From this day forward, you are to know one thing and that one thing only. You are to be groomed, as my passage to the throne. We shall shed our virgin ears as proof that our age knows not our , the loveless child entitled prince, sent to me by fate from the flap of a butterfly wing. From this day forward, you are mine.
…
To an outsider, the dream of living in a castle is great. But to one on the inside, the dream of living outside in their worn shoes is even greater. This is true for the youngest prince of the Aoyagi royal family, Ritsuka.
All he wanted was an escape from the fate he was written.
"Soubi," The young prince asked his servant while being prepared for bed. "What does, once upon a time, mean?"
"Well my sweet prince," A small smile teased on the tall man's lips. "I believe, it is the beginning of something wonderful."
"Ritsuka," Seimei, the eldest prince entered the young boy's room. "I wish to be with you tonight."
Soubi finished pulling a long white night gown around Prince Ritsuka's slim body. Remaining silent, as a servant to the royal family is supposed to, he could feel Seimei's violet eyes burning down his back. He bowed his head to Prince Seimei before getting up to pull the covers down on the large canopy bed.
To Ritsuka, the idea of sleeping in the same bed as his brother was nothing new. However, the king and queen shan't ever know. He understood this was all part of his secrete role, as the source for Seimei's desires.
"Seimei," Ritsuka lightly rubbed his tired eyes. "What does, once upon a time mean?"
"Once upon a time?" The older prince let his eyes catch the candle light as he advanced closer to his beautiful little brother. "Well I used to believe those were just silly words for fairytales." Carefully, he lifted the small boy's hand in his and gazed into his eyes. "But in the moment you were born, I could have sworn I heard those very words echo through the whole palace."
A faint blush warmed the twelve-year-old's pale cheeks. His brother's loving actions were nothing new to him. Since the moment he could remember, Seimei has always been his beloved brother.
In his tenth year of life, the youngest prince lost all his memories. The king and queen blamed black magic. Burning the accused at the stake, in hopes the curse might lift. However, the prince never regained his memories. Two years have past since that day. Ritsuka is not who he was as a younger child. This broke the queen's heart to the point of madness, though kept as a private matter from the land's people. The king goes hunting often to escape the quarrels. Only the oldest prince and his personal servant dare get close to the supposed cursed child.
Prince Seimei kissed Ritsuka's fingertips. "Shall we sleep then?" He walked to the other side of the large bed while his little brother rested his head on his pillow.
Although neither prince was tired, they still pulled the covers up. Ritsuka was accustomed to the early bedtime routines his brother had when they shared the same bed. He could feel Seimei's warm arms wrap around him gently, as if he were made of fine glass, before pulling him close.
Soubi covered the candles to dim the room before letting himself out. Since the day Ritsuka's memories were stolen from him, Soubi had been instructed by Seimei to groom the youngest prince. Groom him to except his brother's love. Regardless of their blood relation, Seimei wanted nothing more than to be close to the youngest prince. As Seimei's personal servant, Soubi could not deny an order from his master.
Seimei's fingers tangled in the Ritsuka's soft black hair. He's lips trailed ghost like kisses around his neck. Ritsuka squeezed his eyes shut as his felt his brother's tongue tease his skin. Seimei could feel the child's heart begin to pound as he slipped his free hand up his sensitive thighs.
Every night Ritsuka would remind himself; this was his only purpose in life. However, a part of his heart did not wish for what he feared as forbidden, despite Soubi's words of it being anything but. Seimei was always wonderful to him so he find no reason to complain to him.
"Brother..." Ritsuka moaned lightly as the older prince began to suckle at his pale skin to turn it a scarlet red. "Mother will notice." He grasped for his pillow to hide his face in.
Seimei lift his head. "Let her notice." He whispered. "I want her to know you are mine."
"I am yours." A tear slipped into the goose feather filled pillow. "But she was terribly displeased last time she saw."
Seimei pulled on the small boy's shoulder till they faced each other. "I promise you," He whispered with a steady voice. "She will not bother you for much longer."
"You don't know that." Ritsuka shook his head slightly. "It's not like her feelings towards me will change over night. So I must obey her so not to upset her again."
"You are such a good boy." A soft smirk climbed up Seimei's face. "But my words are true." He brushed stray hairs from his brother's cheeks. "The King and Queen will not rule over everything forever."
"Then why must the people chant daily, 'long live the king'?" Ritsuka let his eyes fall away from the other's. "Sometimes I don't quite understand you."
"You don't need to understand me." Seimei kissed is sweet prince softly. "Just love me."
"I do love you." Ritsuka kissed him back quickly. "But with that love, comes the desire to understand." He pressed his face against his brother's chest to take in his scent of firewood and spice.
"Then one day, you shall understand." Seimei pet Ritsuka's virgin neko ears. "But for tonight, let's refrain from such conversations. Just let me hold you."