Forever SK (05)
Edited: 2014.10.24
Previous:
chap04
* * FIVE * *
SATOSHI:
"For the Guardians, there is no such thing as love," my Father told me.
And so I did not have a person to call mother. She gave birth to me and returned to the village where she had come from, where my Father had gone to Choose her. To me, she had no name. I was to never know.
The Council said it was time for me to find that person to bear the next Guardian, my child. It was time to Choose a woman and to use her, just like how my birth mother had been used and cast away.
I refused.
And now because I have no heir,
if I die Core will die with me.
[ Core ]
Sho lay on his cot and stared up at the wooden ceiling. It was the third night since they had arrived and based on the villager's sleeping patterns, he predicted that Masaki would wake the next dark morning. As he lay in silence, he knew he was missing the Caretaker. Just a little (because he didn't want to admit the truth). Though the villagers were friendly people and the children were fun, Sho missed having someone who understood him, or in Masaki's case someone who understood him enough. And he actually missed the other man for some other reason that he was not going to name.
In the dim interior, Sho instinctively turned his head to see the other form that had not moved in the last few days. Masaki's outline in the almost darkness seemed so precious, he didn't want to close his eyes and lose sight of it.
But just as that feeling overcame him, the Idol realized what he was doing. Am I sick? he thought. He wanted to laugh, to pass it off as a joke, even though it certainly wasn't. That painful realization two nights ago hadn't gone away and it still caused him misery. The feel of his chest constricting whenever he thought of the Caretaker scared him.
He wished to forget.
Sighing too loud, Sho forcibly shifted his attention away and clenched his eyes shut. Forget about Masaki. He didn't care that much, he convinced himself, and told himself to go to sleep.
(( He's a good person. You shouldn't be ashamed. ))
I know, Sho found himself answering. Once again, he sighed and snuggled deeper into his pillows.
A full five seconds passed before Sho realized what had transpired.
He instantly shot up into an upright position and looked around in the darkness. The voice!
"Satoshi?" Sho tentatively spoke into the stillness, as if the Guardian could hear. He recalled the name from countless conversations he'd had with Masaki. He knew that voice. It was the very same one of that first night he had arrived, and it could only belong to Satoshi.
What had happened? He hadn't heard it since, and from the way Masaki spoke about Satoshi, Sho had guessed that he would never hear it again.
(( Unlike me, Masaki always tries his hardest for the people. )) was the answer.
The Idol strained to hear and he realized that Satoshi sounded weak, distant. It was only a mental impression yet he could tell what Masaki meant when he had said that their Guardian was at low power. In a hurried effort, he squeezed shut his eyes and began thinking, desperately trying not to lose that voice and at the same time wishing to communicate.
Satoshi, don't disappear! Can you hear me?
There was no answer this time.
In his fear of losing the connection, Sho stood up as if he could physically pull that voice back and he frantically looked around. Masaki is doing his hardest to search for this intruder, Sho thought. Can't you help him out a little? Tell him where this person is. Can you hear me!?
Unfortunately, Satoshi spoke no more that night.
[ Earth ]
They did not bring that awkward instance between them up again. Jun's question at the hospital and Kazunari's refusal went unmentioned and forcibly forgotten. And yet, at the moment Jun and Kazunari were far from avoiding nasty confrontations. In the Idol's hotel room, Kazunari sat opposite him on the mattress and they glared at each other.
"It's not my fault you don't have another bed," the prince said through clenched teeth. "But I'm tired and if you don't let me sleep I swear I'm going to knock you out for a week."
"I am not going to sleep on the couch!" Jun countered. "I'm appearing for a game show tomorrow and I'm not going to work with my back aching!"
"Then sleep on the floor!" Kazunari responded.
"Fuck no!" Jun bellowed, hating his manager for not thinking ahead and booking a room with twin beds. But he was determined to sleep on his mattress tonight, and nothing was going to stop him. Not even the pitiful man facing him.
Jun had picked the patient up from the hospital that morning (which was unfortunately a few days later than he had promised) and they had spent the rest of the day avoiding each other. Being cold, feeling awkward, and a little hesitant to approach the other person. But as soon as night fell, the looming question of who would sleep where couldn't be avoided and Jun and Kazunari had broken into an old argument of who would get the bed.
