Title: Four seasons with you

Kaito had made it clear to Shinichi that he loves him ever since the beginning. He made sure Shinichi got his set of good morning and good night kisses every day, spoiled him with everything and anything and considered him his most precious person. Kaito never wanted any form of eternity, he never saw the point. And yes, you can only ever get to know a person over time before deciding if you want to spend the rest of your life with them. But from the day they first kissed and when he held Shinichi in his arms so safely, he knew that he wanted nothing but to spend his lifetime loving him.

So, it was no doubt that Kaito would frequently express his love and say those three words. They would be doing anything and the prince would just say them.

Like once, for example, they were having a game of Shogi and Shinichi won the round yet again with the widest smirk.

"Not so clever after all, almighty royal highness," he said, using up all the roasts he could give. Shinichi wasn't very skilful at coming up with insults and the prince found that nothing but cute, he really couldn't get mad.

Kaito grinned and swooped forward to kiss him, replacing that smirk with a faint blush. It was really adorable how he could go from a proud and arrogant winner to a shy boy within seconds.

"What was that for?"

"Nothing, I'm just happy," the prince chirped, "spending time with you makes me happy."

"I love you, Shinichi."

Shinichi clicked his tongue and avoided his affectionate gaze, face turning redder by the second. He could never get used to hearing it.

"…Idiot."

Shinichi hadn't said it back to Kaito yet but it didn't matter. He knew that Shinichi wouldn't say things on impulse or just for the purpose to please others. He wasn't that type of person. Shinichi would only say it if he was absolutely sure that he meant it.

And it didn't matter, because sometimes, actions speak louder than words, right?

Like last week, when Kaito caught him singing as he watched the koi fish under the garden pavilion. His voice had a sort of happiness to it, something carefree. It was the first time the prince heard him sing and it was horrible, completely out of tune that Kaito didn't even know what he was trying to sing but he paused in his tracks, no intention of disturbing him.

He snickered softly. How cute.

A full minute passed before he took another step up the pavilion.

"You're really terrible, Shinichi."

The scholar jumped slightly. "Shut up," he demanded without turning to face him, ears red with embarrassment. "If you don't like it, I'll stop."

"Who said I didn't like it?" Kaito grinned, part love part mischief and wrapped his arms around his torso from behind. He cast his eyes to the fish pond below. The lily pads were turning yellow again, the second autumn he'd be spending with his beloved.

"Won't you sing for me again?"

"No," Shinichi's response was immediate. He attempted to free himself from the cheeky prince's hold but scoffed when he failed. "Go away, idiot."

"Please, Shinichi? Please, please, pleeeaase?"

"Ugh, you better not laugh."

"I won't," Kaito lied, a smile already creeping onto his face.

Shinichi inhaled hard, like he was taking this way too seriously before he let out those exaggerated high-pitched whines. It was so bad, the prince almost coughed trying to hold his laughter back but eventually, he closed his eyes to savour each 'note'. His voice was soothing, in a way, for they made him feel at home.

"You sing better than the original, my love," Kaito said when the 'song' came to an end then laughed in the way he did as a little child. "Not that I knew how the original sounded like."

Shinichi wrinkled his forehead, eyes flickered between his lover and the comfort of the pond below them. He let out a snort. It was the first time he sang in front of someone else.

"You're really the worst."

"Why? Your voice is my favourite," Kaito glanced at him, sounding genuine this time, "I could listen to it forever."

"Well, if you like it then it's fine," Shinichi smiled, small but soft.

Kaito widened his eyes. He knew Shinichi too well to know when he smiled with more than his mouth. He heard the love in his voice and in the choice of his words and the way he relaxed when he talked. That smile came from his heart.

The prince blushed lightly before leaving a small peck by his cheek.

Or… that other time Kaito brought Shinichi out of palace again for another date. It was summer and the ground was smouldering hot. After complaining about the heat for twenty minutes straight, Shinichi gave up on trying to refresh his whiny lover and suggested that they take a rest at a nearby restaurant.

Little did Kaito know the waiter would serve them with his biggest nightmare. He completely forgot that those creepy sea creatures were in season. But before he could even react, Shinichi raised his hand with a regretful smile.

"I apologise, can we have a change of dishes? My boyfriend doesn't eat fish."

At that, Kaito didn't know what to squeal over. The adorable fact that Shinichi called him his boyfriend or the fact that he was aware of his fish phobia even though he was sure he never told him. Both, he concluded.

"How did you know?"

"How could I not know? Your likes and dislikes, I should know best," Shinichi said, eyes and fingers fidgeting with his chopsticks, ignoring the prince's beaming gaze. "Si-since... like you said, you're mine."

"Awww, Shinichi!" Kaito hugged him, rubbing his sticky cheek against his lover's. His sudden excitement caused all heads in the restaurant to turn in their direction. "You're the cutest! The best!"

