Chapter 9: The End of Tyranny

For the next couple of days Tohma and Ryuichi helped everyone gain the most potential from their runes. The bear fact was they had to fight the dragon. Funny that no one really complained on the fact that they were going to fight a dragon. Not just a normal dragon but a dragon with three heads and delivered three kinds of magic! Maybe they thought it was a dream and soon it would all be over and someone would wake them. They would wake up and it would all be over and they could go home. Back to Japan to make music and sing at concerts, continuing with regular dramatics.

Not fire breathing dragons!

Or maybe they were getting used to this place and becoming accustomed to a world that was not their own. Maybe it was for the greater good, when in chaos people stuck together, helped out their fellow man. Well help in the form of modern Japanese rock band that is.

"Shuichi, I'm sick of getting wet from your magic!" complained Suguru.

The pink haired singer stuck his tongue out at the young keyboardist and sent a wave of water at the boy. Shuichi laughed heartily at his antics. Suguru was fuming mad at him as he stood there sopping wet and glaring daggers at him. There was nothing he could do with his resurrection magic, unless someone was unconscious. Instead Suguru grabbed a stick and threw it at Shuichi.

But the stick stopped in mid air before it could hit Shuichi. "Unless you both want a beating by this stick I suggest you stop your bickering," warned K controlling the air to stop the stick. Then he got a better idea and a bunch of stones rose into the air. "I may not have a gun but I can improvise," K chortled and shot the stones after Shuichi and Suguru. "I even named this spell, call it Buckshot," the blonde laughed manically.

Screaming, both boys dodged the stones and fell to the ground, covering their heads.

ZAP!

"Ouch!" K screeched and stopped his assault on Shuichi and Suguru. He narrowed his eyes on Sakano and rubbed his arse after getting shot with some voltage. "That smart," he whined.

Sakano stood with a smirk, "Ha, ha!" he laughed, "Not so tough now are ya?"

"Why you," went K and sent some stones after Sakano.

Everyone but Hiro and Yuki started to laugh; they were having fun with their magic, playing like school children.

Yuki shook his head at all this and calmly thought of a nasty earth spell. The ground began to shake. Oh yes he'd shut them all up, he thought happily. He didn't want to admit but this was sort of fun. Now as everyone stood in the forest clearing the ground split and a deep gouge opened up. Shuichi and Suguru scrambled up and K and Sakano stopped beating each other with lightning and wind, Hiro who was perched on a stump inspecting all this nonsense, watched with wide eyes. The ground shook so hard that everyone almost lost their balance. Between them the earth broke apart and molten rock bubbled out, it hissed and roared.

"Holy shit!" Hiro muttered and gaped at this display.

"That's some serious magic," K exclaimed and backed up away from the lava.

Yuki was snickering, "Man, you should see your faces." But as quickly as the spell started the molten rock was pulled back into the earth and the all was left was a gash in the ground. The spot only steamed from the serious assault of heat.

"Amazing," Tohma claimed and clapped, "You have all become so comfortable with your runes."

"Your magic training has been very successful, although no battle is easy but we have the strongest faith in you," Ryuichi told the group.

Everyone seemed happy to hear this and still eyed the gash in the earth carefully. The only one that didn't seem to happy was Hiro. So far no one could figure out how he was supposed to use his love rune.

"So what the heck am I supposed to do with this thing, shoot arrows and make the dragon my valentine or something?" Hiro wondered his voice very frustrated.

"You could give it a kiss," Shuichi teased.

Hiro gave Shuichi a dry look, he hadn't told anyone about the wings, expect K of course. But what the hell were they going to do for him?

"Guys…" Ryuichi went in a tired tone, "I have a feeling that you will have to find out the hard way Hiro. No one knows much about the True love rune. Come on rest up and grab some lunch."

Ryuichi had teleported everyone to another location, seeing as they couldn't stay in one spot for very long. The king's knights were looking for them, night and day. Tohma had explained to everyone to close their minds, so as not to lure anyone to their hiding places.

