A/N: Thank you again to all who reviewed! It means so much to me to know someone's reading and enjoying this story.
Warnings: Boy/boy kissing in this chapter. Anyone who might be offended stay away... but if you've gotten this far you probably don't mind it anyway.
das dritte Kapitel … chapter three
Dearest Naoji,
I hope this letter finds you well. Your father, sister and I miss you greatly, though knowing that you are safe is always a great comfort. The situation in Japan has changed little, but there is no need to worry about us; your father has had many dealings with government officials since your departure, and though our wealth is largely depleted as a result there is no longer any suspicion on our family. I continue to pray every day for peace and hope that someday soon this might be a place where you can return in safety. Nevertheless, I want you to know that your father and I want only the best for you, so please do not feel obligated to come back to Japan. My mother spoke often of Kuchen, and I know that however much you missed us that you at least enjoyed your years there at school, so as long as you are happy and successful, even if it is on the other side of the world, I will be content.
How are your friends? Have you been able to spend any time with them? I'm sure they are all quite successful, especially the Liechtenstein boy you often mentioned – your father knows of that family and has told me stories of their ambition, although I'm sure he mentioned them to you as well and you probably already knew far more than he. I suppose more than one if not all have already become Strahl members or important government officials; at least that is the sort of future your schooling led us to expect. Nonetheless, and you may call it a mother's bias if you will, even if this is true I am certain that you will surpass them all; in fact, even if you never obtain the sort of fame and financial success others have, you already outshine everyone I know in strength of character and spirit. Be happy, Naoji, and don't be concerned by the war raging in other countries or worry for your family here; but most of all, remember what I've said. Never let anyone make you feel inferior. Stay strong, and remember you have many who love you.
And don't you dare call me overly sentimental. I'm proud of you.
Your loving mother
"Woooo! Great shot, Naoji!" Ed clapped and whistled, nearly toppling from his cross-legged seat atop one of the stone benches near the back of Camus' garden, where a temporary target had been set up for Naoji to practice his archery. Too intent on his actions to fully comprehend or reply, the Japanese male fitted another arrow to the string, pulled it taut, and after one deep breath released the arrow, where it landed with a thud beside the other, just slightly to the left of the bull's-eye.
"You've gotten really good," a voice said next to his ear, and Naoji, who had been studying the target, jumped slightly at his blond friend's sudden approach.
"Oh… thank you. I still need practice," Naoji replied, bowing his head politely.
Ed laughed and clapped a hand on the shoulder Naoji had bared to allow for better movement. "No, you really are good. Can I try it?"
Naoji smiled. "Of course." He handed the bow to the other and tugged his shirt back over his shoulders before slightly adjusting Ed's stance and stepping back to watch.
The arrow flew over the target completely and sunk into a tree behind it. Naoji hid a smile, but the tanned blond merely laughed it off and raced to collect the arrows so he could try again. When Ed reached the tree, however, his arrow stuck fast, so he planted one foot against the trunk and tugged as hard as he could, only to fly backward and land flat on his rear. He cursed and Naoji laughed, shaking his head. Ironic, that he should come here to practice archery to feel some semblance of peace, only to feel far more relaxed at his friend's silly antics.
But then, Ed had always been like that – full of childlike curiosity, especially about anything to do with Naoji's homeland, and even though he claimed not to understand archery or meditating or misogi he would constantly find some way to relate the foreign ideas to something he knew, like cloud-watching or just going for a night on the town, although no one on earth but Eduard would ever think to connect the two. And somehow he always made Naoji feel better.
When, after another hour or so had passed, most of Ed's arrows hit the target – or at least missed the trees – the two decided they had practiced enough and headed back inside to find something to eat. They had nearly reached the house when Naoji realized he was missing a glove. "I must have dropped it somewhere along the way," he sighed. "Go ahead, Ed; I should look for it now or I'll never find it."
The blond nodded and continued on, whistling, while Naoji headed back toward the gardens, his dark eyes scanning the ground in front of him as he went. He had nearly reached his temporary archery grounds again when the sound of voices made him pause and look up. There, on a stone bench behind one of the maze-like garden's corners of hedges, sat Camus and Elmunt. Naoji opened his mouth to greet them, only to snap it shut again when he noticed a strange detail.
They were holding hands.
"I missed you," Camus murmured, cheeks flushing the same hue as his eyes. "It's been over a week since you've been by."
"I know, I'm sorry," the other replied, lifting his free hand to brush the stray hair from Camus' forehead. "I wanted to spend some time with my little brother and sister, and besides, we've all had a lot more work since that happened. Everyone is on edge."
Elmunt cupped the blond's cheek with an open palm and Camus leaned into the touch. "I've been so worried, Elmunt… What if it had been Lui or Orphe? Or Professor Gerald? What if it happens again?"
"Shh, it'll be alright," the other murmured, tilting his head forward so that their foreheads touched, blond locks mingling with brown in the soft breeze that gusted through the garden.
"Everyone's being extra careful, even Ludwig. We'll find who did it and everything will go back to normal."
