“He’s all settled in.  You might want to go talk to him, ya know,” said an irritated Soma as she stepped into Kurogane’s private quarters.

The tall man kept his back to her, unresponsive.  She sighed.  “If you’re worried he’s a spy or something, I already discussed it with Queen Tomoyo and—”

“I’m not worried he’s a damn spy!” he suddenly shouted.  “He’s too hollow and shattered for that,” he added under his breath.

Despite his low tone, Soma heard the statement and was a bit surprised by his assessment…and by its accuracy.  She’d forgotten what a shrewd judge of character Kurogane could be after all his dealings on the battlefield. 

“What is it then, that bothers you?”

The swordsman continued to stare out the window in front of him, leaning down to rest his hands on the wide sill.  “Why was he given to me?  Why not just send him to the Queen, if Ashura was so eager to be rid of him?”

He seemed to speak more to himself than Soma, who had stepped up next to him.  She didn’t expect to see the distraught look on his face and she didn’t quite understand it.  “What makes you think he wanted to send him away?  I thought Fai was one of the King’s favorites?  I assumed that was why he sent him, because you had taken a liking to him, and he wanted to show his generosity.” 

Kurogane wondered how Soma knew about his encounter with Fai at the banquet, then shook his head slightly.  “The Queen gossips too much.” 

Soma shrugged at this.

“I think it’s very unlikely that Ashura sent Fai out of a desire to look ‘generous,’ as you put it.”  Kurogane paused, wondering how many of his suspicions he should share, when he knew Soma was likely to relay them directly back to the Queen.  His fingertips grew white as he pressed his hands against the smooth wood of the windowsill, his mind agitated.  “I get the feeling that this is just the latest in a long line of cruelties the King has inflicted on Fai…” he said, deliberately looking away from Soma, who was now staring at him.

She had never heard him speak this way and wondered how he had come to this conclusion, “If that’s true, then why not be more welcoming to him? I don’t understand you…”

Turning around, Kurogane crossed his arms in front of him and finally looked Soma in the eye.  “Can’t you feel it?” he asked.  “When you’re near Fai, can’t you feel his power?”

Soma shook her head.  Although she was normally very attuned to the energy of those around her, the blonde’s aura was too erratic for her to get a grip on it.  Now, in the back of her mind, she began to wonder just what was between these two men that allowed Kurogane such insight into the foreigner. 

“His power flows off him in waves.  It practically oozes from every pore!” Kurogane said, as if accusing the man of some crime.

Soma looked incredulous.  Kurogane pushed on, his anger fueling him.

“I wouldn’t doubt he’s stronger than even the King!  And what does he do?  He allows that miserable bastard Ashura to treat like him some pawn!  Lets himself just be USED, instead of living his life!”  As he spoke, Soma watched his eyes look past her and suddenly narrow dangerously.

“Tell me, what kind of coward allows that to happen?”

Soma turned to follow his gaze and saw that Fai was standing in the doorway that connected the two rooms, his expression unreadable.

Then, without a word, the blonde turned and left.

“Kurogane!  You’re out of line!” Soma yelled, whirling on him.  “You can accuse Ashura of viciousness all you want.  The only one I see inflicting cruelty right now is YOU!”

In a huff, she walked to the door leading to the hallway, each step punctuating her anger.  Just before slamming the door she told him in a cool tone, “The Queen will hear of this!”

Kurogane was left to brood as he looked once more out the window into the long, span of gardens below.  Try as he might, he could not free himself from a slight pang of uncharacteristic guilt aching in his chest.