Wheezy: Hey guys... :D
Tsurugi: You are back, huh?
Wheezy: Was I ever gone, Kyou-kun?
Tsurugi: I would be the happiest if you were!
Wheezy: I know you don't mean that, silly! *laughs awkwardly
Tenma: Am I with Tsurugi this time? *excited
Wheezy: Hmm... That's what I'm thinking. Should I pair you with Kyou-kun or Yuuichi-san?
Tsurugi: Wait, what?! Why is Nii-san here? And what's with Tenma being paired with Nii-san?! *angry
Wheezy: Did I say that this is Yuuten fic?
Tsurugi: No!
Tenma: Then is it Kyouten? *beams
Wheezy: Sshhhh! That's a secret! Do the disclaimer, Tenma-kun and maybe, I'll let you know. *cunning smile
Tenma: Wheezy doesn't own us, just the story...
"He's 18, my Lady! We have to get him married as soon as possible!" Kyousuke heard his Father's voice through the closed door of the King's chambers.
"He's just a child, Yamato!" his Mother's voice screeched.
"I was fifteen and you were twelve when we got married, Shun. It is the custom of our lands and you are aware of it, aren't you? This is the right age, dear. Yuuichi has to marry and give this kingdom an heir. Only then we and our people can live in peace for a few decades to come," the King reasoned and Kyousuke gritted his teeth in anger. His parents made it seem like his brother was only born for producing another kid like it was his sole purpose to walk this Earth when clearly, it should not be.
"You're right, Yamato, but we must consider his feelings too. He doesn't want to get married," his Mother sighed. Kyousuke nodded his head in agreement with the Queen's argument.
"Yuuichi doesn't know what he needs and as his parents, we must be responsible. Not just as his parents, but as the King and the Queen of Eden! Don't you know what our people were talking about Yuuichi?" Yamato's voice broke a little. Kyousuke could sympathize with his Father because he knew too; he heard those accusations too. The people of Eden constantly talked about Yuuichi's unmarriedness. They've even set up signs demanding an heir to the Kingdom before any threat decides to suddenly loom over the Kingdom, disturbing their peaceful lives.
"Fine, Yamato. I will talk to him and persuade him. You just don't barge in while I'm at it. Your presence can be... intimidating, at times," the Queen conceded.
It was just any other morning in the palace when Kyousuke happened to overhear his parents discussing his brother's fate. They've house arrested Yuuichi because he had been running away every time his parents brought up marriage. And, behaving like a rebellious child when you're clearly a child wasn't becoming of a Prince. Hence, grounding him was the only choice for the King of Eden.
Tsurugi Kyousuke, the second Prince of the Eden kingdom, the second son of the great Emperor Tsurugi Yamato and his wife, Tsurugi Shun, walked pensively towards his garden. He was knowledgeable of the fact that it wasn't just his brother who was on the line but him too. His parents were seeing matches for him too and he didn't like it one bit. If they wanted an heir, getting Yuuichi married was enough, right? The throne of Eden belonged to his elder brother, the first Prince and the heir had to come from the first Prince too, not the second. So, he couldn't quite understand why he had to get married too.
That wasn't the only issue haunting the Eden household. His brother, Tsurugi Yuuichi, was a homosexual and his parents needed to find a boy who can get pregnant. They were rare, yes, but not extinct. And their parents spent three whole years to find a good match for Yuuichi. The third Prince of Raimon Kingdom was the chosen one for the first Prince. Kyousuke frowned, stopping in his steps abruptly. He couldn't seem to recall the guy's name and his brain itched.
"Matsukaze, yes!" he pumped his fist and started walking again.
As he walked through the corridors of the huge palace, he couldn't help but think of his marriage. Who would be his bride and how would she be? Will she be beautiful and valiant like his Mother or will she be a normal housewife? The silhouette of his future bride plagued the contours of his mind and the air he breathed felt better than ever somehow.
"Yuuichi, dear, open the door, please!" Shun knocked on Yuuichi's door for the hundredth time in an exhausted voice.
An indigo-haired young lad with brown eyes opened the door and smiled at his mother. Adorned with a royal red coat embellished with rubies and emeralds, a golden cape tied around his flat collar with the finest lace, violet velvet waistcoat hugging his torso, and brown linen breeches tracing his muscular legs topped off elegantly with black high boots, the first Prince of Eden looked spectacular. Only if his eyes were as lively and elegant as his robes! They had no warmth whatsoever, lined only with exhaustion that mirrored the one in his Mother's eyes.
"Hello, Mother," he greeted as he welcomed her into his room.
"Hello, Yuuichi. May I know why you skipped your sword practice?" was the first thing she asked as she sat on a chair and made herself comfortable.
"Apparently, I'm grounded. Hence my duties are too," Yuuichi replied with an air of arrogance.
"Don't take that tone with me, dear. I am here to make peace," Shun watched her firstborn slump onto his bed.
"Really? Because I have been thinking too. About what you and Father proposed," he replied sheepishly, scratching his nape.
"Thinking?" Shun prodded. Yuuichi let out a long sigh before speaking.
