rabbithatch | visiting royalty | kouhei hayami and tatsumori yamada

visiting royalty | kouhei hayami and tatsumori yamada

All of this was really quite tiring.

If it wasn't focusing on fulfilling Gamou's requests, avoiding upsetting any of the other Horoscopes, or dealing with Natsuji Kijima's antics, it was normal principal duties getting in the way of important things. While becoming principal of Amanogawa High School had at first been an excuse to keep Hayami in a position of power in the school, he'd slowly grown into his role and worked with it. The admiration he gained from students certainly helped to boost his ego, but more and more were the dangers of the job starting to become clear to him. The chairman's goal was getting closer. ... where would that leave him, once they finally reached it?

One of the jobs Hayami meant to keep up on was keeping track of any of his current projects. With Sonoda being sent away, he felt as though he'd been knocked down quite a few pegs as far as the respect he'd gained from Gamou. Now he had to try to rebuild it and none of his other projects were working out well. The only one he had now was Tatsumori Yamada, who had transferred from Amanogawa and claimed a kingdom for himself just far out of reach enough to be considered annoying. It meant Hayami had to drop everything else for a day just to check in on him. The stubborn ram couldn't be convinced to leave his subjects.

After finding a free spot in his schedule, Hayami had driven to Subaruboshi, intent on finding the other and checking the student's progress whether he welcomed the visit or not. All of these students trying to exert their power over Hayami -- first with Kijima and now with Yamada -- he was starting to get frustrated. Nothing seemed to be going his way.

Hayami's walk to the front gate of Subaruboshi was already gaining attention from a few students, though most of them didn't seem to give him more time than a quick glance. He forced himself to give his usual smile, hoping at least to keep his mask up long enough to give the impression that he had nothing whatsoever to do with whatever Yamada had gotten himself in to. Keeping his identity secret was something he'd like to do for a bit longer.

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Two people at once, wanting to control him. A compound actor, carrying someone else's message. No, that made him a messenger. When did a King answer the summons of a chairman?

If he left, his kingdom would descend into anarchy. Possibly a rebellion would form; he knew how these stories went. But that was merely an excuse. An elegant excuse but an excuse nonetheless. He didn't want to see the chairman because even he knew that the chairman was the sun. The sun reigned over everything: life, death, sleep. The one entity who could exert control over the King.

"Tell your chairman that I'll go when I'm ready. My kingdom is not yet ready to govern itself in my absence."

"And if I tell him you choose to disobey him, going against his desire... The power you were given was because I thought you were worthy of helping us achieve our goal. I didn't give it to you so you could waste your time playing." Hayami's body tensed up, his tone more firm that before. Hayami had very rarely spoke back against Gamou and the few times he had, he'd immediately learned his lesson. What was he supposed to do when he couldn't keep control over his own student? Going back and having to admit such a thing... It would add to the list of disappointments he'd put Gamou through.

No, his pride wouldn't let him suffer through that. Taking a few steps forward, Hayami seemed to push aside the idea of exactly who he was up against, keeping only a few feet between them when he stopped. "I suggest you find someone who can shadow your position for a day. Otherwise, I'll insist he visit your kingdom for himself and see what you've been up to."

"Perhaps he should borrow a few ideas from me. He seems to have a few problems controlling his subordinate."

It wasn't that he wanted to delay this meeting as much as possible. He did know that he would eventually have to face the chairman, even if it was in the form that Hayami had suggested, that the chairman would come here. But he wasn't ready. It had to be perfect. His script, his kingdom had to be perfect before he could let the sun see it. A boor like Hayami was fine, but when the time came for him to present himself to the sun, his kingdom had to be a masterpiece. There were still far too many errors for that.

"You can call it playing if you like. Someone like you can't understand a magnum opus when you see it."

While Hayami certainly didn't mind shooting sharp words back and forth, it was clear that the occasional word would strike deeper than the others. A small flinch crossed his face at the mention of Gamou somehow failing to control him. It also hurt because it was insinuating that Hayami himself was incapable of controlling his subordinate -- the one standing in front of him now, as well as Kijima.

This act was really getting tiring. Yamada seemed to have not only backed himself into a corner, but Hayami was starting to wonder if the power had corrupted him so much that the other couldn't help but latch on to this position. Rising from such a weak position, it made sense, but that didn't make it any less annoying.

