osamu: Restoration

“Osamu!” His mothers voice sprang out from the kitchen and thrust itself into the room. He sighed and looked towards the door, taking his attention off of the plane ticket that he had been staring at for the past ten minutes. “Head to the porch! Your father wants to talk to you!” My father, huh? He pushed himself off of the futon that he had just been resting on and left his room with a sluggish motion. He headed past the kitchen as his mom continued to cook before finally arriving and sitting down at the porch of his house. He sat down on the small mat that covered the wooden floor and sighed, leaning back against the wall behind him. His father wasn’t here yet, but it was alright. He could wait. After all, he rarely saw the man for two years until he suddenly came home a few days ago. He was confused as to why, after all, his trips as a mage were extremely important and his contract wasn’t supposed to end until next year. But when his mom told him he would understand, he figured it must be something that involves him.

After finding that out, he then also heard a rumor that the king of the world had passed away, assassinated by a group of brutal Vietnamese soldiers while on a mission at the Dien Bien Phu. Well, if that was the case, either his dad had come home to celebrate the king's death, or he had come to wallow in sorrow. In any case, he would now be complicit within the Sacred War, as he is one of the strongest wizards in the world. There was no escaping it this time like he did the last. Osamu remembered the day that Ren Ayato had died and how his father struggled to find a way out of the battle. He also remembered how he had promised to avenge the fallen king at his funeral, before challenging Edward Brown to a duel the next day. Osamu wasn’t stupid. It was plain to see that Brown had murdered Ayato in order to start another Sacred War, so that he could become king, and his father was the first to figure it out. The battle felt like a clash of gods as a child, but in the end, his father was beaten and humiliated. His opponent didn’t even kill him.

Later, he would find out that his father actually went into the fight knowing he would lose. Apparently, he had wanted to escape the Sacred War, and losing in front of everyone like that, taking the insults and humiliation that the others provided…it was all done in an effort to not participate in a suicide war. “And look how that turned out! The people that ostracized me died at Brown's hands, while I’m still alive. Strategy is key. Remember that, boy.” He remembered his fathers words and couldn’t help but chuckle a little. It wasn’t strategy that saved his fathers life, it was cowardice. Maybe his father could’ve killed Brown in battle, but who knows? Osamu sure doesn’t. In the end, things turned out like how they did. His father can’t escape war this time, and Osamu couldn’t help but laugh at him for that. Even if you try to run from your duties, it’ll always come back to find you. He yawned and closed his eyes, ready to take a nap until his father came, only for him to hear some footsteps on the creaking wood. He opened his eyes and looked up to his father, Shigeru Takashi, standing right above him. Quickly, Osamu pounced back up and sat straight, attempting to look refined and regal as his father shook his head and then proceeded to sit right next to him. He grunted as he attempted to find a comfortable spot, before turning to Osamu.

“Osamu.” He said, his voice a thin yet commanding whimper. Osamu’s eyes widened as his father said his name. Usually, he only called him ‘boy’ and that was that. But this time, it felt like something had changed. Osamu looked up at his visage to try and see if anything had changed. His face was lined up with wrinkles and thin wisps of facial hair, remnants of beards he had tried to fully shave off but had never been able to quite eliminate. Below his rather large and pinkish nose was a small mustache growing in, and his lips were small but blood red. He had a head full of black hair, but half of those hairs were slowly disappearing and becoming gray. A large but nicely fitting montsuki covered his torso and he sat straight with little to no effort. Nothing looked different about him. He was old, but not quite old. He had wisdom, but was still vying for more. He was still the greatest mage in Japan, and his era wouldn’t end for a while.

“Hey, father.” He looked into his fathers eyes for a moment before looking away. He didn’t understand why, but it was as if he couldn’t bear to look at him for more than a few seconds without cursing himself for who he is. “What brought you back?’ He asked. His father stared at him for a moment, before turning away and looking at the sky that was spread out in front of them.

