Sorry for the absence. Real life tends to get in the way of fanfiction writing. I'll try to get back on track.

2.10

"Your son is becoming insolent."

Makio shrugged, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible as she stared out the window. She knew that by not facing her father she would make him angry, but in the moment she couldn't care. "Kunimasa will do his duty. He did it long ago for Yonekuni's sake."

"The engagement that was arranged was not easy to come by," Kunimitsu said sharply. "Your son is showing nothing but weakness in this crucial time, Makio. He defied me by choosing the Return to Ancestry. Then he said he didn't want the Return to Ancestry. He removed the blind he put on that boy when I told him to, and yet he chooses him again? This indecisiveness shown on his end does not endear Kunimasa to our allies, Makio. Or the Madararui who are meant to revere and fear us. Perhaps you chose the wrong child to inherit—"

"I chose correctly, Father," Makio interjected sharply, turning around to face him fully. "Kunimasa will do what he must for the sake this family and Japan. What does it matter WHO he chooses as his wife or husband? He can choose whomever he likes, as you have shown, Father."

Kunimitsu snarled. He made not a sound, but the power reverberated from his body. It struck Makio, and in an instant she was brought to her knees, unable to move. Kunimitsu rose from his seat and walked around his desk to stand in front of her. "That is right. I can take whichever lover I want. As the protector of Japan, is it my right to welcome anyone into my harem. It is my duty to spread my seed, Makio. Just as you have seen it fit to spread your seed—in addition to robbing me of one of my concubines."

Makio glared at her father, tears of rage building in her eyes. "But Kunimasa's insolence is a mild inconvenience. What matters most is the Return to Ancestry. You have all said that he died."

Makio could not respond because he had fully bound her. Kunimitsu waved his hand to released her and she jumped to her feet. "He did die," she rasped. "He had the stench of death upon him, and he had no heartbeat. He was dead."

"But yet he lives. The impossible has happened. We need to find out how he was able to come back."

Makio rubbed at her forehead with her hand. "The most I can think of is—whatever species of cat his Return to Ancestry belongs to. I have seen his true form, and it is unlike any existing species of cat I have ever seen."

"I have seen pictures of his true form as well," Kinimitsu said. "I had thought that it was a monkey-cat hybrid form, given that he had spent the majority of his life hidden under the guise of a monkey. But if this were the case, then Yonekuni's mate would also be a hybrid as he had spent most of his life hidden under the guise of a monkey."

Kunimitsu leaned back in his chair and looked towards the ceiling thoughtfully. "I'm almost tempted to take him for my own. But I would gain the ire of my heir if I did so. In the meantime, we need to find the source of that boy's power. How he could die…and then come back to life."

Makio was very interested as well…because whatever the source of Tsuburaya Norio's power was could prove to be VERY profitable.

Kunimasa is trying to get back into his good graces. To woo him in a proper courtship. That boy is so stupid that he will fall for it like he always does. Then…I'll strike.

Norio paused in the middle of his sweeping and looked up. He's here.

He had been given a cautious lecture about his reckless behavior in school, and so he curbed his power and did not lash out. Not that he wanted to bring attention to himself; all he wanted was to be left alone. Which everyone did, including his longtime friends. But Norio didn't care.

They keep telling me to not give up on Kunimasa. To give him a chance and to fight for him. But why is it myresponsibility to win someone back who has rejected me multiple times? Who has played with my emotions and trampled on them? Why don't MY feelings matter?

Kunimasa was proving to be relentless. They had a fun date at an amusement park, where Norio insisted that Kunimasa pay for everything. Which he did without protest. They went on every ride and ate all the food Norio wanted. It was a refreshing change of pace not being pushed around by Kunimasa. To not having to bend to Kunimasa's will and desires. Norio was not defined by his "relationship" with Kunimasa, and he would prove it.

But…indulging Kunimasa was proving to be difficult. Because Kunimasa HAD hurt Norio considerably and was now giving him more care. Now that Norio didn't give a damn anymore, Kunimasa was actually making an effort to be a good boyfriend to him.

Too little, too late.

Norio wanted him to suffer, but inflicting physical damage upon Kunimasa wasn't satisfactory. Kunimasa wanted to be punished by Norio and so hurting him like that wouldn't do. No…hurting him mentall and emotionally was the way to go. Just as Kunimasa had done to him. So as bothersome as it was to humor Kunimasa, Norio had decided to lead him on and let Kunimasa take him out on dates. To let Kunimasa think that they were in the process of reconciling.

And when the time was right, Norio was going to break his heart. Just like every other time Kunimasa had broken his.

But now Kunimasa was at the school. Why?

"I'm going home," Norio announced to his homeroom classmates, tossing aside his broom. The other students jumped a little at his proclamation but no one tried to stop him as he grabbed his bag and walked out of the classroom. He didn't even bother to put his desk back.

The final bell signaling the end of school hadn't rung yet, but Norio grabbed his sneakers and headed for the front gates. He saw Kunimasa's car sitting idle, and as he approached the back passenger door opened and Kunimasa appeared. "School isn't over yet, Norio," he said.

"It's just the end of day cleaning," Norio said dismissively. He stopped in front of Kunimasa. "What do you want?"

Kunimasa looked put off by his cold and emotionless tone, but it was the same cold and emotionless tone Norio had since he had "woken up". It still took him a moment to recover himself. "It's Friday," Kunimasa said.

