Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ His Honor ❯ Soldier’s War And Women’s Love ( Chapter 4 )

His Honor

By, Jamie1317kast

 

At last, the final chapter in Shigure's horrifying war story is here. At last, the war is over, for Shigure at least. Though seriously injured, he was lucky. He came home, alive.

 

Disclaimer: Fruits Basket is copyrighted to Natsuki Takaya, not me. I own Gabriel, Jamie, Tobias, Andre, Ryoko, Midnight, Michelle, and Taichii. I own nothing else. There are some adapted quotes by Ray Bradbury.

 

Rated R for violence.

 

Soldier's War And Women's Love:

 

When we reached the encampment, Andre and Taichii had already left. Jamie looked around, and said nothing. Gabriel was silently fuming, his anger meter had broken and his patience had been pushed to the limit.

Jamie sighed, and set down Tobias' body. “ We'll camp here tonight.” Was all he said.

 

“ They skipped out on us, that's what Shigure-san, so stop asking useless questions.” Kureno drawled as he drew a little on his fag.

“ And what makes you think that you can talk so big Kureno-san? I didn't see you out there getting shot at.” My temper was seriously frayed, not that I would have minded an excuse to kill him.

“ Oh, but I saw you fail, and that was amusement enough for me.”

I didn't even have to move.

“ Watching people die, or get injured beyond repair, or get shot at, is amusing?” Kureno was lifted off his feet by Jamie, who jerked him up by his collar. “ So it's amusing when one of your comrades gets shot down? So it's amusing when you don't want to die in a burning building, so you jump even though you know you'll only be free for a few moments? So it's amusing, is it, knowing you'll never see your wife or lover or sweetheart ever again? So it's AMUSING knowing that you're going to die in this godforsaken wasteland? AMUSING, IS IT?!!”

“ Jamie, he cannot breathe!”

Indeed, Kureno's face was turning blue. Jamie had his powerful pale fingers locked around Kureno's neck.

“ He cannot breath!” Gabriel cried again. “ You would kill him, would you?” Gabriel grabbed Jamie's right arm. “ Killing him will not bring an end to this war! Killing Kureno-san will not stop blood-shed, it will only grow!” Gabriel waited, tension sharpening his features.

Jamie dropped Kureno in the red dirt.

“ You disgust me.”

Kureno gasped for breath.

“ Go home.” Jamie fixed his eyes upon him, quietly. “ Go home and think of your first lover sick and dying and your second lover blowing her brains out, go home and think of the dozen abortions she's had, go home and think of that and those damn birth-control pills, too, and your might-have-been-children who would have hated your guts! Go home and think how it all happened and what did you ever do to stop it? Go home, go home!” He yelled.

The tent-flaps fluttered and the clearing was empty. Jamie stood alone in the desert heat, with the mountain walls the color of red clay.

 

The radio chattered all night.

The sound of static was accompanied by the sound of a shovel moving mountains of red earth.

 

Hot tears kiss the clay,

March on Ghost Soldiers!

Dead and buried far away,

March on Ghost Soldiers!

 

I'll never forget that night. The night when Jamie buried Tobias, with only the Moon as his witness.

He sang, and I slept to it, ready for the oblivion of sleep.

 

Kureno was gone the next morning. And I really couldn't have cared less. I only hoped that he was dead or at least suffering in the already oppressive heat. All his supplies, however, were still on his cot.

Jamie split up Kureno's and Tobias' rations between the three of us, and left all that we didn't need, or couldn't carry, behind in the dirt.

Tobias' hawk feather, the one that had been braided into his hair, was wrapped in tissue paper and lay inside Jamie's jacket, next to his heart.

 

Fortunately for our low supplies, we eventually hit an American camp. They welcomed us with mugs of beer and gallons of smiles. I was a little uneasy, but Jamie told me that we'd be out in the hills again at sun-up.

Gabriel shuffled up to Jamie and tugged at his elbow. Jamie leaned down and Gabriel said, “ I have to go pick up a few somethings at the helicopter pad, where can I meet you?”

“ We're in the C barracks tonight, but you can meet us by the stage.” Gabriel nodded and headed off through the massive crowd. Of course, Tobias' feather exchanged hands and started its journey to California where his girlfriend was waiting for news of her beloved.

“ What do you mean, ` the stage'?” I asked, curious. I was careful to stick close to Jamie, getting lost in the bazaar would have been a simple task.

“ There's an entertainment tonight, some singer.”

“ Oh. Male or female?”

“ Female.”

“ Jamie, can I ask you a question?” We were now seated by the empty stage, Jamie was using his backpack as a cushion.

He nodded.

“ All those men, those soldiers and commanders, how would you describe them?”

His answer surprised me.

“ They're all just a bunch of little Gestapos, killers, and fools. So are we, you know. Of course, all our sins are soldier's sins, though there ain't much you can do about that, that's just the way it is.”

Silence.

And then, “ Can I ask you another question?”

“ Anything, Shigure-san, anything.”

“ Do you… enjoy..killing?”

