The prince and his three knights: Chapter 11

[lilly0]

Title: The prince and his three knights: Chapter 11
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 tries to process what Kazu just told him. That he was the one deliberately dropping the ring. He needs to make sure. “Satoshi-san was the once dancing with me?”

 

Kazu nods. “I know him so well, it was easy to find him in the crowd.”

 

“But…why?” Jun asks, not sure if he is supposed to feel betrayed now or angry or confused. “I thought we are friends.”

 

“We are,” Kazu sighs deeply. “When I held the ring and was looking at it, I was actually feeling a bit jealous. It was obvious from the design that Satoshi made it for you, it was also obvious that he likes you a lot. He has never done something like that for someone else. And you seemed to be quite interested in him too. I didn’t realize I still carried the ring when I left Satoshi’s chamber - a not too glorious moment I admit, but I swear it wasn’t intentional. I wanted to return it immediately, but then I realized something important.” Kazu pauses. “I kind of started to accept that the both of us will remain friends, only friends, or hopefully best friends. And to be honest, I like the fact that I have a new little brother around to cherish and tease and spoil. I don’t think I’m ready for marriage anyways.  I don’t want to marry yet, and I  most certainly don’t want to become king or anything alike. And then… the way Satoshi talked about you and understood you, I realized I can’t be in his way.”

 

Jun blinks in confusion. “I still don’t understand.”

 

“I wanted you to find the ring, and with it to find Satoshi. To realize that he deeply cares for you.”

 

The explanation takes a while for Jun to sink in. His cheeks feel warm all of a sudden. “The…what… do you even know what you are saying? It’s just a birthday present.”

 

Kazu takes Jun’s hand and touches the ring he is wearing. “He has worked on it for months,” he says softly. “That’s finest handcraft. You don’t just make something like that out of no reason. I wanted you to find it, and realize Satoshi’s feelings. And hopefully your own.” He pauses. “Satoshi would make a great king.

Jun ignores the fact that Kazu seems to know what their father’s little test was about, and that by winning him they would also win the throne. Kazu is smart, of course he figured everything out. Jun raises his hand a bit, eyeing the ring carefully. It reflects in the sunlight that shines through the window, throwing beautiful colourful patterns on the wall. It’s so beautiful. Jun smiles happily.

 

“Can you forgive me?” Kazu asks. “It laid heavily on my mind while you were sick. It really did.”

 

Jun smiles. “Of course I can forgive you. There is nothing to forgive! Thanks to you I found him. I just don’t like being tricked, so promise me to be honest and open to me next time, will you?”

 

“I promise,” Kazu answers immediately, relief reflecting on his face.

 

Jun sits up further, suddenly feeling less tired. “You think he likes me?” he asks carefully. “Really?”

 

Kazu takes his hand with a smile. “I know he does. And I know he will treat you well, always. And with all the respect and love you deserve.”

 

