Warnings and disclaimers were in the previous chapters
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Tsuzuki regained consciousness soaking in a hot spring.
"When did I get here? Where am I?"
He turned his curious eyes around him and saw a pair of attendants waiting for him.
"Tsuzuki-sama are you ready to come out now?" Asked the first one.
Tsuzuki noticed that his fingers were already wrinkly. He must have been there for quite sometime. He gave a small nod and the attendants had towels and a robe waiting for him. He blushed at the attention. It was something he was used too, but what was he used too.
"Are you hungry Tsuzuki-sama?"
"Is Tsuzuki my name? I can't seem to remember..."
The other attendant smiled at him. "Tsuzuki-sama you have been through a terrible ordeal you must rest."
"Where am I?"
"Your home Tsuzuki-san." A voice proclaimed before any of the attendants could say anything.
'Muraki-sama!"
Tsuzuki looked up to see a beautiful man who walked with grace and authority, the attendants prostrated themselves before him, but Tsuzuki was still standing frozen in surprise. He noticed the attendants and thought he should follow their lead but the man had his arms around him, which made it impossible for Tsuzuki.
"Are you feeling better?"
"I ... uhm... guess... I –I ... can't remember..." Muraki... the name seemed so familiar and very important but he couldn't remember why.
"Ah my dearest Tsuzuki-san that is why you should never run away from me." Muraki made the slightest gesture of his hand and the attendants left them immediately. "Come you must be tired."
"Where?"
"Too bed of course."
Tsuzuki turned back to see the bath being drained. Muraki gave him a gentle nudge to continue walking up the spiral staircase. It seemed quite a long way up and Tsuzuki nearly fainted just from looking up. Muraki caught him in his arms.
"Uhm.... It's okay I can walk. I don't want to trouble you."
"It's no trouble my dearest, but maybe you need to eat first."
Food sounded like a good idea.
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Tatsumi was furious. After the cookie incident, he had followed trail due to the rumors of a man who had incredible vision.
It was already dark and Tatsumi knew it was still a long journey to the snow king's abode. Uma wasn't afraid of the dark for Tsuzuki could lead her through the most treacherous paths in the dark as if it was daylight, but her current rider wasn't as sharp sighted. They had to stop as tortuous as the thought was to the ill-tempered traveler, it was a matter of fact; they had to stop.
'Please be alright.'
He tired to get as comfortable as possible out in the woods. Tatsumi was very reluctant to spend what limited funds he had for something as frivolous as an inn. Besides no walls could keep the nightmares away and no inn would allow him to have Uma come up to him and wake him at the earliest possible moment to continue their journey.
He was still some distance away from the next city when some soldiers came up to him. Their queen was getting married today and they were on patrol to keep trouble makers away. He had no weapons on him and only had the two cookies he got from Watari. He asked how the soldiers knew he was there and they told him one of the guest had looked out through the window and saw him, even thought no one else could see him, the queen send them out to find him.
"Such an amazing ability to see..." His heart leap hoping against hope it was Tsuzuki and that he had managed to escape from the snow king and ended up here. "Was he tall? About this height?" He asked as he brought his hand to the side of his head. "With his hair coming down to here."
The soldiers thought the description fairly apt. One even added that the guest's name began with T but he didn't remember exactly what it was. Another said he had unusual eyes.
"It must be Tsuzuki!" The weary traveler found renewed energy at this news, and followed them eagerly into the castle. 'Where is he?'
Tatsumi was brought before Hakushaku. The queen was getting married so the affairs of the city feel on him for today. Tatsumi wanted to see Tsuzuki right away, but he kept control off his urges and acted as etiquette demanded. He was asked what had brought him so far from home. He replied he was searching for his friend. He said he had reason to believe he was here in here kingdom, based on his conversation with the soldiers.
"Would you have any idea where he would be?"
"He would be at the queen's side right now getting married."
"Married?"
"Married."
He left with the most stricken face. 'Tsuzuki-san? Married?' He had to see as tortuous as the thought was he had to see him. 'Is this your happiness Tsuzuki-san?'
"I thought he was just a guest?"
"He was but the first groom was a false one. He had made some mistakes before but he saved her life just when it counted the most. The queen has loved him a long time but he was so shy about it."
"I have to see him."
He found the church but he could not get in. He heard that the queen was rather young but the people felt their kingdom was utopia under her rule. His vision was blurry and it wasn't due to dirty glasses but he made a show of cleaning them to calm himself down. He took a long hard look, willing himself to burn the image of Tsuzuki into his mind.
It took him a moment to realize that it wasn't Tsuzuki.
The storm of emotions in his heart racing between hope and despair, finally took a physical hold on him and he collapsed wearily against the wall. "It isn't him."
The people were crying for joy, and Tatsumi felt his own heart singing for joy, that it wasn't Tsuzuki. He soon came to his senses that he still had to find the glutton. He then realized his own hunger.
Hakushaku's servant found him and told him the interview wasn't finished, and he had to return to the count. Tatsumi followed, loathing at the delay but relived to find it wasn't Tsuzuki.
The count listened to his story carefully, and told him there was no Tsuzuki here and that the soldiers were talking of Terazuma.
"I figured that out when I went to the church." Rebutted Tatsumi.
"Are you insulting our queen?"
Tatsumi wished her happiness on her wedding and said the groom must be the happiest man on earth, but also had his own life to live and that he needed to find Tsuzuki.
"Ah! You must love him very much." Sighed the count, which Tatsumi found unnerving due to the selection of books the count had lining his shelves.
But then how could he explain being so distressed at the idea that Tsuzuki would be married?
Tatsumi was finally allowed to leave.
Now he had fallen prey to bandits. They took Uma. They had even taken him as a prisoner. They took everything Tatsumi had; even Watari's cookies. They eat Watari's cookies as they discussed their plans for Tatsumi. Each was planning to take a bigger share and everyone found out because of the cookies so they fought each other, while they were busy Tatsumi managed to escape staying in the shadows.
But now he had nothing except the idea that he had to continue north, to find Tsuzuki who was with the snow king.
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Tsuzuki had fallen asleep with Muraki's charmed wine. The snow king smiled, the waters of forgetfulness had already erased his angel's past memories.
Muraki carried Tsuzuki to the bedroom he had chosen for his angel. It was in the highest tower that no one else could reach, not without the enchanted key in his pocket. If anyone tried to climb the staircase without permission the tower would grow longer and longer, so that no one else could reach the top. In this room were the dreams and false memories he would give Tsuzuki-san so he would never leave anymore.
In the following winter when his powers would be at their peak Tsuzuki-san would certainly submit himself in total surrender.
He could hardly wait.
The snow king gave his captive one more kiss before leaving, wrapping his treasure in a large white bear skin.
"Soon I will warm you with my bare skin." Promised the snow king.
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tbc
August 21, 2004
