AN: Sorry for the delay, I was forced to write some Fairy Tail ficcage for my boss :x

Had fun with this chapter - I really like Murata though he doesn't seem to have much character development in the series.


Awry

Murata sat in the library of the Temple where he was wont to spend most of his time when in Shin Makoku. He'd found it to be one of the most peaceful places he'd ever been and rarely had any desire to venture anywhere else unless absolutely necessary. The maidens had even taken to letting him eat his lunches in the library most days, though he was sure that was more in apology of nearly working him to death when they could than anything else.

Why he felt so inclined to stay in the Temple was a mystery, though he was sure it had something to do with the years upon years his soul had spent searching for Shinou or a solution for taking care of Soshu for good. The Temple was where Shinou's spirit had resided for thousands of years and his essence permeated the place. It was soothing and he was loathe to be away from it.

The sound of the large doors opening drew him out of the book he'd picked up, though he relaxed when it wasn't followed by the sound of shuffling slippers, but the sure stride of boots. Someone from the castle had come to visit. He peeked over the top of his book and caught sight of familiar blond hair, returning to reading as Wolfram sank into a chair at his table. He was used to people coming to him for advice or to ask favors, but Wolfram was different. The soldier rarely asked for advice or favors from anyone. When Wolfram sought him out, more often than not it ended up in companionable silence or conversation, or the rare occasion when Wolfram was pissed off and needed to vent and Yuri or his brothers weren't available or willing to listen.

Minutes ticked by in silence as Murata continued reading, waiting for Wolfram to break the silence.

Wolfram slumped forward, crossing his arms on the table and resting his chin in the crook of his elbow. "I still don't understand him..."

Murata glanced at Wolfram again. "Shibuya?" he asked, already knowing the answer from the tone of voice. "Sure you do. You both understand each rather well these days." He ignored the dark look the blond gave him and returned it with a smile as he set his book aside. "What happened? Did he not like your gift?"

Wolfram grumbled something under his breath.

"What was that?"

He huffed and gave Murata another dirty look. "He said it was...frivolous and a waste of money."

Murata tried not to laugh, he really did; he even managed to keep his amusement to a soft snort and twitch of his lips. "Well, you did give him a golden bust of himself..."

"You acted like he'd like it!" Wolfram was on his feet, his chair sliding back half a foot with the sudden movement.

"I did no such thing, Sir von Bielefeld." Light glinted off his glasses as he looked up at Wolfram with as innocent a look as he could muster. "I only said it was shiny and a very good likeness."

The blond soldier spluttered and visibly held back a dozen or more insults he didn't dare say aloud. "You. Let me. Give him that. Knowing he wouldn't like it," he finally managed to get out through gritted teeth.

Murata had to applaud Wolfram's control. He could almost see the maryoku swirling around the other male, threatening to erupt into flames at the slightest provocation. Only the fact that they were in the library and he knew he wouldn't be able to protect all the books kept him from giving the spark needed to push Wolfram over the edge. He really couldn't seem to help himself when it came to tormenting Shinou's line, and a small part of him wondered if it had to do with any lingering hostility he held for all he'd endured for him and Shin Makoku. "Why don't you try giving him something you know he can use or will enjoy?" he asked instead.

"That's what I did!"

"Truly, Sir von Bielefeld?" Murata couldn't quite keep the ridicule from his voice. Wolfram wasn't stupid, but he had a knack at being dense at times, something he must have picked up from Yuri over the years. They really made quite the frustrating pair.

Wolfram glowered before retrieving his chair and shoving it back into place. "Has anyone ever told you you can be a real ass?"

Murata laughed. "At least once a lifetime." He picked his book back up as Wolfram headed for the door. "What are you going to give him now?"

"None of your business."

The response was followed by the heavy doors closing and he was left on his own once again. At least until he felt a familiar presence as the Temple's resident spirit appeared, perched on the table beside him. Murata looked up with a faint smile; the sight of the ancient-style clothing always brought old memories to the surface with aching poignancy. Shinou. The First King. While most knew him by only that title, his soul knew the blond from long before then; knew him by a far more intimate name - Adalwulf.

"Once a lifetime?" the spirit asked.

Murata snorted softly and set his book aside yet again. "Sometimes considerably more."

Adalwulf smirked and leaned forward. "I don't recall calling you such names."

