Author: J.J.
Warning: It's an AU and it's BASED ON THE MANGA... it's unbetaed, it contains some OOC, some use of Japanese words (the Dictionary is at the bottom), a bit of sappiness, some spoilers...
Notes: This work is based on the manga even if it makes perfect sense even if you haven't read it. After all this story is placed before the series start so it shouldn't be a problem.
About the characters... Tsuzuki and Touda are a bit different from the original because this fic is placed back in their past. I'm supposing they and their relationship changed with time.
Warning over notes: This fic is filled with notes. You will find them at the bottom. Each time you see a number between brackets it means there's a note connected to the word/sentence that preceded it. Many of them explain references to other series, to YnM manga only or YnM anime only facts for who didn't get to read the manga or see the anime, explain apparently illogical things or warn you there's an explanation for illogical facts but that you'll get it later. However I suggest you to read the notes AFTER you finished the fic unless the word/sentence connected to the note is really troublesome for you to understand. Anyway the fic should be still understandable without the notes. Notes are merely extra explanations for who wants to know more or search for spoilers.
Disclaimer:
"Yami no Matsuei" belong to Matsushita Yoko. I'm merely using her characters because I love them... especially Touda, Tsuzuki and Hisoka... -
Ehy, Do I own something here? Oh yes, I own the plot and a sensible heart which would surely break if you give me harsh reviews... so please be honest but nice ok?
Thanks: To Candy-chan who encouraged me to write this! Thank you a lot!
Summary: 1936. GenSoKai. A city had been burned. Completely. Touda is suspected, Tsuzuki is trying to fix things while Kotaro and Kojiro are there to complicate the mess.
"Have you ever seen the rain
Drops gives to the earth what the sun stole
Have you ever suffered pain
No one worry about you you're alone
I would like to stay with you just lying on the shore
And watch the moon until our heart won't suffer anymore
Have you ever stopped the time
Seen every little thing as it is
If you smile just to be kind
That's enough to feel my heart with bliss
I would like to stay with you just lying on the shore
And watch the moon until our heart won't suffer anymore."
(Vanilla Sky - "Have You Ever Seen The Rain")
"Ne, Touda, do you think we've to walk for long?" Tsuzuki asked for the 10th time. Touda groaned.
"It's your Tsukaima. You ask to it." Tsuzuki sighed.
"We should have brought food and carried it with us," he complained.
"Why don't we forget the Tengu? Besides I'm starting to think your Tsukaima has as much sense of direction as you."
"So mean..."
"Hush!" the Shikigami whispered abruptly stopping Tsuzuki in his track. The two tensed ready for everything. Tsuzuki couldn't feel a thing but he knew that Touda, being a Shikigami, had sharper senses and, if he had stopped him, there should be a reason. "Torizoku's smell. Maybe your Tsukaima didn't lose itself after all. They must be close," Touda reported.
"Then what are we waiting? Let's go!" Touda frowned.
"Have you considered that, if they're involved in this mess, they can not appreciate seeing us?" Tsuzuki waved a hand dismissively.
"Don't worry, I'm sure everything will go fine!" he replied with a grin. Touda groaned.
"Why do I bother warning you?" he muttered as he followed Tsuzuki.
The two Tengu that Tsuzuki and Touda were hunting were currently sitting in a well aerated area, trying to sort their thoughts. They didn't look pleased with themselves but apparently they were at loss about what to do. They were in their human looking form but they still showed their wings. They were young looking, apparently around Tsuzuki's age even if with Shikigami you couldn't really tell,(1) and they were wearing the typical Tengu's attire. One had dark skin and white long hair while the other looked like his exact opposite with short black hair and clear skin. They were both startled by Tsuzuki's cheerful greeting. Tsuzuki walked toward them nonchalantly, uncaring of the fact they both were now standing and looking at him as if they were ready to attack him. Touda walked closer to Tsuzuki, ready to defend his master, even if he doubted the Tengu would be worthy opponent. They had left themselves to be surprised so easily...
Tsuzuki started chatting as if talking with Tengu was absolutely normal to him. The Tengu looked at him in between surprise and doubt probably suspecting he was another human interested in challenging a Shikigami but they had sawn too many of them and definitely Tsuzuki's behaviour didn't look like fitting for the category.(2)
"You... you aren't searching for a Shikigami to challenge, are you?" the white haired one asked. Tsuzuki shook his head.
