuma and put a hand on the girl's cheek. "Boy, thou hast said to me a thousand times you never should love woman like to me."
Shizuma smiled up at her lord and replied, "And all those sayings will I over swear."
At that moment, the audience completely composed of the students from the different schools began to whisper at each other in awe and admiration for their sempais. It was clear to them that the play was about to come to its end. They watched as Amane held Chikaru close and the rest of the cast watched as Blake pulled the still disguised Shizuma into her arms.
The raven-haired girl forced herself to smile despite knowing what was to come next. "Your master quits you; and for your service done him. And since you called me master for so long, here is my hand you shall from this time be your master's mistress."
Chikaru smiled up into Amane's face. "She is your sister indeed, dear husband."
"Aye," she replied. "And I am glad that we are reunited. Oh boy! Amane thought to herself. Here comes the moment of truth. I hope Blake has enough nerve to just get this over with!
Blake swallowed hard as she gathered Shizuma in her arms and proceeded to lower her lips very slowly onto the waiting lips below her. She tried not to look out over to the audience as they all began to gasp and squeal at what was to come next. Why does it have to be this way? Blake asked herself in disdain as her lips were only a mere few centimeters away from pressing fully onto Shizuma's lips. Just as she shut her eyes to do the act, she felt Shizuma pull away. Blake's eyes snapped open only to find that her surroundings were completely dark. A few lights turned on and showed that the curtain had already dropped.
Miyuki walked to Blake's side and patted her on the shoulder. "I realized of course that showing that kind of public display of affection would create a lot of chaos," she smirked at the open-mouthed Blake. "I made a last minute change to the script and told the students at the lights and sounds box to dim the lights to complete darkness just when you were about to kiss Shizuma." The president of Saint Miator grinned as Blake finally closed her mouth then opened it once more to release a stream of curses. "Now stop cursing! They're going to raise the curtain for our curtain call!" She called for all cast to take their places on stage just as the curtain began its slow journey upward.
A thunderous standing ovation awaited them as they all took a bow and thanked the students for watching and supporting the production. Each of them waited patiently as Tamao's voice sounded via the speakers and introduced the cast and their roles in the play. When it got to Shizuma and Blake, a loud voice from the audience shouted, "Did you really kiss?"
Blake's face turned a deep tomato red as the rest of the student population demanded to know if there was really indeed a kiss. A few others were already putting forward that they wanted to see the kiss at that very moment since their view of the kiss was abruptly cut off.
"Ara, we cannot reveal if there was indeed anything that happened! Actors do have their own secre-" Tamao stuttered at the sudden sight before her. The Etoile had stood on her tiptoes and gave the blushing Blake a peck on the corner of Blake's lips much to the delight of the audience.
Shizuma laced her fingers through the raven-haired girl's hand and looked at the now-rowdy audience. "That's the only show that I am entitled to give you," she said sweetly. "The more serious things are reserved only for me and Blake."
With that comment, the students went into an uproar as the students in charge of technical immediately made the curtains go down to protect the cast. Amane and her other colleagues chuckled at each other as they watched Shizuma try to soothe a very flustered Blake. They watched in interest as the Etoile took Blake to one side of the stage and cupped the girl's face in her hands.
"You did a wonderful job, you know."
Blake nodded her head. "I suppose there aren't any other activities that require coercing me to participate in them?" She was weary from all the acting she had done that day and from all the intensive rehearsals that they had.
Shizuma tilted her head upward to look deeply into Blake's eyes. "The only other activities that you need to participate in revolve around spending your time with me." She buried her head into Blake's shoulder and sighed as she felt Blake's arm circle her waist. "Don't you wish that we too would also have the same ending as Duke Orsino and Viola?"
Blake smiled and rubbed slow circles on the small of Shizuma's back. "We're on our way there," she murmured. "I'm just in no hurry to get to that ending."
Update at last! Well i must admit, i had a hard time writing this chapter. I knew of course that writing this chapter would give me the mot difficulty. i only picked out the most important scenes from twelfth night so that it wouldn't be too long. As for the script, i had an old copy of my class's script for twelfth night so i incorporated it in this chapter.
Alaeri: Not too much alone time between Blake and Shizuma in this chapter although i assure you that the next 2 chapters will be quite interesting.
Moomoocachu: were you waiting for them to kiss? i'm sorry that it took so long! hahaha!
flamefire: hehe! glad that you loved the chapter. your "wooting" pretty much told me so. haha!
vampknight364: oh you reviewed quite a long time ago. haha! you disappeared for quite some time but i'm glad that you've enjoyed the story so far.
loorlover: sorry for the long wait! thanks though for liking this story!
soleil192: you liked the fight scene? well honestly when i reread it, i thought it was a bit messy. hehe. i think that i wrote better fight scenes a few years back. i lack practice now these days so i'm trying to regain my old skill.
DonnaUotani: Glad that you like this so far! Amane has always been one of my other favorite characters from this series. I tried to make her have a more obvious sense of humor though since she was mostly serious in the anime.
next chapter: plans for the summer trip to the beach with the Astraea Hill students and the trip itself.