Kasou ~ Flower Burial
by littlemaiko
Disclaimer: Gensou Suikoden 2 and all its elements are properties of KCE. Title is taken from "Kasou", property of L'arc~en~Ciel. Stealing is prohibited.
Note: Hisui is the name of Hero from Suikoden 2.
:: Chapter 5 ::
"Back to Kyaro?" Camus looked up from his work, narrowing the amber eyes at his best friend. "The lady is in no condition to travel. You are the one who said she is ill." He straightened in the chair, hands crossed on the desktop. "I know that, but Camus, she insists." The Blue Knight spoke a little unsurely himself. He had been with Nanami the entire afternoon, and he was sure that he had felt her stop breathing for a short while. However, he kept that from the other man at Nanami's plea. The girl had explained it as an after-effect of near-death experience she had; it was an excuse he found hard to believe, but he had promised her to convince Camus, so he would be true to his words. "If Lady Nanami wishes to be back at home to tend to herself, are we in any position to refuse a lady's request?"
Raising an elegant eyebrow, Camus regarded Miklotov with slight amusement. "Mik, it's rare that you bring up that kind of argument."
"Uh... well, Lady Nanami did say that she wanted to go somewhere with you and that it couldn't wait long." Unable to hide much from the older knight, Miklotov confessed grudgingly. "I don't know what. She did not tell me."
The Red Knight frowned slightly. "Our Lady is not the one to ask anything so... selfish." He looked at the stack of papers for him to go through just on this one day; the reconstruction of Matilda and the Knights was almost coming to an end, and there was much for him to check over. "I wager it is very important to her, then." With a small sigh, he rose from his seat.
"Will you go?" Miklotov lit up, already knowing his friend's answer.
"I shall, Miklotov. But you have to take over the tasks." Waving at the stack of files, Camus motioned for the dark-haired knight to sit in the chair he had been occupying since the morning. "...I feel that you are hiding something from me."
"The rest is not for me to tell you, Camus. Ask Lady Nanami." Miklotov picked up the feather pen with rare willingness, dropping his serious gaze to the papers before him.
"I will." With a nod, the warm-gold-haired man pulled on the usual purple cloak and left the office. Worry dawned upon him, casting shadow over the perfectly chiseled features. Contrary to the beautiful spring sunset outside, Camus' mood was somber like the dying scent of cherry blossom filling the Rockaxe palace.
**********
Nanami sat down on the rim of the bed, gasping lightly from the exertion of packing her small belongings. Darkness threatened to pull her into its grasp again, but she fought back with all her willpower. She couldn't succumb just yet.
//Not yet. I will decide how I depart...//
Expression somber like never before, the petite girl held her right hand to the chest, feeling constant flow of red liquid beneath her glove. She'd have to change the bandage soon. Ever since she'd awoken from the small session of death earlier today, her finger had been bleeding droplet by droplet. It was like a countdown to set her in her right place in the world.
//Not... yet...//
A soft knock at the door startled Nanami out of her thoughts. She hurried to open it, guessing correctly the visitor to be the knight in red. A sight of Camus brightened her expression, as sunlight would rouse a bud of early blossom.
"Hello, Camus."
"Good afternoon, Lady Nanami. Miklotov told me about your request. I acquiesce." Camus took the girl's right hand up and kissed it in the usual greeting. The aroma of spring flower was dim but present, making him assume that whatever cologne it was had been placed on the glove.
Turning a faint shade of pink, Nanami pulled away from the gallant touch. She was conscious of the mark upon her finger. "Thank you. ...I'm sorry to interrupt your work."
"Not a trouble at all, my lady. I know that you have your reasons." Camus eyed the neatly packed luggage, understanding instantly that the girl meant to depart as soon as possible. "Will tomorrow morning be all right for departure?"
"...Yes. Can we stop by at Camelot before going to Kyaro?"
"Of course."
Dark amber gaze studied Nanami closely, a calm look threatening to look past her smile into the hidden mind. She averted her eyes from Camus nervously. "I'll tell you everything when we get to Camelot, Camus. Please don't ask me anything until then."
Something was wrong about the chestnut-haired girl. She looked smaller than she already was. Camus almost frowned, but he managed a soft smile. "Understood. Rest well tonight, Lady Nanami." He touched one pale cheek, missing the healthy complexion. Upon a momentary thought, he leaned down and brushed his lips there. The smooth skin was cool.
