Kaidoh and the Seven Tennis Players: Part 4
Momoshiro sat in the most comfortable chair his new acquaintances had to offer, a cold slab of meat pressed to his cheek and a strip of cloth stuffed up his nose. If he had gotten a look at himself in the mirror, he was pretty sure he'd faint from the ridiculous image he cut. Thankfully, though, the seven older men didn't laugh at his beaten appearance, merely showed concern and attempted to make him feel better.
Momoshiro's gaze slid over to the far end of the semi-circle the group had made with Momo at its center. On the outside edge sat Kaidoh, whom Momo refused to call anything else but the Viper in his mind. Momo conceded it had not been polite to laugh at the Viper's expense when they were attempting to rapidly clean up the picnic tables before the rain started, but the image was just too funny! The seven older men had found it amusing as well, so why didn't the Viper just roll with the punches and laugh too? It wasn't like it was a mean joke. It was just a comical observation of the black haired youth sprinting for the cottage with a white tablecloth clutched at his waist that flared out behind him like the skirts of a wedding gown. What was there to take offense at?
What was done was done though, and now they both paid the price for it. Momoshiro bore a swiftly coloring bruise on his cheek and bloodied nose, and the Viper had been severely reprimanded by the man Momoshiro identified as the leader (more or less). On top of that, the biggest of the lot had denied the Viper a slice of one of the most delicious cake Momo had ever tasted! Made of sweet vanilla, stuffed with strawberry cream, and topped with chocolate icing and real strawberries – oh, it was heaven! He made a mental note to ask one of the men for the recipe before he left.
The big man, whom Momoshiro thought was called Takeshi or Taki – something like that - had grabbed Kaidoh and hauled him off Momo before the Viper did any more damage. In retrospect, Momoshiro had to give the Viper credit. Momoshiro had never seen anyone lash out as quickly as the Viper did with that arm, nor been punched so hard either. Whatever the Viper was, he was certainly no weakling. The big man – Takishi, yes! That was his name! – kept Kaidoh back along with the help of the black haired man in glasses (Inui?), while the leader (Oishi?), Dan, and the tall silver haired one (Choutarou?) helped Momoshiro up and performed first aid. The spiky silver haired man (Niou?) and the red-head (Eiji) fell on each other in fits of laughter, and the other man with glasses, the gentleman (Yagyuu?), merely sighed and went to work on the dishes.
Once the chaos died down and Oishi had thoroughly tongue-whipped the Viper, they all settled down around a large, beautifully cared fireplace to eat cake and talk while the storm raged outside.
"Um, excuse me, desu?" the high-pitched voice of Dan sounded over the crackle of the fire.
All eyes turned to the small boy. "Yes?" Choutarou asked sweetly.
"Um, well, since this storm probably won't let up till tomorrow…where do my Prince and I sleep, desu?" he asked, blinking innocently.
The seven older men looked nonplussed, as if the thought never crossed their minds. "Oh, that is a problem, isn't it?" Niou drawled with a sort of crooked grin on his face.
Inui got up from the group and ascended the cottage's stairway. Everyone waited in quiet anticipation for him, the man finally appearing after a few minutes with a very wide book in his hands. He took a small table from beside the fireplace and dragged it over so all could gather around and look on comfortably, then opened the book and flipped a few pages to reveal the schematics for the cottage itself.
"The first floor has no rooms," he said. "The second," he motioned to the schematic before him," has eight, and the third," he flipped the page briefly, "has one, but it's large."
"There are ten of us, desu," Dan piped up.
"Yes, I realized that," Inui said a tad shortly. He turned the page back to the second floor. He tapped the room nearest the staircase, "This is the smallest and is currently unused." He moved his finger to the left, "This is Choutarou's room." He kept moving his finger to the right and around the semi-circle the rooms made. "Eiji's, Oishi's, mine, Takishi's, Yagyuu's, and Niou's."
"Where does…?" Momo trailed off, not wanting to say Kaidoh's name aloud for fear the man would attack him again.
"Kaidoh?" Inui finished. He flipped the page to the schematic of the third floor, which from the view outside was roughly half the size of the other two floors. "This is his room."
"The entire third floor?" Momoshiro spluttered.
Eiji shrugged. "Well, when he was younger it was his nursery and playroom, then his bedroom and his playroom, and now it's just his bedroom."
The men did say they'd raised the Viper, but Momoshiro had been unaware of how highly they valued the him. To have an entire story as your own room in a house such as this? Well, to be honest, Momoshiro didn't have room to talk. He claimed an entire wing of the palace as his own since infancy, so half a story wasn't exactly grand by his standards.
"I shall sleep in the smallest room, desu!" Dan offered, turning the page back and pointing to the room Inui indicated was unused.
Inui nodded. "Very well. We have spare sheets and pillows, so it can be made ready in a few moments."
"But that leaves us with one person to many," Yagyuu pointed out.
Momoshiro kept his mouth shut. He didn't really want to force anyone out of their own bedroom, but he did hope that these country folk wouldn't make him sleep out in the stables or anything! He was a Prince after all…
"He can share Kaidoh's room," Oishi spoke.