Everyone but Hiro started to head into the cabin, which was their new hideout. Suguru stopped and asked Hiro to dry him off. Hiro didn't mind and sent Suguru off dry as a bone with a little handprint left on his shirt.

"Aren't you coming Hiro?" K asked as they were left alone.

Hiro gave K a small smile; he looked over his new lover in a mix of his modern clothes and the ones Ryuichi gave him. It was actually very amusing; he had on this billowy white shirt, the collar donning drawstrings, which K left undone. Hiro thought he rather liked the way the long cuffs looked on the man; he drew a finger down the material. But K had on his own pants, because as he said the ones Ryuichi tried to give him were for pansies. Then there was the soft leather shoes, which sort of reminded Hiro of Peter Pan, he laughed.

K rolled his eyes, "Are you still laughing at my shoes? Have you forgotten you are wearing panty hose?" K stood looking at Hiro with his arms crossed and an indignant look on his face.

"They are not! They only go to my knees…I have nothing else to wear," Hiro sighed as he looked over the outfit he still had on from the castle. "At least we could all wash our clothes earlier."

"Yes thanks for that and thanks for Hiro the human clothes dryer too," K offered and watched Hiro as he still played with his cuff. "You like my shirt? Makes me look like a duke or something you think?" K said and then thought no that sounded way too much like that nasty look-alike of his. He wanted to cheer up Hiro, not remind him of that bastard king. "Maybe I look like a gypsy? You wanna rub my crystal ball?" K said trying so hard to make it sound serious.

Hiro laughed loudly, "Man, the more serious you try to look the funnier it is."

"Come on let's go chill out and not think about later…I'm sure we'll figure out that rune of yours. Unless you want me to try and turn you into an angel again?" K offered holding out his hand for Hiro to take. K didn't care if everyone saw them holding hands. As far as he was concerned Bad Luck did a lot more risqué things on stage then what he would ever do with Hiro in the open.

There was no quip to K's voice this time. Hiro realized that K wanted to see those wings again. Well if it was like the last time, Hiro certainly didn't mind either. He took K's strong hand and allowed himself to be pulled up.

"What do you think I need wings for?" Hiro wondered and stood looking up at K's face. He was so much taller than him, that sometimes Hiro felt like a dwarf. But it was something that intrigued Hiro the most, all the fantasies he had of being taken by someone bigger and honestly stronger.

"No idea but they could make huge headlines in your next music video," went K but he saw the frown on Hiro's face.

"That's even if we live to shoot another video!" clamoured Hiro suddenly feeling the fear he had of this soon to come battle.

K kicked at the dirt with his soft leather shoe, "Damn, I'm sorry. Look we will go in there like the men we are and kick my doubles' ass! No one goes around giving Winchester a bad name! Plus he tried to move in on my boyfriend…that's if you want to be my boyfriend?" It was one of those questions that K needed to hear an answer too.

Hiro felt his fear subside for a moment and he peered into K's eyes. "K…I can't believe you even have to ask," he said in a whisper, "I mean you're a crazy guy but that's what makes you so unique. For once I'm glad my heart led me to something real…and I never want to loose that. I only wish I had the guts to tell you sooner but I'm a bashful guy. I want to be much more than just boyfriends," Hiro was being honest. "But I guess hearing it and reading it on someone's mind is two different things hmm?"

The blonde nodded. It was different; hearing Hiro say all this was he really wanted. It was like a confirmation that K needed to hear. "I'm always open to the bigger and grander scheme Hiro," K replied with a grin and took Hiro's face in each of his hands. He then urgently kissed Hiro.

They held on to each other and forgetting the world, they stood kissing in the forest.

But the moment past and K pulled back, "I could kiss you all day and I swear when we get back, I'm going to kiss you so much your lips will be swollen for a week," K promised and chuckled.

Hiro smiled and smirked, "Just before we go off to battle…" he looked around, "…wanna try and bring out those wings again?" Dark eyebrows wiggled in a naughty invitation to K.

