The king's rebel
Chapter 1
5 years ago
Snow fell on the ground softly blanketing the earth. I looked out the window yearning to lie on the fluffy snow and make some snow angels. Childish right?But in my eyes it meant everything. I never had a remarkable childhood having being abandoned and disowned by my mother's family. At an early age I'd been shoved into the war ravaged area of Western Tokyo. People were constantly losing their lives to robberies and other dishonorable acts of human depravity. My family managed to survive somehow. But our king, Lord Ueda threw Japan into chaos as his acts of greed escalated. The citizen's didn't have jobs, foreign trade had been halted and there was an increase in tax. Naturally the inevitable happened and war broke out. But this year however everything was different. I stared at the snow hypnotically admiring the little white puffs that marred the night's dark cloak. The wind blew icy air onto my face. I sneezed violently as the cold seeped into my bones. Damn it I had just taped up that window! Gentle hands rubbed my shoulder's and handed me a cup of tea. "Mother you don't have to treat me like a baby. I am capable of caring for myself," I said. She brushed away my bangs from my forehead. "Do you think Tachibana didn't see you going out late at night to repair the crack on the roof? Or that I didn't notice the blisters and cuts on your hands. Hotaru don't tackle everything on your own," she said. Tachibana understood why my mother was concerned but we were going through some difficult times. "Tachibana is well aware. But mother works late at night and father has been admitted into a hospital. Why would Tachibana bother you with something so trivial," I explained. "Hotaru we are family. We ought to act as one. Especially now since we're going to flee Japan. Tachibana can't stay here. Mitaka is worsening each and everyday. And your father's health is deteriorating. He needs better treatment than the one he's receiving right now. Tachibana doesn't have much of a choice but to flee the country," she said. Hearing those words spilling from mother's mouth reminded me of the reality of our situation. These were my last weeks in Japan. "Hai, Tachibana agrees with mother," I replied.
Mother settled into our shabby grey sofa. She switched on the TV to watch the news.
"Reporting live from central Tokyo. This evening we'd like to mourn the death of a fallen leader. King Ueda has passed on," the reporter announced.
Crash! Pieces of porcelain lay strewn on the floor. That was mother's favorite cup. Mother's green eyes remained glued to the TV completely oblivious to my crime.
"Our King for the past ten years was found dead in his living quarters. Test results came back and reported positive for high dosages of zolpidem. It's a strong sleeping drug which was prescribed to him by his physician. The medication can be lethal if the dosage is increased. His physician is currently under investigation. For the meantime he is survived by his family. The queen and the prince." Mother toned the volume down."This is our chance Hotaru. With the country in a state of chaos we can easily slip out without much trouble," she celebrated. She hugged me lovingly. "Tachibana can finally give you a normal life. " In my heart of hearts I prayed that it would be true.
The night of departure.
Japan had considerably improved in terms of living conditions. The acting king had restored most of the trade and the citizens became civil yet again. But who was to say that he wouldn't be blighted by the same affliction that had gripped king Ueda. We weren't taking any chances. We were escaping tonight without fail. In the dead of the night the whole group we were leaving with gathered. Mother surveyed the runway area before the plane took off. The group of asylum seekers hovered around the plane. There were five elderly, a handful of young couples and my family. At the allocated departure time we boarded the plane. I sighed a breath I'd been secretly holding in. My ear lay rested against the window. "Good evening I'm Captain Yoshida. Take off is in five minutes" he announced through the speaker. My heart pulsed excitedly. This was finally happening. That's when I picked up the faintest sounds of a distress call. The wailing sirens of law enforcement officers vehicles shrieked through the silent night. I watched all the faces around me. They all looked relieved. Mother and papa lay with their heads bumped together. My following decision was going to bring them great pain but Tachibana wasn't left with much of a choice. I wanted those that I loved the most to be happy. "Mama I'm going to use the toilet," I said rising to my feet. Maybe this was my last chance to make her happy. Mother nodded her head in approval. Tachibana only had two minutes before everything went bad. I evaded their gazes and sneaked into the cargo area. There Tachibana exited through the cargo's sections door. The plane began to take off. The sirens became louder. They were much closer now than before. My hand grazed the cold metallic weapons in my hoodies pocket. Tachibana would not let them succeed. The vehicles screeched to a stop at the beginning of the runway. "Shoot that plane down!" the commanding officer yelled. His junior positioned the bazooka ready to aim. Just like before when I felt threatened the inner monster within me broke loose. "One." "Two"
CRUNCH! The bazooka fell on the ground with an enormous thud. The commanding officer stared at his junior who was howling in pain. His silver eyes scanned the area but he couldn't find me. I was well hidden behind a rock. "What in incarnation happened to you soldier. Get on your feet!" he commanded. The young soldier shook his head vehemently. "I believe it's an ambush sir. The assailant attacked me. My hand is broken," he answered gritting his teeth. I wiggled my foot surprised at how much damage one kick caused.
