[Fic] Knights of Hyotei (Part 2)

[postingwhore]

A month later, and he’d only managed to speak to Ohtori two other times. Apparently Ohtori was still too junior to be assigned many shifts within the King’s presence, while Shishido was currently enjoying the King’s favour. He probably had Yuushi to thank for that. While not a commander of the Knights, Yuushi did seem to be good friends with the King. Or as good a friends as a knight could be with his sovereign. He was certainly a member of Atobe’s inner circle of Knights, and through him, Shishido had become a member, too.

Not that Shishido was complaining. His position was a dream come true after so many years of training. In short, it was amazing.

He’d also learned throughout those weeks just how well connected Yuushi had made himself in just under a year at the palace. He seemed to know everyone and was well liked by most. And those who weren’t fond of him seemed to owe him a favour of sorts. Atobe was certainly lucky that Yuushi was bound to serve him or else he’d probably have to worry about his Knight’s future aspirations.

Court life was like a large game and puzzle to Yuushi; one that he enjoyed and embraced fully. It was awe inspiring to watch. Though, Shishido could do without seeing him seduce certain nobles in the halls. He was starting to think he was cursed with the number of times he’d walked around a corner or had gone to fetch Yuushi, and found him occupied with a ‘friend.’

Though, Yuushi really had to stop asking if Shishido wanted to join in. One day, he was sure that since Yuushi was smart, he would learn that there is not always room for one more.

This time away from Ohtori gave his binding ‘smell’ a chance to settle down so that he wouldn’t be quite as potent or distracting in Ohtori’s presence. He had said it wasn’t a bad smell, but no need to take chances.

In the last month, he was able to fully learn the ins and outs of the palace and to stop looking like a complete novice. He’d even memorized a fair number of the secret passages on the palace grounds, though he’d been told that some of them were only known by the commanders and the captain of the Knights. Apparently even the King didn’t know about a few.

He was also so busy that it was hard to spend too much time thinking about Ohtori. His days were full to bursting, and his nights were kept busy with friends and training.

He still occasionally got stuck on the more boring duties, but most days it was riding through the woods, hunting, boating, and watching Atobe run the country from his throne. It was a whirlwind, and he had learned more about how a court really worked in the past month than he had in all of his years in training. And as crazy as it all got at times, he hoped it never slowed down or ended.

The thing he loved and hated most was Atobe’s tours through the city. He insisted that it helped him connect with the people and get a feel for the city and his country. Going through the city with the King at his side made Shishido’s head spin at how far he’d come since he was a child. But it also made his binding itch like crazy. The city was too open with too many unknown threats, and Shishido just wanted to keep Atobe ensconced in the palace.

But at the same time, it was completely thrilling, and the closest he seemed to come to using his true skills in this time of peace. One time, he’d even stopped some young teen from running into the King when he’d been playing some game and hadn’t noticed Atobe in his surroundings. It was nice to feel useful, even if he’d yet to draw his sword in defence of the King’s life.

Not that his sword was left to rot in his scabbard. With the size of the guard, there were always plenty of other Knights to spar with during the nights that weren’t spent carousing with the boys.

Shishido had always thought he was a good swordsman until he was put through the ringer by several veteran Knights still in their prime. But it just convinced him to learn and practice harder, and now he could consistently win more than lose when sparring against them. That was something to be proud of.

But today, it wasn’t his turn to duel, it was Atobe’s.

“Doesn’t this guy know when to give up?” Shishido asked Yuushi, his hand ghosting over his pommel.

“Nope. His biweekly duel is unofficially in the calendars,” Yuushi answered.

“Seriously? But...” Shishido couldn’t find words. Apparently Lord Hiyoshi, Atobe’s second cousin or something, was determined to overthrow Atobe and take over the country. He’d been challenging Atobe to duels every Thursday morning since he was sixteen. When Atobe became king and had more demands on his time, it became every other week. Or so the story went within the Guard.

