"When two people are under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most delusive, and most transient of passions, they are required to swear that they will remain in that excited, abnormal, and exhausting condition continuously until death do them part." ― George Bernard Shaw, Getting Married
The office was disturbingly silent, except for the sound of scraping pen against the sheet. The windows were left closed, and thus the whisper of the spring breeze and the sound of outside world were tuned out. The sky was provisionally painted in ash-color and the sun had hidden itself since noon, signifying the incoming episodes of fleeting rain. Although it was supposed to be the beginning of spring, the cold of winter still occasionally lingered once the light drizzle came down.
His hand swiftly moved on the document, signing the papers leisurely although the tips of his fingers were freezing cold despite the blanket on his lap. Munakata always had a problem in adjusting his body temperature with chill air, but he couldn't let such trivial reason to disrupt his work momentum.
Seri stood straight, watching him cautiously for any hint of fatigue while trying not to inadvertently insult him as if he was frail enough to be the subject of her constant worry. Munakata felt the stare, but he said nothing and pretended not to realize it. After he signed the last document, he heaved a sigh and smiled at her appreciatively. "Thank you for bringing in these papers, Awashima."
"It's my job." She replied curtly, although she continued warily, "Captain, with utmost respect, I believe that you just had your rehabilitation session this morning. You should get some rest."
"I would like to finish the postponed work after one year delay as soon as possible. I also take some rest once in a while, so please don't worry about me." He folded his hands on his desk, still smiling. "Is there anything else that requires my immediate attention?"
"No, Sir." Seri quickly bowed at him before she took her cue to leave his office.
Munakata watched at her retreating back before he gazed out at the vibrant view through the window. At the garden of Scepter4 HQ, several trees had budded and green leaves had begun to peek out of the branches. He took a deep inhale, trying to get rid the accumulating fatigue and waves of exhaustion he had always suffered after rehabilitation therapy. He moved away from his desk to windowsill by pushing his wheelchair with his hands and stared out at the murky sky.
It had been a month since he was discharged from hospital. He remembered that a certain Red King never failed to visit him daily since he woke up with jumbled memories until he left the hospital. In a month, he had an intense rehabilitation program in order to get him fully functional as soon as possible, but it was only a week ago since he started to remember most of important things in his past.
He recalled almost everything last week, including the alternative future before Akizuki came to him. He had read the letter that the strain had left for him, saying that he was sorry for taking him down to hell to tamper with written future. He apologized for leaving ahead and wished him a better future, regardless the result. Munakata was rendered speechless; never once he regretted his decision, although it led him to his current state. How much he wished to tell the latter that there was no need for him to feel sorry for the Blue King or even regret to involve him in this twisted game of destiny. If time had allowed him, he would even personally express gratitude the strain for the opportunity. That was the only regret he had for certain azure-haired strain.
If he had to measure the benefit from the world's point of view, he would gladly pay the same price all over again although the rest of the kings would say that he was a fool. He was not going to argue it though. He had no self-depreciation or heroic intention. He simply measured everything on the scale and all the sacrifices that had been made to reach this conclusion, including his own definitely worth it. The Red King was alive, and so was the first and Silver King. The Colorless King was gone (although the credit definitely went to Silver, Gold and Red King). He was still breathing, despite the disability and constant pain he had to live with for a while. He and Akizuki were the prime sinners for cheating the fate, thus it was natural if they had to sacrifice more than the rest. Even Totsuka was alive to keep the serenity of Mikoto's fire and Shizume City was left in harmony. With Silver King and Gold King around, the other clans seemed to quiet down, and remained underground, lurking in the shadow with their eyes remained locked on the hidden Dresden Slate in Gold King's residence. The price was certainly appropriate for the peace of Shizume City.
Everything seemed to settle back to normal, except for one thing. Ever since he woke up, Mikoto seemed to differ to the one he had always remembered. He still spoke less, spontaneously acted and behaved recklessly. But what troubled him were Mikoto's affectionate gestures that easily escaped his attention; every straight, meaningful gaze, every little brush of skin, every impulsive butterfly kisses on his blue locks or his fingers.
Mikoto seemed not to be bothered by his constant change of behavior every time he recalled a bit of his identity and thus his personality, chalking it off as the result of amnesia, he said. Mikoto might easily accept him and his circumstances, but the Blue King could not figure out on how to treat Mikoto. The old Mikoto he remembered was ignorant and if he had to explain him in one word, he would never use the word such as 'kind' or 'attentive'. But that was exactly what made their relationship so easy to follow, and he definitely felt convenient that way. No expectation meant no broken promises, no broken heart and definitely no hope. It was better for them to have no attachment, considering their roles as Kings. He only chased after Mikoto this time, only to stop and save him, not to breach the convenient lover's line.
Back then, they concealed their infatuation, pretending ignorance so they could continue their nameless relationship although deep down, both of them knew perfectly the sparks between them. None of them spoke of it, as if it was a taboo. Once it was spoken, only Heaven knew who would break the arrangement first. Thus he was baffled; of the bond that Mikoto asked from him now. It was not as if he never thought of such thing, but he always dismissed it before the idea could settle in longer than a second. A King did not need another burden to carry aside from the world and he did not plan to change how he had lived. He had always thought that Suoh shared the same sentiment.
Selfish it might be, but he had no more room to grow affection other than for his Clansmen and the whole world. Even shouldering the world had already burdened his life; he almost lost his entire life for twisting Mikoto's fate. Munakata was not certain he could get out from the mess unscathed, or worse, alive if he continued to meddle with an existence called the Red King.
However, Mikoto never ceased to confuse him. The very same man that had abandoned him in the solitary path of King as he drowned in his misery and fury and even thrust the saber into his hands to deliver the end of his life, told him that he loved him and wished to be with him. Munakata found it remarkably ironic that it was beyond preposterous.
He would not hesitate to embrace the memories which consisted of glorious death of Red King and his bitterness as the executioner, but in consequence, he could not accept Mikoto's affection. If anything he had done to Munakata was in parallel with something called 'love' (the sound of it felt weird on his tongue that he almost choked on it), then that emotion was definitely mixed with insanity.
For that reason, he steered clear from Mikoto for a whole week. He left calls unanswered, and messages unread and deleted without second thought. The Blue King stayed away from every place he used to visit, knowing it well that Mikoto would purposely attempt to counter him there. He intentionally went to rehabilitation with randomized session schedule, so Mikoto would have no chance to know when he would go. The only place he went aside the hospital was simply his apartment and Scepter 4 HQ, although he spent majority of his time in the HQ. It was not as if he could go anywhere else with his handicap to walk around freely. Even such a thick-headed like Mikoto would realize that Munakata deliberately eluded him and he rejected Mikoto's feeling.
They had no relationship to begin with, so it would be awkward if he called the latter to break off whatever they currently had; more than friendship, less than lovers. Thus, he concluded that silence was the best answer.
This time he would not repeat the same mistake. The Blue King would no longer relate himself in intimate level with Red King. Once they had gone separated ways, he would surely forget those glimmering golden eyes. His heart would no longer be swayed and the balance would be once again restored.
