SORRY FOR THE DELAY: Well, I did promise you I would have it up by the end of the week if I got tied up with other things... which I did. I tried to squeeze time in to work on this when I could so here you go!
"Well, I suppose that makes sense," Kyoko reasoned. "We met when we were young and I had not yet decided which guild I wanted to join."
That was not entirely what he meant but he was not sure he wanted to correct her at this juncture so he gave in, "Ah, right, and I never thought I'd be returning to Grismeir for anything other than the occasional family vacation as we used to."
"It's funny how we've met twice because of our own mistakes," she said offhandedly.
"I wish I could call my experience a mistake."
"Why not?" she argued. "You were young and ill-prepared for the what you faced. Granted, it came with very heavy consequences, but it was still a mistake."
"What life-altering decisions were you making at fifteen that you could label as a mistake?" he challenged.
"I believed that I was going to marry the boy next door," she said quietly as if she almost did not want him to hear her.
"Oh," he said, suddenly sobered. "Sorry, I suppose you have a point."
"That's okay. Besides, if it weren't for that, we really never would have met again," she smiled gratefully at him. "If that was what it took to find you, then I suppose I am thankful, in a way, that it happened."
"You always did have a talent for finding the positive in anything," he grinned.
She shrugged with a smile, "Besides, since we apparently share a bond with a stone, isn't it better for us to be able to work together now?"
Kuon suddenly found that talking about Rick was actually easier than talking about this subject. There were a number of things she needed to know, but some of those he would rather not tell her. Even if it was only an old tradition—and one that was not always conventionally followed as it was more symbolic than anything else—it was important that she was fully aware of the situation in which she unwittingly became involved. However, as it was his fault they were in this situation in the first place, he would need to step up and take the lead. Maybe he could start with a few basic facts and they could handle the heavier implications later.
"About that," he hesitated. "There's something important I should probably tell you about that. Well, there are several things but those can… wait for now," he was fumbling over his words and she looked at him oddly. "Anyway, it's about what happened at the Rampart."
"What about it?" Kyoko said flatly, not sure if she wanted to hear another revelation regarding that particular incident.
"Well, you never actually activated a draft that day. I was the only one," he paused for a second before continuing. "Because we are connected through the our amulet stones, we can use each other's energy when ours isn't enough to complete a draft. As such, I used up everything you and I both had to deflect that wave away from you."
"That's why we both passed out?" her eyes went wide.
"Yes," he nodded slowly. "I'm sorry for doing something like that without you knowing but I didn't think there was any other choice."
"I'm pretty sure the only other choice was for me to get hit," she pointed out. "So, in that respect, you did what you thought was necessary. But is that something either one of us can do to the other without their knowledge or consent?"
"Technically, yes," he admitted. "However, when two people are bonded to a stone there's usually an… agreement, of sorts, to respect each other's boundaries and communicate. It is also possible for one of us to voluntarily lend our energy to the other should we choose to."
"This is sounding an awful lot like some sort of contract," she puffed out her cheeks and sighed.
"I suppose it is in a way," Kuon was not comfortable with the direction in which the conversation was headed and tried for a distraction. "But, here, let me show you some of the other things you can do through your stone before we go to sleep. Maybe if you learn a bit more about it, this won't seem quite so daunting."
Kyoko relented and he proceeded to delve in to a few of the minor perks of the bond. She surprised to learn though, in hindsight it made sense, that they had a way of communicating through their amulets. It was not very sophisticated, as one would imagine, and only conveyed emotions rather than words. However, she decided it could prove useful in a pinch and would, at least, make things fun like passing secret notes to a friend in class. The sensation she got when he sent her a 'message' through her amulet would take some getting used to. Imagine feeling an emotion that's not your own for just a split second before it vanishes completely. He made sure she tried it several times to make sure she understood before moving on but, being the fast learner that she is, she had no problems catching on right away.
She next learned how he was able to track her through her amulet signature when she was still downtown. That one took a bit more focus as she was not quite used to the fact that there was an extension to her own amulet. Kuon tried to explain it as she was essentially trying to track a part of herself that was not exactly her but rather a counterpart. Once she overcame the mental hurdle of accepting that concept, she took to it like a natural.
"Oh! I can see you!" she exclaimed happily from behind closed eyes. "Wait, why are you walking away?"
"So you can see how it looks when I move around," he explained. "Can you see the room we're in as well?"
"Just barely," she furrowed her brow. "It's very dark."
"It usually will be but, that's good, I think you've got it. Why don't we call it a night since it's pretty late and I'm sure you're exhausted?" he suggested.
"That's probably a good idea," Kyoko scrubbed at her eyes. "I'll head back to my room then."
"Do you want me to escort you?"
"I think I can manage to retrace my steps down two hallways on my own but thanks," she shook her head. "Besides, I heard you didn't get much rest today either."
"Yes, but it was to help you," he nodded "I don't regret my choice."
"Thank you," she looked at him with grateful eyes. "Really, if it weren't for you and Kanae… I don't want to think of what might have happened."
