• Kiyoshi froze at Jiyuu's touch. So she could see the phantom lullabies, could she? How.. awkward. His voice was but a whisper as he replied, cold with the memories. "Yes, they're butterflies. They're called.. phantom lullabies. They're... The scars of a broken Bond. I have two. The traditional one was with my brother, who was killed before my eyes by the government. The second one, the monarch, was my friendship with my deceased lieutenant, Clay." He didn't turn to face her, cringing at the deep pain. The only relief was the chill from the blood touching the air and soaking his shirt, cooling the flamed flesh. There was no escaping it now. He was Bound for the final time, to a mortal nonetheless. All of her pain would become his, but none of his would be a burden to her. Good. At least she didn't need to feel the heart-renching agony of his phantoms. "Binding is the process that only a Gifted could go through, where they so-called imprint on someone they care about. There are three known categories of Binding: sibling Bindings, friendship Bonds, and love Bonds. The longest someone on record has ever endured the pain of multiple phantom lullabies was three. On the scarring of the third, the death of their third Binding, they died. They weren't killed by blood loss, but by a broken heart." A tear trickled down Kiyoshi's face. He couldn't help it. Death was staring him in the face. "Jiyuu... Your Binding is my third. If and when you die, I too will perish. But since you aren't a Gifted... You haven't Bonded me. You don't need to feel my pain as I will quickly begin to feel yours." He found his fingers clenching. The government was after Jiyuu for knowing Nell, but now she was important to him as well. If the government got a hold of her, they would kill him. The government would have taken everything from him and broken him simply by hurting people around him. He had artificially Bound to Riku to protect him. Riku was his closest friend, and Kiyoshi could protect him if anything went wrong. His Binding with Riku was Riku's first, so if Kiyoshi died protecting him... It would be better than seeing the last person after Clay that he cared about dying and dead. But now... The instantaneous Bound on Jiyuu had overridden their artificial one. A whole new Queen had been added to the chess board.
    Rage was swiftly building in Kiyoshi's heart. The tears he began to shed were more of anger than sadness or terror. He would protect Jiyuu more than he would've protected anyone else. The government would pay for all the agony they had caused him and everyone around him. There would be no government left when he was done with them.
    Finally, Kiyoshi sighed, defeated and very much exhausted. He nearly crumbled right then and there, the cheery Kiyoshi that had first come here gone and replaced with the Kiyoshi he was when he was alone. "She's already on the government radar on her own, Nell. We haven't done anything and they're already watching her. Remember when a large majority of our recruitment came from circuses across the country? They've been monitoring the traveling sideshows like hawks since. Nell, even knowing Jiyuu has put her in more danger than bringing her with us could have ever done." He turned back to the two girls still there, a dark shadow over his blue eyes. "They've just been waiting for the right time to strike. Trust me. It's been my business in the Great Lakes for years to watch them, per my own request. They know a lot more than we give them credit for. Big Brother still exists." A violent shiver ran through him just at the words 'Big Brother'. Their remote safety in the districts was just an illusion, created by the desperate Gifteds who just want a home and the twisted government who want them dead. Nell may be pulling all the strings in Tenjin, but somewhere there was someone pulling her strings. There was a constant game of chess. One man versus the whole of Tenjin, and all of the innocent civilians that he led. "Nothing is safe. We can't protect anything in reality. They just give us a false hope that we can." This was just a handful of his thoughts when he was alone, when there was no one to attempt to counter him. Clay was wonderful that way, never leaving him alone and always there telling him that the illusion was real. There was no superior toying with them, only what they lived in at that moment and what they themselves controlled. Then again, Clay was atheist. For several years after the death of Malcolm, his brother, Kiyoshi found light and happiness in Clay. He had only managed to keep up the light appearance in memory of his fallen friend, and it was quickly fading in the tension of the moment.
    Kiyoshi didn't make a sound as his tears flowed. His voice when he spoke was as clear as day. "We should leave. I need some Aspirin and maybe a good long nap." That sentence alone seemed to lift several tons off his slouching shoulders, letting him take a breath of air without so much effort. For the first time since he began his somewhat of an emotional breakdown, he looked at Jiyuu. Dear God, she was beautiful. Seemingly untouched by the horrors of society, a blossom of fresh wilderness. "I'm going to watch out for you from today on. I won't let the enemy hurt you like they hurt Clay. Never again..." He clenched his fists one last time before becoming loose, like a ragdoll. "I'm sorry about today. It's been a long couple of months." Kiyoshi wrapped his arms around Jiyuu with a sigh, not wanting to let her out of his sight. His body was starting to feel sore from the stress of it all. Yes, a nap was definitely in order. He smiled lightly. A good laugh would also serve him some good. The stream of tears was drying up slowly, but at least he was finally calm. Maybe he could still get away with acting happy and fluffy by the time they got back inside. Hell, he was in love! What was there not to be happy about? 'Live in the moment, you idiotic Tengen. Think of the here and now, and just breathe. The government is nothing but a thought, an idea created by man for control over each other. You are not a part of this government, but of your own. You created a world without hate in the Great Lakes, a sanctuary for those who saw the defects and wanted it ended. There is nothing to fear, and fear only distances one from the true meanings of life.' Blood still trickled down his back. It was time to take his leave.
    Kiyoshi released Jiyuu after a full minute of hesitation, his happy grin returning. "Stay safe, Jiyuu. I'll be back." His hand lingered in hers before finally he turned away. He threw a glare-like look at Nell as he passed her and began dissolving. Jiyuu could still see him, he knew that now, but he still threw a longing glance back at her before exiting the tent. Aspirin was calling his name.