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The breeze blows lightly through the tall grasses, and the sound of dirt rapidly being crushed along with the rattling of metal fills the atmosphere.
With one stride after another, Tsukasa bounds through the field, leaving upturned gravel behind him. His purple eyes squint as he searches the fields for any signs of human interference.
His hands part the tall grass as he peers through, scouring the land, hoping to find the familiar face of the former king.
The boy sighs. How hard must it be to find that man?
He continues onward until the tall grass ends and leads him to a clearing filled with small white flowers. Tsukasa stills for a moment, admiring the beauty of the blue sky and the dance of the flowers. He understands why Leo would seek solace in a place like this. The serenity of the clearing hidden by the tall grass would be the perfect place for someone to gather their thoughts.
As he stares in awe at the scenery, he catches a glimpse of orange hair in the distance, and he immediately prepares to run. His pace quickens as he continues to run towards the man, worrying about him disappearing without a trace. The metal ornaments on his attire rattle as he sets off once more.
Tsukasa would not want his search to be in vain; after all, he had many things to discuss with the man in question. He would not want to humiliate himself in front of his companions by coming back with unanswered questions after promising to talk to Leo about his concerns. He hoped that today would finally be the day he got to set things straight with Leo. After all, the two of them had not had a proper discussion since their duel.
After traversing more of the field, he is met with the grin of a familiar face. There sits Leo, the former king, in his rebellious glory, his orange mane flowing freely in the wind instead of in its usual messy ponytail. The man sits on a large rock surrounded by white flowers, and the scene almost resembles him sitting on the throne.
“Ah Suou~! It’s nice to see you. What are you doing all the way out here, little knight? Or should I say, little king?” Leo inquires.
Tsukasa huffs, “I was searching for you, Leo-san. You should highly consider informing other people of your whereabouts so they are not led on a wild goose chase.”
“Hmm, but what if I didn’t want to be found?”
The boy pauses after the man utters his question.
Perhaps Tsukasa did not think well enough about encroaching on Leo’s privacy. He feels guilt clutch onto his heart as he tries to muster up words to say.
“I am… Sorry for intruding, Leo-san…” Tsukasa says as he finds a place to sit on the ground. He sits further away from Leo so as not to worsen his blunder. “My selfishness has encroached on your desire to seek some solitude. I truly apologize, and I will leave if you wish.”
Leo ushers Tsukasa to sit closer to him as he pats an empty space on the rock he’s sitting on.
“Hey, hey, don’t worry about it~! It’s not that serious, Suou. Plus, it’s been a while since I’ve had company here.” Leo reassures him. “Maybe it’s good you’re here, otherwise I might’ve gotten lost in my thoughts and forgotten how to get home!”
Tsukasa sits down next to Leo. “I am grateful for you allowing me to keep you company, Leo-san.”
The two sit in silence as they gaze at the scenery. Tsukasa ponders more about the man beside him. He still does not understand Leo Tsukinaga's mystery.
What could have possibly led him to think someone like me could become king?
He watches Leo’s hair majestically swirl in the wind. Despite sporting a rebellious look, the man still looked regal and had a sophisticated air around him that the boy felt he could not replicate.
Leo pokes the red-haired boy in the shoulder. “Well, I know you didn’t just come here to stare at the scenery with me~!”
“Oh, I-I yes, Leo-san. I actually had some important matters to discuss with you. Well, rather… I had some concerns and questions I would like to address.” Tsukasa stammers.
Leo nods at him to continue.
“Firstly, I would like to apologize once again for my actions during our duel. I hope you know I never intended to gravely injure you.” Tsukasa bows his head and puts a hand over his heart. “The fact that this was your first impression of me has been weighing on my conscience.”
“My arm’s all healed up, Suou, so no need to feel bad about it. The healers patched it up as good as new!” Leo stretches his right arm to prove his claim.
“I am glad you are recovering well, Leo-san.” Tsukasa expresses relieved.
“Yeah, so no need to fret over it, alright? I’m not angry at you for defending yourself.” Leo gives him a pat on the shoulder. “You should be wayyyy more upset with me. But you gave me a chance and I’m grateful for that.”
“I harbor no ill will toward you, Leo-san, and my feelings have not wavered. I do not regret giving you a chance.”
Leo glances at him with confusion. “Even after all of that, you haven’t wavered? You’re truly an odd one, Suou.”
“I knew you were more than just a ruthless swordsman or the revered king who went mad. I want to learn more about you, Leo-san. Not through duels or stories, the kingdom tells, but rather from you yourself.” Tsukasa explains as he returns Leo’s gaze.
The orange-haired man looks at Tsukasa with an expression that the boy cannot decipher.
“The first thing I’ll tell you is that I made many mistakes as king,” Leo starts. “I have numerous regrets.”
The red-haired boy places a hand on the man’s back in an attempt to comfort him. “Everyone has regrets, Leo-san. Perhaps we would not be human without regrets.”
The orange-haired man looks at Tsukasa with an expression that the boy cannot decipher.
Tsukasa startled as Leo let out a hollow laugh. The expression on the man’s face morphs into something pained.
“Suou, has anyone told you that you’re way too kind to someone who has allowed you to inherit the blood on their hands?” He asks dejectedly.
All the red-haired boy could do was blink.
Leo apologizes, “I’m sorry for burdening you with these responsibilities. I wanted to be equal with everyone, but it seems like the only way for me to do so was by passing these burdens to you. Hah, it looks like the only thing I am truly good at is running away…”
“It’s not completely fair to blame yourself in this situation. After all, as a king, you must make numerous difficult choices, and some come with sacrifice and strife that will leave you wondering if you’ve made the correct decision,” Tsukasa rebuttals.
The orange-haired man gives him a small, sad smile, one that Tsukasa would have missed if he blinked.
“I am glad I chose you as my successor. The people need someone with your resolve and fresh perspective to rule right now, Suou.” Leo pats Tsukasa on the back. “I hope that during your reign, the people of our kingdom will prosper and that you will have fewer regrets than I.”
The red-haired boy affirms. “I’m sure I will have regrets when I become king as well, Leo-san, but I know that with you and the rest of the knights by my side, I will be able to bear these responsibilities when the time comes.”
“I know you will do great, Suou~ Trust me for once, okay? I’ve chosen you for a reason.”
Tsukasa nods with content, and he feels tension evaporate from his shoulders.
“I keep going off on tangents, aghh, I always get caught up in the wallowing. You came here to ask me something important, did you not?” Leo questions.
Tsukasa smiles with a newfound confidence. “Ah, well, it’s okay, Leo-san. I’ve learned more about you today, and I am thankful for you being able to open your heart to me. I have gotten the answer to my question.”
“Oh, good! Well, it’s getting really dark fast, so let's head back to the castle together.” Leo says.
The red-haired boy holds out his hand, and Leo grasps it.
Tsukasa replies, “I’d quite like that. We would not want Sena-senpai to scold us for missing supper, would we?”
A strong gust of evening breeze blows through the flowers, leaving both men’s hair to get ruffled by the wind. They both laugh as they bound through the field hand in hand, heading towards the castle as the sun sets.
As every story starts with many questions and a parting from home, it always ends with an answer as well as their return.