it was impossible to get to the desert by boat, not to say to the stone castle,the sun was implacable, the sand reach behind the horizon and between the dunes a carriage traveled in solitude, guarded by only two horses.
They had been warned about the horror of the desert, the monsters that hide behind the sand, creatures that could tear entire armies apart , but none of them fear the ancient legends, they don't need monster to tear each others appart.
The king was obfuscated in the solitude of his carriage, every meter away from the sea altered him more, marriage? How could he love a woman who has never know the sea? Taichi did not deserve his loyalty, but his people did not deserve the war that he would cause if he disobeyed his orders.
Not even his best friend back up him on his decisions, what kind of king he was?
He had failed his knights, the children he had taken as his own, little did he know, they were no longer children, and they had never been his own.
He knew that things would only get worse from that moment, and he was not wrong
Outside Ken watch the left flank suffocated by the intense heat of the desert and the cold silence of his partner; Davis drive the carriage of the king and in not one single time he turned to look at him, he look so handsome with the bright sun reflected on his brow skin, and even when there was nothing that Ken hates more than the indifference he must admit that the stoic expression on his face was endearing.
Iory observe both of them, exasperated by there incompetence, so much unnecessary drama.
"You should talk to him" he said more like an order than an advice tyred of the indecision of his older brother; Ichijouji clench his teeths, he hate having the little prince for an allie
"He is not talking to me right now"
"We need him" he scold him " Our master would never back up us if Davis is not involve"
A true that Ken hates, he and Iory studied the laws and master the weapons, but people fallow Davis, he was charismatic, lucky and brave, he was a godam sunshine with a goofy smile.
"You must convince him" Iory insist but before he could said anything else Ken accelerate his horse until Davis side, he would rather apologize to his boyfriend than keep listen to him.
He call his attention with a smile, and Davis make a huge effort for not return the gesture
"Iory send you?"
"of course no" he lied " i just want to understand why are you doing this"
"I´m doing nothing!" he jumps "You are planning treason! i can´t believe i need to explain to you why i´m not ok with that!"
"Treason? when do they earn our loyalty?" But Davis roll his eyes "they are gonna kill us!"
both whisper, carefully to not alert the king
"Yagami would not do that" Again with his ridiculous support for the new king, Ken was losing his temper
"you don't know him!"
"I fought with him, he.. he " Davis pull the stripes, slowing the carriage "did you hear that?" ken raise his eyebrows, he hear nothing "he give me his hand, i felt his heart"
"you can't be serious" a bitter laugh, he knew Davis mean every word, and in any other circumstance he would find his believes adorable but now just infuriate him
"We connect!" Davis insist and Ken bite his tongue in an attempt to don't call him an idiot "You don't believe me"
"Listen, my dear…" meabe the sweet words would help them "You can´t be that naive" but he frow the face unhappy "look where we are! one order of the new king and Joe forgot all the promise he make to us! they are kings, they are not trustworthy"
"This is not about trust, this is about Iory Revenge and…" he stop himself
"And what?"
"Nothing" but he was incapable of lying to him "Is about your proud" davis finally spit " You wanted to win"
"Excuse me?"
"The tournament" he explain "You hate Yagami because he won the tournament, hell i´m sure you are still mad at Iory for went further than you"
Ken keep quiet for awhile, Davis could see through him so easily, his lover was everything but dum
"so what? you are saying it like if it was a bad thing, Like if you or Iory didn't want the same, every knight on that tournament wanted to win"
"Joe didn't" he remain him "neither do i.."
"And that make you better than me?!"
"That's not what I'm saying!"
"No, what are you saying is that you trust more in a foreign and the man who murder our parents that in your brothers, said what you want about your precious Yagami but for him you are no more that an eventuality; we are your family, we are gonna fight this war and if you are not with us then..." he stop, suddenly afraid of his own words
Red flags appear on the horizon, the stone castle was close
Davis slow the carriage, hurting by the untold threat
"Watch out!" They hear Iory warning when it was to late, both of them fall to the sand hitting by a big long red strip
Joe feel the punch and come outside, he wasn't ready, none of them were
The creature wasn't bigger than a calf, it's tiny round yellow face look like a mask, the body was cover by a cloth an underneath two sharp hooks hung, it also had a big red strip that came out of his body and get lost in the sand, over which the creature floated.
