Helloooooooooooo! I´m back!
Sorry for the delay guys, lets keep it shot, see ya at the end of the chapter.
SHIDESU! OUT!
Chapter 7: Before the new dawn.
"Pardon my rudeness Lord Ryoma, but are you sure you don't need my assistance?" Ryoma looked back as he was about to enter the council room, aside of him was Saizo who just frowned at the sight of the blue-haired woman behind them, the scar on her face was evidence of her status in the castle, and even with the background of her family, she hardly could understand anything about the politics and somewhat absurd discussions inside that room.
"Is there anything that worries you Reina?" Ryoma asked as he turned to greet the Kinshi warrior who expression turned to her trademark frown in battle.
"Well, yes, actually a lot of them Lord Ryoma, for instance you can make a difference about what is happening lately at the castle" she stopped for a moment with a sigh "It´s been almost three months since Lord Kamui returned to us, and almost one since your return, but i don't see any kind of sign from him, and Lord Takumi is missing as well, taking note of their last brawls, is not so hard to connect the dots Lord Ryoma, are they ok?"
He stared at her for a moment before starting laughing "Oh Reina, you´ve nothing to worry about" he said with a soft smile "Just a little fight between brothers, you know my brother, even a little scratch can make him angry, if anyone notices that Kamui left a scar, he´ll be mad for months"
"I-I see, but milord, what about Kamui? I´m worried that his room may be…..a little unsettling for him, after all what happened"
"I understand, well, we'll be here for a couple of hours discussing our next steps, after all the rumors seems to be true"
"Milord?"
"I know, it sounds strange but we´ll be discussing this for a while, if you want to join, you´re welcome, perhaps your vision of the frontlines can enlighten our guests"
Reina grinned with her wicked smile "Oh? With pleasure, perhaps i can do something more" as she accompanied them to their seats at the council room, Saizo coughed in his fist, and pointing with his eyes Ryoma looked at the direction he aimed, seeing that Yukimura was talking with some of the nobles and members was already bad, that the chief tactician gathered all of them in a single place couldn't be good.
"Lord Ryoma, orders?" Saizo whispered making sure nobody noticed him.
"Stay back as much as you can, we discussed this, we´ll buy as much time we can" Ryoma commented as he sat in his chair, Saizo disappeared with a nod, as Ryoma felt the wooden chair under his hands, there was something strange being there, he was lost in thoughts for a moment, it was clear for the look in his eyes.
"I know milord, i know" Reina commented at her side "i miss her too"
"The only way we can honor her is to start building a better Halidom" he commented, Reina was a little confused and under her gaze he laughed "Sorry, don't mind this old man"
"Hush milord, you sound like an old geezer, don't make me laugh, you don't have the age or knowledge to be saying those things"
"…..perhaps, but this last months did a number in me" he cleared his throat as the white doors finally closed, making everyone in the room take a seat and be silent until he continued "Ok, lets this meeting begin"
It was already the afternoon, and as the sun was starting to fall at the distance, Hinoka was waiting for their little 'chat', she was fidgeting for any kind of thought in her head, it´s been almost a year since the last time they spoke, and now after so much it was in a way special, perhaps she was overthinking, he´s been suffering for a while but now at least she had the chance to ease his pain, even if all what she could do was just hear.
"Someone is excited" Oboro commented as they were walking to his room, for a moment Hinoka blushed and huffed waving her hand dismissing her comment.
"N-Not at all, is just….well, you know what? Screw it, I'm happy ok?" she said crossing her arms "It's been a while since we could talk and you know it, i´m tired of the awkward silence´s and im done with not knowing what´s in his mind, right now what we´re …..wait, why are you coming Oboro?"
The girl just looked away for a few moment "For no particular reason Lady Hinoka" she smiled "Let´s say for making that everything is fine at the end"
Hinoka looked at the girl for a few moments, but after thinking for a while she just sighed, feeling that sensation in her chest was bad already, and now if she had to worry about what others might do was another reason to remain quiet, Oboro was…..well, she was Oboro, and aside of be the former retainer of Takumi she hardly knew something about her, she said that she couldn't be with Takumi anymore, so helping her with Kamui was her way to say sorry? She couldn´t possibly had a crush in…..she shook her head, that wasn't precisely the time to think that, then why she thought that? It was the ring she returned last time? With a last sigh she understood that she needed time alone to get her ideas together, as the girls arrived there were two maids outside the room, they werent the same as the last time, and of course when they noticed her presence they bowed.
