Brothers of the Sword- fan fiction- gazette/ alice nine/ miyavi-8/?

[sarcasm_chan]

Title:  Brothers of the Sword
author: Me..? Sarcasm_chan
warning: well, some dramatic stuff and some manxman things ^^ english is not my mother-tongue..this chapter not beta-read.
pairings: ToraxUruha, MiyavixSaga, Sagax? (mentioned), AoixHiroto, NaoxShou, UruhaxReita, RukixKai, Kaix? (beware of some one-sided ones) 
disclaimers: unfortunately, their manager didn't want to sell them to me ;_; the meanie wants them for his own use -_-; so, i don't own them....
rating: FSK 16
genre: Dark Ages, manxman, eh...other stuff.
Summary:
Ruki (Takanori) is a shield-bearer of a young lord, who has some special ideas about freedom. The story happens around the dark-ages, but when I tell something in it that is, according to history, not correct, I'm sorry.

Note: I am truly sorry for taking such a long time AGAIN! And I hope the chapter won't disappoint you.  m(_ _)m
P.S: had no time to let it beta-read ><; sorry for that too.



8

“You know I can’t tell you when exactly…”
”Yes I do...”
”And my visions don’t come when I call them eh?”
”That I know too.”
“…Wait for the most unexpected moment, Aoi.”
“Wh-what?”
”Wait for that moment…And you’ll see that you will find love again.”
Aoi stared at him for seconds, no, for minutes…
He just…cooperated, he helped…Aoi did not really expect him to… But he did.
”…Do- Do you know who-?”
”Yes and no.” Saga says softly.
“What do you mean?” Aoi’s voice is small, he sounds excited though scared. Why he is scared, he doesn’t know either.
”I mean…I only know...That it is someone you have already met before; there was just no chance of loving earlier. Dig into your memories Aoi, and maybe you’ll find someone you once loved…
And that one will be the person you’re waiting for.”
Saga stands up, and wants to walk away, but he glances at Aoi, and sees how the man is staring in front of him, with disbelief in his eyes…but also a spark of hope.
Saga puts his hand on the mans shoulder for only one second.
Then removes his hand as fast as he could… And leaves.

Aoi throws a rock in the water. It is really early in the morning…But he had to put things clear in his head.
His conversation with Saga turned out better than he could ever hope.
But now the waiting has come, he has to wait…
Wait for love… That’s quite a horrible punishment.
But he’ll wait and be patient. He knows he can be.
But Saga’s words made him think think about everything.
What memory does he have about a person he could have loved?
He couldn’t think of such a memory…
Only Them. But They have died…
He never knew other loves, he never loved someone despite her and their little boy.
…Who? Who can it be?
Who will be waiting for him? For so long already?
And when will that unexpected moment be? Any moment will be unexpected…

Aoi stops and starts staring over the water… This lake in the middle of the woods, it is so peaceful. So calm.
Emotionless, like Saga.
But it gives life and hope to many creatures…
Isn’t that what Saga did as well?
And water also takes the hope of other creatures…
Water, dangerous and helpful, strong and supple, inspiring and mysterious, but most of all: Powerful and Weak at the same time.
Saga is water.
Aoi grins. Saga just helped him; it is his turn to help Saga.
He’ll bring Water and Fire back together.
Cause Miyavi has waited too long for him, had fled too long for the water that could extinguish his flames…
And the water is afraid of touching the fire, scared of getting damped by the heat.
Opposites…That is what they are.
But they can’t live without each other. Aoi is sure.
But who is Aoi’s opposite? Who is Aoi’s element?
Who is it that he is missing?

He just remembers one person. One. A boy.
A young boy, a little boy.
Cheerful, he was playing in front of Aoi’s old house, as Aoi came home he always saw him.
When Aoi went working, he noticed the boy followed him.
And once, he saw the boy fall.

