Hello, Readers. Whether you've noticed or not I've been on hiatus for quite some time now - not necessarily as a conscious choice, but one of preoccupation. It had been challenging finding time to write in the midst of schoolwork, career, and extracurricular activities. But there was another thing, more than that of a busy schedule: There was no sense of calling. There was no personal inquiry telling enough to transfer thoughts from mind to screen. And so they remained in my head. This inquiry, however, has pressed upon me for a while and has only truly come to light after doing some research on a particular character I'm to play (hopefully) in an upcoming convention. My question relates to The Toguro Brothers and their individual relationships to Genkai. Although in previous fanfiction, I've been accustomed to comical works, I'm going to take a much more serious approach to this one.
I always thought The Toguro Brothers backstory was deserving of its own spin-off series. But, as of so far, we only have small clues and snippets of what occurred before The Toguro Brothers turned to the side of darkness, with a heavier emphasis on Ototo's transition. My story will be from the perspective of Toguro Ani and the events that unfold before, during, and after Ototo's three-month departure. Questions will be answered. My greatest ambition is to answer all of them, but if may likely just raise more. I also want to apologize in advance if I make any errors in time period or culture. I only write this fanfic as an affectionate prequel to Yu Yu Hakusho. Now for the disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho and the characters affiliated with the series. I can't promise I'll be able to finish this fanfic, but I hope you all enjoy.
Ruined
By Renoir Fione
Chapter: Painting Her Portrait
Winter had taken its final bow to make room for the much more benevolent Spring. The melting icicles surrounding the dojo rafters formed a nice, little moat for the younger students to play in after class. From inside, the students assembled for sparring. Older students fought each other while younger ones had a mind to terrorize their favorite assistant sensei: Toguro Ani (Aniki). Aniki realized it was all in good fun and remained proficient but gentle to the younger students. Although he enjoyed working with the younger ones, he wondered what kind of sorcery it was that enabled them to bounce back again so quickly. In spite of how many times he'd thrown the same group of students off his back, there they were, running back to him for more. Finally, Aniki resolved he was ready for some much-needed "me" time.
Aniki: You kids practice on each other for now. I need a breather.
Some of the students let out a groan; they loved the challenge of sparring with a more experienced fighter. Aniki picked up a small bag from the corner of the dojo, slumped it over his back, and headed towards the entrance to enjoy one of his quieter recreational activities: art. Looking outside, he pondered what his next project would be. He'd drawn the surrounding cherry blossoms enough times that he could practically draw them from memory at that point. The same went for the dojo. He'd become disenchanted with the birds, though he knew he'd always appreciate their lively chitter-chatter. Foxes didn't come around too often and, when they did, they were gone, again, in no time.
Aniki: (Thought) Plants: Boring. Pottery: Zzz. Crickets and toads: Done to death. Grass: I'd happily kill myself before becoming desperate enough to draw grass. Perhaps this wasn't a good day for drawing, after all.
Taking in the sting of cold against his nose, Aniki went back inside. He found the least occupied area of the dojo and sat down against the wall. Taking out his drawing pad, he placed it on his lap and stared at it for a while.
Aniki: (Thought) A portrait, maybe? It's about time I moved on to greener pastures. But whom should I draw?
Aniki studied the small group of his younger students. They'd become content with fighting each other and continued to laugh as they exchanged kicks and punches. Some had moved on to the more childlike antics of noogies, wet willies, and Indian sunburns. Had it been closer to the beginning of the day when Aniki still had some energy left, he would have personally walked over to break them up. But he figured a commanding voice would do just fine.
Aniki: Cut the crap or get out! I'm not gonna repeat myself, so behave or your butt's out the door. Got it?
The students stopped dead in their activities, gave their nod of approval, and dispersed to spar again. Looking out to the center of the dojo, Aniki could see his brother was sparring with one of the newer students: Genkai.
Aniki remembered how he'd laughed a little to himself, writing her name down for the first time on registration day. His snickering was cut short with one sharp look from her. Damn him for standing in the way of someone who meant business, even if was a woman. But Aniki supposed he rather liked a girl who could fight with the best of them. He'd seen too many aspiring mothers and housewives fit perfectly into their assigned roles, but Genkai was above societal conventions. She was her own.
He first focused his attention on his brother's fighting style, but it was short-lived. Sure, it got the job done – with other fighters - but Genkai was always a couple steps ahead of him.
Aniki: (Thought) What poise.
For so long, Aniki had been accustomed to observing male fighters - wholly unremarkable creatures to him at this point. Genkai, however, was a delightful paradox to Aniki: Ferocious, yes, but graceful. Always graceful. Aniki couldn't completely figure out whether this was a product of the female fighter or a product of Genkai. All he knew was that he enjoyed watching it. He noticed the gentle slope of her neck whenever her braid managed to remove itself from the equation, just as frequently as his brother went in for an attack. And, of course, her hair was lovely, too. Pink as the cherry blossoms that surrounded the dojo (Just because Aniki had memorized those trees didn't mean they were any less beautiful to him). And then there was the glossy shine of her cupid's bow. Aniki felt himself thinking about those lips. The natural tint of fuschia that lined them. He wondered what they might feel like…
Aniki grabbed his ponytail and held it over his shoulder. He took a small tuft of hair between his thumb and index finger, listening to the lifeless "crunch" beneath. Then he scanned his fingers over the bridge of his nose. The surface was crooked from one too many punches to the face is his early years. His lips were… anemic. Aniki felt as though he was in good enough health and, yet, he always looked sick.
