Archive of Our Own ^beta

The castle bustled and rang with girls running around the floors. Cleaning and mopping as the water buckets flew from room to room. The maids and butlers ran in and out of rooms to clean and attend to the royals' needs for the day.

One room is left undisturbed. It sits in the tallest tower they have in the castle. The room housed the youngest daughter of the King and Queen. Princess Keiji, where the eight year old would learn her princess duties. Yet right now the young girl had a different royal duty in mind. As she speeds down the stairs of her tower into the busy hall. Her small body carries a poofy green dress which she has to hold to not trip over herself. Behind her is her teacher, chasing the little one down her refuges to sit and listen to her talk about proper posture and balancing heavy books on her head.

She runs into the kitchen and hides underneath the table, her teacher runs right past the swinging door. Keiji takes a deep breath and climbs from under the table. Looking around the big kitchen that she is never permitted to go in because of fire and sharp objects.

“But mom, I don't wanna help Keiko with the dress! She is so bossy!” a child whines. Keiji looks over the tall table to see a little white haired girl. She sits in her ripped tan shorts that looked like they belonged to an older sibling. Couldn’t be much older than Keiji. Her white shirt sat untied as the older lady that Keiji recognized as the cook that likes to come bring her apples during her studies, she called her Miss Mika, tightened the strings and smoothed down her daughter’s hair.

“I can’t have you in the kitchen today Koutaro, and Keiko can use your help with the dress.” The dark haired woman tied her daughter's long hair into a ponytail with a loose ribbon.

“Why can’t I go out with papa?” Koutaro said.

Miss Mika sighed as took her daughter off the wooden table, whipping her hands on her dress apron, “You know you cannot go out with the knights, you aren’t old enough. Besides,” she turns her daughter around as she ties the skirt around her waist, “You can meet the princess, she’s such a nice thing.” She pats her daughter on the butt to get her moving out of the kitchen and towards the door.

Keiji walked behind them, opting in the other direction they were going, when she ran smack into the dress of her teacher. The princess pouts as she’s led back into her room.

The sun seems to set in the tower's window, as Keiji stands on the box to make her taller. The seamstress walks around her pinning fabrics to each other. Koutaro sat atop the ledge that looks out into the garden, she watches out the window. The knights doing their daily routine. Learning and teaching new knights. She sighs and puffs her cheeks, secretly blaming her mother for being bored.

Keiko breaks the silence of the room as she pricks herself with a pin and sucks on her finger to draw out the blood. She looks through her box of fabrics when she notices she has run out of pins, “Ah, I need to get more pins. Please excuse me, your highness. Koutaro please behave.” Koutaro nods her head at her sister before Keiko runs out the room.

Keiji lays down her arms, the strain of holding them up for too long is straining her small shoulders. She breathes a sigh of relief as she looks over at Koutaro who still sits on her soft window ledge.

“Your father is Knight Bokuto correct? What is your name?” Keiji asks, starling Koutaro out of her dazed trance.

“Are you talking to me, your highness?” Koutaro points to herself, her face full of confusion.

Keiji nods, as she steps back from the box, to her surprise the length is still a bit too long, hopefully the seamstress would notice.

“My name is Koutaro, Koutaro Bokuto, your highness and my father is Takeshi Bokuto.” Koutaro has gotten off the ledge and is standing at attention as Keiji approaches her.

Making a noise of approval Keiji said, “Do you like fairy tales?” and Koutaro’s eyes went big.

The sun had already set by the time Koutaro’s sister got back with her extra pins and fabric, “I apologize for being so late, your highness, I’m ready to finish your dress if you’re not too tired.”
Keiko stops in her tracks as she sees the princess and her little sister laying on the floor as Keiji reads to her from a book, the story of Cinderella will always be a classic. The smile on her sister’s face is almost as wide as the Princesses. It didn’t last long as their smiles disappeared as they scramble to get off the floor. Keiji gets back on to the box with the help of Keiko. Koutaro made her way back to the window, which had been closed and the knights had departed. Hoping to see her father when they leave the princess.

“Miss Keiko?” Keiji spoke, as she looked at the lady walking around her pinning up more fabric.

“Yes, Princess Keiji?” Keiko pinned her last piece of velvet to the gown, dusting off her hands and looking at the princess.

Keiji looked over at Koutaro and back to Keiko, and then back to Koutaro, “Can you read me a story?”

Keiko was caught off guard by the sudden request, she watches the princess as she hops off the box and woddles over to the book that lays on the floor.

“I usually have my teacher come and read it for me, but it’s late. I don’t want to disturb her.” she looks at Keiko holding the book up for her to take, “And since you’re already here, I would like for you to read it to me.”

“And when the ugly little frog looked up with his sad round eyes, and pleaded, ‘oh please dear princess, only a kiss from you can break this spell.’ And the beautiful princess was so moved by the little frog's words, she scooped him up in her hands and kissed that little frog. Then lo and behold the frog was transformed into a handsome prince. They were married, and lived happily ever after. The end.” Keiko sat at the end of the princesses giant bed that almost sunk her in. Koutaro sits next to Princess Keiji as she makes a face of disgust. Keiko tries to hold back a laugh looking at her sister's face.

“I can’t wait to find my prince.” Keiji grabbed onto her stuffed doll that looks just like a smaller version of her, the green buttons resembled her soft green-blue metal eyes, and a small blue dress resembling the one she wore when she was a baby.

Koutaro made an audible sound of disgust, both the princess and Keiko looked over at her. The princess with a questioning look and Keiko with fear.

“I would never kiss a frog, I’d also never marry a prince. Why would you want that when you can be a knight!”

“I can’t be a knight, Koutaro, I am a princess.” Keiji said, deadpanned which made Koutaro laugh.

“Well I’ll be a knight when I’m older! And I’ll be your knight, okay?” Koutaro stood on the bed and flexed her non-existent muscles.

Keiji laughed, “Okay Koutaro, but for now I am very sleepy so I will bid you both a goodnight.”

After telling the princess goodnight Keiko and Koutaro made their way through the castle, into the village and back to their home.

Koutaro skipped as she hopped from stone to stone. Keiko held her fabric box on her hip. The well lit town is still busy with small pop up carts and families having their nightly outings. Koutaro threw their door open hanging on the knob, “We’re home!”

Mika popped her head from around the kitchen corner, “Welcome home girls, dinner is almost ready.” She wipes her hands on her rag and walks over to take the box from Keiko. Ruffling Koutaro’s hair.

“Is papa home?” Koutaro calls, not able to keep her excitement contained. Mika smiles at her daughter, “Your papa is washing up, now you go wash up too.” Koutaro pouts but obliges with her mother, walking down the hall to freshen up.

The family sits at the dinner table with Koutaro sitting close to her father, her mother and sister sitting beside each other. Koutaro stuffs her mouth with the meaty stew and makes an approving noise that makes her father laugh.
“So Keiko, how’d the dress come out?” Mika asked, looking at her eldest. Keiko had been shoveling the food into her mouth almost at the same rate of her younger sister. She swallows what she has and wipes her mouth, “It looks great, the princess is such a sweet little girl.”

Mika smiles, “How about you amor? How was your day?” Mika looks at Koutaro who had been in the middle of trying to shovel a fork full of cabbage in her mouth. She leans against her hand twirling the fork on the table, “It was… okay- the princess had Keiko read a fairytale to her, which was GROSS.”
Koutaro stuck her tongue out in disgust, accompanied by a disapproving sound.

Keiko tried to hold in her laughter, “She’s just like every other princess ma. Wants a whole fairytale wedding’ and everythin’.”

Their father looks at his youngest, “Why that noise Koutaro? Don’t you want to be a princess?”

Koutaro slams her tiny palms on the table standing with her knees in her chair, “And go to balls and wear poofy dresses? And marry a prince? No thank you.” Her mother gives her a look and she quickly fixes herself, “I want to be a knight.”

Mika sighs as she stands to collect her family’s plates, “We’ve had this conversation before Koutaro. There are no girl knights.”

Takeshi gives a full belly laugh as he kisses his wife on the cheek, “Oh don’t turn down her dreams yet mi vida. I can train her.”

A gasp of excitement escapes Koutaro’s mouth, big starry eyes staring at her father with a wide smile. Her father winks at her as he turns back to his wife.

“I’ll take her out tomorrow mornin and let her join in the group training.”

Mika scoffs, making her way into the kitchen.

Koutaro jumps out of her chair and climbs onto her dad, laying half her torso on his shoulder, “Really papa! You really mean it?” Koutaro squishes his cheeks together with her small pudgy hands.

He laughs before he pretends to eat Koutaro’s hands and pulls her over his shoulder and into his lap, “Of course bug, but only if you help your mama with the chores tonight.”

Koutaro pouts but agrees to the compromise, climbing off her fathers lap and walking into the kitchen. Mika peaks from the corner and her husband gives her a longing disapproving frown, who returns it by blowing a kiss at her, with another scoff Mika gets to cleaning.

Koutaro climbs into her bed, getting herself situated for a good night's rest, excited for the morning, she waits for her parents to come tell her goodnight.

As they settle down and her mother kisses her on the forehead tugging the blanket around Koutaro.

Takeshi sits at the end of Koutaro’s bed, “Koutaro, becoming a knight takes a lot of hard work and patience. Do you think you can do it?”

