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Update! – Now that FF has finally started work on the backlogs of story stats and the Emails are just fine, I think FF will start going back to normal.
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The Storyteller993 – Well the challenge will be something different than you think…
The embodiment of weirdness – But now comes the hardest fight of her life and I hope you guys can see where I'm coming from in this chapter.
Majikoi – Love Me Seriously - Kazuko Route
Daughter of Kawakami – Part 14
A Young Girl's Choice – Part 1
August 31st, 2009, Monday
I couldn't believe it…
It actually happened…
Wanko had won… She'd actually beaten Chris and she hadn't had to use Agito to do it…
To say this was a big fucking deal was putting it lightly… this was NOT what happened in the story. I mean I would know of course.
But… what now? What happens from here? Kazuko's taken quite a bit of damage in her fight against Chris and even though she may have used Ki to soften the blows that doesn't mean she's immune.
In her state, can Agito really make any difference?
After the match was over, both Chris and Wanko were taken to the waiting room and looked over by the Temple's medics to check their conditions.
Unlike before where Chris had to end up going to the hospital, she was fine. She had a concussion, but she was asleep along with several bruises and some internal pain but nothing life-threatening or fatal.
They were using replica weapons of course. I guess it was also poetic justice that Kazuko finished the match not with her own weapon but Chris' and even broke her own naginata to win…
That is truly some dedication.
But right now, I was by her side. The medics looked over her and said that she was fine on the outside, but that Chris's stabs had left some bruising on her body and the pain in her shoulder was still affecting her such as when they tried to roll it she winced in pain.
Looking over her, I can tell she was exhausted, but time didn't stop for anybody…
And so the next round had already begun…
(Several minutes later…)
"Oooh, a double knockout! Both fighters have fallen out of bounds! Neither will be advancing to the exhibition match, and as such the one who will be facing Kawakami Momoyo in the final bout will be… Kawakami Kazuko!" Jun announced.
What?! A double elimination? How… anticlimactic. But good for us was that there was another hour long break before the exhibition match.
Afterwards, we heard the door open and in came not only Momoyo, but Lu-sensei and Principal Tesshin as well.
"Wanko… you did good out there." Momoyo greeted her sister.
"Onee-sama…" Wanko replied as she sat up.
"Yes, to have defeated the person who handed you defeat before is a wondrous lesson indeed. Although defeat and failure can be teachers, even victory itself can offer you lessons." Lu-sensei said.
"I concur, picture me surprised when I saw that you had in fact won against Chris-san. After she defeated Shibukawa we believed she might be one who would take it all, but you proved us wrong… Your efforts were not for nothing. You have proven your training has come forward." Tesshin joined in.
"And now… it's the final match. You and me… are you ready?" Momoyo asked.
"… … …" Hmm, Wanko? Why was she so quiet all of a sudden?
"Wanko, are you okay?" Momoyo asked in a bit of worry.
"Oh, it's nothing… just thinking about things." Kazuko replied, but she seemed unsure of herself.
"Kazuko?" I said a bit confused.
"I'm fine, Nagamasa. Just still a bit in pain…" She replied giving a weak smile. That is true I guess.
"I still just want to say I'm proud of you for coming this far lil' sis. You've… gotten really strong. But there's still one last hurdle you have to face before you can walk the path you want so badly." Momoyo said reminding Kazuko that it still wasn't over yet. "I'll see you soon…"
And with that shew left.
"Yes, after such an intense match you need your rest to recover your strength. Nagamasa-san, look after her." Lu-sensei left as well with Tesshin giving a bow as he left behind him.
And after that Kazuko continued to look up at the ceiling like she was contemplating something…
"Kazuko, are you really okay?" I asked again with slight concern in my voice.
"I'm fine, I promise. I just… need to think about some things. Alone. Can you… leave for a minute Nagamasa? I promise I'll call for you when I'm ready." She asked me.
"Okay, if you insist." And so, I did as she asked and I left. I could only wonder what was on her mind.
As I heard the door slide shut, Kazuko was still there thinking… all on her lonesome.
(Kazuko's POV)
I did it…
I came this far…
I beat Chris!
She was so strong, so gallant, and so skilled! In a way, she reminds me of Onee-sama…
I didn't give up. I didn't back down and I won… I put my heart and soul into every move I made. But now that I've won…
Why does it feel so… empty?
