Act IV Scene 3 Nurse Michi was helping Keikou pick out a dress for the next day. "Yes, that is a good one. Michi, please leave me alone tonight, I need to think about what’s happened in the past few days," Keikou said to Nurse Michi. Lady Nekoko stuck her head into the room before Nurse Michi could reply. "Do you guys need any help?" she asked. "No, madam," Keikou answered. "We have gotten everything ready for tomorrow. Now, both of you, please leave me tonight, as I’m sure you’re busy with all this sudden business." Both Lady Nekoko and Nurse Michi nodded. "Good night. Get to bed and rest, for you’ll need it," Lady Nekoko said, winking and leaving. Nurse Michi hugged Keikou before she left. "Good night, sweet dreams about Touya," she whispered in her ear. "Things will become happy again in time." With another quick squeeze to Keikou, Nurse Michi followed Lady Nekoko to help out. "Farewell, god only knows when we’ll meet again." Keikou’s eyes softened slightly and she reached toward the door. "Michi..." Her eyes hardened and she pulled her hand back. "No, I must do this alone." She took the vial Friar Aohiki had given her from a pocket of her dress. "What if it does not work?" she asked herself as she inspected the silver liquid. "Shall I then be married tomorrow?" She then pulled out her knife and laid it on her bedside table, then she sat on her bed. "What if it is poison and Aohiki gave it to me because she fears that she will be dishonoured for marrying me and Touya before. No, Aohiki is a good person, she wouldn’t do that. Keikou sighed. "And what if my Touya never comes for me? And I am smothered to death by death itself in that tomb. Or worse, live, and be driven mad by death inside his home." Silent tears started rolling down her cheeks as she thought of Plush and Touya again. "I think I see my cousin’s ghost..." she muttered, though her vision was blurry with tears. "She seeks Touya, who killed her. Oh stay, Plush, stay!" she exclaimed as the mysterious mirage disappeared. Her shaky hands held up the vial, as more tears streamed out of her eyes. "Touya, I drink to you!" And with that she downed the whole thing at once and fell onto her bed, with the appearance of death. |