Julius Caesar: Fushigi Yuugi

Characters:

Caesar – Hotohori

Octavius – Mitsukake

Antony – Chichiri

Brutus – Tamahome

Cassius – Nakago

Casca – Soi

Trebonius – Tomo

Ligairus – Ashitare

Decius – Miboshi

Metellus – Suboshi

Cinna – Yui

Artemidorus – Amiboshi

Soothsayer – Taiyijun

Clitus – Chiriko

Strato – Tasuki

Pindarus – Nuriko

Calpurnia – Houki

Portia – Miaka

Scene 2

            Early in the morning, in the palace garden, near his room, Tamahome sits by the lake, deciding whether or not to kill Hotohori.

[NAKAGO, SOI, MIBOSHI, YUI, SUBOSHI, & TOMO enter.]

Nakago: I think may have come too early. Good morning, Tamahome.

Tamahome: I have been awake all night. Do I know these people with you?

Nakago: Yes, you know them all. This is Tomo, Miboshi, Soi, Yui, and Suboshi.

Tamahome: They are all welcome. What keeps you up tonight?

Nakago: May I have a word?

[They whisper, and then return]

Tamahome: Give me all your hands.

Nakago: And let us swear our resolution.

Tamahome: No, not an oath. Swearing oaths is for priests, cowards, crafty men, old

dying men, and unhappy people who enjoy lying.

Nakago: Shall we kill Chichiri also? He could be trouble.

Tamahome: No, it will be too much to kill him also. I just wish I could steal Hotohori's

soul with out destroying his beautiful body. Let us not chop him up like an animal to be fed to dogs. Let us seem to the people to be healers, not murderers. As for Chichiri, do not think of him.

Nakago: Yet I fear him, for his dedication to Hotohori –

Tamahome: Nakago! Shut up and do not worry about him.

Tomo: True, there is no reason to fear him. Now, I do believe it is time to part.

Nakago: We are not sure Hotohori will leave the palace today. He has become cautious

and may not come to the council meeting.

Suboshi: Do not worry; I will get him to the meeting.

Nakago: No, we will all go.

Tamahome: No later than the eighth hour, correct?

Yui: Of course.

Miboshi: We need to get Ashitare to join us.

Tamahome: I will get him to join.

Nakago: Morning comes. We must leave now, Tamahome.

Tamahome: Just make sure there is no reason to suspect us.

[All exit but TAMAHOME. Enter MIAKA.]

Miaka: Tamahome!

Tamahome: Miaka! What are you doing up at this hour? You should not be out here in

the cold morning.

Miaka: You should not be either, Tamahome. You hardly talked at supper last night. I

wish you would tell me what is bothering you.

Tamahome: I am not feeling well, that is all. Just go back to bed, Miaka.

Miaka: Do you really expect me to believe that you are sick?! Something is bothering

you, Tamahome. You one of my Suzaku warriors, my protectors, and I have the right to know what that soothing is.

Tamahome: Miaka, you know how important you are to me, but I just cannot tell you.

Miaka: You dare think of me as a typical woman? Do not forget I am the Priestess of

Suzaku. Tell me your secret. I have proved my strength by stabbing my thigh. If I can stand the pain, I can stand what troubles you.

[TAMAHOME glances down at MIAKA's legs]

Tamahome: But you did not stab yourself.

Miaka: Hey, I did it before, did I not?

Tamahome: True. Oh, Suzaku, make me worthy of the girl. Miaka, I will tell you later,

go to bed now.

[MIAKA exits, followed shortly by TAMAHOME.]

Scene 3

            Later in the morning, at another part of the Hong-Nan palace, outside of Hotohori's room.

[Enter HOTOHORI.]

Hotohori: I cannot sleep. Houki keeps crying out, "Help! They murder Hotohori!"

[Houki enters, alarmed.]

Houki: You are not thinking of leaving the palace, are you Hotohori?

Hotohori: Of course I am.

Houki: But I have been getting bad omens. I believe they are a warning of your death.

Hotohori: Whatever happens will happen. It is destined to do so.

Houki: Hotohori, please do not go!

Hotohori: I will stay, if it will ease your spirits. Chichiri will say that I am not well.

[Enter SUBOSHI]

Here is Suboshi, he shall tell them so.

Suboshi: Good morning, your Highness. I have come to take you to the council.

Hotohori: Tell them I will not come.

Houki: Tell them that he is sick.

Hotohori: I will not lie. Suboshi, tell them Hotohori will not come.

Suboshi: if I tell them that, they shall surely laugh.

Hotohori: I will not come. Houki has begged me to stay.

