Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Restoration ❯ Panic ( Chapter 4 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

"My poor baby. He was taken. I can sense it," Lee sighed as his ears twitched nervously. They had traveled an incredible distance due to Lee's determination and it worried D. It was not like Lee to do things so irrational. He shook his head as he remembered how Lee acted while he was waiting for Ryo's return. It WAS like him to act irrational. He definitely took after Lendas, D told himself and he wondered how Ryo could love someone like Lee so deeply.

"Lee, calm down," D said as Lee's eyes dilated nervously. He could smell his baby's scent and it led towards the ocean. He hoped that Ryo was okay as he brought Nightwing to a gallop. Nightwing protested slightly and D sighed. Lee should not be treating such a noble creature that way. Nightwing did not deserve such abuse. Surely Lee would heed the protest of a horse.

"You're pushing him too far. Stop it Lee," D said and Lee looked at him.

"What?" he asked and D sighed.

"I didn't think you were paying attention. You don't want to wear the horse out too soon. Besides, we need to stop. It's getting dark."

"There's enough daylight to go further."

"No there isn't. We don't have Ryo's tracking skills. We need to make camp and we're going to have to start out again in the morning. I know you're really upset about this but you need to look at this rationally. You're not going to accomplish anything if you keep going at this pace. At least let the horse rest. You've been pushing him far too much. He's a fine horse. Don't wear him out before his time."

"D's right. You've been acting really psychotic. You need to get a hold of yourself," Ikara said as Lee reluctantly brought Nightwing to a halt. He got off the horse and gently patted his nose. The human WAS right, he had to admit, and he felt terrible for it. He was so worried about Ryo that he wasn't thinking about anything else.

"You're right. I'm sorry for mistreating you, boy. I didn't mean to. I'm just worried. You understand, don't you?" Lee asked and the horse gazed silently at him. Lee sighed as he glanced away. He was just so worried. They hadn't really gotten started in their romance yet, he and Ryo. Sure it had been two years since he had found Ryo half-frozen in the snow but they hadn't really had the time to build a serious relationship. At least not the way Lee wanted it.

"There's a pond over here. Let the horses drink. I believe it's safe to make camp here for the night," D said as he walked out of a small clearing in the forest.

"How can I sleep knowing that he's in some kind of danger?"

"Are you forgetting who you're talking about? He was forced to survive for six years remember?"

"I know but I can be worried, can't I?"

"You can be worried but where you are right now is on the brink of hysteria. You can't help him if you go to pieces now."

"I've got to sleep alone. I haven't done that in awhile."

"You'll be fine. Come on, help me make a sleeping area. It'll take your mind off of him."

"All right. I just hope he's okay."

"We'll find him Lee."

"I know."

"So what are we going to do for food?" Ikara asked as D unpacked a saddlebag.

"Hunt. This is where we need you Lee. Are you up to it?"

"Yeah. I need to do something to get rid of these emotions. Make a fire so I know where we are. Maybe I can get a corovon or something," Lee said as he picked up his bow caster and quiver of arrows.

"Do you want company?" Ikara asked.

"No. I'll be fine on my own. I know how to hunt. I didn't spend my youth in the castle just playing in the greenhouse and the kitchen. I have good skills."

"He'll be okay," D said as he watched Lee walk off into the forest.

"But his was going nuts a few minutes ago," Ikara protested.

"He's got his mind back on track."

"I hope you're right."

"I am. Now come on, we need to search for firewood. There should be a lot around here."

"Why?"

"This land has been disturbed recently. Something made a lot of branches break off from the trees. You can tell by how ragged the trees look. This may have been the way that Ryo was taken. His captors probably stopped here to rest."

"Then is it safe here?"

"It's quite safe. We are in a forest you know. Nothing is ever truly safe."

"You've got a point there. How long do you think he'll be gone?"

"An hour at the most. It depends on how difficult it will be for him to kill something."

"He's really upset about this."

