This is the second chapter. It's quite long but I personally think that I like this chapter better than the first one. BTW, this chapter actually took me 4 months to finish. Hehehe... Enjoy reading it.
The next morning, the KsK was having their nice quiet, peaceful breakfast.... but then again, maybe not all that quiet and peaceful...
"TAMAGOYAKI MEGURU,DOBE!" Saykoji shouted out trying to get back his last piece of omelet from across the table which is at the tip of Kaizu's chopsticks.
"Like i would, teme." Then Kaizu took a big bite and swallow the omelet whole. That was the last time seeing the omelet. Sayko was mad when Kaizu ate his last tamagoyaki, so he snatched Kaizu's piece of sausage and ate it.
"Oy nezumi, that was mine. How dare you eat it?" Kaizu said angrily to Saykoji, pointing her chopsticks at him. Sayko just replied with a tounge which made Kaizu angrier. They were about to fight as usual when they felt Kyoko's if-you-fight-at-breakfast-again-i'm-gonna-throw-both-of-you-out-of-the-house aura, so they stopped.
"Anyway, Sayko, why are you dressed up today? Going somewhere?" Kyoko asked him while drinking her coffee. Sayko ignored Kaizu's comment 'he has a romantic date with Kimie-chan', and answered Kyoko.
"Owh, I have a few things to settle outside. Probably won't be in time for dinner. If I'm really late, you guys should just lock the door." Saykoji said while scratching the back of his head. He can't just tell them that he is going back to the palace, can he?
"Fine, but I advise you Sayko, if you're gonna screw any girl, it's better if you have protec..." before Kaizu could even finished her sentence, Saykoji had already stuff her mouth with Man Pao while mumbling something about how everytime she open her mouth, only obscenity comes out or something like that.
After cleaning up the table and washing the dishes, Saykoji went out of the house and took his Mustang back to the palace. He had to go back and confirmed something he saw yesterday. He knew it was not an illusion.
When he arrived at the palace grounds, Saykoji did not drove in, but he parked his car somewhere near the southern garden and went in through a secret entrance that he had been using while escaping from the palace guards. He went straight to the guards wing ignoring all glares and stares along the way,
"Oy, gaki. What are you doing in the defence department? You're still 10 years too young to join here. Go back to your dear papa and mama." A guard with huge build, stopped his way. Other guards were laughing at the joke this guard has just made. Saykoji, who is known as Kenji in the palace gave that guard a glare.
"I'm looking for Akai. Now move your damn hand and let me through." Kenji just spoke softly. The guard just laughed at him. Other guards just followed.
"Guys, didja heard what this gaki was saying? He said he's looking for Akai-sama. What a joke. Look gaki, Akai-sama doesn't have time to babysit you. Don't you have school to attend or something now, beat it!" The guard shove Kenji away, but the moment the guard puts his hand and Kenji's shoulder, he pushed the guard's hand away like it was contaminated.
"Sawaerunda, kuso jiji. I have more important things to deal with than to hang around with a bunch of annoying baka's." Kenji said as he walked pass the guard. The guard was really angry this time. Never in his life he was made fun of, none the less by an unknown teenager.
"Oy, kuso gaki! Watch your mouth! Don't make me tear up the shitty mouth of yours with my bare hands." The guard called out at Kenji. Kenji stopped walking upon hearing the guard's threat. The guard was satisfied at himself for halting this obnoxious gaki. Kenji glared at the guard.
"Kuso gaki? Tear my mouth? You really have lived life to the fullest haven't you?" Kenji mumbled but enough for the guard to hear him. Right now, Kenji was emitting a very murderous aura that had everyone there shaking their knees. The guard who was threatening him just now was trembling.
Before Kenji could move a step to attack those darn guards, he felt his forehead being pulled to the back. It was Akai who had stopped him. The guards all fell on the floor relieved that they were saved by their master. Akai pushed Kenji behind his back. And took a grip at the chain that was hanging out of Kenji's pockets.
"Even if you all train 7 days, 7 nights without eating and sleeping, the possibilities that all of you will win against koitsu is ZERO." Akai said while walking down the hall, pulling Kenji with him by his shoulder. After a few steps, Akai turned back around to face the frightened guards.
"Ah, and don't think I'm doing this for your sake. I just don't want his hands to be covered by worthless bloodspill." Akai said sarcasticly to the guards and continue walking down the hall.
While walking, Akai just stared at Kenji from head to toe. Although he has changed a lot in the past five years, but somehow, Akai felt that Kenji's ability has not reduce at all. Not only that, Kenji was also almost as tall as him now and how matured he looks. Kenji felt strange with Akai kept staring at him, but not wanting to defy his instructor he kept silent all the way. Once, they were inside Akai's office, Akai sat on his chair while Kenji just stand at the closed door.