K's eyes widened and he grabbed Hiro's hand again. "Come quick before anyone sees where we went," he chimed and hauled behind him a laughing Hiroshi deep into the thicket of the forest.

"Seems like passion brings out those wings of yours," K murmured as he kissed Hiro's mouth in the afterglow.

They had put their clothes back on and in no hurry to return to the hideout, stood kissing under a maple tree.

"It seems so…but do you feel anything when it happens?" Hiro wondered, pulling back from the kisses.

K shook his head, "No, but there must be a use for them. Either way it's the sexiest thing I ever saw." He was practically purring in Hiro's ear as he said that.

But as they just started to head back K and Hiro heard a roar as a shadow flew over head.

"The dragon!" Hiro cried and sprinted towards the hideout.

K and Hiro ran back to the cabin where everyone was filing out of. They obviously heard the roar too and came out to inspect it. The dragon flew over head and in one blast it destroyed the hideout. Everyone scrammed and dodged flying debris.

Scattered around the ruined cabin the group scanned the skies for the beast but it was quiet. Gathering quickly together they all watched as K's double walked out of the thicket. He was dressed in the finest soft beige robes lined with golden hems. A heavy crown adorned his head and the evilest grin sat upon his face.

K narrowed his eyes at his "other". "I'm going to kick your ass this time you evil me!"

Hiro grabbed his lover's shirt as K tried to charge ahead. "Remember we can't hurt him like this. I think he has to be in the form of the dragon," he explained.

Emotionless the king said, "So my over zealous game last time allowed you to figure out the secret did it?" This time the king held a sceptre a gnarly staff with a gem on the tip. "I call upon the darkness, swallow their souls," demanded the king and the day changed to night and the chill that fell upon the group was remarkably icy.

Everyone shivered.

"He has the rune of death on that sceptre!" claimed Tohma who was standing nearby. "It will not kill you instantly; rather it will eat your soul and freeze you to death!"

Murmurs of disbelief flitted throughout the group. "I could take us all to another hideout?" Ryuichi offered.

"NO!" hollered Hiro, "We will take care of his now!"

A hand tugged at Hiro's shirt, "Hiro…" whined Shuichi, "I can barely see the king it's so dark."

"And its soo cold," Sakano said over chattering teeth.

Suguru had knelt so he could huddle for warmth, "H…how are we supposed to defeat this guy?"

"Hiro use your fire…" Yuki told him his breath coming out in a fog.

That's right Hiro seemed to forget his fire magic after he'd gotten the True love rune. Raising his hands like he was splashing someone, Hiro made fire rush up the trees surrounding them. All around them the trees burned. It gave off heat and light.

"Useless display of power," boasted the king and blowing over the tip of his staff, he blew out the fire with an icy breath.

"Fuck, how are we supposed to win this battle?" groaned K the tip of his eyelashes coated in frost. It was getting colder and he looked around to see everyone shivering. Shuichi was huddling with Yuki and Sakano's lips were turning blue. Suguru just sat on the ground holding his knees to his chest. They were going to die; K thought and lastly looked at Hiro. He was trying to be so strong but as he looked at him, K thought he saw defeat.

The king came closer, he walked right up to Hiro and no one could fight back, they were so numb with cold. Arrogantly the blonde king held up Hiro's chin between his fingers. "It could have been so simple, it can still be that simple…if you let it Hiroshi," went the king casting his eyes in K's direction. "What's the matter foe, cat got your tongue?" the king laughed as K glared at him, his blue eyes blazing.

The deep freeze was becoming so unbearable that even K couldn't stand any longer. He fell to his knees and could only watch the king trying to brainwash his lover. Hiro was the only one still standing, not as affected by the cold.

"Why haven't you fallen like the rest?" asked the king.

Hiro didn't know either and he looked behind him, oh no! All his friends seemed like they were in great pain by the looks on their faces. Hiro didn't answer the king; he couldn't tear his eyes from his dying friends, his lover. Hiro knelt quickly next to K; his breath came out in slow puffs of air, crystallizing instantly.

