Longer chapter this time. Just about finished with the fourth one so I thought I should give you this to chew on until I've finished chapter 5 *drools* - I've waited to write that one hehe.
This chapter is a bit darker than the first two - the shit hits the fan so to speak - the real storyline is slowly revealing itself. What? You thought it was just about the Yullen couple getting married? Nuh-huh, think again, I caught a good muse this time hehehehe...
Warning: Allen gets a makeover (a painful one)
Disclaimer: I've realized that I almost never write a disclaimer to my stories *looks around shoulder, feeling paranoid* I hope no one's angry at me now...
Hoshino Katsura is the owner of D. Gray-man, I'm just an aspiring writer who want's to write some stories using her lovely characters.
Though the story is mine! Don't steal it please!
Enjoy!
Chapter 3.
"Your Majesty! Terrible news!" A man came running to Cross' work room with flushed face, he had rushed through the door without knocking – and "successfully" had a maid fall over, but the man didn't care about that.
Cross had been working on a very important aspect of ruling his kingdom: should he choose the brunette or the blonde woman? How he could get away with doing that and not the paperwork he was supposed to do was beyond everyone. The man stopped in front of the dark wooden desk, panting as if he'd been hunted by an army.
"What is it?"
"Th… there's been a… attack…" The man was still panting very hard and as he tried to talk, Cross raised an eyebrow.
"Attack? What do you mean?" The king asked, his patience wearing thin. The man noticed this and took a deep breath.
"A small battle force has stormed the Walker manor! Killing everyone they see", the man said quickly. Cross' eyes widened and for the first time in ages he felt actual fear. He stood up and ran out of the room while yelling at the man to follow him.
Cross ran towards the training ground for the soldiers; searching for his General. He found him butchering some scarecrows with his double edge, saw like weapon.
"Sokaro! Be ready for duty in five minutes!" Cross shouted at him, and the man, Sokaro, stopped immediately with what he was doing and brought out a whistle from his pocket. He whistled twice and about a hundred soldiers came rushing and stood themselves in line.
"Seems we're going to make battle, make yourselves ready!" As one the small army bellowed 'yes' and ran to the armor and weapon storage. And a few minutes later they were done and were standing in line again. Cross walked towards Sokaro and stopped next to him.
"My brother in Aed Kor is being attacked; I want my soldiers to get there as fast as possible", Cross told Sokaro, the dark man smiled wickedly and put an iron mask on his face.
"I'll dispatch fifty of these soldiers on our fastest horses, your majesty", the General said, now with a more hollow voice. Cross nodded and walked away to get his own battle gear on.
When he got back he was met by one of Sokaro's strategist who was apologizing excessively on the General's behalf.
"I'm sorry, your majesty! I told him to wait for you but he said that he couldn't and led the fifty soldiers on horses out", the man said and bit his lips, "I told him that you haven't ordered him to lead those men but he didn't care!" Cross told a servant to fetch his horse before he turned to the strategist and said:
"This is one time when I'm glad that Sokaro took the matters into his own hands", Cross said. I hope we're not too late… he thought.
"Allen, hide in the closet!" Mana ordered, and just as Allen was about to open the closet doors the door to Mana's bedroom flew open and a soldier stepped in. The soldier's armor was red from blood as was his sword. Allen could see one of his father's soldiers lying lifelessly on the floor outside the room.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the master of this house, Prince Mana Walker", the soldier said in a grimly voice. He then saw Allen standing before the closet doors and smiled wickedly. "And the young Prince as well…" Allen's eyes widened in fear and he inched away to Mana.
"Why are you here?" Mana asked the soldier who just laughed.
"Wouldn't you like to know hmm…?" The soldier answered and stepped closer to Mana and Allen. He raised his sword and said: "But why should I tell you when you're about to die anyway?" The soldier swung the sword down, aiming for Allen, but Mana anticipated it and pushed Allen away and took the hit himself.
