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 Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:33 am
  This is a private roleplay between Youhei [Izayin] and Jianyu [Kuro-Mizuki].
Setting:
Jianyu happens across Youhei just as he really does not want to be disturbed.
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:40 am
All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
Youhei took a deep, conscious breath, and then another, as he thumbed open the well-worn pages of his book. Far removed from the Araki Estate, he felt less as though a pocket of air had trapped itself inside his lungs, but his breathing remained quick and hard, as if he'd just been running. He hadn't been. He'd taken the walk to the Artisans Path as leisurely as he could make himself to be certain his mother's rats and crows saw nothing to report.
He chafed now. Alone in a dead-end stretch of the aptly named Quiet Roads, he'd tucked himself into the frame of a punched-out window. His book was open, but he wasn't reading. His fingers shook as he tried to focus; like the blood he could feel rushing to his face, he could only see the afternoon's failures: his brothers' rueful looks, the unspoken disciplinarian threat of his father, and the news Akahana had served with a smile as glittery as a knife.
He was not a piece of wood for her to maneuver across a board. He wouldn't play that game for just anyone. But if his father had no objection to an omiai, what right did he have to say anything?
He stayed bent over his copy of The Art of War, teeth gritted and an angry flush high on his cheeks, but nothing else hinted at the pent up tension ready to be unleashed.
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Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:51 am
Jianyu was back in the Quiet Roads again; and he was having the same sorts of feelings towards it that he had had previously. Namely an eerie sense of calm that made him on edge; after all, the last time he had been in the Quiet Roads had been the night that he had met that brat Cais again. It had ended relatively well for him - Jianyu hadn't killed him, at the very least, but he had been left with the acrid taste of hatred on his tongue. Being back in the Quiet Roads, enveloped within the suffocating closeness, the almost unnatural deadened silence, made Jianyu rather irritable.
One hand resting automatically on the bow strapped to his hip, fingers lightly rubbing along the wire, Jianyu stepped with muted footsteps along the well-worn cobblestone. It was nearing midday, the sun streaking across the tops of the houses and creating elongated black shadows that stretched beneath the overhangs. It was perhaps not the shortest way to get back to Lunaria's Main Street, but it was the only way, and so Jianyu had resigned himself to reluctantly make his way through.
Holding the small bag of supplies in his free hand (he had spent most of the day in the forests, gathering wood for new arrows), Jianyu stepped around an abandoned house, pausing momentarily to note that the door was, in fact, propped open, just a little. His eyebrows drew together in vague confusion, but another look into the house gave him a nice view of several dusty, broken bows lying on one of the tables, most likely leftover from whoever had used to live here. Pushing open the door a bit further, Jianyu stepped over the debris of a broken chair and a few shattered dishes, fingers reaching towards the bows. Perhaps he could use the spare bits for his own bows.
The first was a standard short bow, made of maplewood, the top streaked with several bands of color. A few feathers were tied around the top, most of them broken, the color slowly seeping from them, fading into paleness. Jianyu leaned closer, attempting to scrutinize them, but a gentle movement to his left made him slide his eyes in that direction.
There was a boy in the window; a pale skinned, dark haired boy that he did not recognize, a book held in his hands. Jianyu raised an eyebrow, keeping his calm, but his fingers tightened ever so slightly on the bow at his waist.
"Good afternoon," he said slowly, stepping back away from the table. "Who might you be?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 7:23 pm
Black lettering turned a red-warm brown in the blur of sunlight, falling unfiltered through the broken window. Thinking of duty, which bound him as surely as history or vengeance or blood, Youhei did not feel himself. Out from beneath the eye of anyone who mattered, it was harder to see himself clearly. He could stay forever in this space of emptiness and never have to doubt the use in fighting so hard to hold onto something that was constantly going away. Maybe his father's favour couldn't be won because he didn't deserve --
No.
Smoothing out the book in his lap with brisk motions, Youhei refocused his attentions. As his eyes adjusted, he tracked the movement of shadows across the page. The hollowed house trembled slightly... but there had been no wind.
