Due to insistent public demand WE ARE BACCCCK! But first of all, belated happy Christmas guys and advance happy new year. So yes, this is a test chapter basically that means IT WILL STOP if you guys think it sucks, seriously, no hard feelings, you guys know me already, right? So to do that after this, I made a poll or actually you can tell me via review if we're good to go for another chapter or not.
The story is as I said a sequel to LION and we will tie the loose ends we left baack on the last chapter of LION. ARE YOU READY?
Yosh, so yeah you guys know the drill, review, fav or follow! Thank youuuu! AND I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Chapter 1: Phoenix Returns
What makes normality is the fact that it is within and in the middle of the gauge, this becomes the basis of normality—a normal human person. This is not really difficult to understand, what majority of humans are is the understood norm. So that one night in winter, when Akashi Seijuuro first cried in the arms of the midwife wrapped in the most expensive blanket many already knows he does not count among those who falls in the middle of the gauge.
Many refuse to call it properly, coating it pleasing labels instead—special, gifted, blessed or favoured, but the truth cannot be truly erased, those who does not belong in the middle of the gauge are simply abnormal. It doesn't matter what ends of the gauge he falls into, the fact that he is not like anyone is undeniable, and even how many labels they plaster to it he knows it doesn't change the fact that there is another consciousness inside him.
A monster.
Akashi pulls back the growing ugliness in inside him, afraid to expose it to anyone. It was his darkness, his true darkness. This is also why as he grows, he becomes more convinced he is bound to look over his Empire until all his brothers has settled down and one of them becomes the prime candidate after him to become the next Emperor. How could anyone after all love something like him?
People lie. They lie to get in his side, to able to use him and his brothers for their own good. People will tell you that they love you, they would profess their love to you with empty words. Akashi has learned this through the ages and this made his heart more jaded. He had become comfortable in the coldness of the confines of his palace.
Until he came…
If there was an epitome of plain it would be Furihata Kouki. His looks aren't really exceptional, Akashi has seen far more beautiful women and men in his life, however his beauty…it's incomparable. To describe Furihata Kouki is to describe nature, there is something so kind, sweet and generous about him. His brown eyes are like the calm and sturdy earth while his gentle words and warm hands felt like the humid summer, a beauty that captures all. And Akashi was a willing victim to his spell.
He felt like willingly walking to the summer sea, slowly drowning himself in its warmth and gentle pull. Then he dives in it, head first filling his lungs, his nose, his body with all that was him.
It was love and he knew it.
But love is not simply bliss, it was pain too.
It was the burning sensation in the heart accompanied with irrational fear of being away from that person, love is the piercing and stabbing pain of disappointment and denial, love is the bitter taste of rejection.
Love is double edged sword.
Akashi who has been firmly and safely tucked in his own corner for a long time is foreign to these, and so when it hit him it was like a hard blow in his chest. His felt his knees buckle and bow in front of the intangible force called love.
If anyone has told him then he'd be marrying a simple brunet with no exceptional skills or intelligence he would probably have questioned their sanity, even if it was his brothers. And after all, even if he did marry this person, what assurance would there be that this person would not withdraw right after he or she founds about his true nature. It is only after all logical to be frightened, a love that surpasses such things only exists in fairy tales.
Akashi never believed in fairy tales, until one came to him dressed in a commoner's clothings, trembling in nervousness and stuttering.
It has been two moons since that fairy tale was sealed by an exchange of vows.
Akashi could never forget the tears breaming in Furihata's eyes when he dragged him in the throne room in the Iron Palace like some love struck adolescents and announced right there in front of the former King and the current King that he wish to marry their precious son and brother. The King laughs shrugging saying it was time it happened while the former King and Furihata's father walked to them and gave his son a firm hug and a smile to Akashi before giving his blessings. The brunet threw his arms on him and enveloped him in a joyful embrace.
Soon he made his announcement in Teiko and quickly assembled the ceremony. The Head Priest of the Empire facilitated the main ceremony, while Momoi and the women of the courts in the fifth prince's lead ensured the ceremony would be marked in history. Though Furihata argued he wanted the ceremony to be simple, Akashi couldn't simply settle—he needed the world to know.
These things made Akashi question the norm that humans set.
