ShadowMoon - Fanfictions - The Country of Elwood / Chapter 2 by Lady Torrent

The Country of Elwood

Chapter 2

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Disclaimer:

I don't own the Ronins. Though it would be really fun if I did. ^_^

And I must say that you guys are nuts. Seriously. Although I *did* enjoy getting all of those very interesting suggestions. SagexRyo... don't you guys think that would be a little on the weird side? Oh well.

Thanks goes out to WildfireFriendship, LadyFirefly, Jenna, Sailor Moon, Gradual Decline, Tasuki_No_Baka, Sushi Man, Axisor, Rachel O, Midget, Christina, Darby Eve, Musou Misora and TheWoodenSpoon for reviewing! Thank you! I love you guys!

And on with the story

<><><><><>

Cye grinned over his shoulder at the elf, before turning back to slicing fruit. "You're such a snoop."

Rowen laughed. "I'm not a snoop. I just happen to have exceptionally good hearing." He protested, taking a slice of apple.

Kento made a thoughtful noise. "Do you know what the announcement *is*?" He asked, looking over Mia's shoulder at the salad she was preparing.

"Nope. I just know that the king is making an important announcement." Rowen pushed himself up onto the counter. "And that it has something to do with Prince Ryo's eighteenth birthday." He replied, watching Cye slice fruit.

"I forgot to tell you guys. I ran into the Princes in the market the other day. The day you came." Mia said, nodding toward Cye.

"Oh yeah? What'd they do?" Kento asked, taking the apple Cye handed him.

"Well, I was getting that fabric the king wanted and ran into Prince Ryo, and we both fell. So I figured, something would happen, you know?" Mia paused, and took the apple Cye offered her.

"Ok, so what happened?" Rowen asked, tugging on his earring.

"Nothing." Mia shrugged, looking up at the elf. "They're actually really nice."

"Yeah, nice looking." Another servant, Naya, shook her head, overhearing their conversation. "But other than that I'm not so sure."

"They're better than just *nice* looking." Rowen shook his head, finishing off his apple.

"That's the other thing I forgot to warn you about." Kento murmured, nudging Cye in the ribs. "Get to know this one and he'll eventually start slapping your ass."

"Oh lemme tell ya." Rowen winked at Cye playfully before kicking Kento.

Cye rolled his eyes, ignoring the two, and picked the fruit bowl up, heading toward the royal dining room.

Mia tapped Kento and Rowen before following Cye, carrying the large salad bowl.

The two grabbed other items needed and followed after Mia and Cye, still mock-arguing.

Cye walked into the large dining room and slowly made his way to the royal table, looking around at all the people and decorations. He walked up to the table bowing his head in respect to Ryo and Sage, whom he stopped in front of.

<><><><><>

Ryo watched the auburn haired boy replace the fruit bowl in front of he and Sage. He nodded back to the boy in a somewhat trance like state. This was the first time Ryo had seen him since he arrived at the castle.

The boy's eyes were sea green and held a hint of mischief in them.

Ryo watched him go about picking up empty plates, and then their eyes locked. Ryo smiled at him, and received a small smile in return before the boy started back in the direction of the kitchen.

The king suddenly stood up, tapping his spoon against the side of his goblet.

The servants all stopped what they were doing their attention, as well as the rest of the party guests', on the king.

The small orchestra in the corner stopped playing the soft music, and set their instruments down.

"I'm extremely happy to announce that on August 15th, my son's eighteenth birthday, he is to be married to Princess Kayura." He held his hand toward the large door as it opened.

Ryo spit the wine he had in his mouth out, receiving a curt look from the king. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked at Sage. "Did you know about this?" He hissed, punching the blonde's shoulder.

Sage shook his head, just as surprised as Ryo. "No. I didn't have a clue." Sage muttered back, watching the girl walk toward them.

Princess Kayura was wearing a flowing gown of light purple, her long hair pulled back in a braid. She was being escorted by three of her father's knights.

The knight whose arm was linked with hers had wild blue hair, and a scar on his face. The other two were walking behind them, one with green hair, and the other long white hair.

Once the quartet got to the dance floor, the three knights left her side and went over to stand near the wall.

Ryo suddenly felt sick as he watched her curtsy to the king, her gaze switching from the king to the floor.

"Ryo, I think you're supposed to go dance with her." Sage muttered, nudging him with his elbow.

The king then looked at Ryo. "I think, Princess Kayura, that he's so astounded by your beauty, that he's forgotten how to be a *Prince*." His father gave him a stern look.

Princess Kayura giggled lightly, locking eyes with Ryo.

