Clear to cloudy
Target 21: Kotsu vs Gerald: what's in a boss?
Everyone's standing in the house looking out at Kotsu and Gerald who're about to start their bout. Kotsu in his hyper dying will mode with his large fork at the ready.
"I hope you're ready Gerald-san," Kotsu says before he shoots off with the rockets on the forktips. Gerald jumps out of the way of the charge attack before he punches at Kotsu from the side, but Kotsu just moves his fork in the way.
Gerald jumps back chuckling. "I'll admit that took me a little by surprise. But I think I should get serious," he says his ring lighting up with a green surge of electricity. Kotsu looks curiously never having seen such a power before. However he is further surprised when Gerald takes out a small green box with a hole in it. However he decides that attacking now is the opportune time! He leaps forward striking at him with the fork and Gerald kicks up at it feeling himself get overpowered by the young boy quite quickly and he jams his ring into the box quickly before jumping back, making Kotsu's fork slam into the ground. "Shall we get serious then, boy?" Gerald says and Kotsu flings his fork over his shoulder, prepared for anything Gerald can throw at him. He sees Gerald hold a short metal baton. He swings it a little before almost flicking it down and it turns into a green laser sword giving off little sparks of electricity.
"A sword huh?" He says and Gerald leaps forward taking initiative this time and he strikes at Kotsu with his large imposing figure the young boy blocking the downward strike with both his hands the sparks from the sword flying off some of it hitting Kotsu's face. He ignores the light twitching before pushing Gerald away going in for another strike.
"Why would he pick you of all people?" he says and Kotsu stabs at him with the fork Gerald blocking it right in between the two middle spikes, however he does slide back a little before all of the energy from the strike is gone. "You have none of the qualifications a boss needs to have. You're a lot stronger like this I'll admit but you still stand no cha-" He starts when suddenly Kotsu extends the two middle spikes grazing Gerald's cheek, forcing him to jump back or get stabbed. The second he lands Kotsu goes on the attack shooting forward with the rocket boosters swinging his fork over his head and Gerald blocks with a horizontal two-handed block over his head.
"I said I'd fight you. Not speak to you Gerald-san. You said you wanted me to show you. And the easiest way to do that is to simply defeat you," Kotsu says, suddenly letting go of his fork and lighting up his ring with his forehead punching at Gerald hitting him dead on as he had no time to react. In the second after Gerald gains back his balance he swings at Kotsu who jumps over the attack, grabbing his fork out of the air boosting himself down and Gerald strikes upward to block with his saber, when suddenly Kotsu does a flip kicking downwards right past Gerald's block. The mafioso manages to just move back to avoid however the second Kotsu lands he uses his spinning momentum to swing his fork around and strike down at the man. Though he manages to get a block up it's quickly broken as the saber snaps in two and Gerald is grazed by the spikes of the fork, as he once more managed to avoid a full on confrontation however he notes something when the forks come down. They're lit! Before he can get out of the way Kotsu blasts them off with max power standing his ground as Gerald is shot across the garden. He lands on his feet stopping himself with the sword which has repaired itself. "Had enough?" Kotsu asks swinging the fork back over his shoulder.
Everyone in the house gasps. With Rinoka being really scared of what's happening. However Ren leans down to comfort her. "Hey. Don't worry. It's a game my little brother's gotten into. It's all special effects to look cool. And Kotsu gets REALLY into it from what I understand,"
"B-b-b-but… i-it looks so… d-dangerous… a-are you sure they're not g-going to get hurt… t-that m-man looks really… s-s-scary," She stutters and Ren just chuckles.
"Don't you worry. Kotsu's fought and won against that guy with the tattoos. So intimidating people aren't really that scary for him. And it's just a game so they're not actually aiming to hit each other."
However while everyone sees Kotsu winning two people are NOT seeing that he's winning. Those two being Gerald's biological family, Tsugemora and Geraldino. Reborn also seems to be doubting that confidence Kotsu is showing. "He's not done. Far from it. Kotsu's probably going to lose," Reborn says gritting his teeth. "That old man. I told him not to hold back," He says angrily and Murphy gulps.
"Are you sure he's not going all out? That was quite the exchange after all…"
"Gerald has been a mafioso since he was quite young and even before that he was quite a ruffian. Thinking he's done would be doing the man a disservice," he adds and Geraldino smirks looking out.
"that little shrimp's going to get it thinking he's won,"
"Nii-san…"
Gerald chuckles standing tall, and although he looks quite damaged he doesn't even seem intimidated by Kotsu's display. "I see now. Why you defeated Geraldino! Pure luck!" he yells out much to Kotsu's surprise.
