Chapter 42: For You I'd Risk It All
[KAWAI]
It had been two days.
Two days since Lord Sadako had interacted with Tamiko.
Two days since the lycans enforcer had found something that had been missing for literal years and two days since he had set his eyes on the one piece of the chessboard that could turn the realm upside down.
Sadako wasn't worried about the realm going down. He wasn't worried about everything crashing, no. He was worried about his old friend. He was worried about what he would do, when he heard that his Kaito was alive and breathing.
Lord Sadako was worried about how patient his best friend would be if he knew the truth that was haunting him, and honestly, that was scarier than the king himself. Sure, Zaffuto was scary, but Sadako knew that there was nothing scarier than Kaito Hinata's power.
That kid was the product of the cruelest lycan king alive, and the most powerful warlock-lycan hybrid queen of hearts. He was love and hate in one setting and that was the worst that could ever happen or the best, but no one knew which one he would choose to be.
"You've been awfully quiet these past few days," a voice interrupted Sadako's thoughts and he responded instantly.
"Yeah right, says the man who's spoken three words in twenty-five ye—"
"Hold on… Brother? You're out of your chambers?" Sadako asked, raising his head to look at the man who had once been a shadow, the man who had made it his mission to never step out of the royal chambers.
He had been there for so long that many had forgotten what he looked like.
Most had assumed that the king had died years ago, and that Sadako was just taking charge so things would be different in the kingdom. There were a lot of theories in the lycan kingdom about what had happened to Zaffuto and they got crazier by the day.
"Well, I may be a silent oaf, but I know when something is bothering you. What is it this time, or who finally got you to shut up for two whole days, Sadako?" King Zaffuto asked worriedly, as he plopped on the ground where Sadako was seated.
They were currently in Sadako's chambers.
The smell of fresh air was strange to Zaffuto, but he chose not to make a comment because he could see that something was wrong.
Sadako was never quiet and whenever he was, then it meant something else and right now King Zaffuto hoped that his brother would open up to him. After all, there were never secrets between them.
"Oh, yeah? Maybe you want me to give you a tour of the lands? Given you have been having just one view for the past two decades?" Sadako joked and King Zafutto just pulled Sadako into a rough side hug, and ruffled his enforcer's hair, like they used to.
"What's eating you up? You know you can trust me, right?" King Zaffuto said and Sadako looked at his best friend.
He knew that the king knew something was wrong. Everyone had felt the air change and they knew never to ask. But that didn't mean they didn't have instincts.
"Zaffuto… You're the king—" Sadako began and the king let out a scoff.
"As if that's ever stopped you from being a menace to me," he said, making Sadako let out a chuckle.
"That is true, but—"
"We swore to be there for each other, Sadako, even in death. I know I have been absent for a while, but I have always known when you're happy. Besides, whenever you're sad, you always lay beside me.
"You've been out of it for two days and you didn't come see me… So I came to check on you, brother. Did someone do anything? Do you have a murder in mind? I can suit up, Sadako. I still have the skills and power.
"I can wield a sword like the first time. Let me in, brother. Who got you this way? I will have his head on a platter for you," King Zaffuto said and Sadako just let out a long sigh.
Of course, he knew his brother would always have his back. He knew Zaffuto would come back from the dead if ever Sadako was in danger. It was a given, and Sadako wasn't worried about that.
However, he was worried about how Zaffuto would take to the possible retaliation that his son was probably alive. Sadako didn't want to give his best friend hope after so many years, and at the same time, he didn't want to lie to the king.
So much could go wrong and he couldn't let Kawai sink because of him. Maybe he would tell him when he was ready, right?
Surely the king could respect that, no?
"I know, brother, I know. But this is something I must figure out alone. If I am unable to, then you know you're the first person I will be running to. You're the only one I trust with my life anyway," Sadako said after a long silence.
He had to find out more and he had to be careful about his investigation.
Here, and now, as he sat with her brother on the ground, he felt like he had missed so many years of his life. For the past twenty-five years, both of them had been forced to live under the shadow of all that pain.
It had been a lot and it still hurt to think about it.
Sure, many had moved on, but that was the one thing that the two most powerful best friends had been unable to make real. The pain was unbearable and it still hurt like the first day. Oh to be so powerful and broken.
"Promise me you won't take it all on your own. I don't know what it is, but my blade is always ready to fight for you," the deadly king said, and his brother just smiled sadly.
Oh, how things would take a whole new turn if Sadako decided to open up. But maybe everything would make sense, right?
"You're such a softie. No one would ever believe me if I told them you would come out of retirement for me, and that puts a damper on my bragging rights, sigh," Sadako teased and the king just laughed, making Sadako join him.
For the first time in twenty-five years, the lycan king let out a laugh.
It may have been to make Sadako feel better, and to help Sadako forget about whatever was bothering him even for a moment, but Sadako was glad that his sadness had managed to get the great King out of his retirement.
"You still have those chess pieces? I miss playing with you," Zaffuto asked and his brother got up excitedly, only to show up with an old dusty chessboard.
"Of course! Lili always cooked me fried potatoes each time I won against you, and that was my greatest motivation," Sadako added, the excitement in his voice fading slowly at the emptiness that they had both been left with when the queen was murdered.
"It's alright, Sadako. We will find them, I swear it. I won't rest, until we do, but for now, I have to kick your ass in chess."
"Oh, yeah? What if I win?"
"If you win, I'll greet the people of Kawai."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
she_osprey
she_osprey Sadako for the love of the goddess, WIN.
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