Walking through the long corridors of the palace, Yoshiro felt really...weak and exposed. Out of his element. He was used to feeling like he could take on the world by himself, yet now that he looked at the dull grey walls, highlighted by only the small lines of red threads, he truly felt miniature. Was his destiny truly to be surrounded by cold, stone walls for the rest of his life, protecting a royal who probably wouldn't care a single bit about him?
He was starting to regret coming here, and the guard's words had stayed fresh in his mind: "Pray that Blue isn't around, for your own sake."
Who was Blue? Why was he so important, and what was his connection to the princesses of Kiyorashira?
Oh, and that was another problem. He wasn't expecting to meet the princesses of Kiyorashira. He only knew certain descriptions of them, as they were rarely seen in public- though both for their own reasons. Alexa, while training him, had dropped several small details, yet nothing that truly added up. He knew their surname was Cavendish, inherited from the King. He also knew one had blond hair. Oh, and to finish it off, he knew that one of them was known for being...reckless.
Yeah, but he had no idea which was which, and he wasn't exactly planning on asking, "Which one of you is reckless?". Wouldn't make that much of a good impression, would it now?
Before he knew it, he was standing at the entrance to the throne room. Yoshiro went to knock, and his hand hesitated just before he tapped...and the door opened by itself.
Speaking of a nice first impression...Yoshiro's momentum carried him forward, and he would have crashed onto the marble floor, if someone hadn't managed to grab his arm.
"Watch where you're going!" A strangely familiar voice called out. "Wouldn't want you to crash now, would we?"
Yoshiro looked up, and froze, for the face looking at him in concern was identical to Alexa, if Alexa was, like 8 years older. This woman was a copy of Alexa, down to the curly hair, with a few differences: Her hair colour, was silver. Alexa's was brown, and her dressing style... while Alexa always tried to dress, modern, this woman seemed to be the complete opposite, dressed in what seemed like an outfit an assassin would wear, if an assassin knew deadly magic.
"Uh..." Do I know you?" He said, managing to pull himself up. "You seem awfully familiar, like someone I know-"
The mysterious woman sighed. "You know, every single time I meet a stranger, I often get this. Let me guess, you know Alexa."
"Oh. Yeah." Yoshiro's mind went blank for a second. "How did you-"
"Know? I'm her older sister, Selene Smith." She extended her hand to him, and shook it. "Judging from the way you almost fell...I'd say you're Yoshiro Bones. Alexa has spoken quite a bit about her prodigy student."
Yoshiro panicked. "Uh, well, I hope most comments were good-"
"Yeah, they weren't."
"Oh." He tried to keep upbeat. "Surely your sister had something good to say about me, right?"
"Well, she did. She said that apart from having a huge inflated ego, and somehow failing miserably at most of the tasks she set you... you're very resilient. You refuse to back down from any challenge, and will always find a way around it, if not charging headfirst into it." Selene smiled. "Try not to take my sister's words too harshly. Her being the genius of this world, she tends to forget she has a huge inflated ego too."
"Somehow, I already got used to it." Yoshiro grinned. "Selene, huh? If Alexa's the genius in your family, there must be high expectations for you too... so what do you excel at?"
"Oh, nothing special." Selene waved a hand around vaguely. "The royal family sometimes comes to me for advice. Oh, and in desperate situations."
Yoshiro was about to ask for more, but she held up her hand, cutting him off. "Anyways, enough about me. You're actually late for your judgement day- great idea. Coming late. Are you trying to be rebellious?"
"No, well, not really. Is it too much to say that I overslept?"
"You...overslept?" Selene sounded like she could barely understand the words coming out of his mouth. "You do know how important this day actually is, right? The royal family told me about this, not to mention my sister, and from what I've gathered, this is one of the largest life-changing decisions you'll ever have! You could be exiled, thrown out, or even worse, executed-"
"I know." Yoshiro grimaced. "Look, I think I'll just take my chances. Thanks for the encouraging words though. I just need to make my case seem...honorable, and it should be fine."
