Twenty-nine: Like Father Like Son

During the Library visit

Kakashin steps into the tenebrific hallway from his transportation spell. The castle’s interior surrounds him with stone and torches as he speeds off to the meeting room in a casual manner.

Yamato walks up beside him with Reina and Sosen following behind like a couple of obedient children. “Do you think he’ll notice?” Yamato remains looking forward as he makes sure that their scheme is going as planned.

“That’s why we’re taking precautionary measures, in case he does.” Kakashin keeps his professional character on. “He’s clever and smart, not to mention his experienced with everything we’ve been hiding so far. The worst action we can take is one with fear and doubt.” His feet then march ahead with a quicker pace. A glimmer of perseverance from his eyes expose his strong will. “I will end this.” Once they all reach the entry doors to the room, Kakashin grabs the handle and turns to the others. “Reina, Sosen, you two stay here and wait for Yamato and I while we attend the meeting.” He then straightens out and takes a deep breath. The doors open and everyone in the room jumps from their seat to stand in honor of him. Kakashin spots the backside of Kyyu, his sister, and lets his eyes widen a bit from the surprise. He then switches back to his stern personality. Like the prince he is, Kakashin steps in and attends his seat.

Yamato pulls the chair out from the long table for the prince of the universe to take his seat.

“Thank you.” Kakashin steps in between the chair and table to await his father’s arrival.

Yamato rushes over to the doors across from where they came and peeks on the other side to murmur a few things. His head comes out and he freezes in a vertical position. “Remain standing in honor of his majesty until he has told you otherwise.”

From the same doors that Yamato was whispering through, Vensen walks in with his usual attire. His bare feet carry him up the short stairs that make squares surrounding his throne and he finally gets to the moment when he rests himself on his symbol of authority. “You may sit,” he says with a bored attitude.

Everyone at the table sits as told.

Vensen peers at his son with his demonic, yet calm eyes. “What took you so long, Kakashin? You’re never late.”

Without turning his head, Kakashin stares back to his father with his similar red eyes. “You had Yamato cook some stew; remember? I couldn’t let it all go to waste, and then Kaif needed some help in the library.”

The old and wise eyes of Vensen look to the ceiling in hopes of recalling the action. He speaks lethargically, “Ah yes, I forgot about that. My apologies, Yamato, I didn’t take that into account when I changed the agenda.”

“It’s alright, Sir.” Yamato stays standing at the door where he announced his master’s entry.

“Now then,” Vensen shifts in his seat to be more presentable, “Let us start with the reason for this gathering. Someone among you is planning a revolution against the system that I’ve created for you all.”

All servants and Stuki members alike subtly search the room for any potential traders. Kakashin and Yamato do the same as to not stick out of the crowd. Inside, however, they slightly tense up from Vensen’s sudden knowledge. They were expecting this, so no harm done, yet.

Kakashin glances at Yamato for a signal of unity and then to Kyyu but receives nothing from her.

“Have no fear my children.” Vensen grasps their attention again. “He is already on the loose away from us. His name is Sommi, and he has a girl with him by the name of Vila.”

“Geez,” Kyyu gives everyone a piece of her mind as she always does, “I knew that guy was a turd, but running away with a whore is something else. I hope she’s ugly, that way he can remember what he gave up.”

Kyyu’s words cause Kakashin to swallow a ball of dread down his throat. Kyyu loves Sommi, she accepted him as her betrothed. There’s also the fact that she insulted her own daughter. Even if Kyyu was acting, she wouldn’t be calling her own child a whore, or ugly. Something is wrong. Kakashin takes the silence from the group to quickly think it through and calm himself. Vila already warned him about Kyyu’s appearance in the void and then being cut off. Vensen must have erased her memory, that’s all. Kyyu is also acting slightly immature compared to her more grown-up self that she developed after having Vila, so his theory has evidence for sure.

Vensen brings more attention with his news, “Of course, I can’t have this man running around and causing trouble, so I need everyone to cooperate in finding him. Once you do, kill him.”

“You want us to kill the girl as well, this, Vila?” The pale man known as Tonton who helped with ambushing the Duahe group stays seated as he confirms the mission.

The eyes of the psychotic man look to the side for his contemplation. “Bring her to me.” He stares back to him. “I have a new idea for her existence.”

New idea?

Another analysis of the situation plays through Kakashin’s head as he tries to understand the new problem. Vensen wanted her originally because she was the new member of the family. He wanted her under his control so that the family can continue forward and grow in numbers. She needs a suitor; but what does Vensen have in mind now? Either way, he’s obviously aware of Kakashin’s betrayal, otherwise, he wouldn’t have lied about Vila in the first place with Sommi. He must have some sort of plan involving Vila.

“That will be all for now.” Vensen’s voice projects to Kakashin’s ear and across the room. “I want any updates on this predicament whenever it’s possible.” He then looks to Yamato.

Yamato puffs up his chest strictly and announces the end of the meeting, “Rise in honor of his majesty.”

