Hello everyone! Welcome back to the "Glorious saga of vengeance" (Named by Ellie though :P). I hope you all are doing well.
Red: But I am not!
Misty: Huh? The last chapter wasn't enough for you?
Red: No, not for that. But...you all are spending holidays, whereas I am working here T_T
Blue: Bro, don't forget to give us treat when you get the salary.
Red: Shut up!
Misty: Anyways, in this chapter, a beautiful, sinless, innocent pairing has been portrayed.
Dew-chan: *Heart eyes*
Misty: No need to be so happy, Dew-chan.
Roop: *Goes to whisper something in Dew's ears*
Misty: *Grabs and pulls Roop* You also don't need to be a spoiler, Monalisa.
Roop: Hmph! I wanted only the welfare of my sister *Pouts*
Misty: Ahem, the welfare only lies in knowing less (-_-)
Roop: Then why do you always keep lecturing us all?
Misty: *Sighs* Don't pay any heed to them, people, let's start it!
Cousins: Yess!
On the peak of the knoll, the navy-haired dragoon-wielder was standing, letting his ponytail flutter in the soft, smooth, refreshing breeze of Hiawatha. His feet were trampling the gentle carpet of grasses lidding the pebbly surface of the hill. In front of his auburn eyes, there were a series of high and low mounds from where one hundred cascades were streaming down. Near him, standing under an Apricot tree, his brown stallion was grazing, flapping its tail left and right. The new food sounded tasty and unique to the animal; it was chewing with much interest and pleasure. Its owner was also feeling no less different than it was. The fresh, oxygenated air was a tempting treat to his lungs which had got almost burnt in the heat of Kaen.
"Such a beautiful kingdom it is…" His eyes were pacified, "Why does His Majesty hate this place so much? I, Takao Kinomiya, have always searched for peace and here, I'm getting it. I…I wish I could stay here forever, with my love."
The horse neighed, strolling a bit. Takao carefully kept an eye on it, "But…I shouldn't forget that I'm the commander-in-chief of Kaen. I have duties towards my kingdom too. Of course, I'm responsible and honest, I never neglect my duties…but what about my views? I believe in peace, I believe in friendship-only these things can eliminate hatred, fights, chaos from our heart as well as from this world. My hand is owning the Katana but my heart? My heart is only filled with love. For everyone. Even for my archenemies."
Reaching his horse and patting its back affectionately, he pondered, "When I was a child, one day, while playing in the garden, I got my fingers pricked with the thrones of a rose. When I went to my mother and was crying, she made a paste from rose petals and applied it on the wounds. See, with how much love she handled the hatred of the thrones! Yes, thrones should be eliminated with roses, not thrones again. Otherwise, the pain will only increase. Then…why are we spreading hatred for hatred?"
"Clink…clink…clink…"
When the anklets chimed in his ears, he frowned back, leaving his horse. The sound…it was seeming closer with each passing second. He quickly ran towards one of the corners of the hill to discover the person whom he had been imagining and expecting there to be beside him.
Well, his expectations didn't go futile. It was the same violet-haired, turquoise-eyed, lavender-smelled girl, dressed in a simple mauve rob with a lilac belt around the waist. The braided tresses, of course, were adorned with small blue flowers instead of pearls and chains. The kite-shaped lolite earrings were swaying a bit because of the flurries. Below the hill, her white mare was waiting for its mistress, grazing comfortably. The girl was taking each step very carefully, holding her bottom and lifting it so that she couldn't trip and fall down. It seemed quite cute in the eyes of the blunette; he smirked at her. She also smiled at him when she noticed him. Takao went down and lent a hand to her. With his help, she easily climbed the hill.
"Thanks…." Huffing, she spoke, "And sorry. I think…I've become a bit late."
"Takao Kinomiya can wait for his Dew-chan forever," Squeezing her shoulders, he assured her, "Your arrival and presence near me is more than enough, princess."
The heart of the purplette shivered. The young man who had so much affection for her…how could she kill him only because her sister had ordered her to do so? Only looking at his serene, sinless face, every bit of hatred, every droplet of animosity should escape from the world. Dew couldn't think how Kai Hiwatari, the emperor of Kaen, hadn't given up the thoughts of destroying their kingdom yet when Takao was present there in the form of his commander-in-chief. She felt bad for both of the kingdoms, heaving a sigh and resting her head on his shoulder.
