Chapter 8: The True Love Rune

Hours went by and the night pushed on. The horses made their way through the spooky dark forest. Maybe it would have been a better idea if they had camped out for the night. But really it was to their advantage to move while under the seclusion of nightfall. It would be harder for the king's knights to find them…or the dragon.

As tough as K tried to be after their escape from the castle, with his singing and joking around, it was faltering now. His elated feeling of seeing Hiro again, all the drama with seeing Michael, and the week he spent in a dungeon took its toll. Thankfully Hiro was holding onto K or he would have fallen right off the horse, when he passed out.

"K?" Hiro questioned worriedly when he felt K slump forward, but he got no reply.

Sakano rode up beside them, "He's passed out cold." The producer closed his eyes and muttered, "It must have been hell in that dungeon for him, poor guy." Sakano produced a rope that he'd grabbed from the stable and tied it around the horses' necks. He and Suguru took the lead and Hiro's tethered horse followed.

Hiro gave Sakano a grateful thumbs up. He took off his vest and rolled it up, and then he stuffed it under K's head for softness. He then pulled his shirt closed against the chilly night, since he hadn't done up his shirt from when the king undid it. They rode on and it seemed like they were never going to find these caves. Bodies weary and tired, their minds cruising at a hundred miles an hour, this whole adventure was becoming doubtful. Would they even make it out of here alive?

SNAP

Sakano halted his horse and put a finger to his lips to make sure no one made a sound. Everyone stayed quiet and strained to listen. If K was awake he could have sniffed out the entity of that sound but they didn't have that option.

"Hiya traveller's from another world," went a cute voice and a man with a plushie dog on his head came out of the woods.

Hiro was blinking, "Ryuichi?"

"No, this isn't the Ryuichi we know, because we know he's back home," Suguru explained.

"Yup I live here and I came to look for you. Your minds gave away your location, so it was easy to find you. You're all so worried…please don't, come follow me and I'll bring you to some people who will be happy to see you," spoke the other Ryuichi.

They did follow him and he brought them to a set of caves. They were different from the ones they were in earlier, when the dragon had chased them. These caves were lower in the valley, far from there last location. They had gotten there so quickly because Ryuichi is the bearer of the Blinking rune. There were points all over the world that he could just teleport to. It would have been easy to get away from the dragon the other day but everyone was running and they needed to be holding on to him for it to work. Thankfully there are lots of caves that The Guild uses for hideouts all around.

Since Michael had given them great directions, he didn't have to teleport them now either. The horses were tied up outside the entrance of a cave that was situated near a river. Sakano and Suguru dismounted but Hiro didn't, he looked stuck.

"I'm strong but even I can't lift a 6 foot 2 man," Hiro said with a weak smile. He slid off the horses back, and stood looking at K who didn't look like he was about to wake anytime soon. He could barely see K's face that was blanketed by his matted blonde hair. Hiro brushed the hair behind K's ear tenderly.

Suguru and Sakano gave each other an amused look. There was no denying Hiro's affections towards Bad Lucks manager. They grinned and Ryuichi realized he could help them out.

"Here let me take care of this," Ryuichi told them and came up next to K. "Just make your way into the cave ok?" The man with the plushie took a hold of K's hand and closed his eyes. In seconds they both vanished.

All three stood struck by surprise.

"Where did they go?" demanded Hiro.

"All this strange magic…" Sakano exclaimed, "But he did say go into the cave. Let's go."

The three men did as they were told and entered a very dark cave. It was really hard to see and Suguru tripped on something, a rock maybe. But Hiro had an idea and he opened his hand and summoned fire. It burned in the palm of his hand like a torch.

"This is so surreal," breathed Suguru.

Hiro only grinned and they continued deep into the cave. It smelled of earth and the closer they got they could smell smoke of a cooking fire. The ceilings were very low and often Sakano found himself ducking a protrusion of rock or a stalagmite. Soon a big area opened up and the ceiling rose higher than they could see. Before them was a small pool of water and they stood on a sandy shore. On the shore in the farthest corner of the cave were Shuichi, Yuki, Tohma and Ryuichi and K.