"You're underestimating my abilities. I can appreciate your skill while considering you a child in your execution." Hayami let out a breath. "I'm doing exactly what I was asked to do. Your level of disrespect might get you in trouble, if you continue to act like this." Hayami knew for a fact Gamou would never stand for someone to talk back to him -- he'd learned that the hard way when he was younger.

"Then why don't you ask him to come?" Hayami had threatened to do so, had he not? Methinks the principal doth protest too much. Very Ophelia, poor tragic soul. Hayami really didn't have an idea of magnificence was, did he? Otherwise, he wouldn't say 'child.' Age was of less consequence in matters such as these as compared to what Hayami normally dealt with—a school segregated by age. Yamada would have revised that line to 'amateur.' And then he would have written that a phalanx of loyal subjects burst in and drag the blasphemer away, but that was why the kingdom wasn't ready yet.

Revisions and compromises; all the masters had to make them. He'd make an armed force later. The student council, perhaps. "Rest assured that I will give the chairman all due courtesy."

The real reason Hayami didn't want to ask Gamou to come to the school was only because he was worried how much he would suffer for his inability to control his student. These two children were significantly different from Sonoda, his loyal puppy, who had obediently trailed after him even when he had no choice but to be stern with her. At this point, he was far too tempted to force the other into submission, but that was always the last course of action he'd want to take. His options were carefully weighed before he acted, since there was no taking back something once it was done.

Closing more of the distance between them, Hayami tilted his head down at the younger man. "You should learn to acknowledge when others are offering to help you. A king working alone won't last for long." It might have even been a thinly veiled threat, the way it was stressed.

Yamada would accept help, but not from Hayami. "Did you offer? I must not have heard it."

Being forced into accepting help was no 'help' at all. "Is this the way you treat all your students and former students? Eventually, they'll fly away. You should learn to acknowledge when they've already done so."

Yamada took a step back. He'd need room if Hayami was going to take his aggression to its logical conclusion. Yamada normally had plenty of time to activate his sleep ability; he hadn't yet tested how quickly he could do it. A pity it hadn't occurred to him sooner, but it was nothing he could help now.

"Then you clearly haven't been listening." That wouldn't be anything new. It seemed as though no one, even Gamou, bothered to listen to him anymore. It was more painful than he wanted to admit, as he was a person who prided himself on receiving attention and praise. "I only treat the stubborn ones like this. The defiant ones."

Hayami had never dreamed that Yamada would become so defiant, but it seemed this is where they had ended up. When Yamada stepped back, Hayami leaned forward a bit more, hesitating for a few moments before moving away.

"If you'd like me gone, then it would only be polite to escort me out." He said this purely because he had no interest in turning his back to Yamada and leaving himself vulnerable.

"Oh? You're that attached to your caged birds? Have you considered getting a new profession?" Yamada said as he followed Hayami.

If Hayami was going to offer to leave, Yamada would take it. Pridefulness had its limits; it was a minor cost to be rid of a such a stubborn irritant. If Hayami wanted attention so badly.... "I'll escort you."

He'd even refrained from implying that Hayami should be grateful for such a one as the King performing such a menial task. Honestly, Yamada deserved an award of some sort.

"I rather enjoy my profession. I get to watch my students succeed and grow. I have the opportunity to help support their dreams. It's a rather heavy burden to bear, but I don't mind where I've ended up." Hayami nearly smiled when the other accepted the offer, trailing behind the other. In an even fight, Hayami was sure that he could win, but this ability of Aries' was something he had to be careful about. If Yamada moved before him, it could be over in an instant. Keeping the other in front of him and occupied was necessary.

It was also rather insulting to think he had to be so cautious around those who ranked below him. It was as bad as watching his steps around Gamou.

How very revealing, Yamada thought as he led the way to the gates. Heavy burden? How very like the principal to think so. It must be quite the burden to force his opinions on those who didn't want or need them, certainly.

Unfortunately for Yamada, he couldn't stop one of his subjects and tell him or her to follow Hayami and shout a warning if Hayami moved. Yamada didn't know how to be wary of someone behind him. Nothing for it but to get to the gates as fast as possible, he thought, displeased. How unbecoming of the king.

"What dreams do you think you're supporting?" Yamada couldn't resist asking. "You've done nothing but criticize me."

