Kozuna
This. Is some fuckin' bullshit.
"Before we begin, for the record, I will be stating that our verdict has already been reached, and judgment shall soon be cast. Based on the evidence we managed to collect regarding the recent attack on The Primary, as well as the information we've gathered on the origins of your curse seal, Kozuna."
The origins?
"We've determined that another curse wielder may have been involved in the destruction of the northern district. Multiple eyewitness testimonies have provided substantial evidence, as well as council investigations at the crime scene. As it stands right now, you are a suspect, but you are not under accusation of this crime."
Good news..?
"However, even if you weren't responsible for the devastation, Kozuna, there is still the matter of your own curse seal. Before I go further, I'll ask you a simple question."
Not good news.
Izanai paused, as if to make me break out in a sweat. I felt every eye of the Ozukashi Clan on me, inside and outside of the throne room.
"When your curse first awakened, why didn't you turn yourself in?"
"What!?" My brow scrunched in. "My curse awakened only a few days ago- I was being hunted by the Hanakai! Had to fight for my life! I had to protect the clan!"
"A few days ago, you say? Our investigation has proven otherwise." Izanai turned away from me and motioned for his councilor, Gio, to step up. "Councilman Gio will present the evidence."
Evidence? What the hell are they talking about? WHAT EVIDENCE?
As Izanai's back turned to me, I saw the makings of his grin flash a brief return. However, the skinniest and tallest of the councilors stepped past him and up to the podium, serious-faced as ever. Gio's silver cloak ruffled; his pale brown hand revealed itself as he pulled an Ozukashi-stamped document out into the open.
"This is an official statement from Founded Hearts Orphanage, the orphanage Kozuna grew up in. When Kozuna's curse seal first awakened, he killed his parents! This was truth hidden from the world out of fear that a cataclysmic fate might befall them. However, once Kozuna's curse came to light and he was imprisoned, the director came forward in full stride."
WHAT.
My eyes started to twitch. I watched smiles widen across multiple faces in the throne room. Izanai, Melrose, Carmen, Isakai, and especially Livian. Helix was the only councilor who didn't appear thrilled. And with all the cameramen livestreaming my public humiliation ritual, there was a sudden increase in volume outside the palace. I could feel the shouting vibrating through the walls.
Lying on my name in front of the world? Dunno how court shit works, but I've gotta defend myself somehow!
"Fuckin' hell, uhhh- OBJECTION!" Though still bound, my fingers twitched with energy, and I was forced to contain myself as much as I could. "That never happened! I've never even met my parents!"
"Not a court trial, kid. Cursed folk don't have rights, remember? But, y'know what? Overruled." Gio's lanky ass turned the document around, showcasing an official government seal stamped on the page. "Read it and weep, mud-dweller."
All that did was make my blood boil even more. It was getting tougher to control myself, and I started to feel my curse seal tingling. But with that one-liner done, Gio finally read the document aloud.
"At the tender age of three, barely old enough to be truly conscious, Kozuna Ozukashi's curse seal awakened. He murdered his parents in cold blood, simply because they planned to give him up for adoption. His parents dreaded having a cursed child living under their roof, and rightfully so. It's why they wished to get rid of him. His mother and father were Avela and Doron Ozukashi. Two citizens of high status who passed away under alleged mysterious circumstances over a decade ago. Their bodies were found long after death, when only their dried-up blood and skeletons remained."
"What the hell!? So, we're just makin' shit up in the courtroom now!? What are you people getting out of tarnishing my name? None of that ever happened!"
"Exactly what a cursed killing machine would say!" Livian called out.
"I concur!" clamored Carmen in an old-timey, snobbish tone. "He should consider himself blessed to not be hung by the noose!"
"Ex parte!" Melrose suppressed her giggles. "Post hoc ergo propter hoc!"
Fuck did she just say?
Helix covered his face with both hands and didn't stop rubbing. For once, somehow, he was one of the least frustrating people in the room. And that was saying something.
Wow. Helix is actually the only one who isn't trying to destroy me. But the rest of 'em? It's beyond lies. They're just fuckin' around and goofing off! Putting on a show for everyone outside!
