Hello once again! I can't believe 2022 is so close and we're all returning to school again. It's been a wild ride of life the last couple of years; let's all escape to fiction world XD
Enjoy~!
-Chapter 36-
Bleak. Colorless. Motionless. Hopeless.
It's like those several years when he thought Ritsu was dead. He lay on his back in bed, staring up into the grand canopy above him. He can't get out, out of his room or out of his head. That meant he couldn't save Ritsu; he's just as worthless as ever. If he loses his beloved again, it would be over for both of them. He couldn't spend the rest of his time in a lifeless, wretched cycle again.
That means only one conclusion: Monday will see the loss of two princes.
Despite the knocks on his door and maids coming in and out, he continues to lay stagnant in his bed. Yokozawa doesn't come back that day, which both satisfied and saddened Masamune. He hovers between restlessness and slumber that night, his mind conjuring hallucinations of Ritsu.
Ritsu lays next to him on the bed, lying on his stomach and resting his head on folded arms. He looks up at Masamune with glimmering eyes and a soft smile. The raven-haired aches to reach out and touch his lover, but he can't move; he simply stares at Ritsu's gentle and striking features to memorize every detail. The younger male's lips part in lieu of words, but then Masamune blinks and he's gone.
He can't cry, no matter how much he wants to. There's nothing left in him as long as the brunette's death approaches. He knows too that it will only be a matter of time before A n is captured and killed. And there is nothing he can do.
When dinner is brought to his room, he notices a knife on the tray. He waits until the maid silently leaves before slipping out of bed. He hopes she wouldn't notice the missing knife as Masamune takes it and stores it in a drawer besides his bed.
.
.
.
The rest of the day passes in wavering sleep for Ritsu. He dreams about Masamune, has nightmares of An and his family, and sees his future in pitch black. He hears the wails of other prisoners and his own whimpers.
He jolts awake from the sound of his cell door opening, seeing it's one of the soldiers who tortured him from before. Biles burns his throat and his bruises throb anew at the sight of him. The soldier says nothing, yanking him up and dragging him out of the cell: he knows what this means.
.
Hours and numerous more injuries later, Ritsu is thrown back on his cell floor, but this time he doesn't have the strength to get up. Aimi calls out to him in a fraught plea, but he can't register any words. He drags himself forward a few inches before collapsing finally, his cheek pressed to the cold stone floor.
His final thought before passing out is simple: Why?
.
.
.
Masamune watches as the sun sets and the moon rises. He watches the stars glow bright before fading away to the rosy impending dawn – he never slept.
Breakfast comes and goes; as did lunch; as did dinner. Time doesn't matter anymore. Every second is desolate and sluggish, yet approaching swiftly to Ritsu's demise. He had found Ritsu's pressed white rose earlier; he twirls it now between his fingers, holding it in front of the window to be illuminated. The rose contains less beauty than his beloved.
Once again, the moon rose. It's full, illuminating the garden outside. Everything Masamune observes reminds him of the brunette. Suddenly, a genteel knock sounds at his door and without answer, Yokozawa enters the room. Masamune has never seen him so unsure as Yokozawa hesitantly steps in.
He steps over to the grandiose windows and looks to the starlit sky. Masamune stores the rose back in the drawer, finally sitting up on his bed.
"Gorgeous night," Yokozawa murmurs. The young prince simply grunts in response.
"Your Highness," The advisor breathes slowly, as if purposefully, "Come to the window, please."
"Why should I?" Masamune mutters back, his voice barely discernible.
"Please," Yokozawa implores firmly. His eyes are the same, an unfamiliar sight to Masamune and something he can't ignore. The room seems to stretch and sway as he painstakingly makes his way to the blue-eyed man: he hasn't eaten or drunk in days. When he's face to face with the older man, he notices new stress lines on his face. The dark circles under his eyes reflects Masamune's own sleepless nights. A brooding silence develops as both men turn to stare out the window. Just as Masamune opens his mouth to order Yokozawa out, the older man speaks up.
"I'm…sorry," His voice is very uncharacteristically soft. He continues observing the garden as he continues, "I'm sorry for everything and for not noticing until now. For not believing in you. And for – momentarily – doubting your potential as king. That you had simply lost yourself too much."
Masamune looks to Yokozawa as he sighs heavily. His sharp blue eyes meet Masamune in earnest and familiarity. Strangely, it brings Masamune back to his childhood, where he felt secure and everything was simple.
"The truth is, you possess more heart, more courage, and more soul than anyone I have ever known. Both you and Prince Ritsu. I can't stop you, nor will I. In fact," Another new expression for the stern advisor: a roguish smirk, "I will do more."
Yokozawa opens his hand to reveal a small silver key nestled in his palm. Masamune barely stops himself from gasping: the key to the windows. With his mouth still agape, his trembling hand picks up the key gingerly and holds it like a precious artifact.
"I want you to save him. He's the only hope left," Yokozawa says in his lowest voice.
"B-But if you're found out, you'll be imprisoned for treason," Masamune's voice is weak and small out of fear and gratitude.
"It is worse to simply sit idle and doom the Onodera kingdom – and perhaps the whole country – to that fiend," Yokozawa responds with disgust, "I see it as quite the opposite of treason: I am doing this for my country."
Masamune can't stop himself: he throws his arms around the older man. It's too startling and quick for him to return the embrace, but he smiles nonetheless.
