In Which Toya Falls Inlove For A Second Time
Toya Tenma was viewed as courageous, strong, kind—and most certainly—beautiful. He was seen as the most beautiful prince of the kingdom. Although he never felt he deserves such praise, he could not help the small smile that would make its way to his face when he received it. He was adored and awed at for his beauty and elegance, many suitors from around the world came around to ask for his hand. He was, without a doubt, beautiful.
Though, this time, he was less than beautiful. All messed up, hair was tangled, eyes bloodshot red, tear stains all over his face. He looked more pale, skinnier, he looked fatigued and unhealthy.
"Toya. We need to talk."
Toya sighed, he looked up at the knight and couldn't hold back the tears that came rushing in. He cried, sobbed, backing up until his back hit the edge of the bed
"Toya..." Akito crouched down to Toya's height, he hugged Toya in a tight embrace, as if loosening his hold would make Toya disappear. He held him protectively. He lost Toya once, he wouldn't do it again. He wouldn't let it happen, he simply couldn't.
"Tell me, what's wrong?" Toya sniffled, he didn't want to admit anything. He knew that if he were to admit why he felt this way, he would have to admit that he was in love with Akito, too. He didn't want to risk his friendship. He didn't want Akito to hate him. But goodness his mouth simply couldn't control itself.
"ListenIt'sBecauseIReallyReallyLikeYouAndI'mInLoveWithYouButIDon'tKnowIfYouLikeMeBackAnd—" He was cut off by Akito's voice, "Shh, calm down, okay?" Toya sighed. He exhaled before starting again, "I'm in love with you" Toya looked away in shame. He knew, he knew Akito wouldn't love him back.
There was no way somebody as great as Akito would love somebody as emotionless, cold, and blunt like Toya.
"I know you don't like me back! Who would like me back, anyway? You're so... Great... Beautiful, amazing, courageous, you can express how much you love someone and I... I just... Can't! You deserve somebody better" He didn't expect the kiss Akito would give him but it was welcomed
"Well, who's to say you aren't better?" Toya looked back at Akito who was staring at him intently. He had a warm smile on his face as he looked into Toya's eyes
"You... Like me... Too?" Akito laughed, "I thought I gave enough hints last time, ah... But... Yes... I love you, Toya... You're my reason to live everyday. I wouldn't be as "great" as I am today without you" Toya felt his face heat up
"Is that what you wanted to hear...? You're the best... Partner I could ever ask for" Toya smiled, embracing Akito in a warm hug. He felt he could spend eternity in this moment, he wished to freeze time just to stay with Akito. Akito and him were finally together
He loved Akito. Akito loved him.
He was finally happy.
Toya and Akito helped each other with cleaning up the room, Toya made sure he looked presentable before leaving and was quickly ambushed into a hug by Kanade and Saki who squeeled at spotting them
"We missed you so much!" They both exclaimed. Toya smiled and rubbed their heads, laughing slightly. "Don't fret my sisters, I am fine" Akito stood off to the side but Toya could see the small smile on his face. Toya smiled too, he always did feel giddy whenever he was around Akito.
"Tsukasa was worried sick, you should visit him... Bring your little boyfriend, too" Toya and Akito blushed at Kanade's last remark. They chuckled slightly as they bid the duo farewell and Akito and Toya made their way to Tsukasa's tower.
Akito hadn't known who this "Tsukasa" guy was but Toya seemed to like him, so Akito would try his best to like the guy. Whoever he was probably cared for Toya, too
They made their way up the rickety tower, Akito noticed that this was the place all knights weren't allowed to go to. It was a restricted area of sorts. Most knights, including him, were subjected to just wonder as to what might be so important that they'd hide it in this tower
Toya knocked on the door and it creaked open slightly. A boy with golden blonde hair poked his head from the inside and visibly lit up at the sight of Toya
"Ah! Toya! Welcome back!" He opened the door for the duo to enter. The tower was holding... A prince?
Akito hesitantly followed Toya inside who took a seat. The guy, Tsukasa, poured a cup of tea for the three of them, Toya drank eagerly and seemed to enjoy the silence for a while before speaking
"This is my brother, Tsukasa Tenma. He's usually hidden away for he's the only Tenma with light magic, you know what they say about Tenmas with light magic..." Toya's joy dimmed slightly at the mention. Akito could swear he felt a piece of him sadden at the sight of Toya's frown.
Akito was well aware as to what Toya was hinting at, they say any Tenma with light magic was cursed with a fate worse than death itself. He looked at Tsukasa with a puzzled expression
"So they just keep you here?" Akito asked, a bit blunt but Tsukasa didn't seem to mind, "Yep! Though I do wish to get out every once in a while!' This guy was loud. It made sense, without much people to tell him he was being too loud, he wouldn't exactly know what the appropriate volume was to talk in
"Tone it down will you..." Akito really hadn't meant it to sound rude but it was a habit of his, though, Tsukasa didn't seem to mind the tone, "Ah! Sorry!'" He apologized, still smiling. Akito just replied a quick "Okay" but that was about it
Toya and Tsukasa started a conversation which Akito mostly tuned out, he was mainly admiring Toya's beauty the whole time. He still had some red in his eyes, but he was otherwise fine. His blue hair finally got brushed after what seemed like a while, he looked better already. Although, even when he looked like a "mess", Akito still loved him. He always would. Nothing would keep him from loving Toya.
