Stepping out into the garden, the warm chill of dawn washed over Taichi and Yasushi, momentarily banishing the shadows that seemed to cling to the hallway behind them. Yasushi took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air and the temporary silence. He then turned abruptly, his eyes fixed on the distant palace gates. "Come on, before someone sees us, Taichi."
As they moved through the garden, the lush greenery seemed to close in around them, providing a natural screen from prying eyes. Ornate stone lanterns lined the winding path, their unlit forms standing sentinel in the approaching sunrise. The air bloomed with the scent of roses and damp earth.
Taichi fell into step behind Yasushi, his footsteps deliberately soft on the gravel path. With a subtle gesture, hidden from Yasushi's view, he signaled for Koba and Sachiko to follow. Unbeknownst to Yasushi, Koba, and Sachiko, resided with Taichi in the spare bedroom together, never leaving the palace as he initially indicated.
The garden opened up to reveal an extended wide balcony covered in vines and exotic greenery. From this vantage point, the palace gates were visible, standing tall and imposing against the backdrop of the dense forest beyond.
Yasushi's eyes narrowed as he spotted movement near the gates. Two females and a small child were making their way out of the palace grounds, heading towards the forest. A jolt of recognition shot through him. That Must Be Her!
Without warning, Yasushi broke into a sprint, his feet pounding against the balcony boards as he raced towards the gates. Taichi, caught off guard but quick to react, followed closely behind. Koba and Sachiko, mindful of their need for discretion, maintained a reasonable distance, trailing the pair.
As they drew closer, the figure of Kaname became clearer. She walked with her head bowed, each step seeming to require immense effort. The aura of gloom surrounding her was almost palpable, creating a pocket of stillness in the bustling palace grounds. Even the birds seemed to sense her distress, their usual cheerful songs muted to hushed chirps.
The assigned instructor and guard flanking Kaname exchanged worried glances, their concern for her evident in their furrowed brows and tentative movements, unsure how to address the sadness emanating from the young child in their care.
Approaching the palace gates, the instructor's voice broke through the somber atmosphere. Her tone was gentle, laced with concern. "My dear," she asked, successfully capturing Kaname's attention, "Why are you so withdrawn this morning? Are you not feeling well?"
Kaname's eyes, previously fixed on the ground, flickered up for a moment before dropping again. Her silence spoke volumes, the magnitude of unspoken thoughts almost visible on her slender shoulders. The instructor's face then softened into a tender smile. "Captain Haru will be here soon. Once lessons are done for the day, how about I make you a strawberry cake?"
At the mention of the sweet treat, a spark of life returned to Kaname's eyes. The corners of her mouth twitched upward, forming a small but genuine grin. The sudden shift in her demeanor was like a ray of sunlight breaking through storm clouds.
Meanwhile, Yasushi and Taichi had reached the side entrance, perpendicular to the palace's main exit. They crouched behind a cluster of ornamental bushes, their eyes fixed on the guards standing watch at the gate. Itou and Pioto, alert and vigilant, seemed oblivious to the brewing plan.
Yasushi's brow furrowed in concentration. "How do we get past the guards," he pondered aloud..
A mischievous glint appeared in Taichi's eyes as he bent down, his fingers closing around a few small pebbles scattered on the ground. "Easy!" he responded, a note of confidence in his voice. "With a distraction."
Yasushi's face lit up with understanding. "Hehe! Got it."
The guards stood at attention, their poses rigid and alert, embodying the very essence of duty, their gazes sweeping across the palace grounds with practiced efficiency. As Taichi approached the gates, Itou's gruff voice sliced through the morning air. "Oi! Stop right there! Whatcha doin' out here so damn early in the morning?"
Pioto chimed in, his tone slightly softer but no less authoritative. "Go back inside the palace, kid."
Taichi's demeanor shifted instantly. His shoulders hunched slightly, and his eyes welled up with tears. "I'm so sorry to bother you, prestigious officers, but I'm in need of your assistance." His voice quavered convincingly as he drew closer.
Pioto's stern expression softened, charmed by Taichi's flattery. "Aww, what kind of assistance, you sweet boy?"
"It's embarrassing, but I'm kinda lost. Can you help me get back to the room I'm staying in?" Taichi rubbed his eyes with his sleeves, the picture of innocence and helplessness.
