krystalkatzficz | You are my tomorrow part 37

Nino stared, his mouth opened in complete disbelief, as he looked around the garden and the hundreds, if not thousands of flowers that were decorating it. He couldn’t believe that anybody could have killed this many people. He knew from his history book that war was everywhere at this time with lord against lord and new emperors with claim to the thrown popping up everywhere but he never imagined that the lord Ohno could have possibly ended this many lives. If it was true, and if each flower in his beautiful garden was a life, just how much was the poor man holding on to? And would he ever allow it to go? Honouring the dead and respecting those that had passed was one thing, this…This was a form of torture, and it was of the lord’s own making.

“My lord? You…Have taken all of these lives?” He whispered and Ohno nodded slowly his expression grim, and almost forlorn, as he sank to his knees beside him easing the roots out with his fingertips as he answered briskly and sharply;

“Yes…It is as I said…Each flower is a life taken…Now plant those and then we may go in…”

“Yes my lord…” Nino nodded working a lot more quickly and carefully making sure that each of the plants were placed perfectly noticing that Ohno said a prayer for each of the flowers as he poured water over them. It wasn’t the first time that he had seen him do it but he had just thought it was a prayer to help the flowers to grow now he noticed that it was a prayer for the dead. Nino closed his eyes along with the older man offering up his own prayers to the soldiers killed. “Were they…The enemy?”

“Some…Others were my men who followed me there but never returned with me…”

“I see…” Nino whispered noting that the amount of flowers now made sense, Ohno carried the guilt of those that served him as well as those on the opposing side. It was honourable, he supposed but just how much guilt could one human alone be expected to carry? “They…Must have been honoured to serve you…”

“I imagine so, they said so enough but should I not mourn for them because they were honoured?”

“No…I didn’t mean that…I just meant…That maybe a stone…Or a plague…” Nino whispered remembering the war monuments from his own time and to his surprise Ohno didn’t look angry or even irritated by his suggestion he just smiled wanly and shook his head explaining it like a teacher might explain to a child;

“A stone is not a living breathing thing...I chose flowers because they are the only things that give an almost accurate glimpse…One flower another two may grow…Lives of children that will now never be born…”

“You carry with you the guilt for children that might not even have been as well? You are a busy man, my lord…” Nino breathed in disbelief actually thinking that as a monument it was a beautiful thing but it was also devastating. Ohno gave him a strange look but let out a sigh looking down at his hands and clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

“Your hands…They will need treating…” Ohno breathed grabbing them both with his one good hand and Nino jolted at the touch his heart hammering against his ribs. It wasn’t gentle by any stretch of the imagination but he could see that there was some concern reflected in the brown orbs of his lord’s eyes and he smiled weakly saying;

“It’s okay…Just a few sores, I’ll deal with it later…I should clean up and see to the lady Ohno…”

“Right…” Ohno nodded his face shutting up again his eyes becoming blank and Nino felt compelled to whisper;

“There is nothing between me and Lady Ohno, sir, I don’t like girls…Not like that…”

TBC
A/N: I hope that this is okay ^_^