Chapter 45: Someone to Watch Over Me
Woot, I officially got this chapter out in way less than a month! AWWWW YEAAAAAH! I hotfooted this chapter as much as I could, I hope you like it! This was the chapter that had a lot written already, so I had a great idea of what I was going to do with it. I had to retype some of it unfortunately, so I think it may have lost a bit of it in the transition, but I still think it's alright! Holyriot, I dunno, she kinda broke down. Is that taking it well? I suppose she DIDN'T go into a blind rage, but still. She isn't the type. It's good you like the sibling relationship, I like writing it! Tony is like Misao in a way that I'd see him and Konata being either hated, despised rivals, or the very best of friends. Gigarot, ya gotta think, this is an area Tony knows nothing about! Where would he learn something like this from? Masuta hardly had time for any of it. As far as we know, at least... Lizard, I don't think Miyuki ever DENIED she likes Masuta, she denied she was dating him! And the song? I'll give you a hint! It's from a movie... I wonder if I said too much... Shouldn't have said that, should NOT have said that... Sqweebs, does that make this story a zombie? Three chapters to forgive him that much you say? Chapter 41, 42, 43 makes three chapters before Chapter 44! See, I can pace the story! And when I said by the end of this bit, you'll be confused, I didn't mean by the end of that chapter, the end of this arc, practically everyone will be confused! And you never got a response with the chapters because I kind of lost them... Glad to hear it was worth the wait Duff! Hopefully this is too! Now, ON WITH THE STORY!
POV Tony
Tony twisted into sight at the entrance to his destination. The old and familiar scent of Cherry Blossoms filled his nose. It took him back. He walked into the forest in front of him and looked around. It was weird, Cherry Blossoms generally only bloomed a few weeks out of the year. This place, however, had the same Cherry Blossoms all year. They never fell, nor did they create cherries. Even with all the years that had passed, he remembered his way like it was his own home. He walked around still though in a successful venture for nostalgia. He could walk any of the paths blindfolded and he wouldn't need to worry about getting lost. Finally, he walked the path he originally intended. He came to a clearing that was large enough to allow about twenty yards of space in an almost square, yet somehow be mostly covered by blossoms to give it a mystical look. He saw two stumps located near a rock on the other side of the clearing. A tear found its way to his eye.
Ah, Sarnia. He smiled. He could almost see a younger version of himself and the girl who had been his mother incarnate sitting on the stumps, talking away. At that moment he saw, he saw a snapshot of simpler times. No gods, no life threatening fights. A couple songs, but they were generally songs thought of before they were sung and not by the two kids. There were no periods outside school and only one girl made any sense. Sure, he had had training that he had been convinced would kill him, but he knew now that his brother would have never let it go that far. Simply remembering all of this made him cry in nostalgia. It's been too long. He walked over. It was weird. With all the years, the place seemed to have been sectioned off and completely untouched by time. Neither of the stumps, or even the trees themselves looked as if they hadn't aged a day. Tony chuckled to himself as he couldn't help but wonder if his mother hadn't had something to do with this. He sighed in happiness and sat down on the stump he had so many years ago. He chuckled and laid back, but found it not nearly as comfortable, his head almost over the edge of the massive stump. Guess some things do change... He sighed and shrugged as he sat up again. He heard a clacking sound. He looked down to see the white stone. Tsukasa... He involuntarily thought. He grabbed the stone and held it in his hand. He sighed and put his hands together. Father... Mother... Help me. I need your guidance from above! What should I do? What am I supposed to do to get my love back? He prayed. There was a moment where he simply listened to the trees and grass blow. He sighed. It was worth a shot to ask. Maybe the answer will come to me soon, in a sign or something. He got up.
"I was wondering if you'd ever come back." He heard a voice say from behind him. His ears twitched.
POV Kagami
Kagami and her family arrived at home.
"So Matsuri, why do you have so much free time? You too Inori?" Kagami asked her sisters.
"What do you mean by that?" Matsuri shouted, pointing accusingly at Kagami.
"Shouldn't you be in college or something?" Kagami asked. Matsuri chuckled.
"They closed the colleges down, remember?" Matsuri said as they entered the house. Kagami smirked.
"Well what about a boyfriend? Can't get one of those?" Kagami smirked. Matsuri crossed her arms.
"What's THAT supposed to mean?" She shouted.
"I wasn't saying anything!" Kagami laughed.
"Maybe I'll one up you Imoto!" Matsuri shouted.
"What do you mean "One up me"?" Kagami asked.
"Albeit it's cute, you did go weird on us with dating Konatan!" Matsuri shouted, pointing accusingly at Kagami once again. Kagami, deciding to humor her sister, smiled.
"And how's that? You think you can get closer to someone than I am to my Kona?" Kagami asked in a tone suggesting she wanted Matsuri to attempt just that.
"Sure! And I'll up the weirdness factor!" Matsuri shouted.
"Go ahead." Kagami smiled. Matsuri turned away from her younger sister.
"Inori~!" Matsuri chimed.
"Yes Matsuri?" Inori smiled.
"Will you go out with me~?" Matsuri asked, hugging onto her older sister. Inori's smile widened.
"Of course I will!" Inori hugged her younger sister.
"Let's go see a movie!" Matsuri suggested.
"My pleasure!" Inori and Matsuri threw arms over each other's shoulders and walked out of the house. Kagami blinked a few times.
"What... What just happened?" Kagami asked.
"I'm... not sure I can accept that..." Tadao mumbled.
"I couldn't even tell if they were serious or not... They could have been, or... um..." Miki said. She sighed. "And then there was one." She turned to Kagami. "Well, what do you want to do?"
"I dunno. I'd like to be here when Tsukasa gets back. But I'm still a little tired from being waken up." Kagami said lazily.
"Are you sure you want to go back to sleep? What if Tsukasa comes home and you're still asleep?" Miki asked. Kagami thought.
"Hey Mom... Could you do me a big favor?" Kagami asked.
"Anything Kagami." Miki smiled.
"Well... I do see a future with Kona, but I don't want to be the one who always has to be cooked for. Could you help me? Like, teach me how to cook something without hurting myself or the kitchenware?" Kagami asked. Miki's smile widened as her heart warmed.
"Sure Kagami. I'll teach you everything I know. We'll keep at it until you're as good as me!" Miki said enthusiastically. Kagami cheered.
"Thanks a lot Mom!" She shouted. Miki giggled at her daughter, unknowing exactly who she was about to try and teach...
Several hours later
"Kagami, you left it on too long again!" Miki said as she took the top off of what was now rice gruel. She sighed at the failed attempt at making steamed rice. She had since lost count of how many times her daughter had failed.
"I'm sorry Mom!" Kagami apologized again. She luckily hadn't hurt herself other than a small burn from when she had forgotten to put on a cooking mitt.
"It's okay Kagami, I told you we'll keep at it. You just need practice." Miki offered a sympathetic smile to her daughter. Kagami sighed as she sat down at the table.
"No, I don't think so..." She mumbled, greatly disheartened.
"Why not?" Miki asked.
"Mom, it's been hours. I still can't even make rice. The only thing I've ever really successfully cooked were pancakes for Kona." Kagami sighed. She had told everyone that she made her and Tsukasa's lunches every other day and even Tsukasa had been convinced of it. The fact of the matter was that they were simply left overs that Tsukasa had forgotten about.
"Alright, let's do it." Miki smiled.
"Do what?" Kagami asked.
"Make pancakes!" Miki said. "If you don't want to try for dinner right now, we'll perfect your breakfast!" Miki said excitedly. Kagami smiled tiredly.
"We can try, but I tried making them again for me and Tsukasa. They were no good." Kagami said.
"Well, you've made them well once. You just need to channel that into this time as well! What made you able to make them so well last time?" Miki asked. Kagami thought back. She had used the same ingredients both times. She had kept the pancakes on the burners for the same amount of time. She had made Konata's into a shape, but that wouldn't affect the taste, would it?
"Hey Mom, does the shape of a food affect the taste of it?" Kagami asked, figuring she might as well get it from the mouth of the expert.
"No, I don't think so." Miki said, though Kagami could tell there had really been no thinking involved.
Now I feel stupid... Kagami sighed.
"The person." Miki said. Kagami looked at her mother, clearly confused.
"What?" Kagami asked.
"It's the person." Miki smiled. Kagami thought, since she could tell by the look her mother was giving her that she wasn't going to get any information out of her about what she had seemingly discovered. So she wondered who the person was.
I made it for Kona... She was sick and hadn't eaten in a day... She had a good idea of what it was now. "It was because she hadn't eaten..." She felt a little heartbroken.