"Perhaps your problem is that you aren't paying attention. I've spoken positively of you since I've been here, not just of what I feel you're doing wrong." Hayami cleared his throat, feeling unsure about saying so much when he knew the mindset Yamada was in. With the way the boy had acted when they'd first met, it was no wonder what he didn't accept criticism well. After all, this was the first chance he'd had to really demonstrate his ideas and exert power over a situation, as far as Hayami could tell.

"I gave you this power because I saw your potential. I had hopes for you." In addition, Hayami had spoken highly of this particular choice of student to the chairman, insisting that Yamada would be different. This one would succeed -- he could feel it.

And yet, again, he was doing something wrong, somehow. None of his new projects would acknowledge him or even look at him. Kijima and Yamada were the same. They were nothing like Sonoda, who had loyally followed him even though she had failed in the end. ... maybe the problem really was with him and what he was doing. Thinking about that didn't make him feel any better. It was no wonder he was feeling so much pressure from Gamou about keeping his projects in line.

But not high hopes enough to accept when the student surpassed the master, Yamada noted. And what was that prattle about giving Yamada this power? Before Yamada had come to Subaruboshi, there had been plenty of monster attacks at Amanogawa. Was Hayami going to decry those? Only the success would be claimed by the principal, hm?

Mere supposition. He didn't want to argue with Hayami and delay his leaving. But Yamada couldn't let a certain statement go— "Your criticism is noted," he said. "And ignored on the grounds of ignorance."

"Hm." Hayami made an amused noise in the back of his throat, tilting his head to the side as he watched the other's back. While he hadn't planned on attacking the other and causing a show, it was too difficult to keep letting these slights go by unpunished. It was underhanded to do something in such a way -- he really preferred to be up front about his concerns -- but simple logic and kindness wasn't going to work on a student who was so intent on outright insulting him.

Removing his switch from his pocket, Hayami clicked it to activate his power, the only sign of him moving forward from the position he'd been in being the sound of the links on his staff. As soon as he was behind Yamada, closing only the few feet that had been between them, he swung the staff in front of Yamada's body and grabbed it with his other hand. The intention was to pin the boy there, unable to move his arms and with his back against Libra's chest. "It's unfortunate that you insist on such childish defiance."

". . ."

Yamada's hand was in his pocket. He could still press his Switch. However, Libra's grip on him was tight enough that Yamada couldn't be certain if morphing to Aries would achieve merely the effect of pressing himself tighter to Libra and his staff. Not certain at all if Libra couldn't move before Aries could use his sleep ability. If Libra managed to hit him before he could become Aries, then, well.

Long live the King. Yamada would much prefer to live at least long enough to finish his magnum opus. He stood still. "What are you going to do?" he said, the mirth and taunt gone from his voice.

Libra nearly sighed, forcing the staff harder against Yamada's chest. At the very least, the sadistic part of his personality would enjoy exercising a little bit of punishment. "Somehow, I feel I don't have your full attention." This was bad. He knew this had been a bad idea. The moment he stepped away, Yamada could easily retaliate and put him to sleep. Then where would he be? It was the perfect opportunity to take someone else's form to taunt him, as he would with others, but Yamada didn't seem to have emotional ties to anyone. That made things more difficult.

It'd been a quick, passionate mistake, centered on his desire for causing any sort of pain to the boy in exchange for how badly the other's words had stung. Hayami was far more sensitive about certain topics than he preferred to admit. If only it were so easy to force obedience.

Being crushed, even if not totally, was a very unpleasant experience, Yamada discovered. Even if it didn't hurt (a big, big if), being held like this was humiliating. He didn't like the feeling of being pressed against another body, especially not when certain parts were digging into his back. Was that a chain he was feeling against his shoulderblade? He'd never taken a careful look at Libra before.

Even after this, he didn't intend to. As soon as he got free.... "You have it now," he said. He'd add that Hayami was clearly not paying attention if he thought he didn't have Yamada's full attention after trapping him like this, but Yamada didn't want to taunt the man.

"Do not underestimate me, Yamada-kun. I've been far too kind to you. Just because I felt compassion towards you in the beginning means nothing if you don't learn your place. The chairman won't stand for this attitude and neither will I." Hayami already knew that Yamada at least knew to respect Gamou -- which was a very important part. If there was disrespect even at that level and Gamou felt no reason to keep someone around, he merely got rid of them. And while Hayami didn't care for the way he was being treated, it was a combination of compassion for his student and compassion for his project that he felt protective of the boy. To have such a kind gesture thrown back in his face infuriated him. It was the same attitude Kijima had taken with him when he'd offered to help the other learn his way.

