Title: The Scent of You
Pairing: Jun/Ohno
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Jun was suddenly ordered by the emperor to wed the elusive Crown Prince. But where have they met before? Why is the Crown Prince attracted to him? How can Jun save him?
A/N: To my dear recipient gomushroom, I apologize that I had to make you specify prompts but I couldn’t even use them. I tried to incorporate whatever you suggested to something and I hope you’ll be able to enjoy this one.

It was like love at first sight, or rather, smell, when Jun opened the bottle. He wasn’t a big fan of perfume but he had smelled different kinds, due to the numerous women working in the courtesan house. He had never smelled something this exquisite before.

“What, you really don’t like this, Kazu?” Jun asked his friend and the owner of the courtesan house, Ninomiya Kazunari. “Are you sure you’re giving this to me?”

“It does smell good but I am not interested in the person who gave that,” Kazu replied with a shrug. “Besides, I’m not even interested with perfumes. I have nothing against our girls here but this place has a lot of different scents, I’m going to vomit.”

Jun chuckled. “Ah, another broken-hearted suitor.” He wafted the perfume and smiled. “This one is very good. Thank you. I really like it.”

Kazu smirked. “I’m glad.” He then spotted someone causing a ruckus in the restaurant a floor beneath them. “Hey! Hey, you, do you want me to beat you up?” He turned back to Jun. “I just have to take care of troublemakers.”

“Take it easy, Kazu,” Jun answered. He sighed and then headed back to his room to do some work.

“Matsumoto-san,” a courtesan he passed by called out. “When are you going to teach us a new dance?”

“Yes! We love your dances!” another one chirped in.

Jun chuckled. “Well, I have to find a good accompaniment for that, you know? I would like a good group of musi…” He suddenly stopped when he heard a note from a koto. And then another one, slowly forming exquisite music he had not heard before. Jun found himself walking towards the source of the music to the tune of every note. It was as if right then and there, he could create a marvelous dance.

He stopped in front of the half open door and found the silhouette of the man playing the koto. The strumming had become erratic, as if timing with the beat of Jun’s heart. Then the music stopped. The man behind the curtain looked towards his way.

“Who is he?” Jun hissed to the nearest giggling courtesan.

The girl covered her mouth and laughed. “Oh, you don’t know? A very important guest!”

“Oh, I would do anything just to be called by Ohno-san!” another one squealed.

“Indeed,” Jun heard Kazu say beside him, as if he magically appeared out of thin air. “Would you like to meet him?”

“No.”

“Oh, come on! Your eyes are shining bright. I know you’re interested.”

Jun scowled at Kazu while the latter dragged him by the elbow towards the room. They knelt down in front of the man, who slowly looked up from his koto. Their eyes met and the man straight up stared at Jun, making his heard race. Jun felt as if the man’s eyes were boring into his soul, making him feel uncomfortable.

“Who are you?” Jun finally asked when he found his voice.

The person probably realized that he had been staring a lot. He averted his eyes and started to finger his koto, ignoring Jun’s question.

Jun hissed a bit, annoyed that this man dared to ignore him after staring at him like that. Was that koto more interesting? The rush of blood from his chest has spread throughout his fingertips, and only good etiquette and customer manners could stop Jun from grabbing the koto and flinging it away. And he did.

“WHAT?” Kazu exclaimed.

A man suddenly came in to the room, “WHAT?” he also yelled, looking really surprised at the already broken koto on the floor. “How dare you disrespect the…?”

“Sho, don’t,” the man warned his companion with a serene look and voice as calm. The man called Sho took a deep breath to calm himself and then glared at Jun, who ferociously glared back.

While Jun was stomping his way through the corridors, Kazu joined him with a chuckle. “Well, Jun, I don’t think what you just did is a good idea. That customer, he…”

“I can’t believe you’re siding with rude customers,” Jun replied to his friend. “We’re supposed to be just people who won’t bow down to lots of money.”

Kazu blocked him, his eyes narrowed. “Jun, that’s not what I meant. What did that man even do to you? Did he harass you?” He looked back at the door where the client was. “He did not even look at you.”

“What do you think of me, an undignified human?” Jun replied, giving his friend a playful slap. Kazu started to laugh and he did as well. Jun just paused for a bit to think about his friend’s question.

What exactly did that man do to him to make him react like that?

***

Jun was so sure that he had not seen the musician before, even though Kazu would always press on that the client was a regular, and since Jun was busy training the dancers and courtesans, he would not notice the arrival of the guest.

As Jun had asked around, the courtesans said the guest’s name was Ohno Satoshi. They had nothing but praises on his exceptional koto skills, his ability to draw very well. They also described him as a very quiet individual, the kind of client courtesans like if they were not in the mood to entertain.

Jun was deep in his thoughts when he suddenly bumped into someone as he went up the stairs. He looked up and saw Ohno Satoshi. He looked at Jun for a moment before he gave a small smile. Without waiting for an acknowledgment, he continued his way down the stairs.

“Wait!” Jun called out. He looked around and found Ohno looking at him. “I just… I just want to apologize for what I did to your koto the other day,” he said. Those piercing eyes were unbearable; Jun looked down at his robes to avoid Ohno’s eyes. “I lost control, I’m sorry.”

Ohno took a deep breath and walked up towards Jun. “I’ll accept your apology if you join me for lunch later,” he said. He smiled and proceeded downstairs, leaving Jun in a state of anxiety.

Jun watched as Ohno passed through the wave of girls who bowed respectfully towards him. Jun saw Ohno look up at him once again and left the hall.

He really could not understand the charm of Ohno Satoshi that made these girls say only good things. Whatever that charm was, Jun was becoming affected. And Jun did not want that to happen.

***

Jun was having lunch in their family house. He has not returned there for a long time. His father looked at him with distaste. “Jun, when are you going to leave that wretched courtesan house?” he asked.

The young man rolled his eyes. “What made you suddenly care?” he asked back.

“Jun, show some respect to your father,” his mother interrupted. She cleared her throat. “Anyway, why don’t we just celebrate tonight?”

“What is the occasion tonight that we all have to be here?” Jun asked. Ever since he started working with Kazu, the family had never bothered to invite him to family feasts. He would sometimes visit, but he never dared face his father, who was disapproving of his work.

“We have received very good news that will bring honor to our family,” his mother said. “And I am very happy for you, my son.”

“What?” Jun replied, clueless about what’s happening. “Why are you happy…?”

His words were interrupted when a servant came running towards the father of the house. “They’re here, my lord!” he panted.

The whole family stood up, except for Jun. His sister dragged him up and said, “I am very much surprised because I’ve never seen you mingle with nobilities. Envious, even!” she chuckled. “Let’s go!”

“Receive the order of the Emperor!” a royal guard shouted as the family made their way to their front door. “I am looking for Jun, the son of the Matsumoto family.”

“What? Me?” Jun was pushed by his sister towards the clearing. He got down on his knees in respect but when he looked up, he was shocked to see Sho, Ohno Satoshi’s assistant, carrying a scroll woven with gold.  

“What’s the meaning of this?” he hissed at Sho, who just scowled at him.

“Silence! I am Sakurai Sho, the right hand man of the Crown Prince Satoshi. I am here because I am ordered to read the Emperor’s command.”

Jun looked down at the ground with wide eyes, his thoughts running wildly as he tried to understand the situation in front of him. His family looked happy so it didn’t seem to be bad news.

“Matsumoto Jun-sama,” he started reading the scroll. “You are ordered to marry my first son, the Crown Prince.”

***

Jun paced around his room. “Why am I suddenly subjected to this horrible fate?” he muttered. “Was I evil in my past life?”

Kazu stopped strumming the koto. “Jun, aren’t you lucky that you’re chosen by the Emperor?” he asked in a slightly amused tone. “It will also put your family in a higher state. You won’t even have to come here and work in the future.” He then continued playing. He struck the wrong note and then clicked his tongue. “But I don’t think I’d like to marry a prince, if I were you. Princes can be very persistent… and they can be undignified perverts!” He flailed his arms passionately.

“You speak as thought you have met a prince!” Jun replied. “Have you?” he then asked, sitting beside Kazu.

“Yes, probably,” Kazu replied as he inspected the koto strings. “Though…” he smiled at Jun, “the prince I know isn’t the Crown Prince.”

“What do you know?” Jun replied. “No offense I don’t think you have set foot in the royal residence. How are you able to know the prince?”

