Honto ni gomennasai! It's been a while that I update this story.*sigh*

I thought that I want to update it a week ago but my editor didn't give any respond yet…

So this chapter is not edited and you know… sorry for the grammar mistake. The school is really kept me stress with all the extra classes on the weekend. To make the things worst, I lost the story's draft and I don't know how to do…

Anyway, I will think about the problem. And for the hundreds time already (I think), I do not own JR and SIH.

P/S: This chapter had been edited.

Chapter 17: The Journey

"Waa~ it's so beautiful!" Misaki was amazed with the scenery of the hill and the forest near the border of the kingdom. Usagi just smiled, happy to see his beloved's smiling face. He had thought that it'd be better to let Misaki stayed in the castle, Misaki immediately rejected the teenwas more willing to come along with him rather that have to suffer the agonizing wait for his return.

"Misaki, do you like it?" Usagi snuggled closer to his lover. He inhaled the intoxicating scent of the sweetbrunette.

"Ah… Usagi-san, you're to close…" Misaki struggled a little.

"Thank you… and sorry…"

"Eh.. Why?" Misaki was confused by Usagi reply.

"Just sorry…" Usagi replied in his deepsultry voice. Misaki looked up to his husband, trying to find the problem. But Usagi just smiled beautifully to his partner making the boy blushed in embarrassment.

"Baka Usagi, smiling likes that…" Misaki mumbled. But Usagi could hear it.

"You're so cute, watashi wa kawai Misaki…"

~Time skip~

Finally, they reached the border of the Emerald Kingdom. Misaki directed his eyes to observe the situation at the entrance's gate. The scary looking guard made Misaki flinch in fear. Luckily, Usagi sensed this immediately, and moved to soothe the boy by rubbing his back. Misaki relaxed a bit, and cracked a smile to the man. They were travelling in a small group now as it was dangerous for them to show up with a whole army. Usagi's group was positioned to gather information first hand while uniting with the small army that was already lurking in the capital.

They made a past through the gate under the pretense of normal merchants. They brought along goods like silk and food to be sold while doing their mission. Misaki looked to his side catching a glance of Onodera who was riding a chestnut mare with Takano. He remembered the event near the waterfall right after they pasted the thick forest.

~Flashback~

"We stop here. Everyone can take a rest and do what they wish so long as you're not blowing our cover." Usagi shouted to the group. Originally, the group consisted of the royal couple, Takano, Misaki's maids including Onodera, Usagi's warlords (his friend, maybe),and Nowaki and Miyagi along with their right hand men. Every couple had their own set of guards. This is how Misaki got to meet the head knight of Usami kingdom, Isaka. Along with him, there are Asahina and Aikawa, which shocked Misaki, as he'd never, thought that Aikawa was a knight. Apparently, she is the highest rank among the lady knights, serving the kingdom as the second in chief after Isaka and Usagi.

Misaki took the chance to wander around the waterfall, playing with the cool water. He dipped his sore feet into the crystal clear water while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the waterfall.

"Misaki-sama, do you need anything?" A boy's voice greeted the relaxing boy. Misaki glanced to the side and smiled at his friend. Yeah, his friend. Although, Onodera stubbornly, refused to call him 'Misaki', it didn't affect the title of a friend for Misaki. He was very lucky to have such wonderful people around him that really love and take good care of him.

"I'm ok. I don't need anything…just I need you here." Misaki grabbed the boy and make him sit beside him.

"The water is really nice you know. Try to dip your toes in." Misaki smiled to the boy. Onodera just smiled back and proceed with the action. He put aside his shoes and dip his feet in the water.

"It's very beautiful right?"

"Yeah, I wish that it will this beautiful every day…" Ritsu chuckled lowly to himself, feeling a little bit frustrated.

"Are you having some kind of problem, Ritsu? Maybe I can help…"

"Nothing really. My life is not that important right now… I just feel very irritating with someone…" Ritsu answered it while still locked his gaze on the waterfall.

"Emph… ok if you say so… but are you really sure with not telling me anything?" Misaki glanced to the boy, still smiling.

"I'm not really in mood to talk about it; it's just that I… I really hate myself for not telling the truth. I feel very angry with myself…" Onodera averted his eyes to the other side, looking to the field of wild flowers. The bright colors of nature's beauty somehow soothed him and he found a smile playing upon his lips.

"Is it about Takano-san, Ritsu?" Onodera tensed in shock while looking straight into the other's eyes. He was positively he hadn't told anybody about his relationship with Takano. So how did Misaki know?!

"How did you—?!"

"Well, you told me about your past, about the break up and then when I looked to both of you I can sense something was amidst. After that, I confirmed with Usagi that you come from Emerald Kingdom. Anyway, when I looked at Takano-san, I can see the softness in his eyes, just like I see in Usagi-san's eyes." Misaki explained every detail. He didn't want Onodera to misunderstand him.

"Emph… well… yeah. It's about Takano-sama. I just don't know how to react. I thought after the incident I will never let my heart open for him or anyone again. But when I look in his golden eyes, I just can't take my eyes off him. It's just like… like… I don't know!" Onodera pulled at his hair in frustration.

"I can only give you this piece of advice: never let your love to go… it will just make you suffer. And I think Takano-san is capable of taking care of you… Ritsu. Just believe in him once more; although I don't know your feeling right now, but I know what betrayal can feel like." Misaki smiled beautifully at the boy. Perhaps, it was because they were in the same situation that his heart felt like he wanted to help the poor boy.

"Thank you… Misaki-sama, I really appreciated it."

"You're welcome. And maybe it's better to start calling Takano-san by his first name." Onodera blushed in embarrassment while Misaki chuckled. They were not aware that their conversation was being watched by the semes.

"It look like our cute ukes are having a serious talk." Usagi patted Takano's shoulder signaling that he had to do something.

"Yeah, thanks for taking care of Onodera. I could not ask for more…" Takano averted his eyes to the sound of laughter from the two boys. He smiled as he could see that his little lover is very happy to be here.

"Well, it is what friends are for. Anyway, you should be thanking Misaki for this. I'm really glad that he could have a friend like Onodera. It makes me feel relieved that he has someone that he can interact with." Usagi smiled softly at the boys.

After that, they continued their journey and reached the entrance gate.

~In the present~

"It's so busy today…" Misaki mumbled slowly. The town they had entered was packed.

"Akihiko-kun, let go to the river side of Mawar River." Takano rode the horse in front leading the group. Finally, they reached the destination. Misaki looked up to the house, amazed by the beauty of the landscape. There were many roses planted in the house compound and near the riverside. He smiled thinking that he should pluck some of the lovely flowers later.

~End of Chapter 17~

Not really a progress right?

Anyway, I will try to upload often if I get my hand on the CP. It's hard these days to just sit down and have my time with the story. Maybe next year, when I finish my high school, I can concentrated more.

Please review! I'm dying to know your opinions and ideas for the whole story so far and next chapter.