Chapter Text
Yu’s world was steeped in deep reds and black smoke that was hot enough to burn the insides of his lungs. His body ached like he’d been thrown off his horse. Screams echoed in his ears from all directions. Voices of children like him. Hurt and scared. Fathers. Mothers—where was his mother?
“Mama?” He tried to call, but he choked on her name, coughing as more smoke flooded his lungs. He crawled along the cobblestone ground, crying for her. Dirt cutting under his nails. Vision swimming in a sea of fire that had consumed the town outside Narukami Palace.
Then, he saw her.
Her eyes were closed, and she was red too. Red as blood. Her blood. It seeped into the cracks in the street pavement. A figure stood over her, shrouded in black, smiling as though he was pleased. Yu heard his father screaming for her, for him. Yu cried away the last of his breath, eyes fluttering shut to the words, “Everything you own, everything you love, will be mine!”
~
Yu Narukami woke with a gasp, heart hammering faster than the wheels that rolled the carriage he sat in. His father’s cold, gray eyes were on him; only the twitch in his pale, bony fingers revealed the worry he felt for his son. Yu unconsciously lifted his hand to the locket around his neck, cursing himself for the way his father’s silver eyebrows lowered, and his pink lips frowned. It’d been a while since he dreamt of his mother’s death, truly Yu had been well, but now he and his father knew why he was suddenly so terrified.
“Son, do you—”
He held up his hand, silencing his father’s hesitant offer of comfort. “I’m fine,” he sighed, wishing his tone were gentler, “Really. Sorry to worry you.” He smiled, donning his mask of neutrality once more. Better not to display his emotion. Not here. Not now.
“We’ll be at Junes before the hour. I’ll request that you be left alone to rest.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Please, my boy.” King Narukami reached over to pat Yu’s knee. “It would ease my spirits.”
How could Yu argue with such a request? He nodded, unable to look at his father’s pity any longer. Instead, his gaze turned to the world outside the panes of their closed carriage. The thick oak trees were a welcome sight. A sign that the Castle Junes was near, along with all his favorite people, including his best friend and heir to the Junes throne, Yosuke Hanamura. The thought should have comforted him, but instead, it increased his heartbeat anew.
Yu and Yosuke became friends as children, well, not just friends. They were betrothed. While Yu had never minded it, Yosuke was openly against the idea. And now they were both of marriageable ages. Rather than going on a simple visit Junes to get away from the Narukami lands like he did every June to September since his mother’s death, this visit held importance. His father and the Hanamuras expected confirmation of their wedding date this summer.
Yosuke would undoubtedly badger Yu with his newest schemes to end their betrothal as soon as they arrived. And Yu would be expected to listen, patiently, while inside he—Yu shut his eyes tight and willed the thoughts away. For him, the problem wasn’t the marriage, and that was the issue. That was what left him anxious, wide-awake at night, whispering to himself to will his emotions away. Yu could love Yosuke, but to be in love with him…he’d just end up with a broken heart.
Yu’s hand found the golden locket again. The locket was heart-shaped and engraved with a white swan. It had been his mother’s, a gift from his father before Yu was born. In life, she was never without it, and now it was the same for Yu. His hand shook as he grasped it. His father acted as though he didn’t notice.
Perhaps resting was a good idea, after all.
The carriage stopped in front of the steps of June’s entranceway much too soon. His father stepped out first and then offered his hand to Yu. He accepted only to be nearly bowled over by his dear friends Chie and Yukiko, both struggling to hug as much of him as possible.
“Welcome back, Yu!” Chie practically screamed despite how close she was to his ears.
Yukiko giggled and stepped away. “Chie, you don’t want to blow his ears out. How will you be able to tell him of your adventures this year if he can’t hear you?”
Chie pouted and released him. “Yeah, yeah…” Determination flashed across her face. “I do have a lot to tell you. But let’s get you inside first!”
“Actually, I was going to—” Yu wasn’t able to finish sharing his intent to rest. Yukiko and Chie clung to his arms and pulled him up the stairs and into the castle without allowing him more than a breath’s worth of greeting to the Hanamuras. Yosuke wasn’t even there.
“—the ceremony was lovely!” Yukiko gushed, squeezing his arm a little tighter. “It’s a shame you couldn’t see it yourself. The court gardeners styled every rose to look like little bats.”
“I told Yukiko no scary stuff, and then she turned our wedding into a Hallow’s Eve party! At least tonight’s ball won’t be like that.”
“There’s a ball tonight?” Yu asked, finally managing to get a word in.
Chie and Yukiko froze. Mouths agape like fishes, which was a strange look for Yukiko, not so much Chie. “Didn’t Yosuke tell you?” Chie asked, accusation dripping in her tone.
“Tell me what, exactly?”
“The ball is for Yosuke to meet suitors,” Yukiko admitted, “Queen Hanamura finally agreed to let him try to find his own match.” Yu’s disappointment must have been plain because she was quick to add, “That’s not to say you two aren’t betrothed still! Your engagement will only be called off if he manages to find someone else he’d prefer!”
