I turn to you, Nine
Epilogue
[Soi]
"Thank you Soi-san. I haven't had the chance to say that," he remarks cheerfully from his seat on a wooden chair. He is not painted, and very pale but his wound will heal. Though I note critically it won't so soon. Tomo makes to stand up and bow to me, and I grab him. His knees shake, he's out of breath. His eyes speak more than gratitude.
"I'm sorry. I worry you guys."
"Daijobu kyougeki okama [opera freak]. I watched you die. Suddenly it didn't matter how much we didn't care for each other. But the memories..." I reply tearily. He smiles, sitting again, grasping me about the waist once before letting go. "and I wasted my chi for nothing."
Tomo laughs, shaking back some soft hair. "Oi! How could you say that? I put in a lot of effort. I saw my friends. They were close." I feel new tears coming behind the old, understanding his dilemma though he hasn't elaborated. He could have stayed. I don't ask why he chose to come back here and face the anguish of being human. Now Nakago is gone we don't know if he will still try and dominate the world.
"You're thinking about Nakago sama right? I couldn't believe he would hurt me."
Suboshi or Amichan knocks. The warm bundle squeezes the opera singer and he squeals his happiness. Tomo pats his shoulder. "I know I know I am fine now ne. everything is fine now, Amichan. Why didn't you come back? We got so worried about you."
The flutist explains his loss of temp memory as he was here in Makan. The parents saved him from the river and claimed him Kaika their lost dead son. It is such a coincidence. I talked to the couple before and they begged us not to go to war and endanger Kaika. I totally empathize with their worries. Maybe the time will come. Hopefully not now.
"I am grateful Seiryuu gave us the chance to go together in this mission and realize how important having companions are in life. I sure don't know what I would do without my brothers. "Hey Soi, can we be sibs? For real," both the twins ask simultaneously. I nod winking at Tomo. He whacks one of them with his pillow. The fight starts. Me and Tomo versus the others whacking and throwing blankets, pillows, cloths and so on until we have noting left. I cannot stop laughing.
We need the chance to be kids sometimes. When the stress is just too much it is okay to see the humour in little things like treasure your friends when they are around.
[Kaika]
Kaasan shakes her head, exclaiming at the mess we have made. She offers Tomo-san the forgetful potion so he will sleep and recuperate faster. "Thank you." She lays him down on the bed, brushing his hair. I don't mind sharing her with them, we once had the taste of being orphaned. It is great someone is gentle enough to act the role of nurturer. Tomo grins childishly and sleeps. My brother is helping to pick up the pillows. Soi lies down on another bed.
It is the second day of their stay here, they came last evening and were sound, but that ain't enough. The weariness of using up your energy must be terribly taxing. I wonder how well we will get along. I haven't even spoken much to them other than how are you. That will wait. My brother settles on the floor. Kaasan and otousan kindly ask him to take their bed but that isn't very polite. Suboshi has matured so much when I wasn't there beside him. I wasn't a good brother to have worried him to bits. He pounded me on the nose and I think it is cracked right now. Hurts. Serves me right huh?
I am scared Nakao will try something else. We have foiled his evil plans. When that comes there can be no more running away. We must stand firm and fight. Now with Tomo on our side it doesn't seem so bad. "Aniki?"
"Yeah little one?"
"what are you thinking? Let's just go to sleep. We have plenty to look forward to." I shrug, blow a soft tune on my new flute I thought up myself. I draw the comfort and tranquility. Subochan sighs, hugging himself. "You know Tomo-san was great to me when you were not around. He took care of me. he is nice. Don't worry he won't paint is face anymore, he promised."
[Suboshi]
"Tomo why did you save me? Did you want to die then?"
"Hm, a good question. No. I was afraid of death. All of us are. Then I remembered your brother would blame me for not protecting you. And I wanted to see Lee again. and you'd be able to bury me . You a budding seishi, a grand honour."
"But I wouldn't like to. I will feel sad." I lean on his shoulder.
"Sweet thing, child. Shall we go out for a breath of air later? I'm claustrophobic!" He and I are like brothers. He also confided his loneliness wss a longterm thing. When he was little the boys teased and bashed him, so much he is afraid of rejection now. So he didn't dare to approach us and acted cool. In fact he was being hurt always whenever we got together. I hold his hand, patient till he stands up and we amble to the dining table. Soi touches our shoulders, bustling t the kitchen. Dinner will be ready soon.
"Tomo-san you can be our brother. Aniki is happy. Aniki really likes you. You have no need to be lonely and depressed and hide from us."
The man is so touched his hand trembles from gripping the chopsticks. Kaasan gives him some chicken. I am thinking how can people bear to harm Tomo? Chuin as he used to named.. He is so nice. I suppose I have a lot to learn from the adult world. You know when I was little, I used to feel that being big is hugely better, but I am wrong. So wrong. I don't know anything. If I had the power and men, I think I will protect this peaceful village as my goal. Then I will worry about other things. Soi and Tomo frown as this comes into their heads but no one says anything.
