Your Highness chapter 4

Sorry for such a late update, that is for anyone still reading. The reasons? School and depression. Depression can really drain you of all your will to do things even the things you enjoy. Again I apologize for not updating sooner. Any who things should be moving along now thank you all who read it. - love Rosie

Bleary eyes struggled to open as light poured into the room. In spite how hard the bed felt his tired body yearned for just a few more minutes of sleep. Still despite his unwillingness to get up Shion was never one to waste away a day in bed moreover there was just so much to do. Rising slowly from his bed Shion took a glance at his newly appointed bodyguard only to find that the bed was empty. He felt his stomach churn and sleepy countenance abruptly slid into a frown . He had always been told that he was too naive for his age, but he never believed Nezumi would abandon him . He quickly leapt out of bed and rushed to the bathroom hoping to see his dark haired companion. But to his dread , It too was empty. Shion felt the blood drain from his face and felt himself ready to cry as he slid against the wooden door of the bathroom. What was he going to do?

" What are you doing?"

Too preoccupied with his own problems he did not hear said man come into the room.

"Nezumi?"

"That's my name. What's with the the long face your highness."

Shion blushed " N-nothing. Where were you?" Shion took in Nezumi's current appearance, his hair was up in a tight ponytail and his clothes were drenched with sweat.

" I went out for a jog" the latter stated very nonchalantly.

"Oh. W-well then I'll just get out so you can wash up."

Shion rushed out of the room, feeling relieved and embarrassed by just how quickly he had jumped to conclusions. I'm being paranoid.

Nezumi walked out feeling refreshed, waking up and exercising his body was a habit of his. It kept him in shape and on his guard. Once he was done washing he found Shion sitting on his own bed wearing his dark cloak again. If he didn't know any better he would've thought the latter was an old beggar .

"What's with cloak ?" honestly curious.

Shion looked up with a sheepish smile on his face. Taking a strand of hair between his fingers before he said.

"My hair kind of stands out in a crowd like a sore thumb. But with this cloak on I look like an old man don't I ? It's easier to hide this way."

Nezumi raised a brow at the last statement. "You think they're still looking for you?"

Shion looked away thoughtfully

"I don't know... But probably. They seemed really unwilling to let me go."

Nezumi felt his eyes narrow, it was rare for one of No.6's citizens to be convicted of a crime. It was rarer still that they would look for them if they escaped the walls of No.6 . After all it was their policy to get rid of law breakers by any which way. " sweep the scum away" so to speak. But if they wanted Shion back bad enough to search for him outside of No.6's walls...

It meant Shion was a person of interest.

Looking down at said person he was met with serious looking eyes that shone with determination. " We should leave soon"

Nezumi nodded blankly, "As you wish your highness"

Shion groaned and flopped down on the bed . " I'd wish you stopped calling me that I'm not royalty and you're just making fun of me "

Nezumi ignored him and began to descend down the stairs. " I'll meet you downstairs your highness"

Shion shot up from his bed and stuck his tongue out before he realized just how childish that was and stopped. But once he was up he went to the bathroom and got ready.

Afterwards they had a brief breakfast that was provided by the inn.

They gathered their belongings and left. The particular inn they had chosen was near the plaza which gave them time to buy food they could eat along the way at least until they reached another town. They bought an array of breads and cheeses and spiced meats. They weren't exactly rich foods but they would last longer than anything else. Nezumi for the most part knew that it would take at most four days before they reached another town, the town of Fuerto.

For a pampered brat Shion didn't seem to mind sleeping on the ground or walking long distances. Shion did tire quicker than he did but always kept in stride with him. And as time passed Shion had to take fewer and fewer breaks. Sometimes he did act like an annoying little prince, but for the life of him he couldn't come to hate him. Not to say he didn't feel like wringing his neck every once and awhile, especially when he went bonkers when he found a new plant or herb that he had seen in his books. " It's different to see them in their natural environment" he would say. And of course he couldn't say anything because Shion was technically the boss, still Nezumi had a schedule and he'd be damned if they ran off course. Though to be honest they were moving a lot faster than expected, probably because they'd been fortunate enough to receive only fair weather since they had begun. Especially since the region was known for its tremendous rainstorms and summer hurricanes. Still in just the two days since their departure of the village they had made great progress, Nezumi internally grinned, Maybe this won't take as long as I thought it would.