"What?" Miki asked.
"Kona hadn't eaten in more than a day! No wonder it tasted good, anything would have! A rusty nail would have seemed like a delicacy!" Kagami said. Miki giggled.
"No, that's not it. It would take more than a day to improve something to that degree." Miki said. Kagami opened her mouth, but stopped. She hummed.
I made it for Kona... She loved it and even wrote about it in her diary, so I know it was true... Then I made it for me and Tsukasa, but it was horrible... That's it... Kagami realized what it was her mother had been trying to tell her as she recalled what her little loli had said.
"Is it really that good?" Kagami asked in amazement. She didn't remember anyone ever reacting like this to her cooking before.
Konata swallowed before saying "Yeah, totally! This is better than I've ever made! Kagami must have put a lot of love into this!"
"It's because I made it with love." Kagami smiled. Miki clapped her hands together.
"You made it for Konata. She put in that effort to make it good so that she would eat all of it. You just have to channel that love into the cooking every time you do it." Miki smiled.
"But I'll still never be good like you or Tsukasa..." Kagami sighed. Miki walked over and sat next to her daughter, putting an arm around her shoulder.
"Kagami, don't hold yourself to Tsukasa in terms of cooking. I honestly don't think anyone is as good as her." Miki giggled. "As for me... Well, I used to be worse than you." Miki smiled.
"Impossible." Kagami said immediately. Miki laughed.
"Want to bet? Did I ever tell you about my first birthday cake?" Miki asked.
"No... I never heard about that, what happened?" Kagami asked.
"You know you're supposed to put in a tablespoon of Vinegar and a cup and a half of water?" Miki asked.
"Yeah..." Kagami said.
"Well, I made a slight boo boo..." Miki said.
"Yeah, but you didn't ruin the cake!" Kagami said.
"I switched the Vinegar and water. I put in a cup and a half of Vinegar and a tablespoon of water." Miki said.
"That's!... Wow, really?" Kagami giggled.
"The stray dog that lived by our house wouldn't even eat it." Miki said. Kagami giggling, she decided to add the biggest rejection. "He wouldn't even pick it up with his mouth to bury it. Soon as his tongue touched the thing, he turned tail, tail between his legs, and ran."
"Wow Mom... That's insane..." Kagami said. "But you're so good now!" Kagami said.
"Thanks. I've worked hard to become so. Just like you'll have to." Miki said. "Konata is good because she's had a lot of practice. I'm pretty sure Sojiro doesn't cook well and so it's either take out or she cooks. That's why she smokes you." Miki giggled.
"Actually, I think I'm the one who does the literal smoking..." Kagami commented. Miki giggled harder.
"You just have to work at it Kagami. It won't all come in one day. You've gotta take time and learn from your mistakes. You're good at almost everything else you do, it's only natural that you have at least one thing you're not innately good at. You just have to pick yourself up, buy yourself new pots and pans, and get cooking again!" Miki said, fist balled up in front of the two to show her excitement. Kagami found it contagious.
"Yeah!" She shouted, balling up her hands into fists and pumping her arms to her sides once. She smiled and sighed, calming down a bit. She leaned on her mother's shoulder. "Thanks Mom." She smiled.
"It's my pleasure Kagami." Miki leaned onto her daughter a bit, rubbing her shoulder.
"Hey Mom?" Kagami asked.
"Yes Kagami?" Miki asked.
"Can we... keep cooking?" Kagami asked. Miki giggled a bit and got up.
"Of course!" She cheered.
"You think that you can't really make stuff?
Your cooking is debris?
Once we're through, you will be a,
Chen Kenichi!" Miki sung as the two continued, only making pancakes where they made rice before. Kagami would master one thing tonight if she could help it.
POV Konata
"Tsuki!" Konata shouted again. Her throat was getting hoarse from overuse. It pounded with every shout and the pain only heightened each time she yelled. "Tsuki!" She shouted again. She slowed to a walk. "Damn it..." She cursed under her breath. She brought out her phone and dialed her father's number.
"Hello?" Her father answered.
"Hey Dad, did you find her yet?" Konata asked.
"No, not yet. Anything on your end?" Sojiro asked. Konata sighed.
"No such luck." Konata said.
"It's getting kind of late Konata. We have to trust that she'll come back when she wants to." Sojiro said.
"Dad, she doesn't know the town! She's probably lost!" Konata said.
"Konata, I don't want you out this late if we can help it." Sojiro said.
"Dad, why are you being so protective? You know I can take a hundred guys myself!" Konata said.
"What about when you're tired and can't see because it's so dark?" Sojiro asked.
"I'm fine Dad. No one is going to get me." Konata said.
"...Fine. Just don't stay out here too long. If you get tired, let me know and I'll come pick you up." Sojiro said.
"Okay Dad. I didn't call to get a lecture, let me know if you find her." Konata said.
"Didn't you just meet her yesterday?" Sojiro asked. "You're pretty protective yourself." He said.
"I have reasons." Konata said. Over the past day, she had really grown attached to her future nephew, if that was who Tsuki was. Her father sighed.
"Just come back soon, okay? I don't want you out here too late. Yutaka is asleep, I'm going to go home and put her to bed." Sojiro said.
"No problem. I'll be home later." Konata said.
"I'll see you then Konata." Sojiro said.
"See you then." Konata hung up. She sighed and walked into a convenience store to buy herself a drink, hoping the coolness would help sooth her throat.
POV Kagami - Several more hours later
"It may be a little rough, but I put love into it..." Kagami said as she set the plate of pancakes in front of her father. "Now, please be completely honest with me. I need to know how it is." Kagami requested. Tadao smiled and looked down at the food. He gulped. It looked ordinary enough, but he knew Kagami's cooking. And he wasn't looking very forward to the expense of new pots and pans. He looked up at his wife as if to ask if his sacrifice was truly necessary. She smiled and nodded smartly. He gulped again. He took a piece of the pancake and put it in his mouth. His nose wrinkled in preparation, but upon tasting the actual pancake, he unwrinkled his nose and smiled.
"It's pretty good." He said. Kagami's demeanor lit up noticeably.
"YES! WOOHOO!" She started dancing around table, clearly happy with herself. Tadao swallowed and made a weird face.
"What... was that crunch?" Tadao asked, almost frightened of the answer. Kagami, however, didn't miss a beat, but made a new one as she began strutting around the table.
"THAT would be the cinnamon!" She said proudly. "That's right! I got the cinnamon right!" She boasted. Miki leaned in next to her husband.
"She accidentally used cumin more than once..." Miki whispered to her.
"Well Kagami, it's delicious." Tadao smiled. "You should be very proud of yourself." He said. Kagami cheered.
"I am! This is one of the greatest moments of my life!" She shouted before giggling giddily. The front door opened and closed. The living room quieted down and looked, hoping to see Tsukasa. Matsuri and Inori walked in. "What movie did you two see?" Kagami almost shouted, wondering what movie could have possibly taken the two to watch as that had. Matsuri picked up on the fact that Kagami wasn't curious about the movie itself, but rather why the two were back as late as they were.
"Well, once we were finished with the movie, I treated Inori to dinner." Matsuri smiled.
"So, what was that? A date?" Kagami asked.
"Well, I don't know. What I do know is that it was pretty good reconnaissance. Kan-chan went on a date to the movies." Inori smiled.
"Oh~, so THAT'S what that was... I thought you two were on a serious date!" Kagami laughed.
"Maybe we were." Inori smiled.
"Maybe we weren't." Matsuri smiled.
"I could certainly do worse." Inori shrugged.
"So could I." Matsuri said.
"You two are being very vague..." Tadao commented.
"Maybe we're just testing the waters? Hell, maybe I've had my "True Love" here all the time!" Matsuri laughed.
"But... You're siblings..." Kagami commented. Inori huffed.
"We don't have to take this! Come on darling, let's go!" Inori elongated the word darling in a manner that made it difficult to tell if she was joking. Inori put her elbow out. Matsuri looped her arm through Inori's and the two of them walked out of the room.
"..." Everyone was quiet for a moment.
"Those two have gotten very weird..." Kagami commented. There was another opening of a door, followed by a closing. Tsukasa wandered into the living room and sat down. As the three others in the room waited for an explanation, she turned to the television.
"Tsukasa?" Miki asked.
"You okay?" Kagami asked.
"...Yeah. I'm alright." Tsukasa said in a wistful voice.
"Where have you been?" Tadao asked.
"Well..." Tsukasa started.
