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-7 years old -
In front of the huge mirror stood the young prince of this country and behind him his beautiful chambermaid. She had helped him to get ready for today's dance event. It was an annual charity event coupled with a highly anticipated auction.
With her beautiful long fingers, Kouyou stroked through the soft orange-brownish hair of Chuuya and kissed the back of his head. Her hands rested on his stiff shoulders. "You will do great, little prince."
The little prince twisted his mouth as he followed her movements in the mirror and his eyes looked pretty sad. "I don't want to go." He sighed and turned his head around to Kouyou. She was only four years older than him but already his chambermaid for around three years now. He loved and trusted her the most and he enjoyed every minute he could be with her.
"When you wish we can read The Tale of the little Mermaid after the event again."
Chuuya's eyes widened in happiness and sparkled even more than on his birthday three months ago. "Really?" It was his most favourite book Kouyou ever read for him. Kouyou nodded with a gentle smile. "Then I'll do my best!" He loved nothing more than the moments Kouyou read books with him together.
A knocking sound interrupted their conversation and a boy in Chuuya's age opened the door the moment Chuuya turned around to look who was there. But the moment he saw the person his mood dropped again. "Ah, Tachihara-kun." He had hoped for someone else but it was obvious that his personal knight would escort him to the dance hall. Or to say his future knight. He still was only a kid like himself.
"Your royal highness." Tachihara bowed in front of Chuuya. "I'm here to escort you."
Chuuya sighed and looked up to Kouyou. She pushed him gently and with an encouraging smile to Tachihara. "Enjoy your evening."
-18 years old-
"Dazai! Stop that!" Chuuya chased after Dazai around the huge fountain in the palace garden. "Give it back!" Suddenly he crushed against Dazai and fell backwards. He rubbed his aching nose and butt. "The hell! Why did stop so suddenly?!" But his only answer was a loud laughter. Chuuya couldn't tell the reason but his face was pretty red and he could feel the heat. Shitty mackerel!
Dazai reached out to help Chuuya up from the ground in his other hand still the book Chuuya wanted back so badly. "Your royal highness, I think that's not an appropriate language for you."
Chuuya was taken aback staring at Dazai's hand and his long fingers for a moment. Beautiful. He raised his own hand to reach for Dazai's hand. The wind blew his hair in his face and the smile Dazai had on his face was too sweet to be true. Chuuya bit on his lips and swallowed his thoughts down. It's just teasing me again nothing more. "The hell with that." He rejected the offered help and pushed Dazai's hand away. Grumbling Chuuya got up from the hard floor and standing again on his two feet he swiped off the dust of his clothes. "And now give it back!" He held his open hand in front of Dazai.
Dazai held the book with both hands behind is back and his upper body was bent forward. "But I need something to do while you enjoy your evening at the annual party." With a smooth movement, Dazai danced around Chuuya and jumped onto the rim of the fountain.
His hand fell next to his body and he gave up. "It's not like I want to be there." Especially because I want to spend my time with you. He shook his head and wanted to chase that thought away. He just enjoys teasing me. He doesn't see anything more in me anyway. Even though they knew each other around eleven years now they weren't even close to being friends and so he has no right to be near Dazai. Chuuya's eyes wandered over his body. He looks like a fairy tale prince. The thought plopped up in Chuuya's mind before he could stop it. His cheeks got a shade of pink and he was glad it was already dark outside so Dazai hopefully was unable to recognize it. He turned around and showed Dazai his back.
"Say Chuuya~" Dazai jumped down and stepped in front of Chuuya. "You don't have a partner to go to that event, ne?"
With in confusion frowning eyebrows he looked at Dazai. "I'll go with Tachihara like every year." Dazai's eyes widened for a moment before he gained his unreadable facial expression back. "Why do you ask?"
"Hmm." Dazai turned his back towards Chuuya and seemed to consider his answer for a moment before he grinned at him. "I'll have to go now~!" Without waiting for an answer he walked away but after not even three meters he turned around again and threw the book in Chuuya's direction. "I don't need it anymore!"
What? Struggling catching the book it almost fell down.
"Ah, Chuuya, here you are."
