Tai looks at the door from the inside of Kaori’s room, Breeze walking in worriedly as Kaori lay in her bed unconscious while he sat on a wooden box close by.
“How is she?” Breeze asks quietly.
“Her breathing finally settled, so has her heartrate.”
“Good...” She looks at Tai for a moment, wanting to ask him something.
“What?” he asks exasperatedly as he stood up.
“I just-. How did you know she was in trouble? Even Keiji can’t see into her mind,” she asks uneasily.
“It wasn’t her,” he replies quietly.
She looks down, as if considering whether to say what she was thinking before changing the subject. “Keiji told me about the guardians. He thinks it could be it. We’ll need your help to get them if she’s willing,” she says carefully. “Will you stay to help?”
“I follow orders on this ship. Keiji wanted my help, so I suppose I have no choice,” he says quietly as he turns and starts to walk out, stopping as he heard Kaori groan lightly.
Breeze steps back a little, edging her way out of the doorway. “Keiji said he needs me,” she whispers lightly. “Just wait here a little longer, I’ll be right back,” she hurries out silently, leaving Tai alone with Kaori.
He looks down absent mindedly, not bothering to turn around as Kaori had sat up and looked in his direction tiredly, as if not completely registering her surroundings.
❀
Breeze walks in the control room where Keiji and the others were waiting. “How is her condition?” Keiji asks before she could say anything.
“She was waking up just as I was leaving.” Breeze’s eyes stare into Keiji’s subtly conveying a serious message in silence.
Keiji’s eyes narrow lightly in response. “I see,” he says, then turns to Vicious and Shomei calmly. “It’ll be a while until we reach Lotus City. It has been a rough day so feel free to rest.”
“You’re not concerned about Aduro? His knowledge about her being here affects you too you know,” says Vicious irritably.
“It does, but unless Miss Kaori wants to do something about it, there’s nothing really for us to discuss. She only agreed to help you put those souls to rest, visit the Emperor, and afterwards stay on as part of my crew,” replies Keiji casually.
“If you have a plan you shouldn’t keep it to yourself,” Vicious says sternly as he stepped forward.
“Are you a member of the Sky Bandits?” Keiji asks softly. ‘Because last we checked we were under the impression that you are still hesitant to accept Yaban as people and are even more opposing toward Tai.”
“That has nothing to do with that now,” Vicious replies in frustration.
“It has everything to do with it,” Keiji responds steadily. “We are of loyal people, yet you deny everything we do by threatening the rest of our existence. There are breaking points, Vicious, and this is one of them. Get use to not having everything the way you believe them to be.” He turns away from Vicious, Breeze looking concerned as she looked back and forth between the two, as the high tension of the room lingered between them all.
❀
“If you have something to say, say it,” Tai says quietly, looking at Kaori who stood in front of him with a worried look on her face, both still in her bedroom of the ship.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She asks timidly.
“If you knew would you have still decided to stay here?” he responds irritably.
“I...” She looks down, unsure of herself. “I want to hear it from you,” she looks at him seriously, despite her hesitance. “I want to hear you tell me what happened.”
“Do you really trust me enough to hear it?” he asks after a long silence between them.
“I do,” she says with a nod, her eyes lowering to the floor.
“Let’s go then.”
❀
Keiji looks over at Breeze, showing that Vicious and Shomei had left the room some time ago. “They’re going out.”
“Out to where? Doesn’t he know leaving here is even more dangerous?” she says looking irritated. “I’ll go stop him.”
“No. He requested an uninterrupted moment with a goddess. I have an idea of where he will take her. They should be fine...” He says with a peaceful smile.
She looks at Keiji with a raised eyebrow and playful smile. “Really now?”
“Just let this be between us,” he says in a somewhat mischievous tone.
❀
“Ready?” Tai asks Kaori, glancing back at her as she sat on a beat up hover craft, similar to a motorcycle with large powerful fans on the bottom in the place of wheels, behind him.
She nods nervously. “I think so?”
“If you’re scared, we can go back inside,” he says plainly as he started to get up.
“I’m not scared,” she says proudly. “I don’t have a reason to be right?”