POV Tsukasa
Tsukasa walked through the park. She had been walking around in the night for several hours, trying to get a handle on her thoughts. She missed Tony. She recognized after calming down a little that she too had been at fault. She HAD been the one to break up with Tony. Maybe there was a reason he had looked at Tereya first? She sighed and sat down on a bench.
Why was I being such a hothead? She wondered. He wasn't just trying to avoid the situation. He might have wanted to talk it out later, after the match. That wasn't really the place to talk about something like that. Tsukasa thought to herself. She put her head in her hands. I've got a lot to learn. Maybe he's better off with her... She thought. She could feel despair beginning to creep into her heart.
When despair grips you, sing my song. The memory rang out in her head. She sighed.
"Alone for a while, I've been searching through the dark,
For traces of the love you left,
Inside my lonely heart.
To weave by picking up the pieces that remain
Melodies of Life - Love's lost refrain..."
"Our paths, they did cross, though I cannot say just why,
We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said goodbye...
And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?
Let them ring out loud 'till they unfold..."
She sang out, her singing attracting a bit of a crowd. They all heard the melancholy in her voice and knew she was singing from the heart.
"In your dearest memories~...
Do you remember loving me~?
Though you're gone...
I still believe that you can call~, out my name..."
"A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
Adding up the layers of harmony
And so it goes, on and on...
Melodies of life,
To the sky beyond the flying birds~!"
"Forever andbeyond..."
She stopped, figuring if the song were to do anything, it would be done by now. She ignored the crowd completely, along with their applause, until she heard one particular thing.
"Hey." She heard a voice that made her cringe. She looked up and found the song had attracted a very unwelcome guest.
"Hello Tereya." Tsukasa said, allowing as much venom to enter her voice and tone as possible. The girl sighed.
"I understand your response. I would feel the same way." She said. "Look, I just want to talk." Tereya said.
"Then talk." Tsukasa commanded.
"Will you listen?" Tereya asked. She seemed almost fiery. Tsukasa thought for a moment, sighed, and nodded.
"Yeah. Keep it short though." Tsukasa sighed. She would listen to everything Tereya had to say, but she had to show some semblance of resistance. She went on the offensive. "How was your date?" Tsukasa asked. Tereya looked almost shocked.
"He never came to tell you?" She asked.
"...No..." Tsukasa said cautiously. Tereya stood a moment in a daze at the boy's stupidity. She regained control of herself.
"He really is something special." Tereya said dreamily as she sat down next to Tsukasa.
"Don't I know it." Tsukasa almost spat. Tereya giggled in spite of the situation.
"No. You don't. Not for the reason I saw during the date, at least." Tereya said. Tsukasa raised an eyebrow, interest piqued as she turned and fully faced Tereya.
"What does that mean?" She asked. Tereya smiled an odd smile.
"He was thinking of you during our date. The whole thing." She looked tired. He smile faltered, but never left completely. Tsukasa's jaw loosened.
"How would you know something like that?" She asked.
"First of all, he didn't even pay any attention to the movie we were watching." Tereya said.
"How do you know he wasn't?" Tsukasa asked.
"Well, he didn't laugh at the funny parts, he didn't aw at the cool parts, or really even respond in general." Tereya said.
"What did you go see?" Tsukasa asked.
"The Avengers. I thought it'd be comforting for him to see other Gods as well." Tereya said almost sarcastically. Tsukasa started giggling, surprised at how much the girl was opening to her, at how comfortable she seemed to feel. Tsukasa hadn't much of an impression of the girl from their one, debatably two interactions, but she seemed to be extremely shy given how she had approached Tony the first time they had met. Tereya giggled as well.
"Trust me, he's no God." Tsukasa giggled. "He even tried switching his fighting name off of Ryu Tora no Kami." Tsukasa said.
"Well that's news! What did he try to change it to?" Tereya asked.
"Tetekai no Kenja." Tsukasa said.
"The Sage of Fighting, eh? Wonder what made him change his mind..." Tereya said.
"It was something big..." Tsukasa said.
"Guess this is sorta personal, even we did kind of go out." Tereya said.
"Ask him. He might tell you." Tsukasa said.
"I don't know if I'm really going to be seeing all that much of him soon." Tereya sighed. "Like I said, he told me he only thought about you during out date."
"Why would he say something like that?" Tsukasa asked.
"He didn't say it in as many words, but I asked him and responded before he had the chance to think." Tereya said a bit sadly. "He was... wondering how he would make it up to you..." She said.
"Yeah, but he still named that attack after you because it was pretty." Tsukasa crossed her arms and huffed. Tereya laughed, again in spite of the situation. "What's so funny?" Tsukasa asked.
"Do you know why he named that attack after me and not you?" Tereya asked forcefully. Tsukasa almost reeled back. It was in small movements like that one that showed that Tereya even hurt from what had happened.
"He-... No, he never did explain it to me... I kind of asked him about it after he did it, but he evaded the question..." Tsukasa said.
"I asked him... I cornered him on it and made him tell me..." Tereya said. Her voice cracked and she took a second.
"And...?" Tsukasa was understandably curious.
"It was because it wasn't perfect. It was pretty, but it wasn't... perfect." Tereya said. Her words seemed to sting her more than Tsukasa, but Tsukasa was in shock none the less.
"Not... perfect..." She murmured to herself, almost under her breath.
"That's right. Look, I'm his friend. But you're obviously the most prominent thing in his heart. On a date with another girl and he could think of nothing but you. I know I should be bitter at you, that I should hate you." Here, Tereya smiled. "But I don't. Honestly, I'm happy. I hope you'll remember what I said to you and I hope you'll give him a second chance. He's stubborn, but he loves you with all his heart." Tereya said. "If you let him back into your life, I'm sure you two will be happy, and that will make me happy." Tereya said.
"You're... not bitter?" Tsukasa asked in a daze.
"No. I knew in my heart that I didn't have a chance, ever since I saw you two on the train. I just wanted to live a fantasy, if only for one day. Will you give him another chance?" Tereya asked. Tsukasa sighed.
"I... think I can do that..." Tsukasa smiled. "Thank you for coming here and telling me this." Tsukasa said. Tereya smiled back.
"If I could have just one thing." Tereya said, more of a question than a statement.
"What's that?" Tsukasa asked.
"Could we all be friends? Me, you and Tony?" Tereya asked. Tsukasa thought for a moment and smiled.
"Call him Kan-chan." She giggled. "Yeah. We can be friends." Tsukasa smiled warmly.
"I'm so glad. Be happy." Tereya said as she got up. She began walking away, Tsukasa watching after her in, still in a daze. Tereya didn't hold back the tears in her eyes anymore, though she was genuinely happy for the two. Tsukasa smiled and got up. She began walking home.
Back to the present
"That's what happened... Onee-chan... Mom... Dad..." Tsukasa looked back at them, tears in her eyes. "He... He thinks I'm perfect!" She said, pure joy in her voice.
"Hang on Tsukasa. I'm sorry, but could you go over what happened with the date again?" Kagami asked, in a daze.
"Yeah, he was thinking of me the whole time!" Tsukasa said.
"..." Kagami was laughing like a hyena inside. She wasn't so much excited at the fact that Tony probably really hurt Tereya. In fact, she was really sad about that. But she found it ironically hilarious that his date with a girl other than Tsukasa ended in almost the exact same way that his date with Kagami had ended. It only further served to prove to Kagami that there must have been some sort of divine intervention to get Tsukasa and Tony together.
"So what do you think Tsukasa?" Miki asked.
"I think I might have overreacted about the whole thing... Maybe if I had been a bit more level headed, he would have been too. Then Teri-chan wouldn't have gotten hurt like that..." Tsukasa said.
"Wow, that's..." Kagami muttered.
"Onee-chan, do you know where my phone is? I want to call him." Tsukasa said.
"Um! I think it's in your room, want me to go get it?" Kagami asked. Tsukasa shook her head.
"No thanks. I'll get it." She got up and left the room. She walked down the hall way and entered her room. In short order, she found it. She dialed his number.
"This number is unavailable. Please call again tomorrow." The female voice said. Tsukasa blinked a time or two. The voice sounded extraordinarily familiar. Not to mention it had specified tomorrow instead of later. She hung up and called again. After a moment, the same voice came on.
"The number is unavailable. Please call again tomorrow." It said. The. Tsukasa was pleased with herself that she had noticed such a small detail. The voice had said "This" the first time, but "The" the second time. And the voice sounded no less familiar this time. This time she could place it though. It had been the same one that had taught her the song when she had fallen asleep watching the tournament in Lohan. She sighed, frustrated with the inability to contact Tony and very freaked out by hearing a voice from her dream on the phone. She flopped back on her bed and sighed.
