Hi, there? *stealthy* I'm so sorry for leaving for so looong time. When I saw when last time I updated, it was one month ago! What? I even can't believe it myself. Soo..here is the newest update! Enjoy!
Guest-san: I'm sorry for the update! Thank you very much for liking this story! This is my apologize to you for waiting too long! *hug and kisses*
Fujiyuki-san: one just can't be satiated if you have someone like Fuji next to you, moreover Tezuka has wanted him for long time. *squeal*. About Saeki, it's still a mystery, can't predict someone like him. *snicker*
Youki minaco-san: thank you! Please enjoy it!
XLightningX-san: please keep loving it! ;-)
random fan-san: it's new chapter! Read it quickly when it's still fresh!
Silent Fan-san: *running quickly and handed to you* your newest chapter is here~ I'm sorry for being late... Please keep reading it~ *smile*
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Be ware of typos, error in grammar, etc, etc.
Chapter 20
Spy
"They are over there." Saeki pointed to a group of men wondering around the base of one deep cliff.
"What are they doing?" Fuji asked next to him. They were hiding behind bushes one hundred meters from the men.
"They are building a bridge." Lord Tezuka answered for Fuji.
"Yeah. They have finished a long tunnel five hundred meters from that big house to the South. When the bridge finishes, they can move back and fro from the South to North in less than three days." Saeki informed.
"Impossible." Fuji murmured. He never know that there was a shortcut from North to South, from what he knew, they need at least six days to reach Lord Tezuka's manor from South yet this could shortened it into half.
"The cliff used to be too step and dangerous, we never thought to use it." Lord Tezuka said stoically.
"I know. But their leader, Aogi Ichiro thinks otherwise. He is very ambitious and eager to finish this." Saeki pointed to a big house across the deep valley, "That house is his. His office is at the third floor, he uses it to inspect and observe the men. There is also a bigger one behind that, more likely a dog house for the workers."
Lord Tezuka narrowed his eyes to see a big circle window at the upper part of the house, it reflected the sunlight.
"Who is Aogi?" Fuji pushed the bush a little to see better, unlike Lord Tezuka and Saeki, he wasn't possessed by tall figure.
"Their new leader, his sister married to the previous rebellion's head."
"How could he survive the rebellion that time?"
"He wasn't there at that time. He was a marchant at the foreign countries for years until he learned the truth about his sister." Saeki said. "He is a sly fox, that Aogi." He cocked his head to the building.
"Have you ever wondered why he can gain so much, my Lord?" Saeki asked.
"Ah, at some point but now we know."
"As expected from a lord of North. He tricks the lords to give him money; it's an easy money, can't be tracked and limitless."
"Do they know what the money is used for?" Lord Tezuka asked simultaneously.
"No. Mostly not since Aogi offers a partnership at selling drinks, illegal but high in demand. The lords don't want to know as long as they get their money back." He flicked his fingers, "That reminds me, one of them is Lord Tamura of the South, he is one of his most loyal and fund dealer."
With that Fuji staggered back a bit and his back touched Lord Tezuka's arm, the lord circled his hand around his shoulder automatically, "Ah, we did. We caught him at one of the empty cabin, proofs at his manor. Also their plan to attack today."
Fuji touched Lord Tezuka's hand firmly, at first the lord didn't want to believe Saeki's words regarding today's aggression. He didn't even want to share his informations about the rebels since Saeki was one of them. Saeki himself didn't do much to convince the lord, his words, his looks and his sharp comments made the lord doubted him more. The only thing that he pressed to them was his revenge and he needed the bespectacled lord's help therefore he would help willingly.
After a long tiring argument, they decided to believe Saeki's words only if he showed them their hideout and their leader's whereabout to decide whether to believe in him or not.
"I see..that's why you don't believe in me when I said they would attack at the Summer Eclipse, huh?"
"Hn.. I believe in hard proof than your words."
