Chapter 506:
Shift
I repeated her name to myself like there was some sort of echo in the courtyard. It didn’t really make a lot of sense, but there was something even more unnerving about the whole thing. ‘Who is she? Why does she seem to be bothering me so much?’ I didn’t have any answers to my questions. Staring at the girl hardly seemed like the thing to do, even if I wasn’t worried about being polite. The whole point of everything that I had been doing so far was not getting attention or making waves, despite how much things seemed to be doing to the contrary.
Such as the boy in front of me who wanted me to be active for some reason. A bright wide-eyed child had little interest for me though. The girl did well enough to halt his interest in me, as he turned around with curiosity. “I’m Hajime Nagahama,” he replied brightly to her as though she had been speaking to him rather than me. Or even had any sort of acknowledgement of his presence, which didn’t seem to be the case.
In a rather annoying manner, her eyes were fixed upon me after my comment. She seemed to find me interesting, I guess? Which meant that I failed at my efforts in not standing out. I wasn’t being as careful with my words as I should have been. That boy made me slip and fall into a reply that I shouldn’t have. Damnit.
Hajime’s approach seemed to do nothing to slow her down though, to my chagrin. “And you’re the promising heir to the Hirohata Clan.”
A bit of a frown slipped forward as she came after me unabated by Hajime. I hadn’t really thought I put that much of a target on me, especially since only the boy seemed to take any sort of notice of me. Until she said something I didn’t even know she was nearby. Had she been hiding in some part watching me? More questions didn’t really seem to be doing me any favors with my thoughts churned up internally.
She really was unnerving.
That’s not really very helpful. She stared at me, increasing the awkwardness. ‘What’s her problem?’ It would seem I didn’t cast a strong enough ignore me presence by sitting alone. Making it worse, I got the very clear impression that she wanted me to say something, though I didn’t know what I could really offer her. Her stance felt like she had the whole area blocked off, as if she would pounce like a tiger after prey if I tried to escape. “I don’t believe we’ve ever met before.”
“I make it a point to learn all of the faces of those that might become my subordinates.”
The frown turned into a grimace and then something that was probably like a growl without the sound. ‘So arrogant…she’s just a child too, not that she talks like one…’ Almost made me wonder if she had an adult or someone older in her for a moment, before I realized that was just a stupid notion. The only ones that could possibly if they followed my trend would be the rest that I entered in and none of them acted like her, not even my sister in her twisted state was like this girl. No, she must have just been bred this way from tutors and her parents, like how the ones attached to me were.
If I didn’t have to deal with the consequences for whatever unknown period of time I was stuck here, I probably would have slapped her for being so insulting. Unfortunately, I had to deal with a world with no powers, so I had to be careful. “I don’t take orders from anyone,” I asserted, trying to get her to back off and hopefully to notice her arrogance.
An unnerving smile, perhaps smirk, came over her face the moment I said that. “You’re an interesting one. I think I like you.” She stepped forward only half a meter away from me and close enough that I could smell the bath oils or perfume coming off her. There was a very adult sense to her despite her age. I’m not sure if it was her or her parents, but someone wanted to make it clear that she wasn’t to be treated like a child.
I crossed my hands doing everything I could to close off any path. “The feeling isn’t mutual.”
“Hey, I think you might be going too far.” It took him longer than I expected to jump back in after getting ignored. Though coming to my defense was hardly going to improve his standing with me. Both were an annoyance that I wish I could be free from.
“I will make you mine.” That smirk, it definitely had become one, turned into an almost devilish grin as though I was challenging her.
How clear did I have to be with her? “Look, I’m no one's, especially not some child that’s hardly even seen beyond her window.”
That excited look on her face didn’t go away for a single moment. All that I seemed to do was give her more fuel to her fire. “You’re going to be the one.” I was going to protest to her more, but she just walked away at that point, having apparently done everything that she wanted.
I didn’t really know what to make of her and her declaration in the end. Somehow I’ve become her target, but I don’t even know in what way. It’s not like she can do anything away. ‘I’m not going to have to deal with her further away if I just stay out of this whole thing…’
Chapter 506 – Creating Pieces
After the long day at the Lord’s estate Seiji returned back to the place that he quickly welcomed as his new home. It would by no means replace the one in his heart and in the real world, but that didn’t mean that couldn’t enjoy the life that the virtual world provided him either. Nothing had made him happier in some time with their life within the worlds of Yumi’s mind. It was something that understood him.
The Hagahama estate brought out a feast to celebrate the good fortunes. It was something that Seiji roughly followed, but since he didn’t focus much on what they were wanting him to do he hadn’t been clued into the details. Fortunately, what his family expected of him fell conveniently in line with what he could do. It all worked out for all parties involved. Though the future that Seiji now faced might be one that he would want to start thinking about.
Unknown futures however weren’t on his mind at the moment. While his parents and disciples of his father partied in uncharacteristically energetic manners, Seiji rushed off to the servant wing. Being a child, he didn’t have to worry about where he went and it calling out too many questions. Not that sort of thing would have stopped him anyway.
He reached the room of Nerine, who like him had greater leniency as well. They didn’t work her as hard as the other servants since she was a child and due to Seiji taking the sudden and immediate fondness to her, ended up with her being reassigned to serve him. “Nerine!” he shouted, a very non-Japanese name inside a Japanese household. His excitement had overcome his control.
