Scene VII
The Shobu Family Flower Shop
Second District of the Commercial Wards, First Block
Shinmon Benimaru continued down the lane, head down, hands crossed beneath his sleeves, and teeth clenched.
He hated when they argued. For real, not over stupid crap or in their usual brotherly way as most of the hikeshi brotherhood did. Hell, not even the fight they had earlier about Kaede was truly that heated or filled with genuine anger. It was more like tired frustration and worn out exasperation. Two brothers simply being at odds because one of them was being stubborn about a woman he liked and had some misguided notion that he knew what was best for her without even consulting her own goddamn opinion about it. Sure, they had argued about it, but they weren't well and truly pissed at one another.
Not like he was now.
Benimaru, within the last few years, was steadily coming to resent the old man's memory. It was his fault he was in this current situation to begin with. Konro didn't understand, not really. Benimaru would never be able to be the kind of Master the old man had been. The Master Konro was. The kind who knew what they were doing, regardless of the situation. Who could think quick on their feet to the ever changing winds and catch a fire before it could go out of control. Who could comfort the dying and ease the pain of the Infernals with a few quick words. Well, the old man hadn't exactly been very great at that last bit but, he understood it for the most part.
But, Benimaru?
He was a goddamn idiot; had been since the day the old man brought him to the guardhouse all those years ago and gave him the first hot meal he had in days. Yesterday alone had proven that fact; he wasn't fit to lead, not if he had to be reminded that his own personal problems weren't the end-all, be-all of the world. He had drowned himself so deep in his own head, he'd forgotten about everything else. What sort of man did that make him? What kind of leader? Konro had been right, he needed to compartmentalize his shit or else people would get hurt. Someone who knew what the fuck they were doing didn't need to be reminded of that fact.
But, he did.
One would think that alone would prove it; that he wasn't fit for the duty. He was a liability if anything. He'd get someone hurt or his control would slip or his brain would just come up empty. He didn't know a goddamn thing about what he was doing, especially right now. Yet, Konro wanted him to be Master. He wanted to step down and pass it all off to Benimaru, as if Konro was somehow incapable of the role. He'd done it for years now. He'd been the shining example of good leadership and trusted peacekeeper. Everyone in Asakusa admired and respected Sagamiya Konro, Master of the hikeshi. He'd been the one to build it up from practically nothing after the old man died and turned it into a well oiled machine of quick efficiency and strict discipline.
Benimaru couldn't have done what Konro had.
He didn't have the skill or the mind for it. His own skillset was almost purely of destruction and chaos; characteristics no decent leader should ever have, even if it was to head a gang of thugs like their hikeshi brotherhood. They may be a bunch of hooligans, but there was an order to it and a hierarchy and code to go with it. It commanded it's own sort of respect and honor, even if it was of the rowdy and rough-and-tough sort. Only a true man who could brawl with the best of them and could fight on his toes could head the Asakusa hikeshi. It wasn't a position for the weak-willed or the self-conscious . . . certainly, not for goddamn idiots.
Benimaru may, in fact, be a brat . . . but, at least he was a self-aware one.
But, Konro didn't see it that way. His brother still thought Benimaru was meant to be the one to lead them, as if a name was all that required enrollment into the position. He thought that was a goddamn, crock of shit. A name meant jackcrap if there wasn't something underneath it to back it up. A guy like him would only get people hurt. Even the old man saw that. It was why he'd been beaten black and blue for fighting as much as he once had. Why he'd constantly gotten that disappointed scowl nearly everyday, no matter what he did. He still couldn't even produce a true . . .
Benimaru bit his lip in agitation.
He hadn't been spending all that time down at the river just to throw stones and wallow in the shallows. He'd been practicing. Meditating. Going through all the Forms and stances, toning his body and clearing his mind. All to near exhaustion which wasn't helping his already fraying psyche and worn physical condition. But, if he couldn't bring Tsu home or get Konro off his back about taking on the role of Master, then the least he could do was train. Whatever else, Benimaru could put more time and effort into doing something productive which would eventually end with some kind of a result.