"C-Camus?!" The clear mezzo-soprano pitched up a notch from the start.
The Red Knight drew away with much grace, appreciating the red that rose to Nanami's face. "It is a jinx for sweet dreams. Good night, my fair lady." He stepped out of the room with a bow, as if he'd done nothing out of ordinary.
After the door closed with a light click, Nanami touched her right cheek, still feeling burnt there. She felt very much alive then. It was Camus' enchantment, drawing her mind away even from the beckoning end. Perhaps, she would dream of a scene other than the withering cherry blossom tree under the moonlight.
**********
Leisurely breakfast, soothing morning tea, and rigidly courteous knights exchanging greetings to each other. Nanami took the usual morning scenes in with a new outlook, more than a little forlornly. When she got to the Rockaxe gate with Camus' escort, she saw Miklotov waiting for them. The Blue Knight showed her a serious smile tinted with obvious concern.
"Lady Nanami, I wish you a safe journey back."
"Thank you, Miklotov. ...I will miss you." Careful not to let too many sentiments into the words, Nanami approached the tall knight and gave him a tip-toed embrace around the neck. She was returned with an expected awkward hold.
"I will, too."
"Miklotov, consult Alces and others if trouble arises. They know the matters of city-building better than you do." Camus advised the younger knight captain without contempt, saddling his white steed for the trip.
"All right. Don't come back until you see Lady Nanami safely into her house."
The last comment caused a flicker of sadness pass Nanami's expression, but neither of the knights caught it. Miklotov saw the two off, standing at the gates until he couldn't see them anymore in the distant grassy horizon.
Intending to get to the work, the tall Blue Knight turned on his heels. A small gust of warm breeze crossed his path, carrying dead petals of the old cherry tree. A few pale pink pieces caught upon his uniform, which he patted off with his gloved hands. He looked at one petal that clung to the fabric of his glove, remembering Nanami's strange ailment. There was a small murmur in his head, his own voice, yet alien and too calm to be really him.
//I will never see her again.//
"...Lady Nanami?!"
Miklotov spun abruptly, his gaze searching the fields where Camus and Nanami had disappeared. He only saw whirls of dust and grasses, forbidding like a curtain to call a finale to the show. The show was about to end... and he knew it was a play of life.
To be Continued
by littlemaiko
Disclaimer: Gensou Suikoden 2 and all its elements are properties of KCE. Title is taken from "Kasou", property of L'arc~en~Ciel. Stealing is prohibited.
Note: Hisui is the name of Hero from Suikoden 2.
:: Chapter 5 ::
"Back to Kyaro?" Camus looked up from his work, narrowing the amber eyes at his best friend. "The lady is in no condition to travel. You are the one who said she is ill." He straightened in the chair, hands crossed on the desktop. "I know that, but Camus, she insists." The Blue Knight spoke a little unsurely himself. He had been with Nanami the entire afternoon, and he was sure that he had felt her stop breathing for a short while. However, he kept that from the other man at Nanami's plea. The girl had explained it as an after-effect of near-death experience she had; it was an excuse he found hard to believe, but he had promised her to convince Camus, so he would be true to his words. "If Lady Nanami wishes to be back at home to tend to herself, are we in any position to refuse a lady's request?"
Raising an elegant eyebrow, Camus regarded Miklotov with slight amusement. "Mik, it's rare that you bring up that kind of argument."
"Uh... well, Lady Nanami did say that she wanted to go somewhere with you and that it couldn't wait long." Unable to hide much from the older knight, Miklotov confessed grudgingly. "I don't know what. She did not tell me."
The Red Knight frowned slightly. "Our Lady is not the one to ask anything so... selfish." He looked at the stack of papers for him to go through just on this one day; the reconstruction of Matilda and the Knights was almost coming to an end, and there was much for him to check over. "I wager it is very important to her, then." With a small sigh, he rose from his seat.
"Will you go?" Miklotov lit up, already knowing his friend's answer.
"I shall, Miklotov. But you have to take over the tasks." Waving at the stack of files, Camus motioned for the dark-haired knight to sit in the chair he had been occupying since the morning. "...I feel that you are hiding something from me."
"The rest is not for me to tell you, Camus. Ask Lady Nanami." Miklotov picked up the feather pen with rare willingness, dropping his serious gaze to the papers before him.
"I will." With a nod, the warm-gold-haired man pulled on the usual purple cloak and left the office. Worry dawned upon him, casting shadow over the perfectly chiseled features. Contrary to the beautiful spring sunset outside, Camus' mood was somber like the dying scent of cherry blossom filling the Rockaxe palace.
