Alnwick Castle

*Prince* Toshiya Hayashi

Genre: Historical Romance

Band: Dir en grey(main) + Penicillin + Others

Pairing: Ano... d x s & I'm making it up along the way ^^;

Setting: in the border of England + Scotland in the Medieval times

"What is most beautiful in virile men is something feminine; what is most beautiful in feminine women is something masculine."~Susan Sontag

Parchment three: Fever

Prince Kaoru Niikura adjusted his ragged-looking hat as he sat on the bar stool right next to his companion.

"Your Highness, are you sure this is safe?" Chisato asked. "This IS border territory. If those English get their hands on you then..."

Kaoru waved it off. "Don't fret. No one will recognize us in these garb. And I'm only here in the inn to observe Die's troops for knighting once they get here. I'm very certain he will stop by in this inn before proceeding. The mountain pass is rough, so they will need thier rest here."

Chisato smirked. "Sire, I think you're just here to see how much your best friend is being tortured; you're also enjoying the fact that you left Kohta in charge of your castle alone with his brother."

The purple head grinned. "Of course. It wouldn't be fun, now, wouldn't it? Besides, I'll see how Kohta handles the court in my absense AND maybe he'll get over his phobia of being around his brother. I'm thinking to knight him for his noble acts. There's a castle out west that needs a good knight to take care of it."

"Really? I thought the McPhearsons have solid defenses on their castles in the West."

"Nay. I dispatched Sir Die with Sir Heath to there a few months ago. They won the battle without problems; I had Sir Heath stay there, but he's thinking of retiring to the country."

Chisato sipped his ale then placed it on the rotten table. "Sir Heath is getting old."

"Old he may be, but he's an excellent general, I must say. Fortunately, he's taught a few of our knights-in-training at Alnwick. Kohta is one of his top students." Kaoru called for the bartender. "Sir! Some more ale, please."

The bartender stared at him strangely. Nobody has ever said 'please' to him before. He refilled the mug and slid it toward the Prince.

Chisato frowned. "But still, Sire. Sending an amateur to the castle closest to the McPhearsons is quite a dare. We all know how indomitable their military is."

"No frets, no frets. They may have the strongest warriors, but we still have the better brains of it." Kaoru took a sip of his ale and immediately spit it out on the table once he saw two figures in the distance.

Chisato patted the Prince's back, thinking he choked, while the bartender raised an eyebrow. "I believe God is trying to punish you for your ruthlessness, Sire." Chisato commented.

"Nonsense." the Prince said, wiping his mouth with a napkin graciously. "I thought I saw two nuns walk into this inn."

"Nuns? Are you sure you haven't drank so much ale, Sire?"

"Nonono! And do stop calling me 'sire'. Someone might suspect something."

"People already suspect something the way YOU'VE been carrying on so graciously." Chisato muttered. "And I DON'T see an nun's wandering about! 'Tis a lowly tavern here, why would nuns come and visit such a place?!"

