by Karma
This is...awkward, Guibu reflected regretfully.
The cool night settled upon the fourteen new companions. The Ryudo family had asked to accompany the prince and his companions to Port Giran, and, overjoyed that they had saved Arslan from the cliff fall, Darun had immediately agreed: speaking for all. He had assumed that the prince had told them of his troubles, and overcome by the chance to work for such a just cause, they had immediately agreed.
It soon became evident, however, that he had been wrong.
While the younger two brothers were excited about helping a prince, it was apparent that the older two were much less enthused. The second oldest one, especially, seemed worried about something. He spoke very little, letting his other four companions fill the silence that usually ensued between strangers.
Then the matter of transportation arose. Neither the brothers nor their cousin had any previous training in horseback riding; furthermore, there were not any spare horses. Much to the dismay of the newcomers, they would have to ride double with some of Arslan's friends. Darun dismissed any notion that they would rather walk, and insisted upon it.
And so they were paired up: Amaru with Eram, Matsuri with Alfreed, Owaru with Melain, Hajime with Guibu, and, to both Jaswont and Darun's displeasure, Tsuzuku with Arslan. The others were not chosen for several reasons: Farangis, a priestess, was reluctant to share her horse with any man. Darun needed to be by himself in order to retain better control over his horse, should the need to fight arise. Jaswont was asocial and extremely unhappy at the thought of sharing his steed; Darun was unhappy at the thought of Narcasse sharing his (although he claimed it was because Narcasse needed space to think-- a lame excuse but one which Arslan surprisingly accepted).
What was awkward for Guibu was the result of his stupid greeting. Hajime was evidently extremely curious on where the minstrel came up with the mistaken name "Chuukei," and it was starting to drive the minstrel crazy because he didn't know.
"Have no fear," Guibu valiantly tried to reassure the eldest Ryudo while they were riding. "If your brother's name is Tsuzuku then his name is Tsuzuku. My memory is not what it had been...this is not the first time that I have mistaken someone's identity for another," he said, hoping that the Ryudo leader would drop the subject.
Unfortunately, his last statement only increased the blue dragon's curiosity. "Not the first time? What happened the first time?"
"I called Prince Arslan a stupid name too."
"A stupid name?"
"Hoshiki."
"Hoshiki..."
The being behind the minstrel fell silent, and Guibu gave a silent sigh of relief.
"So, whom did you mistake Tsuzuku for?"
Argh! I don't know! Shut up! Leave me alone! The minstrel bit his lip and shook his head, trying to curb his temper. The urge to throw Hajime off his horse was overwhelming. "As I've said before, I don't know. It was a simple mistake. Let's just leave it at that."
Nearby, the prince was faring no better-- although his problem was of a different source. Sitting so close to Tsuzuku made him recall his dream the night before, the one in which he had kissed the one behind him. Stop it stop it stop it. What is the matter with me? Stop thinking about it, he told himself firmly. It was a dream. Nothing but a stupid silly dream that you had no control over so stop thinking about it. Feeling Tsuzuku's warm puffs of breath against his ear, though very slight and barely noticeable, was not helping either. Neither were the hands on his sides, when it became clear that Tsuzuku had a slight anxiety about falling off. Oh gods, what's wrong with me? Why do I feel so nervous near him? Why can't I get that stupid dream out of my mind, why is it that I'm so aware of his presence?
"Your Highness," Narcasse said, distracting his thoughts to his relief.
"Yes?" Arslan asked eagerly, trying to concentrate his mind on what the strategist was saying.
Narcasse frowned. "Is something bothering you, Your Highness?"
"No...I'm fine."
The strategist said nothing for a moment, wondering if the prince was still upset over the actions of his father. He resumed his original conversation intent. "With twice the load on our horses, perhaps we should break soon and call it a night."
"All right. Whenever you think we should, please let me know."
Narcasse nodded and turned his attention to looking for a strategic place for camp.
Arslan was then left back to his thoughts. Which, unbidden, returned to his original line of thinking. He wondered what it would be like to press his lips against Tsuzuku's, to see if his dream was anything that it would be like in reality. What are you thinking? Stop it this instant! Think about something else. Anything else! He concentrated on studying the area around them-- the scenery was peaceful, the sky was turning dark.
"Is something wrong?" Tsuzuku asked in his usual smooth voice, interrupting the prince's thoughts. He spoke quietly into the prince's ear, to make sure that he was heard above the sound of hooves.
"No," Arslan said, surprised at the question. He then became aware of Tsuzuku's breath even closer against his own skin, and felt himself growing embarrassed. Good thing he rides behind me and it's getting so dark.
The red dragon spoke hesitantly again. "Does it bother you that I'm holding onto your waist?" The warm pressure at his sides receded, as the second eldest Ryudo became aware that he was making the prince uncomfortable.
"No, it's all right. Don't worry about it." He felt Tsuzuku hold onto him again, and felt another turmoil of emotions. More like I'm enjoying it too much. What's wrong with me? It's my fault anyway. When I realized that he had a small fear of falling off while riding, I told him that he could hold onto me if it would make him more comfortable. I had no idea it would make me feel this way, though. This way was everything-- confused, embarrassed, angry with himself for being embarrassed, safe, and...a little happy.