So far, however, it had been a solid three weeks of fuck-all.
"Oh, Benimaru."
He glanced up at the surprised utterance of his name.
Shobu Toshiro stood before him, lifting up the bright, green noren to a quaint little shop with painted flowers on the sign and several racks of potted plants and flowers lined in the front. He moved aside, saying nothing as the eldest of the Shobu cousins stepped out into the street to stand along side him. Toshiro was a tall man, like his father and uncle, with a near-identical face and build. He looked very much like the typical Shobu but, on occasion, when Beni had a rare chance to speak with him, he was a fairly engaging sort with a secret snark that didn't often make itself known. Benimaru was glad of the fact Toshiro took more after his father rather than his uncle; as anything less would mostly likely result in Benimaru sending the man flying into the nearest wall.
"Toshiro." Benimaru's lip twitched slightly by way of greeting, his mood no more improved during the short walk. "Where's the brats?"
Toshiro raised a brow at him, but nodded at the entrance with the slight turn of his head. "Inside. Kaede's doing her usual run-through of all the flowers and what the colors mean. They never seem to get tired of it."
"Tch." Benimaru's gaze flittered to the entrance, past the noren, and deep into the shop. He could see the twins' milling about, following Kaede in her wake as they went from bucket to bucket, looking over all the flowers and smiling at the variety of colors. All three appeared happy and energetic, clearly enjoying themselves. "She's got a hell of a lot of patience for that stuff. I don't get a lick of it."
"Truthfully, it's all a bit wishy-washy." Agreed Toshiro, readjusting himself so he was leaning against the side of the shop wall. "More of a gimmick than anything, but hey, people go for that sort of thing. Supply and demand and all."
"How's business?" Benimaru asked casually, expression still bored and lack-luster. But, there was a sharpness to his eyes that wasn't there a moment before. "For the shop, I mean."
Toshiro grimaced and he crossed his arms over his chest, glancing warily inside as if worried Kaede would overhear them. "Not good, really. There hasn't been near as much traffic as we're used to. Kaede closes the place around four o'clock nowadays, it's been that bad. Money's looking a bit tight, too."
He frowned, following Toshiro's line of sight as he truly took stock of the place. There were plants everywhere, groups of flowers of all kinds scattered about, and a small refrigerated section full of pre-made arrangements and bouquets. Almost too well off, as if the person running it had a great deal of free time but not near enough buyers for the product in question. Despite the colorful displays and well-organized setup, nothing seemed to have been touched.
"This crap will die before anyone comes in here." Benimaru stated bluntly, mouth twisting slightly into a scowl.
Toshiro visibly flinched at the remark and he bowed his head, far more interested in the state of the cobblestone than with anything else around him. "I think you're right, sadly. All her hard work, wasted."
"Shobu's gonna run this shit into the ground and take all o' ya with him." Benimaru continued gruffly, not bothering to mince words. "If ya don't figure somethin' out-"
"I'm well aware of that," Toshiro cut across quickly and his expression became stony. "But, there's not much we can do, Beni. Our hands are tied. Oji-san's-"
"Yer uncle is a goddamn, sonofabitch," Benimaru returned just as sharply, his tongue barbed and tone bordering on aggressive. "and if he knows what's good for him, he'll get his head outta his ass before we make him."
"Is that a formal threat?" Toshiro's tone was light, but there was now a sudden edge to it. "Because if you're planning on getting involved, you might want to reconsider that idea. For Konro's sake."
Benimaru's eyes pinched at the corners, "The hell does that mean?"
"Oji-san already has a large dislike for him," Toshiro went on with great care. "And if the hikeshi are going to forcibly intervene, it's only going to agitate him more. Look, I get it. You miss Tsu-chan and you blame Oji-san for driving her away. Kaede isn't fairing much better and that's pissing you off too. You're not the only one who cares, Benimaru. But, you have to think things through every now and then. You go in, flames blazing and fists flying, it's only going to make matters worse. For both of them."
