A/N: Again a long chapter and you know the reasons for it. Enjoy and Thanks!
Part 9
Poseidon's Trap, the prison island… two days before the tournament…
Lord Tamaki Suou, the prime heir to the Nadeshiko clan was still unconscious. His health condition had improved a little. He was still weak and could only be nourished though IV which was dripped into his veins. But he was on the road to recovery. Takashi glanced out the window. The storm had subsided. The raging waves were calmed. A sprinkling of stars in the midnight sky was a welcomed sight. They would soon depart this prison island to a safe house as instructed by Lord Haru.
They were not to go to the kingdom or any of the main or minor clans. Their lives were in danger. The best thing to do now was to be on lay low. Hikaru was at the ship. His duty was to look after it. The ship was secretly built for Lord Haru's escapades by the ingenious Lord Umehito Nekozawa, the current master of the Sakura clan. Lord Haru gave the ship to be piloted by Capt Iruka Murasaki. Before embarking on their quest, they had a private discussion with Lord Haru.
The discussion was regarding the ship, the prison, their roles and destination. Iruka made sure that everything was in tiptop condition for their journey to their next destination. Iruka and two of his men were seen greasing. This was the seventh and last coating of grease. Then later on they were seen applying a thin coat of seaweed gel mixed with white clay on the dried grease. Before they applied grease, they applied a thin coat of sea cucumber gel.
"This ship's having some tender loving care." A guard said in awe.
"Yep," One of Iruka's men hanging on the deck of the ship looked down at the guard's innocent question. "The sea can be real mean to the ship's exterior," Then he continued with his task.
Iruka brought two soldiers and three naval officers with him for this mission. The naval officers were replenishing oxygen, fuel, food stock in the galley, and checking the engine, mechanisms and arsenal. Their duties were guarding the ship, Lord Tamaki and taking care of the ship because they were good nautical, technical, mechanical engineers as well as gunners. Takashi's duty was to guard Lord Tamaki. The role of guarding Lord Tamaki also applied to Hikaru. While Hikaru was guarding Lord Tamaki, Takashi would be looking after the ship.
The ship was actually a present from the Sakura leader to Lord Haru. It was a token of deep friendship for the invaluable services Lord Haru did for Lord Umehito. When they arrived at the island, they were not sailing. They were diving because of the approaching hailing storm and the beginning of the high crashing waves. The ship was designed such that when it was necessary it had the ability to transform to something. With a click of a button, it changed into a submarine.
The submarine descended ten thousand fathoms under the sea to avoid the push of the raging waves towards the ragged hill-like reefs. Iruka and his men were ecstatic to have the opportunity to manage Lord Umehito's creation. Takashi hid a smile when Iruka hugged the ship's automatic mast. Hikaru was laughing his head-off and told Takashi that they would turn into monsters to protect their 'baby.' Not everyone had the chance to experience beforehand the enigmatic wizard's handiwork.
The vessel arrived on time before the weather conditions worsened. The prison guards guarding the fortress were astounded seeing a submarine breaking the surface of the lapping sea and at the same time changing into a magnificent ship. From the eight member crew only three descended from the vessel. The three gentlemen looked distinguished and not to be taken lightly. Takashi shifted his eyes at the doorway entrance to this dimmed room. Silence greeted his ears. He leant his back against the wall next to the door.
Two shadows slid open the door, since the windows were barred. They slipped into the dimmed room. The first one who entered was too late to notice a finger jabbing his nape, he yelped as the pain in his nape travelled along his spine, numbing his entire body. He toppled forward, face down. His nose broke at the impact. Blood oozed from his broken nose. The intruder wheezed for breath. He was pinned under his own weight. He couldn't move. He was paralysed. The only thing that he could move was his eyes.
The other chap seeing his comrade stilled on the floor, made a grab for his sword to slash Tamaki's neck. But Takashi was quicker. He brandished his katana, stabbed the side of the second perpetrator's body and rapidly twisted his katana at 180 degrees. The perpetrator howled in pain. Takashi pushed the katana forward slicing the man's torso in half. Blood spurted as the upper body slid off from the lower body. Takashi stabbed the felled second perpetrator on his chest.