Now almost an hour later, they were both furious and intent on having their way. Not willing to back down. Or so Jun thought.
But as their bickering progressed, so did the time and when the Idol stared back at the creature, saw the man blink tiredly yet try to focus, he suddenly felt his willpower dissolve. It slipped out of his grasp like a slimy creation struggling to escape. Jun instantly believed he was a little too cruel. After all, Kazunari was still a patient and still recovering from his injuries.
Once again, Kazunari blinked rapidly back at Jun, trying to stay awake and Jun knew bitterly that he had lost. Despite everything and the other man's insensitivity, he realized he still cared. Something inside him, a certain feeling of protectiveness that he had tried to suppress, was forcing its will on him.
Irritated at his own feelings, Jun made his decision anyway. Adamantly keeping himself expressionless, he paused before saying, "All right." The spontaneous agreement caused the latter to perk up, unaware of what the man opposite him was thinking. The Idol tried to calm his beating heart and continued, "This is how it'll go." Indicating the particular areas, he said, "The right side is yours. The left is mines. We'll both sleep on the same bed within our own territory. Got it?" They would share and that was his final conclusion.
Kazunari frowned at the suggestion, more so because he didn't understand than not like it. This sounded like a compromise. Absolutely like one. From his experience with Jun, compromises were hard to come by.
"Don't you dare enter my section," Jun warned, ignoring his opposite's confusion, before falling on his side of the bed to conceal the blush that was fast spreading on his face. He took the other man's consent for granted.
Just a little later, Jun felt the mattress shift and he knew he was right. Kazunari claimed his own side, grumbling even as he did so. "Shut up. Like I want to touch you."
The Idol squeezed his eyes shut and grinned, feeling triumphant. He had won another battle.
In the end though, it turned out to be more trouble than both had bargained for.
Stiffly, they lay as they were on their individual side, awake and completely aware of the other. Of the warmth that was just a small distance away. Of the heightened breathing that could be heard in the tense and hot silence. Their senses were alert and running full speed.
It was more than an hour later before exhaustion finally took over, putting them both to sleep.
*
In the morning, Jun tiredly woke to a face looming a centimeter away from his and he pulled back in surprise before remembering about the night before.
He paused, trying to regain his breath and to stop the pounding in his ears. He was glad to find Kazunari still fast asleep. Of course, he realized, the man would surely sleep for the next few days anyway. Staring at the latter's peaceful demeanor, that knowledge was the trigger that caused Jun to raise his hand. Even if he wanted to stop it, he couldn't help brushing his palm across Kazunari's cheek.
Something in his stomach fluttered upon that soft contact.
"What am I doing?" Jun whispered to no one but himself. Kazunari hated him. Kazunari angered him. Annoyed him. He only needed Kazunari to get Sho back. But he didn't stop himself, and while Jun removed the wisps of hair that had fallen across the smaller man's face, he wondered if something else was possible.
*
That day in the midst of filming the game show, the hosts directed the same question to him who had zoned out.
"What are you doing?" they demanded jokingly in front of the cameras. While the audience laughed and his teammates smiled at him, Jun assured the hosts that he was only imagining their victory.
"Well, you won't win like that!" they said. "You'll have to go through all the obstacles first."
Obstacles. That word rang like a bell in the Idol's head. True, he was currently going through some difficulties. He wondered if they could be called obstacles and if there would be victory at the end of the long tunnel. But there was no answer to his thoughts and he had to leave them at that.
"You did well today," his manager told him as soon as the filming drew to a close. She gave him his water bottle and walked with him to his dressing room, at the same time discussing the finished work. "I know you're concerned about the things happening around you lately, but don't let that get to you. I'm glad you were able to concentrate on the games."
"I'm glad I appeared to be," Jun retorted.
Upon hearing that, his manager stifled a small sigh. She dropped the subject and went on to more demanding matters, starting with his changed schedule. "Your work have been pushed back, Matsumoto. Most of your appearances as Storm have been put on hold until Sakurai-san returns. Today, you have nothing left to do."
"I see," Jun replied, feeling a little upset at his situation. "Then I can leave?"
"Not yet. I have something else to say."
