Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

Truth of Darkness	By : KiraDouji Category: Descendents of Darkness/Yami No Matsuei > General Views: 2219 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Descendants of Darkness (Yami no Matsuei), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Chapter: Four: The Unguarded Truth

Pairing/Character/s: Sohryu, Suzaku, Byakko, Genbu, Touda, Rikugou, Erel

Disclaimer:
The author holds no license of nor makes claims to any of the characters,
concepts, or story the above originated from in any way. The characters are
used without permission of the original creator for the sake of entertainment
only. No profit is gained from the writing found hereafter, nor any personal
credit taken for the character designs, personalities or concepts stemming from
the original story used. All situations below, unless otherwise stated, have no
bearing on the creator�s original work, and are solely the creation of the
author based on personal interpretation of the above mentioned works or are
parodies exempted from copyright laws. It is the responsibility of the reader
to observe all warnings before proceeding to the fiction below, as it may
contain any number of situations, themes, ideas, views, or lifestyles not
suitable for those under the age of 18 or which may be contrary or offensive to
the beliefs of some. In the event that the following is the author�s original
work, or contains an original character, the author holds the copy write and
should be contacted before either is used or distributed in any way. All
questions and comments concerning the written work or otherwise can be made
directly to the author.

Warning/s: Beware the new character.

Word
Count: 5,267

Summary: Sohryu holds a trial, Suzaku gives
Tenkuu a few scorch marks and Touda finds that faith came through in the end.

Author�s
Note: This is my personal interpretation of Gensoukai�s
history and Touda�s personal involvement. It�s never stated canonically exactly
what happened, so I�m merely drawing from what�s there and running with it. Also, to those of you who took the time to
review: thank you so much, your comments are very much appreciated!

The Unguarded Truth

�You can't separate peace from freedom

because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.�

- Malcolm X

�Private�
had been Sohryu�s choice of words, but even still, Touda hadn�t quite expected
such a small, secluded chamber to be used. Still, it was adequate for
describing the square, stark room. It was as elegant as the rest of Tenkuu:
hard wood floors and complicated carvings etched into the walls and support
columns with a large table opposite the door, seats on each wall and one in the
middle. The scene strongly reminded him of darker inquisition chambers from
earlier times, but the serpent forcibly pushed that image from his mind as he
strode into the room.

Seated
at the table across from him were all four guardians; Sohryu regal and
collected, Suzaku looking serious if slightly agitated, Genbu with his normal
bland and unreadable expression and Byakko who, though collected, definitely
seemed the most off kilter out of those assembled. Only one of the remaining
chairs was taken, filled by Rikugou's
slim frame. Touda inclined his head towards the table of guardians as he
entered and took the only seat that could be his. Private indeed.

Sohryu
began as expected. �This hearing has been called into session to reopen the
case of the fire serpent Touda, concerning his past and present actions for and
against the people of Gensoukai.� He drew a breath. �New information has been
brought to light which will now be brought into account.� Blue eyes gazed
intently at the shikigami in the center of the room. �Perhaps mysteries long
since forgotten shall be unraveled.�

Touda
kept a calm fa�ade in place and steadily returned Sohryu�s pointed gaze. He was
still unsure about the reasoning for this and his predictions all led down
darker roads. While the fire serpent was sure he wouldn�t be executed or returned to prison, as both actions would
directly infringe upon Tsuzuki�s right to his fate� anything aside from that
was fair game. Sohryu would get what he was looking for� whatever it was.

The
leader of Gensoukai adjusted a few papers on the desk in front of him. �I will
begin, if there are any objections or additional questions, they will be asked
at such a time as they are meaningful. To ascertain the validity of all
statements made during these proceedings, Rikugou will maintain a continuous
scan. If such a time comes when this becomes too draining, we will recess and
return when he is capable of continuing. Are there any objections?� Though Sohryu paused and regarded each of the
other three assembled gods individually to allow them time to speak. None did
and from the looks of it, they were all more than willing to follow his lead.
No doubt, Sohryu had not revealed any of his information to them beforehand, so
they really couldn�t have an opinion one way or the other.

