Dragon warrior of shin makoku theme song: fable of dreams by lunatic
Dragon warrior of Shin Makoku
Warning: this anime/manga doesn't belong to me (I wish it did lol), it belongs to Tomo Takabayashi and I'm really bad at tenses, so if hardly anything makes sense that's why. Sorry.
Subbed anime: Kyo Kara Moah
Type: Gunter/OC….yaoi (boyxboy)
"hello"…..means speaking
"hello"…..means thinking
"hello"…..means flashback/memory
"The Terror of Morgif, a Man-Eating Demon Sword" (Part 3)
Heavy thick fog covers the ocean as if it's a blanket; twisting and turning like a snake searching for its next meal. Through the air a melody could be heard as a shadow of a boat slowly breaks through the fog. Five people could be seen in the rowboat, two with black hair, one yellow-blonde, one brunette and lastly one ginger. The ginger known as Josak is the one singing, as he stands at the end of the boat with a long pole, using it to row the boat like a gondola (1).
"If you fall in love with the girl on the island, there will be a great eruption of the Bandar volcano," He sings whistling the rest of melody cheerfully. Wolfram the yellow-blonde and Yuuri one of the two blacks are hanging over the side of the boat, their skin a sickly pale as they try not to throw up. While Conrad the brunette and Ryuu the other black, sit alert looking for enemies and hopefully land.
As the sun shines bright rays of scorching heat onto the group, Ryuu spots land that makes up the island of Van Da Via, where the humans live and the demon sword is said to rest. Josak starts to sing his song out loud again when the boat hits the creamy-white sandy shore. "We wouldn't be able to cross the ocean together, but when we look up at the sky we see the same moon."
Footsteps on the sand point towards a small jungle and as the group walks through the jungle, Josak's voice could be heard vibrating in the air, "Oh Ban, ban, Bandarbia, the dream island." Josak is leading the group with a smiling Conrad and Ryuu at the rear guarding the back, as they enjoy the song while an exhausted Wolfram and Yuuri are in the middle. "Once you come you'll never forget it," Josak finishes gleefully as they leave the forest for a rocky mountain path.
Yuuri stops suddenly bending over at the waist, as he takes a well needed deep breathe. "Oh man, it's not true at all,"Yuuri comments breathlessly sweat dripping down his forehead.
"What part of this is a dream island?" He grumbles standing straight while Wolfram panting sits on the ground. Ryuu shakes his head at the pair a sigh escaping his lips, "How can they be tired? I'm not tired and I'm the one with a cane." Ryuu thinks to himself.
"Hey! I found a rest stop over here," Josak shouts to the group as he has gone head of them when they stopped. Conrad, Yuuri and Ryuu turn to look at him; smiling widely Yuuri runs up to Josak with Wolfram not far behind. Conrad and Ryuu look at each other and share a chuckle.
…At an inn, in the middle of nowhere…
Outside of the inn the group are sat around a table filled with cookies and tea. The place is surrounded by tall trees and amazingly green grass. "I guess it was too much to hope for a double cheese burger and fries, "A now auburn haired and brown eyed Yuuri comments taking a sip of his tea.
Ryuu nods in agreement, "You're right. But I prefer spaghetti to cheese burgers any day." Ryuu smirks at Yuuri's look of disgust, his now green-sliver eyes twinkling as he too takes a sip of his tea.
"How can you like that stuff? It looks like worms on a plate!" Yuuri exclaims in disbelief cringing at the mere thought of the worm like spaghetti, well worm like to him.
Conrad who is sat at the table too and Josak who is leaning against the banister of the stairs, also start to drink their tea as they listen to the pair argue. Wolfram on the other hand has his head lying down on the beige wooden table, as he is still suffering the after effects of seasickness. Which Ryuu found strange considering he had the same and is perfectly fine now, but then again Wolfram was worse than him…no still is.
As they are all resting, a timid "excuse me" is heard addressing them making the group turn to see a young blonde-brown haired girl standing there. "This may be intruding…" She trails off unsure if she should continue.
Conrad sets his tea cup down and turns her way slightly, "What is it?" He gently questions her as a way of encouraging her to continue.
She looks shyly at the handsome and cute members of the group, "I'm sure you all know that the main part of the festival isn't here, but is at the next mountain."
Everyone one in the group looks at her with clueless expressions but it is Yuuri that voices it, "Huh? Festival?" He stares at her with wide eyes along with the rest of them. She nods 'yes' in confirmation.
Yuuri turns his head to Conrad enquiring, "Does this mean we came to wrong place?" An exhausted look washes over Yuuri face, "You're got to be kidding me! Don't tell me we're going down the mountain and climbing another one?!"