He stilled, wondering if he should start seeing ghosts everywhere now. At the corner of his vision, a crack of light extending across the rotting floorboards proved him wrong. The door had opened with a displacement of air that sent motes of dust swirling towards the rafters.
He maintained his position as soft footsteps started up, then stopped, his head lowered as if absorbed, but muscles tensed to move. A squatter, perhaps, or a scavenger, and best for all concerned if they would catch sight of him and just leave.
But the Tengri, like Youhei, were not in a merciful mood, it seemed, as the stranger made himself known. Calling up the full extent of his restraint, Youhei raised his eyes, and who else could it be but a Lunarian emblazoned in Captain's attire, hand cradling the stock of his bow?
"Afternoon," he managed to return levelly, swinging his legs down from the window ledge. He did not like the situation at all; he unarmed, and the other with several weapons in easy reach. Studying the lines of ink on the man's face and the patch that obscured his left eye, he tipped his chin, in deference to his rank, if nothing else. Loathe as he was to volunteer information to one who'd intruded and not thought to offer any themselves, he had little choice - not until the other man came closer. The absurdity of an academy student taking on a Captain much larger than him did not cross his mind. "My name is Youhei," he said, voice even. "And you are?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 5:51 am
The boy in the window was completely unfamiliar to the Captain. Skin the color of pale moonlight, with tousled, sleek blue hair, he was looking at Jianyu with an unreadable expression, tilting his head towards him. Jianyu kept his stance casual, partially leaning against the table, though the hand on his bow did not stray. His movement caused dust to douse the air, flittering down and settling back against the surfaces of the house. It was quiet; the muted silence of the roads around them nearly stifling.
"Youhei," Jianyu repeated, as if tasting the name on his tongue. He could not tell at first glance which alliance the boy was, so the name tasted merely different to him, simple and awkward coming from someone who had never said it before. One hand reached up, absently tugging one of the tiny braids in his hair as he took a step forward, towards the other.
"My name is Qian Jianyu," he answered evenly, fingers tapping the metal of the crossbow lightly. He had found it best to stay, at the very least, prepared to move quickly if necessary, and although his stance was neither offensive, nor defensive (at least not yet), his position was open enough to be able to shift quickly if needed. "Pleasure to meet you, Youhei, though I cannot understand why it is that you are reading here, of all places. This is not a particularly nice place, nor is it suitable. Not only that, but there are other dangers around,"
Jianyu folded his arms across his chest, leaning back against the nearest wall as he scrutinized the youth. He seemed to be a few years younger than he was, perhaps around eighteen or nineteen. That look in his eyes, though...he could not quite tell what emotions swam through the boy's veins.
"Other dangers...such as surprise attacks from the opposite sides," Jianyu finished lightly, arching an eyebrow. "The Quiet Roads are an opportune place for someone to make a move on another, unsuspecting individual. Many of the houses are abandoned...leaves plenty of room for thieves and mongerers."
He stopped speaking briefly, tilting his head to the side, as if examining the other. "Pray tell," Jianyu said carefully. "Where do your alliances lie, if I may be so bold as to ask?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:53 am
Youhei hadn't begun the day with patience. He never did. What little equanimity he may have achieved dissipated with Akahana's unusual presence at breakfast. The last person he wanted to see first thing in the morning, she had a way of changing people and places so they became less good and more like her - stand her at the door of a room and that room became a prison. See her by a balcony and you wondered who she'd just pushed down. Youhei had sought out the Quiet Roads and deserted shell of a building to elude her for a scant few hours, but with the appearance of this dressed up soldier, he was rapidly reaching the dregs of his willingness to endure.
The close inspection left a bitter taste in Youhei's mouth. He may be younger and of lesser station, but he did not appreciate being treated like a skittish horse. The Captain had adopted a cautious, open stance, easing back against the table. His hand, however, stayed where it was, as if reserving judgement.
