Vermilion Concerto No. 1 - Nerima By Moonlight

4th Cadenza

30 minutes later

The breeze rustled the curtain that surrounded one boy's bed, stirring him from his sleep.

"Huh?"

Shiki sat up, and immediately regretted it as his head throbbed.

"Ugh..."

He pulled his hand away to see a line spread across his palm. Gasping, he reached to his left and planted the glasses back onto his face, banishing the lines for the time being.

"How are you feeling?"

Jumping slightly, he turned to see a concerned Akane looking back at him.

"I'm okay..." He felt his head and the wooziness had left him, "I must've passed out again."

"That was after you took your glasses off..." A new voice broke the silent.

Looking to the entrance of the nurse's office, Nabiki stood with her arms folded.

"Yeah..." Shiki covered his face for a moment, trying not to think of those rare events of revealing his power, "Truth be told, these glasses help me by stopping headaches I get."

"That doesn't explain why you took them off before you fought Kuno."

"Nabiki, leave Shiki alone..." She noted his clothing, "Did Kuno hurt you?"

"No, just surprised me with his attacks." He sat up, then put on his school slippers, "We must be late, which class am I supposed to be in?"

"We're about to begin history. I'll take you there."

"Thanks Akane..." Shiki smiled sincerely as he adjusted his glasses briefly.

Nabiki walked out with them, before Shiki realised something.

"I understand why Akane may be here, but why you, Nabiki?"

She continued unfazed by the question, "I was there to see Kuno, he became a little, unresponsive shall we say, after your fight."

"He wasn't hurt, was he?" Shiki frowned at the thought of possibly hitting one of his lines.

"No, just a bit shocked." Nabiki peered at him, "Something definitely spooked him, which I never thought possible."

Shiki walked on, his face neutral as he ignored the teasing query from the girl beside him.


Later that day

"No."

"What do you mean, no?"

"I think 'no' is plain and simple enough for you, Kuno."

"Nabiki, you must tell me about this Shiki!"

She sat in her seat, leaning back with her legs on the radiator, having already finished her lunch for the day. Her stern face was scrutinising two people outside, Shiki and Akane already eating together.

"I saw how you were after your fight." She met his eyes as Kuno felt his skin grow clammy, "You were scared, weren't you?"

"Me?! The Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, afraid?!" Kuno bellowed, scaring nearby students.

Unrattled, Nabiki nodded, "Yes, you were. You know it, deep inside yourself, past all your bluffing and your ego, you felt fear."

Kuno stood, his arms shaking in fury, or perhaps they were shivers.

"So, no, I'm not going to tell you why he's living in our house, and neither will I sell you any information about him, at least until I find out some for myself." She turned away back to the window before going on, "It's for your own good, if you try to fight him again, you may not survive the next time."

Kuno stood and followed her point to where Akane and Shiki sat in the shade, finishing off their bentou.

"You say he is dangerous?" Kuno began.

"To be perfectly honest...?"

Nabiki glanced back at him before returning her line of vision to Shiki, who was coincidentally looking up at her. He waved at her with a small smile, that despite her misgivings, she found it welcoming at that moment.

"... I don't know who, or what he is, but I intend to find out."

That evening

"So, Shiki, how did school go for you?" Nodoka asked, after inviting herself over for dinner.

"It was good, those books I had when training really helped." Shiki ate more of his meal before speaking again, "There was a small problem with someone at school, but apart from that, nothing else."

Nabiki and Akane looked at each other before finishing off their meals.

"So, boy?" Genma stood up after placing his chopsticks on top of the bowl, "What time you want to train?"

"Hmm, give me an hour, I have homework to do first."

"Very well." He turned to his side, "Tendo, fancy a match?"

"Uhh...?" Soun raised an eyebrow before noticing that Genma was pointing to a shougi table, "Yes, of course, I won't lose to you Saotome!"

"That's the spirit! Now I'll go first..."

"Wait, don't we have to vote...?"

Ignoring the incoming argument, Nabiki and Akane thanked Kasumi for the meal as Shiki began a light conversation with Nodoka, before also remembering to thank Kasumi.

"You're welcome, Shiki." Kasumi nodded before taking his plate, only for him to do so himself.

"Let me help you, it's the least I can do."

