Whoops.
VII
戻らない過去に泣いたことでさえ 生まれ変わって明日をきっと照らしてくれる
One month passes by. Two months. Four. Six.
Six months have passed since Iwaizumi's departure, and that's when, on a cold winter's night, Oikawa's father enters the final stage of his illness. His son rushes to his side, dark rings under his eyes after so many sleepless nights, and in spite of his exhaustion, his voice remains soft.
"There's no need for you to stay by my side, Hina-chan."
But Shouyou always stays. Not by Oikawa's father's side, but outside his chambers, waiting for his husband because that's what's expected from him. He can see him kneeled at his father's bedside, and he can see the way his prematurely aged hand grasps the young fingers he offers him.
"Rule wisely, my son".
It's the first and last thing Shouyou ever hears coming from the emperor's mouth, and he wonders if he's never directed affectionate words towards his son. Words as the ones he's gotten from Natsu.
His thoughts are interrupted when he sees Oikawa leaving the now deceased emperor's room.
Around him, all the servants, all the guards and in sum every single person in the royal residence kneel before his husband. Shouyou grasps the reason why seconds later. On a hurry, he goes to kneel in front of the new emperor.
Oikawa grabs his wrist before he can drop to the ground. Shouyou looks up in fear ―probably he has noticed his distraction, the mistake he has made, so he prepares himself for the harsh rebuke.
Despite his fears, all he gets is a little help to stand up once again, and the same calm ―although a bit hoarse, voice telling him:
"Do not ever kneel before me, Hina-chan. We're married."
He lets him go then, and walks in the direction of their room. Shouyou manages to follow him as if he were a stray puppy. His eyes sting, and he soon realizes it's due to a sudden, unexplainable desire to cry.
He knows nothing about Oikawa Tooru: he's a complete mystery, and he's as gentle as whimsical.
But even so, he wants to cry.
Because if there's something he's certain about this man, is that he will not.
I'm soooooorry.
