Masked
Series: The Seer
Summary: Shizuka learns a few things about his new Master
Warnings: Swords, spies and spell-casting.

It was plainly obvious that Watanuki-sama was not pleased.

Frowning and muttering darkly, Watanuki-sama paced back and forth perpendicular to where Shizuka stood so that the monk's eyes swept left to right and back as he watched. Shizuka stood quietly in the semi-darkness of the room, eyes lidded and guarded, the single candle by the door the only illumination in the front room of his Master's cabin. He happened to catch a few snippets when the Lord stalked past on each turn,

"… saddled with this unnecessary… Gods know what I'll do with him… sleeping in a hammock, not even with his own quarters… invading my space… all these abilities and not one word to me about it… what was that Council thinking… they never consider things from my perspective…"

"Watanuki-sama," Shizuka interrupted. He didn't like the darkness colouring the pale skin beneath his Master's eyes, aware of the late hour and mindful that the young Lord probably needed to get some rest soon. "I apologise for the trouble, I was setting guarding charms and when the area at the helm repelled it, I was puzzled. The spell I cast was merely to see what was there."

"That was not what has me riled!" The noble whirled on him, expression tight with frustration, "Well, I am annoyed you went and did things without telling me when honestly," Watanuki-sama waved his arms emphatically to punctuate his rant, "you should know better when you're in a new place and there are people whose lives you're intruding upon; Gods know it would have been the polite thing to do but--"

"Watanuki-sama," Shizuka interrupted again, fascinated by the fireworks but determined not to let it distract him. "I will be more mindful of seeking permission when I am able."

"When you are able?" the Lord repeated, eyes narrowing. He had caught on to Shizuka's wording yet again.

The monk shrugged, "There might come situations where I will need to act before asking." Really, all this trouble would be avoided if they simply told him what he was dealing with. "If such a time comes, I would rather keep you alive than calm."

"I am calm!" Watanuki-sama returned indignantly, rearing back and his spine stiffening with offence, fists beginning to clench at his sides. "Much as your very presence, never mind your actions, conspire to do away with my composure..."

With an inward sigh, Shizuka tucked his hands into his sleeves, tuning out of the one-sided conversation. Honestly, they ought to be getting some sleep than standing about discussing things. He followed Watanuki-sama's progress about the room with his eyes, noting the deep weariness in the young man's eyes. His Master had obviously not been sleeping very well.

He sneaked glances around the room when his Master was not looking, noticing the corner pieces affixed to each of the four ceiling corners; a unicorn, a dragon, a lion and a fish.

The four guardians.

"Are you even listening to me?!" Watanuki-sama hissed.

Shizuka figured he'd better keep his attention in hand or one more misstep and he was sure he'd be treated to, instead of witness to, a very loud tongue-thrashing. "I heard everything you said."

"Do you have nothing to say for yourself?" Rolling his eyes, the noble clutched despairingly at his temples.

Headache? Shizuka wondered. He wasn't that bad, and chose to say, "I believe you need some rest."

"I have no idea what Jason was thinking when he let you on board," Watanuki-sama exasperatedly muttered, eyes slipping shut, head bowing into his hands. "That Affairs Council is bad enough all on their own but Jason going along with them is—" His voice cut out, head jerking up and eyes wide.

Shizuka whirled for the door, his earlier charms humming their warning across his skin. He growled as the Lord followed him, "I do not think you should be out in the open, Master."

"I am not as helpless as you think!" There was a faint reaction on Watanuki-sama's cheeks to the word 'Master' but both the Lord's hands reached toward his lower back, each drawing one of the two Wakizashi swords still strapped there, looking like he knew very well how to use his weapons.

Watanuki-sama made to step around Shizuka but the monk, recognising the battle-ready light in his Master's eyes and aware of the approaching threat, turned to fling open the door and dashed out. He simultaneously drew his own long sword from over his shoulder, a beautifully crafted Katana, and brought it down in an angry arc to immediately cross blades with a black-clad masked man.

The helm guard-dog began to howl, and the single night watchman perched high above on the ship's tallest mast began to ring the ship's alarm bell.

He swept his eyes over his opponent, assessing his enemy, senses extending to his Lord behind him. Watanuki-sama leapt out toward his unprotected side, a second sharp ringing resounding in the night as he engaged another shadowed figure.

