Chapter Text
The morning was clear, beautiful even, the sky a muted blue with not a cloud in sight. The warm yellow sand grew hotter as the sun rose, the soft crash of waves the only sound for miles. The wind thrashed along the shoreline, the air smelling of sticky salt and morning dew.
Prince Giyuu Tomioka sat upon the sand, staring out at the deep expanse of the ocean and across the horizon as it lit up with the first signs of morning, his eyes as deep as the sea before him. Shifting his body, he didn't care about the soft cotton draped over his body, letting clumps of sand stick to it as his boots dug deeper into the ground. Taking a deep breath, he scrunched up his nose at the smell of salt, closing his eyes and turning his head up to the sky.
Opening them once more, he watched as a seagull flew overhead, its cry echoing in the air. The wind felt warm against his face, and he sighed as his hair swayed with it, content to sit there forever.
Looking down aways to the left, he spotted the docks, smiling as the first few fishing boats began to sail their way out, casting their lines. Larger cargo type ships stayed tethered to the wooden structure though, rocking slightly as the waves crashed into their sides.
Giyuu wasn't worried about them, they were made from the finest timber of Phoenix, they'd be just fine.
Looking back out in front of him, he watched the waves, listened to their haunting echo. He wanted to lay back on the sand, lean into the warm heat and reside there all day.
But the sun was getting higher in the sky, and he had things to do.
As he begrudgingly stood up, wiping the sand off his pants, he looked back out at the sea one more time, vaguely wondering what it'd be like to sit and watch the ocean for eternity.
🌊🌊🌊
If you asked Giyuu to describe the Kingdom of Moonglade, he'd say one word.
Wealthy.
Moonglade was simply wealthy, rich in many materials, but most notably pearl. Thanks to their position by the sea, the city was overflowing with pearl, a good portion of the castle being constructed with it.
Giyuu stood tall as he walked through the city below his castle. It was large, but he walked the same path to the beach everyday, being acquainted with its twists and turns, as well as most of the locals on that stretch of road.
As he walked past old man Saburo's bread stall, the man waved happily.
"Good morning Prince Giyuu!" He called, and Giyuu returned a polite smile, nodding to him before continuing his walk.
He loved his kingdom, he truly did, the people were wonderful, and despite the vast number of them it was peaceful, the crime rate low for a place so large.
Moonglade was a beautiful place, rumored among outsiders to be protected by the sea god Poseidon himself.
And yet it always felt as though something was missing. His kingdom was lively, parties weren't uncommon and the locals were all extremely lovely people. But Giyuu felt empty, anxious at times even.
He couldn't exactly pinpoint what it was, and when he tried to rationalize it away by saying he was just ready to be the king of such a wonderful place, it never felt like the right explanation.
Maybe that's why he'd turned to sex. That void inside him, he'd found he could temporarily forget about it in the company of another man, and so he'd taken almost every guard and staff member of his into his chambers.
His reputation wasn't exactly something princely, but it wasn't like his family minded. His cousin, Sabito, was known for doing the same, sleeping with the staff and other nobles alike.
And the locals still treated him with decency and respect, so he didn't see much of a problem with his escapades.
Although lately his uncle had hinted that he slow down, as he'd have to find a partner soon if he wanted to be king.
Maybe that was the problem, now that he thought about it.
Giyuu absolutely loathed the idea of courting someone, let alone marrying them. It was too much work, too much commitment, and he detested the idea entirely.
But it was customary, and no matter how lenient his uncle was with him, he knew this was a rule he could not bend. He'd have to marry before he lay a finger on the throne.
It was common place for heirs to marry before their coronations. It made them appear unified, more put together so to speak. There weren't many exceptions to this rule, only two in the past decade, King Tengen of Brontide and Queen Kanae of Kalon.
Queen Kanae's mother had died, leaving the throne empty, and so she had been forced to take over sooner than expected. It was only last year, but she's been searching for a partner ever since.
King Tengen on the other hand was quite open about his sexual escapades, kind of like Giyuu, however he advertised that fact and wore it with pride. Giyuu did not, preferring to keep to himself, and most people recognized King Tengen's strength as the leader of his military as well as king.
But they were the exceptions to the rule, and it dismayed Giyuu to know he'd be one of the many to marry.
He slowed to a stop as he heard the stomping of horse hooves, and he looked up. The castle stood, looming above him, and he sighed, making his way towards the front gate. As he passed the set of guards at the gate, they let him by, nodding to him awkwardly as he walked in.
He'd slept with both of them, at the same time. So maybe they felt a little awkward around him, but it wasn't like he cared much.
Entering the front gardens of the castle, Giyuu looked to where he heard the sounds of horses. He smiled as he saw his younger cousins, Makomo and Nezuko, sitting atop their ponies, their horseback riding instructor guiding them as they learned to do jumps.
They don't seem to notice him, which is fine, and he continues on past the stables, heading to the front entrance.
The castle is large, the pearl exterior shimmering in the sunlight. The front stairs are beautiful, the marbled rails decorated lavishly with shells and gemstones. It was almost like something out of a story book, and despite having lived here his whole life, Giyuu still finds something surreal about the way the castle manages to shine so brightly. Almost like a beacon of hope.
Ascending the stairs, he is met with two more guards at the top, both of which Giyuu has bedded, and they open the large front doors for him. He strolls in casually, ignoring the leering looks that would surely get them executed if they had been directed at anyone else.
The inside of the castle was just as, if not more beautiful than the outside, the polished pearl walls glistening in the sunlight. A large glass chandelier hung above the entrance, and a long blue carpet stretched down the hall and to the grand staircase. The matching glass light fixtures on the wall held tall candles, but none were lit.
The main area, which was more like a ballroom, was loud with commotion, staff running around and decorating as he waltzed in. Some stop to greet him, but he waves them off with a bow of his head, watching as they scurry back to work.
He vaguely wonders what they're setting up for, but before he has time to think about it, he hears a familiar voice.
"Welcome back Giyuu." The soft voice greets, and he turns just in time to see his elder sister walking down the grand staircase, a sword on her hip as she held her dress up so she wouldn't trip. It was not as lively as her other gowns, more subdued with less pearls and gems dotting the lace, rather it looked more like something she'd wear on a day off. Her hair is tied back with her signature red ribbon, and he gives her a small smile as she walks towards him gracefully, almost like she was floating.
"Tsutako." He says simply, and walks to meet her. They meet at the bottom of the staircase, and she smiles as she stops in front of him. They stand at about the same height, although if she wore heels she easily cleared him. Luckily for his pride, she wore boots today, and she wrapped an arm around him, hugging him in greeting.
He hugs her back briefly before they part, and she ruffles his hair, just like she always did when they were kids.