"What happened, princess?" Takao worriedly wrapped an arm around hers, "Are you okay?"
"No, commander," She shook her head lifelessly, "Actually, I need something to tell you."
"Sure." The blunette permitted.
"The thing is…" Dew gathered courage inside her body through a deep inhalation, "Oni-chan has ordered me to kill you."
"To kill me?" Takao chuckled, "Of course you can kill me. Look, this is your kingdom and we are standing on a cliff. If you want, push me and follow the order of empress Tachibana."
"Takao, I am serious," Dew narrowed her eyes at him, "You know, I didn't love you for removing you from the earth."
"I know, sweetheart," The navy-haired guy lifted her chin and gazed at her teal orbs, "But if you don't follow the order of your sister, you'll be punished."
"I-I don't know what we should do, Takao," The purplette sighed again and looked at the limitless blue with the passing white vapors, "Sometimes, I feel like to elope with you to another part of world where nobody will be able to catch us. Where there will be no hatred, no fights, no thirst for the blood of each other in the throats of enemies. There will be only love, only peace, only Takao and Dew. You'll play a flute, sitting under a Sakura tree. Springing from it, seven tunes will compose a new heaven on the earth. I'll be the only nymph of that heaven, dancing in your melody. Your tunes and my anklets will make us forget everything about our past."
"Ahem…" The dragoon-wielder sneered, clearing his throat, "Princess Dew is becoming a poet from a dancer, a nice change it is."
"Stop kidding, Takao," The princess of Hiawatha was a bit annoyed and gloomy, "Otherwise, before me, there will be no other option except jumping from this cliff."
"Then, I am the one who deserve the honor, princess Dew," Takao bowed, "Let me jump through the cascade. Thus, I'll get the golden chance to remain closer to you."
"Hmph!" The purplette simply pouted with her eyes sparkling. Why did Takao have to be such a joker sometimes?
"Hey…." Takao removed a few tresses from the forehead of his lover, "Life is not so cheap that you'll throw it once you are done with it, princess. Be strong, be brave."
"I wish…I could be," Dew's face wore a faded smile, "But sometimes, this heart doesn't want to agree. It fears to lose you now and then."
"How'll I be lost from you, princess," The blunette kissed on her top, very gently, "Am I separate from you?"
The purple-haired princess sighed, giving up. She knew far well about Takao's nature. No matter how serious the situation was, the blunette never ceased to lighten her mood by his antiques. Nonetheless, a girl like her who used to remain nervous and had panic attacks frequently needed him beside her. Whenever their glances would meet, whenever she would place her head on his shoulder and close her eyes, all her anxieties became vapors within no moment. So she did, breathing his fresh fragrance. Takao's body would emit the smell of storm, she was a lavender tree. When they collided, she was the one who would be affected more. Yet, she wanted to shake in him, she yearned to have his presence around her.
"Princess," Takao spoke, sensing her confusions, "I think we should go to our respective rulers and confess to them about what we have in our hearts for each other."
"What?" Dew almost jumped as her eyeballs wanted to come out from the sockets, "Are you serious, Takao?"
"Yes," The blunette nodded in assurance, "I'm not kidding this time, princess."
"I wish you would," The purplette puffed, "But…don't you think that this move will be too fast for both of us?"
"The faster, the better," The commander-in-chief replied, "Sooner or later, the truth will be exposed. Along with punishment, we'll have to face humiliation too. If we try now, possibly…we'll be able to block another bloody war between two kingdoms?"
"Hmm…" After thinking a bit, a hopeful smile rose all over her face, "Perhaps, you're right, Takao. I'll try to talk to oni-chan. She'll surely listen to me. No matter how cruel she is, as a sister, she's very good and kindhearted."
"So is his Majesty," Takao acknowledged, "Whatever he is doing is only for the sake of the safety of his own subjects. I'm sure that he'll realize his faults too."
