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Toshiro stared out his window. He had a great view of the San Francisco Bay. He'd been living there for a few years going to college. The sun come out about an hour ago. He smiled. He loved being out on his own.
After staring for a little while, he turned his attention back to his room. It was a mess. "Man…this looks like Toru's room." He smiled and shook his head again. He picked up a few shirts and tossed them into the closet. Underneath one of the shirts, he saw an upside down picture frame. "Funny, I don't remember any pictures in here." He picked it up and turned it over. It was a picture of him, his brother, the other twins, Kimiko, Hiroshi, Akane and Kano. He opened up the back of the frame and found a date. It was the date Kano and Kouji appeared in the real world again.
He sighed and put the picture back on a table.
Seven years ago…I know it was real, yet it feels like a dream…
I've always been a logical person yes, but logic flew out the window that one day. Fairy tales became real and I was sitting in the middle of ancient China.
For a long time I thought I was dreaming. But dreams became nightmares a little too quickly. One day we were heading to the city to go home, then suddenly Akane and Kano were gone. I didn't know if I'd ever see Akane again and it scared me. She was a big sister to all of us. She protected me from Toshiro when the jock in him got the better of him. I was terrified to think something would happen to her and I wouldn't be able to do anything to help.
Things were more or less all right…well, probably less. Akane and Kano were hurt pretty badly and Kano's mother was dead. As long as I live, I doubt I'll ever know what to think of Kanako. She abandoned both her sons, yet she did what any mother who loved her child would do. She died protecting him. I suppose that's admirable. But it was only after she tried to brainwash him with Reizo's help.
Maybe I just won't try to sort it out. I'm not a psych major so I won't bother. She probably had some issues as a child or something.
I know Reizo had issues as a child. Growing up without parents must have been hard. I can't imagine life without my parents. They were…interesting as young adults and turned out to be amazing parents.
Add to Reizo's problems the fact that he was raised to kill. Behold the perfect beginning of an evil genius. I wonder what it would have been like for Reizo in the real world. I suppose he would have been in an orphanage. Maybe he could have found a foster family…
But that's doubtful…he probably would have been in jail as soon as he was legal. I doubt there was any hope for him…Kinda sad. Wait. Really sad.
To think he almost destroyed our family more than once. He actually killed Hiroshi…Not directly…but he was controlling those things…He caused Kimiko's breakdown. We almost lost her too.
I didn't think anything could get as mad as she did that day, but never underestimate a demigoddess. Hell hath no fury like a woman. Period. Scorned or otherwise. They will kick your ass. I've seen it enough at home and over here.
How would have thought that Kimiko could turn into a phoenix even just being half goddess? Must have been some really powerful immortal blood. Maybe the human blood gave it an extra kick.
But whatever it was I think it's gone. Kimiko's not part goddess anymore. At least I don't think so. She gave it up to save Hiroshi. She'd do anything for him. And he for her. They're very dedicated to each other. I guess they share something deeper than most. Maybe even similar to what the bond between twins is.
My brother and I are a strange pair. Except for vaguely in appearance, there's nothing similar about us. I act one way, he acts the other. I do something, he does another. Maybe it's better that way. I think those twins that do everything alike are creepy. I do like being different.
If there's one think being in Konan taught me is that different isn't bad. I don't have to take the same approach to everything. And most of time, you have to think differently. One track mindedness won't get you anywhere. I think that fact finally clicked in Konan.
I owe a lot to Konan, yet I don't want to go back. Maybe it's the part of me that is too used to the real world, but another part of me is afraid to go there. Mom and Dad told us about their adventures and yes there was danger, but Reizo was this unknown horror we had to face on our own. I don't care to think about what else is there. There are probably a lot of things that should stay buried.
Toshiro turned away from the picture. He hadn't talked to his family in a week or so. The thought crossed his mind to call them. He began to reach for the phone when he stopped.
"It's probably like the middle of the night over there…I shouldn't wake them up." He chuckled at the thought of his brother stumbling in the dark looking for the phone. "Maybe I'll call later when I have time to think about what time it is over there. Wouldn't want to get them mad at me."
