Hi guys! I'm back with another chapter! So I've been reading back my story since the beginning and honestly, I'm so confused as to how I have as many follows/favs/reviews on this story as I do. I don't write that well, and I'm so embarrassed aha.

I also apologize for it taking so long to be released- I have now been requested to work from home so I've been very busy with that.

EIGHTY-FIVE - The King of Goodbyes

The next morning, Mukaze was up and walking.

"Father, please!" Shirayuki shrieks worriedly. "You should be staying in bed resting- you're too weak to be on your feet right now!"

"Shirayuki, dear, you worry too much," Mukaze huffs, "don't you know who your father is?"

"Right now, he's an idiot," Shirayuki snaps. She and Kazuki stand at Mukaze's sides, arms open and ready in case he goes unsteady. But Mukaze was firmly on his feet, walking slowly, but still walking. "Papa, please."

"Mukaze!" Kazuki cries, nervously watching as the maroon-haired man walks over to Garak without much trouble.

Garak looks up and grins, "you're quite a stubborn patient."

"I don't like resting when I don't need to be," Mukaze insists, playfully leering over at his daughter and adoptive son. "I feel perfectly fine."

"I'm sure you do," Garak plays along. She puts down her clipboard and stands from her stool. "Did you need anything? Seeing as you walked all this way from your bed to across the room here."

"Some whiskey, maybe?" Mukaze says through a chuckle, half-seriously. Garak eyes him, amused by his request. "I hear you have quite the tolerance for alcohol and have made some yourself."

Garak smirked, amused by these words, "so Obi talks about us. How flattering."

"I just need a small glass to get me through the pain," Mukaze groans, wincing as he holds his wound. "After several doses of medicine, Ryu has decided for me to cut back on it for a bit. Just a sip of alcohol could get me somewhere."

Garak, after moments of contemplation, turns around to interact with one of the drawers. Opening it, she reveals a tall, transparent glass with an acorn-colored liquid. It sloshed all around as she swung it, presenting it to him. She reaches for one of the clean cups on the dish tray and thumbs off the cork. Pouring a little bit, she offers it to Mukaze, who takes it with ease. But Shirayuki was quick to interrupt when she immediately took away the glass from Mukaze.

"He shouldn't be drinking alcohol," Shirayuki moans. Her father just looks at her woefully while she continues to explain herself. "Ryu doesn't know what alcohol would do in combination with those chemicals. A-and anyways," Shirayuki stutters, looking over at Ryu. He was laying down on one of the beds, fairly tired from sleeping very last tending to the wounded. "Ryu, I thought the medication works. He's still in pain."

"They do work," Ryu counters her statement. "Why do you think he's able to walk right now?" Shirayuki eyes her father up and down, allowing Ryu's point to be proven. "It only hurts right now because he's straining himself. He should be resting, but the medication is numbing and healing the cut."

"And the alcohol?"

Ryu shrugs, "he can have that tiny bit."

Shirayuki passes the cup back to Mukaze, clearly defeated. The man joyously takes it back and sips it slowly, savoring the sweet, yet hot taste. Kazuki stays by the man's side as he chats with Garak about the alcohol she made. Shirayuki walks over to Ryu and emits a sigh.

"Is my dad really gonna be okay?" Shirayuki hums quietly, taking a seat at the end of the bed as Ryu sits up to meet her eyes. "I know the fever went down, but the wound is quite deep."

Ryu nods, "it is. I'm surprised he's not light-headed from walking, considering how much blood he lost here and how much I calculated when he first got hit." Shirayuki didn't like those words, and a pit in her stomach formed. "However, he did eat, and I checked the wound several times last night. There doesn't seem to be signs of infection or poison."

"P-poison?" Shirayuki exclaims in a whisper. "Why would my father be poisoned?"

Ryu shrugs, "some soldiers lather their swords with poison so when they cut their enemies, they have a higher chance of dying." Shirayuki looked at him with horror but he waved her away. "But he would have been in a more critical condition if he were poisoned." Shirayuki nods, agreeing with his words. "Thank you for reminding me, though. I have to clean the sutures and the cut."

Ryu hops from the bed and begins to rummage through the bedside drawer next to Mukaze's bed. Shirayuki calls her father back, to which he turns with an empty glass in hand, and a wide smile on his face. Shaking her head, she stands behind Ryu, practically hovering over him. "Do you need my help, Ryu?"

