God Save the King, Ten of Ten
Disclaimer: I don't own Kyo Kara Maoh! or Daikenja.Murata Ken stood at the window of the tower, overlooking the village that had sprung up around Blood Pledge Castle, a smile on his face as he watched the parade for the marriage between Yuuri and Wolfram.
In the four years he had been back in Shin Makoku, a lot of things had happened. Dai Shimaron had gained another king and promptly lost him only to have Weller Conrad decide that he would return to his family's ancestral home and take up leadership of his people. Yuuri had been sad to see his favorite bodyguard go, but he understood the reasons behind Conrad's decision.
Not long afterward, Shou Shimaron's King Sararegi was found dead in his bed, the prime suspect the man that had been acting as his bodyguard, Berrias, who had also turned up dead. Many plots were discovered about who should rule after his death, but the true surprise happened when the people had asked not the king's cousin, but Lady Flynn of Caloria to be their queen. After a lengthy debate she agreed, but only if her stepson could take up leadership of Caloria.
Flynn-joō passed through his vision, the first of many nobles from the human lands to come to Shin Makoku to wish the royal couple happiness. Conrad-heika, Murata noted, fallowed the woman closely, a secretive smile on his face as he looked at the woman. Murata not so secretively believed that a marriage would take place soon between the two royals, making Shimaron into one country again, just as it had been so long ago.
Another carriage passed through the gate of the castle, this one holding the Lord and Lady von Voltaire. It had shocked quite a few, himself included, when Gwendal and Anissina finally married, but Cheri had said that it was a long time in the making and to be happy for them. Of course the fact she had just remarried with Raven might have had something with her surprising and uncharacteristic defending of her eldest son.
Princess Greta was the most ecstatic about this new marriage between two of her idols, hoping that the castle would soon have new children for her to play with, but as of yet there were no new von Voltaires, though there were two new children in Hube and Nicola's household where Greta spent most of her days taking care of her "cousins".
Günter had retired to his estate and had taken Gisela with him to train her how to be the next head of the von Christ family. He hadn't returned to Blood Pledge Castle once. Gisela had come for the wedding and spent much of her time with her old friend, Adelbard, but she acted like she wasn't sure what to do without her eccentric father around.
A call came from the main courtyard and Murata watched as Yuuri and Wolfram exited their coach, waving at the crowds surrounding them. Another cry came when they went up to the twelve-feet-tall wedding cake that Effie had made, topped with figurines of the Maoh and his new husband.
"So this is where you where hiding," Mitsuki said from the door way with a giggle causing Murata to jump slightly. "Shin'o is looking for you."
"Is he?" Murata sighed then turned to his wife and smiled. "Then we shouldn't keep him waiting."
"Ken," she sighed, walking over to him and taking his hand. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing. I guess I was just remembering something from my pasts." Murata bought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. "How are you?"
She dipped her head. "I'm fine. Today has been exciting, I'll be happy when it's all over."
"Are you sure?" Murata asked his gaze on her swollen belly.
"Ken, I am fine. Perhaps a little tired from all that is happening, but fine. I'm not an invalid." Mitsuki rolled her eyes. "Plus, when I saw Shin'o, he was doing some song and dance routine about how he needed his Strategist so he could bless the Maoh's marriage."
"Come on, we shouldn't keep Shin'o waiting. That man has no patience what so ever. So needy," Murata whined.
Mitsuki giggled. "You should really just tell him what you will do for him and then stick with your own rules. Don't let him walk all over you."
"Yes, Mitsuki-san," Murata bowed his head in obedience. Then he looked back up at her with a grin. "Come on, Shin'o needs us."
"You," she corrected, pointing at him as he was pulled out the door.
"It's been a long time," Shin'o whispered across the room, framed in the doorway, still looking just as he had all those long years ago.
"Shin'o," Murata smiled softly, holding out his aged hand to his friend.
"I hear that your grandson is quite the thing now days, married to the queen of Reunited Shimaron. Ah, to be in such a glamorous life." Shin'o grinned as he sat down next to his friend.
"Why are you here?" Murata sighed, looking away, knowing that whenever Shin'o showed up, something bad was going to happen.
"It is time." Shin'o's eyes bore into Murata's. "Are you ready, my Strategist?"
"Mitsuki won't understand." Murata said sadly.
Shin'o held Murata's gaze for a long moment before looking away with a sigh. "I released you from your promise a long time ago. If you wish, I could stop…"
"No," Murata cut him off. "I accept my fate. I am ready. Mitsuki does understand that I will go away one day and never return. I've prepared her for this from the very beginning."
"My Daikenja," Shin'o whispered, gently pulling his friend to his feet. "Welcome home." Shin'o whispered as his body started to melt away.
"Yes," Murata smiled sadly, all the memories stored in his head slowly melting away until he was just Murata Ken a slightly geeky Japanese school boy again. "I'm sorry, Mitsuki," he whispered as his body started to glow and then dissolved in a pillar of light.
Dear friend, this is the end of the journey with Murata Ken, aka, Daikenja. Please review and tell me your favorite parts, your least favorite parts or if you counted all the chapters and one of them was under by a word or over. Thank you, Hyuga Haruka.