Subject: [KFFDisc] [fanfic] [beta] [partial] Oniwabanshuu Meruhenland Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 01:27:05 -0400 (EDT) From: Luriko-Ysabeth Reply-To: kenshinfanfics@egroups.com To: kenshinfanfics@egroups.com This is a bit of silliness I've been working on. Is it working? -------------------------- Oniwabanshuu Meruhenland 1) Snow White and Rose Red [A Japanese theater, darkened, with the spotlight on the end of the 'walkway' (what are those things called? The part where you can have something separate going on). Within the spotlight are AOSHI, seated, and MISAO, hovering about him.] Misao: Aoshi-sama, how are you? Aoshi: ... Misao: Did you like dinner? Aoshi: ... Misao: You look depressed. [pause] Are you depressed? Aoshi: ... Misao: I know! I'll tell you a story. That'll cheer you up, won't it? Aoshi: ... Misao: The story of... SNOW WHITE AND ROSE RED! [OKINA bangs a large gong, over in the musicians' section] Misao: Mukashi-mukashi... [The lights dim, while the other members of the ONIWABANSHUU begin playing the musical instruments. They could use a few more practice sessions. The spotlight comes up on YUMI, standing next to a small tree bearing giant red and white tea roses] Yumi: I am a respectable widow. [Catcalls from various members of the audience. YUMI ignores them] Yumi: My husband died in the recent unpleasantness, leaving me this house, the rose tree outside it, a little money, two beautiful daughters, Snow White and Rose Red -- [SUZUME and AYAME run on, happily. YUMI puts a hand on the shoulder of each girl, drawing them in to her] Yumi: -- and a bratty little son. [IORI runs up to them and falls down. He is about to start crying, but AYAME picks him up and hugs him] Ayame (singing): We will never leave each other, Suzume (singing): Never so long as we live, Yumi (singing): What one of you has, She must share it with the other. Ayame (singing): Everything we share, Suzume (singing): We share everything, Ayame (singing): Each alike, Suzume (singing): Equally, Ayame (singing): Like the fleeing band Of great Hougan On the way to Oushuu, Suzume (singing): Like the questing band Of Momotaro, On the way to Onigashima, Both (singing): 'Cause that's what sisters do! Yumi: It hasn't always been easy, but I've managed to find occasional work to supplement the scant coin my husband left us -- [More (equally ignored) catcalls] Yumi: -- and the children seem to live under a lucky star. Misao Voiceover: Once the two girls were out spending the night in the woods, [light goes off. Another goes on in the main stage, as AYAME and SUZUME skip about] Misao Voiceover: when they encountered an apparition. [KIYOSATO AKIRA appears in front of them] Suzume: Ne, ojisan, who are you? [AKIRA smiles] Ayame: Baka, he's a ghost. See? He doesn't have any feet. [AKIRA good-naturedly holds up a leg, proving that there's no foot on the end] Suzume: Excuse me, Mr. Ghost, but we need to get by you to find a wonderful campsite. [AKIRA holds out his arms, taking a stance which is clearly obstructive] Suzume: On second thought, right here is just fine. Ayame: I'm cooking. [AKIRA disappears the same way he appeared: behind a black screen carried by two stage assistants] Ayame: It is the next morning. And look! There is a dreadful cliff right in front of us. If we had gone farther, we should have fallen over the edge. Suzume: That nice Mr. Ghost saved us. I wonder why? Ayame: Perhaps he wants to carry one of us off to become his bride! Suzume: He wants a bride? My sister, Let it be you. Ayame: Why, my sister, Should it be me? Am I so fair? Suzume: You're older. [Light shifts back to YUMI and her tree] Yumi: My children have grown up so much since then. See, my son is going off, Off to make his fortune, Off to make his fortune. Enishi (singing): I'll be back before you know it, With a bag of money; Dowries for my sisters, Savings for myself, A nest egg for you, my lovely mother! [ENISHI walks off] Yumi: I wait and wait for my son's return, many long days, but he does not come home. I am worried about my daughters; how shall we survive? My daughters have become such beautiful women. [the