楽しいことや悲しみことなど
Tanoshii koto ya kanashimi koto nado
Fun Things, Sad Things, and Such
By: Jaha Canon （ジャハカノン）
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters.
Okay… okay… I lied. This is not the chapter in which I'm introducing Ryou into this story.
Thanks to Dragon0152 for pointing out my hiragana mistake! I was feeling kind of rushed near the end and I guess I'm getting a tad too comfortable typing in foreign languages. () Well, thanks again! I'm used to people being nit-picky about my English when I'm careless and I appreciate that, it nice to have that for my Japanese too!
Thanks also to KoumiLoccness for the review.
I welcome criticism if anyone has any (constructive, of course) and of course I will always accept compliments. ()
On with the show…
Chapter 2: 君が一番カイザーだ。
(You Are the Number One Kaiser)
-February 1999: Little more than five months before the first journey in the digital world-
Izumi Koushirou just got off the train. It was a pain to have to get across Tokyo Bay to get to Tamachi. Nonetheless, the redheaded boy was in a cheerful mood. His birthday was just a few days before and his parents gave him a lap top. The model was chosen by his parents because it was what Koushirou himself recommended; the yellow color with the pineapple on the front was his mothers choice because she thought it looked cute. Koushirou, of course, had no complaints.
Koushirou had wanted a lap top of his own for a long time. Although he had already made a lot of use of the home computer, there were times when he would love to have a computer handy. The Ichijouji residence was a good example: he and Osamu were great friends, but Osamu was very possessive of, well, everything. Koushirou could never get on the computer in the brothers' room without Osamu staring over his shoulder, insisting on opening programs for him.
The boy carrying the laptop reached the Ichijouji apartment and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Ichijouji answered and called to Osamu. Koushirou, having been over many times before, strolled over to the brother's door and knocked.
"Oi! Come in already!" Osamu yelled through the door.
Koushirou sighed. The demanding tone in Osamu's voice can only mean one thing…
He opened the door and entered the room to find a Risk board on the floor.
Yep, Koushirou was right.
Osamu had a goal in life. His goal was to become a powerful dictator and take over the world.
…And apparently this child genius decided that a good way to start plotting strategy was to play Risk.
The game that was currently being played was nearly over. Ken looked at the small area that he had left. His numbers were dwindling down to close to nothing. Ken wasn't very good at this game at all.
Koushirou sat down next to the door, smiling sympathetically at Ken. Every time Osamu played against Koushirou, the redhead came out victorious. Osamu then considered beating Koushirou to be his goal, so every time he decided they should play against each other, he always practiced with Ken for hours.
Ken never complained. He always enjoyed spending time with his elder brother. This game just wasn't something he was particularly interested in. The idea of his brother ruling the world frightened him to no end. When he told Koushirou about it, the older boy agreed Osamu as a dictator was a frightening idea and but then said that he didn't really think the elder brother would really hurt anyone.
Is Osamu joking? Ken wondered. He always thought his brother was serious about taking over the world. Koushirou obviously didn't take Osamu's claims very seriously. He usually laughed a little, rolled his eyes, and changed the subject.
Koushirou won again against Osamu just barely. Osamu thought for sure he had the victory this time, however-
"…h-how did…?" Osamu stuttered. He stared shocked at the board game continents that Koushirou had conquered.
Koushirou shrugged innocently.
"Daijoubu," (It's all right) he said "it's not like I'm going to be up against you taking over the world, right?"
Osamu frowned. That was true… but still…
"You are not going to be my chief advisor when I'm Kaiser!" Osamu exclaimed pointing at Koushirou.
"Fine then," Koushirou said, standing. "Then if I'm Kaiser, you don't get to by my chief advisor!"
Osamu narrowed his eyes and glared. "You wouldn't."
"No, I wouldn't." Koushirou said while sitting down. "But you wouldn't either."
"Of course, I would!" Osamu exclaimed, "I am destined to be the ruler of this planet!"