 

~~~

 

 

Before Satoshi comes to visit him, Jun talks to Sakamoto. “Sakamoto-san,” he says, sitting up in his bed and bowing. “I’m incredibly sorry for worrying you.”

 

“I know you are,” Sakamoto sighs. “It was really a tight battle this time, Jun-kun, I hope you know that.”

 

“I know it. I also know it was reckless to hide my sickness from everyone. In the end the collapse of my health bothered so many people, I realized it too late, so please forgive me.”

 

Sakamoto blinks at him for a while. “Well, if you put it like this, of course I will forgive you. Since when are you so upfront and confident though?”

 

Jun smiles. “I guess the recent happenings and relationships I built made me realize quite some things.”

 

“Like what?” Sakamoto wants to know.

 

“That I need to eye myself as worthy too, or no one else will. If I don’t think of myself too well, I can never expect someone else to do.”

 

“Finally,” Sakamoto smiles brightly. “I hoped you would realize your own worth one day. You are a really good person, Jun-kun, please always remember that.”

 

Jun blushes slightly at the compliment. “It still needs some work, I think.”

 

“Well, everyone needs work. That’s how we’ll grow,” Sakamoto replies.

 

Jun nods. “True.” He pauses. “To be honest, there is something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

 

Sakamoto eyes him curiously. “And what’s that?”

 

“We are still far away from Christmas, but we are approaching summer, and I think the king slowly awaits an answer from me.”

 

Sakamoto’s eyes widen. “Does that mean you have decided?”

 

“I have,” Jun pauses, looking at the man in front of him with nervous eyes. “But before I want to tell the king, I would like to talk to the man I chose personally. Only if the king allows it though. It’s not part of the deal to ask for consent after all, but I would feel bad to decide completely behind my chosen’s back. As my health is not strong now, I can’t possibly go to the king in person to ask him for his approval. Hence I wanted to ask you to go in my place. ” He smiles apologetically. “I hope it won’t put you through too much hassle though.”

 

Much to his surprise Sakamoto just nods though. “I will go to the king and ask in your place. I will tell him you sent me deliberately to ask him because your health doesn’t allow you to come personally.”

 

Jun’s face lights up in relief. “Thank you, Sakamoto-san.”

 

“Jun,” Sakamoto says softly. “You are slowly becoming a man that can rule a country. I know I can follow your orders now. Others will too. You already brought spring to them, they will naturally accept you as the new king’s husband.”

 

“Their kindness brought spring, not only me,” Jun points out.

 

“We both know it’s your power that made the country grow and the sun shine,” Sakamoto argues.

 

“Maybe, but I could only do it because I felt deeply moved. And I felt deeply moved because these people were kind-hearted towards me and accepting, and because someone special here touched my heart in a way I thought it would never be touched.”

 

Sakamoto nods, and much to Jun’s surprise he bows all of a sudden. “Well then, my little prince, I’ll follow your wish. I also think I will never again take the liberty to reprimand you from now on. From today on you are my prince, and soon to be co-ruler of this country. You have my respect and always my support.”

 

“Don’t be so formal all of a sudden.” Jun blushes. “You actually raised me. I hope I’m more to you than a prince.”

 

Sakamoto chuckles. “Of course you are. You always will be. But now your time has come, and it’s your moment to shine.”

 

 

~~~

 

 

When Satoshi comes to visit Jun, the latter is sitting in the armchair next to his bed, wrapped in a warm blanket. He smiles warmly at Satoshi, and Satoshi instantly forgets his worries and questions about why Jun asked him not to tutor him anymore. He is still wearing the ring too which means he doesn’t hate him, does he?

 

Jun reaches out his hand. “Take me to the balcony?” he asks.

 

“Are you allowed to go outside?” Satoshi asks in immediate worry, while he approaches Jun and takes his hand into his.

 

Jun nods. “I talked to the doctor. He said as long as I don’t feel too tired some fresh air would be beneficial. I don’t trust myself to go outside alone though.”

 

Satoshi returns the smile, feeling relieved that Jun slowly starts to estimate his strength correctly. He helps the young prince up and supports him to the huge balcony. After Jun sat down at the bench, he throws a warm blanket over Jun’s frame, proceeding to sit down at the other bench.

 

“Aren’t you going to sit next to me?” Jun asks, eyeing him thoughtfully.

 

Satoshi blinks nervously. Just what did Jun actually realize all of a sudden? His feelings can’t be that obvious… or maybe they are. “If you want me to, I will,” he says softly.

 

Jun nods and allows Satoshi to take place next to him. “Jun-kun,” Satoshi says after a while. “You don’t want to proceed with our lessons.”

 

“That’s true,” Jun says quietly.

 

“But you want to continue them with Sho or Kazunari?”

 

“I think I still need to learn more. There are many things I don’t understand and know about this country yet,” Jun explains.

 

Satoshi decides to be as straight-forward as possible. “You don’t trust me enough to teach you? Or don’t you have faith in my abilities?”

 

Jun blushes deeply, eyes widening. “That’s not true,” he exclaims. “It’s not! I…” He pauses. “I just can’t let you tutor me in this way anymore,” he finally explains, although it makes no sense to Satoshi. “There are other things I want from you.”

 

Satoshi looks at him in soft bewilderment. Jun’s nervousness however it almost too adorable to him. He has to fight back not to hug him and tell him he doesn’t need to feel nervous or scared. “Like what?” he asks softly.