This was the first time Shishido had been allowed to watch. The binding had been considered too new and volatile before now for him to be trusted not to interfere. As it was, his binding was still itching at the thought of Atobe dueling.

“Hiyoshi, are you sure you want to embarrass yourself like this again? Not too late to ask the kitchen to prepare us brunch instead.”

“Enough talk, Cousin, you won’t dissuade me from this course. Prepare yourself.” And by the way Yuushi was mouthing the words beside him, Shishido could only assume that this was part of the usual script.

“If you insist. But when you lose, you should really go visit my brother. He’s been missing you for some unknown reason.”

“He undoubtedly recognizes my greatness,” Hiyoshi boasted.

“Of course.” Atobe adjusted his outfit and then drew his sword.

“Do they always bicker like this?” Shishido asked.

“Well, they are family,” Yuushi said as if that explained it all.

“Family who have scheduled maiming sessions?” Thank goodness he didn’t grow up with family, then.

“It’s fencing, and they’re well protected. Hiyoshi may want the throne, but he wants it fairly and without killing his cousin. It’s the other nobles we have to worry about.”

“Are you saying there are nobles we need to worry about?” Shishido asked, his eyes looking around at the assembled crowd come to watch their King duel. “I hope you don’t suspect Lord Jirou. But why he needs a Knight, I still don’t know. Poor Taki.”

“No, not Jirou. His loyalties don’t seem to be questioned by Atobe. In fact, he says that he’s more than what meets the eye.”

Shishido shifted in his spot and managed to spot the napping noble. Taki stood near him, watching to make sure that nothing endangered him or interrupted his nap. He wasn’t quite sure he believed Atobe’s opinion on Jirou.

“Well, if not him, then who?”

“You really didn’t pay enough attention to those court lessons. I’m surprised they let you out of the forge when you’re still this dull.”

“Shut up,” Shishido said, bumping against him. “Just tell me.”

“Shut up and tell you?” Yuushi’s eyebrow rose in question.

Shishido caught on to what Yuushi was implying: he could either shut up, or tell him. Not both. Bastard was too damn literal when he wanted to be. So frustrating!

“The match is starting. I’ll tell you later.”

“Hey, Yuushi, if Hiyoshi ever won and Atobe abdicated, what would happen to us? Would our bindings switch over or would Atobe have one of the most loyal and dangerous armies at his disposal?”

“I don’t know. And let’s pray we never find out,” Yuushi replied just before the first strike of metal against metal.

==+==

Shishido had a rare day off and after trying and failing to have a nap, he was decidedly bored. He didn’t want to read, despite Yuushi’s assurances that there were plenty of fight scenes, and he’d already run circles around the other guards practicing in the yard. So, he was hoping a ride through the grounds would help keep him occupied.

With luck, he might see Ohtori. The White Order member always seemed to be stationed in some distant and empty part of the castle or grounds. Shishido had wondered if it was because Ohtori was new or lacked the proper talent to be put in positions of honour. But Ohtori had said it was because he lacked seniority, something that the Order placed above talent in many cases. That, and he was a skilled enough fighter to defend himself against most threats that the Order might encounter.

While the two had never sparred, Shishido was sure that if Ohtori could wield the impressive looking sword up to any standard, then he’d be able to fight long enough for help to arrive.

Arriving at the stables, Shishido looked, but only spotted a pair of sisters and not Ohtori. It had been a slim chance, anyway. He was tempted to ask, but even if Ohtori didn’t seem offended by his presence, he knew that most in the White Order found it uncomfortable to be in close quarters with the King’s Knights.

Instead, he gave a friendly nod in their direction and headed further into the stables to his favourite horse, Dash. It didn’t take long to get her saddled, and he rode her at a brisk trot around the perimeter of the palace grounds.

Several times, he thought he saw Ohtori, but had been mistaken. He did come across a couple of his Knight friends heading back from the kitchens, and they had exchanged some of the gossip from today’s meetings in the great hall.

