Chapter 12 - The Admiral

As Akaja climbed the stairwell leading out of the dungeons, she heard the sudden rush of water, like a raging river that seemed to get louder and louder. That’s odd-

Then it hit her. At first a trickle, and then a raging tide, it crashed down from her from above, a sudden torrent of sea-water that knocked her off her feet, and forcibly carried her back down the stairs, drowning her lungs as she was cascaded and scraped against the walls.

She was spat out at the bottom of the stairwell, her body slamming against the hard stone floor. The rushing torrent suddenly stopped, leaving the hall only slightly flooded. She coughed up a lung-full of saltwater and vomit, and struggled to push herself back up. She still hadn’t fully recovered from her week long torture, and her legs buckled from the shock of nearly drowning.

A trap? Was she careless? She had to get out of here now. As she pushed herself back up, the light splashing of footsteps greeted her on wet stone. In front of her a tall and slender man, long dark hair tied up into a bun, wearing a simple black kimono. He wore platinum spectacles over his brown eyes, and his face was clean shaven.

“Akaja…” Kazuki said with a forced smile, his arms clasped together at his back. “I’m so very sorry! Had I known it was you down here, I would’ve been a little more gentle.”

“Thanks for the consideration, Kaz…” Akaja murmured.

The man wrinkled his nose at the nickname, but maintained his smile.

“Apologies… Grand Admiral,” she added, somewhat mockingly.

“Might I ask what you’re doing sneaking about? You’re basically family! If you wanted an invitation to the wake, you simply had to ask.”

“Your brother and I didn’t exactly part on the best terms…” Akaja said. “I didn’t know if I would still be welcome.”

“Nonsense! You’ve been a fine friend to us, and you need not worry about your previous disagreement. That’s between you and him, and I shan’t get in the way of you paying respects. Come!” He motioned back to the stairwell. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“I might need a minute,” Akaja said, her voice still a little hoarse. “You got me good, you know?”

“Allow me to help you upstairs then,” Before she could answer, he had already taken a hold of her so she could lean on him for support. She quickly shoved him aside when she felt his hands wandering where they shouldn’t.

“I’m fine now,” she said sternly.

She led him to one of the castle’s main studies, fit with a wide mahogany table, carved into the shape of the Jade Sea, dotted with its many islands. Atop the table sat carved figurines of ships and samurai. At the center of the room sat a fire pit, and surrounding it a multitude of soft plush rugs, carpets, and pillows. Inside the fire pit was a crackling blue flame, which gave off no smoke or odor.

Kazuki offered to have the servants fetch her some suitable clothes for the occasion, but she refused, opting to dry off by the fire pit instead. Scattered around the room were various musical instruments, as well as half-empty bottles and glasses of wine and liquor, and discarded articles of clothing which were scattered across the room. There was a faint odor in the air, reminiscent of the city’s red lantern district.

Despite the soreness of her muscles, she mentally prepared herself to bolt out of there if something were to happen. She kept her left hand never too far away from one of her chakrams.

She knew Kazuki since she and Yu got together, but she never really knew him, and pinned him for a home-body. He always kept himself to the confines of the castle, and rarely venturing outside save for the occasional suggestions by his brother or the forceful insistence of his father. Yu was always worried he’d stay a hermit forever, but he seemed… different now that he was Admiral, at the very least more confident and insistent.

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“Are you positive you don’t want to get out of those dreadful rags?” Kazuki asked, moving to stand beside her. “I think you would look quite lovely in a-“

“I’m fine…” Akaja said. “Really, I just came here to see Yu one last time. I wasn’t going to steal anything, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

Kazuki took in a deep breath and frowned. “Ah, I see…” He turned away from her and began to pace back and forth around the fire. “Can I offer you a drink?”

“I’m fine…”

Silence…

The man poured himself a cup from one of the already opened bottle of liquor and took a long drink from it.

Do you know when they will move the body to the main hall?” Akaja asked. “Maybe we can catch up on a later date. When Yu inherited the title of Admiral, he snuck off to celebrate at the Vagrant. We ca-“

“I simply don’t see the appeal…”

“Excuse me?”