"I am not daft! I KNOW what I saw! They disappeared out by the corner!" He got up and left the bar table to where he last saw the nuns. He heard Chisato get up to follow him, but was detained by a bartender yelling about payment. He went on by himself, very curious as to why two nuns would show up there. There was no convent nearby. He had to know the reason for such peculiar occurence. There was also one thing.... he thought he saw the face of an angel between those two...

~~~~~~~~~

Toshiya was being dragged on Shinya's shoulder heavily across the inn's hallway. They had payed for a night's stay at the horrid place, but it had to be done. For one thing, Toshiya suddenly felt ill upon entering the place. He complained of th heated weather when it was freezing outside, and he complained of a splitting head ache and dizziness. Shinya felt worried for his brother. Toshiya was not one who became sick often, but he was not used to the outdoors. While Shinya would grow and weed his herbs outside the castle, Toshiya would curl up with the ladies and sew tapestires by the fire.

Shinya kicked open their room's door and gently placed Toshiya on the small bed. It was the only room available in the tavern, so Shinya did not complain. Toshiya suddenly rolled to his side, and the auburn head knew enough about medicine that the blue head was going to throw up. Shinya immediately grabbed the flower pot by the dilapidated dresser and put it infront of his brother. The blue head obligingly threw up in it, then collapsed in exhaustion on the bed.

Shinya immediately went into action, bringing out his herbs and feeling for the prince's head. "The fever." Shinya cursed. He knew Toshiya didn't have the strength to endure the outdoors. Now he had to somehow save his brother from dying by the fever. He wrapped up the bluehead in the thick blanket and grabbed some leaves and started crushing them into powder. Then, he looked around for some water, but found none.

"Is...is your friend sick, dear Sister?" a voice from the doorway asked.

Shinya's eyes went round in fear, then he turned to see a man with really sunken cheeks. "Oh, my Lord. Has the Angel of Death cometh to claim Toshiya?" He gasped.

Kaoru frowned. "I'm sorry, Sister; but I'm not Death. I came here to seek the well-being of your companion."

Finally realizing that Kaoru was a real human being, Shinya became tense. "What do you want?"

"I told you..." Suddenly, Chisato ran into Kaoru and bumped into him from behind. "OW! Watch your step!"

"I'm sorry, Sire, but I distinctly recall you leaving me to pay the bartender when YOU carry all our money!"

Shinya raised an eyebrow at the word 'sire'. "You are a royal subject?"

Kaoru and Chisato stared at Shinya. "ah..."

Then Toshiya moaned in pain. Shinya immediately went back to crushing his herbs. He will deal with them later. "If you both are here to help, I suggest someone bring me some water and a towel."

"But the bartender is still after me..." Chisato protested.

Kaoru handed him a bag of gold. "Here. Give this to the bartender, then ask for some water and a towel."

Chisato was surprised, but gained his composure and went off.

Kaoru turned to Shinya. "What can I do?"

Shinya motioned to Toshiya. "Please try to restrain him. He---my friend is in a lot of pain but will fall off the bed if he---er--she does not stop moving."

Kaoru nodded. He held the blue head down gently, then felt the body snuggle up to his arms. The purple head blushed. He'd never held a Sister before, but THIS Sister was different. The face was that of an angel, so pale and perfect, with a slight hint of pinked cheeks from the fever. The lips were as beautiful and soft as rose petals in the spring. //THIS is a Sister of God?? It cannot be! She is so beautiful...// Kaoru felt disappointed, but not knowing why. He felt an urge to kiss those lips, but he also thought it was absurd. He was attracted to a nun! Then he saw a little bit of blue hair sticking out of the dark, woolen veil. His eyes widened. //She cannot possibly be a nun! They shave their heads and...// Suddenly, he felt the younger man shift in his arms and he felt.....NOTHING.... on the chest area. He nearly dropped the boy on the bed. //OMILORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!O+O!!!!!!!!// he wanted to scream.

Shinya didn't notice Kaoru's surprise and continued to work. He handed Kaoru the bowl and told him, "Here. Give this to him...." Shinya stopped and saw Kaoru's look of surprise and bewilderment. His own eyes widened. "You....you..."

Kaoru's mouth gaped for a second, not knowing what to say at first. He'd never encountered any man who would dress like a nun and walk around without a care. "She is...he is....she is a he...."

Shinya pursed his lips tightly. He grabbed the bowl from kaoru, walked over to Toshiya's other side and forced the contents of the bowl into Toshiya's mouth. "I suggest we concentrate on the matter at hand."

"B-b-b-b-but......he's...are you also...?" Kaoru stuttered.

Shinya nodded as Toshiya's tantrums subsided. "We have our own circumstances to explain our current situation. If you would please refrain from informing anyone of this, kindly sir, we would be forever greatful." He affectionately tucked the bluehead into the bed.

"I don't understand." Kaoru said bluntly.

"Don't try to understand. It's a long story." Shinya sighed and sat on the rickety stool close by. "As I've said. All I ask is to keep this quiet."

Kaoru stared at the sleeping beauty. Despite revealing the pretty one's secret, he was still a beauty to see. The blue hair was splayed over the white pillow like a halo on his head. The boy really did look like a fallen angel without wings. "What is his name?"

Shinya hesitated. "Totchi. His name is Totchi." He decided to give Toshiya's nickname for fear that they would be recognized. Now that Shinya thought about it, he didn't know a thing about this gentleman. "Who are you?"

Kaoru blinked. He never thought to create a false identity. "Er...my name is...."

At that moment, Chisato burst in with a basin of water and a small towel. "Sire, I brought the towel and water you asked for."

Shinya stared at Kaoru suspiciously. "You must be a royal subject if you are called 'sire.'"

Kaoru's eyes darted maliciously at Chisato. Chisato realized his folly and tried to steer away any suspicions. "Ah... milady, I called him by his last name. 'Tis a habit of us good friends. I did not mean to mislead you."

Kaoru nodded vigorously. "Aye, aye. 'Tis my last name. Sire."

"What is your first name then?" Shinya said, unconvinced.

"Er...." Kaoru suttered.

"His name is Dick." Chisato gleefully said aloud. "Dick Sire."

Kaoru gave Chisato a look that could kill. "It's actually Broddick Sire."

"But he likes to be called Dick for short." His companion grinned as Kaoru's eyes flamed from the incense.

Shinya looked from one man to the other, then picked up the wet towel and wrung it out. "Alright....Dick. I thank you for your kind help. You too." Shinya motioned to Chisato. "For bringing the water and towel. I'm sorry to be so rude, but my companion is now rested and your help is not needed anymore."

"I am sure you need your rest as well. I offer to stay watch over your companion while you sleep." Kaoru said.

Shinya looked suspicously at him. Could he trust the stranger? He did help him. And there was some air of authority and honor about this man. There was something this.... Dick.... was holding back. Yet, the auburn head could not quite point out why his intuition told him to trust the stranger. He nodded. "I shall be sleeping on the floor ---."

"No need. I have a room to myself across the hall. Please use it."

The younger man reluctantly nodded and left his older brother to the care of a stranger. Strange, he did not feel all that worried or anxious, as if he knew Broddick Sire was good to his word. Maybe it was the way he looked at his brother full of affection and.... something more? Nay. Nobody outside Hayashi would care to be with someone of their own sex. Impossible. Such things don't exist elsewhere.

