Chapter 31: Blutstein

While considering Jacek's condition, Yuki ended up staying with him throughout the Sunday which happened to also be their last day in Gouna.

Jacek had insisted that Yuki went to explore the town without him, as she was interested in doing so upon their arrival. He pointed out her excitement about all the rare herbs she had seen when they entered town, still, Yuki refused and chose to stay in bed with Jacek while reading him a book Beckett had dropped off.

Jacek did not dislike the private time he spent with his sister in the slightest. In fact, he loved the tranquility of the air in the room as Yuki's voice echoed in his ears.

When the sun went down, Jacek dozed off and left Yuki without company. As she was not drowsy herself, Yuki decided to go and take a walk around the mansion because she felt stuffy.

Yuki strolled through the large halls of the mansion, her eyes scanning every single thing she passed by. The mansion was larger than she had realized and much, much beautiful as well. After exploring the second floor, she descended down to the first floor and started a tour there as well.

Compared to the upper part of the mansion, Yuki was more intrigued by the first floor. The spacious halls were embellished with several antique furniture and arts. On the walls that stretched as far as her eyes could see were many old portraits. Yuki while looking at the prominent looking portraits found herself following them down the hall.

Each one of the portraits looked more recent than the previous. Each picture predominantly had two large men. One person in a majestic seat and the other standing behind the chair. Yuki studied the portraits with interest and she walked slowly from one to the other.

After a long while, Yuki came by the last but one portrait and noticed a great resemblance of the seated man with Treyton. The resemblance was uncanny; the only difference was the youthfulness of the seated man and Treyton. Finally, when Yuki reached the last portrait, her eyes slightly widened in surprise as they beheld a person Yuki sure was Amir.

He was not thin, nor sickly looking nor bony as he was in reality. Amir looked much healthier. Much stronger. Much more handsome. Behind him stood Hayes who also looked more cheerful than in reality.

While looking at Amir's painting, Yuki found herself thinking that, if truly there existed a Fuyu no Kitsune, it really deserved the contempt it received. Yuki thought it was too cruel for its victims to go through the suffering they endured when their death was inevitable anyway.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts while still staring at the portraits, Yuki was startled by a raised voice. She turned to look at the direction the voice came from. Her eyes fell on a partially opened door not too far from where she stood.

"What do you mean to give up, do you even want to live at this point!?" an audible voice resounded through the halls. It was Treyton's. 'Was he mad?' Yuki asked herself.

Yuki turned around to leave. She did not want to eavesdrop nor did she want to unintentionally learn anything that will occupy the little space left of her mind after worrying about her own problems.

"And you think your death will make me less guilty? Do you know how selfish you sound right now? What about the park? What about your mate, Amir, what about me… Nothing you say will change my mind! I will retrieve the Blutstein!" Treyton's voice sounded pained and on the brink of breaking down. Yuki hurried away before she heard any more than she had.

As she paced back to Jacek's room, she found the word, Blutstein repeating time after time in her head without reason. Good riddance! This was the reason why she hated hearing things that did not concern her. She rushed up the stairs and back to Jacek's room, panting.

When she opened the door and entered, Jacek was awake. He stared at Yuki with curiosity. "I was looking around the mansion," Yuki answered the question she believed Jacek wanted to ask.

"You look like you are back from climbing the mansion rather than just looking at it," Jacek's voice was feeble but his words were as sharp as ever. Yuki glared at him before going to sit on his bed with a loud sigh.

"What happened?" Jacek raised his back from the bed and turn so he could look at Yuki in the face while posturing himself in a way that his weight was supported by his elbows on the bed.

Yuki as if already wanting to tell all she had learnt of Treyton's family, immediately relayed all that she had come to know and heard to Jacek. She left nothing out, and she spoke undertone in case she was heard.

"I have never heard of or read on this Foyu ne Kisuni creature…" Jacek commented when Yuki brought her report to an end. "Though, I think I have read once of the Blutstein…" he added.

Yuki's eyes lit with interest, "You have? What is it? The name isn't getting out of my head!"

