Volume 15 A minute apart

Yuri and Nara left the palace late at night, even though he was barefooted Yuri was more worried about King Nara. Yuri knew Nara wanted a different environment to clear his head, he instructed Sam to their final destination. Victor stormed inside Nara's bedroom and saw his father lost in space. Victor asked, "Why do you keep hurting mother? What have you done this time that he is shaken up like this?!" Lord Usagi for the first time in his life had no control over the prevailing situation. Victor went outside and saw his wife and mother gone, he called Yuri on the phone. Yuri answered, "I am sorry we left abruptly, I am alright." Victor felt anxious whenever Yuri wasn't by his side, "I am sorry Yuri… because of me and my family you have been facing problems one after the other. Now you are caught up between my parents problems, we didn't even have time to celebrate a wedding and have a honeymoon like a normal couple." Yuri looked at Nara lying on his lap, he replied, "To me family comes first than all these luxuries, I am happy to be part of your family. Take care of father, we shall return when mother is ready." Yuri hung up quickly, talking to Victor would make him miss him more. Standing by the door Victor heard his father crying, for the first time Usagi shed tears for Nara. Victor muttered, "The situation is worse than l thought."

Nara heard faint noises of a rooster, he slowly opened his eyes and saw himself in a strange small room. Nara put on a robe, he walked into the kitchen and saw Yuri and Daniel preparing a breakfast. Yuri saw him standing by the doorway, "You woke up early than I anticipated mother, good morning." Daniel bowed down and greeted Nara. Nara sat on a wooden chair, it was hard and uncomfortable Daniel placed a cushion to make it comfortable for Nara. Daniel knew these tow needed time to talk, he said, "I will run to the market Yuri, and if you need anything text me." Nara barely touched his breakfast; he was lost in space. Yuri smiled and asked, "Do you prefer to eat something else?" Nara shook his head; his eyes were baggy and sore. Yuri cleared the table, as he was washing up the dishes he said, "I will run a bath for you. We can have a walk, and I will show you around." As they were walking Nara asked, "I am sorry you had to come all the way here because of me…" "I am actually happy to be here with you; it gives us time to clear our heads and get to know each other." Seeing Yuri's smile made Nara feel a little better. Yuri showed Nara around the places he loved visiting when he was young, his parents graves and his hiding spot when his mother was chasing to beat him up. Yuri felt at ease when she saw Nara smiling, "Victor used to hide under his father's desk when he was running away. Usagi would play along the act and back him up, it was always two against one…" Yuri starring at the sky said, "It must be nice to be a parent." "I wanted to live a simple farm life, the life on a farm is peaceful. I short-lived my dream, my sister died as soon as she gave birth to Victor. Ever since we were young, she made outrageous demands, on her deathbed she wanted me to take care of Usagi and Victor. To respect her wish l left my wish and dream behind, it was difficult to adapt all alone and raise a child…now that I am here, I wonder what my life would have been if my sister hadn't died. Certainly, it would have been peaceful, I would have been married to a country girl…and have babies of my own." Nara was starring at the fields. Nara looked at the sky and shouted, "Freedom! Freedom!" Yuri joined in the idiotic act, they both laughed as an old woman shouted at them for making noise. On their way home Yuri asked, "Now that I think about it, how old are you mother?" Nara chuckled and replied, "I will be turning forty-five soon…" "What! You look more like twenty!" Yuri was truly puzzled at how young Nara looked. Nara laughed at Yuri, "How old do you think Lord Usagi is?" Yuri scratching head replied, "Isn't he a hundred?" Nara almost fell down laughing, he replied, "He is fifty, he uses the ageing spell, but his real face is younger. Do you want me to show it to you?" Yuri denied the young freshman that looked exactly like Victor to be Lord Usagi, Nara had secretly taken the picture when Usagi was fast asleep. Daniel returned to the market and saw the atmosphere had cleared up, placing the groceries down he said, "I got a lot of meat as you suggested." Yuri exclaimed, "Barbeque and beer…wait I am not allowed to drink. It will be our secret if I drink one ca tonight." "Absolutely not! Beer!" Nara exclaimed as he unpacked the beer in the grocery bag. Daniel helped Yuri to cook in the kitchen, Nara noticed that Daniel had one sided unrequited love for Yuri. One after the other Nara and Daniel chugged down beer whilst Yuri ate meat like a maniac. The two drunkards blabbered their mouths, Nara pointing at Daniel said, "I see we have the same problem; you love Yuri…don't deny it…your face gets all red when he touches you and your eyes are always glued at him." Yuri dropped the meat on his fork, Daniel giving Nara a high five exclaimed, "Ever since we were young I had a crush on him… knew my chances were zero because he was the straightest guy I know…can you believe this guy is pregnant…" Daniel looking at Yuri said, "It hurts really bad that you are with someone else other than me, I try to comfort my heart…but my love for you never fades…even though you are married and in love with Prince Victor…somehow I just want you more…am I pathetic?" Yuri never noticed how Daniel was hurting all this while staying by his side as a friend. Nara busted out in tears, "I love him…I need to see him…but what if he ends up hurting me again…I can't suffer alone, I am going to run away." Yuri grabbed Nara before he ran out of the door naked. Daniel was cuddling with Nara on the floor to keep warm, Yuri just threw a blanket over them. When the drunkards passed out Yuri was exhausted to even lift a finger, he ended up sleeping on the sofa.

Victor saw his father in his pyjamas, he tried to ignore the situation, "Victor, am I really the worst person on earth?" Victor placed this spoon down, "You are far worse than you think, you have to fix your issues with mother. I miss my wife…he isn't coming back until all this is over." Usagi placed his head on the table, all the maids kept starring at him. Lord Usagi sighed, "Nara needs time to calm down, if I confront him now, he will bite my head off. When did the situation spiral out of control?" Victor felt angry, but he calmed himself down, "Are you being serious right now? One after the other you brought your playthings inside the palace. Mother decided to keep quiet, I sometimes blame myself for the pain he endured because he stayed and tolerate your bullshit to fulfil his motherly duties." Victor left the breakfast table, Usagi realised how much of an asshole he had been. At work Victor barely completed his tasks, Prince Shion saw a pile on uncompleted work. Shion looking at Victor asked, "Should l postpone all the meetings?" Victor turned his chair to face Shion, he replied, "Sent an email of apology, if there is an emergency call me." Victor grabbed his jacket and phone, Yuri's number and Nara's numbers were both unreachable. On the elevator he met his father, "I thought you weren't coming to work." Lord Usagi pleaded with Victor to have a word in private in his office. Offering Victor, a cup of coffee Usagi said, "Do you know where they are?" Victor placed his cup down, he replied, "Tell me one reason I should tell you." Usagi looking out the window smirked, "I am being polite to ask you, you know within a second I will know their location. I haven't been the best version of a father and a husband, but I would like to atone for my mistakes…" "Choices…what you did weren't mistakes but choices. Everyone was grieving for the loss of Queen Marie; I might have not known my real mother, but I knew the love of a mother through King Nara. You lost a wife, but he also lost a sister…you had no right to lash out on him. After all these years, why do you care about him now?" Usagi clenched his fists, Victor was tired of his father's selfishness. Standing from his couch Victor said, "Mother is a kind and loving person, but that doesn't mean you had to abuse him." When Victor left Usagi dialled a number, "Did you find my wife…get the cars ready."