The Keeper
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|| CHAPTER 10 | The Keeper ||
"There are those who guard the realm of the infinite–– a 'Magic Space,' they call it. A pocketed realm outside created from the imaginations of one's mind; one of the few founds created by magic itself.
"How do you think they got to become those guards, young ones? Hahaha, I see you've grown confused about my query. It is not something you need to dwell over with such an expression.
"When the time comes, you'll come to understand my question.
"Why don't we read the continuation of the last story? Perhaps... this one might explain it to you. The more you read, the more your mind will open up to the knowledge that's offered humbly by yours truly."
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"Long time no see, Seimei no Seigyo-ki."
Seimei responded with a slight nod while still keeping his focus on the male. "Are you here... for the meeting... Eito-san?" Seimei queried with inquisitiveness in his eyes.
The said man nodded and spoke quietly, "Indeed, I am. Are the others here yet?"
"Not all of them... Only the Ichimori Clan… and the Ichisaki Clan... had arrived..." the pale male answered softly while shaking his head slowly along. He received a frown from the dark-haired male after hearing the word 'Ichisaki.'
"Eito-san... do you not get along that much with Kizuki-san...? I heard from Ryuusei-san. I believe you should all get along nicely with each other..."
"I appreciate your concern, Seimei. But, let's just say we both have... different perspectives from each other," the Head Clan replied with a strained ghost smile towards the younger-looking male.
"... Well then..." Seimei nodded and blinked slowly. His long eyelashes swayed along with the movements of his eyelids as he continued, "... do you and your family want to be transported to the meeting area, Eito-san?"
"Yes, Seimei. Onegaishimasu," the brunet spoke politely while crossing his arms, bobbing his head down once at the owner of the white Magic Space they're in.
"All right, then... I shall do so..."
Seimei started glowing dimly and the chains that wrapped his ankles and wrists disappeared. He began to chant some incoherent words and wings made out of light formed on the marks, where the chains were before.
The silence was cold, so the owner of the Space attempted to start another topic. Seeing that Eito made no intention of talking, Seimei searched his head for a topic that would satisfy both sides.
However, much to his disappointment, he found none that would suit his taste AND Eito's.
Giving up on finding a good conversation, Seimei decided to talk about something that had been on his mind since the last time they met.
"...You know, Eito-san... I always liked you better than Kizuki-san, and the others... You're always nice to me and initiates a conversation with me every time we meet."
"Mm, really now?" the man crooned. "Never thought you were the type to pick sides, Seimei," Eito spoke while chuckling a little, focusing on the pale male.
"Uh-huh... Also... thank you..." the white-headed spirit replied, smiling softly at the brunet.
"Hmm? For what?" Eito inquired calmly, having several guesses as to where this was going.
Seimei returned the Head Clan's composed look with a soft smile. "For treating me the same as other humans... and for treating me like a normal 'living' being..."
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"Why are you saying this right now, Seimei?" Eito put down his hands to the side of his body, gold eyes piercing onto the spirit's somewhat translucent form.
"The stars..." Seimei paused.
"They were lamenting... They were telling me something before–– something about a big disaster coming up. I'm guessing this is why you're having a meeting, right...?" he asked with curiosity in his delicate-looking eyes.
Eito found this side of him amusing, as it reminded him of a certain someone. A certain platinum-blonde. "So? We'll just deal with it like every other disaster we've encountered before. And don't say it like you're gonna die again–– no offence."
Laughing for the first time in his 'life,' Seimei answered gently to the man, "Hahaha, don't worry. No offence was taken. I'm used to it by now. It's simply ironic how the meaning of my name contradicts with my current condition."
"Think positively, Seimei." Eito crossed his arms and leaned back to the white wall behind him. "Just because your name means 'life' doesn't mean you're really 'dead.' At least your spirit isn't, right?"
"Was the pun intended, Eito-san?" the yellowish-white-headed spirit questioned with a soft chuckle that followed his statement.
"... What pun? What do you mean?" Eito queried with a straight face, seemingly not understanding what the pale boy meant.
The dense man blinked several times, but he still couldn't understand what Seimei was pointing at.
"Oh, nothing... I'm always wondering how you're considered a genius though, Eito-san."
Finished with the preparations, Seimei locked eyes with a pair of gleaming xanthous orbs. "Are you ready, Eito-san...? I'm going to send them here now..."
Nodding at the question directed to him, Eito delivered his short goodbye with the spirit and his mind was back to his original body.
