Three: Lavender
"Your Majesty!" The soldier's discomfort was obvious; his voice quavered as he spoke.
"What is it?" inquired Saralegui, though he had a good idea of what the man had come to report.
"Dai Shimaron's messengers have arrived!" announced the soldier.
Predictable. Impassive, the king replied, "Alright."
His duty done, the soldier lost no time in leaving. Saralegui turned back to the group of Mazoku. "I will go alone to convince them," he told them, calmly confident.
"No way!" protested Yuuri. "I can't let you handle this all by yourself!"
"Taking you with me is out of the question, though, Yuuri," pointed out the blonde. You would be more of a hindrance than a help. Stay out of this.
Another voice interrupted just as they were about to exit the room. "I agree with Shibuya. It would be better if we went along with you," said the other soukoku called the Great Sage. The other men looked surprised by this comment, but he continued, "I'd like to hear how Dai Shimaron reacts to the news… without them knowing that we're in the same room, of course."
Hmm. This one is shrewd... he doesn't trust me an inch. Obviously, their coming to observe my audience with Dai Shimaron's messengers is more to gain insight on my abilities than for the purpose he stated. Saralegui frowned, almost imperceptibly. I cannot betray them to Lanzhil if they are present. Still, I cannot refuse them. Let's see… Gerald may well prove useful. With his help, I can reveal the Maou to these messengers without appearing to have contrived to do so.
Seems like it's time I pay a visit to an old friend… Where did I imprison Gerald again?
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The former general was not exactly thrilled by the visit. His voice grated with surprise and a little fear as he spoke. "Saralegui!"
Impudent bastard. Does he think he need to address me by my title? The king pretended not to have noticed, instead advancing further into the room as Berias closed the door behind to prevent the guards from spying.
Too quickly, Gerald's expression changed from apprehensive to condescending. "What is it now? Have you decided on my punishment? Or will you have me act as a mediator between you and King Lanzhil?"
Saralegui suppressed his irritation. "It is neither of those, Gerald," he replied coolly. "I want you to be of some service to me for a little while longer." As he spoke, he removed his tinted spectacles, baring his tawny gold eyes. His houryoku rose swiftly at his summons, pooling behind his eyes and flooding out of them to swirl around the man before him.
The former general trembled visibly as the air thrummed and vibrated with saturated power. His eyes jittered for a moment, then dimmed as he was overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of Saralegui's houryoku.
This being the second time he had mesmerized Gerald, the man's will collapsed even faster than before. You will break in to the throne room tonight. I will call you when you are needed. You will pretend to attack me, but will not succeed. The thought-commands sped across the link between them, and the blonde embedded the connection into Gerald's mind, such that he could command the man at will, before withdrawing his power. "Well, Gerald, it's up to you now."
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Later that evening, the king of Shou Shimaron sat stiffly on his throne, awaiting the entrance of Dai Shimaron's representatives. His expression was serious, but only his superb self-control prevented him from fidgeting restlessly in his seat. Something was niggling at his conscience and he did not like the feeling of it at all.
I don't want to give Yuuri to Lanzhil.
Doubt could be very uncomfortable. He'd never doubted himself before. Why was he starting now, at this extremely inconvenient time?
Yuuri. My friend. My first friend. Can't I keep him? Lanzhil is a dirty old man. I don't want him to touch Yuuri. Yuuri's mine.
This certainly wasn't part of the plan. He intended to betray the Maou and present King Lanzhil with his most hated enemy. Lanzhil would be so happy, he might just stop pestering Shou Shimaron for money, men, food, trade…
But Yuuri's mine, and Lanzhil can jolly well keep his filthy paws off him.
Why were those messengers taking so long? The longer he waited, the more insistent the tiny voice in his head that demanded him to change his plans…
It wouldn't be that hard. Just fool those messengers, cut the connection to Gerald, let the whole audience go smoothly with them leaving without any proof that Yuuri is here…
Then the door opened, admitting two men wearing the colors and crest of Dai Shimaron. I can't turn back now. Silently, the blonde sent a thought-command to Gerald – it's time.
The two men halted in front of the dais and bowed deeply. As they straightened, one of them said, "King Saralegui, we have arrived here with an order from our king, Lanzhil the Second. It is commanded that you relinquish to us the Maou, to whom you are giving refuge."
