On Sat, 17 Jul 1999, David A. Tatum wrote:
Well, I SAID I might come out with this shortly... and I did. As it turns
out, both this and the latest chapter of Tylor's Fury have been rather
short- in fact, all three chapters for Tylor's Fury have been the shortest
I would allow them to go out as full chapters. Huh... just a coincidence,
I suppose. Well, anyway... here's the fanfic. Enjoy...
Ushio and Tora: Discoveries
by David A. Tatum
I worship you. I might just now finish Blood Ember.
Chronological Notes (kept separate for those people who NEVER read author's
notes):
Set after Episode 10 of the anime... The only one of the SD Theater
stories I MIGHT include mention of would be the one with the kitten, but I
doubt I will.
Good place to put it: right were the manga goes VERY episodic. (I'm due to
get the next 5 volumes soon: Might anyone have translations of anything
besides the Kamaitachi (anime 9-10) arc?
On with the story...
-------------------------
"So," Asako said as she and her best friend started walking back from the
last day of school before a break. "Are you all packed and ready to go on
the trip to my grandparents tommorow, Mayuko?"
You get her name right here, but...
"Yeah... I can't believe we're going back, though- it wasn't that long ago
that we went. And after what happened last time, I'm surprised you WANT to
go back so quickly," Mayuko answered.
"I've been eaten by a giant snake", indeed. But it did come out nice and
waffy.
Asako smiled. "Ah, it wound up being a nice time, after all. I mean, I
made a new friend and had lots of fun before the... incident. Actually, my
grandparents asked that I and Ushio come back, for some reason- they said
that there was something they wanted us to look into."
"That damn waterwheel's been acting up lately."
Mayuko smirked. "And I bet you enjoyed showing off in a swimsuit for
Aotsuki, and being carried back home by him after you were beached."
"Mayuko!" Asako cried, blushing.
"Why aren't you nicer to him, anyway?"
Asako's blush grew. "Well, I... he... he's a jerk. I couldn't even begin
to put up with him if it weren't for the fact that we've known each other
so long."
"But you DO put up with him," Mayuko said, giggling. "And you're
embarrased."
"Why are you asking me all this?" Asako growled. "It's none of your
business, anyway!"
Mayuko's face got serious. "Of course it's my business," she said.
"You're my friend, and so is he. I'd like all of my friends to get along
with each other- especially when two of them seem to have a crush on each
other."
"WHAT!? ME, HAVE A CRUSH ON HIM!? ARE YOU CRAZY!" Asako shouted.
Pulling her fingers out of her ears, Mayuko smiled slightly. "No, I don't
think so. Not when you were moping about the entire time he was gone with
that mysterious girl."
I love this stretch. He really DOES love Asako, and Mayuko is a very close
friend, close enough to risk death for. On the other hand, he offers to
die for Asako's freedom, as well as for an end to Juuro's killing.
Ayako frowned, calming down a bit. "I was just worried about him- I've
known him for a long time, you know. It's not like him to just disappear
for a week like that."
But here, you start calling her A_Y_ako...you had it right at first.
"And the fact that it was a beautiful woman he went off with had absolutely
NOTHING to do with it?"
"No!"
Mayuko smiled. "So you wouldn't mind if I took him?"
"No. Go right ahead," Ayako said flippantly. Quietly, she continued, "He
likes you better, anyway."
The insecurity from the flying heads incident comes through again. He
doesn't, however. All three of them know what the relationship really is:
in fact, according to sources, even though women in the manga get crushes
on Ushio, his feelings for Asako are so clear and strong that at least one
steps aside without a fight. >
Not so quiet that Mayuko couldn't hear her, though. "You think he likes ME
better? Are you kidding?" She laughed. "We hang out together a bit more
than usual, but that's because of Tora, not him."
"Tora? What- or who- is Tora?"
"An ancient monster, of course. Where have you been, Asako?"
Mayuko blushed. "Oh, I shouldn't be saying anything about that. You'll
have to ask him yourself." She smiled again. "He likes you more than
me... though he seems to like both of us rather well. I'm pretty sure,
though, he would rather be yours than mine."
"Like I'd want him!" Ayako denied, blushing. "Excuse me, I have to finish
packing, myself."
Mayuko giggled. "Sure, sure, Ayako. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye, Mayuko." She ran off, only to be greeted at home by her father.
"Hey, Ayako! What's with the red face?"
"What red face?" she exclaimed.
"You're blushing so bad one would think you'd caught a boy peeping at you
today! Who was it- Ushio?"
"What!" Ayako screeched, her face getting redder. Knocking the annoying
person away, she cried, "Dad! Shut up! I've gotta go pack."
Recovering slightly, he smiled. "Don't forget your swimsuit! Make it your
red one- I'm sure all the guys on the beach will appreciate it!"
"Daaaaad!"
This scene was beautiful. Careful about the Ayako/Asako thing, though.
Real good catch on all three characters, by the way.
A side note: When you consider the way Asako is, and the fact that Ushio
actually refers to her as "Otoko-onna" at one point, there are some huge
parallels. He, however, is more willing to admit his feelings, and , in my
mind at least, a cooler character than that other guy with the tomboyish,
violent girlfriend.
"And we're going back there for WHAT reason, exactly?" Tora growled,
picking up a camera with one of his paws and examining it.
