AHHH. Okay guys, I'll update this week and next week, but after that I have sports, so the intervals between may be longer...I promise to finish though.
If it's been a long time and I seemingly disappear, shoot me a message and I'll get back on task...somehow.
Disclaimer: I only swim free.
WAIT
DISCLAIMER (actually though): Sorachi Hideaki
Eyes of Wolves
- 46 -
.: SEPTEMBER, PRESENT :.
The light, soft on her face.
Her hair, straw spun into gold.
"You."
.: FIFTEEN YEARS AGO :.
He has met Prince Hata several times, but he never seems to remember the peculiar boy's name. In fact, Zenshi often tunes out the stubborn, senseless Amanto whose pinched voice buzzes into one ear and out the other.
"I love pets," announces Hata. He has a pronounced lisp and a high voice. "I have this wild boar-goat, you see."
Zenshi nods absently. Seeing as they are at the coronation of some foreign planet's queen — a peculiar Amanto girl who is literally a walking, talking swan — Hata's conversation is unpleasant and interruptive. Zenshi's father, who is one of the first to congratulate the young queen, thus earning him an abashed flutter of wings and a pleased dip of the swan-girl's elegant neck, throws Zenshi a nod. Zenshi, who usually can discern his father's gestures as well as his mother, is befuddled. Is he supposed to talk to the Prince Hata? Is he supposed to stand up and say hello to the queen? The latter is preferable, but the purple-skinned Amanto with the peculiar appendage wiggling out of his head never stops talking.
"You know what I just thought of?" Hata asks. "Swans. Swans are pretty." He calls to his supervisor, a haggard old man who looks like he wants to throw Hata out a window. "Jii, I want a pet swan. Get me that one."
He almost points at the Amanto queen, to their horror, but Zenshi simply stands and pushes his hand aside.
"It's a lovely coronation ceremony, isn't it?" interrupts the young Yato. "It's too bad I couldn't hear her say her oath."
The last part is emphasized with tactful disdain, and though the small, noisy Prince Hata is ignorant and slow to catch on, he recognizes the accusation this time around and zips his lips hesitantly. The prince, whose skin is a pale purple, grows slightly dark. He is a sycophant puppet, always seeking to please, but is slightly put off by the fact that his desires have been thwarted.
Zenshi ignores the prince for the rest of the ceremony. The follow-up party is a sweet, quaint concession that has the swan queen thanking her guests in a toast and her chefs serving them pleasant little hors d'oeuvres.
His father motions to him, and he obediently supplies his presence at the summons.
"This is my son," Linter says. The firm hand around Zenshi's shoulder is comforting, but the boy just wants to go home.
As the swan queen displays her pleasure in meeting the Yato boy, Zenshi automatically responds with a practiced smile and a polite greeting. Within him, however, he is gutted by nausea and unease, because he is just like Prince Hata:
A marionette dangling by its strings.
.: SEPTEMBER, PRESENT :.
Tsukuyo flushed red, then. The light was harsh on them, an electric blue glare along the ship's halls. She made to say something, but it caught in her throat, and she choked it down with visible effort. Her fingers fiddled with her hair, pushing it repetitively behind her ears.
"Me?" she finally managed, biting her dry bottom lip.
"Yes, you." Zenshi turned and watched their progress through the thick window pane. "Seita asked if I had a significant lady in my life. Wouldn't you be offended if it wasn't you?"
He was smooth, too smooth. He made something so objectionable and ambiguous sound relatively persuading. His cover was opaque; she couldn't determine if he was expressing her first assumptions, or simply calling her a friend he has grown to appreciate.
"Of course I would," she replied robotically.
"If you weren't significant, what would you be?" And right then, he was reading her like a book, and she knew it. He was trite with his words, suggesting an ordeal of human nature. But then again, he wasn't a human, and she wondered to what extent he was a manipulative Yato.
No, that would be a misguided conjecture. Tsukuyo shook it from her thoughts and continued to attempt an answer.
"I'd hit ya to Mars," she stated as casually as possible. This broke his stoic, perspicacious play with words and expressions, urging a sigh of relief to build in her chest.
"We're passing Mars, actually." He pointed out the window. "There's the asteroid belt, and then a few hours after we pass it, there will be another space terminal."
The space terminals, which were probably wormholes — no one ever bothered with the specifics, because it either caused massive confusion or defied the laws of just about everything — were spaced throughout the galaxies in regular intervals. The biggest ones regulated the greatest traffic, with anything from little passenger space planes to colossal military warships cruising the stars.
They remained for a time, staring out at the passing figures. Spacecrafts were incredibly advanced nowadays, and what would have taken years to cross was sailed through in a matter of hours.
"There's dinner in the galley if you'd like," Mutsu said, when she found them still gazing out the observation deck in admiring silence. "We run on ship time, which will keep with Earth's twenty-four hour schedule. Since we're crossing through various areas of space, and you can probably guess that anything with the space portals warps time, the ship's clock is the most accurate clock. You'll just adjust to time change, like you would any other trip."
