(This is a continuation of where I left off previously, and is not a new chapter.)
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The large gate, mahogany with streaks of gold outlining the engravings, swung open slowly. Sendoh's eyes widened at the sight of the enormous hall contained within the depths. The floor was a solid, warm stretch of short, finely-trimmed grass. There were no pillars in sight, and it seemed as though the ceiling held itself up as a piece of shimmering, silver sky with paintings of animals all over. He stepped slowly, instinctively forward, and everyone else seemed to fade away into the background. He could, however, feel the presence of the silent Prince beside him.
Sendoh walked down the long stretch of grass towards the two thrones at the end. The thrones were constructed of thick, smooth willow branches entwined intricately. Green moss grew all over the solid seats. Atop one of the thrones was a large lion with a full head of inky-black mane. It sat very still, eyeing the young hunter and the Prince. Sendoh could feel the air thicken and the atmosphere was stiff. He stopped before the lion and looked at Rukawa tentatively. The Prince merely lowered his eyelids and sank into a bow, "Your Majesty, my King, I bring to you, Sendoh Akira,"
The lion growled quietly, the sound rumbled and rolled around the large hall in reverberating echoes. A man wearing dark golden robes in Roman fashion materialized. His warm, brown and gold eyes gazed upon the young hunter with age and wisdom. "I see you are here, Young Hunter," The King's deep, earthly voice rang out. Sendoh felt himself straighten instinctively, "At your service, Your Majesty,"
"Why don't you stay for some time, young man?"
"What?" Sendoh blinked, "I…I don't understand, Your Majesty. Why me? What am I supposed to do here?"
"You will learn in time. Kaede, child, show him to his chambers,"
A large white eagle flew silently into the hall and settled on the other throne, turning into a lady in white. Her long hair cascaded down her back in magnificent waves, shimmering in dark, midnight beauty. The rest of the subjects in the hall bowed, "Your Majesty, my Queen," Sendoh found himself bowing as well. The beautiful Queen raised her chin, smiling enigmatically, "Please rise," She looked Sendoh over with the smile still on her lips, "Indeed,"
Sendoh frowned in confusion. What the Queen said did not make any sense to him. However, the Prince had bowed in self-dismissal and was striding out of the endlessly green hall with long, easy steps. The young hunter hurriedly bowed to the royal couple and ran after Rukawa. The King smiled, "Indeed."
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Rukawa had walked out of another door in the hall and Sendoh found themselves traveling down a passageway, with silver stars adorning the dark, high ceiling. He gaped in wonder, taking in the mysterious ambience all around him. Rukawa walked more slowly now, and even though he didn't show it, Sendoh knew that he was reluctant to leave the enrapturing solitude of the place so soon. He wasn't sure if it was a hallway – the sides of the path faded into darkness and where walls should be, was only dark nothingness.
They treaded a smooth path of white sand, and soft white light cast mysterious shadows about them. Sendoh gazed at the Prince beside him, and was caught in the webs of his beauty. His fingers itched to touch the silky midnight-black hair that flowed down the tall, proud form and he longed to kiss the porcelain smooth face. He wanted to hear the low, melodious voice whisper his name and tell him of the secrets that the ancient soul held. Sendoh was almost sure that Rukawa would hear the fierce thundering of his heartbeat.
It was here, in the regime of ancient spirits that he could no longer distinctly identify day and night, reality and fantasy. Still, he wondered why he was brought into the place, and he had no idea what the King and Queen wanted of him.
The passageway ended where a shimmering whirl of space was. Rukawa hesitated for a second before he stepped through, disappearing through the whirl. Sendoh gaped as the ethereal form disappear – and he jumped after the Prince. He found himself in a large room with golden walls and solid, warm masses of wood furniture. A fire blazed in the huge hearth and he felt almost at home in the royally furnished place. There was a problem, though. Rukawa was nowhere in sight.
Sendoh swung wildly around, "Rukawa?" He moved further into the room, swinging himself around to look for the Prince. A door in his room opened, and Rukawa stepped in, "I'm here,"
"You moved fast! When did you go out of the room?"
"The space that you stepped through just now, would take you to where you rightfully belong. I was taken to my room, of course. Do you expect me to reside with you?" Rukawa raised an eyebrow. Almost involuntarily, Sendoh's vision fell on the large four-poster bed in a corner of the room, and he flushed instantly. The Prince snorted gently, "Aho,"
Sendoh swore that there was a tiny smile at the corners of the quiet man's lips. His heartbeat sped up. Could it be? It must be wishful thinking on his part. How could the Prince of Beasts be attracted to men? But again, there seemed to be no problem with Mitsui being with Kogure… There was an infinite glow in the cobalt blue depths and Sendoh found himself staring into Rukawa's mysterious eyes.
"You have fox eyes," He whispered.
"I've been told," Rukawa replied quietly, a silent timbre underlying his smooth voice, almost like a purr.
"You are a panther," Firelight played over their features, casting the two in an ethereal glow.
"It's merely a form. I could so choose to be something else," Flecks of gold danced in the blue depths.
"Don't," Sendoh moved a step closer.
"Why?" Rukawa seemed to be moving closer to him.
