Throughout the night, the bomber felt really lonely, almost deprived. The pillow, which at first was proper supporting his head, somehow shuffled its way into Gokudera's arms, his face disappearing into its fluffiness. It was cold and lifeless, unlike Yamamoto. He remembered the first time he was ever held by him. It felt warm, and reassuring, like nothing will go wrong, like everything is perfect. Perfect. Gokudera has learnt a new word he didn't learn till he first met the prince. Just to be with him made Gokudera feel, yes, perfect. So many things within such a word.
But perfection wasn't everlasting. Imperfection was the first thing which he felt the moment the faint light of sunlight greeted him into the awakened world. Sitting up, he felt his heart sank when he was gone once again. "…" Gokudera wasn't angry. He probably has training once again. Whatever, he's going to be loved even more later on. It would be worth it, even when he displays that he really hated it, probably classifying as 'disgusting'. Let's hope yesterday could repeat itself. Gokudera closed his eyes and smiled. Memories was once the name of the album of photos of his bitter past. Now it took on more than that sad meaning.
Stretching, Gokudera let go the pillow he held in his arms. He got off and said the first thing of the day. "I'll let that idiot have it once I see him later on," Slowly, he walked down the hallways, totally caught unprepared when he came face to face with the 10th Vongola boss, when they meet down at the same corridor. "Oh, Dera-chan," Tsuna said. He didn't greet. It was a simple exclamation upon such coincidence. "Go…GOOD MORNING, JYUUDAIME!" Gokudera bowed deeply in respect, leaving Tsuna quite confused. What's with the degree of respect? She was just a guest of his by Yamamoto. So Tsuna wanted her to treat him as a friend as well. But now Yamamoto is…
"Dera-chan it's okay!" He paused, and scratched the back of his head nervously. Gokudera couldn't help but to think that he's actions are nearly the same as the prince's. Maybe they've been really good friends, or basically he was thinking of his prince way too much. Tsuna wasn't used to being admired and respected this much, and that single awkward that a girl would look up to him with much fondness. Gokudera lifted his head and looked around as if he was finding someone. Tsuna's smile faded after a brief pause of time, when Gokudera enthusiastically asked, "So where's Take… the prince?"
"…" Tsuna didn't really know what to say. Tell the truth? But then again… Gokudera watched the Vongola Boss's face get washed over with doubt while he anticipated for an answer. He wanted to see Takeshi that badly. Tsuna noticed it from body language, how she excited she was, considering how early it is in the day.
Tsuna shuffled an orange leather boot of his. He made his choice.
"Down in the gallery."
"Thank you, Jyuudaime." Gokudera bowed deeply once again, looking rather blissful. Tsuna stood where he was. He felt terrible as he watched her dash away down the corridors behind him.
Takeshi may be a prince, a higher standing, but even Princes need to abide by rules and orders, especially if it's directly from their elders. In this case, Takeshi had to accept what he was to abide by. As he held onto her hand last night, he was forced to obey his father's every single command and vouched to keep it. Once the vouch is made, a prince, one who learns and was educated excessively over moral principles of honesty, will follow them without further questions.
This morning, he followed the first rule.
Please her.
That was why he ended up in the gallery. He may be educated in various areas, but art is something he simply couldn't appreciate. But Mia loved and knew simply everything about the arts. Linking arms, they walked down the gallery as Yamamoto roughly took in all her cheerful critiques about the piece of Early or High Renaissance artwork framed in gold before them, giving her occasional 'sincere' smiles and nods. It didn't stop his gaze from looking rather far away. Thank goodness Mia was too absorbed to notice. He stared infront of him with mere interest as Mia pointed at the picture of 'Primavera' of Sandro Botticelli, complimenting on the distinguishable beauty of Flora. Pictures of Dera in different scenarios they spent together unfolded in his head when she mentioned about the word 'uniquely beautiful', from the first time he saw her at the balcony with her back facing him, to the time when Gokudera smiled for the first time, enjoying the marvelous sunset that shone like magic before them. Mia thought Yamamoto's smile was for her. So she giggled in happiness as well. Yamamoto stared down sadly after the images cleared out. "Izumi…"
She looked up and blinked innocently. "Takeshi-kun?"
