Chapter Text

Chapter 1: The Fool

So like all beginnings, there must come to an ending, and endings depending on that said person can be looked upon in certain ways- it can be terrible as a blustery storm, or perhaps a quiet stroll upon the gardens.

And we speak together, of how endings could change a person’s trajectory, and I can think of Kita Shinsuke, the master of the Northern highlands, who recently received a pouring of condolences and claims over the demise of his grandmother Yumie after a long illness. Aside from emphatic hearings like his dear friend Aran who mumbled at her wake ‘My deepest condolences to your demise of your grandmother….”, most are eager to grab the estate’s holdings like it is a Yule’s Feast- but thankfully his grandmother’s close confidante Lord Norimune Kurosu, decided to pause the bloodshed over the squabbling masters over Yumie’s estate, yanking him out from the boring conversation. You say the ending of his grandmother would have caused Shinsuke to have an inclination to perform a Shakespearean-like monologue. However, like the farm that he will soon own (Or not, given the greedy overlords eager to chew on the fat of his beloved farm)

“Master Shinsuke….”

Shinsuke cursed himself under his breath . Damn it grandmama, you are like that character in the Japanese story that you told me when I was little that foxes can take the form of beautiful women to seduce menfolk. 

Kurosu spoke calmly “The reason why I pulled you out from a fantastic dinner is that I found an interesting clause in your grandmother’s will…”, quietly adjusting his glasses, gazing at the thin parchment papers. Shinsuke frowned a little. “What is it, speak…” He is shocked that he sounded childish over the will, perhaps it is the exhaustion of planning his grandmother’s wake when her relatives and close associates refuse to do so, or perhaps he wishes for a simpler life which he would happily serve her tea and biscuits, gazing over the sheep grazing the land.

“In exchange for having the whole estate under your name, you need to be wed….”

Shinsuke grew confused about that. He is in no hurry for thinking of consummating with a person, for other matters littered in his mind. “When….”

Kurosu mutters quietly. “As soon as possible….” Shinsuke did not speak at that matter but instead gave a deep frown. What is my grandmama’s idea?

That is the ending which I could consider to be a stroll in the park, but not without its blustery winds.

Meanwhile Master Osamu, the proprietor of the Miya Estate, Forutna seems to turn a blind eye to the twins, after Atsumu got himself adopted by a childless rich couple- and squandered their fortunes leaving them in the worst of circumstances, 

As a dutiful man, Osamu pleaded to one of his very few connections, the coal-eyed man Sakusa, whom he has pleasant drinks with to allow him to bury the couple who spoiled Atsumu to no avail.

Osamu is so tempted to surrender his lord life, to be a wandering vicar and leave his brother alone with a decent sum every month to fulfil his lifestyle, but he needs money, to pay himself to study in that school and actually fund his travels.

Atsumu in his drunken demandor mumbled to Osamu. “Say…..there is a Lord…..who…..need to be wed…..to………own a property that is ….” Atsumu frowned a little. “If I am not wrong, it is a vast one….” Osamu shook his head. No way I am going to be bribed. “And maybe he could give us a lot of money….”

“Problem is that you are not of the fairer sex……” Atsumu slurred a little, leaning on Osamu’s shoulders. “Look I may look like a drunkard…..but I am a man of culture……” Osamu rolled his eyes, wishing that his idiot brother would take the first step of stepping into his first ‘Grand Tour’ and actually be mauled by wolves when he was climbing the treacherous Swiss alps than to bribe him to lie about his sex. 

But he needs money. That is true, but he could not go that low for that

“I don’t see you wandering around the fields with worn out shoes and shirt so dirty….” Atsumu teased him, snatching one of the old books passed from that measly couple “Why don’t you do it….” Osamu retorted back to Atsumu. “You are charming, good-looking….and….”

