Chapter 028

Kyle now stood on the highest hill within a 2-mile radius of Sienne. Summer as well as spring brought great rainstorms upon the empire of Begnion. As of now, the vast grasslands were being blessed by the goddess' rains. Mile upon mile of the land was drenched in gallons of this water. It would bring quick sickness upon any beorc, and any animal less than a foot tall would most likely drown.

Yet the renowned Wolf Prince found these dismal conditions soothing to his painful heart.

"Ah…" Kyle looked up in the gray sky, letting rapid rain run down his face. After a short while, he looked straight ahead, holding onto a familiar photo. "C-Cartman… I never thought I would think about you this way… It's been only a mere 16 hours since the goddess has taken you into her embrace, yet I feel that it has been far too many years. Why… Oh, why did you die, Cartman? You said you would support me for as long as you live… 'Tis a shame your life was cut so short."

Kyle? Stan called out. Kyle, where the hell are you right now? It's pouring cats and dogs!

Um, sorry… I was just… contemplating about certain things.

You know, I ordered everyone to accept you guys. There's nothing to be afraid of. You've been far too distant lately…

I'm sorry, Stan. I'll be there in a few minutes.

Almost reluctantly, Kyle slowly drifted towards the heart of the Begnion capital. Being the stalwart heir to a country of wolves, he did not require much effort in flying through the downpour. The only thing that truly weighed him down was the gravity of Cartman's death.

By the time he entered the capital of Sienne, the streets were virtually barren. The only people he saw were either escaping the rain or under a roof. Nevertheless, he reached Sienne Castle quickly, for the sake of his lover.

"There you are, Kyle!" Stan shouted when the Jewish boy arrived at the front door of the castle. "You're soaking wet! What the hell were you doing out there? Were you trying to get pneumonia or something?"

"No… Forgive me, Stan. It was utterly foolish of me to intentionally go out in this type of weather. …And what are you talking about, 'trying to get pneumonia?' Laguz don't get sick so easily."

"Even so, I was getting worried, what with you staying away from Sienne for so long for a whole night. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I am. Say, where did you say Cartman's body was being kept again?"

"Kyle, you've asked that question a million times. He's in the room right next to mine."

"Th-Thank you…" Kyle softly spoke as he feebly ambled to said room. Castle Sienne was extremely capacious, so it took quite a while for him to reach the room. Even so, he chose not to rush due to how disconsolate he felt.

"Cartman…" Kyle opened the door when he arrived upon the room. "I've- Huh?"

As soon as the door was fully opened, Kyle saw not just Begnion's late vice-minister, but also the queen of wolves sitting beside him.

"Mother… Mother, I am so sorry that I couldn't protect the archsage. He sacrificed his life to protect me. I am the one at fault, so don't feel that this death is on your shoulders."

"It matters not under what circumstances Archsage Cartman has died," Nailah spoke as she lightly stroked the chubby cheeks on the boy. "The two major questions are… First, who killed him?"

"I don't really know… He pierced the archsage's heart with his staff, then used this staff to warp somewhere else."

"Oh my…"

"Mother, what is it?"

"I may know who his killer is…"

"Pardon?"

"Er… Nothing. Pay it no heed. The other thing we need to know is how we're going to break the news out to all of Hatari. As you know, he was a symbol of nothing but kindheartedness there… His death will be mourned throughout the entire desert."

"I'm afraid that there is no better way to tell them that simply saying, 'My people of Hatari, the glorious Eric Theodore Cartman, Archsage of Fire and Begnian Vice Minister, lies dead.' I know that it'll be as if the most famous celebrity in existence were to die… but you're going to have to be very frank in telling them."

"I see… How much longer is his body going to remain in Begnion? I would like to take him to Hatari, if even for a short while."

"I don't know… We'd probably have to wait for the war to ease up a little."

"That's a shame. I was hoping to take him back as soon as possible, but it can wait for a little while. I don't want to surprise my people too much. Well, I'll leave you alone with him now."

"Thank you, Mother." Kyle nodded, giving Nailah a signal to leave. He let his feet carry him all the way to the bed on which Cartman's corpse now laid. The wolf prince could not help but brush the other boy's hair with his fingers, as lifeless as it was.

"Cartman…" Kyle spoke close to Cartman's ear. "I swear by all holy things that I will avenge the life you have forfeited for my sake. I will live for as long as I can so that I don't waste this treasure you have granted me."

