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WE HAVE NOW REACHED 100 REVIEWS! ASDFGHJKL Thank you everyone for giving LION it's 100+ reviews! Thank you everyone for supporting LION, reading it and giving it a fav and follow! You guys are the BEST! And thank you to our last chapter's reviewers, t AJ-san whom I HAVE MISSED SOOOO SOOO MUCH lol, belated happy new year! And Himuro's past will be slightly told here, ahaha but he's going to get his own chapter later on...with the prince of Yosen, whooa! And to Bubbles9595 ASDFGHJKL YES, YES OMG THE OVA, THE AKAFURI! SO MUUUUCH, the last part with the credits, Akashi instead of talking with he rest of the GoM was talking with FURIIIII so much feeeeels. Oh God the OVA is MUST WATCH FOR EVERY SINGLE AKAFURI SHIPPER! I mean OMG FURI BEING SO CUTE OVER AKASHI AND AKASHI BEING AS SMOOTH AS HELL! And to Carol ahahaha thank you, happy new year! I hope you like the chapter update *winks* And to Pinally-chan thank you for taking time to read them, I'm so happy you liked them, ahaha actually we're both the same, I personally don't like anything that has to do with vampires but back then I just felt like 'ah this idea could work' and yeah it worked so and was received quite nicely, which is what Kicchin is thankful of. Thank you for supporting and even following me over ao3 ASDFGHJKL you're soooo awesomee! And it don't worry I never get bored reading you guys' reviews I actually enjoy the long reviews and it makes me really giddy ahahaha. And Fanficuserhihi ahahaha shots fired at Akashi ahahaha, jelly Akashi! Hope you like today's update as well btw, and to BreeBBreakDance, Serket Girgam, bella-chin and cynthiacyvon AHAHAHAHA thank youuuu so much, true that the tension is risiiing whoa, its getting fiery, ne!?
We're now down to Chapter 24, ohohoho what will happen with Furihata, is Himuro going to find out his secret? The tension is rising as Kagami finally become the King of Seirin and Himuro's arrival to the Crimson Palace!
AGAIN GUYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEWS! Please keep them coming up! And ENJOOOOOOOOOOY reading!
Chapter 24: Misunderstood
"The strongest love is the love that can demonstrate it's fragility"
Himuro stared at Furihata as the boy's brown orbs widen, Furihata, it was a rare last name and that name was a never before heard in Teiko. Himuro upon asking around about Akashi's attendant, he was not sure how to react upon hearing the boy's name. Akashi wouldn't surely know, however, Himuro is an entirely different story. Himuro had heard of it before…Furihata. The boy visibly fidgeted which was strange, as strange as how he would have ended up here. Furihata is the maiden last name of the Queen of the land where Himuro was born, that woman was sickly but was well loved by her spouse, the King. And her family wasn't big, there was fairy little of them to hold the last name, and even in that kingdom it was rare to hear that last name. Himuro does not recall if the Queen ever gave birth or if she did, surely she wouldn't have given the child her family's last name and instead the King's, but there was no mistaking it. What is someone of royal birth doing here in the middle of an entirely different empire, as a commoner and attendant at the very least?
Does Akashi even know of this? If he don't how did this boy got in here, and if yes still why would he be here?
"P-Please d-d-don't tell anyone." Furihata answered barely above whisper.
"Then I am right?"
Furihata nodded. Himuro was astonished beyond words, he must be careful of the words he let slip pass his lips or the brunette may found out his very own secret, a secret only the third prince and the pink haired informant knew. Just one mistake an dit might reveal everything about him, his past, his real origin, and with all honesty, the specialist would rather have people calling him lower than commoner than suffer the same fate he had back then.
"How…I mean why are you here?" Himuro asked feeling the conflicting ideas clashing, if it is really true that Furihata is someone from that Kingdom and he is a relative of the Queen, then what is someone like him doing here? "You should go back now before the Emperor finds out himself."
"I-I can't." Furihata replied pressing the book he is holding closer to himself.
"Why? Are they detaining you?"