"Obaasan, arigatou gozaimashita[thank you so much]. Unfortunately we will have to stay here for a while as we are homeless. Can we? We can help with the chores. The farm too?" Soi suggests, bowing slightly. Aniki's parents are happy and welcome to the idea.
"We'll teach you. Meanwhile our son is going for the annual harvest festival. Would you be interested?" the father waves to Aniki. Aniki gives us a pleading gesture------ both hands clasped together .
"But I'm not well yet. I need more rest."
"It's all right, you can dance. I would like to dance, Tomosan." Death glare and the peace is forgotten. "Surely you cannot expect me to dance alone or with another stranger."
I laugh. Tomo groans, realizing he will not have enough rest and covers his face. Aniki ads that we can go at night when it's cooler, maybe two nights later? "That's not fair. You didn't' discuss with me.." he argues.
"Son how can you force your friend to go? I just talked about it?"
"Father, it's better if we go as a group. The more the merrier!" Tomo scowls his handsome face changed. He chides me for not taking his side. We're kidding. Why does he have to be so serious?
"He is oversensitive. Must whack him more," Soi teases, slapping his back.
"OW! Idiot!" after squabbling, Tomo goes outside. I follow him, have we overdone it? The man looks really sad. I tell him it is alright if he doesn't want to go. He puts his arm about me. I look up.
"I have to. Soi can't dance with some stranger. I have to take care of her. We all are friends. Friends' duty. Now our miko doesn't need us, this is what we should concentrate on. Sit." It is snug under the tree with the large branches and leaves forming the overhead covering. Tomo looks ahead, stoically, all emotion gone. Without the mask he still has all types of faces to his personality. One knee curled up, an arm about me, the other rubbing his wound, his hair bound up and falling about his shoulder.
"Look Suboshi, some storks. They are beautiful. I think that's why I came back. Why I did not join the others. I haven't fully seen all of nature yet. One day we must right?" Yeah I cannot agree more. Life is so important, every minute as death comes, another child is born into the world.
"Don't go away. Or it will be so hard to come back," I plead. The golden eyes blink so fast. Is he crying? More breeze, some other parrots. I won't understand him over night, nor Soi, nor any of the village people. We need to grow for that. To go through thick&thin.
[Soi]
"Thank you Soi-san. I haven't had the chance to say that," he remarks cheerfully from his seat on a wooden chair. He is not painted, and very pale but his wound will heal. Though I note critically it won't so soon. Tomo makes to stand up and bow to me, and I grab him. His knees shake, he's out of breath. His eyes speak more than gratitude.
"I'm sorry. I worry you guys."
"Daijobu kyougeki okama [opera freak]. I watched you die. Suddenly it didn't matter how much we didn't care for each other. But the memories..." I reply tearily. He smiles, sitting again, grasping me about the waist once before letting go. "and I wasted my chi for nothing."
Tomo laughs, shaking back some soft hair. "Oi! How could you say that? I put in a lot of effort. I saw my friends. They were close." I feel new tears coming behind the old, understanding his dilemma though he hasn't elaborated. He could have stayed. I don't ask why he chose to come back here and face the anguish of being human. Now Nakago is gone we don't know if he will still try and dominate the world.
"You're thinking about Nakago sama right? I couldn't believe he would hurt me."
Suboshi or Amichan knocks. The warm bundle squeezes the opera singer and he squeals his happiness. Tomo pats his shoulder. "I know I know I am fine now ne. everything is fine now, Amichan. Why didn't you come back? We got so worried about you."
The flutist explains his loss of temp memory as he was here in Makan. The parents saved him from the river and claimed him Kaika their lost dead son. It is such a coincidence. I talked to the couple before and they begged us not to go to war and endanger Kaika. I totally empathize with their worries. Maybe the time will come. Hopefully not now.
"I am grateful Seiryuu gave us the chance to go together in this mission and realize how important having companions are in life. I sure don't know what I would do without my brothers. "Hey Soi, can we be sibs? For real," both the twins ask simultaneously. I nod winking at Tomo. He whacks one of them with his pillow. The fight starts. Me and Tomo versus the others whacking and throwing blankets, pillows, cloths and so on until we have noting left. I cannot stop laughing.
We need the chance to be kids sometimes. When the stress is just too much it is okay to see the humour in little things like treasure your friends when they are around.
[Kaika]
Kaasan shakes her head, exclaiming at the mess we have made. She offers Tomo-san the forgetful potion so he will sleep and recuperate faster. "Thank you." She lays him down on the bed, brushing his hair. I don't mind sharing her with them, we once had the taste of being orphaned. It is great someone is gentle enough to act the role of nurturer. Tomo grins childishly and sleeps. My brother is helping to pick up the pillows. Soi lies down on another bed.
