Chapter Text
Hush. Be quiet, remain discreet.
...
"Don't draw attention to yourself. Never... Do you hear me ? Never."
Fear. Sharp, ever-present, viscous, and teeming. Fear shining in his mother's eyes as she hurriedly threw the first clothes she could find into the suitcase.
"You must never show it to anyone."
Fear.
It left an acidic taste in his mouth. It suffocated him.
...
"Don't say anything. Be quiet. Never tell anyone."
The terror, the loathsome and the abominable, gave way to fear, distorting his mother's face as she knelt down to his level. Staring at him as if she were seeing him for the very first time in her life.
"Suguru."
A breath. A plea. Desperate. Heart-wrenching. And the tears sliding down his mother's cheeks only deepened his frown. At the age of ten, he didn't understand; he thought his parents would be amazed by what he could do. That they would be proud of him. Suguru hadn't expected such a reaction.
To fear, horror and terror.
"Suguru..."
A sob escaped his mother, her hands clutching his small shoulders in a pitiful gesture.
"Mom," he whispered, feeling tears welling up in his eyes, allowing himself to be gradually consumed by the fear whose origin he did not understand.
His mother held him tightly, pressing him close to her, planting a long kiss on his temple. The little boy closed his eyelids, letting himself be rocked by his mother's embrace. Cheek against his mother's shoulder, his gaze fell upon the nine-tailed fox lying obediently in a corner of his room, its muzzle resting on its front paws. Suguru had come across it in the forest bordering his grandmother's house; the kitsune had allowed itself to be approached, even caressed, before the little boy decided to take it with him. To make it his own. To swallow it.
And when he hurried home to show it to his family, making it appear in the middle of his grandmother's living room, the reaction was not what he expected. After the surprise and stunned silence, his mother burst into tears while his father jumped up, phone in hand. Only his grandmother showed a hint of reassurance before disappearing into the hallway as well
Closing his eyes to stop the tears, he made the kitsune disappear as he had made it appear, with a wave of his hand. His mother continued to rock him, and Suguru nestled against her, his nose pressed against her neck; right where he could breathe in her reassuring scent of anise and vanilla. He gently rubbed the tip of his nose against her skin, like a puppy seeking comfort from its omega, and she returned his gesture, drowning him in her fragrance.
"Suguru, my love," she whispered.
Don't say anything. Don't show anything. Stay discreet, no one must ever know what you're capable of.
...
"The plane takes off in two hours, we need to hurry. They're coming."
His father stopped at the doorway, his gaze fearful but his face determined. His mother straightened up, seizing the suitcase with one hand and Suguru with the other. She guided him to the front door where his grandmother awaited, helping him put on his shoes and jacket.
"Mom, where are we going ?"
His question was ignored. His father hurriedly deposited the suitcase in the car.
"Mom..."
...
Never say who you are.
Be discreet. Keep quiet. Don't say anything. Never show anyone what you're capable of.
...
Promise me, Suguru.
...
Never, ever, use your powers. If you do, the bad men will find you and hurt you.
...
Promise me, Suguru, I beg you.
...
I promise you, Mom.
***
The cold was biting, almost unbearable under the relentless icy wind. Norway wasn't known for its sunny climate, but even Suguru, who had grown up there, had to admit that the weather had significantly deteriorated in recent weeks. The temperatures were so low that it was causing damage, leaving many households without water and electricity.
As he parked in the high school parking lot where he was a teacher, he almost slipped, catching himself just in time on the hood of a car or a lamppost. Grumbling, he climbed the few steps leading to the school two at a time, relieved to have reached his destination. Automatically, he headed towards the teachers' lounge with one desire: to prepare himself a tea without which he couldn't really start the day and which he hadn't been able to have this morning—thanks to his frozen pipes. Opening the door, he was greeted by a deafening cacophony; his colleagues had crowded around the large meeting table, their eyes fixed on the principal's computer screen.
Furrowing his brows, he deposited the stack of papers he had corrected the night before on the counter, approaching with curiosity. Squeezing between two colleagues, he tilted his head to the side in hopes of catching a glimpse too.
"What's going on ?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow.
His neighbor startled, blinking as she realized his presence before shaking her head, her face grave.
"You're not aware ? It's everywhere in the news," she explained, anxiety piercing her voice. "It's a disaster, Suguru..."
With tears in her eyes, Madga, usually so cheerful and optimistic, seemed on the verge of breaking down. Around him, the rest of his colleagues were not faring much better; some seemed dismayed, others simply terrified. He hadn't listened to the news this morning.
"What are you talking about ?"
"Today around three in the morning, the southern United States and part of Mexico were hit by a nuclear explosion."