Furihata shook his head, "No…I just…I-I can't."
"Is it because of your social status?" Himuro asked making the boy look up at him with wide eyes, "Furihata isn't a common last name you know."
The brunette looked away biting his lower lip. Himuro wondered what of someone with such good life in his homeland would be doing in a foreign land like this and working as a servant could it be that he's a spy? But…Seirin never does that, Seirin never deploys spies, the former King was very adamant in using spies, he insist that using spies only aggravates the situation at hand and destroys their reputation, and surely they wouldn't send someone with such social status as a spy, yes? And looking at the boy, he doesn't look like he has much to wield when worse comes to worse and he needs to fight, he's too nervous, too…frail.
"You're from Seirin." It wasn't a question, it was a statement, as Himuro's eyes bore at the brown orbs. "What are you doing here?"
"H-How…H-How…P-Please d-don't tell anyone!"
Himuro stared quietly at Furihata, it was secret that only few people knows—which includes the third prince. Himuro's true origins was a small kingdom in the West, when he was born it was just a year before the King's royal consort gave birth to his first born son. The small kingdom was known for its huge deposit of iron which became the symbol of the royal family, the king himself—the iron throne. It was a past Himuro would rather not speak with anyone, he was sold to a wealthy family to be a consort at a very early age. Years opened his eyes and led him to discarding the luxurious life and run away, he slipped into a shipping vessel which led him to where he met the third prince Murasakibara Atsushi. His knowledge and manners all came from the former life he had and decided to discard in replace of freedom. When he told this to the third prince who had been kind to him from the beginning, the third prince adopted him into the palace.
The man let him stay in the palace and do as he please, to Himuro's joy the man let him on his own learning new things and finding what he really wants for himself. In the heap of indebt feelings towards the prince, Himuro partly found the agriculture as an interesting thing, he learned this partly to repay the prince's kindess towards a nationless alien such as him. He gained his own title as a specialist in a few years and aided the prince and the tribe that welcomed him—slightly hesitant—open arms.
However, the past is quite a persistent entity, and standing right in front of him a very reflection of him—a boy from the same nation.
"Well, Furihata isn't a common name, and for so long I have never heard the last name in any parts of Teiko before, Furihata is an indigenous family in Seirin, a clan of wealthy merchants who was arranged to be wed to Kiyoshi Teppei, the former King. It occurred to me when someone told me your name." Himuro said calmly watching the brown eyes' reaction, "I don't plan on telling anyone, but I need to know, for who knows you might be a spy."
Furihata's eyes widen at Himuro's statement, well he couldn't possibly blame the man. He works for the palace and the safety and peace of Teiko is their first priority, to be questioned like this was only normal. Furihata tried to calm himself to no avail, "I-I swear!" Furihata's voice almost cracked, "I…I don't intend to do any harm, I-I'm not a spy or of any sorts…I'm…I really want to be here…I want to be a free person, a-away from the responsibilities I didn't wish for."
Himuro stared at the chestnut haired attendant—free, huh? The word reminded him of his exact words a few years ago. As the prince of Yosen stood there in front of his cell with a passive look, his lips moved asking what he was doing there in Yosen. And he answered him—
"…free…I want to be…free."
Sure, the life of being a consort of wealthy young man is a life of luxury, he never had to be hungry, he was clothed in lavish silks, his hands were never rough, but his nights were waking nightmares. There was no room for his words, his opinions didn't matter, his voice was silence by wealth. He didn't have a life of his own, the people around him decided if he was to stay or not. And there was this constant fear that what shall he do if one day they grew tired of him, will they kill him too, would they throw him like a withered flower? After all that is how they saw him anyways, a decorative flower placed on their pockets to show off to their rich acquaintances.
Back then he was treated like the hundred-thousand same beautiful flowers, admired merely by its beauty, but its value means nothing but ornament.
But flowers like those are fragile and they were never real, for real things and people do not need to be constantly sheltered, real things bleed, real things get cuts and they were never to be treated like any other, for there are no other like them. Himuro wanted to be irreplaceable.