But Mikoto was not one to agree with him or quietly step down without retaliation. On the third day of his silent treatment, Homra purposely conflicted with a group of well-known mafia that wittingly dared to have illegal business in Homra's alleged district. The Red King personally made his appearance and even summoned his Sword of Damocles as an unspoken threat and invitation for Munakata. However, he never made his appearance, even though it cost him a bulky file of damaged public property he had to take responsibility of. Thankfully, the Gold King was being lenient with him, putting his limited capacity for mobility into consideration and thus excused him only with a short lecture of responsibility. Nevertheless, he knew that he would not get away easily from his obligation next time.
Fortunately, that day onward, he was left in peace. He only hoped that it was not a transitory peace before the storm.
Munakata leant back and slightly slouched on his wheelchair. It was almost time for him and his Clansmen to leave the office. He had been cooped up in the HQ for so long that he now wished to go outside and feel first-handedly the gentle touch of spring breeze and warmth of setting sun on his skin. After all, his doctors had instructed him to keep being active as much as he could to keep up his health.
He pushed his wheelchair with his hands at ease, as the result of his intense rehabilitation. Munakata pushed open the mahogany door to leave his office, only to find Akiyama nearly bumped into him while he was walking in the hallway in front of Munakata's office. The latter jolted in surprise but he quickly moved away from Munakata's way with a smile.
"Good evening, Captain. Are you leaving now? Would you like me to escort you?"
"Thank you for your good work, Akiyama." Munakata said with his usual smile. "And no, it's okay. I only retire to the dorm, no need to accompany me. You should go home."
"No, it would be my pleasure to escort you, if you don't mind."
He waved his hand nonchalantly, laughing it off. "Babysitting is not in your job description, Akiyama. But I appreciate the thought."
The raven-haired officer then bowed slightly, "In that case, please be careful on your way, Captain."
"Have a good evening." He wheeled his chair with a little smile through the bright corridor.
When he returned to his office for the first time, he felt self-conscious and uncomfortable at the thought that his Clansmen might look at him with pity since he had to spend most of his time on wheel chair before he could switch to crutches. The doctor told him that one year-long bedrest caused his condition. Despite the passive rehabilitation they had poured on him, his muscles were weakening due to prolonged unused, especially his legs and he would be required to keep continuing his exhausting rehabilitation at least for half a year before they could reevaluate him again. He felt exasperated at first, since such handicap would hinder him from his work. But then, he would only sigh and resign to his fate. He brought this upon himself after all. If anything, he was thankful that he still had a hope to be completely independent from this transportable chair.
The next thing he was thankful was, his Clansmen seemed to be glad with his return that none of them even bothered to shower him with pity. They were being extra careful with him, yes, but their concern was still in tolerable level in Munakata's book. Even Domyoji occasionally offered to push his chair as he was leaving his office, and being persistent about it when he refused politely, leaving him with no choice but to let his hard-headed subordinate to do whatever he wanted. But never once Domyoji looked at him as an unfortunate person. He actually felt glad with their compassion. Just like this moment when he went across the corridor, the passing Clansmen would offer him a short greeting and a genuine smile as they stepped away to keep his path clear just like before. He would return the greetings and went on.
After a long way with polite bows and smiles, he finally found himself alone on the connecting corridor facing toward garden which also led to the dorm. He stopped for a moment, watching at the sunlight reflected on the streaming water from the fountain in the middle of the garden. The water sparkled in golden light, with a refraction of rainbow next to it. The trees rustles softly as the wind gently blew and swayed his sapphire-colored shortened side bangs. The smell of soil and grass was on the air, foretelling the imminent rain.
It was the very picture of tranquility he always wished for ever since the fall of Red King. At last he could breathe without the constant dull pain in his chest.
He was taking his time to return to the dorm, strolling around the garden until twilight. There was nothing waiting for him in that room; no need for him to rush. However, when Munakata lifted his keycard to the lock device, the first he noticed was the burnt smell and the broken, fried device. Even before he opened the door, he could sense the unwelcomed presence inside the compartment. He frowned, while completely alert. There was only one person he could think of that was capable of such atrocious tampering.
Munakata quickly turned around, completely annoyed and was about to steer back to his office when the door suddenly swung open and the last person he wished to see was standing on the doorway.
"Finally you're back." Mikoto stiffly greeted with a dark look looming on his face. It did not take a second to tell that the Red King was in his worst mood. Munakata's instinct conflicted, telling him to scram before Mikoto could hit him (although Mikoto began to restrain his Aura, it didn't mean that he was less violent with his punch) or to fight him back like usual with his sarcasm. While he was in disadvantage since he could not use his saber, he still had Blue Aura to encounter Mikoto on par without his Red Aura.
Munakata gave a scandalized look to his intruder. The blue-haired king remained still for a while while his hostility instinct already overrode his mind. "For hundred times, I told you not to come here right? Is your brain just an accessory?"
Mikoto did not even bother to be offended. Seeing that the owner did not intend to enter with his presence there, the Red King strode to behind Munakata's chair. Before Munakata could even voice out his protest, Mikoto hastily pushed him into the dorm and closed the door behind Munakata with a hard slam.
"Suoh!" Munakata snapped as his violet eyes glinted fiercely, following Mikoto's presence.
However, Mikoto ignored him and grabbed Munakata's head sides until they faced each other. The Blue King glared, and the Red King impassively frowned. Munakata scowled under his breath, trying to contain his irritation. "Get out."
"No," Mikoto growled in cold fury.
"I can always force you." He threatened with a low snarl, like a beast being territorial of its den.
Mikoto sighed and bowed to get into Munakata's eye level with his hands on the Blue King's cheeks, pressing against them tightly. "Stop running away, Munakata."
"Don't insult me. Why should I?"
"You didn't come down to the city even when I 'called' you. You shut yourself in this place all the time. For a whole damn week." Mikoto answered, emphasizing his every word with a little jerk on Munakata's face sides. "Now look at me and tell me that you're not running away."
Munakata stared back with cold defiance, already answering Mikoto's taunt sternly. "I don't run away. You sicken me, and it's within my right to choose not to see your face."
"Does it now? Back in the hospital, you seemed to enjoy my companion." Mikoto smirked arrogantly, savoring his victory when Munakata stiffened with ashamed look. The Blue King was apparently infuriated with himself as he recalled the embarrassing moments when he obliviously depended on Mikoto during his confinement on hospital bed with vague memories.
When Munakata was defensive, he was more hostile, but Mikoto needed that resentment out of him. He intentionally provoked Munakata to get a response from him before the conflict between them fell into a cold war. Silence treatment was Munakata's virtue. Once Mikoto was doomed with silent warfare, he would have to draw out the heat in Munakata again and it was not an easy feat.
"I don't want to talk about it," Munakata barked heatedly. "Don't you feel ashamed of taking advantage of amnesic patient?"
"Does that mean that you remember everything by now?" Mikoto asked with atypical concern, to Munakata's bafflement. Somehow Mikoto's grip slightly loosened although they were still in place to keep him still.
Munakata heaved a sigh and breathed away, "Yes. Now would you kindly relea-"
"So is it true that you turn back the time with that strain's help?" Mikoto interjected before the Blue King could finish his sentence. Suddenly Munakata forgot how to breathe as he froze, "What?"