She immediately sighed as the door slid open to break her concentration. ‘I swear he never learns…’ Any attempts to scold him weren’t going to do any use. That much she had learned from her time with him. The tone in his voice was clear to her. He wouldn’t be able to listen to anything she wanted until he got it out of his system.
Nerine rotated carefully on the floor in a very practiced kneeling position. She kept a mature elegant stature that created an awkward wall invisible to Seiji that divided the auras in the room. “Yes, what is it, young Lord?”
“You can drop the formalities and acting! I found him!”
‘Really wish I had my powers if only to punch some sense into him for the moment.’ Another sigh slipped out as she slowly rose in a fluid motion. She motioned for Seiji to get properly into the room as she went behind him for the door.
Once the room became sealed and his loud voice might have a hope of not making it to any ears that mattered, Nerine dropped some of her guard. “Please lower your volume, Seiji.” She didn’t make it back to her spot before he grabbed her by the shoulders still boiling over with energy.
“You were right!”
“Y-Yes, I’ve gathered that much from your announcements so far.” Nerine pulled him over to the floor cushions so that he might calm down a little. It was mostly a futile effort at the moment, she knew that, but still tried anyway. “Who was it that you found?”
“It was Yori, I know it was him!”
“Did he tell you it was him or did you get confirmation from him?”
“No.”
“Did he say anything out of character for this world?”
“Well, not really.”
“Then how can you be certain?”
“My gut says so!”
“Seiji…” Sighing again, she had trouble keeping it in, even if she did not find it all that surprising as well. “We can’t be making decisions based on your gut. We need to actually know if it is him.”
“Then I’ll just ask him the next time I see him!”
“And if you’re wrong?”
“I’m not.”
“I wish I knew where you get all of your confidence from…”
“Trust me, Nerine. I can just feel it. If you saw him, you’d agree with me. It was him.”
For as much as she wanted to deride him for his less than reliable method, she couldn’t completely deny him. There was somehow something about the way that he worked that ended up actually being pretty accurate. It was a little scary how he could be at times. ‘I’m not sure I’ll ever understand him…but he’s certain that he’s found Yori. Considering how we left him in Masa’s world I worry if he’ll even want to do anything to work with us.’
Unlike the rest of the King’s friends, Yori started to drift apart, becoming increasingly unstable since returning to Japan. She never really knew how he was before they came to her homeland, so he might have always been like this or prone to it. A mental breakdown seemed almost inevitable at this point for him.
Could he remain in their group the way he had become?
It wasn’t something that she could answer very well. She needed to see him more, considering little time had passed since Yumi split from him. There was a chance that things could still improve. Little consideration was needed in the end. “If it is him, we need to organize and start looking for the others.”
Seiji pointed back to the hall in regards to the partying that had been going on. “I think something good happened today. Futures and things were all figured out, so I figure I will be able to make some progress there.”
‘He doesn’t even know what’s going on…I shouldn’t be surprised. He was just happy to have a place where he could train and get stronger. Though it’s not like this place will allow that sort of training to leave. So I don’t know what sort of value he’s expecting to take from it…’ If she sighed anymore she worried it might start to shorten her lifespan. It was just the way he was and part of his charm, as she admitted a few times to herself. “Your family is highly regarded for their military strength and long history of military leaders, though it seemed that until you inhabited the body of this child that was looking in doubt. You seemed to be what the family was looking for.”
“So they produce soldiers.”
“Elite soldiers, but that about sums it up. Your audience today with Lord Komagata was about building the next generation. He’s a young man, but has a lot of ambition, though he seems to be a patient one. What he’s inherited is an aging court that doesn’t have his same desires for expanding the Clan’s control. So all of the influential Clans are vying for his favor.”
“And Yori was there, so that means we’ll be together then!”
“Seiji, everyone is expecting this to lead us to war in time. Komagata has vast ambitions and the children that he selects will be the ones that he orders to fight his wars for him. You’re going to be leading men to their deaths for someone that just wants more power.”
It seemed that he hadn’t fully appreciated everything in the weight of the situation. Part clearly came from the fact that he didn’t pay any attention to what was happening. The transition in his face as he understood now was almost heartbreaking for Nerine to watch with the glow fading. This went completely against everything that was at his core. ‘This world could be the hardest on him. It’s not a kind place for someone so pure…’
“We still have time, right?” he asked with a flicker of light remaining.
“Yes, but I don’t know how much control we could have over the situation.”
“Then we’ll change things! We’ll meet with Yori and figure out a plan to stop this war!”
“…Seiji…” A heavy line fell over Nerine brow as she watched him. ‘I guess it’ll be a goal for him. Though I don’t know how much of a reality it can be…I wish now that I could take over this for him…’ She realized in her thoughts something. “I’m not going to be able to help you given my position in this hierarchy.”
“That won’t be a problem!” he declared with recovered confidence. “I’m allowed my personal attendant I remember hearing once. I’ll just make you mine and you follow me where I go! I’m not going to be leaving you alone, Nerine!”
She smiled a little seeing part of him coming back. It was the way that she liked him. “Then I guess we should meet with Yori then.”
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