Chapter 6: The Dragon

Each breath was becoming a struggle for K. The cold chill that lives down here was eating at his heart. Every minute he scorned himself on how he could get caught and locked up like some caged animal. But how was he supposed to know what was going to happen the day he walked through that portal. He had been going for coffee the evening K had entered the gateway and came to this place. And what a place!

He was given one meal a day but he realized that someone else down here was also getting a meal too. They never spoke but he still had that high sense of smell, K was sure he could sense the prisoner's apprehension and something else, anger. K occasionally heard the person scuttle around, but they never tried to say anything. It was K's only comfort after Hiro stopped talking to him telepathically. And why had Hiro stopped talking to him?

K swallowed the pit of fear that the worst possible thing happened to Hiro and that was why he was no longer talking to him. If anything did happen to Hiro, these fuckers would burn in hell. K fumed with this thought. But then as quickly as his blood boiled with fury, it was replaced with an uncommon feeling. He felt terrified that he might never get out of here.

K looked at his hand, at that swirl like symbol. It made him think of wind. He hated the fact that he had access to some kind of magic, yet he couldn't figure out how to use it to get out of here. It was hard to imagine wind or air being used other than in a form of a gust or a cyclone of air. So far all he could produce were dangerous tiny tornadoes. But he had to be careful, guards down here kept their eyes on him. They would hand him his crappy meal and stare at him like he was some kind of freak. Once K asked them what their problem was. But they would tell him to shut up and would disappear snickering.

"HEY!" K hollered trying to get a response from the other prisoner down here. "Why don't you talk?!"

There was nothing.

Maybe yelling was counter productive, "How long have you been down here?" K asked more softly. It was something to kill the time, something to do other than shivering with cold.

Still no response, K sighed. He looked around; there wasn't even a window to look out of. The only thing K could see was the beginning of a staircase that led up, he wondered where it led to.

"Two…and a half years…" went a manly voice.

K jumped towards the bars and gripped them tightly, "How do we get out of here?" Finally the other prisoner was speaking!

"You can't…"

"But…but there must be a way…don't you have magic too?" K wondered. It seemed like a logical question, considering.

"People in this county are not allowed to have rune magic…the king forbids it," said the tired voice.

K didn't know how to put it, but there was something about this mans voice. "But you never answered my question…do you have magic? I think I do…but I don't know how to use it," went K the chains of his shackles dragging over the stone floor.

There was a long pause. "Yes I can, but my magic was taken away…I can feel your magic though, you are hosting a True Wind rune. That is why they keep you down here," said the man.

Huh? True wind rune? What the heck did that mean? But it was obvious that K had picked up something more than a simple rock since that night in the NG parking lot. And now this prisoner was telling him it is a rune.

"How do you know this? And how can I make it do more stuff? What is your name?" K demanded all at once, "I'm K or Claude by the way." There was no comment and K waited a good twenty minutes and still the man didn't answer. He sunk to the floor and sighed. He was feeling angry, he wanted to scream things at the stupid prisoner that obviously knew stuff but was not talking!

Stomping a foot hard against the floor, K had come to realize he'd thought of every viable plan or idea to get out of here but to no avail. He looked at the mark on his hand, "COME ON YOU FUCKING THING HELP ME!"

But nothing happened.

Hiro hadn't slept better in his whole life. He'd woken up and sure enough K's manservant had come to teach him about men's clothing. Now he was wearing proper clothes, well proper according to K that is, Hiro thought and smirked. He rolled his eyes on the way down the courtyard where K had asked his manservant to bring Hiro. So now he had on a black vest with a long sleeved shirt underneath, a pair of breeches with stockings and soft shoes.

Hiro felt like an ass.

"I feel as though I'm going to a costume party," Hiro said jovially to K as he approached the man sitting at a table in the courtyard. He was dressed similar to yesterday but he wore a cape this time. It was chilly outside in the morning and it was needed.

K only threw Hiro a dreary hollow gaze. "What do you mean, for once you look appropriate," he said rather arrogantly.