"Uncle is waiting for you in his study, seemingly another lecture about marriage." She teases, and Giyuu pouts, a sigh escaping his lips as he deflates.
Tsutako giggles at him, putting her hand on his shoulder and rubbing it reassuringly.
"Oh don't fret Giyuu, I'm sure he will be lenient with you as he always is."
"That's easy for you to say sister, he isn't making you marry."
"That's because I'm not an heir, I'm a war general. Now go, I asked him to go easy on you." She winks at him before patting his shoulder and walking off to the entrance, no doubt heading to the training grounds to work with their troops.
Sighing once more, Giyuu stands up straight, keeping his head held high as he begins ascending the grand staircase, tuning out the anxious rustling of the staff below him. He felt dread pool in the bottom of his ribcage, and his frown grew deeper.
He loved his uncle like one of his parents, he truly did. After his parents, the former King and Queen, passed, Giyuu's uncle had humbly stepped up to take the throne temporarily. It had already been stated that Giyuu was the true heir by then, Tsutako more interested in playing with the soldiers and training under them than sitting behind a desk doing paperwork all day. So their uncle, Sakonji Urokodaki, had taken over, but stayed true to his brother's wish of handing the throne to Giyuu.
And his uncle always treated him as one of his own. He spent his childhood busy as a bee, running from horseback riding to archery to tutoring class and everything in between, his cousin Sabito right by his side.
One thing about his uncle was that while he was quite strict, he was also extremely affectionate. On days they did especially well in tutoring, he'd sneak Giyuu and the rest of his children snacks before bed, and always took them to see the ocean when the sun went down and his persnickety court weren't around to nag him about spoiling the kids.
Hell, he was the whole reason Giyuu had never stopped sneaking out to watch the sunrise over the waves, even if his cousins and sister had ceased coming.
So he really loved his uncle, valued his opinion, and was thankful for the opportunities the man had opened up for him. But all that was to say he really loathed getting scolded by him, especially when it came to the issue of marriage. The idea had been drilled into his head since birth despite his protests, and his uncle was only continuing his parents' wish to see their children married, but he couldn't stand the idea.
And of course, he couldn't just marry. His uncle wanted better for him, he wanted Giyuu to love, to experience the same thing his parents had before they passed. He wanted happiness for Giyuu, and that made it all the harder.
Giyuu felt out of body as he walked through the corridors of the castle, heading for his uncle's study like something akin to the undead.
He really hated these conversations.
Turning a corner, he came to a door, his eyes scanning the shiny silver accents. Reaching up, he knocked on the maple wood, hoping maybe his uncle had left and he could stall for a little longer.
But alas, as he heard his uncle's call to come inside, his chest constricts with unease and he sighs, grabbing the silver doorknob and twisting it.
The inside of his uncle's study was just as lavish as the rest of the castle, covered in old knick knacks and things he'd accumulated over the years. His desk stood in the center of the room, made from the finest burgundy wood. His oil lamp remained still and unlit, but it lingered near the papers on the desk, almost as if his uncle had forgotten to move it after doing paperwork the past night.
Behind his desk stood a trophy case, full of seashells both Giyuu and his cousins had collected together. He spots an almost intact conch shell and remembers how he had been the one to find it, however Sabito had chipped it when he grabbed it and tripped.
He smiles at the memory, but the sound of someone clearing their throat brings him back from his daydream. Turning to the other side of the room, he sees his uncle standing at the balcony. Walking past the armchair and the unlit fireplace, he joins his uncle as he watches the waves, leaning over the railing of the marble balcony and taking a deep breath, inhaling the smell of the salty air.
Despite being so far from the ocean, he could still hear the waves crashing violently onto the shore.
"I assume you already know why I called for you." His uncle asks, his voice deep but his tone playful.
Giyuu pouts, his shoulders falling.
"Yes." He responds simply, and his uncle sighs at his sad response. Standing up straight, his uncle grabs him gently by the shoulder and urges him to stand as well. Giyuu does as his uncle requests, facing him with a confused look.
Putting his hands on Giyuu's shoulders, his uncle sighs, the crown resting on his head twinkling in the sunlight.
"Listen son, I'm sure you saw all the commotion downstairs correct?" Giyuu nods, and his uncle gives him a small smile. "There'll be a ball held tonight, a lot of other nobles will be attending."
His frown deepens as he realizes what's coming next, and his uncle gives him a sympathetic smile.
"I'm not saying you have to find a husband tonight. I'm quite close to just giving up on it to be honest with you, however I request that you at least try. If you can not find anyone who even peaks your interest, I'll drop the issue." His uncle explains, and Giyuu feels his eyes go wide.
"Uncle, you..." he starts, but stops, his chest tight. His uncle looks somber, almost like he failed. It hurts him to see an expression like that on his uncle's face, especially when he was someone Giyuu so desperately wanted to please.
He can try, can he not? If not for himself then for his uncles sake? The man has done so much for him, the least he could do was make an effort.
Swallowing the lump in his throat, he nods, watching as his uncle's expression grows a little lighter. He's never been one to socialize, but now he assumes he'll have to get over that little hurdle.
"Alright uncle, I'll try."
His uncle smiles at him, patting his shoulders and guiding him to the door of the study once more, shooing Giyuu away with an almost mischievous glint in his eye.
"Don't worry boy, I've invited the best people I know, I'm sure you'll find someone." He says, and while Giyuu sincerely doubts it, he gives his uncle one last smile, bowing at the man before turning and heading to his own quarters.
As he walks away, he hears his uncle shut his study door, and when he rounds the corner, he lets out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. His hand is cold, and he scrunches up his nose at the sensation, not exactly unpleasant.
He continues on to his own chambers, the words replaying his head. He couldn't believe his uncle was really going to let him off the hook.
Sure, he'd agreed to try to find someone at this ball, and he knew Tsutako and his cousins would be there to report back to their uncle if he had or not, but really all he had to do was socialize a bit before inevitably he'd decide he couldn't find anyone.
It felt unreal, but he smiled with relief. He hated to disappoint his uncle, but his life would be so much easier spouse free, and everyone knew it. Even his uncle was seemingly tuned into that fact.
Plus, a ball with all the other nobles and royalty meant he'd be seeing some of his oldest friends once again.
Turning a couple more corners, Giyuu finally reaches his quarters, dragging his feet to his door. The stress of that conversation, as well as the sleep he'd deprived himself that morning, was catching up with him, the sand in his clothing getting itchier as he moved.
A knight stood outside his door as they usually did, one of his personal guards, and he smiled at the man. The knight flushed, avoiding eye contact as he opened the door for Giyuu.
It was amusing how easily embarrassed they all got after just one night with him, and suddenly the idea of sleep was pushed to the back of his head.
Smiling, Giyuu places his hand on the knight's armor, leering up at him.
