#✧ ᶤᶜʰᶤʳᵒᵘ ; №ι ( ᵗʰᵉ ᵍᵉᶰᵗˡᵉᵐᵃᶰˡʸ ᵗᵉˡᵉᵖᵃᵗʰ )

[shctteredillusions]

He stood before them, each of the current leaders standing there with unwavering and judging eyes all aimed at his pupil. Green eyes returned their gaze, no formal greeting is given, no bow as Zephyr remained still, hands tucked into the sleeves of his yukata. Long raven locks cascaded over his shoulder, falling down the length of his chest and not a hair out of place. If it weren’t for the fact that he had taught each and every one of them, such disrespect would not have been taken lightly, and though he considered every student to be like a child to him, he couldn’t stop the scowl from slowly tugging at the edges of his lips.

The weight of their thoughts hung in the air, he didn’t need telepathy to know exactly what they were thinking. His eyes shift briefly to the boy sitting beside him, bowing and refusing to shift from that position until he was formally addressed. Which Zephyr knew they wouldn’t. His heart ached for him, he knew what Ichirou had to go through, the weight placed upon him since birth and the rivalry forced between him and his only sibling. He’s trained hundreds of clan members, and each time it became harder and harder. Every generation seemed worst than the last, deep green eyes trailing their way back towards the one standing in the middle.

Akio, the current head to the clans, stern and fierce in his own right. Zephyr could remember their training as it had only been a few short years ago rather than all those centuries. The boy had a natural talent at controlling his abilities, a knack for figuring out someone’s weakness and always quick to use it. He knew without a shred of doubt that he’d make a powerful ruler, but one that he wasn’t so sure would do any good. It was clear to him now that his worries had been rightfully placed. The teacher couldn’t help but notice the lack of his wife’s presence, while everyone else came together, she seemed to think she didn’t need to be present for such things. Not that it truly mattered to him, there was always something off about her from the moment he met her.

“He’s ready,” Zephyr stated calmly, eyes then shifted towards the boy's parents on the right side of Akio. Shota and Ruka Nishimora, another pair he remembered so well. He remembered how he used to think Ruka had such a chance at becoming something great, once a girl with a big heart and a need to prove herself. Shota, on the other hand, had always been a bit of a rebel, hated taking orders. Perhaps that was because he knew that one day, he’d be the one to give them.

“Has he managed to defeat her yet?” Ruka’s question struck hard, noting the way Ichirou flinched just the slightest from his place beside him. Even if Zephyr had known it would come up, it didn’t make the sharp pang that raced through his chest any easier to take. He had never seen the clans so hellbent on one child defeating another before, it angered him but at the same time, he understood why even if he didn’t like it. This boy was to be their next leader, the firstborn, he was rightfully supposed to be stronger than any of those that come after. They didn’t want their next leader to be known as the man who couldn’t win against his own sister.

“No,” was all Zephyr could respond with. He had trained Emi as well, and though he never spoke of it to either of them, he knew that in one on one combat, Ichirou would likely never reach the level that Emi was at. However, his true strength lies in his ability, he far outmatched her when it came to control and power. He was a good kid, wanting nothing more than the approval of his parents but Zephyr knew that he’d never get it.

“Then he isn’t ready,” this time it was Shota who spoke, his voice cold, lacking any sort of emotion other than utter disappointment.

Zephyr’s features hardened, trying his best to bite his tongue. “Shota, do you believe that I am no longer suited for the position I hold? That I can no longer tell when a student of mine is ready?” Green eyes narrow, a flare quietly burning behind the vibrant irises.

“That isn’t what he said, Sensei,” the familiar term rang from Ruka’s lips, one he hadn’t heard from her in so long and his eyes shifted towards her, the fire only burning brighter.

“It wasn’t? I specifically recall informing you that he is ready, that he has met my standards and yet he denied it. My word is final, Ichirou is ready. He does not need this foolish rivalry you’ve created between them, your members should work together, not be pitted against each other.”

“Zephyr,” Akio took a step forward, gaze firm and fixed on Ichirou. “If you claim that he is ready, then we shall accept your word, just as we always have. But if he shall prove otherwise, it is your reputation on the line. And your head.”

Zephyr said nothing at first, silence lingering between them before finally, he nodded. He knew exactly what it was that Akio was implying and no matter how much it hurt to hear his own student threaten his life like that, Zephyr had nothing but confidence in Ichirou. “I do not need to fret over such things when I already know that he is.” With that, he turned to leave, a glance cast towards Ichirou who immediately scrambled to his feet to follow after his teacher. 

It was heart-wrenching to see the state the clans had fallen in, the only reason he was still so willing to cooperate with them was because of his deal with Bryony all those years ago and the knowledge that if it weren’t for him, the children of the coming generations wouldn’t know any good or warmth. All they would see is what stood before them that day and that was something that Zephyr couldn’t bear.

[shctteredillusions]

“If I get a new sister, you’re going to love them more.” Callie to Ichirou while Imani's still pregnant

Jealousy Starters [ @for-a-prxce​ ]

Honestly, Ichirou had seen this coming, he knew what it was like to have a younger sibling suddenly come into the picture, to fear that they’ll take your spot, all the attention, and in his case, any chances of ever earning his parents love. It was something he never wanted Callie to feel, though he couldn’t help the pang in his heart at her words. At the memories flooding his mind of the sister that he lost and all the time wasted that could have been spent with her. Emerald eyes grow warm, a light smile stretching across his lips as he kneels down to her height. 