“My true love, is……Lady Fortuna…….and perhaps a beautiful man or woman that waltzed through my path….Osamu, not the chains of marriage.” Atsumu shouted loudly to the top of his lungs, “How about I make it easier, perhaps you can write it as a Father of a not-so well-off avenue who is willing to give his adorable child ... .and you will pass it to any matchmaker….” 

Osamu protested him back. “No…..”

Atsumu grinned like a Cheshire Cat over Osamu hesitating on that devious idea. “You need the money, and would it be easier if your said spouse is a kind man or woman who lets you run around to follow the sweet path of the Lord, and you do not need to watch that said property.” He gave an annoying wink that perhaps screamed into Osamu’s head. ‘Yes, I am a mere creature, and would likely be in better financial circumstances….’

“Alright….” Osamu mumbled a little. “But promise me that you will not do anything stupid…” Atsumu shrugged his shoulders. “Oh I will, you have your good looks and good Christian faith, so everything will go as planned….” and he slipped off the signet ring given by the old man of the house, passing it to him. “While I have Lady Fortuna’s arm looping upon mine…” he heard a withering manservant mumble to him. “Master Atsumu, your carriage awaits…” Atsumu gave a flirty goodbye to a disgruntled Osamu. “Goodbye dear Osamu….I pray your pen will be as sharp as your wits….”

Osamu mummer under his breath “I suppose Mama is right, you are destined to wither like a falling leaf….” ,as he walked to his bedchamber, simple and unadulterated, which he pressed his hand unto the cover of the bible to his heart, which he prayed under his breath. “Forgive me Lord for I broke the command of lying about my identity , but I will give it back in 10,000 folds like how Moses parted the red sea to kill the Egyptians, I am sure, Lord….I can deal with this…..” Little did Osamu know that Atsumu actually purposely set up the writing materials upon his heavy desk. Osamu puffed his cheeks. At least he is efficient if he needs too, if only he could his wit to actually do something proficient, rather than the vices of the world. Quietly he lit a candle amidst the darkness, dipping the quill into the ink.

“To whom…..it…may…concern…..” 

////

Shinsuke Kita rode his carriage under the guise of simple clothes to see the Kuroo estate, which Kenma, his manservant and companion waited outside of the entrance. “You must be Master Shinsuke….” His golden eyes did not show his enthusiasm of being welcomed in the house, but Shinsuke forced himself to be polite to Kenma because if the farm landed on the wrong hands if he did not marry anyone. Shinsuke gazed over the portraits of that said individual. “Is….your….master like this………”

“Eccentric yes….” Kenma pouted at Shinsuke, feeling that his brain shut down over his chattering. “Make it quick…….”, which led Kita Shinsuke to a long door, which Kenma spoke to Shinsuke. “This is Master Kuroo’s room, just be careful that he may have things lying down on the floor….” Kenma gave 2 knocks on the door. “Kuroo, I think Master Shinsuke is here

“Ask him to come in….”

Shinsuke gingerly cup his hands upon the door knob to enter the room that smelled like tobacco, amber and cinnamon, unaware that Kenma bolted out of the room quickly,  gazing at  Kuroo playfully shuffled his tarot cards back and forth on the oak table, grinning at the outcome which ‘The Fool’  landed on Shinsuke’s feet which he frowned at. “Sorry….” Tetsuro came in wearing that awful Chinese silk waistcoat and freshly starched shirt, picking up that said card on the floor, giving a smirk to Shinsuke Kita. “My, my, my….”

Shinsuke retorted to Kuroo “I do not believe these….” passing that said card back to him.

Kuroo gave a guffaw. “Of course, you are a man of rationality, the enlightened folk….”, which he kept in his drawer.  “And you are a good Christian folk,of course, as the Good Lord said- Thou must not tempt us or lead us to Evil….” Kuroo gave a tongue pop to Shinsuke. “You are here because old man Noriume summoned me because his cute daughter got a good husband thanks to me….”

