Shin-Gi-Tai (Comical Affections)
Disclaimer: I own everything in this story. Everything, except the Johhnys mentioned (L sad right?).
Summary:
An ancient myth revolves around a powerful martial artist who’s been entrusted with the task of training ten disciples every era to face an evil warlord and his army, all who possess the gift of immortality.
Comical Affections
i) For a Smile
The light of the morning sun poured generously through an open window and over a sleeping figure. Her eyelids fluttered as she awoke at the sound of a distant flute. She breathed deeply and stretched. She lay like that for a while, eyes staring dazed at the ceiling. A strange feeling tugged at her consciousness. There was an excitement growing within her and she was finding it hard to remember why. She listened quietly, as the music grew stronger, its source growing nearer but still far from her reach.
Her lips formed a small smile as the music grew richer, with accompanying gongs.
‘They’re here,’
She sat up slowly, her long black hair sweeping gently behind.
It was easy to notice, the commotion of the palace. Although her chamber and the adjoining garden were blessed with silence, the commotion the travelling entertainers caused upon their arrival traveled through excited members of the royal residence.
“Ohaiyo gozaimass, hime-sama,”
The princess turned her head lazily and stretched as her attendant laid a bowl of scented water for her to wash up with.
“They’re here aren’t they,” she asked quietly.
“Hai,”
The attendant went about her work, diligently.
“You’ve slept in late my lady, but its fine as you have an entire day to yourself today before the official preparations begin tomorrow,”
“Ahan,”
“You must be excited, the Watanabe clan is very well-known and very well off,”
“Guess so,”
“This ceremony is going to be outstanding as you are the last of the three after all,”
“Ne Midori,”
“What is it my princess?”
“Do you think…he’s still with them?”
Midori walked towards the other girl in silence, carrying her breakfast. She placed it on the low table before facing the princess.
“I’m not sure who you’re talking about Your Highness,”
“Mou, Midori…”
“Hime-sama, it is inappropriate of you to bring up that rogue on such a wonderful morning!” she exclaimed.
“What are you talking about? He’s an old friend, just like you,”
“He’s a boy, it’s different,”
“No it’s not,”
“But it was ne? It has been two years, he was almost executed for trespassing on the royal grounds, and you left the palace a few times with him too, he risked your life,”
“It was my fault, my decisions,”
Midori sighed.
Princess Asuka took Midori’s hands in hers and smiled.
“My lady he is a member of a nomadic group of entertainers, they entertain the royal court, you are a princess, engaged to be married,”
“I know, I know my duties, and he knows his place, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s my first and only-,”
“My princess…”
“I was a little girl Midori, and he was the first person I befriended who wasn’t from the palace, the world he showed me….I am grateful to him for that, and yes, I might hold some feelings which I know are wrong, but I can’t help it,”
“I’m not even sure if he’s still with the troupe,”
“Please Midori, I haven’t seen him in two years, I just want the chance to talk to him once, to tell him how I really feel before my wedding next week,”
Midori looked in Asuka’s pleading eyes and sighed.
“I’ll try my lady, if he’s there that is,”
Asuka threw her arms around her friend and hugged her.
“Thank you so much,”
*
Midori walked down the corridor quietly. Her princess was the last of the three emperor’s daughters. The boy from the ‘circus’, that entertainer, she never liked him. She had no reason to. He wasn’t bad looking but he was clearly an idiot.
She smiled quietly at the thought. Princess Asuka had met him in a chance encounter, but the effect of that meeting had turned a quiet, timid little girl into a cheerful and energetic young woman.
“That’s the only reason I’d risk my life for this, it’s just because you made my princess smile.”
*
ii) The Juggler
The emperor laughed heartily at the antics of the performers. His council members followed. A group of acrobats wowed and pleased all but a bored man in his early twenties who was seated pretty close to the emperor.
The health minister whispered to him.
“Not to your taste finance minister?”
The man turned a bored gaze upon him.
“I’m enjoying it,”
“Demo, Yamashita-san, it doesn’t look like you are,”
Yamashita rolled his eyes. ‘Nosy old ojisan.’
“Did you say something?”
“No, nothing at all.” He continued with a small smile.
As the acrobats moved to a corner a young man stepped up. He was holding three balls in his hands. He bowed low to the emperor and began juggling. The audience gasped as he juggled at such a high speed that the balls looked like a blurred ring of colours. He slowed down and threw the balls higher. The crowd gasped again as they noticed that he was no longer juggling three balls but six.
