Saras felt somewhat giddy.
He had survived a potentially life-threatening encounter with the scariest known mammal in China, thanks to Danzaburo.
He had shifted the blame off of the Bat Cave, well technically Danzaburo had done that when he told Yang Chao that they weren't from the Bat Cave, which was only half a lie.
He clearly had no reason whatsoever to see that pile of vodka, or pay Yang Chao and Tin Zu back for giving Lao Pi their address.
Sure the Bat Cave as a whole had lost from the whole thing, what with all the vodka 'mysteriously' disappearing, but when he was done telling Aang exactly what he had been through, he was certain his brother would care a bit more about his personal health, rather than a bunch of alcohol.
Currently he was hiding out in Kenji's Place. Kenji was down in the kitchens, muttering about how the place hadn't been left in such a mess. Apparently Danzaburo had lied when he had said that he had been Kenji all along. That didn't matter much considering Danzaburo had single-handedly saved his and the Bat Cave's tails. Right now, as he pulled off the last of the tar, he couldn't feel anything other than joy. Sure the evening had sucked a little, well a lot actually. But he had come out on top.
Danzaburo sat in the corner of the small room. He was trying to concentrate. He had gone out to kill Saras, and had in the process saved him. He sighed inwardly. It had confirmed something he already knew. He couldn't bring himself to end the kit's life. On one paw, it was his duty. But Saras was a kit. A child, and he hadn't wronged him truly. Of course it was normal for him to refuse changing his whole life, with no real reason to. He had friends, family, a master. He couldn't leave all that behind for someone he barely knew. Even if I did save his life.
Now as the fox struggled to remove the last bit of tar Danzaburo was reminded yet again of how young he really was. He was a child. The Daimyo's missions were dangerous. Danzaburo could take any form he wanted, Saras had mastered ten. He was inexperienced, and it was really a wonder why any organization would want him in the first place. He could do great things, he had potential. But he couldn't do it yet. If he had come to Japan with him, he would never come back alive. And it would have been all Danza's fault. He was reminded somewhat painfully, of all the other tanukis that had been forced to become spies. Some died in the little training they received, others were caught mid-mission, but right now, he was the only one left. It didn't matter how they died, but rather that they did die. And he had been so close to dragging Saras down with them.
When Saras was done with the tar, the kit sat down next to Danzaburo. What followed was silence. Not an awkward silence, but a relaxing one. A silence so sweet and calm one could fall asleep in it. And that's exactly what Saras did as he slipped into a world of dreams. Danzaburo just smiled.
Three days later...
Shan Qu walked out of the Tower of Sacred Flames a free bat. It had taken a while for him to convince the Master's Council that he was not in any way, shape or form affiliated with Tin Zu.
True his excuse wasn't the best. He claimed that he had found Tin Zu's infant son all alone one night and brought him to where he was staying, which he conveniently forgot. He had gotten a bit drunk one night, on his way to return the baby to the Master's Council, that had lead him to hurting their pride, and had resulted finally in his capture.
Having no proof that he was lying he was allowed to leave.
The first thing he did was head straight to Kenji's Place. Kenji scowled at him, though he didn't know the reason why. Walking past the angry duck he went upstairs, and found Saras was still alive and well.
"Hey boss ! Did you miss me ?"
"Of course"! Saras lied. "I was worried sick"! In truth he had entirely forgotten about Shan Qu. Then for good measure he added. "Where the hell have you been"?
"The Master's Council arrested me !" He crossed his wings over his chest. "It's not as if I did anything illegal !"
Saras shrugged. "Your fault for getting caught. Anyways Shan Qu it's good that you're back. We're leaving in a bit. Pack anything that belongs to us, when I come back, we leave".
"I just got here"! Shan Qu protested. "Besides, where are you going anyways ?"
"I just need to tie up some loose ends." Saras replied before closing the door behind him.
The tanuki with his expressionless face sat at the docks.
Danzaburo was preparing to leave. He had a ticket, bought and payed for by a Kabuto Kanji, who didn't exist, straight back to Japan. He was waiting to say sayonara, something he rarely got the opportunity to do in his missions. Normally he left, without even a trace of his existence left behind him. Now, however, he had left a bit of a mess behind.
