Handle with care [Chapter 8]
Title: Handle with care
Author: Axraxshi
Pairing: Matsumiya, Sakumiya (supposed to be, but it’s hardly mentioned)
Summary: When Jun conquered the Neen Kingdom, the castle and its lands weren’t the only prize that he received
Disclaimer: Don’t own the boys, just the retarded-ly named kingdoms
[Prologue] [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2][ Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7]
Chapter 8:
“Please don’t leave me,” he whispered, “I need you by my side,”
Even Jun himself was shocked at the fact that he said those words. Those words that made him look weak and pathetic. However, deep down inside he knew it was true. Growing up, he never had a single friend in his life. Nobody wanted to play with him, nobody wanted to be his friend. That was how to decided that if he nobody wanted to befriend him, he’ll just have to make them. He forced the kids in his class, he threatened the servants in the castle… he enslaved Nino.
Nino had been by his side for months now, and he was like a best friend that Jun always dreamed of. Now he only wished that Nino had been by his side willingly instead of being blackmailed into staying. Unable to face Nino knowing that he had said those shameful words in front of him, Jun turned his head away.
He ended up facing the closed window, shut to prevent the chilling night winds from entering. Through the glass, Jun saw a small boy staring right at him, making Jun let go of Nino’s hand in shock. The tiny boy with huge black glasses and crooked teeth never stopped looking at him, his expression as though beckoning him to come closer.
Unsure of why he was listening to that kid, Jun got up from the chair and stumbled his way over to the window. His body automatically placed his right palm against the cool glass, and the boy did the same, their hands separated by the thin windowpane.
“What happened to you?” asked the kid in a soft voice, glancing up at him with watery eyes.
“I grew up!” spat Jun harshly. Nobody was allowed to talk to him like that, not even his younger self.
“No,” the boy said, shaking his head, “You still behave like a child because you’ve never had a childhood. You are so scared of being hurt that you shut everybody out. You use fear to manipulate those around you so that you’ll always be in charge. Most importantly, you hate yourself for letting those around you turn you into something you’re not,”
A tear drop rolled down his cheek, making Jun hate himself for being so weak. He hated that stupid kid for making him look so feeble. What did he did know anyway? Nobody knew what he had to go through! Acting like a proper gentleman at royal meetings when he wanted to misbehave just like any other kid. Being courteous to all his subjects even though they bullied him in school. Having to constantly prove himself to earn his parents’ attention and approval.
Pick one.
Tears were streaking down his pale face as memories from his past flooded his head. His free hand pressed against the temple of head, as though the force from his hand would be enough to suppress the flow. It wasn’t.
“It’s why you like Nino,” continued his younger self, a small smile on his face, “You like him because he was like a friend you never had, even though not by choice, and that he didn’t crumble against your harshness, am I right?”
Unable to resist, Jun stole a glance. Was what his younger self saying true? Did he really like Nino because of his determination? Because Nino didn’t succumb to external pressure unlike him?
“Jun,” the boy addressed him, causing Jun to divert his attention back to him, “You can’t change what happened in the past, but you can control what you do from here onwards,”
Little Jun gave him an encouraging smile, “Do what I…, no, what we think is right,”
Do what we think is right? Stealing another glance at Nino, Jun wanted to ask what his younger self meant, but he had disappeared, knowing that his job was done. Do what we think is right. Somehow, he knew exactly what little Jun meant.
“Thank you,”
*
*
*
He hardly goes down to the dungeon for he has no need to see his prisoners face to face, they were just not worth his time. There was always a messenger who would bring them news about how his kingdom had completely taken over theirs.
This time was special though. He had that same feeling he gets when he goes exploring the castle ground when he was younger, assuring Jun that he was making the right choice. Standing in front of a rotting door, Jun inserted the key which he got from the guard on duty before dismissing him and unlocked the moldy door to reveal two men chained to the wall.
“You!” cried one of them.
“What have you done to my brother?” shouted the other.
Ignoring their shouts, Jun went over and loosened the metal chains that bound their hands and feet. The Neen kingdom prince was able to punch the other prince in the face when he finally registered Jun’s actions.
“What is the meaning of this?” questioned Kazuya, confused at the Pine-tree prince’s change of heart. This brutal man was the one that turned his kingdom into a total mess and held the both of them captive for weeks, but now he’s setting them free? Kazuya didn’t know what to think of it.
“Follow me,” was all Jun said as he exited the dungeon, his two prisoners closely behind. Even though both men were suspicious, they were smart enough to keep their fists to themselves for the time being. After being held captive for so long, they were probably no match for Jun.
The Pine-tree prince brought them to the stables where a carriage was waiting. Glancing at each other, Kazuya and Sho weren’t too sure what to make of the situation. The two men doubted that accepting Jun’s offer would be in their best interest but their doubts vanished in the blink of an eye when the prince opened the carriage door to reveal another passenger inside.
“Kazu-nii!” “Nino!”
Curled up on one of the seats and buried in a mountain of blankets fast asleep was the Neen kingdom’s crown prince. The Neen kingdom citizens wasted no time in rushing to the smallest man’s side, taking him into their protective arms.
“Why are you doing this?” Sho managed to ask.
“There’s enough food and supplies to last your entire journey back to the Neen kingdom,” was all Jun said, “I don’t think anybody would give you any trouble on the way,”
Giving his horse a nod, the loyal animal seemed to have understood its master’s orders and pulled the royal carriage out of the stable away from the castle and eventually away from the Pine-tree kingdom.
The kingdom’s crown prince watched as the purple carriage made it safely through the gates.
“I’m proud of you, Jun,” said a little kid’s voice inside his head.
