Rojus
-Kurogane POV-
The familiar swirl of colors disappears from around them and reveals a blue sky. Kurogane barks out a curse as he hits the ground, hard. He barks again as his companions land on top of him. "Damn it, Pork Bun!" he yells, tossing the wizard and the boy off of him.
"That was a perfect landing, Mokona!" giggles the wizard.
"Don't encourage him!"
"Where are we this time?" says the boy, interrupting their seemingly endless banter.
Kurogane grumbles and looks around himself. They are in a forest, again. The trees are tall, the leaves are green, and the breeze is warm. He looks about for a road and finds none. They are indeed in the middle of nowhere, again. "Another world, huh?" he says, more or less to himself, standing. His companions follow his example.
"This world feels familiar," say the pork bun, now sitting on the shoulder of the wizard.
"Really, Mokona?" questions Fai. "Have we been here before?"
The pork bun nods his head. "Think so but not sure," it answers.
"Well, no use standing about," says Kurogane. "Let's get moving and figure out where the hell we are."
"Right," agrees the kid.
Kurogane takes the lead and heads in what he believes to be North. The others follow him. They travel in silence, weaving through the forest. He's unsure for how long they have been traveling worlds but he can count how many they have been to. They have been to a number of new worlds and have revisited some from when they traveled with the girls. They haven't been back to Rojus, though. That thought irritates him. How long has he made her wait for him? For how much longer can he make her wait without losing his mind over it? Or before she loses her mind over it? Not a single day has passed where she has not crossed his mind at least several times.
Kurogane never considered himself the type of man to reminisce but he's caught himself doing it more often than not since parting with her. The thoughts are always the same and centered on the same woman; a woman with fiery red hair and shining silver eyes.
Kurogane lets the imagines fill his mind.
He presses his back against the wall, crossing his arms in front of his chest. He watches as Anna finds a blanket and drapes it over Syaoran, who has fallen asleep on the coach and the pork bun. She tucks the blanket in around him and the creature. Her movements are graceful and seemingly thought out. She bends at the hips with an arch in her back. She tucks a lock of her red hair behind her ear with her slender fingers, a light smile on her lips, as she stands back up, a hand on her waist. She casts her silver eyes at the coffee table where several glasses with alcohol sit near empty.
"This Syaoran holds his alcohol differently than the other one," she says, her voice surprisingly sweet. "But they're both light weights… the same yet different."
"Yeah," Kurogane replies, his eyes not leaving her figure. She looks up at him now. She is surprised to find him looking at her and blushes lightly. It amuses him that she always seems to jump when she finds him looking at her, which he often is. He gives her a smirk and her blush deepens.
She casts her eyes down. He follows her gaze to his wrist. There is a bandage wrapped around it, stained with blood where he cut his wrist. Earlier, he fed Fai. He thought he could keep the wound hidden from her. She worries too much. Since they entered the Chess Board in Infinity, she has been worrying about them all and he can tell it is taking a toll on her. She waits in the room with Mokona until they return, ready to heal them, the anxiety clear on her face. She tries to cover it with a smile and a "welcome back" but he knows, he can tell. She can't hide from her.
"Your wrist," she says. She walks over to him and stands in front of him. She looks up at him and she looks down at her.
"It's nothing," he replies, keeping his eyes trained on her. He remembers how tired she was back at the Moon Castle working as a doctor on the battle field. She used so much of her healing abilities that when she was injured she didn't have enough strength to heal herself.
"It's not nothing, Kurogane."
"It's just a scratch. Don't worry about it."
She puts out her hand, expecting his wrist. He doesn't like the idea of her wasting her energy on him. Then again, it makes him happy that she cares so much, which makes it hard to resist her. With a groan, he gives her his wrist. She smiles up at him then looks down at his injury. She unwraps it and places her hand over the wound. Violet lightning traces over the wound, leaving a numb feeling behind.
"All done," she says. "That wasn't so hard now was it?"
Kurogane replies with a grumble. That is not the kind of question you answer.
She releases a sigh and she takes a step forward, pressing her forehead to his chest. She is surprisingly warm against him. He remembers how cold her skin was before, when they first met, but now she is the same temperature as everyone else. She once said that her skin was cold because her heart was frozen from rejecting her own happiness. Now her skin is warm because she has let the warm of happiness into her heart. He wraps his arms around her waist, taking in her warmth. Her frame is small and lithe compared to his. He presses his face into her hair. She has a strange scent to her, though strange is probably the wrong word. It is a combination of flowers and whatever soaps they've used in whatever world. Either way, he likes it.