Selene sighed, and ran a hand through her hair. "Turning up late doesn't exactly help you out with that, does it now?" She hesitated, then stepped to a side. "Look, I shouldn't even be saying this, but I'll offer some advice. Don't get on Rei's bad side. If Blue is in there, probably just nod to whatever he says. Don't, and I repeat, Do Not, challenge him back under any circumstances, ok?"
Yoshiro couldn't stop the smile spreading onto his face. "You're the second person who has warned me about the princesses, and Blue. I'm getting anxious to meet them for myself." He started walking forward into the room, only stopping when Selene called out his name.
"Lower the ego. It's my personal advice. If you don't...You might not make it out alive."
"Sorry, but my ego's the only thing keeping me up these days." Yoshiro walked forward. "Don't worry about me. It's all going to be fine and perfect- nothing to worry about."
-
Oh, now that Yoshiro was looking at the king in the eyes, he knew why Selene had told him to lower his ego. If he even dared to talk back now, he probably would be ordered to walk the plank or something. The King seemed like the type of person who would order him to fly to the moon and back, and he'd have to somehow do it.
The king's gaze swept over him again, and again. Yoshiro even self consciously started to slouch. All his confidence was a hundred percent non-existent right about now. He was almost trembling... then the king spoke.
"Yoshiro Bones." He began. "1 Year ago, you arrived in Kiyorashira through the most concerning of ways- falling past our barrier into a waterfall. From there, you somehow made your way to the palace, and managed to negotiate 1 year's worth of training. Your time is up. But before we pass judgement, may i ask... how is Kiyorashira for you?"
"Well, uh-" Yoshiro was caught completely off guard. "What do I think of Kiyorashira?"
"Yes." The queen spoke for the first time. "You have seen both of our lifestyles, royal and normal. What do you see?"
"Well..." Yoshiro's plan was to stay silent, but something inside of him said, tell them.
"I've seen a lot of Kiyorashira during my stay here. A lot of it still remains hidden to me, and I'm sure that even if I stayed for a hundred more years, I wouldn't even have a grasp of all of the wonders Kiyorashira has to offer. However, it's not all smiles and laughs. I've seen people worried...they whisper of a force of darkness. Something that they all fear... and if something makes an entire country tremble in fear, I'd say it's a big deal. I see armies being mobilized, people preparing for something... for war."
The king frowned, as did the queen. "You are highly observant, Bones. Perhaps a little too much for your own good. However, you are correct. We are preparing for war."
Again, Yoshiro planned on staying silent, yet something inside of him impulsed him to speak again.
"You speak of this war as if it is unavoidable." He carefully said. "Surely someone like you, king and queen of a world filled with powers, have a solution to it?"
The king sighed, but the queen answered. "Yes, we have a way to deal with it. However, it really isn't ideal...and besides, she'll never agree to it."
"Who? Maybe you can convince them-"
"Enough!" The King raised a hand, and Yoshiro immediately knew he had gone too far. "We are not here to discuss these matters. We are here to discuss your future, if you should stay or not."
Lower the ego.
Selene's words echoed in Yoshiro's mind, yet he chose to ignore them.
"I already know your answer." He said, confidence returning to him. "You want me to stay, and protect a princess with my life, which I will gladly do so."
What?
Yoshiro froze. What am I saying?
He wasn't the only one shocked, as he looked up, he spotted similar reactions on the King and Queen's faces.
"How did you-" The King began, rising from this throne, yet the Queen raised her hand.
"Explain yourself, Yoshiro. How did you know what we were going to ask of you?"
Tell the truth.
"I have no idea." Yoshiro hesitated, then went on. " It just...felt right."
The King and Queen looked at each other, both silently thinking something, and Yoshiro internally wavered.
They are a hundred percent thinking about me. They're curious about me, aren't they? How I'm literally reading their thoughts, like right now, even though I have no idea what I'm doing... Oh no, I'm doing it again. Oh, I'm scared.