They reached his dressing room and his manager entered behind him. She firmly closed it shut and made sure there were no other ears before saying, "The police department called. You might have noticed the absence of your 'bodyguards' today. It seems they have rethought about Kazunari's attack and want a word from either of you."
"That's definitely me," Jun wearily stated. "When?"
Exasperated with all that had been occurring and the pressure that fell on him, he had no knowledge that his problems were only starting.
Miles away, Tohru had arrived at A_ Hotel. Knowing that he had no chance to meet Jun's cousin, the musician had thought of another way of going around the Idol.
Moments later, room service along with a note was sent up to Matsumoto Jun's room. And within minutes, Kazunari was blinking sleepily at the staff carrying the tray. "Matsumoto's not here," he stated.
In his case and unknown to Jun, the Prince had made a decision the night before to follow Earth's routine. That was, changing his sleeping pattern so that he'd be conscious during the daylight hours. It was an attempt to increase the Idol and his interactions. Though, his body not having adjusted, the Prince of Core had difficulties staying awake.
Yet, he was still particular about trying and, at the moment that the hotel staff bothered him with Tohru's gift, he was irritated from lack of sleep.
The employee customarily smiled at his grumpy response. "This was sent by a Fuji-san for someone by the name of Kazunari."
"I'm Kazunari," the Prince muttered, still annoyed and not understanding.
But the employee immediately set the tray down and handed the Prince a card.
Kazunari scowled at the note while the man walked out, the door closing shut behind him. The Prince had no idea what the scrawled words on the card said. He wondered if Jun would know.
Unfortunately, he went back to bed before the Idol returned and missed his chance to ask.
Subsequently, when Jun came back, he genuinely thought the Prince had been sleeping the whole day. He only spared a moment to check if Kazunari was still breathing, that his injuries were healing, before he retired for the night.
*
The next day, before the Prince had woken, the Idol was out and back to work again.
Following his manager's instructions from the day before, in the afternoon after a quick review at his agency Jun arrived at the police station to have his meeting with the investigators about Kazunari's attack. He was led into a separate room for privacy and beckoned to sit opposite the detective who had led him there.
"We have compared your cousin's injuries with that of recent attacks," the detective started abruptly, jumping straight to the point. "The wounds are similar. We found that your cousin might not have been attacked by a stalker, but a serial killer that have been prowling the city recently."
Jun allowed his relief to show at their conclusion. That meant his unwanted bodyguards would be permanently gone. "Then there are no personal connections," he followed.
"None," the detective assured, noticing the instant he relaxed. She was a little regretful that they were not finished as she had bad news to give. "Unfortunately," she added, "your cousin is the only survivor and the little information he gave is the only thing we have on this killer. The department is afraid for Kazunari-san because of that. What might the killer do if he knows your cousin survived?"
She paused for one second to let the information sink in before bringing in her suggestion. "Therefore, for both of your sake we have--"
Jun promptly cut her off. "We're fine."
She stopped.
Clearing his throat and aware of her disapproval, Jun continued, "Detective, we have not returned to my apartment since that occurrence. Kazunari is recovering in my hotel room right now and once he's healed, he will be returning to the countryside."
"But--!" she tried to start again, but Jun refused to let her get a word in.
"I'm thankful the media haven't gotten wind of this incident yet," he said. "Before they start speculating about my visits to the police station, I would like to end our meetings here and now. Unless that serial killer is found, I don't want to be bothered by the police again. I think it would also be beneficial to Kazunari that his face doesn't get printed in the papers. Surely if that were to happen, that killer would definitely know the truth."
Under his logic, the detective nodded reluctantly. "I don't approve of your decision, but I won't go against it. Only because I am considering your cousin who would not like to be reminded of his attack. But if possible, for his sake I advise that he return to his hometown as soon as he can."
"I understand," Jun told her.
Their short meeting drew to a close with that line.
Accordingly, several minutes later the Idol made his exit through the back of the building in disguise. He quickly walked to his car, partly because he did not want to be seen, another part because he was glad to be free.
But as Jun drove away the excitement descended with the realization that he had a lot to discuss with Kazunari. Ahead of the investigators, he knew that rather than a serial killer, the prowler was something called a Mutant and the revelation that it had actually been killing long before Kazunari's attack scared Jun.