“Good, hang on.” He kicks the floor under them causing it to open, a large gust of wind hitting them both just before the hover craft started to fall to the ground.
She holds onto the hovercraft as tight as she could, suddenly losing grip and holds onto Tai’s waist instinctively, closing her eyes tightly.
He looks back a little, his face seeming incredibly uncomfortable as Kaori held him. He directs his attention back ahead of them and kicks the starter on the hovercraft causing it to stop forcefully just above a clear blue ocean. “Hey! Open your eyes!” he says over the sound of the hovercraft’s engine.
She shakes her head a little, holding him tightly as she leaned forward onto his back.
“Look,” he coaxes seriously.
She opens her eyes slowly seeing the ocean below them as Tai continued to drive. Her eyes widen as she saw a large ship under the water. “What’s that?” She asks curiously.
“It’s an old rebel ship that was shot down over five hundred years ago,” Tai explains over the roar of the engine.
Kaori continues to look down for a moment then looks ahead at the setting sun as Tai quickly turned toward a small island not too far away.
He stops just at the shore, getting off quickly and pulls down his goggles, scanning the area before turning to look at Kaori, watching her while she dismounted the hovercraft herself and peacefully looked at her surroundings.
“It’s so quiet here,” she says softly as she absorbed the comforting sounds of the ocean waves on the shore, looking out with calmness reflecting in her eyes. “What is this place?”
His blank expression diverts from Kaori just before she turned and looked at him. “Just an island I’ve become familiar with...”
She turns away, looking out at the ocean once more with worry. “Why bring me here?”
He walks over to her side, his hands in his pockets as he looked out in the same direction. “I’d rather not have people barging in while we talked,” he says practically.
“Oh. You have a point,” she responds with understanding.
He clears his throat, an air of uneasiness and discomfort about him, despite his disinterested expression. “So what exactly do you want to know?”
“I guess I want to ask how you were involved in the war that started everything,” she says hesitantly, her eyes gaining a sense of apprehension.
“Back then the Yaban had a colony of people hidden away on what some used to call the forgotten lands. No human could find or access the area. We were there for about a hundred and fifty years. While there I could only think about the world as it used to be before the Temple started fighting with the Rebels. I had left the people I cared about behind to bring them a better place. I had no intent on joining either side, but after being found out what I am, a half-blood, by the Rebels, I figured it would be easier to destroy the Temple and the aged teachings rather than keep them. I wasn’t aware that what was captured at the time was indeed a deity. I was only told that for the sake of the people a sacrifice needed to be made and so...”
She stares at the water as the waves hit the shore rhythmically, a confused look in her eyes as if she didn’t know what to say so in return; continues to listen silently.
“I did what I was told under the assumption that this one person was worth the lives of my entire people... The power this person held was so great that they themselves couldn’t contain it, and only through death could the power they held be harnessed and used to manufacture weapons to protect the entirety of Noroc, and as payment for doing so my people would no longer be hunted for their power and promised to be saved from the Temple’s wrath under the protection of the Rebels. It’s not an excuse, but I was young then, and even in the depths of their minds I was barely able to be see the reality. I believed them. Then, after it was done, I was accused of somehow stealing that power for myself when it was found out that I was cursed for the deliberate death of a deity. I had no choice but to run and so I headed back to the only place I knew. I was attacked just on the outskirts of the area by Temple warriors I accidentally came across, and they left me for dead. That day would have been the start of the last for those in the hide out. The Temple increased surveillance in that area to find out where the hide out was. The last day I left, the day I was banished from my own, was the last day I’d ever see the place of peace Yaban created. Several months later they were attacked by the Temple, nearly everyone there dying in the process. I continued looking for a way out, a way to repent for all I’ve done, unfortunately never finding one before...” His voice trails off slowly, the weight of his past falling heavy on his shoulders.
She tears her distant gaze from the ocean and looks at Tai with a deep sadness. “Before what?”