"Then don't think about it," he soothed. "Go get some rest and I'll see you in the morning."
"I will. Goodnight, Kuon," she let out a light chuckle. "It still feels so odd to call you that."
He smiled, "Goodnight, Kyoko."
Early afternoon of the following day found Kyoko, Kanae and Maria sitting in the den on their second game of Scarto. The young hostess was sitting pretty as the winner of the last game and Kanae was struggling to take as many tricks as she could to make up for her previous, abysmally low score. Kyoko managed to stay well in the middle of the range despite not fully paying attention to the game. Her mind kept wandering as she mulled over everything from the day before.
What her mind kept sticking on was not necessarily what Kuon had said to her, but what he had not. Though he did say that there were some more important things she needed to know, he seemed hesitant to tell her what they were. This whole thing about their stones had her thoughts quite jumbled. It felt less like they were bonded to a stone and more like they were bound to each other and she was not entirely certain how she felt about that. Why did he give her half of his stone in the first place? Granted, they were both young at the time; perhaps he was not fully aware of the consequences should she choose to actually use the stone for anything other than a memento of their friendship. Nonetheless, a warning would have been nice.
'Maybe he didn't know at that time either and that's why he never said anything,' a contrasting opinion voiced itself in her head.
She shrugged to herself at that thought. Maybe that was the case but she would not know for sure unless she asked him. It was going to be a challenge to figure out how to do so since talking about this subject seemed to make him as uneasy as it did her. Her decision was to wait for now and ask once they were past the danger of the current situation.
"Why are you shrugging?" Kanae asked pointedly.
"What?"
"You just shrugged while looking at your cards."
"Oh, well I realized it didn't matter which one I chose to play between the few I have left," she replied smoothly.
Kanae knew this was a lie but left it alone. Her friend seemed out of sorts since she woke up this morning. Anyone else would have attributed it to the events which took place the day before but, somehow she knew that was not the case. If anything, she was willing to wager a tidy sum on the cause being a certain Archweaver who happened to exchange odd looks with Kyoko over breakfast. At one point, she could have sworn she saw her wince quickly and then glare at Ren across the table who, in turn, looked apologetic. Somehow, the two of them had reached a level of communication that rivaled even the seemingly innocent looks she and Kyoko would give each other when trying to convey a message. It should have made her jealous but, for some reason, it did not. Well—to be perfectly honest—perhaps it did, but only a little and now was not the time to be petty.
Ren had retreated to the Grand Archweaver's rather impressive library after breakfast when Maria suggested playing games. He assumed the girl would have more fun playing with her 'big sisters'. Plus he wanted to give Kyoko some space to process everything. He made a mistake that morning by trying to communicate through her stone to ask how she was feeling. Apparently, he broadcast a bit too strongly and he saw her flinch briefly and her lips tighten in pain before she shot him a venomous look. This was a first for him as well so he was not yet accustomed to remembering to dial it back for her sake.
Absentmindedly thumbing through a random book he pulled off the shelves, he felt a faint call from Kyoko. Not quite sure if it was an inquiry or a request, he sent out a questioning response in the hope she would interpret it as an invitation to repeat herself. He felt it much more strongly when she replied. It was a very polite beckoning feeling and he figured she was asking him to join them in the den. With an affirmative confirmation, he closed the book he held and left the library.
"See, Maria?" he heard Kyoko say when he walked into the room. "His ears must have been itching because you wished to see him so badly."
He raised an inquisitive eyebrow and suddenly felt her urge him to play along.
"I wondered what that was all about." His hand reached up to scratch at his left ear and he squinted at the grinning child, "Maria, are you sure you only use those cards of yours for games or do I need to tell your grandfather you're dabbling in some sort of dark craft?"
"No, Ren, I swear I was only wishing you would come spend some time with us," her eyes were wide like saucers and she frowned apologetically.
"Well, far be it from me to deny the request of a beautiful lady," he smiled charmingly at the little girl and picked her up as she squealed with delight and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Kyoko nearly jumped when she felt him through her amulet. How in the world did he manage to convey a wink through this medium? Words failed her to describe exactly how that felt, but she knew exactly what the sentiment was. She looked away and fought back a blush but a light warmth dusted her cheeks all the same.
"And what would our Ambassador have us do now?" he asked Maria.
"It's such a nice day outside," she tried her best to straighten out her dress with one hand while still hanging on to him. "I think I shall arrange for us to have lunch in the garden."
"An excellent choice, Ambassador," he nodded in agreement. "Will you need me to put you down so you can make the necessary arrangements?"
"If you would be so kind."
She ran off towards the kitchen once her toes touched the ground. Within an hour, all four of them enjoyed a light lunch in the enclosed garden. Ren suggested they all go back to the library together for a quieter activity and promised Maria he would read with her as an incentive for her to agree. Kanae and Kyoko were grateful for the reprieve; they were unsure as to who exactly was entertaining whom at this point.
