Chapter 29
Later that afternoon.
Toshi and Syrax were at the concert, they watched on as the brothers played and they could really bring the house down! Yet as they took an intermission, Toshi and Syrax went back stage, the brothers were talking but soon silenced themselves as he appeared. "What?" Toshi asked innocently enough.
Then, there came smiles… twisted smiles.
"Well, we think we want to add a special guest to the concert tonight." Junpei said offhandedly.
But that look he gave him…
"Me?!" Toshi demanded.
"You are one of us after all," Sanso said. "Also I think you would be good."
"I… don't play a rock instrument… remember? Also, my voice is too soft…"
"I think you could rock with this…" Eso said as he pointed to Tanso who lingered beside him.
Tanso took out his shamisen.
Toshi took it from him but looked a little concerned. "I don't think I would fit in…"
"Try it,"
The brothers paused oddly as they heard Choso's voice!
"Choso?! YOU CAME?" they all asked.
"Sho too," he said and smiled. "In fact, our wives wanted to watch you play, we must oblige."
Toshi peered back at his shamisen. He sighed but wondered… could he play it before so many people? He's only done so before the brothers and his own enjoyment…
"Consider it, would you. We got to go back out on stage." Junpei and the brothers left as Toshi watched on. He sighed aloud but wondered…
"Try," came out of Syrax. "I think something amazing will come of it."
He was taken aback by her encouragement, but then agreed.
They watched the rest of the show until the final song. When the brothers walked off, they let the crowd roar and call for more. Toshi then swallowed his pride. "I'll try it," he said.
Junpei smirked. "Okay then, let's see how the fans will react…"
#
Syrax was in the crowd, they were cheering for more when they suddenly fell silent. Toshi… walked out on stage in new gear. People whispered, wondering who he was until… he opened all his eyes!
It took everyone aback as he found a place to sit and then, he began to play.
The melody was gently and yet, he started to pick up the pace. In a sense, it began to sound a little heavier and an odd tune came out.
"GET OFF THE STAGE!" Some loudmouth shouted.
But there was something about what he played, in fact. Tanso rushed out and motioned for Toshi to keep playing those cords. He did and then the drums were added… then Shouoso came out and began to use the mix table, adding different tunes but kept matching Toshi's rhythm.
The song suddenly began to grow; the brothers had come on stage once more and then.
It erupted into a whole new song.
Junpei had come back on stage, but he was armed with a notepad and read off that…
"Just a scar somewhere down inside of me
Something I can not repair
Even though it will always be
I pretend it isn't there (this is how I feel)
I'm trapped in yesterday (just stay out of my way)
Where the pain is all I know (this is all I know)
And I'll never break away (can't break free)
'Cause when I'm alone
I'm lost in these memories
Living behind my own illusion
Lost all my dignity
Living inside my own confusion
But I'm tired, I will always be afraid
Of the damage I've received
Broken promises they made
And how blindly I believed (this is all I know)
I will never break away (can't break free)
'Cause when I'm alone
I'm lost in these memories
Living behind my own illusion
Lost all my dignity
Living inside my own confusion
I try to keep this pain inside but I will never be alright
I try to keep this pain inside but I will never be alright
(I'm lost) I try to keep this pain inside but I will never be alright
(I'm lost) I try to keep this pain inside but I will never be alright
I'm lost in these memories
Living behind my own illusion
Lost all my dignity
Living inside my own confusion"
The song ended.
The crowd was silent as they were in awe, the song was pulled out of nowhere, all because Toshi played an unusual beat, but the brothers all picked up on it.
"Did you see that too?" whispered Rhea.
The sisters nodded. Even Syrax saw it with her own eyes. The brothers had fallen into sync and made a synergy effect with one another.
They harmonized their strengths through music, and judging by the looks on their faces when the song ended… they all felt it too.
#
Backstage…
Choso froze.
Sho froze as well. "That's… those are my words…" he whispered.
"Sho?"
"I wrote that poem a while ago. I know little brother said he would try and use them on stage but… I didn't think he could do so… but… that harmony… I felt everyone's emotions run through me and I felt… I felt their utter joy to be playing on stage together."
Choso felt it too, a surge coursed through him. But it was the emotions of the brothers that made his heart race.
They felt complete.
Despite what has fallen upon them, their differences and even the new members that have joined them, it felt right… and soothing in a sense.
"Choso… you're crying…"
He snapped out of it, without realizing he had shed tears of joy. He smiled and cleared them away. "I'm okay," he said gently. "In fact, dare I say, this is the best I have ever felt."
When the song ended, no one in the audience said a word, no one moved but their eyes… he could see it in their eyes that they were awestruck to the harmony and synergy the brothers had.
When they gathered in the back. The brothers were silent, but, there was a large smile on Toshi's face. "That's… what it feels like…" he whispered. "The brotherly connection you all spoke of…"
"No, that wasn't it…" Junpei said defiantly. "That… was more POWERFUL than the brotherly connection. That was synergy!" he decreed.
The wives then came back stage, when they told them of their performance, they couldn't help but be swept away by the music, as well…
"We saw that energy just… build and then spread among you on stage, it was amazing, and to think you managed to accomplish that!" said Ryusan.
"I thought that was Yua's technique?" said Noranso. "Yeah, Sukuna mentioned that, or wasn't it one she got from her ancestors?"
"The synergy technique is one of the most difficult forms of jujutsu to do, but the thing is… it's not an innate technique nor is it something any sorcerer can do." Rhea explained.
"As sister explained, synergy can only happen if sorcerers are connected to each other as family, their energy is similar and if they truly trust one another." Said Caille. "Naturally, you boys would have such a gift."
"Still… wow…" whispered Toshi. "I… it felt amazing."
'We ought to have you on stage more often!' became etched on Tanso's chest.
(disclaimer, yes I know Sho did NOT write that song. Just in case anyone tries to bring this up later...)