"Takao," Dew calmly kept her head on his chest, "I have to leave now. Soon, I'll be before the empress of Hiawatha, conveying the message of peace and harmony. Bless me so that I can be successful in my goal."
"Our goal it is," The blunette stroked her head, "Just look, princess, we'll both succeed in it, spreading love and peace all over both the kingdoms. Soon, there'll be no fight, no hatred, no ill feelings or no rampage of blood. Both Kaen and Hiawatha will compose a single nation, getting merged without any war. Nobody will gain victory; nobody will have to accept defeat here."
"May each of your words become true, Takao," Dew parted from him, "Farewell. If fate permits, we'll meet each other again."
"Saiyonara, princess…." Smiling, the blunette waved his hand. Nodding, after the princess had departed, he stayed for a few moments more there. His heart didn't want to leave the charming, comforting place so soon but he managed himself, reminding himself of his duties. No sooner he had grabbed his stallion and rode it than he heard a sound, "You are under arrest, Takao Kinomiya!"
Startled, he looked back. There were a battalion of soldiers, dressed in brass armors and holding golden lances whose blades were designed like flames. He had no problem to recognize that; they were his own comrades, the people who had stood up and sat down only according to his orders once upon a time. Takao's blood boiled, he clenched his teeth. How did they dare come and arrest him like this? Did they forget who he was? Somehow, controlling his temper, he asked them, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Don't need to act so good, commander," Dunga, one of the soldiers, grinned evilly, "We have seen everything what was going on here. You've broken one of the major rules of this kingdom and we have to arrest you for this. If you still think that you deserve the title of the commander-in-chief of Kaen, get down from your horse and surrender to us."
"Of course," Takao descended from his mount and pulled out his Katana, "I am the chief-commander of Kaen and I'll surely face his Majesty for my deeds. Only he has the right to arrest me, not you! That's why, I will never surrender to you! Without emperor Kai Hiwatari, this head of Takao Kinomiya will never bow before anyone else! At least not before you guys who are bound to follow my orders!"
"Attack!" The tanned blonde guy roared.
According to his order, all the fellow soldiers charged, the entire hill was shaken by their walloping feet; they were rushing towards the blunette, hands carrying the long spears pointed only at him but their sight couldn't scare the dragoon-wielder. Kneeling down in a stance, he raised his bow. Attaching a few arrows against it, he placed his eyes only at his targets and released them.
"Shoosh!"
The projectiles cut the air, along with piercing the hearts of six men side by side. Standing up, he faced Dunga, "Look, I had no intention to kill them. I'll surely go with you, just prove that you all are arresting me as per the order of His Majesty. Otherwise, never."
"You bastard!"
Clenching his teeth, the blonde lifted his chained mace and attacked the navy-haired guy. Takao's hands had the Katana; he was also well-trained with that weapon. The heavy club collided against the light but swift sword; their collision broke the tranquil silence of the peaceful place. Dunga had more advantage in this duel but the blunette had more skills. Their swings and swipes made the environment heavy. Hills, cascades, trees, meadows could nothing but shiver at their rage. Never had Takao thought that he would have to raise a weapon against his own comrade but his immense love for the princess of Hiawatha made him desperate. Let the world turn against, he would never bow down before anyone specially when he didn't commit any crime, he only loved.
On the other hand, Dunga was only looking for a chance. Despite having more physical strength, he was deprived of the rank of the chief-commander. In the name of an accusation which was true though, he wanted to finish the blunette right there and become the new general of Kaen. He noticed that Takao was getting tired, losing his energy bit by bit. Not letting the chance go, he lifted his mace and struck the head of his opponent with it.
"Tung!"
"Ah!"
Losing balance, Takao stepped back. There was a gash on his forehead from where fresh red blood was dripping. The pain was sheer, the crimson liquid almost blinded his eyes. He wasn't able to say anything around him. As a result, he didn't realize when he ended up being near one of the edges of the knoll. Smirking, Dunga seized the throat of the blunette and pushed him brutally. Before Takao could understand this, he felt the absence of ground under his feet and back floating in the air. He tossed his arms and legs to grab something but his attempts went futile, of course.
"Aaaaah!"
"His wishes got fulfilled finally," Dunga chuckled, noticing his fall, "Soldiers, let's return to the castle."