"The Maou?" Saralegui feigned surprise. "What in the world are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb!" The other man stepped forward, his face contorting in annoyance. "We received this information from a reliable source!"
"The absurdities that someone has been telling you are none of my concern, but I cannot give to you what does not exist here," answered the blonde. "Please leave."
Just then, the door burst open, and Gerald tottered into the room. In his hand was a drawn sword. He was panting hard, his eyes dilated and his steps shaky. Saralegui concealed his satisfaction with an expression of shock. "Gerald?!"
The man's breath rasped in his throat. With an effort, he focused on the king. "Saralegui." His voice had a demented fixation in it, and the blonde absently wondered if Gerald had rushed here at breakneck speed in response to his call – it might explain the former general's labored breathing and unsteadiness.
Gerald tightened his grip on his sword and, with a grunt of effort, threw himself down the room towards the dais. "Berias, protect the messengers," ordered Saralegui.
"Sir." His guard leapt down, none-too-gently pushing the two men to one side and drawing his swords when Gerald did not cease his advance.
"Wait, Berias," commanded the king, standing. "Continue to defend the messengers in the same manner as you are doing now."
"Sir." Berias faced the former general again, still tensed to attack at the slightest notice, but did not move from his position.
Gerald paused a step away from the blonde, panting heavily, his sword poised to strike yet seemed to have no energy to carry it through. You will not hurt me! Saralegui reinforced the command with slightly more houryoku than he normally used, then jumped lightly off the dais in the direction of the panels where the Mazoku were concealed. The man belatedly gave pursuit.
A smirk formed on the Saralegui's lips. Now, Yuuri, aren't you going to protect me? He turned, putting his back against the panels and facing his attacker.
Gerald let out a strangled shout, raising his sword clumsily and cutting downwards. "Your Majesty!" Berias, protective as always, abandoned the messengers to rush to his master's aid.
"Stop!" shouted someone else. One of the panels flew open as the Maou himself tumbled out, falling at the blonde king's feet. Saralegui bent to help him up, simultaneously commanding Gerald, Notice the Maou; comment on his presence.
Immediately, the man paused in his advance, staring unfocusedly at the soukoku. "The Maou!" he gasped.
"That's –"
"The soukoku!" The messengers had apparently noticed the Maou as well.
Yuuri's retainers quickly stepped between the two kings and their attacker, but before they could draw their swords, Berias had already disarmed Gerald and knocked him unconscious. Now, though, the messengers drew their own swords. "Th-the Maou…!"
"He is here after all!" accused one, poising himself to attack.
"That black hair and those black eyes… It can only be him!" added his companion.
Does nobody like black hair and black eyes? wondered Saralegui, rather irrationally. Yuuri seemed quite dismayed by this turn of events; the rest of his retainers stayed silent and expressionless, waiting for Dai Shimaron's representatives to say more.
Recovering slightly from the shock, one messenger declared, "W-we order you, King Saralegui, to personally bring the Maou to our encampment! Tomorrow, before the sun sets!"
"If you refuse, Shou Shimaron will suffer severe consequences!" added the other. Both of them left the room at a run, slamming the doors shut behind them.
Perfect. Saralegui allowed himself a small smile. Then, schooling his features into a more remorseful look, he apologized to the rest of the room's occupants, "I'm sorry. I didn't expect Gerald to do something like that. The ship is ready for your departure. All of you should escape here by sea, as we'd originally planned."
"But what about you, Sara?" Worry was clear in Yuuri's face. "They know I'm here now. You can't fool them anymore!"
The blonde fought to conceal his smirk. I knew you wouldn't want to leave. You are so predictable, Yuuri. I love that. Aloud, he conceded, "I suppose not…"
"And then… if this sparks a war between Shou Shimaron and Dai Shimaron… I don't want that to happen!" Yuuri was clearly distressed. "I won't run away! Please, hand me over to Dai Shimaron!"
Brave, or simply foolish? I can't tell. Saralegui kept his expression one of concern as the other Mazoku spoke up against their king.
"Your Majesty, how could you –" began Conrad.
"Do you have any idea what will happen to you if we did that?!" demanded Wolfram, self-appointed fiancée of the Maou.
"I do," said Yuuri fiercely. "I do, but…"
The blonde king closed his eyes in resignation. Headstrong fool of a king. Still, that really makes life easier for me. He got to his feet. "Yuuri. Lanzhil is after your life." His voice was stern, his expression serious. "I cannot do what you ask of me."