"I've decided to get married, Mother," Yuuichi smiled as Shun squealed loudly in excitement, clapping her hands together. For once, he could tell that Shun was just a mother and not the Queen she carried herself to be on a daily basis.
"Oh my God, Yuuichi, you've taken the best decision of your life!" she exclaimed and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Yeah, I hope so. I'm sorry, I kept you and Father waiting by delaying my marriage," he said gloomily.
"This is worth the wait! You just watch, son. We'll arrange your marriage so grandly that every neighboring kingdom will tell tales about it for centuries!"
"Mother, now you are strictly exaggerating," Yuuichi chuckled playfully.
"No, believe me, I'm not. Your father would be so proud of you dear. I'll take leave now. I have to deliver this good news to your Father first. And then a letter is to be sent to King Matsukaze about your approval! There are so many things to do!" Shun's brown eyes were alight with ecstasy, her lithe bony structure quivering with jouissance.
"Okay, Mother. I'll be waiting," Yuuichi replied with a glint in his eye.
"Take care, dear. I'll be back," Shun said and sprinted out of his room at rocket speed.
"Ah, that went well! Now, just wait for the big day," Yuuichi said and fell back on his bed.
"Nii-san?" he heard his brother's concerned voice and sat up immediately.
Kyousuke, the second prince with the signature indigo hair of the Tsurugi clan decorated with sideburns that were huge and keen yet dubious golden colored eyes, who was clad in embroidered and embedded velvet violet clothing just like his brother's, stood at Yuuichi's doorstep.
"Well, I see you've changed your hairstyle again," Yuuichi chuckled, pointing at Kyousuke's high ponytail that ended curvily at his nape.
"It just grew too much, Nii-san," Tsurugi Kyousuke shrugged.
"You're looking good," Yuuichi complimented.
"I thought of styling my hair into spikes, like our Uncle, Gouenji-san. But, my hair wouldn't co-operate," Kyousuke complained as he sat down beside his brother.
"You sure adore him a lot, don't you?"
"Yeah, he's a super sword striker! I want to become one like him too!" Kyousuke said proudly.
"And believe me, one day, I'm sure you will," Yuuichi smiled at him.
"So, tell me, why are you here?" Yuuichi asked, remembering how out of breath his younger brother was earlier.
"I heard a scream and ran here. What happened?" Kyousuke asked.
"That was Mother. She was excited that I finally agreed to marry," Yuuichi sighed.
"What?!" Kyousuke yelled but not in excitement.
"Now you're screaming too," Yuuichi mumbled.
"You agreed?! Why?" Kyousuke continued, ignoring his brother.
"Yeah, I did. I'm still not sure if I'm ready for it though. What should I do, brother?"
"If you are not sure, why would you agree in the first place? You're ridiculous! It isn't too late yet. I believe Mother hasn't spoken of it to anyone. Let's go to her and you can tell her to call off this proposal. I'll be there with you," Kyousuke advised.
"It's not like I don't want to marry. Believe me, I want to, just not now. But, I can't keep Mother and Father waiting anymore. I've stalled them for over a year now and…" he trailed off, cupping his head in his hands.
"If you are okay with marriage, then maybe you can work things out with your bride -
"Groom," Yuuichi corrected, his voice muffled.
"Whatever," Kyousuke rolled his eyes, "- and tell him you're not yet ready for a relationship or children. What was his name again?"
"Matsukaze Tenma."
"Yes, Tenma. Tell him that you need a while to sort out your feelings or something. End of discussion, right?"
"You'd make a good husband, brother," Yuuichi patted his brother on the back.
"Back off, Nii-san. It is too soon to be discussing my marriage when yours is being celebrated. Besides, that is what couples do, don't they?"
"You're smarter than you seem, Kyousuke!" Yuuichi teased.
"And you're dumber than you seem," Kyousuke countered.
"Aha! Let's see who's dumb on the field!" Yuuichi challenged.
"You mean, sword striking?" Kyousuke gulped.
He knew that he wasn't better than his brother because he always lost. Yuuichi was a great striker and Kyousuke was an amateur compared to him.
"I always lose. Still, let's go. At least I could use some practice," Kyousuke grumbled as he stomped out of the room, followed by his chortling brother.
Raimon Kingdom, Tenma's POV:
I'm Matsukaze Tenma, the third and youngest prince of Raimon kingdom and I'm fourteen. It's not my fault that I was born like this. You made me like this, right, Kami-sama? Then, why do my parents hate me so much. Why am I to rot in these smelling dungeons where the prisoners are kept? Why are my brothers treated so well? Is it because they are different from me or should I ask, am I different from them?
I don't see what's wrong in being a homosexual and being able to become pregnant. My Father told me that identifying myself as a homosexual isn't his problem but pregnancy. That is what he has a major feud with, that I am a male-bearer. And male-bearers are rare, weak, and generally useless and unimportant in this society of ours. To my Father, I suppose pregnancy means weakness. How is that so? My mother does sword fighting and horse riding even though she became pregnant and gave birth to three children. Just, how am I any different? Is it because I am a man? If I were a woman, would I be treated any different? Any better? Besides, since male-bearers are hard to come by in this world, aren't we supposed to be treated like Gods or something? Then again, the minority has always been dominated by the majority.
