-~*~-
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"I am not the one you speak off." Luyao replied without much reaction. However this person this man is searching may have his name by coincidence. But he is sure it is not him.
He doesn't even know him.
Seeing as the blade is not moving away but rather closer, the man had no choice but to twist his wrist. The scissors that he had held before are not thrown backwards. Aiming into Luyao's crimson eyes.
Quickly he pulled back his body to the side and unintentionally let the man get his way. He is now free from his blade.
Luyao falls back a few steps away from him. Far enough to not be affected and still close enough to prevent his escape. Raising his sword to the man before him, he commanded "Who are you!"
The man who is quite glad that Luyao is not attacking him again, starts to sweep off the invisible dust on his shoulder. With weirdly smiling eyes and smile, he bowed down. 90 degrees to be exact.
"The name is Lewis Vin Aorin. The head butler of the previous Earl Zheng household. Reporting to the next master of the house, Zheng Luyao. You, young master."
Despite the sudden revelation, Luyao still holds a cold glare. Refusing to let his stance waver. Nonetheless, his grip on the hilt is becoming tighter. "You speak as if you knew me. One, I am NOT Zheng Luyao. Two, I've never met you in my lifetime. Three, I am Chen Luyao, raised by the Ryuichi family since I was a baby."
Lewis — "..."
Luyao — "Whoever you are speaking of is not me. Leave before I cripple you for good."
Lewis — "*sigh* It's quite hard to believe I know, young master. But indulge this old butler to a story first."
Luyao — "Leave!"
Lewis — "You were raised here, yes. Have you ever wondered where you were born?"
Luyao's forehead starts to turn red. Tension forming on his forehead. He himself has some doubts. However, such a secret would've been told to him by Vaiden or Ikuto. They vow to be his guardian in this lifetime.
'They would tell me if they knew.'
"They knew." As if reading his mind, Lewis answered the doubt lingering in his mind. 'He can't read my mind. Don't be ridiculous.'
"I can. And I have read your mind through and through young master." He replied without a hitch. Whatever he had thought, it would be read. Even if he intend to kill him or move. He can read him.
Lewis — "Please, young master. Listen to all I have to say. After that, I'll let you do anything you want. Even killing me."
Luyao — "..."
Lewis — "You are the only child of the previous Earl Zheng household. Earl Zheng Yingjian and Lady Lydin Zheng. A declining house, yes. But their death. None of it was an accident. It was all the crown's faults."
Luyao's hand starts to waver. His sword start to lower down to the ground. No longer does it tip towards the suspicious old man.
Seeing the sudden waver of emotion and disbelief, Lewis starts his story again. Hoping to yet further instill disbelief and doubt in his supposed young master's mind.
"20 years ago, your parents went back to the city of Anderil to visit Lady Lydin family and a small vacation at the coastal village near Kinsel boarder. That is when the attack came. Coming from both side. All greed for the land between them."
"..."
"Hundrends of people injured, dozens lose their life. When your parents went to the encampment to seek shelter as citizens of Volenix, they turn around. Abandoning your family. Taking only you to feed their propaganda. To shelter the weak only."
"...wrong…"
"They died by the blade of the Anderil soldiers."
"...you're wrong…"
"Their bodies are left in the battlefield. No place to return home."
"WRONG!!!"
Surprised by the sudden outburst, Lewis momentarily stops his storytelling. "The Imperial family didn't kill them! They let the survivors seek shelter!! The remaining victims are ALIVE!!!"
"Then why aren't your parents?" The small shock gave Lewis a much firmer grip on his manipulation. He can now bring his young master back home. Back to the late Earl and Lady.
"Let us meet your parents again, young master. We give back their lives."
WHOSSH!
CLING!
The bullet that came from behind Lewis was immediately deflected by his scissors. Turning around to where that bullet had come from, he saw the unwavering determination glows bright in vibrant blue. The young marquess Ryuichi had come for his head.
"Lewis Vin Aorin, in the name of the Imperial guardian, you are under arrest!" Kazuto threatens the old man. His sniper aimed directly at his head. He intends to bring him to justice, dead or alive.
"*sigh* yet another pest in our quest. Might as well end you swiftly. After that, the Holy Maiden shall be next."
SLASH!"
Out of nowhere a blade clashes with Lewis's scissors. Standing right before him, in front of Kazuto is his young master. "Young master, please don't interfere with the cleaning duty of a butler."
"You want to kill her…"
"?"
"Over my dead body."
Even for just a quick moment. Their little partnership had grown so much.