"MANAAAAAAA!" Allen shouted, despair and sorrow in his voice. Mana fell and hit the floor with a thud and Allen fell on his knees next to him. The soldier smirked and brought out a small knife from a sheath on his ankle. He turned Mana's body around and made a small pentacle on his forehead. Allen saw this and jumped on the soldier from behind, but the soldier was much more experienced in fighting and was much stronger so he easily got loose from Allen's grip and tossed the twelve-year-old away. Allen hit his head on a small table next to the closet door and for a moment all he could see was stars.
The soldier snorted and finished the upside-down pentagram; then he stood up and walked the few steps to Allen. He took a handful of Allen's brown hair and lifted the small boy up. Allen screamed in fright and pain and struggled to get loose, the man didn't care but he let go of the boy anyway. Allen hit the floor hard and the soldier squatted to be level eyed with him.
"That the Earl saw this boy as a threat…" The soldier brushed some hair from Allen's face and forehead. "But, an order is an order…" He took a better hold of his knife and with his other hand he held Allen's head steady. Then he made the first cut and Allen screamed.
Just when the soldier was finished he was attacked by a soldier in blue, it was the one that Allen had seen lying on the floor a few minutes ago. The suddenness of the attack caused the attacked soldier to slip with the knife and slashed Allen's eye and cheek. The boy screamed and held both of his hands over the hurt area.
The pain was too much, and for a moment Allen thought that he was going to die. Then he heard a voice, he opened his right eye and saw his savior lying on his back, a knife was stuck in his chest.
"…highness… h-hide…" The man said with his last breath, Allen sat there for a minute, and then he heard the distinct noise from swords and he hurriedly stood up and with the little strength he had left in his legs he walked the few steps to the closet, opened the door and went in. He sat down among Mana's clothes and hid his face in his knees. Tears ran down his face and mixed with the blood from the slash over his left side.
"F-father…" Allen sobbed and hugged his knees closer to his body.
"It took some time but we've gotten rid of the soldiers in the town. The mansion is sealed off but I've ordered our soldiers to build a ram and bring down the gate", General Sokaro said as Cross approached him.
"Good, when it's down, try to capture one or two enemies… but no mercy to the others", Cross ordered and observed the large mansion. He could see fire through the broken windows, with slight worry he searched for the window to his brother's room – he found it after a few seconds and was relieved to see that there was no fire there, but it was dark; no movement at all in there.
Around fifteen minutes later Sokaro came up to the red haired king and told him that his soldiers have successfully infiltrated the mansion and was in the process of securing it. Cross didn't waste any time and went directly in through the gates.
"Five men with me!" Cross bellowed and immediately the five soldiers closest to him formed a formation with two walking slightly ahead of Cross and three behind. They ran swiftly through the manor; avoiding as many enemy soldiers as possible – the rest was handled by Cross' other soldiers. The small group went up some stairs to the second floor and after running down the dark corridor towards Allen's bedroom three enemy soldiers emerged from a smoke filled room. Cross unsheathed his sword and engaged in battle with one while his guards took the other two.
The battle was over within seconds – since the enemy soldiers had been a bit disoriented by inhaling too much smoke and were tired while Cross and his soldiers were in top shape. Cross sheathed his sword after wiping of the blood with the enemy's tunic. Without further ado he motioned to the men to follow him and he continued down the corridor.
They arrived where Allen's room was and to Cross' horror the door was wide open and flames were licking the doorframes. There was no way anyone could come in, less out. If the boy had been in there… No! Mana must have taken the brat with him. Or Allen was outside the room before this. Then… where? Then it came to him – like lightning – Mana's room. He turned on his heels and ran at full speed in the other direction. The five men, having been trained by Sokaro, didn't waste any time in following. And Cross was once again thankful for having a general like Sokaro, even though having Tiedoll's General Cloud Nyne wouldn't be so bad either.
