I'll give you all 3 good reasons for my late update-
1)Reviews weren't showing up on the site for the past four days from Jan 1 and I literally freaked out. So, I didn't start a new chapter.
2) I caught fever when I finally decided to write and I'm in my recovery period still.
3) The chips in my CPU were heated up and my PC would not work without the CPU as I've given it for repair.
Once again, I've typed this in my cellphone due to lack of a system. Please forgive me for any spelling mistakes. I've tried my level best to see that it's error free but if you find any, let it pass, okay? I know you people are good...
Ana: Yeah, I agree. The chap was short and that was good that way... In my opinion... I made up for it in this chap though. And no, I won't drag the situation that far. Just explanations regarding the feelings of our main heroes would be given to much extent. The girl is an OC.
Lemonade Sherbet-2015: Really? I hope I did good with this chapter too... :)
tabagui: Oh yeah... I know that but there are a lot of fics on this site which are based on songs... Like songfics and I just wanted to try one. Because I usually write poems of my own. Anyhow, thanks for reminding and reviewing.
Ketrin'Shirouki: Kyousuke wanted to marry a girl and so I brought in one... Orelse, the story would've been a little sappy. And, you have to wait to know who Kyousuke will want... ;)
Nonrinu Ayu: First of all, thank you for following and reviewing my story. And no, I don't mind your English because I'm glad you took the time to review my story. And, stay tuned to know who Kyousuke will choose... The girl or Tenma...
The girl… She's perfect. In every way, she seemed beautiful to my eyes. But I don't know why there is this odd feeling in my heart… Like it wants to pull me away from whatever that was about to come… This marriage. For long, I'd dreamt of marrying the most beautiful girl and the opportunity was knocking at my door, waiting for me to answer and acknowledge its call. It was like… infinite words were clogged in my throat and my indecisiveness… making me prone to silence. My mother was at the foot of my bed, in my room, waiting for my decision, in this case, approval, as I bore daggers into the parchment that I so tightly held in my hands.
"Oda Rina," my Mother said. Her name…
"Rina," I repeated.
The name felt foreign on my lips. Probably, that was because 'Rina' was a name I wasn't acquainted with in the past. Deep down, I knew that it wasn't the right reason. And I also knew what the right reason was. Tenma… How would he react to this? I said I would give our relation another chance and it was working… I could feel the change in me and him too… He was becoming bolder and happier as the days passed. And me… I'm an entirely different story because my feelings lie to me at times. Once I would be too happy to consider anything else and in the next moment, I would be cutting down all those situations or persons who would dare enter my territory in a fit of anger.
Lately, I've been sensing different vibes of emotions emanating from me. When I look at him… I can notice every small detail about him. The way he walks, the way his eyes shine in contrast to mine when I stare deep into them, the way his heart beats hard against my chest when I hug him close, the way his lips twitch and slightly water in anticipation of the touch of my lips to his', the way his hands feel on my skin… The way he inhales, the way he exhales… That look in his eyes when he's disappointed… That intonation when he's excited… Everything. I know everything about him. I've penetrated through the mask he adorns and studied him inside out…
"Kyousuke?" my Mother's sweet voice brought me back to the reality.
"Where's Tenma?" I asked, a bit tensed and hoped that my Mother wouldn't notice the abrupt change in my emotional stance.
Her eyebrows knit together in confusion and I observed her face wore a disappointed look. She was unhappy because I asked for my wife. "Why him? Besides, why would I know?" she spat hatefully.
"Oh, it's nothing, Mother! I just asked. He has this habit of roaming all round the palace," I said, smiling.
"Well, enough about him. So, do you approve of her?"
"Mother… I need some time," I sighed because the weight of this decision is taking a heavy toll on me.
"What for, Kyousuke?!" she asked rather incredulously, much to my utter surprise.
When I remained quiet, she spoke up again. "Your Father isn't in his best health and I took the burden of finding you a new bride to your liking, ALONE. And, you want time? You do know that we don't have much time, don't you? Your Father might…" she stopped, pinching the bridge of her nose, trying to fight back the oncoming slaughter of tears.
