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On the grounds of the cherry orchard in the shadow of the vampire’s castle, a small fox was hopping from the shadow of one tree to another, bumping the cherries fallen to the ground and sniffing for the best ones. The golden light from the setting sun illuminated his russet fur, looking for all the world like a small ball of flame hunting fruit— bright and captivating, but not free.
A twig snapped and the fox startled, dropping the cherry in his mouth. The fire dimmed to candlelight and then vanished as the sun did. He shrank back, pressing against one of the trees as a creature stepped out of the trees and stalked toward him. The fox could not run, could not hide. No matter where he went, his captor would find him. He always made sure to remind him.
“Prince Noriaki,” the vampire crooned. When the fox looked up, all he could see was a sharp smile hidden in the shadows of his long, dark cloak. He tried to make himself smaller but the creature was becoming even larger, holding the side of his cloak out as if to hug the fox, or perhaps swallow him whole. “I’ve come to see if you’ve reconsidered my offer.”
The fox trembled beneath the tree, backed into a dark, dark corner except for a sliver of moonlight illuminating one fearful violet eye. As small as he tried to make himself, the fox grew larger and larger. The vampire backed off with a smirk, watching him writhe as his teeth and claws shrank, his gangly limbs lengthened and thickened, and his fur disappeared. The transformation was complete when he was wreathed in light, looking radiant even as he glared up at the vampire.
“I will never marry you, Dio,” Prince Noriaki said with more courage than he felt. He glared harshly, not wavering even when Dio crouched down and pulled him up by his hair. Noriaki was used to his mistreatment by now, had given up on both trying to please him or trying to fight him. Dio only wanted one thing, and since he refused to give it to him, his fate was to be cursed. “Your sweet words and threats will not sway me. I will never surrender to you.”
“A pity.” Dio dragged one nail down the side of Noriaki’s face, a venomous caress. His heart quickened and he felt the urge to burrow. More and more lately, even in his human form, Noriaki felt his instincts devolving. So when Dio spoke next, he knew it was no lie. “You know your birthday is soon. Once you turn eighteen, you’ll be my little fox forever. The light of the moon will no longer restore you. So, I’ll ask you again to marry me, Prince Noriaki. Marry me and I’ll lift your curse so we can rule together, side by side.”
Dio smirked and titled Noriaki’s head up by his chin. Noriaki glared in disgust. His fox? Never. Even if it was true, if he couldn’t break the curse, he’d never be Dio’s in spirit. He suddenly twisted his head to the side, biting Dio’s fingers savagely. Just like a trapped animal, since that’s what the vampire wanted from him. Dio threw him to the ground and raised his arm as if to backhand him, but seemed to remember at the last second he was still trying to get Noriaki to accept his proposal and spat on him instead. As if that was better.
“You might regret this,” Dio seethed, “but I have a feeling you’ll change your mind before then, Prince.” He loomed over him and then was gone just as quickly, storming back to the castle. Noriaki waited until he was sure Dio was gone before he pushed himself up. His captor always stormed off after he refused him, leaving Noriaki to simmer and then change back into fox form alone.
But for all Dio’s plans, for all the success he’d had kidnapping the Crown Prince and keeping him captive, there was one thing he’d failed at miserably: keeping Noriaki isolated. Dio had a vast swath of forest surrounding his castle, perfect for privacy, but it went both ways. With one last look toward the castle, Noriaki slipped through the orchard to the back of the estate. He checked his reflection in the river bordering the edge of Dio’s land, smoothing his hair back and curling his bang around his finger, before he carefully walked across the bridge of rocks connecting the two banks.
Dio may have caught him, and he may well have been looking at a cursed future as a fox, but there was one thing Noriaki could still have for himself. He could still have a date.
The spell Dio’s witch had worked over him was complex and had many fail-safes, including the inability to tell anyone who he was, where he came from, or that he was cursed. He had also been told no one would recognize him anyway, but Noriaki had no way to prove that. He’d never be able to reach anyone who would have known him. Noriaki had tried to run many times, but as soon as the sun rose he became a fox again and instincts forced him to return to his den on Dio’s estate. It was safe to say he hadn’t made many friends during his long months in captivity— except for Jotaro.
Noriaki had once known him by his full title as Lord Jotaro of House Joestar, a distant noble whose family was content to stay away from the royal court. Their lands bordered Dio’s, and from the way he complained about them in between his aggressive marriage proposals, Noriaki got the feeling the family had been a thorn in his side for generations. He supposed they were absent from so many gatherings because they were too busy fending Dio off, but they had sent representatives to the court before. And there was that one ball Jotaro himself had attended, as he was close enough to call him now.