Youhei ignored it, returning the scrutiny as the man paused a moment, then slowly, deliberately, spoke his name aloud. Swallowing, the movement hidden by the scarf against his throat, Youhei felt a frisson run down his spine. It felt unnervingly like being touched, and a flicker of expression crossed his face before he could control it, a drop of water falling into a well.
Was he being threatened? It was possible, he thought, as the man, Jianyu, began an invasion into his space, fingers dancing along his crossbow and braids of hair as if to mock him. On the cusp of adulthood, Youhei was not as protected from the war as he once was. At the forefront of his mind was the waning daylight that bathed the Captain's face in an eerie, warm glow, and cast sinister, spiky silhouettes along the walls.
"I wish I could say the same, Jianyu," he said eventually, lingering on the name to return the favour, voice smooth and sweet but razor-sharp around the edges. "I wonder who you are to question where I choose to spend my time or cast aspersions on its suitability."
He slid from the window, leaving the book on the ledge to free his hands. "But I assure you, ill-placed as your concern is, I am perfectly capable of handling myself. In fact, the only attack I've come across here is from you."
If he refrained from revealing his family name earlier, there was no chance now of him disclosing his alliance, not without drastic action on Jianyu's part. "I do not allow just anyone to demand answers of me."
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 5:27 pm
Jianyu was not one to stray around situations, nor was he one to handle things delicately, afraid of the other person's feelings. He had never had a problem with saying just what was necessary, or what he believed. There were times when his straightforwardness had caused a decent amount of strife; such as speaking to his seniors in the Legion forces. Those times he had long since learned to merely follow orders to the best of his abilities. If he had issues with his superiors, he talked it out. However, when it came to personal relationships, they were, to say the least, a bit more complicated. Jianyu had not found conversing with his ex-lover to be any sort of problem, though they had been from different sides. Both had been able to say whatever they wished to the other, holding an odd sort of open trust with one another - at least, for the most part.
So right now, taking in the lithe figure of Youhei, Jianyu did not feel any promptings to hold back his words, though it was obvious that the boy was younger than he was. The way he held himself; the weight of his voice, the look in his eyes; it all spoke years beyond what he appeared.
"I was not attacking you," Jianyu replied easily, tilting his head. "Merely inquiring as to who you are. And you say who am I to ask what side you make your alliances on? I suppose...you could say it is because I am a Captain, while you obviously hold no position. I outrank you, to be perfectly honest, though something tells me that my status would make no difference upon your answer."
Eyes resting on the younger man, Jianyu reached a hand up, pressing it to his own chest, and stepped into a low bow, making sure to keep his eyes open, trained on the other's feet.
"Please allow me to reintroduce myself," he said, straightening as a small smirk crossed his face. "My name is Qian Jianyu, Captain of the Eastern Battalion of the Legion Alliance.
"And you," Jianyu added, fingers tightening just the slightest on his bow. "Something tells me that you are not of my own alliance, sir Youhei."
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:43 pm
Youhei listened, jaw tight and eyes slightly narrowed. He was not convinced of Jianyu's sincerity; neither his talk nor actions were those of a man who wished to make peace. Speaking with a taunting quirk to his lips, the Captain played at levity, but his words rung with steel.
Youhei's mind flashed to the lords and ladies who held sway in his mother’s court. He'd learned to mimic their style of speech, where often an entire conversation was being held underneath the actual words. His own words were rarely straight-forward anymore, sliding past the target the way his sword never would.
He did not know what to make of the anomaly that was Jianyu - he seemed forthright, if aggravating, cut an imposing figure in the dimness of the room, yet bowed to him like a man without pride. And Youhei, who did not have the brawn of his brothers but made up for it with instinct, had a faint inkling that that wasn't the case at all.
"Qian Jianyu of the Legion Alliance." Of course he would be. Youhei had only wanted a quiet moment without spectators, but with that pronouncement the hour seemed to steer in a direction that perhaps could never have been avoided. Posture aggressively relaxed, he returned the bow with a measured movement. Distaste at the figurative baring of his throat warred with the need to not stir the waters more than necessary – he was perilously close to violence, but he did not invite it. "It may please you to know you are correct." Let him draw his own conclusions. "I am Araki Youhei, and whatever my rank or however you choose to press down with position and seniority, I do not serve you."
