Alnwick Castle

*Prince* Niikura Kaoru

Author: Yukimi2 ( yk2_yk2@yahoo.com )

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 six: advance!!!

Die woke everyone early in the morn. everyone was surprised, but did not question because of Die's obvious bad mood. The sun was barely up and the grass was still wet from the morning dew, but Die didn't care. He wanted to get back at the castle as quickly as he could. By then, he could distance himself with the auburn haired beauty and tamper this unnatural yearning to comfort him. He cursed at himself for turning soft the night before. He was a Royal Knight! They were required to be gallant, but not so to prisoners. He is a prisoner. Nothing more. Worst of all, the prisoner is a Man. A MAN for God's sakes! A man was supposed to endure hardships. Be tough. Be rough. Be a man.

He hastily took down his tent as SHinya stood a little away glaring at him for being roused so early. Die packed everything away then looked at Shinya's disarranged and grumpy state. He couldn't help it, he had to smile.

SHinya scowled at him. His grin broadened.

"You'd better saddle up or we'll never reach my home before winter." Die said.

Shinya muttered something inaudibly and mounted his horse.

Everyone got ready and set off into the woods. Shinya yawned. He was so tired, but he complied with Die's wishes because he, too, wanted to reach his destination as soon as possible. Plus, he was too tired to argue.

Die stayed close to his little 'prisoner,' watchfulof the younger man's weary state. He became a little worried when the auburn head closed his eyes and began teetering on the saddle. Shinya swayed sideways and Die quickly reached over and caught him in his arms.

"Die, he could ride with me if it is more of a convenience to you." Hakuei said from behind.

"Nay." Die replied, lifting the slim body off and placing it gently in front of him. "Tis no inconvenience."

The troops all looked at each other in surprise. The Lord of Alnwick sure was giving this prisoner an overly favorable treatment. They all watched Sir Die handle the boy as if he was a fragile piece of porcelain. Their laird wrapped his arms around the boy and held him closer than necessary.

Immediately, Shuse leaned over to Hakuei and Gisho and whispered: "I thought he was a prisoner."

"Aye, he is, but Sir Die seems to take a liking to the lad." Gisho replied.

"Tis not as if WE have been treating the lad like a prisoner either." Hakuei put in. "He shoulda slept outside last night wit' the horses, but he slept in Die's tent."

Shuse gasped. "REALLY?! Sir Die let a PRISONER in his tent?!" He stared at the two in front of them. "Wha' ye think they did?"

"You are green minded!" Kamijo butt in. "I'm sure the Lord of Alnwick was very professional in handling the prisoner."

Kyo snorted as he observed Die and Shinya ahead, with Die stroking the boy's hair involuntarily. "My arse." He muttered.

"Seriously." SHuse pressed on. "The lad's been tired all mornin'. Wha' else could they been doin'?"

"Tis highly possible, Shuse." Gisho pointed out. "But I highly doubt the laird will bed a man, since we all know how opposed he is about that."

"True." Shuse frowned.

"Why, were you hoping for a match?" Hakuei said. "Shuse, the matchmaker."

"Shut up."

"I still have not forgiven you for the anti-women comment."

Up ahead, Die could not heart their conversation, but was preoccuppied with the warm body sleeping in his arms. He caught himself stroking the silky hair, then abruptly dropped his hand. //I must be going daft.// he told himself. He looked at Shinya, who placed his head on the hollow of Die's shoulder. //We know nothing of each other....// Die thought, feeling sad for some reason. //I don't even know the lad's name...//

As if by chance, Shinya began to stir, opening his eyes in a flutter. He stared dazedly at Die looking down at him, then regained his composure once he discovered himself in the Scot's arms. He nearly bolted upright, but Die placed a finger on his lips. He stopped and stared.

"Stay here. You're tired." Was all the man said.

Shinya was stiff for a moment, then relaxed into the warm embrace. He felt Die trace his lips with a finger as he blushed.

"Tis sad, is it not? I know nothing about you." he said softly, mostly to himself.

Shinya was on the verge of asking that it did not matter, but stopped hismelf. He questioned his motives last night and it did not get him anywhere but a cold stare. "You never asked me anthing, so how could you possibly know me any better?"

"Hmmm?" Die withdrew his hand, but embraced the man tighter to him as the horse went a bit faster. "I did ask you what your name was."

Shinya hesitated.

"I've told you before that people call me Sir Die, but it's merely a title. You may call me Die if you wish. It's better than being called a red-headed arse." He smiled.

Shinya blinked twice. He'd never seen the man smile before. Now that he did.... he blushed.

"I.... they call me Shinchan at home..."

"Alright, Shinchan. Are you feeling more awake now?"

"....Aye.... Die. I-I thank you for doing....this."

"You complained about gentlemanly conduct and I'm merely complying to your wishes." He coudln't help smiling. He'd rather liked a stuttering and blushing Shinchan. "So were exactly is home?"

"In England at Hayashi. I thought you knew."

"I assumed you've lived elsewhere before becoming a maid."

"Nay. I've lived at the castle all my life." He bit his lip. "Where is your home?"

DIe looked thoughtful. "Home.... I have a castle of my own, but what I'd truly like is a small cottage in the countryside of my own."

"Tis also something I wish for." SHinya said. "I care not about the court. I just want a peaceful place and grow my herbs. I want to help commoners with my knowledge of medicine."

"That is a generous goal." Die said softly. "I've always dreamed of a family in that country cottage. No wars. No court disasters. None of this chaos right now."

"So why do you do it?"

"Duty. The Prince needed the best officers right now because the McPhearsons are advancing and building up their army. Only after thereis peace will I be able to fulfill my dream."

