Title: Fireworks

"Shinichi!"

The scholar had been busy admiring the flowers at the royal garden since early morning and had abandoned the book that was originally in his hands by a bench. The jasmine fragrance lake-side air was what attracted him here. There was nothing more perfect than jasmine flowers. They always looked as if they were smiling in the sun, bright and brilliant, just like Kaito.

Holding a petal in his fingertips, Shinichi lifted his head to face the frame that was now blocking his face from the sun. "Ran?"

"You really wandered off far," she said, eyes following his as he stood up, the watery sun's rays now touching his skin. She inhaled slowly and held it there. It wasn't just the colour of his eyes that were so breath taking, it was what was inside of them. They were so full of ocean and as clear as his mind.

Shinichi glanced ahead to find the bench that he had occupied earlier at least two fields away. "My bad," he smiled apologetically, tucking a flower by her left ear. "Did something happen?"

"Wh-what?" Ran stuttered, still recovering from the blooming heat against her cheeks. "Oh, I came to tell you that you don't have lessons today so you get to go to the festival."

"The festival?"

"To see the fireworks!"

"Fireworks?" Shinichi tilted his head and eyed her confusingly for a moment before his face brightened. "Ah, the loud popping noises?"

"No way," Ran gasped, her eyes and mouth were wide open, "you haven't seen fireworks?!"

"I was always called in to accompany clients whenever there was a festival in the past so I never got to see them," he said, breaking eye contact and crouching down again. Except this time his attention wasn't fixated on the flowers. It had been a year since he first set foot in the palace, left his embarrassing past behind, and yet he still found it shameful to bring up that humiliating part of his life.

"Well, that's all the more the reason why you should go to the festival!" Ran offered him a smile. Shinichi would be able to watch fireworks for the first time. It'll be a whole new experience for him and she could be the one to accompany-

"I think I'll give it a pass, Kaito's busy today."

"Oh, right," she muttered, smile never fading. Of course, he wants to see them with the prince. What was she thinking?

"But you've never seen them before? Not even once?"

"I would love to," Shinichi said, looking up this time, "everyone seems to like them."

This was definitely a problem, and his highness has to know of it. Shinichi has to see them. Nobody, absolutely no one in her entire twenty-three years of living didn't like fireworks.

On the fourth of May, many wished Shinichi a wonderful birthday, or at least Kaito had ordered them to. It was the perfect birthday in every sense. The first cherry blossom opened on every tree, a little late than usual this year. A small petal brushed against Shinichi's cheek when he was roused from his slumber, as if they were nature's gift to him.

Already, the tranquil morning air was taken over by harmonious honkyoku music and many of the birthday boy's favourite pieces. Changing into a cobalt blue yukata, a colour that the prince seemed to adore him in, Shinichi smiled softly. The day had barely even started but he was already on the top of the world.

"Happy twenty-fourth, Shinichi!" Ran greeted him cheerily once he stepped out. She had been assigned the most important job for the day: keeping Shinichi busy.

Thanking his assistant with a sincere smile, Shinichi was guided to the royal garden where he was surprised to find a riot of colour. Bold yellow, lime green and hot ruby red danced alongside the trees. And though it wasn't crowded, the atmosphere was filled with hype.

"This is the only copy available in Japan! I can't believe they have it here," Shinichi burst with the biggest grin and waved a literature book in his hands before lifting another. "And Matsuo Basho's poems! I've always wanted to read these."

A famous book vendor had been invited to the palace and the scholar, as Kaito had predicted, spent the morning browsing through the range of books offered.

"That's wonderful, Shinichi!"

Taking one last glance at the books in his hands, Shinichi placed them back down. Sighing with his bottom lips out, his bangs fanned upwards before resettling over his eyes. "I don't think I can afford them."

At that moment, Ran was reminded of what his highness had instructed and directed her smile to the vendor, "he's Kudo Shinichi."

"Ah, Kudo Yusaku's son! All these books have been reserved for you," the plump man by the store said, more than eager to assist them. "Please pick your favourite collections. We will move them to your personal shelf at the library."

Shinichi chuckled softly. "This is Kaito's doing, isn't it?"

"Who knows?"

Ran's response was disregarded as he thanked the vendor and proceeded to select his books. But the way Shinichi smiled like butterflies were escaping from the pit of his stomach and the sparkles that appeared in his eyes, anyone could easily tell that he was in love. Though a little upset that his lover didn't drop by to see him personally, he was well aware that Kaito was busy and bothering him was out of the question. Remembering his birthday was more than enough.

And he was right.

The prince was in fact busy, busy making sure everything was in place. He had instructed Ran to keep Shinichi away from his chambers in order to personally decorate his room. The table had already been set for their romantic dinner and the room was now flooded with blue flowers and sweet candles.

Saguru was surprised and impressed when his highness had worked extra hard to clear his duties for the past week, only to learn that his effort was just to keep today free. He had to remind the prince countless times that this wasn't how things worked at the palace and Kaito's response would always be the same. 'I'm the prince, I can do whatever I want.' And as usual, Saguru had no choice but to help.

"Isn't this a little overboard?"