Blushing heavily, Shinichi pushed him, his lips specifically, away before he could go any further.

"Not in public, idiot!"

And one of Kaito's fondest memories, though also some of the toughest days of his life. Kaito was severely down with a cold, a cold he stupidly caught after waiting in the open at his room's balcony just so he could witness the first snowfall. The childish prince was determined to catch his own snowflakes after Shinichi enlightened him with the fact that every snowflake had different patterns and shapes.

Honestly, Kaito had never seen Shinichi so worried before. The scholar insisted, even argued with the minister of health to let him be the one to change his clothes and feed him his medicine. Shinichi wouldn't let anyone near him, other than the royal doctor and Saguru.

The prince couldn't remember much from those agonizing days ever since he stumbled down with a dangerously high fever. But once his fever had gone down, Kaito woke up, still exhausted to see Shinichi right next to him with a book in his hands. The obvious stack of books by the bed table meant that his lover had been nowhere but by his side for the last few days.

"Shinichi... I'm fine, you... don't have to stay here."

"Kaito," Shinichi settled his book down before placing a hand gently on his forehead, his expression turning slightly relieved. "Shut up and go back to sleep."

"Shinichi is so fierce," Kaito said before coughing, there was no strength in his voice, though the corners of lips didn't even bother to fight a smile, "but I love it... when you're so concerned... about me. I should get sick more often."

"Stop talking nonsense," Shinichi scolded, face looking real outraged. He reached for a clean cloth to wipe the remaining sweat off of Kaito's forehead and sighed, "I wonder how you have all the energy."

"I'm really okay... Don't you... have classes to attend?"

"Well, I'm not leaving."

"What if you catch my cold?"

"Then I'll just... stay in bed with you," Shinichi said and the prince smiled at him. He rolled over close and wrapped both arms around his waist like a child, resting his head in his lover's lap. "Stop it, idiot," the scholar rolled his eyes but didn't attempt to push him away.

"I know you like it."

Shinichi didn't reply. Instead, he placed a doting hand on his head and stroked his soft hair. Kaito curled his fingers into the fabric of his clothes, not clasping it tightly but just enough to reassure himself that they were staying together for the night.

It had always been like this, Shinichi could easily wrap him in his love with just his soft face and faithful words. But the day that Shinichi finally said it, Kaito would never forget.

They were having their newly promised weekly morning stroll hand in hand, enjoying the spring air that became more welcoming each day. It was Kaito's favourite time of the year. The precocious violets waved in their direction and the birds sing, softly floating and free. The prince tilted his head, letting his eyes flow from cherry blossom tree to tree that bloomed in delicious cream and pinks and blocked the fluffy clouds above. The fresh atmosphere was only a little less lovely than his company.

Kaito let go of his lover's hand just to take his time finding a good flower in the chaos of wild ones and decided on a blue periwinkle. He returned to Shinichi's side with the flower in his hand.

"Shinichi's so beautiful," he said after tucking it behind his ear and Shinichi blushed, never getting used to his cheesy compliments. "To be able to have you as mine, I must be the luckiest man alive."

"You're exaggerating."

"I'm not, you're that wonderful," Kaito grinned. Holding his shoulders, the prince leaned in to steal a kiss. "Hehe, Shinichi, you know I love you, right?"

"Mmhmm," Shinichi agreed, looking pleased. "I love you too."

He watched in amusement as the prince paused. "Wait, wait," his lips stretched into a smile but it didn't quite reach his brain. "What did you…?"

Shinichi walked ahead, it was easy to break out of his hold since he was so stunned. And by the time the prince had finally managed to process it, he was already in a distance.

"Shinichi!" Kaito skipped forward to catch up with him. "Say it again, say it again."

"No."

"C'monnn, say it again."

"No."

"Say it, say it."

"Shut up, you're so noisy."

Kaito cupped his face to bring his attention back to him. "I love you, Shinichi," he beamed brightly, waiting patiently for his response. Shinichi stared at him for a moment, wondering if the prince knew how contented those words made him every single time.

Well I guess, I could spoil him every now and then.

"I... love you too," Shinichi said eventually, dropping his gaze before meeting his favourite blue eyes again, heat rising rapidly to his cheeks. It was followed by the usual Shinichi 'hmmph', though when Kaito kissed him and opened his arms, he didn't hesitate to go into them.

"Hakuba!"

Kaito shouted cheerily when they returned, running over like an excited child about to announce something trivial to his mother. "You won't believe what Shinichi said to me! This is the best day ever!"

"What?"

"He said he loves me! Shinichi loves me!"

"Glad to hear, your highness, but I didn't really need to know."

"I'll tell you what happened. When I found a nice, a blue flower to be more specific, I put it in his hair and then I said he's beautiful because he is and he said…"

Shinichi smiled a little as he walked out quietly.