A/n: I am back!

"I think it is sharp enough."

"You think," Sasuke chuckled and brought the blade closer to his face for further inspection. "It could go for a couple of more strokes to the whitestone."

Akihiko rolled his eyes and shook his head before he leaned back on thick blankets. "Always so dramatic."

Sasuke grunted a laugh before going back to his downstrokes on his sword, his forearm muscles bunching and then cording under sleek tanned skin. "I hope you will call me dramatic when it is my sword that slashes through the neck of our enemy in one stroke." His gorgeous hazel eyes turned to his half-brother as a condescending smile stretched out on his face.

"What enemies, Sasuke? Look at us!" Akihiko moved his hands as if showing their predicament. "We are fucking lost at Umbriel. The one thing we need to think about is food and water which by the way," Akihiko turned to grab his satchel before tossing it at Sasuke. "It's almost gone."

Sasuke caught the satchel with ease, unscrewed the top, and took two large swigs of it all the while Akihiko stared at him, anger blazing through his green eyes.

"You are such a prick."

"Ah, if I was such a horrible person why do you keep me around?"

"Because Father wanted it that way." Akihiko snarled before turning his back to Sasuke. "I hate being stuck here with you. I hate being your fucking babysitter."

"Babysitter?" Sasuke threw the empty satchel at Akihiko hitting him right on the head. "You are only a couple of months older than me!"

"Still. It is babysitting."

"I would say it is the other way around. You are clearly not fit to be the fucking heir of Uranus."

Rubbing the back of his head, Akihiko turned to face his companion before sitting up, his face tense. "And you are?"

"I am a better fighter than you."

"Listen to me carefully, kid."

Sasuke's grip on his sword grew tighter.

"For some reason my father sees something in you that I do not see. He wanted us to go through this phase of training together because I know he plans on making you captain pretty darn soon and after that you will continue to climb until you become the general but I want you to keep something in mind," Akihiko paused as he pointed at his forehead. "I am the heir of Uranus, you… you are a bastard piece of shit that my father needs to keep a secret."

"You know?"

"I saw you air bending…" Akihiko's upper lip twitched. "I put two and two together pretty quickly. We Tenohs like to put our dicks everywhere. Sadly, my father's pull-out game was weak." Akihiko snorted and turned his back again. "I need to sleep. Tomorrow we will collect water. There is a small oasis farther north if I am not mistaken. We will replenish our satchels, kill something and eat. Then we will head back to the castle.

Sasuke's jaw tensed as he stared at the back of Akihiko's head. His fingers twitched for the need to grab his sword again but decided otherwise. He and Akihiko had been lucky enough to find a cave amidst the unforgiving desert of Umbriel. The cave was large, spacious, and very deep. Its opening was hidden on the side of a tall rock formation protruding from the ground. Anyone else would've thought it was just another insignificant rock, Sasuke had told Akihiko they should explore it, maybe even turn it into a secret hideout just in case they were once again in Umbriel but alas, Akihiko refused to explore any further. The prince decided he had enough training and hiking for the day and made a fire before throwing his blankets next to it.

Sasuke waited until the soft snores of the prince filled the thick air of the cave before standing and tying his scarab to his belt. He grabbed one of the logs Akihiko used to make the fire. He held it as a torch as he decided to go deeper into the cave. Turning one last time towards Akihiko, he made sure he was asleep before venturing off.

The cave went in deeper for a couple of miles before its ground began to concave. With some proper tools and engineering, the cave could be used as some kind of refuge, maybe even a resting spot for soldiers or travelers. Sasuke frowned, went to his knees, and moved the torch closer to the edge on the ground. This place could really be made into a secret hideout and no one would even find it. Tartarus, the next in line to be king didn't even see the promises of the place. Sasuke did, as he did with Uranus and its army.

With a satisfied grunt, the young man stood up straight and decided not to speak of his findings to Akihiko. What good would it be?

"Enough!" Sasuke bellowed as he grabbed one of his soldiers by his uniform and shoved him away. He then kicked the wooden bucket out of the way as he looked down at the man tied up in front of him.

