Lost in the Dark
By E.M. Megs
Chapter 15 – Exodus Solmenitas
The General stood in front of Namahi, Kaoru, and Hunny while they ate. "Marioka, Hanizuka. Seems I should have let you stay in Meira. I completely forgot the Festival starts in 5 days."
The brunette's mouth twisted a bit in confusion while her eyebrows furrowed. "What festival?" she asked hesitantly, fearing the answer slightly. The only festival that the military would ever need to be in Meira for was international ones that included another country, usually Nari, Pait, or Witchland. As far as she knew there weren't any international festivals coming up.
"The Exodus Festival. Kira's turn to host."
She almost smacked herself. How could she have forgotten about The Exodus Festival? It was practically the biggest festival that was shared between every country in Filandria no matter how small. It celebrated the time when their ancestors had passed through the Outlands from Vetus Terra – The Old Lands – to escape the exhausted soil wracked with famine and disease nearly 1,000 years ago. The only inhabitable land available now was the land that the countries stood on as well as the few islands to the west.
Of course, there were also the 13 tribes who knew the ways of living in the Outlands and had inhabited them practically since the beginning of time. They lived completely apart from civilization though and rarely ever caused trouble.
"Oh," she replied intelligently while Kaoru muttered, "Shit."
"Protection details for it are going to be worked on by the royal guard and military combined. Even though there's supposed to be temporary peace in observation of the festival, I wouldn't put it past Nari to break the treaty."
Namahi almost snorted out loud. If Kyoya was King then there was no way that they would be breaking it unless the military took action by themselves – which wasn't likely. Just thinking about him made her shudder inside with memories of recent Witching Dreams.
"And we come into this where, Sir?" Hunny asked, serious-faced.
"The Hitachiins and Marioka will be at the royal court dinners of course, but they'll also be part of the protection for the palace and monitoring of the Narian royal family while they're here."
She wanted to groan out loud. Yes, King Yoshio and Prince Akito were both mostly bedridden but that wouldn't stop possible suspicion of her identity from arising. Normally, she and her father avoided The Exodus Festival like the plague since The Witch and other people that could possibly recognize them as the Moradian royal family usually attended. However, when Kira hosted they could do nothing but sit back and hope for the best while keeping their heads low.
She hated to think that in less than a week, Kyoya, Yuiichi, and Yuki would all be in her hometown. Not to mention Fuyumi Shido and her husband who already knew her as the youngest Ohtori's lover.
"You'll all be given your individual assignments soon enough. Marioka, I'd like a word with you in my tent after you're finished eating," General Fusawa finally finished, heading off in the direction of the door.
She let her head fall to the table with a clunk that rattled everything sitting on it. "I hate the damn Exodus Festival."
"Why's that Namahi?" Hunny asked sweetly.
"Makes me create more confusing, intricate lies and excuses to protect myself," she mumbled, lifting her head to rub her temples with her fingers.
"Try being your guard," Kaoru grumbled in response. Namahi shot him a look and glanced down at her mostly-finished bowl of soup, having suddenly lost her appetite to the apprehension of the coming Festival.
"Suppose I should go see General Fusawa now since I'm definitely not finishing this anymore," she grunted, pushing away from the table and standing to make her exit.
–
"Corporal Marioka, reporting, Sir!" Namahi saluted at attention minutes later while feeling dread in her stomach.
"At ease," the Kiran General murmured, standing in front of her as she relaxed. "You seemed worried about the coming Festival."
"The Narian royal family will recognize me, Sir. I have no doubts about that. I'm just worried of what they might do, regardless of whether I succeeded in killing the Third Prince or not and regardless of whether we're under holiday peace," she replied with a raised eyebrow.
He hummed in response as he thought, gazing at her the entire time. "I see. Well, I've assigned you to monitoring them while they're here since you're more familiar with their habits than others might be." She opened her mouth to object when he continued, "And I'd also like to assign you as Monat Squadron leader of Privates Hanizuka, Morinazuka, and both Hitachiins since they seem to look up to you as a leader anyway. I may add more later, but for now they will do."
