Once they returned to the palace, Karin was still frosty. She had gone to bed before Kazune was even tired and he was forced to stay up and entertain Michiru until he felt sleep overcoming him. Kazune fell asleep on a couch in the main living space of the palace. When he awoke, the palace was still quiet. He groggily stumbled to the room Karin slept in. She was still and breathing lightly, still in the throes of her dreams. Kazune climbed into bed and proceeded to sleep more deeply than he had in a while.
The week went by very quickly and the day of Michiru's coronation had arrived. The palace was buzzing with activity as everyone prepared for the large group of guests that would come after the celebration. Kazune was putting the finishing touches on the speech he was to give after Michiru introduced him. He was not fond of public speaking but he figured he wouldn't have to do it often. Kazune wanted to make a good impression on the kingdom's people, especially since he'd be observing them frequently. Karin was standing on the side of the coronation stage behind the curtains. Michiru was not there yet but Kazune was already sitting in a chair next to some older men. They looked important and were probably other members of Michiru's handpicked counsel. Kazune was by far the youngest by about thirty years. He was sure to cause a stir in the kingdom. All the more reason to intimidate them right off the bat he thought. Kazune would have to prove himself as mature enough to do as good a job, if not a better job than the older men here.
The crowd began to full in the courtyard. The coronation would begin in twenty minutes.
"So, what is your job, lad?" One of the older men asked him with a joking smile.
Kazune could tell that he'd been put up to asking by the other two.
"I am Governor Michiru's top advisor and consultant." Kazune replied as sternly as he could without seeming aggravated.
"Oh? That is a very important job." The older man said with raised eyebrows. "But you have not lived here long, if you need assistance, we'll be glad to help you out since you probably aren't ready for that full responsibility yet."
Kazune felt the sting of the man's words. "It should not matter how long I have lived here if I am to report the current needs of the people. I will certainly take the kingdom's past into account when making decisions to avoid past mistakes." He replied graciously.
"How old are you, son?" The second man asked.
"Nineteen..."
"You are serious? That is very young for such a heavy weighing job. What is Governor Michiru thinking?" The second man feigned concern.
"How old are you, Sir?" Kazune asked with a pleasant smile.
"I just had the pleasure of turning seventy this year." The man seemed pleased with his longevity.
"My, my, aren't you a bit too old for your job? I wouldn't want someone as old as you to make a dire mistake due to an aging brain." Kazune's voice darkened but his face stayed kind.
The three old men sat there in shock at his sharp attitude. He looked like a trickster fox in their eyes.
"Do not discriminate against age. Goodness, you are no better than children. Have you all forgotten how to hold your tongue? Even adults need to be punished every now and then."
Kazune turned to face forward again, as did the other men. They all looked a little sweaty after his confrontation.
The courtyard was filled to its maximum and the coronation began. Michiru walked out in stunning glory and grace. One of the older men got up and talked about Michiru's accomplishments in the other kingdom, his goals for this kingdom and more flattery towards Michiru. Kazune guessed he was Michiru's planner/public face. After, the second man stood and went over the kingdom's current state while audience members asked Michiru questions about how he planned to fix Jin's mistakes and shortcomings. The first man went next and he just talked about boring sponsors. Kazune thought it was funny that he had such a trivial job which required being a suck-up to big businesses.
The crowd applauded politely after each of the men spoke. Kazune was the only one left and he was to be introduced by Michiru himself.
"My people, I would like to humbly introduce you to a dear friend and partner of mine. He is the man responsible for my late cousin's departure. He has fought bravely for the well being of his friends and this kingdom. For this reason I have made him my consultant and advisor. Please welcome Mister Kazune Kujyo to the podium."
Kazune stood and the audience applauded him. Kazune rose a hand for silence. He took a deep breath.
"Hello, everyone. I am very grateful to be here today, standing before you as the newest member of Governor Michiru's advisors. I will be looking after you all in terms of financial needs, supplies for the town, charities and general necessities you all may find lacking. I invite all of you to come to the palace to hold meetings with me or to leave notes of requests in which I can pass on to Governor Michiru. Being your representative, I feel that you all have a right to know some basics about me and my history before coming to this kingdom. As Governor Michiru said, my name is Kazune Kujyou. I come from the West Country that was revenged by the recent war. There I was also a prominent figure in society as a warlock with vast studies in fire and air elemental magic. Despite my status, I did not love my home country and I regret to share that I had a large part in the West Country's destruction. I came here to escape the war and wound up ending it with the death of late Governor Jin and the Northern Country's queen. My past is certainly clouded but in living here the past month, I have come to love the people even more dearly. I look forward to making this kingdom an even greater place to live. This is the least I can do to repay the kindness I've been shown not only by the town's folk but by Governor Michiru as well. I am aware that I am younger than most of the officials. I hope that I can earn your trust in my capabilities. I hereby promise, if I should fail to perform my duties adequately and precisely, I will resign from this position with no hesitation."
