Beads of Tears
Chapter Fourteen
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Sunlight danced across the water's surface reflecting down upon Atlantis. The kingdom itself held nothing of life this early. No one awoke before the sun's rising. Normally, inhabitants of the ocean awoke shortly after the rising of the sun. It wasn't a surprise in the castle as well.
Deep within the heart of the castle, servants bustled in the kitchens, preparing breakfast for the royal family. They worked quickly, preparing the finest selection of foods available. However, the consumers of this feast had yet to rise for the day.
Yuugi lay curled on his side, tail brushing against the spongy mattress. Golden bangs fell into his face, covering the innocent face Yami loved more than life itself. Days passed since the run in with both of their parents. Yet, Yuugi felt exhausted. Everyday he was forced into attending lessons in the art of impressing one's mate. To say the least, everything held disturbing imagery and rules. It wasn't surprising how weird the customs of merpeople truly were.
In Atlantian customs, the youngest person in a marriage held the position of lesser responsibility. In other words, the youngest held the position of a woman in this new life. Being the case, Yuugi held such responsibility as the lesser of the two. His life would require little in the fields of royalty. All he would require is keeping his husband happy and well nourished.
Even in his sleep, Yuugi showed signs of stress. Dark circles hung under his large eyes. Hours and hours of planning for the 'bonding ceremony' held great depth in discussion. Everything needed a plan, even the color of their ceremonial necklaces.
Beyond thoughts of their joining, Yuugi found himself enthralled with a perverted prince. Yami couldn't help his raging hormones. He simply loved the boy beyond belief. He even took accustom to endearing Yuugi with a pet name. The prince endowed his love interest with a name from his own native tongue. Yuugi became known as Yami's 'aibou.' The term held numerous meanings, but for many it held the symbolism of a lifetime mate.
The kings found this advancement in the boys' relationship pleasing. Both men wondered if Yuugi would ever give into the other's advances. Yami proved his interest vocally and physically in body language. Yuugi never responded to his fiancé's obvious seduction. It would take more than wooing Yuugi as a young mermaid. The teen grew up in the mortal world. Everything held different meanings to the new merprince. He barely knew anything beyond natural instinct in movements of his tail, and respect for Yami.
Turning in his light slumber, Yuugi found himself ground to the bed. Violet eyes opened, blurry to the aquatic world. The young merprince found his current position intriguing. Something held him in place.
'What the hell is going on?'
He cast his head to the side, spying the cause of his dilemma. Rolling his eyes in annoyance the boy snorted.
A lone arm wrapped itself around his lithe waist, pinning him in place. Yami somehow during the night curled himself around Yuugi's thin body, tail wrapped around the smaller's. His face rested in the crook of Yuugi's left shoulder, tricolor hair swaying in the slow current.
'How does he get me into these situations?'
Against better judgment, Yuugi laid there, awaiting the other's consciousness into the early morning. The nineteen-year-old wished for a day without reprimanding. Yami always sighed if Yuugi woke up without him and began his day alone. Apparently they were glued at the hip.
Sunlight sparkled across Yuugi's exposed tail, scales shining brightly. Today marked an important day. The bonding ceremony was near. In two days, Yami and Yuugi would become the Kings of Atlantis and Atlantica.
Creatures from all over the kingdom would attend, mesmerized by this historical event. For the first time in three centuries, Atlantis and Atlantica would end their eon-long disputes.
Merely joining in a ritual of love and royalty brought happiness to all. However, Yuugi couldn't find any ease with this settlement. Something felt amiss.
Sighing under his breath, the prince rested his head against the elder male. Freedom would eventually find its presence for Yuugi. Patience truly was a virtue.
Not long after his dazed wakening, ruby eyes opened. Yami awoke slowly, drawing in a shaky breath. Bubbles fled from his mouth, disappearing quickly as they appeared. He felt refreshed from the previous day's activities. Triton forced proper etiquette tutorials upon the oldest prince. Apparently the handsome teen of Atlantian beauty wasn't perfect.
Yawning widely, he gazed down, meeting a set of violet eyes. Familiar weight from his beloved partner rested lightly against his tanned chest. His heart raced, hormones pulsing rapidly. A mere stare into indescribable violet eyes sent Yami's hormone's over the edge.
Blond bangs fell into his angled face, eyes peeking through distorted viewing. Yuugi shook his head, amused with his fiancé's antics.
"I was wondering when the great prince of Atlantica would rise for the day. I thought something had happened."
"I merely dreamed of our first night together…" he paused. "I see ourselves enjoying the first day of our bonded lives. Our first night together engaged in raw emotion and passion."
A blush crept upon Yuugi's face. No matter his age, the teen simply found anything of perverted nature embarrassing. Of course, this was also a favorite expression of his fiancé.
Yami nuzzled his face in the crook of his aibou's shoulder. He felt connected to this boy. It wasn't surprising that Yuugi secretly felt the same.
"Stop that. You must show proper respect and etiquette when addressing the being of your every desire."
At this statement, Yami pulled himself up, arms falling from Yuugi's small form.
'Finally, I'm free.'
Smiling softly, Yuugi pulled himself off the bed, stretching his numb tail. Sleeping on a sponge threw his tail out of alignment.
