Kizuna~Bonds [Screenplay 2/2]
KIZUNA~BONDS
A SCREENPLAY BY
[AERIS]
SCENE 5: AFTERSCHOOL REVOLUTION
MIKAEL
Stand. Bow. Salute. Dismissed.
A classroom setting, strategy or something. A map is pinned
on the board, multi coloured pins mark supposed positions of
troops, complicated runes of some sort serve as notes on the
side. It's discussing a famous battle in the war against the
former kingdom of Ceres. As MIKAEL calls out the standard
greetings, all the students stand as one, bow, and then
salute the teacher who acknowledges them, before they
noisily leave as well. The teacher is an oldish looking man,
maybe in his forties, with glasses and prematurely greying
hair.
As MIKAEL is about to leave with AIDEN, the teacher calls
him back, and gestures for him to have a seat.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Oh, Mikael, may I have a word?
MIKAEL
Yes, Professor Abbot.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Von Wolken, you may leave.
AIDEN hesitates; he doesn't want to leave MIKAEL here by
himself. FREY ABBOT equally doesn't want him there.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Von Wolken.
AIDEN
Yes, Professor.
AIDEN
(to Mikael) See you.
The classroom door swings closed, both occupants of the
empty room follow its progress. As it clicks shut, they turn
to face each other.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Sawada came to talk to me --
MIKAEL
Professor, I--!
Caught off guard, MIKAEL sits up, uncharacteristically
worried.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
-- the other day.
MIKAEL
Hm.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Did something happen today that I
should know about?
MIKAEL
...
PROFESSOR ABBOT
(After a moment) I see.
ABBOT leans back and removes his glasses, regarding his
young charge with a mix of fondness and apprehension.
MIKAEL's expression flickers between complete indifference
and glares of irritation.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
I'll overlook it, whatever it was.
However, Sawada brought to my
attention that you've been skipping
the practicals lately. Is this
true?
MIKAEL
...
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Mikael, please. The examination is
fast approaching.
MIKAEL
Hnh.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
If you don't start--
MIKAEL stands abruptly.
MIKAEL
If that's all, Professor, I'll be
going to the practical now.
He bows, and grabbing his bag, makes his way towards the
door. The Professor stays seated, back turned to MIKAEL at
the door. Seemingly at random, he remarks:
PROFESSOR ABBOT
You hate Sawada, don't you?
MIKAEL
...
ABBOT stands as well, coming around the desks. MIKAEL
pauses, hand on the doorknob. He doesn't turn, but he's
listening.
Outside, AIDEN is leaning against the wall, just outside the
door frame. Bored, he plays with the cuffs of his sleeves.
He sighs, and drops his hand, going back to waiting
patiently.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
There's someone closer to you that
deserves that affection.
Inside, MIKAEL turns his head just slightly, as if he wants
to face the Professor, but has second thoughts. His
expression is one of mild concentration - and then it goes
back to indifferent.
MIKAEL
I'll see you later, Professor.
MIKAEL is carefully shutting the door behind him when he
sees. A look passes over his face, and he quickly begins to
walk off. AIDEN, however, is not that easily shaken, and
catches up with quick steps. MIKAEL begins walking quicker.
AIDEN casually quickens his pace, and drops himself over
MIKAEL's shoulders again.
AIDEN
You walk pretty fast shorty.
MIKAEL
I'm not short.
AIDEN
Keep saying that. Maybe you'll be
able to see over the caf counter
next year.
MIKAEL
I already can.
AIDEN
Hm? Really? Must've escaped my
notice. Hey, wait up! What's the
big idea?
MIKAEL has shrugged AIDEN off, and walks down the hall at a
brisk pace, leaving AIDEN to jog to catch up.
When AIDEN nears MIKAEL again, MIKAEL turns viciously and
brushes away AIDEN's hand.
MIKAEL
Don't follow me like that.
AIDEN
Huh? Why not?
MIKAEL
Don't you care that I'm a...a...
AIDEN
You were. And no?
MIKAEL
They'll just pick on you too.
AIDEN
Ha. And I care why?
MIKAEL
...
AIDEN
You've been here for a year. We're
friends, or haven't you noticed?
I'm not gonna ditch you just like
that.
