for whitesunatmidknight

[brushstrokes]

After she had finished healing Zaruba for him, Kouga had asked her to stay at his mansion so she could rest. He'd told her she could stay for as long as she wanted.

Jabi was on her way back to Kantai the very next day.

She knew Kouga would understand her decision. Not that she had anything against the Golden Knight, or his new Makai Priest, or even Kaoru. But Jabi would be lying to herself if she didn't admit to feeling... something... in the pit of her stomach when seeing Kouga and Kaoru together. Jabi could feel the warmth emanating from Kaoru, could see that Kouga himself was basking in it.

She envied it. She envied them.

The closest she had ever felt that way was when she was teaching Rin - the one she had wanted and sworn to protect - and upon thinking of the child Jabi realized that, surprisingly, she did miss her student.

She had thought of leaving Kantai for good, even if Tsubasa had recanted his request to never see her again in his land. But after visiting Kouga, after encountering the man in the red mask, she'd changed her mind.

She'd be foolish if she were to choose to be alone now.

Comments

[whitesunatmidknight]

"Perhaps I was unwise to say so. From Kouga's skill alone, I believe he is our best chance." Tsubasa was aware that he had answered too quickly. He didn't intend to mislead Jabi, but thought it better that she find out after he had told Rin. Although it seemed unfair to bring Rin's closest friend home only to then tell her that her brother had been marked with the curse, there was no other alternative, "until we know more, we can't say. That is our biggest obstacle."

[brushstrokes]

Jabi studied him for some moments. She'd like to think she was perceptive enough to realize whether or not the one she's talking to was telling the truth; now, her gut feeling was telling her that the Knight was not. But she wouldn't pry. If Tsubasa was keeping something from her, it might be because of something important. After all, why risk it in these dangerous times?

"It is," she affirmed. The mask on the attacker was there for a reason - why try to conceal his identity if he had nothing to hide? "It's alarming how there seems to be very few information reaching both of us regarding this man. Either he's only making his move on select individuals, or those he's encountered are already dead and unable to talk."

[whitesunatmidknight]

Tsubasa worried that the second of her theories was the right one. In that case, the situation could be desperately worse than anyone anticipated. The disappearance of a Makai Knight should have attracted notice, but what if the man in the red mask had slaughtered entire households? Were they to wait until Horrors were roaming loose until anyone discovered a Knight had gone, "Makai Knights are territorial. If someone knows more, they may say nothing until it's too late. Most Knights would try to deal with the threat alone, even if they were to discover it's too much for them."

The words made his throat close painfully, so he swallowed hard to clear it. At this stage Tsubasa was more than aware that he himself was hiding information that might help others. Jabi wouldn't appreciate it if she knew he was lying to her, and neither would Rin, "is something wrong?" She had been watching him for several moments.

[brushstrokes]

After a few seconds more, she shook her head. "Nothing," she replied. "I just hope you won't be among those Makai Knights who still try to deal with this enemy alone, Tsubasa." Think of Rin, she wanted to say, but knew that it wouldn't be the right thing to do. Duty was duty, especially to one like Tsubasa - familial attachments were only secondary to him.

[whitesunatmidknight]

"What else can I do? Any other Makai Knight would do the same." Tsubasa was certain now that Jabi was aware he knew more than he was prepared to admit. If she didn't, she would certainly know were he to go to fight a Horror and return home wounded. He resolved to speak to Rin at once, perhaps after dinner when she would have had time to see Jabi first. Jabi would know better than he how to help Rin deal with the aftermath.

[brushstrokes]

"Any other Makai Knight, yes - but you now know more than any other, don't you?" Perhaps she shared her experience with the enemy as a warning to him. Jabi couldn't with Kouga - though she did leave him with ample warning as well, despite it being vague.

Here Jabi shrugged and looked away. "Do as you wish - but know that if you need aid, I'll be here to assist you." Perhaps Rin could be too, though this would be too dangerous. Jabi would prefer she be not involved, if she could help it.

