Chapter 2

A few miles away from the village and the chateau was a huge shining castle. The castle was surrounded by gardens and the torns of the castle rose to up to the clouds. One particular window high up was full of white doves that curiously peered inside. All of a sudden a loud and angry yell was heard and the birds were long gone.

Inside there was a black haired man who was ranting and throwing things around breaking things. "That son of mine has been avoiding his resbonsibilities for too long!" Shouted King Usami Fuyuhiko. "It's high time he married and settled down!" He slammed his fist on to the table making the objects on it jump and fall to the floor.

"Of course, your Majesty", said the grand duke Kamijou Hiroki who was shielding his figure behind one of the shields that had fallen out of its place. "But you and we all must be patient..."

"I am patient!", Fuyuhiko yelled even louder throwing another object at Hiroki's direction. Hiroki dove back to his hiding place as the object broke against the shield sending the pieces everywhere.

His fury settled. "I'm not getting any younger and I want to see my grandchildren before I go", said Fuyuhiko sadly.

Hiroki carefully approached the king. "I understand Majes-"

"No", Fuyuhiko said and made a mouvement with his hand shooting Hiroki away. "No you don't know what it means to see your own son grow farther and farther away from you." He looked up and his eyes settled to a huge potrait on the wall beside him. In the picture was a very handsome man, 28 years old, sat astride on a white horse, his white military uniform presentable and neat with cold. And his silver hair and lavender eyes which took everyone's attention.

"I'm so lonely in this desolate and old palace", sobbed Fuyuhiko. "I want hear the pitter-patter of little feet again."

"Well your Majesty if we just let him elope-" Hiroki started

"Let him elope?" King interupted making Hiroki jump. "With these silly romantic ideas?!"

"But Sir in matters of love-" Hiroki reasoned.

"Love? Hmph", Fuyuhiko scoffed. "It's just two people meeting in the right conditions. So we will arrange the conditions."

"But-" Hiroki tried to ask. "If Prince Akihiko should suspect-"

"Suspect hah!" Said the king disdainfully. Akihiko is coming today isn't he?

"Yes your Majesty."

"Well what could be more natural than a ball to celebrate his long waited return?"

"Well nothing Sir."

"And if the eligble young people in my kingdom..um..'happen' to be here..why, he's bound to show interst in one of them isn't he?"

"I guess Sir", Hiroki said but wasn't very sure about his childhood friend.

"And the moment he does.. soft lightning, romantic music and all the trimmings!" King chuckled, delighted by his own mind. "It can't possibly fail, can it?"

Hiroki sighed. There was no way to induce the stubborn king. "Very well, Sir. I shall arrange the ball for-"

"Tonight", said the king happily.

"Tonight?!" Gasped Hiroki "But Majesty-"

"Tonight!" Yelled Fuyuhiko. " And watch that every eligible youth is there."

Every youth? Questioned Hiroki inside his head confused but let it slide.

"Of course your Majesty. But..." Started Hiroki carefully and Fuyuhiko almost started to yell back.

"This would take a huge amount of time to prepare, especially on such short notice. Also Akihiko must be very exhausted after his trip. Wouldn't it be better to wait for a couple of days to hold this ball?"

The king sighed after a moment. "You're right." King admitted.

"Alright. "Two days. But it has to be worth it", king said.

"Yes Sir. I'll have the preparations started immediately."

Hiroki made his way to inform all the people about the upcoming ball for the prince when he noticed a large crowd at the yard of the castle. He's already here? Hiroki strided and fast as he could made his way to the balcony which was near and you could see better from above.

"Oh my, the prince has returned!" All the maids squealed with delight beside him. Of course Hiroki wasn't the only one who adored Akihiko. The silver haired was loved by everyone in the whole kingdom. Every youth wanted to be with him and do anything to make that happen. But the prince had some bad sides too.

He wasn't really fond of the idea about to rule the whole kingdom and marry someone to be able to do so. No one didn't seem to catch his eye. Of course he behaved and smiled at people but that smile wasn't his real smile. It wasn't happy or real. It would be a trouble if he didn't show interest in anyone, boy or a girl. Worst case would be if he didn't like neither but I don't think that's the case.

One time Akihiko told me that the biggest reason for him not to show any real sides of him was that everyone just wanted to be with him because of his status, beacause he was the prince. If he got married it had to be with someone who he truly loved and who truly loved him. Not someone who loved him because he was the heir to the throne, or the immense wealth he would inherit, or the luxurious lifestyle that was guaranteed to the consort when they married. His lover had to love him. Akihiko, the man, not the prince.

Screams of affection became louder and Hiroki looked down. There he was. The prince of the kingdom, Usami Akihiko.

"Here presenting the royal highness, Prince Usami Akihiko!"