She blushed and stood still as Yamamoto bend over to reach her shorter height, faces coming closer.
Rule 2: Love her.
Gokudera was right there infront of the doors that led to the gallery. Excitedly and nervous, Gokudera felt his heart wildly thumping away. Tentatively, he reached for the long silver door handles and the grand door to the clumsy gallery swung open.
Gokudera's eyes traveled with held breath. It took a while before he realized what he was really seeing. By then, battered gasps shook his entire being as his body was in a clear but his mind in an unconscious state.
Takeshi was alone in a vast room with a young lady, their lips planted together right in the middle, eyes were relaxed. They probably already reassured again and again that they were definitely alone. That scene was as embarrassing enough to even make Gokudera's cheeks burn. It was obvious Yamamoto took the initiative, considering their positions. The way he lifted her chin, was the exact same way he did to Gokudera as well. How he would run his fingers up her neck before holding it there. Everything. Her face… was so happy. Gokudera never tried to imagine how he looked like when he did those kind of stuff with the prince. But now that he saw it, Gokudera felt it was plainly disgusting.
His grip to the door frame tightened so much, it left white nail marks into the varnished wood.
He saw the young woman open her eyes to find someone staring at them expressionlessly. Blushing, she jerked back. Yamamoto rose back up in question, until he saw where she was looking at. He turned around.
He found himself looking at Dera. She was looking back up at him, with her faded jade eyes looking so torn apart. Her knees locked, preventing herself from falling down. She scratched the back of her head and looked at the ground infront of her.
Yamamoto felt his heart push himself back harshly, like he was about to slam into the gallery wall. Was she embarrassed? No… she's heartbroken. Yamamoto remembered how stubborn she could get, and that sometimes how she behaves isn't really what she is truly thinking. Yamamoto would smirk in happy defeat whenever he detects that within him. But for the first time, Yamamoto didn't laugh, not even a grin, or even a smile at her presence. He was speechless, and she was as well.
Her eyes shadowed behind her long silver bangs. Yamamoto's body told him to run up and hold her before she's gone forever, set things right. The prince couldn't. After all, it was his fault she had to be put through this.
"I'm sorry to disturb." She muttered. Poison to his heart. Her body was slowly disappearing behind the closing doors. Run! TAKESHI! RUN!
The prince darted forward, his fingers outstretched. He saw her tiny body in between the cracks of his fingers, his palms closed to catch her. But she wasn't in it. "WAIT DERA-!"
BANG. The door closed slowly but the sound echoed angrily, resounding through the entire gallery, through his now empty heart. The prince's outstretched fingers retracted, her arm swung back to his side, staring back at the door that closed in his face
WHY? IT'S TOO EARLY FOR DERA TO FIND OUT. SHE WON'T ACCEPT ME ANYMORE.
"…Takeshi-kun?" Mia bent over to look at her FIANCEE, who winced so hard down that his face was red. She tip-toed to reach his height, hugging him tightly. "Takeshi-kun, I know it's hard to forget someone you have feelings for. But as your father said, let her go. We're doing this for the best of our kingdoms. Maybe you two were never meant for each other. But WE are." She smiled as she dug her head into the side of neck, smiling warmly.
Yamamoto lifted his head to look up at the ceiling. It was as red, and it first reminded him of Dera's scarlet dress. Yamamoto wanted to scream at himself when he realized that the one which was subduing his injuries were the very red silk off her dress, and that it took her so much love and effort into it, just to make sure he wasn't in pain. But now that this happened… Yamamoto remembered what happened last night. Mia was right. His father was talking about their arranged marriage, and went on with apologizing superficially about how sudden this happened and how everything was urgently arranged without his acknowledgement. Yamamoto couldn't bottle it in him anymore as he sat there to listen to his father talk about the future of both of them. He completely snapped when he heard his father said with his serious voice that he could possess whenever he meant business. It was blunt and serious, the way his father put things.
"Takeshi," He said straight in his face last night. "You must let her go." Enough
"OYAJI!" Yamamoto completely forgotten all about respect and the rules a prince had been trained to obey. For love, he was willing to do anything, even if it's going against the laws of a blue blood.