"What?!"
The emperor left his seat out of shock, his jaw dropped and amethyst eyes remained widened at the strength of the sudden kick at his teeth. The whole world seemed spinning around him. Wait…what did he hear just then? Takao Kinomiya, the chief-commander of Kaen, not only his own personal favorite warrior in his kingdom but also one of his truest friends and the person whom he'd always treated like a brother…was no more? But how was it even possible? The female blunette was sobbing maybe for the first time in her life, covering her face and kowtowing on the floor, her body was shivering but the slate-haired guy didn't notice it. He couldn't even handle his own grief and shock.
"It's true, your Majesty," The messenger couldn't keep his eyes at the face of the king, "Commander Kinomiya has committed suicide by jumping from the cliff."
"But…" Mariam bit her lips to control her tears though her pitch sounded choked, "Why…why would Takao want to end his life? He…he never had any grief, any pain. He never showed any sign to do such a deed. Then why?"
"There is only one reason, your Majesty," Dunga cleared his throat, trying to be emotional as well as showing no sign of emotion in his voice at the same time, "In search of commander Kinomiya, we ended in Hiawatha. There, we found him…with princess Dew Tachibana?"
"Huh?" Kai glowered.
"Yes, your Majesty," The blonde lowered his gazes, "Actually, they were in a romantic affair together. When we confronted him, he jumped from the cliff-though we don't know whether he ended his life only because of knowing that his love will never be successful or due to the guilt of betraying you."
Kai's ears were literally burning at the words of the blonde. Never did he know that Takao could betray him in such a shrewd and subtle way. In Kaen, let alone building any kind of relation with any dweller of Hiawatha, except the royal employees and family members, it was forbidden to enter the territory of the water empire even for his subjects. Why did Takao do that? At the same time, his heart was getting crushed because of losing such a precious warrior of his kingdom forever. Takao did never deserve it, no matter how grave the punishment of treachery was in his realm. He concluded that it was nothing but a trick of empress Hiromi Tachibana.
"Takao can never return to us again," He calmly breathed, "But what happened to him is surely an injustice. We will take revenge. Prepare the soldiers and attack Hiawatha right now!"
"Pardon me, brother," A feminine voice could be heard outside the room, "But I don't agree with you on this point."
Rotating his neck, the slate-haired guy discovered the redhead standing outside his chamber. Quickly, he ordered all the soldiers and messengers to leave his room. As it went empty, getting the approval of her brother, the princess of Kaen stepped in.
"Why so?" Kai asked.
"Because…." Salima was a bit nervous, "Wars and battles can never bring peace in any kingdom in this world, brother. Only love can."
"On which basis are you saying this, Sal?" The emperor gritted his teeth, "Do you have any idea what the people of Hiawatha have done to us?"
"No, I don't, I don't want to have any actually," The scarlet-haired girl shook her head, "Because already I have taken a step towards peace by falling in love with a dweller of Hiawatha."
A thunderbolt struck the head of the king. This was the second wave of shock for him on the same day. Somehow, he muttered, "You…you too?"
"Why not?" She snickered, "The person whom you ordered me to kill gave me a new birth, a new life. How could I finish him? How couldn't I help falling in love with him? Brother, can you remember that you told me not to care of my chastity to build peace? I didn't care, brother, I didn't care…because now, we're in blindly love with each other. Our love will build peace in both Kaen and Hiawatha, not any battle between you and empress Tachibana!"
Kai couldn't bear more. His right hand went out of his control, landing on the cheek of the redhead as the girl landed on the floor, shocked, keeping her head down and tresses hiding her eyes. She was ready for it, expecting no less from her brother.
"Enough, emperor Hiwatari!"
A voice buzzed in the room like another bolt of lightning. This time, Kai saw the presence of the son of the wind standing outside his room along with a mauve-haired, bronze-skinned young woman with crimson eyes. He knew her too, she was Amisia Yamashita, the wife of Kane Yamashita. However, not even waiting for his approval to enter the room, the blunette straightly strode in along with his life-partner. Holding the shoulders of the girl who was fallen on the floor, he helped her stand up. The berry-haired woman hugged the princess and patted her back but couldn't stop the tears of the redhead.