Ryu shakes his head, "I got it." He gets gloves on and watches Mukaze (with Kazuki's help) return to the bed once more and lays down. As he brings his pair of scissors to the bandages to cut them, Ryu glances back and asks Shirayuki about Obi's whereabouts.

"Oh, Obi's off to say farewell to Prince Izana with Zen," Shirayuki informs. "Apparently they don't want the Knights to continue ruling their kingdom but they also didn't want to keep them in the cell forever and abandon their people."

"Clarines is expanding?" Ryu asks.

Shirayuki looks up thoughtfully and nods, "that's what it sounds like. But I also asked Obi if he could go into town and get some fresh oranges. I hear orange juice is good for patients when they lose a lot of blood."

Ryu nods, "you pay good attention, Shirayuki." When Ryu removes the bloodied bandages, he looks at the wound and drops his shoulders. "And uh, Shirayuki?"

"Mhm?"

"I take back what I said," Ryu says, his hands holding the bloody bandages, "I need some help."

"Lord Brother, are you sure you have everything?"

"Yes, Zen, I do."

"Are you positive?"

Zen was like a parent, fretting over a child's first day of school. Overnight, Izana had packed his clothing and personal belongings. He also had packed Clarines' flags as well as paintings of their family. Half of the soldiers have already been sent on their way, with the other half to accompany Izana on his way over. Zen made sure a few more men were ready in Wistal castle, as Zen is sending a bird with Izana just in case he needs urgent help. They have been beyond prepared all morning, and Haruto simply watched and stood in case she needed to pitch it. But her boys have become men already, and the reminder only somewhat hurts her motherly heart.

"Please don't hesitate to ask for help if you need anything," Zen encourages, watching as the guards ensure the horses of the cart are properly connected and their saddles are adjusted. "And let us know that you and Haki have made it there safely."

Izana nodded, "yes, Zen, I will. You're treating me the way I've treated you, but more direct and nicely." Zen smiles embarrassingly. "Anyways, I sent Haki a bird to stop by here first before joining me. She will need soldiers here to escort her."

Zen nods, "I'll have a room set up for her if she wants to stay overnight after the long way over. Coming from Wilant is quite the time-consuming trip." Izana nods, but quickly smirks thinking about it.

"Haki's quite stubborn sometimes," Izana informs his little brother, "she might not want to stay since she'll want to be with me immediately. She doesn't want me alone."

Zen smiles, "understandable."

As the two continue to watch, Haruto and Obi turn around to see Kiki and Mitsuhide bring out their prisoners and the Knights with a few of the guards. Chains clink and clatter as they all walk outside, showered and clean. They were prisoners, but Zen didn't want them to be treated like scum. Zen hears the chains and glances back, meeting eyes with Sophia quickly. He notices the rest of the Knight family, with Elizabeth still in tears. '

"You realize you can't treat us like this, right?" Blakely spouts. Izana looks over at him, puzzled. "When our allies hear about this, your kingdom will be damned."

"Yeah?" Zen raises his eyebrows at the audacity. "Which allies? I'll send a message stating that your family has been stripped of their royal status by the Wistaria's, and if they'd like to go into war, we can."

Blakely looks at Zen, noticing how unbothered he was. It was true; they weren't necessarily allies with anyone. They were more cordial than anything, as nations typically don't seek war with one another. "Y-you can't do this- didn't you care about my sister at least a little bit?"

"I won't say I liked her in a lovers way," Zen admits honestly, "but I had no hate for her until I found out about your parents' plans to poison my people." Elizabeth looks down shamefully, her eyes dark and puffy due to tears that won't stop coming. "I don't blame her, but she should have had the morals to go against such a plan."

Astor tries walking up to Zen, but guards are quick to grab his arms, "Prince Zen, p-please!" He cries out. Zen notices how fearful and worried his eyes were, clearly concerned about something.

"What are you begging for?"

"Please don't hurt my children," Astor begs quietly, looking Zen directly in the eyes. "I-if you're going to be punishing anyone, please punish me. Spare my wife, and my children." Zen's expression softens. He wasn't heartless, especially when being confessed to so seemingly earnest and torn. "Please…"

Zen emits a defeated sigh. He turns back to Izana and murmurs, "please consider your punishments individually. I won't tell you what to do, but I would ask for you to consider his plea."

Izana chews the inside of his cheek and shrugs with an uncertain nod, "I suppose I can consider it upon your request. You've always been much softer and gentler than mother and I."

