Chapter 6: Destruction
Mikoto never really had any favorites. He liked almost all food about the same. He didn't mind drinking anything as long as it quenched his thirst. He did not have a preference for what he smoked as long as he could relax. He wasn't one for reading, so he didn't have any particular like or dislike for books like Izumo and Totsuka did. But, if he were to be asked whether or not he had a favorite color, he'd say he liked two colors above all the rest. The first was the radiant violet color of Reisi's eyes when he cried or when the sun reflected off of them just so. The second color was the crimson red that symbolized the pride of the Red Fox tribe. However, the usual swell of delight he felt when he saw that dark red was now a foreign feeling. As he stared at the pool of excess blood surrounding his friend, he doubted he could ever look upon that color fondly ever again.
Once the shock began to fade, the inevitable rage set in. Mikoto stomped over to where Eric was still cradling Totsuka's lifeless body, his aura starting to leak out as he approached the boy and his friend's corps. "What happened?" He asked coldly as he stared down at Eric.
The young fox was too horror-stricken to articulate an appropriate answer right away and Mikoto was too impatient to give the boy enough time to compose himself. The Red Fox King crouched down beside the sniffling blond and grabbed a fistful of Eric's outer robe. "I asked, what happened?" he growled, baring his canines at the boy.
The frightened young fox only became even more choked-up, this time by fear rather than sorrow, as he stared into Mikoto's enraged golden eyes. Before Mikoto could frighten Eric any further, Izumo placed a firm hand on the king's shoulder.
"Stop scaring him Mikoto. You're not helping him calm down enough to tell us what happened." Izumo said sternly, his voice even and unwavering, his tight grip being the only give-away to his own inner turmoil.
Mikoto reigned in his raging aura as Izumo's tight grip grounded him. Without anger fueling him, he became numb. He released Eric's robe slowly as if he hadn't realized he had grabbed it at all, and stared blankly at the floor boards under his feet.
Once Mikoto calmed down, Izumo released his grasp on the king's shoulder and let out a deep sigh as he ran slightly shaking fingers through his hair. Some of his light blond locks were awkwardly skewed behind his ears but he did not seem to notice or care. He looked around at the small room as if he had never seen it before. The packed book shelf, the cozy seating area, and the small desk and chair were just as they were the day before and the day before that, but the brightness and life that once made him feel at ease in the small space were completely gone. His friend was gone. As he stared at Totsuka he willed himself not to cry; it was neither the time nor place. When he was sure his voice would not crack, he spoke. "Eric, we need to move the body and get it prepared for a proper funeral, while we're doing that you should take the time to clean up and calm down. I need you to tell us everything that happened, alright?" Izumo ordered as he tore his gaze from Totsuka's pale face and looked up at Eric. The sniffling fox gave a subdued nod and gently placed Totsuka's body on the ground a few feet away from the gruesome puddle of blood. He stood on shaky legs and left to wash the blood off his skin and change out of his bloodied robes.
Once Eric left, Izumo turned to the guards that were still standing by the doorway, "Get someone to clean this up, I don't care who you have to wake up, just make it quick and make sure to get Ayumi. We're going to need funeral attire." The guards nodded bitterly and were on their way. Izumo made his way over to the sitting area in the middle of the room and sat down. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back as he fought back tears and anger, trying to maintain a clear head. Mikoto stood and moved to lean on the wall closest to the open door. They both wore sober expressions that only served to mask the confusion in their hearts. Neither could afford to break.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Not long afterwards, Eric returned. He was now clean and composed enough to relate his story to Mikoto and Izumo. Totsuka's body had already been moved and the pool of blood had been cleaned. Eric looked around listlessly for a moment before he decided to join Izumo in the small sitting area.
"Are you ready to tell us what happened, Eric?" Izumo asked, his voice giving away little to no emotion.
Eric did not look up at the other blond fox but nodded his head in affirmation. He took a long and deep calming breath and began to tell his tale.
