A Recca no Honoo fic
By: Tenshi no Ai
I'm happy that I don't own Recca no Honoo...especially after this chapter...(Sorry it's so late...preparing for Anime Expo! ^^V)
Ch. 15: Hime no Yakudatsu (To Serve the Purpose of a Princess)
(Yanagi, Recca, Mikagami's POV)
(Yanagi's POV)
In my mind, I have a visual picture of a glowing blue ball which expands more and more with my new feelings.
Determination. Courage. Hope.
I gaze into Recca-kun's eyes...even though he is technically dead, his soul's eyes still shine so brightly with emotions that, I'm sure, involve me and what I've just now said.
Eyes are the window to the soul...what would a soul's eyes be a window to?
Recca-kun...gomenasai. All this...if I had more faith in all of you, this would've never happened...I wish this was all just a horrible dream! My eyes start watering again.
Hime...it's not your fault...I know that...! His abrupt stop brings me out of my self-pity, and we both stare in horror.
Recca-kun...is disappearing...
I feel pressure on my hand again. I told you so, Hisomu states, he won't be able to stay with you in the madougu forever...this isn't some really long vacation, you know.
Recca-kun smiles at me, trying to lighten up this horrible news. Ah, don't worry Hime. It's not really anything. I promised that I'll always be with you and no madougu's gonna beat that out!
His feet have completely dissipated in this world of blackness.
I scream, helplessly, hoping furtively that this is just a sick game on Hisomu's part, on the madougu's part...Recca-kun and I can't separate! We're Ninja and Hime!
His legs are gone.
Ninja...and Hime.
His hands have disappeared.
The one thing that I denied myself to be...why?
His chest is fading out.
I won't deny anymore.
I reach up with my free hand, holding onto my ninja's shoulder, pulling him towards me...
And our kiss bonds our souls together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sakura-hime...what're you doing here?
I open my eyes, expecting to see Recca-kun's face. Instead there is a man who looks similar to him, dressed in a ninja ensemble, staring at me with concern on his face.
I whisper, then I look around.
I'm standing on the balcony area of a traditional Japanese garden, complete with a rock garden and a koi pond over in the far corner. The ninja stands a ways from me, watching my every move.
Demo, wasn't I just in the madougu, kis...with Recca-kun?
Absentmindedly, I rub my hands against my upper thighs, only to feel...silk? I look down...and apparently I've been fitted with a light pink kimono with patterns of floating sakura petals at various points. The obi is burgundy, with a thin stripe of white running horizontal.
the ninja with Recca-kun's visage takes a hesitant step towards me, then turns toward the garden, do you not recognize your most loyal ninja?
No, that's the wrong name. Same but different.
The ninja looks at me briefly, then turns back to the garden, I see.
I step towards him, unused to the weight of the kimono and the strain of the obi in particular. Okaasan often made me wear kimono to traditional outings, but this was more...refined. Is something wrong?
Not particularly, he mumbles, but I can tell that he's somewhat miffed. It's like he was somebody that I should've known from the very beginning, someone who I knew better than myself.
Koheita.
I know instantly that this was the name I meant to say the first time around. you are the rein...
His look silences me. Those blue eyes...they are a tsunami of so many feelings, many of them which I'm familiar to.
I've seen them in Recca-kun's eyes too.
The feelings he has for me.
You understand now, Sakura-hime? Do you remember us, over 400 years ago? Koheita closes the distance between us and looks out towards the garden again. This time, I see what he's looking at.
The koi pond is still.
I came back for you, Koheita.
We came back for each other, he breaks his gaze towards the pond to let his eyes linger over my face, will you deny this?
Still staring at the pond, I respond with a noise to the negative. I wouldn't even dare.
His gaze returns back to the pond. Then why did you deny your true nature?
A glorious koi, striped orange over silver, leaps towards the setting sun. I can feel my anxieties dissipate with that orb of energy.
I know that everyone will be all right from now on.
Then the shadows of the night consume me once again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Recca's POV)
Kaachan's voice sounds right behind me.
Waitaminute. Kaachan?
I open my eyes and see a different kind of darkness. Nightime. I sit up...I must've fallen over when I...
There's movement in my arms. Hime. She's still silver...but she feels soft.
Recca, what happened? You touched Yanagi and fell over...but when I tried to get to you, there was something blocking me. So instead, I... Kaachan nods her head to the side, and I catch sight of prone bodies under a willow tree near the bushes where Fuuko and Domon had hid earlier...when we didn't know what was troubling Hime.
It seems like such a long time ago...but I think it's only been a few hours between our date and now.
I was trying to figure out something to save you... Kaachan says, wiping at her eyes, when you just suddenly started twitching...and now you're okay... she hugs me, warmer than Hime in my arms.
I smile. Hime brought me back to life...so she'll be okay...
~~~~~~~~~~~
(Yanagi's POV)
When I open my eyes again, all I can see is Hisomu-hime in front of me.
I look around. Recca-kun...he's not here...
Who are you?! she demands in a confused tone, you're not the same weak girl that put on the madougu...how could you have developed strong enough powers to revive someone?