Creature was not enough, monster or nightmare would be more suitable; it did not seem to be alive but it moved, it eyes did not express hatred or threat, but its only presence froze the veins.
Joe couldn't move, couldn't think, without a doubt that would be his death. But the monster made the mistake to attack Iory first; as soon as the King watch the hook turn into the little one's direction he jumped and tackle both to the sand.
That child would not die, not on his watch.
Then, the four of them were on the ground, on an strange land, facing an impossible danger, in horror he saw Ken and Davis standing out, grabbing their swords, he hold Iory to do the same; the air around the monter started to blow, there must be some way to get out of this, and again the King was no wrong.
Like a miracle a spear stuck in it face, the creature uttered a high-pitched that sound more like the squeak of a teapot than a shout
"Watch out!" a woman jumped between them and with an avid movement of her sword she cut the red strip that linked the creature with the sand, witch fall death at the instant.
"Everyone get together" another woman shouted as she ran towards them
Both wore armor, but they were not made of metal like those worn by the king's guard, they seemed made of leather and scales, they shone with the sun on a scale of reds that get lost among the sands.
The boys obeyed and gathered around the one that still held the sword, it was a strange weapon, it did not have brightness, when seeing it closely they realized that it was made of bones, same from the spear still stuck in the face of the creature, which had fallen as soon as the line broke.
The king was known to be pessimistic, so he was not surprised when more creatures surrounded them, all of them with the same inexpressive round yellow face, all of them shrieking and shaking.
The three knights surround the king, each one with a sword on hand; Davis fear from all of them, fear for his brothers actions, it would be so easy for them just let the king die.
And Ken tough about it, his mind go faster than any other man alive, he wonder about the creatures and their stranges bodies, how they move? how they breath? how they fly? he needs to figure it out, but his fight with Davis was still fresh, His mixes emotions distracted his agile mind from the opportunity, o yes the opportunity..., if just the king could be a eventuality, killed by the monsters of the desert, the desert they visit from order of the king, it could be Yagami´s fault… but one look at his brothers and he knew they would never support his idea
Iory was there with his wooden sword and his honor. He would never kill joe like that, he want to demand justice and call the rebellion, what stupid little prince.
"We must protect the king!" He said as if Ken was foolish enough to not be able to read his eyes
"King?" one of the woman said, and they surprise for the softness of her voice, Ken realize she couldn´t be much older than him.
The knight didn't have time for that, he know how to kill the creatures, but of course he wasn't the first to jump into battle, of course Davis go first and attack their bodies like an idiot.
One of the woman move faster than him and stop him, it was her element, Ken repair in them while he run to their side, same hair color, same shape of their nose and ears, they must be related.
His metal swords couldn't cut the wires, that's why their weapons look so different, he feel even more stupid that Davis.
"Hold them!" the same girl that save Davis shout at him, and he obey, pushing the creature to the ground so she could cut the wire; they repeat that movement a couple of times and the fight star.
Ken loves the fights, especially the ones that present a challenge, it was when he really shine, when he feel less invisible.
The monsters learns their movement so quickly, they were so smart; they move in patterns and change them with every new opponent, did they has a collective memory?
Davis and Iory were push to a corner, trying desperately to put Joe out of danger, from the three of them he was the only one who could up to the rhythm at their rescuers.
The only thing that he love more than a good fight was a deserved victory, so he couldn't avoid his smile when all the creatures lay down on the ground
"Don't touch them!" the girl stop him to examine their bodies, finally they could see each others clearly, she was tall and skinny, everything in her was long, her red hair down until her back and her legs moves gracefully among the dunes, at difference of everyone else she doesn't look tyred.
