For the ages

by BL-lover23

The mouth of the tiger on his neck slowly dripped blood as the knife carved along. Something gently touched his cheek and his eyes immediately snapped up. He inhaled sharply, eyes widening. Gold met Rusty Red. (“You’ll come find me, right?”) Bajitora Omegaverse

3. Chapter 3: The cost of the free

Didn't you want to protect them?

You couldn't do it, could you?

This is the price of your shattered impulses

Even now, I'm still possessed by these Ghosts

"You cared for him, didn't you?"

"Is that even a lie?"

"You're tired of me, aren't you?"

To love a fabricated lie

Kazutora Hanemiya - Ghosts (english translation)

August 19th, Year X1012

Draken was stressed out.

Keeping a fleet of fifty thousand men in check while simultaneously trying to hold out on news of his superior was trying. Mikey had said that he'd be back, but it had been a week and that asshole was nowhere to be seen.

Granted he had just found out, who had killed his brother, so he did cut him some slack.

That slack was hanging by a threat.

Their men were waiting for information on what had happened in the manor. Not only them but the natives as well. they'd begun coming out of their homes on the third day with mistrust on their faces and reluctantly interacted with some. but a majority asked the same question: what happened to Valhalla's child?

Draken could take a lucky guess on who exactly they meant and was again thankful, that Takemitchy was there with him when Hanemiya had dropped the bombshell. Otherwise, they would have a whole mob of angry natives on their front porch. The cautious peace was hanging on a thread, that grew thinner and thinner the longer Mikey remained MIA.

He could tell neither group the whole truth, without upsetting them majorly. But they could only be stalled for so long and the natives were getting more demanding, especially that one elderly woman who'd chewed more than one person's ear off.

Draken might be a dick, but he couldn't reconcile it with his morality if he were to throw hands with a granny.

He needed Mikey to declare the war over, so they could finally go back home!

"Mikey's gonna appear sooner or later" Smiley grinned.

Draken gave him an unimpressed look. The commanders, except Muto, who'd sent Sanzu in his stead as always and Takemitchy were holding a meeting to discuss how to proceed with Mikey's disappearance. "thank you for your input, Smiley"

"He is right, Draken. The only thing we can do is wait him out. It's not like we've been in the isles before to properly search for him" Mitsuya said.

"I know" he groaned. He'd hoped at least one of them would have some inkling of what to do. But looking around the table, it was hopeless. Smiley acted like his commander was only vacationing and Pah had checked out of the conversation altogether, unblinkingly staring into space. He considered throwing an inkblock at him.

Sanzu was as unreadable as ever, half his face hidden behind a mask. But at least he seemed to be paying attention, which Draken could appreciate. Mitsuya, much like him was rather stressed about the situation, and by the way he gnawed at his lips, he was worrying his head off, too.

Baji was another case altogether.

The quiet devastation on one's face when your loss was inevitable, no matter the outcome was not one he'd ever have associated with him. It had put Draken off-balance as well. and he'd felt bad, that he couldn't even properly land an ear to the man as other matters pressed down on the Vice-General.

He'd expected some type of outburst, butbBaji had been uncharacteristically quiet since Draken had broken the news Hanemiya Kazutora had revealed to them to the small circle here…

"…you're certain that is what he said?" Mitsuya had been in disbelief. the whole room had been. but the second commander had just arrived after he'd finished patching up the last Hanemiya after leaving him with his Lieutenant, still cleaning his hands with a cloth, staining it red.

Draken did not have the energy to repeat the words and had only nodded.

"seems to me like he wanted Mikey to kill him" Smiley concluded, a grin still plastered to his face. if it had been anybody else, that expression would have been disturbing. the slight flinch from the ink-haired alpha next to him as Smiley concluded his sentence didn't go unnoticed, but Draken had let it be for now. "he was"

"well he's gonna be really disappointed when he wakes up" Pah added with a sigh… was he feeling bad for the omega, because he didn't manage to get killed..? Draken narrowed his eyes. Pah seemed to notice the weird looks he was receiving "what? am I lying?"

… well, no. but Draken could not really spare any compassion for somebody's possible disappointment at not being choked to death.

Mitsuya had the same thought as him "what are we doing with him now?"

Draken averted looking at the first division commander "that will be up to Mikey.. whenever he returns, but for now, we'll put him in our custody"

"we should probably move him from the estate, whatever is causing the disturbance in our mana is coming from inside. For proper treatment, I will need to access mine otherwise he'll be short of a leg before the week ends"

this had been what had broken the camel's back as Baji's seat screeched under him. Everybody held their breath as the threatening scent of wildfire filled the room. Draken's own instincts went haywire- first Mikey, and now Baji. His own need to neutralize the threat was barely holding on. He shifted forward, shielding the more vulnerable people in the room from the oppressing alpha pheromones in front of them. Sanzu could glare at him all he wanted, but he could feel the anxiousness permeating from him at the threatening display of dominance by the northerner.

Draken had expected Baji to turn the already bad situation for the worst, but instead, the words that came out of the other alpha had been uncharacteristically soft, his scent shrinking back to a more muted and manageable "can I see him?"

Like a snap the tension in the room released and they all slumped back. It was clear that tBaji was barely controlling himself, his whole body stiff and trembling, one hand still clutching 'a temporary souvenir, since you almost broke my skull to have this'- right, the omega had gifted him something to keep him calm. for that to have worked, when everything else they'd tried over the years to have spectacularly failed, was telling enough.

Draken swallowed back the question he was burning to ask "…sure, you can come with me"

That had happened not two hours after Mikey had taken off and seven days later the dark-haired alpha was still in this melancholic state, Draken didn't know what to do with.

(when he'd brought him to the still unconscious omega, he'd been perplexed. Hakkai had nervously nodded at them and left the room before Draken had even properly entered. He must have been aware of the possible threat, that being in the vicinity of the omega had posed if the dark-haired alpha was too close. Draken had seen both Hanemiya and Baji interact for not barely even a moment… and even that had left quite a mark on his recent memory. for as long as he'd known him, he'd never seen him act so out of character. it was like he'd been switched out when they had set foot on the main island.

but as he watched him approach the omega with still shaking hands, before his hand had moved to tuck a few loose dark and gold strands behind the omega's ears with such gentleness - Draken had physically reeled, he'd seen how the northerner had acted with other omegas, even with Emma he was unable to keep most his sharp edges to himself, much to Draken's chagrin. but here it looked as if it had always been second nature to him.

His eyes traveled to Baji's expression and Draken could barely hold his gaze before averting his eyes. seeing the expression on the northener's face had been so jarring, that he felt like he was intruding on something, he had no right to be part of. Right then, he decided that leaving was best for both of them and vacated the room to give Baji a semblance of privacy.)

Chifuyu hadn't been able to get through to him, either and the anxious looks the lieutenant gave his commander were as much of a tell. The only thing the man currently reacted to was Hanemiya's condition, which was to their relief not too bad, considering the circumstances.

They had moved him away from the actual estate for Mitsuya to properly administer aid to his injuries, where no seal was deactivating their ability to use their Mana.

It had taken them more than a few hours to even figure out that it was in fact a seal and then another hour to realize it had been the golden dagger that they'd found on the omega. It was unnerving to know a seal like this was even possible. He couldn't imagine what destruction it could have brought to battlefronts if the usurper had utilized it. It brought out even more questions concerning the enigmatic omega.

It had taken a bit over half a day for Hanemiya Kazutora to regain consciousness. He'd had a slight fever due to the infection on his upper thigh and reacted understandably poorly to an unknown man hovering above him.

Hakkai had taken honorably though, as honorable as one could take an attempt on your life, which meant not very much. His screeches had alerted the rest of them.

Talking the omega down from murder was probably the most stressful moment in his life. He's pretty sure he'd gotten three grey hairs just from that and even trying to command him into stopping went nowhere. the delirious omega only stopped, after Baji had spoken something to him. Even days later, none of them were able to figure out what he exactly had said to him for the omega to let Hakkai go.

the omega had been out like a light a second later. When Hanemiya became more clearheaded, he was pretty remorseful, after being told what had happened, but the damage had been done. If they thought Hakkai was unable to talk to omegas before, this traumatic experience gave made sure he would not approach them with a ten feet pole. He was truly unlucky for his only (not kin-related) interactions to be with the likes of Sanzu and Hanemiya, who were purposefully fear-inducing to keep people on their toes.

On the bright side, most of the omega's injuries had healed up nicely thanks to Mitsuya's ongoing treatment. His leg injury and concussion were gone altogether by yesterday. Most of the damage to his throat was gone as well, but the omega had yet to speak a word. He didn't respond to anything and the meals they brought him were left untouched. The only thing he did take them up on was a quick bath and change of clothes.

He's ashamed to admit, he almost didn't recognize him without the blood caked on him. Granted his eyes first went to the very well-made tattoo on his neck, he hadn't had a proper look before and Baji could give him all the dirty looks in the world, he wanted - Draken was not afraid to appreciate a good work of ink.

"he's coming back soon, I know it" Draken was brought out of his thoughts by Takemitchy's conviction. a small smile spread on his face. Leave it to Takemitchy to uplift his spirits.

Mikey was at an impasse.

He gazed at his hand; the phantom of skin was still at the tip of his fingers, feeling numb. He had been ready to kill him.

He still was.

He let the wind caress his hair and played with a small tree branch, smaller than his pinky.

Up here he was undisturbed.

Shinichiro had died so long ago, yet it still felt like he received the news just yesterday. The only thing that was brought back to them had been his bloodied cloak.

Not even a body to bury.

The emptiness, the static in his body he felt that day... A part of him still held Emma as she wailed for their brother to come back. No tears left his own face, too detached at the time.. too detached still perhaps.

He had walked for hours in the harsh rain, after. No aim, no purpose. Waiting for a brother to run after him, that would not come. tell him to come back inside, before he'd catch a cold.

He waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Shin never came.