"Can we get back to the task at hand? Please maintain some bare level of professionalism." Gio almost looked upset when he glared back at his fellow councilors. "Kozuna, we performed several DNA tests before coming to a decision. Avela and Doron were your parents. The truth is, you've known about your curse seal for a very long time. And that is an irrefutable fact."
"It IS refutable-"
"No need to play dumb any longer, Kozuna. You're guilty, and you know it." Izanai sipped on his water to hide his smirk. "You think we don't see you for who you are? Come on, why don't you show us who you are?"
My hands fidgeted. I felt that explosive force building and rising- just raring to come out.
I could shatter these cuffs and move faster than bullets. I could take everyone in this throne room down and still escape with my life.
My thoughts put me on pause for a second. I glanced over my shoulder and made eye contact with Kaiten. He was clearly trying to keep a low profile. All he did was shake his head. He couldn't say what he wanted to out loud.
I turned away, gritting my teeth, sweat-covered, and facing the floor.
They know damn well I can break out right now and fight. That's the reaction they want. If I go through with it, it'll just confirm everything they're saying. Lies or not.
I breathed deeply, shut my eyes for a second, and nodded a couple times. Anything to compose myself. It was clear Izanai was just waiting to see what I'd do.
Gotta use my words. Kaiten told me not to be rash, and this is why.
"Listen, I couldn't kill parents I've never fucking ever met! If you guys wanted to sentence me to death, you could've saved me the public emasculation from the start-" My words cut out immediately when I remembered the bullshit Carmen had spewed. "You guys never planned to have me executed, I get it. The clan's leader and his council- you fucks can do whatever the hell you want, whenever you want. Why go through all this?"
Dude from Sand Tower was on the money. Execution would've been a hundred times better than this.
Gio took his seat, whereas Izanai retook his position at the podium. He lost his smirk, like he was somehow disappointed in the outcome or something.
"Smarter than you look. We've decided against executing you. You'll be the first cursed person to be put on trial and not be executed. A truly historic moment."
Don't give a shit.
"Quit wasting my time. You people have done enough already. Tell me what my undeserving fate is."
Izanai's mouth curved back into a smile. "I'm glad you'll accept it like a man. Not some pansy who'll grovel at my feet. That's respectable. You'll be kept in the highest reaches of Sand Tower and fed just enough to sustain usage of your curse. You will only ever see sunlight if the clan has a use for your abilities."
Sounds real familiar.
"So, I'm a slave? What makes you think I'll listen if you pull me outta my cell? Why not just kill me right now? Wouldn't make a difference at that point. Better yet, just give me a gun; I'll kill myself. Anything's better than slavery."
"Oh, please, enough of your self-righteousness. This isn't about you or me. It goes against my morals to keep you alive, but I can't allow you to run freely among the public. If you go haywire one day, then everyone could be slaughtered! Besides, if we bring you out to respond to invaders, you'd be fighting to protect the people! If you truly are an ally to the Ozukashi, as you claim, you'd listen rather than go against me. Don't you see? This is all for the sake of the people. Prove to them- to all of us- that you aren't a monster, Kozuna."
Slavery with extra steps.
I growled in frustration. Izanai was trying and clearly succeeding at crowd manipulation. The constant shouting outside had calmed and progressed to cheering. The people were happy, if anything. It seemed no one was upset that my freedom was just yanked away. Izanai and his pompous council successfully painted me as the villain.
All I could do was reluctantly comply. Anything else would've only hurt me.
"I've given my final verdict. Now, soldiers, please escort the employed prisoner back to his cellblock."
Fuckass clan.
My muscles tensed up as I glared at Izanai and his council. Two guards grabbed me by the arms and began dragging me out of the throne room on live television. My glare zoomed in on the grins across nearly everyone on the other side of the podium. Helix was the only one who looked sorry for me, and he was silent the entire time.
Damn it all, I'm not gonna allow myself to be locked away forever. One way or another, I'm escaping that fucking tower. Even if I have to leave the clan to do it.