"Hello," Watanuki-sama greeted almost casually, his twin blades crossed beneath the sword he had caught.

Completely at odds with his slight appearance, Watanuki-sama stepped gracefully underneath the braced swords and turned, angling the blades away, a foot lifting toward his opponent's unprotected ribs and landing a harsh kick. There was a dull crack and the man stumbled away and to the ground with a pained cry.

Shizuka smirked. Well, that was a pleasant surprise.

Refocusing on his own attacker, he tilted his blade, changing the balance of the cross he held with his opponent, stepping backward and throwing the man's balance off. He surged forward into a spin behind his opponent's back, swivelling the sword along with him to smash the hilt into the back of the man's head. The intruder slumped to the floor out cold. The cries from below deck filtered up through the floor boards as the crew began to assemble.

Then there was a third enemy…

Growling, Shizuka pulled a shuriken from his belt and flung it quickly at the charging trespasser. The man dodged it but the movement cost him precious momentum and balance, the monk surging forward—

Shizuka leapt aside, the spell startling him, only just managing to avoid it. He twisted forward as he jumped, using his momentum, extending his sword arm and slamming the broadside of it against third man's head. He too collapsed unconscious.

Regaining his footing, he caught Sorata's eye just as the priest stumbled out on deck. Together, they sensed there were no more enemies and turned toward the curse Shizuka had avoided, the monk's breath hitching.

The spell moved so fast that it was almost invisible even to Shizuka, its passage marked by the gouges it cut into the wood floor of the ship deck as it charged toward Watanuki-sama. The spell was strong but would have been easy enough for him to deal with had there simply not been only seconds until it would impact his Lord.

And right now, there was no way he could counter it nor get to his Master in time.

Yet Watanuki-sama seemed calm, eyes hooded and almost bored. And just as the spell rushed him, Shizuka watched as the young Lord merely lifted an arm, a single arm, and with a cutting motion upwards— he flung the spell harmlessly away into the sky.

Shizuka blinked.

He followed the castaway curse with his eyes watching as it disappeared into the darkness where it would most likely soon spend itself out. The defeating of their attackers had barely lasted a minute; a waste of their time. And that deflection… it was nothing short of spectacular.

Astounded, he looked back down at Watanuki-sama… who was already disappearing into his cabin.

"Watanuki-sama?" Shizuka hurried after him, more puzzled than ever. He shut the door behind him, ignoring the sound of Sorata taking command and calling out for the trespassers to be dealt with.

"I know you saw the spell," Watanuki-sama spoke over his shoulder to the monk, voice was oddly flat and emotionless, making Shizuka blink. "And that on top of what you did earlier… I am glad that you seem so capable. But you obviously need some rest. It had not occurred to me sooner that you would be so tired after such a long journey to come to me."

The dead tone of careful speech startled Shizuka, though he remained heavy-lidded calm as he listened. The politeness in the young Lord's manner was one he recognised from earlier when they had first met… though only now he realised it was a mask. Had he not has the privilege of witnessing Watanuki-sama's real emotions then he doubted he would ever have noticed this change, so calmly and quickly did the Lord slip into this manner.

"You may wish to take advantage of the futon in that chest," Watanuki-sama pointed to the far wall before moving away, his other arm hidden. "I am sure you will feel more comfortable with that than in the hammock the crew provided you with." Walking calmly, the Lord headed for his bedroom. "You should probably use that chest to keep your things, as well. I apologise for not seeing to you earlier." He paused in the doorway and turned his head to speak over his shoulder, "Thank you for your hard work this evening."

And with that, Watanuki-sama shut the door behind him, the barrier seeming more than just a physical one. It left Shizuka to glower at the door with annoyance that Watanuki-sama, so passionate about so many things and in his presence, would suddenly take his true feelings away and hide like this.

He almost wished the young Lord had simply accepted his presence, dismissed then ignored him as his previous Commissions did.

Almost.

It had not escaped him as Watanuki-sama paused in the doorway, that little glimpse he'd had of the young noble's sleeve… horribly tattered and stained darkly with blood.

TBC

Author Notes: Thank you to all the people who keep up with this story. Just a warning, but I do have a LOT of stories unfinished. I tend to work on my Arcs when the characters are active in my head, not necessarily story by story. So please don't fret if I stop writing for a while. Comments, thoughts and reviews are always appreciated. Thanks for reading!