As the two went into the kitchen, Kasumi shook her head, "Please, you don't have to do this, you're a guest here."

Shiki smiled as he began to put the plates into the sink, "It's okay, I used to help out with mum and dad, and I did it often when I was training."

"But, your curse...?"

Shiki froze for a moment, before he replied, "If we use warm water, it'll be fine."

"Well, if you must..."

Kasumi begrudgingly allowed him to stand beside her as he wiped some of the dishes dry.

Once or twice, their fingers touched as they passed plates to one another, eliciting a quiet blush from Kasumi, and a smile from Shiki.

Once they were finished, he went back to his room to do the homework from school, before he knew he had to talk to someone.

Moments later

"Who is it?"

"It's me, can I come in?"

Nabiki slowed at the voice, thinking of the countless possibilities of why he would want to speak to her, ranging from any mundane reason, to more fatal ones.

"Come in then, and close the door." She turned from her desk to see him looking relaxed and staring at her posters on her walls.

"Nice room you have here, which band are they?"

"Just some random popular one." She folded her arms, "Why are you here, Shiki?"

He turned to stare at her, those eyes of his giving her the same cold chill she experienced that first time.

"What do you have against me?"

His voice was soft, unlike the predatorial gaze he put on that childlike face. Nabiki closed her eyes not wanting to look at them any more.

"Nothing..." She opened them again to look at her table with her bets for the day screwed up due to Shiki's interference, "Nothing at all, but there's something about you. I'm not entirely sure what though..." She looked directly at him, "I think you know what I mean, what we all saw back then, but all of us have forgotten about it, except me."

Shiki grew sad and confused, "You're right, there's many things I don't know about myself..." He clutched his chest, feeling the roughness of the scar beneath, "I don't have a really good memory of my childhood, just bits and pieces... A forest... Akiha... The moon... Blood..."

Nabiki shook her head at the amount of unnecessary information, "Enough Shiki, you're making me ill now..." Her face bore her frustration at not knowing anything about him and at the choice of words he used, "I don't want your life story. Just... don't hurt any of us..."

"Hurt you? But I..." It was then Shiki understood fully the suspicions against him. His eyelids lowered, as if tired, "I get it now, you think I'm going to turn on you and the others, right?"

Nabiki didn't say anything except to stare in any other direction other than him.

"That why you protected your sister that evening..." He said casually, "The way you held yourself, you were armed weren't you?"

Nabiki's raised eyebrows confirmed it, "Yes..." She pulled out a metal tongfar from beneath her mattress beside her, a slim one which could easily slip inside her sleeve.

"Dad's training taught me to watch out for hidden weapons, but you hid it well."

"And a great help it was too, showing it to someone who could kill us..." She threw it angrily on her bed.

"I won't hurt any of you, I promise."

Shiki managed to her attention, but this time his eyes were different, sincere, calming and trusting.

"Whatever this thing is, it only applies to me, and some other people probably, but none of you affect me that way."

"That's a relief, I'm safe then..." Nabiki sardonically exclaimed before calming down, "Why do these other people affect you then?"

"Jusenkyo." Shiki stated, "I don't know why, but it does. There must be some other trigger, but normal humans don't affect me."

Nabiki felt hope build up inside her, "So, we're safe then?"

"Yes, I wouldn't hurt any of you." Shiki smiled as he stood up, "I'd better finish my work before dad begins training without me."

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow then." Nabiki waved at his back as he left the room.

Lowering her hand slowly, putting it to rest on her lap, she pondered aloud at the door.

"If you aren't sure about yourself, how can we be sure?"

Nabiki bit her lower lip before making preparations to find out more about Shiki.

"Still, I have another name to play with now..." She wrote it down quickly to not forget, "Akiha Tohno..."

The next day
6:01am

"Don't you dare throw me into the pond, dad."

"Son... Shiki, calm down..."

Genma stared up at a Shiki that was rapidly growing angrier, his eyes growing more intense.

"I think you remember how I am when the curse is activated."

"Of course, son. But as a martial artist, you need to adapt to your weaknesses... From what I could tell, you're doing better so far."

Shiki paused and lowered his guard, "Really? You think so?"