Shinsuke nodded a little, his eyes in awe of the strange objects that Kuroo kept in his room, feeling like he is the part of the display in Kuroo’s cabinet of curiosities. “But first you must sit down…..”Kuroo pulled a small upholstered chair for Shinsuke to sit down comfortably, with him tucking the card into his waistcoat. Kuroo frowned a little. Perhaps Noriume is right. That Shinsuke is so stiff, stiff like all of my taxidermied animals I display. Lord….I could use some help.

“Let me introduce myself to you, man to man, as Kuroo Tetsuro, and yes I look at prospective marriages….good ones which last in a long lineage of children….which they actually do not need to frown at their bedside at night, and wish for a whore to soothe their carnality….”

“And these cards are for….” Kita raised his eyebrows. “Figuring who will come at your side….” Kuroo replied to him cooly, instead changing it to something more palpable to Shinsuke’s so-called ‘enlightened’ self, by sliding 3 amatuer watercolour landscape drawings done by the ladies of his social circle, the first one being Roman ruins, the second painting being a charming garden and the third being the farm which Shinsuke grew up and loved. “But first….” Shinsuke rolled his eyes at Kuroo’s claims. “So what are you looking for in a spouse, uhm great assets, family connections stretching to many lineages ago, great properties…..” 

Shinsuke frown his eyebrows, Kuroo was indeed wasting his time, he wanted somebody to marry and get over it, so he simply replied “I don’t know…..”

“Ahhh….it seems that you are indeed in a pickle, by the way my condolences for the passing of your grandmama….”, which Kuroo purposefully turn over the fool card and placed it unto the small garden. “I could gather based on what Lord Noriume said, you could at least help me lay the groundwork, like anything….” Shinsuke notices that Kuroo’s charming patience is perhaps growing thin like the loud footsteps of hurried servants creating a ruckus.

Ok…..alright…think

Shinsuke blurted out calmly “You let me choose who would fit you best in your circumstances …..” Kuroo smirked a little, hiding the fool card away from Shinsuke’s eyes. “You are indeed making things difficult, maybe Master Shinsuke ... .can you at least, in your teeming brain think of something ... .I would give an example like, maybe she has a kind heart.” Shinsuke thought quietly, of all of the happy memories walking at the farm with his grandmother, with her watching Shinsuke run his fingers over the long wheat fields and petting all of the cows and horses. “If you insist…” Shinsuke forced himself to prim his waistcoat. “I was thinking, because I want someone who does not mind silence, I know, stupid….”

Shinsuke’s eyes softened at that thought. “Like the farm, is where I can be myself, to forgo the worries of the world….”, forgetting about Kuroo’s eccentricity, which he dropped his flamboyance.. “I wish to keep it, but then again my grandmama has her reasons for me to have this odd arrangement, why she would choose this for me…..”  

“That is an oddly vague request Master Shinsuke…”Kuroo pouted at his words. “I will see what I can do, but for people to be comfortable in silence, it takes months and years to be able to say that. And no I am no medium who can communicate with the dead….”, Kuroo pondered quietly over Shinsuke’s words. “But I suppose she has a reason for that interesting clause, anyway I can work with that….” gazing over the darkening skies of his estate,placing his hand on his heart “I’ve always been a nice person….” 

Kuroo quietly rang his bell to see Kenma hurrying up to his room. “What….”

“Bring Master Shinsuke to his carriage” Kuroo tidied his coat, noticing Kenma’s nods back and forth, processing a chunk of information from Kuroo, as he lovingly framed the other drawings not chosen by Shinsuke. “And oh pass him the treacle tarts made by the madame down below….” Kuroo smirked to Shinsuke. “They are good for the trip back….one more thing….” Shinsuke forced himself not to roll his eyes. “Wait for my letter for your new spouse!!” 

