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LOVE TESTAMENT CHAPTER 13

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Hoshiko walked pensively to Princess Minori's room like she had sent for in the message that arrived to him earlier.

What could it be this time? It bugged him that he had to do favors for her without getting anything in return.

He smiled at the thought of the last favor he did for the scheming Princess. The Sage was pure delight just by touching him. He turned at the corner and stood in front of the door and knocked. He waited for a permission to enter.

"Enter."

He pushed the door opened and greeted the Princess with a quiet bow.

"Take a seat." Minori indicated to the cushion seat on the floor opposite of her in which he complied.

"You must be confused to why I called you here today."Minori held a wickedly serious face.

Hoshiko lifted his gaze to look at her briefly before diverted it back to the ground. "Yes." Untruth covered his in-genuine voice.

Minori smiled. She knew how malicious and fake his heart can be. She knew his deceived character. "Do you perhaps remember Fuji Syusule?"

Hoshiko inwardly grinned. "Yes."

"He's back."

The grin appeared on his face. "Is that so? Then what can I do for you?"

"Anything. Just get him away from Tezuka-san."

Hoshiko looked up with a wave of confusion.

"Don't question. Just do it. Clean. I don't want any suspicion."

"That is somewhat difficult, Princess. Guessing from what you are saying, Lord Tezuka will always be on the look-out for Fuji Syusuke and the Lord is not someone I can meddle with."

Minori immediately frowned. "What are you saying? You can't do it?"

Hoshiko smiled crookedly. "I did not say that. I will try my best." He bowed his head.

Minori narrowed her eyes at Hoshiko's head, doubting the man's ability at the minute. "I will trust you to do your best." She lied.

Or else? Hoshiko waited for the threat, but it didn't come. He knew it was there though.

"You may leave."

Once Hoshiko left, Minori's most loyal maid entered and closed the door behind her.

"My Lady, is it alright to trust him?"

Minori scoffed. "Since when did I trust him with anything?"

The maid smiled.

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Fuji discretely slipped away from people's attention as he made his way to the said river. Apparently, his discreteness backfired and now he was lost because he didn't want to ask people for the way in case they knew where he was going.

He wandered through the bamboo stalks with a frown. He was sure he passed this area twice already, because of the oddly shaped rock on the ground.

A sudden wind blew and his alert triggered on automatically, sensing a presence nearby. Before he could turn around, a pair of arms snaked around his waist.

Fuji felt himself being pulled to a hard chest. When he turned side-way, his nose met Tezuka's.

"What took you so long?" The deep voice came with a hot breath.

Fuji blushed and turned his head forward as the previous nose-to-nose reminded him of the kiss at the meadow. Instead of answering the question, he asked one. "What are you doing here?"

Tezuka smiled and nuzzled the top of Fuji's head, breathing in the sweet alluring scent. "I was all-in of waiting, so I decided to look for you…in case you were lost."

"Oh." Fuji blushed harder when Tezuka turned him around, keeping his face down.

Tezuka palmed Fuji's cheek and a knowing smile crept onto his face. "Your cheeks are warm. Are you okay?"

"Ye-yes. I'm fine." Fuji pushed Tezuka's hand away from his cheek while looking up. "Didn't you say you want to meet up at the river?"

Tezuka chuckled and looked away from Fuji's face. "Let's go then." Tezuka's hand swiftly took Fuji's left wrist and pulled Fuji along.

It didn't really matter where they meet up, really. As long as they met where they could be alone, then it was fine. But since Fuji mentioned it…

Fuji crouched down to the bank of the river and cupped up a pool of water with his hands. Before Fuji could splash the cool water onto his warm face, the water jumped from his hands and landed on his face with a pressured splash. "!" He gasped incredulously.

Tezuka snickered from behind Fuji.

Fuji turned around with bafflement. He blinked before a dangerously nice smile lit up on his face. He moved his hands in a wave motion and swept his hands across his face. Along with the movement, a stream of water picked up and flew over toward Tezuka's face.

