Author Insider #2: Happy New Year, one and all. I gotta say, I am really enjoying doing this fanfic. I'll be planning on making a sequel if everything goes right. Once again, thanks for reading. Here's hoping that 2011 will be one damn good year.
Yang… It's only been one week, and it feels like a part of me has already died. I'm like a child wanting her favourite stuffed toy back. I know this is something you have to do alone, but I can't stop looking at it all like this. Sure we tease each other. Hell, we probably even wished that the other would drop dead or were never born or…something like that. But, Yang… Brother… Big brother… I don't mean to sound clingy or like a crybaby; it's nothing like that. But you're the thing I'll cherish forever… Because I know, a sibling only comes once in a while. Maybe only once in a lifetime. Promise me, Yang. Promise me you'll make it back. I mean, it's not the same when I kick that cockroach's ass without you by my side. So please… I'll be waiting, dear brother.
Corny? I'll have to admit, it's BEYOND. Sincere? … Yeah… All this is true. How much I miss my brother. Every. Single. Day.
"That's all for today, class."
Another day at the Academy has come and gone. Another week over.
It's a beautiful Friday afternoon. The sun smiles on us today. Clouds would dissipate from those warm rays of shine. But to our dismay, those rays couldn't pierce through the schoolhouse walls. No windows were there. I've actually begged Master Yo to include windows in the next renovation. The place feels…no…is a prison.
Everyone hurried as usual. Wanting a dose of that sunshine, to absorb it all with their faces. Even Weiss… She was packing her books and pencils away at a much slower pace than everyone else. But that doesn't necessarily mean that something was bothering her.
She finishes packing and comes to the desk where I sat. With that feeling of courtesy, and a fixed stare and smile, I speak to her on her way out. "Great job as usual, Weiss. Now if we can only rewire everyone else's brain so they can be more like you."
"Thanks, Miss Yin", she answered as her cheeks turn red from the expression;. I didn't literally mean rewire the others' brains. "You're too kind. Um, I hope you don't mind my asking but, is Mister Yang…sick?"
I giggle out a few words. "Yang? Oh, no. No, not at all." Trying hard to not be reminded of how much I miss my brother, even for one full week. "He should be back next week. He just had to, uh…go out of town for a while."
"Out of town? You're both 12 years old. Are you sure he'll be fine by himself?"
This conversation is going out of hand. I wish I hadn't started it. I smile weakly and lower my voice, thinking it'll end soon. "I'm very sure. He's as tough as nails. Well that's what he says."
A car horn started blaring outside – a sudden stroke of luck. That must be Weiss' family waiting just in front of the dojo.
"Okay. Oh! Gotta go! See ya next week, Miss Yin!" She storms out of the schoolhouse doors with a cheerful air surrounding her; I was right. Her mother or 23 year-old brother must be waiting in the family's station wagon. I'm glad. Glad that all of it was over.
There was one more thing left to do. I grab the pen with red ink in it, ready to grade the class' worksheets. Teaching children is pretty fun. But the grading and checking is a nightmare. The unnecessary scribbles and eraser marks makes the whole process much, much harder.
Why couldn't that stuffy old panda do this himself? Or at least help me with it? Aaaaaaaaaaggggghh!
For the first time in a long time, I bang my fist on the desk; my emotions start running wild.
Uh! I need to calm down. I SHOULD calm down. Losing control of one'sfeelings is not what a Woo Foo warrior should do.
Okay. Calm down, Yin. Just take a deep breath and start from square one. Is the grading process really pissing me off? Or am I just missing my brother too much…? A little bit. I have to take my mind off of him for a change. People start noticing, they might think that I want me and Yang to be…"more than siblings". Ugh! Where did THAT come from?
Then, from out of nowhere I hear the door slide open. The sudden, whooshing sound made me gasp. It's Lina. She must have been waiting for me so that we could go get a bouquet of flowers for Weiss' mother – a way to help her cope with her cancer problem. She walks in with a grin.
"What up, Yin?" she asked in her trademark sassy voice. This time, not really intended to be at all sassy.
"Hey, Lina. Sorry, but I have a LOT to take care of. This week's just…" I sigh a large sigh. Banging the table lightly with an open palm, rubbing my hand with the other; I can't help it. An epiphany soon crossed my mind. I crack a fake smile and tell Lina, pointing at the worksheets, "I just…need to take care of this grading thing. Really sorry to be a total stick-in-the-mud, but I need some space."
"Okay. I'll be at the dojo kitchen", she sighed back at me. Surprisingly, she was still able to smile, even after how I talked to her.
"Alright."
