Chapter Text
It was rare that Kiyoomi’s mother ever called upon him. In fact he hasn’t seen her in months. Being her third child, she didn’t really hold interest in him. After all, he was nowhere near the throne.
While he was walking towards the throne room to meet his mother he realised finally why she had called him. Only the thought of what she will tell him is enough to stop him in his tracks.
Now that he thought about it, it was right in front of his eyes all this time, incredibly obvious. How could he be so oblivious and ignorant? His mind must have subconsciously blocked it out because of how much he loathed the idea. But there was no denying it anymore, it’s the only thing that makes sense. His mother never demands to speak with him directly, always resorting to using messengers. Plus just a week ago he turned seventeen. He’s the third child. It’s as if the puzzle pieces are finally falling into place in his mind.
He’s going to get married. Soon probably. Right after his eighteenth birthday most likely. In a year.
He felt like throwing up. It makes no sense why. He knew he would be getting married off to some prince or princess as soon as he was of age since he was half the age he is now but it all felt so far away until this moment right now. He’s going to get married.
Right next to him he could feel that his guard, Iizuna, was starting to get visibly anxious on his sudden stop of movement so he forced himself to move forward, towards the dreaded meeting with the Queen.
He didn’t really have a relationship with his mother. She’s always been cold and distant ever since he was a child. At least towards him. His older brother, the crown prince, was the one she spent the most time with, both while he was a child and now. His sister was worthy of her attention as well while she was a child, less than their brother for sure but she was still on good terms with her. He’s pretty sure they still correspond through letters. But Kiyoomi himself even in his childhood, he only saw her in passing but nowadays he hasn’t seen her in passing for months; he probably wouldn’t even remember how she looks if it wasn’t for her portraits hung all over the castle and the fact that people keep telling him how similar in appearance he is to her.
The majestic and enormous doors to the throne room opened before him and across from him he could see his mother, in all of her glory, on her throne. The room he was in right now was in his opinion one of the most beautiful places in the Itachiyama castle, with breathtaking gold decorations and tapestries decorated in Itachiyama yellow and green, as well as the most expensive and picturesque paintings money could buy on the walls, doors and ceilings. But probably his favourite thing about the room was the massive, golden throne with more details than he’s ever seen showing the history of the country. Kiyoomi’s quite jealous of his brother who’ll get to sit there in a few years. But everything in the room paled in comparison to the woman sitting in the throne, staring at him with cold eyes, her expression not giving anything away, much like his.
His mother was the embodiment of beauty, power, aura and grace. Even if she had been stripped of her crown and gowns he's sure that even while wearing a potato sack she’d still manage to look like the Queen she is. Today she's dressed in gold, green and white, colours Itachiyama prides itself off of. With the dress following the latest trends, full of bows and ruffles it should’ve been the first thing you lay your eyes on, the star of the show. But his mother was able to use the gown only to enhance her appearance, her shiny long black curls, pale skin, and moles on her heart shaped face.
Now that Kiyoomi could take a better look at her he understood all the comparisons between his mother and him. It’s as if he didn't inherit anything from his father except for his gender, he truly looked like a male version of the Queen.
“Your Majesty,” the prince said while kneeling down.
“Kiyoomi,” she regarded him coldly, “stand up.”
“What are you covering with your history tutor at the moment?”
The black haired boy had to admit he was confused. He didn’t understand the need to speak around the bush. It seemed as if his mother called him in here to ask how he’s been faring, but even though Kiyoomi knew better it still felt nice to finally talk to her. Nevertheless he answered truthly. ”At the moment we’re going over Itachiyama’s history and relationship with Inarizaki.”
She nodded her head as if asking him to continue.
“Inarizaki is the country we’ve had the most amount of wars with over the course of our history and, even now for decades we’ve been basically at the brink of war with the-”
“That’s correct, thank you,” she interrupted quickly. ”As you've said, at this very moment even the smallest thing can push us over the edge of war. Quite terrifying, don’t you think so? Although under my reign and the period of ruling of Inarizakis current Queen things have quieted down it’s still not enough to fix centuries of disagreements and war. Especially with Karasuno recently growing in power, Inarizaki would be a powerful ally. They could help us grow a lot not only in war but economically as well. Queen Miya shares thoughts about us too. That’s the reason we decided to do an arranged marriage between you and her oldest son Atsumu Miya-''
Kiyoomi froze up and couldn’t hear a single thing his mother said to him because of the drumming in his head after the prince's wretched name. Miya. Atsumu. It could've been anyone, any prince, any princess, from any kingdom in the world. Hell it could’ve even been Miya’s twin brother, Miya Osamu, but no, it had to be him. The loud, obnoxious and rude Miya Atsumu who has no manners whatsoever. He couldn’t think of a worse person to marry. And he’ll have to spend years with him. Decades if he doesn’t commit suicide or die unexpectedly. No one ever could have prepared him to be marrying the assholish prince whose reputation precedes him.
