14 drabbles Father-related
I've been meaning to do something like this for Mother's Day, but at that time I was taking finals, celebrating my birthday, and in general, being busy. This is for Father's Day, though I'm a bit late. My own father's finally back after a half-year absence, and I'm happy that he's back. This is late because I was at the airport. ^_^
I present, 14 drabbles relating to dads from 14 different fandoms. I had plans to include more (*cough* Raito), but I ran out of time.
Enjoy. And Happy Father's Day! (which, for some reason, doesn't feel as celebrated as Mother's Day...)
And before I forget!!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these series.
Sport!dads
Aim for the World (Prince of Tennis, Echizen Ryoma) - 200
They thought he didn’t know what it was like to lose, but they were wrong. He lost every day.
Pain shot up his foot as he stopped abruptly, turning 180 degrees at the blink of an eye to catch the corner shot that his opponent dealt him. The racket left his non-dominant hand, smoothly fitting into his left, extending his reach. He returned his opponent’s favor.
He was always watching his old man, carefully studying the way he carried himself, the way the ball always went towards him. The racquet was merely an extension of him. His shots contained no excess movement, except for the infuriating smirk that would always appear afterwards.
Unconsciously, he began mirroring the movements, the perfect moves, until he was brought to his knees before his captain.
Since when had his vision become so narrow?
He was always watching his old man, always trying to find ways to wipe that infuriating smirk off his face. He watched. And that had been all that he saw, until now.
He aimed his shot past his old man, past his old self. This was his challenge towards the entire world of tennis.
His opponent’s eyes widened, the smirk long gone.
Instead, there was pride.
A Worthy Opponent (Hikaru no Go, Touya Akira) - 200
When the match played before his eyes, he bowed his head down towards the brilliance that was Sai. No one came close to bringing out such a match from his father. Sai was the first.
He tried. Countless times. Mornings at the Touya residence consisted of son and father at the Go board. Afternoons consisted of study groups with his father’s friends and pupils. Over time, the handicap stones decreased until finally, he played him equally.
He thought he knew his father’s Go through and through. His father's Go was strong and steady, like a sturdy oak tree with roots that dug deep down into the earth. It was the something that he could always rely to be overwhelmingly powerful.
He had never known that his father’s Go could be so young and vibrant. Not until Sai.
He could feel the changes that the match brought. It was as Spring had come. New leaves sprouted, preening under the sun. His father's Go was once again evolving to meet the challenge. Excitement ran through his veins, his hands shaking as he moved the cursor to click on the message box.
What changes would this monster bring in his Go?
The possibilities were frightening.
His Footsteps (Hungry Heart Wild Striker, Kanou Kyosuke) - 200
When he first heard the name, he didn’t give it much thought.
Narumi Keisuke.
It was only the name of a soccer player in the past who had held the record of scoring the most goals in the tournament.
But his birth certificate surfaced in his mind at that moment. Narumi Kyosuke, it had said, instead of Kanou Kyosuke. He knew then that he was adopted. He wasn't even related to his famous brother, Kanou Seisuke that people kept comparing him to.
"Become the best striker," his brother told him.
When he heard the name again, he paused. Was it possible? Could he be the one? It would have been nice if he were following his father's footsteps. No, it would be even better if he were surpassing him, continuing the dream that had been abruptly stopped.
He grinned. He pulled his leg back and aimed at the ball with all his might, sending the ball flying straight past the goalie. The ball spun against the net wildly before dropping to the ground.
So what if he had never been told? It was time for him to grow out of his delinquent stage.
The crowd broke out cheering.
He had broken the record of most goals.
With a Smile (Dear Boys, Aikawa Kazuhiko) - 200
Few outside of Tendouji knew that the entire team was run by his father and his brother. Would they have thought that his family was biased towards his basketball, and thus gave him the position of captain?
But those who saw his basketball knew that his position had come from his skills.
He spun around in midair, slamming the ball into the net.
Basketball ran in his family. Since he could remember he had always been playing. But until he entered his father's team, he never realized how competitive basketball could be. He rose up to the challenge, but he couldn't stand how the smiles on his friends' faces disappeared once basketball was mentioned. At Tendouji, he wasn't just a boy who was good at basketball.