He wants to laugh as the man gulps, biting his lip to keep from doing so, and then he tugs on his arm and pulls the guard into his room, smirking as the man stutters before shutting the door behind them.
His nap could wait.
🌊🌊🌊
Sitting in front of his vanity, Giyuu frowned at his appearance in the dimly illuminated mirror. The sun had gone down hours ago, the only source of light now being the small oil lamp on his desk.
Tsutako stood behind him, braiding his hair and humming a happy tune as she did.
Now changed out of her more casual clothes, she wore an elegant ball gown, decorated with shimmering beads and fine lace. Her prized ribbon was gone, as well as her sword, and she wore tall heels in place of her boots.
She definitely looked like royalty, but as she giggled at him, he felt like she was more of a devil in disguise. She'd insisted she braid his hair, something about looking his best for all his potential suitors, and Giyuu had been forced along.
His outfit wasn't too different from hers in terms of elegance, draped in lavish satin and lace. His jacket was decorated with fine gold threading, the buttons shiny and twinkling in the dim candle light, matching the gold tassels hanging from the shoulder pads of his top. A belt held tightly over his waist, his pants a simple cream color to compliment the light blue of his top, and he wore a gold chain over his collar bone, holding the white cape hanging off his shoulders. His bangs hung out from his braid, framing his face and eyes, which popped more from the slight makeup Tsutako had applied.
Not his preferred style of dress, but it worked in his favor.
Finishing up his braid, Tsutako leans forward and grabs a light blue ribbon hanging off his vanity, one a soldier had gifted him, before tying his hair back with it.
He feels it rest against his back as she lets it fall from her hands before patting it down. He watches her smile in the mirror as she smooths out his hair, and then she giggles to herself, putting her hands on his shoulders and squeezing reassuringly.
"You look dashing." She compliments, and he can't help but smile. Maybe they'd grown up, but her praise had never lost its effect, and it gave him a small confidence boost.
Standing up, he pulls down on his jacket and adjusts his cape, taking one last look in the vanity. He looks visibly uncomfortable, that small boost of confidence doing little to quell his anxiety.
Talking was just not his forte, rather that was kingdom affairs and sex, much more comfortable in those areas. The thought of having to find a suitor made dread coil in his gut, and he swallows as he hears the classical music beginning to play below him, the noise of idle chatter causing an unpleasant feeling to settle in the bottom of his ribcage.
Tsutako seems to notice this, because as she blows out his oil lamp and places it back on his vanity, she hums a tune their parents used to sing.
She wraps her arm around his, patting it before beginning to lead him out of his room, like she was trying to keep him grounded.
He takes a deep breath, nodding to himself before turning and giving her the best smile he could muster.
She seems to buy it, and she giggles to herself as they make their way towards the main ballroom.
Giyuu internally thanks his uncle for teaching him how to fake a smile. Being a prince meant he constantly had to put out the image of being put together, so despite the anxious storm clouding his brain, he straightens his shoulders and takes the lead, Tsutako laughing lightly next to him as he led them to the grand staircase.
He definitely didn't want to make a huge deal about his arrival, but walking down the large staircase in the middle of the ballroom made that difficult to accomplish.
Looking around, he can't help but admire the beautiful job the staff had done decorating.
The light fixtures lining walls were lit, casting an unreal glow over the ballroom. The large glass chandelier hung regally over them all, the candle light dim but beautiful nonetheless.
As he descended the staircase, he felt relieved as he noticed only a few guests had arrived so far, mingling amongst themselves.
Mostly Moonglade nobles and royalty from the nearer kingdoms, Kalon and the like. Scanning the room, he smiles as he notices the bright flame colored hair across the ballroom, accompanied by his fiancé, with a familiar looking butterfly hair pin.
Relief floods his system as he sees his closest friends, happy they'd arrived safely, and early as well.
Maybe this party wasn't going to be so dreadful after all.
As they finally reach the bottom of the staircase, Tsutako takes her arm back and smiles at him reassuringly once more, sparing a quick glance over his shoulder at his friends.
"Looks like Lady Shinobu and Prince Kyojuro are already here, that must mean Her Majesty Queen Kanae is here as well. Be sure to greet her later. And remember-"
"Look for a husband." He finishes for her, and she nods, her eyes gleaming with pride before she squeezes his shoulder with her gloved hand, turning quickly and heading to greet more guests.
He watches her go for a moment, disappearing into the crowd before making his way over to where his friends stood.
They seem to notice him just as well, and he smiles as they turn to him, their arms linked. Prince Kyojuro, the friendlier of the two, beams as he spots Giyuu, lifting his other arm to wave happily.
He gives a small wave back.
"Giyuu! It's great to see you again!" Kyojuro exclaims as he finally stops in front of them, extending his arm for a handshake. Giyuu takes his hand, smiling sincerely at the man.
"It's nice to see you too Kyojuro." He says, then turns to the woman beside him. She raises an eyebrow at him, trying to seem annoyed, but the playful glint in her eye gives her away.
Giyuu can't help but feel lighter in her presence, and he feels his smile soften as he leans down and kisses both of her cheeks as she pats his arm, reciprocating the gesture.
"You as well Shinobu. I'm pleased you two could come." He says as he steps away from her. She scoffs, and as she crosses her arms, he takes notice of the long fur cape draped over her shoulders.
It's no doubt a gift from Kyojuro, but it has Giyuu holding back a laugh as he notices the mismatch between her lavender dress and the deep brown fur. Kyojuro seems to be wearing a similar cape, however his outfit is threaded with fine gold and orange fabric, meshing together in a more eye-catching way.
"With such short notice? You should be more than pleased." Her sharp voice grounds him once more, and he takes his eyes off her cape to look back at her face.
He doesn't have time to respond before Kyojuro laughs though, his voice booming as he nudges the shoulder of his betrothed.
"Oh cease that Shinobu, you hadn't anything going on. And you were excited to see Giyuu just as much as I was." He speaks happily, and Giyuu can't help but laugh along. Shinobu only rolls her eyes, looking at her brightly colored nails.
"Well nonetheless I am still elated to see you two." Giyuu adds earnestly, and they both nod in understanding.
He can't help the pure joy seeing Kyojuro and Shinobu again brings him, and he shifts his weight to his other leg, watching as Shinobu sighs in defeat, a small smile making its way onto her face.
"It is a pleasure. Although I will say, I was quite caught off guard when I received your invitation. Your uncle isn't one to haphazardly throw parties." Shinobu comments, and Giyuu feels himself flush a bit. Kyojuro nods along with her, leaning in closer to her, almost as if on instinct.
"Yes, I do have to say I was surprised. You should have seen my fathers face when we read the invitation, we were all a bit confused." Kyo adds, and Shinobu lays her hand on his bicep, humming lowly.