"No, thank you but my days as Shikigami hunter are gone!" he replied smiling. The two Tengu looked at each other as if passing some silent communication. They did it a lot. "I'd like to ask you for an information if it isn't a problem," Tsuzuki continued. The Tengu hesitated, looked at each other again then the white haired one said they would be happy to help if they could. The black haired one had still to utter a word.
"We're searching for the one who caused two cities to burn. We'd like to know if you know something about him. Or her," Tsuzuki asked quietly.
From the way the two paled, tensed and got even warier it was obvious they knew something even if they denied it quite heatedly.
"They're lying, Tsuzuki," Touda stated crossing his arms. He glared at the Tengu, wondering how they managed to get involved in this mess and in the same time trying to remember if Tsuzuki liked Yakitori. Probably he did. He was feeling in the mood to have some and he was having the perfect ingredients right in front of him.
"Tsuzuki? Kojiro, isn't he the Shinigami who went to visit SouJouBou-sama with SoRyu-dono?" the white haired Tengu asked to his companion.
"It must be, Kotaro. He's the only human I ever saw with such weird eyes," the dark haired one answered, finally speaking up. "I would look forward to fight a Shinigami who conquered the twelve ShinSho."
"You're not even daring to lift a finger against him, Tengu," Touda warned. Why were whose two idiots saying that Tsuzuki had weird eyes? To Touda they looked perfectly normal even if he couldn't claim to know much about humans. He had however noticed how that casual sentence had hurt Tsuzuki as if he really believed there was something wrong in him and Touda was ready to ask retaliation for it. No one could dare to hurt Tsuzuki. The black haired Tengu's eyes narrowed.
"And you should be the traitor who caused that horrible mess in the last war. Do you have an idea how many innocents you burned alive? I'll look forward to a fight with you even more than to a fight with him!"
"Kojiro..." Kotaro called hesitantly. The JyaShin Touda had quite a reputation and not just as a traitor only but also as a fighter. Plus he was one of the deadliest Fire Shikigami. It wouldn't be wise to attack him. Kojiro however wasn't going to listen. It wasn't just his strong liking for fights at work here. It was a personal matter for Kojiro. He and Kotaro had lost their parents in that horrible war and if it hadn't been for SouJouBou-sama...
Touda didn't reply to the Tengu's challenge, he merely prepared himself to strike should the boy try to put in act his words. Tsuzuki stepped in between them and stared at the Tengu, his eyes now hard and serious.
"There will be no battle here. He had already paid enough for whatever he did in the past war and we've a more serious problem at hand. You know something about the burned cities and this something might help us to avoid there will be a third," Tsuzuki remembered them. His serious gaze somehow impressed Kojiro. He had fought many battles but he had never seen before such determinate eyes.
"We've nothing to say to a Shinigami and a traitor," Kotaro stated coldly, placing himself in front of his brother. Somehow that mere Shinigami was affecting Kojiro more than it should be possible and he had no idea how. Kojiro wasn't the type to back out from a fight but when the Shinigami had fixed his gaze on him he had hesitated and back walked as if sensing some serious danger in that mere human... and Kotaro could never allow his brother to be hurt. He didn't think he could live without Kojiro.
"You blame Touda for what had happened in the past and yet you would allow it to happen again?" Tsuzuki asked sounding almost unbelieving. Kotaro flinched. There was something in this harmless looking man that made him look... scary, even more than the JyaShin. He wanted to leave. He wasn't like Kojiro. He didn't like to search for battle, he didn't enjoy it.
"We... we've nothing to say to a Shinigami and a traitor," he repeated but his tone was a lot less firm. He took the air. "Let's go, Kojiro!" he called. Kojiro hesitated. "Kojiro!" he called again.
"You're not escaping, Tengu!" Touda stated but before he could do something Tsuzuki stopped him.
"Let them go if they want so, Touda. We don't need their help. But the responsibility of the lives lost will fall on them too now," Tsuzuki stated darkly. Kojiro looked at him, torn between staying and leaving. Kotaro called him again and he... followed his voice, followed the call of his brother. The two Tengu flee away from Tsuzuki and Touda but they couldn't flee away from the problem and they knew it.
"Why are you letting them go?" Touda asked. He felt... hurt, betrayed. They knew something and they could be the solution to the problem. They could drag them in front of SoRyu and...