When
the silence became decisive, Sohryu gestured for the diviner to begin. Rikugou
closed his eyes for a moment, remembering his earlier encounter with Touda�s
mind. He used the moment to steel himself before standing and taking his place
in front, but off to the side of Touda. The fire serpent allowed his power to
recede gently as all three pairs of eyes opened and focused on him. Rikugou
looked both slightly relieved and mildly confused at the gesture, but didn�t
address it.

�What
do you see, Rikugou?� Sohryu began.

�His
mind is stable and clear,� came the soft answer. Soft, due to the amount of
concentration he was maintaining. Touda really didn�t mind the quiet man�s
presence, passively allowing Rikugou to continue.

Sohryu
turned his attention back to Touda. �The original accusations shall be
addressed first. Hundreds of people including all those in attendance today
witnessed you indiscriminately murder nearly five thousand people on both sides
of battle as well as those in surrounding towns and villages, including half of
Tenkuu. Do you deny this?�

�No.�

�Will
you present us with your account of the events?�

�No.�

�He
doesn�t need to.� Suzaku added, eyes narrowed.

Sohryu
held up his hand for silence. �Why do you refuse?�

�I
have no recollection of the event.� Touda answered evenly.

�Rikugou?�
Sohryu asked, forestalling any outbursts from the other gods at the blunt
proclamation.

The
astrologer looked rather confused. �He� is being truthful.�

�Is
there something else?�

��
The memory is not just suppressed�� He focused harder on Touda and tried to
find the right words. �When a person cannot remember something, either they are
blocked from the memory because of an outside force, or they have suppressed it
within themselves. The memory here is both suppressed and hidden: it feels
foreign somehow.�

Byakko
shared a curious look with Suzaku, but Genbu spoke before either of them could.
�Do you know a possible reason for this?�

��
It would imply possession at the time the memory was formed, or at least, that
there was another entity present.� Rikugou answered levelly, despite his
obvious confusion.

�Would
that also imply that Touda was not entirely in control of his actions at the
time of his crime?� Sohryu continued on, unfazed.

Rikugou
looked uneasy, �It could��

Suzaku
flared up from the other end of the table, her fist hitting the wood solidly as
she leaned forward, eyes flashing. �Was he or wasn�t he, Rikugou? We all saw
the destruction and chaos he caused, but...� She hesitated, realizing what this
all meant. �But you don�t have to be in your right mind to do that. Was he
unaware, or could he have stopped himself? Did he make the decision or did
someone else?!�

�No
one made the decision.� Rikugou took a steadying breath, already deep in the
darkness of Touda�s mind, undoing centuries of repression and outside
influence. He was having a hard time explaining what he saw and felt. Touda
shuddered, but otherwise didn�t let himself react. �There is anger and intent
to harm, but it�s not directed at the people he killed� it�s directed at
someone else the entire time. He�s only in charge of his reactions so much as a
sleeping person is aware. As if you had been attacked and instinctively lashed
out-�

�That
is good enough.� Sohryu instructed, and Rikugou relaxed a bit, immediately
pulling away from the chilling memory. Blue eyes regarded the silent form of
the serpent shikigami again. �During the recent battle, you drew the Emperor
out of Kijin and into yourself, in order to trap him. How did you know it was
him?�

�Kurikara
figured it out before I did when he was battling your son after my limiter was
destroyed. Tsuzuki explained as much during the battle.� Touda replied blandly.

�And
what happened when your limiter was destroyed?� Sohryu pressed.

Touda
pressed his lips into a thin line, clearly not liking where the line of
questioning was leading. �I lost control�

�Due
to the return of your powers?�

�No.�

�What,
then?�

�The
Emperor attempted to manipulate me, and I instinctively fought back.� The
serpent glanced at Rikugou, but he seemed to be holding up well again.

