-can you call my name louder?-
The Gather zone
The promise that he made to me that night will happen if I agree to have someone closely protect me. I am sure that Mr. Kaiza himself can protect me, but he wants double protection to make sure I am definitely protected. Therefore, his solution is to find me a bodyguard.
The training yard has been decorated differently. It has a beautiful audience area, which I could guess is for Mr. Saya, Mr. Kaiza, and me. There are three wooden seats with three shortened-leg tables in complete sets under the massive linen covering the area to block the sun. Facing the empathy yard for the competition zone and along the side of the yard is the candidate's resting area for both sides. Behind our seats, there are citrus flowers and jasmine flowers are arranged glamorously. Beautiful and providing us the aroma scent, a perfect background to me.
Not only is the pleasing scenery different, but my outfits are as well, as are Mr. Saya and Mr. Kaiza. Mr. Saya always wears his traditional clothes, but his traditional pattern is expanding and looks superior for this event. Mr. Kaiza never wears something that stands out too much. He wears a white shirt and black pants instead of the regular suit coat; he covers the long
Mr. Kaiza is sitting alongside me behind Mr. Saya. He is sitting in front of us in the middle to show that he's the head of the Takaki family.
Before the event begins, Mr. Saya's and Mr. Kaiza's bodyguards walk to the linen area and stand behind their master. I have my personal maid, who is sitting behind my seat.
"This is your first time; I hope you have fun, and if there's anything uncomfortable, let me know."
Mr. Saya turns his head and tells me.
"Thank you, Mr. Saya."
"Hm, Hm?"
"Thank you, grandpa."
I change the pronoun.
"Heh, Let's start, shall we?"
The old man in front of me announces.
Then I shift my eyes to the man on the right side. He's staring at me. He looks so handsomely beautiful in the dark red cloth. His hair is pulled back and tied up neatly. Seeing his full face makes me...
And that kiss, our first kiss...
What no! What am I thinking?
"Zephyra?"
"Y-yes?"
"You look insanely beautiful today."
"You're over saying, Mr. Kaiza."
"You know I'm not."
He's so straightforward, I can't.
"I like your hair pulled back...it's nice to see your handsome face clearly."
I compliment him back.
"!!"
"Ahh...you like that."
He touches his bun.
"So nice having the scent of love in the background."
Mr. Saya speaks up.
"!!"
"Is that right, Kyo?"
The old man asks his own man.
"Yes, Master."
He answers.
I can sense the awkwardness of people around us. My personal maid's face turns red. Mr. Kaiza's man turns his face to the side.
Not even Mr. Kaiza, he's smiling.
The rhythm of my heart beats is getting faster. I put my hand on my chest to calm it down. My heart has not been normal since the day I went to the Flower house with him. And I couldn't believe that we kissed. I still felt his lips touch mine. Just thinking about it makes my heart race like gunfire.
Finally, all the candidates are lined up neatly in the training yard. They are all wearing white uniforms and looking straight at our tent. The Takaki men stand along both sides of the yard in one line, facing all the candidates.
"It's time for the new beginning of our family. I assume that all of you have already passed the basic test to stand here in my yard. And I also assume that all of you would like to join the Takakis. And this event is not just for the faint of heart. If your skin and blood are shredding on my house, the Takakis are acknowledged for your devotion. I'm not going to do any prep talk...Let's just say, bring everything you've got so you will not have any regrets. The best will forever be in our family, and today is a very special time and different from before because we have our new lady. Miss Zephyra."
"..."
All of the components' eyes are gazing at me.
"One of you will have the honorable job of being her bodyguard, side by side. And I will be the one who watches you closely and makes the cut because she's one of the important people to Takaki and also to me."
Mr. Saya continues.
"..."
I'm listening attentively; my heart is full of water right now. I appreciate everything that Mr. Saya has done for me.
"Let's begin the test."
The first man of the Takaki men, who stands in front of the line on the side of the yard, steps onto the lawn, faces all the candidates and gives his back to us.
"Straight!"
