[Series] The first meeting
Title: The first meeting
Series: Castle
Pairing: Ohmiya
Rating: PG
Genre: Humor, Fluff, AU
Disclaimer: I own nothing, really. T^T
Summary: Kazunari had never wanted to get married - not like this, with a stranger he had never seen in his life. But no matter how hard he had protested, he just couldn't refuse this marriage, because he was the Prince of his Kingdom.
Beta-ed by the lovely potatoos *sends her hugs*
A/N: I told you guys I would spam your Friend page, right? >"< But gomen, LJ just didn't work for me *and until now it still has some problems when I'm posting this*, moreover, I had a four-day vacation and it took all my time. So this was a little late. Hope you still enjoy it ~^-^~
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Kazunari stormed into the room with utmost anger, his frown furrowed deeply and his eyes glaring when he looked at his father.
“DAD!!!! I DON’T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS MARRIAGE!!!!!”
“It’s not whether you want this or not, Kazunari,” His dad sighed for probably the tenth time that day “I’ve told you enough, now go back and prepare for your wedding!”
“NO!!!” Kazunari yelled. Two servants hurriedly took both his arms and held him back, preventing him from approaching the King and attacking him. “I TOLD YOU I WON’T GET MARRIED!!!!”
“Kazunari,” The King grunted “Be a good prince, will you?”
“Why do I need to marry this person to be a good prince??” Kazunari demanded, he struggled out of the servants’ grasp and approached his father.
“Just because,” The King said with a sad frown on his face, and with that, Kazunari became quiet. This was why he always lost when arguing with his Dad, because he couldn’t stand the sad look on his face - the look that was tired and so defeated, and more than ever he realized how old his dad looked. “Kazunari, I’m sure you know of our problem, and this marriage could strengthen our army… You don’t want war to break out, right? Don’t you want to be useful to our kingdom?”
His dad’s brown eyes caught his and Kazunari couldn’t look away. Of course he understood the responsibility of a prince, but he just couldn’t force himself to agree to this marriage, and that was why he was fighting with his Dad.
“But… But Dad, how can I marry this person when I don’t love him?”
“Son…” His Dad sighed and took a step closer, his hand taking his son’s and he squeezed it slightly “I hadn’t known your mother when we got married too. And now you’re here, and I love your mom more than myself, and we have been living happily together since then.”
“But it’s your life!” Kazunari cried “I… I have no confidence that I can be that happy! What if I have no luck? What if he’s a bad person?”
“What I was trying to say is,” his Dad continued, his eyes looking far away as he didn’t look at his son anymore but to the window and the faint purple sky outside the window “Love is born when you really want it to. Do you understand?”
Kazunari wanted to say ‘no’, but when he looked at his Dad his words had been locked in his throat and at that moment he didn’t have anymore will to fight against this.
“But, Dad…”
“Son,” His Dad turned back at him and said softly “I believe you know what is the right thing to do. I won’t force you, but you know how much we need this. Our kingdom, our country. Our people.”
And with a sad smile, his Dad finished “Our family.”
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Kazunari could never believe that one day he would sit here in the waiting room, shifting uncomfortably and restlessly, waiting for someone he had never seen in his life and he was going to marry him in the next few days. It was definitely a nightmare, Kazunari decided, since the first time his father talked to him about this - about how his kingdom needed him. It had happened for two years already, since the first war broke out with the neighboring kingdom and his father’s military didn’t succeed in protecting their border. As a kind and gentle king as his father always was, it was understandable that the military didn’t have enough strength to fight against their enemy. But as soon as they took over two of their countries, it was no longer time for peace negotiation anymore, but to take weapons and fight. So that was why being in a good relationship with this kingdom - the kingdom whose prince Kazunari was going to marry - was so important. It was frustrating enough to think about getting married with someone he didn’t know, but it was more frustrating when Kazunari found himself being unable to help with his country’s problem. And maybe it was his only way to express his gratitude to his parents and his country. That was why Kazunari had finally accepted this, after a long time of refusing and fighting for it.
Moreover, he just couldn’t bear seeing his father getting older with his worries. The wrinkles on his father’s face had increased, as a sign for Kazunari to realized just how much thinking his father had been bearing just to come to this decision.
The noise outside was increasing, and Kazunari pressed his ear to the wood door, trying to make out some of the voices outside. But he couldn’t hear anything, except some usual greetings and a little laughing from whom he believed were his parents’ brothers and sisters.
He sighed and sat back on his seat, which was placed in the center of the room. Why was he the one who was waiting? Now when he thought about it, it was weird. He was a prince, and why on Earth was he waiting for someone else to come and propose him?
Wasn’t it the role of the wife?!
Kazunari’s eyes snapped up with the sudden realization. Why didn’t he think about it?