“I know you’re not stupid, boy.” So I guess that was a one time thing. “Have you heard the rumors of Edward Brown’s death?” Osamu nodded. “As expected. Well then, let me tell you that those rumors are true. Someone had killed Brown in battle. We don’t know who that someone is, but it was certainly someone powerful.” The tone of his voice sounded a little shaky, but it was to be expected of his father. After all, he had been trying to avoid this his whole life. Qualifying for the Sacred War is normally a great honor. It means that you’ve risen above the others, that you’ve become someone worthy of standing at the top and that everyone else has recognized that greatness. That’s why qualifying for the war is some people’s life dreams. It’s an honor of the highest regard in the mage world. And yet, his father rejected that honor. He still doesn’t understand why, though. As much as he would like to think of his father as a coward, he knows that he isn’t one. He’s become very well respected within their society for a reason. And yet…

“Well, father, are you going to try and get out of this war too?” The disrespect in Osamu’s voice was easy to see. He doesn’t normally speak like this, especially not towards his father, but this time he didn’t hide it, and this time his father allowed it. He laughed a little, the first laugh Osamu had heard from the man in years, before turning around and shaking his head.

“No, boy. I’m not trying to escape this one. I can’t.”

“But would you if you had the chance?”

“No. I couldn’t do that this time. I’d rather give you the opportunity.” Huh? The sentence that his father had just spouted out confused the young man. He stared at his dad and shook his head.

“What did you just say?” Why would he give me the opportunity? I couldn’t be in this war, right? There’s no way- Shigeru Takashi closed his eyes and gave a slow nod.

“It’s as you think. You’ve been drafted for the Sacred War, same as me.” No! “I’m sorry to say this, Osamu, but I don’t think there will be an opportunity for you to leave.” NO!

“What do you mean, father?” Thoughts swirled around Osamu’s head as he attempted to make sense of the situation that was surrounding him. He knew that he was strong and well gifted with magic, but to join the Sacred War of all things? He didn’t want that! There were people too powerful for even his father to beat entering this war, for sure. If the man that killed Edward Brown came into the competition, there was no way they were winning. He just wanted to lead a lazy, quiet life with some nice girl his parents chose for him and a few sons who would inherit the family from him. He wanted to get a job somewhere here that wouldn’t draw too much attention and stay out of the mage society after he had gotten away from his father. It felt like all of those plans were just crashing down now, though. He was dead. His life was over. And yet, he didn’t want to be like his father, and so he decided to just accept it on the surface. To pretend like his life wasn’t over, and that this was the great honor that it should be. “You have nothing to be sorry about. After all, this is a huge honor for me and our family, is it not?” Now it was his voice that was shaking. He turned away and looked towards the small pond in front of him as his father did the same.

“Osamu,” He started, saying his name out loud once more. “I understand. Since the beginning I just left you to your mother and I went off and did the things a mage was expected to do. I know you resent me and don’t want to be like me.” He looked down at the grass and closed his eyes, his wrinkles moving along with them. “But boy, don’t pretend to be content with this. I know how you feel. No mage wants to participate in a petty war to become a king-”

“You abandoned your duty as a mage, father!” Osamu yelled. He wasn’t quite sure as to why, but he was. “You trained me to become someone that would have the skills and power you could be proud of, and yet you didn’t do anything that you were supposed to! You caused a ploy to get out of a war that’s supposed to be an honor to all of us, this family especially!” His father still kept his eyes closed, but his fists were clenched and he was trying to take a deep breath. “I don’t understand why…why would you just leave a duty like that alone?!” His father finally opened his eyes and looked straight at Osamu, completely calm. He sighed.

“I wanted to live, Osamu. That was all it was. I can’t fault anyone for wanting that, and I can’t fault myself for it either. It’s not pathetic, or humiliating or whatever, it’s who humans are.” He stared straight at Osamu and shook his head. “But this time, I don’t want to live.” He pointed at his son and gulped. “I want you to live, not me. I’ll do everything I can in this war to protect you and keep you safe, and I have no doubt that the abilities that I’ve taught you will help with that.” Osamu was taken aback by this. His father wanted him to live? He cared about him? The father that has been absent from his entire life cared for him? What a load of crap.

“If you wanted me to live, and to be safe, why would you make me a mage? Being one literally puts you into life or death situations on the daily!” He noticed that he was breathing harder. He was getting more and more angry. “You can’t just come here one day and just say that you care about me when you were gone my whole life! You just can’t!” He yelled.

“You’re right. I can’t, so I’ll show you during the war.” He got into a more relaxed position and continued. “I made you a mage because that was my real duty. I was obligated to do it, as someone from the Takashi family. Of course, our family has fallen to pieces, but I had promised my dad that I would make my children mages, and so I had to make you one.” Osamu stared at his father, before he shook his head and put his head into the palms of his hands. God…this is all too much. “In any case, boy, we need to discuss our plans for the war, and our wish.” Osamu had completely forgotten about the wish that’s gifted to the winner of the Sacred War. He wasn’t really sure as to what he would wish for. He had enough wealth, and he wasn’t looking for fame. He was powerful enough, and he was smart too…well as smart as someone that was forced to not go to school could be. He didn’t need anything, did he?