"I went to Totsuka-san's house to ask him a question about something I had read in an old medical book. When I got here I knocked, but no one answered. I thought it was strange so I went to turn the doorknob and found that it was open. When I-"Eric paused briefly as he wrenched back a sob that threatened to break his fragile composure. He took another steadying breath and continued, "When I pushed the door open I saw Totsuka-san being impaled by the blade of a Blue Fox. When the Blue saw me, he turned and fled and Totsuka collapsed. I rushed over to try and heal him but he was already-"another whimpering sob, "he was already gone…" as the young blond fox finally finished his story, he completely broke down once again. The guilt and utter agony he felt could be expressed no other way. He couldn't possibly tell them the truth, but the lie made him feel ever worse.
Mikoto and Izumo were silent for a long while, letting the situation sink in as the facts were now clear to them. For a while the only sounds that were heard in the room were Eric's sobs and sniffling. Eventually, Izumo let out a heavy sigh and stood from his seat.
"Thank you for telling us Eric, I know it must have been heard for you. You may go now." Izumo told the younger fox. Although his words were soft and kind, his expression only reflected the emptiness and devastation he was feeling inside. Eric could not take Izumo's sad attempt at comfort. He stood up quickly and fled the room, unable to handle any more of his own guilt.
Once Eric had slammed the door shut, Mikoto finally moved from his position nearby. The anger he had been containing started to seep out in the form of his fiery aura.
"I'm going to kill the Blue that did this." He said venomously.
Izumo did not look surprised by the sudden rage and violence that emanated from his old friend – simply sad. "You know that's not what Totsuka would have wanted. I want to eradicate whoever did this just as much as you do. But rushing into Blue territory like you want to do right now, will endanger more than the killer, if could start a war." Izumo said seriously.
Although the blond fox was terribly upset by his friend's death, he knew there was still an entire tribe that needed his and Mikoto's protection. No matter how strongly they both felt, they could not risk doing anything rash. Izumo clenched his fist in frustration and once again fought back a flood of tears. So much anger and so much confusion whirled around in his mind. Why Totsuka? Why now? Just, why? He didn't understand and that upset him even more. It was difficult, but the rational part of his mind was still winning even if these questions kept circulating in his thoughts. He would find the answer, but he had to be calm.
Mikoto saw Izumo's clenched fists and resigned expression, and his rage subsided, if only a bit. He knew he had to calm down, but he just didn't know how. Not now.
"I'm leaving. Take care of things for now." Mikoto ordered as he threw the door open so harshly the wooden object was almost torn in two.
"Where are you going?" Izumo asked sternly.
"Somewhere to calm down. Don't worry." Mikoto replied without looking back.
"Be back before morning, we need to figure out what to tell the tribe." Izumo said, trying to sound firm but only managing to sound sad.
Mikoto did not answer as he stomped off into the forest. He was not intentionally ignoring Izumo, but he felt if he stayed around any longer, if he thought about what had happened any longer, he would really lose control. There was only one place he had in mind as he hurried through the darkened woods. The only place he felt could bring him any peace – the meadow.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
It was quiet in the royal mansion that evening, as it was on most evenings. Reisi sat alone in his study absorbed in the new puzzle he had recently started. The Blue fox was just about to put another piece into its proper place when the doors to his study were thrown open.
Reisi had heard the frantic steps from outside but he was not expecting the heavy steps to come from Seiri, and he was certainly not expecting the calm and respectful captain to burst through the doors of his study so abruptly. After the initial surprise, Reisi stood at attention quickly, knowing that something serious must have happened. His ears were perked and ready to listen closely to whatever Seiri said next.
"Your highness, sorry to disturb you so late at night but we just received urgent news about the Red fox tribe. Their healer, Totsuka, has just been killed." She said quickly.
Reisi's eyes grew wide. Of all the news he had been expecting, this was most certainly not something he saw coming. However, he was quick to recover and start walking towards the door. He needed to re-dress and grab his sword. There was no way he would be staying in the mansion tonight. "Do we know who the culprit is?" Reisi asked as he moved past Seiri and into the hall, heading towards his room.
She swiftly followed and fell into step with him, wasting no time in answering his question. "Unfortunately, all we know is that whoever perpetrated the crime left behind the weapon he used."
"And what was the weapon?" He followed-up quickly.