How did he ever get stuck in such a bizarre situation? He had never signed on to be a monster-buster when he joined his current agency. For the first time, Jun wondered even while he knew it weren't true, if there were hidden cameras for some prank show. Growing nervous, he felt impatient to reach the hotel and lock himself somewhere beyond prying eyes. He wondered, as an excess after-thought, if the Mutant would come back and attack him instead of Kazunari.
It wasn't over yet, the other man had said. The monster wanted Kazunari more than any other being. That reminder caused Jun to shiver.
Minutes later, he finally reached the hotel. In the parking lot, after the high tension had drained away, a worried but weary Jun turned off the engine and sat behind the steering wheel in contemplation.
It was late afternoon and the sun was still high, but his work was already done for the day. The Idol stared at the building looming before him and conflicted feelings engulfed him. He wanted to talk to Kazunari immediately, but the man would surely be asleep. If Jun went in, he would only be by himself sulking in the silence. He did not want to be waiting with his senses on edge.
Reaching a decision with that thought, he picked up his phone and called his friends. The idea of having a normal conversation with normal people was too appealing to pass up.
And as usual, Jun had no idea that his current actions would determine future consequences.
*
After a meal with some friends and a few drinks, Jun was feeling a bit more relaxed. Sitting across his high school buddies, the Idol could almost believe that the incidents beginning from the mall explosion never happened. Though, the thought of Kazunari never having been there was not comforting.
Meanwhile, like the day before, Kazunari had been awake and waiting for the Idol to return. He held the card firmly in his hand and grew impatient with waiting. Where the heck did the human go, and why did he always have to be somewhere? Those questions popped into his head repeatedly as his patience continued to thin.
Understanding that it might end with him falling asleep before the Idol's return like yesterday, he finally stepped out of the hotel room, partially conscious, lacking sleep, and still in pain.
He kept his curses to himself. Jun just didn't know the efforts Kazunari was putting into staying awake. He might never know and the fact that Kazunari wanted Jun to know just a little bit somehow angered him too.
While the Idol was still dining with his friends, Kazunari stood outside the door waiting for an employee to walk by. Waiting for a worker was the same as waiting for Matsumoto Jun. Kazunari grew impatient and wondered if it had been a stupid idea after all. Earth was more irritating than he had thought. If only he understood how it worked. But almost an hour later, his waiting finally paid off.
A smartly dressed employee made his way down the carpeted hall and consequently glanced at Kazunari sitting out of his hotel room. Catching his eye that instant, the Prince quickly called out while minding his injuries and slowly standing, "Excuse me! Can you help me for a bit?"
"Are you locked out of your room, sir?" the employee asked.
At the question, Kazunari paused. No. He certainly wasn't that stupid.
"No," he thus verbally replied. "I want your help with something." Quickly, Kazunari brought out the card that had been sent with room service a few days ago. "Will you read this for me?"
The employee blinked at the abnormal service, but decidedly edged over, politely refraining from questioning the patron's abilities. He took one long look at the card and read, "To Matsumoto Kazunari. I invite you out for a drink in the Hotel's cafe: La Vie on the first floor. I will be waiting at noon on Thursday. Your comrade, Fuji Tohru."
Kazunari frowned while memorizing the words. "What is Thursday? When is Thursday? Today is Thursday?"
The employee leaned back, creating the polite distance between them, and answered, "Tomorrow."
"And who is Fuji Tohru?"
At that second question from the Prince, the other man's brows shot up in confusion. "You don't know the person who sent this?"
"Should I?" the latter threw back instead of replying.
The employee squirmed, conflicted and debating whether he should step out of bounds to aid the helpless looking man before him. He decided with a light suggestion. "I think you should show this to Matsumoto Jun-san first."
When he walked away, Kazunari stared at his back and muttered, "Sure. As long as he returns before I sleep." As if on cue, the small man yawned. He was already tired. Glancing back down at the card, he said to himself, "Must be one of those men." One of the staff that Jun had introduced him to when he had accompanied the star to his agency. If that was so, Kazunari would go meet him. After all, even though he had made countless promises to Jun, the Prince was tired of being cooped up inside with nothing to do.
But in any case, tonight he'd try to stay conscious as long as he could and consult the Idol. The employee's demeanor had interested him.