"Shisashiburi da ne, Kotaishi-sama?" Akai said to Kenji, still staring at him from head to toe, not believing that Kenji is actually standing in front of him right now. If only he wasn't the head assassin and castle guard, he would really hugged Kenji tightly right now.
"Hai, shishou, demo when you keep staring at me like that, it's kinda kimochi warui." Kenji told Akai straight-forwardly making Akai grinned. Kenji was getting more couragous by the years. Before this, Kenji would hardly even answer, talking back was not even in question.
"Gomen, it's just that it has been a long time since I last saw you. Its like you are no longer the Kenji that I train the previous years. Have a seat. I know you have something to ask me." Akai offered Kenji a seat in front of him. Then he saw through the door's glass window, there were a few men stealing glances at his office, probably wondering what would a young teenager like Kenji be doing in his office. But the moment these men's eyes meet Akai's, they would quickly turn away.
'"Then, I'll be straight to the point, shishou. What are you planning?" Kenji asked out in a stern voice which made Akai a bit shocked at his statement. Seriously, although Kenji seemed like he was slacking off, but truly he was still as sharp as ever. But Akai made a look like he didn't know anything.
"What are you talking about, Kotaishi-sama? I don't really get you here. You know i just got back from a mission. How could I be planning anything?" Akai asked Kenji back, which made Kenji made a familiar look. The look he had on was one of the looks which looks as if he was emotionless but it was actually a questioning look.
"You don't actually plan to make me or any of my friends as bait, do you?" Kenji asked back in a sarcastic voice which was new to Akai. Akai tried to hold back his laughter. Seriously, in his heart he likes this Kenji more than the older one. The old Kenji only obeys command and never spoke his heart put which was totally boring. Maybe staying outside the palace grounds has brought the better out of Kenji.
"Kotaishi-sama, you know I would never lay a hand on your friends or intending to use them as baits." Kenji's eyes twitched the moment he heard Akai spoke out 'Kotaishi' for the third time since the conversation started, which means crown prince. "But however, I could not say the same for you as I've used you numerous times before." Akai heard Kenji mumbled out 'how could I forget?' under his breath and he chuckled. Upon hearing the suppressed laughter from the man in front of him, Kenji's eyes were locked onto Akai's.
"Anything humoring you, shishou?" Kenji asked while an eyebrow shot up in question. Akai shook his head. He gradually got up on his feet and walked up to Kenji, taking the boy's face in his hands and looking him in the eyes. Hazel eyes were entwined with dark
"When I was on the mission, I never thought that it would last for 5 whole years. And during those years, the only thing that kept occurring in my mind was you. It did irritate me once in a while but it won't go away." Now Akai leans closer having his forehead touching the young prince's. Kenji tried to jerk his head away but it was firmly held by Akai's hands. "During those times, I kept wondering how you were and how was your training without me, but you running away from the palace never crossed my mind." Akai said with his eyes closed. Then the
"Why?" That was the only word that Kenji heard coming out from Akai as he held Kenji's face in his hands. Kenji tried to push the hands away but no avail. Akai's grip was too strong but gentle at the same time. It was like a father's touch that he once felt…
Akai gaze grew stern and impatient as he waited for Kenji to answer him but all that came out from the dark haired prince was nothingness. He let go of Kenji's face and returned to his seat. Kenji just stared at his tutor. Akai let out a sigh. Although he may seem different from the outside but he was still the same inside. Unwilling to share or put his trust on others. Kenji was the type that would suffer in silence without anyone helping him.
"Get out, Kenji." Those were the words that came out from Akai's mouth. Immediately, Kenji wanted to protest but he knew that by doing that would make Akai upset and after what happened when he was 9, he swore to himself never to make Akai upset again, or at least he swore not to be there when Akai is upset. So, the prince stood up from the chair and head towards the door. Before going out, he made one final glance at Akai only to have Akai facing the window not looking at him. Kenji exited the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside Akai's office, then heard the stuff on the table being pushed of by one swing of an arm causing them to crash on the floor. He even heard the sound of glass breaking, probably a vase was thrown by Akai. Ever since Kenji was small, Akai had always tried to make Kenji opening up to him, from the gentlest of ways like the previous one, to the cruelest way known to humankind. But ever since he was 5, he kept jar inside of him labeled 'feelings' shut tight. 'Nothing will go out and nothing will ever come in.' Kenji thought to himself, gripping tightly at his chest. Then he walked off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kaizu was about to lock the front gates when he noticed a familiar black car parked up their driveway. A tall man stepped out of the car. Kaizu grinned. Her favorite 'play toy' has returned home. Kaizu ran up to Sayko and hugged him tightly causing him to choke.