Seiri hesitated for a second, but then answered calmly, "An ice-blade, your highness."
Reisi resisted the urge to stop dead in his tracks. This was too convenient. Both tribes were skirting around the possibility of war and now an ice-blade was used to kill a Red fox, and not just any Red fox. Their beloved healer, Totsuka, was known even to the Blues. To top it off, the weapon had been left behind as if to antagonize the Reds; a boastful symbol, proudly displaying who had committed the crime. Reisi was instantly suspicious. He knew all this had to be intentional. Above all the rational deductions he was making, there was one aspect of the case that stood out most. Something that justified Reisi's suspicions more than any of his other assumptions – No Blue fox would ever leave his blade behind unless he was dead. If any tradition had survived in the Blue fox tribe since its conception, it was the honor one had for his blade.
"Have we started investigating this further?" Reisi asked, his strides becoming wider as he became more desperate to leave the mansion.
"I sent out two more men to investigate after we received the initial report, but we haven't received any further information." Seiri answered smoothly.
"I see. Have you sent anyone to investigate the council's activities?" The king asked, rounding the corner at the end of the hall.
"I didn't think that necessary just yet, your highness." The captain answered, a little astonished at the rapid leap in their conversation.
"Put Fushimi in charge of a small team to lead the investigation of both the council and any other members of the Blue or Red fox tribe with pro-war sentiments. Order the rest of the guard to be vigilant of any further attempts to provoke some sort of conflict. This was a set-up, a catalyst for war. I will not tolerate such selfish actions. The killer must be found, Captain." Reisi ordered as he opened the door to his room to retrieve his sword and his outer robes.
"Understood, your highness. What will you be doing as I mobilize the teams? Would you like me to send some of the guards to assist you?" She asked as she stood outside his bedroom door.
"No, that's quite alright Captain. I have somewhere I need to be right now, please take care of things while I'm gone. I should not be long." Reisi replied as he finished retying his robes and sheathing his sword.
Seiri gave him a worried frown, "Your highness, you do not intend to meet the Red Fox King alone, do you?" She asked, already knowing the answer to her question.
Reisi fastened one last time around his hip to secure his sword before turning back to Seiri.
He smiled apologetically at her, "If I said I was, would you try to stop me, Seiri?" He asked softly. She was about to retort but Reisi continued before she could, "You may not approve of my actions, but this meeting will be beneficial for both sides, trust me. Right now, he must be very distraught, and before he does anything rash I must speak with him. Please understand. This is my duty as both the Blue Fox King and as his friend." Reisi spoke gently, but firmly. He did not want to betray the trust Seiri had put in him as her King, but he also could not ignore Mikoto. He was sure that his decision to go speak to Mikoto in the middle of this potential crisis was the best solution and he knew Seiri would understand. She always did.
"I have to go," He said as he took a step past her.
"Be safe, your highness." She said in return, worry evident in her voice and in her pale blue eyes.
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon." He offered in an attempt to comfort her, and then he was on his way.
He rushed out of the back door of the mansion and headed for the forest. He knew that right now Mikoto was most likely a raging mess. The Red fox was probably desperate to calm down and Reisi knew he had to help him before the other fox found a dangerous outlet for all his rage.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Mikoto's aura was overflowing and burning a small circle into the ground surrounding him. He tried to stay as still as he could so as not to destroy too much of the meadow and the small white snowdrops within it, but he would be lying if he said it wasn't difficult. As he sat with his arms wrapped around his legs and his forehead pressed to his knees, his rage would not subside and no matter how many times he tried to relax his aura would not calm. Being in the meadow helped him keep control of his anger, but only just enough to stay sane. His flames had grown so strong that his blood was boiling and he was hot to the touch. Even the snow that was currently falling on the meadow would melt and then evaporate as soon as it came into contact with any part of him.
"Reisi," Mikoto whispered as he closed his eyes and once again tried to make sense of the situation. He yearned for Reisi's cool touch to calm him down, but he was just so angry he couldn't concentrate on anything for very long. All he knew was that he wanted the killer to pay. He wanted to personally watch the life leave the eyes of the monster who killed his best friend, and that left very little room for any rational thoughts.
