Chapter Text
Susato could never forget that day. When she and her father woke up to Kazuma-sama’s bloodcurdling scream.
In alarm, they had both gotten up and Susato had just seen her father run up the stairs to Kazuma-sama’s room before she gave chase as fast as her tiny legs allowed her.
Well inside, she had seen her father sitting next to her brother, who was sitting upright in his bed, clutching his forehead and taking shuddering breaths.
She had been almost paralysed at the sight. While it wasn’t unusual for Kazuma-sama to be plagued by nightmares, never before had he screamed as if in physical pain. Luckily, her father had known what to do, gently rubbing his back, talking to him in a steady voice with calming words.
Once her father had finally coaxed Kazuma-sama to look back at him, he’d let out a surprised gasp.
“Father? Kazuma-niisan?”
Kazuma-sama had turned to face her and reflected in the dim lantern light, she had seen it. That cross-shaped scar now marring her brother’s face.
The following day, her father told her about the myths and stories of people born with their souls bound to each other.
···
So when she sees that intimately familiar scar imposing on Prosecutor van Zieks’ face, her heart aches. Aches for her brother and a story that never unfolded.
She wonders if he knows. Knows what terrible fate has befallen his soulmate. Could Lord van Zieks feel it? Did he have a gaping hole in his soul? Just like they had in their hearts?
Glancing over to Naruhodou-san, she sees him having the same astonished expression.
The first time Ryuunosuke had seen Kazuma’s facial scar, he couldn’t help but ask:
“Uhhm Asougi, in between your brows...?”
Kazuma had looked back at him in confusion at first, before a realised ‘oh’ left his lips.
“Right, I forgot you haven’t seen it before. Never mind it.”
“It looks painful though… is it recent?”
“No, it’s been years and except for the moment it manifested, it hasn’t really bothered me. I just cover it up most of the time, so no need to strain your eyes, you won’t need to see it again.”
“Oh, I don’t mind it! You’re still you, Asougi,” Ryuunosuke smiled. “Can I ask what caused it?”
Kazuma had given him a sideways glance, unwrapped a small cloth holding colours and brushes and started patting his face with it, hiding any uneven skin.
“I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to. Some other fool got themself hurt and I’m just paying the same price.”
“What?” Ryuunosuke had blinked and then it had dawned on him - Kazuma has a soulmate. “Oh… oh I see! Didn’t know you were bound to someone… But I’m still curious, have you ever met your soulmate?”
Kazuma had scoffed, “No and it’s of no consequence to me, I have bigger fish to fry. Besides, being soulbond or not, you’re still my one and only partner, Naruhodou!”
It was clear Kazuma only would have a selected choice of words for his bonded fellow and his contagious grin had transferred over to Ryuunosuke.
“And you mine, Asougi!”
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They never spoke about it again and Ryuunosuke had almost forgotten Kazuma’s fabled soulmate until he met Barok van Zieks.
He might only have seen Kazuma’s scar a handful of times, but what were the odds of someone else having such a similar scar? And being British nonetheless!
Even now, he doesn’t fully understand Kazuma’s near obsession with going to the British Empire, but perhaps, regardless of what Kazuma said back then, it was related to his menacing soulmate…