7 Good News, Bad News
Nighttime near Shibuya and Meguro in Tokyo, several black, luxury sedans lined up in front of a huge traditional house, waiting for the massive cedar gate to be opened.
The people within the vehicles waited patiently as two elderly servants scurried to push open the heavy, wooden, gateway, and then waved at them as soon as they could enter.
Waving back their thanks, the cars continued on in the driveway towards the modern parking space – a far contrast to the old structure ahead. Built between the beginning of the Meiji period in 1868, and mid-Showa period around 1955, this house was actually one of the oldest mansions in the city.
The servants of the household wearing yukatas and hakama, a lighter version of the traditional Japanese kimono, rushed out to greet the newcomers and had lined up in front of the abode.
Several men in black formal suits alighted the vehicles, and they immediately lined up respectfully as two of them opened the car in the middle.
A tall, lanky man in a fashionable white suit and mustard overcoat stepped out of the car. His chestnut-colored hair was unruly, a fitting style for someone with a pair of mischievous hazel eyes set in a small, handsome face. A diamond stud earring glittered on his lobes, but his pearly-white smile as he gazed at the house was more blinding.
"Young Master Kazehaya!"
Everyone greeted him with a bow, and he greeted them back with a wave.
"Where's the Koutaishidenka?" he asked lightly.
The word 'Koutaishidenka' literally meant "crown prince". However, in their clan, it was the title given to the Young Master, the heir of the Homura House.
"The Koutaishidenka is in the dojo," the head housekeeper answered, and the man arched his brow at this information. It's already late in the evening, but thinking about his friend's personality, it was pretty normal for him to be practicing his archery this late.
Waving away the servants when they tried to guide him to the practice gym, he sauntered towards the building with just two of his men. Reaching the archery range, he could hear the sound of arrows even outside.
Tsk!
"Why so intense, young prince?" he muttered as he removed his shoes and ambled inside the hall alone, his steps noiseless on the polished wooden floor.
Inside the hall stood another young man about a couple or so younger than his age – tall, lanky, with raven hair, wearing a white undershirt, and black hakama, with one shoulder bare, exposing the upper left part of his chest. In his left hand was a two-meter bow made of bamboo, on his gloved right hand was an arrow.
Young master Kazehaya Gin, who was normally noisy kept quiet, as he watched the other load the arrow into the bow, take a position and released the projectile towards the target about twenty-eight meters away.
THWIP!
It was a bull's-eye.
"Cool," Kazehaya Gin applauded, and the raven-haired young man turned to him for the first time, making him gulp upon meeting the other's pair of cold, blue eyes.
In contrast to his easy-going, and colorful personality, the Koutaishidenka was mostly reserved and had a frosty demeanor, at least to strangers. Even at a young age, he exuded an aura of a ruthless ruler.
But it was normal, for he was raised like one.
This, however, did not subtract from his handsomeness. Yep, even with a personality that seemed from the arctic, the young prince could make both genders swoon from his beauty. It was out of this world.
"Lend me some of that coolness oh Koutaishidenka," Kazehaya Gin teased, his voice dripping with mockery. Among all the people on the planet, he was one of the few who could do it. "Teach me kyudo."
"Forget it," the raven-haired young man, Homura Ryuu fired back immediately.
Kyudo, the traditional Japanese archery was a type of art where the target was said to reflect the heart. Someone needed to have the correct attitude and technique as they were intertwined. With Gin's personality, he'd hit everything else aside from the target. It was a waste of time to teach him.
"You have no pity on me," Gin accused.
"I have pity on your possible shooting victims," Ryuu retorted as he summoned a servant who was waiting on the side to hand over his items.
"Let's go," he said afterwards, and Gin followed him to the main house like a sulking puppy.
They went towards the room farthest from the entrance. The side of the room was open so they had the view of the Zen garden illuminated by lanterns. Not far off was a sozu, a type of water fountain consisting of a shaft of bamboo, pivoted to one side of its balance point. As water filled it, it fell on the other side to dump liquid before falling back on the rock, making a sharp sound.
"So?" Ryuu asked as they sat on the tatami. The servants had long left them some refreshments, so it was just the two of them now.
"Well, I have two things. Which one do you prefer, the good or the bad news?" Gin inquired.
"The bad one," Ryuu answered, and Gin cleared his throat.
"The gatekeepers noted some abnormalities at the portal," he said.
"Well it happens," the Homura heir shrugged. Since he could remember, their family who was blessed by the gods, along with the Kazehayas had been in charge of keeping world peace – literally.
They were the gatekeepers – guardians of the portal which connected to the old world, as their ancestors called the place where they originated from. From time to time, something unpleasant got transported, and it's their duty to deal with it.
Well, they were mostly small beasts anyway, they didn't care. Although their ancestors warned them of greater and more terrifying monsters, none ever emerged.
"But there was nothing that came out," Gin added. Normally when there's an abnormality at the portal, it's sure to have delivered something from the other side.
"An invisible beast?" Ryuu shook his head.
"We don't have any idea that's why it's bad news."
Ryuu silently agreed. They had to find out whatever the portal delivered as soon as possible. Else who knew what would happen.
"The good news?" he prompted, and Gin immediately gave him a wide grin.
"She's awake," Gin reported, his eyes zeroing on his friend, waiting for his reaction.
There was none.
"Hey, I just said she's awake. Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Who are you talking about?" Ryuu asked back as he lazily drank from his cup.
"Who else? Suzuki Ara, your fiancée," the wild youth reminded him, his hand tapping the small table in impatience.
Ryuu still looked like he didn't care. "I don't remember being engaged."
Tsk. Stubborn prince.
"Because you got engaged before you were born o, great Young Master,"Gin retorted, and for the first time, Ryuu showed an expression other than indifference.
He scowled.
"I'm not engaged to any uncivilized wench," Homura Ryuu stated, a look of disgust on his face.
This was a sour topic for him.
Before a male was born in the Homura house, a fortuneteller would read the stars, and it sometimes included the heir's fated one. Not securing a marriage with the fated one would bode disaster for his bloodline, and so, they had no choice but to follow.
Ryuu, unfortunately, had his star map read with a fated one included, and so his family automatically prearranged a marriage between him and a child of the couple the fortuneteller indicated.
It wasn't a problem if the girl he was betrothed with was fine. But Suzuki Ara was a total nightmare.
Because of circumstances, his family had never made contact with the Suzukis since the couple died from an accident years ago. But the Homuras made sure to monitor her. It was safe to say the news they received periodically was hard to stomach.
A major bully. Maneater. Had a terrible temper.
These were just a few things the report said. The one that disgusted Ryuu the most was that his future wife, in the second year of her high school started pining for a boy who was involved with another girl. The boy, of course, rejected her, so Ara targeted the girlfriend, making her school life a living hell.
Before something major happened though, for an unknown reason, Ara sabotaged her own car and drove it, causing her life-threatening accident.
Suicide?
They had no idea – not that Ryuu cared, or so he claimed.
"You look like you really hate her guts," Gin commented.
"Who wouldn't hate that kind of girl?"
"But you should care about her alright?"
"Why would I?" Ryuu got more and more upset as their conversation continued.
"Because Koutaishidenka, if she dies, you'll be having a gay marriage with her brother," Gin stated matter-of-factly as he wiggled his brows at him.
Ryuu was dumbfounded. No shit?
