Tap. Tap. Tap.
Anxiety crept through Iori as he sat at the table, taking frequent glimpses at his brother who lay unconscious in bed. Mitsuki's breath was steady and he didn't seem to be in any pain. That relieved Iori a bit. But not fully. These days, there never seemed to be any chances to taste peace. Not until the mysteries have been solved. Or at least, out of their concern.
He recalled the moment a couple of hours ago when Riku had burst into the house with Mitsuki in his arms. He had felt the unusual surge of relief and fear at the same time, and it certainly didn't mix well. Right then, they laid him on the bed and tied his bandages, making sure they weren't too tight but still did the job of applying pressure onto the wound.
While the heavy seconds passed by, Riku had explained to Iori what had happened - That he found Mitsuki at the edge of the village in a daze then had suddenly passed out. He also made sure to include that he had caught Mitsuki right at the start of the fall so he hadn't acquired any more injuries.
There was no explanation yet. They would have to wait for Mitsuki to wake up until they could ask him what had happened, what he was doing. Eventually it had hit afternoon so Riku left to collect more Aconitum before the day hit night. There was no time to waste.
So now, Iori sat in the quiet house, with only the tapping of his fingers sounding, with absolutely nothing to do but wait. To wait for Mitsuki's wake and Riku's return. And this was perhaps one of the most soul crushing moments he's ever had to experience. He wished he could do something, he wished he could help.
The negative thoughts crept through his mind. That he hadn't helped at all since the terrorizing incidents had happened. That he wasn't there to protect his brother when he had gotten hurt. That he hadn't been the one to meet Riku and find the value in him. He thought back to the time he had first saw the red-haired mercenary - they had found him in the street alone at night collecting coins.
Iori buried his face in his hands in distress. Back then, he wasn't the one who had opened up to help the mercenary. It was Mitsuki. And it was Mitsuki who brought him back, keeping him from leaving the village to perish without his fate.
'I had left him out on the street, exposed. I only cared for Mitsuki.'
It wasn't him who had found the use of Aconitum, the key to defeating the wolf. It was Riku. And while Iori was aware he had helped Riku extract the poison, he still couldn't shake the thought. That the wolf was still out there, possibly ready to target its next victim tonight.
'What am I doing wrong?'
A light groan interrupted his thoughts. He shot his glance towards the bed where he saw Mitsuki rubbing his eyes as if he had just woken up from a deep sleep.
"Mitsuki!" Iori hustled over and kneeled beside the bed. His eyes searched Mitsuki's as they opened, making sure that there was no sign of 'lifeless'ness as Riku had described it.
Mitsuki turned his head, his lips were still parted a bit. His consciousness seemed to be recollecting itself as his eyes searched the single room of the small house and then met Iori's. "Iori. . ." He said, his voice light.
"You're awake!" Iori gasped, reaching out for his brother's hand instinctively in comfort.
But Mitsuki's hand retracted away, slipping underneath the covers. Iori looked at him in question. It sort of felt like rejection. Without saying anything, Mitsuki sat up, keeping the blanket over the hand and his waist. Iori doesn't question it since it might seem petty.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
Mitsuki smiled at him, "I'm fine. I guess I just lost it for a moment." He then let out a light laugh. It felt nervous.
But to Iori, it felt fake. The smile. The laugh. Even the way Mitsuki had sat up felt forced. He stared into his brother's eyes, asking for sincerity, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah! I feel fine." Mitsuki responded, "Don't worry about it so much!" With one hand clenched, he slid of the bed headed for the mirror where grabbed his tunic and tossed it on.
Iori stood up also, his eyes following his brother's movements attentively. Through the way Mitsuki walked cautiously, he figured that consciousness was not fully back yet. "Mitsuki." He said, "What happened before you passed out a couple of hours ago. Do you remember?"
Mitsuki faced the wall when buckling the belt around his torso. His hands weren't visible. "I just went out for a walk but I guess I was still pretty sleepy."
Everything Iori heard, he couldn't believe. He didn't want to deny the words of his brother but they simply didn't add together. How could Mitsuki act like everything was fine and there was absolutely no problem? Frustration arose within him. He approached the smaller male, making sure that it didn't show through his voice. "Mitsuki. Tell me the truth."
Mitsuki looked back at him with his typical bright, friendly eyes. "Hm? Iori don't worry about it so much. I'm fine!"
"You're not!" Iori rose his voice, unable to hold it down. "You're hiding something from me. There's no way you could pass out so randomly in your state and be perfectly fine!"
Mitsuki furrowed his brows, his temper had kicked in too. He buried his fingers in the pocket of his pants, in a sort of pouting manner. "Iori, I've said it plenty- I'm fine! You sound so damn paranoid right now!"
Iori's breath had cut itself off. Mitsuki's words had pierced through his chest like a stab wound. It hurt, that his brother couldn't acknowledge the worry he had. "Of course I have a right to be paranoid! You're acting strange!"