He wished so hard, prayed to the gods of the above and the beneath, to turn back time and let him undo what was done.

scream at him to not go south. grab him, and throw him to the ground if needed. Insist to take Mikey with him, just so he wouldn't leave them.

Leave him.

It was Shin, who was supposed to be their future ruler. Not him. the people of the kingdom had loved him. he'd been crowned king before any crown had ever been put on his head.

the weak king.

to others, it might have sounded like an insult. but to the small folk, it had been a show of endearment. He, who cried at the most mundane of things. a child complimenting him. an elderly woman pinching his cheeks. his closest friends picking on him. a man with a heart so compassionate for his people that he went alone to make peace with an usurper in hopes of no blood being shed. anger curled in him and his hand curled into a fist. the tree branch snapped in two.

And Hanemiya Kazutora was the one who had taken him from him.

Mikey was not an idiot. He knew that the omega was not telling them everything. No child would just kill someone, especially not a child who had some sort of friendship with that person. A part of him understood that, however small. But that wouldn't bring his brother back, would it?

It didn't lessen the suffocating burning in his chest.

He had seen something. When he had looked into the omega's eyes.

…No it was his left eye only, he was certain.

A sign or seal. It was glowing brightly before it had sunken him into a depth of sea like a stormcurrent. He was unsure whether he had imagined the things - memories? he had seen. If it had been an illusion to get him to loosen his grip, it had certainly worked.

it had felt so real, the prison, the cold floor, his brother in chains. Mikey had wanted to scream, rip the cage open and get him out, escape from that place before death could sling its noose around his neck- but he'd been paralyzed in place.

It felt like an eternity, yet it was over too quickly. A moment, before his mind resurfaced from the foggy sea and he was back in that forsaken room littered with more of Hanemiya's victims. Ken-chin restraining him with all of his strength, like he was the threat amidts them and Takemitchy prattling at him. It had felt like an insult.

Weren't they his friends? shouldn't they be on his side on the matter? acting like it had been him, that had wronged the bastard..

why was he made out to be the villain?

Mikey understood objectively why they had done it. Draken and Takemitchy had both explained quite vigorously- they were trying to protect him, he understood that, really. that didn't make it sting any less though.

From what he had seen, Kazutora had not only met but liked Shin. So, he had known enough him enough when he had decided to kill him. It took all of his willpower not to stomp back in and cave his face in just to make him feel an inch of what he'd made Mikey feel for the last thirteen years.

He had been barely able to gather himself after. It had begun in a frenzy, right when he had stared into the omega's forsaken eye. Was that his magic? And if it was, was that the reason he kept it covered behind his hair? Had he used it in a last-ditch effort to defend himself?... but he had been so hellbent on dying by Mikey's own hand, it made no sense. the frightened look on his face didn't scream that it was part of some scheme either.

the whole property had been sealing the magic of anyone who entered anyway, he reminded himself so that theory was out either way. He held his head in frustration, suppressing a growl. It wasn't adding up. He'd been going over this for days now.

the only constant he kept circling back to stayed the same. Whether he had meant to or not, wouldn't undo it.

He let out a breath as he unclenched his teeth. He didn't have enough information.

the only way he'd get a semblance of peace was to rectify that, he decided.

and more importantly, he needed to know what that son of a bitch had done with his brother's sword.

It was almost poetic, he mused.

Exactly a week after his confession, Mikey, like a grim reaper in the making appeared in front of him.

Kazutora had been sitting by the side of the bed. He couldn't adjust himself to the scratchiness of the bed, so he decided the easiest option was to stay put on the floor.

At least the clothes he had been given were of some comfort. He had been given a pair of dark cotton pants and a light shirt, that had been too big on him and suspiciously smelt like a certain someone. But his mind did not have the capacity to react to that, so he ignored it.

He had been pondering about the bizarreness of it all, the unexpected way these alphas were acting in general, so unlike what he was familiar with. He laid his head on his knees as he bid his time for something to happen, too restless for any sleep. He wasn't sure of what exactly, but his instincts were too wired, too fried to function properly.

He had been waiting for the shoe to drop ever since he'd woken up, and a voice inside of him told him, that today would be that day.

The rustling of the leaves had alerted him in the end.

And he hadn't wrong and smothered a wince. He still was looking to the side as he had when he first put his head on his knees. He could sense that Mikey was sitting by the window, right by the bed. goosebumps prickled over his skin at the threat behind him. He couldn't even ponder on the fact that the man had chosen to come in through the window.

He knew it was Kazutora, who had to break the silence or this stalemate would continue for the rest of the night. He had no proof, but he had a feeling, the crown prince enjoyed the fact, that he was putting Kazutora on edge, not that he'd fault him. Kazutora would have done worse if it had been the other way around.

a childish part of him, still alive and kicking refused to turn to him, maybe out of spite or maybe he was not courageous enough to face him. His voice cracked, whether from the weeklong unused or from the wounds he suffered was up for debate. "Have you decided?"

Like back then, he still felt muted, any vibrancy long lost on him. He was resigned to whatever the general would decide. He had prepared himself for death a long time ago. He was glad at least that the commander of the first division wouldn't be here when it happened. He didn't know why, but he felt irrationally miserable at the thought of having him here when Mikey would ultimately strike him down.

Funny. He hadn't had a regret in so long..

"His sword Kamikaze. what did you do to it?" Kazutora blinked at the unexpected question.

It took him a moment to even really understand it before it clicked.

Ahh, he should have known. "He-… the place is further out" I need you to hide, they are almost here, okay? he blinked at the memory, head aching.

"Where?"

"It's not that easy" His recollection was blurry concerning anything that happened then, but the location was carved into his soul. At least on this, his foggy memory wouldn't betray him. He hadn't been there for the last thirteen years. Too afraid to revisit forgotten memories.

"Then make it easy" came the blank response.

"trespassers wouldn't be able to- never mind." He might have hid it well, but Kazuotra had always been a coward to his core and something told him Mikey was all too aware of that. still, he was too afraid at the thought of what punishment would befall him, if he spoke more.

"Take me there." Mikey's tone had booked no argument. He was now much closer. Kazutora glanced up. He shuddered when their eyes finally met. He looked much more ragged than a week ago, tired his mind supplied. Yet his eyes still held the same contempt in them, disgust. The rage was dimmed, but it was there. Kazutora was no fool. It was only a matter of time before it would set off again. The darkness in the bottomless eyes he had gazed into a week ago promised the same agony. There was no doubt, no matter how much he hid it behind his nonchalance and fake smile.

He'd know best. they were a mirror of his own.

It took him a few days to figure it out. Mikey was a good actor after all.

But a liar always recognizes a liar.

He might not deceive and use the people for his own gain in the way Kazutora did. but the facade he had built to uphold the picturesque status of the invincible Mikey had its cracks. Hiding his capability for cruelty in front of his friends, who thought so highly of him. They were vehemently oblivious to what a threat Mikey's darkness had the potential to be and Mikey knew that. Kazutora assumed this was also the reason why he didn't want to be found either.

The only one able to see past his mask was Hanagaki Takemitchy. Kazutora was sure of that.

Mikey's request was understandable. Bringing him to the mountain was the least he could do for the man whose brother he had murdered. Even if it made bile rise up his throat just imagining it. He finally nodded up at him.

"As you wish."

Kazutora had expected Mikey and he would set off immediately so as to not waste any time.

But alas he was very wrong. Right after he had agreed, Hanagaki Takemitchy had trotted in with a plate of food, had seen Mikey, and jumped three feet into the air screaming, plate and all. He had expected to hear a loud crash and braced himself for it, but was impressed to see that Mikey had actually caught the plate, the bowl of food still intact.

Hanagaki then started crying with no end in sight as he clung onto Mikey with his whole body, babbling about how worried he was and how much he had missed him. Mikey looked unfazed as he let the man bawl all over him, going so far as to even indulge him with a head pat and a soft smile.

Kazutora was in awe. The duality of this man was unmatched. The whole spectacle brought on more onlookers.

Which brought them to now. Mikey, Draken, and all the commanders from divisions one to six were present, except for four, since the numbers symbolized the actual districts the soldiers hailed from and that meant the fourth division was skipped as it used to be the isles aka someone from the Hanemiya clan, but Kazutora kind of killed them all, so it would stay unoccupied for a while longer.

They were all in the war room, this time just cleaner and the stray seats were now back to their original spots at the table. Everybody had taken a seat. A large map of the isles was spread out in front of them. Kazutora had been unsure at first if he should just stand to the side. But Baji had just shoved him into the seat next to him. He had almost yelped when the asshole had done so. the alpha had been back to his original attitude Kazutora had met him with. the subdued behavior from the week gone. it had been unnerving to see him with such a troubled look on his face.

Kazutora soothed his ego on the fact that he would pay him back tenfold later for that shove. If there was a later. Anyway.

"Am I understanding this correctly? You want to take him to god knows where so you can…" Draken trailed off at the last part, clearly uncomfortable in finishing the sentence ending in 'find your brother's sword', which was understandable.

Mikey looked annoyed at his vice as he repeated himself begrudgingly. "No, he is taking me. Are you deaf Ken-chin?"

Draken looked to the rest of the commanders in a 'Are-you-hearing-this?' type of way. But Kazutora could be wrong. Commander Mitsuya looked at Draken in sympathy, before directing his attention to Kazutora.

"And you said that the place was…"

Kazutora cleared his throat as he pointed toward the center of the map, where the mountains were located. "It is on this hill here"

"You're being too vague, where exactly?" The smiling commander asked.

"see this spot here" circling the area with his finger "is sacred ground"

"Outsiders cannot simply pass through. It is believed the deities' fury would be upon you. As a non-native, you wouldn't exactly be able to get inside much less get out" the silver-haired commander chimed in.

