~ Ties of Destiny ~
2. Bounds Unbroken
(Shinobu's POV)
It's been so long already…
Does he remember me?
Does he even want to?
Were the bonds we made strong enough?
Or did they shatter under the pressure of time?
^(OwO)^
(Miyagi's POV)
"Is it just me, or is cabbage in the food more often lately?" I mused to myself, staring at the seemingly unburnt green slice of a certain vegetable.
This comment of mine seemed to amuse the Usami, who sat not too far from me, highly.
I glared at the man, not enjoying myself at all as I silently ate the food before me.
'It's not that bad though.'
^(OwO)^
(Shinobu's POV)
When I heard that silver-haired Lord offer me a job I expected something like cleaning the whole palace – or its toilets, but surprisingly it turned out quite good. I was to work the same jobs as a guy few years older than me, he's called Misaki.
Being assigned with him meant working in kitchen and in the garden.
I had quite a difficult time with both, since I never quite excelled in cooking – or was even good in it – nor was I good at tending flowers. Being a fire user had its quirks and not being able to take care of plants was a part of it.
Misaki on the other hand was a flower user, which meant that he had close to none offensive power, but was especially good with defences and had the ability to bring withered flowers back to life with a single touch. He was even good with tending to people, but his healings powers had its limits also.
And as for the work in the kitchen… well… let's just say that I never was good at cooking. I pretty much lived on bread I bought and ate whatever edible with it.
And there I was on my assignment in the kitchen. Once again cutting the cabbage which not only seemed to be the only thing within my arms reach, it was also the only thing I was more or less capable of doing… Though I was sure as hell that most people were getting sick of it already.
'I wonder… what does he think about it?' I sighed to myself.
'I hope he likes it at least a little bit.'
^(OwO)^
(Third Person's POV)
Shinobu walked through the palace accompanied by Misaki who was telling him about the people in the palace.
"Over there that is Nowaki-san, the main healer, he has the most powerful healing abilities I've ever seen. I heard that if he was to sacrifice half of his power, he would be able bring someone from the dead…" Misaki said waving at the tall man, who replied the same, then went after a way shorter brown-haired male.
"The one he just followed was Kamijou-san, his powers are mainly telekinesis, but I heard that there is more to his power… he's one of the Lords so I would not be surprised." Misaki sighed, scratching the back of his head, as he continued to walk through the hall with Shinobu who listened to him intently.
"When you look through that window you will be able to see Aikawa-san. She does not have any power of sort, but she's one of the few who can keep Lord Usami in check… Thus very useful."
"And what is the power of Lord Usami?" Shinobu asked, remembering the silver-haired man. "I did not get a chance to ask."
"Usagi-san?" Misaki started, but then blushed and quickly corrected himself. "Usami-san is a summoner. He summons bears of all weights and heights and I heard that his most powerful summon, Suzuki, is something you would not want to mess with… He has a memory supressing powers also… that's why he's called the most powerful man after the king... And I think that he really is… Those hypnotic eyes would entrance you in a second…" Misaki said, getting lost in his thoughts.
All these information told Shinobu that Misaki most probably had more than an "observer" interest in the man. He chuckled to himself, aware of his friend's lack of recognition to the feelings he had for the man.
Just as he wanted to tease Misaki about it he suddenly saw the ever-happy expression on the boy's face fall.
"What's wrong?" He asked immediately.
"Over there is Sumi-san…" Misaki mumbled, tilting his head in the direction of a silver-haired youth softly.
"Who's that?" Shinobu asked, frowning. He sensed Misaki's displeasure as he listened to Misaki's words… there was not much of appreciating of Lord Sumi in it.
"He's one of the Lords, no one likes him much though, all the other Lords are at least tolerable, but he… is not… Using his skill in a way that is so ungraceful would put his deceased parents to shame…"
'For Misaki to speak badly about someone that must really be something…' Shinobu thought, evaluating… then something Misaki said returned to his mind.
"What is his power, Misaki?"
"Vision. He enhanced it in a way that he can see people's weaknesses." Misaki whispered.
"How does that even …" 'work' Shinobu wanted to say, but was cut off by the person they just spoke about.
"What do we have here?" The silver-haired man smiled slyly, shortening the distance between them step by step. "You got yourself a new friend, Misaki? Are you sure you're not just a burden to him?"
Shinobu saw how Misaki flinched when the man said that… and he had no intention to just let this man's foul mouth to hurt his only friend like that.
"He's no burden to me… You are!" Shinobu said, turning to Misaki to assure him of his words.
"Ah, really? Okay, then… I'll go… but before then… tell me… what is it that you have right… here?" He said as he was about to place his hand on Shinobu's chest.
The youth only stepped away from the Lord's reach, his hand immediately going to where the silver-head's was about to be placed.
He touched his most precious treasure under his shirt softly. He was afraid of losing the item, but was careful enough, to not tell the annoying man that. Instead he grabbed Misaki by his hand and turned to leave the room.
The man was about to smirk in victory when a butterfly made of fire landed on his nose… and exploded.
"Serves you right." Shinobu muttered to himself as he looked over his shoulder, enjoying the man's baffled expression. He was not about to let the man see the proof of the bond he had.
The only bond made in his life that – he hoped – stayed unbroken.
^(OwO)^
(Shinobu's POV)
I ran aimlessly, trying to get away from the thugs that were following me.
I was well aware that I had almost no chance to actually get away, but I wanted to at least try. I was not the one to give up easily. I never was.
„Hey cutie~" I heard from behind me.
I felt disgusted by the man and wanted to throw a fire-ball, or some other flaming object at him, but as soon enough as the man grabbed my hand I could feel my powers being drained.
'Is that his power?' I thought, panicking, being afraid to find out what others' powers were like.
I managed to get from the grasp, as the man enjoyed the victory too soon and let his guard down.
After that I ran for a long time, but after I run into a dead-end I could soon feel myself being pinned to the wall.
Getting my shirt ripped off, I felt the man that caught me before drain my power as he touched me with his filthy hands…
I was not able to manage even a simple fire spell. I was doomed… or so I thought at least.
"What do you think you are doing!"
A voice suddenly rang from behind the men.
This startled everyone except for the man who still did not seem to have intent of letting me go, draining my power not-so slowly.
"I'm enjoying myself." He replied.
I felt so disgusted at that that I wanted to throw up… but I did not have power to do even that.
"Then go enjoy yourself elsewhere!" My saviour yelled as he struck the man, causing him to fly away from me.
"T-thank you…" I somehow managed to whisper before my legs gave out.
I thought I was going to fall on the ground, hard, but I felt strong arms wrap around me.
"You okay?" The black-haired man asked, looking at me worried.
I wanted to reply, but before I could even utter a sound the darkness surrounded me.
^(O.O)^
I woke up crying over the familiar dream, which reflected my past, holding the ring on the slim chain around my neck, which I never took off.
I looked around, confused, realizing that I was not even in my room… Feeling a leaf fall onto my skin, seeing it getting dry soon, I realized that I managed to fall asleep under one of the trees in the palace's garden.
I was quite shocked by the fact, feeling a bit ashamed about it also… Yeah, it did shock me…
However what shocked me more was the man who stood not too far from me, looking at me curiously.
I saw him open his mouth… but the words that came out may as well have been daggers… it felt as if they were to me.
"Who are you?"
I'm done for now ^^;
Hope you enjoyed the chapter~
See ya~ ( "-.-)/