My Father, the King of Eden, was bed-ridden due to some unknown illness. Even the medical professional, Takuto-san was incapable of curing your Father. And, the whole Kingdom knew that there wasn't much time left for him. That was the very reason my study schedules were drastically shifted. My Father wanted a complete and knowledgeable King to take over his throne. Wisdom is one virtue I needed to develop before my Father's demise.
"I know, Mother… And, this isn't a small issue… I need some time, don't you think? My first marriage was rushed and I didn't even get to choose my bride, let alone approve! So…" I tried to reason.
"Fine, Kyousuke. I'll be inviting them here. You can spend some time with her tomorrow and if you agree, we'll carry on with the preparations. Is that good?"
"Yes, Mother. Thank you," I said, sliding the parchment under my pillow.
With a gentle and caring smile decorating her lips, my Mother turned to leave.
"Oh and you asked about Tenma, right? I've sent him to the dungeons, along with his belongings… It's where he belongs…" my Mother answered my question about Tenma, much to my astonishment.
"He stays in my room, Mother."
"Yes, I know. He's got a special place, owned by only him in the dungeons, now that you'll be marrying the bride of your choice. You're relieved of being his husband, dear," she faced me and spoke. "You're free and as the Queen of Eden, I've imprisoned him there as he's no longer your wife." She did not give a chance to speak and left me alone in my room, with a heap of thoughts to ponder upon.
Tenma is my wife and I couldn't grasp the fact that my Mother sent him away without my permission. A fair tinge of rage sparked in me as I strode angrily towards the dungeons.
Normal POV:
Tenma was entirely positive that the marriage was the end of his relationship with Kyousuke. Never once had the idea of Kyousuke marrying another girl crossed his mind because of the way they had been with each other, the past few months. He was back in the dungeons, just where he belonged. The thoughts of Kyousuke and the other girl being together invaded his mind again, like they did while he was in the garden. He couldn't stand the thought of seeing his husband with someone who wasn't him.
Bringing his knees close to his chest, as he sat down on the floor and encircling them with his arms, he let his head fall back against the cold rock wall. His thoughts revolved around his husband… He loved him more than anything else and the day has come when his husband would be separated from him. No longer he could wake up in the warm arms of his husband… Nor he could wake him up, give him the usual body massage, wish him a good day for his studies, watch Kyousuke practice his arts, serve him lunch, eat with him… Tenma even doubted if he could even get a glance of his husband after getting engaged to that girl he didn't even know the name of. He knew this was his life now… A repetition of his past… At that realization of being ripped away from the one he truly and dearly loved, he let his unshed tears hit the ground.
Kyousuke didn't mind asking the guards for Tenma's whereabouts. He outright demanded them and found Tenma in the corner of his cell, laid back against the wall, with tears escaping his closed eyes. Not once in the past four months had Kyousuke seen Tenma cry. And, he very definitely knew what compelled the happy Tenma he knew to shed tears.
"Guard, open the gate!" he ordered, never once breaking eye contact with Tenma's form.
Hearing his husband's arrogant yet kind voice, Tenma stiffened and shut his eyes tighter to resist the waterfall of tears from his eyes. He didn't want his husband to see him broken… He felt his husband sit next to him, against the wall and that was the final straw. Tenma was sure he never cried that much… It felt like his heart shattered into a million pieces and he was alone to pick them up. Somewhere in the middle of his crying session, he felt two strong arms – of his husband – hug him close…
"Why me? Why is it me always, Kyousuke-sama?" Tenma croaked out.
Listening to Tenma's voice was close to a nightmare to Kyousuke as he had NEVER heard Tenma so utterly broken… Kyousuke didn't say anything in response and rubbed soothing circles on Tenma's back, silently urging his wife to let out all the pent up frustration and sadness… In the form of words and tears…
"I've done everything in my strength to make it right by following all the orders my parents put on my plate… I let them down by being born as the abomination I am… All my time in the dungeons, I prayed to God that if I was to be married, my husband should love me unconditionally and stay by my side forever… God deprived me of that honor… "
The last sentence stung Kyousuke sharply. That was fairly right on Tenma's side though because never once he told his wife that he loved him. Tenma usually dropped hints which let him know that Tenma loved him. It was never necessary to voice those three words – I love you - because Actions speak louder than words and Tenma's actions always spoke at a higher audible range level. What his own feelings towards Tenma were… he wasn't sure.