"How can you know that? The rest of the world certainly isn't 'normal' right now. Look at Germany! And France, and Poland and England; and poor Naoji's having so much trouble because Japan…"
"Camus." At the sound of his name the blond quieted, meeting the other's eyes, and Elmunt smiled. "Don't worry so much."
With that, he leaned in and kissed him.
After a moment or so of stillness, Camus returned the embrace, releasing the other's hand to wind his arms around Elmunt's neck and draw him closer. "I love you," Camus whispered breathlessly against the other's lips, and they were kissing again, more heated than before, while the warm breeze blew and the sky grew darker in the garden.
Naoji turned and walked slowly back to the house, his missing glove forgotten.
Spots of pink decorated Naoji's cheeks as he stared resolutely at his dinner plate to avoid seeing the others at the table. Ed and Camus's older brother were thankfully occupied with a booming conversation, interspersed with a great deal of laughter and expansive gestures, for which Naoji was extremely grateful as it drew attention from the fact he couldn't have spoken if they asked him.
Elmunt sat directly in front of Naoji, his head bowed and body turned slightly turned toward the petite blond at his side. Camus and he were engaged in a conversation of their own, low and serious-sounding but for the slight smile curving Elmunt's lips.
Naoji guessed that the smile had more to do with the kiss from a few minutes before than whatever Camus was saying. The thought made him duck his head, his dark hair slipping forward to obscure the fresh pink on his face.
Camus and Elmunt… it was a surprise and yet not a surprise. The two had been so close for so long, and their friendship had obviously made both of them happy. They complemented each other. Naoji wondered when it had grown into something more, and if anyone but he knew this romance existed. It seemed like they had been hiding there, in the garden…
Were they afraid of the reactions of society? Two highly eligible bachelors removed from the marriage market because they were smitten with each other certainly wouldn't be thought well of in the eyes of Kuchen's upper echelon. Something Naoji knew only too well.
He shook his head. Yet another unacceptable thought.
"Naoji? You alright?" Eduard glanced over, brow furrowed in concern upon noticing his friend's head shake.
Naoji swallowed. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern," he murmured faintly.
"Does your head ache?" Camus gently questioned, his ruby eyes large in his face.
The dark-haired male hesitated a moment, unable to resist another glance at the two men leaning so sweetly together in their seats across the table. "I… I think so. I should probably go to bed and rest."
Sleep might have brought an escape from dinner, but the afternoon's events replayed themselves over and over in Naoji's dreams. Camus and Elmunt, smiling and holding hands on a bench behind the roses, tilt their faces together into a sweet kiss filled with love and affection.
Suddenly the scene changes and it's him there, Naoji, with a warm hand cupping his cheek and soft lips pressed against his. It's dark, and the moon shines brightly in a different garden, with fewer flowers but no less beautiful, like the person who lives there. The scent of gardenias floats through the night air, mingled irresistibly with the scent of Naoji's lover.
"Naoji…" A voice breathes in a sigh as the hand moves from his cheek to brush black hair from his neck. The lips follow with gentle kisses that burn wildly at the base of his throat. "My love…"
Naoji gasps at the word, wrapping his arms around strong shoulders and burying his face in beautiful, fine purple hair that cascades down, down almost to his feet, obscuring everything but those lips and the light of the moon. "Lui…"
Then the lips were back against his, pressing harder until he opened his mouth and allowed entrance to the other's tongue, the result of which was a kiss both needy and fulfilling; a temporary relief of passion that, though sating, would stay with Naoji for the rest of his life, so he would always know that here, in this time and place, with this person, lay passion and peace and love.
"I love you, Naoji," the other whispered urgently in his ear. "I do. I've loved you from the first moment I saw you."
"Lui," he breathed again, running his hands through that beautiful, amazing hair. "I love you, too…"
They kissed again, quickly and urgently, until Lui pulled away. "Then stay. Stay with me."
The Japanese male froze, the blood draining from his face until his skin was as white as the light it reflected. "I… can't. Lui… You know I can't do that."
"Why not?" Strong fingers cupped his face and tangled tightly in the hair at the base of his neck. "Don't you want to be with me?"
"Of course I do," Naoji replied softly. "But I have obligations to my family. You of all people should understand that."
"You are my family," the other demanded. "The one person I want to stand by me, no matter what."
"I'll always stand by you. I have so much confidence in you; besides, you don't need my help to be a success. Sometimes I wonder if you ran this country from the moment you were born." Naoji smiled slightly, one hand lifting to absentmindedly stroke the length of hair falling over Lui's shoulder.
"That's not what I meant." The quiet denial held a flat note.
"I know…and I'm sorry." He hung his head.
"I suppose this is the end, then."
Naoji stared resolutely in the direction of his feet. "Did you really expect it to last forever?"
There was a pause. "Yes. Actually I did."
Naoji's face whipped up in surprise at the rueful tone in Ludwig's voice, only for his face to shift once more into Camus's bright hair and ruby eyes. "So that's it," the blond's gentle voice murmured. "Naoji… you're jealous…"
