My Youth is Yours
She swore to protect him, he swore to save her
Asuna-Oath
November 6th, 2022
The trees swayed in the breeze as the sun shone in the high afternoon. The breeze made the heat seem bearable as workers worked around the house. The gardeners swatted away flies as they pulled weeds, watered plants, trimmed trees and trimmed the bushes to help the roses grow as well as the irises. Some of the cleaners wiped at the sweat from their heads as they cleaned the walks, swept the floors, cleaned the windows and cut the grass. Other cleaners working by the pool were wanting to take a leap in to cool off as they swept the bottom of the pool, cleaned dead grass or leaves that had fallen in and making sure the chemicals in the pool were well balanced out.
There were some conversations going on about what they would be doing when taking a break or talking about what needs to be done next. Others were keeping to themselves and checking their own pads on what needed to be done next. With heat always comes tension and little arguments here and there would arise but quickly die down when the ground keepers would break it up or pull a few people aside to have a conversation with them. Then there were others were rushing to get out of the heat and either get inside where it was cooler thanks to the AC or getting to go home and spend the day with someone or just with themselves.
You are walking the ground to make sure everything is getting ready for tonight when all the ground keepers will be in their homes doing their own thing or going out and partying. Your head looks left and right as you walk down the sidewalks. The heat doesn't seem to bother you since the heat hasn't gotten to you yet. You check on the pool, then the gardens, then everything else. You nod your head and turn and look at me.
"Do you think everything looks alright?" I simply nod as I look at the flowers
"The flowers look fresh and bright sure to draw any kind of attention." You smile gently at me, that look in your eyes, I fell my chest tighten just a bit.
I clear my throat and I feel my breath catch in my throat as you walk towards me, I back up just a little, your grey eyes seem to have lightened up just a little bit as you look into my eyes.
"The flowers catch your eyes?" I nod silently your eyes moving from mine to the flowers.
"They smell nice, look pretty sure to catch an eye of anyone walking around, maybe we could pick some for the centerpieces for the tables." You smile gently at me
"I like that idea, I'll have the gardeners pick a few, put them in a vase and have them set on tables."
I smile and chuckle a little "Don't forget to add the water."
You point your finger past me and I turn quickly, my hands going to my rapier fast only to see you pointing at someone watering the rose bushes. You put your hand on my shoulder, I breath out a little as I feel myself relax. You walk past me, and I follow, always follow five steps behind no closer no further. That's what the grand master told me.
You stop and wave to one of the workers as they walk off with a smile on their face. The come back with a pair of clippers and snips one off. She snips the thorns off and then gently hands it to you as though it's made of glass. You turn around and face me, your eyes look like a lighter grey as you walk close to me.
"What do you think of roses?" You ask as you put the red flower in my face.
"They are beautiful, always smell nice, soft to the touch and many people give roses to someone they like or love. Most popular at weddings, very common to get for girlfriends or wives and the most common flower you can find at a store in a variety of colors." I take the flower from your fingers, I can feel the heat from your fingers as I try and take it.
You shove the flower gently in my hands, I try and look around to make sure no one is watching but your hands stop my eyes from looking around. I open my fingers as your forehead lightly touches mine.
"For you" You say with grace. I smile and then gently push myself away.
"Too many eyes sir." I say, even though I would personally love to kiss those lips of yours. If your father or my grandmaster found out about us, I would be…
I shake the thought out of my head as you walk past me, I wonder what you are thinking right now as I look at the rose. I swore to protect you, but at times I feel as though I am protecting myself. I catch up you to quickly and we head inside.
The candles are lighting up, the music couldn't be more mediocre, the food smells nice and guests are starting to arrive. I can hear the banter of chatter growing as I wait outside your door. I watch you from the staircase that overlooks the crowd. You talk to people, you laugh jokes, you walk this way then that way and you greet others coming in and others who are going. Grand Master told me that you would have two other knights with you and I would be watching you from on high. Your father put in the request and Grand Master talked to me about it before the guests showed up. As much as I don't like it, I have to follow orders, I swore an oath after all.
The crowd is all dressed as though they spent a paycheck on their clothing. I keep my hand on my rapier and watch you as you walk through the crowd. I look and see other people in deep conversation some in small crowds talking, others laughing at lame jokes and some just saying high and making small talk.
The dinner bell rings and everyone takes their seats at the tables You sit at the big one right in the center the food smells grand and everyone is waiting for their share of food as the cooks and drinks come out of the kitchen. I should be down by you standing behind you making sure nothing is in your drink, but I trust all the cooks in the kitchen.
"The food is safe right, as well as the drinks?" I wait for a response. "The food and drinks are safe to eat and drink by everyone right?" I'm getting impatient with no one responding. "If I have to page one more time about the food and drink I will come down there and.."