"Stay down soldier. All troops move in and fire at my command. " the captain commanded. My heart pumped fiercely. Adrenaline coursed through my blood at dangerous levels. Tachibana would not forgive anyone who tried to harm what belonged to me. I pummeled my fist into the first soldier's face. They aimed their guns at me and set fire Dodging bullets equaled childsplay to me. All Tachibana remembers is flooding fists and breaking bones. The captain walked two steps back. How disgusting. "Tachibana absolutely despises cowards who falter in the face of a worthy opponent. I absolutely hate cowardice. And those who try to harm my family I will never forgive. Tachibana!" I said pointing my thumb to myself. "Does not condone evil deeds. You will be judged according to Tachibana's justice. Receive your punishment. " The captain studied me for a split second before assuming fighting stance. "Little boy. You dare confront the mighty Captain Aihara. Legions of soldiers tremble at the mention of my name," he said boldly. I laughed hysterically at the obscene levels of pride he harbored in his tank like body. Tachibana would cut him down to size. "Tachibana is not like your puny soldiers. Tachibana is my own army," I said zooming forward. And Tachibana wasn't a boy you imbecile! Our fists connected. My body absorbed the shock from his punch. He was strong alright. I shook off the pain. He smiled smugly unmoved by my punch. What was he made of? Steel? "You'll last for five seconds max. Then that giant bird will fall from the sky," he added. His words angered Tachibana. No one was snatching away my family's shot at happiness. My fist pounded into his abdomen. His eyes popped at as he coughed up blood. "That was lucky," he spat. We battled intensely before the the great giant fell to his knees and collapsed. Tachibana knees buckled from the exhaustion. I didn't pay heed to the bodies scattered on the ground as I watched the speck of blinking light fly away into the cloudy night sky.
"Huh? Repeat that for me," the green haired man asked. His secretary adjusted his glasses before continuing to convey the message. "Captain Aihara's squad failed to detain the illegal migrants. Intel has it that they employed an experienced assassin," he said. "An assasin. Isn't that just wonderful. Maybe he'll try to eliminate me too," he enthused. "What should we do about Captain Aihara's team?" Kamenashi asked. "Make them disappear," he chuckled. Kamenashi gasped from the outrageous request. "Lord Nagamasa reconsider," he begged. Lord Nagamasa's eyes sparkled at the mention of his title. "I like it when you call me name in a tone of desperation. It makes me even more eager to say no," he said biting on his index finger. "Captain Aihara is well known amongst the ranks. If we eliminate him it will cause an uproar," he debated. Pale blue eyes overflowed with consideration. "That is going to be a problem," he sighed. Kamenashi released his breath. "But at the same time if word got out that Captain Aihara met his defeat in battle at the hands of a lowly assassin fear will spread through out the ranks. The civilians will definitely plan their attack on my throne. The other nations will see us as weak and assist the civilians with fighting for their cause. And I will lose my control over this country. So what is a better option Kamenashi?" Lord Nagamasa asked him wearing his childish grin. Kamenashi cleared his throat. "I'll see to it that Captain Aihara and his comrades vanish from the face of the earth," he said bowing his head and leaving. Lord Nagamasa swung around his foot merrily. He leaned his head onto his hand. " Pfft. God do I love being the king," he chuckled.
