Chapter 92 - 90

And the one looking down at me… is just a boy.

However I'm not fooled by his young face and lower my guard down, for this "mere boy" carries a high bearing and importance, especially when I can easily tell by looking over the guards around and the servants waiting for a command on the side that he has many others looking after him. No "mere boy" would have this luxury, especially in times like this.

This boy… is not as simple as one may think.

He is using the same layered tunic style as the monks, and yet his clothing is in another level with a white background filled with smooth golden patterns of leaves and branches, and over it another long sleeve tunic adds color by having not only gold but some red mix together, almost as if he is wearing a painted frame, beautiful enough to be put on the wall to be admired by all.

And he is using it casually like this.

The cherry on top of the cake, in quite a literal sense, is his long black hair pulled up in curves by a golden hairband, with so many twists and turns that almost looked like a far fancier antler, going well and shining even more against his jet black hair.

And even without the servants, the guards, the curved rooftops of these typical expensive Shinzaki, nor the golden embroider clothes, by merely looking at him, his posture and gestures, I could tell that he is someone very important, not in the same league as the humans I've seen thus far, someone taught and raised to be above all.

…I wonder if that makes him tastier…

"We have been waiting for you, Koshiro samurai. We did not intend for it to be this soon, however the situation asks nimbleness of us. But do not despair, we have much to talk, you and us, so please join us for a tea, would you?"

At that he returns inside, flustering his long sleeves around,  and only then, when he is out of sight, is when the others behind us raise their heads, and yet still do not leave, almost as if they are not allowed to look at his figure.

Well too bad, I'll make sure to stare holes at him from now on.

The inside is spacious but somewhat empty, red pillars supporting the high structure, giving the place charm while showing the rooftops insides.

The boy walks forwards as if owning the place; which he probably does; and takes a paper fan out of his long sleeves, opening it in a single smooth move with a strong flap sound, only to slow the abrupt move with smooth waves of the fan, exposing the golden dragon shining against the red paper of the fan, obscuring his lips as he talks:

"We are called Sun Lim, third of the Sun dynasty, ruler of all under the heaven and the favored Son of the Heavens. " I do not understand haft of what he says, but it sounds important.

He stops in front of a small table on the floor, and with grace pulls his long clothe out of the way so he can sit on his knees without wrinkling the cloth, posture straight and moving almost as if dancing, every small movement thought out to the tiniest detail before him doing so.

He gestures with his palm that I should sit in front of him at the other red pillow on the floor, so I do just that, flopping down with one knee up and an arm over it, very unlike his extravagant self.

He looks at me for a while, phoenix eyes sharp and profound, studying me like a man used to look people in the eye and assert their value.

Only that, this sharpness is dulled by a small smile as he looks down to the floor.

"Leave us." He tells the servants and guards, who without uttering a word walk away and close the door behind them.

Only then his eyes go back to mine as he says:

"Seems like you don't remember anything at all indeed, Seiji… even ourselves." I frown at that.

"You knew me? How? And what was that all about?" I ask, moving my chin back to point at the entry way where the others were still kneeling.

"Yes, we knew each other quite well, almost like brothers we would say… there was a time that you live in the palace when young, well, before…"

"Before what?"

"…Your father died in the war, and you had to take his place as the head of the family from a very young age." Even if this is supposed to be sad news I feel nothing as his words fall into silence, until he chuckles. "Though we did not expect to find you still act as spoiled as before, did you know we had people killed for less than what you did up to this point?"

Wait, I didn't do anything wrong, why would he kill me for? Not that he could, but still.

He notices my ironic bewilderment, and smiles while nodding sideways.

"Calling us you, from starts. But no need to worry about these things, we not only invited you but we too are close enough to expect such things from you, past the point of unfamiliarity. That is comforting for us, that at least you stayed the same, no matter… whatever happened to everything."

Well, that's one way to put it I supposed. 

"Even more, some may argue that now you may hold even equal footing to us, at the state you are at…" He says, long fingers moving the fan slowly as if to occupy his hand with something.

I'm curious to know what he is talking about, however I notice that even if he seems to ignore such disparity between us enough to let little things slip he does not lower himself into pouring some tea for us now that the servants were out.

I see how it is… kind of.

"Your 'Highness' still didn't answer my question. " I say, emphasizing the sarcasm in the word I hear some servant use towards him before leaving.

He smiles, very aware of that.

"We were just inviting you in for some tea and small chatter, that's all." Then where is the tea now? Is it going to pour itself out?

Ok I'm just in a foul mood at this point, bitching about anything just for the sake of it, but I could not help it after the strange completing sensation I felt with this… calling of his. It had me on edge of my jagged nerves.

"Invite you say…? With… bells and chattering?" Is sounded even odder when coming out from my mouth, and yet I could not ridicule it further when it actually worked.

Which only increases my discomfort with the situation… and got my mood to grow even more sour.

However, before any explanation could be given a commotion sounds outside, shouting, exclamations and quick footsteps, followed by the clattering of swords and grunts of pain.

And yet, even if facing apparent danger, the boy in front of me keeps his hand steady on the fan, a smile on his lips as he says:

"Now that the other important guest has arrived we may explain everything."

I did not need his words or the vision of the person outside to recognize the sweet smell that drifts in, so recognizable… and yet what to expect from my favorite fancy meal?

Only that, his presence here only adds to the pile of questions without answer thus far, for how had he manage to find me? I'm sure I left him dead asleep on the couch, he should not have even noticed that I was gone, and still, here he is.

That worry however does not stop me from taking a deep breath of his scent once the doors are finally open and he steps in, filling my lungs to the brim and savoring his scent.

My coldy captain.