Chapter 9

The Living or the Dead

Within Kushiro’s unconscious mind, he dreams of his normal teenage life before even meeting Ayame and the others; Hanging out with his friends, torturing his little brother Hamaru, spending time with Kunoichi. He then has a flashback at the day when he met Kunoichi. Back when he was in the fifth grade, everyday he would walk from school and find her with her boyfriend. They would hang around the tree in the front of the school, as he would hold her from behind, kissing each other while expressing their love vividly to others. Until one day, he walked by the same tree again only to find her by herself, crying in her hands after her boyfriend dumped her. Kushiro decides to walk over to her to comfort her, but another guy beats him to her as she quickly sinks into his arms for comfort. Soon she fell in love again, and again she was left alone, only this time he saw interest in another girl. After five other relationship the thought of love was nearly about to escape her dreams, until Kushiro came to her. At first she didn’t want to deal with another guy, but he slowly grew on her as a friend.

Then later in the sixth grade, Valentine’s Day came as the students were exchanging gifts with their sweethearts after school. She stayed in her usual spot, suppressed with sad memories of failed attempts of love. The sight of others in love stung her heart like sharp needles, as she nearly comes to tears. Then Kushiro sneaks up to her with a gift wrapped in red, gleaming wrapping paper tied with a pink ribbon. He hands it to her as she blushes brightly while opening it. It was the beautiful sliver necklace that she still wears today, as Kushiro takes it out and snaps it on around her neck. He then kisses her on the cheek as a sign of affection, and gives her a bright smile. From that day, they became girlfriend and boyfriend till now, still wearing the necklace that he gave her.

His mind then blanks out as he awakens standing on water, nothing but the vast sea with nothing in sight but Kunoichi and Ayame standing on opposite sides of him in white wedding dresses, giggling with joy to see him.

Ayame: Kushi, help me.

Kunoichi: I need you Kushiro . . . I can’t handle the stress my heart will encounter if you leave me. . . . If I lose you . . . I won’t be able to live without you.

Ayame: Kushiro I need you, I need you more than ever. Don’t let me marry him.

Kunoichi: Don’t leave me Kushiro, for four years I’ve entrusted you with my heart. Don’t make me feel like it was all for nothing.

Ayame & Kunoichi: Kushiro I need you!

They continue to bombard him with words and many reasons to be with them, as he covers his ears trying to block out the words so he could think. As hard as he tries, he couldn’t block the pleas of both of the girls, as their words pile up in his mind. He then slips into the dark depths of the water below, drowning as he looks at both girls caught in the same situation as him. Strangely, he could breathe underwater, but the girls would soon take in too much water and die. Their only chance of survival was for him to share his breath with one of them while the other drowns. He could save Kunoichi, the girl he knew and loved for years, but he would leave Ayame to drift and drown her lifeless body into the darkness of the waters, or vice-versa. In his bed, he struggles and kicks around, entangled in his covers as Kamisori stands next to him watching him squirm. He then erupts from his dream, reaching out to the right of him while punching Kamisori in the face. He falls to the floor as Kushiro wakes up from his horrendous nightmare, panting as his heart races with rapid heartbeats.

Kushiro: Oh man . . . What a nightmare. . . I thought I was going to lose Ayame. . . Uh . . . . What’s wrong with me?

Then Kamisori latches himself to the surface of the bed, one paw after the other, growling with infuriating rage and biting down hard on his teeth. Kushiro screams in fear as Kamisori attacks him, nearly waking up those who rested near his room. Meanwhile, the girls were already awake, eating their morning breakfast in the dining room as they hear the screams of Kushiro echoing through the halls. They sat at an extremely long dining room table that stretched to the entire end of the room, decorated with a bouquet of flowers a few feet from each other.

Miwa: Kushiro’s up.

Suzuki: Must be Kamisori. Kushiro must have been really tired, he slept the whole day yesterday. So Ayame, who’s the bridesmaid?

Ayame: Well, I haven‘t thought about it yet.

Miwa: What’s so important about being the bridesmaid anyhow?

Ayame: Well from what I heard the bridesmaid gets to plan the wedding shower, decorations, make sure everyone is seated, you know stuff like that.

Miwa: So basically it’s a title given to the bride’s friend, who replace wedding planners, professional party designers, and ushers to do all the work for free.

Suzuki: Ushers don’t get paid.

Miwa: What joy.

Ayame: You don’t have to.

Suzuki: Just leave the planning to me Ayame. I’ll make sure everything turns out okay.

Miwa: Normally a disaster.

