Chiriko giggled as Tasuki proceeded to try and swipe Nuriko's rice ball
when Nuriko broke his chopsticks and threw them at him.
"Cut it out!!" he said, "Stop trying to steal my food!! You've got your own!!"
"Yeah, but my food doesn' taste as good as yours!!" said Tasuki. Nuriko glared.
"What's THAT supposed to mean??" he asked. Tasuki grinned.
"I dunno," he said truthfully, "I jus' said it. But you hate tuna!! Jus' gimme the piece and we can end it!!"
"No, not after you tried to STEAL it," argued Nuriko, "You can't steal and then ask someone! That's not proper!"
"Who said anythin' about bein' PROPER?" asked Tasuki, "No one is bein' proper. I jus' wanna fill my stomach with a piece of TUNA!" Nuriko shoved him away from his plate, and stuffed the tuna in his own mouth. Tasuki gaped at him.
"You....you ate my tuna!!" he said.
"You mean, I ate MY tuna," said Nuriko.
"You HATE TUNA!! THAT'S NOT FAIR!!" said Tasuki. The whole table was now intent on watching this scene. Tasuki looked around, and was going to take Chichiri's when the monk picked up his plate and moved his chair.
"You ate your tuna no da," said Chichiri, "Now live with it. You can come with me and fish for some later no da." Tasuki's eyes widened. FISHING? How boring!!
"Nah maybe I'll jus' be ok from now on," he muttered.
"No," said Nuriko, "No no no. You said you WANTED tuna, so now you're getting tuna!!"
"I don't want to go fishing!! It's so boring!!" whined Tasuki. Chichiri sighed, and threw his own piece of tuna onto Tasuki's plate.
"Just cut it out no da," he muttered, "Have it, as long as you'll be quiet no da." Nuriko sighed, and swallowed the tuna forcefully. He did hate tuna, but he didn't want Tasuki to get any of it. Especially after he put up that huge fight about it. Nuriko sighed, and went about eating what was left on his plate after the massacre. He didn't have to be so careful now that all the seishi were found. Before, it had been tedious. That was when he still dressed in the memory of his sister and fooled everyone into thinking that he was a girl. Well, most everyone. Miaka found out sooner or later, and then the cat was out of the bag. But, it didn't worry Nuriko anymore. He had gotten over his sister's death, even though they were close. However, the pain from the day she fell were as clear as ever in his mind......
The sun was shining upon Eiyo, the capital of Konan. Like usual, the streets were bustling with people buying their daily groceries and whatnot. But other roads held booths with beautiful items on them, items that were too expensive for any normal resident to buy. But, expensive, they were wonderful to look at nonetheless. In a more secluded part of Eiyo was one of the small housing districts. Plain homes were lined along the dirt roads. Although simple and not the strongest, they were usually better than the average hut that poorer families kept house in. On the end of the line was the Chou household, and it was always busy. The married couple made clothes for the city and owned a store not far from their front door. They had three children, Rokou, Ryuuen (Nuriko), and Kourin. Each was expected to help run the family business once the parents were too old to sew and decorate. It was a calm morning. The mother finished preparing the morning meal for everyone, and was setting it on the table. Her husband was already at the store opening up. As usual, it was expected to be a big day in Eiyo, and more work was needed to keep the shop looking clean and spectacular for the average buyer.
"Rokou!! Ryuuen!!" she called, "Breakfast is on the table!" Kourin, the youngest, was already seated and playing with her chopsticks. The two older boys ran in from their bedrooms, cleaned and ready to go.
"Eat up," the mother said, "Your father is expecting you pretty early today. He says there are some government officials expecting the town, and the store needs to be in 'tip-top' shape."
"Government officials?" asked Roukou worriedly, "What if they don't like our store? What if they close it down? What will we do??" His mother rolled her eyes.
"Oh be quiet," muttered Nuriko, "That's not going to happen. Father keeps the store looking really good. The government isn't going to close anything of ours!"
"Yeah that's right," said Kourin, "Father wouldn't let them!" Roukou sighed.
"Hush now," said the mother, "Just eat."
The sun was getting high in the sky as Nuriko and Kourin made their way to the store. His mother had kept Rokou behind, so she could lecture him about worrying out loud.
"Serves him right," snickered Nuriko.
"Hey, big brother, what are we going to do today?" asked Kourin happily, skipping alongside him.
"Probably the usual," said Nuriko, "Just help Father make the clothes. Clean up the shop when we're done. But we have to be on our best behavior today, ok?" Kourin nodded.
"I hate cleaning," she sighed, "It's so boring." Nuriko grinned.
"Well, when we're done, you and me can go look around the new vendors! I'm sure they have better items out today now that the Emperor is sending his officials in to inspect everything," he said happily.
