The Lost Prince
Me: I'm back.
Kai: yeah yeah. I'll let you know when some one cares.
Me: that was cold. Jeez.
Kai: Whatever. Have you come back to bore me again?
Me: Kai if you don't like it go away.
Kai: Whatever. –sits on couch-
Me: Is he emo tonight or what? Anyway this is an important filler chapter so don't expect a lot of action but do read it so everything will start making sense. Kai would you do the disclaimer?
Kai: Hell no, do it yourself.
Me: Fine. Disclaimer is that I don't own beyblade cause if I did Kai would be a nice fluffy bunny instead of a grouch.
The Lost Prince
"Pathetic rat!" Jame slammed the door shut sending the ships dungeon into complete darkness. Hiro closed his eyes not bothering to look at the pit and whished he could shut away the pain in his body. He'd spent three days in this hell hole with no chance to escape and very second he tired James' patience stumbling like a buffoon on deck. But now it was over.
He sat up and leaned against the sail wall, he'd proven himself a poor sailor and unable to learn. Jame had grown tired of him and decided to sell him at the port tomorrow. He allowed a chuckle then stopped when his chest burned. "Pathetic rat," he spat with a smirk. He closed his eyes with the thought of the others and wondered what could have happened to them.
Brooklyn wasn't stupid, Hiro knew the man enough to know that rumors of him being perfect was close to the truth. The Princes' of the kingdoms were too good and expensive to just throw away. General's daughters would become a great insurance as well. His friends, if they weren't dead were probably sold in the market.
They were defeated so why not? The only true person in danger was Kai. He could prove to be an obstacle. And Brooklyn wasn't stupid.
HIro flashed his eyes changing them and finally looked down at himself. Even in the darkness his eyes could see the torn rags he wore as clothing and the dark blood. Nothing serious. He closed them unworried and waited to fall asleep. Tomorrow was going to be a good day.
"Fresh cod fish buy the pound!"
"Sugar!"
The market street bubbled with excitement as women and maids rushed to do the shopping. Jame in from of him, Hiro hobbled along walking with his hands tied in front as he smelled the sweet air of the market. How'd he missed it! His eyes watched the crowd scanning back and forth in search.
She had to be here.
"Woman," Hiro hissed slightly.
"Come on," Jame pulled him towards the slaves stand. A bidder stood there all day auctioning off men and women as they came to a crowd. Children were done in the late evenings forced to stand and wait in the hot sun in a line beside the small wooden platform. Hiro found he couldn't look at them. Blackened faced of dirt, ragged clothing, hungry eyes, and thirsty mouths was all he saw. A reflection of his younger self.
"Alright then human male good sized. Worker material-seven gold shillings."
"Seven!" Jame screamed at the fat bidder who rubbed his over extended stomach covered in silk. The bidders mustache moved as he nodded.
"Times are changing friend," He looked at Hiro. "A man like that used to get a good ten pieces but now the market's failing short in this department. Rich families aren't getting rid of their slaves but breeding em now so they don't sell the young ones and buy fresh ones unless they need to. Sorry, all I can offer you."
Hiro watched grumbling Jame exchange the ropes lead holing his hands in a tight embrace for the coins. As he walked off a feeling of anxiety sprang to life.
"What if she doesn't recognize me?" Hiro thought desperately. Had he changed too much in the past two years?
"C'mon then, lets see what we can get for you." The bidder looked him up and down. "Hopefully worth more then seven pieces to another."
Hiro stood in the middle of the platform as people began to stare and gather to gawk and see the new slave. A sale is what they wanted. Hiro ignored them as his eyes darted through the crowd watching for a chance sight of her.
"This ladies and gentlemen is man at his prime! Human but fair height and good muscle this here young buck is worth in the field. We'll start bid at two pieces."
The voices around him dulled as a few men and women began biding for ownership of him. Hiro's eyes continued to dart back and forth penetrating every bit of the market square in a searching frenzy.