He stares hard at the water, finding it hard to speak, becoming angry at himself as a result. “Before I saw everyone I ever cared for die before me, because of me... My soul staying in that field is my punishment for not realizing that I was too naive to think I could change anything,” he looks over at her after a moment of silence between them, noticing that though her face showed pity, her eyes welled up with tears and began to fall down her face. His face sours, becoming irritated as a way to hide what little uneasiness he felt. “Crying is unbecoming of someone of your regard,” he says emptily.
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“I’m sorry,” she replies with reservation in her soft voice.
“Anything else you want to know?”
“Do you mind if I ask how old you are?” she asks quietly, to keep her voice from wavering.
“Somewhere nearing around thousand if not more,” he replies carelessly. “I’ve stopped keeping track for a few hundred years now.”
“I see. Do you remember everything that’s happened after all this time?” she asks softly, wiping away her tears from her face.
He sighs a little to himself. “Only the important things.”
“Is there anything... I mean... Do you think you’ll always remember Akiko?”
“I spent most of my life waiting for her,” he says distantly as he looked away from Kaori. “I searched the entire world hoping that it would bring me closer to her. Expecting that she was the one...” His eyes focus on the water with a conflicted stare. “When I finally met her that night, I saw everything that was said about her was true.”
She looks at him carefully noticing his eyes seemed to be hiding a longing feeling. “Did he love her too? Is that why he hates Vicious?”
“Though she was kindhearted and merciful, she carried the burden of the world on her shoulders alone. Akiko was sad because she knew she would sacrifice her life for people who blindly accepted her fate to drag Aduro to judgment in the heavens and her supposed choice to do so. She died for someone who didn’t know what it was like to live hundreds of years in pain and have the blood of generations on their hands, knowing what the end would be like. Vicious didn’t value Akiko’s life until it was too late. He was the one who couldn’t be there for her when she needed it, yet he selfishly wants her back.” He clenches his fists tightly in frustration, avoiding acknowledging Kaori’s worried gaze. “After five years he still can’t accept the fact that she’s dead and desperately wants you to take her place, not considering what it may cost you.”
“And you?” She asks quietly after a long silence. “Did you love her too?”
“I couldn’t.”
“D-... Did you want to?”
He slowly looks over at her, his blank expression staring directly at her, the weight of her question hanging in the air heavily between them. The gentle rhythm of the waves lapping against the shore somewhat easing the tension of the conversation.
She blushes a little as her eyes met his. “Why would I even ask something so personal? He’s probably going to yell at me.”
“No,” he says simply, his voice holding a sense of detachment to the idea. “That night I first saw her at the Lunar Garden, she told me she knew she wasn’t there for me, and some part of me already knew it.” He inhales the warm ocean air deeply, the wind blowing his hair across his face gently just as he exhaled. “None of it matters anymore though. I’ve given up,” he says more to himself than to Kaori.
She looks back out at the sky, noticing the sun starting to set and the stars beginning to shine brightly against the darkening sky looming above. “I’m sorry,” she says quietly with regret.
He looks at her, not understanding why she apologized. “For what?”
She places her hands in front of her, interlocking her fingers as she looked downward at the sand. “For what you’ve been through. No matter what you’ve done, I don’t believe you deserve to hurt for this long,” she says softly, her words carrying a gentle empathy.
“You don’t mean that,” he says darkly.
“I truly do.” She smiles at him sadly. “I know it must have been hard for you for all these years.”
He sighs, showing his annoyance with her. “Don’t pity me,” he says with displeasure toward the idea.
“I don’t. I appreciate you and I really hope one day you can feel at peace.”
He stares at Kaori hard, his eyes looking as if he tried to understand her intentions.
“If there’s ever something I can do to help you I would like for you to tell me, okay?” She looks back out at the horizon as the stars started sparkling in the sky despite how bright the moon was. “It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve done for me lately.”
He looks out in the same direction as her and nods. “Right.” The both of them stand in a comfortable silence for a long moment before he finally spoke. “We should head back,” he says in a near whisper.
She nods in agreement and follows him back on the hovercraft, holding onto the sides of the machine as she got on until Tai kicked off onto a strong start causing her to hold onto him once more in apprehension.