"They were scared. Too scared to be of some help. They... looked so young that I..." Tsuzuki lowered his gaze. He knew what Touda was thinking. He knew that, if they could prove the Tengu's involvement in this, SoRyu wouldn't be able to accuse Touda anymore. He also knew that probably the two Tengu would risk to end up in the same prison in which he had met Touda. He didn't want that. They would do without the Tengu's help. They would do. As if a weird, not human creature like him could do something good! Even the Tengu had noticed he wasn't normal, had noticed those purple eyes that marked him as different and...
"Tsuzuki. What's wrong?" Touda's quiet voice startled him out of his inner contemplation. He forced a smile.
"Nothing. We'll better..."
"Tsuzuki. What's wrong?" the Shikigami asked again in a less patient manner. Touda hated when Tsuzuki pretended nothing was wrong. That mummery could fool SoRyu and the others but it didn't work with him. Tsuzuki didn't reply. "If it's none of my business just tell me so," he muttered. He knew better than to nosy in his master's business. He just... only wanted to help. Tsuzuki made a tiny smile. It was hinted with sadness but it was more honest.
"It's nothing, Touda, really. Just... bad memories," he reassured him.
"Is it due to what those two said?" Tsuzuki's head lowered at that. Touda frowned. Maybe he shouldn't have asked but he was sure that, if he let the thing drop, it would make more damage than help in the long run. "What should be wrong in your eyes anyway? They look normal to me!" he stated. Tsuzuki frowned.
"How many humans do you know with purple eyes?" he asked and his voice sounded a bit irritate. It wasn't like Touda to lie to him for pity or to make fun of his state but that was a touchy argument for him.
"I know you. I'm not interested in knowing other humans," Touda replied honestly. He sounded a bit hesitant. He understood he had pushed too far but he only meant to help. Tsuzuki's expression softened and turned a bit curious.
"You... you don't know other humans beside me?" Touda shook his head. "You never saw another human before meeting me?" Tsuzuki tried again. Touda shrugged.
"I caught sight of one or two once in a while but I never bothered with sparing them a second glance. I... I just didn't see the point for it," he explained. Truth to be told he hadn't care. He hadn't care of a single living being unless it could mean harm for him. Tsuzuki was the first and only one he had cared about.
"So you don't know," Tsuzuki stated.
"What is that I don't know?" he asked annoyed. He hated to be kept in the dark.
"There aren't humans with purple eyes," Tsuzuki stated in a monotone.
"You've them," Touda replied confused. Tsuzuki gulped as if fighting back something that was suffocating him and stuck his hands in his pocket.
"I'm aware of it," he muttered. "I'm aware of it," he repeated. "I'm very aware of it. I've never been allowed to forget I've the eyes of a Mazoku."(3) He exhaled sharply as he said the last word.
"A Mazoku?" Touda repeated, even more confused. Tsuzuki closed his eyes and lowered his head.
"A Mazoku. They said it was the proof I'm a Mazoku." Touda considered it than walked closer to him and inhaled.
"You don't smell like a Mazoku," he commented simply. Tsuzuki opened his eyes to look at him and smiled bitterly.
"Well, the complete accusation was that I was only half Mazoku. My mother looked normal enough... as for my father... I don't remember him, I don't even know if I had one. I mean... I should have had one but..." Tsuzuki trailed of.(4) Touda looked at him, not fully understanding his problem. He had no idea who his parents were and for him it was just fine. Jyazoku didn't raise their children and he never felt the need for parents. Of course he knew that there were races that felt the need to have them, Ryuzoku and Torizoku for example but he never gave to the whole matter much importance. Tsuzuki's next question caught him completely unprepared. "Are you... mad at me, Touda?"
"Why should I be? Even without a father you grew up just fine if you ask me." Well... fine wasn't the right word since Tsuzuki didn't know how to cook, have no sense of direction or order and various other things but that didn't matter to Touda. Tsuzuki had qualities that outmatched his defects by long. Tsuzuki blinked.
"Not for the 'no father' part, for the 'Mazoku' part," he clarified then.
"I honestly don't care about it," the Shikigami replied shrugging.
"You... don't?" The disbelief was almost palpable in Tsuzuki's voice. "But... but..."
