Golden Scars

Chapter Three: As the Seasons Change

💙Seven Years Later💛

Cherry blossom petals flutter around in the spring breeze like pink confetti. I glance over at Suguru; we had just begun our second year of high school at the "prestigious" Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School.

"So I heard Takara is doing a homeschooling program, any idea what's up with that?" I ask my bored friend.

"Her grandmother told me it's because she doesn't want Takara to be influenced by other traditional clans or put up with unnecessary misogyny. So she told the higher ups at the school that she will have her grandaughter be taught by the finest sorcerers and scholars in an environment that promotes her equality and is Zenin free."

"Ah so the real reason is that she doesn't want her to be targeted by the Zenin assholes. Fair enough. But how does that even work though? Doesn't she have to go on missions?"

"Yeah her and her brother take up missions together and come back to report on them. It's a way for them to measure their progress as sorcerers. Actually, I believe she's visiting the school today to receive her first mission."

"Takara-chan is coming!?" I jump up and look out the window for her.

"Yes, my fiancé, is coming to school." Suguru adds extra emphasis to the fiancé part.

"You have a fiancé?" We hear another voice call out to us; followed by the smell of cigarette smoke.

"Oh Shoko, yeah Suguru is engaged to Takara Kubo." My mouth turning bitter as those words leave my lips.

"Oh is that her over there?" Shoko gestures out the window with her hand that's holding a cigarette.

In the distance we see the Kubo heir; beautiful as always. Her black hair dances with the spring wind and her golden eyes focused ahead. Next to her is the future second in command, Chiko Kubo, wearing his signature eyepatch and following in step with his older sister. I quickly open up the window and call out to the pair, "Hey!! Takara!! Chiko!! Over here!" I wave my arms around. 

"What the hell are you doing you idiot?! Do you want to embarrass them?!" Suguru scolds me.

"But it's just Takara and Chiko, they don't care." I look back to see Takara waving back with a wide smile gracing her lips. Chiko however tries to hide his face behind his hand. I laugh and wave back. "See! Takara is happy to see me."

"That's because she's too kind for her own good. I'd say Chiko is a more normal reaction."

I glance back and notice Takara doing sign language. She is spelling out, Sugu! Toru! Let's meet up after school!

"Suguru, she wants to see us after school, you down?"

A gentle smile touches his lips, "Sure that sounds good." He gives a more subdued wave to Takara. 

I lean outside the window and shout, "Let's all meet up in front of the school gates!"

She gives us a thumbs up; her brother still trying to pretend that he doesn't know any of us.

"She's really pretty, you're lucky Suguru." Shoko tells him.

"Yeah she is." I say absentmindedly.

Shoko raises her brows at this, "Oh?"

Suguru gives his best false smile and says, "Satoru is just stating facts. Takara is quite beautiful." A certain sort of intensity overshadows his words. But fortunately, Shoko isn't the type to inconvenience herself over drama. She is a mere spectator.

"Well, she's definitely my type." Shoko deadpans.

💛💛💛🌻💛💛💛

I stand under the stairwell after our meeting with the principal. Our first mission will be in Ashikaga Flower Park. A mission that would be too hard for a first year high school student but my grandmother prepared us for this type of unfairness. Even though I alone could handle it, the principal insists that we at least do this mission alongside the school's second years. Despite knowing that the principal simply did it to even our odds, I can't help but feel unsure of the gesture. As I become lost in my own thoughts, I fail to notice Sugu's presence. All I can feel are his arms wrapped around me from behind.

"They tried to screw you over again, didn't they?" I shudder against his chest, unable to find the words to answer him. "Of course they did, you are the heir to the Kubo clan so this sort of pettiness is-" I silence him with a kiss. I just want an escape from my reality. He falls into it for a moment; his fingers knot in my hair and he pulls me into his hot embrace. The sudden passion continues for a few beats longer before we begin to slow down and pull apart. His palm is warm against my cheek. I am so tired of disappointment; I just need his warmth. Almost as though he could read my thoughts, he slowly closes his eyes, "I see...I'll take away your pain."

His lips find mine once again. A wet muscle presses past my lips and I find myself giving into this patient man. He never questions why I find myself in need of him or why he finds himself at my call. We are just numbing ourselves to reality. Trying to turn it into a distant dream.

💠💠💠

"You're fucking hopeless." The runt tells me with obvious annoyance in his voice.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I lie.

"Oh you don't? Then I'll spell it out for you: why haven't you ever tried to propose marriage between you and Takara?!" He glares at me. "Your proposal would supersede any previous agreements. You could easily be happy with my sister, why don't you do it?"

"Jeez what're the tutors teaching ya, kid? I just think they make a fine match." The lies taste like oil.

"You don't mean that." His single golden eye looking straight through to my soul.

Before I have to answer to that impenetrable stare, I hear Suguru call out to us...his fingers knotted with hers. I gulp. I can't be like this. Why am I feeling sick all of a sudden? This feeling shouldn't be here. I am not in love with my best friend's fiancé. However, to my dismay the ache in my chest continues...