I don't want to set an official time period yet since a lot of the towns to be mentioned are from a recent era but the historic aspect plays in around the 16th and 17th century. Once I decide, I'll say which.
Disclaimer: See previous chapter.
-Chapter 2 - Identity-
Patience was a virtue yet his was wearing thin, as slender as new ice atop the water. He'd been waiting, the half hours had newly passed and still no voice, no presence, and no one had come to find him with information. The night had gotten colder, creeping into the later hours, the nippy chill blowing though his jacket, freezing the flesh from muscle to bone.
He was going to head into the warmth and ignore the delusion of the so called truth and simply instead figure out the morning ahead with the imposter. All those thoughts though, each one eliminated as footsteps crunching against the icy snow sounded from behind him. He spun around expecting to see a figure in the distance but the face that should have been blurred from afar was inches away from his own.
Amber orbs slit down in defense as a pair of blue ones fixed him sternly, glaring harshly with the moonlight gleaming off the surface. It took but a second for Rei's mouth, his bottom jaw to gape open, a mixture of sentiments stirring in circles at the silent revelation.
''You…You're-''
The hood pulled over his head, leaving nothing but the frost eyes to stare at him was slipped off, locks of fire spilling free, bangs falling over the ivory mug.
''Yuuri!''
''How do you know who I am?'' The look to course across his features was murderous, seriously deadly; the poison that rang in his tone could smother any strength to dust, leaving his prey to cower.
Rei though was the least bit frightened; more relieved he'd found the correct man he was pursuing and not some fraud, a replacement or substitute.
What he had been told was true; the strands, a color only matched by the roaring embers of flames, eyes like the deepest of oceans, clear as crystals of elegance and an attitude as cocky as they came.
Yuuri was insulted by the grin that did not suffice as a response to his question as he let out a low wolfish growl, vibrating in his throat.
''How do you know?'' The rage in his voice resonated with every word along with his accent, native even in his second language like a force to be reckoned with and treated with respect.
''On.'' There was sadness lacing the name as Rei looked away, diverting his gaze to the snowy ground adorned with their footprints.
''He's dead!'' The violence dissipated from Yuuri's body, his fists unclenching, the anger floating away like his breaths in a puff of smoke, thoughts of the deceased clouding his mind, a sudden overflowing of lost memories resurfacing.
''On's my father.''
The shock was evident as Yuuri stared unblinkingly at Rei. The resemblance was astonishing; he couldn't believe he hadn't noticed it before; it was stunning, only age gave away a difference, the youth giving radiance to the bronzed skin.
Even if a shred of disbelief lingered, barely a tiny ounce of doubt, it would be as if he was lying to himself. He knew that only a deuce of people knew his real identity and one of them had passed away, leaving the other to be his pretender that breathed not a word to a single soul his true self. On was a man that would not break his word if he expected his partner to keep up his share of the deal yet his son knew the truth.
''What business do you have with me?'' Yuuri felt not betrayed but rather curious to why the descendant sought him out.
''I am on a mission to complete what my father could not.'' Rei stood strong and confident, his eyes focused intently on the Russian, the legend he was told about.
''You dare take on such a task?''
''My father believes in me and entrusted me with this duty before his passing and I intend on staying true to my vow.''
He cursed inaudibly in the night, seeking the shelter he left an hour previously once again to relish in the warmth the snowy temperature chased away from the outdoors. Inside, the manor was quiet; drunken town's men and ladies, sprawled out upon furniture, lazily asleep in their alcoholic stupor. He tipped toed through the crowd, finding space between each heated body with their chests slowly rising and falling again, just enough crack to fit his foot and advance forward.
All the way up the stairs he continued till the last door down the hall and entered in the obscurity, shutting the large piece of wood behind him then flicking the light switch. Beneath the mass of blankets, comforters tossed everywhere the youth snored up a dream in his surreal unaware of the feet approaching.
