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Kunikuzushi was tired. His mother paraded him with paperwork and girls she picked up from the highest estates. He was the prince, after all, he needed a queen. He’s told his mother countless times he does not wish for a suitor. I’m in love with someone else. Is left unsaid. That person of his affections was a mere servant who tended to the gardens. His name was Kaedehara Kazuha, and he was the most beautiful man he had ever seen. He had first seen him out his window, where he was growing flowers, dirt on his nose.
He caught Kazuha for a chat multiple times, and each time he grew more and more beautiful. Lady Miko had teased him about this.
“No wonder you keep rejecting your ‘wives,’ I’ve seen you staring at that boy.” She giggled.
“Shut the fuck up.” Kunikuzushi scowled.
“My my, is that any way to speak to me?”
“I don’t care.”
-
Fueled with anger, Kunikuzushi met Kazuha in the garden where they had agreed upon a day before.
“Kuni? Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. It’s my stupid mother and her stupid fox.” Kazuha’s brows furrowed. “Sorry. I shouldn’t-“
“It’s quite alright. Really.” Kazuha reassured him. Kazuha talked most of the time, he told his stories and recited a new poem he had thought of. Kunikuzushi didn’t mind. “Anyways. Sorry, I kind of rambled there.”
“I like your voice.” Kunikuzushi blurted out. “I mean- I like listening to you. Fuck-“ Kazuha reeled back in shock at this new scrambled state of the Prince he had never seen before. It was actually quite humorous. “Stop- laughing-“ Kazuha giggled more.
“I can’t believe I got you flustered, Mr. I have no heart.” I have a heart for you. Kunikuzushi almost said. Kazuha burst out into a fit of laughter again, and it made Kunikuzushi smile down at the boy buried in his chest. Only a little though.
When the time came the Prince took Kazuha’s hand, and kissed it fondly, looking up under his long eyelashes.
“Goodbye, Kazuha. See you around?” Kazuha nodded, as red as a flaming flower. Right after Kunikuzushi had left, Yoimiya came around the corner, a pointed look on her face.
“Man, Kazuha, I know you’re gorgeous and all but even I didn’t think you could manage to court the Prince.” She shot a glance behind her.
“I- what- I didn’t- who- I swear I’m not-” Kazuha would have melted right there if he could.
“Woah chill, I’m just saying he definitely likes you back dude.” Kazuha covered his face with his hands.
“How do you know?” Yoimiya sat next to him, looking sympathetic.
“I just saw him walk out of the garden with the most lovesick expression I have ever seen, and I’m friends with Ayato and Thoma. I think he misses you already.” If he wasn’t before, Kazuha blushed even harder. “I swear he even swooned, I mean he always looks at you out his window when you aren’t looking, I’ve seen. Also, he is down bad, you have him wrapped around your fucking finger, I can prove it. When you see him next tell him-“
“Please stop-“ Kazuha said weakly. Yoimiya shrugged.
-
Of course, Yoimiya wasn’t stubborn, or so she thought. She was just being a good friend!
“Heyyy, psst Kunikuzushiii,”
“What the fuck is it? I thought you were here to discuss business.”
“Nah, I just have a question.” Kunikuzushi stared at her. “Say, if I hypothetically had a friend, who had feelings for you..” Just then something behind her caught his gaze, and he didn’t hear what she said.
“Ha! Knew it!” Yoimiya waved behind her at Kazuha who looked confused. “You like him!”
“Shut up! Not so loud!” He hissed. “Is it obvious?”
“Probably not to an unsuspecting eye, but I am not unsuspecting.” Kunukuzushi stared at her once again. “I saw you walk out of the garden yesterday.” She explained.
“What the fuck, I should have you put in jail for stalking me.”
“I was not stalking, I was passing by to visit Kazu and I just happened to see you.” She was not afraid of saying whatever she wanted to the Prince, Kunikuzushi liked that about her. “Anyways, I’ll go. Don’t want to bother you. Just making sure you won’t break any hearts!” She turned to leave but Kunikuzushi said something that made her stop.
