Chapter Three: The Discovery
Silence echoed noisily in my ears. The cold metal of kougon anki rested on my lap, reassuring me with its presence, like it did when I was young. Kagero listened as Recca told her what had happened in the abandoned warehouse. I watched her reaction, her emotions flicker from one to another, with a dull look in my eyes. Why…do I protect her? Why do I protect her unthinkingly? I looked around at the Hokage. Why do they protect her? What's…what's the point? Everyone dies someday…even Yanagi… I looked into the faces of my teammates…my friends…even they will disappear one day… I blinked as I felt a glare boring a hole in my head. I looked to my left and met the glare of a blond haired girl with a stuffed fox sitting in her lap. Leaning over to her, I whispered "Ganko-chan, what's wrong?"
Blue eyes bit into my amber ones. What's her freaking problem?? She leant over and whispered back to me. "You've changed Koganei." I blinked, surprised.
"What…what are you talking about?" I mumbled back, avoiding her glare. What does she know…she's only thirteen…how would she know if I've changed or not? Che…what am I thinking, she probably thinks I should be bouncing around right now adding to Recca's story… "I've changed?" I whispered. She nodded then turned her head back towards the conversation. Strangely, I could see the same image she was picturing in her head. Me, jumping up and running over Recca's voice, shouting that I wouldn't let anyone hurt Yanagi-nechan…that I would protect her, not Recca-nichan.
My eyes wandered around the room, at the fire pit in the middle of our circle, the sounds of the birds chirping merrily outside. So this was Kagero's hideout…
"Not again…" Kagero murmured. "Before it was Mori Koran and now it is this… this man…" A vein appeared on Recca's forehead. He clenched his fist until it shook from the pressure.
"W…" I looked up, as did the rest of the Hokage. "Wh…why…why do people have to try to hurt Hime!!!" Recca jumped up, teeth clenched tightly, baring his fangs. "Can't they leave her freaking alone?!?" I blinked.
"Can't you just…protect Yanagi-nechan again, Recca-nichan?" I asked, with a contrived puzzled expression on my face. Recca blinked.
"Yah…of course I can Koganei!" Recca stuttered. "I won't let anyone hurt Hime!!" I sighed. He's always like this…he always jumps to protect her, without thinking. I watched as the rest of the Hokage jumped up and shouted their agreement. The others also…Doesn't he realize that he could get killed? That he could get his father killed? His friends…?? Their families? Images of Domon's mom and her flower shop, burning to the ground. Recca's house exploding in sheets of flame, spreading as the fireworks and gunpowder were lit... Fuck it, he can't recognize danger when he thinks about his Hime, so what the hell can I do about it… Another glare cut its way through my thoughts, and I jumped up and raised my fist.
"Yah! Let's protect Yanagi-nechan!!" I shouted, giving a fanged grin. Recca responded with his own grin, while the others smiled on.
"Minna…"
Everyone turned to the object of attention.
"…Arigatou!!" Yanagi said, bowing to them. She looked up, tears in her eyes. "I don't want you to fight for me…get hurt for me…but…" Recca shook his head.
"Daijoubu Hime!! We all fight for you 'cause we want to, right?" He put an arm around her shaking shoulders and grinned at us. We all nodded in return. "Good! Let's get training!!" Recca shouted, running outside. A silence followed, but it was shattered by Fuuko's shouting when she chased after Recca.
"Baka! Where do you think you're going?" Fuuko shouted, chasing Recca outside. A slightly muffled shout of "I'll protect Hime!!!" echoed to me. Domon rushed out of the wooden sliding doors, right on Fuuko's heels.
"Fuuko!!" he shouted, chasing her. Mikagami shrugged and followed the running trio.
"A bunch of monkeys…" he muttered beneath his breath, giving a slight smile. I stood watching the rest of the Hokage move out onto the open area outside of Kagero's house. Kougon anki still lay on the wooden floor next to the pillow where I had sat. Kagero stood up and walked over to the open doors and made a gesture as if she was going to close them. I still didn't move or get the hint. There is no point…why should we risk everything…just for~
A sharp jab to my side made me jump and swear loudly. I whipped my head around and saw no-one. A smirk came on my face, and then I looked down to see Ganko.
"What's up chibi?" I grinned down at her. Ganko glared at me and dragged me down to her level by my shirt collar. Her blue eyes once again burned holes into mine. "Wha…what is it?"
"Don't swear. It's bad." Ganko said seriously. I think an incredulous look appeared on my face, because it made her madder. "I'm not joking Koganei!" That made it funnier… I laughed right in her face until she shoved her hand over my mouth. The laughing continued echoing in my mind. Why am I laughing…am I crazy now? Under her restraining hand, my mouth grinned.
"Aren't you going to train?" she said, freeing both shirt collar and mouth. I blinked once, before Kondo jumped up into my face and shouted his agreement. I whacked him aside with a flick of my hand and bent down to collect kougon anki.
"Hai hai, Ganko-sama." I said, grinning and turning my back to her as I walked outside the house. Hearing the wooden door click quietly shut behind me, I stepped down and across the grass, enjoying the feel of my madougu leaning against my shoulder and still pondering through my new discovery in my head.
TBC
Once again…I apologize for the length of time it takes for me to get this out… and I think the writing style changed somewhere. Now it's not as angry…but more descriptive. Hope you enjoyed this chapter even though it was short.