HOLY CRAP. THERE'S A NEW CHAPTER.
–sighs– Well, I made it long enough to move out. I'm still adjusting, but it's been all right so far. My classes seem pretty easy so far, so that's always a plus XD
I also want to apologize for taking so long to update ^^; It took a lot more than I anticipated to pack all of my crap. This chapter has been sitting around for a good week or so, waiting to be beta'd. However, since RobotFish has been so busy with his own schooling, I decided I would just go ahead and post this, anyway. It's not fair to make you wait, right? That being said, this chapter hasn't been proofread and may not be up to par with the rest :)
Anyway, my infinite, never-ending thanks go out to ptd163, Rapis-Razuri, theforgottonpeople96, AnimeKiwi369, RunoandAkizafan, FirinigShootingStar, RobotFish, Seeker Heart, Q-A the Authoress, Shinn Tsukishiro, ProChampionDuelistAKAPyro, aruasoul, melan anime, TFRiD Queen, and Sunset Rika for their awesome and supportive reviews!
As for anons, we have LDC, ChibiX, anon, and Pepsi Chick 6! I'm kinda doubting you guys remember what you wrote over a month ao, but I'll respond, same as always ^^; If you do remember, then my hat's off to you. LDC: Aw, Sherry's not that bad! She had a rough introduction, but she'll be good (on the YuAki front, anyway) from here on out :) ChibiX: –giggles– I wonder about their reactions, too :) anon: Does everybody hate Sherry? I actually like her, just so long as she isn't paired with Yusei. But I did have to have a little fun back there :P Pepsi Chick 6: Many apologies for the long wait! Here's another chapter and I hope to keep you entertained for awhile yet!
So, yeah… I really don't have a good excuse for taking so long ^^; Enjoy the chapter!
Sunset Horizon
Chapter 36 - Imperial Veil
"There is a chance that Granel is looking to be our ally, isn't there?" Akiza asked, looking to everyone from Yliaster for reassurance. When no one spoke, she bit her lip and turned away, hoping the entire situation was a massive nightmare.
Yusei watched as she slowly moved for the door and called out for everyone to hear, "We'll head out in a half-hour. Everyone who's going, be ready and waiting here."
After several voices gave varying forms of approval, he turned away from the table and walked out after Akiza. A voice behind him called after him, footsteps moving quickly to catch up. "Yusei!"
He paused in his steps, not bothering to turn to see his follower and sighed instead. "What do you want?"
His father came to a stop next to him, saying, "About your Graneli friend..."
Yusei sighed heavily, grumbling, "What about Jack?"
"It's just... Are you sure he should go to meet the Graneli? They are his people, after all."
"Jack will be fine. He knows what he's getting into. He's here to fight for Yliaster and I trust him to stand by his word."
He nodded. "All right, then. That's all I wanted to say."
Giving a slight dip of his chin in response, he turned and continued down the hall. He wanted to talk to Akiza. He had to make sure she knew that there wouldn't be any casualties today. Moving through the tunnel, he made his way to the room he shared with her. That's where he assumed she had gone. Walking through the entrance, he didn't bother knocking as he took in the sight of her lying on the bed with her back to him. He sat down behind her, gently touching her shoulder to alert him to his presence. "Akiza..."
"Mm..." she mumbled, slowly shifting to sit up. "Yusei... Why does all of this have to happen to us? Why does this small town have to be affected by so many things?"
He reached out and wrapped his arms around her, wishing he could tell her it wasn't really happening. "I'm sorry, Akiza. This is all my fault."
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
He looked away, averting his eyes to stare at the ratty blanket on the bed. "I... When I came here, I acted out against the Underground without thinking. When I tried to get Goodwin out, I only brought more of them here. It was a foolish fantasy think that I could make a town free by thwarting a single man. I... I should have known better."
She reached out and set her hand on his cheek. "Yusei...
Something in her voice sounded as though she wanted to say that it wasn't true, yet a part of her still hadn't forgiven his actions of the past. Especially now that it had caused such danger to come right to their front door. He smiled sadly and touched her cheek, gently murmuring, "It's my fault, but that's why I have to work so hard to fix it. I'll fight, and I'll keep everyone safe. Don't worry, we'll be fine. Everyone will be. I promise."
She nodded slowly. "Promise me one more thing, Yusei."
He pulled her closer and murmured, "Hm?"
...