[ Core ]
On the fourth day since their arrival, Masaki still did not wake.
Sho kept telling himself that the Caretaker would rouse any minute and for himself to not worry. But even as he watched the children run around the village, he couldn't push away his fear that the other man would leave him. Of course, he knew he was just being ridiculous, but the feeling was there all the same and nothing would ease it but Masaki's consciousness.
The fifth day came with the village elder waking.
As usual, Sho woke to the noises of the running community. He instantly checked for Masaki's form in the dark and found it still there, a little shifted but in place. He checked the Caretaker's pulse and found a heartbeat, but that was all. The man continued to sleep soundly.
"When are you going to wake?" Sho whispered, unaware that he was brushing a hand through the latter's hair. He hadn't thought that he would miss the bubbly, idiotic man so much. It was different to have the person there and not conscious.
That afternoon as Sho helped the villagers preserve their fruit by torchlight, for the first time in his life understanding the basics of jam, he finally consulted the others and asked them if anyone had ever slept past three days.
"All the time!" the housewife next to him exclaimed cheerfully. "My husband's a lazy fool. Jin across the street sleeps for four days at a time. Everyone's body is different."
"You must be worried about the Caretaker," another piped up, her prediction falling on the dot. Under her innocent gaze, Sho forced an awkward smile. "He must be exhausted," she continued, understanding his nonverbal answer. "Especially with the Guardian gone, the village is extremely grateful to him for having helped us."
"What would we have done without the Caretaker?" the rest agreed.
"There've been complaints that it's the Caretaker's fault for failing to look after the Guardian, but I can't blame him."
"All of us have had it hard for the past hundred years."
"Wait," Sho interrupted, taking in their concerns a bit at a time. "What do you mean there've been complaints about the Caretaker?"
Though they had overlooked his past ignorance, this time the housewives turned to him as one.
Sho's mind raced at their questioning gazes and he squirmed. What should he say to repel their attention from him? In his hurry to say something, the Idol blurted, "I-I was from--" wondering if he should say he'd been a hermit and if that answer would be weird.
Another woman came to his rescue unintentionally. "You probably came from a strict school," she interrupted. She nodded to the rest of the housewives. "Different sleeping patterns and all."
They mumbled among themselves, agreeing, and Sho realized with a start that they were not unaware of his differences. In fact, in the last few days without his notice he had been observed. The knowledge caused him to panic, and it was only one of them jumping in to answer his question that rooted him to the spot.
"About the Caretaker, you know, he became the Guardian's personal Caretaker seven to eight hundred years ago. Before that, he was only known as the Prince's friend. No one thought he'd get so far. Everyone really believed one of the Prophet's students would take over and look after the Guardian."
"Some people were really disappointed," another woman added.
One other chimed in, "The first time the Star didn't rise, the first time we found that the Land refused to produce, whenever the Barrier came down, they blamed the Caretaker for failing in his duty."
"The people thought the Caretaker couldn't bear the responsibility."
"Most of us thought so."
"Almost everyone did..."
The expressions of all that were present fell and Sho understood the implication as a heavy mood set in. Masaki had been harshly judged by the people around him. He had not risen to his position without doubts.
*
That night, he entered his shared room with the Caretaker and immediately went to the latter's side. Like before, the man had not moved from his position. He was still sleeping.
The earlier conversation between the housewives churned in his mind. Sho had tried to see it from their perspective, but as an outsider he could only sympathize. He could not understand the point of accusing another who tried his hardest. Sho had not known Masaki for a long time, but he realized that he knew enough to know that Masaki was a great person not worthy of such criticisms.
This time, he was conscious of his hand reaching forward to brush away the hair that had fallen across the other's man eyes. Something incomprehensible took away his breath, and the thought of Masaki's sadness upon knowing the people's disapproval even hurt Sho.
"Although you're hard to understand, I miss talking to you," he whispered. He wondered if he would forget his experiences in Core when he left. He didn't want to. Against his own wishes a few nights ago, Sho never wanted to forget Masaki.
(( Sakurai Sho? )) The voice came out of nowhere again.
The Idol did not answer, feeling too exhausted and worry weary. He did not even wonder how Satoshi knew his name.
(( I can answer you. I know. )) referring to the questions from the nights before.