The boy fell on the road, and just a short distance away from him, a horse-rider was riding in full speed, straight into the direction of the boy, the man on the horse probably did not see him.
Aoi ran, he ran to the screaming boy, and grabbed him from the street. Putting him on the side of the road,  just in time.
The eyes of the boy were huge from shock.
”Is everything alright?” Aoi asked
The boy didn’t seem to be able to speak.
It was a boy...probably around 12 years old, he had a young face. His hair was brown, his face was dirty.
His body was covered with bruises, scratches and small wounds, from playing outside. His face was burnt by the sun. He was probably from a poor family.
But the boy was looking at Aoi…No he was staring at him, with eyes filled with several emotions: With a small fear, with grace, with hope and…Something Aoi couldn’t place.
A child was looking at him, as if he wanted Aoi to…Hold him.
”Th-thank you sir.” The boy said.
Aoi smiled, happy the boy seemed okay.
”No problem at all, dear boy. I am very glad you seem o be fine.”
”Y-yes sir…I am fine.”
”Great!” Aoi smiled. “Now promise me, be more careful when you walk on a busy street like this one eh?”
”Y-yes Sir. I will.”
”Good!”
“Thank you so much sir…”
Aoi smiled, and petted the boy’s head. “Don’t thank me…Everyone would have done the same. Just be more careful, little friend.”
”Friend, sir?” The boy asked hesitating.
”Yes. Friend.” Aoi smiled. “When people help each other, and find each other kind, you call them friend. Of course, you do have to find the other trustable.”
”And…you find me trustable sir?”
”Of course! I believe you’ll keep your promise, and I trust you to be as honest as you seem.” Aoi said.
The boy smiled, he smiled widely and happily.
”There you go.” Aoi grinned. “And now, tell me, what is your name?”
”My n-name?” the boy said shy.
“Yes! As friends, we should know each other’s names. Mine is Aoi.” Aoi smiled, and he shook the boy’s small hand, though Aoi suddenly had the feeling this boy was older than he thought in the first place, but still a child though.
”…Hiroto.” The boy softly said.

That boy, Aoi saw him many times even after the “accident” on the street. Hiroto…Aoi always saw Hiroto walking behind him and hiding as he noticed Aoi saw him.
Always following Aoi when he was outdoors.
But he never dare to come closer, he never dare to say hello, even after their meeting.
Always when Aoi caught him spying on him, he smiled at Hiroto. “Heya there friend!” is what he always said, with a cheerful voice.
That boy…Was special to Aoi, even though they hardly knew each other.
For months Aoi noticed Hiroto following him, everywhere.
And maybe he even did before Aoi started noticing, he at least already did it before their meeting.
Hiroto…Aoi never saw him after what happened to his wife…
But, how can he think about this boy in this context? That is just disgusting!
It was a child, back then!
And the last time Aoi saw him was years ago!
And Hiroto can’t be the one Aoi is waiting for…It is just impossible.

…He’ll probably be a man by now. Hiroto will be around…18 years old, probably engaged, or at least in the army.
Yes, he’ll probably be fighting in the war.

Aoi throws one last rock in the water. How come this boy came back into his mind again? That Aoi felt a special feeling for him years ago doesn’t mean he loved him! Hiroto just made him smile, and Aoi liked to see him following him…
That was all.
And like Hiroto would ever…It is just all too unlikely, and even a bit scary to imagine, that memories of a child make Aoi feel like this now, that he is seriously considering that boy of being his- It is just weird, impossible and disgusting.
And Aoi will probably never see Hiroto again.
As he realized years ago…
And the boy will probably not even remember him…Why should he?

”YOU! Come!” a voice shouts to Shou.
Shou looks up and stands up.
He gets lead out of his cellar, guarded by some strong man, who leads him up some stairs, through some corridors, Shou knows he won’t find a way out in time, so escaping won’t be an option.
”Inside.” The muscular guard grumbles, and he pushes Shou inside a big, comfortable room, with big windows that give a good view to the estate and the forest.
An expensive desk stands in the middle, and a young man is sitting behind it.
It is a handsome man, a young man, but he seems to be the one with the most status here;
”Ah, thank you. You can leave now. Wait for me to call you for orders.” The man behind the desk says.
The guard nods and leaves, closes the door behind him.

