JUST AS I PROMISSSED CHAPTER 7 EVERYOOONE! LOL yeah, sorry I took so long to update yet again. But you know how university life works, right? And seriously, why is life such a bitch to me*cries in the corner* Remember the person that Midorima-like person I've been telling you guys about since writing Monogatari? Yeah, after sooooooooooooo long of not having any actual communication or sorts-we meet again, this time me as a psychologist and him as my subject. He volunteered for a interview about self harming and stuffs and that study was given to my by my lovely(insert sarcasm here) professor. So basically after this, I mean right after THIS, I'm going out to meet him for the interview. There's just so much complication I just-*sighs* WHYYYY IS LIFE SUCH AN A-HOLE? Damn anyways, I AAAAM BAAACK and take me into your loving arms guys so I wont get all the feelings of-hey lol I'm supposed to be meeting the person I broke about 3 years ago, so yeah kidding and ranting aside, so what did you think of the last chapter? Hmm, lots are supporting the poor Takao, but what really happened?
OHOHOHO~ yeah, so we're going to know more about him and his family from this chapter. What will Midorima do, how can he persuade Takao to come with him? Oh and the foreshadowing of the incoming arc! OMG are you ready?! BTW special thanks to hinonoona-san and bubbles9595 for their reviews! Guys please leave a review as well-but yeah thanks to those who gave LION its 36 follows! YOU ARE AWESOOOOME! Thank you so much!
So yeah, before I run late from my schedule interview I will leave you guys at peace to read! So yeah, LEAVE A REVIEEEEW PLEEEASE *puppy eyes*!
Chapter 7: Mistakes
the best people are those who possess the feeling beauty, the courage to take risk...and the capacity to sacrifice. However, this makes them vulnerable and they are often wounded-if not destroyed.
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"Mother…"
"Yes?"
"Mother…why…are my eyes strange?"
"No they aren't."
"But Father always seems scared to look at me."
"He doesn't understand the beauty held by those eyes, my child."
"Am I…not like them?"
"Of course. Because you are my son, and only Kazu-kun is my son." The small child look up to her mother who quietly sat with him that day, her beautiful long hair was pulled into a braid and lay resting in her shoulders, her eyes were gentle like her voice and her hands were soft and warm. Her eyes were the most beautiful of gray eyes he had seen, and it will always be. "Remember son, everything has a beauty but not everyone has the eyes to see them. When I look at you, I see all that I would love, all that I love. In your eyes."
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"I am…a monster." Takao said in a quiet voice as he look at his hands raising them. A monster that was what he is, the reason of the death of his dear mother, the reason for the pain in his father's eyes, the reason why he had to be kept away. His eyes. The curse of his eyes. No matter what he did, it still wasn't enough to atone for his sin, for his sin of being born. In silence he sat there watching the boy in his bed shifting and clutching the warm blanket in his body. No matter what, he was still a good for nothing monster, something that one would rather keep in the dark where he belongs. That was right. This was what is due to someone like him.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Midorima said.
Of course he wouldn't, Takao thought bitterly. No one ever knows, and that is how things should be. No one must know, because there was no need to. Who was he, what is he, that isn't essential. Just like the other Hawk Children, he'll stay there in the dark until he grows old, and die maybe from some kind of sickness like many of the others had. It was like that, that is how his life should be, he'll die alone, suffer the consequences of his birth and the curse he has. Midorima was like an outside force, something that wasn't supposed to be there, he was supposed to heed his father's words, he was supposed to be frightened of him not this. Not drawn. That was right, he wasn't supposed to be here. He shouldn't be here. Takao placed a hand over the child's cheek feeling the slight warmth coming back from the child's skin, he carefully carried the child and walked towards Midorima. The prince looked at him with an unreadable expression, he was looking at him like right in his eyes. If he only used that kind of courage in different things maybe it would have did him a lot better. As if understanding him, Midorima took the boy from his arms and carried the boy himself.
"Come with me." Takao said and Midorima followed him, taking the lone torch with him Takao led the way.
Midorima was quiet as he followed the other, their footsteps echoed in the old floor, no words were said. Midorima held the boy in his arms, quietly thinking of the words the Hawk Child told him. Right now he understood what half of these things were, he wasn't a fool not to realize as they walk there the familiar walls, it was dark but Midorima wasn't someone you'd easily fool just because there was a lack of lighting. The walls were made of the same material of the temple, the plants that were growing in the wall of the entrance they took earlier was awfully familiar as well. The people were afraid of the power of the Hawk Child in confusion of his power to see upcoming events as actually bringing the event itself. He watched as the Hawk Child quietly walks ahead, he thinks he is evil, he thinks he brings the misfortune when he was actually the key to avoiding it. Imagine how many lives he could have saved if only the villagers weren't stupid enough to realize it, that this boy wasn't a curse but a gift. He foretells the future, he can avoid it he only they let him, a power Kings would die for to have and yet…
"Didn't they tell you?"