She blinked a few times, not having expected that at all. Squadron leader? She couldn't do anything but stare at him stupidly for a moment before stuttering a quick, "Thank you, Sir."
"I'll leave you in charge of informing your Squadron members of their assignment. Don't be afraid to pull rank with them if they get objective. I know how the Hitachiins can get. Also, the Narian royal family will most likely bring their own guards as well. Girplush, Pait, and Muttpitt too. Try not to get into any conflicts with them."
She nodded sharply once. He waved his hand in dismissal. "More instructions to follow the next day or two, Marioka."
–
Kyoya had also forgotten about The Exodus Festival. Which, were his father awake, he probably would have gotten quite a lecture. Yuki had been the one to mention it. She was excited because she got to go to Kira for the first time, being part of the Narian royal family. He had fought the urge to ruin her utter joy by telling her that it wouldn't really be that much fun at all.
Yuiichi was still mourning for his wife. He found Yuki being pushed into his bedroom more often than not so he could watch after her while his brother went God-only-knew where. The youngest Ohtori seriously thought that his eldest brother was going to end up staying at the palace while he and Yuki went to Kira for the Festival.
"Is Auntie Haru coming with us Uncle Kyo?" Yuki asked innocently while she played with some of her dolls on his bedroom floor.
He hesitated for moment at the mention of Haruhi, his niece's adopted aunt. "I don't think so, Yuki," he murmured, peering at her from his seat at his bedroom desk. Then he rethought that statement since she could very well be there since her Father was part of the Kiran royal court. "She might decide to go on her own, but she isn't coming with us."
The 5-year-old Princess looked sad. Kyoya sighed, wondering where the hell his brother always went off to when he left his daughter there. "Do you want to go visit Uncle Aki?" he asked her.
A thoughtful look took over her features as she thought about it, then she nodded vigorously. He stood while she jumped up and raced out the door, only to run into her father. "Hi Daddy!" she exclaimed.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" the 32-year-old asked, placing his hands under her arms and lifting her up onto his hip.
"To visit Uncle Aki!"
"Ahh. Well, he'll be incredibly happy to see your shining face."
Yuki beamed at her dad then glanced at her Uncle. "Can we go see Grandpa too, Uncle Kyo?"
The two brothers glanced at each other, not sure if it was a good idea to let the 5-year-old see their comatose father. Carefully, Yuiichi replied, "Yes… You can. Just don't wake him up while you're there, alright sweetie? He needs his rest." She nodded eagerly and hopped down out of her father's arms, grabbing her uncle's hand and pulling him excitedly toward Akito's bedroom.
He was sitting up in bed, looking at the ceiling, when they entered. He was definitely bored. Had he been able to move his legs he probably would have been stumbling around somewhere just to do something. Kyoya smirked. "Bored, Akito?" The elder looked up quickly. "You've got a visitor." He tugged Yuki's hand so she could come and stand in front of him.
"Uncle Aki!" she cried, running over and climbing up on his bed to hug him. Akito smiled a bit, despite the slight pain that shot through his arm when he pulled his niece to him. Kyoya watched from the door while the two talked, still smirking to himself.
Yuki could make anyone smile.
"Will you be well enough in 3 days to travel to Kira with us?" he called.
His brother looked over. "Hopefully. Being stuck in this damn place is boring as hell. Perhaps a wheelchair of some sort will allow me to go."
"I want you to come too, Uncle Aki!" Yuki exclaimed, squeezing him even tighter. "It'll be my first time in Kira! I want you to be there with me! Grandpa too!"
Kyoya cut in quickly. "I don't think Grandpa will be ready to travel in 3 days, Yuki," he said softly. Her expression faltered for a moment, her head tilting to the side slightly in confusion. He could tell that the gears were turning in her head trying to figure out why her Grandpa wasn't healing like her Uncle Aki.