Even Ryuu could feel his body ache but mostly his left leg, at the thought of climbing down one mountain then up another. Breathing a tired sigh he looks to Conrad, who looks to Yuuri, hoping that wouldn't be the case. "And I'm tired…." Yuuri trails off and looks to Wolfram who still has his head lying on the table, not even paying attention to the conversation, "worse, he looks as if he's about to die."
Conrad smiles at Yuuri as he takes a sip of his tea before saying "Don't worry. We did not make a mistake." Josak hearing the conversation steps towards the table tea in hand.
"We're heading to the spring at the top of this mountain," Josak chips in as he stares at the mountain. Ryuu downs the rest of his tea in relief but then groans mentally knowing he'd have to start climbing again. Ryuu jumps off his chair at the sudden sound of something hitting the ground. With his cane in its ready postion to draw the hidden sword, he spins around towards where the noise came from but to his surprise, and relief the young girl from before has only dropped the metal tray to the floor. Sitting down again is when Ryuu notices the scared expression on her face, so does the others.
"O…Oh my! It happened on a summer night about fifteen or sixteen years ago." She stops not wanting to continue but she looks at them and she takes a shaky deep breath, intertwining her hands together. "A fireball fell from the sky and dropped into the springs, the springs then boiled for three days and nights."
Ryuu didn't know about anyone else but he is in a state of awe at the tale, this young girl is weaving. Ryuu hears Yuuri say something about a meteorite as he gazes up at the smoking mountain. What the girl says next catches his attention, causing him and the rest of them to stare intensely at her almost to the point of glaring, in Ryuu's case. "No, no, it was a demonic object."
"A demonic object," Yuuri repeats excitedly hoping it to be the sword 'Morgif'. She nods her head in confirmation as she picks up the tray.
"Yep and I heard that if you touch the spring, you get a nasty burn like shock that stops your heart." Her expression twists into a fearful one as she finishes her tale, "It's the demons' curse. No doubt about it. Since then no one has been able to go into the springs."
Yuuri looks slightly scared at the thought of a curse, "C…curse?" He stutters. Ryuu on the other hand just scoffs at the talk of curses, not to say that curses aren't real this isn't earth after all, but he has a hard time believing in them.
The girl looks as if she suddenly remembers something, "Oh! But there is one person who said he went to the spring and saw a demon."
Conrad and Josak look slightly more interested than before, so does Yuuri and Ryuu forgetting all about the curse. Ryuu finally decides to speak up, "What was it like?"
The girl spins her head in Ryuu's direction momentarily in awe at the sound of his slight monotone but silky smooth voice. "Well…he was saved, half dead, mumbling 'that face…that face…"
They sit there in silence before Ryuu grabs his cane and stands gaining the others attention, "Well, come on we can't sit here and do nothing. Let's go check it out." With that said Ryuu grabs Yuuri's arm, dragging him up and in the direction of the springs, ignoring Yuuri's protests while Conrad and Josak follow behind smiling in amusement. They left Wolfram as he has fallen asleep at the table.
Once far enough away they deem it safe to talk about 'Morgif'. Also Yuuri has managed to rip himself from Ryuu's deadly hold, rubbing his arm lightly as he ponders, "Demon object, huh?"
"It's the sword 'Morgif'. No doubt about it," Ryuu replies to Yuuri's pondered question. Ryuu then recalls what she said about that man, "But what did that man mean about, 'the face…?" Ryuu acts as if he has no clue about what that man was on about.
Conrad replies with a reasonable answer, "He probably saw his reflection in the blade of the sword." Ryuu pretends to ponder this for a minute then nods his head in fake agreement, as they exit the small forest surround the inn.
"But I know that's not what he meant, and they will know soon too," Ryuu thinks as he concentrates on where to put his cane on the now rocky mountain path.
"If your majesty gets the sword in your hands, our Shin Makoku will become even stronger," Josak informs the slightly tired Yuuri cheerfully.
"All the foreign countries will prostrate (2) before you, 'Oh! The great Maoh! Hurray!" Josak mocks. It is lost on Yuuri that he's being mocked but not Ryuu, who isn't sure of which Josak is mocking Yuuri or the foreign countries. "Or something like that, that's if your able to use it," Josak finishes his mocking tone tinted with a dejected one.
Conrad calls out to Josak about his mocking tone. Josak stops and turns to them his eyebrows drawn together in slight frustration, "Think about it. Many have already fallen victim to the curse of the sword."
He continues ignoring Conrad's and Ryuu's glare, "There's no guarantee he will be safe." His tone of voice now, fading into one of worry but still has that mocking edge.
Ryuu is sure steam is coming out of his ears, a sign of how angry he is with Josak, "Enough." He barks at Josak catching everyone off guard. "Yuu-chan will find 'Morgif'! And Yuu-chan will be able to use it!" He snaps.
