The Most Happy
Act Ten
Tuesday
She had skipped class again. Kiyomaro groaned to himself. Why did she have to lie to him? He stomped his way down the hall, passing by his peers as they left for the school day. It was time for the audition, whether Ureshii was there or not. He didn't think it was very kind of her to stand him up the way she had. Now he was the one with egg on his face. He had told Mr. Rin earlier that day that Ureshii would be at school. Now he could feel the pain of embarrassment flush throughout his body. Why did she have to do things like this?
The day couldn't get any worse. The morning had all ready gone terribly, with the arrival of Nomad Welsh in their class. Kiyomaro had the pleasure of sitting behind the blond and he had first listen of every crazy story he had to tell. Nomad had many tales of this and that, nothing of real interest or moral. He was also very disruptive and often had a way of tapping his pencil on his desk to the beat in his mind. If the work was hard for Kiyomaro, he might consider changing seats. Without a good excuse to move, he knew the change wouldn't be accepted by his teacher, Mr. Rin. At least when Ureshii sat in front of him she was silent. She said nothing and hardly moved. He would give anything to have Ureshii-the-ogre sitting in front of him.
Kiyomaro made a tight turn down the hallway until he found himself in front of the theater room doors. He hesitated for a moment, why was he even coming? That's right; Mr. Rin had asked him to be there. He grunted before pushing open the large doors and stepping in. Kiyomaro's footsteps echoed through the large room as he stepped deeper inside. On stage stood Kane and Mr. Rin. Kane held a large script in hand and Mr. Rin watched as the taller boy danced around in front of him, speaking the words of Shakespeare.
"Bid a sick man in sadness make his will! Ah word ill urged to one that is so ill. In sadness cousins, I do love a woman." He read aloud, one hand slapped on his muscular chest.
Kiyomaro spotted Suzume, Mariko and Yamanaka seated in the audience, watching Kane with wide eyes. He stepped as quietly as he could over to the row they were seated in. He took his seat beside Suzume and smiled at the brunette. It was obvious that the group had gotten together to support Kane. Kiyomaro had to assume that their teacher had asked the group to attend the practice as well.
"Very good, Kane!" Mr. Rin clapped both hands together. "Yamanaka, could you come up to the stage please?"
Yamanaka paused for a moment, surprised by his teacher's request. The jock then rose from his seat and stepped to the stage. Mr. Rin approached the jock and handed him a script. Mr. Rin used his index finger to point out a few highlighted lines.
"Read this for me, will you?"
"Sure," Yamanaka took the thick script in hand and began to read aloud, "I aimed so near, when I supposed you loved."
"Excellent!" He exclaimed. "I think we've found our Benvolio! How does that sound to you Yamanaka?"
Yamanaka hesitated, a part in the play? Wasn't it a week ago that he had refused the role of Romeo? The tall baseball player narrowed his eyes at his teacher and shrugged his shoulders, unsure of what to say.
"Because you wanted the extra credit," Mr. Rin began to explain. "I thought you might enjoy a different part in the play. A part that doesn't require kissing."
"Oh, I get it!" Yamanaka's frown turned into a grin. "That sounds great! That means I get the extra credit without kissing an ogre?"
Mr. Rin paused, sweat dripped off his forehead. "Yes…"
"What about the part of Romeo?" Kane clenched his fists with excitement.
"Well," Mr. Rin looked to the audience, his eyes darting back and forth until they landed on Kiyomaro. "Takamine!" He said beckoning him with a wave. "Come up here and read this for me!"
Kiyomaro turned to Suzume and shrugged his shoulders. Now what? The genius grunted and groaned before lifting himself up from his seat. He then took lazy steps up the stage. Before he could get to his teacher, Mr. Rin took the script from Yamanaka's hands. He then approached Kiyomaro and pointed out a few lines for him to read.
"Bid a sick man in sadness make his will! Ah word ill urged to one that is so ill. In sadness cousins, I do love a woman."
Mr. Rin took the script from Kiyomaro and approached Yamanaka, his lines were next, "I aimed so near, when I supposed you loved."
"A right good mark-man. And she's fair I love." Kiyomaro read aloud after being handed the script for the second time.
A giant smile spread from ear to ear on Mr. Rin's face, something had come over him. The teacher walked toward Kane and removed the thick stack of papers from his hands. He then walked over to Kiyomaro and shoved the script into his hands. The boy jolted upward from shock and took the script into his arms.
"I have news for you all," Mr. Rin said, the grin still lasting on his face. "I believe I have made up my mind!" He then wrapped one arm around Kiyomaro. "Kane," He began.
"YES!" Kane shoved his balled fist into the air.
"I think it would be best if you played Tybalt." Mr. Rin continued. "For my Romeo, I have chosen," The room became very still. "Takamine!"
"WHAT?" Kane shouted, throwing both hands on his face.
