Reflection
By Yukiko Suzugawa
Disclaimer: Yukiko does not own Shinkengers; if she did, there'd be more Shinkengers special episodes. ; w ;
Anonymous Review(s):
FireHeaven27 Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed this, and I know right? I can't help but cry; which is why I watch it at night when no one can see me… hehe. I was hoping to make this only two parts, but considering a third part now… ahahaha.
Authoress' Notes: Takes place during andafter Act 44 into 45?
This was supposed to be just a two part drabble… now it'll be three! I think. Currently should be studying for exams, so I'll have to see how it'll go. Argh.
Part Two
The flames were agonising, one of the most excruciating pains Takeru had ever experienced. They felt as though they were burning him from the inside, eating away bit by bit out of his organs. He let out a pained grunt, not scream as most others, but his mind was delirious from the pain.
He fell.
And, his vassals, he told them to keep fighting.
Letting his eyes peek open for only a fraction at the sound of footsteps, his vision was blurry, but what he saw was unmistakeable.
It was her, the Princess of the Shiba Clan, Shiba Kaoru, the true eighteenth head of the Shiba Clan.
There was no turning back.
Takeru woke up once more at the sound of footsteps, this time, the sound of the soft pelts of the kuroko's footsteps. They were not his, no, they were the true head's helpers.
He watched on impassively as they took the hiden disks away – that discs that Genta worked hard to complete, the tora disc, the super disc, all of them. He closed his eyes in resignation.
"Takeru." Jii's gruff voice snapped Takeru out of his thoughts, as well as halting his attempt to sit up. His face was grim, set with some disfigured resignation. Takeru could feel Jii's hand on his shoulder, a light but firm grip, pushing him back down to not aggravate the yet-to-heal wounds. Takeru reluctantly, almost dejectedly, settled back down.
But what had really set things apart for Takeru, was the fact that Jii had not called him 'Tono.' That really set things for him, because, he knew, the day Jii would stop calling him that – well, it was a long time coming, wasn't it? – was the day the real Shiba family head would take over, and that it truly had happened. It would have been inevitable – funny how it was only a little while ago he had thought of what would happen – and now that he was at this road, what was he to do? How would he face them, those young samurai he had unfairly taken advantage of? Taken their trust their hearts, and loyalty, and yet so cruelly put them in danger? When they could have died in vain, dying with the image of him, the Kagemusha, as the Lord just the thought sent shudders down his spine.
"Ahh," He sighed, realising he had taken a moment too long in his thinkign. "How long?" The silent 'how did they react' was only tangible to Jii.
"Yesterday, and in a fit," Jii admitted. "Ton—"
"Don't call me that." Takeru interrupted. "Don't…" He trailed off, his arm covering his eyes.
"To—Takeru."
"What am I going to tell them?"
It was a moment of weakness for Takeru. Jii remained silent.
And, for that moment, Shiba Takeru made a decision.
Perhaps, it was time to let Fuwa Juzo have that match he always wanted?
He would leave. And those samurai – they no longer were his.
Because…
It had all been a lie.
Part Two End.