Tsuzuku wondered what was bothering the prince. The boy was tense, and clearly unnerved by something. Twice he checked his strength to make sure he wasn't crushing the youth before him, thrice he cursed himself for *still* being afraid of riding. What's this? Even after everything that Guibu and you went through a few days ago, you're still afraid of falling off? Why? It's not like falling off a horse is going to hurt you. You've fallen off higher places before, and survived. Following this train of thought helped, a little, though it brought a rather unhappy memory back. You can't die by normal means, remember? Falling off may be humiliating, but there's no other reason to be afraid of it. You can run faster than this horse. Falling off won't hurt you. And you're embarrassing the prince by being so needy. He's obviously not used to being touched, the hug yesterday was probably his first in a long, long time. So why are you still holding onto him? Are you really afraid? Or maybe you're just looking for an excuse to touch him... Tsuzuku shook his head, trying to clear his head of such silly thoughts that he dismissed. He paused, took a deep breath, and withdrew his arms once more. There. See? Nothing to be afraid of.
Arslan felt a strange mixture of relief and disappointment when Tsuzuku stopped holding onto him. "Are you sure?" He asked, half-hoping and half-dreading the answer.
"I have no reason to be afraid of falling off," Tsuzuku repeated aloud, trying to cure his irrational fear. None. Remember Tokyo Tower? And all you suffered from it was a splitting headache.
"There is a good place to stop," Narcasse announced. "Up ahead, to the left of the tree."
The others followed his lead and stopped a little off the road. Narcasse explained that with a party so large and with so many talented fighters, there was no need to fear bandits. Nevertheless, to avoid possible confrontation with Hermes or the armies of any of their other men, he chose a site that was slightly obscured from the road, hidden behind some trees.
Alfreed set up camp with the little supplies that they brought, Matsuri helping her. For dinner, they shared some dried rations that Eram had gotten from the kitchen before they left, and Jaswont and Melain had decided that they would rotate watch while the others slept.
Unlike the previous nights, this one gave no hint of rain, so no tents were set up. Rather, all the companions shared blankets or chose to sleep with nothing on but the clothes on their back.
Guibu lay on the cold ground and stared at the sky before drifting off to sleep. The stars were small, many, and bright. Hoshiki...the Star Prince...
He embraced his prince for the first and the last time. It was a warm, comforting hug, and he fervently wished that it did not have to be so; that he did not have to leave, that his lord's husband was not coming over to the Quartz Palace the next day. Then, he forced himself to release the Red Dragon King of the South Sea, his student, his master and to take a step back.
"Do you really have to go?" His prince knew the reason, but had denied it to the very end. Until the ceremony. Until he realized that he was now bound and chained to another, one who did not love him but his brother.
He smiled cheerfully at the question. It hurt to smile, to pretend that he had not been in love with his master, that everything was all right even though now it would never be so. "Our time together draws near, my prince. Shall I attempt to whet your curiosity about your new husband? I did a bit of research." He knew that the prince could care less at the moment, but he had to get their minds off of his departure. It hurt to think about it; it pained him when he realized how pathetic his situation was; it upset him to think of the future. How odd. This would be his last conversation with the only person that he had ever loved, and it would be about his heart's new, unwanted husband. He kept his smile plastered over his face -- he didn't want the boy to realize how difficult this was. The end of everything that he had enjoyed. There would be no more discussions, passionate debates, or music. None. Once again, he was reminded of how much lower he was beneath the prince; how could he possibly dream of anything different? He wanted this to be a painlessly clean experience for both of them; and so he spoke of the gossip and rumors that he had heard of the Prince of the Tenkai.
"Prince Hoshiki has never made a public appearance. He's the son of the emperor's first wife; although there are rumors that he was a bastard child mothered by someone else or a child of wedlock. Whatever the case, the empress decided to revoke her title and her husband and to join Seiubo-sama's plane as one of her goddesses. The emperor did not refuse her case, though there was much discontent in the court, since this was unheard of. But he did not refuse her wish; in fact, he went with her to that plane, where he fell in love with our current empress and took her as his second wife."
"Taishinofujin-sama is probably the closest person to your husband." It hurt to say that word, and so he tried to say it as much as possible, because he knew that he had to accustom himself to the pain. "She treats him like a younger brother; and he to her like an older sister. I assume his lack of public appearance is the reason for his lack of friends. He spent most of his time in his lessons, in his room, or in his garden, where, I gather, he met your brothers."
An unhappy nod of agreement. "And fell in love with my younger brother," added Kouryuu-ou, more ironic than bitter.
"And fell in love with your brother. Although he's popular with the servants, I do believe that your younger brothers and the empress are the only people that he is close to." A pause. He was running out of things to say, and there was only one thing left to say...
"Some of the servants confided in me that he also appears to have inherited some of his father's powers. The true extent of them are quite unknown, but since they are of the same nature, I gather that if this was well-known it would make others respect and fear him." Respect and fear were often the same thing in the Tenkai.
"And that's all I know." He forced himself to smile as he gave a sweeping, dramatic bow.
"Goodbye, my prince."
And he left, leaving his heart behind him.
For the first time that week, Tsuzuku dreamt a realistic dream, one in which he spoke with not with a single person, but rather with a collection of beings within his memories.