Kazutora was taken aback by his knowledge. "..Exactly. The isles are split into five. Legend says they were split by the Bearer of Sins on these mountain grounds. The guardian deities he appointed roam one island each. These mountains encompass the central island, acting as a sort of bridge to the other four. Therefore these holy grounds are the place, where they find each other. It rejects outsiders and if they enter, the forest will deal with them"

"Sounds like fun to me"

"In other words, if we go in, the forest will actively try to kill us" the Vice-General concluded.

"sounds like a challenge if ya ask me!" Kazutora chuckled humorlessly at the sixth commander, he didn't mind a good fighting spirit, but rarely did that ever do anybody any good around that place. He fought the urge to cover his left eye. That mountain was nothing but trouble.

"You're welcome to try"

"Show some respect Smiley" growled the dark-haired alpha next to him. He did not expect him to be the type to pay his respects to the otherworldy "That's a big area you circled. How long would it take to get there?"

"About a day by foot maybe, depending on the road and weather."

"Okay then we should all get ready" We? Was this a group trip now? He had been unnerved to travel with Mikey alone, but how many people were now going to come? by how many alphas was he going to be surrounded by?

"We'll take the horses, so we'll be faster. I'll tell Hakkai what duties of mine he'll have to cover in the meantime" he winced, the name reminding him of what he'd done to the poor guy.

"We'll probably have to leave them at the feet of the mountain. The path gets really narrow" Kazutora replied weakly.

"Fine by me. I'll talk to Chifuyu as well. Pah you better not forget to inform Pehyan. We can't have him running around like a headless chicken again."

"It was one time!"

"One time too many! the guy was convinced you died"

"I assume that means I'll stay back" Muto asked

"If you don't mind" Draken said before Mikey butted in to interrupt him "I'll take Sanzu though. Ken-chin, tell Mitchy to get ready as well"

Baji grabbed him by the arm as everybody got up to prepare. He looked on in confusion as he let himself be dragged out of the room. "Come on now princess, stop dragging your feet. We've gotta find Chifuyu"

As they walked Kazutora suddenly remembered something, then elbowed Baji in the stomach, making him splutter. "Stop throwing me like a ragdoll, you buffon." and shoved him away "And stop with the stupid nicknames"

In the end, there were nine people, including him. Every commander except for Muto of the Fifth was present, just as they had said in the meeting room. The lieutenant of the fifth, which he presumed to be Sanzu was there as well. Mikey, Draken, and Takemitchy of course were there, too.

Great.

He, an omega, was surrounded for the next few hours by six alphas, one of which was a dominant alpha no less, and two betas. This was doing great things for his nerves.

There were only eight horses. And yep. There were nine people. He had a foreboding feeling as he looked towards Baji. Yeah, he was not gonna let that happen.

"Takemitchy!"

"Eep?!"

"Let me ride with you"

"B-But Ba-" Kazutora did not wait for an answer.

The death stare from Baji went over his head. Takemitchy on the other hand could feel his soul leave his body. He didn't know how he'd gotten himself into this, but the lingering feeling of possible death made him put extra care to safely contain a lot of distance between them when Kazutora unpromptedly mounted his precious clover.

Kazutora was almost touched by the man's consideration to not make him uncomfortable.

"Who would have thought this ride would be this entertaining?"

"I don't think I have ever been this excited to go anywhere"

"Shut the hell up" Baji glared at the Twin-Dragons who looked innocently at him, fully aware they were taking a piss on him.

Kazutora was about to snap at him to keep quiet when his eyes accidentally met Mikey's. His eyes immediately snapped to the ground and avoided anybody's gaze. He had no right to act this inappropriately. He was bringing these people to the place where he'd killed the crown prince's brother. He swallowed, Kazutora had no right or place to act this callously. Every now and then he gave out directions softly to Takemitchy.

The less they heard of him the better.

Though he had to wonder after the fourth time he whispered a direction to the Beta, if everything was alright with him. He was shivering all over, had his body caught some illness through his travels? "Are you cold, Takemitchy?"

"N-no!!" he heard him squeak at the same time as a growl could be heard from behind him. Kazutora ignored it. The poor guy with him broke out in a cold sweat. He was probably trying to keep a brave face with his sickness. "Are you sure?" He probed once more as he turned. He put one of his hands on Takemitchy's forehead to check his temperature. It felt like a dark presence was growing behind them as the scent of smoke penetrated the air.

Takemitchy started tearing up. Kazutora turned his attention towards the source of the onslaught.

"Do you mind?" He asked fed up, rolling his eyes at the dark-haired alpha and his intimidation tactic.

Baji was glaring at them with so much vigor. Kazutora didn't know if he was imagining it, but it looked like a shadow had somehow overtaken the path and the sun all but abandoned them, especially around Baji. What was the guy's deal now?

Would it kill him to not start picking a fight with Kazutora at every corner? He was trying his hardest not to attract any attention to his person, but it was like the alpha wanted to make him fail miserably on purpose. God forbid, he was friendly with one of his friends without him blowing a casket. It's not like Kazutora would take them away from him. What an idiot.

Before he could put his focus back on Takemitchy, said boy yelped and loudly announced his urge to pee. He all but flew off his horse and was gone in a matter of seconds. Kazutora was still staring at the spot he had just vacated.

"This was beautiful to watch"

"Poor Takemitchy"

They all seemed to have decided to take a break.

"Might as well" Commander Mitsuya said before turning to the Vice-General Draken, the third and sixth commander as they kept whispering amongst each other and cackling as they got off their own horses. He couldn't make out what was being said exactly, but he thinks he heard them mention Takemitchy's name several times. They must have caught on to the fact that the guy had gotten sick, too then. it must not be too serious then, if they had found it amusing.

Lieutenant Sanzu and the crown prince were further behind, he avoided checking in on them altogether. For obvious reasons. He skipped the remaining nuisance as well as he got off Takemitchy's horse. He believed he heard Takemitchy call it Clover. A cute name for a supposed war horse. He was considering looking for the owner, as it had been a while. It wouldn't be good if he had fainted.

He turned towards the direction he had seen him go and walked straight into a brick wall a small oof escaping his lips. At least that's what it felt like as he stumbled back, rubbing his nose. And there he was. Of course, he should have known. If anybody was able to just sneak up on him it would be Baji Keisuke, the only alpha his backstabbing instincts would refuse to consider a threat. "gods above, will you stop already?"

"Stop talking to Takemitchy" Baji had his arms crossed, an annoyed expression on his face, eye twitching.

He was actually upset about Kazutora talking to his friend. The gal of the guy. He had thought he wouldn't care as much if it was the blue-eyed Beta. His lieutenant was one thing but he hadn't seemed particularly close to the cornflower-haired boy. But Kazutora had been obviously wrong. How could one be so obsessive about their friends, he wondered. Kazutora wouldn't know as he didn't really have any.

"Or what?" He rolled his eyes, mimicking the alpha's crossed arms. Kazutora was done with the man's shenanigans.

("Personally I wouldn't take that disrespect"

"Please you'd let your girl stomp all over you if she fancied it"

"yeah.. I would")

Baji glared at the group of gossiping bastards, that had chosen to comment on every interaction of his before turning back to the omega

"Don't touch him either" The last part was said in a hiss. Baji was out of his mind if he thought he could throw him one order after the other. Kazutora only scoffed. "I'm not one of your little underlings. I have no reason to abide by your orders"

("Ohh he got him there")

fuck it, Baji would kill all four of'em.

"Are you really that insecure?" the alpha looked as if he had been caught red-handed. It almost looked as if he was pouting. Kazutora looked to the side when his chest started having problems "you don't have to worry. I might be spiteful." He patted him on the shoulder, trying to mimic what the crown prince had done to console Takemitchy when he had been upset last. Unlike Mikey though he only managed to reach the man's shoulder without it being too awkward. "I promise, I won't take Takemitchy away from you" Kazutora mentally patted himself on the back as well.

("this day just keeps giving and giving"

"Wait, Baji likes Takemitchy?")

Full-on guffawing startled Kazutora of his ministrations. It sounded like a few hyenas only to see Commander Mitsuya, the smiling commander and Vice-General holding onto one another with tears in their eyes. the third division commander looked at them confused before he simply shrugged.

Kazutora didn't like the fact that he understood as much if maybe even less than the guy in the group that never knew what was going on, nothing against Commander Hayashida.

Baji meanwhile looked like Kazutora had insulted his whole ancestoral lineage. "Listen carefully 'cause I won't repeat myself. Don't ever insult me like that again" The man was talking to him as if he were slow. Yet it was him that was full of nonsense. How exactly had Kazutora insulted him?!

"Hey Takemitchy!" Baji focused on the freshly returned Beta. "Your horse must be tired from carrying two people, right?" Was he calling Kazutora fat right now?

"Y-yes? Yes! You have great observation Baji-san!" was Takemitchy agreeing with him?

"Then it's settled!" what was settled exactly, the alpha's death warrant maybe. Before he could contemplate whether stabbing him a second time was worth the repercussions, he was thrown over Baji like a sack of potatoes.

("He really didn't let that slide for a moment more")

His complaints fell on deaf ears. In the end, he was bested again, as he now was seated on Bajis black stallion, with said man right behind him. And unlike Takemitchy this man didn't know how to keep a respectful distance to save his life. He couldn't even try to fight him as he had a feeling the crown prince would not be too appreciative of such an outburst. He could feel each and every exhale of him caressing the back of his neck.

If this continued, he would be on Baji's lap before they'd have left the next village.

"Stop that"

Baji grinned, coming closer "I'm not doing anything"

Kazutora pinched the arm still incircling him, but the man didn't even flinch. He ground his teeth together, chagrined. He couldn't just start throwing fists, not with the crown prince in the vicinity.

wait.. Kazutora had an epiphany!

He leaned back, turning his head so his lips were right by the alpha's ear. The alpha stiffened. "what are you-?" Kazutora caressed the man's arm up to his shoulder and when Kazutora reached his neck, the man's face turned purple, almost giddy with excitement he couldn't help himself "Oh? I'm not doing anything"

He stifled his squawk when he felt said hands curl around his waist tighter, cursing them for being so big. As Baji's long dark hair was now tickling his face, he regretted not immediately leaning away again. "you're playing with fire" as deep vibrations reached his ears he could feel sharp canines graze his earlobe.

the sound that came out of Kazutora-

"Did you just-" did not happen.