It is the second day of their stay here, they came last evening and were sound, but that ain't enough. The weariness of using up your energy must be terribly taxing. I wonder how well we will get along. I haven't even spoken much to them other than how are you. That will wait. My brother settles on the floor. Kaasan and otousan kindly ask him to take their bed but that isn't very polite. Suboshi has matured so much when I wasn't there beside him. I wasn't a good brother to have worried him to bits. He pounded me on the nose and I think it is cracked right now. Hurts. Serves me right huh?
I am scared Nakao will try something else. We have foiled his evil plans. When that comes there can be no more running away. We must stand firm and fight. Now with Tomo on our side it doesn't seem so bad. "Aniki?"
"Yeah little one?"
"what are you thinking? Let's just go to sleep. We have plenty to look forward to." I shrug, blow a soft tune on my new flute I thought up myself. I draw the comfort and tranquility. Subochan sighs, hugging himself. "You know Tomo-san was great to me when you were not around. He took care of me. he is nice. Don't worry he won't paint is face anymore, he promised."
[Suboshi]
"Tomo why did you save me? Did you want to die then?"
"Hm, a good question. No. I was afraid of death. All of us are. Then I remembered your brother would blame me for not protecting you. And I wanted to see Lee again. and you'd be able to bury me . You a budding seishi, a grand honour."
"But I wouldn't like to. I will feel sad." I lean on his shoulder.
"Sweet thing, child. Shall we go out for a breath of air later? I'm claustrophobic!" He and I are like brothers. He also confided his loneliness wss a longterm thing. When he was little the boys teased and bashed him, so much he is afraid of rejection now. So he didn't dare to approach us and acted cool. In fact he was being hurt always whenever we got together. I hold his hand, patient till he stands up and we amble to the dining table. Soi touches our shoulders, bustling t the kitchen. Dinner will be ready soon.
"Tomo-san you can be our brother. Aniki is happy. Aniki really likes you. You have no need to be lonely and depressed and hide from us."
The man is so touched his hand trembles from gripping the chopsticks. Kaasan gives him some chicken. I am thinking how can people bear to harm Tomo? Chuin as he used to named.. He is so nice. I suppose I have a lot to learn from the adult world. You know when I was little, I used to feel that being big is hugely better, but I am wrong. So wrong. I don't know anything. If I had the power and men, I think I will protect this peaceful village as my goal. Then I will worry about other things. Soi and Tomo frown as this comes into their heads but no one says anything.
"Obaasan, arigatou gozaimashita[thank you so much]. Unfortunately we will have to stay here for a while as we are homeless. Can we? We can help with the chores. The farm too?" Soi suggests, bowing slightly. Aniki's parents are happy and welcome to the idea.
"We'll teach you. Meanwhile our son is going for the annual harvest festival. Would you be interested?" the father waves to Aniki. Aniki gives us a pleading gesture------ both hands clasped together .
"But I'm not well yet. I need more rest."
"It's all right, you can dance. I would like to dance, Tomosan." Death glare and the peace is forgotten. "Surely you cannot expect me to dance alone or with another stranger."
I laugh. Tomo groans, realizing he will not have enough rest and covers his face. Aniki ads that we can go at night when it's cooler, maybe two nights later? "That's not fair. You didn't' discuss with me.." he argues.
"Son how can you force your friend to go? I just talked about it?"
"Father, it's better if we go as a group. The more the merrier!" Tomo scowls his handsome face changed. He chides me for not taking his side. We're kidding. Why does he have to be so serious?
"He is oversensitive. Must whack him more," Soi teases, slapping his back.
"OW! Idiot!" after squabbling, Tomo goes outside. I follow him, have we overdone it? The man looks really sad. I tell him it is alright if he doesn't want to go. He puts his arm about me. I look up.
"I have to. Soi can't dance with some stranger. I have to take care of her. We all are friends. Friends' duty. Now our miko doesn't need us, this is what we should concentrate on. Sit." It is snug under the tree with the large branches and leaves forming the overhead covering. Tomo looks ahead, stoically, all emotion gone. Without the mask he still has all types of faces to his personality. One knee curled up, an arm about me, the other rubbing his wound, his hair bound up and falling about his shoulder.
"Look Suboshi, some storks. They are beautiful. I think that's why I came back. Why I did not join the others. I haven't fully seen all of nature yet. One day we must right?" Yeah I cannot agree more. Life is so important, every minute as death comes, another child is born into the world.
"Don't go away. Or it will be so hard to come back," I plead. The golden eyes blink so fast. Is he crying? More breeze, some other parrots. I won't understand him over night, nor Soi, nor any of the village people. We need to grow for that. To go through thick&thin.