Rim: Hello everyone! Here's my next chapter of the story, I don't really have much to say, but I do want to thank everyone who told me the chapter wasn't as bad as I thought it was because I still say it was horrible. But off that subject, I like this chapter and you will all find out why now!
-oooooo-
Nanako, how have things been going in Japan while Kenny and I are away? I hope that everything has been quiet in the two weeks since my departure from our homeland. Russia is a very beautiful place, but right now the weather grows colder and colder, I think that winter will arrive in a few more weeks. I would love to see the snow fall, and the thought excites me a little. How has father been? Send both my love and Kenny's to him when you see him next and tell him we are doing fine. The Russian princes, Kai and Tala have been very hospitable towards us, so much so that our dear Kenny no more longs of homesickness. We are both on our best behavior here. In fact, on more days than I can recall, Kenny spends his time conversing with the older of the two princes, Tala. It's quite a relief he has made friends while here. I hope that your letters reach me soon, I long for word of home despite my reverences towards Russia.
Tyson looked over the crisp yellow colored paper he was writing on, reading the words back to himself in a quiet tone. His deep blue eyes studied the words; finally with a satisfied smile he put the pen back to the paper. In perfect calligraphy, the prince signed his name on the paper. Once the ink was dry, Tyson folded the paper and placed it in an envelope. Taking a burning candle, he allowed the wax to drip over the envelope flap then picked up a stamp with the seal of the dragon, the spirit protector Dragoon, and embroidered the wax with the seal.
Once that task was done, the heir to the Bakuten throne of Japan stood up from the desk he had been seated at. Stretching out his limps, he swiftly walked towards the window of his temporary room while he was in Russia. Staring out over the land, he pushed the window open, just as a cool wind swept into the room. Tyson closed his eyes, letting the air run playful fingers over him.
"I suppose once father is better, I will never see this land again," Tyson said quietly to himself. "It feels so much like a second home to me now. Maybe it won't be the last time I come here. With the ties between the two countries, it's not impossible to return here."
Looking back over to the letter that laid in the envelope on the desk, he frowned slightly, wondering whether or not he should have told Nanako about the younger of the two Russian princes. Since that day in the field when Kai was speaking to that maid, Aleksandra, Tyson felt there was something different about the other prince. Something he couldn't exactly put his finger on, but he knew it was there, or at least was there that day. He had wanted to speak more to the young maid about why she feared the prince so much, but the other maids told him that she had locked herself away in her room and refused to come out.
The young blue haired teen could not understand it. Why would she speak such a way to the prince of her country? Kai had not laid a hand on the girl, and sounded very upset over the whole ordeal while they were walking the fields near the palace. Upon asking exactly why the maid would have reason to hate him, the older prince remarked that he had no idea why. Tyson truly had wanted to believe such a thing, but something in his voice told the Japanese prince otherwise.
"Perhaps it is best that I do not question Prince Kai on the subject," Tyson said to himself. After all, it might be due to something too personal which neither wanted others to know. "I suppose now that I've finished with the letter to Nanako, I will have to find some means to entertain myself until dinner."
Earlier, both Russian princes had disappeared to take care of business, leaving Tyson and Kenny to their own devices. Walking to the door, Tyson decided that maybe a stroll around the palace would help to pass the time.
Opening the door, he listened to the quiet rolling down the hall. Strange…usually the sounds of maids could be heard humming, chatting, or singing while doing their daily chores, but that sound was voided from the day.
Shaking off a light chill that crept up his spine, Tyson closed the door to his room, and walked down the hall towards his brother's room. The frown that was slowly creasing his brow continued to deepened, seeing that indeed there were no maids running about cleaning or singing. Tyson wondered what could have happened to them all. Reaching his destination, Tyson knocked on the door, having a feeling that his brother was not in the room.
Pushing the door open, Tyson poked his head inside, as he suspected, his brother was not in the room. A small pile of books rested on the brunette's bed, along with a bound journal. Closing the door, Tyson figured that if there was any place his brother would be at this time, it would be the massive library held within the palace. He had bypass the spot once on one of his walks through the castle, and many times when Kenny spoke about his conversations with Tala, the library was where they had been conducted.
