At times like this when he felt even the slightest bit of uncertainity, he would close his eyes and picture Azu, the one reason that motivated him to fight back.
I should let him know what's going on here before he hears about it from someone else.
As Akira had predicted, the Head of the ruling council went on to make an announcement the next day, informing everyone of his grandson's decision to choose a beta and invited the elites and the common folks to witness the deciding duel.
The man never misses a chance to draw attention to himself.
Akira wasn't naive enough to believe that the reason for Daisuke's obsession with the binding was his concern for his grandson alone.
It was purely a display of power. It was all about stating that he and his family are still the top dogs. And he needed to do it now more than ever because the elections were nearing. Akira was undoubtedly one of the best Aratas out there and Daisuke wanted to use him, put him on display as if to state that, 'See, I'm here now and I'll be here, in the future.'
This game could be more dangerous than all the duels he'd fought in his entire life. Akira let the realization sink in. But he still couldn't give up on it.
The prize is worth it.
He reminded himself as he picked up the phone to call Azu.
***
Akira sighed in a mixture of relief and joy when Azu's soft and sleepy voice greeted him over the phone. He'd feared that he might not take the call.
"How are you?", Akira asked awkwardly, unsure what else could be a good question to break the ice.
"Eh? Akira?!" Azu sounded surprised. "Miss me already?" he asked, playfully.
"I bet you miss me more." Azu shot right back and just like that, the tension was dissolved.
Ah! I missed this so badly.
"How are you,really?" Azu asked again, his tone serious this time.
"I'm okay, Aki. Don't worry about me. We were supposed to take some time out for ourselves, remember?"
"I never wanted it Azu." Akira couldn't stop himself from saying that. He intentions weren't malicious. He did not wish to blame Azu nor did he wish to put pressure on him. It was a weak protest, a lover's complaint. However, the atmosphere had grown tense.
After a few seconds of silence as taut as a longbow, he got his reply.
"Let's talk about something else, shall we?"
Look at him elude the topic so nonchalantly.
"Very well, then. There's something that I'd rather you hear from me, than from someone else."
"Okay..All right, go ahead." Azu prompted Akira, but his voice couldn't hide the uncertainity he was feeling.
"My grandfather wants me to find someone else to pair up with."
Again, silence.
Is he not going to say anything? Does he not care?
"And?"
"He's invited a few trainees from Rigel. You might have heard of Rigel before, I think. It's a grade O academy for betas in Sector 3. Anyways, they are coming over here tomorrow and then yes, we'll have a few duels to decide my new beta."
Azu paused for a few seconds before speaking. "What did you just say, Akira?"
"I said I might be forced to choose my beta tomo- "
"Come again? Your beta? Did you really fucking say that?"
Akira had finally managed to tick off his beta.
"Who the fuck am I then?"
Azu was surprised at how calm Akira seemed while he was talking about his grandfather's grand plan for him. Daisuke wasn't just some random dude. The old man was the Godfather of all the fire wielders out there and not to mention the head of the ruling council. It irritated him that he was the only one who was seemingly worried about this.
Happy to have recieved some reaction from Azu, Akira smiled.
I'm glad you took the bait. I' m glad you still care.
Trying to hide the smile from his voice, he said ever so seriously, "Well you can't blame me for it. You know as well I do that once the Lord decides to do something, no one can convince him otherwise. Not even his Lady."
"Yes. I know that. And?"
"And, what?" Come on, tell me. Tell me what you want to hear, Azu.
Azu's frustration grew as Akira kept on acting as if the situation was nothing warranting unrest.
Is he going ahead with his grandfather's plan?
That was when the fear kicked in.
"Are you going to make me spell it out for you? Tell me what you're gonna do about it! You're not gonna just stand there and take it, are you?"
There he is, right there, the jealous Azu. Was it always this fun teasing him?
"I don't know.It's not like I can do something about it."
With that, all of Azu's confidence from earlier was lost. Shattered, like a glass house.
"Aki, you are not - you are not gonna obey him, right? Tightening his grip on the phone and squeezing his eyes shut, Azu let himself act like the pathetic fool he thought he was. These days he was even more so.
"Aki...? Aki, you are not going to abandon me, right?"
He couldn't hold it in anymore. No matter how desperately he tried to look cool and collected infront of Akira, all that was needed to break the facade was the realization that he might loose him for good.
Realization hit Akira hard as he heard Azu sob from the other end. He had taken it too far.
"Of course I won't just stand there and let them decide my beta for me. Hey, Azu are you listening? You know you are the only one for me." He tried to reassure him, but all in vain. The sobs refused to stop.
"Azu, babe, please don't cry. I'm sorry - I'm so sorry for being insensitive like that. Hey, please don't cry..".
"It won't stop. It won't stop Aki." Azu's said, his voice full of torture and pain.
The muffled cries cut him like a dagger.
What have I done?
Akira took a deep breath to compose himself and asked, "Azu, where are you?"
It seemed as if Azu had calmed down just a little for a second.
I guess he doesn't want to tell me.
"If I tell you where I am, will you come and meet me?"
And that was all he needed to hear.
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