Eventually, he decided that food was starting to sound good, and so headed back to the stable to give Dash a brush down before leaving. As he turned the last bend to the stables, he grinned at the sight in front of him.

The two sisters from earlier were talking to Ohtori, obviously getting ready to exchange shifts.

Shishido waited at a distance, and only when the two sisters had moved on did he ride closer to Ohtori.

“Hey there, Choutarou,” he greeted with a grin. “On stable duty this afternoon?” He dismounted Dash with a flourish, and took the reins in hand so he could more easily talk to his friend.

“Yes. It’s a good thing I don’t mind it once I get used to the smell of horses. I always seem to end up here several times a week.” Ohtori straightened his white hat and walked alongside Shishido.

“Do you ride at all?”

“Not really. I know the basics, everyone in the Order is taught that much, but I admit that I prefer a carriage or simply walking.”

“Not scared, are you?”

Ohtori gave him a look and shook his head.

“No, of course not. But not everyone can be as skilled a rider as you are, Sir Shishido.”

Shishido felt infinitely proud of himself at the compliment. He took a lot of pride in his riding skills. And if Ohtori knew about them, well... he’d either been watching him ride or had been talking about him.

“If you’d like, perhaps I can offer you some lessons? Dash is very gentle to her riders.” He was very excited about having an excuse to spend time with Ohtori, and willed him to say yes.

“I may not make a good student. But I’m willing to try,” Ohtori said, a faint blush covered his cheeks.

“Great. I don’t get a lot of free time, but I’m sure we can figure something out.”

“I’m sure we can. But right now, why don’t we get Dash back to the stables and brushed do-” Ohtori froze as they entered the stables proper, and Shishido’s hand instantly went for his sword.

“What is it?” He asked quietly, recognizing the signs that Ohtori was sensing a magical presence nearby.

“I don’t know yet... but something is wrong.”

Shishido tied Dash’s reins to a nearby post and walked further into the stables beside Ohtori, sword drawn and ready.

“It’s very faint,” he murmured more to himself as he walked to the wall of saddles and tack. Shishido trailed in his wake, keeping an eye out for any physical dangers.

Nothing seemed to be out of place to him. The horses were calm and the few stable boys not at lunch were working as normal at the far end, though a few had stopped to watch what Shishido was doing with his sword drawn.

“Could it be healing magic?” Shishido asked, knowing horses and riders sometimes used magicked healing items. It could have transferred something over to the saddles.

“No, there’s no love or air in this.”

Shishido nodded, accepting that those were the elements often associated with the healing spells here.

“This one,” Ohtori finally said. His hand was hovering over one of the royal saddles.

“Oh, that’s not good,” Shishido muttered and put his sword away. He noticed the stable boys who had been watching him carry on with their work. It was probably for the best. “Is it dangerous?”

“Maybe. The elements are really faint but anything’s a risk when riding.”

Shishido nodded. “We need to inform the guard. I’ll send a runner with a message for Kabaji and the head of the White Order.”

“There’s no need. I have this,” Ohtori moved a hand to the top of his shirt and tugged on the cord there until a whistle appeared. “It’s magicked and will inform the order, and they’ll bring the Knights.”

Shishido put a hand on Ohtori’s, stopping him from blowing it. “No, I think we should keep this quiet for now. We don’t need people gossipping about an assassination attempt. With luck, we might even be able to keep this quiet from the King.” Not likely, but the guard tried not to bother the King too much with the ins and outs of how they were protecting him, just that they were.

Ohtori bit his lip for a moment before nodding and tucking the whistle back into his clothes. “You’re right.”

“Okay, I’ll go get the people we need personally. You’re sure it’s not an emergency?”

“Positive. Go.”

With that, Shishido went back to Dash and quickly rode off to find the Knights commander and the head of the White Order.

Someone was causing mischief in the palace, and it was up to their groups to keep the King and the kingdom safe.

So much for lunch...

==+==

Shishido sighed. It had been several weeks since the excitement over the spelled saddle and nothing had happened since. Or at least nothing he’d been privy to. Things were being kept pretty hush-hush by the upper levels. Ohtori had been blacked out just as much as him. It was driving them nuts.