Saras and maybe Shan Qu knew enough about him to blow his secret into the Imperial Army's face, he doubted they would, but torture was always available. Yang Chao, the leader of the Seekers had nearly killed him, and vice versa. He would have to tread carefully whenever he entered the criminal underworld from now on, especially if the hare was pissed off, which it was very likely he was. Still, if he had nearly beaten the organization's leader, maybe the minions would think twice before trying to get him. Another difference between this mission and most of his other ones, was that he had made a real friend, or at least put his trust in someone other than himself. That was something he had never expected would happen. Still, shapeshifters were meant to be full of surprises. Despite his apparent failure to bring in Saras, he viewed the mission as being successful. He had befriended the young shapeshifter, and had put him out of harm's way. So the Daimyo wouldn't get another spy, big deal. He still had Danzaburo, and should be grateful for that.
Finally Saras arrived, smiling happily. Danzaburo's expression changed from it's expressionless state to show a rare, genuine smile. The kit still had a large ugly bruise around his eye, but was otherwise unharmed.
"You took your time," the tanuki commented.
"I had to deal with Shan Qu. You're not the only one leaving you know". Saras replied, waving away Danza's statement. Saras sat down next to him, before pulling out a small pot. "I made soup."
Danzaburo raised an eyebrow. "You did what ?"
"Well I guess the trip to Japan is gonna be a long boring one, so I figured you'd like some food to pass the time."
"That is very considerate of you. How did you convince to let you into the kitchen ?"
"I didn't." The fox picked up a stone and flung it at the water. It bounced twice, before half-bouncing into the depths of the water. Saras shrugged. "He's already angry enough as it is. Besides, it's better than anything he serves."
Danzaburo picked up a stone and flung it into the water with a strong, sharp flick of his wrist. It bounced eight times before skidding into the ocean. "Huh, if I knew you were going this far, I would have gotten you sushi."
Saras shrugged. "Maybe next time."
Danzaburo took the warm bowls of soup and placed them in small bag. "If you're ever in Japan, feel free to visit."
"Yeah. I guess I will." He said with a far off look on his face.
Danzaburo handed him a leaf. "Consider this my goodbye gift, Saras-san."
The kit's eyes widened in excitement. "What is it ? A katana ? Shuriken ? Tar bom-"
"It's just a regular leaf."
"Is this a joke"?
Danzaburo laughed, throwing the useless leaf into the water, where it floated for a while, before being swallowed up by the swash of the waves. "You know me so well."
Saras stared at the waves, moving backwards and forwards, like the beating of a heart.
"You look lost Saras-san."
"Well it's just that I never see most people I say goodbye to."
"Hmm. The wind blows the waves into the shore, and even though the wave becomes one with the ocean again, eventually the wave meets the shore again."
"Words to live by", Saras complimented.
"I know they are."
The two sat in silence, and watched the waves beat against the docks with their own, mechanical rhythm.
Footnote: Thus ends one of the stories that I struggled relatively little with. Sure inspiration was lacking with some of the chapters. This one included, but I still think that it was one of my more entertaining fics.
I think that what it does best, is explain one little pet peeve of mine, regarding Tournament of Legends. How does Danzaburo know what Yang Chao looks like ? Well they damn well near killed each other ! That's how !
Also it makes that scene in House of Tamod where Chaonao stops Badr from hurting Saras make some kind of sense. Just imagine if Chaonao never existed, and was just a creation of Danzaburo ? That would mean that the whole of the House of Tamod Danzaburo was watching over him. It's just a little headcannon of mine, but still an interesting idea, I'm sure you'll agree.
As usual I'd like a rating out of ten, please :)
My next story will be a fic called Back in the Day: The Tournament, and is a depiction of the original Five Tasks of the House of Tamod, it is also on one of my first of several prequels I have in the works. It revolves around Badr Tamod and *** **** ** *** *********.
Editted Note: Ah, this delightful little... Dare I call it a collaboration? Story's more neutral. Honestly I'm surprised it aged as well as it did. I have this habit of living a story very much as I'm working on it, but give it a month after completion and... I'm stressing over everything! Why did I write that! Why! Why?!
It's gotten better, I think, and I'm proud to say I didn't change anything this time around (beyond a few typos I caught). Just a note because I tend to get over-excited in these authors notes and reading it made something unclear... Chaonao's isn't Danzaburo. Not here or in House of Tamod. Just had to straighten that up.
There were things that miffed me a little (such as the ending of 'Sushi' and the ending of Danzaburo's and Saras' fight but I decided not to change it, since it all kind of... Fit in with the fic I guess.) One thing I regret is also not giving Yang Chao his signature ature accent. Mainly cos back when I wrote this accents were not easy for me to do.
Danzaburo and Saras had some interesting chemistry I guess, but not as much as Danzaburo and Zorori.
Alright now for Village Champion... Honestly not sure if I should go full remake on it or just edit... Perhaps a combination of both...