The Prince of Brothers

Scene 1

"Genki, you're also going to Wakamono Academy?"

Genki suavely slides his glasses up nose and tousles his shoulder length blond hair. He looks a little bit like Yogi from Weiß Kreuz. "Maybe I shouldn't have stayed up all night before the college entrance exam?"

Touriki Niomote flips his medium length black hair back out of his face and makes gives Genki a disapproving look. "And, why were you staying up all night?"

"Well, those two twins on the cheering squad needed some consoling after the baseball team lost."

Touriki rolls his eyes. He looks a little bit like Mamoru from Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon.

"But, why are you here? The great Touriki Niomote chokes on his college exams after you were number one on the practice exam?"

Touriki turns and looks out over the vast waters of the bay, holding on to the protective fence separating them from the waters. "My father..."

Genki gives Touriki a hug. "How long does he have left?"

"The doctors think just a couple of days. I know I should have studied harder these past couple of months, but I couldn't abandon him. I didn't even want to come here but he insisted. He said that I had done all that I could, but it was time to let him go and live my own life."

Genki looks across the bay. "I envy you Touriki. I lost my father early. If I still had my father, and if he needed me like your father needed you, I wouldn't have gone on a single date this year."

Touriki laughs. "Genki Kari, the number one ladies man from our school? No dates for a year? I couldn't even imagine it."

Genki flips his hair. "You might be right."

"Do you know where the cram school is?"

Genki points out across the waters. "Somewhere out there. It's supposed to be a nice island, full of peaceful villagers and sexy coeds."

Touriki looks at Genki sideways. "You chose a cram school just because they had pretty girls there?"

Genki cracks a smile. He then sticks his finger in the air. "You have to follow the main passion of your life, no matter where it leads you. Some people devote their lives to music, some people devote their lives to sports, some people devote their lives to manga, I choose to devote my life to love."

"Love? You've never dated a girl more than once in your life!"

"Ahhh, the flame that burns the brightest is the quickest to burn out."

Touriki sighs and slumps his head. "Won't your father disapprove?"

Genki cocks an eyebrow. "My father was a womanizer. If he's looking down from heaven worrying about how I live my life now, maybe he shouldn't have lived the exact same way in his youth?"

This shocks Touriki. "Wow, aren't you being a little hard on him?"

Genki holds his fist to his chest. "Maybe. But, for better or for worse, dating girls is his legacy to me and I will develop that legacy to it's fullest."

An elderly man approaches them. "Are you the two boys taking the ferry today?"

Touriki smiles and bows. "Yes, sir. We are. I hope you will give us safe passage."

The elderly man laughs. "I haven't lost anyone so far! What's the matter sonny, afraid of the water?"

Touriki blushes. "I don't know how to swim."

"Then stay in the boat! I swear these young'ins know less and less every year."

Touriki and Genki walk down the ramp from the elevated platform they were standing on to the floating walkway to the boat.

"So, what type of girl should I go for first? I can never decide."

Touriki droops his head. "Why are we best friends?"

"Because we were both the only child of our families. We understand each other."

The ferry is small but sturdy. Soon Touriki feels safe enough to look over the vast waters of the bay. He sees the island in the distance. He points and Genki nods. As they approach the island it seems to grow and grow.

When they land at the port of the island the boys realize that the top tip of island is as high as a twenty story skyscraper and a whole village has been carved out of the steep hill leading to the summit. There is whole system of escalators and bunny shaped trains that crisscross the island providing public transportation.

After consulting their travel itineraries, Touriki and Genki split up to start their adventures.

Scene 2

Touriki sits down on a public bench, looks at his travel itinerary and sighs.

A soccer ball rolls right next to him and brushes against his pants leg.

"Excuse me! I should really be more careful with my ball."

Touriki looks up from the ball and has a start. Standing in front of him is a young boy with short wavy black hair. He is dressed in a very cute athletic uniform of a short sleeved shirt and shorts. He has a pair of goggles on top of his head. He is tall, but too young to have hair on his arms or legs. He looks like a younger Ken from Weiß Kreuz.

"There is no problem." Touriki smiles. "Are you on the soccer team?"

The boy smiles brightly. "Of course. I am Undouharu, soon to be a shining star in the soccer universe!" Undouharu steps on the ball and points to the sky.

"That's cool. My name is Touriki. I used to play a little soccer, but I was too busy with studies to play for the school team. I will look forward to seeing you play."

