"My loyal people," Seimei held his speech to the land's people from the high tower where the king and queen had many times before. "With a heavy heart I bare you these words. The King and Queen's sudden death will mourn in our hearts for years to come." His powerful voice echoed like thunder off the stone walls surrounding him. "But I assure you all; I will hold the heads of those guilty of their murders on silver platters. I will renew the wrongs as your new King."
Suddenly, the hundreds of people gathered on the ground began to whisper and stir. Seimei knew their focus was on his ears and not on the years of painstaking work he had put into his own education or speeches they would cheer while the king still had breath. It was exactly as he had imagined it.
"Fear not." Seimei hushed the crowed. "Only a prince keeps his ears. By sunrise, I take the title as King and the prince you see before you today will only be a faint glimmer of yesterday. As heir to the throne, I was born ready to rule. Nevermore, will I been taken for a naïve child."
…
"He did it, didn't he?" Ritsuka questioned weakly while Soubi knelt down dressing him in a black lace gown. His heart was pounding. Fear speared through his veins faster than his own blood. "He killed them for the crown." Once he was finished tying the last ribbon on his shirt, Soubi stared up at the beautiful price with sympathy. Ritsuka's watering eyes held Soubi's face in anguish. "What's going to happen to me now?"
"Now?" Soubi replayed bluntly. "Now you treat the prince the way you always have."
"I don't know if I can." Ritsuka hung his head. "Not knowing what I do. I can never look at him the same." His small hand grasped at Soubi's shirt sleeve. "I am afraid."
"There is nothing to fear." Soubi spoke lies he tricked his mind to believe as truth. "The prince will take care of you, just as he always has."
"I don't want him to take care of me." Ritsuka sniffed. "I only want you to take care of me, just like you always have."
Before Soubi could replay, Ritsuka leaned and pressed their lips together. Tears trickled down his now red cheeks as he felt the older man pull him in closer. With lips locked, they held each other. Letting time stand still in their moments of comfort, in a time of fear.
Soubi broke the kiss. Ritsuka fell into his arms seeking comfort. Petting his hair, Soubi rocked the boy slowly in his arms. Though his heart begged to hold him forever, Soubi knew this moment would be short lived.
…
At the end of his speech, Seimei ordered the land not to grieve the King and Queen's deaths. Instead, they should rejoice in a new era beginning. He ordered they leave the palace gates but return at sunrise when he should ascend the throne. Though there were hushed mummers, Seimei assured himself their worries would fade once his ears disappeared.
With the sun still high, Seimei ordered a servant to bring mid-day meal to his room. But first, he must take care of secretive business, payment for those who assassinated the King and Queen. However, he found it hard to wait on the moon.
"This is wrong." Ritsuka pushed back from Soubi's arms. "We shouldn't be doing this." He brushed the tears from his eyes before staring into Soubi's face once more. "If only our stories could be rewritten." The young prince cupped Soubi's cup. "Then I would have you."
Soubi heard footsteps coming down the hall. Kissing Ritsuka lightly one last time, he stood up to open the door. The two knew the moment they just shared was to never be shared. Their eyes were never to meet in anyway that might suggest what they had done. Ritsuka quickly did what he was groomed for; sit on the bed and wait for his brother's requests.
Seimei entered the room. His face stern until he laid eyes on the beautiful prince sitting his bed. "My dear Ritsuka." The future king smiled. "You look magnificent."
Soubi left the room to help the other servants prepare mid-day supper. He knew Seimei would want the time alone with his brother. Living in his role was the only way he could stay sane while his mind raced with fears for Ritsuka. It was not an easy task, but speaking out could cost him everything.
"You are beautiful." Seimei cooed as he sat next to his well-groomed brother on the bed. "Even more beautiful than you are in my fantasies." He brushed his fingertips behind Ritsuka's human ears as he stared into his far seeing eyes."Your fantasies?" Ritsuka held back a shiver threatening to slither up his spine. "Like the forbidden ones, with fairies?""The very ones." Seimei nodded slightly with a glimpse of a smirk forming on his face. "Only you are no ordinary fairy. Your wings were not born to your back. The wings you have were bestowed upon you from a brave sacrifice." Pausing briefly to watch the wonder swim in the young prince's violet eyes, Seimei could feel his longing for the moon grow stronger. "A butterfly gave up its life so that you might have unique wings of sovereignty to rule the pixie forest."
"You say such strange things." Ritsuka turned his head. "Things I am not smart enough to understand."
Seimei wrapped his arms around the small child. "Then I shall say no more." Pulling him close, he pressed their lips together.
Ritsuka's heart began to race. He closed his eyes, letting the kiss intensify. Feeling Seimei's tongue trail across his soft lips, Ritsuka took a deep breath through his nose before parting his lips granting the entrance desired. Though it never felt right, the young prince always tried his best in the art of kissing. Letting Seimei control the pace, Ritsuka would use little tricks to leave the older prince wanting more.
Soubi returned a few minutes later with several other servants carrying large silver platters filled with a vast variety of meats, bread and vegetables. After setting up an elegant table with Seimei's favorite flowers, red roses, Soubi helped the two princes to their seats. A kitchen servant poured the wine while Seimei began to cross himself.
Ritsuka wished the flowers did not remind him of blood. Of course, Seimei never really knew what his younger brother liked. His favorite flowers were the Lathyrus odoratus, with deep blue and purple colors set on top long climbing stems reaching for the stars. Nevertheless, he knew his interests were not important, so he never lifted his voice.
Eating quietly, Seimei's mind raced at the time for his desires grew closer. Though it improper, he had Ritsuka drink more wine than usual. Ritsuka needed to be relaxed tonight, because 'no' would not be an option.
Once their meal was finished, Seimei called for Soubi to meet with him in the hall. Ritsuka sat on the bed while the other servants cleared the room. He had special orders that only his prized servant must know and carry out."I intend to woo the prince into succumbing to my will." Seimei was straightforward with Soubi. "When that happens you are to come into my chambers alone, bringing with you a bottle of the finest sunflower seed oil in the land." The older prince took a deep breath before adding to his orders. "If at all necessary, you will hold the prince down. Ears will be shed tonight, even if there most be force."
"Yes, your highness." Soubi bowed. "Your orders shall be fulfilled." Suddenly, Seimei pushed the taller, yet weaker man to his knees. "Of course they will." He hissed, jerking Soubi's head back by the hair. Their lips so close, they lightly brushed together, as Seimei whispered in wrath. "Because if my orders are not followed out exactly as I have planed, your body will be the new feast for my hunting dogs." A violent shiver ran up Soubi's spine as Seimei loosed his grip on his long hair. "Not that I don't trust you." A cruel smirk played at Seimei's lips. "You are my prized servant after all." With one soft fingertip stroke on his cheek, Soubi was left on the cold stone floor. Once the chamber doors where closed, he raised to his feet. Left to fulfill his master's orders while his heart feared for the youngest prince.