Suboshi: She has nothing to worry over, nothing will happen. Besides, you do not want

anybody to think you are scared, do you?

Hotohori: Your fears seem foolish now, Houki. Give me my robes, for I shall go.

[Enter TAMAHOME, MIBOSHI, SOI, TOMO, & YUI.]

And here is Tamahome to come with me.

Tamahome: Good morning, Hotohori, your Highness.

Hotohori: Good morning to you, too. What time is it?

Tamahome: I believe it is the eighth hour, your Highness.

Hotohori: Thank you.

[CHICHIRI teleports on.]

Here is Chichiri! Good morning, Chichiri.

Chichiri: Good morning, ya know.

Hotohori: Let us go now.

[All exit]

Scene 4

            At the Capitol of Hong-Nan. Amiboshi and Taiyi-jun await Hotohori's arrival.

[Enter HOTOHORI, TAMAHOME, NAKAGO, SOI, MIBOSHI, SUBOSHI, TOMO, YUI, & CHICHIRI.]

[HOTOHORI stops in front of TAIYI-JUN]

Hotohori: the ides of March are here, Taiyi-jun.

Taiyi-jun:  Yes, but not gone.

[AMIBOSHI holds out a letter to HOTOHORI.]

Amiboshi: Your Highness, read this!

[SUBOSHI steps up with another letter.]

Suboshi: Hotohori, Tomo has requested you read this.

Amiboshi: Hotohori! Read mine first!

Hotohori: I am sorry, but I will not read either.

[Sits himself in his chair]

Are we ready? What are we here to discuss?

Miboshi: Oh, your Highness, I bow before you.

[Kneels]

Hotohori: I must ask that you do not. I, unlike ordinary men, cannot be moved by

bowing and scraping. My heart will not be melted by sweet words. I will not let such this change the laws of the Hong-Nan. Your brother is banished, and nothing will change that.

Miboshi: Please, your Highness, let my brother come back.

Tamahome: I kiss your hand, but not in flattery, Hotohori. Let his brother return from

exile.

Hotohori: Tamahome?!

Nakago: Pardon us, your Highness! Hotohori, pardon us! I, too, kneel before you.

Hotohori: I am too strong to be moved by begging. I will not be moved.

Yui: Oh, your Highness!

Suboshi: Great Hotohori!

Hotohori: Can you not see that even Tamahome cannot move me?

Soi: Speak hands for me!

[They stab HOTOHORI. SOI & the others in turn. Then TAMAHOME walks up & stabs him last.]

Hotohori: Ta–Tamahome? You too?

[Dies.]

Yui: Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Go forth and proclaim thus on the streets!

Tamahome: Just a second.

Nakago: Where is Chichiri?

Tomo: He is back at the palace. We should retrieve him later.

Nakago: Fine. Not come, and let us wash our hands in the blood of Hotohori.

[Enter SERVANT.]

Servant: Chichiri wishes to know if it is all right to come now.

Tamahome: Tell him it is.

Servant: Consider it done.

[SERVANT disappears in a poof of smoke & emerges as CHICHIRI.]

Chichiri: Hi, ya know!

Tamahome: Hello, Chichiri.

Chichiri: Oh, mighty Hotohori! How could this have happened to you, ya know? I would

be honored to be killed now by the same knives that killed Hotohori, ya know.

Tamahome: Chichiri, please do not beg me to kill you.

Chichiri: Yes, but let me shake all your hands, ya know. I just would like permission to

carry Hotohori's body out and make a funeral speech, ya know.

Tamahome: Of course you can, Chichiri.

Nakago: A word, Tamahome.

[They go off to the side]

How will we know if Chichiri will not turn the crowd against us?

Tamahome: I shall speak first, do not worry.

[TAMAHOME turns to CHICHIRI.]

Chichiri, you may speak, but do not blame us in your speech.

Chichiri: Be it so, ya know.

Tamahome: Prepare the body, and then follow us.

[All exit, except CHICHIRI.]

[CHICHIRI reveals his true, scarred face form underneath a mask. TAMA-NEKO enters unnoticed.]

Chichiri: Forgive me, Hotohori, for being kind toward these murderers. I will make sure

Hong-Nan and Qu-Dong are torn in war. I will seek revenge for your death. Soon people shall cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war!

Tama-neko: Meow?

[CHICHIRI puts his mask on & looks down at TAMA-NEKO.]

Chichiri: Not you, ya know. I said, "Let slip the dogs of war." You are a cat, ya know.

[Exits with TAMA-NEKO and HOTOHORI's body.]

D/C: I don't own Julius Caesar or Fushigi Yuugi. Let's just leave it a that.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review!