Ugh… Sorry for the delay! I decided to just wait until Monday to get back on track. Hopefully, I'll have another one ready for you guys next week :) It's been kinda crazy on my end lately. The good news is that the next chapter is off to my beta. The bad news is that he's been pretty swamped lately and might not get to it. The other bad news is that I don't have too much written for the following chapter yet.
My thanks to ptd163, FiringShootingStar, Flame-Metal-Heart, Q-A the Authoress, theforgottenpeople96, melan anime, and AnimeKiwi369 for their awesome reviews!
Anons this week include, LDC, ChibiX, and anon! LDC: In Yusei's defense, he has a lot going on right now. Between the deaths of both of his childhood mentors, the guilt of razing his home, and the fact that he has to return to his hated point of origin, I think the fatherhood is put a little on the backburner. After all, he still has five and a half-ish months to figure that out :P ChibiX: Hmm… Good question. Did Z-one ever come to know about the Earthbound? I'm not really sure. I'll have to explore that thought another time :) anon: When you say 'used,' do you mean for battle?
As always, many thanks to my awesome beta, RobotFish!
Sunset Horizon
Chapter 43 – Fleeting Sorrow
Akiza sat back in the wagon, watching out the front as the sights passed by. In the past week and a half, she had seen so many new things that she had never seen before. From different kinds of birds to the clothes people wore, it was all so new and exciting.
Misty sat towards the closed back of the wagon, incessantly scribbling in her book. Akiza had no idea what she was writing, but she chose not to interrupt her. Bruno and Luna had both opted to ride with Katsuro and Z-one, the latter doing so because of her connection to the church. It was illegal to transport dead bodies without the church's permission, so Luna had offered to act as an administrator to prevent disaster.
She looked up as Yusei moved back, returning from the front where he was talking to Kalin. He flashed a quick smile at her before slowly shifting to sit down next her. He had recovered from the brunt of his depression, but there was still a twinge of sadness in his smile or his laughter that seemed so off. The glimmer in his eye that seemed to speak volumes of cheerfulness was gone, but he was getting better. All she could do was support him as she prayed he'd be back to the man she knew before long.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and offered a slight upturn of his lips as he said, "We're almost there."
She glanced at him in confusion. "The Capital already? I thought your father said it was a twenty day trip with that highway? We've only been on the road for half that…"
He snorted lightly in a semblance to a laugh before saying, "Not the Capital just yet. The waypoint for the night." Pointing out the opening, he added, "A storm is coming in, so we'll stop a little earlier so the horses can stay dry."
She frowned in curiosity. "Where are we stopping?"
"All along the main highway, they built wayhouses for travelers to stay in. They're similar to inns, really. Most actually have inns attached. They're kind of like giant barns where you can stop and keep wagons and carriages safe during a trip. They take care of horses and other animals, too."
She nodded in understanding. It made sense, and seemed like a good way to make money. "And we just got on the highway this morning, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah. It doesn't go too far out into the country by New Domino, so we had to stick to smaller roads to get this far. It should be a pretty smooth and straightforward trip from here on out."
"So the highway will take us right to the Capital?"
"Mm. Yeah."
She turned to look at him, peering up at him through her lashes. She had seen his face so many times, his features were ingrained into her memory. He was quite the handsome man and a part of her had always thought so, even during the time she'd hated him for his false personality. She considered herself lucky to share her love with him. Between his good looks and his natural charm, he was a man many women would adore having.
She knew him better than anyone, just as he knew her like no one else. He was her best friend, her confidante, her lover. And it hurt more than anything that there was nothing she could do to make him smile like he used to.
He nodded his head out the opening of the cover, saying, "There it is."
She shifted to peer out, frowning at the sight of a very unordinary-looking building. It was exactly as he described, an inn with an attached shed the size of a barn. As a business owner herself, she could make sense of the purpose of these wayhouses. She'd never have thought of it herself, but there was a great amount of money in offering shelter and protection of goods to weary travelers.
A thought crossed her mind as she slowly turned back to her husband, asking, "If this highway extends this far, how did you get so lost on your original journey to New Domino?"
He let a faint smile cross his lips as he murmured, "Because the main highway wasn't there back then. It was only built in the last three years." Nodding his head in the direction of the other carriage, he added, "He told me about it."