She plays with her spear with a childish attitude, and meanwhile Joe cure the injures of Davis and Iory she approach to Ken with a nervous smile
"So, i assume you must be joe Kido " She said and at his disconfor she correct "I mean! the sea king! i´m so sorry i didn't mean to offend you!"
She was looking for the king, Iory and Davis laugh at the misunderstand
"I guess that would be me" Joe stand up, the girl look at him and then back to Ken, her face turn red at the same time her spear fall for her hands "these are my guards" he explain, and just like that Ken turn invisible again.
The other woman laughs louder than his brothers, and the little one cover her face in embarrassed "Shut up mimmi!" she beg but she did not stop, a mean spirit radiated from her and Ken had no doubt that they were sisters.
Joe look for his injures too, not aware for the mistake that was his kindness
It didn't take long for more people to come near to them, a small company led by a chubby boy with the same red hair than the women who collected the remains of the creatures with a methodical precision and take all of them for a safe path to the stone castle.
ken try to calm himself down, and raise his hand near to Davis while they walk, such a daily action that hurt in his chest when he took his hand away.
"I'm sorry" he murmur, looking to everywhere but at him "i.. i.." he doubt "i'm going to need time to figure this out"
"I understand" Ken lied
"Time apart from us"
Time Ken repeat for himself, was he planning to leave him?
"Yes" he lied again "wherever you need"
Davis smile and hurry to the gates, leaving him behind.
Joe waith for them so they could enter together, standing up even facing the storm was the way of the island.
The hole court were expect them, Taichi warn them about his plans; apparently the mountains and the Desert has a long history of commerce and collaboration, weirdly enough in their way to the throne they hear a dozen of curses and saw a more than a few belly buttons so it was fair to assume that the people of the desert doesn't follow the path of the light.
So many names, so many faces that he was not interesting in know.
You are going to go at the infinitive desert, found at the head of the Purity House and ask for the hand on marriage of the second daughter
What he want was not important, He has his orders, he must comply
"Please!" the Dessert King speak, lider of the purity clan "Let me introduce you to my children" Finally Joe concentrate
Two daughters and a son in line like cattle, he reverence, already tired of the protocol
"But of course my daughters does not need a presentation!"
At the time he raise his eyes he saw them, the same two women that save him and his entourage, the boys silence a gasp and in name of the sea he hope that Davis whistled was just a product of his imagination.
"This!" a proud father take the hand of the older one"the most beautiful flower that have ever grow on this land" the princes smile with a fake modesty, emerald dress, red lips and vanity " Mimmi! my heir, our future Queen and protector of the land!"
A thunder of applause and ovations, she was really too much
"But you are not here to admire our prettiest flower!" the king laugh and Joe didn't know what to said "But dont worry!" the king of the dessert sure has a vein for drama "I assure you that what Mimi has left in beauty her little sister has it in skill "Joe's heart accelerated, he was going to meet the woman who would be his wife" Jolei, my little shire from the sands come over here"
The youngest princess hurry to the stage his father provide, the audience cheer, and Joe prepare the words he didn't want to said
"Princess I´m here to.. to.. "
"We all know why are you here!" The dessert King interrump, the disconford of Joe was scalating to irritation "But come on! You and your entorauge beat the death today! we are here for the party!" No, he didn't want the party.
The band that come out of nowere star to play, suddenly his knights has his hand full of cups and food and he and the Princeses were push into eachoters arms into the dance floor, they dance and turn around, he was clumsy and she was sloppy, but it wasn't even close as his worst fears.
The king didn't ever bother to introduce his son.
Jolei was excited still, behind her smile and her red cheeks Joe could feel her nerves
The princess was playful and energetic, she had a vast knowledge about the monsters, not to mention that she was passionate about studying and elaborating weapons to destroy them.
"Reapers" she explain "We call them reapers, You met with a swarm of howlers, but there are all class of variation, the shadows are particularly scary but by far the worse are the mountains, i have only read about them but…"
At least the conversation wasn't a problem, Jolei struggled to fill each gap with some data, for the short time that the dance allowed them Joe realized that the passion of the princess extended not only to the preparation and planning of the fighting but to the protection and study from her land, she loved the desert and its people.