They finally looked back at Yoshiro, who gulped.
"Well Yoshiro, If you truly knew what we were thinking of, please tell me. What did I eat for breakfast today?" The King asked.
Yoshiro froze. How am i supposed to know that? Ok, let's try to even figure out how to use my...ability. Yeah, let's call it my ability. So... yeah, I have no idea how to do this. Right, maybe if I think of food...Uh, that won't help much. I am quite hungry too... I'd go for a nice cereal bowl, probably accompanied with a side of fruit? Bananas, not apples. Much tastier...oh.
"I think you ate a bowl of cereal, accompanied by a side of bananas." Yoshiro confidently said.
The King smiled. "Correct. I believe I have figured it out, Yoshiro. Your...mind reading, is not mind reading at all. It is your instinct."
"Instinct?"
"Yes, instinct. Normally, us Kiyorashirans have powers, which come directly from the land. Our abilities are strongest at our home. Yet, in your case, you had no powers when you arrived. You had nothing. When you entered this world, your body adapted- and absorbed power. This let to your senses being amplified, along with strength and speed, as Alexa's results showed... Yet I believe it also enhanced your sixth sense. Or, activated it."
Yoshiro frowned. "So you're saying...."
"Yes. I believe your sense will activate when you need it, and warn you of something, or lead you in the correct direction. A rare but extremely useful ability, I must say."
Yoshiro let out the breath he had been holding.
"Now, back to the main point. As you...knew... we are going to assign you to protect one of our daughters. This is not just luck- This is because of the results Alexa has showcased us. Your persistence and resilience is...admirable. Your honor and dignity are strong. These qualities of yours assure us that our daughter will be in safe hands...regardless of her own wishes."
Yoshiro frowned, but he didn't get a chance to even open his mouth. His mind suddenly panicked, and he could only think of one thing...
Danger.
He twisted around, just in time to see a guy enter the room. Immediately, the atmosphere felt...tense to say the least. Yoshiro didn't need to ask who it was.
This guy is Blue. Now then, why did Selene warn me of you, and now my...instinct?
He forced a smile onto his face, and extended a hand.
"Hi, I'm-"
He didn't get far, as Blue's leg immediately span into his chest. Knocking Yoshiro down hard, leaving him gasping.
Ow.
"Huh. The great Yoshiro Bones, prodigy of Alexa Smith." Blue's tone was cold.
Matching his face. Not exactly a warm smile.
"Why does everyone keep on calling me that..." Yoshiro slowly raised his head, and got back on his feet. "I'm no-"
Dodge.
His head screamed at him, and Yoshiro sidestepped the kick, aimed at the same spot, yet Blue was faster, and used his own momentum to dig his heel into the side of Yoshiro's ribs.
Ouch...
Back down Yoshiro went, noting that neither the King nor the Queen made any motion to stop Blue. Why?
Blue crouched down in front of Yoshiro.
"I recommend going back to where you came from, Bones. You won't survive a day out here without your mentor to save you. Besides, Alexa has her own issues to mind about. She won't have time for you after this."
Yoshiro made eye contact.
"Someone's determined to prove themselves." He muttered. "Scared of me, are you?"
Blue immediately lashed out a punch, which caught Yoshiro straight on the face, and sent him back a few steps. "I would watch how you speak to me, Bones. I am the commander of the Royal army."
"Oh yeah? And I'm the teenage prodigy who will replace you-"
Left, now!
He rolled to the left, and indeed, Blue's leg came down right where he had been. Blue froze momentarily, and Yoshiro struck, aiming with a beautiful low kick... and Blue rolled over it.
Stand up, idiot! Prove yourself!
Huh? That wasn't my voice....
While confused about why he had just heard a random person in his head, Yoshiro didn't realize that Blue was standing up again, and approaching rapidly...
Just get up, will you?
Yoshiro impulsed himself to his feet,and relying purely on instinct once more, held out his hand... and Blue's sword flew right from his belt to it.
