Cruelty

[Dai Minh]

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Spoiler: CHARACTER LIST:

Spoiler: MAIN

Spoiler: Yamagata Keijun

Name: Yamagata Keijun
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Association: Yasuda Clan
Rank: Taishogun
Pedigree: Nobility, First Rank
Background: Yamagata Keijun surged through the ranks, surpassing his peers with brilliant speed, to become the youngest Taishogun in three centuries. This was achieved through a series of assassinations, blackmailing, and other illicit acts which have given lesser nobles and many common folk cause to accuse him of conspiracy and murder. Despite this, Yamagata has deftly navigated the echelons of the elite to attain significant popularity among the upper circle of Reikoku.

Spoiler: Rokkaku Daizen

Name: Rokkaku Daizen
Age: 61
Gender: Male
Association: Rokkaku Clan
Rank: Reikoku Kanrei, Lord Admiral of the White
Pedigree: Nobility, First Rank
Background: Rokkaku Daizen is Reikoku Kanrei, King of Reikoku, the highest ranked and most powerful Lord beneath the Emperor. Ostensibly the direct liege of nearly all other Nobles, the fealty system has eroded to the point that such an honor is meaningless. This does not mean that the title of Reikoku Kanrei does not carry with it magnificent weight and power; the estate of the Rokkaku Clan is the largest and wealthiest of any Clan and the title carries with it significant prestige. Rokkaku Daizen also occupies the rank of Lord Admiral of the White, the highest ranked military authority second only to the Taishogun. Rokkaku's position as Lord Admiral places significant responsibility on his shoulders; the weight of the Empire has taken its toll. Rokkaku Daizen is married with three sons and one daughter.

Spoiler: Omura Ujimori

Name: Omura Ujimori
Age: 54
Gender: Male
Association: Omura Clan
Rank: Kanpaku, Duke of Isaku
Pedigree: Nobility, First Rank
Background: Omura Ujimori is the Eternal Empire's Head of Government, leading the civilian government from his position as Kanpaku - or Prime Minister - elected by the Kizouku no Yakata, or House of Lords. Omura Ujimori ostensibly heeds only the wishes of the Emperor, but in practice Omura has shown strong loyalty to the Taishogun, unifying the civilian and military halves of the government.

Spoiler: Fuminori Aizen

Name: Fuminori Aizen
Age: 46
Gender: Male
Association: Hashin Clan
Rank: CLASSIFIED
Pedigree: Nobility, 3rd Rank
Title: Domaru
Background: CLASSIFIED

Spoiler: SUPPORTING

Spoiler: Emperor Go-Yuryaku

Name: Emperor Go-Yuryaku
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Association: Aihara Clan
Rank: Emperor
Pedigree: Imperial Family
Background: Crowned Eternal Emperor in 2009 following the assassination of his father by Marxist-Leninovist factions, Go-Yuryaku immediately launched a large-scale crackdown of leftist factions across the Empire. Some suspect that the assassination, uprising, and subsequent crackdown were orchestrated by the Taishogun as a means to assert power over the Throne and eradicate the Taishogun's rivals.

Spoiler: Aihara Yakiya

Name: Aihara Yakiya
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Association: Aihara Clan
Rank: Crown Prince
Pedigree: Imperial Family
Background: Born in 1993 and inducted into the Saganami Imperial Naval Academy in early 2010 at the age of 16, Yakiya was recently withdrawn from service at the command of the Emperor, whereafter he was made to be heir apparent. Yakiya was known to be a capable tactician and maintains a web of connections throughout the military. Yakiya is further known to have interests in Engell and Burgundian customs and history.

Spoiler: Aihara Saaya

Name: Aihara Saaya
Age: 15
Gender: Female
Association: Aihara Clan
Rank: Princess
Pedigree: Imperial Family
Background: Thought by many to be the treasure of the Imperial family, Saaya is considered incredibly beautiful, debuting in headlines and front pages whenever she makes an appearance. Often sheltered away within the protection of the Palace, Saaya has spent much of her life diligently learning the skills expected of a Princess two steps from the throne.