Slowly he began to lost thread of the conversation
How was he supposed to hold her? her waist was so small, her bony knees jutted out when she moved, she had the body of a teenager.
Oh dear god of the abyss, How young she was? he thought in desperation
"Excuse me" a diferent voice interrump them "May i have this dance?" Mimmi, the elder princess stand before them, beautiful, long hair and sharp eyes ; Joe didn't know what to answer, it would be rude if he dance with her?
But the sisters giggle at each others, in a kind of private joke, and in an oddly way Joe feel at home, in a home that he had lost many years ago, a infancy were his brothers smile at him.
Joley walk away from them, wiggling her dress, his entourage did not delay in make her company; he breathe in release, if in the future he did not improve his conversation skills the knights could be a good company for his future queen, even Cody seems happier at the company of the young princess, they could be friends.
He took the hand of the Mimmi carefully that only their fingers touch, theirs bodyes as apart as were posible
"Have you dance before?" mimmi call him, as same as her sister she wasn´t shy, but Joe fails in notice any other similitud between them, mimmi hair was lighter and longer, she was taller and her eyes were bigger, her voice conveyed a confidence her sister lack.
"Yes, but i must warn you that i´m not really good at it" he try to concentrate on the movement of his own feets but he could not avoid the feeling that her perfume was a little too strong
"Is because you are overthinking" she float over the dance floor, like a seagull over the tide "and you are doing it wrong, you are supposed to lead"
"I don't like leading"
"You are a king!"
"And thats why i´m really good at it" an old joke that work every time, but Mimmi just look at him in confusion "what happened?"
"I´m trying to figurate out what kind of man pretend to married my sister" she pout
"As you said, i´m a king"
"Is not what i ask" she meant it, and Joe sight in frustation, he'll not fight for his right to married a woman he didn't love
"What kind of man do you think i am?" they continue to move around the dance floor but this time he hold her closer, one of his first bad decisions
"My parents told us that you are a warrior, the conquer of the islands, you fought against the cold king and take the land by the force"
"what a tremendous disappointment i must be for you! " he exclaim, he finally understand why they confused him with Ken " i´m not…" he miss a step, but quickly come back on his own rhythm " i consider myself a pacifier, a healer" his right hand slipped on her waist
"Why are you so angry?"
"Why do you care?"
"Because you are gonna married my sister" she insist and he renegade, he is not supposed to talk with her about his concerns, still he has a soft spot for the people who worried about their families
"i assure you that every day i would treat your sister with respect and cordiality even when…"
"Even when what?" her voice was strong, without a doubt she was a lider
"Even when this married is not my idea" he confess, bringing her closer, being careful to not being hear, his nervous smile was not enough to hold her worried eyes
"You don't want to married my sister? what is wrong with you? You are the one asking for her hand!"
"Is a king order!" he react "I can't disobey a direct king order not even when he has been a king for three minutes, i can not risk my people to another war"
Her laugh taking him by surprise
"Kings are selfish, capricious and explosive, even the heirs are that way, I myself am a good example of that"
"I don't think that you.. i mean" it was not his usual babbling, mimmi was sincere, a strange quality for a noble "You shouldn't call yourself selfish, you are here looking for the wellbeing of your little sister"
"am i?" she look up to him, the brown on her eyes shine with the light of the saloon, it was the exact same tone as her sister, but mimmi was something else.
.
.
.
Reapers was the name of the creatures, they divided in 8 different categorized, the prince name was Jumpei, Reapers tend to move in patrons and grow in numbers as they come more into the dessert, her favorite fruit was strawberries, she has never left the desert, her grandfather write a enciclopedia about the reapers, even when she has the record in killing creatures she was convinced that her older sister was a better fighter, the construction of the weapons for the hunting of the reapers was a secret that belongs of the purity house, her favorite color was red, she was one year older than him.
