Arc 1: Kumoshima Part 22
2273 Words
Chapter 22
When Nephrite looked back, Kazuyuki had already left. He sighed.
A part of him wanted to stop him but it’s for the best. There were still things both of them needed to do and understand.
But Nephrite was sure with one thing. Xei was inside Kazuyuki. It’s going to be a problem once they return to the Core. Especially when that person can’t remember anything.
There were already destroyed fields because of the bandit attacks. And even if Kuro wanted to inform him, the situation didn’t allowed the other to leave the Rose Valley.
After they distributed all the supplies, they went to the Akaha Clan Manor.
The Akaha Clan Manor was much larger than the Miyazuya Clan’s as it also served as the center of operation in the Rose Valley. It holds duplicate copies of all accounting records of every farmer, merchant, and other earners. It was to avoid overpricing during trades. Which also meant it was always full of people.
“Kei-nii!”
A little boy bumped on Nephrite's legs. The boy looked up at him, beaming.
“Sho-kun! Wow, you grew taller,” Nephrite greeted. Though this is the first time meeting his nephew, Shobu, he had a bunch of memories from the real Keisuke. The boy indeed grew taller.
Nephrite carried the boy inside the manor, his heart was uneasy. Sad memories from Keisuke’s past life flood into his heart.
Unlike other Town Lord’s Manor, the Akaha Clan Manor did not have a garden. Instead, the farmers settle their carts and wagons for merchants to choose from in the open yard.
Keisuke quickly spotted Lord Yasu. The latter was talking with some farmers.
“Father! Kei-nii is here!” Shobu waved at his dad, who quickly spotted them despite the number of people in the courtyard.
“Uncle,” Nephrite placed his hand in front of his heart and bowed to his uncle. It is a customary greeting between the family and their Clan leader. Shier and Kuro also greeted Lord Yasu.
“Keisuke! It has been a while. Have you seen your mother already?”
“I’m on my way to meet her uncle. But I would like to ask about the bandit attacks these past few weeks? Why have the fields become like that?”
Lord Yasu excused himself before he gestured for them to follow him in the receiving room.
He nodded towards the attendants. As if on cue, everyone else left them.
Lord Yasu waited for them to sit before he started. Fondly looking at his son clinging on to his nephew, he spoke, “Keisuke, I am thankful that you were home safe. Your father and Kuro had told me what happened.”
“Father has been here?” Nephrite looked at his uncle, then at Kuro.
‘Yes, Young Master. It turns out Master Keichi doesn’t want to worry you so he didn’t tell you his plans.” Kuro explained.
“Brother Ichi went out on his own to investigate this matter,” Lord Yasu handed a letter to Nephrite. “We received it a few days ago. The letter happened to be from Lord Iruwa.”
Nephrite was surprised. There was nothing like this in Keisuke’s memory. He wondered if the Governor sent something like this before, or if it's already part of the changes they were hoping for.
Nephrite opened the letter, “They asked to clear the fields and pretend we have not enough supply?” He raised his eyebrow.
“Yes.” Lord Yasu stopped speaking when an attendant arrived to serve tea. After the attendant left, Lord Yasu continued, “They said that if we do that, we might avoid a bigger problem. Kuro, please show him the secret message.”
Kuro brought the letter to the candle nearby. It wasn’t a surprise when a secret message appeared on the paper. Nephrite already saw it many times on television.
However, he noticed Lord Yasu looking at his face expectantly. Oh! Having no choice, he cleared his throat, widened his eyes, and pretended amusement, “Oh! So this is the secret message?”
Lord Yasu smiled, “Lord Iruwa warned me that the Great Lang has been sending spies in our village. Though I don’t know why they have to. If I’m not mistaken, their plant cultivation system is much better than ours.”
Nephrite exchanged glances with Shier and Kuro. They figured it out as well.
Lord Iruwa was trying to play with two masters so he could dig an exit for himself. He knew Lord Yasu would be moved by his kindness by sending this letter. Nephrite gritted his teeth.
However, he doesn’t have the heart to break it to his uncle, yet.
“Then we need to be careful if that’s what Lord Yasu wanted. Did you do some preparation? We actually heard something similar regarding Lord Iruwa’s warning.”
His uncle’s features hardened. “Kuro and Keichi gave me some brief explanations about it. Kuro said you’ve been kidn*pped and a suspicious den was discovered when they rescued you.”
Lord Yasu slowly drank his tea, seeking comfort from the warmth of the tea. “I’m worried for our citizens if this attack continues. Most of them are farmers who don't know how to properly fight-”
“Uncle,” Nephrite cut in. “Though they are farmers, it doesn’t mean they couldn’t fight if needed. Have you forgotten the Former Silver Rain Lord? The people with him at that time were not all soldiers, some of them were also normal citizens. As long as we can, we will not let them fight but we will also help them learn how to defend themselves.”
“We will help them. We only have a limited time, but if we can plan this out perfectly, we will overcome this crisis. We have allies in Silver Rain and they are very willing to help us. Please rest assured.”
Lord Yasu sighed, “We were living in peace, not digging into politics too much. As a merchant myself, I only wished for our place to be prosperous and avoid our farmers being taken advantage of greedy merchants. There were times I wished your father didn’t let go of his position but he is a kind person, the reason why your mother loves him so much. Please be careful, Keisuke.”
“I will, Uncle,” Nephrite assured him, with strong certainty in his voice.
I will do everything, even above my power to protect the whole Rose Valley.