The evening found them still in the library, curled up in opposite corners of the room with a book of their choosing. Maria had long since fallen asleep to the calming sound of Ren's voice as he read to her. She remained curled up against his side in the chair. Kyoko almost nodded off a few times as well from listening in but she would never admit it while stifling the occasional yawn. The silence was broken when the library door opened and one of the housekeeping staff came in to collect the small girl and take her to her room. They were followed by Lory who looked gravely at Ren before he spoke.
"I need to see you in my study," the words he spoke were simple enough but they felt heavy in the air once he said them.
Ren slowly got up and followed him out of the room while the two young women stared after them.
"Please tell me I am mishearing you," Ren clenched and unclenched his fists, barely containing his sudden anger.
"I wish I could say that you were," Lory sighed in resignation. "However, we should have seen this coming considering they haven't been playing fair since they tried to get Kyoko."
"How did they even figure it out?"
"Honestly, I can't be sure," he admitted. "For all we know they may not even be certain and are just using speculation to see if they can smoke you out."
"What do they want?" his head fell to his opened hands and he fisted them in his hair.
"Same thing they wanted from her," he gestured to the door, indicating he was talking about Kyoko. "They want to know the details behind what we gave the Defenders and how it works so they can come up with a way to counteract it."
"If they spent so much time digging into my background, couldn't they have found it out already?"
"The Defenders are very good at what they do and trying to get anything from them would be a difficult task." Lory shrugged. "They're trying to find an easier way in by exploiting any weak points and you are a big one."
"Did they really have to go after my family?"
"You're the only son of a very powerful former leader," he reasoned. "Of course they did."
It was hard to believe that Altrian intelligence somehow figured out that he was Kuon Hizuri but the Grand Archweaver told him as much once they were in the privacy of his office. Apparently a messenger was sent to his office to communicate their demands in no uncertain terms. They were threatening harm to his mother and father if their requirements were not met. There was a possibility that it was all a bluff, but now that they were gambling with lives it was difficult to not take them seriously.
"I'm assuming you have a plan. Have you talked to Lt. Inspector Konoe about any of this?"
"Yes, he agreed that we're going to give them what they want," Lory sighed again. "We can't have anyone's life in danger because of this."
"But they don't exactly know what it was that we delivered, right?"
"No," he answered carefully, wondering where he was going with this.
"Then we can always alter the draft and sabotage them somehow."
"You really think they won't hesitate to retaliate once they realize it?" Lory argued. "That would make things go from bad to worse. We don't want to have a war on our hands."
"They're making threats to a respected public figure and his family," Ren hissed. "I get the feeling they have no qualms about starting a war."
"Yes, but we cannot be the ones to instigate it," he tried to calm him down. "You know this country can't do that without a direct order from the Council."
"Then surely arrangements can be made to bring them under someone's protection," he suggested desperately.
"Like I said before," the Grand Archweaver took on an exasperated tone. "We can't confirm whether or not they have concrete evidence about you. If any move is made to tip them off that they might be correct, both you and your parents would be in even greater danger. You know that as well as I do."
"Can you warn them at least?"
"The Defenders have already assigned operatives to do just that," he folded his hands across his lap. "Kuu is a very powerful Spellweaver so I've no doubt he can take care of himself and Julie. I'm sorry, Kuon, but that is the most I can do."
"Fine," he relented. "But I want to be the only one with a part in this."
"I was not going to get Kyoko involved if that's what you mean."
"Well, that's something on which we both agree."
Kyoko started to worry when she watched Ren leave with the Grand Archweaver. It only doubled in force when she and Kanae retired for the night while the two men were still sequestered in the study. Using the skill he taught her only the night before, she focused on his signature in the large house and saw him moving back and forth in an almost circular pattern. He was pacing, she recognized, but she was curious as to why.
Reaching out to him through his amulet she sent him a timid query and waited. She wondered if it even registered to him and thought to try again but decided maybe it was not her place to ask. Getting up from where she sat on her bed, she stretched and dressed for sleep. The covers were barely pulled up to her neck when his answer blared through her with jarring intensity. It was a jumble of pain, anger, disgust, sadness and resignation. Kyoko placed a hand on her chest and take a few deep breaths to recover when she felt his accompanying apology. She tried to send something soothing but, not knowing what was causing the sudden outburst, it felt a little unsure. He sent back reassurance and a final apology before she decided she would have to wait until they next spoke with each other to find out more.
BE PATIENT, I PROMISE IT WILL BE WORTH THE WAIT (hopefully): I know a lot of you were excited about the possible sailing of a ship and I'm sorry to disappoint. There will come a time when our two main characters find their way to each other, but it is not this day. It'll still happen faster than the actual manga since this story will not take 10+ years to develop, so there's that.
The big project I'm supposed to be doing for work has been pushed back and I fear I will be in a serious time crunch near the end of the month. I'll see what I can do about having enough material to keep updating on a semi-regular schedule. Anyway, I love you all and thank you to everyone who has followed the story as I believe I have passed the 100 mark. No idea what I did to deserve that but it warms my heart to have so many interested people!
AUTHOR OUT!