The next day, Kouryuu-ou, the Red Dragon King of the South Sea, sometimes known as Chuukei to friends, waited in his room apathetically. He realized that he should feel sorrow, perhaps, at having lost his music teacher. It was obvious that because of how they felt towards one and another that Hisui could not stay after Prince Hoshiki arrived. The Red Dragon, however, felt no sorrow, none of it. He simply felt a kind of calm dread at the arrival of the prince. Oh, the emperor's son was nice enough. He could not bring himself to hate him or blame him... Resent him he did so, a little, grudgingly. Resentment did not need a reason or an excuse.
He heard a commotion down the hall of the Quartz Palace, and assumed that his husband had arrived. He wondered if he should be running eagerly to the entrance. But try as he may, he could not muster the will to care. And so he sat in his room, debating the proper etiquette of greeting one's match, and whether or not such rules applied to forced marriages. He thought, briefly, if there was any way to end their match, short of killing the boy in each lifetime. He could not think of any, which was hardly fair, considering that Taishinofujin was the emperor's second wife. If only he had the power...
There came a soft knock on his door. Kouryuu-ou did not respond, waiting indifferently.
The door opened, and in walked the current leader of the Go Clan, Seiryuu-ou. Kouryuu-ou smiled briefly in greeting, but said nothing else. Of all the people he thought would support him from during the fight to get out of the marriage, he had expected that his older brother, whom he had loved and worshipped since his youth, to help him the most.
That was not the case. Although Seiryuu-ou had spoken for him once, the eldest dragon son was a dutiful son and wanted what was best for the clan. Since their father had thought this for best, he could not help but stand by his father's choice. It was not betrayal, not exactly, but it still hurt Kouryuu-ou to think about it.
"Yes?"
"Prince Hoshiki is here, Chuukei. Why don't you go greet him?"
"Because I doubt that he would want a greeting from me so much as one from Shukukei," said the younger king sardonically.
"Hoshiki is your match, not Shukukei's. If nothing else, you two can try to become friends. Come, let's go."
He pulled his younger brother onto his feet, and the two of them silently padded down the hall until they reached the reception room.
Blue.
Hoshiki was dressed in a fabulous, dark blue that complemented both his hair and his eyes. He looked stunning, if in appearance only. It was akin to the gorgeous costume that he had worn at the wedding. He stood passively by the wall, a slightly bitter smile upon his lips. Lips, Kouryuu-ou remembered, that had pressed warmly against his after the wedding.
Yet, even with such warm lips, Kouryuu-ou was positive that nothing but cold distance could exist between him and his husband.
Hoshiki smiled to the one that he was bound to. It was neither a smile of pleasure nor one of greeting. Rather, it was a ghost of a smile, one that was as equally likely to be a smile as a grimace of pain. "You look well," he greeted.
Not the most usual of greetings, however, Kouryuu-ou knew what he meant. There was nothing to be said between the two. I most certainly am not well, he thought to himself. And neither do you look so. For although Hoshiki was beautifully dressed and as handsome as ever, his flat smile and dead eyes marked his unhappiness. His posture was not that of a prince, but of a fighter who had lost a battle. The Red Dragon King saw, within the other's eyes, pain akin to his own, and he took comfort within it.
"As do you," he responded in kind. Hoshiki was; after all, very beautiful, and Kouryuu-ou found himself glad that he was at least chained to someone of aesthetic value.
"Welcome to the Quartz Palace," greeted Seiryuu-ou. "And welcome to our family, Prince Hoshiki.
"Thank you," the blue-haired prince said simply. He gave a slight bow.
"Are we done with formalities yet?" Kokoryuu-ou, the Black Dragon King of the North Sea, wanted to know. He turned to the prince and grinned in greeting, the most welcoming smile yet, matched only by the smile of his older brother, the White Dragon King.
Kouryuu-ou could not help but feel the irony; so heavy and almost palpable it was. He had to send away his heart, but Hoshiki's heart lay with his brother, who stood here in greeting. He took a small pleasure in knowing that neither Hakuryuu-ou, the White Dragon King, nor Kokoryuu-ou, the Black Dragon King, knew of Hoshiki's crush on the White Dragon. And now that he was bound to another, it was unlikely that a confession would be given anytime soon.
"Chuukei," said Seiryuu-ou, interrupting his thoughts. "Why don't you show your husband the palace."
Kouryuu-ou felt his brother's words rather than heard them. Briefly, he felt anger and hurt. Betrayed. But it was logical that he should show Hoshiki around, was it not? For the burden of marriage was upon his shoulders, not his brothers'. Seiryuu-ou was trying to give the two time to become accustomed to one and another, while reminding his younger brother that they WERE now married. He nodded reluctantly in acquiescence and directed a servant to take what possessions that Hoshiki had brought with him to his new room.
"This way," he said softly to his husband.
Hoshiki followed him out of the room, equally silent. He continued to walk behind Kouryuu-ou, as the Red Dragon King began explaining in an expressionless voice which room was which.
Finally, after receiving no response for quite a while and feeling like he was talking to himself, Kouryuu-ou turned to look back at his husband. The prince was examining his surroundings with mild curiosity. It was not exactly enthusiasm, but still, it was more of an emotion than the Red Dragon King had seen on the prince's face since his arrival. Unaware that he was being watched, the young prince smiled slightly to himself as more wondrous rooms opened up to them.
