DATA_09
[Scar]
Aoba traced the design on his back with sensitive fingers, brushing the newly-healed skin with only the slightest of hesitations. It was beautiful, in a way, and it was a fierce and painful reminder of the dangers of life. Though he would never forgive the now-dead Ryuuhou, Aoba believed that he could carry these markings without shame.
"Aoba." Koujaku tapped the doorframe as he stepped in, seemingly unaffected by his friend's appearance. But his eyes flickered darkly when they set upon the tattoos. "Everyone's waiting."
Aoba sighed. Would his gentle friend ever forgive himself, though it wasn't truly his fault? "Thank you, Ren," he sighed, and slipped on the tunic that his servant handed him, glad that the fabric no longer chafed. He glanced at himself once more in the mirror, brow creasing at what he saw. He tried to imagine someone else with his face, and failed. Perhaps they weren't identical, he didn't know. But he tried to imagine it anyway, reminding himself of the reason he was here. When he had finished, he gave a slight nod. "I'm coming."
"Mink will debrief us." Koujaku said the guard's name with considerable distaste. They emerged into the main room, and the others called greeting. Even Clear was there, perched on the back of the couch where Noiz sat. The blonde beckoned, and Aoba sat beside him, but Koujaku remained standing behind the couch, like a bodyguard. Aoba shook his head, but let his friend be.
Mink looked around at the Concubines, and when his gaze came to rest on Aoba, his eyes narrowed slightly. Aoba blinked at the dark-skinned soldier, recognizing his distaste, and gave a small nod. Mink snorted and crossed his arms.
"The King," he announced, "will bring no more Concubines into the harem." He let them murmur amongst themselves for a moment, and then continued, "You will all be expected to fulfill your duties…" here he paused and looked at Clear, who chuckled softly, "both official and not. Uprisings have begun in the south. The perpetrators will eventually come here, and when they do…" he didn't finish, but Aoba could feel Koujaku's rising anger at his back.
It seemed that the flower garden was expected to do its job of a distraction, regardless of the consequences. Aoba began to understand Koujaku's hate of both the king and the guard; he likely had objected at one point, and had been refused.
As though to affirm his thoughts, Koujaku growled, "You expect us to die for this?" Mink turned a dark glare on the warrior, and Koujaku fell silent. But he vowed that this was not the end of it.
()()()
Koujaku stopped Mink before the guard could leave the harem. "How can you tell us to die with a straight face?" he challenged.
Mink was unaffected by the tall Concubine's rage. "Move aside."
Koujaku did not so much as flinch. His red eyes were aflame. His anger wasn't for the twins, who he barely knew, or even for Noiz, who had begun to be his friend. It was Aoba, precious Aoba, always, that drove his actions. He couldn't allow his most treasured person to be dragged into this foolish conflict. "You would likely be glad if we all died by some assassin's hand!" he spat furiously. "How dare you stand there and calmly tell him to die!"
Him. Mink's gaze flickered with interest. He had noted the way that the harem had begun to revolve around the newest Concubine. But when Koujaku stepped forward, glaring into the soldier's eyes, one gloved hand flicked upwards, slashing the Concubine's face with the knife he drew from his belt. "Don't overstep your bounds," he warned, and left Koujaku there, kneeling on the floor with one hand pressed to his shocked and bloodstained face.
Aoba will die if he stays here. Though he was in pain, and knew that a scarred face might lead to him being thrown out of the palace, that one thought was all that dominated his existence at that moment. Aoba will die. As the crimson of his lifeblood painted his face, all he could bring to mind was a single fact: I have to save him.