Kazu shrugged. “I own a courtesan house, remember? And sometimes, princes want to have fun.” He continued inspecting the musical instrument and polishing it with a dry rug. Jun was reminded of the musician.

“Ninomiya-sama, Ohno-sama is here,” a courtesan said.

“Alright. I’ll follow in a few minutes.” Kazu turned smiled towards Jun, one of those devilish smiles that Jun knew very well. “Do you want to know more about the Crown Prince? Ohno Satoshi is your best bet.”

“The musician?” Jun almost yelled back. “I don’t even want to see him,” Jun hissed, crossing his arms. “He creeps me out with his stares!”

“Well, I’ve heard you two had lunch the other day.” Kazu pulled his sleeve. “Come on, come with me. It won’t hurt to ask.” He dragged his reluctant friend towards their most special guest room. A bunch of girls were already peeking outside the door.

“What are you all doing over there?” Kazu scolded them and they scurried away like rats.

Jun heard noise from behind him but when he looked around, there was no one around. Kazu dragged him towards the room and they both sat near the guest. Jun looked at the man in sitting behind the table full of drinks and food. Ohno seemed bored but at the same time he looked like he was observing something very interesting as he played with the cup on his hand. He turned his attention to the newcomers. Ohno’s eyes met Jun’s, automatically making the latter blush.

“Ninomiya-san, I like the new cup,” he commented, smiling at Kazu.

“Oh, you’re into cups now?” Kazu replied with his usual snarky demeanor. “Next thing I know, you’ll be making kimonos.”

Ohno nodded slowly with a soft smile. “Well, who knows? And…?” he turned towards Jun. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

Before Jun could open his mouth, Kazu started to talk for him. “He wanted to know more about his fiancé, the Crown Prince.”

“His fiancé? The Crown Prince?” Ohno repeated. “Where did you hear this news?” Ohno proceeded to investigating the cup decorations.

Kazu frowned. “You mean you don’t know? I’m surprised.”

“The Palace is full of surprises, Ninomiya-san,” he replied. He put the cup down.

“The Crown Prince is also full of surprises. Isn’t the prince very much like you?” Kazu asked with a smirk while he poured wine in the cup Ohno was appreciating earlier.

“The Prince is very much like me?” Ohno asks unsurely. He looked at Jun. “Probably so.”

“Why, can he also play instruments the way you do?” Jun asked. He immediately covered his mouth. Ohno could only look down, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Jun wanted the ground to swallow him whole. What the hell did he just say to this stranger? “I… I mean…” he stuttered.

“If you want me to forget about it,” Ohno started, looking at him intently. Jun wanted to melt on the spot; he felt as if Ohno’s stare was stripping him naked.

“No, I don’t mean it like that,” Jun replied hurriedly. “Well, I think you play really good music and I think I would like you to play music along with the dances I make.”

“Oh, you dance?” Ohno said, his eyes lighting up in curiosity. Jun somehow liked that reaction.

“Indeed,” Kazu replied proudly. “He makes the dances for the women here,” he added.

Ohno smiled again and then proceeded to play something. “Ninomiya-san, is this the reason why your girls’ dances are so hypnotic and marvelous? Maybe we can make a dance together,” he said aloud, his right hand already on the koto beside him. “Would you like to do it now?”

Jun gasped softly. He was not prepared for this response. He could feel his heart beat fast as their eyes met each other’s again.

***

Sho almost tore the scroll into half after he read the contents. “Are you sure you are agreeing with the Emperor’s idea? Worse, this is Prince Masaki’s idea!” Sho asked. “I know that the emperor has asked you to have a spouse but why are we agreeing with your brother’s recommendation? We all know he’s…!” Satoshi glared at Sho, who quickly shut up. His right hand man paced around the room, frowning while thinking of the imperial order.

“Well, I am actually very surprised when he presented the idea. But…”

“It was love at first sight, isn’t it? Oh no, Prince Satoshi just fell for a man who threw his beloved koto!” he added mockingly. “No one would dare do that in real life.”

“But I was not the prince when he did that,” Satoshi replied, lazily leaning on his elbow while he dipped his brush in gold paint.

“Oh, you’re right. But still!” Sho argued, “A person who just goes around, yells at people and destroys their belongings is very disrespectful.”

“Sho, I think the young man is sweet and gentle on the inside,” Satoshi replied. He sighed as he looked at the scenery he was drawing. “He apologized already. Let it go.” He put his brush down when he heard someone yelling outside. The guards were trying to reprimand that person.

“Ah, troublemakers from the…” Sho said, annoyed, as he was about to go out and check. Satoshi held out his hand to stop his friend and then cocked his chin to the direction of the door. With one look, Sho seemed to understand what was happening. “Is that…?”

Satoshi smiled. He stood up from his seat and went out of his room, overlooking a nice pond.

“Ohno-san?” a familiar voice called out. Satoshi looked up at him and smiled gently as a greeting. “I didn’t expect to see you here!”

Satoshi tried to look for an excuse. He looked far ahead and saw Sho hiding in the prince’s room, shaking his head with a disapproving face. He looked down and realized what his friend was implying. “I… Well… The Crown Prince ordered a feast tonight. I’m here to play music.”

“The Crown Prince… Yes! That’s my purpose here!” Jun replied with a huge smile. Satoshi took a deep breath to try to calm his nerves. He inhaled Jun’s exquisite perfume, that mysterious and exquisite scent that caught his attention ever since they first met each other. He didn’t know if it was real or his imagination. Satoshi looked at how Jun smiled like some mischievous kid and felt like a breath of fresh air.

It was something that Satoshi has never felt for a long, long time. “H-how did you get here?” he managed to ask. Nobody could just sneak in the palace that easily!

“Well, there’s a feast tonight and I sneaked in with the girls from the courtesan house.” The prince gasped when Jun suddenly pulled his sleeve. “Anyway, I want to tell him to call off the wedding.”

“Call off the wedding?” Satoshi just repeated. He suddenly felt like a happy bubble just popped. “Why? He chose you. He – he must like you.” He looked anywhere but at Jun. He realized that even though the order came from his father and orchestrated by his younger brother, Satoshi actually liked the idea of getting married to Jun, and his words clearly affected Satoshi. “You must… you must have some good qualities?”

“Well, even though I’m the son of Matsumoto family,” Jun replied, “I’m just a troublemaker who works in a courtesan house. I guess that’s enough to make him dislike me.” Jun let go of Satoshi’s hand but the prince could clearly see a hint of pink on his cheeks. “Besides, I don’t like him enough for us to get married. As silly as it sounds, I still want to get married to someone I love.”

Satoshi suddenly felt a prick of sadness in his chest. If it were any other person, he would willingly submit to be married to a prince, and most especially to a Crown Prince. He smiled sadly at Jun. “Well, you can try.”

“Can you let me meet him?”

“Why?”

“I told you, I want to call of the wedding! If he sees me and I explain all my bad qualities, he would never wish to marry me.”

“Matsumoto-san,” Satoshi heaved a sigh, giving up on this. He was not the best persuader. “I don’t know. You might bump into him while you’re walking around.”

“Is he that kind of prince? The one that punishes you for just walking around?”

Satoshi frowned. Of course, he wouldn’t. A parade could even pass before him and he wouldn’t even notice. “No, I don’t think so. He barely notices anything … unless if you’re… uhh… interesting.”

“Well, I wish he doesn’t notice me,” Jun said. He looked around. “I think I have to go now,” he bade goodbye at Satoshi.

Sho came out of his hiding place. “Well, his wish won’t come true, will it?” he teased. “The Crown Prince has definitely noticed him and he would not dislike that young tiger.”

Satoshi glared at him. “Sho, can you follow him? Can you make sure that he won’t do any trouble?”

“What? What makes you think he’s going to make any trouble?” Sho replied.

“Well, he said himself that he’s a troublemaker. And I don’t want Masaki to see him at this moment,” Satoshi answered.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Sho answered with a bow before he went off.

Satoshi proceeded to absentmindedly staring at the pond, wondering what could be Jun’s reaction if he revealed who was the person he was looking for.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!” Sho was panting when he stopped and leaned at a pillar. “He’s gone!’

“Who’s gone?” Satoshi asked, suddenly standing up from the edge.

“Your fiancé! I followed him and he was grabbed by a man in disguise!”

“Why didn’t you try to get him?” Satoshi asked, worried. He rubbed his brow. “Men in disguises inside the palace? That’s unusual.” He frowned to think. “Unless…” He chuckled a bit. “Sho, can you go check my brother’s palace?”

