The End of The Journey.

The End of The Journey
Another Suikoden V fanfic by YaoiUke AKA Gildy

Note:
-I'm trying to write something different for a change, so instead of another "squick fic", I try to make a fic that actually portrays the characters of the cast inside the fic. I doubt that there would be hardcore Yaoi action in this fic though.
-Special thanks to my dearest friend "Savidana" for her encouragement.


The End of the Journey.


The news of Prince Heero's victory on Asthwal Mountain spread rapidly like swarms of locust. And apparently, the news travel even faster than the hero of the day himself. All of the one hundred and eight Stars of Destiny, minus eight people in the prince's party along with hundreds of the Neo-Falena soldiers, were already assembled themselves on the entrance to the Ceras Lake ruins. They have been waiting for the arrival of the hero. Suddenly a loud outburst of cheer exploded, signaling the arrival of Prince Heero, Lyon, Roy, Nick, Richard, Galleon, Marina and the last but not least, Egbert. The crowd roared even louder as the prince and the party made their way toward the castle. It was truly a day to celebrate.

However, not everyone was happy.

The Stars of Destiny have been together for almost a year one year since Gizel Godwin's coup, overthrowing the legit ruler of the Falena Queendom. None of them ever thought that there will be a day when they were no longer joined. The excitement, anxiety, hatred and love have blinded them; they never realized that all good things must come to an end. And the end was dawning on them.

Soon the level of the anxiety skyrocketed. All of the Stars of Destiny were either extremely anxious or extremely glad at the prospect of saying goodbye to each other. Some of them even shut themselves from the fact that the end was inevitable.

"No... This isn't happening... After all of those fighting and battle..." A sad whisper came from the corner of a certain bandit boy's mouth. He was sitting next to Goesch vegetables patch, facing the sparkling Ceras Lake by himself. He did not want to see anyone, especially his lover. He was afraid that the parting will be too painful to bear. Roy can bear a lot of things, he had survived the ordeal that Richard gave upon him, Prince Heero and Nick many weeks ago. He almost sacrificed himself by facing a Queen's Knight when Neo-Falena army tried to bring the new queen to their side. Roy's good deeds were simply too much to be listed, even though those deeds were shadowed by the boy's misconducts as he frequently got Prince Heero in trouble because his excellent impersonation skill.

The boy heaved a great sigh and shook his head, "At the end, I'm nothing but a coward.... Heh...". He lifted his head up, casting his eyes up toward the main structure of Isengard Castle. His eyes were fixed upon an open window. "Heero..." Roy bites his lips as he looked up at Prince Heero's bedroom. His mind flew back trough the time, reviewing memories he had about that wonderful room. "So many wonderful things happened there..." He smiled and giggled at himself as he remembered the day when Prince Heero towed him into that bedroom in collar and shackles. Memories upon memories, images upon images flash around Roy's brain. The bandit boy was having a daydream that composed by hundreds, if not thousands of exciting, fun and sometime terrifying memory that revolves around his past daily life in Isengard Castle.

-THWACK !!-

"OOWWW !!"

Roy's daydream was interrupted abruptly by a very familiar folded Sun Nunchaku that was flying from the open window and landed on his forehead, sending him tumbling backward before rolling around on the ground while clutching his head in pain. The boy muttered a lot of curses, which were rather similar to Egbert, directed at nothing at particular as he was still unaware of what hit him on the head. "Ouch... Ow...." He winced painfully as he rubbed a small, reddened mound on his forehead that was created because by the impact of the Sun Nunchaku on his head. Roy eyed the weapon that struck his head. He recognized the red colored nunchaku as the prince's. Immediately, he glared at the open window. Prince Heero was standing behind the window, shaking his head and looking extremely amused.

"HEY !! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA !!" The bandit boy leaped to his feet with his fist shaking in anger, directed toward the amused prince.

"STOP DAYDREAMING AND COME HERE !!" Prince Heero replied. He had to shout so Roy can hear him over the distance.