Setting out for his next destination, the only sounds in the hall were the soft footfalls of his slippers against the floor. While he walked, Tyson pondered about the absence of maids, or even servant boys that tended to wander around. Occasionally stopping to speak with Tyson before remembering they had to continue their duties. Without the cheerful noises, it was as if he was the only one in the entire palace, a feeling of depression settled into the walls, giving the palace a melancholy mood.
Upon his arrival at the doors of the library, the sounds of someone humming a soft melody reached his ears. Quietly creeping up to the door and opening it, Tyson peered inside, finding his brother seated in a large chair with a book in his hands. His eyes scanned over the words before he turned the page and read what was there. Of course, the melody was not from his brother, but the young maid also in the library.
Her long aqua greenish-blue hair was pulled back, held in place with a silver bow. Her hair moved ever so slightly as she continued to lightly dust off a shelf of books, the repeat of the melody never breaking as she took in breaths. Her back was to Tyson, but he was sure she was lovely, as were most of the women in the palace. Her melody drifted through the air, banishing the omniscient air hanging above him. Quietly slipping into the room to listen to her, he found his brother's eyes lift from the book momentarily to greet him before returning to the words inside the book.
Tyson's eyes remained on the maid, dusting off the books, the melody in her voice never changing in speed or pace, never breaking when she needed air. It reminded Tyson of his mother, Queen Yokie, before her death when he was four. Her sweet voice could always be heard throughout the palace singing or laughing, not a day went by that the kingdom was not blessed with her gentle smile. Everyone loved her, and the kingdom grieved greatly when she fell ill and died at the young age of thirty.
When the maid finally ended her song, Tyson was compelled to clap, startling the young woman who immediately turned around with wide amethyst eyes. "I'm sorry to startle you," Tyson said in Russian. "But your song was so beautiful that I could not help but clap."
The girl's cheeks turned pink as she lowered her eyes from him and curtsied low. "I am honored that you appreciated my song, Prince Tyson," she responded in merely a soft hush.
"What is your name by chance? I want to remember the name to the lovely melody that I have heard today." The maid raised her eyes to Tyson once she stood. As he presumed, her beauty was indeed all he expected of someone with such a beautiful song. A slow smile curled her lips into a friendly gesture of thanks as she clasped her hands together in front of her.
"My name is Saori, sire," she replied.
"Saori," Tyson repeated. "As beautiful as your melody and your beauty." He watched Saori's blush darken, as she lowered her eyes to him.
"Thank you sire, I should get to my other chores now. Good day Prince Tyson, Prince Kenny." The young maid moved pass Tyson, heading out the door and leaving the two brothers alone. The music lingering in the air around them as Kenny turned the page to his book, allowing his brother to absorb the calm in the atmosphere.
"Brother, sometimes I don't know what we are going to do with you," Kenny said in Japanese, raising his eyes from the book again. Today his hair was brushed out of his eyes, though on occasion a few strands swept his eyes, causing the young man to brush them back.
"What do you mean you don't know what you're going to do with me?" Tyson inquired, walking over to his brother and sitting on the arm of the chair. Lowering his blue eyes to the brunette looking up at him with a soft smile, Tyson pouted.
"It's amazing, every time I see you, you're charming the maids. You have no idea how often I hear talk about how courteous and handsome you are. It's funny in a way the maids back home never mention that. I guess that here, it's different," Kenny smiled.
"I have to say that you're right. It is different here than back at home. I've never once heard the maids giggling over either one of us. Thinking on the subject, I'm not the only one they talk about you know," Tyson grinned. Kenny frowned lightly as he tilted his head to the side.
"What do you mean brother?" Kenny inquired.
"What I mean little brother is that I've heard the Russian maids also commenting on how polite and sweet you are. It seems that we have both won hearts while here," Tyson laughed, watching his brother's eyes widen with amazement. "And yes it is true I would not lie about such a thing."
"Are you certain they've mentioned me?"
"Would your brother lie to you?" Tyson inquired quirking an amused brow up.
"No, but you would tease me," Kenny pointed out.
"But I am not teasing you now. It is honest of what I have told you," Tyson smiled. "So, what are you reading anyway? It seems like days since we last spent any time together without the two princes around."