"Why should I, Tsuzuki? I didn't accept you as master due to what you were but due to who you are." Tsuzuki didn't reply, he simply stared at him. Touda felt uneasy. "When we met you had no idea about who I was. You didn't know what I did or what I was. I could have been... I don't know, even a Rikozoku for all you knew. Does it matter what I am?" he asked tilting his head. Did it? Would Tsuzuki reject him should he become... different, less powerful? Tsuzuki shook his head.
"No. No, it doesn't matter. It would be just the same between the two of us," Tsuzuki assured him in a very firm, honest tone. "But it had always mattered what I am," he continued bitterly. Tsuzuki wasn't looking at him as he was speaking. "No one wants to be close to someone who might be possibly related to a Mazoku." No one. Not before, not now, not ever. Even some of his workmates were avoiding him and people out of Enma-cho... Touda moved to place himself right in front of Tsuzuki, so close to him they were almost touching.
"I do think they're a bunch of idiots, Tsuzuki," he stated. Tsuzuki looked up at him. Touda was a bit taller than him even if not by much. At such a close distance he could see the Shikigami's eyes clearly, even if that dark visor hid them. They were honest. He leaned against Touda, resting his head against the Shiki's shoulder. For once he didn't hug him, as if he was afraid to taint him or maybe he simply wanted to give Touda the chance to push him away easily should the contact repulse him.
"Thank you," he murmured, his voice hoarse. Touda didn't hug him. Hugs weren't just his thing but he turned his head so that his cheek rested against Tsuzuki's hair.
"You're welcome," he replied. "Idiot," he added affectionately. Tsuzuki made a strangled sound, like a stifled chuckle than hugged him, tightly, his hands grasping Touda's shoulders as they would do with a lifeline as he hid his face against the Shikigami's body. He was trembling slightly but he wasn't crying he just... was trying to persuade himself it was real. Touda guessed Tsuzuki needed time to digest the fact someone wasn't affected by the fact he could be a hybrid between a Ningen and a Mazoku or something similar.
"Thank you," Tsuzuki repeated again and Touda doubted he had ever head a more thankful tone in his life. Touda shrugged.
"Don't worry about it, Tsuzuki. Aren't you hungry? We're near a river. We could have fishes for dinner," he suggested, hoping to distract Tsuzuki. It worked or better Tsuzuki allowed it to work.
"We're going to have roasted fishes for lunch?" he asked in childlike eagerness, releasing him. Touda shrugged.
"If you want to." Tsuzuki nodded eagerly.
"I want to! It'll be like camping! It's a lifetime I don't do it!"
"Than consider yourself lucky I'm good at fishing."
"I'm good also!" Tsuzuki informed you.
"Yeah, Tsuzuki, I'm sure..."
"It's true, Touda!" Tsuzuki complained.
"If you said so..." he replied not sounding too persuaded.
"It's true!" Tsuzuki repeated with an almost offended frown.
"Then come fishing with me," he offered. Tsuzuki nodded happily than walked after Touda toward the river.
Touda stared at Tsuzuki as the Shinigami was eating the fishes they got, chatting happily of meaningless stuffs. It looked like he was over the 'Mazoku's eyes' incident. Touda knew better, of course, but for now he could pretend to believe it. He was sure that Tsuzuki also knew he didn't believe the matter to be solved. Somehow, in certain cases, Tsuzuki could understand what went into his mind better than he did. It gave him an odd sense of intimacy with his master. The two of them were sitting close, closer than usual, as if searching security in each other presence. In a fashion they were both two very lonely persons who desperately needed for company and comprehension.
Touda had never thought he would mind being alone before knowing Tsuzuki. He had never cared for company nor liked it. Tsuzuki's presence however was addictive... and it felt good.
As for Tsuzuki... Tsuzuki couldn't stand to loneliness and yet he ended up facing alone his own problems more often than not. He just... wasn't good at sharing them, didn't feel like he could share them, was scared to share them and so he hid them from anyone else. To have Touda around was... odd. He had the impression no matter what he would do or say the Shiki would still be at his side. He had never dared to hope that much from all his Shiki. He had been content enough with their promise they would help him should he need them to fight a battle. He had been content enough to be allowed to enjoy their company. He had never expected blind acceptance.
There was a pause of silence after all the fishes had been eaten.
