Hey, I kept you waiting! Thing is, that I'm super busy right now, so I can't make any promises about upload times. Fear not, though! I would never just abandon a story. I've once written a 20,000-word fic over the course of a year. No matter how long it might take, this story will be written.

Have a beautiful day!


Matthew clutched the prison bars. "It's almost over… He's almost gone..."

"You'll finally have your way."

"Yes. Finally."

A hand reached through the bars and stroked Matthew's face. "You're about to lose everything."

"Shut it. You've never understood anything."

"Or is it you who's got things wrong?"

Matthew pulled the hand off his face. "I will never let that Ivan become as big of a problem as you once were."

"You're afraid."

"I'm not!"

"Why else would you have come up here?" Both hands reached out, cupping Matthew's face. "You know it. You know how frail your control is. And that terrifies you."

"Alfred can't even think without me. He's no threat."

The prisoner's eyes looked sad more than anything else. "It must be so lonely, being you."

"You know nothing about me." Matthew turned away and walked to the door. He hesitated, his hand on the knob. "I've spoken to the cook. He'll make sure to keep your food warm from now on. He wasn't aware it cooled down so much on the way here."

"Yes, you've tucked me away rather nicely."

"Is there anything else you need?"

"My freedom."

Matthew tried to think of a response, but he couldn't come up anything. "Bye." The door slammed shut behind him.


Alfred let his hands slide over the many fabrics laid out for him. "I was thinking something red."

"That would look lovely," Kiku responded from the other end of the store, hidden by a row of cabinets.

"May I suggest a hint of gold?" Someone on the other side of the table said.

Alfred looked up. "You're..."

Ivan pressed a finger to his lips. "It's best if no one knows we're talking right now."

Alfred looked around him. "Maybe it's better if you leave then."

"I'm here to take a little trip down memory lane with you."

"Is this about the soulmate thing again?"

Ivan moved closer. "If you want me to leave, then answer my questions."

"I can call out to the guards any second."

"I'll keep coming back."

"I'll tell Matthew."

"Matthew couldn't stop me from meeting you a first time, and a second, and a third. The thing is, you're being lied to."

Alfred gripped the fabrics ever so slightly. "I'll listen for a bit, and then you'll disappear, understood?"

Ivan leaned forward on the table. "Where did we meet?"

"At the ball."

"What did we do?"

"We talked."

"How did you meet your soulmate?"

"I looked Kiku in the eyes."

"What happened after?"

"I..." There was a foggy bit in his memory. "I..." Anger. Bedbound. Matthew. "There was an argument… or something."

"What about?"

Soulmate. That was the word that came to mind.

"Alfred, who did you argue with?"

"Matthew."

"What about?"

"My soulmate."

"Why?" Ivan looked at those cast-down blue eyes. He couldn't see those stars in his own mirror anymore. In a way, Alfred had taken a piece from him.

"I wanted to..." Alfred frowned. He had memories of being forbidden to see his soulmate and being encouraged to get close to him at the same time. "I wanted to go after Kiku, but..." His head started hurting. "This doesn't make sense."

Ivan put a hand on his shoulder. "Do you see now?"

Alfred looked up and was hit with the memory of Gilbert. "This is wrong, I shouldn't be talking to you."

"Alfred, look at my eyes. Don't you recognize them?"

"Get away from me."

"Kiku isn't your soulmate. Once you realize that, everything will make sense."

"Alfred? Are you alright?" Kiku appeared and recognized Ivan at once. "Guards!"

Ivan ran to the back of the store and managed to slip out the door and into the busy streets.

"Did he hurt you?" Kiku asked, checking Alfred over.

"No, he… It was just like last time."

"I'll report it to Matthew. This is getting concerning."

Alfred nodded. He pointed to a bright red fabric. "I like this one. With a touch of gold, perhaps."

Kiku was a bit taken aback by Alfred's lack of urgency, but he figured that the innocent lord didn't have much sense of danger. "Very nice." He wrapped his arms around Alfred's waist. "I'm sure you'll look splendid."

Alfred nodded again. His head hurt.


Alfred sat cross-legged on his bed, rubbing his temples. The headache hadn't subsided. It had nagged on all throughout dinner until a worried Kiku had advised him to lay down.

In the dark, he racked his brain. At the ball, he had met Ivan first… No, Kiku. He had met Kiku first. And then Ivan. But it was around that time that he discovered his soulmate. How could that be?

A knock at the door.

"Come in."

Kiku peered into the dark room. "Am I disturbing you?"

"Not at all."

"I'm afraid I have unpleasant news." He approached the bed and sat down on the edge.

Alfred grabbed his hand. "Is everything alright?"

"One of my advisors has passed away. I have to return to my domain to handle things."

"But… When will you leave?"