"What are you talking about?!"
"I have watched Geraldino grow up becoming as strong as he is today and such meager power shouldn't have been able to overpower him. But it's easy to see why you managed to defeat him," he says pointing his laser sword at Kotsu's fork. "that weapon! It is such a strange weapon to utilize. Unpredictable and versatile! A dangerous combination to be sure, but THAT is the reason Geraldino lost! He has the strength of a hundred mafioso, but what he holds in power he lacks in intelligence. Unlike me. Now I will show you what I can really do…"
"You talk a big game Gerald-san, but I felt your full strength from every attack. You have nothing left to surprise me with," Kotsu states. "Accept that I have the right to have been chosen,"
"Boy. Listen to what I say right now. 'I' will not be chosen as a boss candidate by the top council, OR by the outside advisor. Why? Because I am not strong enough to be boss, AND I have not the expertise necessary for such an important position. And from what I've seen you certainly don't have the expertise and what you're about to experience will prove you don't have the strength either," He says before setting off towards Kotsu who prepares his defense when suddenly Gerald grabs onto the saber with both hands pulling in different directions and the saber splits into two.
Kotsu remains calm. 'Another ability. Is this the power of the green electricity? No… the green electricity seemed to be what makes up the blade. This is something else' he thinks blocking Gerald's first strike jumping over the second strike, however right as he leaves the ground Gerald's saber disappears, and Gerald kicks at him and Kotsu can't do much being midair and he tumbles backwards. He notes that Gerald's second blade is gone. 'It's gone again… Is he hiding it? No… there'd be no point as I've already seen it' Kotsu shoots off with the help of his boosters again.
"Gerald-san! I won't lose no matter what you say to me!" He declares before swinging his fork into a stabbing attack setting his feet down and Gerald blocks it with his blade, when Kotsu fires the boosters again as an attack, however Gerald sees it coming this time, ducking under and attacking from underneath with a second blade he's made once more. Kotsu jumps making his boosters fire him into the air. Gerald just smirks up at him.
"You think you're fit to be boss by simply 'never giving up'!? What a foolish childishness you possess. Many people could benefit greatly from having that! But NOT a candidate for boss!" He yells, pointing one of his batons at the ground as it widens into a thruster much like Kotsu's fork shooting him into the air as well. The two clash in midair, with neither giving in, but it's clear that Gerald has the upper hand, his batons disappearing and reappearing seemingly at random and Kotsu is having a hard time keeping up.
Kotsu grits his teeth blocking another of Gerald's attacks with the fork spikes. He breaks the blade of Gerald's weapon again, spinning around with a hard kick. "Gerald-san… You've got me all wrong…" He says as Gerald is about to strike him again.
"All wrong!? I think not! You're just a child who wishes he can be something more than he can become otherwise and you know I am right!" He yells and Kotsu can almost feel his heart shatter. Right after the flame on his forehead bursts a little and he gives Gerald another hard kick, sending the man flying to the ground.
Reborn can see a primal look in Kotsu's eyes as he sees Gerald approach the ground. The young boy gets his fork in position shooting at the ground using the last of his flame as boost from his fork. "KOTSU! STOP!" THAT'S AN ORDER!"
"Gerald-san! Fighting you right here I've realized something!" Kotsu yells coming down at a quite impressive speed. "You're wrong! Becoming boss…!" He yells smashing into the ground before Gerald can recover from hitting the ground and a giant cloud of dust shoots up. It slowly disappears with Kotsu standing his fork imbedded into the ground right next to Gerald's head. It slowly gets smaller again as Kotsu's flame disappears. "Becoming boss… is all I have…" he says slowly almost crying and Gerald is quite surprised to see the tears forming in his eyes. Kotsu grabs his fork and stands up straight. "It's all I have going for me at this point… and you know… I don't really mind it too much. For my whole life… I've always just been 'Ren's little brother' or… 'Just Kotsu'. I've never a person people can look at and say 'that guy. He has something going for him'. A-and as much as I complain about… Cotton's shenanigans and… Tsugemora's clinginess… Reborn's torturous training… and all the other crazy things that happen to me… I feel like it's all something meant for me. All these people I've met including you Gerald… I've met BECAUSE I have been chosen to be a boss candidate," he says holding his hand forward and Gerald takes it, utterly stunned at the statement.
"You cannot be serious, boy! There must be SOMETHING you've dreamed of. You're but a child still!"
Kotsu just shakes his head. "I've… never really had the creativity to come up with a future plan. The only goal I ever set myself… is that I would help others in my occupation…" He says with a shy laughter and everyone awws at Kotsu causing him to finally notice that they're being watched, leading his cheeks to flush thoroughly. "Y-you didn't hear that!" He yells trying to hide himself as much as possible.