Kouryuu-ou realized that this was not as bad as it could be. At least he was allowed to stay with his brothers; Hoshiki had been forced to move here, away from the Empress, his closest friend. The Red Dragon King found himself sympathizing his husband for the first time and when he caught himself doing so, a shallow anger entered his senses. Why was he feeling sorry for the prince? The emperor's son had nothing to do with him. They were strangers bound together by a contract. No more, no less. Strangers.
And yet...he had a choice. They did not have to remain strangers. There was, after all, no real reason why they could not be friends.
Yes there was, he disagreed with himself. He resented Hoshiki, and the prince probably resented him as well. Would that resentment not hold as a barrier?
But it did not have to be so.
The Red Dragon King found himself stopping and waiting until the prince caught up with him. The sky-haired being looked at him in surprise when he slowed, and then smiled in gratitude.
They walked besides each other from then on, the Red Dragon King explaining where they were, the prince listening silently and looking around in admiration.
"It's all very impressive," Hoshiki said quietly.
"Nothing compared to the Emperor's Palace, though," responded his husband in his usual smooth voice.
"I wouldn't know," replied the prince honestly. "I was not permitted entrance into most parts of the palace. I was only allowed to enter one part of the gardens, my meals are brought to me, and I snuck into the empress' room occasionally. All my lessons are given to me in the room next to mine. Other than receiving commands from the throne room, I have not seen any other part of the palace. You have probably seen more of it than I have." The young prince lowered his head in embarrassment when he found his husband staring at him in surprise.
"Why weren't you allowed to move around freely in the castle?" The Red Dragon King could not help but ask.
"It's because he does not wish me to be seen by others, especially by the lords of other clans. At least, that is what the servants told me. It has been this way for a very long time."
"Ah."
"So, please forgive me if I sound foolish," said the Star Prince. "But I find your home quite wondrous. It's very beautiful. May we continue?" The last part came out almost timidly, as shy as the prince obviously felt, now that he was on speaking terms with the Red Dragon.
"As you wish."
They continued their journey through the Quartz Palace. The second eldest of the Go family filled in gaps of silence with small details of the parts of the palace that they saw, in an effort to remove the discomforting silence that ensued often between strangers. He was not even aware that he had been doing so, until they reached the last stop; Hoshiki's room; and the prince spoke to him in a soft voice.
"Thank you for your kindness." The prince hesitated, and then continued. "I confess...I had been terrified that there would be ill-will between us. I know that there was someone else that you loved...you know of my first choice as well. But circumstances beyond our control have resulted in this. Neither you nor I are to blame for this, though it may be difficult to do otherwise. Still..." The prince met the dragon's eyes. "There is no reason why we cannot learn to be friends."
The thought echoing his earlier sentiments stunned the Red Dragon King. Part of him, out of spite, wished to say, "I disagree" and watch as the hope crumbled from the prince's face. But not only was that cruel...but it was completely untrue as well. What was done was done. Only one person he knew had the power to change what occurred in the past, and aid from him on this subject was impossible.
There was no real reason why they could not be friends. Denying that they were married now was useless. Futile.
"If nothing else," the prince continued, "I would like to get to know you better. I know your younger brothers quite well, and all of them have been delightful companions; but I have never had the pleasure of speaking to you on a more personal basis except when the engagement was first announced." The boy's fair face glanced at his silent companion with a little worry. Was it meaningless? Could he not reach the Red Dragon King?
And Kouryuu-ou smiled back. "I think...I'd like that."
Arslan could not sleep. He knew that sleep was necessary, knew that he had a long day's journey the next day, and yet he still could not sleep. He knew that he had an especially bad case of insomnia when he realized that he was the only person awake other than Jaswont, who kept watch. The prince was tempted to strike a conversation with the golden-eyed ex-assassin, but restrained himself because he knew the Shindran would only tell him to go to sleep. And so he lay on his back, staring at the sky, pondering over the events of the day.
First: They were now heading towards Port Giran to secure 50,000 men.
Second: There were now fourteen of them; more than doubled of his original six when he first met Guibu and Farangis.
Then: the Ryudo family.
At that next topic, he had to smile. They're such a lively family. The cousin, Matsuri was undeniably sweet, and Alfreed took a great liking to her instantly. The youngest, Amaru, was likewise, though quieter. The second youngest, Owaru, was a mischievous adolescent. Twice, he tried to convince Melain to let him steer the horse. The mountain bandit staunchly refused.
The oldest, Hajime, was clearly the leader. He made all the decisions regarding his family, and watched over his two youngest siblings with an almost parental eye. Obviously, he was the one taking care of them, and it was no wonder that Tsuzuku had been so anxious to find him.
Tsuzuku... The thought of the latter made Arslan's heart quicken, which he grew embarrassed at. I can't believe I couldn't stop thinking of that stupid dream today. I'd better forget it tomorrow; else I'll grow flustered while riding with him again. How could I be so silly? Remembering such a silly dream at the worst possible time. He frowned and silently blamed it on the Ryudo brothers. If only they didn't wake me up in the middle of it. Then I would not recall it so vividly. Maybe I should let him ride with Guibu tomorrow, Owaru can ride with me, and Hajime can ride with Melain. But what would be a good excuse? "I don't want to ride with Tsuzuku because I keep thinking about kissing him"? Darun would not be pleased, although Narcasse would probably find the whole situation comical.
