Authors note: Be prepared for a lot of point of view changes, moving around, and in this chapter we get to see what a lot of characters are thinking and experiencing. Those who wanted more P.O.T characters, I included a special one in this chapter and a lot of cute things happen. =D REVIEW and enjoy 3
Ch.9 Silver Platter
A small gasp is heard in the empty hallway where only the lovers and Kano stood. Kano turns around slowly to face Fuji, and smirks.
She puts her hands on her hip, "So prince Ryoma was with you Fuji…"
Fuji smiles shamefully, "Yes, he was. But aside from that, what are you doing here?"
Kano smiles, "Oh…um, I was just checking on Lulu and decided to check on prince Ryoma while I was here."
*Why is she nervous?* Fuji grins, "Oh really? That's good, how is Lulu?"
(If you haven't noticed, the name Lulu I borrowed from Code Geass- AN AMAZING ANIME! WATCH IT! IT LEFT ME CRYING FOR MORE THAN 5 MINUTES AND THE WRITERS ARE GENIUSES AT WRITING!)
"He seems to be sleeping comfortably. Did you and prince Ryoma have fun?"
Fuji laughs, "Yes, we had a lot of fun. He is tired so I am going to put him to rest. You should go back to your room Kano and sleep, it is very late. Plus, we have a lot to prepare for tomorrow."
Kano nods, "You are right, I'll be leaving then."
Fuji carries Ryoma to his bed, placing him upon it like sleeping beauty and gives him a kiss that didn't quite break the spell. He places the covers over him and whisper's a sweet good night. Fuji walks out of the room with a satisfied sigh and up the many stairs to his room. Once inside, he plops on his bed, snuggles under his covers, and falls asleep.
Lulu stares at the unnecessarily decorated ceiling of his bed and sighs quietly. *I wonder if Ryonii-san is awake. No I shouldn't…* He turns on his side and looks into the darkness of the vast room. His eyes outline the chairs, tables, and other items. He turns to his right, facing the other side of the room to find more objects to outline. This pointless game was just a way to invite sleep to overcome him; he was restless for some reason. The bed was too...lonely, even colder than the little bed he slept on before. It was a foreign place, too expensive and royal; something he wasn't accustomed to.*But I want to…I'll just go check on him* Lulu slips out of his bed and tippy-toes to Ryoma's room. He slowly turns the door knob and peeks inside, slightly holding his breath. Lulu smiles admirably at the sleeping beauty being illuminated by the moons radiance, and walks towards his bed. He stares at him, afraid of getting too close in fear of waking him.
Ryoma's eyes slowly flutter open and his words come out in whispers, "Lulu? What's wrong?"
Lulu shakes his head, "N-no nothing Ryonii-san…"
Ryoma sits up, biting back a wince and lifts his covers, "Hop in, you couldn't sleep could you?"
Lulu nods and looks at Ryoma apologetically, "I am sorry."
Ryoma picks him up and places him next to him, "You can come here anytime you want Lulu."
Lulu blushes lightly, faces Ryoma and hugs him, "You are warm…"
*He is so adorable…* Ryoma smiles and puts his arms around Lulu's tiny body, "You are too, like a warm teddy bear. Good night Lulu."
Lulu whispers "sweet dreams Ryonii-san" and they both fall deep into sleep.
"WAKE UP BIRTHDAY BOY!"
Ryoma's eyes fly open and he sleepily glares at Kano, "Che' you are annoying."
Lulu sits up and rubs his eyes, "What…whose birthday?"
Ryoma pulls Lulu back on the bed and hugs him, "Nothing important, just go back to sleep."
Kano pulls the covers off of them, "WAKE UP! We have a lot of things to set up! Even if you don't think so, the prince's 20th birthday IS important!
Ryoma sits up and sighs irritably, "Fine…fine, I am awake."
Kano smiles and picks up Lulu, "Come on darling, we need to give you a bath in your room. You also have things to do today."
Lulu nods sleepily, "Hnn"
Ryoma gets off the bed and mutters, "Old hag."
Kano smiles, "Annoying brat" and closes the door behind her.
Ryoma trudges to the bathroom, closing his eyes in exhaustion as he enters. He closes the door behind him and leans against it, sighing. He opens his eyes and jumps when he sees the person sitting by the bathtub.
"What are you doing here Fuji!"
Fuji grins, "I want to wash birthday boy's back and give him a good massage."
Ryoma blushes, "I rather you not, when did you get here?"
"I came in a bit before Kano did, surprise!"
Ryoma smiles, slips out of his kimono, and slides into the prepared bubble bath. He sighs happily and the warm water soothes his over exerted muscles. He leans against the side closest to Fuji and rests his head on the edge of the tub.
Ryoma looks up at Fuji, "It is nice doing this once in a while."
Fuji smirks, "What? Having you willingly strip for me?"
Ryoma shakes his head, "No, being intimate without it leading to sex."
Fuji chuckles and delicately massages Ryoma's neck, "Who told you this won't lead to that?"
Ryoma glares at Fuji, "It won't."
Fuji sighs, "Okay your highness. I'll grant you that wish just for today."
Ryoma smiles, "Thank you."
Fuji takes a wet towel and washes Ryoma's back, "For this? I enjoy seeing you naked."
Ryoma wraps his arms around his legs and covers his face, "…for everything so far."
Fuji smiles, "I love you too."
Ryoma's face flushes, "…"
Fuji turns Ryoma around, "Say it"
Ryoma turns his head away, "I l-lov…"
Fuji laughs, "You don't have a problem saying it during sex, you practically sc-
Ryoma covers Fuji's mouth, "I love you."
Fuji takes Ryoma's hands away and kisses him, "I'm glad, happy birthday."