Then a light bulb seemed to go off over her head and her expression darkened. "Grandpa's… not doing well is he?"
He sighed and walked over to sit on the edge of Akito's bed, glancing at his brother on the way. "No, Yuki. He isn't," he murmured.
If possible, her expression darkened even more with sadness. "He's going to die isn't he?" Her lower-lip quivered, shoulders shuddering with the effort of trying to hold back her tears and be a big girl.
"Not necessarily," Akito said quickly. "He's sleeping right now. There's a chance that he'll wake up soon but not now."
"Yuki, you know that Grandpa's too strong to die and leave you," Kyoya murmured, hoping against all hopes that he wasn't lying to his niece as he spoke. Yuki wasn't one to hate people but if you lied to her about anything she could hold a mean grudge. It would seem like she hated you for the longest time until she got over it.
Her shoulders still shook, lips quivering. Kyoya and Akito both sighed under their breaths simultaneously, glancing at each other. "I'll go see if we can get you a wheelchair," the younger muttered, leaving his niece in the care of his paralyzed brother for awhile.
–
Kyoya stood back while Yuki lay next to her grandfather, her little arm wrapped around him as far as it could reach. She was completely silent, just keeping her face buried in his shoulder. "If you talk he can hear you," he said quietly, striding over next to the bed.
The small girl just shook her head and sobbed a little. "Grandpa c-can't die. Not like Mommy and-and Auntie Chi."
He laid a hand on his niece's back and stroked awkwardly. He really wasn't very good with the entire comforting thing. Even if she was only 5 and only really needed to be held and reassured that everything would be fine. "We won't let him die, Yuki."
Maybe Akito's agreement to go with them would help cheer her up. He half-wondered if Kira even knew that he was the Narian King at the moment or that his father was in a coma while one brother was paralyzed and the other emotionally unstable.
Yuki continued to sob over her grandfather with Kyoya stroking her back gently. He felt his heart twist slightly. This small little girl had been through so much between watching her mother die and losing an aunt and possibly her grandfather in the process. He let her cry for a bit longer then tugged her gently away, holding her close as he carried her out of the room.
5 days until the festival. 3 days until they left. 14 days until they'd be home again.
–
Namahi wanted to crawl into a hole and die as she and her squadron of 4 sat on horseback at the Narian-Kiran border, watching the carriage that concealed the Narian royal family come closer and closer. Her stomach was practically turning itself inside out with nerves. Yuki and Akito – if he came – could possibly recognize her as someone that she wasn't while in Kira.
She hated all the secrets. And the lies.
Yet she couldn't help feeling content knowing that she'd been assigned this job where she could keep an eye on where they all were so she could avoid them if necessary. The carriage finally came to a stop beside them. Kyoya's head poked out the carriage window as she approached. "We're supposed to accompany you to the palace, Your Highness," she murmured, forcing herself to be polite and act like she didn't know he was King.
The Narian King smirked a bit and muttered, "It would be like Kira to send a squadron to look after us. They would suspect us of breaking the peace of the festival. Nonetheless, we will be doing no such thing."
Namahi tilted her head in a gesture of politeness. "I was merely following orders, Your Highness."
"As I guessed, Corporal...?"
"Corporal Namahi Marioka."
"Lead the way, Corporal Marioka."
The two of them shared a look that told her all she needed to know. He would protect her as long as she did as much as she could to protect herself. She steered her horse toward the front of the carriage, pointing Hikaru and Kaoru on either side while Mori and Hunny took the back.
"He's the soldier that healed the King and took down the barrier," Akito growled under his breath, having recognized the name. Kyoya resisted the urge to snort while Yuiichi glared at him. Yuki practically bounced in her seat the whole way there chanting, "I'm in Kira! I'm in Kira!"
