Title:
Mokuso
Author:
Jyonrai
Topic:
Battle B-Daman
Characters:
Jou, Sanjuurou, Sari, Tsubame
Mood:
Anxiety
Word
Count:
1,652
Rating:
K+
Copyright:
Mokuso:
My Name is Tsubame
©2006, and the plot contained here in the copyright of Jyonrai
(author,
publisher) – All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer:
I
do not own Battle B-Daman. But I'm so happy that today is my
birthday. :)
Author's
Notes: WHOOT!
Today's my birthday. :) As a special treat for another year of my
life, I will give you a new FF. :) I will not tell you how old I am.
It's best to guess. ;) Anyways, reviews make me happy, especially
on my special day. :o So be nice and read on! (November
2, 2006- I edited some part of this today. I forgot to write here
about how Jou looked like and the sort. :P Sorry.)
Epilogue: My Name is Tsubame
Tsubame Tsubakara. That was the name he have lived with all his life; yet, he never really knew what it meant.
Tsubame stood up, and planted his sword on the ground. He was 17 now, but until now, he still remembers himself at the meek age of ten. He looked up at the light blue sky, which conquered the heavens.
'Another great day', he thought.
He closed his eyes, as he stretched out his hand towards the clouds. His hair had remained similar, having a less childish flair, and his face was more mature and also lost the pink blush from his cheeks. He had grown as well. He wore a red sleeveless, cottony shirt, which covered only up to his chest, and dark blue cotton twill pants that neatly rests above his shoes, with a black belt snap, that tangles in between its belt hoops. Yet, no matter what age he was, he still had the familiar purple cottony cape.
Every time he looks at it, he remembers of all the times he had been with this cape. It reminded him dearly of his friends: Yamato, Bull and Gray, whenever he caressed this long piece of purple cloth that dangled on his back throughout the whole way. He was so glad that I had it. It reminded him so dearly of his childhood, his friends, and once, even saved his life.
The young ninja was done with his training for the morning and was getting ready to visit Jou.
'Jou…I met him when I was ten too.' He also remembered the first time they met each other.
He loved Jou as a friend. Everyday, he would be happy watching Jou as they practiced together. His soft smile as they look at each other. His long dark blue hair, which is sometimes accidentally cut when they train and he would just look at it and laugh. He never got mad, not that Tsubame saw him. He was always smiling. He was Tsubame's close associate…no, his sempai…no, his friend…no, his brother.
Jou had taught him much throughout the years. He thought him different sword techniques, to always be determined, to always smile in hardships, and to be strong.
He had spent much time with him after the war. He was with him always for the past seven years that he couldn't imagine life without him. He loved Jou so much and he wanted to spend all his time with him. Sometimes, he would blush when the older boy complimented him and always smiled when they were together. He was his best friend.
He laid down on the green grass as it swayed in the wind. He gazed at the clouds as he imagined Yamato, Bull, Gray and he were lying on the grass. Back when they were kids, that peaceful moment. Then, he remembered Jou the past few days.
The past few days, Jou's eyes were always hidden under his bangs. They didn't train together either and he would see him, by the window, hugging his legs and holding Samurai Phoenix, almost as if he was under going a war inside himself. When Tsubame would ask him what was the matter, Jou would just look at the side, his eyes still under his bangs, and keep silent.
'Oh!' he remembered. 'My birthday is coming soon.'
He's been so busy thinking about Jou, he completely forgot. It was a month before his birthday, and he was getting ready for it as well, for this was a special birthday. This was the time he was finally going to be a legal adult.
'My birthday..,' he thought. 'Is Jou upset about my birthday?'
He looked up at the sky yet again. 'He's upset about my birthday, isn't he?' he thought. 'But Jou had always been happy for me on my birthday. He was always smiling and stayed with me, such as always. Why is he avoiding me now?'
An idea ran across his mind. 'It must be probably because I will be an adult now, and no longer a child.' He sighed happily on this thought, for there was a chance that Jou didn't do it because he had done something wrong. 'But then again, Jou would still treat me the same, no matter what age, his brother.'
It haunted Tsubame knowing that his friend had a problem, but he wouldn't tell him about it.
'Was it something I said? Did I upset him?' he thought. 'If not then, what is it?'
He stared at the ground and kicked it in frustration. He clenched his knuckles tightly. 'How will I know what's the matter if he doesn't tell me?'