He turned to me, a lopsided and crazy smile on his face. His pale skin hadn't burnt at all in the hot desert sun, and his lips curled back to show two fang teeth. He laughed, throwing back his head and holding his sides.

“ Oh, oh, I'm telling that one to Gabriel!”

“ No, I'm serious, I-”

“ Jamie!”

He stopped laughing, tears in his eyes. He turned, and before either of us knew what was happening, he was tackled to the ground.

“ Whoa!” He cried, waving his arms for balance. “ M-Michelle?”

“ Hello to you too, my sweet Ja-chan!” Michelle giggled.

Jamie looked over at Gabriel who was trying to hide his grin. “ ` Ja-chan'?” Gabriel smirked.

“ ` Ja-chan'?” I echoed Gabriel.

“ Argh! No! Don't call me that!” Jamie exclaimed between Michelle's kisses, franticly waving his arms at Gabriel in an accusing manner. “ Gabriel, you bastard! I'll get you for this! Don't even think of getting away with it! I'll-”

Michelle silenced Jamie, whispering and giggling into his ear.

“ On second thought,” Jamie murmured against Michelle's hair. “ Screw the barracks, I'm camping out tonight.”

Michelle pouted. “ Oh, but I wanted to see the singer tonight!”

Jamie, to my eyes, had always been very outgoing and assertive. It was strange to see him listening to anyone except when he took Gabriel's counsel occasionally. He sighed in mock defeat.

“ Fine.” He growled good naturedly, as if agreeing with anyone might somehow ruin his tough guy reputation.

“ Having fun Jamie?” A new voice came to my ears, sounding like ice and old books. A small laugh was in the tone, as well as an edge that seemed to constantly border on sarcasm.

Gabriel motioned for the newcomer to step forward. His wife stepped forward, clipped and neat, and all I could think was, ` Black! There's so much black!'

“ May I introduce my wife, Midnight Li?” Midnight smiled a devil's smile, and still, ` Black!'

Midnight had pale skin, but not as pale as Jamie's. Her eyes were red, like Gabriel's. And just like Tohru's friend, Saki Hanajima, all Midnight wore was black. Together, she and Gabriel reminded me of Yin and Yang.

Jamie smiled and nodded. “ We've met.” He managed to say around Michelle's kisses. “ And yes, I'm having tons of fun, since you were so good as to ask.”

“ Meased to nite you- oh! I mean ` pleased to meet you!'” I choked out stupidly. Midnight laughed, and when I flushed, she only laughed harder. “ I'm Shigure Sohma. And, uh…”

“ Ignore him.” Jamie laughed. “ He's a child compared to us, and just as stupid.”

“ I am not!” I yelled back, thwacking Jamie on the head.

He feigned injury, and fell back onto the ground. “ Oh, help me! I've been wounded!”

“ My poor, sweet Ja-chan!” Michelle cried also, throwing her arms around Jamie and laying her head on his chest. “ How can I save you?”

“ Well, a little mouth-to-mouth wouldn't hurt.”

“ Argh! Will you two stop picking on me!” I cried, exasperated.

“ I think I will camp out with you as well, Jamie.” Gabriel said. “ Midnight, let us set up our things, and we will return for the show tonight.”

“ Is it Ryoko again?” Midnight asked, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, looking bored.

“ Oh, of course.” Jamie answered. “ You know she'd insist. But we all know what her real objective is.”

Gabriel and Midnight nodded. I was lost, Jamie patted my head. “ You'll understand when you see her. She's looking for a soldier, for … you know.”

Oh. So that's it.

Right, poor thing's a still a virgin at twenty-one.

No! Seriously?

Hey, Shigure-san, maybe you could, you know-

Jamie! This IS my sister we are talking about here!

Yeah, I know.

“ You have no manners.” Gabriel sighed, dusting off his hands. Jamie was nursing his swollen jaw, where Gabriel's fist had hit.

Of course not, but you already knew that.

Too true, too true.

 

Ryoko Li, sweet, petite, and b-e-a-utiful.

I was in love, I really was.

Black hair and blue eyes, she smelled of laughter and sunlight on spring grass. Tan skin, and a voice like summer rain. She was my everything, for that one night, and that one night alone. A body like taiko drums, quick and strong.

Her taste, strawberries and honey. And her love-making, sweet, innocent, and pure. She was open, un-ashamed, and forgot the meaning of ` regret' before I could blink. Tight, hot, slick, and she purred deep in her throat when I kissed her.

Perfect, passionate, and so much more than I deserved. I never held her, I couldn't have, though I wanted to.

She smiled the morning after, to show that she understood. Understood in the silent, sweet way that only women can. I gave her my favorite book, La Sangre De Amour, so she wouldn't forget. But I knew she never would.

 

The morning after.

The morning after that night seemed to drag on for forever. The sky took an eternity to lighten, and the morning sun was blood-red.

I knew that I wasn't the only one who had had ` fun' that night. Midnight and Gabriel were so loud, Ryoko and I had to be louder to drown them out. Don't even get me started on Jamie and Michelle! Gods!