"How did you get here then?"
Furihata raised his eyes slightly to meet the man's gaze, "K-Kuroko-denka."
"He knows everything about you?"
The boy nodded. Himuro crossed his arms over his chest, that much said then Kuroko had allowed this to happen, if that is true then things must be under control. Kuroko wouldn't let any threat close to Akashi. Himuro's serious demeanour shifted in a smile, with a gentle hand he placed a hand over Furihata's chin and lifted them to meet his, "Then there is no need to fret then," Himuro said, "it is not evil to wish for freedom."
"I-I…I'm sorry." Furihata apologized for some unknown reason making the dark haired specialist chuckle.
"Oh, how modest of you." Himuro said retracting his hand. "You're so charming."
"C-Charming?!" Furihata exclaimed in disbelief.
"Oh, hasn't anyone told you that?"
Furihata felt blood rushing to his cheeks as he heard Himuro's compliments, he felt strange about it receiving from someone else other than the Emperor himself. Maybe he had gotten used to the way the Emperor smooth-talk his way out of everything, and hearing someone else do it didn't seem quite right.
"Ah, now everything adds up." Himuro said smiling, "You were the one who found out about that rice because you've seen it before right? I remember in Seirin they made a widespread public awareness campaign concerning that evil grains."
Furihata nodded, "I…I have been poisoned by it before so…"
"Oh," Himuro clapped his hand together, "So that's why you knew it instantly! But…hm, that proves to me too that you're raised in a high standing family."
The brown haired attendant raised his head snapping in shock, Himuro has his own ways of getting information which was starting to scare the brunette, he had been catching him by his tongue since earlier. He seems very skilled at gripping information from others and no one would suspect especially with those charming smiles, he was feeling a bit more wary of the man. Furihata stepped back and hitting a wall behind him in the process.
"Don't worry, I don't think there is need to tell the Emperor anyways." Himuro said before sighing, "And besides, you have my thanks, as Teiko's agricultural specialist, your discovery provided us a lot of help, treat it as compensation."
"C-Compensation?"
Himuro nodded, he felt like talking an innocent child, he is the total opposite of the Emperor, he's meek, always nervous, and with eyes that has yet seen the evils of this world—he is like a spark of hope that refuses to be extinguished. In some years that spark surely could become bigger and brighter, if Furihata would stay next to Akashi both of them could—Himuro's train of thoughts was cut when he saw a figure approaching them, with a sly smile Himuro turned towards Furihata.
"One last question," Himuro inched closer to Furihata disregarding the fact that the boy seems terrified, he leaned down and closed himself to the brunette until his cheek brushed against the other and his lips just at hair's distance from his ear, his lips moved and asked the question when suddenly he felt a strong hand holding his arm and without hesitation pulled him away from the brunette. Himuro's eyes widen as he saw the reaction from Furihata, he was blushing up to the tips of his ear, the specialist didn't need words for the attendant to have that questioned answered. His reaction was enough.
"Stop fooling around!" Akashi's voice snapped Himuro from his thoughts, and with a coy smile the specialist turned to the fuming Emperor.
"Furihata-san and I are merely talking."
"You talk with your mouth attached to his ear? How indecent!" Akashi said his voice was shaking and his hands were still gripping Himuro's arm. "If you have so much time to be fooling around and flirting with my people, go and arrange an assembly with Tetsuya or better yet go back to Yosen."
Akashi let go of Himuro's arm with a sharp glare.
"H-Himuro-s-san i-isn't doi—"
"Don't you dare defend him on my presence Kouki." Akashi said, his words were sharp like knives and his eyes were pinning the poor brunette, even if he did want to finish his words the brunette lost his oen voice with those fiery and menacing heterochromatic pools.
"Ah, you scared him." Himuro said with a fake frown, "Alright, I'll be off, and Furihata-san…if you ever need me just send me a letter."