Suzuki: No it’s not.

Miwa: I mean what’s the point, surely her parents are going to plan the whole thing.

Suzuki: I want to at least try.

Ayama: Thanks Suzuki. I wish Gina was here, she’s one of my close friends.

Suzuki: I’m sure she’s doing fine. Even if she could come, you know who would just stop her. I wonder how the others are. And Miwa’s boyfriend.

Miwa: What?

Ayame: Oh yeah, you and Ire would make a cute couple.

Suzuki: A weird, strong silent type couple.

Miwa: He’s just a friend okay. Nothing more, nothing less.

Suzuki: Yeah right, then why is he always near you?

Miwa: None of your business.

Suzuki: Miwa and Ire, sitting in a tree.

Miwa then takes the pitcher of water in front of her and dumps the cold, freezing water over Suzuki’s head. She shakes the pitcher to empty every drop, then places it back on the table.

Miwa: That ought to cool your hormones.

Suzuki: . . . . . You like him!

Miwa: The pitcher will be the next thing to hit you if you don’t be quiet.

Ayame: Wait, that’s a priceless heirloom.

Miwa: Wow Ayame, isn’t there anything in this house that isn’t priceless?

Ayame: Uhhh . . . . I’m not sure.

Suzuki: You know, that would explain the soap in your bathrooms. They leave my skin feeling so soft and silky smooth. Sometimes when I take a bath I end up with dead skin on my hands.

Miwa: Well thanks for killing my appetite.

Ayame: Seriously Suzuki, you got to learn how to end your sentences a little early.

Suzuki: What? So I have bad skin conditions sometimes. . . . Don’t leave me!

Meanwhile back at the academy in the training facility, Hitoshi and Ire spar with each other with staffs while Gina and Ryota watched keeping track of hits. Hitoshi swings and jabs wildly trying to hit Ire, with each attack evaded with side steps, ducks, and a back flip, which nearly reaches the back of Ire’s head and doesn’t make it.

Ryota: Give it up Hitoshi, you’re never going to beat Ire.

Hitoshi: That’s what you think partner. Like my dad says, you got to keep trying, even if the cow doesn’t want to give milk!

Ryota: Well this is one cow you’ll never milk. . . . That didn’t sound right.

Gina: [giggles]

Hitoshi: I know I can beat him!

Hitoshi then attacks with a side swipe, as Ire leaps into the air to avoid the attack. Hitoshi sees his chance and strikes him while helplessly in midair, but Ire seizes the staff in his hand and finally strikes Hitoshi yet again in the head. Ire lands then twirls his staff, taunting him to continue his seemingly impossible mission.

Ryota: Okay that’s fifty-six hits for Ire, and negative three hits for you Hitoshi.

Hitoshi: Dag nab it! Wait, negative three?!

Ryota: The times when he parried your pole arm and it hit you.

Hitoshi: Man, this is pathetic.

Ire: When you strike, make sure you have found an opening, then go for the kill. Your strikes were focused on one thing but getting the job done, regardless of the consequences of a failed attack. Without weakening or fooling your opponent, he or she will be too focused and have enough reaction time to evade, counterattack, or counter evade your attack. Chapter one, lesson twelve in your Physical Combat Tactics textbook.

Hitoshi: Know-it-all. I bet you wouldn’t last two seconds against Satoshi.

Ryota: Speaking of which where is he and his two lackeys?

Gina: My brother is probably training outside the campus. He says the training facility, limits his way of training.

Hitoshi: You know, maybe we should train outside the campus too.

Ryota: Can’t. The reason why he’s able to is because of “special privileges”.

Hitoshi: What?!

Gina: The reason why is his tsunagari needs his full dedication, and mustn’t use no other weapon other than it.

Ryota: What is it?

Gina: Well.

Satoshi: [enters] You should know better than to discuss my abilities with others sister.

Gina: Brother.

Hitoshi: Well look who’s here. Where’s your butt kissers?

Satoshi: They had homework to finish, so I went ahead without them. Gina, let’s go, father is waiting for us back home.

Gina: Okay. Until next time everyone. [bows]

Hitoshi: You be safe Gina.

Satoshi: Before I leave, I have a question to ask of you. Where is Kushiro?

Gina: [gasps]

Ryota: He went with Ayama and the others to her wedding.

Satoshi: Humph, spending time in the girls’ dorm has messed with his sexuality no doubt.

Hitoshi: Say now, he’s a real close friend to Ayama, and she wanted him to come. He couldn’t have just turned her down like that.