"Whoah.. That's harsh.." He chuckled and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "but the incident at the South at Christmas was a decoy. They burnt the South, wait for you to put out of the fire and when you turn your back, they ran to the South leaving false traces. Nobody knows."
Fuji could feel Lord Tezuka's hesitancy, Saeki's information was indeed very convincing but they couldn't believe it unless they had a certain proof besides his words. "Can you get more detailed information from Aogi, Koujiro?"
"Nah.. He is a tight lipped bastard. So is his right hand man. I hardly get anything regarding the Summer Eclipse."
"His office..." Lord Tezuka said suddenly.
Fuji looked at the lord and said to Saeki, "That's right! He must place his documents there. You can.."
"It's impossible to enter it." Saeki said before Fuji could finish his sentence. "He rarely leaves his office and when he does, his right hand man keeps watching it."
"Has he ever left with his man?" Lord Tezuka asked with a deep frown.
Saeki shook his head, "That what I said, he rarely does, not after he is safe at his hideout here." He sighed, "Besides, if I can then I need someone else to watch my back."
"You don't have a friend there?" Fuji asked in shock as long as he remembered Saeki was a very warm person who had friends around him.
"Too bad.. They aren't someone who you want to deal and put your life on. Even the wall has eyes and ears there." He grinned.
"Still..we have to get more detailed information about Aogi and his plans." Fuji murmured.
"When do you think his next trip is?" Lord Tezuka asked.
"Hmm.. Not really sure...in two weeks, perhaps? Why?"
Fuji could hear the taller man's mind, "You are planning to go by yourself, aren't you?" He turned back to see his lover clearer.
"Ah.." That's the only answer.
"That's not a good idea, my Lord." Saeki said after the surprise that Fuji could read the lord's mind so well. Lord Tezuka looked at him just so that made Saeki explained quickly, "I appreciate it, my Lord but perhaps I have to remind you again, you are lord of Seigaku and also their sole enemy. They know you and it's basically a suicide to walk pass that door."
"He is right, my Lord. We should find another way to go inside." Fuji smiled in agreement. "Someone else."
"It's better with someone we can trust."
Lord Tezuka thought for a moment, "I will send one of my soldiers, then."
"Those scary and thin lipped men?" Saeki asked again, "Nice joke, my Lord. Me being there is already made them itching to draw their sword, adding another rough suspicious stranger tip toeing around here is definitely refreshing." Saeki pointed.
Lord Tezuka's eyes twitched, they was running out of options and they needed the information fast.
"I will go." Fuji chirped suddenly.
"No." That came from two different male with the most stern voice he ever heard.
"But—"
"It's dangerous there, let me tell you, all of them are bad news." said the monochromatic haired man.
"Because it might be dangerous and I won't be there to protect you." said another one with flat tone but Fuji knew better, there was a hint of desperation there.
"I know it's dangerous that's why I can't let you go there alone, my Lord."
"Yet you want to go yourself."
"Yeah. We need someone who they won't be suspicious of, preferably someone they have never seen before." Fuji reasoned. "Also, someone who can work with Koujiro well."
"No." just that, no. He didn't even explain why he didn't agree.
"Ku—my Lord! You know my plan is better!" Fuji exclaimed when he heard the rejection. "Koujiro! Tell him that my idea is reasonable! It's even better than him going there himself." Fuji snapped at his friend.
Saeki scratched his nape awkwardly, "Well..." He dragged his words to find a correct response, never before he saw someone talking back to a high lord, a Tezuka even less. "We might try it, my Lord. Fuji is right..he is less suspicious and we have known each other for longest time so we are compatible."
Hearing that even made Lord Tezuka more irritated than before, "No!" He barked.
Fuji sighed, "Excuse us for a moment." Saeki arched an eyebrow but nodded, Fuji dragged the lord further from him and they whispered to each other. He saw the lord grumbled something which replied by a long speech by the smaller man, they then talked slowly, gazing at each other intently until Fuji reached the lord's hand and said something after a long pause. The lord nodded reluctantly after that and Fuji smiled brightly which replied with a low murmur from the lord which made Fuji blushed.