As Mikoto ruminated over the various ways he would kill whoever was responsible, he heard footsteps approaching the meadow. His ears perked to attention and he quickly lifted his head from his knees, but he did not stand. Even through his angry haze he could make out Reisi's scent and was familiar with the sound and weight of his footsteps. He did not budge from his huddled position on the ground and when he finally saw Reisi make it into the small clearing he was disappointed that his heart did not become lighter. Instead, seeing the blue fur and the traditional Blue fox tribe garments only made him seethe even more.
"Don't come any closer." Mikoto warned, as he noticed Reisi approaching him with haste.
The almost-growl halted Reisi's advance. He wanted to comfort Mikoto, but he knew he would be unable to get anywhere if his presence aggravated the Red fox King even more. He decided talking would be best for now, a method he seldom thought affective with the other king but one he hoped would work today.
"I'm sorry for what happened," Reisi began, with obvious sincerity laced into his words. The blue fox was hopeful that even through the burning haze, Mikoto would realize his words were genuine.
Mikoto tensed, unsure if the other's sentiments helped calm him or fueled his hatred, as it solidified the horrible situation.
After a moment, Reisi took a step forward and was about to speak again when Mikoto finally decided to answer. He let out a bitter laugh that sounded more like air straining to leave his lungs than a proper laugh and said, "Sorry's won't bring him back."
Reisi frowned deeply at the statement, but did not hesitate to reply.
"And neither will killing who did it," He said straightforwardly, fixing his bright violet eyes on Mikoto's grim face even though the other was clearly avoiding his gaze.
"You sound just like Izumo, are you gonna preach at me too? Tell me I should be a good little king and let it go?" Mikoto snarled, still looking off to the side and away from his lover. He was afraid of what he would do if he met the intensity of those violet eyes, or saw the blue fur that belonged to, not only his lover, but the man who killed Totsuka.
"I never said you had to let it go, but Mikoto, you must know that if you recklessly kill a blue fox it could start a war. A war that even I as the Blue fox King, will be helpless to stop. I know you're hurting, and I'm sure that your entire tribe is as well, but from what I know of your healer he was far too kind to ever want something like war for the tribe he loved." Reisi said softly. Rationalizing with Mikoto as gently as he possibly could, he hoped that his words would sooth his lover's rage.
A moment of silence passed between them, the tension almost palpable enough to see. Reisi tried again, "Mikoto-"but was cut off.
"I loved him," Mikoto declared, still refusing to meet Reisi's gaze. For making such a grand declaration, Mikoto's expression stayed dark, his eyes only giving away the anger that was boiling inside him.
Reisi's blood, on the other hand, ran cold at the abrupt confession. He had had his suspicions while they were separated, but he still couldn't believe it. He ran the words through his mind over and over again to make sure he had heard correctly, and even then, he didn't know how to respond. Should he be angry? Sad? Indifferent? He knew that if he lashed out he would anger Mikoto further and end up catalyzing the very war he wanted to prevent just because his feelings had been hurt. As the Blue fox King, he could not allow his personal feelings to blind him, he had to stay calm. But how could he stay calm when the man he loves just admitted to loving someone else?
"Not the way I love you," Mikoto amended, "but I loved him: as a friend, as a tribesman, as a brother and once maybe even as a lover. How can I not want to disembowel whatever scum decided to take his life, to take him away from us? If you're asking me to calm down Reisi, you're asking in vain. I will have the head of whoever did this, war or otherwise," as he ended his proclamation, he finally stood from his position on the ground, the ring of dead flora surrounding him growing slightly as he moved.
After Mikoto spoke, Reisi was able to regain his bearings. He tried again, determined not to lose sight of why he had come to meet the other king. He took a firm step forward and spoke, "Mikoto, think rationally. Whoever did this is obviously trying to provoke a war. Don't let them manipulate you like this!"
"It doesn't matter. With Totsuka gone, these flames won't be calmed so easily. They will not be extinguished until I've had my revenge!" The Red foxes' aura grew stronger and his flames hotter as he spoke. He didn't even seem to care that Reisi was once again inching towards him.