Sokaro was efficient when training the soldiers. He made sure to improve their stamina – with and without armor – he also trained their reflexes and memory, not to mention handling weapons – and not just what they were supposed to specialize in but in other fields as well. Sokaro was a bit of a genius when it came to battle, but not as much in the strategy department. That was why Cross had given the General five highly skilled strategists that would come up with battle strategies and explain them to the General – because if Sokaro didn't exactly know what to do, he would do it his way which usually consisted of plunging into the enemy army and start a massacre; his soldier's following suit without any better options.
Though sometimes, when given an order from the king or his strategists, he'd change them to suit him better. Like earlier: when riding off with fifty soldiers on his own accord. Usually Cross felt he wanted to kill the powerful and much needed General, but sometimes he felt immensely grateful, like now.
The group arrived at Mana's room and went in immediately. The room was quiet and dark. Two soldiers lied on the floor, one with a knife in his chest and the other with his throat cut up. The enemy soldier lied next to a brown haired man Cross recognized immediately. He ran to the still form and when wiping of some of the blood on Mana's forehead, with the curtain that had fallen to the floor, he saw the pentagram. Cross clenched his jaw as rage welled up inside him. Three soldiers guarded outside the room and the other two where inspecting the room.
"This man", one of them said and pointed to the soldier with the knife in the chest, "Was lethally wounded before he was stabbed, he must have used his last strength to kill the enemy after the Prince was killed."
"What of Prince Allen?" Cross asked, still holding his brother. The soldier looked around the room trying to find signs of the twelve-year-old, but shrugged as he didn't find any. Cross averted his gaze back to his brother; praying for his nephew to be alive. He then looked at the soldier that had sacrificed his life for the Prince and noticed that the soldier's head was turned somewhat to the left. Cross gently put down Mana's head on the bloody floor and stood up. He walked the few steps and took a closer look at the soldier; the man looked relieved – why Cross didn't know, was he glad to die? Or was it because he killed Mana's murderer? But Cross felt that that wasn't really it. Then Cross noticed a small footprint that could only belong to a child, the footprint was made from blood and the blood from the bodies had almost covered it. The footprint led to the closet and Cross quickly pulled the doors open and relief flooded over him like a wave. Inside sat a frightened young Prince Allen hugging his knees; he'd raised his head when the door had been opened, and his blood smeared face, his shocking white hair and his empty, stormy gray eyes had Cross shocked and he felt like taking a step back from the ghostly apparition of his nephew.
"Mana?" The boy asked, his voice raspy and weak, his eyes swollen from the crying.
"It's your uncle… Mana's gone", Cross answered gently as he crouched in front of Allen. Realization dawned on Allen and tears welled up in his eyes.
"Mana… father's not coming back, right?" Tears ran down his cheeks and he did nothing to stop them. Cross bit his lower lip and he then took the slightly trembling boy in his arms and stood up. He felt a bit annoyed that the tears and snot would get on his black, long and very fabulous coat - but knowing that Allen was safe had him endure it.
And Cross really didn't want his stupid, non-royal cousin to get the throne after him. When Mana had adopted Allen it was like getting an heir on a silver platter – he got an heir without doing any work at all. And work was the word he hated the most.
At Tiedoll's palace in Li Sar.
"I DON'T WANT TO VISIT THAT STUPID BEANSPROUT!" Kanda yelled at his father who just sighed.
"Yuu-kun, we are going, and there's nothing that…"
"Can't I stay here and study or train or what the fu…"
"Mind your language young man! I do not wish to hear such crude language coming from my sons", Tiedoll reprimanded with an authority Kanda seldom heard. Even though Kanda usually didn't do as he was told and went out on 'adventures' with Lavi instead of studying or other things, his father Tiedoll would just sigh over it instead of reprimanding him. Kanda had once heard Lavi's grandfather telling Tiedoll that he was too soft on his sons who replied that he wanted them to have freedom in their life.