No way I’m going to be the wife!!!! He thought angrily.
He was about to break open the door to find his father and demanded him to at least explain this, when the door cracked open and a person stepped inside, looking around worriedly. When the man’s eyes caught Kazunari standing at the other side of the door, he sighed in relief.
“Kazu!”
“… Sho-chan?” Kazunari frowned.
Standing in front of him was his childhood friend, but they didn’t keep in touch with each other for a very long time. Since Sho moved to the other country because his father was a traveler, they had lost contact with each other. How could Sho come here and how could he enter the palace and why he was here in front of Kazunari, looking at him brightly like they had been going outside hunting just the day before.
“Kazu, it’s been a long time!” Sho said cheerfully as he took long strides towards Kazunari and pulled the Prince into his arms.
“And why on Earth are you here?” Kazunari squealed - he didn’t like skin contact, not at all, because it was ticklish and sappy and he couldn’t bear the heat of other people’s skin on his own. He pushed Sho away, making the other pout slightly.
“Prince Kazunari, you haven’t changed at all!”
“And why do I have to change?” Kazunari, finally freed himself from Sho’s embrace, and backed away with a curious look on his face. “Sho, why are you here? When did you come back?”
“I’ve come together with Prince Satoshi,” Sho said honestly. Kazunari arched his eyebrow. Prince Satoshi? The name sounded familiar, but Kazunari didn’t remember when he heard about the name before. And he didn’t know if this prince Satoshi had anything to do with Sho at his palace.
“And?” Kazunari asked, a little annoyed.
“Kazu,” Sho sighed “I know you are still mad at me because I left two years ago without telling you… but it’s not my fault, you know!”
“What are you talking about?” Kazunari frowned. His mind did not seem to be here anymore but was at where his Dad and fiancé were.
“Listen, I tried to contact you many times, but I don’t know why all my letters couldn’t reach you, and they were all given back to me…”
“Ah,” Kazunari finally understood what Sho was talking about. But getting mad at Sho was the very last thing Kazunari wanted to do right now. Thoughts about the Prince who would come and see him, about if he should agree to the marriage after seeing him or not took over his mind and made it unable to deal with other things. “Never mind. I’m not mad at you.”
“Really?” Sho was still unconvinced, but Kazunari waved his hand and impatiently made for the door.
“I’m going out,” Kazunari informed, and Sho looked start as he took Kazunari’s arm in his hastily.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“I need to ask my father why the hell did he let me be the wife?” Kazunari snapped. “Why am I not the one who’ll go and propose to whoever the other person is?”
“Kazu,” Sho sighed “Stop being so stubborn, will you? He’s here already, and even if you ask your father, nothing would change! He’s going to meet you very soon!”
“And who is he?” Kazunari snapped. Though he knew it wasn’t Sho’s fault, it still got on his nerves that everyone had been hiding everything from him.
“He’s…” Sho was about to begin when someone called him. Sho immediately backed away and with an apologetical bow he left hastily, and ran towards the source of voice and left Kazunari behind with confused yet angry eyes.
I can’t stay here anymore, Kazunari thought to himself and decided to get out of here and to take a look outside. He couldn’t wait any longer. So he took the chance when the lobby was deserted and he tiptoed outside towards the garden.
It was refreshing outside. It was a beautiful day, with sunlight streaming over, leaving golden sunbeams all over the place, lighting up the leaves and grass. The slight breeze wiped through the branches of trees, and sang a welcoming song of summer. Kazunari looked around, and when he was sure no one was looking he approached the lake in the middle of the garden - where he was sure no one was there at this kind of time since all servants had gone back to the castle to welcome the guests.
Kazunari was surprised to find a nice young man standing by the lake, staring absent-mindedly with an unfocused look on his face, and he looked like he could fall asleep anytime. He was wearing opulent clothes with shiny accessories on his neck and his arms. Kazunari could see a sword hanging by his side, so he guessed that this was one of their royal guests. He stared at the stranger for a whole minute before snapping back to reality, ready to hide himself and to search for another way to observe the main hall. But before he could move a muscle, he heard a soft, tender voice.
“Do you think those fishes would eat earthworms?”
Kazunari was startled, and when he looked up he could tell the one who was talking was that man. He was still not looking at Kazunari, but his eyes still glued to the lake as a small smile slowly appeared on his face.
“Excuse me?” Kazunari asked, his voice seemed raise an octave.
“Those fishes. I just think… Maybe I could use earthworms for my next bait…”
“Hey! You can’t just barge into other people’s garden and try to fish their fishes, can you?” Kazunari frowned, his arms across his chest. No matter who this man was, Kazunari was the Prince, and because he was the Prince, he just couldn’t let this man do whatever he wanted to!
“I’m not fishing them,” The man smiled, “I’m just thinking of a method to fish them.”
