Ok sorry I haven't updated in a while … 

I know I keep promising to update soon but... Unfortunately I get distracted …

This chapter:

Home again

The trip back to Shin Makoku was awkward to say the least; the silence was for one very unwelcome in Murata's books, when had Yozak learned to keep his mouth shut.

He never used to hold his tongue in Murata's presence before, they were … for lack of a better word …friends, so why wasn't Yozak talking to him, they never used to have these uncomfortable moments before.

Every time he tried to start up a normal conversation Yozak would a short yes or no answer, 2. He would blow him off totally pretending he hadn't heard or act like he was busy with something else or the third option, Yozak used this when he really didn't want to talk no 3. he would remind Murata of how much he screwed up, he would tell him about who he hurt and how stupid he was for doing such a reckless thing in such a way that it didn't seem disrespectful but it wasn't fully Yozak, it wasn't his style.

He wasn't exactly sure of what he expected when he was found out, but he was quite sure it wasn't supposed to be like this.

It was 2 weeks after they had left Isamu and Masaru when Murata noticed the familiar surroundings, it was then he began to panic (internally of course), what was he going to say, he hoped Yuuri was ok, he really hoped that he didn't hurt anyone by leaving but he sincerely doubted that no matter what Yozak said. He had wanted to write a letter to Yuuri but he couldn't think of anything to say to make up for his actions, that and he was quite sure that Yozak had already told Yuuri and the others that they were returning, writing a letter seemed so… daunting, what if Yuuri read it and thought that because he didn't have any excuse that he wasn't a worthy friend or what if he thought that Murata wasn't reliable enough and cut off all connections to him … ok so he was quite sure that Yuuri wouldn't do that but still he couldn't help but imagine the situation of Yuuri opening the letter sent to him and the laughing at him or chucking it across the room in anger, so he put it off until now when there was no real need for one.

"GEKA" Yozak said waking him out of his thoughts "we'll be at the castle in about an hour"

"Sure" was all he could manage, it was the first time Yozak had talked to him since Friday which was three days ago, he didn't know what happened or if he caused it in anyway but he missed the way Yozak used to joke with him, he didn't really understand why Yozak was acting so weird, he was alright when he first met Murata, Isamu and Masaru ( Ken felt a pang go through his chest as he thought the names of his two former companions … no they were more than that they were friends maybe more like family… he missed them dearly and couldn't believe that he had been so cruel and mean, he wished he had said goodbye or maybe he should have just refused to go back with Yozak all together and pretended he didn't know who Murata Ken the great sage was… he could have been Naoto…) at the campsite.

He sighed as they reached the castle grounds, he sighed again as he noticed that he sighed a lot more than he used to when he was with … them … no it wasn't a time to think about … them (he had decided not to even think their names from the moment Yozak told him that they were reaching the castle in an hour) … Now was a time for thinking not remembering, he had to come up with a good excuse for leaving, then he smirked, no he didn't… he was the great sage he was allowed to go wherever he wanted to ... wasn't he? But before Murata could decide of that matter, he noticed the look Yozak gave him.

"What's up?" Murata asked trying to hide his curiosity.

"Nothing" Yozak Lied "the king is in a meeting right now, he would like you to wait in the Meeting room on the third floor" he motioned for Murata to follow him as he made his way towards the castle gates.

Ken complied following Yozak wondering what he was going to tell Yuuri, as they made there way through the castle he noticed the change, it wasn't a physical change although there was a few more flower beds and pink laced curtains (probably from one of Cheri's love cruises), no it was the atmosphere it was really … uneasy and kind of intimidating.

When they reached the door Yozak waited for him to enter first before following, they were alone in the room which was what he had expected, because it wasn't like Yuuri would (could is more like it ) drop everything just to greet him although that would be nice, it was really unlikely especially with Gwendal von Voltaire, Gunter von Christ and … Wolfram von Benifield ( he thought the last name with disgust, he really didn't like that boy, he was too much like Shinou and he was also really disrespectful and such a way that its was rude even to him) around .

It had been around 20 minutes if the time was correct (I'm not sure if they have clocks in Shin Makoku … they never mention it) when a messenger came into the room to inform them that the king would be here shortly.

It was then that Murata had the sudden need to get some fresh air, he got up soon afterwards and told Yozak that he was going to go to the bathroom, then left the room quickly before slowing down so that he could take his time to walk to the bathroom after he was sure that he was a safe distance away from the room.

When he reached the bathroom he quickly closed and locked the door behind him sinking down to the floor hitting his head against the back of the door, he put his head in his hands and tried to think of anything except the two things that he desperately wanted to get away from, the first his journey with Masaru and Isamu (sure he promised himself not to think their names but he couldn't help it) and the second was the excuse that he was going to tell Yuuri, what was he going to do, he didn't know.

Sure he would normally lie but what kind of lie could he possibly make up and why did he need to lie, this was so complicated, the truth would expose his lies and his lies well they slowly killed him from the inside, killing everything good inside slowly exposing the awful truths, he held.

He sat there for what seemed like minutes but it must have been a little more than an hour for he heard a knock at the door.

"Geka?" someone asked, it sounded oddly like Cheri

"yes" he answered softly

"Oh" he heard her exclaim in surprise "umm the king is looking for you Geka, he's waiting for you in the meeting room… I'll give you a few minutes" she replied quickly before he heard the sounds of her foot steps disappearing.

Murata nodded wondering how long he had spent in the Bathroom thinking, he sighed willing himself to get up, he walked over to the mirror, he seriously looked like shit, and he smiled when didn't he.

He filled the sink up splashing his face and hair with the cold water letting it settle on his face relaxing him ever so slightly.

His now dark Purple hair (he dyed it and cut it slightly, when he started traveling with Isamu and Masaru) stuck up in odd places, he ran a hand though it trying to sooth out the bumps so that his hair would change from the OMG- I – Look – Like – Such – A – Retard look to I-don't – care – what – you- think look and so far he was failing giving him the I'm such a try- hard look , good enough he thought as he looked over his reflection thought he looked pretty decent, so without another glace he turned around and walked out of the bathroom and into the hallway where he slowly walked to the meeting room, not slow enough he thought as he reached the door, he hated to admit it even to himself but he was nervous not as much as when he had to walk down the isle when he was Daikenja but it was one of his top ten.

"Here goes nothing" he muttered quietly to himself staring at the door

"This is the part where you open the door and walk in" a voice said behind him, he jumped surprised before he turned around to find Shori watching him curiously.

"Yeah I kinda guessed that" he replied trying to sound calm but his voice was a bit wobbly.

Shori looked like he was going to say something when they heard a loud bang coming from inside the door.

"WHERE THE HELL IS HE?" Wolfram practically yelled, they had been waiting for hours

"Maybe he ran" Yuuri said quietly looking out the window

"Don't worry Heika, I talked to him, he'll come I'm sure" Cheri reassured

"Well if he doesn't come soon I'll go out to find him" Shinou declared menacingly

"I think that's your cue" Shori told him looking at the door amused

"Well here I go" he said hand on the door

"Maybe you should turn it" Shori commented

Murata glared at Shori before turning the doorknob, opening the door.

Ok so how was that …

Next chapter:

Uninvited guests …

Please Review and tell me what you think so far...

Jade