Ryoma gets out of the bath, "Today is not going to be fun."
Fuji takes the towel and dries Ryoma off, "Why?"
"They make all my birthdays a royal nightmare and set up unnecessary worship meetings."
Fuji ties the towel around Ryoma's waist, "Worship meetings?"
"Girls when I was younger and women when I turned 16 would come over and keep me company. It was just a way for other clans to try to marry into ours, my parents agreed only to keep them satisfied. I doubt we'll have that this year, thanks to Mioko and Rena."
Fuji laughs and walks out of the bathroom, "That sounds painful."
Ryoma puts on his 'birthday' kimono, "What is worse…my aunts and uncles come to visit. I bet you'll get to meet my cousin who is a year older than you."
"Is that good or bad?"
Ryoma smirks, "That you'll meet my cousin? It is good, Tezuka is…interesting. He is stoic, acts thirty years older than his age, and is very intelligent."
Fuji shakes his head, "He doesn't sound fun at all."
Ryoma laughs, "That's what I thought when I was little, but we are closer now that I am older."
Kano sticks her head into the room, "Prince Ryoma I need you and Fuji, the king is calling you to his study."
Fuji gives Ryoma a kiss on the cheek, "I'll see you later." He walks out of the room as Ryoma and Kano go somewhere else in the palace. *I wonder what she needs him for, probably something about his grand celebration.* Fuji chuckles to himself as he thinks of the face Ryoma would put when he sees what Kano is planning to have him do. After finally reaching the king's study, Fuji knocks and asks for permission to enter.
"Come in Fuji"
Fuji closes the door behind him and bows, "Good morning my king."
The king turns his chair towards Fuji, "Fuji…what did I tell you?"
Fuji sighs and straightens up, "I am sorry Nanjiro, it's a habit."
The king laughs, "It is fine. Um, I have important matters to talk to you about."
Fuji walks closer to his desk, "And that is?"
"We have a spy in the palace, I feel like they are involved with the rebels on the border." "
Fuji's eyes widen, "What?!"
The king nods, "Yes, we don't know who it is yet."
"Female or male?"
The king thinks for a while, "We are not quite sure, we just know that Ryoma is in danger."
*It couldn't be her right? What am I saying; she has worked with them for about 7 years. No way it's her…* "I will protect your son with my life, my king."
The king laughs, "Yes, yes, protect yourself as well Fuji."
"Is this all?"
The king nods, "Yes, you can leave now."
Fuji bows one more time and leaves the room, heading towards the dinning room where the birthday preparations were taking place. He walks into the vast room being decorated by servants and looks around for the queen. *I thought she might be here. Oh, there she is.*
Fuji walks up to her, "Rinko, can you have the servants serve everything only on silver?"
The queen stares at him in confusion, "Why?"
Fuji whispers in her ear, "Nanjiro told you about the spy right? Silver changes color when it comes in contact with poison. This will make it impossible for the spy to poison food or drinks because we would be able to tell."
The queen smiles, "Very clever Fuji." She claps her hands twice to receive all of the servant's attention. She clears her throat, "Serve EVERYTHING only in silver please. Thank you for your hard work, please continue."
Fuji smiles, "Thank you."
The queen shakes her head, "No, thank you for protecting my son."
Fuji looks around the room, "By the way…where is Kano and Ryoma?"
"I haven't seen neither of them around here, oh hi Kunimitsu!"
Fuji looks towards the direction the queen was looking at and see's a man walking towards them. He is very handsome, with silky brown hair and pale skin. He has glasses that compliments his brown eyes and…stoic face. *That is Tezuka alright…I see what Ryoma was talking about*
Tezuka kisses his aunts hand, "Hello aunt Rinko, nice to see you again."
The queen gives him a hug, "You've grown since I last saw you Kunimitsu!"
Tezuka looks at Fuji and offers him his hand, "Hello, I am Tezuka Kunimitsu, Ryoma's cousin."
Fuji shakes his hand and smiles, "Ryoma has talked about you, I am Fuji Syusuke, Ryoma's personal guard."
Tezuka nods, "They've told me you are one of the best soldiers. How is it tackling the war called my cousin?"
*Shoot…that is who I need to be looking for right now!* "He is great once you get to know him" *Mioko and Rena arrived, perfect!* Fuji signals them to come over, "Mioko! Rena!"
They smile when they hear Fuji call out their names and walk over. Rena looks very pretty in her peach, strapless dress which is cut off by her knees. Mioko looks beautiful in her sapphire blue dress, fitting her thin figure perfectly and cut off by her ankles. They both greet Fuji with a kiss to the cheek and politely address their attention to Tezuka.
Fuji stares at Tezuka who seems slightly dazed, "Um…"
Tezuka surprisingly smiles and kisses Mioko's hand, "I am sorry, my name is Tezuka Kunimitsu, Ryoma's cousin."
Mioko blushes lightly, "I am Mioko Ran, and this is my sister Rena."
Fuji grins, "Well acquaintance yourself, I have something to do. Bye!"
Fuji rushes out of the dining room towards Kano's room, which was in the servant corridors. *She must be giving him a birthday present or something…right? She can't be the spy, why wait all these year; to gain trust? No…I have to confirm my suspicions first.* Fuji knocks on Kano's door but no one answers and the door is open. He enters and scans the room, "It seems like they haven't been here."
*Where is he!* Fuji slams his hands on Kano's desk, causing the silver flower vase to fall on the floor. Fuji groans, "She is going to kill me when she finds out I was here without her permission." As he picks up the vase he notices a small bottle inside it.
After reading the label Fuji feels dazed, "I was right…she will kill if she finds me here, more like poison me. Kano is the spy…"