Both Blue and Yoshiro froze, yet Yoshiro recovered immediately, lunging forward, forcing Blue a step back, then feinting to the left, forcing Blue to step to one side, allowing for a huge opening on Blue's left, and of course Yoshiro took it.
He slammed a kick into Blue's side, sending Blue staggering back. Blue looked surprised, then his face twisted into anger, and he drew a dagger from his belt, approaching Yoshiro, who suddenly was very nervous, and was about to lunge-
"Stop!"
Both Yoshiro and Blue immediately stopped, as the voice carried so much...authority. As Yoshiro turned, he expected it to be the Queen talking, as the voice carried so much...authority. Yet he noticed that neither the Queen nor the King had even moved, as if they were simply spectating the entire thing. If they hadn't spoken, who had? Who could possibly command the commander of the royal army-
A princess.
Yoshiro turned again to face the doorway to the left of the thrones, one which he hadn't noticed before. Out stepped a girl his age... and his breath temporarily left his body.
She's beautiful.
The girl had hair the colour of a raven's feathers, which in some cases, might seem a bit too harsh for royalty, but she certainly pulled it off. She was also wearing royal robes, but they seemed to fit her...perfectly. She seemed both dangerous yet elegant and royal at the same time. Yoshiro was sure if anyone saw her outside, she would be recognized in seconds.
Funnily enough, he had no idea what her name was.
"Fighting again?" The girl sighed, walking towards Blue. "Seriously, one of these days you will meet your match."
"Oh, come on. You know I'm the best fighter in all of Kiyorashira." Blue smirked.
Yoshiro cautiously looked at him. If this girl was indeed royalty like he believed, how Blue referred to this girl seemed a bit too...casual. Would a Royal Commander not say something like, Your highness, to even start?
The girl rolled her eyes. "Looked like he landed a few good hits on you." She nodded towards Yoshiro. "Oh, and he somehow has your sword. Did you give it to him?"
"What- no! Why would I give it to him?" Blue just sounded annoyed. "He used tricks to get it. Powers. A man of honor wouldn't even dare using powers in a formal duel-"
"Powers?" The girl sounded amused. "What, he made the sword fly out of your grasp to his hand?"
"Sort of!"
The girl smiled, and hugged Blue. "Hey, relax. You still won, right?"
Yoshiro decided to be absolutely reckless, and just intervene. "Actually, he didn't." He threw the sword back to Blue, who caught it midair, almost snarling. Just to finish it off, he decided to be reckless one last time. He held out his hand. "I'm Yoshiro. Yoshiro Bones. Prodigy of Alexa Smith, as I've been told."
The girl released Blue, studied him...and laughed.
"You?" She said. "You're Yoshiro Bones? Oh, please tell me this is a joke. The greatest mystery of Kiyorashira is nothing but a teenage boy who has his ego highly inflated?" She stepped back, silently refusing his extended hand. She turned to the two royals.
"Father, please don't tell me you have chosen him. I have already told you that Blue is much more qualified to protect me, and be around me-"
"Enough, daughter." The King raised his hand. "Your judgement is flawed on this matter. Your... devotion to Blue makes it so that you cannot see anything else except...him."
Daughter? Devotion? Is she dating him?
Well, this got awkward fast.
Yoshiro decided to be reckless again.
"Look, I don't know you. I have no idea who you are. However, it seems to me I'm not the one with a raised ego. You know nothing about me and have started judging me-"
"Yoshiro Bones. 17 Years old. Fell into Kiyorashira after he wandered into a waterfall. Claimed enhanced abilities from the very air of Kiyorashira. Has the power to sense minds, apparently." The girl's gaze never left his eyes.
Yoshiro gulped. This girl did not like messing around.
Wait, how does she know about the mind thing? I didn't even know until around 5 minutes ago-
"You're not the only one who can sense minds, Yoshiro. Besides, I have trained this power, enhanced it for several years. Would be weird if I couldn't hear your thoughts."
Oh.