I wonder where he is... She thought.
POV Tony
Tony's ears twitched.
"S..." He started and turned. "Sar-...Mom?" He asked. "Ho-Whe-... What's going on?" He asked as he beheld the salmon haired girl.
"It's complicated." Sarnia said. Tony ran over and hugged the girl with all his might. After a couple seconds to process his actions, he realized exactly HOW much might he was hugging her with and put her down, considering she was still the same age as when she died. Surprisingly, she seemed entirely without negative effects, but continued to smile happily.
"Well please explain! I... I can touch you! You're here! How are you alive?" He asked. Sarnia sighed.
"I'm not. I'm here, but I'm not... It's weird. It's the judges, please don't ask me to explain, but they watch over everyone. They granted me the ability to come talk to you one last time." Sarnia said. Tony blinked.
"By judges, do you mean the gods?" He asked.
"Please don't ask." Sarnia said. Tony huffed.
"Well in any case, tell them thanks..." Tony sighed, sitting back onto the stump. Sarnia took her seat on her own.
"I already did. Several thousand times." She smiled. They were silent for a moment. "Are you okay Tony?" She asked.
"I'm sorry, but this completely blindsided me. I came here to clear my head, but... you're here... my Mom is here..." Tony said, dumbfounded. Sarnia smiled a bit wider.
"It's been too long since you called me that." She leaned a bit back on her arms. They stayed silent for a small time.
"How long do I have with you?" Tony asked.
"I'll stay here for as long as you want, but I'll need to go back once you leave the forest." Sarnia said.
"I'm so happy to see you, even if it's only this once..." Tony sighed happily. "Mom, I've... gotten myself into a bit of a pickle." Tony said.
"Right down to it, huh?" Sarnia smiled.
"I would be as happy talking about anything." Tony said. Sarnia giggled.
"No, I'm glad. You've become a lot more serious since the last time I saw you." Sarnia said.
"I had to! I never wanted death so close to me again. I didn't want to lose anyone else that I let get close to me." Tony said seriously.
"To be forgotten is worse than death." Sarnia said in as serious a tone.
"I've never forgotten about you!" Tony said forcefully, jerking to attention.
"But you tried to forget about Tsukasa." Sarnia retorted.
"Yeah, but-..." Tony started his comeback before he had come up with one. He failed to retort, knowing he would be wrong to do so considering exactly how correct the girl was.
"That's what you wanted to talk about, right?" Sarnia asked.
"Yeah. I really did." Tony sighed. "Mom, am I really that stupid? I know I'm in the wrong with asking out Tereya, but what about the original argument? Did I do the right thing?" Tony asked.
"It's not my opinion you want. It's my approval, correct?" Sarnia said.
"And do I have it?" Tony asked.
"That isn't important." Sarnia said.
"What are you talking about? Of course it is!" Tony said.
"No it isn't." Sarnia said. "Would you change your mind about things even if I said I agreed with Tsukasa?" Tony was caught off guard by this question.
"Um..." He mumbled.
"Exactly." Sarnia said. "If you truly want my opinion, I think you should be more considerate of Tsukasa's feelings." She said. Tony sighed.
"I think she should be more reasonable." Tony folded his arms.
"My point." Sarnia said. "You're still as stubborn as when you wanted to see that movie." She said. Tony jumped and looked at her in disbelief.
"I- I can't believe you just said that!" Tony shouted. "You- This is a fight between two people that will probably resolve itself soon, THAT was a disagreement that caused you to DIE!" Tony said, furious at the incident being brought up so casually, and in a manner that insulted him no less.
"Do you disagree that you're stubborn, even now?" Sarnia asked. Tony opened his mouth, but didn't answer immediately. He fumed in silence for a moment for a few minutes until he sat back down.
"No. I'm stubborn." Tony sighed. "But she is too." He decided.
"You two are so cute together though." Sarnia giggled, dropping her serious persona for a moment. "So, now that you know what I think, did that influence what you're going to do at all?" Sarnia asked seriously. Tony sighed.
"Maybe. I dunno..." He sighed. "Do you think I should say I'm wrong?" He asked.
"Well, I really think you should tell Tsukasa why you named that attack after another girl." Sarnia said.
"You think?" Tony sighed.
"It'll shorten the war by five years and save millions of lives." Sarnia giggled. Tony chuckled.
"There's that sharp-enough-to-shave-with wit I told them about..." Tony chuckled. He sighed. "I'm sorry Mom." He apologized.
"For what?" Sarnia asked.
"My stubbornness. It caused you to die. If I hadn't been so insistent of on that damn movie... If I had listened to you... Maybe you'd be..." Tony started to crack. Sarnia saw this and rushed over.
"Hey, who knows what would have happened? For all we know, what you did was the best move!" She said and brought him into a hug. "Sometimes life is just too uncertain to have regrets." Sarnia said. She petted his hair and held him as only a mother could. Tony could feel it.
"Thank you..." He muttered.
"I'm always there for you, you know." Sarnia said. "Even if you can't see me. I'm always watching over you." She said comfortingly. The two stayed like that for a moment.
"So, am in as much trouble with you as I am in with Tsukasa?" Tony asked. Sarnia giggled.
"No, I shouldn't think so. She may be angry, but she loves you very much. Why else would she get so protective over you?" Sarnia asked.
"True. True." Tony smiled as Sarnia retook her seat on her stump. "But man am I in some trouble though..." Tony sighed. Sarnia giggled.
"Listen, when you love somebody, you're always in trouble. There's only two things you can do about it: either stop loving 'em, or love 'em a whole lot more." Sarnia said.
"I guess I'll... love her a lot more than I did before then." Tony smiled.
"Atta boy!" Sarnia cheered. Tony leaned back on his stump.
"I didn't even know that was possible." Tony chuckled. "Hey." Tony said, almost inquisitively.
"Yes?" Sarnia asked, interest piqued.
"You're the one who nicknamed me Tony. As Sarnia. Why?" Tony asked curiously.
"Because you weren't Kanpeki anymore." Sarnia answered.
"Er... what?" Tony asked.
"You weren't the same boy I raised. Technically speaking, you were, but you had been changed. The training. The scorn and ridicule you got from your classmates... It all changed you. I named you what I named you because you were perfect to me. But you weren't anymore." Sarnia said. Tony chuckled.
"I'm still not, nor will I ever be." Tony said.
"And Tony shall you ever be." Sarnia said in an ominous voice before breaking into giggles.
"So why Tony? Why not Bob?" Tony asked.
"Oh, that was legitimately the reason I gave you back then." Sarnia giggled.
"You like the name?" Tony asked sarcastically.
"I'm not sure why." Sarnia responded.
"You know, I remember one of the reasons I liked you so much." Tony smiled.
"Why's that?" Sarnia giggled.
"You laugh a lot. I like the sound of your giggle. It's nostalgic. Probably shouldn't do it so much though." Tony said. This confused Sarnia.
"And why's that?" Sarnia asked.
"You keep laughing like that and you'll put every Nightingale out of a job." Tony chuckled. Sarnia laughed.
"I thought that was funny when you said that." Sarnia smiled.
"It was true though. Every word of it." He sighed. Tony chuckled and sighed once more, though this time contently. "Mom..." He said quietly.
"Yes?" She asked.
"I love you." He said. Sarnia hummed with joy.
"I love you too son." She said. The two began talking about everything, from life and death philosophies to the silly way a Caterpillar crawls.
POV Konata
Konata jogged sleepily along.
"Tsuki..." She mumbled kind of loudly. She was exhausted from the constant running, her fight from before, and just the time. She stopped and leaned against a building to rest. She instantly knew that was a mistake. She was much too exhausted to get started again. She pushed herself off and began walking home, knowing her search was finished. She stumbled a bit before catching herself and yawning.
"Kurono says HI!" She heard someone yell. She looked back just in time to see a flash of steel. As the knife approached her kidney, her life flashed before her eyes. She saw her birth, her early years. She saw the last moments she spent with her mother. She saw... The knife had stopped. It quaked inches from her kidney. The boy looked surprised. Adrenaline ran through Konata's veins as she let her instinct take over. She burst into motion, throwing a one inch punch that came from over six inches away, causing it to lose more than half its power. It being completely unmitigated and to the boy's face, it didn't make much of a difference. The strike at least broke the boy's nose and sent him off of his feet. Konata backed up a step and coughed, beginning to shake. She gasped for breath, the adrenaline subsiding. She shakily grabbed her phone and dialed her father's number.