The way her ears turn red from embarrassment.
The way her eyes sparkle after eating delicious food.
The way her hair blew across the battlefield.
The way her feet move in glee when she finds a clue.
The way her face lights up with determination.
The way she smiles.
Under the chandelier.
Under the moonlight.
Under the sky.
A smile that lights up his own world.
Kazuto — "..."
Luyao — "..."
Lewis — "Very well."
The stillness across the training field is undoubtedly intense. No movement from either side. Both stare at each other. Waiting for the first move.
A blur accompanies Lewis' previous spot and soon enough more blur follows along.
Luyao blocks yet another blow that is directed to Kazuto. It is clear that Lewis wanted to kill Kazuto first. He won't allow it.
Now that he knew what Lewis is capable of, he didn't bother to think for any move. All he did is based on muscle memory. Receiving and tanking blows after blows against Lewis's scissors.
Eventually he takes the upper hand and slowly pushes the old man back. Slowly but surely. He is buying time for Kazuto. He is a reliable sniper. If it means holding up for hours he would.
Kazuto hops around the field to find somewhere far enough. At the same time, he breaks his sniper in two and out comes two hand held guns. He continuously shot at Lewis, hoping that it would either hit him or distract him for Luyao.
After landing on top of the shed behind a huge tree, he turns back to his sniper and starts to aim at where the man would be. Luyao is pushing him back more and more. He is directly behind the man.
'Now'
WHOSSH!
CLANG!
The bullet yet again deflected. Before he could move, Lewis had jumped up and attempted to slice his throat. Thankfully he blocked it with his sniper.
It broke the hand gun. Unfortunately for him, it is not the end of his suffering. He felt a sharp pang on his left shoulder. Soon he was thrown off the shed and hit a tree trunk.
Raising his head, he saw the pain on his shoulder. Lewis had stabbed him with one of his scissors. The stab is so deep it might actually penetrate.
Looking back at the shed, he saw Luyao and Lewis still exchanging blows. Albeit the pain from his shoulder and back, Kazuto still raises his gun and aims at Lewis.
The Rin-bullet pierce through the air straight to where Lewis is. He never misses. However, before the bullet could travel half-way, it was deflected by the target himself. Lewis had come lunging at him who was down.
Kazuto had nowhere to go. His body cannot move yet. If he didn't move, he would be dead by his scissors.
Thankfully Luyao is there to save him again. Though he is a bit confused. All of his attacks were deflected as if Lewis knew what he was doing. Yet Luyao. He is able to defend against him with ease.
Luyao — "He can read your mind. That's the reason none of your bullets made contact."
Kazuto — "So we're playing with a cheater?"
Luyao — "Pretty much."
Kazuto — "We'll have to rely on muscle memory then. And luck."
Luyao — "You're ready?"
Kazuto stands back up slowly and pulls out the scissors on his shoulder. He stared directly at Lewis, eyes of vibrant blue now filled with bloodlust. "Ready motherfucker."
And so the battle continues.
Metal clashing against metal.
Bullets scrape.
Deflected.
Punch.
Kick.
Over and over again.
Both side suffer from blows after blows. Continuously they fight. They might not have a clear strategy. But if it means using their youth against the old man, they would crave out all the energy.
Luyao and Lewis yet again exchanging blow after blow. That is when he starts to aim towards his neck. 'Neck' is all he said in his mind. Lewis defended his neck from the blade. But all is for naught.
He felt a sharp pain through his lower abdomen. Looking down, he saw Luyao's other arm had deliberately shoved out a small blade into his abdomen. Blood flowing out from the wound that deep.
Before he can think of pushing Luyao away with his scissors. He felt yet more pain around his body. Both his shoulder and his thighs are in pain.
Silent piercing bullet.
Kazuto had begun to move farther away from them just a couple of seconds ago. Now Lewis knows why. He wanted to find an opportunity to take his sniper and fire a splitting silent bullet that pierce his joints.
Luyao move back leaving the small blade embedded into Lewis abdomen. The man before him is now hysterically laughing. From all the blood he had lost, his complexion is turning pale.
Only then did he take out a small syringe. One that has a weird jelly like substance. Panting heavily he spoke. "I never tested it on a living human before… but if taking you away means throwing away my sanity… THEN SO BE IT!!!"
"THAT'S THE DRUG!"
Luyao heard Kazuto shouts from afar. This is the drug that Yanyi and he had been searching for. It was nearing his neck. Luyao has no idea what to do.
SWOSH!
CRASH!