With that thought, he loses it.
She gasps as he picks her up by the waist and throws her over his shoulder. "Kurogane!" she exclaims in a whisper, in order to not wake the boy and the white pork bun. "What are you doing? Put me down!" There is a chuckle in her voice that keeps him from doing as she says. She tries to struggle against him but he is much stronger than her. She doesn't stand a chance.
He takes her into the bedroom and closes the door behind him, making sure to lock it. As softly as he can manage, he drops her onto the bed. She opens her mouth to speak but he shuts her up by crushing his mouth over hers. He pokes his tongue against her lips, seeking permission in. It takes her a moment to give in but when she does, he leans over her, deepening the kiss, lowering her back against the bed.
He breaks the kiss to allow her to breathe properly but moves his mouth to the side of her face, to her ear, then down her neck. Her breath catches and a soft moan leaves her lips. She sighs his name and he smiles. He loves this woman with everything he's got. He has never felt like this before meeting her about anyone. He loves the expressions she makes, the sound of her voice, the shape of her body, the way she worries, her strength, her patience, the way she loves him, her everything. And this woman is all his. Almost.
"Marry me," he says into her neck. The words come out before he can think about them but he means them nevertheless.
She freezes under him. He pushes himself up to look at her, a little concerned. What he sees surprises him. She is looking at him through her fingers, her hands covering her face, which is as red as her hair. "You okay?" he asks, tense. Maybe this wasn't the right time to ask.
She shakes her head, and then nods her head. Then shakes it again. She mumbles something that didn't sound like words.
He raises an eyebrow in confusion. "What the hell does that mean?"
"Do you mean that?" she asks, her voice shaky.
"If I didn't mean it, I wouldn't have said it."
She chuckles lightly, dropping her hands from her face to reveal a wide smile. "Yes," she says.
A smile creeps across his face. "Yes, what?"
"Yes, I'll marry you. I want to marry you. But I—"
"But nothing." He cuts her off and kisses her again. He knows what she's going to say. He doesn't want to hear it. He is living in the present, in the now, with her and that's all that matters. He's tried to convince her to think the same way but she continues to worry. Her stubbornness is just another reason why he loves her so much. And now she's all his.
He is called from his thoughts when they finally reach a road. The road is wide and paved with some kind of red brick.
"So which way should we go?" questions Fai.
Before anyone could answer, they hear the squeak of wagon wheels. Turning to the left, he sees a wagon being pulled by a single, brown horse.
"Why, ello there!" calls the man behind the reins. He stops his wagon in front of the travelers. Kurogane sets his hand on the hilt of his sword. The man looks old and harmless but he is not taking any chances.
"Hello," says Syaoran. "We're travelers."
The man nods at their clothing, the ones they got from Clow. "I can tell," he says with a chuckle. "Were you heading?"
"We're not sure," answer Fai with a stupid smile.
"Ummm, well, I'll tell you something." He nods behind him. "The nearest town in that direction is about two days away." He points in front of him. "The nearest town that way is about an hour or so from this point." He smiles brightly. "And that town is none other than the City of Lancaster."
"Lancaster?" questions the kid.
The name sounds familiar to Kurogane but he can't place it.
"Yep, one of the finest cities on this continent. It is one of the biggest cities in the country actually. It is full of colors and riches and wonders. And I'm not just saying that. It is the kind of place travelers like yourselves should see."
"It sounds great!" sings Mokona.
"Oh, wow! Aren't you a weird little creature. Cute but weird. My little girl would love you." The man laughs.
"Thanks for the information, sir," says Syaoran. The kid looks to Fai then to Kurogane. "I think we should go to the city."
Fai nods with a smile. "Sounds like a plan," he says.
"Great!" chimes the man, a bit louder than necessary. "Well, that be the way I'm heading. I'll give you a lift there."
"That would be great! But we don't have any money to give you in return."
The man shakes his head. "Don't worry about that! I'll get ya there for free." He nods to the back of his wagon. "Hop right on."
"Thank you so much," says Syaoran, bowing his head.
"Yeah, thanks," says the wizard. He nudges Kurogane in the arm and he in turn mumbles his gratitude. The three men and the pork bun hop onto the back of the wagon. There are several crates of fruits and berries. There are berries that look like strawberries but in Nihon strawberries are red, these are blue.