"A strain came to me after your 'accident'. He told me your deal with him and everything of it."
Munakata instinctively shuddered at the thought of Mikoto figuring out his reason for taking a part on such precarious gamble. He was furious at Akizuki for spilling their secret and thus putting him in this situation, but it was futile to condemn a dead person. There was no need for Mikoto to realize his affection to a certain Red King. It would ruin the balance he had tried so hard to maintain.
Mikoto was quite surprised when Munakata abruptly slapped his hands away violently and those violet eyes narrowed at him with unspeakable fury, like a wounded animal. Apparently he underestimated the Blue King, considering his current state. The red marks on his hands stung a lot. "Whatever I did with him has nothing to do with you. Get out."
Mikoto frowned as annoyance began to swell inside him. He did want to make Munakata responding to him, even if he had to be verbally violent, but Mikoto did not like it when the latter dismissed him and kept him stranded in the middle of nowhere. Before Mikoto could think over his action, his arms already reached out for Munakata, grabbed him on the waist and dragged him out of his wheelchair. He carried the flailing, rebellious blue-haired king over his shoulder, ignoring the vocal assault and continuous, painful thumps and scratches on his back. "Suoh! Cease this behavior this instant!"
Munakata yelped in pain when the Red King tossed him to the bed heartlessly. He groaned and automatically rubbed the aching back of his head as he pushed himself off the bed. "You barbarian…" He blinked in surprise when Mikoto pushed him down again forcefully with his hands on Munakata's head sides and hovered on top of him with ominous look. But Munakata was not one to feel intimidated. As a matter of fact, Mikoto wounded his pride by taking advantage over his lower extremities weakness and Munakata was enraged for it. "Suoh, get off of me." He threatened severely, already taking a full fist of Mikoto's shirt ferociously and pushing him away. But Mikoto grabbed his hand on the wrist and retracted it away firmly as they both resisted with all their strength. Munakata swore there would be an ugly purple bruise around his wrist tomorrow morning.
"You are helpless without your wheelchair, can you?" Mikoto replied callously, losing his usual mischievous smile. "You'll stay here until I'm done with you."
His amethyst eyes widened in surprise, already brimming with hurt and offended pride. "Suoh, I won't forgive you for insulting me like this."
"What makes you think I care?" With that, Mikoto dived and bit down Munakata's upper throat. He used his weight to pin Munakata down while his hand reached out for Munakata's cravat and tore it off.
The Blue King started resisting and switching back and forth between panic and rage. "Suoh! Damn you, stop this!" His hands gripped tightly on Mikoto's shoulders, purposely bruising the skin with his nails until it left angry marks as he pushed away the latter. Nevertheless, his effort was futile since Mikoto took advantage of the gravity and their position to imprison him. A sense of vulnerability sunk in and a tear of humiliation threatened to fall from the edge of his eyes. With his collar left bared, Mikoto didn't hold back from biting and sucking the skin, leaving marks on his trail that Munakata would not be able to cover all of them later on. Munakata lost all of his composure when Mikoto's hand traveled down to his stomach and continued down to front of his pants.
"SUOH!" A loud strike between surfaces rang in the room.
Munakata's palm hurt as if it was burnt. Mikoto remained still, with his cheek throbbed painfully, avoiding the accusing, upset glare at him.
The Red King suddenly felt an immense guilt for thoughtlessly humiliating Munakata. The one that he had decided not to hurt, defensively crossed his arms to cover his eyes as if the sight of Mikoto was unbearable. Mikoto was about to open his mouth to apologize when a silver bead streaked down to Munakata's cheek.
"…Despicable." Munakata scorned hatefully. "You bastard."
Mikoto winced at the vile remark. He pulled back slightly, tugging on Munakata's wrists gently as he settled on top of Munakata's stomach, trying to pry open the shield before Munakata's eyes lightly. "Munakata."
"Don't touch me."
"Munakata." Mikoto repeated with harder voice with warning, but not enough to reprimand. "…I'm sorry."
A flinch of Munakata's arms gave him the hint he needed. He tried again to unfasten Munakata's hands and this time he faced no resistance, although the latter still refused to see him in the eyes by looking away at the wall with fierce glare. But the tear was gone. The only thing remained in those tempestuous, purple eyes was loathing.
"Get off." Munakata seethed almost like a whisper. Mikoto quietly obeyed and sat on the edge of the bed, still facing the owner of the room.
"Munakata," Mikoto tried carefully, hesitantly stretched out his hand to touch Munakata's chin. However, before he could even get close, the Blue King slapped away his hand mercilessly.
"Yes, I can't move without that damn wheelchair. But that doesn't mean I can't kill you right here."
"You can't."
"…Excuse me?"
Mikoto heaved a sigh, "What happens to you is because you can't let me die. I know at least this much."
Munakata wrinkled his nose in half-annoyance. "Don't think too high of yourself. I might only wish to save the Silver King, mind you."
"Nah, if it was true, you wouldn't bother to save Tatara."
The Blue King was quiet for a moment with a deep frown. If they were not arguing right now, Mikoto would have laughed because he looked almost like pouting. "Maybe I just whimsically tried to rescue him since I already returned back to the past anyway."
"Nope, too much risk for a whim. You certainly wouldn't jeopardize it."
"Maybe it's just-" Mikoto just decided that Munakata would never shut up if he allowed him, so he leant forward and captured those lips to take his breath away. Munakata did not close his eyes, but his gaze softened and kissed back slowly. This time he allowed Mikoto's arm to circle around his nape and pulled him closer to deepen the kiss. Mikoto took the lack of resistance as a willing gesture and swiftly he lowered both of them until Munakata was sprawled on his back again without breaking the kiss.
When the need for air became unbearable, they separated only slightly, letting their hot breathes to mingle with each other. Mikoto smiled down, this time genuinely, to Munakata's surprise. "Thank you. And I'm sorry."
His chest felt like constricting in pain and there was a throbbing dull ache from inside. Munakata finally managed to ask, "For what?"
"For saving Tatara and my lives. For staying alive. And sorry for leaving the hard works to you."
Munakata felt like there was a lump on his throat. "I failed to kill Colorless King. You did it yourself, along with Silver and Gold Kings, I heard."
Mikoto shook his head with a bitter smile. "I'm talking about other future. The strain told me that you probably the one who ended my life when my Sword of Damocles fell."
The Red King didn't need words to confirm his notion. Munakata flinched and instinctively curled up, as if trying to wipe away the appalling memories and protect himself from self-guilt. Mikoto felt a twinge of pain when he heard Munakata asked in hushed voice, strangled like a faint sob, "Are you done? The exit is that way."
"Munakata, look at me."
When the Blue King ignored the plea, Mikoto put his hand on Munakata's chin and lifted up his face until their eyes met each other. "I'm sorry. I probably couldn't think of anyone else but you to kill me when the time comes."
"And am I supposed to say to accept your apology and we're even?" Munakata snapped, seething. "No, Suoh, I'll never forgive you, or else I'll never forgive myself. That's why I keep the distance, you insensitive fool. I'm done being involved with you."
"Guess what? I can't accept that as well. You keep me alive, so you have to take responsibility for it."