"But didn't you say that he wasn't the only one anymore?" Reisi retorted, unwillingly letting some of the emotions he had been holding in shake his usually steady voice.
At this, Mikoto stopped; he remembered the cool touch or Reisi's hand upon his fiery skin. And he hesitated, his flames dwindling, but only by a fraction.
The blue fox was on the verge of pleading, but he kept his voice as soft and even as possible. "Didn't you say that I could also calm them?" He said as he took another step towards the red fox.
Mikoto flinched. He knew Reisi was right.
"Then let me." Another step forward.
"I told you to stay back, Reisi!" Mikoto growled, baring his fangs at Reisi, but still not looking him in the eyes.
Reisi did not hesitate at the threat this time and simply kept moving forward. He spoke again, gently, "Mikoto, please, look at me."
"No!" He angrily turned his head to the side and let his aura consume more of the flowers surrounding his feet.
Reisi was now close enough to feel the heat radiating from Mikoto's aura. The closer he stepped, the hotter it became.
"Mikoto," Reisi called out again, and still Mikoto stubbornly avoided looking at him.
Mikoto was fuming now. He refused to listen, and he refused to look at anywhere but the patch of flowers still left on his right side. Soon, he would burn everything, he knew.
Although Reisi wasn't happy with being ignored, he took advantage of Mikoto's distraction. When he was but a step away from the irate red fox, he coated himself in his own blue aura in order to reach out his hand and touch Mikoto through the dense fire surrounding him.
Mikoto caught sight of the glowing blue aura out of the corner of his eye, but before he could retaliate and deal Reisi a blow for interfering, ice cold fingers were placed upon his burning cheek.
"It's alright," Reisi soothed as he flattened his palm against Mikoto's scorching skin. He immediately noticed a change in the strength of Mikoto's flames. They were diminishing. Reisi wanted to sigh in relief. He didn't know if he could really calm Mikoto down, but he was glad things were finally improving.
"Look at me, Mikoto." The blue fox repeated after allowing Mikoto's flames to subside a bit more. He kept a firm hand to Mikoto's cheek and gently urged the other fox to look in his direction.
Some time passed, neither knew how long. It was a battle of wills made delicate by the fragile emotions of both parties. One would silently urge, the other resist, until finally, Mikoto gave in and turned his suffering gaze towards Reisi. He fully leaned into the cooling comfort of Reisi's palm as liquid amber at last met brilliant violet.
Reisi smiled, small and soft. A smile that conveyed both warmth and remorse, and above all, understanding. And Mikoto broke. He never thought someone would look at him so gently again. His grief deluding him into thinking he was once again on his own. But, as he stared into those soft violet eyes he remembered something that was more important than his rage. The person who understood him most in the world was still with him. Mikoto placed his still burning hand over the cold hand Reisi had placed on his cheek and closed his eyes. He wrapped his other blisteringly warm digit around Reisi's waist and held his cool body close.
Reisi let Mikoto embrace him and also closed his eyes as he leaned his forehead against Mikoto's feverishly hot one. He placed his other had on the red fox's neck, mimicking Mikoto's need for proximity. Both their aura's crashed with one another, but unlike when they fought, it was as if Reisi's aura was trying to gently subdue the flames rather than challenge them.
It was in moments like these that Reisi knew they were good for one another. With Mikoto's hot hands holding him so closely and so desperately, and his own arms clinging to the other fox just as urgently. He could calm Mikoto's tumultuous red aura and in return Mikoto could warm him. Not just physically, but emotionally. They balanced one another. They brought each other peace.
But peace in their world was just as fleeting as it was in the real world.
As they were holding one another and Reisi was finally starting to believe he had made significant progress in his attempt to calm the other's flames, a rustling sound was heard from one of the nearby bushes.
Mikoto stiffened under Reisi's hands and Reisi pulled his forehead away from Mikoto's to turn his head in the direction of the sound.
When Reisi caught sight of a set of blue ears, it was too late.
"What are they doing here?" Mikoto almost spat, as he started to pull away from Reisi's embrace.
Instead of answering the question, Reisi tried to keep Mikoto in his hold and said, "Mikoto, calm down."
