Chapter 564

564 No Need For Hostility(Part One)

“Do you have Any tact? You’re just like your wife,” Genie commented as he stared at Tidas with wide eyes.

“It was just a question.. They all seem to get along rather well, and Rukia is a very sweet, and intelligent little lass. Whatever you guys are doing, it seems to work for you. I was just curious..”

Hang flashed a small, rueful smile as he addressed Tidas; “Because I had told you that I still love Mei? Well...There’s nothing I can do about it. She chose Hana, which she’s always done. Just because our families wanted us together-I wanted us together, doesn’t mean that Mei felt the same way..”

“A marriage is meant for two people that love each other. Mei cares for me, but deep down: I’ve always known that she would never love me as I do her.. I refuse to hurt her anymore by trying to conform to society’s idea of what a family should be.”

Genie perked up slightly as Hang finished by adding; “We love each other, just not romantically. I want what’s best for Rukia and Mei.. And that’s not me.”

“But Rukia adores you, and nothing will change the fact that you are her father,” Genie commented, worried that Hang might pull away from them altogether.

Figuring that his anxious expression pertained to, Hang replied; “Do not misunderstand me: I will Never abandon my daughter. Even if Mei begged me to stay out of their lives, I wouldn’t. But I will stop interfering with Hana’s participation in Rukia’s life as a parental role.”

Hang sighed; “It is my irrationality and tells me she will take my place with my daughter, not my common sense. It took me until recently to realize that Rukia is simply gaining more family, not that my place in her life is being taken. I will always be present for my daughter.”

“Good on you!” Tidas chimed in; “Skye was quite worried that it would take you far longer to realize.”

.....

Hang huffed testily, then smiled bitterly; “Your wife is quite the meddler, isn’t she? It must get tiresome to deal with characters like me.”

Tidas stared at him a few moments, wondering if he’d made a compliment or insult towards his wife when he decided it didn’t matter; “Not really. You all seem to be quite pleasant after she breaks through that pesky shell you all have.”

The smile on Hang’s face softened slightly; “How long have you two known each other?”

After flashing a cheeky grin, Tidas launched into the tale of the circumstances surrounding he and Skye’s engagement, reunion, then their actual wedding. Hang had heard about the incidents involving Jacob Fowler, as well as the death of Angelica Bibalow. When he asked about specifics pertaining to them, Tidas talked all the way to their destination.

He was just explaining how Shasta had tried to warn Lord Bibalow beforehand when they spotted Richard Yaris coming out of the tavern. He’d stayed a step ahead of them all day, and now: he was finally in their sights. As their stagecoach came closer, Yaris glanced at it, then did a double-take before jumping onto his horse, and riding off.

“Dammit, he recognized the emblem on the stagecoach!” Tidas yelled before flinging the coach door open, and jumping out.

Hang and Genie exchanged an exhausted expression, then sighed at the same time..

As Tidas dashed passed the random people on the street, he found it difficult to keep a decent pace. It wasn’t until they’d cleared the center of the city that he was able to gain enough speed to catch up to Richard. As he finally caught up, Tidas leveled off his speed as he ran alongside Yaris..

“You know: it looks Really bad when you run away like that! Like you’re hiding something!” Tidas yelled to him, scaring Richard to the point that he’d nearly fallen from his horse.

After slowing his steed to a steady halt then dismounting, Yaris stared at the Third Prince with annoyance all over his features. He was breathing heavily from spurring his horse to run at break-neck speeds, so it took him a few moments before he could speak..

“How was I to know that you were in that coach? All I saw was the Zhao family crest.. That man just Loves to harass me, and I am not sober enough to deal with his snobbish and drawl attitude.”

After glancing upwards, Tidas tried to warn him, but Yaris continued to dig his hole; “I swear that the man was built, not birthed. I’ve never met such a joyless, boring, and overly-uptight man in my life-”

“I like to think of it as being professional,” Hang stated loudly as he and Genie descended from the sky; “But it doesn’t matter. I’ve been called much worse by much better than you.”

“Ouch: stingy.. And very poetic. I’m gonna use that,” Yaris commented as he tried to get back onto his horse.

Tidas grabbed Richard by the back of his coat’s neck, and yanked him down before he could lift his foot over the saddle. He glanced at the Alconian Prince with a pleading expression, but Tidas didn’t budge. As Yaris sighed with defeat, Genie and Hang came to stand in front of the two..

“Why did you run away?” Genie asked.

Yaris gestured his hand towards Hang; “That’s why. He harasses me every chance he gets, and in the most torturous ways possible. Why would I stick around for that?”

“Because I am in charge of Sai’s Internal Revenue Service, as well as a holding the position of a Senator,” Hang replied stiffly.

