Predictor of the Future - Chapter 20
Title: Predictor of the Future
Writer: Tacuma811
Pairing: Perfect Pair
Chapter: 20
Genre: AU, romance, friendship, angst
Word count: 2854 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 |
Chapter 20
Fuji searched for weeks in the library, but also in the books that were stored in the attic, but he couldn't find any information about Seers. There were a few books that spoke about their existence and about their abilities, but none of them said anything about losing said abilities. It was a rumor and couldn't be confirmed by anyone. Still Fuji didn't dare to take it as a lie. If he indeed wouldn't be able to see the future or the past anymore he would be done for. He wouldn't be able to work for the King anymore and he had never learned to do anything else. He would be kicked out of the castle and he would probably never be able to find another job.
When Fuji heard about his friends his age who did enjoy body contact with girls or sometimes with boys, he walked away. He didn't want to hear about it. He didn't want to know if it would be good or not, because he would never be able to experience it himself. He spend less time with Saeki now that he had found himself a girlfriend, nor did he spend much time with Eiji, who had confessed his true feelings to the young butler of the King.
Fuji was really happy for them that they were so happy, but at the same time it hurt him that they didn't understand his feelings and took it for granted they could live their lives the way they wanted. Tezuka was the only one who understood, but neither of them really liked to talk about it, so they didn't.
The Seer couldn't completely forget about the topic, because he was confronted with it almost every day. Often he had to help people who thought their husband or wife cheated on them. It was the job of the King to help them and answer their questions, but in the end it was always Fuji who had to help to clear things up. He got sick and tired of it.
He got even more tired of the red-haired Duke though. He didn't see the man too often, once a month if he was unlucky, but the man kept flirting with him, even though Fuji told him clearly that he wasn't interested. Even Tezuka's interferences didn't help. He kept trying. Fuji thought he probably couldn't stand being rejected, because the girls in the castle adored him. The maids loved his attention and were jealous when he was once again talking to the Seer. And right now it was one of those moments.
'Sengoku-san, I'm very sorry, but I told you plenty of times already that I'm not interested and even if I was interested, we couldn't do anything, because I would end up losing my abilities and I'll be kicked out of the castle. I do not want that to happen.'
'I'll take you in, you can live with me,' said the redhead with his usual grin. 'I don't mind at all.'
'No, but I'm sure your wife would mind if you bring all your mistresses home like they're puppies or something. Maybe you should spend more time with her?'
'I will get you, you'll see,' said the Duke, his grin had disappeared. 'If you want it or not, I will get you!'
Fuji knew he was being serious. He knew the Duke and his wife were fighting at the moment and that the Duke would stay a few nights at the castle, because there were a lot of things to arrange for the King. He couldn't and wouldn't spend time with his wife anytime soon, but it was the only way Fuji could escape.
Not for long though, because the King asked for him and the Seer knew a few of the Dukes and Earls would be there again. He didn't know what they were discussing, because for once he was not allowed to join them. But now it seemed they needed his help anyway.
'How can I help you, Your Majesty?' he asked as he bowed deeply for the man on the throne. The Queen was standing next to him. She normally never bothered with the business of the Kingdom. It surprised Fuji, but the King always had his own reasons for keeping her away.
'We have been discussing a few things the last few days,' said King Atobe seriously. 'It took us a while and now we need your help. Tell me why my wife is not pregnant yet.'
Fuji opened his eyes. The King always managed to surprise him, even though he could see the future.
'Shouldn't you ask the doctor about it, Your Majesty?' he asked. He didn't want to become a part of this, because he knew things would go wrong sometime soon.
'I already asked the doctor about it, but he couldn't give us an answer, that is why I'm asking you. So tell me and tell it quickly.'
'Your wife is pregnant at the moment, Your Majesty,' Fuji answered, but he didn't sound very happy to be the messenger of this news.
'She is pregnant? How long?' asked the King before he turned to the Queen. 'Did you already know? Why didn't you tell me?'
The Queen looked scared and she was stuttering as she spoke, so Fuji took over from her.