"Well brother, in a way, it has been days. With you spending most of your time with Prince Kai, and mine with Prince Tala, I think it's been more than half a week. I thought you might be busy, so I came here to read, and remembered a book Tala had mentioned to me during one of our conversations, and decided to find out if it was indeed a good book," Kenny smiled closing the book.
"And you're done with it, aren't you?" Tyson said shaking his head, while his little brother got up from the chair and walked over to the place he removed the book from. Pushing it back into place, he nodded with a satisfied smile. "So, was it worth the time you spent on it?"
"Yes, it was an amazing book," Kenny said.
"And the name of the book was?" Tyson asked.
"Well…the Russian title didn't make much sense, so I translated it into Japanese and it came out as Lost Universe. It is truly a great work, the characters were so complex and the story drew me in. Though it was sad when one of the characters, Tieme, was killed in front of his lover, I've never felt such sadness inside the words of a story before."
"It sounds like quite a story, maybe one day I will sit down and read it," Tyson said.
"Were you looking for me brother? It just came to mind that you would usually be walking around the fields near the palace. I assume that your appearance here means that you have grown bored," Kenny stated.
"I have not grown bored," Tyson scolded lightly. "I just finished my letter to Nanako not too long ago, and I thought that I would track my younger brother down to see if you wanted to take a stroll with me, but since you're being so mean to your big brother, I suppose that it would be better if I went alone."
"Big brother, you know I didn't mean anything by it," Kenny smiled.
"Yes you did, since you've began interacting with Tala, you have started to change," Tyson said shaking his head before an idea hit him. Staring at his brother, a wide grin crossed his lips. "I see."
"You see? What is it you see?" Kenny asked as his brother got up from where he was sitting and walked out the library. "Big brother!" Kenny followed after the blue haired older teen, frowning slightly as his brother continued walking and did not look at him, the smile on his face still intact. "Big brother, what is it you see?"
"Oh not much," Tyson smiled.
"Then what is it you see?" When Tyson did not answer him, Kenny jutted out his bottom lip, tugging on his older brother's shirt. "Now you're being mean to me. Tell me what you're talking about."
"You really want to know?" Tyson spared his brother a look, seeing the very effective pout soften his brother's features. "You know, you really are cute when you want to be. I can never get mad with you, little brother. And you're breaking your brother's heart even now."
"What do you mean?" Kenny kept hold of his brother's shirt tail, walking beside the older. Lifting his eyes up, he noticed the flicker of mischief still within Tyson's eyes.
"So, when are you planning to tell me that you're in love with Prince Tala?" Tyson inquired, watching his brother's face become painted in a lovely shade of red.
"It's not like that at all!" Kenny said. "You're overreacting."
"Overreacting huh?" Tyson smirked. "So, you don't enjoy Tala's company as much as it seems? Every time you mention his name, you get so excited and must tell me whatever it is you discussed. Even your personality has changed a little around him, and you don't show signs of being homesick."
"Of course I enjoy Prince Tala's company. He has so many views about math and science and philosophy. I hardly have anyone to speak to on those subjects."
"Is that all?" Tyson said.
"Yes that's all," Kenny stated. "If we're going to speak on those lines, what about you, do you have so interest in Prince Kai?"
Tyson looked down at his younger brother as they headed back through the still empty halls towards their rooms. Their voices echoed off the old walls, resonating and fading as they continued onwards. Tyson thought for a long second on the question then shook his head. "No, I have no interest in Kai, of course I have noticed how handsome he is, but he's not my type."
"Nobody has ever seemed to be your type," Kenny said. "I always see so many people try to via for your attention, yet you only give me a smile before heading off to enjoy the countryside. Remember how father use to tell you that marriage would never tie you down if you had a say so in it." The comment brought a smile to Tyson's face, remembering when Tyson turned sixteen and his father sat him down to discuss his future.
Of course, Tyson had only halfway listened to his father, thinking only about exploring the caves he recently discovered half a mile away from the palace. From the time Tyson could walk, he was always like that, Kenny tagging along behind him no matter what. His mother use to tell him it was good to have a spirited heart and soul because those characteristics would make him wise in mind later in life.