Kazune stepped back and bowed deeply to the crowd. Sweat dripped from his head when he stood up again.
"Thank you, Mister Kujyou." Michiru beamed with a few claps, stirring the rest of the audience to applaud.
"Now, I know all of you are anxious to speak with Mister Kujyo about your ideas for change but I must add in one more clause to his appointment. Miss Hanazono, come out here please." Michiru waved his hand towards the wings of the stage.
Kazune looked at him with a weird face and then to Karin who also looked surprised by Michiru's request. Hesitantly, she walked out and stood next to Michiru.
"This lovely lady will also be part of my advisory. She is an equally dear person to me. You may all feel welcome to talk to her about matters if you see her."
Kazune's stomach knotted up. He began to understand what Michiru was going to say.
"Although the date has not been disclosed, she and Mister Kujyo will be out of commission for one week of their choosing while they hold their wedding and honeymoon."
Kazune began to shake in humiliation but willed himself not to ignite. Karin just stood there stiff and blushing.
"I still do not know when this will be but during that time I will be in this palace accepting requests in their stead. Thank you all for your understanding." Michiru motioned for Kazune to sit back down. Another chair had been brought out and Karin sat next to him. They both fidgeted while they waited the ceremony to end. The three older men were looking at Karin with amazement. Their eyes shifted back and forth between the two of them as if trying to understand how she could love Kazune.
The ceremony came to a close and Kazune was more than ready to stand and stretch his legs. He was tired of the three old men and he wanted to yell at Michiru badly.
"Karin, can I go beat Michiru up?" He asked gripping his fist with the other hand.
"Just a little." She replied with steely eyes and a maddened smile.
They walked over to Michiru who was talking to some subjects. Kazune grabbed his ear and pulled his head down to his mouth.
"DO YOU KNOW THE MEANING OF PRIVATE MATTERS, NISHIKYOURI?!"
Michiru continued to smile but his eyebrows showed discomfort with the blonde yelling in his ear.
"Ah ha ha, Kazune-chan... you're mad about that?"
"It didn't have to be broadcast, Micchi!" Karin yelled.
The subjects Michiru was talking too looked dumbfounded at their bickering. Their new advisor was socially beneath Michiru but he had the gall to yell at him so openly.
The three old men, however; were beginning to understand how the two could fall for each other. They snuck away during the commotion.
"Hurry up and get married so I stop having to announce it!" Michiru was laughing and poking their faces. "When's the date, huh? Come on, tell me!" He continued until they were too tired to fight back.
"The first snowfall, how's that?!" Karin screeched
Kazune let go of Michiru's ear and looked at her.
"That soon?!" He looked panicked. "It's nearly Fall!"
"Well..." Karin suddenly got shy and withdrawn.
"I want to marry you." she said in barely a whisper.
Kazune felt like he'd just proposed all over again. His face flushed and his couldn't find words to say. His anger subsided and he felt as if he'd been tamed. If he'd been a cat, his ears would have gone down and the snarly face would have turned to a big eyed lovable one. He walked over to her and held both of her hands with his and looked down at the floor.
"Okay." He glanced up at her, his mouth quivering.
"Kazune..." Karin spoke, locked onto his eyes. He'd begun to cry and didn't realize it.
Quickly going to wipe the tears from his eyes, Kazune felt more spilling over. He contented to cover his face with his hands. He didn't want Karin to see him crying so hard over unexpected happiness like this. Though the made almost no sound, his back was shaking with his breath and tears were seeping between his palms, dripping to the floor.
Karin stood and watched him, hardly believing how much emotion was flowing from him. She reached out and held him tightly without saying anything.
Michiru watched the scene unfold before slipping away into the palace.
Kazune continued to silently sob into his hands for a few more minutes. When he'd been calm for a while, he lifted his head a bit. His eyes were red and swollen and same went for his face. He began to laugh a little. He wanted Karin closer so he reached out and pulled her back in tightly. He heard her let out a gasp of surprise.
"Let's go back now." He whispered before they started back into the palace.