spotlight broadens] Yumi: My elder, Snow White, likes to sit quietly at home, studying her books and scrolls and cooking delicious food. [TOMOE enters the light, holding a scroll. She smiles] Yumi: Rose Red, on the other hand, is always running and jumping, practicing her kenjutsu. [KAORU enters the light from the other side, her bokutou over one shoulder] Yumi: I named them after the beautiful roses on the tree outside. They get along well together, just as sisters should. [KAORU rests her head on TOMOE'S shoulder. TOMOE strokes KAORU'S hair] Tomoe (singing): Everything we share, Kaoru (singing): We share everything, Tomoe (singing): The meals that I cook, Kaoru (singing): The wood that I chop, Both (singing): The beauties of nature that we see; Tomoe (singing): Each alike, Kaoru (singing): Equally, Tomoe (singing): Like Ohkuninushi and Sukunabikona of old, Kaoru (singing): Like the Satoh brothers who served Gen Kuro, Both (singing): For that's what sisters do. We will never leave each other, Never will we part, Never in our lifetimes, But we will share whatever we have, For that's what sisters do! Yumi: They keep our little hut so clean that it is a joy to behold. In the summer Rose Red takes care of the house and every morning gives me a wreath of roses, roses white and roses red. [KAORU presents YUMI with just such a wreath] Yumi: In the winter Snow White lights the fire and hangs the kettle above it. [TOMOE hangs a large, glittering kettle on the hand of one of the Men In Black] Yumi: In the evening, when the snowflakes fall, I bid Snow White bolt the door, and we sit around the hearth while I read to them. And close by us a lamb lies on the floor [YAHIKO lies on his stomach next to the three seated women, dressed in white fleece and looking more ticked off than not] Yumi: And behind us sits our white swallow. [TSUBAME, robed in white feathers, is sitting on the back of a crouching Man In Black] [YUMI produces a giant book, larger than a church Bible, from nowhere and begins to read. On the front, it says 'MUSASHI' (or perhaps 'TAKEZOU') in gigantic characters.] DRUM: Yumi: Hayaku, Rose Red, open the door; it must be a traveler seeking shelter. [KAORU gets up and mimes opening a door. A huge RED BEAR pokes its head io the light] Kaoru: KYAAAAAAAA! [KAORU jumps back and produces her bokutou. TOMOE tries to shove YUMI behind one of the Men In Black. YAHIKO and TSUBAME dive behind the other Men In Black. The two girls stare at the RED BEAR, KAORU threatening it with her bokutou and TOMOE looking at it as if it were the most important thing ever to happen to her] Red Bear: Do not fear, I will not harm you; I will never harm *you*. Have pity on a poor traveler, Lost and alone, On a night when earth is iron, Iron as if stone. Let me warm myself, please, for I am nearly frozen. Yumi: Kawaisoo-na Kuma-san; come in and lie down by the fire, but take care that you do not burn your coat. [The RED BEAR enters and lies down by the "fire"] Yumi: Snow White, Rose Red, be polite to our guest; he will do you no harm. Kuma-san is friendly. [KAORU puts away her bokutou. She and TOMOE cautiously approach the RED BEAR] Red Bear: Could you possibly knock some of the snow out of my coat? Tomoe and Kaoru: I'm sorry! What must you think of our manners! [TOMOE and KAORU sweep the RED BEAR with the house broom and garden broom] Kaoru: I've never seen a red bear before. Tomoe: I have never seen a bear with violet eyes before. Red Bear: Oro... -------------------------- Comments, suggestions, criticisms, and so forth welcomed. Sincerely, Luriko-Ysabeth, hon otaku | member in good standing of #WEIRD# Kendappa Clan | Sosai/Pooh-Bah for life of the Washuu-sensei Rules club #WASHU#, #SkAS#, #ALAS#, MADS, and the Ryohko Forever Fan Club member "Mad dogs, Englishmen, and computer "Itsumademo katakuzanai. Homework geeks go out in the afternoon sun." unagedashi." (my new philosophy) --Roland J. Cole -- "Homework ga Owaranai" ______________________________________________________________________ Subscribe, unsubscribe, opt for a daily digest, or start a new e-group at http://www.eGroups.com -- Free Web-based e-mail groups.