"Lady Hinoka! Wh-what are you doing here?" the velvet-haired maid asked.
"That´s not important, who are you?" She asked.
"Ah, my apologies my lady, this is the first time we have spoken, hasn't it?" the girl placed her hand on her chest with an elegant bow "My name is Miyu, and she is Rin" she presented the other raven-haired maid "We´re here under Ryoma orders" Miyu aside of having velvet hair, his golden eyes were something that identified her, small with a delicate face and round nose, Rin in the other hand was quieter and a little taller than her, blue eyes and with a slender figure and face, she had to ask Ryoma why he didn't told her about this unexpected meeting, but now there were other questions in her mind
"Big brother? Why?"
"To try to convince you Lady Hinoka" Miyu said taking her for surprise "Lord Ryoma want…..to delay your meeting, at least until tomorrow"
"That´s odd, why of all times he want to stop me now?"
"There were…some problems at the council My Lady" Rin continued showing a letter "Right now he´ll be busy with Yukimura, and with the events of the last weeks…it´ll be easier to take a step at a time" She said as Hinoka was reading the letter, it was his handwriting, but there was something strange, why he would send them without any explanation, even if he had a good excuse the least she deserved is to know it.
"…Never mind it, i want to see him, so if he´s not doing something or not presentable i don't see a reason to keep him waiting"
"The maids looked each other with worry in their eyes "My lady" Miyu continued "I must insist that you wait until tomorrow, is for the safety of both"
This irritated her 'Safety' she thought with a frown "Well, if it is for our safety, with more reason to be with him to make sure that he´s safe, so now if you excuse us, we have to see him" before they could argue Oboro sighed and gently pushed the girls aside.
They entered the room that was a little lit with the sunray´s that was starting to fall at the horizon, Kamui was sit with a warm cup of tea in his hands, he didn't turned at first, but after hearing their footsteps he looked at them and with a raised eyebrow he waited until they were close enough and sat in front of him, looking for the maids they were already apologizing behind them "…..so i see Ryoma didn't convinced you…." He sighed taking another sip.
"Wh-What? What you mean? Weren´t we supposed to talk?"
"I told him that it would be for the best if you just weren´t allowed here" he said, this made them gasp, hurt and confused Hinoka tried to calm down for his comment "After all…you´re not good with the hard choices…"
"H-Hey! Where´s that coming from? I thought that we we-"
"That´s where you´re wrong Hinoka" Kamui said as he hit the table with the cup with enough force to stop her "You 'thought', every time you think about something and don't get what you want y-"
"Hold on Kamui" Oboro stopped him raising her hand "You´re being to rude with us, i´ll admit that Lady Hinoka can be….obstinate sometimes" Hinoka glared at her for a brief moment "I thought you wanted to talk, after all Lady Hinoka returned that ring, right?"
"At this point, im sorry but is not like i can trust you" Hinoka trembled for a moment, this was worst that returning to the beginning, were they already losing him? She tried to think in something but Kamui didn't let her think in time "This is my way to say thanks…i know that you must have had a hard time getting it…" He looked at the drawer aside of the closet, the ring was there over a small book that lied on the table "…that´s why i´m warning you, if you really want to help me or do something for me, then just left me, there´s nothing you can do aside of leaving me"
"YOU DONT KNOW THAT!" Hinoka shouted slamming the table with her palms "YOU REALLY THINK I´M JUST GOING TO GIVE UP ON YOU!? AFTER SO LOONG?! YOU DONT KNOW WHAT I CAN OR CAN'T DO!"
