The Clover Prince

Chapter Nine

Word Count: 5,430

Rating/Warnings/ Summary: Same as prologue

Author's Note: This was another where I knew what I was doing or what had to happen, but I didn't seem to be able to get it done. The last part was especially difficult, even though I knew it was always coming.

Nine

Ikki looked up when he heard the door open and forced himself to his feet. Damn, everything hurt from that position, though he'd never intended to fall asleep on the floor like that in the first place. He was just waiting for Ken to get back from his conference with Raijin. He frowned. Shouldn't it be dark in here? It was far too bright.

"Ken?"

The door shut with a bang. "What are you doing here, Ikkyu?"

"Waiting for you."

"Go away. I don't want you here. And you know better than to come, considering the trouble we're all in at the moment."

Ikki sighed. "Look, I know you're going to be mad at me after tonight, but I was trying to help."

"Help? You put both of those women in danger, and you know it. What did you think you'd accomplish? We do not need more involved in this mess."

Ikki knew that. He wasn't a fool. "Ken, you can't even drink wine at those things without fear. I was trying to make it safer for you since I couldn't be at your side. The girl was the only option we had since we don't trust any nobles. And her presence did keep the others away from you, didn't it? You had Shin and Toma there, too, that must have helped."

"Ikkyu, I mean it. Leave."

Ikki winced. "Damn it, Ken, have you really been with him all night? The hell did he do to you? Let me see. I don't know as much as Waka, but I can help."

"No. Go away. I want to rest for what little time remains before the southern king and queen arrive. They are expected today, and Raijin was quite clear on what I'd suffer if I did not greet them. Now go and leave me in peace."

Ikki was not leaving. That was not a request he could honor. "If he hurt you, then you need your wounds treated. And how do you really expect to rest if you're in pain? I know I couldn't after he was done with me, so don't bother saying you're fine. You're not. Let me get Waka. He'll make some tea and that always helps."

"I don't want a fuss. I just want you to go. Why is it you never listen? I am tired and sore, and I don't want anything or anyone around me. Just go."

Ikki swore. If Ken wasn't even willing to let someone look at him, it had to be bad. Had he taken this long to get back to his room because he'd passed out? Ikki wasn't about to leave that untreated. If Waka wasn't outside that door right now, then he would find him. Ken needed help, and he was not going to leave him alone without it.

"Your uniform might be ruined."

"I have eight others. Now go away."

Yes, Ken did, but knowing Raijin, he'd demand the one he'd ruined and punish Ken for wearing another. "If you take it off, I'll take it to my tailor friend and get it fixed for you."

"I'm too tired. Go. Arguing with you just makes it worse."

"I need the uniform, and you need—there you are." Ikki turned to see the door opening again, and this time Waka came in, a tray in hand. "You're late."

"There were other things to see to first," Waka said. He placed the tray on Ken's desk and looked over at him. "Do you need assistance removing the uniform?"

"I would rather not be humiliated further. Just go. Both of you."

"I told you already I wasn't." Ikki folded his arms over his chest. "Ken, it's dangerous for you to be alone, and you're already injured. You have to let us help you. I'm not saying either of us wants to undress you, but if you have trouble, we're here."

Ken grunted, unbuttoning the tunic and slipping it off one arm and then the other. Ikki hissed when he saw the dark bruise on Ken's side. Ken sighed, looking down at it.

"That is from the guards in the square. It looks worse than it is. Now go."

"I need the whole uniform to have it repaired, and don't give me that look—Raijin will know, and he will make you suffer if you don't have it."

"Here," Waka said, holding out a dressing robe to Ken, who dragged it on with a wince and a few curses that made Ikki concerned about his back and just what he'd see if Ken had allowed them any glimpse of it. Knowing Waka, he'd noticed as well, and he'd get a look at it later one way or another. "Ikki is correct in that Raijin will likely make an impossible demand of you today. That uniform must be repaired quickly. You… You must be extra cautious. Any small mistake will cause you great pain."

"Waka, don't go scaring him. He knows what's at stake. He could die if we're not careful, but you saying that—you'll make him nervous enough to make a mistake."