D said nothing as he walked away from where the horses stood. He didn't want to discuss Lee any further. Lee was doing what he thought needed to be done and D was along simply to make sure that Lee didn't get himself killed. Lee had a tendency to act on his emotions and D had seen enough instances in the city to know that Lee was extremely stubborn when it came to things that truly mattered to him. He understood the affection that Lee had for Ryo but he had to keep it in perspective. He hoped that Lee would be of use when they finally reached where Ryo was being held. Sure Lee was extremely intelligent and well versed in various skills, but his downfall was his emotions. He did so many things out of passion that it was extremely hard for him to switch from a sexual frame of mind to a logical one. He just hoped that Lee wasn't making a complete fool of himself in the wild.

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Ryo's back sharply hit the wall as Izen dug his nails into his skin. He laughed maniacally as he stared into Ryo's eyes, the light reflecting off of his retinas seemed to taunt Ryo. Ryo angrily bared his teeth as he kicked Izen in the stomach. Izen doubled back in pain as he fell to the ground and Ryo placed the tip of his sword on Izen's neck. Izen bared his teeth as Ryo stared coldly at him. He moved his sword and kicked Izen's feet.

"Get up," he growled.

"What?" Izen asked.

"Get up. I'm not going to kill you like a dog. Get your weapon."

"That wasn't smart, prince. You should have killed me when you had the chance."

"It's not proper to kill in one-on-one combat when the opponent is unarmed."

"Still the noble aren't you?"

"Nobility has nothing to do with being fair."

"Really? A pity your ancestor didn't see it that way."

"Would you just let it die? Everyone concerned with that event is dead. You can do nothing to help the dead."

"I can atone for their deaths."

"Another death does not justify the first."

"Are you going to preach or are you going to fight? And what right do you have to preach anyway? We have no need for religion."

"I'm fully aware of how our society is set up. However, I am only stating what is true."

Izen growled in rage as he swung his weapon at Ryo. Ryo gauged his attack and struck. Izen's eyes grew wide in shock as he dropped his weapon and stared at the sword that stuck out of his side. Ryo watched silently as blood ran down his blade and the others looked on in shock. Izen fell dejectedly to the ground as he pulled the sword out of his body. He beckoned for Ryo to come near and Ryo complied. He knelt next to his dying opponent and gazed into his dimming eyes. Izen fumbled for something in a bag attached to his belt and Ryo watched him. Izen gasped feebly for air as he removed his hand from the bag. In one quick, final move, he jabbed a dart into Ryo's arm.

"It's over for both of us, prince. You won't last a week with that poison in your system," Izen said as he shut his eyes for the final time.

Ryo pulled the dart out of his arm and looked at the others. He brought the affected arm to his face and sniffed it. He recognized the smell. The poison was derived from one of the plants that grew new the palace. Karu had forced him to study botany and now Ryo was glad that he had been forced to learn that science. He was also grateful to Kana, the demon general who had protected him during Levin's terrible reign because he had forced Ryo to study a list of known poisons and their antidotes. At the time, he couldn't see the use of another study session but now... He stood up and blinked his eyes as he tried to focus. Blurred vision was one of the effects of the poison. One of the rogue demons offered him a hand and he took it. The rogue bowed apologetically low as Ryo tried to keep his eyes focused. He could feel the poison in his blood but he knew that he had to keep calm so as not to force the toxin into the rest of his body too quickly.

"We now realize that we have been wrong all these years. Please forgive us," he said.

"Mistakes happen. I understand and I forgive you. Does anyone know the antidote for the poison of a flower devil?" Ryo asked as he brought a hand up to his eyes.

"That plant is not native to the soil out here. It grows near the palace. That's the only place you can find it," another demon said.

"I'm going to have to get back there somehow."

"Your highness, please allow some of us to accompany you."

