Touya and Keikou, Act III Scene 3

Act III Scene 3

Jewish Friar Aohiki opened the door for Touya. "Well, come on in boy! What are you waiting for? The masia?"

Touya quickly ran in and paced back and forth; he had blood stains on his sleeves from Kensei, and on his hands from Plush. "Aohiki." He looked at her anxiously. "What is the Prince’s punishment?"

"Well," started Aohiki, carefully. "The generous, kind, caring, hot, sexy--"

"Aohiki!"

"He’s decided to banish you."

"Be merciful, say ‘death’! For exile is more horrible than death," Touya said mockingly.

"Oh, it is? Then go to the prince and beg for execution," she said, while raising an eyebrow.

"I will! I would rather die than be without Keikou!" Touya yelled back.

"Would you like some warm milk to calm your nerves?"

"..........................." Touya stared at her. "Why would I want milk?"

"You have no sense, do you?"

"I have no sense? You have no sense," Touya replied, crossing his arms.

"Be quiet, you brat! Someone’s knocking on the door! Hide!"

"No," Touya said simply as he sat on the ground.

"Stupid boy!" Aohiki hissed. She then addressed the knocking door as if nothing was happening. "Who is it?" The person knocked harder.

"Let me bloody in, it’s cold out here!!!" The voice belonged to a very wet Nurse Michi. "I got news of Keikou for loverboy!"

"Come on in then," Aohiki said, letting in the shivering nurse.

Nurse Michi shook her wet hair out of her eyes. "Damn summer rains, you can never predict them." She looked at Friar Aohiki. "Where’s Touya?" she asked simply.

"On the ground right there, blubbering like a drunk now." Aohiki pointed to Touya, who was now lying on the floor, crying.

Nurse Michi sighed. "Same as my mistress. She lies on her bed and does nothing but weep and cry, cry and weep!" She walked up to Touya and dripped on him a bit. "Stand up if you’re a man! For Keikou’s sake!"

Touya looked up and rubbed his eyes. "Michi..."

Nurse Michi offered her hand to him. "Death’s the end of it all, you know, not just little inconveniences," she said, smiling.

Touya took her hand and quickly pulled himself up. "You speak of Keikou? How is she?" he asked anxiously. "Does she think I am just some murderer, now that I have killed her cousin? Where is she? And what does she say?"

Nurse Michi sighed. "She does nothing but cry on her bed, and when she starts to get up, ‘Plush,’ she calls, and falls back down again." She crossed her arms. "Just like a lovesick puppy."

Touya clenched his fist and looked down. "As if I murdered her, and not her cousin." He looked up at Friar Aohiki. "It would be better if I were dead," he mumbled as he pulled out his light blue dagger from his belt and prepared to stab himself.

"Don’t, Touya!" Aohiki said anxiously as she put her arm between Touya’s chest and arm. She took a breath and put her arm down again.

"Are you a man? Your tears are womanish. You are acting out of fury like a beast. I thought your disposition was better tempered. You have slain Plush, so will you slay yourself and your lady, too, by going through with this act of damned self hatred? If you want to shame yourself, your love, and your wit, fine. You will only be killing your love, which you so cherished, as you kill yourself. Your Keikou is alive, and you are still not happy? Plush would have killed you, but she’s dead, and you are still not happy? The law threatened to kill you, but the prince turned that into friendly exile, but you are still not happy! Instead, you act sulky and pout, feeling sorry for yourself. People like you die miserably. Go, go to Keikou’s chamber, for she calls on you. But go to Mantua right afterwards. You shall stay there until I persuade Prince Hiei to let you back into Verona, and both families know you two are married. Then, twenty more times joy will come to all of us. So, go hence, young Touya." Aohiki looked at Nurse Michi. "How was that for guilt?"

Nurse Michi clapped, sparkly-eyed. "Kami-sama, I could have stayed here all night to hear good advice!" She turned to Touya, done sparkling. "My lord, I will tell Keikou you are coming."

Touya smiled for the first time since Kensei was killed. "Do, and prepare her to scold me."

Nurse Michi nodded, and gave Touya a quick hug. "Here, sir, a ring she told me to give you," she said, pulling a ring out of the top of her dress and handing it to him. "Hurry along, quickly, for it grows late." She bowed quickly, and opened the door, going back into the rain.

"This has comforted me greatly," Touya mumbled to himself. He walked to the back door that led into an alley so he could get to the Capulet house unseen.

"Good night, dear Touya," said Aohiki. Right when Touya turned away, Jewish Friar Aohiki spoke again.

"When I find out where you are in Mantua, I will send a man to send news to you. Now go already, ya big smuck!" Aohiki laughed as she slapped Touya lightly on the back, pushing him in the doorway.

"Thank you, Aohiki. Goodbye," Touya said quickly with a smile as he hurried out into the pouring rain to see Keikou.