"But if I don't go, you..." Yuuri's eyes were filled with determination. "You and everyone in Shou Shimaron will be in danger!"
You and everyone in Shou Shimaron will be in danger. Saralegui stared at the soukoku, shock written all over his features. How can he care so much about this country? We have not signed the alliance with them; Shou Shimaron is still the vassal state of Dai Shimaron. Our contact with Shin Makoku is minimal. Yet you care – not for our trade, not for our goods, but for my people… and me. His eyes softened slightly. Will I ever really understand how your mind works? And… will I ever be truly worthy of your trust?
"I'm going," declared the Maou firmly.
"Yuuri!" protested the noisy fiancée. His name was Wolfram, if Saralegui's memory served.
Conrad seemed resigned. "If that is your will, Your Majesty, then I will not stop you."
"Conrad!" Yuuri smiled, glad for the support.
"Conrad, you…!" The other Mazoku with long purple hair sounded as though he was unsure whether to be upset or not.
"That's right! How can you be saying that?!" scolded the noisy blonde.
"Honestly… Our king never turns back once he's made up his mind, remember?" reminded the bespectacled soukoku. He too looked resigned. "We'll just have to deal with it."
"Your Grace!" protested the purple-haired Mazoku.
Yozak spoke up now. "It seems rather useless to continue arguing, Your Excellency." When the noble finally gave a sigh of defeat, the orange-haired man smiled and addressed the Sage. "Well? What do you suggest we do, Your Grace?"
"We will allow King Saralegui to surrender Shibuya to the enemy," answered the soukoku.
The noisy blonde frowned. "Your Grace!"
"After that, we, the Mazoku, will get him back," continued the Sage as though no one had interrupted. "This way, the only ones at fault here will come entirely from us… and since Shou Shimaron has no connection to it, this won't cause them any trouble whatsoever."
The purple-haired Mazoku stepped forward to protest. "But the danger still exists – "
"I'm more than aware of that," cut in the soukoku. Addressing the Maou, he asked, "Do you like my idea, Shibuya?"
"Yes, let's go with that," agreed Yuuri.
Saralegui listened, not making any contributions of his own. After all, none were needed. This Sage of theirs is someone to keep an eye on. He sees more than he lets on and doesn't show what he's thinking behind his polite mask… somehow, he seems very similar to myself. Someone who cannot be trusted.
"Alright then, everyone. Let's start discussing the details of this plan," said Yuuri enthusiastically.
"Are we really going to do this?" complained the Maou's fiancée.
His fiancé gave him a look. "Wolfram…"
"It appears we have no choice but to do as His Grace says," concluded the purple-haired Mazoku, finally surrendering.
Hmm… well, Dai Shimaron's ships can wait out at sea for a few more days, I suppose. Besides, if Berias agrees to carry out that plan, I might just get to see the Maou's true form at close quarters – while Lanzhil and his army get blown away to the other side of Dai Shimaron. Saralegui closed his eyes, satisfied with his plans. Now, I believe I shall have to prepare an escort…
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"These soldiers will be concealing themselves near the Dai Shimaron army for additional safety," explained Wolfram.
"King Saralegui insisted on doing so in order to prevent any danger from befalling Your Majesty," added Gunter.
"Sara said that?" Yuuri stared wonderingly at the other king.
Feeling eyes on his back, Saralegui looked around and, seeing the Maou, smiled sweetly at him. Yuuri blinked, then smiled back, a little nervously.
Yozak mounted his horse with the ease of long practice, and Conrad followed suit. "Your Majesty, I will be sure to come and save you. Please wait for my arrival."
"Okay," agreed the Maou immediately. "I'll be waiting, Conrad."
Saralegui, having overheard the whole conversation, hid a smile that, had it formed, would have had none of the sweetness of the one he had just given Yuuri. So trusting, this Maou. Don't worry. If my plans go as they should, you won't need rescuing from Lanzhil… at least, not tonight or tomorrow.
His temporary general, Handor, came over to him. "Everything is ready," he reported.
"Alright. " The blonde king glanced up at Berias, who was already mounted on his horse. I'm counting on you, Berias.
The swordsman nodded, resolve in his dark eyes, then swung his horse around. "March!" he ordered.