Tezuka smirked and raised his hand to stop the stream of water before it could touch his face. The water froze and fell to the ground with a small splash.

Fuji chuckled and his eyes gleamed.

Confused with Fuji's sudden chuckle, Tezuka's eyebrows arched and before he could speak, a pool of water rained on him, completely made him wet from head to toes.

Fuji laughed louder and took off running across the river on the water surface.

"Can't run from me." Tezuka chuckled. He dashed toward the river and jumped over the river in one smooth motion, picking up some water and hurling it at Fuji.

Looking back, Fuji made a high jump to land on a tree branch. "Maa, aren't you a slow one, Tezuka-san." Fuji teased before airing himself to another tree.

Tezuka snorted and rubbed his feet lightly on the ground while mumbling. "Wait until I get my hands on you." He aired himself up. But when he landed to where Fuji was, Fuji had already run away to another tree.

And so, the race on air began.

"Ne, Tezuka-san!" Fuji yelled back, but continuing to hop away.

"What?!"

"I'll tell you one of my secret if you can catch me!" Fuji replied back happily.

"Is that so?" Tezuka smiled to himself. A secret from Fuji is a step forward. He must catch the Sage! "You better run faster, Fuji-san!"

He heard the beautiful laugh ringing throughout the forest, like the melody of a forest nymph.

Fuji picked up his speed and dashed through the foliage. He stopped and lowered himself onto the ground when he didn't hear Tezuka's movement anymore. "Saaa, guess I was too fast for him."

He looked around and spotted a large square lock under a small cliff that began a hiking trail. "I'll just sit here and wait. Hm…" He leaned back and rested his back against the dirt wall, closing his eyes and humming to a familiar childhood tune.

swiftly, his ears wiggled and the song stopped. When he opened his eyes, a voice breathed out into his ear from the left side. "That was a nice song. Why did you stop?"

Fuji's eyes widened and turned to see Tezuka closed to his face. "Y-y-you. I didn't hear you!" His face blushed a beautiful color.

Tezuka grunted. "Don't let your guard down." He smiled and pulled back away from the startled Sage. "Now, a touch, and a secret of yours is mine, correct?"

Fuji giggled and swiftly maneuvered himself some meters away from his original spot, making Tezuka blinked in confusion for a bit.

"Not that easy, Tezuka-san!" Fuji cheered boisterously. "Don't let your guard down!" He chuckled at the bewilderment on Tezuka's face.

"Sneaky, aren't you?"

Fuji nodded gleefully, tilting his head aside.

Tezuka scratched the back of his head and walked to Fuji slowly. "I don't think I can catch you then."

"Awwww~ Is Tezuka-san tired already? Giving up so easily?" Fuji cooed as he stepped back to keep the distance between him and Tezuka.

"Its hardly called giving up." Tezuka disputed.

"Then what would my Lord call it?" Fuji teased brightly with a grin.

"Pre-emptive surrender to impossibility." Tezuka smiled handsomely and charmingly.

"Too wordy." Fuji crunched up his forehead. "You-" Fuji's eyes opened widely when the ground beneath him seemed to disappear and gravity pushed him down. "AhhH!"

Thump!

Fuji rubbed his butt. "Ow~"

"Fuji-san!" Tezuka immediately ran over to where Fuji disappeared and found a hole."Fuji-san?" He called down to the dark hole. "Are you okay?"

Fuji was about to answer when he heard a hiss nearby. Having a clue of what it was, Fuji carefully built his chi to emit fire onto his finger tips.

As soon as the fire flickered on, he knew it was a mistake as the strange-color looking snake pecked him in a blinding speed. "AHHH!!" The pain shot through his body and he reflexively blew the snake away with a fire blast. The cave lit up quickly as it died down a second later.

Tezuka quickly moved his head away from the hole to prevent his head being scorched. "Fuji-san!" When the heat subsided, Tezuka jumped down the hole and fired up his fingertips the underground cave.

The sweating body on the ground with faint flicker of light from his fingertips indicated to Tezuka that Fuji's system was going down gradually. He moved by Fuji and lifted the small body into his arms. "Fuji-san." He shook Fuji lightly.

