40" " Speaking
Backslashes(The site won't let them show up): Thoughts
Prologue
"Now hold your hands like this, Midori-kun," my father said, making his own into an upside-down triangle. We were in a hospital, and my father was in the room for something called an anyurism, or whatever.
"Like this?" I asked.
He nodded. "That's 'do.' Now the opposite. Point the triangle upwards." I did so. "Good, good. That's 'ka.' Okay, here's where it gets tricky. Keep pointing upwards, but bend your index fingers at the base knuckle so they make a line in the middle." This confused me, and it was plainly evident. "Here. Let me show you." He made the gesture.
"Like,...this?" I asked.
"Yes, yes. That's 'kaze.'"
"Is that like 'ka'?"
"No those two are very different. Now for the last one. Keep the 'kaze' sign, but point it downward."
"Is this it?"
"Yup. That's 'mizu.'"
There was a pause.
"Daddy, why are you teaching me this?"
"It's a prayer for help if you ever need it. But you should know, it's not something to play around with. You should only use it if your or someone else's life is in great danger. Do you understand me?" He wasn't speaking forcefully or yelling, but from the way he said it I knew that it wasn't to toy with. I nodded. "Now, if you perform the signs while saying the words I taught you, the prayer will take hold and you will see the effects. This is a very old prayer that was passed down to me from my father, and he learned it from his father, and so on and so forth. The first one to know this prayer was born a thousand years ago. So you see, it's very important to teach it to your son."
"I get it, but what's the name of the prayer?"
"It's called the 'Tengato' Midori-ku-." He stopped and clutched his head. Warning bells went off everywhere, and nurses and doctors poured into the room.
"Daddy! Daddy!What's wrong?! Daddy!" I tried to shake him, crying.
"Could you get him out of here, please?" asked one of the doctors.
"C'mon little guy. Off you go," said a nurse as she picked me up.
"No! Put me down! Daddy! Don't go! Put me DOWN!" A flat tone emanated from a machine. "Daddy! Don't go! DADDY!"
"DADDY!" I shot bolt upright in bed. Oh. That dream again. Jeez. This is what, the third time this week? I looked at the clock. 2:24 A.M. There wasn't any way I was getting back to sleep with this kind of adrenaline pumping through my system. I climbed out of bed, crossed the room, and walked into my closet. Pressing a small button at the far wall, an invisible door opened up and revealed the shrine to my parents/ancestors. Praying seemed to be helping recently, so I had been partaking of it more often. Two hours passed before I realized it. "Thanks Mom and Dad," I said as I got up. My system was still pretty keyed-up, so I decided to hit the training room early.
Hammer fist! Sidestep! Right wheel kick! Jump! Left donkey kick! Direct hit! The drone flew across the room.
"Nice shot!" I glanced in the direction of the speaker. Robin. The drone was getting back up. I raced towards it, and took off for a flying wheel kick. It threw a Phoenix Eye fist just a hair prematurely. I pulled in, spun around the attack, and flew behind it. Once it had its back to me, I hooked its neck with my foot and used the force of my spin to slam it into the ground.
"Whoa..." Robin just kinda stood there.
"What's going on? What's all the noise?" Raven looked at Robin. " And what are you staring at?..." She yawned. "For that matter, why are you even awake? It's Saturday."
"Beastboy just opened up a 16 gallon can of pimpslap on the drone over there." Both of us just stared at him.
"Pimpslap?" I repeated, confused.
"Pimpslap? Where did that come from?" asked Raven.
"Uhh, I'd rather not disclose that information. But did you see the number he did on that thing? Look at it!"
Raven glanced at it. "Spiffy. Do you mind if I go back to sleep?" Sarcasm. "And quit making so much bloody noise!" she called as she floated down the hall.
"So, what would everyone like for breakfast?" asked Beastboy, wearing his chef's hat and an apron that said, 'Kiss me, I'm Irish.' (Get it? Irish, green... Funny...)
"REAL eggs and bacon! And REAL milk! You know that fake stuff makes me hurl!" shouted Cyborg.
Beastboy sweatdropped. "Right, you'll be cooking that I hope you'll know. Robin? What about you?"
"Hmmm, how about hash browns and sausages?" he asked.
"Real or tofu?"
"Real," he replied.