Gerald nods contently. "I see, boy. You have a good heart it would seem. But I would start making other plans quite soon… because you… will not become boss," He says before going back towards the house.
"W-what…?" Kotsu asks before he's assaulted by Tsugemora.
"Nii-san! That was so awesome!" He yells and Kotsu laughs a little.
"Yeah… but I could feel that… after he started using that duplication method on his swords… he started holding back… I didn't really stand a chance…" He says looking after the man, who's getting an earful from Kotsu's mom telling him how irresponsible that was and so on, much to Gerald's surprise and he looks pretty uncomfortable.
"Sorry for… ruining your birthday with that Tsugemora… I… didn't mean to end up in a fight with your dad…"
However Tsugemora's eyes sparkle. "What're you TALKING about Nii-san!? That was the most awesome birthday present EVER! Seeing the two most amazing people I know fight!? It was CRAZY!" He yells and Kotsu gets up. All his friend's join him in a big circle with Rinoka staying behind everyone, still wanting to be included.
"That was amazing Kotsu-kun! Just like when you fought that Geraldino guy!" Fumie says clapping him on his back.
"Still lil' bro! You gotta be careful with those unfamiliar movements," Ren assures and Kotsu chuckles almost happily.
"Yeah… I'll be sure to take it easy…"
Everyone heads back inside to finish up the party with the exception of Rinoka. Kotsu quickly realizes that she was NOT used to seeing such crazy things happen. "Um… so… w-what did you think…?" He asks and Rinoka almost shakes visibly.
"T-that l-looked r-r-really dangerous K-Kotsu-san…" She manages to get out.
"Yeah… It's um… much less dangerous than it looks… this… game," He says almost as if he's trying to convince HIMSELF that it's a game.
"Y-y-y-y-y-y-you w-w-wwwere r-really c-c-coo-…" She tries before blushing and running away back into the house.
"Was that a… compliment…?" He asks and Reborn walks up hitting him over the head seemingly without reason. "W-why'd you do that!?"
"Next time you decide to make such a risky move… don't. If that was a real fight, even if you went to actually hit him… you'd be dead," He says and Kotsu sighs a little.
"Well… I… um… sorry… Aren't you gonna comment on what I said!?" He says referring to his little speech.
"That's none of my business. You really are Klutsu," He says also leaving him. He looks around the garden realizing he and Gerald made quite a mess with throwing around all those attacks. Well it was mostly him actually… Gerald's style didn't really make a mess at all…
-NII-
After everyone's cleaned up everything and gone home after saying some quick goodbyes, Tsugemora stands outside along with Gerald ready to leave, though sadly it seems Geraldino… will NOT be joining them. "Thank you so much for hosting my birthday party miss Niruo-sama," Tsugemora says bowing and Kotsu had briefly forgotten that they were celebrating in the midst of everything.
His mom just kindly smiles. "Oh don't you worry dear. I'd be happy to do it again next year,"
"I-I would like that very much miss Niruo-sama," He says before looking to Nii-san. "And Nii-san. I'm really sorry! But I will have to leave for a little while. I want to spend some time with my dad. So I'll be staying with him while he's in Japan," he says and Kotsu just smiles.
"Well… that's fine. I never asked you to watch over me ALL the time after all. I'll just… see you when you get back," He says holding out his fist and Tsugemora gets almost a little shy bumping it.
"So coooool…" He says as he walks away with Gerald.
"I guess… I guess it'll be… different without Tsugemora around," he says before going back in feeling quite a strange sensation of hot and cold at the same time. He looks in the livingroom seeing Geraldino coldly staring at Cotton, currently held by Jute, who's glaring right back almost emitting a heat of some kind.
"Hey you little twerp. Apologize!" Geraldino demands and Cotton whimpers a little. Kotsu looks on the table seeing the drawing Geraldino made, with clear signs of Cotton having drawn all over it.
"Cotton-heika will NOT apologize!" She cries and Geraldino appears to want to strangle the little girl, probably explaining why jute is holding her.
"Now now you two. Stop arguing. We can solve this civilly right?"
"Screw that! That little twig ruined my drawing!" He yells and Kotsu is once more reminded of a child instead of a large strong young man. However their little argument is interrupted when Kotsu's mom grabs Geraldino by the cheek pulling him away.
"Now you behave Geraldino. I will not have you arguing while you're under my roof," She demands and Geraldino tries getting free but she has a surprisingly strong grip.
"H-hey! Let me go dammit!" he tries to no avail and Kotsu gets a little sweatdrop.
"I guess… this is ALSO different,"