–
They arrived just in time for the opening banquet that night. All Namahi really wanted to do was go home and go to sleep but she knew that wouldn't be an option for at least another few hours. Sometimes she really hated that her father was part of the royal court. It dragged her into even more duties than she normally would have been obligated to do.
She could even feel a headache coming on as she took her seat next to her father and across from Kyoya, removing her military cap. Her hair was tied back anyway so the chances of Akito – who she had been surprised to see in a wheelchair regardless of what Kyoya had told her of his condition previously – or Yuki recognizing her were minimized slightly.
She sighed a bit under her breath and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Namahi," her father asked softly, leaning over, "Are you alright?"
She nodded, smiling slightly at his concern and muttered back, "I'm fine, Dad. Just a slight headache." Hikaru and Kaoru both sat between their parents on her right, glancing at her occasionally. There was an awkward silence while wine glasses were filled by servants.
She felt Akito's hateful stare the entire time and wanted to sink into a hole somewhere for the next week that the four of them would be there. Fuyumi and her husband sat next to Kyoya, Fuyumi looking at her curiously then at her youngest brother, but making no comment.
'She knows,' a voice told her in the back of her head.
"Yuiichi," Yuzuru addressed the oldest Ohtori sibling, who glanced up. "I've noticed that your father is absent. Your wife and Akito's as well." Kyoya's eyes looked at his eldest brother while Yuiichi's closed to hold in the pain.
Kyoya answered for him, albeit stiffly, "Father's... Unable to come. He's in a coma actually." Namahi quickly noted that Yuki's eyes downcast toward her plate at the mention of her grandfather's current state. Her heart twisted. "As for Mayuri and Sachi, they both passed on about 2 weeks ago."
Akito's glare intensified on her. Her headache increased.
"Which of you is acting as King then?" Tamaki piped up, almost instantly regretting it as Kyoya shot him a cold stare.
Yuzuru also gave his son a stern look before murmuring, "My condolences to both of you." He nodded his head at the two oldest Narian Princes, taking a sip of his wine.
"I am acting as King at the moment," Kyoya spoke quietly. "You may have noticed that Akito's paralyzed from the waist down and Yuiichi doesn't want to make any rash decisions because of his wife's death."
"The youngest. Interesting. I always told Yoshio when you were little that you'd be an amazing son."
Kyoya remembered the conversations he'd overheard between his father and King Yuzuru. Before the war had started when he'd been no older than 8. Before his mother had died. He could remember Yuzuru mentioning how much he'd grown and how intelligent he was even at that age. "Age has nothing to do with ability to rule," he grunted. Namahi felt Tamaki's eyes looking at her like they were saying 'I told you so.'
–
"Hikaru, Kaoru, monitor Prince Yuiichi and his daughter. Hunny, Mori, Princess Fuyumi and Prince Akito. Fuyumi may be Paitet but she still falls under our jurisdiction since she's Narian by blood." Hikaru, having cooled off quite a bit still glared at her occasionally when given orders.
"And you'll take King Kyoya?" Hunny interjected softly, gazing at her. She nodded, swallowing a bit.
"He knows me. Even if I did try to kill him. I know most of his habits and personality. It'll be easiest for me to watch him than any of you," she muttered, saluting and sending them off. They obeyed silently. "And don't get into any fights with the Narian guard!" she called after them.
"You know, giving orders right outside the Narian King's bedroom isn't the best idea," a dry voice spoke from behind her. She spun around so fast that she almost fell over, half-drawing her sword from her belt.
"It's not the best idea to startle an on-duty, armed, enemy solider either," she retorted, giving Kyoya an exasperated look. "We shouldn't be speaking in the hall of all places either," she added softly, looking down the hall where Tamaki's bedroom lay only down the stairs.
He shrugged and motioned her inside his room. "You look... well," he grumbled sarcastically.
She snorted. "I only spent a week in bed with a high fever and infection. My best friend only found out that I'm a girl while I was sick. And I'm only trying to hide multiple identities from over half the people that were sitting at that damn table."