"I…I won't remain here for a single second, lady Amisia…." She sniffed, "But before leaving, I want to say something to my brother."
Wiping her eyes, she glared at the dumbfounded emperor, "If another life of Kaen leaves the earth forever only for your sheer hatred against empress Tachibana, I swear, I-I'll end the reason for which I was born. I'll commit suicide just like commander Takao, getting myself dissolved in the water of river Fuji. Mark my words, then, even you, Kai Hiwatari, the mighty emperor of Kaen won't be able to save me!"
"Sia…" Kane spoke, eyeing his wife, "Princess Salima needs some mental comfort at this moment. Please, take her away from this room."
"Sure, my lord." Bowing and possessing the arms of the princess gently, the wife of the blunette took her away from the room. Once the ladies were gone, Kane gawked at the amethyst eyes of the emperor where the fire was seeming almost extinguished. For the second time in his life, Kai Hiwatari was feeling helpless, defeated. It was more painful than the first one was. When his parents had been imprisoned and killed, it had lit the fire of revenge in his heart. But this time, the same flames were fighting against the storm, trying their best to survive, yet failing miserably. Even he himself was at a loss regarding whether he should let them be alive or smother them.
"If you are done with your vengeance," Kane stated, "I would like to inform you something. Takao is still alive."
The third wave of shock. Kai Hiwatari had no idea how to handle it. Yet, he closed his eyes and sighed in relief as his soul became cool. Exhaling, he asked, "Where's he?"
"In my castle," The blunette answered, "But I'm afraid that he cannot return to you soon. His condition is critical."
"If something happens to him…" Kai glared at him, gritting his paws, "I'll never forgive you, Yamashita."
"Never forgive…whom?" Kane raised a brow, "No, your Majesty, I think you have uttered the wrong word. It will be 'Myself', not 'You'."
The emperor was fuming deep inside, noticing the audacity of the son of the wind but remained speechless. He had nothing to say. Of course, whatever was going on in his kingdom with his favorite persons only because of him and his stubbornness. Kane continued, "Your Majesty, I told your before it too-hatred can never institute peace in a kingdom, love can. See, only because of your hatred, your own people are leaving you one by one. Commander Takao is fighting with death, princess Salima has vowed not to return to this palace. Fed up of your intense abhorrence towards empress Tachibana, they also have found the ways to love. In this way, you'll fall alone, your Majesty. Maybe, you'll attain mental peace…but at what cost? The lives of your dear persons?"
Each word, like an arrow, pierced his ears as his teeth went clenched again. It was an insult for Kai Hiwatari to listen such words which were questioning his own goals. Then again, they were bitter truths. The fire-king always accepted truths and honored them.
"I'll try my best to save my friend and help you institute peace in your kingdom, your Majesty," Kane calmed down a bit, "Soon, I'll find out a way to solve everything. But even after it, if you don't want to agree with me, I'm sorry, I'll have nothing to do."
When the blunette left the room, a fierce gust of wind out of nowhere whirled in through the open windows of the chamber, pulsating the velvet curtains and smothering all the lamps. The compartment got plunged into blackening darkness, so did the life and hopes of the emperor. He kept standing there, unable to utter a single word, like a man electrocuted by thunderbolt.
Darkness was prevailing in the private chamber of empress Hiromi Tachibana too. She was in her castle, standing before an open window and drawing off all the ocean-blue curtains. Her ruby eyes were craving for having a single ray of the moon but no, it was confined in the dungeon of the dense nocturnal clouds. Somewhere, an owl was hooting-maybe from the nearby mango tree. Tearing the muteness of the lonely night, it was sending shivers to the heart of the brunette. Though she was trying hard, she couldn't forget the memories which she had spent with the purple-haired princess who had been like a piece of her own heart.
Before a while, Dew had come to her, confessing her immense love for Takao Kinomiya, the commander-in-chief of Kaen with which she had a relation of only hatred and vengeance. How could Hiromi tolerate it? That's why, she herself had ordered Ray to leave her out of Hiawatha, banishing her from her own kingdom forever. Yet, she wasn't feeling satisfied.
