Greetings.

Back from AWA, and it was Fun. Got to meet a lot of great people, and was 
reintroduced to a lot of familiar faces. Most important, my muse started 
bugging me, and here's some of the results. This Chibi will be different 
from the others because, for one, it's longer than the others, and two, I 
plan to follow up on it with a oneshot. Enjoy, and feedback is welcomed.


- Kenji M. (KMurasaki@Hotmail.com)

Kenji's Nexus:
http://www.geocities.com/nexuslink

Random Plug:
http://www.hottopic.com



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


He's really a heavy responsibility.

In that way, he's kind of like a dog I had when I was younger.

Dad and the others loved that little guy; I did too, but just didn't show it 
all the time. It was always some kind of situation when I did.

Either tearing through my stuff, or mucking up really important papers, or 
the worst; embarrassing me.

It couldn't be simple with him. No, he had to make it a grand humiliation, 
audience or no. There was that one time in second grade, where he decided to 
play tag. The goofy thing wouldn't listen to me, and just kept pulling at my 
skirt until it came off.

Why, oh why did we have to be at the playground that day? Even worse, doing 
so while in front of my secret crush?

And all he could do was give a pitiful hurt look.

Dad scolded me, of course, since it was my job to train him, and, "popping 
him so hard isn't the right thing to do."

Well, what ELSE was I supposed to do? Damnit, he's such a handful! In front 
of all those people...I'd never felt so ashamed.

So I let him have it.

Dumb thing.

He wasn't the same, afterward. If anything, he was worse. I...just couldn't 
forgive him for it. He was driving me crazy.

No, I didn't let him go. Dad wouldn't let me off that easy, and...I did 
kinda get attached to that goofy thing. I just became very wary around him, 
and refused to put up with any guff from him.

Still do.

It's like he refuses to learn from his mistakes, and that's what really gets 
me about it. Is he not trying?

It was hard keeping such responsibility, and I think that's all I started 
seeing him as. He grew, and stopped acting as wild as he was used to doing, 
but I stayed wary of him. I couldn't believe he would change, not after all 
that time.

I remember coming home from school, one day, and he greeted me halfway to my 
house with the homework I'd forgotten earlier that morning. I was ready to 
discipline him, as usual, when Dad stopped me.

"You left that on the table this morning. I'm sure your seventh grade 
teacher wasn't pleased."

No, she wasn't. Neither was I.

But...I look back on that moment, thinking what I'm thinking right now. He 
had to have hidden those papers. Yet, I DID place them where I wouldn't 
forget them, and then left out the door without checking.

Hi-chan was really only trying to help.

And I had my hand raised, ready to deal out that 'discipline.'

I mean, he would deserve it, right? He'd never change before to make me 
happy...

And really, he couldn't have wanted to bring it to me. That would have meant 
he was actually learning.

That he cared.

But, he doesn't care! He peeps in on me, falls over me, embarrasses me in 
front of everyone, refuses to even make an effort to learn, despite my 
efforts to help him!

He's a goof! A helpless, misguided simpleton that couldn't possibly 
change...

Or lead anyone, or be helpful to others.

Or go from zero to successful in such a short time...

Keitaro...he's an idiot. He always will be. He'll always embarrass me.

And he always manages to give that broken, shamed look when he knows he's 
screwed up, whether it's his fault or not.

It's getting harder to deal with him, because those mistakes happen less 
often. He's doing his best to show that he's actually learning.

So...

Maybe I should try again this time, shouldn't I, Hi-chan? Try giving him the 
chance I never really give anyone.

He IS my responsibility, after all.

-Naru  Chibi


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