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Fantasia
Exhausted is an understatement to the sensation that burns every inch of his body. He feels like at any moment, his bones would wither and be carried by the wind in a journey of no return.
However, complaining doesn't fill the stomach.
With a grunt, Doppo Kunikida rises from his bed and stares at the beams of light shining on his feet from the window. Another morning for the young royal guard trainee means another day to hone his skills to be of use for the Kingdom. It's only been a year of his enlistment but it already felt longer than that, for every day comes in the same manner.
To be frank, Kunikida is feeling bored.
This feeling is actually improper of him, since the silence and boredom are the very fruits of the peace they just acquired after the war which stole thousands of lives. Kunikida has been at the short end of the stick, losing his entire family because of it.
If building himself to be strong enough to fight and defend what is left of himself, Kunikida will fully live with that purpose. He's written it in his notebook – his ideals which guide his every decision. Aside from being of assistance with his crafty ability, the importance of this notebook is impeccable. It provides him stability, like a trusty compass which directs him what to do next.
Picking up the green notebook from the desk beside his bed and his glasses, he flips to the recent page where he has written his schedule for the day and reads through. He has to meet with Doctor Akiko Yosano and Herr Ranpo Edogawa before noon right after his patrol routine. According to them, they have something urgent to say to him that apparently is of "National Importance".
Kunikida is not blood-related with the two, but in paper, they're written off as siblings under Yukichi Fukuzawa, the Kingdom's Military General, as their adoptive father. His position in the palace is rather titular, and so his actions should be refined and proper.
The time passes by quickly and as soon as the clock hit 10, Kunikida heads to the west garden where he has to pass the small bridge over the artificial lake and arrive at the kiosk at the center. The walk is pleasant, trees of various kinds and ages surround the lake, providing a cool shade over the perimeter. Yosano and Ranpo are already there, waving their hands to call for his attention.
"Yo, Kunikida!" Ranpo beams, tipping his brown ivy cap, his glasses glinting. Yosano bears a small smile, beckoning Kunikida with a hand.
"Herr Edogawa, Herr Yosano," Kunikida places a firm knuckle on his armored chest, giving a curt bow. As a royal guard, everyone in the palace is under his protection and as practiced, he should give a salute to them, no matter their relation.
"Oh, pssh." "Blergh." Yosano and Ranpo blow a raspberry, rolling their eyes in the opposite direction like a well-coordinated pair of dancers.
Kunikida furrows his brows at their reaction. It's not like he's not doing this everyday. They still act like that and raise their protest but they should also know that Kunikida isn't ditching the act ever.
It also includes the fact that he secretly likes having them react violently to his faux formalities. He can behave however he wants around them two without having to mind about their positions in the palace which is something that maintains a semblance of childishness between them. However, boundaries still clearly exist, especially outside their safety bubble. Kunikida is well-aware of that nuance.
"Come on, Kuni, it's getting boring," Ranpo slumps his upper body on the round table, groaning.
"Right? At least bring us food next time so we can act the part with you," Yosano flips her short hair back, propping her cheek on her palm.
Kunikida rolls his eyes and sits beside Ranpo, discarding his sword on the table. "You guys directly interact with the prince, you should be more careful," Fukuzawa has reminded him every time that one wrong move in the palace would either kick you out with nothing or cut your head from your shoulders. It's only proper to be mindful of their actions to keep this position as long as they could.
Ranpo scoffs, "Uh huh, whatever."
"Speaking of the prince – that's what we're talking about," Yosano sits upright, her tone urgent.
Confusion clouds his mind, "Don't we always talk about him?"
Yosano and Ranpo work for the prince as his doctor and instructor, respectively. His siblings tell Kunikida the tales of how they made a mission of pulling the prince out of his voluntary isolation.
The Kingdom's prince is someone to whom Kunikida feels sympathy for. He had been missing for more than five years until just a year ago when he was rescued. The details are blurred and nobody aside from the Royal Family and Fukuzawa knows of the truth. According to general knowledge, the prince changed drastically after his disappearance and he refused to see anybody aside from the Queen, Yosano, Ranpo, and Fukuzawa. Nobody in the palace has seen him to the point that people are speculating that he actually doesn't exist and that the Royal Family only declares he's alive to prevent any usurping.