He really wanted to help him. Or at least know what the problem was. It hurt him so much knowing that he couldn't do a thing to help him.
Then, he remembered something that Jou taught him when he was younger…
Flashback
Tsubame is 12. Jou is 20.
Jou looked at Tsubame. "It's okay, Tsubame. Yamato and the others are safe. You helped a lot in saving the B-Daworld so don't feel insecure."
Tsubame looked up at the older boy. "Jou, how do you know what someone's thinking?"
Jou chuckled. "It's easy, Tsubame. You just need to look at their eyes."
"Why?" the young ninja asked dubiously.
"Because…" the older youth replied. "The eyes are the windows to your soul. You can tell what people are thinking if you concentrate, look hard enough and can see through appearances. I'll show you. Let me see your eyes, Tsubame."
"Ok."
Jou stooped down and gazed at his green sparkling eyes. "You're thinking about your friends. You're worrying about what they're doing right now."
"Wow! That's amazing!"
The older ninja smiled. "Just be sensitive and put yourself in their condition. Then, you'll be able to know what they're thinking."
He stooped down, and smiled once more. "Here, you try. Can you guess what I'm thinking?"
The youth looked at the other's deep, grey orbs and grinned. "You're thinking about the Super Five Guardians: Asado, Cain, Joshua, Sly and Marilyn!"
Jou signaled a smile. "Wow! You got it!"
Tsubame smiled. "Do you know what I'm thinking?"
"No."
He chuckled. "I'm thinking that you're my best friend!"
Jou smiled. "Me too."
End of Flashback
"Just look at their eyes, and you know what they're thinking of," he repeated. "But, Jou's hiding his eyes behind his bangs that I can't tell what he's thinking of!"
He yawned. 'I need to stop thinking too much. Yamato taught me that thinking too little won't get anything done and thinking too much will just hurt me.'
Yamato.
'I wonder how is he now.' He stood up promptly. 'There's only one way to find out.'
He ran to his home. As he held the door, he felt strange. His body froze, as he looked towards his traditional Japanese home, something told him not to go in, that it was a bad time. To just stay still like a good boy.
He fought the feeling, as it nagged on inside of him. He grasped the handle of his door, and pushed it sideways slowly.
"Are you sure you're ready for this Jou?" remarked Sanjuurou.
Surprised, Tsubame hid behind the door and watched.
In the living room was his parents…and Jou.
Jou was now 26, but still as youthful and charismatic as ever. He wore the same clothes as he did before, only now he carried a black cloak around him, which was similar to Terry's. There was a single red feather that was visible on the part of his cloak, which was closest to his neck. He told Tsubame that it was belonged to the Tetsunosuke clan for as long as anyone could remember, and was a very important possesion of his family. He said that it was given to the eldest in the family and to passed on to the next. He currently possesed it and was very glad for it was also a symbol of authority in his clan, for it meant he had a responsibilty to lead his family in Tsubakara City. The feather was also a good luck charm, so nothing will harm the current possesor. His cape also had the markings of 鉄之介, which was the symbol of his clan. He wore it when he travelled, or needed protection from the cold or wind. To him, it was quite important,
'It wouldn't hurt if I would watch,' he told himself.
Jou nodded. "Yes, I am."
The older man sighed. "You need to prepare for this. For you know that after this, there is no turning back."
The dark-blue haired boy looked hesitant, but he shook himself and looked back at Sanjuurou straight in the eyes. "I am afraid of this, but a ninja should never show fear under any circumstance. It would be my honor to go on with this ritual."
Sanjuurou closed his eyes and smiled. "That's good to hear, Jou, that you're so confident about this. If I were you, I would find it very uncomfortable to live knowing that my days were numbered."
'Jou's days are numbered?' He was startled by this thought. 'But why? Does he have this fatal sickness? But he seems healthy enough. And if he's not sick, then what could it be?
He thought, 'Wait. My father said something about a ritual.'
He smiled, he knew it wasn't a time to smile, but maybe he could stop this ritual. Maybe he could save Jou. Maybe…
Sari sighed. "I'm glad to know that at least one of you are ready for this. I just hope that Tsubame won't regret this either."
He froze when he heard this. 'What is this? What is going on? I don't know the answer to any of these, but I know one thing. They are keeping a secret from me.'
He whispered, "A horrible, dark secret…"