Blood spurted from his mouth as he died. A third slayer, a convict entered the room as he opened the door. The fellow ran towards Tamaki swinging a sword, but Takashi took out his katana from the dead man's body and leapt over Tamaki. His katana piercing into the third slayer's torso making a quick cut diagonally upwards. Takashi kicked the slayer away from him. The slayer was thrown back, hitting the door thus breaking it. He hit again on the wall leaving a trace of blood on the wall as he slid down.
He slumped on the floor, dead. Takashi turned to the first intruder. He was on the floor immobilised and whimpering of pain and gasping for air. He saw Takashi knelt on a knee beside his immobile body. Takashi lifted his limp hand and raised the sleeve to his armpit. A vague tattoo of a double headed dragon marred the skin of his armpit. He was a minion of Hades as Takashi had expected. Takashi dropped his arm and turned his head sideways so he could breathe.
"You should knock first before entering," the sentinel from Mount Shiraku told the intruder. "I've two questions for you. All I want is a yes or no from you. Blink once for yes and twice for no. Understand?"
The intruder was a prison guard guarding the second entrance to the medical wing. The intruder didn't dare respond. He couldn't pop the melt-in-your-mouth cyanide jelly. Takashi groped into the intruder's attire to find the cyanide jelly. He threw it out of the window. The intruder's eyes widened of dread when Takashi took out the cyanide jelly from his inner garment pocket. Then he gently turned the intruder's head to its original suffocating position.
The intruder had tears in his eyes. He was panting and wheezing for breath. Takashi lowered his head to see the crying intruder's further reaction. The man was blinking long before opening his eyes. Then he blinked again once to confirm his agreement to cooperate. Takashi had a few theories that needed confirmation. Upon seeing the intruder's blink, Takashi nodded and slowly turned his head so that he could breathe well.
"Now, first question," Takashi sat on the floor, his katana at his side and one hand on his thigh. "The wielder of the Death Bringer will kill not only the king but Lord Haruka Ran as well?"
A blink.
"Second question, will it be on the last day of the tournament?"
A blink.
Takashi nodded, "Thank you."
He asked these questions so that it'd be easier for them to contrive counter measures to the impending predicament that was slithering sinisterly into their midst. He had to ask the third question because Tamaki wouldn't be out of critical stage so soon. Haru, Kaoru and Mitsukuni had to find out who that assassin was for themselves. He and Hikaru were assigned to guard Tamaki and to escort him back to his clan by the next full moon.
The intruder looked imploringly at him. It was the look begging him to end his life. He'd failed in his task. He'd also divulged information. Takashi understood his predicament because if he went back he would surely be tortured to death. The intruder could not hide or run away from Hades. They were everywhere. He turned the man over slowly and jabbed his left chest with three fingers, thumb, forefinger and middle finger.
The intruder's eyes widened in shock as the heartbeat of his heart decreased. He felt everything in his body shutdown. The blood coursing his veins to his heart and brain stopped flowing. His five senses were diminishing one by one. The last one to go was his eyesight. It was blurry then the vision went dimmer and became completely dark. But before it became pitch black, he looked at Takashi. His eyes reflected a sense of peace and gratitude.
The second last organ that was being shutdown was his brain. Then his heart completely shut off because there was no flow of command from the brain to the heart vassals. His eyes glazed over and Takashi brushed his hand over his eyes. The intruder's eyes were closed. Hurried footsteps could be heard outside the room. Takashi braced himself for an ensuing action. But it never came. Instead the person who rushed into the room was a harried looking Hikaru.
"Is he alright?" Hikaru's eyes darted at the sleeping Tamaki. Then he sighed in relieve. He looked at the dead intruder, "I knew it. Hades is bloody everywhere. On the way here I killed three of them." He frowned at the dead body. "Just yesterday one of the captain's men saw some fella lurking behind our ship. Guess what, they found two bugs."
Takashi placed a resting hand on the hilt of his katana. "We leave this place now.
"That's why I'm here," Hikaru said, "The ships' ready. Everyone's ready."
"Warden," Takashi looked warily at the man behind Hikaru.