“Still,” Kazunari said stubbornly “Those fishes are mine, and there is no way I would let you fish them!”
“I said I’m not fishing them,” The man finally turned to Kazunari and Kazunari found himself holding his breath. “I’m just adoring them, that’s all.”
“What…?” Kazunari stammered. The tender look the man was giving him was doing weird things to Kazunari’s mind, as he found himself losing his voice for the very first time in his life.
“And these are your fishes?” The man said as he took a step closer to Kazunari. Kazunari instinctively stepped backward.
Kazunari could only nod.
“They are cute,” The man commented with a smile. Kazunari could feel the look of the man on his face and somehow it was uncomfortable.
“Thank… thank you?” Kazunari faltered, not sure what to say at times like this.
The man chuckled, and as if he was shining, Kazunari almost felt like his eyes were blurred with the sudden tenderness.
“You’re so cute, too,” The man said with a wink, and Kazunari could feel his own cheeks flushed helplessly. The man took a step closer and one of his hands came to Kazunari’s chin and lifted it up slightly.
Kazunari almost heard his own heart beat furiously in his chest, his mind seemed to lose all abilities to do anything as he couldn’t register what was going on.
… And the man leaned in and kissed Kazunari lightly on his lips.
The contact was the slightest touch Kazunari had ever experienced, but it sent shivers down his spine. As if his entire body was struck by lightning, he jumped and squealed and before he knew what was happening, he slapped the man on his face before running away as fast as possible, far away from that weird man and far away from those eyes. Kazunari could feel his own furious heart beating inside his chest and it was almost suffocating when he tried to run as fast as possible from there. Who the hell was that man? And why did he have the gut to kiss the Prince? Kazunari was the Prince, and though he was going to be another Prince’s wife, he was still a Prince, and that man had no right, and why, how, what happened to Kazunari, because his face couldn’t be any redder and his heart couldn’t beat any faster…
Kazunari’s thoughts were interrupted by noises from the main hall and he stopped, seeing Masaki running towards him with worried eyes.
“Kazu!!!” Masaki cried, and Kazunari frowned. Masaki didn’t show any disagreement that he had found Kazunari outside when he was supposed to stay in his own room. What had happened?
“He disappeared!!!” Masaki approached Kazunari, his eyes were full of worry and he looked messy with his hair tangled up and his clothes dusty “I’ve searched for him everywhere but I couldn’t find him!”
Kazunari took a glimpse around the room; the other servants were also looking for him. Kazunari didn’t mind if that prince didn’t come… He would gladly accept it if the Prince had changed his mind and had finally decided to not marry him and then return to his country. Though it meant that Kazunari’s country would be put into danger again…
The thought brought heaviness to Kazunari’s chest, as the responsibilities of a prince flowed back unpleasantly. He sighed heavily at Masaki.
“Go look for him again, Masaki… I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.”
And Kazunari looked up, to see Sho was running towards him again.
“What’s wrong with him?” Kazunari muttered and when he was ready to snap at Sho, the man passed over him and continued running. A frowned appeared on Kazunari’s face as his eyes followed Sho in confusion.
“Prince Satoshi!!! Everyone is looking for you!!!”
Kazunari was startled, as he found the name too familiar. Didn’t Sho mention before him in the waiting room a little while ago? So why was everyone looking for this Prince? Did it mean…?
“Prince Kazu!!! It’s him!!” Aiba cried in relief and tugged at Kazunari’s sleeves. Kazunari squinted his eyes, the sunlight was getting in his eyes and he couldn’t see the face of the man who was walking deliberately towards them clearly…
When he did see him, Kazunari wished he hadn’t seen him at all, but had ran back to his room and not come out again.
It was the very same man who had kissed him suddenly at the lake without his permission.
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“I WOULD NEVER MARRY HIM!!!!!!” Kazunari howled, and Masaki’s face turned pale as he followed Kazunari’s angry step with clear confusion on his face.
“But, why? He’s a nice man, Kazu, he’s very good at hunting and sword-fighting, he’s kind and handsome and…”
“ I SAID I WOULDN’T MARRY HIM!!!!” Kazunari yelled stubbornly and he ran towards the hall, leaving a pale Masaki and a confused Sho with a very unreadable Prince behind, looking at his back.
“I… I don’t know why he’s like that,” Masaki stammered at the Prince, his head lowered “He… usually he isn’t like that, I’m sure he has some problems…”
“It’s okay,” Prince Satoshi smiled assuringly at Masaki “It’s totally okay. Don’t worry.”
“But…” Masaki stammered, but Prince Satoshi had stopped him with a wave.
“He’s interesting…” Prince Satoshi smirked “Definitely interesting…”
And at that very moment Kazunari suddenly shuddered. He wondered if that had anything to do with that perverted Prince - who was going to be his husband, no, he didn’t want to be a wife, but what else to call him?
