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25 years.
That’s how long the Solar War has been ongoing for. Two worlds separated by only a shallow but cursed stream laid by their very own forefathers, yet lead completely different lives. Where sunlight shines upon people in the Sun kingdom, a black moon rises in the kingdom of Moon. Realising with time that their individual worlds will crumble eventually with only half of Time, the two rulers meet by the borders in hopes of reaching a conclusion.
As how it tends to go down in history, negotiation failed when neither were willing to give up their power over the half they reign, leading to skirmish, and eventually, what is now called by the people, ‘Solar War’.
The fight for control of day and night has killed countless people in both worlds long before their heirs was born, and the young prince of Sun has expressed his distaste for the war countless times.
It had happened not so long ago, when the prince turned eight, that a mark of the moon appeared on the back of his left hand.
Prince Eijun had to suffer searing pain for a full hour as the mark made itself prominent where it first appeared, claiming the area around the still tender skin with silver.
It was then that the king and queen recalled what the Books of Old told of birthmarks and destiny, of how the mark was only the first of many, but they were unwilling to sacrifice their only son so easily. Especially not when their child was a ball of sunshine by the name of Sawamura Eijun.
Yet, when the prince found out about the prophecy five years later he was the one who barged into the Royal Meeting Room and offered himself up.
“This war has gone on far too long! If my marrying to the heir of Moon can end it, then so be it. For all our futures, I am willing.” When his parents exchanged doubtful looks, he had added, “Please.”
Perhaps it was the pleading tone of voice, or the look in his eyes, or fatigue from long years of bloodshed that did the trick, but the king and queen agreed to give it a try. Never in a million years did they think that the other side would agree to the outrageous proposal. Which it is unfortunate that the King and Queen of Moon passed before their time, but their heir has stepped forward and expressed eagerness to complete the ceremony.
At the marriageable age of 18, the heirs of the two kingdoms will come together where both worlds meet, seal their vows of eternity, and end the war once and for all, bringing back a full day for their people.
“...Which brings us to where we are today,” the Royal Advisor finishes with a clap that echoes through the large but empty room. She turns to the sole figure sitting before her, pushing up her glasses, giving him one final assessment. Cautiousness shines in her sharp eyes.
“Do you understand the seriousness of your position, Sir Miyuki?”
Said man straightens in his seat, as though it is even possible. “Yes, ma’am. For the next month and as long as this mission may extend, I will guard the Prince until the moment I see day turn to night and night turn to day. Without fail, until my last breath. This I swear.”
Another pause, but this time shorter. “Very well. Your oath I accept. Come, I will escort you to our prince.”
Takashima Rei has been the Advisor for the Sawamura family even before they ruled the lands, and has stuck around through thick and thin till where she is today. From the bottom of his heart, Miyuki Kazuya holds great respect for the woman.
So he stands tall and straight even in faded t-shirt and jeans, his bag of necessities slung over his shoulder, pushing the heavy door open for her and matching her pace as she guides him through different parts of the palace.
Experience has him counting thirteen windows large and safe enough to jump out of in case of emergencies, five blind spots wizards would be able to burst through effortlessly, and nine annoyingly long spiral staircases.
“...Too vulnerable,” he concludes with a frown.
Rei halts, pivoting sharply to face Miyuki. “What do you mean by that?”
Miyuki stares back at her evenly. “The palace is too vulnerable. It wouldn’t take much for any assassin to get to the prince. In fact, it’s a miracle how anyone here managed to survive to this day.”
Rei remains silent, only looking into Miyuki’s eyes until she’s seemingly satisfied.
“You’ll see why soon enough.” Then she turns and continues walking, expecting Miyuki to follow her without questions. She isn’t disappointed.
But Miyuki doesn’t see why. They walk, and Rei explains about the area, they walk, and Rei explains, and then Miyuki sees a grand door which screams ‘Royalty Inside!!!’. There aren’t even any guards around the area, and his mind is screaming that everything about the palace is wrong, wrong, wrong. Even though the war is important, how could they possibly leave the palace as unguarded as it is? Whoever oversees the palace currently needs to be fired.
Rei pauses for the first time since they left the room, confirming Miyuki’s deduction. She knocks, body slightly bent forward even though only Miyuki is there to see. She truly is proficient at her job. “Your Highness? It’s Rei. I’ve brought Sir Miyuki.”