”Well, Shou. Welcome!” The man grins.
”…You know my name while I don’t know yours?” Shou says impolite.
”I know much Shou, let’s make that clear right now. I know who you are and why you are here. My question is: What do you want from us?”
”To release me in the first place.”
”I more meant: What are your reasons for revenge? On whom should we take revenge?”
”…Are you the head?” Shou asks suspicious.
”I think I am yes, I do not see anyone else sitting in this chair.”
“The guard did not call you at your title, isn’t that impolite?” Shou says rude.
“Just as impolite as you, you mean?”
”Ah.”
”Just tell me what you want, Singer. And I’ll consider what we’ll do for you.” The man grins again.
”...I want to request.”
”I know.”
”I…I want you to help me with my revenge on a bunch of betrayers. A bunch of thieves!”
”Hmm. And what did those thieves steal?”
”One of them stole my most valuable possession!” Shou shouts, only remembering this makes him feel furious. “HE SHOULD BE MURDERED! He is NOT TO TRUST!”
”What did they steal?” The head repeats.
”… A Sea-pearl.”
“…One sea-pearl?”
”Not just ONE! But the most beautiful and valuable one! It was a treasure! Me and my companion found it, we discovered it, and we asked help to some people we thought that were our friends! BUT THEY STOLE IT FROM US!
Our chance to finally get rich was crashed! GONE! And then I was doomed to be a singer!” Shou shouts. “They betrayed the Sea!”
”…They…Betrayed the Sea?”
”Yes! That sea-pearl belonged to the sea! And they stole it!”
”…But if you found it, you would have sold it as well-“
”NO! NO WAY! YOU DON’T GET IT! This sea-pearl had to be brought back to the sea! It belonged to it! I even know WHERE to put it back! The Sea would thank us so much, it would open its gates to the real treasure!” Shou shouts.
”And they stole it from you and sold it?”
”YES!”
“…Does that sentence;”They betrayed the sea”, does that…mean one of those thieves was THE Betrayer of the Sea? The famous bounty hunter?”
”Yes. Uke Yutaka.” Shou says bitter. “He made up the plan to steal it. He sold it. That’s how he got his nickname.”
”You mean this story is well-known?”
”By some people. But the name leaked, I don’t know how.”
”And you want us to take revenge on Uke Yutaka?”
”YES! But not only on him!”
”Who else?”
”His companion at that time! And I now suspect them to have some kind of…clan. Because I saw that companion with two others, and they were scum as well!”
”But for that you don’t have prove.” The head says decisive. “But who is that companion? Clan or no clan.”
”His name.” Shou says. “Is Saga.”
The dark-haired man in front of Shou looks weird.
Then he stands up, he is tall. Really tall.
He walks around the room and then stops and looks at Shou.
”Are you sure?”
”Yes. OF course I am!”
“…So Saga…Works with Uke Yutaka?”
”He used to at least!” Shou grumbles. “NOW? Did the head made his decision? Will you help me?”
Tora scratches the back of his head.
”First “he says softly. “I want you to tell me something.”
”Eh?!” Shou says surprised.
”I heard that you know something about a runaway lord.”
”…Yes.”
”What did that lord look like?”
“What?!”
“JUST TELL ME!”
“I-I don’t know.” Shou mumbles surprised. “He is said to be regular length…He seems to be handsome, and he is said to have a very strong black horse, very young. And a magnificent sword, as light as a feather but strong like a giant…”

Tora feels how the blood in his face fades. He knew it…He was sure that Leprous had something to hide…For weeks he was trying to find out what it was…
So he is the runaway lord…