A chuckle from behind Hikaru made him turn his head sideways only to stare at the gun the warden was holding aimed at his temple. "Going somewhere?" He poked Hikaru's head with the gun. Hikaru moved forward. "You people were quite perceptive. But I can't let you go." He banged Hikaru's head and hard with the butt of the gun. Hikaru crumbled onto the floor, motionless but not dead.
He spat at the dead body next to Hikaru in disgust. His gun was aimed at Takashi's chest. He was at the side of Tamaki's bed. "Stupid Shibata, he had the gall to give clues to his whereabouts." He glared at Tamaki, "I'm glad Shibata was poisoned. He didn't die of a stroke. It was a poison that caused the stroke. All because he was a straight laced idiot, that superior of mine. Yes, I was his assistant and he did trust me so much so he didn't know I was the one who poisoned him."
"Why?" Takashi asked calmly.
The warden glanced at him and smiled, "Change the world. Shibata was conventional. Hades is the way of the future."
"What sort of future?" Takashi queried gently. His eyes were on Tamaki then he glanced back at the warden. He understood what Tamaki's desperation was, as in "if it isn't too late… and she needs to be protected…" The 'she' was the kingdom. That was what Tamaki was referring to.
The warden continued smiling like a crazy loon, "A world without lawful boundaries. You see in an hour's time this facility will be crawling with released criminals. All of them are Hades. Some of them have been released to pull a job." Glaring at Tamaki again, "And this bastard knows that the criminals want out and are planning to reunite with the other members to annihilate the law. The kingdom represents law and order. The world doesn't need law and order. It needs to be free." He curled an upper lip in contempt, "He knows everything. He must die."
The crazy warden placed the nozzle of the gun on Tamaki's temple. Takashi froze. If he moved Tamaki would be shot dead. Out of the blue, a hand shot out to grab the warden's hand that was holding the gun. It was Tamaki's hand. His eyes were wide open, alert and had that severe glint of determination to survive. He jabbed the warden's wrist with the IV needle that was taken out from his vein. The gun dropped from the warden's grasp and fell on the floor.
The warden cried in pain, clutching his bloodied wrist. "I'm going to kill all of you…"
Takashi galvanized into action. He unsheathed his katana, swung in a graceful arc and swiftly threw the sword at the warden. The warden hadn't time to blink. The katana slashed his head in half. The katana was still embedded in the head. The dead body staggered backwards but not before Takashi retrieved his sword. As the body fell backwards, the blood from the split head sprayed on the wall.
"Idiot!" Hikaru wiped the blood on his head and rubbed his throbbing head gently, "The lawless don't talk rots, or hesitate to kill. They just do it!" He kicked the dead warden's leg away from him.
Takashi made a swift silent short swing slash to clear the blood from his katana. He slid it back into its casing. He glanced at Tamaki who was seated up on the bed. "Are you alright?" Tamaki nodded weakly. "You were awake when I performed a merciful killing of the perpetrator." Tamaki nodded again. "We must leave now." Tamaki nodded and slowly with great effort he stood up.
Hikaru caught hold of him. "I've got you." He put Tamaki's arm round his neck, and his hand grabbed hold of Tamaki's hand which was hanging on his shoulder. His other hand wrapped round Tamaki's waist.
Takashi looked out of the room. Three guards were down. They were bad. The ones further down the hall were good guys. All five were dead. They reached the dock where their ship docked. Iruka and his men were busy hoisting off the lines. The dock was filled with scattered dead bodies. Prison guards and a few convicts. One of Iruka's men was dead. And another was injured but he still helped to make place for Tamaki to rest in the ship. Their ship was not on water but on the ground on solid steel pegs which were from the ship itself.
"Captain," Hikaru glanced at Iruka, "As we've experienced this facility has gone to the dogs. In less than an hour criminals will be scouring this place. We better leave."
"Yes," Iruka said, "This is a high maximum prison. The inmates here are hardcore, murderous, non-repentant, sadistic criminals. They've forsaken their human identity in favour for a life of monsters." He looked at Hikaru, "Those who've signed up for a job here knows the consequences if occurrences such as this happens." Then he looked at Takashi, "I've used my military ID to terminate this facility. It'll self-destruct in twenty minutes."