The guards exchanged confused glances. LOST?!
In that moment of distraction, Taichi seized his opportunity. He pulled one hand from his pocket and pointed his index finger downward.
*Bang*
A loud noise shattered the morning calm. The guards' hands flew to their weapons, bodies tensing for action.
"What was that?" Itou's eyes darted around, scanning the immediate perimeter for the source of the disturbance.
*Bang*
*Bang*
*Bang*
The sounds echoed in quick succession, each one amplifying the guards' alarm.
"We're under attack," Pioto cried out, his earlier sympathy forgotten in the face of perceived danger.
Itou's training kicked in, his voice sharp with urgency. "It's coming from the East, let's go!" He briefly gestured to Taichi, advising him to go away. "Hey kid, head back the way you came and ask one of the royal servants, we're busy."
Without waiting for a response, Itou and Pioto rushed off toward the source of the noise, leaving Taichi alone at the gate. As soon as the guards disappeared from view, Taichi's demeanor returned to usual. He dug into his chest pocket, pulling out a chicken biscuit as he spun around with a massive grin spreading across his face. "The coast is clear," he triumphantly muffled, taking a bite out of his breakfast sandwich.
Yasushi emerged from the bushes, leaves clinging to his clothes as he proceeded through the now-unguarded gate. Taichi finished his biscuit and followed behind him, their footsteps light and quick on the forest path.
Just as Yasushi thought they were in the clear, a sharp snap emulated behind them. Yasushi skidded to a halt, his body tensed, whirling around to survey their surroundings. The forest was still, no sign of pursuit visible among the trees and undergrowth. Yet, a prickle of unease ran down Yasushi's spine. Though he could see no one, instinct told him they weren't alone.
"Where to now?" Taichi asked in an attempt to distract Yasushi from his growing unease.
Yasushi's eyes continued to scan the forest, his mind slowly drifting away from the unease. "During this time of day, Kaname is with the elder and her guard studying the local herbs and remedies. She should be by the lagoon."
Taichi nodded, processing the information. "Who's the guard with her?"
"Most likely, Etsuyo," Yasushi explained. "She's more of an apprentice or guard in training rather than an actual guard."
Taichi murmured, eyes nervously shifting side to side, "...I see."
The sounds of the palace grounds - the rustle of leaves, the distant murmur of voices, the occasional bird call - faded away as the boys pressed forward. All that remained was the steady rhythm of their footsteps and the pounding of Yasushi's heart.
Yasushi continued on, his words coming faster now as if to outpace his own anxiety. "Normally, Captain Haru is the instructor and tags along, but I didn't see him." He tilted his head to the side, dodging branches covered in dense foliage while closing in on the looming forest ahead. "The lagoon is still our clan's property and pretty close to the palace, so if anything happens, those two idiots back there would respond almost instantly. Plus, the elder and Etsuyo can fend for themselves."
Taichi agreed, his eyes darting between Yasushi and the surrounding forest. "Yeah. From a defense standpoint, that makes sense…"
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from nearby trees. Yasushi stopped running, snapping his head towards the noise, his body tensing. There's no wind, he thought, his heart rate quickening.
Taichi noticed Yasushi's observation, quickly interrupting his thought process. "Are we going or what, Yasushi?"
Yasushi forced a laugh, the sound brittle in the tense atmosphere. "... Ahh... Yeah, I just thought I heard something. Follow me." He then broke into a rapid jog, plunging deeper into the forest. Taichi followed close behind, matching his pace. The forest seemed to close in around them, branches reaching out like grasping fingers, roots threatening to trip them at every step.
Minutes passed, marked only by the sound of their labored breathing and the crunch of leaves beneath their feet. Finally, the dense foliage began to thin, revealing glimpses of shimmering water ahead. The lagoon was only several meters away, its surface a mirror reflecting the canopy above.
Just as relief began to wash over them, another sharp snap echoed through the trees. Yasushi skidded to a halt, his arm shooting out to stop Taichi as well. They stood frozen, ears straining for any further sound.
The forest fell unnaturally silent. No birds called. No insects buzzed. It was as if the entire woods held its breath, waiting.
The tension in the air finally snapped as Yasushi shouted, his voice bellowing through the trees, "Whoever is following us, show yourself!"