Spoiler: Miura Hideyasu

Name: Miura Hideyasu
Age: 66
Gender: Male
Association: Miura Clan
Rank: Duke of Kairen, Lord Admiral of the White (Ret.)
Pedigree: Nobility, First Rank
Background: Miura Hideyasu is Duke of Kairen, a sizable holding in southeastern Reikoku, and vassal to the Reikoku Kanrei Shimura Haruuji. He has personal loyalty owed to Yamagata Keijun, a man who had supported his claim after his brother's death and who had been his friend and confidante when Hideyasu was Admiral of the White. He is also close to the Imperial family, having at times served as an advisor to the Go-Yuryaku Emperor and holding ties with both Aihara children. Miura Hideyasu is married with two sons and two daughters.

冷酷
Be Relentless​

Ten fingers clad in gems and precious metals coiled between each other atop the surface of a low table, a man dressed in remarkably elegant, sleek, and yet simple garb sat on his knees before it. A cup of tea, now cold with time, sat full to the brim on a side, the pot in the center. Yamagata was displeased. The Crown Prince was running late; no doubt he believed himself clever in displaying his perceived superiority by delaying the meeting at Yamagata's expense. Formality had to be adhered to, Yamagata reminded himself. The Crown Prince, as heir apparent, was now the de facto Head of State of the Empire and was permitted such dalliances.

Yamagata was not a man to forget an insult, however small. Behind him, a fit man dressed in dark drab grey with a forgettable face and slick, obsidian hair parted on one side knelt. The two did not speak. Nearly half an hour late, the doorway slid open with the soft sound of well sanded wood gliding against wood.

Flanked by the valiant white uniforms of the KyuKeiBitai, the Crown Prince held himself with an arrogance Yamagata would have considered unthinkable, but he said nothing. Only weak men exhibited such hubris. Yamagata bowed deeper than one might have expected for a Taishogun, eager to inflate his so-called 'superiors' impropriety.

The Crown Prince responded with his own gentle nod. Another insult, to be sure. "Sorry to keep you waiting, it seems that we'll need a new pot of tea," Aihara Yakiya smiled as he motioned to a butler.

"Your grace," the Butler apologized as he took the cup and pot away. Yamagata dismissed the man with an ignoble wave of his hand.

"I assume you must be a busy man now that your father is ill. I hear that it is grave. There must be many functions to plan." Yamagata's smile was meager at best, twisted simply at the corners as though pulled upwards by hooks.

The Crown Prince frowned at the insinuation that he was planning celebrations at his father's passing, and worse the simply stated fact that the Crown Prince had very little else of actual importance on his schedule. Currying favor with the Taishogun was in poor Yakiya's interest, and yet the impetuous and idealistic young boy was more worried about trivial displays of courage and defiance. Yakiya sat at the table across from Yamagata, covering well the blows to his pride. "Yes, the Emperor's health falters, as you know. It may be only days before he passes." Yakiya's words were melancholic and distant.

Yamagata feigned sympathy. "I am certain that you are up to the task, my Prince," his eyes connected with Yakiya, switching quickly from sympathy to antipathy, "and yet, it seems that the Princess will not be here for his passing?"

The Crown Prince visibly frowned. "There was an urgent matter to attend to."

"An urgent matter? In the West? More important than the death of her father, the Emperor?" Yamagata clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Imagine her despair when she discovers that she was not able to see him before he is laid to rest."

"I do not imagine that her function will take so long. You should have more faith in the constitution of the Emperor."

Yamagata nodded. "Ah, apologies. I am sure you are right. Still, I was able to glance at the manifest and saw no nobles accompanying the jewel of the Empire. I had assumed that perhaps the journey was a tryst for the young lady and her suitor..."

The words stung at Yakiya, his lips curling at the thought. "No, her visit was at the invitation of a certain noble in Angellex with ties to the family," Yakiya was a poor liar, Yamagata thought, "her suitor awaits her return."