This time it was Kamui time to frown "Oh? So you think you can help me? I guess there´s no other choice then" he sighed indicating one of the maids to take his cup, Rin quickly took it as she whispered something in his ear "Cruel? Are you joking Rin? She´s asking for it, so don't you dare to say that I'm cruel"
"Hey, we´re here, you know?" Hinoka frowned as the maid quickly shrieked and ran to her partner side "And, since when you´re so familiar with the maids? Is the first time sh-"
"Miyu and Rin has been here for a couple of months…..but i must admit that is the first time i have spoken so much…..well…..i think it was good until it lasted…..a-after all…..y-you c-ca-" This time Kamui stopped covering his mouth with his left hand coughing violently and before Hinoka or Oboro could ask there was a black liquid falling from his hand
"KAMUI! / LORD KAMUI!" Hinoka and Oboro screamed at the same time running to his side ready to help him or to see what was happening, however the moment they placed their hand on his shoulders Oboro just fell aside of him as Hinoka barely managed to apart her hand from his shoulder "Wh-What the f-"
"Th-That´s why i d-dint wanted you h-here in the first place" Kamui managed to said as he continued coughing, Hinoka could see how from his mouth came that black liquid "I t-told him that you cannot stand b-being *cough* b-being unable to do something" this time he fell over the table as he closed his eyes, Hinoka tried to move him but again there was that burning feeling in her palm whenever she tried to touch him, she looked for help but the moment she saw the maids, they were just closing her eyes and didn't moved a single inch to help him.
"Wh-What are you doing?! H-Help me! There´s something wrong wi-"
"There´s not something wrong Lady Hinoka" Said Miyu with a sad tone "In fact, this is common"
"Eh?"
"Never wondered why of all times, you were only allowed to visit him only in the mornings?" Rin said with her hand covering her mouth in shame and sadness.
"Every day we have to see this, how Lord Yukimura drains his energy in such bad way…and to make sure that he doesn't hurt himself" Miyu said
"Th-That´s not possible, then this is….."
"Happening every day? I'm afraid so Lady Hinoka, im sorry if we didn't told you, but this is the truth, so what are you going to do Lady Hinoka?"
Hinoka trembled seeing how his eyes were shut tightly and how in a moment he fell to the ground away of Oboro twisting in such pained way, for his expression and the dubious aura in his back it couldn't be other thing that the curse in action, she was horrified to see him like this, this was the whole reason why he didn't want to continue, to suffer this day after day and the best the others could do is just watch until it was over, her heart was sinking in remorse and angst seeing how not only this scene was happening in front of her, but also in the room of Mikoto, biting her lip and with tears forming in her eyes she made a decision that the maids couldn't foresee, before the maids could act she with all her energy managed to embrace him in a sit position with his head on her chest, she felt her skin burning as her energy was leaving her, frowning she did the only thing she thought, at the very least the only thing that any other person wouldn't dare to do.
"L-Lady Hinoka! Th-that´s!"
As Hinoka closed her eyes, she whispered small apologies 'Stupid Yukimura' She thought pressing tighter his body against hers 'If you´re taking his energy, then all I have to do is to give him more' holding his body she just let the spell take her´s as well, thinking that perhaps if she 'took' his place he would remain with some, but as the time passed she felt how her body was starting to fell as well, as her heart was beating fast and the maids tried to separate her without much success she just continued hugging him "Don…t worr….y Kamui…." She said in whispers "i…..´m…..here fo..r…." Before she could finish she fell to the floor with him, there was a last thing she heard from him before falling to that black abysm.
Hinoka slowly opened her eyes, feeling how her head was burning and her vision was blurry, she forgot where she was or what she was doing, it was until she recognized the ceiling that she remembered what she was doing, leaning on her right arm she felt how her world moved violently around her and there was a shocking pain inside her head, a gentle hand met her shoulder "Easy Lady Hinoka, is ok" she looked aside and at her side was Miyu who had a gentle smile "That was kind of bold, but i think the worst is over"
"Wh-What? Where….Where´s Kamui?! I-I Was…." The maid pointed to her left, as Hinoka followed her finger she found out that Kamui was in his bed and even if there was still a somewhat pained expression on his face, he was sleeping under the careful watch of Rin.
"You´ve been sleeping for hours Lady Hinoka, is already eleven of the night" Miyu said, with a sigh Hinoka fell again to the pillow under her head.
"Did I stopped it?"
"Umm, no Lady Hinoka…..actually it lasted as it usually does, you just got your energy taken, but i must say is the first time i see someone last so long"
"…is not…..the first time?"