However, Kunikida speaks with the people who can prove he's well, and he listens rightly to their stories about the prince.
His adoptive siblings are deeply concerned for the prince, always telling him how he's closed-off and actually attempted to kill himself multiple times. They're doing everything they can to prevent it, providing the company for the poor prince.
Kunikida gives his opinions and thoughts about how Yosano and Ranpo can deal with the prince, though as the time goes on, they still cannot see that the prince is coming out.
Ranpo groans, "I really find Dazai incredibly stupid. I want to strangle him, but that'll give him the satisfaction of finally dying," with another groan, the older guy sinks in his seat and pouts.
Kunikida looks around in panic, his eyes widened in terror. "Why would you say that?!" He hisses, while Ranpo just stares at him as if it is Kunikida who's being an idiot. He doesn't even need to explain how every word that came out of Ranpo's mouth could warrant him a death sentence.
"He picked a fight with one of the chefs and won't even talk to us about it," Yosano shakes her head, unfazed by the words of slander directly at the Royal name.
Kunikida narrows his eyes and tilts his head to the side. "He's able to talk with others now?" That's a development in itself, no matter how unsightly. If the prince can hold a conversation with someone that isn't his chosen people, then perhaps they can take another step.
"Yeah, sort of. It's not pretty but we can take it," Ranpo looks at him with his deep green eyes which pierce through the well-constructed facade. From the time Kunikida managed to get to know Ranpo, he concluded that he is one of a kind – one with an unmatched intellect throughout the Kingdom. Nothing slips past Ranpo's discerning eyes, breaking through webs of lies. However, the prince happens to be one tough nut to crack even for Ranpo. It proves to be the biggest challenge he's had.
With those eyes on him along Yosano's equally unnerving stare, he figures that he has to play a part in whatever these two are scheming.
"And so we thought," Yosano exchanges a knowing look with Ranpo before they turn to him, conviction in their faces.
"We can introduce you to him!" Yosano exclaims with a grin, her voice rising an octave as Ranpo nods rather excessively beside her.
Kunikida looks at them bewildered, eyes blown wide and mouth agape. "What?! Me?! I– I'm not…" the prince doesn't even know him, and besides he is in no position to even breathe the same air as him. He didn't do anything deserving to help the Kingdom's prince, being just a lowly trainee, and the prospect of being near him overwhelms Kunikida.
Yosano suddenly erupts into a fit of chuckles, further riling up Kunikida's utter puzzlement. "Don't worry, he already knows you. We've already told things about you to him months ago," she nods once, smiling, her golden butterfly clip shining as it captures the sunlight.
Kunikida gulps, "What things…?" He is just human – suddenly knowing that he's been a topic discussed with the prince himself makes him feel self-conscious, reflecting how he behaved the past few months. He hopes that they didn't tell him about his notebook or that he once ditched a nightly patrol to secretly release an injured messenger pigeon unfit to work.
"Told you, he'd be worried," Ranpo gives Yosano a side eye, stretching his open palm out which the doctor places a bill on.
Yosano sighs, shaking her head. "Ah, I lost a dime because of your naivety, Kuni."
Unsure whether he should feel offended that they put a bet on his reaction, or that they talked about him with the prince without his knowledge, Kunikida removes his glasses to slap a hand on his face in exasperation. These two have gone this far already. Not showing up would be a blatant dishonor; something Kunikida doesn't want to appear as.
"What should I need to do?"
__________
"Huh, I forgot I didn't have it," papers strewn like fallen leaves in autumn on the floor, a young man clad in white frilly nightgown lies like a starfish at the center of the mess, his kerchief pushed down his head and covered his eyes.
It's almost never an occurrence that he doubts his decision but perhaps, today is the exception.
He agreed to meet a new person tomorrow for a "breath of fresh air" as Yosano, his doctor, puts it. Along with his teacher, Ranpo, the two of them have been boiling the idea to him around two months ago and he just went on with the charade.
