My oh my... It's already April…
Why is it taking me so long to update? I wish I knew! I hope you'll all forgive me…
Special thanks to: crimsonrosepetals (a wonderful review, welcome to my fanfiction), Rangerette, Madamag, dimonyo-anghel, Broken Vows (an interesting image, hmm), Akira Ijyuin (I am a bad person, you're not wrong sniffle), chibiazn3, MintyFlake (I'm sorry for being such a slacker!), wind-master-redmoon, Rakastaa, takara94, goku-chan (hello again, I personally think you should try out La Esperanca. The series starts off slow, but it's worth it by the end. There are seven volumes), NinetailsKyuu9, Cheekyamericangrl211 (welcome, new fan girl!), GreyLiliy, artist-girl731, DyingHerInnocence (what an awesome review, heh heh, thankies) and Ratt-San!
Dedicated to: Everyone who is still with me so far! I'm so grateful you guys!
Disclaimer: I do not own Tactics. I'm presuming everyone here knows it's a series collaborated by Sakura Kinoshita and Kazuko Higashiyama, so please don't sue me! I'm not making any profits here!
Warning: Master/Slave relationships.
Chapter Ten
"Kantarou…" Haruka's voice seemed strangely quiet. His tone was soft and inquisitive. "Have we met before…?"
"…Master?" Kantarou slowly lowered his head, his tangled fringe flopping over his eyes. With one finger he began tracing the circular marks of the wood grain on the table to his left, jolting a little when the tip of his finger tapped against a ceramic pot of sage.
Haruka's eyes were a shade darker than usual, and he watched his slave like a hawk, monitoring his every movement for any sign of a slip-up. If Kantarou was an imposter, ordered to infiltrate his mansion and gather information on the demon eater, Haruka would show the boy what became of humans who misunderstood their place.
"Do you remember a time where humans were in control?" Kantarou's voice, a mere whisper, brought Haruka back to the situation at hand. The frowning tengu roughly placed his hands on Kantarou's upper arms. "A time when the government officials deemed youkai as…more than dangerous monsters, but…creatures born from a darkness created by the greed and despair of a human soul -"
Haruka quickly pulled Kantarou to his feet and shoved him against the nearest wall. The human winced at the action, but kept his lips pressed tightly together, preventing any sound escaping.
"Who…are…you?" Haruka breathed, digging his long nails into Kantarou's precious, pale skin, hard enough to draw blood.
"Kantarou…Kantarou Ichinomiya, Master."
"Were you sent to the auction to find me?" Haruka asked, only tightening his grip on Kantarou as he struggled.
"No, of-course not Master, I -"
"Where are you from?"
"A…a small village not far from town…Master, please…"
"Answer my question, boy. Have we met before?"
Kantarou froze. The way Haruka had called him boy seemed suddenly familiar. A gruff voice, tinged with affection, reached his ears. It wasn't time to answer Haruka's question. It was too soon…but Kantarou's mind had separated from his mouth, and his lips were moving without him even realising what he was saying, if he was forming words at all.
"In another place…" Kantarou muttered. Even with his sharp hearing, Haruka struggled to make sense of Kantarou's whispers.
"Speak up Kantarou!" The tengu demanded as the silver-haired human began to chant some kind of mantra as if traumatised.
"In a forest...it's blurry…I don't understand it all…but it's not…not right…I think, maybe I -"
Haruka shook Kantarou hard, trying to free him from his own delusions, but the boy didn't respond. His ruby eyes were glazed over, and focussed straight ahead as if he saw through his Master.
"Kantarou!"
The tengu raised his hand and roughly back-handed Kantarou's right cheek. The force of the slap sent the human to his knees, where he sagged closer to the carpet.
"No…" Kantarou whispered, stronger this time. "No…no…we haven't met before…Master…"
Haruka said nothing. He took a step back and made his way to the door without a backward glance at his slave.
Kantarou heard Haruka leave, but his legs weren't co-operating. His mind swirled with images he couldn't remember seeing with his own two eyes. He could hear a chant fading into the background, and a scream. A blood-thirsty, angry scream. It was a war cry for revenge, and Kantarou was part of it. He was there, and yet, as he blinked and found himself on the floor of Haruka's study with a sore cheek and surrounded by the smell of fresh sage, he had no idea why.
--
Youko headed back to her room after finishing off her chores and tidying up after the messy Lord Sugino. As usual, it had been a taxing day, especially with Kantarou and his endearing attempts at housework.
"Kan-Chan just isn't the type of person for such menial tasks…It's his personality, the lazy, little – huh?" Youko glanced at her calendar and froze. "Ah! It's…it's!" The fox youkai quickly threw off her apron before running into the hallway and down to Kaworu's room.
"Hey! Kaworu! Kaworu, open up! It's me!" Youko cried out, her ears poking up from under her tousled brown locks. "There's another market in town tomorrow night! Remember?"
Youko stopped banging on the door.
"Kaworu?"
"Youko, was that you?" A sleepy voice demanded. Hito's door was open and the small youkai was frowning at the excited maid. "What's all the racket?"