**********
Nanami sat down on the rim of the bed, gasping lightly from the exertion of packing her small belongings. Darkness threatened to pull her into its grasp again, but she fought back with all her willpower. She couldn't succumb just yet.
//Not yet. I will decide how I depart...//
Expression somber like never before, the petite girl held her right hand to the chest, feeling constant flow of red liquid beneath her glove. She'd have to change the bandage soon. Ever since she'd awoken from the small session of death earlier today, her finger had been bleeding droplet by droplet. It was like a countdown to set her in her right place in the world.
//Not... yet...//
A soft knock at the door startled Nanami out of her thoughts. She hurried to open it, guessing correctly the visitor to be the knight in red. A sight of Camus brightened her expression, as sunlight would rouse a bud of early blossom.
"Hello, Camus."
"Good afternoon, Lady Nanami. Miklotov told me about your request. I acquiesce." Camus took the girl's right hand up and kissed it in the usual greeting. The aroma of spring flower was dim but present, making him assume that whatever cologne it was had been placed on the glove.
Turning a faint shade of pink, Nanami pulled away from the gallant touch. She was conscious of the mark upon her finger. "Thank you. ...I'm sorry to interrupt your work."
"Not a trouble at all, my lady. I know that you have your reasons." Camus eyed the neatly packed luggage, understanding instantly that the girl meant to depart as soon as possible. "Will tomorrow morning be all right for departure?"
"...Yes. Can we stop by at Camelot before going to Kyaro?"
"Of course."
Dark amber gaze studied Nanami closely, a calm look threatening to look past her smile into the hidden mind. She averted her eyes from Camus nervously. "I'll tell you everything when we get to Camelot, Camus. Please don't ask me anything until then."
Something was wrong about the chestnut-haired girl. She looked smaller than she already was. Camus almost frowned, but he managed a soft smile. "Understood. Rest well tonight, Lady Nanami." He touched one pale cheek, missing the healthy complexion. Upon a momentary thought, he leaned down and brushed his lips there. The smooth skin was cool.
"C-Camus?!" The clear mezzo-soprano pitched up a notch from the start.
The Red Knight drew away with much grace, appreciating the red that rose to Nanami's face. "It is a jinx for sweet dreams. Good night, my fair lady." He stepped out of the room with a bow, as if he'd done nothing out of ordinary.
After the door closed with a light click, Nanami touched her right cheek, still feeling burnt there. She felt very much alive then. It was Camus' enchantment, drawing her mind away even from the beckoning end. Perhaps, she would dream of a scene other than the withering cherry blossom tree under the moonlight.
**********
Leisurely breakfast, soothing morning tea, and rigidly courteous knights exchanging greetings to each other. Nanami took the usual morning scenes in with a new outlook, more than a little forlornly. When she got to the Rockaxe gate with Camus' escort, she saw Miklotov waiting for them. The Blue Knight showed her a serious smile tinted with obvious concern.
"Lady Nanami, I wish you a safe journey back."
"Thank you, Miklotov. ...I will miss you." Careful not to let too many sentiments into the words, Nanami approached the tall knight and gave him a tip-toed embrace around the neck. She was returned with an expected awkward hold.
"I will, too."
"Miklotov, consult Alces and others if trouble arises. They know the matters of city-building better than you do." Camus advised the younger knight captain without contempt, saddling his white steed for the trip.
"All right. Don't come back until you see Lady Nanami safely into her house."
The last comment caused a flicker of sadness pass Nanami's expression, but neither of the knights caught it. Miklotov saw the two off, standing at the gates until he couldn't see them anymore in the distant grassy horizon.
Intending to get to the work, the tall Blue Knight turned on his heels. A small gust of warm breeze crossed his path, carrying dead petals of the old cherry tree. A few pale pink pieces caught upon his uniform, which he patted off with his gloved hands. He looked at one petal that clung to the fabric of his glove, remembering Nanami's strange ailment. There was a small murmur in his head, his own voice, yet alien and too calm to be really him.
//I will never see her again.//
"...Lady Nanami?!"
Miklotov spun abruptly, his gaze searching the fields where Camus and Nanami had disappeared. He only saw whirls of dust and grasses, forbidding like a curtain to call a finale to the show. The show was about to end... and he knew it was a play of life.
To be Continued