Saralegui watched as his trusted guard and those of Yuuri, along with his men-at-arms, vanished into the night. Tomorrow will be very interesting. If things go well, it will be the last time Lanzhil sets foot in Shou Shimaron without my permission. If things go badly… it will be my death-day.
"Sara." Yuuri's voice broke through his thoughts.
The blonde king turned to face the Mazoku. "Yes. We should also get going."
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It was a long journey of several hours to the border of Shou Shimaron where Lanzhil and his troops had set up camp. Yuuri had wanted to be able to meet the king of Dai Shimaron in the daytime, thus the overnight trip. The two kings had a carriage spacious enough to stretch out in for themselves, while the other three Mazoku occupied the other carriage. How they passed the night, neither of the two had a clue.
For Saralegui, it had been an uncomfortable night. He had dozed lightly, jolting from his sleep with every bump in the road. Yuuri, on the other hand, had slept like a log from the moment he dropped off. The blonde couldn't help but feel a bit cheated. It didn't help that Yuuri somehow managed to look even more innocent in his sleep, a feat that the other king had never thought possible.
Now, though, it was dawn and they were nearing the Dai Shimaron encampment. The blonde watched his companion, puzzled by his apparent calm. "Are you…" he began quietly.
Yuuri started, not expecting the sudden break of their shared silence. Having secured the Maou's attention, Saralegui went on, "Are you really not scared?"
Remember what I told you earlier? About me trusting Conrad and the others?" asked Yuuri with a smile.
"I remember," agreed the blonde. So he literally does trust his retainers with his life; he really believes that they can rescue him from Dai Shimaron. It's a good thing Dai Shimaron's not going to get him today; I don't have quite that much faith in them, personally.
The soukoku was still talking. "You said, back then, that you trusted Berias-san. Since he's someone you believe in, I'll trust him too. As long as he's with us, things will work out alright!"
Wonderful. You won't suspect Berias at all, then… when the supposedly fatal arrow comes. Saralegui banished a smirk that threatened to form on his lips. "Yeah. I believe that he – Berias – will be able to pull it off." Of course, he was not referring to Yuuri's rescue.
A short time later, they arrived at the camp of Dai Shimaron. Both kings alighted from their carriage, stepping onto the edge of the grassy plain. Across it, Lanzhil and his army awaited.
One of Yuuri's retainers spoke, his voice betraying his anxiety. "Your Majesty."
"Yuuri," echoed another, his tone similarly worried.
"Well… I'll be back," said the Maou, as if reassuring them.
"We won't fail to save you," promised a third voice.
Saralegui started out towards the waiting army. He's not going to need rescuing. I'll make sure of that. Now, Berias, I hope you didn't forget my orders. If these Mazoku believe that I'm willing to give up my life for their Maou, they might just decide to trust me. Behind him, Yuuri hurried to catch up.
What if Yuuri doesn't get angry and change into his true form? What if Lanzhil still manages to take him away?
The blonde's lips tightened, and he mentally shook his head hard. He did not like doubting himself… or his plans, for that matter.
Just then, Yuuri's voice broke into his thoughts. "Hey, Sara… next time, when all this is over… I'll invite you to Shin Makoku. I really want you to come and visit, okay?"
Saralegui quickly concealed his surprise with a smile. Invite me to Shin Makoku? Only Yuuri… "Okay. I'd love to go."
"When you do, I'll introduce you to everyone in the castle," continued the soukoku. "Oh, and to my daughter Greta, of course."
"I look forward to it." He's thinking about such things when he's about to be handed over to his most dangerous enemy. The blonde's smile widened. Then again, visiting Shin Makoku might indeed be interesting…
"But, until then…" Yuuri's face voice became slightly wistful. "I hope we'll be able to make it so that our people are freely able to come and go between our two countries."
"Yeah…" Berias should be positioned around here… Saralegui was no longer paying close attention to the Maou, instead discreetly scanning the tree line. Something glinted in the sunlight. There.
Then the arrow was coming towards them, and everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. "Yuuri, look out!" he shouted, flinging himself directly in front of the soukoku…
Moments later, pain exploded in his chest. Blood splattered his clothes and shoes, staining the grass beneath; he could literally feel the arrowhead tearing through skin and muscle, grinding past his ribs into the space where his heart and lungs were housed. Agony clawed at his nerves, every heartbeat mercilessly ripping a little more of his flesh apart.