 

“I’m proud and stubborn, and I will probably make many mistakes. I tend to overestimate my strength and not think before I act. I will mean trouble. And I’m going to ask this only once now.” Jun looks at him through these huge eyes of his. “Why did you make this ring for me?”

 

Satoshi hasn’t expected this question, though he hoped Jun would think about the ring and see its meaning. He smiles nervously. “Isn’t it obvious?”

 

“To me it’s not,” Jun admits. “You danced with me, didn’t you?”

 

“Yes,” Satoshi admits, heart-warming as he remembers how he danced with Jun and how happy Jun looked during the masquerade.  

 

“Kazunari told me you always spoke highly of me towards everyone else,” Jun continues.

 

“You brought this country prosperity and summer,” Satoshi points out, deciding to address Jun’s mysterious powers.

 

Jun smiles slightly. “I know, your father is an intelligent man, he knew one of his three sons – all of them good men – would eventually touch my heart.”

 

Satoshi’s eyes widen in surprise. “I don’t understand.”

 

Jun smiles slightly and his eyes gleam. “Satoshi-san, my power is useless as long as two  possible conditions aren’t fulfilled. There are two options for me. One option is marriage or a sexual relationship. It mostly appears together.”

 

Satoshi sits up straight, his heart skipping a bit in sudden fear and worry. “Did someone take advantage of you or forced himself on you!?”

 

“Oh god, no,” Jun chuckles softly, and it makes Satoshi’s body relax in relief.

 

He lets out a shaky sigh. “For a moment I was just scared that…” He pauses. “What’s the other option?”

 

“The power of my kind,” Jun chuckles. “Is to bring prosperity and sun. It’s useless though, as long as I’m not in love. The moment my heart beats for someone my power will grow to its fullest, and make a country rich and wealthy.”

 

Satoshi stares at the young man in front of him in mere surprise. Finally his father’s weird wish makes sense, also Sakamoto meddling with everyone’s business. The man was basically like Jun’s surrogate father. He probably wanted to know his protégé  safe and protected. Also Masaki’s shocked reaction when he met them for the first time makes sense now. He feared one of them had touched his brother, and took advantage of him and his power before he could be married safely, until he realized that Jun was still pure, and his feelings were too.

 

“You are not shocked,” Jun states after a while.

 

“Well, I knew the blossoming flowers and approaching summer has something to do with you,” Satoshi admits. “What shocks me a bit is how sneaky some other people in this story were.”

 

“Like Sakamoto-san and your father?”

 

“Exactly.” Satoshi sighs, pointing at the ring on Jun’s finger. Jun nods, and takes it off to hand it to Satoshi. Satoshi spins it in the light, showing Jun the pattern of it. “The signs on the ring are symbols of a place in which our dreams will be fulfilled.” He pauses. “It’s a glimpse into a future I’m hoping to see.”

 

Jun blinks slightly, eyeing the ring in highest concentration, his fingertip touching the outline of two birds, the little waves, the sun, and the silhouette of two persons on a beach. His eyes gleam all of a sudden.

 

“Allow me to do it properly,” Satoshi says, earnest all of a sudden. Jun’s cheeks turn slightly pink when he gets up and takes his hand to kneel down in front of him.

 

“What…” Jun blushes furiously, and looks so adorable that it makes Satoshi head spin and his stomach twist with all kind of affectionate feelings.

 

“I know we already messed up the correct order,” Satoshi says with a smile. “But let me still ask formerly: I love you, Jun. I cannot imagine a life without you. Would you give me the incredible honour to marry me?” He figures himself that he isn’t a really eloquent talker, and that both of his brothers might have managed to ask in a way more proper and charming way, but to his relief and joy, Jun doesn’t seem to feel taken aback at all. Instead his eyes just light up, and the smile on his face is able to diffuse even the thickest darkness.

 

“Yes,” he blurts out, making Satoshi smile brightly. He is so sweet, again. He cannot believe his luck to fall in love so deeply, and have his feelings returned. “I love you too, and I want to marry you.” He doesn’t even give Satoshi the time to put the ring back on his finger, instead he just hugs him, and for a moment his sweet scent and his warm body make Satoshi’s head spin.

