Uncrowned King von abgemeldet (Tomapi) ================================================================================ Kapitel 17: Chapter 17 ---------------------- Chaper 17 Soundtrack: Only hope – Mandy Moore Later that day Toma went to his fathers room, he knocked and was called in immediately. He stepped in front of the table the king was sitting at and cleared his throat. "Was is it, son?", asked his father, rather annoyed. Toma had to collect all his courage to say the following words, even it was hard for him, he knew he had to do it. "I... I don't want to wait any longer... with your agreement I ....would like to...marry Maki-san as soon as possible.", he mumbled. His father stared at him in disbelief, then he smiled. "I already thought you wouldn't like her!", he said jubilantly and smiled. "Good choice, my son, of course you have my agreement. I'll let them prepare the wedding for tomorrow since it's also your birthday. It's a bit fast but we had already prepared some things." Toma sighed. His birthday, huh? He already forgot about it, but he couldn't care less now. He knew he was doing the right thing, and his father was overly pleased as well. But why did he feel like he would betray Yamashita? "Thanks, Otou-sama.", Toma said, bowed and left the room. Once back in his room, he leaned his back against the door and slid down, burying his head in his hands. Everything within him was a total mess. His heart said it was wrong what he was doing, and was complaining with all the pain it could come up with. And his mind said it was the best solution for him, his only way left. He wished he could stop the pain in his chest. He wished his mind could tell his heart that the battle was already lost, that it didn't have to fight anymore. But he knew it wouldn't work. His heart was still beating for that man, the one who had betrayed him. Why couldn't it just stop beating? It would be better if it did. It would save him from a life of pain. And the tears came again. He jammed his hands together and pressed the fist at his forehead. Tears running down his cheek, he cried: "Yamashita..." After all there was just one thing he wanted more than anything else: To hold him again, to kiss him again, to be with him again. He wanted him back so badly... But it was impossible. He might have been in some other country already. It was useless to think about it, but Toma just couldn't stop thinking about the young man. Suddenly a knock on the door, Toma got up hurriedly and wiped away his tears. Then he answered: "Come in." It was Maki. "Good day, Toma-sama", she said shy. "I heard... you decided... to marry me?", she asked, blushing. "Yes...", he said, avoiding her gaze. "… if you still want to...", he added. "Of course!", she answered happily. "But there is one thing I want to tell you beforehand. You probably wonder... why I changed my mind, right?" He didn't wait for an answer, he had to tell her, he wanted to tell her. Maybe deep within he wanted her to be disgusted, maybe he wanted her understanding, he didn't know. He just felt like he had to tell her. And so he did. Everything. And she listened carefully. When he had finished she looked at him with an unreadable expression. Then she hugged him shyly. "What a cruel story... it must be so hard for you...", she said, stroking his back gently. Suddenly he remembered Yamapi's touches, he couldn't hold it anymore and pushed her away. "I'm sorry...", he said. She stepped away. "It's okay." But Toma could hear that she was totally not okay. "I'll leave you alone now." He wanted to say something, but she already stepped out and closed the door behind her. The rest of the day went past as he was coached in all kind of things for the marriage the next day. The whole castle seemed to be in a hurry. In the evening he was exhausted and he lay down on his bed, waiting for sleep to come... But somehow it wouldn't so he just lay there in the pitch dark room and thought about everything. Some hours later he finally found sleep. Had he ever run that fast? Pi didn't know for how long he had been running now. He was exhausted. And he was thinking all the time. What was he supposed to say to Toma? Would Toma really give him a second chance? Did Toma still love him? All Pi knew was that he did love Toma and he always would. And if Toma didn't want him, he would leave and never come back. He would promise to him to leave him alone if he wanted him to. Oh, why had everything to be so difficult? Maybe Toma was already in love with the little princess. Maybe not. It didn't matter what could or could not be. Pi had to try. He had to try hard to get back the love of his life. Now that he thought of it... He'd never told Toma that he loved him. He'd told him that he wanted to stay with him forever or that he would defend him from anything, but never had he said those three little words, which did mean so much. At least they did to him. He'd felt like his heart had stopped pumping as he'd heard Toma say it. Just thinking of Toma's voice made Pi endure the long run. He only stopped when he was close to breaking down, and continued running when he was able to stand on his feet again. When he sat down he thought of Toma, when he got up he thought of Toma, and also while running the only thing he could think of was Toma. His prince. The person he wanted to be with the most. And the only person he wanted to be with until eternity. When he reached the city early in the morning, he wondered if he