I won, so why do I feel like something is missing? I mean I should be cheering, celebrating. Everything I've ever dreamed of is coming true…
So why… why do I want to cry?
Is this really what I want? Is this really what I need? Is this really what makes me happy? Is this really who I am?
I am Kawakami Kazuko…
I love martial arts. I love fighting. I love training. I love improving. I love challenging myself. I love being strong. I love being fast. I love being skilled. I love being a warrior. I love being a samurai.
But was that all there is to me? Is that all there is to life?
What about other things? What about my hobbies? What about my interests? What about other dreams… about other paths?
Maybe... maybe there's always been more to me than just martial arts.
Maybe there is more to me than just fighting.
Maybe there is more to me than just being an Assistant Master. Maybe there is more to me than just being Momoyo's sister. Maybe there is more to me than just being a Kawakami.
Maybe... maybe I can be something else. Maybe I can do something else. Maybe I can learn something else. Maybe I can love something else. Maybe I can dream something else. Maybe I can choose something else.
I don't have to follow the same path as my sister. I don't have to live up to her expectations anymore. I don't have to prove myself to her.
I don't have to be in her shadow anymore…
I can be my own person. I can have my own identity. I can have my own voice. I can have my own style.
And so maybe… I can have my own life.
Maybe... maybe I can be happy. Maybe I can be free. Maybe I can be me.
Maybe... maybe it's time to find out.
It's time to find out… who Kazuko is.
And the one who taught me all that… the one who stayed by my side through thick and thin…
(An hour later…) – (General POV)
It was time…
"Kazuko, are you sure about this?" I asked her a final time.
Naginata in hand, Kazuko turned to me and replied with a nod, "Yeah, I know what I'm going to do. I'm going to be me."
"Kazuko… alright then. Right til the very end, I'll be here." I replied with a smile which she gave one right back.
And so we headed for the arena and waiting there was a serious Momoyo Kawakami in her training Gi. She was ready to do combat.
Jun then started, "Ladies and gentleman, the match you've all been waiting patiently for has arrived! The exhibition match between Kawakami sisters; Kazuko and Momoyo is about to begin! Kazuko had proven herself a rising star, but now she faces the Goddess of Martial Arts herself! This is the one you don't want to miss one second of, so don't blink!"
"It's really about to happen." Kazama said as he watched on tensely.
"Can Kazuko-san… really beat Momo-senpai?" Mayucchi asked nervously.
"With that all that damage she took from Chris in the last round it's hard to say. But given how her movements are, it would be a big risk just to even get one hit in let alone move." Miyako added logically.
"Miyako's right. If she'd been damage-free against Chris, then maybe, just maybe this wouldn't be much of an issue. But unless she's got some kind of one-hit move to win this all then I don't know…" Yamato was just as pensive.
"Kazuko…" Moro watched on in worry.
Everyone in the crowd was excited, yet anxious they all knew the fearsome strength of Momoyo Kawakami. The strongest fighter in the world, second only to Tesshin Kawakami himself.
How would this end?
Both sisters stared back at each other, no need to trade barbs of any kind when it came to martial arts, you let your actions do the talking. But for Kazuko; she had to get something out before this all started.
"Please wait." Kazuko called out to the confusion of everyone including me. "I have something I want to say before this match."
Everyone went quiet as they all looked toward the younger Kawakami sister, "Hello, everyone. Thank you for coming to watch this match. I'm sure you're all looking forward to seeing me and my sister fight, but before we do, I have something to say. Something that I've been wanting to say for a long time."
Now even Momoyo was a bit confused as she titled her head; Kazuko continued on, "Momoyo, you are my sister. You were always my role model. You were my hero. Ever since I was a little girl, I admired you. I wanted to be like you. I wanted to be strong like you, fast like you, as skilled as you. I wanted to be a warrior like you, a samurai like you. You taught me so much, you helped me so much, you inspired me so much. You are the reason I started martial arts, the reason I trained hard, the reason I entered this tournament. You are the reason I'm standing here today, facing you in this match. You are the reason I'm proud to be a Kawakami."