Didn't who told him? Who was the Hawk Child referring, that was the next question, he lives at the back of the temple, does that mean…does that mean the people in the temple were the ones who guards him, were the village leader and his daughter guarding the Hawk Child all along? No, why would an old man and a girl be the guardian of a monster as they assumed? What can an old man do, what can a girl do against a young man, a healthy young man? There was still something he hasn't gotten correctly. There was something else.
"…M-My son."
"He doesn't like going out very much, actually….he isnt allowed."
Midorima paused, son…yes, the village leader said he has a son, yet he hasn't seen him. Both the village leader and his daughter live in the temple, then his son…where is his son? Could it be that the Hawk Child is—ah yes, that would make sense, right? The eyes, and the shape of his face, it looks just like the village leader's. Could it be, could it be he was the one the Hawk Child meant when he said those words? Could the Hawk Child told him about his arrival? Could he be—wait, the village leader when they arrived…how did he knew Midorima was a prince, how did he know they were sincere about their objectives, about not harming the people, how did he knew they were there? It would make sense…it make sense now. It was him. It was the Hawk Child. The village leader he knows. Midorima continued walking as he go on he decided to remain quiet, there was still one thing he didn't understand, where did they start doing this to the Hawk Children? Since when had the Hawk Child been here? There were so many things he was eager to know when he returns, so many things that he fell in silence in constructing which one to ask first.
Midorima was close, he knows he had his identity unveiled soon. But what came next was a problem, what will he do then? When he knows it all what will he do? Can he pursued him to follow him to Shuutoku and meet his brother? How can he make someone who lives under the darkness for many years, a person who had been scared of speaking with others in fear he would harm the other? What will he do? What can he do? What if the village retaliates about this? Would he or would he not come with him?
"Stop." Midorima blinked and realized he was walking side by side now with the Hawk Child. "Look only ahead, I cannot be seen with you, walk straight from this path, just straight ahead at the end of the corridor you will arrive at a room, it's a secret room in the Temple."
"Where are you going?" Midorima asked.
"Do me a favour, you said I saved your life, right?" Takao said, "Then, do me a favour, when I said close your eyes, do that and count to twenty."
"Why would I—"
"Do it, please."
Midorima didn't know why, he usually wasn't the kind of person who bends to others request unless it's the Emperor's words. He stood there adjusting the sleeping boy in his arms. He looked straight ahead, there the hallways was filled with many branching paths, but as the Hawk Child say all he has to do is take the straight path. He was never the easily trusting person, due to all the things they had to go through as they grew up in the palace, Midorima never trusted anyone aside from their deceased mother. Yet he closed his eyes and out loud he counted—
"One, two, three, four…"
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"Five, six, seven, eight, nine…TEN!"
The giggles of the other kids were heard as they the 'it' ran to find the others hiding somewhere, Takao never had the chance to play this game with the other kids, they said it was unfair. Somehow he manages to catch them all too easily. It was because even with his eyes closed he can still see things, he can see even the things that happens behind his back, or even in a mile. The village kids thought he was weird, they never asked him to play again. He would usually sit there, sometimes his younger sister would sit with him watch the others play. Shizuka, his sister is always been nice to him, even without speaking he can see that she empathizes with him.
"Shizuka-chan, you don't need to sit here with Onii-san." Takao said smiling to the little girl sitting next to him. The girl looked up at him looking a bit dejected. "Oh, I don't mean it that way, I mean you can play with them if you want to."
The little girl shook her head and grabbed his hand with her small chubby fingers, "Shizuka doesn't want to play, Shizuka wants to be with Onii-chan."
"Thank you…Shizu…"
He didn't understand what was happening, sometimes he sees things, his father always told him to ignore them, that way the village will leave in peace. That way everything will be alright, as long as no one knew. Its alright, no one needs to know about his eyes.
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"Father!"
"What it is, Kazunari, it is no time for playing games I need to go with the—"
"Mother is sick! She's going to…she's going to die—"
SLAP
The small raven haired child felt his cheek burn, as tears stream down his face. Why…Why did his father—
"Have I not told you not to speak of those things! Your words are what brings the misfortune! Take back those words!"
"But father I really saw it!"
They said his words were that brings the catastrophe. That he was…the embodiment of death.
