Chapter Text
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Seiei grunted as he looked upon the report given to him. He had long hated the Republic, but that was pride as a member of the Giad Empire, and the fact that his son had abandoned the Empire to go live there. Yet? This report disgusted him more than his son breaking the taboo of marrying a Maika. Even in that case, a part of him couldn't blame him. Matters of the heart were like that. He shook off the guilt of disowning his son for a moment, there were more pressing matters to attend to.
He’s not even sure why he even had this report in his hands anymore. Any espionage missions were likely meant to gain information on possible troop movements, not matters of domestic security. Yet all the same, this report told Seiei all he needed to know in order for him to act.
That damned Republic...
They planned on rounding up any non-Alba and sending them to internment camps. This could not stand, not for his son, not for his grandchildren. Hell! Not even for his daughter in law! Curses upon the damned traditions, they were going to treat his FAMILY like ANIMALS! And for what? The assumption that just because they did not have white hair and silver eyes, that made them spies? The sheer paranoia that decision would require made the tyrants of old seem like wise and normal world leaders. It was a sick joke.
The paperwork was done within a quarter of an hour. He brought his son, grandchildren, and yes... Even his daughter-in-law back into the Nouzen family fold. He cared not what the Maika bitch had to say about this, or even if she knew. Zimmerman could do whatever the fuck he wanted about this damned revolt against the nobility, hell, he gave some support to the cause as long as the Empress wasn't slain. That being said... he did have to play both sides. His family needed to be pulled from that mess of a Republic went too far, and out of all people that could extract them safely, he could only trust his own blood to do it right. Ten of his clan, to temporarily retrieve one. Not to forget the ammo and supplies to build the defense at Rosenfort. Buying months, maybe perhaps a year or so if Zimmerman and his ilk wished to take the Empress hostage or whatever the hell the revolting masses wanted at this point
A price worth paying.
"You know why you stand before me?"
That was the voice of politics. He despised it.
Yet? It had to be done. Kiriya was drowned in it.
Duty was his blood. And all Seiei could do was stroke the ego of a man that lived by it
"I was briefed. Reisha, the Maika, and the children?"
Yet having of life of naught but duty had its perks...
Time wasn't wasted on explaining things. Yet Seiei had to suppress a chuckle at the coldness of it all. Even when tasked to save her, he still couldn't bear to say the name of an outsider. If the situation were less dire, perhaps he would even laugh at such a crude remark.
"Get in. Get them out. Get them here. I want them safe"
Further words were not needed.
Even if ten others of the clan were tasked with the protection of that new Empress, Kiriya could not, would not, trust them to be as effective as he was. Which was the reason he alone was the right person for this job.
He was skilled. Ruthless for his age. That is what Seiei needed. Someone who could do what needed to be down to make sure his son, his sons wife, and his two grandchildren got home to Giad safe and sound. It would not erase the pain of the past, but it was a start. He could mend the past hurt, but that chance would be robbed if they remained in the Republic, and they ended up sent off to those camps... Or worse.
"Just hold on son... Help is on the way. You'll be safe"
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Kiriya POV
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It was so much easier in his head. But even the best laid plans can go to shit in a heartbeat.
This "Presidential Order #6609" was still on the table. Hell, it could have been thrown out if those Republic pigs had any soul left inside them. Then again, they considered that fucking order in the first place, so it was his fault for assuming a shred of good would be inside them. The Eldest Nouzen lived where his station should be, perhaps a little lower considering this was outside the Empire, but it was the top of whatever this shithole could offer that wasn't Royalty. Even then, not worth the shine on his Master's boots.
He assumed the richer masses of the Republic cowardly.
That was his mistake. Rocks, torches, hell he even heard a gunshot, all directed at the Nouzen residence. The police were no use, only keeping these pigs from busting down the gate and burning the place to the ground. His disguise was pretty weak, only meant to keep those whom took passing glances at him to keep on walking. The uniform was legit, but the hair dye? The coloured contacts? He gathered them in a rush, assuming this sham of a nation could hold itself together.
He could not wait for the Empire's Legion to tear this place to the ground. Perhaps make it a new palace for the Princess. . . Ah, he almost forgot she was an Empress now. Still, he was close enough to her that she would let the accidental disrespect slide. But... He had to finish the mission first before he could go back to her.
Nevertheless. He got to the estate. He made contact with the VIPs. The Eldest Nouzen son and his family.
At first?
Things went smoothly. The Eldest Nouzen and his "wife" were taken to the truck I stole.
A recently converted prisoner transport, not doubt evidence that the Republic fully planned on going through with that order of theirs. Shipping off all non Alba to... camps.
He got the eldest son first, as the younger was sleeping. The truck could block sight of the gentle hand he gave to all of them, but if the younger one fussed? (He couldn't understand children that were not his Empress) the jig would be up, and things would go loud in a hurry.
Thankfully, the elders of the family knew how to put on a good act once he told them of his true nature. The elder son played along as well once he gave his name, almost excited that a relative was "coming by" despite the dire circumstances. I had to hold back a chuckle and smile in the moment. Gently informing the young man that he had to play along and pretend to be angry about this. It was strange, he so clearly had the traits of a Maika, yet I had not felt any sense of disgust. Perhaps the Nouzen, or rather, the Onyx genes won the day? It mattered little either way, he was his charge, his duty in the moment.
Then it came time to retrieve the youngest son. Young Shinei Nouzen.