"I'll hold you to that. Don't forget my name, Undouharu!" Undouharu runs off with a spring to his step and a big grin.

Touriki sighs. "I needed to ask him were the Onion dorm was."

Scene 3

Touriki enters a flower shop. A young boy waters the flowers in the window. Touriki looks around for a shopkeeper but finds none. "Excuse me, is there a shopkeeper here?"

The boy puts the water can down and turns around with a huge smile. He looks like Omi from Weiß Kreuz. "I am in charge of the whole store while the owner is getting lunch. I might be young, but I know everything about flowers. My name is Ningyouji, but I don't like the name that much."

"My name is Touriki. Why don't you like your name?"

"A ningyou is a doll. I guess I get teased a lot for looking like a doll."

"I think you have a good name."

Ningyouji beams.

"I was wondering though if you knew where the Onion Dorm was?"

"Oh yes, I do!" Ningyouji is barely able to contain his excitement. "Just take the Blue Bunny Train west for three stops, then walk two hundred yards and you'll see the gate for the dorm."

"Wow, you know a lot about this area."

Ningyouji giggles. "Maybe."

Scene 4

Touriki waits at a train stop, wondering if his luggage made it to his dorm.

Suddenly, he his hit in the head with a piece of paper. Touriki takes the paper and opens it. It is a math test with a failing grade. He looks around and sees a young boy with a large teddy bear backpack on his back. He looks a little like Shuichi Shindou from Gravitation.

"Is this yours?"

"Hey, give it back!"

The boy lunges for the paper, but Touriki pulls it away. "Seienki, isn't it? Why did you get so low a score on your math test? Didn't you study?"

Seienki pouts. "I spent too long practicing with the marching band. But, who cares about math. Math is stupid. I'm going to be a famous musician some day."

Touriki puts on a serious face. "Music and mathematics are intertwined. You'll need to do better at math if you want to be a great musician."

Seienki is stunned. "Wow, mister you're pretty smart. What's your name?"

"Touriki."

"Well, Touriki, you're too old to be going to the junior academy, you must be going to the cram school."

Touriki puts his finger on his collar. "That would be true."

"Then you're not that smart. I can goof off in math all I like, fa la la la la." Seienki dances around.

Touriki grabs Seienki's shirt sleeve. "I might have blown a test, but I am smart enough to have gotten close to a good score and I have the drive and ambition to work to improve it. Do you have the drive and ambition to do your best?"

This stuns Seienki again. He then sticks out his tongue. "You're a meanie." Seienki runs off.

Scene 5

Touriki gets off the train and walks down a country road. Before long he comes up to a young man walking with the help of a cane. he has a large dog besides him. Touriki stops. "Are you okay?"

The boy is tall, has short green hair, a round face and large glasses. He looks a little like a younger Yukito Tsukishiro from Card Captor Sakura. "Thank you very much for your concern, but I need to walk by myself if I am ever going to get better."

"Oh dear. What is wrong with you?"

"I was in an accident and many of my muscles almost completely shrank away. I need to work hard now if I want a normal life."

"Do you mind if I walk with you?"

"No, that would be great, if you don't mind walking slow."

"My name is Touriki. I just came to this island for the cram school."

"My name is Byouki. His name is Roscoe. I transferred to the junior academy earlier in the year."

"Junior academy? You look older."

"Thank you. I was a good athlete before the accident. Maybe I could be one again some day?"

"I will look forward to it, Byouki."

Touriki and Byouki stop in front of the gate for the Onion Dorm.

Byouki points to the dorm, some hundred yards from the gate. "Ah, there it is. That's where I live."

"Amazing. That's my new home as well."

Scene 6

Byouki holds the door open for Touriki. Touriki walks in and is startled by the three boys who greet him.

"I hope you haven't forgot my name?"

Touriki gulps. "It's the soccer star, Undouharu."

Undouharu beams.

"And, the master of all things floral, Ningyouji."

Ningyouji makes a victory sign.

"And, the future music star, Seienki."

Seienki bashfully smiles.

"But, why are all of you here?"

Byouki smiles. "The answer might be in the main room, past those double doors."

Touriki smiles back. He goes to the doors, but then waits for Byouki to catch up. He opens the doors.

"Welcome home!"

Touriki sees eight more young boys standing around a cake. He turns to Byouki. "All of you live here?"

Byouki smiles. "Oh, yes."

Touriki scratches his head. "I don't want to seem rude, but are we the only people living here? I was expecting to be staying with other cram students."