Noriaki blushed just remembering it as he made his way through the forest. His brain remembered how he’d moved through it in the daytime as a fox, and as a human he too easily replicated an animal’s soft, precise footfalls. Yet another reminder his body would succumb to the curse soon, but he chose to think of it differently— as a dance, perhaps. Yes, a dance.
Jotaro had been a good dancer. He was surrounded by ladies trying to grab his attention and seduce him, but he was so tall Noriaki could still see him over their bobbing heads. That was how he’d fallen in love at first sight, from across the room, and then he’d made such a fool of himself asking for a dance only to step on his foot twice. Jotaro hadn’t said anything about it, but Noriaki had caught how his temples tensed with irritation. He made an incredibly unprincelike exit after the tune ended (read: ran away like the embarrassed coward he was) but by the time he’d calmed himself and returned, Jotaro and his entourage had left.
Noriaki had never seen him again at the palace. At least after he’d stumbled upon Jotaro during his late night walks, accidentally having trespassed into the Joestar’s forest, it was clear he didn’t recognize him. It had stung, being so forgettable to someone he’d dreamt of for years, but it gave him the chance to start over. To be someone new.
“Tenmei? Is that you?” Jotaro stepped onto the path from the shadow of a tree, holding a lantern in his hand and a basket on his arm. Noriaki smiled brightly and rushed over, his heart pounding in time with his feet. It was nice to not have to be proper and reserved, to be able to run to the side of the one he loved. The only time he could feel free was when he was with Jotaro, and he’d enjoy it for the short time he had left. Even if he had to use a fake name, it was even better than he’d imagined.
“Hello, Jotaro. I’m so pleased you could sneak out. Did you have any trouble?” Noriaki took the basket from him and beamed up at Jotaro when he shook his head. That was good. The one thing Noriaki continued to be astonished by was Jotaro’s lack of suspicion about Noriaki only ever being able to meet him at night, but he was equally surprised that it was never a problem for Jotaro to see him. Ever since the night they’d stumbled across each other on their nightly walks, Jotaro took every opportunity he could to see him.
Jotaro was quiet as he led Noriaki down a different trail, closer to the Joestar mansion. Noriaki didn’t mind— he loved the chance to speak, and with his nerves he was going to run his mouth anyway. He could talk about nearly anything he liked, except for the topics the curse banned for him, and Jotaro loved listening. It was nice, after being forced to silence all day. Jotaro barely asked questions, never demanded to know where he came from, how he knew all he did. He just sat and listened, and Noriaki loved him for it. He’d love him as long as he could, which he was pretty sure would be forever. Even as a fox.
“Here.” He suddenly interrupted Noriaki and pointed to a smaller trail. Based on how well the grounds around them were kept, he figured they’d entered the Joestar lands closest to the main house, but it wasn’t until Jotaro spoke that he realized they’d entered the gardens. Jotaro took his hand and tugged Noriaki under an archway of roses to reveal a blanket spread on the ground, surrounded by blankets and the soft glow of mage light.
“Jotaro,” Noriaki gasped, covering his mouth. He let go of Jotaro and walked closer, smiling at the way the tiny pearls of flame danced around him in the air. They cast a magical glow over the entire scene and Noriaki had to gracefully sit down on the blanket before his legs gave out from the overwhelm of emotions. This was already the best first date ever. “This… this is absolutely marvelous.”
“Glad you think so.” Jotaro tried to sound neutral, but Noriaki caught how the top of his ears reddened and he rubbed his nose to hide his relieved smile. He sat down next to Noriaki and set the lantern behind them before turning his attention to the basket. Noriaki was delighted by the idea of a picnic, which he’d never done before, and his eyes were fully sparkling by the time Jotaro had completely unpacked it. On top of a wine bottle and two glasses, Jotaro had brought simple things that would keep well as he waited: jars of fruit, bread, cheese, and soup in an enchanted canister. Noriaki was a Prince and he’d had spectacular, decadent feasts his entire life, but he already knew nothing would taste better than this.
“Where did you get this idea?” Noriaki played with a floating mage light that drifted near his fingers as Jotaro neatly tore apart a bread roll for him. A warm, buttery scent filled the air and Noriaki’s mouth watered. He’d only had what he hunted himself and cherries from the orchard for months. Any human food was a delicacy at this point, even more so when it came from Jotaro’s hands.