"Now, my life's back to square one… I'm in the dungeons alone and I'm afraid, Kyousuke-sama…" Tenma sniffled.
"Afraid of what?" Kyousuke asked, wanting to hear Tenma's feelings.
"Afraid of being alone, afraid of losing you…" and for a brief moment, Kyousuke's heart stopped beating at its normal rate and raced wildly like a magnificent galloping horse.
Before he could form a suitable reply, Tenma broke the hug and wiped away his tears. Kyousuke was now eye to eye with his wife. He could see the redness and emptiness in the beautiful blue eyes of his wife.
"Tenma…" he addressed, raising his hand and placing it on Tenma's soft cheek, immediately feeling the gentle weight of Tenma leaning into his touch.
"Tenma, look at me…" Kyousuke said and Tenma complied. "I didn't say 'yes'…"
"What?" Tenma's eyes widened in surprise.
"I've asked for some time. I'll be meeting her tomorrow. After that, I'll decide," Kyousuke said, dropping his hand.
Tenma's spark of hope died down as soon as it was born. But he knew that it was not the time to let out his emotions. His husband warned him at the start of their relation that he would be dumped and another girl would take his place. He accepted the fact then… He couldn't understand why he's making a big issue out of it now. If anything, he should be happy that his husband's wishes came true. And, he decided just to do that and not lose his cool.
"I'm sorry," he breathed out before he could think.
"Why?" his husband asked, confused, the hand remained in its former place on Tenma's cheek.
"For earlier... I didn't want to cry... It just..." Tenma waved his right hand in the air to emphasize his unsaid but clear feeling.
"I know. I can understand," Kyousuke smiled.
"Can you, Kyousuke-sama?" Tenma blurted out thoughtlessly.
Never once in his life, Kyousuke felt so sad. It was his wish, to marry the perfect girl. Yet, here he was, sitting on the floor of those dungeons he despised to the core of his heart, just to spend time with his present wife. He did not capture the thin essence that his attraction towards his wife, at some point in their relation, turned into love and utmost care towards the boy. Neither did Tenma know because of his naivety...
"Tenma... I... I really don't understand what to do anymore," Kyousuke sighed.
"Do what your heart wanted and still wants, Kyousuke-sama..." Tenma squeezed Kyousuke's hand.
Kyousuke offered a small smile to Tenma as he relaxed against the not so good wall. He started to think of the possibilities... Regarding Tenma and his' relation. He had known his wife for over a ten months and in the past four months, they had understood each other so well that almost Kyousuke's day functions entirely due to his wife... His heart screamed at him to not let go of Tenma yet at the same time he wanted to give a chance to himself... To take liking in the ever-so-perfect girl that his Mother chose for him...
"I don't want to be apart from you because after Ken-nii, it was you who treated me good..." Tenma stared off into space as Kyousuke watched the expression on his wife's face intently.
"I didn't treat you too good," he admitted.
"At first, yes, you didn't... Now, I have complete faith in you that you wouldn't degrade me for what I am like the others usually do..."
"I never hated you because you were a male-carrier, Tenma... You know the reason, don't you?"
"I do."
"But, in retrospect, that reason seems awful to me."
"Why?"
"Hmm..." Kyousuke did not reply and Tenma did not urge him anymore to answer. They sat in eerie silence that dawned upon them due to lack of words. Tenma knew that if he spoke, he would bawl like a baby again, literally begging his husband to not marry the chosen girl. And, he never wanted to deny Kyousuke the happiness he wanted. And, all this time, Kyousuke stayed in a dilemma regarding his true feelings towards his wife.
"So, I'll go now... Okay?" Kyousuke said, standing up, followed by Tenma.
"Yeah..." Tenma nodded in acknowledgment.