“Callie,” he begins, taking her hands in his and leveling his gaze with hers. “You will always be my little princess, you could be an old wrinkly woman and you’ll still be the same to me. My first daughter, the first girl to ever win my heart, you can’t be replaced. Priceless. And when your little sister finally comes, you’ll get one look at her and I know, because you’re such an amazing girl, that you’ll love her too. And you’ll realize that it’s easy to love more than one person, to have room in your heart for others. We love you, just like you love Imani and me, and just like how we’ll all love your sister too. And just wait until Mommy and Daddy’s little princess is running around and being such a big and helpful girl, being there to lend a hand, to play with the baby, we will be so proud of you. We already are.” He tucks a strand of her blond locks behind her ear. “Just wait until the first time you get to hold her, that fragile little bundle in your arms. You won’t ever want to put her down. I know that the first time I held mine, I didn’t want to either.”

[shctteredillusions]

Emerald eyes stare down at the graves before him, a glimmer of tears revealed as he kneels before one in particular. Long pale fingers stretch out, fingertips brushing against the name carved into the marble as his heart clenched at every memory that sprang forth. She was still so young, had so much she could have done with her life. So much she had yet to achieve, so much more to give to the world. Her smile, though it had always been beautiful, was a rare sight especially as of late. When was the last time he’d seen her smile genuinely? He’d like to think that when he spoke of the family he had found back in the states, that it had been genuine but he knew it wasn’t.

He had noticed the sadness lurking just behind it, the envy in her eyes that was all too familiar to him from not that long ago. The same emotion he used to feel about her, he never thought he’d see the day where it stared right back at him. Taunting him, making the guilt that much worse. Some say she’s just another casualty of war, but she was so much more than that. And some say she’s in a better place and yet they don’t know the truth. Where his kind goes when their life has ended. Knowing the truth only makes it that much harder to accept, to know that she’ll never be in a better place. This was the best she’s ever known and even that was a horrible existence.

She’ll never get to see as the clans rebuild, all of her hopes and effort coming to fruition. All that they worked for and she won’t even be there for it. He’d never get that second chance to make things right, she’d never get to meet the precious little girl and the incredible woman waiting patiently back home. His family. This house was never his home, but back there with Imani and Callie? That was where he felt he truly belonged. Even more so now that the last piece that held him here was gone.

A bouquet of oriental lilies is placed before the headstone, tears falling down his cheeks and splashing against the fresh dirt beneath his feet. The sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention over his shoulder, noticing the servant stopping just a few feet away. “Nishimora-sama, your presence is requested in the Minori manor.” He stood up, no words leaving him as his eyes flickered over all of the graves once more.

Kaito Nishimora Asuga Nishimora Mitsuo Nishimora Emi Nishimora

A soft sigh left his lips, turning his back towards the headstones before addressing her. “Let Kyoko know I’ll be over soon, there’s something I have to take care of first.” She bowed, excusing herself to deliver the message as Ichirou made his way down the familiar hallways, pausing just outside the library. He almost regretted using this place to store the items, not really wanting to face the memories that going inside would stir up. In the end, he knew he had to, he needed these before heading back to the states, knowing that those waiting for their memories to be returned would like to have them back, and really, it was the least he could do after all that he put them through. And yet he knew that nothing could ever truly right the wrongs that he’d done.

[shctteredillusions]

There she was, the woman he hadn’t seen in centuries. Standing there in all her glory and yet somehow she was even more beautiful than he remembered. Those long dark curls, so thick yet soft, he still remembered what it felt like to run his fingers through it, what it was like when those vivid green eyes only looked at him with love and warmth, the taste of her kiss still lingering on his tongue as if it hadn’t been years since the last time they shared one. Now... now there was nothing there in her eyes as they met his but the cold truth of his betrayal, the shimmer of the pain he’d caused when he left.

Raiden froze, cold lips parted yet no words came out. He wanted to say something, anything to her. An apology, an explanation, even just something as simple as a hello would suffice. And yet there was nothing but silence. Dreadfully cold silence that seemed to last an eternity even though he knew it was nothing more than a few moments.

He had known even back then he’d end up regretting his decision to leave. Yes, Kyoko meant so much to him that she was worth the risk, but that didn’t mean that he didn’t regret the way he had done it. The promise he had broken, the pathetic note he left behind and the heartache of hers that he knew had to have followed after. He never wrote to her, he never came back, never made a single attempt to contact her since then and it took a war amongst their families to break out before he could bring himself to face her and yet... that still wasn’t enough or else he wouldn’t just be standing here with nothing but the silence standing between them.

A second set of equally vibrant green eyes fell onto him and though he could feel the fire of this mans glare, he could tear his eyes away from Emi. Not even when Ichirou’s arm came to wrap around his little sister's shoulders, the way he turned them around and steered her away from Raiden.

‘Look at the kind of man you’ve become Raiden, you couldn’t even muster an apology to her.’

The voice broke through his thoughts, knowing all too well that it had been Ichirou speaking within his mind so that Emi wouldn’t hear him. But even then... even then he could only watch as the two walked away, watch as the woman he once loved, had planned to marry and one day share a family with, left without a word and most likely left his life as well in the same way that he had walked out of hers. Was this karmic retribution? Was this him getting what he deserved?

No, it couldn’t be, because no matter how much it hurt to see her walk away like that, he knew... he knew it couldn’t be anywhere close to the pain she had felt when he had done it.