the king of etherin (part 3)

[krystalkatzfics]

Title: The King of Etherin

Author: krystalkatz

Rating: G

Length: Chaptered

Genre: Historical Au, Romance,

Pairings: Ohno Satoshi/Ninomiya Kazunari, Ikuta Toma/Yamashita Tomohisa

Disclaimer: I only own the plot

Nino’s pen moved furiously over his notepad, although they all knew what he was going to ask they waited until he had finished

>When can we go back?<

“I would suggest we spend the night here but I can’t picture his majesty sitting still for that long” Toma teased and Nino grinned with a nod.

“Well then, we should have food and change the horses at least before we head back” Matsu mumbled and Nino’s face was almost enough to eclipse the sun. Nino could hardly sit still as they ate and fresh horses were prepared. He was impatient to be off though he was aware that Toma and Yamapi had left at some point. They returned just as the groom announced that the carriage was ready. Yamapi’s merger belongings were placed with Nino’s and soon they were racing through the countryside again, the king silently praying that they wouldn’t miss each other again.

Yuuki and his family had set up their stall in the market and told him that they would be there for at least three days and if his friends were unable to help there was always room for him in their caravan.

Ohno stared at the castle wondering if he was mad for even being there it wasn’t like he could just knock on the door and ask to see the king. He hadn’t even told anybody that he was coming, Yamapi might have told Toma but four years and not one letter had been exchanged between them. Matsu and Toma had visited him from time to time but other than that there was no contact. He had heard gossip about the new king over the years, but most of the stories had come recently from Yuuki, who seemed to be amazingly well informed for a simple tradesman. Yuuki said he was a good king nothing like his father, people were worried though about the tensions with the other kingdoms were causing more than a little worry, more so since Ryuu had become king of Airith a year ago.

Ohno had to force himself not to growl at the mention of Ryuu remembering what he had done to Nino. A man like that had no right to be in charge of people’s lives. The farmer found it disgusting that some people actually thought that he would make a better king than Nino.

“Are you going to the castle?” Yuuki asked him and Ohno shrugged

“I don’t know… Now that I’ve seen it…” he let his voice trail off, wondering why it felt so scary to look at a stone building. Yuuki gave a nod though the farmers fear reflected in his gentle eyes

“It looks scary, ne?” He said motioning to the big black castle that over shadowed the town. It was very imposing and Ohno found it hard to believe that Nino had been brought up in such a place. “The old kings father made it look like that… And then Nino’s father kept it…But it’s just a building… You’re friends are inside ne?”

“I hope so…”

“Well… You won’t find out standing around here...As I’ve said if things don’t turn out the way you planned there’s a place for you here…”

“You’ve been very kind, thank-you for everything you’ve done... I know I don’t deserve…” Yuuki held up his hand, stopping him quickly in the middle of his little speech,

“Lad, I’ve told you them scars don’t mean nothing… The gods don’t make mistakes as they say… But people do… And I reckon those that gave you them scars made a mistake… The one you love… They’re up there in that castle, ne?”

“I… Yes”

“Then lad... I think they’d be happy to see you…You shouldn’t keep them waiting…” Yuuki smiled almost pushing him in the direction of the castle “Go before I send one of my boys with you…”

Ohno gave a laugh and very slowly made his way up the hill, marvelling at the numerous moats and draw bridges that had been cut into the earth, the castle seemed almost impossible to penetrate from the outside and the closer he got the more he realised that the castle was another mini-town and it appeared that if sieged the occupants would be able to survive for many months if not a year on just the supplies inside. When he finally arrived at the central part of the castle he looked around feeling even more lost than he had before.

“May I help you sir?” The footman said looking him over with a raised eye brow, as if he was something unpleasant.

“I-I… Um…”

“Tradesmen are to use the servant’s entrance at the back…” the manservant said as impolitely as possible and Ohno gave a quick nod and walked over the crunchy gravel path until he found a smaller door that was open to a bright white passage way, there was nobody about so Ohno nervously walked down it and found himself in an amazing smelling kitchen, there were two amply proportioned women, a younger prettier one and a few maids hurrying around none of them seemed to notice him until what looked like an upstairs maid called out to him

“Is there something, you need sir?” she said, in an accent that sounded a lot like Kana, he felt his heart relax at once,

“I’m looking for Ikuta Toma… The knight”

“If you’re looking for a knight you’re in the wrong place, love” One of the older ladies said with a cheerful smile,

“The knight Toma isn’t in the castle”

“He isn’t?”