But what Hiro didn't know was they felt no pain at all.

"STOP THIS!" Hiro screamed at the king, "I'll go with you! But don't kill them!"

The king merely scoffed at that, "You are in no position to make deals. They will die and you'll be mine. No fuss their bones will be picked clean by morning."

Hiro never in his life felt at such an utter loss. He was alive while everyone around him was dying! Frightened, Hiro reached out and touched a strand of K's hair but it broke, simply snapped at his touch, it was frozen solid. Shocked, Hiro knew this only occurred at absolute zero he looked at K's eyes, they did not move. Everyone including K was frozen like statues.

"NO!" Hiro cried and felt something warm slide over his cheeks, tears. He stood and faced the king with clenched fists, tears streaking his face.

"No amount of fire magic will save them now…but why are you still alive?" growled the king and he laughed. "No matter your righteousness has become tiring…I think I'll kill you after all."

"I…will…not…let you win," seethed Hiro.

"Prepare to die!" roared the king.

Hiro closed his eyes.

The king held up his sceptre and it began to glow like a dark light.

A tear fell from Hiro's eye, glimmering like wet gold; it fell off his chin and splashed on the ground. Just then all around him like a pleasant winter snow, golden stardust floated down from the sky.

"Death!" The king commanded casting his spell.

But Hiro stood firm, proud like a sentry as magnificent wings spread behind him. The death spell only hit a barrier in front of Hiro and faded. He could barely feel it but his body was floating about two feet above the ground. Hiro opened his eyes and saw that he was indeed not standing on his own feet. Then he looked in awe as the stardust like snow fell down on him. He looked at the king who was staring at him in surprise.

"You…you are the bearer of the True love rune, which is why you aren't affected by the cold…" he breathed. "I should have killed you the first day I saw you!"

"But you didn't and now…," Hiro replied gazing behind himself and watched as everyone began to wake up, "…we're going to kick your ass." Hiro's magic was ending the dark spell. The stardust was unthawing everyone and bringing them back to life.

The group stood up again and felt themselves filled with immense power and warmth. They looked in awe at the beautiful light that fell from the sky and they were speechless when they spotted Hiro. He was no longer just a man; he was like an angel from the heavens, using some kind of power that no one could imagine.

The king backed up, his face riddled with worry. He went to cast another spell with the Death rune.

"No, no more," went Hiro confidently and he closed his eyes once more and held out his hand, as if to say stop. The rune on the kings' staff began to shine a blinding white light. It shone so bright that most had to shield their eyes. The staff began to shake and the rune burst, it shattered and dispersed in the air.

The Death rune was no more. And at the same moment the sun returned and the sky was blue again.

"Hiro?"

He heard K's voice, it made him smile and Hiro opened his eyes and looked to his right. Hiro suddenly dropped to the ground and in one emotional swoop he crushed K in a fierce hug. "Thank god you're alive…you're all alive," he whispered through K's hair.

Everyone looked on and Shuichi reached out to touch Hiro's wings. "Awesome," he breathed. "Can you fly?"

Laughing Hiro pushed himself off of K and said, "I don't know."

"It's not over yet," Sakano claimed and pointed ahead of them. "He's turned into a dragon again."

They all craned to see and sure enough the king had only his one weapon left, his dragon form. But this form they could fight and now everyone was ready for battle.

"This asshole is going down," Yuki muttered and put on his game face.

"I want first shot!" K demanded and from beneath the dragon a ring of green glowed. Suddenly encircling the ring formed a gigantic tornado. It twisted and angrily it roared, tearing up the earth and growing into a huge cyclone. K was so pent up with energy that his whole being glowed with a soft green light. He laughed as he unleashed his wrath, his hair flying all about.

"Wooo yea!" Shuichi cheered.

But the tornado's spell past and the dragon that was swooped up in the tornado's current came crashing to the ground. It landed with a boom, causing the ground to shake. Then it roared angrily at them.

