Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Kyo Kara Maoh, this is purely fan-made!
Note: Hello readers! As you may have noticed in the previous chapter, I have finally introduced Yelshi officially as Sara's twin brother. And it doesn't even have to be a long one (although the long ones are my favorite!) but please, if you could just let me know how I'm doing by your reviews that would be great. Because, I'm so excited to do this story! I love twins, and I love Sara, so when I first found out he had a twin in the original story of Kyo Kara Maoh from the novels, I was totally psyched! So if you love twins too, please review and maybe even tell me your favorite pair of anime twins!
Chapter 4: Gardens of Deceit
It was strange...
This place always seemed to be in a state of springtime, when the blossoms were full and the air was warm and sweet. Snow never fell here. Or if it did, it never touched the ground. This place was enchanted; painting a constant picture of perfection to mask the tribulations within.
These trees, this place, this season, it was all Yelshi had ever known his entire life. He was born with immense power, but Yelshi's body had always been frail, so it was difficult for him to call upon it. Although, part of the reason he was so frail is because they never allowed him to challenge himself. They were always paranoid that he would fall ill and their plans would be ruined. True, Yelshi did get sick easily but again, that was their fault for not letting him outside very much.
Besides that, Yelshi was allowed to do whatever he wanted. But, what could he possibly desire when everything was handed to him? There was no challenge, nothing to stop him from obtaining anything except for his freedom.
Ever since he was a small child, Yelshi wanted nothing more then a real family and to get out of this place. As beautiful as it was, he knew what it really was. This place, was his cage. But why it was Yelshi still had no idea. Certainly, they coveted his powers, but there was another underlying reason why they went to such lengths to keep him contained...
Yelshi had tried to escape before, but it ended in failure because of his accursed weak body. He hadn't even made it halfway through the forest that surrounded the manor before he fainted from the cold. They had ruled out the harshest punishment they dared without killing him but Yelshi endured it with an emotionless mask. Only to cry later when he was all alone.
Therefore, Yelshi began to bide his time and play the part of an obedient captive until his chance appeared. And that chance had finally come now, after all these years, when he managed to touch the mind of his long lost twin brother, Saralegui...
At first, all he intended to do was contact him but then, Yelshi felt Sara's entire being resonate with him and his resolve wavered. All Yelshi could do was wrap his arms around his brother, savoring the connection with someone who knew his same pain and loneliness, and hold him. He knew he was trying to ask for help but, Yelshi was overwhelmed by the urge to hug his brother, even if it was only in their dreams.
Just holding him was Yelshi's salvation. He had never embraced anyone like this. Yelshi didn't even realize he could care enough about anyone to do so. This closeness was something Yelshi had craved his entire life and so when it became possible, he could not hold back. Of course, Yelshi felt Sara's fear and confusion at the embrace but Yelshi intended to make him understand that he was loved. This feeling, although they knew nothing about each other, was the first real thing either of them had felt in a very long time. So it was really no wonder that it confused him.
Even so, Yelshi was the one who paid the price for each time he slipped into Sara through their faded bond. Sara felt phantoms of his pain but Yelshi felt all of it. His body would begin to shake violently and convulse as his insides grew cold. Yet his skin would burn like the harsh light of a noonday sun. It became almost impossible to breathe and the world lurched beneath him as Yelshi curled in on himself. But, once that bond was complete between them, the pain would stop and it wouldn't hurt anymore.
It only hurt now because Yelshi was the one forcing open the link between them that had laid dormant for the last sixteen years. The bond was there, but it had regressed so deep inside of either of them that wrenching it out of the shadows in their hearts was difficult. Especially when only Yelshi was fighting to awaken it while Sara still remained unaware of it.
Yelshi had no intention of letting Sara suffer so he took the pain willingly upon himself. This was the first real thing he had ever felt towards another person. He wanted so badly to be beside Sara, to protect him, and to be his twin brother. Together, surely, they would have unimaginable power and no one could separate them ever again.
And maybe, just maybe, Sara knew who their mother was. Unlike Sara, Yelshi had absolutely no memory of their mother, not even the faltering wisp of a half forgotten dream. To him, there was nothing before this place. Nothing, except for Yelshi's yearning for a family that he knew, without a doubt, he had once had before being spirited away...
When everyone else thought he was dead...
Sara was so relieved when he slept through the entire night without having one of those strange dreams. But also, in a way, disappointed as well. Almost as if Sara actually wanted to see that person again.
The early morning sun seemed so much brighter today though and Sara smiled. Today was going to be a wonderful day to spend with Yuri. Although, he knew perfectly well that both Lord Von Bielefeld and the Great Wiseman would be returning today. Ruining everything.