"Dad... Yeah, I need you to come pick me up... Yes, I know it's late and I stay out way too long... Please just come?" Konata asked. She told him where she was. "Thanks..." She sighed and hung up. She backed up to the wall and sighed. Why didn't that attack connect? Konata wondered. She walked over and picked up the knife. Upon examination, it seemed no different from any other knife other than some engraving on it. She looked at it in particular, but it was too dark for her to make out what it was. Seeing as it was the only thing that separated it from an ordinary knife, she assumed that to be what had saved her. She put it close to her arm, but felt no resistance. She placed it against her skin, and again felt no resistance. What on earth... She wondered. She looked over at the boy, his head a bloody mess. She walked over to him and held the knife in front of his face. "Where did you get this?" She asked forcefully.
"I..si...bo..." He muttered. Konata sighed. She left herself get too carried away and damaged the boy past the point where he could speak normally. She took a leather case for the knife from his side and decided to keep it to examine later and see if Tony could find something different about it. Konata couldn't imagine what he could find that unless someone in Kurono's little gang had powers. And then why would they use them to help her instead of hurting her? None of it made sense. Sojiro pulled up as she slipped the knife into her pocket. She figured that the fact that the boy was bleeding out of his face would be enough punishment. If he died, it served him right. If he lived, he would serve as an example to his fellow "gangsters". Hopefully, the lot of them would learn from the boy's example. She got into the car.
"Konata, do you even know how late it is?" Sojiro shouted as soon as the door clicked closed. Konata began leaning on it as exhaustion took over.
"I... Hashbrowns?" She said uncertainly.
"What would you have done if you were mugged? Or if someone had tried to stab you?" He scolded.
"The knife woulda stopped a couple inches from my kidney..." Konata mumbled sleepily.
"Listen to yourself Konata. You're so tired, you're delusional." Sojiro sighed. "You have a tournament tomorrow! How are you gonna get up for that?" Sojiro asked.
"I don't wanna... sprouts..." She mumbled, mostly out again.
"It's past midnight, just for your information." Sojiro said. They finally got home. "Alright Konata, we're home. Let's go inside so you can go to bed." He said.
"Five more minutes..." She muttered.
"Come on Konata. Let's go." Sojiro shook her sternly.
"I don' wan..." Konata mumbled sleepily. Sojiro sighed.
"I guess it can't be helped then." He said. He got out of the car and walked around to her side of the car. He opened the door and picked up Konata. He carried her into the house and past the living room. He entered her room and set her in the bed. "What am I going to do with you..." Sojiro sighed.
"No... Nosferatu..." Konata snuggled into the bed and breathed deeply. Sojiro sighed again.
"I guess you'll figure something out..." He commented before he left.
POV Masuta
Masuta walked into the kitchen, having packed the rest of his items. He looked into the pot of dengen that had mostly been forgotten to see there was a massive amount of dengen still. He took some and put it into a cloth bag that he carried around, one not unlike the one Tony had for carrying it. He looked to see that the amount he took was so negligible, though it was enough to fill his bag, he barely saw a difference in the level of dengen left. He looked around and sighed.
"It's boring here right now. I've already gotten all my stuff together, I was just thinking of staying here for one more night." Masuta commented. He sighed and took out his phone, walking into the living room. He clicked onto his speed dial. After a few rings, they picked up.
"Hello?" The person on the other end asked.
"Hey Miyuki." Masuta said.
"Hello Masuta." Miyuki's tone changed instantly.
"What's going on?" Masuta asked.
"Nothing much at the moment. I was simply reading a novel." Miyuki said.
"Oh, if you're busy, I can call back later!" Masuta said.
"Please don't hang up." Miyuki said. Masuta smiled.
"As you wish." He said warmly.
"Thank you." Miyuki said. Masuta wasn't sure how she did it, but Miyuki had a way of making her voice smile in the same way her eyes did. He loved to hear that smile.
"So what are you reading?" Masuta asked.
"A delightful fantasy novel series Kagami-san introduced me to." Miyuki answered.
"What's it called? I'm not really up to date on the current novel series." Masuta said.
"The original series was called Warcraft. This one, however, is several series ahead of the original." Miyuki said.
"Ah, which one is it?" Masuta asked.
"It's called Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War." Miyuki said.
"What's it about?" Masuta asked.
"Well, there had always been these two factions that begrudgingly tolerated each other. But everything changed when the Horde attacked..." Miyuki began explaining the plot of the novels in order with an almost eidetic attention to detail. Masuta wasn't exactly sure of who each character was at first, but as Miyuki continued, it began getting clearer. He smiled as Miyuki seemed more than happy to describe everything about the characters. He made hums to let her know that he was, indeed listening to her and committing it to memory. It seemed a silly thing for him to do, but he wanted to take an active role in learning about Miyuki's interests.
"Ah, so the dude went back in time and rescued himself as a baby from bandits?" Masuta asked.
"Well, not really. He was sent to destroy the caravan that he was a part of. He found himself, left for dead when the band of mercenaries he was sent with slaughtered his caravan. He delivered himself to where he knew he was supposed to be at the time instead of saving his parents and getting his legendary weapon back." Miyuki explained.
"Wait, did he lose it?" Masuta asked. Miyuki began explaining once again. Masuta smiled with eyes closed as Miyuki got more and more into it. "So it was a dragon made up of the other dragons?" Masuta asked after a while.
"In a sense, it had all of the attributes of the others, but the others no longer had the Aspect of Earth, so they needed his help again." Miyuki said. Masuta smiled and hummed to let her know he was listening. He looked at the clock to see it was five minutes until midnight. He couldn't help but wonder where his little brother was. Miyuki sounded like she was full of energy from talking about the book series however, and Masuta would stay up with her until she was too tired to continue.
POV Tony
Tony laid on the stump in his mother's lap. She hummed a soothing tune to him. It was almost midnight by this time and she knew he would be asleep soon.
"Tony." She said.
"Mmm?" He hummed.
"I have something for you." She said.
"Hmm?" He hummed inquisitively.
"But you have to get up." She specified softly.
"Mm." He hummed curtly in disapproval of the idea.
"It was something that belonged to your father." She said. Tony's eyes popped open.
"Orly?" He asked.
"He wanted you to have it." She said.
"And it just happens to be here? You can't leave the forest, remember?" Tony said.
"It's buried between the trunks of these trees." She said, gesturing to the area between her stump and his. Tony got up and felt the ground. "Move." He commanded. The earth didn't budge. "Er..." He mumbled. Sarnia giggled.
"Wait for it." She said.
"Hm?" He hummed, but his inquiry was answered soon enough as the earth directly below his hand split in two. It didn't look as if there was anything there. "Ummm... Are you sure somebody hasn't come and taken it while you were away? It's been a few years." Tony said sarcastically.
"No. It's there. It's just difficult for you to see it." Sarnia smiled.
"Okay then..." Tony sighed. He put his hand down the fissure and commanded the energy in front of his hand to work as if it were his hand. Again, nothing occurred for a time. "Mom?"
"Wait for it." She said. Soon, the energy followed Tony's will and extended downward. He felt around the fissure, but felt nothing. Finally, after an exhausting minute of searching, the spell taking almost all of his energy, he felt the energy grip onto something. He pulled it towards him and eventually into his physical hand. He sighed in exhaustion and rested a moment on the ground before pulling his hand out of the crevice. In his hand was a blade made of what looked to be a metallic white, though the origin of it was impossible for Tony to place. It looked almost serrated, but the spaces for it were far too spread out along the blade to actively be used as a saw. The blade also had next to no guard to speak of. It looked to be a little less than three feet in length. If Tony had to put a description to it, he would say the blade looked like a stalk of beewort.
"This is... Thank you." Tony smiled. "I'm proud to wield my father's sword." He swung it. It felt surprisingly light, even in comparison to his own blade, which was made of mostly glass so it wasn't heavy. "So why did I have to "Wait for it"? Tony asked.
"It's complicated. Basically, this place is my sanctuary. It was kind of asking me permission for it to allow you to move the earth." Sarnia said.
"So wait, are you a god or something? Or are you a human who has powers?" Tony asked. Sarnia giggled.
"Neither. The Gods just gave this to me when they let me back on earth. It was where I went when ever I needed to think when I was a little girl. I came to clear my head. It's always had a special place in my heart." Sarnia smiled wistfully. "Nothing happens in this forest without my permission." She said. The exhaustion from his spell hit him in force as he reclosed the earth. He went back to his previous position after laying the sword against the trunk. Sarnia dutifully began stroking his hair again.