"You will have to forget her, leave her and focus on the duty you embody, thus forming a mergence upon our two kingdoms." His father said strictly. His son was showing signs of disapproval, and it was rather different of him, since the son never disobeyed him before, always accepting everything that was given to him. Whoever she was, however important HE was to HER, and Tsuyoshi knew that while he was serious, his son was as well.
Yamamoto remembered how frustrated he was, all the blood rushing up his head. The next thing he did was rather impulsive. The coffee table flipped over as tea cups of fragile porcelain crashed onto the marble floor, spilling hot tea all over. Mia shrieked. The prince found himself armed with his own sword he had been carrying with him all the while, aiming a swing straight at his own oyaji's neck. His father was unimpressed, swiftly bringing out his. The father and son was temporary engaging in a lock of swords as they exchanged blows and swings at each other, the ballroom their battlefield. The son's face was contorted, gritting his teeth together in the heat of madness, their faces close as they brought their swords down against their opponent's. The strength of both was superb, their blades nearly slicing into each other's. But in the end, his father pinned his son down, leaving him defenseless.
"Do not forget who was the person who laid your foundations on your skills to a sword." He said, the tip of the blade pointing straight at his forehead. Yamamoto growled, his fingers digging into the purple velvet carpet.
"Father… PLEASE." Yamamoto sighed and hung his head low and asked sincerely. "Don't take Dera away from me. I will do anything."
His father lowered his weapon. "I'm afraid that's impossible, Takeshi. You will get married to Mia, and our kingdoms shall join alliances, and you and that young lady will NEVER see each other EVER AGAIN." Takeshi was pulled back into reality when she kissed him on the cheek and hugged him tighter. The prince didn't hug back. " She's not worth it. I heard a lot about her. Apparently she's self-centered, and rude and ill-mannered… Don't get me wrong, but it was rumored that there is something about her that is worth to raise a brow about. So it's best to keep a distance from her till the rumor is gone. Takeshi… I love you more than anyone"
All that while, Gokudera refused to leave, back against the door, telling himself that the last thing he would do was to cry over such a small, stupid matter. Yamamoto you didn't mean it right? You haven't forgotten about me right?
From inside of the room, he tried his really best to pick up the conversation. He still believed in the prince, and wishes to hear something comforting from him. Maybe… it was just some misunderstanding. It's fucking stupid. Gokudera should have run away long ago. He doesn't have to stay here waiting for his answer. Who fucking care about the prince anyway?
Something he heard from inside after too long a moment of silence make his back jerk up in total disbelief. "She's not worth it. I heard a lot about her. Apparently she's self-centered, rude and ill-mannered … Don't get me wrong, but it was rumoured that there is something about her to raise a brow about. So it's best to keep a distance from her till the rumor is gone. Takeshi… I love you more than anyone"
Gokudera smiled down to himself, and ran away. Why was I so blind to even realize it?
For the whole day, the prince couldn't see his princess. Even as he walked down hand in hand with Mia, he constantly kept a look out for her. But the princess that donned the scarlet dress was nowhere to be found. Occasionally, out of desperation, he excused himself from Mia for some time for herself. The prince always kissed her hands politely before leaving, but was a frantically aimless him as he dashed and wondered all over the grounds of the mansion.
He went to everything to look for her, sometimes so tired and depressed he would lean against the wall and slide down against it to sit down. He would cry into his palms, his mind flooded with thoughts of her. The more he recollected those wonderful fragment of memories they shared, he would break down more, tears and cold sweat streaming down. Dera… where are you? I still need you. It's okay if you hate me now, and you won't talk to me. Just at least let me see your face, your smile, just once more, before we can't love each other anymore.
"Herbivore, be a prince and go back to Mia. You shouldn't keep the ladies waiting."
"What do you understand, Kyoya?" The prince said without lifting his head.
He heard his butler grunt in annoyance. "If you're looking for… her, then I suggest you hurry up and head to the music room. So stand up, herbivore, you make me sick." The sharp butler kicked his master by the side with his smart black shoes. The prince ignore the pain, his face brightening up instantly like a sunbeam. "Thanks Kyoya!" He laughed cheerfully, wiping the sticky tear marks that streamed down his face with the back of his hand. His butler remained shot his master a thin cool look before turning around and leaving in a huff.