There, the doors are opened. I guess the guards are back with my food. Earlier this week, I was informed that I was being given away to the Tsurugi family as a slave under the name of marriage. I just hope they aren't cruel like my parents too. But I know for sure that there is no light of hope that will gleam in my dark life. Sometimes, my Father hits me a lot with a whip they use on other prisoners here. It hurts a lot. I know the sting that my Father's strength causes. I just hope my husband or whoever he is would hit me the same or less would even be welcome but not a bit more because I'm used to this threshold of pain. I can't take any further. A guard pushed my meals for the day through a small opening in my cell.
"That's all you're getting for today," he said and left. There was a time when these very guards offered me respect for being a Prince. Now? while some of them shower me with scornful looks secretly, most of them pity me. I don't need their pity. Or respect. I just want to live a peaceful life. Is it wrong of me to wish for happiness?
"This is all I get every day," I mumbled to myself as I divided my food into three small portions and ate one of it. No wonder I can see my ribs through the skin covering my chest!
Soon after my meals, my second elder brother, Matsukaze Ken, would come and visit me. He is very kind to me, unlike the others. It was he who taught me the various arts involved in our family and their history but I couldn't put them to practical use as I am always locked up in this cell. Something is better than nothing though, that's what I tell him and myself, always. Ken-nii brightens up my day and this marriage or whatever it is would tear us apart. This cell wouldn't be my home anymore, no matter how rotten it is. But here, I got company in the form of my brother, the one I'll lose when I'm sent away.
"Tenma-kun!" I saw Ken-nii run towards me.
"Nii-san! I've been waiting for you!" I exclaimed in happiness and walked to the cold bars where Ken-Nii halted, panting.
"Father's got a letter from the Tsurugi's! The groom's agreed to marry you!" he said excitedly and my smile dropped.
"Why are you happy when that means I'll be taken away from you?" I asked plainly but it came out as an accusation.
"I'm sorry, Tenma. I will grieve your absence here but I am filled with joy when I see you treated well, like a royal person there, instead of staying in the dungeons here," he smiled.
I could clearly see in his eyes that he didn't know what our Father had planned. He didn't know that this marriage was all a sham and I was being slaved by them. I wouldn't let him know that because I don't want him to fight my parents for an abomination like me. I know my life's a struggle, no matter where I am. So, I decided to play along.
"You're right! I'll be the Royalty once again like you've always dreamed. So, what's my groom's name, may I ask?" I asked, pretending to be happy and shy.
"Tsurugi Yuuichi," he replied, "Here, I got you a painting of him."
"What? But, how did you? Isn't it against the marital laws to be seeing each other's painting?" I asked in apprehension though I rolled open the parchment.
"No one follows that law now, Tenma. It is perfectly okay. Besides, this is to be our little secret! You can keep it," he said and winked at me.
"Shut up!" I mumbled playfully and looked at the violet haired young lad with golden eyes and sideburns.
He looked so boyish, majestic, humble yet headstrong, all the same time. He looked no older than me and I knew right then and there that the burning sensation in my heart was me falling in love at first sight.
Eden Kingdom:
Preparations were going on at a full swing. Not only were the maids busy, but also the King and the Queen. Yuuichi had a calm expression and he went on with his daily activities, regardless of him being the groom while Kyousuke indulged himself in helping with decorations and garment orders. He was hurriedly making his way to the ballroom, the place where Yuuichi's wedding would be held, when he tripped over the carpet and fell flat on some baskets.
"Holy hell!" he cursed and got up, setting his robes straight and his eyes suddenly caught on a whiff of color.
"What is this?" he saw some parchments scattered and picked up the one which was half opened.
He picked up the half-opened painted parchment from a scattered pile and rolled it open completely. On it, beautifully painted, he saw an emaciated boy no older than him with brown winged hair and silver-blue eyes.
"So, he must be the bride, Matsukaze Tenma," he thought as he scrutinized the painting.
"Well, you're beautiful," he commented and put it back down, leaving the mess for the palace maids to clean.
"We sent the wrong parchment!" he heard a woman's voice and looked to his right where two maids were talking intensely, without the knowledge of him hearing them.
"What do you mean, wrong?" the other maid asked.
"Cho sent Kyousuke-sama's painting in the mail van instead of Yuuichi-sama's painting! When asked, she said, she sent the one that was on the plate!" the first maid exclaimed.
"Don't worry, Hana… Let's go, we'll talk about it to the Queen. She will surely know what to do," the second maid said and they left to the Queen's chamber.
"This is just what we need," Kyousuke sighed.
Tsurugi: Me? A prince? You kept up my pride, Wheezy! *smirks
Tenma: Well, you smashed my pride. *sits in an emo corner.
Tsurugi: Oh, you got pride too?
Wheezy: Kyou-kun! You're being mean to Tenma-kun!
Tenma: He's always mean to me. He doesn't love me anymore! *sad
Tsurugi: There, he's at it again! *sighs
Wheezy: *huffs* What do you think guys? Read, review, follow and fav. :)