With a disgusted groan, Sasuke rubbed his tired eyes before combing his fingers through his silver hair, moving it away from his face. "Really, Tasuki? You thought that a guy like you would just pass through, unseen?" He waited for a response, but Tasuki seemed to be too busy trying to get some much-needed air in his lungs. "I asked you a question, tadpole."

Tasuki blew the water from his lips and raised his face to Sasuke. His bun undone, strands of his blue mane sticking to his wet face and exposed neck and shoulders. The water sluiced down his face, mingling with the trails of blood and dirt, down his chest and flank. He let out a deep animalistic growl not before attempting once again to free his arms from the shackles tied over his head.

"You are not going anywhere. Not to the castle and tell on your higher officials." Sasuke kneeled, now eye to eye with Tasuki's broken face. "Listen. I know Haruka sent you. I know because you used one of the castle's horses to go and follow me. You see, the lad that seated your horse? He is with me, and so is every single soul in that castle." He licked his lips and moved closer. "You are the only parasite that thinks that Haruka is the best to rule." His grin was hypocritical, dark. "Because that's what you and all you neptunians are, parasites, sucking the blood from our planet, moving in as if we have a fucking obligation with the likes of you."

"I serve the crown of Uranus. Haruka is the queen, she has the crown, I serve her."

"Ah, so they didn't break your jaw. Good. I was starting to think that my men did and that's why you couldn't talk." He chuckled. "Let me fix that." Sasuke drew his fist back before striking Tasuki's mandible as hard as he could.

The Neptunian grunted on impact, spit the blob of blood, and turned back to Sasuke.

"Listen. You can survive this. You can renounce Haruka and pledge your allegiance to me. Because, let me be honest here, you might be Neptunian but you are a formidable soldier. Of course not formidable enough to actually finish your mission of spying me. But that's fine. I mean, nobody is perfect."

"You want to rule?"

"Are you listening to me, Captain Tadpole?"

"I can hear you loud and clear. I just want to skip all your bullshit and get to the fucking point."

Sasuke stood up straight and pouted as he kept his gaze fixated on Tasuki. "I should kick you for that."

Tasuki tutted. "I get it. You are the leader of the rebellion…"

"Bingo."

"You are a cockroach. You only do shit when hidden. Uranians will never bow to a nobody like you, Sasuke."

"General for you, Captain. Respect the ranks."

Tasuki spit again, this time he almost caught Sasuke's boot. Tasuki grinned and cranked his neck back enough to look up at Sasuke. "Stay still, let me see if I can get your face next."

Sasuke shook his head in amusement. He lifted his hand and with a flick of his wrist, the air inside the cavern grew thick and heavy. In seconds, the air out of Tasuki's lungs was drawn out, encapsulating his head in an empty airless void. Sasuke heard the surprised gasp of his men around him but his attention was on Tasuki's face. On his wide eyes and open mouth. For some reason, seeing him gasp for air, struggling with the chains that held him up bright him joy. Yet, he lowered his hand, freeing Tasuki from his airlock, and allowed him to breathe again.

Tasuki's gasps echoed on the walls of the cavern, muffling Sasuke's steps as he moved close to him. The General fisted aqua hair and pulled Tasuki's head back until he was looking down at cobalt eyes. He smiled and as gently as he could, wiped the blood from Sasuke's lips. "Did you like my magic trick, tadpole?"

Tasuki heaved in air, his hands clenching on the chains above him for dear life. Still, he answered the General's question with a slow dip of his chin.

"Ah! You did?" He chuckled. "You make me blush, Captain Oboshi. Would you like to see what else I can do?"

"You— you do not bear the mark." Tasuki grinned. "Do you?"

"I don't need that stupid mark on my forehead to rule."

"You are a bastard. That's why you are angry." Tasuki began to laugh but Sasuke's grip on his hair grew tighter making him hiss in pain. Yet, he continued his taunts. "The king died in battle, you hoped to take his place but instead you were hammered down as the General. Not High Commander. No. Just General. I see where your anger lies."