The words he spoke to Yamada were much like the words Gamou had spoken to Hayami in the beginning. Even Hayami had been thrust back into place following a swift and harsh punishment from acting in a way that wasn't appropriate for the mission. It was only fair that he would do the same for Yamada.

"I will not tolerate being looked down upon."

Yamada was reasonably certain that Hayami couldn't see him smirk. So Hayami would take a promise of obeisance by force? It was not unlike what Yamada was doing, if Hayami thought Yamada thought he'd appreciate it. The key difference being that Yamada wasn't delusional enough to think that his subjects would be loyal to him, not matter how often he framed it as if they should. Yamada was well aware that fear was what he controlled the school with.

In addendum. Hayami must not realize that even kings could lie. Unless Hayami felt like staying here to oversee Yamada, Hayami couldn't control him. Even the false obeisance amounted to nothing if Aries could bring Libra to his knees. Which he could. They were only in this situation because Yamada had made the foolish mistake of allowing Hayami to manipulate him. Another such instance would never happen again.

"So you say. Are you finished with your speech, principal?"

Libra, of course, had started this situation purely out of the anger he couldn't push aside anymore. His temper had always been something that he'd tried to keep in check and failed miserably with, sometimes even when it came to being around his superiors. He also didn't expect that Yamada would swear loyalty or praise him or speak positively of him at all. False confessions meant nothing, but he was intent on letting the boy know how serious he was about this. Though sometimes, Hayami knew that even hearing a lie would make him feel better. It was the way Gamou had always kept him in line, after all. Hayami was sure the man didn't care for him at all other than what good he could do at his job.

Giving up for now, Libra took a step back and moved to deactivate his switch, though barely a second passed before he changed his mind, shifting his appearance instead. He wouldn't run just yet. He trusted his reaction time enough around Yamada, though he acknowledged that it could easily be a mistake.

"I believe that will do for now." The voice sounded just as familiar as Hayami's, but it was completely different. If there was no one else to copy, it only left Hayami one choice. As he walked around Yamada's side, he kept one arm across his stomach, the elbow of his other arm resting on his wrist as he gave the boy a small smile. How strange it must be to see a mirror image of oneself, the finer air of them clearly unfamiliar.

Yamada reflexively took a step back. For a moment, he could do nothing but stare. Had there always been a mirror in this hall—

He looked both ways; Hayami had disappeared. So this was one of Libra's abilities? Was the copying meant to make up for Hayami's weaknesses? In that case, there were much worse people for Hayami to imitate. Despite thinking so, Yamada was annoyed. There was something about being copied that set all his senses irate. Yamada was Yamada. There was only one of Tatsumori Yamada. What did this half-baked doppelganger think he was doing?

"An amusing trick, principal," Yamada said, pulling his Switch out of his pocket.

There was a smirk on the copy's face as he circled the original. Hayami had known how much being imitated would irritate the other. It was like copying a great work and trying to make something of it while practically making a mockery of the original. The smug look didn't leave his face even when Yamada removed his Switch.

"If you want to come after me, then you're going to have to be brave enough to leave the safety of your kingdom." It was a very risky gesture, but Hayami's temper really was so difficult to keep in check at this point. Maybe appealing to Yamada's temper and sense of retribution would be the only way to get him to follow orders.

Just a moment after Yamada removed his Switch from his pocket, Libra pulled the staff out of thin air, striking it on the ground as he disappeared completely. It would take no time at all to retreat when Yamada couldn't see him, but he wanted to leave feeling as though he'd regained some sort of upper hand.

Yamada lowered his arm, the annoyance clear on his face. He'd wanted to put a stop to Hayami's mockery by putting him to sleep, but Hayami's comment about chasing him rankled Yamada. Of course he wasn't going to chase him; what he'd wanted was for Hayami to get out of his kingdom. Well, that goal had been accomplished, but it hadn't been due to anything Yamada had done, not even commanding Hayami to go. The principal had left on his own, taking the last word.

The Hellish Playwright had lost control of the scene. This was not the appropriate ending for one such as him. He'd call out the true final line, but without any indication that Hayami was there to hear it (and no one else around to hear it, either), the line fell flat. Next time, he swore. Next time Yamada wouldn't allow anyone to touch the pen; he'd place his actors under his control first.

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visiting royalty | kouhei hayami and tatsumori yamada

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