AIDEN laughs, aware that he just said something incredibly
dumb. MIKAEL stares at him for a moment, and walks away - at
a normal pace.
AIDEN
Sorry, that was lame. So, uh, you
gonna skip practical again?
MIKAEL
Train with me later.
MIKAEL continues down the hallway, one hand raised in a sort
of wave, while AIDEN stops at a staircase. AIDEN smiles and
laughs a little.
AIDEN
Alright.
From the other direction, passing by MIKAEL, TIAN and YUN
walk towards AIDEN. As they pass MIKAEL, they both pause
slightly and turn to look at him, before they continue on.
AIDEN, seeing them, greets them. YUN nods his
acknowledgement, TIAN waves.
AIDEN
Yo.
YUN
Aiden. Were you talking with him
just now?
TIAN
It's not good for you.
YUN is older, and slightly taller than TIAN, although they
both have round, childish faces, and AIDEN towers over them
both. YUN speaks almost condescendingly about MIKAEL,
sharing the conversational tone common to the school. TIAN's
words carry more concern for AIDEN, rather than a distaste
for MIKAEL's background. AIDEN, predictably, laughs it off.
AIDEN
It's not bad, either.
TIAN
Are you certian?
AIDEN laughs again, and ruffles TIAN's hair comfortingly.
YUN's brows are furrowed as he stares down the hall they
came down - more importantly the hall where MIKAEL has
disappeared down.
AIDEN
Yeah.
YUN
I don't think--
YUN begins to say, but is interrupted when AIDEN slings his
arms around the shoulders of both brothers, grinning at both
and either of them.
AIDEN
Well? Shall we go?
YUN sighs, and TIAN nods, smiling.
SCENE 6: 'CAUSE THERE HAS TO BE A GARDEN
The afternoon sun is bright in a clear sky. It's a garden -
complete with arches of roses and hedges and well-trimmed
trees and well-swept cobblestone pathways. Flowers line the
walks, of all different colours and species. A caterpillar
crawls along the stem of a white yarrow. Someone is bent
over a clump, carefully picking through the blooms.
CAPTAIN
Sir.
Someone else - CAPTAIN KRITZEN HIEMS - greets the first
person. ABBOT looks up, and smiles warmly in welcome.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Ah, Hiems. Here so soon?
CAPTAIN
The examinations, sir.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Hm, yes, of course.
ABBOT turns back to the flowers. HIEMS stays where he is,
and simply watches. Without turning, he speaks to HIEMS,
rather randomly, similar to when he was speaking with
MIKAEL.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
(Suddenly and out of the blue) Do
you like yarrow?
CAPTAIN
Sir?
SCENE 7: TRAINING (1)
There's a lot of flying and running and jumping and general
explosions going on. It's a large room, bare for the most
part, bearing several marks and scratches and burns on its
walls. Along one wall, are several windows - it's night
outside. MIKAEL narrowly avoids one wind burst by
backflipping over it, and a second by throwing himself to
the ground in a roll. He comes out of the roll, pulling his
second sword out, slashing towards AIDEN. AIDEN grins and
leaps backwards lightly, and does consecutive backflips just
because he can, sending his wind bursts at MIKAEL every now
and then.
MIKAEL
Is that all you've got?
AIDEN
Should've come to pracitcal today -
your form's weak!
MIKAEL has caught up to AIDEN - AIDEN blocks both swords by
locking it between his blade and scabbard. While MIKAEL's
expression is dead serious, AIDEN's still smiling, even
though it looks like he's been losing for the past hour or
two that they've been sparring.
SCENE 8: GARDEN (2)
In the garden, it's a continuation of the scene from before.
ABBOT is bent over the flowers again, and HIEMS is closer,
and watching.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Yarrow - it's a good flower for us
soldiers. It means "war", hm.
CAPTAIN
We know of it, sir.
There's silence for a moment - but not really silence,
because the leaves rustling in the wind and the hum of
insects never leaves the garden silent, as ABBOT snaps the
stem of the yarrow with the caterpillar still on it - its
white petals are just beginning to bloom.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Hm, yes. And yet this -
He pulls the caterpillar off and tosses it somewhere onto
the path, randomly.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
- little one still consumes this
warlike plant as if it were
nothing.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Beautiful white petals.
