The King's Prophecy (4/17)
Title: The King's Prophecy
Author: thanku4urlove
Pairing: Takaki/Inoo, Hikaru/Yabu onesided Daiki/Yamada
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: A tiny bit of implied abuse in this chapter
Genre: Romance, AU (Royalty/Fantasy)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: When Takaki stepped off the train in Tokyo, he thought he was going to get his hair touched up at the salon. Instead he meets a crossdressing vigilante in a life-or-death situation, and that's just the beginning.
A/N: It's gettin' real up in da hizzle. Or something.
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3
The name 'Hikaru' was familiar, and when Takaki realized why he pointed quickly between the two in front of him a few times.
"Inoo must have told you about him." Yabu said with a sigh. Takaki nodded, and Hikaru raised his eyebrows.
"He did? What did he say?"
"Oh, um..." Takaki couldn't remember the exact phrasing. "That you were funny, that you were a magician, and that you worked for the king."
A magician. Hadn't Hikaru said he had summoned him? Why? How? Takaki didn't quite believe in magic, but he had ended up here one way or another, and if Hikaru had brought him then maybe Hikaru could put him back.
The magician in question had a contemplative frown on his face. "Funny?" He asked. "Funny as in good at jokes, or funny as in funny looking?"
"Probably the first one." Takaki answered, just as Yabu said "This isn't important right now."
"You're both right." Hikaru said. "Anyway, as I said when I walked in, I cast a spell to speed the completion of a prophecy, and the spell brought us you."
"Wait... Spell? Prophecy?" Takaki had the sudden feeling that his life was turning into a fantasy novel for young adults. "Are you serious? Why me?"
"I don't know why, and that's the reason I'm here." Hikaru said. "At the moment of your arrival, were you given any instruction?"
All Takaki could remember the second he had got there was sneezing, and somehow he felt that it wasn't important.
"No." He answered. "It was just bright, and hot, and then I saw Inoo."
Hikaru nodded quietly, Takaki asking
"What is the prophecy?"
Hikaru and Yabu shared a look, and Yabu nodded. Hikaru took a breath.
"This prophecy cannot be public knowledge. I won't swear you to secrecy because I want to trust you, but in turn you can only tell people you trust, if any at all."
Takaki nodded, able to tell by both of the faces in front of him that this was serious. When Hikaru opened his mouth to speak, Takaki held up his hand.
"Wait. Can I write this down?"
"You know how to write?" Yabu asked in surprise. Hikaru looked doubtful.
"I don't know, if you lose it..."
"Barely any common people can read." Yabu pointed out. "I can only read a little, and that's only because of you. Daiki can't, and Inoo can because he was taught by the people that raised him."
"Okay." Hikaru finally allotted. Yabu disappeared into Inoo's room, reappearing a moment later with paper and ink. Once Takaki was ready, Hikaru began speaking.
"Failure to execute the maiden of deceit will drag the false ruler from his throne, the true king being illuminated by the bringer of light. The prince, forced from his position of power, will be the killer of his father. When the lamb falls for the lion, rest assured that peace has been achieved."
Takaki stared at the words now in front of him--the words Hikaru had said--feeling dumbfounded.
"This is supposed to mean something to me?" He asked. "I'm somehow a part of this?"
"You don't know the meaning behind these words?" Hikaru asked, sounding just as helpless as Takaki felt. When Takaki shook his head, the magician rested his chin heavily on his hand, closing his eyes. He looked rather defeated, Yabu reaching out to rub his back.
"Is there any chance you could send me back home?" Takaki asked. "I'm obviously not the person you need for this, and you, apparently, were the one that brought me--not that I believe that magic is real, but--"
Hikaru was on his feet in an instant, Takaki's head feeling tilted back and held by some strong force he could not see, directing his gaze to Hikaru's face. Palm to the ceiling and fingers curled, a flame burst from Hikaru's upturned hand for an instant before he closed his hand in a fist, smoke wisping away.