Kyle now allowed his mouth to warm the one that had already tasted death. He knew not why, but felt that he wanted to ensure with all his power that Cartman would have the most conciliatory afterlife.

"Gack!" Kyle suddenly broke apart from Cartman, covering his lips. "Why the hell am I doing this?! How Stan would ridicule me for such an act…"

As if to try and forget that Cartman ever existed, Kyle made way for the adjacent room, which belonged to Stan. Though neither the bed nor the room was his, he felt that he needed some place of comfort that didn't have Cartman in it. Burying his face in the pillow, he talked to himself in an almost worthless attempt of solace.

Cartman… Thoughts of you fill my mind as every melancholy second of my life passes. Oh, if only Kenny could sing the galdr of revival to bring you back…

He lay there until nightfall, thinking of nothing but the fact that his former enemy was forever gone. Even now, the moon was nearly ready to be viewed by the world. As the thought of leaving the room had crossed his mind, Kyle heard a knock emit from the door several meters away..

"Come in!" Kyle shouted in a muffled voice.

"Kyle, what on Earth are you doing in here?" the voice asked.

"Oh, h-hello there, Stan," Kyle sat up, wiping his tear-sopping eyes. "Well, this is your room, so it's only natural that you'd be in here."

"Kyle, what's wrong? You've been avoiding me lately, and you haven't eaten one meal in the royal dining room, even though I've invited you. Tell me, what is wrong? I am your fiancé now, so you need to tell me these kinds of problems, especially when we get married."

"Ah… *sniff* I can't b-believe that… *hic* that Cartman is finally… *sniff* gone…"

"Oh, Kyle, is that what was troubling you? Cartman's death came as a huge blow to you, didn't it? Even though you had countless skirmishes with him in the past, you still share a bond with him, even now, don't you?"

"!!! Stan, how did you-"

"You know that I can feel the flow of emotions in people, Kyle. I have had that ability for almost two years now. I sense that your mind is completely crushed, and desolation is the feeling that's most prominent in your heart right now."

"You do? …I am so heartbroken that were it not for the sadness' strength, I wouldn't be able to sense it, even in myself."

"I could barely feel you emotions, as close as I am to you. But Kyle, you must cheer up!"

"What?"

"Yes, Cartman's death was a very terrible loss. But if you live in misery for the rest of your life, it would be disrespecting his memory! He would definitely not want you to live like this. You must live your life as best as you can, not only for his sake, but also for your own. We must ensure that none have to endure a tragedy like this again. Do you understand?"

"Y-Yes…" Kyle nodded, heading for the room's door. "Thank you, Stan. Your words are as uplifting to my ears as they are to my heart."

"You're welcome!" Stan grinned as he stared at his room's ceiling. "Come back any time!"

Stan did not need to look at that door to know that it had closed. He felt Kyle's presence get slightly weaker as he moved farther and farther away.

"Oh, Kyle, do get better soon… Your dispirited feelings are starting to harm me as well."

The Begnian prince was in the midst of thinking about Kyle when he heard yet another knock on the door.

"Back so soon, Kyle?" Stan shot up, sitting politely. "You really want to- Huh?"

"What's up, Stan?" someone spoke warmly when he entered the room.

"Oh, hello there, Draco," Stan acknowledged the young biracial man. "What brings you here?

"I'm just… you know… checking on you, to see how you were doing. I know you are so sad because of how Cartman died…"

"I am still somewhat remorseful of how I couldn't save him… But I'm not letting it get me down. Thanks for thinking about me, though!"

"It's… no problem. You're one of my best friends, so it's only natural that I support you."

'That's true. Ha!"

"More importantly," Draco spoke with a more solemn tone, "how is your friend Kyle taking this?"

"Not so good… He's in a terrible breakdown right now. He's been crying so hard, and avoiding everyone altogether…"

"It makes sense, doesn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"He's been thinking about nothing but Cartman… Furthermore, he kissed him – three times!"

"What? As far as I know, they have only kissed once."

"Ah, but there are two times that you haven't seen. One time was just outside the Serenes Forest, and the other was just a few hours ago. Don't you think this all adds up? Stan, I am saying that Kyle is probably in love with Cartman."

