O.o o.O

The day after Keita left, Ryuichi received a package of a dozen long-stemmed roses, the thorns carefully sheared and blossoms in full bloom. A small testament of my continuing love for you, the card read.

“Presumptuous!” Ryuichi declared, glaring down at the card he held in his hands. He was still wearing his nightgown, barefoot and hair loose as he stomped his way over to Manami’s rooms, where she was dressed and enjoying her morning tea. “Look at this!” he cried, waving the card in Manami’s face, followed by a footman still carrying the box of roses. “How dare he!”

“How dare he what?” Manami asked, looking up after scanning the short note.

“How - how dare he say something like that!” Ryuichi said finally.

“This is normal courting behaviour,” Manami said. “He is merely following etiquette.”

Ryuichi frowned. “How unoriginal.”

“Oh?” Manami raised a delicately arched eyebrow, and said nothing more.

O.o o.O

On the following day, no package arrived in the morning (“Huh,” snorted Ryuichi. “Figured he’d get lazy.”) but arrived in the afternoon instead.

A box containing a strawberry cake, the fruit painstakingly lined up into a heart on top, was delivered after lunch when Ryuichi was taking a break from a long arduous day of doing nothing. Handmade for you by me, read the note. With all my love, Keita.

Ryuichi turned his nose up at the note but ate the cake for tea, ignoring the smirks and knowing looks that Manami tossed him over the edge of her teacup every ten seconds or so.

(“How darling,” Manami murmured. “A handmade cake.”

“So?” Ryuichi retorted.

“I can’t remember the last time anyone we know put so much effort into courting.”

“Huh,” Ryuichi said.)

O.o o.O

The thirteenth of March arrived, and Ryuichi spent the entire day at the palace, waking up at dawn to go help Ryohei prepare for the White Day ball. They were, after all, a celebratory sort of kingdom, and while these sort of tasks were usually handled by Ryohei’s lover the Keeper of the Keys, Ryuichi had grudgingly agreed to help when Ryohei personally requested his assistance.

He spent the entire day yelling at people, throwing bits and pieces of parchment and decorations around, terrorising Ryohei’s staff, and returned to his manor late that evening, supremely rested and satisfied.

Ryuichi had just finished bathing and was having his hair dried when Manami swept into his rooms, followed by her handmaids. “A package arrived for you earlier today,” she said.

“What is it this time,” Ryuichi yawned, too tired and content to make properly snarky comments. “Chocolates? Jewellery?”

“I’m not sure,” Manami said, waving a maid over. “See for yourself.”

Ryuichi lifted the cover off the elaborately decorated box, and inside found a pair of white shoes, strung with diamonds and pearls and embroidered in silver thread. The note this time was longer, but not nearly enough to qualify as a letter. To match your dress, it said. It would give me great pleasure to see you wear them at tomorrow’s White Day Ball. With love, Keita.

“Good lord,” Manami breathed out next to Ryuichi. “Where did he find these?”

“I don’t know,” Ryuichi said, awed as he picked up a shoe and turned it over in his hands.

“They’re gorgeous.”

“Yes, they are,” Ryuichi said, blinking wide eyes as he watched the diamonds sparkle in the light.

“Will you wear them tomorrow?”

Ryuichi hesitated before setting the shoe back in its box and turning away. “It would be a terrible waste if I didn’t,” was all he said. “Good night, sister.”

“Good night,” Manami said, smiling a secret smile as she left Ryuichi to his own devices.

O.o o.O

Keita felt almost breathless as guests continued to be announced, and he almost crushed the champagne flute in his hand as Ryuichi was announced, making his way solo down the sweeping steps down into the ballroom. He almost tripped over himself trying to make his way over to Ryuichi, who had gone to pay respects to King Ryohei, and Ryohei caught sight of Keita just as Ryuichi straightened up from his bow.

“Oh, Keita, there you are. I was just going to ask Ryuichi about your time spent at his estate.”

“You could’ve just asked him yourself,” Ryuichi shot back, and Ryohei gave a mild smile as he beckoned Keita closer.

“I could’ve,” Ryohei said, “but I was too busy with preparations for this ball.”

Ryuichi rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath that had Keita widening his eyes and Ryohei narrowing his.

“Anyway,” Ryohei said, with almost false lightness, “why don’t you two take the next dance? You’d make a lovely couple. I’d love to see you on the dance floor.”

“Oh, no,” Keita protested immediately, as Ryuichi shot Ryohei a death glare.

Ryohei’s bodyguards gave Ryuichi a stern look, and he rolled his eyes. “Fine,” he said. “Come on, Keita. We’re up next.”

“What?” Keita said, confused. “What’s happening. I thought you didn’t -”

“But Ryohei wants me to,” Ryuichi said grumpily as he placed his hands into Keita’s.

“But...”