His father's presence loomed behind his every move.
He couldn't bear it. His smile wouldn't come to him no matter how he tried. He ran away.
He was a coward. But until he could face his father with a smile, he would be seen as just that.
When he landed, he was greeted by wide smiles and declarations that they wouldn't let Aikawa take the entire spotlight.
He nodded, his beaming smile all that was needed to express his gratitude.
Golden Putter (Dan Doh, Dan Doh) - 200
His dad's presence caused his hands to shake. He could feel the disappointment, the fury, and the resentment of the figure in the shadows. He tried concentrating on the smile that Yuka drew on his golf ball, but it was hard.
For some reason, his dad hated golf.
When the putter fell out of his hands and his dad reached to pick it up, he froze. Images of his dad throwing his baseball bat out into the rain tumbled through his mind. Was his dad mad at him for being so fickle? Baseball had been his compassion, but that was before he found golf.
He reached out, afraid of what was to happen to his golden putter.
A glare came his way, but the putter returned to his hands safely. He blinked, watching his dad disappearing into the shadows without another word.
Did his dad actually come to watch him play?
He breathed deeply, calming down his nerves. He had to show his dad that he loved golf. The talent was in him, flowing through his blood, waiting to be unleashed. He examined the line between the golf ball and the hole, relaxed his shoulders, and with a gentle tap, the ball sunk into the hole.
Missing!dads
What he left me (Mahou Sensei Negima, Negi Springfield) - 100
All I have of my dad is this staff.
The white bandages were already fraying from his constant touch.
And the magic that runs in my veins.
Where was he and what was he doing?
Everywhere at this school, I see the remains of his touch. Even in this tournament, he had been the winner. He was even the same age as me when he won. He is the Thousand Master.
He closed his eyes, the beginning of the incantation forming on his lips.
I have a feeling that before I can find him, I must become stronger. The first step is winning this tournament.
Jigsaw Puzzle (Hunter x Hunter, Gon Freaks) - 100
When completing Greed Island did not bring him to his dad, he didn't despair. Killua was with him and they found a new lead through his dad's friend.
The entire thing was a large jigsaw puzzle waiting for him to piece together.
The first piece came in the form of his father's Hunter badge. The second piece came in the form of the memory card for Greed Island and the ring. Here was the third piece to the puzzle. Slowly, the larger picture was forming in his mind.
The last clue had always been available to him.
The last piece would be himself.
Stranded (Full Metal Alchemist, Edward Elric) - 100
He never forgave his father for not being there when they needed him the most.
But when he became stranded in the world beyond the gate, his father was the only one he knew in the foreign world filled with not-so-foreign-faces. He did not forgive him, but having seen his brother die and having died once himself, his resentment of his father became a petty, childish complaint.
But one day, his father disappeared, once again leaving him alone in the vast world. His mother, his brother, there was no one to turn to.
Why did he let him down again?
Deceased!dads
Donning His Cloak (Magic Kaito, Kuroba Kaito) - 100
"There he is! Catch him!"
A maniacal grin, a flutter of white, and he was gone. His white cloak billowed out behind him, his hang-glider spreading out like wings to guide him through the moonlit night.
He held his prize up to the moonlight, letting it shine through the many faces of the jewel. Again, it wasn't the one.
He closed his gloved hand, devising a way to return the jewel, and let the wind bring him home.
Each heist brought about a new thrill, a new chase, a new lead towards his father's death.
Through him, the memory of his father would live on.
Bleeding (D.Gray-man, Allen Walker) - 100
The memory nagged at him, a persistant memory lurking at the back of his mind, always ready to pounce out at him the moment it was beckoned. When the Earl noticed his eye, the remains of his mistake, the memories came unbidden.
WhathaveIdonewhathaveIdonewhathaveI-
Tears could not reverse his error. His bleeding eyes only reminded him that this was reality.
From his mistake, he lost a father. All that he had left were scars, and a weapon, his Innocence, one that had to be used to prevent history from repeating itself.