Furihata merely bowed as Himuro walked away. The brunette waited until the figure was out of sight to turn to the Emperor who was a moment ago was boiling in rage, he blinked in confusion, he thought he and Himuro would have been really close for him to have arranged a private meeting with the raven haired specialist, however after what the attendant had witnessed it seems like it wasn't the case. Or could it be…that the Emperor…was jealous? Ah, but he wouldn't be jealous of him, after all Himuro looks great and Furihata is an average looking person, surely he won't be—
THUD!
Furihata's eyes widen as he saw the Emperor falling on his knees with a hand placed on the ground, in heap of panic the brunette knelt down before the man.
"A-Akashi-sama!" Furihata exclaimed in shock, the brunette quickly propped the man up to take a better look. His eyes widen as he saw the Emperor heaving and trying to catch his breath while holding his chest, he was sweating profusely and his hands were trembling. "A-Akashi-sama, a-are you alright, a-are you hurt anywhere, d-do you need anything?"
Akashi looked up at the brunette, he cursed himself for having lost his cool, he couldn't stay calm with the mere thought of Furihata speaking and being comfortable with someone else. When this possessiveness did take over? Was he always been like this? His chest hurts, he couldn't breathe and his anger had taken over him yet again. Kuroko had always warned him of this, however he couldn't help it, the thought of Furihata with Himuro despite knowing the fact that Himuro is smitten over his younger brother—but the fact is Himuro could still steal Furihata away in some other way made his blood boil. He couldn't take it. He knows Himuro was merely riling him up, but he couldn't help it, with Furihata he just cannot stay calm at all.
His breathing was getting heavier, and his vision was slowly becoming uneven, Kuroko had always told him never to let his anger reach this peak, it never had been good.
"A-Akashi-sama, c-can you stay put? I-I'll call for help."
Akashi could hear Furihata's voice clear, ringing loudly, however as he thought of the brunette leaving his side a throbbing pain seared in his right eye, and before he knew it his body had taken action on its own and grabbed Furihata's wrist. He was intoxicated, he tried to justify his actions, he was not thinking rational, he told himself, and deep within him a small voice told him to do it, to let him do it.
"S…Stay…" The words slipped his lips and were followed by an involuntary hiss from the pain coming from his eye. He closed them and tried to focus on Furihata, the brunette had this strange and genuine look of concern painted on his fragile face. And Akashi just needed to know he's there.
"B-But A-Akashi-sama y-your condition is—"
"I…I…just…"
Akashi's lips were now moving on its own, he could feel everything numbing. His visions were out of focus, the only clear image was Furihata dreading with concern for him. Ah, wouldn't it be nice if such expression was all due to his genuine concern for him as a person, but that couldn't be, yes, after all, he is subjected to be his attendant. This expression of concern, for all he knew, might only be due to the fact that he might get punished if he ever shows failure to keep his health in check. As his senses slowly failed him, he could feel his arm moved reaching towards the slowly blurring image of Furihata, he wondered, if he was not an Emperor, if he had met Furihata as a commoner, would it be allowed that he would see the same expression, the same concern in that simple yet beautiful face?
Then everything turned blank.
"AKASHI-SAMA!"
.
.
.
Midorima stared at the paper in front of him finally he had finished his stock piles of paper works, Takao's constant presence seemed to distract him lately. The Hawk Child is more trouble than he seems to be, ever since he had gotten used around the palace he keeps on running around and just simply pestering him whenever possible. As if it wasn't enough that he would sometimes sneak in Midorima's room and beg him to sleep there. The prince sighed and rubbed his temples, it wasn't reall his intention, he was simply a bit on the edge lately, he couldn't figure it out, why despite knowing how the other seems to get right in his nerves he can't afford to tell him to leave him…well that was up until earlier.
Seriously, the prince did not intend that to sound like that, he thought that he would just laugh it off. And anyways he might be actually just doing that right now, but the quietness of his office seemed foreign ever since Takao's arrival. The Hawk Child could easily make him feel so guilty, and it was driving him nuts.
Earlier
"Shin-chan…can I stay in your room tonight?"
"No."
"But Shin-chan, I promise I wont hoard the blankets or kick around!"