As they slipped through the woods on the outskirts of town, Yusei couldn't help but wonder how stupid the Underground had to be to miss the sound of twelve horses marching through the trees. Or, maybe, Dragan had something to do with that. Maybe he was keeping their forces at bay. Or maybe he knew the Graneli were coming and decided to get the Enforcers handle it.
Whatever the reason was, they were in the clear for now. He led the small group of Jack, Crow, Sherry, Carly, Lester, Bruno, and, begrudgingly, Kalin. Behind them, a few of Sherry's men followed behind to bring their total numbers up to thirteen, with Carly riding behind Jack.
The woman had changed quite a bit, he'd noticed. He imagined her Earthbound abilities played a big part in her self-confidence boost. Not to mention, she seemed stronger, somehow, now that she was coupled with Jack. He had no idea what a woman could see in him, but whatever made her happy.
Jack was his friend and brother, but he had serious flaws when it came to women. Even so, he seemed to have changed quite a bit since he'd met Carly, too. He had mellowed out a fair share, but had become much more possessive of his romantic life. Which made Crow tease him that much more.
Sighing, he pushed his contemplations to the back of his mind as they cleared the edge of the forest. Only another thirty-five or so kilometers until they reached Granel territory. They had to be close. Surely they would meet this scouting party soon.
Glancing back slightly, he peered at Kalin riding nearby. He still didn't think he was ready to be out fighting again, but his friend had gotten to his only weak point – Akiza. It was only because of her that Kalin now accompanied them. He said he was all right, that Misty had been helping control his abilities, but was it really that easy? He trusted the woman, but her powers differed greatly from Kalin's. Could she really train him like that?
Shaking his head, he looked up suddenly as the sound of a bullet echoed through the air. He glanced behind to see Crow had fired, then turned his attention towards the small group ahead. A woman was mounted on horseback in the front, proudly leading her troop into hostile territory.
Yusei drove his mount forward to come closer to the woman and establish himself as the leader, calling out for all of the Graneli to hear, "You look a little lost."
The woman frowned and approached, moving similarly forward. "We're not."
His eyebrow rose slightly. Not one for words, was she? "Not too often you find a Graneli troop armed for combat this far over the Yliaster border."
She didn't sound at all impressed as she coldly asked, "And you are?"
He shifted his reins to steer his horse to a different position. "You'll know me as the Shooting Star of New Domino. You see, I'm awfully protective of my home and my friends and I don't take kindly to trespassers."
At his cue, the other Enforcers drew their pistols, quickly followed by Sherry's men and the two members of Infinity. Yusei kept his arms crossed in the front, his hand itching towards Stardust if necessary.
The woman frowned more deeply, saying, "We're on a diplomatic mission to your capital. Let us pass, or you'll be accused of infringing on political matters."
He shook his head. "Show me some proof."
"I don't have to show mere backwater runts any proof."
"You're treading on dangerous waters, lady. I suggest you show proof, turn around, or be prepared to walk away with a few holes here and there," he said, nodding back to his friends and allies.
The woman nodded, signaling for her own men to draw their weapons. "Infringing on political matters is a dangerous crime."
"Tch!" A thickly accented voice sounded as Jack spoke up, saying, "Such arrogance. You prowl among Yliaster's territory as if it were your own."
The woman glanced back at Jack, who sat with his head down, hat hiding his eyes. "Bold words for a man of my own country."
Snorting, he barked, "I claim no relation to that abominable wasteland! It's a foul sight, led by a fat, spoiled, and deranged man with no care for the people he rules over!"
The woman reacted to that, rising in her saddle as she snarled, "How dare you speak of His Majesty like-!"
She cut off suddenly as a black-clothed figure appeared behind her, Carly suddenly poised on the saddle with her hand outstretched towards her back. A knife slipped out of her sleeve, prodding into the back of her shirt, casually offering a threat.
Jack leaned back comfortably, ignoring the Graneli forces as they drew their weapons. "Please. My friend could have dear Mina dead and be out of your firing range before you could squeeze a trigger."
Mina? Yusei shot a quick glance towards his friend, wondering if Jack knew her. If so, why didn't he say anything sooner? And when did Carly become so assertive?
The woman, Mina, apparently, glanced towards Jack as she raised her hands in surrender before asking, "How do you know me?"
"Please, Mina," he muttered sarcastically. "If you're smart, you'll turn around and tell that bastard on your throne that he has no business in Yliaster."
She narrowed her eyes, flinching as Carly pushed the knife a little closer. "And just who do you think you are to order me around?"
He smirked coolly and reached back, untying the pendant on his neck and tossing it to her. "There. That's who."
