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It was only ruins now. The white marble stairs were all but crumbled sand. The stones that seemed so unmovable were a bunch of pebbles, covered in ashes and shattered dreams. There was nothing left of the legendary castle that stood here and something in Tenma’s chest broke, but he had no time to consider it at this moment. The fire that was surrounding him was getting closer and the galloping of horses did not seem far away.
How everything came to this was beyond him. Just a few days ago, they were celebrating his crowning and now? Now, his only wish was that all of his people were safe, or at least most of them. His knights were strong enough to hold them off for some time so there was hope in his chest that most of the villagers were okay.
Tenma’s heart ached at the thought of knights, for there was one that had taken over his mind, body and soul. It was one Tsurugi Kyousuke, his personal guard. He was last seen the day of the attack and oh how he longed to see those fiery eyes for one last time. To see the amber in them shine in the candlelight. He wished that he had held him longer in their bed, wished that he had never let him go out of their chamber on that fateful day. He yearned for one more day with him or at the very least to die with him, for his touch was his savior and he’d believe in it until the very end.
There was a horse galloping closer. He should start praying to the Gods any minute now.
The horse’s legs were black, dark as the night itself. Tenma didn’t bother looking at anything else. He preferred to not see his murderer, for a fear of them sparing his life. He was not a coward and would not die like one. He looked down, sending one last prayer and waiting for the sword to come upon him.
“So they were right…”
He knew that voice. It was one he would recognize everywhere, even deaf using only the vibration of his chest, he’d recognize it. He looked up and ran. Ran as fast as his legs could take him.
“Kyousuke!”
There was a loud thud as he jumped off the horse and even louder clatter when their bodies met, metal hitting metal. Tenma did not care.
He did not care for the sharp iron, cutting his cheek as his head found his shoulder; did not care for the broken armor digging into his hands; did not care for the rough hand on the back of his hand for he’d accept all of Kyousuke. His Kyousuke, who was back and breathing and alive. He could feel the pulse on his neck and the hot breath on his hair and face.
They held each other for what seemed like a lifetime and a mere second at the same time. Salty tears were streaming down his face and he let them, unashamed of his weakness. His love, whose unshed tears were shining in his eyes, was here and that was the only important thing.
There were people coming closer.
“What were you doing here, my king? Did you have a death wish?” His voice was rough, unused for Gods know how long.
“I thought you were gone…”
Kyousuke’s eyebrows scrunched up in worry, his hands holding him a bit tighter.
“We have to get you out of here! Come on!”
It was chaos. There was an arrow that passed them as Kyousuke got him on his horse, Midnight. The horse did not panic, already used to both Tenma and the violence. There was clatter and shouting, and swords. Over 10 of them could be seen from his position. He looked down, just to see a grim expression staring at him. He shook his head, tears running down his face even faster.
“Kyou-”
“Go! You’re the king. The people need you, more than they need me!”
“But I need you, Kyousuke. Don’t-”
“I will come back to you, okay? I will, I swear it.”
Tenma nodded, sobs escaping him as a lone tear ran down Kyousuke’s cheek. With that, he sent him off, turning around immediately.
The horse neighed as they sped off, prayers on the tip of the tongue of the young king and a heart heavier than stone.