"Takao I am busy can you not?"
"But Shin-chan you need to answer me fi—"
BLAG!
"Have you not heard of it once?" Midorima's voice roared in the room, "I am sick of your constant whining Takao, you are not a kid, you have a room of your own!"
"I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"Can you just leave me alone?"
Takao's eyes widen at the exclamation, Midorima's jaw clenched at the sight, guilt quickly filled him. No, it was wrong, he shouldn't have raised his voice to him, but his apology died and trapped within his own pride. Takao didn't say anything and went silent, his head lowered until his hair covered his eyes. With a quiet nod, the Hawk Child bowed his head and left the room.
And that might have not really went well at all. Right after finishing his duties in the Emerald Palace the prince remembered something due to the pass events. Thinking about Takao made him remembered something, he pulled a paper and started doodling on the sheet, when Takao arrived from his village, that very day he woke up he told the prince he saw a dream, he never really paid much attention to since the Hawk Child never mentioned it again. A dream about an eclipse and golden mantle covering the silver moon, a golden butterfly that flew towards a panther, a tiger and an artic fox, a lion and a kitten who later on turned to be a tiger cub as well. Raising his eyebrow Midorima encircled the poorly drawn moon on the sheet of the paper, when Takao told him about his dream he said it looked like it was staring at him, or like watching.
Honestly Midorima didn't understand what he meant by that but one thing is for sure, traditionally…eclipse were seen as an ill omen. The momentarily fading of the light or the discoloration of the moon always has been associated with bad luck. And a panther…Midorima didn't know if this any accident but, Aomine is the prince of Too, and Too's symbol is a blue panther and recently he went to see the King of Kaijo who is now secretly being treated in Rakuzan, in the palace, and Kaijo's symbol is a golden butterfly. Midorima cringed, they have met…just like how the butterfly and the panther did, the next question is the tiger. What is a tiger? What does it symbolizes? Power, pride? Midorima still couldn't understand the symbol, he drew a question mark near the stripped cat he drew, and next to it was a fox. In the whole history of Teiko, only Kuroko was given the fox as a symbol due to his mysterious nature and exotic beauty. But what does a tiger has to do with the prince?
The last thing and the most fascinating is…the lion and the kitten. Who might be the lion? Why lion? Midorima titled his head in confusion. Possibly these signs might tell him what exactly is going to happen to Teiko, more specifically his brothers.
Brothers…Of course! Midorima's eyes widen, the common object of this is the fact that every pair of animals has to be one of his brothers, who among them might be the lion? No, it wouldn't be surely him he couldn't see any reason why it would be him or what a kitten would have to do with him. Murasakibara is definitely fearsome, but he isnt aggressive at all to be seen as lion.
"Akashi." Midorima found himself muttering. Yes, it has to be Akashi but…what does he have to do with a tiger cub, who might be that kitten?
Midorima tried to remember what Takao had told him back then, at the mess hall during breakfast on his first day in the palace…the kitten seemed to helped the lion but when it faced the kitten it roared loudly upon realizing something. What did it saw? Midorima laced his fingers together staring at the picture he had drawn—maybe Takao can help him with this.
As Midorima decided to stand and leave his office his eyes widen as he saw a flash of lighting behind him. He stared at the window across the room and his eyes widen, it was raining badly outside. As he was about to dash to the door a loud knock beat him to it, without any hesitation the door flew open and Ootsubo the head of the palace guards was standing there heaving.
"Is there something wrong?" Midorima asked.
Ootsubo nodded, "We have a report from the Royal Adviser's attendants…he is nowhere to be seen."
The words echoed a few more times in Midorima's ear before he pushed pass the desk letting the wooden chair fall on the floor with a loud sound. He walked up to Ootsubo with a serious face, "Have you looked everywhere?" he emphasized the word. Ootsubo is older than him, however this things were forgotten when the matter of hand is grave. The man nodded. "Have you looked in every room, the baths, the gardens?"
"Yes, there is not a shadow of him to be seen." Ootsubo said, "The attendants reported that they found out that he was missing when they went to bring the Royal Adviser his tea but he was not in his room."