"Mom..." Tony started.
"Yes son?" Sarnia asked.
"Tell me about Dad..." He requested. Sarnia giggled warmly, happy with his query.
"A great man. Powerful, charming, smart... Incredibly so." Sarnia described.
"Was he bald?" Tony asked. Sarnia laughed.
"Yes, a little. Balding is more like it though. That doesn't take anything away from him though." Sarnia said warmly.
"Except for his hair." Tony muttered sleepily. Sarnia giggled again.
"Yes, except for his hair." She said.
"Did you two love each other?" Tony asked.
"Yes son... yes." She answered.
"Does he know you got resurrected as a child?" He asked in a very silly manner. Sarnia giggled, but apparently didn't see it fit to respond. "Mom?" Tony asked.
"Yes?" She asked.
"Could you sing it... Please?" Tony asked. Sarnia smiled.
"Of course." She answered. She breathed deeply. She looked up to see a dove flying over the clearing, though very obscured by the presence of tree branches.
"So far and away, see the bird as it flies by
Gliding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky
I've laid my memories and dreams upon those wings
Leave them now and see what tomorrow brings."
As she sang, the dove flew away.
"In my dearest memories,
I see you reaching out to me.
Was it fate
that brought us close and now leaves me behind?"
"A voice full of love, joining yours and mine
Adding up the layers of harmony
And so it goes, on and on
Melodies of life,
To the sky beyond the flying birds-forever and beyond."
"Though I shall leave this lonely world behind
Your voice will still remember our melody
Now I know we'll carry on
Melodies of life
Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts
As long as we remember..."
Sarnia looked down to see her son fast asleep. She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead.
"Good night, son." She smiled.
In the Morning
Tony woke up to the sound of his mother humming. He opened his eyes slowly with a smile on his face.
"Man, I remember I used to fall asleep like this years ago..." Tony smiled.
"I remember that too." Sarnia smiled. "You were much smaller back then though."
"I'm not too heavy, am I?" Tony asked. Sarnia giggled.
"No, don't worry. I'm dead, remember? I can't be hurt, no matter how much you weigh." She teased.
"Are you sure? If I am, I can-" He began to get up, but Sarnia lightly put him back into her lap.
"Oh, now don't try to fight me." She giggled. A thought occurred to Tony.
"Fight..." He mumbled. "Crap, the tournament! I used most of my energy to get here, what time is it?" He shouted, jerking up. He looked up and saw it was around a couple hours until his first match. "Crap, crap, crap, crap!" He shouted. "How am I going to get back in time?" He turned to his mother desperately. She looked as calm as always as she stood from the tree stump.
"Take up your father's sword." She requested. He blinked a time or two and did so. "Is there anything left you have to ask me before you go?" She asked. Tony blinked and thought, though his thoughts were in disarray from just waking up and his still general exhaustion from the previous day's spell working.
"I..." He started before words formed themselves. He fell silent. "Mom..." He looked her in the eyes. "Thank you. Just... Thank you for everything you've ever done for me... I wish I didn't have to say good bye, but I need to see Tsukasa... I need to tell her that I love her, to apologize... You helped me so much last night. Thank you." He said again. Sarnia smiled.
"It's my pleasure to help you. In any way I can." She said.
"I love you Mom..." Tony said. Sarnia came up and leaned Tony down, kissing his forehead.
"I love you too." She smiled. "One last thing before you go." She said.
"Yes?" Tony asked. Sarnia sighed.
"Don't feel like you're betraying me when you call Miki your Mom. I want someone to do my job since I can't and she's the best person for that job." She said. Tony smiled and nodded, a tear coming to his eye. "You know, seeing as how you're in love with Tsukasa..." Sarnia teased.
"True." Tony smiled.
"Are you ready to go?" She asked.
"I think so..." Tony said.
"Then come here." Sarnia said. Tony complied and walked to her. "Here." She said as she placed a hand on Tony's chest. "This is my last gift to you..." She said as the world spun into itself as there was pressure on all sides, pressing everything into him. Then, it was gone as soon as it had begun. Tony stood outside on the streets of Saitama with full energy. He subconsciously looking into his ring to see it brimming with as much energy as it had when he left. His heart was beating quickly. "Know that I'll always be with you..." Sarnia's voice echoed in his head. Then it was gone, and the world seemed a bit of a darker place. A tear came down Tony's cheek.
"Thank you..." He mumbled. He took off, knowing exactly where he was going to go, taking out his phone.
POV Tsukasa
Tsukasa woke up, a smile on her face. She honestly felt immensely relieved at hearing Tony's failure, even if it had hurt her new friend. It was a guilty relief, but one all the same. Tony loved her, he thought she was perfect. She smiled happily. She took her phone, remembering the strange female voice had told her to call today. She clicked his speed dial and got extremely frustrated with the voicemail she received.
"Hello, you have reached Kanpeki Otokonoko. I'm either fighting Gods, kicking thug butt, or in the restroom." She hit her futon on the side. Then, however, the message continued. "And if this is Tsukasa wanting to call me so I can apologize.. Well, that kind of stuff has to happen in person." It said. It finished as it always had after that and Tsukasa stayed there stunned for a moment. He was coming... She smiled and leaped from her futon. She left her room and ran out.
"Kan-kun's coming!" She cheered. Matsuri was the first to hear and react. She stuck her head out and looked at Tsukasa, hair in a mess.
"Imoto, keep it..." She noticed that Tsukasa, in her excited airhead rush, had failed to change from her pajamas. Tsukasa turned excitedly.
"What Onee-san?" She asked with a cute, airhead smile that she hadn't had in a while. Matsuri sighed, unable to take this happiness away from her little sister.
"Keep it cute." She said as she pulled her head back into her bedroom. Tsukasa giggled. She walked into the living room to see practically the rest of the family save Matsuri up.
"Hey Tsukasa." Inori smiled back at her sister. "What's up?"
"Kan-kun is coming!" Tsukasa said cheerfully. Inori scrunched up her nose.
"Good, I want to give him a piece of my mind." Inori said.
"Onee-san, no! He thinks I'm perfect and he's coming to apologize!" Tsukasa defended Tony. Inori let it sink in for a moment.
"How do you know that?" She asked, as coming up with such a specific statement was a sign of denial that a relationship was over. And so Tsukasa told her eldest sister what Tereya had told her, followed by telling the entire room about Tony's new voicemail. "Well then, that's different."
"I'm going make breakfast! Is anyone hungry?" Tsukasa asked.
"I just woke up myself, soooo..." Kagami smiled.
"Great! Anyone else?" Tsukasa asked.
"I could eat." Inori said.
"Mom, Dad?" Tsukasa asked.
"I fed us when we got up." Miki said. "Now I wish I had waited though." She smiled.
"Okay, breakfast for four!" Tsukasa cheered. Kagami got up.
"Hey Tsukasa..." She said in an inquisitive voice.
"Yeah Onee-chan?" Tsukasa asked.
"Do you think... We could..." She walked over and whispered in her sister's ear. Tsukasa nodded, then nodded again, then smiled widely.
"Sure! I'm happy to help." Tsukasa smiled.
"Awesome, thanks!" Kagami cheered as the two walking into the kitchen. Inori looked at her parents.
"What was that?" She asked. Both shrugged simultaneously. Inori sighed.
"I'm gonna go see something..." She got up and left the room.
POV Tony
Tony was standing outside the Hiiragi household, fist suspended in the air for a knock that never came. He wasn't sure how long he had been there, but he was sure it had been a good while. Ever since he had started on his way here, a seed of doubt had been sprouting in his head and making him wonder if Tsukasa could really forgive him. That and his encounter with Tereya's friend had shaken him a bit...
Earlier
Tony ran along, having just changed his voicemail. Suddenly, Tereya's friend shot out of the alley way and grabbed him by his collar.
"Why did you do it!?" She yelled.
"Oh, I don't know, why does anyone do it?" Tony asked.
"Now you've done it!" She shouted as she drew a fist back. Tony thought quickly and apparated the two an inch to the right. It accomplished little other than making the girl disoriented for a moment. That was all it took for Tony to escape her grasp.
"Well you'll have to clean it up, I'm in a hurry." Tony began walking away before stopping. He turned and looked the shaky girl in the eyes. "No, seriously. I left Tereya in a mess. I was an idiot for asking her out. Please, help her in the ways that I can't. I may not love her, but I do care about her." Tony said. Tears came to the girl's eyes.