Kenma quietly closed the door from Kuroo, while Shinsuke could hear the muffled echo from that said room. “I can foresee wedding bells to be rung in that old church…”

Shinsuke heaved a little, that Kuroo is annoying, Shinsuke thought to himself, once again gazing at the commissioned portraits of Kuroo, which he guess that he went for his ‘Grand Tour’

 Kenma mumbled to Shinsuke quietly, leading him to the hallway of the servant’s rooms unto another room which Shinsuke forced himself not to drool at the aroma of treacle perfuming in the air. “I know him for many years, since we were young babes, Tetsuro, well he is a good man…I can sense Master Shinsuke you are hesitant to find companionship, your grandmama meant a lot…to you….”

Shinsuke did not need to reply to Kenma. Kenma knew by his eyes that it is a nightmare to be in this circumstance, as they walked down the kitchen where Kenma quietly offered the treacle pie to Shinsuke, giving a reassuring gaze to him. “Anyway, it is not my call to speak about your heart…”, Shinsuke gave a nod of thanks to Kenma. “Come by our estate, the next time you visit Tetsuro….we have…nice…gardens for you to stroll….”, noticing the representative of Shinsuke’s estate was waiting for him outside, holding a thick coat for him.

Shinsuke gave a goodbye wave to him. “Thank you….”, allowing the representative to open the carriage, which he sulked at the sight of Kuroo’s mansion . I wonder how much money he made, for just choosing beautiful women over me….. 

Kuroo gave a long sigh as he tapped his fingers back and forth, gazing at that painting. “That Master Shinsuke is thick like old glue, why does that old lady dote on him…..” quietly he reversed the side of the garden painting- to see Osamu’s letter stuck on that painting. “To whom it may concern…..”

“Huh, your dear papa, is desperate ... .alright I could get you to marry him- Adelaide Kurusu.” Kuroo examined The Fool card again, tracing the upward gaze of the traveler. “It seems that your card has been laid on your Master Shinsuke….”

////

Next morning, Osamu woke up groggy and miserable, as he set up his washing basin to wash his face, feeling the slight guilt in his body, he slowly slipped upon the undershirt, walking over the hallways to open one of the doors to see Atsumu drooling in his sleep, still garbed in his best suit, when he received a letter from an exhausted manservant “To whom it may concern….” Osamu sighed a little, clasping that letter to his heart.

It seems that he has to forgo his dreams of preaching the words of the Lord, but instead to hold something dear, as he read the contents of the matchmaker Kuroo’s words.

“ ‘Tsumu please take care of yourself…..” He did not forget that night before that letter was received in his hands, that one of Atsumu’s drinking buddies, Bokuto, came in with a hurried breath barking to Osamu. “Osamu!”, he just barely finished his bible studies when he ran down the dilapidated stairs, and Atsumu gave a slurred speech to Osamu, as Bokuto pushed him out of his arms to Osamu. “You will make a cute woman if you put powder on your nose, and tighten your corset…”, which Osamu gave him a big slap. “ ‘Tsumu, this is not funny, I am not….”

“Love will come to his eyes……” Bokuto sighed a little, as he gave sobering words to Osamu. “You better watch him, I think he drank himself silly due to an aching heart….”, before running back to his carriage. All he recalls that night is that he nursed his very drunk brother to a tolerable state, before surrendering his room to him and sleeping in the servant’s quarters. 

Osamu quietly allowed one manservant to wash him up, and give him the nicest pair of breeches and shirt to impress his partner. Why did he tremble over that thought? He wanted a better life to himself, and to his brother, though he hated his guts. He wanted something better. For he heard rumours and gossip from the churchgoers that if they need a marriage to be arranged, they would need to go to the Hyogo Inn, and look for a man with blond hair sitting at the corner eating sausage and refusing eye-contact. And that is what he did, not forgetting that rainy evening that he barely want to say a friendly salutation to any stranger, and not forgetting the code-word. “May I order one slice of bread and mead….” which he would stir his humours and send to Tetsuro Kuroo, the finest matchmaker in his eccentric estate.

Osamu can never forget that evening that stole his fate when he ordered that same item, telling the local pub owner that Kenma, once huddling himself in the corner, rose from his chair. “.....I came in ... .on behalf of my estate, for the marriage of my dear cousin……Adelaide Kurusu….” Osamu muttered to him. Kenma frowned a little. “That is unusual, I thought the letter should be sent by the father, or a direct representative….”