Smiling sheepishly, Giyuu clasps his hands behind his back and looks down at his shoes, nervous laughter bubbling in his throat.
"I have to admit I was quite shocked myself. He hadn't told me until this morning, but he threw this party for me to find a husband." He explains as casually as he can, trying not to make it a big deal, but as he sees Shinobu's smile grow, he knows he's in for another round of her merciless teasing.
"Ahh, so he finally put a stop to your days as a harlot?" She teases, and Kyojuro frowns a bit at her, turning to Giyuu with a concerned look. He gives Kyo a defeated smile, and when he sees that Giyuu is fine with the, frankly, foul language, he relaxes.
Shinobu was always prone to speaking inappropriately in social situations, although only ever did so in the presence of close friends.
"You could say that." Is all he responds with as Shinobu laughs lightly at him, putting her hand to her mouth. Kyojuro can't help but chuckle as well, finding the sad pout on Giyuu's face to be quite entertaining.
Wiping her eye with a gloved hand, Shinobu calms herself with a nod.
"Well then, it'd be in your best interest to start mingling. If you'll excuse Kyojuro and I, we need to go find my sister, Kanao has a habit of hiding away at events like these." Shinobu explains, and Giyuu nods at her, giving them one last smile.
"Of course. It was lovely to see you two again." He speaks, and Kyojuro shakes his hand once more.
"Farewell Giyuu, I'll be expecting a letter soon, I'd like to know how this little mission goes for you." She teases one final time, pulling Kyojuro away.
Now alone, he feels exposed in the ever growing crowd of guests, the noise of voices and fake, posh laughter grating on his ears. Shifting on his feet, he turns as someone from the kitchen staff comes over to him and offers him a glass of wine, which he takes with a nod of thanks.
Taking a sip of the wine, he closes his eyes and inhales a deep breath. God how he wishes he could have just spoken with Kyojuro and Shinobu all night, but he knew it wasn't going to be a possibility.
Yes, this was his ball, but that didn't mean it wasn't an opportunity for other royals to mingle and make connections.
It was as much of a business meeting as it was a fancy party, Giyuu knew that better than anyone.
So with one more sip of wine, he forces himself to head out into the crowd, stopping along the way to mingle briefly with his guests. The sound of violins and piano fill his ears, making it hard for him to concentrate on the people around him, but he's polite as he introduces himself to new people and reconnects with others he's met before.
He's onto his third wine glass in what feels like an hour, a few guests still left to filter in. The music has grown a bit louder, and he smiles as he walks past the dance floor, noticing his cousin Tanjiro dancing with his younger sister, Nezuko. He also takes note of his uncle dancing with Makomo a bit aways from them, letting her step on his feet despite her being almost thirteen.
They all seem to be having fun, and as he makes his way to the food table, he spots his older cousin Sabito talking with King Tengen and Kyojuro, Shinobu nowhere to be found.
King Tengen seems to notice him first, his face lighting up with a smile as he raises his glass to him.
"Ah! Prince Giyuu! Pleasure to see you!" He calls, and Giyuu tips his glass forward, stumbling his way over.
His head feels a bit hazy from the wine, nothing too bad yet, but he should probably drink some water.
However he just sips his wine once more as he saunters over, Sabito slinging an arm around his shoulder once he gets close enough.
"Giyuu! Finally! We've been waiting for you to show your face!" Sabito laughs, sounding a bit drunk himself, and Giyuu rolls his eyes, removing his cousin's arm from his shoulder before greeting Tengen with the firmest handshake he could muster.
Thankfully Tengen was a laid back man, so he took no offense to Giyuu's lackluster grip and generally lax attitude, rather he seemed to revel in it a bit. Turning back to Kyojuro, the king takes a sip of his own wine and seems to continue his last line of thought, frowning.
"I still find it hard to believe Sanemi hasn't arrived yet, I'm growing impatient." He says over the music, and Kyojuro just smiles.
"Cyclone is the furthest kingdom from Moonglade, so it must take longer to travel here. I assume he should be here anytime now. And I wouldn't fret over his guards if that's what you're worried about, those three rarely go anywhere without one another."
"Guards?" Sabito cuts in, and Kyojuro chuckles a bit.
"Ah yes, that's right. I don't believe you've met him before. Prince Sanemi doesn't really go anywhere without his two guards, most likely under his father's orders. Although if I were King Kyogo, I'd be more scared for anyone who tried to go after his son. He's an insanely good warrior."
Giyuu feels himself perk up at the mention of that. He vaguely through his clouded brain remembers meeting said Prince, if he recalls correctly it was at Queen Kanae's coronation. Their interaction hadn't gone farther than their names and a quick chat before they were pulled away, but Giyuu can barely remember anything else about him.
"I'm almost positive the real reason they're attached to him is to keep him in line. That man is volatile, but he makes for fun conversation." Tengen adds before a smirk forms on his face, and he feigns a look of sadness. "Really I worry for them, those poor souls."
Kyojuro shakes his head with a smile, nudging Tengen with his shoulder. "Now come on Tengen, you're only worried because you're trying to court one of them."
Now that's news to Giyuu, but before he can ask any further questions Sabito gasps, his eyes wide with surprise.
"You? Courting someone? Man, I must've truly passed from all the wine." He jokes, and Tengen laughs hardily.
"What Kyojuro says is true my friend, I've finally been tied down."
"Only problem is the guard is even more of a hothead than the prince he protects. He's barely acknowledged Tengen." Kyojuro adds, but Tengen waves it off with a devious smile, twirling the wine around in his glass.
"All in due time." Is all he says before tipping his glass towards the door, his smile growing wider.
"Speak of the devil, here they come."
Turning his head, the first thing Giyuu notices is the shock of winter white hair on the Prince's head. He hadn't remembered it before, but seeing it again brought back the memory of it, and the surprise from the first time seeing it.
Scanning the man's body, Giyuu sucks in a breath at the long, tight fitting jacket he adorned, his arms visible behind the sleeves. He wore a rouge colored vest beneath the dark black jacket, a loose white shirt tucked neatly under the red fabric.
He couldn't see his face, but he didn't need to, remembering the deep scars running over his nose and forehead, and the intense violet of his eyes. The man looked around before two others, presumably his guards, filtered in behind him, the taller of the two black haired men patting his back.
"I call that one." Sabito says next to him, and Giyuu spares a quick glance at him. His cousin is staring straight at the taller guard, eyeing him like a piece of meat.
He can't blame him, the man looked rather dashing, but Giyuu couldn't keep his attention off the Prince.
He watched on as the Prince swat the hand of his guard away, and the latter laughed. The three men converse at the front for a moment before Tsutako appears from the crowd to greet them, as she had been doing with all the guests, shaking the Prince's hand. She says something to him, and he smiles at her kindly before bowing his head, and then she's gone, whisked away by more guests. The Prince nods at his two guards before they split off, seemingly to go enjoy the party.