"Stop reading my mind." He tried to shut his mind of any thoughts, keep it all clear. What had Alexa mentioned once? A mind reader cannot sense any thoughts if you concentrate your mind-
However, Alexa didn't mention to you that a mind reader doesn't just sense things after warmingup, do they? It's a direct attack, meaning you won't be able to defend it, if you're still thinking about the defense!
Yoshiro gasped and staggered back. "I- I can hear-"
"My voice in your head?" The girl smiled. "I told you I trained for years."
Oh, so that's who I heard earlier! But why would she be trying to help me win?
Blue looked annoyed, and tapped the girl's shoulder. "Are you done examining his head?"
The girl laughed. "Yeah. Not much to examine anyways. He's as easy to read as an open book."
But if she read my mind, she knew I thought she was beautiful, right? She can hear minds, so she should be hearing mine right now. Right?
The girl didn't react or say anything...did that mean she couldn't hear him? How? She had heard him so clearly before, and she hadn't even been in the room. Was there some sort of shield surrounding his thoughts?
In a flash, Yoshiro realised what had happened.
His abilities, had come straight from Kiyorashira's very air after his body adapted to it. The same way his body had adapted to powers, so had his mind. He had felt the girl enter his head, and his mind had automatically made a shield around itself. Impressive.
Yoshiro had been in such deep thought, he hadn't realized the King was speaking to him.
"Are you listening?" He repeated.
"Oh! Sorry..."Yoshiro ran a hand through his hair, and flicked the small braid back, as a bad habit of his. "I am now."
"So disrespectful." Blue murmured, yet the king seemed to take no notice of it.
"Yoshiro Bones. After careful consideration, We have decided you become knight to our daughter, Princess Rei Cavendish. You will protect her with your life, accompany her anywhere she may need you. Do you accept this role?"
"I do." Yoshiro kneeled, all jokes and humor gone.
The king placed a sword on his shoulder. "Then from now on, you are a member of the Royal Guard. You may roam the palace freely. However, cause any trouble, and there will be consequences."
"I understand." Yoshiro stood. "I will not fail you, your majesties."
"Hmph." The girl, Rei, spoke up. "You truly think you won't fail? I bet that you'll decide to renounce in a week."
"You'd be surprised by how persistent I am, Rei." Yoshiro fired back.
He immediately noticed that Rei's gaze hardened.
"I expect you refer to me as princess at all times." She said, fully expecting Yoshiro to back down.
He didn't.
"Oh, my apologies, Princess Rei." Yoshiro emphasized her name. "I will certainly keep that in mind."
The KIng is going to kill me.
Yoshiro may have been challenging Rei directly, yet in the back of his mind, he knew it was a death sentence. He might just take a sword and try assassinating the Royal Family just to top it off.
He was about to bow, however he hesitated, when he heard Rei laugh mockingly.
"Yoshiro Bones." She said. "My knight in shining armor. Let's see how long you last— I say you'll quit in a week."
Repeating threats again? Seriously?
Yoshiro decided to stay quiet, but mentally spoke.
I accept your challenge, Rei.
Rei's eyes narrowed, and he knew she had heard him.
Yoshiro half-expected her to order his execution right there and then, however Rei merely turned around and walked towards Blue once again. She whispered something in his ear, and he laughed. It looked like Blue was about to say something to Yoshiro, but a new voice cut him off.
"Oh? Is this the new recruit?" A girl's cheerful voice came floating in. Immediately both Rei and Blue tensed up. Yoshiro looked up, expecting to see an adult with authority come down- instead, he barely had time to move a step aside before a teenage girl jumped right where he had been standing.
This could almost be considered normal, had the girl not appeared right out of thin air.
Thanks to Yoshiro's new senses, he managed to sidestep just a split second before the girl appeared. Still, he stumbled back.
"Wha- Did you- How-" Yoshiro forgot how to speak for a second.
The girl laughed and hopped to a side, her blond hair almost hiding her eyes until she brushed it away.
