The prince and his three knights: Chapter 9

[lilly0]

Title: The prince and his three knights: Chapter 9
Pairing: It's going to be a Jun-pairing, but I don't want to spoil it yet. It's either: Sakumoto, Matsumiya or Juntoshi. Jun/Aiba as brothers, and Aiba might get his own pairing.
Rating: up to R
Genre: royality!AU, romance, a bit fantasy,
Plot: To seal the new peace agreement Prince Jun is handed over as a gift to the neighbouring kingdom, the Highlands of Ice. There is a legend surrounding Jun and his sisters and brothers, namely that they hold a secret power which will only be awakened to the fullest when their owner falls in love.
Tired of reigning the Highlands of the Ice the king announces that one of his three sons - Sho, Satoshi and Kazunari - will inherit the throne. As all of them are good men, loyal and talented, he decides to put a challenge to it: Whoever wins the young mysterious prince's heart will marry him and get the throne.*
*Important sidenote: I will not make a love triangle or anything alike. Once Jun decided, he decided. Also Sho and the others won't play dirty.
Note: This is going to be really romantic, I promise :D and I promise you all (!) that the brothers won't treat each other like sh*t. It's super fun to write this! Please tell me what you think <3

Jun looks into the mirror in the bathroom. He has huge eyebags and his skin is too pale. He knows it’s cold here and always winter, but over the last weeks his facial colour got more rosy and healthy, but now… it’s almost ashen. Does he imagine things?

 

He coughs again, his body shaking by how hard he coughs, almost gasping for air. Again he spits out blood afterwards. He has these attacks quite often recently, slowly starting to worry. When he gets out of the restroom, he sees Satoshi leaning against the wall at the other side.

 

“Is everything alright?” Satoshi asks with a frown. “You were coughing pretty badly.”

 

Jun feels bad immediately. He is worrying Satoshi and the others yet again. “I’m alright,” he says. “Just caught a little cold it seems. Nothing major.”

 

Satoshi frowns, checking him from head to toe and then looking directly into his eyes. Jun feels like flinching backwards by that intense glance and these knowing eyes. “Why are you lying?” Satoshi asks without even sounding reproachful. He steps closer, reaching out his hand to touch Jun’s forehead, but Jun flinches backwards. To his horror Satoshi looks guilty all of a sudden. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I only wanted to see if you are having a fever or not.”

 

Jun tries to go for his best smile. “I’m fine. I think sleeping a few hours will do miracles.”

 

Satoshi still doesn’t look convinced. “Jun-kun-“

 

“I said, I’m fine,” Jun huffs in sudden annoyance, not even sure why he reacts so fiercely. He immediately bows in shock. “I’m sorry,” he stutters. “I… see you later, Satoshi-san.”

 

With that he hurries away, trying to walk faster so that he could be as far away from Satoshi’s knowing eyes as possible. The sight around him suddenly goes dizzy though, like the corridor is spinning around him. He halts for a moment, trying to support himself against the wall. When he tries to take another step, it feels like he is falling. He sinks down on his knees to avoid himself from dropping down uncontrolled, before the sight in front of him goes pitch-black.

 