Satoshi: Whatever, just let me know when he gets back. I have something to tell him.

Gina: Brother no.

Satoshi: Silence Gina. I do not approve of his methods in battle.

Hitoshi: What does that have to do with her?!

Satoshi: My duty is to protect Gina at all cost, even from the recklessness of her own comrades, I will strike them down.

Hitoshi: I like to see you try that with me partner!

Gina: Hitoshi no. . . . please.

Hitoshi: . . . . [grunts] Fine, only because there’s a lady here.

Satoshi: You would’ve chosen to back down even if she wasn’t here.

Ryota: Why don’t you leave Satoshi? Daddy is probably waiting for her to come back.

Satoshi: [grins] Just be lucky, oh, and if you try to hide Kushiro from me, you will be sorry. [walks away]

Gina: . . . I’m sorry everyone.

Hitoshi: That guy’s an jerk.

Ryota: Hitoshi, I suggest you stay away from him.

Hitoshi: What?! Now what kind of partner are you?!

Ire: The Ijichi family isn’t someone you want to mess with. From the day the family was born, they were feared by many.

Hitoshi: Well he doesn’t scare me. I’ve stared a bull in the eyes, up close for that matter.

Ryota: Still, don’t agitate him. Anger is one thing you don’t want him to experience.

Meanwhile, back with Ayama and the other girls, they start rehearsal in Ayama’s parents’ chapel, located only a few miles away from their estate. An old, white, eighteen century church like building, with a bell tower at the top. Inside, the morning sunlight shines through the chapel’s windows, many white chairs were aligned, a white carpet running down the aisle to the end where Ayame and Kumori were soon to be wed. Yukio and the others sit in the back, watching the rehearsal from afar with Kushiro napping.

Hitomi: They even have their own chapel. What don’t they have?

Dash: Cheap and poorly made materials. Hey Yukio, wake that no good nephew of yours up.

Yukio: Hey, Kushiro, wake up you can’t sleep through this, Ayame could be watching you.

Kushiro: Ugh, leave me alone. I didn’t sleep well.

Ayano: What’s wrong dear?

Kushiro: I had some stupid dream.

Ayano: What was it about?

Kushiro: I don’t want to talk about.

Dash: Well you know dreams have a way of trying to tell you something. Maybe you should consider talking about it.

Kushiro: Fine, I had this dream that Ayame and my girlfriend were in wedding dresses and they were trying to convince me to stay with one of them. Then we sank underwater, they were knocked out and I could breath. I felt like I could only save one while the other drowned.

Hitomi: Oooh, that is interesting.

Kushiro: What about it?

Hitomi: As horrifying as it sounds, your dream was about sharing your breath with one of them. The breath of which you and the one you love will share for all eternity.

Kushiro: But I’m in love with Kunoichi.

Ayano: Who did you try to save honey?

Kushiro: Well, I didn’t choose. I was afraid of leaving Ayame or Kunoichi to drown.

Ayano: But that’s how love is when there’s more than one girl in your life. The person you reject could end up altering their life in the most dramatic results. What you teens don’t know is love is not a plaything, you just don’t go out there and find what person just turns you on.

Kushiro: I, don’t, love, Ayame.

Ayano: Then why was she in your dream?

Kushiro: I don’t know, maybe it’s because she asked me to marry her.

Dash: When Kunoichi dumped you at first, and you met the girls, did you want to go out with her?

Kushiro: . . . Maybe. . . Wait, how do you know about Kunoichi breaking up with me at first?

Dash: Yukio and I get bored, so we talk about your personal life sometimes. We also dig through the students’ permanent records and personal information just for kicks.

Kushiro: You told him?!

Yukio: I was bored.

Kushiro: My personal life is not something you can share with your buddies!

Dash: So what. We’re teachers, we can do anything we want and you can’t do a darn thing.

Kushiro: [growls]

Ayame: Kushiro?

Kushiro: Ayame.

Ayame: Kumori has not arrived yet, and I was wondering could I practice with you.

Kushiro: Practice with me? What can I do?

Ayame: I want to recite my vows, and, it would make me happy if I said them to you.

Kushiro: Shouldn’t you save that for him?

Ayame: I know, I just want your opinion.

Kushiro: Okay.

Kushiro then follows Ayame down the aisle, as they meet at the end with the others in place, with them standing side by side. They then face each other as Ayame similes vagrantly at him as she prepares to recite her vows.

Ayame: Promise not to laugh, and be honest.

Kushiro: Okay, I won’t.