What is normal and what is average, perhaps it is just an illusion, something subjective to others, because he found his in the embrace of his own flaws and ugliness, in the acceptance of the monster that pulled him away from normality.
Many things have changed in the past few months, it flew pass like a summer wind, for some it sent relief and for some it brought in something unwarranted.
If there was anything Akashi Seijuuro learned, it was there was truly no one who could foretell what exactly fate has installed for them. Human decisions can quickly swept things away that sometimes even destiny changes with the sheer will power of the human heart and will.
Even the mighty falls.
Akashi sits in the bedside as he watches the sleeping figure there, the soft and quiet snores escapes his plump pink lips and his sun-kissed skin looked healthy in the morning glow, Akashi smiles at the sight of his spouse. He carefully brushes the stray strands of hair in the brunet's face, he doesn't stir. Akashi found out he sleeps like a log when he's relaxed.
Usually the Empress does not share the bed with the Emperor, but Akashi found himself unable to sleep without the other's warmth. At first his sleep was plagued with nightmares, he would wake up to the guilt of his mistake a few years ago. And after a few nights of the same event, the Empress himself went to see him in his chambers, they spent a few hours until Akashi finds himself falling asleep to the sound of his voice. Without anyone saying anything, they started sleeping in the same room.
Nobody really has to comment on this; after all they were now both married to each other.
It was these kinds of mornings that Akashi wondered to himself what he has done good to deserve this man, so delicate and caring to him and to their people.
If this was a work of fate, he's fairly convinced now that he has gotten in her good side somehow. And if he did, the Kingdom of Jabberwock did not.
Today's gathering was about the insurgent at the West Kingdom of Jabberwock. Many of their citizens are secretly fleeing from their land to different kingdoms and empires to seek shelter from the war. A woman named Alice stood and led the revolution against Nash Gold the Second's reign after her younger brother was killed when he was taken to slave trade. With the fire of anger built in her chest, and sturdy weapon she led many against their own leader. The Kingdom has become harsher on their people since then and suspected almost anyone, there were unfortunately too many lives that has been taken by this.
Though Akashi knew this would happen, he didn't know it would be so soon.
Shaking the thoughts away, Akashi reminded himself that he must not bring the affairs of their Kingdom here in their chambers. He made it a rule to keep these things in his office. He decides it's time to wake up the brunet.
"Kouki," he whispers, "Kouki, it's nearly noon."
Akashi almost chuckles as Furihata rolls in his chest and buries his face in the pillow muttering incoherently. The red head smiles as the blanket falls over and exposes the brunet's back full of small splotch of dark lilac and blue bruises—definitely Akashis fault, he doesn't hold himself much as he leans down and kisses the brunet's exposed neck.
"Do you wish to stay in bed?" Akashi whispers against the skin.
He feels the other stir and he pulls away before Furihata would have hit him by sitting up so quickly. Akashi smirks as he finds the brunet now wide awake and sporting a dark blush in his cheeks.
"Sei!" The brunet exclaims.
"I thought you'd like to sleep more."
The brunet doesn't say anything but slightly leans back as Akashi stares at him like he usually does, his red eyes seems very intimidating.
Akashi wears a multiple layered kimono, the outermost is red with the Imperial family's insignia in the right shoulder down to the sleeves, the color made the man's pearl white skin emphasized.
"Did you sleep well?"
Furihata nods.
"Well that's good then." Akashi says before reaching to cup the other's cheek in his hand and leaning to kiss him.
The Emperor intended the kiss to be short however his other self has another plan. He feels a strong pull in the back of his head again, his whole body feels it is getting on fire again and before he knows it he's deepening their kiss and he's head his ringing with the soft sounds of the brunet's moans. It sounds so good, feels so good that he let himself get drawn into the heat of the moment, he feels Furihata's hand tracing his nape then up towards his hair, entangling his skilful hands in his hair.
He doesn't know how he managed to have controlled himself before from kissing the soul out of Furihata, and now that he has tasted and felt him there is surely no way for him to get rid of his new addiction. His lips always taste sweet, no, not the kind of sweet a candy would be but sweet like something just right, like…cinnamon. Ah yes, cinnamon.