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It felt like a long time talking with the mysterious yellowish-white-haired 'boy' when it had just been a few minutes for the siblings.
The flames that had enveloped Eito's body before was now enveloping the whole family. From top to bottom, the twins reacted with different emotions, amusing the others.
"Gah––! What's... this?"
"It's not hot...?"
Hearing all of the twins' questions thrown to no one specific, Eito answered for them, saying that it's only the 'Keeper's fire.'
"The 'Keeper?' What is that?"
"You mean 'who' is that, Hinata. You'll meet him in a second."
True to his words, not even a second later their whole body, including their physical body and mind, were transported to the white Space Eito was in before.
Shizuka scanned the room and quickly found the white-haired spirit, still free from the chains–– not that they know, though.
"Greetings, Ichijou Clan..." Seimei closed his eyes and bowed forward a little. Putting his right hand over the left side of his chest temporarily, the spirit greeted them.
"I believe this is the first time we've met, Ichijou Mizuto, Ichijou Yuzuru, and Ichijou Shizuka..." Seimei smiled looking at the triplets, then turning to the twins slowly. "… Ichijou Konata... and Ichijou Hinata."
The five nodded simultaneously in confirmation, a little confused on how he knew their names. "It's my utmost pleasure to meet you again... Ichijou Kaoru, Ichijou Kazuto, and Ichijou Mitsuru..."
"Nice to meet you again, Seimei-san."
"Hey, Seimeicchi! How are you doing?"
Nodding at Mitsuru's polite words, he turned to Kazuto, "I'm doing quite well, Kazuto-san... I believe you are, too?"
"Yep! Better than ever!" the ever-so-energetic Kazuto exclaimed while grinning widely at the pale "boy."
"Well, then... Before I transport you to the meeting place... I believe I should introduce myself to the younger ones..."
He brought his hand onto his chest once more, his soft features glowing beneath the white ceiling of the Space.
"My name is Seimei no Seigyo-ki... I'm one of the first generations of the Sun Tribe... I'm also what you call a Keeper... A pleasure to make your acquaintances..."
"Erm, if I may... I have a question..."
"What is it, Hinata-san?"
"You said you're from the, u-um... first generation? I thought the first generation was believed to be the founder of the Sun Tribe, around ten thousand years ago?
"Probably more. I'm sorry, but how old are you, Seimei-san?"
"Yes, I'm indeed from the first generation of our famous tribe... I never really bother counting my age after my death. I believe I'm around..." Seimei hummed and tapped his fingers onto his other forearm.
"... ten thousand years old after death? I'm not sure though. My soul might be older... I only know that I died when I was seventeen, though. Forgive me for being unable to answer your question, Hinata-san..."
Seimei spoke of the last part bowing ninety degrees towards the younger male, leaving the latter flustered.
"H-Huh…? S-Seimei-san, you don't need to b-bow!!! I'm a lot younger than you! I apologise if it offended you that I asked such a question…!!!"
Hinata also bowed ninety degrees towards the taller white-haired male, causing the older one to chuckle at their interactions.
"E-Eh...??"
"I'm not offended at all, Hinata-san... Please raise your head..."
Hinata did as he was told. There was a long awkward silence surrounding the group. The only female there was the one who broke the silence with her question, "Umm, Seimei-san... May I also ask a question?"
"Why, yes you may, Shizuka-san..." the male replied softly with his purple orbs locking with her crystal-blue ones.
"You said before that you're a... Keeper? What is that?"
"Ah... A Keeper is a position that guards a certain place after their death... They're bound to that certain place until it had finished serving its purposes... Does that answer your question, Shizuka-san...?"
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"Then… you're bound here forever... Seimei-san?" she asked with an unnoticeable sad look, but none other than Seimei seemed to notice it. He felt something in him, it was weird.
He felt the warmest he had in centuries he had been locked in this Space.
Answering her question, he replied gently, "That is true, Shizuka-san... This place's purpose is to serve as a secret meeting place that only those from the Sun Tribe can enter... Thus, I will serve my tribe's will until the very end..."
"But, aren't you lonely here, Seimei-san? Aren't you sad?" she asked with the sadness in her eyes still lingered there. The two seemed to be in their own little world now.
Only the deafening silence that invaded their ears was present.
"..."
Seimei voiced no response and looked at her with wide eyes. His voiding and deep purple orbs glowing at the train of thoughts that went through his head.
Several possibilities and hopes bloomed in the depths of his mind, there was also curiosity written on his face. Seimei didn't seem to hear the calls of a certain dark-haired man though.