______
After they dealt with training local soldiers and guards situated in Rose Valley to teach and train willing civilians, they prepared to leave. They didn’t inform them of the war brewing but the pestering of the bandits was enough reason for them to cooperate.
Though they expected the war to be happening soon, they received information that inner conflicts stalled the enemies.
Whatever reason it caused, they were grateful for buying them more time to prepare the civilians and for them to deal with other stuff.
They arrived at Bara Town a few days later. His hometown. It was near the outskirts of Rose Valley. It was a small town with very few residents, most lived their whole life without even leaving here except for going to the center of Rose Valley.
Even so, Bara Town was the best place to farm in the whole Rose Valley. Perfect temperature, rich soil, good geographical location.
Well-known as the Bara Town Master’s son, people greeted them as he, Kuro and Shier walked with their horses to the Saikyu Family House.
Keisuke’s home. Nephrite muttered in his head. He didn’t know what he would feel once he reached the place. Keisuke held a strong emotional attachment to the place.
Unlike me, he bitterly thought. It’s not like he envies Keisuke but he can’t help but feel it. After all, everything Keisuke had was exactly the opposite of his. Loving family, loyal friends. Even so, this made him more determined to protect everything Keisuke had in this lifetime.
“Keisuke!”
“Mother,” Nephrite opened his arms as Rina, Keisuke’s mother, ran into him.
Weird feelings rushed inside him, feelings that he no longer holds for his own mother. His body stiffened, can’t hide the awkward emotions inside him. If Rina noticed it, she didn’t say anything. When she pulled away, tears hung on her eyelashes like beautiful crystal-like morning dew.
And he knew right there and then how Keisuke’s father fell in love at first sight with this woman. She was definitely a beauty to behold, he wondered how greedy officials didn’t find her to get her hands for marriage.
She patted Nephrite’s shoulders and nodded to Kuro and Shier. She looked back at him.
“Kei, I’m glad you are safe and sound. Oh, God! We even tried our best to make you stay away from all these issues within the government. Who knows…” Rina started sobbing.
“Mother, it’s alright. I’m fine,” Nephrite felt a tug in his heart. It was so warm, this motherly love. Never experienced this kind of affection before, his heart was moved. He again hugged the woman in front of him, offering utmost comfort.
Looking at Rina, he can’t help but think of Keisuke’s memories. The fierce and determined look in Rina’s eyes as she passed his nephew on him. Screams of people dying, everything burning around them. Her eyes were filled with fear, and yet her will to protect them, even if she had to sacrifice her very own life to stall even just a few seconds for them to escape.
If she just knew what happened a few hours after that…
Nephrite choked. That’s when he felt the warm liquid trickling down his cheeks.
“M-Mom, I’m s-so sorry for making you worry.”
Tears flowed like a river as pain burst out from his chest. Pain of two people, one filled with regrets, one filled with longing. They poured it like there was no tomorrow.
“Mother.”
“I’m here, son. I’m here.”
“Mother, I love you.”
For a moment, he thought he heard another voice with him. Keisuke’s voice.
“Mother loves you.”
“I’m going to protect you, Mother,” he said between sobbing, “This time, I promise, I will protect you.”
________
Nephrite didn’t talk about their problem with his mother. He sent Kuro to inform the farmers and attendants in their home.
Shier went to Rina’s flower farm earlier. When he saw all the types of flowers she was growing, he listed all the flowers that were good for making flower tea and how to make them.
Now, Keisuke’s mother was still out with her attendants, trying out the recipe with every available flower.
Nephrite sat at the porch overlooking a small pond, the moon reflected on it. Small movements from koi fishes made ripples of water, breaking the reflection sometimes.
Funny how it made him remember that this fake peace he was feeling at that moment will not last long.
“That’s some heart-wrenching scene you’ve got there earlier. Better than stage performers.”
Startled out of his thoughts, Nephrite looked back to see Shier approaching, in his hand was a tray with two clay mugs and a teapot.
“It wasn’t an act,” Nephrite can’t help but defend himself.
“I know. I would have stabbed you already if I everything that happened earlier was fake.” Shier sat down on the porch as well and put down the tray between them.
“I can also feel his and...his mother’s pain.”
“And yours. You will never cry like a baby if there’s nothing of it that’s yours.” Shier poured tea for Nephrite and himself, “You must have had it hard, too.”
Nephrite didn’t reply. He took the mug and nodded his thanks.
“What will you do now?” Shier inquired.
“Wait till the war starts and protect everyone as much as I can.”
“Seriously, why do you even need to wait for the war? Knowing as much as this, as a civilian, you can just run away.”
“It’s not that simple. If they really want us as their sacrifice for whatever bigger plots they have, even if we run now, it will just give them a chance to make stories in their favor. It will also make us look even more guilty. I don’t want any of that. We will face them head-on.”
“Fair point.”
Silence enveloped them, each delved in their own thoughts.
Shier broke the silence after a while, “What about Young Master Kazuyuki? You're just gonna leave it like that?”
“You still hadn’t explained how he became our wagon driver.”
Shier chuckled, “I think it’s unfair. You didn’t even hear his side properly.”
“You know he needs to talk to Aijin first.”
“Jealous rant? You know they have nothing between them. Yeah, they were aware of what they felt but no words were said means no promises broken. Plus, it seems like Aijin were the first to break their bond. Not that she has a choice, though.”
Nephrite didn’t comment. He knew well what Aijin felt for Kazuyuki. Even if they share the same soul, right now, they were two different people. They will forever be two different people.
This knowledge makes Nephrite feel uneasy and confused.
Is it really my feelings? He wondered.
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