AN: Sorry for the late update everyone. Things have been crazy. For all you fmp fans, check out my fics in that series. As well as my FF8 fiction. (For those looking for some good CloTi stuff, check out the story, Hope, by someone else)
Anyways, this chapter was kind of rushed, since im on break right now. I wrote it because i did not want to keep you guys waiting to long. It is probably filled with errors, but i hope you guys can overlook that. If its too bad, i will rework the chapter at a later date and time. I hope you guys enjoy and choose to review. Thank you!
Soon the gates of the capital were upon them, revealing the great city held within as they opened. News of their arrival had already spread throughout as many gathered around to welcome the King of Plant, but more so their beloved Prince once again. The image before them captivated their hearts as they saw a fairytale come to life.
While engaged in their talks to learn more of one another, Kira's hand had unknowingly found its way to Lacus' to enclose it within his grasp. The town was pleased their future King had found one he liked, and happier so it was one so beautiful and fare. Lacus was well accustomed to the attention and waved with her free hand to the citizens of Orb as she quickly fell in love with the city along with its prince.
They were greeted at the castle by the royal guard along with the King and Queen, who were only too delighted to see their friend and son return safely from harm's clutches. Only after greetings had been exchanged between the two kings did Siegel Clyne introduce his daughter to the royal couple. The shock overcame him as he found his daughter's hand still intertwined with the young princes'. Feeling a bit embarrassed Siegel bowed his head a little before speaking.
"Forgive my daughter, she knows not her place here." But before the other king could respond the Queen replied with much gusto. "Nonsense! She is quite lovely! We will have time to speak at the banquet later tonight. Kira, please show her the palace and help her settle in. It seems our two families have much to discuss, far more than I originally thought." It was a day the Queen of Orb had long awaited, the day her son would fall in love. It had to be love. Nothing else could have brought about such an expression upon her son's face. It seems the future of Orb would be in gentle hands.
Kira bowed to his mother and father before offering his arm to Lacus as they entered the vast palace which towered over the lands. Lacus graciously accepted and the two explored the palace that even Kira felt was strange and new to him. They were surrounded by tapestries that dressed the stone gray walls that brought color to this otherwise dull setting. The ceiling loomed high overhead dauntingly as the stones teased the mind with the idea of succumbing to its tireless foe named gravity. As they slowly strolled through the endless corridors, the staff and guards were alive with gossip seeing the two so close together. It was a perfect match, one anyone could see.
Forgoing what would have been an elongated tour, he led her to a guest chamber. It was a modest size room with a small fireplace across from the bed. The bed was large and extravagant with pink netting wrapped around it to keep the bugs out. Much of the floor was covered in soft furs to protect the inhabitants from the unforgiving cold stone bottom.
Lacus eagerly ran in and sat down on the bed, happy to once again know such luxuries. Kira remained shyly by the door, content to watch her absorb her surroundings. Having quickly understood Kira's nature, Lacus knew exactly what to do.
"You may enter Kira. Honestly you can be rather silly sometimes. This is your castle and you certainly do not need my permission." She spoke as if she knew him for years, in her heart she felt she did.
Kira nodded and entered "It would not speak well of a prince who entered the room of such a beauty uninvited." Lacus normally took such complements with grace and dignity, but coming from Kira they felt far more meaningful.
"And just what parts do you find so appealing of this particular beauty?" She said with a sly smile.
Not to be dumbfounded again Kira quickly changed the subject to something less dangerous. "I err… um, anyways. There is to be a banquet tonight to honor the arrival of you and your father. I would think you would like to rest and freshen up before then."
Lacus nodded. The journey and the weight of the battle had taken its toll on her fragile body. She had not much sleep the previous night either as she worried over the wounds Kira had. When Kira had not moved she could feel something else was on his mind. "What is it Kira? Is something the matter?" They were alone once more, she could call him just Kira again.
The young prince cleared his throat and suddenly felt his collar was several sizes to tight. "There is just the little matter of your um…escort tonight. I was hoping maybe if...you wouldn't mind and it wouldn't impose that um…if you could possibly..." The Prince rarely found himself tongue-tied but the answer was one that scared him to hear.
He feared her affections earlier were merely the result of a woman expressing gratitude to her savior, not one of true love. He had come across many women in his journey that wished to express their appreciation in similar fashion. Lacus was the first one he let.
Lacus rose from her bed and approached the knight like a spring nymph as the wind danced around her and swirled within her long flowing pink locks. With graceful baby steps she stood before him for a few seconds causing time to stand still, before wrapping her slender arms around him and easing his worries with a quick soft kiss not lacking in love. "Kira, would you be my escort to the banquet this evening? Though I see you have no choice if you want this relationship to deepen."
Kira responded to her with another kiss before breaking apart and bowing to his newfound love. "Then excuse me please, as I eagerly await for this evening. I better find Athrun before he accuses me of ignoring him for too long." With that Kira departed from her chambers, a smile on his face. He was so lost in thought he never heard an excited servant scamper away, eager to share the juicy bits of gossip she just overheard. "The queen will be pleased to hear such news."
The future king traveled through the labyrinth of passageways that mocked his ignorance of his own home. Ashamed to be found lost within his own dwellings, he refused to ask the guards directions towards the council room. An ornate shield that was plastered upon the wall caught his attention as he inadvertently walked into a slender yet shapely figure that stood before him.
In a bewildered manner he eyed the shaken vixen whose knowing eyes watched his every move. "Flay…"
The slender redhead clad in a pink and white gown smiled upon hearing her name from him. Casting aside any worries about the rumors that may spread, she pounced the unsuspecting prince. "Kira! You're back!" She placed a tender kiss upon his cheek before slowly letting go of him.