The syringe breaks into a thousand pieces before their very eyes. Soon enough, yet another round of bullets surge through the air. Landing all over Lewis's battered body.
Feeling another anonymous substance entering his body, Lewis's body starts to become numb and he falls to the ground. Aside from his face, none of his muscles are able to move.
Kazuto and Luyao look over at where the two bullets came from . There on top of the balcony of the Ryuichi manor, Vaiden stood with her sniper rifle. She was the one who had fire to shatter that syringe.
"Guards seize him!"
That voice is so familiar. The paternal figure of the two boys that is now battered with wounds left and right. "Mother… Father…" Kazuto mumbled slowly before slowly laying back on the ground.
He was relieved.
Luyao on the other hand, wasn't so relieved. His mind is running wild with doubt. Speculation? Lies? Truth? He didn't even know which one to trust.
While everyone is running around to bring the intruder into arrest, Luyao stands where he is silent. No one came and checked on him. They all focus on capturing Lewis. Why, though? Do they want to hide something?
"Is it true…?" That voice came out without him realising. Yet he didn't think that it is wrong for him to question. He has the right to know, right? Why did they not tell him? Why did they stay silent?
Where are HIS parents?
Why is HE here?
Who is he?
Marquess Ryuichi didn't glance at him. To him it was neither a deterrence nor embarrassment. It was guilt. All of them are guilty. Soon enough, Vaiden came running to the training field alongside a blurry blue figure.
None of them answered his question. So he repeated it again. "Is it true…? What he said…" His voice is tangled with even more doubt. Even more disbelief.
None of them knew what had been said by Lewis. But they all at least knew to what extent it is about. Vaiden tries to gently console the adopted son of hers. Hoping that at least he would listen to what they have to say. "Luyao, dear. We can explain-!"
"WHY DO I HAVE TO HEAR IT FROM HIM?!"
"Luyao-!"
"ALL OF YOU ARE MY FAMILY!!! THE ONE WHO RAISED ME!!! WHY CAN'T YOU BE HONEST WITH ME!!!"
"Please dea-!"
"WHY HIM?! WHY WAIT FOR HIM?! WHY DO YOU HATE ME!!!"
SLAP!
Every single eye darted to the action that had just occurred. The man that has been in the heat of the moment was slapped. So hard that his cheek starts to turn red from the sheer contact.
Luyao's hand moved slowly to creep up his now swollen cheek. His eyes then gaze in shock to the small blue figure right before his very face. The same person that pushed him to reject Lewis's statement.
Xue Yanyi had slapped him across the face.
"Wha-!"
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY THOSE WORDS!!! NOT TO THE ONE WHO RAISED YOU!!!"
She yelled as loud as her vocal chord allowed her. Her chest is heaving out breath after breath. Everyone was stunned and unable to make words.
But he won't stand alone any longer.
Luyao — "WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME!!! THEY ARE MY GUARDIAN!!! I HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW THESE THINGS!!!"
Yanyi — "..."
Luyao — "WHY MUST IT BE HIM!!! WHY CAN'T IT BE THEM!!!"
Yanyi — "..."
Luyao — "If I can't hate them. If I can't hate the Imperial family. Maybe I should hate fate."
"...me…" Luyao heard the small mumbles from her. He didn't speak any words and waited for her to repeat herself. "... you can hate me…" He was momentarily stunned. He didn't know what to say.
"I am the link. The link between the nobles. Between the people. The Crown. Divinity!"
"...Yanyi…"
"...Then… you can hate me…"
Her body is shaking. Luyao has no idea whether it is from guilt or fear. But if he were to read his own heart, he knew one thing for sure. No matter the circumstances. He can't hate Xue Licia Yanyi.
He just can't.
Not wanting to face the battle between his heart and mind, Luyao strode quickly out of the field and soon enough out of the manor. The sound of the vehicle becomes the tolling bell of his departure.
Vaiden, who is carrying Kazuto by his shoulder, looks over at Yanyi. Concern writing all over her face. Despite not knowing Yanyi like a mother would, she had enough knowledge about who the girl is from Ariani's story.
No matter what people thought of her, she gave no care for it. However, when it comes to the people she loves, she loathes the thought of harboring their hatred.
Now, she herself calls for Luyao's hate.
She wears her heart on her sleeves.
Covering it for others.
Revealing it for her comrades.
"Marquess Ryuichi… I'll leave the rest to you…"
"Go rest, my child."
Yanyi takes her leave with heavy steps. Each lift, each step. All weighed down by something. Something so big that she can't bear alone.
But she has too.
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-~*~-