"What are we going to do now, Tsuzuki?" Touda asked, breaking it. He was perfectly capable to come up with a plan of action if he wanted to. The point was he didn't care. He wanted to do what Tsuzuki wanted. He wanted to enjoy the chance to be useful to his master wherever this would lead him.
"Well... I guess we'll have to restart investigating now that we've some more clues."
"You're not going to report this to SoRyu," Touda stated. It would have been easier if Tsuzuki reported the Tengu's involvement to SoRyu and washed his hands clean with the matter. It would have been safer for Tsuzuki to keep out from that mess from now on but Tsuzuki rarely did what would have been better for him, only what was better for others.
"It won't work, Touda. There are just my suspicions against the Tengu's word."
"You're SoRyu's master. The Tengu's word doesn't count." Tsuzuki lowered his gaze.
"SoRyu doesn't have to believe me just because he ended up as being my Shikigami."
"You make it sound like being your Shiki is a bad thing. Really Tsuzuki if SoRyu isn't grateful for it, he's a bigger idiot than I trusted him to be," he informed Tsuzuki a bit exasperatedly. "And he's supposed to trust you, you know. You are his master. He chose you."
"He did it only because he felt he had to, not because I won a challenge or something."(5)
"You almost got killed to save his daughter. I say it's a fine proof you're a worthy master." Touda hadn't been freed yet when it had happened but it was a matter of public knowledge.
"It means nothing."
"If that doesn't, I don't know what did. He's a Ryuzoku after all. Children are important for Ryuzoku and, even if they weren't, what you did..."
"It means nothing," Tsuzuki repeated, interrupting him. Touda groaned. He should have guessed that something was up.
"What happened that I don't know?"
"Nothing you should worry about," Tsuzuki said, dismissing the matter.
"Am I allowed to choose over what I should worry about or not, Aruji-sama?" he asked. It was a fair question. If Tsuzuki decided it wasn't his business he wouldn't inquire anymore. He won't be pleased but he wouldn't inquire.
"We had... an argument..." Tsuzuki mumbled hesitantly. Touda frowned.
"Over me?"
"That's not the point. He said he couldn't trust my judgement. It's fair. It's in his right. Trust has to be gained, deserved. I did nothing to prove myself worth of it. I'm just a mere Shinigami who..."
"Tsuzuki. You got almost killed to safe his daughter without expecting something in return," Touda repeated very slowly. "SoRyu values his children the most. You did for him something no one else would do for free. He accepted you as his master. He has no right to question your judgement." What was going in SoRyu's mind anyway? Water Shiki usually gave importance to their duty and SoRyu's duty was to obey to Tsuzuki, not to question him.(6)
"SoRyu is a nice person. I'm a mere child to him. He volunteered to lend me his protection but it's normal he believes he knows better. It's not a problem really." That was a blatant lie and Touda knew it.
"What did the others say?" Tsuzuki looked at him without saying a word. "Whose idiots supported him? What is this world coming at?"
"They were only trying to help. They believed it would be better for me."
"They're not you! How can they believe they know what's better for you!"
"It happens. When you care for someone you end up believing you know better than the person you care for," Tsuzuki stated simply. He had already experienced it. It was nice in a fashion but it often lead to more troubles than anything else.
"They're a bunch of idiots," Touda stated. Tsuzuki smiled kindly.
"It'll be okay, Touda. We'll do it even without SoRyu's support."
Maybe they would but Touda knew Tsuzuki won't forget this, wont forget the pain he had felt when SoRyu had made him understand he wouldn't trust his judgement.
"I'll trust your judgement. Always. No matter how idiotic it will be," he announced. Tsuzuki blinked, than chuckled.
"Thank you," he said resting a hand over Touda's. It was weird but he felt like he just had received the best gift in the world.
"Someone's coming," Touda informed Tsuzuki as he immediately stood, ready to face any danger. "Torizoku. I'll say our friends Tengu are coming back. You sure you don't want some Yakitori after the fishes?"
"Positive. Please, sit down, Touda." Touda frowned, but complied. The Tengu were Wind Shiki and therefore fast but he was still faster than them. It wasn't like he would let them manage to do something.
The Tengu landed close to them, and looked at them warily.
"Glad to see you again, Kotaro and Kojiro," Tsuzuki greeted them. The Tengu jumped hearing Tsuzuki using their names. They hadn't introduced themselves in the meeting then remembered they had left the names slip during the discussion. They looked at each other than gave a short nod in reply to Tsuzuki's greeting.