"Hiro!" cried Shuichi as he ran to tackle his best friend with a welcoming hug. He then gaped at Suguru and Sakano.

"Shuichi…I'm so happy to see you, even you Yuki," Hiro said teasingly and the writer hrmph'd. "Yea Suguru and Sakano were brought here but you'll never guess by who," went Hiro.

Shuichi told Hiro about what Tohma said about their other halves being sent to modern Japan. When Hiro's eyes widened at this information, he then peered over at the Tohma and Ryuichi look-alikes. Shuichi then explained who they were.

"Wow, this just gets crazier," Hiro claimed.

"Hiro, I can do magic…look!" Shuichi gushed excitedly and cast a spell.

It began to rain.

Blinking everyone laughed and covered their heads as water droplets landed on them. Not only did the rain surprise them, it also made them feel completely energized!

"Shuichi! How?!" Hiro wondered completely shocked.

"Them," the pink haired singer said pointing to Tohma and Ryuichi. "They gave us magic stones Hiro," Shuichi told him happily.

"Runes, you over-excited gob," Yuki put in sarcastically but with a tiny smirk.

"Yuki has the True earth rune…" Shuichi started again but Tohma cut in.

"How about we talk after and you use that rain on the person that could really use it?" the man with platinum hair said, a quirk to his lips. He pointed at K.

Completely dazed by all the stuff that was happening here; Hiro felt that worry return for his crush. He hurried to K who was laid on a soft bed of grass. It must have been collected and put there for that purpose, Hiro thought. Wow K never looked so awful. Now that Hiro had a chance to study him, even as everyone watched him doing so, he noticed K even lost a few pounds. His cheeks were a bit hollower and he was so grubby. Hiro reached out and pet his hair.

Shuichi stared for a few moments as his best friend kneeled near K and wore that look of concern. So it was true, his friend had really fallen for their band manager. But as disgusting as Shuichi might have thought that would be, he found himself touched instead. Hiro was a great man and he'd give his heart fully, K was a really lucky guy, Shuichi thought. He smiled and produced a warm rain.

Everyone watched to see the extent of his True water rune magic. It was definitely trying to do something but the spell needed something more. K wasn't waking up.

Suguru stepped forth, "I have healing magic too…in fact the Yuki look-alike told me it was good for times like this. Let me try."

Shuichi stopped the rain and begrudgingly let Suguru step in. Always trying to steal the show, he thought with a pout and watched Suguru close his eyes. Soon a light glowed from beneath K's sleeping form. It was like a crest and it was intricately designed, its colour was that of the warmest light.

K opened his eyes.

"Brilliant," cheered Tohma, "You all have learned so fast. I'm glad that Yuki and Shuichi were such great teachers."

The singer and writer looked at each other oddly when they heard that.

K's eyes darted towards Hiro, he seemed freaked for a moment but then he relaxed. "For a minute I thought I was still locked up," he said solemnly.

"You passed out," Hiro told him.

K sat up and looked around, there was Tohma dressed like a buffoon and Ryuichi with a puppy plushie. Oh Sakano and Suguru were still here, that's nice. And what do you know Yuki and Shuichi too, K noticed. Heh, everything was just peachy, K thought with a shrug. Maybe he was dreaming? But there was almost nothing more that could surprise him he thought and asked, "What's there to eat?"

Laughing at K's look, Ryuichi handed him some bread, cheese and an apple.

K thanked the man, "Will someone please explain this freak show?"

The group spent the next while talking about all that had occurred. About the runes, about the king, about the "others" that living in this world, they explained how they found the portal and how K and Hiro came to find those runes in the first place.

"So you lured us like a couple of sea bass and reeled us into your world to kill…that king?!" bellowed K.

Tohma and Ryuichi nodded, "It didn't quite go as planned."

K narrowed his eyes, "I swear if I had my gun," he threatened them. Oh yea he'd shot them an extra asshole for all this trouble.