The next morning, they all witnessed it, the three of them. The woman with the most beautiful gray eyes fell quietly on the floor, there was no chocking sound, she didn't struggle, she just…fell. And Takao knew that when she did, it was a bit too late for them to save her. He fell in his knees and started crying, his younger sister was tad bit too young to understand she stood there behind them asking why their mother had seem to fell asleep in the floor. His Father was shock and was staring at his wife's body unmoving slowly starting to lose it familiar color, and her skin turning deathly gray. It was his fault…yes, this is his fault right?
If only
If he didn't say those things, maybe she…
"SHE WOULDN'T HAVE DIED IF IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF YOU!"
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It was…my fault?
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Drip…
Drop
"I…I am back."
Midorima's voice rang in the hallway, making everyone surprised. Sitting on stool was the village leader and the woman was anxiously waiting while Moriyama stood there surprised and anger painting his features. It was no longer raining as much as it was a few moments ago, the thunderstorm was still loud though. The old man stood confused, while the woman upon realizing the small child in Midorima's arms started sobbing, she ran quickly to him. The worry and concern in her eyes were heart wrenching, "He is alright." Midorima said as she carefully handed the boy to her mother. "However, if possible he should be taken to a physician to be examined."
The woman breaming with tears held the little boy in her arms caressing her son's cheek, "Thank heavens." She whispered over and over again. Midorima stared at the woman remembering the same face of relief his mother had back then as she wrapped her arms around the fifth prince. The woman raised her head a sincere smile painted her lips, "Thank you, thank you very much!" she cried.
"Go now, the child needs to be well rested." Midorima said, the woman nodded and bowed her head before she left. It was nostalgic watching it. Midorima remember the way their mother carried the fifth prince in her arms as she was finally able to see and washed by the relief that her son is well. A mother's love proved to them as the strongest bond one could have. The warm and gentle hand rubbing the small of their backs, the gentle voice that called out to them, a love of a mother. Midorima watched as the woman slowly disappeared from their sight, when her footsteps finally grew fainter, he turned towards the rest of the crowd in the room.
Moriyama opened his mouth to speak looking angry about the prince's shenanigans, however this time Midorima had a lot more pressing matters at hand, raising his hand to halt the older man from speaking, he gave him a glance known only to those who had served the second prince, his eyes glowed in a familiar coldness and indifference that was known to be the very reason why a lot either were afraid of him or angry-the ego-eccentric stubbornness of the second prince, Midorima Shintaro. Ignoring the cold shivers of his body due to being soaked in the same cold skin piercing rain earlier, the prince stepped closer to the three inside the room.
Standing there in the middle of the room, in his left was the wall that had been washed in ages with a peculiar painting of a hawk, Midorima stared at the older man in there hands behind his back. Ah, he can see it now, clearer, the similarities, the eerie familiarity of his features. Midorima didn't understand, and maybe he will never be able to do so, how can a family, a father, abandon his son all on his own? Feed him lies all his life, sit there with a smile pretending his son had son sickness, how can he do that? Midorima maybe would never understand that part, despite the pressure of the fact that they were born of the Emperor's bloodline, their father never fell short on becoming the father they needed. He was the Emperor, while he was as well was their father. He never threw them down a dungeon, not even with their peculiar traits. So he thought he would never understand what pushed this man to abandon his son, deny his existence, treat him like a plague. A slight guilt was bubbling inside his chest, thinking of that human under the temple, the monster which they spoke of, he who didn't even had the time to be showered with kindness was actually doing it, he was helping these people, the same people who caused his misery.
Looking at the man Midorima could see him, he had the same shape of eyes and face, yet there was more of gentleness in the way the Hawk Child looked at him. He wondered how the Hawk Child could do it, how could he love despite all of these, how could he still forgive them despite the names they called him, how could he still…how?
"You said you had a son." Midorima said. "You said he is sick, what is his sickness?"
The man stared right at the prince, his expression unreadable, "Where did you pass, Prince?"
"I believe I asked the question first." Midorima said.
"Indeed, but I must remind you that you are in my territory."
Midorima scoffed, "Are you threatening me?" he said, "I think you do not understand the position where you stand. And why are you acting so defensive for, why…what is in this temple? Are there things that I shouldn't see?"
"Curiosity kills a cat, denka." The man said. "How did you learn the passage from the back of the temple?"
"I found it on my own." Midorima lied, who knows what he would do to the Hawk Child if he learned he was the one who saved the child, and the things he'd say. "I was merely curious, you mentioned your son when I got here but I realized, for the days of my stay, I've never seen him around…not even once."
