Empire State of Mind

Chapter Four

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It was about the biggest thing Shion had ever seen in his life – in a ring that is. The diamond sparkled in the light and was perfectly cut and shaped with a thin golden band. Shion, himself, felt it was quite exaggerated but he knew nothing about women engagement rings. He shut the red velvet box, glancing up at his father who was gave his approval. His mother had something similar, but Shion knew she could have cared less for the carat size.

"Women are all about size, Shion," the Ambassador said, rubbing his fingers through his growing beard.

Ten carats seemed to be ridiculously big and the price that went along with it made Shion stare blankly at the shiny rock.

"Father, I—" Shion was cut off when his father smacked a hand on his back, playful but a little on the rough side. He spluttered, almost flailing as his father chuckled.

"I actually got married at your age myself. Ah, the memories."

Seventeen was awfully young to be getting married Shion thought. He wasn't too sure what to make of his situation. Everything seemed to be happening so fast.

He said nothing in response and the Ambassador added then, "Well, we better head off to work. Come along, Shion."

Shion followed, his shoulders hunching as he did so. He was still grounded, and the week never went by slower. Already three days and he hadn't seen Nezumi. He wondered if the raven haired male would be annoyed the next they saw each other.

That's if you even see him again.

For whatever reason, this deflated Shion's mood even more.

"Ambassador-san, Shion-san." Their secretary smiled at them as they entered the building. She piled up some folders in her hands, straightening them on the desk.

Shion excused himself and headed to his personal office. The sooner he got to his paperwork then the sooner he could go home. The night before he hadn't gotten much sleep to begin with, so today he was feeling particularly sleepy. After about his fourth yawn in a time span of only twenty-minutes, Hiroshi, who had been working with him, left and came back with a cup of coffee. Shion thanked him and took it, eyeing it afterwards.

"I added about four teaspoons of sugar, and used French vanilla crème," Hiroshi said, looking like he wanted to roll his eyes but resisted. Instead, he played with his bright red bangs, and Shion knew Hiroshi enough to know the red-head only did it when he was a little annoyed.

Shion smiled and took a sip. It was sweet enough, and he could taste the crème on his tongue. He licked his lips then. "Mm."

Hiroshi snorted softly and got back to his paperwork at his desk. His movements were precise and practiced without missing a beat. Shion realized he was now stalling and got back to the work in front of him. He was hardly in the mood to do boring paperwork, however.

He bit his lower lip and then looked up. "Hiroshi-san," he called, waiting for a return response before continuing.

The red-head paused, his chocolate brown eyes flickering up from his desk. He tilted his head the slightest to his side – a movement that encouraged Shion to continue.

"Have you ever thought about getting married?"

Shion knew enough to know that Hiroshi, even in his twenty-four years, had yet to be married. While it wasn't an obligation, it was almost norm for most men approaching their late twenties to begin to settle down with a wife and children. In some cases, even younger, Shion noted wryly, reminding himself of his personal situation.

"Maybe. I haven't really thought about it into great detail." He shrugged, crossing his arms on the table as he leaned his weight forward a bit in his seat. A look of contemplation came across his face briefly before he looked back at Shion, a brow raised. "Why?"

"Just curious," the white haired male mumbled, looking down as he rolled his pen on his desk. He continued to be distracted even as he felt Hiroshi continue to stare at him for a few seconds more.

"Your father means well, I'm sure, Shion-san."

Shion resisted the urge to bite his lip again. At this rate, it was going to bleed, and a bleeding and torn lip was going to be terrible to deal with on top of everything else. He settled for a nod and took a much longer gulp of his coffee. It served its purpose for the most part. He felt quite awake now, but his left shoulder cramped and burned. He had been moving it a little too much in the past few days. Absently, Shion gently pressed the fingers of his right hand against his clothed left shoulder.

He thought about that chance meeting with Nezumi, and his punishment, and his pending engagement with Safu. When he had finally made up his mind about a decision, he set off on continuing his work. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could take action.

~xx;~

When Shion got home, his body felt drained both mentally and physically. He forced down the drowsiness and settled himself on the couch, turning on his device. He checked the news, hearing details on the weather and other information. Overall, it appeared like it was going to be another lovely day, sun and all.

The sound of a door sliding open brought Shion to his feet. His father entered, loosening his tie as he walked into the living room. His steps were a little more lethargic than normal. Now was as good a time as ever Shion realized. With that thought, he took a deep breath and spoke before he chickened out. "Father, I have a request concerning the engagement."

His father raised a brow, opening up the buttons to the top of his suit. He didn't falter even once. "And what is that?"

It's now or never. Shion shifted his footing, his stance firm. "I want to be able to visit No. 7 whenever I want. I'll agree with the engagement willingly if you allow me this. This disregards my punishment you have given me as well."

He probably would have agreed with the engagement regardless. It wasn't like he had much of a choice either way, and Safu was his best option he agreed, but his father didn't have to know this. He could use this to his advantage to the least.