Mitsuki bent down by the door and slipped on his shoes. "You're just imagining it," he grumbled then added, "Anyway, where's Riku?"
Iori didn't like that his brother had turned the subject with an 'anyway' but he still responded with a glum tone, "He's collecting Aconitum. We're extracting more poison tonight. . . If we can." Since whatever happens at night in this village always came up spontaneously. For all anyone could know, the end of it could be tonight. Whether that end would be them or the village, it was inconceivable.
"I'm going out to help him." Mitsuki said as he opened the door, letting in the orange afternoon light.
"But you just woke up. . ! Plus, it's almost night in an hour or so." Iori tried to reason. But he had a feeling Mitsuki wouldn't listen.
"Iori. Stop making such a big deal, I'm just gonna keep him some company." And with that, Mitsuki exited the house, shutting the door behind him.
With the house now once again silent, Iori stared at the closed door, biting his lip. There was something wrong. Mitsuki was acting strangely. He didn't seem to be himself. It was clear, he was hiding something through the way he had drawn his hand away and dismissed himself of anything wrong. This secret seemed to be separating them, breaking the bond they had shared just a night ago. And whatever the secret was, it clawed at him.
It hurt. It hurt to know that he once again couldn't be of any use. Even his own brother didn't seem to trust him with the truth.
Deciding to shake it off, he left the house and headed for the bookshop with the idea of gathering more books on different flower and herb usages. He knew, tonight Mitsuki would return with Riku. Then they could talk it out. And next time, he wouldn't allow his older brother to hold back anymore secrets.
- - -
"Yuki!" Ryuu bursted into the bookshop, squeezing the map in his hand. Tenn had followed him after Ryuu had managed to find him at Nagi's carriage and told him about what had just happened with the map from seeing Tsumugi and Gaku to meeting a spirit who claimed to have granted him foresight. Tenn at first didn't quite catch onto what he was saying since he had a tendency to be skeptical of the supernatural. But without hesitation, Tenn had agreed to accompany Ryuu in searching for the answers.
Yuki was sitting by the opposite side of the counter as usual, with yet another book in his hands. He looked up at the two. After his eyes had took note of the map in Ryuu's hand, a smirk spread across his face. "The shop is closing. Didn't you hear?" He joked.
Ryuu set the map on the counter, his eyes were serious. "I need you to tell me what the hell this map is." He didn't bother to waste any second or even greet properly. What he needed right now, was simply just answers.
Yuki placed down his book onto his lap. He looked at the two mercenaries with calm eyes. "You must've been surprised, no doubt. The reason why I didn't tell you about it when I gave it to you was because I figured you would understand it better if you had experienced it yourself first."
"Upon touching the map, I saw Tsumugi and Gaku in the woods. Then a man - no, spirit - who introduced himself as Torao told me that I saw the future through his power." Ryuu explained.
Yuki nodded as he listened to the brief explanation. He then chuckled at the mentioning of Torao's name. "Ryuu." He said. "I need you to listen to me carefully and believe every word I say."
"I will."
"What happened was absolutely real. The map I gave you grants it's holder the ability to see the future. Living inside of it is a spirit named Torao. However, the map has the ability to choose it's holder which led me to give it to you." Yuki explained.
Ryuu looked at Tenn who just raised a brow and then back at the gray-haired male. The idea of magical items with abilities seemed absolutely fictional on all levels. Far more unbelievable than alternative humans. But there a certain question Torao couldn't answer. "Why would it choose me?" He asked.
And apparently Yuki couldn't either. "Hm, I'm not sure myself." Yuki said. "These items can see potential in certain people in which they trust to handle the ability belonging to it."
'These items,' Yuki's words caught Ryuu's attention more than the question of what potential he had that stood out to the map, considering there was no answer for that one. "You mean there's more than one?"
"Correct." Yuki replied. "In fact, there are 3 more. The flute of mind control, the Aconitum of poison, and the rapier of power. Each of them contain a separate spirit. You have the 4th one- The map of foresight."
"How do you know of all of this?" Tenn asked skeptically, budging in.
"Oh, Ryuu should already know this if Torao had mentioned it." He grinned, "Momo was the previous holder of the map."
"You mean, this whole time- Momo could see the future and he didn't tell us." Tenn spat out angrily.
Yuki pulled out a small stack of books from under the table. He placed them on the counter and let out a sigh as if he had been waiting for this moment to happen for some time. "These books are written by Momo and the one that has been stolen. They're stories of the future he saw. I knew no one would believe me until it was proven that the future could be seen. And now that the proof is here, I suggest you use these to your advantage as well as the map."
Tenn and Ryuu stared at the books in shock. This whole time, the answers were all written in books right in this very bookshop. By their own allies. Even Riku had no idea that the book he had wasn't just a fictional book. And the one that had poked at them most- that Tsumugi was right this whole times and no one listened to her.
Suddenly, it seemed Tenn had become more interested than skeptical. "Where are the other items located? Do you have another with you?"