Midorima clenched his hands into a fist, there is no need to panic. This could be another one of Takao's stupid elaborate pranks. He must calm himself down if there is anything he might be falling into Takao guilt tripping him. However his resolve was quickly shaken by the loud crackling noises of the thunder. The rain was pouring hard, if he was wrong, if Takao was taken by someone, or if he somehow had run away and alone right now it could be all his fault.
"Have you searched outside?" Midorima asked.
"O-Outside, Your Highness that's—I mean why would—"
"He might have been taken by someone." Midorima said in haste.
Ootsubo was surprised that the prideful prince was actually concerned of another human being, and to think it has to be Takao, according from what he had heard from Moriyama, the guy slashed a guy's neck to save Midorima. As much as he knows, Takao could save himself. It would take a lot to have the nerve to kidnap someone like Takao, however Midorima didn't think like that.
"Carry a search party, now." Midorima said as he walked pass the soldier, "Wait for me, I shall go as well."
"With all due respect Midorima-denka but it's storming, in this weather it is not suitable for you to join the search party we can handle thi—"
"Takao is my responsibility."
The words that left the prince's lips made the soldier's eyes widen. For the past years since the man had inherited the tribe and resided in the palace of Shuutoku, he had never shown any concern towards anyone outside his family. He saw everyone else as nothing but a burden, he had never seen him take in someone at his own will.
The prince didn't waste any more time as he marched back to his room hurriedly, he slam open his door and quickly grab a cloak and his bow and arrow. His head was filled with a strange feeling of anxiety and regret. He was stupid, he should have known by now that he should have been careful of his words. At this rate if something were to happen, what will he tell Akashi, what will…what will he do? Midorima's hand gripped tighter against the material of his bow, if something were to happen to Takao…if something were to happen to Takao because of him, because of his words surely…
-he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
…
Two hours, had passed, Midorima frowned as he pulled the reigns of his horse, none of his men has still found Takao. The cold rain seeping in his cloak had gone unnoticed as the heat from the adrenaline had kept him warm. The guards had separated around the whole palace, and the half had decided to leave the palace to search the villages. Where could he gone to, Midorima kept asking himself. The weather isn't improving at all, if not getting worst, the thunder had been roaring nonstop and the wind was getting fiercer, he must find Takao fast. The prince usually disliked having to bother himself into this, into getting concerned of people, he was taught never to chase people who run away, for he has a pride to hold unto.
Midorima had no idea either when he started throwing off his pride for the Hawk Child, was it the moment he saved him back in the village, was it just recently, or was it the moment he laid his eyes on him? He didn't know, but he was sure that whatever pride he upheld in front of the Hawk Child means nothing if he does not secure him. True, Takao is indeed annoying, he's highly too energetic for his own good, and he knows just how to rile Midorima up by the fact that he reads into him a bit too easily. But without his noisy mouth, without his annoying laughs and the sight of his silver blue eyes the prince couldn't simply feel at ease.
"TAKAO!" Midorima called the other's name. He didn't mean it, he wanted to tell him, he wanted to tell him that it wasn't intentional, none of it was true, he didn't want him to leave at all. And what if Takao had truly left, what if Takao had gone back to the village, what if he…
"TAKAO IF YOU DON'T SHOW YOURSELF I'LL KILL YOU!" Midorima growled, his voice drowned by the rain and the loud thunder.
He wouldn't be able to take it, he realized, if Takao were to leave now, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself. He had lost so many things due to his horrible personality, no one had ever been patient enough around him as Takao aside from his family. His upbringing made it impossible for him to show a soft side to anyone, he was full of sharp edges and anyone who dares to touch him would retract their hand—Takao was the only one who despite the thorns held him and smiled like it does not bleed at all. To lose that one person, to lose that all due to that…
Takao you dumbass, you should have known!
You should have known I—
I don't…
"Shin…chan?"
Midorima's eyes widen.
