I've already posted this to my blog, but I decided to add this drabble here as a token of my gratitude. Please review if you wish, but most of all, enjoy.

xoxos

"Yukki, look! Do you see this knife?" Yukiteru's sister Yuno cried out in joy, "The Witch gave it to me in exchange for my hair. It's magical! Kill the prince before dawn, and you will become a mermaid the moment you touch the ocean again! You'll be with us again! Your voice will return! But she said if you don't, your life will be at stake! Please, take it, Yukki!"

Yukiteru could recall what his sister had told him and bit down harshly on his lips. Kill the prince. She had said it so excitedly that he couldn't stop himself from receiving the knife from her. But he did not want to kill the prince. No, he couldn't.

Yukiteru walked back into the castle and returned to his and his husband's room. His husband, sleeping so peacefully with even breaths. Unsuspecting of any cruel intentions from Yukiteru.

Yukiteru sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the prince's serene features. Long dark lashes contrasting with luminescent skin and silvery hair messily laid about his forehead, this was the person that he gave up his voice for. This was the man he truly and deeply loved.

Yuno's words rang in his head, somehow knowing that he was defying her. Yukiteru gripped the knife's handle and poised it above the prince's stomach. He had to return to the ocean; his sister was unstable. He couldn't be with the prince, and he couldn't be happy. His selfish want to be with the prince had caused his own underwater kingdom grief.

The prince's eyes opened and met with blue orbs blurred with tears. Akise noticed the knife and smiled, reaching a hand and caressing Yukiteru's cheek, "If this will relieve you, then so be it." The prince said, his words honest and full of unadulterated love.

Yukiteru clenched the knife tightly for a moment and then dropped it on the sheets, throwing his arms around his most beloved. He couldn't! He didn't care what happened to him or that he couldn't even speak! If he weren't able to say out loud to this man that he loves him, then what was the need for a voice?

.. She said if you don't, your life will be at stake!

Yukiteru glanced over at the window and noticed the sun making it's appearance. Tears fell in constant waves and he wanted to speak more than ever.

I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you! Thank you for letting me fall in love with you. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for understanding me without me speaking.

"I love you!" Yukiteru's voice cried out. Yukiteru paused, his breath halting. He spoke. But he was cursed! He couldn't speak until the knife took away his lover's life.

"You have a lovely voice, Yukiteru."

Akise began to cough blood harshly, and Yukiteru pulled back from him. It seemed that while Yukiteru was attempting to convey all his feelings, the prince had grabbed the knife and sliced into his own throat. With shaking hands, Yukiteru touched the deep cut. He watched the life fade from Akise's eyes and screamed. He cried out apologies and repeated his love over and over, saying that this wasn't what he wanted. Akise's loving smile never faded. He knew that he was loved, and he had loved enough in the past week for the rest of his life. But he knew that Yukiteru would blame himself if his sister harmed others due to his absence, and all he wished for was Yukiteru's happiness.

Akise's life ended with Yukiteru calling out his name for the first time, screaming Aru as though calling his name would bring the prince back to life.