“I’m going to get beheaded if I spy on him!”

“Yes, I know,” Satoshi said, matter-of-factly. “I have a hunch on where Jun would be.”

***

Jun coughed when the cover on his head was removed. He was in a dungeon-like room and the only source of light was an overhead window and candles. How long was he knocked out? He was just walking around the palace, searching for the Crown Prince, earlier!

“You’re awake!” a chirpy voice greeted him. There was a rustling sound, and a man wearing long, luxurious robes went towards him. He seemed like a firefly as his clothes glittered even in the dark. “I’m so sorry they had to do that to you but…” he giggled, “I couldn’t wait to meet you!”

“Meet me? What the hell? You can just ask for me if you want to meet me!” Jun yelled at his kidnapper, his voice echoing throughout the hall. “I mean, who are you?”

“I’m you and the Crown Prince’s matchmaker,” he said. “And I’ll forgive you for being rude for now because it’s only the two of us here,” he added, flailing his arms about.

“You are?”

“I’m Masaki, the second prince,” he said with small smile. Jun didn’t know if this person was a friend or a villain but if he said that he was the ‘matchmaker’, he probably orchestrated the arranged marriage between Jun and the Crown Prince. “Oh, and yes, I planned you and my brother’s wedding,” he added, as if reading Jun’s mind. “I brought you here because I want to know why, after all of these years of trying, my brother likes you.”

“Stop staring at me!” Jun retorted, feeling as if the prince was like a vulture circling him. “Your Highness, I don’t even know the Crown Prince. Why do you insist on having us married? Why are you saying that he likes me?”

“The way he daydreams is so much different than the way he did before. I knew something was different,” Masaki said. “I know that feeling, to be very honest. That’s why I set out to find out who you are, and present you to him, because I want to make him happy.”

There was a slight tinge of frustration in Masaki’s voice, but Jun didn’t dig into it further. “Your Highness, you probably mean well for your brother but this is too much. Abducting someone is too much. Forcing someone to marry another person is also a bit too much. I’m not some object that you can just give away.”

“Is it?” Masaki replied. “Well then, I encourage you to actually meet my brother. He’s really a good person! My, my, it seems like you don’t like him at all.”

“Like? I don’t even know…” Jun frowned. He thought the imperial order was arranged because of his family’s ties with the royals. But based on Masaki’s words, it seems like the Crown Prince has actually met Jun before. But where? Jun never attends palace-hosted banquets. He spends his days in the brothel, taking care of business. Maybe that’s it! “So, is he some kind of pervert who goes to the courtesan house?”

Masaki just shrugged and dismissed Jun’s words. “Anyway, I would really like you to meet him face to face if it’s really true that you two have never met.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Then I’ll have you captured and killed?” Masaki asked unsurely. He smiled and although it looked innocent, it scared Jun a little.

Jun had heard that the second prince was crazy. He tried to move away. “Y-you can’t just do that!” He forgot that he was still tied up so the chair fell over and knocked some of the candles. It spread throughout the scattered scrolls in the dungeon. The fire spread on the prince’s table and once it touched a glass bottle, the fire exploded.

Masaki also screamed. He took a knife and quickly removed Jun’s ropes. He then dragged him off and once they saw a window, they both jumped out, landing on the pond. The prince was a good swimmer; he dragged Jun by the collar and swam to the shore.

A few moments later, Jun saw Sho with a horrified look on his face as he ran towards the two. “Your Highness! Your Highness!”

“We’re here!” Masaki said, rather cheerfully, waving to catch his attention.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?” Sho asked. “And you?” he turned towards Jun. “What happened to the both of you? Why is the prince’s library burning?” He pointed at the other end of the pond. Servants were panicking as they tried to quell the fire.

Masaki chuckled. “No need to worry, Sho-chan, I’m feeling great! However, all my scrolls and research were burned,” he added with a pout. “Anyway, here’s Jun, Sho-chan. Take care of him or you’ll taste my brother’s wrath!”

“Your Highness, why aren’t you worried that you yourself will taste your brother’s wrath? He was worried sick when he found out you abducted Matsumoto-san!” Sho replied.

Jun coughed out a lot of water. “Excuse me, both of you. I want to go home.” He glared angrily at the prince. “Even though you both are princes, you have no right to toy on a human’s life like this! I can’t believe you royals are this irresponsible and violent.”

“Watch your mouth!” Sho hissed back angrily. “Remember that you are talking about the royals and you have no right to disrespect them either.”

Masaki raised his hand. “Sho-chan, that’s alright. I know that I acted very distastefully and I apologize for that.” The prince placed his hand over his chest as a sign of his apology. “Won’t you take this young man somewhere nice and warm?” he requested.

“Follow me,” Sho said in a cold voice. By the look of his eyes, Jun knew that this Sho disliked him. He looked at the prince, who cocked his head towards Sho, a silent order for Jun to follow. He shivered as he walked in his wet clothes.

Sho brought Jun to the Crown Prince’s palace. It seemed like no servants or guards were around so they were able to freely walk through the halls. Sho led Jun towards an empty room with a nice charcoal fire, warming up the room, and a number of candles, further illuminating the room’s golden decorations.

Jun saw a handsome kimono hung at the end of the room. “Please change into these dry clothes. The Crown Prince will be expecting you afterwards,” Sho said before he left the room.

Jun stared at the beautiful clothes laid out for him. He would sometimes wear good quality robes for parties his family attends but he had never seen something this beautiful. He touched the silk and appreciated its nice red color.

“Are you done yet?” a voice from the door called out. That was probably the Crown Prince.

Jun looked at the silhouette behind the door. “Please wait for a moment,” he replied. He quickly took off his clothes and wore the beautiful ones prepared for him. Jun settled behind the door, muttering the words that he would recite to the Crown Prince regarding calling off the marriage, and then he opened the door.

Jun was surprised to see the person sitting on the chair in front of him. “You! What are you doing here?” It was Satoshi.

“Silence!” the musician suddenly said. It was as if he were a different person. Jun felt a little terrified hearing his voice like that. “You have shown too much disrespect for the Crown Prince and I won’t tolerate any more of it.”

“C-crown Prince, what?” Jun stammered. He remembered the things Kazu and Masaki told him and came to a realization. There was also the case of Sakurai Sho, who was with Ohno in the courtesan house and who introduced himself as the Crown Prince’s right hand man. He suddenly went to his knees, feeling embarrassed and feeling rather… strange. He couldn’t even look at the musician – the Crown Prince – in the eye. It was like watching a calm ocean suddenly become a tsunami.

“Yes, I am the Crown Prince and I have shown you too much mercy ever since I have met you. It isn’t a good example to the others,” the prince replied.

“For-forgive me for asking but who really are you? I thought you’re only a musician,” Jun said in a small voice. He dared look at the prince and then turned away, feeling his cheeks burning.

“So you won’t show the same amount of respect? Be careful of your temper, Matsumoto-san,” the prince replied. He paced around, making Jun feel uneasy.

“I – I’m sorry I didn’t know you were the Crown Prince!” Jun replied with a high-pitched voice. “I came here because I want to know who the prince was because I didn’t want to get married with someone I didn’t know!”

“Well, now that you know me, do you want to get married with me?” the prince asked, leaning down on Jun, who was still kneeling.

Jun would have wanted to say a dignified “no” but he felt tongue-tied. He just stared at Satoshi’s clear eyes. He was certainly expecting an answer. “I – I don’t know.”

The prince just chuckled. “Of course, you don’t even know me that much.” He pouted a bit, and Jun wanted to laugh at that expression. His facial expression shifted into a serious one. “I’ll let you go if that’s what you want… but…”

“Thank you,” Jun started, thanking all the gods for making this easy. However, the prince held out his hand to stop him.

“Do you have any political and logical reasons why you would defy the will of the emperor when he announced that he would like you to marry me?”

Jun bit his lip. Of course, how would this be that easy? He tried to think of something but the Crown Prince was moving in circles around him, like a lion ready to jump on his prey. He seemed to be amused because he was smiling a little.

Jun raised an eyebrow in response to that cheeky smile. “Well, Your Highness, I could say that my family doesn’t have any problems in the eyes of the emperor…”

“Uh-huh,” the prince replied, nodding his head while he paced around. “The Matsumoto family has good ties with the emperor. That means you’re still a good candidate.”

“But then I work for a courtesan house!” Jun answered. “We two met each other in that courtesan house!”