"But you must wait, you cannot leave yet," Yokozawa advises, "Wait until late tonight. I'll somehow distract the guards away from the door, then you escape. There's a trellis beneath your window, but be careful. I'll get a horse to the garden so you can make a quick escape."
"How can I – we, Ritsu and I – ever repay you?" Masamune asks.
"When you're king, keep me as royal advisor but let me retire early," Yokozawa responds immediately.
He now raises his voice enough for the guards to hear, "I must leave now. I'm sorry, Your Highness, I wish there was something I could do."
Then he turns on his heel and leaves the room as empty as before, but not so hopeless.
.
.
Time has never passed so sluggishly for Masamune. He moves restlessly about the room, jumping from sitting to pacing to lying on his bed. He eats for the first time in days, leaving his stomach pleading for more. Stopping to press his ear to his door, he listens for any signs but hears nothing. He attempts to formulate a plan to save Ritsu, but his mind is reckless with thought.
He has to see An first.
Just as he's changing into simpler inconspicuous clothing, a loud crash sounds from down the hall. His thoughts assume the worst: Matsumura is finally storming the castle, just as he did to the Onoderas. But he hears no screams or swords clashing, or any other voices for that matter. Another crash echoes, the sound of precious material shattering draws the guards away from his door as they run to investigate.
'Thank you, Yokozawa,' Masamune thinks as he runs to the window, clutching the key.
It's fairly easy to unlock the window and swing it out on its hinges. As Yokozawa mentioned, a tall trellis reaches to just beside his window; not far off, a black horse is tied to a tree. Masamune hears the sounds of a continued commotion and knows this is his time to move.
He clambers out of the window, unsteadily balancing on the espalier rather ungracefully. Ritsu was clumsy but when it came to sport, he was surprisingly agile and climbed trees better than Masamune. But once the adrenaline wore off, Ritsu would usually tumble out of the branches. Thorns prick his palms and vines clutch his clothes, but he rips through them with determination. He surveys to make sure no one appears in the garden before stepping down into the grass. The black steed snorts as Masamune approaches it nimbly and unties it from the spindly tree.
He swings up into the saddle and kicks the horse's haunches to send them speeding off. They gallop through the stables that lead directly to the streets. Masamune wishes not to waste time, so they fly through the main streets of the sleeping town. He's sure they had to be alerted to his absence by now, but he prays they wouldn't notice till morning.
Memories of Ritsu smiling, fighting, reading with Masamune fuels him to go faster, faster, faster. He has until morning, but the desperation to save him nearly drives him straight to the Onodera Kingdom. Yet it's not only for him – he knows Ritsu is so much more. Ritsu is a symbol, the only torch left burning bright for the shackled Onodera Kingdom swathed in darkness. He might be the only hope left for the country on the verge of war. Saving him now would ensure the saving of thousands.
The orphanage rises like a beacon in the night. He barely stops the horse before jumping off, thinking little of it running off. He tries the back door that Ritsu showed him the first time and luckily finds it unlocked. But someone is already in the kitchen with a lamp, sitting at a small table. The woman jumps up with a frightened gasp at the intruder and Masamune recognizes her as the widow. The widow frowns as she perceives his features in stark shock.
"P-Prince Masamune?!" She says incredulously.
"Please," Masamune begs as he steps closer, his hands almost clasped in prayer, "I need to see Princess An."
She remains stunned for a minute, then shakily nods and quickly grabs the lantern. She leads him quickly and quietly upstairs to the top floor, barely knocking on An's door before entering with him. An sits in her wheelchair in a nightgown, sleepless like they all have been.
"Prince Masamune is here," The widow says, grabbing An's attention.
"I suspected you'd try to come, Masamune," An responds, "Thank you, Manami-san."
She curtsies before leaving the two alone; Masamune takes note that Hatori isn't here. An speaks before he does.
"I know you heard about Ritsu, that's why you're here."
"We have to save him," Masamune's voice has an edge of distress, "I need to do something."
"We already are," She responds.
"We?"
"Ritsu's allies and other loyalists to the Onoderas. Hatori-san is out gathering others, then they're going to rescue Ritsu."
"How the hell are they doing that?" Masamune begins to pace, "The Onodera Kingdom is under lockdown."
"We decided to bypass the espionage this time. Instead, they are doing an ambush. A handful of them are going to ride to the Onodera Kingdom and fight their way to Ritsu and bring him back," Her tone was quiet and somber.
Masamune turns to her and wishes they could look each other in the eyes, having a silent conversation like they used to. They would read each other's emotions just by a look, an understanding of one another. Masamune yearns for that connection again, but An's milky white eyes mock him ruthlessly.
He says quietly, "There will be causalities."
"I know. But sacrifices have to be made," An's voice sticks with emotions, but she can't cry, "I just want it all to be over, Masamune. Before I get everyone killed to aid a likely impossible mission."
He takes a seat beside her and clasps her hand. It's cold and shaking, much like his own. He takes a deep breath for both of them.
"You know that's not true. You wouldn't be doing this if you thought so. They volunteered because they know Ritsu is their only hope. We would not be able to live with ourselves if we left Ritsu to die; we would be damning your kingdom to hell."
She gives a small nod, biting her lip to hold back a quivering voice; it's something Ritsu does too. An looks so wilted and vulnerable. He can almost see the nearly tangible weight on her slumped shoulders.
"They'll save him, I know they will," Masamune assures her. He starts chanting it in his mind for his own assurance.
Masamune is free! But will Ritsu be able to?! Stay tuned :D
See you next time~!