Sho's fingers stayed on Masaki's face, still and unmoving. He continued his silence, this time not caring whether he lost that connection with the Guardian or not. After all, the Guardian came and left at his own leisure and the Idol was too tired of being strung along.
But Satoshi continued anyway, weak and quietly. (( You're looking for Nakamura Kenji from Earth. At this moment, he's near the Palace. ))
In one sudden rush, Sho's eyes lifted in surprise and fear. He knew that name. It was the assistant who had been with him moments before he had arrived in Core. Another idea accompanied that revelation: Sho had probably brought the assistant here. The notion was horrifying.
His eyes immediately fell on the Caretaker and the Idol thought, What would Masaki think if he knew? His chest clenched as he tried to imagine Masaki's response. This intruder had harmed the people of this Land, and Masaki had told Sho that he would never forgive Kenji.
That same night, Sho made a decision and took action. He did not know, however, that Masaki would wake up the following morning.
*
The aid the Caretaker had given to the village had worked in taking away the worst of his nightmares. The screams of the destroyed village had stopped haunting Masaki since his second night and from there on, his dreams were wrapped in a cooling darkness.
Masaki sat in that darkness and thought about a lot of things. About Satoshi. About Kazunari. About Core. And about Sho.
It was during that time that a whispered sound broke into his dreams. Someone's voice not like Satoshi's.
"I brought him here with me."
"I don't understand," Masaki had answered. And decisively, he went back to thinking about the fate of Core and ignoring the voice he did not recognize.
The whisper continued anyway. "Masaki, I don't want you to hate me." The sadness and desperation dripping from those words was the factor that finally woke the Caretaker.
The first few things that came to his senses were the ache in his back and hunger. Masaki shifted and tried to get into a comfortable position, wanting to go back to sleep. He wanted to go back to that dark, peaceful place. Soon after, the muffled noises of a thriving community from outside his room took over. With a start, he realized where he was and in what situation. Masaki sat upright suddenly and looked around in the dim interior.
He remembered. The Star was still down. The Guardian was still out. The Land was still sleeping. He had helped regenerate one village's crops and fell from exhaustion. How long had he been unconscious?
When Masaki stepped out of his room, he sought for a familiar face, for Sho. They had to leave right away in order to catch up to the intruder. To complete that mission was all that engulfed his mind.
A child saw him first.
"It's the Caretaker!" she screeched happily, eyes sparkling. Soon, heads were turned his way accompanied by rushing feet. The children of the household crowded around him and their mother joined them at the back.
"Are you hungry!?" they asked. "We've just had some bean cakes!" they exclaimed.
Momentarily distracted from his objective, Masaki smiled down at them and reached out one hand to tousle the hair of the tallest boy.
"Welcome back," the mother said and he turned his attention to her. She continued in his silence, "You should eat to replenish your body. I shall warm up some soup."
"Thank you," Masaki replied, noticing how his voice cracked. He hadn't spoken for... "How long have I been asleep?"
"Five nights," she replied. "You must have been exhausted."
Pulling himself away from the children around him, the Caretaker frowned. They had lost a lot of time. To the mother, he said, "Can I ask you to prepare something to go? I am in a hurry and after I speak with the village elder, Sho and I will leave immediately."
"You will not meet with the others?" she asked. "They would like to thank you again, Caretaker."
He shook his head, feeling the stiffness in his neck and regretting his long sleep. "I'm sorry, but I am on an urgent mission." One that Satoshi had given him long ago and which he should have already accomplished.
With only that, the woman understood. After all, he was a Mage and an Overseer of the Land. "I will pack something for your journey," she replied in comprehension.
Relieved and pleased, Masaki thanked her and made his way out. However, as he reached the door the mother remembered something she had to tell him. "Caretaker!"
He paused impatiently and turned back. "Yes?"
"Sho, the man you came with. He left."
That statement went straight to Masaki's gut. He gasped, eyes wide, and remained grounded to the spot.
She looked at him worriedly, taking in his horrified expression. "Is something wrong?"
"WHY!?" the tall man burst out in choked exclamation.
Startled by the volume of his voice, she answered in one breath, "We didn't think it mattered. He asked for the location of the Palace and left just last night."