He wonders what the Prince was going to do first, maybe dance with some cute noble(hopefully himself), but he's pulled from his spiraling hole of alcohol induced delusions by the clap of Sabito's hand on his shoulder, and he winces as the man laughs loudly in his ear.
"Wish me good luck, I'm off to seduce a guard!" He exclaims before heading off in the same direction as the taller guard, Tengen whistling at him as Kyojuro called a cry of good luck.
Downing the rest of his wine, Tengen practically slams his glass onto the food table, standing up straighter before adjusting his own coat and nodding to himself.
"I assume that's my cue as well. So long boys." He speaks without looking at them, walking towards where the smaller guard stood and waving a hand at Kyojuro and Giyuu.
They stand together for a moment before Kyojuro laughs next to Giyuu, nudging his shoulder a bit and tipping his head forward.
"I should go find Shinobu, I'm sure she's waiting for a dance. Hopefully I'll see you again."
Nodding, Giyuu raises his glass at Kyojuro and gives the man a smile, happy to be left alone before having to jump back out into the fray.
Finishing off his wine, he places his glass next to what was previously Tengen's, content to let the staff handle it, before he tugs at his collar and makes his way back into the sea of guests.
🌊🌊🌊
It's by his fifth glass that, through sheer luck, Giyuu somehow manages to get away from the crowd.
He feels like he's floating as he stumbles outside to one of the unoccupied balcony areas that overlook the front of the castle, blinking in and out of consciousness as he bumps into the railing, letting out a small groan and leaning his body against the cold marble, trying not to spill his drink.
He has no clue what the kitchen staff put in the wine this time, but it sure was strong.
Blinking, he shifts his body so he's able to stand upright, the music in the background a low buzz in his head as he sways with the wind. The air smells saltier than it had earlier that day, or maybe he was imagining it, but as he inhales a deep breath he feels some of his strength returning to him.
Looking over the balcony, he watches as a few guests mingle outside, near the gardens and hedge maze. He watches a couple enter the maze, all over each other, and he sighs as he realizes what they were doing. He prays for the poor gardener who would have to clean up their mess in the morning, but he can't exactly bring himself to be mad.
Not like he hadn't done the same thing just a week ago.
He twirls his wine glass in his hand, bored, before finishing it off, placing the glass on the ledge in front of him.
He can practically feel what little inhibition he previously had slipping away, and he finds himself counting the minutes until the party would end. He'd mingled just like he'd been instructed to, and while he felt bad he couldn't fulfill his uncle's wish, not one man had caught his eye.
Well, besides Prince Sanemi, but he had no interest in the man beyond his looks.
Maybe on a normal day he'd go over and try to seduce him, take him to bed like all the others, but something told him that wouldn't exactly be effective with the prince. Besides, he'd been told the man was a hot head, and he wasn't so sure he was willing to deal with someone such as that.
Sighing, he feels his shoulders sag, and his put together princely demeanor falls. He feels the wind hit his face, and it's cool, smelling of the beach that he could barely see over the horizon, covered by the houses lining the little city in front of him. He yearned to see the water, touch the sand, but he had longer to wait before he could sneak out, at least until most of the guests had gone, which wouldn't be for a while.
That void in his chest seemed to return tenfold, and he frowns, staring a hole in his empty glass. Maybe he could go find one of the kitchen staff, convince them to stop working for a little while to accompany him to bed, but he knew they'd be fired if they got caught, and he didn't feel like dealing with the hassle.
"What's the host of such a wonderful party doing out here all alone?"
The sudden appearance of an unfamiliar voice makes him jump, and he turns quickly, blinking away the slight pain in his head before his mind registered the image of Prince Sanemi standing behind him, an amused smile on his face as he held two glasses of wine in his hand.
Giyuu can only stare as the Prince walks forward, offering one of the glasses to him with a handsome smirk.
He takes it apprehensively, watching closely as the Prince situates himself against the railing just as he'd been a few seconds prior, looking out at the rooftops and taking a sip of his wine.
He can't seem to move, or take his eyes off the Prince, and he knows he's staring, but he can't help himself. He watches as the Prince's hair whips around in the wind, his scars barely visible in the moonlight, and his gut coils with a new emotion.
The man takes another sip of his wine, looking at Giyuu out of the corner of his eyes.
"You didn't answer my question." He says, staring for a moment before turning his gaze back to the skyline.
Giyuu barely hears him, but the words hit him hard, and he realizes how odd he's acting. Clearing his throat, he forces himself to tear his eyes off the Prince, trying to find the ocean once more to keep him from acting like a creep.
"I am not a fan of parties." He finally responds, holding his glass between his fingers and eyeing the red liquid inside, putting it to his lips and tasting the mellow grape flavor. The wind blows again, cold, and Giyuu shivers.
The Prince doesn't seem to notice.
His laugh is deep, maybe an octave deeper than his speaking voice, and it seeps into Giyuu's bones. He shakes his head before drinking back more of his wine, pointing his glass out to the city.
"Well, what are you a fan of?" He asks, seemingly trying once more to make conversation, although Giyuu's not sure why. He watches the man turn to him, leaning forward on the balcony ledge and looking right into his eyes. They burn into his skin, and it steals away his breath.
"Sex." He blurts out before he can stop himself, internally cursing himself for acting so crass in front of other royalty, especially someone he barely knew.
But Prince Sanemi merely laughs again, this time louder. It makes Giyuu's insides squirm, a feeling he's never felt washing over him. It's weird and fuzzy, and he completely hates the way it turns him into a clueless mess, when normally he'd be the charming prince he was trained to be.
"That's quite vulgar of you." The man jokes, putting his wine glass down on the balcony next to him and standing up straight, turning around to face the ballroom behind them. Giyuu wants to explain himself, try and fix the situation, but it seems Prince Sanemi doesn't mind, if his ever present amused smile means anything.
He's mocking Giyuu, openly like he wasn't talking to a future king and possible ally. He felt annoyance pulling at his chest, and with a frown Giyuu throws back the rest of his wine, putting the glass down next to his previous one and standing up straighter.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Giyuu averts his eyes from the Prince, leaning back against the balcony and staring into the ballroom, watching the other nobility dance. He could just leave, but that would mean victory for the man next to him, and with all the liquid confidence running through his veins, there was no way Giyuu was allowing that to happen.
No, if Prince Sanemi wanted to play, then Giyuu could play.
"Does my crassness offend you?" He asks, trying his best to sound as condescending as possible, although he doesn't know how effective it really is.
Sneaking a glance at the Prince, he notices his eyes narrow a bit, and it's the only time his expression has faltered in the slightest.
