Predictor of the Future - Chapter 25
Title: Predictor of the Future
Writer: Tacuma811
Pairing: Perfect Pair
Chapter: 25
Genre: AU, romance, friendship, angst
Word count: 1927 words
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
Chapter 25
'We all had some time to think about how we are going to rule this country from now on,' said Sanada. He and all the others who were usually at a meeting sat in the room with the big round table. Only the ex-King wasn't present. Tezuka, his father and his grandfather were there as well. Normally they had to stand behind the King, but that wasn't necessary anymore. They had gotten a chair and a place at the table. The advisors of the Dukes and Earls had gotten a place as well. The King had always wanted a difference between the important people and their servants, but nobody of the Dukes or Earls really cared about that. They knew their advisors better than anybody else and they were more like friends.
'We can't have a new King,' said Inui. 'There is a five per cent chance the people will accept that. They already heard what has happened here yesterday and they weren't too pleased. They wouldn't like another King that doesn't belong to the royal family.'
'There is no way we can pick a King,' said Tezuka Kuniharu. 'There are no members of the previous royal family left, not even a far cousin. We will have to find another way of ruling this country. No more King or Queen.'
'Speaking of the Queen, what will happen to her?' asked Yagyuu.
'I'd suggest we let her divorce from Atobe Keigo,' said Sanada. 'She has never seemed happy with him. We let her return to her father or let her stay with her mother if she wants. Maybe she can remarry. We will let her decide.'
'So, no royal family,' said Shiraishi. 'But we aren't the youngest anymore. We can't keep ruling this country with the few of us. Besides, we also have other responsibilities. We need more people, younger people to do this. Not everyone is suitable though, we need people with a lot of knowledge about the country, but also with knowledge about the way a country is ruled.'
'We will have to teach them,' commented Sanada. 'Except for us there aren't many people who know how to rule so many people and so much land. But we learned our sons how they could do that, so we can teach others as well.'
'There is no need for that,' said Fuji. 'It will take a lot of time to choose the right people and to teach them everything they have to know. We don't have that much time, the country has to be ruled now. But there are people who have that kind of knowledge with their sons for generations already. They have always been ruling this country from the shadows, so why not put them in the spotlights now?'
'What are you talking about, Seer?' asked Yanagi.
'Your advisors,' said Fuji simply.
The Dukes and Earls looked surprised at each other and at the advisors that were present in the room.
'That makes sense,' said Yanagi. 'My advisor knows everything about the defense of country. If there were problems with neighboring countries he could prevent a war.'
'Mine knows everything about economy and his son can tell us all we want to know about agriculture,' said Yagyuu. 'Both are useful too I would say.'
'Mine is very good with international relationships,' said Inui. 'He can take care of that department.'
'Tezuka Kunimitsu knows everything about logistics. Not just by road, but also by water. His father is specialized in education,' bragged Fuji. 'So that would be two more!'
'Mine can take care of the health care department,' said Shiraishi.
'It's good to hear they're all specialized in something else,' said Sanada. 'My advisor knows a lot about science, so I think we have the most important things covered then. The things that are not covered should be taken care of by all of them or they could ask help from someone who does know all about the topic. I think we should bring all advisors together and ask them what they think about this plan. If some of them don't want to do this we cannot force them.'
'Why not ask the ones that are here right now?' asked Shiraishi. 'We might have a start. If the ones here would like to help us out we don't have to find many replacements.'
It was silent for a few heartbeats. Advisors weren't used to speaking in public. They whispered their words of advice to their employee or spoke when they were asked to speak. Tezuka Kuniharu was the first to open his mouth.
'I wouldn't mind,' he said. 'It would be very interesting and a real challenge to do so. I'm honored. But just like you I'm not a young man anymore, so I will need someone who I can teach all about education. My son is already specialized in something else, so I will need someone else who can help me.'
'We can't do everything on our own anyway,' said one of the other advisors. 'We will need people who can help us. They will learn more about the topic while they work with us and then one of them could take over our place when we want to retire.'
'But when a problem will arise, will only the involved department make a decision about that or will it be spoken about will the other departments as well?' a third advisor asked.
'I'd say we should discuss it with the other departments as well,' said Tezuka. 'They might have other ideas about a certain topic that you won't think about when you are working with it everyday. It's especially useful when you're stuck with a problem.'