Gokudera isolated himself in a room. Like any other rooms in the mansion, this one was really big, more space for darkness to fill in. Gokudera was grateful for the cherry tree outside to strictly allow only so little of light to enter. It would be totally pissing if someone were to step in and see him in his face. It probably looked heartbroken and tear stained now. It's not really a good term to use. So Gokudera called it disgraceful.
So with his face of disgrace, Gokudera allowed his fingers to skip down the row of black and white keys upon the piano. The quiet, sad melody notes left the piano and waltz and flitted in the air like butterflies of the summer. The feeling of the notes fit his fingers better than the dynamites he usual had to carry between them. It soothed him within, but it didn't stop his tears from dripping onto the keys. He was so sad about it he couldn't even think, the thoughts were replaced with throbbing pain. Now he could only see him and the piano before him, like he was lost in a downpour. Vision ahead was blurred, and you don't know where to head, because you're just caught in the middle. Now, it was to the extent that only music was there for him. No. It was himself for himself, since who's fingers were moving for on the keys? He lost the only person who could be there for him already. It was all over. He smashed the keys down hard when was made to remember how he missed the prince. He wanted him back. He needed him. But the point is, the Prince doesn't. He has someone else who would GLADLY LOVE HIM BACK, WITHOUT A SINGLE FEAR THAT ONE DAY HE'LL GET HURT.
The maids were right outside at the door exchanging excited whispers about her talent, and how her rumoured attitude really hid her true abilities and beauty well. They immediately rush away back to work as he saw the young master approach from a distance. At first he was losing hope as he took each step, head spinning for an explanation, and how would he make her listen and accept the truth? If he were her, he would really angry to even bother looking at him as well. Kissing her would be the most stupid thing to do then, even though Yamamoto knew too well that Dera really liked it, and it cheers her up a lot. Now it would produce the reverse effect.
There was soft music somewhere. Yamamoto lifted his depressed face and listened out of curiosity and wonder. Tsuna never told him anything about a musician or a talented pianist coming over… so was it her?
Yamamoto could picture her playing the piano, she would look really pretty. Somehow, she really fit well with a piano than any other. He pictured her fingers that were born for them to run across the notes, dancing upon the black & white striped stage quickly or elegantly. Then her face… it would be…
So downcast. Her eyes…. Dera prefers to cry alone, and she definitely would after what happened in the morning. She was definitely sobbing, without any doubt, and the prince wished there was a. He sprinted forward like he was aiming homerun, calling her name under his breath urgently. He saw the maids leaving from a distance as he closed in fast. He had to take a few steps back to be right infront of the door. Even if it's rather awkward, the Prince took politeness into matter, knocking the door after a lifetime of consideration. He received no reply, but it's not as if Dera knew who the person at the door was. Why wasn't she answering? Worried for his princess, Takeshi pushed the door open at his own will, at the same time the piano notes slammed together, creating the ugliest noise.
He saw her on the ground, her legs tangled, her head leaning on the cushioned piano seat. He shouted her name, out of impulse and desperation. Why was she like that? On the floor? Did she fall? Injured? Crying?
Hearing that name and that voice, Gokudera looked up and turned to face the person he missed so much. Shit. He TOLD himself NOT to show ANYONE this disgracing face. So not only did he fail, the PRINCE was the first one to see this. He saw Yamamoto's as well. They've been exchanging lots of expressions recently, and now what he saw was the painful and guilt-ridden face of his. The prince was pitying him, Gokudera thought. He pities me that he made no longer have someone to love.
Gokudera pushed himself back up to his feet so roughly that he nearly lost balance and fall over. He didn't want to see his face anymore. He threw his body at the door. "Wait Dera listen to…" Once again he was cut short, Gokudera slamming against the white chocolate designed door. It swung hard to close with a bang, separating the both of them, making sure none of them could see each other.
"Dera let me in." The prince pleaded, no alarm in his voice, afraid that it may make her cry even harder. He couldn't see that even as he spoke, Gokudera was cowering into a tight ball, hiding his disgraceful face into his knees. He cried hard, but refused to make a single noise.