Giyuu takes it as a small victory.
The Prince purses his lips before smiling once again, finally taking his eyes off the ballroom to stare right back at Giyuu.
Giyuu averts his eyes before they can make contact though, the hairs on the back of his neck standing at the now familiar low laugh of the Prince. He hears the man hum playfully, seeing him shake his head in his peripheral vision.
"Of course not Your Majesty. I was simply surprised to hear it from someone so...." He pauses, and Giyuu finally can't help it, looking at the man next to him. He watches as a smirk spreads over his face, and he shrugs, chuckling to himself.
"...boring." He finishes, that mocking tone high in his voice.
That's the final nail in the coffin, and Giyuu openly scoffs at the man, shaking his head in disbelief.
"I can assure you Prince Sanemi, I am anything but." He snips, and shame on him if he'd admit he was losing, but anyone would know he was.
The man pressed all the right buttons, completely calm as Giyuu struggled to get any kind of reaction besides amusement from him.
He expects the Prince to mock him some more, maybe even call him merciless names just to shred his pride up even more, but he's surprised as the man pushes off the balcony, walking to the entrance back into the ballroom and turning one last time, giving him a sly smile.
"Then prove it."
And then he's walking away, back into the ballroom, and Giyuu loses sight of him.
The wind blows, and he's alone. Blinking, he feels his stomach tying up in knots, and he feels his body screaming with want.
And then he's moving, his legs carrying him back into the ballroom without his permission.
He finds himself almost running back inside, leaving their empty glasses behind and weaving through the crowd desperately.
People greet him hello and try to wave him over, but he ignores them, only giving them small apologies in return for his rudeness.
He doesn't know why he's going after him, other than a burning need to prove himself, but that's never compelled him before. Something about this feels different; a burning, aching desire to prove his worth to someone he's barely traded any pleasantries with.
It confuses him, but he doesn't let it stop him, allowing the wine to guide him as he scans the crowd for white hair, and when he spots the Prince walking through the ocean of other royals, he speeds up.
He completely disregards his previous inhibitions, because who was he kidding? The Prince was more good looking than any other man he'd ever met, with an attractive personality to boot.
But mostly, the Prince treated him equally, even if he did openly make a mockery of him.
He pushes past more people before finally reaching the Prince, and as he does he grabs him tightly by the wrist.
The man turns to him, ignoring the person talking in front of him. They scoff, but Giyuu disregards them, and the Prince gives him a look, almost like he was saying 'oh, you again?'
It lights a fire in Giyuu's body, and he grips the man's wrist tighter before pulling him away, stumbling a bit as the Prince was slightly bigger than him.
He refuses to look at him as he leads him through the ballroom and towards the kitchen, but the man doesn't resist his hold, rather he seems to chase after him, almost like he was feeling the same.
The thought makes Giyuu want to squeal, a feeling so foreign he doesn't have time to dissect it, so he suppresses it, shaking off the nervous excitement growing inside him as he hastily pulls Prince Sanemi through the kitchen doors.
It's loud, and there are workers running around everywhere, but Giyuu just pushes past them, vaguely hearing the sound of the man behind him laughing at his eagerness.
He felt a bit bad, but nothing was going to stop the war path he'd set himself on.
He doesn't know how long it takes for him to lead the Prince around the castle, running around through hidden pathways and up to his chambers, but as they reach his door he starts to feel his body heat up.
Gulping, he opens the door to his bedroom and leads them inside, and before he can even think about closing it behind them, he's immediately pinned to the wall, a rough but soft pair of lips crashing into his.
Sparks fly in his brain as Prince Sanemi kisses him, holding his waist tightly with one of his large hands. He hears the man shut the door for him, presumably with his free arm, before the lock clicks and they're finally alone.
Sanemi kisses him hard, harder than he's ever been kissed before, and it sends a wave of heat coursing through his body. He gasps as the man bites his lip, forcing his mouth open so he can shove his tongue down Giyuu's throat, licking his teeth and exploring the roof of his mouth with vigor.
Giyuu is used to being in control. He's never the one doing the work, but he's always the one in control.
However now, he feels his usual iron grip slipping, gasping for breath as Sanemi grabs his leg, hiking it up against his thigh and pushing him even harder against the wall, settling his leg between Giyuu's to keep him in place.
It's exhilarating, and he can feel the heat building between them. Everything in him wants so badly to submit, almost positive the man could(and would) successfully bring him to his knees like a commoner to a king, but he remembers Sanemi's words, calling him boring, and it makes him tense a bit.
He certainly isn't boring, or easy quite frankly, and so with a renewed sense of confidence he pushes forward off the wall, kissing back with just as much fervor. It doesn't seem to phase the other prince though, and they stumble to Giyuu's bed before falling to the mattress, Sanemi on his back as Giyuu straddles his waist.
From this new position, Giyuu can feel the hard erection poking his backside, and he has to suppress a shiver as his hips reflexively rock down onto it. He struggles to keep his eyes open as he grows hotter in his clothes, his hands trembling as he pulls off his cape and reaches for his jacket buttons.
He doesn't understand why he's acting so urgently, maybe the idea of the other Prince getting bored and leaving him with wounded pride was causing the rush, but that couldn't explain the arousal coursing through his veins and the way his skin fluttered whenever Sanemi touched him.
He didn't have time to think about it as he fumbled with his last button though, the man under him watching with his intense eyes and a sexy smile. He looked just as amused as before, like Giyuu was some entertaining opera show and not someone he was about to rail into next week.
Or at least Giyuu hoped he would.
Finally free of his jacket, he throws it behind him to the floor, pulling his shirt over his head. As the cool air around him stuck to his skin, he sucked in a breath, flinching. Sanemi seemed to notice this, because he took that opportunity to sit up and flip them over once again, and suddenly Giyuu was the one on his back.
He felt his eyes go wider as he stared up at Sanemi hovering over him, biting his lip as he watched the other man tear off his coat and top off with ease.
He feels dizzy as the Prince leans down and kisses him again, spreading his legs open and settling his body between them. His erection presses against Giyuu's easier now, and it's enough to have the latter keening.
He makes quick work of removing Giyuu's boots and pants, his undergarments not far behind. He kicks to get them off his legs in earnest as Sanemi pulls them down.
The air has grown colder with time, his skin numb but alight with heat at the same time. He feels more exposed than he ever has despite his usual comfort in this state, his body naked and offered up to Sanemi like some kind of whore.
"Where do you keep your oil?" Sanemi's voice breaks the intense silence between them, low and gruff, and Giyuu barely has enough strength to point to his bedside table, let alone say anything.
Sanemi seems to get it though, and he reaches over to open the drawer, grabbing around a bit before finding the large bottle.