“Well, so what? A Crown Prince can indulge himself. But when we get married, I won’t, if that’s what you want to imply,” the prince replied. “Are you a jealous type of husband?”

Jun stood up and looked into the prince’s eyes. “That’s definitely not what I mean!” he replied, his voice a little bit higher than normal. He could feel embarrassment once again. “I have disrespected you in the courtesan house and everyone knew about it. If that reaches the emperor, he will know that I will not be a submissive spouse.”

The Crown Prince stared at Jun absentmindedly for a few minutes, making him nervous. Did he accept that kind of explanation? He wanted to step back when the prince walked towards him, leaning closer and closer until their faces were just inches away from each other.

“Fair enough,” the prince answered with a small smile. He moved away and sat down on his chair. “But I still have to punish you for a certain number of things.”

“Like what?”

“Like what you said, you have disrespected the Crown Prince and my brother, the second prince,” he replied. “The emperor will not be happy to hear that we have just let you go. Destroying an antique koto, disrespecting the Crown Prince, barging into the palace uninvited, also destroying the second prince’s properties and among other things,” Satoshi recited while ticking off his fingers. “That’s a lot and would probably warrant an execution or getting your tongue removed.”

Jun gulped. All the confidence in his body evaporated. How could he have been so stupid acting really violent towards a prince? How could this meek musician be the prince, anyway? And most of all, how could he manage to make Jun feel like that? “Do I really need to be executed?”

“No. But I still have to punish you.”

“What kind of punishment?” Jun asked.

The Crown Prince sat in silence, probably thinking of a fitting punishment. Jun kneeled on the floor, anxious. His hands fiddled with the silk robe on his lap. Each minute was driving him insane.

Satoshi stood up from his seat slowly. Jun looked up in anticipation. “I want you to be my servant, my personal servant,” the prince said simply.

Jun stood up. “WHAT?” He glared at the prince in front of him, who seemed to be amused at his reaction. “Are you crazy?”

Satoshi just shook his head. “I think that’s a fair punishment. Think of this as payment for the koto and whatever stuff you have destroyed in my brother’s home.”

Jun sighed, giving up. He wanted to fight Satoshi, to tell the spoiled prince that a son of a nobleman would not be someone’s servant, but he also realized that he’s fighting a prince, and not just an ordinary prince but the Crown Prince. “Fine, how long will I be your servant?”

Satoshi’s lips curved up with a smile. “As long as I want.”

***

Jun sighed. He has been sitting there for more than three hours, doing nothing but fanning the Crown Prince while he drew something. “Your Highness?”

“Hmm? What did you just call me?”

Jun hesitated. He had been so disrespectful to the royals but the Crown Prince wanted to be called by his first name, Satoshi. “I’m sorry, uhm, Satoshi?”

“Yes?”

“Aren’t you going to make me do something more productive?” Jun asked, putting down the fan and heaving a sigh. Jun was thinking of the prince making him prepare food, cleaning up the bedroom, or even preparing the prince’s bath. But all Satoshi made him do was sit by his side all day, doing nothing but indulging things.

Satoshi poured himself tea and took a drink, seemingly ignoring Jun’s question. “My brother gave me this tea. It’s really good, isn’t it? What do you think about this?” he said, putting the cup down.

“What?”

“Take a look. Come on,” Satoshi beckoned. Jun leaned towards the piece of art Satoshi was drawing and blushed; it was a painting of himself, sitting on the floor and fanning. Golden colors surround the outlines, making it brighter. “Do you like it?”

Jun absolutely loved it. Why was this prince so talented? He could play instruments very well and can draw very well. But Jun thought he couldn’t just fan Satoshi’s ego. “That one doesn’t look like me,” he commented coldly.

“Oh, really?”

“Yes,” Jun replied, turning away. “Is that really how you see me?” he then asked, a little bit unsure. He did not dare look at Satoshi.

The prince looked at the drawing and frowned a little, “Well, my painting of you is too beautiful, I admit.”  With a chuckle, he added, “Maybe I see you as the most beautiful person around here.” He dipped his brush in gold paint.

“What’s that?” Jun asked, pointing at the bottle of paint.

“Something that was given to me as a present when I was young,” Satoshi explained. “I’ve been using it sparingly but ever since I had to paint you, I end up using this a lot.”

“Shut up,” Jun responded. His cheeks suddenly turned pink in embarrassment.

Satoshi laughed heartily. Jun smiled as he watched him laugh, his voice like music to Jun’s ears. However, the laughter stopped when he started to cough. He tried to stand up but he ended up doubled over with a coughing fit.

“Satoshi? Satoshi, are you alright?” Jun asked, helping him up. “Let me take you to your bedroom.”

***

“Your Highness, why don’t you just come with me and end all of this? I’ll lead you to a place where you can breathe freely…”

“Will there be no pain?”

“No pain. Let’s end this.”

“Yes, let’s end this.”

Satoshi was about to offer his hand but someone pulled him back. He looked behind him and saw Jun. “Satoshi, wake up! Satoshi…”

Satoshi suddenly woke up from his dream. He found Jun holding his hand like that dream. “You were talking in your dream so I had to wake you up,” Jun explained in a small voice.

“But your room is…” Satoshi looked at the ground and saw that Jun had laid a blanket to sleep on the floor beside him. “You don’t have to do this, really.”

“Well, you didn’t let me sleep last night because you wanted me to take care of you,” Jun replied with annoyance. Satoshi wanted to laugh at his facial expression. “Instead of going here from my room every single the time, I just decided to camp here.”

“You really don’t have any ounce of respect towards the Crown Prince, do you?” he replied.

Jun laughed. “You’re not the most respectable Crown Prince either,” he replied. “Do you need something?”

Satoshi pointed at the jar on the far right of the room. “Please prepare some tea for me. I think that will help me sleep again. Then we’ll see each other tomorrow. I still haven’t finished your portrait.”

The prince pretended to doze off while he watched Jun prepare the tea. He just loved watching Jun do these mundane tasks that he ordered. He just knew that Jun creates the wonderful dances in the courtesan house but he had never actually watched Jun dance before. Satoshi could only imagine but it was not enough for him..

“We still haven’t done it,” Satoshi said, covering his face with a pillow out of awkwardness.

Jun placed the tray on the table beside his bed. “Done what? Are you expecting me to do other things apart from accompanying you all the time?” His cheeks turned into bright pink.

Satoshi removed the pillow and stared at the silk draping of the ceiling. “Well, if you remember our conversation before, we talked about creating dance and music together.”

“Ah, yes,” Jun answered, clearing his throat. He looked at the prince with a soft expression. “I thought you have forgotten.”

Satoshi took a deep breath. Jun’s scent was rather strong this evening and it overwhelmed him. “I forget a lot of things. But I don’t forget the important ones.” He smiled and looked at Jun, who seemingly froze at his words.

“You need to go to sleep,” Jun said coldly. “I’ll go back to my room.” He grabbed the blanket, threw it to Satoshi, and walked off. Before he closed the door, he added, “Once you feel better, let’s start making the dance.”

Satoshi grabbed Jun’s blanket and closed his eyes, drifting off to a calm, dreamless sleep as he inhaled Jun’s scent.

***

“Where are we?” Jun asked when they stopped in front of a closed hall. Satoshi had dragged him to this place and ordered no one to follow him, except for Sho.

“Your Highness, it’s been a long time since you last entered this hall,” Sho remarked in awe after he had opened the heavy door. “I’ll leave the two of you but will position guards in the perimeter for your safety.”

“Thank you, Sho,” Satoshi replied. He took Jun’s hand and led him inside. “This is where my mother usually held her banquets.” He turned around and looked at the surroundings. For an unused room, Satoshi was glad it was well-maintained. It did not seem to change at all. “She’s very good in the arts,” he proudly said to his companion.

“Well, maybe that’s where you got your talents,” Jun replied.

Satoshi looked uneasy. “Talents? No, you can’t really consider them as talents.”

“Why not?” Jun replied, his voice loud enough to create an echo. “You know how to play the koto very well. You can draw very well. You can choose the best fabrics for creating clothes. I don’t know if there’s something you cannot do.”

“Those talents, Jun, are useless for someone who is being groomed to be an emperor,” Satoshi explained. He sighed. “What my father needs is a ruler, a military tactician, and someone who is emotionless.”

“You don’t want this?”