"It's called 'fun,' Tora," Ushio said, reclaiming the camera forcefully and
stuffing it into his suitcase. "I like swimming, playing at the beach, and
having parties with friends. So do the girls. Besides, I was invited...
and Ayako's family pretty much treats me as one of their own."
"I know what "Fun" is, brat. But how can we have any without eating
anybody?"
The only word that seemed to catch in the monster's mind was 'girls,' and
that gave him certain ideas. "Ah! It's a mating ritual for you human's,
isn't it?"
If you had more manga information (Available from Dawn's site, findable
via anipike, careful it's got manga spoilers), you might leave this out,
but using anime info, it's entirely expectable. Nagobatimaru-sama is not
what he seems to be.
>
"What!?" Ushio cried. He put his hand on the Beast Spear, but wasn't sure
if he should pull it out- after all, was this an offense worthy of its use?
I'd drop this: throughout the anime, he whips it out pretty
indiscriminately, thwacking Tora for talking back or not offering
information.
>
"Bah," Tora complained. "You humans have such complex mating rituals that
it hurts my head to even think about it. I don't understand why you don't
just take this Ayako girl you hang around with and be done with it?"
Everybody loves Tora.
"What? I never said I liked Ayako!" Ushio stammered.
"Then maybe you're more interested in that Mayuko girl- though if you ask
me, she's too good for you- the first future meal I've had which was kind
enough to feed me with no strings attached. I might not even eat her,
after all- just the rest of you stupid humans."
"Idiot!" Ushio roared, bashing Tora with the spear. "You aren't going to
be eating ANY humans if I have anything to say about it!"
THERE we go. Mayuko's feeding of Tora becomes more frequent and important.
There's a wedding, too, but I'm not there yet.
Tora snarled, crying, "What did I do!?" Recovering, though, the monster
sighed. "I'm just saying you humans make mating all too complicated. Us
monsters have it easy- the first time we meet an unattached monster of the
opposite sex, the powers that control the spirits of this world join us
together- our bodies are altered slightly so that we look... somewhat
similar, and we are bonded for life."
Interesting idea: Kind of neat. Will we be seeing a certain weasel turning
orange?
"Ha! The ease of it all hasn't seemed to do YOU any good! I certainly
don't see YOU with a mate!" Ushio shouted.
Tora froze for a moment, and Ushio began to wonder if he'd gone too far.
It almost seemed as if the monster was nearly in tears...
"I had a mate, once," Tora finally said. "She disappeared about a hundred
years before I fought that battle against your ancestor. I have no idea if
she's still alive or dead, or what she has been doing since I last saw her.
Perhaps... perhaps that is one of my regrets."
Awwww....
"Tora..." Ushio said.
"Take it from me, kid," the monster said. "Don't waste your time with
whoever it is you want as your mate. You never have as much time with them
as you want."
"I... thanks."
Tora flinched, startled. "What am I doing?!" he cried. "I'm not supposed
to be HELPING you- I'm supposed to be trying to eat you!"
Tora's constant dilemma, and one of the most fun bits of the series.
Ushio growled, wielding the Beast Spear expertly. "Oh? Are you sure you
want to try that?"
Nigh-perfect capture of both characters here. Careful on the Ayako thing,
though.
* * * * *
Hyou, the monster hunter and seal magician by trade, studied the news
clipping he had in his hand. A number of deaths caused by some sort of
unknown animal had been reported in the area. This time, he would be
certain that the monster had just THREE claws, and he would give it SOME
chance to try and convince him that it was not the beast which had murdered
his family. Assuming, of course, that it LET him give it a chance- some
monsters would attack without allowing a person to speak.
Ah, Hyou. Official badass of U&T. Slick doesn't even BEGIN to describe
him.
<Snip Hyou's detective work>
Good bit for the plot, though not terribly exciting. I'm not saying to
remove it, just snipping it from my C&C.
There still was some delay, though- namely, finding a train from Downtown
Tokyo to Yonami Station, but that could be settled rather quickly. Soon,
very soon, he might have his revenge.
Hmmm? What about the plane from Hong Kong to Tokyo? (The manga bit for
this is great, by the way. Hyou does the Jedi Mind Trick at customs.)
[Ramble]
My personal pet concept, that's been knocking about for a bit, is this:
Hyou: Chinese man, with sub-average eyes, tosses around sharp objects on
cords that come from his sleeves. He's dedicated his life to his wife and
child, apparently being rather obsesive. I'm just rambling here, but
change his clothes to a white robe, make the shades perscription...
[Goodbye Ramble]
> * *
* * * <Snip elder Nakamura plot advance>
Well written, but except for the lechery bit, which is good, all plot, not
much character. Keep, but since the plot is only started, I can't comment
on much.
In closing, good characterization, and a dawn of a good-looking plot. My
favorite anime ever, in a fanfic by an excellent writer.
Just two things: Fix that Ayako thing. You started out right, but suddenly
changed. Also, you might want to read/research the manga, to avoid
directly contradicting it on a key point or event of U&T plot/backstory.
Or you could just by it to look at the shirts they were. (Check my sig for
the one Ushio wears during the Hyou arc.)
Hoping to see more, and being inspired to work on my own,
David Siegel
dhs28@columbia.edu
"KOJIRO
What C K. Mura
A Eda
Fucking SINCE
Teacher
1889
"