Call to Duty: Houjun

Chapter 3

Houjun looked around, mohogany eyes searching the darkness around him. He didn't know what was happening let alone how he had gotten here, but he could feel a presence. Suddenly, he was falling through the darkness, being pulled downward by something. He tried to cast a spell, but nothing came out. He reached for his sword only to find it gone. In a flash, he found himself back in the main hall of the palace, his brother beside him. Before them stood Hakurou, his eyes blank and expressionless, a sword in his hand. He charged forward, not knowing why. Everything became a blur and he found himself alone again. He looked up, confused, and sighed. He felt cold, hurt, and lost all at once, not knowing why. He closed his eyes and sat down, trying to will away these feelings. He looked up again and saw something in the distance. A small spark that soon began to grow into a flame. He stood up and watched as the fire seemed to come closer. He didn't avoid the flames, however, but embraced then. It didn't burn him, but filled him with a warmth and a bliss that he had never experienced before.

"Houjun...Houjun..." The Atlantean slowly blinked his eyes open to look at Hakurou. The human motioned for him to get up quietly and went toward the bedroom. He sat back carefully, suprised to find that he had slept in Genrou's arms. He gently took his hand back, making a fist breifly and finding himself missing the warmth of the teen. He rose, draping the blanket over Genrou before following Hakurou, wincing as his back reminded him of the events of the previous evening. He stopped as he saw Hakurou pick up a pair of tweezers, his eyes trailing to the box of gauze and cottonballs and the brown bottle laying on the bed. He stepped back and gulped auidably.

"You know what, I think I'll just go get something to eat..." he turned to leave when the human's hand clamped down on his shoulder, pulling him into the room and closing the door.

After nearly an hour, Hakurou nodded and stepped back, letting the teen pull his face out of the pillows. His back ached painfully, but it was properly cared for now, bandages wrapped around his torso snuggly. He settled on the edge of the bed while Hakurou rummaged for something for him to wear. He finally settled on a simple white shirt and dark blue pants, both of which proved to be a little loose on the Atlantean, but would do for now.

"I'm going out to look for Kouji and your brother," the man explained, pulling on a jacket. He looked at the prince curiously. "Before I go, however, I'd like to why you're here. Is your dad alright? He told me he would be coming in person." Houjun blainked, his mouth falling open for a minute.

"You...you don't know?"

"Know what? I just talked to him the other day. Why, what happened?"

Houjun couldn't understand this. Ayuru had sent the message to Hakurou the day of the accident. "He...he died...five days ago...didn't you get the message?"

Hakurou frowned. "But I heard from him three days ago..." he shook his head. "We'll talk about this more when I get back. We have to find out what's going on here. If you hear anything from Ayuru, don't reply. Don't send any messages. In a few hours, Genrou should be up. Have him change your bandages, but stay here. I'll return as soon as I find them." With that, he turned and was out the door, leaving Houjun to wander about what was happening. He stood up, pacing a bit. before he went to the kitchen and looked for something to eat. He wasn't sure what was what, unused to human foods, and settled finally on an apple. Finally, he sat on the floor a few feet from Genrou and began searching for his brother's life force, praying that Neptune would protect him from whatever dangers he was facing.

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Another short chapter. Blarg. I'll write Genrou's chapter in a little bit. Get some Shonen ai going courtesy of a picture Sakata drew ^_^ mmmmm....yaoi....