On Thin Ice (Prequel to Guild)

Alternate Ending

  *Inserted after Yuina's POV at the beginning of Chapter Fifty: Orange Blossom Sunset*

         Few gods were still worshipped in the house of the serpent. Few gods were spared the abuse of time- the wickedness of erosion and decay. But today, only three received pardons. Only three avoided sacrificing to a shogun's blade.

The rest ground to a sickly shade of red, staining the floor, the walls, his clothes, his skin- until it was all he could see. Until he cared for nothing else. Almost. nothing. else.

"Have you lost your head?"

A grim smile. A huff that taught him just how cold he'd become.

"All this time, were you racing Jia for the honour of going Soft? For the prize of madness?"

Stiffening in his shoulders, in his jaw.

"Well," said Osamu without humour. Without a trace of joy upon his lips. "I suppose you are due to beat her at something."

It took every last bit of steel to cut sideways instead of through his emperor's throat.

Stormy seas. Dark, red-rimmed eyes and ashen skin. "Daiki," he breathed, staring at the hand gripping his sword. At his bare wrist- the dust and blood caking his fingernails. "You can't do this. You can't..."

"I can."

"You won't-"

He turned, peered out one of the high, narrow gaps that once were the temple's windows. Illuminated dust leaked in, looking awfully like an early snowfall. Even here, he thought, frowning. Even here.

"Ryuu fled after the arrest. Has he shown himself at the Snake Court, or to Rin?"

A shift in the air. Osamu shook his head. "Daiki, you have to think this through. You aren't thinking."

Wrong. For the first time in over a decade, he couldn't be swayed by soft touches, or smiles, or infernal eyes. He'd scraped the diseased tissue from his mind.

"I am."

A tug on his arm, for he wore no sleeve to pull. The Dragon reared its head today, reminding the world of Kimsura fangs and claws. He still had those. He hadn't let her steal those. Dai shoved Osamu away but he came back at his other side.

"If you do this, Dai- if you kill her- we will have war with the Northern Icelands. Consider the costs-"

"I have weighed them!" He tightened his grip on his sword, breathing in. Relaxed it when he exhaled. "Would you rather fight the North or Hikarishi?"

"What?"

He didn't- couldn't- look at him. "...And would you rather fight the North or my son? You said it yourself," he seethed as more and more blood deserted his emperor's face. "The people think she is turning Ryuu against us. Against me. I see now that they're right."

Imperceptible words fell from colourless lips. Osamu shook his head.

"Then divorce her. Send her back in disgrace and let her family buy back your favour. Hurt her if you wish, but I never meant for this. I never meant for you to kill her. He didn't tell me-"

"Who?" he asked, soft and biting as Northern snow. Dai watched the chill take hold. Thin steel fell still, fell quiet within him. He pivoted toward his old friend.

His greatest rival.

Osamu moved to step away but he was quicker. Stronger. Less willing to fold than the emperor whose body bent backward, afraid of Dai and the arm that threatened like a blade.