"If you keep running your mouth, you will see where you will lie. I might as well leave you to die under Umbriel's sun. What do you think?"

"I'd rather die than to pledge my allegiance to you." He spat again, this time, right on Sasuke's right eye.

Sasuke released him, and planted the sole of his boot on his face. He wiped the saliva from his face and then turned to his soldiers who looked at him with a petrified gaze. "I want him tied up and thrown out ten miles from here. I want him to burn in the sun down to a fucking crisp."

One of the soldiers nodded while the other moved out of Sasuke's way as he moved out of the cavern. The General took one last look at Tasuki before grabbing a bag by the holding cell and leaving.

Sasuke watched from the corner of the throne room as Akihiko pressed his forehead to the now-deceased King Ouranos. At any crowning ceremony, the heir of the throne would press their forehead to the dead ruler as a way of passing on their knowledge.

Sasuke thought it was a load of garbage.

His grip on his sword grew tighter as he heard Akihiko proclaim himself king and place his crown on his blonde head. A theater, he thought. Everything was a theater. As the leaders of the villages came forward to congratulate Akihiko and give their condolences, Sasuke couldn't help but turn to face the corpse of his father.

His father…

He couldn't even cry his death properly as a son should cry. The man never treated him as a son, he never treated him with the same warmth he treated Akihiko. Sasuke understood the reasons, but after the death of his mother, and moving into the castle at the tender age of ten, he thought that maybe, the man that gave him the gift of controlling the wind would treat him like he treated Akihiko. But no, Ouranos treated him as less, as another soldier in training.

Oh, what Sasuke wouldn't have done to at least receive an affectionate gaze from the King of Uranus. Just a fucking gaze.

Sasuke blinked the upcoming tears away and cleared his throat as he saw the new king walk towards him. Akihiko smiled at him brightly and surprisingly pulled him in for a strong and warm hug.

Sasuke froze, his hands unable to move, unable to process what was happening.

"We will be fine." Akihiko told him as if the death of their father would affect them the same way. "We got each other, right?"

Sasuke nodded, his shaking hands moving to hold on to his half-brother. "We do."

"You won't let me do this by myself."

Sasuke shook his head and buried his face on Akihiko's shoulder. "I won't."

"Good, because I need all the help I can have and who better than help me but you." Akihiko pulled away and patted his brother's young and handsome face. "Brother."

Sasuke felt his chest swell with pride. He nodded his head and cupped Akihiko's nape, pulling him down to press their foreheads together. "Brother," he whispered, the word filling a void he didn't know had been empty.

Sasuke opened his eyes just in time to see his lover rise from his bed. The young beautiful woman stretched her arms over her head, the bedsheets falling from her chest down to her slender waist. With a deep chuckle, he draped his thick arm over her figure pulling her back to bed. The woman resisted at first, but after receiving soft open mouth kisses to her shoulder she settled in against his chest.

"I should really get going, Sasuke," she said, her hand lazily stroking soft circles to Sasuke's taut and bare chest.

"You are always so eager to leave, Ayame," he groaned, pressing his hardening cock against her side. "Stay. Today is my free day, I can spare a couple of hours with you in bed."

Ayame chuckled, touched his stubbed jaw, and pulled away. "I have places to go though." She kissed the tip of his nose, so condescending and cold that it made the young soldier frown. "Oh please. Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like… whatever that is!"

Sasuke grunted and released Ayame before sliding off the bed and grabbing his pants. "Leave then."

Ayame scoffed as she watched him put his pants on and comb his silver hair. Her eyes trailed over his form as he walked away to find a shirt to put over his naked torso. "Are you really going to act like that?"

"LIke what?"

Ayame laughed and shook her head. "Really, Sasuke?"

"Listen. I have no idea what is going on. You have been acting off ever since I introduced you to King Akihiko. You merely want to spend time with me. You have blown me off on more than one occasion. For fucks sake Ayame, we are supposed to get married!"

