A/N: Phew! It has taken me waaaaay too long to write this. But there was so much to be said, so many characters to explore, and so much Shakespeare to transcribe, that I hope you'll forgive the delay. I think the wait will end up being worth it. ^_^ Anyway, somehow I managed to make this chapter far longer than the last one (please don't shoot me). I've thought about dividing it into two, but I feel like it would completely disrupt the flow of what I'm doing by making such a break. So please bear with me as you trudge through these twenty odd pages of text. The endnotes will be long as well, due to my decision to include meanings for many of the words quoted from Shakespeare. If enough people believe that this is superfluous, please let me know in the review section and I'll remove those notes in the next chapter (which probably won't have many anyway, as far as things are looking so far).
Nana, I hope you don't mind, but I'm borrowing your idea of having Miroku use Hachi as a kind of errand boy for him (although I suppose that's technically borrowing from the manga as well, but I still wanted to credit you for doing it first and so well in Dokyusei). ^_^ Also, this chapter is dedicated to you, for all your enthusiasm and support, including a hurried mini-beta in the midst of your exams and that evil presentation. Thank you so much, Nana-chan! Zen hugs!!! ^___^
As a last comment, dream_plane, you were curious about why I chose to have the play performed in English when there are Japanese translations of it. The truthful answer is: because I love the way the play sounds in its native language. I can't imagine the Japanese version capturing the lyricism and passion behind the language. It's kind of like anime--the English dub versions usually fall pitifully short of the original Japanese because many of the jokes and figments of speech just don't work right in English, especially when English-speaking people are trying to pronounce things properly. In addition, many Japanese high school students have better knowledge of English than most American high school students have of their chosen foreign language, so I believe it would be much easier for them to tackle Shakespeare than it would be for us to tackle Brecht for example. But it turns out that in my German 4 class (4th year), we read an entire German play, Besuch der Alte Dame (translated in English as "The Visit" but it really reads "Visit of the Old Lady") auf Deutsch, and it was done fairly well. Of course, we didn't really act it out, but I believe we could have, since our knowledge of German was good enough that we could easily understand the emotion behind the words, even though our comprehension would have probably been better if we read the English version of the play. And we're lame Americans, who don't start learning foreign language till 7th grade, and even then, it's not required until college! (still amazed by this total display of isolationism, but that's a rant for another day...) So that's why I did it this way. ^_^ It was a good question, too, so please don't feel like you made me waste space by answering it. ^___^
I don't own Inuyasha, Miroku or any of Rumiko Takahashi's creations (but I really want Miroku!!! At least "for working days" hee hee (bad pun, read Act I and you'll find it). Beatrice and Benedick belong to William Shakespeare. The analysis of words in the play is from G.B. Harrison's complete works of Shakespeare. Right... at least Shomingeki is mine! Mwah hah hah...
Okay, last note, I swear. In English lit, whenever we deal with plays in general, we put a / between words to signify where a line in the written text of the play ends. Doing this is very important, especially with Shakespeare, because an actor's delivery is based very strongly in maintaining the flow of the pentameter that is being used in the text (although mostly it's iambic with Shakespeare, although he'll change it a lot to signify something about a specific character). So I adhered to all that English and drama training of my youth and left them in. Sorry if they're somewhat irritating, but I'd go nuts with guilt if I didn't include them. : P
Chapter 2--A Call to Merriment
"Banter is foreplay, and Shakespeare knew it!" -Nana (hee hee, had to use this, hope you don't mind ^_^)
The halls were surprisingly empty for the beginning of the lunch period. However, he had ducked out of his class as quickly as he could, his need to gain some information from a friend on the sophomore floor dictating his actions. As he exited the stairwell on the second floor, where the sophomores were located, a line entered his mind, unbidden.
That a woman conceived me, I thank her...
Hinutsu Miroku smiled wryly at himself, unsurprised to find lines from "Much Ado About Nothing" running through his head even at this early stage.
Ordinarily, he didn't begin memorizing lines from the various productions he was in until the first week of rehearsals. But this was different--a new challenge to test his abilities as an actor. If he could pull off the Renaissance English without a hitch, then he could do anything. He felt it with utter certainty.
Besides, this play was his chance to land the best role of his acting career--that of Benedick, the wonderfully witty and entertaining self-professed bachelor who ends up renouncing his single status after a long, confused courtship with his leading lady. The demands on the actor for the role were significant--a sense for the dramatic, a knack for comedy, and, most importantly, a real sense of the rhythm and beauty of the lyricism that dominated all of Shakespeare's plays. It was a role to be coveted by many, despite the aforementioned challenges. Miroku was certain to have a good deal of competition, but he refused to let himself dwell on that. What did it matter that Sesshoumaru had consistently landed the most coveted roles over the past year? This was going to be different. The role was practically made for Miroku. Sesshoumaru was too dignified, too aloof, to pull it off properly. He'd be a far better Don John or Don Pedro, despite the comedic demands upon the latter character's actor. No, Myouga-sensei had planned this play so things could be different--the old order rearranged--and Miroku planned to take full advantage of it.
... That she brought me up, I likewise give her most humble thanks, Miroku smiled, pleased that the rest of the dialogue was coming to him so easily. But that I will have a recheat winded in my forehead, or hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick, all women shall pardon me. Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor.
Ha! It couldn't have been better spoken! How well the character fit him really was astonishing.
Too bad Benedick was never mentioned as a man "well-acquainted," so to speak, with all the ladies, Miroku thought bemusedly to himself. Simply being a bachelor without any sort of female distraction would be too depressing. After all, the poor man is human.
As if to prove his point, two sophomore girls exited from their classroom, and, upon catching sight of him, cast demure, yet suggestive glances at him. He gave them one of his most charming smiles, but chose to pass them by. His mind was on more important matters than giggling sophomores.
No, it is simply inconceivable that poor Benedick never charmed the ladies during his youth, Miroku told himself. How else would he be able to deal with, and later appreciate, Beatrice if he hadn't sampled all the wares first? No, I will persist in the belief that Benedick probably made sufficient rounds among the ladies before the start of the play. When I get the role, that's something I must make sure is a part of his character.
When... yes, that was how he had to navigate the upcoming audition, by maintaining utter confidence in his ability--no, his right to the role. Besides, he had help to make sure he was more than prepared for the cold read at the audition.
Miroku had now reached the door where the two girls had exited, and grasping the handle, quickly pulled it aside. He peered inside, seeking his quarry. Knowing Hachi, he'd probably be sitting in the back of the room, trying to stay in the background, observing. Ah--there he was!
"Hachi," Miroku nodded at his friend, who was quickly scrambling to his feet at the sight of him.
"Miroku! I have the information you wanted!" Hachi exclaimed.
In his haste to the door, he caught his foot in someone's backpack and went sprawling across the floor. All conversation among his fellow classmates ceased as they turned and stared at the spectacle of tangled legs and canvas.
Miroku closed his eyes and shook his head in resignation. So the routine would follow normal standards today. Ah well, there was always hope for next time.
Calmly entering the room, he strode quickly to where Hachi was attempting to disentangle himself from the backpack's straps, and somewhat unceremoniously hauled him off the ground. Grasping him by the arm, Miroku led the way back to the door. It wouldn't do to try and talk to Hachi in here with all those people staring at him. Although a few of the girls were decidedly good-looking...
A chorus of giggles followed them as Miroku deposited Hachi in the hall and, utilizing the slow, almost lazy smile that was so successful in charming the ladies it had become his trademark, eyed the girls as he slid the door shut. Yes, definitely some good prospects in that classroom. He'd have to find out their names from Hachi after the audition was over.
"Um, Miroku?" Hachi was looking at him a little warily.
With his tousled dark hair, slightly disheveled uniform, and large round horn-rimmed glasses that were out of 70s sitcom, Hachi was a contrary image, as awkward as Miroku was assured, and short and pudgy where Miroku was tall and slender. Indeed, they made quite an unlikely pair.
But, Miroku reflected with amusement, that's the fun of it. Whoever would suspect that either of us could have anything in common? It only adds to the fascination factor I have anyway, which is always a good thing.
Besides, Hachi could do things and go places that he couldn't, since no one paid the smaller boy much heed. Miroku, on the other hand, stood out far too easily, even when he wasn't deliberately trying to. For his purposes, it did well to have an inconspicuous, somewhat nerdy friend to run certain errands for him. And Hachi, who had hardly any friends, could happily count himself as Miroku's closest confidante. It was a system that satisfied both parties, and one that Miroku had even grown to look forward to, despite his initial feelings to the contrary when they'd first begun their friendship in junior high.
"So," Miroku gave Hachi an appraising stare, somewhat amused by Hachi's poor attempt to hide his trepidation over the scrutiny. "What information have you come up with?"
Hachi glanced around nervously, obviously concerned by the possibility of being overheard by any passersby. Fortunately, the hall was presently empty, with the majority of students eating lunch in their classrooms.
Looking only slightly less concerned, Hachi leaned in and spoke in a conspiratorial murmur. "You were right. He definitely seems to have an interest."
"Hmpf, this isn't surprising," Miroku muttered. "What else did you find out?"
His nervousness visibly increasing, Hachi leaned closer, his voice lowered to a whisper. "I followed him for a while. You were right again--all those missing copies of the film were in his possession. He must have spent hours watching them over and over."
"Hmm..." Miroku frowned, unhappily registering a sliver of concern that had found its way through a chink in his mental armor.
"I know it doesn't look good, Miroku, but even so, I wouldn't worry too much if I were you," Hachi looked at him earnestly, his voice closer to normal pitch. "I mean, no matter how many films he watches, there's no way he could ever fit the role as well as you do."
"Yes, well, you and I know that. Let's hope that Myouga-sensei knows it as well," Miroku quickly ran his hand through his hair, trying to diffuse the burst of anxiety that had come upon him.
Not wanting to dwell upon the possibility--slight as it was--that Myouga-sensei could give the part to someone else, Miroku allowed the voices in the classroom directly in front of him to distract him. From his vantage point next to the door of Hachi's classroom, he could see a pair of girls sitting at their desks, laughing over something.
