“Rei, have you seen Taiyo anywhere?”
Nothing else could have made his heart drop so quickly. Rei froze while Kasper and Emelie sat across from him in mild concern. Kyoumi patiently waited next to him for an answer.
“...I haven’t,” Rei admitted, looking up at Kyoumi. “He told me he had a migraine and tried to get more sleep after I left.”
Kyoumi bit her lip for a second before noticing Roken’s children in the corner of her eye. She straightened a little and took a small breath, but didn’t attempt a smile. She knew it wouldn’t help.
“Your father’s asking his guards now,” Kyoumi said. “He should still be in the camp; he could’ve gone to find a quieter place to rest among the havoc this morning to get the troops ready. Until we know for sure, please stay here.”
“All right. You’ll let me know when you find him?”
Kyoumi patted his shoulder. “Of course, dear.”
Rei half-smiled for a second and Kyoumi returned the favor, slipping away again to likely aid Sorai’s interrogation. Rei closed his book and leaned over to lay on the grass, his thoughts racing now.
He should’ve checked after eating. What if Taiyo got out, or an enemy soldier somehow got in? Neither of them were of any use in a fight—not in Rei’s usual mindset and Taiyo’s recent circumstances, at least—but at least if Rei had been there he could’ve made sure Taiyo was okay.
He really didn’t want to spiral—he wanted to believe nothing was wrong—but a strong sense of dread kept him from it.
Kasper and Emelie understood that their words wouldn’t be enough, and thus stayed quiet. Rei stayed there for ten, maybe fifteen minutes before he heard footsteps and sat back up again, brushing himself off as they approached. He perked up at the sight of Kyoumi and Sorai, only to bite his lip as soon as he realized it was just them.
Judging by their frowns…
“You haven’t found Taiyo, have you?”
“No,” Kyoumi said. “But his guards are searching the area around camp now. Hopefully, he’s—”
I am sorry it came to this. Please forgive me, and understand that your kin made this choice with your interests in mind.
Rei tensed at the unfamiliar voice while Kyoumi shivered and glanced around her.
“Are you two all right?” Sorai asked gently, putting his hand on Kyoumi’s shoulder.
“Y-yes, I think so,” she replied, a bit of fear seeping into her voice. To Rei, she asked, “Did you hear something as well?”
Rei nodded, earning wary looks from Kasper and Emelie. Sorai didn’t exactly look assured either.
“Please head back to one of the tents for now,” Sorai said. “I believe you, but it can’t help that this morning has been chaotic. Rest until the end of the battle, and by then we should know where Taiyo is.”
“I need to be ready to present the peace statements,” Kyoumi argued.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
“You will be,” Sorai promised softly. “Just take an hour or two. I’ll come get you when it’s time.”
Kyoumi looked for Rei’s opinion, and looked back at Sorai to give her thoughts. She didn’t get very far into the process of agreeing before getting interrupted by a soldier behind her, immediately startling at the unexpected attention.
“Your Majesty.” She turned towards him as soon as he spoke. “We’ve found Prince Taiyo. Unfortunately, it seems he was caught in the fighting.”
Any relief that might have replaced his fear vanished. Sorai replied on Kyoumi’s behalf, the queen’s face falling with the news.
“Bring him here as quickly as you can,” Sorai commanded. The soldier left with a bow, leaving Sorai to face his wife and son. “I’ll make sure someone is available to see him. We’ll meet in the front of the camp.”
Kyoumi understood even while Rei was still trying to grasp the actual weight of the words. On one hand, it almost seemed like a certain burden was lifted in those few minutes since that voice spoke—on the other, the calmness it gave him only made him feel worse. It only took another second for his thoughts to discourage him.
Kasper and Emelie fell somber behind them as they walked towards the entrance of the camp and waited; Sorai branched off at a certain point and returned shortly thereafter with a shrine maiden equipped with a small medicine kit.
With every second he had to stand there, watching the path from the camp to the palace’s outer city, made it harder to breathe.
Two soldiers came out of the city, carrying Taiyo in between him. Rei’s breath caught as soon as he recognized the red all across him, standing out from the plain brown coat. Those weren’t injuries of someone who was merely caught up in the fighting, nor did he have any armor to imply he went in there willingly. Did someone force him in?
Sorai went to help lay Taiyo down as soon as the soldiers brought him close; the shrine maiden approached, but hesitated and stepped back again. Kyoumi walked over and gently shook his shoulder, some of his blood smudging on to her hand in the process.
Rei took a few steps forward and examined his brother. His wounds were still fresh; they weren’t incredibly deep but they were still bleeding. From the cut on Taiyo’s cheek, to the gash on his neck, to the injuries on his shoulder and arm… He watched for another second before realizing that Taiyo wasn’t breathing.
He was dead.
Nearly every negative emotion and thought flooded into his mind at once. Tears pricked at his eyes and his heart sped. A little noise caught Sorai and Kyoumi’s attention, but he ran before they could say anything.
…
Rei could barely breathe and his thoughts wouldn’t stop racing, but he acknowledged that it could’ve been worse. On a personal level, he could be scratching at himself and praying it would distract him. In regards to Taiyo…the only positive he could really think of was that they didn’t find him completely broken. It would’ve been painful, but it would’ve been quick.
Kyoumi and Sorai gave him a few minutes before they came to his tent. Kyoumi didn’t look any better than Rei, while Sorai hid it with a blank look. Rei waved them in and tried to wipe away his tears.
“I… I’m sorry,” Rei murmured. Kyoumi sat on his left and Sorai on his right, far enough to give him space but close enough to be definitely present. “It’s stupid, isn’t it? My reaction? I mean, this must be worse for you two; it isn’t the first time Mother has seen a dead family member.”
“It’s equally hard for all of us,” Kyoumi assured him gently. She reached forward to brush his hair back. “It’s…horrible—and, yes, it does bring to mind some darker memories. But we want to focus on you, Rei.”
“Where do you want to be right now?” Sorai asked as Kyoumi pulled away. “It can be anywhere.”
“...I’m ready to go home.”
His parents exchanged glances, and Sorai attempted a little smile.
“Pack your things, then,” he said. “We’ll have Hiroki and Roken make all the necessary announcements; we can go once we’re all ready.”
Rei nodded and moved a little closer so he could lean on Kyoumi’s shoulder. Sorai responded by rustling Rei’s hair.
He really didn’t want to hear the answer, but… “What about Taiyo?”
“We’ll find a way,” Kyoumi promised. “We may have to bury him here and set up a visitation grave at home. He won’t make it all the way there.”
He murmured some agreement and fell silent. They all waited there until Rei worked up some kind of motivation to move.
All he could really hope for was that Taiyo died without regrets.