Koutaro’s face goes serious with a pout, “Yes papa, I’ll be the best knight just like you, because no matter what I will not kiss a frog.”

Takeshi gives a confused smile and ruffles her hair, “That's what I like to hear.” As he laughs a deep and bubbly laugh. Kissing Koutaro’s forehead and blowing out her candle.

Koutaro secretly prays to all the gods that are listening, that she can be a knight everyone is proud of.

-chapter 2-

“Many of you have worked very hard to be where you are, others have slacked off and just so happen to deal with training long enough to get here.” The head knight, Takeshi Bokuto spoke. Talking to the new recruits that have joined the army and will be moved onto castle or territorial missions.
In the front stood his seventeen year old daughter Koutaro Bokuto. Her silver armor, shiny and polished. Her long black and white hair was thrown into a long ponytail. She has a serious look on her face as she stands at attention. Yet if you knew her well enough you knew she was about to explode with excitement. Dreaming of this moment since she was 9 years old.

“Now onto the promotions and categories.” Takeshi separated groups and designated areas. Koutaro hadn’t been listening, excited to hear her name and her role. Obviously she had to be the right man hand to her father who has trained her for this day for the last 8 years.

The surrounding people had dispersed into their groups, leaving only Koutaro to stand in front of her father. He didn’t make eye contact with her.

She began to get nervous, that was until she noticed he was going to walk away, “Uh pa-” She clears her throat, “Bokuto sir, you didn’t give me a group?” She tugs at her fingers sheepishly.

Her father looks at her, no visible expression but his white haired goatee did pull with his lips, “Ah, Koutaro how could I forget! You have the most important job of all.”

Koutaro smiled wide as her father placed his hand on her shoulder.

“You get the watch over the princess!”

Koutaro’s smile dropped fast.

“WHAT!”

“Can you believe it ma! Me? His daughter, his supposedly right hand guy, watching over the princess!” Koutaro scuffs and she pulls off her shoulder armor. She sits on the giant wooden table that in the castle kitchen.

“Well amor, everyone starts somewhere.” Mika laughs as she pulls hot bread out the oven, “Just look at your papa, he used to be my cleaning boy.” Her smile lines are more noticeable with her age.

“It's totally not fair!” Koutaro snarls at her mom.

“Hush now.” Mika pops a bun into her daughter's mouth, “Now, you’re going to go do your job and go introduce yourself to the princess, I’m sure she’ll remember you.”

“Who are you?” The princess stood in her green dress in the middle of her room after she had answered her door when Koutaro knocked.

The sixteen year old princess had short black hair, it curled around her ears and softly around her jaw, her green emerald eyes sparkled even though there seemed to be no light source to cause the shine. Koutaro thought she was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen. Her tan skin homes light freckles and dark birthmarks. One that sat below her left eye and another across her face right under her lip. Her lips- her lips were the color of a ripe strawberry in the middle of spring, and for a second Koutaro wondered if they tasted like it too.

“Oh! Um- Good evening Princess Keiji, your highness, I am Bokuto! Your…” She struggles to make the words come out of her mouth, “Per…so-sonal…. kni…gh…t.”

Keiji made an approving noise before promptly slamming her bedroom door in Koutaro’s face.

Koutaro stood in shock for almost two minutes before the door swung open again and the princess had put on a green see through shaw.

“Alright then Knight Bokuto, please accompany me to the garden.” The princess had lifted her dress and began to walk past Koutaro.

Koutaro follows behind her princess, her face full of disappointment at the whole situation as she grumbles to herself. As they made their way to the garden it seemed as if the other castle knights were watching them as Koutaro walked behind Keiji, with her spear at an unprecedented angle. If her father were to see the way she was holding it so loosely she would definitely be scolded that moment.

Once in the garden Koutaro took the princess's shaw from her as she made her way to the dark rose bushes. The princess’s frown that grew on her otherwise unemotional face was very visible even to where Koutaro stood at the garden's entry way.

The princess pricked at the roses that had begun to shrivel away. Koutaro made her way next to the princess before touching a rose that is still trying to hold onto its last strings of life. The red in its petals almost completely faded besides for the unbloomed center that tried to breathe life into death.

“Please do not touch the flowers, they are dying.” The princess spoke abruptly. The sudden break of silence made Koutaro shiver, “I’m sorry to intrude your highness, but when I was younger my mother used to own a rose bush as well.” Koutaro said.

“Did she?” Keiji’s voice didn’t seem very amused and Koutaro would swear she could pick up a hint of annoyance in her voice. Trying to keep a professional look on her face Koutaro continues, “My ma works in the kitchen, when her plants would get sick it was usually because of the soil. She would use the shell of eggs to help.”

The princess stands from her bent stance and looks at Koutaro with a sigh, “No offense to your mother but that sounds like the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” Keiji walks past Koutaro and before she exits the garden she says, “Do not follow me, you’re off duty for now, I wish to be alone.” Koutaro grumbles to herself as she watches the princesses dress leave the corridor with a rapid flow.

It had only been three days since Koutaro had been assigned as the princesses knight and her father had refused to even consider giving her a different job, sometimes before she could ask the question it was a definite, “no.” Even if she just happened to see him in the hall. This was her eighth time asking before she gave up and she stomped her way into the kitchen to rant to her mother. All she does is go into the garden and stand by the princesses room which she doesn’t even leave. Even then the princess had deemed her unworthy of even looking at her beautiful garden. Mika laughs at her daughter and says “Give her time mi vida, maybe she isn’t used to having someone by her side all the time.” Koutaro grumbles because her mother is right. She’s usually grateful when her mother is right, but this is one of the times when she’s not. So right now she hates that her mother is right.

“Give it one more go amor, I’m sure you guys just got off on the wrong foot.” Mika smiles at her daughter before placing a kiss on her forehead.

Koutaro makes her way out of the kitchen and takes her rightful place, standing in front of the princesses door, like a stalker. Or that’s what she tells herself.

“Oh, you’re still here?” the princess's voice echoes from down the hall.

“This is where I am to be, your highness.” Koutaro answers.

Keiji makes a grunting noise as she passes Koutaro and goes into her room. Koutaro tries not to move a muscle of course but standing there for hours at a time does weigh on anyone.

Almost three hours later and no one was going in and out of the room, Koutaro took it upon herself to come up with an idea to get the princess to like her. Because what’s the point of protecting someone when you don’t even like them?

Pray tells how she managed to get her mom to say yes to letting her deliver the princess’s evening snack and only for the gods to know how she ended up with the princess holding onto her, arms around her neck, sitting in her lap, covered in dust.

She had only come in so she could try and start a nice conversation with Keiji since she assumed she was a food lover, and maybe was just cranky because she was hungry. Most people her age she knew very much had become cranky when they haven’t had the gift of glorious food, especially from the kitchen chef, which is her mother, that she gets free food from anyways.

When she walked into the room, without knocking if she would add, the princess had been comedically balanced on a bunch of small and large boxes that wobbled under her weight. She was reaching for something at the top of her wardrobe. Yet the sight had scared Koutaro so much she had screamed the princesses name at the top of her lungs, which then startled the princess making her lose her balance. Koutaro had thrown the tray of fresh baked sweet bread to fling herself to the princesses rescue. As a book had dropped onto Koutaro’s head with a loud bonk noise.

Yet the princess did not look happy that Koutaro had saved her. Keiji scrambled to get off of Koutaro’s lap. Cursing under her breath, which Koutaro had noted, was very unlady-like.

“Y…..you clumsy idiot! I…I..h-had that!” Keiji yelled as her voice stuttered, she tried to dust herself off. Koutaro had been picking herself up as the princess scolded her.

“And my dress!” Keiji had ripped the piece of fabric Koutaro had been stepping on from under her feet, causing her to fall back onto the floor.

“This was my favorite dress! And you ripped it!” Keiji’s stoic face that she shows to the public definitely did not stay that way in the castle.

Koutaro had finally picked herself up, “Don’t worry your highness, my sister can fix it!”

Keiji stops in the middle of her rampage and stares at Koutaro with an almost hateful glare, “Your…. sister?”

Koutaro looks everywhere but the princesses eyes. The scary look in them was too much to handle when the glare seemed like it was burning through her very skin.

“Um, yea! My sister makes all the royal clothes.” Koutaro says, grabbing the book that had hit her in the head.

Keiji’s face quickly turned from almost turning Koutaro into stone, to an almost soft surprised look, “Your sister is… is Miss Keiko?” With her new found information she covered her mouth in shock and fear, “You’re Koutaro?” Koutaro cocked her head and walked towards the princess handing her the book, “Yes? I thought the matching hair would’ve given it away? Not to mention our last name.”

Grabbing the book quickly from Koutaro’s hands, Keiji holds it close to her chest, “I am so sorry Kouta- I mean knight Bokuto, please excuse me.” She fumbles with the door knob behind her as she walks backwards towards her escape, and before Koutaro can frame a syllable on her lips the princess has already run out of the room. Leaving a confused Koutaro in the middle of her room.

“So you- you’re telling me you yelled at her?” Iwaizumi laughed, “And I thought I was harsh on Tooru.” He sighed a heavy sigh as he looked at his sister's annoyed and puffed face.

“You don’t understand Hajime! Not only is she Keiko’s younger sister, she’s my knight! And I was so mean to her.” Keiji flopped herself onto her big brother's fluffy pillows that laid neatly on his bed.