Everything was serene, his placid imagination filling his head in a vivid reverie, so deeply absorbing, immediately shattered to panicking shards as a hand clamped down on his mouth, muffling the startled yelps. Navy eye flew open wildly, blinking furiously till they rested upon a familiar face staring down at him with a smirk so deviously audacious. It relieved the stress pounding vehemently with his heart.
The hand slipped away from the lips, stepping around the large four poster bed. At the closet, a bag was thrown onto the lush sheets ensued by clothes, shirts and pants tossed randomly.
''Yuuri…'' Began the abruptly shaken male as he raised a lazy eyebrow in surprise at the packing. ''What are you doing?''
Yuuri didn't pause not cease his actions, only turning when enough articles were removed to be folded and filled to the capacity of the chosen shoulder carrier. Not once did the aqua orbs divert to the questioning dark blue ones, hands set on the task at hand.
Again, he chided for an answer; ''Where are you going?''
''Takao…'' Yuuri trailed off in a sigh, commencing to choose his words carefully, decided the truth, straight and blatant would avoid inquiries and anything to waste his rushed time.
''You aren't the only one who knows the real Ivanov.''
Takao's face etched into shock, an inquisitive look then surfacing, an innocent curiosity spreading across his lips burning to ask the obvious.
''The night you were apprehended as I, I did not escape or evade those officers, I was saved before the brink of my downfall.''
''You lied to me.''
Yuuri stood defensively before the accusation, barking back at retort to silence any doubt and smother any thought Takao might have had.
''That is what you get for starting this whole charade as me.''
Their glances locked, clashing the colors of marine from the sky upon the glossy exterior and the night, shrouding the depth. Takao shattered the intensity, averting his vision to the bed sheets which his fingers twirled as Yuuri tied the sack securely, walking till he stood before the large mattress.
''Takao…that man knew who I was and held the same yearning for revenge towards Roussiya's despicable ruler; I am in his debt for his aid.''
''That boy from earlier was him then?'' He pieced together the bits of information, only confused by one slight problem; the age issue that was quickly resolved when he was corrected.
''That was his son whom is now collecting my due to his deceased father.''
''Oh…''
A looming silence of departure lingered longer than either would have enjoyed but Yuuri gave little thought to it and began with giving out the instructions during his absence to be followed, without refuse in his stern commanding tone that diminished defiance to zilch.
''You are to continue stepping in for me and if anyone asks simply tell them the stranger and the ruckus were all, how you called it, a misunderstanding and he vanished by dawn. I haven't a clue when and if my return will occur but our path leads us to Moscow.''
''What do you mean by if- you have to come back.'' Takao demanded, springing to his feet in a bound.
''If I don't, you are never to breathe a word of this understood?''
There was a meek nod, strands of midnight blue falling over the saddened expression, clouded by the plaguing thoughts he comprehended to be fatal, taking away, stealing like a greedy claw his dearest friend.
''I am forever grateful for all you have done young Dragon but our paths separate here.''
''May they be rejoined in the future.''
The parting friends let fall their acts of serious and embraced for what could have been the last time, a dreaded thought either to become a reality.
By the time he met up at the rendezvous issued by Rei, the Chinese remained faithful to his word he was mounted on his horse with a second at his side, like promised, each great beast let out a startled nay.
Soothed by his quiet hushing and comforting hand stroking through the ivory locks the pure white stallion relaxed for Yuuri.
''I chose to your liking.'' Rei smiled with a toothy grin, referring to the shading in the steed as the boy climbed on, attaching his bag to the already full cargo on the seat, searching through the pouches to find food provisions.
''It's going to be a long ten days.''
With a tug at the reins pulling on the leather straps, in a galloping eruption of noise the riders were off into the obscurity, ensuing the dirty and slushy roads till the ends of St-Petersburg's. The rest of the night they rode in the dark hours and into the morn as the glows of orange appeared in the clear sky, never breaking the determined quietness that settled between them.
-TBC-
I will clear everything up amid them and the subplot with Takao next chapter promise but for now, I bid everyone a Merry Christmas and if my next installment isn't out before the New Year, a joyous holiday season.
And- Roussiya has the real name before Russia back in that time period.