"Since when is your life my responsibility? You always belong to Homra, that's why you refuse to back down from your status as a king and force me to kill you. Don't throw it to me when it's inconvenient to you." Munakata let out a feral scowl. "All I'm responsible is the price for not letting you go."
"Yeah, since you chain me back to this life, it's natural that you should be responsible for this additional time you give me."
Munakata held his breath and a swirl of new storm waged in those violet eyes. "I can't believe you. You're blaming me for keeping you alive?!" The Blue King yelled, raising his voice. "Then drop dead! See if I care."
Mikoto swore that there was a vein popped out from his head. Munakata was always skeptical anything related to him and it annoyed him to no end. He only wanted to tell him that the Blue King should stay alive since he was Mikoto's new reason to live on, and apparently Munakata took it the wrong way. The Red King exhaled an exasperated sigh angrily before he pushed Munakata down again on the bed sheet when the latter tried to break free from his captivity. "Why are you so-" Mikoto groaned in frustration and cursed, "All I want to say is I love you and I want you to give us a chance, you fool! Why are you angry?"
"You should say the last one instead; simple and direct! How can you expect me to understand your irrational rant?!" Munakata defensively yelled back, fighting off Mikoto's grip on his shoulder to no avail.
"Fine! I love you! So what is your answer?"
Their heated brawl quickly ceased down into a stretched silence as if someone had doused a bucket of ice. Munakata seemed to be busy messing with his brain, trying to come up with wiser response. Mikoto was left stranded waiting for an answer which never came.
"Do you really expect me to believe that?" Munakata whispered, but his reproachful eyes stared straight into the golden ones. "Didn't you realize that when you forced me to kill you, there was nothing left between us? The nightmares turn from occasional to constant, thanks to your so-called love." He took pleasure when Mikoto's expression contorted in hurt. Just as he expected, Mikoto did not think twice about him back then, although this Mikoto probably didn't have the opportunity for thinking about it since Munakata saved him from that trouble. He probably did not know there was no night when Munakata could sleep without nightmares. The horrifying dream always switched between the moments he stabbed Suoh with his sword and dirtied his hands with scarlet blood and an infinite isolation as the tower of ice hovered over him and froze him to death slowly from his feet as the ice crawled to freeze all over Shizume City before his eyes with lightning struck in the background. Even he still could see such image behind his closed eyes. "Don't speak about love with that mouth. You will blight it."
Mikoto was surprised with the blatant pained expression on Munakata's face. He understood the dread of those nightmares since there were some nights when he dreamt of a raging inferno which licked and burned everything down to dust. Thus he should have understood Munakata's burden, but somehow Munakata's pain seemed to be different. He felt like he had to say something, or else he would lose the Blue King permanently.
"I don't know how the past me has wronged you. I can only say for the current me that I love you and I've always loved you."
Munakata sighed in resignation, deciding to pull out his trump card. "Are you sure you're not mistaking that feeling with someone else?"
Mikoto only raised an eyebrow questioningly, to Munakata's irritation. The blue-haired king took a deep inhale before he said, "When Totsuka died in the other future, you seemed not to hesitate to push me aside. I don't see a reason why you would act differently this time if that happens."
"Don't speak in circle. What are you trying to say?" Mikoto growled, already feeling the dread sinking into the pit of his stomach.
"Do I really have to spill everything out for you? You've always loved him, probably even when we share the same bed." Munakata thought he would feel relieved with being able to spill out his suspicion, but in contrary, he only felt wretched inside. Thinking about it did not hurt as much as speaking it out loud.
However, Mikoto still looked passive, as if he didn't hear it, to Munakata's marvel. He said pensively after a moment of awkward silence. "I have three points to tell you. One, I don't mess up with that kid. Two, I don't kiss that kid. Three, I did both to you instead. And before you say stupid things again, when I saw you lying half-dead, believe or not, I was going to repeat the history again."
"But that doesn't make sense…" Munakata trailed off and Mikoto abruptly interrupted the train of his thought, arguing heatedly. "Your imagination doesn't make sense. He is a family. You are insulting Homra's bond."
Munakata gaped, almost like a goldfish, wanting to say something only to clamp down his lips since he couldn't come up with anything. Mikoto actually found it endearing, but he wouldn't say a thing because he didn't wish to earn another long series of Munakata's wrath. Thus, he only came up asking one word, "So?"
The Blue King bit down his lower lip, not realizing that he was pouting. Mikoto had to resist not pawing him. "I still think it's a bad idea to get involved with you. I can't forgive you, after all."
Mikoto crossed his arms, trying to keep his patience in check, "But?"
"What makes you think there is a 'but'?"
"Just an instinct."
"No, there isn't." After a short pause and an expectant look, he continued, "Really, there isn't!"
"There is."
"There isn't! Look, Suoh, you can't be serious about this. You understand, right? The sparks between Kings will prickle us into fighting each other. That's why you've never pursued a relationship with me before, because we might lose temperance and destroy what we are trying to protect." Munakata extended his hands to cradle Mikoto's face carefully. The Red King leant into the touch like a cat with his eyes still locked on Munakata's.
"Yeah, but now I think it's stupid. When we were apart, the spark was gone, but there was this craving. It drives worse ignition on our next meeting."
"…Meaning?"
"I think you can tone down the spark, if you stay with me."
They stayed silent for a minute before Munakata decided to break the stillness between them. "Are you saying that by exposing yourself to that spark constantly, it might numb your senses to it?"
Mikoto shrugged nonchalantly, saying calmly as he remained hovering on top of Munakata, "I dunno. We've never tried it and I happen to want you. Definitely worth the shot."
"I don't want to bet on anything anymore."
Mikoto tried again, smirking mischievously this time. "If it works, that means less work for you and you can even keep a watch on me easily. You sure you don't want to try this out?" He understood that it was easier to win the current Blue King over using his sense of duty, instead of sweet talks. As he expected, Munakata already reconsidered the proposal.
To his relief, it didn't take another night to convince Munakata. The blue-haired king gazed up at him with a resolution and a warning, although there was still a soft frown on his face. "If 'this' doesn't work out or the spark gets out of hands, I'll call off the whole thing."
"Yeah," Mikoto breathed as he nodded in agreement, smiling genuinely. "I'm okay with it." His legs dug deeper into the bed and he shifted closer to Munakata to plant another kiss on the lips. This time, Munakata didn't resist it. After several seconds, he decided to be done with it and intertwined his arms around Mikoto's neck, pulling him down and kissing back. He swore he felt a smile against his lips before he opened his mouth to allow Mikoto to deepen the kiss. Mikoto had tasted like how he always remembered him, a whiff of tobacco, ember, and sunlight but the memories seemed quite distant by now.
Mikoto gladly took the offer and dove to trail every crevice on Munakata's mouth with his tongue. They softly moaned with tiny sighs, although they only distantly realized the sounds they were making. Mikoto occasionally pulled back a little to let them breathe, but not long enough to even recover from short of breath. Eventually they broke apart, and Mikoto ducked his head to nip and lick under Munakata's chin, earning him a gasp from Munakata. The Blue King petted the soft hair near Mikoto's nape, making Mikoto slightly shuddering with a pleased hum against his throat.