“Well circumstances made us poor…..” Osamu lied beneath his teeth, dreading the wetness in his boots. “And the master is in ill health, so please send this to Master Kuroo…..” Kenma barely gazed at the contents of the letter. “Just wait for my master’s reply in 3 weeks…..” Osamu heaved a sigh of relief, as he treated himself to a strong cup of beer, watching Kenma retreat in his small corner, where he shivered in the cold munching on a hard piece of bread.

And all Osamu did, after sending that fateful letter, is to pack his belongings into 2 small trunks, and pray that someone would take him, not knowing his true gender or heart. After all, he needed the money to suffice both Atsumu and himself, should he decide to go to the nearby college. 

And it all came perhaps too quickly. “Are you ready to go, Master Osamu….” Osamu nodded to himself. 

“Tell Master Atsumu that I will be off on a long journey….” He can only clutch the letter to go to Shinsuke’s estate to await his marriage. “Keep the details sparse for my sake….”

////

Osamu gazed through the dirted window of the carriage, his cheek pressed dreamily over the glass- gazing over the vast fields which the carriage man spoke to Osamu. “Master, what you passed is the Northern lands….”. From Osamu’s view, gooses waddled their way to the villages and children played through the fields in their imaginary games. “This is one of the better-off provinces, as you see Master Shinsuke donated the majority of his late grandmother’s wealth to make the village slightly better, it is rare….”

Well, he seems like a nice guy.

Osamu gazed through the rolling hills, which changed from dull grey and green, to lush wheat fields, with hardened workers toiling through the fields, with many barely breaking an eye to the new visitor in sight. This seems like a nice change from me dragging out from ‘Tsumu’s drunk shenanigans. “It would not be far sir, I hope you will make a good impression on Master Shinsuke, he has seemed silent since his grandmother’s passing….”

“Oh I am sorry….”

////

Shinsuke walked over the vast wheat fields, finally able to take a break from the hectic arrangements of clearing his grandmother’s possessions, some he donated to the poor and needy and a few he kept for sentimentality, like the perfectly preserved hair lock of his beloved grandma and an annotated book of Jerasalum liberated, which he read it way too many times by now. He particularly liked this opening line, annotated by the black ink, which he could memorize over and over again 

“I sing; much wrought his valor and foresight,

And in that glorious war much suffered he;

In vain ’gainst him did Hell oppose her might,

In vain the Turks and Morians armed be:

His soldiers wild, to brawls and mutinies prest,

Reduced he to peace, so Heaven him blest.”

Shinsuke is about to retire to the drawing-room, to read that beloved annotated book,he heard a shriek from one of the attendants, a wide-eyed young girl with freckles in her face-Ruai bowed to Shinsuke. “Master Shinsuke! Master Shinsuke! Master Shinsuke.” 

He paused monetarily to observe Ruia’s cheeks flushed from running up the stairs. “Master Shinsuke….someone is looking for you…..” Shinsuke frowned quietly. That cannot be it. Kuroo found someone so quickly. That must be grandmama’s hand on him, not mine. 

“Who in particular?” Shinsuke raised his eyebrow, gazing over Ruai trying to catch her breath.

“Lady Adelaide Kurusu just arrived at your mansion…”  Ruai slowly cleared her throat. “Are you expecting anyone at this time and this hour?”

Shinsuke frowned a little. Where do I hear that name from…. Kita thought to himself, it has been 3 weeks since that he meet Kuroo and Kenma. He barely forget the names, expect for that letter, which Kuroo replied to him simply.

To Shinsuke.

I believe I found a fortuitous match for you.

Unfortunately I cannot tell you when, for I am not death….

I can only reveal to you the name of the match “Kurusu”, and that is my only input. Do as you will, as I am guessing that the match’s carriage is on its way.

