Necessary Roughness [Yuuki/Kasei] [SOLO]

FUUSHA-NO-YUUKI | FUUSHA-NO-KASEI

The flames of conflict. did not reach the dojo of the Senkaku Shin Ken. Perhaps it was luck. Perhaps it was hard work through the students of the dojo. But the one thing Yuuki knew for sure, it was not through the efforts of Fūsha-no-Kasei. The old man wasn't going to be on the frontlines. He could always claim some medical condition. Yuuki knew most of them were equally true and exaggerated. A rolled ankle turned into a debilitating leg injury. "My old bones just don't recover like they used to." is what the old fart would say.

Yuuki had seen the lack of destruction when they returned home once the majority of the invasion had subsided. Most of the other members of their dojo looked relieved to see Yuuki survived. Some had seemed neutral. But there were those few that seemed disappointed. No matter. If the old man was dead, they would be even more disappointed.

They had not waited to hear anything from Fuusha-no-Kasei's attendant about his status. Instead, Yuuki opened the door to the sitting room. Poking their head in, they began to question if this is where he was. "Maste—"

"I'm still alive, brat." The brusque, scratchy voice came from the other side of a large, wingback chair. There was the distinct sound of a book being slammed closed. There was also a hint of disapproval or perhaps even disappointment in his words. "Didja think I was going to keel over from a heart attack?"

Yuuki clicked their tongue and entered and stood behind the chair. They were annoyed he hadn't done just that. "I am glad to see the Senkaku Shin Ken dojo has survived this attack." Yuuki's tone was respectful, but clearly forced. There wasn't a hint of actual relief.

Kasei chuckled, and Yuuki grumbled. The two had always had a tumultuous relationship. This wouldn't be changed overnight, and it wasn't going to be changed in the face of defeat. "We're one of the lucky ones. Shōen-no-Kasha's status is unknown. All that I know is that she got caught up in the fighting and was injured. I expect her successor will take over before the month's end."

It wasn't surprising that Kasei had immediately gone to the Kashas. They had always been Kasei's rivals over any of the other dojos. Lady Shishiyuki was of no concern to him because she was so far above him. There was no point in playing the higher games when you knew you were not in the same league. If there was something Kasei was more aware of than anything, it was the fragility of age. He wouldn't last ten seconds against Shishiyuki nowadays. But the Kashas of the Hōo Kanmuri Ken? They were fair game.

"Once the announcement is made, I want you to deliver the condolences and congratulations to the next Kasha." Yuuki blinked in surprise. That duty was usually reserved for the head of the dojo from Yuuki's understanding. Any of the times a dojo was succeeded, Kasei had passed the news to Yuuki after already completing the duty. Yuuki began to speak, but was cut off. "Why you? Because it'll show you what to expect when you finally succeed me. If you finally succeed me, that is."

"I mean, despite that the next Kasha is younger than you and weaker than you, perhaps you can learn something. With whatever you learn combined with your rate of improving, you might just be able to succeed me before the next Kasha. But if not, it'll at least teach you how a good student should be when they lose their master." Yuuki winced at each insult. The man had been grooming Yuuki for years to succeed him. For as long as Yuuki could remember, Fūsha-no-Kasei had only wanted one thing: a successor capable of beating the Hōo Kanmuri Ken's Kasha.

And yet, Yuuki was confident they would lose. They may not, actually, but Yuuki had no confidence in a conflict with the Hōo Kanmuri Ken. And that would be the deciding factor in the fight. They wouldn't be able to believe in their victory. "Of course, that is predicated on Shōen-no-Kasha needing to be succeeded. If she pulls through... Well, I still think you could learn something."

"And who knows, if you still don't learn anything, perhaps you could be useful in other ways." Kasei threw up his arms in a shrug. Yuuki swallowed. They knew what Kasei meant by that. It had never been explicitly stated, but there was always the true emergency plan. They just hoped it never came to it. "Nothing to say now, hm?"

Yuuki wanted nothing more than to strangle this man—and their white knuckles proved that. But they couldn't pull themselves to do it. There was a wrong-ness about the thought, and even so, Yuuki just had to bide their time. Kasei wasn't immortal. Yuuki again began to speak but was cut off. "Good. Then I do have a task for you that is definite. I expect Lady Shishiyuki to want a report of our status; and even if she's not wanting it, I want you to give it to her. You can say my voice is weak from a cold and I don't wish to get her ill and that's why it won't be me showing up."

In truth, Kasei didn't want to get reamed by Shishiyuki as to why he wasn't out there fighting. Yuuki knew that just as much as Kasei did. He could play the old man card only so often personally. He knew that sometimes it needed a buffer (read: a scapegoat for the anger). Yuuki stayed silent, expecting more. Instead, Kasei's neck popped as he turned and glared back to Yuuki. "What are you still doing here? Go on. Get to it. Compile a list of our casualties and damage."

Kasei gave a dismissive shooing motion to Yuuki as he turned back to facing ahead. Yuuki nodded and bowed. "I will do so, Master." They didn't even get a grunt of acknowledgement. As Yuuki touched the door to leave, Kasei left his student with one last thought. "I am pleased to see that you survived, Fūsha-no-Yūki. It seems as though you have learned something after all."

THERE ARE NO WINNERS