Determined to get Tenma out of his predicament, Kyousuke was about to march out to his Mother and discuss Tenma's situation with her, when...
"Kyousuke-sama wait!" He heard Tenma's voice and stopped in his tracks.
Turning around to ask Tenma, the reason for stopping him, he saw that his wife was close to him. Soon, he found his hands being held by Tenma's. He didn't understand Tenma's actions as he felt their fingers intertwine.
"Tenma, what are you doing?" Kyousuke asked but didn't pull back his hands.
"Don't forget me, okay? Once in a while, just come down here to see me... Please?" Tenma requested, his eyes no longer able to hold back the Tsunami of tears and his voice no longer able to suppress the painful lump he fought back.
Without a solid and final decision from his Mother, Kyousuke didn't promise Tenma about his release. Even though he knew that he had entire rights over Tenma, he couldn't defy his Mother's wishes, or more likely, orders.
"If I marry her, I promise you, I won't forget you. I'll make sure to spend time with you everyday," Kyousuke assured. To himself, he promised to get Tenma out.
"Thank you... And, also, I have to say another thing. An important one," Tenma broke eye contact.
"Yes?"
"..." Tenma mumbled something inaudibly.
"Pardon me, I didn't get you," Kyousuke bent low to hear what Tenma said.
And, he was met with something softer and better than words instead - Tenma's lips on his'. It was when Tenma slid his tongue against his lips, begging for entrance, Kyousuke took control of the situation by taking Tenma's face in his hands and angling their heads so that their lips fit perfectly against each other. Tenma put his now free hands around Kyousuke's neck, pulling his husband closer than that was actually possible.
Their kiss continued on for minutes as Tenma wouldn't let go of the final opportunity he had in his hands to show his love towards Kyousuke. Craning his neck down to Tenma's level for so long, Kyousuke pulled back a little to ease his pain but still held on to their passionate kiss by lifting Tenma up into his arms and slamming his back to the wall. Tenma locked his legs at the back of Kyousuke's waist to keep balance as they kissed each other, breaking once a while to breathe.
"Kyousuke-sama," Tenma whispered against his husband's lips, touching their foreheads together.
"Tenma..."
"I wanted to tell you that..." Tenma hesitated.
"That?"
"I don't know when it happened but it did. And I do not know if I'll ever get the occasion to let you know this..."
"What is it, Tenma?" Kyousuke asked, a bit impatiently.
"Kyousuke-sama... I wanted to tell you that no matter how life turns out to be... My feelings towards you will always remain the same. Because..."
"Because?" They could feel their hearts palpitate synchronously.
"Because I love you, Kyousuke-sama," Tenma said it.
Kyousuke dropped Tenma to the floor in shock, a good kind of shock, as he took a few steps back, watching Tenma stand upright on his feet. When his wife's eyes looked at him with that kind of love he failed to completely notice, he stuck to the ground, mouth agape in wonder at Tenma's words...
"You what? You love me?" Kyousuke asked.
"Yes, sadly, I do... This might be the last day of us spending time together... I wanted to tell you this properly. But all situations were against me and so I had to let you know in this way... So, yeah, I love you so much..." Kyousuke couldn't put his head around Tenma's sudden proposal. And certainly he did not know how to respond.
"That doesn't mean you have to love me back... Okay?" Tenma continued.
"Yeah, okay," was all Kyousuke replied as he wanted to think about his feelings and that day was already emotions-overloaded to him.
"Good luck for a new life, Kyousuke-sama," Tenma wished with a smile that didn't quite reach upto his eyes.
"How sure are you that I'll marry her?" Kyousuke frowned.
"I'm pretty sure..."
"Okay... See you later," Kyousuke said and left at Tenma's nod of approval.
Later, Kyousuke spoke to his Mother about Tenma's stay in the dungeons. The Queen of Eden refused to have Tenma around when the about-to-be-bride's family visited them. Kyousuke, very calmly, reprimanded the Queen about calling Rina "the bride". Upon a lot of persuasion and trying not to opppose his Mother and hurt her feelings, they've come to a mutual understanding that Tenma would stay down in the dungeons till Rina's family left their abode. Not completely successful in his attempts yet to an extent, turing out to have a half-win, Kyousuke agreed to it.