'I'm still foreign to the life of a marine creature.' He gazed down at his tail, smile failing him. 'I'm such a newbie. I don't think I will ever understand how to live in this world.'
A knock broke the romantic trance, sending both mermen into reality.
Groaning from the loss of warmth, Yami yelled. "Yes?"
A voice crept through the coral supported door.
"The kings call for you both. Hurry to the throne room at once."
"Alright, we'll be there in a few minutes."
"Thank you."
When the conversation ended, the elder merman ran a hand through his hair. "Today is going to be very interesting.
- - - - - - - - - -
Schools of Garibaldi fled from Atlantis, frenzied. Usually quiet and friendly, the tangerine-colored creatures struck a complete 180 in temperance. Something in the waters led to this. A rare feeling of uneasiness crept through calm waters. On no account had anything strange occurred in Atlantis since the loss of the Atlantian prince nineteen years before.
Apprehensively, the schools of Garibaldi reeled away from the Kingdom, fleeing from oceanic life as they knew it. A flash of gold and aquamarine light flashed through the depths, a tail following suit.
A new threat entered the world of merfolk and marine life alike.
- - - - - - -
The trek shouldn't have been a chore, or a command. Yuugi and his fiancé swam through the palace silently. Tension bore heavily upon the pair. Ever since their summoning earlier this morning, neither teen felt confident in their usual ambitions. Even if Triton and Poseidon were their respectable fathers they still feared the unusual summoning.
Nervously, both heirs swam side by side, ignoring everything around them. Yuugi, fidgeted uneasily. Fear coursed through his veins. Life changed drastically in little time. Barely finding out that he was royalty and a merman in the same day along with meeting a man named his fiancé since birth. Yuugi couldn't find this situation any different. Mysterious things occurred daily. This was the light of his new life.
Sighing softly, Yuugi leaned against Yami, face resting against a broad shoulder. The touch sent excitement through the elder prince's mind. Fiery crimson eyes bore into violet. A simple affectionate touch reassured the couple. Against the thought of an arranged marriage, Yuugi simply found living in denial depressing. His beliefs remained padlocked in his heart. For the good of his future kingdom, the prince relayed his thoughts, allowing simple gestures towards his future husband.
Soft lips pressed against his cheek. A set of bronze hands spooned his slim body closer. Reassurance brought a blush upon pale cherubic cheeks. Atlantica's prince held Atlantis's prince upon a pedestal. Life simply held greater meaning with this little one in hand. Every ounce of love mustered for this prince fell naturally. Yami endured the thoughts of his other's negative aspects upon the subject of their arranged marriage.
Beyond his knowledge, beyond his strategic thought, he knew this would work. It wasn't just for his happiness. It was for the good of the kingdom. For once in nineteen years the sister kingdoms could find peace.
Pulling his attention towards reality, Yami ushered himself and Yuugi into the throne room, bypassing a set of annoyed guards. Rolling his eyes at their agitation, Yami pressed forward, drawing Yuugi away from his shoulder. Reluctantly, both teens directed themselves in front of their respectable fathers.
Both kings sat stiffly in their thrones. Twin gazes of worry fell upon their faces. Crimson and violet eyes narrowed upon the two princes.
Breaking the ice, Poseidon spoke first. "Are you aware of your actions caused for your presence today?"
Yami and Yuugi exchanged blank stares, shrugging sheepishly. "No, we aren't."
"You certainly are able to keep your hormones raging. If it wasn't forbidden, I believe that you would have stolen my son's innocence by now."
Triton cleared his throat, ending the conversation. "Poseidon, this isn't getting us anywhere." He turned towards the boys. "Neither of these teens is aware of the warning faced in their joining."
"How are you certain, Triton? With Yuugi's joining in our Kingdoms, people have rebelled, just as the mentioning of a joined kingdom has."
During the conversation, Yuugi and Yami blinked. Their fathers appeared worried. One of them believed that something held great danger with the arranged marriage.
Shaking his head in agitation, Triton silenced the bickering Poseidon. It wasn't a wonder why his son had inherited his stubborn nature.
"Someone has infiltrated our kingdom."
Silence took over. A hazed cloud of complete silence ended everything. Infiltration held fearful meaning in the minds of merpeople.
"But how can this be possible?" Yami questioned, voice failing. Never in his twenty years of life had this occurred.
No reply came, leaving the prince frightened. Yuugi raised a brow, completely oblivious to the fear his fiancé held.
"The Garibaldi fled. Something has drawn them away from their habitat." Triton paused. "A merman has returned from the depths of exile."
Yuugi took in the information, eyes wide in concern. 'A merman was forced into exile?'
Before anyone had a chance of replying, the king's spoke softly, voices failing. "Be on your guard, boys. This threat could lead to another outbreak of war."
Gulping, both mermen nodded, exiting the throne room quickly.
Worry ate away at Yami's heart. He felt frightened. In a shaky, unsettling voice he turned towards Yuugi.
"No matter what happens, I am never letting this war draw us apart."
For once, Yuugi nodded, pulling the other into a tight embrace. Nothing romantic or sensual held the properties of this hug. Simple reassurance brought both heirs' comfort.
Yuugi leaned his head against Yami's shoulder, whispering. "No matter what happens, we will stop this threat before anything boils over."
"I hope you're right, aibou."
'I hope I am too.'