Fighting with only rock and scissors wasn't untravelled territory, and Youhei wouldn't hesitate if it came to that.
"Is not the first thing taught at the Academy to never –" he caught the word 'blindly' before it could fall, "Thoughtlessly follow orders?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 1:24 pm
So he'd been correct; this newcomer - Araki Youhei - was Noble.
Jianyu was not surprised; he had expected it, started to see the signs, the quiet subtleties that indicated they were on opposing sides. But although Jianyu was not surprised about their alliances, something about the way Youhei carried himself was simply...different. There was a maturity in his eyes, a vast wealth of churning, defiant emotions that Jianyu could not read. And he did not know if he wanted to.
"It is true," he said. "You do not serve me. Though I am not yet certain as to whether or not that is a good thing or a bad thing quite yet."
That defiance; it was near to impressive, especially considering his age. Jianyu himself had never really been the defiant sort. His parents were supportive, and his leaders were dedicated to their cause, so his following them was absolute. He had yet to question either of them, had yet to wonder whether or not his superiors were correct or wronged; Jianyu knew they were correct, and that was all that was necessary.
"Ah, but you are mistaken there," Jianyu said to Youehi, eyes drifting around the room, as if examining every minute detail of the decrepit little house. "The first thing taught at the Academy is to do what you believe is right, to fight for the protection of what is important to you. After that comes the 'never following orders thoughtfully."
"It's always good to know when one is correct about something," Jianyu said, his tone still light, fingers absently rubbing the wire of the bowstring. "It keeps one feeling confident in themselves if they can be proven right about a matter."
Stepping over towards the broken table, Jianyu let his hand brush lightly across the wooden surface. When he raised his arm, dust was coating his gloved fingers; a stark grey in contrast to the black of the fabric.
"However," Jianyu said thoughtfully, as if scrutinizing the dust. "If one is always right about things, their ego will swell to a rather large size, which isn't particularly pleasant."
He turned his face towards the younger man, tilting his head. "Arrogance is never a good thing. It twists and contorts the mind, makes judgments in place of oneself, turns everything into something it isn't."
A slow, almost lazy smile crossed his face. "Wouldn't you agree, Araki Youhei?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 5:52 am
There were patterns, outside of the insignia and tokens sometimes worn by those who flaunted their affiliations, that could be used to guess one's allegiance. In Jianyu he saw a man who played on his nerves, who staunchly stood for a misguided cause and spoke with the same conviction in all things, even if they were wrong. Worse, Youhei had roused the Captain's curiosity, let this particularly loyal Legion mutt sink his teeth into him, and there was no graceful way to withdraw now, not when Jianyu would answer Youhei's "I think we're done here," with "We aren't."
"You need not make up your mind on the matter since it will never come to pass," he said sharply. "Legions may serve other Legions who serve the fabled Emperor, but I'm sure you're aware it's a point of pride for Nobles to only serve themselves."
Youhei wasn't mistaken. He'd had almost more than he could tolerate from instructors with useless oratory placed in their mouths, and the way you surfaced from those lessons, colder and no closer to the answers. "Those two things are opposite. If you were as an arrow that flew true, never to be burdened by a single thought, and he who notched that arrow pointed it at those things you would protect, what then?"
It was laughable. Jianyu dared to lecture on arrogance and yet did not deign to look at him properly, dismissive, eye alighting on the dim recesses of the ceiling as if he feared a cave-in more than he feared what Youhei could do to him. Was he less interesting than dusty furniture?
Youhei was not unused to being dealt with highhandedly, but to be regarded now as if he were beneath Jianyu's notice mouthed at ancient sores, licking them new.