'She's been pregnant for almost six weeks now, everything is still very small and invisible,' he explained. 'I'm sure the Queen didn't even know it herself yet. I'm sorry to bring you the news in such a way.'
'I don't mind at all how I hear it, as long as I will get a son!' said the King. 'But if you are almost six weeks pregnant, it cannot be my child. I was gone out six weeks ago, I wasn't around for a long time. Even if it's a little more or a little less than six weeks, it still can't be my child. I was in the South to inspect a few cities. Seer, who's child is it?!'
Fuji's mind ran through all different kind of futures. It was his fault that the Queen was in trouble and he wanted to help her out. He had seen the past and he knew who the real father of the baby was. But the future would always provide a way out. There was always a future that would make everyone happy, or at least the most important people at the scene.
Six weeks ago, when the Seer had once again rejected Duke Sengoku, the man had searched for somebody else to take care of his needs. When he couldn't get the Seer, the Duke had found himself another victim. The Queen had been an easy victim. She was lonely and even when her husband was at home, he didn't give her much attention. She had been very happy with the attention she had gotten from the Duke and had gladly accepted him, even though she knew it was wrong.
It had only been once, because after that the redhead wasn't interested anymore. Once was enough for him, not just with the Queen, once with anyone was enough for him.
The Queen knew she was pregnant. She had told Duke Sengoku about it, but he had told her it wasn't his problem and that she should tell her husband it was his child. Fuji could see how the young Queen had cried herself to sleep many times since that day and he felt sorry for her.
'I'm afraid it's my fault that she is pregnant, Your Majesty,' said Fuji.
Everybody was obviously shocked. Their eyes widened, their mouths fell open and surprised words were heard through the entire room. Everybody started whispering to each other immediately.
'Seer, what are you trying to tell me?' asked the King angry. 'Are you the father of the child?'
'No,' answered Fuji. 'Please let me explain. Duke Sengoku is the father. Earlier on the day that her Majesty got pregnant, Sengoku-san came to me and tried to talk me into his bed. I listened to your warning, Your Majesty, because I don't want to lose my ability, so I declined him and also gave him the reasons why. But it seemed the Duke needed someone to satisfy his needs. He chose the Queen, for obvious reasons. She is a very beautiful woman and you were away at the moment. An easy target.'
The King nodded that he agreed with that. His wife was very good looking and the Duke took advantage of his absence.
'He went to Her Majesty the Queen after he talked to me and did the same to her as he tried with me. Of course she refused, but she is a woman, not nearly as strong as the Duke. He took her to his room by force. She struggled, but couldn't do anything. He took her by force and then left her alone. She confronted him when she thought she might be pregnant. It was only a few days ago, but he couldn't be bothered. He even came to me again today to ask me to join him in his bed. Who knows who else he has approached and forced to do something like this! I know I should have given him my body, Your Majesty, and I really regret what I did, because now the Queen and you are hurt and I might have stopped him if I had given the Duke my own body. It might have stopped him.'
'LIES!' shouted Sengoku. 'They're all lies, Your Majesty! She gave herself willing to me. I did not rape Her Majesty the Queen. She willingly gave herself to me when I asked her!'
'The fact that you asked her is bad enough by itself!' yelled the King back. 'How dare you even think something like that?!' King Atobe turned to his wife, who hadn't said a word until now. 'Is it true, darling, is he the father of your child? Did everything the Seer said really happen to you?'
Fuji could only pray she would confirm. The story wasn't completely untrue, but the Queen was an honest person and she might not want to lie to her husband, no matter what circumstances. Fuji looked at her, trying to make her understand that she had to agree with his story, for both their sakes, even for the sake of the King! It worked, because she nodded, confirming Fuji's story.
'You bitch!' shouted Sengoku to her. 'It's not true! You didn't mind at all, you screamed my name in pleasure! You said you never had something as good as you had with me that night! You said I was better than your husband would ever be! Should I make you remember?!'