"No, Sasuke. You want to marry me. I haven't accepted yet."

Sasuke stopped moving and stared at the breathtaking woman laying on his bed, his fucking bed.

"I feel like an idiot." Of course, he did. He had ingrained in his head that Akihiko was his brother, his only brother, his family and that he should meet the woman he was in love with, the woman he should wed! But he saw the way Akihiko's eyes flared, he saw his hungry gaze fall upon Ayame, and he saw Ayame's return that same hungry gaze back at him. How could he be so fucking stupid? He never believed in fated mates, never in his wildest dreams. He had heard about it but thought it all to be a bunch of bedtime stories for kids. There was no way that something as fated mates could be used to describe Ayame and Akihiko… right?

"Why do you feel like an idiot?"

"Because I am, Ayame! Do you think I am fucking stupid?"

Ayame lifted her hands in defeat, grabbed her clothing, and got dressed as fast as she could. "I can't deal with you right now."

"You can never deal with me. You always fucking run away instead of having an honest conversation."

"Says the one screaming."

Sasuke grabbed his silver hair in exasperation. He opened his hazel eyes and stared intently at Ayame. He needed to get a hold of his emotions and he needed her to leave. "Ayame. I need you to leave. Please."

Ayame nodded, and without saying another word, she left…

Sasuke stared at the closed door for what seemed an eternity. He understood that he had asked her to leave, but he never thought she would actually do so. His mind was racing with a million things and clearly, he wouldn't be at ease today even if it was his day off. He decided to leave his room, go out to Ophelia Plaza, maybe have a drink. He needed time for himself. Maybe he was just overthinking things. Akihiko wouldn't dare to come between him and Ayame.

Sasuke had talked to him about her, about her beauty, of the day they met at the plaza. Of her gorgeous smile, long blonde hair, of how headstrong she was, and how he felt each time she dared touch him.

He talked to Akihiko of what they would do on their nightly visits and although he knew it wasn't proper, he just felt proud of saying that he was able to catch a woman such as Ayame… Akihiko didn't seem interested until he met her. Until his green eyes fell on Ayame. Until he grabbed her hand and kissed it as a way of greeting. Sasuke could still feel the squeeze of his heart as his half-brother stared at Ayame.

Akihiko wouldn't dare, would he?

He jumped on his horse and left the castle in a hurry. Ophelia Plaza would give him the distraction that he needed. He found said distraction inside the ravens. Even if he sat alone, women would approach him. His boyish good looks, his strange unique silver hair always made him stand out to the rest or Uranians. A trait he had inherited from his mother. He drank alone, ignoring the hands of women and sometimes even men, touching his back, wondering what he was doing, making small talk. He ignored them all. His mind always trailed back to Ayame, to her smile, to her long blonde hair, to her short tight body. He suppressed an aroused groan and moved uncomfortably on his stool. He had met her years ago during a Moon Festival. He was dancing on the center square of the plaza, young, happy, unbothered. The only thing that he worried about was his rank test and how he would pass them to be where he was now.

She was standing by the musicians, watching them play, her hair down to her shoulders, her dress reaching her thighs. As the music got louder, as more and more people were pulled into the square to dance, he was tangled by a group of youngsters, and before he knew it, he had her in his arms, dancing, laughing.

She seemed so carefree, so unbothered, so ...free. Free of judgment, of worries, of responsibilities, of anger, of sadness, pain. She was everything he wanted, and then more.

Before he knew it, she was stretching her arms to the sky, her eyes closed as he twirled her by the waist. He found himself laughing as well, breathless due to her beauty, to their dancing, and finally, to the closeness of her soft body to his. Ayame was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his entire existence, and he never wanted to let her go.

They were intimate that same night. He had taken her to his home outside the castle. The house used to be his mother's, and he still owned it. He needed a place to hide and relax when the things back at Oberon got too much for him to bear.

He was so nervous: scared that he might not be able to satisfy the goddess standing in the middle of the small living room but her hands, her kisses, her caresses made his anxiousness melt.

