Chapter Text
Miya Atsumu was batshit crazy. That was just a fact. He was brutal and unforgiving. A force to be reckoned with. He wasn’t one you wanted to betray or use, not unless you had a death wish. So why were they still walking? Why were steady breaths still leaving their mouths?
That was something unknown to Inarizaki. Everyone else who had anything to do with that night in October had been hunted down and killed by Atsumu himself, an honour really. Everyone except Suna Rintarou and Miya Osamu.
But really, who was surprised? Atsumu always knew that if someone was going to try and orchestrate his downfall, it would be his brother. That painful piece of information sat, taking up space in the back of his mind. And now that little voice that had haunted him for years spoke of how he’d let his guard down, left himself vulnerable to attack.
Atsumu couldn’t help but grieve a time from before he was agonisingly aware of his brother's disloyalty. Of the affair going on behind his back. He wasn’t stupid, nor was he blind. Rintarou’s excuse of mistaking Osamu for him only lasted so long. He didn't love Rintarou though, it was an arranged marriage but that didn't mean it didn't hurt even if only a little.
He’d lost his brother and husband the same night.
Atsumu wasn’t always the tyrant everyone outside of Inarizaki saw him as, no. Most of the older citizens of Inarizaki and neighbouring nations remembered a time when Atsumu was a kind, soft-spoken prince. Though loud at times, Atsumu brought happiness to the people of his kingdom. But something happened, no one knew what it was, just that he had…snapped, for lack of a better word. He wasn’t the same bubbly prince Inarizaki all knew and loved, instead he was the 'tyrant' the new generation grew to admire in a sense. It was slow at first, as the war waged on, Atsumu was slowly stripped of his personality.
Atsumu was a shell of the boy he used to be. Now nothing more than a soldier with the scars and prosthetic to prove it.
The older generations always felt a sort of sympathy for Atsumu, he had lost his parents and close friends to the war, his best friend to the enemy, many of his troops died on the battlefield, and his brother and husband betrayed him.
Despite Atsumu’s cold and unforgiving nature, Inarizaki respected him. Atsumu had gone to war for them, lost many of his close friends on the battlefield, and saved them from extinction more than once. He was their saviour, as aggressive and cunning as he was. But as was the nature of a fox. His fox-like shifter traits and features are probably what makes him such a terrifying enemy to Shiratorizawa. He’s a threat on and off the battlefield and perhaps that’s why they sent Rintarou, an assassin trained to gain the trust of their target before they kill them. Except, Atsumu caught on. Of course, he did. He wasn’t chosen to be king for nothing. He just chose to do nothing.
He let his want, his need, for affection get in the way of his judgement, it cost him so much. It nearly cost him his life , but Osamu was foolish to think he’d be able to take Atsumu down in one night. Atsumu just wanted his brother, now more than anything. He’d wanted him when their parents died and he began ruling, albeit without other kingdoms being aware until a few years later. He’d wanted his brother when his father first started training him, he’d wanted his brother when he was being dragged off to fight in the ongoing war at the ripe old age of 12. Now he just wanted his brother's presence even if he knew it was impossible, Osamu wasn’t there then and he wouldn’t be now, no matter how much Atsumu wished for him to be by his side once more.
Sometimes he wishes he’d died that night in October, maybe that way he wouldn’t be left with a broken heart and new scars. Died with his brother if you will, Osamu didn’t consider Atsumu his brother anymore, hadn’t for a while and that killed Atsumu a little inside. More than he could ever admit.
No one outside of Inarizaki aside from a very select few truly knows how old Atsumu is, and you can’t look at him and know. He doesn’t look his age, never has. Many believed him to be around the age of 24 which would mean he was twenty when he became king, if it was to be believed that he’s been king for 4 years, and sure that sounded plausible but it simply wasn’t correct. No, it truly wasn’t. But Atsumu wasn’t about to let anyone know that, it was his little secret if you will.
“Yer Majesty,” Atsumu looked up from his desk and towards the voice, it had been his royal advisor Kita Shinsuke. Kita had straight, flat, white and black hair, and the fox-shifter features that sat atop his head sat back against his head. He stood bowed in front of Atsumu only speaking when he felt the brunette's eyes on him,
“Itachiyama’s ruler has sent ya a letter.” Kita stood from his bow and held an envelope towards Atsumu, he took the envelope from Kita, muttering a quiet thank you as he dismissed the royal advisor. He sat the envelope to the side for now as he continued to look over maps and documents. Atsumu sighs as he rests his head in his hands. He stays like that for a few minutes before pushing his hair away from his face. He stands from his desk picking up the envelope as he does.