Kiyomaro's world came to a complete halt. Him? Kiyomaro Takamine as Romeo in the school play? No, it was impossible! He felt his body become numb with horror. Did this mean he would have to kiss Ureshii? He couldn't do that! It was wrong, immoral, disgusting! His face became pale and he suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom. How could this have happened?
"You were quite dramatic in your reading, Kane." Mr. Rin said, his grip tightening on Kiyomaro's shoulder. "So I figured Tybalt would be best of you."
"This is impossible!" Kiyomaro felt his hand slap his cheek. "Mr. Rin, I'm going to need time to think this over!"
"What?" Mr. Rin blinked several times before looking down to his student.
"Yes," Kiyomaro coughed to clear his throat. "I don't know if I'll be able to do this."
"Kiyomaro!" Suzume called out from her seat. "I think it'll be good for you! You'll be an excellent Romeo!"
"Suzume," Mariko whispered under her breath, "You know Kiyomaro will be kissing Shikimori, right?"
"WHAT?" Suzume shrieked.
"Then you can have a few days to think it over, Takamine." Mr. Rin removed his hands from his shoulders.
Kiyomaro felt his chest sink as he exhaled. "Thank you, Mr. Rin."
This was something he was going to have to think over. Performing on stage as the one and only Romeo? Could things get any stranger? Kiyomaro could almost taste the vomit in the back of his throat. What would cause his teacher, Mr. Rin to think he was the best choice for Romeo? There was no way he could do this; there was no way he could lose his first kiss to Ureshii Shikimori. On stage in front of everyone, in front of his own mother, there was no way he could do this.
Battle after battle had proven to Kiyomaro that he could do most anything but this…. this was different. Romance was a subject he failed utterly and completely. In fact he was sure he couldn't even spell romance, let alone perform it. This was something he was going to think long and hard about.
XoXoX
"Takamine, be sure to bring Gash with you. Ne wants to…play…"
The words didn't seem to fade from Kiyomaro's memory. Ureshii had given him specific instructions to come over after school and talk. They would speak about what happened the other day at the fair. It was crucial that they discuss this, if they were to become a team and work together. Kiyomaro had to know what was happening with Ne and her missing companions otherwise he wouldn't be much help. Of course he would bring his partner along; it was only natural for the teen genius. It was now that Kiyomaro noted to himself that Gash was now following him around most everywhere he went. Was this something he could get used to?
As Kiyomaro stepped down the street in silence, they were nearing Ureshii's small apartment. It wouldn't be long until he met Ureshii face-to-face and discussed the incident that had passed. Why was the sudden emotion of nervousness entering his body? He couldn't understand why he would be nervous, after all this was Ureshii. Perhaps it was because of her unpredictable personality or maybe it was the rude manner in which she spoke. Either way, it was a meeting He was not looking forward to.
Kiyomaro shut his eyes for a moment and by the time he reopened them he saw Ureshii's door before him. Had he really made it to the apartment complex all ready? The trip to the grump's home became shorter and shorter over time, was that a good or bad sign?
He lifted his hand to knock on the Ureshii's front door only to have the door swing open before him. Looking on with wide eyes, the young male saw a small body standing in the doorway. Ne looked up at Kiyomaro with a wide grin. Seeing his new friend appear before him, Gash pushed him aside and jumped at Ne with open arms.
"Hiya Ne!" He squeaked with delight.
Ne replied to Gash with a leap into his small arms. The smaller girl wrapped her arms around Gash and let a small giggle pass through her lips. Kiyomaro grunted at this sight but could not hold back his smile. After a moment or two embracing one another, Ne released her grip from Gash and cracked open the front door.
"Come on in!" She said with a smile.
The boys stepped inside the dark apartment with careful steps. He couldn't help but feel as though each step risked an explosion from a mine or Ureshii's temper. The small apartment hadn't changed from the last time he had come over; in fact it seemed more empty now than it had before. He walked in the living room and took a seat on the small couch.
"Where's Ureshii?" He asked Ne with a smile.
"She should be out in a moment," Ne replied in a sweet tone. "She's in the shower."
"Shower?" Kiyomaro narrowed his eyes at Ne with question. "She knew we were coming, right?"
"Yes," Ne nodded his head. "But she said men are always late, so she didn't count on you coming on time."
His smile dropped and he gave the female demon a blank look. "Well, I guess she's finally been proven wrong, huh?"
"Ne!"
The trio flinched to the sound of Ureshii's low voice. Kiyomaro and Gash looked over their shoulder to see the young lady standing in the hallway. She had both hands placed on her hips and an angry look plastered on her face. Her wet strands of hair dangled down in front of her face and shoulders. She sported a pair of pajamas, which became clear as she walked over to the couch. She passed by the boys and flopped down on the farthest end of the couch.
"Mama!" Ne trotted over to her partner and took a seat next to her.
