#ignisimperii

@ignisimperii

“...”

He had fallen asleep while reading again and that didn’t surprise him. He wasn’t even surprised to find himself back in what looked like the palace.  What was concerning was how large everything around him seemed. When did they have a table quite that big?  He ignored it, for now. Instead opting to get up and leave the study in search of his brothers.

Quietly the man--boy--walked through the halls, heading first towards Kouen’s chambers.

It was a familiar laugh that caused him to freeze. It was the familiar laugh that caused his heart to sink.

He’d recognize it anywhere, even if it had been a decade since he’d last heard the sound. When a second, equally familiar, voice followed, the young yet-to-be prince realized he was holding his breathe.

He forced himself to move forward, to peer around the corner, to shuffle down the hall towards the room that his cousins were meeting in.

He opened the door instinctively, uncharacteristically barging into his princes’ meeting.

“Koumei?”

They looked surprised by the intrusion, all in the room turning to face the young boy. The second prince, Hakuren, flashed a grin to the rest of the counsel and rushed over to his cousin, gently leading him out so they could continue.

“Whats wrong?” 

He asked, concern lacing his voice and features. It really was rare for Koumei to seek attention or interrupt, after all. 

“Did something happen?”

“N-no...” the boy found himself saying. The pitch of his own voice startled him, but moments after realization dawned upon him He was in the past, however that was possible.

He needed time to assess the situation, so he tried his best not to look especially anxious or stressed.

“Ah.." he stuttered. Acting natural was much harder given how far in the past he was. “I apologize for the interruption, lord Hakuren.” He began, pushing away his excessive thinking to respond normally. “I was wondering if you would know where my brother is.”

“Oh, I think I saw him going out to train earlier.” That chuckle again, “He’s probably beaten our entire army by now!  Want me to help you look for him?”

Training.  Of course he was.

“I think I should be able to find him. I don’t want to keep you from your counsel.” The child responded, but he also just didn’t think he could stay in the teen’s company for long. At least not without being able to process the situation first.

Hakuren beamed his warm, bright grin again and patted Koumei’s hair.

“Let me know if you can’t find him.”

And he turned back to the room.

Koumei rushed to where his brother probably was, tripping once over his short legs (or was it his shoes) and stumbling a few more times.

Finally he reached the grounds.

@ignisimperii

“Brother.”

Koumei’s voice was stark and sudden against the previous silence. The elder Ren brothers had been settled in their apartment comfortably doing their own tasks; Kouen reading one of the many books he had hoarded, Koumei researching through his laptop. When the younger of them finally spoke he also closed his computer, signifying the importance of the topic.

The second prince had never been particularly great at easing into a serious discussion--not that his brother had ever been any better--but what he had on his mind was particularly difficult to broach. Even after Kouen had acknowledge him there was another round of silence.

“According to my research the portals seem real.” he finally began, lifting himself from his seat to move towards the elder man, “Which means that inevitably, due to the nature of this city, they will close.”

The former prince then kneeled before his king, casting his gaze down and placing his right fist against his left palm.

”I will search for Emporer Hakuryuu. He and I must be home when the portals disappear.”

He then looked up, meeting his brother’s eyes.

@ignisimperii

----[♕] He tentatively enters the fog which has filled the city. Reflected in the clouds, he thinks he sees a glimpse of Kou -- he would give anything, anything, anything to go home. Hand outstretched, he feels a sharp tug, and then there is darkness.

The destination is as hoped, but the point in time is unexpected. He remembers everything about that day -- the sun streaming through his window as he sleepily opened his eyes, the sound of his brothers talking and laughing in the hallway, the smell of fish and vinegared rice for lunch. He looks at his hands and sees that he is a small child once more, though his mind is that of grown man. The experiences of that strange city as well as the mistakes of his future self weigh heavy upon his little shoulders.