Yuuri gazes at Ryuu with shining eyes and a small smile, grateful that someone other than just Conrad believes in him. While Conrad eyes fill with admiration and respect for Ryuu.
Josak's surprised expression turns blank and stares at Ryuu as he addresses Yuuri, "Well done worry. If you fail we'll just pull you out using a rope, and bring you back to the boat."
Conrad takes notice of how Ryuu's hand tightens around the head of his cane, and the heated scowling glare he is sending Josak. Though Conrad doesn't want to admit it, even he is getting quite angry at Josak for his rudeness. "Stop! You're being too rude to his majesty," He orders a frown starting to appear on his face.
Josak just huffs frowning and with a shrug of his shoulders carries on walking; a steaming Ryuu, as well a confused Yuuri and lastly an annoyed Conrad following behind him.
…At the top of the mountain; the springs…
Up here the rocks are slightly blacken and the water, instead of being clear is a murky purple colour. The steam from the hot springs rises upwards to the sky, in a dance of white mist. Conrad, Yuuri who has changed his hair and eyes back to their normal colour, Ryuu who has taken out his contacts and Josak, in that order, are standing on the edge of the biggest of the springs, looking into a cave that's at the end of it. "Wow, she wasn't kidding when she said it's hot," Ryuu thinks wiping off some sweat that's starting to collect on his forehead.
Lucky for them there is already a rowboat at the edge of the spring for some reason, but as the phrase goes 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth'. They got into the boat with Josak and Conrad rowing it into the cave. Conrad lights a lantern once the darkness of the cave surrounds them; dripping scalding water falling from the roof of the cave and down the walls, giving the walls a glazed look. Conrad tugs on the collar of his brown uniform, "It's very hot." He comments licking his dry lips tasting the sweat that has dripped from his brow onto them. "The heat from the hot water is getting to me."
To cool down Ryuu has taken of his coat placing it across his lap, revealing the double edged katana on his back, strapped to his waist coat; surprising Josak as he's sitting behind Ryuu. "In other words, this is a huge bath in a cave," Ryuu deadpans a black expression on his face.
Yuuri just has to ask, "Like in one of those hot springs theme park." Ryuu rolls his eyes at Yuuri a small smile on his face. Suddenly Josak yells out in pain making the others turn to him.
"Is it that hot? Don't tell me its boiling hot," Yuuri pleads knowing he is the one that has to go into the water, to get the damn sword. Like an idiot he can be Yuuri leans down on sticks his hand into the water, "Your majesty that's dangerous!" Conrad exclaims.
Yuuri takes his hand out of the water with no injury to it at all, "Why, this water is perfect temperature." Ryuu follows Yuuri and sticks his hand in too, "He's right the water's perfect." Ryuu informs them as he takes his hand out.
A drop of water from Ryuu's hand falls onto Yuuri leg making Yuuri yelp about it being hot and nearly jumping out of the boat. The boat rocks dangerously as Yuuri continues to jumps about still shouting about it being hot. "Yuu-chan/ your majesty sit/calm down!" Ryuu and Conrad shout at the same time as Ryuu grabs Yuuri's pant leg and pulls him down. "Idiot," Ryuu hisses at Yuuri smacking him in the back of the head.
"Why? When I touched it with my bare hands too wasn't hot, even Ryuu-kun said so," Yuuri asks addled (3). Ryuu and Conrad lock eyes understanding passing between them.
"Look at me, my hand is swollen," Josak whines in pain lifting up his hand to show them, and it is his hand is twice its normal size and bright red.
Conrad stares at Ryuu discreetly in suspicious wonder, "Question is why Ryuu didn't get burned like Josak? I can see why Yuuri didn't he's the Maoh. Just who are you Ryuu Murata?" He ponders mental.
"That means this is like acid," Yuuri ponders causing Ryuu to face palm and sigh at his stupid conclusion. "Does it mean, it's a strong acid?"
"Yuu-chan you seem to be forgetting something," Yuuri looks addled at Ryuu, "Even the weakest of acids eat right through, it doesn't just severely burn you."
Yuuri looks crestfallen that his idea is wrong so Ryuu feeling bad pats Yuuri on the back. "Anyone who touches the water suffers severe burns," Conrad states. "This is mostly likely the doing of the sword 'Morgif."
Yuuri forgets about sulking looking interested in what Conrad has to say, "You mean the curse thing?" Conrad smiles and corrects Yuuri gently, "It's more like magic than a curse."
Ryuu has to admit that is impressive for a sword, "How impressive." Yuuri exclaims excitedly while in awe at the power it holds.