"Oh, I'm sorry." She said. "I forgot I have this effect on people when we first meet, or when i decide to use my powers." She extended her hand. "My name's Verity Cavendish. From the way people were talking about you, I presume you're Yoshiro Bones. Prodigy of Alexa?"
Yoshiro shook her hand, grateful for someone who wasn't acting like they were two seconds away from executing him.
"Yeah, that's me." He said. "Do you know Alexa?"
Verity laughed, and was about to answer, when Rei stepped in.
"Alexa is our technological prodigy. She has her own lab down here, where she researches and studies anything we request. Her and Verity have grown awfully close ever since she saved her from an explosion she herself caused." Her expression wasn't one of much joy. "If you ask me, Verity should stick to being around more...formal people. Alexa's a terrible influence on her. Ever since they became friends, Verity has been non-stop teleporting around the palace. Just walk." She muttered the last part.
"Oh? Your power is teleportation?" Yoshiro turned to Verity, who seemed completely unfazed by her sister's comments. "How come your sister doesn't like it?"
Verity grinned. "Well, she doesn't like it because of the prophecy, two sisters with the power of Light and Teleportation, The Legendary-"
"That's enough!" This time the King had spoken. Yoshiro glanced at Rei, and noticed she seemed...worried. He was about to ask why, but the Queen spoke.
"Rei. Watch your words regarding your sister. Verity, remember your limits. Oh, and you, knight...your responsibility is protecting my daughter, not seeking knowledge she doesn't want to willingly give you, understood?"
All three of them bowed at the same time, Yoshiro slightly more than the two princesses.
"I understand." They all muttered.
"Good. Now, don't you have responsibilities to do, the both of you? Verity, I seem to recall sending you to stock the armory. It shouldn't take you too long, seeing as you can just teleport them there. Have you already done it?"
Verity gulped. "Bye!" She yelled out and vanished into thin air- only to appear a split second later exactly where she was, her eyes closed.
The Queen smiled. "Oh no you don't. I gave you the chance to use your teleportation- Instead, you were off doing who knows what. Now, you're doing it on foot."
"Mother!" Verity span around. "Please, just let me teleport, Just once, to the armory, save me the ten minute walk-"
"If you don't go now, I won't let you teleport for a week."
Yoshiro wished he had a camera, for the look on Verity's face was priceless. Without another word, she just walked out of the door.
"I assume she really likes teleporting." He muttered, trying to lighten the mood, as he knew Rei was next, and whatever happened to Rei, now affected him too. "How did you do that? Disable her power?"
He glanced at Rei, and noticed that she looked like he'd just slapped her in the face. However, the queen merely seemed surprised for a split second, then laughed.
"Your curiosity is...interesting, Yoshiro Bones. Normally, one would never have dared to ask a question right after being told, 'don't seek knowledge'. How reckless of you, yet admirable. To answer your question, I have control over the abilities of my daughters. They inherited their powers from...well, their abilities are controlled by this bracelet." She motioned towards her arm.
"This bracelet has the unique ability to control the abilities of my daughters. For some reason we don't understand, it can nullify any power inherited--" she stopped herself. "But enough for now. This will lead to future questions- some that I cannot answer. I hope for now your...curiosity...has been satisfied."
Yoshiro began to say something, then hesitated as the queen turned away, a clear dismissal. There was nothing else to be said.
Rei sighed, and walked over to Yoshiro once more.
"Really, I think you're stupid. Stupidly reckless." However, she seemed to be trying not to smile. "It's been a while since I've seen someone question my mother like that. Not even me or Verity dare to answer back to her. She can get annoyed quite easily."
Yoshiro dared to smile. "Didn't Alexa warn you? I'm extremely stupid that way."
Rei sighed. "Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I'm...sorry for the way I acted when we first met. Didn't expect my knight to be fighting my boyfriend, that's all."
