Alnwick Castle

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 Eight: The Black Knight

Shinya mentally shook his head from the images of the kiss he shared with Die. It was so preposterous and entirely improper. What was worse was that he enjoyed it. ENJOYED IT! With an idiot of a Scot! It was wrong, yet he continued to think about it. Over and over again, he could feel those wide lips devouring his in a soft but demanding rhythm. He could feel the hot tongue stroking his pink lower lips gently, coaxing him to take the initiative. He shook his head.

“Is something wrong?” Die looked at him. Shinya was till in his arms; Die was still running through the side streets, trying to reach the forest before the McPhearsons.

“Let me down!” Shinya demanded.

“Don’t you like being with me?”

“Nay. Put me down.”

Die frowned. “Would you be able to run in my pace?”

Shinya lifted his chin. “Of course.”

Die sighed and genlty put him down.

Shinya landed on his heels and rocked slightly.
The red head steadied him. “You sure about this? Tis no trouble for me to carry you. You weigh no more than a broomstick.”

“Nay” He stubbornly snarled. “I don’t need you.”

Die’s frowned turned into angry pressed lips. “OH? If you don’t need me, then why don’t you find your way around this village? Why don’t YOU fight the Black Knight?”

Shinya stared at the tightly pressed lips and shook his head from any hentai thoughts. //I will not think about that.//

“Now what are you shaking your head for?” Die demanded angrily. “First, you were agreeable, and now you’re anything but that! How did I end up with the most temperamental man alive?”

Shinya felt like pulling his hair off his scalp. Not only did he feel such arousing frustration, but he felt extremely emotional and angry. He pointed at the red head and jabbed him on the chest. “YOU should NOT BE talking!” Jab. “YOU offer me to ride with you one night then say I don’t deserve such luxuries!” Jab. “Then YOU made me ride with you without my permission!” Jab. “And you dare to call ME temperamental!?!??????? ><!!!!!!!” He practically shrieked in frustration. He became more inflamed when Die simply stared at him blankly then grinned. “Wha---?”

Die lifted the smaller man up from under his arms until they were nearly nose to nose. “Do you realize you look desirable when you’re angry?’

“WHAT?!” He blushed. “Sh-shut up!”

“And you’re very adorable when you stutter.”

“I don’t stutter! You barbarian!”

Die simply chuckled and put him down. “I suggest we keep moving. Quietly. Tis not good to linger so long.” He turned the other way and moved quickly and stealthily down the alley.

Shinya huffed and stomped after him. //WHY? Why can’t I have some peace?// he suddenly saw a glint of metal on the corner of his eye. His eyes widened then he lunged forward. “DIE!!!” He yelled as he tackled the red head down with him. He heard a whizz and instantly felt sharp pain on his side.

“Shinchan?” Die said frantically. “Shinchan?!” He turned around and held the boy in his arms. He noticed an arrow sticking out from the side. He shook off his panic and shock and looked around. He did not see anyone. Another arrow whizzed by and landed on the wall next to them. “Fuck.” He cursed as he picked up Shinya and ran for their lives.

“D-die…” Shinya whispered and winced.

“Sh…”

“I…. I saw an arrow.”

“Don’t worry Shinchan.” He said softly, hearing more arrows whizzing past them. “I’ll get us through this.”

Shinya felt pain deep on his side and nodded, then fell uncoscious.

Die was almost there. If only he could reach the forest, he could rely on the trees for shelter. Suddenly, a black stallion jumped out of another side street and blocked the way. He stopped and stood still as the Black Knight rode before him, proud, powerful, and formidable. Die held the auburn head firmly, but not enough to hurt him, and glared intently at the Black Knight. Behind him, he could hear the other troops gather to block the other way.

“I knew there still would be villagers left!” Lachlan said.

“You continually forget that our traget is not the villagers.” Gareth retorted.

“Ah, but look at the man standing before you! He’s not wearing civilian clothing, but armour! Now, Sir Gareth. Why would a villager wear armour?”

Gareth frowned.

Die paid the other knights no mind. “Do what you will to me.” He told the Black knight. “But leave this innocent out of it.”

“Pah! For all we know,that ‘innocent’ is a spy!” Lachlan insisted. “My lord, it would not hurt us to eliminate both. One less Niikura is not of consequence---!”

The Black Knight raised his hand as a sign of halt. Lachlan immediately sealed his lips reluctantly.

