Chapter Text
Deep beneath the heart of a cloistered forest is a village scarce of novelties. It hides in seclusion, all possible entrances barricaded by the threat of lush evergreen and robust tree barks. There is not a single invitation offered for the agog travellers. What little passersby allowed a welcome is quickly exiled at the slightest of inconvenience.
Yuuji believes such a town is as prickly as the cacti that grow in the desert he's yet to see. Had he been a curious foreigner of the old land, he would have thought the place enchanted. Perhaps he would have deemed it suspicious even. Something of a world so heavily guarded is deserving of both fascination and cautious distrust. If they were to be invaded now for whatever is surmised of their mysterious reclusion, Yuuji wouldn't dare question it.
However, for a boy who has lived and breathed the air of Sleeping Sakura, Yuuji can wholeheartedly vouch that there is not much accuracy in the assumption. If anything, a day in his drowsy community would subject the visitors to perpetual boredom. The truth is simply a ginormous disappointment.
Sleeping Sakura is not a mythical wonderland worth the absorption. There is a reason it is named the way it is. It is deserving of its title in ways a cat is deserving of its languid nature.
The crops are bland, the townsfolk idle and the secrecy sparse. There is an overwhelming scarcity of the bizarre and the extraordinary. For the few that counts as peculiar, they are simply outcasts who hardly leave the confines of their homes.
It's as boring as can be. And grossly overrated for its elusive spirit.
Yuuji mulls over the same paraphrased description of his indolent home and laments as always for the lackadaisical absence of thrill. He has long completed his routine of ambling aimlessly to wherever the ruckuses arise. He'd bathed in the river with Iguchi and Torino. He'd greeted every narrow alley and returned kindly smiles. He'd tended to the flower gardens with Sasaki, played with the children and weaved with the young maidens that loitered by the riverside. He'd finished most endeavours tasked to him by Grandfather and even lingered longer to hear his rambling sermons.
The boy had attended to his schooling too, although much to a minimal extent. He keeps the details of shirking his academic duties to himself– more so to let the piles of unread scrolls topple over his desk and into the trash bin he'd smartly fastened by its left. And if the tutors ever notice his glaring absence, they would soon bellow in exasperation and search for him. By then Yuuji would be elsewhere.
Elsewhere is a hideaway only Yuuji is permitted knowledge of. Elsewhere is where he sits now, rooted still to the same coarse rock as he spies the mindless tracks of busy villagers and stiff soldiers posted by the sole passageway. Even without otherworldly treasures and wealth, the community is gated. The irony stems from the fact that outside of it boasts greater gold.
Yuuji fervidly wishes he would be granted exit from this tedious, suburban residence.
"Nanami-sensei would greatly disapprove of that." There is a timid voice that whispers to the hush. Yuuji jerks from his spot and nearly slips to the edge's drop.
"Careful now, Yuuji-san." A hand snakes around his elbow, firm with its grip. From beneath the shadows of rustling willows, a boy emerges quietly. It is Junpei, Yuuji recognises. His meek appearance resembles the wordless announcement of his gait. And yet the tone he uses is of a different character.
The boy is stern when he chides, "I can never understand why you would choose such a dangerous place to sit. One of these days you're going to fall and give us a heart attack."
Yuuji brushes dust off his knees and moves to free another spot. All his grumbling musings are now led astray by the somniferous drafts once Junpei claims the space.
He clicks his tongue and swings his legs on free air, laden with fond annoyance as he replies, "And I can never escape you, can I?"
"It is my duty to look after the chief's troublesome grandson." Junpei frankly answers. "Now, is there a reason you're taking longer breaks from your schooling? The tutors were more than irritable this morning because of your absence."
"It's not my fault they're boring." Yuuji huffs. "I'd much rather squander my time alone than with them."
"Yuuji-san." Junpei berates again. "You know they are only doing their duties as your teacher. And you have yours to follow through. We can't have the future chief neglecting his studies."
"Junpeiii," Yuuji drawls. He breathes out a heavy sigh and slumps on his companion's shoulder. The pressure of his weight barely startles the other. "Don't remind me of that. You know I hate thinking about that stuff."
Junpei scoffs, endeared by his petulant behaviour. "There is no escaping from it, Yuuji-san. Tomorrow, the people shall finally recognise your high position in the village."