“No, he left with the king three mornings ago”

“Nino… The king isn’t here either?” He whispered not knowing what to do now, there was never much of a plan in the first place. Nino was the ruler of the entire country of course he would be busy. “Do you know when they’ll be back?”

“The King went to visit his friend in the country…”

“The country?” Ohno asked wondering if it was possible that they had missed each other.

“Yes, Matsumoto Jun, he was away in the south and the king went to meet him…I’m Maggie” She said with a friendly smile “I’m the main cook here”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Ohno Satoshi” He said quickly dropping his head with a bow,

“So you’re a friend of our cheeky Toma’s?”

“Sort of yes” He nodded and Maggie gave him another bright smile

“Would you like a drink? I’ll send a boy to fetch, Yori… Maybe he’ll be able to help…”

“Yes please and thank-you very much” Ohno said happy that at least Yori was still here. He was ushered into a chair and given a large mug of beer

To say the knight was surprised when he received the message was an understatement, he immediately stopped what he was doing and ran to the kitchens staring at the young farmer.

“Satoshi, this is an unexpected surprise” Yori said as he saw him, “His majesty is away… He is with Matsumoto…” There were a few murmurs when it became obvious that the farmer was here to see the king. Ohno gave a small blush, looking at the stone floor, “I’m sure they’ll return soon though once his majesty… He has missed you a lot” The old knight said and Ohno was aware that the buzzing had gotten louder “You were such a friend to him four years ago…I will arrange a room for you…”

“Ah… It’s okay… I’m staying with some traders in town… Aiba Yuuki…”

“Aiba?” Yori said and Ohno wasn’t as surprised as he should be by the fact that the Knight knew his travelling companion “I see then perhaps you should tell them to bring themselves to the castle…”

“I will…” The farmer nodded slowly, getting to his feet. The buzz in the kitchen was becoming more than he could bear and after thanking Maggie he left the kitchen, not knowing what to do. There hadn’t been much of a plan in the first place, as he came out his breath caught as he saw the view, the clouds had lifted revealing rolling hills valleys, streams and rivers.

Nino ruled everything as far as he could see and he was a nothing, he didn’t even have the farm anymore the land it stood on belonged to the Matsumoto’s. With the death of his grandma the lease had been dissolved and he had nothing, he was wrong to come here, he knew that, the reports along the road had told him that the kingdom was preparing for war the last thing that Nino needed was him to come in and complicate things.

He heard the sound of horses and then a carriage, he walked slowly towards the noise he didn’t dream that it would be the kings carriage, they had left the castle only three mornings ago, for him to return now they would have had to travelled at night without stopping he had taken five days to get here. His mouth fell open as he saw the carriage, it was defiantly the royal carriage the same one that Yori and Nino had used four years ago, the footman moved forward but he was too late and the door opened and a man stepped out. It was Nino he looked just the same as before, a little older but the same. Without thinking he stepped forwards the crunching of the gravel causing the king to turn his mouth falling open,

>Ohno?< Nino mouthed blinking wildly to make sure he wasn’t dreaming Ohno gave a loud sigh of relief to see that he still remembered him. The expression on Nino’s face was a mixture of tears and happiness and as silently as ever he reached out his hands to him. Ohno moved forwards as if propelled by some unseen force and pulled Nino to him forgetting that his was covered in dust, mud and sweat, and that the footman was still watching his mouth and eyes wide. His heart thumped as he felt his Nino sigh, his breath tickling softly against his neck. It was if the four years that had separated them hadn’t happened and all Ohno could think to say was

“Welcome home”

TBC

A/N: I think I’m getting sick >.< I hope not, that’s the last thing I need I have two stupid meetings this week… Anyway our heroes are reunited xD I hope that you enjoy ^.^