"What a shock," Ureshii muttered to herself as she reached out to the coffee table and picked up a small box of cigarettes. "You're actually on time." She then flipped open the box and picked out a single stick.
"That's nothing new," Kiyomaro groaned as he lifted his right hand to his forehead.
"Anyway," Ureshii's voice became muffled as she placed the cigarette between her lips. "Ne wanted to tell you what happened the other day." She jerked her head in her partner's direction. "Go on Ne." She said before lighting her cigarette.
"We're ready to hear it." Gash looked at Ne with set of kind eyes.
"Well," Ne cuffed her hands in front of her stomach. "The other day at the fair, we did meet up with one of my friends,"
"That's great!" Gash balled up both fists with excitement.
"But," The pink-haired girl gave a heavy sigh. "He…he wasn't the same." Ne's eyes then darted to the floor. "Hobbes, my friend wasn't the same. He wanted to dominate the human world and our world."
"What?" Kiyomaro and Gash both leaned in toward the smaller storyteller.
"Yes," She closed her eyes and sighed once more. "Hobbes vowed on taking over this world and ours. He abandoned the rest of my friends and took a human partner to help him gain power."
"So the thirst for power continues," Kiyomaro bit down on his lower lip.
A small tear seeped out of Ne's eye and trickled down her pink cheek. She moved her hands lift to her face and she wiped away the small tear. Was this that depressing for her? Ne lifted her hands to her eyes to block her sobbing face from the two boys sitting in front of her.
"I-I'm sorry!" She exclaimed, "I didn't mean to cry again."
"Don't worry about it," Gash approached the female and placed one hand on her shoulder.
"What?" Ne removed her hands from her face and looked Gash straight in the eyes.
"You don't need him," Gash lifted his solo hand to chest level and clenched it. "We can find the rest of your friends without him." He tightened his grip on her small shoulder. "I'll promise you, I'll be with you all the way."
The flow of Ne's tears came to a halt. She closed her eyes and leaned toward Gash. The smaller female fell into the blond's arms and the two embraced in a warm hug. Gash gripped the back of Ne's shirt and rested his chin on her shoulder. The two stood together and for a moment it seemed they were linked in thoughts as well as emotions.
"Thank you…" She whispered into the male demon's ear.
"Takamine!"
Ureshii's booming voice caused to the two demons to instantly separate and look toward the older woman. Kiyomaro chewed on the inside of his cheek, what now?
"We have something else to discuss," She removed the cigarette from his mouth and let out a puff of smoke. "How did today's practice go?"
"Oh, you mean the practice you missed out on?" Kiyomaro hissed at Ureshii causing the girl to roll her eyes.
"Whatever," The smoker shrugged her shoulders. "What happened, did Kane get the part?"
"Uhhhh," Kiyomaro lifted his index finger to his temple and began to scratch.
"Well?" Ureshii cocked one of her thick brows.
Gash jumped in front of Ureshii and stretched his arms out wide. "Kiyomaro got the part!" He shouted with an enthusiastic voice.
"What?" Ureshii shot a glare in Gash's direction then in Kiyomaro's. "You have got to be kidding me."
"Nope!" Gash shook his head from right to left, the smile maintaining to stay on his face. "Kiyomaro got the part of Romeo!"
It appeared as if Ureshii stopped herself from becoming angry. She closed her eyes and tapped on the end of her cigarette. Ashes fell from the stick and landed on the carpet below her. She then snuffed out the cigarette on the floor and pulled herself up from her seat. She glared down at Kiyomaro. The brown-haired boy could feel Ureshii's haunting stare looming over him and he sunk down in his seat.
"But I told Mr. Rin I might back out." Kiyomaro muttered just loud enough for the female standing over him to hear.
"Do what you want, Takamine." Ureshii's voice vibrated throughout the room. "I need these credits so I'm not backing out."
Kiyomaro snapped his fingers in disappointment. He was for sure that upon hearing that he was going to play Romeo that she would back out. It was his last chance at living a long life. There was no way he was going to let his reputation fall because of one kiss on stage. Then again…perhaps there was a reason for this to happen. Perhaps if he helped Ureshii out, she might leave him alone.
"I'll have to think about it." He said in a simple, dull voice.
Ureshii gave another roll over her eyes and grunted. "Then you can go think about it, in your own house."
He looked up at the girl and shot her a glare. He then brought himself up from his seat and stood up straight. Kiyomaro looked toward his partner, Gash and nodded his head once. It was time they take their leave; it wouldn't be wise to stay much longer. The young prodigy walked over to the front door and turned back to face Ureshii.
"Come on Gash, I have a lot of thinking to do." Kiyomaro snorted before looking away from the two females.
"Don't think too hard," Ureshii let a small snicker pass her lips. "You'll give yourself a headache."
"I'll be sure to watch out for that."
Act End.