The Ambassador's brow furrowed then, his lips thin. "Shion, that is ridiculous—"

"Give me five months. After five months, Safu and I will be married." Five, short months before he, too, would probably end up being another drone of No. 6. It scared him – downright frightened him even, but as long as he had some constant semblance of freedom then he would tolerate it. No.7 intrigued him. He felt drawn to the city, and when Shion felt drawn to something, he had to follow it.

His father scratched his nose, pausing as he probably debated the sides of the argument. It was a win-win in either case, so Shion felt like he had nothing to lose. Except for, more or less, signing his life away but beggars couldn't be choosers.

Considering you're the Ambassador's son that comment is quite contradictory, Shion couldn't help but think.

"Alright, I agree although I can't see why you'd want to mingle with that that inferior city. I expect you and Safu to get to the planning immediately. Five months will fly by soon enough."

Right. Shion held back a grimace. He didn't think he'd enjoy wedding planning at any rate. He'd heard enough stories from the older married men at the office of how their wives had turned into what they called 'bridezillas.' Considering younger Safu had beaten up boys when upset, he got the bad feeling she would be worse.

Shion made a noise of agreement under his breath, and his father headed to the kitchen to grab a drink. He paused for a bit before realizing his father had agreed even to get rid of his punishment. He could leave. With that in mind, he grabbed his nearby tan coat and made his way over to the door. His father called out to him, stopping him.

"You agreed to my terms, father. I'm going to No. 7." Shion pointed out, looking back.

The Ambassador's lips were set in a firm line, obviously displeased. There was nothing more he could say, however. An agreement was an agreement and a business man like the Ambassador recognized as much. He merely went back into the kitchen, not saying another word to Shion.

Maybe, the cold shoulder was supposed to persuade Shion to think otherwise. Maybe, at that moment, something had changed in Shion's normal everyday routine.

The front door closed behind Shion.

~xx;~

The train ride felt long. Maybe, it was because Shion had far too much on his mind that everything felt long. He imagined when he got home he would have to go over to Safu's house and ask for her hand in marriage even if they all knew what was planned. It was all show, and it made Shion feel even more like his whole life was planned out for him from beginning to end.

When it was his stop, Shion stepped out of the train, glancing around as the town's people walked about in the cool afternoon. He walked forwards, heading into the city front where the shopping area was. He stopped when he heard a small squeak, barely audible throughout the busy noise of everyone else. Looking down, he blinked upon seeing the small light colored rat by his foot. Normally, Shion didn't see rats too often, and this one didn't seem afraid of him at all.

It stood up on its hind legs for a bit, dark beady eyes looking up at Shion before it dropped and turned, scurrying away. Wait! Shion thought, breaking into a dash after it. In the back of his mind he realized how foolish this was - running after a rat of all things, but like the city drew him, this rat did as well.

As he turned around the corner, he spotted the store that the rat had crawled into through a small hole in the side of the building. Shion entered the store through the front door then, red eyes darting around as he took in the many shelves filled with books of all kind. It had led him straight to a bookstore.

Shion spotted the rat then in a corner, and he knelt down, hands cupping in front of him as the rat jumped into his palms, whiskers flickering. "Is this where you wanted me to go?" he asked, talking to it as if it wasn't an animal.

The rat gave a chirping sound, and Shion got to his feet, still holding it in his hands. He heard the clatter of footsteps then, and he turned in surprise to find Nezumi staring at him with a book in his hand. The older male's silver eyes darted from Shion's face to the rat in his hands. The rat in Shion's hands made another small, squeaking noise before jumping out of Shion's hands and scurrying away.

"Somehow, I'm not surprised to see you playing with rats."

Shion realized the change in Nezumi's comment. Beforehand, he had always been mocked for being in No. 7 as well as associating with anyone in it because of his status, but it appeared Nezumi now realized that Shion wasn't the convention No. 6 official's son.

"Nezumi," Shion greeted, a smile spreading across his lips, and he couldn't believe the wash of relief and something like joy that came over him just by seeing Nezumi's face again. Had it been that long? It certainly felt like it.

"What are you doing back here?"

"I came to see you again," Shion answered, and the honesty of his response surprised even him. Beforehand, he had only been drawn to the intrigue of No. 7 in itself, but now it was Nezumi that drew him, like gravity.

Nezumi gave him a look, one that Shion couldn't really decipher. He said nothing further though, instead placing the book he held into the open slot on the bookshelf nearby.

"I didn't know you owned a bookstore," he mused, out loud.

"There's plenty of things you don't know about me," Nezumi replied back as a matter-of-factly. Shion tried not to be too fazed by the curtness and abruptness of Nezumi's words. But the reality of the comment made Shion frown inwardly. He didn't like that; he wanted to know more.

"Well," he started, wanting something to feed his curiosity of the older man in his presence. "Which book is your favorite?"