But, unlike Ohtori, he had Yuushi to rely on for gossip. He’d heard about several lower nobles being sent away to check on their holdings or to be an ambassador to the crown on small tasks.

Very mysterious, but even Yuushi couldn’t seem to find out the real reason to their being dismissed from the palace grounds. Were they involved in the corrupt magic or were they going to help prevent it?

He shifted on his feet and looked over across the room. He smiled slightly at the sight; he imagined that this is what Atobe must have looked like when he was five.

Prince Keiya was surrounded by several young stewards and maids all doing their best to entertain him while Keiya tried to get them to complete the wood block empire he was building.

Keiya and Keigo were half-brothers through their father. Keigo’s mother had died rather tragically in a riding accident when he was thirteen, and Keiya’s mother had never recovered from childbearing and had died before Keiya turned a year old.

They said that the King was heart sore after losing both wives and slowly sank into despair, drinking excessively; one or both of which slowly killed him for years.

In the end, it left Keigo as king at the young age of nineteen, and Keiya an orphan at three. Poor kid, stuck with only Keigo to rely on. Though, Shishido had to admit that Keigo did dote on his younger brother as much as he could, and made sure he was well looked after. That was more than what older brothers did in other royal families.

Still, even if watching a miniature Atobe run rings around his keepers was somewhat amusing, it was still mostly boring. The excitement was definitely not in the royal nursery, and he hated when he was put on duty here.

He looked over at his brother in arms, and they shared a similar look. They’d probably end up playing dice or cards before long.

Deciding that now was a good time to start in on a game with his brothers, he took one pace away from the pillar he was leaning against just as the door to the chambers opened. Several Knights immediately sprung to attention, hands on hilts, and prepared to fight.

At the sight of Lord Advisor Sakaki, they relaxed back into their games and gave the advisor a cursory nod. It took longer for Shishido to relax back against the pillar, but then, he wasn’t sure he trusted Sakaki.

He decided that for now, he’d stay against his pillar and keep an eye on Keiya and Sakaki’s interaction. Keiya was a true innocent, and in his youth he trusted people he probably shouldn’t. For some reason he adored Sakaki.

He watched as Keiya kicked over a tower of blocks in his haste to get to the older man, and then Sakaki hefted Keiya up into his arms in a manner that Shishido suspected Keigo would frown on. But then, Keigo would probably let the formalities slide if it made his brother smile like that.

Shishido, though, thought something was very wrong with the King’s advisor getting so close to the impressionable young prince. And it wasn’t just because he thought men in cravats were untrustworthy. It just seemed odd. Sakaki should have very little interest in the young prince outside of his duties to make sure that Keiya was well educated and protected. But the personal attention and attachment set off alarm bells to Shishido.

If anything happened to Keigo, Keiya would become the new king. However, until he was of age, a regency would be set up. With the closest relatives being either dead or unsuitable, the likely candidate to be leader of the regency would be Sakaki. The other nobles would also make a favourable note of the close relationship between the lord advisor and Keiya.

Very suspicious. It’d be something he’d talk to Yuushi about, even if he would say that assumptions and gut feelings weren’t enough to go to the commander with.

==+==

Shishido grumbled to himself about irresponsible Knights who didn’t show proper dedication as he stormed down the halls looking for his friend. He knew Yuushi had headed this way earlier, apparently on some quests to find his glasses that everyone knew he just wore because the ladies thought he looked smarter.

The King’s Cup tournament was taking place, the second round was about to start, and Yuushi was scheduled to duel within the hour. It was a matter of pride within the Knights that nobody outside of them had ever taken first in the King’s cup since it had started, though that did not stop the normal unbound guard or foreign swordsmen from taking part. It just added a fierceness to the competition that was actually very appreciated by the Knights. Real sword practice against champions with different skills, without the actual threat of death to you or your ward, was a great experience.