“Is it black magic?” the health minister whispered again.
‘Wow ojisan you stink.’ “I don’t think so, it seems like a clever trick to me,” Yamashita replied distancing himself from the minister.
The juggler threw all the balls into the air one by one where they exploded, showering the occupants of the hall with soft cherry blossoms. Applause was abound and Yamashita-san was the first to rise to his feet, clapping very enthusiastically.
*
“Good work as always Hikaru,” said Nanabe-san, the head of the troupe. Hikaru merely nodded in return as he packed his props in the small and crowded room. He shrugged wearily, exchanged a few jokes with the acrobats, flirted briefly with the two geishas, got caught and smacked on the head by his boss before finally making his way onto the street for some air.
He ran a hand through his hair as he strolled leisurely down the lane of the capital city. He decided to pick up something to eat on the way. He walked to a stall selling onigiri and curry buns. While waiting for his food, his ears caught a strange conversation. Two men by a stall behind him were talking in low, eager voices
“I’ve heard rumors ne, a small port village was attacked by invaders,”
“Really, ”
“Yes, luckily the villagers had escaped before the real attack, apparently a boy had raised the alarm, some imperial soldiers were waiting for the attackers when they came,”
“Do you think any escaped, there could be spies among us too,”
“I highly doubt they would directly hit the imperial city itself, I guess those tiny villages near the sea and on the islands are mostly threatened,”
“The emperor need not concern himself with that anyway, it’s the job of the Samurai clans right?”
“Yeah, with his daughter’s wedding coming up, to the head of the Watanabe clan,”
“The health minister?”
“Who else?”
Hikaru jumped as someone roughly brushed against his shoulder. He caught sight of a boy his age moving away at a fast pace. Shrugging he turned to the hawker and slid his hand into his pocket for his money pouch. His eyes widened in surprise.
’Where is it? I’m sure it was in my pocket when I left camp,’ he though bewildered. Then suddenly he remembered the boy who had bumped into him.
‘Masaka!’
He flung himself into the crowd trying to get through. Despite his efforts he lost sight of the boy in the midst of the people. Coming to a stop in a sidelane he groaned loudly.
“Hikaru you baka!” he cursed loudly.
“Pretty accurate actually, I’m glad you’re coming to terms with that fact,”
Hikaru jumped to hear a female voice in the midst of the tumult. He turned to face the owner of the voice. A figure in a grey-hooded robe stood facing him.
“Mi-mi Midori-san?”
She narrowed her eyes. He gulped.
“It’s annoying,”
“What is?”
“You still remembering my name,”
Hikaru had no reply. This girl gave him the creeps.
“Come with me,” she commanded, and almost stomped away, Hikaru at her heels.
It wasn’t long before they were in the vicinity of the palace.
“Ano, where are we going?”
“Your presence is requested at the palace,”
Hikaru wondered. Shouldn’t it be the entire troupe? Why would the emperor want to see him?
“So, how is the Princess?”
“Ask her yourself,”
Hikaru stared after her shocked, realizing he was in the princess’s garden.
“Her idea,” Midori grumbled, walking away.
“But I’ll get executed for this!” Hikaru whined.
“Better you than me,” Midori replied without a glance back. Hikaru twitched nervously.
He remembered two years ago, he had climbed the highest tree of this garden to rescue the princess’s cat. As much as he was afraid of being caught for this unofficial meeting with a betrothed woman, he was a secretly a little eager. After a long time, ever since he left home and all his childhood friends behind, he had finally found someone who understood what he talked about. Someone who listened even if what he spoke of was utter nonsense. When he was young his parents used to gross him out talking about each other. But there was one thing he remembered. They had said that they were the perfect companions. Meeting her made him understand. He felt if she had been his ‘perfect companion’. But that was a long time ago.
Asuka had become his best friend in such a short time, but fate had a way of making you realize your place in life. Their last meeting consisted of a promise. A promise to displace each other from their respective lives because they had come to realize it would be harder to part if they kept going. He felt awkward being given a chance to talk to her after that.
He heard a sliding door open and walked nervously up the wooden steps and seated himself in front of the screen covering Asuka’s room.
“Umm….Konichiwa, Hime-sama,” he said nervously.
“Konichiwa,” came a soft voice from the other side. It was different from the energetic squeal he remembered.
“I hope her majesty is doing-“ Hikaru jumped as the screen was pushed to the side and Asuka almost lunged on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her head in his shoulder. Midori, who was silently, secretly, watching; collapsed.
