Death of A Hero: Protecting the King

Tsukiyomi walked down the street smiling kindly, his sister Amaterasu walked beside him. Tsukiyomi laughed as the young children ran through the streets playing, pretending to bend and play fighting. He smiled 'It's good to see the young kids growing up so fast...' he thought to himself 'Soon enough they will be learning about the King and fighting to protect them...hehe it makes me have hope in the next generation.' Tsukiyomi turned to Amaterasu "It's going to be good to see Master Ihu again...it's been a while" he said "Not since we still called you Tomato."

Ama turned her full attention on him, smiling softly. "That is a long time, Tsuki," she agreed, patting his arm affectionately. "I can't wait to see him again either. He's going to be so surprised."

Suddenly the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. A kind of foreboding settled over her, making her tremble slightly. "Tsuki..." she murmured. "Where are your guards?" she couldn't help but feel that something bad was about to happen. And also the unsettling feeling of being watched.

Tsukiyomi laughed "I gave them the day off...we don't need them...this is our town, who's going to attack us?" he asked "Besides we're strong enough to take on anyone we fight....I'm not going down just yet..stop worrying sis." Tsukiyomi put his arm around her smiling he looked up and saw the large red school "It's been a while..." he said smiling.

Amaterasu walked with him inside of the school, the laughter of children making her a bit more calm. A few quieted and stared at them, dwarfed under Tsukiyomi's tall, imposing form.

"Who is that?" a few whispered, completely overlooking the thin woman standing beside him.

She laughed a bit. "You're going to look crazy," she said with mirth. "Reading the 3 Little Pigs, but it's kind of heartwarming."

Tsukiyomi laughed but quieted down as he heard someone clear his throat. Tsukiyomi turned around "Master Ihu?" he asked "It's been a long time." Master Ihu laughed "It has been...not since your brother was still with us...." he said "But why talk of misery. Tsukiyomi you've grown so much...you used to be a short little kid....and Amaterasu...you look so beautiful...you've become a fine young woman." Tsukiyomi laughed "Her? Young?! ARE YOU KIDDING?!" Tsukiyomi bent over laughing, but his laugh was cut short as Amaterasu elbowed him in the spine. Tsukiyomi hit the ground with a sputtering cough and many of the young kids hid behind their desks and chairs in fear. Master Ihu sighed "I see you still have your fathers temper though...." he said.

Amaterasu flexed her arm, giving Master Ihu an innocent look. "I believe my daughter, Kaon, is worse," she told him, proceeding to deliver a punch to Tsukiyomi's side to get him to stop laughing.

She rolled her eyes. "Stop acting childish. It's embarassing."

Tsukiyomi recovered from the pain and stood up. "You grew up too fast sis" he said "Besides I was only kidding." Master Ihu walked infront of the class of children and cleared his throat "Children, today we have two very special guests...Fire Lord Tsukiyomi and his sister Princess Amaterasu" he told them "They were once my students and today they have come to read a story to you." Tsukiyomi smiled and walked towards the kids, his large figure making some of them hide again, others stared in awe. Tsukiyomi walked towards a small table with a book on it, when he realized that the chair he was supposed to sit on was a chair that belonged to the kids....he knew it wasn't going to fit on that "Um Master Ihu" he started, but he had noticed that the old teacher had left the class in his hands and gone off elsewhere to work or grade or something. Tsukiyomi sighed and relluctantly sat on the chair as he did he realized how much he had grown. His knees were bent so much that they were level with his shoulders, he was uncomfortable but he had no choice. Tsukiyomi picked up the book, but before he could open the cover a kid blurted out "Excuse me? Are you a giant?" asked one of the kids in wonder. Tsukiyomi laughed and put down the book "No...I'm just tall...but believe it or not I used to be as short as my sister over there....I just grew up that's all" he said.

Amaterasu folded her arms and waved sheepishly once the children's eyes glanced over to her. Once they realized how tiny she was in comparison, there were shy squeaks of awe. Bolder kids shouted exclaimed their surprise. "Nuh-uh! No way!" one shouted.

"Can I sit on your lap while you read?" a little girl asked, eliciting a few envious cries from Tsukiyomi's audience.

"No, Lea, you get to do everything!" a little girl sitting beside her protested.

Amaterasu knelt down next to them. "Look at him," she whispered, pointing to the way his knees were level with his shoulder. "How could you sit on that?

Tsukiyomi pushed his sister over jokingly "Quiet you" he said. Tsukiyomi saw the young eyes of the children, laughing as he thought of him and his siblings when they were kids. Tsukiyomi looked around for Master Ihu and smiled when he noticed he wasn't around "I know how much Ihu loves to give this lecture...but since I'm the Fire Lord...I'm going to exercise my sweeping powers...." he started "To teach you all about Protecting the King."

Amaterasu felt an entirely involuntary twitch behind her left eye. "Tsukiyomi..." she began, attempting to keep calm in front of the kids. "I thought you were going to read a story."