It was an average day in the West Block. The air was quiet, sun shining through the scattered clouds. Nezumi and Shion were in their room. Nezumi was stirring a pot of soup for lunch, while Shion was sitting on the bed reading one of Nezumi's many books.

Suddenly, Shion closed the book he was reading, setting it on his lap. Nezumi looked over to see Shion looking at him, an incomprehensible expression on his face.

"Say, Nezumi… Have you ever thought about marriage?"

The sudden question had the dark-haired boy taken aback. He quirked an eyebrow at the other.

"Where did you get that idea?" he asked.

Shion shrugged and held up the book in his lap. It was a romance novel- and a cheesy one at that.

"I was just wondering…" he said, gaze diverted but an obvious blush rising on his cheeks.

Nezumi thought for a moment before grinning.

"And who do you think I would marry?" he asked, a teasing glint in his eyes that Shion couldn't see as he looked at the bed sheets next to him. He didn't reply.

"Perhaps, you'd like me to marry you?" Nezumi chided, standing up. The blush on Shion's face clearly revealed his intentions.

Nezumi had his signature smirk on his face as he walked over. Shion looked towards him to see him drop to one knee in an elegant pose, one hand dramatically placed over his heart and the other reaching out to hold Shion's hand.

"N-Nezumi, what are you—"

"Your Highness, may I ask for your esteemed hand in marriage?" he asked, much like he was on stage, smirking at Shion's flushed and embarrassed face.

They were both quiet for a few minutes, Shion staring incomprehensibly at Nezumi and Nezumi staring backed with a quirked eyebrow and teasing smirk.

"Yes."

Shion said, short and simply. Nezumi blinked, then burst into laughter, letting his hand fall with his elegant pose to roll on the floor.

"You're serious, Shion?" he finally asked in between laughter. Shion looked at him with a straight, entirely serious face.

"Yes. I want to marry you." He stated. Nezumi composed himself and stood up, a more serious glint evident in his eyes.

"Oh? Why would the little prince want to marry a dirty rat like myself?" he questioned, teasing tone still evident though not as strong.

"I'm not sure. Like I've said before, I'm drawn to you. I want to stay with you." Shion replied after a moment of thought, just like those kinds of things were as easy to say as breathing.

Nezumi had to bring a hand to his forehead. Did the kid ever realize what he was saying? How naïve could someone get? He stepped closer to Shion, who still had quite a red face, pressing his knees against the bed and leaning close over the white haired boy. Shion didn't move, but he could feel Nezumi's breath on his forehead and looked up to see his face mere inches from his own, their noses nearly touching. Nezumi's hands were trapping Shion on either side, so even if he wanted to move he wouldn't be able to escape. Not that Shion minded.

Nezumi dipped his head to the side, talking in a low voice into Shion's ear.

"Maybe I will marry you. If you can manage to break down that wall, destroy your precious city, and make it out alive without us becoming enemies… then I'll have to ask for your hand in marriage more seriously."

Then he pulled away and walked towards the door, leaving a dumbfounded, flustered Shion sitting on the bed.

"I'm going out. You could start preparing for dinner once you get your head out of the clouds." Nezumi called, closing the door behind him as he left.

Shion was left sitting there for a few more minutes before he picked up the book he had been reading again. Maybe he'd better read a bit more.