Role

"Yuri, stop pacing."

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are. You keep going back and forth like that and you're going to make me nervous."

Yuri stopped. "You're not?"

I shook my head. "No…I haven't been more sure of this than anything."

Yuri grinned. "Hey…I came up with an idea for Father," he whispered, trying his best to keep his nerves down.

"Yes?"

He came beside me. "Yeah, think he'd like some new buttons."

"Buttons?"

Yuri rested his head on my upper arm. "Hmmhm, tailoring is his side job…even though he doesn't have the best to work with."

"I see…well you did say he was a practical man. We will look for them later, okay?"

Yuri nodded, came around me quickly and fiddled with my clothes.

"Yu~ri, that's like the sixth time you 'straightened' my vest."

"I know I know…this time I just can't help it."

True to Yuri's word, not that I had any doubts, his friend, the king, was able to replace my vest. I still felt horrible the original was lost, but I was sure they would understand given it was stolen. In less than two days, His Majesty presented me with a very similar piece. It was half pink and half red, with similar black trimmings, only this time, there were three golden chains which hung across the front. The fabric of the garment was also finer and the construction was a better fit. In addition to the vest, a black sash with wide, kilt length strips of more rose pink and black fabric was given to me to tie around my waist.

"It's so well made..." His voice trailed off.

I leaned forward and pecked his forehead, taking his shaking hands into mine. "Hey, thank you for being nervous for both of us, but we got this, okay?"

"Hmhmm," Yuri nodded.

"What? Do I need to kiss you again?" I asked.

"No, its just, after the whole Durlac thing…"

In the time of the garment's construction, the Blessing announcement was made. The City was occupied in just over a day. Plus, since our stay was turned longer than we expected, we moved out of our hotel near Barcelona and had all of our things back in our guest room.

I twisted around and took Yuri's face with my hands. "Hey. We will be fine. We can't go through life looking over our shoulder."

Yuri averted his eyes. "I know…"

"Do you? Because I am about to go in front of what will feel like a million people in like five minutes, so I kinda need you to be on your game today," I teased.

Yuri revealed a broad smile. "I love you."

I tilted his head so our foreheads met. "I know. We will be safe."

It will be perfect, Yuri. I'll be official, we will party and then I'll give you, my little fishy, the surprise of your life.

"V-Victor Nikif-forov?"

A short individual with red and blonde hair and copper-green armor and come forth and appeared nervous too, or at least, he was very new at what he did with how young he looked.

I pulled back and faced the guard. "Yes?"

He saluted. "Guard M-Minami reporting to e-escort you."

Jeez…the lad would be shaking in boots if he could.

Either that or he, and probably every one else, was so excited they appeared nervous. I could only guess.

Yuri and I followed Minami to the front door of the castle where an entourage of guards stood in formation.

Dressed in silver armor, a stoic Merman came forward and saluted. "I'm Captain Seung-gil Lee, we will escort you to our King."

From there we left the castle, following the Captain's group while flanked from behind, I assumed, for protection.

However, the whole affair quickly revealed itself as a parade.

The crowd was deafening. All up and down the route, everyone was eager to see a spectacle. Truth was, I didn't know what I was really in for. Merfolk weren't not immortal and it had been too long to possibly ask another how it felt. Sure, there were documents and historians who could retell the visual and the words said, but the feeling? That remained for me to experience.

Yuri and I eventually approached a circular platform that was surrounded by more guards. In the middle stood King Phichit with a big smile. He wore gold and ruby accessories while his caramel skin appeared written all over, resembling cursive, in golden paint. Meanwhile, in his hands, was an antique, spherical flask of sorts.

The low, full sounds resembling of a horn ruptured through big shells to hush the audience.

The Captain signaled Yuri to stop right at the rim of the stage. It was clear in that moment I had go ahead on my own.

The immense crowd was hardly murmuring, but the energy was intense.

Well…sorry if I don't go up like fireworks.

I smiled at the thought.

I wasn't nervous.

King Phichit held up the vial for all to see as I approached him.

I was in love.

I bowed deeply and took the offered drink, as I was debriefed to do just yesterday.

I wanted to live with Yuri.

The young king rested his hands on my shoulders, standing behind me as I started to drink it.

The liquid tasted far from any good wine but it was far from undrinkable. It wasn't bitter, but it wasn't sweet.

A wash of warmth came over me the instant I was done drinking. The warmth in my heart grew hotter, and then almost unbearable. I gritted my teeth, not wanting to make a scene.

I could heart Phichit mumble a poetic verse in a strange tongue.

I looked down and saw my tail sparkle like golden stars.

My eyesight grew sharper. The slight haziness of being underwater vanished.

Finally, my fisted hands felt cold.