Guibu... The mystery of his miraculous recovery still stood in the air and Arslan wondered if he had any role in it. Unlikely. Perhaps we were simply fortunate. Still, however, he could not shake the feeling that he was involved somehow, no matter how egocentric it sounded. And, if he was so, was there anyway to bring back the minstrel's memories?
The prince frowned once more, and closed his eyes in another attempt at sleep. Eventually sleep washed over him and he entered the bliss that accompanied it.
He walked slowly by the Blue Dragon, feeling nothing. The unthinkable had occurred-- not more than a heartbeat ago he had just been married to another. His attempt at kissing his husband was laughable at best. It was clear that the Red Dragon hated him.
After the latter had left his newly-won husband, after he had given his match a surprise kiss, after the ceremony had ended, the oldest Go brother had sought his company and explained that the Dragon King, the leader of the Go clan, wanted to see his new son. And so here he was now, walking not with his husband but with his husband's brother; now his older brother.
He followed the Go into a grand room, where many of the wedding guests now resided, wondering what was going on. Was the Imperial Dragon going to welcome him into the family? Would some silly speech about his future happiness with Chuukei be given? He entered the room, steeling himself for more to come. He could not wait for the day to be over-- it had been dreadful so far and he knew it would only get worse.
The Dragon King nodded at his son-in-law in acknowledgement of his presence. Dutifully, Hoshiki kneeled in respect for his new father. To the left of him kneeled his new husband, his face hidden from his match. To the right of him kneeled Kikei and Shukukei, the only close friends he had ever made in the Tenkai. Behind him, Hakukei, the oldest Go, kneeled as well.
He listened half-heartedly, filtering through the flowery speech. The Dragon King welcomed him into the family, yes, he was pleased to have the Star Prince as his son. Yes, he blessed the new couple and wished them happiness together. Yes, today was a day of joy, one to be celebrated thoroughly throughout the Tenkai.
He listened to all of this quietly, and only nodded his head in response when he thought that one was expected of him. He wondered how long this was going to last, and wished for the comfortable solitude of his room.
Which was not to going to belong to him much longer, he learned, as he listened with growing shock. Of course Prince Hoshiki would now move to live at the Quartz Palace with his husband, the Imperial Dragon King explained. The matter had been discussed thoroughly between Hoshiki's father, the Golden Emperor, and Chuukei's father, the Dragon King. And, as with the marriage, both decided that this would be the ideal situation for him, as they had decided everything before.
He almost cried out at the news. It meant that his one sole, completely true support, his Oneesama, his stepmother, was now taken from him as well. His home taken, his heart taken, his future bonds filled, his destiny set, and now her, Taishinofujin, was taken as well. He forced himself not to cry, lest he insult the Dragon King and ruin the future relationship between him and his father-in-law.
"It is also my wish that I am the head of the Go clan no longer. To my sons do I leave the seas, and crown them in their full glory." The former Go leader indicated that each of the Go brothers was to come to him, and, bewildered, each did.
"Go Kou, Hakukei, you are now Seiryuu-ou, the Blue Dragon King of the East Sea." He placed a crown of blue and gold over his shocked son.
"Go Shou, Chuukei, you are now Kouryuu-ou, the Red Dragon King of the South Sea.
"Go Jun, Shukukei, you are now Hakuryuu-ou, the White Dragon King of the East Sea.
"Go En, Kikei, you are now Kokuryuu-ou, the Black Dragon King of the North Sea."
Each son was given his official title, crown, and all of the entailments that came with the position.
"Now," the Go father declared, "I name Seiryuu-ou as the new clan leader. To each of my sons I leave as well the responsibility and people of their respective duties."
Breakfast consisted of some hunted game and dried rations that had been taken from the castle. The morning was bright and cheery, and the majority of the party was in a good mood.
For the most part.
It dawned to Farangis that Guibu was extraordinarily quiet that morning, and against her better judgment, she felt worried. He had, after all, not been the same since the battle; and she wondered if he would ever be again. She sat beside him quietly, and inquired him about his health.
Guibu was brooding. He ate his meal silently, and did not join in any of the morning talk between his companions. What the hell was that? He had had a weird dream, a bizarre dream the night before in which he talked to someone about someone else. Fragments of the dream came back to him, and he grasped them desperately in an attempt to keep them from fading, to make them last as long as they could. They had been so realistic... were they memories? Details of my life that I've forgotten? But they were so strange...just a dream? The minstrel realized that someone was speaking to him, and he turned to see who it was.
"Are you feeling well this morning?" Farangis asked, her clear emerald eyes watching him in concern.
A small breeze blew strands of her dark, raven-black hair, and Guibu had to smile. She's beautiful. "As fine as I'll ever be, I suppose." One fine, dark eyebrow lifted in inquiry, and he felt the need to elaborate. "I just had an odd dream the night before and I'm trying to make sense of it."