"Perhaps continuous exposure lowers your..." Genma thought for a few seconds to get the correct wording out, "tendencies..."

"I'm not sure I agree entirely." Shiki folded his eyes and cocked his head to one side, "It's like another part of me doesn't like my own existence."

Genma sweated more and began to pale, "P-Perhaps you're right, son. We'll leave it for another day.

He turned to go in only to notice that Shiki was staring at the pond, "However, I do need to stop this side of me, even if I need to change every day."

He took a step forward before Genma could stop him, and fell into the pond.

Thrashing beneath the water, before recognising the danger of drowning, Shiki jumped out, her fuller figure standing at the edge of the water as she got to grips with herself.

Genma paled suddenly as he saw her eyes shift from a cat like state to the normal melancholic one. Running inside, he put on a kettle to boil.

---
Inhuman
Unnatural

No, I'm not. This is me.

Trace the lines
Remove your existence as efficiently as possible
Rip yourself apart piece by piece

I won't! This is my own body, I am still the same. This is still a human body.

My knife is not on me
Go to the sharp rock within reach
Chance of avoidance, nil

STOP IT!

KILL!
---

Genma threw the water over Shiki and breathed a sigh of relief as he looked down at his male body, the eyes now back to normal. The rock hadn't been touched and was still by the pond.

"Okay, that was a little too close, but better than last time." Shiki sighed, adjusting his glasses, which hadn't moved since he got wet, "I'll need to practise more before things become worse for me." He looked up at Genma, "Thanks, dad."

"Quite alright, boy, just you be careful now."

As Shiki went indoors to prepare for school, Genma felt a twinge in his neck and noted that he was sweating hard.

"Boy, what is that inside you?"

Lunch break
The playground

Akane frowned at the entrance as Nabiki walked up to her and Shiki, "What happened this morning?"

"What do you mean?" The elder Tendo asked, opening her bentou.

"No one attacked me, and even Kuno stayed away."

"Ah, that..." Nabiki thought back to the talk she had with him the day before, "I think Kuno told them to stop, ever since Shiki beat him."

Shiki was surprised, "I thought you said I didn't hurt him..."

Nabiki shrugged, "I guess he thought better than to attack you again."

He looked at Akane and breathed out slightly, "Well, it would be better for both of us since we can get to school without being late again and -"

He paused, feeling danger approaching, and immediately ducked, feeling the wind get sliced up by a large metal object, and slamming into the tree behind his head.

Kicking out at the roots of the tree, swerving mid-air between Nabiki and Akane, Shiki dodged several smaller metallic objects that were thrown at him, only to sense a large shadow in his path, followed by a heavy slam of something crashing somewhere Shiki would have occupied, had he not thrust out his foot to change direction.

Skidding away to face his opponents, he felt his eyes pulse, but his heart rate increased with excitement and happiness.

"I see... No chance for a rest then..." He prepared to fight, taking a position on the defensive.

The two opponents ran in, one favouring the use of a weapon and projectiles against Shiki, whilst the other disposed of the large weapon and also struck him with his fists.

Defending well, and knowing this was just for sparring, Shiki didn't fight back at full strength, but did touch them on spots he saw to be vulnerable lightly, all behind the safety of his glasses.

Stopping, they all stood up and laughed as Nabiki ran up to them, "What the hell was all that about?!"

Shiki turned to her and apologised, "Sorry about that Nabiki, these are my two good friends, Ryoga Hibiki and Ukyo Kuonji."

The two of them bowed lightly to Nabiki, who stood there with her arms crossed, "Glad to see your beautiful bond of friendship there, but who's going to take responsibility?"

"For what?" Ryoga began, confused at her angry tone.

Nabiki just thumbed backward to show Akane, still kneeling near the tree, only her long ponytail had been chopped off in an ugly fashion.

Ukyo looked down at her battle spatula and made a guilty face, "Oops..." Long blue hairs were still trapped on it, "Sorry, sugar, looks like it was my fault..."

Feeling a little sheepish, she made her way over to Akane and introduced herself, before apologising for the mistake.

Shiki saw Akane look up innocently at Ukyo, making him wonder, "She seems to be taking it well."

An outraged yell followed by a fleeing Ukyo made Ryoga and Shiki stare at them in horror.