"ID 3047923 accepted. Facility termination acknowledged. Lockdown initiated." The computerised warning system was tuned to automatically lockdown the facility. "Air lockout in progress…" They heard the reversal of the air vents sucking all the air in all areas in the whole prison then it stopped. "Air lockout completed."
The alarm rang and orange light flashed on and off. "First barrier lockdown commencing…" The first metal barrier closed off all the first and second entrances, barred windows, rooftops, docking bay, helipad, air vents, underground sewerage, even the tunnel for emergency evacuation in the prison fortress. "First barrier secured."
The fluorescent lights were automatically switched off. But the alarm continued ringing and the rapid flashing of the orange light went on and off. This time there was a flicker of red light. "Second barrier lockdown…" The second metal barrier closed all the doors to the inmates cells, warden's office, officers' quarters, medical wing, bathrooms, lavatories, kitchen, dining halls, corridors, etc. in the prison fortress. "Second barrier secured."
The prison was designed by the Sakura clan's former master. It was a manmade island. It was built such that everyone, including the guards, medical staff, warden would perish once the facility was breached or there were an uncontrollable rebellion or viral outbreak. The first and second lockdown trapped everyone inside the prison island. There was no way out. No one could blast their way out of there because the first lockdown itself was made of fifty tonne steel barrier which had been fortified thousand times over alchemically.
The people in this facility would die from suffocation. No one could dig their way out because the first fifty meters were made of solid cement. The next fifty meters were solid antirust metal. The last fifty meters were a mixture of cement and steel alchemically fortified and created to contain criminally insane, hardcore, unrepentant and unpardonable prisoners. The next thing they saw from their ship was the flow of a pale yellow substance along the transparent narrow flexi-tube. This substance flowed to the connecting areas of the prison facility, even the sewerage, air vents and tunnels.
"Self-destruct sequence commencing in 60 seconds," The alarm blared louder and the orange flickering light turned to red. "Final barrier lockdown…" The third metal barrier rose from the earth. They could feel the facility tremble. They couldn't see it because the third metal barrier was outside the facility. It rose spirally, slowly forming a formidable, fortified steel dome. The dome sealed the whole facility. There was another rust free steel dome sealing the latter half of the island beneath the surface of the sea forming a sphere. "Final barrier secured."
"The facility's visual, audio and text have been downloaded and archived into the Sakura clan's server by the facility's computerised system as soon as the termination sequence was initiated by a ranking officer's ID. Lord Umehito will receive it. A copy was transmitted to the kingdom's legal and enforcement bureau for their action. Lord Haru will be notified by the legal and enforcement personnel of this grave matter." Iruka told Hikaru.
Takashi laid Tamaki down on the make shift bed in the sick bay. He administered Tamaki's medication. Meanwhile the others secured the doors and windows. Iruka switched on the oxygen but the flow was decreased to 50 percent. The lights were dimmed at 50 percent in all areas in the ship. The engine was on standby. Everyone in the ship wore Lord Umehito's specialised gas masks.
They could see three convicts running to their ship. One of the naval officers' hit the green button for the 'no entry' barrier. One touch and the intruder would be thrown off thirty paces away from the ship. The entire prison island was confined in a rust-free steel dome. The people in the ship and the doomed ones outside the ship felt the tremor of the sphere moving downwards. The sphere was submerging slowly.
"Self-destruct in 59…" The countdown began. "58, 57..."
In panic, one of the three convicts touched the 'no entry' barrier and was seen flying in the air. His head hit against the solid wall. The other two stopped in their tracks. They watched in horror at the slumped dead body.
"40, 39, 38, 37, 36…" The computerized voiced counted on.
They had the look of terror. They screamed and pleaded outside the ship to let them inside. The people taking refuge in the ship wouldn't save the two because they were Hades. They had the mark on their arms. Therefore, they were dangerous. The people in the ship felt numb as they watched the flexi-tube dissolved and released the pale yellow substance that when mixed with the remaining air turned into a fog of deadly acidic poison. This poisonous fog could not enter the ship because it was sealed with numerous elements applied in and out of the ship.
The computerised voice droned, "24, 23, 22, 21, 20…" continued.