He was still so shocked about the whole situation, how somebody like Toya would love a loser like him. He could only guess why, but he was glad either way.
"You're both dating?! Congrats! I was so tired of watching you pine over him" Akito decided to listen to the conversation a bit after that, turns out, Toya had let it slip that he and Akito were dating. Tsukasa was glad, but Akito still felt blush on his face when Tsukasa mentioned that Toya had been pining over Akito for a while
"Do you mind if I...?" Tsukasa nodded with a smile, "You love him, he loves you, it's clear to see. Now, shoo! Go be lovebirds you two!" Tsukasa pushed them out of the room and Toya smiled. He grabbed Akito by the wrist and led him around the castle. It was night by now
The moon was at its peak, the moonlight graced the kingdom. The palace lit up by the dim light. Beautiful, but Akito could only focus on Toya. Toya was, by far, the most beautiful being he'd ever seen
"We're here..." They arrived at another sectioned off place in the palace, a garden do it seemed. Toya pulled Akito along to a tall oak tree. It looked old, maybe even older than the palace itself
"They say the King and Queen planted this as a symbol of their love! They say anyone that rests under it is bound to fall in love and stay together forever!" Toya sat down and Akito followed.
Under the shade of the tree, everything was peaceful. All of their problems were whisked away by the breeze as they huddled closer to each other for warmth.
Though Akito didn't believe in myths, he still loved Toya no matter what, and for the first time, he'd hope that this myth was real.
He wanted to be with Toya for his whole life, to be with Toya was his only wish. He would throw everything away just for him, he would do everything just for him. He would kill for Toya, he would die for Toya. If it meant to give Toya joy, or to save Toya, he would give and do it all
He would bend the rules of time and space for Toya. Reach the stars for him, he would steal a star in the sky just for Toya if he so as much as asked.
He looked at Toya, the peaceful breeze that flower through his hair, how the moonlight rested on him just right, he thought he was looking at an angel
"I love you" Toya said, and for the first time, Akito replied, "I love you too" Toya stood up and pulled Akito up as well, Toya was much taller than Akito so he leaned down to press a kiss on Akito's face
They both blushed a deep shade of crimson red but neither pulled away, when they did, they gazed into each other's eyes. They didn't need anyone else, didn't want anyone else, time stilled just for them. They were the sun and the moon. They were all they needed.
Once upon a time, long ago, there lived a Sun. The Sun was the brightest there was. The Sun was beautiful, prideful, courageous, it was powerful, a symbol of strength.
There was also a Moon, the Moon was cold, elegant, but hidden away in the shadows. It produced no light of its own, only reflecting the light from the Sun
And yet, the Sun fell in love with the Moon, and soon, the Moon fell in love too. The Sun falling first, but the Moon had fallen harder.
From their love, a single flower bloomed.
A Red Carnation.
Tsukasa smiled to himself, he had a view of the garden from his tower. He watched the two lovers and smiled, maybe he could fall in love someday. Though the thought was a bit silly and far-fetched, he still hoped to escape the tower and find somebody. He wondered how they'd meet, how they'd get together
He wondered if one day, he'd find somebody to love him too. If one day, he'd find somebody to give his life a meaning, to make him have a reason to wake up and live, to make him feel alive.
He was happy Toya found somebody for him, he only wished the best for Toya. His brother had only deserved the best, especially after his last mentor. Tsukasa scowled at the memory. How Toya would look so tired and drained after every training session, how tired he was of everything. He missed the way Toya would smile, how he would laugh, how his eyes would always shine at the sight of Tsukasa's magic
He wished Toya would tell him what happened, but even then, he loved Toya. His brother was the best person in the world, he deserved only the best. And so, Tsukasa would give him the best. Tsukasa did all he could to give Toya the life he deserved. He hoped that one day, he would find somebody to make him smile. And it seems that today, he just did.
He wanted to be with somebody who loved him dearly like how Toya loved Akito. He wanted them to love him as much as he loved them, whoever they were. But that dream felt so distant, so far away, after all, he was trapped in this tower. Condemned to a life of isolation and solitude forever.
He wanted to be with somebody who made him feel free, who made him smile, who would fascinate him, somebody he could love and be loved back. Although it was just a hope, a dream, a wish, he still had faith that it'd happen. His fate was decided, but his heart wasn't
Tsukasa watched as the two danced the night away, and a tiny part of him, the smallest part of his mind, hoped he'd find somebody one day.