***
The tips of my ragged boots dragged across the drawbridge as I was brought outside. Citizens lined the streets, yelling incoherent, vulgar language, practically cursing me to death. I met eyes with the few allies I still had. They were the only ones who didn't look at me as if I were some monster, but I didn't get a chance to speak with anyone. I was thrown right back into the center of an armored buggy convoy.
"Murderer!"
"How could you kill your parents?"
"You should be the one dead!"
"Good thing Lord Izanai is locking you away!"
"Fiend! Rot in prison! Clan's better off with you gone!"
So, this is what I get for showing my curse to the public, huh? Zara was spot on. Now I get to hear my cell neighbor yell at me all day. Whatever. Beats dealing with this.
My weary eyes tunneled almost fuzzily as the buggies headed toward Sand Tower. I sat up in my seat, continuously bouncing and bobbing around. The ride alone was irritating enough, with the chains jangling violently, but the constant shouting of civilians at every turn made it unbearable.
They were making joining the Hanakai look like an amazing option.
Why bother defending anyone if they'll turn on you in the blink of an eye? Did even one person stop to question it? Stop to think for a minute and form their own opinion? By the time reinforcements arrived, the city would've been in ruins if I hadn't stepped in.
***
Guns were aimed at every inch of my body the entire way. The drive, the walk inside, the elevator ride, and right up until my shackles were removed and I was shoved back into my cell.
My hands tingle-sizzled, and my skin nearly tore open when I hit the floor. The cell door slammed shut behind me before I could even move.
"Hmph. Lemme guess- they did exactly as I predicted?"
I groaned and slowly pushed myself up until I was sitting on the floor beside my bed. "Welp. Go ahead, cellmate. Laugh. I know you want to."
I glared at the laughing guards as they entered the elevator and left. Those fuckers didn't have a care in the world.
"Not this time," he quietly responded. "So, what'd they do?"
"Public emasculation. Told enough truth to make their lies believable. Made me a 'prisoner with a job.' Fancy-ass title for a slave. It's not like I even know how to activate my curse. Still figuring this shit out."
"You idiot. They just served your dumbass a five-course meal of supreme injustice. Don't tell me you actually wanna try to please those fuckheads. Are you even an Ozukashi?"
"Hell no, I don't wanna please them. But I do wanna learn this curse seal stuff- for me." My gaze wandered to the black mark on my hand. The symbol of everything changing in my life. "Not like I can get rid of it. And I don't plan on staying in this damn tower for the rest of my life."
"You're hatching an escape plan already? Good luck with that. Even if you knew how to activate your curse, it's not like you could use it. They've got some device up here. Stops curse activation on the top floors. I've tried everything to escape. If there was a way out, I'd have found it by now."
Tracks why my hand feels fucking lifeless right now. It's the opposite of what Zara used on me for training.
My eyes lit up. "So, you know how to activate your curse?"
"Duh. That's why they're able to abuse my power."
Suddenly, I felt energized. I sprang over to the cell bars and gripped them tightly. "I need you to teach me. Teach me to activate my curse. I need to know how."
"Man, what? Why the hell should I do that? Just because you're in jail with me doesn't mean we're friends. You're the only person to yell at. That's it. That's our relationship."
"Listen, you wanna escape too, right?"
"No shit. It's almost all I can think about."
"Well, two heads and two curses working to hatch an escape plan are better than one."
"And I'm supposed to trust an Ozukashi?"
"You got anyone else in the world coming to save your ass or what?"
My neighbor scoffed and laughed a little. He walked over to the bars, arms crossed. "I like that answer. Tell ya what, Koma-zuna. If you can get me to tell you my name, I'll teach you how to activate your curse. Deal?"
He really just call me Koma-zuna?
I reached my hand through the gaps, waiting for him to shake my hand.
This is his way of gauging whether or not I'm trustworthy. Nothing I can't handle. I'll find a way to master my new abilities. One way or another.
"Deal."
The other prisoner flashed the slightest hint of a smile, then returned the handshake after pausing to scan my palm. And that was probably the best development I had all day. Something to do- a way to move forward. But there was still the matter of anti-curse technology built into Sand Tower, courtesy of the council.
Learning to activate my seal will be tough on its own, but my first real hurdle is the council and all of their fabrications.