The man was quiet, silence engulfed the room only the sound of the soft rain pounding against the old structure was heard. Midorima waited watching the man's breathing, "...I lied," Midorima braced himself, would he tell him the truth now? He wondered as he wait for the man to continue, without blinking he spoke, "My son is dead."
Midorima felt something itchy in the pit of his stomach, a boiling feeling in his chest, and his knuckles itch to feel flesh against it—dead…his son…is dead? Liar. How can he deny him like this? Midorima turned to the girl next to the older man, her eyes were on her father, there was a hint of confusion and plea in them. Those eyes…she…knows as well. She was asking her father to stop this façade. "I think you've forgotten that you said that your son was the one who brewed the tea when we came here, does the ghost of your son do that?" Midorima said pressing further. Without waiting for the man's answer Midorima walked towards the painting, tracing the strokes of the paints with his fingertips. Back in Shuutoku he was taught of arts, he could easily distinguish the age of a painting with the vibrant of the color and the person who painted it with the strokes of the brush used. His eyes stopped at the most recent color, it seems like it was painted only a few years ago, the color slightly stood out among the others. "I wonder what really happened to the end of the story, to the legend of the Hawk Child. What is this temple as well? Is it really a place where you worship the Hawk God or…was this a prison?"
"Midorima stop that!" Moriyama retorted, "What are you speaking of—"
"I am asking what happened to the other Hawk Children." The man's eyes widen in shock. Midorima didn't need to turn to know the man's reaction, the silence was enough indicator. "There were…others, those who painted this picture isn't just one person, and it wasn't made just painted by many people in a consecutive days…it was painted in different years, maybe even longer. The other strokes were feminine the others slightly lousy, like a child, some were hard and pressing like a man's. So it made me thought that maybe…maybe the Hawk Child isn't immortal, maybe he's mortal, maybe…maybe he's huma—"
"Don't you dare say they are humans."
Midorima turned to the man, "Why…what made you hate them?"
"They were cursed in this village."
"They really exist." Midorima said, "They…it wasn't just one? Then I was right."
"There were one every generation." The man said his hands clenched in his side. The bitter memories flooded him. He was the son of the late village leader, just like many of the people of the village he was raised with the notion that the Hawk Child brings the news of death to whomever he is close to, to whoever he comes close to. They were the curse of the village, and no matter what they do it would come back, every single time. It was why the temple was built, it was where they hid them, they would stay there away from the people, away to inflict their curse to anyone. As long as no one speaks to them, as long as they pretend that the existence of the Hawk Child is a mere myth everything shall be well. When the Hawk Child died twenty two years ago, he never had thought, never came cross to him that such unfortunate event would happen, his wife, his beloved wife gave birth the night after the Hawk Child's death, it was his first child and the excitement to see and wrap his arms in his child's little and fragile body overwhelmed him, for a moment he had forgotten about the prophecy, the curse. And the smile of his wife as she carried the little boy in her arms made him forget. But the moment those eyes opened he felt his whole world crumbling down on his feet. He could never mistake those eyes for anything else, he knew those all too well. The cursed eyes of the Hawk. But even how many times he tried to tell his wife, she objected saying he couldn't do that to their son, their poor son is innocent. He tried his best to hide the truth, he kept his son from playing outside too much, he never told anyone, people had thought the cursed had stopped. He was alright but..."Every time…every generation when one dies, another is born. And they repeat the cycle over again. The killed my wife and took my son."
"What do you know about us, you don't know anything! You do not know how hard it is to look at your child and realize that the whole world is bound to hate him! You don't know what we feel! We lose people every single time they'd let a word slip their lips! You do not know the horror of my people, the constant fear that every time the Hawk Child dies one of their child would be the next one! We lose people every single time!"
"How about them?" Midorima asked, "How about the Hawk Children you cursed, the children you took away from their families, what about the childhood you took from them?"
"It was compensation from all the things they did to these people!"
Midorima stared at the man, eyebrows furrowed, how can a father say this to his son? How can he treat him like this. He stepped back, no, he didn't regret it. He never regret putting his son away…how can he simply say it was a mere compensation for the lives of those people, his son's freedom over some petty notion?
"You're…the worst." He found himself saying. With a clenched fist he turned towards Moriyama, "We will be going now. We wish to end our stay now."
"Oi, what are you saying Denka we haven't accomplished—"
"I don't see any reason for that anymore." He said storming away.