Ayame: Here goes. . . [takes a deep breath] . . . Every day when we wake up, we see each other once more, ever enlightened by your presence. The talks we share, our joy, our pain, I want to go through it all with you by my side. . . I can’t think of another person who gives me strength like you. I can’t think of another person I could shower my love with. Each and every day has to begin with you by my side. . . I love you.

She then intertwines her fingers through his hands, locking them together as she holds hands with him. Kushiro then starts to wonder about Ayame’s vow and physical connection towards him. Was her vow really meant for Kumori or for him? Such thoughts nearly fogged out all memory of Kunoichi, but quickly he snaps out of it and regains his thoughts of her.

Suzuki: Wow Ayame . . . That was beautiful.

Ayame: Well, Kushiro?

Kushiro: . . . . That was good.

Ayame: You think I should make it longer?

Kushiro: No, it’s perfect.

Ayame: I think I added too much of something, I hardly used any intricate words, those are really important in a poem. I don’t want it to sound so third grade. Maybe I should go over it again.

Kushiro: Ayame, it’s perfect, you don’t have to change a thing.

Ayame: . . . I really want it to be perfect for him. . . If it was for you, what would you say?

Kushiro: [blushes] Me? . . . I would be speechless.

Ayame: Really?

Kushiro: Yeah.

Dash: Hey Kushiro, you sure you want to be holding the bride’s hands when the groom walks in?!

Ayame: [lets go] Oh, I’m so sorry! I-I, got caught up in the moment.

Kushiro: It’s okay Ayame, don’t push yourself.

Suzuki: Yeah, you’re going to do just fine Ayame. Tomorrow’s the big day, and we need to start your bachelorette party!

Ayame: Suzuki I’m sixteen.

Hitomi: That doesn’t matter honey, all you need is some friends, and you got us. Of course for the grownups, we’ll be sipping on some saké while you kids have some fruit punch or something.

Suzuki: Fruit punch? What are we, little babies?

Kushiro: Well I’m out.

Ayame: Where are you going?

Kushiro: Well obviously this stuff is for chicks, so I’m going to take a walk outside or something.

Ayame: Kushiro be careful out there.

Miwa: Relax, he’s a growing boy and he needs to learn how to take care of himself.

Ayame: Kushiro.

As Kushiro heads for the door, Emperor Kumori, Vince, and another strange man enters the chapel. A young man with long black hair, black eyes, dressed in a white Gi with black linings, black shoes, and armed with two katana swords by his sides. Vince happily greets everyone as Kushiro walks pass them all, but feels a sudden chill from the mysterious man. Their eyes slowly meet as they walk past each other, sending a shock so hard that it constricts his breathing. The young man then takes his eyes off him as he follows Emperor Kumori to the others. Kushiro then takes light breaths and soon resumes breathing after the man leaves his presence, but something loomed over him, pestering him about the man.

Suzuki: Oooooooh, who’s this handsome hunk?

Kumori: I want you to meet an old friend of mine, a captain of my military, and the man of honor, Kisuke Useka.

Kisuke: [bows] It’s a pleasure to meet you all.

Suzuki: So what, I’m marrying him next?

Kumori: [chuckles] No Suzuki, he has the same role as the bridesmaid, only to the groom.

Kisuke: Kumori has done everything for me, this is my way of repaying him, serving his military and people to the best of my abilities.

Suzuki: Aww, I was really looking forward to it.

Kumori: Ayame, everyday you seem to glow more radiant than ever. [kisses her hand]

Ayame: [blushes] Oh stop, you’re making me blush. [giggles]

Miwa: [whispers] Something’s not right.

Suzuki: [whispers] Yeah, one minute she couldn’t tolerate the guy and now she’s being wooed like a horny little school girl.

Miwa: You think she lost it?

Suzuki: I think she found it. Who wouldn’t marry a hunk like him?

Miwa: [sighs]

Ayame: I love you so much dear.

Kumori: As do I my love.

Miwa: Come on, we’re going to talk to Kushiro about this.

Suzuki: Wait, what about the party?

Hitomi: Well looks like the party is being delayed, but no reason for us not to start early. Yuki dear, you wouldn’t happen to have any of your fine saké on you would you?

Yukio: Oh man, it’s only a little gourd. I don’t think all four of us will have an even drink.

Ayano: You need to cut back anyhow before you form a blob around your waist.

Yukio: Okay and for that wise crack you don’t get any.