"Welcome home, nezumi. Had a fun time away from here?" Kaizu asked while watching the boy locking the front gates. The boy just shrugged and smirked. Damn. If other girls beside Kaizu or Kyoko saw that smirk, they would probably kneel in front of him and begged him to marry them or make them his, there and then.
"Seriously, Sayko, I think you should go back to kindergarten. I told you before that 'hn' is not a correct respond. You need larger vocabulary, teme." Kaizu said to Saykoji while knocking him on the head. During the 4 years of staying there, Kenji has developed a bond between Kaizu and Kyoko, but the bond with Kaizu is stronger as they fought and joke more. Fighting with Kyoko would only cause them their lives.
"Only you think so, dobe. And your opinion is never considered. Besides, I'm hungry. What did my Mother of Terror brewed tonight? Anything, up to this point, is considered edible." Saykoji spoke out while holding his grumbling stomach. He and Kaizu both laughed out. Suddenly, their laughter died down as they saw a black silhouette at the front door. It was the Mother of Terror herself.
"Well, idiots. If you have done talking behind other people's back, there is still some leftovers from the takeout just now, and 'this' Mother of Terror shall brew some hot potion called 'tea' for both her stupid minion, and her hungry and stupid companion." Kyoko snorted out while leaning to the door frame. Actually, deep inside, she was glad that Saykoji had returned home for the night without any casualties nor any injuries. The phone called she received this afternoon made her worried.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was two in the afternoon. Kyoko had returned home from her weekly grocery shopping. Kaizu was sleeping on the couch as usual when Saykoji isn't home. 'Man, she gets bored easily.' Kyoko thought to herself. As soon as she finish putting the groceries away, the phone starts to ring. Glancing at the sleeping kitsune, Kyoko picked up the phone.
"Moshi-moshi. KsK residence." Kyoko answered.
"Kyoko-nechan, is Onni-sama home? Please put him on the line." It was Akira. She had panic tone in her voice but it is almost as she was whispering.
"Sorry Akira, Sayko went out this morning as soon as after breakfast. He said he might be home late. Probably out on another date with…" before Kyoko can finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Akira's mumbling.
"Ne, chibi, is anything wrong? Did Sayko do anything to you? Do you want me to relay him a message, or a punch?" Kyoko too, was sounding a little panic but still remain her composure. The tone of her voice woke Kaizu, who was sleeping nearby.
"No, it's nothing. You see, just now I heard some rumors from the maids that they saw Onni-sama here. So, it's true then." Akira explained, still whispering. Kaizu who is now leaning closer to the phone, trying to pick up what Akira was saying. Kyoko nodded.
"Honestly, I'm worried about Onni-sama. I don't know how hurt he will be this time, ne-chan. Last night, I had a conversation with Otto-sama about him and I said some things I should not have. I afraid that he will be hurt. I don't want to see him hurt, ne-chan." Akira sobbed out. Seems like she was crying. Kyoko had no idea what Saykoji's father is like but from the way Akira or Sayko himself describes him, he sounds awfully like a terrifying guy.
"Don't worry about Sayko, okay?" Kaizu took the phone from Kyoko's hand. "He'll be fine. He is your brother, right? That nezumi won't die from a few cuts and bruises, so cheer up, chibi." Kaizu can almost see the smile and Akira's nodding head as she wipe away her tears. Sobs were no longer heard from the girl.
"Look Akira, he'll be back tonight, probably hungry. So, I'll brew him some tea and knock his socks off for making you worry, okay?" Kyoko said, taking back the phone from Kaizu. 'Hai!' Akira answered before ending the call with a soft click. Kyoko put the phone back softly on the side table as she looked at Kaizu returning to the sofa, probably wanting to continue her disturbed nap. 'That was…. odd…' Kyoko thought to herself before shrugging it off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After tea and few conversations with Kaizu and Kyoko, Sayko locked himself inside his room. He remembered the talk he had with Akai earlier today. Why was Akai so determined for him to open up? Sayko got up, taking his shirt off and toss it into the dustbin, remembering that it has been contaminated by the guard's filthy hands. He headed to the connected shower of his room. Sayko had his eyes on his reflection in the mirror. His hands were stroking the place where Akai held his face firm. Although not really visible, but there are still marks forming on his cheeks, showing how hard Akai was holding him. 'Shit!' Sayko mentally cursed and punched the mirror in front of him, breaking it to a million pieces.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SASUNARU
Idol pairing
AKAME
1827@HibaTsuna