When his father saw that he was not paying attention to a word he said, the King could not scold his son. He knew that nothing could settle such a strong spirit. Telling Tyson that one day, if he was there or not, no matter what he decided to do, it would be fine with him. And he only wanted the best for both his sons, like their mother had. That day, Tyson promised his father he would live his life to the fullest, and if by chance he did fall in love, he would be as spirited about that person as he was towards life and adventure, which made his father laugh with joy.
"Sometimes I think he's right. I have no reason to fall in love when there is so much I still haven't seen yet. I did promise father that if I were to fall in love, I would be just as passionate with them as life. But I do believe that you will be the first between us to take that step, if you haven't already done so," Tyson laughed, watching the coloring his brother displayed in his cheeks darken.
"Stop teasing me like that," Kenny whined. "I could not fall in love with a guy."
"And why not?" Tyson replied. "If you honestly want to know my opinion, it does not matter if you love a man or a woman, I just want you to be happy and taken care of. I've never been biased towards same sex relationships because you never know how long will be brought to you. Keep that in mind, little brother, regardless of the fact that you're in love with Prince Tala or not."
"I am not in love with Prince Tala," Kenny protested as they rounded the corner to the wing of the palace that their rooms were on. "He is nice, but I doubt he could ever be the type of person I fall in love with…if I were to like guys."
"It seems that we are on mutual standings then, little brother," Tyson smiled, ruffling his brother's silky brown hair.
"Prince Tyson, Prince Kenny." The sudden interruption in their conversation came from Lieutenant Petrovich who stood outside of Tyson's door with a nervous look in his eyes. The young man looked not just nervous, but underlined in his eyes, Tyson could see fear. And that was what worried the blue haired teen.
"Lieutenant, is something wrong?" Tyson inquired.
"I need you both to follow me," Anton said.
"What's going on?" Tyson asked.
"I can't tell you now, please, just believe that I must hurry and have you both follow me before it's too late. I will explain everything later. Please trust me," the young man said. Tyson didn't know what was going on, or why Anton needed to get them away, but he had a feeling that it was important. Tyson didn't get that feeling often, but whenever he did, instinct told him to follow it.
"Big brother…" Kenny looked up at his brother who was considering what to do. Kenny didn't like the feeling of urgency coming from the officer, as if he was frighten of something. Could someone be trying to kill them? No…he couldn't think like that, his brother would never allow anything bad to happen to them.
"Anton, when you have us safely wherever you think we need to be, will you explain what is going on then?" Tyson asked his eyes serious as he stared at the older man.
"Of course Prince Tyson, you have my word, but now we must hurry. We have to be as quiet as possible, understand?" Anton stated.
"We will follow your orders," Tyson replied. Turning his eyes to Kenny, he smiled. "Don't worry, we will be fine, I trust that Anton knows what must be done. We should follow him." Kenny only nodded as he followed his brother and the lieutenant from the wing to a separate and discarded stairwell.
Anton pushed cobwebs out of the way, leading the two out of the palace in secrecy. Not many knew this stairwell still existed, in fact, neither did he until his uncle showed him. In case the palace was ever under attack by enemy forces, he could safely lead the King and the two princes to safety. Because it was so overlooked due to its placement tucked away in a little niche off the exit from the wing, Anton doubted anyone would think to search or explore the area, giving him ample enough time to lead the two Japanese princes to a boat that was waiting just off the northern region of the palace.
"Anton," Tyson said softly. "Where does this stairwell lead?"
"Towards the northern gates of a small harbor, a boat will be waiting for us once we get out of the palace," Anton explained.
"And where will that boat take us?" Kenny asked, holding tightly to his brother's hand as they were guided through the dimly lit stairwell.
"Back to Japan," Anton responded. "You both must trust that I have my reasons for doing this, and not telling Prince Kai or Tala about it. I will explain it all to you when we are out to see. My uncle told me that the young heir of the Bakuten Empire is under the protection of one of the sacred spirit gods in your country, I hope that it's not too late."
"Do you mean that our country has been attack? Was there word?" Tyson inquired worriedly. "Why wasn't word sent from my homeland about an attack. Father…Nanako…" Tyson felt the tears well up in his eyes, Kenny squeezing his hand in anxiety.
"Your homeland has not been attacked," Anton assured. "We have not had word of such a thing, there is another reason, but it will take more time than now to explain it. Do not fret young princes, I can promise you that when you return home, it will still be as beautiful as the last time you saw it."