By the sun it was just turning noon and that was when the woman always came to the market. Of course if she had come earlier he didn't have a hop but he pushed it out of his mind. The woman had to be here. "Come on," he muttered lowly. If anyone else bought him he could always escape but the injuries he'd received on the ship needed to be tended too. And the others depended on him finding them as quickly as possible.
"Ten pieces!"
The bidder grinned slightly knowing that at least he'd made a three piece profit. In the dying market that was as good as any on a slow day like today. His hand raised ready to accept the offer when a shrill high voice rang in the crowd.
"Twelve pieces!"
The bidder widened his eyes and Hiro breathed a sigh of relief as the voice sounded like doves singing in his ears. He couldn't stop the smirk as he watched the skinny orange haired female make her way through the crowd trying desperately to get to him and keep her glasses on. He was saved.
"Twelve pieces?" the bidder looked at the crowd as if asking if anyone wanted to challenge to bet. No one did. "Sold!"
Hiro grinned as he watched everyone file away and was led off the platform by the large man. The woman walked to them regaining her composure, a small basked in her hands filled with flour and salt.
"You've made a good sale Miss." The bidder nodded his head with a smile. The woman smiled back but Hiro almost rolled his eyes, she'd paid too much for him. Oh well, she could afford it. At least now there was no doubt in his mind that he had been missed.
"Thank you sir, here is you're money."
The bidder raised an eyebrow at how easy it was for her to get rid of twelve pieces during the hard times that had hit the economy as of late. "May I ask which house you are from?"
"My Master is Ozuma," her voice was curt and well mastered. It left an innuendo of threat in its wake.
"I know that house well," the bidder nodded in acknowledgement. "Would you like someone to escort this man with you. I have not had him long and I don't know how he'll behave."
"No." Her voice was lighter with a smirk. "I do believe I can manage." She took the offered lead and turned. "Thank you sir. He is precisely what my master requested."
The bidder nodded and turned slightly flustered. Hiro said nothing but watched the exchange with a smile on his face. With no thought he followed her out silently as they passed the markets gates to enter a dirt road that lead to the larger estates outside the city.
When they were alone he finally opened his mouth. "I didn't think you would recognize me." His voice was a whisper but the woman turned and with a knife in her hand cut the binding. HIro rubbed his wrists bringing back the blood flow. He was worried that she was this quiet.
"Are you alright?"
Head bowed the orange woman just nodded. Her hands were clutched tightly to her chest as her form began to shake and tears rolled on her face.
"Aw," he whispered putting two strong hands on either side of her shoulder worried. He kissed the top of her head tenderly. "I'm sorry."
"I thought you were dead," the woman choked and backed up from him. She stared at him in the eye here tears welling behind her eyes. "You were gone for so long I thought, we thought, you had died. That Brooklyn had finally caught you and threw you in the dungeon to rot."
Hiro shook her head. "No. No. Things got screwed up and I was taken out of the country but everything is fine. I'm back and alive."
She shook her head. "I don't want to hear about it right now. You can tell me later when you talk to Ozuma and the others." She looked at him. "I'm just overwhelmed that you're back." She wiped the tears from her eyes.
"To be honest I wasn't sure it was you Hiro." She laughed slightly her shoulders continuing to shake. He pulled her to him and hugged her close.
"Emily," his voice was a whisper. The name was as sweet as he remembered it being two years ago on his tongue. There wasn't a better word or name that could brighten his day.
'I've missed you Emily," he kissed her tenderly holding each side of her face. "Oh how I've missed you. Emily. Emily." He kissed her rough and needy and she responded as feverishly.
The two held each other close forever recapturing the smell and lines that had sent their senses spiraling out of control. Emily rested her head on the shoulder of her lost lover and opened her eyes glancing at the sun. She pulled away quickly.