Here Toshiro leveled a knowing look at Benimaru which spoke of something far deeper than just giving Shobu Kintarou a hard time.
Benimaru nearly bit his tongue. Nearly. "Ya don't mean-?"
"If you're referring to my eldest cousin's tendency to offer a certain hikeshi Master a rather particular look every now and again," Toshiro shrugged and let the comment fall where it may. "Then, yes, Benimaru. I'm more than aware how those two practically trip over one another any time they get close."
Benimaru grinned and it wasn't particularly one of his better ones. "Yer uncle's makin' a mess outta that too, ya know that right?"
Toshiro straightened and he rose to his full height, staring Benimaru down with a gaze that was hard and imposing. "Which is why you should stay the hell out of it. You piss Oji-san off and get him riled, I'll be the one you have to worry about. I'm not afraid of you, Shinmon. Pyrokinesis or no, I will take you on in a one-on-one if you end up catching Kaede-chan in the crossfire. Got it?"
Benimaru scowled deeply, disgust rising across his face. "Then fucking do somethin' 'bout it. The old man's takin' it all out on her and if I gotta watch him screw her over too, I'm gonna-"
"What you're going to do, Shinmon," Toshiro interrupted coolly. "Is nothing. Gods help me, you'll stand down and be silent for once. You can't solve everything with a fight. Even Tsu-chan knew that. She knew the mess she would be leaving behind when she decided to join the Army. She knew the hardship it was going to cause all of us but, she chose to go anyway. She trusts Kaede to find a way to make her case. What you need to do, is to let her figure it out for herself."
Benimaru paused, realization coming over him. "You . . . you support her?"
Toshiro sighed, face falling into a deep sort of wariness ridden with guilt. "I love Oji-san, as everyone does. Nothing will ever change that. But, he's made a mess out of the entire family. He's hurting his daughters and sacrificing the future of the next generation because of his stubbornness. If we don't find a way through this, we'll lose the dojo and the shop. Our name will be worth less than the dirt we built it on. If the Shobu name is going to survive, we need someone who is willing to put it all on the line to change things. Who isn't afraid to do the right thing, even if it's not the easiest. Who doesn't have the sort of pride built up over decades and decades and is blinded by the past."
Benimaru watched as the eldest Shobu cousin nodded silently to himself, as if reaffirming his stance on the issue.
"It's Kaede, not Tsu-chan, who will be able to guide the Shobu name into a brighter future." Toshiro's voice became strong and sure, not a shred of doubt to be heard. "Where our pride has less to do with how we think of ourselves and more to do with how we actually act. The name needs to evolve. We've been static for a couple of generations now, resting on begone laurels that have since lost all relevancy. We can still be a dojo worth saving, if only we have the right family head to guide the philosophy."
"That's a lot o' pretty words, Toshiro." Benimaru smirked, but it wasn't filled with his usual bout of sarcasm or snark. "Ya giving Musashi a run fer his yen, here."
"I believe poetry and swordsmanship go hand in hand, if I'm not mistaken." Toshiro bantered back without pause, a rather confident smile spreading across his face.
"None of that was haiku, dumbass," Returned Benimaru with a role of his eyes.
Toshiro opened his mouth to counter when two, tiny balls of terror launched themselves through the noren and into Benimaru's stomach.
"Beni!" cried Hinata.
"Beni!" shouted Hikage.
"Look at the pretty flowers!" They exclaimed in unison, holding up their respective prizes.
Benimaru gasped harshly, clutching each girl by the shoulder so he wouldn't fall completely over. Gods, how were they this strong?
"Yeah, brats . . ." He wheezed, pulling back so he could look at them properly. "Looks real nice."
It was true, though. They each had, what he had to admit, two very pretty flowers. Hinata's treasure was a great, golden sunflower and Hikage picked a very elegant looking camellia. They both seemed extremely pleased with themselves and their choices, obviously wanting Benimaru's approval of the whole thing.
"You know the secret about himawari, right?" Hinata asked proudly, standing up on her toes so she could wave the petals in Beni's face.