Momoyo, even in the moment of this match found herself smiling just a bit with Kazuko returning with one of her own, she went on, "But you are not the only one who made me who I am today. There are others, many others, who supported me, who guided me, who cared for me. I want to thank them, too. I want to thank the Kawakami Temple, for taking me in when I had nowhere else to go. I want to thank Grandfather Tesshin, for adopting me as his granddaughter, for giving me a family, for giving me a name. I want to thank Lu-sensei, for teaching me the art of the naginata, for sharing his wisdom, for being my mentor. I want to thank the monks, for training with me, for challenging me, for being my friends. I want to thank all of you, for being a part of my life, for being a part of my journey, for being a part of my dream."
She looked around the crowd was silent as they listened on. Kazuko took a deep breath as she finished, "And now, I have one more thing to say. One more thing that I've decided, after a lot of thinking, after a lot of soul-searching, after a lot of questioning. One more thing that will change my life, that will change my future, that will change my destiny. The thing that I hope you will understand, that I hope you will respect, that I hope you'll support. One more thing that I need to say, that I want to say, that I have to say."
She raised her naginata, and stabbed it into the ground. She let go of the weapon, and stood up straight. She looked at her sister, and said with a firm and confident voice, "Onee-sama, I love you. I respect you. I admire you. But I'm not you. And I won't follow in your shadow anymore. I was never your clone. I don't just want to be an Assistant Master. I'm Kazuko Kawakami. I'm my own person. I have my own identity. I have my own voice. I have my own style. I have my own life. I have my own dream. And I'm going to pursue it. I'm going to follow it. I'm going to live it. Onee-sama, I quit. I'm quitting the path of the Assistant Master. But I'll never abandon the way of the warrior. I'll never quit being a samurai. And I'm choosing my own. I'm choosing the path of Kazuko Kawakami. I'm choosing the path of happiness. I'm choosing the path of freedom. I'm choosing the path of me."
The crowd was stunned…
I was stunned…
Everyone in the Kazama family was stunned…
Hideo, Gen, Azumi… everybody in that arena was stunned at Kazuko's confession.
But one person understood…
Momoyo, her sister. She knew what Kazuko had meant. And when she finished she smiled at her with the biggest smile I'd ever seen from her. One filled with nothing but happiness, love and acceptance.
That's when both sisters walked toward each other and hugged; Momoyo whispered in her ear, "Kazuko, I'm proud of you. I'm happy for you. I love you. Go ahead and follow whatever dream you have. Follow your path. Follow your heart. Be yourself. Be free. Be happy. Be Kazuko Kawakami."
The crowd let out a cheer and a round of applause let out form everyone as they witnessed the heartfelt display between sisters. The Kazama family included; along with Tesshin, Lu-sensei and even Hideo.
Even I couldn't help myself, despite my own confusion at Kazuko's decision I knew it was one she had made on her own. She was never one for spur-of-the-moment decisions.
"I-It would seem folks that that exhibition between the Kawakami sisters has been cancelled! With Kazuko-san's declaration the match is off!" Jun announced as he turned off the microphone and then said to himself, "I was not expecting that…"
And so eventually the venue calmed down as everyone began to file out. With the tournament over, everyone gathered around and congratulated Kazuko.
Eventually we all funneled into the waiting room; there everyone seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere and talking with each other.
"Hey Nagamasa." I turned to see Yamato and the rest of the gang behind me.
"Yeah Yamato, what is it?" I asked him.
"This match… this wasn't just some regular tournament, was it? Not for Kazuko it was that is?" Yamato deduced.
Damn it you sniveling Tactician just have to be the smart one, don't you? I looked over to Wanko, but she nodded her consent as I explained to them what this was all about.
The real reason for this match and why Kazuko had been training so hard. Was that her dream as an Assistant Master, and her future in martial arts was on the line with this match. If she couldn't hit Momoyo once or make her block an attack than she would have to give up martial arts for good as a career path. To give up her dream as an assistant master.
"All of this was for that? All of that effort and training she'd been doing was for the sake of her dream?" Kazama asked.
"Yeah, but…" I looked back at Kazuko, but her smile was the only reply I got.
"It's alright, everyone. I've made my choice, it's okay." But just as she replied something wet dripped from her eye.
"Kazuko?" Tesshin asked as he'd seen it too.
A tear had dripped from her eyes as more started to form, "Eh? Why am I crying… I mean I made my own decision right? Then why does it… Kh… hah…!" And with that Kazuko ran off suddenly.