"I liked the panther, it's… sexy." Sendoh let his vision caress the man before him, "You are sexy."
"Really?" They were standing so close to each other that their toes touched. Sendoh realized that Rukawa was barefooted. The knowledge was almost erotic.
"Really." Sendoh whispered, never a second breaking the lock of vision with the gorgeous being before him. Rukawa sighed gently, and stepped…away.
"You should turn in, we have a long day tomorrow," The Prince stepped away, his eyes glowing softly as he gazed at Sendoh's equally blue eyes. And then he turned and walked out of the door, the long, midnight tresses swaying about his hips with every languid, (dare he hope?) reluctant steps.
Sendoh sighed, not knowing whether it was in disappointment or relief from the tension. It was going to be a long night. He missed Rukawa already.
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Unbeknownst to the both, each were trying very hard to sleep.
So old a soul, yet such a bewitching young body.
Never had a mere mortal captivate my being.
How I wish to discover the secrets those beautiful fox eyes hold.
Should I so choose to believe in the innocent side of Man?
He is a deity, and I, a mere mortal.
"I am starting to think that you are evil,"
"Why?" An amused chuckle.
"You could have told them," An equally amused chuckle.
"And let them fall straight into each other's arms? That'd be no fun,"
"You are torturing the children,"
"Nay, my dear, they'll realize it sooner or later. In fact, I daresay they are pining for each other now,"
Soft laughter rippled through the warmly lit room.
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Morning came a little too soon, Sendoh mused. He fingered the soft, satiny bedspread with lingering touches. It wasn't everyday that a materialistically-deprived hunter get to sleep in hopelessly wonderful beds like this. He buried his head into the huge, fluffy pillow encased in a similar satiny material. Birds twittered cheerfully outside the windows, and sunlight was streaming in steadily. It was suddenly too warm to stay in bed any longer. With a frustrated sigh, the hunter rolled himself off the bed, and for the first time, took a thorough survey of the room.
The room was bigger than the whole of his family hut put together, Sendoh gasped in wonder, the lushly carpeted floor seemed to stretch forever. The fire in the hearth had died not long ago, bits of cinder still glowing red. The furniture were made of mahogany, casting the room in a warm, earthly hue. The windows were floor length, and so large that Sendoh thought that they could have been walls. Long, white curtains flowed soundlessly about the glass in a silent invitation. Involuntarily, his feet took him to the window.
He was about four or five levels above ground level, and the entirety of the green plains was clearly in sight. Beasts of all kinds roamed the lands, and he felt a sudden sense of jubilation to see the beauty of the living creatures. It was also then, did he realize that he could never again be a hunter without guilt and pain flooding his mind. How could he ever think of killing those lovely beasts? The thought brought him back to reality. He still had no idea why he was in the place, and when he'd be able to leave. It was like a dream, only that it was real.
And he didn't want to leave the gorgeous Prince who is every bit of the perfect dream that he found himself in, and dreamt of.
"Awake at last?"
Sendoh jumped and swung around. Rukawa had came into his room silently. He was dressed in a long white robe which made him look like the deity that he was. Morning rays fell on his glossy hair, and the breeze rippled through the liquid strands. His hair was unbound, Sendoh realized. It made him feel the more like combing his fingers through the hair…
"Seems to me that you are not," Rukawa snorted, stepping away from Sendoh's view.
"…Uh…Huh?!" Sendoh jolted out of his blissful daze and refocused on Rukawa, "Eh, sorry, wasn't paying attention,"
"Day-dreaming, that is," Rukawa allowed a tiny smile to grace his lips, "Get dressed."
"I don't have clothes," Sendoh realized. He wasn't exactly prepared to be taken into the Palace of the Beasts.
"You have a wardrobe,"
True to Rukawa's words, there was a large wardrobe on the other end of the room. Sendoh's eyes widened impossibly as he took in the extent of the finery within. He touched the clothes, reveling in the rich texture and marveling at the smooth cut and hem of the robes. It was no surprise that he had never seen, let alone touch, such finery in his life before. After a long moment of scrutiny, he picked out a grayish-blue silk robe with care, and turned round to Rukawa, "Eh, are you going to stay while I dress?"
A pink tinge touched the pale complexion and Rukawa swept out of the room. Sendoh chuckled nervously to himself. In reality, he had hoped Rukawa would stay to watch.
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[Author's notes: Whew! Another pause in the storyline! Am I irritating you? This story HAS a storyline! Though there weren't many, the reviews were great! Thank you guys! This story had to be the most difficult I've ever written, aside from the heavy setting and plot, the language was something I've never used before. Being very poorly equipped with vocabulary, I tend to fluctuate a lot in my language usage. I hope I improve as I write.
This story is highly based on imagery! It would take a lot of good imagination to picture the things that I described, and I dearly wanted to draw the things that I wrote! Especially the Hall and Sendoh's bedroom. Oh, of course, and their clothes! What I've imagined was a sophisticated fusion between ancient Chinese robes and Greek/Roman robes – all of which I think are the most wonderful fashion ever to exist. I think I sense my fingers itching to really DRAW the clothes! Who knows? Maybe you'll have a link to the images in the next sections!]