Did he just…heard—
Whipping his head, Midorima scanned the thick woods, it's definetly Takao, that stupid and annoying nickname, only Takao would use that. Midorima pulled the reigns of his horse, he could feel it, Takao's is close. Despite the rain if Takao would ever call his name again, he was sure he would hear him. Takao called him, Takao must be scared. Of course he is, he's the Hawk Child, a bird despises rain and storms, Takao in particular. He didn't like the thunder at all. And he must be somewhere alone, scared.
Without knowing Midorima let his instincts lead him and he made the horse run towards the woods, and as if fate had brought him there, Midorima stopped the horse as he saw a small wooden cabin there. A storage house. Of course, he thought quietly as he climbed off the horse. Takao wouldn't have gone far, if he was to run away, he wouldn't be able to run away. Someone who had been used to the life in the mountains would quickly smell the humidity in the air, and he wouldn't risk running too far—especially with his fear of the storms.
Birds naturally do not go well with the rain, they hate it. In Takao's case a part of him was a spirit of the Hawk God and he would feel quickly overwhelmed by the rain rendering his senses useless. Anyone who feels out of control of the situation would feel scared, it is a natural response. Midorima didn't pay attention to the fact that he was already soaked, his clothes ruined with mud and rain, he stood there in front of the shed. Takao is here, he didn't know why but he just know he is.
"Takao!" Midorima called however his voice was drowned by the thunder and he heard a yelp. It was him, alright. "Takao come on we have to go back to the palace!"
There was no response, Midorima sighed and walked towards the door only to feel Takao's presence and power radiating behind the door which was shut closed. The prince pried open the door but it was tightly shut. "Takao this is an order, open the door!" Midorima called, he must have been gravely overwhelmed to reach the height of his power like this, usually it is merely clairvoyance that a Hawk Child manifests, but truly there is still lots of things he could do…one which is barrier. "TAKAO OPEN THE GOD FORSAKEN DOOR!"
Midorima upon receiving no response grew impatient he took an arrow and started stabbing the door in vain trying to remove the barrier. However after the second attempt, the arrow broke in pieces and the splinters stuck in the prince's hand causing an involuntary hiss of pain to erupt from his lips, but instead of leaving, the prince took another, and tried over…
BANG!
And over,
BANG!
"Takao it's me! Open the door!"
And over again, until Midorima was done to his last arrow, his hands were now bleeding. When the last one crushed again, he heard another loud thunder resounding, he heard Takao cry from the shed causing panic to arise from his system. He needs to see him. With his bare hands, the prince started banging the door, and it wasn't particularly pleasant, the barrier felt like a heated pan on his palm, but no matter he pounded on the door in hope that his voice would get through the other side.
"Takao open this door!" Midorima called again, this time his strength was slowly dissolving. He continued to pound on the door until exhaustion slowly started taking over. He was injured and it was storming, as his pride came crumbling and was washed by the rain as well, Midorima pounded one last time on the door, "Takao…just please…open the door….Takao…"
"Kazunari…I beg of you, I know you're in there…open the door."
The prince was slowly starting to believe that he wouldn't be able to convince Takao anymore until he felt the barrier weakened, and the door slowly shifted. Midorima pushed the door open and his eyes fell quickly on the figure curled in the corner hugging his knees like a helpless child. The prince closed the door and discarded his wet cloak on the floor, his hurried footsteps resounded in the wooden floor, all he understood then was that Takao needed him.
Takao was trembling due to his fear to the rain and the thunder, he had seen this a few times back in the palace, this was one of the main reasons why he would secretly let him stay in his room at night. Shuutoku is mostly visited by storm due to its close proximity to the mountains, he never wanted for him to take up another night in fear all on his own. Because he promised himself, that he wouldn't treat him like his previous village did. He wouldn't let him battle his own fears like that, that he would stay with him even if it was hard, even if he wasn't used to taking care of others, he promised him the moment he saved him back then that he wouldn't let him undergo the same pain he did there.
But he was sitting right now there in the corner, crying, because of him.