"Hiro, jeez, we have got to get you to the estate. Ozuma, you need to talk to him and a bath. Some rest and a good meal. Everyone has so many questions and you need to be updated on everything that's happened since you left and…"
She stopped staring at his smiling face. She'd missed it so much and she knew the look he was giving her. She smiled as he grabbed her hand and lead her down the road. She was content to be by his die once again where she belonged.
They arrived an hour later at the massive gates that led to the estate and once again Hiro was in awe. The place seemed bigger then he remembered. The walkway was small stones that lead for a quarter of a mile until it reached the front steps of the massive building he called home. The house sat on three acres of land with a small servant house to the left that was big enough for three families and a stable further down with several corrals. Behind the estate was another four acres dedicated to agriculture and a small slave community where the men and women lived who worked the land.
Walking inside the lords home Hiro sighed at the great wood and fireplace at one corner. Three stories tall it was one of the largest homes in the entire region. And it was his. Hiro glanced down at the pretty furniture and colorful walls covered in works of art. The staircase circled slightly going to the next floor where it continued to the third. The place was humongous with three wings resembling a castle. Truly an architectural feat for its time.
The man sighed and hugged Emily closer. He was glad to be home. His home. All his life Hiro worked hard to bring in what he needed to build this. The money was made off of years in the streets, working the people, and getting into aristocratic society. He wouldn't lie, to gain it all he had swindled a few rich hands, cheated a few games of cards, and black mailed a few men but he had always been a man to do what needed to be done to complete his goal. The goal was to kill the King and then get himself back to the Dragon Kingdom and his rightful throne.
But now that had changed.
"You must be tired and hungry," Emily looked at him. "Ozuma won't be back until late tongith so I'll draw you a bath and get Matilda to make you something to eat. You look like you need some warm wine."
Hiro didn't say a word but the thought of it all sent his heart fluttering. He kissed her on the mouth and nodded before walking towards the master chambers. "I'll draw my own bath. Then I want my place set up in the last room on the third floor."
Emily nodded as he requested the room he'd used earlier. She understood why he didn't use the master bedroom or take his title as Lord of the estate. He'd left that to Ozuma for a reason.
In the large kitchen she couldn't help but hum and grin as she sat down the basket. Matilda, who had had her back to her, turned with a slight frown. "Why are you in a good mood?"
"No reason," Emily teased as she busied herself making a plate with cheese and bread. She moved to the ham that had been prepared for Ozuma and cut a large slice.
"What are you doing?" Matilda growled. "You know that's for Ozuma when he gets back here." The young woman of twenty-two came around the table. "Stop Emily," she grabbed the girl's wrist. "Answer me."
Emily grinned. "We have a guest."
"Is that why it looks like you've been crying?" Matilda asked with a new look of worried. "If they've hurt you, you sure don't look like it."
Emily couldn't hold it in any longer as she stared the woman in the eye. "Hiro's home."
Matilda blinked. "What!!"
"Shhh!" Emily put a finger to her lips laughing. "I found him in the market square, he was being sold as a slave. I bought him for twelve pieces." She giggled.
"Are you sure it's him?" Matilda asked wearily. She was ecstatic if it was him but if it wasn't then…
"Yes." Emily sighed sitting the stuff back on the table. "He's taking a bath right now in the master chamber. It's him. Trust me."
Matilda shook her head smiling. "Good."
"He's changed," Emily whispered.
"What do you mean?" Matilda narrowed her eyes again. Living as Ozuma's wife she had lost a lot of trust in people. "Of course he's changed, its been two years, but what exactly are you talking about? Where has he been?"
"I don't know. I told him to tell us later with Ozuma here so we could get to the bottom of everything together. I don't know Matilda." She sighed. "He kissed me so I know he still loves me but…"
Her orange hair turned with her head. "I'm just not sure if he's still the same man. He looks older."
A hand was placed on her shoulder as Matilda sighed. "It must have been hard on him Emily. A Prince away from his home land and then away from the home he's created here. Away from you. I'm sure he's hurting just as much as you were. Besides, you're not the same woman either. You've grown older too."