I look upon Hisomu-hime. Her river of raven-black hair is scattered carelessly around the front of her like-colored kimono. Her eyes are like smoldering coal against her white skin. Her blood-red lips are pursed together, holding from any verbal torrents against me.
I am not that same insecure girl, Hisomu-hime...you helped me realize that, I pause, searching for a reaction to my bold words, don't push this any farther...
Is that supposed to be a threat from Hime? she accentuates my familiar name, the one that Recca-kun gave me not knowing that I had really been one.
It is a promise, Hisomu-hime.
She smirks, holding up my hand clasped in hers, in front of my face. Hontou ni? Why is it that I don't believe you can't fulfill this promise?
You don't have to, I intone. A warm feeling passes through my arm, exploding in a bluish tone from my hand. She yelps and quickly releases my hand. I have to help my friends.
I have to go back to Recca-kun...
Hisomu-hime glares at me, holding her injured hand. How could you have broken the bond...Yanagi, you really have gotten stronger, haven't you? Her tone softens. Demo...aren't you afraid about what that means?
If nothing else, I have to save my friends.
I hold out my hands, shaping my hands like I was holding a medium-sized ball. I'm not afraid of you, I mutter. A warm flush runs through my soul-body, enveloping my soul in a bluish aura. A material seems to form from this aura, rustling ever so gently into the kimono and obi from before. I'm stronger than you'll ever be...even if you possess my body right now...that's not where my powers are.
Her face is the visage of hate. Impressive...kimono-forming abilities. I am Abekobe, not some mere madougu that would break at your touch...I weakened you and made you stronger at my whim. Your body is but a puppet...and who said I really wanted your mind? Are you stronger than that?
I ignore this. All you can do is inverse someone and absorb their soul, I smile, and that goes for people with weak minds. People who don't know themselves. But I know who I am now. I am a hime, just like Recca-kun always said I was. I am more than just a healer to my friends, I am their friend and they do care about me. Maybe I still have a weak body...but I will make sure that you never have the opportunity to do this to anyone else again.
She tilts her head to the side and smiles. And how do you plan on doing this?
I whisper, why do you insist on taking this so far? Why...it's not worth it...it's not worth it!
The blue ball once again...
Do it, Yanagi, her eyes widen, use your true power, negate my influence, break the madougu...but realize what it will cost you to destroy me and rescue your friends.
I pause, then hold out my hands towards her. There is no more time for hesitation. I know.
Hisomu-hime blinks, then smiles. If you're strong enough to resist me now, there's no more use in trying to subvert you, she spreads her arms out, break this madougu, free my soul. Yanagi-hime, I will not fight you.
As my strengthened healing powers encase her, I realize that her lips still move. I make out the last of her sentence.
...atou gozaimasu...but know the purpose of a hime.
And then my surroundings explode with light.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Mikagami's POV)
Even in death, I'm still surrounded by monkeys.
A short while ago, the gorilla Ishijima had been snoring away. I could handle that, even though I was wondering how he could sleep at a time like this. What's the point of sleeping anyway? We're dead and he's snoring away like he was victorious in battle or something.
Through the snoring, I had made out footsteps in the distance. I knew that meant that another one of Team Hokage had fallen to Yanagi. Kirisawa or Hanabishi.
Yahoo, Mi-chan! Domon!
...
Ishijima, in one fluid motion, had been up and staring at Kirisawa with eyes bulging and mouth hanging open. Then he had realized something and tears started flowing from his enlarged eyes. You're not supposed to be here, Fuuko-sama...
She smacked him, None of us are supposed to be here!
You pissed me off, Domon! You died and left me all alone with an in-shock Recca! Don't do me any favors like that!
I had grabbed her arm. What do you mean, in shock?
Mi-chan...what do you think it means? The monkey had looked at me with the oddest expression. Recca is in shock because Yanagi-chan is possessed by the madougu that he never knew she had. That and she's in her bra.
Things not needed to be known...but still, I should've expected as much from Hanabishi.
What can he do to Yanagi if he's in that state of mind?
And now, Kirisawa and Ishijima are talking and trying to include me in their conversation. I don't mind being dead, but I do mind having to endure this as well...
tumtumtumtum
I turn towards these new footsteps. Hanabishi has fallen?
Iie...
Yanagi?
A bright light follows her form, which is clothed in a kimono. She smiles sadly when she sees us. Minna-san, gomenasai... she murmurs.
Yanagi-chan? You're...dead too? Kirisawa walks towards Yanagi, then stops and looks down. I guess we really did fail...even Recca couldn't do anything to stop that madougu...
Fuuko-san, it's all been taken care of, Yanagi smiles, more radiantly now, Hisomu-hime is freed now...I'm here to heal you.
Heal us...? Yanagi-san, you're forgetting that we're not alive anymore, I state as gently as I can.
Do I deserve to live after Mifuyu...?
Ah, Recca-kun showed me... she lowers her head, but I can still detect the faint blush along her face, he showed me that I could do it. So did Hisomu-hime.
Hisomu-hime? Kirisawa mentioned her as the spirit of the madougu Abekobe...why would she help?
I brought Recca-kun back from death...I can do it for you. Onegai, we don't have the time for me to explain what happened, Yanagi reaches out her hands, who wants to go first?
