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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.

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"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.

"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."

"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.

"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."

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."

"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."

"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.

"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

"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?"

"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.

"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?"

"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."

"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."

"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."

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."

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.

He was right. For now, there was nothing anyone can do, not until they have the knowledge that they needed - about the seal itself, as well as the man who placed them. Jabi could tell, based from her own battle with him, that finding and fighting him would be a long, arduous process indeed - and who's to say the seal would be rendered useless if the man was killed?

"...Kouga," she said. "Would you send word to him?"

Tsubasa thought. Kouga, as the Makai Knights' best chance for defeating the masked man, needed to know what he was facing and that the man had been in Kouga's territory. If Tsubasa said nothing, others might be in danger and by extension risk human lives being lost to the Horrors. On the other hand, he still faced the prospect that if the Senate knew what had happened to him he would be removed from his post, "I can't. What if the Senate orders me to step down? Hyuga and Akatsuki can't defend Kantai alone, you know that. You said so yourself."

So that was what worried him? That he might be stripped of his duties if the Senate knew? That Kantai would be left without a protector to help it?

"And you said so yourself that you grow weaker every time you transform. Given that the seal had been placed on you awhile ago..." Jabi glanced at him. "Who's to say your next transformation is not your last one? You'll still be leaving Kantai without a protector if you persist in that manner."

She was right about that at least. Tsubasa had already reached the stage where after using his armor he could not walk. He considered the possibility that if the Senate thought he had been honest, they might agree to a request not to appoint either of his apprentices to replace him. Under the circumstances it was better that he do what seemed best for the Makai Knights and not his own pride, "what do you suggest I should do?"

Well this was a first. She never thought the day when Tsubasa would ask her what he should do would come to them. Jabi drew a deep breath. "Like I said before - limit your use of your armor, if necessary. Perhaps when I'm not training Rin, either of us can accompany you and your apprentices when you're making your rounds. This, perhaps, would also be a good test for Rin, so we can both see if she is ready." She paused. "Send word to Kouga, but swore him to silence if you want. Either ask him for assistance or information - either could be of great help to you at this point."

Edited 2012-10-05 12:39 (UTC)

The idea of a test for Rin made Tsubasa feel somewhat better. He was certain that once the curse overcame him she would be appointed a full time Makai Priestess, and that was likely to be sooner rather than later. The lack of knowledge about the man in the red mask and his curse was the Makai Knights' biggest obstacle with regard to defeating him. It seemed that, just as in Kantai, there was a lot of uncertainty in Kouga's territory - and anyone who knew anything wouldn't say so. If Tsubasa could be the first to speak out, the Knights might be in a better position to face the threat, "very well. I'll send word to him."

"...I'm glad," she said, after a few moments. Makai Knights' lives were fraught with danger, but perhaps this was especially malicious in nature. As a Makai Priestess it was her duty to aid however she could, but how could she, when this thread was yet unknown? Never had she felt as useless as she did now - except perhaps when Priest Amon had been killed.

"Let's go," Jabi said. "I want to see Rin - and you have to talk to her."

"Fine." Tsubasa began the journey towards the house. He didn't have the energy to debate it any further, although he'd planned to speak to Rin later when she had already had time to welcome Jabi back. It felt to him as if every bit of control he once had was being taken from him by the mysterious man. If he stopped to let it affect him, he may not be able to do his job just when others needed him.

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