Title: Twins - Chapter 1
Pairing: TezuFuji, SanaMaru
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Rating: G
Summary: Two brothers were forced to separate and look for their own destiny. With only animals as their companion, will they find the fate they are seeking?
A/N: So this is when the brothers grew up. Pardon if they seemed OOC. This was the time they were still together, so they act just like how brothers should be. I promise their attitudes will go back to normal by the next chapter. So please bear with it. ^^
The two boys wandered around the forest and searched for the way back home, but repeatedly lost and could not find it. The forest was big and dangerous, and the twins knew there were wild beasts around that can devour them in seconds.
"Gen, it's getting dark." Kunimitsu said. "We'll never get out of here."
"It's okay Kuni." Genichirou replied, easing the other's fear. "We'll just find a place to sleep and we can walk again."
"How I wish those gold stop finding their ways to our pillows." He huffed. "Then we would've been at home with father now."
"But father said we should thank the heavens because it's a blessing." His twin said. "And Kuni still has Gen with him!"
"Gen will not leave me? He's not like father, right?"
"Never." He promised. "Gen will never leave Kuni. Kuni is the only one he has now."
They continued walking, hand in hand. The forest became darker by nightfall. Trees casting shadows upon them, creating frightful images that stirred the children's imagination. Bright eyes were looking at them in the dark, rustling noises increasing the fright they were feeling. It was a dreadful place, and the only certain thing that will happen to them is death.
Unable to go further, they sat under one of the trees and rested their tired bodies. Cold and hungry, they huddled together and hoped for help to come. Not long after, a huntsman happened to pass by and saw them.
"What are you doing here? It's already dark." The huntsman said. "The forest isn't safe for young ones, much more at night."
"We are the broom maker's sons." Genichirou answered. "Our father no longer wanted to keep us so he led us here and left."
"Why? Have you done something wrong?"
"It's because every morning there was a gold piece under each of our pillows." It was Kunimitsu who replied.
"Well," said the huntsman. "That's not really terrible as long as you remain good and upright and don't become lazy." He looked at the brothers. They were so pure and innocent, that he knew they will become good people. Being kind-hearted, he offered them to live with him.
"I cannot let you children here alone. And since you have nowhere to go, I would be glad to let you stay with me."
"R-really?" Genichirou said. "But…you just met us."
"I'm living alone not far from here." The huntsman answered. "It would be good to treat you as my own sons."
The two looked at each other. Having decided, they agreed and thanked the man. He took them home and said, "I shall be your father and bring you up."
And so they became a family. The huntsman was a loving man, and he became a good father to the twins. They learned all about hunting from him, catching beasts they had once feared. The huntsman saved the gold pieces that they found every morning when they got up, in case they might need them in the future. Nonetheless, they lived a happy, peaceful life.
Years passed and the two children grew up to be handsome young men. Strong and fit from all the hunting, the two brothers were good-looking in different ways. Genichirou had black, spiky hair, and tan skin, as a result of spending lots of time outside. He was warm and bright, just like the sun. On the contrary, Kunimitsu had golden brown and pale skin, being not outside as frequent as his brother. He had an accident while hunting that resulted to damaging his eyes, thus forcing him to wear those oval glasses. He looked like the moon, cold and mysterious, yet he was caring and lovable. Despite their differences, the twins loved each other deeply, and held on to their promise not to be apart.
One day, when the time had come, their foster father took them into the forest and said, "Today you are to be tested in shooting to determine whether I can release you from your apprenticeship and pronounce you full-fledged huntsmen."
"We are ready father." Genichirou answered. "We will show you how we have learned throughout the years, and you will not be disappointed." Kunimitsu nodded in agreement.
They went with him to the raised blind and waited for a long time, but no game appeared. Then the huntsman looked up above him, and when he saw some wild geese flying in a triangle formation, motioned to Kunimitsu. "Shoot one from each corner."
Kunimitsu took his gun, loaded it with bullets, and pointed it to the flying animals. Locking his target, he shot one from each corner with ease. "How did I do, father?"
"Excellent. You have learned well."
Soon after, more geese came flying by in the number two formation. It was Genichirou's turn. He asked the same and the man followed, successfully shooting the birds like his brother.
"Both of you have passed the exam. You have completed your apprenticeship, and I pronounce you both full-fledged huntsmen." The man said.
As they were heading home, the two asked their father to go back first and will just follow. Saying that they will have something to discuss about, the old man agreed and left them in the forest.
"Gen, what was it you wanted to talk about?" Kunimitsu asked.
"We're already grown-ups, Kunimitsu. So stop calling me with my nickname." Genichirou said. "I quit calling you Kuni long time ago."
"But I like it." Kunimitsu insisted. "You'll always be Gen to me."
He let out a sigh. As if complaining will stop him. Kunimitsu was still Kunimitsu, stubborn and strong willed like that. "Anyway, it's about us becoming huntsmen."
"Oh. What about it?"
"Since we're no longer apprentice, we can now leave and know the world."
"But what about father? Who will be the one to take care of him?"
"He will understand." Genichirou said. "Being a huntsman is about going on adventures after all."
Kunimitsu didn't reply. He was concerned about their father who loved and cared for them when they were abandoned. Now that his brother wanted to go, he had no choice but to leave him.
"Don't you want to see the world?" Genichirou urged. "We'll see new places and find out what the heavens have in store for us."