Ryo forced down the urge to throw up, and slowly stood.

"Your sword, you idiot." Sage muttered, resting his chin on his clasped hands.

Ryo paused and undid the belt holding his sheathed sword at his side, and leaned it against the table. He slowly walked out to Princess Kayura, his royal cloak flowing behind him. When he reached her, Ryo realized that she looked a few years younger than he was. He took her hand in his and lightly kissed it. "May I have this dance?" He asked, only loud enough for her to hear.

"Of course." She replied, a hint of amusement in her voice as she spoke to him.

The light orchestra music started up again, and the servants all made their exit as the two on the dance floor began to dance.

Cye met up with an equally shocked Rowen, Kento and Mia.

"I didn't think *that* was the announcement." Rowen sputtered, carrying empty dishes and a couple of empty glasses.

Kento only nodded.

"Well, we knew it was going to happen eventually." Mia murmured, shrugging slightly.

Cye ignored the other three, watching the prince dance, mesmerized by the way he moved. The tiger blue eyes didn't help any. He blushed as the prince's eyes locked onto his.

"Yo, earth to Cye. Get the lead out dude." Rowen hit his shoulder, and then realized where he was staring and smiled. "Ah, you got an eye for the Princess, huh?"

Cye snapped out of his trance. "What? No!" Cye shook his head and started back toward the kitchen.

Rowen's eyebrows knit together as he glanced at Cye and then out toward the dance floor again. His jaw dropped open, and he scampered off after the other boy.

<><><><><>

Sage sipped his wine, watching Ryo pace around the room. "Ryo, try to get some sleep, alright? I'm going to bed now." The blonde stood and gracefully strode from the room, shutting the door behind him.

Ryo gave a sigh of frustration and flopped onto his extremely large bed. "God, this is *not* fair." He slammed his fist into the mattress before standing and slowly exiting the room. He had the worst headache. Maybe ice or something like that would help. Or he could go find Touma and be verbally abused. He looked around before quietly creeping down the corridor to a secret tunnel to the servant's corridors. Only he and Sage knew about it. He looked around once more out of paranoia and slid the entrance open before quickly shutting it again.

The small tunnel was extremely dark and damp. The ceiling was not much higher than he was tall.

Ryo's hands slid along the walls on either side of him as he walked. After a few more minutes of walking, the only sounds being his breathing, the sound of his hands against the wall, and his bare feet hitting the cold stone floor, his hand hit a small knob at waist level. He slowly turned it and slid the door open, stepping into the corridor.

The door shut on it's own when the large painting over it slid back into its rightful place on the wall.

Ryo pulled his red silk robe back onto his shoulders and pulled the matching drawstring pants back up to his waist to try to keep the bottom of them from dragging on the ground as he walked. He made his way to the servant's kitchen, his open robe flowing behind him. He pushed the door open and as he stepped in, an orange flew by him. He turned his head and watched the elf catch it, winking at either him, or the person who threw it. Ryo turned his head the other way to see Kento. If he remembered correctly.

"Why do you keep changing the subject?" The elf turned back to the auburn haired boy, standing next to him.

"I'm not changing the subject. I'm choosing to ignore you. There's quite a difference." The boy replied, crossing his arms.

Mia was the first to take notice of Ryo, and curtsied politely to him.

He gave her an uneasy smile before wandering around a couple other departing servants to the fridge where the elf and the other boy were standing.

"Congratulations, you're Highness." Naya smiled at him, curtsying.

Ryo visibly twitched and ignored her, opening the freezer door. He grabbed a small chunk of ice before holding it to his forehead. He decided he didn't want to risk it with the elf.

"Um... Highness-" Naya was cut off as Ryo glared at her.

"Quit calling me that. My name's not Highness." He muttered.

Rowen and Cye exchanged looks, trying to keep from laughing.

"Um... Ryo, perhaps you should use a rag or something, so your hand doesn't freeze. Then you'd really be kicking yourself." Cye grinned, holding a rag out to the prince.

Ryo looked at the rag then at Cye, before gingerly taking it from the other boy's hand. "Thanks..." He murmured.

"I uh... can fix that for you..." Rowen offered, nodding toward him.

"You don't have to." Ryo shook his head and immediately regretted it. It sent the room spinning slightly.

Rowen gave him a look and moved his hand, replacing it with his own, and closing his eyes. Seconds later he opened his eyes and removed his hand. "There. All done. I'm going to bed now. I'll see ya'll in the morning." He announced and started for the door.

"Good night Touma. Thanks." Ryo murmured, and sat in one of the chairs at the table, biting into the chunk of ice.