They walked off, bowing quickly to the king and queen. The long corridors somehow seemed slightly warmer to Yoshiro, now that he wasn't worried about being thrown out. He decided to start some conversation, as Rei was now seemingly more friendly towards him. A true shame she had a boyfriend. Oh, and it had to be that ego-filled Blue. What could he possibly have done to somehow capture the heart of the royal princess? Could he possibly do it too-
Yoshiro, that's enough.
Rei hadn't said anything, but Yoshiro recognized her voice.
You really thought your powers made you immune to mine?
They kept on walking, yet Yoshiro was slightly getting a headache from hearing Rei in his head. They must look pretty calm on the outside, but on the inside he was terrified.
Well, I never thought I was a hundred percent sure...
Liar. I can read your thoughts, I know what you have been thinking of. To answer your question, Blue was charming. I'm not going to give you more details than that. I'm friendly, yes. I'm not your best friend, and I don't want you getting any ideas, ok? We are professionals, nothing more.
Ok. Still, I probably am better than Blue, aren't I? After all, he isn't from another world, hasn't got enhanced abilities, and well, I'm not filled with pure ego, aren't I? Bet I can beat him in a fight, humiliate him in front of everyone-
Enough... Rei's voice was warning him to stop, and he noticed that she had slowed down a bit. Yet he pressed on. If Rei wanted a challenge, she sure would get one. After all, he needed to challenge her, right? Prove he wasn't like Blue, filled with ego, thinking he's unstoppable...
Wait, what am I doing?
Yoshiro completely stopped in his tracks, and rethought what had just happened. He had decided to challenge Rei's opinion of Blue, because, because...why?
Rei...are you in my head? He thought. Are you influencing me?
Yoshiro, Yoshiro, Yoshiro. What am I going to do with you? Rei seemed to sigh mentally, if that was even possible. I can't influence people. I can only read them, talk to them...and get a bit of them in return. But no, I'm not in your head that way.
Then who is? Yoshiro started walking yet was mentally figuring out how to barricade his thoughts, like he already had managed to do. He realized the source of the headache- It wasn't Rei at all. It was his ability... His danger sense. It had been warning him this entire time, yet he had been too distracted to realize it.
Someone was tampering with people's minds. Seeing as how his headache had started when he had left with Rei, he would have assumed it be her, seeing as how she literally had the power to be in people's minds. However, she had told him that she couldn't influence people that way, and he trusted her. Besides, Rei didn't seem like the type of person who wanted a fight. She had no reason to challenge him.
Who did?
-
He was in so much deep thought, he hadn't realized Rei had stopped, and he almost crashed into her.
"Oh, sorry." He muttered, as Rei seemed to be startled, and since he hadn't heard anything from her in his head, he assumed she was also in deep thought.
"No- my mistake." Rei answered, looking away, fiddling with her hair, mimicking Yoshiro completely down to the last detail. Was she mocking him or what?
Yoshiro decided to confront her on it. After all, why let her just try to impose herself over him? If she believed she was superior to him just because she was royalty... well, she was very wrong.
"Look." He said, sidestepping Rei to place himself in front of her. "I think we need to clear out some stuff, don't you think? Maybe lay down a few ground rules?"
He immediately knew that he had said the wrong thing, as Rei's expression froze, then turned cold. She raised her hand, and a split second later, Yoshiro was pinned to the wall, gasping for breath, as her thumb pressed into the side of his throat.
"Maybe you're right." Rei said, her voice dangerously low. "Perhaps we do need to set down a few ground rules. Get involved in my personal business, and I will make sure you will never be allowed into the palace ever again. Question me, and you'll be thrown out of Kiyorashira. Don't even think about me in that way again- or I'll let Blue do whatever he wants to you, and I'll turn a blind eye. Is that understood?"
Yoshiro could barely nod, and she dropped him to the ground, sidestepping over him to reach the door.
"One last thing." she said, as she stepped into her room. "I presume you'll stand guard here the entire time? You are not to leave, no matter what happens."
Yoshiro didn't answer, only stared at her, as the door closed in his face.