Silence answered him, broken only by the rustle of leaves in the light breeze.
Yasushi then stretched out his hands, palms facing upward. His face contorted in concentration as energy began to flow through him, manifesting as a soft glow in his palms. Slowly, circular water spheres formed, hovering just above his skin.
"Since you won't come out..." Yasushi's voice was low, threatening, "I guess I'll have to force you."
He shifted into an attack stance, the water spheres growing larger and more ominous. His palms pointed towards the source of the earlier noise, the air around him crackling with potential energy.
"Wait! Stop!" Taichi's shouted, rushing towards Yasushi, his arms outstretched.
Just as Yasushi was about to release his attack, Sachiko burst from the trees. His hands raised in surrender, face etched with a jokingly defeat.
"Sai...SACHIKO!!" Yasushi's eyes widened in shock, his arms lowering as disbelief washed over him; his voice booming through the forest, startling a flock of birds into flight from their perches "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
Sachiko's nervous laughter filled the clearing as he scratched his head awkwardly.
"We were following you, Idiot!" Koba responded emerging from the trees, his arms crossed and a smirk playing on his lips.
"YOU'RE HERE TOO, KOBA?!" Yasushi's roar of astonishment sent tremors through the ground, leaves shaking on their branches.
Koba's smirk widened as he cocked his head to the side. "Not just me... right, Megumi?"
On cue, Megumi popped out of the bushes, her face a reflection of her annoyance. "Damnit! Couldn't you guys follow more quietly?" She huffed, brushing leaves from her clothes. "What amateurs."
Yasushi stood there, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to form coherent sentences. Finally, he managed to stutter out, "How??... But... Uhh... Why? Why are you guys following me!?"
"We're curious!" Koba, Megumi, and Sachiko responded in perfect unison, shrugging their shoulders with an air of nonchalance that appeared almost rehearsed.
Yasushi took a step back, his face flushing as he processed their casual admission. "But how did you know?"
Taichi's guilty expression said it all as he pointed his fingers together nervously. "Well... you see..." he began, unable to meet Yasushi's eyes.
Koba cut in, his voice sharp with accusation. "It's your fault that we got curious about this Kaname chick in the first place. We overheard you and Taichi going to go see her, so we tagged along."
Yasushi's embarrassment quickly gave way to anger as he moved closer to Koba. "Why couldn't you just mind ya own damn business?!"
Koba taken aback by Yasushi's tone, stepped forward to meet Yasushi's challenge. "Take some responsibility, you fucking asshole! I already told ya we were curious!"
As the tension between them rose, Sachiko interjected with a smirk, "Calm down. You guys are arguing like lovers."
"LOVERS?!" Megumi's shrill cry sliced through the tension as she shoved herself between Koba and Yasushi.
What followed was a cacophony of voices as Sachiko, Koba, Megumi, and Yasushi devolved into a heated argument. Their words overlapped, each trying to out-shout the others, gesticulating wildly as they bickered.
Taichi stood to the side, his initial amusement at the situation quickly fading to annoyance. He waited, arms crossed, tapping his foot, for the others to tire themselves out. But as the moments stretched on with no sign of the argument abating, his patience wore thin.
Finally, unable to take it anymore, Taichi's voice thundered through the clearing. "EVERYONE, SHUT DA HELL UP!!"
The effect was immediate. The other four fell silent, turning to stare at Taichi with wide eyes. In the sudden quiet, even the forest animals and critters stood still.
Taichi took a deep sigh, his voice calmer but still edged with irritation. "Yasushi, we're already here. Allow us to take a quick peek and leave, okay…?"
The tension in the air slowly dissipated as the group absorbed Taichi's words. Yasushi's shoulders sagged, the fight drained out of him. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of resignation, before letting out a long, exhausted sigh. The weight of his friends' persistence had finally worn down his resistance.
"Sheesh! Fine..." Yasushi conceded. "But only a peek, got it? We're going back as soon as we see her."
The response was unanimous. "Kay!" chorused Taichi, Sachiko, Megumi, and Koba, their voices blending into a single, enthusiastic affirmation.
Yasushi shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite his best efforts to maintain his annoyed façade. "You guys are impossible, you know that?"
- -