Bulletproof… Their Eternal

[TAMIKO]

"Reynard?" Tamiko asked as he took in the surroundings. 

He hadn't been expecting this, but there was no doubt there was more to this than met the eye. Kosta had been so excited earlier when he said that they were going home, and then coming to Reynard was a little off track, or was it?

This place held good memories for the young Lycan. Perhaps it was just to him, but as the memories of the first time he had landed here came flooding, he couldn't help being thankful for the uncanny encounter he had had with the barbaric bounty hunter.

Funny how that man became his world and his protector. 

Reynard was the first place Tamiko felt like someone truly cared about him, and wanted to fight for him. They had beautiful memories, all that were worth fighting for. Kosta had been so kind to him despite the reputation the barbarian had.

"Yeah. The first place I saw the prettiest man in the world. I smelled your scent from a distance but I couldn't do anything. I remember telling my warriors to be coy so as to not scare you, but turns out I was just nervous.

"I wanted to make it special, but then at the end of the day, I was a barbarian… still am. At least this time, I am your barbarian. I am glad I didn't give up on my love for you, my soul," Kosta said earnestly.

He looked like he would have gone back in time and made sure that the man he loved wasn't hurt by Grealor and that he was a happy little soul whose only worry was what he would eat when he went back home.

"You did well that day… Way better than me," Tamiko said as he thought back to the first time he had run into Kosta. His mind had been blank that day, the only thing that mattered then was that he saw how far he would go in his run.

He had wanted to erase any and all scent he may have gotten in his little stay at the border patrol of Kawai. He didn't want to be abused by Grealor again or even be accused of being a traitor. He didn't even have the confidence to defend himself at the time. 

Maybe it was fate that had dragged him to the Reynard lands by then fate was a strange phenomenon wasn't it. Here they were back to a place that had nothing on them save for their first meet. 

"Well, I hope to make so many better memories with you, my soul… You ready to go home?" Kosta said and Tamiko just nodded. 

He was glad for the pit stop, and he knew it was because Kosta wanted him to know that no matter what happened, they would always be each other's lights. 

Kosta wanted to remind the young Lycan that even the most unexpected of encounters could bloom into beautiful things, just like their relationship and Tamiko wholly appreciated that.

Granted, the young Lycan wasn't sure how long it would take for him to accept Kawai as home but whatever it was, he hoped that Kawai wouldn't take his life away from him like Grealor. 

"Alright… Prepare yourself. The portal might be a little unhinged," Kosta said and Tamiko chuckled like that was supposed to scare him. He didn't know much about portals but as long as he was with Kosta or Sadako, he wasn't scared of anything. 

"I'm always ready," Tamiko said before Kosta created a portal and they went through. The portal landed them right at the centre of the Kawi Kingdom, a place that many never went to but knew was sacred. 

Tamiko didn't know why they were at that particular section, so he just watched as Kosta walked over to a little cave and got the tools for the bounty hunt. 

Tamiko wanted to ask what the point was when they still needed to get permission for the bounty but then he had to remind himself that the man with him was the Lycan Chief, one of the royals who were trusted by the King himself. 

Kosta had so much power in Kawai and it would take quite a while for Tamiko to get used to it too. 

"What was that about?" Tamiko asked when they finally made it to the civilized section of Kawai. There was a lot going on around them and if Tamiko didn't know any better he could have assumed that there was really a celebration.

However, before Kosta could answer him, they were interrupted by an excited King Zaffuto and his Lord, Sadako. They looked so shocked that the duo was there, but the shock faded into happiness as the king's eyes landed on his son.

"You guys made it on time!" the King said and Tamiko stood stiff, looking at his father, a man who seemed happier than the last time he had seen him. It was strange, and for a moment, he wasn't sure what to make of this sudden interaction.

Lord Sadako on the other hand was watching with a slight smile, though a proud one. He looked like he was glad to see Tamiko again and that he hoped the kid would stay longer, but would he, with the bounty he was excited for?

Tamiko had read books about his dear father, and he knew that King Zaffuto never stepped out of his room let alone the palace for a long time. He had so many questions about Zaffuto but he couldn't ask them without coming off as rude. 

He really didn't intend to be that. 

However, he was curious to know what was happening out here. 

The King looked relaxed, so relaxed and that made Tamiko happy for a moment. He had a father, a normal father, even though there was nothing normal about the bond they shared. 

The only thing that mattered was that he had a father who cared, but did Zaffuto, really? 

"What?" Tamiko asked, unsure of what his father was talking about. He was tempted to address the King as his father, but then he wasn't even sure if king Zaffuto would like that. 

There was a barrier between the father and son; one that time would have to undo so that they would be able to face each other. They both had been through hell and back but now, they seemed to be coming out of the shells of pain.

The king however stared in amusement.

"Your Highness, what my erasthai means, is that he doesn't understand what you mean by 'on time'. Is there a celebration in the Kingdom? We're here to collect the next bounty name," Chief Konstantin said.

Sadako looked at them wondering what they were doing out here. 

He had heard Kosta well but it still didn't make any sense, given that just that morning, they had been in Grealor facing the sword of their enemies. There had to be a better reason for all of this and even if there was, would it be any better for them all?

"Oh yeah… My apologies," the King said and Sadako literally choked on air, while Kosta looked around to see if it had been someone else who had spoken those words. Surely the great King Zaffuto Hinata did not just apologize, right? This was some illusion, yeah?

"Are kings supposed to apologize?" Tamiko voiced out, though it was clear it wasn't intended to be heard.

"Only to their sons," the Lycan king said, baffling the lot of them, again.