'We can help you too if there are problems you can't find a solution,' said Yanagi. 'Discuss it together, but discuss such things with us as well. Together we can solve things. We could come together every month or every two months. We will keep watching over the different parts of the country, so we will be in contact with each other very often anyway. For us it's also important to know what decisions you make.'
'In that case I don't mind either,' said Tezuka. 'But we will need a place to work and we have to decide what we will do with the people that work here at the castle. Without a King or Queen they aren't necessary anymore, but we can't send them away. They worked their entire lives for the King.'
'There are enough rooms to let the advisors live here with their families,' said Fuji. 'Why not let them all live here, so the servants can stay and continue to do their job like they always have done? I think that would make them happy. But the people who live in the little shops outside will have to do business in the city too, so they can earn more money. I'm sure they would like to see what the world outside the walls looks like.'
'They have never been outside the walls?' asked Sanada shocked.
'No, most are born here and have never been outside. I have been here since I was five. I'm twenty-one now, so I haven't seen the world for sixteen years. I'm sure it has changed.'
'That's ridiculous!' said Sanada. 'They have been treated like slaves! They have the right to go outside and do business! You're all going outside! Today! We will start the changes immediately. Dukes and Earls, I want all of you to get your advisors here by tomorrow, so we can talk to them. I want them to think about this too, so we can quickly start with a new government for this country! We have to discuss the future with them as soon as possible.'
'Before everyone will leave I have a question,' said Inui. 'Seer, I have a question for you. Will you become a part of the government too? Not as the head of a special department, but almost in the same way you helped Atobe Keigo with his problems? There is a 98 per cent chance you will be very useful there.'
'That is a high percentage!' smiled Fuji. 'But I'm going to decline. The King depended on me too much. He started to ask more and more and he hardly dared to go outside without asking me first what would happen and it he would survive it. I don't want the advisors to depend on me too much. I won't live forever. One day I will die and they will have to work without me as well. If they have real big questions I don't mind answering them, but I don't want to be a part of the government. Think of me as an advisor in case of emergency. That way they won't depend on me too much and if I will die or lose my ability the country will still be ruled without problems.'
'You already thought about that,' said Inui. 'I think it's a wise decision. Alright, that was all I wanted to know.'
'Fuji-kun, you are dismissed,' said Sanada. 'Go and take everyone who hasn't been outside the walls and take them into the city. Go and explore, but tell them to be back when it will become dark outside. We will continue to discuss a few things that still need answers, but we won't need you. We should indeed not depend too much on your knowledge.'
Fuji smiled. 'Thank you very much. I have a request. I know you would very much like to keep him here, but can I take Tezuka Kunimitsu? He has never been outside the walls either.'
Eyebrows were rising everywhere. They all looked at the young advisor. He was smart and he knew a lot for a person who had never seen anything of the 'real world'.
'Please go with Fuji-kun,' said Sanada simply.
Fuji could see that Tezuka was embarrassed, but it was probably for the best that they knew. There might be things he didn't know about the world outside and as the head of a department he should know everything. He would be more embarrassed if he would be working and he would say something stupid about the world on the other side of the walls.
Together they left the room and within no time they had all servant and other people gathered. A big group of people walked through the gates into the city. The citizens were looking at them and wondering what was going on. The servants were all looking around and pointing at things that were completely normal for the people who lived there.
The group split up in little groups and they all went their own way. Tezuka took Fuji's arm and dragged him away from the big group.
'Let's explore together,' he said.
Fuji smiled at him. 'Sounds great. What did you think of my idea not to join the government?'
'It's your decision. I wouldn't have minded having you there. It's nice to work with you, so I can see you more often, but the things you said are true. Without you we wouldn't know the future either.'
'I did it for a different reason.'
'What reason then?' Tezuka asked.
'If I will lose my ability there won't be any problem,' said Fuji. 'Do you understand what I'm saying?' Tezuka looked a bit confused. 'I mean you can sleep with me,' whispered Fuji. 'Without any consequences. It wouldn't matter if I would lose my ability. We c0uld still be together and we could still be happy.'
'You did it for me?' Tezuka asked.
Fuji laughed. 'Not just for you. For myself as well. I have such a hot boyfriend, I don't want to waste that!'
Laughing a bit louder Fuji dragged a blushing Tezuka through the city.