"I didn't" In fact, Kazutora made no sound at all. the omega could feel the sharp grin at the back of his neck as heat rose to his cheeks.

"You did"

"Shut up, I didn't."

Kazutora shoved the alpha for good measure. The man behind him just began laughing at him, yet his arms around him tightened. The shamelessness. "You smell so nice when you get embarrassed"

It irritated him the way the commander so flimsily spewed his comments to get under Kazutora's skin. Kazutora knows that his glands don't produce shit. the man was clearly trying to pull one over him for the fact that he had realized he was a defect omega after being so close to his scent gland before.

Whatever. He'd just ignore him.

"is the princess upset?" Kazutora wasn't upset. Baji Keisuke should mind his own business.

"I'm not"

"you are"

"No I am not"

"I can clearly smell-" For fuck's sake

"Shut up." He sounded way more emotional than he intended to as he spits through clenched teeth, trying not to make a scene "You've poked your fun at the dumb omega. Are we done now?" So much about not being upset.

"I wasn't-"

Kazutora sighed in defeat, much softer he said "Do as you please. I don't care anymore" He turned his head away, shielding his face from the man. They would soon have to ditch the horses. He only had to endure him a bit longer. By the way, things were going, he would die before the next dawn broke anyway. He didn't have to look at the crown prince to know that.

At the foot of the mountain, everybody got off their horses. Kazutora almost jumped off of Baji's black mare to get away from the man.

He dusted himself off and got straight to pulling a small pouch out of his bag. "you will have to use these" and pulled the charms free. He was glad, he had been able to make them in the short amount of time he had. Every charm had a seal to them, that would mask them. he told them as much, giving them to the second division commander to pass around.

"The forest will not perceive you as intruders and let you pass peacefully. There is a catch though. They are only active for about a quarter of a day. If you stay any longer than that. I can't guarantee your safety." he barely could as of now.

"Alright. Do not lose them under any circumstances. got it" Draken replied in a dry tone, pointedly looking at Mikey. Kazutora would have laughed.. well if he weren't who he was and hadn't done what he did.

"Don't make any rash movements. Believer or not, the mountain still harbors many monstrous creatures that are far more familiar with these lands than any of us"

He took the first step, before stilling for a moment, the air getting chillier around them when he hesitantly spoke his next words "If you hear familiar voices- do take care to ignore them"

As soon as they entered, a shift in the air was noticeable. the space became syrupy, distorted and… unwelcome. They had been to many unfamiliar places on their journeys. But none were quite like this. No matter what step they'd take they'd remain wrong-footed.

the smiling commander looked taken aback a little. Their instincts were undiscernible, like a dull knife that had lost all its sharpness was made to press into the thick hide of a bear.

"I feel like I had one drink too many" Pah said looking around with a sickly pallor.

Overhead a swarm of lightning beetles made its way up the forest. Baji could be mistaken but it looked like they were trying to show them the way.

Like a silent agreement, they began their hike through the uneven and unsteady path. The thick trees grew higher and denser as they walked. The leaves not letting anything shine through, instead of the middle of the day it felt like evening was upon them. Most of the light only coming from the beetles above them now. Kazutora was able to make out the sound of a streaming waterfall close by when they heard it.

Giggling.

"…Did you hear that?" Takemitchy asked, terrified.

"Ignore it" he pressed on

the giggling got louder before-

it turned into bone-chilling howls of agony, they flinched as screams of "Help! why won't you help ME?!" the voice grew shrill.

Some of them stopped in their tracks again, fighting with their mind. Alphas who were raised all their lives to help those in need would have a hard time fighting it.

"It's not real" he reminded them.

The cries turned to the soft sobs of a young girl "W-why won't you help me-"

"That sounded like-" Draken sounded breathless, scared almost. Kazutora had a bad feeling about where this was going. the tall alpha was one of the more level-headed people in the party. If he was faltering then-

"Emma. I know I heard it too." well, that wasn't good.

"It's a trick. Don't listen to it" Kazutora spoke again, forgoing his own vow to not talk directly to the crown prince.

"This place fucking sucks" Smiley said, his tone much more somber than in the beginning.

"I'm scared-" he could feel the first commander's shoulders stiffen. this was not good at all.

" t-they are hurting me- IT HURTS!-"

the crown prince stopped again, his face unreadable and eyes blazing. Kazutora felt sick as the voice toyed with these people. These beings learned from mimicking others. He knew exactly who was to blame for their convincing portrayal.

One's own mind would unwillingly do the rest. the more faith you put into these voices the easier it was for them to put you under their spell. It didn't take much-

"-tell them to stop- Why won't you help me… Mikey, Ken-chan please!"

The final nail in the coffin falls.

He watched in slow motion as the two of them didn't even look at each other "No! Don't-" before storming off in the same direction. They were gone before Kazutora could even attempt to finish his sentence.

For a single second, nobody else makes to move. the remaining people all staring at each other with varying degrees of unease.

the voices surrounding them change in different octaves, their words differing, calling for their brother, their fiancee or their friend.. their lover.

All mayhem broke loose. Takemitchy and Sanzu book it for the direction Mikey and Draken ran off to.

"w-wai-" The others vanish in all heavenly directions. Kazutora stands still as he helplessly watches them disappear, no one listening to him.

He stands frozen in place, wondering how he'd gotten into this. How was he supposed to get them out of the forest safely now? Time would run out before he'd be able to even find one of them. He was stupid to think that this was a good idea. In his haste to relieve his guilty conscience, he presented this wretched place with eight more lives to take.

His breath hitched when-

In the forest where the tiger should roam,

a man wandered in, too far from home

Kazutora whipped around, he could swear he heard singing—

Lost amidst the tangled vines,

underneath where no light shines

His heartbeat quickened. he could not discern where it was coming from. It was like the sound reverberated through the whole mountain.

four tigers stalked with silent tread,

in the labyrinth where they once lead

stars above, their light concealed

witness to what the gods revealed

His footsteps grew quicker as he tumbled through the unsteady ground. He tried not to grant the voice any of his attention. But every time the nursery rhyme continued, his ears were drawn to it.

too late for one lost soul's last breath

Eyes of amber, gleaming bright

watched unfold a tragic sight

above and beneath

judgment was made

one man alone met his plight

Kazutora lost his footing, his ankle catching on a vine and plummeted to the ground. Because the hillside was so steep, his fall was not immediately broken, making him topple forward until he landed in a ditch.

Innocence lost, a tale untold

as the angel's hand brought mercy's cold

Disoriented, he tries to get up, but its as if gravity was working against him. He slumped back down breathing heavily,

the mountain, it wept, the tigers roared

above and beneath

the heart, it died and shadows soared

less than half of the child around the door it curled

found its way into the eternal world

Enough… Kazutora had enough. It wouldn't do any good to just remain here. He had to find the rest and get them out. They should have never come here. His hand dug into the muddy earth beneath him as he pulled himself upright.

the child's soul still roams, caught in a trance

to this day in the place where shadows dance

ignored by all, between the whispers of night

remains a fallen star, bearer of sin, devoid of light

The singing stopped for a moment. He took a deep breath.

He would not let a measly forest with questionable singing get the better of him. He crawled out of the ditch, not without falling back half a dozen times, before making it out. Much dirtier than when he entered the mountain, he looked at what path to take, when a feeling of urgency spread in his stomach forcing him to go leftward.

It was difficult to focus and search for anyone, so he let his feet lead him as he drowned out the creepy singing voice around him. For a long while, he just walked as the nursery rhyme continued repeating.

crack!

His steps quickened towards the sound-

"-you promised you'd come back! you saved so many people, yet…"

Kazutora only managed to hear the tail end of the sentence, when he stepped into a clearing, where he found a familiar dark-haired alpha on his knees, shaking.

His heart skipped a beat with dread. unlike his usual confidence, Kazutora was met with his rusted eyes, clouded and unseeing, lips trembling, like he wanted to cry out for someone. Kazutora's stomach churned at the devastated expression on the man's face. helplessly, he watched, when the next words fell. "why wasn't I worth saving, Kei?"

His breath hitched, goosebumps erupting over his body. What a cruel thing to say.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you-"

Kazutora's heart contorted at the brokenness in the man's apologies. Baji didn't deserve to be tormented like this. He wasn't even aware of his own actions. only when he'd covered the alpha's eyes with his palms and repeatedly whispered an inconsequential folksong into the man's ear, he realized what he'd done. He didn't even know if his own way of avoiding unpleasant memories would be of any help here. But instead of dropping his hands and gaining distance, he remained where he was, waiting..

"'tora?.." Baji sounded disoriented and fearful, Kazutora couldn't even bother with being irritated at the man for addressing him so familiarly. Moreover, he felt actual relief that the man was finally coming to his senses.

He reluctantly removed his hands and clears his throat.

"..you're okay?" It felt like a reverse of their encounter the week prior. He's met with red eyes, looking at him with surprise. It quickly melted into a serious expression as the alpha got a hold of himself before assuring him "'m fine" with a scratchy voice. Though the pinch in the man's brow gave him away. He was not a convincing liar at all.

Neither of them spoke of what happened. Kazutora did not dare ask who the person was, that had such sway over the commander, that he was made to fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness. And likewise, the alpha did not comment on his muddy appearance.

"Let us try to find the others" the alpha said much more composed than a few seconds prior and they began to walk again.

Sudden rutling made them halt in their tracks. Neither dared to breathe for a moment.

His instincts reacted before his brain did, shoving the alpha in front of him to the ground just as the beak of an enormous griffin rushed down toward the man's head. "What the fuck-"

One second later and his neck would have been detached from the rest of his body. Kazutora frantically put up a light shield, that threw the the winged beast back into the sky with a shrill cry. Kazutora immediately pulled the alpha back up and and ran, while holding Baji's hand.