"What ?"
This time, jostling for space, on the screen, a BBC announcement was looping. The images kept coming back, amidst a city in ruins and filmed from afar; two figures were fighting, destroying everything in their path... before ending with the terrifying image of an explosion, the shockwave sweeping everything away before the image fizzled out and turned black.
"Nothing can stop them now, "someone said, their voice white."If they weren't afraid of the world's first military power, I... Suguru, don't you happen to know more ? After all, they come from your place, don't they ?"
Suguru froze, his gaze distant, offering a faint smile he hoped was reassuring. He wished he could reassure them. He wished he could give them information, but he knew no more than they did
"I... No. Unfortunately, I wish I did. Believe me, the majority of Japanese people don't leave Japan by choice."
The massive exile of the Japanese was not for nothing; after the fall of the "non sorcerer" government, Japan became a country not favorable towards them. Children were torn away from their families as soon as they showed sorcerer abilities. They were sent to a secret place and would never be seen again. It was this last possibility that had prompted his parents to send him far away from Japan, to a place where no one from the sorcerer society could find him.
...
Don't draw attention to yourself. Never... Do you hear me? Never.
***
His students weren't attentive, and Suguru didn't hold it against them; today was a difficult day. What had happened in America had shaken everyone, and although some teachers had suggested closing the school for the day, the principal had refused, preferring that the students stay within the school grounds; Suguru had agreed with this decision. Between classes, he had sent a message to Yaga, his mentor, the one who had taken him in, cared for him, and trained him when he arrived in Norway. Yaga still hadn't responded, and he thought he would make a detour by his house to make sure everything was okay
He was in the middle of class when an icy coldness crept into the classroom.
And an ambient cacophony exploded in the corridor, sudden screams echoing ominously, and Suguru felt a shiver run through him from head to toe. He knew all too well that sensation, both beloved and feared, of his energy gathering in the pit of his stomach. As if it were warning him of imminent danger. His students now sat up, intrigued and worried. The door burst open abruptly, revealing Magda, her face paler than usual.
"Quickly, everyone must take the emergency exits".
Without hesitation, Suguru ordered his class to obey and follow the flow of students and teachers rushing towards the exits, taking the stairs leading outside. Once he was certain the last of the students had exited, he grabbed his colleague's wrist.
"Magda, what's happening ?"
He felt like that was the only question on his mind today, and he hated it
"A collector is on the school grounds."
Suguru froze. A collector? Someone sent by the sorcerer society to retrieve a child or someone capable of exorcising. What were they doing in Norway? His smartphone vibrated in his pants pocket. It was a response from Yaga, finally, the latter had written just two words:
Mimiko and Nanako.
They were the two twins Yaga had taken in; like Suguru, their parents had sent them away from Japan after discovering their powers. He had grown attached to them, with the love of a brother for his sisters. Was the collector there for them ? Had one of them used their powers ? They knew it was strictly forbidden.
The terror that knotted his stomach suddenly transformed into thunderous and bitter anger. A rage that momentarily clouded his vision, without answering his colleague's worried question, Suguru turned around, sprinting through the now deserted maze of the school. He dashed towards the second floor, where he knew they had their classroom
Two people were there, rummaging through the classrooms with disconcerting nonchalance. Suguru could feel their cursed energy; he could almost distinguish it, like a signature unique to exorcists, each differing from person to person. He scowled; he had always been accustomed to Yaga's or Mimiko and Nanako's cursed energy. Feeling others, unknown ones, made him want to snarl and growl, like an animal defending its territory. They eventually noticed his presence, but Suguru didn't give them time to react, rushing towards the person closest to him to knock them out with a series of punches to the chest, solar plexus, throat, and jaw, which emitted a slight cracking sound. Yaga had always been an excellent teacher: uncompromising and authoritarian, demanding nothing but excellence from Suguru.
"What the..."
Gaining momentum, he slid on the old creaking floorboards, grabbing the second person and sending them crashing into the wall with a dull thud. Suguru finished knocking them out with a kick to the temple. He wasted no time, standing up straight, he burst into the classroom, the names of the twins on the tip of his tongue. But the room was empty. His heart pounding, he turned just as a massive silhouette appeared in the doorway. A man who stared at him with the utmost impassivity; Suguru could have been a houseplant, and his expression would have been the same. He was older, probably in his forties, a scar crossing the right corner of his mouth
He hadn't heard him approach.
"It was you who beat them up, hm?"
He gestured with his thumb to the two bodies behind him, never taking his eyes off Suguru, who didn't let anything show. This man had no cursed energy; that's why he hadn't heard him approaching.
"Not much of a talker? Not that I care..."
