If I Should Fall

By Night Imp

Soujiro giggled as the stars twirled overhead. Back and forth and around and around…they were so pretty, little lights that were everywhere, completely innumerable. And they were so especially pretty when they twirled.

“Again, daddy!”

Souji laughed and picked his son up once again, holding on tight and spinning around.

Then Soujiro woke up.

He sat up and attempted to stand, and failed on the first three tries. He eventually stood and stepped over the bottles which were strewn about him on the floor, and somehow managed to step on his cat, who let off a shrill screech that made his head throb even worse than it already was.

He had no recollection of the previous evening (or day, or morning, or whatever it had been), and he got the distinct impression that he was better off that way. So he gave up on trying to remember, and his throbbing head thanked him. But just as his throbbing head began to enjoy the silence, someone banged on the door. Soujiro stopped and leaned against the wall.

“Soujiro, are you in there?” Yumi’s voice called. She continued to pound.

Soujiro gritted his teeth and mentally debated the merits of opening the door. He eventually decided to do so, if only to get the pounding to stop.

“What?”

Yumi drew her hand back from the door and regarded Soujiro briefly before speaking. “Makoto wanted me to tell you to start getting ready, though by the looks of it you’re in no condition for an interview.”

“Interview?” He echoed softly. He desperately searched his memory for any mentioning of an interview, but found nothing.

“Yes, I know it’s short notice…apparently he set it up the other night but with everything that went on…”

Soujiro groaned and walked away from the door. He now remembered why he was hung-over.

There was silence for a moment as Yumi watched him.

“What are you upset about now?”

“Nothing, Yumi.”

Yumi rolled her eyes; the surroundings spoke to the contrary, but she chose not to say anything about it. “Well, you need to get ready. The interview is at one.”

“What time is it now?”

“How the hell should I know? You have a clock in here somewhere, find it!”

Soujiro didn’t say anything at first, but sat down on the bed and watched Yumi. Yumi returned his gaze, then slowly turned to leave.

“Yumi?” He asked quietly.

She stopped. “What?”

“Um…last night…or morning, or whatever it was when we got back…um…no, nevermind.”

Yumi took a step closer. “No, what?”

Soujiro looked around and debated asking her. She stood and waited patiently.

“Um…Mister Shishio proposed, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, he did.”

“And you accepted?”

“Yeah, I did.”

Soujiro cleared his throat and forced a smile. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” She stood for a moment longer and watched him; he remained still and kept his eyes on the ground. Finally she turned and shut the door quietly behind her as she left.

--

“Just look at me Soujiro, pretend the cameras aren’t even here.”

Soujiro blinked in the bright lights and nodded.

The director spoke, “Okay, we’re rolling in five…four…three…two…”

“Good Afternoon, and welcome to KTVU Live. I’m your host, Kamatari Honjo.” The anchorman (or woman, as no one was really entirely sure) said to the camera, “we have with us today one of the rising stars of the boxing ring, Mister Soujiro Seta. Thanks to his recent winning streak, the likes of which hasn’t been seen in nearly thirty years, this one-time farmboy has become known nearly all over the globe, and we have his first exclusive interview. He joins us now live.”

Kamatari turned to Soujiro as the camera shut off and another one at a different angle simultaneously turned on, recording the two from a profile.

“So Soujiro, what inspired you to go into boxing?”

“Um,” nothing had inspired him, it had just happened. “My manager.”

“And your manager is, of course, the famous Makoto Shishio who retired from the ring quite some years ago due to an injury.” Kamatari directed this statement more to the audience than Soujiro. “Soujiro, I’ve heard rumors that you are actually going to fight Kenshin Himura, is this true?”

Soujiro paused. “Yes.”

“I must say, it’s very surprising. What prompted this move?”

“Um,” how the hell was he supposed to know? Shishio was the one who set it up. “Career advancement.”

Kamatari laughed slightly. “’Career advancement’. That’s a very succinct way of putting it. I understand Mr. Himura is you're sister's fiancé. How does she feel about the two of you fighting?"

Sou's mouth twitched with the effort it took to keep smiling. What kind of stupid question was that? “Um, well, she’s okay with it. I mean, she knows it’s our job and all, you know?”

Kamatari nodded. “It’s nice to have such an understanding sister.”

Soujiro nodded. The interview continued in this fashion for another ten minutes, though it seemed to Soujiro more like an hour. The questions seemed mundane and pointless. He desperately wished for the interview to end.

He shifted in his seat and tried to pay attention, but his mind was still on Yumi. He was mad at himself for becoming so attached to her. He had known that nothing would ever have become of it…but still, in the back of his mind, he had a flutter of hope.

“Well thank you very much for coming in, Soujiro.”