It was such an irony to think, that there he was, he who promised never to let him experience the same thing, the same rejection the people of his village had him endured for many years, did exactly the same, he had hurt him. He had let him suffer his fear again, all on his own, he let him cry on his own, he asked him…to leave.
Does he even deserve Takao at all, does he deserve the moment Takao had saved him then? Did he deserve someone like him next to him? It may not be fair at all. Takao had been doing his best to be fitting to Midorima's world, however, what he did in return was no compare to the Hawk Child's efforts. How horrible he is indeed.
Midorima knelt facing the curled up figure, "Takao…" he called again, relief washed over the tone of his voice reflecting his true emotions then. He was indeed very pleased that he could see him now.
Takao lifted his face from his knees, his eyes were swollen from crying and his cheeks were flushed, he was heaving.
"I-I'm s-so sorry!" Takao exclaimed tears started welling up in his eyes again shocking the prince, just how long has he been crying like this? "I-I'm s-sor sorry S-Shin-chan! I-I'm so sorry I-I won't bother you anymore, ne? I-I'll k-keep away from S-S-Shin-chan's office a-and I-I'll try to be q-quiet from now, b-but please, don't put me back to v-village!"
"Takao what are you spouti—"
"PLEASE DON'T THROW ME AWAY, I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU!" Takao cried louder shocking the prince. Takao sobbed hopelessly unsure how to hide his crying face from the prince, "I know it's wrong, I should be able to do things on my own now, you gave me my freedom right? I know all I have been for you is a nuisance, I-I've been a great burden and I know it is selfish to ask something such as this…all I do is impose on you. I'm…I'm s-sorry! But please even if Shin-chan doesn't need me, I need you so please don't throw me away?"
Midorima stared at Takao. Look, there he was again, needing Midorima as if his life depended on it. He was shedding tears for the mere fact that he couldn't leave Midorima, he wanted to be with him. When was the last time someone actually wanted him to the point of tears? Ah, yes…no one. No one else but Takao.
"…Without Shin-chan…I…I'm always…I'm always scared."
Just as Takaoa said those words a loud thunder roared and Takao yelp in fear but instead of launching himself to Midorima like he always did back in the palace, he gripped the material of his clothes and meekly cower in the corner, it was obvious how much he didn't want to run towards Midorima yet was only trying to supress the urge.
When Midorima saw this he reached his hand towards the back of Takao's head and with the other held Takao's wrist. Midoirma never initiated a close physical contact with Takao, it had always been the latter, however this time, without the prying eyes of anyone, Midorima shut his ears from the loud retaliation of his stupid pride and pulled Takao in his chest. And as if it was natural as breathing, Takao cling to the damp material of the back of his clothes like it was his lifeline and he buried his delicate face in the prince's chest. Knowing that someone needed him so much like this made the prince happy, since he was born he felt like the world only saw them as mere phase, like a low tide that suddenly came to simply reveal the goods of the ocean, someday, the high tide will return and the low tide would be forgotten. But with like this, Midorima felt like he was the air, or water, or the forest, he was deeply desired and needed, and it to know someone actually saw him so essential to their existence made him feel more than happy.
"Then so be it." Midorima whispered to Takao's hair, burying his nose in the ebony strands. Despite his prideful answer, his face betrayed him by slipping his most genuine smile, "Be scared to lose me, be scared to live without me, so then…you wouldn't leave me…ever."
Takao's eyes widen as he raised his eyes to meet the emerald pools, they were smiling as well and somehow he felt all his previous worried were now washed. Takao didn't care if his clothes would get ruined by getting close with Midorima's rain soaked ones, he wanted to be this close to him, to assure that this is no dream.
"You should have known better…I do not mean those words I said back in my office." Midorima said barely above whisper. Takao buried his face in the crook of Midorima's neck trying to drown his fear of the storm with the other's presence.
"Takao?"
"Hm?"
Takao's eyes widen as he felt Midorima sneaked his arms around Takao's waist and pulled him closer, the prince's perfect and uptight composure crumbled as he gripped the material of Takao's clothes.
"Never leave me…Kazunari."