”So?” Shou asks. “Will you help me?”
”One last question: What was the name of that lord?”
”…Lord Suzuki Akira.”
“Thank you. That was all the information I needed.” Tora grins.
”Now will you help me?” Shou asks, he is getting impatient.
”…You want me to catch Uke Yutaka and Saga, to bring back the money you owe and to free you?”
”…Yes?”
”That’s too much. I can only help you with your freedom, and I can bring you to Saga. But I can’t help you with the money and Uke Yutaka.”
”WHAT!? BUT-“
”I suggest you could better leave now.” Tora grins.
“NO! HOLD IT! You said you would help me! They said the head would help me!” Shou shouts, he feels desperate, he feels betrayed, again.
Tora grins. “And eh, who said I am the head?”
”WHAT?!”
”Thank you for giving me all the information I wanted to know, and if I were you, I should listen to me now; I know you feel betrayed now, but I don’t care, you see: The real head of this organisation wasn’t planning on talking with you, sine he knew about your revenge. I don’t know why, but he said he didn’t want to talk to you.
I thought you could give us precious information, and yes, so I pretended to be him, so you would give me that information. You just helped me a lot, and I am thankful for that.
So I owe you something, and I’ll help you with the two things I just mentioned.” Tora says, interrupting Shou every time he wants to open his mouth.
”I will help you get out of here, and I’ll give you some information about Saga.”
“BUT THAT’S NOT ENOUGH! WHAT ABOUT MY-“
”I know! LISTEN to me ok?” Tora says annoyed. “I am a captain here, and my position is in danger for doing this. But I think that we can help each other…
I want to take revenge on someone too, so I understand how you feel. I’ll try to help you as much as I can, but at the moment letting you go and giving you information about Saga, is all I can do. If we keep contact: I could help you more, in repay: You have to help me…Is this a deal?”
Shou stares at the man in front of him, in his confusion, saying yes seems the best option…Saying yes is the best option anyway, Shou realizes.
This man is the only one around here that offers him help, and escaping would be fantastic…
”…Okay. We have a pact.” Shou agrees
“Great! Now my friend, I’ll get you out of here…” Tora smiles.

Kai walks through the forest, heading for the spot he met him a few days ago. He promised to meet him there again…Why?
Why did he promise that even before he thought of what use that man could be?
Because he is useful, he is very useful. As Kai came back from their meeting, he thought about it for a long while; what was a man like him doing here, in this dangerous woods?
He didn’t seem to have knowledge of nature, only some skills in fighting…
But after more than an hour of thinking Kai concluded, he had to be a part of that clan, living here in this forest. And after even thinking about that longer, he thought of a theory;

Where should two young travellers go to?
Travellers without knowledge of surviving in the wild…
They would go to someone to help them. A place where they could find protection and a home, where they could be around people…
This organization was perfect for that. How come Kai couldn’t think of that earlier?
The chance was big they would be here…
Though, does that lord know about the existence of this clan?
Well, he could find it in many ways…
The most obvious one is: Someone would lead them there…But who would? But that doesn’t really matter…What does matter: Ruki is obviously a member of that clan…
And he already promised Kai to help him.
Kai grins in himself…Gullible people like him, Kai loves them. Very easy to manipulate…
Ruki will lead Kai to his prey…

Kai is near the spot they should meet, and he notices the other is already there.
Ruki is staring at the silent water, while a small wind caresses his face, while the haze of the morning surrounds him…It is slightly glittery with the first shining of the sun.
With his eyes closed, Ruki smiles dreamy to the upcoming sun, then he opens his eyes, and his smile only becomes bigger.
He spreads his arms like he embraces the wind…

Kai stares at the man in front of him…Not realizing the sun is coming to stand higher and higher at the sky…
Not realizing time anymore.
He even forgot about his plans with the man in front of him.
Until, both men wake up from their dreams, and Ruki turns around, finally facing Kai.
It didn’t make his smile fade…It didn’t stop his eyes from shining, it didn’t make him…
Less beautiful.
The opposite.

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Note: heya! I am so, so sorry for not updating this for such a long time... I hope you guys forgive me, and that it was worth the waiting! m(_ _)m
HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED! ^--^v