COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
All rights and privileges to Houshin Engi belong to Ryu
Fujisaki, JUMP Comics; Shueisha Inc., and TV Tokyo. Characters
from HE are used without permission for the purpose of
entertainment only. This work of fanfiction is not meant for
commercial use. No infringements of rights are intended.
In other words - please don't sue me, shi NEEDs her
allowance to buy HE merchandise and make you guys rich!
****************************************************************
II. CATSEYE
by Kotoshin, aka Shioru Sutherlands
****************************************************************
freethinker n. A person who forms opinions on the basis of
reason, independently of tradition, authority, or established
belief.
================================================================
Same old, same old.
/NOTHING/ was interesting any more.
He yawned as the severed head rolled off the platform
and bounced several times before it decided to stop at the dirt
near his feet.
There was not much he had not seen in the three
thousand something years he lived. Watching a man's life ebb
away in any manner had long since lost any attraction in the
past hundred years or so.
/I'd REALLY like to see something new./
Still blinking, the head hadn't realized it was dead.
Yet.
He glanced about, finding few human spectators - apart
from the involuntary participants, of course. For the hand
(paw?) of a vixen ruled here, and only the youkai enjoyed the
sight of blood and the screams of dying human beings.
/Yet another reason to avoid generalizations based on
stereotypes. I don't./
Well, most youkai did.
He supposed it was because there were few opportunities
for the youkai, where scenes from the slaughterhouse were played
with human and non-human roles reversed.
/And who could blame them? Humans rarely objected if one
of them killed an animal or a youkai./
Precious few humans considered any youkai their equal
unless the youkai happened to look human. And even then, known
youkai were considered barely one step above the beasts. Nowhere
near the superiority that is inherent in the species at the top
of the food chain.
He never ceased to be amazed at how touchy those so
called "superior beings" become when mere beasts talked back to
them. Or the violence that ensues if the beast was right. In
fact, they become downright homicidal if they actually lost an
argument to what they thought as "lower beings."
/AND they wonder why youkai tend to wipe out villages
when 'just a dumb beast' is killed by a human./
Hypocrites.
Planting both feet firmly on the ground, he waited
until the attention of the crowd was held by the fourth - no,
it was the fifth scheduled execution this morning in Chouka
Palace - before carefully putting out the remaining life in
the head at his feet.
The facial twitching was getting on his nerves.
/Boring. No point in prolonging the inevitable./
Small wonder that the youkai were resentful of humans,
to say the least. No wonder at all that most youkai treated
humans with just as much respect (none), along with disdain and
hatred, as humans did to the youkai.
/Feh. I gave up picking on humans - ordinary humans, at
any rate - in my first hundred years./
There was no challenge in defeating those weaker than
oneself. Besides, he was never one for the game of cat and mouse.
Much.
/Now, if the human had at least enough intelligence to
make the game INTERESTING .../
Walking away, he toyed with the idea of speaking with
Dakki about the blandness of the entertainment.
"Shinkouhyou~~ 3"
Musky and primal, the wafting scent. Long silken hair
flowing gracefully over equally silken fabric, swishing softly.
She looked at home with the luxurious surroundings, appearing no
more dangerous than the pampered sensual creature of some lord's
harem.
Until one looked at her eyes.
/Speak of the vixen .../
Mesmerizing orbs of gold that could shift from
impenetrable mirrors to burning ferocity in heartbeats.
"Leaving so soon? Is my hospitality lacking? 3"
Stifling a yawn, he decided to remind her that her wiles
had no effect on him.
"Dakki, this is becoming most tedious - are you running
out of ways to dispatch those you don't need?"
================================================================
That had been interesting while it lasted. He'd almost
felt a surge of satisfaction as gold eyes flashed with anger,
and she'd /almost/ flushed. He could look forward to some new
torment she'd devised the next time he visited Chouka.
"Where to, Shinkouhyou?"
Kokutenko mirrored his own thoughts. They didn't really
need to "talk" verbally, to communicate - but it was good to
practice. Just in case.
//Just in case we forget to, ne, Niisama?//
/Sou, sou .../
He laughed, and scratched the back of one wide, furry
ear. The oversized kitty purred.
"It's been a while since we've been to Konron," He
mused. "Shall we see if they upgraded their perimeter security
system?"
================================================================
They didn't.
/My, my - the Houshin Keikaku./
"What an /interesting/ piece of news."
He watched as Genshitenson ordered the young doushi to
accept the Project. A young, brash, belligerent doushi.
/Taikoubou .../
He frowned, searching for information he /should/ know
about a doushi with the ability to carry out such an ambitious
Project. And was pleasantly surprised when he could find none.
/... how could I have missed this?/
While technically a mere doushi, he was far more than
the equal of any sennin. He did not come to wield such power
without recognizing similar strength in others. The young human
screaming at Genshitenson was, at the very least, the equal of
any of the Konron Twelve.