Best.

Kuroo Tetsuro

P.S: At least prepare a bed for the match.

Shinsuke closed his eyes, trying to recall what particular occasion that called for an unexpected guest. Maybe it could be simple as warm linen on a mattress and a simple bread from the nearby bakery, if of lower-class, or perhaps an exhausted lord seeking creature comforts, perhaps game and a good harvest from the nearby farm. When his grandmother is alive, and well- she would host a huge dinner with laughter and joy in the air, while Shinsuke simply entertains at the sides, with a game of cards and a simple drink. 

Shinsuke suddenly realize that he did not made such arrangements, given that he has to check the grain inventory from the storage, as rumours said that a harsh winter will rustle their boots. Nevertheless Yumie’s voice still whispered in Shinsuke’s ear, that once one enters, they must feel like home, even if it is miles away, though he is actually unprepared at all.

“I will be up in a few minutes, ask her to wait at the entrance…..” Shinsuke said politely to Ruai. “Uhm, just make a cup of tea and offer her something if I took much longer, travels must make the humours weak…..”, Shinsuke found himself trying to gaze at the portraits of his ancestors all judging him for actually forgetting about his visit to Kuroo- however he knew if he did not treat that match correctly, Yumie’s ghost would be sitting by the window, glaring at him uncomfortably.

“Right away Master Shinsuke….” Ruai bowed to Shinsuke making her merry duty, giving 

him enough time to take a breather in the drawing room. “Grandmama I hope you will be happy….”, gazing over the letter written by Kuroo held by a paperweight. There got to be a clue somewhere. Like what she looked like. What are her hobbies? Who is she? Is she.

No I should not worry like Master Akaashi, I am a rational man with rational thoughts.

Shinsuke examined the letter over and over again, searching for information, but there was none, and perhaps it is too prophetic that the card that dropped on the floor when he first met Kuroo for the consultation, that he is in fact, doomed. However Shinsuke must do it, to actually fulfill that unusual clause. Ruai came in with a small smile. “Master Shinsuke, are you alright…”

“Yes I am….” Shinsuke smiled quietly. “Is she alright?” Ruai shook her head. “Master Shinsuke….I am afraid…..” Shinsuke placed the letter away,instead focusing on what he could do right now. Just impress that match and actually get married. 

Kuroo is simply a part of the process, so I can owe the land. He is not a great matchmaker, he likes to shuffle stupid cards and paintings so I can get married…

“What are you afraid of? There are no ghosts haunting this land….”

Ruai sheepishly nodded her head. “Do you believe me, Master…” He tried to compose his thoughts, and offered a small smile.”Perhaps we would like to see that Kurusu together, Ruai….” Shinsuke tried to banish that thought in his mind, instead he simply tidied his shirt. “I am sure that Kurusu is a pleasant fellow….Ruai, you just have to treat them like how my grandmama did with her guests” Shinsuke skipped through the hallways simply ignoring the gazes of the portraits that looked through the odd occasion, “After all, I suppose to…..”

Shinsuke’s eyes widened with horror when he saw a young man with grey eyes, and grey hair at the entrance of the mansion. “I am seeking a Master Shinsuke…..” Shinsuke wished he had a bottle of smelling salts right now when he saw that sight.“I am…..your…spouse which I am supposed to share the deed with……..” Osamu spoke clearly, holding that letter in his hand, not blinking an eye at Shinsuke. 

A/N: So hello everyone! I hope you liked this new story, which I, Shade tackled arranged marriage as a trope. I would say RJ's prompt is too good to tackle that it can take many directions and this is one of them. What could you say, I am a sucker for good pitches, and this one just screamed at me. (I was torn between the other two,but this one is too good for me)

So a huge shoutout to Fawnie for suggesting Kuroo as a matchmaker because it is my first time writing Kuroo here, and i have a lot of fun writing his interactions like he is sly in a good way. 

Anyway I will be taking my time to post you a new chapter for this story because this is too fun for me.