Even so, Sara had still cherished the rare time he had received yesterday with Yuri and didn't mind so much that they were going to be there. He had gotten what he came for. At least, in part. And Sara still had his whole life to win Yuri over. So there was no need to rush things; even as impatient as Sara was, he still wanted to make sure he completely won Yuri's heart this time around.
Berias of course was right there to greet him after Sara got dressed. And he too seemed relieved that his King didn't look as pale as he had yesterday.
So Berias bowed and asked, "Good morning Your Highness, did you sleep well?"
Sara nodded, smiling softly, "I did. And thank you, Berias..."
Berias looked up, "For what?" he asked.
"I know how concerned you've been about me and I'm sorry that I haven't been very grateful to you recently. I do appreciate your services and I..." Sara glanced away unsurely as he added, "...I will try to be more straightforward about my health from now on. You are only here to protect me. But how can you if I do not tell you when something is wrong? You'll have to forgive me, I haven't been myself the last few days but I do feel better now. All thanks to you and our beloved Demon King."
Berias nodded, "I understand Your Highness. Even a King as great as yourself has limits. I'm certain that this small vacation will do you a great deal of good," he flashed one of his rare smiles at his King and added, "And nothing would give me more satisfaction then to see you continue just as you are. Becoming an even better man then ever before."
Sara chuckled, "Getting sentimental on me again, Berias?"
Berias's face resumed its seriousness and he bowed, "No Your Majesty. I was simply stating my opinion."
Sara raised his eyebrow but decided not to pursue the subject and glided past Berias, "Well, in any event, lets go join Yuri for breakfast. I heard he has something special planned for us today once his fiance' returns. As well as His Eminence."
"Yes Sir," Berias bowed, following after his King; smiling to himself because he seemed much better today.
But little did he know, that this was only the calm before the storm. When the truth would make itself known, and everything would change...
It appeared, upon Sara's arrival, that those two had already returned late the previous night while he was asleep. They had both returned much earlier then anyone expected. Mainly, Sara was sure, because they had heard that he was there.
Therefore, the room was in an uproar when Berias and Sara walked it.
Yuri was getting thoroughly scolded by his fiance' for not telling him that the King of Small Shimaron was visiting while he was away. Meanwhile, Murata was trying to calm the fuming blond and reason with him. Although, Murata did it rather halfheartedly because he still seemed a bit emotionally drained from his trip and having to say goodbye to his dying grandmother. He couldn't completely hide his grief, even now. Which only proved that the Great Wiseman too, at heart, was still just as human as Sara was.
Gwendal fervently ignored the chaos and focused on finishing his food so that he could resume working. While Gunter was trying to pry Wolfram off of Yuri who seemed totally panic-stricken due to the unusual intensity of his rage. Conrad meanwhile, simply smiled in amusement along with Gretta, Yuri's adopted daughter, because they both knew that Wolfram's rage masked his genuine love and concern for Yuri's well-being. He just didn't know how to express it very well any other way.
Seeing all this, Sara couldn't help but laugh and said, "My, aren't we lively this morning?"
Finally managing to escape Wolfram's vice-like grip, Yuri laughed nervously, "Yeah, if 'lively' is what you would call this madness," then he smiled, "Anyway, I'm glad you're up. I was kinda worried about you after what happened yesterday. Are you sure that everything is ok?"
Glancing at the others, Sara shrugged, "What can I say? To be perfectly honest, I have been a little on edge lately. But, spending time with you has started to help me relax. And I thank you for that Yuri," he smiled, refraining from taking Yuri's hands if only to prevent an explosive reaction from Wolfram, and added, "I slept very well last night for the first time in days, which may have been just what I needed. Besides that, I had a lot of fun with you. It was the first time I've ever played those sorts of games. I was so used to playing games alone as a child, especially the one where I..." he trailed off before saying anything too honest and asked Yuri, "The point is, you really have helped me, Yuri. Thank you."
"No problem," Yuri nodded, glancing at Berias unsurely before saying, "Anyway, I was just talking with everyone and they agreed that we should go visit the hot springs before you leave. I mean, I had a lot of fun playing all those games with you but I didn't know you weren't feeling well. So to help with that, I thought we could all go to relax there. Lady Celli said that she would arrange this spa thing personally," he laughed nervously, "It seems that Lady Celli has this whole private spring over in Spitzbeg territory that she likes to escape to from time to time and she offered to let us use it. She just left a moment ago to make the arrangements."
"Lady Celli?" Sara blinked before realizing- "Oh, you mean the previous Demon Queen, Lady Cecile' Von Spitzbeg. The mother of these three brothers so I've heard," he nodded at each of them, "Well, when she returns I'll be sure to thank her personally for her kind gesture."