It didn't need a genius mind to read what was between the men and Saeki was a smart man, he snickered when he realized the new found information. He almost expected a pang of jealousy or at least a disappointment when he saw Fuji with the taller man but he couldn't find it.
"I will go with you." Fuji said with a smile when they walked back to Saeki.
"Only if you tell me about it in advance." Lord Tezuka commanded in a no objection tone.
Saeki snickered but nodded, "Deal." He said while extended his hand to seal the deal.
###
Monday
Midday
At Pathway
—S.K
Lord Tezuka was standing at the window, staring at the wide landscape of his lands while his mind was focusing on the paper laying immaculately on his table. They got the news two days prior, three weeks after their walk to the hideout, he knew he didn't have any choices but he still restless to know Fuji would go alone with a stranger, well, not a totally stranger but Saeki Koujiro was definitely one stranger for him.
Never before he thought he would meet someone who dared to argue or refuse to his command yet he met Fuji. Fuji, the owner of his heart, the center of his universe, the most stubborn man he ever met. He didn't know which to worry more, the rebels being so close to him or Fuji going to the risky hideout, with Saeki Koujiro. Given a past between his Syusuke and that man, he was getting more agitated than before.
"Kunimitsu." The soft voice woke him from his thoughts, Lord Tezuka turned around only to find a stranger in his study room. The man, no woman was standing five meters away from him, smiling sweetly and even she had darker skin than his Fuji, he knew it was him from his blue eyes.
"Syusuke..." He whispered lowly, too mesmerized, "What.."
Fuji chuckled and spun around to let the lord saw better, his wavy light brown hair was turned into straight yet black hair. He was wearing one of the burgundy old dress the maid found at the attic. "What do you think?" He asked innocently.
Lord Tezuka walked to him in long strides, he took Fuji's hair and inspected, "You.."
Fuji giggled, "Doctor Inui created a new formula, he helped me with it."
"You cut your hair." Lord Tezuka stated in disbelief then Fuji's eyes dilated, "You are shocked because of that? Not because of its color? My skin?"
"Hn.." Lord Tezuka combed his fingers to Fuji's long soft hair but not as long as it used to be. He loved how it flew and fell orderly to his waist but now it reached only to Fuji's middle back.
"Doctor Inui told me that it will grow faster and healthier." Fuji defended.
"It's healthy." Lord Tezuka said stoically, he clearly wasn't happy with it.
Fuji chuckled, "It's just hair, Mitsu. It will grow eventually." He placed his hands on the lord's board shoulder.
Lord Tezuka sighed and shook his head, "Ah.. Perhaps you are right."
"I am right." Fuji smiled again. This time the lord looked at Fuji more openly and the smaller man let him, "And perhaps it's better to send Momoshiro instead."
With that Fuji frowned and pouted, "Do you think he is more capable than I, Mitsu?"
"If only that were the truth. I can't let you to go alone." Lord Tezuka grabbed Fuji's hand and pressed it to him more.
"I can take care of myself, like what I did at Lord Yukimura's." Fuji assured the taller man but he could still see the restlessness in his eyes, these three weeks were hard for him, for them. They argued everytime they discussed about the rebels and Fuji's plan yet they sought for each other when the sun set.
Lord Tezuka closed his eyes, the mission was eating him out. He was so scared for his lover and jealous of him to be with his friend, moreover he still couldn't put his faith on the said guy fully. Unlike Fuji, he was hesitant.
"I know." Lord Tezuka said and pulled Fuji into his hug. "Fuji! I..." He hesitated, "Just..be careful, okay?" He felt Fuji nodded in his embrace. "I will."
