On High Guard

Aspirator

NINE

"His side effects." Hotaru stated in understanding. The small court was facing a fretful Anna, their Healer, as she reported that she wasn't sure when their Commander would wake up, if at all. She couldn't even tell them, to Mikan's horror, if he was stable.

"Enhanced Magic..." Anna struggled to explain, wringing her hands, "it's - I wouldn't call it side effects, Your Highness. Because he was not born with Magic and he was genetically modified to be different. His body biologically considers Magic foreign. But they've injected the Magic into his bloodstream anyway, and it's...he's in constant pain, Your Highness. Every second, his blood cells are trying to fight back the foreign invaders, and normally the battle is, to put it nicely, manageable..." The Healer trailed off, sighing. "But now that he's in this weakened physical state, his body cannot fight back. Magic usually would heal a Pure Magician, or even other Enhanced peoples whose body chemistry is more suited for Magic. But for him, it's...I don't know how to say it, Your Highness. It's just wreaking havoc."

"What are we going to do?" Yuu, too, fretted alongside Koko.

Koko glanced at the Acting Commander.

Youichi answered before he could question him. "As I mentioned before, he never acquired physical injury and it took him days, sometimes a full week, to recover when he uses that much magic. This time, it could be weeks or months, even," Youichi frowned, tapping his right thigh in deliberation. "We cannot - he would not want us to wait for him to awaken. We're in Agalian lands already. The Usurper knows we're coming, we have to strike fast."

Hotaru shifted her glance at the Nogi Army Commander. Mochiage nodded at her, "he's right, Your Highness. We have to strike now."

The Queen's lips set a thin line as she glanced at Koko first, who nodded, then Yuu, who sadly looked down. "Then we shall discuss our attack strategy."

When they had finished the discussion, the Nogi Army Commander bowed out of the tent and Sir Andou after him. Yuu, too, made to leave. But Koko stayed, because he saw the way Hotaru's eyes pinned Youichi down.

"Acting Commander Hijiri," the Queen called out, formally, indicating the seriousness of the question she was about to impose.

The man turned to her and inclined his head in a respectful acknowledgment.

"Where did he come from?"

"Goshima?" Youichi asked needlessly. He plowed on, knowing that he was exactly who the Queen was referring to. "He has always been a High Guard."

Hotaru rose one brow at him.

"Might I remind you, Your Highness, you purchased us from Persona." The young man stated the sentence emotionlessly, until he spat his former Master's name. "And Persona was very close to the Lady Ibaragi and her Alices. Commander Hyuuga had just dealt with them. I imagine the rest is not hard to deduce."

"So where is her power coming from?" Koko asked. He had thought about Goshima a lot, coming up with a theory that the Ibaragi daughter had fueled Goshima's magic trickery. "Who is the Pure Magician that she has captured?"

Youichi's lips set to a thin line. "You misunderstand, Advisor. Goshima has been Enhanced, for illusionary purposes." He paused for a minute, as if considering relaying his own thoughts. He decided to, sitting back down in his chair in preparation for a long discussion. "It can't have been more than that one spell, for he would've used all of his Magic to save himself. Thus, our Commander is still more powerful."

"Why do you think he hasn't attacked?" The Advisor asked the question that has been bothering him since the revelation of their traitor.

Youichi's lips tightened to a thin, bitter smile. "To Persona, the crueler the revenge, the sweeter it is."

"He was waiting for me to reclaim the throne." Hotaru stated, her eyes lighting up with the image of that scene, but her tone was cold. They understood what was unspoken. Persona wanted for the Queen to reclaim her throne, only to lose her life and never get a chance to rule it.

The Acting Commander inclined his head to indicate that that was his theory, knowing his former Master.

"That still doesn't answer my first two questions," Koko spoke up again, causing Youichi to look at him resignedly. Even Hotaru glanced at him irritably, and he felt as if he had missed important information flashing in front of his face.