Fuji didn't answer. He moaned painfully.

Tezuka looked around and immediate recognition came to him. He breathed out. "A poison snake lair."

A long dead snake laid beside a nest of 5 giant eggs. Around them were more egg nests, but luckily no other grown snakes.

He looked at Fuji briefly. "Hang on. I'll get you out of here."

Tezuka carried the Sage and jumped up the hole.

He laid Fuji on the ground beside the river when he got to it. A swift look over Fuji's body, he narrowed down the snake bite and ripped off a piece of Fuji's pant by the ankle.

The bite had two deep punctured holes. There was no blood, but the skin area around the bite was inflamed to an ugly mix of red and violet.

Tezuka ripped off a line of cloth from his own clothes and used the strip to tie a band around Fuji's thigh to prevent massive poison spread. Then, he lowered his head onto the bite and sucked the poison blood from the punctures, spitting out the foul content to the ground when his mouth was full. He repeated the process as Fuji laid unconsciously.

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"Are you sure?"

"If I wouldn't be, then I wouldn't be saying it, so yes, I am sure."

Yukimura smiled widely. "Thank you. It means a lot to me."

Sanada reached for Yukimura's dangling hand that was 2 feet away from where he was standing. "You know I'd do anything to see you, even if it means traveling from a kingdom to another at least twice a week."

"Mhm." Yukimura hummed as he contently rubbed Sanada's rough hand with his thumb. His face momentarily turned thoughtful and his hand stilled. "But wouldn't people be curious to your absence?"

Sanada shook his head and pulled Yukimura closer. "No. I'm captain of our patrolling crew, so it is easy for me to leave without anyone knowing."

"I wish we could see each other in public…" Yukimura sighed gently with sadness in his voice. "But I'm content just with this."

"Me too." Sanada whispered wistfully as they stood hugging each other as if time will end.

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The sound of wind breezing through the forest and rustling through the leaves woke Fuji up.

"Nn?" Fuji's hand came up and splat on his face. "What happened?" He asked groggily, not fully aware of his surroundings.

Then, he felt himself shifting involuntarily.

"Are you awake?" A gently, but deep voice asked.

Fuji squinted his eyes before looking up to see Tezuka looking down at him. "Tezuka-san?"

"I'm here." Tezuka moved Fuji to sit up from his current position, which he had been laying on Tezuka's laps.

Fuji sat between Tezuka's legs with his back rested on Tezuka's supporting chest. "I'm tired. What happened?"

"You don't remember? You got bitten by a snake." Tezuka replied with a hint of anxiety. He hoped the poison didn't affect Fuji's brain.

"Oh." Fuji slowly remembered, to Tezuka's relief. Fuji lifted his head up to look at Tezuka's face. "Did you save me?"

Without answering right away, Tezuka pulled Fuji closer and tightened his hold.

Fuji blushed at the sudden intimacy when he felt Tezuka's hands moving on his arms, brushing adoring touches. Still embarrassed, he mumbled. "I guess you did."

"Fuji-san." Tezuka rested his chin on the crown of Fuji's head.

"Hm?" Fuji's fingers hesitantly rested on Tezuka's arms.

"You don't need to add –san to my name."

"Huh?"

"Can I just call you Fuji?"

"…"

Tezuka lifted his hand to tilt Fuji's face up to look at him. His eyes wandered from Fuji's blue eyes to pink lips.

Fuji was at the same time amazed by how handsome Tezuka looked this close. His nose was tall and straight, not to mention the perfect lips.

"May I?"

The question woke Fuji from his staring stupor and his gaze locked with Tezuka's. He didn't understand what the question was asking for. His forehead creased lightly in confusion.

Noticing Fuji's puzzlement, Tezuka laughed softly. "Kiss you."

Shocked, Fuji pulled his face back and turned away.

Tezuka's face boldly followed to the side of Fuji's face. "Just one kiss."

If possible, Fuji blushed deeper. "W-why do you want a kiss?" He stuttered so that Tezuka found it cute.