"This isn't the time to be impressed," Conrad scolds Yuuri and at Yuuri addled expression he continues. "I told you only the Maoh can wield 'Morgif."
Conrad glares lightly at Ryuu, which he notices, as he says the next bit, "That's why you're unharmed by the hot water." Ryuu has sinking feeling that he's going to have to tell everyone who he is…and soon.
"However your clothes are the non-Maoh part of you, hence they suffer damage causing you to burn." Conrad explains his theory knowing he is right.
Understanding slowly appears on Yuuri face, "That's how it works." Ryuu tries so hard not to laugh and keep a straight face, once he realises Yuuri will have to undress so he's butt-naked before getting into the water, and grabbing the sword.
…With Gunter and Gwendal at the Voltarie castle; kitchen…
In the east wing kitchen of the castle stands Gunter mumbling to himself, as he stirs a large wooden spoon in a cauldron like pot. Nasty smelling smoke twists its way out of the pot, "Oh man, I have a bad feeling about this." He whimpers to himself.
The kitchen itself is quite big looking like it jumped right out of the 18th century (4). "I pray that my sweet Ryuu and his majesty will not meet with any catastrophe," Gunter, well prays. Gwendal in at that moment and pulls a face at the smell.
"Gunter! Are you still doing that nonsense future-telling thing?" Gwendal demands; hating the smell that is drifting throughout the castle. He decides to be blunt with Gunter, even though it won't do any good.
"The entire castle stinks! It's becoming unbearable!" He bluntly explains to Gunter who doesn't seem to care, as he carries on stirring that horrible purple concoction. Gwendal looks around at all the boxes scattered around the kitchen and spots a cute kitten in a cage, "Cut it out…" He is interrupted by Gunter yelping.
Gwendal swings his head back to Gunter with wide eyes, well wide for Gwendal, "What! Did you discover something?" He demands as Gunter stares into the pot smiling.
"It's done. It's delicious," Gunter chirps proudly, "Would you like to try some." He offers to Gwendal as he takes the spoon out of the pot.
Gwendal shivers slightly in disgust his face going back to its normal blank expression, "No! More importantly why is this kitten here?" His eyes twinkling as he looks at the cute kitten.
Gunter's face looks addled as he asks, "Does it bother you?" Though he should know by now that anything cute, never bothers Gwendal because his obsession with all things cute.
The twinkle left Gwendal's eyes as he turns back to Gunter, his voice strangely quiet, "No." He turns back to the beige kitten his blue eyes twinkling again, as a small unnoticeable blush covers his cheeks. Gwendal's hands and left eyes begin to twitch with the effort of holding back, the urge to pick up and cuddle the cute little kitten.
…At the springs; in the cave…
The cave is so big it took them nearly an hour to reach the middle, when they did Ryuu and Conrad spot something in the water. "Something is shining brightly," Comment Conrad as Ryuu points in the things direction.
They move a little closer and see it's 'Morgif' shining in the water, which is strangely clear compared to the rest of the spring. "Now, your majesty please take off your clothes," Conrad ask at the same time, as Ryuu lets out of small chuckle with an amused smirk on his face.
"I knew it," Yuuri moans in self-pity as he looks down. "All of them?" Conrad nods a 'yes' but it is Ryuu that speaks out loud with laughter, tinting his normally monotone voice, "Yep, all of them Yuu-chan."
Yuuri sighs in reluctance. Josak seeing this decides to chip into the conversation, "If you have your clothes on, you'll feel the burns like before." He states.
Yuuri sighs again, "I know." He moans in despair, "I go there naked and get Merugibu, right?" He questions hoping they have changed their minds. Seeing their stubborn expression begins to strip.
"It's 'Morgif' Yuu-chan, not Merugibu," Ryuu corrects him with a sigh. Yuuri shoots an annoyed look at Ryuu, as he hands Ryuu his jacket and shirt. Once naked Yuuri jumps in with a 'be careful' from Conrad.
"It's perfectly hot, just the way I like it!" Yuuri exclaims happily then Yuuri being Yuuri says something pointless and random, even if he is right. "But people with high blood pressure should be careful."
"Yuu-chan just go get the sword," Ryuu sighs in annoyance. Yuuri shakes his head and swims over to sword stopping in front of it.
"I should be able to reach it from here," He mutters to himself pausing for a second before reaching into the water to pick up the sword 'Morgif'. Suddenly Yuuri screams out in pain starling the three in the boat.
"Your majesty, w…what h…ha…happened?!" Conrad stutteringly shouts out to Yuuri in concern, leaning forward to try and see Yuuri better. Ryuu didn't know what to do his mind is in panic and confusion, "What did he do to Yuuri? What did Yuuri do to set him off? He should know better by now then to hurt the Maoh!" So Ryuu does a very stupid thing forgetting once again, that they don't know who he is yet and jumps into the water fully clothed.