The girls leave the chapel in search of Kushiro, who is currently training in the open fields of the plains. Since Yukio wasn’t going to give him another sword for Nao-Kai, he started to learn how to master a single sword. Swinging his sword at airborne snowballs he threw himself, cutting each one with precision and accuracy. He soon takes a break, panting heavily trying to capture his breath while he sheathes his sword. Still puzzled about the weird dream he had, he tries to figure out the strange hallucination he had. The thought of losing either one ate at him, but for some reason, losing Kunoichi wasn’t as staggering as he thought it would be. He has known her for years, and has deep feelings for her, but her disappearance is as equal to Ayame’s, similar to losing a friend than a lover.

Kushiro: I can’t figure out why I had that dream. Maybe. . . I do have feelings for Ayame. . . . What are you saying dumbass?! You have Kunoichi! You don’t know how she would feel if you left her! Well of course you do, after one bad relationship after another, if you leave her than you would surely crush her hopes of true love! . . . But then again, Ayame would too. . . Actually she doesn’t seem too depressed now. She’s actually kissing the guy. . .[sighs] . . . Why does that bother me? . . . Hmm, I still have father’s journal, that’ll take my mind off it.

He then searches his kimono and pulls out his father’s journal. He flips pass the pages of Irimaru and further into the journal, dated around a couple of weeks ahead of the previous log. Unexpectedly, the entry opens up like a conversation to him about his quandary. Which reads, “Dear son, right now you’re at the age where a young boy starts to have feelings about girls. Well, when you do son, know the difference between love and falling in love. One of the main things you don’t want to do to a girl is make her angry or upset, and trust me, I learned that firsthand from your mother. I’m sure you know the difference, so I won’t bore you with all the details. . . Right now you’re probably in a fix with two girls. Humph, I wouldn’t expect less from my own son, but that’s something you shouldn’t be proud of. They have feelings Kushiro, feelings that should be respected. . .But if somehow you are, it’s best that you stay in love with one, and fall with the other. For the one you fall with is the one you truly love. P.S- Fear the power of girls Kushiro! They hit harder than villains for some reason.” After reading that passage, he closes the book and thinks deeply on his father’s words of wisdom.

Kushiro: Stay in love with one, and fall with the other. . .What’s that supposed to mean?

Suzuki: Hi Kushi!

Kushiro: What do you want?

Suzuki: We want to talk to you about Ayame.

Miwa: We think she’s confused.

Kushiro: You’re telling me.

Miwa: There was something that night you didn’t tell her what she wanted to hear. . . You did let her down softly did you?

Kushiro: Well . . . I kind of yelled at her a little about it. I’m in love with Kunoichi, I can’t fall in love with Ayame.

Suzuki: She’s not asking you to fall in love with her! She just wants you to fake it, and after that you two can still be friends!

Kushiro: I know, but that’s not right! Marriage is supposed to be a good thing, so either way it goes it’s not!

Miwa: Then what are we supposed to do?

Suzuki: Maybe we can change her mind.

Miwa: How?

Suzuki: Kushi.

Kushiro: Just leave me out of this.

Suzuki: But.

Kushiro: This is her problem, she chose to marry the guy now let her. We might hate it but it’s what she wants now.

Suzuki: So you don’t care if Ayame marries him?

Kushiro: Well, I’ll be bothered a little by it.

Suzuki: Then do something.

Miwa: . . . You love her.

Kushiro: What?! No!

Miwa: When Kunoichi dumped you, you started to grow feelings for her. Those feelings soon turned into burning love for her, and now you can’t get her out of your head.

Kushiro: You lie!

Miwa: Look me in the eye and say that.

Kushiro . . . . . But.

Suzuki: But what?!

Kushiro: . . . I read my father’s journal, and it said stay in love with one, and fall in love with the other.

Suzuki: That doesn’t make sense! How can you stay in love with someone else and fall in love with another?! That’s cheating!!

Miwa: [smiles] I see what he means.

Suzuki: Explain!

Miwa: He wants Kushiro to be an example to Ayame.

Suzuki: An example?

Miwa: I’m not explaining this one.

Suzuki: Aww, come on!

Miwa: That would make a lot of sense. Your father seems really smart, if only you had some of his intelligence.

Kushiro: Forget you. . . Where’s Ayame? I have to talk with her.

Miwa: She’s probably with Kumori, good luck with that.

Kushiro: Thanks, see you guys later.

Suzuki: What does it mean?!

Miwa: I’m not telling you.

Suzuki: Then tell me is it a good thing or bad thing?!

Miwa: Well, I suppose it’s a good thing, if only the girl he’s trying to be an example to doesn’t fall completely in love with him. Other than that, he’s heading for a love triangle.

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