Chapter 24: Sister!

Haru heavily exhaled exiting the war room, leaning his back against the grand double doors. Airi, just what the hell are you doing?!.

Taking a deep breath, Haru stepped forward and turned, his eyes drawn to the imposing doors he'd just closed. The deep bronze surface of the grand double doors of the war room glistened under the soft light of the hallway, a true masterpiece of craftsmanship and symbolism.

At the center of the doors, dominating the design, was the Chika clan symbol: two snakes emerging from a water lily. One snake leaned to the left, depicted as a skeleton, its bones intricately carved and inlaid with pale ivory. The other snake, leaned to the right in full flesh, its scales a shimmering array of emerald and sapphire.

Haru's eyes traced the familiar form of the snakes, chosen for their power, wisdom, and duality. Equally revered and feared, it perfectly embodied the Chika clan's mastery over both life and death. The water lily from which the snakes emerged glowed with a riot of color - petals of soft a swirl of blue, teal, pink, and white, centered with vibrant gold, creating the illusion of movement.

He stared at the symbol, unable to avoid drawing a parallel to the current situation. The clan now in a precarious position, teetered between strength and vulnerability, just like the two snakes on the door.

With a heavy sigh, Haru turned away from the doors and began his walk down the hallway toward the master chambers. His steps were slow, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. On one hand, he felt a burning urgency to find Yasushi and Kaname, to rally every resource available in the search. On the other hand, he felt a deep unease about confronting Airi and what her strange behavior might mean for the clan.

The Airi he knew, the fierce and dedicated leader had vanished, replaced by this quiet, contemplative figure content with spending most of her time secluded in the master chambers, lost in thought.

Haru's brow wrinkled as he recalled Airi's eerily calm demeanor in the face of such a crisis. Since the abduction of the children and Etsuyo, and the brutal murder of the guards, Airi's behavior is... unsettling. She refuses to interact with the royal guard and placed all her responsibilities on me! Where's the fierce protectiveness she'd always shown towards Yasushi? Where was the tactical genius of our Head General in response to this unprecedented attack? What could she be thinking about that's more important than finding Yasushi and Kaname? 

Haru gritted his teeth. The question burned in his mind, fueling his growing anxiety. His steps faltered as he remembered Airi's decision to systematically withdraw from her duties. She's been so quiet…as if something's pressing on her mind, but... this just isn't like her! 

He paused before the ornate doors of the master chambers, his hand raised, hesitating to knock on the door. As his knuckles hovered inches from the wood, a final thought flashed through his mind: Airi, I hope you're ready to explain yourself. For all our sakes.

Pushing aside his unease, Haru knocked on the door. "My grace, the King has requested your presence in the war room."

There was no answer.

Haru knocked several more times, each rap on the wood a little more urgent than the last. Still, silence was his only reply.

A cold dread began to creep into his bones as Haru reached for the handle, only to find it locked. It's locked? Something's not right! Why isn't she responding? 

Panic rising in his chest, he banged on the door with renewed vigor. "Airi! Answer me! Are you all right?!" His shout echoed down the empty hallway, but still, no answer came from within the room.

"Okay! I'm coming in."

Haru backed up a few steps, his muscles tensing as he prepared to breach the door. With a burst of speed, he charged forward, his shoulder braced for impact. But just as he was about to collide with the door, he heard the lock click.

In that split second, Haru saw Airi open the door. Unable to stop his momentum, he burst through the doorway, careening past a startled Airi and slamming into a wall adorned with decorative items and figurines. The impact sent him sprawling to the ground, a shower of ornaments raining down upon him.

As Haru lay there in a daze, surrounded by scattered decorations, Airi's laughter filled the room. "Hahahaha! Idiot," she chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "What were you trying to do?"

Haru blinked up at her from his undignified position on the floor, his mind struggling to reconcile this laughing, carefree Airi with the somber, withdrawn figure of recent. She stood at the balcony's entryway, the setting sun illuminated the intricate details of her layered kimono. The outermost layer was a delicate, shimmering pink, reminiscent of cherry blossoms in full bloom. Delicate embroidery in silver thread traced patterns of falling petals across the fabric, catching the light with every subtle movement. Beneath this, a layer of rich emerald green peeked through, its deep hue calling to mind the lush gardens of the Chika estate.

The innermost layer, visible at the collar and sleeves, was a warm, golden yellow that seemed to glow from within, like the last rays of sunset. This layer was adorned with maze-like patterns of chrysanthemums, symbols of longevity and rejuvenation.

The obi cinching the kimono at the waist was a deep midnight blue, embroidered with constellations in gold thread, serving as a grounding element, tying together the vibrant colors of the kimono while echoing the sunset sky above.

 He then sat up, wincing slightly as he rubbed his cheeks. "What took you so long to open the door? I was worried about you."