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"...-mei...Sei...-mei... Seimei... SEIMEI."
Eito's firm exclaims brought the purple-eyed Keeper out of his thought. Realizing he hadn't said a word for a while, he turned to the group, purposely avoiding the platinum-blonde-haired girl's eyes.
"Ah... F-Forgive me, Eito-san, for my sudden silence..."
"It's quite fine, Seimei. Are you okay? You spaced out for a little there..." Eito queried flatly. However, the concern in his voice for the Keeper was audible.
"Yes, I'm fine... Well then... shall I transport you to the meeting place now?" Seimei suggested putting both his arms in front of him, with his palms facing outwards.
"Aren't we late though? It's been a while since we're here..."
"Nah, time here flows differently from the real world. An hour here is a minute there." Kazuto grinned at Yuzuru's confusion.
"Really?? ... THAT IS SO COOOOOLLLL!!!" the twins exclaimed at the same time with their eyes sparkling and twinkling with amazement. The rest needed to cover their eyes if they don't want to be blind by their brightness.
"... Hahaha, Eito-san... You've taught them well... I can see where their similarities to you... I'm starting to like them more..." Seimei smiled softly.
"Really? They're a lot like their mother though..."
"... Eito-san... we need to fix your perspective..." The Keeper chuckled nervously and gave them a closed-eye smile. Heaving a light exhale, Seimei added, "Well then... let's transport you, shall we?"
After a nod from the head of the family, Seimei opened his arms, with his palms still facing outwards, creating a portal behind him. The group started floating at the same time, all of them moving towards the portal.
"Thank you, Seimeicchi!! I hope we can meet again!!" Kazuto exclaimed cheerfully whilst waving his hand to the bound male.
"Haha... I hope so too, Kazuto-san... It's goodbye, for now, Ichijou Clan... I do hope we'll meet again..."
Saying their goodbyes to the pale male, they entered the portal one by one as the Magic Space began to get further and further away. The last one to enter was a crystalline blue-eyed girl.
Seimei purposely made her went last to talk a little with her. He grabbed her arm gently but firm, preventing her from going inside the portal, "Shizuka-san... Please wait..."
Azure eyes blinked in response to the sudden call.
"Hmm? Seimei-san? What's wrong…?"
"A-About what you spoke of earlier... You know..." Seimei stuttered out, slowly quieting in the end, with a slight pink dusting his pale cheeks.
Tilting her head in confusion, she repeated what the (much) older male had said, "Earlier...?"
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"Oh! About you being… err, lonely…?" Shizuka whispered the last part in hesitation, not wanting the Keeper to be offended.
"Umm... Yes… about that..."
"What about it, Seimei-san? The other's going to worry if I don't go now..."
"Ah... I stopped their time a little, worry not, Shizuka-san..."
"Really?? That's so cool!!"
"Haha... Yes, it is actually... It's one of the good things being bound to this place, haha..." Frowning at how he was smiling at his statement, she asked once more, "Seimei-san... I'll repeat my words: Are you sure you're not lonely here?"
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The silence was there for a while until the Keeper broke it.
"... I am, Shizuka-san. Truthfully, I am... I'm here for who knows how long... Being bound to this place with no one to talk to, with no one to share with–– it's... frightening."
His voice was starting to crack a little. Seimei's deep purple eyes weren't visible to Shizuka as there was a shadow casting over them.
Seimei clenched his fists until they were whiter than his long moon-kissed locks. A tear slipped out and he quickly wiped it away, hoping the younger female didn't notice.
His once voiding and empty eyes were filled with remorse and sorrow. More emotions than before.
–– unfortunately for him, she did.
This causes her to frown more at his condition. She was about to hold her hand out when his voice paused her from doing so.
"Shizuka-san... What should I do…? My sole existence hurts so much... I can't handle it anymore... I can't––" His words were drowned by his sobs that were getting louder every second.
He was crying.
Seimei was crying.
Something in the light-haired girl moved when she saw his vulnerable state. Shizuka moved by instinct as she went to hug the taller male, causing him to bent down to reach her height. Her soft fingers brushed against his wet cheeks due to his streams of tears
"..." Shizuka said nothing as she comforted the perplexed Keeper. She opened her eyes, revealing not her usual crystal-blue orbs, but gold ones instead.
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"Seimei-san... How about you form a contract with me?"
|| CHAPTER 10 | The Keeper - To be continued... ||
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