Chuuya looked up and saw Kouyou coming to his direction. She was dressed in a black-pink kimono and her hair was beautifully arranged. She would organize the auction this year for the forth time and was accordingly dressed. "Ane-san?"
With a scolding gaze, she patted his head. "You shouldn't call me that."
He averted his gaze. "Sorry." She was still the person he felt the closest too but she disliked it if he called her Ane-san outside of his room. In her opinion, she didn't deserve that title.
"Was that Dazai with you?", she asked and stepped two steps backwards and her eyes wandered in the direction Dazai went. For a few seconds, it stayed there until she looked back at Chuuya and the book in his hands. A smile appeared on her face.
Rolling his eyes Chuuya sighed. "Yeah. He stole the book and teased me again." I still don't get why I fell in love with this dickhead. Over the last decade they started to hang out a lot due to their parents being pretty close and even Dazai wasn't related by blood with them and they weren't even royal, Chuuya enjoyed his company. In the beginning, he hated him like he loved hats. But over the time he started to feel lonely without Dazai and a talk with Kouyou he could organize his confusing and conflicting feelings about him. Even though she wasn't exactly happy about his choice of man. On the other hand, she didn't even asked anything and accepted that he loved a man.
"Come with me. Yosano wants to do your daily checkup and then you need to change into befitting clothes."
Chuuya nodded and together with Kouyou he went to Yosano. Her family was their family's doctor for generations and well trusted in her actions even though she was even a year younger than Kouyou.
"Why are you attending the event with Tachihara and not with Dazai?"
"Huh?" What? Why did she ask? He went every year with him. Tachihara was dependable and they spent a lot of free time together next to his training to become a reliable knight. "It's our family's tradition."
Kouyou chuckled at the quiet. "There is no tradition that locks you into going with Tachihara."
That is true, Chuuya thought. Tachihara was only obliged to bring him safely to the event and back to his room afterwards but somehow they ended up being always together until they were tired and went to bed. Probably because they were the only ones of their generation because Dazai was with Oda-Sensei the whole month every year.
Oh.
That was the point. Usually, Dazai would have travelled with Sensei two days ago but he was still here in the palace. And Oda was not. Now he got angry at himself. He always wished to join this even with Dazai together and now he had missed the chance with high-speed. "You could have told me earlier."
"I thought Dazai told you." Kouyou shrugged her shoulders impalpable and Chuuya shook his head. "Of course, he would not tell you a word." She sighed and took Chuuya's hand.
-☆-
After the checkup, Chuuya changed clothes and Kouyou put some light makeup on his face and styled his hair. In front of the mirror, she stood behind him, her hands on his shoulders and her lips were curved in a beautiful smile. "You look gorgeous," she praised him and squeezed his shoulders lightly. "Just forget about him for today and enjoy your evening with Tachihara."
"Easier said than done."
"You will do great as always, little prince." Kouyou laid one hand on his head. "But if you will excuse me now. The auction starts in an hour and I still have a few last minute preparations left."
Twitching his lips Chuuya turned around and stepped away from Kouyou. "It's okay as long as you don't call me little prince anymore." He looked at her and she answered with an encouraging smile.
"Tachihara will be here soon so I'll leave now." With those words, the door closed behind her.
Chuuya let himself fall onto his bad and sighed. Was it bad to think that he would rather go with Dazai than with Tachihara to this shitty event? He really liked the relationship he shared with his knight. Tachihara respected him, always asked how he felt and was honest when Chuuya asked for something. He was clumsy in a way you easily could put up with and always cheerful. Dazai, on the other hand, would probably constantly ruin his mood, embarrass him in front of everyone and teas him about everything.
Maybe he needed a therapy. Why the hell did he fell in love with that shithead of asshole and not with Tachihara?
A sudden breath against his ear cut off his thoughts and he jumped up like a scalded cat. With his heart almost jumping out of his ribcage and widened eyes he stared at the smirking man in front of him. "Dazai?" Did his brain work probably? Why was this idiot in the middle of his room? On top of that, he was dandified and even more handsome than with his usual style. All those black clothes suited him so well and his hair was stuck back on one side made him look like a damn god.
"Why are you so staring at me like I'm a newborn kitten?"