 

~~~

 

 

Jun has not regained consciousness, and the doctor’s face is carrying an expression of deepest worry. “He has been coughing?” he asks.

 

Satoshi nods. “I’ve heard him cough in the restroom. It seemed like a very bad attack.”

 

The doctor looks around a bit, eyeing the dustbin next to Jun’s bed and taking a tissue out of it. “He was coughing up blood,” he mumbles, before looking at Satoshi and the others that have gathered around Jun’s bed. “Please wait outside while I check on him.”

 

“I’m staying,” Masaki says firmly, and by the way he looks there is no discussing it. The doctor nods. A few minutes later the others are removed from the room, and standing in front of the door to Jun’s room instead.

 

“So,” Kazu says while they are waiting nervously. “Breaking through the ice and falling into the cold water was probable too much for his health? His body isn’t used to such low temperatures. And his body was probably very strained from the change of climate to begin with.” He pauses. “And the stress of being sold to a completely unknown country,” he adds quietly.

 

“I wished he would have told us that he felt unwell,” Sho admits nervously. “He did look pale recently, but I thought he was just tired.” He pouts, obviously annoyed with himself.

 

“Jun isn’t used to having help when he is sick,” Sakamoto intervenes all of a sudden. “I wished I could scold him for this, but to be honest, it’s how he was raised. No one ever cared, aside for Masaki, Yamaguchi-kun and my own person. But we weren’t around him all the time either. He is used to dealing with these problems on his own.”

 

“It’s good to know that,” Satoshi says, his stomach clenching painfully when he remembers how he heard Jun in the bathroom and how he later on just collapsed on the floor. Why didn’t he realize earlier? He had the feeling Jun wasn’t all that well since a few days already, just like Sho, but he didn’t want to bother him too much. Why didn’t he just follow his instincts and ask him!? He is such a dumb idiot!

 

He can’t continue his self-scolding because Masaki suddenly slips outside. He looks pale. “Serious pneumonia,” he says, eyes wide in horror. “That’s why his heartbeat is so weak. He dragged it for too long, it started with a small infection, but now… and he is still unconscious, his respiratory tracts are too weak. I… the doctor says he isn’t sure if he will make it.”

 

Masaki’s eyes shimmer in tears, a huge contrast to the strong man he usually is. For a moment the time around them freezes, as all of them are trying to grasp what Masaki just told them. Satoshi can only stare at Masaki in mere disbelief. It… can’t be! Jun’s body was not built for this cold here, yes, but he adapted to it so well, and he just can’t be so seriously sick! What are they going to do without him? It’s not possible, it’s just not possible!

 

Sakamoto steps forward all of a sudden, a firm expression on his face. “Masaki,” he mumbles. “You have to be the one who stays positive.”

 

“But…” Masaki’s face is basically ashen, all colour drained form it. “How?”

 

“Masaki-san. Fight. If you don’t, who will?”

 

“I will,” Satoshi says before he can hold back. There is no way he will let Jun go like this, and loose him to a freaking stupid infection!

 

Sakamoto raises an eyebrow at that but doesn’t say anything further. Sho and Kazu nod too. “We can help too,” Kazu says firmly. “Whatever it takes. We’ll not let go that easily. So what can we do?”

 

“Keep the room warm, but not too hot,” Sho muses. “Cold air is not good for his lungs now.”

 

“The air has to be clean though,” Satoshi adds. “And not too humid.”

 

Sakamoto nods in agreement. “We’ll prepare everything to have the right conditions in his room.”

 

“The doctor probably has quite some tasks for us too,” Yamaguchi agrees. “We’ll just give our all and have faith that Jun is fighting too.”

 

Masaki’s eyes shimmer in tears. “Thank you, all of you.”

 

It’s nothing to thank them for, Satoshi thinks, because Jun is part of their family now, and they want to have him around as long as possible, ideally forever. His resolve gets even stronger when they are allowed back in Jun’s room and he sees Jun in his bed again, now dressed in a white night gown, a warm fire is putting the room into dry warmth. Not too much humidity for now. They decided that someone has to watch the warmth in the room properly though, for it not to get too hot.

 

Masaki meanwhile tries to put everything aside that could potentially gather too much dust, wanting to keep Jun’s room clean and fresh. While he does so, Satoshi’s gaze falls upon a book on Jun’s desk and a ring. He blinks when he takes the ring between his fingers… Is this…? Can it be? But how?

 

When Masaki returns he puts the ring aside and takes the book. “Jun has been reading about our legends and fairy tales?”

 

“He started to like it here more,” Masaki explains quietly.

 

“He does?” Sho asks behind them, his serious expression turning into a softer one now.

 

Masaki nods. “He is happier here than he was at home,” he admits, and Satoshi assumes that it has to be hard to say it out loud. “He is free here. Or at least as free as possible. You guys are good to him.”

 

 

~~~

 

The next morning Jun is still not awake, but at the same time it means he is still with them. Satoshi has sent his younger brothers and Masaki to get some breakfast and told them he would take the first shift.

 

He takes a chair and puts it next to Jun’s bed. He takes Jun’s hand into his. “You are strong,” he whispers softly. “I know you can hear me. You are strong, this is not going to be your last battle, you hear me?”

 

Jun’s hand in his is limp and motionless, but Satoshi can see his chest heaving slightly. His breath isn’t going strong, but as long as he breathes there is still hope. “You need to wake up soon,” Satoshi mumbles sadly. “I need to scold you after all for hiding how sick you are.” He pauses. “And hug you. I really want to hug you. I just can’t lose you, you know?”

 

Although there is no reaction Satoshi continues to talk with Jun, not ready to let go so easily. He hasn’t felt like that for someone forever. When their father told them one of them was supposed to marry Jun, he didn’t really mind. Eventually they had to marry after all, and Jun is pretty and well-behaved, and kind. Not a bad choice. He just hasn’t expected him to get under his skin so much. He slowly begins to wonder how his brothers feel about Jun.