"Idiot!" She shouted as she ran away. Tony sighed and continued in a run towards Tsukasa's house, trying not to let the encounter phase him.
Present
He HAD been a massive asshole.
Asking out Tereya right in front of Tsukasa... She was right. I AM an asshole... He said to himself. Come on man, just knock. Maybe they'll let you in? You're going to apologize! His head tried to convince him, but at this point, he had heard every argument his head could come up with to go inside and yet, here he was. Standing outside his love's door. Like an idiot. "Damn it, I can't do it! I'm too nervous!" He said. "I wish I could just character change." He looked up as if he suddenly would, but no such luck. "Where are Guardian Chara when you need them?" Tony shouted exasperatedly.
"So were you ever going to come in?" Inori asked as she suppressed a giggle when Tony jumped at her sudden appearance.
"I was just about to and..." Tony began trying to explain, though his words were coming faster than his brain could conjure them.
"Don't try to lie to me kiddo, I've been watching you from the window for ten minutes." Inori said as she failed at suppressing her laughter.
"Well, um, you see..." Tony blurted out before Inori took him by the shoulder.
"Come on." She said comfortingly. "Tsukasa is waiting for you." She said warmly as she led the younger boy inside. "Tsukasa~, your boyfriend is here!" Inori laughed as she put as much emphasis on 'boyfriend' as she could. Tsukasa poked her face out of the kitchen and stepped out, complete and total poker faced. Everyone around couldn't help but be impressed that Tsukasa of all people could successfully keep a mask on her emotions at a time like this.
"Yes?" She asked, sounding disinterested. Tony stepped forward once, then twice. Then he stopped.
"Tsukasa..." He muttered. He sighed and slowly got on his knees, then bowed his head to the ground, his hands on the floor next to it. "Please forgive me." He said in complete fealty. The move was so extreme, Tsukasa's poker face was shattered as her jaw dropped. She had been expecting an apology, but Tony had gone way beyond what she had thought he would. "I was a proud, arrogant, foolish, stupid asshole who doesn't even begin to deserve you. But in the months I've known you, you've become an irreplaceable part of my life. I haven't felt right since what happened and life can't be the same if I can't be with you! You're the sunshine of my life. And there is no sunshine when you're gone!" He looked up and looked in her eyes. "You could give me a million good reasons to spit in my face and stay away from me and I can't give you one to forgive me... Please..." He returned his head to it's bowed position. "Forgive me anyway?" He asked. Tsukasa shook off her surprise and smiled. She had already decided to forgive him, but she couldn't let this opportunity pass so easily...
"Will you quit the tournament?" She asked.
"Yes." Was the immediate response.
"And never speak to Tereya again?" Tsukasa asked. The response came with a slight delay.
This can't be her speaking, she'd never ask for me to do something like that... Tony thought. "Yes." He said.
"Hmmm, I don't know..." Tsukasa tapped her foot pensively, but there was a giant smile on her face from watching Tony shift uncomfortably, comfortable herself in the knowledge that he couldn't see her smile.
"Anything Tsukasa..." He said. Tsukasa giggled.
"How about we forget the last two things and just go back to the way things were?" She asked warmly. Tony looked up at her.
"Seriously?" He asked.
"Two conditions." She said.
"Name them." Tony responded.
"You have to win the tournament and you have to be friends with Teri-chan." Tsukasa smiled. Tony pushed off the ground and hugged Tsukasa.
"As you wish." He said quietly. Tsukasa hugged him back. "I love you Tsukasa." Tony said as he tightened his hug. Tsukasa smiled.
I dunno. Love just doesn't seem like the right word to use... She thought for a moment. "Kan-kun, what's the word for when it feels inside your heart that everything in the world is alright?" She asked.
"For me, that's love Tsukasa." Tony answered. Tsukasa hummed.
"I love you Kan-kun." She said. Tony smiled.
"You want to know the reason I didn't name that move after you?" Tony asked.
"Why?" Tsukasa smiled, already knowing what was to come. She wanted to hear it from Tony himself though.
"Tereya was pretty. The attack was pretty. But you're beautiful. In every aspect of the word." Tony said. "You're the epitome of beauty." Tony said. Tsukasa blushed and giggled. Tony, seeing her weakness, began to get more and more grand in his movements, breaking the hug to do so. "If you looked "beauty" up IN THE DICTIONARY!" He pointed at his open hand to symbolize that there was an imaginary dictionary in it. "You'd see a picture of you in it." Tony said a little quickly, having made the entire statement in a very "Bill Cosby"ish fashion. Tsukasa giggled harder, along with the other two women in the room, the father chuckling.
"Tsukasa?" Kagami asked from the kitchen. Tsukasa seemed to remember something and smiled.
"I made breakfast Kan-kun!" Tsukasa pecked Tony on the lips and rushed into the kitchen. Tony was dazed for a moment. Over the course of ten minutes, his life had gone from depressingly miserable to amazing. Tsukasa loved him again and had made breakfast!
"Come and sit." Miki smiled and patted the table. Tony walked over and sat. It was odd, being out of the loop and suddenly being yanked back in.
"Thanks..." Tony hesitated. Miki giggled.
"You can still call me Mom." Miki clarified.
"Thanks Mom..." Tony smiled. Tsukasa and Kagami suddenly came out of the kitchen with plates full of pancakes. "Awesome!" Tony said as a plate was set down in front of him. He looked at it for a second, feeling a bit awkward.
"Well? Eat!" Kagami commanded. Tony shrugged and took a piece, eating it. He swallowed.
"Tsukasa didn't make this." He said the instant to food was down his throat. Kagami was disheartened.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Don't get me wrong, it's really good, but Tsukasa didn't make this." Tony said. Kagami sighed.
"How did you know?" She asked.
"These taste like pancakes that would be served at a high class restaurant or something." Tony said. Kagami squealed a little.
I'll take it! She thought.
"Tsukasa's taste like pancakes that the Gods would be honored to eat." Tony said. Tsukasa blushed.
"Thanks Kan-kun..." She smiled a little smile.
"But did Kagami make these?" Tony asked. Kagami posed proudly.
"Yep, sure did!" She said. Tony looked suspiciously at the pancakes.
"And how many pots were killed in the making of these pancakes?" Tony asked.
"WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP ASKING THINGS LIKE THAT?" Kagami shouted. Tony laughed.
"Well, from Kitchen-Killer Kagami..." He trailed off.
"Ahg! Why did we let him back into the house?" Kagami asked. The family shared a laugh at the Tsundere's expense. "Where did you even hear that?" Kagami shouted.
"From who else?" Tony laughed. "My lovely sister!" He said.
"Me and Kona are gonna have to have a talk..." Kagami huffed.
"Oh Tsukasa, before I forget, I've got something for you." Tony smiled.
"What is it Kan-kun?" Tsukasa asked. Tony took something out of his pocket and opened his hand to reveal the white stone Tsukasa had been given by Amaterasu.
"They look to be the same in all but color. I couldn't notice any other differences." Tony said.
"And I got this from Amaterasu... Where did you get that one?" Tsukasa asked.
"A fighter from the tournament in Lohan." Tony answered. "It floated away from him and back to me later that day. Plus, it's not the only one of its kind. A friend of Konata's who happened to be there recalled a golden one a few years back that had passed through the same town at the same time." Tony said.
"That's kind of weird..." Tsukasa said.
"Yeah, maybe they're gifts from the gods to those who need them. Or something like that." Tony shrugged.
"So then we'll... need these for something?" Tsukasa asked.
"I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud here. Maybe Dart needed it before, but he didn't any more..." Tony thought. He shrugged. "It makes sense, he told me he was on a quest for revenge a few years back." Tony said.
"Why do you need it?" Tsukasa asked.
"I don't know yet. I would absolutely love to go on a quest for revenge on this Sasuke, but..." Tony sighed.
"Kan-kun." Tsukasa said curtly.
"I know, I know. He probably has a family or something." Tony sighed.
"No... I understand..." Tsukasa said sadly.
"Wait, you do?" Tony asked.
"You had one too." Tsukasa said. A moment went by before she clarified herself. "But it still won't bring yours back if you kill him!" She said. Tony chuckled.
"Yeah, I know. Still, this is a very curious thing." Tony took out his own. Due to it's proximity to Tsukasa's stone, it and her stone let out a bright shine, interrupting the conversations that each of the others had gotten into.
"Whoa..." Matsuri mumbled as she came out of her room. "What's going on?"
"We don't know. Every time they're close to one another, they light up like that." Tony said.
"That's pretty crazy." Inori said.
