For These Scars
~Chapter 8~
Written by: RinoaDestiny
King of Fighters, Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, and Saisyu Kusanagi belong to SNK
Two days after speaking to his mother, Kyo found himself summoned to his father's study. The clansman by his door followed him – like a goddamn prisoner with a warden – until he was safely (under watch) escorted to the appropriate premises. There, he was greeted by other members of the clan, for whom he only held disdain. He saw their expressions were mutual; they probably knew. So be it – he wasn't going to be apologetic about it.
It was with this mindset that he opened the door to his father's study.
Sat down, facing the older man across from him.
Saisyu was dressed in his usual traditional garb, as though reemphasizing his role in the Kusanagi clan. It wasn't as if Kyo needed reminders – every damn day in this house only served to throw that in his face. He wasn't the filial son but he could hear what his old man had to say.
"What's this about?"
His father removed his hands from within his wide kimono sleeves and let them fall upon his knees. "Your mother's been at me. So after some reconsideration, I'm willing to concede on certain matters regarding your current situation."
"Such as?"
"If you wish to meet with your friends outside, you may. However, you must be accompanied by two clansmen. One of them will be your uncle."
Kyo scowled. "Must he?"
"Yes. That's my condition, Kyo. Otherwise, you stay here."
"Fine. Is that all?"
"I've also noticed your phone activity has been extraordinarily busy to one specific number. Son, I'd advise you to stop."
"Is that how you found out? By snooping through my –"
"It's not a number I recognized. So I did some investigating. If you continue this, Kyo, I'll be forced to reevaluate your –"
"My what? Just because I –"
"Because of what you did, the clan's questioning their decision to choose you as heir in the first place!" Saisyu snapped. "You think it can't be taken away? Remember your cousin, son."
"That was Souji's choice. It doesn't affect me."
"Because he stepped away from it, it fell to you. Don't think it can't go to another."
Kyo glared at his father, open enmity plain. "That's supposed to frighten me?"
"It comes with its privileges. Such as this – why your penalty's not more severe."
"And what –"
"We used to execute traitors, son. Back when the clan was young. You've been spared that, so keep your silence."
That chilled Kyo. He'd never seen himself as a traitor – certainly not to the clan – and being with Yagami as a lover never crossed his mind as such. Was he blacklisted as a traitor now? If he was…
"Would you have allowed that, Dad?"
His father met his gaze and Kyo shuddered. "The clan's regulations state as much. If you weren't the heir, I'd be the one to carry out your sentence."
Kyo didn't have any appropriate response to that. His face must've said as much, because Saisyu looked at him and sighed.
"Anything else, son?"
His silence spoke for him.
"Let your mother know I spoke to you."
With that, he was dismissed.
"Beni, how is it out there?"
"Nothing much going on. Kinda same-old, same-old. No sign of Yagami, either."
Every time Benimaru said that, Kyo felt coldness in the pit of his stomach. Iori was always the first one to come seeking him – that hadn't changed – and it'd been how many days (how many weeks) since anyone had seen him? Osaka was his home. The other man wouldn't just leave. Not without a reason and not without letting him know.
"He hasn't approached you?"
"Not even that, Kyo. He's just not here. Anywhere."
"Beni, I know you have connections. Can you do me a favor here?"
A pause on the other end of the line. "What about?"
Kyo took a deep breath. Decided to throw his trust at his friend. "This is gonna sound odd, Beni, but just listen to me."
"Okaaay…what's going on, Kyo?"
"Yagami and I…we're not exactly enemies anymore."
"No shit. You could've fooled me."
"We're kinda…uh…familiar with each other."
"You've been rivals for how long? You would be."
"Not like that, Beni." He paused and then took the plunge before he lost his nerve. "Not like that."
He hadn't said much – left most of it as implication – but the sudden silence over the other end of the line meant Benimaru got it. After several long seconds, the other's voice spoke over the phone in disbelief. "Shit…you mean you and Yagami…"
"Yeah."
"Does Yuki know?"
"Not yet." It was a problem he needed to deal with and he wasn't sure how to go about addressing it. "Don't tell her, Beni. Or Goro. Or anyone else."
"You and Yagami…how the hell did that –"
"I don't know." He looked out the window of his room, which overlooked the center courtyard of the estate premises. "But it did. And now he's disappeared and I don't know what's happened to him."
Another fall of silence and this time it extended for far longer than comfortable. When his friend spoke again, his voice was tense. "So you want me to use my connections and find where he is? Relay the information to you? Is that it, Kyo?"
"Or find him and speak to him. Let him know I'm trying to reach him."
"That's if he's alive. Or even here."
"Don't say that." Just the mere thought twisted like an embedded dagger in his heart. "Beni, will you do this for me? Can I trust you with this?"
"If I do find him, what do you want me to say?"
"That I want to talk to him. Nothing complicated. Just let him know."
An indrawn breath on the other end. "If that's all, I can do that."
"Thanks, Beni."
"You know…you're taking a big risk here, Kyo. If this comes to light –"
"My dad already knows."
"Well shit."
"Yeah. Beni..." Kyo stepped away from the window and paced back and forth across the wooden floorboards. "Can you tell him something else?"
"Since I'm already in this, what else do you need?"
"Tell Yagami I'm gonna find him. To wait for me. Whatever's going on, that I'll be there."
"Damn, this is serious for you, isn't it?"
"He's only been my rival for how long before this? Beni, you said so yourself."
"It's just so…weird."
"I know." Kyo smiled but it wasn't from happiness. "I owe you one, Beni. Thanks a lot, man."
"You're my friend, Kyo. As long as we're not breaking the law, we're good."
"Yeah. Talk to you later, 'k?"
"Yeah. I'll keep in touch."
"Thanks."