Black Rose

7: Soo-Won and Seiren [Aya]

Growing up, I can barely remember the time when I wasn't with either Seiren or Soo-Won or both of them. They called us the inseparable trio, attached to hips, and where one was the other two usually followed.

It was tough to hold on to our friendship when my clan threw me into strenuous training which took up most of my time, then there was Seiren who was often sent on impossible missions (his return, and success, always irritated the clan heads), and lastly Soo-Won who was harder to catch than a wild cat. He was never in one place, constantly going somewhere unless either I or Seiren managed to somehow calm him down.

Unlike Seiren, Soo-Won and I were the so-called lucky ones to have been born into the safe clans, protected by wealth and status while Seiren came from nothing.

In the clans' eyes, Haruse Seiren was an eyesore from the start.

No one knew where he came from or how he acquired his strength and power. His past was vastly unknown and he wouldn't talk about it, the uncertainty surrounding him was enough to put the clan heads at unease. They refused to acknowledge the fact that a random kid with unknown roots could simply show up one day, claiming to be the strongest sorcerer in the world and proving it by beating up several experienced fighters with just a finger.

It had been a sight to witness, at least that's what my brother claimed. He'd been, rather uncharacteristically, grinning as he quietly recounted how our father was easily beaten up by a kid my age. I was five.

"-And then our father went poof down, crashing against the wall behind him, all it took for the kid was using just one finger! He didn't even realize what happened until the match was called! You should've seen his face, Aya!"

I had never seen my brother's eyes sparkling like that, so it definitely got me interested. However, I didn't get to meet him until two years later.

By then, I'd almost completely forgotten the incident with the unknown boy. But my brother didn't, he remembered it like it was yesterday.

It had been a while since I saw Soo-won when he barged into my home in the middle of snowy winter. The lands were covered with snow and ice, and the weather was so cold that it kept me inside the house. My younger siblings, however, could be heard playing outside in the snow pretty loudly.

I'd celebrated my seventh birthday nearly a month ago, the excitement was still bubbling in my chest. Mostly because I'd finally be allowed to learn how to play Koto, something I'd been anxiously waiting for since I first saw my mother playing it. And in my clan, seven was the age when I could finally join the big gatherings and events that children weren't normally allowed to attend.

It meant meeting new people, and more strict lessons but I didn't mind it. As long as I got out of the house more often and see Soo-Won more often. Our parents were close friends with his parents.

"They're sworn allies," my brother had whispered to me, and it was apparent that they expected the same from their own kids. To continue the tradition and upheld our honor.

"No, Aya-sama," my teacher scolded, correcting the way I held my fingers on the Koto with her cold and wrinkled hands. Oto-san was strict and a rather nasty, bitter old woman. "That is not the way you hold it, nor treat the instrument."

"But it's how Mama -," I tried to defend myself, recalling the last time I'd watched my mother playing Koto. My mother used to be a respected and highly popular Geisha before she met my father and ended up marrying him out of all her suitors. Her foreign-like appearance enchanted men called them to her like a moth to fire.

It was like watching a play, whenever my mother chose to entertain our guests through music and dance.

"Lady Hyuga is a former Geisha, thus she knows exactly what she's doing, but a beginner should follow the instructions. Until the day you're qualified to do what you desire with it," Oto-san said, shaking her head.

Her black hair was pulled up into a tight and neat bun, her green-colored Kimono looked cheaper than what I was wearing but in my eyes, it looked more comfortable. It wasn't as extravagant nor as heavy as mine, something I envied her for.

I pouted at Oto-san's words.

However, her words were cut short by the sudden opening of the door and upon looking up from my small-sized Koto, I saw Soo-Won standing in the doorway. He tried to look as tall and intimidating as he could for a seven-year-old kid. It was something he'd learned from his father, at least it's what I suspected.

But it didn't quite work, not even as he'd left his ridiculously long black hair on the loose, it reached to his waist. It flew on his back, dancing in a flawless manner that almost made me jealous. It wasn't fair that his hair was prettier than mine. There was a single white headpiece he wore that indicated his Nobility, a gift I'd gotten him two years ago.

It was shaped in simple binding vines and was made from a white-colored long-lasting material. He never took it off.

"Aya!" He said, grinning like a mad man while dragging someone behind him. 

"Soo-Won!"

Instantly, Koto toppled over, forgotten. I hurriedly ran over to my best friend and pulled him into a hug that earned a disapproving tongue click from Oto-san.

Soo-Won returned the hug, patting me on my head, before releasing me. I, however, refused to let go of him, turning to glare at the unknown boy behind him. My hold on Soo-Won became a bit more possessive, protective even as I tried to see how much of a threat the nameless kid was. But any remark I had on my tongue disappeared the moment I noticed his unusual ocean-blue-colored eyes. They were so bright and so shiny, I'd never seen anything like it. I blinked, my grip loosening on Soo-Won's yukata.

"Who's this?" I asked, sourly and not bothering to hide my dislike. I never liked the idea that someone else may be spending more time with Soo-Won than I did.

It was largely due to him being the only friend I liked.

"Oh, he's Haruse Seiren!"

I tilted my head, wondering why the name felt familiar when Soo-Won continued.

"He's the kid that beat up your father, Aya-chan!"

Behind us, Oto-san started coughing, as if she was trying to hold back laughter or something went down the wrong pipe. I didn't know which it was nor was I interested to find out. Because if I was honest, I'd been thinking my brother mad to proclaim that our father was beaten by a kid my age.

I'd seen him taking down a man, who was nothing but muscles. So I knew my father was acting arrogantly for a reason because he was strong.

"Now that's a lie," I say, shaking my head in both disbelief and denial.

Father was simply too strong for a petite-looking kid. Sure, this Haruse Seiren towered over me, looked like he had some muscles but he was just a stick. Scrawny stick.

"Eh, Soo-Won, your friend's meaner than you said she was," I blinked at Haruse's cheerful words. He pointed his hand at me, which I found rather rude while shaking his head.

Soo-Won merely laughed, scratching the back of his head. "I did forget to say she's a bit possessive."

My grip on Soo-Won's sleeve tightened as I glared at them, biting my lips in displeasure. Not enjoying the fact that they were acting as if I wasn't there.

"Hey!" I punched Soo-Won, not enough for it to hurt but it was enough to get my point across. My best friend groaned, holding his stomach and I could faintly hear Oto-san scolding me in an admonished manner. However, Haruse's laughter drowned it all.

"And she doesn't like being talked like she's not even here!"

That was the beginning of my most treasured friendship with the two and our downfall. It had been hard to tell Seiren what happened to Soo-Won - that the fool had followed me to Hell and lost his life in there. I can still remember the way his cheek muscles had twitched upon hearing my confession, and the way how his Mana spiked in dangerous levels.

And so, as I laid partially in Seiren's lap, I couldn't help but wonder just how would he react if he knew what exactly transpired in Hell. Or if Soo-Won had survived, would I still be allowed to stay this close to him?

Because Shin Soo-Won wasn't just my best friend, but someone my parents wanted me to, one day, marry.