“I don’t have a choice,” Satoshi answered honestly. “I’m born to be the next emperor and I don’t want to place a burden on Masaki. I envy you somehow.” He walked away from Jun and settled at the porch by the pond. “Even though you’re a son of a noble family, you’re able to do what you want. You work where you want, and you share talent as you want.” He took a deep breath and felt pain in his chest. He took a glance of Jun, who was looking at him intently. The prince did not want to show Jun how he’s feeling. He didn’t want Jun to worry all the time for him.

Lucky for him, when Jun touched his back, he felt that familiar warmth and inhaled that familiar scent, he felt better. “Satoshi, if there’s something I can do…?”

“Did you get the koto? That’s what I’m planning to do today,” Satoshi announced happily. “Since this is the place where our mother performed the arts, I want us to use this place to create the dance and music.”

Jun seemed to be very surprised, and Satoshi liked that expression. He, however, nodded and went back to the door to retrieve the koto he was carrying earlier. He laid it on the floor and gestured the prince to come.

“I would like you to dance,” he ordered.

Jun frowned. “How can I dance without the music?”

“How can I make the music if you don’t dance?” Satoshi responded. He positioned his fingers on the musical instrument. “Your movements will give me the inspiration for the music. It is music made for your dance, and not you making dance out of music. I want to make something specifically for you.”

Jun frowned. “That’s ridiculous.”

“You have no choice but to follow my orders, anyway,” Satoshi simply said, amused at Jun’s pout. The man still obliged, grumbling while he stepped on the middle of the hall.

Satoshi teasingly struck a chord. “Why don’t you start?”

Jun glared at him before he slowly started to move his arms. The prince could really see how uncomfortable Jun was but he just let him swing his arms and move with his usual grace.

It wasn’t long before Satoshi could hum a tune using Jun’s movements. He started playing music with his koto and noticed how Jun relaxed once he heard the music. The movements became more fluid and less awkward. Satoshi quickened the tempo and Jun amazingly kept up with it, the movement of his clothes and the speed of his steps made him look like he was flying.

Satoshi applauded once they completed the routine. “You didn’t even take notes,” Jun said as he sat down the ground, clearly tired. “How are we going to replicate that?”

The prince shrugged. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to remember the music he had created but that was not important. He was only indulging himself. At last, he could finally watch Jun dance for him. “That doesn’t matter. We could just do it again and again and again until we remember it.”

“Are you teasing me?” Jun asked, annoyed. “You made me dance all around but you said that doesn’t matter?”

Satoshi shook his head. “Your dance is all that matters,” he simply said.  He had a lot of words in his heart but he did not know how to express them. Satoshi felt frustrated. He wanted to show more appreciation towards Jun but he couldn’t. He did not even know if Jun could even understand what he meant with his silly words.

Jun turned away.  “I’ll – I’ll clean up. You can go back to the palace,” Jun said in a small voice. Well, it seemed like Jun had understood his words differently. “I’ll carry the koto for you. Now go,” Jun shooed him away.

Satoshi walked out of the hall and settled by a porch, looking at the surrounding gardens. He suddenly felt stinging pain on his head and something dripping from his nose. He used his robe to wipe it off and gasped when he saw blood.

***

Jun entered Kazu’s room. His friend had clients to attend to so when he decided to suddenly visit, Kazu told him to just wait in his bedroom. Jun was stopped by a very good scent. It was similar to the perfume Kazu gave him months ago.

Jun found the source of the scent at Kazu’s bedside: a bouquet of blue, weird flowers. “Do you like the smell?” Kazu said, leaning on the door. “My crazy suitor gave that to me. I couldn’t throw them away because they do smell good.” He went beside Jun. “Would you like to have them?”

“You’re so cruel. Someone gave them to you,” Jun said. “And who is this crazy suitor?”

Kazu just shrugged. “So, anyway,” he started, changing the topic. “Why do you want to see me at once?”

“I’m worried about Satoshi and I think something weird is happening to him,” Jun admitted.

Kazu nodded. “Why? What happened to him?”

“He hides it from me, but I often see his nose bleed,” Jun described. “I’m not sure what that is, but he also often stays in bed. If I ask him what’s wrong, he just stays quiet.”

“That’s very much like him. But he’s sick?” Kazu said. “The imperial doctors are considered the best doctors in the country. Do they know?”

“I’m not sure about that,” Jun replied. “It does seem like he did not want anyone to know.”

Kazu rolled his eyes. “So, that’s going to stop you?” he asked. “I mean, this is something that concerns the Crown Prince! I know that you’re worried.  Furthermore, I have all the reason to believe that you’re in love with him.”

Jun could feel the heat on his cheeks. “I am not in love with him,” he replied through gritted teeth. “I just consider the prince as a friend, that’s all. I’m worried. As a friend,” Jun emphasized when Kazu stared at him with a smirk on his face.

“If you say so,” Kazu replied in a singsong voice.

Jun thought hard about Kazu’s words. Does he like the Crown Prince? How did that happen? They didn’t meet in the best thing imaginable but they were able to develop a good kind of friendship, one that made Jun feel comfortable every time Satoshi was there beside him.

He stopped by the gates of Satoshi’s palace, a dozen of questions burning in his mind. Jun took a deep breath before he entered the gates. However, instead of the usual peaceful scenery, he was greeted by chaos. Guards and maids scurrying all around. “What happened?” he asked one of them.

“The Crown Prince suddenly collapsed! He’s now unconscious! I have to go look for an imperial doctor!” she said in panic before running off. Jun found himself running towards Satoshi’s bedroom. He approached the sleeping prince and sat beside him. The prince was feverish, and his face was scrunched in pain.

Sho entered the bedroom. “Prince Masaki has arrived,” he announced. Jun left Satoshi’s side and bowed to the other prince.

Masaki swiftly approached the bed. “How is he? What happened to him?” He gently ran his hand through the prince’s hair. “He seemed feverish.”

Jun looked at the door unsurely and then at Masaki. “He’s been unconscious for an hour already,” Sho explained. “He was just drinking tea earlier while painting when he fainted.”

“Forgive me, You Highness, I was not here when the prince fell unconscious,” Jun said, bowing in front of the second prince.

“I see,” Masaki replied, standing up and moving away from the bed. Jun observed him pacing around. “I brought some herbs from my palace. Maybe they could help my brother recover earlier. Can you give them to him?”

Jun looked at Masaki’s eyes. He then nodded with a pained smile. “I will, don’t worry. I’ll take care of him.”

Masaki smiled in relief. “I knew I can count on you, Jun. Sho, I have to go now.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Sho bowed in response. Masaki handed a small box to Jun. After the prince had left the room, Jun opened the box and looked at the dried leaves included in the pack.

Sho returned and crouched by the box to observe the contents as well. “I don’t think you should be the one preparing the herbs, Matsumoto-san. How about the Crown Prince’s doctor?”

“Yes, that’s a better idea,” Jun replied, handing the box to Sho. “I am not knowledgeable on the best way to prepare this.” Jun looked at Sho, a new and unwelcome thought filling his head. He decided to stand up and leave the bedroom.

“I don’t want to entertain the idea, Satoshi,” Jun whispered to himself while he looked at Masaki’s carriage leaving the gates of the palace.

***

Jun looked at the prince’s sleeping face. He really looked cute and irresistible on that state, like an innocent baby. He couldn’t believe how much of Satoshi he had seen in a few months. Sometimes he acted like a cultured prince that he was, skilled in the arts and knowledgeable in planning. Sometimes he acted like a spoiled little kid, wanting Jun to follow his whims. Sometimes he daydreams by the window, looking at the moonlit lake. Jun loved watching Satoshi’s different facets.

But Jun realized how much he hated this vulnerable prince asleep on the bed.

He sat on the prince’s bedside. Satoshi still hasn’t woken up two days after he collapsed. He wiped the prince’s face with a towel and breathed out, “Hey, why won’t you wake up? You’re making me worried, you know?” He threw the towel back to the bucket and sat down, got off the bed and leaned his back on it, facing a large mural painted by Satoshi himself. “I don’t want you to suffer like this.”

He felt a light touch on his hair and the gentle humming sound. “Is that your declaration of love to me?” Satoshi weakly said behind him.

Tears fell down Jun’s eyes. He turned around and embraced Satoshi, dragging him down. “You’re the stupidest prince I’ve ever met!”

“That’s too harsh. You’ve only met me and my brother, you know?” Satoshi answered with a chuckle. He winced a little.

“Are you alright?” Jun helped him sit up.

Satoshi smiled weakly. “Because you’re here, I suddenly feel alright.”