I cross my arms. I'll go last.
Domon, go first, Kirisawa smiles. He looks stunned, but goes up to Yanagi.
Ne, Yanagi, what's with the kimono? She shakes her head and smiles, placing her small hands in the gorilla's large paws. Suddenly, there is a flash of light, and Ishijiima is gone.
Ah, Yanagi-chan, I never knew you had that much healing power before! Kirisawa is apparently in awe. Yanagi beams at this.
Neither did I, Fuuko-san. Onegai, tell Domon-kun that I thought that what he did was brave...all of you are brave, she looks up into Kirisawa's eyes, I appreciate all of this, all of your efforts. I always thought that I was a burden to all of you...I'm happy I can do this much for you.
Oh Nagi-chan...we're friends, right? It's no big deal, really, Yanagi clasps Kirisawa's hands, and that light makes a second appearance. When it fades, there is only Yanagi.
And there is me.
Mikagami-sempai, I'm especially sorry to you... she begins. I cut her off with a look.
Do I really feel as if I deserve this?
Yanagi bows her head. Gomenasai, Mikagami-sempai. It was all my fault...I can only atone by reviving you...but if it weren't for my stupidity and self-pity, this wouldn't even be necessary...
I hesitate. Something isn't right here...
Well, never mind about that, Mikagami-sempai. Hold out your hands, onegai? You're the last to be revived, she smiles at me. It's filled with happiness and...
Everything suddenly comes into place.
I grab her shoulders. Yanagi-san, don't try to deceive me. I would rather you revived yourself than me.
Large, stricken eyes stare into mine. You're so perspective...how did you know?
That most precious memory of Mifuyu's last actions rushes out into the dead space of this land of eternal night. You have the same smile Mifuyu did...before she died.
Yanagi is at a loss of words. Then she reaches over and squeezes my hands. For a mere spirit, her hands convey a sort of warmth that I haven't felt in the living world for a long time. Before all the events with the Hokage. You forgot about my one exception with my healing powers, her voice rings in my ears.
I can't help but show the emotion held in my heart for once. It hurts, and I know that it shows on my face.
She closes her eyes. Mikagami-sempai...could you tell Recca-kun for me...
Do it yourself. The response is quick and heartless, and I regret it as soon as it leaves my lips.
I understand, and as she says this, a wave of warmth flows from her hand throughout my soul, it was wrong of me to even ask.
As Yanagi fades from my sight, I notice that she's smiling. Unlike the smile of earlier, this one hides nothing from inquiring minds. It reveals the triumphs and sorrows of a young girl forced to grow up long before her time.
Like Mifuyu.
I'll give him your message, Yanagi...I'll tell him what you wished you could tell him yourself. But know that I will never forgive you for this. Mifuyu I could...but I can't take this again...
I'll never forgive you for breaking my heart again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Recca's POV)
Kaachan murmurs, how did you...?
Eheheh...Yanagi-chan did it! The REAL Yanagi-chan, I mean, Fuuko's voice suddenly penetrates my concentration on Hime, she's so much more stronger...she revived us!
And she was wearing this funny kimono... I hear Domon jab in. Then there's a smacking noise.
Baka! That's not the point!
I hear another body slowly get up from the ground, and I know that Mikagami is okay too. Hime...you healed them all.
I can feel my lips stretch into a smile. Now all that's left is Hime herself...
I'm waiting for you Hime...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Yanagi's POV)
They're all gone. My friends. They all fought and died to help me realize who I am. If I could repay them after they revived, I would do it.
After this last use of my full powers, I collapse onto the immaterial ground. I feel as if I'm hanging on by a very tenuous thread.
The aura that surrounds my soul suddenly flares out, and the absence of color suddenly dissolves into a blinding light. I close my eyes and raise my arm in feeble defense.
When I open my eyes, I see a bridge in front of me. Amo-no-Hashidate.
The bridge that leads into the heavens.
I hesitate. I'm afraid. I know that I've died once...but I thought then that I would be guaranteed a peaceful life with the one I loved in my next life.
But it seems like I cannot escape the duty a hime owes to her people. Although I don't have any people', so to speak, I have my friends.
They've risked so much just to keep me safe.
Especially Recca-kun.
I've never showed him just how much I appreciated it all. How much I appreciated him.
With leaden feet and heavy heart, I trudge up to the foot of the bridge and will myself not to look back.
To be called Hime...it was never a game. I realize that now, Recca-kun, that it was never a game to you. If it was, you'd have run off when Tatesako-sensei and I were kidnapped on Kurei's order.
I raise my foot slightly and touch the wooden step. The other foot follows.
Hisomu-hime...I realized your purpose that last time we talked. You wanted to find a person strong enough to free you from the madougu...you were twisted into being Abekobe because there were no other options.
I understand and I forgive you.
I start taking baby steps down the the holy bridge.
Hime no yakudatsu...I understand that too. To protect those who protect you...your people. Your friends.
Recca-kun, you were right in the end. I was a hime, and you were my ninja.
I was Hime, and I had loved my ninja dearly.
Recca-kun...
Aishiteru.