The two convicts clamped their mouths and noses. Their faces went blue. Then they gasped and inhaled from the limited air. When they did, the fog entered their mouth, they coughed up blood. They clamped their nose because when they inhaled the acidic fog burned their nostrils and burned into their throats, lungs. When the acidic fog touched their skin, it 'ate' into their skin. Their skin became bulbous, as if they had boils and red sores, with blood oozing out from the red sores. Blood oozed out from their mouths, noses, eyes, and ears. They died instantly. The sphere descended into the sea with moderate speed at fifty thousand feet and counting. Then at a hundred and fifty thousand feet it increased its descending speed.
"Corporal Arima, this ship needs the protective bubble." Iruka instructed the soldier beside him. "We're going deeper."
"Aye, Capt." Arima pressed the blue button. He turned off the green. "It's at 400 percent."
"Sgt Himura, how many fathoms down?" Iruka asked naval officer behind him.
"Two hundred thousand feet, sir," Himura replied.
"Arima, we need the shields up as well."
"Aye, Capt. It's at 400 percent."
Iruka shook his head, "Arima, make it 500 percent." He glanced back, "Himura, stabilise the gravitational intensity. We don't want to implode and we've a sick patient aboard."
"Aye, Capt." Arima and Himura replied.
"Two hundred and fifty thousand feet," Himura notified.
They heard the faded noise of metal creaking. There were cracking and popping sounds from outside the ship. The windscreen of the ship was heavily protected so as not to implode from the pressure. Himura They looked at the monitor to see that most of the glass dividers, bulbs, fluorescent lights cracked or burst to smithereens. Pipes, steel bars, machinery were horribly dented.
"Fellas, brace yourselves ..." Iruka cautioned firmly. "There'll be two big ones."
Takashi heard the announcement via the communication speaker in the sick bay. He had already strapped Tamaki. He sat and immediately double fastened the seat belt at the sturdy medic's chair. His left hand gripped the edge of the immovable table. His right was on the armrest.
The computerised voice continued the countdown, "… 3, 2, 1 …"
A massive implosion occurred at a depth of four hundred and twenty five thousand feet. The sea bed trembled terribly as it was being hit by tonnes of antirust steel, spattering of mortars and earth as the manmade island disintegrated. There was a huge whirlpool. Then there was an intensified explosion which came from with the broken up island. Thousands of fragments floated upwards, and thousands also sank to the bottom of the sea.
Blackened dead bodies without their limbs and acidic skin peels that ate into their organs either sank or floated. But no marine life would dare eat the dead bodies. These dead bodies were contaminated. There was a rumble from within the whirlpool. Then there was a mountainous fountain shooting out from the whirlpool. From the shooting fountain a flash of silver burst through changing its form from submarine to an aircraft. The aircraft whirred and zoomed to its secret destination.
Second day of the tournament…
Lord Haru arrived at the king's tent feeling exhausted. He had just vanquished five archers until two in the afternoon. This was his time to rest. He needed to replenish himself with food. But he had to check on the king. There were six guards guarding the tent. Two guarding the entrance bowed at him as he entered. He found the king trying to wear the body armor. Where was the page boy? Perhaps he was out on an errand for the king. His eyes shifted to the ample food in the tent.
"Kyouya Heika," Haru put his bow and quiver of arrows at a corner of the tent. "You could've asked the help of one of the guards outside." He strode over to the table full of food. "May I?"
"Go ahead," Kyouya glanced at his grand councilor and troubleshooter with a slight smile. "Haru, I've heard that you've succeeded in entering the quarterfinals for archery. Congratulations."
Haru shrugged off and waved a hand as if it was a tiresome feat for him, "Hmm."
He took the pitcher of water, flapped the tent to pour the water on his right hand then left. Then he took a goblet and poured the water into it. He drank it up and poured another then setting it on the table. He took a plate and went for salad first then took three fried chicken drumsticks placing them on his plate. He took the goblet and sat on the ground next to his bow and quiver of arrows. He set the goblet at his side and stretched one leg out while the other went under the thigh of the stretched leg.
Kyouya put the armor down, glanced at his troubleshooter's prim, hygienic conduct as the troubleshooter ate his food in silence. He thought Haru was unlike his other high ranking officers. He was good looking. A bishounen and was good with everyone. There wasn't a person who didn't have a nosebleed or two after an encounter with him. Close to a good many young and talented officers but never was seen to be actually in close range with them. He distanced himself because he was a Mount Shiraku candidate for high priest.