"So... are you going to go for it?" the one with long black hair--for that was all he could see of her, given that she sat sideways in her seat with her back was faced towards him--was saying to her companion.
The other girl, whose face Miroku could see a little more clearly, nodded slowly. "Yes, I think so. I just want to see how I like it, as opposed to track."
"Really?!" the other girl leapt out of her seat in excitement. "You're really going to do it? I'm so glad!" placing her hand against her chest somewhat dramatically, she added, "I won't be nearly as intimidated by all those senior drama people if you're there too."
Her companion smiled weakly. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Some of them seem like nothing could faze them, not even complex English."
Hmm... now this was interesting. Two girls he hadn't yet had the chance to scout out were conveniently, whether they knew it or not, about to throw themselves into his path. Miroku leaned forward, straining his ears to pick up the rest of their conversation.
"Tell me about it!" the first girl threw up her hands for emphasis. "Especially that one guy, the president of the club. Yuuretsu-senpai. Now there's an intimidating person!"
A loud snort from the front of the room distracted them. Miroku followed their eyes to a white-haired boy who was slouched into his desk a couple of seats in front of the black-haired girl. He narrowed his eyes in surprise. Surely that wasn't... Sesshoumaru? But it couldn't be... what would a senior like him be doing in a sophomore classroom?
"Um, Miroku?" Hachi's hesitant voice cut into his thoughts.
Raising a hand to his lips, Miroku indicated him to fall silent. With a barely audible sigh, Hachi turned towards the scene Miroku was so avidly engaged with and waited.
Miroku was slightly irritated at the interruption, for it had caused him to miss whatever the black-haired girl whispered to her companion. Both of them were now rolling their eyes at the white-haired boy, who seemed to be listening closely to whatever was being said.
Turning so that Miroku could see her profile for the first time--good, it was pretty--the black-haired girl faced her sulky classmate and said somewhat loudly, "Yuuretsu-senpai definitely seems pretty sure of himself, ne, Sango-chan? I swear he wouldn't even blink if a big earthquake were to knock out half the school in front of him."
"No kidding, Kagome-chan," replied her companion with a smirk, her eyes on the back of the white-haired guy's head.
"Feh!"
Miroku felt a small smile curve his lips. That guy's frustration was so obvious, it was rather pathetic. The girls knew it too, and were taking some subtle pleasure in harassing him. Miroku decided he liked them already.
"Sesshoumaru," the boy growled, whirling around to face Kagome, the black-haired girl, who looked somewhat bewildered by his sudden reaction, "is nothing more than a stuffy show-off. He couldn't act himself out of a paper bag!"
"Oh really?" Kagome looked askance at him. "And you, of course, would be the judge of that?"
The boy sniffed. "Feh. Anybody with eyes could figure it out," he looked at her pointedly.
Kagome's face began to rise in color at his implied insult. "It seems to me like you've got a massive case of sibling rivalry going on."
"What did you say, woman?!" in a flash, the guy was on his feet, glaring at Kagome with narrowed amber eyes.
"I believe you heard me, Inuyasha," Kagome replied loftily.
They proceeded to get into what looked like the beginning of a massive battle.
"Very interesting..." murmured Miroku.
Hachi looked up at him in surprise. "What, Miroku?"
With a smug smile, Miroku gestured at the white-haired guy. "Apparently Sesshoumaru has a brother that nobody seems knows about. This is certainly the first I've ever heard of it. Well, well..."
Hachi turned back to Inuyasha, who was now waving his arms in the air angrily. He blinked in surprise. The guy sure looked familiar, and not just because he was Sesshoumaru's brother... Realization struck him with the force of a thunderbolt. Uh oh...
"Um, Miroku," Hachi tugged on his companion's sleeve, desperate to get his attention.
"Sssh," Miroku waved him off. This was starting to get good.
"You heard perfectly well what I said, Yuuretsu-sama," the girl called Kagome was telling Sesshoumaru's brother pointedly. Miroku was impressed with the way she'd infused dripping sarcasm into the last word. And using the -sama was definitely a nice touch. Impressive, indeed. He was going to look forward to see this girl at auditions tomorrow.
"You got a problem with me, Kagome?" Yuuretsu Inuyasha snapped back, his hands clenching into fists at his side.
Oooh, interesting comeback, thought Miroku. From the look on Kagome's face, it was obvious that she hadn't given Inuyasha permission to use her first name. Therefore, in each one's own unique way, the score was even. Miroku had to admit to himself that he could watch them for another half hour or so without losing interest--not bad at all, for non-acting types. Of course, he realized, the fact that they weren't acting at all was the real appeal to him. As an actor, and a good one at that, Miroku was constantly engaged in the study of those around him, constantly on the lookout for new emotions and reactions in the face of changing situations. Perhaps if he ever needed any material he should venture to this classroom during lunch in the future.
So engaging were the arguing pair that it took Miroku a moment to register to weight of someone's eyes on him. Shifting his attention, he met the gaze of the girl Kagome had called Sango, who was watching him with a somewhat wary expression in her dark eyes.
Well isn't this a nice surprise, he thought, pleased, She's pretty too. And familiar, although I can't think why...
Happy at the prospect of discovering more potential female interests, Miroku gave her his trademark smile. She, surprisingly, did nothing in response, just continued to regard him with the kind of wariness one would regard a wild animal in one's backyard. Miroku was momentarily surprised, but refused to let it show. What was going on here? There was an expression in her eyes that he couldn't figure out, and the sense of familiarity kept increasing... Where had he seen her?
Before he had a chance to analyze further, she asked him with only the slightest touch of civility, "Is there something you need help with?"
He blinked, thrown by her direct manner. He'd been too busy listening to the husky cadence of her voice to quickly register her words.
Quickly recovering, as was his forté, Miroku smiled innocently at her. "No, I think not. For the present, at least," he added, infusing his voice with meaning. What kind of meaning, well, that was for her to figure out.
Let's see how she handles that, he thought smugly.
There was a flash of emotion in her eyes--of what, he knew not, it happened so quickly--and with just the slightest edge to her voice, she replied, "Well, then I can't see much reason for you to hang around here with we kouhai. After all," she smiled slightly, "I'm sure you have much more important things to attend to."
Oooh, very interesting. Miroku had to admit he was impressed by her delivery, despite the fact that she had also given herself away during her little speech. She recognized him from somewhere--he was certain--which explained the kouhai reference. And he knew that she was familiar, although he couldn't for the life of him place where he'd seen her. No matter--he'd have plenty of time to figure that out later.
"Surely nothing could be more important than conversing with a lovely lady such as yourself," he allowed a touch of suggestion to enter his eyes before finishing with his most bewitching smile. Now that was magnificent, if he said so himself. He smiled inwardly, privately impressed with the exceptional delivery he'd just made with that old line.
She looked unimpressed--however she was managing that, given that that particular line was one of his nearly fail-safe ones. With some reluctance, Miroku had to acknowledge that he had a strong one on his hands here. Of course, that would only make it all the more satisfying when she finally capitulated to his charm. Her indifference was feigned, he was sure of it, as though she was playing hard to get. Different from what he was used to, but enticing all the same. But there was something about it...
I've seen this same look of hers before... just yesterday...
Ah! Now he remembered! Sango and her friend Kagome had been at the drama lunch meeting! They were the ones he'd noticed staring at him shortly after Sesshoumaru had introduced him. Not that it came as a surprise that any girl should be looking at him, but there had been something different this time, from Sango in particular. He hadn't been able to figure out just what was going on with her, since at the time it seemed that, for a moment, she had glared at him. Well, given her behavior now, he was obviously mistaken. She was just shy, that was all. And he had the remedy for that.
"Indeed, I am more than content just standing here and observing you," he told her, pleased that the earnestness that came across was not completely feigned. It wasn't like the girl was unattractive--not at all, although even girls of lesser beauty would have made him look twice. He wasn't dead, after all.
But Sango refused to cooperate. With a slight shrug of her shoulders, she said in a bored tone, "Suit yourself." She then looked away from him and proceeded to pull out a notebook, which she quickly became engrossed in.
Miroku was stunned. His eyes did not deceive him: she was truly more interested in her present pursuit than in continuing the conversation. Somehow, impossibly, he had been dismissed. The signal was as clear as daylight, and as surprising as a slap in the face. What the hell was going on here? Just who did this girl think she was, anyway? Shunning the attention of a junior, and a popular, attractive one at that--what kind of game was she playing?
So astonished was he by Sango's surprising behavior that several moments had passed before Miroku realized that Hachi had resorted to pulling on his sleeve to get his attention.
"Miroku--"
But Miroku wasn't ready to listen to him yet. Grabbing his arm with more force than he intended, Miroku dragged him down the hall, away from sight of the classroom where he'd been so unceremoniously dismissed.
"Do you know that girl, Hachi?" Miroku asked, unaware of the intensity in his voice.
Hachi picked up on it, but lacked the motivation to follow in the vein of conversation Miroku wanted. Trying hard not to appear rude, he tried to lead his friend into a different subject. "But Miroku--"
"Answer the question please, Hachi," Miroku said, with a firm undertone that told Hachi he'd best follow the instruction.
With an inward sigh, Hachi racked his brains for any stray memory, but came up with nothing. "I'm sorry Miroku, but she must have come from a different school or something. I don't know her personally nor do I even know of anyone named Sango."
He studied Miroku curiously, realizing that his friend seemed uncertain--an emotion Hachi couldn't ever recall seeing him display during the three years they had been friends.
A long, awkward silence stretched between them as Miroku tilted his head to the side and considered the situation.
"Well," he finally said, "I suppose we'll just have to see what happens tomorrow." Still looking preoccupied, he turned on his heel and began to stride down the hall. "I'll see you later, Hachi."
Taken aback by Miroku's sudden mood change, Hachi nearly forgot the important news he needed to give Miroku before he disappeared.
"Miroku, wait!"
Hearing the touch of urgency in his voice, Miroku came to a halt and glanced over his shoulder.
Unable to wait any longer, Hachi raced over to him, praying that Miroku's reaction would be somewhat muted because of the strange conversation with that Sango girl.