“...Come in,” an authoritative voice rings from the other side of the door. But it doesn’t make Miyuki’s nerves tingle, not like the first time he heard the King’s speech when he was ten, roaming the city at night without explicit permission. It still makes Miyuki think about the young boy he saw then, clinging onto his father like his life depended on it.
“Thank you.” Rei bows again and the doors begin to creak, causing the ground beneath their feet to tremble at its weight. Magic, Miyuki senses for the first time. He’s a normal human, but he’s had his share of magical encounters, so he’s more sensitive to the traces left behind than even some wizards.
-To successfully get the position he now holds, Miyuki even had to go through a series of exams. The long list includes the basic written exam of how well he knows the kingdom, hand-to-hand combat, how well-defined his six senses are, weaponry, mechanics, strategic planning, torture, magic, battle stimulation… so many more terms it makes one frown (or shudder, if you aren’t well trained) just thinking about them.
There’s even one whole section dedicated to meeting the prince’s need, such as washing skills, cooking skills. Efficiency was even marked in red, for they needed someone who is capable all-round, especially in times of war where the kingdom suffers economically.
Miyuki doesn’t think he did badly on any of the tests. On the contrary, he’s certain he passed them with flying colors. But perhaps despite being a nationally recognised veteran at his young age, there still things he failed to notice during the two months long exam after all? The possibility of that has Miyuki’s jaws tensing.
He doesn’t have the time to ponder, for the doors have opened and Rei is bowing her head even lower, and Miyuki is following in her stead and bending 90 degrees forward for the prince who has hardly ever showed his face to his people the past 18 years of his life.
In all honesty, Miyuki doesn’t know what he was expecting out of the meeting. Perhaps something similar to what kings do: dress nicely, sit on a sofa throne with guards on either size, holding a long scroll of information. A double king sized bed, with endless photos of ancestors framed on all sides of the wall, then a quick glance before his dismissal.
Summary: a grand room housing a spoilt brat, befitting the son so loved by his father and mother, king and queen of the kingdom.
Reality: a normal room. Don’t get him wrong; the size is still humongous and all, but the interior furnishings are unexpectedly normal.
“What do you mean, normal ?” Miyuki starts at the question; he didn’t realise he said that out loud. He would’ve squirmed under Rei’s glare if he was just a few years younger. But he’s trained for unexpected situations, so he smiles,
“Well, the rest of the palace has been so grand till this very door after all… I was under the impression that this room would be no different, let alone when it’s the prince’s room.”
Miyuki takes in a second sight at the room. Truly, it bears the look of an ordinary bedroom of the ordinary. A double bed set in the corner of the room, a plain dresser next to it, a single wardrobe, a messy study desk, and a ceiling fan which isn’t in use at the moment with the glorious invention of air-condition. And the prince --
“Where’s the prince?” Miyuki doesn’t sense the presence of another in the room. He did definitely hear the prince’s voice just moments ago, however, and seeing as there’s no other escape routes than the very door he walked through (another huge problem), he fails to pinpoint any location the prince may be hiding out of range.
Then he hears a muffled sound, and with a bright flash of light, a figure appears before them, dressed in a traditional kimono and a veil covering his face decorated with symbols of the Sun kingdom and bearing the royal insignia. He stands with elegance and pride, his crown holding his veil together. An entity that did not fit in with the room he calls his own.
Camouflage magic. A spell that would allow you to temporarily hide in the spiritual Third World, as if you were gone without a single trace.
Miyuki can’t hide the shock he feels. He's only heard of how the most skilled wizards in the capital are still trying to perfect it on his way to the palace, and yet...
“Ah, prince, there you are! I present to you Sir Miyuki. After our series of exams, we've deemed him worthy of becoming the Captain of the Royal Guards who will be guarding you throughout preparations of the wedding. Sir Miyuki -- You now stand before our noble prince, Prince Eijun.”
At the last word Miyuki instantly lowers his head respectfully, “Your Majesty.”
“Please, raise your head, Sir Miyuki,” the prince answers in the same royal voice he used earlier. Miyuki does as told.
“I’ve given Sir Miyuki the vacant room next to yours to make his job easier. Much like the other members of the Guard, he is of close age to you, so I trust you’ll be able to get along.”