Ken shook his head. "I do not get nervous. I am aware of the consequences. I will do as I must. Now please leave."

Ikki accepted the rest of the uniform and nodded. "I'll be back as soon as I can. You listen to Waka and let him take care of you."

"Get out."

"Drink this. Do not argue with me. You need it."

Kent lowered his head, not looking up from the tea cup. Waka knew there were not words for this kind of moment. Gestures might be of more use, but most of those involved something basic that Kent had been denied years ago—someone else's touch. The law meant death to anyone who dared, and though Kent was forgiving, Raijin was not.

"These herbs are rare. You said that before." Kent did not drink. "Didn't the war to subjugate the east destroy most of them?"

"Most, but not all, and I have my sources. I don't use them often, but this is nearly an emergency. If you cannot attend to your duties today or you falter in them, Raijin will have you killed. I… I can only do so much to protect you. You have always understood this."

"Yes."

Waka studied him. "It is both to your credit and your detriment that you understood so much of politics even during your youngest years. You knew well the implications of actions… of the choices I made. You forgave them when perhaps you should not have."

Kent shook his head. "I did not do so blindly, even as a child, even if.. I suppose it would seem as though you had some advantage, as you did give me my first true feeling of safety, something I had not even known I missed before that day, yet I am not ignorant of your flaws or free of any resentment toward you. It is simply… impractical to dwell upon that. I know well that my choices might well have been the same and even were they not, I understand why those decisions were made."

Waka nodded, though that did not change his own self-loathing. He did not have any forgiveness for himself in this matter. Kent should not have had to suffer at Raijin's hands last night. "Drink it. It will speed the healing and dull the pain so you can rest."

"I know that as well."

"I need to see your back."

"No."

Waka grimaced. That meant it was worse than usual. Raijin had been very angry, and his need to obscure his actions before the western delegation only served to sour his mood further. Kent must be in a great deal of pain. "Drink the tea, or I will force it down your throat."

Kent did, shuddering with the taste. No one ever said it was pleasant, only that it would help.

"Lie down."

Kent grunted and slumped onto his side. That was not enough, though Waka would accept it as the first step. The younger man would fall asleep soon enough, between the pain, exhaustion, and the herbal remedy he'd just drank.

"Waka?"

"What?"

"You're the head of the guard. Why do you stay with me?"

Waka knew if he waited to answer, Kent would lose consciousness before it became necessary. He could wait, though in some sense, he supposed the prince deserved an answer. "You said I gave you your first sense of security. You gave me something in exchange."

"I did?"

Waka nodded as he prepared a poultice to apply to the prince's back. "Perhaps it would be exaggerating to say you gave me purpose, and yet… it would not be inaccurate to say that it was the first time I believed what I did could save lives, not just end them. The value of that cannot be measured."

Kent did not respond. Waka supposed it was a shame he had not actually heard that explanation, but he knew it was better if he were not conscious for this part.

"Neesan!" Orion rounded the corner into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her, holding on tight. He'd had fun last night with his friends, but he had been worried about her anyway. She hadn't liked that Ikki guy much, and neither had he, since the guy wasn't about to listen to her saying no, and he'd bullied them all into other places.

"Orion. How was your friend's house? Did you have a lot of fun?"

He nodded. "I did, but what about you? How was the party? Did you dance with the prince?"

"It was… long. And I guess I danced with Ikki. Twice. Sort of. He did most of the work."

Orion frowned. He supposed he didn't know much about dancing, and usually if the men in the tavern tried to start anything like that, it didn't last long before someone threw them out—the regulars did that, though he still kind of wished they had a scary guy like he'd thought the tutor was to do it—and so Orion hadn't seen much. He'd seen the stuff in the square, and one time they'd peaked at a dance hall together, and it sounded like Neesan would like to learn how to dance, but she never had.

"Only with Ikki? Not with Kent?"

"Why would I dance with Kent?"

"Because you know him better. He's a friend, isn't he? He's helped a lot here, so why wouldn't you dance with him?"

Neesan shook her head. "Have you forgotten the law, Orion? It's illegal to touch a member of the royal family. And I don't think Kent's the sort who'd dance with anyone. It… He really didn't seem to want to be there, and the king was awful to him..."

