The King of Etherin (part 2)

[krystalkatzfics]

Title: The King of Etherin

Author: krystalkatz

Rating: G

Length: Chaptered

Genre: Historical Au, Romance,

Pairings: Ohno Satoshi/Ninomiya Kazunari

Disclaimer: I only own the plot

Previous part:

Ohno sighed happily as he soaked in the stream, he had to be careful to keep his shirt on to hide the marks on his back but it felt good to wash some of the grime and mud away. He had been traveling with the Aiba’s for three days and he found that he rather liked them. Yuuki was a man that seemed to have a heart as warm as the sun, he didn’t have much but what he had he shared with a smile, his sons was just as giving and from Masaki he learnt a lot of cute stories about him and Nino when the silent prince was a tiny boy. Ren was a lovely woman, though she seemed to be firmer than her gentle husband.

Humming lightly to himself Ohno climbed out of the stream, looking around hesitantly before pulling off his shirt and pulling on a clean one. He thought that he had gotten away with it, until much later that night when people were getting into bed. He had stayed up with Yuuki and was just about to turn in when there was a ruckus.

“You should no longer travel with him” A burly man said storming over to the tradesman’s caravan pointing wildly at Ohno, Yuuki turned to look at him but Ohno realised what it meant

“You saw my scars” he whispered, wondering how much he had seen and how much he knew about the different scars.

“Yes… Do you not deny that you were punished by the temple for acts against the gods?” The stranger said disgust and contempt ringing with each word.

“I cannot deny that that I was punished” Ohno admitted hanging his head praying that Yusuke and Masaki were asleep, they had been sharing a bed they did not need to know that he was an unnatural beast. He hoped Yuuki would tell them something different when they realised that he wasn’t with them tomorrow.

“Forgive me sir, but what right do you have to say who I should not travel with?” Yuuki asked slowly, with none of his normal sing song brightness. He was a tall man not very wide but thin well trained muscles could be seen through his shirt and when he stepped forwards the burly man took a step back

“I thought only for the safety of your children…” He gasped

“Oh is that right? The safety of my children, well I am grateful that you care for the safety of my children but the lad has travelled with us for many miles and I have not once felt the safety of my children was at risk, I don’t know that acts that caused the temples to mark, the lad nor do you…”

“He has lain with another of his own sex” The burly man said and Ohno froze there was no way even someone as amazingly friendly as Yuuki was, would understand that act.

“Is this true?” Yuuki asked in a soft voice looking at him.

“Y-yes” Ohno answered in a small voice

“Did you force yourself on him? Was he only a child that didn’t understand…?”

“No!” Ohno snapped hotly repulsed by the idea, memories of Nino, silently moaning with happiness circling his mind “I love him and he loves me”

“I see, in the same way that I love my wife?” Yuuki gave a half smile and Ohno tried to understand what was going on, this wasn’t the normal questions he was asked when he was found out.

“I guess…”

“Then I don’t see how my children will be at risk…” Yuuki said looking over at his sons, Ohno followed his gaze and saw that Masaki was awake and looking at them. He wasn’t much younger than him about the same age as Nino so he wasn’t a child he could understand what was being said, but like his father there was no hate in his face and Ohno was positive that he gave a flash of a smile

“He will corrupt them”

“I may be a simple tradesman, and it is true that I do not understand why one man may turn to another man for love or… Other things, but as long as it’s two consenting parties I don’t see what business it is what goes on behind closed doors…As for corrupting and the like… He is no plague nor carries no sickness, he cannot corrupt” Yuuki said turning away from the burly simpleton now he rested his fatherly hand on Ohno’s shoulder, “Take no notice of his words, you’re free to stay with us until we arrive at the capitol…”

“I-I didn’t think you were going that far…”

“Yes, well I want to see that you arrive in one piece to see your friends again and I’m sure we would get more business in the main town anyway, maybe your friends would buy some of our goods”

“T-thank-you” Ohno whispered emotions choking his voice, never would he have expected someone to defend him in that way

“Don’t mention it” Yuuki mumbled watching the man storm away muttering to himself.