“Thank you as always, Advisor Rei.” Miyuki is somewhat glad that even though the prince wears a veil, the smile in his voice is unmistakable. At least he’s not a robot.
Rei actually cracks a smile then, one so warm it makes Miyuki curious about the renowned prince just standing inches away. “It is a pleasure to be of use to you, Your Majesty.”
Then she turns to Miyuki, all business-like. “As you know, the prince has to wear a veil at all times unless in private occasions. Other than the royal family and trusted allies, there are no exceptions to whom he may remove it before. Of course, that includes you.”
Miyuki gives a single, professional nod. “Of course.”
“You can tell when someone’s a trusted ally with this --” Rei reaches into her collar, pulling out a glowing pendant, on it carved that of the royal insignia. “-- It’s a pendant enchanted with the magic of the king itself. In the presence of royal blood, it will glow until it is touched by a royalty. I will also hand you their profiles later, just in case.”
Another curt nod. “Yes, ma’am.”
Rei seems satisfied with Miyuki’s attitude, rewarding him with a hint of a smile. In a split second, her stern face returns as she pushes up her glasses.
“Come, Sir Miyuki. Prince Eijun must be tired from maintaining the camouflage magic for long hours. I’ll bring you to your room so you can rest as well.”
Miyuki complies, bowing when Rei did, and left the room. The prince says nothing, and being unable to see his face, Miyuki cannot guess what he thinks of his new bodyguard. Well, it doesn’t matter actually; he’s just gotta do his job. Nobody will say anything if you’re good at your job, after all.
His room is fairly simple - and obviously much smaller - than the prince’s. Still, considering the state of the kingdom in the present, Miyuki would say it’s rather luxurious for a knight with his background. Most likely, it’s a room typically reserved for guests from other regions.
Rei clears her throat, getting his attention.
“This will be your room until you have to leave the palace with the prince. The rest of the Guard will be arriving by lunchtime tonight, so meanwhile, please rest.”
Well, her mouth speaks of a request, but Miyuki knows there isn't anything else he can do. So he nods and keeps his smile until Rei finally clicks the door behind him and he lets himself relax.
“God, like finally ,” Miyuki sinks into the springy sofa, taking his first loud, deep breath since entering the palace. He may have seen battle and bloodshed, but formalities are still quite beyond him. Never will he understand how royalties go through this their entire lives.
He checks the clock - 10am. He has two hours before lunch. Before his “teammates” arrive. Well, what better time to unpack his things, right? So Miyuki tosses his bag onto the soft bed, and gets down to his task.
He didn’t bring much; just three sets of clothes, some of his magical tools, his flip phone, worn out books, all his cash (which wasn't a lot), three albums he’s had since he was a small boy, and a gun. As expected, the room already has things laid out for him, just like a hotel: towels, stationery, manuals, a TV, a desktop…
Miyuki smiles when he sees the balcony, just like he requested. Well, he calls it a ‘balcony’, but it's really just a large hole that seemed to be blasted with magic and fixed up last minute so it's safe to peek outside. Though, as long as he's able to see beyond this room, Miyuki’s fine with it.
Grabbing a chair, Miyuki takes a seat by the open space and picks a song from his phone. His finger hovers over the play button, then an announcement sounds in his head, likely from magic.
“Sir Miyuki, please report to the main dining hall now. I repeat, Sir Miyuki, please report to the main dining hall now.”
Well, a man’s gotta go when he’s gotta go. Miyuki flips his phone shut and slides it back into his pocket, grabbing his dagger and gun before leaving the room. An occupational hazard, honestly; you never know when an attack might come, friend or foe.
With his memory, Miyuki is able to map out the palace in his head, navigating as he walked. “Three lefts, a right, pass the armory, then down…”
Sure enough, soon he finds open doors with the label ‘main dining hall’, voices spilling out from the inside. The first who notices him is a sharp eyed boy with green delinquent like hair brushed to the back. Then he breaks into a smile, looking five times more approachable.
“Ohhh! You must be the renowned strongest knight of our time, Miyuki ain’t cha?! C’here, c’here! We got loads of things to talk about!”
