Kaiten
Been a long time since I've been back here… All alone, like usual…
Almost a full hour went by before I'd found myself standing before the Steel Palace. I took a deep breath, preparing myself to deal with my brother once again…
The Steel Palace stood tall in the middle of the central district, proudly walled off from the public at almost every side. The only means of entering was the heavily guarded front door. At the front was a small drawbridge leading over a mote of quicksand that circled the entire building. That palace was initially built to be an emergency refuge for the public, but Izanai only used it to keep the powerless people out.
This is for Kozuna… This is for Yvira… This is for Zara… This is for Nikai's future…
I walked across the bridge and showed my ID to the guards, just like the prison. Merely another measure of security. They frisked everyone that was allowed entry, with the exception of Izanai, and held onto anything dangerous. As for me, they temporarily confiscated my weapons, though they'd be returned once I left.
Leaving my things under the care of the soldiers, I walked through the courtyard, just beyond the drawbridge. It was as far as most visitors could go, packed under a glass roof and surrounded by steel walls. And as luck would have it, civilians were crowding around the front, shouting at the top of their lungs and being denied any further entry.
Feeling sorry for them did no one any good. As commander of the Ozukashi Armed Forces, I had the power to affect change… Meaning I had to speak with my brother about more than just the freedom of a few clansmen…
…Izanai hasn't done anything for relief efforts. He's just sitting on a throne and ordering everyone else to deal with the problems. My selfish brother. The people he's supposed to protect and take care of… and they're crowded outside, just waiting for the next attack… Nazun escaped. And knowing him, it won't be long before he returns… We need to be ready…
The shouting of the civilians and their cries bounced and amplified off the walls. I could only wonder how Izanai managed to ignore all the people just outside the front door. It was only a matter of time until people came barreling through the door by force. Though, I did have a hunch for what kept him... distracted…
***
The guardsmen unlocked the door for me, and the moment I stepped in, the large door creaked and slammed shut behind me. I stopped moving as soon as the door closed; the dusk-dark space beyond the front door merely served as the foot of the stairs. I already knew the palace's layout since it wasn't my first visit. Atop those stairs was the large main room, serving as a kind of waiting room that connected to several important areas via hallways, including the throne room.
Where Izanai likely was waiting…
Walking directly up the stairs, I saw several important figures sitting around and casually speaking to one another. The Ozukashi High Council…
All of them are here, even Helix…
Livian stood and bowed, the first person to notice my appearance.
"Well, if it isn't Commander Kaiten! I'd heard that you fought against that curse user, Kozuna!"
"Uh-huh. Where's Izanai? I need to speak with him…"
"It's LORD Izanai, mind yourself while you're in his domain... Kaiten."
I rolled my eyes to the sky, taking yet another deep breath.
Every second I spend in this building makes me want to never return even more…
"And it's Commander. Mind yourself when you speak to me. Now, where's Izanai?"
"On his throne, preparing for the meeting with the council... Address him with respect..."
Brothers don't address each other with respect… Especially not brothers with a dynamic like ours…
***
I stepped past the councilors, opening the double doors ahead of me, completely unannounced.
A long maroon carpet trailing from the entrance to the throne was at my feet. The walls were lined in fancy tapestries, showing the symbol of our clan and pictures of the many Ozukashi rulers. Izanai was almost practically lying down in his red and gold royal chair.
Noticeably tall, even in his seat, Izanai's silver eyes centered on me, just above his cocky smirk and below his lucky full head of black hair... Arms folded and legs crossed, his personal harem surrounded him, touching and feeling him all over, despite him wearing a long, thick robe.
Seems my hunch was correct. Izanai's here indulging in pleasures when he has a clan to run…
"Izanai…"
"Ah, little brother, nice of you to visit for once. It's been months, I just wish you'd visit under better circumstances… What can I help you with?"
"I'd visit more often if you deserved it. Still can't commit to a single woman?"
Izanai lifted his arms to the side and waved.
"Ladies, could you give my baby brother and me some privacy?"
He had nine women surrounding him, all of which obeyed immediately and walked away. Some were dancing while others had been rubbing his body. However, he'd always have them doing things far worse when no one was around. As they left, careful to close the door gently, Izanai's gaze and smile remained fixated on them.
"Well. What is that you desire, Kaiten? A hug? Have I been negligent of you?"
"Half right... You've been negligent... but of the clan… And your councilor arrested innocents-"
"Let me stop you there, Kaiten. Quick question… Have I really been negligent? I already know what you're gonna say, so I'll speak first... Tell me, what have I done that's so wrong? The northern district was decimated. I ordered the imprisonment of the one person present with a curse, and any conspirators. I do plan to give him a… fair trial, of course…. But I have to think of the entire clan's well being. One problem at a time, baby brother…"
That's an absolutely royal way of saying he doesn't care what happens…
I groaned aloud.
"You're planning to kill Kozuna, aren't you? He was born with a curse, sure… But he used his abilities to save the clan, not destroy it. Nazun is the one who led the attack, Kozuna showed up to help the counterattack."
"You misunderstand, Kaiten. I'm not planning to kill him... I've yet to decide exactly what it is I want to do, but… I don't want to kill him. Well, if he's innocent, that is…" Izanai took to his feet, dusting off his long, flowing robe. "Most likely, I'll keep him locked up in Sand Tower, along with the other cursed fellow we captured... Only bring him out for emergency response. That sort of thing."
"So you'd keep him alive, so long as he'd serve as your slave?"
"Yes. He is cursed after all. The only safe location to hold him is Sand Tower. It was built to contain curses, the other kid that's in there, he has something powerful as well... The same thing that happened to the other kid, is what will probably happen to Kozuna... If he's innocent… Curse users only serve one purpose within the Ozukashi Clan, and that purpose is solely my choice."
He keeps emphasizing...
"I'm against this, you can't just hold Kozuna or the other kid hostage."
Izanai reached over to the small end table near his throne. He grabbed a small cup, lightly bringing it to his chin.
"Can, am, and will continue to if he's innocent. I am in control of our clan, and its laws, after all... It's my job to govern for the sake of the people, not just one person, little brother."
Doesn't matter how good I am in the field… I'm horrible when it comes to political squabbles… Izanai won't just change his mind... I'll need to handle this situation a bit more delicately... and discreetly...
"Fine, but what about the damage to the city? What about the relief efforts? Plenty of civilians lost their homes, and a lot of soldiers lost their lives!"
"I'm aware. I don't live under a rock. You do realize news comes here before anywhere else, right Kaiten? Everyone will be taken care of, rest assured. As for the soldiers, the council is taking care of that."
"Your handpicked council of pompous, ignoramuses downstairs?"
"Far from idiots. They're all highly intelligent, and key components to my success as the clan leader, and the clan as a whole..." Izanai sipped his drink once more, then placed it back on the table, folding his arms again. "Now then, if we're done here, run along. I have a meeting with my council. And that meeting is supposed to happen in just a few minutes."
I groaned, feeling like a powerless little kid beneath my older brother as I turned and headed back the way I came... Izanai followed shortly after, just as I walked down the stairs to ultimately leave the Steel Palace.
"High Council, it is time for our meeting. Come along."
Don't do anything rash, Izanai...