Ryuu is actually surprised as he hits the water, that he's not feeling that burning sensation. "Guess he remembers me then," He thinks swimming up to Yuuri.
Behind him Conrad and Josak stare at him in shocked surprise. "How?" Josak utters the shock starting to wear off. Conrad's suspicion sky rockets, "I don't know. But I have been keeping an eye on him since I first met him." Conrad states to Josak who's now looking at him.
"And," Josak urges him on. Conrad sighs before looking to Josak; expression hard and brown, silver flecked eyes serious, "It's strange because he knew his way around the blood pledge castle, as if he used to live there. Secondly he didn't even look surprised when Gunter told everyone of 'Morgif'. Thirdly he knew that at sixteen you become an adult here, and no one has had time to explain this world Yuuri yet, let alone him. Now this…He's hiding something."
Josak expression is one of seriousness with a hint of disbelief, "What do you think he's hiding?" He ponders out loud. Conard shrugs his shoulders saying, "I'm not sure…" He trails off as he suddenly remembers something Ryuu said on the ship.
…FLASHBACK…
Hyscliff was quick to notice Ryuu's cane but said nothing, "I take it you are the rumoured fiancé." The three's reactions were instant Ryuu blanched, Yuuri choked and Conrad tried not to laugh.
Conrad gently rubbed Yuuri on the back, "My master's name is Mitsuzaya." He pointed to Yuuri, "He is from the crepe store in Echigo." He smiled and patted Yuuri on the back again, "I'm his friend, Kakunousuke."
Ryuu regained his composure and laughed awkwardly, "No I'm not his fiancé. I'm his half-brother…er…Rikiya." Ryuu winced as Conrad eyes shot straight to him, and stared intensely as suspicion grew in his gaze.
…END OF FLASHBACK…
Conrad's eyes grow wide in shocked disbelief as he connects the dots, "He can't be…!" Conrad whispers under his breath. He ignores Josak's questioning glare and turns back to look at Yuuri.
Ryuu reaches Yuuri just as Yuuri shouts back, "It bit! This thing bit me!" Ryuu deadpans his right eye twitching in restrained anger at 'Morgif' actions. He takes a deep breath and grabs Yuuri's hand to inspect it surprising Yuuri.
"What did?" Josak asks as Ryuu lets go of Yuuri hand and stares down at the sword scowling. "When I tried to touch the sword, my hand was bitten by a fish-like mouth," Yuuri exclaims.
While Yuuri is explaining what happened, Ryuu is having a conversation of his own. "You did it again. What did I tell you, don't bite the Maoh! You did that with Shinou and look what he did, he locked you up for a year with no food. I bet that's how you got in this mess, isn't it Mullem Desoive Eligh Morgif?" Ryuu scolds Morgif telepathically, the sword just moans at Ryuu catching Yuuri's attention.
Yuuri glares into the water to try a see the sword better crying out once he does, "The face! The face!" He jumps into Ryuu knocking him backwards and into the water. "I wasn't told of this! This is dangerous!"
Yuuri swims back to the pair in the boat in a hurry exclaiming, "I wasn't told of this at all! I'll definitely get cursed! If anyone touches it, they will get cursed! It has a troubling look!"
Ryuu follows Yuuri but not before telepathically saying one last thing to 'Morgif', "Don't worry if Yuu-chan doesn't come back for you, I will."
"Your majesty, please get yourself together," Conrad demands as Yuuri stops in front of the boat. "But it bit my hand!" Yuuri whines protest, "I'm definitely cursed now. I'll never be able to marry now" He whimpers.
Ryuu swims past Yuuri and with the help of Josak climbs back into the boat. Once sitting down Ryuu watches as Yuuri has a mental break down. Josak on the other hand is filled with disappointment, "I knew it, and it'll be just like before." He thinks angrily.
Conrad doesn't say anything but even he is filled with slight disappointment, "its ok Yuuri. If you can't do it, it's ok." He says soothingly to calm Yuuri down. "Let's think of another way. Calm down and come back into the boat."
Josak quickly puts a smug smirk on his face to hide his disappointment. "Come on back, your majesty," He mocks not even looking Yuuri's way. "You don't have to do anything dangerous. The soldier's will take care of those things" Josak hisses the last sentence.
This time Yuuri catches onto Josak's mocking tone, and enquires angrily, "What are you saying?" When he got no answer he continues, "Are you saying I'm irresponsible?"
Josak's smirk grows bigger, "I'm not saying that, your majesty. Hurry up and come back here." Ryuu's anger makes itself known once again at the sight of Josak mocking Yuuri. "Let's hurry and leave this place." Josak finishes his mocking tone now more apparent.