Akashi hears Furihata moans again and this time he found himself tracing the lines of his sides with his thumb and the brunet shudders.
"Mn, Sei."
It should be a sin to have his name be called like that, it did things to him.
"Let's stay in bed." Akashi proposes as he pulls away for a bit and climbs the bed, he leans for another kiss but feels a weak push of Furihata's hand in his chest. "What is it?"
"N-No." Furihata weakly protests, he looks up at Akashi, lips red from kissing and cheeks dusted pink, "W-We have matters t-to attend to and—"
"They can wait."
"B-But I promised Momoi-san—"
"I will tell her I kept you in."
Furihata feels his face flush darker at the thought of his husband telling someone else that he decided to have keep him in their chambers instead of attending duties.
"I-It will reflect poorly for me." Furihata says finding no other excuse. Sometimes Akashi's eagerness made him fear for his own sanity and well other things. Akashi stops thankfully and leans back thinking.
"You do make a very difficult argument." He says, he sighs sounding disappointed, "I guess it cannot be helped."
"It's too early for this."
Akashi raises an eyebrow, a smirk plays in his lips, "Does that mean later you'd let me?"
"Eh?!"
Akashi chuckles and stands to take a robe set in the table for Furihata, he returns with a smile and gives the other his clothes admiring the blush in the other's face. Despite the time they've spent together and intimate moments, Furihata's shy and meek personality still has not changed.
"I was just teasing." Akashi says as the brunet takes the clothes.
"I-It's not funny."
"Hn."
Furihata raises his head at the other, "P-Please i-it's not—"
"I know, yes." Akashi says despite the smile in his lips, how can he resist teasing him when he responds so well?
Akashi sees as the brunet loosely pulls the robe on before climbing up the bed and walking towards the small divider. Furihata slips behind it and starts to dress. Most of the time Empress have their attendant to help them dress but the brunet insisted not to have one, he valued his privacy and always argued that his skin is only to be seen by his spouse—which Akashi would not deny made him a bit giddy—this is however in exception of wearing formal clothing since they have more layers and are simply impossible to be done alone.
The soft rustling of silks is the only music in the room but Akashi felt a strange sense of peace from it.
Somehow it made him wonder of his youngest brother's fairing across the sea.
"Has Kuroko-san sent a letter yet?" Furihata asks from behind the divider.
"Yes." Akashi answers, "I assume he's quite busy with his own deals as well."
"You sound disappointed." Furihata replies as he chuckles.
He knows how fond Akashi is with his youngest brother, he kept urging the teal haired consort to write more detailed narration of his days but instead the other would reply with his usual flat out rejection saying it is quite handful to narrate everything—which is true. As Kuroko and Kagami's wedding closes in it becomes more apparent how happy and excited Akashi is, he talks of it before sleeping and sometimes during dinner he would mention about ideas for presents to the two.
When Furihata finally finishes dressing, he slips out of the divider and joins his husband.
"Do you think he'll forget about me?" Akashi asks.
Furihata chuckles, "You sound like an old man."
"He'll be living far away, perhaps he'll forget me soon."
Furihata frowns a bit, Kuroko has always been around Akashi and it is undeniable the red head is very protective of his youngest sibling—all of them are, especially Aomine. It was only understanble, however sometimes it becomes irrational.
"He won't." Furihata says, "Just like I would never forget about my brother."
Akashi nods, "You're correct, after all I'm his first and foremost favourite person in this world yes?"
Furihata laughs out loud this time, he shakes his head. If someone hears this, they must have thought the Emperor has a strange fixation on his own younger brother.
"You are full of yourself." Furihata says shaking his head, "Come now, I must leave before Momoi-san starts thinking something else."
"Let them."
Furihata doesn't pay attention to the other's teasing and proceeded to walk to the door, when suddenly—
.
.
.
CRASH!
…
Kuroko doesn't expect to begin his day consoling a crying blonde man in the garden. Kagami is kind enough to handle the blonde until Kuroko is completely awake and sober, he kept Kise in the morning room with just the two of them and a tray of tea and biscuits. Kuroko came to the room only to smouldered in a hug. Kagami watched in the sidelines with an awkward smile.