"Magic is real." Hikaru declared, voice clear. "It is what governs this realm, and holds this land together. Though..."
Takaki felt his head being released and it tipped backwards before he regained control of it, suddenly heavy. "If our false king isn't dethroned soon, it may disappear."
"What?" Both Takaki and Yabu asked. This being news to Yabu as well surprised Takaki, and Hikaru looked reluctant to continue.
"There is a negative force being slowly, steadily released into the world because things are not right, and if it gets to a certain quantity then everyone who is magically inclined, whether they are aware of it or not, will die. Magic is being weaned out."
Yabu simply say there in silent shock, but Hikaru's words had brought something to Takaki's attention, something Inoo had said about the king.
"This negative force... Could that be why the crops are dying?"
Hikaru nodded. "This realm needs to be fixed, which is why I need your help. Unfortunately, the amount of power it took to bring you here cannot be duplicated, not with things as they are, You must be the person we need. I can't put you back, and I can't bring anyone else."
The finality in his voice was confirmed when Yabu stood, taking Hikaru by the arm and dragging him out the door with a serious "can we talk?" Takaki was left sitting in the kitchen, staring at the prophecy, remembering the invisible grip on his head and the fire in Hikaru's hand. It all seemed so impossible.
"Is magic real?"
"Wait, seriously?" Inoo asked. It was after dinner, and Inoo had pulled off the raid on his ex-husband's home successfully, heading to the fields afterwards and spending time bothering Daiki. The two came home together, each with a bag of Inoo's stuff. Yabu still hadn't returned.
"It is." Daiki answered, complete certainty in his voice. Inoo nodded.
"Of course it is. Why do you ask?"
"I met Hikaru today."
"Wait. You met a mage..." Inoo spoke slowly "...and it's making you question whether or not magic is real?" He frowned. "Did he tell too many bad jokes?"
"No. He was really serious, actually."
That made both of them fall silent, and Takaki regretted saying it; he didn't know if he wanted to share the prophecy with the two of them, and that statement might make them ask questions. Thankfully though it didn't, the topic being changed as Daiki spoke up.
"Takaki, could you help me being produce into the castle tomorrow?"
"You're replacing me?" Inoo whined, before Takaki could answer. Daiki nodded.
"Yes, I am. You're supposed to be dead, so it's just a precaution for a little while. Besides..." Daiki sized them both up for a moment. "Takaki looks like he can carry more crates than lettuce than you, honestly."
"Sure, I'll come." Takaki said, Inoo pouting dramatically next to him. He was happy to help Daiki, and it would be interesting to finally see the inside of the castle, such a big and fantastical building.
When night fell, with Takaki and Inoo alone in their room, Takaki couldn't keep the prophecy to himself any longer, speaking up as Inoo reached over to put the candle out.
"Can I tell you something?"
Inoo retracted his arm slowly, looking at Takaki seriously. "Sure. What?"
"It's about Hikaru, and..."
Inoo's expression turned shrewd. "Did he and Yabu do something weird? I told you to always knock; it isn't my fault if you didn't."
"No, no." Takaki said quickly. "He told me that he's the one that summoned me. He gave me a prophecy."
"A prophecy?"
Takaki nodded, throwing the cloth he had written on up to Inoo, who caught it. "He summoned someone that would help make this... Thing happen faster, and apparently it was me. You can't tell anyone though."
"Of course I can't tell anyone." Inoo said, lowering the cloth to look Takaki in the eye. "There are only two things King Chinen sees as punishable by death--murder and treason. This is blatant treason, Takaki. You can't get involved in this."
"But I am involved." Takaki protested. "Besides, Hikaru said that having a false king is putting some kind of negative energy into your world, and if it gets too strong, anyone that's..." How had Hikaru put it? Magically inclined? "Anyone that can do any magic at all will die, whether they know about their magical abilities or not."
"Oh." The word was a murmur, Inoo looking back as the prophecy, reading over it again. "We have to do this, then. The people Yabu and Daiki love will die if we don't."
