a/n : Jirou Kyouraku & Akemi Unohana-Kyouraku and Ryuu Ukitake and Chou Ise-Ukitake personalities and first names belong to me. surnames belong to Kubo sensei
Daichi ~ Teal Eyed Dragon

Jirou & Akemi: parents of Shunsui, Daichi and Retsu

Ryuu & Chou: parents of Jyuushirou, Miyako and Nanao

www / story - of - the - chinese - zodiac /


A few days after christmas, retsu sat down with her older brother and little brother and the four of her aunt chou.
Shunsui and Jyuushirou were now 16, nanao was 11 years old and retsu was 12 years old.
Daichi was 6 years old, Miyako 5 years and Toushirou was about 8 months younger and on the small side as he was not a full term baby.
Chou needed some rest as she was nearly 30 weeks pregnant with twins.

"I'm bored" daichi complained. "Mum said we need to stay inside"
Miyako rolled her eyes and continued her puzzle.
Daichi decided to annoy her and walked through her puzzle pieces.
"Quit doing that" miyako snapped, her amethyst eyes flashing dangerously.
"Come here" retsu grabbed her little brother and tossed him to shunsui.
Shunsui caught him and went to sit down with him.
"Miya and daichi fight like cat and mouse" jyuushirou smiled.
"Maybe Daichi is in the year of the cat since Miya is in the year of the Rat" nanao mused.
Retsu shook her head. "The year of the cat doesn't exist"
"Why?" Miyako questioned. "Cats are kinda nice"
"Miyako is the cat here and daichi here would be the mouse" shunsui laughed.
Retsu looked thoughtful. "I am not sure...there are legends about it though"
Nanao looked up from her book. "I remember a few parts...maybe we should tell them together"
"Great idea!" Retsu replied. "I'll start"
Nanao nodded.

Retsu cleared her throat and started telling the story.
"The Jade Emperor wanted to select twelve animals to represent the different years as totems.
Hearing this, all the animals on earth rushed to the call with each desiring to be selected.
Finding no suitable method on which to base his selection, the Jade Emperor decided to have a tournament of physical skills and abilities.
The Jade Emperor appointed the Elephant to be the undisputed judge of this tournament.
The elephant was known for his calmness, great moral virtue and conduct.
His judgment was principled and fair and because of this he is highly respected by all the animals."

Nanao took it from there.
"When this tournament and its rules were announced, the Cat heard about it and went to tell this to the Rat.
In earlier times, both the Cat and the Rat were very close friends.
The Cat told the Rat that he was eligible to compete because being an animal was the only necessary qualification.
When the Rat arrived, he saw that there was already a mighty strong brown Ox poised on the tournament platform welcoming all challengers.
The brown Ox was both large in size and extremely mighty.
He thought little of having the tiny Rat as his opponent.
He was over confident as he stood boldly on the tournament platform.
Readying himself for the battle, the Ox raised his front legs and pawed and scratched on the ground as he was prepared to stomp on the Rat and flatten him into a small meat patty.
However, the Rat was light in weight and quick and agile in movement so that he was successful in side-stepping the charging Ox.
The Rat jumped onto his feet and catapulted himself onto the back of the Ox.
The Ox was helpless to this attack and the pain inflicted caused him to scream out with an admission of defeat.
The judge had no alternative than to award the Rat with the coveted First prize.
The Ox was embarrassed and speechless to have lost to the Rat."

Retsu frowned. "I thought that the rat challenged the ox by saying all animals were scared of him and made the ox carry him through the forest on his back. The animals got frightened by the murderous glance in the eyes of the ox but he thought the fear was for the rat and so he gave up his spot as first and the rat became number one"
Nanao thought it over. "I guess it's another version"

"What happened to the cat?" Miyako asked quietly.
"The tournament was held at the new year's banquet and the cat came in too late because the rat didn't wake him up and so the cat was tossed out and shunned by everyone" retsu replied.
The child's eyes filled with tears. "That poor cat! I'd adopt him!"
"why didn't they have bears? bears are cool and cuddly" daichi complained.
"they take much place just like you" miyako replied sweetly.
Daichi stuck out his tongue to her which in return made her scowl.
"You two stop it!" retsu sighed. "even nii-san and nanao are not that terrible"
"because he is a lost case" nanao replied flatly.
"that hurts, nanao-chan" shunsui pouted.
"Well then I aimed right"
Retsu looked at jyuushirou and saw that he was ready to either tear his hair out or smash their heads together.
"Let's make lunch together" she smiled.
He nodded, relieved for the break and followed her.