Hajime lets out a gruff sigh and sits next to his sister. Rubbing her back softly, “Maybe just apologize to her? It wouldn’t be a crime. For a princess to apologize I mean.”

Keiji screams into the pillow.

“Or not.”

When she pulls herself from between the soft feathery pillows, her face is red and some of the feathers have got caught in her dark curls. Hajime opens his arms to embrace his younger sister. Keiji takes comfort and lays her head in his lap and he pulls the feathers out of her hair.

Hajime laughs and Keiji glares at him, “Hey don’t look at me like that. You know it’s a little funny. Besides,” He pauses as he pulls the last feather from her hair, “ If you don’t apologize I’ll beat you up.” He finishes his sentence with an evil smirk as he locks Keiji in his arm before nuzzling her head with his fist. Keiji screams and begs for mercy as her brother digs his knuckles into her skull.

Once out of breath laughing and Keiji had broken free from her brother's grip he smiles at her, “It’s not too late, the knights aren’t off shift. Go apologize.” Hajime hands her the old, dusty, leafy green book that had gold embroidery that read ‘Fairy Tales’.

Before Keiji exits she of course has to make fun of Hajime and his engagement to the neighboring Kingdoms prince, Oikawa Tooru. She had been a victim of Tooru calling Hajime, “Iwa” and she vows to use it against him for as long as she can.

“Why thank you Prince Iwa, I very much appreciate you having mercy on a nimble little princess like me.” Her joking smile is very noticeable as she curtseys and sticks her tongue out at him. Barely able to close the door before a heavy feather pillow was thrown at her. She could hear the smack on the other side, “And don’t ask for help again you loser!”

Making her way back up the stairs into the tallest tower, there stood Koutaro at the side of her room, where her knight was supposed to be. Warely dozing off of course, Keiji could notice it by the way Koutaro had been nodding her head and shooting it back up so forcefully she almost hit her head on the hanging candle behind her.

Keiji cleared her throat, “Excuse me, Knight Bokuto?” Koutaro shot up at attention with the mention of her name as she looked over at the princess.

“Good evening, your highness. What can I do you for?”

Keiji is shocked by the phrasement of the sentence but continues non the less.

“Knight Bokuto do.. Do you like fairy tales?”

Koutaro’s eyes went big.

-Chapter 3-

And with that, their friendship had blossomed. Annoying walks that had seemed long, had become short when they both wished the trip to the garden was a little longer. Keiji had begun to invite Koutaro to royal events with permission of her mother who had always adored the Bokuto family. In return Koutaro would invite Keiji out when she was told to walk the kingdom grounds. Never promoted from being the princesses knight, but was given the role of the princesses royal knight so there's a difference there. Even though Keiji had laughed at her when Koutaro had barged in her room stating, “I swear my dad loves to make fun of me, I went from ‘fool’ to ‘Royal fool’.” But to Keiji, it was nice having someone to talk to all the time since her brother ever so often visited, living with prince Tooru until they get married and are both crowned.

It has been weeks and the conversation starts with Keiji complaining. Well not really complaining, more like tapping her pen so aggressively against her lip to the point Koutaro is worried she’ll eventually start biting it.

“Why does my brother get to live my dreams? He’s got a handsome prince and all the other royal junk. Feed my sickness Koutaro. Tell me I’m going to live my Fairytale dreams.” Keiji dramatically throws her arm over her eyes.

Koutaro laughs at her. A laugh which would get her beheaded if she were to do it to any other royal court member, but instead of being beheaded she was given an annoyed glare. Because the person she was laughing at was her best friend and even though Keiji could demand that she be replaced and killed, she knew the princess could never have the heart too. Keiji didn’t even have the heart to make Koutaro stay in the armor all day. In an exchange of words, “It must get really hot in there, and you’re very sweaty so I wish for you not to wear it when you’re near me.” Even though what she said seemed to be harsh, the look on her face spoke millions of words but they all came down to one simple sentence when the princess had looked at her, “Please don’t overheat, I’d like for you to be comfortable.”

Koutaro had finished her laughing fit as she sat down on the edge of Keiji’s bed. Her brown shorts were almost the same as when she was younger and she wore a cream white, almost formal dress shirt, but one that Keiji could only describe that pirates would wear.

“I’m sure you would even be willing to kiss a frog to live your fairytale love life Keiji.” Koutaro said.

“This isn’t about that Koutaro, and you know it. Besides, you just think the thought of love is gross.” Keiji taunts her. Koutaro rolls her eyes and lays on her back, staring up at the canopy that surrounds her, twisting the white curtains that hang from it.

“It’s not that I find it gross, I mean, I love lots of people.” Koutaro watches as the princess gets up and walks behind her changing curtain.

“Yes, perhaps you do,” Koutaro watches as the princess grabs her evening gown. The white silk glimmering in the candle light, “But I’m quite sure you haven’t loved anyone romantically.”

Koutaro blushes when Keiji comes from behind the curtain, only in her undergarments and corset. “Would you mind helping me?” Of course agreeing, Koutaro unties the silk ribbon, slowly as if making a mistake would ruin the tan skin on the maiden she was helping. Light freckles and dark moles decorated Keiji’s skin. Koutaro unconsciously counted them. Five dark moles decorated her. Two on her shoulder. Another just above her neck. One on the curve of her plush hips and the last sat right above her- stop it Koutaro.

With the last tug of string the corset came loose and Keiji thanked Koutaro, before walking back behind the curtain. Koutaro took her rightful spot on Keiji’s bed. Face flushed and hands sweaty.

Keiji finally returned with her brush in her hand and her silk nightgown on. Even though her corset had been removed the fabric still held onto her. Curving her body in ways only a mad man could imagine.

The heat in her face was coming too much, she stood up in such a hurry it startled Keiji. “Are you okay?” Keiji asked. Koutaro nodded her head.

“I think I should call it a night, your highness- um Keiji.” Koutaro had walked out of the room before Keiji could even process the fact she was leaving.

Standing in the middle of her room looking at the shut door, she says “Goodnight Koutaro.”

Koutaro had stayed up that night in her room, staring at the ceiling. Her face contorted into a pout, she sighs. “Crap.”

During the week king Kohaku had announced that the kingdom would go into a small battle with one of the neighboring unions over some territory that had been discovered. Head knight and general Takeshi Bokuto would join him.

The following day the queen, princess and Bokuto family joined the troops in front of the kingdom to wave them goodbye.

Kohaku kisses Keiji’s forehead, “Don’t worry my little princess, I’ll be back before your birthday.” He looks at Keiji with soft eyes as he holds her face in his hands, pushing her black hair from her face.

Keiji places her hand over his, softly as she leans her head into his palm, “Why I sure hope so father. Hopefully it won’t take a whole year, it’s only February.” She laughs.

The king chuckles as he kisses her cheek and walks over to talk to his wife.

“Papa come on, I know I’m ready just let me go with you.” Koutaro begs her father.

Takeshi places his hands firmly on either side of Koutaro’s shoulders and smiles “I know you are Koutaro, but I’d be much happier if you stay here and help your mama and hermana.” He gives Koutaro a strong pat on the back and a soft smile.

Koutaro’s eyes tear up, “But I’m gonna miss you.'' She hugs her father tight even with the formal attire that he wears. Tears soak his shirt and he huffs, “Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll have someone to keep you company.” He pats his daughter's hair and she wipes her tears looking up at him.

“I’m talking about the princess if you didn’t know.”

“Yeah,” She stifled a laugh, “I got that.”

With a final goodbye, both families wave off the groups of men with their respective families. As Koutaro stands next to Keiji, she notices that she had tears stuck in her eyes. Slowly, she links their pinkies together. Keiji grabs her whole hand and squeezes it.

Koutaro sits on the counter in the kitchen, watching her mother mix and pull and pound. Many things happening at once. It wasn’t like there weren't other cooks. Mika just likes things her own way. She’d be damned if someone got anything wrong. She smiles as she watches her daughter eat the biscuits she had made.

“Mamí, I think something is wrong with me.” Koutaro confesses.

Mika wipes her hands on her apron and places one on her daughter's forehead, “You do not feel warm, would you like some soup?” Mika is already beginning to cut carrots before Koutaro could even get words out of her mouth.

“No gracias mamá, I just. Is it okay for people to like the princess?” Koutaro asks. She doesn’t understand what to call this feeling, or why she’s feeling it.

“She is a beautiful girl, I wouldn’t be surprised if many people liked her.” Mika laughs at her daughter's question, starting with hot water and throwing the vegetables into a boiling pot.

Koutaro shoves the bread in her mouth, trying not to choke on the buttery taste of it. She musters up all of her courage as she swallows the biscuit, “Is it okay if… if I like the princess?”

Her mother stops. Koutaro’s heart is racing. This was dumb and it was horrible and why would she ever ask such a crazy question and- and she felt her mothers warm hands on her cheeks and seen the soft smile on her face that drew out her smiles lines.

“Mi vida, it is okay if you like the princes.” and Koutaro smiles. “But, I don’t think it's for the best.” And then her smile is gone. “Mamí, what do you mean?” Mika rubs her thumb gently across Koutaros face. “She is a princess mija. She would be married to a prince.” Mika kisses her daughter's cheek and walks back over to the stove. Koutaros heart felt like it had been broken.

As she was leaving the kitchen she bumped into her sister Keiko.