Feeling tired, Kyousuke decided to take some rest before dinner. When he entered his room, he heard the sound of a pigeon and looked towards the source of the sound. It was a pigeon alright, but not a usual one. Picking it up gently from the folds of his blanket, he saw that there was a small message tied to its leg. He untied it and released the pigeon which flapped its wings and flew away.
"Hey, come back!" Kyousuke called after the pigeon but to no use. He sighed before opening the message. The scribble was too familiar to him to not understand who the sender was.
Meet me immediately, Kyousuke...
No signature. But Kyousuke knew, by the way the letters curved, that it was his brother who sent him the message. He was too tired to ride all the way to Inazuma town but some kind of feeling, probably intution, that boldly printed the words - urgency - in his brain, drove him towards his brother's abode but not before informing his Mother that he would be going out for a while to clear his head and would be back safely before nightfall.
An hour he rode his beautiful horse, Shinju, non-stop. The twilight skies indicated late evening to the people as the air turned cold, chilling Kyousuke's body due to the lack of extra layers. After tying Shinju to the fence, he knocked the door and waited.
When it opened, Kyousuke was greeted by Taiyou, whose stomach was showing slightly as a round bump.
"Nice attire you got there," Kyousuke snickered playfully about Taiyou's growing stomach.
"Kyousuke!" Taiyou gleamed as he pulled him into a tight hug.
"Your stomach is hitting me! Back off!" Kyousuke struggled in Taiyou's grip but still being aware of not hurting his brother's wife.
"No can do, Kyousuke... It's been too long and I'm honestly happy to see you at my doorstep..." Taiyou said happily.
"That doesn't mean you have to strangle me to death every time you see me, okay?!" Kyousuke yelled and Taiyou let go of him.
"Don't you ever open the door, Taiyou... Besides, I've got a message from nii-san. Is he home?''
"Oh, yeah, I know! Come in... I'll let him know you're here..."
"Where is he?" Kyousuke asked as he followed Taiyou into the house and the sound of the door being shut echoed through the hall.
"He's in the kitchen, preparing dinner for the night," Taiyou said as Kyousuke sat down on the futon that was laid on the floor.
"Nii-san cooks?" Kyousuke raised an eyebrow.
"Well, he learnt... Situations demand things," Taiyou smiled and left towards the kitchen.
Yuuichi had a serious expression as the trio sat on the futon.
"Nii-san, you've asked for me? What's the matter?" Kyousuke inquired Yuuichi.
"I'll get straight to the topic at hand, brother. Are you marrying another girl?"
Kyousuke didn't see that coming. Of all possibilities, he never included that to be one. He assumed something might've happened to Yuuichi or probably Taiyou and his brother wanted his help or support. But, not this...
"How did you even know about the proposal?"
"I have my sources which I find unnecessary at the moment to discuss. Let's talk about the marriage, shall we?" Yuuichi asked sternly.
"Nii-san, let me tell you this... You've always known about the kind of partner I wanted and Mother just fulfilled my wish. I don't know why but when Mother brought to my notice about the girl, I didn't say yes right away."
"That's a step. But, why?"
"I don't know... The first thing that struck in my mind was Tenma..."
"Tenma, huh? If you don't mind my intrusion into your personal life, may I ask, what is your relation to Tenma, Kyousuke?"
"My relation? Meaning?"
"Your feelings towards him..."
Yet again, for the umpteenth time, Kyousuke fell into a deep pit of thoughts.
"I don't exactly understand, Nii-san, what it is that I feel towards him. Let me be frank... I like him, a lot and I can't seem to get him out of my mind. Sometimes, during my study sessions, he's all I think about... What he might be doing? Has he eaten or not? Are his lessons from Takuto-san about Medicine finished or not? And so many more... I don't know what this warmth in my heart is... When I think of him... He gives me too many emotions to basically understand what I have towards him," Kyousuke finished his rant and he felt like some weight was lifted off him, now that he got the feelings out of his chest.
