Part 17
Tamakira shuddered at the mention of the name and said after a moment,
"You are from his kingdom?" he asked Kiyota with horror.
"Yup. I'm their secret weapon as I was in Kainandai High basketball team. You're gonna be in deep shit after all this."
Tamakira then turned quickly to Rukawa and held his wrist,
"We must go back to the emperor now," Tamakira said. Rukawa felt Tamakira's hand trembling madly but didn't say anything.
"Lady, forgive me if I have disappointed you in any case but I have to hurry now to the Kingdom of Shohokuto," he said to Kiyota and to Rukawa's disgust, kissed Kiyota's hand with the most graceful gesture. "I am hoping to see you again in a more cheerful situation." He added.
Kiyota was clouded with confusion as he watched the two turn away. He didn't expect Tamakira or Tamahome to be this respectful. He suddenly felt his blood rise up to his cheek. He was blushing crazily and he hated it, but there was nothing to prevent this; Akira Sendoh of Ryonan High basketball team was one of the best-looking guys in the league.
The sky was now as grey as an evening filled with stars. Tamakira and Rukawa reached the kingdom late and went straight to see Hotosashi. Tamakira explained everything he learned from the meeting with Kiyota as Hotosashi listened with eagerness though he kept quiet most of the time to give way to Tamakira. Rukawa, however, just sat there as if he was not present during the fateful incident.
"I feel so much that this is a matter even beyond the Lady's (that is, Kiyota) understanding. She is not fully aware what evil Lord Makigo is capable of and he may, of course, ruin her." Hotosashi remarked with obvious concern.
"That I'm sure of, Lord. She seems not to understand the purpose of Makigo's actions. How I wish I was the one who found her first," Tamakira said earnestly.
We must note here that both Tamakira and Hotosashi thought of Kiyota as an innocent victim of Makigo's plot; it was, of course, not so. Kiyota, in the first place, was glad to be sucked by that stupid book for it was everything he dreamed of back in his days in future Kanagawa. While he must have been displeased by the fact that he wasn't bound to be with Tamahome, he was immediately glad to learn that Makigo or Maki would be his benefactor and not just anyone.
"Lady, have you anything to add to what the steward has just stated?" Hotosashi smiled at Rukawa hoping Rukawa could support Tamakira's suppositions. Rukawa shook his head. He didn't want to explain to Hotosashi that he knew Kiyota because it would take ages, and how he dreaded to speak to anyone.
"But Lord Tamakira here just said that the Lady of Koainan just claimed that she knew you. Did you come from the same place and time, if that's possible?'" Hotosashi went on. Rukawa nodded at him and didn't move further.
"I see. Then it's clear to me now," Hotosashi said calmly and turned to Tamakira, "Would you be so considerate as to let me have a moment with Lady Miyakaede here?" he asked.
"Certainly, your majesty." Tamakira turned to go but the emperor suddenly remembered something.
"Uh, I have good news, however. I've found the last two of the warriors." Hotosashi said, beaming.
"Really?! And I think I know who they are, and they found us, actually. I'll go down to congratulate them." Tamakira said and left the room to look for Mitsugami and Chirikoshino.
Now only Rukawa and Hotosashi were left.
"Uh, will you be so kind as to accompany me to the ball, my lady? I'm sure you have heard of the Prince Tomoichi's birthday." Hotosashi started.
Actually, Rukawa didn't have any idea what he was talking about for he didn't listen when it was discussed with him. He just nodded, knowing that he wanted to be with the emperor. He's asking me out…again. He thought.
In the kingdom of Koainan,
"My lady, where have you been? We've looked everywhere for you." Soi-ichiro asked Kiyota who had just arrived.
Kiyota just looked at her as though she was a sea slug or a dirty reptile. He had never been so exhausted in his life. Makigo arrived at the same moment. Soi-ichiro went to him at once, Kiyota almost snorted and rolled his eyes. He wanted to tell Makigo what had just happened but he lost the mood.
"I'm hungry, I want pizza, burger-cheese or without cheese it's ok, fries, tomato ketchup, spaghetti and tacos, I'll be waiting in my room." Kiyota said before Makigo could speak. "And in case you were worried, I'm fine. Bye. And soft drinks please."
The two just stared at him in amazement.
"Do you think she's alright, my lord?" Soi-ichiro asked Makigo who was still wondering.
"Yes, I guess so."
Kiyota was lying face-down on his bed, his arms spread. "Darn it what's taking my food so long?" But it wasn't his hunger that was occupying his mind. He missed the present-day Kanagawa, he missed basketball, videogames, comic books, even his mom and school. This is not better than living in the library. I need to get out of this stupid world.