We had all decided to camp out, that way it was easier to be in bed with our women. Jamie and Ryoko were the first people up. They smiled and chatted around the small campfire waiting for the sunrise.

Michelle, Gabriel and I were up next. I had actually woken up when Ryoko had left the cot, but I had lain in bed for some time thinking of a way to repay her for what she had given me. Gabriel had been awake earlier too, but he said that getting out of bed without disturbing Midnight was very difficult.

When it became apparent that Midnight had no intention of getting out of bed until high noon, Jamie gave the order to take down our tents.

“ I'll wake up Midnight.” He stated.

“ Are you mad?” Gabriel asked. “ She sleeps with a knife under her pillow, you will be killed!”

I wasn't sure if he was joking or not, but Gabriel's habit of not using contractions when he spoke was beginning to annoy me.

We waited, silently, as Jamie entered the tent. I was holding my breath, and Gabriel was saying a prayer for Jamie's soul. ` He is serious!' I thought.

There were a couple odd sounds, and a muffled scream. Midnight stumbled out of the tent and into Gabriel's arms. Jamie exited after her, smirking. Midnight turned back to glare at him.

“ Never do that again!”

Do what?

“ Don't play games with me you bastard!”

Oh, you mean this?

“ Augh! Get away! Get away!”

Jamie was smiling that insane smile again. He was holding up a red tie, dangling it in front of Midnight's face like a boy would dangle a spider. Grinning from ear to ear, he threw it at her, she screamed.

“ Is that… Taichii's tie?” I asked Jamie, who was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes.

“ Yeah, I snitched it.”

The tie fell to the ground and Midnight jumped on it, beating it into the dirt until it was no longer resembled a tie. `Die, die, and die.' She repeated under her breath.

“ The top two things that Midnight is afraid of are… Red ties, and rabbits.” Jamie whispered to me.

We all laughed, reveling in the silliness of it all. The laughter warmed the cold spot in my heart that had been there since Tobias' death. The happiness took me away from the war and the death for a moment.

But a moment would never be enough.

 

We were escorting Midnight, Michelle, and Ryoko back to the helicopter when IT happened.

 

It was so sudden, no one saw it coming, not even Jamie.

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

..e

 

.re

 

re!

 

ure!

 

 

…

 

…

…

 

 

…

 

Shigure! Shigure! Can you hear me?

 

…

 

…

 

..Medic! Medic! Where's the fucking medic?!

 

…

 

…

 

!

 

!

 

!...

 

 

Shigure! Shigure! Shit!! Stay with me, okay!

 

…

 

…

…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I looked across the table at Shigure. His eyes were screaming bloody murder, and I passed the tissue box across the table to him without a word.

“ Domo.”

“ Dozo. Well? What happened?” I asked, curious despite his obvious pain at the memories.

“ A suicide bomber, what else? The Middle-East has so many of them these days, they all run together like wet paint and people stop paying attention.” Shigure scoffed a little.

“ Too true, too true.” I nodded.

“ We were practically right on top of it, the building that exploded. Gabriel died, his body wasn't even recognizable afterwards. Midnight killed herself, and they were buried together back in the States.

“ Jamie lived through the explosion, there was no doubt that he would. He and Michelle disappeared into the mountains of Afghanistan, and no one's heard of them since. Like someone once said, Jamie's un-killable.

“ I was shipped off to the States, no one knew where I was supposed to go. By the time I got back to Japan, Akito was dead.

“ I'm sorry to hear that.” I felt my input was needed.

“ Well, it's not like a lot of people really cared. I did, but no one really recognized me when I got back. I was a changed man, still am, in fact.

“ Kureno died in the desert, a couple tanks found his dead body and an empty canteen.” Shigure chuckled half-heartedly. “ You don't know how happy I was to hear that.”

“ And what about Ryoko?” I asked, amused as well.

“ Oh, her. She said she tried to find me in Japan. She waited for several months, but when I didn't show up, she didn't know what to do. By the time I got back, she and Hatori had gotten married. Though I was jealous for a while, I felt that he would take good care of her, and I eventually let her go.

Shigure got up to leave. “ Well, it's been nice talking to you. I do feel a little better. Perhaps I will see you again, Kim-san?”

“ Yes, perhaps Shigure-san, perhaps.”

He stood unsteadily, leaning on the table. He picked up his crutches from their resting spot against the chair. And, hobbling on his only leg, made his way slowly to the door.

“ Shigure-san! Wait.”

He stopped and turned his head to look at me. “ Nani?”

“ W-what happened to Taichii Okinawa, a-and Andre Lopez? What about them?” The only people who's endings I didn't know.

“ Oh, them.” He said with a faint disgusted look. “ Taichii and Andre survived without a scratch on them. They swindled their way out of the country, safe and sound. I guess…evil lives on after all.”

And, with that, he opened the door, and shut it very softly behind him.

 

“ War doesn't have an ending, but we can still hope for one, can't we Hatori?” I asked Hatori as we were driving back to Sohma House after the interview.

“ Yes, yes we can.” He replied, smiling a little in the afternoon sun.