“Can’t break hearts if I don’t have them in the first place.” He looked so genuinely confused that Yoimiya almost cackled.
“You- You won’t tell him?” She asked.
“Why would I? No point.” He said. Yoimiya looked at him with her mouth wide open.
“What if he likes you back?”
“He doesn’t.” Yoimiya left, sighing. Idiots.
-
The next time the two saw each other, Kunikuzushi was crawling out of a window to sneak out, and Kazuha was on his way to deliver some flowers.
“I- Kuni?” Kazuha tilted his head at the hooded figure. “What are you doing?”
“I’m grounded, so I’m sneaking out.”
“To do what?” Kunikuzushi had planned to just wander the gardens but it seemed rather lame.
“I dunno.” Goddamnit, that sounded even lamer. Kazuha laughed.
“Come with me.” Kunikuzushi frowned.
“You’ll get in a lot of trouble if I’m found. The first place they’ll look is wherever you are.” He said Kazuha raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?” He said. Kunikuzushi clenched his jaw.
“Fine, let’s go.” Compared to Kunikuzushi’s life, Kazuha’s seemed so much fun. Everyone around him laughed and smiled, the complete opposite of his own life. Kazuha must have felt him brooding because he slipped his hand into Kunikuzushi’s. No one seemed to care, or notice, that the shogun’s son was parading around with a flower boy,
“Kunikuzushi. What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He whipped his head to the voice to find Yae Miko standing over him. “You’re grounded.” She said in a much softer tone. Kunikuzushi took his hand back from Kazuha, who he pushed back. Thank goodness it wasn’t his mother, she would make a scene and probably tear Kazuha’s limbs from his body. Not that he would ever let her lay a hand on him.
“Listen- I’m sorry I just couldn’t stay in there.” Kunikuzushi looked down. “I’ll go back, leave Kazuha alone.”
“Kuni. Darling, I wouldn’t hurt him, and neither will your mother, okay?” He didn’t believe her. “Kazuha, I’ll need to talk to you. later.” In a flash of light, he was sitting on his bed. The shogun didn’t even bother to show up to lecture him again. There was just a note that read I’m disappointed. I wouldn’t have been against it if you just asked to leave, maybe I would have let you.
-
“Kazuha! What did she do to you?” Kunikuzushi ran his hands down Kazuha’s arms, making sure he wasn’t hurt.
“Kuni- Kuni, I’m fine. She didn’t do anything to me, I swear.” Kazuha smiled. His smile was so beautiful. Kunikuzushi hesitantly wrapped his arms around Kazuha’s waist. “Um, I think she thinks we're dating.” Kunikuzushi raised his eyebrows in shock, but given their position now, in the middle of a vast flowery garden, he could see why.
“Would you.. want to date me?” Kunikuzushi asked, staring into his scarlet eyes. Kazuha’s eyes widened. “Sorry, you don’t have to-“ Kazuha shut him up rather effectively by planting his lips onto his own.
“Sorry- I’m so sorry.” Kazuha backed away from him when they broke apart.
“Shut up,” Kunikuzushi said with no anger at all. “Kiss me again.” Kazuha’s face broke into a wide smile, gladly pulling him in again. And again.. and again.
The soft kisses turned into open-mouthed ones, Kunikuzushi drew him closer with every kiss, and god Kazuha did that thing with his mouth and Kunikuzushi loved. He loved so intensely he thought he might drown in it.
“Kazuha. One more.” The boy giggled and kissed him once more.
“You’ll get in trouble if you don’t go back soon.”
“I don’t care, I need you.” They had ended up against a tree and surrounded by flower beds where no one could see them. “Come back with me.”
So they ended up in each other’s arms, in Kunikuzushi’s room, with the soft glow of the sunset lighting up the room. Scaramouche forgot about his mother, and Lady Yae.