"Oh really, big brother?? I'd like that very much!! I like spending time with you!! Rokou is too worrisome. But you aren't!" giggled Kourin. Nuriko felt warmer inside. He loved his little sister just as much as she loved him. It had been his job, besides for Mother, to help care for her when she was younger. From that time he had stayed by her side. They did everything together, and since they looked alike, it was funny to go around and pretend that they were twins. They came up to the street crossing, and Nuriko checked both ways. A carriage was coming from not far down the road, but they could cross safely before anything happened.
"Come on," Nuriko said, "Hold my hand. We're almost to the store." Kourin grabbed hold. The carriage was coming closer. They'd have to hurry up. They were almost to the middle of the crossing when Kourin abruptly stopped and bent down.
"Look big brother!! A butterfly!" she said happily, reaching down to touch it. Nuriko looked at the oncoming carriage.
"Kourin!! Come on! There's a carriage coming, and we need to get out of the way!" he said, trying to pull her up.
"Wait! I want it to come with us! It's so pretty, big brother!" said Kourin, taking no notice of the carriage.
"KOURIN, GET UP!" shouted Nuriko. It was almost here!! If she didn't get out of the way....... Nuriko looked at the horse. Something was wrong with it. It was running faster than the normal pace, and its eyes were bugging out. It kept changing its course.
"KOURIN!!" yelled Nuriko.
"I almost got it....." said Kourin.
"KOURIN, MOVE!" The carriage was yards away.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" yelled the driver, unable to control his horse.
"KOURIN!" yelled Nuriko again, pulling her arm. Kourin stood up.
"Stop pulling on me Ryuuen!!" she said. She turned and glanced at the carriage.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" she screamed. The carriage hit, and tore off.
"KOOOOOOOUUUURIIIIN!!!" shouted Nuriko, sobbing, and running to her.
She died instantly; Nuriko brought her to the store, where Father immediately called a doctor. It was so hard for Nuriko to let go. His sister had been his best friend. Now, she was gone and there was no one. His parents told him to forget about her. That forgetting her memory would be best for him and the family. Rokou cried all day, always staying near Nuriko to make sure his younger brother wouldn't get killed too. Nuriko had tried to stay strong, but it was at night when he remembered Kourin, and cried himself to sleep. If only I could have gotten her out of the way faster, he thought to himself, then she'd still be here, smiling as usual. It was a blustery Sunday afternoon when Nuriko snuck into the attic, and opened the trunk where Kourin's old clothes were kept. Slowly he dressed himself as a woman, did his hair, and sat in front of a small mirror.
"Kourin," he sobbed, "Kourin you'll never leave me. Because....because I'll become you...."
"Cut it out!!" he said, "Stop trying to steal my food!! You've got your own!!"
"Yeah, but my food doesn' taste as good as yours!!" said Tasuki. Nuriko glared.
"What's THAT supposed to mean??" he asked. Tasuki grinned.
"I dunno," he said truthfully, "I jus' said it. But you hate tuna!! Jus' gimme the piece and we can end it!!"
"No, not after you tried to STEAL it," argued Nuriko, "You can't steal and then ask someone! That's not proper!"
"Who said anythin' about bein' PROPER?" asked Tasuki, "No one is bein' proper. I jus' wanna fill my stomach with a piece of TUNA!" Nuriko shoved him away from his plate, and stuffed the tuna in his own mouth. Tasuki gaped at him.
"You....you ate my tuna!!" he said.
"You mean, I ate MY tuna," said Nuriko.
"You HATE TUNA!! THAT'S NOT FAIR!!" said Tasuki. The whole table was now intent on watching this scene. Tasuki looked around, and was going to take Chichiri's when the monk picked up his plate and moved his chair.
"You ate your tuna no da," said Chichiri, "Now live with it. You can come with me and fish for some later no da." Tasuki's eyes widened. FISHING? How boring!!
"Nah maybe I'll jus' be ok from now on," he muttered.
"No," said Nuriko, "No no no. You said you WANTED tuna, so now you're getting tuna!!"
"I don't want to go fishing!! It's so boring!!" whined Tasuki. Chichiri sighed, and threw his own piece of tuna onto Tasuki's plate.
"Just cut it out no da," he muttered, "Have it, as long as you'll be quiet no da." Nuriko sighed, and swallowed the tuna forcefully. He did hate tuna, but he didn't want Tasuki to get any of it. Especially after he put up that huge fight about it. Nuriko sighed, and went about eating what was left on his plate after the massacre. He didn't have to be so careful now that all the seishi were found. Before, it had been tedious. That was when he still dressed in the memory of his sister and fooled everyone into thinking that he was a girl. Well, most everyone. Miaka found out sooner or later, and then the cat was out of the bag. But, it didn't worry Nuriko anymore. He had gotten over his sister's death, even though they were close. However, the pain from the day she fell were as clear as ever in his mind......