“I thought you’d like it.” Jotaro shrugged and held the bread out to him. Noriaki, his fox brain following his nose, leaned over to take it from Jotaro’s hand with his mouth. It wasn’t until his human brain caught up and noticed Jotaro’s blush that he suddenly sat straight up and snatched it from him like a normal person.
“I do,” he said quickly, thoroughly embarrassed as he spread some of the soft cheese on one half of the roll. Jotaro’s cheeks were also dusted with pink, a sight that made Noriaki’s heart beat even faster. “I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m… very glad you asked to see me like this, Jotaro.”
“I am too, Mei,” Jotaro replied softly. He looked away, picking up one of the jars of fruit to offer to him. Normally Noriaki would have been disappointed at the lack of cherries, but he could get those whenever he wanted, so he was delighted to see peach slices and grapes. Jotaro unscrewed the top to the jar of grapes and took one out, offering it to Noriaki. This time, Noriaki read the look in his eyes and shyly leaned forward, letting Jotaro feed it to him by hand. Jotaro wiped the juice off on his lower lip and grimaced slightly. “You’re so nervous, sweetheart. Am I doing this wrong?”
“Wrong? No, not at all!” In fact, Noriaki felt all his tenseness evaporate as soon as Jotaro pointed it out. He could tell Jotaro was just as nervous about this going right, and Noriaki couldn’t help but find it adorable. Noriaki reached over and rested his hand on Jotaro’s forearm, a tiny ball of magelight floating between them and illuminating the worried look in his eyes. “I’m so happy to spend time like this with you. I know we’ve been meeting for so long, but this is so… romantic, and different. A very good type of different.”
“I’m glad.” Jotaro spoke little, but his body said everything. His shoulders sagged with relief and his face softened. Noriaki couldn’t help but throw his arms around him and hug him tightly. His big, soft Jotaro— it still amazed him how secretly sweet he was. “I’m really glad, Tenmei. Next time you should come earlier. It’s too dark now, but my fish ponds are beautiful at sunset.”
“Your fish ponds?” Noriaki tilted his head and smiled, leaning forward with interest, and Jotaro smiled as he gently launched into a monologue about them. It was too easy to avoid committing to a next time, to a sunset date. Even if he came right on time, it’d be hours before the day fully ended and the moon rose. And he wouldn’t be able to trust his brain to remember the occasion. More and more he felt himself slipping away during the daylight hours, giving in to his instincts until Dio came at night and he became human again.
Noriaki’s eyes fell to Jotaro’s lips, watching fruit and occasionally bread pass through them as he talked about all of his fish. He knew all of their names and markings and was more than happy to tell Noriaki about them. He drank in every word, but he couldn’t help but think. There was a chance that even as his birthday approached, though he’d become human by the light of the moon, his brain would still be that of a fox’s. If that was the case, he didn’t know how much time he had left with Jotaro. This first date could very well be their last.
So if anyone asked him, that was why he leaned forward and kissed Jotaro in the middle of him speaking.
He would have immediately been embarrassed and apologized if Jotaro hadn’t grabbed his face and kissed him back hard, pushing Noriaki’s jaw down with his thumbs to open his mouth and tangle his tongue with Noriaki’s. Noriaki abandoned his roll, letting it fall out of his hands and onto the blanket as he pushed himself into Jotaro, into his heat and warmth and humanity.
Jotaro’s solid arms came around and all but herded Noriaki into his lap. Noriaki straddled him eagerly, tangling his fingers with Jotaro’s raven locks and holding him close. He wanted to kiss him forever. Nothing had ever felt more right in the world than the sensation of their lips meeting. But his lung capacity was not infinite, so eventually Noriaki had to pull away, panting heavily and absolutely delighted by the sight of Jotaro flushed and breathing just as hard beneath him.
“Was all my talking about fish really that boring, Tenmei?” Jotaro wrapped his arms around him tight, and Noriaki instantly felt ashamed.
“No! No, never,” he assured him, holding Jotaro’s face gently. “I only felt I needed to kiss you right that instant, and I’m afraid to say I absolutely let my instincts get the better of me. And also that it was completely worth it.” Noriaki blushed harder the more he talked, which only seemed to delight Jotaro more. He touched Noriaki’s cheek, his fingers almost cool against Noriaki’s burning face. “I’m so sorry. Is that not supposed to be at the end of a date? I’ve ruined it, haven’t I.”