This new person isn't really new to him, for he sees him almost everyday whenever he gazes down his balcony. Every morning during the guards' sword training, a tall blonde his age happens to catch his eyes.
Unlike the other trainees, he stays late under the sun and refines the new techniques he learns. He watches as he struggles and expresses frustration by violently screaming, then shakes it off with a shrug as if nothing happened and goes as usual. The other night when he woke up because of a dream, he saw the familiar blonde head when he gazed down the balcony. The guard trainee appeared to have released a bird which brought an amused smirk up his lips.
Doppo Kunikida is his name, according to Ranpo and Yosano. He also happens to be their adoptive sibling, so introducing him is a reasonable decision.
Tomorrow might be the day he won't make a cut to his already scarred skin. It'll be embarrassing for the guard to see him bleeding so he'll abstain for the day.
However, he doesn't know how to face someone else other than his friends, mother, and Herr Fukuzawa. He thinks that maybe he can show him things he can do like…
Osamu cannot do anything. He has nothing to show the guard but his pathetic self. He picks up the paper on his side and crumples it, throwing it somewhere in the room.
It's a bad idea.
He promptly stands up and his vision blurs. How pitiful, he can't even stand upright without feeling dizzy – how is he supposed to talk tomorrow?
Clicking his tongue in frustration, he shoves the papers under his bed and throws himself in the covers. Sucks that he's so useless as ever.
This thought lingers in his mind until he falls asleep – dreamless this time.
A knock echoes in the silent bedroom, sunlight showering the entire room from the open balcony. The young man buried under the silk covers occupying the bed doesn't stir from the sound, so the door is pushed open, revealing a short boy with a hat accompanied by a taller blonde, a thick backpack strapped behind him.
"Oh wow, he's still snoring his ass out," Ranpo snickers as they close the door behind them.
Kunikida stands behind Ranpo, looking around the room with narrowed eyes. "I think we should let him sleep."
The shorter guy doesn't seem to hear him as he walks towards the bed and places his hands on his sides, inhaling a lungful of air. "Good morning, sleepyhead!" He yells, as the young man on the bed startles awake, sitting upright and mumbling incoherently.
Drool dangling from his lips, eyes not fully open, Osamu looks around in complete confusion until he sees the guard standing stiffly near the door. Damn. He slept in and Kunikida witnessed him in all his morning glory. He should have taken a bath earlier if he woke up but that's all in the past.
"Oh, hi!" He waves a hand as Ranpo rolls his eyes.
The blonde stands upright, knocking his feet together in a salute, chest puffed out. He then bows in a strict 45 degrees, his braided golden hair hanging on one side before looking at Osamu's general direction, face stoic. His glasses slowly slip down his nose, but he keeps his shining olive green eyes straight.
"I am Doppo Kunikida, it's an honor to meet you, your highness," his deep baritone voice vibrates nicely in his throat, the quality eluding gentle strength.
It's quite refreshing to see him up-close now, for he looks prettier than he thought. Osamu cannot help himself but to smile, flipping his legs to dangle at the side of the bed. Indulging Ranpo and Yosano might entertain him, as Kunikida shines like an interesting gem.
"The pleasure is mine. I'm Osamu Dazai," he stands up from the bed, dipping his head in a small bow, slipping in a smile. With his crumpled nightgown, skewed cap and unkempt brown mop, he still manages to exude a regal aura, carrying himself with grace.
Beside him, Ranpo grumbles and rolls his eyes, "Get the board out, Kunikida, let's play!"
Kunikida breaks eye contact to look at Ranpo, bewildered. "How did you know that?"
Ranpo plops his bottom on the floor as Dazai follows him and looks at Kunikida with expectant eyes. It's almost cute that the guard brought something to do, as if he's a kid needing a babysitter. To be fair, it is what he appears to everyone.
"Kunikida," Ranpo starts, opening his eyes and casting them on the blonde who hesitantly walks towards them, stretching a hand behind him holding the bag.
"I know everything. You're not very discreet, either."