Kuroko offered they would change place, saying the garden would calm the blonde. Kagami knowing this is a personal matter dismisses the attendants and maids and instead served the two with their tea in the garden. The teal haired prince finds this side of his future spouse to be very endearing, he is very sensitive to people's emotions and attentive to their needs.
Now, in the middle of the morning and humid air Kise Ryouta sat in the garden in the Iron Palace with the King and his future consort crying his eyes out. Kuroko could only guess what brought him there, he takes a tentative look at Kagami telling him that he can handle this much, however the man smiles back to him quietly conveying that he wishes to be there. Kuroko nods and smiles.
The teal haired consort waits until Kise collects himself. The blonde's eyes are now puffy and red from crying, he looked less graceful this way.
"Please don't tell me you cried all the way here?" Kagami says crossing his arms over his chest.
Kaijo and Seirin isn't as far as Teiko and Seirin, and it takes a just two hours by the sea and six hours by carriage and horse. Kagami is surprised to be awaken by Aida saying a royal guest has arrived seeking the presence of His Royal Consort, unfortunately Kuroko doesn't wake up until later and he doesn't have the guts to wake the teal haired male. He took it to himself to see the guest only to find a crying Kise Ryouta. He doesn't speak and just cries all the while Kagami takes him in the morning room.
He tries reassuring him that Kuroko will be up in a few moments but that doesn't make him calm at all.
Kuroko sighs, "Kise-kun why are you crying?"
Kise shakes his head making Kuroko furrow his eyebrows.
Kise Ryouta is the King and betrothed of the Prince of Too, Aomine Daiki. For what Kuroko has gathered, his older brother Aomine has been smitten over the then prince of Kaijo who stayed with them one summer in the Crimson Palace due to matters of safety. The former King of Kaijo, Kise's father is a close friend of the late Emperor and Empress. However right after that summer, Kise returned to Kaijo and never contacted any of them, until Akashi initiated it.
After Aomine and Kise met yet again, an old flame was lit. It was quite a mess, Kise's title was gravely threatened after a peril in his life unfolded and almost had him killed. On the same thought, Kuroko thought this incident was his brother's wakeup call as well.
People realize the weight of one's presence when it is threatened to be taken away from them.
"What do you mean no?"
Kise raises his head and stares pleadingly at the two, "P-Please let me stay here for a while."
"What?" Kagami exclaims, he raises an eyebrow at the blonde, "Are you kidding me?"
"You have two Kingdoms to return to, why would you want to stay here with us?"
Kise doesn't answer and continues to cry, Kuroko hates grown men crying especially when it is Kise Ryouta and his loud wailing noises. It sounds like a dying pig in his ears.
"Please sto—"
"What did Aomine do this time?" Kagami says cutting Kuroko off, and making his consort turn at him in wonder.
Kise stops crying at Kagami's question, he looks up at the man with surprise painting his tear-stained expression.
"H-How did you…"
"A wild guess." Kagami answers with a shrugg. "Am I right?"
Kuroko turns to Kise waiting for the blonde to answer, he slowly nods. Kuroko wanted immediately leave at that, recently the two is back in a love-hate relationship that sometimes made him cringe. They are two grown men who acts like seven years old pulling each other's ponytail—very immature.
"Please tell me something new." Kuroko mutters under his breathe, "Kise-kun, please refrain from running away from home whenever you and Aomine-kun gets into a problem."
"How can I possibly stay at home with that idiot!" Kise exclaims loudly causing the birds perched in the small trees in the garden fly away.
"The same way you are able to stay with him in the past few years." Kagami says in a matter of fact.
Kuroko scoffs at his future husband's words, well that is one way he can put it. He looks up at Kise who frowns and shakes in his seat. The teal haired consort sighs again, their fights are small but extents too long for most people's comfort.
"You can divorce him." Kuroko says making his husband-to-be's eyes wide. Kagami quickly places a hand in Kuroko's shoulder.
"Kuroko that's—"
"No." Kuroko says with a firm will, he looks straight at Kise's eyes. "I'm giving you the options here, divorce is one of them. It's not taboo."
Kise's eyes widen, his hands starts to shake, his jaw quivers. He feels Kuroko's eye contact compelling, he couldn't tear his eyes off him despite wanting to, it felt more like Akashi's stare. He swallows thickly. Kuroko is not wrong, divorce is not a taboo topic. It happens when the marriage is no longer beneficial, it's not rare as well that it happens when the couples no longer agree and finds each other pleasing. He could divorce Aomine.