But his soft voice and his gentle touch did not work on the red fox this time.
"Did you ask them to come here? Did you think you would need help subduing me if I became too violent?" Mikoto asked, his rage starting to overpower him again as his aura began to flow out of him.
"You know I would never do such a thing, especially if it concerned a private matter. They must have come because they were worried. I came here to talk to you, alone, Mikoto, you know that." Reisi tried to reason, this time sounding desperate. No matter how much trust he had in his men, this was not a situation in which he wished for them to be involved.
"Do I, Reisi?" He asked heatedly, as he glared at the Blue fox King. "I thought I knew a lot of things before today. I thought a blue fox would never sneak into my village at night and kill my best friend. And I thought you knew better than to let yourself be followed here. But, it looks like I was wrong on both accounts."
Reisi was briefly stunned into silence, his ears even falling flat against the top of his head. How could Mikoto address him so harshly? When he finally spoke, it took all his self-control not to sound frantic. "Mikoto I was trying to get to you as quickly as possible, and when I left the mansion, everyone was too busy following my orders to watch me leave. I would have never expected that they would-"
"Shut up. You should have kept your tribe under control," Mikoto snarled, ripping his arm violently out of Reisi's hold. "If you had been more watchful you might have been able to stop Totsuka's killer!" Mikoto yelled, anger and pain apparent in every word.
Reisi knew Mikoto didn't mean it. That he was just hurt and confused and looking for someone to blame, but it still hurt. The hand that had been gripping Mikoto's arm was now growing cold. And Mikoto's warmth seemed so far out of his reach.
He tried speaking softly again, "Mikoto-" but was silenced by the Red fox King in an instant.
"Shut up!" The raging fox bellowed again.
Reisi had lost his patience and his composure. Against his better judgment, he raised his voice and pleaded, "Mikoto you're being unreasonable, please listen to me!"
"No! No more listening. All you blue foxes are the same! You're just as bad as the blue who killed Totsuka!" Mikoto was seething now. All hope for control was lost the moment he finished his sentence.
He didn't hear Reisi yell, "Please stop!"
He didn't see Reisi's guard spring out of the bushes.
He didn't even notice that he was destroying the place that brought him peace.
Mikoto's red aura exploded outward from his body. His strong fire magic burned everything it came into contact with. Every tree, every stone, and every small snowdrop in the meadow.
Reisi was quick to shield both him and the guards that had come out from the bushes in his defense. He set up a thick barrier with his ice magic and watched as the meadow he had become so fond of, quickly turned to ash.
Thankfully Mikoto's outburst did not last too long, Reisi was beginning to worry about how long he could keep the barrier around all his subordinates.
Mikoto was heaving loud, shallow breaths after his explosive exertion, the outburst clearly draining much of his energy and revealing how fatigued repressing his powers had made him.
Reisi took down the barrier when he confirmed it was safe and tried not to look at the desolated field around him. Instead he kept his gaze fixed on Mikoto's exhausted and strained expression, which wasn't much better.
To everyone's surprise, neither King was the one to speak first after the blast.
Seiri defiantly took a step in front of Reisi, her ice blade drawn and ready, and said, "Red fox King Mikoto, the moment you endangered the life of our precious King Reisi, I could no longer condone your relationship with him. If you are a danger to him, I will not allow you to get close to him again."
Mikoto scoffed. Exhausted as he was, he knew the woman was being far too arrogant if she thought she could possibly fight him. On top of that, she was giving him an order? Mikoto's blood began to boil again, his power resurging.
"Step aside, Seiri." Reisi said, recognizing Mikoto's change in demeanor. The red fox could blow again at any second.
The Captain hesitantly lowered her sword and stepped to Reisi's right side. She knew she could do little to stop Mikoto if he were serious, but as captain of the king's guard she could not stand by silently as the Red fox King threatened her king's life.
Mikoto kept his eyes on Seiri, still angered by her words.