Osamu nods once, anchoring his left arm on the floor and leaning his weight on it. "Perhaps you thought that I'd be bored if we were to just converse, so bringing some games wouldn't have been a problem," Dazai chimes in, watching as Kunikida's cheeks brighten into a shade of pink, his eyes darting to his side in embarrassment.
Kunikida clears his throat and joins them on the floor in a circle. "Very well. Allow me to keep you entertained for today, your highness."
"Dazai is fine. Or Osamu. Whichever you prefer," he keeps a smile on his face while Kunikida fumbles with his bag. He hasn't been referred to with honorifics for so long and hearing it now from Kunikida makes him feel uncomfortable. His title doesn't mean anything since he really doesn't care. The Kingdom can burn, he won't even lift a finger.
"Forgive me, but I have to decline the request, your highness," Kunikida holds his gaze and the lack of reasoning behind his refusal quirks a curious brow from both Ranpo and Dazai.
"Is that so," Osamu says after a few beats, sensing that Kunikida is relentless and even if he exercises his authority, he won't budge.
Ranpo claps his hands, breaking the clouding tension in the room. "Alright, alright, let's entertain our prissy prince and play something."
"Ah~" Osamu places the back of his palm on his head in a dramatic fashion, throwing his head back. "Indeed, this kingdom is in total ruin with their beloved prince bored to death!"
Dazai snickers at Kunikida's reaction, bordering between confusion and disgust.
A few minutes pass with the three young men sitting around the board game consisting of wooden character pieces and a pair of dice. Ranpo rolls the dice and lands a five, the number he got makes Dazai cry a whine.
"I'll gladly buy this parcel of land with five hundred dimes," Ranpo flashes his teeth as he hands Kunikida his game money.
"Why are you so lucky?" Dazai rocks back and forth, his lips pouting.
"It's because he does not attempt to cheat, your highness," Kunikida says, adjusting his glasses with a finger.
Osamu feigns offense with an exaggerated gasp. "I wasn't cheating, that was merely a strategic move."
"Stealing the land title isn't strategic, dumbass. This is why you're never the banker," Ranpo sticks out a tongue at Osamu, placing his piece on the board.
Three curt knocks gather their attention with Kunikida promptly standing up to open the door. Dazai flinches as the door is opened, keeping himself as small as possible. Being seen by others is the last thing he wants to happen so he tries to be away from the person's view. Ranpo notices this – he always does – but does not confront him about it.
"Ranpo," Kunikida looks over them and dread fills Dazai's stomach as he sees his eyes shift into some sort of realization. He most likely sees how he's curled up like a frightened boy and he can only curse at himself internally.
"Coming," Ranpo cranes his neck and glances at Dazai. "You can trust Kunikida," he says before slipping out of the room.
When the door is closed, it's just the two of them as silence completely blankets the room. Unsure where to put his hands, he picks up the pieces on the board, dodging Kunikida's eyes.
"Do you still want to play?" Osamu asks, gathering Ranpo's cards and putting them on the pile.
Kunikida runs to help him, "If you're still up to it, yes," with the lack of honorifics, Dazai looks up and sees a contemplating look crossing the guard's eyes.
"Ah…" Osamu breaks the contact or else he'll succumb. Kunikida's gaze is too kind and understanding. Those looks aren't something to be cast on him. "I'm tired of this, honestly. I keep losing," he chuckles as he folds the board and hands it to Kunikida.
"Why?"
"Hm?"
"Why do you not want to go out?"
Osamu's heart drums wildly in his chest, its loudness deafening. Even so, he doesn't show a change of reaction indicating he's affected by the question. It takes more than that to shake his nerves, but Kunikida has come close.
"The outside is too stuffy," mind running for miles a second, divulging all sorts of excuses, he answers with a light shrug. "I don't want to be near the common people," Dazai catches Kunikida's eyes and maintains the contact, staring blankly at him. He casts him a cold gaze, aiming to give Kunikida the effect of indifference. He's the prince and the next king in the near future (if he decides to continue living). Dazai is someone not his level, Kunikida should bear that in mind.
Why does he not want to go out? It's also a question he's tried asking himself many times. Outside is the world which has shown its bare fangs and gnawed at him. Outside is vastness, and him being there overwhelms him of its largeness. He'd rather be confined in a small and dark room where he truly belongs. Light does not suit him.