Ah, that. Yuuji had almost forgotten about that – his coming-of-age ceremony. His dreadful announcement to adulthood. Or really, more like a forced acknowledgement of it. Tomorrow he would no longer be a free spirit of Sakura. There would be bigger responsibilities ahead – and Yuuji rues the thought of permanently claiming such a taxing status. In truth, he desires to be anything but his sealed fate.
"I wish I were part of the roamers instead." He confesses aloud. The vowels of his words are muffled, palms cupping cheeks as Yuuji moves to rest his elbows on his knees. "Gramps said I'd make a good adventurer."
"Well, your grandpa is a bit eccentric." Junpei tuts. "He wouldn't know a single thing about restrain. It's only a miracle you're kept safe in here."
"That's the problem, Junpei." Yuuji hunches. "Granpa knows I have potential. Had it been his decision, I would have been out of this place a long time ago!"
"And that's the problem, Yuuji-san," Junpei argues. "Had it not been for Nanami-sensei's reasonable objections, you would have been dead in the woods before you could even wield a sword on your own."
Lacking sensible rebuttals, Yuuji decides to grumble a petty opposition, "Nanamin sucks."
Junpei, having predicted his loss, lightly laughs at his effort. "Sensei is a dear friend of your parents. They've entrusted your safety to him. Nanami-sensei only wants the best for you."
"Nanamin is boring." Yuuji harrumphs.
"I'm sure you think otherwise." Junpei's eyes glint. "If I tell you he has arrived now, would you be able to resist greeting him?"
Yuuji ignores the taunt and perks up from his gloomy slouch. "Nanamin is here?!"
No longer is the boy burdened by his spite and scruples. When he mentions the name he faults for his situation, his excitement is wholly genuine and nothing of the hostile sorts. Despite his prior admissions, Yuuji is loyal to his adored idol through and through.
"He is," Junpei assures knowingly. He readies a space for leeway, sure that the boy will begin bounding down the steep once done with his farewell.
"I'm going on ahead!" And like the wind, Yuuji brusquely sprints out of his monotonous bubble.
The last he hears from Junpei is a jaded yell of, "Don't hurt yourself!"
Yuuji waves to dismiss the other's worries. He hastens the pace of his legs, bracing for impact as he bounces down a narrow slope.
Of the many tasteless criticisms Yuuji has of his home, there are three he admits to loving. His peers. His grandfather and all his idiosyncrasies. And Nanami-sensei's condensed tales of outside travels.
By rank, Yuuji prioritizes the last of his listed pleasures. Coincidentally, Nanami-sensei places it as his first of many dislikes. But Yuuji knows to be insistent to render his prevaricating endeavours unsuccessful. Yuuji is aware of his manipulative charms. He exploits it well to drain the man of all of his stories. Today, Yuuji is awfully eager than usual.
When he reaches the last of the slope, the first Yuuji does is latch on to Nanami-sensei and force the stories out of him. One would say Yuuji has mastered the art of coercion as not a minute later, Nanami-sensei easily concedes. Perhaps the extended journey had been a factor to the man's susceptible surrender.
"So?" Yuuji bombards him regardless. "Did you find something new? Did you get to see a shifter? Was it from the wolf clan? The serpent? Ah! Were you able to fight one? Or–" For a dramatic effect, Yuuji exaggerates a gasp then he leans, ever so slowly, and whispers, "Did you perhaps find a dragon? Did you talk to it–"
"No. We didn't find a dragon. And before you ask again – no, we didn't fight any shifters." Nanami promptly parries the possibility. "This is a scouting task, Yuuji. We were only there to map out the undiscovered fields."
Yuuji, not one to deflate immediately, scrunches his nose and flops on the older's back. It deters the man's movements and robs him of spare energy. Nanami can only sag in pitiful exhaustion as the strain of Yuuji's weight digs into his rumpling cloak.
"Liar! I know you saw something out there!" The boy asserts, impatient. "You were trekking by a large lake, weren't you? Oh no, there must have been a sea-monster or, or a –"
"Yuuji-kun." Nanami unlatches the adamant clasp on the tense arches of his shoulders. He deadens his tone, gaze flat and height an ominous warning as he stands. "I believe you have more important things to attend to."