"…Nonsense! He's already engaged to me-"

"Ah, so you two are boyfriends to one another. I figured as much. Your mind isn't very strong – I could tell almost immediately."

"It really is?"

"Yes. Even a non-mind-reader could probably tell what you were thinking. That is how weak your mind is. But moreover, I don't think that Kyle is interested in you anymore."

"What? Of course he is!"

"He's been ignoring you and thinking about Cartman for far too long! I think… that it is time you've moved on."

"Why would you be saying this? Unless… Draco, are you-"

"Dammit! I thought you could tell from how I acted at the Meiji Shrine, at the bath, and how I've treated you! But apparently, I'll have to tell you straight! Stan, I am really in love with you!"

"Oh my goodness… Well, how could I tell with your mind being so strong?"

"I was trying to imply it, but you couldn't tell! Stan, you're so thick…"

"Well, I see it clearly now. And I accept your feelings, for you have been so kind to me, helping me in the darkest of times.

"I love you with all of my heart, Stan. If I were Kyle, I would sacrifice every drop of blood that flows in these veins to save your life."

"Aww, that's so sweet of you!"

"Would Kyle ever say such a thing?"

"Well, of course he would! He loves me… Draco, what are you doing?!" Stan panicked as he found a foreign hand down below.

"I'm making you forget Kyle! He doesn't love you anymore. He's going to always think about Cartman, not giving a damn about you."

"That's… That's not true! Ah…!" Stan felt very frail inside, especially when he felt Draco suck on his neckline. "Draco, please get off of me…"

"No! I'm going to do you over and over again until you understand just how much I love you!"

"Draco…" Begnion's apostle remained unable to transform. "I only want Kyle to do this to me… Draco! Ouch!!"

The moon, which was finding a way out from the dark clouds, now revealed its full face. The land below was blanketed in a delicate, cool silver light. It particularly accentuated Stan's neck, which now seeped bright red blood.

"Mmm…" Draco sipped after he had bitten Stan's neck with sharp fangs. "Your blood is so delicious…"

"What the hell did you do that for?! You're not a… a vampire, are you?"

"You could say that I am one. I have vampire blood coursing through my veins, so I have some of their powers."

"But why did you do that?" Stan whimpered as used Sacrifice on himself to seal the holes in his neck.

"Because I love you, that's why," Draco candidly replied with a smile.

"It makes me wonder from where all your powers were gotten. You have the blood of so many creatures in you…"

"All that and more, love. I'm so glad that he made me a-"

"Who made you a what?"

"Er… Nothing! Pretend that I didn't say that, okay?"

"Draco, you know you can tell me virtually anything. We're friends, remember?"

"Okay, but you can't tell anyone, except when I am incapacitated or dead. Deal?"

"I swear on my honour as the voice of the goddesses."

"Good. That's very good. Do you remember how I looked when you saw me at the bath?"

"Why are you bringing up something like that now?"

"You'll find out soon enough. Just answer the question."

"You looked rather… um… well-built, I must say."

"So you liked how masculine I looked, then?"

"I guess you could say that."

"Were it by any ordinary means, I wouldn't have looked as manly as you have seen. Ordinary surgeries they give on Earth cannot yet truly sculpt a full masculine body."

"You… You can't mean that… By these 'ordinary surgeries', you mean… sex change operations?"

"Yes. Now, I'm sure you can deduce it further…"

" 'Ordinary surgeries' would not have made you very manly… You mean… You were once a woman?"

"Tee-hee…" Draco giggled. "Very good. Your mind may not be as weak as it seems. I have been a woman for far too long. Were it not for his magic, I would have killed myself and freed the inner man in me."

"That… That is most unanticipated. No wonder you liked yaoi manga and stared at pictures of girls in such a pensive, unromantic way. But then… Who is this 'he' that has made you become a man?"

"I am afraid I cannot tell you as of now…" Draco replied. "Soon, though… Soon enough, you will find out."

"Okay, then. If you are not willing to tell me all of the details, then I will not force the information out of you.

"Thank you for your understanding, Apostle Stanley. May I stay in this room and lay my head upon your lap?"

"Most certainly. I may not be in love with you, but I do still share deep sympathy for you."

"I am grateful, my prince," Draco lay down, letting Stan caress his caramel brown hair. He let not only the moonlight soothe his heart, but also the touch of the man he loved.