He covered his eye with his hand, both equally tainted.
The memories always came unbidden.
Possibilities (Gakuen Alice, Sakura Mikan) - 100
It had always been her grandpa and herself. And then there was Hotaru. There had never been a Mom or a Dad.
But she wondered at times if having a dad would be like having Narumi-sensei hold her when she cried, smiling that warm smile whenever she ran up to him to show him something.
Did either of her parents have the same Alice as her? It was very likely that her parents met at the academy. It was also possible that she'd find traces that they left behind.
So when she saw the names behind the bookshelf, she dreamt of the possibilities.
Second dads/step dads
Perfect Son (Yu Yu Hakusho, Kurama) - 100
If it made his mother happy, he had no complaints. He had already monopolized his mother's time for many years.
So when it came time to meet his new step-dad, he easily slid into the image of the perfect son, the image of one Minamino Shuichi. Polite and smart, there were no complaints.
The man his mother chose was plain but trustworthy. When he saw them off at the airport, he felt something inside of him clench. But he ignored it, only showing them his approval.
Behind him, his new step-brother handed him a can of soda. They left the airport together.
Appearance (Shaman King, Asakura Hao) - 100
He could not remember his real father, the very first one. Nor could he remember the father of his second reincarnation. They did not matter to him, and neither did the father of his third reincarnation matter.
Right when he came into the world again, he burned the face of the man holding him, forcing the man to forever hide his face behind an ugly mask. That the man might be his father was only a passing thought. At times when he was bored, he'd wonder about who he had gotten his looks from.
He probably looked more like the mother.
Hands (Honey and Clover, Takemoto Yuuta) - 100
He remembered his father's hands. At one point they had seemed large and strong, but in later years, he remembered holding them in his own hands, surprised at the slimness. His father had not been an overly strong man.
His new stepfather's voice was loud and gruff. He spoke his mind freely, slamming him on the back with his hands whenever he laughed. He was the exact opposite of the image his father used to present.
The hands grabbed his, pulling him forcibly home, and he felt the rough, callused hands. Here was a man who would not let his mother down.
x-posted a lot. Perhaps I should have separated the drabbles. >_> A huge challenge to my memory, this was!
I present, 14 drabbles relating to dads from 14 different fandoms. I had plans to include more (*cough* Raito), but I ran out of time.
Enjoy. And Happy Father's Day! (which, for some reason, doesn't feel as celebrated as Mother's Day...)
And before I forget!!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these series.
Sport!dads
Aim for the World (Prince of Tennis, Echizen Ryoma) - 200
They thought he didn’t know what it was like to lose, but they were wrong. He lost every day.
Pain shot up his foot as he stopped abruptly, turning 180 degrees at the blink of an eye to catch the corner shot that his opponent dealt him. The racket left his non-dominant hand, smoothly fitting into his left, extending his reach. He returned his opponent’s favor.
He was always watching his old man, carefully studying the way he carried himself, the way the ball always went towards him. The racquet was merely an extension of him. His shots contained no excess movement, except for the infuriating smirk that would always appear afterwards.
Unconsciously, he began mirroring the movements, the perfect moves, until he was brought to his knees before his captain.
Since when had his vision become so narrow?
He was always watching his old man, always trying to find ways to wipe that infuriating smirk off his face. He watched. And that had been all that he saw, until now.
He aimed his shot past his old man, past his old self. This was his challenge towards the entire world of tennis.
His opponent’s eyes widened, the smirk long gone.
Instead, there was pride.
A Worthy Opponent (Hikaru no Go, Touya Akira) - 200
When the match played before his eyes, he bowed his head down towards the brilliance that was Sai. No one came close to bringing out such a match from his father. Sai was the first.
He tried. Countless times. Mornings at the Touya residence consisted of son and father at the Go board. Afternoons consisted of study groups with his father’s friends and pupils. Over time, the handicap stones decreased until finally, he played him equally.
He thought he knew his father’s Go through and through. His father's Go was strong and steady, like a sturdy oak tree with roots that dug deep down into the earth. It was the something that he could always rely to be overwhelmingly powerful.