"There's one small thing I need to tell you..."
"What, Hachi?" Miroku's tone had a slight edge of annoyance to it, a sign that he was near the limit of his patience.
Unnerved, Hachi went on in a rush. "I just realized when we were watching them fight, that it wasn't Sesshoumaru who rented the videos--it was him instead, but I couldn't tell when I followed him, because they look so--"
"What are you talking about?" Miroku stared at him, not certain whether to be irritated or amused by Hachi's obvious discomfort over his realization.
"Yuuretsu!" Hachi almost spat out the name. "The younger one, Inuyasha!"
Miroku froze as the meaning of Hachi's words processed in his mind. Inuyasha, not Sesshoumaru, was the one renting every version of Much Ado that he could find in the nearby video store? How unexpected was this?
So unexpected, in fact, that Miroku wasn't sure whether he should laugh or fret over the revelation. If Inuyasha's feelings for his brother were mirrored by Sesshoumaru, then Inuyasha's apparent intention to audition for the play would be certain to piss off the latter, something Miroku definitely did not want to miss seeing. Seeing the unflappable Sesshoumaru lose his cool was a momentous event indeed. On the other hand, if the brothers' animosity was rooted over a magnificent rivalry over each brother's acting ambitions, Miroku could be in for further competition--from a quarter he'd never suspected--for the role he so desperately wanted.
He settled for the former. "Well, that will certainly prove entertaining," he chuckled, more for Hachi's benefit than for his own. "Perhaps Sesshoumaru will be so livid to see him there that he won't be able to concentrate on any of his lines."
Hachi only shrugged, unsure how any comment he ventured would be received.
Still chuckling to himself, Miroku said good-bye to his friend and made his way back to the stairwell. Things were only beginning to heat up, and this would not do at all. Obviously, he had his work cut out of him. On the other hand, Miroku was never one to back down from a challenge, no matter how difficult it turned out to be. If Inuyasha wanted a battle, then he would get one. After all, he couldn't be that much different from his older brother, plus he was certainly easier to read.
Comforted by this thought, Miroku opened the door to the stairwell, and began his trek up the stairs to his classroom.
11:45
Inuyasha stared at the clock, unsure whether he wanted the long minute hand to speed up or slow down.
Today was the day. The audition was less than three hours away. He had to make up his mind once and for all. Would he go or not?
There was a strong argument either way. Of course, he'd relish the look of pure hatred Sesshoumaru would send him as soon as he realized his precious domain was not sacred only to himself. But then again, acting had never really been Inuyasha's thing. For years, his one defense against his brother was that he was not a wimpy, fruity actor. Inuyasha was strong, and he would not let people bully him around, especially his snot-faced excuse of a half-brother. But therein lay his dilemma: for really, over all these years, hadn't he been doing just that by letting Sesshoumaru's iron protection over his drama activities keep him away?
Damn him, anyway. Cold arrogant bastard.
Unfortunately, silently cursing his brother did not make him feel any better, as it frequently did. No, this dilemma was not going to be solved by wishing his brother to hell and avoiding the issue. Inuyasha had to make a decision, and make it soon, because the homeroom clock was not going to stop moving.
Heaving a frustrated sigh, Inuyasha slouched further down into his seat, wishing he didn't have to be stuck in this boring class while he struggled over the decision. The fact that that Kikyou-look-a-like was sitting two seats back only irritated him further. Kagome. Feh. Even her name started with the same damn letter! What had he done to deserve this kind of punishment, anyway?
Worse than that, she's auditioning too. Along with her friend, Sango, a voice inside of him pointedly reminded the rest of him.
Inuyasha scowled, remembering the hot words he'd traded with Kagome yesterday. Such a stupid argument it was, really, but her comment about Sesshoumaru had set him off. Even now, he was only partially aware of why that was. Maybe it wasn't so much what Kagome had said, as the way she said it. Like she truly believed Sesshoumaru to be the important, powerful person he made himself out to be. For some reason, that had cut into him as powerfully as if she'd thrown a knife at him. Such a stupid thing--by reacting, he was only making Sesshoumaru look better. The dubious expression on Kagome's face was more than enough to tell him that. But he couldn't help it--her sanctimonious attitude pushed him over the edge.
Speaking of the bitch, he could hear her whispering behind him, presumably to her little girlie pal, Sango. Given the loud drone of their math instructor, who was presently lecturing on the joys of logarithms, it was surprising he was able to hear her at all. Maybe she had gotten bolder over the past few days in talking during lessons. It certainly wasn't due to the fact that he was attuned to the sound of her voice, similar to and yet so different from Kikyou's. Not a chance in hell.
"Ready... audition...?"
Keh, was she talking about that again? God, that girl was obsessed.
He heard Sango reply in the affirmative, and waited for a response from Kagome.
"Looked over... play... night..."
What a one-track mind she had. Although it could have been worse, and she could have talked about Sesshoumaru again.
Humph. Just wait till she gets to that audition and sees him in action--then she'll know there's no reason for all the fuss over him.
How gladly he would watch that spectacle! Seeing Sesshoumaru publicly humiliated, especially within the sanctity of his precious Drama Club, would more than make up for all the cold treatment he'd experienced at his brother's hands. Well, at least everything from the last year. Sesshoumaru would have to face a far worse humiliation than that for Inuyasha to call the score even.
But it could start...
He could go to the audition. More than that, he could waltz in there, as uncaring as a feudal lord, and bring the house down with his magnificent acting ability. That, surely, was the best revenge he could ever exact upon his too perfect brother. Yes, he could see it all now... Sesshoumaru's face turning an unattractive shade of reddish-purple as all the students around him realized he was really a fraud; and that the brother he'd tried so hard to pretend didn't exist was actually better than he was in his own professed art. Oh, yes, Inuyasha would relish that. He'd savor the look on Kagome's face when she realized that all along he was speaking the truth, but instead she had been deceived by his brother's pretty face, cool manners and untouchable air.
But this would never happen if he didn't go. The question was, could he accept the possibility that he'd go in there and fall flat on his face? Could he stand the knowing smirks on the faces of Kagome and Sango as they whispered to each other about how big a fool he made of himself? Could he take that risk?
A feeling of panic rose up in him momentarily. Disgusted, he quickly quelled it. That was the reaction his brother wanted him to have. Well damn it, he wasn't going to roll over and let Sesshoumaru win again. He refused to let it happen.
Glancing quickly at the clock--which informed him that three minutes had passed since he checked last--he hoped he could hang on to his resolution by the time three o'clock rolled around.
Exactly on schedule, the final bell tolled at 3 pm, signifying the end of yet another school day.
To Sango, it felt like a death knell.
Strange, how all her excitement from the past few days had curled up and vanished in a puff of smoke just when she thought she couldn't wait any longer for the audition. Yet, here she was, following Kagome's slightly jittery steps down the hall that led to the back of the auditorium. Back to the Green Room, where lord knew what waited for her.
Well, that wasn't entirely true. After all, she knew that that hentai, Hinutsu Miroku, was certain to be there, no doubt convinced he was going to land the best role in the show. After her treatment of him yesterday, however, she found it unlikely that he'd waste a single second of his time trying to hassle her; something that would certainly relieve her from further shattered nerves. Thank god for small favors. If she ended up having to deal with his fake charm for another five minutes, she'd probably end up throwing something at him. And that, despite his playboy attitude, was not something Sango could afford to have happen. Whether she liked him or not, he was a senior member of the Club, plus her senpai to boot, so her treatment of him had to remain within the realms of civility.
Ugh, enough about him, Sango shook her head in disgust. Just what she needed was something to push her roiling stomach over the edge. Hinutsu Miroku was not important enough to have such an effect on her.
With more willpower than she should have needed, Sango forced herself to think of something else. The working of the audition was probably the thing that unnerved her the most. Although she didn't really know how auditions worked, she knew enough from what Myouga-sensei had said two days ago to have a vague idea. He had mentioned having people do a cold read from the script--presumably in groups, given how few monologues there were in the play. Sango only hoped that she ended up reading with someone she either liked, or didn't know. Somehow, she felt less concern over the latter than over the idea that she might be--god forbid--paired up with one of the senior drama people. Hopefully the odds would be in her favor, especially since the list of people she wished to avoid was so short. Hinutsu, of course, topped the list, although Yuuretsu Sesshoumaru was a close second. The guy was so overbearing she didn't think she'd be able to get a single one of those lines straight, no matter that she'd read the entire play cover-to-cover about ten times in the last two days.
Please god, let me read with Kagome or Kohaku, or even that weird glam guy before I get paired with either of those two.
Any further rumination in that vein was prevented by Kagome's voice, husky with excitement.
"Are you ready, Sango-chan?" she asked, trying hard to keep her face composed.
Sango plastered a brave smile on her face. "As ready as I'll ever be. Let's go in."
Holding fast to her fake smile, Sango pushed the door open, and walked into the Green Room with a feeling of fatalism. Now that she was here, there was no turning back. Things were going to run their course, and she might as well accept that inevitability.
Despite that resolution, Sango was completely floored when they entered the room to find it completely empty.
Oh God...
"Uh oh... did we screw up the day of the audition?" Kagome's whispered question mirrored her own alarm.
Giving herself an inward shake, Sango straightened her shoulders and looked around the room. "No, I know we didn't. They must be in a different room."
"Oh!" Kagome pointed towards a table piled with stapled printouts on the other side of the room. "Those must be the scripts!"
Eagerly, she darted across the room. Sango was about to follow when she heard the door behind her swing open and bang against the wall with a muffled thud.
Sango turned around to meet the azure gaze of Rakurai Hiten, the lighting designer.
"Hello ladies," the newcomer nodded his head at them, his long black braid swishing across his back.
"Hello Rakurai-senpai," Kagome smiled at him, obviously remembering him from the lunch meeting.
She gestured to the table. "We were just about to pick up our scripts. Do you need one?"
Rakurai shook his head. "Already got one, thanks."
He smiled briefly at her, before taking off in a fast stride towards the darkened doorway at the far left side of the room. There was a small staircase in front of it, made out of the same kind of cheap wooden planks most likely used in building sets. Hiten paused halfway up the steps to look at them quizzically.