"Because you aren't Tachihara?" Chuuya's brain face-palmed and rolled his eyes. Brilliant, Chuuya, really a splendid way to use your brain cells.
"Chuuya's always so smart~"
"Don't make fun of me!" Chuuya got angry and tried to push Dazai out of his room. The keyword was: He tried. Of course, Dazai wouldn't leave so easily. "What do you want from me? I don't have time for your shit."
"Now, now, Chuuya." Turning around to face Chuuya again, Dazai scolded the prince with one finger. "There is a change of plans and you have to put up with me."
It was almost possible to hear the gears working in Chuuya's head but they didn't click in. He didn't even know what he wanted to ask. It was like someone turned his brain into offline mode.
Dazai waved with his hand in front of Chuuya's face. "Earth on Chuuya~!"
The prince blinked a few times and shook his head. "I- What the hell? Would you spare an explanation?"
An answer was only a shrug of his shoulders. "Top Secret~"
What the fuck was going on here?
-☆-
"The prince looks so happy today!" An old lady said and the person next to her nodded. "I wonder why?"
"Yeah, I never saw him with such a bright smile usually he just sits down and talks with everyone a few words."
"That's true." Another woman said. "But he isn't with his knight today, ne?"
"No. It's Dazai Osamu. He's the son of their finical consul."
"Isn't that odd? I never saw him here." The first lady spoke up again.
"Yeah, usually he takes this month off with Oda to travel the country."
"Strange. Why did he change his plans for this year?"
It was a few hours into the evening already and Chuuya was out of energy. He sat down on a bank on the side of the dance floor and tried to gain his breath back. He never had so much fun. Dazai was pretty good in classic dances that he totally forgets about the time and the fact that he always had the female part. "Because you're the smaller one, Chuuya~" With Tachihara he had never danced because that guy had to left feet when it comes to classic dances. And to be honest he didn't even think about him until now. Dazai hadn't explained the situation and Chuuya gave up on persuading him. It was mission impossible anyway.
"Here~" Dazai gave Chuuya a glass filled with an orange liquid and with a short 'thank you' he took it and drank it in one go. It was delicious and probably some juice mixed with alcohol but he couldn't let himself drown in it because he promised his father that he would stay sober at least until after the great announcement he had planned for today. Chuuya didn't know what it was about but it seemed pretty important to him and his mother. The moment he asked Dazai if his parents had leaked some information he had just shrugged his shoulders.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! May I have your ear for a moment!"
The deep voice of Chuuya's dad - the king of the country - was clearly hearable for everyone in the room and everyone stopped dancing, talking or any other activity to listen. His mother stood next to him and seemed to search for her son.
"I am glad that every one of you is here and enjoys our annual banquet. But one important person is missing next to me right now." That was Chuuya's moment to go upstairs and get his ass next to his parents.
The moment Chuuya wanted to get up from his seat he registered the hand on his shoulder. For how long had Dazai laid it on him? For a brief moment he looked confused at Dazai but his eyes were fixated on his father and his grab strengthened for a second until he let go. That was pretty strange, to say the least.
Somehow the stairs to his parents felt heavy and Chuuya was sure that was not because his feet hurt because of dancing for almost three hours. The moment he stood next to his father he laid an arm around his shoulders and Chuuya searched for Dazai in the thick of the crowd but he got lost in the shuffle.
"I am happy to announce that my son Chuuya will get married next month."
Chuuya will get married next month?
Married next month?
Married?!
What?
No.
No. No. No.
There had to be a mistake!
The crowd applauded and cheered for Chuuya but all those words were muffled. His ears felt like he listened to thousands of humming insects. "What do you mean, father?" His own words sounded so far away. Did he say that loud or just in his head? It was the first time he heard about a marriage. Maybe he heard wrong and he was talking about someone else. That would be way more logical.
His mother closed the gap between them and wanted to put a hand on his shoulders but with a small step backwards Chuuya avoided the touch. "When was that decided?", Chuuya asked with his back to the crowd. He couldn't face all the happy people down there without finding Dazai.
"We can talk later."