“Stop flirting with me, you pervert prince!” Jun said, playfully hitting Satoshi’s shoulder. He gasped when the prince pulled his hand forcefully, both of them falling on the bed.

“Do you know how much I have longed to have you in my arms like this?” Satoshi asked softly in his ear.

Jun chuckled, tickled by Satoshi’s breath. “You probably fell in love with me when I threw your koto.”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” He smiled while he tucked Jun’s hair away from his face. “But I just know that I have never felt like this before.”

Jun felt his chest tighten with Satoshi’s words. The prince didn’t speak a lot and he certainly didn’t express his feelings through words. It was too much for him. When Satoshi gently touched his cheek and pulled him, he had no power to resist. They descended into a kiss, first warm and soft. Jun gasped when Satoshi embraced him tighter, tasting his lips with fervor. He rolled over and pulled his lips away, leaving Jun wanting for more. Satoshi kissed his lips lightly and then his lashes.

“You shouldn’t have asked me to cancel our supposed wedding. You look like you wanted me to take you right here and now,” Satoshi remarked with a smirk. He sat up and helped Jun up.

“For a prince who has just recovered, you’re very energetic,” Jun bit back.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Satoshi said, tucking Jun’s hair behind his ear.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jun replied, stepping off the bed. He made his way to the garden, to try to calm down. Sitting at the porch overlooking the pond, Jun touched his lips and reminisced what had just happened earlier. His extreme happiness and relief of seeing Satoshi awake and well made him lost control, and now, the prince knew his feelings, and made his own feelings clear.

***

Satoshi suddenly woke up from his nightmare. He looked around and spotted no one; Jun had probably left. “Why?” he whispered to himself. The prince suddenly felt nauseous. He ran to the window to throw up. He gasped in horror when he saw blood. Satoshi immediately wiped his mouth and his hand and rushed back to bed when he heard footsteps.

“Satoshi?” Jun called out in a whisper.

“Hmm? Yes?” he responded, pretending that he had just woken up.

Jun seemed to blush, even though the only light came from the window. “N-nothing,” he stuttered. Satoshi tried to hide his smile because he felt that Jun just wanted to be beside him and was looking for an excuse.

Satoshi chuckled, earning a glare from Jun. “Come,” he said, patting the space beside him.

Jun walked towards him and sat on the bed. Satoshi quickly grabbed his chance and laid his head on Jun’s lap. “I can’t believe that the Crown Prince is this spoiled.”

“I can’t believe I’ll finally have a peaceful sleep with you by my side,” Satoshi replied. He smelled Jun’s sweet perfume and felt at peace, as though the scent drove away all of his worries. Maybe he was thinking about it too much, but every time Jun was with him, everything was calm.

Maybe, if he still manages to live to ascend to the throne, he’ll need Jun tied up beside him to maintain his sanity.

Satoshi’s thoughts turned into blur when he felt Jun’s hands running through his hair. He closed his eyes and sighed in comfort. “You know, you can tell me if there’s something bothering you,” he whispered.

“Maybe I could,” Satoshi replied before he closed his eyes. He knew that sooner or later, his body would give in. But he didn’t expect the process to be painful, and it became more painful now that he had Jun with him.

Whatever would happen, Satoshi had to prepare at least.

***

“You know, you really shouldn’t have cancelled the wedding plans with Jun if you’re going to bring him around like some kind of pet,” Masaki suggested as he looked at Jun. “We can’t even have a private, brotherly chat anymore.”

“Well, at least I have him beside me,” Satoshi replied. “How about you? Were you able to find someone?”

Masaki visibly pouted. “I don’t want to talk about it. What brings you here, my dear brother?” he asked cheerfully. “After you became well, you didn’t even bother to visit me. I gave you a lot of medicines, you know?”

Satoshi sighed in contentment as he took a sip of tea. “I’ve been busy.”

“Oh, I see,” Masaki said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the Crown Prince, and then at Jun. “I guess, Jun-chan here kept you busy?”

Satoshi smiled widely at Jun, who just glared at him in return. “Jun, I have to talk to my brother. Can you leave for a moment?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Jun replied respectfully, making his way out of the patio where they were having a small luncheon.

Jun left the scene. Satoshi took a deep breath before he called out, “Masaki.”

“Please don’t talk so seriously. You’re making me nervous!” his brother exclaimed. He shakily took a sip of tea and then sighed. “What is it?” Satoshi took something from his pocket and gave it to his brother. Masaki gasped when he saw that it was the Crown Prince’s badge, the symbol of the emperor’s regent who has control over some of the emperor’s troops. “No way! What makes you think I can become the emperor’s regent?”

“I know very well that you’re not insane, my brother,” Satoshi said.

“Your words won’t matter to our father and the rest of the ministers,” Masaki replied sadly.

“Masaki, listen to me. It is my order to assign you as a regent. You know that I’ve been ill for the longest time already. I’m not healthy enough. You can see that yourself. I won’t be able to rule well if this keeps on going.”

Masaki went towards his brother and held his hand. “I told you I’m looking for a way to cure your illness! I’m – I’m almost there! You need not to worry. Sato-chan…!” he whined like a kid.

“I don’t think you’ll be able to do that, Masaki. I believe my illness is incurable,” he replied with a sad smile. “The imperial doctors cannot find a cure. How will you be able to do that?”

“But sorcery can! I am very sure that this illness is magical!”

Satoshi patted his brother’s head. “That’s not important anymore. I just want to make sure that I’ll be handing over everything properly.”

“Are you saying goodbye?”

“Maybe, maybe not. I’m not sure until when I’ll be like this. Considering…” Satoshi did not continue. He knew he had the illness but the bleeding episodes made him feel like his end was coming soon.

“Please don’t lose hope. I can help you fix this,” Masaki pleaded, holding his hands. “I’ll use everything I know to heal you. Please?”

Satoshi shook his head. “You’re wasting energies on this, Masaki. You also don’t need to send me your special potions to try to cure me because they have no effect and they taste awful.” The older prince patted his brother’s head as he sniffled and cried. “Don’t be a crybaby.” He smiled. “After all of these, I just have one more request.”

“What is it?”

“Take care of Jun for me.”

***

Jun wanted to confirm his suspicions. Even though Kazu was against it, he decided to proceed to his plan.

Jun sneaked into the other palace and found the second prince in a patio in the middle of the garden. He hid behind the bushes beside the hall, making sure that he could see whatever was happening inside. He had hundreds of candles surrounding him and a boiling cauldron on the table in the middle. He was whispering incoherent prayers while he dropped ingredients in the cauldron.

Sho walked towards the patio. Jun gasped in surprise but he managed to cover his mouth. “Your Highness.”

“Did you give it to my brother?” Masaki asked.

“Yes, Your Highness. No one suspected a thing,” Sho replied.

“Good,” Masaki sighed. “Have any of the ministers noticed my brother’s sickness?”

Sho shook his head. “No one as of the moment. I’ve told the guards to say that the Crown Prince is busy should anyone want to visit him.”

Jun processed the scene that unfolded before him. He thought that Sho was loyal to Satoshi but here he was, following Masaki’s orders. Furthermore, they were discussing about the herbs the prince gave earlier. “I knew it,” he murmured to himself. The second prince really wanted to poison Satoshi. But why? Is it because of the throne? He wondered how he will collect evidence of Masaki’s treachery. Satoshi always said that his brother was a good person; he would not just believe Jun if he tells him about this.

“My stupid brother just gave me his right as a regent,” Masaki said. A sizzling noise and a sound of glass could be heard. “It was a difficult conversation, to be very honest. I wish this will be over soon.”

“I wish the same, Your Highness,” Sho responded.

Jun winced when he saw a few bugs crawling on his arm while he hid in the bushes. He immediately covered his mouth and silently prayed that no one would notice him.

The second prince turned towards his way and ordered, “Please take a look.”

Jun could hear Sho’s footsteps on the ground. He passed by the bushes where he was hiding and seemingly settled there, trying to find the source of the sound. Sho crouched low, and Jun closed his eyes, ready to be captured.

“I just found your pet dog, Your Highness,” he heard Sho inform Masaki.

Jun let out a sigh. He heard the two leave the patio. When Jun was sure that there was no one around, he left the bushes and dashed off through the trees and out of the second prince’s palace.

***

“I knew it! He was really suspicious! He’s the one who gave the tea to Satoshi,” Jun said as he paced around the room.

Kazu was sitting on the floor, drinking some wine. He chuckled as he listened to his friend’s conspiracy theory. “The second prince can do something as horrendous as that?” He sighed. “If that’s the truth, then we have all been fooled!”