"I'll get him for this..." Roy grabbed the Sun Nunchaku before stomping angrily toward the castle main structure. His melancholy mood was disappearing fast as his brain searches for a way to even the score with the prince.

Goesch, who was just happened to be there, can't help but to laugh. After Roy disappeared from sight, the Lordlake farmer raised a thumb at the prince, praising his throwing accuracy. The farmer then shook his head while still chuckling in amusement before continued to harvest the crop for the last time. The farmer used to hate the Falenan royal family so much, however, the restoration of Lordlake changed him. He can't forgot what the Sun Rune has done to his hometown and, however he was grateful that the prince actually try his best to mend the damage that has been done. The restoration of Lordlake was also a restoration on Goesch's soul. It restored Goesch faith in humanity and his trust on the future generation of the royal families.

-
-
-

The prince retreated away from the window of his bedroom. He turned around on his feet before leaning against the open window. His eyes focused on a young Dragon Cavalry trainee whom was in his bedroom. "Roy is on his way here" Prince Heero said to the young boy whom was in the bedroom with him. The prince knew that it was unnecessarily cruel by throwing his Sun Nunchaku onto the Roy's forehead, however, he wasn't looking troubled by that at all.

"That was mean you know..." Nick, the young Dragon Cavalry trainee said while shaking his head, however, he can't help but to giggle as well. The young boy was sitting on the prince's bed and leaning against one of the bedpost. His sight travels around the prince's bedroom, admiring various objects that the prince has collected during his campaign against Gizel Godwin. There were a lot of gold made pots that he got from fishing session with Subala, then there were are also some magnificent statues of dragon which the prince acquired while finding his way around the maze of Mount Asthwal, then one of the prince's own favorite, a large painting of his father, his mother and Princess Lymsleia. However, none of these objects can match the most beautiful thing in the bedroom at the moment, which is the prince himself.

"You're looking at me as if you're undressing me with your eyes, Nick..." The prince folded his arms and gave the young boy a rather dirty look. Being caught in the middle of love and pain relationship between Roy and Prince Heero then topped off with Richard, Nick has become somewhat more perverted in the last few months. The young boy was not to blame, however. Nick was a pure and innocent young lad until the bandit boy and the prince decided to fit Nick inside their intimate relationship.

"Eheheh... You better ask Richard about that" Nick laughed nervously while scratching the back of his head. It was true that he learnt that kind of thing from Richard, the oldest and the most experienced among the four of them. "You know... If you didn't -kidnap- me back the, we wouldn't be here together..." The young boy let out a contemplative sigh. He still remembers his kidnapping, which was carried out by Roy and Prince Heero, in vivid detail. Nick closed his eyes, reliving the memory of that fateful night when he was suddenly awakened by the prince and Roy before ended up in distress, all tied up in less than five seconds.

"Can't forget about that night, eh ?" Prince Heero asked. He wasn't a psychic, but pretty much can guess what's going on inside Nick's mind. The prince unties and unwrap the long orange-ish ribbon from around his neck then put that ribbon on the frame of his window neatly. Somehow, the prince's outfit, which was originated from Raftfleet looked simpler without the long ribbon.

"Who wouldn't ?" Nick opened his eyes slowly and gazed upon the prince.

"True... I would not forget as well if I were in your shoes" Said Prince Heero before deposits himself on the bed. He lay himself down on it and rests his hands behind his head before stretching his body. "Ugh... Feels good" The prince shuts his eyes tightly as he stretched almost every muscle on his body before...

-CRINK !- Goes the muscle in one of the prince's legs.

"AGHH !!!" Goes the prince, screaming in pain while flipping around in the bed while trying to do something useful to ease the pain on his cramped leg.

Prince's maneuver was awarded with furious laughter from Nick and soon Nick's laughter was joined by Roy's.