They heard small knock on the door and Oishi announced that Fuji's carriage was ready. Fuji leaned down on the lord's chest, "We will go in a minute." Lord Tezuka announced and Fuji almost growled in disappointment when he felt the hand left him.
Lord Tezuka went to his table and rummaging one of his cabinet before went back to Fuji. He lifted the front side of the dress suddenly which caused Fuji to yelp. "My Lord!"
"Hold this." He said with a lazy smile and Fuji didn't have any choice except to obey despite blushing at him. Lord Tezuka went to his knee to wind a small dagger in a good leather sheath on Fuji's left tight.
After he was satisfied he kiss Fuji's soft and silky thigh lovingly, "For a good luck."
"I definitely need more than that for a good luck." Fuji retorted. He felt the lord brushed his hand on his leg leisurely, "It can be arranged."
Fuji bit his lower lip in irritation, "Should you be so annoyingly attractive now?" He asked and pulled his leg away. Lord Tezuka chuckled and stood quickly as Fuji let his dress fell back.
"Ah.. So all you can think is me and can't help but to come home, to me." He said and pecked Fuji's lips.
Fuji narrowed his eyes, "I hear that. Don't you dare to go away when I come home. I demand a fulfillment soon after I arrive home." Lord Tezuka hummed and kissed Fuji's temple.
"I will on my way then, my Lord." Fuji bowed at the main entrance, Lord Tezuka nodded and helped him to enter the carriage.
When the carriage disappeared from his sight, the lord turned around and said firmly to Oishi, "Bring me my horse."
###
"Whoa?! Fuji! Is that you?" Saeki laughed when he saw Fuji at their meeting point.
Fuji flicked his dark hair in annoyance, he finally got the right response yet it was from the wrong person. "It has its own purpose, Koujiro so let's go before I punch you for laughing at me."
Saeki snickered yet he led the way. "It's nice to meet you again." He said after a while.
"Saa.. It's a lie if I say that too. You left me with a big debt and tons of problems, so doubt it." Fuji followed while lifted up the dress a bit to help him walk faster, he definitely needed to exercise more.
"Look, I didn't know that they took the money before we got there. I told them to do it after."
"It's still can't give you the right reasons to steal and involve me in it." Fuji snapped.
Saeki stopped and looked at him, "I'm sorry, Fuji. I truly am. I never wanted you to be involved in this, you don't know how dangerous it is."
"I am involved in it now in many ways. How could you—"
"I wanted to bring you." Saeki said painfully. "I always do but I can't let you to suffer through this."
"Suffer?" Fuji scoffed, "You don't know what I have been through these years."
Saeki nodded, "I'm sorry."
"You should be." Fuji agreed. "However, I am glad I was left behind that time." He murmured softly, he still could feel his lover's warmth, his husky voice and his handsome smile.
"Huh? What?"
"No. Where were you actually for years?"
Feeling Fuji was no longer mad at him, Saeki continued his walk, "Here and there. Mostly nomadic, I sell things for that Aogi."
"You work for him?"
"Business partner." Saeki corrected.
Fuji rolled his eyes, "Same difference."
They reached a clearance, halfway before their destination, fortunately it was a flat surface so no more climbing for Fuji, thank goodness. "Is it the lord?"
"What lord?" Fuji frowned.
Saeki looked at Fuji while grinned shamelessly, "You and Lord Tezuka. You are an item, aren't you?"
"Wow, nice to hear you know about it." Fuji replied flatly. Saeki snorted, "It's not difficult to read, both of you are an open book. Just shocked that he landed on your laps."
"It was me who landed on him, actually." Fuji joked, "I ran away from Lord Yukimura and he found me, you know the story." Fuji stated as he had told Saeki everything, he saw no harm to tell his friend and he deserved to know what he did to Fuji.
Saeki looked at the slender man next to him, "Are you happy now?"
Fuji looked at him, "Why? Do you regret leaving me now?"