Note: These are the first two sub-chapters of comical affections, i will upload the rest soon. Till then...comments are luvd!!
Summary:
An ancient myth revolves around a powerful martial artist who’s been entrusted with the task of training ten disciples every era to face an evil warlord and his army, all who possess the gift of immortality.
Comical Affections
i) For a Smile
The light of the morning sun poured generously through an open window and over a sleeping figure. Her eyelids fluttered as she awoke at the sound of a distant flute. She breathed deeply and stretched. She lay like that for a while, eyes staring dazed at the ceiling. A strange feeling tugged at her consciousness. There was an excitement growing within her and she was finding it hard to remember why. She listened quietly, as the music grew stronger, its source growing nearer but still far from her reach.
Her lips formed a small smile as the music grew richer, with accompanying gongs.
‘They’re here,’
She sat up slowly, her long black hair sweeping gently behind.
It was easy to notice, the commotion of the palace. Although her chamber and the adjoining garden were blessed with silence, the commotion the travelling entertainers caused upon their arrival traveled through excited members of the royal residence.
“Ohaiyo gozaimass, hime-sama,”
The princess turned her head lazily and stretched as her attendant laid a bowl of scented water for her to wash up with.
“They’re here aren’t they,” she asked quietly.
“Hai,”
The attendant went about her work, diligently.
“You’ve slept in late my lady, but its fine as you have an entire day to yourself today before the official preparations begin tomorrow,”
“Ahan,”
“You must be excited, the Watanabe clan is very well-known and very well off,”
“Guess so,”
“This ceremony is going to be outstanding as you are the last of the three after all,”
“Ne Midori,”
“What is it my princess?”
“Do you think…he’s still with them?”
Midori walked towards the other girl in silence, carrying her breakfast. She placed it on the low table before facing the princess.
“I’m not sure who you’re talking about Your Highness,”
“Mou, Midori…”
“Hime-sama, it is inappropriate of you to bring up that rogue on such a wonderful morning!” she exclaimed.
“What are you talking about? He’s an old friend, just like you,”
“He’s a boy, it’s different,”
“No it’s not,”
“But it was ne? It has been two years, he was almost executed for trespassing on the royal grounds, and you left the palace a few times with him too, he risked your life,”
“It was my fault, my decisions,”
Midori sighed.
Princess Asuka took Midori’s hands in hers and smiled.
“My lady he is a member of a nomadic group of entertainers, they entertain the royal court, you are a princess, engaged to be married,”
“I know, I know my duties, and he knows his place, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s my first and only-,”
“My princess…”
“I was a little girl Midori, and he was the first person I befriended who wasn’t from the palace, the world he showed me….I am grateful to him for that, and yes, I might hold some feelings which I know are wrong, but I can’t help it,”
“I’m not even sure if he’s still with the troupe,”
“Please Midori, I haven’t seen him in two years, I just want the chance to talk to him once, to tell him how I really feel before my wedding next week,”
Midori looked in Asuka’s pleading eyes and sighed.
“I’ll try my lady, if he’s there that is,”
Asuka threw her arms around her friend and hugged her.
“Thank you so much,”
*
Midori walked down the corridor quietly. Her princess was the last of the three emperor’s daughters. The boy from the ‘circus’, that entertainer, she never liked him. She had no reason to. He wasn’t bad looking but he was clearly an idiot.
She smiled quietly at the thought. Princess Asuka had met him in a chance encounter, but the effect of that meeting had turned a quiet, timid little girl into a cheerful and energetic young woman.
“That’s the only reason I’d risk my life for this, it’s just because you made my princess smile.”
*
ii) The Juggler
The emperor laughed heartily at the antics of the performers. His council members followed. A group of acrobats wowed and pleased all but a bored man in his early twenties who was seated pretty close to the emperor.
The health minister whispered to him.
“Not to your taste finance minister?”
The man turned a bored gaze upon him.
“I’m enjoying it,”
“Demo, Yamashita-san, it doesn’t look like you are,”
Yamashita rolled his eyes. ‘Nosy old ojisan.’
“Did you say something?”
“No, nothing at all.” He continued with a small smile.
As the acrobats moved to a corner a young man stepped up. He was holding three balls in his hands. He bowed low to the emperor and began juggling. The audience gasped as he juggled at such a high speed that the balls looked like a blurred ring of colours. He slowed down and threw the balls higher. The crowd gasped again as they noticed that he was no longer juggling three balls but six.
“Is it black magic?” the health minister whispered again.
