Disclaimer: If I owned it, I probably wouldn't be writing fanfiction about it...

Takumi pushed open the door to the music atrium, a room he hadn't set foot in for quite some time. The instruments, he was happy to note, were being properly cared for and there wasn't a single speck of dust to be seen. Sunlight poured through the windows and the room felt fresh and light.

Takumi had a fair bit of the day to himself, as Gii had been roped into extra lessons to prepare him for King-hood and the young King of the cold north had found himself wandering. He'd explored the grounds that made him feel so much more at ease than the cold biting air of his homeland.

Stradivari was particularly happy to see him (or more likely the big juicy apple Takumi had brought as a treat) and he promised the young horse that he'd take him out on the trails soon.

But today he was going to get reacquainted with the violin.

"You know, I stopped playing the violin when he died. He was the only one who encouraged me to play and I thought there wasn't a point if he wasn't around anymore. Besides, it wasn't like Mother and Father would have let me continue anyway. They had just let me before because my brother enjoyed it and it kept me occupied, thus out of their hair."

"Did you only play for him, Takumi? You have such a talent I find it hard to imagine you were doing it just to make your brother happy..."

"I did enjoy it...it was something that was mine, in a place where I was barely given enough to survive, despite being a member of the royal family. But when he died I thought that it was only fair that I should lose everything. It would make Mother and Father happy if I wasn't happy anymore..."

The violin was carefully brought out of the case and Takumi checked its condition before settling it into place and drawing the bow across the strings. He tuned it just a tiny bit before closing his eyes and letting music carry him away.

The gentle notes filled the room, soaring into the air. An old folk song from his homeland, an old favorite of his. He remembered listening to people sing it as they worked. The language of the song was old and it was rather impressive that it continued to be carried down intact through the generations.

Takumi's parents had hated the song and so it was sung when the former King and Queen weren't in earshot. They hated music, for the most part, hence why they had been rather disappointed when Takumi's brother had introduced him to such things and then encouraged him.

The song talked about a lonely prince who found love and escaped from his prison of ice. The prince's love slew dragons and stood against packs of wolves to rescue the lonely prince. They then ran away to a land of sunshine and lived happily ever after.

It was funny (and a bit ironic) how the folk song matched to himself and Gii. Gii was his brave prince, who had saved him from his icy prison, after all.

Takumi smoothly moved from one song to the next, passing the time waiting for Gii to be done with his lessons with music.

Gii had taken a bit to find Takumi, unsure of where his beloved had gotten himself to while he'd been otherwise occupied. But lessons were now done for the day and he was wanting to fetch the young King so that they could go eat dinner together.

Their quarters had been empty and the stables had been minus one young royal.

The music room was the next stop and he smiled as he heard the faint sounds of a violin beyond the door.

Gii opened it up, quietly slipping inside so that he wouldn't disturb whatever Takumi was playing.

Takumi's back was to the entrance and Gii made sure the door didn't slam behind him. He took a seat on a nearby bench to watch and listen, closing his eyes. He may not have been able to play an instrument, but at least he could enjoy the sounds coaxed from one by his future husband.

"You'd hardly know that you haven't played in a while," Gii commented softly as Takumi finished and began putting the violin away. Takumi predictably jumped a bit, having not realized that he'd gained an audience. The young King turned to pout at his future life-mate, ready to scold him for giving him a minor heart attack again.

Gii laughed softly, knowing what the other was going to do. He stood and moved over to Takumi, leaning down and stealing a soft kiss – which still had the desired effect of making Takumi forget what he was going to do.

"I came to fetch you for dinner, now that my lessons are over for the day. I'm afraid my parents can't join us, but the evening is looking beautiful and I thought we could eat outside? Our room does have a balcony after all and I don't think we've dined on it yet. We can watch ships coming in for the evening and perhaps have a nice sea breeze if it goes right."

Takumi was still a bit flustered from the kiss and nodded his agreement – it did sound like a lovely way to spend their evening.

Gii smiled at this and led Takumi from the music room, back to their quarters.

He stopped a servant on the way, giving them the message to take to the kitchen that he and Takumi would be dining on their balcony. There was already a small table with chairs, so the servants would just need to bring them their meal.

Gii left the double doors leading from their room to the balcony open, wanting to let a bit of the sea breeze in to refresh things. The salty air smelled sharp and clean and was the perfect temperature. The sun was starting its descent on the horizon and ships were already dotting the horizon, heading to port to deliver cargo and stop for the night before going on their way the next morning.

Takumi blushed a little as Gii pulled out his chair for him, the smaller male taking a seat and letting out a content sigh. This seemed like the perfect way to end the day and he was happy that Gii had thought of doing this.

"I want to enjoy an eternity of sunsets and sunrises with you," Gii murmured as he took his own seat. "From now on I'm going to keep you warm and feeling nothing but happiness. I'm going to make those same promises on our wedding day, so that everyone else will know just how deep my love for you runs. Never again will you have to be scared or hurt, Takumi."

Takumi sniffled, wiping at his eyes.

"How are you always ready with the perfect things to say?" he asked, giving Gii a watery smile. "You always know just what I need to hear, even when I don't realize it myself."

"Because I love you, Takumi," Gii replied with a brilliant smile. "It's love that lets me come up with these words. It's love that binds us together with our bond rings. I plan to give you so much love that you never know pain again, beloved. I'm going to make up for everything bad that's happened to you and give you wonderful new memories to replace them."

If Gii was planning to reduce Takumi into a puddle with happy tears, he was doing a very good job. The young King just smiled, furiously wiping the tears from his eyes and once again finding himself thanking any listening deity for placing Gii into his life.

A/N: Ah fluff...and maybe someday I'll find my own Gii who will be this sweet to me, haha! Anyway, as always thanks for the continued support and see you next chapter...