"What? Am I cruel, huh?" She spoke to herself, a bit loudly, "You know what emperor Hiwatari would do if he were in my shoes? He would simply murder her! Only because I have some kindness, I let her go. But…what will Dew do now? What if she tries to go to Kaen for attaining Takao? Kai will never spare her alive!"
"Really?" A male voice was heard, "I didn't know you still care for her."
Pondering, Hiromi turned back and saw the raven-haired neko-jin marching in. Bowing, he spoke, "However, I have performed my duty, sister. Now, I want your order so that I can leave this place too."
"Huh?" Hiromi frowned, "Why do you want to leave?"
"Because," Ray retorted, "I've also committed the same crime whose punishment princess Dew is suffering currently."
Hiromi's ruby eyes went widened as she glared at the commander-in-chief of her kingdom whose head was still bowed. Her jaw went stiff, "With whom?"
"Salima Hiwatari, the princess of Kaen," He raised his face and stared at the horrified as well as enraged pupils of the empress, "We both love each other."
"Have you got mad, brother?" Hiromi almost clutched his collars, "She's a fire-princess and you have stepped only in fire? Such a heinous crime like betrayal with your own kingdom? Why?"
"In your eyes, it may seem betrayal," Ray calmly stated, "But in mine, it is love. And love is not a crime."
"Can…cannot believe…" The brunette bitterly simpered, "Before nine years, only because you lost your love, we waged a war against Kaen, took revenge on behalf of you and you're paying your gratitude to me in this way? Pathetic!"
"No, thank you so much for your concerns, empress Hiromi Tachibana, but I don't need any revenge now!" The neko-jin hissed, "Already, the scar of my heart has been healed. Too much medicine will work just like poison for me!"
"Ray!" Hiromi pulled out her sword and placed it against the throat of her cousin, "Another word and you'll be in the hell!"
The blade was sharp indeed, causing a droplet of blood to dribble on the white qipao shirt of the neko-jin, cutting the skin of his collarbone. Watching the narrow crimson line painting his top, he gloomily smirked. Gently, he held the foliage and stared at the baffled eyes of his cousin.
"Sister, you're the empress of Hiawatha," He respired, "Of course, you have every right to do everything with me at this moment. Even I myself won't stop you. But…just know one thing. Before nine years, when I lost Mariah, you could only wage a war against Kaen, reddening the water of river Fuji with the blood of both Kaen and Hiawatha. Your revenge might have been fulfilled but it couldn't have brought my Mariah back to me. Never could it have given birth to the love in my heart which was dead. But…princess Salima has brought it back effortlessly, without shedding a single droplet of blood. Now, my heart is in peace. Tell me, which is better? Your hatred and vengeance? Or her love and forgiveness?"
Hiromi's hands dropped the sword with a clinking sound on the floor. Her jaw remained open too with a pair of extended garnet pools under her eyebrows. Her vocal cord struggled but couldn't work. Her ears remained bewitched. Really, what the hell was she doing? The words of the raven-haired commander made her question her own goals.
"Think, sister, think…" Smiling and biting his lips to hold his tears back, the neko-jin rushed out from the room. The brunette faced the open window, the rectangular sky overcast with thick clouds. No, there was no sign of the moon still. Soon, it might rain; the roars of the thunderclouds said the same to her. Before it, whenever it had rained in her kingdom, her happiness had used to know no bound. But now…despite wanting hard, she couldn't be pleased. The dancing peacock who'd used to welcome the rain-she'd banished her forever. The bolts of lightning were landing only on the burning pyres, turning their faces away from her. How could she be happy? How?
"May I come in, my lord?" Holding a metal lamp in her hand, the berry-haired woman asked the blunette.
Kane Yamashita, the eldest son of the wind, was studying in his personal library. Night it was but his chamber was ignited with several fragrant candles on the silver stands attached to the granite walls as well as the radiance of his own knowledge, emitted by both his brain and the thick, different-colored books nicely arranged in the three-storied wooden shelves standing against the barriers. On the round ligneous table, one of those books was kept open. He'd been turning over the yellowish pages of them only in order to find something but the more he was searching, the more the matter is getting complex. Yet, turning to the door, he permitted, "Come in, Sia."