She nodded, gathering that 'he' was his father. Yusei hadn't once flat-out referred to Katsuro as his father or addressed him as such with the exception of the night of the soiree. She knew he was still bitter towards him, but she could tell he had made progress. She truly wished the two could reconcile. She couldn't imagine what life would be like without her own father and truly wished her husband could have that same bond with his.
Their carriages pulled into the facility and out of touch from the incoming storm. A man with a well-kept appearance save the ratty bandana on his head approached them, saying, "My name is Blitz and welcome to Satellite! What can I do for you tonight?"
Katsuro hopped down off the master's seat of the second carriage, saying, "Care for the horses, protection of both carriages, and three rooms for the night."
The man did a quick count and replied, "That'll be two thousand gold pieces."
Akiza choked slightly as Yusei helped her out of the carriage, but only stared as Katsuro crossed his arms and muttered, "Are you sure? The last wayhouse offered all that for thirteen-hundred and it isn't too far back…"
The man frowned himself and tallied off his fingers as he counted again, saying, "I can lower the cost to seventeen-hundred."
"I can agree to that," he started, then sharply raised a finger to cut off the other man from speaking, "If you add meals and kindly refuse to look inside the carriages."
The man's eyebrows rose slightly as if he was curious about the cargo. Akiza knew that if some innkeeper found Z-one's body, they would only have more questions to answer. She figured Katsuro, with the wealth of a senator and the heart of a grieving son, would rather pay money than have to deal with the commotion. Even if Luna was there to legalize the transport of his body, it was easier to avoid it all together.
Finally, he nodded and said, "I can accept that. Right this way, then."
Bruno slowly stood up on the master's bench of Z-one's carriage before saying, "I'll sleep out here. Don't worry about me."
Akiza nodded in understanding, certain that he had a similar respect to Z-one as Misty. She'd worked with him for the better part of six years and had come to think of him as an older brother of sorts. Between what she had learned of him over the years and the way Misty described Infinity as Z-one's second family, she was sure Bruno had a similar reason for admiring the old man.
Frowning slightly, she asked, "Do we still need three rooms with only six people staying in them?"
Yusei wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered a quick shush in her ear before explaining, "Married couples get favors and as long as he's paying, take it and run."
She nodded once and flashed a quick smile towards him, leaning into his side as she followed the man, Blitz, into the inn of the building. He stopped behind a desk, pulled three room keys from a rack and held them up before saying, "And how about that gold?"
Katsuro snorted once and said, "Hospitable, aren't you?"
He offered a wide, friendly smile before saying, "Do you see another wayhouse in the next few miles?"
"Blunt, too." Reaching into his the pouch on his belt, he pulled out one coin at a time, counting them carefully before laying them on the counter. Finally, he stopped and moved to return the pouch to his belt, saying, "There."
Blitz did a quick count and said, "This is only eight-fifty."
He nodded. "Half now, and half when our stay is over. Surely you understand?"
He sighed heavily and scooped the presented coins into a pouch of his own before muttering, "Fine… This way to your rooms."
Akiza walked with Yusei, staying silent as he accepted an offered key and unlocked the appropriate door. He nudged his wife in first, then held up his hand with the wedding ring towards Blitz before following her inside and shutting the door. Sighing heavily, he stretched his arms over his head before saying, "Finally…"
She giggled, hoping to lighten the mood, and said, "It's about time we got some time alone."
He offered a slight smile and shifted to take off his jacket, saying, "Yeah. It's been awhile, that's for sure."
She shrugged out of the cloak she wore on the road in late February to fight off the cold, then walked over and climbed onto the bed. "So, tell me."
He glanced up, one hand in his hair. "About what?"
She smiled and leaned back on her palms, saying, "About your home in the Capital. What should I expect?"
He walked over and sat down next to her, then dropped back to lie down. "Well, it's big."
She giggled again. "You mentioned that before."
Sitting up again, he muttered, "Well, what do you want to know? I mean, I haven't been there in almost ten years."
She yawned slightly and leaned to settle on his shoulder. "What's it look like?"
