After the discussion, he dragged me out of the open living room and took me to the garden. I push myself backward and try to put all my energy into my legs so he cannot be dragging me around.
"What are you doing!!?"
I shout at him.
"..."
"Are you really taking me to your place?"
"Yes."
"Wait...Let me go!"
"..."
He is still dragging me.
"Jodai...Jodai…JODAI!!! "
I shout Jodai's name.
"Why do I have to go to your place!? Just let me go!"
I ask him again while pulling myself back.
"You said you want to make a sword."
"Yes... But why do I have to go with you!!?"
"..."
He's strong as fuck.
"Damn it, JODAI WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!?"
I scream out at the top of my lungs.
"Zephyra!!?"
"Jodai! help me!!!"
I tell him shockingly.
Jodai runs to us, grabbing the masked man's big wrist to stop. He also holds my hand and pulls me closer to him.
"Let her go!"
Jodai tells him, and that man stops.
"You let her go."
And the masked man says it back.
"!!"
And then Jodai pulls out his knife and aims at that man's neck.
"What's going on?"
Mr. Yamazaki comes in.
"Hey! What happened!?"
He walks to us and looks at our situation.
"..."
Mr. Yamazaki glares at the masked man so hard that he grabs his collar and drags him away.
"Arg!"
I cry out because that man is still grabbing my hand.
"Let her go."
Jodai.
"Let her go."
Mr. Yamazaki.
"..."
And that man lets go of my hand, and he is dragged out by Mr. Yamazaki.
"Are you alright, Zephyra?"
Jodai looks at me.
"Do you really know that man, Jodai?"
I ask.
There's something between him and Jodai's father for sure.
"Your wrist... is red."
Jodai.
"..."
"Let's calm down."
Mr. Yamazaki comes in again, and that masked man walks behind him.
"Let's talk"
Mr. Yamazaki.
"We already talked, Mr. Yamazaki."
I tell him.
"He wants to take you to his place to analyze the sword and.."
"I want the holder to be a part of it… you told me you want your own sword.."
The masked man steps up and tells me.
"..."
"Then where is that..."
I ask.
"I can't tell you. I can only take you."
"No."
Jodai interrupts.
"You want to know more about her, right?"
Mr. Yamazaki asks that man.
"...Yes."
"Then why don't you come here, get to know her here."
"I don't like your place."
"Ha..."
"I won't let her go with you."
Jodai.
"If I say no?"
I ask.
"..."
"I know you want to make a sword from that stone too."
"..."
"If you want to know me, then stay here... When you think you know me enough to create the sword, then you go back... Maybe I'll go with you... because right now, I don't know you at all."
I continue.
"Hmpt...Yes, I stay..."
He surrenders, and he walks inside.
"..."
What an annoying, odd man.
After the chaotic situations, he measured my body, my wrists, my hands, and also my legs. He didn't even apologize for his actions earlier. All I can assume is that he isn't a people guy and has no social skills. Do whatever he wants whenever he wants. He's a hippy. An annoyed, irritated grown man with a stupid mask in fly's shit color!
The following day, he waited for me under the maple tree again with his mask on. I wonder if he sleeps on it.
"Hi."
I greet him.
"..."
"You know I don't have so much time..."
"..."
"Eventually, I have to go back."
"Where?"
"Where it started."
"..."
"You sure have a lot of secrets."
"I don't... if they want to know, they can ask.. nothing to hide... behind the mask."
"..."
"How's your wrist?"
He asks.
"Still red."
"You're very delicate..."
"..."
"Are you sure you can hold the sword?... It's not a normal sword..."
"!!"
And then he bends down his body and puts his face right across from me. I can see his dark green mask clearly.
"But the sword that carries the big purpose. Your hands might fall off your arms."
"I can try..."
I tell him.
"..."
"If you're curious, why don't you find out yourself."
I suggest.
"Hmpt."
He still glares at me behind the mask, making his voice. I can see his left eye now, but the right one is covered.
"It's easier if we're alone..."
He tells me, shifting his eyes behind me. I turn to see that it's Jodai, who is standing watching us.
"Are you sure he's not your boyfriend?"
"He's my bodyguard."
"So, you are the one. How interesting that you can make the king's son your dog."