"Come on, come closer. The evening is cold here and the fire's warm!" Tsuzuki invited them in a cheerful tone. The Tengu looked at each other again than came closer.
"I'll offer you some food but we finished it already, I'm sorry. Please, don't stand, make yourself comfortable!" Another exchanged glance than the Tengu complied. Touda was getting bored.
"So, what bring you back here?" Tsuzuki asked casually.
"You... you said you were searching for the culprit of the..." Kojiro started. He was always the one who did all the talking. Tsuzuki nodded.
"Yes. We're searching for the Akuma who caused this mess. We'll be grateful if you'll explain us how he managed to get through the gates and tell us a little about him," Tsuzuki told in a gentle tone.
"How do you know an Akuma went through the Suzaku's gate?" the Tengu stammered together. Touda looked at Tsuzuki. So was that the mess the two Tengu caused this time? He had definitely undervalued their ability to cause troubles... Tsuzuki smiled gently at Kotaro and Kojiro.
"Well, only Akuma have powers comparable to Touda's and they couldn't enter here unless from a gate. The Tengu control a gate, don't they?" Kotaro and Kojiro nodded.
"What are you going to do now that you know?" Kojiro asked.
"I'll track him down and stop him, of course," Tsuzuki said carelessly as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "I'll appreciate if you could tell us more about this Akuma."
"You... aren't you going to tell to SoRyu-dono..."
"No. I'm not this sort of person," Tsuzuki replied simply.
"Aren't you even going ask us why..." Tsuzuki shook his head.
"From the way you behave I'll say it had been an incident, hadn't it?" The two Tengu smiled bitterly.
"And a stupid one. We only wanted to prove we knew how to open the gates... We were only doing practice... We never meant..." Tsuzuki shrugged.(7)
"It has been an incident. Incidents happen," Tsuzuki said, dismissing the matter easily. "But you should have told the truth to SouJouBou-sama or SoRyu right at the beginning."
"We... we were hoping we could solve this trouble alone. We didn't want SouJouBou-sama to know this."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know SouJouBou-sama was a bad person," Tsuzuki said.
"He's not!" the Tengu defended him heartedly and, for once, talking simultaneously. "SouJouBou-sama is a wonderful person, very kind and generous! He took us in when we were left alone in the world! He taught us everything we know! He..."
"So why don't you believe him capable to understand that it was a mistake and to forgive and forget?" Tsuzuki asked in a kind tone.
The Tengu blinked, taken aback. They hadn't considered the situation under this point of view.
"It's not like that..." Kojiro tried to say but it was exactly like that and they both knew it.
"Okay. Let's switch on more urgent topics. Any info you can give us about this Akuma?"
The two Tengu looked at each other then spilled out all they knew which wasn't much. Tsuzuki listened to them attentively. He knew that type of Akuma. Things were going to be troublesome and that was merely the tip of the iceberg. The Tengu never managed to end their little tale. Touda stood and interrupted them.
"Tsuzuki. It looks like the Akuma is back into action again. Something is burning. And it's big."
JJ's Notes:
1. Shikigami age but not at the same speed as humans... and it might be they can also chose which age to look (Kijin and Tenko had been born the same day but Tenko looks way younger).
2. To become the master of a Shikigami you've to find one, challenge him/her/it and win the challenge. The challenge can be of whatever type the Shikigami chooses it to be.
3. Why have I said that Tsuzuki has Mazoku's blood? Well... Tsuzuki had been accused to not be human. Muraki hypothesized he had the blood of an Oni but I guess it was merely because they were watching 'Momijigari' a story about Oni. In some stories it's said that demons have purple eyes. I assumed it's a Japanese folklore concept and so it makes sense Tsuzuki believes himself to be a demon. Why did I use the word 'Mazoku' and not 'Akuma'? Because 'Akuma' means loosely 'Evil Demon' while 'Mazoku' means only 'Member of the Demon Race'. Since Tsuzuki isn't an evil being I favoured the term 'Mazoku'.