"Wait..." It took Takaki a moment to remember his name. "Yamada is a mage?"
"Well, not technically. But I think there’s something about him. He has to be really good with herbs and spices if he became the Prince's personal chef so fast."
Potions. Takaki realized. Alchemy. He didn't know why he was surprised. Inoo's voice was going drowsy, tossing the prophecy back to him and putting the candle out.
"We can worry about that later. But tomorrow, pay attention to Daiki and Yamada. See if you know what I'm talking about with their relationship. See if you can convince Daiki to go for it."
"Okay." Takaki said, and then Inoo was asleep.
Daiki woke them both up early the next morning. Takaki pulled himself into a sitting position when he remembered he had a job to do, Inoo just mumbling "Good morning," at them and rolling over. Takaki barely registered what he ate for breakfast, only really alerting to his surroundings when, upon exiting the house, they went in the opposite direction of the gate.
"Aren't we going in the castle?" He asked. Daiki nodded.
"Yeah, but we have to stop by the fields first. We shouldn't enter the front door anyway; we're going in through the kitchens."
That did make sense, Takaki following wordlessly down a slight hill. He had to pause when they got to the bottom; dawn was breaking over the largest field he had ever seen. People were already there, milling around, and the closer he got the more he noticed that, sure enough, the crops did seem thinner than they should be. It was surprisingly quiet for the amount of people there, Takaki not asking any more questions, sticking close behind Daiki and accepting whatever the shorter man put in his hands. The sun had risen quite a bit by the time the farmer decided they had the right amounts of all the right things, saying they could enter the castle now.
"We're going in through the side, through the kitchens." He repeated. "We're delivering these straight to Yamada, so he's probably not there, but it's always good to check."
"Why wouldn't he be in the kitchens?" Takaki asked. Yamada was a cook, wasn't he?
"He had his own cooking station set up near Prince Chinen's bedroom, in case His Grace wants anything quickly, or at night." Daiki explained. "Carrying things up and down the stairs would cause the food to turn cold."
"Oh."
The kitchens were full of people, yet somehow Daiki only had to look around for a moment before saying
"He's not here. Let's go."
They stepped out of the kitchens, going down a thin hallway and entering the largest dining hall Takaki had ever seen. There was a thick, dark wooden table in the center, surrounded by dozens of chairs, all of them with simple decorative carvings up and down the sides. There were wide, high windows, the room flooded with light, and Takaki let his month hang open a little.
They left that room into a large area, the ceiling incredibly high, a thick staircase going up two floors before disappearing. To their left was a tall open door, Takaki's eyes widening as he saw a man sitting in a huge, golden-trimmed chair, wrapped in lavish blue clothing.
"The king?" He asked Daiki, voice low. Daiki nodded.
"That's His Majesty, Chinen Takashi." He answered. "Hikaru's in there too, and the man standing by the throne is the King's serving boy, Keito. I feel bad for him."
"Why?" Takaki asked, looking through the throne room again. Hikaru was there, standing still, wearing a dark cloak with the hood up. He caught sight of the man Daiki called Keito, and while he looked strong physically, there was a contrasting timidness on his face.
"He's always with the King, and while I haven't seen it firsthand, Yuto says that His Royal Highness has a bit of a temper."
Takaki nodded, eyes catching on something in the middle of the room, sitting on a pedestal.
"Why is the crown there, on that stand?" Takaki asked. “Shouldn’t the King be wearing it?” The crown was golden and glinting, embedded with various jewels.
"His Majesty says it can't be worn. He claims it to be cursed with dark magic."
"He can't even pick it up?" Takaki asked, surprised. Daiki nodded.
"The crown was placed there when the then-King fell ill, and was moved to his chambers to be healed. But he never recovered, and it hasn't been picked up since." Daiki shrugged. "I don't believe no one can wear it though. I believe the right person can."
"You don't believe he's the True King?"
