Chisen did not open his eyes.
"Yes."
"Then why did you let him notice?"
Chisen fell silent for a moment.
"Because I needed him to go back alive and tell Helian that Chisen's Brand really does flare up, and that he really does freeze when it happens."
Shikamaru understood.
"You want Helian to believe the Brand works."
"More than that." Chisen opened his eyes. "I want Helian to believe the information he has is correct. If he thinks the Brand is my fatal weakness, he'll rely on that judgment at a critical moment. And when he relies on it at that critical moment..."
"It won't be anymore," Shikamaru finished for him.
The hospital room fell quiet.
Shouts drifted over from the distant training grounds. He could just make out new students practicing basic Taijutsu, their calls uneven and raw with youth. Closer by, someone was mopping the hallway. The mop handle knocked rhythmically against the wall, like some ancient metronome.
Chisen suddenly spoke, his voice very soft.
"Shikamaru, do you know why I didn't tell you?"
Shikamaru looked at him.
"It wasn't because I didn't trust you."
"Then why?"
Chisen's gaze settled on the old oak outside the window. More than half its leaves had yellowed. A few were falling, spinning lazily, as though in no hurry to reach the ground.
"Because if I told you I could control the Brand, you'd start worrying about how I should use it. You'd come up with strategies, run scenarios, write plans, find people to help. You'd treat it as your problem to solve."
"What's wrong with that?"
"It isn't your problem," Chisen said. "It's my Brand. Something on my body should be mine to deal with."
Shikamaru was silent for a long time.
The falling leaves outside finally touched the ground.
"You're