Munakata scowled at the heat pooling in his stomach and commanded, "Take off your shirt." Mikoto stopped abruptly from leaving marks on Munakata's collarbone and grinned at the order, "As you wish." He swiftly pulled the shirt off and tossed it away on the floor. "Let's play fair, shall we?"
Those violet eyes were glazed with desire when Mikoto made a quick work on his uniform proficiently and in a minute, there was a heap of clothes next to the bed while the couple on the bed was left down to bare skin. Munakata yelped in surprise when Mikoto pulled up his leg, dragging him down slightly to leave butterfly kisses on the calf. Mikoto whispered faintly against his skin but he could not hear it clearly so he asked, "What?"
This time Mikoto said with louder voice, still kissing his leg. "I'm sorry." But this time, Munakata understood without saying. His gaze softened as he tried to tell Mikoto off, "Stop that. Get down from your pedestal and stop thinking that everything is your fault, because it doesn't. I just had an accident; as simple as that. Moreover, they say the rehabilitation is going well."
Mikoto hummed lightly before he trailed kisses on the inner thigh, drawing out a faint gasp from the latter. He made a mental note to pry on the incident that cause Munakata's and Totsuka's demise, but his curiosity could wait until the next morning. He had more urgent matter to take care of, after all. "I'll come along next time you go to the hospital." He said with a smirk while his hand strayed to draw circles on Munakata's inner thigh teasingly. Munakata replied silently with a wary look, so Mikoto purposely brushed his palm on Munakata's cock, noting his victory in his mind for eliciting moans from the latter.
"You…," Munakata tried to keep down his moans by pressing the back of his hand against his mouth, ending up with strangled voice. "…are going to be in the way. I can't allow that." To his dismay, Mikoto started to stroke his cock, still asking with feigned innocence. "I won't. How is that?"
He was about to reject it on Mikoto's face when a thumb rubbed the slit and his mind went blank instantly. "W-what?" Munakata attempted to ask in between of his suppressed moans. As a matter of fact, he already forgot the original question was. He knew that Mikoto was playing dirty, but he would have no choice but to agree in the end to whatever it was because the blessed hand of a certain Red King already messed up his head.
Mikoto leant down again and kissed on Munakata's hand on top of his lips, requesting for an access. Munakata willingly obliged, allowing the latter to swallow his moans into his mouth. Mikoto picked up the pace stroking the shaft and alternately rubbing the slit with a devilish smirk. "What do you think? Can I come?"
Munakata breathed out, "Yes." However, after several passing seconds, he thought over with tremendous difficulty in the middle of haze, realizing that he was probably being deceived. "W-wait, what was the question?"
"Nothing." Mikoto grinned victoriously before he claimed a kiss again. Munakata made a noise of complaint, but soon he failed to remember that he just had been tricked into consenting something troublesome as Mikoto's hand picked up the speed, up and down Munakata's cock. He was already on losing ground in holding back his voice. He almost reeled over the edge when Mikoto's hand stopped moving and pecked a kiss on his lips, before the latter moved aside to reach out for top drawer of the nightstand desk. Munakata only watched in daze, when Mikoto pulled off the lube's cap and poured the content into his hand.
Mikoto turned around to face Munakata and stole another kiss before he gave a look, asking for his permission. Munakata didn't answer but he grabbed Mikoto's arms and pulled him down to get him another kiss. The red-haired king chuckled lightly before he lowered his head to reward Munakata with gentle bites on his nipple when his fingers already prodded on the entrance.
It definitely felt tighter with two fingers sliding in. Mikoto spent extra time fingering Munakata, rubbing against his prostate teasingly. He winced when Munakata bit down his moan and took full fists of his scarlet hair unconsciously with arched back, and the tug became tighter when he inserted the third finger. By the time he finished preparing Munakata, the latter was panting hard with eyes glazed with tears and his favorite vermillion color had rose up to the Blue King's cheeks. Mikoto was positively satisfied with the pleasurable sight in front of him. He would gladly mess him up more than this.
Mikoto lifted both Munakata's lithe, limp legs above his shoulders to give him some room to work. Munakata clenched his fists on the white sheet as Mikoto slowly entered him and the foreign feeling he could not really name returned back like a déjà vu. It had been a while and the sensation made him clenching the muscle, tightening around Mikoto's cock with a soft whimper. Mikoto groaned with harsh pant, trying to refocus his attention to enter Munakata as he brushed away the tears pooling on the corner of those amethyst eyes, "Hey, relax. Keep breathing."
Munakata forced out a sarcastic scoff but he relaxed down until Mikoto was fully buried to the hilt. He was about to exhale in relief when Mikoto suddenly moved and slammed into him, drawing a surprised cry out of him. Mikoto didn't spare him even a second to raise a protest for moving so abruptly and start picking up the pace. He smirked with deep furrowed brows as Munakata moved his hips with continuous string of heavy pants and moans, blending in with his own groans into a chorus they hardly listened.
Munakata was already on the edge that it didn't take long before he came with a suppressed scream of Mikoto's name. Not long after he slumped on the bed, completely spent, he could feel the heat of Mikoto coming inside him and hear a long grunt from his partner that almost sounded like his name. In the middle of his daze, he could make out the hard frown on Mikoto's feature as he came and the paradoxical trustful childlike-eyes staring back at him up close. Those fierce amber eyes shone with so many emotions, including guilt, but they mostly reflected irrefutable confidence and fondness.
Winded, Mikoto laughed breathlessly above him, making him staring back quizzically, "What?"
The red-haired king only shook his head and leant down to leave fleeting, playful kisses as he quietly said, half brooding, "No, I'm just glad that I only have to wait for a year for this."
Munakata remained silent, smiling vaguely bitter, to Mikoto's bemusement. He stretched out his arms and pulled Mikoto down again into his embrace. The Red King lied on his side next to Munakata, not wanting to fully impose him with his weight as he nestled his head on Munakata's shoulder, kissing lightly on the junction of his neck and shoulder. As a response, he felt Munakata kissing his hair and breathing warmly close to his ear. Mikoto realized that they should have probably cleaned up, but he was quite comfortable enough to even move away from this position. He would not mind staying that way all night as long as Munakata didn't object.
Mikoto already drifted to a momentary sleep when Munakata started timidly in a very soft voice, barely heard, while he stared up at the ceiling, "All those times in the past, when your Sword of Damocles crumbled down, I didn't even try to understand you, but blaming you for not giving up your desire for revenge or stepping down from your status. Avenging Totsuka is probably a humane thing for you and Homra, but my duty demands me not to justify your action."
"Muna-"
"I'm sorry." Munakata abruptly interrupted, accentuating his voice although he still refused to look the latter on the eyes. "I think all Kings fear death. But what we are afraid of is not the death itself, but the consequences following. After I killed you, I couldn't help but thinking who will bring the end for me. What if my candidates couldn't make it in time to end my life when my Sword of Damocles fell and it caused another Kagutsu Crater? Only then I realized, you probably didn't wish to be saved, because you were afraid that I failed to be there when the time came and you ended up obliterating everything."