Shishido had faced someone from the country of Seigaku and after a long game, finally got in the winning hit. He hated fencing, though it would be better than the second round: full armour and broadswords. He suspected Yuushi would do well, too, his blade being a broadsword and so he was well used to the weight. Shishido could only hope to make a quick strike and pray for the best.

But before any of that could happen, he had to find Yuushi first. He paused in his mutterings about stupid fighters pretending to be blind when he heard a noise coming from a room to his right. The door wasn’t closed all the way, and everything about it seemed suspicious.

No, Shishido thought as he crept to the opening. Everything about it screamed Yuushi once again molesting some poor person of the kingdom.

He gave the door a polite knock before opening it further and walking in. “Yuushi, get your butt in gear, you need to get to the tour-” He paused as his brain finally registered just who Yuushi had pinned beneath him on the rug: Crown Prince Yukimura. He cursed his luck. At least they were still dressed.

“Shishido, horrible timing as always,” Yuushi drawled as he gave Yukimura one last kiss before he stood and held a hand out to help his partner. Yukimura took the hand and stood gracefully, smoothing his hair and clothes down, and not looking the least bit flustered at being found in such a compromising position.

“I suppose I should get back to the tournament. I’m expected in the royal box.” He gave a nod to Yuushi and then to Shishido before sweeping across the room and to the door. Yuushi and Shishido both returned the nod with a courtly bow, and watched as Yukimura paused at the door and turned back to Yuushi. “Good luck, Oshitari.” And with that he was gone.

When Shishido was sure that Yukimura was out of ear shot, he turned on Yuushi. “He’s engaged,” Shishido said and tried to emphasize that this detail was very important.

“So? I’m pretty sure he’s having an affair with the commander of his guard,” Yuushi gave a casual shrug and Shishido wanted to throttle him.

“Engaged and has a lover. I think his dance card’s a little full, don’t you?”

Yuushi quirked up an eyebrow. Shishido mentally reviewed what he’d just said and knew he was doomed. “His dance card? And just where did you pick up that quaint little term? I think someone has been reading the books I lent him. Don’t you, Shishido?”

“Don’t change the subject!” Shishido blustered.

“You’re so cute when you’re embarrassed.” Yuushi gave Shishido a pat on the cheek with a chuckle before heading to the door. “Come on, you can lecture me about my moral responsibilities as we head to the tournament.”

Shishido, slightly red in the face, cursed, and then followed Yuushi out of the room. He planned on using the ten minute walk to explain to Yuushi just why it was a bad idea to sleep with everyone that breathed. He had a feeling that he was really just wasting his breath though.

When they reached the waiting area of the tournament, Shishido had moved on to telling Yuushi that one day these trysts would come back to bite him in the butt, and he’d just stand by and laugh.

“You say that now, but I know you have my back. Oh, there’s Taki,” Yuushi said, once again changing the topic before Shishido could make a reply.

“Where have you two been? The next round starts in a few minutes. And you stillneed to get the armour on,” Taki hissed, already dragging them into the tent that held their armour. Several other Knights were in there, already in armour and ready to help fellow brothers get prepared.

Shishido and Yuushi looked at each other before pulling off their sword belts and tunics, preparing to put on the hot and heavy metal.

“Yuushi got distracted, again. And I had to go hunt him down. Why am I always the one sent to find you?” Shishido complained as he took off his boots and started to tug on the metal.

“Because you’re so good at it, obviously.” Yuushi was busy trying to figure just how to buckle his leg guards on, and they were eventually pulled from his hands by one of their brothers. Yuushi gave a nod of thanks.

“Oh, tell me the rumours aren’t true,” Taki wailed and sat down heavily on a bench. “I heard that Prince Yukimura of Rikkai was late to show up and a few of his guards were talking about it. That Sanada fellow looked pissed.”

“How’d you hear about this?” Shishido asked. He knew the rumour mill moved fast, but this was ridiculous.