Once I got him to stop fussing, telling him that his parents were waiting for him, I could hear sirens. Apparently, my "backup" had arrived. At the worst time as well. Like the child he was, Shinei had claimed we had to take his "dog" with them. A mere robot on standby mode. I had to grip my sidearm as I heard the other, real, officers open the door.
It all happened so fast.
Gunshots, fists, blades.
Bastard Republic Alba scum wanted to. . . I can't even put it to words. Those sick bastards wanted to do something no "men" should ever consider.
I saved some time for the Legion, but at that point? Shinei was frightened. He ran. How could he not be?
The rioters outside lost their temper, the other officers came to investigate.
More gunshots and slashes, I was back in the truck, speeding off into the evening. The others shouted, begged even. They wanted me to go back but I could not. The window for escape was closing. Reisha, in one final move of fatherly love shouted into some clearly homemade control module, telling this thing called "Fido" to track Shin down, to protect him, to love him. Even I could not blame the man, even I gave a silent prayer that whatever this device was, this "Fido" was could buy time for some other operative to find and save the boy. It was my greatest shame as a member of the Nouzen clan.
. . .
I had to blow out the brains of a guard on the Gran Mur wall, the son they called Rei, short for Shourei I assumed, started crying once it was confirmed we could not go back for young Shinei. Even then, my cover was blown. But lucky for us all, this truck went faster than any rig the Alba scum could spare. Thankfully, my brothers in arms within the Legion decided it was time to attack the Northern front. All attention was drawn away from us as we went east.
The Republic Dogs gave chase for a time. Yet none could ignore the might of the Empire's Legion for so long.
The Eldest Nouzen son was safe
As was his wife and eldest son
All I could hope for was that Shinei was adept at stealth. Or a family friend would shelter him.
My duty lay with the Empress... Yet even I could not escape the feeling of failure.
. . .
At the very least?
In the worst case of all worst cases?
. . .
The Legion could avenge him.
. . .
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Shin POV
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I ran.
I ran as fast as I could.
The shots... My ears were still ringing... It hurt...
I jumped through Rita's yard first, then another... and another.
Until only a street remained. I kept going until I felt like my legs were jelly.
I fell.
It was an alleyway I think...
I heard footsteps, and I did what my parents told me to do when I was lost and scared.
I asked for help.
But they... Laughed
I didn't feel much after the first blow.
A kick? I think? Everything went numb and dark after that.
Then I was lifted into the air.
By a rope.
I pulled against it as hard as I could but...
It was no use.
Everything started to go dark after that.
It was dark for... A bit? I think I heard screaming?
Screaming, moaning, crying.
Then angry yelling.
That last part felt more real than the last.
Then I felt it, really felt it. Pushing. On my chest.
Soon enough I... I guess you could say I was awake.
I was back in the alley. A strange Alba man was pushing my chest.
I started gasping.
Coughing... Then crying.
By the Alba man was crying too.
He was thanking God, saying something like... It was a miracle?
My neck burned. I could still hear the crying, the screaming, the moans.
But they felt... Far away? To the upper districts?
It didn't matter.
The Alba man asked where my parents were
I did not know. So he took me with him.
Outside the walls. To this old church.
. . .
. . .
. . .
"I was there for four or so years. . . He taught me things. Reading, writing, how to defend myself"
Alice took a sip from her coffee. Or, she called it that. But it didn't taste like it.
"And now you're here. . ."
"Yeah. . ."
I rubbed my face with her scarf.
She gave it to me but... It felt wrong to call it mine.
"That's the last thing you remember? The alley?"
"Yes ma'am. . . I don't know what I was running from. . . But it was scary. . . I think"
Another sip from Alice, followed by a long sigh. It was a mix of curiosity about his situation, and a tad of annoyance that Shin didn’t seem to remember the whole thing. It was like reading a book, but the first thirty or so pages were ripped out.
"Tell ya what kiddo... We made it through tomorrow, I'll tell you about my brother..."
"... That would be nice"
She didn't get that chance.
No one really did. But it hurt more with her.
He was the last.
He was always the last.
Always left behind…
For some reason?
That line of thinking seemed to fit him too well… something about the words…
Left behind.
Fit him. Yet he never knew why.
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Reisha POV
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A candle was lit. For a son long lost.
Four years. He would have been 11 now. The cold halls of the Nouzen estate held his family in safety for the time being. His father welcomed them all back to the family, even daring to smile at his wife, the one whom got him disowned in the first place. Whatever he learned about the Republic must have been a wake up call. His father even hosted members of the Maika clan, speaking normally and casually to Gelda, his mother-in-law. But an unspoken weight filled the room whenever they all spoke.
There was supposed to be two grandchildren. Yet only one stood with them.
Not confirmed to be dead, but...
Small details about the Republic's plans slipped from his fathers lips. All Reisha could hope for was the Josef managed to get his hands on Shin before the police and military did. If something happened to him, Reisha couldn't forgive himself. His daughter may have... Fallen into the hatred spat out by the Republic, but Josef was a kind man.
He could hope.
That is all he could do.
Rei joined the Army, thinking that he could charge across 400 kilometers of land to go save his brother. Yet, reality was often disappointing. The Legion went rogue after the Empire fell and the Federacy rose in its place. Out of all the nations, the Republic was closer than the rest, yet as the Legion took hold of more and more land, it felt as if Shin was as far away as the moon was to this planet. But... Even in this war, even with the hatred that filled the Republic's veins, Shin would be safe enough right? Children would not take to the field of war, even the soulless bastards of the Republic would not fall so low.
"Just wait for us..."
"We'll find you... Son..."