Though the few times Tiedoll did raise his voice or using that annoying authority voice, which he couldn't disobey, was when Kanda used 'bad language' as Tiedoll put it – or when he was being rude to others. One time he was rude to that beansprout, Princess Alene, and… Kanda shuddered at the thought. Tiedoll had gone all out and actually spanked him. Kanda never got over the humiliation and he never did anything worse to the beansprout than just calling her that: beansprout.
"Pack your things son, we leave tonight", Tiedoll said and was about to leave Kanda's bedroom when a servant came.
"Your Majesty! I've got an urgent letter from Aederia, His Majesty King Cross sent it", the servant said and handed the letter to the king. Tiedoll opened it while mumbling something inaudible. The fifteen-year-old went back to fume on his black couch. He crossed his arms and readied himself to fight back against his father about traveling to Aederia. He made sure to not look at his father but when the old man gasped Kanda couldn't help himself but to look at him. The king looked aghast and completely at a loss of words. Kanda couldn't help himself but to ask:
"What?" His tone brisk, Tiedoll closed his eyes and said solemnly:
"You don't need to pack, Yuu-kun. We won't travel anywhere anytime soon." Then he left the room. Kanda just sat there. What the fuck just happened? He asked himself. Then he ran out of the room – after his father. It didn't take long to catch up to him.
"Old man, what is it? What did the letter say? Why the sudden change?" Kanda didn't want to go but when his father suddenly goes from: pack your things, to: we're not going - he was really curious about what King Cross had written to have his father change his mind like that. Tiedoll stopped and Kanda almost ran into him.
"Let me read that letter!" Kanda demanded and reached for the letter but Tiedoll stopped him.
"Yuu-kun, this is not something you should bother yourself with…"
"I'm fucking fifteen! I think I can handle whatever is written on that letter! And I want to know what the hell's happening!" Kanda said angrily and to his surprise Tiedoll didn't chastise him about swearing but instead wordlessly gave him the letter.
"Thanks", Kanda got what he wanted so he thought he could do the decency and be polite. He smoothened out the letter and started to read.
To His Majesty King Froi Tiedoll of Ligoun.
I'm sorry to say but I would advise against visiting us at this time. The reason is civil war. Not the civil war I'm sure you're thinking of right now, no it's more like some fucker-who-wants-to-kill-me-and-family-so-he-can-take-over-and-be-king kind of war.
Have you ever heard of a man who calls himself The Millennium Earl? I think I told you about him once. A fat man that I exiled twenty years ago, ring any bells? Yeah, him. It seems he wants to have another go and this time he's trying with war. And that I will give him.
He attacked Mana in Aed Kor. He himself wasn't there; he'd only sent some of his soldiers. But that was enough. Mana is dead. They were close to kill Alene as well had not one of Mana's guards stopped the bastard. What made me realize that it was the Earl is because the soldier cut his mark on Mana's forehead; a pentagram. The soldier cut the mark on Alene's forehead too and was planning to kill her after. She's very traumatized right now (she witnessed the murder of Mana and not to mention all that shit that happened after so it's not surprising).
Because of the murder of my brother and the attempted murder of my one heir – this war has become personal. I will send letters on how it goes. And do not, I repeat: DO NOT try to help me with this! I do not need it and you should not go into war – You're a good man, and I don't think you can handle the atrocities of war. But mostly I don't want you here because you would just be in my way. I'm going to go all out and slaughter the Earl's troops and not leave anyone left standing.
I don't know how long this will take, but I'll try to end this as quickly as possible. I have one favor to ask: close your borders to Aederia. Don't let anyone in or out and make sure to stand ready if the Earl sets his eyes on Ligoun too. And I know you, so don't go around worrying or some shit like that, you remember the Lee's right? That Komui and Lenalee's parents have agreed to supply me with some of their weaponry and forces, the people of Zenwia is known for their ingenuity and selflessness. I will quell this uprising so just sit back and watch.
King Marian Cross of Aederia.
Hope you enjoyed it ^^
And I will get around to "For Eternity", it's just so freaking long...