“-in a month you’ll be heading over to Inarizaki and you’ll be staying at the castle for a year until your wedding that’ll be taking place right after your birthday,” she continued. ”Is that clear?”
“Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” Kiyoomi answered obediently as if he had any say in the issue at hand; ignoring and suppressing the urge to argue, to say something, to fight for his future.
“Very well. You’re dismissed.”
The fifteen year old calmly but quickly got out of his mother’s sight. Once the door closed behind him he started running as fast as he could past Iizuna straight to his bedroom. Unfortunately before he could shut himself in his bedroom he heard an urgent but still somehow classy sounding “Kiyoomi!” behind him; belonging to a person he very much does not wish to speak to at the moment. But because ignoring the voice will certainly put him in trouble with said person he turns around to the sight full of emerald green, ruffles, bows and silk.
Kagami was as beautiful as their mother but in a completely different way. Unlike Kiyoomi, she took all of her looks from their father - a slim face with smaller more upturned light brown eyes and slightly wavy hair. It’s not like he hated his sister or anything. In fact he probably liked her the most out of his whole family. He just really doesn’t want to talk to her because he already knows that she’ll tell him exactly what he doesn’t want to hear but he stays anyway; his displeasure showing on his face.
“Walk with me, will you?” she said it so sweetly as if he could answer anything other than a yes. ”And get that sour look off your face, may I remind you that you haven’t seen me in a year? You could bear to look a little bit happier to see your only sister.”
“You could have visited as well, you know.”
“True,” she said, finally dropping her cheerful and sweet tone that annoyed him more than anything once they stepped foot in the gardens away from the guards. Her fake personality is the whole reason why she earned the title of grand duchess. Inside she was a huge asshole that was too frank and greedy for her own good. It’s the whole reason why he liked her so much, ”but I have much more responsibilities than you and in the end I was the one who came here. But let’s not argue about such trivial matters. I suppose you already know, with that grim face you're wearing.”
“That apparently I’m engaged and leaving for Inarizaki in a month? Yes, I’ve heard.”
“I found out from Kazuhito yesterday. The entire reason why I’m here, I wanted to talk to you.”
They sat in silence for a while, neither knowing what to say until Kagami moved even closer to Kiyoomi to straighten his jacket.
“You’ve got to suck it up and do as you're told, you know. It’s your payment for the privilege and title you received when you were born,” she muttered glumly under her nose as if she knew all too well about what she’s talking about.
Suddenly out of nowhere she hugged him. It came as a shock to him. Kagami, while the most affectionate among his family, still almost never resorted to physical touch to showcase her emotions. The last time he could remember Kagami embracing him was seven years ago, when he was ten and his sister nineteen, he got lost in the woods because he lost control of his horse for close to ten hours when he was finally found by the search party Kagami the princess didn't let him go for a solid ten minutes.
Right now he wasn’t possibly dead plus he hated physical touch but the display of affection was so rare among his family and the fact that it’s going to be even more rare now that he’s going away to Inarizaki, he decided he’d welcome the gesture. It was quite nice actually. The position wasn’t very comfortable considering his sister’s massive skirt so they moved apart quickly, but she still kept her hands on his shoulders and on her face he could see a semblance of a smile.
“You know, Inarizaki is a beautiful place; I’d say prettier than Itachiyama even. Nature is truly one of a kind and the palace gardens? To die for. I’m sure you’ll be able to one day call it your home. To be honest I’m kind of jealous,” she said quietly as she was cupping his cheek in a comforting way.
He didn’t want anything else but to ask her what she was jealous of. Getting taken away from their home? Marrying an asshole? Not knowing shit about the Kingdom you're going to be King of one day other than superficial information? Or maybe getting told all of this a month before actually doing so.
However, no matter how much he wanted to, he didn't utter a single word. Knowing it’ll end in a scolding or a lecture from his sister about being more mature and not whining when things don’t go your way. So he complied and shut his mouth.
Seeing that and buying into Kiyoomi’s illusion of maturing she smiled up at him proudly and finally dropped the topic like Kiyoomi was hoping they would since the conversation started.