Die took a deep breath and spoke. “I…. I shall strike a bargain. I’ll fight you to a duel, an honorable fight. If I win, you can have me but let the innocent one leave. If I lose, you shall have both our lives at your mercy.”

Gareth spoke. “Sir, tis too advantageous a bargain for us. We can see you indeed are an honorable man to give such a bargain in our favour, but a duel of honor should be fair on both sides.”

Lachlan snorted.

Die stared at the Black Knight.

The black Knight remained unmoving, but spoke after a moment’s hesitation. “Is she your lady?”

Die blinked and looked at Shinya. “Not… not exactly.”

“Is she someone important to you?”

Die hesitated. “Aye…. I suppose.”

“She wears English convent clothing. I pressume she is English and yet you protect her with your life.”

Die blinked.

“You must find her very special.”

“………”

“For a man to lay down his status and his country’s pride for the sake of someone special, despite what the world tells you, is a real man of his word.” The knight said. “You indeed are an honorable man with good intentions. I would like to fight you but I shall not when you are at a disadvantage. Tis an insult to me to fight in that manner.”

Die grew wide-eyed in disbelief.

“But I would ask your troops to cease fire.”

Die immediately looked around. He suddenly heard one of Gackt’s arrows whizzing and some of his troops emerging from the shadows.

“Sir Die, RUN!” Someone yelled.

Die would not have hesitated to leave his men, but Shinya’s well-being came first. The Black Knight was distracted by Hakuei swinging his broad sword at him. The man took out his own sword and deflected it. He jumped down from his horse as Die ran past.

Hakuei fought with lots of vigour, swinging the sword with the expertise he had. He was the strongest fighter of all Die’s troops, yet, he could not marr the Black Knight. The Knight, on the other hand, remained silent and smooth, deflecting hits as graceful as a dancer would. He had no problem swinging his sword with the heavy armour all over his body.

Hakuei grew frustrated. “Why don’t you strike me, Black Knight?”

“Striking is not he only way to win a battle.” Was all he said, having a hint of a smile in his voice.

Hakuei lost his temper and gave one hard swing. The knight, caught in a moment of surprise, was hit on the side. He grunted. Everyone stopped to watch in awe as the Black Knight was hit by a common soldier. But it wasn’t done. The Black Knight stood tall and unharmed, to everyone’s amazement, then grabbed Hakuei’s sword from the blade and jerked it away. The blonde fell on his face, then immediately looked up. His sword was far from his reach. He tried to reach it, but was detained by a cold metal pressed on his neck.

There was silence in the empty village.

“My Lord, are ye alright?” Gareth asked, breaking the silence. Nobody had bested their leader before.

They heard a horn blown from within the forest. It was Die’s call for troops to retreat.

The dark knight stared at the blonde before him. “remember what I say. Fighting…. Tis not about striking until you win. Tis not about who wins or loses either. There are many ways to say that you’ve won; yet there are many ways to say that you’ve lost --- not just in battle. There is more to life than swords and armour.”

“Speak for yourself.” Hakuei spat.

The Knight paused a breath. “I wish I could, lad.” He sheathed his sword.

“My LORD!” Lachlan protested.

He held his hand up in silence. “Go. Your commander awaits you.” He told Hakuei.

“But, My Lord!” Lachlan repeated.

“I look forward to our next fight.” He told Hakuei, then mounted his horse and rode away, along with his confused troops following him.

Hakuei remained where he was, then cursed as he pounded the dusty ground in frustration. Mercy from an enemy. He might as well have been dead.

~~~~~~~~

“My Lord, I don’t understand.” Lachlan whined.

The Black Knight simply rode on, then stopped by a small stream of river. “Gareth, come with me for a moment.”

“Aye, milord.”

They moved away from the other troops into a private area, away from earshot. “Did you bring the bandages?”

“Aye, milord.” He brought out a package of medicine and clean cloth. The knight took off his armour to allow Gareth access to the large cut Hakuei made on his side.

“I wouldn’t take the helmet off, my lord.” Gareth suggested. “Neither the cape. Your men are close and might see you.”

“Aye. You are right.” The general agreed. “I wish this wasn’t so.”

“I do as well.” Gareth replied. “But for peace, it is worth the struggle.”

“For peace….” The black Knight whispered. “We fight because we want peace. We want peace so we fight. How ironic.” He gave a cynical smile.

“I agree, milord.” Gareth said. “I agree.”

//End Parchment 8//
To be cont'd: Parchment 9: Healing