Yuuri huffs angrily and in annoyance, "What do you know?!" He shouts at Josak. "What could you possibly know?!" Yuuri hits the water with his fist in frustration.
Josak finally decides to look at him right in the eye, as if he is challenging him to carry on with his tantrum. "Not long ago, I was just a regular fifteen year old high school student. I was brought to this demonic world, and it was you guys that forced me to become the Maoh! I've never thought of the existence of things like, magic, ghosts or demons before! Now I have to be treated as a failure?! I can't be scared?! Why do I have to touch that gross thing?!" Yuuri rants breathlessly.
Ryuu couldn't believe that Yuuri is finally standing up for himself. Conrad has a look of pain on his face whispering 'your majesty' under his breath. Josak is still staring at him impassively.
"My current feelings, you probably…" Josak sighs in annoyance as he interrupts Yuuri before he could continue, "Nope. I don't understand it at all." He says bluntly.
Conrad by now is holding Ryuu by the arms to stop him from hitting Josak, and calls out Josak's name to stop him from continuing. Josak ignores them, "I can't even begin to understand your majesty's feelings at all. Actually, I can't even imagine what it's like."
Yuuri blanches at Josak's bluntness, "But no matter who becomes the Maoh we, the lower class, must obey him." Josak states slight anger tinting his tone. Conrad again calls Josak's name trying to stop him.
An awkward silence surrounds the group as Conrad and Ryuu help Yuuri back into the boat. Once he's dressed they row back to the edge of the spring, and walk back down the mountain to the inn. It's dark once they get back.
…Meanwhile at Voltaire castle; night time…
Laughter could be heard throughout the castle, the culprits Gwendal von Voltaire and Gunter von Christ. Who at this moment are sitting on the kitchen floor by a boiling smoking pot, the very same pot Gunter used; both high on the smoke from the strange concoction of smelly purple liquid Gunter made earlier. Anissina could hear them as she sits at a table on her balcony, drinking her favourite honey tea. "I told them not to inhale any more of that smoke," She comments lightly.
…At the inn; night time…
Once Yuuri is settled and in his room that he's sharing with wolfram, Josak and Conrad drag a now dry Ryuu into their room, forcing him to sit in a chair while they stand in front of him. Ryuu stares at the two, "Who are you?" Conrad demands. Ryuu cringes and tries to protest but Conrad wouldn't let him, "And don't lie to us, or I will be forced to take action."
Ryuu gulps loudly then sighs in defeat, "OK. You might want to sit down, it's a long story." Josak goes to protest but Ryuu stops him, "If you want to know who I am then you need to listen to this story, now sit," He snaps. Conrad and Josak look at each other then sit down at the table.
Two hours have gone by when Ryuu finally finishes his story, "There now you know." Josak and Conrad sit there in complete and utter disbelieving shock, "So you're…" Josak trails off as Ryuu nods his head in confirmation.
"Why didn't you tell anyone when you first got here," Conrad enquires Ryuu has the decency to look sheepish. "Well I wanted to keep my freedom for a while. And knowing Gwendal if he found out in the beginning, I wouldn't be leaving the castle with all the paper work he'll give me." Ryuu pouts at the thought as Conrad and Josak laugh knowing he's right.
"You do know you'll have to tell everyone, once we are back at Voltaire castle," Conrad says once he stops laughing. Ryuu sighs tiredly, "Yes I know. Well I'm off to bed see you in the morning." As soon as Ryuu's head hit the pillow he is out like a light.
It wasn't even half an hour later when Ryuu is woken up by Conrad and Josak arguing. "I wasn't trying to test him," Josak protests ignoring Conrad's heated glare. "I'm loyal to my country. No matter how unreasonable my orders are, I will serve under his majesty. I just wanted to know what kind of person the new king is, that's all."
Ryuu gets up and sits on the end of the bed and listen to the conversation knowing if he gets involved, he will do or say something stupid. "That's what I meant by testing him." Conrad argues taking a sip of his whiskey.
"Wrong," Josak exclaims after he too takes a sip of his scotch. "I'm just preparing myself. If he's anything like the previous Maoh we, the soldiers, must be prepared to not disobey and to die for him."
"That is why I wanted to know what kind of person this new king is," Josak downs the rest of his drink. "But," Conrad tries to interrupt but fails.
"I understand what you want to say. But aren't you the same? How many soldiers have you lost? How many of your friends have you lost?" Josak demands.
Conrad in his anger slams the glass he's holding onto the table nearly breaking it. "Josak, if you do anything else to trick his majesty, I will have to remove you from this mission. Got it?"