“Keiko what are you-”

“I heard everything.” Keiko held onto Koutaro’s strong shoulders.

Koutaro gulped. She had only wanted to tell her mom. She hadn’t thought about how her sister and father would react to hearing the same news, no one had heard of a girl loving another girl.

“I’m telling you now, do not get close to the princess.” Keiko warned.

Koutaro cocked her eyebrow, “What do you mea-”

“She’s a princess. She’s no good. You think she’s your friend just because you guys hang out all the time.” Keiko lets go of Koutaro, grabbing the basket that was at their feet.

Koutaro huffs, “I AM her friend. She told me herself.”

Keiko rolls her eyes, “Mamí’s right Koutaro, she’s a princess and she’ll marry a prince and leave you alone in the dust. Everyone has their own idea of the princess, but to me she’s just someone who was born into royalty and-” Koutaro had shoved Keiko in the chest, her finger digging into the fabric of her shirt.

“Knock it off! It’s not her fault she was born a princess, just like it’s not our fault we weren’t. You can’t just blame her for things like that.” Koutaro argues, “And I don’t care if she leaves me! I know she’s a princess and I know that I won’t be good enough for her.” Her voice cracks as Keiko stares into her canary yellow eyes.

Koutaro huffs and wipes the hot tears that were pricking in her eyes before she leaves Keiko alone in the hall.

For days she had been pondering and asking what people thought about the princess, and all of them were horrible. The things she would hear about Keiji are things she could prove wrong if they would just get to know her.

“She’s an annoying-”

“Bad tempered.”

“Rude!”

“Spoiled!”

“Princess!”

“Koutaro?”

Koutaro looks at the sound of her name. There stands the princess in all her glory. Her light green dress compliments her beautiful eyes. Her sash low on her arms, as her ribbon flows from her hair. Koutaro stands at attention as the princess approaches her.

“Good evening your majesty. Is there something I can do for you?”

“Accompany me to the garden? I know you are off duty, but I would like to be in your company today.” She twiddles with her fingers, and Koutaro can’t help but smile.

“Of course your highness.”

-chapter 4-

“Wow, the roses look beautiful this evening princess.” Koutaro says as she leans over the bush as her hands brush the petals.

“Oh please Koutaro drop the formalities, we’ve moved past that stage haven’t we?” Keiji is bent down at her small lavender field that seems to be growing well. Koutaro makes a noise. Of agreement? Keiji wouldn’t know. “I tried the egg trick.” She answers. Koutaro smiles.

The sun is beginning to set in the garden, the honey glow shining on Keiji’s skin. Her hair flowed with the breeze. She sits on the stone bench that sits across the pond, where dragonflies and frogs live. The koi fish swim happily. Keiji taps the area beside her, calling Koutaro to sit next to her, and Koutaro listens.

They sit in silence a little longer, until the dragonflies have calmed down and the frogs have only started to croak. Koutaro plays with her thumbs, she tries to speak but Keiji beats her to it.

“You know I love this garden right?” Keiji asks. Her smile is light, and her eyes are hung low.

“Yes Keiji.”

Keiji sighs, “You know how I told you I wanted to live the life of a fairytale? Where I’d kiss a frog and get my happily ever after?” Keiji looks over to Koutaro who had already been looking at her, and Keiji continues. The warm summer breeze blows through their hair.

“I only grow things I love.” She inches her fingers closer to Koutaro’s, linking their pinkies.

Koutaro’s heart starts racing. The sun had finally set and the fireflies were blooming. They fly around the princess. Illuminating her face as Keiji looks at her with the softest eyes Koutaro had ever seen. They could almost rival her mothers. Keiji looks soft. She’s looking at her with such an expression, one can almost call it admiration. Koutaro can’t help but to glance at Keiji’s rosey glossed lips.

“Koutaro, I’m pretty sure I love…” Keiji stops mid-sentence as she looks into Koutaro’s hopeful eyes. This is wrong. She knows it's wrong but it feels so right to be. Yet, the black pit of tar starts to bubble in her stomach. It burns and makes her want to throw up. She had questioned herself for so long. If what she is feeling for Koutaro was romantic. How she’d look at herself in the mirror for what seemed like hours. Thoughts upon thoughts of self loathing. This is not how a princess behaves. She lets go of Koutaro’s hand and plays with the leaf that sits beside the stone

“I’m pretty sure…”

“Princess!” A soldier had run into the garden, “I am very sorry to disturb you, the queen requests your presence.” he stands at attention.

“My mother? What for?” Keiji stands as she dusts off her dress, making her way towards the guard.

“She says it’s an emergency.”

Keiji’s face stays in its stoic expression, but Koutaro can see the tension in her shoulders. Keiji looks at Koutaro with apologetic eyes and Koutaro nods her off as she leaves Koutaro alone in the garden.

Koutaro makes her way to her mothers kitchen where she finds her and Keiko reading a paper. She makes her way over to the group and peers over them to read it as well.

“Mother? You wanted to see me.” Keiji enters her mothers library as the knights shut the door behind her.

“Keiji.” Her mothers voice broke, her black hair looked disheveled as she sits on the floor with a letter in her lap, “Keiji my darling girl please come here.”

Keiji does as she’s told, the fire behind her warmed her cold shoulders.

“June 27th, King Kohaku Akaashi and General Takeshi Bokuto were killed in a sword fight against opposing troops fleeing the forest, the battle was already over. As you know King Kohaku and General Takeshi were loved throughout the kingdom by friends and family. Their dreams of glory die with them.”

Koutaro crushes the letter in her hands.

Keiji leaves her mother crying on the floor.

They’re running through the castle. Through the dark doors and long halls, passing big windows that seem to ring with silence, with grief and pain.

They meet each other in the east hall, as they crash into each other's arms and onto the floor where they cry, and Koutaro is screaming. Keiji is much of a silent weeper, but she clung onto Koutaro’s bouncing shoulders. Droopy and heavy. They cried for what seemed like hours.

They fell asleep on the floor entangled in each other’s warmth and company.

The funerals were held two months later. It felt cold. Colder than any August should be.

In September the kingdom had moved on. Not that people weren’t still grieving. Yet they soon realized that even if the king's passing was unexpected, they had to continue to live their lives.

Hajime returned to the kingdom after the announcement of his fathers death. Attempting to help his mother but she refused.

Queen Akira stepped up as the ruler in place of her husband. Even with the loss of her lover she had no choice but to weep at night when she’s alone, continuing to encourage the kingdom to move on.

The court had announced that the other troops had safely returned home. They had returned with letters from the King and General.

The Bokuto family had not returned to the castle. All mourning the loss of Takeshi.

The morning mail came with a letter from the royal court. Asking for the family to join them in the banquet. Koutaro had to muster up all the strength she had to go. The attendees had been those who worked in the castle. Chefs, maids, and butlers. Even those who had lost someone important in the battle. Koutaro stands with the other knights.

The queen and Keiji both came out. Keiji spared a quick smile and waved to Koutaro, who was able to grin back.

The crowd quiets down as the queen speaks, “I would like to thank everyone for coming. I know all of us are going through loss and grieving, so this will not be a light topic, but it is something the king had asked of me in his parting letter, and I want to fulfill his dying wish.” The queen continues.

Koutaro is zoned out. It’s hot and she's tired, and damn she really wants to go home and cry.

“Knight Bokuto.” Akira says.

Don’t call her that. That's her fathers title. That’s his name and she doesn’t deserve to be called a name that doesn’t belong to her.

She walks up to stand between Akira and Keiji. She stands as straight as she can. Her hands are sweaty and she feels dizzy. The chandelier is too bright and she squints her eyes and swallows the bowel that is crawling up her throat.

Keiji grabs onto Koutaro’s pinkie. She looks just as pale as Koutaro feels. They’re both going through so much, and Koutaro’s heartthrobs knowing that someone knows how she feels.

A butler walks up to the trio holding a small black box.

“Koutaro Bokuto, in your fathers letter, he had only one request.” Queen Akira begins as she looks at her daughter.

Keiji clears her throat and takes a shaky breath and grabs what's in the box from the butler.

She turns to show she held a golden metal against her soft gloved hands.

Koutaro froze, and Keiji began talking, “To my youngest Koutaro, if I do not return, I wish for you to have this,” Keijis voice cracks, and Koutaro is looking at the metal with fear and her breath hitches and it feels like she's choking on sand. “Koutaro, my only request for you. Is for you to accomplish your dreams. As general, I promote you to Head Knight.” Keiji places the golden metal in Koutarou's shaky palms as the tears prick her skin.

Others cheered for her promotion. But her eyes scan the crowd and they lock onto her mother and sister holding each other close.

And Koutaro breaks.

She walks as fast as she can out of the banquet hall.

Keiji follows her.

Koutaro sat on the steps just outside the hall. Keiji quietly sat next to her.

“Koutaro-“

“I’m not my dad.” She says with a harsh voice, clammy from held back tears.

“I don’t deserve this. I can’t replace him! This is his metal its-“ Koutaro’s raises her arm about to throw the metal when Keiji crashes their bodies together, holding her close.

Goopy and heavy tears fall silently down Koutaro’s face. The moon shines above them and the lights from the banquet luminate them.

Koutaro hiccups, lowering her arm and letting the metal fall from her hands onto the side of them as she grips onto Keiji. Soaking her green dress.