"Don't say that here." Daiki said quietly, shooting him a desperate look, and Takaki remembered in a small, terrifying instant what Inoo had said about treason.
"Sorry."
They began climbing a large, curving staircase, and while Takaki felt his arms beginning to ache, Daiki was getting a small spring in his step and a smile on his face. They got off the stairs on the second floor, Daiki walking down the hallway and coming to a stop in front of the door. He took a breath, fixed his bangs, then knocked.
"He's here!" Chimed a voice from behind the door, and a few moments later it was pulled open. The man standing there was Daiki's own height, and was beaming at the farmboy with so much affection that Takaki could barely believe it.
"You're here."
"I am." Daiki answered. He was smiling back, and all Takaki could think was that if this was Yamada, then Inoo was completely right. "I have the food for you. I brought a few new things, do you want me to show you?"
"Of course." Yamada stepped back to open the door wider, the two of them walking in. Takaki's arms were too full to close the door behind them, but that was taken care of as a tall young man came up wordlessly and closed it instead.
"Thank you." Takaki told him, getting a nod in response.
"Arioka!" There was another young man in the couch, sitting up and smiling. Daiki bowed back as deeply as possible, the action clumsy by how laden with crates and bags he was.
"Hello Prince Chinen."
Takaki bowed as soon as he heard the title, hoping his belatedness hadn't been impolite. The prince had short black hair that fell naturally to frame his face, smiling brightly and short in stature. He looked incredibly young, but Inoo had told him once that the prince was only a few years younger than Daiki was.
"Who's this?" Chinen asked, pointing to Takaki. "You didn't bring Inoo this time."
"This is Takaki Yuya." Daiki said, Takaki bowing again. "He's a new friend of ours."
"Hello, Takaki."
The Prince is talking to me. Takaki couldn't believe it, muttering out a hello. There was a small side room Yamada led Daiki to, Takaki following, but once he had put his crates down he felt useless and in the way, watching Daiki and Yamada chattering happily to each other as they moved produce around.
"Could you come here?" Chinen spoke up. The three of them paused, Takaki swallowing when he realized that Chinen was looking at him. He complied, approaching the couch, Daiki and Yamada getting back to work. Chinen looked over him, finally saying
"Your hair is interesting."
Takaki couldn't help but smile a little at that. His hair was growing, the black roots embarrassingly visible by now. The two-toned look was not a good one, he knew, thankful that there were no available mirrors.
"Are you new to the area?"
"Yes." Takaki answered. "This is my first time being in the castle. It's very beautiful."
Chinen smiled. "I should introduce myself then. I am Chinen Yuri, that is my cook Yamada Ryosuke, and this is my personal guard, Morimoto Ryutaro."
Morimoto Ryutaro was the one who had closed the door for Takaki earlier, and he was now standing next to the couch with a dagger on his belt and a protective look in his eye. Takaki bowed to him in greeting, getting the slightest of nods in response.
"I've heard about Yamada." Takaki told Chinen, who glanced over at the chef and farmer.
"I'm sure you have."
"More from Inoo, really, than Daiki though. But that's just because Daiki is being a little..." He paused, searching for the right word. "Dense."
That made Chinen laugh, nodding, and Takaki knew they were on the same page about the situation.
"Maybe one day. If I can convince Ryosuke to actually do something."
"Okay, we're done!" Daiki declared, brushing his hands together. That was the end of his conversation with the Prince, Takaki knew, rejoining Daiki's side.
"As always, thank you." Chinen said, standing up. He was so small that Takaki wanted to coo over him, hoping he'd kept his expression neutral.
"And thank you as well." Daiki said, bowing, Takaki following suit. Yamada walked them to the door, the expression behind his smile something Takaki knew Daiki did not understand, because if he did he would be kissing Yamada by now.
"Wait, Arioka!" Chinen called out before the door closed.
"Yes, Your Grace?"
"Bring Takaki with you again next time you come." Chinen said. "I like him."
"As it pleases Your Grace." Daiki answered, nodding, and they were back down the steps.