The sun was shining upon Eiyo, the capital of Konan. Like usual, the streets were bustling with people buying their daily groceries and whatnot. But other roads held booths with beautiful items on them, items that were too expensive for any normal resident to buy. But, expensive, they were wonderful to look at nonetheless. In a more secluded part of Eiyo was one of the small housing districts. Plain homes were lined along the dirt roads. Although simple and not the strongest, they were usually better than the average hut that poorer families kept house in. On the end of the line was the Chou household, and it was always busy. The married couple made clothes for the city and owned a store not far from their front door. They had three children, Rokou, Ryuuen (Nuriko), and Kourin. Each was expected to help run the family business once the parents were too old to sew and decorate. It was a calm morning. The mother finished preparing the morning meal for everyone, and was setting it on the table. Her husband was already at the store opening up. As usual, it was expected to be a big day in Eiyo, and more work was needed to keep the shop looking clean and spectacular for the average buyer.
"Rokou!! Ryuuen!!" she called, "Breakfast is on the table!" Kourin, the youngest, was already seated and playing with her chopsticks. The two older boys ran in from their bedrooms, cleaned and ready to go.
"Eat up," the mother said, "Your father is expecting you pretty early today. He says there are some government officials expecting the town, and the store needs to be in 'tip-top' shape."
"Government officials?" asked Roukou worriedly, "What if they don't like our store? What if they close it down? What will we do??" His mother rolled her eyes.
"Oh be quiet," muttered Nuriko, "That's not going to happen. Father keeps the store looking really good. The government isn't going to close anything of ours!"
"Yeah that's right," said Kourin, "Father wouldn't let them!" Roukou sighed.
"Hush now," said the mother, "Just eat."
The sun was getting high in the sky as Nuriko and Kourin made their way to the store. His mother had kept Rokou behind, so she could lecture him about worrying out loud.
"Serves him right," snickered Nuriko.
"Hey, big brother, what are we going to do today?" asked Kourin happily, skipping alongside him.
"Probably the usual," said Nuriko, "Just help Father make the clothes. Clean up the shop when we're done. But we have to be on our best behavior today, ok?" Kourin nodded.
"I hate cleaning," she sighed, "It's so boring." Nuriko grinned.
"Well, when we're done, you and me can go look around the new vendors! I'm sure they have better items out today now that the Emperor is sending his officials in to inspect everything," he said happily.
"Oh really, big brother?? I'd like that very much!! I like spending time with you!! Rokou is too worrisome. But you aren't!" giggled Kourin. Nuriko felt warmer inside. He loved his little sister just as much as she loved him. It had been his job, besides for Mother, to help care for her when she was younger. From that time he had stayed by her side. They did everything together, and since they looked alike, it was funny to go around and pretend that they were twins. They came up to the street crossing, and Nuriko checked both ways. A carriage was coming from not far down the road, but they could cross safely before anything happened.
"Come on," Nuriko said, "Hold my hand. We're almost to the store." Kourin grabbed hold. The carriage was coming closer. They'd have to hurry up. They were almost to the middle of the crossing when Kourin abruptly stopped and bent down.
"Look big brother!! A butterfly!" she said happily, reaching down to touch it. Nuriko looked at the oncoming carriage.
"Kourin!! Come on! There's a carriage coming, and we need to get out of the way!" he said, trying to pull her up.
"Wait! I want it to come with us! It's so pretty, big brother!" said Kourin, taking no notice of the carriage.
"KOURIN, GET UP!" shouted Nuriko. It was almost here!! If she didn't get out of the way....... Nuriko looked at the horse. Something was wrong with it. It was running faster than the normal pace, and its eyes were bugging out. It kept changing its course.
"KOURIN!!" yelled Nuriko.
"I almost got it....." said Kourin.
"KOURIN, MOVE!" The carriage was yards away.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" yelled the driver, unable to control his horse.
"KOURIN!" yelled Nuriko again, pulling her arm. Kourin stood up.
"Stop pulling on me Ryuuen!!" she said. She turned and glanced at the carriage.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" she screamed. The carriage hit, and tore off.
"KOOOOOOOUUUURIIIIN!!!" shouted Nuriko, sobbing, and running to her.
She died instantly; Nuriko brought her to the store, where Father immediately called a doctor. It was so hard for Nuriko to let go. His sister had been his best friend. Now, she was gone and there was no one. His parents told him to forget about her. That forgetting her memory would be best for him and the family. Rokou cried all day, always staying near Nuriko to make sure his younger brother wouldn't get killed too. Nuriko had tried to stay strong, but it was at night when he remembered Kourin, and cried himself to sleep. If only I could have gotten her out of the way faster, he thought to himself, then she'd still be here, smiling as usual. It was a blustery Sunday afternoon when Nuriko snuck into the attic, and opened the trunk where Kourin's old clothes were kept. Slowly he dressed himself as a woman, did his hair, and sat in front of a small mirror.
"Kourin," he sobbed, "Kourin you'll never leave me. Because....because I'll become you...."