Koushirou glanced at Ken then and saw that the younger blue haired child looked really uncomfortable. He looked back at Osamu, who was still glaring at him. Koushirou sighed and agreed with Osamu's exclamation.
A little later, Osamu left the room to find out what the status of dinner was.
"Ken-kun, do you really think that your brother would really conquer the world?" Koushirou asked quietly.
"Why wouldn't he? He's always talking about it." Ken replied. He looked uncomfortable with the subject.
"Have you ever seen Osamu-kun actually hurt anyone?" Koushirou asked.
Ken thought for a while, "No… but he does get grumpy a lot." he replied. "I don't think Osamu-niisan really likes people much… besides our parents and you, Koushirou-san."
Before Koushirou could reply, Osamu came back with a very characteristic neutral look on his face. The two high IQs in the room began a conversation about computers. Ken thought about the conversation he had just had and shuddered.
-
"I think Ken-kun really thinks you plan to take over the world." Koushirou told Osamu later, while the older of the Ichijouji siblings was walking him to the station.
Osamu gave Koushirou a cold look. "Why wouldn't I?" he said.
"You should stop convincing yourself of that before you find yourself at a point where you have to go against your own word." Koushirou urged.
"What makes you think that I wouldn't have an empire?" Osamu asked with an annoyed tone.
"Because you and Ken are exactly the same." Koushirou replied.
Osamu stared at the ground and mumbled, "No, we're not."
"Its plain as day that Ken hates the idea of you hurting people." Koushirou stated.
"Of course he does, he's always disliked seeing people in pain." Osamu responded casually.
"Remember that time the three of us found that injured cat and Ken insisted that we take care of it?" Koushirou asked.
Osamu rolled his eyes. "Of course I do… how could I ever forget that dirty stray."
"And do you remember who the cat always insisted on sleeping with?"
Osamu avoided the question:
"Ken always wanted the cat to sleep on his bed."
"Who's bed did the cat sleep in?"
Long pause:
"…Mine."
"And who permitted the "dirty stray" cat to sleep on his bed?"
"Ken did."
"And who else?"
"You would've, if you were sleeping over."
"And who else?"
Long pause:
"…Me."
Koushirou smiled triumphantly. "See?" he got no answer "My point is that you and I both know that you are not really a dictator, so why don't you stop trying to convince the world and do Ken a huge favor before he really thinks his brother is a monster."
"Look, we're at the station." Osamu said pointedly.
"It is, indeed, the station." Koushirou replied coolly.
"Are you coming again tomorrow?" Osamu asked.
"No, I'm busy tomorrow. How about the day after?"
"Okay by me. Then I will beat you at Risk!"
"Please… no more Risk." Koushirou said, he was honestly tired of that game.
"If you accept the rematch you can be my chief advisor when I'm Kaiser." Osamu offered.
Koushirou smiled. "I'll have to think about that one."
Osamu smiled back. "I'll practice with Ken so you'll feel like you have to play."
"You are really too good of a friend," Koushirou said dryly, but still smiling. "Not to mention a great older brother. I'm really jealous of Ken-kun."
"Yeah, well, you should be."
"I am. Later Osamu-kun!"
"Later, Koushirou-kun." Osamu said. He watched as his red-headed friend disappeared down the stairs to the subway.
He began to walk home. The conversation he had just finished with Koushirou left him unsettled. It was certain that Koushirou had meant it to be that way.
'It's not true' Osamu told himself 'you will take over the world someday… they'll see.'
Osamu visibly twitched as a voice appeared in his mind that sounded like Koushirou's. It began to debate against the previous voice. He shook it out of his head.
Chapter 2-end.
Huzzah! Heh, anyways… so this chapter is much longer than the previous chapter. Sorry about that. I will try to be more consistent in the future. I actually wrote up a chapter plan and so now I can say for sure that Ryou will be making his grand entrance next chapter (which will take place after Koushirou and the gang (Taichi, etc.) visit the Digital World.) I even have all my chapter named planned out.
I will get this right this time!
じゃあ～ またね！
"Jaa mataNE!"