He winces a little as if in pain, guiding the hovercraft through the sky until they made their way back up into the ship. He carefully parks the hovercraft where it once was, ensuring the door was securely closed below before both of them got off. He watches subtly from behind his goggles as Kaori was the first to let go and get off, doing the same himself while he pulled his goggles down and looked directly at her, not knowing what to say. “I...” He looks down hesitantly, his gaze catching Kaori’s concerned expression and turns away quickly. “Never mind...”
“I should probably get to bed...” She bows respectfully toward him. “Thank you. I appreciate you being so honest with me.” She smiles uneasily as Tai nodded in response, his stoic demeanor unchanged. “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She turns away from him, suddenly tripping over a broken piece of wood, not quite losing her balance enough to fall, but merely stumble lightly.
“Hey idiot! Be careful!” He quickly grabs Kaori’s wrist without thinking and pulls her back toward him with such force that she ended up falling into his arms where he, in turn, held onto her securely after he had regained his balance from stumbling back slightly; the sight of pain in his eyes minimal as he stared down at her blankly.
She looks back up at him not knowing that her face had become slightly red from embarrassment. “I didn’t need help... Why did he react like that?”
“You... You should get to bed...” he says in a near whisper his hands loosely wrapped around Kaori’s body, his eyes staring at the golden halo as if in deep thought.
“Y- yeah...” She stands motionless as Tai’s hands slowly moved to rest his hands on her forearms.
His soft grip on Kaori suddenly tenses up, causing him to quickly move away to avoid hurting her and shakes his head, almost as if he were trying to say something he couldn’t put into words.
She looks down and steps back away from him as he let her go, feeling her breathing become shallow for a moment, unsure as to why.
“I... I’m sorry,” he says with difficulty, looking away from her in an attempt to hide the pain in his eyes.
She looks at him worriedly, then nods as if she understood not to ask anything else. “You’re right. It’s getting late. I should go to bed,” she says in a reassuring tone. “Good night...” she adds, walking out of the room and leaving Tai alone.
He subtly watches her walk out and sighs, leaning back on the equipment behind him once she had gone. “It’s fine...” he mutters to himself, sinking down to sit on the floor, looking up at the light above him with regret.
❀
Kaori walks down the halls of the ship toward her room after leaving Tai, looking distracted as she stared at the floor. “What was that all about suddenly? Why was I so embarrassed?” She looks up as she heard Breeze call out to her lightly.
“Kaori~!” She sings happily from behind Kaori, tilting her head in curiosity as she noticed Kaori’s troubled expression. “What’s wrong?” she asks looking concerned. “Is everything alright?”
Kaori bites her lower lip lightly and shakes her head.
“C’mon, let’s have a talk in my room,” she says brightly, pulling Kaori into her room.
❀
Tai walks into the control room, moving to a halt as he noticed Keiji, who appeared as though he had been waiting for him. “What’s with the look?” he asks with a raised eyebrow, suspicious of Keiji’s naturally calm expression.
“Nothing. Unless there’s something you want to tell me,” he says with a smile.
He glares at him, maintaining his suspicion. “Nothing.”
“Very well then,” he says, his smile undeterred. “Did you enjoy your trip?”
“You and Breeze need to spend some time apart,” Tai asserts firmly, walking over to the control panel and staring at display with no real purpose.
“I was only curious. I’m sure she had many questions to ask... Did it go well at least?”
“She’s promised not to leave your ship because of me. That’s what you wanted to know right?”
His kind eyes suddenly become narrow. “There are somethings that you have the power to change without realizing it.”
He stops with an exasperated sigh, touching the bridge of his nose as if he had a headache. “You always have to bring up things that have little to no meaning.”
“Do I?” He asks curiously.
He turns his gaze down lightly before speaking. “What... What can you see with her?”
He smiles a little. “I can honestly tell you that it is just as it was before.”
❀
“He really did that?” Breeze asks Kaori curiously, trying her hardest not to seem so surprised while they sat on Breeze’s bed talking.
“Is it strange?” She replies looking uneasy.
“Well... You know we always kind of knew his back story, so he’s never told us. It’s been sort of a legend for all of Noroc at this point. But he told you so willingly and then... If I didn’t know any better I’d say he’s taking a liking to you,” she teases playfully.