Hiro cut K a look before he sat down near him. On the table was a tea service. Tea in the garden, Hiro smirked once again. "K, I swear you are enjoying this royal business way to much. I mean look at you, you're holding the tea cup with your pinkie finger up," Hiro howled laughing at K's indignant look.

K ignored the silly remark and asked, "So you had a good rest last night then?"

Grabbing a cup of tea for himself, Hiro nodded enthusiastically, "Yes no weird dreams, no talking voices in my head. It was great."

"Good, tonight we should celebrate…and I don't mean in the dinning hall," K said coyly and sipped his tea. "I have my men searching for your friends, they should be found by the end of the day," K said his blue eyes glowing with assurance.

Once again K called Shuichi and Yuki "his friends" Hiro thought peculiarly. "What do you mean celebrate?" Hiro grabbed a scone and bit into it happily. He was starved again.

K smiled softly and placed his hand on Hiro's thigh. The guitarist's eyes widened and he gulped down the bit of breakfast pastry. "You know a visit to my royal chamber. Just you and me," spoke the king, his voice lined with intrigue. K didn't stop there; he brushed his hand right between Hiro's legs.

Hiro jumped and looked around like someone might be watching. No one seemed to be watching and Hiro only blushed crimson. "Heh, I see your point," Hiro whimpered as his body reacted to K's touches. His cock grew hard and he bit his lip, "K…maybe we should wait till later?"

"But why stop when you know you want it so badly Hiro?" K mused as his hand massaged over fabric and teased Hiro's erection.

Hiro was finding it very difficult to keep his head above water. Mmm, K's hand felt so good and so wrong at the same time. They were breaking all the rules and it was exciting and thrilling. Hiro looked into K eyes, deep cerulean blue pools that were crested with amusement. Oh of course K was enjoying himself as he put him on the spot. But something was telling Hiro, this just wasn't the way he wanted to lose himself for his first time with K. It was supposed to be passionate and alone. Their secret, not out here in a courtyard while eating breakfast, Hiro pulled away. He got up and sat at the other side of the table.

K shot him a strange look. "What's your problem?"

Hiro looked away, "K, I want our first time to be special." Man he knew he sounded like a pansy but still, he had his morals and he tried to live by them. "I want tonight to be special."

The blonde softened and smiled, "Of course you do. And you shall have that Hiro…please forgive my advances."

Almost growling at K's silly talking Hiro just stuffed the rest of the scone in his mouth. He watched his blonde crush like he was a bit of a stranger. And he was a stranger while he continued to act like a pompous ass! Hiro wasn't digging this and he wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. He wanted the real K back, the humorous, slightly imbalanced man, the one that loves his guns and plays with a hand puppet, K who loves his son and cries in office washrooms. Hiro watched K now, who never wore his hair in a ponytail anymore and fiddled with a ring on his finger. He wasn't even watching him like he normally does.

And Hiro had noticed just how much K watched him, because he too was always watching K. But now he seemed more interested in the design of his jewellery.

"So have you learned anything new with your magic?" Hiro questioned. He was greatly interested to see what K could do.

K lifted his eyebrows slightly, "It's nothing special. All over this world there is magic. Some are very strong and some are not. No one in the town can cast magic. It's forbidden, only I…I mean they made the rule not to allow magic."

"Not special? I'm fascinated by this fire magic I have," Hiro breathed looking at his hand. "I wonder when we go back if we get to keep this magic."

K sat silent, he didn't answer Hiro.

Two horses, with knights atop of them suddenly came galloping up to their table. "Your majesty," they said and bowed. They looked at Hiro and hesitated.

"It's fine, speak," K told them.

"My lord, rumours are that there were two men walking through the town last night but disappeared. One man said shadows took them but I think it's the work of The Guild. The witness said one of the men had pink hair and the other blond," spoke the tallest knight.

"That's them!" Hiro cried.

"But we have no location for The Guilds whereabouts," the knight continued.

"Those elusive fiends!" hollered K and pounded the table with his fist. It sent a dish to the ground where is broke in three pieces.

The horses jumped and the knights held a look of fear.