The right silver ear ring was a statement of that fact. The left ear had a golden stud of the Tsubaki clan indicating that he was being the prime heir to that clan. What he didn't know was the gold stud with the engraving of a Tsubaki (camellia) flower had lesser petals than the real one. This indicated that Haru was only an acting prime heir because the real one was recovering from sickness and the Tsubaki elders forbade the real one to take the call. It was a blessing that the real one was sick.
So they had appointed Haru, as a replacement. Only the closest kin was allowed to fill the role of an acting prime heir. The real one was the only child so was Haru. They were first cousins. Therefore, it was only fitting that Haru filled his shoes and took the call on behalf of his sickly cousin. But, the king didn't know that. He didn't need to know what must remain as a secret. There were a few. Only when the time was right than Haru would divulge. Haru had revealed one to the king.
It was the disappearance and retrieval of Lord Tamaki Suou, the prime heir to the Nadeshiko clan. However, Haru told him Lord Tamaki's live was in grave danger so he had dispatched his men, Takashi Morinozuka, Hikaru Hiitachin and Capt. Iruka Murasaki with a few soldiers in Murasaki's command to save Lord Tamaki from Poseidon's Trap, a high maximum security prison where no man had ever escaped alive. They would not return after the rescue. They would be elsewhere on low profile.
The ones who were in close contact range with Haru, as Kyouya had observed were the two guardian monks from Mount Shiraku and the twin sentinels assigned by the Tsubaki elders to protect him. These were the only four men in their wake, beck and call whom Haru allowed to be at even closer range than anyone else. After this call for national service as Haru called it was over, Haru would have to choose one of the two callings of his life.
The fact that even his best friend Lord Tamaki knew Haru and asked for his help indicated that he was someone to be trusted. But, Haru disagreed and curtly told him after a failed simulation that the king should never trust anyone even the ones he trusted. Haru was serious even when he was injured in the simulation. Was it because of the secret organization movement? Kyouya knew that even in royal court there were shadows of darkness lurking and trailing him.
Haru had informed him of his suspicions of the plots to eliminate the dynasty thus eliminating the kingdom. Who were they? Kyouya had the same thoughts as Haru on the matter. But Haru was ahead of him as to check old prison records for clues. That act paid off. Chief Shibata was the former prison warden for Poseidon's Trap. There was nothing in his journals but there was something peculiar that caught Haru's eyes when he read the warden's daily reports on prison activities.
It wasn't about the prisoners but on an irrigation facility. Why the unconnected short entries about the irrigation system? Haru began to suspect something fishy was going on there. From the puzzles pieced together Haru began to see a picture and that picture led him to believe that Chief Shibata was trying to inform a crime of injustice which he could do nothing about because it was in the name of the former king.
Although, Kyouya's thoughts were on Hades, Haru was unconvinced that it was not Hades alone. Hades was a secret organisation and would remain a sinister 'lurking in the darkness' organisation which thrived on creating chaos and profiting from it. There was more behind Hades's involvement. Haru also showed him the coded communiqué he had received from Capt Iruka a day before the tournament of what happened in Poseidon's Trap.
The kingdom's legal and enforcement department went into action to clear the mess up. The Sakura clan had received the disastrous information as well. They contrived a plan with the kingdom's legal and enforcement department to collaborate on a joint research, remedy, and retrieval project with a few of the original building, technical, technological engineers and medical detectives, bio-chemists from the Sakura clan. They would be conducting this collaboration on a super submarine as large as two whales.
The whole prison went under but there were a great many floating elements or debris and remains of human bodies. Their current master of the clan informed them to detect and contain any foreign substances not produced by them chemically that might have caused the behavioral changes. In the communiqué, Hades overtook the prison with one goal to change the world. They were not looking to dominate the world. Domination brought no benefits to Hades. It would seem someone was playing at both sides.
This person or group was using Hades to get to the kingdom and the kingdom was playing right into this person's vicious annihilation game. Be it changing the world or to dominate it, both were dangerous goals. They must not let it materialise. That was why Capt Iruka had to destroy the whole prison facility because the people there went out of control and had malicious intents to oversee to the destruction of the kingdom under the pretext that Hades was the future to change the world.