Smiling, his wife entered. Placing the lamp on the table, she bowed, "Sorry, I've been a bit late. But…"
"I know that you were busy in treating Takao and taking care of princess Salima," Kane nodded, "No need to feel sorry. By the way, how are they?"
"Princess Salima has become a bit normal, she's sleeping now," Amisia answered, "But commander Takao hasn't regained his senses yet. His condition is quite critical."
"Hmm…." The blunette rested one of his cheeks on his palm, "Critical it surely is because I think…no ordinary medicine in this world can cure him."
"You mean…" Her crimson eyes sparkled as she went restless, "All my efforts will go in vain?"
"Relax, honey, I'm not saying so…" Kane gently placed his hands on her arms, "You're an excellent healer, everyone knows that. But after all, you're also a human being. When have we, the human beings, been successful to halt the death, dear?"
"But…"
"I am not saying that Takao can never be saved," Her husband assured her, "But the medicine for him is quite tough for us to get."
"What's it, my lord?" Amisia became excited, discovering a little hope.
"Actually, long ago…" Kane started, "When Soichiro Hiwatari, the grandfather of emperor Kai Hiwatari, was the ruler of Kaen, he had a prime minister named Boris Balkov. His Majesty of Soichiro Hiwatari used to trust Balkov a lot. But the eggplant…I mean, Boris Balkov misused the faith of the king. He stole a heart-shaped stone which was kept in one of the intersecting temples of Kaen and Hiawatha. It had two halves-one was a ruby; another was an amethyst. He broke them into two portions, throwing the ruby in one of the tributaries of river Fuji which falls in the territory of Hiawatha and dropping the amethyst in one of the hummocks of mount Fuji which emits lava, falling under Kaen."
"Oh my God!" Her scarlet orbs went widened, "Then?"
"It is said that the heart-shaped stone was extraordinary; fixing two kingdoms together with love, friendship, amity and peace." The blunette explained, "Only when it was broken and its parts were separated from each other, both the kingdoms became archenemies, wanting to destroy each other at any cost. Examining the condition commander Takao, I guessed that he himself gave up the wish to live in this world."
"What does it mean?" Amisia almost yelled.
"Calm down, my lady," However, her husband was always collected, "For saving him, we have to bring both kingdoms together-just like they were once upon a time. For it, the portions of the stones should be found out and joined."
"It's not seeming so difficult," The berry-haired woman scratched her chin, "I myself can bring the amethyst when you can collect the ruby."
"My dear wife, easy to say, tough to do," Kane sighed, "Are you seeing the book open before me? It says if the stone gets broken once, its parts have to be collected by the rulers of opposite kingdom. It means…the ruby which is in Hiawatha now should be rescued by emperor Kai Hiwatari and the amethyst, lying in Kaen, has to be found by empress Hiromi Tachibana. According to the book, only after that, the amity and love will grow between two kingdoms. Only after it, two different worlds will compose a single story of love and peace just like those two pieces of the gemstone, my love."
"Oh…" Amisia blushed, "We are studying here to grow love in the hearts of emperor Hiwatari and empress Tachibana for each other, not to love each other."
"When we'll love each other," Kane smirked, closing the book, "We'll able to spread love everywhere in this world too, honey."
"Another thing…" His wife tried to change the topic, "Princess Dew Tachibana has come here and I've given her shelter."
"Good thing," Kane supported his wife, "Try to comfort her. Encourage her. Tell her that everything will be okay."
"Yeah," Amisia nodded, "But now...we need a messenger from Hiawatha. Already we have Mariam from Kaen. The messengers will convince the respective rulers to go to the other kingdom and collect the gemstone. I mean…empress Hiromi Tachibana has to come to Kaen to gain the amethyst and emperor Kai Hiwatari will have to go to Hiawatha for the ruby. These things should be clarified to both of them."
"They will never agree to do so," Kane smirked, "They know the way of antagonism, not support. We have to make them understand in their own ways."
"How?" Amisia was curious.
"Emperor Hiwatari and empress Tachibana have to challenge each other to come to their kingdom and gain the respective gemstone," Kane stated, "I've already talked to Max Mizuhara, a secret spy of Hiawatha. He'll convince his queen. Whereas, Mariam will talk to emperor Hiwatari."
