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After he’d been healed by Skye, the old man had contemplated what would happen to his family once he passed. The following day, Toshinori had announced his youngest son as the next head of his family. He figured that was the real reason that he’d been in such a foul mood, and why he’d spoken so impudently to Skye.

Once things had settled and everyone had tea in hand, Toshinori apologized again for his son’s attitude; “He’s angry, and I can understand that.. It was only recently that I decided my youngest son was to be the next Head. Xiao-Rong was groomed his entire life for a duty that he will no longer have.. It is my failure as his Father, not his..”

Skye scoffed; “Do not make excuses for him. He is, what? In his forties? He should have better self-control than that by now. That is his failure as an adult. Not yours as his Father.”

“He has suffered his entire life with the same headaches that Ping has just started to experience. How can a lifetime of misery not affect him so?”

Skye shook her head; “So his experience gives him privilege to torture others? Just because he suffers unfairly? It’s okay for Him to be the cause of suffering for others?”

“I get what you are saying. You don’t need to continue,” Toshinori replied with a defeated expression.

Skye sighed as she leaned on the small table they were sitting at; “None of this is on you, Toshinori. Your son is his own man, and has been for quite some time. He may be your child, but he is not A child.”

The old man nodded in the negative; “You do not have your own children yet, so you do not understand. You never stop wanting what is best for them, no matter their age. And the sense of responsibility towards them barely fades over time.. It doesn’t hurt any less when you see them making the wrong choices.”

“You’re right, I don’t any children of my own yet. But maybe that is the perspective you’re missing,” Skye commented as she leaned back in her seat; “You see him as your child, and I see him as the forty year old man he is.”

.....

“Skye, please. Show some compassion,” Mei pleaded as she held her tea like a talisman.

Skye clicked her tongue; “I’m not trying to be argumentative, but I’m telling you now: that guy is going to be trouble later. Why else would he yell about Tokuga? The man is already moving against the Senate.”

A pained expression traversed Toshinori’s face; “My son has been begging me to publicly take Tokuga’s side, but I could never do that. I was a young child, but I remember my grandfather’s stories.. I have seen with my own eyes that absolute power, absolutely corrupts, and Chen is exactly the type of man who would abuse that power.”

“I tend to agree with you on that one,” Skye stated before taking a sip of her tea.

“Why does he support Senator Tokuga? I thought that the Yagi clan has always opposed the idea of an empire?” Mei asked after lightly kicking Skye under the table.

Toshinori nodded and sighed; “We have, but my son is...going through a rebellious stage.”

“It is not a ‘rebellious stage’ at age forty,” Skye commented, ignoring the glare that Mei was shooting her; “As an adult, he’s making an active choice. Does he not realize how good the citizens have it here? They have no fear of their food or children being taken away. No worries about who owns the land they live on because they have actual rights to their homes.. All of that will change if Tokuga takes power.”

“So, what is it exactly, that you want from me?” Toshinori asked with a slightly dower demeanor.

“Just for you to continue to support my Father. Senator Tokuga is going to be moving against him very soon, and you are an important figure to both the people, and the soldiers. You were the one that got them hazard pay during dangerous missions, and convinced the Senate to pay for maternity and paternity leave..”

As Mei paused to take a breath, Skye quickly said; “No wonder your son wants you on Tokuga’s side..”

“Quiet, Skye,” Mei warned before turning back to Toshinori; “Whether you like it or not, you Will be a decisive factor in the outcome of all this, Toshi. And if you try to stay in the middle, it will divide the people even more...I know that you don’t want to divide your family, but Xiao-Rong has made that choice on his own.”

For the first time in a long time: Toshinori felt his age. All of the common sense he had accumulated over the decades told him to automatically side with Bai Lei, but his love for his oldest was blinding his heart. As he silently struggled with his dilemma, Hsin finally spoke.

His voice was much deeper than Skye expected, and it was filled with sincerity as he tried to buffer the blow to his father..

“I know that Xiao-Rong has been preparing to become the next Head of our family his whole life, but you chose me for a reason, Father. I wholeheartedly believe in Senator Bai Lei, and what he and his faction are working towards. Do you no longer believe in them?”

“Of course I do,” Toshinori automatically responded, then he sighed heavily; “But your brother has always been very astute. Maybe there is something about Chen Tokuga that I am biased against seeing-”

“If it helps you any with your decision: Zazzy hasn’t liked him since the moment she smelled him. She said that he smells like darkness.. You know that he’s already tried to go after Mei and her daughter, right? Is your son the Only reason that you’re hesitating?” Skye commented.

