The Memory Of Heavenly Hymn
19. Flashback: The Children of Nestapa
Outlining the smell of decaying trees, yellow, red, orange, and golden leaves burst from each branch creating a butterfly-like sound. Accompanied by the sound of bamboo flutes. Soft, calm, and teasing display the player is in the mood as cool as the day.
In the corridor of the Army Commander residence, a young man was leaning against a wooden pillar, putting his attention on the boy who had just finished the melody slowly began to open his eyelids, revealing a deep red bead. “Enjoying momiji gari?” yashuhiro asked smilingly as she played the leaves of the maple tree.
“Iya, and who listened to me play the flute must have enjoyed it more,” Ryuji replied as he placed his instrument next to the green jade flute into the mahogany box.
A small laugh was thrown from the young man who threw a maple leaf full of charisma, “why not use a jade flute?”
“It feels presumptuous to use an item that is not mine.”
The wind blows, hitting each leaf to create a sound like the whisper of rain. Laying strands of children whip like cotton following the air currents. A hand looked up, putting the strands away into the temple. Ryuji nodded and immediately looked away.
“Different reaction, when you did it to Yuka, she immediately exclaimed not to disturb. I hope you forgive him, Ryuji.” was sorry for Yashuhiro's voice followed by a long sigh. Three weeks have passed since Ryuji was brought into the residence of the person who was willing to adopt Yashuhiro and his sister. Not necessarily make the quiet boy was accepted in the audience. Various questions are thrown testing until Ryuji opens his mouth and a flutter is expected.
Yashuhiro is grateful when the new head of the family for the Kazuya brothers intervenes on Ryuji's identity, as well as anxious because of the time his lies are known.
Shouta Riichi, towering clad in kuro montsuki haori hakama, and trousers like skirts made of silk patterned gray lines and wind wave symbols belonging to his clan on the back of the clothes make the man look dashing. His vibes came out, dominating around the time the man made the aides of the guards move away with just one flick of the hand slowly. Although it may mean to give breathing space and reduce tension, Yashuhiro has difficulty being calm.
“Why are you doing this?” the head of the family started the conversation, drawing closer until it was one step away from Kazuya's eldest son. “Your actions risked many lives just to save a small child from a foreign country, Yashuhiro...”.
The teenager linked the two eyebrows, presumably a sense of nervous yawning, replaced durja face-masam after hearing the words of Dad continued. “If can not protect the smallest, I doubt able to maintain the largest scale.”
The man who insisted on taking care of the Kazuya brothers despite being 24 years old was dumbstruck, examining the words implied affirmation of the unanimity of his foster son has a desire to protect is a form of self-development towards maturity.
The head of the family nodded his head, then took out a golden plaque bearing Ryuji's name. “I hope you don't renege on your decision.”
Honestly, Yashuhiro felt guilty about involving others. Not only that, her sister herself did not open up. Two days earlier, Ryuji accompanied Yuka who was chafing around, unmoved staring blankly at the fish pond. A breeze blew Yuka's jet-haired child up to cover her forehead, and the girl was reluctant to pull her own hair away. Not long after there was a hand to slowly pull Yuka's hair, pinned behind the ear, and the youngest Kazuya responded by rejecting Ryuji's hand with a high-pitched rejection speech, then left.
Ryuji slowly turned his head, bringing his eyes to the netra Yashuhiro. “I don't need to forgive him, just justify him being passive given the terrible incident as Nii-san told me it must be difficult for him to behave as if nothing happened,” reviewed a shady smile making the interlocutor a trough.
“I give you a task to keep an eye on Bungsu tomorrow, ready?”
“I have no right to reject it, ‘kan?”
The reply in the form of a question shot out like a dagger wielding a heart feather. Surely, the boy thought that everything concerning him had been arranged. Tied and moved according to plan without the slightest gap in rebellion, like a pet held captive, touching the outside world is not allowed.
Wrong, Yashuhiro does not intend to keep Ryuji prisoner, but rather protect him from the government in response to outsiders entering without consent, so the hunt is carried out. Yashuhiro harnesses the power of the power of the Father who is the regime. His thought of hiding the thing sought in the place itself was a capable strategy, because the seeker thought his surroundings were as natural as ever so his gaze was only focused on looking away.
“In return I will fulfill your request,” as always Yashuhiro.
“Tak objection?”
Yashuhiro shook his head slowly, “not at all, unless if your wish to get out of this country, I cannot.”
Ryuji responded to the older statement with a faint nod before returning to glare at the sky, noticing the marching clouds passing by in the orange tinge of the poets. Eyelids closed and opened slowly, as if reluctant to move again Ryuji decided to close his eyes.
Yashuhiro thought her foster sister was trying not to shed tears because of her longing for her homeland. Silence shrouded a split until the recess of the boy's lips opened. Yashuhiro was prejudiced again, would Ryuji want to voice his sorrow?
Erroneously, it was singing the canticle that made Yashuhiro's body freeze. The young man's breathing choked, his spiritual power responding to the chant and bringing Yashuhiro into Ryuji's memories. Wait, he was curious about Ryuji, so curiosity did not necessarily make him take action using spiritual power to dissect memories. Inappropriate, presumptuous to explore personal problems before the concerned tell their own story. However, at that time Yashuhiro was tied up to keep paying attention.
The sound of explosions everywhere, the clanking of swords, the moans of pain, the terrified screams of even young children as well as adults, and a small child—Ryuji walked in a pool of blood. Lifting the trembling sword, it was then carried away by others who looked like Ryuji. Arriving at the mountain, the boy was given a drink as he looked exhausted before walking again.
The little guy seemed to be unfocused until he was about to fall. Luckily the older one quickly catches up, then hugs her accompanied by gentle expressions of love. However, strangely the teenager takes up arms, and stabs Ryuji. While the concerned did not move anything until it was down, then said something, and finally left behind.
It was dark, and a light beam appeared. Yashuhiro again saw the patera fall. Reflected, Yashuhiro took his breath, Ryuji treated everything as if it was fine even if it was self-deceit, then let me help you from the gray clouds that enclose you.