"I need those two men…our kingdom will fall. Do you hear me?! Kill any Guildsmen and make them talk!" cried K who got up with a sweep of his cape and stormed off.

Hiro blinked and looked at the two knights. The men gazed back and then one hrmph'd at Hiro. They then turned their horses around and went back down alleyway that brought them here. After they left Hiro went to go find K. What was his issue? What was all that drama about? Why was K getting so worked up?

Hiro ran in the direction he'd seen K go.

The screams carried up the mountain side. And soon the smell of smoke assailed Shuichi and Yuki's noses.

"What's going on?" Shuichi asked Tohma who was handing them a cloak to wear.

"Put that on and hurry!" demanded Tohma as he and Ryuichi put on their cloaks. "We have to get out of here, now!"

Yuki and Shuichi threw on the cloaks and were quickly led outside.

"What are we running from?" Yuki wondered as he found himself in the dreaded forest again. Coming to a ledge answered why they smelled smoke. The town near the castle was burning! From up here they stopped shortly to see the damage.

"Why is the village on fire?!" Shuichi demanded, gaping at the destruction.

But no one had a chance to say anything when a three headed dragon swooped up the side of the hill. It floated in the air with gigantic wings and roared at them, blowing a torch of fire

"HOLY FUCK!" Yuki cried and everyone ran.

But the dragon chased them and continued to breathe fire. "Hurry to the caves!" Tohma hollered back.

Everyone ran with everything they had and soon came upon this cave. They ran inside and Shuichi slowed down once under the stone ceiling.

SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!

The dragon's heads where reaching into the cave and snapping with killer intent. Shuichi sped past everyone as if his ass was on fire. When they were far enough away from the beast, Yuki and Shu turned to look at this dragon.

"Don't stop!" Ryuichi declared and grabbed at Yuki and Shuichi's sleeves.

The roaring continued as they went deeper into the belly of the cave. Yuki, felt almost like he was ready to pass out from the sheer shock of this experience and he leaned against a wall, panting. He lit a smoke and felt a pair of arms encircle his waist, Shuichi.

They didn't speak; they just stayed that way for a long while until Tohma spoke, "We can't stay here long the king's knights will be here very soon."

There was no sign of K. Hiro looked all over the place. He looked everywhere but the dungeon and he hesitated about going down there. But feeling a little rebellious he took a step down.

"Hiro?" went a familiar voice.

"Shuichi?!" questioned Hiro as he turned around to look at a man with not pink hair but brown. And there was Yuki, Suguru and Sakano. "What…what are you doing here?" Hiro stumbled not believing his eyes.

"Hiro, we've been so worried," Sakano started, "So this is where you went. I would never have believed it if you told me," Sakano said, looking around the castle in awe.

Suguru was nodding, "It took some serious convincing by these two but we understand what's going on now." The keyboardist was looking at Yuki and Shuichi who were dressed up just like Hiro.

"Ha, ha were did you find those clothes guys?" Hiro twittered with amusement. His best friend and Yuki looked so darn funny dressed like townsfolk.

After much spazz spells Sakano could honestly say, "These two aren't our Yuki and Shuichi. They live in this world and work for an organization called The Guild. They gave us these stones and look." Sakano held out his right hand and showed Hiro a mark on his hand. "These are rune symbols Hiro."

The guitarist looked completely bewildered as Suguru also showed him a mark on his hand. "They can be removed Hiro by a runemaster. My rune I'm told is not a true rune but a common one called Resurrection. I can heal people and Sakano; he actually has the True Lightning rune. You should see the bolts he can bring down," Suguru said with a big gloating smile.

Sakano and Suguru saw Hiro's look and started to explain all about True runes and The Guild. They even mentioned where to find the portal home and that they should get out of the castle before the king comes.

"Really?! I want to go home," Hiro claimed. "Now all we have to do is find Japan Yuki and Shuichi and go home." He was about to mention that K was the king and that they didn't need to worry but…

"Don't forget about me," went a smarmy voice.

"K?!" Suguru cried and did a double take.

