A Recca no Honoo fic
By: Tenshi no Ai
If I owned this....aw, let's just say I don't and leave it at that, aiite?
Ch. 5: Alter Ego
(Mikagami, Recca, Domon POV)
(Mikagami's POV)
Mifuyu.
Yanagi.
Mifuyu.
Yanagi.
Their faces are interchangeable in my mind, but not their personalities.
Mifuyu....was headstrong. She wasn't afraid to take charge of a situation. She'd do anything to make sure that I was protected, a trait that cost her life.
I'll never forget.
The sound of metal into flesh, that ripping, searing noise.
The blood, pooling around her body, staining her clothes and her beautiful hair, soaking rich brown hair into a thick, mottled black.
That smile, the upturning of her lips, as she tried to reassure me that, yes, everything will be okay.
Ensui's cold handle, as she thrust it in my direction, telling me it was a family treasure that would help me.
Help me take revenge.
Those memories, that organic reel of film, made more impression on my life than our parents' death.
And, while seeking revenge, I found her.
A smile, which was not used to reassure someone that, yes, everything will be alright, but was used to brighten and express true happiness.
Too young to know how to deceive with a simple upturn of lips.
Too innocent to understand what death could possibly do to a person.
A person like me.
Mifuyu and Yanagi, alike in body, but not in spirit.
Alter egos, if you will, of each other, not one of the other.
Now Yanagi understands death.
But that sunny smile is still there.
And I want to make sure that it never is used to reassure that, yes, everything will be okay....
When it isn't true.
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(Recca's POV)
She stares at me like it was to be expected.
Hime.....I've missed you, y'know.....
She makes a small noise, something I can't understand, and turns her head away.
Where've you been, Hime?
Her hold on her school bag seemed to tighten. When you're in a tense thing like this, things just become clearer.
Hime, Hime, Hime... she suddenly looks at me right in the eye, why is it always Hime' with you?
Because you're Hime, that's why, I answer, confused, and I'm your faithful ninja, ready to do whatever you wish me to.
She sighs, and her eyes....Fuuko said that they were the color of an alcohol....brandy, I think......they seem so tired all of a sudden.
I....don't feel too good, Recca-kun, she murmurs. I immediately rush to her side.
Are you ok? You didn't eat anything that'd make you sick, did you? Hime's health is most important, more important than what I need to know.
She shoves me away. Everything is different now, and you still have your head in that game of yours, don't you!?
Game...? Does she think that my feelings for her...that they're pretend? Game...? Hime, nani?
She looks me in the eye again, and there isn't anything of the old Hime in there. None of the kindness, and happiness, and....
It's so embarrassing even to think of it, but....love, that I usually see in Hime's eyes.
Hai, I figured you wouldn't understand, Recca-kun. You just pretend that everything's okay, that as long as you see it as okay then it's all okay, right?
That sets me back a bit. I am....pretending?
Everything's a game?
I think she sees the confusion in my eyes, she's staring right at them so hard. She adjusts the school uniform, which is the winter one. Funny, don't most people switch to the summer one by now?
It's too unnerving, this encounter with Hime. Or else, I wouldn't be noticing what school uniform Hime's wearing. Hime....what's wrong? I ask. I'm worried about blowing up the situation.
Hime turns away and shakes her head. You still don't understand, do you?
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(Domon's POV)
I'm not nearly as stupid as everybody thinks I am.
Really!
Ok, so I've done some stupid things.
Ah, never mind.
But, I do know when I'm right.
And I know I'm right about this.
I know that Fuuko's lying to me.
Dunno why, or what about, but I do know she's lying.
We're just walking around, and I know that she's depressed about something.
I guess it's about Yanagi, but it's like it has to do with something else.
Fuuko stops and looks up at me. Domon, fight me!
I blink. I'm not stupid, but my brain can't really focus when things just happen.
She kicks me, and I slam against a wall. Ok, now I see what she wants.
Course, I can't really fight her....
Suddenly, I'm lying on my back, and a stray cat's licking my nose. Fuuko stands above me, but I don't see her usual smugness about beating me on her face.
She looks sad.
I don't get it...beat Domon...but not her....
I crouch so I can hear what she's muttering. She stops suddenly and glares at me.
Who's I throw back at her. I know that she doesn't like me, and I'm not gonna press the issue anymore around her. But I know that she thinks of me like her best friend, and that's enough for me.
Nothing. It's nothing, she sighs softly, then pauses. Domon, do you....just let me beat you?
I wish. Then maybe I could explain how I could've beat Noroi at the UBS, but never even lay a finger on Fuuko. Hell no! How could you even think that?
She turns her head away. The sunset's shining in her hair, making it almost pink. She looks even prettier than she usually does....
Domon....if I tell you this, promise not to laugh?
Hai, Fuuko-sama!
She draws in a breath, then quietly speaks. I lost a fight a couple days ago.
Oh, so? Happens to everyone!
To Yanagi.
...
Fuuko looks at me and smiles sadly. Yeah, I still can't believe it myself.
So, that's what she was hiding? I can see why she hid it. The way she's acting....I guess I have to believe it.
But, Fuuko?
Odd, isn't it? I mean, this's Yanagi-chan we're talking about, the girl wouldn't even harm a fly. But, the way she's acting now..... Fuuko sighs and looks at the setting sun.
We both look.
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(Recca's POV)
Understand what? I ask, a few feet from Hime. There's this feeling in my stomach, thick and gnawing, that I can't ignore.
Okay, so maybe being with Hime makes me really nervous an' all, how she looks at me, and how her hair's just so soft and pettable, and how her lips.....
This is a serious moment, Recca, don't screw it up by thinking of that and blushing!
I'm not too good trying to tell her my feelings....but I've always thought, y'know, that Hime always picked up on them.
Right?
Oh, Recca-kun, she sighs, and her eyes grow from un-Hime-like to just tired, you just don't..... she starts to walk around me, and I put my hand on her shoulder. Just to make her stay a little longer and explain, in her teacher-like way, what's going on here. I feel like one of the kindergartners that she's always showing her picture books to, begging her to tell me more.
Please, Hime, what's wrong?
I can fix it, really, cuz that's what a ninja's there for, to serve and make things better.
That's what I'm here for.
She moves away from my hand and starts to walk off, then turns back, the sunset framing her slender body.
My name's not Hime, it's Yanagi.
And then she walks away, towards the dying sun.
Aheheh....that's really deep for me. A very weird chapter, not necessarily near my best, but I had a crappy weekend, a crappy birthday....really, it sucked. Being the odd one out of a love triangle.....sigh. It's really affecting me. I don't know who to thank for reviews, I'm sorry but you'll have to wait next chapter for that. I'm really in a depressed mood, sorry for the depressing chapter. Or the depressing authoress.