"Well…" he started, scratching his head with his free hand as he thought about it. "It's kind of a T-shape. There's the north, east, and west wings. In the middle of the three, there's the enclosed courtyard. The north wing was where the family lived. The private bedrooms and the senator's office, private dining, parlors, et cetera. The west wing was the public section with ballrooms and large dining rooms for gatherings or parties. The east was where attendants lived."
She frowned looked up at him, still resting her cheek on his shoulder. "The workers lived in the estate?"
He nodded. "They didn't receive as much pay if they did, but they were offered living space for themselves, a spouse, and up to two other household members. If their family got bigger, we had to ask them to move out. Otherwise, they lived on-site and were offered enough wages to pay for their own clothing and food."
She shifted to curl against him again, tucking her feet under her on the bed and wrapping her arms around his. "Your family sounds very hospitable to your employees."
"Yeah," he said, moving slightly to hold her hand with his free one, then fell back on the bed and pulled her down with him. "In the Fudo household, we never had 'servants' or 'slaves.' They were treated with respect, always paid appropriately, and referred to as 'employees' or 'workers.' Sometimes they were called by their individual job, like 'nanny' or 'cook,' but we never hurt or beat them if they were wrong. If they did something inappropriate, they were scolded and got a pay cut."
She snuggled against his side a little more, saying, "From the sounds of it, you should be proud of your family."
He turned slightly, shifting to wrap his arm behind her head and pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her hair before saying, "I was, for a time. If I wasn't, I would have taken a different name when I ran. I had the opportunity to start a whole new life, after all."
…
Akiza felt herself stir from her sleep as a hand gently shook her shoulder. Rolling slightly, she shifted from her place on the floor of the wagon to see Yusei bent down next to her. He gave a light smile and nodded his head towards the opening at the front. She perked her ears in the general direction, looking in confusion towards her husband at the jumble of sounds and voices. He reached out to help her to her feet, not saying anything as he walked with her towards the front.
Her jaw dropped as she looked past Kalin to the view beyond. Buildings stood as far as she could see, tall and white to reflect the sun's heat. To their left, Katsuro was speaking to the guardsman standing watch to gain access to the city. She could tell the man was bewildered to find a senator in such a ratty wagon.
They had actually made it to the Capital.
People were busily walking the streets, wagons towing goods to be sold to their shops, children laughing and chasing each other. It was a beautiful sight, to see a place so bustling. Akiza had thought her bar had gotten busy, but the single street entering into the Capital held more people walking it than all of New Domino as a whole. It was a breathtaking sight.
Yusei shifted slightly, nudging Kalin and nodding his head towards the back to indicate he would take over. They traded places as Kalin handed his friend the reins, then moved to the back while Yusei settled onto the bench. He sat to one side, reaching back to take Akiza's hand for her to join him. She smiled in spite of herself and stepped around the seat to settle next to him.
Katsuro glanced in their direction, opening his mouth to speak and pausing when he realized his son had taken the reins. Shaking his head slightly, he called out, "All right, we're all set. Follow me."
He nodded and waited for his father to take off, then flicked the reins to follow at a casual pace. Akiza leaned into her husband's side, hungrily trying to take in the sights around her. She knew she was from a tiny country town, but actually being in the Capital made her realize just how little New Domino was. She couldn't help but feel like an uneducated little girl when presented with the culture of the city.
The main street seemed to be comprised of middle class. The majority didn't dress in suits like her father, but were still dressed in nicer clothes. They were well-kept and smiled warmly as they spoke with friends and family. She couldn't help but smile when she spied a young woman, probably around Sherry's age, holding a baby in her arms. She spoke with another woman around her age, who Akiza assumed was a friend of hers.
Her hand automatically moved to touch her stomach, wondering what it would feel like to hold her child in her arms. She still hadn't been able to bring herself to tell Yusei that she knew the baby's sex, knowing that she had plenty of time to tell him. She would wait for him to approach her on the subject of the baby first, let him have time to sort his thoughts. Surely he had a lot to think about right now.
They turned off the main street, passing down into a much more crowded space. It seemed like a market in full swing, but who was still selling food during the mid afternoon? She glanced into the crowds, trying to see some of the goods available for purchase, and couldn't help but gasp as she spied some smooth fabrics with the richest dyes she'd ever seen.
She made a mental note to ask Yusei to come here and shop later.