Emily sighed and fixed her glasses before picking back up the tray and taking it out the door. "That's what I'm afraid off."
In the bath Hiro sighed comfortable. Emily had sent up Christopher, a servant whom they both trusted completely to heat the bath with his power over fire. It wasn't that they told him anything or Christopher knew at all that this wasn't the master of the house. The man was blind and deaf. He just assumed that he was doing his duty for Ozuma and no one would tell him differently.
It kept many men and women to keep the place running so servants and slaves were a must along with stablemen and others. But no one knew much about who they worked for. Their Master Ozuma kept a low profile demanding that only a certain few were in the house at certain times and that they just remained within his beck and call if he sent out for them. At first they thought it was strange but soon just thought of it as their master enjoying his privacy.
Hiro sighed contently splashing the water and wondering when the last time he had actually had a bath was.
"It's been a while." He muttered. The door opened and he looked up as Emily came into the room with the food. She smiled at him and flushed lightly keeping her eyes away from his form. Hiro chuckled.
"I finally find my way home and you still can't look at me? Does my wife hate me so much?"
Emily shook her head with a sigh. "No. I guess it's just been so long since I've seen a man."
Hiro frowned his eyes turning animal like. "You mean you didn't find comfort with someone else?" His voice was slow and hesitant.
"No." The voice of the woman was curt and fast. "I'm faithful to one man and one man only. We thought you were dead but I knew that you'd come back to me. And if you didn't then I could wait until the next life."
In shock the man stared at her. Never in his life had he heard a declaration. Memories of several different women he had slept with while he was gone ran through his mind like an annoying melody. Guilt and shame curled in his gut threatening to come out of his mouth like a sickness.
Growling at his own selfish indulgences he pushed himself out of the bath and to her side. The fact that she was in clothes and he was dripping wet didn't faze him as he wrapped his arms around the woman he loved and brought her close. All the other women he had sought comfort in now meant nothing. They had just been and would always be a momentary relief. A momentary relief of a pathetic man.
Emily sighed against him as he leaned his head close to her hear. "I'm sorry. You were much stronger then I." She suddenly felt cold as his straining voice came across her mind. Her hands came up to his shoulders trembling as she pushed him away.
"Emily…"
"No Hiro," she tried to pull away from him but he held her hands against the flesh of his shoulders with his rough palms. "Let me go."
"Emily please," Hiro felt tears come to his eyes. He knew the moment he had whispered the words that it had been a mistake. He hurt her.
"I have to go and send someone to fetch Dunga and Joseph." Her voice was hard and cold. "They need to be here so you can talk with them. Someone has to get Claude, Miriam, and Miguel as well." He didn't budge. "If you don't let me go they won't get here in time."
He nodded feeling cold as she walked away from him. His rough hands were the only part of him close to being warm as the door closed.
Without a thought Emily walked faster down the hallway to the stair case. Her heart beat raced along with her footing as her body became numb. What he'd just said rolled over in her mind again and again but she wouldn't allow herself to dwell on it. There would be time enough for that later.
"Matilda, can you send someone to get the others. They need to be here."
The woman turned around slightly startled but said nothing. She simply nodded, running a hand through her pinkish hair, she did as she was told.
Emily ran back up the stairs to her room and closed the door. She suddenly felt sick. Leaning against the door Emily knew the tears had already started to fall as the entire day collapsed around her emotions. There was nothing she could do against sliding down the door and holding herself.
He had betrayed her. All that time she had told herself over and over that he was alright. He was going to come back and everything would be exactly the way it had been before. Their marriage would finally produce children and Brooklyn would be a memory. That had been a child's dream. The man that had come home was not the serious and loyal one she knew. He had come home, bruised and beaten. Older and colder then he had ever been. Thoughts of what she had talked with Matilda in the kitchen rushed through her mind sending another shiver down her spine as she continued to cry.