“Lord Jirou fell asleep behind some bushes right near where the Rikkai group was talking. You don’t know how many books I’ve gotten through since starting as his knight. And I’m always hearing the most random things. People either don’t see us, or just see him sleeping and forget that I’m nearby and listening.” He shrugged, and it was clear to both Yuushi and Shishido that, while it annoyed him, he liked hearing all of these secrets people spoke of without knowing they were being heard.

“So you think Sanada knows that Yukimura was with,” Shishido stopped talking and nodded towards Yuushi.

“I think it’s a safe bet. I hope you don’t have to fight him in the finals. He’s going to be going for blood. Him and Yukimura being lovers has to be more than just a rumour with how pissed he was.”

“Great,” Yuushi muttered before a helmet was shoved onto his head.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Shishido said as his own helmet was put on his head. He tried to walk over to his broadsword and nearly toppled as his foot hit uneven ground. He really hated full armour. Hopefully he could make quick work of this round and get to the third and final one.

“One of these days, Yuushi, you’re going to learn to keep it in your pants,” Hiyoshi said, patting Yuushi on the back and making a dull metallic noise.

“I did keep it in my pants. Ryou walked in too early,” Yuushi complained, his voice muffled by his helmet.

Shishido laughed and headed to the entrance of the tent. “Come on Yuushi, time to face the music. See you after Taki.” Shishido gave a wave and headed out into the bright sunshine.

==+==

Four hours later, and Shishido was exhausted. He had won his full armour round and had advanced to the final anything goes fighting style round. The Knights learned a specialized fighting style that had never been copied and was difficult to defeat, so Shishido was feeling pretty damn arrogant going into the final round.

But he hadn’t expected to be defeated so soundly by some stranger. It was the dark horse entry from the small and poor start of Fudoumine, Tachibana Kippei. The match hadn’t even lasted five minutes. Pitiful.

He’d still placed fifth, but it wasn’t very consoling. He had been hoping him, Kabaji, and Yuushi would take the top three slots.

“Why so glum, Ryou?” Yuushi asked as he strolled into the tent and sat down next to Shishido on the bench. Shishido watched as Yuushi took the medallion off, and admired it a moment before looping it back around his neck. “This is going to be my free pass into any bedroom tonight.”

“Not that you need the help. And just how did you lose to Sanada, anyway? You’re better than him.”

Yuushi shrugged, and Shishido gave up on the topic. It was probably a mixture of Yuushi not wanting to piss the commander of Yukimura’s guard off any more and just not being bothered enough to go all out. Very little could make Yuushi go all out in a duel. He normally just kept to the showiest of moves that, while requiring a high level of skill, didn’t require Yuushi to actually use much thought, effort, or energy.

“And if you want to know why I’m glum, it’s because I just had my ass handed to me by some unknown loser who couldn’t even afford a proper dress uniform,” Shishido complained as he tugged his own dress tunic over his head and toward the change area that was designated his for the tournament.

“I wouldn’t be so upset about it. He took out many of us in the earlier levels. His style is unique. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it. It’s reckless and dangerous, and it’s understandable it caught you off guard,” Yuushi said, obviously trying to console his friend.

“Not helping, Yuushi. I mean, what if he was an enemy and trying to kill the King? I would have been useless.” He slumped into himself. How could Atobe want to keep him as a Knight now? He’d probably be put on eternal diplomatic duty; those Knights who get specially assigned to keep attendance on random low ranking nobles visiting the palace. Ugh, he hated his life right now.

“Well, you can either stay here and mope and feel sorry for yourself. Or,” Yuushi dragged the word out as he stood, and Shishido glanced up at him. “You can pull yourself together and go meet your adoring fan.” He gave a chuckle and then grabbed a few of his things before leaving the tent.

Curious and getting tired of his own pity routine, Shishido went to grab a clean tunic and then headed out of the tent.

“Choutarou?” He asked in surprise as he saw his friend out of his white formal robes of the White Order. He was still in white, but it was definitely casual.

