(no subject)

[shamisens]

Who: Kubo and You
Broadcast: Video
Action: SS Marsiva
When:

[ Kubo wakes up with a jerk, fumbling around before he realizes it's not dark. The fire isn't lit and — this wasn't the cave he grew up in. Groping around, Kubo felt the solid presence of his shamisen, the two strings intact and breathes a sigh of relief. Then he carefully slips off the bed, slinging it over his back. With his one eye, he looked around. And pinches himself. ]

Okay. Not dead. Where am I? This isn't the Heavens . . . is it?

[ He had been sure everything had been settled, but Kubo hadn't exactly had time to learn the exact nature of what lingers above. ]

Comments

DONE

[ahappylie]

The owners searched and searched, but they couldn't find the other pigs. They had no choice but to give up and let the pigs live free.

When they realized what the littlest pig had done - sacrificing himself so his family could escape - they could not help but feel great respect for him. He had always been the smallest, angriest, meanest little pig, but in his heart he was full of love for everyone. They could no longer bring themselves to eat him. Instead, they fed him sweets and let moved him from the sty into their home as a pet rather than livestock.

And so the littlest pig saved his family, and became a beloved guardian to his household until the end of his days.

[He bobs his pig head and smiles.]

The end.

[shamisens]

[ Kubo giggles. ]

That's a funny story.

[ahappylie]

I'm glad you liked it. I'm sure you can tell it much better next time.

[shamisens]

I'll put some actual pigs in there to embellish it. A little.

[ahappylie]

As long as you make the grumpy littlest pig as grumpy faced as possible.

Like this.

[He pulls an over-exaggerated frown like a certain vice commander he knows.]

[shamisens]

Do pigs really look like that?

[ahappylie]

[He rubs his face and laughs.]

My piglet did. He was much happier when he was sleeping in my lap, but when other people came by, he tended to be quite grumpy.

[shamisens]

You had a pet pig? What was his name? Was he always grumpy? How did you take care of him?

[ahappylie]

His name is Saizo and yes, he's usually very grumpy. Although he likes to sit in my lap and can be very sweet when we're alone.

[His smile falters as he remembers home. He tries not to think of it because of everything that was going on back there and it makes him remember that his friends now have to do it without him. But this is to help Kubo, and the least he can do is be honest about the easiest thing to remember.]

I fed him the same as the other livestock, but he also got scraps from my table or ones Ayumu-san let him have. He'd take a bath every week and he'd sleep inside with me or in his sty with the rest of his family.

[shamisens]

Saizo . . . that's a good name.

[ A bit strange for a pig, but it's clear that Soujirou is fond of it. ]

[ahappylie]

[He laughs, trying to cover up how much he misses Saizou and his namesake.]

I thought so. He's a good pig, even if he gets in trouble sometimes.

[shamisens]

Isn't that what pigs do?

[ahappylie]

Not all of them. His siblings are really very well behaved.

[Save for when they follow his lead.]

[shamisens]

Was he the same pig in your story?

[ahappylie]

Almost. We didn't lose all his brothers and sisters though.

[shamisens]

So you made up that story by yourself? That's impressive.

[ahappylie]

Not entirely. Most of it was based on truth.

[shamisens]

Was it actually about a pig or a person?

[ahappylie]

[He snickers.]

Definitely a pig. I don't know many people who could match up to him.

[shamisens]

[ He nods, a smile on his face. ]

It was an interesting story. Thank you for sharing it with me.

[ahappylie]

Of course. I hope it can help you in creating new stories.

[shamisens]

[ Kubo nods. He'll have to come up with his own stories now. It's daunting. ]

I hope so too.

[ahappylie]

[He smiles reassuringly.]

With all the people you'll meet here, I'm sure you'll have a lot of new characters and stories to write. The people here are fascinating, from all over the world and even from worlds beyond ours.

[shamisens]

What if I can't do it?

[ His voice cracks. ]

What if I tell it badly and don't do justice to the people who gave them to me?

[ahappylie]

Do you care about the stories you tell, Kubo-kun?