"Tonight. I came to say goodbye." He cupped Alfred's face with one hand. "I'm afraid our wedding will have to wait."

"When will you be back?"

"I'm not sure. Soon, I promise. As soon as I can."

Alfred nodded. "Have a safe trip."

"I'll think of you along the way."

Alfred leaned in and captured Kiku's lips. Kiku responded, wrapping his arms around Alfred's shoulders. They deepened the kiss, Kiku crawling onto the bed.

"Do you love me?" Alfred asked in between kisses.

Kiku didn't respond right away. He pressed closer to Alfred until there was barely any space left between them. "I think I could," he whispered, letting his hands roam and caress. "I want to." The hands went back to cupping Alfred's face. "Would you be disappointed if I failed?"

"Why would you fail? We're soulmates."

Kiku pulled back a little. "Of course. Silly me."

Alfred looked into Kiku's same-colored eyes for a moment before holding him close again. "Come back soon. I'll be waiting for you."

"And I won't let you wait for long."

You're his soulmate. His eyes changed upon seeing you.

His blue eye changed to black.

Your black eye changed to blue.

But… hadn't his eye been violet?


Ivan washed the last of the shaving foam off his face. He looked at his eyes in the mirror, missing the stars he was once able to see. He had been reckless today. He had to calm his mind. No one would be benefited if he let himself get dragged away on some useless chase.

What was Alfred doing now? Was he laughing and frolicking with that fiancé of his?

Ivan knew he had to keep distance. Yes, he had to gain Alfred's trust, and get close enough to get Matthew out of the way. He knew he'd fall for Alfred in due time. But he couldn't afford to get hot-heated before their plan had very well started. That Lord Kiku wasn't worth it to risk everything. He was nothing.

He was stealing Ivan's soulmate.

Ivan clenched his fists around the sink. If only Alfred would recognize him. That was all he was asking for at that point: that Alfred would know who he was.

But instead, Alfred was preparing himself for some liar's wedding, sharing sweet moments with a fake soulmate. It made him want to storm to the castle and scream at the top of his lungs.

He looked in the mirror again. He could only dream of that blue now.

Until he saw Alfred again, that was.


Alfred wandered the castle halls. He had to be quiet, for the whole castle had gone to sleep already. The light of his candle shone on the many paintings in the stretched-out hallway. He had found himself unable to sleep, tossing and turning while his thoughts did the same.

He walked past the portraits, his heart pounding, not sure what he was looking for. He stopped at one of the bigger ones, painted what seemed like centuries ago. Lord Arthur sat proudly on his throne, little Alfred on his lap. Next to him sat his husband, the beautiful Sir Francis, holding Matthew. They looked happy, all four of them. Even Matthew.

Alfred looked at himself. His father looked so proud of him, even though he had trouble sitting still. His eyes sparkled, both of them; one blue, the other violet. His eye had once been violet. The color of his soulmates eyes. The color of Kiku's…

Alfred sat down on one of the chairs by the wall. Kiku's eyes were black. Both of them. Alfred had never had a black eye. That violet came from somewhere else. Someone who wasn't Kiku.

Because Kiku wasn't his soulmate.

Alfred searched his memory for that violet, and it brought him back to the ball.

Ivan. Ivan Braginsky.

"Are you my soulmate?"

Chaos. Ivan running away. Alfred being told to join Lord Kiku. And then…

"You will marry Lord Kiku and that's the end of it!"

"How can you say that? My soulmate's out there! I have to go after him! If you care about me, you'll let me be with the person I was born to be with."

"How dare you talk to me like that, you ungrateful brat. Do you have any idea what I've had to suffer through because of you? Huh? Do you have any idea what a terrible person you are?"

"Stop saying that!"

"Not as long as it's true."

"Just let me live my life!"

And then he had shoved him. Alfred knew he had made a mistake as soon as his hands made contact with Matthews' chest. He had begged for forgiveness, trying to avoid any punishment that might follow. Matthew pulled out some vials and Alfred knew what was in store for him. When he refused to take his medicine voluntarily, Matthew drenched a cloth with it and forced Alfred down on his knees. It hadn't been easy; Alfred had grown stronger over the past few months. That was only more reason for Matthew to intervene immediately. He pressed the cloth over Alfred's mouth and nose, forcing him to breathe in the damps.

After that, everything was a lot fuzzier. Kiku had been by his side, that he could remember. He'd been so kind, stroking his face and whispering comforting words.

Then there had also had been Matthew. He couldn't remember too well, but there was an anxious feeling crawling upon him. Was that how he felt back then? What had scared him so? Ivan came to mind again. There had been something about Ivan. Fear.

"Please, don't hurt him!"

Alfred buried his face in his hands. It was all coming back to him, with far greater speed than he could handle.