And then Jianyu did turn to gaze at him, the blue eye learning his expression, taking it apart and evaluating it. It was not a foreign experience, should not have disturbed him, but something about this Legion was corrosive on Youhei's control. He smiled too easily, spoke too easily, and paid no mind to the growing shapes of dusk. "I wouldn't know," he said, every syllable as demure as he could make it, his stillness emphasised by Jianyu's half-restless movements. "Perhaps you as a Captain might be able to teach me something about it?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:50 am
Jianyu had the sneaking suspicion that he was, in fact, irritating the other boy, but he was surprisingly amused by the situation at hand. He supposed he shouldn't have been; after all, they were on opposite sides, with vastly differing opinions on the war rampaging through Lunaria. But playing on other's nerves, this bantering back and forth, highly riddled with a tension that crackled and sparked like fireworks; this was what made Jianyu stay, made him not turn around and leave right away. Under ordinary circumstances he would have he would have disregarded someone like Youhei immediately, but something in those eyes - perhaps the sheer confidence the other held - made him stay, interested in seeing how the other reacted.
"Is that right?" he replied lightly. "So you serve only yourself, Araki Youhei? That is very interesting..."
Jianyu let his thoughts trail off, lapsing into a musing silence. After a moment he tilted his gaze upwards, scrutinizing Youhei. Then he let out a laugh, shaking his head. "It seems you are quite right," he said, lifting a brow. "How can one stay on their path to what they believe to be right, yet still protect what is nearest and dearest to one's heart? It seems there is a conflict of interest in what I have been told."
Rather than be upset or dissuaded by these findings, Jianyu was merely entertained. It had been a long time since he had met someone new, a long time since he had had the opportunity to speak to someone like this. Sliding a bolt from the sheath tied around his waist, Jianyu held it delicately in his hands, turning it gently over. The waning sunlight caught on the smooth metal, illuminating the blue and black bands of paint striped over the shaft. He held it up, fingers running down the soft feathers. The light sarcasm in Youhei's words had not escaped his notice.
"Did you know," Jianyu said conversationally. "That each arrow is handmade, specifically for the needs of the archer? I cannot use the arrows of others, seeing as how my needs are different from those of a normal archer - as you can tell," he added serenely. He stepped towards Youehi, the tip of the arrow pressed beneath his chin to raise his face upwards, looking him in the eye.
"Arrows have a way of finding their target, no matter how far away it is," Jianyu said. "Be careful to whom you speak so callously to, Araki Youhei. There is no telling what sort of arrows might find you.
"And seeing as how I know nothing about arrogance, as a Captain I am afraid I am unable to offer assistance in that particular area," he said as he stepped back, sliding the bolt back into the sheath. "However, if you wish to learn more confidence - which I doubt, considering your words - I would be happy to assist you there."
He had a feeling he was probably only succeeding in irritating the boy further, but no matter.
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:33 pm
It seemed you really couldn't teach old dogs new tricks, especially if said dogs were Legion curs.
Jianyu had taken his point and turned it over but then proceeded to laugh it off. Youhei clenched his teeth, the blade of his words dismantled; war was many things, but it was not a laughing matter. He was beginning to see, however, what an infuriating task it was to win an argument against a man who saw no merit in being right all the time and no shame in being wrong. In fact, Jianyu had the preternatural talent for doing precisely what Youhei would prefer him not to do.
"You say I'm right. Your Generals train soldiers not to fear the enemy but to fear command and free thought. Still you choose to run and fetch as your master dictates? You are infirm of purpose."
Youhei rarely did anything without thinking it through. When he was younger, the kitchenhands never knew what to do with him; he'd sit at the table for forty minutes trying to decide what he wanted to eat. In another time and place, Youhei would have drawn up schematics to deal with the Captain, who was predictable only in his unpredictability.
Unluckily for Jianyu, Youhei never thought through his violence.
A darkening of features proved the Legion could be provoked into something approaching seriousness, and Youhei's senses prickled as Jianyu withdrew a bolt and held it aloft, expression solemn. With the humour locked away, he could have been another man.