 

Then he chuckles. “We really mess up the order,” he says in highest amusement.

 

Jun blushes. “Right,” he says, moving back a bit. “I completely forgot.” He reaches out his hand towards Satoshi, smiling happily when Satoshi puts back the ring on his finger. Satoshi smiles warmly at him, taking his hand into his and playing with his fingers.

 

For a moment none of them says anything, just cherishes each other’s presence. Then Jun takes a book from the spot beside him.  “Please,” he hands it Satoshi.

 

Satoshi smiles warmly. “Come,” he says, pulling Jun down so that he could lay down, his head resting in Satoshi’s lap. He plays with Jun’s hair. “You know,” he chuckles. “You are mistaken though if you think I’m easy to handle. I’m also quite difficult. I tend to get angry when I’m worried, and I can react harsher than I want to then. I doze off sometimes, and I have difficulties voicing what I feel. I’m not easy to handle, you see?”

 

Jun chuckles. “I know.”

 

“Jun,” Satoshi says earnestly. “I almost lost you. You have to promise me to tell me whenever you feel truly sick.”

 

“You already scolded me for it once,” Jun says teasingly. “Isn’t it enough?”

 

Satoshi blushes slightly. “I didn’t scold you…”

 

“It was a two hour lecture,” Jun continues, but his bright smile betrays his complaint.

 

Satoshi has to chuckle lightly at the soft teasing. “Jun,” he strokes through his hair. “I can’t lose you, okay?”

 

Jun turns his head to look up at Satoshi from his place. He smiles. “I know, and I understand. Previously I had no one who would look after me, except for Sakamoto-san and Yamaguchi, and Masaki of course. But they weren’t around all the time. Sakamoto was at his career peak after all and as a general mostly on the battle field. And Masaki had work too. Most of the time I was alone and no one would be interested if I was sick or even died.”

 

His words give a sting to Satoshi’s heart. “Why couldn’t they see your worth?” he mumbles.

 

Jun smiles sadly. “Because having a strong body is more important to them than bringing spring and a good harvest.”

 

Satoshi strokes Jun’s cheek softly. “I promise to always treat you with respect, Jun. My feelings are always honest, so much I can promise you.”

 

Jun smiles warmly at him. “When I was new here, and homesick, you were there at night, right? To comfort me? You were the one secretly bringing tea to my room and trying to make me feel comfortable?”

 

“How did you know?” Satoshi asks quietly. He indeed tried to make Jun feel better whenever he was sad or obviously in a bad place, but he didn’t want to intrude his privacy too much either, not sure if it wouldn’t upset Jun if he did. He just wanted to do something for Jun because he touched his heart. Simple as that.

 

“When I was sick and you were at my side, you sometimes touched my hair to comfort me,” Jun points out, playing with Satoshi’s fingers. “I recognized this soft hand.” He pauses. “Thank you,” he says shyly. “You were there when I needed someone, and you didn’t even take any credit for it.”

 

“You touched my heart from the first moment on,” Satoshi answers honestly. “I was angry your family would just sell you to us. And I wanted you to be happy here. It was just… natural to try to make you feel better. Does that  make sense?”

 

Jun smiles. “You are going to be a good king,” he muses.

 

“King?” Satoshi blinks in surprise. What does Jun mean?

 

Jun chuckles. “The book,” he finally says, turning to the side again. “Start reading, will you?”

A/N: I'm sorry for not posting last week, but it seemed like everyone was on vacation, so I took some time off too :-)
Soooo, it's Juntoshi! And I'm sooooo relieved that all of you supported the idea of Jun choosing Satoshi. While I wrote the last chapters I realized that Satoshi just understood Jun the most and always knew how to make him gain confidence and make him stood up for himself.

So, we now know that it was Satoshi looking after Jun when he felt sad, and Kazu tried to get them together.
And finally some real progress between Satoshi and Jun, right? Also Jun explained his powers, though I can tell you that it's not all of it ;-) We are only halfway through after all *coughs*