A BROTHERS' PACT: REMINISCENCE

Written by: HARU (Psychopathic Liar)
Written on: 02/26/16 - 02/27/16

A/N: help bc idk how ppl address each other anymore but like I tried okay.

TRIGGER WARNING: N/A

(黒.)

( Oh sweet, despairing memories. )

( Dear child, haven't you had enough pain? )

( Pitiful creature of the night, you are being haunted. )

( I beg of you to tread these cobbled paths with caution. )

(黒.)

"Yūri."

He stopped his tracks as he looked back. Surprised expression written on his face as it was replaced with a calmer and happier one. He gave a joyous smile as he waved to the other.

"Conrad! What's up?" He asked. During this time of the day it was unusual to see the Knight to be in the castle and not training his men.

The older male emitted a small sigh as he ran his fingers through his brown locks. "Well… Mother was complaining how she felt alone while watering her flowers and I've heard from Gwendal that you're on break." He paused. "I know you must be tired but—"

"It's alright, Conrad! I'm gonna head to the garden, and I haven't seen the flowers for a quite some time too!"

Immediately he sprinted off to the garden and gave the Knight a cheeky smile and a wave before disappearing into sight.

Conrart's expression darkened as his usual gentle eyes turned red and sadistic; a cruel smile upon his lips as he crossed his arms.

"I can't wait to see you home, brother."

(黒.)

Upon reaching the royal gardens, the Demon King noticed a blonde woman watering the flowers all alone. His expression brightened as he walked towards previous Queen.

Almost as if skipping like a carefree little girl he looked at the flowers that were in full bloom. Their colours were vivid and beautiful as always. He felt as if roses were protecting and blanketing his heart yet its thorns pierced his innermost part of him. His stomach felt twisted and sick; he wanted to vomit yet he didn't want to make himself appear sick or weak. He was strong and he didn't want to just fall unconscious because of a silly stomach ache.

"Cheri-san!" he greeted with a beaming smile.

"Ah, Yūri! Conrart called you out, huh?" she asked with her arms crossed and a brow raised.

He scratched the back of his head and gave the other a sheepish smile. "Well, yeah—and I kind of miss being here, y'know? It's pretty safe and calm…" he trailed off when uneasiness seemed to seep through his soul. His heartbeat paced faster as beads of sweat were formed and trickled down from his forehead.

Worry written all over the woman's face as she dropped her watering can and immediately had her arms wrapped around the boy. "Yūri?"

"S-Sorry… I suddenly feel kind of sick." He gave her a small smile as he patted her shoulder.

It was confusing. He wondered if he had eaten anything rotten during breakfast but he was sure that the food his mother feeds him was all fresh and good. He suddenly felt like he wanted to vomit and yet that feeling also wasn't present. He felt ill and yet at the same time he didn't.

Just before Lady Cheri could've possibly called a medic the boy stood up straight. His sudden illness gone as if just a passing wind.

"I feel… okay?"

The King looked at his hands that weren't shivering anymore. He touched his face and felt no more sweat; it was as if the wind had blown away all the beads of sweat on his face. His eyes didn't reflect any despair but it reflected confusion.

"Are you sure, Heika?" she pulled her hands back and looked at him worryingly.

"Yeah… Yeah! I feel great actually!" His usual chirpy tone as he balled his hand into fists and punched the air. He gave the blonde woman a cheeky grin as he jumped high. "It must've been just some sudden sickness, probably ate something funny this morning," he inquired.

A sigh of relief emitted from her lips as her hand was over her chest to calm her nervous heartbeat. "I see, that's great! I thought that we could've lost you there…," she said almost in tears.

"Wh—wha?! No way! I'm strong; a little sickness won't bring me down!" He proudly gave her a salute as he gave her a cheerful grin.

"Alright! let's go water the rest of the flowers!" Yūri grabbed the fallen watering can and gave her a thumbs up. "I'll be back with two watering cans, hold on!" he scurried off as he took another watering can from the garden shed. Before exiting the shed he felt the atmosphere's temperature drop. Cold sweat trailed down from his forehead as his eyes widened in fear.

( DESPAIR! DESPAIR! DESPAIR! )

He heard voices that made him feel nostalgic. Ugly, faded memories seemed to seep through his mind and giving him images he never wanted to see or think of again. He placed the watering cans on a nearby table as he held his aching head.