Saeki made a face, then, "Perhaps. You are a family which I never have so you are important to me." He smiled solemnly.
If Fuji heard it years ago, he would have felt torn to parts yet now all he felt was relieved, he found his friend back. "Yeah. I am happy so you don't be reckless, you owe me years leaving in hell and big lump of debt to pay."
"Ouch?! That's hurt!"
Fuji shook his head, "Seriously, had Lord Tezuka abandoned me that time, I would have been died at this moment." He said lightly despite the bitter tone.
"Geez.. I am sorry, okay?" He said with a groan.
Fuji paid him no attention, he would forgive him one day, not now though, since he needed to torture the taller man with his guilty till he felt enough.
"Why? Why do you do this?" Fuji asked when they almost reached the destination, he could hear indistinct voice of the workers.
"I have my own reason, Fuji." Saeki sighed and dodged his stare. Fuji gripped his arm, "Koujiro."
###
"Nice chick, Saeki!" He heard a man said while the other were whistling and cat calling. Fuji rolled his eyes, "Are all of them idiot?" He gritted his teeth to ask his friend which answered by a chuckle.
They waited patiently for a small wooden cubicle to pick them up. Fuji noted that the bridge was halfway done, they had built the main big pillars for the bridge and now was hammering the wood planks and the fence. "It's strange. If this is a shortcut which can help to facilitate us, why does Lord Tezuka never think to use it?" He frowned.
"It wasn't this narrow and safe that time. The distance was almost one kilometers away from here, with dangerous cliff and narrow land and avalanche happened almost constantly." He cocked his head to one side of the mountain at their right side, "They spent years to pile up the deep base." He looked at the bottom of the valley. "Kidnapping innocent people; man, woman, even kids. Forced them to work continously, you can't imagine how it felt when winter came." He said in serious yet hollow tone.
"Koujiro.." before Fuji could say anything, their awaited cubicle arrived, "Geez.. Stop that frowning face, it doesn't suit you." He grinned and messed Fuji's head.
Fuji swatted his hand away and scoffed, "Fine. Forget it. Just go and rot to hell."
They stepped into the cubicle, a man with red beard inspected Fuji not so subtly and grinned not so innocently to Saeki, "Nice one, Saeki. I don't know you like them black."
"It's none of your business."
"Is that so? You never run out of them, don't you? I thought you were being serious with the petite sickly blonde at the tea house but I am wrong, it seems as you bring this one to your den." He snickered.
"Shut up! Do your job, old man."
The red haired man laughed lightly yet then pulled a rope to allow the cubicle to move. "It's a great thing that Master Aogi isn't present or else you will get a trouble bringing a stranger in." He said whem they arrived across the bridge.
"Then I will be in your care for not telling him, won't I?" He threw a pouch full of money to the red haired man which he caught easily. The red haired man grunted painfully as Fuji kicked his shin powerfully when he walked past the man.
"It's on the third floor." Saeki said as they ran quickly to the said destination, Fuji nodded and followed him.
"Are you sure we are not followed?"
"Ah, at this time they are too busy working so we are free but we must hurry!" They reached the third floor, "The last third door at the right." Saeki announced and he grabbed the door knob only to find it locked. "Shit! Shit! Shit!"
"I expect you to have the key, Koujiro."
"I'm sorry, okay?" He replied harshly, "Now what?" He slammed the door in frustration.
Fuji sighed and plucked a hair pin from his hair. "Move. Let me do it my way." He pushed Saeki aside and knelt down in front of the door knob. He pushed the pin and rotated it several times until they heard a soft click, Fuji pulled out the pin and opened the door easily, "There. Be grateful that I have learned things after you left me that day." Fuji smiled sweetly yet Saeki knew Fuji's smile meant.
"It will be hard to gain your forgiveness, won't it?" Saeki asked while shook his head in disbelief.
"It depends whether you are worth my time or not." Fuji replied nonchalantly.