He wanted her forever, and he had decided that the moment he claimed her body, as he held her down on his bed and thrusted into her. He grew addicted to her hands, to the way her face contorted when he was inside of her, of the small keening sound she made every time she was about to come, of how she squeezed his cock. He was hers as she was his, and nothing and no one was to change that. He decided that they were to wed, that he would marry her and move out of the castle, that he would retire from his life as a soldier and live only to satisfy her, to keep that smile on her rosy lips, to hear her voice break as they made love. They would raise a family, she would bear him children and they would die holding hands when they grew old.

Sasuke had everything planned in his head, all he needed was Ayame to say "I do".

Ayame was his, and he wouldn't have it any other way, but he was sitting at a tavern alone, with a glass half empty, with unknown people coming his way, trying to drag him to their sheets, and all he could think about was Ayame.

This isn't the place to be. He needed to leave.

Sasuke paid for his drink and decided to head back to the castle. Maybe it would be better to sleep and rest his tired overworked mind but as he walked down the halls of Oberon castle, as he noticed the pity looks the soldiers gave him, Sasuke couldn't help but grow weary. Something was not right.

He walked down the halls of the lonely Oberon castle, his boots echoed through the stone walls; his steps heavy with his own tiredness. As he went past the King's study he couldn't ignore a soft keening noise of pleasure, he couldn't unhear the masculine grunts.

Sasuke's heart dropped to his stomach. He took a side step towards the door, his heartbeat loud and deafening in his head, yet, the moans of pleasure, the sound of flesh hitting flesh were loud enough to pierce through the haze of his worst fear.

Sasuke's trembling hand fell on the door's latch and as slowly and silently as a bandit in the night, he opened the door to Akihiko's office.

His hazel eyes fell upon Ayame's face who lay on the large wooden desk by the window. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted in a silent cry of pure pleasure, while Akihiko, his brother, his blood, thrust in and out of Ayame in an unforgiving and relentless rhythm.

His grips on his sword tightened, his upper lip twitched, yet he never spoke a word. Until Ayame's eyes opened. She saw him standing by the door with the corner of her eye, and she let out a loud gasp.

Akihiko looked down at her in confusion until he followed her gaze to the man at the door. Akihiko pulled out, covered his erection, and grabbed his pants from the ground.

Ayame pulled her dress to hide herself, while turning away, ashamed.

"Sasuke!" Akihiko called out, moving to cover Ayame's disheveled form with his own.

"My king." Sasuke's anger couldn't be contained. He stared at Akihiko before slowly dipping his gaze to Ayame, his Ayame. "Miss."

"Sasuke," Ayame's voice trembled, not only from fear but from trying to control her body after Akihiko's thrusts. She ran a finger through her hair and pushed Akihiko aside to face him. "Sasuke, I—"

Before she could word anything out, Sasuke pulled out his sword.

"Sasuke," Akihiko said, his voice calm yet deep. "Don't."

Sasuke shook his head, his face stoic, void of emotions before he neared the tip of his sword to Akihiko's face. "I challenge you to a duel."

Akihiko's eyes grew wide. "Are you insane?"

"If I win, you will leave her alone, I will become king." Sasuke's eyes shifted to look at Ayame and then went back to Akihiko. "If you win, you can marry her for all I care."

"I will not kill you."

"Might as well do so."

"Sasuke, please. We can talk about this. Ayame and I—"

"I don't want to know." Sasuke pressed the tip of his sword to Akihiko's Adam's apple, watching it bob up and down in fear. "Tomorrow, first light."

"Sasuke! Please! I—"

"I would shut up if I were you, Ayame," Sasuke warned, before putting his sword back into its sheath. He stared at Ayame intently, as if searching for a hint of guilt in her eyes. Gods, if he saw just a speck of it, he would ask her to come back, to be with him to leave the king. He was the one that loved her more than anything in this forsaken place. Yes, he was no king but damn it he loved her. He loved her so fucking much.

Instead, what he saw in her eyes made his skin crawl. All he saw was fear, not for him…

No.

