Chapter Text
“If you’re successful in killing the beloved crown prince, the king will lose his only heir. Once the kingdom is thrown into disarray, we’ll strike.”
Akutagawa Ryuunosuke honestly could not care less about his current employer’s master plan. All he can think about is his sister, always working hard to keep food on the table. But if Akutagawa successfully carries out this assignment, he’ll get paid enough to last them a lifetime. He’d even be able to spoil Gin a little. The thought almost makes him smile.
Akutagawa bows his head. “I won’t fail you.”
Mori smiles darkly, waving him off with a wave of his hand. “I’m sure you won’t. But if you do, don’t show your face here ever again if you want to keep your head on your shoulders.”
As a mercenary, Akutagawa is quite used to such threats. He doesn’t bat an eye at this, exiting the hall with a sweep of his sleek black cloak. He won’t fail.
Akutagawa Ryuunosuke never fails.
The journey to the kingdom of Yokohama is a few days’ ride. Akutagawa stops to rest at a few taverns along the way, but he manages to shorten the trip by his efficient riding and short breaks. He reaches Yokohama long before he sees the castle at the center of the land. The castle, while impressive, is surrounded by an even more impressive town, all protected by large, sturdy stone walls. It’s no wonder the kingdom is so difficult to overpower, even for someone as tenacious as Ogai Mori.
And yet, the city of Yokohama is surprisingly easy to enter. Even the guards appear to be too trusting as they readily accept Akutagawa’s blatant lie that he’s a traveling merchant in search of new supplies to sell. He just barely manages not to roll his eyes in their presence.
The city itself is charming, warm and bustling with activity. Everyone he passes seems cheerful and the streets are decorated with colorful banners. Akutagawa finds himself tempted by the pleasant aroma of seasoned meat and bread wafting into the streets. Even the vendors are mild, not screaming deals or even throwing products at him like in most places he’s dealt with before. Akutagawa might even be able to enjoy himself here a little. He spots an inviting, well-lit tavern near the square and nods to himself. It looks like a perfect place to squat, maybe to even gain some intel from alcohol-loosened lips.
He moves along the vendors, intent on replenishing his rations when he hears the ambience of voices buzz louder. Akutagawa nods his gratitude to the vendor, who just handed him his supplies, then turns towards the commotion.
“Nakajima-sama!”
“Prince Nakajima, over here!”
Bingo.
Akutagawa casually walks closer to the gathering crowd, which he notes consists mostly of women. His keen eyes pick out the center of the swarm, noting the choppy, silvery hair and unique eyes. The crown prince appears unimpressive for royalty, his hair is wild and unkempt and his attire looks quite bland. Is this truly the prince?
“Please, all of you. I’m not the prince today, I’m just—”
The voices drown him out again, and Akutagawa scoffs. Not the prince today? As if he could decide something like that. What kind of person would ever want to stop being royalty for even a moment, when everything is simply handed to them on a silver platter?
Yeah, Akutagawa has no qualms about killing this guy.
He truly can’t believe his luck as he watches the boy struggle his way through the crowd. Here’s his target, out beyond the sturdy castle walls and completely unguarded. Akutagawa almost wants to laugh.
But apparently Akutagawa isn’t the only one celebrating this opportunity. In a flash, three men in black hooded cloaks drop down from the top of the vendor tents, surrounding the prince in a matter of seconds. The crowd scatters immediately, the pleasant atmosphere dashed to pieces by ear-splitting screams.
Akutagawa feels an inexplicable anger rise in his chest. He’s mine to kill , he thinks, and draws Rashoumon , his wicked black sword. As he tries to devise a strategy to allow him to dispatch three swordsmen while also protecting the prince, he sees that the prince himself has drawn his own blade and is currently fending off two assassins at once. And he’s holding his own.
Akutagawa doesn’t allow himself a second to be surprised. Instead, he adjusts his strategy, leaping in at the prince’s back to fend off the third assailant. He just manages to parry a most likely fatal blow just in time. The assassin hesitates for a moment, the shock obvious in the way he stiffens up, and then he’s crossing swords with Akutagawa. The familiar sounds of metal clashing fill the air as the assassin drives Akutagawa backwards with a practiced hand. His back hits something solid, something moving, and knows it’s the prince himself.
“I’ve got this handled,” the prince bites out, sounding annoyed.
“Oh, obviously. That’s why you almost got stabbed in the kidney a moment ago.” Akutagawa glances back, noting that one of the assassins is lying unmoving on the ground.
“I would’ve been just fine without your help, thanks. Now, butt out,” he growls, deflecting another strike aimed at his neck.
“No-can-do, your highness ,” Akutagawa drawls, ducking below the arc of his opponent’s sword.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” the prince demands, and he presses forward with renewed fury and strikes his remaining enemy down. He then whirls around on Akutagawa, who’s still locked in the throes of battle. “I didn’t ask for you to—”
“You don’t need to ask, your majesty. Isn’t that what being royalty is all about?” Akutagawa spits, and Rashoumon hits home, driving into the last assassin’s chest.
The prince’s golden eyes look like liquid flame when Akutagawa finally spins to look at him. He has to admit that the prince isn’t at all what he’d been expecting. After all, he just took out two highly trained assassins and still had the energy to be mad at Akutagawa . Akutagawa, who had helped him. Akutagawa, who shouldn’t have helped him at all.
Shit.
The mercenary ponders his next move, wondering if he should take the opportunity to stab the prince while he’s preoccupied. But before he can decide, he hears a booming voice echo throughout the square.
“Make way for the king!”
Akutagawa’s blood runs cold. There goes my chance , he thinks as the king himself comes into view from the street ahead. He’s accompanied by several guards, looking quite regal and entirely full of himself as he commands everyone’s attention.
Akutagawa takes a tremendous amount of effort to not twist his face up in disgust. The king is even less impressive than the crown prince. Although he’s buried beneath fine silk robes and glittering jewels, his face is pale and plain, his eyes cold with indifference. He’s tall and lanky, his hair shaped tastelessly around his head. Despite the prince’s oddly rugged appearance, he looks more regal than Akutagawa suspects the king has ever looked.
“Prince Nakajima,” the king says, and those words alone sound like a reprimand. “Is there any particular reason for you to be wandering the streets unattended?” The prince stiffens next to him. Akutagawa glances at him, and sees fear in his eyes for the first time. He opens his mouth to respond, but the king seems to have moved on. “What happened here?” he demands, gesturing to the three assassins lying unconscious around them.
“They attacked me,” the prince says finally, his voice slightly unsteady. “This gentleman came to my aid.”
Akutagawa’s eyes widen as the prince points to him, and the king is suddenly looking directly at him.
“ You saved my son?”
Akutagawa hesitates, glancing at the prince, who avoids his gaze. “I—well, I suppose—”
“Don’t be so modest!” the king bellows, and a forced smile curls his lips. “You shall be rewarded! You’ve done what my incompetent guards could not accomplish. Without you, my heir would’ve been lost to me.”
Akutagawa pretends not to notice the prince flinching at the words. The mercenary doesn’t quite know why, but the king makes his stomach churn unpleasantly.
The king shifts his stance to address the gathered onlookers. “You all shall be my witnesses. This man here has saved my son, and will henceforth be his personal guard!”
The roar of applause rings in Akutagawa’s ears as he watches the prince’s eyes flash with rage again. Yet, the mercenary couldn’t care less. He’s just been handed the perfect opportunity.