‘Wow ojisan you stink.’ “I don’t think so, it seems like a clever trick to me,” Yamashita replied distancing himself from the minister.
The juggler threw all the balls into the air one by one where they exploded, showering the occupants of the hall with soft cherry blossoms. Applause was abound and Yamashita-san was the first to rise to his feet, clapping very enthusiastically.
*
“Good work as always Hikaru,” said Nanabe-san, the head of the troupe. Hikaru merely nodded in return as he packed his props in the small and crowded room. He shrugged wearily, exchanged a few jokes with the acrobats, flirted briefly with the two geishas, got caught and smacked on the head by his boss before finally making his way onto the street for some air.
He ran a hand through his hair as he strolled leisurely down the lane of the capital city. He decided to pick up something to eat on the way. He walked to a stall selling onigiri and curry buns. While waiting for his food, his ears caught a strange conversation. Two men by a stall behind him were talking in low, eager voices
“I’ve heard rumors ne, a small port village was attacked by invaders,”
“Really, ”
“Yes, luckily the villagers had escaped before the real attack, apparently a boy had raised the alarm, some imperial soldiers were waiting for the attackers when they came,”
“Do you think any escaped, there could be spies among us too,”
“I highly doubt they would directly hit the imperial city itself, I guess those tiny villages near the sea and on the islands are mostly threatened,”
“The emperor need not concern himself with that anyway, it’s the job of the Samurai clans right?”
“Yeah, with his daughter’s wedding coming up, to the head of the Watanabe clan,”
“The health minister?”
“Who else?”
Hikaru jumped as someone roughly brushed against his shoulder. He caught sight of a boy his age moving away at a fast pace. Shrugging he turned to the hawker and slid his hand into his pocket for his money pouch. His eyes widened in surprise.
’Where is it? I’m sure it was in my pocket when I left camp,’ he though bewildered. Then suddenly he remembered the boy who had bumped into him.
‘Masaka!’
He flung himself into the crowd trying to get through. Despite his efforts he lost sight of the boy in the midst of the people. Coming to a stop in a sidelane he groaned loudly.
“Hikaru you baka!” he cursed loudly.
“Pretty accurate actually, I’m glad you’re coming to terms with that fact,”
Hikaru jumped to hear a female voice in the midst of the tumult. He turned to face the owner of the voice. A figure in a grey-hooded robe stood facing him.
“Mi-mi Midori-san?”
She narrowed her eyes. He gulped.
“It’s annoying,”
“What is?”
“You still remembering my name,”
Hikaru had no reply. This girl gave him the creeps.
“Come with me,” she commanded, and almost stomped away, Hikaru at her heels.
It wasn’t long before they were in the vicinity of the palace.
“Ano, where are we going?”
“Your presence is requested at the palace,”
Hikaru wondered. Shouldn’t it be the entire troupe? Why would the emperor want to see him?
“So, how is the Princess?”
“Ask her yourself,”
Hikaru stared after her shocked, realizing he was in the princess’s garden.
“Her idea,” Midori grumbled, walking away.
“But I’ll get executed for this!” Hikaru whined.
“Better you than me,” Midori replied without a glance back. Hikaru twitched nervously.
He remembered two years ago, he had climbed the highest tree of this garden to rescue the princess’s cat. As much as he was afraid of being caught for this unofficial meeting with a betrothed woman, he was a secretly a little eager. After a long time, ever since he left home and all his childhood friends behind, he had finally found someone who understood what he talked about. Someone who listened even if what he spoke of was utter nonsense. When he was young his parents used to gross him out talking about each other. But there was one thing he remembered. They had said that they were the perfect companions. Meeting her made him understand. He felt if she had been his ‘perfect companion’. But that was a long time ago.
Asuka had become his best friend in such a short time, but fate had a way of making you realize your place in life. Their last meeting consisted of a promise. A promise to displace each other from their respective lives because they had come to realize it would be harder to part if they kept going. He felt awkward being given a chance to talk to her after that.
He heard a sliding door open and walked nervously up the wooden steps and seated himself in front of the screen covering Asuka’s room.
“Umm….Konichiwa, Hime-sama,” he said nervously.
“Konichiwa,” came a soft voice from the other side. It was different from the energetic squeal he remembered.
“I hope her majesty is doing-“ Hikaru jumped as the screen was pushed to the side and Asuka almost lunged on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her head in his shoulder. Midori, who was silently, secretly, watching; collapsed.
Note: These are the first two sub-chapters of comical affections, i will upload the rest soon. Till then...comments are luvd!!