The Queen cut in before Youichi could respond, her voice sharp but eager to confirm her theory. "The reason why the former Commander," and Youichi subtly winced at the Queen's callous use of past tense, "adamantly protected our Pure Magician was because the Ibaragi heiress needed one. The Ibaragis needed to capture a Pure Magician to harness the power."

"Yes," Youichi confirmed, causing the Queen to sit back smugly.

"But if Natsume used Magic, and judging by his current condition, a lot of it - that means he had to fight her with Magic, right? Ibaragi heiress must've used magic." Koko blurted, his train of thoughts spoken aloud.

"Advisor," the Acting Commander sighed his name, "in order to do what Nobara Ibaragi can do, one must already be a Magician - albeit, not a powerful one at that. I do not know where she originated, like I said, all I know is that it is surely not pure magic, at least, not anymore. It is Dark Magic." As an afterthought, he added, "a weak and desperate Dark Magician may arguably be more dangerous than a powerful Pure Magician."

It was now Mikan's turn to brood quietly in a corner. Koko almost smiled at her likeness to Natsume the past few days. The Commander remained comatose while the knights and High Guards prepared to reclaim the castle the next day.

"I heard you've been sitting with him everyday," the advisor finally breaks the silence, causing the sorceress to perk up, "resisting the urge to pour magic into him." Koko chuckled slightly at his light joke, but knew it was a serious matter.

"I wish I could just...I could heal him. But I can't add more Magic mayhem in his body." The sorceress sighed. She looked at him painfully, "he wouldn't let me use Magic - and - now he's - he's like this because of -"

"It's not because of you," Koko interrupted quickly. "He was protecting you."

Mikan didn't answer. Instead, she banged her head against her knees. "Why?" Came her muffled cry, "Why - does that make me feel so - why am I so -"

"In love with him?" Koko offered. He smiled, but he was completely serious.

Mikan froze, turning slowly to face him. Koko could almost literally see her processing that thought, as if it was the last puzzle piece to the most frustrating jig saw puzzle. She swallowed it with a mixture of realization, awe, disbelief, and… "How did I get here?"

"It's not sudden, if that's what you're thinking," the advisor answered the question in a roundabout sort of way. "It's slow and subtle. There may be some memories you can point out and say that marked a turning point, but the emotions inside build up to a point - when all of the sudden, you're looking at him and you feel it consume you. And you've never felt so strongly for anyone or anything before."

The sorceress looked at the advisor with wide doe brown eyes, searching his faraway grey ones. "That's…exactly…" She almost couldn't find the words, so she asked, "have you been in love Koko?"

For the first time, Koko didn't answer a question. A long time ago. Rather, he gave her a heartbreaking smile, then stated, "we're talking about you, Mikan."

"I won't forget," Mikan warned him, but accepted that this was a topic for another time. "Do you think he…?"

"I think you know the answer to that question." The advisor wisely stated. "You know better than anyone else that his best form of expression is through his actions."

Mikan nodded agreeably. Second to herself, surprisingly, it was Koko who knew Natsume best. "You know, Advisor," Mikan turned to smile softly at Koko, "I don't think we could've gotten as far as we did in our relationship if it weren't for you."

Koko grinned cheekily, "I know." Then he added, for jest, "handmaiden."

Mikan slapped him playfully in the shoulder, but light laugh didn't reach her eyes. She looked down, and Koko's smile dropped too. He knew what she was thinking - that the Commander always called her that, and the name had somehow become his form of endearment.

"Thank you, Koko." Mikan told him, quietly and sincerely. "You're a great friend." As an afterthought, she added, "to Natsume too, even if he won't admit it."

"I know." The advisor grinned. He stood up, bowing courteously at her. "Now, milady, we have the final battle tomorrow. I suggest you get some rest, we'll need our almighty sorceress."

Mikan returned with her usual clumsy curtsey, the determined glint returning to her eye. Yes, she will be instrumental in winning back the kingdom - for Hotaru, and for Natsume.

The castle was in high spirits, the rightful ruler had resumed her post on the throne, the damage to the building are under repairs, the Prince Nogi is set to arrive within a few weeks, and best of all, the commander is awake!