The door slipped open and close again as she walked out. Now I could go back to grading these worksheets. Being a teacher isn't easy. But what good is complaining going to do? Is it even worth doing? Almost as an answer to these questions, I continued on. Like a mindless robot or a busy worker ant or bee or some kind of insect.
Exactly forty minutes… That's how long it took. At last. It's finished! I'm certain that there's nothing else I have to take care of. With that in mind, I walk out the schoolhouse door myself, shutting it close. My mind completely shifted in focus. I reach the dojo, and Lina was leaning on the side of the dojo door. She never liked waiting, especially for forty minutes. Her posture spoke to me; she's mad. I take note of it and think of a way to explain it all. Fingers crossed that she'll see my good intentions.
I gave it a shot. Failing miserably. Coming across as a total ditz. "Sorry, Lina. I just, uh…everyone's worksheets looked so messy, and…"
"Relax", she chuckles, my rambling coming to a stop. "You're done now. That's all I need to know. Come on." At least I can relax knowing I have a very understanding friend. How could I not smile after what she said?
We walked around the dojo, straight for the main entrance and to the sidewalk. Every two weeks, a flower vendor walks around our street with a big cart full of vibrant and lush bunches of flowers. Originally, my thought about the flowers was "just another". But after one visit, I can safely say that they are second to none. I've only taken a look at the stand; one bouquet would bleed me dry. But for Weiss' sake, I'd be glad to.
Lina and I picked up the pace, fearing that the stand might have gone and left. It was only a three minute walk, but…
"Come on", she cried out. The thought of just teleporting there never really came up. Until now…
Clasping hold of Lina's wrist, I yell out at the top of my lung, "Foo-portate!"
In an instant, a flash of light surrounds us. We made it to the stand, in all its colourful, floral beauty. The vendor was still there as well. Smoking a cigarette, disregarding what it could do to the bunches on his cart.
Lina reaches out for the bunch of red flowers by the side of the cart. Caressing its petals with her fingers, inhaling its fragrance. Something about this made me crack a smile for a short while.
"Best bunch I've ever seen", she murmurs in a mellow voice, sighing just as resoundingly.
"Camellias?" I point out, noting the bright color of the petals.
"Um, I think they're called tsubaki." Lina reacted, giving the flowers another sniff.
"But that's just Japanese for Camellia, isn't it?"
"Yeah. But "tsubaki" sounds cooler. "Camellia" sounds so, uh…meh-ish."
As with everything else I found hilarious, I respond using my sarcastic voice. "Of course it is."
Lina and my brother have been studying Japanese together, you see. Well actually, Yang started studying it. He just wanted to get Lina into it. Perhaps he didn't want to feel like the odd one out.
Again… I'm being reminded of my brother again. But I can't let it show. Especially to Lina. She'll start worrying about me. I try and pull myself together, shaking my head a few times.
Our decision made, Lina picked up the bouquet of Camellias, her grasp as tender as her eyes. She reached for her wallet in her pocket. As did I.
"Okay, so we agreed", Lina started. "Half's coming from you, half's coming from me, 'kay?"
"I know, I know. I remember." I search my own wallet, and see $20 that I took from Yang, in a way to piss him off. Once again, I see his face after reminding myself of this, and gasp. "Ah!" Luckily, Lina didn't notice.
I've been preoccupied for the slightest and didn't even notice the vendor already at the cart. My mind is fried. Ugh!
"Alright, kids", he starts in a funny voice, still biting his cigarette. "You just want the, uh, Camellias?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah." Lina just noticed the vendor as well. She quickly plucked her money out of her wallet.
"Here." I handed over the twenty-dollar note ready in my hand.
"Total comes to uh, $29.99. And here's your $10 in change. Later." He spoke that last word with a foul tongue. Storming off with his stand once he finished. Is he in a hurry or something? Oh, wait. Why do I even care?
Everything's been taken care of. Lina and I left ourselves. She can't resist sniffing the Camellias. I can't resist chuckling at her.
"Are you trying to sniff them dry or something?"
"But they're sooooo pretty. Hey…" She held that last word until she needed to breathe.
"Whaaaaat?" I said teasingly.
"You think I should leave some for Yang? I don't think Weiss'll notice it, so how about…" Not again! Yang… Why am I always reminded of him at every turn? Have I always been this clingy and needy? Whatever else Lina had to say to me disappears into nothing. I need to go home. I need to rest.
"Uh, Yin", Lina gives me a shove.
I break out of my trance in time to notice her nudging me. This is so overwhelming. Something needs to be done. The thought of going back to the dojo sounded good.
"Huh? Oh, uh", I answer sloppily. I feel dizzy to say anything. But I had to. Trying my best not to show it. "Y-yeah. Uh, sure. Do whatcha want with it, dude."