"Alright... Rae? Wanna try a new tea I picked up?"
"What kind is it?" inquired the darker member of the team. She knew full well that he wouldn't shut up until she asked which kind it was.
"Morning Thunder," answered the shifter, turning on the stove and putting a pot of tea onto boil.
Raven was surprised. Beastboy had actually picked out a brand she liked. She began to wonder if she gave him enough credit. "Sounds good. Thanks."
Beastboy pumped a mental fist into the air. /Yes! I knew that sneaking into her room would help!/ He(also mentally)patted himself on the back.
"Ummm, BB? What was that you said?" asked Terra. "Something about squeaking?"
He gave a little yelp, dropping the potatoes that he'd been grating for Robin's breakfast. "Uhh, nothing! I mean, uhhh, what would you like for breakfast Terra? Pancakes?"
"Yeah, that sounds great!"
"Okay. Not a problem. Lemme grab the flour." He finished grating the potatoes and grabbed the ingredients for pancakes. "Let's see, I have three separate meals going. Here's hoping that nothing burns," he mumbled, crossing his fingers. The water started boiling. "Into the pot you go," said the changeling as he poured the loose tea and steaming water into the teapot. "Here you are, Rae."
"Thanks." She levitated a cup from the shelf.
"Right, Robin, here's yours. Starfire, what would you like?"
"I would like waffles with a generous helping of mustard, please."
"...Yeah, not a (shudder) problem, Star." He began mixing up the batter for the meals.
"So Beastboy, where'd you get those pajamas?" asked Terra. "I thought you just slept in your uniform."
"What, are you kidding?" referring to his pajamas. "I'd go insane if I wore those 24/7. And probably sterile as well..." he mumbled. " Besides, they're dry-clean only."
"Really?" He simultaneously nodded and flipped her pancakes at the same. (A/N: Multitasking. Go BB. You know, I'm pretty sure I just ripped that off from another author(ess). Shame on me.) "Is it like that with all you guys?" They nodded.
"Well, except for Cy. He doesn't apply for the whole clothing thing," added Robin.
"Hey, watch it, Bird-Boy. I'm already making my own breakfast. Don't make me cook up a smackdown for you."
"..." (Raven.)
"..." (Starfire.)
"..." (Robin.)
"..." (Beastboy.)
"..." (Terra.)
"What? What? Why are all of you staring at me like that?"
"Nothing..." said Beastboy. "Ahh, the waffles and pancakes are done. Here you are," said the green-skinned one, putting the respective batches on the plates and handing them out. "All yours, Cy," he said, grinning and taking off his hat and apron.
"Ehhh, shut up."
"These hash browns are good, BB. Nice job," said Robin. In between large mouthfuls.
"Yeah," agreed Terra. Half of the stack had disappeared in three bites.
/Well, at least she likes it/, thought Beastboy to himself, sitting down to his breakfast.
"These waffles are most delicious. But I think that mustard would make them even more so."
Collective shudder this time.
"Right... I'll get it for you," said Robin, getting up.
"I'm going to my room to meditate," announced Raven. "Oh and Beastboy?"
"Yeah?" He looked up from his breakfast of tofu eggs and bacon.
"Come here."
"Okaaaay." He was mildly worried now.
She leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Don't think for a second that I didn't hear what you said."
Beastboy stopped breathing at this point. However, he was too preoccupied with the fact that had thrown him into shock.
"Just so you know..." She walked off.
The young shifter didn't remember to breathe until Terra slapped him on the back and asked if he was alright.
Okay, what did ya think? Good, bad, award-worthy, or fit to burn in the 10th circle of Hell? Whatever you thought, tell me. Oh, and if you flame, make it creative. Otherwise you just look stupid.
You'll notice that BeastBoy is asian in this fic. Why, even I don't know. For some reason I just get the sense that he's asian. So don't flame me for changing him, according to me, I'm not.
Japanese Terms used in this chapter.
Do: Earth
Ka: Fire
Kaze: Air
Mizu: Water
Midori: Green. Used as "Midori-kun," it has more or less the same connotation of "Little Green."
Tengato: Okay, this one I'm more than a little shaky on. It's s'posed to mean "Heaven's Gate/Door." If anyone could tell me the term to use, I'd really be grateful.