Byouki gets a canary eating cat's grin. "We're the only ones in this dorm."

"But..."

Byouki gives Touriki a big hug. Touriki is shocked.

Byouki smiles at Touriki. "Welcome home, Anuie-sama."

Touriki flinches backwards. "Big brother?"

Ningyouji walks over to Touriki and holds his hand in his two hands. "Oni-tama."

Undouharu walks over to Touriki and pats him on the shoulder. "I look forward to practicing soccer with you, Ani."

Seienki bashfully walks up to Touriki. "I hope you will be able to tutor me in math, Oni-chama."

Touriki turns to the other eight boys in terror. "All of you are my younger brothers?"

Byouki smiles. "It might be easier for you if we split up." Byouki is joined by three other boys to make a small group.

"I'm sure you might have wondered where your father went for nine months out of every year. Like you, we all thought it was on important business, but the truth is that he was a polygamist. He had four families that he would visit for three months then move on."

An athletic boy with a marshal arts outfit and dark hair that is long in the back, steps forward brandishing a practice sword. He looks a little like Myojin Yahiko from Rurouni Kenshin. "Father spent summers with us. I am Harugo, Anigami-sama. If you have any problems with bullies on this island, come to me and they won't be bullies any more."

A boy with light brown/red short hair steps forward. He looks a little like a young Gene Starwind from Outlaw Star. "Likewise for me. I am Suzuzo, Aniki. If there's anything you need fixed or built, I'm the guy who can do it!" Suzuzo pats his biceps.

Seienki ducks his head out from behind Suzuzo and gives Touriki an Akenbe (pulls his eyelid down and sticks out his tongue). "Beda"

From a second small group of four boys, a boy with long dark hair parted down the middle steps forward. He wears a Shinto priest robe and bounces a long pole with rings at the top that jingle together. "Father spent the Springs with us. I am Nazokazu, Ani-Kun. I sense many elements on the island which will try to prevent you from passing your exam. I will protect you."

Also from the second group, a boy with blond hair that just fails over his eyes, who looks a lot like Matsuura Yuu from Marmalade Boy. "I am Karou, Oni-chan. I might be young but I am very smart. I'm ever going to be in one of your classes tomorrow. I will not let you fail your college exams!"

Undouharu and Ningyouji wave from the second group.

A tall boy with long red hair steps out from the third group. He looks a little like Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho. He speaks in a soft soothing voice. "As you might have already guessed, my group had father for the fall. I am Hanaji. I vow to keep Oni-sama looking his best so the whole world can see what a handsome big brother we have."

A shorter boy sneaks a peak from behind Hanaji. He then jumps out looking through a magnifying glass and wearing a deer stalker hat over his blond hair. He looks a little like an older Suoh Takamura from Clamp Campus Detectives. "I am Chousama, Ani-chama. I will be checking up on you this year. If there is an potential problem my checking will prevent them from becoming real problems."

Another boy from the third group steps forward. He is blond and has short hair. He looks a little like an older Akira Ijuuin from Clamp Campus Detectives. "I am Kouriki, Ni-sama. I guess our father wanted our names to match! I will make sure that you have all the nutrition you need to pass your exam."

A younger boy with long blond hair done up in a pompadour and dressed in formal clothes bashfully steps forward and speaks in a soft voice. "I am Kashutaka, Ni-ya. I hope that Ni-ya will enjoy hearing me sing." Kashutaka blushes, then runs behind the other three boys. He looks like a younger Kie from Pretear.

Touriki slumps against the doorway in shock. "This is very sudden."

Byouki nudges him with this cane. "Hey, there's a cake. It's half chocolate and half angel food. I want a big slice of chocolate myself. Which does Anuie-sama prefer?"

Chousama walks up to Touriki with a note book and pencil. "This is Chousama's first check. Chocolate or angel cake?"

Byouki laughs. "It's also okay if you like both types, Anuie-sama. We also have sparklers to celebrate after the cake."

Scene 7

Genki Kari opens the window to his dorm room and takes out some opera glasses. "What an amazing view."

Genki scans the bay then looks around the island. He stops and sees a group of people outside of a dorm with a giant onion shaped dome on the roof. They are playing with sparklers.

"Oh my, what pretty girls." Genki zooms in farther and makes out Touriki. "My goodness, Touriki gets in an all girls dorm? Lucky! He can give me introductions. This is going to be so cool!"