"It's his first birthday we're celebrating together, of course it has to be perfect," Kaito said, back facing him as he scattered more petals by the balcony. He had planned for this day several weeks ahead, stressing over what Shinichi would like and what would surprise him. "I'm still thinking about how I should act later."

Saguru let out a sigh. "Well, personally, I don't understand why Kudo-san was even attracted to your highness in the first place," flinching when the prince threw a mini candle at him, "but you should just be yourself. Isn't that what he'll like best?"

…

Though Shinichi spent the day cropped up with activities that the prince had arranged for him, there wasn't a moment where he didn't wait for Kaito to come. The sky was turning grimy and the two would usually have dinner together around this time.

Returning to his room, he felt just a tiny bit disappointed. He couldn't help it. Birthdays were never much of his concern but now that he had Kaito, it was a different story. Who wouldn't want to see their lover on such a day, even if it was just for a while?

It was then Shinichi was greeted with the sweet aroma of flowers. A table positioned at his balcony was already filled with food, all his favourite food. And there by the balcony his prince stood, the sky freckled with stars behind him.

The prince saw the surprise that registered on Shinichi's face before he could hide it and chuckled when the adorable scholar nearly tripped over a pyramid of gifts standing by the door. Kaito had made sure that only small tokens of appreciation were given from the others and not anything over the top.

He was possessive like that. His present had to be the absolute best.

"What's all these?" Shinichi asked as his lover approached, he couldn't even hide his joy if he wanted to. He was never into such fanciful things, not that he had really experienced any before, but finally seeing his prince after a long day was romantic in its own way.

"I apologise for not accompanying you this afternoon, my love," Kaito grinned and brought his hand up to his lips for a sweet kiss. "Did you enjoy your day?"

Shinichi nodded, hand tightening in the prince's, an unspoken way of saying that he had missed him. A way of expressing himself that only Kaito understood. The prince offered him a doe-eyed look, full of affection in his eyes and gentleness in his smile.

"Kaito..."

"Close your eyes," he said without waiting. He let out a small laugh, however, when Shinichi shot him a doubtful expression. "Trust me, Shinichi."

Kaito waited patiently for his lover to do as requested before guiding him carefully to the balcony. He signalled to his assistant who was waiting at ground floor.

"You can open them now."

Shinichi's eyes flipped open just in time to witness the first blaze shoot up and explode into sparks of vibrant colours. Eyes widening with thrill, he shuddered at the sudden bang and reached for Kaito in reflex. Then one after another they flew up and burst, like rainbows being drawn with crayons onto the dark sky. Shinichi beamed with awe, eyes never once leaving the colourful display.

As for Kaito, he was more interested in watching his lover's elated expressions and how the sparks light his face up as he smiles.

"Do you like them?"

"Yes, they look like flowers," Shinichi said instantly, even the fireworks couldn't outshine his smile. "Thank you, Kaito."

The prince's hands slide around his torso from behind in response and pulled him close to his warm body.

It wasn't the smile that Shinichi wore on his face when he was getting to the exciting part of a book or when he ate something delicious. It was the smile he reserved only for Kaito, the smile the prince fell in love with from the very beginning.

"No one really celebrated my birthday before so this is new for me. Was it supposed to be this exclusive?"

"I don't know," Kaito said, brushing his lips gently by his ear lobe. "But we'll celebrate it every year from now on, I'll make sure of that."

"I don't need anything significant, Kaito," Shinichi turned over with eyes that looked so deeply into his, ignoring the cracking explosions rolling overhead. "I only want you."

Kaito's eyes widened for a brief moment at the unexpected reply before they softened. Shinichi had been expressing himself a lot more lately but he'll never get used to it. He'll never get used to this warmth that filled his chest so sweetly.

Why didn't he understand this earlier?

Shinichi's favourite place in the world was being near him. He didn't need all these gifts and attention from everyone else. He didn't need the fireworks and the fancy dinner. He was stressing about what to give him but really, all he wished for was to see him. He was the best gift. Shinichi only wanted him.

Blushing just slightly, the prince leaned in for an innocent yet loving kiss.

"I'll make sure of that too."

Shinichi nodded, looking pleased as his attention shifted back to the fireworks. "Actually, this is also my first time seeing this."

"Hmm, isn't this nice?" Kaito said, "now whenever you see fireworks, you'll have no choice but to think of me."

"Well, aren't you crafty?"

It was more of a statement than a question. The cheeky prince was indeed an expert at making Shinichi yearn for him. There were many things that reminded him of Kaito, more than he could ever imagine. But of course, the prince didn't have to know that.

"That's me, Shinichi."

Shinichi could feel the prince's wide mischievous grin against his skin. He was now nuzzling his neck, pressing lingering kisses on every part he could reach.

Shinichi shook his head but shifted to rest his cheek on his lover's chest, Kaito's body warmth bringing a smile to his face. Though the explosions above them were loud, he didn't hear them. No, he couldn't hear them.

With eyes closed, the sound of Kaito's heart was what he listened to. At that moment, he was sure that if he were to see fireworks again, he would remember the heart that beats only for him.

"Bet Ran told you."

A small chuckle.

"Happy Birthday, Shinichi."