"Alright, let's see what we have here to show you my worthiness." He pushed the door yet stopped when they heard footsteps ascending the stair. "Shit!"
"Next time be sure that there isn't anyone else!" Fuji hissed.
###
"I swear Koujiro, I will slice your stomach open, pull the organs out and roast it before finally I give it to wild animals to enjoy." Fuji cursed while staggering to their meeting point before.
"I'm sorry, okay?! They were just too persistent and I couldn't get caught. If I got problem then you would too. It's a desperate way out."
Fuji groaned, "Can't it be another way?! If Lord Tezuka found out about this then he would.."
"I would what?" a voice startled Fuji, he straightened the torn upper part of the dress, brushed his somewhat messy hair and hissed when he tried to wet his lips, he had chapped lip which he didn't realize.
"Te..zu.. My Lord." Fuji's eyes opened wide when he saw the said lord stood rigidly at the middle of the road, arms crossed and face stoic as ever however Fuji knew better, he could find a deep frown, eyes filled with killing intention and thinned lip. For a moment nobody or rather Fuji and Saeki dared to say anything let alone move, they would be killed.
They looked like a lovestruck teenager which got caught red handed having a small make out at the attic. Fuji knew that, Saeki knew that and most importantly, so did Lord Tezuka. Fuji felt a nudge on his side, Saeki.
"I.. Uh.. I didn't expect you to be here, my Lord." Fuji said finally.
"Hn.." They waited for the lord to continue his words but nothing followed.
"W..well.. I think I have to go now or they would be suspicious of me." He said his good bye and ran away.
Traitor.
"What's the matter? I thought you were waiting at home." Fuji approached the lord and smiled slightly.
"I send my lover to the enemy's side and I don't have to worry?" Lord Tezuka asked flatly, he picked up a small wood splinter from Fuji's head.
"That's nothing, really. Just a small argument between Koujiro and unanticipated variable. As you can see, I am fine, everything is fine." Fuji swatted away the debris from Lord Tezuka's hand. "Come on, let's go. I have memorized everything there so we need to hurry." He stepped aside.
"You are hiding something from me." The taller man gripped Fuji's arm to stop him.
"Nothing." Fuji insisted yet the lord was staring at him in disbelief, "Where do you get these wounds from, then?" He touched Fuji's lips lightly and Fuji back out a bit.
Fuji sighed, lying to the lord wouldn't give him a good credit especially when the lord was still doubting his relationship with his friend. "I told you, there was an argument. Koujiro introduced me as his soon to be married sister so they had to get lost yet they wouldn't listen."
"Why this wound?"
"They didn't hear or pay any heed. I used to this kind of situation already so I didn't really care yet they were too persistent and touchy." He felt the lord let his arm go. "So I beat them since I couldn't make Koujiro to do that. He still needs to stay there."
"You.."
"Don't worry, my Lord. The mission accomplished successfully, we gained their data so we must hurry." Fuji said in irritation.
"You don't understand, do you?" His hand fell on his side.
"What?" Fuji asked dumbfoundedly.
"No. Let's go." That angered Fuji, he was tired, hungry and hurt and the lord's kept talking in circles, making him confused and lost.
So this time it was Fuji who grabbed the lord's arm, "What is it? I did accomplished it, you don't believe in me? Are you worrying that I will betray you and choose Koujiro? Is that what you are worrying about?"
"I am not." He hissed.
"Then what? If you are not, you won't be here. If you not, you won't be suspicious and distrust me these several weeks!" Fuji exclaimed, he was panting and had to brush away his tears.
"Where are you going?!" Lord Tezuka asked when he saw Fuji walked away. "Back to the manor, I need to prove my innocence!" He shouted back.
"Get on." Lord Tezuka commanded from his horse when he caught up with the smaller man.
Fuji eyed the man, "I don't want to ride with someone who doubts me. I will walk." He said and paced faster.