Yuuji blinks then pouts. He scuffs the soles of his boots on a muddied trail of pebbles. "What? You mean my studies? I already finished them this morning."
"The tutors beg to disagree." Nanami corrects, unimpressed. "I heard you caused quite the trouble for them this time."
Yuuji flashes a sheepish smile then. The folds of a fancy tunic, embellished by silver seams and accentuated by a veil-like belt, bunch further up towards a slim waist as the boy flounders for an excuse. "T-that's! Well – er...Okay fine, I only managed to complete half of the workload but –"
"And you'll finish the second half today." Nanami continues for him. He towers over the younger, blank expression imposing.
"But!"
"Yuuji-kun. I believe you're turning 18 tomorrow, are you not?"
Yuuji purses his lips. He knows the implications before they are even brought up. The cheer of his enthusiasm wanes, dropping a low tone that narrowly traverses the vast air. "I know what you're going to say, sensei."
Nanami softens his volume at the sight of dejected eyes and furrowed brows. Extending an arm, he gently ruffles through pastel pink. The locks curl under the callouses of his palm. "Then you should know to focus on what is necessary."
"I–" Yuuji halts. He feels the touch dither, recoiling. When he tilts a chin, he is met with Nanami's unsmiling reminder. The man is kind still –even with his strictness. Yuuji senses the gentle regard his sensei has for him.
"Of course." So he yields. Yuuji fumbles with his billowy sleeves and shifts in his stance. "I– well, then I'll let you rest first."
Nanami casts him a cursory smile. "Thank you." He nods. "I wish you well in your studies."
Yuuji forces a stilted grin before he retreats, fingers fidgeting behind a despondent back. "Yup."
Tersely, he departs from the scene. The pressure of Nanami's words hangs heavy on his mind.
That night, before the minutes announce a new day, Yuuji stays awake to gawk at the horizons. He lights himself a candle and very furtively, sings a greeting to himself. At the exact last note of his jingle, Yuuji sees a dash of light run past the boundless sky.
Certain that no one is around to witness him, Yuuji closes his eyes and prays, near-desperate–
"To whatever omnipotent deity exists up there... I hope this time will be different. Please." There is a moment of silence before Yuuji reconsiders phrasing his prayer better. He leans forward against the support of his window sill. Then, breathing inwardly, he whispers to the cooling breeze. "I wish things will be better."
Almost speedily, his call is answered with the thunderous spark of lightning. Yuuji jolts out of his sheets and nearly tumbles to the ground below. His grip on the wooden edge is tight. For sure, with just enough force, he'll have splinters in his skin.
But Yuuji is uncaring of any of that. He tips his head forward instead. The heaviness of his curiosity wins over his rationality and he urges to see better through the curtain of black. With his free hand, he stretches above. Intrigued, Yuuji trails after the flickers of angry red and follows unhinged streaks. The radiance of the lightning is overwhelmingly powerful – enough to disrupt the slumber of even the most incurious of folks.
In an instant, Yuuji expects the serenity to cave to the disturbance. He tries to predict a boy, a girl or anyone awake to marvel at the raging horizon –would escape through their windows and follow the fall. But when Yuuji sees no one but himself daring to stalk it – he commits to the pursuit and darts across a restful alley barefoot.
It's like a beckon. Yuuji cannot fight against the lure. It cajoles him, closer and closer and closer –
"Oh."
Until, he's pushed himself past the perimeters before he even realises the repercussions.
Yuuji spares no time to dawdle on his impulsivity. He boldly crosses farther, and the consequences – no matter the gravity of them, would simply have to wait another time. For now, Yuuji only obeys one thing: his instinct.
Up the tracks, down the curved path and last, to a train of twigs and burnt branches – eventually, Yuuji is at the end of the lightning's pull. One step into the gleam of a disturbed lake has Yuuji stilling in shock.
"Human,"
There, just behind a nest of fallen trees – lies a wounded creature panting in sporadic rhythms. The spark of its eyes is a piercing crimson. Frigid waters splatter over its hardened scales. Wings the length of three logs combined, lay restlessly in agitation – waiting, preying. With a struggling growl, the creature's nostrils flare. Dwindling fire escapes its lungs and dies just before the end of transparent ripples.
Yuuji sucks in a breath. He teeters as surprise numb his senses.
"Dragon," Unwittingly, the boy responds to the call.