Ozuma slowed the horse down as the animal walked down the path to the mansion. His eyes darted back and forth noticing Claude's carriage parked right in front as if it had been placed in a hurry. Several servants from the stables rushed back and forth with the horses to take them to rest.
"Master," a young man whom Ozuma didn't know by name came to him. "Allow me to take your horse sir?"
Ozuma jumped off the back of the animal ignoring its whine. "What's going on her boy?" The tall man looked around with worry.
"I don't know sir," the boy seemed slightly timid. "The Lady of the house Matilda told us to fetch Mister Claude and his wife along with several others I don't know. It seems that the person that came with Mrs. Emily has caused and uproar. We've been ordered out of the house tonight to deal with the visitors horses but nothing more."
Ozuma nodded. "Good lad. Take him," he nodded towards the chestnut stallion, "and give him some fresh hay. He's done good today." The boy nodded and ran off. Ozuma glanced wearily at his home as if it was alive before walking up the steps and into the room.
"Ozuma!" Matilda ran to great her husband. "You're late! Was everything alright?"
The man nodded slightly taken back by her out going personality that she had just developed. "Who's here?"
"Claude, Miriam, Joseph, Miguel, and Dunga."
"Dunga?" Ozuma looked at her alarmed. He had the man stationed under Dickenson at the coliseum. What was he doing here?
"What's going on?"
Matilda ignored her husband's tight voice and ushered him into the parlor. The fire was warm and everyone was seated comfortably. Ozuma noticed and knew everyone in the room. They were who Matilda had listed along with Emily, but a man caught his eye.
In front of the fire in clean but simple clothing stood a tall man with his back turned to him. Broad shoulders were accented by blue hair.
Slowly the figure turned and Ozuma looked into his eyes.
"Who?" the master of the estate stopped puzzled. "Are you?" His voice came out in a whisper.
"Ozuma is that anyway to greet a friend?" Hiro's voice was light but not mocking. The two men came across the room to each other and hugged tightly.
"It's you isn't it?" Ozuma backed up and took in the man in front of him. "It really is you isn't it?" He laughed and hugged him again, his eyes smiling. "Hiro!"
"I thought you two would be happy to see each other," Miriam grinned and threw back her long green hair over her shoulder. "We've waited long enough. Hiro has a story to tell and I for one want to hear what kept him away from us for so long." The woman's voice was commanding but there were happy tears reflecting in her eyes.
Hiro laughed. "I do owe you an explanation, but you first." The man sat down and looked hard at Ozuma. "Tell me everything that's happened since I was gone."
Ozuma looked at Matilda who was closing the doors. "Is everything secure?" His voice asked for reassurance that they wouldn't be over heard by anyone. Resistance of the crown was not dealt with lightly.
"Yes."
"Good. While you were gone," Ozuma sighed. "We managed to get into several aspects of society. Dunga was given a post at the coliseum and Miriam has gotten close with Ming-Ming." He smiled. "That woman is a gold mine of information."
Hiro nodded. "What else?"
"I've managed to keep myself in a good eye with the other aristocrats. We had a run in last year when someone almost figured out that I wasn't the true son of William. No one got word of it though and it soon died out."
The male nodded again knowing full well what would happen if someone found out the true identity of Ozuma. William, the true master of the estate had died several years ago with no true heir. He had named his adopted nephew to inherit everything. Hiro happened to be that man but no one knew who he was or what he looked like so he put Ozuma in his place. By law the estate should have been Hiro's but the man forfeited the chance and gave it to Ozuma choosing to stay out of society's main light. If anyone found the truth however, everything the two of them had done to gain this position would have been for nothing.
"What about the army front?" Hiro looked at Claude. The Elf had been in charge of securing some lines in that area. The grey haired man smiled.
"I've become commander of four thousand men since you've been gone. My relationship with Garland has grown as well. We ate at his home two months ago. So far everything is stable."
Hiro knew other wise but decided to keep his mouth shut for now. "So everyone has kept up their posts. Any news since I left?"