~~~~~

Die squatted under a tree as the other men searched for Levin. "We can't wait any longer than this. This is an important mission."

"I suggest we continue the search." Kamijo said.

Kyo snorted. "We should just go."

"I'm certain your squire hasn't wandered far." the other blonde pointed out.

"We can track him down later."

Kamijo glared at Kyo. "We cannot abandon the poor child. What if there are bandits about?"

"Child?! He's an adult!"

"BUT he's an adult who thinks he's 8 and THAT makes him vulnerable."

"Vulnerable my arse."

"And what if YOU were the one abandoned here, what would YOU think if your friends left you?" Kamijo pointed accusingly at Kyo.

"Don't give me this crap about treating others as I'd like to be treated."

"*Gasp.*" He turned to Die. "He's making jests of Brother Baldrick's teachings! An insult to a man of God! I believe that's substantial grounds to fire him."

Die rubbed his temples in dismay.

"Sir Die, we found him." someone yelled across the clearing.

The troops came in, Levin hanging inconscious on Hakuei's back.

"What happened?" Die asked.

"No fear. He only has a mild bump on his head. Must have been bandits. Your equipment are all gone."

Die cursed. He bent over to Levin. "Levin! Wake up!"

Levin stirred. "Huh?"

"Levin, do you remember who took our things?"

Levin shook his head. "No... All I remember is bright auburn hair. That's all. I'm sorry, Sir Die."

"No need to apologize." He turned around and thought for a moment.

"You're not thinking of running after a bunch of bandits, are ye?" Gisho said. "We have a more important task right now."

"I had and still have no desire to marry a man, Gisho. I think getting my possessions back are of more importance."

Gisho gave a wan smile. "I think you're just after your sunflower seeds, aint ye?"

"YES, DAMMIT!" Die growled. "How can my squire run off in the woods to relieve himself and bring ALL our baggage instead of leaving them here!! My seeds! My Damn Seeds! Argh!"

"Now, now. There's an inn up ahead. It's not uncommon that someone might have some seeds you can ask for. Besides, we are all tiresome and it is getting dark."

"How far is the inn?"

"About an hour's walk. We'll have to tie the horses close to it because there are no stables."

Die nodded and began to lead the way. He clenched and unclenched his fists. He really needed a seed.

//End of Parchment 3//

Contd~ Parchment 4: Crossroads

Yk2: Er.... enjoying??? Maybe?? No??? Yes???