Ken Ichijoiji tried to organized all the information princess Jolei share with them between drinks and jokes; she, her brother, his brothers and him has a party for they all.
With all his force he tried to ignore Davis, who seems like he was putting all his effort in get drunk, beside him Iory judge them in silence but not even him could resist to the magnetic aura of the younger daughter of the desert.
Jolei was a strange woman, too lovely to be a warrior, to kind to be a princes, too clever to be the fiancee of the sea king
Her sparkly dress move around when she dance, she look him in the eyes and for a small second Ken lost sig of his brothers just in time for Davis to stumbled over the tables while trying to climb a candelabrum.
Ken rush to help him "Im fine! Im fine!" he move far away from him, fear to being touch and the young knight feel the rejection.
"I would take care of him" cody hurried, placing himself under his brother's arm completely aware of Ken breakdown "I´ll return him to his room"
"What?" Jolei exclaim "But i was about to show you the armory!" funny enough a couple of drinks ago she assured them that armeria was prohibiden
"I could go" Ken couldn´t respond fast enought, part of him was curios about the weapons, another one just want to get away.
"No!" Iory orderer him" You must stay here and watch Joe" in his eyes were a warning but of course as soon as they left the room, Jolei and Ken sneaked into the armeria.
It has tall ceilings, imponent walls covers in half works, the heat of the fraguas hit him making him swet, or maybe was her garment "I cant enter to the armeria with a gown" she said as if it was a naive behavior; but Ken was to smart for belive her.
Giant fangs hold from the walls, over the table large pieces of tanned leather rest
"Is a work in progres" she laught "Jumpei and i are working on it, we are trying to make lightest armors" she hold the piece and he come closer touching the material, the scales were rigid to the touch
They were alone, and he pretend to not notice it.
"And how is he?" she ask with the voice of a child "I mean sure he is handsome and everything but how is he? what is he like?"
She want to talk about Joe of course, her attentions and desires were for the King.
The King that has promise the throne to his little brother instead of him, the King that Davis defend even agains his judment, the king that was about to married the must fascinated woman in the hole living land.
"Lucky" he wish she didn't fall for that, he wish it wouldn´t be so easy for him to make her blush,
"Can i kiss you?" Her voice was surreal and he look at her wondering if he has hear correctly "Im sorry!" she turn around "i just, i thought that you.." she walk away, ashamed "Listen is just that I.. the true i had never really kiss anyone before and" tears appear in her eyes "i´m so scare about tomorrow, is a silly thing, i tough it would be romantic to has a first kiss with someone like you… because, come on! you are so handsome and what i´m saying? forget it, please, I'm just a stupid girl and .. "
He held her shoulder tight and she didnt move or fight or push him away "You are not stupid" he said while leaning up to his faces, he barely touch her libs, one kiss was her request, one kiss he deliver "I mean" his fingers were still over her shoulders "you build this weapons, and you fight against monsters everyday, you are… you are the best…"
"I´m not" Jolei was fighting to catch her breath "I´m not the best on anything i´m just good enough"
Ken felt her words, he feel her with every part of himself , and kiss her again, stronger, hungrier.
"Ichijouji.." she mused, overwhelmed and this time she hug him too, her arms hold his shirt when he push her against the wall.
If she would ask he would stop, but she didn't; instead she unboting her own garment, she push his shirt out, she smile when he threw away the objects over the table and she full him with compliments and aprobations.
.
.
.
The moon was still on the sky when Ken Ichijouji wake up the next morning, his chest weighted.
Loneliness suit him bad, his mind could spiral to a dark place in no time
He was stupid, tackless and reckless and stupid. A stupid little boy with no self control.
The princess left his bed even before he fall slept, of course; she was about to married Joe, Joe for all people, she was about to married the King of the island, the same king that he and his brothers planning to take down.
His brothers, Davis.
What was he suppose to tell Davis? he cheat on him, he was worthless, pathetic, the worst kind of grime that ever walk for the land.