/How VERY interesting./
That, a 'mere' doushi had such ... ability. And as for
the potential of the human -
/Why, he could eventually become my equal./
He did not know the strange sensation that stirred in
his guts. It took him some time to name it excitement. For the
longest time, he had not known this feeling - had not known that
there was still someone who could potentially become a rival.
//... Niisama?//
/Quiet. I need to think./
It was all an act, the whining and the complaining.
Green eyes lit up far too brightly as Genshitenson rose his
aging voice against the vehement protest to go into details
about the Houshin Keikaku. Green eyes that saw far, a vision
that anticipated the future yet to come.
/Yes ... this is someone worthy -/
Worthy to become his rival. While it was true that the
edge of the blade needed tempering, the metal not quite strong
steel - but oh, the potential.
He'd seen many beings that gave themselves variants of
the title 'leader' - and did not deserve it. This one not only
deserved it, but was born to it.
/The only thing he needs is experience./
Of any being he knew, only Dakki could match this one's
wits, other than himself.
/And with that experience .../
Anything was possible. Even the seemingly impossible
odds of the Houshin Project.
/Anything./
And with the nature of the Project - it looked as if
interesting things could come looking for /him/, rather than the
opposite.
He was glad that he did decide on this little excursion.
But then, he always had a nose for finding events. Especially
world-changing events. And what use was such an ability if not
to use it to /be/ there when such an event gave its first
wailing birth-cry?
"Shinkouhyou - what about this? Should we go tell
Dakki ASAP?"
"... of course."
He could not help the smile that came.
And what else better to do than to herald the birth by
informing all the interested parties involved?
"Both Dakki and I will get a lot of fun out of /this/."
//... Niisama? You don't think ...//
/No./
"I don't feel that little doushi with the name Taikoubou
will be able to defeat Dakki."
/Yet./
//Sou ka ... so, are we -//
/No./
Cats don't get involved. Instead, they watch and make
astute observations and sarcastic comments - when others take
the risks and fall flat on their faces.
//Oh.//
A cat is a cat is a cat.
/After all, it IS the thing to do as superior beings./
- end -
================================================================
minor bits of babble:
Shi was stalled for a bit on this -
and finally finished it in about 3 hours of inspiration
interrupted many times by loving family.
Kuni, this is for you. *smooch*
Cuz it wouldn't have been possible without you giving shi
shink-style input. XD
"The cat is still watching the goldfish in the bowl."
================================================================
Last Modified: June 3, 2001 7:38AM
================================================================
All rights and privileges to Houshin Engi belong to Ryu
Fujisaki, JUMP Comics; Shueisha Inc., and TV Tokyo. Characters
from HE are used without permission for the purpose of
entertainment only. This work of fanfiction is not meant for
commercial use. No infringements of rights are intended.
In other words - please don't sue me, shi NEEDs her
allowance to buy HE merchandise and make you guys rich!
****************************************************************
II. CATSEYE
by Kotoshin, aka Shioru Sutherlands
****************************************************************
freethinker n. A person who forms opinions on the basis of
reason, independently of tradition, authority, or established
belief.
================================================================
Same old, same old.
/NOTHING/ was interesting any more.
He yawned as the severed head rolled off the platform
and bounced several times before it decided to stop at the dirt
near his feet.
There was not much he had not seen in the three
thousand something years he lived. Watching a man's life ebb
away in any manner had long since lost any attraction in the
past hundred years or so.
/I'd REALLY like to see something new./
Still blinking, the head hadn't realized it was dead.
Yet.
He glanced about, finding few human spectators - apart
from the involuntary participants, of course. For the hand
(paw?) of a vixen ruled here, and only the youkai enjoyed the
sight of blood and the screams of dying human beings.
/Yet another reason to avoid generalizations based on
stereotypes. I don't./
Well, most youkai did.
He supposed it was because there were few opportunities
for the youkai, where scenes from the slaughterhouse were played
with human and non-human roles reversed.
/And who could blame them? Humans rarely objected if one
of them killed an animal or a youkai./
Precious few humans considered any youkai their equal
unless the youkai happened to look human. And even then, known
youkai were considered barely one step above the beasts. Nowhere
near the superiority that is inherent in the species at the top
of the food chain.
He never ceased to be amazed at how touchy those so
called "superior beings" become when mere beasts talked back to
them. Or the violence that ensues if the beast was right. In
fact, they become downright homicidal if they actually lost an
argument to what they thought as "lower beings."
/AND they wonder why youkai tend to wipe out villages
when 'just a dumb beast' is killed by a human./
Hypocrites.
Planting both feet firmly on the ground, he waited
until the attention of the crowd was held by the fourth - no,
it was the fifth scheduled execution this morning in Chouka
Palace - before carefully putting out the remaining life in
the head at his feet.
The facial twitching was getting on his nerves.
/Boring. No point in prolonging the inevitable./
Small wonder that the youkai were resentful of humans,
to say the least. No wonder at all that most youkai treated
humans with just as much respect (none), along with disdain and
hatred, as humans did to the youkai.