-One month later-
With pure white clothes, Chuuya stood in front of the altar next to his fiancée and in front of them was the kingdom's minister. "If there is anyone in attendance who has cause to believe that this couple should not be joined in marriage, you may speak now or forever hold your peace."
Chuuya pressed his lips together and listened to the unbearable silence of the invited guests. No one dared to even breath the next seconds. He could feel the heavy gazes from his parents. The unreadable facial expression of Kouyou and the unhappy eyes of Tachihara vividly swirled in his inner eye.
A sudden crushing sound broke through the uncomfortable silence.
Alarmed Chuuya turned around and his eyes widened. Right in front of him - okay the hall down at the entrance of the church - was Dazai out of breath but still with his typical smirk. All looks were on Dazai as he walked towards the couple in front of the altar.
Chuuya stood there stunned and couldn't even move one finger before he saw Kouyou standing in the crowd speaking with her eyes. Dazai was halfway through the hall when Chuuya finally sets a few slow steps forward until he dashed forward and wanted to jump into his arms but instead he stopped in front of him and glared at him. Glared the hell out of Dazai.
"You're scary, Chuuya." Dazai's smirk turned into a wary smile.
"What did you expect?" Chuuya could stop himself from stomping on the red floor like a pouting child. "You're crashing my wedding after you disappeared without a word!"
Dazai's gaze wandered from Chuuya to someone else in the crowd but he was to slow to follow the direction to see who it was. "If you really want that wedding-" With two fingers he raised the chin of Chuuya so they looked directly into each other's eyes. "say it in my face."
The moment Dazai touched his skin, Chuuya's heart almost stopped beating before racing with double speed. He could smell and feel the sweet breath of Dazai on his face and his dark eyes exuded a deep despair that it broke Chuuya's heart. But his own opinion and wishes didn't count here. "Dazai- please." It would be easy to turn away. Just turning his face away from these eyes only a few centimeters away from him. But he couldn't.
Just staring back Dazai didn't move a millimeter away from Chuuya. Then he suddenly pulled him into a hug and Kouyou stood next to him without saying a word. "I'm sorry but I have to kidnap our little prince." Not even finished with his words he grabbed Chuuya in a bridal carry and looked at Kouyou. "I'll leave the explanation part up to you."
Kouyou rolled her eyes and sighed. "If you hurt him I will make sure your death will look like an accident."
Not understanding the whole situation a cold shiver ran down his back with Kouyou's words. Especially taking into account that she was best friends with Yosano. He didn't protest Dazai carrying him like that rather he put his arms around his neck to not fall down because Dazai's strength was his brain and not his arms.
Outside of the church, Dazai let Chuuya down.
"I hope you care for an explanation this time."
Dazai turned around to Chuuya and had this wary smile on his face. "Do you want the short or the long explanation?"
Short or long one? What was he talking about? "The one that explains - like - I don't know- everything?"
With a sigh, Dazai fell down on the bank next to the church's door. "It would be so easy to explain in three words but I suppose because your brain is small like a pea you need the long explanation." Theatrically Dazai sighed again and pointed with a clap on the bank that Chuuya should sit down next to him.
For a moment Chuuya hesitated but sat down next to Dazai nevertheless. He ignored the desire to hit him or make a fuss over his comment about his pea brain because he wanted to know whats going on here and not bicker with Dazai until they forgot why they sat here. Chuuya's heart raced fast sitting so close next to him and he wasn't sure what the exact reason was. Him being near Dazai because of his still existent crush on him or because he would learn about the secret he obviously shared with Kouyou. Probably both anyway.
"I don't know how much your parents told you but I think you know about the financial help the other kingdom had promised." Chuuya nodded. "At least that's true. Half true. They have a lot of money but how they get it is illegal, to say the least."
"What? Are they part of the mafia?" It was supposed to be a joke but judging by Dazai's facial expression it was a bullseye. "Wait? What? Really?"