"What?" Kaidoh hissed, vaulting up from his place by the fire, eyes wide.
"I beg your pardon?" Momoshiro asked. The Viper slugged him not an hour ago and Oishi was deciding to make them room together? Besides that, Momoshiro hadn't roomed with anybody - ever!
"Kaidoh's room is big enough," Oishi continued. "I should know." He looked pointedly at the two of them. "So, tonight, you will share. And don't give me that look young man! Prince Momoshiro is in need our help right now, so the least we can do is be courteous. It's only for one night. I am sure you can manage."
Momoshiro had the odd feeling that Oishi aimed the last half of that speech at both of them, so he didn't argue. Oishi did have a good point. These men were being extremely courteous and generous towards him. By right they could have thrown him and Dan out into the rain and left them to fend for themselves. Instead, they invited them to eat their table after he had royally insulted their 'son' and possibly the men as a whole, and now said men were offering him and Dan sanctuary as a storm wailed outside.
Momoshiro swallowed his pride and looked over at the Viper. "Thank you for the hospitality," he managed.
The Viper glared at him, then at his fathers, each in turn. When none of them gave in to his glare, he hissed, long and low, then nodded his head. He threw another glare at Momoshiro, then turned on his heel and slithered up the stairs, obviously trained not to stomp when he was angered.
"Please, don't mind him," Takishi touched Momo's arm. "He's not very good at expressing emotions, so he comes off as mean and anti-social all the time, but he's really very nice."
"Oh, I see," Momoshiro grated, though he sincerely doubted the animosity the Viper exuded was fake.
Kaidoh shut the door to his room with as much force as he dared, loud enough to be heard, but not hard enough to send Choutarou or Oishi after him with a scolding. He glared at the polished oak, wondering if he should lock it, but decided against it since he was sure the Prince would complain and that would get him in more trouble than he already was. His hissed at the door, as if that would keep it closed even without locking it, and went to the window seat on the far right side of his room and curled up, glaring out at the almost literal waterfall coming down from on high.
He didn't need to look at his room to know what was there. It was large, just as Papa Inui had said, and Kaidoh really only used half of it, but that did not diminish the fact it was his. Over on the far wall was a pair of carved wooden doors, left neutral since he was a babe so that replacement of the doors would not be necessary as he grew older. Behind them was storage for his older sets of clothing and toys, hidden by a discreet screen. The only items visible in the closet were his boots, tunics, trousers, and any other items of clothing his Papas presented him with that still fit over the years.
The space between was rather bare, save for an elegant carpet laid out over the hard wooden floors, and a small fireplace built into the outside wall to keep him warm at night. A chair and some cushions were nestled before it, and several stacks of books were laid atop the mantle, but other than there was nothing much to look at. Kaidoh mostly used the area for exercising when it rained like today. Other than that it, never came to much use unless he decided he wanted to read before the fire on a cold day, which he usually did downstairs with Papas anyways.
Where he sat was probably the most inhabited part of the room. In the center of the inward wall was his bed, a rather large affair that his Papas had gone overboard when making. It could easily fit two or three people besides himself, the mattress stuffed healthily with straw and goose feathers, the pillows stuffed with goose down, and his blankets – colored green and white – were made of the finest wool his Papas could find. It was summer, so he only had the one green blanket, but the bed still looked far too…ostentatious for his liking sometimes. On either side of the bed stood little nightstands. Kaidoh didn't use the one on the far side closest to the window-wall very often, but the one nearer to the door was occupied by an intricate iron-work lantern, as well as another small stack of books. And where he sat now was another spot his father's went a bit overboard on. The window was set high, but that was so they could include a window seat. It was laid out with a myriad of cushions, pillows, and drapery, easily wide enough to sleep on (with the idea Kaidoh could nap here on sunny days like some sort of cat if he wanted). Kaidoh never admitted out loud it was one of his favorite spots. His Papas got the idea, though, when they came in and usually found him sitting on the window seat, or napping after he'd done his chores.
He continued to sit at the seat, watching the sky grow blacker as the day faded.
Why? Why did he have to share his room with the Prince? That whole tale about there only being one room available was a lie! Kaidoh knew for a fact Eiji did not use his room – he used Oishi's. Niou and Yagyuu was perhaps not a lie. Sometimes they shared, sometimes not. If they were in an off moment, then each man using his own room was no lie. But that did not change the fact there was still one room left on the floor below! There was no reason for him to have share his! He did not deny there was plenty of room to set up another cot or something – but it was the principle of thing! They hadn't even asked! He was sure that ditzy squire would have slept in the stables if it meant the Prince could have a room.
He continued to fume, glaring out at the dismal weather, vaguely aware that it had gotten worse since the last time he checked. It had been a waterfall, now it was nearly a literal wall. The house shook as thunder rumbled, and the sky flared an eye-watering white as lightning raced across the clouds.