Kunikida looks through him, his gaze studying Dazai. He almost sees past the barrier, but Osamu cannot allow anyone in.
"It's alright," Kunikida suddenly says, bearing a soft look. There's not even a hint of hate or judgement, just plain understanding. It's too much.
Something catches Kunikida's eyes to which Dazai shifts his gaze – anywhere to run away.
"Oh? Do you study music, your highness?" Kunikida inquires, seeing the pile of scattered music sheet under his bed.
"Yeah," Kunikida picks the ones in his grasp, looking at the piano score. "I did back when I was younger but I have no piano here so I hadn't had the chance," Dazai says, feeling the crushing disappointment in himself. Playing the piano is the only thing he could do, but it's been years since he last touched it. He pulled these scores with the thought of playing a piece for Kunikida, only belatedly remembering that he doesn't have a piano.
"Do you want to play the piano again?" Kunikida seems to have exceeded his expectations; he's a lot bolder than he anticipated, fearlessly pulling a lot of cards in front of him. He doesn't seem to have put an effort only in bringing the board game – he went all out and genuinely showed interest in "entertaining" him. Much like Yosano and Ranpo, but they mostly did it out of duty.
With the few beats of silence and Dazai not speaking, Kunikida looks like as if he tripped and got back up, shuffling his stance. "I– mean, there's a piano room, as far as I'm concerned. It's not far –"
Dazai likes Kunikida. He's an interesting person. Knowing him isn't a bad idea, after all. He flashes a smile, extending his hand in front of him.
"Will you accompany me to the piano, shining knight?"
__________
This is bizarre.
In the empty hallways, only their heels clicking against the shining floor reflecting the ceiling, Kunikida walks alongside Dazai who is gripping the sleeve of his clothing. He isn't certain if it's done intentionally or not, so he gives the prince the benefit of the doubt.
He cannot inquire him about it, for his brown eyes are sparkling wide as they scan around the place. It seems like it's his first time marveling the castle interiors, gawking at the glass window to their right which showed the vast mountain range up north.
"I've forgotten how this place looks like – it's beautiful!" Dazai exclaims, beaming at Kunikida like the sun before looking around again and pointing at the landscape paintings on the wall.
"They changed the art! Why though, I think impressionistic paintings are nice. Oh, oh! The "Moonlit Field"! It's still here!"
Kunikida purses his lips as to hide his smile from Dazai's screaming at the oil painting of a wheat field under the prominent moon. "They might only have moved the locations of the paintings or added some. I haven't been here long enough to see what changed," he comments, as the prince once again notices something new in the hallway leading to the piano room in the northwest wing of the castle.
So far, they've only met a few palace guards who kept their stance upright like statues. Dazai missed them entirely for he's busy looking around like a tourist. He's still actually still in his nightwear, pulling Kunikida outside as soon as he thought of going to the piano room.
It's still unbelievable – Kunikida thought that Dazai would be aloof and with a few words in store but he's actually beaming with brightness. He's just like any other kid their age; youthful and happy.
Though, Kunikida isn't naive to accept what he sees on the surface.
The light isn't what's prominent from the prince, but the darkness that loomed over him like a storm cloud. His eyes bore through him, as if he's already seeing his entire soul, but when Kunikida looks back, there's emptiness behind his gaze. He smiles, he shows enthusiasm, but when Kunikida tries to look deeper, something would shadow.
The prince's eyes look like they've seen things he shouldn't have and experienced incomprehensible pain.
Kunikida doesn't press further, as it's Dazai himself who isn't ready to be seen. He understands it completely, and he knows that pushing his luck would just shut him off.
They arrive the entrance to the piano room, with Kunikida stepping forward to open it. The palace staff has kept the room unlocked if anyone chooses to play the piano, but no one actually dared to touch it. The reason why, Kunikida just realised, might be because of the prince.
"Piano!" Dazai lets go of him and bursts into the room, heading straight to the piano with a bounce in his steps.