Later, Youhei would wonder why he didn't move, why he allowed himself to be pinned like an insect as Jianyu moved closer, too close, the touch of his arrow cool and explosive on the underside of his chin. He didn't know whether Jianyu was being self-effacing, but he was correct in his assessment. The captain wasn't normal, as an archer or otherwise. Far from it.
"Thank you for the warning. As unnecessary as it is, I'm sure you have good intentions. I've found the most dangerous arrows are not those you don't see coming, but those right in front of you." He spoke nonchalantly, heedless of the way the metal rested against his skin. "My answers won't change. I know who you are, Qian Jianyu, and I don't owe you anything. Not fealty, and after this, not even respect."
What would others think of an off-duty Captain pointing his weapon at a defenceless schoolboy? Youhei smiled.
"There is one matter in which you might assist me." He closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, geta striking the ground just shy of Jianyu's feet. Take the bait, he thought. Unlike Jianyu, Youhei did not aim to miss.
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:50 am
Yes, Jianyu thought, surveying the boy in front of him with a careful expression. Yes, I am making him quite frustrated with me.
It was not surprising; since he did not normally take caution with what he said except when he spoke with his superiors, Jianyu usually saw no issues with merely stating the facts of what he thought and what he believed without hesitation. Which, granted, most of the time got him into quite a lot of difficult situations. His ex-lover had been worse when it came to speaking his mind, and Jianyu was slowly learning to reign in some of the thoughts that might be best not said out loud, but it would take him a long time to learn otherwise.
He lifted a brow. "Infirm of purpose?" Jianyu repeated. "That is a rather curious phrase. I do not believe I have ever been told I lack purpose with what I choose to do with my life." He gave a nonchalant shrug. "Well, that is for me to determine, not you. And my superiors have never instructed me to fear them. I do what is asked of me, yes, but I am not afraid of the consequences of defying them if it be necessary. Which," Jianyu said as he stepped back. "I might add, has never been necessary."
To his surprise, Youhei did not move away when the arrow was placed under his jawline, gently pushing his chin upwards. He had partially expected the boy to anger, to push him away, eyes flashing with hatred, shoving him back and calling him names, insulting his alliance. Yet Youhei stood perfectly still, his expression calm as he spoke with an air of confidence, that same confidence that had Jianyu so intrigued. His words, though they appeared vague, held a deeper meaning, a heavy meaning. Jianyu's eyes narrowed just the slightest, a slow smile crossing his face.
"True," he said softly. "The most dangerous arrows are the ones held by those you trust."
He had moved back now, giving the other some space as he slipped the bolt back into his sheath, but Youhei did not leave that space there for long. In seconds the other boy was back in front of him, close enough that Ren could feel the quiet breath of the other on his skin. Jianyu did not move away, nor did he flinch. Instead he stood there, eyes locked with Youhei's, his expression shifting to a serious one, though his eyes still held a mild lightness.
"And what," he said quietly. " - is that matter, might I ask?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:49 am
The thing about a well-trained dog was that sooner or later its master's will became its own. Jianyu had acted like the perfect warhound thus far, defending his superiors, warning off the enemy with a pointed, metal claw. But now his words gave Youhei pause. Something about the way Jianyu said it… "I am not afraid of the consequences of defying them." Nothing will prevent me from doing what is right. Fighting words.
Promises were not for keeping; that was something even children knew, and Youhei was accustomed to pronouncements that were as empty as they were grand. Coming from Jianyu though, this one was oddly believable.
An aberration.
"One wonders how a Lunarian who has given himself over to the purposes of the Legion can be anything but infirm. But perhaps I misjudged you." He said this in a tone not at all like a person giving a concession. "An instructor need not brandish a stick to make his student cower, because what the loyal student fears most is disappointment. I think you are a loyal man. When there comes a day that you are asked to do the indefensible, we will see whether you are more loyal to your Emperor or to yourself. Being loyal to two people at once – doesn't that in itself imply disloyalty, and a weak resolve?"