" Ne , Nezumi" the dark haired male was brought out of his thoughts at the sound of the other,

"Do you think we could stop for a bit "

Nezumi sighed deeply , "Sure your highness", And maybe not

Shion sat on the grass and leaned on a nearby tree " I 'm sorry. For stopping i mean, but I think this heat is getting to me"

Nezumi turned his gaze towards the sky, the sun was beating down on them from in between the trees, and it really wasn't bad. There was a soft breeze of cool air and it wasn't humid at all.

" It's not that bad, its just because of that stupid cloak you're wearing"

Shion fixed his cloak pulling himself deeper into the fabric, " Why do you even where it anymore? There's nobody out here , you're just gonna give yourself a heat stroke, and i'm telling you right now don't expect me carry you when you faint."

" You'd think a 'genius' would know better than that"

Shion jolted upright his face coming almost uncomfortably near his own face, did the guy not understand the concept of personal space.

" I just feel more comfortable this way, can you please let it go! Not all of us are comfortable with our own bodies, so just drop it...Please." Once that was said Shion recoiled back into himself.

And then there was an awkward silence which was both uncomfortable and necessary after such an outburst, thankfully for both of them Shion took it upon himself to alleviate the tension, opting to speak as if it had never happened.

"And another thing I asked you not to call me that", he gave Nezumi a disapproving look. " I mean I have a name you know, its Shion,"

" Oh forgive me your majesty I didn't know it offended you. There, I called you by a different name," Nezumi smirked when he saw shion puff his cheeks in annoyance . " Nezumi !"

Nezumi raised his hands in mock surrender, " Alright , alright , I give"

Shion rolled his eyes his face in a pout, the other chuckled silently so the little prince has some sass.

After that, the two fell into a comfortable silence. They took the opportunity to drink and eat a small lunch, it wasn't much but after hours of walking it seemed like a feast. It was pleasant ( that was a word he rarely, if never used to describe a situation) especially with the fresh fruit Shion had at some point picked and inspected to eat.

" You know I never asked you but, why were you going to be executed? What did you do? "

The dark haired male smirked he'd been wondering when this topic would come up, he had ultimately thought that it had slipped the other's mind.

" I'm an assassin, usually it doesn't take any more than that to land yourself in the chopping block " He bit back a laugh as he watched Shion's eyes go comically wide mouth gaping open the words You're an Assassin! clear on his face. " What's the matter Shion, finally popped into that head of yours that I'm wanted criminal"

' No, I-I just…. By any chance were you the one that murdered king Philip ."

"Heh. You know for once I'm not guilty, in fact I didn't even get to kill my target. I was framed."

If possible Shions eyes grew wider in surprise.

" Framed ? By whom?'

" Hell do I know, But I'm not exactly surrounded by friends" he replied with a shrug, he didn't give a damn who it was , it wasn't as if he trusted anyone in the first place.

" That's horrible, you don't deserve to be executed for something you didn't do, And in any case I'm glad you didn't kill the former king he was a sweet man" he sighed deeply ' His brother on the other hand .. is not'

" I've killed dozens of people and you think I don't deserve to be executed on the spot?! You're crazier than I thought. "

" I never said you weren't responsible for those crimes I just said you were clean of this one, besides I believe in second chances" And for the first time since their first encounter Shion let his hood fall and revealing his pure white locks and scar " Don't you?" His eyes searched for his, their clear radiant color unfiltered by the darkness of his cloak.

" So what you're giving me a second chance? " Nezumi smirked but move back a little, unnerved by the sudden change.

Shion shook his head with a soft smile that illuminated his face, he almost looked... angelic.

" I can't do that you've done nothing but help me, you need to give yourself a second chance for a new life." The dark haired man raised a brow but couldn't help but let a hint of a laugh slip through his lips, the boy was a natural.

A cool breeze shook the trees , a break of a twig alerted the ex assassin " Fuck ! don't move, don't make a sound. We've got company"

And sure enough a laugh was heard from within the trees, " Well lookie here what I found" followed by another voice

" Ha ha and what a lucky find indeed, boss is gonna thank us"

The other laughed again, " And here I thought we'd come home empty handed"

Nezumi grimaced, he could hear more than two pairs of feet, he wrinkled his nose he could smell them too.

Damn and he was in the middle of his meal too.

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