A second. Just enough time for Suguru to blink before the man—the Collector—was already on him, gripping him firmly by the throat. His fingers dug into his skin, compressing his windpipe and blocking the air. He only survived thanks to his reflexes; Suguru broke free by violently elbowing the forearm that held him, taking advantage to push him back with a kick to the stomach. The man barely moved, even flashing a sardonic smile.
"Where are Mimiko and Nanako ?" He gasped, trying to catch his breath.
"Hm ? Oh, you mean the two brats ?"
His smile suddenly widened as he leaned forward to scrutinize him more closely. Without any shame and manners, he took a deep breath, inhaling Suguru's scent deeply. Toji's smile turned into a cheerful grimace, recognizing the scent of an unmated omega; Suguru tensed, taking a defensive posture. He had never been one to be impressed; alpha or not
"They weren't hard to find. I took care of them; they won't be a problem anymore."
Not a problem ? Eyes wide with shock, rage burning in the pit of his stomach, finally letting it explode.
"Oh ?"
Amusement intensified on Toji's face as Suguru called upon the spirits that had long accompanied him, silent and invisible but always present.
...
Never, ever, use your powers. If you do, the bad men will find you and hurt you.
...
Sorry, Mom.
***
He woke up with a start, inhaling deeply like a drowning person taking their first breath. Grimacing, he closed his eyes; he felt like his head was caught in a vice. The migraine pounded against his eardrums, making them ring; he tried to sit up, but a painful groan escaped him. Under the white, antiseptic-smelling sheets, his chest was carefully bandaged. Traces of blood had still managed to stain the bandages, and Suguru frowned, recalling his encounter with the Collector. His memory was still a bit fuzzy, but he remembered very well having received the beating of his life.
"Are you awake?" asked a feminine voice. "Perfect, my name is Shoko, I take care of this place and you... at least until you get better."
Turning his head, he saw a young woman with long chestnut hair dressed in a long white coat, holding a tray in her hands.
"Huh ?"
A sigh escaped the doctor or nurse, he wasn't sure which, as she placed the tray on a table near the bed.
"I see you haven't fully recovered yet. Toji didn't hold back with you," she declared, inspecting the bandages. "It looks like it's healing well, at least."
"Toji ?"
She stared at him for a long second, and Suguru noticed that his dark circles were far too pronounced to be healthy. She smelled like a beta; a mixture of cigarette smoke, disinfectant, and lavender.
"Our Collector, the one who brought you here."
Immediately, Suguru tried to sit up, feeling much more awake all of a sudden. He quickly glanced around; he was in some kind of infirmary, with beds—currently empty—and cabinets filled with various vials and medical supplies. There was a window with bars, wide open, and he could hear the rain... He jumped when he felt a needle penetrate his forearm.
"It's a sedative, it'll help you relax," she responded to Suguru's unspoken question.
He furrowed his brow.
"Where am I ?"
"Somewhere in Japan, I couldn't tell you more, I don't even know myself."
This simple piece of information was enough to make him shudder. His parents had sent him to Europe to spare him a life in service to the sorcerer society. Suguru shook his head; a metallic clink echoed darkly as he futilely tried to sit up. Abruptly, he lifted the sheet to find that his left ankle was chained to the foot of the bed by a heavy metal chain. Looking up at Shoko, she suddenly laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Rest for now."
A dark chuckle almost escaped him.
"I'm chained ?"
"It's the Master's orders. I was against it, but no one ever listens to me about these things."
"Is this kind of thing normal here ?"
"You managed to stand up to Toji, even for a few minutes, which is very impressive. It's just a security measure for us."
She got up, taking her tray with her and heading towards the door.
"Geto."
"Hmm ?"
"That's my name.
His gaze lost towards the open window, longing to roam the lush garden despite the rain. The desire to finally see, after seventeen years of exile, the land of his childhood, gripped his heart. A faint smile crept onto Shoko's weary face.
"Rest, Geto. You'll need it."
Sighing, he closed his eyes, letting himself be lulled by the sound of the rain.
***
There were many things Suguru didn't know about the world of sorcerers. Yaga had only explained the essentials to him and had never really delved into the complexities. Suguru obediently followed Shoko through the long corridors of the Japanese mansion they were in. Nevertheless, he tried to familiarize himself with the surroundings: as soon as he had a moment, he would try to find a cell phone, or a telephone, and send a message to Yaga. They had taken his smartphone from him and refused to give it back; Shoko had honestly replied that they had probably gotten rid of it. Cell phones were prohibited on the estate. There was no internet connection, and they carefully monitored what could be watched on television.