He watches as Sanemi just about gapes at the size of it, his surprise barely hidden behind that signature amusement that Giyuu was starting to think was his default emotion. He wastes no time pulling the cork off the top though, pouring oil onto his hand and rubbing it between his index and middle finger to warm it up, all the while keeping his eyes locked on the body under him.
And god was that hot. Giyuu averts his eyes from Sanemi's, unable to handle the intense stare, and he feels himself unconsciously spread his legs wider. He flushes, embarrassed by his eagerness, but as he's rewarded with a satisfied smile and a firm hand gripping his thigh, he can't find it in himself to care.
He holds his breath as Sanemi decides the oil is warm enough, placing it on the nightstand before moving his hand down and softly pressing a finger against the rim of Giyuu's hole.
He doesn't want to make a sound, doesn't want the other man to steal away any more of his dignity, but as he feels the finger enter him, he can't help the gasp that follows, his body tensing with the feeling.
The sensation isn't unusual, far from it actually, rather it's the skillfully quick way the Prince above him spreads him open, working quickly as he slips two more fingers inside at once. Usually the people he sleeps with treat him as porcelain, afraid for their jobs if they hurt him, but Sanemi wasn't one of his staff, he was a man of equal standing, seemingly not caring to be gentle.
It makes Giyuu breathless, not used to the fast pace, and he screws his eyes shut as Sanemi finds that bundle of nerves inside him, unable to speak as a moan is ripped from his throat. His whole body tingles, and Sanemi hits it again in quick succession, smirking as Giyuu's legs begin to shake.
"Aww, what's wrong your Majesty? That close already?" He taunts, slamming his fingers back onto that spot, and it takes all of Giyuu's willpower not to melt like wax. Steeling his gaze, he glares, wrapping his legs around Sanemi's waist and pulling him down with force.
He watches in satisfaction as the man's eyes widen in surprise, and he curses as he stumbles forward slightly, catching himself on the bed and turning his eyes to meet Giyuu's in a sharp glare.
He doesn't let his own hard stare falter, despite the constant stimulation he keeps his composure as best he can.
Sanemi's stare turns from angry to contemplative, and suddenly he moves his fingers, spreading all three apart.
Giyuu has to hold back the urge to moan, gulping down the noises stuck in his throat. His hips try to move without his permission, but he pushes back, staying still as a statue. The heat coiling in his gut cries, building with each second, but he holds himself still.
No way was he about to cum on a man's fingers alone, nor was he going to allow the Prince to get off on making a mess of him.
Sanemi seems to catch on to his small act of defiance, and he lets out a small huff of what sounds to be amazement, before shaking his head. He scissors Giyuu's hole a few more times for good measure before slowly withdrawing them, leaving him feeling empty and cold.
Giyuu's eyes follow as Sanemi sits back up again, his legs falling back to the bed. He watches as the Prince unbuckles his belt, slowly but confidently pulling his pants and undergarments down his thighs.
He blinks as he watches the man's cock springs to life, his mouth falling open slightly. He licks his teeth, trying to catch his breath, but the tense heat in the air makes his throat feel tight and his body cry with want.
Sanemi doesn't look back at him as he reaches for the oil again, pouring a generous amount into his palm before clasping his dick and rubbing the oil over it. He grunts as he does, his face twisting a bit, and finally some of his control slips.
Giyuu doesn't know how long he sits there and watches, it could've only been a few seconds, but before he knows it, Sanemi is putting the oil back on the bedside table and leaning over him, grabbing his thigh with a tight grip and hoisting it up.
He feels himself spread open, and then he feels the tip of Sanemi's cock rub at his entrance before he pushes in.
A loud moan fills the air, and he vaguely recognizes it as his own. Maybe he'd be more angry that he lost his own little game, but he can't find it in himself to focus on that.
Rather all he could focus on was the grip of Sanemi's hands on him and the intense warmth filling him to the brim.
He whines as Sanemi goes further, his hole fluttering as the Prince bottoms out swiftly, and he can barely keep his eyes open. The man above doesn't seem much better, his face twisted and his jaw tense.
His dick sits heavy inside Giyuu, both stopping to catch their breath. The otherwise silent room is filled with faint music from downstairs, and as Sanemi rolls his hips experimentally, Giyuu chokes on a moan.
"You alright?" He asks, and it's the most genuine Giyuu has heard him sound all night.
He can't respond, too afraid of what might come out of his mouth, so he just nods, gulping down the knot in his throat.
Thankfully Sanemi doesn't need words to know, and he starts slowly pulling out, lazily thrusting back and forth a few times before beginning to pick up his pace.
His grip tightens, and he grabs Giyuu's other thigh, hiking it up and hooking his arm under his knee.
Giyuu keens as Sanemi's pace grows faster and faster, his body hot and tingling with every movement. His dick lays flush against his stomach, the tip an angry red, but he leaves it, instead leaning up to wrap his arms around Sanemi's neck.
The clap of skin on skin drowns out the music below now, Giyuu's own low whines barely audible. His ears buzz with noise as Sanemi grunts above him, and he kisses the man as hard as he can, their teeth clashing together sloppily.
Pleasure shoots through every part of his body, and as Sanemi slams into that same bundle of nerves once more a loud cry is ripped from his throat. He sees stars as the Prince above him starts hitting that spot over and over, and the heat in his gut returns tenfold.
He reaches for purchase, scratching at Sanemi's back and pulling his hair, moaning into his mouth like a whore.
"Fuck." Sanemi mumbles, and his hips stutter, bucking wildly. He grabs at Giyuu's braid pulling on it as he hits that spot again, this time much harder, and it's a wonder either of them hadn't unraveled sooner.
Giyuu tries to keep his voice low as he cums, but he can't help it as he moans loudly, Sanemi trapping his lips in a hasty kiss to keep him quiet.
The Prince helps ride him through the orgasm, dropping his thighs and running his hands over Giyuu's waist.
He continues to rock against Giyuu a few more times, the latter whining from the overstimulation, before Sanemi finally pulls out and cums on his stomach.
It's a miracle that he doesn't collapse right on top of Giyuu, kissing him for a few seconds more before rolling over and falling next to him, the bed squeaking as he did.
They're both panting, and as the buzzing in Giyuu's ears begins to fade, the music from downstairs returns, and he sighs.
He'd lost track of how many men he'd slept with in his life, but he knew this was one he'd remember.
Shaking his head, he sits up, ignoring the growing ache in his backside and planting his feet on the ground.
Reaching for his bedside table, he ignores the oil, instead opening the drawer and pulling out a pack of cigars and a match box.
He takes a cigar as he feels the bed shift, and he opens his match box, grabbing one. He hears the Prince kick off his own boots, falling to floor in quick succession, and assumes the man's pants follow.