"Watch your mouth. I don't care if you're older than me or how important you are. If you call him that again, I'll cut your tongue out."
"Hmpt...so he's important to you."
"Yes."
"I wonder how you cut my tongue out."
"Heh... you're very annoying."
"Heh..."
"Wanna try?"
"...Yes."
Then I noticed his short knife inside his Yukata when I bent down. So, I suddenly push him right in the middle under the chest area and slightly take his knife out of his pocket, switch to the sharp point, and put it right at his neck.
"!!"
His back hits the tree, and the leaves fall down.
"Heh.. that's my neck, not my tongue."
Annoying.
Then he pushes my right hand, holding the knife out of his neck, and he swiftly grabs that hand and pushes my body to turn around. Then I quickly drop the knife to the ground, bend down my body, using my left hand, and put it on the ground to push my body up. I raise my right leg first and kick right at his chin. I quickly turn my body back around, and he accidentally lets go of my hand. I use my left leg to kick at his face; he falls back to the tree and loses his balance to the ground, and I kick his mask away. I hurriedly grab the knife from the ground and put it on his jaw, but the sharp point is at his bottom lip.
"Ha.."
I push my left arm at his throat so he can't move.
"Say that again..."
I tell him.
His right eye is covered by a black patch, and his hair falls down, covering his face. I can't see his face, but I don't intend to know his real face, so I stop.
"..."
I pull away my left arm from his throat and also the knife from his lips. Then I give his knife back.
"Heh."
He chuckles and takes back his knife.
I grab his green mask and put it over his face before he looks at me.
"Where did you learn that moves like that?"
"Life..."
"That's cheesy."
"Yeah..."
I agree.
"Heh."
"Hehe."
I accidentally chuckle out.
He looks at me through his mask, and he gets himself up.
"I will make a great one just like you… Don't worry."
He tells me.
"Ha..!!"
I make a startling sound in my throat because he puts his hand over my head.
What is this?.. What is he doing? Why is he patting me?
He's about to leave me at the Maple tree.
"Can you please... make it now?"
I stop him. He turns his face to me.
"Are you that in a hurry?"
"I have someone waiting for me."
"..."
He says nothing and nods.
I watch him leave.
"*Sigh."
I exhale a big breath.
And turn myself to get inside. I see Jodai's still standing, watching me and looking at me with questions.
I walk to him, but he doesn't say anything. Then I get inside the room.
"Who did you mean...who is waiting?"
He finally asks.
"...Him...Kai-"
"After he did that to you... you still want to go back for him?"
He opens his mind and asks me before I speak out his name.
"He owes me an answer."
I answer him.
"..."
He says nothing and looks down at his feet. I turn to look at him properly. I raise my hand and slightly touch his thick black hair. I run my fingers to his hair. He's standing still, letting me play without a fuss.
"Your hair is quite long…"
I tell him.
"..."
He glances at me and steps closer.
"When we go back...Do I have to call you Master?"
He asks me with an eye I used to feel when he took me out of the lake.
Frustrated, like a child, wanting something.
"Zephyra...I want you to call my name... only my name, please."
I answer while my fingers are still playing along with his hair.
"..."
He steps one closer to me. Our body's almost touching.
"And do I have to keep my distance..?"
He asks.
3 days later,
That masked man left the house on the same day that he left me under the maple tree. Mr. Yamazaki said he hurriedly returned to his place to begin his task. I hope he makes a sword for Jodai as well. Speaking of him, he's been training himself in the garden by himself sometimes with The Yamazaki's men. I also watch over him and admire his talent from afar, as I did in the old days at the training yard. Even if he just came in the summertime, only one season has passed, and our relationship is quite tied. I think not because of the loyalty of duties but because we tied ourselves up by our own hands.
If that makes sense.
I drink hibiscus tea while watching Mr. Yamazaki discussing with Jodai. Then he comes to me during my zoning out moment.
"Zephyra."
He calls me.
"Yes?"
"What do you think...if I cut my hair too?"
"!!?"
"Why?"
"Because... it's too long."
"Because of what I said?"
"No...I know you admire longer hair...so I ask you first."
Oh my god, did he ask for my permission to cut his hair?