I brought my arms in, crossing them in front of my chest, suddenly feeling the urge to pray. I prayed my element would allow me to remain by Yuri's side.

The rapid heat in my heart soon began to fade, the twinkling vanished, and my hands began to feel like normal.

I placed a flat hand onto my chest. Somehow, I felt I could breathe easier. Somehow, I felt stronger.

Yuri's friend came back around to face me, lifting his arms above him, signaling I were to try out my new element.

I mimicked His Majesty's gesture.

Snow…

…glittered as it fell from my hands.

The crowd cheered, whooped, and screamed congratulations. Soon, streamers and confetti rained all around. Music, too, could be playing for all I cared.

The moment I turned around, all I could see was Yuri's tears.

I wanted a drink.

Yuri was beside himself.

Phichit was with him, trying his best to calm his hysterical friend.

I knew Yuri was emotional, but if this was a bit much for me to handle.

I wasn't exactly comforting either though. We were solemn the entire way back to the castle while the crowd seemingly took it all in as part of the dramatic show. His Majesty came to our guestroom only to see Yuri and I fighting. The whole thing finally imploded when I impulsively tried to take Yuri's wrist only for it became blue in mere seconds.

I sighed and closed my eyes. Even right outside the door of the guestroom, listening to Phichit and Yuri's muffled voices argue on the other side, I could hear the vibrations of gala carrying on.

I miss Vodka in times like these.

I shook my head. This was supposed to be a happy day. Cheer, joy, love. That is what Yuri should've had after years of waiting, hoping I would be here with him.

I felt cursed.

I felt cursed on land and now I was here as well.

I didn't hear the door open or see a hand grab me until it was too late.

"Get your butt back in here, we need to talk! That's an order!" Phichit demanded.

The next thing I knew, Yuri and I were sitting at our bedroom table like children in trouble.

"Now then…you see this?" His Majesty waved his hand. "I'm not blue. Why is that?"

"Because, with all due respect, you're the King?"

He strummed the table with his fingers. "Steam is my element too, Victor. It was the conversation starter when Yuri and I were children in Elementary school."

"That pun almost hurts worse than I feel, Sir," I deadpanned.

"It's the truth…" Yuri muttered.

I face palmed. "Are you…fucking serious?" I muttered also. "Okay then…what the hell?"

"I don't know what 'hell' is, but I can tell you two need to lighten the fuck up."

Yuri winced, but kept his eyes low, unable to look at any one.

I shook my head. "I'm sorry I still don't understand. Maybe because you took me by surprise it didn't register...or maybe you're the king so you're immune?"

Phichit strummed the table. "It all comes down to control. Ice and steam elements, out of all, do not get along so It will be tough, but it is feasible."

Is this a joke?

I felt an itch I hadn't felt in a long time and bit my lip "I'm sorry…feasible to do what? To just hold his hand? I want to believe there is hope, I do, its just…I'm tired."

Phichit coughed. "I understand you're disappointed, but we should remain hopeful."

I slammed a fist on the table. "Of what? Yuri has been hoping for years! A million things could've not gone his way. Despite all of that we have come so far!"

Yuri's friend held up his hands. "What would you have me do? I would have given you any element I could but the water gives what it can. We can't go against its design."

I remained silent. Unsure of what to say.

The young king sighed. "I'll leave you two to talk. I highly recommend you go out to the party, if nothing else to get out of this slump."

"Th-Thank you, Phichit," Yuri spoke up.

His friend came around the table and patted his shoulder. "Yuri, my friend, I'll have you live happy."

"You too…my friend," Yuri grinned, holding back tears.

Phichit turned around and headed off without another word.

I didn't move. I kept silent.

"Vi-"

"No."

"Huh?"

I pinched my eyes shut. "You say anything I might want to hold you and…I can't do that."

I next felt tears on my hand before I sensed a pair of hands trying to hold my face.

"No!" I tore out of my chair. "I don't want to hurt you!"

Yuri followed after me and pushed me onto the wall behind me. For a moment I froze, watching him strain forward to kiss me.

I grabbed his shoulders and pushed him aside. "Are you crazy?!"

Blue splotches formed where I had touched. Yuri clutched his arms in pain and fell to the ground. Although the splotches quickly faded from my brevity, I wanted to scream I was sorry. Instead, I numbly fell onto the ground too.

There, on our knees, we couldn't look at each other.

"You said you didn't care if it were fire…"

"You said you wanted to stay…"

My throat tightened. The pain in my chest was almost unbearable.

So…this is what heartbreak is like.

Notes: I'm a horrible, horrible person. XD

Seriously though, it's sad how much I wish I could draw and make myself a comic of this chapter, especially of that last scene. lol