Intertwined Destiny

Chapter 18: The Princess of the Underworld

Chapter 18: The Princess of the Underworld

His trepidation of his long dreaded fears and nightmares came true. He's going to be taken away from me. Scrutinizing for every possible evidence, Masaomi silently stared at Yuuma before him. Masaomi couldn't help but ponder on his curiosity. Why would the Princess summoned Tetsurou? Tetsurou was a ghost of the underworld. He was human. He doesn't exist in the underworld. How did the Princess manage to detect such an inscrutable presence? It was a mystery.

"You have him, don't you? Kuroko Tetsurou." Yuuma demanded. "Don't play dumb. The Princess sees everything. You should know better than going against the public law, Akashi Masaomi."

Masaomi clicked his tongue. The reason, however, was intriguing. At the same time, he felt hurt. The hurt feelings of his love being taken away from him. Both parties stared at each other for a long time. The servants and Tetsurou who had observed everything through the secret window. Tetsurou made an arbitration by himself. He didn't wish for Akashi nor the Akashi clan to be burdened nor taken responsibilities for his felonious behaviours. Tetsurou could bear to watch Masaomi wearing that troubled expression any longer, he made his decision. He will protect Masaomi and the clan he had come to love. They were endearing that he couldn't bear to watch them war with the royal family.

Tetsurou pulled the grand shoji doors open, so hard that it slammed against their rim hinges. His behaviour not only had astounded the royal messenger, but also Masaomi. Masaomi was extremely appalled. Masaomi had frowned, scrutinized Tetsurou's peculiar behaviour. What are you thinking, Tetsurou? As if Tetsurou could read Masaomi's mind, Tetsurou replied. Don't worry. This is my fault. I'll go. Take good care of the clan, Masaomi. Tetsurou had a gentle smile. Yuuma examined every single detail he could learn from Tetsurou's appearance and behaviour. And just like the rumours said, there was nothing much he could see. Tetsurou was a more skilled expert than Yuuma, the royal inquisitor who served the royal family.

"Looking for me?" Tetsurou stared calmly at Yuuma. Masaomi was horrified. The trepidation of fear and lamentations were evident, reflected clearly in his vermilion irises. As if they had a sudden spurt of telepathic abilities. Masaomi and Tetsurou exchanged glances, as if they knew what each other was thinking. What are you doing, Tetsurou? Tetsurou just smiled. His smile had the power to calm Masaomi and the servants. It's okay. Everything is okay. Yuuma stared intently at the man who had claimed to be Tetsurou. He was an enigma. Mysterious and foreign. Yuuma was extremely amused at what this man named Kuroko Tetsurou could do. Tetsurou's ethereal appearances had piqued and heightened his scrutiny of curiosities. Although human, he didn't look like one. It was as if Tetsurou's majestic appearance had cost ten years of his life. Yuuma was left breathless.

Yuuma had got to his feet, bowed before Tetsurou with extreme respect. Tetsurou was extremely flustered. "P..please! Raise your head." He blurted. "Your master is extremely skilled, to be able to sense someone like me. I am beyond appalled." Tetsurou scrutinized the Princess's messenger with extreme detail. Masaomi was horrified. He stared into the blank void of Tetsurou's clear irises.Tetsurou gave Masaomi a gentle smile. Don't look at me like that, Masaomi. It's not like I'll be marching to the bells of the grim reaper. I'll be fine.

"The Princess awaits your presence. You have been summoned to the royal palace, the Stardust Valley." There was no evidence of hatred towards Tetsurou. Just a servant doing his job. Tetsurou sighed. He felt this day would come one day. But it was too soon. He took off his amulet he wore around his pale neck. He placed it in Masaomi's hands.

"Take good care of it for me, Masaomi." Those were his last words before Tetsurou departed for the Stardust Valley. "This is not goodbye." That was the last time he saw Tetsurou. The next time Masaomi meets Tetsurou again will be many years later, in the far future. The next time they crossed paths would be on his deathbed when a certain incident occurred. Masaomi was entrusted with Tetsurou's dying will.