“I can’t just storm into Satoshi’s bedroom to say that I suspect Prince Masaki poisoning him? I’ll die before I could even say that.” Jun sat down beside Kazu. “Besides, I think that will break his heart,” he added before he took a sip of wine. “Why are royal families like that?”

Kazu shrugged. “I don’t know. But it’s indeed interesting to know that the second prince has the gall to poison the Crown Prince. He’s a very good actor then, trying to pretend that he’s nuts.”

“Is he?” Jun replied bac, surprised.

Kazu nodded. “I’ve heard rumors that the second prince went insane after his brother fell ill. The women in this courtesan house sometimes whisper about it, how he summons weird people – sorcerers – as his audience.” He took another drink of tea. “I thought those were just rumors but I realized how crazy he was when we first met.”

“You’ve met each other?” Jun asked, surprised.

Kazu nodded. “Satoshi brought him here once,” he said, waving his hand carelessly. “I could say,” Kazu smirked, “he went crazy for me.”

Jun laughed. “Is he the one who gave you those luxurious gifts?”

Kazu stood up and looked at the window. “Indeed.” He gave a sigh. “Jun, I know you’re really worried about the Crown Prince. I just find it a little bit impossible that the second prince can do it, especially that the reason why he went insane was because he cared too much.”

“But what if the second prince’s insanity made him want to kill his brother? He was even talking about Satoshi transferring his rights as a regent to Masaki. That will give him more power. Once he get rids of Satoshi, he’ll be the heir to the throne!” Jun clenched his fists. “This is very obvious!”

“Jun…?”

“And that Sakurai Sho! I thought he’s loyal to Satoshi, but there he was, conspiring with that evil prince!” he said angrily while he paced around the room. “I’m going to reveal their true face to everyone!”

“Jun, what are you planning?” Kazu asked, visibly worried. “Don’t do anything crazy!”

“You yourself told me that I’m not someone who can be held back. You can’t stop me from doing this!” Jun yelled back.

***

Jun heard the joyful music and the laughter from inside Prince Masaki’s palace. That made him angrier than ever! They were celebrating while Satoshi was still sick in bed! He stormed inside the hall, not caring about the dozen guards along the way.

“How dare you enter the prince’s palace without permission?” a guard said, stopping him. Jun angrily removed the guard’s hand from his shoulder.

“I need to speak to Prince Masaki!” Jun said, running away from the guard before he could even be stopped. The guards started to run after him. Luckily, Jun was able to reach the banquet hall where the celebration was ongoing. One of the guards caught Jun and made him kneel on the ground.

The music stopped. “Wait, what is happening here?” Masaki asked. “Matsumoto-san?”

“Don’t you dare act innocent, Prince Masaki!” Jun angrily pointed his finger at the prince. “You tried to poison the Crown Prince! That’s the reason why he’s unconscious!” He looked around him with disgust. “Now, you’re celebrating because he gave you his powers? That’s very obvious of you!”

“W-wait! That’s not…” Masaki stuttered.

“Matsumoto-san, stop at once!” Sho ordered.

“And you! I thought you were loyal to Satoshi! Here you are, kissing the feet of who you think would be the next ruler! Shame on you!” Jun yelled.

“You don’t understand what is happening, Matsumoto.”

Jun tried to wriggle free from the guard holding him. “I’m not blind nor deaf! I heard both of you talking about the tea you gave to Satoshi!”

The ministers started to whisper to each other. However, one of them started to talk. “How dare you disrespect the Emperor’s new regent? How dare you accuse him of ill things? And of all things, attempted murder of his blood brother?”

The other ministers murmured their agreement to each other. “Arrest this man!” some of them called out.

Jun looked around him. It seemed like no one believed him. He wanted to curse all the ministers in front of him.

“No! wait, stop this nonsense!” Masaki replied. “Matsumoto-san, you don’t understand…”

A maid suddenly went to the middle and kneeled in front of the second prince. “Y-Your Highness! I would like to report something regarding the health of the Crown Prince!” she said, raising her head just a bit. “I… I think I know why he was always weak.”

“Speak!” the ministers ordered her.

“He was being poisoned, Your Highness! I saw it clearly! That servant Matsumoto Jun poisons him every time!” she said, clearly distressed. “I know you won’t believe me, but every time they are together, His Highness would suddenly feel dizzy and cough out blood!” the maid shrieked.

“Arrest this murderer!” the ministers cried out. “Your Highness!”

Prince Masaki looked at Jun with pity. “Arrest Matsumoto Jun and bring him to the dungeons,” he ordered his guards. They stood up and pulled Jun forcefully. “Sakurai, take care of him.”

“Consider it done, Your Highness,” Sho replied with a small bow.

***

Satoshi stirred awake. He could hear Sho calling out for him. “Jun? Where’s Jun?”

“Your Highness, he has been captured,” Sho, who kneeled on the floor in front of Satoshi’s bed, said in a pained voice. He did not dare raise his head.

“But why?”

“Your Jun just caused a scandal in Prince Masaki’s banquet and the prince had no choice but to have him captured.”

Satoshi tried to get out of bed weakly. “No, I have to go there and explain that Jun had nothing to do with this!”

“Your Highness, you’re not yet strong enough!” Sho placed his hands on Satoshi’s shoulders. “He accused the new regent that he was trying to murder you. However, it only added fuel to the fire. They all thought that Jun was the one who wanted to poison you!”

“I don’t care!” Satoshi answered curtly. “I have to save him! It’s only Jun who could make me feel better. You don’t understand. It’s like… it’s like he is the cure of this curse.”

“What do you mean, Your Highness?” Sho replied.

“Who gave you the right to question me?” he asked. Satoshi didn’t want to start an argument. He just wanted to see Jun and he did not need Sho questioning him. “I don’t even need your permission.” He stood up with a lot of effort and started dragging his feet out of the bedroom. Satoshi called on a servant to prepare his carriage so that he could visit Jun in the prison. He ordered them to go there as fast as they could.

“Jun?” Satoshi called out once he entered the damp and dark hall.

“S-Satoshi?” he heard Jun’s voice echo through the hall. “Is that you?”

The prince walked slowly towards the source of the voice and found Jun alone in a small cell. “Jun?” he called out again. He held out his hand and Jun took it. “I’m…” he looked at the abysmal place where his love was in. “I’m sorry you have to be here. I’m going to tell Masaki to let you out of here. It’s not your fault!”

“Do you really believe me that it’s not my fault?” Jun asked, his voice cracking and his eyes glassy with tears.

Satoshi shook his head. “I know very well the reason why I am like this ever since,” he said, letting go of Jun’s hand and turning his back. “It started even before I met you. It’s impossible that it’s your fault! I know that I’m sick. Believe me, I’ve also tried to look into this and found nothing.  It started when I was young. The air that I breathe felt like poison. Through the years, it has worsened” Satoshi chuckled nervously. “I think, at this point that my body’s at its limit.” He turned around and looked at Jun’s eyes brimming with tears. “I was so ready to die. But ever since you’re with me, I honestly feel afraid. I’m afraid to leave you.”

“You are so stupid!” Jun yelled once again. “You’re the most stupid prince I’ve ever met! You’re ready to die and leave me like this?”

“I have everything prepared. Masaki, he...”

“Why do you trust him? Isn’t he the one poisoning you?” Jun replied angrily.

Satoshi shook his head. “There must be a misunderstanding,” he said. “Masaki would never do that. I told you, I had this ever since and it just feels like it’s getting worse, day by day.” He looked at Jun and managed to give a smile. “It’s just that your presence slowed it down.” He took a deep breath and took in Jun’s sweet scent. “It’s you…” He stopped when he felt pain on his chest, as if he was being pierced by nails.

“Satoshi?”

The prince felt dizzy. He fell on the floor and coughed. He hoped Jun did not see it but he saw blood on the floor.

“Guards! Guards, the Crown Prince is not feeling well!” he could hear Jun yell.

“J-Jun, no, you’re putting yourself into trouble,” he said weakly. He heard the heavy footsteps of the guards and then fainted.

***

When Satoshi woke up, his brother was beside him. “Good morning, my stupid brother,” he said grimly.

“Masaki!” he exclaimed. “Where’s Jun? What happened to him?”

“He’s still locked up,” Masaki explained sadly.

Satoshi sighed. “I thought you’re already the regent.” He turned to his brother and showed his frustration. “I thought you promised that you’ll take care of him for me.”