“Always running off and leaving me behind to clean up the mess…”

“Kaz-“

“I am Admiral Kazuki Akiyama… stupid nicknames won’t demean me.”

Akaja, very slowly, started to go back towards the door. “Are you alright?”

Kazuki closed his eyes, took in a few deep breaths, and smiled. “I’m sorry… I just don’t understand why you would prefer the aesthetics of a dingy little tavern compared to the splendor of Suzaku Castle. Is it this room? There are others… I am not averse to re-modeli-“

“What?” Akaja scoffed. “What are you talking about? And don’t talk bad about the Vagrant! I grew up there!”

“And you don’t desire something more?” Kazuki argued. “Here, there is majesty, wealth…power. Did my brother really not show you the better things in life?”

“You know nothing about us!” Akaja snapped.

“I know enough!” Kazuki’s smile had now faded away. “I heard your last conversation with him! You yourself said he treated you like dirt! How he was throwing you to the gutter! All for some… what? Imperial Princess, and our dead father’s wishes? Akaja… you are a beautiful, loyal, and wonderful girl! I’ve thought that about you the first time we met! I understood though… why choose me over the heir to the syndicate? Over a vaunted warrior and adventurer? What could I offer you? Now… now, Akaja, I have everything! Everything he could never give you! Don’t you understand? You don’t have to make a choice anymore, because there are no more choices! Now I’m the best option for you! I have EVERYTHING he had! I have wealth, power, influence, an army of loyal samurai at my beck and call! And soon I will have far more than any Admiral ever would have!”

“I’m leaving,” Akaja said sternly. “Firstly, you’re making me extremely uncomfortably. Secondly, that’s not how love works!” She turned around to walk away, but he grabbed and twisted her wrist, sending her off balance. She glared up at him and saw that his once brown eyes were glowing yellow. Behind him, a serpent-like creature began to materialize and take shape, its scales seemed to shift constantly in color, turning black to silver, as if its color were being illuminated by invisible moonlight.

“You have a…” she stammered. “Morrigan!”

Suddenly, spectral raven wings, their glow reminiscent of a starry night sky, emerged from her back, and summoned a massive gust of wind which forced them apart. The force of it sent Kazuki crashing into a nearby wall and sent Akaja flying towards the ceiling. A small whirlwind of feathers then materialized beneath Akaja’s feet, changing her trajectory mid-air, and sending her gliding to the door.

Akaja didn’t exactly know how she managed to do that. It just sort of… happened. But Morrigan had seemingly granted her some control over the wind, allowing her to create bursts of air to propel her, and nearby objects in any direction she wanted.

She stared across the room at Kazuki. There was a small Kazuki shaped dent in the wall, but the man didn’t appear to be phased by it. As he slowly moved forward, floating puddles of water begin to heal and cuts or bruises he had.

“You stupid bitch!” Kazuki screamed. “You think you’re better than me? Too good for ME? I’m the Admiral of the Syndicate! King in all but name! Arrogant whores like you need to be put in their place!”

“Eat shit, Kazzy!” She retorted, throwing both of her chakrams at the admiral. The spinning circular blades cut through the air towards him, but were driven off course by a sudden torrent of water, which quickly froze to solid ice, providing a number of small barriers between him and Akaja.

Before the chakrams could fall to the floor, she quickly summoned two more bursts of wind to send them flying back towards her. Despite her weakness, her reflexes were still quick enough to catch both chakrams in mid-air.

“You arrogant little-“

She heard the barriers of ice begin to crack, then shatter, shooting out hundreds of sharp icy shrapnel in Akaja’s direction. She quickly took cover outside of the room, pressing herself behind the wall as the icicles tore through anything that wasn’t made of solid stone. The sound of shattering ice was enough to alert any nearby samurai. Already, the rhythm of puttering footsteps echoed through the halls, all converging into her position.

Now was definitely the time to leave!

Quickly glancing about, she decided on a direction, and bolted.