Mei narrowed her eyes at Skye, not thrilled that she seemed to be using Sai’s reverence towards dragons, and Mei’s own circumstances, to her advantage. Skye wasn’t saying any of it to be manipulative, but Mei took it that way. She just wanted Toshinori to understand that but for the fact that Xiao-Rong was his son: Toshinori would side with Bai Lei without another thought.

The entire conversation had been in Saianese, but Skye switched back to Alconian as she said; “No one can make this choice fer ya, Toshinori.. But since ya already chose yer youngest son as yer next Head: I think that ya already made yer decision..”

“Tis not about how ya feel fer yer lads, but how ya feel about the state of yer People. They be full-grown men now, capable of makin’ their own choices. Ya may not like the ones yer eldest is makin’, but that doesna mean that ya love’em any less, or him you, cause he willna listen. It just means that ya acknowledge his right ta choose fer himself.”

Skye’s voice hardened slightly; “Xiao-Rong Needs ta accept the ramifications of his choices, not be shielded from’em like he was a bairn. Dinna allow a nation ta divide itself cause ya dinna want ta hurt yer lad’s feelings.”

“Father, please-listen to Mei Lei and the Princess. I both agree, and believe in them. My brother was raised the same as me, so his choices are his own,” Hsin pleaded.

Toshinori looked at the crinkled lines on his youngest son’s forehead. Hsin had always been a well-mannered and docile child, which was the opposite of his troublesome brother.. ‘Why did it take me so long to realize that Hsin was the best suited? ..I know why, I just didn’t want to admit it..’

Taking a deep breath, Toshinori spoke in Saianese; “Do not blame Xiao-Rong. I was almost never around when he was a boy, unlike with you and your sister-”

Hsin cut his father off; “Even then, we were all taught the same values, and learned the same things. I know that you do not wish to accept it, but Xiao-Rong has rejected our family’s philosophies, and has sided with the Loyalists. If you continue to support us both, that will not only divide the people, but the rest of our family as well.”

Toshinori stared at his son with surprise, who had stood up from his chair halfway through his speech. Hsin had always been very reserved, and rarely let his emotions show like he was now. Seeing his son’s determination shining through in his eyes, Toshinori promised to publicly side with Bai Lei’s faction..

Once they’d gotten their business talks out of the way, Mei and Skye stayed for another hour or so before departing. They weren’t sure how long the men would be gone, but Mei wanted to get back to Rukia anyway. So they had the carriage readied, and went to meet it out front after bidding Ping farewell.

When they came outside, Xiao-Rong was waiting for them..

“Lord Tokuga warned that you were a slippery one, but I didn’t think that Bai Lei would be smart enough to send you with his daughter, to persuade my father..”

Skye smirked; “Well, good for you. Now move, we’re heading home.”

Xiao-Rong stepped directly in front of Skye, who had no patience for the man. As he started to insult Mei’s father to their faces, Skye gritted her teeth as Mei whispered; “Keep calm.. Don’t hurt him..”

“Don’t hurt him, hmm?” Skye muttered, causing Xiao-Rong to stop momentarily in his berating.

Before he could do more that yelp; Skye used her Earth magic to raise herself, and grabbed onto his cranium with a single hand. Mei called her name with panic in her voice, but Skye kept a hold of his head for at least two minutes. Guards and people passing by watched on with shock, unsure of what to do.

A few guards began to yell at her to release him after the first minute, but Skye refused to let go. When she finally did, Xiao-Rong fell backwards, and landed on his arse with an undignified grunt. As a few guards swarmed the women, another older one helped Xiao-Rong to his feet.

The expression he had confused Mei and the guards, who were repeatedly asking if he was okay. Skye had lowered herself as soon as she’d let go of Xiao-Rong’s head, and was staring at the man expectantly as she said; “A simple thank you will suffice.”

“What did you do to the young Lord?!” a guard yelled, but Xiao-Rong held up his hand to silence him.

“Why? Why would You help me?” Xiao-Rong asked, his skepticism plain on his face.

Skye shrugged; “You and your father said that you have headaches like Ping does-did. Maybe now that you won’t get them anymore, your attitude will be tolerable..”

Xiao-Rong eyed Skye; “What do you want? I will not turn on Lord Tokuga.”

Skye waved him off, and walked passed him to get into the carriage as she replied; “Just stop breaking your father’s heart, and we’ll call it even!”