4. I made up the information about Tsuzuki's family since the manga said nothing about his parents.
5. I'm also making up why SoRyu became Tsuzuki's Shiki since this too isn't said in the manga.
6. I also made up the typical Water Shiki's behaviour.
7. Another thing that I'm assuming is that at the time Kotaro and Kojiro weren't guardians of the gate yet.
JJ's Extra Notes:
When I started this fic there were various topics I wanted to touch. One of them was the relation between the Tengu and Touda. They treat him with a certain respect even if Touda is a traitor. He's called Touda-sama while SoRyu is SoRyu-dono. I wanted to write something that showed why Kotaro and Kojiro were so respectful with him.
Also I wanted to have Touda and Tsuzuki deal with Tsuzuki's eyes issue. Normally people who care for Tsuzuki say him he's a human and that his eye colour means nothing. I don't think it's really comforting. Of course it's nice to hear it but Tsuzuki is always likely thinking: 'What if they're wrong? How will they react if they'll find out they're wrong and I'm an Akuma?'. I wanted someone who would simply tell him that it doesn't matter what he was but who he was. Touda seemed fitting to do so.
Last, I wanted to talk a bit about Touda's blind loyalty to Tsuzuki. Touda is the one who accepts to kill him, the only one Tsuzuki trust to be willing to do what he asked and, no matter what, he's always placing Tsuzuki's wishes before his. I wanted to make it a matter of trust and not just mere obedience or thankfulness. It just... seems more fitting.
Dictionary:
-dono: Name ending used to show respect, somewhere between '-san' and '-sama'
-sama: "Lord" or "Lady"
-san: "Mr." or "Mrs."
Aruji: "Master" or "Owner"
Akuma: Demon
ChiJou: Land of the Living
Enma: "Demon of Darkness". Ruler of the Land of Dead
Enma-Cho: "Office Enma". In the 5th district of JuOhCho. It's ruled by Enma himself and controls only Tokyo's territory. It hosts the Shokan-ka
Mazoku: Member of the Demon Race
Meifu: Land of the Dead
GenSoKai: "Illusory world". It's where Shikigami reside and it's a mirror copy of ChiJou located in JuOhCho network
JiGoku no Kuro no Honoo: Black Fire of Hell
JuOhCho: "Ten Kings Office". Meifu's bureaucratic organization ruled by Enma. It's in charge of judging the deceased in Japan
JyaShin: "Snake God". Touda's title
Ningen: Human
Rikozoku: "Riko Race" or "Member of the Riko Race". The Riko race is a race of cactus looking low power defensive water Shikigami
Ryuzoku: "Dragon Race" or "Member of the Dragon Race"
Shiki: Short for 'Shikigami'
Shikigami: "Ceremonial God". Summoned creatures with two forms (usually one is animal looking while the other is human looking) that live in GenSoKai
Shinigami: "God of Death", "Death God". Nickname for the Shokan-ka workers
ShinSho: Divine Commander
Shokan-Ka: "Summoning Division". Division in Enma-Cho that deals with summoning the dead to appear at court. It enters in action only when the souls of the dead don't go spontaneously to Meifu
Tengu: "Heavenly dog". A race of winged Shikigami who're in charge of the Suzaku gate
Torizoku: "Bird Race" or "Member of the Bird Race"
Tsukaima: "Familiar Magic" or "Messenger Magic" or "Useable Magic". A summoned creature created with a Fuda specifically for a determinate purpose (pursuing targets, carrying messages, attacking enemies, spying)
Yakitori: "Roasted Bird". It's a type of food. Basically 'Chicken on the spit'
Replies to reviews:
To Everyone who reviewed: Thank you! You're a great encouragement for me!
To Candy-chan: Of course your name is here again! Who inspired me to write this? I'm glad you like Kuroshiro!
To ThisbeCeyx: I've been tempted to use the Japanese translation for 'puppy' (I always use the Japanese version of nicknames or titles when I know it), 'Koinu-chan' but it sounded a bit odd... So let's just have Kuroshiro use the English word for it, okay? I find it more cute and oddly sweet for someone like Kuroshiro. 'Puppy' is a nickname fitting for Tsuzuki in many ways and since Kuroshiro is a wolf Shiki... I'm glad you think the dialogues make the story natural. I wanted it flowing smoothly and in the simplest way possible, allowing the characters to explain themselves... besides much of what is between Tsuzuki and Touda is in their dialogues...
Touda's body... who doesn't love it? (sighs dreamly)
To Silverfox1: LOL Oh yes, my other fave puppy! J-chan behave! I'm glad you like Kuroshiro. OC are always hard to write!
Send me your comments!