"Where'd that come from?" Lina was confused with what spilled out of my mouth.
I try to rephrase everything. "Actually, uh… Lina, something came up. I'm not feeling well…"
"Headache?" No, it wasn't.
"You…could say that." The best word to use is 'hallucination'. I couldn't ruin my best friend's day by letting her see me like this. Rubbing my head, I speak again, wearily. "I-I'm sorry, Lina. I really need to get back. Just, please make sure these Camellias go to Weiss, 'kay? Aaaand you can take one or two. She'll be fine with it." And with everything said and done, I gaze at the Camellias one last time, putting my trust on my friend.
"Okay. Just, please take it easy." She cracks a 'hope-you-get-better' smile for me.
"I will."
Both of us then went our opposite ways. Lina towards Weiss' house. Me towards the dojo. This isn't how I thought the day would turn out. But missing Yang, seeing his face at every turn…it's all killing me inside. Getting back to the dojo is a good start. If I could find something that reminded me of him, then I wouldn't miss him too much anymore. And I wouldn't have to lose sleep in the process because of this mania of mine.
Seven o'clock. I've been lying down on my bed for around three hours now. Thinking. The TV's been left on for nearly three hours now. I didn't want to tire myself out completely by immediately looking for something to remind me of my brother. A good rest is always necessary. But now, I've been resting for too long now.
I rise from my bed, thinking even more. After a few seconds, I stand from my bed and walk towards Yang's desk. The one Master Yo had invested a lot of money on. And to positive results. Notes and Woo Foo scrolls lay scattered around the desk. The topics ranged from the Kami no Gofu to the Woo Foo Crystals. A small portion of them being specific ones like the Woo Foo Aura or the Infernal Beast of these notes were fresh and newly written. Others had violent scribbles all over them – a testament to his struggles. I could also see some of his drawings and art stacked on at the bottom. But one in particular stood out. A single phrase repeated over and over again.
"Woo Foo Grimoire"
"Woo Foo Grimoire"
"Woo Foo Grimoire"
"Woo Foo Grimoire"
"Woo Foo Grimoire"
"Woo Foo Grimoire"
"Woo Foo Grimoire"
"Woo Foo Grimoire"
…
This note… This couldn't be my brother's doing. I'm sure it was a mad man. Or maybe it is my brother possessed and acting like one. His handwriting is easily recognizable.
It was at that moment…when I realized fate playing her cruel game again. A piece of paper protruding out of the pack. I gently pull it out. Drawn on it, a wolf with a brown long coat and a pair of loose white pants, holding a sword in his hand. The attention to detail… It was mesmerizing. How could I not recognize Yang's drawing style?
As an entire package violently flowing back to me, I remember that last conversation… It isn't accurate, but close enough.
"You said you were looking for something. What is it?"
"I…uh…"
"Just tell us already!"
"Actually, it's a someone."
"Who?"
"A wolf person."
"A...wolf...?"
"Yeah. I know it's pretty selfish. But I have to do this. I have no regrets. None at all... I'll be fine. I may be 12 years old, but I'm as tough as nails."
And the haunting look on Master Yo's face… The puzzle pieces lock in perfectly. But there's one more. The puzzle is still incomplete. What is it about this wolf person that made our dad look like he saw a ghost?
One question left to answer… And then, probably as an answer…a news bulletin blasts across the television screen. Interrupting my weekly show. Broadcasting the city…engulfed in flames.
The news anchor announced in a warning.
"This just in. City limits have very recently sustained a large number of damages. From shopping plazas and malls to business districts to neighboring suburbs. These damages, as shown live right now, appear to be the result of a single individual – a young, blue rabbit child dressed in a violet jacket, carrying a large sword in his hand. No one is aware of this child's intentions and the motivation behind his actions, but local residents have claimed that he is a practitioner of the Woo Foo martial arts. Whether this and his actions have any connection is yet to be determined. In the meantime, local authorities have evacuated nearby bystanders, and have advised all to remain indoors and avoid contact with this child, as he has already proven himself to be a major threat."
Rabbit child? No, it can't be. It just can't! One more glance at the silhouette of this person, and I obviously can't make out the face. But it had to be him… My brother…my twin brother…my big brother…
…
…
…
Yang… Could it really be…?
Now we get to the really juicy part. Is Yang an antagonist now? What in the world is Yo keeping to himself? And why? Will Yin be forced to fight, or even kill, her beloved brother? Ooooooooooooooooohhhh, boy! This is getting exciting!
"T is for Terminology" #1: 'The Black Brigade' - the war against the terrifying Infernal Beast, led by the originators of Woo Foo - The Mediator and the Governor