Tezuka shrugged and simply said, "Shouldn't I get a reward for saving your life?"

"…Fine." Fuji turned his head to look at Tezuka shyly.

Beautiful. He's still so shy. Tezuka nodded and smiled as he waited for Fuji to lean in.

Slowly, Fuji did. When their lips were an inch apart, Fuji quickly pecked and pulled away before Tezuka can react. He bolted away.

Tezuka sat dumfoundedly still. He was about close the distance, but Fuji was too quick. That wasn't what he was looking for. He'd rather want a passionate and long one…

"Tezuka?"

Tezuka shook his head and woke from his daze. "Hm?"

Fuji inclined his head to the trail that headed back to the palace.

"Ah." Tezuka understood and stood up, dusting his pant before joining Fuji as they walked back in comfortable silence.

"We're almost back." Fuji commented randomly when they reached the outskirt of the forest.

"Ah." Without a warning, Tezuka reached out and held Fuji's wrist, yanking the smaller man close.

"Wha-?" Fuji's eyes widened and he blinked profusely when he felt the air being cut off by a pair of warm lips over his. "Te-" He tried to push away, but Tezuka's arms held him tight.

Tezuka stopped and pulled an inch away. "I love you." He declared before taking the lips again.

Fuji's wall slowly melted at the most unromantic confession and gave into the kiss.

Who cares about a Sage not allowed to have a lover? Fuji thought.

They parted a moment later, breathing raggedly and flushing amorously. Fuji stayed still within Tezuka's embrace.

"I'm leaving tomorrow." Fuji broke the silence.

"I'll follow you."

Fuji placed his hands on Tezuka's chest and pushed away, looking up. "What about your home…and responsibility here?" He said with mixed confusion and sadness.

Tezuka's face blanked out as he thought about it before giving Fuji an answer. "I'll ride with you to your home, and then I'll return to mine."

Fuji's smile didn't quite reach his face. "Will you visit me often?"

A sad realization came to Tezuka, reminding him that they live far from each other. But love was all about sacrificing, right? He made a quick decision. "I'll visit you as often as you want me to. I'll make the trip regardless it be rain or shine."

Fuji's face lit up, an expression Tezuka hoped to see on Fuji's face always. "Really?"

Tezuka nodded and let his hands combed through Fuji's hair adoringly.

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When they retreated back to their room after dinner, Sanada and Fuji took a longer detour on their way back to take a walk under the moonlight.

Sanada had given Fuji glances since Fuji returned with Tezuka earlier in the afternoon, unknown to Fuji. With finality, Sanada decided to break the silence. "I saw you and Tezuka-san today."

"…Where?" Fuji kept his eyes straight and smile intact.

"On the outskirt of the forest."

Fuji paused in his steps, resulting in Sanada standing in front of him, but off to the side slightly. He kept his gaze on the ground. "…You won't say anything, will you?"

Sanada sighed and looked into the darkness. "If I'm going to say anything, then what do you want me to say?"

Fuji stayed silent.

Sanada continued on. "I'm not against you and Tezuka-san being together, but I fear you being hurt in the future. You're like a younger brother to me, and I care about your being."

"I know." Fuji said softly, breathing slowly. "But I can't help it."

Sanada turned to look at Fuji's crest fallen face. He suddenly felt guilty for turning a joyful face into solemnity. "I'm sorry." If Fuji's situation was like his and Yukimura's, then everything would be fine. Loving someone in the dark was not a hard concept. It just needed the efforts and patients from both sides.

Fuji looked into Sanada's conflicting eyes and he saw the same kind of pain that he was feeling. Sanada loves Yukimura, too, but they can't be together. Is love such a tease? "I won't ask for anything more, but please let us be for now. I am happy with the way things are right now. Be happy for me?"

After a moment of contemplation, Sanada nodded slowly.

Fuji gave Sanada a thankful smile. "Thank you."

Sanada involuntarily flushed, realizing that he was being a softie. He turned around to hide his embarrassment. "Let's get back."

Fuji smiled discreetly and followed Sanada.