Dazai nodded. "Yes. And I was part of them until Odasaku took me out." A bitter connotation came with this words but Chuuya didn't ask about details about his so-called mafia life. However he would squeeze every little information out of him but for now, it has to wait. But it hurt him that he didn't know about such an important detail of Dazai's life and again Oda-Sensei was the hero. I would never have a glimpse of a chance against this man. "So basically this marriage would make their influence even higher and you would be stuck with a-"
Chuuya interrupted Dazai. He didn't want to hear what he thought about that mafia girl he was about to marry five minutes ago. "But why didn't you told me word? You just left me behind with my fate and if you'd come a second later it would be too late, you fucking-"
While Chuuya had spoken Dazai had laid an arm around his shoulders and now he put his hand above his mouth. "Just listen, okay?" After a nod, Dazai put his hand away from his mouth but it still rested on his shoulder. "I already planned that with Kouyou a few months ago the moment I heard about that marriage but you're to easy to read and unable to lie someone straight in the face that we couldn't tell you a word." Dazai sighed. "But that are characteristics I love a lot about you."
Love? Chuuya's brain went offline again and his cheeks got red. "But why with Ane- I mean why with Kouyou?"
"Because she's the closest to you and will do everything for your well being. To be honest it was hard to get her trust."
"How did you get her trust?" Chuuya was pretty sure Kouyou hated Dazai more than anything else.
For a moment Dazai pressed his lips his together until he looked at Chuuya with a shy smile and cheeks blushed. "I told her I love you."
"And she believed you?"
Wait.
Chuuya's eyes widened and with an opened mouth he just stared at Dazai. Thousands of thoughts rushed through his head and he wasn't able to come up with at least one word as a response. What?!
"Not really. She still doesn't. But her pride is smaller than the love to you."
I told her I love you.
"And our plan succeeded. We have enough evidence to take them down."
I told her I love you.
"Kouyou is about to-"
"Hold on. Could you please stop and go back to-" Chuuya's face instantly flushed in an even brighter red. I told her I love you.
"What do you mean? You wanted the full explanation."
Chuuya didn't dare to look up in Dazai's face. "I know.. I mean.. I-" Chuuya stopped to try to say it loud. It was probably just a lie anyway but if there was even the closest chance of it being true he needed to grab that string. "Is it true?"
"What?" Dazai was seemingly confused. "I don't have the creativity to came up with a story, you know?"
"That's not- I mean-" Chuuya swallowed and looked directly at Dazai. He needed to analyse every millimeter of his reaction. "Is it true that you love me?"
"Oh." Dazai put a finger on his cheek. "That's it." He smiled and stole Chuuya's heart with it for a millionth time. "Yeah, pretty much. Odasaku once said: If you would talk with him half as much as you talk about him with me you'd be a married couple already."
Chuuya's brain exploded and left him staring bluntly at Dazai.
"At least turn me down with actual words if you are so shocked about it." Dazai stood up from the bank and was about to leave when Chuuya grabbed his shirt. "I-" Chuuya was pretty sure his heart would jump out any moment. "I love you, too!"
With a sad face, Dazai turned around. "You don't need to lie in my face, Chuuya. I said you're terrible."
What? "Fucking Idiot?! I almost die confessing my feelings and you say it's a fucking terrible lie?!" He grabbed Dazai's collar and pulled him closer. "I thought you dickhead were better reading me." Tiptoeing and his eyes squeezed shut he closed the gap between them and pressed his lips against Dazai's. It was kind of clumsy because it was his goddamn first kiss and he didn't know what he was supposed to do. Also, he felt like his heart would jump out of his ear any moment because the only thing he could hear was his racing heartbeat.
But before he could break the kiss in all its awkwardness Dazai began to kiss him back and cupped his face with his hands. Greedy and desperately Dazai pressed his lips against Chuuya's. He laid one hand on his back to support him and pull a bit closer at the same time.
Chuuya could feel Dazai trembling so he broke the kiss and hugged him, hiding his face on his chest. "I-I hope that convinced you." He could feel Dazai's fast heartbeat on his ear and it was the most beautiful sound he ever heard.
"I don't know if that- Ow!"
With a pouting face, Dazai couldn't see Chuuya pinched the skin of Dazai's back. "Don't you dare to bad mouth my first kiss!"
Chuckling he raised Chuuya's head under his chin and "Maybe a second one would convince me."
"Greedy shit of-" But his words were cut off by Dazai's lips.
Maybe his life would take a change he couldn't take in for now but that's another story still needed to be written in their future.