"Yeah?" He knelt down on one knee so he could be level with her, patient curiosity taking over. "What's the secret?"
"They always turn towards the sun!" She squealed, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.
"Think I heard somethin' like that before." Benimaru nodded seriously, stroking his chin. He glanced up to see Toshiro smiling like cat at him and Kaede had rounded the corner, leaning against the doorway with a soft look of her own. He just shrugged at them, before turning back to the girls and giving them his undivided attention.
"That's not the secret though!" Hinata continued excitedly. "Do you know what they do when they can't find the sun?"
Benimaru blinked, utterly clueless. "Er, what?"
His knowledge on flowers didn't really amount to much.
"They turn towards each other!" Hinata giggled, clutching the flower close. "'Cause they look like the sun!"
Benimaru's mouth tilted upwards into a soft smile, his eyes easing up around the corners. "That right?"
He had to admit, that was kinda . . . well, cute.
"Uh-huh." Hinata nodded emphatically.
He reached up and ruffled her bun a bit. "Kaede's teaching ya a lot, huh?"
"Mine's a tsubaki!" Hikage announced loudly, not wanting to be left out.
Benimaru froze, glancing down at the pale, pink flower with a kind of cold shock.
"Ah," he began intelligently, brain slowly trying to formulate a response.
"Here, Beni!" Hikage thrust the flower into his chest, her small hands pressing the stem against his solar plexus. "So you don't have to be sad anymore."
No one moved.
Toshiro and Kaede both gazed at Hikage with wide eyes and opened mouths, taken aback by the little girl's intuition. Kaede covered her mouth with a delicate hand, tears coming to her eyes as Hikage stared up at Benimaru with hopeful, bright, yellow eyes and a nervous expression. Hinata glanced between her sister and Beni, equally as anxious while simultaneously gaging his face. She reached out for her one of twin's hand, holding it securely in her own.
"Do . . . do you like it, Beni?" They both asked quietly, heads bowed, the toes of their geta rubbing circles in the cobblestone.
Benimaru stared down at the fragile thing, his hands slowly coming up to cradle both the flower and Hikage's tiny hand. He carefully took Hikage's in his much larger one, giving it a tight squeeze, while the fingers of his free hand wrapped themselves carefully around the thin stem of the tsubaki.
"Yeah," he said gently, voice nearly giving out, meeting both of their eyes with a small nod. "Yeah, I like it. I like it a lot. Thanks, Hikage."
Both girls raised their heads and threw their arms around him with a high-pitched squeal of happiness. He wrapped an arm around them both, holding them close while he made sure the flower in his other hand didn't suffer from the sudden amount of affection being passed around. They remained like that for a while, Benimaru with his arm full of twin, little girls and a hand wrapped protectively around the pretty, pink tsubaki. He didn't know how much he needed it until he had it, both the hug and the flower. He was grateful for them, regardless.
"Ya two are the best brats in Asakusa, ya know that?" He asked against their tiny heads, his face breaking out into a watery smile (though he made sure no one else could see).
"We want Beni to play with us again." Hinata said against his shoulder, tightening her grip on his sleeve.
"And laugh too," added Hikage who had buried her face in his neck.
"Please be happy, Beni." They both asked and it was clear they were trying hard not to cry.
Damn it, his eyes were leaking over.
"Yeah," he agreed with a heavy sigh. "Yeah, I'll try. Better this time. Sorry I've been goddamn moron, lately."
"That's alright." They both answered together. "Just don't do it again! Or we'll squish you!"
He pulled away so he could look at them, his expression clearing and returning to it's normal, lackluster self. "Squish me? Damn, brats. Yer gonna have ta try awful hard ta squish me. I ain't as easy as Konro, ya know."
They laughed, hiding their faces in the sleeves of their yukata.
He shook his head, shaggy black bangs swinging back and forth at the sudden movement.
"Looks like I missed all the fun."
The twins perked up, turning about in Beni's arms and breaking free, before rushing into the large arms of Konro who had just broken free of the throng of people.