…
The morning came quick to the palace, the Emperor sat in his office reading carefully through his men's written reports and some documents, a few of them were from the cities stating a number of cases that seems some sort of food contamination. He needs to have send experts from Shuutoku to get some clear answer or reason for those. The numbers were alarming though there are no death, the thought of something being contaminated with such number of people consuming them was enough to make the young Emperor worried. With such number of cases whatever was contaminated must be something that is commonly taken in, and it was frightening for it might be either the water or something people use as staple food. There isn't any death, but until when? Akashi was always one step ahead, he didn't like the thought of epidemic as well, this as well not spread.
"Shujo, Minister Imayoshi Souchi from the Council of Too is here to speak with you." The voice of the guard on the front announced. Folding the documents back and pushing them in the side of the table the Emperor turned to the door, Imayoshi Souchi the second minister of the Council of Too, presumably Prince Aomine's caretaker in Too. The man was only ten years older than Akashi, fairly young to be a minister of one of Teiko's powerhouse.
"Let him in." he said. The door slid opened revealing the platinum haired man, he wore a black and red hanfu which were common uniform of the ministers in Too, the man was a skilled swordsman just like Aomine, but of course, no one would come par with the monstrous power and agility of the fourth prince. The minister was known for his sly smirk, it was almost identical to Mebuchi Reo's,
"Good day Your Highness." Imayoshi greeted, as he made himself comfortable and sat in the empty seat facing the Emperor. "Ah, I heard the second prince is out for a mission, you must be bored without someone to play shogi with you."
"Not at all, I have other things do keep busy." The Emperor said, "But I believe that Shintaro is already on the task."
"You have too much confidence with your brothers."
Akashi smirked, "Of course, they are after all my brothers, the same blood runs in their veins. There is no room to doubt their capabilities. Shintaro may be uptight, cold and insensitive most of the times but he has a strong sense of justice."
"Ah, you give them too much credit."
"Not really, I am merely stating facts." He said. "So tell me about the progress of the task I gave the fourth prince, how was Daiki's journey? Has he arrived yet to his destination?"
"Not yet, but tomorrow morning if the sea is calm then surely he'd reach the Northern Kingdom without a problem." He said, "I was surprised that you actually let him to go on his own with only three men—Sakurai on that note. We all know how he is when he is just on his own, what would be the impression of the King you wish to have an allegiance with having Aomine-denka to be the one to forge it?"
"Daiki is the only who could do it." Akashi answered, "Knowing him, he probably doesn't remember but…I am sure he does."
"What do you mean?"
The Emperor shook his head, "Do not mind me, have a little more faith to your regent."
"I would if it was on a battlefield we talk of, however allegiance is a different matter than of fighting, and I know much as to able to say that talking with tact isn't the fourth prince's speciality." Imayoshi said sighing, it was true. Aomine was far from graceful and diplomatic, he was more on brute force, it was as if he had sipped all the assholeness out of his four other brothers and poured it all over himself. His ego was twice the size of the universe, and he isn't famous for keeping his cool down as well. "Why do you take interest with the Northern Kingdom all of a sudden anyways?"
A smile formed in his lips and his other eye seemed to glow, it was something that never failed to make anyone freak out.
"I never forget promises, its time for him to fulfil his end of the bargain."
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"Oi," Moriyama was beginning to find the ends of his patience, he never really liked working with Midorima just the two of them, the second prince was usually prideful, full of himself, and stubborn, he never really listens to his superiors. He didn't seem like the person you'd want to spend a camp with. However, he was still the second prince, and it was he vowed to serve this man the moment he pledged allegiance to the service of the tribe of Shuutoku. The taller male decided to ignore him yet again as he continue to walk in a hurried pace, they left the temple and they were now nearing the familiar groves, a few more feet and they'd be on the forest area filled with tall bulky trees. He was surprised the second prince would actually give up on this mission without bringing in with them the Hawk Child. Well Akashi would be disappointed but if Midorima just say something along the lines that the village wasn't cooperating surely he'd be able to get himself across him. However, Midorima never really gave up this easily. The archer seems to have inherited the defiant personality of the Akashi family, he had always been bold. He disliked being mocked by his brothers and thus he does anything to finish his task with precision. It was rare that he just walked out like that. "Oi Midorima," Moriyama ran to Midorima's side and pulled him to face him he didn't care what he would say anymore he didn't like being ignored, he was still older than him. "What on earth is happening, are you out of your mind, have you gone mad? Are you sure about this?"
Midorima stopped and closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, Moriyama was shock, he remember seeing that kind of glow in his eyes…it only was like that when they were facing a compromising situation, the glow of the eyes of a child who hunger for thrill—something is about to happen, was what Moriyama thought.
"I need you do something for me."