Koko, more than anything, wanted to witness the confusion on his face. Because, Koko imagined, the last Natsume remembered was collapsing at a camp just outside of Ibaragi lands but now he is bedridden in a castle infirmary. The battle had been won and he had missed it all.

He stopped just before revealing himself, however, when he realized he wasn't the first to visit the Commander.

"You kissed me first." Came Mikan's accusatory voice.

"I assure you it won't happen again." Despite the dry tone, there was a slight edge of mirth.

"That's not what I'm saying," the sorceress whined. There was a scuffle of fabric, then more quietly, shyly, she said, "it's just- that's the first time. You should do it more often - and not after some 'I'm going to die a hero' speech."

There was a long moment, then in a whisper so quiet, Koko nearly missed it, "like this?"

Mikan answered just as quiet, "like that."

Koko shook his head for infringing on their moment, and moved to leave. Before he left, he heard the sorceress speak up, "Natsume, don't you dare scare me like that again."

The Commander then quietly admitted, "it was to protect you."

"I know." Mikan had responded just as softly. Then, they were out of earshot.

Once he was awake, the Commander recovered quickly from his physical injuries. The side effects that plagued his health for so long only affected his physique but otherwise was completely gone.

To everyone's relief - especially Youichi's, Koko could tell - Natsume was up and about in no time.

In front of the Court, the Queen congratulated both the Commander and the Acting Commander on a job well done. And Natsume had commented idly that Youichi was ready and more than capable to assume command of the High Guard if or when the time comes.

Youichi had glanced at his superior with a mixture of surprise and pride, and Koko knew the Commander's side comment held more weight than the Queen public congratulations any day.

Koko sat down next to the Commander, finally, one of the few times he had the commander to himself.

The Commander reacted to him as he normally did, with a glance acknowledging his presence and nothing else.

This time, Natsume spoke first. "She's asking questions I don't have the answers to."

With a start, Koko realized Natsume was consulting him for his opinion and advice. The advisor smiled, "oh? Like what?"

He didn't answer, but Koko knew. The only questions that would trouble the Commander so would be questions about emotions.

"High Guards are genetically modified Alices: better, faster, stronger..." He shrugged, "enhanced. We were made for..." He struggled with his words, for the first time, "not..."

Koko smiled, gently he responded, "if you were not meant for feelings then why are you able to think of Mikan in that way?"

"Now you're asking questions I don't have the answers to."

The advisor moved from his seat beside the Commander to sitting across from him so that he could look him in the eye. When he locked gazes with the sullen man, he stated clearly, "because, despite whatever they did to you, you're still human, Natsume."

This time, the Commander didn't growl out his usual response whenever Koko called him by his first name. He let it slide, instead responding with a clipped, "being human is complicated."

Koko nodded in understanding. He let gaze travel as he responded carefully, "yes, perhaps being human is infinitely more complex than anything else in this universe."

The commander merely raised a brow at him.

Koko chuckled lightly, returning to their former topic of discussion, "the answer you're looking for is love."

"What?"

"Love." Koko repeated the word casually, "it's an emotion. Probably one of the strongest emotions." At the Commander's questioning gaze, the advisor cut himself off from his own spiel, "but I can't tell you about it. Emotions are meant to be felt, not described."

"How do you know, then?"

"You..." Koko found himself struggling for words. "You just do."

"Some advisor you are." Natsume grumbled wearily.

"Like I said," the advisor smiled as he stood up, seeing his job was done, "emotions are meant to be felt. Go feel."

Natsume didn't respond. "Advisor." He called out, causing the advisor to turn around, "it's Hyuuga to you."

Koko grinned, "you say that every time." He paused, then he said, "you're welcome."

As he roamed the halls later that night, he heard the Commander bluntly ask the flustered handmaiden about this "love" and how he could be certain he felt it for her.

By the way she blushed and he couldn't keep his eyes off her the next day, Koko could safely say that they reached an understanding of some sort.