Tohma sighed, "We're very sorry but…"

Suddenly there was another presence in the cave, actually three more. Everyone turned to look and prepared to kick some ass. But only Michael appeared with Medieval Yuki and Shuichi.

"Michael!" K was the first to say.

Michael introduced himself to everyone.

"We have missed you leader and our true king," went the guildsmen and they bowed in front of Michael.

"Too many years lost friends…I don't blame you for anything," Michael told them firmly. "Please, let's try to forget where I have been, can we?"

Tohma and Ryuichi and the Medieval Shuichi and Yuki, nodded.

"Please sit and relax, I do hope you have fulfilled your duties in the search?" asked Michael to his fellow Guildsmen.

The Japan crew looked on like they were watching some crazy reality show. Michael was the leader of The Guild? And he was the king?! Was this K's son?! They all looked at K and he shook his head no.

Tohma nodded and dug in a pouch attached to his belt. "Yes we found the True love rune my lord," spoke the man and he handed the stone to Michael.

Michael smiled wide at this, "Now we can stop the tyranny."

"What's the True love rune?" asked Shuichi.

Without replying Michael walked over to Hiro. He knelt in front of where Hiro sat next to K. "Hold out your hand Hiroshi of Japan," Michael commanded.

Looking around uneasily as everyone starred at him Hiro said, "Err…what? But I already have a rune."

Grinning Michael replied, "Yes but it is only a common Rage rune, great fire power but not anything that will stop my father and his Sovereign rune. The Guild needed to test you…and you proved that your heart overcomes your mind. You came here to rescue the one that you love."

Hiro's cheeks burned crimson at that.

"Not many would take such heroic actions. And only the one that has the biggest heart can bear this rune. Now hold out your left hand," Michael asked again.

Looking at K who was actually silent as he listened to this, Hiro nodded and held out his hand. Michael placed a stone that was as clear as a diamond onto his palm. Unlike all the other runes this one began to glow.

Everyone was still and watching as the glow spread up Hiro's arm and under his sleeve. It dissolved easily into his hand like the other rune did and the glowing stopped.

Michael and the Guildsmen all mumbled some prayer. The Medieval group were elated that they had found the one to bear this rune. "Without you we cannot destroy my father," Michael said.

Hiro only sat quietly and watched as a new symbol appeared on the back of his left hand.

K was watching Hiro intently and patted his arm comfortingly.

Then Michael looked at K warmly, "I'm glad to know that my father from the other world could be the kind of father I never had."

K turned to look this other Michael in the eye, "I'm sorry..."

"It was never your fault and I'm sorry you ever had to see this," Michael said and forgetting for one moment that this K wasn't his real father, he hugged the man.

Hesitantly at first K hugged him back but then he thought of his real son back home and urgently embraced this Michael. And even for the teensiest moment, Michael felt like he was truly loved by his father. It was all he needed and he was grateful.

Michael pulled back and told K, "Remember that the man that calls himself king has been dead for thousands of years. His body only lives because of that rune, he produced me only thirty-nine years ago. What he did before all that is a mystery. His heart no longer belongs to him…he's like a controlled zombie."

These words made the whole group silent for the rest of the night. No one knew what to say after all that and each found a spot to sit and relax, all contemplating on the strange events.

By morning, Hiro woke up, stiff from the hard ground. He looked around and noticed K was gone. He also noticed that Michael and the look-alike Yuki and Shu were gone as well. When Shuichi spotted him awake he told him that the Medieval Yuki and Shu went home. They were no longer needed. He also mentioned that Michael had some other business to do and would find them when the time comes.

"Do you know where K went?" Hiro then asked, looking over his newest mark; the love symbol. It wasn't fluffy like a heart shape or anything, it was just a swishy line but it wasn't dark like his fire rune. Instead this one was pearly white.

"Ryuichi gave him soap and a change of clothes…so I guess he's washing up," Shuichi told him.

A bath sounded like a grand idea! Hiro couldn't help but have a dirty thought.

