God hunt -{KogaGoshi Fantasy AU}-

.s i x.

"Kogane!"

The knight groaned when he heard Futakuchi bellow his name through the corridors, his shoulders slumping. "Please no more chores, for the love of Suguru," He whispered quietly, before turning around, forcing a smile. "Hey, Futakuchi, I was just about to finish up with the rubble!"

Futakuchi was stalking up to him, his cloak billowing behind him in a king-like manner. His head was raised so he could peer down his nose at his ex-squire and the wind ran through his brown hair rather commandingly, giving Futakuchi a commandeering look – sometimes Kogane could see what Aone saw. Then he remembered Futakuchi was a dick and Aone was probably mad.

"Oh, I know you were," Smirked the High Knight to his old squire once he reached him. "You'd hate to slack off on me, wouldn't you?"

Kogane whined, losing the fake smile as he slouched. "But it's so boring! I wanna help inside the village!"

Futakuchi sighed a little, leaning back on his hip with an affectionate but exhausted smile. "Y'know, I thought you'd actually like your job."

"Really?" Kogane made a face.

The High Knight laughed a little. "Yeah. You've always liked the environment, I thought you'd appreciate some time alone in it, cleaning it up."

Kogane blinked. "Huh... I guess you're right. Should I get to it, then?"

"No, actually," Futakuchi quickly straightened up, brushing some of his brown hair from his face. "Lord Knight Moniwa requests your presence in his office. I need to go and continue supervising the reconstruction of the village. Have you seen Aone anywhere?"

Kogane hesitated. "Uh, he's in the library chamber. L-Lord Knight Moniwa wants to see me?"

"Yep, he wants to see you now." Futakuchi smirked a little, adding, "you can thank me later."

"Thank you for what?"

Futakuchi's smirk widened a little. "Get to his office, Kogane. I need to go find my boyfriend. You're welcome."

With that, he began to walk away, breezing effortlessly down the corridors. Kogane allowed himself a brief moment to wonder how long it would take until Futakuchi collapsed with exhaustion before quickly making his own way towards Moniwa's office.

Despite having once been Futakuchi's squire, he had never really met Moniwa properly. There were a few times he had managed to have a conversation with the young Lord Knight, but there were impersonal and informative instead of friendly and lighthearted. Swallowing, Kogane hurried his pace.

"Hey, Kogane!" Shibiyama, a squire he used to be good friends popped up, matching his pace quickly. "Where are you in a rush to get to?"

"High Knight Futakuchi said I needed to get to Lord Knight Moniwa's office," He explained formerly.

Shibiyama pouted. "Aw, don't be so distant. I'm getting knighted soon, y'know! Then we'll be on the same level and you'll have to stop pretending you follow the hierarchy!"

"I know, I know." Kogane grinned down at his tiny friend. "I'm just in a rush. I'll chat with ya when I'm back!"

"Okay! Good luck!"

Shibiyama dropped his pace, letting Kogane stride on ahead. The knight rushed past shining grey walls and large, cavernous chambers until he reached the door of the Lord Knight's office.

Taking in a small breath, he knocked on the door. "Squ-Knight Koganegawa Kanji, reporting from High Knight Futakuchi," He announced formerly, cringing a little when he nearly messed up on his title.

"Come in!" The command came back so, sucking in one final deep breath, Kogane walked in.

Instantly, he scoured the room – it was well furnished yet not pampering. The light from the windows created a rather dazzling glow to the metallic surface of the room, possibly blinding to those who weren't used to it. There were plenty of hidden, sturdy places to use as cover in a fight and the Lords' Throne housed Moniwa, who looked at him with a formal but nice smile. Across from Moniwa's desk sat the handsome young wizard. Kogane turned red and stood rigidly.

"Um, sir!" He said, his thoughts fumbling for sentences. "What did you need from me?"

Moniwa glanced from Kogane to the wizard, a look of understanding in his eyes. The wizard was focusing on some of the scars along his arms to be too bothered by Kogane. "Did Futakuchi tell you what I wanted you for?"

"No, sir. He was, uh, in a rush."

"Of course he was," Moniwa sighed a little. Then he gestured to the wizard. "You remember Goshiki-san, right?"

At his name, the wizard glanced up and Kogane went, embarrassingly, redder.

"Uh, yes, sir. I was the one who found him, after all."

"Goshiki-san has an issue that he must solve before returning to his Academy. However, it involves crossing over several Gods' territory to reach it. He'll need protection and the High Knight suggested you to fulfill this role."

Futakuchi's words of, 'You can thank me later,' echoed in Kogane's brain as Moniwa explained to him – oh, that smart bastard... "I would love to accompany Goshiki-san on his quest," Kogane assured, fighting a smile.

Moniwa smiled rather knowingly. "I thought you might. It'll be dangerous, though. If you return safely, I'm sure it'll be time for you to get a squire of your own."

Kogane swelled with pride – a squire of his own? So soon after his initiation? The positives of this quest just kept coming!

"You'll effectively be Goshiki-san's bodyguard," Moniwa continued to explain. "Keep him as harm-free as possible and follow his orders to the letter. Do you understand this?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good. When do you think you'll be leaving, Goshiki-san?"

Goshiki thought about it for a brief moment. "As soon as I possibly can. I am fully healed, right?"

Moniwa nodded. "Physically, you are fine. It'll only take a month or so for all the scars to finish disappearing."

"I'd like to head out tomorrow, then," Goshiki decided. He glanced over to Kogane who went red under his gaze. "Is that alright by you?"

"I'll go pack!" He blurted rather dumbly. The wizard didn't look impressed.

Moniwa cleared his throat, sparing Kogane the handsome boy's judgement. "Yes, Koganegawa, that'd be a very good course of action. You can leave any time tomorrow as you wish, but I'd recommend eating before you leave. The Temple will provide you with resources."

"Thank you, Lord Knight," Goshiki said, standing up and bowing. "I might just retire to my room until dinner, maybe? Do you serve dinner as a group in your Temple?"

"All meals are served for two hours. It is up to the knights when they'd like to attend." Moniwa smiled. "We can send someone to fetch you when it starts."

Goshiki smiled politely. "That'd be nice. I shall return to my room, then." He scooped up his spellbook and breezed past Kogane, out into the corridors of the Temple, with Kogane watching him go.

Once he was out of sight, Moniwa cleared his throat and caught Kogane's attention. "I think," He said slowly, "You're going to want to thank Futakuchi."

Kogane went bright red again...