She blushes brightly as she turned away. “N- no that can’t be it.”
“Is there something wrong with that?” she asks with a stifled laugh at Kaori’s reaction.
“It’s just... I’m sure he never wants to be close enough to someone only to feel pain when they pass on while he continues to live.”
She looks at Kaori, as if thinking of something important before nodding thoughtfully in agreement. “I guess you’re right,” she says quietly. “But it never hurts to have a little fun though, right?”
She smiles sadly. “Could I ask you something about him?” she asks, her voice softening slightly more with hesitance.
“Go ahead.” Her eyes holding back interest as she looked at Kaori.
“Before I left, he looked as if he were in pain and pushed me away. I’ve noticed it happening often really. Did I hurt him in some way?”
“Ah... I guess he didn’t mention that part to you. He probably assumed it was something that you’d automatically know.” She sighs with disappointment as she shook her head. “What an idiot. He can’t physically touch you without feeling pain,” she says simply. “It’s part of his punishment.”
She looks down at her hands with worry in her eyes before looking up at Breeze. “Is there a reason?”
“I guess it’s something to do with how he has to feel the pain he’s caused others when he comes close to purity.”
She frowns, remembering each time she’s touched him and making sense of his reactions toward her. “I’ll remember never to touch him again then,” she says in a somewhat saddened tone.
“Well maybe just when he makes you mad,” she says with a giggle, playfully touching Kaori’s arm, eliciting a smile in response from her.
❀
Keiji looks out of the window of the control room seeing a large city within view, the shining sun from a new day pouring in and cascading a gentle warmth over him. The scene outside portraying a hologram of a giant crystal lotus floating above a large palace in the center of the city, resembling the architecture of what the shrines would be in their original glory. The rest of the area surrounding the palace similar to stone cottages with dried grass roofs and cobble stone walkways. “A bit quiet,” he says looking somewhat concerned, turning to look at the others who were all in the control room with him.
“So, who is this emperor?” Kaori asks curiously, turning as Breeze spoke with enthusiasm.
“It’s Emperor Soujirou. He’s the youngest in over ten generations at only in his mid-twenties. I heard he’s very handsome as well,” Breeze says with a smile.
“You have a one-track mind,” remarks Tai irritably in Breeze’s direction.
“No one asked you,” she snaps quickly.
“Will you be allowed to set foot there?” asks Shomei in Keiji’s direction worriedly.
“If not we can take her,” adds Vicious quickly.
Kaori turns to look at Vicious quickly. “I won’t go without them,” she says softly.
“It might not be that easy,” replies a concerned Vicious. “He’s the emperor; not many people can demand things of him.”
“Well...” Kaori thinks for a moment looking unsure before forcing herself to change her attitude, appearing a bit more confident. “I’m a goddess right? Isn’t what I say more important that what mortals have to say?”
Tai looks at Kaori, a hint of interest in his eyes behind his constantly unimpressed expression.
“Can’t argue with that, can we?” Keiji says with a slight shrug.
Kaori turns to Keiji and nods lightly. “Did he say what he wanted from me?”
“He only requested your audience. I believe whatever he wanted to discuss would be in private,” Keiji replies with a shake of his head.
Kaori looks down with slight concern in her expression. “Oh.”
Breeze grins happily. “C’mon, let’s go get ready to head down,” she says getting up and hurrying to Kaori. “We’ll be just above the palace soon.”
Kaori smiles a little and follows Breeze out happily.
Shomei looks at Vicious calmly. “It will be interesting to see him again, don’t you think?”
“We’ll see,” Vicious replies quietly, leading the way out with her.
Keiji smiles a bit and looks at Tai. “Miss Kaori’s demeanor has shifted it seems.”
He shakes his head a little. “That’s what happens when you leave someone alone with Breeze for too long,” he looks at Keiji. “You really want them both annoying you for who knows how long?”
“I’ve enjoyed it so far,” he says looking at peace while shrugging his shoulders.
“This is why I don’t stay around here,” he walks out of the room quietly after the others, Keiji not too far behind.