Arc 1: Kumoshima Part 5
1172 Words
CHAPTER 10
“I am sorry, Your Highness.”
Startled, Nephrite looked around. He was standing in the middle of a luxurious hallway. However, there was no one there besides him. But I clearly heard a man’s voice.
“Impossible! How could that happen,” This time, a trembling woman’s voice was heard. “A-are you sure it was him?”
Nephrite decided to follow the voice. He walked until he saw a silhouette of a man kneeling a few meters away from the end of the hallway.
He did not know how he was here nor where this place was. But as he surveyed the interior of the place, there was no doubt he was at the palace.
Nephrite gave the main hall a once over until his eyes landed on the lady far across the hall.
Her sobs started to echo as she clung to something in her arms.
As soon as Nephrite saw that, an unknown force took over him. Like he was hypnotized, Nephrite started walking in a daze as his heart felt like it was shredded to an unknown number of pieces. Each step was like a hammer dropping and crushing his core, inexplicable coldness wrapped his whole being.
Nephrite reached out to touch her when she suddenly looked up at him.
A force as strong as a large truck’s momentum hit and pushed Nephrite out of the dream.
Nephrite slowly opened his eyes. The dazzling light penetrated his eyes. It took him quite some time before his eyes adjusted to the surroundings.
As the things around him sank in and registered in his head, he felt nauseated once again.
His mind and body felt like it was twisted and turned over and over as he soaked in Aijin’s past...
What happened that night in the forest?
Similar to being force-fed information, a large chunk of Aijin’s memories was transferred to him.
So when he recognized the room he was in, Nephrite sat right up, surprised.
The room was about the size of eight tatami mats, large for a one-person room. There were scrolls of poetry hanging on the wall, sliding doors painted with lush green mountain scenery.
There were also some built-in shelves and cabinets and a partition painted of blue and white waves, a lovely depiction of the sea.
Everything in this room screamed nostalgia in his heart, but it was not part of his vessel's memory anymore. Recognition as Nephrite's memory flashed on his eyes, or accurately, his original soul in this world, Aijin.
That night, the moment he laid his eyes on Aijin, strings of violent data flowed to his head. His brain felt like it would explode.
Nephrite did not find it surprising that his former vessel was a female. For him, souls had nothing to do with his current gender identity nor his s****l orientation.
What startled him was that his original soul in this world was Kazuyuki's lover.
Now that the memory transfer passed, the headache vanished completely. Yet his brain felt like it barely survived a flood, everything in his head amiss. Nephrite counted as he calmed himself.
_______
Oblivious to his surroundings, Nephrite did not notice the door slid open.
Kazuyuki went to check on Nephrite. However, he halted at the sight of the other. A small traditional lamp was placed beside his pillow, faintly illuminating the room. The light flickering reflected on his face gives him a warm, ethereal glow.
He observed the man who was younger than him by a few years. The corner of his eyes glinted like crystals as if he was about to cry.
The night when he heard Aijin got abducted, and a group sent out people to rescue her along with Master Saikyuu, it did not even cross his mind that this person would also be there. He was a young master of a well-known family, after all, sending people in his stead was natural.
When they found their group, the terrified look on Keisuke's face hit him unexpectedly. If they arrive a few minutes later, who knows if he was able to keep his life? He could have scolded him there and then for being reckless. But Keisuke's eyes, full of grief and fear, made Kazuyuki want to protect him.
Also, for some reason, Keisuke's gaze reminds him of Aijin.
Kazuyuki should have been happy later that night after they successfully rescued both of the victims. He was also grateful the Second Prince happened in that area and rescued Aijin by chance. If the Second Prince did not insist on bringing her to the palace, everything would be alright, but it was clear for Kazuyuki. The way he looked at Aijin, no one can deny the Second Prince had fallen to her.
How can he stop him? He deserved all the rights to take care of her.
All Kazuyuki could do was bear all the swirling feelings in his heart.
He was confused with himself either. The moment he caught Keisuke when he fainted, he had this sense of urgency, panic, and surged of responsibility to take care of him. He saw his comrades’ exchange look in their eyes but he ignored it.
Kazuyuki lifted Keisuke in his arms. Then he apologized to his Highness, saying he will go ahead but will leave his men to see them off.
As they reached the manor, Kazuyuki intended to wait for the servants to finish preparing rooms for his guests. However, an idea came to his mind. He went towards the room Aijin usually uses when she visits there. The room was already arranged in advance. Since no one will use it, it was not strange at all to lend the room to someone else in such a situation.
At least, it was what he chose to believe. Thinking back now, everything was strange.
Did he all do it for himself and not out of kindness nor pity?
Did he use him to escape that situation, to cover up his jealousy?
As if he just realized his presence, Keisuke suddenly looked in his direction.
Kazuyuki calmly approached him, "I am glad you are awake now," He sat down beside the futon.
"I'm sorry to trouble the Young Master. I assumed this was the Miyazuya Manor?"
"Yes. Do you want to eat? You've been asleep for two days straight."
Keisuke shook his head, "Is my father also here? Where are Kuro and Chunan?"
"Your father is in another room. You can visit him tomorrow. He was probably sleeping right now. His wounds are starting to heal. Master Takamine will arrive tomorrow. He wanted to look at you and your father personally. Also, your companions went out," he didn't elaborate about the last inquiry. He hadn't seen those two for days. He guessed Keisuke's father sent them somewhere, probably to investigate.
Keisuke nodded, "Do you know who is behind the a*******n?"
"Not yet. Father will also arrive tomorrow. We will discuss it tomorrow,"
Keisuke lowered his eyes as if hesitating, "Where is Lady Takamine?"
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