"I still admire whatever hairstyle you have."
"..."
Fuck! What did I just say? .. bring it back.
"I mean, you look great with long hair or short hair. You have a thick and soft one. You will look great in it…whether short or long.."
I am saying back and forth.
"Yes, Zephyra."
He answers me and goes back to his father.
Then Jodai sits on his knees, facing me and giving his back to his father. Mr. Yamazaki holds his sword up, grabs his low ponytail, and cuts it.
"..."
Jodai's eyes still look right at me.
Now his hair is flowing, covering his entire face and chin. Then, his father takes a scissor out and trims Jodai's hair at the back.
So, normally he gets the hair cut from his father. He seems to know how to do it properly.
"Young lady."
Mr. Yamazaki calls me.
"Y-Yes?"
"Come here."
"Yes."
I answer and come to them.
"Sit next to him."
"Yes..."
Then I sit on my knees next to him and face Jodai's side of his body.
"Here."
He gives me the scissors.
"Hmm?"
"You should cut his hair too."
Mr. Yamazaki tells me.
"Father... don't."
"Why? She's your Master, right? That would be an honor to be cut from an important person..."
"..."
"Who cut your hair, young lady?"
"Jodai."
"Heh."
"Jodai... if you don't mind, I would like to cut your hair as well?"
"...I don't mind, Zephyra."
"..."
I smile.
His father cut his long hair out to the middle of his head. I can see his under-shaved cut growing longer than before. So I decided to cut his hair slope down to the front like the way he did to me. His hair at the front is around his chin. I totally see the tattoo on his neck. I run my fingers through his hair and push back to see
"!!"
I can see his ear and his cheeks turning very red.
"I'll do another side."
"Um..."
Then I do the same. I give the scissors back to Mr. Yamazaki.
"Wahh... you did great...and son, you look collier than before."
Mr. Yamazaki praises me and his own son.
And I move myself to sit in front of Jodai. I put my right hand under his chin and gently push his face up. The hair falls back down, showing off his face.
"Hehe."
I smile with a happy face.
"Let me see."
Mr. Yamazaki tells his son, and then he moves himself to face his father.
"Nice...Why did you choose to cut this way?"
His father asks me.
"So he's just like me."
I answer him.
"!!"
Jodai turns to see me and opens his eyes wide.
"See, right here."
I turn my face to the side, point my index finger at my earlobe, and slide down along my jawline in the air to the end of the hair, around my collarbone area.
"I can see that...hahaha."
Mr. Yamazaki laughs.
"Do you like it?"
"Y-Yes! I like it...very much."
Jodai answers me with an embarrassed face, but his smile is genuine, so he's happy about it.
"Master."
One of the Yamazaki men interrupts.
"What is it?"
"The swordsmith here, sir."
"Alright, let him in."
"Yes, sir."
Before, he is going to go back to bring the guest, but the guest brings himself in first.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"No, we just finished."
"..."
That masked man doesn't say anything again. And walk towards us.
"I want to speak with her."
He says it while stopping in front of me.
"Then excuse me, Mr. Yamazaki."
"Yes, of course."
"Where should we..?"
I am about to ask.
"Under the tree."
He answers me and leads me that instant.
Still annoying.
We stop at the maple tree and I wait for him to start the conversation.
"Yes?"
I start.
"I would like you to come with me."
"...Where?"
"My place."
"I need more explanation."
"The sword...almost finished...but only one last touch...I want you to come back with me...only need one night...probably one more day, then it's done."
"...Yes."
He seems surprised that I agree with him easily.
"Okay then, let's go."
He is about to grab my wrist again.
"Stop...you don't need to drag me. I will go with you willingly anyway, but we must inform Mr. Yamazaki first."
"Um."
He makes a sound and lets go of his hand.
The sun has gone down and left a dark orange in the sky. I packed my suitcase, and everything and nothing was left in that bedroom. I told Mr. Yamazaki that I would not come back here after the trip. I will head back to Sovereign. And Jodai comes with me to the unknown place where the Masked man kept it a secret. He was against that first, but Jodai insisted on coming, and I also stood my ground as well. And with little help from Mr. Yamazaki, the Masked man surrendered.
I finally will get my hand on the unbreakable sword.