Shuichi cut Hiro a look. "I so didn't want to know that!" whined the singer loudly.

Gah! Hiro forgot about the telepathy thing, especially now that they all had runes. He remembered K telling him they could only share thoughts if they allowed it. Hiro quickly closed his mind off to the others. A little flustered, he went in search of K.

Hiro walked outside of the cave and looked around. Again they were in a forest, but the sun shined down through the trees and if warmed Hiro's face. He inhaled the fresh scent of pine and the earthly scent of decomposing leaves. The morning dew was still on the ground and each step Hiro left an imprint in the mossy, leafy ground.

He hoped that no one would follow him and Hiro couldn't stop the feeling of butterflies in his stomach. For the first time he was going to be with K all alone and who knew what they might talk about. Hiro felt surprised with after what happened to him with the king that he didn't look at the real K with repugnance. But there was such a difference between the two that Hiro could barely compare them. But he still felt like a dolt for not realizing it sooner. K was K and that was an entity in itself, he thought with a smirk.

Hiro headed towards the sound of rushing water, which had to be the place K went. He walked slowly as his eyes spotted the river and to his right, a waterfall. It was beautiful, not very high but at least eight feet tall as it spilled over the jutting edge of some rock. The water landed in a pool in which Hiro spotted K.

Hiro's mouth dropped open, his breath caught in his throat. There before him was all of K, Hiro's eyes travelled up long legs, flat and toned stomach, miles of long blonde hair that he was rinsing under the waterfall. K stood naked under the falls; his eyes closed relishing in the delight of the water falling down on him. Hiro was hard in seconds.

Almost not wanting to disrupt this scene, Hiro debated on staying where he was and just watching until K was finished. But he didn't want to seem like some voyeur and walked up the shoreline towards the pool. There was only one way to even out the score of spying. Hiro began to strip out of his clothes.

K felt a presence and opened his eyes and spotted Hiro removing his clothes. He said nothing, nor did he go to hide himself in the water. K stood there watching as each piece of clothing came off of Hiro and landed in a pile on the ground beside him. His heart quickened at this, Hiro was blatantly offering himself, and K could feel it. For so long he wanted Hiroshi but it was so complicated back home. But now…now it was all out in the open, there was nothing to hide, no barriers to cross. Before him was a man that bore the True love rune…because of him.

K's heart swelled.

What greater message could a lover get than that? What other words needed to be spoken? There were none. It was just them and all their splendour.

Hiro stepped into the water; it was cool at first but refreshing. If Hiro wanted to he could warm up this water but right now, as he locked onto K's eyes, he didn't think he needed it. There was enough heat between them to light a thousand torches. Instead he padded over the sandy bottom of the pool, turned and tipped his head back, letting the waterfall wet his hair and refresh his body. He closed his eyes and sighed when he felt K smooth the soap he got from Ryuichi all over his body.

"Come stand in front of me," K urged after he'd washed him. Hiro opened his eyes as he stood flush against K. Their chests pressed together, heaving with exhilaration.

K worked the soap through Hiro's hair and lathered it up, the whole while they never took their eyes off each other. The water crashed over K's back as he leaned in, searching for Hiro's mouth. Hiro turned his head up, lips parting slightly and inviting K to kiss him.

Lips met. They kissed.

Everything around them stood still, they didn't hear a sound as their hearts crashed against one another. Hiro opened up and tasted K hot wet mouth, tongues meeting in with an impassioned sigh of fulfilment. K let the soap drop into the water and wrapped his arms around the guitarist, soapy hands crushing Hiro's body against his. They kissed under the waterfall.

K swapped sides with Hiro and helped him rinse the soap from his hair. Afterwards he bent and scooped Hiro up in his arms. The musician didn't care, nor did he fuss, he wrapped his arms around K's neck and allowed himself to be carried to the edge of the water. K laid him down on some moist and very soft grass. They were so close to the falls that the mist was landing on them as K crawled over top of Hiro.