“I can’t do it.” She hiccups against Keiji’s fair skin.

Keiji shushes her and rubs her back, “I know. It's hard. All of it. It’s all going to be hard, Koutaro, but.” She pulls Koutaro away from her shoulder so she can look at her.

Her face is red, her eyes are puffy and snot runs down her chin. Yet, Keiji smiles fondly.

“I think your father made the right choice. And he wouldn’t have picked you if he didn’t think you were ready.” Keiji grabs the metal and clasps it onto Koutaro’s semi-formal blouse.

Koutaro sniffles once before smiling down at the badge.

“We’re all going to be with you one step at a time. Commander Bokuto.” Keiji says.

And Koutaro smiles.

Koutaro spent her 18th birthday at home. Her mother and sister came to the fact that Takeshi was not coming home. Deep down Koutaro had hoped he would. Mika knocked on Koutaro’s bedroom door. Koutaro groaned, giving Mika the okay.

“Mija?” Mika said. She sits on Koutaro’s bed, placing the small box next to her and rubbing her daughter's tummy. Koutaro has her head buried under her pillow.
“Happy birthday my love.” Mika’s small smile forms on her tired looking face. But her eyes look at her daughter with love and sympathy. Koutarou unburies her head and looks at her mother with a sad smile, “Gracias, mama.”

Mika pulls her daughter up by her arms and hugs her close, “No more weeping okay? It’s your special day. I don’t think you’d want to spend it inside all day.” Mika kisses Koutaro’s forehead.

“I don’t really wanna do anything today mama.” Koutaro admits and Mika hums.

“Well at least get dressed and out of the room. I’ll make your favorite okay?” She ruffles Koutaro’s hair and grabs the box that she had walked in with, placing it in Koutaro’s lap before she walks out leaving Koutaro with one last smile. Koutaro places the box on her shelf as she gets dressed and does her morning routine.

She stares at the box that sits on her desk, grabbing it and slowly lifting the lid. Inside sat a letter with a smaller box. She skips the letter and opens the smaller box. Inside sat gold sun shaped earrings with a necklace. Koutaro holds them gently in her hands as she stares at them. They’re sharply crafted and carry a little bit of weight, but nothing too heavy. She quickly grabs the letter and rips it open. Then unfolds it and begins reading.

“Happy 18th Birthday bug! I was going to save these for your wedding, but knowing you'd be too busy fighting monsters and what not to be worried about a wedding. I am so proud of you for making it this far and accomplishing your dreams. Bug you have made me such a happy father, both you and your sister will amount to great things in the future. And I cannot wait to see you both grow even more. Love, Papa.”

Water fell on the paper. Koutaro was crying, but she wasn’t sad. She didn't know why she was crying. Yet she could feel the weight of her burden leave her. She smiles, and it isn’t sad. She laughs at the letter and holds it close to her aching heart.

“Thank you papa.”

Koutaro joins her family in the kitchen, wearing a soft orange dress that Keiko had made for her, matching the gold sun earrings and necklace that decorated her skin.

Mika and Keiko turn and smile at Koutaro, “¡Feliz cumpleaños!” They shout.

“Gracias!” Koutaro smiles a wide grin as her mother and sister hug her.

-chapter 5-

With the late November and early December, comes the first snowfall, it’s the indication of the princesses birthday. The castle buzzed with noise as butlers and maids ran up and down the stairs. The soldiers carried heavy boxes that held lots of party decorations. Keiji walked around the rooms pointing out where the decorations were to go and helping with the little she could. Koutaro walked into the ball hall before almost ramming into a rushing maid carrying an arm full of table cloths.

Koutaro noticed Keiji walking back and forth. Her dress glided along the soft marble floor while she pointed and commanded the others. Koutaro makes her way towards the princess, grabbing her wrists and spinning her around.

“Why my princess won’t you give me the honor of this dance.” Koutaro smirks teasingly as she dips the princess, her hot palm against the dip of her back. Keiji’s crown tips.

Keiji goes red in the face from the abrupt show of affection between the two of them. The princess stutters, “K…outaro! Let… m-me up!” Koutaro fixes the princess and Keiji brushes the ruffles out of her dress and Koutaro realines the princesses crown.

“I’m sorry Keiji, just tried to surprise you.” Koutaro apologizes. Keiji sighs and places a soft hand on Koutaro’s shoulder, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you, I’m just very busy preparing for the ball.”

Koutaro purks up, “A ball! What ball? For who?” she seems to vibrate in place. Keiji’s face goes stoic. Her eyes and nose pinch together as she looks at Koutaro in disbelief.

“My birthday, Koutaro.”

Koutaro’s happiness deflates, “Oh god, Keiji I’m so sorry I forgot! I’ve been so busy with the troops!”
Keiji laughs and waves off Koutaro’s apology, “That’s quite alright Koutaro, I wouldn’t expect less from you with being a commander.” Keiji picks up the ribbon that a maid had dropped.

Koutaro grabs Keiji’s shoulders in urgency, “Lemme help! I wanna help please!”

Koutaro stands in the middle of her sister's sewing room as Keiko wraps fabric and pins around her.

“When I said I’d help. I didn’t mean like this.” Koutaro grumbles.

Keiji nods and makes a sound of acknowledgement, she makes little notes giving her side remarks to Keiko as she tucks her hand under her chin. With another nod she speaks, “Keiko is trying to decide how soldiers will be dressed at the ball. She asked if I had anyone willing to be measured. You just so happen to be available.” Keiji smiles at Koutaro who frowns in return.

“I better look hot.”

Keiko is no miracle worker. Not saying Koutaro wasn’t helpful, she just kept dropping some of the materials or slipping on ribbon and sometimes pricking herself. The final look that Keiko had come up with was formal wear. They were to be decorated with various ribbons and medals. A dark blazer would sit on their shoulders, gold buttons adorned the top of the blazer. A gold fabric belt wrapped around their waist and broke between the divide of their top and pants. Koutaro admired herself in the full body mirror that sat in her sister's work area. Keiko grumbled as she wrapped ribbons and loose threads around another manikin, other workers began to copy the sheets Keiko had drawn up when creating Koutaro’s outfit so the other soldiers could match her taking the fabrics and leaving the sisters alone. Koutaro dresses herself back into her lounging tunic and sits to watch her sister work.

“Keiji’s running herself ragged.” Koutaro casually speaks.

Keiko talks with needles in her mouth, “Well it IS her birthday, and her first without her father. Give her some slack.” Keiko pricks herself on the finger and swears to herself.

“I’m not saying anything like that, I just think she should trust someone to talk to. I mean, we hang out like- all the time!” Koutaro makes her point by throwing her arms wide signifying how long they’re around each other.

“Yes and that was before you became chief, and before she had to take over the job of her mother.” Keiko flicks a loose button at Koutaro, she snickers when it smacks her in the forehead.

Koutaro grunts, “Yea, don’t remind me.” She twists the buttons in her fingers.

“Koutaro?”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry.”

Koutaro cocks her head up, turning to her sister with urgency. Keiko’s face held a longing expression. A sad, longing expression.

“That day, when you told mama that you liked the princess, when I-”

“Keiko it’s alright I know.”

Keiko’s frowns, and her eyes water as she walks over and hugs her little sister, pulling her down onto the floor. Koutaro wraps her arms around her sister as Keiko holds her tighter.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. That was the last actual conversation we had. Even at your birthday and dad's funeral.” Keiko hiccups and Koutaro can feel the tears prick on her eyes and threaten to spill onto her sister's shoulder.

Keiko sniffles and pulls herself away from Koutaro’s shoulder, she pulls her sister's hands into hers and rubs her thumbs back and forth softly on Koutaro’s callused hands.

“If I can tell you anything worthwhile. I wanna tell you to love whoever you want, hermana. Because you deserved to be loved back just as much.” Keiko smiles at Koutaro and that’s what breaks her. Koutaro’s tears fall. Keiko laughs at Koutaro’s late reaction. The sister’s share a hug and Koutaro leaves Keiko to her work.

The very night the Castle fills with people. Kingdoms all round join in the celebration. Everyone seemed to be engaged in a conversation, some of the royals wore masquerade masks, nothing more than their eyes and mouth were shown. All the townsfolk had worn their most expensive jewelry, some of the women even optioning to wear their wedding gowns, just the match with the royalty of which they distinguished themselves in.

Every once in a while a royal would come in, they would be announced and everyone would stop to bow, earning a greeting in return. As the time continued on the room got dimmer. Subjecting that the candles were being blown out to create an atmosphere.

Bokuto had been stationed at the front of the castle doors where she would greet everyone with a smile and lock up once all the guests had come. As the clock struck nine all the royal guests had made their entrance.

A big voice boomed above the people as they spoke through a horn, “Everyone please give your undivided attention to your majesty, Queen Akira.”

The majesty had made her way down the staircase,a soldier on her arm, to sit on her throne at the bottom, all though still above the people. She smiles and waves.

The voice booms once again, “Now everyone please greet her royal highness, princess Keiji.”

Koutaro’s eyes shoot up to the top of the banquet where Keiji stood. All else around her seemed to disappear, her only focus being on Keiji. Her arm length gloves seem to glimmer under the chandelier. Her green ball gown drapes a silk ribbon around her shoulders. Her hair is tied up in a bun with two long braids running through the sides of her head. Her tiara sits beautifully on her head, balanced between the bun and her braids. The shine made her eyes glimmer at an even more exquisite shade of green. Keiji was accompanied down the stairs by a fellow soldier. Koutaro’s eyes never leave the tan skinned woman.