With ears pushed back against his bright red hair and teeth exposed in a threatening warning, he spoke, "You don't have to worry cold hearted Captain. The relationship you were talking about no longer exists. The next time you see me, point that sword with conviction because it'll be on the battlefield," he nearly growled the last part before he turned to walk away. He was done talking with the blues, they only fueled his anger. There was nothing left for him in that clearing any longer, no more flowers and no more Reisi.
Reisi struggled between running after him and staying with his guard. He realized the latter was the better option, but it did not stop his ears from drooping or his fists from tightening. It was over. Mikoto said their relationship no longer existed, and what was worse, he said they'd meet again on the battlefield. War was the primary thing he had wanted to prevent, but now it almost seemed inevitable. Reisi hoped Izumo would talk some sense into Mikoto, but he knew he was asking for too much. Totsuka was the one that calmed the storms, not Izumo, and not even him…
"Your majesty?" Seiri inquired after Reisi had been staring in the direction of Mikoto's retreating back for quite a while after the red fox had already disappeared.
Reisi did not tear his gaze from the dark forest as he answered her. "Take the guard back to the mansion, continue to put all our efforts into the investigation of Totsuka's murder. I'll return shortly," he ordered in a cold, detached voice.
"But, your majesty we can't just leave you unguarded!" Seiri protested, her light blue ears standing straight in alarm.
"You've all done enough, Captain. Leave me be for at least a few moments." His order was stern and Seiri knew there was nothing more she could say. She heaved a rather long sigh and began to lead the guards back to the mansion.
"Quickly now, we have a great deal of work to do when we get back to the mansion. There's no time to spare," She commanded.
"Yes, Captain!" They all replied.
Reisi waited until he could no longer hear his guards' feet pattering on the forest floor before letting his ears droop down in sorrow. He finally allowed himself to look around the decimated meadow where all his happiness used to lie. He knew that looking at the field would have made him far too emotional in front of Seiri and his men. He could not show them how devastated he truly was by Mikoto's words and the tattered flower field. Right now they needed a strong, resolute leader so he would only allow himself these few moments alone to grieve. He had been so sure he could help Mikoto, had been so elated to hear that he had the same calming powers as the red foxes' healer. But he was wrong, they both had been wrong. Looking around the desolate clearing it was no longer appropriate to call it a field, let alone a meadow. Everything had been burned away. All that remained were ashes and dirt that were being softly blanketed in snow. Soon everything would be white, soon there would be nothing to distinguish this clearing from any other. He allowed his face to fall, his ears to drop and his tail to sag pitifully, but he would not allow a single tear to be shed. Though his eyes watered, though his heart ached, he breathed in steady, albeit shallow, breaths and refused to cry. Mikoto had his heart, but he would not have his tears.
Reisi tightly closed his eyes and tilted his face up to the sky. The snow fell on his pale face, but did not melt. He felt cold, and hollow and wished nothing more than for the snow to numb the pain. He had been truly happy, if only for a moment. But now it was all gone, like Mikoto and the beautiful snowdrops that once covered his beloved meadow. He took a few more steady breathes and prepared to leave. He opened his eyes, took a long look at the dark gray sky, and let a few more snowflakes land on his face and hair before turning away from the clearing. Just as he was about to leave, he saw something poking out of the ashes and piling snow. Reisi moved closer to the small white and green plant to confirm he hadn't been imagining things. There, in the ashes of the destroyed meadow was a small patch of surviving snowdrops. This small miracle warmed Reisi's hardening heart and eased some of his sorrows. There was hope in all this destruction, there was life amongst all this death. Seeing this small bundle of unharmed flowers brought light back into Reisi's dim, violet eyes. He plucked one to take with him back to the mansion and encapsulated the remaining bundle in a protective layer of ice, which he laced with some white fox magic to preserve them. He gingerly held the flower he had plucked in his hands, and felt a warm expression pass his features. He was fonder of these small white flowers now than he had ever been. He turned his soft, sad eyes to the remaining bundle. He would unfreeze them after all this had been resolved, it wouldn't be safe for them to spread until then. And, hopefully, he would have the help of some warm hands when the time came. He clutched the flower to his chest as the thought crossed his mind. He didn't want to delude himself, he wanted to be realistic, but he sincerely wished for his thoughts to be true.