Yuuichi and Taiyou had identical smiles on their faces.
"What?!" Kyousuke scowled.
"I never knew you could speak that much, Kyousuke!" Yuuichi laughed heartily.
"Oh, shut up, Nii-san," Kyousuke murmured.
"Kyousuke, I'll tell you this... Judging your feelings, I can firmly say that you're in love with Tenma-kun," Taiyou finalized.
"Yes, Taiyou's right," Yuuichi agreed too.
Love? Kyousuke in love with Tenma? Kyousuke wasn't sure that was even possible. He, in the past, did not consider Tenma to be his wife. And now, he was in love with him? That shouldn't be possible... Or should it?
"No... I can never..."
"Never what? Love Tenma?" Taiyou asked.
"Yeah... Not so long ago, I've hated him to the core... You're exaggerating my emotions!" Kyousuke accused.
"Kyousuke, you said yourself that you've never hated Tenma... And now you're saying you hated him?" Yuuichi asked.
"Well... Oh, whatever! I agree, I hated the situation I was put in... But that doesn't mean I love him!"
"It was just a hunch, Kyousuke. But, I'm pretty sure you love Tenma... Try clearing out your mind before you sort out your feelings," Yuuichi advised.
"If you say so," Kyousuke mumbled under his breath.
"Don't marry her, the girl..." Taiyou piped in.
"Why?" Kyousuke queried.
"In the little time you and Tenma were here, I've seen the way Tenma looked at you... I think he loves you," Taiyou said.
"He... He proposed to me, today..."
"What did you say then?!" Taiyou beamed as he waited for a reply.
"I didn't know what to say..."
"Ugh! You should've told him that you loved him too! That's the law of Nature!" Taiyou wailed disappointedly.
"I am confused. I don't know, for sure, what my feeling towards Tenma are," Kyousuke confessed.
"Then you should figure it out as soon as possible, Kyousuke. Time doesn't wait for anyone and certainly, it doesn't hold back on you too. Before anything bad happens, figure out who you want in your life. The girl or Tenma..." Yuuichi said.
Without even eating his dinner, Kyousuke locked himself in his room, in the palace, for the night, trying to join the dots, using his brother's advice.
I love you, Kyousuke-sama... Tenma's voice ricocheted in his brain.
You know not the dilemma
About you, I have in me
Magnetizing, your charisma
All my fears, away they flee
Your touch, and your kiss
Your love, their signature
A beautiful peaceful bliss
Your erotic seductive texture
Mind numbing, this confusion
Do I love you like you do?
Or just a blinded perversion?
All I think about is just you...
The next day, when the girl's family arrived, the Eden guest palace was grandly decorated and they were received warmly. Rina's father, the King of the Fujiwara Kingdom, was a short lanky man who had too much beard and moustache whose overcoat always swept the floor while he walked. And his Queen was short too, just like her husband but elegant and royal in appearance who wore a bun and her crown all the time. Rina was more beautiful in person with her silky black hair falling down till her waist and her dress perfectly hugging all her still forming curves.
Kyousuke and the girl, Oda Rina, spent the whole day together. He was awed when Rina told him that she knew the art of Sword striking and horse riding. She was fourteen too, just like Kyousuke and they had a friendly battle with swords. The Prince of Eden won against the Princess of Fujiwara... But he complimented her valor and asked her to never back down, no matter what the situation was.
And when dusk fell, Kyousuke knew that it was time to make his decision, for he knew that his Mother would be expecting his reply. The Eden King and the Queen, the Fujiwara King and the Queen, Kyousuke and Rina were present in a room... Kyousuke stood beside Rina while the Highnesses sat on chairs, all the five, including Rina, awaited Kyousuke's decision.
"I like him, Father," Rina gave her approval.
"What about you, Kyousuke?" the Eden Queen, Shun, asked, one-hundred percent sure by the look on Kyousuke's face that he'd accept.
"I..." Kyousuke started.
So, Please do not mind the late update and let me know your views regarding the chapter...
I'm eagerly waiting for your suggestions, advice, support... Don't disappoint me...
Bubbyeeee...
~Wheezy.