Oh gods, it hurts. It hurts so excruciatingly… Pain engulfed him, blotting out all his senses, but Saralegui hung on grimly and refused to scream. My houryoku, my houryoku; I need my power now! Where is it when I need it?! Frantic, the blonde sent the last dregs of his consciousness in search of the power he needed to numb the pain. I can't black out, not now – I want to see the Maou!
At last, he found the bottomless well of glowing power, deep in the furthest recesses of his mind. He plunged in with what was left of his fast fading energy, sinking deeply into himself. The pain shrank, so much so that he felt almost removed from it; he was unconscious yet conscious, he could see yet his eyes were closed. He had never tried putting himself into a state of suspended animation before – after all, there had never been a need to do so – and the strange feeling of it was completely alien to him.
Barely had Saralegui secured his suspended, numbed state, though, when a burst of intense power roared through him, ripping his not-spirit clean out of his body. He reeled, stunned and disoriented; he had not thought it possible to exist outside a physical body.
When he finally managed to gather his wits, he found that he was still close to his physical self – and at a very close vantage point to view the furious Maou. Nobody, least of all the Maou himself, noticed the pale ghostly shimmer of his disembodied not-spirit amid the raging blue-white maryoku maelstrom.
Amazing, was the first coherent thought that came to Saralegui. Yuuri was no longer Yuuri – he was the Maou, the demon king, with slit pupils and long dark hair that whipped in the fierce wind he had summoned. Lightning flashed intermittently among the unnaturally dark clouds overhead; the very earth shook with the Maou's wrath, roiling and heaving like a living creature. Spikes of rock crashed through the surface of the ground, smashing right through whatever it had come up below – Dai Shimaron's tents, men, cannons and towers, all collapsed without much resistance.
The young king of Shou Shimaron watched in awe as the Maou single-handedly demolished Dai Shimaron's army. Where lightning struck, a rock spire soon rose. Dust, rocks, earth, wood and men were thrown high in the air and tossed about by the unforgiving, gale-force wind like so many matchsticks. Beautiful. This power… it's beautiful, indescribably and terribly beautiful, thought Saralegui. And the Maou… he's exactly the same, utterly dangerous and utterly gorgeous… he's like the sun, whose light compels you to come closer but whose heat burns you when you get too close.
After what might have been an hour, or maybe a few seconds – time was meaningless in the Maou's shadow – Lanzhil and his defeated army retreated, fleeing home to Dai Shimaron their tails between their legs. The Maou's huge shadow, still burning so brilliantly blue that it was edged in white, slowly shrank, sinking back into Yuuri's body as rain poured down in an immense deluge of water. Within moments, Dai Shimaron's fallen flags and Saralegui's clothes were soaked through. As the Maou continued to withdraw his power back into himself, the rock spikes sank back into the earth, making the ground quiver and groan.
Yuuri's anger was spent. As the last of the rock spires disappeared underground, he wavered, then keeled over, their two bodies collapsing in a heap.
Saralegui, too, felt rather tired. He drifted back to his physical shell, allowing natural attraction between it and his disembodied self pull him back in. There, he worked himself back into place, reclaiming each limb slowly. Once sensation returned, his mind shut down, tossing him into the black whirlpool of oblivion.
His final thought was, Yuuri really did get angry for me.
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A/N: WTH. I DID IT AGAIN. I WROTE A FRICKING ELEVEN PAGES IN LIKE THREE DAYS FLAT. AM I AWESOME, OR AM I AWESOME?!!
… right, disregard that. As you all know, I'm going through the episodes of the so-called Sara Arc in Saralegui's POV. So the plot and dialogue and all that are all right there, y' know what I mean? It's the AU bits and the mental processes stuff that requires brainwork. (Even then, eleven pages is no joke. .) I actually planned to write episodes 98 and 99 in the same chapter, but since 98 is so stuffed with events and all, it seems that it just wasn't meant to be. T.T
The chapters may undergo some major renaming in the near future, so don't freak out if suddenly all the chapters have new names or something. I simply didn't plan this fic very well… or rather, I didn't think it would boom and grow into the monster it is now. (I mean, twenty-six pages within a week? Tell me it won't become a monster!)
Anyways, I hope there was enough SaraYuu here to justify this fic's genre to be romance. I put in as much as I could without going overboard… :-X Hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Please Review! Reviews really do inspire me!