“Ha…” Scratching his head Miyuki makes his way to the only empty chair, next to the green haired boy who casually throws his arm around Miyuki’s shoulder. He can’t help tensing; this is normal for kids his age he supposes, but with his background familiarity isn’t a term he’s quite used to.
“I’m Kuramochi, a knight like you. Your vice captain, actually.” Miyuki takes the welcome hand and they exchange a firm shake. Just from that Miyuki knows that Kuramochi will be a reliable ally to have, and he smiles.
“Pleasure to meet you, Kuramochi.”
“Hey, don’t forget about us!” A boy with a bully looking face chips in, and Miyuki look up to find at least five other faces staring at him, all welcoming. They each take turns introducing themselves --
There’s Masuko, one year senior of Miyuki, a knight who belongs in the heavy class, compared to Miyuki and Kuramochi’s middle class. With enhancement spells, he will be helpful in face with physical obstacles like boulders.
Tojou, the same age as the prince, their Healer equipped with powerful but draining destructive spells.
Haruichi, a childhood friend of the prince who specialises in Curses despite his frail appearance (or perhaps, that’s why.)
Kanemaru, the one with the bully looking face, an archer who also specializes with guns, magically enchanted or not. Miyuki’s heard of him before; rumors have it that he hasn’t missed once even without magic.
Asada, a wizard apprentice and the youngest in the team. He has the rare gift of a Radar which detects any enemy within a specific range and is capable of maintaining a barrier at all times.
Finally, the mysterious Chris who will serve as their advisor. With an aura brighter than the prince’s, there is something about the older man that gives Miyuki the chill. Don’t get too close to him, the warning sounds in his head, and he shakes it away.
For better or worse, he doesn’t get to dwell on it, cause dinner comes. ‘Dinner’, or rather, a buffet? There was at least a plate of each vegetable and meat, and countless pots of different soup, along with dessert enough to be a main.
Miyuki swallows at the sight; the look and smell isn’t the kind of thing you’d see every day as a commoner. The chef (well, she hasn’t introduced herself yet, but everyone knows a chef when they see one) give a sheepish smile as everyone ‘oh’s and ‘wow’s. Everyone except Haruichi and Chris, who must be used to the food, being affiliates of the Royal family and all.
They dig in, and by the time they finish, some are tipsy, others drunk. They exchange casual stories of their past and what led them to join this team despite knowing that chances are survival are slim. It’s surprising to find that most their ‘stories’ weren’t anything out of the world; most of them come from ordinary families, on the far end of the kingdom, safe from the war.
When they heard that there is a way to end it, they decided to come, for they are aware of the abilities they own, and want to put it to good use. True examples of devoted citizens, they are.
“What about you, Miyuki-san?” Haruichi’s sharp, curious eyes seemed capable of peeking into his heart, and Miyuki suddenly sees how his curses can be effective against opponents. “Whatever brings you on this mission?”
For a brief second he considers sharing the truth, but wisely decides against it. He is, in the end, but a human; too much alcohol can make him lower his guard. And in this line of work, that’s enough leeway for an assassination.
“I’m more of a classical kind of hero. All the tragic back story of not knowing my parents, and rejected even by orphanages due to my inhumane strength at a young age, and learning to fend for myself. Since I don’t really have a reason to live, why not dedicate it to my kingdom, right?”
He says it so nonchalantly; all movements cease and all eyes are on him. Kuramochi creases his brows.
“I see…” He’s a sharp one, Miyuki notes. Though Kuramochi doesn’t say it, he can see from those sharp eyes that Kuramochi doesn’t buy his words. Not really. “Also, I was just wondering, why the bandanna? Isn’t it hot?”
“Well… it’s a gift from an old friend.”
“An old friend?”
Miyuki stands. Nope. Not going there. He feigns a yawn. “Sorry about that. It’s getting late. I’m going to return to my room to ensure the safety of the prince. It was nice to meet all of you. See you tomorrow.”
Smoothly, he exits the dining hall and makes for his room. He hears the echo of his name, but is at ease for he knows they won’t follow him into an area of the palace they’ve yet to venture into. Soon enough, he reaches the safe haven of his new room.
Suddenly feeling drained from the long day, Miyuki lets himself fall onto the single bed. This is bliss.