Mikoto rose up, using his arms as a leverage as he lifted his body off the bed, and his head hovered above Munakata to get his attention with a darkened face. "You have nothing to feel sorry about." He took Munakata's hand into his and brought it up to his lips, "I'm the one who should apologize for breaking your Sword of Damocles."
Munakata faintly nodded and smiled delicately, "But I want you to trust me. You have my words, I will end your life personally when the time comes without fail, so promise me to value your life until the last second of it as long as I'm alive."
"Would you just stop using your life to save me?" Mikoto growled threateningly, to Munakata's surprise. "Look, can we just not talk about it?"
"Sooner or later, we'll have to face this issue in the end, Suoh. You can't avoid it forever."
Mikoto narrowed his eyes on the Blue King, but said nothing. He straightened up, while pulling the latter up as he leant backward. When Munakata was already sitting on the edge of the bed with puzzled look, Mikoto scooped him up in a far-from graceful manner in his arms, climbed off the bed and headed to the bathroom. Munakata automatically looped his arms around Mikoto's neck for balance. Mikoto kicked open the bathroom door nonchalantly with annoyed tone, "We'll face it when we have to, but not now."
The blue-haired king sighed resignedly, "You are like an immature child."
Mikoto wrinkled his nose at that and sneered disdainfully, "and you're acting like an old man. Now just shut up."
The hospital lobby was nearly crowded, full with awaiting patients and families. At the corner, a private elevator had just reached the floor where the lobby was located with a tiny 'ding' sound.
"I can't believe you that you would even bring her here." Munakata rolled his eyes as he pushed his wheelchair out of the elevator, leaving the red-haired king behind him without a glance. "I forbid you from coming along, and now you even bring her? Healthy children are not allowed here, Suoh."
Anna trotted behind Mikoto, tugging on the edge of his jacket with guilty look. However, Mikoto patted her head lightly with soft smile before following the frustrated Blue King. "You told me that I could come and she wishes to come along."
Munakata halted immediately and turned around on his chair with glowering, murderous look. "I didn't. You tricked me, as a matter of fact."
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you…" Anna casted down her eyes to stare on her shoes.
Munakata threw a long glare at Mikoto, who in return looked at him accusingly. He turned around until he was in front of the little silver-haired strain. His expression immediately softened as he heaved a sigh. When he was sitting on the chair and Anna standing in front of him, they were on the same eye-level. He just hoped that it would make her less intimidated or frightened of him. "I'm not angry with you. I just have to reprimand this irresponsible adult," He paused, glaring with clear irritation at the Red King. "...for bringing a child to this place, filled with sick people and putting you at risk of getting sick."
"I ask Mikoto to let me come, because I've always wanted to say thank you for saving Tatara." She locked her twinkling ruby eyes at him and he could only be mesmerized at her purity reflected in her eyes. She bowed lightly before him with a little smile, "Tatara also asks me to pass his gratitude to you. He wants to tell you personally, but Izumo asks him to watch the bar. We've always wanted to say it earlier, but we decide to wait until you remember."
His violet eyes were widened in astonishment. Never once he expected some gratitude from Homra since everything he had done was within the boundary line of his duty and it was all for his own gain. Furthermore, the Red Clan had always been in conflict with Blue Clan since Scepter 4 often had to impose the law and order on them, causing a bad blood between these Clans. Even if he was currently in relationship with Mikoto, it supposedly didn't change anything between their clans, since they kept professional and personal lives apart and they never announced it openly. Thus, the words of 'thank you' from Red Clan felt quite pleasant with all its surprise.
Nonetheless, they were Tatara and Anna, the kindest members of Homra, so probably it was not that startling. He pushed his eyeglasses up to the bridge of his nose with a tense smile. "You don't have to. It's Scepter 4 duty to guarantee the safety of the citizen."
"But…" She trailed off, but Mikoto interjected. "He is just embarrassed."
"I'm not! I'm just saying that-"
"Just shut up." Mikoto sneered before he quickly got himself behind Munakata's wheelchair and pushed him out of the hospital, ignoring Munakata's outrage. Anna was stunned for a moment before she smiled softly and followed her beloved king. In her rose-colored eyes, today Mikoto's red was brilliantly dazzling and beautiful, warmer than usual.
The bell on the door chimed lightly and a gust of warm breeze went inside.
Izumo lifted his eyes only to smile brightly on the special guest he had been expecting for a whole week. "Welcome, Seri. Quite a busy week, I guess?"
The corner of her lips quirked slightly up as she gracefully made her way to the bar stool. Once she sat on her usual seat, she rested her chin on her hand and sighed, "It will be a better week if Yatagarasu stops coming to see Fushimi on every field mission."
"Well, he is young. I can't exactly tell him not to go, can I?" The blond bartender chuckled apologetically and already prepared the crystal glass. "What would you like to have today?"
"You can easily say that because you're not the one who has to stop them when they start fighting." She heaved a little sigh. "I'll just have the usual."
Izumo was so used to her antic that there was no hint of distaste on his feature as he worked on her order mechanically. After so many times having her around, an alcohol drink combined with red bean paste didn't seem so nauseating, as long as he wasn't the one who had to taste it. "Then you have to help Yata; tell Fushimi to listen. You know that he has been trying so hard to fix their relationship, right?" He walked away not far from the bar table to pick up his special cooler box, specific for keeping the ingredients of Seri's peculiar orders.
"I know. But he starts to blame Captain for allowing a civilian to meddle with our missions. Captain doesn't defend himself and tell him to sort out his problem instead, so Fushimi's temper only worsens. If it wasn't Captain who told him off, the casualty list would be more than a broken chair, I'm sure." Her azure, scrutinizing eyes followed every little moves of her favorite bartender.
Izumo's hands flinched in the middle way, "Well, you definitely have a rough week." This time he opened the box with firmer grip and took out a pack of red bean paste and returned back before Seri. He took out the paste and mixed it with the sparkling beverage in the glass until it turned into the horrifying color of lavender and pushed it in front of the fair blonde. "I thought your Captain will stay out of the problem like usual and let those kids to work out their own differences."
"I thought so too." Seri lifted the glass with her hand with newly-painted nails to her lips as she glanced up to Izumo with half-hearted glare. "But I have my suspicion that your king encourages him to help Yatagarasu."
Izumo laughed weakly and shrugged, "But if it helps them to reconcile, it would be great. You said that he only listens to your Captain, although he rarely does. Anyway, how is Blue King?"
She took a sip of her drink and exhaled with pleasant sigh. "He is doing fine. Yesterday, he was finally out of the wheelchair and started using crutches. He is quite in pleasant mood today. I think he is quite thrilled about it."
He propped his chin on his hand and smiled at her charmingly as he leant against the bar table. If the close distance between their faces bothered the lieutenant, she didn't show it. "I hope that means you'll have extra free time in your hand. I waited for you last weekend, but you didn't come; it saddened me." He said with a feigned hurt pout, putting his hand on his chest for a dramatic effect.
She fluttered her eyes close, completely unfazed, although she smiled impishly. "When I was too busy to come with Captain out of duty, you didn't seem to miss me that much."