As they walked, Suguru realized that the estate was simply enormous. They crossed several annexes, all as large as each other, before Shoko finally showed him his room, tiny, consisting of a futon, a chair, and a desk.
"This is where you'll sleep," she explained, crossing her arms over her chest, leaning against the door frame to scrutinize him better. "You've been placed in the wing designated for children; their rooms are in the same corridor."
Children ?
"You're a teacher, aren't you ?" Shoko continued, finally continuing on her way. "That's probably why they put you here. You'll see that each person has a very specific role here; you won't get bored."
Frowning slightly, Suguru followed her while trying to recall the location of his room. He was going to get lost in this maze of corridors and buildings. As they traversed elegantly decorated corridors and various rooms, Suguru tensed, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stand up, shivering when he felt a hand slide down his spine. This time he was convinced, someone was watching him. Curious, he froze, casting a glance over his shoulder...
Nothing.
The corridor was as empty and dark as when he had passed it.
"Everything okay?" inquired Shoko, stopping as well.
Trying to conceal his discomfort, Suguru gave her a smile and gestured for her to continue. They crossed an engawa and a garden to enter a second annex, which seemed a bit more modern, with large tables scattered about.
"Ah, Haibara," greeted Shoko.
A young omega looked up in their direction, seeming busy preparing breakfast.
"Ieri-senpai," he exclaimed with surprising cheerfulness.
Was it just a facade on the omega's part to reassure him? Suguru doubted anyone could be happy in such a place, an open-air prison for sorcerers. Abandoning the arrangement of meal trays, he wiped his hands on his apron before approaching.
"I bring the newcomer. Don't make him carry anything too heavy; his injury isn't fully healed yet. I'm entrusting him to you."
"I've got it, no worries. Aren't you joining us for breakfast this morning ?"
Hands in the pockets of her white coat, Shoko shook her head, her gaze already drifting to her medical wing.
"I have some overdue work and a meeting with the Master in less than an hour."
Haibara's smile dimmed noticeably.
"I see. Good luck, Ieri-senpai."
She nodded before turning away, casting a meaningful glance at Suguru, who wasn't sure how to interpret it. He frowned, shifting his attention to the omega, who offered him a smile in return, out of habit.
"I'm Yu Haibara, nice to meet you! You're a bit of a curiosity at the moment; we don't often get new recruits... Especially someone your age. It's a miracle you managed to evade the Master's eyes for so long."
"I'm Geto Suguru," he introduced himself in turn. "The Master?"
Yu returned behind the counter, arranging the food trays.
"Master Tengen, the One Who See All, the Exalted our protector and savior. It's thanks to her that we're here."
Suguru didn't know how to respond; the reverence and concealed terror with which Haibara spoke of this Exalted did not sit well with him at all.
"It's a relief to see you up and about. After three weeks out of it, we were starting to worry.
The information froze him suddenly. His heart skipped a frantic beat in his chest: three weeks? He had lost three weeks: what had really happened? Instinctively, he placed a hand on his chest, through the borrowed T-shirt he could feel the bandages. Three weeks.
"I know you have concerns," Haibara interrupted, handing him a meal tray consisting of a bowl of rice, grilled fish, and a bowl of miso soup. "I've been asked to give you a tour of the estate, introduce you to the people you'll be working with, and go over the rules to follow. But first, let's eat."
He gestured to a table just behind him, and Suguru followed, feeling a bit disoriented. Everything was jumbled in his mind, and his migraine threatened to spike again. It wasn't until he was in front of his plate that his stomach grumbled, and he realized he was hungry.
"Haibara-san..."
He had a question burning on his lips
"Suguru!"
The exclamation rang out in the cafeteria. Suguru jumped to his feet - albeit with a painful grimace. Mimiko and Nanako had just entered followed by a group of teenagers. The relief of seeing them safe and sound made him release a trembling sigh as they rushed towards him, almost knocking him over. Catching himself just in time against the edge of the table, closing his eyes, Suguru held them close, imprinting them with his scent. Stepping back slightly, he took a moment to scrutinize them, making sure they were okay. He let out a soft laugh before pulling them back into his arms, embracing them, ignoring and caring little about the surprised and condescending looks thrown their way. Taking a few long seconds to appreciate their presence and warmth, he finally managed to calm his emotions on the surface. He had to think fast and smart.
Now that he had found them, Suguru had only one idea: to find a way to escape this place. He didn't know what was going on, but he could sense that something was wrong, a tainted smell lingered in the air, concealed by the accommodating smiles and comforting words.
He felt it, that vile premonition crawling under his skin and burning the back of his throat: a presence haunted the corridors of this estate, ready to devour them. And Suguru did not want to be present when it happened.