He regretted speaking immediately when he noticed that his words had caught Hajime's attention. Oh no, not again. And just as he feared, Hajime and his youngest brother moved closer to speak with him.
"Why would you say that it was an odd dream?" The priestess asked, and Guibu lost all interest in the Ryudo brothers again. How melodious her voice is... I wish... I wish I had more memories of her...those are the ones I regret losing the most. Will I ever remember anything of this world and of my life in it? Or will I be like this forever, wondering who I was and starting all over because I cannot remember...
She stared at him expectantly, and he realized that he still did not answer her question. "It was very realistic... I would almost think that it was some lost memories of this life. And yet-- yet, I don't think it was... I wish I could remember..."
Green eyes softened as he spoke, and Guibu felt more encouraged to continue to speak. "I know I joined Prince Arslan's party after I met you...but the events of my dream did not seem Palsian...so even if I related them to you, I don't think you would recognize anything..." His voice trailed off when he spotted Tsuzuku.
He looks...just like that boy in my dream!
"What?" Tsuzuku asked, puzzled. The sudden silence in the group when he joined them was disturbing, as well as the intent look that the minstrel was giving him.
"Kouryuu-ou..." The red-haired minstrel whispered aloud, and Tsuzuku could not keep the shock from his eyes as the minstrel continued. "The Red Dragon King of the South Sea..."
Tsuzuku heard Matsuri gasp, and he found himself staring at Guibu with an expression that was a mixture of both surprise and amazement. What? How did he know? It was one thing to be called Chuukei, though the name echoed deep within him like a lost memory. It was another to have a name that was addressed to you by an enemy now addressed to you by a friend in another dimension. Kouryuu-ou...that's the name Kamakura no Gozen called me! That crazy, sick bastard that was Grandfather's friend! How did Guibu hear that name? "How did..."
There was a scuffle of movement, and before he could react, Tsuzuku found a long, sharp, shiny dagger pressed against his throat. Astonished, he looked at his attacker stupidly. What?
Jaswont's gold eyes met the dragon's own. As usual, the Shindran showed no emotions but he spoke when the red dragon looked at him. "Who are you? A king of some foreign land out to take the prince's land?" He shifted the dagger closer. "You're no ordinary human."
"Jaswont!" Tsuzuku became aware of Arslan shout of alarm and warning. "Put that down!"
A moment of tense silent ensued.
"Your Highness..."
"Put it down."
"Let go of my brother or else!" A younger, brasher voice broke in. Tsuzuku's eyes trailed over to the source and he gaped at what he saw. Owaru stood threateningly with Alfreed in a lock. The white dragon was angry, and he angled Alfreed's arm so that a sudden jerk in one direction would surely dislocate it. The female bandit hissed in fury.
"Set me free this instant!"
"Owaru! Let her go." Hajime commanded.
"But they started it..." Owaru let go of Alfreed.
Hajime gave his younger brother a look of disproval that made him cringe. The blue dragon then turned to the younger bandit. "My apologies."
She rubbed her arm quietly and said nothing. Her older brother glared at Owaru.
The white dragon broke in again. "But he's still threatening Tsuzuku!"
Tsuzuku looked at the ex-assassin, becoming aware of his presence again. Why so he is. Wonder what he'll think if I moved forward and broke the dagger against my neck. But he did not dare to, for such an action would surely alarm Arslan and his other companions.
The blue-eyed prince watched the Shindran and spoke in a hardened voice. "Explain yourself, Jaswont."
The assassin gestured towards Guibu and then towards Tsuzuku with his free hand. "Your Highness. I do not know why these five chose to accompany you. At first, I believed it was for the same reasons that the rest of us did. Because we believe in you and your cause and there is no other that we would follow. But they don't. Clearly, they listen only to the eldest. They do not address you with any form of respect. And their battles have marked them as powerful, though they are deceptively young in appearance."
Young in appearance? What, he thinks we're old men? Tsuzuku was tempted to laugh but he did not because he knew that such an action would only arouse further suspicion.
The Shindran continued, giving the longest speech anybody had ever heard him give. "Guibu greeted him by a strange name the first time around, but could not remember from where it came. When he addressed him by that name this morning, Kouryuu-ou, every person in Tsuzuku's family reacted in some kind. Clearly, then, they are not who they say they are. Their backgrounds were suspicious enough, but Guibu has now recognized one of them as some kind of king. They are a suspicious lot and I fear that they may mean you harm. For what other reason are they accompanying you?"
The look of sadness and surprise that flashed over Arslan's face cut into Tsuzuku's soul. "It's not like that," Tsuzuku said defensively. What he says is true, but it's not like that! We never wanted to be involved in this war! We're only following you because Hajime said so and we have nothing better to do!
Narcasse watched the Ryudos thoughtfully. "While Jaswont does have some valid points, I do not know of any princes or kings by the name of Kouryuu-ou, unless they came from the far, yet unexplored, east." He was addressing the prince, quickly assessing the situation. "I don't believe threatening them is necessary, Jaswont, although I do think that perhaps they could shed some light on this confusion." The strategist looked at the oldest Ryudo and then at Guibu. "And perhaps our minstrel can explain a few things to us as well."
Another moment of uncomfortable silence, and then Arslan addressed the Shindran. "Jaswont. Please put that down."
