The old but very strong voice intruded into Sohryu's thoughts as the water dragon sat in his study, staring out the window, lost in a world that had ceased to exist five hundred years ago. A world where he had been with his wife and son, where Aya had been at his side.
Aya.
He smiled dimly.
A wind shikigami. A woman so spirited and strong, so gentle and caring, a woman who had been his equal who had been able to take on this powerful God as her husband, partner and friend. Yes, she had been his equal. She had been his everything, his treasure, his wonder and love.
And Keijin…
Sohryu looked at the smaller shikigami now watching him from under bushy eyebrows, the onyx eyes sharp and piercing.
"Do you remember the war?" Sohryu asked softly.
Genbu snorted. "Which one? I was there for all four of them."
The water shikigami nodded. He knew that. Genbu was, aside from him, one of the oldest Gods.
"I… talked to Touda lately."
Another snort. "Yes, yes, I figured as much. With Byakko taking him in, with them becoming lovers, it was inevitable. A miracle the place is still standing." The wooden walking stick clicked on the ground. "I hope you didn't try to separate them."
"What?" Sohryu looked down on the smaller shikigami.
Genbu huffed. "You weren't happy with their partnership. I know it."
"And you were?"
A smirk. "I can remember more explosive combinations."
"Touda is a sentenced criminal! He killed thousands of our kind! He is a dangerous individual and Byakko, a God, chose him as his partner," Sohryu growled. "I had reason to be displeased."
"No, actually you didn't. Byakko is not your child, nor is he in any of his private matters liable to you. His choices are his own."
"But Touda?"
Genbu smiled more. "I remember a couple that sparked up some ruckus. Aya…"
Sohryu sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Yes, yes… She wasn't a killer, though."
The Protector of the North leaned on his stick. "No, she was just a young woman who tamed the dragon, who turned GensouKai upside down, who was independent and fierce and gentle and kind, a shikigami born of low level parents who roused your interest, who was not of noble blood, who was seen as an affront to the higher shikigami back then."
Sohryu sighed deeply. He knew what an upset he had created with his choice as a companion, but there had been people to back him up, among them Touda. It had been true love, his only love, and they had had a single child. His pride and joy.
Keijin.
Who had fallen in love with Touda.
It all came back to Touda.
"Do you know how he lives?" Sohryu asked quietly.
Genbu stroked his beard. "Yes. Yes, I do."
"I didn't."
"It's not your job to know petty details."
Sohryu ignored the little jab. "I never asked him why he lost it, Genbu."
"We never did, Sohryu. There were four of us at the time of the trial. Three Gods and a representative for the dead wind God. All of us never asked. We simply sentenced him."
"It's no excuse. It was a trial. I never asked why, I never gave him a chance to defend himself. I threw him into prison and forgot about him."
"Now those memories are coming back, eh?"
"Yes. All of them. And I know the reason now." Sohryu sighed and rubbed his temples. He felt a headache coming.
"Does it change the past?"
Did it? Yes, in a way. It didn't bring back Keijin, but it finally brought peace.
"Knowing why helps, Genbu. It puts demons to rest."
The walking stick clicked again. "Then what troubles you?"
"The injustice. I can't make up for five hundred years. No one can."
Old eyes met his gaze. "Touda killed people. He is a pardoned criminal, Sohryu. No one can change that either because it's a fact."
He nodded, quite aware of that. Touda had killed. Aya… He had killed his wife, as well as Byakko's father and so many more. But now he knew why. It hadn't been an act of cold-blooded murder. It had been… something else.
"Whatever you want to do now, Sohryu," Genbu could be heard, "always keep in mind that the decision you make now will always influence the future. Touda is Byakko's partner now, they share more than just a bed." At Sohryu's look the old shikigami chuckled. "I have eyes, dragon. I can see the happiness in Byakko, the acceptance of what Touda was, what he is, and I can see the affection. Touda is who he is, but he was accepted without conditions by two people who have and still do change him. The first was Tsuzuki, who set him free and gave him a chance to live again. The second was Byakko, who shows him what to do with this life; he shows him there is more to it than simply existing."
"You think I should be the third?" Sohryu asked neutrally.
"That is up to you. You are the ruler of GensouKai."
"And with it responsible for this realm."
"Yes."
It meant he had to weigh the good against the bad, see the dangers… and Touda was a danger to everyone should he ever be freed.
Sohryu rubbed his head again.