Akihiko stepped out of the carriage he was returned with and looked as handsome as ever. Tall, muscular, silver hair and those beautiful purple eyes. People were shouting at him and welcoming him back. He tried to smile at them but found it difficult with a massive headache and attempted not to groan.

I'm tired, I just want to sleep. His eyes turned up and and his smile became little more happier. He noticed Hiroki. His long childhood friend and nodded a little at his direction. He saw Hiroki do the same and a small wave.

"Akihiko long time no see", said Hiroki happily to his friend.

"You too my friend", answered Akihiko and to Hiroki's suprise he gave a small hug. Hiroki returned the gesture and smiled.

"I bet you're tired. Come", Hiroki said and led Akihiko to his room. But before that he remembered. "Oh but it would be rude not to greet your father after your trip", said Hiroki but saw that Akihiko was not so interested in about that.

"It can wait. I wouldn't be able to take all those judgements from him about my life and my desicions without things getting brutal", said Akihiko really annoyed.

"Yeah well..about that", Hiroki tried carefully start.

"What now? Don't say that my fahter has come up with something to 'help' my life?"

"Something like that." Hiroki, in the lightest terms as possible, explained what his Majesty was planning. The whole thing made Akihiko's headache worse. Now he didn't really feel like talking to his father so he chose to retreat to his suite. Hiroki followed and left him alone when they arrived. "I'll let you know when it's time for dinner." Akihiko nodded and said goodbye to his friend. He tried to take a quick nap just by sitting on a comfortable chair.

*knock knock

Sigh. "Come in", he said tiredly and you could hear that he sounded displeased.

"Is that a proper way to talk to your fahter?" Said his father as he marched inside with a smirk.

"I don't care."

King stalked, stopping beside the chair where his son tried to sleep. Fuyuhiko sat down on another chair opposite the chair which Akihiko was sitting. "Akihiko", he began and turned serious for a moment. "You know that I am doing this just because I care about you and I want to safegurad your future and of course I want you to be happy."

Akihiko gave a muffled "Mmm" but didn't look at his father at all.

"You should consider yourself lucky", his fahter lectured him like a small child. "I'm letting you choose your own spouse. Most royal families make their children marry complete stangers, without regard of their children's wishes."

"Mmm."

His father sighed. "Just look around and see if anyone at the ball catches your eye."

Finally Akihiko raised his heavy lavender eyes to look at his father. "It's not that I don't appreciate your efforts. But why can't you let me go at my own pace?"

Fuyuhiko stood up. "I want to see you happily married. The whole kingdom wants. Everyone needs to know that the future of this kingdom is secure. Only thing you need to do is marry and have a heir to the throne."

Not those things yet.

"Yes I know." Turning his gaze out to the window.

"Très bien. I'll go to your ball. But if I don't find anyone interesting, you'll let me find my spouse on my own."

"Very well." With that the king exited, leaving the prince by himself again.

Akihiko went back to stare at the window and decided to stand up. A heavy sigh was heard from the prince. Everyone at the ball will only see me as the royal highness Usami Akihiko. Thought Akihiko sadly.

Akihiko walked to the main dinner hall that the royal family used. Well he and his father. On his way there were many potraits of the family and also those who have been the royal family before him and his father. There was also a picture of his mother. He didn't want to think about his deceased mother so he just kept walking.

"Glad you showed up."

"Of course father."

"You don't mind if Kamijou takes part tonight in our dinner?" Fuyuhiko asked and Hiroki showed up to his side.

"Of course not", Akihiko said little happier that his friend came to his support. He and Hiroki met as little children. Hiroki was a duke and his parents were close and let them play togehter in the castle. Both of them had always loved books and spent their time in the huge library of the castle. As they grew they were seperated a little because of their future duties.

One day Akihiko asked Hiroki, as they walked the castle's halls, what would he want to do with his life beside the duke's work. Hiroki was really silent and said almost nothing. He wasn't sure, he just said. At the same time a guard with deep blue eyes and hair made a gesture towards Hiroki making Hiroki blush and walk faster.

Kusama Nowaki. One of the royal gurads of the castle. Akihiko of course knew that there was something between those two. Akihiko smirked and followed Hiroki. Nowaki had saved Hiroki so many times. Like that time when a huge painting fell from its place and almost crushed Hiroki under it but the blunette arrived in time. And that time when Hiroki almost killed himself by falling down the stairs and the knight in shining armor succeeded to catch him in his arms princess style. Hiroki was so embarassed.

Obsiously Nowaki had developed a crush on the chestnut haired male and always showed up with a happy smile and that smile was just for Hiroki. Hiroki felt something back because he didn't make anything to stop the guard from those sweet gestures. And one time Akihiko eavesdropped them when Nowaki was happily talking to Hiroki at the one dark corner of the hall. Hiroki was giggling at wahtever Nowaki was saying and blushing like a tomato.

I wish there was someone right for me too. Someone who would love me for who I really am and make my life better.