To my lovely readers, I honestly thank you so much for your kind reviews in the previous chapter. I am so sorry for the delay for this chapter and hope that you guys will continue to support Call My Name. As usual, this chapter is dedicated to you all. xoxo
Disclaimer: Uraboku belongs to the amazing Odagiri Hotaru sensei.
Chapter 6: Reunion
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"Shusei-kun. May I come in?" a soft voice was heard and brought him out of his musings. A ten year old boy was engrossed in his reading on Zweilts and Duras in the book that it took him awhile to register that he was in his own room.
Shusei looked up to the door, put the bookmark onto the page that he has read. "Yes" he replied.
Yuki came in and gave him a gentle smile. "Shusei-kun, please go see Takashiro-san at his study. He wants you to meet someone."
Shusei merely nodded, wondering who else he needed to meet. For the past month that he was in the Twilight Mansion, he has met a couple of Zweilt pairs and a few trainees. He placed the book onto his bedside table and followed the Wielder of God's Light to Takashiro's study.
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"Relax Hotsuma," Tsukumo said for what must have been the tenth time when the blond paced around the study restlessly. Hotsuma ignored him and continued to pace around the study, trying to get rid of the nervousness eating into his system. It has been ten years afterall, and Hotsuma honestly did not know what is going to happen once he met the young Shusei.
Toko and Takashiro merely waited in silence for the young soon-to-be Zweilt guardian as Hotsuma took a few deep breaths.
What should I say? This is seriously crazy.. I don't even know what words to use when I see Shusei, he thought.
The knocking of the study door brought Hotsuma back to reality, and he braced himself. Yuki walked into the study, followed by a young brunette who stole Hotsuma's breath away. Shusei.
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Shusei entered into the study and walked to Takashiro's desk. He gave a slight bow, which put a gentle smile on the necromancer's face.
"Shusei…" Takashiro gently said, he closed his eyes once before opening them again, his eyes focusing onto the young boy in front of him, "becoming a Zweilt guardian is no easy task, as you know by now. Training could take up to years or even decades for some, depending on each individual's abilities…." He paused a little before continuing. "Despite knowing this, do you still wish to continue this path as a Zweilt guardian?"
Shusei felt the temperature of the room dropped a little, sweat beads forming on his forehead. The silence continued for a few seconds, before a deep and commanding voice broke the silence.
"Quit scaring him, Takashiro," the voice said. Shusei's eyes widen before he turned to the source of the voice and glanced up. He did not even noticed the man's presence when he entered the room, which was a surprise to him as he was always very observant in nature.
A man who looked in his late twenties was standing a few steps away from him, his stare piercing right into his soul. 'Wh-What is this sensation?' he thought. Golden eyes met hazel and it seems like Shusei felt like he could just drown into those eyes forever. The man carried a commanding air, and Shusei could not help but feel drawn towards the man. He has met many people going in and out of the Twilight Mansion, admiring how each Zweilt carried themselves so well, but this is the first person he came across that he completely took him off guard. There was a certain charm or charisma that Shusei could not help but be drawn into.
"Ah… my apologies. I just wanted to make sure that young Shusei here knows what lies ahead." Takashiro said lightly, before continuing "Afterall… he will be training under you," he gave a light smirk to the Wielder of God's Voice.
Hotsuma's eyes widen a little, before narrowing his gaze. "Takashiro…" he said in a warning tone, wondering what the necromancer was up to.
Takashiro cut him off before he could continue. "Before that, let me introduce you two." He looked over to Shusei and smiled, "This fierce looking onii-san is Renjou Hotsuma, the Wielder of God's Voice, also known as the Incinerator. I have assigned him to be your personal trainer, Shusei."
Shusei blinked once, twice before glancing back up to Hotsuma. He then faced the blond Zweilt guardian and gave a ninety-degree bow. He did not know what compelled him to do so but all he knew was that he wanted to spend as much time with the blond as possible. "Hotsuma-nii-chan, I am Usui Shusei. I really would like to learn under you. Please accept me as your student. Please..." He closed his eyes, gritting his teeth and bracing for an immediate harsh rejection. Afterall, why would such a veteran Zweilt guardian would want to be bothered with him anyway?
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Hotsuma glanced at the small figure, his heart immediately reaching out for Shusei when the boy bowed to him, practically pleading for Hotsuma to accept him. Hotsuma hesitated for a moment, before gently placing his palm onto the small shoulder.
"Shusei…" he said gently, and immediately noticed the boy tensing a little, his small hands gripping in fists as though anticipating the worst. Hotsuma went down on one knee, his hands gently placed onto Shusei's arms, wanting to get a good look at his former lover.
"Raise your head, Shusei," he said. The small head nodded once before lifting his head their eyes now on the same level. Shusei took another good look into the steady gaze and saw how much Hotsuma's eyes carried. He saw sadness and loneliness in those eyes, as though the blond is carrying the fate of the whole world around his shoulders. And yet underneath the sadness and loneliness, Shusei could see a fiery passion, which caused him to unable to look away.