"To my knowledge, the flute of mind control already has a holder. I'm not sure where the other two are located."
"Wait. Who is the holder of the flute?" Tenn asked. Even Ryuu's attention had become more sharp at this.
"Remember last night, Tenn." Yuki said. "Would you believe me if I said it was the mysterious person who had inflicted the wound on you?"
Tenn gaped. This person had been closer to them than they had thought. Yet, they were so unfamiliar and far. "Then it's likely this person has used the mind control ability on someone here. . !"
"It's a possibility." Yuki responded. He then reverted the focus of attention on the previous question. "There is a way to find out where the other items are. But it's merely chance. Ryuu, may I see the map?"
Ryuu nodded and Yuki took it. The map was unrolled out on the counter. Ryuu let out a gasp upon seeing it. "The map changed. . ! Earlier, it was a sketch of Tsumugi in the woods and now it's. . ." He examined the new sketch which was located at the edge of the woods. It was of a boy reaching out to a flower which looked like hanging bells. He was surrounded by trees. And behind him was the field of Aconitum located on the North path. The three mercenaries had gone on that path multiple times for their quests. They always admired the field of purple flowers but never touched them, knowing what the consequences would be. From the style of hair the boy had, Ryuu recognized him. "Mitsuki?"
"I don't see anything." Tenn said glumly. Ryuu got vibes of disappointment and envy emitting off from his friend.
"It seems only the chosen holder of the map can see it." said Yuki, indicating he couldn't see it either. He looked up at the brown-haired male. "Ryuu, look into the foretelling and tell us what you see."
"R - right!" Ryuu agreed. He held out a hand and brushed his fingers across the sketch.
Upon touch, Tenn and Yuki vanished. He was no longer in the bookshop. And judging by the abundance of dark trees, and hazy light which seeped through one side, he figured he was at the edge of the woods. Looking out beyond the trees, he saw the sea of Aconitum. And to his surprise, Riku sat in front of the flowers, looking around himself as if something or someone had just disappeared.
And to his left, Mitsuki fell down to his knees in front of a single Aconitum which glittered unusually. Ryuu watched as the male reached out, seeming to be entranced by it. Alarmed, Ryuu crouched down and threw his hand out to Mitsuki's. But his hand had gone right through Mitsuki's, suddenly making his body translucent.
This was what had happened in the vision earlier with Gaku and Tsumugi, Ryuu recalled. This time, he didn't feel afraid nor confused. Knowing there was no way to help at the moment, his eyes followed Mitsuki's fingers as they came in contact with one of the petals of the flower.
Mitsuki immediately flinched his hand back and winced. His eyes suddenly widened as if he had just woken from a dream and realized what had happened.
The flower suddenly illuminated with intense power. It bursted into a bunch of purple particles.
Without another second to think, Mitsuki threw himself back, gathered himself back on his feet and attempted to escape the scene. But the particles shot into the air in a laser-like line and coiled around his palm. He crashed onto the ground, hands first, like an invisible force had yanked him down.
Ryuu ran to his side and reached out once more for him but him hand once again simply went through the smaller boy's body. "Mitsuki. . !" A sweat drop rolled down his cheek, he felt horrified from deep down in his chest. Mitsuki at some point in the near future was going to be in serious danger. Danger from a magical flower.
'The Aconitum of poison' Yuki's words rang throughout his head. It was then he realized Mitsuki was going to the holder of the a deadly power. . . Unless if he could prevent it from happening.
"You caught onto that quickly," Torao's familiar voice said from behind. "That must be why the map chose you."
Ryuu didn't look back at the spirit, unsure of whether he had his mind read or it was just evident what he was thinking. Just before his eyes and out of his power, Mitsuki was suffering, losing his conscience. "I need to go," he declared.
And with that, he found himself back at the shop with Tenn and Yuki looking at him.
"What did you s-" Tenn started but Ryuu cut him off with his abrupt movements.
He rolled up the map in a in a hassled manner and shouted, "TENN! We need to save him, NOW! Follow me!" Tenn, being the quick-witted one he is, didn't question it and obliged, leaving the books behind.
As Ryuu swung open the door, he came face to face with a familiar raven-haired male who jumped back in surprise. How coincidental. But Ryuu wasted no second, he shoved past into the afternoon dim and shouted, "Iori! Come with us, your brother is in danger!"
"Wh - what?!" Iori stammered but there was no immediate answer so he proceeded to follow the two mercenaries. And with that, the three darted down the street, exiting the village, heading towards the Aconitum field in hopes of making it in time. Ryuu's heart pounded desperately, the vision replayed in his head over and over again. He knew, he had to make it in time for he had the power to save Mitsuki's life.
He had the power to change the whole fate of everyone here.
「note」
words : 3000
Ayeo I hope this chapter clears up a lot I dont intend to make anymore hefty mysteries. If there's anymore confusion lemme know thanks u guys!
Super thanks to ThatTenorSax for beta-reading this chapter. Honestly scares me how many errors there were... My other chapters oh no-