"…Dera…" Yamamoto leaned his forehead onto the door. It's not over. I can't. I don't want to lose you yet. The prince winced. "Dera… you, YOU STILL ARE SOMEONE REALLY SPECIAL TO ME! YOU'RE STILL THE FIRST PERSON I FELL FOR AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE PERSON I WOULD FEEL COMPLETE TO BE WITH!" The prince didn't care who else was listening to this, so long as he wanted Dera to know how much she was to him. No one is going to change this, not Mia, not even his own father.
Gokudera raised his head and furiously whipped his tears dry. "I heard enough of that." Gokudera chocked on a laugh as he muttered to himself quietly. But wasn't those words the ones Gokudera was so desperate to hear just now? Now that Takeshi said it out loud, fearlessly declaring, even if there's a chance that he would be rejected.
"If… if you don't want everything we have gone through together to end. Then will you open the door?"
Gokudera heard every single word of that. He didn't want to reply. He tucked his knees closer. There was brief moment of waiting.
…
…
She'll come out. I'm sure of it. She still needs me as much as I do.
…
…
That is, I hope.
…
Hope was slipping away when the door before him didn't budge. Yamamoto sighed and turned around. Maybe she needs time for herself.
Click.
The door behind him swung open silently, but Yamamoto looked back to find her looking at the ground, her hair all messy like an abandoned doll. "Dera…"
"If you meant that we're going to get chased by some oversized demon dog again then I'm going to close the door. So…"
To the silver haired teen's surprise, the prince leaned over and brought her back into a hug immediately, not giving a chance to cover her own embarrassment. It was the place where she could fill in perfectly, where Gokudera wanted to belong. The prince smiled, grinned, and laughed. Instead of doing the same, Gokudera tried to pry himself away from the prince, pushing him in the chest, but they weren't separated entirely, since Yamamoto's arms haven't let her go around her sides yet. "Go away. I don't want to see you ever again."
"Dera...?" Yamamoto looked down at her silver hair.
"I SAID GO AWAY. Geez do you understand what I just said? I. DON'T. WANT. TO. SEE. YOU. EVER. AGAIN." Gokudera punched Yamamoto's chest infront of him with each word to put emphasis. "Dera… why?" Yamamoto merely managed to stutter.
"ISN'T IT OBVIOUS ENOUGH!" Gokudera rested both his fist on him and looked down at their feet. "YOU NO LONGER NEED ME. I'M SURPRISE YOU EVEN CAME TO FIND ME AFTER WHAT YOU DID. NOW THAT YOU HAVE SEEN ME, WHY NO JUST CHASE ME AWAY? I AM NO LONGER IN YOUR EYES ANYMORE. YOU… you probably always have HER already in mind." Gokudera covered his mouth and cheeks with a hand, looked up, and stopped. Yamamoto was leaning close their noses touched. He was listening attentively, his usual cheery eyes areas dangerous and sharp as the blade of his own sword. Such looks was rather rare. The last time he saw it was when he needed to save his life. Now it appeared to the silver haired assassin that those words cost much as the prince's life itself.
"… SO LET GO OFF ME!" Gokudera demanded loudly, sending a palm flying straight for his face.
"…" The prince caught her hand by the wrist with such accuracy before getting hit, never leaving his eyes from hers. The force of his grip were as good as handcuffs. Gokudera was stunned and felt himself paralyzing from the Prince's action.
"Dera, that's enough of you." The prince coldly stated, a thin veil of anger over his puppy-cute eyes. Damn it. Gokudera blushed awkwardly. Dera wished the prince had never learnt such adorable magic to use upon him. Once he sees it, it was SIMPLY IMPPOSIBLE for Gokudera to get angry with him, and it's not just this once. Gokudera remembered how many times he had given in to it.
"…HEY, YAMAMOTO!" Gokudera was forcefully pulled into the room as the prince stormed in before him. The prince somehow threw her onto the piano seat, reaching out to lock the door twice. Gokudera felt the atmosphere mysteriously intimating. To ease himself, he felt his own legs twine into each other. What happened to the prince? It was unlike of him to do such things. He was sure the prince always handled him carefully like some valuable and fragile glass vase, constantly spoiling him. But he clearly had something else in mind now.