"I tell you to get on!" Lord Tezuka said stoically but Fuji didn't hear or at least he pretended to not to.
Seeing no other choice, Lord Tezuka paced faster too and scooped Fuji by his waist and put him on the horse easily despite Fuji's hard refusal. "It's faster this way." He stated as a final and Fuji gave up, he shut his mouth up and kept quiet, was too tired to argue anyway.
###
"Fuji!" small footsteps were followed the voices. Fuji looked up from papers he worked on.
"Girls! I miss you!" He slipped out of the chair and knelt down on the floor to accept a warm hug from the twins.
"We miss you too!" They announced.
"How is your holiday?" Fuji messed their hair affectionately and sat on the floor.
"It's great!" Matsuri said cheerfully.
"We caught many fish! We made strawberry jam too!" Mitsuru said with lower tone.
"That sounds nice." Fuji smiled, Eiji had insisted to bring the twin to have fun at Tezuka's garden at the eastern coast, since it was too bad to stay at home when it was spring. Lord Tezuka agreed and sent Eiji and Oishi to look at them.
"It's dinner time, Nya! What are you doing here at your old room?" Eiji stepped into the bedroom happily.
"What happened to your hair?" Matsuri asked with her big eyes inspected curiously. Mitsuru touched the tip of his ponytail, "Ah, I got a mission this morning and I don't have time to wash it away."
Eiji whistled, "It's surely a busy day for you, huh?" He looked at the thick stack of papers which filled with Fuji's handwriting.
"It fits you." Mitsuru said shyly. Fuji smiled, "You think so?" and Mitsuru nodded. "No! I like the usual one." Matsuri cut.
"No matter what the color, I am me." Fuji stated. "That reminds me, you guys can have dinner with Lord Tezuka without me. I still have many things to finish." His announcement was welcomed with long whine came from three different voice.
"Lord Tezuka isn't present." Eiji whine and Fuji blinked, "He isn't home?"
"Yeah, Momoshiro told me that he went away after sent you home."
"We want to show father new books we bought." Matsuri said.
Fuji closed his eyes, "I thought he was home."
"Where is father?" Mitsuru asked softly then she touched Fuji's cheeck, "Did something happen?" Fuji chuckled, the girls were definitely something, they knew when something was wrong.
"Uh-huh.. It's not a big deal, though. We have a disagreement." Fuji grimaced, "He is being difficult."
"Difficult?" Eiji parroting, clearly left behind many things.
"Why would father being difficult?" Matsuri asked tilting her head a little and frowned which resembled her father in many ways, her long shiny hair swayed following her movement.
"Yeah. Why?" Mitsuru asked too.
Fuji hummed, "Well.. It's too early to explain it to you. You won't understand, I will tell you when the time has come." He nodded to assure the girls.
"Is that so?" Mitsuru nodded too.
"I think it's funny." Matsuri said cheerfully.
"Why?" Fuji asked curiously.
"Well, I think father is being in love not being difficult." Then she shrugged, "Perhaps we are wrong, Mitsuru." Matsuri said to her sister which responded with an agreement and Fuji realized how wrong he was before he finally laughed out loud at his own foolishness.
"And I think you are speaking in a foreign language. I don't understand what's so funny about it?" Eiji rolled his eyes and pouted which made Fuji laughed again.
###
Fuji heard the door at the joining room opened and then closed, Lord Tezuka had come home. "You are home." Fuji said, standing awkwardly at the door.
The bespectacled man took a towel and dried his face. "Ah.."
"Where were you?"
Lord Tezuka placed his glasses back and eyed the smaller man, "There was something I had to finish at the jail."
"I see.." Fuji waited the lord to continue yet he got nothing, again. There was a thick uncomfortable atmosphere between them.