The ride is bumpy but not unbearable. He wonders if she road on wagons like this when she was some berry farmer way back when.
"Lancaster," whispers the kid, more or less to himself. His face settles into one of concentration and deep thought.
"What are you thinking, kid?" questions Kurogane, knowing that there must be something on his mind.
The kid looks up at him. "The name sounds familiar," he confesses.
"You, too, Syaoran?" says Fai.
"I was thinking the same thing," adds Kurogane.
"Mokona did say that this world felt familiar."
Mokona nods. "It does," the creature says. "Mokona thinks we've been here before."
"Sir?" calls Fai.
"Yep?" answers the man, keeping his eyes on the road.
"What country did you say this was?"
The man laughs loudly. "You really are travelers, huh? You're in the Kingdom of Rojus."
Surprise ripples through the travelers.
"Rojus?!" barks Kurogane, unable to hide his shock. "You're kidding." They're in Rojus? They've finally made it to Rojus? After all this time and world travel they're finally here.
The man laughs again. "No joke. This here is the Great and Wonderful Kingdom of Rojus. You travelers have come a long way, huh?"
"We have," replies Fai. "And we have been looking for Rojus for quite some time now."
"Well, you found it! Any particular part of the country you looking for?"
"Where the royals live," answers Kurogane.
"Ooh! Kurgs is anxious to see Wifey-chan, huh?" The wizard gives a cat grin.
Kurogane is not in the mood to deny it.
The man laughs out loud. "The Royal City is what you're looking for. Once you're in Lancaster, if you follow this here red road to the North, you'll come to it in about three days or so." A pause. "I can't give you a ride there, my drop off is in Lancaster you see, but I'm sure someone around there would be willing to take you with them. Rojus is full of kind people willing to give and not receive anything in return, you see. We're a kind people and proud of it. And it's all thanks to our wonderful Queen Odile."
"Odile Komarov?" questions Fai.
"Yep! Ever since she returned to the throne 4 years ago, the country has never been better. King Nicolas took good care of us in her absence she was truly what this country needed. You see, she was missing for 5 years, the country worried for her nonstop, having no idea where she went. You see, there was a massacre at her older sister's wedding, the Late Queen Odette, may her soul rest in peace, years ago. Many people were killed. A ton actually. Most people thought the criminal took her. Some noble bastard named Rothbart."
"Did you say 4 years?"
"And a wondrous 4 years it has been! She works very hard for this country, probably trying to make up for the years she was gone, not that many of us expect her to. You see, not only is she the Queen of Rojus, she is also the King's Protector of the neighboring kingdom her Uncle King Nicolai, may he rest in peace, once ruled. She's the acting guardian of her young cousin, Crown Prince Luka. And to top it all off, she's a mother!" He laughs loudly.
"A mother, you say?" Fai says, a tease in his throat. He gives Kurogane a cat grin and the ninja looks the other way. He tries to resist a smile.
"And a great one at that! The rumors are that she married in a foreign country while she was away to a man she loves very much. All the women in the country say that it is a love they wish they had. Usually, being an unwed mother is quite… Well, not socially acceptable but Her Majesty deserves to be happy, especially after the Wedding Day Massacre 9 years ago. Screw what is and what isn't socially acceptable, right?" The man laughs again, loudly.
They reach the outside of the city. The city is large and bustling. The buildings are no more than three stories high and made of bricks. The people wear clothes like those in Jade Country and Lecourt.
"Look at that! Welcome to Lancaster!" chimes the man. "I've gotta drop you guys here, have to deliver my crates, you see."
"No problem," replies the wizard. "Thank you again for the ride." The travelers dismount the wagon.
"Not a problem! Maybe I'll see you around!" With that, the man and his wagon disappears within the crowd of people.
"So we're in Rojus," comments the wizards, waving the man off.
"Mokona wants to see Wifey-chan," comments the white pork bun.
"Me, too," says the boy, a light smile on his face.
Kurogane drops his hand on top of the boy's head. The kid isn't much of a kid anymore but he is still shorter than the ninja. "We're going to the Royal City," he says. He'll find her. And their kid. He told her he would so he will.
Author's Note: So... This was the first time I ever wrote from the POV of a dude... I hope it wasn't too out of character for Kurogane.
Anyway. I hope you liked it! Please review! The next chapter will be up soon. ;)
