11 Akira

On the 17th day after moving to the Mina family's city, Saera walked through the building's long hallways, returning to Jin's room before the evening meal. She had spent the day in the library, doing research and writing recommendations for the care of the animals she had left back home. From a young age Saera had delighted in being around the animals, and she had pursued an apprenticeship making her one of the most competent veterinarians in the region. That apprenticeship, of course, had allowed her to delay her marriage for years. She had stopped working after her engagement, not knowing how Jin would react to her career, but Shisui hadn't cared. He continued to send her case work and updates, helping to keep her mind busy and off of the mystery surrounding the Mina brothers.

With her notepad tucked under her arm, Saera quickened her pace, hopeful at the thought that Jin might have returned from work early today. Though he wouldn't engage in romantic activities, he was sweet and attentive, and Saera had come to look forward to his company. His humour and bright attitude were a stark contrast to Akira's, who lurked in the back of meetings, his expression cold. Saera chewed on her lip as she realized that had Akira not renounced marriage, she would have been faced with his poor mood every day.

A man cut suddenly in front of her from an adjacent hallway, so quiet she hadn't noticed him approach.

"Oh!" Saera jumped and stumbled, unable to avoid colliding with the man. Arms that were hard and strong caught her at the last second.

"Don't run…" A low voice chastised her.

The older son of the Mina family was classically handsome. He shared his brother's chiseled jaw, but where Jin's eyes were wide and soft, Akira's were dark and calculating. Up close Saera could see the truth: his broad shoulders belied how thin he was, and there were dark circles under his eyes. She realized she was staring and jumped up, moving away from Akira as quickly as she could. He watched her with a bemused look, straightening and tucking his hands in his pockets.

"Akira!" Saera bowed her head slightly, as politeness would require, and took another hesitant step back. Her body cringed away unintentionally from the cold, harsh energy the man radiated, and Saera did her best to remain polite. She swallowed, waiting for him to speak, uncertain of what to do.

After what felt like an eternity - but was surely only a few seconds - Akira lowered his gaze, bowing his head in return. He greeted her in the formal term for a sibling's wife, and Saera grimaced at hearing the term used in reference to herself.

"Akira, I hope you're well. Thank you for your family's hospitality thus far!" She pushed past her discomfort, putting on a warm façade, but anger was building inside. [You! You've avoided me for weeks. You promised to marry me months ago. You sent me letters and shoved them back in my face. You humiliated me.] She hid clenched fists in the folds of her skirt.

Slowly, Akira inclined his head a second time. "Tae Saera. It has been a long time since I saw you last." His voice was quiet, hard and cold. "More than ten years, if I remember correctly."

She was surprised, and her anger faltered briefly. He remembers me? "More than ten years," she hesitantly agreed. More than ten years since her parents had passed, and it had been her father who had been close with the Mina. She had been very young, and the meeting had been brief, but Akira hadn't seemed so cold. [Akira… what happened to you?]

"I trust you're adjusting well." He forcibly took her upper arm so that she walked beside him, his manner one you didn't refuse. She fell into step beside him, glancing furtively at him from the corner of her eyes. She didn't like men who handled her like that. He was so tall she had to tilt her chin up to speak to him.

"I…" What could she say? That she hadn't wanted to come here? That she had begun to fall in love with a man who wouldn't kiss her back? That she had planned to marry Akira himself? Or that she felt like tradeable goods watching their families make business agreements based on her engagement?

"Yes, of course I am," she murmured. Akira didn't answer, too unbothered to carry the conversation. Saera peeked at him again from the corner of her eyes, intimidated but also curious. The shoulders of his tall form were stooped and his face stoic, but his arms had been gentle when he'd caught her. Not for the first time, Saera wondered at his motivations. Breaking the engagement had been disgraceful to the point where Saera's family could have taken offence, but Akira didn't seem ashamed. He seemed preoccupied, with some weight on his shoulders that Saera couldn't see. As they walked, her resentment faded and she almost felt sorry for the man beside her, who seemed to be suffering in some unseen way.

"Akira…" Saera started and then cursed her impulsive actions, suddenly afraid to mention their past engagement. Akira glanced at her with one eyebrow raised. He waited for her to finish her sentence, but Saera floundered in silence, her eyes trapped in his dark gaze, and he seemed to realize she would say no more.

"I am sorry, you know," he murmured finally, and Saera realized she'd been holding her breath. She let it out unsteadily.

"For what?" Her uncertain voice cracked like a child's. Akira raised his head to meet her eyes, his face twisted in pain at her obvious question.

"Never mind," Saera blurted, for she surely knew what he meant, and hadn't meant to force him to say it. She shook her head frantically, her loose hair slipping over her shoulders. "It's fine. I understand."

"Do you?" Akira took a step closer, towering above her. "How could you, when I never-"

"There's no need to explain!" Something about Akira made her nervous. His dark eyes made her feel as if she was prey. Her curiosity could wait until another time. "Good afternoon!" she blurted again, and hurried down the hall, leaving behind the older brother with a tortured look on his face.