"The economy is failing," Emily looked at him blankly. She held no emotion within her. "It's declining but there is nothing Brooklyn has done or can do to change that. You saw that yourself at the market. To make up for it he's thrown huge festivals and the popularity of gladiators has grown tremendously. His efforts have worked. No one's complaining that it's hard to buy flour."
"We also had to get rid of Barthez," Matilda spoke up.
"When?" Hiro narrowed his eyes. He didn't particularly like the man but his hold in the water trade had been valuable.
"Not five months after you left," she answered. "When you didn't come back he got cold feet and was threatening to go to Brooklyn. We couldn't afford to see if he would hold out so we had to cut him off. Joseph did it."
The green haired elf nodded. "He had heart problems so I made it look like a heart attack with the poison I used. No one even thought of suggesting murder."
Hiro sighed. "Too bad. Is that it?"
"Yeah," Ozuma nodded. "It's been quiet here. Nothing really to tell."
Hiro blinked. "I guess it's my turn then."
"What happened?" Joseph cut him off. "I mean the mission you and Dunga was on was simple. Destroy a ship at port. What went wrong?"
The dragon smiled. "Nothing went wrong on Dunga's end but all hell broke loose on mine." He stood up and paced back and forth remembering the night.
"That night the captain of the ship decided to leave early. I was caught on board when she came to life that night. Apparently they had gotten another marine to push and pull the water to create a current enough to move the vessel. Dunga thankfully wasn't on board. I tried to get out but several men caught me and locked me up tight. I killed two of them and knocked a couple out. They were short handed so the captain, Kellerman, made me take their place. When we got to a port on the marine land I was quickly sold. They needed more money for supplies. After that it was a long time before I found my way back." He smiled slightly.
"Too bad," Claude voiced. "I think I'd rather have gotten rid of Dunga instead."
The men and women laughed as the large human shifted his shoulders with a smirk. "They wouldn't have caught me."
"So what happened after that?" Joseph sat back. "You became a slave but to who and what?"
"A man named Sora bought me to help him with his farm. His son had broken an arm and harvest season was up. Sora was dead set on not getting an avian, he was a wolf, so he bought a human. After the season was over I was sold again to a circus."
"A circus?" Matilda asked in disbelief.
Hiro nodded. "Two brothers, Kei and Kan, bought me at the market to help with the circus train they were in. A caravan of different slave owners would go to festivals together and put on shows to gain money in the kingdoms. They weren't the brightest men in the world. Lost most of their money on liquor, gambling, and women."
"Sounds like you had fun," Miriam spoke out bored. "Has anything worth while happened in the last two years? It's been absolutely boring. Ming-Ming is boring."
Hiro ignored her comment about the job she had been assigned but laughed at how sincere she had sounded about there not being enough action. "Actually the story picks up from there and has yet to end."
"Alright," Miriam sat back. "You have my full attention."
"The other members of our traveling fun wagon were very interesting. At first it was just me and two others; Spencer the marine and Evenescence a gypsy wolf. Later two avian siblings joined us and then an elf named Illyana. The siblings is were it all started. They were Bryan and Lexandra, the offspring of general Reinfield of Alexander's Avian army."
Claude sat up straighter at the mention of the Kingston's rival. "You mean the Reinfield who fell to Brooklyn's father?"
Hiro nodded. "The same. Apparently the two had been thrown back and forth as slaves over the years. They'd never been split up before because Bryan was the only one who could understand Lexandra because she's mute or at least chooses to be."
"Why?"
"Don't know. Anyway we traveled together for about a year when we were rescued in the woods bordering the human kingdom and the old avian ruins. This man just comes out of the woods, kills the brothers and sets us free out of no where." Hiro sat back with a slight smile. "He gave us the choice and we choose to go with him. Unfortunately that we weren't the only other ones traveling with him. The man, Alexander, had kidnapped the Prince of the Marine kingdom."
