Disc: They're not mine, really.
AN: Well... for a one joke fic, it turned out okay! I hope. The important part isn't the fic quality, anyways. Since I have absolutely no clue about honorifics as used in ancient clans of acupuncture, I just didn't use them. Anyway. Um. Enjoy.
TRUMP CARD
The trouble with Juubei, Sakura reflected as they began walking, was that he had two weaknesses in an otherwise fine personality. The first was that he trusted almost everyone in his life. The second was that, when it came to his duties, he had no sense of humor at all.
If not for those two attributes, he would definitely not be in this situation. Not that she was complaining.
Sakura really had no idea exactly when the magic words were first used. If she had to think about the date, though, she'd put it around his first meeting with Kazuki. All she knew was the first time she had heard them outside of the training field- during a family dinner, when Juubei had been picking at his food with an unusual reluctance.
"Eat your meal," Mother had said softly. "It was made just for you. It wouldn't be good if you put it to waste, don't you think?"
Juubei had nodded, but continued chasing it around the plate.
Father had finally put down his bowl and stared at his son across the table. Looking back, although maybe it was only her imagination, Sakura could still remember the way the air had seemed to thicken with the workings of destiny. Father had taken a breath and frowned.
"Juubei," he said, "how are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't eat your meal?"
Her little brother had turned slightly red and began almost at once attacking his bowl vigorously. It was then that she had realized the immense potential contained in those simple words.
From then on, everyone in Juubei's life seemed to have him at their beck and call. During his lessons, when he looked even a little bored, his tutors would shake their heads sadly and ask him how he was going to protect Kazuki if he didn't learn his Math/Sciences/Literature/History. Like a lightbulb, his mind would turn on again once away.
It was the same with the chores. "How are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't take out the garbage?" "How are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't help with the dishes?" "How are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't help fix the doors?"
By the time Juubei grew into his teens, everyone in the world seemed to know about his weak spot except possibly Kazuki himself.
"I..." Juubei started slowly, as they neared their destination, "really, really don't want to do this."
Although Sakura loved her little brother dearly, she also had a rather sadistic sense of humor. She was also interested in testing just how gullible he could really be. There was no going back now. If this worked, the sky was the limit...
She pulled out the trump card. "How are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't?"
To his credit, Juubei shot a frown at her. "What does this have to do with protecting Kazuki?"
"Everything," Sakura said in her 'wise-and-honorable-older-sister' voice. "Also, you forgot the rose."
"I can't sing if I have it."
"Fine, be that way. How are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't have the rose?"
***
Fuuchoin Kazuki was awaked by the sound of music outside his window. Crawling off his futon, he went to see what was going on.
Juubei sat on the ground outside. An acoustic guitar sat in his arms and a rose lay between his teeth. Haltingly, and looking as though he would rather be absolutely anywhere else at that moment, he began to sing. In English.
"My gift is my song... and this one's for you..."
END
AN: Well... for a one joke fic, it turned out okay! I hope. The important part isn't the fic quality, anyways. Since I have absolutely no clue about honorifics as used in ancient clans of acupuncture, I just didn't use them. Anyway. Um. Enjoy.
TRUMP CARD
The trouble with Juubei, Sakura reflected as they began walking, was that he had two weaknesses in an otherwise fine personality. The first was that he trusted almost everyone in his life. The second was that, when it came to his duties, he had no sense of humor at all.
If not for those two attributes, he would definitely not be in this situation. Not that she was complaining.
Sakura really had no idea exactly when the magic words were first used. If she had to think about the date, though, she'd put it around his first meeting with Kazuki. All she knew was the first time she had heard them outside of the training field- during a family dinner, when Juubei had been picking at his food with an unusual reluctance.
"Eat your meal," Mother had said softly. "It was made just for you. It wouldn't be good if you put it to waste, don't you think?"
Juubei had nodded, but continued chasing it around the plate.
Father had finally put down his bowl and stared at his son across the table. Looking back, although maybe it was only her imagination, Sakura could still remember the way the air had seemed to thicken with the workings of destiny. Father had taken a breath and frowned.
"Juubei," he said, "how are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't eat your meal?"
Her little brother had turned slightly red and began almost at once attacking his bowl vigorously. It was then that she had realized the immense potential contained in those simple words.
From then on, everyone in Juubei's life seemed to have him at their beck and call. During his lessons, when he looked even a little bored, his tutors would shake their heads sadly and ask him how he was going to protect Kazuki if he didn't learn his Math/Sciences/Literature/History. Like a lightbulb, his mind would turn on again once away.
It was the same with the chores. "How are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't take out the garbage?" "How are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't help with the dishes?" "How are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't help fix the doors?"
By the time Juubei grew into his teens, everyone in the world seemed to know about his weak spot except possibly Kazuki himself.
"I..." Juubei started slowly, as they neared their destination, "really, really don't want to do this."
Although Sakura loved her little brother dearly, she also had a rather sadistic sense of humor. She was also interested in testing just how gullible he could really be. There was no going back now. If this worked, the sky was the limit...
She pulled out the trump card. "How are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't?"
To his credit, Juubei shot a frown at her. "What does this have to do with protecting Kazuki?"
"Everything," Sakura said in her 'wise-and-honorable-older-sister' voice. "Also, you forgot the rose."
"I can't sing if I have it."
"Fine, be that way. How are you going to protect Kazuki if you don't have the rose?"
***
Fuuchoin Kazuki was awaked by the sound of music outside his window. Crawling off his futon, he went to see what was going on.
Juubei sat on the ground outside. An acoustic guitar sat in his arms and a rose lay between his teeth. Haltingly, and looking as though he would rather be absolutely anywhere else at that moment, he began to sing. In English.
"My gift is my song... and this one's for you..."
END