Her small hand slipped through Akihiko's, her fingers threading his. She squeezed his hand, looking for comfort. She was scared, not of losing Sasuke, but of losing the king.

His hazel eyes dropped to the floor. Sasuke swallowed hard, a sad attempt to grab a hold of his emotions. He turned away and closed the door behind him. When he was finally down the stairs, heading to his chamber, and alone, then he was able to let out a shuddered breath.

He pressed his back to the door, closing it and locking it in his wake before he slid down to the cold stone floor.

If he died tomorrow, he wouldn't care, if he killed the king he wouldn't care either…

If he killed her…

He shook his head and grabbed his hair in frustration. He couldn't kill her. Not her. He couldn't extinguish the fire that she ignited in him. He couldn't destroy that smile, that laugh. No, not Ayame…

He couldn't.

He shouldn't.

He wouldn't.

Sasuke exhaled, standing again and undoing his belt. His sword clattered loudly, probably waking up the dead rulers buried on the outsides of Oberon castle. His chest felt so heavy, heavy with unshed tears, with the remorse of whatever happened tomorrow, he had lost Ayame.

He slipped under the covers, he touched the side where Ayame had been hours ago. Her scent still clung to the pillow, to the sheets. He hugged the pillow tightly to his face, and it dawned on him.

He never really had her in the first place, did he?

Sasuke did not sleep a wink. Instead, he replayed in his head the moment he met Ayame, the moment he brought her to his home. He replayed the countless nights they would sit after making love and talk about what each one of them wanted. He always added her to his future, always talked about how he would get her a bigger house, how he would buy her the most expensive dresses. Her happiness was his goal.

She… She would listen to him intently, smile at his words, and laugh when he said something too ostentatious. She never said no to him, but… she never truly said yes.

Sasuke kept his gaze fixed on a specific stone of the ceiling. He heard the sound of maids walking down the halls, of soldiers changing shifts. Outside he heard the buzzing of the Plaza as their stores, and kiosks opened to the public.

He needed to get up. The sun was already out and the king was probably waiting for him somewhere at the back of the castle, where soldiers would be sent to train or spar.

He pulled himself out of the bed, grabbed the forgotten belt from the floor, and buckled it. He attempted to fix his hair by running a shaking hand through it. Yet, there was no one who looked down on him that could notice this man had the roughest night of his life.

He exited his chamber, walked past the judging gaze of the guards by the halls. Sasuke knew they knew. Words always traveled fast in Oberon castle.

As he stepped outside the castle, his eyes searched for Akihiko amongst the soldiers. He found him, sitting on a wooden stool at an open sandy square. Soldiers stood around, wanting nothing more than to see the duel between the General of the royal Uranian army, and the King of Uranus, Akihiko.

Sasuke's heart began to beat harshly in his chest, his grip on his sword grew tighter as he approached his brother, but, as he got closer, he saw her.

Ayame stood away from the king yet close enough for Sasuke to know which side she was really on. Their eyes met, and for the first time, Sasuke saw something twinkle in them when she saw him. Yet, that spark wasn't loved. It was something else…

Pity?

"Sasuke," she gasped and walked to him.

His heart beat faster, stronger. This woman would be the end of him if he allowed it.

"Sasuke," she touched the hand that held his sword. "Please, you do not have to do this."

Sasuke blinked, his eyes staring down at Ayame as if expecting something else in them. She wasn't worried about him, she was worried for Akihiko. She was actually petrified to see him hurt. How...dare she!

"I don't, but I want to." He turned to Akihiko, whose face showed remorse rather than fear. "Let's get this over with."

Ayame held him, her hands traveling to his waist as she got closer. Her eyes were pleading! Pleading him to stop and not go any further. But Sasuke made up his mind, he pushed her aside and walked towards Akihiko, already drawing his sword.

"Come on!"