 

Satoshi takes the book with the fairy tales into his hand again, opening it. “Well then, Jun-kun,” he smiles fondly. “What do you say? Should I read one of the stories for you?”

 

The fire is still warming the room, dyeing the room into an orange-ish colour while the sun starts to rise into full daylight. Satoshi slips closer to Jun and takes his hand into his so that Jun can feel the warmth of another person. Then he opens the book skilfully, starting to read from the point where Jun’s bookmark is.

 

 

~~~

 

 

“What do you think?” Koichi wants to know as he approaches Sakamoto. The other man’s expression is one of deepest worry. Koichi knows how he feels. Jun is probably like a child to him. Actually he himself feels deeply worried for the young man. “Sakamoto-san?”

 

“Your sons are good men,” Sakamoto says to Koichi’s surprise. “Sho-san and Kazunari-san attend to him for hours. And Satoshi-san is actually doing even more. They are good men.”

 

“I know,” Koichi smiles proudly.

 

“It’s the second day though, and although the doctor can force liquid into his body, Jun will need to eat to survive. He is already looking too skinny…”

 

“Sakamoto-san…” Koichi mumbles.

 

Sakamoto seems to ignore him, like he hasn’t even realized that he is talking to someone. “But…”

 

“But?” Sho asks from behind, unknown to Koichi he has apparently joined them on the balcony.

 

“There are icicles,” Sakamoto explains and points at the roof. “They weren’t there yesterday.”

 

“That’s true,” Koichi blinks, he hasn’t even noticed. When was the last time he actually saw real icicles?

 

“Icicles occur because snow and ice is melting,” Sakamoto concludes.

 

“What do you mean?” Sho asks astonished.

 

“With every hour spring is approaching more and more,” Sakamoto smiles slightly. “Today even stronger than yesterday.”

 

“I still don’t understand,” Koichi urges.

 

Sakamoto smiles. “It means Jun is still with us…”

 

“How can it be?” Sho asks, shaky hope in his voice.

 

“I don’t know,” Sakamoto admits. “I really don’t know.”

 

“But what does it mean? What does Jun have to do with the weather getting warmer?” Sho looks at both Sakamoto and Koichi curiously.

 

Sakamoto just shakes his head, not answering the question, as always.

 

 

 

~~~

 

 

Kazu sits at the other side of the room, legs crossed, head leaning against the window, while Sho sits next to him. Meanwhile Satoshi is reading for Jun again, seated on the chair right next to Jun’s bed.

 

“You really think this is going to help?” Kazu asks after a while. He doesn’t sound hostile, rather worried and frightened.

 

Sho eyes Satoshi expectantly, Sakamoto’s words from before still ringing in his ears.

 

“Of course it will,” Satoshi says firmly.

 

“But how do you know? What if he never wakes up again?”

 

“He will,” Satoshi says calmly, surprising Sho by how certain he is. Is he just delusional or is it hidden panic or is he really such a stable personality? “It’s not a question of believe or not, I just know he won’t give up so easily.”  His voice sounds certain, there is deep worry in it, but at the same time so much faith that Sho can’t help but feel convinced and a bit ashamed. He just realizes once again how much he can rely on his older brother, and how steady he is. He comes off as absent-minded sometimes, but when the situation needs it, there is full attention.

 

Sho nods. “I’ll talk to the doctor and ask him once again what else we can do for Jun-san. Maybe there is some oil for his body, you know, to relax him.”

 

Satoshi smiles. “I’m sure he would like that, Sho.”

 

Sho returns the smile and jumps up on his feet, ready to leave the room. He looks at Kazu expectantly. Kazu nods. To Sho’s surprise though he stands up and walks to Jun’s bed first, taking his hand. “I promise, J, if you wake up, I’ll do the only right thing to do.”

 

“And what’s that?” Sho asks.

 

“I’ll tell Jun once he is awake,” Kazu says calmly. “It’s only for him to hear.”

 

 

 

Once the others have left, Satoshi picks the book up again. “So, Jun-kun, we stopped at the part where the snow princess was fighting the dragon. Shall we continue?”

 

 

A/N: So... Jun is sick, but everyone is there to support him. And Satoshi saw the ring Jun found... but we still don't know who it belongs to, right?
What do you think Kazu wants to tell Jun?