“I’ll sleep out here…” Ohno offered still unsure how to act, his whole village had turned against him when they had learnt the truth but an almost stranger had defended him.

“Nonsense… You’ll freeze… You shall sleep where you’ve been sleeping…”

“I wouldn’t want any of you to feel uncomfortable…”

“Nonsense, I like women, that doesn’t mean I’m going to force myself on any girl I happen to cast my eye on… I’m thinking it is the same for you lad… And my boys don’t mind sharing do you lads?”

“No…He doesn’t snore like Yusuke does”

“I don’t snore! You snore! But its warmer with him…” Yusuke bit back sleepily and Masaki held up the blanket for him. Ohno tried to ignore the emotions building inside of him but he couldn’t help the happy tears forming in his eyes.

The rest of the trip was uneventful and they reached the capital city just as the sky was going dark, Ohno saw the black outline of the castle and gulped, wondering if he was really going to have the courage to go there.

Nino was silently buzzing with excitement, his eyes continuously looking out of the window hoping and praying that he would reach Rain Farm soon. Sakurai was sitting across from looking mildly disapproving but he had reluctantly accepted that the king needed this. These four years had been hard, those loyal to the old king had resisted the changes his ‘weak’ son was doing. Most weren’t quiet about it either and had tried… Were still trying to gain support to hand the country to Nino’s cousin. The common folk loved their king though, stating he was firm but fair and so far none of them had acted against him.

The carriage rolled into Rain farm and almost before it had stopped Nino was trying to open the door and get out. When it came to a complete stop he threw it open and without realising anything was wrong he ran to the little door and knocked loudly, wishing that he shout or something. When there was no answer he really started pay attention and a nervous sickly knot formed in his chest.

“There’s nobody here, Nino” Toma told him, coming back from the barns “No livestock no nothing…”

>Did Yamashita mention anything?< Nino wrote quickly, ignoring the sickness that was in his heart. He doubted if the healer and knight spoke of them in their messages but there was a chance.

“He… A few months ago he told me that Kana was sick… Very sick, they’d had to get rid of most of the animals to pay for her medicines…”

>Why didn’t you tell me?< Nino asked his hand trembling as it moved over the paper

“Ohno, he asked us not to tell you, he didn’t want you to worry…”

>He didn’t want me to interfere< Nino wrote looking around the deserted farm finding it hard to believe that this was the same place from his memories. The same place he had had so much fun, and had felt so loved and safe.

“Your majesty, maybe we should go to Matsumoto hall?” Sakurai suggested and Nino nodded taking one last look at the lifeless cottage before climbing back into the carriage

“I’m going to go see if Yamapi knows what’s going on” Toma said getting on his grey and riding quickly away.

Matsumoto hall wasn’t the ideal place for them to go but his own cottage would be too damp and dusty without a good airing and they had arranged to meet up with Matsu there. His friend was pacing backwards and forwards outside of the large house and Nino was happy to see him even if his heart was breaking that he had missed Ohno.

“Nino” Matsu muttered torn between smiling politely and pulling him into a hug when he saw the heartbroken face of his prince “You went to Rain farm?”

>Yes< Nino wrote slowly >Did you know about it?<

“I knew Kana was sick, but I didn’t know that he was leaving” The knight told him softly. “I only got here myself this morning, I went to visit him but I found it empty…I’m sorry…”

>Its not your fault, Jun, I didn’t even know Kana was sick< The king wrote sadly, thinking about the kindly old woman.  

“Ohno he didn’t want to worry you… That’s all” The knight told him and Nino gave a small nod. He guessed that the farmer wouldn’t have wanted to upset him but he couldn’t help but be upset that Ohno had had to go through losing his beloved grandma alone. As they were making their way into the hall when then they heard the sound of hoof beats pounding towards them. Looking up he saw Toma with Yamapi clinging around his middle.

“Your majesty” Yamapi said as he scrambled down off of the horse “You must have missed each other on the road, Ohno left for the castle a few days ago…”

TBC

A/N: I hope you enjoy ^.^