Kunikida follows behind, standing next to the instrument as Dazai sits on the dusty stool. He keeps his eyes trained on every reaction the prince bears, as being out his room is a feat which Kunikida still processes until now.
Before Dazai can lift the keyboard open, he pauses, a distant look crossing his eyes. "Nobody touched her," he mutters.
Kunikida keeps silently watching him, with Dazai's shuffling clothes making the only noise in the large room that echoes loudly. A longing gaze gleams in Dazai's eyes that Kunikida finds heartbreaking for some reason. It is like he's watching a teary reunion of a lost family, only that it's between the musician and his instrument.
"I thought I'd never see her again," Kunikida has to strain his ears to be able to hear Dazai whisper, solemnly grazing his fingertips along the keys. He contemplates putting a friendly hand on his back, but ultimately decides not to, for he is reminded by Yosano's words long ago – the prince is weary of touch. Even as his doctor, Yosano doesn't dare lay a finger on him unless the situation is dire.
After a few seconds, Dazai takes an inhale and rains precise fingers on the keys, though in an unsteady rhythm. He plays a scale, and stops abruptly, clicking his tongue in frustration. "It won't work," he mutters under his breath before he starts again after flexing his fingers.
Dazai starts with a theme of slow, broken chords, the deep sound resonating in the room. His fingers are loose on the keyboard, his face devoid of emotions. The music he pulls out from the piano is somber, creeping silently as it slowly approaches a crescendo. Kunikida can make an allusion of walking through a dark cave without bringing a lamp – the feeling of being lost eating through his heart just by the few notes.
When Dazai reaches a whole rest, he stops and looks ahead with a slight furrow in his forehead. "I can't do it," he stares down at his fingers as they hover the keys.
Kunikida shuffles his legs, tilting his head a little to the left. To his untrained ears, he heard pretty music from the piano and it quite expressed brilliantly what Dazai probably wanted to come out of it. However, satisfaction never quite reached the prince.
"You can try again when you're more ready, your highness. It's alright not to get it right now," Kunikida finally says something, feeling the proper time to do so.
Dazai looks up with a smile not quite reaching the eyes. "Of course."
Compelled to speak once more to lighten up the darkened mood, Kunikida clears his throat. "What piece were you trying to play?" It is quite a sorrowful piece and one that tugged at his heartstrings.
"It's called Fantasia. My past piano teacher taught me this piece he composed himself," the prince says with a grin, a light shining on his eyes.
Kunikida nods, "I enjoyed your playing. The emotions came across and I felt the sentiment," he hopes he doesn't sound patronising because he truly liked how he played, despite not finishing it. Hearing more from him would be nice.
Dazai snickers, covering his mouth with a hand. "You probably interpreted wrongly, all I did was to smash the keys," he shakes his head and gently closes the keyboard.
The guard looks at him in a deadpan. "I'm trying to cheer you up, your highness," highlighting the last words, he shakes his head and gives the prince a glare.
There are moments when he thought that he can finally speak seriously with Dazai, only for the prince to break the moment with some sort of joke. He figures that humor is what the prince uses to cope and run away from probing his heart. It's the stage where he can get to know Dazai more and if that's where they can see each other eye-to-eye, then Kunikida will learn his way.
Lifting the shadow away from Dazai's eyes is a mission he wants to join Yosano and Ranpo in.
Dazai lets out a light laugh before they depart from the piano room.
Having led the prince out without some sort of plan afterwards is a very smart decision, Kunikida thinks to himself. Though, he's an opportunist and takes any semblance of positive results like it's the entire world. It's how he works – standing back up again because time isn't going to stop to accommodate him.
So Kunikida tries to push the boundaries a little farther. Even if Dazai refuses this time, he can always try again the next day.
"Where do you want to go next?" Kunikida thinks that wherever Dazai suggests, he'll accompany him and go where he's most comfortable.
"Somewhere high where I can jump off and die."
There's a snap he hears mentally, as Kunikida stops to glare at the prince who, surprisingly, doesn't have any funny reactions. He looks serious, the empty look coming back.
"You're kidding?" Kunikida cannot help but ask, folding his arms across his chest.
Dazai only shrugs. "Maybe. Maybe not."