"Tamaki knows you're a girl?"
"Yes, unfortunately. And that idiot isn't as controlled as to not flatter me every chance he gets just because I'm female either." She licked her lips a bit drily, laughing a little at the irony. "And here I thought I'd get away from those cursed chest pains."
He crossed his arms over his chest and muttered, "I assume your team knows your situation?"
"Yes. All four of them know that I'm female and that I trust you. Only Kaoru knows that I've been giving you information though."
His sister, of course, chose that exact moment to barge in the door. "Utleli Uherbro!" Kyoya brought a hand to his face, pinching the bridge of his nose while Haruhi just stood there. "Oh! Haruhi! Great to see you again!" She didn't seem phased by the fact that she was wearing a Kiran military uniform, confirming Haruhi's suspicions that she knew. "Yuki will be thrilled to see you as well!"
Kyoya and the brunette shared a look, the male adjusting his glasses on his face before muttering, "It's better if Yuki isn't aware that she's here. And also that Akito isn't informed that she's the same person he previously coerced back home."
Fuyumi frowned. "What about Hbi Uherbro?"
"He's... already aware. And though he doesn't agree with my choice to spare her– " Haruhi flinched at his word choice, "–he has decided to let me have full rein on any punishments pertaining to her actions."
"Ah." A brief moment of silence followed, since the full impact of the situation seemed to push itself down on the 28-year-old. "Oh... So... She's actually Kiran. Not a spy. Oh."
"I'm neutral on the war. If that makes any sense in your judgment," the brunette interjected quickly.
Kyoya rolled his eyes while Fuyumi gave a fast reply of, "Oh no. I don't think any less of you because of it. I trust Utleli Uherbro's decisions anyway." A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face while She scratched the back of her head. "I'm just worried about what Uherfa would say if he knew."
"He doesn't and won't know," the 21-year-old murmured. "Which is why it's lucky that he's still in a coma. Akito's intelligence isn't quite to par with Father's. He didn't recognize her while there's a 90 percent chance that Father would have."
Frankly, she was just glad that he hadn't recognized her as the Moradian Princess since she did look remarkably like her mother. Of course she didn't say this out loud since she was sure that Kyoya's sister didn't know who she was. "Well," she muttered, "Suppose I should check in with my team before heading home. Dad's probably beside himself with excitement for tomorrow."
She headed for the door only to be stopped by a hand on her wrist. She looked down at it then and Kyoya's face. "Haruhi," he addressed softly, "It would be wise to keep your hair tied back. I think that's what makes it harder to recognize you." She swallowed back the knot that was forming in her throat and nodded, uttering a quiet thanks as she left the two siblings to their conversation.
–
A/N: Braces. Suck. Ass. That is all. If you can avoid them… FOR GOD'S SAKE DO IT.
Ohhhh Yuki makes me smile to write. And she's just so lovable. Don't you think? I love Fuyumi too.
Just an FYI. The Exodus Festival is a week long. Because I like my time increments to be even and not random amounts of days. You'll see all the events (There's 5. A lot like a medieval olympics. This was the opening banquet. There will be a closing one too.) Girplush and Muttpitt are lesser countries who's royal families will be shown soon enough. Witchland is – obviously – The Witch's land. You'll see a bit of her. The Kiran royal court is the only court there because they're the hosting country. Other royal courts aren't obligated to attend.
I've found that I need to take frequent writing breaks just to get through my homework. It keeps my brain from going into information overload. My mom doesn't understand though and yells at me whenever she sees me on the computer. FML.
Kudos to: Enigmaticrose4, ItaSaku29, Mrs. Ootori43ver, Mikame15, JUCHKO, Jengurl24, just a reviewer, Twilightrewriter, sadevotchka, The Phantom Devil, and XxNightShroudxX. Oh and Koharu Veddette for being my lovely editor~