Nabiki merely returned to her bentou by the tree and ate more rice, "You're right, looks like Akane isn't too upset by it, but you'd better help your friend if all you want her to get is a few broken bones."

Ryoga jumped back as Shiki ran to them, pleading with Akane to stop. Leaning back to watch the spectacle, Nabiki made a cursory glance at Ryoga.

"So, what brings you here then?" Her piercing gaze was countered by his nonchalant one.

"Just here to see Shiki, that's all." He lay down his umbrella, making Nabiki raise an eyebrow at how it sunk into the grass and soil.

"How do you know him?" She probed further, "You're not a student at this school..."

Ryoga turned to face her, "Does it matter? I'm his friend, what more do you want?"

Nabiki reddened and looked away, "Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

Shiki returned with a seething but calmer Akane, and a sheepish, bruised Ukyo.

"They've patched things up now," He explained, "They solved their differences out."

Ukyo tenderly touched her cheek and her arms, "The main ones being that I'm more blue and purple than sugar here."

Akane 'hmphed' and sniffily turned away, only for tears to well up. Ukyo understood the meaning of that and looked at Nabiki, "Are you her sister?" She nodded in response, "Come on, help me to take her to the nurse's office, I can style her hair."

Nabiki sighed and stood up as she escorted Ukyo and Akane inside. Watching them go and feeling a little better, Shiki sat next to Ryoga.

"So, how did you find me so fast?" He began, as he tucked into his food.

Ryoga inclined his head in the direction of the school, "Ukyo had an idea, and we followed it to find you here."

"So, where did you end up?" Shiki grinned knowingly.

Ryoga flushed angrily, "It wasn't my fault we went on the wrong road!" He yelled, only to mumble 'Sendai' after a second or two.

Slapping him on the back good-naturedly, Shiki brightened considerably, "Well, at least you're the same old Ryoga!"

He shook his head slowly, his eyes growing more haunted, "Not quite, but near enough."

"Why, what's wrong Ryoga?" Shiki, concerned for his friend, frowned greatly.

"Nothing..." Ryoga stood up as the sky grew cloudier, "I'll be going now, I'm going to set up camp nearby, tell Ukyo that."

I... I will..."

"Oh, and Shiki?" Ryoga paused in his tracks and angled his head back, "I've heard a rumour, some people are after you..."

"Who?!"

Shiki stood up, but Ryoga had already turned the corner outside. Despite running there, he saw that the bandanna clad boy had gone.

A few minutes later

I really had no idea who he meant...

I turned back to go into the school, as the lunch break had ended, and was surprised to see Akane sitting in the class, now with a new haircut, shorter and levelled out. She smiled at me tightly, and I got the feeling she wasn't too happy with her cut.

"While this may be unusual, we have a new student joining us here today." Our teacher for the maths lesson was here, and Ukyo stood next to him, "Please welcome Ukyo Kuonji, she will be joining your class from today onwards."

She bowed to everyone and smiled, "Hello everyone, I hope to make new friends here." She pulled out one of her throwing spatulas and twirled it in the air, "If you come in early tomorrow, I'll treat you all to a breakfast okonomiyaki."

The cheers that rose up were drowned out by the teacher complaining as he began to drone on about calculus, although I still took notes, since I found it interesting.

I couldn't help but think of what Ryoga said, and who might be looking for me.

"Or more to the point, why..."

Akane looked over at my speaking out loud, but I pretended to be bored from the teacher, and she giggled at the wide yawn I made.

That evening

Having made our way home, we invited Ukyo over to stay with us for dinner, she told us that she already had a place to stay.

After flattening dad once and chasing him around the garden, we sat down at the table eating some of Kasumi's home cooked food.

"Mmm!" Ukyo, who prides herself on her culinary skill, was amazed at the taste, "How do you get the flavour out?"

"Well..." Kasumi placed a finger on her chin before replying, "I do use a hint of garlic to give it a unique feel."

Ukyo nodded ravenously, "I may need to write down some of recipes, they're incredible!"

Kasumi quietly picked up the empty plates, "They're not my recipes, they were mother's, I only borrowed them from her."

The Tendo girls became a little quieter by this, I remember the story they told me about how she died when they were young.