"Ahh, I see. Well, perhaps you would divulge the details about the pairing? I am most interested in knowing who Saaya-tan has blessed with her interest. I would love to cheer him on."

The informality of the honorific slashed through the Crown Prince's composed resolve. Yakiya knew that Yamagata was a under-handed man, but such boldness was uncalled for. "No, even I have not been informed of his identity, and were I, I would not inform you. The manner of their association and his desire for secrecy was apparent in their dance, do you not think?" the Prince lashed out angrily.

"Indeed," Yamagata replied grimly, "that is perhaps the best for his health. I hear that there are many men eager to capture her hand, and many would kill for the opportunity."

The nerve. Yakiya nearly smacked the waiter carrying fresh, hot tea as it arrived. The audacity! The Crown Prince bowed gently. "I apologize, I realized that I have other matters to attend to."

Yamagata nodded. "Indeed, it seems you have some work to do managing your schedule."

The Crown Prince sneered and swiftly left the room as the tea was set down. Yamagata smiled as he took a sip, waiting for the butler to leave the room. He raised a hand and the man behind him looked up. "Checkmate."

The man dressed in simple dark grey robes rose.

"And, find me Saaya-tans suitor. Alive."

 

[Dai Minh]

Streams of light trickled in through the curtains, cast widely across the soft white walls of a simple room. A single bed stood in the center, dressed in white sheets and surrounded by softly beeping monitors. Half a dozen uniformed KyuKeiBitai stood like pallid statues; the sworn life guard of the man who quietly rested amid the crumples of the sheets.

A male nurse enterred the room, dressed in muted teal scrubs, his face fully exposed. He looked tired, as though he had spent many days working the late night shift. He showed his identification to the guards who verified it against their own list, checked his fingerprints and validated a secure security question which changed every three hours. He was checked for undeclared medicines and potential weapons. The nurse sighed as he cleared every test, rolling his eyes and moving to the chart to review the Emperor's condition.

It had been becoming progressively worse; the organ failure had become systemic and the leader of the Eternal Empire had lossed most motor functions and even the ability to speak. It was absurd that the laws of the Empire prevented him from taking his own life - the suffering he was going through had to be immense. Trapped within his own mind.

The nurse moved towards an IV drip that was used to inject medicines designed to supplement failing organs and held a clear, plastic bag aloft, ready to replace the previous drip. All the better that he suffer, he thought.

He leaned over the Emperor, holding his flashlight and playing it across the Emperor's eyes. The pupils dilated, signalling he was conscious. Perhaps even aware. "Can you hear me?" the nurse asked.

The Emperor was motionless. Before his unmoving eyes, a completely forgettable face appeared. A man that the aging Aihara swore he recognized, but could not recall. "I hope so," the nurse leaned forward and whispered. "Keijun-sama has asked me to send his regards, as I did your father." The Emperors pupils dilated, fear. "Checkmate."

The nurse stabbed the tube into the feeder, the liquid that would kill the Go-Yuryaku Emperor within hours mixing with the ones that had until now been slowly wasting him away. The combination would induce pancreatic failure that would release toxins that would both pull the Emperor into a dream and simultaneously create an unimaginable world of pain. Trapped in his mind, unable to tell the others, the failure would cascade through the rest of his body shortly after. But not too short, Fuminori reminded himself. Yamagata had a message he wanted sent to the Aihara Clan, one that would resonate throughout its generations. Yamagata would cull the fat from the bloated Dynasty, one by one.

He nodded to one of the Guards. "There is not much to be said. His recovery is progressing poorly. Yoza-sensei recommends that the current treatment continue; that is all that can be done at this point. I would inform the Prince and Princess."

The Guards face was sunken and solemn and he nodded in acknowledgement and disappointment. It was no doubt incredibly difficult for a Guard who had taken a vow to die for a man to watch him wither away from an undefeatable foe. Unbeknownst to the Guard, the foe stood before him. And Fuminori was nothing if not dilligent. There would be no trace of his work. He left the room without a smile, his work was to continue. There was still another matter at hand.