Adrenaline filled his senses as he tried to think of a way to get out of this. Griffins didn't simply let up because of one attack and the speed they were currently at, they wouldn't be able to shake it off.

"Why can't I use fire?!" The alpha sounded pissed, and his darkened expression said as much. But Kazutora could not give him an answer. He himself had been able to use his mana just fine.

it would be up to him then. "Hey, are you fast by chance?"

"Other than Mikey? I'm the fastest I guess"

On a normal alpha this would have sounded like bragging, but the commander spoke so nonchalantly, as if he was telling him the sky was blue. he didn't even sound breathless as they ran. Kazutora would not doubt him on this and gestured for the man to go ahead of him, as the griffin came back down again. He prepared to defend the alpha and himself with his celestial spells, when-

"This won't do." the commander grabbed him like a sack of potatoes yet again. Kazutora had barely the mind to hold onto the man with a gasp as the breath was knocked out of him.

Nothing could have prepared him. One blink was all it took.

The forest flashed by him in green splashes, he could only watch as they grew further and further away from the griffin.

Shocked, he turned his wide eyes to the alpha. He would have never thought the man to outrun a horse, let alone a whole winged griffin. He held onto him, and Kazutora's arms circled around the man's neck. He could feel every muscle of his shift underneath his own body.

He couldn't help but think back on their fight a week ago. He'd thought him fast then, but Kazutora came to understand very quickly, that the man had gone easy on him if not straight-up played with him like a toy. It did more than just scratch his ego.

A screech made him snap back to reality. The griffin was still behind them. Right. Kazutora was in charge of taking care of that. A string of light forms beneath his fingers as he detaches himself from the alpha's neck to form an arrow. He could feel the soft touch of a warm palm hold his back - making him shiver involuntarily - it steadied his position, making the whole ordeal much easier. His mouth dried, if he thought too long about it.

Neither of them had exchanged a word, yet it felt like they had done this hundreds of times before.

As soon as he'd finished widening the arrow, he shot it straight at the beast with a burst of light. The griffin tried to dodge, but just as it had attempted, Kazutora had already shot off another arrow, decapitating the beast instantly. He had not aimed for the head specifically, but it had served it was poetic justice for the animal's attempt at Baji's head previously, he thought amused. Both head and body fell onto the cliffside with a loud crash as their blood splattered on the rocks and leaves.

"Nice shot" the alpha whistled appreciatively. Kazuotra couldn't help but preen at the compliment.

"Of course it was. I never miss" he bluffed. That had been purely a lucky shot, not that the alpha needed to know that.

"Oh I know" the commander gave him a look as he slowly came to stop. You stab a man one time and he will not let you forget it. Kazutora huffed, as he got back to his own feet. They continued at a more leisure pace.

"Looking at the speed you had here, it is quite difficult to believe why I had such an easy time" Kazutora gestured at the man's abdomen spitefully "considering your reflexes should have easily disarmed me before I could have hoped to reach you. Were you distracted perhaps? or were you just having fun tricking me?"

The commander looked offended, crossing his arms. "I'm pleased you think so highly of reflexive skills. but if you're implying I wanted you to stab me to play mind games on you, let me assure you, princess. there would be better ways to go about it. The shit the others gave me for it would have been a hard pass in itself" he grumbled.

"And I despise fuckers that rely on tricking people to win a fight" a few profanities followed, which did not bear repeating. Kazutora was unable to make out, who the man was cursing out specifically, but it sounded personal.

The impromptu run had brought them rather high up as the air grew thinner. At the far end of the shoddy path, they were able to make out ruins. As they got closer, Kazutora noticed, that it used to be a temple of some sort. Moss and vines had overtaken most of it. There was a statue his height at the entrance. The arms of the statue were further out, their hands were in an outward motion. Wings spread out behind its back. the vines had almost overtaken all of them. It was serene, but as he trailed further up just like with all the others in the isles, the head was missing.

There was a saying in Valhalla. 'Set not thine eyes upon the countenance of the fallen celestial'

If one still gazed upon them, it would invite a curse upon the land. All of the statues used to have a head attached to their name. But centuries before Kazutora had taken his first breath, an ancestor of his, had fallen in love with its face. Bewitched by its beauty he took his own life. His successor feared the statues for it and ordered them all to be destroyed.

It made Kazutora mad as a child, not to know what supposed beauty had caused the uproar. He'd been even angrier at his ancestor for destroying it. Perhaps it peeved him still, to not know what the symbol of their lands looked like once upon a time.

But unlike the other statues scattered on the island, this one had a smear of something in the crook where the neck should be. Kazutora got closer to it and his eyes widened. It was blood.

Dried and blackened, but blood all the same. He looked at the temple behind it, there was something written there. Some words were no longer eligible.

'Here lies Que- -ra, the merciful'

the weird feeling in his stomach reappeared. He did not like being here. It was irrational of him, he knew as much, but-

He thoughts screeched to a halt as the commander touched the inwriting with a sorrowful expression on his face. It tugged at his chest, but he could not place the emotion-

He was about to say something when a tree branch cracked in two.

He almost jumped ten feet high, fearing another griffin on their tail, when he realized who'd come out of the bushes. the other three commanders gave their hellos and Kazutora could only blink at their nonchalance. He'd assumed they' had become victims of the mountain already.

For a moment Commander Hayashida looks at them and then at the structure behind them.

"Is this where Shinichiro was buried?"

"No!" Kazutora burst out. "no.. he- I-" Kazutora gathered his thoughts and began again ".. there was nothing to bury. this temple… isn't his"

"oh, alright then."

"We should go. We still haven't found the others" he didn't look back at the overgrown structure, even if a part of him urged him to stay.

They remained silent as they left the graveside behind.

A sudden boom had them on high alert, the outflow of power surging at Kazutora was daunting, his nerve endings calling out in alarm. the temple all but forgotten. Up until then, nobody had been using any of their mana, so Kazutora had yet to feel any actual residue from them. the omega had trouble taking a proper breath at the growing output of pressure. But taking a step back was not an option, neither was running away. A feeling of foreboding washed over him, but he could not linger on it for long.

The others had already moved towards the explosion. A hand tugging at his wrist forced him to go forward as well. His eyes trailed up to the black-haired alpha still holding him in a tight grip and letting himself be pulled like a puppet on strings.

They arrived at a river where a huge tree fell meters away from them drowsing them in creek water. But they can barely focus on that when the tall form of the Vice-General lands on top of it with a grunt. the next second he's off again clashing with what looks to be Sano Manjiro as they both exchange blows among the trees, before another tree is rooted out of the ground and thrown in their direction.

"This is more like it!" Smiley rather happily might he add - threw the tree right back at them. Kazutora just stood there slack-jawed turning to the rest of them to realize nobody made a move to stop their superiors. He noticed two more people approaching them. It was the remaining missing Betas- a very anxious Takemitchy and - frankly said the masked Beta next to him looked like he could not care less about what was happening around him. how odd

"How long has this been going on?"

"Too long, Mitsuya-san! they've almost uprooted the entire forest!" the blue-eyed boy looked ready to cry. Something told him this was a regular occurrence. both the deliberate to change geological structures and the crying.

"How come they're at each other's throats like this?"

"I don't know. By the time I caught up, they were already fighting!"

Everybody's gaze turned to the long-haired Beta next to them for an answer.

"…"

So no explanation from him then either.

"Alright." Kazutora's head whips to Baji, who is cracking his knuckles. "Let's beat some sense into them!"

Kazutora pulled him back "What are you doing?" He could not possibly think to interfere while those two were actively trying to kill one another.

"Don't worry, little cub. I'll be right back"

The alpha went to pat his head. Kazutora's face soured immediately, shrugging the man's affection off in disgust. "Go die"

"Harsh" the man chuckled and went right into the fray with both Smiley and Pah alongside him. Why do all alphas have the urge to bash each other's heads in, he'll never understand. He was ready to pull out his hair.

"Don't loot me in with them" surprised, Kazutora turned to the silver-haired commander, he hadn't realized he'd spoken his thoughts out loud. But the man was right, unlike the others he had a calm disposition, making the omega almost forget he belonged in the same category as them. Kazutora had trouble believing anything could get the man to lose his cool.

"Don't judge them too harshly. they have had quite some energy locked in ever since we arrived. they were rather disappointed that nobody had picked a fight with them" the silver-haired man smiled kindly.

"So we're just going to let them bash each other's heads in..?" he trailed off.

"They'll be done quickly. Usually fights like these are done in minutes"

Kazutora was skeptical about that as another tree hit the water, seconds after the alpha had spoken.

"why were you fighting each other?"

Finally after what felt like eons, but were more accurately not even fifteen minutes just as the second cmmander had promised, the fight had ended. Both the general and his advisor with hair windswept and clothes ripped and tattered, had seemed to have cleared their minds as they now looked at one another as if they had not tried to bite each other's heads off. The other two looked worse for wear but had all satisfied smiles on their faces. How was Kazutora not to judge them for their meatheadedness?

"I don't remember"

Kazutora expectantly looked at the Vice-General, unlike their leader he at least was not one to simply just-

"Same." Nevermind. they were all useless. He had the urge to hit his face into a tree.

Kazutora had had enough of this and began his track once more. They'd already wasted enough time like this, the others following him like ducklings.

As they approached their destination, Kazutora's stomach turned queasy. Bones of the deceased your victims littered the ground. He'd only ever taken this path once and as spotty as his memory was, he didn't even know if he'd been the one walking or if he'd conjured the journey up, yet his feet led him to a cliff, he had no recollection of. He froze up, his heart forgetting to beat. They all stopped, puzzled at the sudden end of the path.

A lonesome door was the only thing in the clearing.

Kazutora was so caught up in his mind, that he did not notice the masked Beta responds with a sharp inhale as his turquoise eyes landed on the door. Much like him, he too stutters in his movements, averting his eyes to the ground with dread.

