Charming Tails

Chapter 18 - Explaining Secrets

The house somehow got dusty for no one took care of the place for a couple of days. A few clothes scattered on the floor and some dishes, already housing molds, rested at the sink, uncleaned. The only thing new to the room was the sight of a man, holding his cup of coffee, in front of the boy-owner.

"W-What do you mean..." an intrigued tone came out of Rouji's mouth.

Tatsuko walks to the kitchen and stood by the dining table. A miniature glass container which held sugar cubes rested at the middle of the table and Tatsuko takes it.

"Yes. She's the problem. Apparently, something went wrong with the ritual and now she's going on rampage, destroying everything in her path." he said as he took out two sugar cubes and drops it in his cup.

"No one could stop her. No one, but you." he said furthermore.

"What do you mean by that?" Rouji walks toward him.

"What exactly do you ask?" he looks back at him and drinks. "Ahh.. I love my coffee sweet blended."

"Tell me already!" Rouji yells at him.

"Kid, don't get too excited. You might not like the words I will say." he walks back to the sofa and sat. "Why don't you take a seat first?"

"Damn, it's like you own the house huh." he gives off an irritated voice.

Rouji did so and sat beside Tatsuko. After a long drink, he finishes his coffee and places it on the table.

"I will tell you the entire story. But you better be prepared."

"I am." Rouji gives his full attention.

"You see, you don't even know the reason why we're trying to take her back. Your world and our world, is about to come to an end if we don't close the opening between it, we'll be gone forever. She's the one of the two people who could close it. The other one and is also the only person that keeps the two worlds in balance and halt it from destruction is the ruler of our world. The strongest mage." he explains.

"Who's the mage? Ayaka's father right?" he asks.

"No. Rouji.. it's.." he mumbles as if he couldn't speak out the words.

"Who?" he repeats.

"He's your father. Kodoku Jirou."

Rouji's eyes widen. His heart raced in a very fast pace. As if the heaven pushed him down the earth, he couldn't let out a single breath and the reticence of his voice. To him, his entire existence was a lie. The biggest lie he has ever known.

"M-My.. father..?" he asks again with a mix of happiness and hate in his voice.

"Yes. And on top of that, he really misses you. Trust me, I'm surprised myself. I only knew this a couple of days back. I'm one of the few people who knows this and I can't believe I tried to kill the son of our king. Prince Rouji." he smiles at him.

"How am I supposed to be happy? He.. He abandoned us! He left us for your world?! What the fuck?! How could he-" he stood up and froze as he did.

"Shut up and sit the fuck down. You ain't heard the entire story yet. Listen well to uncle will ya?" he holds out his hand and obviously, he was casting a restraint spell on Rouji.

"F-Fine.." he said in a gasp for breath.

"Good." he lets him go and Rouji sat again. "You're supposed to be happy because your father saved us all from utter annihilation. He saved your ass and mine. I don't know how he did it but all of us are sure he did save my world from being destroyed."