Sasuke pushed the door to his chamber open. He let the bag hit the ground with an audible, and disgusting crack. His trip back to the castle was slow and hot. He could feel his cotton shirt sticking to his skin. A thin sheen of sweat covered his entire body. To say that he was uncomfortable was an understatement. He sauntered to his bed, his eyes trailed for a second over his form reflected on the body mirror next to his closet.

He stopped walking all together, turning his body to see himself.

He… had gotten old. The fine line at the corner of his eyes was prominent as well as the one at the edge of his mouth.

Luckily his hair was already silver, no white hairs would pop out. He was still strong, his body an easy witness to that. His arms were thick, thicker than many of the young soldiers at Oberon castle, his massive shoulders reflected the strength as well as his torso. He could still go out and be able to pick up a young lover if he wanted to. He was still attractive.

Sasuke ran his fingers through his hair and tilted his head to the side as he took himself in one last time. He stared at his scar. The one that went along his jaw, the one that many people saw first when they lay eyes on him. His reminder. As he continued his scrutiny, he decided that something was missing.

Turning to his sleeping space, he wandered about his closet, getting on one knee and pulling out a large box. He went back to the mirror, opened the box, and took out a crown.

It was Akihiko's crown.

Made of thick, impenetrable gold, embellished and studded with the same rocks as the Space Sword. The symbol of Uranus was shaped delicately in the middle of it, proud and powerful.

Sasuke had taken it the moment he came back from Mars when he had killed Ayame. He took it from her room, tossed it in his because it was his now. The throne was his. Not Haruka's, not Ayame's, no one else's but his. It had to be his since the moment Akihiko died, but his heart did not pump pure royal Uranian blood. He was a bastard. He took in the crumbs of what true power was given to Akihiko.

He was supposed to be happy with that…

He wasn't.

His fingers traced over the rocks of the crown as well as the symbol, his tired eyes inspected and analyzed each and every single detail of that crown. It was immaculate as if it was only worn on special occasions…

Well, Sasuke needed to fix that.

Raising his gaze to the mirror, he held the crown with both hands, lifting it over his shoulders, over his head. He closed his eyes and ever so slowly, he placed the crown on his silver head. When he adjusted it enough to know it wouldn't fall to the dirty ground, he opened his hazel eyes.

There he was.
King Sasuke of Uranus…

Sasuke hated the fact that Akihiko was so calm, so collected. It was as if the asshole took on duels as an everyday thing. Damn it! He was fighting him! His brother! His own fucking blood. How could he be so calm!?

Sasuke gritted his teeth, his nose flaring as the king stepped close enough to grab Ayame and pull her away from him. Akihiko unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Sasuke before barking orders, the soldiers— Captains and Lieutenants of the royal army looked on, in disbelief. Probably they couldn't imagine that anyone would even dare point their blade at the King.

"General Sasuke has challenged me to a duel."

Sasuke heard them gasp and he smirked, his chin high. They probably didn't believe that he would have the audacity to do so. Well, he did, and he was going to win.

"As it is stated in Uranian law, anyone can challenge the king to a duel. If I win, we will continue on with our lives as if nothing happened." Akihiko's eyes burned through Sasuke. The king was unyielding, whereas Sasuke shifted his weight from his right leg to the left. He was nervous. There was no doubt about that, yet Sasuke didn't want anyone to notice.

"If General Sasuke wins, he will become the next King of Uranus."

"What!"

"Sir! Reconsider!"

Akihiko silenced his soldiers with a flick of his free hand. "It is the law."

Sasuke could feel the angry gazes of the other soldiers on him. Yet, his eyes did not falter. He looked upon the king with a dour stare, taking one step forward.

"No one will step in to help. No one will fight this. We will duel with our swords." Akihiko dipped his chin and repeated himself. "With our swords."

Sasuke understood right away and nodded in agreement. No gift will be used, only their sword and strength.

Akihiko shifted closer and touched his sword to Sasuke's. "I forgive you. Whatever happens."

Sasuke's upper lip twitched. Forgive him? Of what? Of defending his honor? Of punishing him for touching what was his?

"Fuck you!" And with an angry snarl, Sasuke charged.

Akihiko was stronger.