Koutaro gulped.

Keiji stood in front of her throne, smiling at the people.

“Thank you all for coming! Please make yourselves at home in the kingdom of Fukurodani!” She clasps her hands together as the music begins to play and the guests begin to sway with their partners.

“I’m going to greet the people, if that's alright with you?” Keiji asked her mother, as she sat on her throne. She claps along to the music as she dismisses Keiji.

She walked down into the crowd, scanning for Koutaro. Where she still stood stationed at the door. They slowly walk to each other. They passed through the small groups that were waltzing together, taking her dress into her hands. The untamed white hair, in which she was met with gold eyes that stared into hers.

The beautiful emerald eyes stare back at Koutaro. Keiji’s hands tugged at each other, “Good evening knight Koutaro.”

Koutaro smiles, “Good evening my princess, you look lovely. Keiko did a great job at creating your dress.”
Keiji laughs, “Yes, I suppose she did. I owe her an apology for throwing all this gown making into her hands.” Keiji ponders.

Koutaro laughs back at that, “I’m sure she didn’t mind. She loves making dresses for you.”

Keiji hums in acknowledgement. She looks around as the people sway back and forth. The fairy lights adorned the room and the music slowed. She looks back at Koutaro who stood in their military stance, waiting for the princess to speak. Keiji huffs and a smirk appears on her face as she holds out her hand, “Would you like to dance Koutaro?”

Koutaro looks at the princess, jaw almost dropped as she nods her head. Keiji swiftly grabs Koutaro by the hand and begins waltzing. Koutaro winzed at the speed. Her golden eyes meet Keiji’s emerald ones and Koutaro smiles warmly. Koutaro delicately holds Keiji’s waist and spins her around. Keiji’s dress swayed as gracefully and as magnificent as the ocean itself. Koutaro’s arm tightens around Keiji’s waist. Both caught in the heat of the movement, the sounds of the soft music playing, the hot hands of which they hold each other.

They lean closer to each other, lips almost touching. The intimacy of a kiss is ruined when Koutaro is tapped on her shoulder which makes her stop abruptly, causing Keiji to bump into her chest.

“I’m sorry to interrupt but I was hoping ta also get a dance with the princess.” This voice is deep. Almost alluring. Keiji stares at the figure behind them.The tall man almost shadows her, that’s saying something since Keiji is already pretty tall with no help from her high heels.

His dirty blonde hair sits parted to the right, his eyes were a deep honey brown. His ball attire is nothing more than a red and black warriors formal wear, almost the same style as Koutaro’s. He doesn’t wear a smile but a smirk can be apparent on his face. Koutaro moves aside from the princess, clearing her throat, “Yes, um. Of course, sorry your majesty, but I should be getting back to my station.” Koutaro bows and walks away almost hurriedly. Keiji isn’t able to stop her before the prince bows to take her hand, in which Keiji slowly lets him take.

As they begin to dance Keiji scowls as she looks around the room. Her eyes never met the prince.

“I’m sorry princess, did I bother ya?” the prince smiles apologetically, his sharp canine teeth bared.

“Hm? Oh no. Not at all. How rude of me, what is your name?” Keiji finally looks at the prince, he seems to glow when their eyes make contact.

He spins the princess as he dips her, a satisfied noise escapes his throat, “I am prince Atsumu from the kingdom Inirazaki.”

Keiji smiles formally, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, dear prince.”

“The pleasures are all mine.”

Keiji and Atsumu dance for what seems like days. They talk for what seems like hours. Atsumu’s kingdom is stationed at the end of the nation. He has an identical twin brother named Osamu, which he had to make a point of that he was older. Recently he had lost his mother. So only himself and his father were in charge, since his brother was becoming head knight.

What felt like forever was actually only four songs. Keiji bows to Atsumu as she excuses herself to find Koutaro.

She finds her sitting on the chair just outside. The garden is adorned with fairy lights, there is no crowd other than the few people who admire the rose bushes.

Keiji walks up to Koutaro and sets a hand on her shoulder and Koutaro looks up at her, “I’m sure we weren’t able to finish our dance. Would you care too?” Keiji asks and Koutaro smiles.

Keiji pulls Koutaro into the middle of the garden where they sway in the lily and lavender fields. The music can still be heard, in a muffled and relaxing tone. The Waltz of the Flowers, Keiji’s favorite. It’s muffled but Keiji can hear it perfectly in her mind.

Keiji held the hem of her dress and bowed. Koutaro bowed in return before grabbing Keiji’s hand in hers. Koutaro smiled at Keiji.

Her smile was like poison. It was poison and wine, and it corrupted Keiji. They were in a waltz, a dance against time, love was merely an aftertaste. A woman dressed in green and silver, and the other in her finest clothing. They trusted each other.

They danced around the garden. Becoming close once again. Their hot bodies pressed against each other, warming one another with the cold of a December night around them. This time their gaze was not affected by the clapping of participants, or a blonde haired prince. It felt like they were alone, with no one watching, as if stars were their only company, and not even then could they be judged.

“Koutaro..” Keiji smiled as she laced her fingers behind Koutaro’s neck, and in return Koutaro moved her hands against Keiji’s hips.

They stopped moving as the wind picked up and the soft lantern of the fairy lights glowed on them. Keiji and Koutaro stared at each other. Hand in hand. Their hearts open on their sleeves.

They would go on outings, and walk around the castle during the night. Enclosed hand in hand. Pinkie to pinkie. And now, a kiss in the garden.

Keiji hopes to relive this memory in her mind for the rest of her life. She would walk into her garden and the memory of love would be introduced to her in nothing more than the smell of her lavender and roses, and she would always come to desire the heat of passion and thrill.

Their lips warm against each other, as Keiji moved her hands to hold onto Koutaro’s cheeks, pulling the taller one closer. Keiji pulls away first, Koutaro in a daze following her lips as they pull away from hers and Keiji laughs.

The grip on Keiji’s waist tightened, “Wow..” Koutaro breaths, lips swollen and pink.

With the chime of the midnight bell Keiji bids Koutaro goodbye and leaves back into the ballroom, leaving a dazed and flustered Koutaro to stand in the middle of a lily patch.

A whoop would escape her as she pops herself in the middle of the lily’s. They crush underneath her weight and fireflies escape before they are victims of Koutaros happy cheering, as her arms are held above her head and the smile on her face won't dissipate because well, the love of her life loves her back.

-chapter 6-

It's been months since Keiji’s birthday. While the kingdom is getting ready for spring, Koutaro gets ready to come back to the castle. In early January she was sent out to retrieve spices from the Karasuno kingdom. The voyage took a little more than 3 months, now returning in April. With the winter weather conditions worsening the closer the soldiers got to the border.

Koutaro and Keiji had been exchanging letters through the voyage and Koutaro’s stay at Karasuno. Yet, one day Keiji never returned Koutaro’s letter, and Koutaro had been anxious ever since. Wondering if she brought up something to upset the princess. She hadn’t even dared to ask about the kiss. Even though she really, really wanted to.

“I can’t wait to see my mom.” Koutaro states when the group hit the borders of Fukurodani. Their horses carry their luggage and cows carry the spices and herbs.

Kuroo laughs at Koutaro, nudging the foot of his captain, “No way, you can’t wait to get back to seeing the princess, you liar.” Kuroo gives a smug smile and teases kissing faces when Koutaro turns red and scowls.

“Keep talking and I’ll give you running drills the second we get back.” Koutaro barks at Kuroo. Quickly Kuroo straightens his back and clears his throat, “Not in a rude way ma’am I mean it's just-” Kuroo looks behind him at his fellow soldiers who nod at him, “She’s the only one you’ve talked about since we left.” He concludes.

“What! No way!” Koutaro’s horse almost stops abruptly, still continuing on.

“Yes way.” Konoha calls from the back.

“Name one time.”

“In the shower.”

“During commute.”

“Right before we left.”

“Right now-”

“Okay! Okay I get it!” Koutaro whines, “Let’s just go, I'm starving.” and with that the group is off making their way to the castle.

The soldiers were given a warm welcome from the queen herself. As the troops showered and wandered back to their taverns, Koutaro made her way to Keiji’s room. She happily skipped up the stairs that lead to the tallest tower where the love of her life would be waiting for her. Where the door stood unguarded because the only person Keiji trusted to stand on the other side of her wall was Koutaro.

Koutaro knocks on the door even though she barges in anyways, as if the anticipation wasn’t killing her. Keiji sat in her vanity as she read over papers and signed off on scriptures. The ink from her quill pin dripped every time she had to apply more, and even though it dripped she never let it spill on her paper with her handwriting that she had been perfecting since she was young.

Koutaro places her rough hands over the princesses eyes, “Guess who.” you would’ve been tone deaf if you couldn’t hear the smile in her voice.

“Welcome back Koutaro, please remove your hands.” Keiji says without even lifting her pen. Koutaro visibly deflates. Even her hair seems to slump with her mood.

Removing her hands, Koutaro steps back, sitting next to Keiji as the princess begins to write again, “What are you doing?”

“Important work.” Voice still flat and unmoved.