"I'm simply an understanding gentleman, my fair lady, but it doesn't mean that I don't miss your companion." Izumo grinned victoriously at a faint blush creeping into Seri's cheeks as he took her hand in his. She knew that he was the master of flattery and extraordinarily fluent with words that she shouldn't believe every word he spoke, but she definitely didn't hate the attention. This sweet-like poison banter was their little game, their little guilty pleasure.
"Worry not, Kusanagi. You're my favorite bartender so far, considering that only you could prepare my favorite drink, that is."
He stiffened immediately at that although his smile didn't falter. "You're my most precious customer after all. But I still think red bean is not supposed to go with alcohol."
The room atmosphere felt heavy, despite the empty space between them. Weismann sat on the pillow cushion with a cup of green tea in front of him. After a year, the Gold King's residence had been fully restored to its original, majestic form. He had been hoping that his friend would at least attempt to change the design because it felt too formal and suffocating so he asked him, but the lieutenant only stared at him as if he had grown another head. The compartment was beautiful as the wall was repainted with the color of gold with the painting of cranes and pine trees in the lone winter, but the color didn't help in creating tranquil ambience. Even the pillars were like the previous ones, sculpted with dragons clawing its nails to the pillars and staring to the occupants inside the chamber. It felt eerie in his opinion.
The Gold King sat in front of him with closed eyes, putting his arms inside the sleeves of his kimono, lost in thought. Weismann began to fidget as his folded legs started to feel numb under his weight, and he wondered if the silence was actually his friend's way to punish him. However, to his joy, the second king finally met his eyes and asked calmly. "You've just returned, Weismann. Where are you going this time?"
Weismann tilted his head and smiled calmly, "I made a promise, lieutenant that I will try to find a way to mend Red King's Sword of Damocles. I think I might be able to find something if I go back to that place. Moreover, I know that after the last incident with Colorless king, your Sword of Damocles also suffers. I can't stand idle knowing that."
"The origin of Dresden Slate. That place holds too much bitter memories to you. Do you think you can handle it?" His eyes shifted to the water surface of his tea cup, reminiscing the beautiful smile of a certain lady who looked strikingly similar to Weismann with her glowing silver hair like a diamond under sunlight; the only sibling of Weismann who they had missed sincerely.
The silver-haired teen lowered his gaze with sad smile. "Years have passed, Lieutenant. Although it's still painful to remember her, but this time I think I'll be able to visit her after so long."
"Are you planning to depart alone again?"
Weismann's amber eyes softened into an innocent happiness as he answered, "No. I'll go with my Clansmen, my family."
Kokujoji heaved a sigh with a little smirk, "The Black Dog, huh...I would not see you off this time, Weismann, but I bid you farewell and good luck on your journey."
"Good bye, Lieutenant. Please take care of your health until I return." He bowed slightly and left without another glance back to his friend. He didn't intend to make this meeting to be the last time to see his old friend, after all. He pushed open the sliding door, only to find Neko napping on Kuroh's shoulder sloppily without a care to the world. The raven-haired vassal stayed still with his back against the wall as if meditating and his sword in his arms, allowing her to make his shoulder her personal pillow like a proper gentleman. However, as soon as Weismann stepped out the room, Kuroh glanced up immediately and poked at Neko's forehead with his sight remained on his current master.
"Are you done visiting?"
The Silver King smiled as he closed the door behind him. "Yes. Are you sure you want to come with me? You would have to leave this country, where your previous master is resting."
"Of course. I swore that I would protect you, didn't I?" The black-haired vassal smiled back and lifted off from the floor slowly, giving a short time for the cat strain beside him to fully wake up from her fleeting nap. Neko stifled a yawn and stretched out with a pleased mewling sound and jingle sounds as she moved.
"I will go wherever Shiro wants!" Neko exclaimed cheerfully and leapt off, grabbing Weismann's arm possessively. The latter only laughed at her spoilt behavior and patted her head tenderly. "Thank you. Shall we go?"
It was at the end of summer when the thought struck him.
The whole Homra members were planning his birthday as they pleased, purposely ignoring his requests every year to let them pass just like another day. Although he always paid attention to the people he was concerned about, he didn't like being the center of attention.
Nevertheless, he would always oblige his friends, letting them celebrating it as much as they wanted every year, although he thought it was completely unnecessary. There would be several presents, weird ones, good ones, but among them, there would always be one present; a bottle of wine and a pack of cigarettes, neatly wrapped in plain blue paper and ribbon, without card or sender name, sent to Homra. It didn't take genius for him to figure out the culprit since they only appeared after he knew a certain sharp-tongued fourth king. He had only thanked him once awkwardly, but stopped after that. He learnt it in the hard way that the correspondent was not meant to be known and if he did mention it, Munakata would deny and cut him off for weeks coldly. He didn't understand the logic, but with Munakata, he never understood what was going on inside that highly intellectual head and he didn't bother to try. Mikoto would just go with the flow.
Nevertheless, this year was different. Last winter he had realized that he harbored a rather troublesome feeling toward a very troublesome recipient.
It was probably foolish for him for making his life difficult, when it was already so complicated, but Mikoto was not one to fry his head over it. Today was his birthday and he intended to make use of it for once. The night had fallen and the party which was held since afternoon almost ended, by the sleepy look on the younger members of Homra. Mikoto took off from the cushion quietly, padding softly as he walked out of the bar entrance without second glance back. If he had turned around, he would notice the knowing smile on Tatara's lips, the understanding look on Izumo's eyes and the encouraging gaze on Anna's groggy eyes as they watched his back leaving inaudibly. Some of the sober members would think that he was taking a smoke outside like usual, but his close friends knew better.
The summer night was hot and humid; a weather which Munakata completely despised. Mikoto frankly did not have any inclination to any season but summer was not his most favorite season for recent years because it didn't go well with Munakata. The heat made the Blue King quite irritable and unpredictable more than he already was, and he would refuse Mikoto at night more often than any other seasons.
Anna once told him that Mikoto was warm inside out, that his body temperature was probably higher than most people, although she liked it that way because she was an angel, accepting his faults without any hesitation. But Munakata was not one with divine heart, obviously. He would seek out Mikoto proactively only when the climate was especially cold, to be his living, mobile heater. He was a devil, indeed.
Yet he loved him, so there he was, standing in front of Munakata's apartment in the city which literally became his and Munakata's shared apartment since they began to live together last spring after an exhausting, time-consuming coercion. He slipped in after unlocking the door and took off his shoes quietly. Just as soon as he entered the living room, his eyes quickly darted to the cobalt-haired man in dark blue yukata sitting on the couch with the puzzles pieces sprawled on the coffee table in front of him. The latter intuitively noticed his presence and looked utterly perplexed.
Munakata creased his eyebrows as he asked, "I thought you're going to sleep over at Homra?" He heaved a fake, disappointed sigh. "And here I thought that I could have a peaceful day for myself without certain, vexing man."
"And let you have the luxury with a whole bed for yourself? You know me better than that, Munakata." Mikoto smirked back, already making his way to his partner. Munakata swiftly scooted over on the sofa, to give some space for Mikoto. However, the red-head man didn't take the seat. He simply stood before Munakata, getting in the middle between him and the puzzles, and earned a questioning look from the other. "…What?" Munakata asked in soft voice.