[whitesunatmidknight]

Tsubasa exhaled slowly and took several moments to reflect before he spoke. Jabi's primary concern would of course be Rin, "I'm going to speak to Rin after dinner, when she's had time to see you. I don't expect her to be ... Unaffected, but she can't allow herself any distractions. If she talks about it, please remind her that a Makai Priestess is always prepared for a death." If Hyuga or Akatsuki replaced him as the protector of Kantai, Rin might be appointed a full Priestess to assist them. It was important to him that she must not overlook her duty because of any sorrow for him.

[brushstrokes]

Prepared for death? Her question was answered, then - Tsubasa had encountered the man in the red mask. But he had lived to see the days after it - surely that was a testament to his skills as a Knight? That should he encounter the man again, Tsubasa would able to live through it?

What else had the man in the red mask done?

She did appreciate that it would be Rin who'd be the first to know the truth behind whatever it was that was afflicting him. They were family, after all, and Jabi was glad Tsubasa was finally recognizing the importance of having one. "Of course," she said. Carefully, she added, "I'm certain I would hear from Rin whatever it is that you'll be telling her. However, I think in this situation it will be best if I hear the truth from you."

[whitesunatmidknight]

Under the circumstances he agreed with that assessment, "What is there to know? I encountered him. He has marked me with the seal of destruction. I couldn't be sure what effect it would have, but with each transformation I become weaker." Tsubasa clenched his jaw. Even admitting to that much felt like an enormous blow to his pride, "Rin will notice. I can't hide this from her any longer. But she'll have to accept it. I have every intention to still be here by the time we find the man." In case Jabi misinterpret his last statement, he added "I don't know his identity. He wears a red mask, just as you said."

[brushstrokes]

"Seal of destruction?" This would be the first time she'd be hearing about it, as well as the adverse effects it grants to Makai Knights. Jabi stepped closer to him. "If the man in the red mask is a Makai Priest--"

--a Makai Priest of immense power. This was not some Horror they were talking about; she had no knowledge of what this seal was, let alone how to counter it. This was not something she could cure on her own.

Jabi shook her head, admitting to herself that she'd be no use to any Makai Knight infected with the curse. She wondered now if even Kouga was affected.

[whitesunatmidknight]

"I would have thought you knew about that." Until Jabi's departure, Tsubasa thought she had heard as much as he had before his own encounter with the man in the red mask, "It was reported that he marks each Makai Knight with a seal upon their chest. I confirm that's true. The curse appears to activate with each transformation." It was slowly beginning to dawn on him that he might be ordered to report this before the Senate. If they felt he was unfit to serve, he might be removed from his post, and Tsubasa couldn't allow that, "You met that man while coming here. He must be on his way to Kouga's territory."

[brushstrokes]

"No." Her answer was swift. "I met that man because I've been to Kouga's territory." It was just one of her theories, though it would explain why the man in the mask would know her name and would call her by it. Perhaps he sought to catch her off-guard - and he did. "If I hadn't been there, perhaps he wouldn't even know I exist." Or he would, but he wouldn't seek her out... would he?

In any case, there was no mistaking the malice behind the seal of destruction. Death wouldn't come to Knights swiftly - it would if the Knights continued to summon their armors, yet it wouldn't if they choose to abandon their paths.

[whitesunatmidknight]

"You think he's reached Kouga." It made sense that the user of GARO would be one of the first targets for any war waged against the Makai Knights. And like Tsubasa, Kouga was not liable to tell anyone unless it was impossible to avoid. There was little they could do unless Kouga chose to act, "we have to find this man as soon as possible. The more we transform, the faster the curse will take effect. That's why I want Rin to be prepared now rather than later."

[brushstrokes]

She thought the culprit was with Kouga, but it would be best to keep her suspicions to herself for the time being. It would be unwise to open her mouth now, when she had no sufficient information to back her claims.

"The curse only takes effect when you transform, doesn't it?" The answer to slow it down should be obvious. "Then don't."