�Instinctively?�
Byakko asked before Sohryu could continue his questions. �You've experienced this sort of thing
before??�

Touda
almost evaded the question, but with Rikugou touching his mind... He sighed,
not liking where this conversation was heading. �A few times.�

Sohryu's
eyes narrowed. �Elaborate. You claim the Emperor has controlled you before?�

�He
entered my mind and attempted control three times: first before the mass
murders, secondly after Kurikara broke my limiter and again after I forced him
from Kijin.� Touda clarified, glancing at the wind god. Byakko sat back,
looking down the table at Sohryu.

�Rikugou?�
Sohryu prompted, not returning anyone�s gaze.

�He
is being truthful. Those memories are intact,� the astrologer confirmed.

The
dragon god turned his attention to Touda once again. �Are you claiming that
each of these attacks caused you to lose control of your actions?�

�No.� Even Sohryu raised an eyebrow at that. �I am telling you that each of the attacks disoriented me and that while the
aggression my part was intended, the target was the Emperor, not those I killed
or hurt,� Touda elucidated.

�His
memories verify that.� Rikugou added immediately.

�But
if he was vulnerable to that and couldn�t consciously fight back, how did he
hold the Emperor in after he attacked Kijin?� Suzaku demanded.

The
question wasn�t directed at him, but Touda answered it anyway. �Tsuzuki. Both
times it was Tsuzuki who stabilized me, brought me back to myself and allowed
me to fight. If you need to verify that you can ask him.

�I
don't know the full details of our bonds with Tsuzuki any more than the rest of
you, but from what I can recall of both the times he stabilized me...� He
trailed off, collecting his thoughts. �Tsuzuki's power is very similar to my
own, allowing our powers to blend easily... When Tsuzuki drew all our powers into
himself, I could feel him resonating with me. His already incredible capacity
became inconceivable. Otherwise, how else do we explain what he did to the
Emperor?�

Sohryu let that sink in before carrying on. �Are
there any further questions before I continue?� The curious looks he received
from the other gods confirmed Touda�s suspicions that they had not been fully
briefed beforehand. Outside he remained calm, but inside he was beginning to
worry about exactly what Sohryu planned to accomplish with his remaining
arsenal of questions. Touda hadn't expected to be believed so easily. He had
thought the dragon would rather go to the grave before conceding the truth of
the matter. �Very well. Touda. Why did the Emperor find it necessary to control
you the first time?�

The
serpent shikigami could only glare at the exceedingly intrusive question. �I
can only assume it was because I was no longer of use to him.�

�And
why do you think that was?� Sohryu pressed.

�I
told him I would not do his dirty work any longer. I could no longer perform as
he wished, nor did I agree with his totalitarian rule. When he became aware of
my thoughts, he gave me options, none of which I could accept, and then
attempted to force my will.� Touda
growled lowly.

�What
work did you perform by his word?� Sohryu�s voice was calm, his expression a
perfect mask, but it was exactly that emotionless perfection that proved
exactly how much the facts were getting to him.

�You
have the list, or would you rather hear me say it?� Touda challenged.

�Answer
the question, Touda.�

The
serpent sat up straighter and looked at Rikugou levelly. �For your sake,
retreat to the outermost layer you need to do your job.� He turned his gaze
back to the assembled gods, drawing a steadying breath before beginning. �In
the years before the wars, I was mandated to cull those in opposition to the
Emperor�s rule from the population. Three hundred and sixty two people died by
my hand during that time.�

Rikugou
swayed, but caught himself, quickly retreating as previously instructed. Touda
plowed on, heedless. �Before the first war I was ordered to murder Yako Shiono
and did so at the height of his power. The reports say his body was found by a
river, splayed from throat to groin, heavily burnt and badly mangled. The
speculated cause of death was shock and the severity of his burns. The actual
cause was a simple break of the neck. The rest was merely theatrics meant to
confuse and anger. Both men with him died as well, though there is no record as
they were just local villagers and assumed to have died during the following
war.