"H... Help !!" The prince winced miserably. His eyes darted to Nick and Roy hoping that one of them would kindly help him. The two wanted to help... Well, at least one of them wanted to help, however, there's no cure to cramped muscle but to wait for the muscle to regain its flexibility and the pain to subside. Everything Prince Heero did felt wrong and just make the pain felt even worse.

"Looks like I don't need to whack you on the head with your nunchaku" Roy shook his head, extremely amused and pleased by the prince's cramped leg. The bandit boy was just about to enter the prince bedroom when he heard the prince's painful yelp. Naturally, he burst into the room to protect the prince from anything that would harm him. However, Roy was soon laughing hard as he spotted the prince struggling with a cramped leg. He looked at the Sun Nunchaku at his hand then looked at the prince. A malicious smile formed on his lips, which was caught by the prince's eyes.

"Roy... " The prince warned.

"..." Roy ignored, adding more malice in his smile.

"Roy..." Prince Heero warned again, this time adding a glare.

"Here's your nunchaku" Said Roy lightly. He tossed the weapon high on the air and at the prince's direction.

"No... no.... NO !" Prince's Heero's eyes bulged in horror as he saw his weapon flies from Roy's hand in parabolic trajectory toward his leg. Summoning his might, the prince tried to get away as far as possible from the incoming projectile. However, the cramp on his leg flares up again. Instead of getting away, the prince ended crash landing on the floor so unceremoniously and...

-Thunk !- Goes the Sun Nunchaku, landing on the top of the owner's head.

"Uh... Heero... ?" Nick looked down upon the fallen prince while biting his lips as he was trying his best not to laugh. Seeing that the prince wasn't moving, he gets up from the bed then crouched next to the prince. "You okay there ?" Nick asked curiously.

"Barely..." Prince Heero replied with muffled voice.

Nick rolled his eyes before holding the prince's hand and helps the older boy to stand. "Slowly..." Nick whispered as he guide the prince back up. The young boy also retrieved the prince’s weapon then returns it to its rightful owner.

"T... That was a low, Roy..." The prince growled while pointing an angry finger at Roy. His face reddened from the pain and the embarrassment. Using Nick as his support, Prince Heero limped back to his bed on one foot. "Thanks, Nick..." He breathed out and took his nunchaku from Nick's hand.

"Next time, don't call people by throwing stuff at them" Said Roy after he manage to contain his laughter. He strode toward the prince's bed and deposits himself onto the bed. However, just to be on the safe side and avoid Prince Heero's retaliation, Roy sat next to Nick instead of next to the prince. This was not the first time that Roy used Nick as his human shield whenever he made the prince mad at him because of his misconduct.

"I called you out loud, but you were so busy with your daydream..." Said Prince Heero while rubbing his sore head. He winced as his touched a rather large red mound caused by the -landing- of the Sun Nunchaku on the top of his skull.

"It's true. I was here when Heero called out to you... But you just seem to be... Well... daydreaming..." Nick added.

Roy went silent. Apparently, he has acted rashly again and made a mistake. It seems that silence is one of Roy's best ways to express his guilt when he faced it. He had learnt over the time that that trying to smart-talk his way out of the problem only brought him deeper into the trouble. "... I'm sorry... Heero..." Roy breathed out and looked away from the prince. He was biting his own pride or so he thought.

The prince just waved his hand. "It was partly my mistake as well. I should've at least come down or have someone call you up here... So... My apologies as well" Said the prince.

"Damn... How can you apologize so easily ?... I always have a hard time apologizing even though it was my own mistake" Roy tilted his head and looked at the prince curiously.

"How many times have I told you Roy, admitting your mistake doesn't mean you lost your pride. On the contrary, admitting a mistake and come forward is one of the bravest things to do". Prince Heero paused for a bit. "But don't worry... even I have a hard time on admitting my own mistake and apologize". The prince crawled toward Roy with great effort as his leg still doesn’t want to compromise before leaning against the other boy's shoulder. Gently, Prince Heero planted a kiss on Roy's cheek, trying to brighten his lover's mood up.