Kaidoh grumbled once it got to dark to actually see, and went to his closet, pulling out his night set. It wasn't much – just a long shirt. He stripped and put his clothes in a hamper in the back corner of the closet used for such things, and tugged the shirt over himself. The neck line cut deep, exposing half his chest, and the sleeves came down to half his forearm. The hem danced just barely around the top of his knees. It was sort of girlish, but it kept him cool in the summer, and with the added blankets it kept him warm in winter (surprisingly). He never understood why his Papas only ever gave him such shifts to wear to bed instead of long pants like they wore, but he didn't argue, figuring it would only cause a ruckus he'd rather not go through.
He padded across to his bed, taking off his bandana and folding it carefully, placing it on the nightstand next to him, and slithering under the covers. He reached out and slid the cover of the metal-work lamp down so that the barest glimmer of light shone out and settled down to sleep. He'd have an early day tomorrow checking the damage from the storm with his Papas, so best to go to bed early…
BANG!
Kaidoh reared up, glaring at the door and the man standing in it. The Prince tromped in like he owned the place, closing the door behind him.
"It's a little dark in here, isn't it?" he asked.
Kaidoh's initial hiss got tangled in a snarl as he lifted the shade of the lamp on his bed, casting golden light about the room. The Prince's face brightened with the light and he turned in a slow circle, surveying the room.
"Where do I sleep?" he asked, apparently finally realizing there was only one bed.
Kaidoh jerked his chin towards the window and its window seat, letting a low hiss that said he was not in the mood to argue with the Prince over this. He could share his room, but the Prince would sleep where he told him to!
The Prince went to the seat, his face visibly showing his disapproval at the notion of sleeping there. He opened his mouth, but Kaidoh let out a deeper warning hiss, and the Prince shut his mouth again, lips set in a hard frown.
"Very well," he finally grumbled. "Where might I find a blanket?"
Kaidoh pointed at the closet where the extra blankets were kept on the top shelf. The Prince nodded and went over, opening the doors and quickly locating the pristine white blanket Kaidoh brought out in the colder times of the year. The Prince came over and arranged the seat to his liking, then promptly stripped down to his underclothes. Kaidoh had seven Papas, the sight of a man in his underclothes did not embarrass him in the least, so he continued to glare.
The Prince glared back as he folded his clothes and set them neatly on the floor near the 'head' of his 'bed'. He paused as he considered the best way to get in, then squirmed under the covers and settled down.
"You can turn the light out now," the Prince grumbled.
Kaidoh snapped a sharp hiss in return and did just that – this time pulling the shutter down all the way, the only light coming from the streaks of lightning moving across the clouds ever more frequently. He watched the Prince to make sure he was going to stay where he was, then finally settled down, working out the logic that if the Prince snored he'd have ample enough excuse to strangle him.
Momoshiro clutched at the blanket the Viper indicated he could use earlier. He kept himself curled up in a tight ball, back to the window, blanket wrapped tight around him and head pressed as far into the pillow as it would go.
He hated storms. He hated thunder. He had lightning. He hated rain that made it hard to see. He hated it all!
Every time thunder sounded and shook the cottage he had to keep himself from letting out a whimper. When lightning screeched, his body shook almost violently and he bit his lip to the point of drawing blood to keep himself from screaming. He knew it was shameful, but he couldn't help it. Whenever a storm came up his mind always recalled the memory of That Day.
He and his mother laughing beneath a gray sky as they cantered ahead of the royal caravan, little Ryoma sitting with his nurse in the royal carriage, no doubt down for his nap. He recalled the Queen's laughter careening over the valley they road through, her arms flung wide to greet the blots of rain beginning to fall…
His mother finally deciding to turn back when the rain began to make it hard to see ahead of them. Her horse rising up to perform a quick trick spin on the back right hindquarter to turn. A crack of lightning. A boom of thunder. A horse's panicked squeal. His mother's cry of surprise. The sound of something hitting the quickly rising waters of the river below.
Momoshiro hugged himself, trying to keep the tears back. He hated storms. He hated them! He hated them! He hated them!
He lay there for what seemed hours, unable to sleep as the clouds voiced their displeasure. He finally uncurled enough to look into the dark room, lightning lighting it up all in silver white, revealing the form of the Viper peacefully unaware of the raging storm, sound asleep in his huge bed.
Momo licked his lips, cringing as thunder boomed behind him. That made up his mind. His movements were masked by the growling of the thunder outside as he left his place on the window seat and went to the Viper's bed. Slowly he pulled back the covers and slid in on the far side, settling down with his back to the storm, facing the Viper's back.
Lightning clawed at the sky and Momoshiro winced, closing his eyes tightly and burrowing further beneath the covers. He pressed his face to the pillow and curled up tightly. Sleeping in a bed rarely made it easier to get through a night of storms, but it was much better than being next to the cold window as the storm raged outside, separated by a few thin centimeters of glass.
He curled up tightly, hugging the pillow he claimed, and prayed that sleep would eventually drown out the murderous sound of the storm.
End Pt. 4