"Kazuko-san! Where are you going?!" Mayucchi yelled out as Kazuko ran past her near the door.
"Let me through!" Kazuko exclaimed.
"I will not!" Mayucchi was defiant, however.
Momoyo, however, felt different, "It's fine. Let her through." She moved Mayucchi aside. "I know you want to be alone right now. You were strong onstage, but I know deep down that had to have hurt…"
And so Wanko ran off…
"No, I won't leave her by herself." I ran past Momoyo myself as I heard two other sets of footsteps behind me being Yamato and Kazama.
"Darn right we can't. Let's go!" Kazama said.
"Even if she needs to be alone, she needs someone by her side." And with that the three of us raced after her.
"Those two have known Wanko for the longest, and Nagamasa… for him…" Momoyo understood their reasons. "Wanko… I'm sorry…" Momoyo tightened her own fists, even for her the sadness welled inside her, but she would not cry…
After running off, Kazuko ran for the back of Kawakami Temple, where she was sure she would be alone. The same place where she and Nagamasa had practiced their mental training together, before the first match she'd had against Momoyo.
"Huff… huff… huff… *cough*… *cough*…" Her injuries irritated her as she ran as fast as her bruised body could take her.
"Wanko, stop. Don't overtax yourself, especially with your injuries." I had caught up with her.
"He's right, you'll pass out at this rate." Yamato said.
"You'll only make things worse!" Kazama had caught up too.
"Huff… huff… Nagamasa…" She called to me.
"Hm?" I replied.
"I'm sorry… even after all of that training we did together, I still… couldn't pass the test… I gave up…" Wanko chided herself.
"Wanko, you know that's not true. Everything you gave, you gave was nothing but your best." I told her.
"But I knew it… I knew my best wasn't enough… it's just like she said before… I'm not cut out for martial arts. I worked so hard too… and I still failed to finish… Back in elementary school, they always told you if you put your mind to it, your dreams will come true. I guess they were lying." Kazuko ranted.
"Wanko…" Just then…
BOOM!
"The heck?! Hey, back at the arena, there's people flying in midair!" Kazama told us.
Momoyo… Tesshin…
They were doing their special "exhibition." But for Momoyo this was just a demonstration; of the true pinnacle that Kazuko just couldn't reach.
A pinnacle she could never reach…
I know the truth hurts more than a well-meant lie, but this was just too much…
And ten seconds later almost in a flash… it was over. We'd seen the power of the two most powerful fighters in the world.
"Holy… What was that? It was like something from a movie…" Kazama was starstruck by the display.
"Those two are ridiculous…" Yamato commented.
"Yeah… but all of it was to make a point." I told them.
"Eh?" Both of them replied in confusion.
"Wow… Onee-sama really does shine so brilliantly." Kazuko's weary voice let out.
"Wanko…" Kazama said turning his attention back towards his childhood friend.
"Heheh… I was so silly to think I could ever match up to her." Kazuko said.
And just like I suspected, that spectacle was staged from the very beginning. To show her, what true top fighters in Kawakami Temple can really do…
"That was my goal… to be like Onee-sama… Ahaha, but I guess I'm nothing like her. Besides, I don't have her talent, I'm not a real daughter of the Kawakami Temple… like her… I wanted to prove… that didn't matter… But I guess in the end I'm not like Onee-sama or Gramps…"
…
There was nothing I or the other guys could say to retort that.
"Before summer break, when Onee-sama first told me, there was some part of me that whispered that I knew she was right. But I couldn't accept it, not right away. I mean, I even went so far as to study in the mountains. But I couldn't do it… Ahaha… I just couldn't… Ooh… I've been working towards that for so long… and for noth—… Oh… Ooh!" And so, her tears fell.
"Kh… ooh… Ah, ahh, ahhh." She let it all out. "Ahhhhhh!"
"Kazuko…" I said through gritted teeth as I tried to comfort her.
"Let go of me! Leave me alone!" She batted me away. "Wahhhhh!"
And so, for the first time in ages since she was a child, Wanko cried. It was a lamentation of her soul.
Kazama however stayed strong for her, "You're gonna dry up cryin' that much. Let's get her a towel and a drink!"
"Yeah!" And with that both Yamato and Kazama left the two of us alone.
"Ahhh… aaaah… ahhhh…" It was as if a dam had finally broken. "Waaaahhhh!" She cried and cried.