For the first time in many years, Jun felt like smiling.
Author: Axraxshi
Pairing: Matsumiya, Sakumiya (supposed to be, but it’s hardly mentioned)
Summary: When Jun conquered the Neen Kingdom, the castle and its lands weren’t the only prize that he received
Disclaimer: Don’t own the boys, just the retarded-ly named kingdoms
[Prologue] [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2][ Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7]
Chapter 8:
“Please don’t leave me,” he whispered, “I need you by my side,”
Even Jun himself was shocked at the fact that he said those words. Those words that made him look weak and pathetic. However, deep down inside he knew it was true. Growing up, he never had a single friend in his life. Nobody wanted to play with him, nobody wanted to be his friend. That was how to decided that if he nobody wanted to befriend him, he’ll just have to make them. He forced the kids in his class, he threatened the servants in the castle… he enslaved Nino.
Nino had been by his side for months now, and he was like a best friend that Jun always dreamed of. Now he only wished that Nino had been by his side willingly instead of being blackmailed into staying. Unable to face Nino knowing that he had said those shameful words in front of him, Jun turned his head away.
He ended up facing the closed window, shut to prevent the chilling night winds from entering. Through the glass, Jun saw a small boy staring right at him, making Jun let go of Nino’s hand in shock. The tiny boy with huge black glasses and crooked teeth never stopped looking at him, his expression as though beckoning him to come closer.
Unsure of why he was listening to that kid, Jun got up from the chair and stumbled his way over to the window. His body automatically placed his right palm against the cool glass, and the boy did the same, their hands separated by the thin windowpane.
“What happened to you?” asked the kid in a soft voice, glancing up at him with watery eyes.
“I grew up!” spat Jun harshly. Nobody was allowed to talk to him like that, not even his younger self.
“No,” the boy said, shaking his head, “You still behave like a child because you’ve never had a childhood. You are so scared of being hurt that you shut everybody out. You use fear to manipulate those around you so that you’ll always be in charge. Most importantly, you hate yourself for letting those around you turn you into something you’re not,”
A tear drop rolled down his cheek, making Jun hate himself for being so weak. He hated that stupid kid for making him look so feeble. What did he did know anyway? Nobody knew what he had to go through! Acting like a proper gentleman at royal meetings when he wanted to misbehave just like any other kid. Being courteous to all his subjects even though they bullied him in school. Having to constantly prove himself to earn his parents’ attention and approval.
Pick one.
Tears were streaking down his pale face as memories from his past flooded his head. His free hand pressed against the temple of head, as though the force from his hand would be enough to suppress the flow. It wasn’t.
“It’s why you like Nino,” continued his younger self, a small smile on his face, “You like him because he was like a friend you never had, even though not by choice, and that he didn’t crumble against your harshness, am I right?”
Unable to resist, Jun stole a glance. Was what his younger self saying true? Did he really like Nino because of his determination? Because Nino didn’t succumb to external pressure unlike him?
“Jun,” the boy addressed him, causing Jun to divert his attention back to him, “You can’t change what happened in the past, but you can control what you do from here onwards,”
Little Jun gave him an encouraging smile, “Do what I…, no, what we think is right,”
Do what we think is right? Stealing another glance at Nino, Jun wanted to ask what his younger self meant, but he had disappeared, knowing that his job was done. Do what we think is right. Somehow, he knew exactly what little Jun meant.
“Thank you,”
*
*
*
He hardly goes down to the dungeon for he has no need to see his prisoners face to face, they were just not worth his time. There was always a messenger who would bring them news about how his kingdom had completely taken over theirs.
This time was special though. He had that same feeling he gets when he goes exploring the castle ground when he was younger, assuring Jun that he was making the right choice. Standing in front of a rotting door, Jun inserted the key which he got from the guard on duty before dismissing him and unlocked the moldy door to reveal two men chained to the wall.
“You!” cried one of them.
“What have you done to my brother?” shouted the other.
Ignoring their shouts, Jun went over and loosened the metal chains that bound their hands and feet. The Neen kingdom prince was able to punch the other prince in the face when he finally registered Jun’s actions.
“What is the meaning of this?” questioned Kazuya, confused at the Pine-tree prince’s change of heart. This brutal man was the one that turned his kingdom into a total mess and held the both of them captive for weeks, but now he’s setting them free? Kazuya didn’t know what to think of it.
“Follow me,” was all Jun said as he exited the dungeon, his two prisoners closely behind. Even though both men were suspicious, they were smart enough to keep their fists to themselves for the time being. After being held captive for so long, they were probably no match for Jun.
The Pine-tree prince brought them to the stables where a carriage was waiting. Glancing at each other, Kazuya and Sho weren’t too sure what to make of the situation. The two men doubted that accepting Jun’s offer would be in their best interest but their doubts vanished in the blink of an eye when the prince opened the carriage door to reveal another passenger inside.
“Kazu-nii!” “Nino!”
Curled up on one of the seats and buried in a mountain of blankets fast asleep was the Neen kingdom’s crown prince. The Neen kingdom citizens wasted no time in rushing to the smallest man’s side, taking him into their protective arms.
“Why are you doing this?” Sho managed to ask.
“There’s enough food and supplies to last your entire journey back to the Neen kingdom,” was all Jun said, “I don’t think anybody would give you any trouble on the way,”
Giving his horse a nod, the loyal animal seemed to have understood its master’s orders and pulled the royal carriage out of the stable away from the castle and eventually away from the Pine-tree kingdom.
The kingdom’s crown prince watched as the purple carriage made it safely through the gates.
“I’m proud of you, Jun,” said a little kid’s voice inside his head.
For the first time in many years, Jun felt like smiling.