Reflection
By Yukiko Suzugawa
Disclaimer: Yukiko does not own Shinkengers; if she did, a lot more drama would come from Kaoru's appearance.
Authoress' Notes: Please enjoy! Takes place some time between Act 43 and 44. Spoilers galore – don't read unless you've watched it all! Glossary for your benefit is at the bottom.
Part One
The night was silent, brusque and cold. It was the middle of winter and oshougatsu would be approaching soon, too. The mansion was quiet – everyone had left for something or another to prepare for the New Year – and the only true sound came from nature, the sound of the shishi-odori and the miscellaneous kuroko about.
This had left one Shiba Takeru a chance to think, truly think, and ponder on recent times. He sat cross-legged on his porch, over looking the garden, his tea to one side and his eyes staring deeply in front of him. With the help of his vassals – friends, comrades, what have you – he had recently defeated Sujigarano Akumaro, and it wasn't the first time they had gotten hurt. At one point, though he dared not to show it, he had been afraid for the lives of his comrades. He never once doubted their capabilities – anymore, at least – but it was still a frightening possibility for him. He took a sip from his cup.
'But more than that,' he thought. 'More than that… I am not…' He let out a mental sigh. Perhaps all this thinking, this façade of confidence, was not good for him.
But what else was there for him to be, than what he was raised to be? What would there be of him after this farce, after all this fighting? He had pushed the consequences out of his mind, had thought she would arrive soon to clear everything up – but it had been too long. He had did all he could to not care, to distance himself and remain afar – but humans had that bad habit of trying to discover what one hid, the habit to cling to mystery. It was just his luck that he'd begin feeling camaraderie among them too.
At the sound of conversation, he lightly slammed his cup on its saucer, careful not to break it, and leapt up onto his feet. Moving to their main room, he sat himself on his – though not quite his – pedestal. One by one, his vassals trickled into the room, all in good spirits, cheerful and as a true team. A light smile graced his lips.
"Eh! Guys, that's so not fair!" Ryuunosuke complained.
"Of course it is!" Was the reply from all the others, sans Kotoha, who only had a slight sheepish quality to her face. "We jan-ken'd it!
"Ah, please everyone…!" Kotoha tried – hint, tried – to get everyone to settle. It didn't quite work. Genta and Chiaki were laughing raucously, Mako had one of her stoic smirks, Kotoha was the go-between, and Ryuunosuke simply was pouting in his comic way.
Takeru coughed lightly into his fist. The effect was almost immediate, with none too little comic effect. The five knelt down, let out a quick, "Tono-sama!" and quickly went on their way. Takeru shook his head as they left.
These were his vassals, his samurai.
But what was this sinking feeling deep in his chest?
Part One End.
Glossary
お正月- oshougatsu – New Years
鹿踊 – shishi odori – Devices used to scare wildlife from agriculture or gardens, such as scarecrows or the waterfall-bamboo device.
黒子 – kuroko – the background ninjas that help around the mansion; named after the "ninjas" that help behind the scenes.
じゃんけん – janken – Rock, Paper, Scissors.