Breaking Bonds
A Boshi twins fic for the August
fyfanfiction ml challenge
Part 4
Shunkaku walked through the palace halls, silently fuming. The captain had given him a scathing lecture in front of the whole platoon during inspection that morning. His fingers had itched, longing to whip out his ryuuseisui and give the man a piece of his mind. He was so immersed in mentally flaying his pug-nosed superior as he walked that he missed his destination and was already two corridors away when he realized it.
The guard who was stationed at the door and saw him pass by earlier, had a mocking grin when he returned. "What's the matter, kid?" the guard sneered. "A little lost?"
"Shut up! Mind your own fuckin' business!" Shunkaku snapped as he took the place the guard vacated.
The older guard rapped him on the head. "Foul-mouthed brat! Oi, make sure you keep your post. He's a Suzaku sei, after all."
"I know that!" Shunkaku growled, glaring at the man as he massaged his scalp. The guard just smirked and walked away.
Grumbling, Shunkaku leaned back against the wall. Through the corner of his eye, he watched as the guard took a turn at the end of the corner and disappear from view. Only then did he stand up straight and faced the door of the room.
A Suzaku seishi. Shunkaku gave a small snort. Surely they've been deceived. No one could be _that_ stupid. Surrendering himself to Kutou! What a fool!
He moved a hand to open the door but then stopped.
Why would I care anyway? It's not like I'm…
Shunkaku frowned.
Suzaku's sei.
The thought gnawed at him. It was something he cannot push at the back of his mind. He moved a step away but something held him back.
But what am I doing? What good would this do? Dammit! The things I get myself into…
Giving a frustrated sigh, he placed his hand against the door's wooden surface, ready to slide it back.
Just one look.
"What are you doing?"
Shunkaku jumped.
"Maiden!" he exclaimed scrambling down into a low bow while the Maiden's eyes widened in recognition.
"It's you! The boy from last night! Why are you…" she broke off what she was about to say and stared hard at him. "Oh…I see. You were caught, weren't you?"
Shunkaku felt the tips of his ears grow hot. He didn't answer. Only lifted his head a little, looking at her through the curtain of bangs that fell in his eyes.
She had a somewhat amused look on her face and her lips were slightly twisted as if holding back a smile.
"We always seem to meet in such unlikely circumstances." She observed, giving him a thorough look-over.
"It seems so, miko-sama," Shunkaku answered gruffly, uncomfortable under the scrutiny of those icy blue eyes. An awkward silence descended upon them.
Shunkaku shuffled his feet while the miko cleared her throat and said, "Could you please open the door?"
It was only then that he realized that she was holding a covered tray with both hands. And it looked heavy.
"I'll take that, miko-sama!" he said, horrified that he had failed to notice, and quickly held out his hands.
The Maiden shook her head. "No, it's alright. I'll bring this in myself."
Shunkaku blinked.
The Maiden was bringing the captive food like some servant-girl?
"Please, could you open the door? This is a bit heavy."
Shunkaku immediately pulled the door open. "Of course, miko-sama...gomenasai..."
As his eyes followed her in, all the while cursing himself silently. But as he was about to pull the door close, he couldn't resist taking a look inside.
The occupant of the room, who had been sitting on the bed, quickly stood up when the miko entered the room.
"Yui!"
"Ohayou. I brought you your breakfast, Tamahome," he heard the Maiden answer as she set down the tray on a nearby table.
Shunkaku's eyes narrowed as he studied the teal-haired seishi, taking in the other youth's tall, lean frame.
"Arigatou. You shouldn't have bothered," the seishi said as he approached the miko. "Listen, Yui. About going back to Konan--" he stopped abruptly as he caught sight of Shunkaku.
Realizing that he had been spotted, Shunkaku quickly ducked back, hastily shut the door and retreated to his spot by the wall.
That was close, he thought as he leaned against the wall. His heart was pounding heart against his chest. He raised a hand to his forehead. He felt strange. He couldn't shake the vague feeling of recognition that tugged at the back of his head.
Dammit. There it is again…
He shook his head.
Touka's right. I can't stay here for long. When aniki comes back, I'll have to tell him.
