Noble Views

Chapter 12: Reminisce

The art is by Cinkai

It had been about 2 weeks since you started training with Ajax, it was intense at times since he would sometimes go a little overboard when the both of you got into the thrill of battle but you didn't mind.

You learned new ways to evade and had gotten a lot of practice with using your anemo powers in different ways, it gave you such a rush as each strike became faster and much more precise with each blow you exchanged with ajax.

You even had moments when he was so backed into a corner that he had conceded as he pathetically raised both hands up in exhaustion, you were very proud of yourself as you had bested a harbinger.

That day he had told you not to get overconfident since he wasn't the only harbinger and he has less battle experience then the other harbingers, you had nodded with a huge smile plastered on your face.

You couldn't hold your excitement that day, "I beat the mighty tartaglia, the 11th fatui harbinger!" Your voice echoed through the empty trees in a taunting manner as you watched your friend's expression change from serious to gentle watching him chuckle softly.

The memory of it still puts a smile on your face, it was quite an interesting day. It was weird since your relationship hadn't really changed ever since that confession came out of his mouth, it was both a relief and worry to see him comfortable enough to still tease you.

"Hello Y/n, you there?" The voice bounced as you stared blankly at your bedroom door, this had startled you stepping back awkwardly. 

"Whoa watch out" the warmth of their arms wrap around your shoulders to save you from a terrible fall onto the railing, "Uh thanks, sorry I seem to be lost in thought again."

You didn't need to look at the person to know it was your friend, the way he held you was already enough for you to know it was ajax.

"You really gotta be careful, you could have gotten hurt" you could feel his heavy sigh as he slowly let go of you, you couldn't help but laugh watching his worried face turn sour.

Ajax had flicked your forehead lightly, "you better start paying attention before you get hurt one of these days." You groaned watching him walk towards his room, your hand travels to the sore spot on your forehead as you mumble jerk.

But he was right, you've been very distracted lately, you seem to have zoned out the world every once in a while. You couldn't help it at times, your best friend had confessed and on top of that you were still bothered by how scaramouche acted that day.

You entered your room staring at nothing yet again, this time thinking about your dreams. It was odd that scaramouche was still in them, they weren't unpleasant and were more comfortable as the other man wasn't there which made you feel relieved.

You had slept better these past few weeks then you had ever in months while scara was away, he was the only comfort you had away from that house.

You didn't wake up feeling like your body was tainted and used for someone's control over you, that whole feeling had disappeared but it scared you as it could stop anytime and you wouldn't know how to stop it yet again.

You shook your head in a desperate attempt to stop overthinking, "you've got to get it together, Y/n. It's useless to think anymore, it won't change what has already happened."

You took a deep breath watching the last rays of light hide behind the snowy floor, it made you want to walk out and lay down on the floor and breathe in the icy air but you remembered that you would have probably been scolded by everyone.

The thought made you smile since at least they cared about your safety and well-being, "I should just sleep… ajax told me that I need to wake up early."

— — — — — — — — —

In a far distant land, the gentle breeze dances around a pair of close friends. "You still seem upset about your family," one of the friends let out a breath that he seemed to have held onto for a little too long.

"Not necessarily, my father was an honorable man and wished for me to not carry the burden of our clan, but I just wished he could have relied on me more."  The young man couldn't keep the bitter look on his face as each memory gave him happiness yet pain, "kazuha don't forget, your father wanted you to be free from those troubles."

Kazuha's friend was right, his father wanted the sole responsibility to die with him alone and kazuha couldn't change that. The kaedehara clan all but ended with him, his father had taken the fall for the clan's decline.

The young man had the resolve to leave the past behind to look towards a future unseen to him, "the breeze seems particularly light today."

Kazuha's friend chuckled watching the resolve on the other person's face appear, "it is quite a nice day."

The mellowness of the world felt right to kazuha, his attention drew toward the many maple trees decorating the land of eternity. He was now a wanderer, he had no land to come back to but felt freedom at the palms of his hand.

"Oh you know what would be good with this view?" Kazuha's friend had a grin, he watched the other look through his bag as he branded the item in Kazuha's face.

"Tomo, are you serious?" 

"Of course, I'm serious. Why wouldn't I be?"

The two friends stare at each other for a good minute, "Fine I doubt it would hurt us to drink a cup of sake." Tomo just nodded as he grabbed two ochoko cups from his bag, passing one to kazuha.

He poured a drink to his friend, the young scarlet eyed man smiled as he held out his hand waiting for his friend to give him the bottle. Once he had procured the sake, he poured a drink for him; watching him light up in excitement.

"Cheers to new beginnings" 

The clink of the cups resonated through the wind, within it was the laughter of the friends.