"Well, I've to be off," Genbu said all of a sudden. "Things to do, you know."
He waved his walking stick and Sohryu watched him go, smiling faintly. He turned his gaze back to the scenery outside.
His decision to make.
His alone.
#########################
Rikugo tensed as the tall, proud form of Sohryu entered his study. The astrologer had been reading up on a few topics and hadn't expected any visitors. Least of all Sohryu. The dragon gazed at him, the blue-gray eyes troubled, the face smooth and neutral.
"Sohryu," Rikugo greeted him, bowing his head without lowering his eyes. "What gives me the honor of your visit?"
Sohryu smiled slightly. "Let's not pretend, Rikugo."
He smirked a little. "Have we ever?"
It was an open secret that the two shikigami didn't really like each other. Rikugo respected Sohryu as a God and more powerful shikigami, but he also criticized his style, his politics, whatever the Protector of the East did when acting as their leader.
Sohryu chuckled humorlessly, then his expression grew serious.
"I'm calling in a hearing," he said without preamble.
Rikugo frowned. "A hearing? A council?"
"Yes. I'm asking you to take the place of one of the council members."
Rikugo's eyes widened. "What? Who?"
"You'll be replacing Byakko."
The astrologer stared at the other shikigami, confused. "Byakko is a member of the council and replacing him means…" He stopped. "What's this hearing about, Sohryu?"
"Touda."
Onyx eyes bore into blue ones. "Are you accusing him of something again?"
"No. I'm asking you to take Byakko's place. Do you accept?"
"Why?"
"Because I cannot take Byakko onto a council that deals with his lover."
Rikugo was thunderstruck by the open words. Everyone knew that Touda was Byakko's lover and while Rikugo couldn't say he would have made the choice, he also didn't openly discuss or even criticize the young wind God's choice. It was Byakko's life and he was an adult. He knew about Touda just like all the others, and if he had chosen him as a lover, so be it. Rikugo had made his own strange choices in bed partners in the past.
"Will you accept?" Sohryu asked again.
"I want to know the reason you call this hearing, Sohryu."
"I'm reevaluating the pardon, as well as the sentence."
The blond stared at him. "What? You can't!"
The dragon's face closed up. "I can. Evidence will be discussed among the council. Do you accept your place?"
Rikugo inhaled sharply, then nodded. "I do."
"Good." Sohryu turned sharply. "You will receive a notice when we convene. Do not talk to anyone about this."
Rikugo scowled. "I'm not a novice, Sohryu."
"I know."
And then he was gone, leaving a stunned Rikugo behind.
A council was convening, a hearing was called… about Touda. Rikugo knew this would have effects, incredible effects. A pebble thrown into a pond, but it was creating waves.
The astrologer walked over to the large pattern laid into the floor. He settled into the middle, legs folded underneath him, and inhaled deeply. He relaxed slowly, falling into a meditative stance, then let his spirit flow along the energy lines of the universe. As always, it calmed him, the streams touching his consciousness, his very soul, caressing it with the familiar hum of power.
Rikugo opened his mind's eye.
#########################
Byakko had just finished his official business hours when one of his servants announced the presence of the Palace Guards, the elite unit directly under Sohryu's command. He rose from his desk as the commander entered, kneeling and bowing his head.
"I apologize for any inconvenience, my lord," the shikigami said.
"What's the meaning of this, captain?" Byakko asked.
The man rose and met his gaze head-on. "By the order of Lord Sohryu we are looking for the fire serpent Touda," the officer said.
Touda? Sohryu had sent the Guard for Touda? Byakko felt his blood pressure rise.
"What are the accusations this time? He hasn't done anything!"
"I apologize, but I am not privy to that information. Our only order is to escort him to the palace for a hearing. Your presence is required there as well, Lord Byakko." The officer bowed slightly. "If you now would be so kind as to tell us the whereabouts of fire serpent Touda, please?"
Before Byakko could answer Touda appeared behind him.
"I am here. Let's go."
"Touda…"
Touda raised one hand, slightly cupping his lover's face. "Byakko, shush. If Sohryu sees fit to arrest me again, it is his right. Everything will be all right. Meet me there." The hand fell away and the black-clad shikigami turned to the Guards.
The captain shot him a slightly uneasy look, but Touda made no aggressive
moves, just stepped past him and led the way out of the palace.
Byakko watched with stinging eyes as the guards escorted Touda away.
Then he whirled around and stalked past his startled servants, his coat
swirling about him.