She caught the pendant deftly and took a moment to study it, gasping in shock before looking up to see Jack. Her fingers clenched around the string of the medallion, her eyes widening as Jack met her gaze. "Y…Your Highness…"
Yusei turned in shock to look at Jack. Had he heard her right? Did she seriously just address Jack as 'Your Highness'? Did that mean… Jack was a… prince?
The blond frowned and extended his hand to take his pendant back before saying, "Now, will you be so kind as to leave Yliaster, withdraw all other troops, and stay out until we solve our own problems. Report to your king that the prince of Granel has ordered such."
Mina sat still for a long moment, then finally nodded. "I'll relay your message. What happens after that is His Majesty's decision."
Jack nodded his head slightly, giving a silent signal for Carly to come back. In a flash, she was seated side-saddle behind him, still wearing a thoughtful frown on her face. Did she know Jack's secret? It was silent for a long moment before the blond muttered, "I see you on this side of the border again and I won't hesitate to fire."
The woman turned to leave, calling out an order for her men to follow. Yusei glanced back towards Bruno, saying, "Can you take some of Sherry's people and make sure they go?"
He nodded as Sherry smiled and said, "I'll go, too," before throwing a wink in the blue-haired man's direction.
…
Akiza wandered through the tunnels, frowning in thought as she tightened the blanket over her shoulders. She'd heard Yusei's party had returned, but she hadn't seen hide nor hair of the man. She knew he could take care of himself, but she couldn't help but worry. Ever since he had started living with her, he always found her when he returned home to let her know he was fine.
His absence that day had her worried. What could have happened when he met with the Graneli? Did one of the people with him get hurt? Yusei had a tendency to blame himself to the verge of self-harm when someone under his watch was hurt, especially if it was one of his brothers.
"You owe me an explanation, Jack."
She paused, moving as quietly as she could to the corner and peering around. That was definitely Yusei's voice, but why did he sound so stern with Jack? What happened out there? He didn't sound angry, per se. Just concerned. She crept up to the corner and kept herself hidden, knowing he would cut the conversation short if he knew she was there.
Jack stood in front of Yusei, arms crossed and eyes focused on something down the tunnel. Whatever they were talking about, it was serious.
The blond shrugged and coughed derisively before muttering, "What's it matter? So I'm a prince. Does that suddenly make me less of a friend?"
A prince? Had she heard him right?
Yusei shook his head slightly. "I just don't understand why you never told me. I don't like talking about my past, but I still told all of you that I was a senatorial son because I thought it was important for you to know."
He sighed and finally made eye contact with his friend. "And? If I had told you, would you still have offered this freedom to me? Would you have let me leave my station? Would you have trusted me the same, knowing I was prince of another country? Would you still have called me your brother?"
Though she could only see his back, she saw him flinch slightly. He was silent for a long while before finally mumbling, "No, I probably wouldn't have."
Akiza gasped slightly, quickly covering her mouth to hide it. Would this tear them apart? They were brothers, but if Jack was really a prince, then… What would happen? She had never known royalty. Hell, she'd never even been in a country that was led by a monarchy. She had never left her small-town home. Kings and crowns were things of storybooks.
Even the twelve senators of Yliaster were faceless shadows of a faraway city until she realized Yusei was a senatorial son, while Divine and Goodwin had both been senators themselves. And now Yusei's father, the current senator, his grandfather, a former senator, and his childhood friend, a senatorial daughter, were all in town.
And now, it turned out Jack was a prince.
A prince. Like a character of a fairytale she loved as a child. She hadn't even known there were countries that still used the monarchy system. It had been generations since Yliaster had been one, and she assumed all other countries would have taken a similar path.
She sighed silently and moved to slip down the tunnels. She imagined Yusei would need her when he finished talking to Jack and, Crimson be damned, she would be there waiting for him.
So… Jack's royalty. Who saw that coming? –raises hand– Of course, I'm writing the story, so… That being said, I'm going to post this and go so I can get some dinner and start on the next chapter :)
Oh, one more thing. I've been sharing all of my next-gen characters on my Facebook over the past few weeks. A sketch for each of them, plus a little profile. My story with them will be my next project after I (finally) get around to finishing SH, so if you're curious, swing on by! You can like me while you're there, if you want ;) facebook. c!om/ OCValkyrie (Remove spaces and exclamation point)
All right, then! Enjoy this chapter and I'll do my best to get the next one done! I get the feeling you guys will like that one ;)
Please, please, please review!
-Valk