"A genius you are!" Amisia squealed, almost hugging her husband, "I'm proud to be your wife!"
"So am I to be your husband, Sia," Kane embarrassedly scratched his head, "Anyways, let's call them."
Max and Mariam were called in and explained everything by the married couple. The blonde agreed within no moment. However, the female blunette was hesitating a bit in front of the agent of Hiawatha. She was mentally disturbed a bit as the heartbeats of her brother were swinging between life and death like a pendulum. Noticing her silence, the hyperactive man kept a hand on her shoulder, "Everything will be okay, Mariam. Commander Takao will regain his senses within no moment. If you want to save him, you have to do it."
"Thanks…" Flushing, she turned to Amisia, "I'm ready, lady Amisia."
"Good," The berry-haired woman gently slapped on both their shoulders, "So, now you both have to place the proposals before your rulers. All the best, people!"
"Thank you." Nodding, both Max and Mariam came outside. The night was still young. The moonless, starless sky was gawking at them. Roaring clouds said how furious it was. Black sadness smeared the jolly blue but so dumbfounded it was that it couldn't shed a blob of tears. The breeze whistled in their ears, flirting with their tresses and skins. The blonde gave a gentle and assuring smile to the blunette, forgetting whatever she'd done to his kingdom. No sooner had he been about to leave the place than he heard her calling:
"Max?"
"Yes?" He turned his head back.
"I…" She lowered her face, unable to look at his eyes, "I'm sorry. I should never have troubled you guys. Only for my cruelty, my own brother is suffering in this way."
"Calm down, my lady…" Max gently squeezed her shoulders, nearing her, "Don't blame yourself. You were only doing your job. Now, you have got a chance to save him through your job. Don't misuse it."
"I won't," Mariam nodded, pressing her lips and trying to smile, holding his hands, "Max, now, I'll be a good citizen of Hiawatha as well as a good sister to my brother. Along with him, I'll take a step to save Kaen too."
"Good luck," He patted her head, "You can do it."
"So can you." She managed to grin after a long time.
"So…friends?" The blonde stretched a hand, scratching his neck with another as his cheeks wore pink tints.
Mariam frowned at the hand. She was perplexed a bit, along with being embarrassed too. The same scarlet hues all over her face said that. However, she also expanded her hand as they shared a handshake. Bowing towards each other, they went to the opposite directions.
'It has started with a friendship…' Riding his white stallion, the blonde pondered, 'But why am I feeling that I have to grow it more? Does she think the same too, just like me?'
'He's so sweet…' The blunette sighed as her black mare was gently striding towards the castle, mixing with the black of the night, 'Should I give him and myself a chance? Let alone him, do I, Mariam Kinomiya, really deserve it?'
And done! So dear people, how was it? Never did you think that I'd crush Tysew, my sweetest OTP ever, did you? Well...see, there's still a chance left for them (How could I be so merciless with my cutest and most innocent OTP btw? T_T T_T). That's why, I've given them a chance.
Dew-chan: T_T T_T T_T
Misty: What happened, honey?
Dew-chan: I'll not talk to you, Didi! *Cries more*
Roop: See Di, you've made our little sister cry.
Misty: *Slaps forehead* So what should I have done? Burn Ray and Salima in the same pyre?
Red: Damn, you're surely a racist, Di!
Dew-chan: Yes *Sobs*...and and...she tells that I and brother Red are...are her favorite!
Red: Have you seen her doing these things with TalaJul and MaxMari?
Misty: Excuse me? The residents of fanfiction are witnesses, I have recently done the same things with them too.
Blue and Roop: Whaaaat?! 0_0 0_0
Misty: Anyways, do read and review. Pardon the grammatical and spelling errors. Take care and stay safe :D
Dew-chan: *Sobs* And please pleaaaseeee...tell Misty Di not to kill Tysie here...pleeeaaaseee! I beg to you! T_T T_T
Red: And also tell her not to destroy RaySal here once again -_-
Misty: Enough, let's sign out!
-Misty, Red, Roop, Blue and Dew-chan ^_^ ^_^