What did Kazunari do to deserve this?
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The meeting was safer than Kazunari had thought. After hours of pleading and forcing and threatening, his father had finally gotten Kazunari out of his waiting room and to the meeting. When Kazunari stepped inside the main hall, Prince Satoshi was there, and with his warmest eyes he was looking at Kazunari again, and Kazunari hated it. He hated it terribly when he couldn’t stay calm in front of this man, when he couldn’t utter any right words with those brown eyes staring at him, when he couldn’t control his heartbeat with that smile directed towards him. So Kazunari tried to avoid his look, and sat down in his seat, but what made it harder for Kazunari was that their seats were opposite each other. Prince Satoshi looked totally relaxed, with the same small smile on his face. Kazunari tried to shoot furtive looks at him, but immediately looked away with his cheeks blushed helplessly when he caught Prince Satoshi’s eyes staring intently at him. He just couldn’t stop his mind replaying the scene at the lake where that man kissed him on his lips, and he couldn’t chase away the small voice in his mind telling him that he was just acting like a girl.
Being busy with thoughts about Prince Satoshi, Kazunari didn’t realize that their parents had done the talking and it was time for him and Prince Satoshi to get to know each other better.
Kazunari wanted to run away again. He never wanted to be alone with this man anymore, because of whatever he was doing to Kazunari just by looking at him.
But of course, as a prince of a country, Kazunari couldn’t just run away.
And that was why he was here, sitting together with the perverted prince inside a private room. Kazunari didn’t dare to look at him but to dart his eyes around, trying to find a way out of here immediately. His hands were sweating profusely and his heart was beating faster again.
Prince Satoshi didn’t say anything but sat and relaxed and enjoyed his time with Kazunari. Though Kazunari couldn’t understand what was there to enjoy at this time.
“I’m sorry for being rude,” Prince Satoshi finally said, and Kazunari’s head snapped up. “I shouldn’t have done that when I still hadn’t properly introduced myself…”
“You kissed me.” Kazunari muttered, and it sounded like an accusation. But Prince Satoshi just chuckled.
“You were cute,” Prince Satoshi said with a smile “And I couldn’t help it.”
“You’ll kiss anything cute, don’t you?” Kazunari asked mockingly, and suddenly found himself getting angry without a reason.
“Not everything, mind you.” Prince Satoshi said simply.
“So you do kiss cute things!” Kazunari snapped “What am I? A kitten? Or a puppy? You can’t just kiss me like that!!”
“I…” Prince Satoshi began, but Kazunari cut him off angrily.
“I’m not a toy or a pet or anything that you kiss if you feel like it!! Are you playing around with me??!”
“Kazu,” Prince Satoshi suddenly called him, and the way his voice softened made Kazunari shiver.
“I didn’t say you can call me by that name!”
“Kazu.” Prince Satoshi said seriously, and Kazunari could feel it again: the nerves taking over him when Prince Satoshi looked deeply into his eyes. “I don’t kiss just anything.”
“Then why…”
“Because I like you,” Prince Satoshi said “Because I’ve liked you since the first time I saw you!”
“Today is the first time you’ve seen me,” Kazunari muttered “And it’s way too fast for you to like me, so you think I’d believe you? Perverted old man!”
“Today is not the first time I’ve seen you,” Prince Satoshi suddenly said, and Kazunari looked at him, bewildered.
“What do you mean?” Kazunari asked, but Prince Satoshi just smiled tenderly and didn’t say anything more, instead he went to sit beside Kazunari and wrapped an arm around his waist.
“Kazu is cute,” He said again, and this time, it also brought a strange feeling of what resembled to happiness inside Kazunari’s chest, and though Kazunari stubbornly denied it, he couldn’t bring himself to push Prince Satoshi away.
“Those fishes are also cute, aren’t they?” Kazunari muttered disapprovingly.
“Ah, so my Kazu is jealous of the fishes!” Prince Satoshi remarked and he laughed at Kazunari’s red face.
“I’m not!!! AND I’M NOT YOUR KAZU, OLD MAN!!!!”
“Kazu is the cutest,” Prince Satoshi grinned again and leaned in, this time he placed gentle kisses on Kazunari’s cheeks. And once again, Kazunari felt like his heart couldn’t beat normally anymore as it was going to burst out of his ribcage once again.
After that Kazunari didn’t protest anymore, though he still found it annoying when Prince Satoshi acted like Kazunari was already his wife - no, not wife, but what else could Kazunari be?
Their wedding was to be held within the next two days. When they heard about it, Kazunari had protested half-heartedly and Satoshi just smiled and hugged Kazunari tighter, as if it was the most natural thing to do on this Earth.