Not for nothing he asked for time, for how long he was supposed to wait for him
One night was not too much time for god sake; but it wasn´t his fault entirely, Jolei was so much guilty as him, and she was just about to married. And with the guilt comes the anger, a single idea ignited the flame in his mind, his hole body was on fire:
Joe didn't deserve Jolei
A knock in the door take him out of his misery
"Ichijouji wake up! Joe is about to leave and if we are not there when he come outside we are gonna be on troubles!" Iori shout since the hallway.
Ken come out but Iory didn´t move, he has an unusual expretion, as if he didn't know what to said
"What?" Ken ask uncomfortable by the intense look of his brother
Brother, for how many time Ken refuse to call him brother? how many months past after the war, after both of their families died for them to actually feel like one?
"Could you see the armeria last night?" there was an untold accusation in his voice, not a trend but a warning; maybe a little bit of concern
"Guys come on!" Davis shout running to the hallway "Is too late what are you two doing?"
Davis, sweet, optimistic, sunshine Davis; the guilt one more time craw on Ken, Davis dare to smile at him, as if as many time before his smile could take away his demons.
The king of the sea wear a formal suit, cape and the coral crow over his head.
The three of them march behind him, he warm them to have the weapons ready and Ken contemplate his own sword, his hand trembles with fury, how easy would be to kill him from behind, take his sword and stab him unexpectedly; no war, no rebelion, no wedding.
They come to the principal chamber, the king and queen wear formal too, also the princess, the prince must be some were.
Joe come near, and when he speak it was with no hesitation, no tremble on his voice.
"Im here to ask for the hand in marriage of your daughter"
The king of the dessert stand up, and with a smile on his face he took the hand of Jolei, and she, she was smiling too.
Ken search for her eyes but she avoid him, and the fire inside him turn to ashes.
"No" the shout of Joe pull him back to the reality "I´m here to ask for the hand in marriage of your elder daughter" the entirely court gasp, and it was in that moment when Jolei eyes finally found Ken, just a couple of seconds, her eyes yells a plea, but it was too late, he refuse to be her second best
"This is scandalous!" "imposible" " how he dare!"
Thunder and dragons, the sea King bring the storm to the dessert
"Yes!" the voice of mimmi raise over "Yes! I´ll marry you" and the tide calm down, and she with the triumph over her face repeat "I'll marry you"
The king of the desert call her out but she didn't listen, Mimi run to Joe arms, literally pushing her sister aside; Ken didn't know what infuriate him more: the incompetence of the desert king, the Joy in joe smile or the tears in Joley eyes when she storm out of the room.
"What is the matter with her?" Mimi yells and Ken feels nothing but despise for her
"My dear flower…."
"Shut up Daddy!" she scream and in the name of the seas her father obey "she would be fine, i mean, i literally just handle her the throne!"
The next moments blur on his memory, Ken didn't know how he come out of the palace with out murder her, without seeing Jolei again, they cross the desert with a new queen and the same old King, somehow Iory drag him back to the ship to their old room.
Davis close the door behind them
"We need to talk" Iory and Ken keep quiet " about Jolei"
"Davis" Ken panic, his rage become fear " Davis listen I.."
"I understand, you dont have to said anything" he pause as same as his hearth, how did he found out? "I see clear now, We can not trust Joe, not after the way he treat her"
Ken turn to Iory, he could turn him down, tell the true to Davis and sink their campaign, but Iory smile, as only a little brother could smile.
"So, i was right, you were wrong, im happy you recognize your mistakes " he speak to Davis but Ken knows that his words were mean to him "can you two just make out and end this drama already? we need to start a revolution!"
:
:
:
Joe look how Mimmi´s hairs move with the sea breeze, he can´t believe how beautiful his bride was, by the corner of his eye he saw his knights come out of their chamber, Davis and Ken hold hands again and Iory was smiling; and even when it was unusual in him, he let himself to be optimistic, his biggest problem, he was sure, were on the past, his future, their futures, would be bright, and like never before, the Sea King was wrong.