He had never known that his father’s Go could be so young and vibrant. Not until Sai.
He could feel the changes that the match brought. It was as Spring had come. New leaves sprouted, preening under the sun. His father's Go was once again evolving to meet the challenge. Excitement ran through his veins, his hands shaking as he moved the cursor to click on the message box.
What changes would this monster bring in his Go?
The possibilities were frightening.
His Footsteps (Hungry Heart Wild Striker, Kanou Kyosuke) - 200
When he first heard the name, he didn’t give it much thought.
Narumi Keisuke.
It was only the name of a soccer player in the past who had held the record of scoring the most goals in the tournament.
But his birth certificate surfaced in his mind at that moment. Narumi Kyosuke, it had said, instead of Kanou Kyosuke. He knew then that he was adopted. He wasn't even related to his famous brother, Kanou Seisuke that people kept comparing him to.
"Become the best striker," his brother told him.
When he heard the name again, he paused. Was it possible? Could he be the one? It would have been nice if he were following his father's footsteps. No, it would be even better if he were surpassing him, continuing the dream that had been abruptly stopped.
He grinned. He pulled his leg back and aimed at the ball with all his might, sending the ball flying straight past the goalie. The ball spun against the net wildly before dropping to the ground.
So what if he had never been told? It was time for him to grow out of his delinquent stage.
The crowd broke out cheering.
He had broken the record of most goals.
With a Smile (Dear Boys, Aikawa Kazuhiko) - 200
Few outside of Tendouji knew that the entire team was run by his father and his brother. Would they have thought that his family was biased towards his basketball, and thus gave him the position of captain?
But those who saw his basketball knew that his position had come from his skills.
He spun around in midair, slamming the ball into the net.
Basketball ran in his family. Since he could remember he had always been playing. But until he entered his father's team, he never realized how competitive basketball could be. He rose up to the challenge, but he couldn't stand how the smiles on his friends' faces disappeared once basketball was mentioned. At Tendouji, he wasn't just a boy who was good at basketball.
His father's presence loomed behind his every move.
He couldn't bear it. His smile wouldn't come to him no matter how he tried. He ran away.
He was a coward. But until he could face his father with a smile, he would be seen as just that.
When he landed, he was greeted by wide smiles and declarations that they wouldn't let Aikawa take the entire spotlight.
He nodded, his beaming smile all that was needed to express his gratitude.
Golden Putter (Dan Doh, Dan Doh) - 200
His dad's presence caused his hands to shake. He could feel the disappointment, the fury, and the resentment of the figure in the shadows. He tried concentrating on the smile that Yuka drew on his golf ball, but it was hard.
For some reason, his dad hated golf.
When the putter fell out of his hands and his dad reached to pick it up, he froze. Images of his dad throwing his baseball bat out into the rain tumbled through his mind. Was his dad mad at him for being so fickle? Baseball had been his compassion, but that was before he found golf.
He reached out, afraid of what was to happen to his golden putter.
A glare came his way, but the putter returned to his hands safely. He blinked, watching his dad disappearing into the shadows without another word.
Did his dad actually come to watch him play?
He breathed deeply, calming down his nerves. He had to show his dad that he loved golf. The talent was in him, flowing through his blood, waiting to be unleashed. He examined the line between the golf ball and the hole, relaxed his shoulders, and with a gentle tap, the ball sunk into the hole.
Missing!dads
What he left me (Mahou Sensei Negima, Negi Springfield) - 100
All I have of my dad is this staff.
The white bandages were already fraying from his constant touch.
And the magic that runs in my veins.
Where was he and what was he doing?
Everywhere at this school, I see the remains of his touch. Even in this tournament, he had been the winner. He was even the same age as me when he won. He is the Thousand Master.
He closed his eyes, the beginning of the incantation forming on his lips.
I have a feeling that before I can find him, I must become stronger. The first step is winning this tournament.
Jigsaw Puzzle (Hunter x Hunter, Gon Freaks) - 100
When completing Greed Island did not bring him to his dad, he didn't despair. Killua was with him and they found a new lead through his dad's friend.