Shinya thought about all the wars and dead soldiers that were shipped back to Hayashi. The King would bury them with honors, but it was still a depressing sight. "Tis difficult to see peace around the corner. Makes one wonder if it ever will come. Also makes one wonder why there are wars in the first place. One would think that God would forbid war from being created."

"War was not created by God, but by humans. God choses not to stop it because it is needed. If there are no wars, then how would we find peace? If there was no devil, then who would be the angels? If there was no evil, then how would we define good? If life was so, then it would not be worth living."

Shinya nodded, a bit surprised at the barbarian's deep philosophy. He also found himself more and more at ease with him, as if talking to him made him more human. He wasn't just a Scot anymore, he was a person. A normal person with thoughts, feelings, and dreams of his own. He thought about all the other troops behind them. He was certain they, too, were like normal people. He vowed that he would come to know them all better before he executed his 'escape.'

They reached a small village deep ina valley and decided to have lunch there. The troops settled down in a tavern.

"Well, well, if tisn't Sir Die and his company. How ye farin'?" a large, buxom woman with an apron came out with a tray.

"Verry well milady. I see your tavern is doing quite well."

"Aye, tis. Especially when your troops are about." She laughed heartily. "Now, where is my son?"

"^^; He's in the stables caring for the hroses milady." Die answered reluctantly.

"Stables, eh? Well, i've a word or two for that boy!" She turned to a waitress. "Heidi! Take care of these troops 'ere. I've something important to do."

"Yes, mother." The small, young girl replied.

Shuse whistled. "Whew. I'm glad I'm not Hakuei."

Shinya blinked. He suddenly noticed Hakuei's empty seat. "Why is that?"

"That woman was his mother." Gisho replied. "She's a bit, er, domineering."

"NOt to mention his 4 younger sisters." Die added.

The girl named Heidi blushed at the comment. "Ah, but Heidi is not as bad as what Hakuei deems her to be." Gisho pointed out when he saw her blush. "And I'm sure milady would like to take our order." He smiled charmingly.

Heidi turned red & stared at her toes.

Shinya stared from Heidi to Gisho and back. He elbowed Die. "Are they...?" He whispered.

"No." DIe whispered back. "But I do wich Gisho would start courting her."

After Heidi left, Shinya began to ask questions. "So that's the eldest sister?"

"Aye. She's also the shyest and most reserved." Die informed. "That maiden over there is her younger twin Hilga. Hilga and the other two are hellions like the mother."

Shinya watched the beautiful Hilga serve a table full of chuckling commoners. He noticed a man grab her butt and she stiffened. Hilga 'accidentally' knocked a scalding hot bowl of soup onto the man's lap and gave an evil anime laugh.

Shinya sweatdropped. "I see.... ^^; But where are the other two?"

"Hagane is the 3rd eldest sister. She's aroung 13 or so and is very rebellious." Die said.

"And Haliden is the youngest. She's only six, but she's a spoiled one." Shuse put in. "i wouldna take care of a brat like that."

"wow. No wonder he hates women." SHinya said as he watched HIlga serve another table. "But how do you know them so well?"

"We often stop by this village on travels. Tis small and quite that the McPhearsons would not bother with it." Die explained.

Suddenly, a short man with brown hair stumbled intot he tavern. He saw the table and immediately went on his knees. "Sir Die!"

"Eh? Hyde, the royal messneger and spy! What brings you here."

Shinya stared at the small man whose eyebrows creased with worry.

"I've an urgent message from the Prince."

"Go on..."

"He needs a caretaker at Niikura castle."

"Caretaker??"

"He is attending to someone who is recovering from fever."

"WHo?"

"I do not know. I believe tis some poor, lovely maiden the Prince is besotted with."

Kyo smirked. "Next thing we know, we'll be hearing wedding bells."

Shinya almost offered to help, but was detained by Die firmly holding his arm. "Nay. you're staying with us."

"But I know how medicine works! I can help!" Shinya insisted, despite a strange conscience telling him it's wrong to help the Scottish Prince.

"I know you can," Die whispered in his ear. "But you're mine."

Shinya blinked and stared at him. but the red head already turned his attention to Hyde's words.

"And," Hyde continued. "The McPhearsons are advancing this way."

"WHAT!!!!!!!!??????????" the troops exclaimed.

"YOU IDIOT! Why didn't you say so in the first place???!!" Kyo shook the other man by the collar.

Kamijo shoved Kyo out of the way and grabbed Hyde by the collar. "How did the McPhearsons know? Eh? How? This quest was kept confindential to this party and the court!!!!"

Hyde: @_@;........

Die grabbed Kamijo and shoved him aside. "It would help the man greatly if you'd stop shaking him!" He turned to Hyde. "How did they find us?"

"N-not all of the McPhearsons were dispatched! Only a small band of troops lead by the Black Knight is coming!"

"Tsk! Of course. the Black Knight knows all." Die muttered. "You haven't told us why they are heading this way."

Hyde swallowed hard. "I almost got caught sneaking around the Black Knight's camp! I overheard him talking about eliminating Prince Niikura's best generals to.... to...."

".... to take over our kingdom...." die finished.

"Aye. And since you are away from the castle with only a few troops with you, then it IS the perfect opportunity to kill you."

"How did they find us?"

"The Prince requested I speak to you in private about that."

"Alright. Then, how far away is the Black Knight?"

Hyde bit his lip. "3 hours's worth, milord. 3 hours..."

Die clenched his hand into a fist. "Fuck."

/End of Parchment 6//

Contd~ Parchment 7: The Black Knight

Yk2: hope you enjoy =)

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