As they moved down the streets, she couldn't help but notice that the houses and stores were gradually becoming larger and more richly decorated. Luscious plants lined the streets, the bright green leaves and colorful blooms illuminating the street with a beautiful and expensive air. She wondered what it would be like to live in one of those homes. Her parents' home in New Domino—which had thankfully survived the destruction—was a large building, but these were even larger.
Yusei leaned slightly closer and murmured, "Almost there."
She looked up at him in mild surprise before cautiously asking, "Your home?"
He nodded once. "Yeah."
She reached out silently and held his hand, knowing he needed her support. She didn't know what he was thinking at that moment, but she knew he was troubled to return to this place. The least she could do was offer her support to him. She hoped he would open up and talk to her about his doubts instead of closing in on himself like he usually did.
She bit her lip as she silently wondered which of the gigantic houses was his. As they turned down another street, Yusei raised one hand and pointed at the lone building on one side of the paved road, saying, "There it is."
She gaped in shock as she took in the sight of the massive structure. It was easily five times the size of the next largest house she'd seen. He'd once said that the size of her bar, her father's bank, and the governor's estate in New Domino equaled the size of one wing of his home. Now, she realized that was a massive understatement. The governor's estate in New Domino covered about as much land as three-quarters of one wing, but it was only two stories tall. She made a quick count of the windows on Yusei's home, realizing the building was five stories tall.
Suffice to say, she was in shock over the size of the estate.
He glanced to his side when she didn't say anything, unable to hold back a short laugh at her expression. Instead of commenting on it, he said instead, "This is it."
She still hadn't formed a word as they pulled through the wrought-iron gates and came to a stop outside the elaborate entryway. A line of attendants stood waiting outside to greet their master, bowing as Katsuro dismounted from the wagon. One of the employees stepped forward, bowing again as he said, "Welcome home, Sir."
He nodded once, his expression solemn as he said, "Thank you, Blister. Would you mind bringing our things inside? Leave them in one of the guest rooms and we'll sort them out appropriately. Also, please ask Devack to come this way."
The butler cocked his head curiously, asking, "The crypt keeper? May I ask why, Sir?"
He shook his head once, saying, "Preparations must be made for my father."
A look of shock flashed over his features before he bowed once again. "I'm sorry, Sir… It's not my place to…"
He offered a sad smile as he said, "It's all right, Blister." Looking at the staff waiting behind him, he asked, "Could one of you show my companions to their rooms?"
A young maid stepped forward and bowed deeply, "I would be honored, Sir."
He gestured towards Yusei as he climbed down and turned to help Akiza off the ledge, saying, "You may remember my son, Yusei, and his wife, Akiza. If he so chooses, please take them to his old room."
She nodded and gestured towards the doors, saying, "This way, Young Master."
Yusei nodded and glanced back to make sure Kalin, Misty, Luna, and Bruno were following. "There're more than enough guest rooms, so don't worry about bunking or anything."
They nodded and moved to follow before Bruno paused and said, "I'm going to wait and see if the crypt keeper needs help with Z-one."
Akiza bit her lip as she absorbed the look of pain on her old friend's face. Bruno had been a good friend to her during the years they'd worked in the Claw together and she was saddened to see him so hurt. Granted, she knew Yusei was probably hurting more, but that was only natural. Instead, she nodded towards Bruno in acknowledgement before turning and holding Yusei's arm to walk with him.
Two of the staff took hold of the doors and opened them wide, bowing as their master's guests entered the home. Akiza stopped in her tracks as she entered, staring at the foyer before her. The walls were painted a rich burgundy with gold accents everywhere. Engravings lined the pillars supporting the upper level, golden frames surrounded paintings, and golden railings lined the white and burgundy marble stairs. Beneath her feet, a similar marble floor spanned as far as she could see.
They made for the stairs, following after the maid. The staircase started in the center of the room and, when it reached halfway up, it split into two going up either side. She wondered how it would feel to walk up and down a staircase like this every day.
She felt like a princess just going up it once.
A part of her wondered how Yusei wasn't more of a jerk because of his wealthy upbringing. Granted, she knew his mother was a priestess and those of the cloth tended to be selfless and giving. His mother had been a big part of his childhood, so that could have had something to do with it.
