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Once upon a time, when magic still existed and used for tests, punishment and blessings alike, there was a prince.
His name was Obito, and he lived under the care of the Queen, his dear grandmother. The kingdom loved their prince for while he was clumsy, a bit hot tempered and struggled to be on time to get to ceremonies and festivals, he was genuinely kind to the people of his grandmother’s kingdom.
The People believed he would make a fine King one day.
What they loved him for though ended up becoming what ruined him.
He had found what he thought was a simple peddler looking for shelter and he had offered his cloak, offered his gold and even offered his aid to walk him. He thought he had been going the right thing, had been doing something kind and generous.
Instead what he discovered was that the peddler was a warlock; Kuro who had been observing the prince for years. He was a cruel being, an envious one that was embittered by centuries of loss and rage.
Why should the people have such a kind prince? Why should the prince have any kind of happiness? What did these clueless, stupid people do to deserve prosperity?
With these thoughts swirling in his head, he did not hesitate with his curse.
He cut out the prince’s heart and with it took all his love, his joy, his anger, his sorrows, everything that made him Prince Obito and with it he said this;
“As long as you remain the heartless prince, there will be no hope, no future, no helping your kingdom thrive. Within ten years, it shall all collapse into ruin and you dear prince shall become nothing but stone to look over the devastation you brought upon all those who love you. But if you somehow can find someone willing to give you half their heart before the time’s up, then your own shall be returned in full and the curse broken.”
With that he disappeared from sight in a flurry of shadows.
As promised in his curse, he became empty. A husk of himself who seemed more like a vessel than a person. His grandmother desperately tried to find someone willing to follow the stipulations of the curse; she promised wealth, she promised the kingdom, she even offered her grandson’s hand in marriage. Even the subjects would plead with royals, other magic folk, squires, and even jesters visiting from their own kingdoms or simply passing through to see if they could do it.
No one was able to do it; afraid, disheartened, or just didn’t care enough about another kingdom’s problems.
For nine years, the kingdom began to fall into disarray. The disheartened people began to make arrangements to leave for new homes as the farmlands had become infertile for crops, their livestock were starving at the lack of grass growing in the once lush meadows. Even the traders who brought outside food and merchandise to sell began planning to make their exit.
One day, a knight of the kingdom who had left to continue his training returned; Sir Kakashi Hatake. He had wild white hair, wore a simple dark green tunic while his sword rest at his hip and wore a mask on his face.
When he went to the palace, there sat the heartless prince with his dulled eyes, long wild black hair, clad in dark violet robes and wrapped with a blanket. As if somehow that might warm him enough to bring the semblance of a heart.
All who had entered the doors before this strange knight would have been taken aback by the other’s appearance. They would cower under the icy, emotionless gaze, discouraged at the lack of reaction.
Yet Kakashi just continued to walk towards him as if an old friend and he took the prince’s hands gently; the first warm touch he’s experienced in a long long time.
“My prince…” the knight spoke gently, “Did I keep you waiting long?”
Prince Obito could only stare at him before swallowing slowly as he weakly held his hands back.
His mind fills with childhood memories; of a boy he’d play with in the courtyard gardens when the blacksmith was working. Who he made flower crowns for and would pretend they were both kings of the kingdom together, who tended to be snarky when Obito was being too hopeful, who always listened even if he sometimes would be a brat about it.
It had hurt so much when the boy left to become a knight. Like a piece of himself had gone with him.
He looked at the knight slowly, “...you…took long…enough ...”
The knight smiled as he pulled down his mask; even older he would know the other’s face anywhere. Know the mole on his chin, the handsome shape of his face, those dark gray eyes that light up.
“I know….I made you wait a long time…” He rested the prince’s hand on his chest, “I’m here now though, and I’m not going anywhere….” he leaned in slowly to rest his forehead to his and the action sent a spark of warmth that hasn’t been there for a long long time.
Prince Obito closed his eyes when he felt it. A heartbeat started slow and quiet in his chest, spreading warmth slowly through him for the first time in almost a decade.
All because Kakashi gave him a kiss on the lips and with it the other half of his heart.