Kunikida sighs. They're going nowhere at this rate. "Say, how about we go to the garden?"
The next few minutes, Kunikida finds himself strolling beside the prince who returns to being noisy by pointing out changes in the south maze garden including its layout which he apparently memorised, the topiary, the flowers – basically whatever he thinks of. An old lady who most likely leads the maintenance of the garden sees them and hears Dazai's comments.
"Nothing changed here, kid! It's the same old design, the Queen specifically requested to maintain it," she shakes her head, her floral bandana tails catching the wind, as she snaps the shears in her hands closed.
Dazai purses his lips and hums, "Oh… Guess I was mistaken! It's still as beautiful as I remembered, though. Thank you for keeping its beauty," he smiles at the lady, his hands clasped behind him as he leans over her.
"It's my job! Anyhow, why are you two boys lazing around?! You're even in your pajamas!" The old lady yells at Dazai in particular, pointedly glaring at his entire appearance.
Kunikida quickly stands by his side and stretches an arm in front of him in a protective gesture. It's understandable to be mistaken, since Dazai doesn't particularly appear like the prince, but Kunikida cannot stand by watching him getting yelled at. "Ma'am, you're talking to –"
Dazai places a hand on his shoulder and shakes his head slightly, puzzling Kunikida. He doesn't want to disclose his position for some reason, and so Kunikida shuts his mouth and lets him takeover the situation, stepping aside.
"Forgive us, ma'am. What do we need to do?" Dazai elbows Kunikida and gives him a smirk.
Alright, this idiot of a prince wants to play around and of course, it's Kunikida's responsibility to watch over him.
The lady clicks her tongue and mutters something about irresponsible youths before pulling out two large shears from the brown leather bag hanging across her shoulder. Kunikida and Dazai receive the shears as the old lady pushed them towards untrimmed bushes.
"Can you even lift that?" Kunikida shakes his head, looking at the soiled shears in the prince's hands.
"Are you underestimating me, Kunikida?" Dazai places a hand on his hip, holding the notably heavy shears in his other hand.
"Yes."
The idiot (he's starting to forget his title) pouts and goes on cutting the protruding branches of the round bush as if it's a contest.
"That's not how you do it, idiot! You're ruining it!" Kunikida cries out, horrified at the pitiful state of the plant just after Dazai trimmed it. There's a little leaves left, almost like a storm ravaged it.
The old lady hollers from the other side of the rows of shrubs, fury radiating from her as she sees what happened.
"Oopsie?" Dazai scratches the back of his neck before he buckles his legs in a run, prompting Kunikida to follow him.
"Oi!" He yells, catching up immediately. "What are you doing?!"
"Running away!" When the prince looks at him, he has a wide beam on his face, the sun drenching his pale skin and brightening his eyes. It's a sight enough to make him feel lighter and accomplished.
They run around the garden like unruly teenagers (which they are), followed by a very angry old lady with huge shears. For some reason, none of it matters, the adrenaline of being chased like this fills Kunikida with energy and happiness he seldomly does. Having pulled the immovable prince out his self-isolation has made him too proud of himself and Dazai that he misses a dangerous look crossing his face.
There isn't even a warning when Dazai collapses all of a sudden, right on the grass with Kunikida belatedly realising it happen behind him. Heart tightening in his chest, he turns around and kneels before Dazai, whose face is flushed of color, beads of sweat running from his forehead.
"Your highness!" Kunikida lifts his limp body up, the prince unresponsive. Shit. Shit. Shit. Kunikida's mind goes overdrive as he carries Dazai with his arms, looking at how pale his dried lips are.
In a moment, the prince stirs as Kunikida bolts forward, ignoring the yelling old lady at his tail. He sees him mouth, "I'm sorry," to the lady before he faints completely, raising alarms of panic in Kunikida's head.
The infirmary should be around the first floor, in the west wing. He can run there under five minutes and dodge every spear and swords pointed at him.
A group of the palace guards manage to corner him, their weapons at him and their eyes seething with suspicion. Kunikida retuns the glare with even more fury, gripping Dazai tightly.