There was a good chance Nezumi wouldn't indulge him, would brush him off again like he almost always did. In all honesty, maybe Shion expected it, too, so he was pleasantly surprised when Nezumi answered him, but in a different way. He began to speak, lines that didn't sound so much rehearsed as spoken from the heart, following in his rich, deep voice:

"And let me speak to the yet unknowing world
How these things came about: so shall you hear
Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,
Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,
Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,
And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
Fall'n on the inventors' reads: all this can I
Truly deliver."

Shion listened to the verse, feeling it wash over him with its beauty in Nezumi's commanding voice. "What was that?" he asked, curiously, eyes wide.

"Hamlet," Nezumi answered.

The title sounded familiar enough but Shion's teacher rarely covered English literature in his schooling so the area was sadly uncovered for Shion.

"I like it," he said then, bluntly, openly.

Nezumi might have been about to say something but the sounds of screaming outside caught their attention. His silver eyes flashed in alarm as he forced himself towards the door, his stance far too guarded then.

"Nezumi, what-" Shion started.

"Stay here," he ordered, not sparing Shion a glance before he exited the building.

Shion's brows furrowed then, watching Nezumi leave him behind. He should have listened but he didn't. He quickly followed after Nezumi, exiting through the doors to the outside streets and freezing on the spot soon after. The scent of smoke was the first thing he noticed - a strong, smoky scent that almost made him gag right then and there. The people running and screaming was the next thing he noticed.

What..? Alarmed, Shion spotted some men dressed differently than the other city folk, lighting up the places with lighters and Molotov cocktails. The appall washed over him as he realized they were the ones putting the houses on fire.

Why were they doing this? Why? Why?

Their faces looked familiar, too, but Shion couldn't figure out from where.

"Stop!" Shion ordered, rushing over to one of the men, trying to grab their arm in a vain effort of getting him to stop from putting another house in flames. His action was countered with a firm back slap and shove backwards, making him slam against the ground. His cheek burned from the slap, and he darted his hand up to it, feeling it throb.

"What the hell are you doing?" Nezumi demanded, grabbing him and forcing him backwards. Shion stumbled, trying to regain his balance, and looking up into the cold, flashing eyes of Nezumi.

"I was just trying to help," he stammered, his throat feeling dry.

There was the sound of laughter from the men before they were running off, leaving the city in peril and flames.

Nezumi let go of his arm then, and Shion felt pain go through it from the tight grasp. "Don't be stupid," he remarked. "You think you can run in and order people around? Your authority means nothing here."

The words were rough and sharp like a knife and hurt more than Shion thought they could.

"Who..were they?" Shion asked, quietly then.

Nezumi gave him a long look before giving a small laugh, but it was far too mocking and almost cruel. "You don't know people from your own city, your Majesty?"

Shion held his breath, eyes wide with realization.

His city people had done this.

"I don't understand. . ."

Why would they do this? Why do such a cruel and hateful act such as this? He couldn't help but wonder all of this as he scanned the area, seeing some of the houses still burning as others threw buckets of water to get rid of the fire. Everyone looked so shaken and afraid, and it was so terrible.

"It's simple. We're a thorn in No. 6's side, and their retaliation is by trying to exterminate us."

No, Shion thought. It couldn't be that simple.

"Is everything so black and white for you, Nezumi?" Was there only extremes in Nezumi's world? Was there no middle ground? No area of gray?

"Not everyone can afford to be as foolishly idealistic as you, Shion," was Nezumi's blunt response.

Shion shook his head a bit. "You're wrong," he said. "It doesn't have to be like this."

Nezumi didn't answer him, and Shion turned around, beginning to walk away. He paused only when he heard Nezumi speak out loud.

"You can't change the world."

Shion paused, glancing back. Maybe it was false optimism, or maybe Nezumi was far too cynical. Either way he knew he had to try because he knew none of this was right at all.

"I'm not trying to change the world," he insisted. He darted his gaze to the ground then. "But not all of us are as heartless and superior as you paint us out to be."

With that, Shion left.

~xx;~

The train ride back was long, and Shion waited, his thoughts heavy.

Somewhere along the road he began to question everything he once knew, and wondered if everything he knew was a lie.

A/N: I'm sooo sorry for the long delay. I had a bad case of writer's block for the longest time, and I guess you can say I'm barely recuperating from it now. Hopefully I can get back into the writing mode in getting this story moving along because there's a lot more left in store for it. We're barely getting past one milestone for it.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter! Your kind words were much appreciated! (Except for that one really rude review that I felt had no basis for it but to insult me just because they had an immature intense hate for Safu. Whateven.)

To the one reviewer that asked if this was going to be yaoi: I'm not entirely sure. There will be hints of shounen-ai, but if it will border past to the lines of yaoi I'm not exactly sure just yet.

Please review again? I love hearing all of your thoughts!

Till next chapter, xoxo.