"Oh. That's a shame," Orion said. He turned to Sawa, who was frowning a little. "What? Did something happen at the party? Something really bad? Did the king order someone beheaded?"

"That's gross, and no. I don't think they still do that, but even if they did—no. That didn't happen." Sawa sighed. "Ikki was swarmed by women all night long except when he spoke to the other princes, and it was so annoying. He thanked me over and over for keeping them away—I didn't—but he seemed frustrated by them, which was strange because all the rumors said that Ikki likes women and has a different one each night."

"I think we know by now not to listen to rumors," Neesan said, sounding miserable. "The ones about Waka that Kent warned us about—and then the ones about Kent, too… He… Obviously, he's not just some noble who buries his head in books and never sees anyone. He has left the castle, several times, even, since he was coming here even before he became the crown prince."

"It's kind of neat you know the crown prince. He's your friend. That's a good thing, right? That means things can get better for us."

Neesan winced. "I don't think it's that simple."

Orion grimaced. "I suppose it won't change while Raijin's still king, but when Kent is… He'll change things. Won't he? Don't you think so? He seemed… Well, he's still rude, but he was different with you, too, wasn't he?"

"I… I guess we can hope so," Neesan said, exchanging a look with Sawa. This was bad. Orion could tell. They both thought… what, that Kent wouldn't be king? Did they think he'd do what Ukyo did and run away?

"You don't really think Kent would run off on us like his brother did, do you? That doesn't seem like the guy who came in here. You don't think so, do you, Neesan? You know him best."

She swallowed. "I don't know that he wouldn't. He… Ikki did think Kent would free the eastern kingdom, but even so…"

"You think he wouldn't? Was Ikki lying about being such good friends with Kent?"

She shook her head. "No, it's not that. It's…"

"You're too young to remember Shin, aren't you?" Sawa asked, and Neesan blinked, looking a bit startled. Sawa forced a smile. "You are, aren't you?"

"I don't remember him, but I have heard you two talk about him. What does Shin have to do with Kent and what he'd do in the future? Don't you think that Kent would be a good king?"

"We met Shin again last night," Sawa said, and Orion stared at her. "It was a shock, and it's been weighing on your sister's mind ever since. He… was different. We all are, but… it was still hard to accept at first."

"Shin's a noble? That's where he got adopted to? A noble family?"

Neesan nodded unhappily. "His parents are both… influential people. They weren't married to each other, though, so it's a scandal and if you do see him—not that you will, you won't—don't say anything about it."

Orion nodded. "I won't."

"I feel like somehow this is not midday and I've been drinking for hours," Toma said, and Ikki gave him a glance, frowning. He'd been busy all morning, since he woke and had to rush off to get the uniform repaired before the southern delegation arrived. He hadn't had a chance to speak to Ken—who'd accepted his uniform and shut the door in Ikki's face—nor could he say what Toma or Shin had been up to this morning.

"I thought that was my role," Ikki admitted. He was the one who spent most of his time drunk, after all, and he was as known for that as he was his popularity with the ladies of all kingdoms. "Since when do you get that drunk, Toma? This isn't about Shin, is it? You are a little too protective of him, you know. And he hates you for it."

"It's not Shin. It's that," Toma said, shaking his head as the queen of the south laughed at something Ken said and he smiled in response. "There. Again. The hell is that? Since when does Kent smile like that? And… he's got the southerns laughing. I didn't even know that either one of them could laugh. They never have before."

"Hmm," Ikki said. He had never actually met the queen and king of the south before. As his kingdom had been subjected to Raijin's, only Raijin needed to be a part of any delegation to the south, and while he had gone over the years, he'd never taken Ken with him, only Ukyo, and even then, he tended not to take anyone and demand the other rulers or the envoys visit him here. "I wouldn't know."

"You never met them before?"

Ikki shook his head. "No, and I don't believe Ken has, either. They may be our allies, but it's not like with your country. There's not a detente. There's an alliance."