"Konro!" They both screamed in excitement and the man caught them with practiced ease, swinging them up and spinning about in a tight circle. "Faster! Faster!"
"What demanding little foxes you are!" Konro declared with a deep laugh. "Alright then!"
Benimaru got to his feet, brushing back his bangs so he could see properly, and carefully tucked the tsubaki into the inner folds of his happi. "Oi, you lot! Yer making my head spin with all that crap! Cut it out!"
"We're not taking any complaints right now!" The twins rebuked in unison, far too caught up with all the fun they were having.
"Ug," he groaned, wiping a hand down his face. It seriously was making him dizzy just watching them.
"As much fun as this has all been," Toshiro piped up suddenly, straightening up from his place by the wall. "I've got to get back to the house. Momo's waiting on me."
"Be safe getting back," Kaede signed. "I have a few things to take care of here. It shouldn't be too long."
"Nah, don't worry about." Toshiro waved her off. "Take your time, Kaede. Really." He glanced over at Konro, still spinning the twins about, a cheeky smile spreading across his face. "I'm sure you've got plenty of important matters to sort out here. Might take you a bit longer than you think. I'll just go ahead and warn Mother you might be late for dinner."
"Toshiro!" Kaede exclaimed, trying hard not to look over at Konro who, obviously, wasn't paying a lick of attention to the conversation going on around him.
"See you later, cousin!" Toshiro raised a hand in farewell before disappearing into the late afternoon crowd.
Benimaru grinned, his red and white target eye glancing over at Kaede as she clearly blushed and tried to appear nonchalant about the blatant teasing. Oh, yes. Toshiro was more than well enough aware of the building tension between her and Konro. Obviously he was having a bit of fun at her expense over it. Benimaru couldn't say he blamed the man. Poking Konro was just as entertaining, despite the threat of a whole month of lookout duty. Speaking of that though . . .
"Alright, ya brats." Benimaru stepped forward and suddenly plucked both girls from Konro's grasp. "Yer comin' with me, yeah?"
"Awww!" They whined as he set them down on their own feet, taking their hands in his. "But why, Beni?! We were having fun!"
"No complaints, got it?" Benimaru insisted firmly, scowling at their protesting. "Konro's got business here, so let him take care of it and then he can come home too."
"Beni!" Konro hissed lowly, expression desperate as he scanned about for Kaede.
She was already gone though, having retreated back into the depths of her shop.
"Stop hiding and just get it over with." Benimaru groused, annoyance dripping into his tone. "Yer an Asakusa man, ain't ya? Since when do we start hidin' behind womenfolks' kimono? Or, in her case, hakama? Fucking man up and tell her or I swear, I'll send the twins in sayin' they got a big secret ta tell-"
"You're not using them as weapons in this, you hear me?" Konro growled lowly, eyes narrowing. "They're children."
"They're kitsune, remember?" Benimaru rolled his eyes in exasperation. Then he glanced down at the twins and shook his head in a sad sort of way. "Get it right, Konro. Honestly, brats, he can't keep up at all."
"Poor Konro." Said Hinata.
"He's old." Added Hikage.
Konro slapped a hand over his eyes, frustration obviously getting the better of him.
"Children," he murmured desperately. "I'm surrounded by children."
Benimaru tugged his hand out of Hinata's grasp so as to clap Konro on the shoulder as he passed. Once, twice, and then a third time for good luck before he released his hold and took up Hinata's hand again.
"Go get her, big guy." He encouraged quietly, guiding the twins through the crowd and towards home.
He could still hear Konro sputtering nonsense behind him but he only smirked in response. He wanted to get back to the guardhouse as soon as possible. No side trips, no stops for sweets, and no chit-chatting. He had an old teacup Gozo made years ago which would work decently enough as a vase. He even had a spot in mind, with a good amount of sun, right there on his window sill. Yeah, that'd be nice. Maybe, if he changed the water every day, the thing would live for a bit. He'd like that.
He really, really would.