Mutsu glared at Zenshi, as if to ask why she had to explain everything.
"We keep by Earth time because a large majority of our crew is made of humans, and the Yato planet runs on nearly identical time." She readjusted her cloak, turning to Tsukuyo. "Your friends are already in the galley. They're a real friendly bunch, especially with our crew. Both our men and women really admire them."
"That's good ta hear," Tsukuyo said with a nod. "I'm glad."
"One of our chefs is an Amanto, but he makes good food. It's just like regular food, just in strange colors. I recommend everything he makes." Mutsu pointed down from where she'd come from, indicating the fastest route to the galley. "I hope you don't mind Amanto food, though, because the dessert is space jellyfish's tongue."
"That's her favorite," Zenshi suddenly interjected, an amused little smirk playing on his face.
"Oh really?" Mutsu smiled. "Good."
Tsukuyo lightheartedly slapped Zenshi's arm when the co-captain of the Kaientai left.
"Ya could've just explained all this space stuff to me yerself."
"And that would be fun?"
She pasted a sardonic smile on her face.
"Yes, it would."
.: Mid-SEPTEMBER, TWO WEEKS AGO :.
Soyo-hime came with a montage of guards that set the Hyakka on edge, but did not stir up much trouble. The only face that was heavily detested was the severe demon vice-chief, Hijikata. The man came sauntering up alongside the princess, but because the female enforcement of Yoshiwara never forgot a single complaint their boss uttered on any day at any hour, they recalled the man who refused to investigate publicly any further, despite Tsukuyo's urging.
Unreasonable? Probably.
Strange for the Hyakka and Tsukuyo? No.
"I've never been here," Soyo noted with a chipper smile. "It's pretty."
At this, several Shinsengumi officers grimaced but didn't comment. Soyo had very adamantly demanded to visit every corner of Edo, Yoshiwara included. She rode in the back of a stylish white convertible.
However, clashing rather inappropriately with the prim princess and her fancy car was a loud, mischievous Yato girl with scarlet hair and a strip of pickled seaweed sticking from her teeth. Kagura.
"Soyo-chan, I want you to meet my friends!" exclaimed Kagura, standing in the backseat to the driver's horror. "They live a little down that way! And then I'll show you the place where we opened the roof! And then where we defeated—"
"Hey, China, shut up." The light-haired officer with the hostile, deadened glare, struck at Kagura's head with his sheathed sword.
"You stupid sadist!" growled Kagura, grabbing the weapon. "Mind your own business, 'kay?!"
"This is my business."
"You're making Soyo-chan angry!"
"You know, you're making me angry."
"You stupid sadist!"
"You already said that, meatball head."
"Um," Soyo whispered, hesitantly. "Kagura-chan?"
"Who're ya callin' meatball head?!" hissed Kagura, gripping the officer by the collar. "Huh?! Who're you referrin' to?!"
"You." The young man took his sword and smacked Kagura upside the head. The Yato girl fell across Soyo's lap, but immediately scrambled up and tackled the officer with apoplectic vengeance.
"Kagura-chan…" Soyo had motioned for the driver to stop his slow, ambling parade down the streets. A woman and a man were standing with Kagura and the officer now, each one grabbing hold of the troublemakers.
"Since I've given fair warnin' in the past, and I'm in a bad mood, I won't give ya any leeway today." A firm hand lifted Kagura to her feet and away from the officer. "Any man who disrespects a woman here in Yoshiwara will be subject to appropriate punishment."
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" The officer completely ignored the fact that Zenshi had him by the back of the collar, lifted about six inches off the ground. And completely nonchalantly as well, the Yato looking bored with his parasol leaning casually over his shoulder whilst the rest of the Shinsengumi croaked uncomfortably and watched their first division captain dangle in the air.
"Head of the Hyakka, Tsukuyo."
"Tsukki!" exclaimed Kagura, delighted. "Soyo-chan, this is my friend Tsukki, yes? She's the strongest lady in Yoshiwara!"
"Oh!" Soyo clasped her hands together, and when Tsukuyo turned to look at her, she said, "What a pleasure to meet you, Lady Tsukki."
The way Soyo so politely addressed Yoshiwara's queen was disconcerting. The princess was so sweet and so formal and so innocent, not realizing that "Tsukki" was just a nickname.
"Um, we're the police, and I can arrest you for assaulting me," said the officer. "And can you put me down?"
Zenshi let the light-haired boy down slowly, but had read the tension in the boy's limbs. Okita Sougo spun around like lightning, but his intentions were clear as day. He drew his sword with articulate grace, an artistry matched by few.
But the Yato was perceptive, attended by quick wit and his infamous "Lieutenant's sixth sense." Zenshi's hand glided up the dull side of the drawn blade, turning so that the end of the katana didn't even touch the back of his uniform. Letting the officer finish his swing, Zenshi intercepted the next move, keeping a keen eye on the boy's shoulders, which deliberated his every move.
"Your application of the sword," Zenshi told the younger man flatly, "is aesthetically pleasing. But your intentions are easily captured."
