Rejection and Acceptance

Present time...

"Well, what response will we send to the academy?" The former Kouri king asked his son.

He was answered with a deafening silence.

"You're giving too much thought about it, Horo-Horo." Lycan waved his hairy hand near his son's face who had been staring into nothingness for a few minutes already. "It's just a simple 'yes' or 'no'."

"Well, I just remembered something." said the young monarch. No ugly big brother huh?

"By the way, Father, does Pirika already know about our mother?"

"No, I did not tell her yet but I'll explain it to her when the right time comes. It's just a pity that we weren't exactly calm when I told you the truth seven years ago. I'm sorry about that…"

Both father and son felt awkward. They hadn't talked about that incident ever since it happened not because they wanted to forget about it. There were simply other more important things that needed their attention. He was an inexperienced child king so he had to learn how to rule on the job. There was no room to reminisce the past while he was undergoing a condensed royal training with his father.

So… are you coming to the friendship ball?" Lycan tried to ask his son one more time. Hopefully, he would get a straight answer.

"No," King Horokeu folded his arms.

"Why not? I'm sure Headmaster Goldva had forgotten everything. He is quite old now, senile if you ask me. The fired security personnel of the Royal Patch Academy most likely had gotten new jobs. Mr. Kurobe had put up a foundation to help orphans in memory of his daughter. I made some generous donations to his charity in your name, by the way. The Royal Police is now directly run by the Duke of Morphia. Well, I cannot count the good things that had happened after that incident but the world is changing, Horo-Horo. It's time to move on. Forgive yourself for what happened to Damuko."

The young king stood up. "You are misunderstanding me, Father. I have already moved on. The reason why I'm not attending is because I AM the king here. I can't just leave Kouri behind for something so trivial such as a ball. Pirika can represent me in such gatherings."

Lycan gave out a smile. His son had really matured.

"But don't you call me Horo-Horo anymore," the blue-haired monarch narrowed his brows and pointed at his old man, "It's King Horokeu for you, beardoo weardoo!"

Lycan's smile faded. Well maybe not that mature enough.

"That settles it then. I will send the telegram for you, Your Highness but first, let me just clear these up. Apparently, you are still as sloppy as when you were a baby." The former ruler muttered under his breath as he returned the dirty dining utensils unto the breakfast tray.

His father left him to relax on the balcony. Because of their previous conversation, King Horokeu couldn't help but replay in his head the scenes from seven years ago. He had attempted to bury those memories but he couldn't forget them no matter how hard he tried.

When the hostage taker fired his pistol, Damuko was almost near him. Horo-Horo had closed his eyes waiting for death to take him any moment. It was an act of cowardice but he was too young to care how he acted when he was about to die. He heard a second shot being fired by someone. It probably came from the tall royal police man. When he felt that no bullet had actually hit him, he slowly opened his eyes. To his horror, Damuko was sprawled bleeding on the ground.

"Why did you do it Damuko?" He asked her as he tearfully held her in his arms. He brushed the locks of black hair away from her pale face. She began coughing out blood.

Life was fleeting fast from the girl but she managed to give him a weak smile. She caressed Horo-Horo's wet cheeks and whispered.

"You are very important to me."

Those were her last words before death claimed her.

King Horokeu stared up at the clear blue sky.

"Hey Damuko, how are things going to be if you're still alive? Maybe we would still be both at the academy. Maybe by this time, we had already travelled to different places and see other colorful festivals. Maybe I could have asked your father for your hand then we could get married and have lots of kids and rule Kouri together."

"Maybe we were really in love but we did not realize it because we were too young to understand what it is."

Tear drops hit the balcony's marble railings. It was the first time he had cried in seven years.

"I miss you so much Damuko."