"Thank the gods…" Tyson sighed, turning his eyes to Kenny who look equally relieved. After a moment, Tyson turned his attention to Anton's back, frowning. If his country had not been attacked by enemy forces, why the rush to return them home, and without letting the two princes of his country know? The feeling crawling up Tyson's back was starting to lead him down another path that could not possibly be right…or could it?
Minutes passed in the stairwell until finally light flooded in at the bottom of the stairwell. "Here we are, now all we have to do—" The words that were on the tip of Anton's tongue fell away, seeing the crowd of guards blocking the northern gates, in front of them waiting was the two Russian princes. "Shit…"
"My, my, my, Lieutenant Anton Petrovich, it seems that you're starting to do things of your own countenance. What are we going to do to you, Lieutenant Petrovich," Tala said in a light scolding manner. "Such an act of treason hurts us."
"Prince Tyson, Prince Kenny, stay behind me and do not go to them, don't listen to a word either of those two say to you," Anton warned. Keeping his eyes on the two princes, he blocked the two from the Russian princes' line of vision. "Prince Tala…Prince Kai, you can not keep them here like this. I will not allow it."
"Lieutenant Petrovich, it is not your place to tell us what we can, or can not do. Now step down from your position. Do not be as foolish as Commander Bukharin was when he showed the same treasonous behavior you exhibit," Kai remarked, crossing his arms.
"Or what will you do? Kill me like you did my uncle!" Anton shouted. "Are you going to kill me in cold blood also? Then are you going to kill my uncle's wife and his son and two daughters? Are your hearts that ruthless that you will even kill women and children?"
"They killed…" Tyson was speechless, looking up at Anton with wide blue eyes. They really hadn't killed Commander Bukharin, had they? Why…for what reason would the two do such a thing?"
"Why would you think we killed Commander Bukharin?" Tala smirked. "His death was not by our hands, he wanted to make amends for his treasonous ways, so he used his gun to end his own life. He told us that he was very sorry for ever doubting us. Now step down Lieutenant Petrovich."
"You liar bastards, my uncle knew about your plans, it was his plan to take the two princes back to their homes, and you murdered him, don't try to dress up the truth. Admit that you killed my uncle, and if I hand the two Japanese princes over, you'll get rid of me also. Then what? Execute what family I have left?" Anton growled. "I will not allow you to destroy any more lives. I will never yield to either of you."
"Is that how you feel over the situation?" Tala remarked. Shifting his eyes from the lieutenant, he stared at the soldier on his right. "Corporal Dostoevsky, step forward."
"Yes sire." The officer on Tala's right stepped forward. He was also a young man, maybe no more than a year or two older than Anton, his short reddish-purple hair spiked in some places.
"Corporal Dostoevsky, do you love your country?" Tala inquired.
"Yes sire, very much," Corporal Dostoevsky stated.
"And you obey your orders to this country and its King, do you not?"
"Yes sire, I would die for the honor of my country."
"And you do not question orders, do you?"
"No sire," Corporal Dostoevsky replied.
"Good," Tala smirked. "Then take your gun and shoot Lieutenant Petrovich in the head. I will not have a treasonous officer in my father's army."
"Sire…? But…" Corporal Dostoevsky started.
"Corporal Koliknikov," Tala said.
"Yes sire." A young man who looked the same age as both Anton and the other officer stepped forward and turned to Corporal Dostoevsky. With a word, he raised his gun, pulling back the hammer and firing one solid round through the other's head. Corporal Dostoevsky uttered a sound close to both shock and pain as he went down immediately. Kenny clung to Tyson who covered his ears, glad that he did not see what happened, but his stomach turned the moment he heard the body hit the ground. The next sound was the hammer of the gun being cocked back once more.
"So what will it be, Lieutenant Petrovich?" Tala quirked a brow, unfazed by the brutal scene just witnessed. Kai remained silent, looking halfway bored by the whole scenario.
"You should just step down, Lieutenant Petrovich you know how much of a demon my brother can be when he demands something, and others do not comply," Kai finally spoke up.