"Kazuko…" I just couldn't watch her do this and so despite her struggling I comforted her as I took her in my arms, her face going into my chest her crying didn't stop.
"Oooooh!" This time she didn't try to shake me off, I could feel her tears already stain my shirt underneath. "Aaaahh…" She continued to sob.
"For now, just rest and let it all out. I'm not going anywhere. Just like I promised, I'll be here no matter what."
And so ended the dream of a girl, by her own choice.
But even so… the wound was still there.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" She continued to cry.
I patted her head, "Shhhh, don't cry so sadly Kazuko…" And so all I could do was comfort the girl I loved. She probably couldn't even feel my arms.
But I would be with her. Just like I promised.
September 1st, Tuesday, 2009
Today was the start of the fall semester. But Wanko and Chris were not to be seen.
But given their injuries both of them were told to rest at least for the next few days until their conditions returned to normal.
But everyone was just as worried for them as everyone talked about the match just the other day.
"Apparently after the match, she was flown out of Japan to be cared for at a German facility. Her father's orders I hear." I tell them.
Mayo seemed a little upset, "Then that means we can't visit her."
"How's Wanko holding up?" Chika asked me.
"She got off a lot lighter than Chris, but she's been told to rest for now due to the injuries on her shoulder and collarbone." I told them.
"I see. And even after taking so many hits too." Mayo said impressed.
"Well, it's only been one day." Chika said.
"Yeah, her wounds are still healing." But it was the wound to her heart that was even deeper than those.
She's strong, but would she still do what I fear she'd do?
I'd tried calling her, but she wouldn't pick up. And even when I tried her door, I got no reply.
What a fucking way to start the semester.
But little did we know… things had already been set in motion…
A young girl who thought she'd chosen her destiny, now had a hold in her heart. And now she was wandering aimlessly where her feet dragged her.
A girl bothered by the fact she still didn't know where she came from. The faces of her true parents…
She thought she'd gotten over it… but it still stung.
Being at the Temple… she wasn't a Kawakami. And martial arts wasn't her path anymore. So why even be there to begin with now?
A girl wondering who she is now. Without martial arts…
Eventually the day had come to an end, and I and Momoyo had made it home together. I was just as melancholic as Kazuko now I could feel.
"Hah…" I sighed audibly.
"What is it? Is it about Kazuko?" Momoyo asked.
"Yeah… but I know heaving and sighing won't do a thing about it. But training now, just feels so empty…" I confessed.
"Yeah… not seeing that usual smile on hers, it's depressing…" Seems even Momoyo missed her energetic sister.
But little did I know that night a little dog scampered far away by the time we noticed she was gone…
AN#1 – So hey guys I'm not gonna give you my usual spiel about the chapter, but I wanted to instead explain the reasoning behind my choice in this chapter.
I know for some time a lot of you guys have probably wanted to see Wanko succeed and become someone who's an equal of her sister. But as I think back on the original theme of the route. I think there's something else we seemed to forget.
It's not only the overarching theme of Dreams in Kazuko's chapter, but it's also the underlying theme of Change we always seem to forget. While I know it'd be so easy for me to just give Kazuko everything, I think that would sully the original intent of the story.
Yes, we can all agree that what happens to Kazuko in her original story was tragic, but that at the end of it; she came out just fine.
I think also we forget that yeah, change can be scary and giving up the thing we've worked our butt off for is crippling and makes us feel empty. But there is always another path, another door waiting to be opened.
As my own band director once told me, "When you close one door, only more appear that you can open. So that you can choose your own path."
Just because someone's done something for years doesn't mean they HAVE to be tied down to that one thing. It's not that they've abandoned it, but it will always be apart of them.
Kazuko may give up martial arts, but that time will never disappear. She's made her mark now. She's closed that door, but now there's so many doors for her to choose and open, and that can only lead to more.
I promise this will still have a good ending, just trust me please.
Thanks guys, Author of Mystery,
Signing out.
What's up next for our heroes, Nagamasa and Kazuko? Stay tuned for Kazuko Route – Part 15 – A Young Girl's Choice – Part 2
AN#2 – I hope you guys are enjoying this rewrite. So please don't forget to leave reviews and also follow and favorite as well too!
AN#3 – Remember I wouldn't be here without you guys! Remember to Favorite, Follow and Review! :)