Reluctantly, the Shindran moved away from Tsuzuku and then snatched his dagger hand away. His eyes never left the red dragon, indicating the great deal of faith that he had in the Ryudo. He moved to stand before the prince protectively.
"Perhaps you can give us some answers," Darun said to Hajime, his voice leaving no tone for argument.
The blue dragon indicated back at Guibu's direction. "I'd like to know where Guibu heard that name first."
Thirteen pairs of eyes watched the minstrel, who looked uncomfortable with all the attention. The minstrel looked upset as well, his vulnerable violet eyes revealing his confusion and uncertainty. "I...I...had a dream...it was very realistic...and Tsuzuku looked like someone in it."
"What was the dream about?" Farangis asked the minstrel gently.
"I was telling him something about someone...somebody important. I don't remember much of the conversation..." He was getting anxious. "I don't think it's a cause for alarm, Jaswont. I've done this before, and not just with them. When I first woke up...after the battle with the Turans, I addressed Prince Arslan as another name as well. Darun and Narcasse can attest to it." The minstrel gave a false reassuring smile. "Just an idiot's use of disembodied names..." His melodious voice trailed off.
"I do remember that," Darun agreed. "He called Prince Arslan 'Prince Hoshiki.' "
"And you thought that he might have been a traitor," Narcasse said, amused. The strategist turned gracefully and met the eldest Ryudo. "Well, you have heard our minstrel's tale. Care to tell us yours? Your younger brothers have said some interesting things..."
Hajime glanced at Owaru and Amaru, who both had guilty looks on their faces.
"Saying, for instance, that you all came from the woods and fought bears for a living?"
Hajime looked irritated, but Tsuzuku could not help himself. A wide, amused smile spread across his lips and inside he was laughing his head off. Fighting bears? Don't tell me anyone believed that crap. From the woods? How very creative of those two. Creative and entertaining.
"As you can see, we have reason to doubt their word. Care to fill us in?" The strategist's voice, while still holding amusement, held suspicion as well.
Hajime looked hesitant and then Arslan spoke. "I do not wish for any more turmoil between us," the young prince said, his eyes sweeping over and meeting each of his current companions. The eyes stopped at Hajime, sparkling blue with request. "Will you trust us and allow us to trust you? Will you please set down the fears of my companions and tell us why your family and you have given us the honor of joining us?"
Hajime nodded slowly, much to the shock of his younger brothers.
"Aniki!"
"Niisan..."
The blue dragon held out a hand to silence the members of his family. He glanced at Guibu and then back at the prince, all the while addressing his brothers. "It's clear now that they are involved somehow, and I see no reason to hide anything further from them if we are to find what I think we need to find." Dark blue eyes met teal blue, and Hajime began.
"We come from another land and another time. It's quite different from here, which is why we are still unaccustomed to many of the local behaviors. Even from where we are from, we are stronger and more powerful than most." Hajime picked up a large rock and crushed it into dust before an astonished audience, demonstrating his power.
Tsuzuku sighed inwardly, not liking the feeling of explaining family secrets to anyone. It's really none of their business. In the back of his mind, he was reminded of another time in his life, much earlier, when he would have done anything to prevent outsiders from knowing. He was unhappy with Hajime's decision, but deferred, as always, to the other's choice, and the latter continued speaking.
"We're uncertain as to where our powers come from, although we do have some guesses." The eldest Ryudo paused and then switched subjects. "But they're just guesses. In any case, we have recently been in tangles with many of those that coveted our power, and wished to harness it. As if we were nothing more than tools. The most recent tangle was on a boat in Tokyo Bay... There was an explosion-- one of our enemies set off a bomb-- and when we next awoke, we were here, in a completely different land, and separated."
Hajime glanced at Tsuzuku thoughtfully and continued. "We are unaware as to why or what we are doing here," he paused to glance at Amaru, "Or how to get home." At this moment he stopped again, wondering how he was to phrase the next part to sound credible.
"What's a bomb?" Eram wanted to know. Alfreed hushed him.
"A bomb is...something rather destructive from our world." The eldest Ryudo rubbed his temple thoughtfully. "As to why we are following Prince Arslan...this is a little complicated." He gestured to his youngest brother. "Amaru...has dreams about another place that may explain the origin of our gifts. All of us, actually, usually dream, but Amaru's dreams are remembered more often than the rest, and for that reason, are the most powerful and strongest in our group. And recently, Prince Arslan has appeared in his dreams as well."
"And he's the reason why we're here," Amaru piped. His voice held utmost conviction, and Tsuzuku smiled slightly. Good...Hajime is leaving out some things. Like the fact that we turn into dragons when our lives are endangered, or anything about the Tenkai... We know we came from another place over 3000 years, and according to Kamakura no Gozen, are the incarnations and descendents of dragons. I wonder what kind of dream that Amaru remembers Arslan in... Tsuzuku frowned slightly. Come to think of it, was he in one of my dreams? He recalled, vaguely, of walking and talking to someone in his dream. Was that Arslan?
"So you are following our leader because he was in a dream of yours?" Darun asked skeptically.