"I know, right?" Tony chuckled. "I haven't even found out what it does yet." Tony twirled it around in his hand.
"Well, it's a god given gift. It must do something!" Miki said, looking closer at it.
"I would think Amaterasu would have given this one. It IS red." Tony said.
"True. Hey..." Kagami began thinking.
"What is it, Kagami?" Tony asked.
"It's red, like fire, right?" Kagami said.
"Right..." Tony confirmed, a bit confused at the question considering the stone was right in front of her and Tsukasa had put her away, causing the glow to fade.
"Well, remember when the fire guy from your last fight hit you with fire and burned your clothes off, but you weren't hurt in the slightest?" Kagami said.
"Damaged probably suits it better, I still felt the flesh being seared from my bones..." Tony said.
"Alright then, you weren't damaged by the fire!" Kagami said. "Maybe that stone gives you some kind of immunity to it! Like, you can't be burned!" Kagami said. Tony hummed.
"That.. would make sense... I had it with me at the time. And maybe it was given to Dart by Amaterasu a few years ago." Tony smiled.
"I wonder if it will cause you to transform like Dart did?" Kagami said.
"You saw the tournament?" Tony smiled.
"Yeah, it was pretty awesome!" Kagami said.
"Then you know your girlfriend's a badass." Tony chuckled. "She completely owned our fight. I don't think there was really ever any chance of me winning without my powers." Tony chuckled.
"Actually I never got to see that fight! I was looking forward to it too." Kagami smiled. "Not that I wanted to see you get beat up or anything!" Kagami added.
"I understand!" Tony laughed. "It was pretty epic! I wouldn't mind watching it myse-OW!" He yelled as something burned his neck. Energy knocked the burning clothes iron away from him. "What the hell was that?" He yelled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Nope! No burn!" Matsuri said.
"Geez! That hurt a LOT Matsuri!" Tony shouted.
"But it didn't actually burn you!" Matsuri pointed out. Tony rubbed the back of his neck in an effort to ease the pain.
"Still, that hurt." Tony sighed. "I guess that kind of confirms your theory though Kagami. Good job." He said. "I don't think it's what caused Dart to transform though. The light that enveloped him was more silver, I'd imagine this light would be red." Tony said.
"But the light when the two get close is white." Kagami pointed out.
"Good point." Tony said. "If it does make me transform, then how does it though?" Tony thought out loud. Kagami sighed.
"There, I can't help ya. I have no idea how your powers work." Kagami said.
"Honestly, I hardly do either." Tony laughed. "All I know is that I can do things with my mind. I don't know how I do it half the time myself. I think of something with energy, and it happens." Tony chuckled. Tony looked up at the clock to see it was about time for the next fight. He got up.
"Alright, it's time for the tournament that I'm going to win." Tony said.
"Alright, let's go!" Miki said as the family got up. They all piled into the Hiiragi van and Tadao began driving them to the tournament.
"So who are you fighting this time?" Kagami asked.
"I dunno. We aren't told ahead of time." Tony said.
"I guess Kona and Tsuki will just meet us there..." Kagami said.
"I hope so!" Tony laughed. They pulled up close to the tournament grounds to see a giant crowd of people gathered outside. Everyone got out of the van and Tony ran up. "Hey, what's going on?" He asked.
"Ryu? The tournament arena is being repaired, but your fight was never called off or postponed. Where is it taking place?" A random person asked.
"I don't know, this is the first I've heard of it." Tony said. At the sound of "Ryu" though, the crowd turned around and started flocking him with questions about the match. Tony struggled with answering them for a moment, then grew exasperated with the sheer volume. He jumped out of the crowd, to their astonishment, and landed near the entrance. He tried opening it, but the door was locked.
"It's locked Ryu." A girl said.
"No kidding." He chuckled. "Isn't that cute." He commented on the locked door. "Open." He commanded. The lock clicked and the doors swung open, to resounding gasps from the audience. He took a few steps in and, just before he could be stampeded, he smirked at the crowd. "Close." He commanded. The doors closed behind him and the lock clicked shut again. Tony ran around the grounds, trying to find anyone who could answer his question. If he was still fighting, he had to know where.
"Hey, how did you get in here?" A worker asked.
"I'm Ryu Tora no Kami." Tony answered.
"That doesn't answer my question!" The man protested. Tony smirked.
"Yes it does." He said before he continued. Finally, he met Akira. "Akira, what's going on?" Tony asked.
"Kan-chan? Hey, what do you mean?" She asked.
"Where am I fighting? Was the match postponed?" Tony asked. Akira scratched the back of her head.
"Well, the arena repairs took longer than we thought, so we're holding this round outside." Akira said. "Yesterday, one of the fighters tripped and fell into one of the holes made by the Fire Ferrets, so it was decided that we needed to fix it before matches could be held in there again."
"So it's just outside?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, unfortunately since there's no protection of any kind out there, the audience will be forced to watch a live filming of it." Akira said.
"Damn. That's understandable though." Tony said. "So when is it?" Tony asked.
"I was actually on my way there right now to start the fight. Where's your team?" Akira asked.
"I assumed they'd be meeting me here." Tony sighed.
"They might be in the crowd outside! I'll see if I can stall the match, meanwhile they set up a big T.V. out front where the crowd gathered. You'll be able to see when I can't stall anymore and come back. I'm sure they're in the crowd though." Akira said.
"Got it. Thanks!" Tony shouted as he ran back. Where are you two? Tony thought.
POV Konata
"Konata, wake up!"
"Five more minutes..." Konata mumbled.
"It's time for the tournament, we're gonna be late!"
"No... Bed..." Konata mumbled, growling as she buried her face into the pillow. There was a giggle.
"Get up before drastic measures need to be taken."
"Drastic..." Konata mumbled. She was about to turn around, but it was too late. A shrill scream followed. "How could you do that?" She shouted as she bolted from the bed and backed away from the girl. Her face was a deep crimson as she rubbed her now sore bottom, which had been spanked by the now hysteric Tsuki.
"You wouldn't get up, I had to!" Tsuki laughed. Konata realized who was there.
"Tsuki! Where have you been?" She shouted.
"Not important, we have to go! The tournament, remember?" Tsuki said. Konata smacked herself on the head.
"That's right! Crap!" She shouted as the two bolted from the house. They ran as fast as they could without tiring themselves out since they would be of little use to the fight if they were exhausted upon arrival. "Can't you apparate like Tony?" Konata asked.
"Apparate? What's that?" Tsuki asked.
"Teleport!" Konata answered.
"I don't know how to do that!" Tsuki said. Konata almost cursed as they continued to run. They made it in short order to see a big screen television mounted on the wall. On it was Tony, standing alone in front of three familiar faces.
"Team Taiseishiki versus Team Kakashi!" Akira shouted. "Fight!"
Luckier Channel
"Luckier~! Channel~!" Akira shouted. "Hiya Luckies~! I'm your navigator, Akira Kogami~!" Akira shouted.
"And I'm the assistant, Minoru Shiraishi!"
"Minoru, it's been too long since you were in the story, you need another part!" Akira said.
"Weren't you complaining that I had a part in it way back when?" Minoru asked.
"But I..." Akira started. "I was threatened by you before. I'll admit it." Akira sighed. "But now I want you to succeed! We're gonna rise to the top together!" Akira threw her arms out excitedly.
"Together, eh?" Minoru smiled. Akira suddenly looked over at him.
"N-not like that!" She blushed quickly.
"I didn't say anything about anything." Minoru smiled. Akira gasped a bit at her own outburst. She sighed.
Who'd think I'd turn out to be a Tsundere? She thought to herself. "Whatever." She averted her gaze away from him and the camera.
*Music Tone*
"Well I guess that's all the time we have for today, join us next chapter, bye-nii." Akira mumbled, still looking off camera at anything she could.
"..."
"You okay Akira?"
"I gotta go do something."
"Akira, wait!"
*End*
Aftersection
I haven't had as much school the past couple days due to events occurring around here, so I've had a lot more time to work on this. I hope this chapter reaches you all in good health and that none of you have been affected too badly by the Hurricane that's hitting the Eastern US. Luckily, the biggest real tragedy for me recently is that I lost my flash drive. However, that's very bad news considering 90% of what has been up to date on what's going to happen was on it. So I either have to find it or retype most of the future events of Luckier Star, which I'm sure won't be nearly as good as what I have stored away. At the very least, I have a couple of old files I can use for the time being. I do really, really hope that I can find it soon though, because this is kind of frying my brain trying to remember everything I have on there (likely way more than ten MBs by this time) Well, wish me luck and have a safe day everyone!