The Fractured Veil

Chapter Six

Later the next day, after Alexandra was stabilized by the doctor, Suriel came by to check on Takeshi. They stand outside the room, having been told not to go in until given permission from the Doctor, but the room does have a few internal windows so they can view Alexandra's unconscious body. Takeshi's nerves and senses are shot as the events of the fight left him with very little energy left. He is barely able to understand her while Suriel explains to Takeshi that "even though they both agreed to a fight to the death that the leader was very angry at any possible outcome." This gets Takeshi's attention but he's surprised, seeing as it is written in the code of The Order of Phantoms that as long as both sides agree a fight can end however it is agreed upon. "He will be coming to speak with you." Suriel says before leaving. This frightened Takeshi back to many questions that immediately flooded his head. He sits on a bench that's across from the windows and starts panicking at the thoughts of Xithun being angry. Takeshi had only seen the leader angry a handful of times, and never did it end well for the one he was angry with. He once forced a trainee to whip his lover until she was limp and no longer could move. Simply because the trainee had gotten scared during a mission and failed to complete it. The trainee's lover died of her wounds. Takeshi's mind raced with utter panic at what was going to happen. Not to him, but to Alexandra. She was the one who accepted the fight to the death, but it was Marrow who instigated the fight. Was it because no one stopped it? Why was Xithun angry? Questions and thoughts continued to flood Takeshi's head, so much so that he didn't even notice that Xithun had taken a seat next to him.

"You know," Xithun starts, snapping Takeshi back to reality "over-thinking things really can cause more harm than good." Takeshi, shocked at the mellowness, is taken aback for a moment before he realizes that Xithun was right here. He quickly gets up and bows his head towards Xithun.

"My apologies sir!" Takeshi musters out. "There was just a lot on my mind." Xithun nods.

"As I expect of you." Xithun puts his hand under Takeshi's face and beckons him to look up. Takeshi obliges and follows him to the window to view Alexandra. "So what happened here?" Xithun askes plainly and, to Takeshi's surprise, exceedingly calmly.

"Marrow was trying to start a fight with me, I ignored him, but Alexandra did not. They fought in a very one sided fight where Alexandra was able to get the best of Marrow just as quickly as the fight began. This infuriated Marrow. He attacked after the fight was done. He asked for a fight to the death. And they both agreed to the fight, many witnessed it. I tried to stop it before it could start, but he punched me and knocked me off the platform. The fight began and Marrow landed a serious attack on her, but she was able to recover and finish Marrow." Takeshi tried his best to hide his wavering voice while he was telling the story of what happened. He doesn't think he did a good job. Xithun stares blankly and unreadably through the glass at Alexandra, who is unconscious.

"That's a shame." Xithun says coldly. "I would have preferred if you had accepted the fight in Alexandra's stead." He looks over to Takeshi "Why didn't you?" Takeshi looks dumbfounded and is at a loss for words.

"I... She..." Xithun raises his hand.

"Do you know why I say this?" Takeshi is still very confused so he doesn't answer. "It's because you were Marrow's biggest weakness. You could have beaten him so easily it would have looked like you were relaxing and sipping tea while you stabbed him through the heart." Takeshi looks down. He knew this. Marrow was always so focused on beating Takeshi that he trained just like Takeshi. But was always 10 steps behind. But Takeshi also knew that he could win, albeit close, against Alexandra. He grabs his pants tightly in anger and grits his teeth. "Now do you know why I'm upset?" Xithun askes.

Takeshi shakes his head "no sir." Xithun looks back at Alexandra and continues.

"Because she was supposed to go on a mission with you of the utmost importance today. Now she is hospitalized and unconscious." Takeshi was appalled. This couldn't be the only reason he was angry right? There had to be more. So mad over a mission that wasn't even started? "I lost a potentially excellent commander, in Marrow. And I may now lose the best commander in Alexandra. Do you know why?" Takeshi stood bewildered. How could he know what was going through Xithuns head? "I'm still sending her on the assassination mission as soon as she wakes up."

Takeshi looks horrified "Sir! Please, she won't be strong enough! And I can't-"

Xithun turns and cuts off Takeshi, "Alone." Takeshi physically wretches at this and is forced to take a step back.

"S... she can't. You can't... She'll die." Takeshi stumbles over his words.

Xithun simply nods. "Yes. She likely will. And this is your punishment for not stopping a vain fight. You killed two people today. You could have spared one." Takeshi collapses to his knees and begins to tear up. He puts his head on the ground to beg forgiveness.

"Please. I'll do anything to make up for this... Just don't send her to die." Takeshi pleads. Xithun looks at him and starts walking away.

"Next time, do something before it gets to this point. You can tell her when she wakes up." Takeshi looks up and watches Xithun walk away, tears now streaming down his cheeks. He hunches over, clutches his stomach and lets out a loud wail.