Akatsuki - Chapter Twenty
Title: Akatsuki
Genre: AU/Fantasy
Rating : PG-13
Disclaimer: I made the poster from images I got from flickr, heavily influenced by an original, final fantasy/kingdom hearts/legend of Mana but the plot and characterization are my own hard work. The Idols are Johhnys but because they've engraved an irreplaceable position in my heart so I based my characters on them and yeah used their names...the end.
Summary: Two nations on the brink of war. A young King on a mission. Two brothers on a quest to preserve their ties. The bonds of friendship are pitted against the greed for power but the hidden strength lying dormant within the confines of a fragile heart has the ability to throw all asunder.
Chapter Twenty - Leirion
“I think I’m going to retire when we get back, I’m so tired I might have aged a decade!”
Yuya nodded wearily at Hikaru’s words as they plodded on upon the grass. They had successfully crossed the Forbidden Planes with little to no trouble and the barren lands had now been replaced by a lush rain forest.
“Are we there yet?” Yuto whined from behind his horse. Kouta gave him an amused smile.
“I think, we should have stepped into the elven territory an hour ago…but I see no elves,” Keito muttered scrutinizing the map in his hand. Aoi sighed wearily.
“Haven’t we seen this tree before?” Yuto asked confused as they crossed a large willow-like tree with soft white blossoms. Kouta frowned.
Suddenly the hunter and his scout came to an abrupt halt bringing the entire party into a standstill.
“What is it?” Yuto whispered steadying his horse.
“We’re being watched,” Yuya replied, a hand on the hilt of his sword.
“And I also think we’re going around in circles,” Hikaru added with a scowl. The horses neighed and shook, taking all of their masters’ skills to subdue them as three panthers slid out from the bushes. Their coats shone in the faint light and golden eyes glowed as they advanced upon the company with low growls.
“Oh great…perfect,” Hikaru grumbled throwing his hands in the air in frustration. He jumped as one of the panther’s made a swipe at him.
“Easy there,”
Yuto sighed in relief as a lithe figure appeared from the foliage and made the panthers disperse with an elegant wave of his hand.
“We’ve been expecting you King Yuto,” spoke the tall elf, hands folded across his chest. His nose wrinkled all of a sudden and he blinked at the company.
“I know we smell bad, but we’ve been travelling for a while now,” Keito explained embarrassed. Yuto sniffed himself. The man shook his head.
“It isn’t that, I’ve seen you had a run in with the great Serpent,”
“Oh you can tell?” Yuya asked impressed. Hikaru smacked him on the head.
“He’s an elf stupid, remember the stories your dad used to tell us about them?” he hissed under his breath.
“Come, I will lead you to the palace,” the man offered turning on his heels.
Yuto nodded gratefully.
They walked in silence through the forest, eyes upon their new guide and wariness towards the three panthers tailing them suspiciously. Yuto dismounted all of a sudden and handing Kouta his reigns strode over to match the elf’s pace.
“If you don’t my being blunt, who are you?”
The man gave a polite nod.
“Kazuya, I am the captain of the palace guards,”
“It’s nice to meet you Kazuya-san!” Yuto exclaimed cheerily. Kazuya nodded again, eyes never leaving the path ahead but Yuto swore he saw a slight tug on his lips.
“So, Leirion is like really green isn’t it?” Yuto commented as they walked on, stepping over stones, roots and shrubbery.
“This is just the border, but yes…Leirion is very green and it’s like this the whole year round,”
“No snow?”
Kazuya shook his head.
“We have moderate temperatures, lots of sunshine with the occasional rain but no it has never snowed here,”
“I see,”
“We’re here,”
“Eh?”
Yuto stared at the large boulder covered in foliage baring their path. His eyes glued themselves on Kazuya as the elf walked towards the bolder and…knocked.
Not that it was normal to be knocking on a stone in the first place…also Yuto presumed it would be quite painful as well but Kazuya did it. He knocked and it was a soundless albeit urgent rapping on the stone.
He had to hold himself from screaming as the boulder began rolling sideways revealing bit by bit a blinding light. Yuto jumped as he felt a slender hand around his own.
“This way,”
Eyes closed he let himself be guided through the doorway of light and blinked to adjust himself as he was thru. What he saw though left him gaping.
Before him was the greenest valley he had ever seen. He could make out 5 large waterfalls on the mountain range that walled the land with multiple rivers branching out and slithering around the grounds from the pools like a beautiful pattern. Nestled amongst the water was a fair amount of land occupied by gray-roofed buildings, gardens, orchards and the like. Standing further than that was the grand palace. Unlike Yuto’s which was a large and tall stone building with its many towers, this one was closer to the ground, much more spread out and had a red roof. Even from the distance Yuto could make out gardens and pools and bridges within its grounds.
“Shall we?” Kazuya offered and Yuto, mouth still agape nodded.
They began to descend, very obviously awestruck with their surroundings. The hill they were upon sloped down to meet a river over which an intricately crafted bridge stood.
“There are, so many…flowers,” Yuto commented as he noticed that there was abundance of them, growing wildly upon the grounds.
“Lilies, our Kingdom is known for its wide variety of lilies and Your Highness…what you see before you is just our Capital,”
“You mean there is more?” Yuto exclaimed shocked. Kazuya nodded with smile.
There was too much to see to notice the remaining distance they had to cross. The people of Leirion were very happy and very welcoming and everything from the markets to the streets felt like an ongoing festival.
Aoi blushed as a dashing young florist offered her a fresh garland but glared as Keito snatched it away with a curt ‘thank you’.
‘Home was once like this,’ thought Yuto rather bitterly.
“There is so much water, it’s making me thirsty,” commented Hikaru as they crossed a bridge over a lotus pond in the castle grounds. The palace wasn’t any different. The audience chamber was lit by lanterns and there were two large fountains on each side of the carpet that led to a pile of luxurious cushions.
“Is that the throne?” Keito mused.
“I think so,” Aoi replied surprised.
Yuto couldn’t help but laugh. This was so much like…
“YUTTIE!!!
~*~