"I know," Norio responded. "What about it?"

"I'm going to take you out tonight. A proper date at a fine-dining restaurant. I'm going to take you to a tailor to yet you a proper suit before we go."

Norio tilted his head slightly. "Funny thing."

"What is?" Kunimasa asked.

"Not once did you actually ask if I even wanted to go out with you," Norio said. "You just show up here and dictate my plans for the night as though I don't have a choice in the matter."

Kunimasa in embarrassment and rubbed at the back of his head irritably. "…Do you want to get dinner with me?" he asked quietly, looking away. His jaw was clenched. "Would you like a new suit for our date?"

"Maybe," Norio said. "But you'll have to do better than that."

He turned to leave, but Kunimasa caught his arm to stop him. "Norio." His tone has softened to a pathetic plea. "Please, Norio. I want—I need to see you."

"You're seeing me now," Norio pointed out.

Kunimasa squeezed his arm gently. "Can you please stop being a smartass? I'm trying, Norio. Just…please come out with me tonight."

Norio glanced at him then. He remembered his promise to himself to make Kunimasa suffer and he slowly nodded. "All right."

Kunimasa exhaled sharply in relief and opened the door wider. "Please, let me drive you."

He's already changed his speech manner. Norio was impressed, but also a little irritated. He shook off his irritation though and climbed into the car. "Take me home right afterwards," he said. "I'm not spending the night at your place, and you're not spending the night at mine."

"If you wish," Kunimasa said, sliding into the car after him.

"I do." Norio snapped on his seatbelt without another word.

The suit was comfortable and looked good. Kunimasa had chosen a silver color for him for whatever reason, while Kunimasa himself chose a black suit. After the tailor's shop they were driven to an extremely expensive restaurant in Ginza. From the black card Kunimasa presented to the doorman and the soul appearances he could see from the other patrons, Norio knew that this was an elite restaurant for rich Madararui only. Several people glanced their way, but Norio was uncertain if they were looking at Kunimasa—their future King—or if they were looking at Norio.

It doesn't matter, so long as they leave me alone.

"This place has seven courses," Kunimasa said as they were handed menus. "We can select one of three varieties—Japanese, Chinese, and French."

"Japanese," Norio said bluntly, tossing the menu on the table. He hadn't bothered to open it.

"Ah…okay," Kunimasa said. He told their server as such and handed back the menus.

"Are you going to drink?" Norio asked him.

Kunimasa shook his head, a little surprised. "I'm not the legal drinking age, Norio. You know that."

When has that stopped you before? But Norio held his tongue on that matter. They engaged in very idle small talk before their first course was brought out. It was clear during those uncomfortable few minutes how much Norio had carried their conversations in the past. He would usually talk for hours on end, and Kunimasa would grunt and pretend to listen to him. But since Norio refused to carry this conversation, things felt even more awkward between them.

I really was the one carrying this relationship all along, wasn't I? Everyone acts like Kunimasa was in command, but I was the only one invested in it. Kunimasa just…tolerated me. His whole family did. Just so I would do what they wanted.

"So why am I here, Kunimasa?" Norio asked him as they dug into their food. "Why did you push for me to go on this date with you?"

"I wanted to spend time with you," Kunimasa told him. "I want to spoil you, Norio. You've been through so much—"

"Whose fault is that?" Norio interrupted him.

"Mine," Kunimasa said calmly. "Which is why I'm working to make amends with you. Why I want to prove myself worthy of you. You deserve kindness and care and I have given you none of those things. I've been going about this all wrong, and I want to start over and do things properly. So I'm courting you, Norio. I'm courting you the way I should have courted you right from the beginning. No malicious intent and ulterior motives. Just me—Madarame Kunimasa—trying to win back the heart of Tsuburaya Norio."

Norio licked his spoon thoughtfully. He took a moment to drink his water before looking at Kunimasa again. "What's my favorite color?"

Kunimasa flinched, and flushed once more. Anger rose to his expression briefly before he calmed. "Norio—"

"Never mind," Norio said, meeting his gaze. "It's a stupid question anyway."

Kunimasa was about to respond, but their second course was then brought out. Norio waited for them to be served before he continued. "And before you ask Kunimasa—I do know your favorite color."

Kunimasa looked surprised. "I—"

"Onyx black," Norio said. "Like the gemstone." Like your heart, he added silently.

"I…yes," Kunimasa said. "How did you…?" he let his voice trail off.

Norio smiled emotionlessly. "Because I loved you, Kunimasa."

Kunimasa flinched again, but Norio once again had to remind himself of his plan. He picked up Kunimasa's hand in both of his own. "Cold," he murmured. He slowly rubbed Kunimasa's hand between his and looked up. "Are you cold, Kunimasa?"

Kunimasa swallowed thickly as he watched their hands, but then looked up and met his gaze. "Yes," he said quietly.

Norio leaned down over his hands and blew onto Kunimasa's hand. His hand flexed between his. "Do you want me to keep you warm?" Norio asked, lowering his eyes.

"Yes," Kunimasa responded.

Norio responded and sat back up. "Good."

Kunimasa looked shaken as Norio released his hand. Their third course came out and Norio dug into the food. He couldn't let Kunimasa forget what he had done, but he couldn't let Kunimasa believe that he had no chance. Not yet, at least.

I want you to hurt, like you hurt me. Hopefully when I do…then you'll leave me alone.