Suddenly, Fuji felt a déjà vu, he reminded of the night when he met the lord for the first time, at Lord Shiraishi's grand ballroom, that night he met a majestic lord who he thought was cold and stiff yet the lord proved him wrong. He rescued Fuji everytime he was in trouble, worried about Fuji, scolded him yet they sought, they loved and cared for each other more than they thought. Thus, the lord's wrath was should be understandable especially for Fuji, the lord worried about his welfare and how could Fuji forget that Lord Tezuka was still learning to show his feeling as Fuji was too. They were really a clumsy and awkward pair. Fuji regretted for doubting the lord and accused him, no wonder the lord was mad.
"I have finished the report and I put it on your table." Fuji informed. He entwined his hand on his back and added sofly, "And also..about earlier.. I'm sorry." He bowed and that surprised the taller man.
"Going to a dangerous place and back with injuries supposedly make people worry. I will too if it is you yet I doubted you and yelled to you. I used my anger to cover my guilty which was wrong so..my apologies." Fuji said again and smiled solemnly. "There was a fight when we tried to infiltrate, I was thrown aside and punched a bit but Eiji told me there was nothing serious when I asked him to inspect when I wash up just now. Sorry for not being honest." Fuji ended his speech that he had arranged and practiced times, but there was still no word came from the lord.
The smaller man felt unwanted and foolish, he felt a tug on his heart, never before he thought the lord would be so cold after the warmth he got from the said lord. "That's..what I want to say, I..Uh.." He felt his throat hurt and tears were formed soon after that, "Good night." He turned quickly to hide his tears.
"Don't go." was all the lord said to him. "Look at me." He added when he felt Fuji's hesitation. "Please.." this time was uttered in softer and more slowly.
Fuji felt as if a thread was pulling his body and did as the lord told him. "Come here." The lord said with his hand extended to welcome the smaller man and run Fuji did. He rushed to the lord, back to his arms, his embrace, the place where he belong. "I'm sorry, Mitsu. It's was uncalled for and I regret it, so much that it kills me slowly." He murmured.
"Ah.. You should be." He said playfully yet he tightened his embrace and inhaled Fuji's sweet scent; vanilla and apple. "You don't know how worry I am and how devastated I was when I saw your condition. I hate myself for sending you there."
"Don't be, please.. It's my fault."
"Mine, too." He kissed crown of Fuji's head affectionately. "We should talk more and find a way out together in the future."
Fuji nodded, "Yeah, I would like that." He agreed while tilting his head upward to see his lover clearer. Lord Tezuka wiped the tears away and chuckled, "I think I discover a new side of me today." and Fuji frowned, the lord smirked at how cute his face; reddish nose and eyes with bright pink cheeks and cherry red lips.
"What is it?" Fuji asked suspiciously to the taller man when the lord didn't say anything.
"That I love to see your face fill with emotions, especially when I am concerned in it." He confessed.
"What? You—" but his protest was silenced by a long and lovingly kiss from the lord.
"Let's move to a better place, shall we?" The lord whispered huskily to the very flustered and dreamy eyed Fuji.
###
Tens kilometers to the south from the manor, a man was standing behind a familiar big circled window with a sneering smile.
"They came here, didn't they?"
The bright moonlight showered the room with its pale silvery ray, penetrating through the window glass, creating dark shadows on the room and giving an impression that they were about to creeping out of the floor to scare people to death.
The door was knocked and his right hand man, Kanagi, opened the door dutifully. "You are such a hard worker." Aogi said when he hear the guest entered the room.
"I didn't believe it at first when you told me your plan. However, today you show me how wrong I was." He turned around to face the newcomer. "It was a bit messy but today's plan can be counted as a success, don't you think?"
"I have done my part." He said in his most serious tone.
"Yes, yes. You did your best so I will do my part now." He said and took a roll of paper and stretched it out to the man.
"It's nice to have a business with you..." The newcomer stepped ahead to the lighter area and grabbed the roll, his eyes were cold and empty, "Mr. Saeki Koujiro."
Mwahahaha.. Who is Saeki actually? That's it. What do you think?