"You thought them more than enough," Murata replied, unable to resist leaning closer in response, until their foreheads were just shy of touching. Even if Adalwulf was incorporeal half the time, he still emitted a warm energy that was far more soothing than simply sitting in the Temple.

"I never knew you were a mind reader." Mock surprise accompanied the statement and Murata had to resist the urge to smack the blond. "What else did I never know about you?"

"Lots of things." Murata smirked right back. "Though I have no reason to reveal them now."

"No?" Adalwulf lifted a hand and flicked his fingers against Murata's hair. "Nothing I can do to change your mind?"

Murata tilted his head, light glinting off his glasses and hiding his eyes. A few years ago he could have named half a dozen things that could change his mind, but now... He could only go so long without having someone by his side, lifetime after lifetime, before it started weighing on him more heavily each time his soul came back. The moment of self-pity passed quickly and he sat back, smirk still in place as he reached for his book. "Nope, nothing."

The silence that reigned would have gotten on his nerves if he'd been a lesser man, but he was used to silence. The sound of a name he hadn't heard in more than a dozen lifetimes, however, had a chill going down his spine. "Dietrich..." Even when they'd both been in their own era, they'd rarely called each other by name, preferring to force the titles they were known by today to take root.

He bit his tongue before he could correct the name. He was as much Dietrich as he was Murata Ken, at least as far as Adalwulf was concerned - he was the common link between all his lifetimes. "I miss you," Murata said instead, not daring to lift his eyes from the book. Even if it wasn't this lifetime's memories, there was always a part of him that longed to be back with the one who'd started him on this mess of a journey. "I miss the you who wasn't always obsessed with planning and plotting the course of the future." He'd enjoyed the plotting and planning himself, up until the point when self-sacrifice became mandatory from everyone who got involved with them. Then it was a topic of contention, briefly, before it was just a matter of course to ensure none of it had been in vain.

He didn't expect a response; Adalwulf had never been one to let emotions get in the way of duty or to let others in on what he was thinking. It didn't keep him from wanting one though; some recognition that things were how they should be, how Adalwulf had always striven for them to be in his manipulation of events, going so far he'd even dared to tamper with timelines.

Soshu had been defeated - Yuri had seen to that despite all odds.

And yet Shinou still resided in his Temple, watching over a Shin Makoku he'd relented to Yuri years ago. Murata couldn't blame him. How many years had he been trapped here? Most of those years he'd had to fight against the piece of Soshu that had attached to him in the beginning; it was no surprise he'd want to enjoy being whole and in possession of his own again. But for how long?

"I can't leave yet," Adalwulf said, crossing his arms. "There's still work to be done."

Murata knew it was futile to point out there would always be work when it came to ruling a kingdom. Honestly, he doubted the man would ever truly relinquish his hold or influence. Shin Makoku could rise and fall or be reduced to a single village and he'd still insist on ruling from the shadows.

He closed his book and stood. "Just don't go plotting to rule Dai Shimaron," he murmured as he headed for the door. Somehow, that answer was what he'd needed to make a decision he hadn't even been aware he'd been considering. He'd done what he'd promised in regards to Soshu, had become the one who sought the sun, guided Yuri as best he could without directly interfering. There was nothing left for him to do here now that Yuri was old enough to understand the true weight of his responsibilities, especially when there'd been peace for the past three years.

The Daikenja was no longer needed, and he wasn't foolish enough to linger when a Sage could be more of a hindrance than a benefit.

"Where are you going?"

Murata tilted his head as he headed for the exit, glancing back without stopping. "I was thinking it's about time I have Shibuya send me home." Murata Ken was from Earth, and as much as this world was a home to him, he'd always wanted to try a more mundane life, one that he could enjoy and not worry about dying young or being caught up in a war. He certainly wasn't going to have that here, but back on Earth he might. Maybe he'd be a teacher.

"What are you talking about? We're not done here." Adalwulf almost sounded petulant.

"I don't see what else is left for me to do." He wasn't going to babysit the Shinou anymore - let someone else take the job. "Take care of yourself." He smiled faintly and slipped out of the library before the spirit could try and tell him what needed to be done.


Yes, I know. I did a taboo and named them.

Adalwulf - means 'noble wolf'. I wanted something that tied into Wolfram.

Dietrich - means 'ruler of the people' - if he'd had the same ambition as Shinou, he likely could have become the Shinou on his own.