"Prince Tyson, Prince Kenny…these are the real personas of the two Russian princes. Forget about what you have seen of them so far, it's not going to be like that anymore. I do not wish to leave your sides…but I do not wish to die in front of you, and allow you to witness that heinous crime," Anton sighed with resignation before walking towards the older of the two Russian princes.
"Brother, take the two princes back to their rooms, I will deal with Lieutenant Petrovich myself," Tala ordered. His eyes flashed a cold azure before allowing his vision to rest upon his brother who was already signaling four officers to accompany him.
"I will do as you ask of me, brother. Prince Tyson, Prince Kenny, it's time that you went back to your rooms now," Kai said softly.
"What's going to happen to Anton?" Tyson asked. "Please, don't hurt him."
"Walk." That single word held the most demanding tone Tyson had ever heard in his life. Looking at the older teen, he no longer saw the person he came to know in the time of his stay in Russia. The auburn eyes of the Russian prince were cold and unfeeling, quite different from before. Tyson said nothing, looking down at his younger brother who was clinging to him shaking and murmured something in soft Japanese. Kenny eventually pulled away from Tyson, but stayed close to his brother's side as they headed back to the palace in silence.
What was going on, why were they doing this? Had Anton really done something so wrong by trying to lead them back to Japan? Tyson didn't know what to make of any of the events that occurred in the past five minutes, and he doubted at the moment anyone was going to answer his question. And why had Kai allowed his brother to have that officer shot for absolutely no reason. Was it true…everything Anton said, could it be true? Were these really the personalities of both princes?
The silence of the walk was only broken when they reached Tyson's room. Tyson turned to the prince, pleading with his eyes. "Please…Prince Kai…allow my brother to stay with me…he's afraid right now…please…"
"Go ahead, I'm not going to stop you," Kai shrugged. "Now get in the room, I have other things to attend to."
"What's going to happen to Anton?" Tyson demanded.
"That is not your concern anymore. He will be dealt with, now enter your room Prince Tyson, while I still have patience with you," Kai said, pushing the door open to the room and motioning for Tyson to enter. The only action he took close to what the other ordered of him was ushering his brother into the room. Once that was accomplished, Tyson turned defiant eyes upon the other.
"Tell me, what are you going to do with Anton, I have a right to know. He was concerned with my brother and my own well being. I trust him, I know he would never try to harm either myself or Kenny," Tyson said.
"Didn't I just say that he was not your concern anymore, Prince Tyson of the Bakuten Empire," Kai said in a cold tone. "Now enter your room immediately."
"No," Tyson stated. Before he could blink, he found himself on the ground, the world spinning ever so slight from his head hitting the ground. Barely aware of what happened, he found the Russian prince lowering his hand, the registration of a fire burning Tyson's left cheek connected to his brain. Fiery cold embers of auburn scorched Tyson as Kai turned away.
"Brother…brother are you all right?" Kenny was by Tyson side, tears cascading down his face in rivets. Tyson raised a hand to Kenny's hair, stroking the silky mass.
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine," Tyson whispered.
"But…" Tears continued to cascade down Kenny's face, his entire frame shaking with fear. Of course Tyson knew they both had every right to fear the teen standing above them. He held the thread of their lives in his hand. All he had to do was tell one of the officers to shoot them…like Tala had done.
"Don't worry," Tyson assured. Tyson's eyes went back to the tall, dual haired prince with his back turned to them, his head tilted to the side, giving him a cold presence.
"Now unless you want me to repeat that, go in the room. We will come for you when you are wanted. A maid will bring you something to eat later," Kai replied.
"Anton was right about you both…"
"We are nothing but devils," Kai smirked, walking away laughing. The echo of laughter resonated off the walls, chilling the insides of both princes. It was as if the pits of hell cracked down the paradise wall shielding them from the truth, but no longer.
-oooooo-
Rim: Yes! I'm finally got something accomplished! Booyah! Now I can not think about anything else for the entire weekend until Monday…or Tuesday or whenever. Hey, I managed to fit a story inside this story towards what Kenny was reading. What is it you all ask? And who is that guy Tieme? (sighs happily) Oh so sexy Tieme…
Brooklyn: Will you stop fawning over Tieme? Gale is going to kill you. (stares at Rim not paying him any attention) Never mind…I hope Gale kills you. Until next time everyone, now I have to get her to begin making plans for the next chapter.