I'm just gonna keep this short and sweet. This is part two of the Crimson Conundrum; after this I'm marking this story as complete. I do want to write more drabbles about these two in the future, however, so I suggest you stay tuned.

Disclaimer: It is my dearest wish to own K Project, but alas I do not. However, I hope this little tidbit does it some justice. Enjoy!

Crimson Conundrum

Part 2: Bittersweet Blues

"I have to settle my own business on my own terms, and you do too."

Fighting with Munakata Reisi was something Mikoto would really rather avoid. One reason was because, well, Munakata was an extremely skilled warrior, one Mikoto couldn't afford to take on lightly. In fact, if circumstances had been different, Mikoto was sure he would have loved to have a sparring session with the Blue King from time-to-time.

Alas, it was not meant to be. Mikoto had other plans, and he was almost positive they would result in his death. His plans included the necessity of saving his energy, so unfortunately that meant he had no choice but to avoid fighting with the Blue King, no matter how much the idea made him burn with anticipation.

Of course, just because Mikoto had a mission didn't mean Munakata wasn't going to try his hardest to get in the way.

On one level, Mikoto couldn't help but admire the man's determination to save his life. Geez, Mikoto swore Munakata Reisi was like a dog on a bone sometimes; never willing to give up, even if what he was interfering with was telling him bluntly to fuck off.

If their positions had been switched, and it was Munakata who was desperate to avenge his Clansmen, Mikoto supposed he would have tried to do the same thing and stop him from "throwing his life away."

Mikoto understood why Munakata was so desperate to thwart him, to save him from himself. All it took was one look in those hard-but-pleading violet eyes and the Red King could read the Blue like a book:

Deep inside, in subtext when they spoke, Munakata was begging Mikoto not to abandon him.

The life of a King was a hard, lonely path – Mikoto knew that almost better than anyone. As a King, one was placed above the rest of humanity on a pedestal, forced to shoulder a crushing amount of responsibility and power. In order to avoid going insane, Kings sought out Clansmen, but it was only a distraction, just a temporary fix. For better or for worse, only a King could understand a King, and damn it if Munakata and himself had always been strangely connected from the moment they laid eyes on each other.

But it was due to this connection that Mikoto was convinced he could allow himself to be selfish and burn his life away with the pursuit of vengeance. When he died – and he would – it would take someone like Munakata to help pick up the pieces and rebuild.

Munakata was almost Mikoto's polar opposite – where Mikoto was violent, Munakata was restrained; where Mikoto was hot, Munakata was cold; where Mikoto was weak, Munakata was strong, and vice versa.

But most important of all: where Mikoto was Red, Munakata was Blue. They were like a mirror; two sides of the same coin. One a raging lion, the other tempered steel. Both struggling to bear their respective crosses; so different and yet at the same time so alike.

Munakata could carry the burden of his death, because he was Mikoto's rival, because he was strong enough. He was the only one Mikoto trusted to carry out this final act, because Mikoto knew he was a King, and wouldn't break from the strain.

Munakata Reisi was infuriating. He was determined. He was wise, calculating, a challenge. And deep inside, he burned with a flame that rivaled Mikoto's own, which is why the Red King trusted him with this last duty more than anyone.

Munakata was Blue.

He was a King.

And as bittersweet as their parting would be, Mikoto knew it was for the best.

Hmm . . . I think this one was a little darker than its predecessor, but I'm rather happy with it. So tell me, did I do these two characters justice? Please R&R and tell me how I can improve. I appreciate you all taking the time to read this, and I wish everyone a great summer/winter (depending on what hemisphere you live in).

~Home By Another Way