Since
killing during war does not seem to be worthy of criminal status, I will not
include those descriptions. Prior to the second war every member of the
Hirogane Clan died. The official reports claim this was done all in one night,
but in truth, it took me several days to break Niran�s sanity. She was a very
strong woman, and did not weaken until the third day I spent torturing-�

�Enough!�
Suzaku�s outburst was accompanied the booming smash of her hands angrily
connecting with the table as she burst into a standing position. �How can you�
how can you say those things without any emotion?! I could have forgiven an
unintentional disaster, but these were intentional, planned � don�t you have
any heart at all?!� The proud fire god shook in her anger, flames licking her
body and tears forming at the emotional overload.

�What
would you have me do, Suzaku?� Touda replied coldly. �I killed all of them,
yes. It was an order. Would any of you� could any of you have refused if he had
ordered you to do the same?�

Suzaku
faltered, but picked up again just as quickly. �If you don�t feel anything for
that, it makes you no different than a cold blooded murderer.�

�You
feel for those you cut down in battle?� the serpent parried icily. When she
didn�t respond, he pushed on. �I realized what I was being used for could not
go on. Do you understand that? You think I do not care? The entire reason I
turned on the Emperor is because I �do care. I did not fight my prison,
I did not fight the limiter and I will not fight whatever the outcome here is.
I will not separate myself from my actions as those who fight for the �right
thing� or the �truth� or �justice� do.

�I
do not run from death. I cause it. I understand it. I did not run from the
prison you made me. I caused it. It is hard for me to remember a time when
killing was not a part of my life, nor secrecy instinctive. You want me to cry
for them? Do you expect me to beg forgiveness? I will do neither. I understand
their pain, but I only envy their deaths. You will never be able to understand
that, Suzaku.

�I
broke the laws of this nation, but at the bidding of its ruler. Does that
exempt me? They are still dead. I cannot change that.� He swept his gaze across
the assembled gods, finally landing on Sohryu again. �I swore to protect and
serve, and I have done so only to be labeled a criminal, ridiculed and
punished. Have you ever wondered why I never fought any of it?� The dragon lord
actually seemed a bit unprepared for Touda�s words, which only spurred the
serpent onwards.

�You
asked me if I preferred peace or freedom, and my answer is exactly the reason I
have not fought you in any of this. I believe in freedom. The freedom to live,
to make mistakes, to teach, learn and die. I had more faith in all of you than
any of you ever held in me, because you can shape the freedom of others. That
trust was broken when the Emperor last spoke to me. But he is gone now and you
have to make your own decisions. So I believe in your new freedom. Whatever it
is you want from this trial� I hope you found it.�

Rikugou
sat down with a muffled �thump�, closing all his eyes as he tried to collect
himself. Suzaku looked like she wanted to be angry but was still processing and
trying to logically sort through everything just said. Genbu and Byakko shared
a look before turning their gaze to Sohryu. Silence continued to cloy in the
small room as the dragon god kept his intense blue eyes locked with hidden gold
ones.

Finally,
Sohryu sat back and adjusted his papers again. �In light of the new information
found and brought to light during these proceedings, the additional total of
seven hundred and forty eight murders will be added to the list of
accusations.� Touda narrowed his eyes and clenched a fist, dropping this gaze
to the table instead of the people sitting at it. �However, any act of
aggression against an established enemy of Gensoukai is considered to be in
defense of the Emperor and nation. As it was the Emperor who established such
things, all seven hundred and forty eight of those kills, sanctioned by the
Emperor or performed during war are hereby struck from the record.�

Touda
looked up abruptly, and watched Sohryu stand. �Additionally,� the dragon god
continued, �murder, by law, requires intent. Touda�s actions five hundred years
ago lacked such intent, therefore responsibility for the subsequent deaths
incurred as a direct result of his efforts defend himself inevitably falls to
his attacker. Thus I hereby grant Touda a full pardon for all previous
charges.�

�You
can�t be serious-� Suzaku started, wide-eyed, but Sohryu raised his hand for
silence and moved around the desk to face a very stunned Touda.

�As
such, the remainder of your sentence is terminated and you are fully reinstated
in rank and name. Furthermore�� Touda pulled back instinctively when Sohryu
reached towards him, but only forestalled the contact, �� nullifying the
punishment voids the conditions of your commutation.� With two soft clicks, the
visor came off.