"But first your wounds must be tended to," the first demon said and led Ryo out of the cave. He led Ryo down to the seaside where the demons had appeared to taken up residency. Ryo strained to see clearly as he slowly followed his guide. He wished that Lee was with him as he followed his guide into a house of some sort. He was led to a bed and gently forced to recline. Ryo sighed as he slowly closed his eyes. If there was a time that he needed Lee, it was now.

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Lee yawned and stood up. It was a new day which gave him even more opportunities to please Ryo. Why were they sleeping outside anyway? He didn't remember them planning a quiet night out. He glanced beside him and sighed, remembering that Ryo was not with him. He walked over to the pond and splashed water on his face. D crouched beside him and Lee glanced at him.

"It's about time you got up," D said and Lee sighed.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"Eleven. You were really restless last night."

"I had reason to be."

"Your desire to be with him wasn't helping anything."

"I don't remember that."

"You were, believe me. You were just as bad as you were in your apartment when I stayed with you those few days. We need to get going."

"I know. Where's Ikara?"

"I sent him ahead to check out the road. He'll be returning soon. I saved some food for you. I packed the rest," D said as Lee picked up his weapons.

"All right. We'll leave soon. Nightwing looks ready to travel. Here comes Ikara."

"I found a road that leads to the ocean. There were some fresh prints in the dirt but there's a small mountain range in our way. I don't know how long it'll take us to get to the sea," Ikara said as Lee mounted Nightwing.

"I'll eat later. We need to get going. Who knows what Ryo's condition is," Lee said as he brought the horse to a gallop.

"Just don't go insane on us today. I have the feeling that the road ahead is going to be treacherous," D said as he watched Lee.

"I know what I'm doing."

"Right."

Lee's eyes darkened at D's sarcasm and headed down the trail that Ikara had found. Couldn't he understand his feelings? D wasn't locked in a long-standing tradition like Lee was. Lee's feelings were strong because his heritage was strong. His family was the chosen companion of the ruler for as long as he could remember. The thought of possibly losing that heritage was extremely disturbing. How could D not see the importance in their relationship?

"Slow down. I'm taking the lead," D said as he rode up to Lee.

"I can do this," Lee said.

"No you can't. Would you quit fooling yourself? With you in the lead, you might drive us off a cliff or something."

"You didn't have to come you know."

"I'm glad I did. You're a complete wreck."

"Will you lay off? You don't know how much this affects me. The entire tradition may be lost."

"I know we're stuck in our traditions and all but that doesn't mean that you can let it take control of your life."

"You don't love him like I do."

"That doesn't matter. You should never let your emotions take complete control of your mind."

"I can't help it."

"Yes you can. I know you can be extremely rational. You just have to keep your emotions in balance. I know it's hard for you, but I know your will is stronger than your feelings."

D watched as Lee pushed past him and smiled. That had done it. He knew that if he kept reminding Lee of the big picture that Lee would eventually come to his senses. He slowed his horse down and fell into step behind Lee. He would be fine now. He had gotten his mind back on track. Emotions were a fault with Lee but D had learned that a constant reminder of where he stood in the scheme of things would always get his mind back at a rational state.

"Should he be in front?" Ikara asked and D glanced at him.

"He's in control of himself again. He's okay," D said.

"Are you sure?"

"If you have a problem with me say it to my face Ikara," Lee said coldly.

"Does that answer your question?" D inquired as he slowed his horse. Ikara looked at the trail that they were now trotting on and stopped. He began to breathe erratically and D gazed back at him.

"Let me guess. You're afraid of heights. Hold up Lee."

"What now?" Lee asked as he brought Nightwing to a halt.

"I'm going to have to tow Ikara. He's got a height problem," D said and Lee sighed.

"Why did you join the Slayers in the first place?"

"They had a great advertising campaign," Ikara replied as D took the reins from him.

"Why would you join something solely for their advertising?"

"A lot of people do that," D said.

"Are we ready now?" Lee asked.

"I am. I've got doubts about Ikara."

"I can't exactly quit now, can I?" Ikara asked

"I think he's ready," D said.

"Let's continue then," Lee said as he nudged Nightwing forward.