The silence felt wrong. This isn’t how you’re supposed to be towards someone you kiss. At least it’s not how her papa used to kiss her mom and tell her how much he loved her with every kiss and word he’s ever whispered and laid upon her wrinkly forehead.

“Why are you so annoyed? I thought you’d be happy to see me?” Koutaro stands from her spot next to the princess. Keiji rolls her eyes and her lips turn into a scowl.

“I am, I’m just really busy right now.” Keiji finally sets down as she turns around to face Koutaro.

“Well can you at least hug me? Or look at me.” Koutaro says sternly.

Keiji’s voice grumbles, “Is that what you want, Koutaro? You want me to stop everything I’m doing and bend to your will?” Keiji stands from her area, eyebrows knitted together in annoyance.

“No, I just want you to act like I’m here. You haven’t even responded to my letters Keiji. I was worried.” Koutaro crosses her arms.

“I’m sorry I worried you, I really am. I was just too busy to respond to you alright?” Keiji turns to pack away her pen and ink so she doesn’t accidentally spill it anywhere she doesn’t want to.

“So you get upset with me? Why are you being so- so-” Koutaro stutters.

“So what, Koutaro? Say it. Bratty? Spoiled? Selfish? I’ve heard it all so whatever you say isn’t new!” Keiji walks towards Koutaro, shoving her in the chest with each word.

Koutaros scowls as she looks at Keiji’s expressionless face and flexes her fingers into a fist, “You took the words right out my mouth.” Koutaro says with venom left on almost every word.

Keiji’s demeanor finally breaks, her eyes brimming with tears, yet not one of them daring to leave her eyes, “You just don’t get it do you? Your life is just so perfect. You get to live your dreams and be the big knight you’ve always wanted to be, right?” Keiji stares deep into Koutaro’s eyes. Deep canary eyes that never change, they seem predatorial.

“What are you talking about, Keiji?” Koutaro goes to grab her hands but she pulls away from her.

“We both lost our fathers and it’s like the gods choose you as their favorite.” Keiji turns away and rubs her hands up and down her arms, “Not only did you get promoted to head knight, you get to go on your adventures all you want.” she takes a deep breath, “And I take on my mother’s responsibilities as she takes on my fathers and now I have too- have too-.”

Koutaro waits for the princess to finish her sentence but she doesn’t. Instead she wipes her face and kicks Koutaro out. Koutaro tries to apologize for her behavior towards the princess. Yet, Keiji doesn’t wanna hear it and slams her door in Koutaro’s face. Leaving a bad taste in her mouth.

Koutaro’s heart cracks when she realizes how long she’s been without speaking to the princess, and though it felt as if she was dodging her on purpose. She wouldn’t blame her.
The beginning of May, Koutaro is given a letter from the queen to have her troops watch the courtyard as the royal’s had a special announcement for the Kingdom. Of course not being able to deny the queen Koutaro does as she’s told. She has her men suit up and places them at the entrances and exits of the palace.

The townspeople gather in the square. Everyone was gossiping among themselves about the announcement. Half of them guess that the queen has found another lover and is announcing it.

Koutaro huffs a laugh as she watches queen Akira stand on the balcony. The ceremony starts. The town quiets down as the horns are blown to call the attention of the people.

“Welcome fair patriots of Fukurodani, we have a special announcement for you.” Queen Akira clasps her hands together lovingly as she makes way for her daughter to walk onto the balcony. Keiji steals the breath of everyone in the audience almost as she always does. Her dress isn’t as extravagant as her usual ones. This one flows loosely on her hips and the light mint green dress runs flowers down the tastle. Koutaro still smiles as she sees Keiji, but her smile dissipates as she watches Keiji walk out arm in arm with the prince that had danced with her at the ball.

Prince Atsumu wears almost the same clothes as he did when he introduced himself at the party. Yet this one was less formal and more of something he wore casually around the kingdom. A suit jacket and trousers worn with a collared dress shirt, necktie, and dress shoes.

“Princess Keiji will be marrying Prince Atsumu of Inrizaki!” The queen announces with a smile on her face.

And Koutaro swears she can hear her blood rush in her ears and her heart leap into her mouth and it’s almost choking her, as she holds in the dying cough that lingers in her throat.

-chapter 7-

The wedding was to take place next month. Princess Keiji hadn’t talked to Koutaro, and Koutaro didn’t dare speak to her in case she was to cause any unneeded stress on the princess. But as she watches her and prince Atsumu walk arm in arm around the castle she feels her heart break a little more each time.

The night Keiji was announced engaged to the prince, Koutaro cried in her mothers arms as Keiko rubbed her back. Them trying to shush Koutaros heavy sobs. Her heart was broken and she had nothing to soothe the fiery blaze in her chest as her voice went raw and she could barely breathe, crying herself to sleep.

“Mi amor, I told you, she’s a princess. She is to marry a prince.” Mika rubs soft circles into her daughter's aching head.

“You don’t get it mama, we kissed. How can you kiss someone and then push them away?” Koutaro holds onto her mothers waist as she buries her head into her lap.

Mika laughs, “18 years old and you still act like you’re a baby.” She says fondly, “Princess Keiji has a responsibility to the kingdom, and for now, if that involves her marrying the prince. You can’t be mad at her for that can you?”

Koutaro shakes her head. Her mom was right. How could she stay mad at someone she cared about so dearly?

“You don’t get it Iwaizumi, I don’t want to marry him!” Keiji yells at her brother and he scoffs, arms crossed over his chest.

“Don't scoff at me! Imagine how you would’ve felt if you weren’t able to marry Tooru, news flash Haj, I like girls!” Keiji grumbles.

“Like it isn’t obvious, but you’re putting too much on this Keiji.” Hajime tries to rub his headache out.

“No I’m not! I’m putting just enough pressure on this! Maybe even a little bit more!” She goes to throw her feathery pillow at him when he catches her wrist.

A dead look on his face sends shivers down Keiji’s spine, “This isn’t about you Keiji. You’re being selfish.”

Her bottom lip quivers and she swallows the boal stuck in her throat.

“I’ve been stuck being a perfect princess, my whole life, Hajime.. We lost dad, and I have to marry someone I barely even know.” She’s tired. You can hear it in her voice just how tired she is, but she doesn’t care anymore.

Hajime releases her wrist and she slumps against him as he lightly pats her head and tries to comfort her, “It’s not about us Keiji. It's about what’s right for the kingdom.”

Koutaro watches as her soldiers battle amongst each other. The dirt kicking up on their shoes as Kuroo calls Koutaro over, “Come on cap, come join in the fun!”

Koutaro laughs and crosses her arms, “No thanks, I have to look like the responsible one out here.” Kuroo rolls his eyes.

Koutaro decides the early summer heat is hitting a little faster than anticipated. She heads to the water pumps where she can get a pale of water for the boys when she bumps into the person she really wished she hadn’t bump into.

“Ah! Kei- Princess! You scared me.” Koutaro goes to wipe off the dust that had traveled onto Keiji’s dress, as Keiji dusts herself off as well.

“My apologies, I didn’t mean to.” She straightens her tiara and herself.

The silence is deafening and awkward. God Koutaro’s ears felt like they were going to pop.

“Haha! Well I better be getting back to the boys an-“ Koutaro goes to leave when Keiji grabs onto her wrist.

“Can we talk?”

Keiji’s voice is small. Almost a whisper. Smaller than Koutaro has ever heard it, and she can’t help but nod her head. They agree to meet at sundown.

Koutaro makes her way to Keiji’s room, attacked by the princess in her nightgown before she could even fully walk into the room.

The air being knocked out of her as she hits the floor with Keiji clinging onto her waist.

Koutaro smooths Keijis hair down and with a soft voice she whispers, “It's okay now Keiji, I’m here. It’s okay.”

When they finally get onto their feet they stand across from each other, and Keiji wipes her face from unshed tears. She breaths in a shaky breath and tugs at her fingers.

“I want to apologize.”

“Keiji-“

“No. Please let me apologize.”

Koutaro stands there quietly and Keiji continues.

“I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. I was just so frustrated and scared that I blamed it on you.” another sharp breath, she swallows something deep in her throat and it tastes like boel. Her eyebrows knit together as she tries to hold in her tears.

Yet Koutaro can’t help but reach out for her, to grab onto her and hold her close until Keiji can feel comforted by the sound of her heart beat. Where she kisses her tenderly on the head and reminds Keiji to take deep breaths, when she sits them both down onto the floor and Keijis gown pools around them. She can no longer hold back her tears and Koutaros' tunic is pulled against and soaked with her tears.

“I c…can’t do this Koutaro. I’m not strong enough. I’m not worthy to be a queen! Or a princess! I miss my father so much, I wish he was here to tell me what I’m supposed to do!” She hiccups into Koutaro’s shoulder, her grip on her shirt doesn’t loosen the harder she cries.

Koutaro would let her cry forever if she needed to. To lay on her shoulder and speak all of her fears until they both grew gray hairs for every secret she tells, yet right now the princess needed someone to comfort her and tell her she was going to get through it. Before Koutaro could open her mouth Keiji removes herself from her shoulder and wipes at her face. Her eyes are swollen and her cheeks are red. She sniffles once before she places her hands on her knees.

“Yet, that doesn’t excuse my poor behavior towards you. I wanted to formally invite you to my wedding. If you’d accept my apology and invitation. I l-,” She stops herself mid sentence, “You’re very dear to me Koutaro.” She smiles but it's weak.

