Chapter 9: When Things Fall apart.

King looked around the tavern and took in everyone's shocked faces. The tavern was engulfed in complete silence.

Ban stood on the stairs with Elaine, his heart beating wildly in his chest as his mind raced with a million thoughts.

'Why? How? Now? Was it my fault? Was it the doubles fault? He's gonna leave me! He's gonna disappear in front of my eyes. He didn't even give me a chance to talk to him or tell him my decisions.' Ban's mind went round and round as his chest slowly started to heave and his eyes went wider and wider with every thought that crossed his mind. He was slowly unraveling and falling to pieces as the taven began to swirl and spin in front of his eyes.

"Ban?" Elaine's voice broke through his thoughts and he froze in place his hand that was gripping the railing so hard it was turning white loosened and he turned his head to look at Elaine. His wide eyes belied his fear to her as she gently placed a hand on his arm.

"Its okay." She said gently.

He sucked in a breath and let his head drop as he calmed down and silenced his mind. Then he looked back at King and opened his mouth to ask a question, but at that moment the tavern erupted in a symphony of voices as everyone started to talk. Elaine and Elizabeth just stared at each other as everyone else talked over each other.

Meliodas could not even think over all the noise as his head hung down low and his hands were placed flat on the bar top. A vain throbbed on his forehead as he slowly tapped his finger. He was trying to think but couldn't. And finally he snapped.

"QUITE DOWN!" Meliodas yelled over the noise, and everyone closed their mouths looking at Meliodas. He rubbed his forehead and thought to himself for a second before he looked up at King who still stood still in the doorway. He furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head to the side.

"Are you sure?" He whispered his eyes pleading for King to think this over carefully and answer just as carefully.

King stared at Meliodas then looked to Rye. Rye tilted his head down and to the side as he held out his arm in a gesture to the taverne and people seated there. King knew this meant that it was his decision and Rye would follow it no matter what. King sucked in a breath closing his eyes. He stayed like that for a brief moment before he opened his eyes again. As he slowly opened his eyes, he looked from one to another, finally landing on Meliodas. The look in his eyes was fierce and determined. Meliodas knew that King had made up his mind.

"Yes." King said.

"Are you home sick or is it something else?" Meliodas asked with a serious look on his face. King briefly glanced at Ban before looking back at the ground.

"A little, yes. But I also have some…. situations to work out. And… my people have been without a King for far too long now." King spoke.

"Very well then I can't stop you if those are your reasons. I'll ask another question then; who is he and why does he look like Ban with long hair? A very very…polite Ban…" Meliodas asked with curiosity. Everyone looked at Rye who smiled with a very slight bow.

"I'm sure you heard him introduce himself. He himself to me is very secretive as well but he is a friend. Harmless. As to why he looks like Ban I am not too sure maybe that is just how he looks. " King said as he looked at Rye.

"Very well King, let's get you packed for your trip." Meliodas said as he stood up and turned around to go to the kitchen.

King made his way to the stairs and started up them, he stopped in front of Ban and Elaine. His sister looked at him with questioning eyes as King gently smiled at her.

"It's alright. I have to do this for our people, sister. You stay with Ban and get to enjoy your life this time okay." King smiled and walked around them on the stairs. He headed to his and Bans' shared room and opened the door. As he stepped in he slowly let out a breath and covered his face with his hands and shook lightly. He felt like he was about to break into a million pieces right here on the floor.

Suddenly a hand dropped on his shoulder and shocked, he jerked away turning around, his eyes wide as he panted. He looked at Ban who held up his hands.

"Its okay! Its just me!" Ban said and took a step closer to King.

King stepped back.

Ban looked stunned like he didn't expect King to step back. The look on King's face was one of fear and distrust.

"Why?...Why are you leaving me?" Ban asked with his hands held out to King like he wanted him to come running into his arms. King furrowed his brows and frowned with disbelief.

"Leaving you? We were never together.. you were just using me for… sex. You never loved me.You were always going to choose Elaine. Not me." King said and turned away to get the few things he had in the room. As he stepped away, Bans' hand reached out and gripped King's arm rather hard. King flinched from the sudden pain and glared at Ban.

"Let go. See when things fall apart you act like this. " King hissed.

Bans eyes narrowed and burned with an emotion King was not familiar with. Kings eyes went wide as he became hyper aware of something making him uncomfortable. Ban yanked King closer to him.

"And you weren't using me? Who was the one moaning under me like a whore?" Ban spat out. He was angry but for what reason he was unsure. He watched as King's eyes went wide and his mouth dropped like rocks.

In a single second a green flash zipped by King's face and straight into Bans' chest. Ban flew through the air and crashed into the door, shattering it to pieces as he slammed against the Boar Hats wall. Meliodas and the others rushed up the stairs to see what the noise was about.

They looked at a smoking pile of shattered wood and on top laid a crouched over Ban with his left hand cut off. Ban trembled and groaned as he looked up and through the cloud of smoke.

"Oh my, how lucky it is that you are an immortal dear Fox Sin of Greed. Next time you should watch what you say."