( BROTHER! BROTHER! BROTHER! )

He sucked in a deep breath as he shook his head. Those were just voices; nothing more. More so, they were just memories of the past. He couldn't let himself think of the past when he should be focused on what was happening now.

( DON'T GO! DON'T GO! DON'T GO! )

His heart felt heavy. Was this really happening? He didn't want to leave, he felt so guilty.

( WE MADE A PROMISE! )

"Brothers' pact…," he muttered under his breath as he gritted his teeth.

How long has it been?

Perhaps in Shin Makoku time it'd be about three and a half years but in the real world? Maybe a bit long as well.

He slammed his fist on the table as he shook his head, "No, no!" He won't let himself remember them. He's finally happy, he was in such a wonderful community; a world he never asked for and yet there he was, King of the kingdom he loves.

He took his watering cans and immediately went out of the gardening shed. Going to a nearby faucet he filled the cans with water.

"… It's been so long…" he sighed as thought sadly about the past.

"No. They were done, they're nothing now."

He turned the faucet off and took the cans full of water and walked towards Cheri. Replacing his miserable expression with a cheerful one he gave the other a genuine smile, "Got the watering cans!"

He gave the woman the other watering can and proceeded to water the rest of the flowers.

"Ah, now that I think about it." A short pause. "How are you and Wolfram?"

The King almost choked on his own saliva, "E-Eh? M-Me and W-Wolfram?"

The lady nodded with a smile.

So far nothing much happened between the two not unless you'd count the little arguments but either way the two have been doing well.

"Well, we've been great—still calling me a wimp and a cheater even though we're married but all's good!" he said with a grin.

A sad smile upon Cheri's lips as she emitted a sigh, "I'm really sorry if my son's like that to you, you know he loves you dearly right?"

"Yeah, I know. But it can get kind of—I don't know, tiring?" He shrugged as she finished off the rest of the water in the watering can.

"My boy's just a bit insecure, I hope you understand. I'll talk to him later about this." She watered the rest of the flowers and stopped halfway.

"Ah! No need! It's alright; besides I think it'd be unusual if there wouldn't be a day he'd suddenly throw his flame ball at me while shouting that I'm a wimp or a cheater." He set the watering can down.

She gave a gentle smile as she set her half-full watering can on the ground. "Yūri, why don't we sit down and talk about the flowers?"

A pang of despair struck his heart as he nodded with a carefree smile. "Of course!"

He crossed his legs as he rested his elbows on both knees. Black eyes had its gaze fixed on the vibrant flowers.

Upon staring his eyes suddenly saw a red flower. Saddened eyes looked at it as a memory crossed his mind.

( I'm Sei, aka RED, nice to meet 'ya! )

( Man, I'm so hungry I could eat a whole dinosaur! )

( Ugh, I know the phrase is supposed to say horse but a horse isn't enough! )

( Yeah, you can call me black hole stomach! Seems pretty cool and suits me too! )

Those were such beautiful memories.

"Yūri?"

Snapping back to reality he turned his attention to the lady.

"I've been calling out to you for a few times. Are you alright?" She asked as she tilted her head.

"yeah, I just remembered a few old friends I've had back on earth…" he trailed off as he gave a small smile.

"Oh? Could it be that you were feeling sick because of missing them?" She said with thought.

"Hm, yeah—you could be right!" he said with a nod and a grin.

"Anyways, did the flowers remind you of them?" She inquired.

"Well yeah… see this red flower?" he pointed at it and Cheri nodded. "Well in our group of friends he was like a Rose. He was elegant, loving, and many adored him and yet he was quite of a mess, y'know?"

Cheri tilted her head, interested in these odd friends of the Demon King. "Like how roses had thorns he was a pretty secluded person. He wouldn't talk to you like genuinely if he doesn't trust you enough." he stopped his sentence and smiled sadly. He was such a wonderful person, what could've gone wrong?

"Next, see this sunflower?" He paused.

( Hello! My name's Maxie, well the alias's YELLOW! )

( Oh wow! this is so pretty! Look at it! I got to do a paper crane, haha! )

( I know right?! Origami is such a wonderful tradition here! I love your culture! )

( Huh? I'm not girly! I just appreciate little and cute things a lot! )

He felt sick.

"Well he was like the sun in our group; always so cheerful land bubbly. He was so vibrant that whenever we go out his existence was enough for people to look at him." He let out a sigh. "He was easily fascinated by the Japanese Culture and loved cute things… but…" he stopped as he caressed the plant. "He was different, in a way."

