Chapter Text
"Genya, if we can’t find that flower, I will make you eat soil with my own hands. Then maybe you can see that damned flower in your dreams."
Sanemi spoke as a drop of sweat ran down his face. No, not just a single drop of sweat, drops of sweat. His whole body was practically drenched. The silk shirt on him, his white hair sticking to his face, the hands—one of them gripping the hilt of his sword, the red cloak on his back… Every part of him was soaked in sweat. He had already stopped counting how long they had been walking. Even his own scent felt like sweat to him. The pheromone scent he no longer cared about hiding. A sharp rosemary scent, just like his aggressive personality and equally aggressive appearance.
"Big brother, please, let’s search a little more." Genya pleaded, looking at his brother pitifully. In truth, he was not much different from Sanemi. His black hair, instead of white, was stuck to his forehead, and instead of a red cloak, the purple jacket decorated with yellow details he wore, along with his white silk shirt, had changed color because of sweat. Yet unlike his brother, he still had his energy. He was still excited to keep searching the surroundings. The cinnamon scent coming from the young alpha carried traces of happiness rather than exhaustion, despite spending the whole day in the forest.
"Alright, but only a little more. We’ve already gone beyond the borders of the palace anyway."
Genya’s face brightened as if the sun had risen upon hearing his brother’s answer. All his energy returned at once, and he began moving forward excitedly. He jumped over the tree roots that were visible on the ground, his eyes looking left and right, checking under every stone and every rock.
Sanemi could only sigh as he watched his brother running around excitedly. They had been in the forest since morning, and they still hadn’t found what Genya wanted.
The blue spider lily.
Genya had come across this flower while going through old books in the library. A flower that only bloomed in certain places during the summer season. Seeing it alive was almost impossible, but unfortunately Genya resembled his brother Sanemi when it came to stubbornness. When he learned that one of the regions where the flower grew was the area where the palace was located, and since it was summer, he hadn’t thought for even a moment. Early in the morning, after preparing his things, he had tried to head toward the forest behind the palace. Sanemi seeing him at the last moment didn’t ruin his plan, instead it evolved into something different when his brother decided to come with him.
Sanemi, giving up for the countless time, started walking after his brother again. He had already given up while trying to convince Genya to stay in the palace that morning. Even though he thought what they were doing was nonsense, he didn’t want to crush his brother’s excitement. He had no hope that they would find the flower. Until now, he had never heard anything about the blue spider lily in the palace. The forest was as usual. There was no different scent. Except for a sharp mint pheromone.
Sanemi suddenly stopped. The surroundings were filled with the mint scent of an omega in pain. It was not a scent that belonged to this forest. He widened his eyes and began looking around.
"Genya, don’t move." Genya froze at his brother’s sharp warning. His curious eyes were on Sanemi. His brother had drawn his sword. His eyes were scanning the surroundings like a wild animal. His steps suddenly turned into the soft steps of a hunter. He was moving slowly while sniffing the air.
"Brother—"
"There is someone." Now Genya also began to sniff the surroundings. When he noticed the mint scent, he slowly pulled the dagger from his belt as well.
"Follow me and stay behind me."
They were moving cautiously in the opposite direction from the path they had taken earlier. The joy and exhaustion from before had disappeared in an instant. The Shinazugawa brothers were searching for the source of the scent, feeling ready for any situation. As they moved between the trees, the faint scent they had been sensing grew stronger and stronger. This time, the purple eyes were not looking for a blue flower, but for any living being.
And that was when Sanemi saw the blue.
Those blue eyes were looking at him.
Sanemi, without letting his guard down, ran to the side of the black-haired omega lying at the base of the tree. He looked to be in terrible condition. It was obvious from his clothes that he did not belong here. Most of his clothes were torn and cut, and his bruised and wounded body could be seen underneath. The light blue fabric he was wearing had been dyed red. His eyes were looking innocently, like those of a gazelle. He looked like a wounded gazelle lying on the ground.
This omega was bleeding. That was when he realized.
"Giyuu..." The stranger’s voice was not louder than a whisper. Even though Sanemi was right beside him, he had not understood what he said.
"Don’t speak, you’ll waste your energy."
Despite his protests, he parted his dried lips again. This time Sanemi leaned closer to hear what he was saying.
"I am Giyuu and I—" He could not find the energy to finish his sentence. His lips and eyes slowly closed. He entrusted himself to two men he did not even know. He had used all his strength just to say that unfinished sentence.
Sanemi was trying to remain calm, but the moment he saw those blue eyes close, it became much harder. The alpha inside him had started to go mad.
Protect him.
Protect him.
Protect him.
He removed the cloak from his back and began to wrap it around the stomach of the injured omega, whose name he had learned was Giyuu. Even though he did not understand why his instincts were going so wild, he continued the task he had started.
"Genya, we are taking him to the palace."
Genya nodded and started running. Sanemi carefully picked the omega up in his arms as gently as he could. His face was now clearer. Even though he wanted to examine him more closely, he needed to save him first. He ran after Genya, trying not to shake Giyuu.
Maybe they had not found the blue spider lily, but they had found a wounded gazelle.