She could feel his deep purple eyes wander up and down her form before resting once again upon the well-defined features on her face. "You look well."
She nodded subtly before taking his hand within hers as she led him away "Yes I have been fine. I heard you had returned from your campaign so I thought I'd come back and…"
His return to the kingdom that raised him all but overjoyed Kira, save this uncomfortable moment he knew was unavoidable. "How have you been? My apologies that I could not respond to the letters you sent but."
She was quite visibly upset through his lack of response over the past years as her downcast eyes focused on the floor. "I…I understand Kira. It must have been awkward this past year. Receiving letters from a girl whom you care nothing for." A little tear slid down the side of her cheek, only to be stopped by Kira's forgiving touch.
"No Flay. I do care for you. Just not the way you desire." His voice was faint and without intention.
A kind hand rested upon the side of his face when Flay saw the concern bloom upon it. "But I can't help it Kira. You saved me, from myself. You showed me compassion when most would have just ignored the whiny pleas of a spoiled brat. I do love you Kira. I hope you know that."
He slowly tucked a rogue strand of her vibrant red hair behind one of her ears as he responded in a tender voice. "You are a good person Flay. You just hid that with your anger. You deserve to have a good life. Remember that." With a small kiss to her cheek he slowly turned around on his feet to head away to find Athrun. He stopped in his tracks as he heard Flay's voice echo through the halls.
"You like her don't you? That girl from Plant?" Kira froze in place unable to respond to that question. Not to Flay. Not so soon.
"Does she know? About..?" How much did Kira truly trust this girl?
"No, she doesn't." Trust was not the issue, but fear.
"If you really like her, you will have to tell her. Do you really want her to find out the way I did?" She knew this comment would come sooner or later. If Kira chose to reject her feelings, she would not dishonor him by continuing to live a bitter life. He too deserved to achieve what he wanted in life. And she would help him
"No…." It was the only time the voice of defeat ever sprung forth from the man who never lost a battle.
Once again his pupils shrank and glossed over as Kira recalled a living nightmare from so long ago.
Dark clouds of hate swirled about a fiery crimson setting sun that was blanketed out of the sky. The world was offered only brief flashes of light as jagged spears of lightening pierced through the evening sky. A howling wind screeched through the deadened ears that could no longer receive the sound.
The battlefield was strewn about with the carved up carcasses of masses that were once identified to be people. The grass was coated with a sea of blood that flowed like a river from the scattered severed limbs. Bodies hung lifelessly from trees whose leaves abandoned the branches though they were denied their eternal slumber as starving crows quickly pecked away at the meat which dripped off their flesh.
Despite the freshness of the kill, the unholy stench of rotting corpses spread with plague-like speed to the noses of those still breathing, clinging to their last breathes of life though they prayed for a quick death to relieve them of their suffering.
In the midst of all the havoc, a young boy, barely a teenager was crouched to his knees as he huddled himself against yet another figure. The boy's eyes shed aside their innocent purple look while a feral blood red resided. His teeth were barred in a vicious smile while his eyes looked down upon the new blade that was just christened with battle.
Next to him a slightly younger version of Flay shuttered as her rage-filled eyes forced the tears out of her. Her trembling remained uncomforted by the ravenous killer that sat at her side as she tightly clutched his arm. The gory sight around her made no impression of terror evident in her voice once she decided to interrupt the eerie silence that had stricken the land.
"Did you kill them Kira? Did you kill them all? All for me?" The young girl almost sounded hopeful.
With his sword still in hand, he focused his penetrating glance at the young woman. Her red dress barely distinguished the blood that splattered across her save the areas that exposed her otherwise fair skin.
"Yes." The tone of a cold-blooded killer did not suit him.
She loosened her grasp upon him only to allow herself to throw her body against him and wrap her arms around his neck, exposing her soul to the carnage that littered the land behind him. She saw the decapitated head of her father, the eye poking out of a socket that merited the attention of a starving little animal. Flay bore no reaction as she refused to turn her head away from the sight.
"You'll protect me Kira. You won't let them kill me too." Kira would protect her. He just had to.
Her words broke the trance that had captivated Kira as his hand let the sword slip free from his hold. His body gave way to the mystic powers of gravity as it plummeted towards the floor, only accidentally cushioning Flay's tumble down. The only sound that reverberated through the dead lands besides the swish of air that was split by his exhausted form, was the cry of anguish released from the depths of the man who single handedly tortured and killed a unit of men.
Kira's eyes returned to normal as tears freely flowed down from his eyes, stinging him as painfully as the memory.
His voice was meek and shallow, unbecoming of a man destined to be king. "I…I can't."
An image of Lacus was imprinted upon her mind as a look of total fear shrouded her peaceful face. Her eyes had grown impossibly large with horror and shame as she covered her opened mouth with her hand. The gaze she cast upon him was one of utter disgust as her mental image itself could not handle being so close to him.
"She'll reject me. Turn me away." His quivering eyes focused upon his hands that were too afraid to grip the hilt of the sword upon his side, the sword said to reveal one's true nature.
Flay carefully studied Kira's weakened composure as she could only offer a half smile. "I would never turn you away…" she gently gave Kira a comforting hand upon his shoulder "Maybe she wouldn't either." Flay's voice was less than hopeful.
He walked away from her hold as he dried his own tears. He briefly stopped walking to address the girl who stood just a few feet behind him. "You'll never stop being my friend Flay. I do hope you find someone nice."
A soft voice spoke that disguised the hurt traced within. "I have Kira. He is just with someone else now."
I know, story flow was a little lacking. I will try better. Well now that you have read, how about leaving a review? Thats my favorite part about this site. I hope to read and answer your comments, concerns, questions, and overall reviews soon. Thanks for being loyal everyone and have a good evening. :-)