CAPTAIN
Yes, sir.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Pity it'll be eaten - if not by
that little one, then by one of
it's friends.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Come, walk with me.
SCENE 9: TRAINING (2)
AIDEN and MIKAEL are circling each other with swords and
scabbard locked. It's been a while since they've started -
AIDEN grins, and doesn't stop taunting his friend.
AIDEN
Getting tired?
MIKAEL
Hnfh.
MIKAEL pushes forward with one sword, pulling the other one
down and out of AIDEN's block, quickly reversing the
direction so that it swipes upwards. AIDEN arches back,
surprised.
AIDEN
Woah.
But not for long - he pivots, so he's facing the direction
MIKAEL just faced - MIKAEL pivots with him. AIDEN's grin
grows wider, and he jerks his head to the wall behind him.
AIDEN
I told you your form was weak.
MIKAEL
What are you-- (talking about)
MIKAEL's eyes widen, and the corners of his lips turn down
in displeasure that shows in his now wide eyes.
SCENE 10: GARDEN (3)
ABBOT strolls down the path, HIEMS following a few steps
behind, still in brisk military fashion - he's displeased
that this is taking so long, but he sees where its going.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
What do you know about yarrow,
Hiems?
CAPTAIN
We use it on the battlefield, sir.
As medicine.
ABBOT smiles, amused. He pauses, and turns, the smile still
on his face.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Yes, it is rather healing.
HIEMS is tired of talking in circles - he'd rather get to
the point, because he has other things to do.
CAPTAIN
Sir, about the boy--
PROFESSOR ABBOT
You'll see for yourself... day
after tomorrow, is it?
CAPTAIN
Yes, sir.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Hm. Shall we continue this in my
office. Over a drink?
CAPTAIN
...I'd rather not, sir. I left him
waiting inside.
PROFESSOR ABBOT
Of course, yes.
He distractedly waves HIEMS away. HIEMS bows stiffly, and
salutes, and walks off. ABBOT follows for a distance.
He steps on the caterpillar, grinding it under his heel.
SCENE 11: TRAINING (3)
In the practice room, not much time has passed - it's
shortly after MIKAEL having seen what AIDEN's inscribed on
the wall. MIKAEL turns to face AIDEN who's still grinning.
He's not quite at the "homicide on to-do list" stage, but
he's getting there. He hisses a few choice words, and sends
a flame-column AIDEN's way.
MIKAEL
You...
AIDEN
Still too slow!
AIDEN's already prudently ducked out of the way, maybe
throwing in a wall jump to show off for good measure. As the
camera pans, it becomes obvious what's gotten MIKAEL's ire
up - AIDEN's purposefully carved "SHORTY" into the wall with
his wind.
MIKAEL
I'm...Not...Short!
AIDEN
Tell me that again when I can see
you!
And they fight. Acrobatics, flashy magics, etc. Jumping off
walls, stabbing swords into walls or ceilings. Pretty much
everything an impressive fight sequence can have short of
chopping down buildings or bringing in the huge flying
dragon and airships.
SCENE 12: 'CAUSE IT'S YOU
It's a dark room. The door opens, and someone slips in. The
person walks quietly over to where someone else is sleeping
on the floor - the someone else is MIKAEL. The person
crouches next to the sleeping MIKAEL, bending over him. From
the way the shadows fall, the person could either be
preparing to kiss MIKAEL - or kill him. A sound from outside
causes the person jerk his head around - it's AIDEN.
His demeanor changes, from serious to relaxed, and he
quickly walks to the switch and turns the lights on. It's
the training room, and MIKAEL is sleeping where AIDEN left
him - in the middle of the floor. AIDEN bends down and pulls
a blanket from his bag, and returns with it to MIKAEL. He
sits down next to him, and plays with MIKAEL's hair.
AIDEN
I'm not gonna ditch you, dammit.
MIKAEL
I...
MIKAEL mumbles something in his sleep, and rolls over. He's
clearly dreaming, and the dream is making him uncomfortable.
AIDEN watches his friend's sleeping face for a few moments,
his own brow furrowed in either anger, sadness, or
concentration. He stands, and drops the blanket over the
sleeping boy.
AIDEN
I'm not. I--
MIKAEL turns over again - his face is peaceful now, angelic.
AIDEN quiets, and turns on his heel and leaves.