"Dera…" Yamamoto turned around after staring at the lock for some time. When he turned around he already saw Gokudera's face growing into the deepest shade of red as possible, even if the room was dark. He smiled, walked over and lifted her chin. "It's okay we're alone now." Gokudera bit his lips when he felt his hot breathe wrapping up the side of his neck. "Take…shi, this is not funny…." Gokudera heart slammed against his chest in the heat of the moment.
"When did I say I was joking?" Yamamoto kissed her hard down upon her lips, stunning his princess. This time Gokudera felt something wet. He drew his face closer to hers, his big hazel eyes calm and dark. FUCK, STOP THAT PUPPY EYE LOOK RIGHT AWAY. Gokudera shouted, in his head, that is. He then remembered another thing about that look, and that when you see him flash it in your way, you know he wants something, badly.
"Idiot… what do you want?"
"I want you to want me." He whispered into her ear. Gokudera nearly fell backwards off the chair when he leaned far too close for comfort. He did, slipping a little, then his whole body, legs sending up towards the ceiling. Yamamoto caught her and pulled her close as they both fell over to the ground. She tried to struggle back up when the prince pinned her down by her palms, knees holding the bottom of her dress down. "YAMAMOTO WHAT ARE YOU…!"
"Dera you'll try to keep quiet okay? Kyoya has eyes everywhere. We don't want anyone to know what we are doing. This will be our little secret," He smiled down at her in the darkness of the room, their fingers folding perfectly into each other's. The prince ran a finger slowly down her throat, making her wince in an eye. For the first time in his life, Gokudera, once the predator after countless lives, was now a vulnerable prey held captive, awaiting. "I don't want anyone to take you away from me." Taking his time, the prince finally to find a spot, smile, and sunk his teeth forcefully down into a vulnerable spot in her soft neck. "You're mine forever."
"OWWWWWWWW! YAMAMOTO WHAT THE HELL!" Gokudera felt his eyes sting from the pain. Instinctively, he clutched the side of his neck where the source of pain was. Yamamoto noticed the tears at the corner of her eyes. But he didn't worry, just smiled. "Sorry Dera, was I too rough on you?" He whispered into her ear as he kissed the wound softly. Gokudera mind raced aimlessly, feeling his breath getting faster, growing more shallow. Not good.
But he couldn't exactly say that he was despising all that was taking place… it's just that, it was too early. Besides Gokudera still has something the prince cannot find out. He may be his princess in the Prince's eyes, but…
As far as they love each other, Gokudera was still a male.
"Yamamoto we can't…" Gokudera tried to regain balance within his body, but air was slowly running out that he was too weak to run away. Holding his breath, Gokudera pushed him away and head for the door, or what his eyes thought was the door. Gokudera was so confused he headed to the windows instead. "Nee Dera come back here~" Yamamoto laughed as he sat up in a casual fashion, watching Dera as she fell over to the bay window. When his mind cleared, the prince was already infront of him. "Yama…"
"Dera I want you right now…" He yanked the curtains shut after he grabbed her back to her feet, close to his side. "YAMA-" The prince kissed her cravingly again in the now total darkness. With a hand supporting her from her bare back, Gokudera's cheeks burst instantly into a red hue. He screamed in his mind: "IDIOT. WHY DON'T YOU LET ME SAY SOMETHING!"
"YAMAMOTO!" All the anger within her converted into a whole new burst of energy, she ripped herself apart from him. Wiping her mouth with her forearm, she shouted again, looking at the ground. "I HAD ENOUGH OF YOU!" He couldn't see the ground in pitch black, neither could he see the prince, only faint traces and outlines of him. Even his usual bright eyes that shone like hazel stars of the night were dull and dim. "…"
Gokudera felt fingers slowly touching her shoulders, one by one. It triggered the now provoked him, and Gokudera couldn't care what he did but to stop anything else from happening.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Gokudera hit him. He doesn't know where. He felt his fist descend upon his target. As if it wasn't enough, Gokudera felt the piano chair beside him. Once felt, once in contact with it, he sent it without aim into the darkness infront, all of this was done in a fit of anger and confusion. There was a thumbling crash, probably a sound of splitting wood.