“What do you want to wish for, father?” The answer was something that he believed could be very interesting. Maybe world domination? Another kid? His parents being brought back to life?

“It’s simple. We’re going to wish for the restoration of the Takashi family, to bring it back to the top of the social hierarchy and return to being the most powerful family in Japan.” He explained. Osamu’s eyes widened and he leaned back a little. He hadn’t expected that for an answer. His family used to be extremely powerful within their country, but now they’ve turned into a small group of people. His family of three, a few cousins, uncles and aunts…and that’s about it. They had fallen from grace, from a family that was behind most of the government to a family that’s stuck with the common class. It wasn’t really an issue for Osamu, but he knew that his father grew up when the family still had some power, and he vied for that. “Will you support me, Osamu?” Shigeru Takashi asked him. He understood why his father wanted such a wish, and in any case, he had nothing better to wish for, so why not go for it?

“Yeah, sure father.” They paused for a moment, before a look of relief washed over his fathers face and he gave him a small smile.

“Thank you, boy. We can review plans for the war later, but you need to pack. The war will start in four days, and we’ll need to fly to New York. Go now.” He’s hardened his voice a little bit. Osamu nodded and stood up, before he left and entered the house. He walked past the kitchen, but he noticed that his mother was now looking right at him. He turned around and looked back at her.

“What is it, ma?” He asked. She sighed and walked up to him. Osamu looked at her, and then down at the counter. Some food was cooling down there, so he assumed that she was about to call him for dinner, but instead his mother stood in front of him and she smiled.

“Osamu, the Sacred War…I know you’ll make it home to me. Your father promised you that he would protect you, did he not?” She whispered. Osamu slowly nodded.

“Yeah…he did.”

“Your father will be on your side then, so I’m expecting you to make it back.” She put her hand on his face, her face giving off a warmth that Osamu had felt numerous times from her. “You always stick to your promises, though, so I want you to promise me…that you’ll be making it back home.” Osamu could feel himself shake as he tried to hide his tears. I…didn’t believe in my ability to make it back. He thought. It IS an honor, sure, but if I promise this, I’ll have to fight to make sure that promise comes through. He grinned and held his mothers hand tightly.

“I promise, mother.” She nodded, with tears welling up in her eyes, before she sighed and turned around, wiping them away.

“Good, now come for dinner.” She told him. Osamu proceeded to sit down on a mat as his mother called his father to come and eat. He sat on the floor and held his own hand with a deep breath. His thoughts welled up with all that had happened in the last thirty minutes. His father, the man who he had believed didn’t care for him the most, promised to guard him with his life. He was drafted for the Kingstone war and was told through his dad. And now, he had promised his mother that he would stay alive long enough to win the war. He closed his eyes and thought about all of these moments for a moment, before he opened them with a look of determination circulating through them.

During dinner, he could see that his father had identified that new outlook in his eyes easily, but he didn’t say anything about it. Instead, Osamu finished his fish and picked his plate up, before washing it and retiring to his room. Once there, he sat on the bed and sighed, before he took some clothes out of his drawer and started to stuff them in a suitcase. He threw some other stuff in there too, a book or two, some underwear and a shaving blade, his glasses case…but the final object that he was about to let enter into the suitcase was a small notebook filled with marks from his pen. However he held back from immediately putting it in and looked at it. The notebook was a small record of spells and uses he had learned about magic over the years, as well as ways to improve his abilities and whatnot. Considering that his father had his impressive Snake Skin technique that was known all over the world, he needed his ability to be a matter of surprise, which is he has told very few about his power. And yet, he had written the whole thing. Every strength and weakness down in this notebook so that he could keep track of everything that his ability offered.

Whenever he thought of a new use for it, he always tried to write it down and figure out how it could benefit or harm him. Sure, it could be detrimental for him when it comes to an enemy finding it, but the book only opens to his magical signature, and even if someone somehow figures out how to copy that, he hid another lock behind his magical pressure, something that no mage could ever replicate. He opened the notebook and flipped to a new page, before he took out a pen and started writing.