Josak just smirks smugly, "Sorry but I don't think your Excellency has that power. If you want to give me orders you should assume your former position."
Ryuu decides to step in at this point, "He may not Josak but I do." Ryuu says with authority as he sits there, left leg crossing over his right with his arms folded. Conrad and Josak jump before turning to look at Ryuu.
Josak just glares at him and continues to argue with Conrad, "Don't tell me you plan to live as the Maoh's babysitter for the rest of your life."
Conrad smiles lightly replying calmly, "If his majesty allows me to do so, I will." Ryuu suddenly senses Yuuri listening in on the conversation from the other side of the door.
Josak refills his glass and takes a sip, "What? Are you serious? How can you be like that?" Josak then decides to lighten the mood by cracking a joke, "Don't tell me you've fallen for him just because he's cute? How can the man known as the Lion of Luttenberg have become so weak?"
Ryuu sniggers as he fills his own glass with straight up vodka and takes a sip, cringing a little at the taste. "You speak of old times." Conrad reminisces. Ryuu downs his drink shivering slightly before going back to sleep. A comfortable silence fills the room.
…Morning…
It's morning when Ryuu wakes again. He suddenly has a feeling to check on Yuuri, so after getting dressed he does only to find him not there. "Where could he be? The mountain!" Ryuu ponders. With his realization Ryuu leaves the inn to follow Yuuri.
Ryuu is half way up the mountain path when he hears someone coming up behind him. He tenses turning around only to see Conrad. Conrad stops at his side holding a fluffy white towel, "I'm not the only one who sensed him behind the door last night then." Ryuu states with a smirk.
"No, I sensed him too so shall we go," Conrad replies with a small smile and they both leave to catch up with Yuuri.
Meanwhile Yuuri is already naked his clothes in the boat and swimming through the spring. Once he reaches the sword Yuuri braces himself before looking at the sword, Yuuri shivers in disgust. "Don't bite," He pleads as he reaches further into the water to grab it. "You're a good boy, ok?"
Yuuri hesitates for a second or so then steels himself and grabs the handle, lifting it out of the water holding it above his head. "I got i...it!" Yuuri shouts happily his eyes shining brightly and a big smile on his face. The sword makes a long throaty moaning sound, causing Yuuri to stares at it perplexed. "It can make noises?" The sword makes more noises of if it's trying to talk.
Yuuri swims back to the boat and once in wraps the sword in some grey cloth he brought with him. He dries his hair with a towel, and rows the boat back to the edge of the spring. The closers he gets the more he can see Ryuu and Conrad waiting for him, a smile breaks out on his face.
"You did it Yuu-chan. Conrad and I knew you could," Ryuu says cheerfully showing rare genuine smile. Yuuri, Conrad and Ryuu all smile at each other and walk back to the inn.
When the trio get back to the inn and show Wolfram and Josak the sword, let's just say they're happy to see it and happy to being going back home. They check out of the inn and start walking down to the docks, but not before dyeing Yuuri's hair again and putting in Ryuu's and Yuuri's contacts.
…An hour later…
"The sword, Morgif, absorbs human lives as its power source," Wolfram recites from a book Gunter gave him before they left, as they walk. "In order to make it work, it needs to be supplied with energy."
Ryuu looks to the side so no one sees his guilty expression, his right hand squeezing the head of his cane. They decide to take a detour to the hospital, when Yuuri protests about not wanting to kill any humans.
Once at the hospital they wait for some poor soul to die. Luck wasn't on their side as Wolfram's handsome appearance is so influential that several male dying people, yes they tried several times; in the hospital have a miraculous recovery after laying eyes on him. It didn't help that another five patients all women also make a miraculous recovery after seeing Ryuu.
Right now they are all sitting in the hospital outside café pondering on what to do. Ryuu right eye starts twitching in annoyance, "Why is everyone staring at us? It's annoying!" He thinks as he turns his head to the left, spying a trio of girls staring at him. He gives them an awkward wave with a tight-lipped smile causing them to squeal.
Yuuri sighing brings his attention back to his group. "Why do Bandarbia's people have such a fast recovery rate?" Yuuri whines his head resting on the table. Yuuri adds after realizing how selfish he sounds, "Well, it's a good thing for the patients' families."
"According to Gunter's documents, it's clearly written that you can't use the sword unless you absorb human lives," Wolfram says as he reads the book.
"How can you absorb human lives?" Yuuri ponders out loud lifting his head off the table, "Besides the patient are really lively rather than dying."
Josak throw out his suggestion jokingly, "If you were to get them all at once, you'd have to set fire to the village." Ryuu frowns at the idea shooting Josak a glare.
"Josak, there's no way his majesty would do such an awful thing," Conrad also glares at him annoyed at the fact he's testing Yuuri again, even after the conversation they had the night before. "Somehow we need to get one or two..."