"Are you coming?"
Slightly flustered, Kagome answered for both of them, "Oh, yes, of course."
Feeling pretty stupid for overlooking the obvious, the girls followed Rakurai up the small staircase and into the little theater. They were somewhat surprised to find themselves backstage, but followed Rakurai's lead onto the stage itself. Another small set of stairs (one on either side of the stage) led to the seats, where the majority of the students were assembled. As they descended the steps on the right hand side of the stage, Sango caught a glimpse of Hinutsu Miroku in the front row, looking surprisingly sober. Next to him was a small boy with owl-rimmed glasses who looked so terrified he might as well have been facing a firing squad. On the other side of Hinutsu was, of course, a giggling female, but for once he seemed unaware of her obvious interest.
"Ne, Sango-chan, where should we sit?" Kagome's voice broke into her observations.
Inwardly shaking herself--why had she let herself get distracted by that hentai again?!--Sango quickly scanned the crowd, looking for Kohaku. She quickly spotted his classmate, Naiibu Shippou, waving at them from the fourth row.
Kagome must have seen him as well, for she began moving down the aisle. Sango was on her heels.
"Where's Kohaku?" Sango asked Shippou as Kagome sat down next to him.
Shippou stopped smiling at Kagome long enough to answer her. "He'll be here in a moment. Myouga-sensei asked him to run an errand for him."
"Sou ka..." Sango nodded imperceptibly and sank down into the seat on Kagome's left. It was surprisingly soft and plush, of a much higher quality than Sango would have expected, given the theater was so small. She estimated it would seat about ninety people.
While they waited for Kohaku to show up, Sango entertained herself by observing the people in the three rows in front of her. Most of them were nervous, although only a few of them--like that poor kid sitting next to Hinutsu--visibly showed it. However, Sango found herself most fascinated by the senior club members. Yuuretsu Sesshoumaru was seated in the farthest seat on the left side of the front row, concentrating intently on his copy of the script. Across the aisle from him in the left alcove, a pretty, cold looking young woman sat stiffly in her seat, her eyes fastened on the stage. There was something kind of strange about her--a sense of sadness mixed with quiet strength--which kept Sango's eyes glued to her for longer than she would have expected. Stranger still, the girl seemed kind of familiar, although Sango couldn't understand why. She could barely see more than the right side of the girl's head, laden with long black hair--longer than her own--tied with a wide white ribbon.
Hmm, odd...
Aware that she was staring, Sango forced her gaze to shift to the right. In the seats between Yuuretsu and Hinutsu were some other people she recognized from the lunch meeting. Funjin Kouga was an unmistakable figure, especially since he was seated next to the same guys she and Kagome had seen in the auditorium on the first day of school. Obviously they were his friends; likely involved with the set design, from the rough, unkempt look of them. In the row behind them was another group of rough-looking guys, including that weird glam rock guy, Manzai Jakotsu.
Jeez, the types that end up in theater... Sango thought wryly. Whoever would have thought a bunch of guys who fell just short of looking like professional thugs would end up trying out for a Shakespeare play? Life was definitely full of surprises.
Her attention was distracted by the entrance of the most pathetic looking boy she had ever seen. So small that he almost looked like he belonged in junior high, he had large, round eyes that bugged out of their sockets, reminding Sango of a toad. She watched in astonishment as the diminutive boy made a beeline towards Yuuretsu Sesshoumaru.
"Sesshoumaru-senpai!"
His voice, like the rest of his appearance, was unfortunate, bearing a grating, almost obsequious quality to it. Sango was prepared to feel sorry for him when Yuuretsu obviously ignored him, but was shocked as Sesshoumaru's elegant white head nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Eagerly, the boy raced down the stairs and deposited himself next to the senior, looking expectantly at him as if he expected some kind of order.
Now I've seen it all, Sango thought, shaking her head in disbelief.
She was interrupted from further observation by the appearance of Kohaku, who had just emerged from backstage. He smiled when he saw her, and quickly made his way down the aisle.
"Nee-chan, you really came!" he exclaimed, smiling happily.
"I said I would, didn't I?" Sango said defensively, although there was a twinkle in her eyes that belied her true sentiment.
Kohaku grinned, and quickly said hello to Kagome as he squeezed past the two girls to reclaim his seat on Shippou's right.
"Myouga-sensei wanted me to get this circulating while we're all sitting here waiting," Kohaku produced a wooden clipboard with several sheets of paper attached to it. Handing it to Shippou, he added, "You need to fill out your name, class, and years of theater experience."
Nodding eagerly, Shippou pulled out the attached pen from underneath the metal clip and began scribbling. Sango watched him for a few moments, then decided to look at her script while she waited for the clipboard to make its way to her.
Flipping through the script, she saw that Myouga-sensei had picked three scenes for them to read, the first of which was one of her favorites from the movie. Hopefully she'd get a chance to read for it, because it was the first exchange between Beatrice and Benedick, in Act I. She had just finished skimming it and was moving onto the next scene between Beatrice and Don Pedro from Act II, scene I, when all the chatter around her suddenly ceased. Raising her head, she spied the wizened form of Myouga-sensei crossing the stage. Expectantly, she put down the script and waited for him to speak.
Coming to a halt at the front center part of the stage, Myouga-sensei regarded the assembled students with an approving eye.
"Still a good number of you, I see," he said. "That's certainly encouraging."
The students nodded assent.
Kagome was handing the clipboard to Sango as Myouga-sensei began to speak again. "Well, since it's about five minutes till 3:15, I think we should wait till that time for any stragglers before we begin. There should be a clipboard circulating among you--" he nodded as Sango held it aloft for him to see, "--for you to fill out your name and other pertinent information. While you wait for it to come around to you, I would suggest looking over these scenes, since all of you will be reading from them at some point during the afternoon."
With that, he turned around and departed off the right side of the stage.
Taking his words to heart, Sango hurriedly finished scribbling her info in the clipboard and handed it off to the girl in front her. Gleefully, she delved back into her script. The shuffling of paper around her indicated that many of her classmates were doing the same thing.
She quickly read through the second scene, which was a discussion between Don Pedro, Beatrice, and Claudio, during the party thrown for the newly arrived lords by Leonato, the master of the house. The third scene was from Act IV, during the fateful wedding scene when Claudio accused Hero (Leonato's daughter and Beatrice's cousin) of infidelity and all hell broke loose. The excerpt of that scene mostly comprised the accusation by Claudio and Don Pedro, with Hero and the Friar protesting in defense. All in all, it was a great selection, displaying a wide range of emotion as well as providing the opportunity for multiple people to audition at once. Given the set-up, Sango imagined it wouldn't take more than two hours for everyone to audition all three scenes. There were only about thirty people in the room right then, and the chances of more than two or three people coming in late were pretty slim.
Returning her attention to the room, Sango saw that Myouga-sensei had returned to his spot center stage. He cleared his throat for attention.
"All right students, we'll begin the auditions now."
He looked down at the students in the front row, "Are you all finished with the clipboard?"
The pensive girl Sango had been studying earlier swiftly got to her feet, clipboard in hand. Stepping into the aisle, she quickly made her way onto the stage and handed Myouga-sensei the clipboard.
"Thank you...?" he looked questioningly at the girl.
"Kyoushi. Kyoushi Kikyou," the girl replied in a soft voice.
"Ah," he nodded his head, and Kikyou turned around to return to her seat.
At the mention of the name, Sango impulsively turned to look at Kagome, who had been struck by the same realization.
"Ne, Kagome-chan, do you suppose that's the Kikyou that Yuuretsu mistook you for?" Sango hissed at Kagome.
Kagome looked uncertain. "I don't know. It's not a common name, but it isn't uncommon either. For some reason, though, I can't imagine it could be her. She just doesn't... look right."
Sango snickered. "You mean, you can't imagine a girl that serious and attractive being involved with someone as violent and foul-tempered as Yuuretsu Inuyasha."
Kagome frowned, "I don't know about that. I mean, as unpleasant as Inuyasha is, he isn't unattractive."
Sango's brows arched in disbelief as the comment registered.
Feeling a flush spreading over her cheeks, Kagome hurried to defend herself. "Well think about it, Sango-chan. Inuyasha has that dangerous, mysterious look that a lot of girls find appealing. For all we know, Kikyou--if she is the same one Inuyasha was referring to that day--could go for that kind of guy."
"Hmpf, that's unlikely, isn't it?" Sango replied, glancing at the silent figure in the front left row.
Kagome's reply died on her lips as--speak of the Devil--the man himself appeared on the stage.
"What's he doing here?" Sango hissed at her, looking as shocked as Kagome felt.
Their astonishment only increased as they watched Inuyasha lock eyes with his brother. Even though Kagome couldn't see Sesshoumaru's face, she could just imagine what kind of look was passing between them. As they stared each other down, she had to admit that the animosity Inuyasha had expressed towards his brother at lunch the other day seemed to be mutual. Seeing them now, she realized she had been wrong when she had dismissed Inuyasha's snide remarks as the product of simple sibling rivalry. It had to be deeper than that. She could practically see the resentment, as if it were a palpable thing in the air. Moreover, for the first time since she met him, Inuyasha looked dangerous. The glint in his eye was hard, like cold steel, as he looked steadily at his brother, challenging him. From the stiff set of his shoulders, Kagome could see that Sesshoumaru was furious. She unconsciously held her breath, waiting for the first blow to fall.
Inuyasha, surprisingly, was the one who broke off the eye contact. With a deepening scowl on his face, he took another step forward, sweeping his eyes over the room. And promptly froze in place, an expression of utter shock on his face.
Stunned, Kagome followed his gaze to the left corner of the room, to Kyoushi Kikyou, who returned Inuyasha's regard with an icy stare.
Inuyasha's mouth worked a moment as he struggled for something to say. As she watched with a kind of fascinated guilt, Kagome was struck by the mixture of emotions flitting across his face: shock, anger, pain. The last of these surprised her the most, especially for the strong responding emotion it kicked up in her. Pity. Concern for Inuyasha's feelings. Embarrassment for the awkward situation that everyone was watching as intently as they watched their teachers administering an exam.
