What, are those tears? AOYAGI Nothing, Riki--but I feel so far away--from Obaa-San. RIKI She can bridge the distance with her heart. A mother can always bridge all distance with her heart. AOYAGI Hai! RIKI Our happiness is all she wants. AOYAGI Our happiness--(_bitterly_) RIKI (_He goes to her. She moves away_) Why-- AOYAGI The silver fishes-- RIKI What has happened, Aoyagi? AOYAGI Did you send the message to Obaa-San? RIKI Yes. AOYAGI Did you go down the path? RIKI Yes. AOYAGI Did you pass a stranger on the way? RIKI No. AOYAGI A stranger just came by.--He came up the mountain path. RIKI I crossed the stream. AOYAGI (_She takes a deep breath_) You crossed the stream. RIKI Aoyagi--little sweetheart--I cannot understand.--What do you mean? AOYAGI Oh, Riki, Riki, I am so alone. Tell me what--why--why-- RIKI Aoyagi, was I gone too long? Has some demon come to you? AOYAGI No demon came. You were gone too long. RIKI I went down the path and crossed the stream to take a shorter way. I met a stranger-- AOYAGI Singing? RIKI Yes--I think she was singing. AOYAGI _She_ was singing. RIKI What do you mean, Aoyagi? AOYAGI Who was she? RIKI I do not know.--She said she would pass Ishiyama. AOYAGI Where did you see her? RIKI Beyond the stream--in a little glade. AOYAGI Did she sing your song? RIKI My song? No. AOYAGI Did she know your songs? RIKI Aoyagi! What do you want to know? AOYAGI Did she know your song to me--"Butterfly, butterfly, alight upon the willow tree"? RIKI Perhaps.--I made that to you years ago--when you were a dream in my heart. AOYAGI At Ishiyama? RIKI Perhaps. AOYAGI Hai!--Obaa-San, my mother!--Oh, my heart--my heart-- RIKI Aoyagi--what have I done? Let me comfort you! [_He goes to her._ AOYAGI You leave me nothing in all the world. RIKI I give you all my world. AOYAGI Hai! Hai! Hai! RIKI Let me go and call the lady bound for Ishiyama. AOYAGI Riki!--ah! RIKI Little Aoyagi--my love--she will be tender with you.--And when your tears are gone, she'll bear your message on to Obaa-San. [_He goes to her, but she draws away. For a moment he is uncertain what to do;--then--he speaks._ I'll bring her back to you. AOYAGI Riki!--No!--We came up the mountain-path together--side by side.--We--but now, Riki, we go two ways.--I to Obaa-San--you to-- RIKI What do you mean? AOYAGI Go sing your songs at Ishiyama! Go make your poems to the butterfly.--I-- RIKI I have made songs only for you. AOYAGI But the songs for me are on every tongue. RIKI Ay--I am proud of that. AOYAGI The lady at the ferry at Ishiyama-- RIKI She learned the song to you! AOYAGI Ah! [_Aoyagi rushes upon him and before she realizes what she is doing, she strikes him. He stands petrified a moment, then faces her very calmly._ RIKI I shall find the stranger-woman and send her to you.--I can no longer help you. AOYAGI