"Like how sunflowers had a dark center, he was quite a broken person before he was like that." he paused.

Cheri showed a saddened expression. "He must miss them so much… he remembers all these—how hard was it for him to separate with them?" she thought as she continued to listen to the boy's story.

"Well the next one is well, hm—" he was trying to find a pink flower but there was none. "Well he was like a Larkspur; a quite dangerous flower. He was tall, quiet reserved due to his environment at home… but he can be quite…? Sadistic." He said with a nervous grin.

( Hm? Call me Haku… )

( Yes, I'm also PINK. I know it's ridiculous. )

( Hm? Could it be you're not a fan of horror? Then I guess we should play one, just for fun. )

( Aw, you poor thing—haha! it's so fun to tease you. )

He shivered at the memories.

"Larkspurs are flowers that are poisonous when ingested and though it's unsafe, the pink Larkspur means fickleness. It fits him. He's easily changed and his personality different on every person he meets. Although one thing for sure he's really just, mean." He emitted a sigh as he remembered the nights he couldn't sleep because of that one horror game.

"Then there's another one. To be honest, he's one big mystery."

"See that white lily? Well he's like that."

( Sid, or WHITE if you'd prefer that one. )

( No, don't come near me. )

( You're quite stubborn aren't you? )

( You should learn to leave people be. )

He felt like crying.

"He's quite distant, and I've heard from others that he was in a mourning state as you can see lilies are flowers to be given when someone had died." He paused. "They're given as a symbol of departure. I think something happened really tragic to him that made him so distant with people…" He trailed off as he felt his heart ache.

He knows his story and it was so painful.

"But he's a really good person. He's actually like a big brother."

He stopped talking when suddenly tears started to form at the corners of his eyes. "I miss them…," he muttered as he covered his face with his hands.

Cheri reached out to him and held his hand. "I know you do. I'm sure one day you'll all meet again, right? I mean people are bound to meet each other again, one way or another…, right?" she said with a tinge of hurt in her tone.

He looked up at her and saw the hint of misery and longing in her eyes. "Yeah… I guess you're right."

Before Cheri could speak a sudden uproar happened.

Soldiers were running frantically and alert as they held their weapons. Maids were moving hastily making sure everything was safe and the food weren't taken from them. The two sat up from the ground and looked around confused for a moment.

The sudden calm day turned into a miserable one.

"Yūri!"

He knew that voice.

"Yūri! Are you all right?" Conrart had a worried expression as he breathed in relief soon as he saw Yūri's safe body.

"Mother! Thank Shinou you're all right too!" He said with a relieved expression.

"Conrart, what happened?!" His mother asked.

"Unknown people have breached the castle and our soldiers have yet to capture them. According to Dacascos, these men have special abilities that we have no knowledge of. Their identities are covered by their cloaks so we assume they are highly trained thieves or perhaps assassins." Conrart said.

Yūri's attention was caught. Could it be?

No it couldn't. They were back on Earth, how in the name of Shinou could they be in this world?

"Conrad, I'll go and help find these people." Before Conrart was able to say anything to stop the impulsive Maou he had already departed.

The Knight gave a small sigh as he face palmed. "Mother, you should go back inside. I'll escort you there. Let's hurry."

Cheri nodded and immediately followed him, although worry filled her heart. The look on the King's face was enough to make her analyze and comprehend to what he was thinking.

(黒.)

Yūri was running along the corridors when he was blocked by a certain, familiar Knight.

"Conrad! I told you to accompany Cheri-can!" He said quiet irritated that he was blocked.

His silhouette was just as eerie as the atmosphere in the corridor, Yūri couldn't understand for he knew it was Conrart in front of him but could it be he was wrong?

"Conrad! You're not answering me! I have to go and find out who's invaded the castle!" he said in a hurried tone.

In such a dark corridor only darkness and dim lights from the outside was present in this room. A few seconds later shining red hues flickered in the darkness.

He knew who he was now.

The man across him was no Knight. He wasn't Conrart. He was his brother.

"Oh? Is that how you talk to you brother?"

There was anger running through his veins but there were also guilt and relief; mixed emotions in him as he stared into the other's eyes.

"Sei."

(黒.)

A/N: was it Cheri or Celi idk. was it Conrad or Conrart idk.

but ooooooo Sei has made an appearance! let's find out their conversation on the next chapter!

R&R!