Inuyasha opened his mouth to speak, but Myouga-sensei's voice broke in before he could utter a syllable.
"Well, well, this is a nice surprise, Inuyasha," he smiled kindly at him.
Sango and Kagome gaped at Myouga-sensei's easy use of Inuyasha's name. How on earth did Myouga-sensei know who he was, especially since the rivalry with Sesshoumaru had most likely kept Inuyasha away from all his high school theater productions? Things had gone from strange to downright bizarre in a matter of minutes.
Myouga-sensei continued in a tone that would have sounded perfectly at home on a TV weatherman. "I would prefer that you had been a few minutes earlier, but that can't be helped, I suppose," Gesturing towards the darkened theater, he added, "Please take a seat so we can get started."
Inuyasha looked at him in momentary surprise, then with a loud snort, walked off the stage. He stalked down the aisle without another look at Kikyou, who had averted her face to the right, and collapsed into a seat directly across the aisle from Sango. His face seemed frozen in a permanent scowl as his eyes bore into the back of Kikyou's head, which was positioned exactly three rows in front of him.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sango noticed Kagome watching Inuyasha with the same intensity that he himself exuded while staring at Kikyou.
What an unexpected turn of events... Who could have imagined that the whole Kikyou thing would be explained in such a dramatic way, right in the middle of the Drama Club auditions? Sango thought, shaking her head in wonder. No wonder Kagome is so curious. After all, Inuyasha did mistake her for Kikyou.
Sango's gaze quickly shifted to the woman in question. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she frowned, wondering how Inuyasha could have made such an obvious mistake. Surely their hair itself was enough to set Kagome and Kikyou apart. Kagome's hair, while boasting the same lovely black sheen as Kikyou's, had to be at least six inches shorter, not to mention thicker with soft waves. From a distance, perhaps, their figures could be considered the same, but the hair was such an obvious difference...
But Inuyasha still thought she was Kikyou, even up close, looking into her face...
Sango stared hard at Kikyou's partial profile, wishing the girl would turn her head to the right to give Sango a better view. Well, she supposed that the nose was the same, but so many Japanese women had the same shape nose it shouldn't count as a significant factor of similarity. The skin tone was also similar, for the same reasons. Perhaps the shape of the face was similar enough to confuse Inuyasha, but that didn't seem to make much sense either. It's not like the two women were twins!
She was distracted from her observations by Myouga-sensei, who had begun to explain the audition process. Her interest successfully diverted, Sango fastened her eyes upon the director, her heart speeding up with anticipation.
"...So we will begin by having everyone read from the first scene printed in your script excerpts. I will call your names at random, and you will read the selection. After everyone has finished reading the first scene, we'll move to the second, and finally to the third. If people follow instructions quickly, we should hopefully be out of here in just over an hour. The cast list will be posted tomorrow, on the bulletin board in the Green Room," pausing for breath, Myouga-sensei quickly surveyed the room, his eyes managing to meet those of every student present. "Very well, I will begin to call names. I hardly need to tell the rest of you to sit quietly and observe the proceedings."
Myouga-sensei turned his attention to the clipboard of student info.
"Funjin Kouga," he looked up and nodded at his Club officer. "You will be reading the role of Benedick."
Funjin Kouga quickly got to his feet, his face split in a big grin at the honor of being asked to go first. He made his way onto the stage as Myouga-sensei read off the next name.
"Tsuraate Kagura will be reading the role of Beatrice."
Sango watched as an elegant girl with expressive red eyes and dark hair swept up into an elaborate ponytail rose from her seat in the second row. As she made her way onto the stage, Funjin Kouga eyed her warily. Blatantly ignoring his regard, Tsuraate positioned herself about five feet away from him and focused all her attention on the script in her hands.
Myouga-sensei called the names of two more people to read for the parts of Don Pedro and Leonato, each of whom had a few lines before the main Beatrice/Benedick exchange. The students arranged themselves in a half circle facing the audience and waited patiently until Myouga-sensei had settled into a seat in the front row to observe the proceedings before beginning.
The scene lasted only a few minutes. Sango was surprised when it finished, for she had been fairly caught up in the magic of hearing such language spoken aloud. Admittedly, Tsuraate had sounded a bit cold in her lines, and the boy who had read as Don Pedro stumbled so much over the English that Sango couldn't help cringing each time he opened his mouth. She was, however, pleasantly surprised by how well Funjin had read his part. From his rough appearance, one would have easily believed him capable only of sounding tough and arrogant. It was comforting to see that at least one person was capable of delivering the lines in a way that wasn't insulting to the play's creator.
At the conclusion of their scene, the four students looked at Myouga-sensei for leave to exit the stage. At his nod, they filed down the small steps and returned to their seats. Myouga-sensei then called the next four names, including Kohaku and a guy named Houjou that Kagome seemed to recognize. The reading process was quickly repeated, and Sango found herself starting to relax.
This wasn't going to be as bad as she had thought. She would be onstage with at least two other people for each scene, so the paralyzing fear of standing up there alone would not be a factor. Moreover, Sango was comforted by the fact that very few of the people who had gone so far, with the exception of Funjin Kouga and Kohaku, had read the English all that well. Compared to some of these people, she would sound like a pro. The relief she felt at that probably should have made her feel guilty--and very well might, once the audition was over--but for now she took comfort in it.
She beamed at Kohaku as he made his way back to his seat, grinning widely at her. Shippou gave him a slap on the back as he sat down, and Kagome gave him an impressed smile. Sango felt pride swell in her bosom for her little brother, who was so much more talented than he ever gave himself credit for. She hoped he got a part in the play, even if it was just a small one. For a thirteen-year-old freshman, that would be quite an accomplishment.
Sango hardly paid attention to the next group that read, especially since she knew none of the students. The following group grabbed her attention, however--Kyoushi Kikyou was called to read the role of Beatrice, along with the weird glam guy (reading Don Pedro), and a tall senior named Ikiryou Naraku as Benedick. As Kyoushi positioned herself on stage, Sango took the opportunity to study her face in more detail, now that all of it was visible to her.
Hmm, I suppose there is some similarity to Kagome after all... she decided, but she is so emotionless, she almost reminds me of a mechanical doll. What a unlikely match for Yuuretsu Inuyasha!
As Kyoushi began to read, however, Sango was amazed by the transformation in her personality. Emotion flowed out of her as she exchanged barb after verbal barb with Ikiryou. Despite the occasional stumble over a particularly difficult English word, Kyoushi was by far the best Beatrice they had seen at this point. Ikiryou Naraku was surprisingly good as well; possessed of a deep, commanding bass voice that resonated throughout the room. For some strange reason, though, Sango found herself slightly disconcerted by him, although she couldn't for the life of her understand what provoked such a reaction in her.
All too quickly, the scene ended, and as the students filed back to their seats, Myouga-sensei began to call out the next four names.
"Naiibu Shippou!"
With a nervous grin, Shippou got to his feet and made his way to the front of the theater.
"Kachiki Sango!"
Startled at hearing her name called, Sango almost leapt to her feet. Her heart speeding up ridiculously, she smiled quickly at Kagome and Kohaku before making her way to the stage. Shippou was smiling happily at her as she approached--obviously relieved to be reading with someone he knew. She could hardly blame his relief, for she felt the same way herself. As she stepped on the wooden floor of the stage, however, she heard a name that made her heart freeze in her chest.
"Hinutsu Miroku!"
Oh god, no...
Sango couldn't keep herself from staring as Hinutsu smoothly got to his feet and made his way across the front row to the steps on the right side of the stage. So horrified was she at the prospect of having to read with him that she didn't even hear the name of the last student called. Hinutsu stepped onto the stage and walked slowly towards her, a slow smile spreading across his lips as he recognized her. She found herself unable to tear her eyes away from him as his gaze traveled from her face down the rest of her body, obviously sizing up her potential.
Why that-- that hentai!!! she seethed inwardly, even as her cheeks began to flame. How dare he look at her as if she were-- well, no more than a piece of meat in a market stall!
A cold rage settled in her stomach. That self-conceited playboy was just inches from a slap across the face if he stared at her chest for a second longer. As if sensing the tenor of her thoughts, Hinutsu's lavender gaze moved upwards, meeting her angry eyes. She glared at him coldly, hating him for the shameful way he'd just made her feel. A look of surprise fleeted across his face at the pure animosity with which she regarded him. Almost instantaneously, his features settled into an icy mask, and he returned her unspoken challenge with a thin smile.
Myouga-sensei's next words only heightened Sango's sense of offended dignity. "Naiibu will be reading the part of Don Pedro. Kachiki, you will read Beatrice, and Hinutsu will read Benedick."
Hinutsu obviously liked his assignment, for he flashed Sango a smugly insolent smile. She knew what the message behind that was: let's see how well you handle this, novice. Self-absorbed jerk. Well, if he thought he could trounce over her in this reading, he was badly mistaken. She would not let him gain the upper hand, even if it killed her.
Her pulse pounding in her head, Sango waited for Shippou to begin.
"Good Signior Leonato," Shippou stumbled over the second word and began to blush. To his credit, however, he continued on without more than a moment's hesitation. "You are come to/ meet your trouble. The fashion of the world is to/ avoid cost, and you encounter it."
The boy assigned to read Leonato cleared his throat loudly, and answered in halting English. "Never came trouble to my house in the/ likeness of your Grace; for trouble being gone,/ comfort should remain, but when you depart from/ me, sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave."
Sango glanced at Hinutsu, unsurprised to see an almost disgusted look leaving his face as the hapless boy practically coughed out his last lines.
You think you're so great, don't you, having to read alongside such amateurs. Well, I'm going to give you a run for your money, you obnoxious actor.
Shippou spoke again, a little more confidently this time, but still obviously struggling with some of the English. "You embrace your charge too willingly,/ I think this is your daughter."
Leonato replied, "Her mother hath many times told me."
Fixing her gaze on Hinutsu, Sango watched as his features transformed into the smiling, unctuous expression of a man that obviously felt pleased with himself; and had every intention of letting everyone else around him know it.
"Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?" he asked, leaning in towards Leonato with a teasing look in his eyes.
Pausing for just a moment too long, Leonato said, "Signior Benedick, no, for then were you a/ child."
By now, Sango had to admit that the distaste Hinutsu had briefly expressed over the boy's reading ability was justified. He read so haltingly and slowly that it was nearly impossible to maintain the rhythm and emotion that made Shakespeare so engaging. Why on earth was he here if he could barely pronounce even the most basic of English words?
Her frustration rising, Sango waited for Shippou to speak again.
"You have it full, Benedick. We may/ guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the/ lady fathers herself. Be happy, lady, for you are/ like an honorable father."
Hinutsu quickly leapt into his next line, recovering that rhythm which had been so dearly lacking. Sango resolved to follow his lead when her turn came; no way in hell would she let Hinutsu dominate the show.
With a hearty chuckle, Hinutsu smiled at Leonato. "If Signior Leonato be her father, she would/ not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina/ as like him as she is."
Fixing him with a pointed stare, Sango said in a lofty voice, "I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior/ Benedick. Nobody marks you." she looked down her nose at him as the words left her mouth, and was rewarded by a flash of irritation in his lavender eyes.
Fixing his gaze on her, Hinutsu favored her with a condescending smile that bordered on disdain. Sango felt her hackles rise as his self-assured voice entered her ears.
"What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?" he looked at her as if she were an underclassman that had just spoke out of turn.
Sniffing in disgust, Sango threw his insult back at him. "Is it possible Disdain should die while she/ hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?" she fixed him with a steady gaze, daring him to try and best her. "Courtesy itself must convert to disdain if you come/ in her presence," she finished with a smug smile.
Her smile widened as she saw Hinutsu visibly stiffen at her words. He quickly rallied, however, and favored her with an equally smug smile of his own. "Then is courtesy a turncoat," he said, waving his hand airily as if she were no more consequential than a gnat buzzing around his face. "But it is/ certain that I am loved of all ladies," at this he looked quite pleased with himself, "only you excepted. And/ I would I could find in my heart that I had not a/ hard heart," he continued, arrogance practically dripping from his words, "for truly I love none."
Sango raised her eyebrow at him, and gazed at him with an equal dose of arrogance. "A dear happiness to women," she drawled, deliberately drawing out the words to rise his ire. "They would/ else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor." Switching her tone to one almost dismissive, she added, "I/ thank God and my cold blood I am of your humor/ for that." Pausing dramatically, Sango fixed her gaze on Hinutsu's slightly pinched face, and said clearly, "I had rather hear my dog bark at a/ crow, than a man swear he loves me."
Hinutsu smiled patronizingly at her and replied smoothly, "God keep your ladyship still in that mind!/ So some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate/ scratched face."
Affronted by the sly, bordering on nasty, edge he'd infused his words with, Sango practically spat out the next words. "Scratching could not make it worse an/ 'twere such a face as yours were," she finished with a triumphant look in her dark eyes.
Hinutsu's tone switched from irritation to disdain. "Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher."
"A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours," Sango retorted with an angry glare.
Hinutsu merely smiled condescendingly before waving a dismissive hand at her. "I would my horse had the speed of your/ tongue, and so good a continuer." He elaborately rolled his eyes, finished with a battle he obviously deemed a waste of his time. "But keep your way,/ i' God's name, I have done."
He finished his line with a self-dignified tilt of his head, his body language oozing satisfaction at having gotten the last word. Sango glowered at him, wishing she could shove that insufferable conceit down his throat.
"You always end with a jade's trick," she muttered scornfully, her face forming in a deep scowl. "I know you of old."
Silence followed her last line, but Sango hardly noticed. She was too busy glaring at Hinutsu, who returned her regard with an air of superiority, as if she were an errant child throwing a tantrum.
The room froze, and hardly anyone dared to breathe as the two verbal combatants stared each other down, neither willing to admit defeat.
After a long, tense moment, someone in the audience--perhaps Yuuretsu Sesshoumaru, who was seated closest to the stage--loudly cleared his throat. As the sound echoed across the stage, Sango realized with a jolt that the scene had technically ended a minute ago, but neither she or Hinutsu had seemed to notice; being so wrapped up in their battle of wills. Now painfully aware that everyone in the room was staring at them in a mixture of wonder and confusion, she blushed deeply and broke her gaze from Hinutsu (but not before she saw a rush of embarrassment flood his features as he made the same realization she had).
Suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of remorse, Sango fastened her eyes on the floor, not ready to face the inquisitive expressions of the other students. All that nervous energy that had empowered her so intensely during the scene left her in a rush, leaving Sango feeling deflated and exhausted. Was this how all actors felt after a particularly stirring scene on-stage? If so, Sango wasn't sure she liked the feeling of let down now that it was over.
Myouga-sensei, in the meantime, was scribbling madly in a little notebook he'd balanced on top of the clipboard. At this point, Sango found she was too drained to care whether the things he wrote down were positive or negative. All she wanted was to sit down and forget the whole thing.
After a moment, Myouga-sensei looked up from his notes, and nodded at them. His face betrayed no emotion as he dismissed them, "Very nicely done. Now, I would like Higurashi Kagome to come up and read the part of Beatrice. Next for Benedick is Zokushou Bankotsu..."
Sango didn't hear the rest of his words as she practically leapt off the stage and hurried down the aisle. As she passed Kagome, who was making her way up to the stage, her friend gave her a look that comprised of both admiration and understanding. Not ready to dissect the meaning behind the look, Sango gave her a tired smile, hoping it looked encouraging, and practically collapsed into her seat. She clasped her hands in her lap and stared at them in a daze. She became aware of Kohaku's inquiring gaze, along with a series of curious looks from the students close by, but she lacked the energy to acknowledge them.
The next ten minutes flew by for her in a blur. Kagome quickly read her part, came back, and--seeing her friend's unchanged expression--sat quietly at her side, a supportive, undemanding presence. About half of the students present had read the second scene before Sango broke out of her weird funk.
Kagome must have noticed her return to the conscious world, for she leaned in with a smile, obviously wanting to talk.
"Wow," Kagome's voice sounded almost reverent. "That was an amazing reading you did, Sango-chan. You and Hinutsu were fantastic."
"I suppose..." Sango said lamely, not really wishing to discuss Hinutsu or her highly charged reaction to him in front of the whole assembly. She was still feeling naked and vulnerable to everyone's probing eyes, and a rehash of the scene in her head was not going to help matters.
Obviously aware of her jumbled feelings, Kagome did not press the issue. "Ne, Sango-chan, what did you think of Yuuretsu Sesshoumaru's rendition of Benedick in the first scene?"
Sango shrugged, not wanting to admit that she'd been so embroiled in her own thoughts that she had totally missed it.
"I'm not sure if I liked his version or Hinutsu Miroku's better," Kagome continued. "Although you were the best Beatrice by far, Sango-chan. No one even came close to you."
"Arigatou, Kagome-chan," Sango mumbled.
Kagome looked like she was about to say something else, when her name was called for the second scene reading.
"Time to go, wish me luck, Sango-chan!" she whispered, getting to her feet.
"You have it, although you don't need it, Kagome-chan," Sango's smile was the first genuine one since before the audition began.
Her eyes followed Kagome into the aisle, and stopped on Inuyasha across the aisle, who was watching Kagome's progress intently. Sango raised her eyebrows in surprise.
Now that's interesting. Why is Yuuretsu watching Kagome like that?
She was distracted from further thought by Shippou--whose name had just been called--trying to politely move past her into the main aisle. Giving him a cheerful smile, Sango moved her knees to the side so he could pass more easily. As he made his way onto the stage, it struck Sango as fortunate that the somewhat immature freshman had ended up reading scenes with at least one person he knew. In contrast, Kohaku had had to read with mostly juniors and seniors--people that even she didn't know.
Watching the stage, Sango noticed that Kagome seemed to know another one of the people there--that guy who she had recognized when he did his first reading. What was his name... ah yes, Houjou. He seemed nice enough, from this distance at least. He was giving Kagome an encouraging smile as Myouga-sensei spoke up, assigning the roles. Once again, Kagome was Beatrice (being that Beatrice was the only female character in this scene as well), and her friend Houjou was reading against her as Don Pedro. Curious, Sango leaned back in her seat to watch the proceedings.
Kagome read well--the English was close to flawless. Houjou seemed a little too cheerful throughout the majority of his lines, but his English was also pretty decent. Even Shippou had done a little better with the English during his read of Claudio. Overall, Sango was fairly impressed with the scene, being one of the better ones she'd seen read. Of course, none of the senior drama people had gone up yet, so that was certain to change. Still, Kagome did well, and Sango hoped she got a part, since god knew she deserved one.
The scene finished, and Myouga-sensei dismissed the students onstage. Sango watched Kagome get off the stage alongside Houjou, who had leaned in to tell her something. She smiled happily in response, and Sango guessed that he had congratulated her on a great performance.
Off to her left, she heard a faint snort from Inuyasha's direction.
Don't tell me he's watching that too... Sango thought, bemused. She turned her head slowly, taking pains not to alert Inuyasha to her regard, and practically smirked when she saw him scowling in Kagome's direction.
I wonder, is that scowl for Kagome or for Houjou? Sango wondered, still amused by the situation. Perhaps Inuyasha is confusing Kagome a bit too much with Kikyou if he really is scowling at Houjou for just giving her a compliment. What a weirdo.
She was prevented from further observation by the sound of her name being called. Myouga-sensei seemed to have funny timing, pitting her and Kagome back-to-back twice in a row. No matter, better to be done with it so she could head back and talk with Kagome uninterrupted.
Smiling at Kohaku's proffered thumbs up, Sango got to her feet and walked into the aisle. Glancing at the stage, she felt her stomach plunge to her knees at the sight of Yuuretsu Sesshoumaru calmly standing there. Great--out of everyone in this room, she ended up reading with the two she least wanted to be grouped with. Figures that fate would decide to give her a bad turn today. Well, best to hurry up there and get it over with.