Dunga sat up straighter as the others gasped slightly. "Then what?"
"The other princes came for him and we fought them. We didn't know who they were at first, we were just going to pay back Alexander for freeing us. It took Rei, Prince of the Elf kingdom, to finally sit us all down and talk like civilized men."
"Alexander was going to leave us then. He'd only kidnapped Max to get away with picking up some fruit…" Hiro continued to talk of the events until he reached the part at James' ship.
"Brooklyn took everyone except me. I spent the next few days making myself the most clumsy sea man around hoping that he would sale me. He finally did today and Emily just happened to be in the market and saw me." He glanced her way with a half smile.
"Pure love always shows," Miriam winked wickedly. Emily didn't share her enthusiasm.
"So our country is now the host of the princes and generals daughters." Claude shook his head. "Garland didn't tell me anything."
"We have to find them," Joseph stood up. "We have to find them and get them out of here before they're killed."
"You don't have much time," Dunga spoke up finally. "I know where they are."
"What?" Hiro looked at him. "Why didn't you say anything?"
The mammoth frowned. "They're fine for right now. The night you all docked at port Brooklyn stopped by the coliseum and dropped them off as gladiators. They just trained fighting against one another yesterday in the small arena."
"All of them?" Hiro narrowed his eyes. He couldn't picture Mariah and Wyatt fighting.
"No, only the princes and two others. I believe they were Spencer. Is he the big blonde with blue eyes?"
Hiro nodded.
"And the other one was an avian with light purple hair. Bryan?"
"Yeah that would be Bryan." Hiro stared at the floor. This was not good. They weren't together. "Does anyone know about the others?"
"I talked to Ming-Ming the other day," Miriam jumped up. "She didn't say any names but she mentioned dropping off two girls at that whorehouse run by a fat cow named Rin. She said one was feisty and was laughing at how the wolf fought back against a man when he tried to kiss her."
"That might be Evenescence," Hiro sighed. That still left the general's daughters.
"If I know Brooklyn," Claude looked at Hiro. "He wouldn't have killed the rest of them. Let me see what I can dig up out of Garland by the end of the week. I'll send a messenger by this Friday."
Hiro nodded. "Sooner if they're in any danger. We have to be careful about this."
"So how are we going to get the Princes out?" Joseph asked impatient.
"That's too risky of a move," Emily shot up. "If you get them out then Dunga's cover will be blown and the others watched like hawks watching mice. You might even get them killed."
"Then what are we going to do?" Joseph looked at her. "The point is to get Brooklyn off the throne for good not ruin the other kingdoms by killing their only heirs."
"She's right," Hiro voiced out with such a commanding voice that the others got quiet. He stood up and paced with his hands behind his back.
"We do nothing for now," his voice was calm. "Dunga you give nothing away at work but do what you can to ensure they have a fighting chance to make in the ring. Don't let anyone set them up to get killed got that?"
The ape of a man nodded.
Hiro smirked slightly. "Besides if I know that group the way I do most of them will just look at this like a field trip. Miriam and Claude I want you to finish the charade. Find out what you can and get closer to Garland and Ming-Ming. See if you can't have a few friendly conversations with Mystel Claude. Garland's Brooklyn's right hand man so he's still our best bet."
"What about the girls in the whorehouse," Miriam spoke up worried. "You don't plan on leaving them there do you?"
"No," Hiro looked at them. "Ozuma and Joseph have that job. I need you two to go to the house and flash as much money as you need too to find them. Once you do request a room on the second floor. A fire is going to start."
"You can't have me die." Ozuma spoke up.
"No," Hiro shook his head. "You'll come out alive but Evenescence and Illyana, if I'm right, won't. As fair as everyone else is concerned they're dead. The reality is that the carriage carrying Emily and Matilda has picked up the two women and carried them back here. We'll hid them in the basement for a while so everything can calm down and we can work on getting them out of the country."