Akihiko was quicker.

Of course, he was. He had the best trainers, the best food, the best beds. The much-needed rest of a man that was to become king. His mother probably worried that he ate enough, that he rested. His father treated him like one of his own, told him words to encourage him to keep going when he was about to give up.

What did he have?

His mother died when he was young. She always saw him as a burden, an unavoidable problem she would carry until he was old enough. Luckily she had died before his coming of age, she didn't have to see how miserable his life had been— how hard it was to obtain something; anything.

If Akihiko had to work for his strength, for his skills, Sasuke had to work twice as hard. He still couldn't believe he had made it to General. He couldn't believe he was still even alive.

The air exploded out of his lungs as his back hit the sandy ground when Akihiko had kicked the back of his knees. He opened his eyes and rolled away just as Akihiko's sword thrust into the spot he had been seconds ago.

Sasuke scurried away from him, his chest burning with unreleased anger and as he looked up, the king fixed his shirt as if this was merely training, a sparring session. Fear dawned on Sasuke. Akihiko was going to win. He was going to thrust his sword into his stomach, he was going to decapitate him—the death of a traitor. His body would probably be tossed away to the blood-stained sands of Umbriel, vulture food. He would become vulture food.

As Sasuke's eyes traveled to Ayame, he saw that same fear in her tear-clouded eyes. She was crying, she was looking at him. She was covering her mouth, trying not to say a word. Was she not trying to take sides? Did she feel something for him? Probably. She had to. There was no way in Tartarus that what they had was nothing.

She had seen him with an adoring gaze, she had screamed his name— his name time and time again. It was him who she held onto when she succumbed to pleasure. It was him she smiled at when she woke up, the first one she kissed. His skin was the first thing she touched when she needed to feel alive. It was him first. Not Akihiko! He was there first!

He was there first.

Sasuke's head dropped.

All he ever wanted… all he ever fucking wanted, was to be someone's first choice. He wanted to be Ayame's first choice, he wanted to be his father's first choice — Akihiko's, his brother's first choice.

That was all.

Sasuke's leg faltered as he blocked another attack. Akihiko had struck from above, waving his sword as a hatched. The King was so concentrated on hurting him, his brother. His only brother, his only fucking blood relative who remained alive.

Now on one knee, taking mouthfuls of air, Sasuke looked up to Akihiko. The king stumbled back, making space. No, that won't do. Not now. He wouldn't do this. Akihiko would never leave things unfinished.

"Just kill me," Sasuke mumbled, his eyes filled with tears until they overran, spilling over his dirty smudged cheek. "Please. Just get it over with." And that's when Sasuke heard her. For the first time, he heard Ayame scream at the top of her lungs, begging Akihiko not to kill him.

His heart broke even more. She wanted him alive. For what? To see her married off to the king? To see her gift that smile to Akihiko instead of him? To see her round with a child, a child that wouldn't be his?

Sasuke's stomach knotted and he crouched, holding his flanks. "My King please. I beg you."

Sasuke didn't see Akihiko's forlorned stare fall from him to Ayame and back to him. He was in too much pain to even dare look up, to face his reality. The king won. Everything would remain as it is, he would marry Ayame, crown her queen, have royal descendants with her… descendants who would rule instead of him.

"I will not kill you, General Sasuke."

Sasuke's blood boiled. "Please." He lifted his head to look at him again. "Kill me!"

"I will not!"

Desperation settled in. He will not be witness to Akihiko's ascension, to his marriage, to him holding a child with Ayame. He will not witness Ayame pulling Akihiko down for a kiss, dressed in white and a tiara on her head. He will not. Sasuke's grip on his sword tightened. He tried one last time.

" King Akihiko, I beseech you."

The king shook his head.

Sasuke was kneeling down, begging yet. No amount of begging would do. The king will not yield. He never did. Sasuke snapped, and with the last ounce of energy in him he raised his sword to strike, but alas.

The king was faster.

The Space Sword struck Sasuke's face, making him drop his weapon, along with his remaining dignity.