But toward an apocalyptic future wrought upon by someone or might be a group of invisible 'kinsmen' to Judas. Haru had reason to believe Chief Shibata was murdered because his body was cremated soon after he died. He had no family and so his ashes were scattered in the flowing river. It was an act to erase the evidences of a crime. But in his death record it was stated that he had died of a massive stroke. If they had the ashes they might be able to find out what he really died of.
In Kyouya's opinion, it was an untraceable poison that could only be found in the Rikaku Desert. The poisons from many monstrous creatures in the sands of Rikaku were lethal and instantaneous. Either way, the only surviving person who could really shed illumination to this murderous episode was Lord Tamaki. Both he and Haru had a feeling that Lord Tamaki had all the answers to what really happened three years ago.
What had the former king to do with Hades? Was the former king really in cahoots with them? Or that the former king was betrayed by his own men? Was that the reason why Haru told him not to trust anyone not even those whom he trusted? Kyouya understood that the more you trusted someone the lethal it would be for that trusted person to hold his tongue. Never be the cause for the trusted person to betray you. There was certain information only you alone must know but not others.
Only Lord Tamaki had the answers and that was why he was imprisoned not by the king but someone using the former king's seal. Who was that murderous, traitor to the nation? Haru was right to send the correct people for the rescue mission. He was also right to advice them not to return to the kingdom but to disappear until such a time when it was necessary to appear. As to where they were now no one knew. When he asked Haru, the troubleshooter just stared at him with his impassive brown eyes. His reply was as impassive as his expression.
"The world is small but there are places wide enough to conceal gems from prying eyes."
Still in the king's tent…
Haru looked up from his plate to find Kyouya looking through him. He licked his thumb and lips. That action stirred Kyouya's line of sight back to him. Haru took two three sips from the goblet. Flapping the tent's flap a little he tilted the goblet slightly so that the water flowed slowly onto his hand. Then he placed the flap nicely, stood up, strode to the table and set the empty plate and goblet on the table. Haru felt awkward and to cover it up he popped a green grape into his mouth then two red ones.
A cling-clang made him turn to look at Kyouya who was struggling to wear the armor. Haru clucked his tongue and sighed at the king's stubbornness. "It'd take you ages." Haru turned to call a guard for assistance. "Guk…"
"Put it on for me." Kyouya said but didn't turn around.
Haru glanced sideways to meet the broad back of the king. Not that he didn't want to help the king he had his reasons. One, he wasn't that strong. Two, he had used half of his strength in archery competition. Three, he didn't want the king to know he was weak. Fourth, he was uneasy alone like this when not discussing issues of the kingdom. Fifth, he was protecting himself. But if he said no, the king might suspect something peculiar about him and would start investigating him. No, that must not happen. He nodded as if to give himself courage.
"If you insist," Haru walked behind the king, "I shall comply." He popped the last five grapes in his hands into his mouth and chewed slowly.
Haru who was a head and a half shorter than Kyouya climbed on the stool and took the armor. He almost toppled backwards. The armor was heavy for him to lift. But he tried lifting it with his might. It was his reserved strength he was using. He lifted it and slipped it over the king's head. His arms felt like they had grown longer. All he knew was that he had lost a grip on the left side of the armor and it was weighing him down with its lopsided weight.
All he knew was that the armor fell but it didn't hit the king. But he was pushing the king down with his body because he had slipped off the stool. Not backwards but forwards and his shoulder banged against the king's back. Kyouya swiftly turned his body to catch Haru who was facing him with dread in his eyes. Kyouya's back hit the ground and Haru landed on him face down. The impact was instantaneous, their lips met. Both parted their lips slightly due to the impact of the fall and of shock.
Haru who was still chewing the grapes, transferred some of it into Kyouya's mouth. Kyouya's eyes widened in surprise and his heart was beating furiously. His hand was on Haru's bottom while the other was on his slender neck. The act was very intimate, he thought. Haru's eyes locked onto his in utter shock and unaware that the juice from the chewed grapes was dripping from his mouth. Kyouya wiped his dazed troubleshooter's mouth with his palm.