Wolfram snorted turning his head and crossing his arms, "You had better. My mother is a very generous woman so you should be very grateful! She doesn't let just anyone use that place. I doubt she would have if it wasn't for Yuri asking with that ridiculously boyish grin of his. It's despicable!"
Yuri rolled his eyes, "Yeah yeah..."
Sara suppressed another chuckle before turning to Murata solemnly and offering, "I'm terribly sorry to hear about your grandmother. You have my deepest sympathy for your loss."
Murata seemed genuinely surprised by that and returned a weak smile, "Well, she's had a long run. But in the end, cancer is a hard thing to fight when you grow old so-"
"It's alright, you don't have to say it," Sara interjected kindly before he quoted a line from one of his favorite plays, "'Time is something that no one can escape. It ravages the world, yet it it brings about new change, and always moves forward. To progress is the mission of living. As dying is the great journey to the world beyond, where loved ones await, and where others wait to be born...'"
"I recognize that phrase..." Gunter mused thoughtfully, "...isn't it from the play Gardens of Deceit?"
Sara nodded, "Yes. Its one of my favorites; perhaps because I respected the main character for getting his revenge in the end without shedding blood," then he chuckled in amusement, "Funny isn't it? That vengeance could be portrayed as something just and good when it is such a meaningless thing. Vengeance doesn't change the past, nor can it make the future better. Still," Sara caught himself and looked back at Murata with a kind smile, "The point of all that was, just because she is gone doesn't mean that its over. You yourself are proof of that. So you will see her again, I'm sure."
"Well, thank you, I suppose," Murata replied unsurely, "I'll keep that in mind."
"And I thought I was the one being too sentimental Your Highness," Berias laughed lightly.
But when he did, Sara stared at his protector in amazement. This was the first time he had ever laughed, let alone made a joke like that...
What could that mean? Was Berias also showing more of his true self? The self that not even Sara knew?All Sara knew was that something was changing. HE, was changing. But whether or not those changes were going to last or if was just because they were in Yuri's presence Sara was unsure.
Although, Sara couldn't wait to find out...
"Once I gather my strength, I'm going to try to see him again. But, will he respond...?" Yelshi asked the empty air, watching the pink petals fall, and thinking of Sara, "Am I being selfish for wanting him in my life? Saralegui..." he whispered his name like a prayer and snatched a blossom from the air, cupping it in his pale thin hands, and breathing softly, "...please save me."
After that, Yelshi dropped the blossom out the window and turned away from it. Meanwhile, the fragile little blossom fluttered aimlessly on the back of the wind, raising higher and higher until it towered over the mansion.
Swaying above it, the manor looked so peaceful to the petals churning above it in the warm winds, ever watchful of the world below...
Although the mansion was enclosed in a thick garden of cherry trees, the manor itself appeared more like an attempt to combine the art style of a medieval mansion conjunct with a shrine of some sort. It had a thatched roof that curved up to a point like a great arching spine while the outer walls were made of stone, supported by thick oak beams.
There were two balconies, one facing east, and the other facing west; both of which extended out from Yelshi's room in the center of the building and linked to the two doors on either side. This made it so at any time, someone could assist him if something happened. As well as keep a constant eye on him from either side of the building...
Both ends of the house on the northern and southern sides extended into four towers at each corner of the mansion, where not only could they see both balconies, but also the surrounding forests. Truthfully, this mansion had been build more like a small fort or maybe even a castle rather then just a regular mansion. Because not only could it keep invaders out...it could also keep a firm grip on the treasures within.
Even to this day, Yelshi did not know why he was taken. All Yelshi knew about himself was that he had been stillborn and his mother saved his life by giving him some of her own. They had announced him dead and presumably went to bury him before the Queen discovered the ruse; that he was actually still alive.
They wanted him for something. Something that they were anxiously waiting for that was supposed to happen on his eighteenth birthday. Because in their culture, the one his Keepers practiced, one did not come of age at sixteen, but at eighteen.
Even so, now that Yelshi knew that he could make contact with someone, his own brother no less, who walked freely in the outside world, he fully intended to escape long before that day came. To be honest, Yelshi had almost given up hope before he learned of his twin, Saralegui. That knowledge had become his deliverance from despair; his hope; his purpose.
And Yelshi would fight to his dying breath to reach him. And escape his destiny they had planned for Yelshi; for him to be used for something he didn't understand. Because this life he had now wasn't really living. It was walking in a dream he could not wake from to escape into the real world...
Sometimes, Yelshi wondered if it would have been better if he had died that day. At least then, his being would have been a bigger part of his twin brother and they would have existed as a single whole; not two separate people. They were two parts of the same person, torn apart, like the morning and the evening star...
Both had a purpose...
But only one of them was free at this moment to choose their own path...
A path that Yelshi prayed would bring them together at long last.