Sango passed Kagome in the aisle for the second time, again with a look of consternation on her face. A little concerned by Sango's mood swing, Kagome glanced up at the stage, wondering if it was Hinutsu's presence that had set off such a reaction in her.
Oh... Yuuretsu Sesshoumaru. No wonder Sango looks edgy...
Returning to her seat, Kagome pondered at her friend's bad luck. First Hinutsu, then the elder Yuuretsu. Poor Sango was probably wondering if Myouga-sensei was deliberately trying to undo her. If it had been she who was paired with both of them, Kagome knew that she would feel just as nervous.
This time, Sesshoumaru was reading as Don Pedro. Kagome couldn't keep herself from glancing over at Inuyasha, to see how he was reacting to his brother's luck at being asked to read two major parts twice. Instead, she was astonished to find Inuyasha's eyes on her, an unreadable expression in their amber depths.
"Uhh..." she stammered, at a complete loss on how to react.
Realizing he had just been caught, Inuyasha hurriedly averted his gaze, but not before Kagome saw a tinge of pink crossing his cheeks.
What was that about? she asked herself, bewildered. Is he still angry at me for something? But he doesn't really look angry... nor does he really look happy either. Oh jeez...
Stupid baka. She wasn't one to hold grudges for past behavior--even behavior as bad as Inuyasha's a few days ago--but this was beyond weird. She wished he'd go back to sulking at Kikyou's back; his regard made her uncomfortable.
Not wanting to dwell on Inuyasha any further, Kagome returned her attention to the stage. Sesshoumaru had begun reading, greeting the hurt Claudio, who believed he had just been betrayed by said lord. Claudio responded coldly, and Sesshoumaru looked askance at him, uncertain where the change in his friend's behavior had come from. Here Sango stepped in, making the observation that the Count was neither sad nor sick nor well, but instead jealous. Kagome blinked in confusion, surprised by Sango's vastly diminished performance. Gone was the haughty, proud Beatrice of the first scene, and in her place was something almost tentative, a mere shadow of the first.
What is wrong with Sango? Kagome frowned, worry for her friend overriding her interest in the scene. This performance is so toned down from the first that it's almost like she's a totally different person.
For some reason, her eyes shifted to a slender figure in the front row, wondering if he was a factor in the equation. Hinutsu Miroku was watching the scene before him with a furrowed brow, apparently as struck by the difference in Sango's performance as Kagome was.
Could it be... could it be that Sango completely let herself go because of Hinutsu? If so, what does that mean...?
From the moment he was introduced in the Drama Club lunch meeting, Kagome had noticed that something about Hinutsu Miroku had immediately set Sango off. Her dislike was so quickly founded it had almost left Kagome reeling. Sure, it was true that the guy was a total flirt who believed all women would adore him, but that shouldn't have been enough to elicit such a reaction in her friend. Still, who knew? Everyone was different, of course, and maybe Sango had some reason for abhorring playboys.
Regardless of all that, however, Hinutsu was, through the role of Benedick, able to pull her out of her shell. I never knew Sango could be so passionate and emotional before I saw her onstage. Why did she allow him to get to her if she dislikes him so much? Not like it was a bad thing, given the result, but still... it's strange.
If by sheer luck, both of them managed to land a part, Kagome vowed to herself to keep an eye on Sango and Hinutsu, just to see what happened. Something was certainly going on, although the sparks that were being set off were not in the direction Hinutsu probably would have liked.
Speaking of Hinutsu... Kagome glanced over at him again, unsurprised to see his eyes riveted on Sango as she prepared to leave the stage, her scene now over. On his face was a mixture of confusion and something else... something she couldn't find a better word than "interest" to describe. A sort of frowning interest, the way one might regard something they found both repellent and attractive at the same time.
This is only going to get more and more complicated, I bet.
She abandoned her train of thought as Sango collapsed into her seat beside her. Studying her blank face, Kagome debated whether Sango was in a conversational mood.
"Ne, Sango-chan... are you okay?" she asked in a whisper.
Sango smiled weakly. "Hai. Don't look so worried Kagome-chan," she added at the unconvinced look on Kagome's face. "I'm fine. Just exhausted from all the anxiety."
Kagome nodded sympathetically. "I can completely relate to that. Although it had to be worse for you, seeing as how you had to read with both Hinutsu and Yuuretsu."
Sango visibly stiffened at the mention of Hinutsu's name--interesting, Kagome thought--but quickly brushed it off. "Well, I suppose he was the perfect choice for a Benedick I would get pissed off at."
Kagome smiled in agreement, but her mind was busy pondering over the meaning Sango's words.
She focused instantly on Hinutsu again, even though I mentioned Yuuretsu Sesshoumaru's name as well. Hmmm...
Sango's next words completely surprised her. Leaning in, she whispered in Kagome's ear, "Ne, Kagome-chan, do you realize that Inuyasha is staring at you?"
Kagome couldn't repress a groan. "Again?!"
Sango quirked a brow. "Oh, so you've noticed?"
Slightly unnerved at her friend's perception, Kagome asked, "What do you think his problem is?"
Sango shrugged. "Beats me. I can't imagine his still being mad at you for what you said yesterday, even though you were right on the mark about the whole sibling rivalry. Maybe he just likes having someone to stare at."
Kagome scowled. "Well, I wish he'd stick to Kikyou. He makes me all nervous when he looks at me."
Sango looked at her appraisingly. "Well, maybe he's trying to reevaluate his original opinion of you. After all, you didn't exactly get off to a great start with him."
"Thanks to his thinking I was Kikyou, even when I told him I wasn't!" Kagome added, a touch of vehemence to her voice.
At Sango's raised eyebrows, she hurried to explain herself. "I'm not really mad about that, Sango-chan. It was an honest mistake, I guess. I mean, Kikyou and I sort of look alike, from what I can tell."
Sango was silent, waiting for her to continue.
Kagome sighed, "I guess what frustrates me the most about the whole situation is that Inuyasha's treatment of me even after he learned I wasn't Kikyou hasn't been very respectful. I mean, I'm not her, and yes, I got irritated at him when he wouldn't acknowledge that he made a mistake with me, but still... he acts like he's just as mad at me as he is at her."
Sango nodded. "Yeah, I guess he could be doing that. I just figured he was upset because you made him look like such an idiot that first day," she started to chuckle a little.
Kagome smiled halfheartedly, but wasn't ready to laugh about it yet. A few days, maybe, then she'd find it amusing. For now, she just wanted to forget about the whole thing.
Their conversation mostly over, Kagome waited as the students onstage reached the end of their scene. Somewhat belatedly, she realized it was the third scene they had just read, and inwardly chided herself for not paying more attention. After all, she could end up being called anytime, and she wanted to be ready for--
"Higurashi Kagome!"
So much for being prepared, Kagome thought with an inward sigh.
Getting to her feet, she walked into the aisle, deliberately averting her gaze from where Inuyasha was sitting.
"Aryuu Hachi!"
She looked up on stage and saw with astonishment that her gesture was wasted: Inuyasha stood on the stage, staring at her as if she were some kind of road kill.
Great. Sango gets Hinutsu to deal with and I get Inuyasha. Myouga-sensei must really have it in for us...
"Yuuretsu Sesshoumaru!"
Kagome nearly fell flat on her face. He couldn't be serious. Yuuretsu Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru on the stage at once?! My god, they would probably kill each other before five lines were spoken. Oh why did she have to get put in the middle of it?
Sesshoumaru, by privilege of his position right next to the stairs, was already onstage by the time she got to the stairs. Inuyasha had ceased looking at her and was instead glaring daggers at his brother, who looked as if he'd swallowed sour milk. Sesshoumaru had positioned himself at the far side of the stage, to the left from where Kagome stood, while Inuyasha had backed off to the right. In the middle was a small pudgy boy with horn-rimmed glasses and tousled hair, looking terrified. Kagome felt sorry for him, but wasn't sure if she wanted to join him in the center of all that sibling animosity.
Get a grip on yourself, Kagome! she berated herself. It's not like they're going to kill each other on stage. Besides, if they won't act their ages, someone's got to, and it might as well be you.
Fueled with new determination, Kagome strode confidently to the center of the stage and positioned herself. She'd show those two what maturity was, even if it got her maimed for her efforts.
Myouga-sensei either hadn't noticed the reactions of the brothers (which were so obvious he'd have to be blind not to see it) or had chosen to overlook it. Looking them over, he said, "Inuyasha will be reading the part of Claudio. Sesshoumaru will be reading Don Pedro. Aryuu will be Leonato, and Higurashi will be Hero."
Taking a deep breath, Kagome looked down at her script and gathered up her focus. She, at least, would knock the socks off of Myouga-sensei by her dignified performance, regardless of what those two idiots on either side of her did. If only Inuyasha would hurry up and start, since his first line would determine how the rest of the scene should sound, provided he read well.
There was a pause as Inuyasha seemed to collect himself. Kagome was near the breaking point when his voice, full of outrage mixed with pain, bellowed across the stage.
"There, Leonato, take her back again!" Inuyasha looked directly at Kagome, his eyes full of anger. Kagome felt something strange twist inside of her at his look. This look, she had seen it before... when he thought she was Kikyou that day...
"Give not this rotten orange to your friend,/ she's but the sign and semblance of her honor." His eyes bore into hers, making her want to shrink back and defend herself. "Behold how like a maid she blushes here!/ Oh, what authority and show of truth/ can cunning sin cover itself withal!"
His face pinched with pain, Inuyasha turned to implore the other two men as he said, "Comes not that blood as modest evidence/ to witness simple virtue? Would you not swear,/ all that you see her, that she were a maid," he gestured roughly towards her, "By these exterior shows?"
Returning his attention to Kagome--who wasn't sure if she wanted to wither under his gaze or turn his anger right back on him--Inuyasha said harshly, "But she is none./ She knows the heat of a luxurious bed."
Kagome couldn't keep from flushing at the cruel tone and implication he was flinging at her. Those words hurt, even though they weren't directed at her. Is this how he would confront Kikyou?
"Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty," Inuyasha spat, looking at her as if she were the meanest thing on Earth.
Aryuu Hachi, befitting what seemed to be his own personality, said somewhat dazedly, "What do you mean, my lord?"
Inuyasha looked like he wanted to rush across the stage and shake some sense into him. "Not to be married,/ not to knit my soul to an approved wanton."
Hachi looked stunned. His face colored a little with his next words. "Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof,/ have vanquished the resistance of her youth,/ and made defeat of her virginity--"
Inuyasha angrily interrupted him. "I know what you would say," he looked steadily at Hachi, who blanched under his gaze. Next to him, Sesshoumaru looked on, unmoved. "If I had/ known her,/ you will say she did embrace me as a husband,/ and so extenuate the 'forehand sin./ No, Leonato," at this, his voice almost seemed to falter as he turned to look at her. Kagome wanted to cry at that look in his eyes. "I never tempted her with word too large,/ But, as a brother to his sister, showed/ bashful sincerity and comely love."
Wounded by the look combined with his harsh words, Kagome cried out, "And seemed I everwise to you?!"
For a moment, Inuyasha's eyes softened. Kagome was amazed by the way her stomach wrenched in response. "You seem to me as Dian in her orb,/ as chaste as is the bud ere it be blown." Suddenly, his eyes flared with anger again, and his body stiffened with disgust. "But you are more intemperate in your blood/ than Venus, or those pampered animals/ that rage in savage sensuality."
Torn between torment and anger, Kagome exclaimed, "Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide?"
Hachi, bewildered beyond comprehension, turned timidly to Sesshoumaru, who looked coldly distant. "Sweet Prince, why speak not you?"
In the coldest voice Kagome had ever heard, Sesshoumaru replied, "What should I speak?/ I stand dishonored, that have gone about/ to link my dear friend to a common stale."
Hachi looked like he was about to faint. "Are these things spoken, or do I but dream?"
Inuyasha jumped into the fray. "Leonato, stand I here?/ Is this the Prince? Is this the Prince's brother?/ Is this face Hero's? Are our eyes our own?"
Hachi stared at him, looking mystified. "All this is so, but what of this, my lord?"
Inuyasha turned to Kagome, an intense expression on his face. "Let me but move one question to your daughter,/ and by that fatherly and kindly power/ that you have in her, bid her answer truly."
Turning to look at Kagome helplessly, Hachi answered, "I charge thee to do so, as thou art my child."
Kagome felt the injustice of the situation as Hachi's wide eyes met her own. Past the point of anger, she cried, "Oh, God defend me! How am I beset!" Turning to Inuyasha, she stared at him accusingly, "What kind of catechizing call you this?"
Inuyasha returned her glare. "What man was he talked with you yesternight/ out at your window betwixt twelve and one?/ Now, if you are a maid, answer to this," he added solemnly.
Kagome felt the boom fall. No matter what she said in her defense, she knew he would not believe her. And that made her want to scream and throw things. But she would not lose her cool in front of these men; she was the one who was wronged, not they. Indignantly, she cried, "I talked with no man at that hour, my lord!"
Sesshoumaru was stirred to action. With rising horror, Kagome felt his words fall on her like an executioner's axe. "Why, then you are no maiden." Turning to Leonato, he continued in a tone of pure disgust, "Leonato,/ I am sorry you must hear. Upon mine honor,/ myself, my brother and this griéved Count/ did see her, hear her, at that hour last night/ talk with a ruffian at her chamber window,/ who hath indeed, most like a liberal villain,/ confessed to the vile encounters they have had/ a thousand times in secret!"
Inuyasha began a speech that was clear in its dismissal of her. Kagome could only sit there helplessly and hear his harsh words pound against her senses like fists. "O Hero, what a Hero hadst thou been/ if half thy outward graces had been placed/ about thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart!/ But fare thee well, most foul, most fair! Farewell,/ thou pure impiety and impious purity!/ For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love,/ and on my eyelids shall conjecture hang/ to turn all beauty into thoughts of harm,/ and never shall it more be gracious."
At this point, Hachi, looking like he'd pay someone money if it would get him off the stage and away from these crazy people, said dully, "Hath no man's dagger here a point for me?"
For a long moment, no one moved, either onstage or in the audience.
Myouga-sensei finally broke it. "Very well done," he said, a hint of approval in his voice. "Right, on you go."
Kagome was amazed to find she had been holding her breath. Letting it out slowly, she took a moment to gather herself, then followed Sesshoumaru to the stairs. Aryuu Hachi had already leapt off the stage, poor guy. Kagome went hurriedly up the aisle, aware that Inuyasha was following behind her. God, she couldn't deal with him right now. The way he'd been able to make her feel just through his looks and emotions... she didn't want to go there. Sango obviously understood how she was feeling, for she didn't say a word, just sat there as a comforting presence. If Kagome had been less upset, she might have smiled at the irony of their role reversal.The rest of the audition flew past in a blur. Kagome could not turn off the thoughts that questioned her intense reaction to Inuyasha's powerful emotions onstage. That he was even capable of such strong feeling seemed a shock to her; anger, bravado and disdain was all she had ever credited him with in the past few days. Obviously there was more to the man than she had ever realized, only she wasn't sure she really wanted to know any more. What little she'd been exposed to had thus far only served to make her angry or make her upset, with the end result of pure exhaustion.
Exhaustion. That was what she felt right now. Like she just wanted to go home and take a long nap. Somehow, she had a feeling that Sango would be doing the same kind of thing.
Finally, the last group of people read. Kagome and Sango looked at each other for a moment before heaving a sigh of relief. It was over. They could go home, and save the worry for later.
"Remember, the cast list will be posted at 3:00 pm in the Green Room," Myouga-sensei projected his voice over the chatter. "There will be a few surprises there, so be sure to come see it, even if you don't feel like you did well enough to get a part. Tomorrow afternoon is also the first meeting for people interested in crew, so please arrive in the Green Room by 3:15. Thank you, that's all."
Kagome quickly got to her feet, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. "Well, that's that, then," she said briskly.
Sango nodded. "We'll see what happens tomorrow when it comes."
"Exactly," Kagome smiled, somehow pleased by the knowledge that Sango had read the tenor of her thoughts.
"Well, I'm going to go home and take a nap; I'm exhausted from all that pent-up anxiety over the audition," she said.
Sango smiled. "Not me, I've got to go do some kind of physical activity to settle down. So I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
Kagome nodded. "Meet you in homeroom."
Sango smiled, "Great!" Turning to Kohaku, who was saying good-bye to Shippou, she nodded her head towards the stage door that led to the Green Room. "Ready to head home, Kohaku?"
He nodded eagerly. "Hai, nee-chan!"
As she watched them walk away, Kagome thought, We'll just see what happens tomorrow. Until then, I won't allow anything to preoccupy my mind that I'm not able to do something about. And that includes Yuuretsu Inuyasha.
With that declaration made, Kagome followed the Kachiki siblings down the aisle.
Finally at the end! Whew!!! I'm exhausted now... wow. This was rather draining to write, to tell the truth. So much stuff to reveal in such a small space of time. Took me three freakin' weeks to write it all out, too. Grrr... Anyway, time for the endless endnotes. Anyone too exhausted to take them, just go ahead and skip them (I promise, I won't be offended). :feels like collapsing into her chair like Sango did after her audition with Miroku: Anyway, PLEASE EVERYONE, REVIEW this chapter and let me know how you liked it. Was it too long? Did I shift perspective too much, not enough? Any comment you can leave me will be highly appreciated! ^_^ Thanks so much for your time, minna-san!!! ^___^
Just as a sidenote, the complete works of Shakespeare used for this story, including the "translations" of Shakespearean lingo, is my mom's old college textbook, and is still, to my mind, far better than the versions they distribute at university nowadays. It's probably discontinued by now, but you could probably find it in a university library or in the marketplace on amazon.com or alibris.com. It's edited by G. B. Harrison, published in 1952 by Harcourt and Brace (egad, that's old! My mom was just a kid then! Sheesh...)
recheat--a call on the hunting horn, with the usual joke on the cuckold's horn
winded--sounded
baldric--the belt, slung across the chest, by which the hunter's horn was carried
senpai--a suffix used by underclassmen when speaking to upperclassmen. I'm not exactly sure what the exact meaning is, but it's obviously a sign of respect and age. The suffix for underclassmen, which Kagome uses to address Shippou, is kouhai
ne--has two different meanings depending on where in the sentence it is placed. When placed in the front, it means something like "hey." When placed at the end, it means something like "don't you think?" or "isn't that so?"
-sama--a suffix denoting a very formal title of address; usually translated as "lord" or "lady" in English (those seem to be the closest equivalent non-Japanese people can understand)
-chan--a suffix attached to girls' names, usually as an affectionate term of friendship or endearment (although I guess it can be used for guys as well, since Kagome calls her grandfather jii-chan)
sensei--basically means "teacher." It's a suffix attached to the surname of a teacher, and included when students address the teacher directly
sou ka--basically means "I see"
hentai--heh heh, this is a word Sango uses a lot. ^_^ Means "pervert"
being a man--i.e., you are known to be a dangerous man among the ladies
fathers herself--is like her father
meet--suitable
dear happiness--rare good luck
humor--mood
predestinate--predestined, fated
jade's trick--dirty trick. A jade is a bad-tempered horse
arigatou--means "thank you" (although there are more formal ways of saying it too)
baka--heh, another word we hear a lot in the Inuyasha series... ^_^ Means "idiot" or "fool"
hai--means "yes" (although I think it's a little more formal than that, but don't hold me to it)
luxurious--lustful
approved--proved
in...proof--by putting her resistance to the test
'forehand sin--the sin of mating before marriage, which could be partially excused since Claudio and Hero were already betrothed
large--unrestrained
Dian--Diana, goddess of chastity
orb--sphere; i.e. the moon, for Diana was also Luna, the moon
blown--fully opened
so wide--i.e., so far from the truth
beset--set upon
liberal--gross
and...harm--hereafter whenever I see any beautiful woman I shall suspect her
nee-chan--an affectionate way of saying "sis" or "sister"