One thing that the prince learnt was his kiss was the best weapon against Roy's angsty mood. In instant, Roy's eyes brightened. The bandit boy wrapped his arm around the prince then returns the favor by giving him a kiss on his cheek. Moments like this always make Nick felt being left out.

Nick looked at the lover boys and grimaced in jealousy slightly. However, when Nick was about to stand up and left the two lovers, his waist was hooked by both Roy and Prince Heero. The two pulled Nick closer and embrace him warmly. The young Dragon Cavalry trainee let out a relieved sigh as he felt welcomed by the two older boys.

"Anyway, Heero... Why do you call me ?" Asked Roy. Somehow, Roy knew what the prince going to say and it was probably not a nice thing. However, rather than being restless by the anxiety, the bandit boy chooses to get over it as quickly as possible.

The prince hesitated and closes his eyes. He heaved a great sigh as if he was carrying a tremendous burden on his shoulder. Slowly, he opened his eyes and gaze upon Roy and Nick before finally speak, "I'm afraid we have to part ways...". The prince dropped the hammer. Time seems to stand still while the only sound one can hear was a total silence.

"... I'm afraid you're going to say that..." Roy nodded. He pulled his knees and brought them into his chest before resting his head on them.

"... But... But... But I thought we're going to stay like this forever... or at least for a long time !" Nick shook his head furiously. He did not want to believe what he heard. "This isn't happening !... They're lying !" He screamed mentally. "Y... You're joking, right ?" The young boy looked at the prince with pleading look, wanting to believe that the prince was lying. However, from a corner of his heart, he knew that Roy and the prince were saying the truth.

"Marscal Godwin is no longer and we have won the war... We have served our purpose... We have rescued Falena from destruction" Said the prince slowly and softly. Even he did not want to believe that things will be over soon.

"But we still can see each other... can we ?". Nick paused, trying to translate all of his confusion and his disappointment, which were eluded by strings of emotion, into words. "I... I don't want to go...". Instinctively, Nick wrapped his arms around Prince Heero's waist. He clung to the older boy with all of his might.

Both of Prince Heero and Roy were at loss for words. They too did not want to part ways. The memories between them cannot be easily forgotten or waived away. The two were more mature than Nick, however, at this stage, maturity does not promise greatness or calmness.

"I... I don't want to go..." Roy whispered softly. He tried to ball his fists as the boy try to suppress all of the emotion from bursting out. His hands just trembled with such great intensity that they don't want to comply with the owner's will. Slowly, Roy brought his hand to his face. He buried his face in his hand after. Soon his vision began to blur and his breath began to shorten. Roy's eyes began to feel very damp as he felt his body temperature rose. Then it happened. Water crept out from the corner of Roy's eyes. The boy's short breath turned into sobs.

The prince looked at his two lovers. He looked away quickly while shutting his eyes tightly. A great leader must not display weakness. A great leader must not let himself to be swayed by displays of weak emotion. A great leader must show an example of stout and steel heart. However, Prince Heero's heart was not made of steel. He has seen death so many times and caused death more than just many times, thus he should be impregnable to such emotions. But all of those did not really matter. The fake barrier that the prince has put to portray himself as great leader finally crumbled to pieces. All of those blocked emotions flooded his mind to the extent that he could no longer bear such burden. "R... Roy.... N... Nick...." The prince said while biting his lips, still trying to resist the flood of many emotions from bursting out. That final defense shattered eventually as his eyes began to feel very wet. Prince Heero launched himself, embracing both Roy and Nick at the same time while sobbing out of control. "I... don't... want... to... go..." He managed to whisper in between his choked breath.

All of the restrained and suppressed emotions between the three floods out that day. The three were finally freed from the mental burden they have been carrying around their shoulder for a long time. There are no more boundaries between them any more. They just let everything go trough tears and broken words choked by their crying.

It took them an hour or so before they finally exhausted themselves. The eyes of the three boys were red from tears and they felt very exhausted for letting the suppressed emotions were somewhat excruciating.