"I think you pissed it off," Suguru claimed with a scoff. He wished he could give it a knock or two with something better than his resurrection magic though.

They weren't ready when the beast unleashed a blast of ice and they held up their arms instinctively. But they didn't have to worry because as long as Hiro had his wings out they were covered by an invisible barrier. The ice simply blasted against the shield and did them no harm. Finally Hiro had a reason for his wings.

"I'm really sick of him and his ice shit," growled Sakano and called on his True Lightning rune. Above the dragons head the blackest of storm clouds formed and from the ground up lightning sparked with fierce strength. It not only did it zap the dragon, but it built a huge ball of energy around the beast as lightning struck it repeatedly inside the bubble. Then like a grenade it exploded.

The dragon roared in pain but it was still standing.

"Does it ever die?" Yuki complained.

"It has too!" Shuichi reckoned. "Try your earth stuff Yuki."

Sighing and wanting this to end already Yuki relented. "I got something better than before," he claimed, boasting a little and like all his spells the ground began to shake. The earth yawned open, breaking apart with a monstrous noise. Quickly all around the dragon the earth turned red and angry. As it heated up like molten rock, the dragon began to sink inside of it. It roared and screeched, trying to fly out of the lava pit. But before it could haul itself out, gigantic sharp edged rocks jutted out of the pit and stabbed the dragon through. And like all the other spells it quickly faded and the earth returned to normal.

Tohma and Ryuichi watched from the sidelines in complete awe. The dragon was barely hanging on by a thread. These strange people were going to end their tyranny. Ryuichi threw himself around Tohma and they hugged with tears in their eyes. No one could imagine their relief.

"I think he's almost finished," Hiro said and added, "Let's all hit it with our magic and that should kill it."

Everyone nodded and they concentrated, unleashing their magic on the beast. Wind, earth, lightning and Hiro well he realized his magic was light. Amongst K's air blades, Yuki's lethal jutting rocks, Sakano's blazing streaks of lightning, Hiro made beams of light fall from the sky like missiles. They hit the dragon with everything they had and when it all connected, they too were blasted off there feet. The explosion was so immense that they got a good amount of flack.

Shuichi rubbed his head and sat up groaning. Boy that hurt but thought he could finally use his water magic. He cast his healing rain. All they heard was K laughing.

K couldn't help it, "This has been the wildest ride I've ever been on!" He kept laughing as the rain fell on him.

"You're a moron," Yuki muttered and sat up, wiping the dirt off his arse.

But K's silly laugh was contagious, Sakano and Suguru joined in too, it was the aftershock. The American was right though, this was the wildest thing they'd ever experience and probably the last. The rain rejuvenated them and they all got to their feet. As the dust settled they anxiously looked for signs of the dragon.

"It has to be dead now," Suguru mentioned smiling with elation.

Eyes all looked upwards, expecting to see a huge dragon, only they landed on a man. They all went in closer and there was K's look-alike, sprawled on his back, scales still turning back to skin. As the transformation ended there was nothing left but a naked man.

"You have destroyed his Sovereign rune," Tohma said coming up behind them and with his booted foot he turned over the king's right hand. The mark was gone.

"The evil is gone!" cheered Ryuichi happily.

But as everyone murmured with elation they heard a horse galloping up behind them.

"FATHER!" Michael hollered jumping off his horse and running to his father's side. Removing his cape he covered up his real father.

The king opened his eyes and looked at his son, "Michael…" he practically sobbed. "My son…I'm so sorry."

Michael knelt hugging his dying father. He had no words; only silent tears zigzagged down his cheeks.

Suddenly the elation everyone felt was replaced with melancholy. For one to have freedom another had to die. They all stood watching with sombre faces. And no sooner after the king changed back into a man, he began to age just as rapidly. His three thousand years were catching up, now that the rune was no longer giving him eternal youth. Blonde hair turned grey and skin wrinkly and old.

His last words were, "Now I am free…"