Yaris sighed; “So? That just gives me even More reasons not to like you.”

“Hang has a right to audit you whenever he feels like it,” Genie said testily, becoming irritated with the man’s lack of respect.

Yaris grinned cheekily; “No.. Even Sai has limits to when a person may be called upon by governmental figures. Unless you have direct evidence that I have done something illegal: office hours are eight A.M. to you will always be ‘rescheduled’. Good luck, and have a pleasant nigh-gah!”

As Tidas swiftly yanked on Yaris’ collar to shut him up, Genie got uncomfortably close to him; “Listen: you are usually much more intelligent, so I’m willing to write your earlier quips off as due to overindulgence in your whiskey. But if you continue to be difficult, then I will loosen your tongue for you.”

The grin on Richard’s face stretched; “So, am I to understand that my health, not my wealth, is on the line?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” Tidas commented as he finally released his hold on Richard; “You do know who my wife’s father is, correct? Let’s just say that, if you value your connections to the Moonstone Trading Company: you’ll cooperate.”

“How do you know that Lucas will agree? He likes money just as much as I do.”

Tidas matched his cocky smile; “True, but he loves his daughter. And Skye loves me, so..”

Yaris looked at Tidas with utter amusement, then burst out in laughter before saying; “Finally! Someone gets it! Now THAT is how you threaten someone! Haha! What do you need to know?”

Hang narrowed his eyes on Yaris; “That’s it?”

Richard stopped laughing and glanced at Hang; “That’s it. My money is the most important thing to me, and my dealings with Lucas Moonstone account for quite a bit of that. If the Prince here is threatening that partnership because his wife has that kind of pull, then who am I to say no?”

“You should’ve just been a decent human being, and refused the deal to begin with,” Hang snipped.

Yaris stared at the Senator like he was an idiot then turned to Genie; “He doesn’t understand how most money is made, does he? Look, kid-”

“I’m almost the same age as you,” Hang cut in.

“Not in your head, you’re not. If you intend to continue to be the Head of Sai’s IRS, then you really need to learn that money is what dictates a person’s moral compass. Not their beliefs.”

Hang gawked at Richard as he continued; “Like it or not, a person will justify their actions However they have to. That’s why the phrase, ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions’ exists. A father will steal, or a mother will kill to safeguard their children. A group of people will ban together an kill if their opponent is tougher than they are.”

“Humans look out for themselves and their own. Everyone else can fend for themselves.. That’s how most people think. They try to alleviate their guilt by donating around the holidays, or giving away things they deem useless, and call it charity. But it’s just desperate attempts to clear their consciences..”

Yaris shrugged as he finished; “I simply don’t have one to bother with, and freely admit that my greed drives me. I don’t care that I have more money than I could ever spend already: I want more. And the Prince here knows that. He’s like me..”

“I am Nothing like you,” Tidas replied in a hard tone.

Yaris whirled around; “Oh really? Well, not about money...Your vice is far more attractive than mine.”

Seeing the confusion in his eyes, Richard smirked cockily; “Tell me, Prince Tidas: is there anything that you Wouldn’t do, to keep Skye safe and happy? Wouldn’t you kill for her?-No, it’s obvious that you would..”

Yaris glared at him; “What if Skye were captured, and the only way to save her was to slaughter an entire town? What would you do?”

A threatening gleam shined in Tidas’ eyes as he looked at Yaris; “That would never happen, so it’s pointless to speak on. Skye can protect herself.”

“...You’re a bigger fool than I thought if you truly believe that,” Yaris said as he lightly shook his head in a disappointing manner; “She may be strong, but craftiness has outdone strength throughout history. If I were you: I’d never let her out of my sight.”

“Good thing that I’m not you, then. Because Skye would never deal with that kind of crap,” Tidas smacked his shoulder as he added; “Now, quit stalling with this pointless talk, and start talking about the weapons that you smuggled in. Where are they?”

Shaking the snow from his hood, Yaris replied; “Oh those are long gone. Distributed to the masses with strict instructions not to talk about it. There might still be a few stash houses that haven’t been emptied, though. The Saianese people barely do anything in this kind of weather.”

As the four men looked us at the heavy skies, Tidas realized that he had one other trump card to use..

Turning back to Richard, Tidas grinned as he asked; “Since you have no humanity to appeal to, how about this: if you help us collect evidence against Tokuga, then I will agree to be a proxy between the Fae of Warrick Forest, and you. With my Father’s approval, and if they like you: you and Lucas Moonstone will be the only ones allowed to sell Fae goods outside of Alcon.”

A devilish grin stretched across Yaris’ face; “Let’s get that in writing and notarized, and you have a deal!”