Gokudera rushed over to quickly push the curtains apart for light. ALL he wanted now was light. There was nothing to hide anymore. The light dripped back into the room, sufficient enough to see his prince sitting on the floor, half hidden in the shadows. He was clutching his cheek with both hands, probably a bruise. The blood was actually flowing out from behind his choppy raven-black hair. Gokudera felt really guilty now, regretting his rashness. "What was I thinking… Yamamoto I hope you're okay? Are you in a lot of pain? I'm sorry." Only that he couldn't say it, no matter how hard he tried. Instead, the words that came was "PERVERT, SERVES YOU RIGHT!"
Yamamoto laughed.
"Dera…. I'm sorry." He looked up, and the light showed his eyes, he was really, looking TRULY happy. "I… I wanted to show you, that I'm serious. I want you, really. Before this…. I wanted to hold you, to tell you the reason why I wanted to do it with you."
"…"
"… because I don't love her, and I'm forced to marry her, due to some issues over my family, over our kingdom. I was forced to comply, and that I would NEVER see you again. Dera do you understand? I don't want her to be the one. So I thought…. Maybe if I do it with you first, before my given time runs dry, then I won't live my rest of my life unfulfilled and with regret."
…Takeshi… why only now? Why didn't you tell me this earlier?
He looked away, and smirked a short laugh. "But it's okay now. Maybe you still hate me for what I've done earlier, that's why you don't want to do it even when I was really serious." He looked up at her, and now his whole face was lit by the light that shone from behind Gokudera.
"Who knows, maybe it's easier for me to leave you."
Gokudera showed a small sigh upon his body of shock. How could you… HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT! I LOVE YOU! I THOUGHT YOU DID AS WELL! YOU PROVED TO ME YOU DIDN'T, AND NOW YOU'RE TALKING AS IF I NEVER LOVED YOU FROM THE VERY BEGINNING! THIS IS UNFAIR!
"WHAT THE FUCK!" Gokudera blurted out in rage, a punch flying down. Stupid. The prince is stupid. Gokudera can't believe he fell so madly in love for him.
At that precise moment, the white entrance door opened.
There was a shrill, desperate cry of stop.
Gokudera froze and look up, to find the same young lady who possessed the fine black hair, at her verge of tears. It was her, the one who took Takeshi away from him. She wasn't returning the murderous gaze from Gokudera, more worried about her Takeshi, clutching his cheek in pain on the floor.
"TAKESHI, TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED!" She ran up and hugged him, crying like a maiden would into her gentleman's side. The prince slowly took his hands off his injury, revealing a slight bruise. He patted her quivering head. "I slipped." He lied. Mia won't take that for a truthful answer, knowing the Prince just didn't want her to worry anymore. She took her face away from him and faced the speechless maiden dressed in scarlet. Mia's cute face bore an angry look. "Stop hurting my Takeshi! He had enough of you! If you don't love him then say so! Don't make Takeshi chase you anymore. People can get tired and sad!"
…
"Takeshi let's go." Mia took his hand into her dainty ones, watching her prince raise to his feet. That reassured her to smile. At least that ruthless woman didn't hurt him too much. She sort of has to drag the prince out, shutting the door with a small but stern slam, right in Gokudera's face.
His fist clenched.
Down at the grand hall stairwell not far outside, the prince and princess were walking side by side. "I told you not to see her anymore. See Takeshi? Now she hurt you. Let's go and get you treated…" "…" Yamamoto refused to speak to her. From the distance, he faintly heard a muffled sound of smashing, catching his attention for a while. "Takeshi?" Mia looked up at him. "Ah. Sorry Izumi-san." Then they proceeded back to leave.
It was only hours later when the Prince overheard the maids down at the laundry complaining about how troublesome it is to replace that grand piano in the music room.
Hello ppl~! 3 Waree waree I haven't been updating for a LONG while. Hahaha so yep here it is. :D I'm working on the next chappie already. Let's hope there's still some scraps of fluffiness within me... :P