The voice in his dream had belonged to Sho. That realization hit him on the spot and stunned him. Masaki couldn't calculate how long ago that was.
His pulse pounding in his ears, the Caretaker wondered if he would be able to catch up. The other man had a few hours head start. "Forget it, madam," he quickly told the housewife, feeling himself panic. The urgent mission that had preoccupied his mind upon his consciousness now became inferior to the thought of losing Sho.
"Thanks for your hospitality, but I'll have to go now. Please thank the villagers for me!"
He left in a hurry before she could get another word in. Masaki worried. Sho was an Outlander. He did not know how to survive in Core. Sho was a little clumsy and slow when it came to adapting to anything outside what he was used to. The Caretaker did not want to lose Sho.
He wondered what the other man had been thinking, to act so rashly. Or had Sho found out something while he had been unconscious? Why did he choose the Palace of all places?
The feel of his breath coming in short as he ran to the village gate, not from his run but from the thought of Sho out on the Land alone, enforced his need to travel faster.
A few miles away, the same person whom Masaki had questioned stopped to take a breath.
Sho crouched over on the ground and clenched his eyes shut as he tried to withstand the pain in his feet. He was forcing himself to hurry before Masaki woke and noticed his disappearance. As a result, he had been walking for as many hours as he could since he'd left the village. Sho had to be the one to find Nakamura Kenji first. He was the source of Masaki's troubles and Sho had brought him here.
I don't want Masaki to hate me, he thought, using that painful idea as leverage to continue. His fear still overwhelmed him. He did not know what he was going to do with Kenji once he found the man, but Sho would definitely be the one to find him first. And he would face the man properly, a confrontation unlike what had happened in his apartment.
(( Masaki is coming. Wait for him. )) Once again, Satoshi's voice came out of nowhere.
No! Sho opened his eyes and frantically glanced around in the lonely darkness. Satoshi's command only served to make him panic. He had to leave quickly before anyone caught up. He popped one of the food pills he had taken from the Caretaker into his mouth and hurried on.
(( You are wrong. Masaki won't hate you. ))
Sho drew in a deep breath, wincing at the soreness of his feet, and shook his head refusing to believe the Guardian. He did not want to stake his chances. He would be the one to find the assistant first.
In any case, Kenji and he were of Earth. They still had unfinished business.
[ Earth ]
Jun made his way back to A_ Hotel after nightfall.
He took a taxi as he had drunk too much, and avoiding the main elevator, climbed his way up the stairs to his floor and room. At the door, he fumbled for his keycard, found it, and inserted it into the lock. The door clicked open and Jun made his way inside.
To his surprise, the lights were on. He frowned, trying to clear his head and wondering if he had forgotten to turn it off when he left that morning.
The mystery was solved once Jun made his way around the bed and saw Kazunari in an upright sitting position leaning against the bedpost. As if he had been sitting and waiting for someone's return but had fallen asleep.
Stumbling, the intoxicated Idol went onto his knees in front of the smaller man. He squinted in an effort to focus his vision and contemplated whether he was steady enough to lift Kazunari onto the bed and not keel over in the process. All other thoughts, of how the man had gotten there, eluded him at the moment. Jun was preoccupied with the most important thing on his mind: getting Kazunari into a more comfortable sleeping position.
Blinking rapidly and trying to hold back the nausea that was suddenly overwhelming him, the taller man placed a hand on the Prince's shoulder. He sat it there and forgot what he was about to do.
That second that Jun paused, Kazunari's eyes flew open.
Tired and irritated at being woken, the Prince glared up at the culprit. It was that glare that sealed his fate. A drunken Jun instantly remembered the other man's hatred of him.
In that moment that Kazunari glowered as he came out of his sleep, uncontrollable fury enveloped the Idol. Why should he be hated? He was troubled and stressed because of Kazunari. His apartment was ruined because of Kazunari. Sho was gone. His work load was thinning. It was all because of Kazunari who had appeared, who had the guts to hate him.
Unable to think clearly and furious, Jun leaned forward and kissed the other man, attempting to make the latter as angry as he was feeling.
[ Core ]
In an isolated and deserted part of the Land, the basin of the Blue Lake was two-thirds full.
* *
Next: chap06
a/n: I'll try to stop complaining about this fic from now on. I mean, I like it.