Masaki just shook his head remorsefully. “People think I’m crazy, remember? Even if you hand me that golden badge of yours, that is not enough for all of them to follow my bidding. All those maids and guards told them that ever since Jun was here, you were spitting blood all around.” He chuckled darkly. “Even my status as a regent can’t fight against their words, especially because I’m not beside you all the time.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

Satoshi turned away. “But Jun was my only cure,” he reasoned out. “And if he’s gone, what’s the point of living?”

Masaki approached sat by Satoshi’s bed and held his hands. “My brother, you have been very good to me but I have failed you a hundred times. I couldn’t save you and I couldn’t keep my promise to protect Jun. I’ll do everything you want.”

“I would need the seal of the Crown Prince and a paper to write on.”

***

Jun sighed. The guards took him out of the prison, chained his hands, and pushed him towards a dark carriage. They slowly moved out of the prison, passing through the crowds. Jun could not help but think if someone was looking for him. Everyone around him seems to be oblivious that he’s going to be executed.  

Jun’s party passed by the grand gates of Satoshi’s palace. Normally, if he would try to look at it for a long time, he would spot Satoshi’s silhouette by his favorite high window overlooking the pond. Jun looked at that spot but saw nothing. He looked down on the ground and wondered how Satoshi was faring. The last thing he saw of the prince was his unconscious body on the floor. Guards had taken him away. Later that evening, Jun received his punishment of execution.

Jun felt the carriage stop somewhere after what felt like hours. The door opened and the guard pulled Jun out. He gasped in surprise when he saw who it was. “You?” he yelled angrily.

Sho rolled his eyes. “I’m going to forgive you because you clearly don’t know what has happened in the palace,” he said.

“Don’t you even try to talk to me like that, you traitor!” Jun said, trying to wriggle free from his grasp. He was surprised when Sho took out a key and began to unlock Jun’s chains. He passed a folded letter to him.

Jun read the contents. At first he was in disbelief. Did Satoshi really write this? He saw the Crown Prince’s seal and a brush stroke made from the golden paint that Satoshi loved. He then looked at Sho. “Is this true?”

“His Highness wrote that for you,” Sho explained. “Do you understand what he wants? He wants you to leave all of this.”

“How is he?”

Sho just shook his head. “That’s his last wish. Prince Masaki tried to help you but the crime placed upon you is too much that he could not overturn it.” Sho patted Jun’s shoulder. “The Crown Prince wanted you to live, all of us do. So please, please just leave and begin a new life out there.”

Jun felt hot tears down his face. “But Satoshi… I couldn’t even say goodbye to him.”

“I cannot risk it,” Sho said. “Now, please just listen to his last order. Take this carriage; it has everything that you will need for your journey. And take this,” Sho added, giving him a golden badge shaped like a fish. “While you have this badge, you will be under the new Crown Prince’s protection.”

Before Jun could argue, Sho took another horse and left him.

Jun did not leave the place immediately. He wanted to return to find out what has happened to Satoshi. He held the folded letter against his chest, trying to make sense of things that had happened. He opened the piece of paper and re-read what Satoshi had to say.

“Even when I am gone, continue to live and give color to other people’s lives, the same way you gave color to mine.”

***

Jun stood by a young tree. It has been three years since he had escaped the capital and lived a new life in a small town as a person who helps direct small plays. It was a nice and simple life, and he was happy.

“My, how you have grown,” he whispered to the tree. Its blue flowers have showered the ground with fallen petals, and the strong, familiar scent filled Jun’s senses.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” a voice called out. Jun looked behind him and saw the new emperor smiling at him. “How are you, Jun?”

“Living,” he replied. “Everything’s well, except…”

Masaki shook his head. “Indeed. I’m glad that everything’s well.”

“Listen, I apologize for misunderstanding your intentions three years ago,” Jun started, “Your Majesty,” he added as respect.

“To be honest, I would rather take people saying that I’m crazy rather than I’m my own brother’s murderer. Your words had angered me, if I am going to be honest.” He approached Jun and handed him a bottle. It was Satoshi’s precious golden paint.

“Isn’t this Satoshi’s?”

Masaki nodded. “It was a gift from a viceroy when we were young. That paint came from the essence of that rare tree’s bark,” he looked at the magnificent tree. “Furthermore, it was poison.”

“Poison?” Jun repeated. “This paint is a poison?”

Masaki nodded. “Satoshi really loved it and used it sparingly, claiming that it was very special. However, I think the poison came into full effect when he started using it often.”

Jun recalled that Satoshi used the paint often when he painted Jun’s portraits. “Is it my fault?”

Masaki shook his head with a smile. “On the contrary, you were also the key to the cure!” He took out something from his sleeves and handed Jun a bottle. It was the bottle of perfume that Kazu gave him. It had the same scent of the flowers around them. “I gave that to Kazu after creating perfume from these flowers. Apparently, he gave it to you and you unwittingly gave it to Satoshi.”

“I did, huh?” Jun said. “But maybe the antidote was too late? Or maybe the poison was too much that the perfume couldn’t fight it? Satoshi… he died, anyway.”

“You’re wrong on that,” Jun heard a very familiar voice that made his heart jump. He looked ahead and saw Satoshi standing behind Masaki’s carriage.

Jun did not hesitate. He ran towards Satoshi and embraced him. “You got me so worried, you stupid prince!” Jun sobbed as he hit Satoshi’s chest repeatedly. “I thought you died! I thought I’d never see you again. Why didn’t you tell me that you’re still alive?”

Satoshi touched his cheeks and wiped away the tears. “I wanted to keep you safe. But that doesn’t matter anymore. In the eyes of the palace and the people, Crown Prince Satoshi is already dead. I am only but a humble civilian.”

Jun turned to Masaki who just nodded with a melancholic look on his face. “I have to leave. There are things I must do. Best of luck to you, my dear brother, I mean, Ohno Satoshi.”

The two watched the emperor’s carriage leave them under the tree. Jun couldn’t help but stare at Satoshi, wanting to make sure that this was true and that Satoshi was really alive.

“Your staring makes me feel uncomfortable,” Satoshi chuckled.

“I… Shut up,” Jun just said, feeling embarrassed all of a sudden. Both of them were quietly looking at the setting sun. Jun placed his arm around the prince. “Satoshi?”

“Hmm?”

“Why don’t we start again?”

“Yes, let us start again, you and I,” Satoshi replied, pulling Jun close in an embrace.

EPILOGUE:

Jun closed the book he was reading. He stood up from his chair and went towards the porch overlooking a lake. He found Satoshi sitting there, the koto on his lap.

“Do you think it would be nice to go fishing today?” he asked without looking at Jun.

“You’re the laziest prince I’ve ever met,” Jun said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“I told you I’m not a prince anymore, you and I both know that. I’m only Ohno Satoshi,” he replied with a smile, looking up at Jun. “Besides, I’m so tired, I just want to lie down.”

“Oh really?” Jun raised an eyebrow. “You’re always not tired when you want to have a chat at night,” he replied, sitting beside his spouse. Satoshi smiled at him, as if teasing him. “I’ll throw the koto to the lake if you keep on smiling like that.”

Satoshi wiped the smile off his face. “I’m not a prince anymore and we can’t just buy a new koto.”

He pulled Jun closer until he was leaning on Satoshi’s shoulder. “Satoshi, do you ever consider leaving this place?”

Satoshi shrugged. “Well, I find Masaki a nuisance every time he interrupts us,” he replied honestly. “I love him but it’s like I’m still living in the palace.”

“That! That’s what I’m talking about!”

Satoshi laughed. “Indeed. He interrupts our nightly chitchat,” he replied. “He’s not a child and I believe he knows how to finally rule the kingdom.”

How about we leave today?” Jun suggested. “We can pretend that we drowned in this lake.”

“That’s too awful,” Satoshi replied. “He’ll feel upset about it.”

“He should be. I couldn’t have a peaceful night with you because he likes to interrupt and ask silly questions.” He sighed when he saw Satoshi’s expression change. “Hey, I was just suggesting. I don’t want you to have any regrets.”

Satoshi just left a kiss on Jun’s brow. “I have no regrets as long as I’m with you.” He then looked at the setting sun. “So, when are we leaving?”

“How about now? Before you change your mind and tell me that it’s too dark and you’re sleepy,” Jun said, pulling Satoshi as he stood up.

Satoshi could only shake his head in disbelief. “You’re too cruel.”

“And you love me too much.”