“Hi, Shishido,” Ohtori greeted with a large grin on his face, and Shishido found that he couldn’t keep up his depression in the face of his good natured friend.

“I wanted to be one of the first to congratulate you.” Ohtori was so damn honest about it that even though Shishido wanted to snap at him for congratulating him on a fifth place finish, he just couldn’t do it without feeling even worse than he already did.

“Errr... thanks,” he muttered instead.

“I, uh... wanted to give you this,” Ohtori said. And the stutter in his voice was enough to make Shishido look up just in time to have Ohtori plant an awkward kiss on his lips. Their noses bumped gently, and there was a bit of a mash at first, but the kiss softened, and Shishido found himself leaning forward as Ohtori pulled back.

Okay, that almost made fifth place okay.

“Thanks,” Shishido said, this time his voice a little breathless in surprise and pleasure.

“I was thinking... we could go out and celebrate the tournament,” Ohtori suggested, and even through the fading light he could see the red staining Ohtori’s face. It was pretty adorable.

“Yeah. Just gotta drop a couple things off.” He quickly ducked back inside the tent to grab his dirty tournament clothes. He also took a moment to vow to himself that if he got a kiss for fifth place, then he was going to train twice as hard so he could see what first place would get him. Or possibly second. Kabaji was notably impossible to defeat.

“Okay, let’s go,” Shishido said, and together they headed off to the palace laundry.

They walked mostly in companionable silence, only making a few comments on the different players and their fighting styles. Shishido was once again reminded that he really did have to find time to spar with Ohtori to see just what people in the White Order were taught.

It was the walk back that got interesting. He’d seen Ohtori like this once before in the stables, and it didn’t spell out anything good. They were taking a shortcut across some lesser used areas of the palace when Ohtori’s pace slowed and then paused all together, a look of concentration on his face.

“Magic?” Shishido asked, fingers ghosting over his hilt.

“Yes. In there.” Ohtori pointed to a closed door and Shishido gave it a knock. Not receiving an invite or hearing anything in response, he tried the handle. With a twist, the door opened.

The room was dark this late in the evening, but there was just enough light to make out furniture. Ohtori moved around the room before bending over and then dropping to his hands and knees in front of a low lying love seat. He stuck his hand half under it before thinking better of it and standing once again.

“Help me move this,” he ordered and grabbed one end of the seat while Shishido moved to grab the other. They hauled it over a few meters and then went back to look at the necklace that had been lying under it.

“Is it just one of those useless good luck charms?” A lot of the ladies and even gentlemen liked to buy those types of trinkets. It’d been explained to Shishido that while they did ward off the chance elements, they also warded off both the good and bad forms of luck. The opposite was true for charms that supposedly increased your luck.

“Definitely not. It’s evil and not just the benign kind,” Ohtori said, and this time when he pulled the whistle out from under his shirt, Shishido didn’t tell him to stop. Two magicked items found by him in the past couple of months, and who knows how many found by other people, deserved immediate attention.

Ohtori blew, and Shishido, expecting a loud whistle, frowned when heard nothing. “Are you sure it worked?” He asked.

Ohtori looked at him, his serious face giving way to laughter. “Yes, Shishido. It’s magical. Only others in my order will hear it.” He put the whistle to his lips and gave another long blow to it.

It was only a matter of minutes before the room was filled with members of the White Order and the Knights. After giving a detailed retelling of what they were doing and how they found the item, they were both dismissed and sworn not to mention this to any outsiders.

They stood awkwardly down the hall from where the necklace had been found, both looking back at the door and not sure what to say. It was obvious that there would be no salvaging their night.

“I should probably get back... tell the others and maybe get some training in.” If someone was targeting the King and getting this bold, he had to be in top form. And having his confidence knocked down today wouldn’t help anyone.

“Yeah. I’m sure Superior will want to speak with me again soon.” There was true regret in Ohtori’s voice and Shishido was sure it reflected his own.

“I’ll see you soon though.” They clasped arms awkwardly and then parted.

==+==

Part 3