Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ Upon the Earth ❯ Lilac ( Chapter 2 )

The tavern was near closing by the time Shishido dropped in. Not that the tavern ever really closed - conversations continued in the dusky lamplight long after the ale stopped flowing. There was something about the atmosphere that encouraged one to linger. But that's ridiculous, Shishido berated himself mentally, and went back to waiting for Taki to notice him before he began to speak.

 

When the last glass clinked into its place, Shishido found himself under Taki's full attention. "Well, Ryou, it's been a long time. How's your brother doing? I heard he's on border duty this week." The words were practically purred out as Taki settled down across from him, and Shishido flinched at the tone. He'd almost forgotten why he disliked dealing with the tavern keeper. The other man was too intrusive and far too fond of taking the roundabout way rather than the straight and true.

 

He slammed a small purse down onto the counter between them, the coins inside clinking. "He's fine. What do you know about Hiyoshi?"

 

Taki didn't even glance at the money. "Hiyoshi? Hmm, he usually comes in on Fridays, orders a cup of-"

 

"Don't be stupid. You know that's not what I'm asking. Where's he going, and why did he leave in the first place?"

 

Taki sighed and rose from his seat, pushing the coin purse back into Shishido's hands before motioning the other boy to the back room. Shishido followed him behind the bar, eyeing warily Jirou's sleeping form, but then Taki was indicating for them to sit and Shishido let the presence of the blonde drift from his mind. "Well?"

 

Taki set down a mug in front of him, and he watched as the dark brew trickled down. He murmured his thanks and waited.

 

"About Hiyoshi, I can't tell you that."

"You can't."

 

"Of course not. I don't know, myself," and there was a hint of amusement in there. "More importantly though, haven't you noticed that Hiyoshi has cut himself off from the Hyoutei network?" The words were spoken sweetly almost, and it took little effort for Shishido to reach his mind into the network to check that yes, indeed the historian was gone and how the hell had they missed that?

 

"How did he- Wait, you're still linked to the network?" As far as Shishido knew, the network had originally just been intended for the higher-ranking scouts of Hyoutei, and Taki had retired from that position awhile ago.

 

Taki rolled his eyes at Shishido's ignorance. "Of course I am. Those bonds go almost as deep as the truth-bonds, and you know how deep those go. To break it..."

 

Shishido scowled. "Would be painful. And very easily detected. I know. Not that you would, since you don't trust enough."

 

"And I could have poured poison in your cup just now. You trust too easily."

"But you didn't."

"No, but the point is that I could have. You trust too easily."

 

"But never mind that." They were getting too far off track. "How did Hiyoshi break it without anyone knowing? At least Atobe should have realized, never mind the rest of us."

 

But before Shishido could get his answer, warning bells rang.

 

All scouts report to the 2nd Gate. All scouts report to the 2nd Gate...

 

"Shit. Later, then, and I will come back." Taki merely smiled sedately as Shishido darted off, before turning to the blonde still resting behind him.

 

"Jirou, you should go too, you know."

 

Jirou opened one eye slowly and yawned. "In a moment. Why didn't you tell him where Hiyoshi was? I thought you knew."

 

Taki laughed low in his throat, amused. "I do. But that's not what he asked."

 

"You knew what he meant, though," Jirou pointed out, disapprovingly.

 

"No use showing all my cards so soon. Hiyoshi asked for ten days before I said anything, anyway. It's only been six so far. Are you going to tell him, then?"

 

Jirou shook his head before shrugging on his scout's badge and uniform jacket (powder blue - Taki remembered wearing it, once). "Nah, I don't really know anything, anyway. Y'going to go see what's all the commotion?"

 

"I'll be right behind you."

 

 

They found Saeki of Rokkaku standing in the middle of a crowd, journey-worn and ragged and still clinging to the reins of his horse from where he'd slid down. Atobe was calling out, "Move, move!" as he parted curious bystanders, making way for Sakaki following behind. Saeki lifted a hand in greeting, his expression grim, before getting straight to the heart of his news. "Rokkaku has fallen. We've managed to evacuate most of the population to Seishun at the moment, but..."

 

"What happened?" Sakaki questioned. Atobe had begun to direct nearby errand boys to take care of the horse, send for refreshments with that imperial tone of his, even as Sakaki led the Rokkaku-jin to some place more comfortable. "No, rest first, if things are being taken care of back home. Tell us later." Saeki didn't argue, collapsing into the bed offered with something like relief.

 

"Thank you," and Saeki nodded his appreciation at Sakaki. "Later, I have much to tell."

 

Atobe stood outside, waiting for any instructions from Sakaki. "Sir."

 

"Gather the rest of the eight-" and here Sakaki frowned slightly and remedied his words at the remembrance that Hiyoshi was gone, "seven core scouts and prepare them for when Saeki wakes. There is much to do."

 

"Yes, sir."