Touda
blinked, eyes adjusting slowly to the light in the room. Soft gasps rose as his
hair grew out once more in a single flourish of power, his claws seeming to
warp and shift, becoming more deadly. His golden eyes regarded the man standing
over him.

�Your
freedom is returned, Divine Commander Touda.� Sohryu stepped back, watching the
serpent shikigami for a moment before continuing. �Your previous chambers shall
be reopened and summons will be sent there later today when a post has been
found. This hearing is hereby concluded.�

No
one moved.

Finally,
Touda raised his head again, gazing intently at Sohryu, as if waiting for the
dragon to take it all back. Sohryu merely stepped back and eventually broke the
gaze, turning to the other gods. As if that was the signal, they burst into a
flurry of motion, Suzaku and Byakko speaking tumultuously. Even Genbu looked
less serene. Touda paid attention to none of it. His power was back� and this
time it wouldn�t be taken away again. He was whole and � free. How long� no,
had he ever really been free before? The serpent shikigami felt himself smile
for the first time in ages. A relieved, heartfelt smile that seemed to help
drain adrenaline he hadn�t realized he�d had.

He
stood up, eyes trailing the entirety of the room as he tried to ground himself.
Tsuzuki had been right� His eyes fixed upon Sohryu�s back, the dragon god
conversing shortly with a rather agitated Guardian of the South. Of all the
things� of all the people� Touda relaxed. Just a little, though. Perhaps his
first impression was correct after all. Without wasting another moment, he
turned and left the room, feeling the many pairs of eyes on his back as he
exited but not caring.

�Didn�t
I tell you not to push yourself?� Genbu grumbled amiably as he crouched down
next to his supposed student. �You need to listen to me �sometimes, you
know.�

��
I don�t believe it. I read it� it happened� but I don�t believe it.� Rikugou
rambled, all but one pair of eyes closed, staring at Touda�s retreating form as
he simply left.

Genbu
frowned, drawing his bushy eyebrows down as he considered Rikugou�s words.
�What did you read?�

�They
said Sohryu would willingly release an ancient darkness upon the world� The boy
would bring calamity, the darkness would be released and then� I couldn�t read
anything else, but something is going to happen because of it.� Rikugou slumped
back against the table.

�Something
already happened,� Genbu noted.

�Something
else, idiot.� Rikugou grumbled halfheartedly.

~*~

The
overly stressed creaks and groans along the hallways leading to his old
chambers showed Tenkuu�s opinion of his release, but Touda couldn�t really care
less at the moment. He was free. His power flowed in waves through him: he
thrummed with energy. Instinctively, he reached out to the bond he shared with
Tsuzuki and nearly tripped over himself in shock. What had once been nothing
more than a tunnel between powers had morphed into a wide open connection
between entities. Still walking, he tentatively pulled back from the bond,
mentally grounding himself. He�d have to take care of it later.

He
shook his head lightly and turned the corner to his wing, noting the immediate
change in lighting from bright to quite dim. Touda paused at one end of the
hallway, feeling the ancient air surround him and the sensation of corridors
long since abandoned wash over him. Slowly, he moved forward again, passing two
doors before setting his hand on a doorknob. The room at the end of the hall. A
door he hadn�t seen in over five hundred years� An entrance to a past he
thought would never again be brought to life. He turned the doorknob and walked
in.

The
air was stale; what little light there was crept in through half drawn drapes.
Touda moved farther in, noting the dust he raised from the unused carpet,
sensing he had disrupted a profound stillness. This was less a room than a
grave. Candles had melted themselves into pools and small stubs, and papers lay
scattered on his desk, an ancient ink well and pen hardly distinguishable from
the layer of dust that coated them. It was as if the room hadn�t changed from
the moment he�d left it well over five hundred years ago. He reached out,
gently touching the old paper, only to whirl around abruptly when he felt a
presence in his doorway.

�Ah!
Please excuse me!� A young woman took a sudden step back, pale blue eyes
widening. �I didn�t think anyone would be here yet. I-�

Touda�s
golden eyes narrowed on the newcomer, and he moved forward. �Who are you?�

�Ah,
forgive my rudeness; I should have introduced myself first. My name is Erel: I
was just recently placed in charge of these quarters.� She bowed low, long
silver hair falling over her shoulders.