"I apologize, Hito-san. It's just; I was going to see Kaworu…"
"Oh, he's not in his room, Youko." Hito confirmed. "I suppose he's still busy in the kitchen, although at this hour, who knows?"
"I am sorry for disturbing you, Hito. Goodnight…and thank-you." Youko smiled.
"You're welcome. Sleep well, Youko. See you at breakfast."
With a small sigh, Youko wondered what time Kantarou would return. The human had probably never attended an old, traditional youkai magi market. There were only three a year and they always fell on evenings where there was a full moon.
"Kaworu…" Youko turned back to look briefly at the sky demon's door. 'Your shift finished a while ago…but…you've disappeared…again.' Youko shook her head. It wasn't really any of her business how Kaworu spent his free time. 'Oh well. Tomorrow's another day…'
--
The sun was setting, disappearing below the horizon. Soon it would be dusk, and the light illuminating the sky would be reduced to pale glow from the moon. It was nearly a full circle, high above the purple clouds, a beacon brighter than the stars.
Haruka gazed at the moon, his eyes reflecting the orb. A flapping of gentle wings broke the tranquil silence, and Haruka's private space was invaded by another.
"I was wrong." The tengu admitted, not turning to face the figure. He knew who it was, and so ignored any greeting.
"You think so?" Sugino asked, watching his friend's relaxed posture. Haruka finally glanced at the white-winged tengu, expecting to see Muu-chan with him, however, the smaller youkai was absent from Sugino's arms. "She thought it was better that I spoke with you alone…"
"I know you know, Sugino." Haruka muttered, after a few moments.
"…W…what about?"
"Kantarou. You were suspicious about him from the beginning." Haruka sighed, stretching out his dark, velvet wings.
"I don't trust humans, Haruka. Especially ones with red eyes…"
"I know. But, there's something different about this one. Now tell me, honestly Sugino, what you think about Kantarou…"
"I'm not sure, Haruka. Muu-chan doesn't think he's a threat, but…I'm not sure. I mean, that picture shows a remarkable resemblance – oh!"
Haruka didn't miss Sugino's slip, but made no initial reaction to it. "I don't appreciate you sneaking around my room, Sugino. I had a feeling you'd seen something. You look surprisingly guilty for a change."
"You knew just by looking at my face? Ah, that's the demon eater I knew." Sugino grinned, shifting closer to Haruka.
"That and I noticed the picture was at the front of the book, and not behind the first page where I left it."
"Ah…"
"No servant of mine would dare disturb my things, but you, Sugino, have no tact."
"I'm sorry, Haruka-chan…"
"Sugino, I'm going back to visit Kentaro."
Taken aback by Haruka's response, Sugino stood up and stared down at his friend. "The tailor? Why?"
"I have a feeling, Sugino, that there's more to all this than me buying Kantarou. That man knows something I don't."
"Really…? How interesting…"
"I suppose telling you to keep you nose out won't stop you, will it?" Haruka asked, sitting up.
"I make no promises, Haruka-chan." Sugino smirked, holding his hand out to Haruka. The demon-eater paused for a moment, before taking the hand and allowing Sugino to help him up.
"As long as you tell no lies." Haruka muttered, flexing his wings before taking off into the moonlit sky.
--
Kantarou began to make his way across the hallway on shaky legs. His meeting with Lord Haruka hadn't gone as well as he'd hoped, but at least he still had time to make sense of everything.
"Forgive me, Master. I didn't mean to cast any doubt about myself in your mind. I want you to trust me, so that we can be friends. That's all I ever wanted…"
As he drew nearer the huge window, he felt a mysterious aura pass through him. He shuddered at the power.
"A youkai…is loosing restraint…" He muttered. "A powerful demon, but, who is it…?"
Kantarou managed another two steps forward before a sudden burning took over his chest. The pain was over-whelming, forcing Kantarou to fall down onto his knees as he cried out in agony. His hands clutched at his chest, bringing about a sudden realisation that it wasn't a heart attack. It was his scar.
"Aah!" Tears welled up his eyes, and his breathing was reduced to heavy pants. 'W…why?' Kantarou panicked, looking around in case anyone was around.
The burning sensation wasn't fading, but felt as if it was spreading through his body. Kantarou's throat constricted and the sudden action set off a relentless cough that racked his small frame.
Kantarou lowered his hands once the coughing subsided, and stared down at them. His palms were covered in a watery substance. Kantarou opened his eyes slowly, fearing what he would see.
Red. His hands were stained red. Kantarou could smell the coppery scent of his own blood. But what shocked him more was that he could see it. He could see the colour of his blood instead of a grey liquid.
"What's happening to me…?" He whispered as the pain gradually began to withdraw from his system, leaving him drained and weak, slumped against the wall.
--
Outside, Kaworu had taken off into the air, his large wings beating furiously as he gained altitude. On the floor of the balcony, a golden ankle bracelet, one form of a youkai seal, laid discarded on the tiles.
Tbc…
--
And that is where chapter ten ends. Sorry it's another short instalment. I hope I can get into the spirit of writing this story again. I guess I can only blame myself for my laziness, but I'm just so tired these days!
Thanks for reading everyone!
Minako Angel xxx