Aniki: (Thinking) No. She wouldn't want me. But at least I'll have her picture.
He started out with her face, taking gentle brushes with his pencil. He hated seeing eraser marks on his work and he wanted to keep this particular drawing pristine. Once he was pleased with the general shape, he traced it over. This time, with longer, bolder strokes.
Aniki: (Thinking) My first portrait. I couldn't have picked a better first subject.
Then he moved on to the neck and shoulders in the same manner of fashion as before. Clothing was somewhat tricky to Aniki (even more challenging considering how frequently his subject moved), but he was determined to get it down perfectly. Aniki didn't consider how much time had passed since he began to portrait or that his students, at this point, had fought the entirety of their classmates several times. His eyes remained fixated on paper and on Genkai.
Once Aniki had completed the bust of his subject, it was time for him to draw, well, the bust…
Aniki: (Thought) Do I dare?
Aniki looked up again. By this time, Genkai and Ototo were done sparring. Both their clothes had been absolutely soaked in sweat. Aniki noticed the way Genkai's chest lifted and fell with each breath. They were small, but proportionate and perfectly formed.
Aniki: (Thought) I think… Hell, who am I kidding? Of course I dare.
Just as Aniki brought his pencil down to meet his dream girl, he heard the sound of small footsteps coming toward him. He looked up to see ten year-old Kichiro running toward him. Aniki slammed the cover of his notebook and held it toward his chest.
Kichiro: What are you drawing, Sensei?
Aniki: Not drawing, just writing. I thought I'd come up with a grading system for this class. To keep you all in line. Trouble-makers.
Kichiro: (Protesting) Really? Aw, Sensei!
Aniki: I'm kidding. But I'm not telling you what I'm working on, either. This is something for me and only me. Okay?
Kichiro: (Timid) Okay. Sensei?
Aniki: Yeah?
Kichiro: Could you ever… draw me something?
Aniki: Kid, you can have my entire collection if you want. Just let me finish one last project before I give my notebook to you. And another thing.
Kichiro: Yeah?
Aniki: No more wet willies. I saw what you did to Daisuke-Kun. That was wrong, Kichiro-Kun.
Aniki notices Genkai and Ototo walking toward them.
Aniki: (Projecting his voice so Ototo can hear) I've had my share from Muscles, over here, and I can tell you it's not fun. He actually managed to give me swimmer's ear a couple times he has so much saliva.
Ototo: I do not. And I only gave you wet willies because you gave me pink belly first.
Kichiro: (To Ototo) What's "pink belly"?
Aniki: Don't even think about it. It's bad enough the kids give wet willies, noogies, and Indian sunburns to each other. I don't want even so much as one more thing added to that list.
Ototo: (To Kichiro) Let's just save that for another day, maybe in a few years from now.
Kichiro: Aw…
Ototo: Run along home, Kichiro-Kun. Your parents are waiting for you.
Kichiro: Okay. (To Aniki) Sensei?
Aniki: Yeah?
Kichiro: Promise you'll tell me as soon as you're finished?
Aniki could feel the blood draining from his face as he made a slow nod in agreement.
Kichiro: Thanks!
Kichiro gave Aniki a gracious smile. Then, he turned and ran out the entrance. With the finality of the door shutting behind Kichiro, Ototo turned to Aniki for elaboration. Aniki would not relent.
Ototo: Finished with what?
Aniki looked to his brother, then to Genkai, trying to think of a quick explanation. Fortunately, the answer to his conundrum came to him sooner than expected.
Aniki: A lesson plan. I wanted to do a demonstration on the, uh, different types of roundhouse kicks, but I needed a second person… I told him once I got the lesson plan down that I'd teach him all the different techniques, first. That way, we could perform the demonstration for the rest of the class later.
There was an awkward pause as Ototo took in his brother's lie.
Ototo: That sounds like a great idea. Kichiro-Kun's a good fighter, but he lacks confidence. A little extra time with him could be just the thing he needs. Good thinking, brother.
Aniki: (Uncomfortable) Thanks. I'm just full of them…
Aniki and Ototo stared awkwardly at each other for a few moments. Genkai could sense the awkwardness coming off both of them.
Genkai: I gotta go home and study. (To Ototo) Um, it was nice sparring with you.
Ototo: Same.
Genkai: Aniki.
Aniki: Bye.
As Aniki and Ototo watched Genkai depart from the dojo, Ototo shifted his attention to Aniki, a smile slowly stretching across his face.
Ototo: Now do you want to tell me what it really is you're trying to finish?
Aniki: (Indignant) What are you talking about?
Ototo: Come on, Ani-Kun. A brother knows.
Aniki: (Heading toward the door) Well, prepare to be disappointed: I'm not telling you.
Ototo: Come on.
Aniki: No.
Ototo: Please?
Aniki: I gotta help Mother with dinner. Let's go.
Ototo: Not even a hint?
Aniki held open the door, waiting for his brother to catch up to him.
Aniki: Fine. Do you really wanna know?
Ototo: Yeah.
Aniki: Too bad.
Aniki slammed the door in Ototo's face as he made a running start home.
Ototo: Hey!
Ototo slammed the door back open, trying to catch up to his brother who was already a ways ahead of him. Aniki laughed as he looked behind himself to measure the distance between them.
Ototo: (Laughing) Come back here, you little prick! I'm gonna kick your ass!
Aniki: Tough shit, tit head! You're gonna have to catch up to me to do that!
Ototo: Watch me!
The brothers laughed and exchanged insults as they raced the rest of the way home.