They stared at each other for a moment, K petting wet burgundy strands of hair from Hiro's face. He let his finger trail slowly over the ridge of Hiro's nose and over his lips. Still they did not speak, instead speaking to each other with their sensual body language. They didn't listen to each others minds, not wanting to share their moment with anyone else.

K could smell the passion coming from Hiro; it was so intense he felt like he would crack. This magic he had was so unique and he breathed in Hiro's scent with a smile. Then he had an idea, he remembered playing with the smoke. With that he sat up and with his finger he wrote through the mist with air, I love you. His magic made it stay there for a moment.

Hiro smiled softly and pulled K back down for another passionate kiss, thrusting his hips and his erection up against K's. He groaned low in his throat, he wanted more.

"Please…" Hiro mewled as K's mouth move down and over his throat.

Hearing Hiro's plea K wasn't about to disappoint. He licked his way down between Hiro's legs. He nosed over Hiro's excited member, enjoying how hard he was and wanting him. K felt a throb between his own legs; the yearning he felt was just as strong. His breathing hitching up a bit faster, K took Hiro's shaft into his mouth.

Hiro bucked against him and moaned. Whoa, so sexy K thought and let the flesh glide past his lips and over his tongue. He let the member slide down his throat and tongued over the rigid cock, teasingly. Watching with eyes all lit up, K used his free hand to play against Hiro's entrance.

Looking down to see if this was really happening; Hiro let another moan escape his throat. K was really here and making him feel so good. He reached down to smooth a hand over K's pale face. He tenderly touched him while he continued to move his hot mouth up and down his shaft.

"Ohh…K," Hiro sighed. Blue eyes looked up to meet his; Hiro almost came with the look. Desire was pouring from K's gaze and Hiro whimpered.

K wet his finger and gently slipped it inside Hiro's tight entrance. He had to work him to make having sex without lubrication as easy as possible. He spent a good few moments fingering the man, even getting him loose enough for another finger. All while he sucked on Hiro's member, saliva dribbled down past his sack and over his entrance. The wetness met up with K's fingers and he released Hiro's cock from his mouth. Blonde head moving lower he generously added more moisture to Hiro's entrance by licking and drooling.

Moistened K crawled back over Hiro. They kissed again and K guided his own erection inside of Hiro all at once. Slowly though he entered him and stopped the kiss to watch Hiro's face. He whispered sweet things and felt Hiro eagerly succumb to him. His body relaxed and welcomed K's body.

Slowly and softly they made love on the wet grass, the mist making them glisten like sweat. All around them nature added to the most intimate of human acts. Hiro let out small whimpers of pleasure and K held on to him so tight, thrusting and sighing. It was the most beautiful sound as they brought each other to the ultimate of pleasures.

Closer the feeling came, rushing through their veins like a torrent of molten rock. Hiro opened his eyes and saw the love symbol begin to glow. K saw it too and as they rode their love higher and higher. In one swift move K pulled Hiro up along with him into a sitting position. He held on and Hiro wrapped his legs around K's waist, then he started to move up and down. Feeling K's shaft filling him further, gasping in pleasure, Hiro began to ride him.

K held on tight and moaned as Hiro fucked him. He was going to come any moment now, "Come with me Hiro," begged K.

The symbol still glowed and in one glorious moment, a set of beautiful white wings spread behind Hiro's back. They opened with all their glory as Hiro climaxed, crying out with K as he spilled his seed inside of him.

K opened his eyes and his mouth dropped open, "Hiro…" he breathed.

Hiro smiled at K's exalted sigh of his name. But he felt something warm on his back and looked from side to side. Wings! Big feathery, soft angel like wings! "H…how?" Hiro stumbled.

"The true love rune Hiro, it has to be," K said completely astonished and yet touched. "I love you Hiro…you are the most beautiful angel."

Hearing those words, K still buried inside of him, Hiro held onto his lover with all his heart. "I love you too; I've loved you for so long…" Hiro whispered against K's skin.

As they held each other the wings came around enveloping them both.