[whitesunatmidknight]

"I can't." Tsubasa could hear the note of desperation in his voice. Jabi or anyone else who found out about his situation would have been perfectly justified to inform the Senate and request that they remove him from active duty. Such a thing seemed unlikely to happen to Kouga; but Tsubasa did not have the standing of GARO among Makai Knights, and with two apprentices and two Makai Priestesses in his territory, it would not be completely undefended without him. "It's out of the question. Unless you expect me to fight without it, and be destroyed by a Horror faster than by the curse."

[brushstrokes]

"I'm asking you to prolong your life by accepting help even if you think you don't need it." She thought it reasonable, to swallow one's pride when it was apt - and when one's life was already threatened, then it was time to do so. "Never travel without your apprentices if you can help it. Or perhaps--"

Jabi was about to suggest asking another Makai Knight to help him, but stopped herself. Tsubasa was already suffering enough; there was no need to rub his affliction and eventual helplessness into his face.

[whitesunatmidknight]

"I understand your concern for Rin. And others, but I can't put Hyuga's and Akatsuki's lives in danger. In my position, would you do the same? Even if I'm going to need their presence more often, I won't expose them to unnecessary harm." Tsubasa wasn't able to meet her gaze as he said so. He couldn't entirely know what the law of the Makai Knights would command him to do. As a serving Knight, he was considered more valuable than apprentices, however his role was to protect innocent lives and these two were no exceptions

[brushstrokes]

"Had I been in your position..." Here she quirked her lips. "I would probably summon my armor very often, just to prove to that man that it wouldn't kill me... until it does." So yes, Jabi understood Tsubasa, knew that his being headstrong now wasn't entirely irrational.

But when she uttered the next words, she was entirely devoid of amusement. "When were you attacked? And how often have you used your armor from that point?"

[whitesunatmidknight]

"Shortly before you left. I have used it ... as much as would be normal during that time. Perhaps slightly less. Hyuga and Akatsuki are doing their best to ensure I don't have to, but they're still apprentices. I don't want them to put themselves in more danger than they have to." He would accept the consequences of admitting that he had been dishonest with her, and Rin, all this time.

[brushstrokes]

"Before I left?" Which meant that when they last talked... "So, during the time you're trying to drive me away from Kantai, you knew that you were dying every time you use your armor?"

[whitesunatmidknight]

"Several days before you left. At that time, I hadn't experienced the effects of the curse." Tsubasa didn't like attempting to justify himself, and was certain Jabi wouldn't listen to it. Nevertheless, he'd had his reasons and still stood by them, "I thought that if you left, Rin would become more focused. She would accept her duty if appointed a Makai Priestess to aid my successor. Ultimately, I didn't want her to remember that the last thing I did was send her only friend away."

[brushstrokes]

"Which then explained why you changed your mind," she said. "You were finally thinking of Rin's feelings instead of how she should feel, regardless of circumstances." A bit, then Jabi smiled. "You're thinking of her as human instead of a Makai Priestess. Finally."

[whitesunatmidknight]

"I am the only family she has left. I won't die allowing her to think I didn't care about her." Tsubasa shifted slightly away from Jabi. Even at a time like this he wasn't prepared to cede the point, "whatever happens to me, she may need you."

[brushstrokes]

Perhaps it was unlucky of Rin, that it took something this dire for her brother to realize the truth about the importance of family - although this seemed to mirror their first encounter, didn't it? And yet it was also lucky of Rin, at the same time - at least now, Tsubasa recognized his limited time with his sister, and now he would, perhaps, try to make the most of it.

"And I'll be there for her, of course," she said. Quietly, Jabi added, "You don't have to bear this alone, Tsubasa. We are prepared to aid you however we can."

[whitesunatmidknight]

Tsubasa started, and looked back at her. He fell into line beside her but it was a few moments more before he responded "... I appreciate your concern. There is nothing anyone can do." He knew that Hyuga and Akatsuki were doing their best to save him from having to transform, even though he had ordered them to forget it; and Rin was sure to be desperately anxious when he told her what was happening. Tsubasa felt guilty over causing others to worry, especially when they knew that as a Makai Knight he could have been killed in battle long before this.