Yami No Matsuei Fan Fiction ❯ In the Garden ❯ In the Garden ( Chapter 1 )

Alright, here we go! This is my first attempt at fanfiction - usually I write originals (they're at fictionpress.net if you're at all curious?). This fic is pretty tame, I wanted to play with characters that most seem to generally leave alone. The pairing is barely there, if at all. Any comments are appreciated, thanks and enjoy! ~amaretto

In the Garden

Byakko walked slowly beside the wall at the rear of the balcony overlooking the inner garden of the palace, humming softly to himself as one hand trailed lightly along the wall. His white and sky blue robes swished faintly, in time with his slow steps. Lost in thought, he didn't notice the figure leaning on the railing until he was nearly past her.

"Suzaku? I thought you had ventured off with Tsuzuki?" Byakko smiled at the phoenix, though it wavered slightly when she only continued to frown in thought, sparing him only a glance before returning her gaze to the garden below. "Suzaku? Is something wrong."

Red and gold robes flashed in the bits of sunlight that spilled onto the balcony as Suzaku turned to face the white tiger, still frowning. "That's what's wrong" she jerked her head in the direction of the garden. "Even after everything Tsuzuki did for him, and has done for him since, he still shows no remorse for trying to kill him--hell, he acts like he'd do it again if asked."

Already knowing the subject of Suzaku's fierce temper, Byakko nevertheless idly looked down into the garden. He frowned, puzzled. No one was there. A flash of movement caught his eye, and Byakko shifted his gaze to a large, leafy tree. There in the shadow, resting against the massive trunk, was Touda. Byakko shook his head - only Touda would be able to asleep with Suzaku glaring at him. "Su, you can't possibly still be upset about that?"

"What do you mean, "still be upset?" Why aren't you?" Lost to her temper, the angry phoenix turned her burning eyes on the hapless tiger, stepping forward even as he took several steps back. "Don't tell me you condone what he did? It was inexcusable, unforgivable! How dare you take his side, Byakko!"

"Hey, hey now." Byakko, pressed up against the back wall, held up his hands in surrender, attempting to placate the firebird. "I'm not taking anyone's side, Su. Calm down, eh?"

Suzaku fell silent, though she continued to glare.

Byakko relaxed his hands, running one through his spiky bangs. "I'm just saying - it's over and done with. Touda attempted to do as he was ordered, but our Master lives anyway."

The phoenix's tone was scathing, "That hardly excuses what he did. It doesn't matter what Tsuzuki says, we should not kill him."

Byakko frowned, slowly growing annoyed. "But directly disobeying an order is alright? Isn't our duty to obey our Master? Part of following someone is doing what you're told whether you like it or not?"

Suzaku opened her mouth, closed it. "Perhaps, but letting Tsuzuki die is not permissible. I don't care what anyone says."

Byakko narrowed his own eyes, pushing off the wall to stand his full height. He looked down at the firebird still looking angrily up at him. "It's your right to decide who lives and dies? Even when it's their choice to cease living? It seems to me you're more concerned with how you feel, rather than how Tsuzuki felt. I agree with you that Touda should not have killed him, but only because at the time Tsuzuki didn't really want to die. But I can assure you that, should he ever finally want to die, I won't stop Touda should he ever again choose that route."

"No! It will never be acceptable. No one should ever want to kill themselves - it's cowardly." Her gaze shifted to something past Byakko's shoulder. "Che, I've had enough. One fool is bad enough, but I won't tolerate two." With that Suzaku spun on her heal, stomping away toward the door at the eastern end of the balcony.

Byakko stared at her retreating back thoroughly puzzled for a couple of seconds, before a familiar presence registered. Suzaku's fire always felt hot, like a summer day that never cooled into evening, but only increased in heat. This fire was hot and cold all at once, a flame made from pain and fear.

Turning around, he smiled up at the ever-solemn figure dressed entirely in tight, black clothing. "Hello, Touda."

"You were being loud."

"My apologies, we got carried away."

"She was shouting on purpose." Touda cast an idle glance at the door that Suzaku had just slammed, before returning his covered eyes to Byakko. "It doesn't matter, I have other things to be doing."

"Oh? Like what?"

"I feel Tsuzuki - I will be called soon."

Byakko snickered slightly, turning away to look out over the garden. "Mmm…I had wondered if that was why she was out here glaring at you, once I realized what she was doing. She hates to be left from a fight - especially when it's hard enough that Tsuzuki calls for you." He looked back up at Touda's hidden face, and then turned back to the garden.

The faintest hints of a smirk formed on Touda's lips. "Indeed."

"Well, have fun then - it's not often you're summoned, maybe this time you won't have so serious a task."

Touda only shrugged. "There is no despair this time."

"You would know better than I."

"…Would you really not prevent me, if he asked for death?"

"Huh?" Byakko looked up, surprised. "Ah…no, I wouldn't. I meant what I said - yelled, rather. If he chooses to die, that's Tsuzuki's choice - but I still think it should be what he really wants. And he didn't really want to die last time, I don't think."

"…He did, but I don't think you could understand it." Touda looked coolly down at the white tiger, whose frown deepened.

"What do you mean by that? What wouldn't I understand?"

Touda remained silent so long that Byakko didn't think he was going to answer. "You've been alive as long as I - but you have always been more or less free. You couldn't possibly understand what's it's like to be imprisoned, locked away for so long that death is your sweetest dream. When Tsuzuki summoned me, there was something of that behind his summoning me. It's faded a great deal since that boy came along, but it's still there somewhere."

It was Byakko's turn to remain silent. "You have a point, Touda."

"…Why were you defending me?" Still Touda stared down at the tiger, his level tone never changing.

Byakko was almost glad the visor was there - it was hard enough to stare back as it was. Even with it he still turned away before he replied, a small smile on his face, "No special reason, really. Mostly it just confounds me that a Phoenix is so vehemently anti-suicide. And I think she needs to get over it."

"It's time for me to go." With that Touda's energy flared in preparation for battle, and he vanished.

Byakko stared blankly at the space where Touda had just been standing, startled. Shaking his head, he laughed softly to himself and turned once more to look out over the garden. Grasping the railing, he leapt lightly over it to land easily in the middle of the lush, green space. Strolling over to a large tree, he stretched out in the spot so recently vacated by the black serpent. Though the shaded space was cool, Byakko felt the remains of warmth in the place where he lay.