They talked for a while catching up while walking through the gardens and basking in the sunlight. The gardens were impressive to say the least which isn’t a surprise since the palace gardens belong to the royal family. The ground is covered with rose bushes, lilies, cherry trees and many more plants that Kiyoomi doesn’t recognise. The prince rarely spends time in the garden unlike his sister who while she still lived in the castle used to spend her entire day from sunrise to sunset.
Kagami tried to bring the conversation back to his engagement but he pointedly ignored her attempts or changed the subject entirely just wanting to enjoy his time with his sister without having to think and worry what his future may look like. He’ll have plenty of time to do so in the next month until his departure.
They split ways after a few hours when the sun started to set and the blue sky was replaced by warm hues of orange, yellow and pink. Both heading towards their respective bed chambers in opposite directions.
When he slams the door open to his surprise he lays his eyes on his cousin, who was supposed to be visiting his family. On his bed.
“Get off my bed right this instant,” he warns quickly. He loathed whenever someone was in his room and even the idea of someone touching anything especially laying on his bed could send him into a frenzy. And while he loved his cousin and he could tolerate him being in his room he still hated whenever he lay on his bed.
“You know I used to sleep in your bed more times than not when we were kids,” Motoya mentioned while reminiscing about the past. But before Kiyoomi can comment, Motoya continues with his thoughts, ”So I assume you aren’t happy about marrying Miya, huh?”
“How do you even know that? Did everyone just know about my engagement before I did?”
“I’m pretty sure except your mother and maybe Kazuhito you're the first person to know don’t worry. The reason I know is because news spreads fast around the staff. I mean it’s been a few hours since your mother called you in. Plenty of time to gossip,” he continued as if it’s common sense; which to be fair it kind of was with how nosy and gossipy the staff always were, Motoya being the worst of them all. “Plus I’m going with you genius. I was told like an hour after you probably.”
Kiyoomi hadn’t thought about that at all. He got so caught up in his own thoughts that he forgot that as his two personal guards Iizuna and Motoya will be accompanying him to Inarizaki. While the situation still isn’t ideal to the black haired prince and he’d rather much more to stay back in his country but having his two closest friends (which doesn’t say much since they’re his only friends and one of them is literally his cousin) come along with him will make it most likely more bearable. Not by much since they're both incredibly nosy, loud and annoying but a little bit.
As though to remind of his presence after Kiyoomi hadn’t bothered to answer, Motoya inquired “Want to get it out of your system? Talk about it? I’m assuming your sister didn't let you complain much.”
Kiyoomi really didn’t, he’d prefer to do anything else really. The ideal course of action for him would be to ignore the issue at hand and when the time came he would accept his situation in silence. But through knowing Motoya basically since birth and looking into his eyes he could see that he wouldn’t let go and he wouldn’t let him change the topic as well.
The prince sighed and laid down next to his cousin who still didn’t get out of his bed but he let him be.
“I knew since I was a toddler that I would be married off and I’d have to leave my home and be the trophy husband of some other royalty but I didn't realise how close I was to that future. Motoya I have a month. A month left in Itachiyama until I have to leave and live in Inarizaki for the rest of my life. I probably won’t even be able to do anything until my departure. I’ll have to learn about Inarizaki’s customs, history and culture. I’m going to have to leave everyone and everything behind. I’m going to go insane there. Completely mad from having Miya as my husband. I could win a better husband in a lottery. Even Kageyama would be better… Nevermind they're both horrible. Honestly they deserve each other. Why couldn’t I marry Ushijima or someone, i don't know, anyone, just not him,” he’ll admit he got a little carried away but it always was like that with the brunette, he was incredibly easy to talk to.
“How do you know Miya is so ‘horrible’ though? You never met, have you?” his cousin pointed out while turning his head towards him. “I never took you for a person that judges people based on rumours.”
While what Motoya was saying was annoying he knew he was right. He never met Miya although they were at the same place only metres away from each other at least once a year on royal weddings or birthdays and such but not a single word was ever exchanged between the two boys. Being completely honest, Kiyoomi doesn’t even really remember what the twins look like (he probably should look up how his future husband looks but out of pure pettines he simply refuses to). He’s pretty sure he and the two princes of Inarizaki were kept away from each other on purpose considering the political tensions of both countries.
“I’m not,” he huffed, annoyed at the accusation, ”but rumours always have some truth to them, no? Especially ones so well known.”
“The ones that shit on people and are scandalous spread like wildfire, not the truthful ones. Honestly he could have been rude because of one bad day and people made it into his entire personality because he's the heir. The rumour has been around for ages so maybe he was a disrespectful child but he's a changed person now. I think you should give him a chance. Basing your decisions and opinions about people based on your prejudice is not going to do you any favours, you know.”