Touda
smirked dryly. �This must be your first promotion if you were placed in charge
of such a man�s den.�

Erel
straightened, looking curiously at Touda. �Pardon my asking� but are you the
lord these rooms belong to?�

�I
am.�

She
smiled and bobbed another quick bow, �Then I am pleased to be in your service,
lord. Should I come back later?�

�Do
you know who I am, Erel?� Touda inquired softly.

��
I�m afraid I wasn�t given your name�� she replied, still smiling gently, �It
was only minutes ago that my assignment was changed and all they said was that
the lord of these chambers had returned and he would want them properly
straightened out� Was this wrong?�

�My
name is Touda,� he answered, gauging her reaction carefully. When none came, he
added, �I prefer it when people use my name.� She nodded. Touda sighed,
deciding that if she didn�t already know, it was probably better if she didn�t
find out. That was behind him now, right? �And you weren�t wrong. I only just
arrived.�

�Ah!�
She brightened again; stepping in. �Then let me help you settle in! I have some
fresh candles, sheets and such in the hallway�� Before Touda could answer, she
blew in, heading for the large windows on one end of the room. �This room could
use some life, don�t you think?� The drapes were thrown open in a cloud of
dust, letting the warm late morning sun pour in and illuminate the once-dreary
room.

�It
seems as though this entire hallway fell into disuse after I left,� Touda
offered quietly, watching the young woman as she moved on to another set of
curtains.

�Well,
they�ve been off limits for so long� ever since I came here.� Erel spun around,
tilting her head slightly as she asked, �How long have you been gone?�

�Five
hundred years,� Touda breathed, feeling at ease for some unknown reason.

Pale
blue eyes widened in amazement. �That�s nearly my entire life!� The fire
serpent known for his usually cold demeanor could not help the half-smile that
broke his facial expression at the energetic reply. Erel gave a sharp gasp,
drawing Touda�s attention immediately back to her. �Here I am clearing your
room and I didn�t even ask you where I can find your things. Surely you have
some bags that need to be fetched-�

�There
is no luggage.� Touda cut in. �Just me and whatever hasn�t decayed by now.�

Erel
paused, her pale eyes settling curiously on the lord to whom she had been
assigned. After a moment, her small smile returned and she nodded. �All right,
would you like me to clean this room first, then?�

��
I would appreciate the help, yes.�

~*~

Several
hours, three inches of dust, two loads of laundry and one bucket of polish
later, there was a knock at the door. Touda looked up from the piles of paper
and trinkets creating a small wall on the floor around him. �Don�t trouble
yourself, my lord!� Erel cheerily called over, wiping her arms on her apron and
moved to the door. Touda noticed that the bookcase she had only just started to
clean was already nearly finished, including a wipe down of every book on it.

After
a moment of conversing with what seemed to be another servant, Erel nodded a
few times and backed into the room with a short wave before closing the door.
She turned around, previously tied back strands of her silver hair swaying
lightly. �It seems Lord Sohryu has requested your presence as soon as possible.
I told the messenger that you would be there shortly.�

Touda
nodded and put down what he�d been looking at, standing with serpentine grace
and carefully found a way out of the piles he�d been sifting through. He dusted
himself off and began undoing the hair tie he�d borrowed when they had started
cleaning. �I don�t know if I will back soon or not, but whichever case, you
should take a moment to get yourself something to eat since we missed lunch.�

�Ah�
I was hoping to finish before taking a break, but if you�re not here it�s
probably better that I do now�� Erel looked up when Touda made for the door,
brow furrowed in confusion. �You do not wish for your house robes, lord?�

Touda
arched an eyebrow. �I believe my entire wardrobe disintegrated when you opened
it,� he replied with a slight smirk.

Erel
chuckled embarrassedly, �Ah� so it did� Well, I hope you have a good meeting,
then.� She bowed lightly and Touda swept out of the room, the rings in his hair
jingling softly.

