Forbidden Desire

crystal-mist

Chapter 13

Negotiation

"Look at what they did to him. Look at what your people did to Ace." She shouted in a cynical tone as she grasped her forehead and broke down, her body trembling all the while.

Shun did not know what to do. He stood wordlessly only a few feet away with a traumatized expression on his face as he looked at Ace's dead body and then at Alice's trembling figure. To think that his father had done this and that he had actually intended to kill Alice. He clenched his fists in rage.

He found his legs taking step after step towards Alice. As he reached her he knelt down beside her. She didn't seem to notice.

The sound of her sobs was breaking his heart. He was ready to die 100 times over than watch her in pain. He slowly leaned towards her and snaked his arms around her waist. He half expected her to push him away. But she didn't, instead she gripped his cloak with her trembling hands and cried onto his chest.

"Why?" she sobbed.

He couldn't reply or react in any way. He could only put his hands around her and let her cry onto him and then hope against hope that he would be able to ease her pain.

I can't do anything for her…I am useless…

After what seemed like eternity Shun found his voice.

"I am sorry." He replied shakily in an extremely sincere tone.

She looked up at him. His eyes widened as he saw the desperation in her eyes. They looked at each other wordlessly... Forever wishing for each other's proximity.

"It…It is not your fault…" her voice trailed off as she slowly looked away. More tears appeared in her eyes. She slowly rested her head on his chest once again. She felt his warmth and she wanted to forget everything and just stay in that toasty warmth forever. But, she couldn't…Circumstances were against her and destiny wouldn't let her. It expected her to suffer.

It felt even more comforting when he put his arms around her and pulled her closer to him. She loved him. She felt warm and nice every time he touched her. It only invited her more. But she knew that it soon had to come to an end.

She slowly pulled herself from his grip. He looked at her surprised. She gently caressed the side of his face with her pale, cold fingers.

He pulled her into a kiss right at that moment. She was taken aback, she couldn't react. Shun could taste the dried blood on her lips. He realized that he was being selfish. She wasn't in the mental condition for a kiss, yet he forced it. He was disgusted at his greed that he pulled away immediately.

He wondered why her lips were covered with blood. Alice slowly brought her hand to her lips and touched them gingerly. She wore a spaced out expression.

"I go now." She stated shakily. She then stood up. Shun stood up as well, regretting his action.

"He was my best-friend. The only family I ever had…and he…he loved me." She muttered, wanting to let Shun know everything.

"He what?"

"He apparently loved me yet I did not realize that I pained him greatly." She said with a forsaken little smile. She then knelt down beside Ace. "He got killed. He protected me to the very end…just like he promised."

"….."

She slowly lifted Ace's head. Shun saw for the first time, the peace, the obvious happiness on the face of the departed young king. Satisfaction that he was able to protect the one he treasured above all.

He knelt down beside Alice as well.

"He was very brave." He stated blankly. "And he fought for you. For your protection. Yet, I was not able to make it on time. He shouldn't have died. If only I was a bit earlier then I could have saved-"

She nodded her head from side to side preventing Shun from going any further.

"Help me carry him to his horse." She said as she looked at the wounds inflicted on him. Shun nodded and carried Ace to his white steed. Alice wordlessly retrieved Ace's sword. She got up on the horse as well.

"Rest in Peace my dear friend." She whispered to the dearly departed King.

"Are you sure that you will be alright on your own?" Shun asked her still looking at her concern.

"Yes, I'll be on my way then… You know when to expect me."

"Don't push yourself. Take a break this week. Come the next week." Shun insisted.

"Okay then." She said as she rode away. Shun stood in the clearing unable to say a word. He was causing her so much pain and he hated himself for that..

*Darkas Castle*

As the white steed approached the gates the guards bowed in welcome. The gates opened and Alice rode the horse in to palace grounds. No one noticed Ace's motionless body.

A dark-blue haired man stood on the grounds bowing.

"Welcome back Your Majesty and Milady." He stood up but then noticed that something was off. His eyes widened as he went closer and noticed Ace and the blood on his clothes.

"W…What happened?" he stuttered. Once again Alice's eyes filled with tears.

"He…He is no more." She muttered.

"What do you mean? Who did this? Tell me miss….Who did this?" Alice was about to tell him that it was the King of Ventus but then she saw the probability of a war to arise. She also remembered Ace's eagerness to lead a peaceful existence.

"Milady… Please answer."

"Please Jin… I would like to be on my own for a while." Her voice was so pleading and desperate that he couldn't refuse.

"Yes, you do need some rest…Go ahead."

"Thank you." She then wordlessly left Jin, who was equivalent to the second in command of Darkas.

Three days passed. Jin was given the crown and was elevated to the title King. Things got further complicated as Alice tended to shut herself off from everyone around her. She also evaded questions about who Ace's actual murderers were.

Then a terrible drought hit the Kingdom of Darkas and unexplained fires started breaking out, burning away lots of villages. Lots of people lost their lives, homes and their dear ones. Jin was getting overstrained the entire time. Things were starting to get to him. That was when he received a note with a Ventus seal on it.

He eyed it suspiciously. Then sighing deeply he opened it.

"Dear King Jin,

This note is issued in the best interest of the King of Ventus. We would like to make some negotiations and put forward some terms… Terms which you can accept or decline according to your own free will, of course.

The terms are simple.

There are some matters regarding your Kingdom that do not satisfy us. On account of this we have no choice but to declare WAR on you, people of Darkas.

We are sure that you are well aware of the fact that your army does not stand a chance with those of ours, especially when we are allied with all the other Kingdoms. If you want to evade this situation there is only one simple thing that you need to do.

If you concede to our demands then we will withdraw the war declaration and enter into a truce with you, a peace treaty in fact.

The demand is "'Kill the Priestess of your Kingdom. Kill Lady Alice."'

We are sure that you, the present King is wise enough to make the right choice. "

Jin's eyes were as wide in utter incredulity as he read the note. Fear overcame him. "They want us to kill Lady Alice? But why?" The fate of the entire Kingdom depended on his decision.

Hope you guys liked itJ. Please Review and tell me your opinions.

I would like to thank all those who reviewed this story and all of my other ones. You guys really encourage me… I will thank you all formally at the end of the story. Until then I couldn't stop myself from thanking all you wonderful readers out there.

And thanks to all who read this story up till now and not forgetting those who added me to their favorites. Thank you Thank you Thank you…

I have been receiving such a lot of anonymous reviews so I was not able to reply to them all…

Anyways guys thanks for reading…btw I do not own Bakugan Battle Brawlers.

Until next time...This is crystal-mist signing out.

Ciao.