“Thank you.”

Kamatari turned to the camera. “Be sure to tune back in tomorrow afternoon at the same time for an interview with the Luxor’s newest magician, the amazing Ramses.”

The cameras shut off and they stood. Kamatari held out a hand, which Soujiro shook lightly. “Thank you again, Soujiro. It’s been a pleasure.”

“Same.”

Soujiro turned to Shishio, who for once actually looked rather approving. He followed his manager out of the building in silence.

“Well, you could have been a bit more friendly, but, for the most part, you did well Soujiro.”

“Thanks.” Soujiro muttered.

Shishio regarded him as they climbed in the back of the limousine. It was several more minutes before he spoke.

“What’s wrong with you today? You act like someone died.”

“Nothing.” He did what he did best- he forced a smile. “I’m happy for you.”

Shishio raised a questioning eyebrow. “Happy for me?”

“Yes…about Yumi, you know?”

“Ah.” He smiled. “I gather she told you.”

Soujiro turned and looked out the window. “When is the wedding?”

“Don’t know yet, we haven’t talked much about it.” He studied Soujiro. Soujiro said nothing and continued to stare out of the window.

--

Yumi was gone when they returned. She decided to indulge herself in a little pampering. She was, after all, finally getting married. Didn’t that count for something?

The hotel had a spa, among other things, and she charged her massage, facial, manicure and pedicure to the existing bill for the room. Shishio wouldn’t mind. At least, she hoped he wouldn’t.

“How are you today, Yumi?” The attendant asked. Tae had given Yumi many a facial during her stay, and enjoyed conversing with the older woman.

“I’m alright.”

“How are Mr. Shishio and Mr. Seta?”

“They’re doing fine.”

Yumi leaned back and closed her eyes and seemed content to say nothing more. Tae started the facial, surprised by Yumi’s silence.

“Is everything all right?”

A pause.

“Yes, everything is fine. Actually, I’m getting married.”

“Well congratulations!” Yumi smiled slightly. “If you don’t mind my saying, though, you don’t seem very excited about it.”

Yumi opened her eyes. “Don’t I?”

"Well, it’s just that normally girls are all giggling and chattering nonstop about it…” she shrugged. “Everyone is different though.”

Yumi sighed and stared at the ceiling. The girl was right; she wasn’t as excited as she should be, and it bothered her.

What was it that had changed? For so long, Shishio had been all she wanted. But for some reason, now that she had what she had been waiting for, it seemed as though it was no longer what she wanted. What was wrong with her?

--

“Damn woman took my money again.” Shishio growled when he and Soujiro returned to the hotel. Soujiro only glanced at him and said nothing as they walked down the hallway to their respective suites.

What exactly did Yumi see in Shishio?

Once inside, Soujiro could hear Shishio through the hotel walls. Yumi was getting quite the verbal beating. Isis voiced her opinion and rubbed against Soujiro’s legs before jumping on the bed; Soujiro sat down next to her and continued to listen to the argument in the next room over. Voices escalated, and a smack heard, nearly simultaneous with a shriek. Soujiro rose and opened the door between the two suites.

“Don’t you dare touch her!”

Yumi looked up from where she sat on the ground, one hand to the side of her face. Shishio glared at Soujiro from where he stood above Yumi.

“Stay out of this, Soujiro.”

“No.” He shook his head and took a step closer. “No, I’m not going to just stand by while you beat her.”

“This doesn’t concern you, now get back to your room if you know what’s good for you.”

“Please, Sou.” Yumi said quietly from the ground. She looked at him with pleading eyes. She didn’t want to see him get hurt. Soujiro stared at her. Shishio took a step towards him with a snarl.

“Get out of here.”

Soujiro looked up at him. “You have no right to hit her.”

Shishio lunged and grabbed Soujiro by the throat, shoving him back against the wall. “You need to learn your place, boy.”

Soujiro choked from the pressure of Shishio’s hands around his throat, and glanced past Shishio to Yumi, who had retreated to the far side of the room, back pressed against the wall. She was crying. He was about to speak when Shishio threw him to the ground, grabbed a fistful of his hair, and used it to pull Soujiro upward, facing him to the door of his suite. He let go of Soujiro’s hair and shoved the boy through the door.

“I said stay out of it!”

He punctuated the sentence by slamming the door and locking it.

On the other side, Soujiro stared at the door, clenching and unclenching his fists. Yumi deserved so much better than that.

--

Yeah, I know it’s short. Sorry, folks. But I figured I desperately needed to update, lest y’all think I went off and died somewhere, which I haven’t (unfortunately for some). I’ll be finishing this up with the next chapter, which I will hopefully post sooner than I posted this last one!