CHAPTER 363: WOULD IT EVER MATTER??

[TAMIKO]

Pressing hard was not something new to Tamiko, but the moment he could see Sanji giving in, he contemplated for a moment if he wanted to truly hear the words that held a truth he had found out in the most unconventional ways.

This was a truth that was possibly so destructive and one that could have fucked him over in an instant. But Tamiko wasn’t a coward, and he wasn’t about to be one right now.

He was losing his mind with the thought of what he had just found out, and he needed someone to confirm it; that little terrifying truth.

He needed someone to tell him that he was not in the wrong for this, and even better, that he wasn’t the reason shit was about to be so fucked-up that life slowly lost meaning.

He needed to hear it from someone’s mouth, and if the traitor was what he was focused on, then he would lean in without a doubt, even if it scared the hell out of him. This was not just any secret, and he understood it a little too well.

This was about the one that even the old books had been denied entry into. A life that needed to be protected for obvious reasons, and yet one that had managed to live nevertheless.

"His youngest sister. Yilena Sidorova is your aunt, and the one who lives with Konstantin," Sanji said, and Tamiko almost went insane from that confirmation. He knew it the moment he had smelled the faint Hinata lavender on her.

He had only wanted to be so sure, but at the time, his desperation had led him into believing that this was because they had spent the whole day fucking with Kosta so that was what it could be.

It was not what he had hoped for, but it was what he had gotten; nothing could have prepared him for this. Maybe that was why he had changed his mind from wanting to kill Yilena to insisting that Kosta’s guardian stay with him.

It was a last-minute change that had surprised Kosta, too, but perhaps Tamiko had always meant what he wanted to do, right?

"Looks like a family reunion is overdue, eh?" Tamiko asked, and Sanji looked at him sadly. This wasn’t what anyone would wish, not even for their worst enemy, and it wasn’t even shocking that Sanji wanted to stop Tamiko.

The wheels of fate were spinning really fast, and nothing that Sanji said could change the truth that was bound to come out in the end. It wasn’t like there was a reason for their lives to remain steady even then.

This was war, and in war, there was always going to be chaos along the way. This was what they had to lean into and boy was Tamiko despite all that shit. This was crazy, and he hated it.

He didn’t like it, but what else was he supposed to do?

"Tamiko, no. You can’t do this. It is too dangerous and you might never come back to the same person," Sanji said, and to that, Tamiko chuckled.

It was quite hilarious that the man was determined to let him slow down when there wasn’t a thing about Kawai that screamed peace or mercy for anyone.

This was a death trap, and regardless of how they tried to look at it all, there is never going to be a way for them to come out of this. No one would know what to do, and it was the hardest bit of it all.

They needed to be better, and for years, there were sacrifices made. So with what Tamiko had found out, he had the chance to make life better for his Kosta.

He had to make things better for Kosta because taking that old woman from him would mean that Kosta would live a sad life, which wasn’t what Tamiko wanted. Even then, lies lingered a little too much, and he hated every bit of it.

But what if Tamiko chose to kill Yilena?

Would it all be alright with his father and whatever was left of their family then?

"If you try to stop me from killing that woman, I will return your pain, Sanji. This you know as the truth for me. Don’t try to fuck it all up because if you do, not even the sun will ever have the courage to shine on your face again," Tamiko wanted and Sanji sighed.

He knew that this was easily the most dangerous thing that Tamiko could have chosen to go with, but then what the hell was he to do? There wasn’t an easy way out of this. Either way, he lost Kosta.

Maybe if he chose to kidnap Erasthai, things would be alright, yeah?

"But—" Sanji tried.

"Relax. I’m not killing anyone today, but I’m also not leaving Erasthai begging. I will take Kosta with me, even if I have to leave the kingdom for Papa to rule it. You don’t have to worry about your pain coming back anytime soon, because I am a man of my word, Sanji.

"I will stall your pain until I see you happier than ever, and then I shall return it."

Sanji groaned at the suggestion.

It wasn’t a suggestion, though.

This right here was a reminder of the fate that was waiting for him on the other side of the hell he had gotten used to. This was his chance at mercy in a time when mercy didn’t mean much.

But then again, he had to think for himself. None of this was okay, and if Tamiko upset the current order, lives would be wasted. People would die quite literally, and there wouldn’t be much to think of.

"That is even worse than killing Yilena, Tamiko," Sanji sighed.

"You can come and watch, or if you are afraid of Papa, you can go back to the new lands we acquired. Either way, you are not leaving Kawai. Get cozy," Tamiko said casually, like he was addressing an old friend he was hoping to see in the future.

The timelines were fucked, and nothing about what Tamiko was focused on screamed mercy and peace. It was like the world was suddenly turning grey and that it was all getting a little too fucked up.

No one understood what was needed anymore, because at the centre of every madness was a Hinata Lycan ready to blow shit out to hell and at the same time, ready to protect whatever they held dear.

It was a sort of conundrum, and no one would ever truly be ready for what was coming.

No one.

"Sometimes I wonder which clothes you wear in cut form, because your crazy is worse than the king’s crazy. You are more dangerous than he is, and you don’t even hide it. That makes you the worst devil any of us has ever known," Sanji pointed out.

Tamiko just laughed casually.

None of this would ever make any sense for a long time because no matter what they did, if they were ever not at peace with each other, then they wouldn’t have to deal with loads of shit.

It just didn’t make any sense, but then what else was life supposed to be? This was a chance at a better future, only that there was nothing better about the shit that was happening right now.

"On second thought, you need to go back to the border. I will create a portal and leave a message for Floki. This is something I must do alone," Tamiko said, and Sanji stared at him in confusion.

This wasn’t what he had imagined, and yet it seemed like the young prince was dedicated to getting the most out of this. It was wild as fuck and perhaps this was the most dangerous think he had been forced into.

Then again, what else was left for the kid? Life wasn’t exactly being kind to him right now, and there wasn’t much that could be said about the chaos that would ensue.

"I am a traitor, Tamiko. Wouldn’t it make more sense for me to come along and get to witness how your house falls apart before I die? Will you deny me that?" Sanji’s tone was so serious and calm that Tamiko wondered if the man had lost a part of his mind.

No one in their right mind would ever want this, but Sanji was volunteering to be in the front seat of the greatest shit show in the realm. It wasn’t right, not by far, but there was only so much that could be done at this rate.

No one needed to die, but there was someone who needed to be bested. This was a time for decisions and regardless of what happened or even how it all happened, they would have to think shit over for a long while.

Maybe that’s why they were here now.

"As much as that is almost conceivable, I promised to kill you myself, not to leave you at the hands of my papa. Now go," Tamiko said, as he created a portal.

Before Sanji could whine about it, he thrust the man into the portal and made sure to send the message to Floki, too. This was the most dangerous thing that he was about to do, and he didn’t need to second-guess himself.

He needed to understand the dynamics on his own. With one last sigh, Tamiko looked around, like he would miss the tranquility around him. He knew what he was about to do was suicide, but he had to save his Erasthai.

He had to keep his word to Kosta, even if there was a chance Erasthai Kosta wouldn’t want him to do this.

What other option was there?

’Forgive me, Kosta,’ Tamiko mumbled as he went through the portal to Kosta’s house.