The people sitting at the table stand along with Vensen. He steps down the stairs and enters the room from which he came. Once he resides in his chamber, the attendees begin to walk out of the room and on to their routines.

“Sir Kakashin.” Yamato calls out to the prince before he steps out.

Kakashin responds to the servant by stopping and turning to him. “Yes?”

“Your father wishes to speak with you.”

“Oh, is someone in trouble?” Kyyu chimes to the calling with a sensual attitude. “I didn’t think you would do something that would provoke Dad, Kakashin.” She slowly breaks her stare at him as she walks away in her knee-high boots and extremely short pants.

Kakashin rubs it off for now and allows Yamato to escort him into Vensen’s chambers out of the room and down the hall. The doors open and Kakashin sneaks into the poorly lit room. “You wanted to see me?”

Vensen lifts himself from the throne in this room and holds his son close with one of his arms. “You make it sound like you’re in trouble my child. Is there something wrong with wanting to spend time with my children?” He sounds calm and fatherly as he drags Kakashin over to his window. “Tell me, Kakashin, is there anything new on the orphan project that I assigned you?”

“Kan, Tonton, and Tetei are doing well with completing missions and gathered enough supplies from their raids. As for Euna and Hiroko-“

“No, Kakashin,” a sigh of disappointment slips from Vensen. “Are they getting along well? Do you have any stories for me about an event that happened with them one day? You know, stuff that parents would mention about their children?”

Kakashin takes a silent moment to glare at his father before getting back to the point. “Why did you withhold Vila’s blood line from the others? You already know that I’m aware of her consanguine nature; so why act like she’s not one of us?”

With his usual uncaring air, Vensen observes the outside from the grand window. “Nature is an interesting aspect of life: The creatures know what to do, and when to do it. They do everything they can to survive, even if it means eating their own children.” He gives Kakashin a short glance and then goes back to studying the forest. “Sometimes everything goes wrong for a particular species, and suddenly they become extinct. Weather, other creatures, lack of food,” he turns his head to blow a hot breath into Kakashin’s ear to continue, “Lack of mates…”

Kakashin takes this signal to guide the conversation back to his original query as he picks Vensen’s hand off of his shoulder, “You’re dodging the question, that’s unlike you.”

Despite Kakashin’s attempt to pull away, Vensen re-snatches his son and reels him in closer. His warm breath seeps into Kakashin’s skin. “I’m trying to be subtle with my answers. Perhaps if you were to stop for a moment, you would notice.” He lets the words sink in.

The meaning of Vensen’s analogy dawns on Kakashin. “You wouldn’t,” he snaps at him in a hushed tone whilst breaking the family-friendly bondage.

Vensen lifts his chin up victoriously. “I would, and I shall. She has quite the fair body you know.”

Kakashin clutches Vensen’s kimono and pulls him in for a threatening effect with his tone staying low. “You’re a sick and disgusting monster!”

“You’re one to talk.” A snicker creeps up Vensen’s glum lips. “It’s not like you’ve been perfect either, son. It runs in the family.”

Kakashin squints his face in repulsion and throws Vensen’s clothing out of his hands.

Vensen spreads his arms out in hopes of embracing his offspring again. “Tell me child, what went through your mind when I mentioned her during the meeting? There’s not much to spare for this family you know.”

“You think I’ll just keep quiet about this!?” Kakashin raises his voice slightly in declination.

His father gives him the look of a man who has won. “I would hope that you do.” He steps around him for an effect with his words. “I would imagine that if you were to tell who Vila is, there would be nothing to keep me from announcing your treachery.” Vensen wraps his fingers around Kakashin’s forearms one by one and creeps his lips to the ear of his offspring again. “After all, I am an expert-with everything you’ve been hiding so far.”

Kakashin begins to shut down on the inside, but still acts calmly. “If you know about that, then why don’t you just take care of me now?”

“Because, Kakashin, my son.” The devious dragon in disguise slips a hand up to Kakashin’s throat and gently squeezes, then continues as he softly presses his mouth up against his ear. He speaks with a quiet whisper for only Kakashin to hear, “I watched you break down before, I want to know what that would look like-coming from the inside.”

Breathing starts to become difficult the longer Kakashin stands there with Vensen ready to choke him.

Before he could crumble or break down, Vensen grabs the back of his cloak, twirls him around to the door, and pushes him to the ground.

Kakashin stumbles over his own feet and crashes to the cold floor on his belly like a toddler. He turns to face his father again and sees the glow of malice in his angered eyes.

Vensen stares down his child with only a fraction of his authority leaking out into the room with that signature aura of a brume-ish darkness. His voice comes out as an echoed and deepened tenor changed by demonic power yet is held back by the conscious side of the wielder to his draconian nature, “Get out of my sight.”

Kakashin clambers back to his feet as fast as he can and then scurries to the door to exit.

Vensen dwells in the tenebrific calm, contemplating over the script that he’s played over countless times. “It always ends this way…”