"Please help me."

"Of course, dear Alfred. I'll help you forget about Ivan. That's what big brothers are for."

The rest was a blur of Matthew telling him that his soulmate, Kiku, was there. Kiku, his soulmate, was by his side.

His soulmate, Kiku.

Kiku, his soulmate.

Alfred could almost feel how the idea had taken hold in his mind. He had to place the candle on the floor before his shaking hands would spill suet everywhere.

Matthew had lied to him. The only person he had always trusted, had made him believe something that wasn't true. Even his beloved Kiku was in on it. So many emotions came to him at once: anger, sadness, and a small hope that somehow, this wasn't true.

"Ivan…"

He needed someone beside him now, to comfort him and to help him stop his mind from raging. Ivan hadn't lied to him. He'd been trying to tell the truth all along.

Footsteps sounded at the end of the hallway. Alfred blew out his candle and hurried away. If Matthew found him snooping around, he'd…

Alfred wasn't even sure anymore.


Ivan didn't mind his job too much. The harbor granted him anonymity and the heavy lifting kept him strong. He carried crates wherever he was told, never questioning the contents, keeping his eyes and ears open to everything happening around him. Who came? Who left? Who behaved differently from normal? It brought Ivan right into the center of the gossip, and he soaked up all the information he could get.

"You! Help me carry these boxes to the square!"

On moments like these, Ivan took a deep breath and reminded himself that there were worse jobs out there. "Yes, ma'am." He lifted the crates onto a cart and followed the woman into town.

The market was in full swing and Ivan had to evade the people and the goods. He followed the woman to a jewelry stall. "Help me unpack," she said, shoving a few extra coins into Ivan's hand. He opened the crates and started arranging the shiny objects inside.

"Excuse me, can you help me?"

Ivan plastered a smile on his face for the customer. That smile faded, however, when he looked right into familiar blue eyes.

Alfred wore a cloak, which shielded his identity somewhat. Guards were standing not too far away. "I'm looking for a gift for my fiance. I want it to be something sincere."

Ivan didn't know what to say. Alfred picked up a random ring and leaned closer, pretending to be interested in the material. "I've been thinking," he whispered, "about what you said."

Ivan swallowed.

"You're my soulmate, aren't you?"

He nodded, not taking his eyes off the ring.

"You've been telling the truth when everyone else has been lying to me." He touched Ivan's hand. "I want to know more. I want to know you."

"It's not safe for you to be out here."

"I'm more worried about you. Matthew's set his arrows on you. He wants to find you."

"I'm a fugitive now?"

"Exactly. We need to hide you somewhere where he'll never find you."

A guard approached.

"Meet me at the fence, where you came to see me back then," Alfred said hastily. "I've got a plan."

"I'll be there," Ivan said before quickly picking up a brooch. "Would this be to your fiance's liking?"

"I'm afraid not. Thank you for your help, but I'll have to look elsewhere." He strode away, the guards in tow.

Ivan looked after him. There were a million questions flooding his mind, but he knew he had to wait.


Ivan started to consider that he might have misheard. That or Alfred couldn't make it. He waited for ages on the damp grass. The bushes gave him moderate cover but he still got nervous whenever a guard walked by. He considered going home when he saw a shadow in the gardens. Alfred hurried towards the fence and searched around for Ivan.

Ivan checked once more for guards before he approached the fence as well.

"I'm sorry,' Alfred whispered. "I couldn't get away earlier."

"It's okay." He looked into those blue eyes and found himself smiling.

Alfred blushed ever so slightly. "We don't have much time."

"You said that Matthew's after me?"

"Yes. He wants you dead or alive. Dead, preferably."

Nice. "Are you saying I have to leave this place?"

"He'd track you down anyway. We need to hide you somewhere where he'll never even look for you." He leaned closer and Ivan's heartbeat sped up. "In this castle."

Ivan let out a short laugh. "What?"

"He'd never suspect it."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Look, we have rooms which have been locked for years. No one ever comes in there. You'll be safe there." He stepped forward, barely stopping himself from grabbing the sharp fence. "Please. I want you to be safe."

Ivan thought for a moment. "If he starts looking for me, he might find people who are… associated with me." Natalya. "I won't be able to protect them."

"Tell them to run. If Matthew doesn't know of their existence, they should be safe if they leave as soon as possible."

"I'll tell them." Was he actually doing this? Was he going to hide this close to Lord Matthew? This could offer so many possibilities…

"We need to get you in as soon as possible. Can you be ready tomorrow night?"

"I think so." He searched for those blue eyes in the dark. "I guess we'll properly get to know each other, then."

Alfred bit his lip. "I look forward to it."

Ivan couldn't help but smirk at the cute lord in front of him. And so it begins.