“What could he possibly want?” Atsumu mumbles to himself as he leaves his study envelope in hand. Atsumu makes his way towards his sleeping quarters, grateful that Kita had the forethought to situate his study so close to his bedroom. Atsumu pushes open the large, heavy doors to the room, letting them close behind him as he walks in, he sits on the edge of his bed and stares at the envelope, a nickname he hadn’t heard in years sat in pretty golden cursive writing. Tsumu. Huh. Atsumu recognized that as Sakusa's handwriting, but Sakusa hadn’t actually written on any of the letters or envelopes he had sent Atsumu nor had he used that nickname, not since childhood, before Itachiyama allied with Shiratorizawa. Sakusa had only ever sent one he hadn't written on to Atsumu and that was when he first became King all those years ago, he still had it tucked away in the drawer beside his bed.
Atsumu sighed heavily as he brought his hand to the bridge of his nose, rubbing it as he felt a headache beginning to form. He set the envelope on his bedside table and got up to change but he had a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach that just wouldn’t go away so Atsumu gritted his teeth and glared at the envelope. He rolled his eyes, picking it back up and turning it around, ripping it open with little care and pulling the thin piece of paper out. Atsumu recognizes the writing to be that of Sakusa as well, it confuses him, why would Sakusa take the time to hand write him a letter when he could’ve just gotten Motoya to do it for him? Atsumu was the enemy after all.
“Hm, still as beautiful as always,” Atsumu mutters as his eyes look but don’t read the written words, the paper is smooth and with a texture that doesn’t annoy Atsumu’s scarred hand as most letters did. Atsumu read the letter, stopping at just the first few sentences, taking a few minutes to process what Sakusa was writing about. He couldn’t possibly mean that, could he? Why would he want to change sides, abandon Shiratorizawa for Inarizaki, Ushijima for Atsumu . Miya Atsumu, for all his pride, couldn’t fathom why Sakusa Kiyoomi of all people was talking about joining Inarizaki’s short list of allies and leaving Shiratorizawa’s long one. But he supposed it didn’t matter how many allies one had if they were losing even if no one but Atsumu and Ushijima knew that.
The letter was short, mostly asking for Atsumu’s presence at Itachiyama’s next gala, so that Sakusa may discuss an allyship should Atsumu choose to accept his offer. He was conflicted, while it would be a massive advantage to have Itachiyama as an ally and not an enemy , it wasn’t like Inarizaki exactly needed them as an ally. But it couldn’t hurt to have a kingdom as powerful as Itachiyama as an ally.
Atsumu was about to put the letter back in the envelope when something fell out. Atsumu bent down to pick whatever it was up, it was a small ring. Atsumu didn’t recognize it but a note fell out with it – ‘I never got to give this to you’ – Atsumu didn’t want to think about the implications of that, didn’t want to think about his foolish feelings from when he was a child, he had long outgrown them, he didn’t see a point in reliving memories that he didn’t want. After all, as his mother and father always said:
“We don’t need the memories.”
Atsumu put the ring and the note on his bedside table, the envelope and letter sitting beside them. He made a mental note to ask Kita what he thought about this, Atsumu believed it could be good for political power and he supposed Itachiyama could be of assistance on the battlefield, but Inarizaki had always had better fighters in terms of speed and agility, it made up for their lack of raw strength and that's not to say they were weak, take Aran for example. He’s not as fast as say Akagi was but he’s tall, strong and bulky this mixed in with the fact that he was still one of the fastest Soldiers under Atsumu’s command truly though it was his intelligence that made him a valuable and indispensable weapon under Inarizaki’s belt as Miya Isamu would’ve put it.
Inarizaki’s soldiers were lethal, terrifying opponents. A skulk of Red Foxes as some call them. Aggressive and cunning. They weren’t to be underestimated.
When Atsumu opened his eyes the next day the sun was just rising and breakfast wouldn’t be prepared until at least 2 hours later but Atsumu knew he wouldn’t be able to force himself back to sleep even if he wanted to. So he pulled himself out of bed and moved towards his closet so that he could brush his hair and then get into clothes for training. It wouldn’t do much if he bathed beforehand.
Atsumu wondered if Kita would be awake, but thought better of it. Kita wouldn’t be awake until most likely an hour later so that he can help oversee breakfast. Kita did more than what was expected of him as a Royal Advisor, Atsumu admired Kita’s hardworking tendencies, they were extremely helpful.
Atsumu spent what he assumed was the next hour and a half training his archery, he was always at swordsmanship, always having a natural talent for dual katanas much to his mother’s dismay. Atsumu hadn’t realised how long he’d been there until Kita had come to fetch him for a bath and breakfast.