It was the first time he saw his troubleshooter falter at something. Haru was flabbergasted. Then he remembered where he was and who he was with and what circumstance they were in. He jumped off Kyouya, he swallowed everything in his mouth and that only made him think of the incident. He blanched slightly and was thinking all negative thoughts. Did the king know? He hoped not. He had both arms on either side of the king's body to brace himself so as not to fall flat chest on chest.
But he couldn't do anything about the sudden smacking of the lips. That was unexpected. A clang of the platter made both of them to look at the intruder. It was the page boy with Kaoru behind him. They were gaping at what they'd just seen. Haru tried to get a grip of the reality that he was in. He felt it was more of a nightmare. He felt his knees buckled. Before he collapsed he immediately knelt on a knee as it was a quick cover up for his weak disposition.
"My apologies, Heika," His head lowered to hide the pink spots on his cheeks. "I hadn't realised that my strength has not yet returned even after I've taken a plentiful." He sighed, "I truly am regretful for my carelessness." Even as the heat in his body had subsided, he was unable to lift his head to meet Kyouya's eyes.
Haru knew there would soon be a wild fire story about him and the king. Damn it! He wanted a clean record because he was representing two prestigious factions. Scandals weren't what he had come here for to achieve. This incident would not help him in his times of need. It would worsen the condition because there were people in the court from both genders who were after him. But because he had the Mount Shiraku ear ring, they'd steered clear from him.
As a Mount Shiraku candidate for high priest, the ear ring actually saved him many times from amorous men and women from making him their conquest or pet or whatever. Darn! This would definitely complicate matters for him. He grimaced inwardly, seeing bleak days ahead for him with courtiers on his trail. Then he felt a tap on his shoulder, he looked up to see Kaoru gazing sympathetically at him. He looked around but the king and his page boy with the armor were gone.
Away from the king's tent, nearer to the jousting arena…
Kyouya's page boy couldn't read, write or speak. His brain was not well developed. Whatever he saw he'd soon forget. Whatever that had been taught would soon be forgotten. He was born with such a disability. That was why he could only do menial jobs like carrying water for the horses and feed the horses. Kyouya looked at the jousting arena. It was beginning to fill in with excited crowds. He had already worn the armor. His breath smelled of grapes.
He smiled as he chewed the remains of Haru's half eaten grapes in his mouth. It was a blend of green and red. He licked his lips as he remembered Haru's lips on his. They were soft. The troubleshooter had been using salve on his lips but that was to be expected when one was in an outdoors competition. Yet, there wasn't a speck of it that he'd tasted. The troubleshooter's lips were without any lip salve. His neck was slender too. He thought graceful ladies had that kind of necks. Guys too..?? Hmm...
And the troubleshooter had really nice skin texture too. His heart did a somersault when Haru's hip accidentally touched his manhood. But the troubleshooter was too stunned to notice or feel anything below the belt because he had jumped off of him in fear that he might have injured his back. He actually wanted to kiss the troubleshooter but he checked himself. It wouldn't look good for either of them. Then suddenly he frowned. What was he happy about? There wasn't anything to be happy about!
He had a mind to ravish his troubleshooter. He had such nice bottom. "Arrrghhh.." He cried out in exasperation, "What's wrong with me?" The troubleshooter was stunned beyond words of what he'd done. No… he shook his head, it was accidental. It wasn't intended but he wanted it to happen for real. Nooooo… was he mad? He was surely mad. This couldn't be his fate. He wasn't… What should he do? What could he do? What would anyone in his predicament do?
The troubleshooter was a man's man and a ladies' man. He was the same. He wasn't interested in men. He was interested in women. There were men who loved him yet he didn't reciprocate their love. It was because he wasn't the type to go for that sort of thing. He preferred women. He hadn't a thing for men. Yet he was attracted to his troubleshooter. Only his troubleshooter. Why? But…
"The jousting event will start in thirty minutes. Contestants please enter the jousting arena."
But… he smiled again. He touched his lips. This was even better than drinking juice from the silver canister which once belonged to his troubleshooter that he still kept locked in a chest at the foot of his bed in his chamber. He swallowed the mashed grapes. Licking his lips slowly… smiling slyly, he would surely win victoriously today.
TO BE CONTINUED…