“But his bodyguards will totally beat me up if I don’t,” Ryuichi said again, just as grumpily. “Rule of law my ass.”

“But Ryohei’s kingdom is rated the most -”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Ryuichi said, interrupting Keita.

They twirled around in silence for a few beats, and then Keita pulled Ryuichi closer and said, “I’m glad.”

Ryuichi stiffened almost immediately. “About what?”

“You’re wearing the present I gave you.”

“Oh,” Ryuichi said, and twitched in Keita’s embrace. “Yeah. They match my dress.”

“You look beautiful,” Keita said, eyes wide and earnest.

Ryuichi hesitated before throwing his head back in a laugh. “Thanks.”

Keita tightened his grip on Ryuichi’s waist. “Your sister told me, you know.”

And Ryuichi tensed immediately. “About what?”

“About...him,” Keita said, watching carefully as Ryuichi turned his head to the side and avoided his gaze. “It’s alright,” he said. “I don’t mind.”

“But I do,” Ryuichi retorted. “I mind being used and lied to and -”

“I would never. Never,” Keita said again, fiercely, fingers digging into Ryuichi. “I would never do something like that to you.”

“But I’m not -”

“I don’t care.” Keita pulled Ryuichi close, and in low-heeled shoes, Ryuichi’s head rested just under Keita’s chin. “I still feel the same way for you.”

“That’s what you say now,” Ryuichi said bitterly. “And so did the half-dozen men before you. What, is my position as Chief Justice really that useful to you?”

“How could you say that?” Keita reared back, eyes large with hurt.

“Easily,” Ryuichi said, gaze narrowed as he glared up at Keita, disbelieving and distrustful. He tugged Keita close, and hissed, “You want to have me, is that it?”

“That’s not all,” Keita said, but Ryuichi was already pulling him towards the exits. “Wait, Ryuichi -”

Ryuichi ignored him. “I’m ruined anyway. What does one more man matter? You don’t want me?” He stopped in his tracks, and Keita was intensely aware of how alone they were in one of the palace corridors, surrounded only by torches of light.
 
“It’s not that.” And Keita couldn’t help but notice how thin and pathetic his voice sounded echoing off the stone walls.

“Won’t you kiss me?” Ryuichi asked suddenly, hot and firm against Keita’s body. “Kiss me before you answer my question.”

“But -”

O.o o.O

The bright morning sun filtered through the lace curtains that hadn’t been drawn in the previous night’s haste to get to bed, and Ryuichi frowned, moving deeper into the warm nest of sheets and blankets before realisation of what had procured last night hit him like a brick to the head.

He froze in his shifting, still hidden under the covers, and strained his ears for any sound in the bedroom. When he heard nothing, he sat up, uncaring of his naked body as his eyes scanned the empty room.

Ryuichi ignored the slight flicker of hope that had wished Keita to be different from his previous lovers, but when the room stayed empty after a few harsh breaths from Ryuichi, he pushed away the discomfort that had lodged in his stomach and padded his way to the bathroom, determined to wash away any trace of Keita on him.

He was chin-deep in bubbles from the bath when the door opened and Keita stood, resplendent in a new set of clothing.

“I’ve asked Ryohei to marry us,” he said breathlessly.

“What?” Ryuichi choked, accidentally inhaling bubbles as he gasped in shock.

“Marry. Us. Ryohei,” Keita said, chest heaving as he knelt next to the bathtub, hand reaching in to clasp Ryuichi’s, not even caring that he was soaking himself elbow-deep in warm bath water.

“That’s - I - that -” Ryuichi stuttered, unsure of whether to laugh or vomit.

“Please say yes,” Keita murmured, lips pressed against the back of Ryuichi’s hand as he bent his head as if in prayer. “Please.”

“Fine,” Ryuichi said finally. “Fine, and if you regret it, I’ll take no greater pleasure than driving you out of the country.”

“Excellent.” Keita beamed. “And if you don’t, then I’ll take no greater pleasure than being by your side for eternity.”

“Oh good lord,” Ryuichi said, sinking into the bathtub until he was completely submerged. What sort of mess had he got himself into now?

O.o o.O

For years to come, one of Keita’s favourite stories to tell would be of him and Ryuichi and how his courtship had softened Ryuichi’s hardened heart for a new love.

And for years to come, one of Ryuichi’s most embarrassing stories would be of how he came to care for Keita in the short time after meeting each other.

But most notable of all would be historical accounts of King Ryohei’s great matchmaking schemes, forever cast in history, especially of his successful attempt in joining the greatest and most prolific Chief Justice in history of the kingdom with the king’s closest and most affluent advisor.

O.o o.O

The End.

A/N: No sex. Because, you know, rating. And because brain dead. But...hope you enjoyed. Good lord, this is almost late enough for Black Day. I bow down before you in apology. T-T