"I feel much better now... That I've said it all..." Said Roy. He wiped the last remain of his tears off. The bandit boy finally calms himself down. He took a deep breath to steady himself. "It... It has been a privilege to fight alongside you... And to love and to be loved by all of you..." Said the boy weakly.

"It was an honor to fight alongside you as well... And to receive such caring from you, Mylord..." Nick breathed out softly before looking up at Prince Heero. He wanted to address the prince properly at least for one last time.

The prince looked at both Roy and Nick in a state of shocked. Their commitment to him actually touches his very soul. "Thank you..." were the only words came out from the prince's lips.

Roy, being somewhat ignorant, he quickly thinks a way to change the mood and make it better. "So... What are you going to do now ?" He asked, looking at Nick and the prince. "I don't know what I'm going to do... Maybe I'll just travel around, who knows someone might need my talent" He added.

"My sister is surely waiting for me... Lyon, Miakis and I are going to help her rebuild Falena as the commander of the newly reformed Queen's Knight" Prince Heero replied. "How about you Nick ?"

Nick only shakes his head. "I don't know... I'm not even a fully fledged Dragon Cavalry Knight... I'll continue my training with all of my best and become a knight" Nick replied. "Then maybe, I'm going to visit Sol-Falena when I have a chance".

The three paused again. Bright future indeed, except for Roy. Suddenly something came on the prince's mind.

Prince Heero looked at Roy and smirked. "Roy... I think I know a way...".

-
Two days later...
-

"Cornelio, if you please..." Said Lucretia, behind her feather fan.

"Hmpf..." Cornelio grunted but complied with the order; he raised his conductor baton up high and begun playing a piece of music, which filled the entire War Room.

And at the entrance to the War Room, which was closed by a purple tapestry, waited Prince Heero and Roy. The two were holding hand and somehow, the prince holds Roy's hands rather tightly. "Nervous ?" Roy eyed the prince while smiling lightly. The two boys weren't dressed in their typical suit; rather, they were dressed in royal robes.

The prince nodded. The palm of his hands was sweaty and cold sweat ran down on his forehead. He has every right to be nervous as today would be one of the most important days for him and for Falena Queendom. "Well... It's now or never...” Said the prince, still nervous.

"Right... Let's go..." Roy nodded his head.

The two boys finally uncover the tapestry.

All of the 106 Stars of Destiny (minus the prince and Roy) were already assembled in the War Room, forming two lines from the entrance to the very end of the room. Lucretia, Queen Lymsleia, Lyon, Miakis, and a Sun Temple priest were waiting for them at the end of the room.

With small steps, the two boys walked down the corridor that was made by lines of people whom have been together with them as the Stars of Destiny. One by one, the 106 Stars of Destiny bowed down as Roy and Prince Heero passed by them. Smiles decorates every single person that the two passed by. Even though it was only a short walk from the entrance to the War Room to the end of it, the walks felt like an eternity and the two surely took their time.

Prince Heero and Roy stopped at the end of the room, facing Queen Lymsleia and the Sun Temple priest. The beautiful song soon faded out as the real ceremony is about to begin.

"The Sun shall be the witness of the joining of these two whom stood before us today..." The priest began the ceremony and everyone went silent. "Prince Heero of Sol-Falena... Would you, take this man, Roy of Ranro Mountain, to be your lawful husband and swear to love her... I mean, him, until the very end of your life ?"

"... I... I do..." The prince replied solemnly.

"And you, Roy of Ranro Mountain, would you take this man, Prince Heero of Sol-Falena, to be your lawful wife... I mean husband and swear to love him until the very end of your life ?"

"Ah, sure, why not" Came a cocky reply from Roy, which was quickly award him a sharp pinch on his bum from the prince.

"OW !! I DO, I DO !!" Roy replied, almost jumping on the spot because of the pinch. The priest shook his head, he doubted the couple would even last for a week. Lyon and Miakis covered their face in shame while the rest of the Queen's Knight just shook their head. Queen Lymsleia tried her best not to giggle at the antique of his brother's loved one.