Zen simply shrugs, "can't help it." He then watches guards with their horses approach, having him wave at them. "Take the chains of the prisoners and walk them back, please."

Sophia looks at the young Prince, wide-eyed and shocked. "You're making us walk all the way back to our kingdom?"

"What, did you think that you were going to get a ride back the way you rode over here?" Zen asks. "You tried to poison my country- my friends and family."

"But that's… inhumane!" Sophia exclaims, her chains clanking at her resisting motions. "This is cruel and unusual punishment!"

That was Obi's cue to rush beside her and nudge her. She glares at the man, but quickly becomes small as soon as she meets his eyes. Those amber eyes, she thought to herself. She then notices Leon begin to shake in his chains. The very sight of Obi had terrified him, seeing as he only greeted him with cold expressions. "Have you ever considered that your life is being spared? Because if I were my Master," Obi starts quietly. He gets close to her ear and mumbles, "I'd kill you myself."

Sophia jerks away, horrified. "How can you say that so easily? You're a monster!"

"You tried hurting people that are important to me," Obi says through his teeth. "Master and this kingdom is everything I have. And the first victim of your poisoned wine was going to be my lover."

Zen forgot that the person who discovered the poisoned wine was Shirayuki. She went to Elizabeth and kept a gulp of wine in her mouth to bring down to her office to test it. It was only because of Shirayuki's suspicion and curiosity that led to Zen's engagement being cancelled and the kingdom being saved from an unsuspecting danger. So if Shirayuki hadn't been curious and drank the wine, she could have fallen very ill or possibly have died.

"I can't believe a Prince is willing to hire a criminal," Sophia spews, her eyes darting towards Zen, "you will never be a good ruler if you keep trying to see the best in every monster in this world. Some good will never cure all evil."

"Don't call my friend a monster," Zen points out, walking towards her while dismissing the rest of the prisoners to the soldiers. Astor, Elizabeth, and Blakely watch in concern as they're being seperated from Sophia. "I'm sparing your life like he said. You almost tried poisoning my estate, and then tried to directly have me killed. You should consider yourself grateful my father is deceased." Zen then leans forward, bending slightly down to meet her level, "because he wouldn't have been as nice."

Sophia jerks away, in horror of this family. They had no fear for any potential consequence. They were so prepared for anything that they were not scared to punish anyone, especially royals alike. She felt powerless, weak against a boy who didn't even amount to half the years of her experience. But she should have known; the Wistaria's are no joke, and they will not be disrespected ever.

She quiets down as they're pulled away by the chains. Zen and Haruto go over to Izana and hold his hand, mouthing prayers. "Be safe, my dear," Haruto says quietly, "please send us a scroll if you need absolutely anything. We will make it happen."

"Worry not, mother," Izana says with a small smile, "I'm my father's son, after all. That's why I'm not too worried about leaving Zen here in Wistal." Izana pokes his forehead and chuckles, "he's ready."

Zen tilts his head, "ready? To rule Wistal?"

"No no," Izana hums, "ready to rule Clarines. You know, as their King."

Zen's eyes widen, "w-what? No, no, that isn't right-" Zen backs away, small bits of anxiety surging through his veins. "Brother, you're first born- you're supposed to follow father's footsteps and take up what he didn't finish." Izana nods, knowing those facts. "Don't you want to take fathers place?"

"I did," Izana hums. But he then shrugs, looking down at his little brother warmly. He sees his worried azure eyes, clearly filled with worry and shock. "But seeing you act around the castle and how you handle problems of our kingdom has shown me how much more you love Clarines than I do." He emits a heavy sigh, "I wanted to be king, but I think you'd make a far better ruler."

Zen shakes his head, "Izana, you're the best candidate for this role. I heard rumors that you were exactly like father at certain times when the kingdom was in trouble or at war."

Izana nods, "I did, and will continue to do, the things that I need to do in order to preserve our kingdom and our people. But seeing as I'll be taking responsibility to assimilate another nation of people into our kingdom, I won't be able to stay here in Wistal and be the king these people deserve."

"So why don't you send me over instead?" Zen begins. "I can get packed and ready within an hour and still leave today."

Izana walks up to Zen and with one surprising swoop, swallows him up in his arms. Zen wasn't sure how to take this embrace. Izana wasn't one to be physically affectionate (or affectionate at all for that matter). But here he was, being held warmly by his older brother. "Mother never wanted me to tell you because she thought she had you figured out already. But father wanted you to be the one to take his place when he passed."