The red-haired man took a deep breath before he turned to Fuji. 'And who do you think you are?! Coming up with such a story to make me look bad! You planned this! If you didn't like my attention you should have said so! I only gave you want you want! You wanted me almost as badly as the Queen wanted me! You were craving for me, but your fear for the King was even bigger than that! You're a coward and you will never know what true pleasure is like!'
Fuji just looked at him without showing any emotion. He just waited until the man was done before he turned to face the King again. Everyone was looking at the King. They were all curious about what he would do now. He looked seriously angry, but he was trying to hide his emotions, so he wouldn't yell again.
'I have two witnesses who tell me the same story. Sengoku, would you please leave this room right now and never come back here again,' started the King slowly. 'From today on you are not a Duke anymore, you are banned from our government and you will have to leave your house within a month. You can take whatever you like, as long as you are out of that house in a month. If you are not gone by then I will make sure you will be thrown in prison where you will find a lot of men who wouldn't mind your attention. I don't want to see you ever again!'
The ex-Duke wanted to protest, but the King raised his hand and two guards took the man by his arms and dragged him out of the room. The King had spoken and there was no way back now. What was done was done and Sengoku had to go. Soon his place would be taken by somebody else who would be more capable.
When the redheaded ex-Duke had left the room, everybody let out their breaths that they had been holding. They all were a little relieved that the man had left, but there was another problem to take care of. The Queen was pregnant, but not of the King.
'There are rules for situations like this,' said King Atobe to his wife. 'You can stay at the castle and someone will take care of you and your child, but I can never accept it as my child. I will marry another woman, because for the law you have been unfaithful and that means I need another wife to make sure I will get a son. You won't be able to give me an heir anymore, you understand that, right? If you want to leave, you are allowed to leave and go where ever you want. I won't stop you.'
The Queen had tears in her eyes as she looked at the King. 'I'm so sorry,' she said. The tears were running down her cheeks by now. 'I think I will leave. I don't think I can live here while you have another wife. I will go, so you can continue your life the way you want and I won't be bothering you anymore.'
'You were never a bother,' said King Atobe. 'But if you want to, you should go. You can always come back, even if you just want to visit, whenever you want.'
The Queen showed a small smile, took the King's hands and bowed for him. 'Thank you for everything,' she whispered. Then she let go of his hands and walked away. When she closed the door behind her the King stood up and followed her out of the room. When the door closed it was completely silent for a few seconds before everybody started talking. Within seconds there was a lot of noise in the room, even though there weren't that many people around.
Fuji just stood there, still in the same place in the middle of the room. He didn't move until Tezuka put a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
'Did I do the wrong thing, Tezuka?' he asked before his friend could say anything.
'I'm not sure, I don't know what really happened, but I guess the Queen didn't do it all involuntary, right?'
'She let him do it, but he did leave her crying afterwards and he was being an asshole when she told him she was pregnant of him. He deserved punishment for the way he treated her and many other women in this world that nobody will ever hear about.'
'But you also did it for yourself?' Tezuka asked.
Fuji bit his lip. He hated how Tezuka knew him so well, but he was also glad, but he could never have spoken those words himself. They were true. He had done this for himself as well. He didn't want to tell the man to piss off every time he visited the castle. It was tiring and Fuji had been afraid that Sengoku would one day force him to do it. It had all been to protect himself in the first place. The Queen, who had been much more important, came second.'
'I guess you did the right thing,' answered Tezuka. 'It would have come out anyway, so it's better if they all know from the beginning what had happened, even though it's not completely the truth. The King would have known it couldn't be his baby. Earl Inui was already counting, he would definitely have told the King about it.'
'But the Queen had to leave like this,' sighed Fuji. 'I thought she and the King didn't have a very good relationship, since they hardly ever saw each other, but they seemed to do better than anybody would have thought. I feel bad for breaking them up like this.'
'Don't feel bad,' said Tezuka softly. 'The Queen was pregnant of another man, she would have left the castle one day or another. It would have been impossible for her to live here when the King would have another wife. See it as her punishment for sleeping with another man. If she hadn't done that she wouldn't have had any trouble and she would still live here in peace.'
Fuji smiled at his friend. 'Thank you,' he said. 'You always manage to cheer me up.'