Tamakira shuddered at the mention of the name and said after a moment,
"You are from his kingdom?" he asked Kiyota with horror.
"Yup. I'm their secret weapon as I was in Kainandai High basketball team. You're gonna be in deep shit after all this."
Tamakira then turned quickly to Rukawa and held his wrist,
"We must go back to the emperor now," Tamakira said. Rukawa felt Tamakira's hand trembling madly but didn't say anything.
"Lady, forgive me if I have disappointed you in any case but I have to hurry now to the Kingdom of Shohokuto," he said to Kiyota and to Rukawa's disgust, kissed Kiyota's hand with the most graceful gesture. "I am hoping to see you again in a more cheerful situation." He added.
Kiyota was clouded with confusion as he watched the two turn away. He didn't expect Tamakira or Tamahome to be this respectful. He suddenly felt his blood rise up to his cheek. He was blushing crazily and he hated it, but there was nothing to prevent this; Akira Sendoh of Ryonan High basketball team was one of the best-looking guys in the league.
The sky was now as grey as an evening filled with stars. Tamakira and Rukawa reached the kingdom late and went straight to see Hotosashi. Tamakira explained everything he learned from the meeting with Kiyota as Hotosashi listened with eagerness though he kept quiet most of the time to give way to Tamakira. Rukawa, however, just sat there as if he was not present during the fateful incident.
"I feel so much that this is a matter even beyond the Lady's (that is, Kiyota) understanding. She is not fully aware what evil Lord Makigo is capable of and he may, of course, ruin her." Hotosashi remarked with obvious concern.
"That I'm sure of, Lord. She seems not to understand the purpose of Makigo's actions. How I wish I was the one who found her first," Tamakira said earnestly.
We must note here that both Tamakira and Hotosashi thought of Kiyota as an innocent victim of Makigo's plot; it was, of course, not so. Kiyota, in the first place, was glad to be sucked by that stupid book for it was everything he dreamed of back in his days in future Kanagawa. While he must have been displeased by the fact that he wasn't bound to be with Tamahome, he was immediately glad to learn that Makigo or Maki would be his benefactor and not just anyone.
"Lady, have you anything to add to what the steward has just stated?" Hotosashi smiled at Rukawa hoping Rukawa could support Tamakira's suppositions. Rukawa shook his head. He didn't want to explain to Hotosashi that he knew Kiyota because it would take ages, and how he dreaded to speak to anyone.
"But Lord Tamakira here just said that the Lady of Koainan just claimed that she knew you. Did you come from the same place and time, if that's possible?'" Hotosashi went on. Rukawa nodded at him and didn't move further.
"I see. Then it's clear to me now," Hotosashi said calmly and turned to Tamakira, "Would you be so considerate as to let me have a moment with Lady Miyakaede here?" he asked.
"Certainly, your majesty." Tamakira turned to go but the emperor suddenly remembered something.
"Uh, I have good news, however. I've found the last two of the warriors." Hotosashi said, beaming.
"Really?! And I think I know who they are, and they found us, actually. I'll go down to congratulate them." Tamakira said and left the room to look for Mitsugami and Chirikoshino.
Now only Rukawa and Hotosashi were left.
"Uh, will you be so kind as to accompany me to the ball, my lady? I'm sure you have heard of the Prince Tomoichi's birthday." Hotosashi started.
Actually, Rukawa didn't have any idea what he was talking about for he didn't listen when it was discussed with him. He just nodded, knowing that he wanted to be with the emperor. He's asking me out…again. He thought.
In the kingdom of Koainan,
"My lady, where have you been? We've looked everywhere for you." Soi-ichiro asked Kiyota who had just arrived.
Kiyota just looked at her as though she was a sea slug or a dirty reptile. He had never been so exhausted in his life. Makigo arrived at the same moment. Soi-ichiro went to him at once, Kiyota almost snorted and rolled his eyes. He wanted to tell Makigo what had just happened but he lost the mood.
"I'm hungry, I want pizza, burger-cheese or without cheese it's ok, fries, tomato ketchup, spaghetti and tacos, I'll be waiting in my room." Kiyota said before Makigo could speak. "And in case you were worried, I'm fine. Bye. And soft drinks please."
The two just stared at him in amazement.
"Do you think she's alright, my lord?" Soi-ichiro asked Makigo who was still wondering.
"Yes, I guess so."
Kiyota was lying face-down on his bed, his arms spread. "Darn it what's taking my food so long?" But it wasn't his hunger that was occupying his mind. He missed the present-day Kanagawa, he missed basketball, videogames, comic books, even his mom and school. This is not better than living in the library. I need to get out of this stupid world.