Chapter 2: The Flowering Mansion

Every morning, Hachiji woke up to tend to his garden. It was immaculate, his pride and joy. He was Dragonlord of all vegetaion, since the very first seed sprouted from the rains of Kunio on Rukaba – he tended to and nurtured nature. Yet, the garden of his manor held the most special of parts in his five hearts.

"There are no blemishes or a leaf that goes ignored."

A phrase he repeated to himself many times as he gazed out of his manors window. His emerald eyes roamed across the foliage of greenery; every plant, tree, poison, shrub, even to the smallest blade of grass -all, existed here.

No.

Thrived around his manor.

Dutifully rustling about the near infinite verdure, Ren, Hachiji's beautiful gardener assisted in the TLC that each plant he so meticulously created.

A deep warmth settled into his hearts.

Ren was very loved by Hachiji and the Dragonlord looked upon him as his own kin. They had been together for hundreds of years and Hachiji looked forward to a hundred more. Gazing upon him, contemplating if he should meet him downstairs in the garden for tea, something irritably familiar reared its face.

'A weed.'

Colored with platinum blonde hair that faded to a turquoise. The ever recognizable, yet bastardized robes decorated in its family crest; the maple leaf.

The infamous problem called: Mitsuaki. The inheritor had taken a particular liking to Ren, much to Hachiji's chagrin. Before he knew it, he'd already climbed out of the window and headed straight to the duo. Like a yellowjacket that didn't forget the face of the one who shook its nest. Mitsuaki wasted no time in chatting up, Ren, his eyes staring tentatively at the gardener's golden brown skin and soft pink eyes. Bubbles of pride foamed within Hachiji's chest. Yes, his gardener was as rare as they came in looks and that is why he held such strong affection for him.

But that did not give space for another bee to dare pollinate him.

"Is there a reason for you to be disrupting my gardener's work this morning, weed?" For anyone, it would be impossible to ignore the absolute venom in which Hachiji laced his words.

Yet, as if true to his name, Mitsuaki still found another way around it to outright ignore.

Responding, barely batting an eye to Hachiji, "If I did are you important enough to me to tell? Last time I checked, you aren't."

This guy..

Hachiji gritted his fangs.

"Oh, Lord Hachiji! Good morning." Ren nervously greeted, brushing a piece of his deep azure colored hair behind his ear, an unsure smile on his face. "The garden is as beautiful as ever."

"As it ever is, Ren." Hachiji smirked with pride. "The weed should consider himself a lucky mosquito that fluttered in. Lost amongst bees and lavender."

"Yet, a mosquito you've failed in swatting." Mitsuaki raised an eyebrow in defiance. "Might I add, multiple times."

"It's merely because, Ren has befriended you. Consider it merciful, inheritor."

Mitsuaki facial expression remained cold, his gold eyes looking him up and down. Or, well. Down and less.. down in a near sense of belittlement. It was obvious to anyone who first gazed upon him that Hachiji was considerably short.

Well, no, actually. Mitsuak was just unfairly tall. Sucking up all the carbon dioxide that his plants worked so hard in producing.

The audacity of this guy…!

"Uhmm.. Though, there is something of value I must tell you, Lord Hachiji. It's also in good timing that Mitsuaki is here to hear of this too."

He speaks so familiarly of the weed, its enough to make any Dragonlord cry..!!

Reaching into his apron, Ren pulled out a handful of leula lilies. They were special creations made by Hachiji himself.

Mitsuaki tilted his head, prodding at one of the stems with a finger. "Guess the flowers here aren't as great as you make it out."

"M-Mitsuaki..!!"

An angry vein throbbed on Hachiji's head. "Do you want me to uproot you..?!?"

A pleading glace from Ren allowed Hachiji to recoil from lashing out at Mitsuaki. The inheritor maintaining an ever cool demeanor. Taking a deep breath, Hachiji examined the revealed flowers. They were rainbow colored petals, a flower found nowhere else in Rukaba. Yet, the vibrant colors on the petals and stem appeared washed out, grey even.

Like if all the color had been eaten out of it.

"This isn't the natural course of nature." Hachiji placed a clawed hand on his chin. "It would be wilted. Brown. Ren is a refined gardener. None of my plants have ever perished in his care."

Ren's face was clear with worry, "whatever has happened, it appears to be spreading, my lord. Its like something is drinking or vampirising the colors out of the garden."

Immediately, they both turned to Mitsuaki.

"Wha-oh, seriously? You think I did this?"

Hachiji crossed his arms. "I think you're the problem in all of Rukaba just for breathing if I'm being honest."

"Lord Hachiji!" Ren groaned, then sighed. "I don't think you're the problem, Mitsuaki. I think you're the solution. Something is happening on Akiyama. You must investigate it."

Mitsuaki rolled his eyes with great disinterest clear and visible on his face. "So a little color is getting sucked out of nigawarai here flowers, but that doesn't make it a big enough issue for me to investigate. This is his problem, not mine. It isn't worth my time."

"Did.. Did you just refer to me as a lesse—"

"But it is worth your time, and I fear it will become a bigger issue." Ren said, cutting off Hachiji. "Kikuyo was here earlier, we met in the front of manor's gate. She was freaked out about something only to relay to me that whatever is happening to these flowers are also happening to Takaharu. She begged me for you to speak to the Old Man of the Lake."

As if that was all for Mitsuaki needed to hear, he brushed past Hachiji, headed to the main gates of the manor. Quiet, focused.

Deadly.

Looking deeper, it was a if someone set off a sharp arrow. Aimed for someone's heart. The viciousness that radiated off of him had Hachiji temporarily gulp. Like a wave of heat, it was impossible to ignore, lest, you would be the one who'd get struck.

That was the power of the inheritor. Only Dragonkin, yet, enough to instill fear in a Dragonlord.

"I didn't take Kunio seriously when he said that he kicks his ass into gear when his little brother is messed with." Hachiji curiously spoke.

Ren nodded his head. "Mitsuaki cares far more for others than you think, Lord Hachiji."

His pink eyes gleamed as he spoke in an affectionate tone for the inheritor. "He just knows when to form boundaries."

An annoyed expression was hard to prevent forming on his face at those words. Yet, he kept silent. He may not like or enjoy the presence of Mitsuaki, but he did provide friendship to his kin. Also, there were some words better left unsaid then shared. Hachiji just couldn't help but deny that sometimes, when one has been given the title of leader, they could have no boundaries.

For all they do must be done for those who are under their leadership.

"Come, my beloved kin." Hachiji wrapped an arm around Ren's slim hip, ushering him towards the inside of the rustic manor. "A break from work, let's have some tea."

"Ah, I've been parched. I really hope he manages to stop whatever is causing this. The gardens don't feel the same."

"Leave that worrying to the inheritor, tell me, what sort of tea are you in the mood for?"

"Jasmine would be really nice!"

"With how much honey?"

Their voices faded as they talked amongst themselves animatedly. Ignorant to the tinge of grey that began to creep up the side of Ren's neck.