Another voice broke their trance. "Why don't you just accept it, Hotsuma? Afterall, isn't this the reason why you came back?"
Shusei glanced at Tsukumo who had spoken. "Tsukumo-nii-chan…"
Tsukumo smiled and winked at Shusei. "You can be rest assured, Shusei. Hotsuma is one of our strongest Zweilt guardians, so you will definitely learn a lot from him… and he will definitely protect you from any harm, so you do not need to worry."
"Even though he looks like he wants to kill someone all the time, I admit he is the best trainer for you," Toko chimed in.
Hotsuma frowned lightly and giving a sigh of exasperation, "Gee, thanks Toko."
Takashiro interrupted. "So, Hotsuma… what will it be?"
Hotsuma glanced from the necromancer to his former partner, who was now looking up at him with hopeful eyes. Hotsuma sighed once more, and ruffled the boy's hair. "Ahhhh…" Shusei squeaked out in surprise, at the unexpected gesture.
Shusei's hands reached up to the hand that was ruffling his hair. The hand felt warm and comfortable and Shusei could not help but to hold onto the hand that has now went around his shoulder, in a protective and comforting gesture.
Hotsuma gave the boy a slight and clumsy smile and glanced towards Takashiro.
"Alright," he gave in. "I will look after Shusei," he signed in defeat. Despite his agreement, thousands of questions flowed into his mind – wondering whether it was really a good idea to take in Shusei as his protégée.
Takashiro beamed. "Alright, that settles it then." He glanced at the rest for a moment before addressing all of them. "You guys can leave now, I have something I need to discuss with Hotsuma for awhile."
The rest simply glanced at the necromancer, before they each got up from their respective places. Tsukumo passed the Wielder of God's Eyes, but Shusei merely stood his ground… as though not wanting to leave without Hotsuma.
Tsukumo smiled gently at the young boy. "Come Shusei. Hotsuma will join us shortly once they are done talking," he gestured, taking Shusei's hand into his.
Hotsuma glanced at them, before nodding towards Shusei and ruffling his hair gently. "Go on ahead. I'll come find you once I'm done here," he smiled reassuringly.
"Okay…" Shusei mumbled out, before following the silveret out.
Once the study door was closed shut, Hotsuma glanced back towards Takashiro, before glaring at him.
"What's the meaning of this, Takashiro?" his voice was barely over a whisper. He was close to losing control over his emotions. Seeing Shusei again, although a younger version shook him to the core. He managed to hold back from just bursting out and running over to the young boy when Shusei entered into the study.
Takashiro stood up and went over to the window, glancing down towards the vast gardens of Twilight Mansion. He crossed his arms lightly before smiling a little. "Wasn't this what you've always been waiting for? I assumed that you have heard from Tsukumo and Toko how we found him." He glanced over and saw Hotsuma gave a slight nod. He paused a little before continuing, his voice a few tones lower, indicating he was in serious deep thought. "Although… I do not know why his memories were wiped out though. It seems like he remembers nothing about the past." He glanced towards Hotsuma a little sympathetically. "The reason I want you to train him is because you knew him best, be it his fighting style and his personality. And also… I know that you will do anything to protect him so he will be safe at your side… right?"
Hotsuma scoffed a little and frowned, "He-Shusei was always the one guiding me down the right path. He was the one who always brought me back when I was in despair."
Takashito interrupted, "then in this lifetime, be there for him. It's your turn to guide him now." The necromancer smiled gently, "He seems rather fond of you though, did you see his face when he first saw you? It looks like as though he was in awe."
The statement caused Hotsuma's eyes to widen. The blond then glanced away, his gaze shifting uncomfortably. "I…I… do you really think I am suited to be with him again? Afterall, you do know that Shusei and I were in love, despite the short period of time…"
Takashiro smiled at him confidently. "It is because you love him so much that I know that he will be in good hands. Don't worry about it too much. Take this time to get to know him once again… although…" Takashiro drifted off, before smirking at the blond "… I rather you don't go and seduce the poor boy before he turns of age, Hotsuma."
Hotsuma spluttered – his cheeks burning slightly. "TAKASHIRO! I WAS BEING SERIOUS HERE! WHY THE HECK ARE YOU SPEWING THE SAME NONSENSE AS TSUKUMO?!"
Takashiro laughed lightly, causing Hotsuma to raise an eyebrow. Once he has finally calmed down, he looked over to the blond fondly, before mentioning his appreciation to him. "It's good to have you back, Hotsuma," he said sincerely. "I sincerely hope that you will finally find some closure and peace now that Shusei is back."
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Shusei took his book and went out to the gardens. He sat down on one of the benches and opened his book. However, the book lay on his lap… opened but ignored. Shusei could not get his mind off Hotsuma.
'Wh-Why does it feel so comfortable when I am by his side? Why… why do I long to see him again?'
As he was lost in those thoughts, the same person that was on his mind appeared by his side.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Shusei."
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