Zenshi's hand closed around Okita's grip on the sword handle, thumb digging into the inside of the official's wrist while his fingers pushed hard on the knuckles. It didn't quite disengage Okita's grip until he applied greater strength, cracking the boy's wrist down at such a harsh angle that Okita hissed as his fingers relinquished the sword.
"You basta—"
The Yato seized both of Okita's arms, kicking the sword out of the way and blocking the officer's forceful kick with a well-timed knee-to-gut counter. In an instant, the light-haired boy was pushed face first into Soyo-hime's car, his arms locked behind his back in Zenshi's stiff grip. Groaning lackadaisically, Okita relented with leery, narrowed eyes.
"Take that, you super S!" hollered Kagura, having thoroughly enjoyed the brief melee.
"Actually," Hijikata drawled unhurriedly, "we can still arrest you for assaulting a police officer."
"That would be a bad idea, yes?" Kagura sang. "Zen-chan can control the Bakufu."
They all made a strange face at the girl, who just smiled sweetly. Zenshi's expression was a motley of things, ranging from skepticism to exasperated denunciation.
"I'm sure he can," Okita muttered, brushing himself off and returning to his post beside Soyo. "Who are you, anyway? Amanto?" They took notice of Zenshi's umbrella and pale skin, traits that weren't covert anyway.
"I'm the Prince of the Planet Pheromones," Zenshi deliberated flatly, demarcating his lack of patience. He also picked up a ridiculous accent, sounding mildly like the rolled tongue of the swan peoples he'd met in a different lifetime. "I have political immunity, so I'd suggest you refrain from anything crass."
"This guy annoys me," Hijikata grumbled beneath his breath. For once, Okita seemed to agree. In a louder voice, the vice-commander continued, "We, the Shinsengumi, will remove any obstruction of justice, politically immune or not. Once justice is sought, you can bicker away with the Mimawarigumi about whatever."
"You may be the Shinsengumi, but the Bakufu ain't got a thing on Yoshiwara. The rule of thumb here belongs to the Hyakka." Tsukuyo, with cultivated elegance, stepped up to defend the denizens of the City of the Night.
"We're the police," Okita repeated blandly. "We call the shots."
"If you'd like to back your egregious claims, I can recommend a lawyer." Zenshi folded his arms. He educed irritation out of the men, but Kagura and the princess were rather delighted to see the exchange. Soyo, whose life had begun to spiral into wistful ennui, enjoyed any and all interactions. "But I do have a brilliant lawyer."
"Yeah, yerself," snorted Tsukuyo.
"Oh just drop it," snapped Hijikata, fickle and malleable when legal trouble loomed overhead. "We're supposed to be doing a tour for the princess. Don't give us any trouble."
"I'm not holding my breath," Zenshi told the man. Hijikata glared, but it was ineffectual.
"Good to know, Mr. Prince," Okita said dryly. "Good to know."
As Soyo and her entourage began to roll away again, Seita appeared, demanding to know why no one had told him of the little lady's arrival.
"S-S-Soyo-hime!" he stuttered, stumbling after the car. The younger sister of the Shogun beckoned her driver to stop again, to everyone's dismay, and waited for Seita to bound up to her. She leaned out the car door to greet the younger child.
"Hello," she chirped in her melodious voice. "And who might you be?"
"My name's Seita," panted the boy, exuding excitement and anticipation from every pore and every fiber. "I'm Hinowa's son. Hinowa is Yoshiwara's most beautiful courtesan, if you didn't know. I'm honored to meet you, Princess. I've only seen you during the big festivals."
"Nice to meet you too, Seita." Before Soyo could say anymore, Seita whipped a meager bouquet of daisies from behind his back.
"I picked these for you. I hope you like them!" And then, ducking away with a shy and infinitesimal smile, Seita ran back down the street and dove into his home parlor.
Soyo, with her hands grasped lightly around the flowers, smiled down the road.
"You may continue," she called to the driver, lifting the flowers to her nose. They had a soft, fresh scent, like a remnant of spring. She wondered where he had found them down here.
"He liiiikes you," teased Kagura, grinning.
"Does he?" exclaimed Soyo.
"Soyo-chan, you're oblivious, yes?" Kagura, who enjoyed telling the princess inordinate tales of "an everyday commoner's life," began an interminable tale of star-crossed lovers. The Shinsengumi officers, who hung around the crawling car with detached disinterest, groaned inwardly.
From their street, Tsukuyo and Zenshi could only watch as the car shrank down the avenue and rounded a corner.
"Prince of Pheromones?" Tsukuyo asked, when they were gone. "Is that yer go-to for all things inconvenient?"
"Define inconvenient," Zenshi replied, leaning his umbrella over his head again.
"Well—" Tsukuyo paused, catching sight of Seita, who was leaning around the shop door, gazing down the road. "Well," she continued, reconsidering her sentence, "maybe instead of standing there like the useless Prince of Pheromones, you should help Seita make a nicer bouquet."
"And what makes you think I know a thing about making nice bouquets?"
*gasp*
cute
cuuute
(also, who caught the voice actor reference?!)