Mikoto didn't speak but lean down to take off the framed glasses and leave butterfly kisses on Munakata's eyelashes before he strayed to kiss the bridge of his nose and cheeks. The latter didn't pull back or complain; those violet eyes simply fluttered close affectionately, fully accepting the gesture and waiting.
"It's still my birthday." Mikoto whispered with a little smile.
Munakata tilted his head, wondering where Mikoto was going with the statement. He sneaked a glance to the clock on the wall and replied, "Yes, approximately for another 2 hours 24 minutes. So?"
Mikoto walked around the couch until he was behind Munakata while his hand rummaged his pocket. Those amethyst eyes tried to follow his movement, studying Mikoto's intention, but when he turned around on his waist, Mikoto grasped his left hand and lifted it up to his lips. "Suoh?" He tried not to sound startled, but it tickled when Mikoto's breath grazed his skin.
However, Mikoto shifted a little and when he released Munakata's hand, only then he realized there was a simple golden band on his fourth finger. His eyes darkened immediately at the sight, "What is the meaning of this?"
Mikoto rested his arms on the backrest beside Munakata's head and leant on it as he closed the distance between their faces, "Marry me?"
"Isn't it supposed to be me who give you a present?" Munakata scowled at the sight of the ring, to Mikoto's bewilderment.
"Well, I just thought that maybe you would agree to be my present." He replied tentatively.
Munakata sighed resignedly, said nothing as he carefully stood up and walked away without sparing a glance until his figure vanished into the darkness of the bedroom. Mikoto only stared blankly at the retreating back, not grasping the meaning of the gesture. The latter hadn't thrown back the ring if he refused, but he didn't quite agree to the proposal either from the gloom on his face and Mikoto didn't know what to make of it.
The confusion turned into a frustration in several fleeting seconds. A frown was on his face when he stomped his feet into the bedroom begrudgingly, following Munakata's trail and grumbling all the way. However, when he entered the room, Munakata was already heading back to find Mikoto and thus they nearly bumped each other on the doorway. The Blue King was not prepared by the sudden movement that he swayed slightly as the balance lost him for a second. Mikoto promptly reached out and grabbed him on the waist, keeping him still and steady against his chest.
"Where is your cane? You've stopped using crutches only just recently. You should follow the doctors' advice to use it when you walk."
Munakata clicked his tongue and pressed his hand against Mikoto's shoulder to push him away. "Stop babysitting me; it's annoying. I was just surprised; that's all."
An awkward silence settled in and they fell into a deadlock, not knowing how to strike the conversation again. Munakata shrugged before he whirled around and sat down on the edge of the bed. Mikoto rapidly followed when he gestured for him to take a seat next to him. When the bed dipped in as Mikoto's weight fell on it, Munakata thrust a tiny box to Mikoto, who raised an eyebrow questioningly but accepted it nonetheless.
"Just open it." The latter coaxed softly, and Mikoto obliged without second thought. After he tore off the wrapping ribbon and unlatched the cover of the box, there was a pair of golden rings with a petite ruby or sapphire on the bands. They shimmered faintly under the ivory moonlight coming through from the slit of curtains by the window. Mikoto's amber eyes widened incredulously at them before he gazed up to meet Munakata's pouting face.
"I planned to give it to you tomorrow morning when you came back from Homra, but now you totally ruin it."
Mikoto was speechless. It didn't cross his mind that Munakata would think the same thing as he was. Commitment was a big step for them, and he couldn't even imagine the Captain of Scepter4 to consider taking their relationship to the next level. He thought that he would have to persuade the latter for a whole night, winning him slowly over a cup of tea and milk on the table and compromising with promises and rules. The pleasant surprise numbed him; he was certain that he was delighted, but at the moment he was stunned and couldn't think of any single, smart response.
But Munakata snapped him out of his trance as he declared frigidly, "I will only say yes if you accept that ring. I don't want to take it back after going through unnecessary trouble to buy them."
Mikoto laughed for a bit before he reached out for Munakata's hand, pulled out the ring he had given and exchanged it with Munakata's gift ring with a ruby adorning it. Afterward, he picked up the one with sapphire and wore it on his own ring finger. When he finished, he flashed his left hand with a pompous grin. "Happy now?"
"Yeah." He whispered huskily as he leant closer to Mikoto until their lips were only a hairline away. "I'll kill you if you let go of me."
"How reassuring. Too bad, you'll never have that pleasure."
"You better be." Munakata threatened quietly, but he mirrored the happy, identical smile on Mikoto's face.
The End
Yeah, really. I don't intend to prolong this chapter any longer with their wedding because, duh, I've drained all my ideas for their marriage life on the 'Happily Ever After – Not' fic, hahahah.
The 1st multichapter fic I've ever finished ever since I start to join the fanfic writer wagon! *throws confetti* It's all thanks to everyone's kind and encouraging reviews! Or else, it would end up as another discontinued fic, I believe…
I would like to thank you all the readers who have stayed all these times with me, cheering me up, reminding me to keep writing and spending your time to read this story. I really hope that you guys enjoy it as much as I do writing it, even with all those horrible grammatical and vocabulary errors. Without noticing, it has been more than half a year, lol. Thank you for all your patience all these times! *glomps* Hope to see you in the next Mikorei fic. ^_^ It will be AU, which is usually not everyone's cup of tea, so I probably won't see some of readers there. Allow me to tell you that I'll miss you! Thank you for staying and reading this fic until the end.
Viviane1993: Thank you for always forgiving me! I'm glad that the last chapter could cheer up your day, even a little. Let me give you a teddy-bear hug *hugs* Anyway, here is the final chapter...I hope I don't make you wait long :D Thank you for always reviewing, providing positive criticism, talking to me, and even encouraging me to keep writing~ Thank you for always reading the update and giving your time to comment. I hope this final chapter won't disappoint you and it can meet your expectation ^_^
Anaidreh: LOL, yeah, forgive me. I just can't miss my chance not to write angst, so I keep the suspense whether he is waking up or not, lol lol. Anyway, aang! I hope you enjoy the final chapter~ No more suspense on this one, I guess. XD
Hitomi65: My, thank you! :D I hope you would enjoy this one as well.
AkiFushi: This fic's last chapter...seriously is dedicated to you. LOL LOL, you're always cheering for me ever since the first chapters of this fic, and even giving me some ideas to play with so it can have more twisted plot and pairings. Your long comments always brighten my day since it feels like chatting XD So if anyone ever asks me why this fic can reach finale (since I've never finished a multichapter fic before), I will mention your name first, out of all awesome readers, to be the biggest, coolest contributor. And yes, you've successfully contaminated me with SaruRei...Rly. Now what should I do with it? XDDD I'll miss talking with you. :) But since you don't have ff account, I can't possibly send you a private message. *sigh* Hope I can see you on next Mikorei fic. :)
Meganemidorima: Yup, here is the last chapter! I guess I'm taking too long to update? XD I feel quite flattered when you send me a message and I realize that you've re-read this fic. *hugs* Thank you for making me feel so happy!
Thank you for all the favorites and reviews and every second you've given to read this fic! Have a good day, everyone!