Yuuri interrupts the pair his eyebrow twitching, an annoyed glare on his face. "You guys better stop fooling around. No matter how many people, there's no way you can just take an innocent life."
Wolfram pipes up, "So in other words, there was a flaw in the plan." A silence falls over the group. Josak turns to Ryuu who has been very silent since everyone left the inn. "What about you Ryuu? You must know something right?"
Yuuri and Wolfram stare at the two in confusion, as Ryuu glares at Josak who smirks in return. "No, everything Gunter wrote in that book is correct, I should know."
Yuuri fed up with being ignored speaks up, "Hey what's going on? Why should Ryuu-kun know?" Ryuu, Josak and Conrad look at the pair, as if remembering that they aren't alone.
"It's nothing Yuu-chan; we'll talk about it when we get back to Voltaire castle." Ryuu says with authority shocking Yuuri. An awkward silence covers the group.
Conrad breaks the silence, "Nothing will be solved just by sitting here. I will search for another method." He declares standing and walks away, leaving the four behind.
Josak takes the chances while he's away to test Yuuri for the last time. He takes out a flyer from his pocket that he found the earlier. "This is it!" He exclaims. "Urgent recruitment: A job that requires you to put your life on the line." He recites.
Wolfram recites the rest, "Looking for a young child with beauty, aged between ten and nineteen. Welcoming anybody with a weapon. Will page wages."
Wolfram scoffs at the flyer, "No matter how many times I look, human writing has no elegance at all compared to ours." Ryuu takes the flyer out of Josak's hands to take a look at it.
One look and Ryuu knew he has a problem, he can't read this centuries writing, "Hmmm…I'll have Gunter teach me when we get back." He muses to himself as he hands Josak the flyer.
"More importantly, what kind of job is this...putting your life on the line?" Yuuri questions as he looks to Josak for the answer. "Doctor? Nurse? Undertaker? Don't tell me a monk."
Yuuri pauses to think for a second, "And a young child with beauty? Welcoming weapons?" Josak doesn't answer him just smirks and shakes the flyer.
"It's worth a try," Josak comments trying to convince Yuuri to go for it. "Let's take the interview." Ryuu has a sudden bad feeling that Yuuri is going to be in danger.
"Who's going?" Yuuri asks making Wolfram and Josak turn to him smiling. Yuuri jumps slightly in his seat as he points to himself, "Me?!"
…At the coliseum…
Yuuri is sitting in front of a wooden table outside the coliseum. In front of him is a grey haired man, and two 30yr old looking, tall man standing on either side of him. "Out of all the people, you're the best," the man smiles a strangle twinkle in his beady eyes. "Approved." The man brings down a red ink covered stamp, and stamps a picture of himself onto Yuuri's form he had to sign.
Josak, Ryuu and Wolfram are in the audience waiting for Yuuri to appear. "I have bad feeling about this. Josak wouldn't try to kill Yuu-chan to test him, would he?" Ryuu thinks worriedly.
It suddenly it dawns on Ryuu what this job is. Angrily Ryuu jumps out of his seat and grabs Josak by the collar. "YOU BASTARD! HOW COULD YOU STICK YUU-CHAN IN THIS TYPE OF JOB! IS THIS A GAME TO YOU? ANOTHER TEST?"
Ryuu takes a deep breath before continuing his tone scarily calm, "If Yuu-chan is killed in here, he won't be the only one. I'll personally make sure you join him. Got it?" Josak is actually scared for his life nods 'yes' quickly, sweating starting to form on his brow.
Ryuu let go of Josak just as Yuuri is pushed into the arena. "I'm first?" Yuuri wonders mentally as he looks around the filled coliseum.
'Morgif' moans deeply gaining Yuuri attention, "Be quiet." He whispers shaking the sword lightly. "It's not a good time for food yet." The face of 'morgif' smiles and moans again.
"Huh! Is this going to be food to you?" Yuuri asks it questioningly. Movement in front of him causes Yuuri to look up. He couldn't believe who it is. "You're…rick!" Yuuri exclaims in surprise.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Yuuri says in disbelief under his breath, as he readies himself to fight reluctantly. 'Morgif' moans then grunts.
..End of part 3; cliff-hanger…
(1)Side note: A light flat-bottomed boat used on Venetian canals, having a high point at each end.
(2)Side note: Adjective…..Lying stretched out on the ground with one's face downward.
Verb….. Lay oneself flat on the ground face downward, esp. in reverence or submission.
(3)Side note: means confused
(4)Side note: here's a link to what the kitchen look like…. (Link didn't show up, PM me if u want it)
Ryuu's story will be told in the next chapter