Kiati the Silent Watcher

“You are the son of the sparrow court, and you will not dishonor us.”

Dishonor. What did it mean, really? As Kiati sauntered through the halls of the Western Courts, he could only feel the rich taut anger in his fathers voice the moment he had made his decision. Of all things, he had ended his relationship with his father on such a sour note…. He was a non descript, silent man and even as people nodded at him in greeting, he knew that in a second they would forget him, him and his unremarkable soul. He did not say this out of anger, or frustration. He said this with pride because he had been working for this for such a long time.

“The moment you step out of my house you will no longer be my son.”

He remembered the obvious bridled rage, and even though it had been the most sorrowful moment between he and his father, he could only remembered being awed at the control his father showed.

“You told me once.” He had said quietly, and while he had tried so hard to show the same control his father had managed, it had been hard. No—it had been downright impossible. Even now he did not know how he had managed even a semblance of it. “That as a child you had wanted to be an assassin…”

“I had wanted.” His father said, and for a moment Kiati with a child’s fervor wanted nothing more but to see his father explode in rage. Was this man even possible of exploding? “But I had never abandoned my family…” he began.

“This is what I want, father.” He remembered the words leaving his mouth, and he had been surprised because they had not been his, not really. “I am going to be an assassin.”

That night he had left his household, he had discarded his name as Sparrow Clouds and he had decided only to be known as Kiati.

“Are you going to leave me as well?”

He remembered his sister, looking for the first time to be so alone and his heart had wept for her.

“I don’t want to.” He had said quietly, so quietly because it had been the truth. He loved his sister—he did not want to abandon her to this household.

“You don’t have to.” She had slid behind the screen, as if not wanting him to see the expressions flying across her face and he had stood there, wondering just how to act. He did love his sister but…

“I’ll be at the Western Courts.” His whisper seemed too loud for his ears. He did not want others to hear. “Only you know… I will… search for you, if you arrive. I will know, when you arrive.” He amended, and smiled. She might not be able to see his smile…

“I’ll miss you.” But she knew he was, a sad smile.

“I will as well.” The moment had been grave, serious as if the two had never expected to meet again. He had known that the Crown Prince had been interested in his sister—he had felt that rush of sibling protectiveness over the younger one, when he had found out.

That night he had left, and in the streets he had come across the two men dressed in dark, sober colors. “Did they approve?” they had asked.

“Yes.” He had lied. In the beginning, it had all been about lies. Of course, by the third month he had told them the truth— by then it had been too late for him to return, and by then they had discovered that he was indeed serious about this, and that he had a give.

“Welcome, brother.” He had been so proud of that moment…

He had grown in rank among the assassins of the Eastern Court. They had transferred him to the Western Court almost immediately, and even though he was different, even though he was one of the Eastern Court, the ones that these people seemed so fascinated with, no one seemed to notice him.

Maybe, as a child this would have bothered him. But he was no child, and instead he was thrilled because he held an advantage over all the rest, all the other assassins who wanted to rise in ranks. With the others, people couldn’t help but notice them.

“What is your secret, Kiati?” one of the men asked him, and he had looked up with innocent eyes. He was a good actor.

“Secret?” he had said blankly, smiling. “Oh, do you mean the tea…?”

He had killed that man. He never said anything about it, but soon word began to spread that he was indeed serious about his job, and no one had tried to talk to him from then on. He was an anti social man, a proud stubborn person who did not care, not really.

“Have you seen her?”

“They her name is Chiaki.”

“Chiaki? Kiati… they are similar.”

The words had caught his attention, and he had known that just like she had said, his sister had arrived at the courts. He knew all about her, the heart break she must have suffered when the Dowager Empress had sent her away—but it had not affected her. Not on the political level. Their parents must be so proud. The words were bitter in his mind, because he had not spoken to their father in…. what, many years now?

He had watched her, and he knew she could see him but she had said nothing until a month had passed and in the corriders, she had placed one slender pale hand on his arm and had looked up.

“Kiati, it is me, Chiaki.” Her voice had been soft, hesitant as if she was not quite sure of something. “Don’t you remember me?”

He had looked down at her and he had smiled. “Sister.” He had said quietly. “Of course. You have grown to be a beauty.”

Chiaki, relaxing had smiled a wry smile. “The Crown Prince must not have thought so to pick it up with the first distraction his mother throws in his direction.”

Kiati frowned, and it was such a fierce, protective frown that Chiaki had laughed. “He would not dare..” he muttered darkly.

Chiaki laughed. “You have not changed at all.” She remarked. This life had not changed you. Those were the words going through her mind, and Kiati could see them- but Chiaki was wise enough not to say anything. He was an assassin, and it was a secret, after all.
He remembered seeing Kika, for the first time in a while as well. She had changed, grown darker and more friendly but she still seemed to have trouble with the weather, growing red at unexpected moments.

“Is she having a heat stroke?” he had asked his sister, only to have her turn to him with a funny look on her face.

“No, why?” she had asked, and he had frowned, shrugging. He hoped it was nothing serious…

“She’s always red.” He had pointed this out and after a moment, after pausing and laughing his sister had snickered. “What’s so funny?” he was confused by this, and she had only smirked.

“Nothing, brother dear.” She had replied, sending a slow, considering look in Kika’s direction. He had felt bad about it, and the next day he had approached Kika.

“Did she say anything to you?” Kiati asked her, and she had looked up, going red again but this time smiling and looking confused.

“About what?” she had asked, staring up at him rather blankly.

“Nothing.” He paused. “It’s just…” he shook his head. “Never mind.”

“Okay.” The puzzled glance she had sent his direction had him blush, almost.

He spent a lot of time with his sister—but not too much, because it seemed people noticed two pale skinned Eastern people, more then they remembered him by himself. Some knew him by name, and he knew, although he was still in his prime he would have to leave this occupation soon- especially if he wanted to survive. They were not supposed to have people recognize them, and look at what he was doing.

“What to do?” he asked his sister. “I can’t stay…”

“Then don’t.” she said with a slight smile.

“Well,  can’t go home.” He was almost annoyed. “Then where can I go?”

“Come with me.” She had smirked as she said this, as if to her this was all one big joke. “To Cytari.”

“What?” he remembered, then. She had been planning on leaving this world to visit another, a good looking place that seemed to be rather… well, amusing. To him, at the very least. It was not the kind of place he had been before—he had left before his sister had begun to travel to these dragon worlds.

“They have these people, called riders.” She said, and explained the system to him swiftly. “Come with us.”

The idea had been pleasing.

Pleasing…

“Are you ready?” the search rider asked him, and he nodded. For some reason these people did not seem to miss him, they did not ignore him and he knew he would be no assassin among this clan. For some reason, neither did he want to be an assassin. It seemed… wrong, somehow.

“Yes, I am.” He had looked up with a slight smile. “A plains dragon, is it?”

The search rider nodded. “Stubborn creatures the are, but proud.”

Sounded just like him.

He smiled, laughing and shaking his head. All that work at being an assassin… and now this!