"... By the power vested in me as the highest Sun Temple priest, I hereby declare you to be lawfully wedded under Falena rule. You may kiss the bride..."

Soon, the audience began to claps as they gave their approval on Roy and Prince Heero's wedding. Under such approval, Roy's lips pressed against the prince's. The two shuts their eyes, savoring every moment of their most intimate kiss ever. Of course they have kissed each other before, but never as a lawfully wedded couple.

Queen Lymsleia waited until the two parted before she went forward, replacing the priest and took over the ceremony. "Roy of Ranro Mountain. You have legally married my brother, therefore you are now a part of Falena Royal family... So kneel, Roy".

Roy blinked in confusion. He looked at his new husband for instruction as he never dealt with royalty before. The bandit boy frowned in more confusion as Prince Heero just nodded at him. Not knowing what would happen next, Roy kneeled in front of Queen Lymsleia.

The Queen placed her hand on Roy's head. She looked up and recited some prayers in unknown language. After a few moments, she withdrew her hand. "And rise... Prince Roy of Falena".

Roy's eyes widened. He simply can't believe what he just heard. Never in his life that he dreamt to be a wealthy noble, let alone being a member of the royal family. The new prince stood up and somehow, he wobbled as he felt that his knees were about to give up.

"Congratulation, Prince Roy" Prince Heero smiled while wrapping his arm around Roy's waist and place Roy's hand over his shoulder, giving the wobbling new prince a support.

There was nothing that can express Roy's happiness. He tried to speak up, but his mouth felt very dry. His eyes began to felt wet, however, he didn't bother to hide it. Finally, he managed to choke out between his breaths, "T... Thank you... All of you...". Prince Roy turned around to face Prince Heero. The two paused for a bit before the new prince launched himself and hug Prince Heero with all of his might.

The audience roared even louder. Almost all of them can't hold back their tear. The wedding alone was enough to send them into tearing. Roy's admittance into the royal family was even more shocking and devastating, in a good way. Even the most battle hardened cannot held back their tear, this include Zegai and Shigure.

-
Four days later...
-

"Damn... Man... This outfit is so... stuffy !" Roy complained as he got dressed in the Queen's Knight uniform. He was standing on the front of the door on the left side of the Queen's Audience Chamber and was about to make his first appearance to Queen Lymsleia. "Say... What would happen if do it again...?". A mischievous smile crept across Roy's lips. The boy quickly grabbed a familiar silvery wig.

"Heh... I wonder how would he cope with this " Said Prince Heero silently on his mind. He was standing on the front of the door on the right side of the Queen Audience Chamber. The prince took a deep breath, while eyeing his finger. There was a small golden ring wrapped around his finger. The ring was round in shape and simple and without any decoration except for a small inscription, which read as -Roy-, in it , just as a wedding ring supposed to be. "I hope he won't cause any trouble now..." Prince Heero sighed.

"Introducing... The commanders of newly reformed Queen's Knight !" Galleon shouted loudly and paused for awhile. The two doors that lead to the Queen's Audience chamber swung open slowly, revealing Queen Lymsleia sitting on her throne accompanied by Miakis and Lyon. "Prince Heero... and... Prince Roy !" The aged Queen's knight continued.

With a steady pace Prince Heero walked trough the right side door while Roy walked trough the left side door.

"Huh ?!" Queen Lymsleia blinked her eyes rapidly. "Since when I got twin brothers ?!". Her eyes darted rapidly at her brother and her brother's mirror image.

Prince Heero's eyes bulged upon hearing those words. He tilted his head to the left and say Roy, disguising as himself. "Roy..." The prince growled and whined as his eyes caught the sight of his walking mirror image. The new Queen's Knight inauguration ceremony was practically ruined, thanks to Roy's antique.

"By the Sun... He hasn’t changed at all... That kid..." Galleon sighed with his head buried in his hand, feeling extremely dizzy.


The End