The rest of the group notes their reaction, with risen hackles their eyes narrowed at the object in front of them. the dark gaze of Mikey did not leave their forms as his ink-colored irises turned from the far-off gaze of the golden-eyed omega to the hunched-over form of his childhood friend.

"What the hell is that, a door?" Hayashida asked.

"Where is the rest of the house?" the smiling commander added to lighten the mood.

the third commander approached it and Kazutora wanted to tell him not to go near it, but he was still rooted to his spot unable to form any words, unable to understand why he did not want him to approach it in the first place. Kazutora's eyes shut closed as the alpha opened and closed it with nothing happening.

the omega almost sagged in relief.

"Fucking strange, aye?" the alpha shrugged as he left the door behind.

"There is certainly no magical power to it" the silver-haired commander tilted his head, even more confused by the reaction of both Hanemiya and Sanzu, but his instincts remained reproachful. Omegas were much more sensitive to possible threats. When one of them, let alone two had such a negative reaction to something, it was not to be taken lightly.

Baji seemed to have similar thoughts to his as the man stood in front of the anxious two to shield them from whatever might have come. Say what you want about the man's lack of manners and social etiquette, but when it came down to it, one could always count on Baji to have your back, no questions asked.

Even if Sanzu seemed to bristle when he finally noticed what the northerner was doing.

"there is something engraved in it" Smiley pointed out, getting closer to it.

"…what does it say?" Draken asked a sliver of hesitancy in his tone.

"Mercy…"

A shudder went down his back at the ominous word. Mitsuya's gaze turned away from the door to the rest and he was almost taken aback when he noticed Takemitchy's wide eyes. They had been so caught up in the other two, that Takemitchy's reaction had completely flown over their head.

"Takemitchy..?" His glazed-over eyes made alarm bells ring in his head as he went to shake his shoulders to snap him out of whatever had taken hold of him. This close he could hear him mutter something. "-door to hell, the Bearer of Sin resides will…"

He never finished the sentence.

"they are only tales of the gods" Draken said.

the gods of the above and beneath, every person in Toman was familiar with them. His own District dedicated their belief in a god of the above - the taker of spirits. He was confused as to why Takemitchy mentioned one of the gods of the beneath. He'd not known him to be religious.

Mitsuya hadn't even thought, anybody but he had heard the boy. But by the strained eyes of Sanzu and the distraught complexion on Hanemiya, he didn't even have to look at the others to know the rest of the group had heard as well.

"C'mon, 'mitchy cut it out" Draken shook the guy's shoulder until he blinked several times. "wha-?" the confused look he was giving the vice-general would have been comical on any other day. But none of them felt much like laughing right now.

Takemitchy hesitantly spoke with a shake in his voice "did I do it again?"

"It's fine"

Kazutora did not think there was anything fine about it. His apprehension only intensified with the beta's words. A novice like him should not have any knowledge about it. Kazutora had searched through every archive and library in hopes of finding anything connected to the disciple thing, only to come up empty.

Nothing was ever recorded on the gates of hell.

He looked at Takemitchy intensely. Unless he'd personally come in contact with-

Impossible.

He would not be here if he had. 'But you're here, aren't you?'

He finally shook his thoughts off, this was not the time to be lost in his own mind. He had yet to fulfill his objective and their time was continuously running out. He could not afford to lose more time, if he wanted the rest of the group to make it out of there before their time completely ran out.

Are you afraid?

Kazutora's back turned ramrod straight, goosebumps trailing down his body. But by the lack of a reaction from the rest of the group, they had not heard it.

Are you afraid, child?

He tried not to let it show, that anything was out of the ordinary.

Do you need help?

No, he didn't. the last time he'd accepted help, he'd turned into a murderer. his fingers shook trying to discern where the voice had come from.

Let me help and remind you how to give back what was lost

Before he could deny it in his mind once more, something had taken hold of his very soul.

he straightened his shoulders. All of his previous distress vanished, moving past them all, ignoring the alarm in the dark-haired alpha as he turned to make a circle. "stay back for a moment" he didn't sound like himself, Baji wasn't the only one who'd noticed.

The circle began to glow as Kazutora made several hand movements, mumbling the chants softly. Much like the seal that had sealed off any Mana-usage in the Hanemiya residence, this seal did the opposite and enhanced his own energy. The wind around them picked up as his eyes started glowing yellow.

He ignored the strain on his body, as the clouds above them turned darker. Suddenly as if thunder had struck a huge flash of light enveloped the clearing, making everybody forcefully close their eyes to the excessive brightness. When their eyes opened they could a huge hole had emerged in the clouds above. even though it was still daytime a galaxy of stars and constellations became visible, with breathless anticipation nobody dared to interrupt.

Just as fast as it opened it closed again as Kazutora clapped his hands before placing his palms on the ground as the earth shook momentarily, concluding the unsealing ceremony.

The cliff trembled before a road of light built in the empty space behind it, forming a road of stairs downwards. By the time the path had been forged completely, Kazutora was on his knees, breathing heavily. Knees wobbly he tried to regain control of his limbs when a hand reached out to him. Surprised his eyes turned up to see Baji's outstretched arm. In the moment it took for his brain to comprehend, the man lost his patience and simply slung Kazutora's arm over his shoulder and held the startled omega up. most of Kazutora's body weight was leaning on the man. If he wasn't certain that he would fall right back down if he shoved the alpha away, he would have kicked the man for his yet again audacious behavior.

a clean pathway decorated with flowers stretched in front of them. Kazutora was not the only one surprised by the greenery as some of the others - mainly Mikey, his vice, the masked Lieutenant, and even Baji gave them odd looks.

"Red camellias, pink roses, and white poppies. what an odd combination.." the silver-haired alpha mused out loud, before he stopped, his head snapping to Mikey.

"wait.. don't these represent your family-"

"me and my siblings" Kazutora was floored. Every great family held the tradition of naming a flower to represent the birth of a new heir. They were not just randomly picked. A priest from the citadel with the ability of forethought usually was invited to hold a ceremony in the child's name. The chosen flower was one, that corresponded with their scent as well, however fleetingly. It furthered the notion that the ceremony held some sort of prophecy to it. In short it was done to assess whether that child would bring prestige to the family's name or doom them.

Kazutora, too had been given one, he remembered. Daffodils. He scoffed internally at the symbolism. hope, joy, and good luck he scoffed. rebirth and new beginnings were equally laughable. None of those had ever applied to him. Quite the opposite. So he didn't give this particular tradition any faith. That at least answered the weird looks from the group, he distinctively thought. This did not mean he understood any more than before of what their placement here meant.

the flowers he was looking at might actually hold some truth to them. pink roses stood for admiration, happiness and love if he remembered correctly. From what he'd heard of the princess so far, it would fit, he guessed. so those were definitely attributed to her.

the white poppies in contrast made him swallow the knot that had lodged itself in his throat. He knew instantly who they belonged to. The shadow of short dark hair covered in blood had his eyes burning. Fate was truly cruel to place this curse on the late crown prince. the flowers stood tall - remembrance for victims of wartimes and as an oath to peace. was this fate's way of making fun of them?

For once, he wished he held no knowledge to these things. ignorance would have been sweet serenity as his eyes could not leave the white flowers swaying in the breeze.

red camellias fell into his vision for a moment, passion and love didn't seem like something he'd associate with the general. maybe his flower placement too had been as wrongly placed as Kazutora's had been. he looked around the group swallowing … or maybe that passion and love was only something his closest would be privy to.

Only when Baji walked was he forced to drop his gaze away. As they walked down the path he noted something else. Spider lilies adorned the road the further down they went. A final goodbye.. as far as he knew the general had two siblings only, who had those been for? they were so sporadic in between the other three flowers that they might as well have been an accidental occurrence.

He wanted to laugh at the cruelty of the path as they reached further along. to the general or him, he couldn't tell. the road was a beacon of Kazutora's sins, and he had nobody to blame but himself.

"Why did you plant these flowers?" He's surprised that the general had actively spoken to him for the first time that day.

"I had to" came the automatic response. Up until he'd asked, Kazutora hadn't even realized, he'd been the one to plant them there. the general's expression flared at the unsatisfying answer. But that had been the truth. He could not recall much of that night, but he remembered the itch, after his hands had drenched themselves in crimson. He could not stop himself. It took him weeks if not months. But time had flown differently in these mountains.

They arrive at the bottom of the path where they are met with an altar surrounded by the same flowers as on the path. In the middle of the altar a pristine obsidian clamor was stuck in the ground.

Kamikaze, the gods wind - the sword of the chosen, that had united the six kingdoms into one a millennia ago by The King of Kings, Sano Maro. It was passed down to the heir of the empire ever since.

It was only right that it would now go back to its rightful place.

Before any of them can step forward, their senses are tickled by purring. Immediately Kazutora's eyes are pinned to the several creatures - no, tigers that sprouted out from all of their sides as the stairs behind them disappear.

He did not think, he would ever be a witness to this in his lifetime. But they were actually in front of him.

Kazutora immediately bowed to show his respect. Everybody else followed.

The guardian spirits of the southern isles.

"Rise."

Kazutora held his breath as he finally dared to look up.

he glimpsed as the Black Tiger's fur rippled like water, befitting of the Ruler of Winter and the northern isle, where the Toman's ships had first docked on, when they'd arrived. It was the only isle that ever saw some type of snow when the colder season's hit, alas the name.

In contrast, the blood-red tiger's fur shimmered like fire, the spirit, that governed over summer and the most southern island to Valhalla.

The white tiger - his fur shone like steel of the kind, that would slice your flesh to the bone with just a brush. this spirit ruled over autumn and the isle to the west, where most of their produce had come from.

The Blue tiger's fur was a fresh bloom on soil - in charge of spring and the eastern isle. The land had been known for its artisans and scholars. Most of the isles knowledge had been stored in its archives before his sire had replaced it with a military stronghold.