Although Koutaro’s heart aches and once again shatters into a million pieces, she forgives Keiji, because she’s in love with her, and no matter how many fights or disagreements they get into.

Koutaro will always love Keiji.

The morning of the wedding, Keiji stood tall on Keiko’s box as she added the finishing lace to the bottoms.

The wedding dress had a fitted bodice, made of cashmere and lace. The A lined, white colored dress was adorned with pearls and gems. The top was covered in jewels and stones which matched the skin color of the princess. Her neck was decorated with diamonds, a wedding gift from prince Atsumu who had the widest smile on his face as he placed the piece of jewelry around her neck. Her sleeves hung off her shoulders exposing themselves. The veil was a fine lace, attached to the princesses crown.

This was a wedding dress Keiko would tell her grandchildren about, if they would ever stop and listen.
Upon the request of Keiji, Koutaro was not to be in uniform on the day of her wedding. She would be dressed and attended to as the rest of the guests would. Koutaro’s mom helped dress her. A cream colored dress and a necklace her father gave her sits around her neck.

A knock on the door of Keikos room calls the attention of both girls.

“Morning Keiko, is Keiji ready? The guests are all here.” Koutaro enters and walks towards the two.

Keiko smiles, “Yeup! Let me go, put my box away and I’ll be down in the chapel. I’ll see you two down there alright.”

The girls nod their heads and before Keiko walks out she speaks, “You look beautiful princess Keiji.” and she closes the door behind her.

Keij calls Koutaro over, “Koutaro, do you think you can do my hair?” Without another word Koutaro is already behind Keiji as she sits on the chair on the other side of the room.

It’s quiet, but not too quiet. It doesn’t feel as forced or awkward as before. The atmosphere is light and it’s almost as if you’ve stepped into a sanctuary of laughter. The girls breathe easy.

Keiji breaks the silence first with small laughter, “Who would’ve known I’d be having my fairytale wedding.”

Koutaro snorts as she separates Keijis hair into three pieces so she can begin to braid, “10 year old you would be losing her mind wouldn’t she?”

“I suppose she would.” Keiji plays with the fabric of her dress while Koutaro finishes the first braid.

Keiji’s quiet and lost in thought. Koutaro speaks up.

“You okay?”

“I’m terrified.” She admits, “I’ve been reading fairy tales for seventeen years. Dreaming about what it might feel like when my fairytale comes true. But what if it's not, everything I dreamed it would be?”

Koutaro tucks the veil and crown neatly in between the braids and bun, rubbing Keiji’s shoulders, turning them both to look in the mirror. Keiji’s necklace and dress glistens underneath the lights, with a smile on her face she answers.

“It will be.”

The fanfare rang as the petals fell from the sky. The white almost too pure.

The bells chimed and the chorus softly sang. As Keiji made her way towards the archbishop, past the guests and townsfolk, in front of Atsumu’s twin brother Osamu. Flowers clung tightly in her hand. The Queen's bright and soft smile brings a little warmth too Keiji. Happiness is contagious.

“Here to live the story of a fairy tale, a princess on her wedding day, but fairy tales usually end with a simple phrase. Our Faith sees the wedding day not as the place of arrival, but the place where the adventure really begins.” The archbishop spoke. The light of the colored glass dancing around the two. As they promise their lives to live until they wither and are no longer suitable to rule. Their own family and adventures. To promise themselves to the throne and each other for as long as they shall live.

Keiji looks into the aisles, as she holds onto Atsumu’s hand, ignoring the bishop and her soon to be husband and king. As she scans the area her eyes lock with the honey golden ones she’s come to known as comfort. The face that held those eyes of purity smiled in Keiji’s direction. Her smile is so warm and contagious. It can shine past any dark cloud that dares to ruin their wonderful day. She sits in the front. Where Keiji can feel at home even though she felt like she was giving it away.

“Princess Keiji, do you take prince Atsumu, to have and to hold, in sacred matrimony, for as long as you both shall live?” The bishop looks at the princess.

Keiji looks around and chews on her lip. Everyone she loves is there in that room. Watching her, waiting for her next move, and she sighs.

“No, I don’t.” and even though the crowd gasps Keiji feels a burden get lifted off her shoulders. She pulls herself away from Atsumu.

“Mom, I’m sorry but I cannot marry Prince Atsumu.” She turns to face him, a small frown plastered on his face, “You’re a great man Atsumu, and I know you’d make an great king it’s just that- that” she turns back to her mother, “I am in love with someone else.”

And the church is quiet, the only sound heard was a laugh that escaped Atsumu, a laugh of relief that is.

“Oh great gods, it wasn’t only me.” He sighs happily, “I thank you for the kind words and the opportunity Princess Keiji, but I too, am also in love with someone else, and he waits for me back in Inirazaki.” He smiles.

“Then why did you wish to marry me?” Keiji asked.

“I wanted ta do what was right for my kingdom,” he takes Keiji’s hands into his, “but you made me realize, if its for love. It might be worth it to be a little selfish.”

Keiji turns back to the audience, “I know I’m supposed to do what's best for the kingdom, but right now I want to do whats best for me.” She turns to Hajime who has a small smile on his face. “If that makes me a bad Princess then I guess that’s what I’ll have to be.”

Keiji walks over to Koutaro and grabs her hands, pulling her up from the bench as she smiles at Koutaro’s blushing face.

“Bokuto Koutaro. My knight in shining armor, My best friend, and my one true love. My dear, you, Are my happily ever after.”
Koutaro processes the information, and hoots in excitement.

Raw laughter escapes Keiji’s throat as Koutaro spins her around. Their laughter grows louder and louder, the more they realize just how utterly in love they are with each other.

Koutaro gently sets Keiji back down as she holds her face in her hands and kisses her gently.

Warm, soft and Keiji’s lips tasted just like the strawberries Koutaro had wondered if they tasted like months ago. Their honey glaze mixed over each other. Everyone in the room seems to have melted away. As they pull against each other's lips and can't help but grab at one another.

Cheers can be heard from around the room, as Keiji kisses Koutaro back and entangles her hands in Koutaro’s loose hair. They feel the smile set on each other's lips as they laugh into the kiss, and when they break apart their eyes are glossed over with something the other could only read as pure admiriation.

Queen Akira stands in front of them, tears in her eyes as she holds her hands over the mouth. She grabs Keiji in a tight hug, squeezing Koutaro’s shoulder when she finally lets go of her daughter, as Keiji and Koutaro link their pinkies together.

Akira kisses Keiji’s tears away off her cheeks, “Keiji my darling daughter, you can do whatever makes you happy.”

“Thank you mom.”

With that the wedding is cancelled. The guests begin to pour out of the church, happy even though they didn’t see a wedding, Keiji and Koutaro stay behind.

“Knight Bokuto?”

“Princess Keiji?”

“Are you okay with it?”

“Okay with what?”

“Being my happy ending?”

Koutaro smiles and holds Keiji’s hand tighter as she places her free hand softly on her beloved's cheek, “I am okay with all that and more, I hope I can be the ending to many more of your stories, Mi amor.”

They share a kiss.

-Epilogue-
5 Years Later

The summer's breeze sways into the grass as the wild horses eat from the terrain. Koutaro watches from the wooden fence as her men do laps around the field.

A white horse gallops quickly around the open area. The royal horse chains dangle as it pulls up quickly to Koutaro as she laughs at the woman who had returned on the horse.

“Ha! Who are you and what have you done with my beautiful wife?” Koutaro helps the frizzy black haired woman down from the horse. Keiji’s hair had grown within time, her curls now swung low in the middle of her back rather than curling around her ears

“Oh how funny, you should become the next royal jesture.” Keiji sarcastically laughs at Koutaro as she has both feet on the ground and moves her hair from her face, she dusts off her corset styled dress with a layered skirt and her cream colored tunic.

“Yes I seem to be very amusing don’t I?” Koutaro laughs hard when Keiji throws her a graphic disapproving face.

“Now, now your highness no need to scowl.” With a swoop of her arm and the bend on her leg she had tripped the Princess into her arms and began carrying her bridal style.

“I think it’s about time to get back to the castle. You wouldn’t want to miss your own coronation now would you?” Koutaro whistles for her men to start heading back as well when she begins her journey with Keiji in her arms.

Keiji wraps her arms around Koutaro’s neck, “I suppose not. Would you like to know something?” she smiles at her. Her smile lines are faint, but of course Koutaro notices them. She notices everything about Keiji. Even during the hardships of their years together. Koutaro wouldn’t change it. They grew and matured together and Koutaro thinks that's what made her love Keiji full heartedly. And her eyes softened as she watched the princess that she carries in her arms.

“What devilish secrets are you keeping from me?” Koutaro teases and Keiji laughs.

“No secrets this time, I promise.”

“So what is your highness?”

“That was the first time you’ve called me your wife.” Keiji whispers just loud enough for her to hear.

Koutaro turned red while trying to play it off, “Well I mean you gotta get used to it right? I mean, you’re about to become queen and get married.” She laughs awkwardly.

“And to who do I owe the pleasure of marrying a deity such as me?” Keiji jokes.

“Me obviously.”

Keiji softly grabs at Koutaro’s jaw pulling her to look at her, “One more week.”

“Yea. One more week.”

Keiji leaves a soft kiss on Koutaro's lips.
A sweet mix of honey and strawberries.

-The End-