Jacek leaned back and laid in a way that made him more comfortable. He looked at Yuki's curious face and yawned. "It was way back when I was twelve, I think. I believe my grandparents had an old book which had a story about it…I don't quite remember what the story was about but, should my memory serve me right, I believe the Blutstein is a magical stone. In the story, I think it was said to possess potent healing magic. It had more abilities, though I don't remember but the gem's main attribute was its extraordinary healing powers," Jacek narrated sluggishly.

Yuki was not very satisfied with Jacek's information but it helped relieve her curiosity. "If the purpose of this Blutstein is healing, then I think it really makes sense. But does it truly exist though?" Yuki pondered.

"I doubt it does. It looks as though they are merely clinging to anything that gives them hope. Tis a pity! I assume whatever Treyton said he was retrieving from Echt is probably the Blutstein."

Yuki nodded in agreement. "I wonder if I would be the same if I were in Treyton's place."

"If I were Treyton's brother, I would have preferred for you to stay with me in my final moments instead of wandering and searching for nonexistent cures. Though I can't say the same if the roles were reversed; I could never watch you die."

"I was thinking exactly that. I guess we can't judge either of them." Yuki felt a little sad about Amir. He was a wonderful person who reminded her of her mother somehow. Why did all the good people have such ill fates? Yuki found herself thinking.

⸎⸎⸎

As she was reminded by Treyton in the evening that they were leaving Gouna early the next day, Yuki packed all of hers and Jacek's stuffs for their departure the following day.

At dawn, Jacek was carried by Treyton into his vehicle as they got ready to leave.

Yuki stood by, staring at Treyton load a few things into his vehicle as they were about to leave Gouna. "Here…" Yuki turned her head to find Zora beside her with an outstretched hand. In her palm were three small papers.

"They are your train tickets," Amir spoke as he emerged from the mansion and approached Yuki.

Though it was at dawn, it was very bright out and so, it was easy for Yuki to see Amir's much weakened state. The dark circles under his eyes were worse. His face and lips looked paler, while his entire countenance projected the agony he was concealing under his skin. There was a sharp pang of sadness in her heart at the sight of Amir.

"Since Jacek's condition has not improved, I want you three to go by boarding a train," Amir said softly.

Zora handed over the tickets, sadness brewing in her eyes.

Yuki took the tickets and bowed slightly. "Thank you for having us."

"It was a pleasure to have you, Yu…" a cough intercepted Amir's speech. He clenched his chest and coughed into his handkerchief.

Zora knelt down before Amir quickly without any consideration for her knees. She rubbed his back, her face darkened with more emotions than one. "Breathe my love, please breathe!" she cried disturbingly.

Treyton looked back at the mansion's entrance after hearing the sudden clamor. Immediately he noticed Amir's condition, he dropped the baggage in his hand and rushed to his brother.

Distressed by the unfolding event, Yuki rushed into her bag in the vehicle and retrieved several peppermint teabags and returned to Treyton. "Brew these," Yuki instructed.

Treyton being desperate, obeyed Yuki without question and hurried into the house.

It was purely based on instincts, when Yuki neared Amir and embraced him. she stroked his head gently while whispering, "I am here. You are fine now." She was reciting the words her mother always said to her when she was in pain.

Zora retreated and sat on the floor in a daze as she watched Amir slowly recovering. She was still panicked but very much relieved at the same time. She looked on to Yuki's mature gesture with gratitude while disappointed at her own incompetence towards Amir.

Amir's cough slowly subsided. He tried to steady his breathing as he inhaled Yuki's unique scent. His sensitive ears captured every bit of her rhythmic heartbeat as his head was pressed against her chest. Few drops of tears escaped his tired eyes as he let himself succumb to the soothing energy Yuki emitted.

When Yuki felt the warmth of fresh tears against her chest, her heart clenched upon realizing that someone as strong and resilient as Amir could cry too. It became evident to her that, no matter how strong he appeared, he was not completely fine.

Yuki's arms curled more tightly around the weary man with hopes that he found solace in her embrace.