Looking at his brother, Kunimitsu agreed. He promised they will never separate, and he'll follow him no matter what. "Okay."
"I knew you won't say no." His brother hugged him.
"Let go." Kunimitsu said, smile forming on his lips. "We will never be apart, remember? So I have to go with you."
They then went home and told their father about it. "Father, we want your permission to leave and travel around the world." Genichirou asked.
"And why would you want that?"
"There are many wonderful things we want to seek, things we could only see if we go around." Kunimitsu backed up.
"You speak like real huntsmen." said the old man. "Your desire is my very own wish. Set out on your journey, everything will go well for you."
The brothers thanked him and in a merry mood, they all ate and drank together. When the appointed day for their departure arrived, their foster father gave them each a good gun and had each of them take as many of the saved up gold pieces as they desired. Finally, he handed them both a carefully wrapped object.
"What is it, father?" Genichirou asked curiously.
"Open it and you will find out."
They unwrap it and saw a beautiful white mask with a red star on the forehead. "It will be a reminder that both of you are twins, despite not being identical." The man said.
The old huntsman accompanied them part of the way, and when they were about to take their leave, he gave them a knife and said. "If ever you should separate, stick this knife into a tree at the crossroad. Then if one of you comes back, he can see how his absent brother is doing, for the side of the blade facing the direction he took will rust if he's dying but will stay bright as long as he's alive." They then said goodbye and left.
The two brothers continued on their way, and came to a huge forest that was impossible to cross in one day. So they spent the night there and ate what they had in their hunting pouches. On the second day they went onward but still did not reach the end.
"We have nothing more to eat." Kunimitsu said. "We must shoot something, or else we'll starve."
Genichirou looked around and prepared his gun. When he saw an old hare running by, he took aim, but the hare cried out:
"Dear huntsmen, if you let me live,
Two of my young to you I'll give."
Genichirou took pity and didn't shoot. Then the hare jumped into the bushes and brought back two young ones. The little creatures were so frisky and charming that Kunimitsu didn't have the heart to kill them.
"Gen." Kunimitsu said. "Can we just keep them? They're too… cute to be our supper."
"It's the first time you used that word since we were twelve. It will be okay, I guess." Genichirou agreed, stroking its fur.
So they kept them, and the little hares followed at their heels. Soon after, a fox came slinking by, and when they were about to shoot it, the fox cried out:
"Dear huntsmen, if you let me live,
Two of my young to you I'll give."
He also brought two young ones, and the huntsman had no desire to kill the little foxes. They gave them the hares for company, and the animals continued to follow the huntsmen.
Soon a wolf came out of the thicket, and just as Kunimitsu took aim at him, he cried out:
"Dear huntsmen, if you let me live,
Two of my young to you I'll give."
The twins added the two young wolves to the other animals, and they all followed the two young men. Then a bear came, and he had no desire to have his days of wandering ended, so he cried out:
"Dear huntsmen, if you let me live,
Two of my young to you I'll give."
Two young bears joined the others, and now there were eight of them. Finally, who should come along shaking his mane but the lion! And he also cried out:
"Dear huntsmen, if you let me live,
Two of my young to you I'll give."
He too fetched two of his young ones, and now the huntsman had two lions, two bears, two wolves, two foxes, and two hares that followed and served them. Meanwhile, however, the two brothers were still starving.
Genichirou said to the foxes. "Listen you tricky creatures, get us something to eat. After all, we know you're crafty and cunning."
"There's a village not far from here." They answered. "In the past we were able to get many a chicken there. We'll show you the way."
The brothers went to the village, bought themselves something to eat, and had their animals fed. They then continued on their way. But the foxes were very familiar with the region and knew exactly where the chicken yards were, so they could guide the huntsmen to the right spots. For a while they traveled about, but they could not find employment that would allow them all to remain together.
"It's hopeless." Kunimitsu said. "We will never find a job."
"Now, Kunimitsu." Genichirou assured him. "Don't say that. We'll find something for sure."
"But when? Till our money were all gone? No one wants to take all of us."
"Then we have no choice but to separate."
Kunimitsu looked at him in disbelief. "What did you say?"
"It's the best thing to do." Genichirou said. "We will have better opportunity like that."
"But." Kunimitsu argued. "We promised not to separate! YOU promised not to leave me! We're brothers!"
"I know." Genichirou said. I'm doing this for us. I'd rather have you rich and successful alone than with me but poor and hungry."
Kunimitsu didn't back down. "We never will! We have gold pieces!"
"Kunimitsu!" It was the first time Genichirou shouted at him. "Those gold are what separated us from our real father, don't forget that. Although a blessing, we should not take it for granted and become lazy as what our huntsman father said." The other fell silent.
Genichirou took his hand. "We'll see each other someday. For now we must seek our own fate. Once we're set, we'll meet again." Kunimitsu nodded weakly.
They divided the animals so that each had a lion, a bear, a wolf, a fox, and a hare. They looked at each other, the separation bringing sadness to them.
"I'll find my destiny fast." Kunimitsu promised. "So we'll be together again."
"So am I."
"I'll miss you, Gen." He said. "Take care."
"You too. Kuni."
Kunimitsu smiled at him and took the knife. He stuck it into a tree as they were instructed. And with a final goodbye, they parted.
A/N: I know it seemed short. *bows* Sanada's adventure will begin in the next chapter. I want my fave pair for the last. ^^