/Feh. I gave up picking on humans - ordinary humans, at
any rate - in my first hundred years./
There was no challenge in defeating those weaker than
oneself. Besides, he was never one for the game of cat and mouse.
Much.
/Now, if the human had at least enough intelligence to
make the game INTERESTING .../
Walking away, he toyed with the idea of speaking with
Dakki about the blandness of the entertainment.
"Shinkouhyou~~ 3"
Musky and primal, the wafting scent. Long silken hair
flowing gracefully over equally silken fabric, swishing softly.
She looked at home with the luxurious surroundings, appearing no
more dangerous than the pampered sensual creature of some lord's
harem.
Until one looked at her eyes.
/Speak of the vixen .../
Mesmerizing orbs of gold that could shift from
impenetrable mirrors to burning ferocity in heartbeats.
"Leaving so soon? Is my hospitality lacking? 3"
Stifling a yawn, he decided to remind her that her wiles
had no effect on him.
"Dakki, this is becoming most tedious - are you running
out of ways to dispatch those you don't need?"
================================================================
That had been interesting while it lasted. He'd almost
felt a surge of satisfaction as gold eyes flashed with anger,
and she'd /almost/ flushed. He could look forward to some new
torment she'd devised the next time he visited Chouka.
"Where to, Shinkouhyou?"
Kokutenko mirrored his own thoughts. They didn't really
need to "talk" verbally, to communicate - but it was good to
practice. Just in case.
//Just in case we forget to, ne, Niisama?//
/Sou, sou .../
He laughed, and scratched the back of one wide, furry
ear. The oversized kitty purred.
"It's been a while since we've been to Konron," He
mused. "Shall we see if they upgraded their perimeter security
system?"
================================================================
They didn't.
/My, my - the Houshin Keikaku./
"What an /interesting/ piece of news."
He watched as Genshitenson ordered the young doushi to
accept the Project. A young, brash, belligerent doushi.
/Taikoubou .../
He frowned, searching for information he /should/ know
about a doushi with the ability to carry out such an ambitious
Project. And was pleasantly surprised when he could find none.
/... how could I have missed this?/
While technically a mere doushi, he was far more than
the equal of any sennin. He did not come to wield such power
without recognizing similar strength in others. The young human
screaming at Genshitenson was, at the very least, the equal of
any of the Konron Twelve.
/How VERY interesting./
That, a 'mere' doushi had such ... ability. And as for
the potential of the human -
/Why, he could eventually become my equal./
He did not know the strange sensation that stirred in
his guts. It took him some time to name it excitement. For the
longest time, he had not known this feeling - had not known that
there was still someone who could potentially become a rival.
//... Niisama?//
/Quiet. I need to think./
It was all an act, the whining and the complaining.
Green eyes lit up far too brightly as Genshitenson rose his
aging voice against the vehement protest to go into details
about the Houshin Keikaku. Green eyes that saw far, a vision
that anticipated the future yet to come.
/Yes ... this is someone worthy -/
Worthy to become his rival. While it was true that the
edge of the blade needed tempering, the metal not quite strong
steel - but oh, the potential.
He'd seen many beings that gave themselves variants of
the title 'leader' - and did not deserve it. This one not only
deserved it, but was born to it.
/The only thing he needs is experience./
Of any being he knew, only Dakki could match this one's
wits, other than himself.
/And with that experience .../
Anything was possible. Even the seemingly impossible
odds of the Houshin Project.
/Anything./
And with the nature of the Project - it looked as if
interesting things could come looking for /him/, rather than the
opposite.
He was glad that he did decide on this little excursion.
But then, he always had a nose for finding events. Especially
world-changing events. And what use was such an ability if not
to use it to /be/ there when such an event gave its first
wailing birth-cry?
"Shinkouhyou - what about this? Should we go tell
Dakki ASAP?"
"... of course."
He could not help the smile that came.
And what else better to do than to herald the birth by
informing all the interested parties involved?
"Both Dakki and I will get a lot of fun out of /this/."
//... Niisama? You don't think ...//
/No./
"I don't feel that little doushi with the name Taikoubou
will be able to defeat Dakki."
/Yet./
//Sou ka ... so, are we -//
/No./
Cats don't get involved. Instead, they watch and make
astute observations and sarcastic comments - when others take
the risks and fall flat on their faces.
//Oh.//
A cat is a cat is a cat.
/After all, it IS the thing to do as superior beings./
- end -
================================================================
minor bits of babble:
Shi was stalled for a bit on this -
and finally finished it in about 3 hours of inspiration
interrupted many times by loving family.
Kuni, this is for you. *smooch*
Cuz it wouldn't have been possible without you giving shi
shink-style input. XD
"The cat is still watching the goldfish in the bowl."
================================================================
Last Modified: June 3, 2001 7:38AM
================================================================