Pawn to Queen 3

[estirise]

Here's "Pawn to Queen" (part) 3. I'll add a header shortly.


The King - as Kivat had proclaimed him - kept ringing the doorbell.

Wataru stood there, frozen, hoping that the King would Go Away like Wataru desperately wanted him to. He might not have to consumnate their partnership like Mio-san surely was going to have to, but he didn't want to know what the King had in mind... other than chasing down a runaway Queen.

"How'd he find us so fast?" he asked. "The necklace?" It was probably the necklace, Wataru knew.

"I doubt it," Kivat replied, frantically hovering. "He might be powerful enough to have initiated the bond when your powers erupted. Or from Mio."

Wataru nodded. "I'd better pack. If I can outwait him, then I can get out of here." He hated leaving his materials behind, but better that than the fate that apparently awaited him if he was forced into Queen's role. He had no idea what the Fangire considered "traitorous", and he had no desire to find out.

The Sagarc barged back into the workshop, chittering angrily at Wataru. Wataru had no clue what the Sagarc was saying, but it certainly seemed intent on barging in on Wataru's personal space. The Sagarc butted into his chest, clearly intending that Wataru should move. "Hurts," he mumbled, and took a step back to stabilize himself. Kivat and Tatsulot then had the Sagarc cornered, and Wataru took the opportunity to head downstairs, looking for a suitcase, his clothes, and someplace to hide himself. Under his bed would be good.

As Wataru tried to hide, the Sagarc got loose from where Kivat and Tatsulot had cornered it, and dove after him, slamming him onto the bed and winding him. The Sagarc chittered at him, as if ordering him to stay there.

Above them all, the door opened. "I'm sure he'll be glad to see you," Shizuka-chan was telling someone. "I remember him mentioning your name."

"It has been a long time since we saw each other," a warm male voice responded. "I thought this was where he lived, I thought I heard noise, but... well, nobody was answering the doorbell."

"Wataru! You have a visitor!"

The Sagarc stopped trying to press Wataru into the wall of the nook and took to floating near him. Kivat and Tatsulot made themselves scarce.

"I do?" Wataru asked, trying to be as wide-eyed as possible. He emerged from the nook, looking up to see Shizuka-chan and a man that looked familiar but not.

"See, I told you that Wataru just got wrapped up in his music," Shizuka-chan told the man - the King, maybe - and the man smiled.

"Apparently so," the man said. He walked down the steps, looking around. "This brings back such memories. I remember when his mother yelled at us because we put a dent in the walls with one of her tools."

"Taiga-kun," Wataru said, the name slipping out despite himself.

"Wataru-kun," Taiga said. "It's so good to see you again." He grabbed Wataru's hands firmly, squeezing them. "Let's not lose each other again."

The tone was warm, but the meaning of the words sent shivers down Wataru's spine. While Taiga-kun had been Wataru's protector when they were kids, Wataru didn't know if he could bear being Taiga-kun's male Queen.

"Why don't I leave you two to talk," Shizuka-chan said. "I'll just see Wataru later." She walked to one side of him and whispered in his ear, "Don't forget to get his phone number so that you can keep in touch."

Wataru nodded, and Shizuka made her way up the stairs. Taiga-kun was still holding his hands , not letting go until Shizuka had left. "It has been a long time, Wataru-kun," he said, gazing at Wataru. "I would never have guessed so many years ago that there was a reason that we found one another. I guess somehow I knew that you and I were destined to be together."

Another reminder that Wataru had to get out of there. But not right at the moment. Not while Taiga-kun was there. Not before he could pack.

"I'm lucky," Taiga-kun was saying. "I have a lovely wife-to-be, and now I know that she'll have somebody to help her out with her role. The role of Queen is critical, Wataru; I couldn't have chosen a better person. You, me, and Mio; between us, with Bishop's support, we'll do what we need to do to protect our kind." He took Wataru's hand. "But... Bishop said you were freaked out. What's wrong?"

Wataru looked up to see Taiga-kun's concerned expression. "I... I'm not a Fangire."

"Yes, you are," Taiga-kun said. He squeezed Wataru's hand. "You just didn't realize it. I was the same way, until about two years ago. You're coming into your Fangire abilities at the same time you come into your powers as Queen. Don't worry, Wataru; I know you'll be a good one, you just need time to adjust. Mio's the same way, she had the same thing happen to her. She's still adjusting to both being Fangire and her role as Queen." He paused. "That's what happened, isn't it? She's still scared about her role, and so she scared you, too. It *is* a big responsibility, I won't lie to you. But it's a shared one, this time. Just trust in me, and I'll help you through it."

Wataru managed a shaky nod, wishing Taiga-kun would go away. "Bishop can bond us," Taiga-kun said. "Normally, there's a wedding, and a consumnation, and well... things that would happen, and the next day, he'd bond us. And that's what'll happen with me and Mio; but since we don't have to wait on ceremony, Bishop can bond us right away."

"Bond?" Wataru asked. "What's bonding?" He knew through Kivat, but he wanted to hear Taiga-kun's words.

"A psychic connection," Taiga-kun said. "You'll be able to sense where I am at all times, and vice-versa. We'll be able to share some powers and be there for one another. It'll make us the team we need to be."

"And me and Mio-san?" That wouldn't be so bad. It was bonding with Taiga which didn't need to happen.

"I can ask Bishop," Taiga-kun said. "Don't worry, Wataru-kun. Once we're bonded, we'll get to know one another really well."

Wataru, not wanting to tell Taiga-kun that it was't ever going to happen, that he was going to run first, kept his silence.