"Izana!" Haruto scolded, waving at him as Izana let Zen go and gave him a selden smile.

Zen was honestly in shock. Today had been such a packed day of emotion that all the words he just told him were hard to swallow. Kain Wistaria died when Zen was very young, so Zen's memories of him were very limited. He mainly had all the stories that Izana, Haruto, and the older staff had told him when they were alive during Kains reign. Stories of how Kaid would take Zen all over town, greeting the people and teaching him stories of other kingdoms and wars.

"He's grown," Izana states, letting Zen go slowly, "it's not like it's anything too serious."

"He wasn't supposed to know."

"Well now he does." Haruto groans and looks away as Izana pats Zen's shoulder. "Mother was worried that it would be such a big burden for you as you were such a playful spirit growing up. Always wandering off and hungry for adventure."

"But you're the oldest, so I wasn't supposed to be first in line for king after father retired."

"Yes, but he was willing to wait until you were older to ask if you wanted to be King and prepare you," Izana hums. "But I snuck around their room when mother would express her concerns over you becoming King. She even cried."

Zen looked over at his mother, who shyly looked away, "so what happened?"

"I confronted father and told him that I wanted to be king," Izana said with a wide smile. "I didn't want you having to make such hard decisions because you were more considerate and filled with compassion than I was. I'm as cold as ice to anyone that isn't family."

Hard to believe when you're still quite cold to me, Zen thought. But he looks up at his brother, his heart suddenly heavy, "that… makes me feel so much closer to dad now…" He looks down at his hands and slowly closes them. "But you're right… I'm too soft to rule our kingdom, Lord Brother. I don't think I should be king."

Izana shakes his head, "I beg to differ. The way you handled this situation with the Knights was beyond my comprehension. I sometimes forget that you've grown way faster than I did at your age."

"But I've been acting very irrational for the last few months!" Zen urges. "I made very poor choices and have done very monstrous things-"

"You're always going to be forgiven if you apologize genuinely to those you've hurt or done harm to," Izana hums. "It is then your job to forgive yourself and do better." Zen could only hang his head in defeat. He was anxious to be king, and that was clear. Izana used to be that way when he took on that fate. He pats his brother's head once more and smiles, "I'll walk you through the whole thing, I promise. Even if I have to visit more than twice a month."

"Really?" Zen asks for reassurance.

"Really really," Izana replies, "but if you really don't want to do it, I have no problem going through with my scheduled coronation. But please do think about it."

Zen could only nod. They exchange one more hug and a few more words of planning before Izana enters his cart and is sent away by the front of Wistal Palace. It felt weird for Zen, having Izana move out of the palace so suddenly. He had gotten so used to his brother being around while simultaneously being nowhere to be seen. But the idea of Izana being accessible had always been reassuring to Zen. But he will now be alone, positioned to make the hard decisions without the second opinion of his only sibling.

As he leaves the front gates, Zen looks over to his mother. "Mama, is it true? What Izana said?"

Haruto's eyes warm, the beautiful blue orbs shining sadly at the boy. Her smile was still heartfelt and welcoming as she brought her hand over to Zen's cheek. "When you were only 2, your father took you for a walk in the forest. There, you two stumbled upon a baby doe. He was just learning to walk, like you." Haruto thumbs Zen's cheekbone. "You didn't know how to walk, but you crawled right under the doe and helped it stay on its little feet."

"I did?"

"You did," Haruto repeats with a giggle. "Your father could not believe his eyes. By the time you two returned, the only thing he talked about was that. He told me it was the greatest thing he had ever seen. You were the great thing he had ever seen."

"But why was that so significant to him?" Zen whispers.

"Because you yourself were helpless," Haruto explains. "You didn't know how to walk at all. But you were willing to help another try to walk, knowing you still couldn't." She lets him go, tears streaming down her cheeks. "The selflessness you expressed that day touched your father in ways that cannot be explained with mere words."

"But that doesn't provide reason for me to be fit to be king."

"Actually, that was all the reason your father needed to prove that you were fit to be king," Haruto hums. "Because look at you now, my sweet boy. You're the man your father and I dreamt that you would be and more."

A comfortable silence roams afterwards as everyone watches Izana, the soldiers, and the prisoners walk away in the distance. A kind wind strikes at the royals as Zen emits a heavy sigh. Many changes are about to enter Zen's life, and finally for once in such a long time, it was going to be brilliant.