Kiyoomi really didn’t want to admit his older cousin might be right and actually have a good point. He definitely won’t become friends with the prince or even more improbable fall in love with him but he might be able to become acquaintances with the Inarizaki heir and after he becomes King let Kiyoomi move away to some other royalty owned property in the countryside where he won’t have to see the others face everyday but at most once a month instead.
While highly improbable and not entirely ideal it was the best case scenario that Kiyoomi could think of and because of Motoya’s little speech he finds himself holding out a little hope for it to maybe come true. After all Miya probably isn’t a fan of the idea as well-
“-or he’s just an asshole. I’ve never talked to the guy myself,” he suddenly continued and snorted as if giving Kiyoomi false hope and making him even more miserable than he was before was the funniest thing he did today.
“Didn’t you come here to make me feel better? If you’re just going to end your little speech like that, what was even the point of it,” he asked with a scowl adorning his pale face.
Motoya laughed lightheartedly while still staring at the beautifully decorated ceiling of his room. ”Your face will get stuck like that if you keep frowning like that every five minutes. And then by the time you're twenty you’ll be all wrinkly like an old man.” Which definitely didn’t help because Kiyoomi just started frowning even more. ”But just give Miya a chance, will you? Who knows maybe you’ll even fall in love~” Motoya sang right before he started making kissy faces at the other.
“Yeah that’s definitely going to be the case.” Kiyoomi snorted and pushed his cousin's face away with his hand simultaneously. “Now shut up or get out because I’m going to sleep.”
“Hey! That’s entirely plausible. He has blond hair, is tall, muscular and very handsome. Exactly your type!” he tried, ridiculously might he add, backing up his claim.
“Since when is that my type? You’re being ridiculous,” Kiyoomi scoffed while getting up and heading up to the bathroom.
“You only had a crush once on that one guard on the night shift in front of the library when we were twelve so I automatically assumed that’s your type from my wonderful deduction skills worthy of sir Sherlock Holmes,” Motoya gloated as if he just won a century long war or made a new scientific discovery that saves lives.
Kiyoomi couldn’t help but blush at the reminder of his silly childhood crush and how ridiculously he acted in front of the object of his affections thinking he actually has a chance with a twenty two year old married man.”How the hell do you even remember that. Whatever, just get out already, will you?” the prince uttered quickly in one breath still red in the face and getting ready to throw his shoe at the older.
“Okay, okay, I’m going no need to get so aggressive,” Motoya raises his hands in the air in a sign of surrender slowly backing away towards the doors being held on shoe point.”ButconsiderwhatIsaidloveyoubye,” he spouted and closed the door so quickly that unfortunately Motoya was able to escape the shoe. Lucky bastard.
______________________________________
The last month of Kiyoomi’s freedom goes by incredibly quickly between learning about his future ‘home’ and hanging out with Motoya, Iizuna and his sister and enjoying his free time alone in the woods or library (pointedly ignoring all the books about Inarizaki) or just walking freely around the familiar palace grounds he came to finally appreciate his home and time of his youth he spend there as you usually do when you’re about to lose something.
He really wishes nothing else but to turn back in time and learn to appreciate his home more once again. He thinks to himself standing in front of the palace.
In front of his home.
But that’s of course impossible so he does the action he has dreaded for a month now. He turns around and with every step he gets closer to his carriage.
The carriage filled with his belongings.
The carriage that will carry him away from here.
From his family. His home.
He can already see the people standing below. Waiting for him.
When he finally gets down from the stairs, Motoya and Iizuna by his side, and stands in front of three most important people in the country that he’ll see for the last time in months and after that he will see them maybe once a decade he feels sick; he feels like crying and throwing up at once.
Which he of course won't do and he’ll suppress those urges and hold his head up high proudly and gracefully making his etiquette teacher from his childhood proud. He does just that and goes up to his mother first. The face in front of which he bows down doesn’t reveal any emotions except for patience and calmness.
“Kiyoomi, you’re representing Itachiyama. You are Itachiyama. The people of Inarizaki don’t hold us or our nation in high regard so you have to be careful and remember that there is always someone watching, don't let your guard slip and be careful who you trust.”
While he already knew all of those, having his mother mention them just proved how important and relevant those words were so he just nodded with a determined look on his face.
Even though he would quite literally do anything else, be stript of his title, his riches, anything than leave Itachiyama and marry Miya he knew he had no choice and he’ll take this assignment seriously because he’s aware of how important this is not only for his family but also his people, his country. If this alliance doesn’t work out there will be war, that's a fact.