Ozuma smirked. "Glad to have you back Hiro." The male respected the older dragon like an older brother. Hiro knew exactly what facts to put together to come up with the greatest of plans. He was a true stratigious (roman word for man who makes up military strategies). It hurt the human male that Hiro had never been able to keep his place in the other world as the first born of the Dragon Kingdom's princes. He would have made a wonderful king.
"Glad to be back," Hiro smirked back.
"What are you going to do?" Joseph looked at him.
"I do believe that's it's time Jin of the Gale made an appearance." Hiro was referring to the notorious trouble maker in the country's capital. Jin of the Gale was a man who was a throne in Brooklyn's side as the man publicly humiliated the king and his soldiers. Jin of the Gale had been missing for two years.
"You are not going to put on that mask and parade around the streets yet are you?" Emily asked slightly worried. She'd seen the scars on his back and the old wounds he'd carried with him home. The man needed to rest before putting on the metal mask and armor again.
"No. I will soon though. Right now it would be too much of a coincidence if Jin came back around the same time I did. I trust our slaves to an extent but that's it."
The others nodded. It was a wise choice.
The rest of the night was spent with drinking and story telling as everyone caught up with one another. Hiro finally felt at home. It was late by the time everyone left and Emily and Matilda retired leaving their husbands alone in the room.
"It must have been hard," Ozuma observed watching Hiro stare into the distant night sky through a large window.
"Hum?" The dragon male turned to him.
"Seeing your younger brother Tyson I mean. That must've been hard." Ozuma watched the other male worried.
Hiro shook his head. "It was weird at first I'll admit that but the kid's not half bad." He chuckled. "Tyson's grown up pretty well. He's still a kid in too many ways to take care of an entire Kingdom but he'll be fine. He'll make a great King."
Those words shot Ozuma's eyes down. He knew Hiro didn't show it and pretended it didn't bother him at all but the fact that he had been forced to live the life of a slave when he should have been the king in waiting had left it's mark. He remembered the first time he had met the male.
The two of them were slaves in the castle during the time of Brooklyn's fathers' rule. Hiro had just shown up as a five year old kid with an attitude and the first thing the two did was fight. It was an all out brawl that had to be ended by two soldiers despite the fact it was just a fight between a five and four year old. After that the two became tight and shared everything. It was still a year later that Hiro had admitted the truth about his birth and how he had been stolen in the dead of night.
The man glanced up at the dragon again and sighed seeing the hard face. It was too old for a young man but the scary thought was that it hadn't changed since the first day they'd meet. Hiro had always been older then his years.
"I'm heading to bed. I have to make an appointment before busting out your friends."
Hiro nodded. "I'll turn in soon. As soon as I can gain the energy to move." He laughed a little.
"It really is good to have you back," Ozuma looked at him. "I missed having you around. We all did."
"I missed you too," Hiro sighed pulling himself to his feet. "Good night Ozuma. Don't scream like a little girl when you have a nightmare again. The sound is annoying."
"You never forget anything do you?" Ozuma looked at him with a blush. "I was five."
"Yeah," Hiro waved him off and headed up the stairway. At the hall he looked at Emily's door. It was closed. He sighed walking to the door and trying to turn the knob. It was locked too.
She didn't want to see him tonight.
The thought pained him deeply and he turned away rubbing the back of his neck. He hadn't seen her since the conversation during his bath. He knew now it was a mistake to tell her but he loved her too much to keep it a secret.
They'd changed he realized as he moved to his bed. "But I still love you," he whispered as he finally let himself fall into a deep slumber.
Hahahahah! I am good!!
That was a lot in this chapter but is everything starting to tie together and make sense? This is a very important chapter because it marks the beginning of the end. After this there is only a down hill spiral.
Don't you feel a little bad for Hiro?
Anyway send me a review! Would like to know what you think or if you have any questions!
Kai: don't bother. This chapter was pathetic anyway. Not even sure why you read it all.
Me: -hits Kai with a baseball bat- shut up! God are you annoying tonight!