Kazutora noticed that the Yellow tiger was absent. Usually, the only time they all appeared together was in the presence of the sun tiger.

Together they were to be believed to keep chaotic cosmic forces in balance, preventing the Southern Isles from further collapse. But looking of the state of every island, this had not been prevented.

"You've brought intruders" the blue tiger accused, circling the altar. Kazutora immediately fumbled through an apology, trying to explain, when he's interrupted by the white tiger. "Stop teasing the child, they are meant to be here as well"

Everybody in the group was alarmed by the casual statement.

"Indeed, we've been expecting you" the black one noted with a flick of its paw "the generation of renegades altogether" his gaze turned to Takemtchy and the sixth commander "an oracle and one-half of the troublesome twins, too"

this was the first time he'd heard of any sort of generation. Looking at the others sharing confused look they were not any better off. Kazutora only shook his head when their gazes turned to him with a questioning glance.

"hah! Don't tell me you're not aware. All realms still tremble before that cursed year you lot graced the world once more" the red one sneered.

"With every birth of you brats a calamity struck. sealing the fates of the whole country" that was utter nonsense-

the tiger seemed on a roll, as it continued unprompted " I remember as the first of you took its first breath as if it was yesterday. not even an hour after their birth a landslide buried half the capital city of Daikan in the 3rd district, killing so many in the poorer parts"

Kazutora had heard of it. The citizens of the stone tunnels had been devastated. So much critique of the Hayashida House and the crown had been made. There had even been rumors that the warden had decided to bury the incident under the heaps of corpses to not end up like the fifth district had later on. his eyes trailed to the third division commander, whose expression was one of troubled confusion and disbelief. This must have been the first time he'd heard of it. "loyalty is so hard to come by these days, but oh, is it worth it" it cackled staring right at the scarred man.

The Black tiger's irises faced that of the Vice, who straightened up at the attention. "wasn't the second of them born right in the middle of the Toman's capital, in the sorriest part of it too if I recall. The civil war broke out soon after. the common folk against the nobles. it lasted two years, almost took that brat's life, did it?

It certainly took that of his mother's. But there is not much to miss if one doesn't remember" It was not difficult to discern who it was the tiger had chosen to speak about, but he was not yet finished "Sometimes truth is the only judgment worth having"

"the one after that was quite morbid, too. that sickness, that struck the second district… It wiped out many members of the main House in a matter of days, among them the head of the Duchy at the time and his whole family"

"..my uncle?" commander Mitsuya choked out. the white tiger was amused by his reaction, as he told the tale."I thought it had been a coincidence-"

"coincidence? Hah, those do not exist in these mids! freedom has its price, no?" the red spirit interrupted full of excitement. "Oh! oh, the next one is even better!" it laughed "a great famine swept over the meadows in the seventh month, those Akashis sure hated sharing. It had cost many lives. Was it not the main reason the warden and his wife were forced to send their children to the capital only a few years later" The uprising and resulting rebellion began with the discontent of the people the House of Akashi had governed, Kazutora remembered. Any help from the crown had come too late. the warden and his wife had lost their life before their last child had even reached their first namesday. not that their successor had managed to regain any popularity amongst his people. Quite the opposite.

But Kazutora was left to wonder who the tiger had addressed as none of the others had any relation to the Akashis as far as he knew.. his eyes turned to the pink-haired beta, who'd yet to say anything-

but that would be absurd-

"only the just can bring about justice" There were quite a few things to digest there, but just like before the spirits just waltzed over the turmoil they were causing.

The blue one emerged right in front of him, making Kazutora jump out of his skin. Yikes.

He had secretly hoped, him not to have been included in this Renegades Generations shtick. Unlike the rest, he wasn't particularly close to any of them. He braced himself mentally. "a solar eclipse darkened the sky for sixteen seconds that clear summer day, basking the isles in fear, foreboding the great evil to follow and how it did." He tried to suppress his discomfort, biting his lips. "You were but an easy tool to mold into what fate needed, your hands were the catalyst" Kazutora flinched back. He was the only one they directly spoke to "Mercy follows the kind"

Kazutora had lost any decorum (and respect) for these menaces, demanding quite spitefully "Enough" To his surprise the tiger looked chastised and disappointed, as his ears flattened. Kazutora might have felt bad, but the urge to deck it was still winning out. With a pout, the beast turned its attention to Baji. Kazutora bristled.

"we'll be nice to him, promise~" the guardian of spring purred, as he mustered apprehensive red eyes. "the biggest blizzard recorded in the history of the continent I believe swept over the whole North on that night, taking over a hundred thousand victims" the blue tiger's eyes gleamed full of glee "but who cares about that? when love conquers it all" it gushed.

"shush you!" the black tiger reprimanded, before anyone else could react to the blue tiger's words.

Mikey's neck prickled and came to the quick realization that every spirit had turned their eyes to him now. His own gaze narrowed in suspicion.

"oho? Who do we have here" all four of them started circling Mikey "born right in the mids of the Monster Generation" Had it not been renegades before? "Your first breath shook the whole earth for twenty minutes. I thought it would never end" the red one whined.

"Heavy lies the crown" the white one purred.

"he did it to himself, too" Mikey flinched at the words of the blue tiger.

"you fight destiny, what bravery" the black one chuckled "when your own selfishness brought you here"

"Foolish" the red one sneered again.

"you think the path you were forced to take, was not meant to be yours. Don't worry that placeholder had fulfilled his purpose"

"To whom are you referring to as placeholder?" Mikey was seething at the implication of his brother being named-

"Foolish. Foolish." He would slaughter them, spirits or not.

"You already knoooow~ it was always your throne" the red one giggled again, uncaring of the threat he posed "or was it?~"

"it must hurt your very soul to suffer through those dreams time and time again… but we don't want them to interrupt now, do we?" the white tiger whispered into his ear. he flinched back only to realize that nobody else was moving, their bodies frozen in time.

"let me tell you a secret. you are the source of all their suffering"

"you forced them back and it is far too late to take any of it back now"

the tiger's gaze turned somewhere else "you cannot stop what was always meant to happen. just like the wolf bonded himself to a tiger at the cusp of childhood-"

"boo! he'd bonded himself long before that though or did you forget?" the red tiger interrupted with a pout.

the white tiger sighed in exasperation "we are speaking of the now. If we were to bring a whole millenia-"

"Shush already! you've already revealed to much!" the black tiger chastised.

Mikey snapped his head to Baji, whose gaze was difficult to place and then unwillingly he turned to the omega, whose stunned expression was still turned to Baji. love conquers it all. he was numb to the revelation. I'm gonna marry him, just you see, Mikey!

what shitty luck? out of all the people… Mikey began to laugh uncontrollably. this revelation had tilted the situation completely on its head. He had thought he'd been mistaken when the omega had denied meeting Baji before. But he should not have taken the omega's word for it as he clearly had no reliable memory to speak of. A bond that lasted for more than fifteen years, no- a whole millennia those fuckers had said… his laughter ceased somberly.

Mikey bit his tongue in frustration. He remembered as Baji had gone through an episode of feralness when they had not even turned nine, when Mikey had been forced to- It went so far, that even Ryouko had considered imprisoning him for his dangerous demeanor. The feralty of the alpha had never really subsided after. Over the years it had lessened, it had come and gone in waves. It had never been as intense as the first time, though many people had to suffer to satisfy his friend's need for blood.

his eyes narrowed to the omega again

and here was the remedy, he seethed.

"the heavens chose you" the blue one exclaimed again but he heard none of it. "or did they?"

"that hero of yours took so much care again and again to save you and still you ruin it" the white one began again but he could not even tell them to shut up-

"You're full of it" Kazutora spoke, the spell broken and the rest of the tigers stopped in their antics. "You should learn some manners. Nobody asked for your commentary."

the four looked properly chastised to the other's utter surprise, wondering why they had listened to the omega, considering their supposed might. A sudden realization comes to his mind, the beasts had yet to go against any of the omega's words, his eyes followed the tattoo on his neck.

"We have kept it safe, just as you asked" Like a switch of character, the red tiger's attention turned to the southerner with pleading.

"We left it just as you put it" It was comical to see them, as if a child trying to win back some favor with their parent. Kazutora's scrunched-up face turned to surprise.

"I did?"

"Who else, child?"

"I don't remember-"

"Of course you do not"

"That was the price to be paid for closing it." Kazutora jolted at the implications, thinking back on the vacant door standing on the cliff above. He could not place, where the sudden drag of guilt and shame in his gut had come from, but looking at the altar he could take a guess.

"no favors without payment, or have you forgotten that as well" the red spirit teased with a laugh. " Kazutora narrowed his eyes and the tiger hit behind the altar in shame.

"Don't be upset. You came here for a purpose, did you not?" the black tiger - the most mature one in Kazutora's opinion- directed his gaze to the sword.

"Your friends have not much time left" the blue one looked at him, as if he were waiting for praise for his simple deduction. Kazutora cocked his head in confusion. he did not linger on the thought as the tiger of winter spoke again.

"It is high time you took what you came for and leave. This is no place for mortals."

"but there are no mortals here-" the red one remarked before the other three shushed him as they all disappeared in different directions, the black one lingered for a single moment. "I'll make sure the passage to the outside will be smoothly"

"thank you" a glint of a smile was on its snout before its fur disappeared into thin air. All of them simultaneously lost the tension in their shoulders.

Finally.

They all remained a respectful distance away, walking to the edge of the forest, their backs turned to their leader to give him a semblance of privacy.

Mikey approached the altar, his gaze solely on the weapon.

If he closed his eyes, it would feel like they were back home playing through the fields. His brother's scent and that of his sister's around him. The spider lilies were still confusing him. But he didn't dwell on it.

He hesitantly touches the hilt, with its intricate design - a single black ruby shining back at him and something in him gives.

He drops to his knees as grief took a hold of him. All the memories of his brother teaching him how to hold a sword properly. His piss poor display of swordsmanship had Mikey crying tears of laughter as the man gasped aghast at his younger brother's lack of respect.