A few hours later
The snow was absolutely relentless. Silently the small flakes settled on the ground. Lord Nagamasa's curiosity had bested him. His eyes had been itching to feast on the site where his former military captain had met his disgraceful defeat. It was unbecoming for a fine tuned military weapon such as the likes of Captain Aihara to fall at the hands of a mere hired assassin. If Captain Aihara was truly one of Japan's best his country had gone to the dogs. But no, he would make Japan great again. The wind whistled harshly blowing snow flakes onto his face. His royal highness shivered as the cold gnawed it's way into his bones . "Lord Nagamasa shall I put a coat over your shoulders?" Fujimoto asked. Fujimoto served Lord Nagamasa loyally, just as a pet dog should. "Yes Fujimon. I didn't think you'd notice that tiny tremble. But thank you for your concern," he said. Fujimon draped the heavy coat on his shoulders. Lord Nagamasa continued his journey to the scene of the attack. A gasp escaped his lips. The clean up crew had done a marvelous job. Not a spot of blood in sight. The snow purified the soaked earth with its great white cloak. In a way it felt as though the snow absolved the earth of its sins. But Lord Nagamasa preferred the world's twisted customs. Something about tangible hatred, darkness and despair stirred him up inside. He wanted more off that vile immorality. He suppressed his laughter in his belly. Not yet. "Fujimon," he called. The albino male scurried towards his master. "Fujimoto at your disposal," he answered. "Fujimon go to the mansion with the others. I'll drive myself back," the lord said. "But your lordship," he began. "Do not oppose my wishes Fujimon. I need some time on my own. Please take your leave this instant," the green haired king ordered. Fujimoto bowed down before disappearing into the trees. The lord failed to comprehend the solid magnetic pull making him stay in the eerie forest. Almost like a siren's call. Enchanting him, binding him and thrusting him forward. What could the cause be? He roamed further into the wilderness. His foot got caught by a crooked root. Looking down his pale blue eyes traced a lone sneaker sticking out of the snow. An unaccounted for casualty? Or maybe a trap. Either result didn't really concern him. He knelt on his knees and dug through the snow. He managed to dig out the top half of the body. He was surprised to find a young blonde haired boy. His skin was white just like the snow. He looked absolutely lifeless. The king shook his head regrettably. Such a waste. "There's no way you are alive. But better safe than sorry," he said. He whipped off his gloves and pressed his fingers on the boy's wrist. The blonde's skin was icy to touch. Nothing. There was no pulse. The lord was about to drop him in the snow when his eye caught the boy's index finger twitch. Impossible. The king checked his pulse again. The heart beat was there but it was faint. He still had a chance to save him. His lordship uprooted him from his grave and hefted him on his shoulder. "You're a stubborn boy. But I'll reward you for that," Lord Nagamasa retorted. The boy's breathing was ragged and strained. The king didn't have much time before the blonde youth breathed his last. He had to act fast. "Hang in there a little longer kid. Don't die," he commanded. His lordship lay the boy in the back of his car. He covered him with his coat before taking to the steering wheel and maneuvering his way out of the forest. He didn't have the time to travel to his mansion. The kid would die before he got there. The king would have to treat the boy on his own.
Tachibana is slowly dying. My lungs are being stabbed from the inside. Tachibana can't move any part of my body. The tears that had been freely flowing before have frozen my eyes shut. My body is so numb from the freezing snow. Tachibana doesn't care if my life is lost as long as my cause is worthy of my death. Mother and Papa are safe and that's all that matters. My soul can rest in peace with that knowledge. The light is slowly fading away and Tachibana is left wandering in the darkness. Is this how death works? Disappearing into oblivion with nothing but pitch black surroundings. All alone. I am wandering in this darkness all alone. Tachibana wants to die a brave death. But when the hour strikes for my departure from this world selfish human wishes seed themselves into my heart. Tachibana doesn't want to leave this world yet. My life is only beginning so why should I forfeit my rights to live. Tachibana has so much I haven't done that I still want to do. But most of all I don't want to die in this cold desolated place. I don't want my remains to be scavenged by wolves and other lowly creatures. But above all Tachibana doesn't want to die alone. I can't explain the emptiness I feel in my heart but Tachibana desires to have someone with me before I die. Someone to tell me that even though I'm leaving this wretched earth their memory of me will be a part of them forever. Selfish I know. But that's exactly what Tachibana desperately needs to hear.
