Duty-Bound: Chapter 60
...xXx...
Everyone within the palace heaved a sigh of relief when they heard she was recovering. Soon, she would be able to return to her duties. Her waist-length brown hair moved with the morning breeze as she stood by the window. Before she collapsed, he saw the sadness in her eyes, but now, it was no longer there.
"I promised her," she muttered quietly.
Somehow, he knew she was talking about her twin sister.
"She wants us to be happy, Natsume."
"We will be," he whispered as he pressed her to his chest. Even without Aida's request, he would make sure that they would be happy. The notion of leaving this land to achieve that was not far from his mind. Yet, he knew his love would never want to abandon her duty. Their only way to get what they wanted was to go through what the elders would give to them.
When a knock sounded at the door, he kissed her forehead gently before relinquishing her from his embrace.
"Enter," she said as he hid in the shadows.
The newcomer was her mentor.
"How long…" she asked after maintaining a long staring contest.
"Not long after I agreed to train you."
"So, you didn't know anything before then."
She took his silence as a 'yes.' "Are you leaving now?"
Her mentor nodded.
A smile spread across her face. "I wish you a pleasant journey, Aniki."
"Hnn," Rei replied and glanced toward where he was hiding.
Knowing that Rei felt his presence, he showed himself. Soon, their eyes met. By the time they broke the eye contact, they made a silent agreement. Rei would trust him with taking care of his little sister.
Rei turned to Mikan. "Take care, Imouto-san."
Mikan replied by giving her mentor a hug. "You, too, Aniki."