He can...
Kise's tears starts to well up again.
"If you hate Aomine-kun as much, if you cannot bear to be with him any longer then why don't you leave him, divorce him?"
Kise's voice betrays him and instead of speaking of all the ill feelings he was filled the night before he found himself sobbing. He bends forward and his hands hid his face as he cries again. He hates when they argue, he hates it when he hears Aomine raising his voice at him, he hated the insults that fly out of his lips, he hates the way he looks at him. He hates him so much that it hurts, and yet…
"Kagami-kun?" Kuroko calls the red head beside him. "As he is my lawfully brother-in-law, would you kindly lend him a room in this palace temporarily, until he has made his mind?"
Kagami nods. Though he is unsure of what Kuroko plans by telling Kise about divorcing Aomine—his own brother—he trusts him enough to let him do this. Kuroko could be harsh in his words, it is not his fault, he is used to slapping the truth at people, and sometime Kagami proved that to be necessary.
"Of course, I see no problem in that."
Kuroko nods and turns to Kise again, he doesn't look like is ready to speak of whatever has transpired between him and his brother that has reduced him to this. Kuroko doesn't mind. However, what he does mind is the way it is affecting the two. Kise has been very stressed lately, and Aomine is even more temperamental—or so that is what he concurs with the news he has been hearing lately.
This has to be settled, one way or another.
…
There are many things Akashi has quietly swore to Furihata when they joined hands in marriage, first is to love him unconditionally, second is never to keep a secret from the other, no matter what it is, and the third is to accept that he is not perfect and that is alright. The other Akashi since then has never caused distress, except for the times the other fills him with guilt with how he acted that almost caused Furihata his life. They agreed and are contented with what they have currently, Furihata Kouki and all that he is.
But still, he couldn't help it, the other Akashi was his darkness and sometimes that darkness rises in the surface when that safety and contentment is threatened.
His heart hammers in his chest as he marches to the dungeon where the guards have taken the said intruder. He could hear a growl deep in him, he tries to calm the other consciousness but it doesn't really help. His legs is strained from the excess control he is putting not to run and dash to the scene and squeeze the information out of whoever that person is.
Akashi made sure not to leave Furihata alone, he left Koutaro with the brunet and had him go to the Women's Hall—after all it is the least place anyone would look for Furihata, no one after all knew about Furihata's past dealings inside the Crimson Palace.
Kuroko is correct, Furihata brings his worst and best.
"Where is it?" Akashi's voice echoes in the dungeon, the smell of mold and earth didn't bother him much as the stinging in his eye that he bet is now flickering to gold.
The lines of guards quickly straighten up and make way for him. Akashi feels a familiar rage slowly sipping in his veins. He doesn't fear his safety, but if only he learns this intruder seeks is his consort that is an entire different agenda. A soldier steps forward and bows his head, Akashi remembers this man he trained once under Koutaro.
"We found the intruder at the former court of Kuroko-denka. He was in the pond, the gazebo has been damaged as well." The soldier says, "He doesn't seem to cooperate and won't tell us his intentions and name."
Akashi turns his head towards the cell where two guards stand. The dim light of the place barely enables him to see the figure inside. He moves towards the cell and raises a hand when he notices the alarm in the guard's face. He wants to see it himself, the face of the daredevil.
His steps echo in the floor as he inches into the cell. Slowly, Akashi sees a figure in the corner of the cell, shivering.
"You." Akashi calls, "Who are you?"
The figure visibly flinches as if recognizing Akashi's voice. It slowl uncurls itself from the corner, he turns and despite the dimness Akashi is sure whoever it this person might be is currently looking at him. Truly such a daredevil to look at the Emperor in the eye after trespassing.
"Speak!" Akashi exclaims, venom drips in his voice as he feels the warmness of the other's consciousness slipping with his.
He hears a small voice, like a gasp. And slowly it started moving, towards him. The first thing that he noticed was the small hands that grip the steel bars, furrows his eyebrows as the figure slowly emerges into the light of the room.
.
.
"Hakuryuu."