Metamorphosis

spoilers: manga vol. 20
characters: Choukei, Bunchuu
chapters: 1/1
retrieved from: Bunnyhat

ChouKei’s POV. Has spoilers for volume 17, 18 and 20. I don’t think I captured his personality well enough… @_@ I’m so sorry, ChouKei fans!

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"Bunchuu-sama… Bunchuu-samaaaa!!"

I promised myself I wouldn’t do that. While on the train with my wife KouRanei, and my enemy Taikoubou, I wondered what I would say to Bunchuu-sama if he really did appear in front of me again. Words and actions were recited in my head over and over again. "Bunchuu-sama, do you remember me? Bunchuu-sama, words can’t explain how happy I am." I was never good at repressing my emotions, especially towards Bunchuu-sama, the man I saved all my respect for; but I’ve grown stronger. On the day the Senninkai War ended, when I saw Bunchuu-sama’s soul fly across the orange-tinted sky, I didn’t cry. No… I felt myself shaking with anger, hate and confusion, but I didn’t cry. That’s why I promised myself I wouldn’t act like a big fool when reunion time came, and I kept telling myself… I won’t cry. I won’t cry.

And yet, the moment I saw him step out of the mist and into the train station clearing, I found myself pathetically running towards him, tearing up and calling out his name.

Luckily for my dignity, I didn’t care.

I told him what I had done; that I fought against some of the strongest doushis from Konron, and that they couldn’t even lay a finger on me. I was too quick, even for that genius doushi Youzen. I had nothing but revenge in my mind. Everything I said and every move I made in that battle… It was all for him. It was all for you, Bunchuu-sama. I told him that, but he just smiled back. I’ve never seen him smile like that before... Back at Chouka when he worked as the Yin’s Taishi, I would only seem him smile maliciously – the kind that overpowered you and made you cower. But that time, it was warm… peaceful. He told me something I would never forget.

"Don’t fight for me. Fight for yourself."

I couldn’t say anything back to him. I just looked at him for a moment, and lowered my head, tears in my eyes again. I didn’t say a word, but I know he could tell I understood. I nodded once, and bid him goodbye. I turned around and began walking back to the Houshin Dai train where Taikoubou and KouRanei waited. Without realizing it, I looked back for one final glimpse of Bunchuu-sama – but he was already gone.

Something about the way he was smiling at me gave me a feeling we’ll meet again… but not for a long time.

"So, ChouKei… What did Bunchuu say to you?"

Don’t get me wrong. Taikoubou is still my enemy – but I need to co-operate with him if I’m going to fight Dakki and her minions. I want to fight the strongest enemies, and win. I want to defeat them all, so that someday, I can surpass Bunchuu-sama. I was sick of being the weak, dependant ChouKei who always followed Bunchuu-sama’s back, hiding in the shadow that was cast on me, making me a nobody. So I shed my skin; if I was going to be strong, I had to look strong. I got a new outfit, that makes me look more like a doushi and less like a tactician’s clumsy assistant. I had a good length of my hair cut off, so that I wouldn’t hide my face behind the long strands. And to top it off, I acquired one of the most feared paopeis in existance.

The kinben.

When I picked it up from the remains of the Sennin Kai where Bunchuu-sama fell, I could feel my power being sucked out of my hand. It startled me at first, but I held on. This is all that’s left of Bunchuu-sama. I came here as early as possible, because I won’t let anyone else have it. It’s my duty to continue its legacy.

I’m going to surpass Bunchuu-sama. I must surpass Bunchuu-sama. From now on, I’m not going to fight for him, or anyone else… just me.

"…Youzen? What are you doing here?"

Looks like it’s time for me to leave for war.