Toma nodded. "I know that, but it's still interesting that they don't have to renegotiate it each year like we do. The south is full of pacifists and intellectuals. It doesn't make sense that they'd ally with Raijin."

Ikki couldn't deny that. "I've thought the same, and Ken says that, too, but they must have their reasons. Maybe it's what Raijin did to my country."

"I don't know. We weren't that intimidated by it, and we don't have the technology the south does. Only the alliance keeps my mother from pushing my father to something stupid like war. She hates Raijin—hated his wife even more, though I suppose she has her reasons given what happened—and I don't think her power has ever been enough for her, even as queen."

"You say that about your own mother?"

Toma gave him a halfhearted smile. "You know that there's a good chance I'm just as much of a bastard as Shin is. I doubt my father ever found her attractive, and even knowing he needed an heir, it's a bit difficult to believe he was able to put up with her long enough to get one."

"I think you have been drinking too much. You're being far too honest."

"It's no secret I hate that woman. Her behavior toward Shin would have been enough, but there's no one in the kingdom who actually cares for her. She's despised everywhere, and yet she has her loyal supporters, mostly because they're afraid of her."

"True." Ikki hated the queen as well, but then she'd never liked him and had treated him worse than Shin because his family had been deposed and forced into vassalage—or death. "I suppose it's a good thing."

"What, her having supporters?"

"No. That. Ken. He's managed to win over the king and queen of the south, which considering the lies they got told—I never seduced Mine, though I wouldn't mind trying considering how cute she is—shame about her being a princess, really, because that's too much of a hassle and a risk. I don't really fancy being tied down yet or creating a diplomatic incident. No, I'm much happier with foolish noblewomen and generous common ladies."

"That include Rika?"

Ikki grimaced. "No. She's… that's complicated. Very complicated. We'd probably be an ideal political marriage, and seeing as she was once from my homeland, it would seem the best match for me and yet… It's—"

"Don't say complicated again," Shin grumbled as he joined them, looking like he might just have woken up or something. He was a bit rumbled, as though he'd dressed in a hurry, and was his hair still wet? Exactly what had the young prince been up to?

"Nice to see you, too, Shin."

Shin grunted, and Ikki frowned as he caught what smelled a bit like that horrible area of the castle he'd lost two days to searching before he got in trouble with Raijin. Despite multiple baths, he hadn't been able to shed that smell.

"Where have you been?"

"Nowhere."

"Liar. I know exactly where you were. Question is—what were you doing there?"

"I've never seen them take to anyone so fast," Mine said, and Kent grimaced to see her pouting. She was already far past the number of drinks that was sensible for her size and apparent body weight, but she seemed to show no signs of stopping as she finished another glass. "I don't understand. Why would anyone like you? You're so… rude."

Kent could not deny that he was, however, he had enjoyed his conversation with the king and queen as it had been more intellectually stimulating in fifteen minutes than most of his conversations over the past year. Oh, he had good conversations with Waka and Ikkyu—when sober—but that did not mean that he'd had the same challenge of his mind as the southern pair had given him before today.

Truthfully, he had not. Even complicated math discussions with Ikkyu were not the same.

"I believe we are all intellectual equals, and that made our interactions easier," Kent told her, getting a glare from her in response.

"You're saying I'm stupid, aren't you?"

Kent supposed the polite thing to do would be to deny it, and yet he could not. As far as he could tell, Mine was an idiot, and he could not stand her. "Excuse me. I believe Waka wants my attention."

He did not wait for her response, leaving her sputtering into her wine glass. The king and queen were in conversation with Raijin now, and Kent believed that things would be much easier now. He did not believe the alliance was in the same sort of danger that it used to be.

He joined Waka on the edge of the crowd, accepting the wine glass from him. "That was not as difficult as I feared."

"No?"

Kent shook his head. "They are well-informed, and while we spoke mostly of current theories on scientific matters and recent technological developments, it seemed to go quite well. They found one of my stories amusing, which is… extremely rare. I found talking with them far from the usual chore that diplomatic talks are. This was rather enjoyable for once."

"It did seem to go well."

