krystalkatzficz | Against His Will part 102

Masaki sat with Esme watching as she sewed a blanket in with fine little stitches creating swirling patterns of cloud with golden thread. It was the strangest thing that he had ever witnessed somebody making for a child but she had just whispered that it was a tradition in the servant class and she couldn’t help but want to make something for her baby. They were once again in the family only parlour and as there was only him, Aurora, and Kazuko there he was happy and feeling relaxed. All morning he had attempted to be the model husband for Sakurai, he had refused to look at anyone for an extended amount of time but he had kept his head up, refusing to be embarrassed or ashamed of something that he hadn’t done.

“Masaki…”

“Hmm?” He hummed looking up at the sound of his name trying hard to smile but failing badly.

“You are scowling…Is there something the matter?” Kazuko asked gently moving from her chair beside the fire to come and sit beside him her hand delicately resting on his forearm. There was an understanding smile on her face and Masaki’s smile slipped away as he started explaining everything that had happened since last night and even his promise to be a better husband, slightly embarrassed by the looks that he was getting from the other women. “Oh Masaki, my sweet child, I beg you know…Never change…”

“But…”

“But nothing, my sweet boy…You are the child of your father through and through…He was like you…Everybody loved him…” Kazuko smiled her fingers moving through his hair as he turned to the queen asking “Do you remember Aurora…?”

“I remember…” The queen nodded a gentle and happy smile forming over her own lips as her eyes took on a misty quality remembering back into the past “He was the fairest young master there ever was…His workers loved him…”

“They still do, there is a remembrance service every year for him…” Kazuko muttered sadly while still continuing to smile “You…You have received your letter from his lawyer?”

“Yes, ma’am…I was going to talk to you about that...But things happened…” He said feeling guilty that he hadn’t spoken to her about his inheritance or his father. There was a lot that he wanted to know about the man that he didn’t remember, but as he had said so many things had happed that he had never gotten around to asking. He was happy to know that his father had been a good man that was still loved by his people even after so many years.

“That is okay Masaki, but he was deeply loved just for being himself, nobody was beneath his notice…And I promise that he would be very proud of you just as you are…” Kazuko told him grabbing a hold on his cheeks and forcing him to look into her eyes so he could see the truth that was hidden inside them. She gave him another smile and kissed his forehead before chuckling “And besides I cannot imagine that Sakurai has any reason to complain of your actions as his husband…”

“The people in the court a far more interested in their own concerns…It makes them better to think they can look down on others…You are perfect Masaki...Never doubt that…I wouldn’t have anybody else as godfather to my child…” Esme laughed taking his hand and placing it down onto her stomach. Masaki gasped loudly as he felt something move frantically against his palm “See even the baby thinks you are perfect…”

“I think we are all in agreement…” Aurora put in patting him hard on the shoulder “I myself have had many years of talk…Many think that Jun is not my husband’s child…Nothing I do will ever make them think otherwise…All you can do is carry on and reassure yourself that those who love you will always know the truth about you…”

Masaki smiled weakly and tearfully as he looked around at the faces of the three beautiful woman who were all smiling truthfully at him and slowly he gave a sigh nodding as his fingers ran through his hair whispering gently;

“Fine…I promise that will not change…Will you tell me more about my father?”

“Of course…What would you like to know?”

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

Kazu stared at the beautiful bird that was sitting on Satoshi’s arm his mouth dry in surprise. It was only a young bird, not even a year old but he could tell that it was already halfway trained sitting comfortably on the king’s arm as its hooded head bobbed backwards and forwards. His feathers were beautiful, a soft yellow belly with a deep rich wood brown wings and tail. His talons were black and a deep rich yellow.

“Your gift, my son…” Satoshi said leading the leather lead that was attached to the bird’s foot forcing it to take flight as he handed it to him. Kazu was deeply thankful that he was also wearing a leather glove as the bird came over to him and landed on his hand. The talons scratched over the leather a few times before it settled down. Satoshi removed the little hood and Kazu was presented with a narrow face and sharp little eyes. “This falcon is the son of my own bird Thor…I was intending to keep him for myself but Jun mentioned that you enjoyed falconry…”

“I…Have not been trained much, my…You-Satoshi…” Kazu admitted honestly as he took the chunk of meat the king offered to him and held it up in front of the sharp beak shivering just slightly when the beak came out and swiftly started rip it to shreds right there in his hands. It used a mix of both its beak and talons hopping up and down its weight strangely pleasant on his arm. He wanted to accept the gift, grateful to both the king and of course his husband for remembering what he had said but he had never expected something so beautiful and he honestly didn’t think that he deserved it “I would not be able to care for your bird…”

“I think that you will do fine…But I promise that while you are here I will be happy to train you as will my falconer…Please accept my gift, Kazunari…I am truly happy for you to have him…They are intelligent birds...And he seems already settled on your arm…” Satoshi said destroying any more arguments that he may bring up. Kazu looked at the bird that seemed contented enough on his arm to start preening his wings and slowly he nodded smiling;

“Then I would be honour to accept your gift…”

“Good…” Satoshi said happily handing him some more meat and Kazu quickly fed it to his bird “But now you will have to figure out a name for him…”

“A…Name…He does not have one?” Kazu asked glad when the little hood went back onto the bird.

“No…I could not think of one and as he is yours now you should do the honours of naming him…” Satoshi told him as he walked him back to the cages where more birds were kept. Keeping a firm grip on the lead of the bird he brought his other hand up and lightly brushed it through the feathers on his belly.

“What would be a good name? You said yours was called Thor?” He asked reluctantly putting the bird back into the large cage. He searched though his memories before humming lightly looking at his mischievous looking bird and saying “I will name him Loki…”

“Good choice…Now I think that we should talk...I think that you should speak with a healer…”

“Satoshi?”

“My son told me of what he did to you…I…Think that you need somebody to speak to…I promise that it will be painless…But you need somebody…”

TBC
A/N: I know that help for mental health issues in R/L was almost non-existent…In fact Nino would have been stuffed in a hole somewhere to die or brought out to entertain the rich but I like to think that Ohno is a progressive king so I hope that this is okay ^_^