Title: Lesson 9: Musashi's Heart (Things Left Unsaid)
Characters: Musashi, Hiruma, The devil bats, Mamori
Disclaimer: I do not own Eyeshield 21.
There was never much for him to say, and when it involved those two, he thought it was best to say as little as possible. However, maybe it was the way she glanced ever so slightly at him as she rushed towards the clubhouse. It was a very subtle quick dart of the eyes, but he could tell in that one instance she seemed to be asking for his help, and it made him uncomfortable. As Musashi stood on the sidelines with his finger in his ear watching the team assemble on the field for practice, he thought about ignoring the flash of pleading sorrow he saw in her big blue eyes. Nothing good could ever come from him getting involved in what he considered was a personal matter. Then, Hiruma finally appeared minutes later strolling towards the clubhouse in a very calm casual fashion. Musashi exhaled in relief. He felt that all was going to be handled. The demon captain was going to fix whatever was broken, and not let it get in the way of the team.
Everyone would soon be back to their usual mood of hellish practice, and they would continue to prepare for what was sure to be a rough game. He didn't have to ask, or question. Musashi knew that their leader had everything planned out, all he had to do was support him when the time came. It was his role as part of the original Devil Bat triumvirate. He and Kurita never once questioned Hiruma's wild idea and plans, because they knew what the goal was; their hearts were set on that goal. Even though he had quit the team when they needed him most to help out with his father's business, his heart was always with them; suspended in time at that moment when he left the field that day. Time had caught up with him now, and the desire to win burned brightly in his restarted heart. Though on the outside, he remained the ever stoic, ever calm counterbalance to Hiruma's outrageous leadership.
He didn't usually practice much during a full team practice. Maybe a few kicks for show, but mostly he stood on the sidelines, and watched as Hiruma made the rest of the team run drill after drill. He ran and worked out with the team, but his main function as a kicker was a solitary one. All he needed was a few seconds, just a quick block, and then the rest was up to him. It suited his quiet nature to wait on the sidelines for the time to do his part in helping the team to victory. Hiruma was the one full of words and taunts; full of flash and fear. Musashi preferred to let his actions speak for themselves. To him, that would always be enough.
"What the fuck is going on here? You fucking brats can't have a decent practice without me?" Hiruma barked as he quickly emerged from the clubhouse.
The mood turned completely somber as everyone on the team became instantly quiet at the quarterbacks words. They weren't any different than anything he usually said. In fact, he had on occasion said worse, but there was a different vibe surrounding the team today. Musashi couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew he didn't like it. He looked around for the manager to come running on the field to get in between Sena and Hiruma during one confrontation, but she was conspicuously absent from her perch on the bleachers. The devil quarterback noticed too, and the longer she remained absent, the more he seemed to spin out of control.
"I don't fucking care how many times we have to run this fucking play, you fucking brats are gonna get this fucking perfect, do you understand?"
Hiruma flailed around waving his gun, shooting at his team, making them line up and re-line up in the same formations. Something was always off, and this wasn't like Hiruma at all. The captain Musashi knew would embrace their differences, and their quirks. He would use what others considered to be disadvantages to his advantage, and play upon the unexpected. Right now, Hiruma was going by the book, making certain that everything was perfect and precise. Musashi began to wonder a bit; was Hiruma really afraid of what Gao may do to him?
"Why do I always have to repeat myself? I thought I told the fucking monkey to line up on the left side. What the fuck? You don't know your left side from your right, fucking monkey?" Hiruma yelled menacingly as he grabbed Monta by the shoulder and dragged him to the other side of the formation.
"Hey, Hiruma. Is all this necessary? I mean, maybe we all need a break from practice right now, or we can go for a run or something," Musashi offered as he stood on the sidelines, trying his best not to stare Hiruma down.
"Hey, Musashi," Hiruma began in a mocking tone. "Why don't you get over here and run this fucking drill with them,"
"You want me to run a drill?"
"Yea, what's the matter? You think you're better than them because you're our only fucking kicker? You think you won't have to get your hands dirty in this, and all you will have to do is watch from the sidelines?"
"I never…" Musashi began; a little bit taken a back that Hiruma had suddenly turned his tirade on him.
"You're not fucking special. You're the same as any of these fucking brats. You're just a broke down fucking old man, that's the only difference. Now get your ass over here, right fucking now!"
It wasn't unheard of, he'd done it before. He had punched the Deimon captain in the face right in front of everyone to prove a point. Of course, that was all staged, and a part of one of Hiruma's carefully concocted plans. Something different was in the air now. He didn't want to get involved but he couldn't stop thinking about the look in her eyes. It was almost as if he didn't have a choice. Hiruma was about to go too far, and it fell on his shoulders to stop him. Musashi began marching towards Hiruma with purposeful strides.
The demon cackled as he stood firm. "Ooooo! You look mad! Do you think I'm fucking afraid of you? If you want to come at me then, come at me, fucking old man!"
Musashi flexed his fists by his side. He knew that even if Hiruma dodged one punch he wouldn't dodge a second. Although the chances were good that Hiruma wouldn't dodge at all; he would just stand there and take it, spit out the blood, look at him straight in the eye, and continue spewing his hatefulness.
Then something happened that took everyone by surprise. Out of nowhere, Komusubi rushed Hiruma and tackled him to the ground right before Musashi was about to confront him. The puzzled shocked look on the demon's face was priceless, and remained there for a good minute, as Komusubi slowly got up from his hold on him.
"No," Komusubi said quietly as he looked down at the ground, standing before the quarterback who was laid out flat on his back.
The look of shock on Hiruma's face immediately darkened, but Musashi didn't have time to react fast enough. The quarterback was already chasing the stout little man all over the field shooting off his gun, and yelling more abuses. As Musashi thought about what happened, he realized that it was something Kurita would have done, and Komusubi was just following in his master's footsteps.
All of the sudden the field became quiet. Musashi looked around to see her standing there; a calm quiet beauty ready and prepared to tame the loud violent beast. The beast saw her too. He stopped mid stride, and mid fire, to just look across the field at her. It was if what they needed to say to each other didn't need to be voiced. Their eyes told the story like no one else could.
"Five minute break. Go get some fucking Gatorade, but your asses better be back on this fucking field in five minutes!" Hiruma yelled and then turned on his heel and walked off in the other direction, away from her.
Musashi wanted to say something as he saw her finally take her seat on the bench, and begin jotting down notes in her practice log. He tried very hard to think of something that might be comforting, or reassuring, but the words wouldn't come to him. He didn't have that type of gift. He didn't always know the right thing to say or the right thing to do. He trusted his best friend Hiruma for that, and right now all he could do was watch helplessly as his friend began to sputter out of control. So instead of saying anything, he walked away and left her alone.
Something was happening; something more than just the specter of Gao lurking ahead of them. This was something much harder and much more powerful than the Dinosaur's perfect beast. It was love. A love that was all consuming and tormenting the both of them and neither knew how to stop it or how to deal with it. All Musashi could do was stand by and watch as these two important people in his life became engulfed in the flames. He just hoped that the team wouldn't be tossed in the fire along with them.