Chie winced. “Somehow, that sounds worse…”
Yu cleared his throat quickly and extracted his arms from Yukiko and Chie’s grasp. “I’ve had a long journey and I’m not feeling the best. I should rest if I’m expected to dance tonight. I’ll see both of you there.” He was halfway down the hall before another word could be said. Once he was out of their eyesight, he ran to the room that was practically his and locked the door.
~
Yosuke Hanamura was known far and wide for his hunting prowess, heart of gold, and uncanny ability to do or say the wrong thing. Usually, when the latter happened, it was because he said something thoughtless. However, now he’d outdone himself. He’d done the wrong thing before even seeing the person he’d wronged.
He stood at one of the windows in his sitting room, watching the servants prepare the castle gardens for tonight. Red roses had been planted a few weeks earlier, and the gardeners were busy ensuring they looked their best. Yosuke grimaced, glancing at the white clock on the wall. Yu had been in the castle for thirty minutes, and Yosuke still hadn’t left his rooms to go find him. Guilt was what kept his booted feet glued to the carpeted floor.
He hadn’t meant to deceive Yu. Gods, he couldn’t even fathom lying to his partner (not to be confused with romantic partner), but Yosuke wasn’t sure this situation could look any other way. Not with how he’d hidden in his room while everyone else greeted Yu and his father. Yosuke might as well have stamped his forehead with the word guilty and donned a dunce hat.
The truth was he thought his mother sent the Narukami’s an invitation to the ball a month ago when they’d planned it, but apparently, she thought Yosuke should invite them personally. She’d told him so two weeks ago. Time enough for him to hastily send something, but every time he’d stopped to write his letter, he couldn’t think of a damn thing to say.
Oh, hey there, Partner. Just wanted to let you know we’re throwing a ball so I can meet someone—Yosuke cringed at the thought even now. And honestly, he wasn’t sure why. Yu knew how much Yosuke detested their engagement. He thought arranged marriages were a relic of an archaic past that was best forgotten. People ought to marry for love, not political games, and like he’d told his parents thousands of times, Junes and the Narukamis were already united. A marriage between him and Yu would only serve to make them both miserable.
Yu may have never complained, but Yosuke knew that he wouldn't marry him if he had a choice. Yu was so patient, so sweet, he’d never outright say he wished they weren’t engaged, and that’s what made the whole situation worse. Yosuke had to be the one to oppose it for both their sakes. And so, the ball really was a good thing. Who knows. Maybe Yu could meet someone there too.
Yosuke smiled and straightened his black doublet. Yes, the ball would benefit both of them. It wasn’t selfish at all.
“Yosuke!”
He turned and narrowly avoided being kicked in the head. Chie was quick to spin and go for another shot. He barely blocked her foot. Her kick was so hard his hand throbbed.
“Chie! What are you doing here?” Yosuke sputtered, backing away as she readied another blow. “I didn’t do anything!”
“You didn’t do anything, my ass! Tell me why Yu didn’t know about the ball today, huh?” Yosuke choked on air. Chie marched up to him and grabbed his shirt. “You said you told him!”
Yosuke glanced around the room, looking for an escape. Yukiko hadn’t come with her, which meant the woman didn’t care if Chie beat him up. Great.
“I said I was going to tell him, and I-I was going to. Ah…um…” Chie growled long and low like a predator about the pounce. “Stop acting like this is a bad thing! It’s good for both of us. Yu deserves to be with someone he loves just as much as I do.”
Chie released him suddenly. Yosuke was nearly relieved, then he saw the disappointment in her brown eyes and felt even worse. “Have you ever even asked him what he wants?” He became as still and rigid as a tree. “No, right? Thought so. Whatever. Enjoy your ball, Prince of Disappointment.”
Yosuke flushed, burning inside like he’d just downed a glass of the driest champagne. He watched her stomp out the room, slamming the mahogany door shut behind her. Chie knew he hated being called that. It was what the kids in court called him every day growing up. Before he met Yu, he believed them; now, it just stung until he forgot. This was not a time he would forget.
He felt the insult prickling under his skin, sinking down into his chest and into his heart. The truth was Chie was right. Yosuke always assumed Yu’s nonchalance was peace-keeping, but he’d never actually asked. Did Yu actually want to…? No, no. Yu would’ve said as much. Right?
They were friends! Best friends. Partners. They told each other everything. If Yu wanted to marry him, he would’ve said so. Yu was reliable that way. And besides, it wasn’t like Yu hadn’t had his share of flirtations. Chie and Yukiko both had a crush on him until they realized their true feelings for each other. Several of the castle guards had expressed interest in him. He nearly dated someone in the Junes Court—not that Yosuke was counting.
They just didn’t see each other that way. When Yosuke looked at Yu, he saw a beloved partner, a charming yet outdated haircut, strong shoulders, calm, gray eyes, and a careful expression that gave away nothing unless you knew what to look for. There were no “romantic sparkles” like Yukiko said she saw in Chie. No stammering words or heart palpitations. Yosuke could be himself with Yu, and he was sure Yu felt the same. So, instead of finding him and apologizing for the surprise, he went to go lend his aid to the preparation efforts. Working would take his mind off of this, and then when he saw Yu at the ball, he’d know what to say.