Rowen stopped halfway to the door and tilted his head to the side, watching the ebony haired prince. "Um... you're welcome..." He shook his head and continued out the door.

"Yeah... I'm going to bed too." Kento agreed. "Night Cye. Mia." He waved and started out the door after Rowen.

"Night." Cye waved back and glanced at Ryo who was munching contently on the chunk of ice.

"Uh... Ryo... You don't look too happy... what's wrong?" Mia asked, sitting across from him, folding her arms on the table.

Cye watched her for a minute then looked back to Ryo, to see his reaction to her question.

"I don't want to get married to someone I don't like." Ryo replied, shrugging. "It's that simple. I don't want to marry Princess Kayura."

"Yeah, that *would* kind of suck. Well, I'm going to head off to bed too. I think Rowen and Kento had the right idea." Cye stated, scratching his head. "I'll see ya in the morning Mia."

"Ok. See ya, Cye." Mia smiled and waved to him.

Ryo smiled, nodding toward him.

Cye smiled back before walking toward his, Rowen, and Kento's room. He opened the door, and Kento grinned at him, pointing toward the elf. Cye turned his head toward the bed he and Rowen shared and grinned.

The blue haired elf was sprawled across the bed, already snoring.

"So healing headaches takes more out of him than he likes to admit." Cye laughed, shutting the door behind him.

"Yeah really. Hm. Don't you think it was kind of weird that Prince Ryo showed up?" Kento asked, watching Cye crawl onto the bed after pushing the elf to the side some.

"I don't know. He's only human. The guy had a headache." Cye lay on his stomach, looking toward the other boy, who was lying on his bed across the small room. He turned to look at the elf when he felt something drape across him.

Rowen had tossed over, his arm across Cye's waist, and his head resting on Cye's shoulder blade.

"Geez. Why didn't you tell me he moved so much?" Cye asked, looking over at Kento, who grinned.

"Dude, that's why he has a bigger bed." Kento laughed, pulling his sheets higher up and turning the light off.

Cye rolled his eyes. "You're such a jerk."

"Yeah I try." Kento replied. "Night Cye."

"Night." Cye grumbled.

<><><><><>

The king tilted his head to the side, listening to Ryo explain why he shouldn't have to get married.

"Why don't you make Sage marry her?" The ebony haired prince gestured to his cousin, who was standing next to him.

"Sage isn't the one inheriting the crown, Ryo. He isn't of immediate blood." The king replied, giving a slight sigh of annoyance.

"I don't even *know* Princess Kayura, much less like her! And I never wanted the dumb crown to begin with! Sage is older than I am. Give the crown to him." Ryo shouted.

The king sighed. "It wouldn't matter if Sage was twenty and you were ten, you would still get the crown over Sage. Unless, of course, you ceased to exist. And as far as not knowing or liking Princess Kayura..." The king paused, scratching his chin in thought. "You don't have to marry her."

Ryo visibly brightened. "Really?!" He exclaimed.

"You could marry Sage instead." The king smirked as the blonde's mouth dropped open.

"I'd rather marry Sage! At least I like him, and we get along! I don't want to marry someone I don't even *like*. Besides, Princess Kayura looks like she's freaking thirteen years old!" Ryo complained.

Sage took a step away from Ryo, clearing his throat. "Extremely flattering, Ryo, really. But I think I'll have to pass on that one." He murmured.

The king sighed once more. "Ryo, you are really trying my patience. Princess Kayura is *not* thirteen. She's fifteen, going on sixteen."

The throne room door opened and the lady of discussion waltzed in, holding her dress off the ground. "Ryo, I was looking for you." She smiled sweetly at him, wrapping her arms around one of his.

"Eh... you were?" Ryo asked, giving her an extremely fake smile.

She nodded, and pushed his bangs out of his face.

The king locked eyes with Ryo and gave him a look. "We're through talking Ryo. You and Princess Kayura may go spend quality time together."

"Thank you." Kayura smiled, and nodded toward the king.

"Yes... so glad to hear that." Ryo stated, and flashed Kayura a fake grin before glaring at his father. "Sage! Why don't you come spend quality time with us? I think it would be loads of fun." His glare switched to the blonde.

"No, actually, I think I'll pass." Sage smirked, waving a hand at Ryo. "You two have fun without me." He winked playfully, and with that, he turned and sauntered toward the large doors leading into the corridors.

Ryo narrowed his eyes, watching his cousin's retreating back. //Oooh I'll get you for this, Blondie.// He thought to himself.

To be continued ....