Seven years had passed and a seven-year-old Prince Ichiro, heir to the throne of his father Emperor Akira, is seen playing in the greeny garden of the Grand Palace of Ryonan.
In the conference table set in an inclined portion of the garden, Emperor Akira and King Hanamichi stood with their trusted herald and generals.
"The rebellion troupe toppled our army in Miuradai City, two sunsets ago." The herald said.
Through the years, the rebellion troupe had thickened and strengthened and they are now ready to challenge the royalties.
Akira watched his son playing in the fields with other princes as he crashed the wine glass on his hand. His son would be the next emperor and no one else. He would preserve the royalties, his crown and his land.
"Who are the suspects among the slaves?" He looked at General Jin who was the commander in investigating the possible rebels among the slaves in the entire Kanagawa.
"We have a long list." Jin rolled down the parchment. "But the primary one is Yuki Rukawa."
Hanamichi was stunned but remained discreet. He haven't heard the name spoken for several years but he could still remember Yuki Rukawa as the sweet brother of his beloved Kaede.
"Why?" Akira shoved his cape away from him and went towards Jin.
"He's always late in work and he had been seen by three slave-spies sneaking at night."
"I want him arrested before the third midnight from now." Akira imperatively ordered and General Jin nodded obediently. Hanamichi was nervous for the kid, he wanted to save his life but how?
It was a peaceful evening for the slaves. The streets were vacated before dark as ordered by the palace to prevent allying with the rebels.
There was a sound of a chariot rolling along the quiet streets as discreetly as possible. Hanamichi had been searching for Yuki Rukawa and he only found out that the Rukawas are no longer living in the house they used to be live in.
When he reached the house he'd been asking everyone, he was chilled to see the Rukawas again. He could still remember their faces, their smiles and the way they welcomed him in their humble home.
Hanamichi resisted a tear from falling down as he was reminded with his treasured moments with Kaede that had been buried in his heart for seven years.
As he hopped down the chariot, he asked the chauffeur not to guide him as he walk down anymore or they might attract too much attention. He went towards the said house built with bricks and as small as a pig pen.
Hanamichi knocked and it was opened by a boy two inches shorter than him and looked like Kaede in almost every aspect except for the long black hair.
"I want to talk to Yuki Rukawa." He gulped and when the boy said he was the person looked for, Hanamichi observed him and then opened his silk hood a little to show his face. "Remember me?"
Yuki nodded quietly and let him enter the house. Hanamichi wondered where Yuki's mother and sister are but the only thing Yuki could tell him is that they were transferred to a far-away province.
Hanamichi was treated with a hot tea by Yuki and then he told him that someone had informed him that Kaede is still alive. "Do you know where is he now?"
There was silence. Nothing but the cool breeze of the wind was heard as Hanamichi awaited the 14-year-old boy's answer.
Yuki tilted his head down. He had witnessed the love that his brother and that king had and it was more than real... it's for eternity. But at these critical times, giving out information about his brother means death.
Kaede Rukawa is the rebellion leader... he's the true master of the slaves and he would lead them from bondage.
Yuki shook his head with solemnity. "I haven't seen him for seven years. There are rumors and being a brother of his, I desperately wish it's true."
Hanamichi bit his lower lip. Before he forgets his second reason for being there, he hugged Yuki with all his heart. He missed the boy and he wanted to save his life from the palace soldiers who were hunting him under the order of the Emperor.
Yuki was informed and he held Hanamichi tightly. He decided to leave the Ryonan City at once before the soldiers get in his house.
"Quick Yuki. My chariot will bring you the boundary of this city from Kainan."
Yuki hastily gathered all his clothes and things and hopped inside Hanamichi's chariot. On the way, while inside the chariot, Hanamichi embraced the boy with all his heart like he was his own son. He gave him more foods and water to survive. Yuki would be crossing Kainan City, the desert and Tomigaoka City before he could reach Shohoku where there are no slaves anymore.
Akira quietly kissed every inch of his King's face. The sound of his lips pecking on the soft skin was the only noise inside the royal room.
His hands brushed away the red hair strands that was blocking Hanamichi's forehead. Then slowly, Akira moved his hand to cross the toned chest, abdomen and down to Hanamichi's erection.
"You're so beautiful." Akira obliviously grasped Hanamichi's erection and pumped it carefully.
Suddenly, a noise shocked the royal couple and their heads turned to the door where a young guard named Miyagi entered without knocking.
"Forgive my intruding, my lord." Miyagi knelt down before them. "It's the boy Yuki Rukawa... he had left the city with all his clothes."
Akira assured that Hanamichi's nakedness was well-covered by the silk blanket. "How did that happen?"
Miyagi glanced at Hanamichi. He saw a chariot dropping Yuki Rukawa at the boundary of Ryonan City and Kainan City and when he followed the chariot, he saw it entering the grand palace and there he saw Hanamichi leaving that same chariot.
"We don't know yet, sir."
"Stupid!" Akira hopped off his bed and grabbed a robe to wear then hastily left the room to have an emergency meeting with the palace armies.
When the Emperor had left and Miyagi had stood from the floor, Hanamichi stopped him from making any move. Hanamichi exposed his legs to the young guard and erotically peddalled on the bed.
"Come here..." Hanamichi muttered and the guard inched closely until his knees hit the edge of the bed. The king, covered with the blanket, laid closely to the guard who knelt before him. Now their heads were on the same level. "Tell me... what did you see?"
Miyagi told him everything and Hanamichi's eyes buried on his as he spoke.
"Would you swear to God Eros and your country that if I kiss you won't tell anyone what you saw?"
Miyagi's eyes grew bigger and his heart throbbed faster. A kiss from the handsome king of Kanagawa was something no one could have but the Emperor alone. He had admired King Hanamichi from the first time he laid eyes on him and a kiss from him was his greatest dream.
Intoxicated by the warm breath of the King that was touching his face, Miyagi nodded and Hanamichi landed his lips softly on the guard's rough ones. Their tongues touched once and that was the farthest Hanamichi could give.
tsuzuku