The entire thing was a large jigsaw puzzle waiting for him to piece together.
The first piece came in the form of his father's Hunter badge. The second piece came in the form of the memory card for Greed Island and the ring. Here was the third piece to the puzzle. Slowly, the larger picture was forming in his mind.
The last clue had always been available to him.
The last piece would be himself.
Stranded (Full Metal Alchemist, Edward Elric) - 100
He never forgave his father for not being there when they needed him the most.
But when he became stranded in the world beyond the gate, his father was the only one he knew in the foreign world filled with not-so-foreign-faces. He did not forgive him, but having seen his brother die and having died once himself, his resentment of his father became a petty, childish complaint.
But one day, his father disappeared, once again leaving him alone in the vast world. His mother, his brother, there was no one to turn to.
Why did he let him down again?
Deceased!dads
Donning His Cloak (Magic Kaito, Kuroba Kaito) - 100
"There he is! Catch him!"
A maniacal grin, a flutter of white, and he was gone. His white cloak billowed out behind him, his hang-glider spreading out like wings to guide him through the moonlit night.
He held his prize up to the moonlight, letting it shine through the many faces of the jewel. Again, it wasn't the one.
He closed his gloved hand, devising a way to return the jewel, and let the wind bring him home.
Each heist brought about a new thrill, a new chase, a new lead towards his father's death.
Through him, the memory of his father would live on.
Bleeding (D.Gray-man, Allen Walker) - 100
The memory nagged at him, a persistant memory lurking at the back of his mind, always ready to pounce out at him the moment it was beckoned. When the Earl noticed his eye, the remains of his mistake, the memories came unbidden.
WhathaveIdonewhathaveIdonewhathaveI-
Tears could not reverse his error. His bleeding eyes only reminded him that this was reality.
From his mistake, he lost a father. All that he had left were scars, and a weapon, his Innocence, one that had to be used to prevent history from repeating itself.
He covered his eye with his hand, both equally tainted.
The memories always came unbidden.
Possibilities (Gakuen Alice, Sakura Mikan) - 100
It had always been her grandpa and herself. And then there was Hotaru. There had never been a Mom or a Dad.
But she wondered at times if having a dad would be like having Narumi-sensei hold her when she cried, smiling that warm smile whenever she ran up to him to show him something.
Did either of her parents have the same Alice as her? It was very likely that her parents met at the academy. It was also possible that she'd find traces that they left behind.
So when she saw the names behind the bookshelf, she dreamt of the possibilities.
Second dads/step dads
Perfect Son (Yu Yu Hakusho, Kurama) - 100
If it made his mother happy, he had no complaints. He had already monopolized his mother's time for many years.
So when it came time to meet his new step-dad, he easily slid into the image of the perfect son, the image of one Minamino Shuichi. Polite and smart, there were no complaints.
The man his mother chose was plain but trustworthy. When he saw them off at the airport, he felt something inside of him clench. But he ignored it, only showing them his approval.
Behind him, his new step-brother handed him a can of soda. They left the airport together.
Appearance (Shaman King, Asakura Hao) - 100
He could not remember his real father, the very first one. Nor could he remember the father of his second reincarnation. They did not matter to him, and neither did the father of his third reincarnation matter.
Right when he came into the world again, he burned the face of the man holding him, forcing the man to forever hide his face behind an ugly mask. That the man might be his father was only a passing thought. At times when he was bored, he'd wonder about who he had gotten his looks from.
He probably looked more like the mother.
Hands (Honey and Clover, Takemoto Yuuta) - 100
He remembered his father's hands. At one point they had seemed large and strong, but in later years, he remembered holding them in his own hands, surprised at the slimness. His father had not been an overly strong man.
His new stepfather's voice was loud and gruff. He spoke his mind freely, slamming him on the back with his hands whenever he laughed. He was the exact opposite of the image his father used to present.
The hands grabbed his, pulling him forcibly home, and he felt the rough, callused hands. Here was a man who would not let his mother down.
x-posted a lot. Perhaps I should have separated the drabbles. >_> A huge challenge to my memory, this was!