"I promise I will find you again. No matter what." Those were the words that Jotaro had promised hadn't he? Of course, keeping that promise was hard in such a vast Kingdom.
He had met the mysterious redhaired man during a ball only a week ago. He only wished that they weren't wearing a mask. The mask, of which hid all the features of the so-called "Ajisai's" face. His parents, mostly his mother as his father wasn't around as often, had held a ball a week ago.
All the young men and women of the kingdom received an invitation. Notedly, only the lower-class that resided nearby attended. Jotaro, however, was not interested.
They all saw him as "Mr. Your Royal Highness". After his wealth and title, recognizable even under Jotaro's mask. It seemed that no one was interested in who he was.
That was until Jotaro met the man under the moonlight.
Vivid red hair neatly combed back, face hidden by an intricate mask. The mysterious man later known as "Ajisai" absolutely glowed in the moonlight beside the sea of hydrangeas. His hair a stark contrast from the blues and lavenders that surrounded him.
"Tired of the commotion inside too?" The mysterious man asked. "Of course, I'm sure it would be more overwhelming as the center of attention, your highness."
Jotaro wasn't sure if he should be offended by the tone of the man.
"However, these flowers are sure beautiful," the stranger bends down, examining the flower for a little before turning to address Jotaro.
"Dance with me?" Jotaro inquired, his voice seemingly less blunt than usual.
Kakyoin Noriaki had never expected to encounter the crown prince of the Kujo family during the ball. Of course, no robbery could go on without unexpected complications. It seemed like bad luck to confront someone you're stealing from.
It had been easy getting in. Everyone in the kingdom had gotten an invitation, and luckily for Kakyoin, he had lived in the capital.
The most difficult part was getting his outfit together. It would have been too obvious if Kakyoin had thrown together something a commoner had been able to afford. Luckily, Kakyoin was friendly with a tailor, known for his work with the nobility. The tailor gives Kakyoin a discount, a favor for Kakyoin's assistance in his daughter's wedding. Kakyoin walks away, the costume digging into a chunk of his savings. He turns to a fellow acquaintance for his mask — who instead uses a little "magic" to fix up his suit to look regal, and not get caught. On the condition that Kakyoin returns by midnight.
It was a good deal overall. He could attend the ball, where he was sure to be the finest of foods, and get his hands on some rarer flowers that no one but the Royal Family could afford to get.
Kakyoin Noriaki had not expected to be asked to dance by the crown prince, Kujo Jotaro.
It was obvious that it was in Kakyoin's best interests not to dance with Jotaro. "You don't even know who I am," he said, though, judging by the look in Jotaro's eyes, Jotaro wouldn't take his rejection.
"This is, a masquerade ball after all," the prince replied in a steady voice.
"You won't take no for an answer, will you?"
Somehow, Kakyoin ends up on the ballroom floor with Jotaro leading the dance. Eyes followed them as the prince swept Kakyoin around the room, murmurs could be heard as a crowd of gossiping ladies tried to figure out Kakyoin's identity.
"What's your name?" the taller man asked as the music grew intense, the dance becoming more complicated, harder to follow.
"Ajisai," Kakyoin replied after a moment's hesitation. Ajisai, in his parents' native language, represented the hydrangeas he had met Jotaro next to. He doubted the prince would know such a language, as his parents' homeland was still now, even today, ravaged in war.
"That's not your real name." It wasn't a question. A statement.
"It's a name I'll acknowledge."
The attention— Kakyoin isn't sure how Jotaro could stand it. Everyone's eyes
trained onto them. The stares make his skin crawl like there are a million bugs underneath his skin. He understands why Jotaro escaped to the palace gardens.
"Why did you want to dance with me? Why come back to the center of attention when you wanted to leave it?" Kakyoin kept his voice low, so only Jotaro could hear him.
"Don't know. Looked like you were lonely."
Kakyoin puffs in amusement. "I'll have you know I was admiring the garden— I'm not here for courtship."
Their dance came to a stop as the music changes, a pause in the orchestra to indicate the change. Jotaro pulls him aside, the stares and murmurs are more noticeable now that the music has stopped to change when it becomes quiet.
It seems as if a spell has been cast on the room, everyone was frozen, their eyes following the movement of the prince and Kakyoin. A quiet buzzing fills Kakyoin's ears as they move towards the gardens once more.
— The music resumes, snapping everyone out of the spell.
Kakyoin would flee the scene as midnight hit. He knew, that at midnight, everyone would take off their masks, revealing their true self, and his acquaintance would want him out of the palace by midnight. Having taken everything he wanted, the flowers (and some wallets), he was satisfied. He stashed them near the garden wall, of which he would scale, that particular spot missed the patrol of the guards.
However, the thing he unexpected the most creeps upon him before he can flee. "Marry me, Ajisai."
Kakyoin's breath hitches. "You don't know me — You don't know my face, my name—"
"I don't care. Marry me Ajisai." Jotaro cuts off Kakyoin.
The clock tower strikes the bell once.
"I can't —" The second bell strikes.
"I don't care." Another clang from the tower. "I won't be King without you. I refuse."
"Promise me then— Promise me that you'll find me again." His heart feels heavy, he wishes that he didn't have to leave.
"I promise I will find you again. No matter what."
As the eighth and ninth bell strikes, Kakyoin scales the garden wall and disappears off into the night.
It's later that Kakyoin realizes that his heart had been stolen that night at the ball.