The lord managed to find themselves a place to recover for the night. A sweet old couple living in a quaint little house offered them a room to rest. "Your nephew seems seriously ill. I'll run a hot bath for him. You sit there and warm yourselves by the fire. My husband will chop some more firewood for you," Mrs Yamaguchi said. Lord Nagamasa admired the senior couple for plenty of reasons. Their eyes though wrinkled and slowly deteriorating saw through people. Out of the first three doors that he knocked they were the only ones who opened up their home and their heart to him and his 'nephew'. He held the young blonde in his arms as he warmed him by the fireplace. The king checked his pulse. His heart beat was stronger now. He sighed a breath of relief. Why was he going to such lengths for this boy? The king massaged his temples. Clearly he was overthinking this. He would have gone through the same lengths for anyone else he deemed worthy of living.
The ice is slowly thawing away. It's nice and warm like a soft hug. Tachibana can't understand this new feeling. Heat! Heat is coursing through Tachibana's veins. I'm being incinerated. It's excruciatingly painful. My body thrashes of its own free will. Tachibana can't move anymore. I've been restrained. The heat slowly reduces. Ba dum. Ba dum. Ba dum. Whose heartbeat am I hearing. It can't be mine. Tachibana is dead. "Open your eyes for me," a gentle voice commands. Tachibana can't do that. I'm not alive anymore. "I need you to come back to me. It's cowardly to use death to escape reality. Prove to me that you're not a coward," the voice commanded. It hurt so much. The light hurt my eyes but I forced them open anyways. "I'm glad to see you're awake now. I thought I'd lost you," he said. The owner of the voice smiled kindly at Tachibana. His eyes were the steely shade of pale blue. He looked at me with a face laced with concern and relief. He slicked back his wet locks. Who was he? Where was I? How did I end up here? We were currently inside a tub and a half naked man was holding Tachibana. A half naked man... My fist shot out of the water aimed at his face. His eyebrows shot up in inquisition before he caught my punch. "That wasn't very nice," he said. Slap. Tachibana's hand was burning but I needed to do that. His eyes never changed for a second. Tachibana ripped myself from his hold and checked myself. The pervert had stripped me to my undergarments. I was soaking wet. "What were you doing with Tachibana ?" I asked. He held his fingers to his lips. "Wouldn't you like to know," he said. "I'm leaving whether you tell me or not. Then I'll call the police," I said. He pretended to be frightened. Tachibana can't find the rest of my clothes anywhere. "Feel free to call them. Then I'll have to go through the trouble of telling them that I found a minor armed with a gun. 'He threatened me so we struggled for a while. Seeing that he stood no chance he decided to frame me.' This gun is all the evidence I need," he said swinging my mother's gun around. Did he go through my pockets? "Tachibana apologizes. Please return that to me," I pleaded. "I'll hang onto it for now. You might shoot me," the man said. "Listen well little boy I didn't do anything indecent to you. Unless you want me to. That is beside the point. I dug you out of your deathbed. Show some gratitude," he said stepping out of the tub. Good God he was only wearing his briefs. Tachibana has never witnessed something as lewd as that before. I turned my back on him. The room went silent. "Thank you for saving me," I whispered. "Excuse me if I sound rude but I didn't quite get that," he said. "Thank you for saving Tachibana. What happened was a small misunderstanding due to circumstantial evidence," I said. My lips were wobbling. Why did I want to cry? Tachibana has no reason to shed tears. A fluffy towel plopped on my head. "This misdeed is forgiven since it's your first strike. You're familiar with baseball right, kid? " he asked. "Yes," I said . "Three strikes. You're left with two. Tachibana-kun you don't want to know what happens after your strikes are out. It's terrible," he said. My savior and my tormentor stood in front of me and raised my chin. "Always look me in the eye when you're talking. It'd be such a waste if these beautiful shamrock gems were constantly cast at the ground. We might have to pluck them out," he said. He didn't mean it did he? He was smiling at me so it must have been a gross joke. "Please tell Tachibana something," I asked. His eyes watched me keenly. "Hm? Ask," he said. "I don't know your name," I said. "I normally don't tell my name to strangers but since ours is a special case I'll break my rules. Call me Midori, Tachibana-kun, " he said gently smiling at Tachibana.
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