Coolies

DB, I love you dearly, but it must be damned scary inside your head!

**Takamura’s dislike had been unexpected. The thread of wariness that flared under it was even worse. That any student on the campus should actually fear him . . . ! He shouldn’t have risked a private meeting though. Especially since he hadn’t changed Takamura’s dislike, nor begun to understand it.** Well hell, kid, you can't know till you try!

**Casablanca’s arguments deteriorated to repetition. Nokoru found his mind returning over and over to the few words he and Takamura had exchanged. The pain of that rejection was still pleasanter than what he felt from Casablanca. Some of her desires were contradictory, and none of them were pleasant.** Eaurgh!

**The sign on his fan read, ‘Immoveable Mountain’ as he offered her an alternative. The Imonoyamas could build another life for her, a place to use her talent for better goals. He felt the match between her needs and his offer . . . so her rage took him by surprise.** Adults! Who can understand them?!

**Nokoru let himself drift, just for a little while, into his favorite fantasy. It didn’t differ much from real life. He hadn’t lied when he told Casablanca he was satisfied. The friends he imagined liked him (of course) and admired him (of course). (People mostly did.)** The irony is that this isn't arrogance -- merely a clear view of this kid's reality.


**They were athletic. They could smash a gang of kidnappers instead of suborning them. They cooked delicious food. (All the Imonoyamas did like their food!)** A small *snerk* here, because I can totally relate!

**They saw he wasn’t perfect. If he got lazy or silly or arrogant (which he knew he did, when everything was so easy and so boring) someone scolded him. And they never left him.** The fact that solid, honest friendships like this are in the realm of fantasy for this kid is definitely sad! But you've made it pretty clear that if he ever let down his "public face" and let his classmates see that he wasn't perfect, he'd catch hell for bringing down the Family Honor.

**It couldn’t happen. People were too happy with the face he showed to look for anything else. And if he liked someone it would be disgraceful to drag them into the plots and violence he attracted. What if Takamura hadn’t run away before Casablanca’s goons were in position? They might have hurt him. They might have kidnapped him too, and there would be a second bruised, terrified child in the car.
For pride, for family, and for logic, he couldn’t have surrendered to Casablanca. If she’d threatened his schoolmates though, the people he was responsible to and for . . . . No, it was better to be alone.** A little responsibility is good for a kid, but there are some responsibilities a seven year old just shouldn't have to take on!

**Nokoru heard an electric crackle and had estimated the wattage – low enough not to do a child much harm, probably, so the taser must be custom-made, and who would make such a thing?** You'd be surprised, kid! (Actually, considering his upbringing, and the unusually adult way he thinks about things, this shows an unexpected streak of naiveté. Nice to know he's been sheltered from a few things, at least!

Just a brief review on this one (tax season, you know). This is weird but good, like so many of your fics! I strongly suspect that the whole kidnapping thing was set up by the two mothers, a. as a practical training exercise, and b. as a sort of Sentinel/Guide "matchmaking".

I wonder if the Nokoru of this universe will be as ready to pledge himself to defend ladies everywhere? (and how this Suoh will react to that?)

Keep on writing! You're brilliant!