Tomorrow, this house, his home, shall be filled with smoke and despair. Were it not for the darkness of the day to follow, he likely would not remember the light which floods the present. That something so terrible could follow a day so full of hope has stood stark in his mind ever since.

He wants to tell his brothers to leave this place. If he has this knowledge, it must be for a reason. He shall change the future, ensuring that the light remains unextinguished. 

But these hands are a mere child’s hands. What, exactly, could he do alone? 

He realizes that he is standing in shadow and looks up. The figure of a man who should not be here stands rigid and imposing.

“Kouen... I know you remember what happened. If you truly cared about my brothers, you will prove it by saving them!”

The words sound more frantic still as they emerge from his lips in a child’s voice. Oh, but he is desperate. He wants to believe that Kouen, given the chance, would save the two men who mean the most to them. 

He wants to believe this is possible.

For the first time in a very long while, hope blossoms in his chest. He tries to ignore it, but the feeling stands firm.

@ignisimperii

“Coo”

The middle Ren brother had been trying to help trapped and endangered citizens as best as he could. After he had made sure his siblings were safe he went out (was dragged) to check the damage. From there he'd tried to make himself useful in any way he could.

He needed a rest, and told himself that his apartment was too treacherous to make it to (he could fly; he was just lazy). This was why he found a bench in a safe area to take a nap on. He'd check in with his brothers when he awoke.

The dream started out pleasant enough. He was living care-free as a pigeon. He was able to sleep whenever he wanted, he could simply fly away from any problems or violence, and food was easy to come by. It was a stress free existence, other birds took care of his work for him.

It turned quickly. The world started shaking, trees started falling, and a fire raged.

Then the dream morphed. As the fire raged, he was human again. He was younger, he was running.  Without a transition, as if he'd exited the forest, he was standing before a palace of rubble and ash; a memory.

It was the out of place, unburnt but clearly deceased body of his brother atop the decimation that woke him with a start.

"Kouen--"

But sitting up hadn't been a fluid motion. When he looked to his side he saw why.

“E-Excuse me,” The girl stuttered out a bit intimidated by his powerful presence. “That book in your hand. May I see it once you’re done?”

To: Kouen From: Koumei

[ Examine Yourself ]

You stand in front of a mirror, looking at your reflection. A green haired woman looks back. She looks much younger than you thought of yourself as. Your eyes are the only part of you that really looks how old you feel. You don’t feel like too old of a woman. You think of yourself in elf years. Maybe a hundred or so years old? The war didn’t age you physically, but you did mentally.

You look down to your clothes. They were nice, nice enough to get you into a few places you normally wouldn’t be allowed. most half-elves didn’t dress like this, but you were special. You made it yourself, and living in Heimdale spared you the horrors of living elsewhere. Your outfit is suited to another woman more than yourself, the almost sexual nature of the dress making you a little bashful. But you always felt bold wearing it. This body didn’t define you. Your clothes didn’t define you. Nor did your blood.

[ See the Resemblance ]

It wasn’t strong, but you looked like your little brother, at least a bit. It was the eyes, and the shape of the face mostly. However, you weren’t too similar. Tat was to be expected. 

More so you saw your mother in yourself, and you hated it. Your mother didn’t die, the way you’d told your brother. She’d just left, and you didn’t care to think about her. Seeing her in your face, and you looked much more like her than your brother did, it hurt you. What if you became like her? What if you were a bad sister to your little brother? You feared for her.

[ Stop Moping ]

No, you can’t let anyone see your like this. You slap yourself lightly on the cheeks, giving them a redish colour. a smile comes to her face, and shows even in your eyes. You didn’t have to like yourself, you just had to fake it.

...

Sigh.

[ Stop Staring ]

Drinking does the soul good. At least, Gintoki believed it did. Despite having rather negative experiences due to the consequences of inebriation, the act of drinking himself silly itself was among the most enjoyable things he did with his life. It also helped that having all of that alcohol in his system made certain things easier to forget. And given the life he’d led, forgetting was the greatest gift  he could ask for.