"Let me pass through, his highness needs immediate medical attention!" He yells, his voice echoing across the palace as the guards look at him, unbelieving.
"Everyone in front of me will be held accountable if something happens to him," he declares in a low voice, looking at each of them.
Barely catching his breath, Kunikida starts to run again once the guards reluctantly let him pass, still careful not to jostle the unconscious prince in his grasp. In seconds, he arrives the infirmary and calls for a doctor.
Fortunately, it's Yosano who approaches him, her eyes blown wide in surprise. "What happened?" She asks as they place Dazai on one of the beds, with the other medical staff scrambling to position.
"We went running in the garden then –" Kunikida feels all sorts of nervous, his heart hammering inside of his chest as he struggles to maintain his composure.
"I got him," Yosano looks at him in the eyes, as he nods and walks out.
Kunikida messed up immensely. He didn't take account Dazai's health before taking him outside. The prince has been locked up for a year in the room without any extreme physical exertion; this could probably be the first.
Dazai is pale and thin, and if the wind blows a bit strongly, he might be light enough to be thrown away. He couldn't even lift up the shears a while ago, how can Kunikida even let him run? It's his fault for being so careless – he put his guard down.
He presses his back on the wall, looking at his shoes – he can only hope Dazai's alright. If he gets punished for his carelessness, so be it.
At the very least, Kunikida gets to pull a genuine smile from the prince. Seeing him in such a joyous state is all worth it.
__________
Coda
Osamu feels groggy, his head feeling like its stuffed with cotton, with his throat barren.
Though, years of hammered experiences stopped him from indicating he's awake, as he sensed multiple presence around him. He tries to discern their voices, and thankfully, nobody is unfamiliar.
He tests the waters and gradually opens his eyes, hearing a feminine gasp beside him which could only come from his mother. "Osamu!" She calls as he sees her hovering at his side, her face crumpled with worry.
She almost looks like himself, only that her hair is a lighter shade of brown. He gives her a small smile – he can't stay distant from his mother, for her presence keeps a semblance of comfort.
"He only needs rest and enough food, he will regain his strength sooner," Yosano says, standing beside Fukuzawa, whose face is stern and absent of any reaction. He has his sharp eyes directed on him which unnerves Dazai, as if he's being scolded just with a stare.
"Thank goodness, how are you feeling?" His mother sits on his bed, keeping her hands to herself, weary of touching her own son.
"I'm alright," his voice cracks, before remembering something crucial.
"Where's Kunikida?"
The looks they exchanged pulled a frown out of him, glaring at Fukuzawa particularly. "What did you do?" He asks, threat lining his voice.
It's his fault for being here, not Kunikida's. He's the one who dragged the guard around, so if there's someone to be punished, it should be him.
Even so, Fukuzawa is unfazed. He closes his eyes and crosses his arms. "Nothing. He's just suspended from training for a week and confined in his room."
Dazai narrows his eyes, "That wasn't necessary. I take responsibility. Let him out," he sits up, straightening his back. The Queen turns to Fukuzawa, her brows knitted at the center while Yosano looks away with a frown.
Fukuzawa stares back with conviction, "I'm afraid I cannot allow that. The policy is the law, your highness cannot breach that."
Osamu clenches his fists beneath his blanket, keeping his expression neutral. "Then. Release him the following day. I believe he's spent more than a day," he glances at Yosano for confirmation, who purses her lips and nods once.
He turns back to Fukuzawa, raising his chin, "You can do that, can't you, Herr Fukuzawa?"
The Queen looks at Dazai knowingly with a slight twitch in her lips. They're alike in that way – seeing through people easily and manipulate them to their gains. "Osamu seems to have taken a liking to your son, Herr Fukuzawa," she directs the smile to the General, and having him cornered on both sides would only leave him no choice but to concede.
Fukuzawa sighs soundlessly, closing his eyes for a second before looking at Dazai. "Very well."
"I have another request, if that's alright," his mother chimes, sending a cheery grin towards Dazai's direction that lasted for only a second but felt like an eternity to him. The Queen has some plan, and it's going to include Kunikida.
"Can your son help Osamu with combat training?"