~*~

�You
were longer than I thought you�d be,� Touda announced upon entering Sohryu�s
usual workspace: a spacious office near the center of Tenkuu.

�There
are other things to attend to that do not concern you,� Sohryu answered evenly,
placing a sheaf of paper on his desk as he regarded the shikigami in front of
him. �And since we are not involved in a war at the moment, most of your trades
are not needed yet.� he added coolly, sliding regally into his chair.

�You
intended to use me in the same manner?� the serpent prompted quietly.

�You
intended to allow me?� the dragon lord parried.

�You
wouldn�t have.�

Sohryu
raised an eyebrow lightly, �Why is that?�

�You
would never demand the same things the Emperor once did.� Touda answered,
unveiled, golden eyes holding the calculating blue gaze easily. �What changed,
Sohryu?�

The
dragon lord pointedly ignored the question, choosing instead to rearrange some
papers on his desk, his facial expression never changing. �I�m placing you in
information gathering for now. We need to know about what�s going on and I
believe you would do well in discovering the source of our problems.�

Touda�s
serpentine eyes narrowed when his question went unanswered. �Sohryu�� he began
lowly.

�Are
you disagreeing with my decision?� the dragon shot back coolly.

�You
know that�s not what I�m talking about.�

�What
do you want to hear, Touda? That I had a change of heart? That I felt bad for
you? Or do you just want me to say that I made a mistake, or that my loyalty
was unfounded and unkept? That I was blind, or that I was no less a tool than
you?� Sohryu�s voice was low, but held a sharp edge to it, one that he had no
qualms with using. His icy gaze fixed on the serpent shikigami in front of him
and refused to break. �I am fighting a war, Touda. Gensoukai is without an
Emperor and I�m doing all I can to keep it from coming apart both physically
and theologically. We cannot drift apart when we face such a threat. I cannot
spare anyone when we don�t know precisely what the threat is. You can and will aid us.�

Touda�s
hand fisted tightly, but instead of replying he merely turned and calmly stalked out of the room, the door
echoing a soft �thud� into the empty chamber. Sohryu waited a full minute
before exhaling and shakily placing his head in his hands as his elbows rested
on his desk. For the first time in his life he doubted his own actions. It
wasn�t a pleasant feeling and Touda�s digging certainly wasn�t making it any
better. He couldn�t ignore the facts� he couldn�t be as arrogant as that, even
when they hurt so much. Had he been wrong? Hadn�t he been the one telling
Tsuzuki not three days ago not to bother himself with such thoughts? He just
had to focus on what he was doing now, but still� he couldn�t help his own
thoughts; couldn�t ignore the dissolution of everything he had thought to be
true.

~*~

Touda
had managed to calm himself before he returned to his room, which was
thankfully empty. He looked around, noting that all the things that had been
half finished when he�d left were now sparkling clean and properly put away,
save for the pile of things he�d been working on, which was left carefully
untouched. Touda frowned lightly. He hadn�t been gone that long at all. How had
she managed to finish so much? His inspecting gaze stopped on the small table in
the middle of the room, were a silver platter sat covered in light snacks and
small portion of what looked like the main course for what had been lunch.

Intrigued,
Touda drew closer, noting with interest a primly folded note waiting for him on
the middle of the platter. Attention now fully on the small missive, the fire
serpent forgot his previous ails and plucked the note from the serving dish. On
the inside was a short note scrawled in swift but neat script.

Lord Touda,

I
completed the remainder of your bedroom while you were gone and have left what
you wished to personally attend in place. Forgive my assumptions, but I made a
small plate of food for you. There should be enough there in case you
additionally decide to miss dinner. I will return in the morning and pick up
with your remaining chambers.

I hope the night sees
you well,

Erel

Touda
folded the paper and placed it aside. If nothing else, it certainly seemed like
his domestic life was going to be interesting with this woman around. He made a
mental note to find out a little more about her as he carefully picked up the
tray and deposited it next to the few piles of papers and trinkets remaining of
his previous life.
- 3
- 4
- 5
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Truth of Darkness