Against His Will part 33

[krystalkatz.livejournal.com]

Masaki would have preferred the hour to drag but before he knew it they were entering through a large metal gate that was set into a deep red and soft cream wall that ran around a small country park. It appeared to be smaller than the Ninomiya’s but he had been expecting that. The ride down the lane was shorter too but as soon as he saw the house he fell in love. It was a red as the walls that ran around the part with a dark grey slate roof and sandstone trimmings. Ivy grew up over on half of the building curling its way around the large windows and making it look like something the Ninomiya castle never had done, a home. Light grey smoke was curling its way out of the four chimneys and the large double front door suddenly revealing a stout well-dressed man, a woman in a light grey dress with pristine apron and cap and two teenagers, a boy and a girl. The girl was dressed in a plan brown dress with an apron of her own while the boy was dressed almost like a miniature version of Sakurai himself with the exception of wearing a blue coat and not red.

As the horses came to a stop all four staff members fell into line with their heads bowed politely in front of them and Masaki swallowed nerves playing havoc with his insides. Marsha was fidgeting as well and Masaki smiled pushing his own nerves away trying to reassure her by giving her a small hug and saying;

“It will be fine…”

“Yes!” The girl agreed quickly but he could tell from the way that her voice trembled that she was as nervous as he was. Sakurai jumped down from his horse and almost ran over to them an excited flush in his face as he helped Marsha down first and then Masaki his hands warm and comfortable on his hips.

“You will be fine, my love…” He breathed kissing him gently on the lips before releasing him with his arm around his waist leading him over to the staff. “Masaki I would like to introduce you to our indoor staff…Our butler Theodore White…”

“Nice to meet you…” Masaki said quickly to the man who looked up and gave him a smile before bowing again.

“And you my Lord Sakurai…” his voice was rich and rolling with each word carefully articulated. It was a pleasant sound but Masaki almost drowned knowing that he would never be able to get used to being called ‘Sakurai’. He would always be looking over his shoulder thinking his husband was there.

“Masaki, please…” He said gently flushing when Theodore looked at him with a lifted eyebrow. He gave and embarrassed smile and quickly tried to quickly explain himself hoping that he hadn’t done something wrong “It would be confusing being called Sakurai…I mean…Um…There is two of us…”

“Of course then I will be honoured my Lord Masaki…” Theodore smiled bowing again while Sakurai moved to the side looking at the woman that was in front of them.

“This is Jenna White…Theodore’s daughter our housekeeper and cook…” He said introducing the woman and Masaki had to admit that he was surprised. She was pretty under the cap and younger than he was expecting. He had always assumed that housekeepers were older women with scowling faces but Jenna looked like she was the kind of person that wanted to laugh. Her eyes flicked up to him and she gave a smile before looking away again curtsying as she whispered;

“My lord…I am very pleased to meet you at last…” She giggled her voice sounding like a babbling brook and Masaki got the impression that she wanted to reach out and hug him but was holding herself in place. “Congratulations on your marriage my lord…I hope that you will enjoy living here…”

“Yes…Thank-you…” Masaki beamed wondering how he could have been worried about this. He settled into his husband his heart completely relaxing as he hoped that Nino was faring just as well as he was.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“When we arrive at the palace we will be allowed to rest and dress before being presented to the court…” Jun told him in a calm voice as they rolled through the streets of main city and Kazu tried to nod and show that he was paying attention but all he could focus on was his stomach and the way that it was rolling around like he was about to throw up.

“And…and the…king?” He whispered trying desperately trying to breathe deep through both his nose and mouth and then wishing that he hadn't when he felt another wave of sickness roll up around his body. He swallowed it down his hands clenching into tight balls on his legs trying vainly to dislodge the strange cloud of nausea that was distorting his vision.

“…My father…?” Jun snorted loudly and Kazu turned to look at him glad to see that the softened expression was back in face again along with a very fond light in his eyes. It seemed that the rumours of Jun being very fond of his father were true. Knowing that helped ease some, if not much, of the tension and although he still felt as if he was going to throw up he could breathe a little easier now “We will be lucky if we manage to make it to the castle before he accosts us…I am sure that his men have already told him that we are arrived in the city...Sprite…Are you ill again?”

“…I…Am so sorry, my husband…” Kazu managed to whisper before his cheeks puffed up and emptied the contents of his stomach out onto the prince and the carriage floor. He felt humiliated and that only made more nervous sick leave his body. Sobbing a little he flinched down holding himself and waiting for Jun to scream and shout at him and beat him but again there was nothing but gentleness from the man that had hurt him so much that first night. He did shout but it wasn’t at him it was to stop the carriage, something that happened quickly, and when Yun came to see what the commotion was the prince said softly;

“My spite is over come with sickness from the travel…He cannot be expected to enter the castle like this…”

“No, sire, of course…” Yun agreed and Kazu felt the older man’s eyes move over his face gently before he let out a long him saying “There is a house beside us…I will ask if we may use a room to clean you both…”

“Thank-you…Also send the carriage on ahead…It will need to be cleaned…”

“Yes, sire…” Yun agreed reaching into the carriage and taking Kazu’s hand his finger’s wrapping around his tightly as he gave them a squeeze. Kazu looked up into the gentle older face and somehow he managed to smile at the older man feeling better even if there were no words from his man servant for a minute before he withdrew his hand and moved away from the carriage bowing politely “I will be back in a few moments, my lords…”

“Your manservant is free about touching you…” Jun growled his harsh tone back again and Kazu mourned the loss of the warm man that he had seen with the children.

“Yun…He has cared for me since I was a babe, my husband…More so than any other than my mother…” Kazu told him weakly but with determination not wanting Jun to take out his anger on Yun “In truth…He is like a father to me”

“I see…I…”

“Son!” A voice shouted from outside the carriage cutting off anything that Jun was about to say and Kazu knew from the expression that crossed his husband’s face that the king was on his way.

TBC
A/N: Ohno is almost here ne! I hope that this is okay ^_^