And then, all the 50 components adjust their postures.
"Lie down, face to the ground!"
And all of them lying down, facing their faces on the hot ground.
"Do push-ups and count loudly."
"1-2-3-4"
While they perform the physical strength test, I drink the iced tea and shift my eyes to Mr. Kaiza. He is drinking what I have made for this event.
"That's..."
"Do you like it?"
I ask him.
"It's refreshing."
He answers me.
"I'm glad you like it."
"You made the tea?"
"Yes, grandpa gave me the mission."
"So, all past weeks, have you been busy because of my grandfather?
Somehow Mr. Kaiza isn't pleased.
"Heh."
Mr. Saya tilts his head a bit to his grandson and shows his smirk on him.
"..."
Mr. Kaiza's upsetting face is spreading out.
"You should put more ice, Mr. Kaiza..."
I try to change his focus.
I step closer to his seat, put a couple of ice in his glass, and put the rose petal on top for him
"..."
He looks at me closely.
"It will calm you down."
I frankly speak up.
"Rose petal?"
"Rose tea is my favorite drink. And the petal is beautiful, isn't it?"
"..!!"
I chin up and put my mouth beside his right ear.
"It's special for you."
I whisper, and I am about to step back to my seat. He holds my waist immediately.
"Jay."
He calls out someone's name.
"Yes, master?"
"Move her seat a bit closer to me."
"Er...Yes."
I sit there still while his hand is on my waist, and Jay, his bodyguard, moves my table and seat to where I am.
"Thank you."
I say to Jay.
"..."
He's a bit awkward, and he bows to me.
"Please, Mr. Kaiza."
I speak to Mr. Kaiza.
"?"
"Your hand."
I say softly.
Then, he lets go of his hand and I move myself and sit properly in my seat.
"*Sigh."
I exhale my air out lightly and drink my iced tea in the whole glass.
It's hot, very hot.
During the brightest and hottest day, all the candidates are doing their best and trying hard not to back down. The man who gives the order changes the order from time to time, and it's increasingly inconvenient for them. It's about an hour, but no one gives in to the sweats and shaking bodies.
Finally, someone falls to the ground, and his face hits the hot, tiny stones. The Takaki man comes in from the right side and drags him out. Then I realized maybe they're forced to stand like that to observe and have a dragging duty.
One falls, and another falls.
Some poses make me laugh inside my head and struggle not to burst out. The orders given by that man—perhaps he's just amusing, or he is ordered to do that.
The second test is about to begin when the Takaki men bring out the swords—real steel, hard-sharpened swords for the candidates. I shift my eyes to the man beside me, and he notices.
"If you feel uncomfortable, please tell me."
He whispers.
Why is he saying that again? As Mr. Saya said before.
If it's going to be like in association, that will be fine. When the sword is aimed at the death point of the body, then that candidate is out.
"40… And the next test begins."
The same man announces the number of candidates and the time for the next test.
Every candidate is standing disorderly, and they're holding swords in their hands.
"Last ones stand until the bell is hit. You can go to the next test."
He announces and then hits the bell to start.
"Ya!!!"
And some candidates scream out and raise their swords to strike one another.
"!!!"
Out of the blue, all the red liquid splashes out into the air, landing on the ground and on their faces.
"Ah!"
And my personal maid screams out behind me.
"I-I apologize."
She's stuttering.
"So, this is why you say that?"
I ask him but more likely talk to myself.
"..."
He glances at me
"I wonder..."
"I'll take you if..."
"I wonder how they are going to clean the ground?"
"...Um, the maids will clean it."
"And what happens next to the...the injured one?"
"..."
"I shouldn't ask?"
I look up to Mr. Kaiza.
"The man with a strong purpose has prepared himself for any outcomes."
Mr. Saya speaks up.
"So, if he dies?"
"!!"
Other people around me are startled by how frankly I ask the head of the Takaki, except Mr. Saya himself and Mr. Kaiza, who are still concerned about the scene in front of me and what I am thinking at the moment.