should enter the castle through the secret entrance he had taken last time. No, this time he would do it properly. Go through the front gates, in clean clothes and he would his way to the prince. Even if he got caught by the guards. He would and could not find peace without telling Toma how he really felt. And most of all he wanted to know Toma's answer, his heart. Toma woke up early that morning. He hadn't slept much that night. He felt awful and he knew the day wouldn't get any better... but he wanted it that way, right? He got dressed and walked to the great hall to eat breakfast. The wedding was supposed to be at noon... Just his father was on the table in the great hall. Of course Maki wasn't there, since the groom mustn't see the bride on the wedding day till she shows up in the church. “Today is your great day. Are you ready, my son?”, asked the king, gazing at Toma. “... yes, I am.. I guess I'm a bit nervous”, he answered slowly and he felt the big lump in his throat. Suddenly it hit him. He would really marry Maki. When he reached his small tent and saw that it was still untouched by burglars and such, he took off his dirty clothes, placed them near his small home and got into the river to wash all the mud off. The water was cold as ice but he didn't want to look like a beggar when he stepped in front of Toma. As he saw his reflection in the water there were still some scratches from when he had hurt himself that night. And he would not hide them. He would tell Toma the truth, everything that would make him understand Pi better – and maybe make him forgive. When he thought he was clean enough he got out of the river, got himself dry and dressed himself in clean clothes. By each second passing he got more nervous and wished everything was over already. He thought back of when he had met the prince for the first time. He'd seen him in the crowd of people that had gathered around him that day, and still his whole eye focus lay on Toma. He'd seen how the prince had looked at him and he's recognized the craving deep inside these eyes. The longing for something the prince didn't have and that he possessed. And he'd seen the admiration. Both had made him look like a lost child that wanted to be saved by a shining hero. And Pi still didn't know why, but he'd wanted to be his hero from the very second their eyes met. And he wanted to stay his hero, rescue him from this golden cage and lead him into another shining future, a free future that was predetermined for the two of them. As they finished breakfast Toma got back to his room and was awaited from his teacher. “Happy birthday, Toma-sama!”, he said and smiled. Toma managed to fake a small smile and thanked him. Could his birthday become even worse? Wasn't it supposed to be the best day of his life? His birthday and his wedding day? He just couldn't get himself to be happy about it. Then everything went very fast, he got dressed and instructed again and some hours later he already found himself in the church, dressed in a fancy white suit. He felt like he was in trance. Like his mind was turned off... He stood in front of the altar, waiting for his bride-to-be. The whole church was filled with people, nobles, family and god knew who else. Toma didn't really care. As the music started the lord and Maki came in. She wore a wonderful dress and looked very beautiful... Soon she was next to him, looking at him shyly. He tried to smile. Then he realized it. It was the end of his first love right? So, while Pi headed towards the castle he heard the people talk about important happenings in the castle. They were talking about the prince's birthday, which was today, and that a big party would be held inside the castle with lots of guests and food and wine. “And did you get the news?”, he heard an old man say. “What news?”, another asked curiously. “Rumor has it that the prince will marry the little princess by now. Seems like the prince wants to hurry things up a little. Can't stand just watching any longer, huh?” The old man laughed. But Pi's body froze. Wedding? What was all of this about? Was it really just a rumor? Or did the old man speak the truth? But there wasn't any time left for Pi. If the rumor was true, he had to hurry up and stop the wedding. But where should he seek for Toma? Well, since this was a wedding, they would be in a church of course. And that was on the other side of the city. So he started to run. He didn't care if the old men stared at him or if he dripped and fell. He had to hurry or else Toma would do the wrong thing. The pastor began with his speech. “...will you, Maki Horikita, take Toma Ikuta as your husband, in good as in bad times and love and care for him with everything you have?”, asked the priest. Maki looked at Toma and smiled. “I will”, she said. Pi ran across the big market place, where he had met Toma for the first time and prayed. Prayed that it wasn't too late already and that all his hope was lost. Toma's chest felt like there was something inside of it, holding the air away. “And will you, Toma Ikuta, take Maki Horikita as your wife, in good as in bad times and love and care for her with everything you have?”, asked the priest. Toma gulped, the lump in his throat felt so big... He took a deep breath and looked at Maki, who smiled lovingly. This was the moment everything would end and would start anew.... And so Pi opened the gates. Toma opened his mouth and said: “ I-” “STOP!” Hosted by Animexx e.V. (http://www.animexx.de)