He went to his dresser and looked around for a pair of pants and a shirt. After finding some decent clothes, he picked up his backpack and pulled it on his shoulders. He groaned at the weight. "Why do these books have to be so heavy? I don't know how these people do it."
He headed for the door. As he set the locks on the door, he stared at the picture. He smiled and closed the door, ready to face the day.
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Toru yawned as he pulled into the dorm room parking lot. It was pretty late. He hated night classes, but it was the only available time for the class he needed. As he went up to his dorm, there were other people coming in and others just leaving. When he reached his room, he wasn't surprised to find it empty. His roommate had a habit of staying out a lot. No doubt he'd be sprawled out in bed by the next morning.
He quickly changed clothes and brushed his teeth. He climbed into his messy bed and put his head on the pillow.
As soon as he laid down, he didn't feel so tired. He sighed and wondered how long it would take to fall asleep, no matter how tired he had just been.
He folded his hands under his head and stared at the ceiling. "This vaguely feels like those nights under the stars in Konan…"
Seven years ago…I know it was real, yet it feels like a dream…
Life was always a joke. I never took anything but sports seriously. I think I thought I was immortal. Boy. That assumption went out the window in Konan. I kinda learned to take life more seriously. No one's immortal…not for that long at least…
I really didn't believe Hiroshi when he told us what happened to Akane. I mean, they were supposed to be stories, nothing more. Then we saw Nozomi. She was as really as a it could get. She dropped us in the middle of a forest the likes of which I didn't think possible.
I guess that means my father really was a monk. But I suppose not enough of monk to keep him from our mother. I'm not sure what that says about either of them. But I won't worry about it. I think what's important is that they're happy.
We found the bandit strong hold. I kinda always thought there was more to Uncle Tasuki. I guess now we know what that was. Now we understand why Akane is so wild.
I think the best moment was watching Hiroshi learn about his father. He flipped out. And watching those advisors chase him was the funniest thing I'd ever seen. I didn't think he could run so fast. And when he got engaged to Kimiko, man, I've never laughed so hard.
It was also pretty funny when Naoko and Nyoko found out about Aunt Nuriko. This magic stuff really messes with people. But I guess that was for the best too. They're a really happy family.
I can't really say the same about Kimiko. That was certainly a less than happy reunion. Though I'd be pissed to if that happened to me. I'm not really a forgiving person. That's Toshiro's department. She was so hurt and on some level, I don't think her father cared. There had to have been something he could have done, but he didn't… Also, I think Akira is better off not knowing the truth. Kimiko got hurt so badly by what he did. Akira just saw death, not the abandoning Kimiko saw.
I'm not sure what I think of Nakago. He did some evil stuff yeah, but Akane would have died so many times without him. I think he did redeem him self to some degree. Too bad he couldn't have helped Reizo. He really needed some help.
If only he could have learned to let go. Everyone would have been saved a lot of anguish. I still see him in my mind. He's still angry. Sometimes when I'm tired and it's dark and I'm somewhere unfamiliar, I think I see him. His eyes still follow me. I wonder if I'll ever get over it.
But other than that, everything is fine. I think everyone's gonna live a pretty peaceful life from now on. No one's seen the book since we returned. Hopefully it's somewhere where no one will find it. That thing can really cause some chaos in people's lives…but on the other hand, it does make people better and make them closer. Even though we don't see each other every day, I think we're even closer than we were before.
A loud clicking interrupted his thoughts. The door opened and someone stumbled in. Toru sat up and shielded his eyes with his hand.
"Sano, could you please come in a little quieter!" He growled. "Some of us are trying to sleep!"
"Sorry man. I've been up all night."
"So I've noticed." He rolled onto his side facing away from the door. "I'm changing roommates in the morning I swear."
"Hey, come on man! I said sorry."
"Like you have every other day you're late. If I'm late for math one more time, my professor is gonna kill me!" Toru reached over to a night table and pulled out some earplugs. While Sano babbled on and on, Toru happily didn't pay attention and fell asleep.
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~*~Shadow Hawk~*~