"We will do it properly."
Mr. Saya answers shortly and makes it understandable.
"It might be overwhelming to witness this kind of event."
The old man continues.
"I surely am, but it's just slightly different from what I witnessed back in the mansion."
"And how is that?"
He's curious.
"I finally see what's behind the veil."
So this is what it feels like to be scared of the Takakis. I have seen people die in front of my eyes, not once, not twice, in that mansion. People tried to sneak around and break in almost all the time, and the number of guards increased. The blood doesn't make me stunned at all. Killing part is easy to do; to do to other beings is a bit less easy, but if you are in forceful circumstances, killing or fighting back is the best choice if you cannot run away. The hard part for me is the realization that you are a part of it, more or less. Be the victim one or be the one who is the killer.
I was stuck in those situations so many times. I was kidnapped once, not the time I was kidnapped to meet Mr. Kaiza, but the really awful kidnapping for ransom from my father. But I managed to get out before it got to my father's ears. I got back home safely, but blood was all over me.
Being in this type of society and this kind of business, I knew I had to prepare and always be ready for unexpected situations. It was a double-edged sword, even if I was just a little girl no one cared about. I was an easy target.
The light of my eyes is fading out like I used to be after seeing the blood scene. But to be in this powerful family, you must be the best; I understand that. People are all scared of the Takaki, including the Stygians, but it doesn't mean there's no rebel. To have this respectful power like Mr. Saya, I bet he has some groups that want to take him down for sure. That's why we have this event, choosing the best new guys to protect himself, the house, and the family name.
It is just the same but in different places, I can't take myself out of this lifestyle. The difficult part is to be the one who lives and the one you love dies. I cannot bear those feelings again.
"..."
I glance at Mr. Kaiza.
If he dies… How would I feel? I turn my glance back before he shifts his eyes on me.
And the bell is hit.
"20"
The same man announces.
The Takaki men take the injured candidates out of the yard. They also bring out human-shaped targets made from straw grass. In the seconds, the candidates that are left take the long guns in their hands and prepare themselves before another test.
"Zephyra."
"?"
"Do you want to get inside?"
Mr. Kaiza asks softly.
"Start."
"Pow!!!"
"!!"
My body is stunned and jumpy.
"Zephyra?"
"Pow!!"
Another shot makes both my hands raise up and cover my ears on their own.
"Are you all.."
His voice is fading. I can't hear him.
The gun sound hits me harder than the sharp sword strikes across my body. And the picture of someone lying on the floor appears in my eyes. I close them, and that body is more transparent; it was my first teacher who was shot. The memory is playing on its own. Achlys helped me. I ran out to my mother's room. I saw her covering her ears. She turned to look at me with tears running down her face.
I ran to her before I got to her.
She disappeared.
"Pow!!"
"Ha..."
I open my eyes and realize I am carried away from those loud noises.
"Ha..."
I am panting and trying to see the man who is carrying me. The sky is too bright. I curl myself to his warm, hard chest. Finally, the bright background fades into shadow. Then he puts me down on the chair. And I'm still covering my ears intensely.
When I open my eyes, bright red hair shines in my sight. He gently grabs my wrists, and then I take my hands off my ears.
"You're safe."
Mr. Kaiza says.
"..."
The water is getting in the way of my eyeballs.
"You will not hear anything in here."
"I'm sorry."
"Please don't.."
Then he suddenly hugs me.
"I told you, don't ever say sorry to me."
"Is grandpa gonna.."
"No, don't worry."
"..."
He hugs me in silence.
"Do you want me to stay with you?"
He asks.
I can hear his voice echoing around my body.
I nod.
He takes his body away from me a little, and he tries to look at me. He holds my face up and uses his thumbs to wipe the clear water away from my eyes.
"Next time."
I speak up.
"..."
"Can you call my name… louder?"
So I don't have to stay watching the memory replay itself.
"..."
"I will."
He answers me. Then he moves his face closer to mine, his nose touches my cheek, and he puts his lips on my eyelid.