"Lord Ryoma tried something similar, but his best guess is that the Nosferatu spell was especially designed for Lord Kamui, it has something to do with the thickness of his blood since he can transform in a dragon, so even after trying Lord Ryoma and you, neither of the two managed to 'relieve' under his shoulders"
Hinoka looked at the ceiling for a moment as new tears started to form in her eyes, covering them with her palms she gritted her teeth's in a mixture of shame and anger "so he was right…i…..i was useless….again"
"….weeeeeeeeeeeeeeell~ i wouldn't say the same" She said in a playful tone that Hinoka had to look at her face "Dont get me wrong Lady Hinoka, you´re too far away to be able to do something like 'nullify the spell with sheer strength' or something like that" she said looking at him, Hinoka turned to see Kamui again, it was hard to notice it at first but there was something odd that she couldn't point out "…..don't you think there´s something you´re missing?"
Hinoka looked at him, and for a moment she was about to give up in her game, but certainly there was something odd but she couldn't grasp it, a memory she forgot but was normal for everyone, something she was missing and couldn't point out, until she saw Oboro who was in the other improvised bed in the room "….ah! y-you said that is already 11pm?" The girl nodded "He´s sleeping!"
"Bingo!" Miyu laughed for a moment gaining the harsh look of her partner who was glaring daggers at her for the sudden noise "He always stay until the dawn awake for the nightmare, but even if it was a small improvement, is something amazing Lady Hinoka, to be enough to make him feel safe at night…you must love him a lot for taking that risk"
Hinoka narrowed her eyes and turned away "…..Well….after what he said this afternoon…it must be just one-sided….."
"Awww, don't think that Lady Hinoka, i know it was harsh, but he only did that because he loves you" Hinoka turned to see her with unbelieving eyes "yeah, he was a jerk, and as Lady Sakura said 'not the same gentle brother' as before, but what other choice he had? Yukimura has been looking a way to take his energy, and even dared to ask Lady Sakura for her assistance, but even after all the betrayal he´s still thinking about you"
"Y-You know about…..the curse?"
"Well, yes, Lord Ryoma told me that under any kind of circumstances i couldn´t repeat what he revealed me to the others, so you could say im with you and believe me, i´ll help you in any way possible, that´s why im telling you this, he cares for you and Sakura, and he´s afraid that if you got close enough Yukimura may use it in his favor"
"Wh-What? But Yukimura would never do something to me, even if he´s mad at him, there´s no way th-"
"Well…..he wasn't supposed to curse him right? The point is that he couldn't stand if you were used by him as his puppet, after all, Kamui said that all he has now is his memories, not only of the others, but also some from you, at the end of the day he was willing to accept that you could hate him as long you were safe"
There was a small silence until Hinoka sighed looking at the ceiling "I guess…im just impulsive….heh….dork…." she sighed again with her arm on her forehead.
"You dont believe me?"
"Yes i do….. i really do, after all….its been a while but…" She smiled feeling how her heart calmed down and with an old feeling floating in her head, it was something so rare in that place, it was happiness? It was weird, they were a weird family, after so much time they were still doing the best for each other, and what she heard before was all the proof she needed "is just im glad…"
"Oh? About what Lady Hinoka?"
"it was the first time in a while…that he called me 'Noka'…." She said with a timid but honest smile.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND THAT'S ALL FOR NOW!
Phew, it late and im sleepy so let's get this done quickly.
I´ll do my best to update the other chapters, so please wait for them for a little while longer, i know they´re taking too much but i promise you that if they´re not done at the end of this months, they´ll be at the first week of the next one.
So we have the first scene important about this fanfiction, some of you were curious as how bad the situation was with the curse, i hope this helps you or that your doubts are cleared,.
Thanks again for your support and comments, any review is welcome and if you have an idea or just want to leave your thoughts then you know what to do, all your comments help´s me to continue updating not only this one but also the others fanfictions.
Sooooooooooooooooo, what you think guys? Good? Bad? I wanted to do something different but let me know if you don't like it or want to see more content like this.
Without more to say, i hope you enjoyed it and have a great day/night and weekend!
SHIDESU! OUT!
