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Koto, Koto, KOTO.

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lol....
Mask of Identity - Short Story - A Pity Visit?

Training was over for the day, and eighteen-year-old Anzai was exhausted. His master wouldn't give up, not for a second, and by the time the day was over, Anzai's head hurt from too much concentration. He sat in the middle of the back yard of his house, staring out into the countryside and wonderning what it was like on the other side of those trees.

"Anzai?"

Anzai jumped at the sound of her voice and turned to see Hana standing there in a long purple robe.

"You looked so lost in thought, I almost didn't disturb you," she said, taking a seat next to him on the grassy slope. "Is your training over for the day?"

He nodded. "If it wasn't over, I think I'd be dead by now," he confessed. "Most masters let their students have breaks, but not mine. He doesn't believe in breaks. I'm not even sure he knows what the word means."

Hana chuckled softly. "That sounds like your master," she mumbled. "Koto's master isn't like that at all."

Anzai looked down from her face and stared at a single blade of grass. Koto this, Koto that. Why did they always have to talk about Koto? Sure, he was a great guy and everything, but was he really that interesting?

"He's much more laid back and easy going," Hana went on. "But then again-" she stopped suddenly.

"Then again, what?" Anzai prompted. "Then again, Koto doesn't need a strict master because he's naturally good at everything he does?"

"That's not what I meant," she said softly.

"Then what did you mean?"

"Look, Anzai, you looked lonely so I just came to talk to you."

"Great," he muttered. "A pity visit. That's just what I need." He continued staring off until he realized that she had fallen silent, and then looked over at her face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I'm just sick of being... the guy everyone feels sorry for. That's all."

"It's okay," she whispered. "It's not easy having a best friend like Koto."

"No," he agreed. "It's definitely not. He outdoes everything I do. It's like, why am I still doing this when I have absolutely no chance against him?"

"Don't say that," she said, flicking a dandilion seed from his shoulder. "Rulers are selected for different reasons, and different times call for different kinds of rulers. All you need to do is be yourself, and if you're the right person, then you'll be chosen."

Anzai sighed and leaned back on his hands. "Yeah, you're probably right. I should stop thinking about it so much. That's my problem."

She put her fist into his shoulder and pushed him over until he lost his balance and caught himself right before he hit the grass. "Have fun once in a while," she said, giving him one of those sweet smiles that he wished he had the opportunity to receive more often.

He smiled up at her. "I'll try."
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leith-mantara's avatar
Very nice sketch. :) I can't remember what Hana means though... Is it Moth? Or is it flower... X_X I can never remember.