It had been a long time since he'd contemplated the philosophy of war, sitting in seiza while the wooden floors of the dojo dug painfully into his knees, Seiki and Jirou on either side, learning about the rules of violence before they got up and applied those rules to each other. Somewhere between an elbow to the cheek and standing over Jirou spitting blood in the corner, he realised there was no lesson here.
"Trust?" The repetition betrayed faint surprise as he cast Jianyu a strange look. People were dangerous enough without arming them against you. "I meant only that the motives of those we find ourselves surrounded by are sometimes the most fatal." Like you, he did not say, but he thought Jianyu's arrow had spoken well enough on its own. Youhei no longer worried that he wouldn't outlive the meeting. This was not an execution; if it were, Jianyu would have wasted no time in gripping his neck and pushing through and up.
The knowledge offered surprisingly little comfort. If not his death, what did the Legion want?
"I wonder," he said, looking up to catch Jianyu's gaze and unavoidably exposing the pale column of his throat, "If you are being deliberately obtuse." He never did this. To stand close enough to let someone hug you, it meant you were also within stabbing distance. Yet here he was, so thoroughly ensconced in Jianyu's space that he could make out the veins in his eye, the fine webbing of his fins. "You've been toying with me from the beginning. If you do not cease, I will not be responsible for my actions. You would do well to remember that you were the one who started this."
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Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:55 am
"Perhaps you have misjudged me," Jianyu replied agreeably to Youhei, though he knew by the other young man's voice that he was not exactly consenting to this. His smile had grown dimmer listening to him; Youhei was a surprisingly intelligent person. His bantering, his confidence, the way he carried himself, the lilting tone to his voice that suggested years of studying; it was all quite different from anyone Jianyu had met before. Youhei was an entity in and of himself; a confusing mixture of contradictions and similarities. It made Jianyu want to pick him apart to try and understand just what he was thinking in that mind of his.
"My loyalty lies where it lies," Jianyu said cryptically, giving a noncommittal shrug. "And where it lies is none of your business, Araki Youhei, though I do appreciate your concerns for my well being. I can see from my own standpoint where my resolve is weakest, but you cannot, which makes me wonder about your own loyalties, your own weaknesses."
Jianyu could not deny that there was a part of what Youhei had said that was true; he was loyal to two different people. Himself and his emperor. It had always been that way, since he had been old enough to determine where his alliances lay, the path he had chosen to follow. Though he stood firmly by the beliefs of his superiors, Jianyu's desire to prove himself; his desire to stay the person he was, to be strong and confident in himself, was a contradiction, it seemed, to his desire to prove the Legion's victory at the end of this battle.
What do I believe in anymore? Even he did not know the answer to this question. At one point in his life, he would have been able to answer it without question, but now...now Jianyu had gone through too much to be able to answer it clearly.
"Do you not surround yourself by those you trust, then?" he asked Youhei curiously. The younger man had raised his eyes to meet his, exposing his slender, pale neck even more. It would have been easy - too easy - to hold the back of Youhei's head and thrust the arrow up through his jaw. Jianyu had done it once already, to the man who had attacked him and Yue, and he knew how simple it would be to do so now. But Youhei was unarmed; not only that, but Jianyu had no reason to kill him, and he was not even sure if he would have, even if Youhei gave him one. The younger man was intriguing, at least; it had been a long time since Jianyu had been able to speak to someone like this, and it amused him.
It probably shouldn't have. He let out a low laugh, shaking his head as he looked down at Youhei."Perhaps I am," he said. "I must admit, when I 'started this,' to say it in your terms, I did not expect such a response. You are a difficult one, Araki Youhei, but not a bad one.
"At least," Jianyu said as he stepped back, lifting his hands in a casual gesture. "Not that I can see from a five minute greeting."
He began moving backwards now, keeping Youhei's gaze, refusing to turn around and give his back to the other man. "I start a lot of things," Jianyu said, raising a finger to his lips, as if sharing a secret. "If I ever meet you again, you would do well to remember that I am always the one to end them as well."
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