Tidal Florette - A Painted Soul I

Kaiya - 43

"Don't be ridiculous, love. If anyone deserved this, it was him!" Michi takes the half-emptied bottle of wine from Kaiya and returns it to the cabinet. "If you needed someone to confide in, then why didn't you find me? I can't have you losing yourself to these..." She closes the cabinet and turns around to lean on it as if to guard it.

Kaiya wants to demand to take the bottle back, but she "Because the bottle lets me regret it. I know all of you have ever reason to revel in this moment. After everything he's done... But I'm the one waving this thing around rewriting a heart as if—"

"Kaiya. You've simply ensured Saito remains within specific parameters. That heart of his is still rotten with twisted schemes. We just need him to call the council together so we have the best chance of eliminating them." Hiyoko speaks bluntly as she stands at the end of the bed with her arms crossed. "This is the only way to make this work. We may even need to wait here on the ship for weeks until Saito returns."

"It still feels... wrong... like I'm no better than him." The first commands felt easy enough for Kaiya. But, as MIchi and Hiyoko helped think of every possible contingency, Kaiya started to feel as though the sword itself hungered for more. She herself wanted to continue even with ridiculous ideas, anything that would further break the priests will under her own. The intoxication frightened her and she left Saito's quarters where he'd been restrained before the others were satisfied.

Michi walks over and sits by Kaiya, taking her hand. "There is nothing in this world that would ever make you like him. And when the council has paid with their lives and we no longer have use for Saito, we can put an end to him. You don't even have to use the sword again..."

Kaiya shakes her head. "We both know that killing the council will only bring another along... If I'm not ready to keep using this power, then nothing will change. Another five priests just the same will step into their place and choose a high priest no better than Saito."

"There's not much chance anyone could be worse, but we have to hope this is enough to destabilize things to the point they can't rebuild." Hiyoko closes her eyes in thought for a few moments. "We may be relying on the Empress' response to the matter."

Michi scoffs. "The Empress? What of them?"

Kaiya squeezes her hand. "No where will be safe for us after this. We cannot blame anyone for the outrage... Hiyoko is right... we're giving the Empress an opportunity to change the course of the realm. We will have to find our own way." She gently touches Michi's cheek. "I will have my revenge... for my father... for those Saito has hurt... for you..."

She leans into the touch and whispers. "But then what? Are we just going to be hunted across the realm when they should be thanking us?"

Kaiya wants to say they can take the temple, then the throne, then the whole realm. She wants to promise Michi they'll be safe, but deep down she knows it would be foolish to think life will ever be the same. If Aelionos' eyes are on us, seeing us use his power to assault his temple with a night god... we may not even survive...

Despite these concerns, she smiles as she gets an idea. "We'll return to Ukiyo when this is over... I..." The smile fades and she feels an overwhelming pull back to the wine cabinet. How dare I think to return home... what right do I have...

Michi interrupts. "It wasn't your fault."

Kaiya looks away without responding, so Hiyoko echoes. "She's right. It's still your home. And he took it from you."

Kaiya stands and walks over to the balcony's doors, opening them to let in the fresh sea breeze. She draws Shihai and looks at the burning crimson glow as it dances along the blade, following her every whim. All they've done is taken... None of what Saito or the council has become is anything of what my father told me of the high god... This blade does not feel like the loving light he spoke of in stories to put me to sleep... "Once the council is dead, we'll take this sword and anything else they've been using to control the realm to Ukiyo and keep them hidden... My father will understand and help us... The village might be gone, but we shouldn't leave them with such an empty death..." She places Shihai back in its scabbard and pauses, looking out over the endless sea as she whispers. "I won't let you die in vain, 'zumi..."