Hello, minna-san! Welcome to my newest creation. This is my first work in the fandom of RC9GN, so I hope you guys enjoy it enough.

Before getting on with the story, I just want to say thank you to Az the Dragon for encouraging me to write this story. And for letting me borrow the name Satoru Norisawa. Really, Az-san is the best.

Okay, enough talk.

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Disclaimer: I don't own RC9GN. I also don't own the name Satoru Norisawa. The show belongs to its owner, while 'Satoru Norisawa' belongs to Az the Dragon. I own the name 'Ranmaru Norisawa' though, even though Ranmaru really isn't an OC…

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Prologue

"Nii-sama?"

The familiar voice snapped him back to reality, and turning to the side, Satoru Norisawa – the oldest brother and was currently the head of the clan – stared at the kneeling shadow on the other side of the shōji.

"Just come in, Ranmaru," Satoru sighed with a smile. That kid. Always so formal. It was something he, along with his younger brothers, had tried many times to change, but their youngest still acted that way. Yes, Ranmaru was their half-brother, but he still carried the blood of the Norisu in his vein. He was still part of the clan. Besides, no matter what, Satoru and his seven brothers still saw Ranmaru as their sibling, so it really didn't matter even if Ranmaru weren't their father's son.

He watched as the small figure stood up, reaching out and sliding the shōji open. Instead of just coming in now that they were facing each other, Ranmaru had to bow to him first, before entering, and closing the door behind him as he did so.

"Have a sit, Ranmaru," said Satoru, motioning to the zabuton opposite his, on the other side of the chabudai. As his youngest brother settled down as he was told, Satoru poured him a cup of tea, and looked at him all over as the kid took a sip.

Ranmaru was only ten years of age, and therefore, compared to his eight brothers, he was tiny, and seemed to be even tinier, dressing in all those kimono layers that were usually used by girls only. But Ranmaru had a reason to dress like a girl. He was born immature, and his health was very poor, so according to their family's tradition, he was dressed that way in hope that it would install strength and help him to grow up in good health. Though, Ranmaru also looked like a girl. With his long black hair tied into a loose braid, with several much shorter strands framing his babyish face, along with his big red eyes that reminded people of two beautiful rubies, he really was pretty. Enough that, back when their other brothers were still alive, Ranmaru was usually teased to be their little sister instead of a little brother.

Thinking about his seven other brothers made Satoru ache in a way that was too familiar now. They had lost their lives in the fights against the Sorcerer, and even when he had successfully in imprisoning him now, Satoru still wished he had managed to kill that vile creature instead, to avenge his family. But the Sorcerer was powerful, to the point that Satoru didn't know what to do to kill him, so at the moment, the best thing he could do was to lock him away, deep under Norrisville.

Though, just because he was now imprisoned didn't mean the Sorcerer couldn't create any sort of chaos to the town and its people. And it also didn't mean that he wouldn't escape one day. To protect the town, and to prevent the Sorcerer from ever walking the earth again, Satoru had to do his best as Norrisville's protector and prison guard. But, despite everything, he wasn't immortal. He couldn't live forever. One day, he would have to leave to the afterlife. And then what? What would happen after that? Who would be his successor, who could do a good enough job to protect the town from the Sorcerer? Even if he had children of his own, even if he taught him everything he knew, who to say they could teach their own children the way of the Norisu? Who to say –

"Nii-sama, you worry too much."

Satoru blinked, realizing that Ranmaru was looking at him with his head slightly tilted to the side, while those eyes seemed to twinkle under the light from the candles. Like they knew just what exactly it was that he was thinking.

Seeing that this was Ranmaru, he actually wouldn't put it pass him to be able to read mind. Even when the kid never confirmed whether or not it was the truth.

(He also never denied it, so that had to say something, right?)

"How can I not?" Satoru sighed. "You know that…"

"…that your successors might not be good enough to protect people of Norrisville from the Sorcerer's chaos? That in the future, the Sorcerer might gather enough power to break free?" See, that was clearly the result of mind-reading there! He had never shared his concern with anyone, yet his brother still managed to know about that.

Satoru just nodded, feeling slightly confused when Ranmaru gave him a smile.

"I'm here to help you with that, Nii-sama," said Ranmaru, answering Satoru's unspoken question. "You do know, even though I'm not exactly a warrior, I still know all the lessons a warrior is taught, right? I have watched you and everyone trained, and I remember all of your moves, all of your styles, even when I'm not strong enough to do them myself. Not to mention, I also inherit something from my mother…"

"What is it that you are trying to say, Ranmaru?"

The child's smile became wider.

"Nii-sama, let me be the mentor to your successors. Let me teach them the way of the Norisu."

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And done! This is the prologue for "Between the Nomicon and Me", so it's not much. And probably doesn't tell you anything useful. But I still hope that you guys like it enough to leave a review on your way out.

Before we can really end, here is the glossary for some of the words I use in this chapter that I'm pretty sure not everyone knowing the meaning:

Nii-sama: A very formal way to call one's own older brother.

Shōji: Japanese sliding doors.

Zabuton: Japanes cushion for sitting.

Chabudai: A short-legged table used in traditional Japanese homes.

That's enough for today. See you guys next time.