He was ready to move on to his brother standing right next to his mother when the Queen spoke again.”Write to me. Anytime you’re facing any troubles, need any advice or if you feel in danger you will write to me as quickly as possible. Understood?” To any other person her voice would sound as demanding and emotionless as always but to Kiyoomi whose entire family as well as himself usually speak with a similar tone he can hear that in the last sentence it wavered in sadness most likely.
And that managed to stop him in his tracks. He really never would have thought to hear and see such emotions from his mother directed at him specifically. The tone so different from her usual indifference towards him made him want to cry even more but also a part of him was angry a little bit on why she had never shown those emotions when he was in the palace, when he wasn’t going away to a foreign land.
“Understood,” he quickly agreed and moved to the right before he could start tearing up to talk with his brother and say goodbye.
His brother stood proud and tall in front of him in an elegant dark jade green jacket and vest adorned with golden accents with a white shirt underneath and black pants. Kazuhito, unlike Kiyoomi and Kagami, looked like a mix of their parents inheriting their mother’s black curls and dark eyes but their father’s slim face and tanner skin. The heir put his hands, which are decorated with multiple golden family heirlooms that are reflecting the early morning sunlight, onto his shoulders.
“Kiyoomi, we're counting on you so don’t disappoint us, ” he patted his shoulders in a comforting gesture.”We’ll see each other in just a few months you’ll be okay,” he flashed his incredibly rare smile at him which made Kiyoomi feel a little better he supposes.
Kazuhito wasn’t always a comforting presence like Kagami was but he was there. After their father died when Kiyoomi himself was four his brother took up the role of a father despite being incredibly busy with his crown prince duties and studies he still paid attention and strictly coached him through his childhood which raised him to be the person he is today. For what he’s incredibly grateful.
That’s why he repaid the elder with a small smile of his own. And before he could move away Kazuhito caught his wrist for him to come back. Just a second later he was slipping something right into the middle of his palm and then quickly closing it before he had the chance to see what it was. But by feeling it in his hand he could sense that he was given a ring. The crown prince cut him off before he could say anything while still holding his hand.
“Keep it and remember you aren’t alone. Write to me whenever you want,” he said with a wink and a smile so small yet so bright that he wouldn't dare oppose him.
When he opened his hand to reveal and put on the ring he saw a beautiful golden band with the Itachiyama crest carefully carved into it embellished with multiple emerald stones. It was Kazuhito’s favourite of all the ones he owned. He knows so because he remembers as if it was yesterday when he got it. Back when Kiyoomi was five and he was sixteen he wouldn't shut up about how pretty it is and how glad he is he was the one who got it. Kagami was even planning a heist to steal it using the youngest as a distraction because the sixteen year old wouldn’t even let them touch the ring let alone wear it. And now he was giving it away to Kiyoomi just like that.
The seventeen year old wanted to argue but once he met his eyes and could see the hard resolve in his eyes he decided to leave it and just smile up at him.”Thank you I’ll take good care of it.” Kiyoomi said while putting it on his pinky finger knowing how much it meant to the man.
His sister was wearing a more simple, less extravagant dress compared to the one she wore yesterday in a less bold, light blue and cream white colour. It was paired with a simple golden necklace and a classic circle shaped pendant that he knew had a little portrait painted of them both because he commissioned it a few years ago as a gift. Kagami’s arms this time wrapped around his wrist delicately so he could easily back away if either of them wanted to.
She took a long deep breath as if to brace herself for what she’s about to say and the edges of her lips twitched a little upwards before she started with a slightly shaky voice.”I already told you everything I wanted to tell you yesterday so just stay strong Kiyoomi, remember your duties and we’ll see each other soon enough.”
Kiyoomi wasn’t sure if he would be able to not murder anyone or run away back to Itachiyama in a dark misty night before they would see each other again on Miya’s eighteenth birthday party but nevertheless he nodded gracing Kagami with a small smile of his own and squeezing her hands lightly in an act that he hopes came by as reassuring.
The only thing now standing in front of him isn’t a person but the carriage he despised from the very moment he laid his eyes on it. By all means it was beautiful, big and seemingly extremely comfortable as befits a vehicle for a prince, with its golden details surrounding every window and door that were painted on with by a master's hand as well as big forest green cushions inside which must be unbelievably soft and cosy. Despite the money it must have cost, Kiyoomi hated it more than anything he ever laid his eyes on. Even Miya at the moment couldn’t come close.
But nevertheless despite every instinct of his telling him otherwise he slowly walked up the steps the servant next to him lowered down straight into the quite big for a vehicle space he’ll spend the next two weeks in.