"Yes food and drink are safe, all testers have drunk and ate the food everything is safe, trust me." I don't respond but keep a close eye on you as they hand out your drink.
Your father stands to tap his glass asking for everyone's attention but before he can continue, Sugou interrupts him and stands before. Your father worked closely with him when this project was just starting off but then something happened a fallout, an argument or a disagreement and he came off the project. I was surprised to see him here. It appears him and your father had a mutual feeling or at least made a truce somewhere along the way. I look at you, you don't seem surprised he's here then again, I don't know things like you know things, you and your father worked on this together.
"Ladies and gentlemen" Sugou's voice is loud and confident with what he is about to say. Before he can continue, I hear something in the hallway behind me. I turn quickly withdrawing my blade from its sheath.
I hold it in front of me defending myself as I walk down the hallway. I keep my breath steady and my eyes moving back and forth I can't hear what Sugou is saying as his words drown out. I hear another noise come further down the hall, the moonlight will be enough to light my way as well not only hide me but also whoever is down this hallway. As I reach the end of the hallway I see a window slightly open a curtain blowing in the breeze. I look out on the courtyard and see nothing at all.
As if getting hit by a brick suddenly I ask the kitchen "Why didn't one of the testers answer me about the food and drink?"
"I'm not sure what you mean, the testers said it was fine"
"If I'm not talking to a tester, then who am I talking to?" No response and now I feel like a fool, I fell for a trap set by someone as I start to run off to get back to you
My arm is grabbed and then I feel a hand come to my head and push me against the wall hard. I fall to the floor feeling dizzy, my ears ringing, and the room feels like its spinning. My hair gets grabbed and then I feel a blow to my stomach. I fall again to the floor this time out of breath, my head gets grabbed again and I feel the full force of a blow to my head against the wall. This time someone walks by me, I grab their leg, but they have more strength than me as they brush past my fingertips.
The figure walks to the staircase, I try to get up and walk back to you thinking I need to get to you, only you. I swore an oath to you, to protect you, to shield you, to defend you, I swore an oath to you.
"Kazuto" I say weakly as I use the wall to help me walk down the hallway when I get to the staircase. I hang onto the railing as I try to walk, I trip and fall down the stairs. My head feels like it is swimming I see you laying on the ground I crawl towards you as I see you are running towards me.
"Kazuto" I say again weakly my head feels as though it's going to fall off my shoulders. I grab your hand tightly.
"Asuna, y-your bleeding." You say weakly as you kneel beside me. "The drinks something was…" You try and say something but instead of words coming out other things come up. I hold tight to your arm that is coming around me, people are watching aren't they?
My vision is starting is to go blurry it's getting harder to see your face. I tighten my grip on your arm as I feel you getting picked up. I look into your grey eyes. Someone is carrying you over their shoulder. Come on Asuna get up and protect your master. No protect Kazuto you want me to call you Kazuto.
"Asuna" You say a little louder, I feel someone wrap their hand around my leg
"I'll find you Kazuto, I promise."
You look up and reach for me as I fall, my world is going silent as I see you getting carried off, trying to fight but like me getting weaker and weaker.
"I'll find you." I whisper to myself. I am looking up at someone, but I can't see their face. They walk past me. "Kazuto" My world goes black.
~2 weeks later~
You fall onto the ground hitting your head and I chuckle a little at you. I hold my hand out and help you up when you take it in your own hand. Your hands feel warm, rough and strong, as I pull you up, you gently grab my shoulders and pull me close to you, our noses almost touching but just inches away. I look into your grey eyes and wonder what you are thinking right now.
"No is around" You say as I feel both your hands come up onto my cheeks. I know that but if someone were to walk in and see us…
"How dare you fail me" I look up and see Grand Master standing where you once stood holding my shoulders tightly. Grand Master holds me up and this time I am looking into his eyes as he says the words I fear "You are a disgrace you are banished." I feel myself getting thrown into darkness.
I sit straight up breathing heavy. Where ever I am it's dark, it's cold I can hear beeping in, I can feel blankets and little sticky monitors on me. I lay down and feel a pillow against my head, I look around a see a monitor standing next to my bed with an IV bag hanging on it. I must be in a hospital.
I don't have time to just lay here. I pull the blankets off me rip the thing off that's helping with my vitals, monitoring my heart rate and whatever else those little gadgets do. I almost lose my balance before catching onto my IV stand. I use that to help me out of the room.
"I'm coming Kazuto" I say as I head for the door "Don't give up, I'm coming"
And that is a wrap on chapter one! Let me know your thoughts thanks y'all
~CW