“Definitely not,” Jotaro corrected him quickly. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, and Noriaki didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what he wanted. He leaned down and kissed him again, slow and sweet at first and then more heated the closer Jotaro held him. Noriaki could have cared less about the food. All he needed in that moment was the feel of Jotaro’s lips on his, the knowledge that even in this tiny moment, he’d won. He’s chosen this man for himself, and he had him.
It wasn’t long before they exhausted themselves and fell back on the blanket, Noriaki unable to contain his delighted laughter. Laying side by side, sharing kisses and looking at the stars, Noriaki never wanted it to end. This first date, his last date, his only date, his best date. Noriaki had been rejecting suitors for years before he was captured, waiting for the day House Joestar would try their hand, so he’d never been courted. This was as close as he’d ever get, and he was glad for it.
“I’ll have to be going soon,” Jotaro broke the peace. He would have sounded more convincing if he hadn’t also yawned and then wrapped his arm around Noriaki. Noriaki yawned himself, resting his head on Jotaro’s chest. It was so warm, so welcoming. He felt no shame in wanting to appreciate it while he could. All he had to look forward to back on Dio’s lands was the hard ground while he waited for the sun to rise so he could crawl into his den and sleep. Sleeping in Jotaro’s arms sounded much more enticing.
“Wake me when you do,” Noriaki muttered. He felt no fear with Jotaro around. It would have been useless to try and move, as love drunk as he was. All he’d have to worry about was potentially waking up as a fox, which only meant he’d steal a bit of food from the basket and bound back across the river to Dio’s lands with Jotaro none the wiser. Jotaro’s arm shifted and when his fingers began to card through Noriaki’s hair, he was done for.
Noriaki blinked awake to the sound of birds chirping. Light softly filtered down onto him through the flowering trees of the garden and Noriaki tensed, ready for the change to overtake him. At least he’d been lucky enough to see Jotaro one last time before he went. Noriaki looked down at Jotaro’s sleeping form, hating the way his eyes stung. His lover looked so peaceful. He wanted to wake Jotaro, to tell him how much he’d enjoyed their date, but he didn’t want Jotaro to see him change, either.
Noriaki sat up and took a deep breath. Any minute now, his hair would begin to cover his entire body. His teeth and nails would sharpen and his limbs would shrink. He could feel the sun on his skin, warming it. He could see the way the leaves cast playful shadows, so really it would be any second now.
“Mei?” Noriaki jolted when he heard Jotaro’s groggy voice behind him. He scrambled back when Jotaro sat up, rubbing his eyes. He was going to shift any second now, whenever his body decided it was time, and he didn’t want him to see it! Jotaro glanced up at him and frowned, reaching over to touch Noriaki’s face. “Why are you crying? What’s wrong?”
“I’m not,” Noriaki protested even as he felt Jotaro’s thumb swipe over his tears. How would he even explain it? The curse kept his lips locked. He couldn’t just say what he wanted to, which probably would have been “I don’t want you to see me change into a fox.” To keep it simple and all.
“Change into a what?” Jotaro frowned and drew his hand back, his eyebrows furrowing. “Tenmei, you’re not making any sense.”
Noriaki opened his mouth, floundering. Was he imagining things? Did he actually say that? Jotaro’s confusion seemed real, and Noriaki was sure he hadn’t imagined his voice. Maybe… maybe he could try again.
“I change into a fox every morning because of the curse I’m under,” he said. “I’ve been held captive by the vampire Dio for months with this spell. I haven’t been able to tell anyone about it.” Noriaki spoke slowly, waiting for the sensation of his tongue being on fire or his lips gluing together, but it never came. Was he free? Was he truly free? Noriaki stood shakily, feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin, breathing in the morning air. Jotaro came with him, his eyes aflame with something. Noriaki couldn’t place it. He didn’t have time. He had to say it, say who he was before whatever was blocking the curse ended and it was too late. “My name is… my name is Prince Noriaki Kakyoin.”
“You’re…?” Jotaro looked down at him and then up again, and when their eyes met Noriaki felt a lightning bolt go through him. He ran to Jotaro and his arms were open, sweeping him up and kissing him hard. Noriaki had made his peace with either going down fighting or giving up his human life to protect his kingdom. He never imagined the curse breaking. He never imagined the possibility that he might go home again, and certainly not with Jotaro by his side.
Of course Dio never would have told Noriaki his spell could be broken with true love’s first kiss. That would have only encouraged Noriaki to seek that love out, given him hope for escape, but for all his long years of life, Dio had severely underestimated the way the universe could be trusted to bring soulmates together.