Kent frowned, looking over at the older man. "Something bothers you, though. What is wrong? Did you find some sign of Ukyo while we were talking? Is he—"

"Your brother is still missing," Waka said. "And you know many things concern me at present."

"You examined me after I lost consciousness, didn't you?" Kent shook his head. "That is… it's no worse than he's done before. I am fine."

"You should, for your part, be angrier that I did not prevent it, and you know I must disagree with you—you are not fine. I saw your injuries. Do not pretend they are other than what they are. You should not be on your feet now."

Kent could not deny the pain, no, but it was at a manageable level at present. He would survive. "You still seem tenser than usual, and this latest action on Raijin's part does not explain that. You have seen worse from him. If you know something I do not, if you are certain of them making a move now, if they are to make a move here, today—"

"I have heard nothing to convince me the attack is coming today. I would not withhold such a thing from you, either. You know this."

"Not even if you thought I'd act nervously or recklessly?"

Waka almost smiled. "I would say you were not reckless, though your stubbornness of late does argue against that. Still, I would not hide it from you if I knew of a direct threat. As it is, we have only the suspicions. I cannot say when they will act, though I suspect soon. As you have made a favorable impression on the south… Tomorrow, most likely. Perhaps even tonight."

Kent nodded. That was no true surprise. "Do we have a plan for that? Ikkyu would volunteer to sleep in my room, I suppose, and you could if you so desired, though that seems… inadequate."

"I do not believe you should sleep in the castle until the threat is gone, and we cannot say when that will be."

That also was to be expected. "Very well."

"Kent," Waka said as he started to move away again. "Do not let your guard down, not even among those you think you know. You do not know who is working with Raijin, and you cannot afford to give anyone too much trust."

"I did not think I was. Aside from you and Ikkyu—and even then, can you say that I… You are not now confessing to me that you are involved, are you?" Kent had already accused the man of that before, so it should not hurt so much to contemplate it now.

And yet it did, somehow, perhaps because Kent had gone back to trusting Waka almost as much as ever. Was such a thing so misguided? Waka had never seemed that loyal to Raijin, and he maintained his professionalism in most respects, but Kent had thought there was some reason to believe in Waka's fealty, even if it should have been Raijin's by law.

"No."

"If that is meant as reassurance, it is a bit late. You have rekindled those doubts again, and I will not be at peace even with you at my side."

Waka nodded. "Yes, though that is perhaps for the best."

"Our queen is furious."

Waka was not surprised. The western queen would not want to see the bond between the south and north strengthened, which was what seemed to have happened with Kent's successful conversations with them. The whole room spoke of it, how unlike him it was and how impressive it was that he'd managed to win them over. The southern king and queen were not known for being easy to speak to, nor were they often amused or impressed by anyone.

Kent's victory was to be expected, as intelligent as he was, though few among these nobles would understand that or the ease of his relations with the southerners given his difficulty with everyone else at court.

"Do you believe she intends to make some kind of move?"

"With the bond between north and south this strong? She'd be a fool, and no mistake, she is one, but she won't do it now," Toma said, shaking his head. "It will be ugly, though. She's going to try and push for more in the detente because she's afraid. And angry."

Waka nodded. That was to be expected. The stronger position would leave her feeling vulnerable, so she would increase her demands. "Will she still sign the peace treaty?"

"I shouldn't answer that. You're technically the enemy." Toma sighed as he picked up a glass from the tray of a passing servant. "And yet… I believe you have no interest in a cultivating a war."

Waka had his fill of battles and death before he was fifteen, and he had no desire to see another war. His actions were meant to protect lives now, not take them, even if pain and suffering still happened to those same people he had vowed to protect. "No. I do not want to see a war."

Toma sipped from his glass. "I didn't think so. Honestly, I don't know what she'll do. She's become more unreasonable in the last few months."

That was dangerous news. Was it possible, then, that the western queen was conspiring with Raijin? If they were both working toward a war…

"She's the same as always."

"No, she's different, Shin. I know it's hard to see because she's so nasty to you, but she's definitely worse. I know she is. I don't know if she'd do something stupid like provoke the war, but she might. She's… not what she was."

Waka did not like what he was hearing. He looked around, tensing when he could not see the crown prince in the room. "Excuse me."

