In Togami's room, it was further apparent how much of a toll did the beating take on Kobayama.
A slash crossed his mouth like a bloody stitch.
His nose was broken on the bridge in more than a point, looking swollen and bruised.
His breath was arrhythmic, hinting he had a rib or two broken.
He held an arm stiff under his torn and battered cloak, refusing help with a sports bag he was carrying.
His left hand fingers were all broken, and parts of his beard looked either burnt or ripped by force.
He walked slowly, like an old man, partly due to a sprained ankle, partly because of burns all over his left leg, and he leaned on a tree branch he had cut somewhere.
Most of the time, he kept his head down.
A pained Touko would have given anything to see him walk in his confident manner, or simper in his irritating way once more.
"Byakuya-sama… if only I had…planned ahead more countermeasures…"
"Relax. That guy entered the manor because I allowed him to. Don't make excuses to cover up for me"
"I'm not doing that, young master. Though I failed you…"
"You didn't, quit playing the victim."
"How… did you enter, Katsu-san?" Touko intervened, her voice a little fretful.
"I used the air vents and then the garbage storage ladder. Took me… half a day to get through… I couldn't leave the bag behind"
"So it's true. You studied here before, it's natural you would know the map by heart."
"Indeed. Got me the blueprints every year, and requested a 3d model the year you entered, young master"
Byakuya sighed. That was so like Kobayama, thinking ahead and planning. How did a bunch of teens outplan a man as savvy and experienced as him?
"You said you had something I should see. I want to see it."
Togami's voice was commanding, as usual, but now it sounded subsided and dull. Kobayama nodded, not daring to say anything.
"I will need… to open the bag. If you'll excuse me…" he bent down and fumbled with the zipper with his crooked, broken fingers.
Touko tried to grab the heavy-looking bag away from him, but he wouldn't let it go.
"Sorry, Touko-san. I swore no one aside of me would touch it… until the master got it. I bought it here though… I'm so sorry it's dirtying your room" he added, looking at Byakuya's harsh eyes.
"Never mind that. Although it seems… you hid in the sewers to keep it safe –and I know you won't tell us where else you seeked refuge- knowing you, it might be worth it… I doubt you picked something petty, like money from the vault" Togami dismissed the abashed servant's excuse as graciously as he could.
"I was entrusted this with my life. I wouldn't let it go until it reached your hands, young master."
The young heir's eyes showed a distinct melancholy. Of all his servants, Kobayama was the one he saw the most. Yet still, in a situation of danger, his bet was that he would be the first to leave his side… To see him practically crawl to his side made his throat close oddly.
"I only beg you to look at what I bought. You can ask me questions if you want. Though everything there is pretty self-explanatory…"
"Kobayama Katsu" The servant jolted: Byakuya Togami had never addressed him by his full name. "You have already proven your worth. If you can walk, go get your wounds treated, I believe the headmaster won't oppose to you sleeping in the infirmary. Fukawa, you go fetch that Matsuda guy and see if he can patch him up. Also bring a towel and a tracksuit from the gym for him, large should be enough."
"Young master, I-"
"You cannot walk, then. Fukawa, if you trust this lewd vermin enough, walk him to the infirmary"
"But… Touko-san…"
"I-I have no problem doing that." The braided girl chimed in, eyeing Byakuya with anxious eyes.
"You try anything, say anything stupid or try to touch her, I swear you'll see me angry" he hissed as he passed by Kobayama. The servant stared at him incredulously. Byakuya-sama acting protective over Touko-san openly… what was that supposed to mean?
"And mind you come back here when you're done", the heir quipped to the writer. "I might need you"
"Byakuya-sama… I want to be of some use to you…" Kobayama's voice was pained. He had never experienced any sort of kindness from the icy, sadistic young scion. Deserving it was the least he hoped for.
"You already did enough. Go get yourself fixed, wait for Fukawa to give you the clothes, take a bath and sleep. I'm satisfied"
"Byakuya-sama… you're just too kind…"
Breathing heavily, the battered servant stood, making the ghost of a bow in front of him, and cast a sad-eyed stare to the bag.
"I'll spend the rest of the night looking at what you bought me. Just go already, you know you stink, right?" he added, trying to sound harsh.
"Yes sir. I'm grateful, sorry for stinking"
Sighing painfully, the scion bent down to the bag and opened it. It was full of assorted stuff. A two-storied mahogany box, with locks in gold and decorations in ivory, caught his eye first.
It was either a jewelry box that might've pertained to a female Togami, or a male stationary box, like the ones he remembered seeing in certain luxurious shops.
Frowning, he pulled out the top drawer first. It slid open, just as if someone had been poring over its contents and forgotten to lock it back. There was a ring with keys in that drawer: whoever the owner, he or she was in a hurry and slid the keys in, instead of locking it shut.
And, despite his mundanity, his experience and his education, when he disclosed the rest of its contents, he was instantly rendered speechless.