If Mikey had known, those lessons might have come to an end so abruptly, he would have cherished them more. It seemed no matter what he did these days, he was forced to drown in what-if's.

What if he'd stopped his brother before he'd left for the doomed negotiation?

if he'd been more stubborn and forced him to take Mikey with him, damn his age?

if he'd been able to watch his brother's back from-

his head whirls back to the omega and a new wave of loathing consumes his chest, so ugly half his body already motioned to strike-

his gaze unwillingly landed on Baji 'the wolf bonded himself to a tiger'

and Mikey bit his tongue until he tasted copper, only when he could trust himself to take a deep breath his arm dropped, stopping before he did something he might regret.

Instead, he takes the obsidian steel out of the ground, fastening it behind his back, before walking back to the rest of the group.

He could hear the omega's breath hitch as soon as Mikey's eyes turned to him. Much like a week ago, he commanded "Come with me."

this time with nobody else to interrupt him.

Mikey could feel that the omega was intimidated by him, though he did make a great show of acting like he wasn't as they walked quite the way into the forest.

"Is this the place you killed him?" the omega flinched at the word.. killed, but that was what he had done. He had no right, to act the victim, Mikey boiled from the inside.

"On the cliff.. where the door.." he trailed off, his arms crossed for some form a comfort, Mikey assumed. He could not tell with the southerner, what was genuine and what was a game.

"How did you do it?"

"I-I"

"You had so much fun blurting it out the first time. this should be no issue to you" unlike that door had engraved, there was no mercy in him to be spared.

golden eyes looked away in shame, but Mikey had no sympathy, either. he'd done this to himself. the omega had dug the hole, and Mikey was now only seeing through that he lay in it.

"o-on the head. I hit him on the back of his head"

Mikey looked at him, waiting. the omega did not ask for further clarification. "I was behind him, he didn't see, when I-I"

he spoke, sounding unsure of himself. the sentence is more of a question than an answer.

"Why?"

and that was the crux of it, wasn't it? what had his brother done, to be killed from behind, without a chance to defend himself.

"I don't know"

Red.

all Mikey could see was red, grabbing the omega by his collar. "No."

he watched as the omega's bewildered expression tried to understand. "I d-don't-"

"No." he repeated calmly. "You do not get to kill him, gleefully confess to it, and then tell me you do not know"

Their foreheads were almost touching "so let's try this again. Why. did. you. murder. my brother?" he punctuated every word, his gaze unrelenting.

"I-I" when the omega raised his hands, Mikey first assumed, he was trying to shove Mikey away instead they clawed into his own two-toned hair. Erratic breathing followed, his eyes glazed over as he began to tear at the strands in his clawlike grip.

Mikey let go of him. He dropped to the ground, still clawing at his own skull "It won- it won't-"

This had been a mistake. He- he shouldn't be here. Kazutora had no right. He dug his nails into his scalp until he could feel skin break. He deserved to die. Die. Die just die already

Mikey watched him struggle with detachment. For a moment the omega stilled before a crazed look of dulled gold with black slits of irises met him head-on. His lips had stretched out into a deranged grin. there he was "He had to die"

Mikey kicked him to the ground, eyes empty he hovered over the omega, who did not seem to mind that he'd just been hit at all.

"Did your father tell you to do it?"

"Mhm.. yes, no? He wanted Mr.Shinichiro to suffer I think? but not die, maybe?" He giggled as he continued like he was telling some grand secret. "I got into a lot of trouble, ya know?"

"For what?" he spit picking the omega back up by the collar.

"for helping him escape, dummy!"

Mikey dropped him to the ground again like he'd been burned, the omega just oofed in laughter. None of the words the omega had uttered made any sense, when he put them together. But he did not sense a lie from him. "why would you help him escape?"

"he didn't wanna miss his brother's birthday, so I let him out! Birthdays are important, y'know?" the omega excitedly exclaimed, like he was bestowing some great wisdom on to him. "He promised to come back for me, too!" he giggled again

"but he lied" he said still laughing, chuckling through a "too late, too late" before he seemed to have an epiphany

"Liar, liar, pants on fire!" he sing-songed as he twirled around.

"How did you end up on this mountain with him, if he'd escaped and you hadn't?"

"Hm, I wonder?" He stroked his chin, thinking before he snapped his fingers "I woke up and we were here suddenly. I don't know how he did it? Magic!"

Mikey mulled his next words over. "what happened then?"

"did you know… If a person kills someone they're a bad guy, but if you kill an enemy, you're a hero" the omega had his back to him, his arms outstretched as his head turned to him with a maniacal grin "so I killed them all"

"them?"

"the guys trying to catch us, duh!" he turns around again, thinking aloud "I killed Mr. Shinnichiro first though. It was quick, I promise!"

"..why?" blood seeped into his mouth as he clenched his teeth

"I told you, I had to!" the omega turned more aggressive. "meddling is bad, you know?"

"why did you make all of this then?" he gestured back to the altar they'd come from, uncaring of what the omega thought of his meddling. but the omega only shrugged.

Mikey wanted to strangle him. He was of sound enough mind to understand, that the omega was experiencing some sort of split personality or manic episode. It was not doing Mikey's urge to put him six feet under any favors.

"dunno. I liked him I guess.. I did a great job with the flowers, camellias are hard to find around here. the tigers had lotsa trouble making them bloom. Ao whined the whole time, I tell you. so annoying"

"You liked him"

"I did! then he broke his promise and I didn't like him anymore. Liars are the worst" Kazutora explained to the smaller man. it was funny, He didn't get what Kazutora was explaining to him at all. What a silly little guy!

"because he promised to come back and he didn't?"

Kazutora had to think a lot today, he didn't like it at all. It was such a hassle. "No~ He also promised I wouldn't get hurt anymore, I just had to wait for him, but that's not why I did it"

Talking about Mr.Shinichiro wasn't fun anymore. "Everybody always lies" Kazutora murmured, his dapper mood now ruined. His head was hurting again. "they said it wouldn't hurt, that I'd enjoy it.. but it did. it hurt a lot"

Kazutora crouched down, picking up a white poppy, plucking one petal after the other "I didn't enjoy it at all"

Kazutora does not remember getting off the mountain at all. He does not recall what happened after the celestial tigers had left. He drew up a blank every time he tried.

But he knew it had to do with the crown prince. Even though every cell in his body told him not to, he needed clarity, so he did the only sensible thing he could think of and ambushed the man in the stables, where he'd heard Takemitchy tell Draken that their leader was.

unbuckling the belt of the saddle, the alpha gives him the cold shoulder. Not that Kazutora thought him to be elated at the sight of him. "Why am I still alive?"

He swore he was going to word it differently, for it to not sound as odd as it did. But Kazutora had lost any patience.

"You irritate me" Kazutora stilled, but inclines his head for the general to continue. "You killed my brother yet you cannot tell me the reason. You built this intricate burial side and honor his sword on an altar as if he were a deity to worship yet you cannot say why… and then you barge in here like I owe you anything"

the man turns to the next strap "do you understand how this is irritating"

Kazutora did not dare interrupt as the man continued to air out his grievances concerning the omega. "the least you could have given me is closure, but even that is too much to ask. How am I supposed to bring my brother's murderer to justice when he does not recall the reason for his crime?"

"you just get to forget your sins as you please. Absolving yourself of any responsibility. A part of me wishes to beat you until you are forced to remember"

the man caresses his horse "why do you get to go scot-free, while I am forced to live with it for the rest of my life." The man was still not facing him, as he put his saddle away. with a brush, he returned to his horse.

"Can I make a request?" Mikey shrugged at his question and that was all the prompting Kazutora needed.

"I have arranged for my demise. No fault or responsibility will befall you when I do die whether at your hands or not. The people of these lands know my intentions. They will not fight or rebel against you no matter what you do" -to me goes unsaid.

Mikey gave him a considering look. He would love nothing more than to be given the freedom to do as he longed for. But it wasn't that easy. He might have entertained the idea just a few hours prior but he no longer had that luxury.

It was not only Kazutora's life that was on the line. He sighed exhausted. He wished Baji wouldn't have immediately imprinted on the first omega he fancied. Maybe this would have been easier to handle then.

But Baji had chosen and Mikey was fifteen years too late to change that.

He had yet to decide what part of the omega would win out in the end.

Shin's murderer or Baji's bonded. Justice for Shinichiro or Baji's sanity.

Which one was he willing to give up?

Mikey was still without an answer..

"I'll be leaving with Draken and the fifth and sixth at dawn. You will follow a day after with the first and third"

"Huh?" Kazutora whipped his head to him. Surely, he must have heard wrong. "You can't-"

Mikey narrowed his eyes at him, a flash of warning in his dark irises, making Kazutora instinctively shrink into himself. But he couldn't just let him- He knew he said Mikey could do whatever he wanted. But he thought for sure that Mikey wouldn't let him live. He felt panic wash over him. He had not planned to be forced to live any longer "Why aren't you-"

"I'm not repeating myself"

The words were biting, but the commander had already turned his back on him again and- "Something else as well.. See this as your first and last warning. Do not approach me. Do not speak to me unless I speak to you first. Stay as far away from me as possible"

And Kazutora watched as he walked away from him with no regard for his objections.

A normal person would be elated to be spared. But Kazutora was not a person. he was a monster. and monsters had to die. He had killed that man's brother. For all purposes, he should have already been on his way to hell. Monsters didn't make it to the end of the story, they are meant to be killed.

Sano Manjiro was a cruel man, he came to realize.

He tried comforting himself by the fact that Mikey would want to make a show of killing him perhaps, waiting for the right moment to quench his bloodlust in front of all of Central. He could accept that.

He nodded.

Yes.

Kazutora didn't need to worry.

He would only have to hang on a little longer.

He could do that.

It startled him when Baji entered with equally aggrieved lines on his face and softly addressed him "…Come, you should get some sleep"

With no will to fight any longer he let himself be numbly moved along.