On the other hand, the other nobility she'd met were Yusei's father and grandfather, Sherry, Jack, Sayer, and Goodwin. Of them all, only Yusei and his family had come off as selfless. They had their pride, yes, but they weren't as arrogant as the others. Their pride seemed to lie more on skill in battle than the fact that they were richer and had more power than others. While Sherry helped with the coup, and seemingly of her own choice, she was still very proud of her name and wealth.
She wasn't sure where they were going, so she let Yusei guide her as they reached the top of the stairs. The maid reached the top and walked around the edge, approaching a set of double doors centered across from the entryway below. She opened the door and stepped outside, holding it open to allow her guests through.
Yusei let his wife through first, then followed right behind with a smile on his lips. She stopped short, looking at the new view presented before her eyes. She assumed this was the central courtyard he'd mentioned before. The hallway they now stood in expanded out to both sides, the view of the courtyard below slightly obstructed by the railing, pillars, and latticed framework.
She couldn't help it as she stepped forward, leaning slightly on the rail and looking at the gardens down below. A patio with tables and chairs occupied one part of the space, while an elaborate garden filled with trees, bushes, and colorful flowers took up the rest. It looked like a beautiful place to sit and read or relax.
The path she was on expanded all the way around the large space, with doors and windows leading into the separate wings of the home. The maid smiled politely and gestured to the left, saying, "This way, please."
She tore her gaze away from the colorful gardens and turned back to Yusei, leaning into his side as they moved around the wide terrace. She felt overwhelmed, not sure what to think. She had always known that Yusei had grown up in a gigantic home, but she had never conceived just how big he meant.
This house was a monster.
She had only just arrived and already she couldn't imagine walking through this mansion every day. She wore heels on a regular basis and the thought of walking this distance was a nightmare. Since she'd found out she was pregnant and had started living in the tunnels, she had worn a pair of boots she kept around for dirty jobs or comfort, but she found she actually preferred the heels.
As they passed by the west wing, Yusei nudged her slightly and murmured, "This side's the public gathering space. I'll give you a full tour, if you want. I think you'll like the ballroom."
She stopped and glanced back at the doors, trying to see through the glass. She did like festive environments. She mildly wondered if she would ever see the room in full swing. She had been amazed by the party Yusei's father had hosted back in New Domino, so she could only imagine how grand a ball in this house would be.
By the time they reached the private part of the home, Akiza wanted to pull her shoes off and throw them as far as she could. Not only was the estate huge, but they had climbed three staircases, left the others in guest rooms on the fourth floor, then she and Yusei had gone up to the top floor. She couldn't help but notice how much wasted space was in the place. The entire middle of every floor was left open, providing a view straight down to the bottom. The same maroon and gold finishes lined the halls and the same marble flooring lined the path under their feet.
By the time Yusei finally stopped in front of a set of white wood doors with polished golden handles, Akiza was worn out and stopped to lean on her husband before murmuring, "Please tell me we're there?"
He smiled and wrapped one arm around her waist and pressed a kiss to her hair. "If by 'there,' you mean our room, then, yes, we're there."
He pulled a key he'd gotten from the maid out of his pocket and stuck it in the lock to the doors before pushing it open, letting his wife in first and watching for her reaction. She took a few steps inside and paused, blinking at the plush white carpet under her feet and the blue and white décor. Instead of the maroon of the halls and foyer, this lounge was lined with mahogany paneling on the walls, with one of them comprised entirely of stocked bookshelves.
Two blue sofas and two matching chairs were arranged neatly around a fireplace, a small writing desk to one side, and two large windows with built-in benches underneath. She took a few slow steps inside, taking in the site of the sitting room in wonder, curious as to why Yusei had brought her here.
The sound of the door shutting echoed behind her as he walked inside, holding his boots in one hand to keep from ruining the carpet. Walking over near the fireplace, he deposited them on the tile surrounding it and sighed as he took in the sights. Taking a deep breath, he absently muttered, "…Didn't change a thing…"
She looked at him curiously, prompting him to continue as she walked over to the couches and sat down to remove her boots. She didn't need him to tell her once, even. Slipping them off, she set them down beside his and looked back to him as he gave a stuttered chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "Back when I was a kid… This was my room."