Both Sakano and Suguru gaped at K all dressed in royal garb. They looked rather frightened and started to back up. Hiro didn't understand what was going on. "Guys?" Hiro muttered and turned around, blinking. Medieval Yuki and Shu were gone, simply vanished like when Hiro looked around. Now it was only the three of them left behind.

"He's K's other…" Sakano started but K spoke over him.

"Quiet, your powers have no effect here," K told them sternly. "Now relax and stay for the night. I have found your friends Hiro; soon we can all go home."

Hiro blinked and looked at Sakano and Suguru. Their demeanour did a complete one-eighty. They were smiling and laughed at K's comment. What the hell just happened? Hiro felt like he'd completely missed something here. Whatever it was flew right over his head. Hiro looked from K to the other two.

But the silence was broken by a knight that came scrambling into the assembly hall. "We have found the Guildsmen's last post. They were staying in a cottage on the hills. It was burning sir; it led us right to it. Must have been the work of that awful dragon," boasted the knight. "They can't be far, we'll bring them straight here."

Yes indeed Hiro had heard the attack of the dragon but it was short lived and seemed to head for the hills. But Hiro never saw the dragon, he looked out on the terrace but he couldn't see over the smoke.

"Now then just enjoy your stay," K told them all and Sakano and Suguru nodded.

Hours went by and K had his companion showed Sakano and Suguru to their room. It was like suddenly all the animated excitement that was on Sakano and Suguru's voices when they got here, was gone. Even over dinner they barely spoke. Neither mentioned the Yuki and Shuichi look-alikes and Hiro was really curious to what that was all about. He wondered if this world had his other half. And if it did what would Medieval Hiro be like? He had chuckled at the thought.

Now Hiro sat by the fire in his room and sighed. It was getting late once again and he felt bored. He felt confused and bored. Feeling unease Hiro opened his door and peered up and down the hall. He looked to his left, down the set of stairs that leads up to the top of the turret or down to the dungeons. Slowly he felt drawn to the stairs again, he started down.

K wasn't asleep; his head was aching from breathing in smoke that had found its way into the dungeon from outside. He managed to make the smoke into shapes and blow them up with little puffs of air. He felt like a kid. But then he heard voices and he strained to listen.

"Hiro why are you going down there?" went a very, very familiar voice.

"I was just lost…I was looking for you," Hiro said coolly. K could hear the lie on Hiro's voice.

HIRO?! He was alive and here! K's heart almost stopped with delightful surprise.

"There is nothing down there but rats," went the king. "Come I have something I want to show you and I want to warm you up Hiro."

Some giggling came from Hiro and he said, "K…maybe it'll be me that warms you up."

What?!

"HIRO!" K yelled over and over. But an invisible wall of air came down the stairs and practically slapped K in the face. He stopped yelling and he stood at the bars of his cell again. Fuck why was Hiro calling someone else K? And why did that someone sound exactly like him?! K was wracking his brain and he gripped into the bars with white knuckles.

"I gotta get out of here," K seethed through clenched teeth.

"My fathers middle initial is K," went the prisoner next to him.

Hiro had stopped for a moment when he thought he heard his name being called. But it was like a whisper in his ear. Or maybe it was the whispers that K was murmuring as he lay over him on a huge bed, covered in fine red silk. Only the glow of the fireplace to their left, gave light to the room that was warm and mystical. It was like there was a heartbeat in the room, a clock ticking down to the inevitable moment, when they would become one.

Kisses brushed over Hiro's neck as K's lips tasted his skin. Hiro was sighing and feeling that unmistakable hardness again. It came calling like this morning at the breakfast table, all ready to be petted and stroked.

"Finally you're going to be mine," breathed K as he untied his cape and let it fall to the floor. He slipped his hands under Hiro's shirt and felt over wiry toned muscles.

Sighing Hiro watched K's face. It was so determined and in control. But there was something else, greed. Hiro sensed greed on his lovers face, but why? "You'll always have me K." Hiro blushed after he said that. But it was the truth; he really hoped that K and he would become a lot more.

"Forever Hiro, we will live forever…"