Airi's laughter subsided, wiping a tear from her eye, but a bemused smile remained on her face. "Worried about me? For what?" Her tone dismissively light, as if the idea of anyone being concerned for her was absurd.

Haru pushed himself up, brushing off fragments of shattered ornaments. Airi's laughter, while familiar, was out of place given their current situation, only furthering his concerns that something was off. 

Slowly, he stood up and began placing the fallen decor and items back on the shelf. "Kaito requested your presence in the war room. We should head back there together."

Airi shrugged, turning away from Haru and walking towards the balcony. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the room. "Ahh, I'm aware, Haru, but I'm not interested in such matters."

Haru grabbed one of the small decorative figurines from the shelf - a miniature representation of the Chika clan symbol - and threw it at the wall beside Airi.

"They're searching to find Etsuyo and the children on top of identifying the traitor!" Haru roared, a combination of desperation and anger colored his words. "You're the General! Second in Command! You have to be there, Sister!"

Airi turned slowly, her eyes moving from the shattered remains of the figurine to Haru's face. For a moment, fierceness flashed in her eyes - a hint of the dedicated leader he knew her to be. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that same unsettling calm. She then watched as the cool fall breeze scattered the crumbled remains of the figurine across the floor. "I see, so the other clan members know about Kaname..." 

Her voice was soft, but had an edge that made Haru's skin prickle. "Uhh, yes... It was unavoidable," he replied, his hand reaching out to pick up a small picture of Yasushi from the nightstand. His fingers traced the edges of the frame, an unconscious gesture of comfort due to the growing tension.

Airi looked at him, a modest smirk forming on her lips coupled with hostility blazing in her eyes, heightening Haru's unease. "But do they know...?" 

The intensity of her gaze smoked out Haru's earlier frustration, replacing it with a squirming angst. He clutched Yasushi's picture tighter and took a step back, distancing himself from her overwhelming presence. Haru's voice was steady, but filled with apprehension. "Kaito told them she was a mutated mortal who had no special traits..." He swallowed hard before adding, "I didn't correct him."

Airi's gaze softened as it fell on the picture in Haru's hands. She turned back around, her silhouette framed by the fading light of the late afternoon. "A mutated mortal? After years of investigating, was that the best he could come up with? Surely, Mari and Sora will see right through it." She continued her graceful stride onto the balcony.

The balcony overlooked the Chika clan's renowned gardens, a breathtaking tapestry of autumn colors. Maples blazed in shades of crimson and gold, their leaves rustling gently in the cool breeze. A nearby pond reflected the warm hues of the approaching sunset, its surface occasionally disturbed by koi fish rising to the surface.

"Hmm... At this rate, it's only a matter of time before Kaito finds out the truth about Kaname and how truly special she is," Airi sighed, her voice carrying an inkling of resignation.

Haru placed the photo back down on the nightstand and followed Airi onto the balcony, stepping beside her. The crisp fall air carried the scent of chrysanthemums and the earthy aroma of fallen leaves. In the distance, the sun was beginning its descent, painting the sky in soft golds and pinks. "Sister... shouldn't we tell him now? Maybe that'll ease his discomfort?" 

Airi chuckled, the sound releasing the remaining tension in the air. "Little brother, you know exactly what Kaito would do if he knew."

She turned to look up at Haru, taking a moment to acknowledge how he'd grown over the decades. Her mind drifted back to when he was a child, so timid and afraid of everything. She remembered how he would cling to her clothing during thunderstorms, hide behind her when meeting new people, and always waited for her to bring food to the village.

Now, he stood before her as a 187cm formidable, handsome Captain of the Chika clan. His body, proportionally muscular, grew into a frame perfectly balanced for strength and agility. His hair, a rich dark brown, cut short in a style both practical for combat and befitting his position as Captain, neatly trimmed, with a slight tousle at the top, giving him a roguish charm.

Haru's most striking feature was the long vertical scar that ran over his left eye. A distinct line bisected his eyebrow and trailed down his cheek, somehow complimenting his mesmerizing orange-gold eye, reminiscent of a sunset over still waters. Over his right eye, he wore a black leather eye patch.

Despite the hardships evident in his appearance, there was an undeniable charisma about him. His presence exuded a quiet confidence, a sense of reliability naturally attracting others to look to him for leadership. His posture spoke of confidence and skill, reflecting the years of rigorous training and discipline. Despite serving under her command, Airi acknowledged him as her equal, fully capable of completing her duties.

As her eyes lingered on the scar over his left eye, a subtle sadness formed in Airi's heart, remembering the price he'd paid because of her weakness.

"I love my husband, Haru," Airi said softly, her words nearly carried away by the gentle breeze that rustled through the nearby trees. She paused, watching as a few golden leaves danced their way to the ground below. "But after over a century of being together before having Yasushi, only I know the true depths of his greed and lust for power."

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