As the pair walked, Atsumu decided now was a good time to ask Kita what he thought of a possible allyship with Itachiyama. Kita agreed that they weren’t needed in terms of army and combat but could be of great use in terms of political power. Where Inarizaki thrived in battle power they lacked in political power. Kita suggested that he attend the Gala Sakusa had invited him to, if only to see what he wants to propose, Atsumu only agreed once Kita said he would be glad to accompany him as well as Aran and Ginjima.
They continued to discuss the topic all the way through breakfast, pausing only when Atsumu left to bathe. In the end it was decided that Atsumu accompanied by Kita, Aran and Ginjima, as well as some additional guards for safety precautions, would attend the Gala in Itachiyama, discuss a possible allyship and other things that may come up in relation. Kita offered to write a letter for Atsumu responding to Sakusa’s own letter, Atsumu almost declined, almost wrote the letter himself but in the end let Kita write the letter. It was sent within the hour.
The day went by fast after that, Atsumu spent most of his time in his study, reading over past and present battle plans just to see where they could improve. Atsumu wanted to end this war once and for all sooner rather than later. If only to honour his mother.
His wrist hurt by the time the sun had begun to set in the horizon. Atsumu took a moment to stand from his desk and walk to the window. He opened the window and sighed as he felt the cool breeze that flowed through. Atsumu stared at the horizon, watching the sun disappear in a display of pretty colour. An orange, pink and purple ombre that Atsumu always found so mesmerising.
He stood there and watched until the orange and pink had faded from the sky, following the sun. He made his way back to his desk. He sat quietly as he sifted through the many documents and maps, his mind wondered. Always finding its way back to memories of dark emerald eyes and a soft smile, Atsumu always stopped it before the memories could even properly form. He wouldn’t let himself do that, wouldn’t let his mind reminisce what could’ve been. No. He had a responsibility to his people and his fellow warriors. He would end this war even if it was the end of him.
At some point near midnight, Atsumu dragged himself to his bedroom, quickly changing into sleep-wear. He climbed under the warm covers of his bed and sighed, letting himself fall back against his many cushions. He stared at the ceiling of his room as he slowly slipped into a dreamless sleep.
There was a faint knock on his door and that was all it took to rouse Atsumu from his sleep. He grumbled quietly before sitting up in his bed,
“Ya may enter,” Atsumu called as he straightened his posture, Kita walked in a moment later. He held something in his hand, but Atsumu couldn't make out what it was.
“He has responded, yer Majesty.” Atsumu raised an eyebrow at that, confused as to who Kita was talking about before it dawned on him that he must be referring to Sakusa, but that was far too fast. Sure they were neighbouring Kingdoms but it was still at least a day's worth of journey between them. Atsumu made a noise of surprise and held his hand out for the letter, Kita placed it in his hand as Atsumu carefully inspected it, noting that Sakusa’s handwriting once again adorned the smooth paper, in the same gold ink. Atsumu took a deep breath through his nose as he carefully opened the envelope.
Atsumu felt his breath catch in his throat as he read the short letter.
Dear Atsu,
I’m grateful you have decided to consider my offer. I look forward to seeing you at my Banquet. Anyone you choose to bring with you shall be welcomed with open arms.
I have wished to see you again for sometime, and I am forever thankful that you have taken the time to attend. I know it is quite the journey from Inarizaki to Itachiyama.
Please take as much time as you need to discuss my offer of Allyship with your advisor. You need not worry about impatience as I am a patient man. Should you reject my offer, Itachiyama will still do what it can to provide assistance to Inarizaki as Shiratozawa has violated their part of their allyship with my kingdom. I refuse to provide them with anything else, but it feels wrong of me to not try and provide assistance to an old friend and his kingdom now that I can.
With much love, Kiyoomi.
Well, if Atsumu found the first letter mind-boggling before then this one was nothing short of baffling. Truly. Atsumu didn’t know what to feel, was the allyship between Itachiyama and Shiratozawa nothing more than a contractual agreement? And if so, was that why it took Kiyoomi two years before reaching out to Atsumu?
No. Atsumu wouldn’t go down that road of thought. He refused to believe it, if only for his heart. For his soul. Sakusa would’ve found a way to contact Atsumu, would’ve found a loophole, he always did.
Atsumu took a deep breath and placed the letter with the one from two days prior, he refused to look at the ring he had tucked into the back of the drawer, refused to acknowledge its existence and the broken promise it represented.
Atsumu took a moment to reel his emotions in before he got up to start his day. It was going to be a long two days between then and the Gala. Atsumu hoped (read: prayed) he would be able to keep himself from crumbling until afterwards.