Dimension

Part 10

The boy opens his eyes upon hearing his growling stomach. He looks around the dark and humid room. Nobody's there. It is just him with his hands and legs tied by some invisible chains. They are so heavy, causing moving is impossible for him. He looks at the blood that oozed from the injuries on his body. His hands are trembling due to hunger. There's no energy left.

What will happen to me? Where am I?

He doesn't know anything. He vaguely recalls being forced into this faulty dungeon by two men. Who they are? He doesn't know. But one thing for sure, they are not good people.

"Ryutaro..."

There is whisper near his ear. He lifts up his head but no one is to be seen.

Ryutaro... Is that my name?

"Answer me Ryutaro..." the whisper becomes stronger.

"Where are you?"

"Shhhh..." the voice hisses. "They'll hear you if you answer out loud. This is telepathy Ryutaro. Just reply in your mind. Close your eyes."

Ryutaro closes his eyes. Upon closing he feels like he is flying to a garden full of flowers. Standing in the middle of the place are two people so familiar to him- at least that's how he feels.

"Ryu!!!" one of the familiar men runs to get him. "Poor boy. What have they done to you?" the man holds his hands and inspecting the wounds.

"Who are you?"

"It's me Bakaki. Don't you recognize me?"

Ryutaro shakes his head, staring blankly. "No."

"Seem like he is losing his memories Ueda-kun. What do we do?"

The other man with a golden crown approaches him. "He has been here for too long. Now that we are sure where he is we can start our mission," that is the voice whispering to him.

Ryutaro doesn't understand. Perhaps his brain isn't functioning anymore.

"Wait for us Ryu! We'll definitely save you! Hang in there!!"

Suddenly fogs starting to fill the place. Ryutaro opens his eyes, back into the dark place where he is being locked up.

Who is Bakaki? Is he my brother?

___________________________________________

Takaki always thought that being on airplane is the scariest thing ever, but now he changes his mind. Flying on a white horse with wings is even more frightening. Takaki wonders how Ueda is able to maintain his 'cool' side while riding this scary animal.

Well, he's the King after all.

On the other side Kei-Ty is riding another unicorn with Bubu and Hika. They are not able to use their own wings as the two boys' flying skill is still at the beginner level. The queen stays at the palace with Keikei and the two girls, putting an old man resembling Nakamaru in charge in Kei-Ty's place.

I should take a picture of the old Nakamaru-kun and show it to him. Or I can sell it to the tabloid- that would be fun!

The queen's story keeps playing in his head as his unicorn rides the wind. He feels guilty for bringing up that issue, causing Ari to break down into tears.

"King Yuya died when he was trying to save me," Ueda begins. "If it's not because of him there won't be 'U' in KaT-TUN."

"I don't understand," Takaki frowns. "What happened?"

At this time Takaki could see Ari's teary eyes. The queen turns herself and facing the window, avoiding any sort of eye contact.

"Little Yuya was taken away by the Dark Emperor, and I went to his castle to save him- without thinking. Yuya was the one who discover me in the woods when I accidently fell into this dimension eight years ago and he has been so close to me since. So when I knew Yuya was kidnapped I set on my own, thinking I could do it alone. But of course I was wrong. Like the queen has said, human couldn't last long outside this palace. I managed to get there, but I don't have enough energy to escape."

Ueda touches the butterfly tattoo on his face. And as before it become alive and flies around the boy's face, revealing huge scars on the right side of Ueda's face.

"I was covering Yuya from an attack and this is what I got," Ueda touches his right face. "If it was for any longer my whole face might have destroyed. The king came on time. For a moment I thought we will be all right. But again, it's just for a moment."

"What happen after that?"

"The Dark Emperor killed the King on our way back. I still remember the sharp arrow in fire penetrates the king's chest."

Takaki takes a deep breath. He could guess what might happen next.

"We fell from the unicorn, and my human body was all used up. Little Yuya tried to heal the king but his power hasn't fully developed yet at that time. With his remaining energy the king decides to part his soul and buried it in the dying me, knowing that he himself will die by doing that."

At this time Takaki could hear Ari's sobs. Kei-Ty slowly moves to get the queen, providing comfort for her.

"Human responds pretty amazingly to magic. With the fairy soul in me I managed to bring Yuya back to the palace unharmed, but I wasn't able to save the king."

"But Uepi has done his best," Keikei walks in. "Keikei apologize mama. Keikei doesn't mean to eardrop. But Uepi shouldn't blame himself. Yuya told Keikei how hard Uepi tried. And without Uepi we might have lost Yuya too."

The boy's words remind Takaki of Inoo. Inoo would definitely say those positive lines. Perhaps the personality of every individual does resemble the same them in each dimension.

"But Yuya keeps blaming himself- how unlucky he is to be born. He hates his half yokai identity. But I can tell you this, he is more pure compared to most fairies. He is bright and responsible. He is so brave and mature," Ari voices up.

"And Yuya is very kind too," Keikei adds in.

Now Takaki understands how Ueda somehow make it to the throne, and how he gets all his magic abilities. But only half of the original king's ability was passed on to Ueda.

But it is still cool to have magic.

"We are almost there! Hang in tight!!!" Ueda warns Takaki who is sitting behind him.

Takaki tightly hold Ueda's waist. He closes his eyes as the wind become rougher as they progress into the territory. Thunder and lightning increase the tension on the troop. The storm somehow forms around them, wrapping the two unicorns with dust. Kei-Ty touches her pendant and murmurs a rhyme before throwing silver dusts in the air. The silver dust enwrapped the five people, protecting them from harm from the storm.

Ah! My hair won't look good with this storm! Ueda-kun must have put the whole bottle of hair spray for his hair to maintain the same in this rough wind.

I'll make Ryu pay my hair treatment after this. Erm... if we survive.

But unexpectedly a lightning comes directly in Takaki's way, striking the boy from the side. The electric current causes Takaki to seize for a few moments before losing his stability.

The next thing he knows he is falling down at a very fast speed.

Is this it? Is this the end?

~to be continued~