He strikes the match, lighting his cigar before waving the fire out and lifting it to his mouth, inhaling slowly.
As he lets out a puff of smoke, he feels the Prince roll over to face him, sitting up in bed. His back feels warm as Sanemi leans in close to him, looking over his shoulder.
"Spare one?" He asks, and Giyuu takes another puff of his cigar, letting it hang from his lips as he pulls out another. He lights it with the end of his own, watching it slowly come to life, before handing it to the man behind him.
Sanemi hums in thanks, moving away and falling back onto the silk sheets under them, blowing smoke out of his mouth with an exaggerated noise.
Giyuu follows, sitting back against his headboard with a low sigh. He just wants to sit in silence, finish his smoke, and then head back downstairs to pretend like he wasn't just fucked into the ground.
But it seems the Prince next to him has other plans, and he chuckles in amusement as he blows out more smoke from his lips.
"Seems I was wrong about you, Your Majesty. We should do this again sometime."
Frowning, Giyuu inhales more of his cigar, looking over at his wall in disinterest.
"I have to marry." He says, lying straight through his teeth.
It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the sex between them, rather he seems to have enjoyed it just a bit too much. His head is fuzzy, his body content, a stark contrast to the usual boredom he felt after sending one of his staff away to leave him to clean up.
Even as he lets Sanemi's cum dry on his stomach, he doesn't want to move and disturb the peaceful atmosphere, and it scares him how easy it felt to sit next to the other prince.
He watches the man as he scoffs, sitting up and leaning his arm over his knee, smiling devilishly as his eyes roamed over the wood of the bedroom door. Scars cover his back, some darker than others, and Giyuu notices the marks from where he's scratched him, the skin red and angry.
"Oh so that's what this party was for?" He asks, amused, and he turns to make eye contact again, his eyes a bright violet in the dim light. "Anyone catch your eye?"
Giyuu can't help the frown that creases his lips, and he takes in another breath of smoke.
"Why? Looking to take out your competitors?" He snaps back, and Sanemi laughs, twirling his cigar between two fingers. He moves to the edge of the bed, stretching an arm over his head. He reaches down for his pants, putting his cigar in his mouth before pulling his undergarments over his legs.
"Only in your dreams, Your Majesty." He says simply, not looking back at Giyuu, and he seems to be done talking.
That previous annoyance bubbles up in his stomach, leaving a sour taste in his mouth. With a small huff, he looks away, crossing his arms.
"And what about you? I'm sure your fiancé would surely be saddened to hear of your transgressions against them."
"Good thing I don't have one then." Sanemi replies, his tone one Giyuu can't exactly place.
"That's a shock, you're so lovely to converse with I'd assumed you'd have people falling at your feet." He's spitting sarcasm now, refusing to look behind him as the Prince dresses himself, ready to pretend none of this ever happened.
His skin tingles, and he feels goosebumps rising on his skin as Sanemi laughs at his remarks, and he can't help but look at him. The fair haired Prince is standing now, arms crossed with his cigar lifted to his mouth, an amused expression painting his features.
He's back in his pants, his belt holding tightly to his waist, and Giyuu takes notice now that the scars on his back extend to his front, forming an "X" on his chest.
"You talk as if anyone would ask for your hand." He retorts, and Giyuu feels his chest puff up a bit. Biting the inside of his cheeks, he tries not to pout, but he has a feeling it isn't successful.
"I'll have you know I have many pursuers."
"I find that difficult to believe."
Scoffing, Giyuu lifts his cigar to his mouth and takes a drag, holding it close to his face. Despite the volatile words coming from both him and the Prince, the butterflies in his stomach continue to flutter with nerves, leaving him feeling jittery. His body feels light, and he has to fight off a smile.
Who knew he'd have so much fun arguing of all things?
"Are you always this insufferably rude?" Giyuu asks, but it comes out in an amused tone, and he watches as a sly smile stretches across Sanemi's face.
"How about you marry me and find out?" He replies with a question of his own, and Giyuu chokes on his own spit.
What?
Surely he heard him wrong, he must've, but as Sanemi takes a puff of his cigar and laughs, Giyuu realizes he isn't crazy.
"What?" Is all his voice can supply him, and suddenly it's not so funny anymore. Was this guy mad? Proposing to someone who clearly wasn't interested.
"Think about it. You don't want to get married right?" He asks, and Giyuu nods dumbly. "Neither do I. So why don't we just get married to each other to get the obligation off our backs?" Sanemi explains, looking at him expectantly.
The air has grown heavy, the light hearted atmosphere long gone. The request lay over him, and he scrunches up his nose as he considers it.
Yes, it was true his uncle was going to let him off without having to marry, he certainly didn't need this deal.
But the look on his uncle's face, his sister's excitement, he can't shake the images of them. They want him to get married, to be happy, and as much as he doesn't want to find a partner, he couldn't stand the thought of letting them down.
If he did this, if he agreed to this, it'd solve all that. He'd appear as a united front, even more so than he would've because Sanemi was also a Prince.
He'd make his family happy, and he could keep sleeping around and doing as he pleased without having to devote himself to one person only.
And he was sure there would be more sex between him and Sanemi, and that was definitely a plus.
Looking down at his legs, he frowns. Despite all the benefits, he couldn't shake the feeling that there had to be some sort of catch. How had he somehow stumbled into a perfect solution? Something in his gut told him not to, but against his better judgement, he lifted his head to Sanemi once more, reaching out his hand.
"Deal." He says, his tone serious, and Sanemi smiles at him mockingly. Clasping his own hand in Giyuu's, the man smirks.
"Pleasure doing business with you." He says, and the way the moonlight reflects off his hair makes him glow. Giyuu smiles, that wary feeling being replaced by lust, and he pulls Sanemi back down over him, locking his legs around the man's waist.
Sanemi's cigar sits close to his face as he balances his weight on his elbows, some of the ashes falling to his sheets, but he can't find the will to care, his own cigar still laying in his other hand. He lifts it to his mouth, his bangs hanging over his eyes, and inhales, holding the smoke for a second before blowing it softly into Sanemi's face.
The Prince doesn't react though, instead he smiles a shark-tooth grin, leaning down and knocking their foreheads together. The man's other hand finds his hair, twisting into his braid once more, and he pulls slightly.
Giyuu hums, reaching his arms up and wrapping them around Sanemi's neck, feeling his erection grow against the latters.
"I suppose this means you're my fiancé now." He all but whispers, tilting his head coyly. "And yet I haven't even been given a ring." He adds, and Sanemi shakes his head slightly, rolling his eyes.
"I have something even better for you."
Pressing their lips together, Sanemi kisses him with fervor, and Giyuu feels a fire ignite inside him once more.
Maybe this agreement was going to be even more beneficial than he first thought.