Ukyo didn't notice and went on speaking, "So, why is Shiki staying with you?" She sipped the tea Kasumi served, "Has your training journey ended?"

"Umm..." I didn't really want to tell her the truth, given our history, "It's not really that interesting, Ukyo..."

She laughed loudly, "Well, it's none of my business anyway, it's probably because you're family friends, right?" I nodded since dad said as much to me, "At least it's nothing as bad as getting engaged to me, eh?"

Still grinning, she drank some tea as the others sat in silence, as three girls and one man turned their heads towards me.

"Actually..." I knew that if I didn't own up to this now, it would hurt a lot once she found out the truth.

I think I must've paused a little too long, as Ukyo glared at me and slowly lowered her tea cup, "Shiki..." She was growling now.

"Ukyo, I've got something to tell you." I stood up, "Let's go outside."

She got up as she glowered at dad.

The dojo


"So, go on..." Ukyo pulled out her spatula and inspected the surface, before feeling the edge to make sure it was sharp.

"I can't lie to you Ukyo," I spoke calmly, I could tell she was angry at me, "I've been engaged to those three girls by dad, I just found out about it yesterday."

"I see..." She swung her spatula and slammed it on the ground next to her, holding it with one hand, "So, you're going to do the same thing like you did with me, right?"

Her face was difficult to determine, she was fairly neutral, but I could feel the burning anger just beneath the surface.

"I don't think I can, last time with you, it wasn't fair..." I got into a defensive position, "That's why I stopped it. This time it seems to be a promise between -"

"I don't care about that!"

I crouched down fast to avoid her wide swinging spatula which would have batted me away. Seeing her shift her other hand, I leapt up and rebounded off the ceiling as her smaller weapons were thrown at me.

"You were supposed to be...!"

She was crying now, and was attacking even harder. I sighed and ran in knowing her weakness well.

"I know, Ukyo..."

I was now face-to-face with her, well inside the effective range of her spatula, but too close for her to swing it in time.

"Hit me if you want, but it won't change how I feel about you..." I lowered my guard and waited for her.

"Idiot..." She dropped her weapon and then listlessly slumped to the ground, "Why would I want to hurt you, Shiki?"

Again, I had rejected her...

"Ukyo..." I knelt down in front of her, "You're still one of my best friends, doesn't that count?"

She sniffed and turned her face away, I think she was crying but I couldn't tell beneath her fringe.

"I... I guess..."

That was enough for me, smiling I held her hand, "Come on, let's go back, the others are probably worried about us."

"Oh, that's okay, we heard it all from here..."

Nabiki stood there with her arms folded again, and Akane was a little in shock. Kasumi somehow remained the same, though I did think her lips were slightly thinner.

"Shiki," Akane stepped forward once, and I could see her anger coming back, as well some other emotions, "W-Were you engaged to Ukyo as well?"

This didn't sound good, and I was getting ready to fight or flee, before someone else appeared.

"Shiki..." Soun walked up into the dojo, and he was showing his anger more.

Suddenly a large horrific figure of his face materialised in the air, something which resembled him only with a snake tongue.

Whilst not really worried, I narrowed my eyes at the image, feeling my body tense up. The girls looked worried and moved away briefly.

I think he got the message and backed down, but he still had the fury evident in his face.

"Yes, I was engaged to Ukyo, but that was a while ago, and we're no longer engaged." I looked to her, her face red and felt bad for her, "It's all in the past now."

"It's all Genma's fault..." Ukyo seethed, the bad feelings from back then coming back to her now, "I didn't really get it out of my system earlier..."

I saw dad peeking over the heads of the others, before deciding to hide. Ukyo spotted him however, and chased him out. The sounds of pain echoed around the home for a while after that.

Just a few minutes later, I was lying in my futon, staring up through the window. As the full moon began to wane, I thought of what Ryoga said.

"Looks like Sensei was right..." I closed my eyes and removed my glasses, keeping them shut as I felt them through my eyelids, "Using these too much only bring more problems into my life."

That night, I had a fitful sleep, a sign that the worst was yet to come.

---
Author's Notes

Yet more Shiki action, and with an immediate diversion from canon in the introduction of Ryoga and Ukyo. Of course their history will be filled in soon.

But, who else is on their way?

- J