He could have missed Kent, that was not impossible, but unless he was slouching in some corner—which was unlikely under the circumstances—he was the tallest man in the room and easy to locate. This should not have happened. Waka had not looked away from Kent for long, having taken note of him rejoining the southern king and queen at Raijin's side not long ago.

The king was also absent, with the queen and king of the south now occupied with Lord Ikki, of all people. That did not seem wise, not after what had happened, but perhaps Kent had persuaded them the report was false.

Still, that did not make knowing that Kent was missing any easier. Waka swore under his breath. He should not have let Shin's arrival distract him, even if it had only been for a moment.

Ikki excused himself and joined Waka as he got closer. "Raijin asked to see Kent alone."

Waka frowned. That was highly unusual for a function like this, nearly unheard of, even when Ukyo was the crown prince.

"He wouldn't, though. Doing something to Ken now… that's just crazy. He can't blame the western delegation—they're all here—and everyone knows Ken left with him. He wasn't happy about it, but Raijin insisted in front of everyone."

Waka had no words of reassurance for the younger man. He already knew he had failed. He had not protected Kent.

"I suppose you think I should be grateful."

Kent closed the door to the king's private antechamber behind him. He did not expect congratulations from Raijin, even if he had managed to repair the relations between them and the south. He'd been able to ingratiate himself with the king and queen in a way he'd done with few others, and they'd been willing to listen when he explained the false timetable to them, agreeing it was quite unlikely Ikkyu had done anything to their daughter.

"I do not expect anything. I did my duty, greeted the delegation, and in the course of that conversation, I was able to address the matter of the claim against Ikkyu, it's true. I believe they are satisfied that no true harm came to their daughter and—"

Raijin slammed him back against the door, and pain spread through his body, making Kent give an involuntary whimper as it did. His back was full of sores, and the new pain only acerbated the earlier wounds. "You betrayed me."

Kent stared at Raijin in disbelief. "What? Of all my actions, what today could possibly have been a betrayal? I did as I was ordered—in how I dressed and in my actions and—"

Raijin backhanded him so hard he tasted blood and would have fallen if he was not up against the door. This was insane. Absurd. Kent would understand if he'd done something wrong, but he had not done anything that should have provoked the king today. He'd already paid the price for yesterday's misdeeds. This was unnecessary.

The king let him go, and Kent allowed himself to fall, knowing that appearing weaker than he was would always be preferable in this sort of situation. He reached a hand up to his mouth, wiping at the blood. Why would Raijin hit him in such a visible place when the southern delegation was here to see a mark? He had been unwilling to show any to the west, and they were enemies. The south could see this as a reason to break the alliance.

The king's boot connected with his side, and Kent gasped for air, taken by surprise by the vicious renewal of Raijin's attack. He'd thought it was done when Raijin let go. That was how it was in the past, even last night. This morning. Whenever it had finally ended.

"What did I do?" Kent managed to ask when he could breathe again. "I don't understand. Tell me what I did that made you so angry. If I knew what it was—"

Raijin kicked him again, and Kent tried to back away from the attack, but that only caused the king to snarl, launching himself at Kent so that he pinned him in place with his own body. He had the advantage, being uninjured and furious beyond reason. Kent's wounds were already making him see blackness at the edge of his vision, and his attempts to force Raijin off didn't budge him more than a few millimeters. The king caught his hands and held them away as he leaned down into Kent's face.

"I always knew you'd betray me given half a chance."

Kent still didn't understand how he had. He couldn't see anything in his actions that showed his true feelings—his endless hatred for the man hurting him now—only obedience to the orders he'd been given and the greater good.

"Should have killed you years ago. Damn the alliance anyway."

"They're satisfied. They're not going to break it. Or renegotiate. Let me go." Begging like that had never been pleasant or effective, but Kent didn't have a choice. He'd never been much of a fighter despite Waka's efforts to train him, and even less so when he was already hurting. He hadn't had a chance to do anything to defend himself, and the worst part of it was that he didn't even know why he'd made Raijin so angry. This shouldn't be happening.

Raijin's only answer came with his fist.