Slowly shifting to stand again, she frowned as she looked around. Where did he sleep? He caught her expression and smiled lightly before walking over to one of the bookcases, gripping a golden bar and tugging to reveal a door hidden within. She couldn't help but wonder if there was anything this house didn't have. She approached the doorway as he held it open for her, gesturing for her to go on inside.
She passed through and gaped in surprise. A total of four large windows were placed along two walls, covered by sheer white drapes with heavier blue ones on top that were held back by cords attached to the walls. Between two of the windows on the wall opposite the door, a large bed sat with high head and footboards. The mahogany frame curved oddly on the side, the gigantic bed reminding her of a boat. It looked like it would be easy to snuggle in and sleep like a king in a bed like that.
There was a small table on either side of the bed, more bookshelves inside the room, a desk larger than the one in the other room, and a mountain of stuffed animals in one corner. Two doors were on the fourth wall, leaving her to believe it was his closet.
With possessions like these, how did he survive giving it all up?
He walked past her slowly, his eyes looking a little sad while his lips formed a slight smile. Walking over to the desk, he gently reached out to touch some of the knickknacks on the desktop and shelves, muttering under his breath, "Not a thing…"
"Hm?" she hummed, watching him as he reached out to pick up a book.
"There's not a thing out of place from when I left. Even my sloppy bedmaking wasn't changed." He read the spine of the book, then set it back down before moving over to the pile of stuffed animals and picking up a white dragon and held it closer to her with a smile. "Every time my mother would have to leave town for whatever reason, she always brought a book and a stuffed animal back for me. With her being a priestess, I grew up on stories of the Crimson Dragon. I was kind of obsessed with dragons as a kid." Running a hand down to settle on the grip of the gun still strapped to his hip, he added, "Particularly Stardust Dragon."
She smiled lightly and moved to lift a little red dragon from the pile before wiggling it in front of him playfully. "I think it's adorable."
He fingered the white dragon softly, saying, "Back when my mother got me this one, I was convinced it had to be Stardust Dragon. I mean, there're a number of children's books out there about the Crimson Dragon and its generals, but so many of them have artists' depictions of what they look like. All I knew was that he was white, so, therefore, this white dragon had to be him."
She chuckled again and leaned closer, touching a light kiss to his cheek. "Of course, now you know exactly what he looks like."
Shrugging slightly, he muttered, "To me, this dragon is still Stardust. Just another artistic representation of him." He fingered the toy lightly, then reached out to set it against her rounding belly, asking, "Do you think he or she will want him?"
She flinched slightly, feeling a light flutter inside. Touching one hand to her stomach, she murmured, "Yusei…" Flashing a smile at him, she finished, "The baby just moved."
He paled slightly, then gingerly set his free hand against her. "Where at?"
She smiled lightly and shook her head a little. "I don't think you'll be able to feel it yet. It wasn't a kick, just a movement."
He hummed a slight answer, then asked, "Do you think that means they want Stardust or no?"
She giggled and reached up to touch his cheek, her other hand still settled over her womb. "I think they would love him."
She noticed he was adapting more to the thought of fatherhood, even sounding as though he liked the idea at times. Other times, when things like this happened and the notion became that much more real, he seemed to retract in on himself and show fear at the thought again. She couldn't blame him at all, but she hoped he could find a way to come to terms with it before the baby came.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, saying, "Technically speaking, every toy in this room is mine to pass on."
She paused and glanced around, from the pile of stuffed animals to the supply of models and figurines on the shelves before absently murmuring, "This is going to be one spoiled child…"
ASDFGHJKL: YOU CANNOT DENY THE PURE CUTENESS OF THAT LAST SCENE. Go ahead and try it. I dare you.
Anyway, so I think I decided that I'm going to write a oneshot collection after I finish this fic, expanding on characters or scenes that didn't seem to get enough attention or elaboration in the full version. And, you guessed it, both of those ideas involving Z-one that I mentioned last chapter will most likely be included :) So, yeah. That's my new side project after SH. I am still planning to start my next-gen after this, and I'm working on my YuAki headcanon, too.
Sigh. So much to write, so little time…
Also, I'm pretty sure I forgot this in the last chapter, but please visit my Facebook! facebook.c!om/OCValkyrie (Remove exclamation point)
Please review!
-Valk