Owaru looked irritated at the prince's champion's skeptical expression. "Well, YOU try being plucked off from your world and thrown into another one COMPLETELY different from your own and see how YOU like it. It's not like we have a choice-- we don't know what we're doing here or why we are here. So then Amaru has a reason and it's better than anything else anyone has got, so we follow it. Got a problem with that?" He asked belligerently.
"Owaru!" Hajime reprimanded once again.
"Well it's true."
"Owaru..."
Unhappily, the white dragon shut up.
"What was he doing in your dreams?" Farangis wanted to know. She spoke to Amaru gently, as if afraid to scare him away.
Amaru hesitated. He glanced first at Hajime, then at Tsuzuku, and finally, back to the priestess. "Well...he's been in a few of them, so I don't know how to answer your question."
"Give me some examples?"
The black dragon looked at Tsuzuku again, and the extra attention did not escape the red dragon's attention. Why does Amaru keep on looking at me? As if what he says deals with me, and he does not wish to reveal it. Curiosity taking over him, he nodded slightly at his little brother, as if he knew what he was agreeing to.
"Umm...well..." Amaru shifted uncomfortably. "I saw him once dressed up in fancy blue clothes. He was partaking in some kind of ritual." Another glance at Tsuzuku, which was beginning to drive the latter crazy. "Another time, he was walking around a palace. I also saw him in a garden, playing some outdoor games with someone else. You know, just random activities." Further hesitation, before speaking again. "Yesterday night, I dreamed that he made an extremely important decision that impressed us all so."
" 'Us' ?"
Amaru spoke quietly. "In my dreams, in all the scenes that I see him in, he's always with one of us." The boy indicated his family members. "That's why I'm positive that we came here to meet him." His stormy blue eyes met the prince's own with surprising forwardness. "We came to meet you, Prince Arslan. It has begun."
The ominous words chilled Arslan's mood and shook him to the very core. He tried his best, however, not to show it, as with everything else. For no apparent reason, he was reminded of a dream he had, years ago.
To finish what was started long ago...
"What has begun?" Darun demanded, his steel blue eyes flashing in a combination of worry and curiosity.
Amaru shook his head and said nothing more, refusing to answer any more questions.
Narcasse observed the Ryudo family for a few heartbeats, and then turned his attention to Arslan. "Well, Your Highness, we have heard the amazing tale of the Ryudo family. As our benevolent ruler, what do you think of all this? It is you that they are dreaming of, after all..."
"I'm glad we met them!" Eram exclaimed, addressing Arslan. "They've done nothing to harm us, and are fun to be around. Aren't they, Your Highness?"
Jaswont shifted his dagger. "I don't believe them," he said flatly. "Just give me the command, Your Highness, and I will deal with these dream-loving children."
Tsuzuku watched the prince in anticipation. For some reason, he felt an odd mix of apprehension and euphoria. It was...bizarre, but he could not help the way he felt. His eyes, like everyone else's, lingered over the prince's face as he waited eagerly for the latter's reaction.
The boy prince closed his eyes in concentration, and then opened them again, revealing deep pools of compassion and kindness. He looked at all the Ryudo family members, first Hajime, then Amaru, then Owaru, then Matsuri, and finally, at Tsuzuku. When his eyes met the latter's, the red dragon almost gasped in surprise. The prince's eyes held a look of certainty and conviction, one that matched Amaru's voice earlier, one that seemed to hold no doubt. Never had any being seemed more regal to Tsuzuku at that moment, a prince who was not wavering over his opinions. He's actually quite beautiful.
"Certainly then, it must be a gift of Fortune that despite the obstacles, we should all meet here of all places." He smiled, and for a moment, Tsuzuku felt his spirits lifted, like he was soaring in the sky.
The prince continued, the elegant words pouring from his harmonious voice. "As strange as their tale may seem, I believe them." Arslan didn't bother to defend his reasons for doing so-- he just did. It was a gut feeling, a hunch, that what they were saying was true. They're not telling us everything, but they're not lying either. "Personally, I am simply grateful for all the help that we can get. And though they have not told us everything, I see no reason as to why we should continue to constantly question their motives." He smiled at his own friends, a ragtag team representing nobles, bandits, assassins, minstrels, former slaves, and priests. "It is not fair to judge them for holding back information, when the information is of such a personal source. Many of you have come from an equally suspicious background, and yet I trust you all the same. Should we not give them an fair chance as well?
"Furthermore, it would be ungracious of us to turn on them. I owe them a great debt for saving my life the day before, when I fell off the cliff. I owe them again for saving so many of the villagers' lives when the Turan army had attacked. If nothing else, for these grand deeds alone do I trust them; just as I am grateful that they have decided to join us. If they had meant us harm, they already had ample opportunities to do as they will. But they have not, and if I had questioned the motives of everyone who joined me, I would be alone this moment, which is the last thing that I wish to be.
"I had started this journey believing that I would be alone until I reached Port Giran, and you do not know how elated I am that such is not the case. I am grateful for any aid that is freely given, and to treat them like this is insulting.
"Please, let us not mistreat those that would be our friends, just as we do not torture our enemies. Trust must be given before it can be earned. Surely it has been fate that all of us meet-- all of us, from such a wide variety of backgrounds and situations.
"Alliances are much harder to build than enmity, but the former holds far more rewards than the latter, and such is the path that I would rather seek."