In the early morning, Yukimura took his leave before anyone back to his prefecture.

When the sun rose, Fuji and Sanada packed up and left their hospitality. They met King Kutei before taking their own leave.

As the 2 rode further out from the outskirt of the Kingdom, the 3 Lords left behind got ready to leave also.

Instead of taking his usual direct route back to the South, Tezuka rode his gallant steed toward the direction Fuji and Sanada left in. He rode fast, so he could catch up to Fuji as quickly as possible.

Not long during the ride, Fuji heard fast hooves thumping on the meadow behind him, and a known smile crept on his face brightly.

Sanada knew, without looking back, who was coming their way by the obvious joy written on Fuji's belated face.

Fuji turned to Sanada and told him to ride ahead.

Sanada nodded and picked up his horse's speed.

Tezuka stopped his steed from galloping as he neared Fuji. The steed walked slowly up. Without a word, Tezuka leaped from his steed to Fuji's horse's back.

Fuji let out a startled yelp when he felt the sudden physical touch to his back.

In response, Tezuka chuckled and wrapped his arms around Fuji's waist. He whispered huskily into Fuji's ear. "I'm glad you waited for me."

Fuji blushed to the tip of his ears. He squiggled nervously and tucked on Tezuka's arms uncomfortably. "What are you doing? What if someone sees?"

Unrelented to unwind both of his arms, he pulled Fuji's back closer to his chest. "No one's going to see. I promise. Just let me do this."

Fuji sighed yieldingly and tipped his head back onto Tezuka's shoulder. His eyes looked up at Tezuka's chin. He smiled and reached up with one hand to mold Tezuka's chin gently. "You're really stubborn, do you know that?"

Tezuka shifted his arms so one was securely around Fuji's waist and the other holding the rein. He bent his face down to kiss Fuji's hand. "Now I know."

Up ahead, although out of the hearing range, Sanada could perceive the flirtatious touches Tezuka were adorning Fuji from the corner of his sharp eyes. No matter how much Sanada disliked Tezuka's bold action toward Fuji, he chose to act uncaringly toward their relationship for Fuji's sake.

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Back in the palace in an isolated chamber, Minori stood by the window looking out into the forest. "Yule is early this year, isn't it?" She slid her index finger across the dusty window pane. "We should invite Fuji-san to our celebration." She lifted her dusty finger and blew it off.

"What do you think about drowning? It's a good way to die, no?"

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It was a long time when they reached the border of the land that could discern the Peace Kingdom. Fuji's eyes saddened and Tezuka understood.

Wordlessly, he slipped off Fuji's horseback once he steered it to stop and jumped back onto his own horse's back.

Their horses stood facing the opposite directions.

Fuji eyed Tezuka longingly while Tezuka looked out into the distant quietly before turning to give Fuji a smile. "I'll see you again."

Fuji bit his lips as he smiled while nodding. With that, Tezuka left, leaving Fuji watching his back.

"I'll see you again." Fuji whispered and the wind carried it off in silence.

When he turned forward, Sanada was looking at him with the eyes that beckoned him to hurry.

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AN: Well, this chapter is really...idk...difficult to write because I had absolutely no idea of what to write. If there's any confusion, feel free to point it out. I'll make corrections or explain depends on what it is. Anyways, I have a polling question:

What do you think about me writing another mpreg story? I've planned out the story in my head, but I'm not sure if anyone will read it, so I didn't write it down yet. (This question may applied only to those who have read Miracle Love and its Sequel.)

Anonymous review replies:

ayame shurrei: sorry! _ It was the best cliff hanger I could think of.

vegibee: Actually, Minori was there in chapter 7. As for SanYuk, I'll make them more active in the next chapter just because I think they're really cute. And also, I don't really plan on pairing up Jito, but I'll probably leave faint hints of their attraction to each other if I could think of anything. I thought maybe Fuji should have some shyness in his characteristic since he's new at love, you know, just to cancle out his confidence in diplomatic and urgent matters. I have no knowledge about French right now, but I'm starting to take classes for French Minor. Sorry! I can't help. _