He thinks back to what he said earlier. Technically, they weren’t lies. His first memory is that of being passed down to the next orphanage at the age of three, and the only thing that he knows for sure is his name, carved onto a pendant he always held tightly in his hands even as an infant.
All he’s seemingly good at is technical things, like fighting, strategizing. Winning. So he’s honed them over the years, and somehow ended up being the strongest knight of his time. It’s even somewhat funny when he thinks about it now. He chuckles, and when a sound catches his attention, grows silent.
Singing. Someone’s singing, and Miyuki has a very good idea of who that someone is. Keeping his movements light, he presses the side of his head against the wall connecting his room to the prince’s. But the bed is old and it creaks, and even though it was the softest of a groan, the voice instantly dies down.
“...Sir Miyuki?” It’s a meek voice, much unlike the one Miyuki heard earlier in the day. He nods, even though the prince cannot see him, out of habit.
“It is indeed I. Your Majesty.”
Then, silence. Miyuki’s just about to head to bed when he feels the impact from the lightest of bumps against the wall, travelling all the way down to his fingertips.
He waits, beginning to understand the prince’s pattern. Sure enough, after another long moment, comes a soft whisper, “Sir Miyuki, can you do me a favor?”
Miyuki would be lying he he said he wasn’t taken aback. What kind of request could a prince have for his Knight on their first night of meeting? “Whatever that may be, Your Majesty?”
By then he’s already grown accustomed to the silence that follows, so he simply gives a patient hum.
“Can you… Can you listen to me sing?”
“Sure,” Miyuki answers without thinking -- or he would’ve done that, but his next to inhuman reflexes saves him and he manages to bite back the word. He’s not just shocked at how uncertain the very prince who offered himself up for the peace of his kingdom sounded, but at the very nature of his request. Listen to him sing?
“Sir Miyuki?”
“You don’t have to be formal with me, Your Majesty. I serve you, after all. Your request is mine to meet, with pleasure.”
“Then… Thank you, Miyuki.” He doesn’t know how he does it, but he can hear the smile in the prince’s voice as he begins to sing gently again. It’s in a language so old, no traces of it are found in the present. The prince’s voice is surprisingly pleasant to listen to; even better than some singers out there he dare say, and it soothes him into a deep sleep.
***
When Miyuki awakens, he finds himself in the arena, in a one-on-one against Kuramochi. In his hand he wields the palace’s sword, and pressed against it is Kuramochi’s. The opponent makes a move, and Miyuki finally fully returns to reality and jumps back before he gets cut into two.
“Hey hey, no slacking off, Miyuki! We’re setting off soon, you know!”
Right.
A month flew off in the blink of an eye. Literally. Miyuki can hardly recall in detail the time he spent with the team, be it practice or bonding time. The only thing he remembers of his daily life are the moments before he falls asleep, the soothing voice of the prince urging him into a deep slumber.
The bell for dinner rings, and Miyuki calls off the practice for the last meal he will share in the palace. Everyone seems to have settled in nicely, but now their luggage are by their feet, their dressings light and armed. Still, they eat heartily, long accustomed to the sounds and taste of metal.
As the captain, Miyuki takes the center seat and observes the people as he puts a piece of chicken in his mouth. He checks for any hidden injuries, or possible fallouts between any members. It’s a blessing that everyone seems to get along. With a team like this, chances of surviving the mission feels higher and morale is boosted.
Miyuki makes small talk; seemingly pointless but they are conversations that will do him good later on the road. Things like how Tojou can be off to a good start, but stamina tends to deplete at a fast rate.
After all of them finish and the food is cleared and refreshments served, another bell rings. This bell, only a few, including Miyuki, understands. The bell signalling the arrival of a royalty. He taps on the table twice, and the room goes quiet.
“Announcing the arrival of His Majesty, Prince Eijun.”
Hushed whispers erupt.
“That’s His Majesty? God damn wow...”
“The prince! ”
“Holy crap, he looks gorgeous.”
Can’t blame them, really. Since they first gathered, the prince has never made an appearance. Thinking about it, what does he even do in the day? Does he only stay in his room, or…
Rei gestures to Miyuki. Right, a royal must never be without his knight. Miyuki stands from his seat, and silent and swift as a ninja makes his way to the prince’s right.
The prince is dressed for the occasion as well, a modern designed kimono with the familiar insignia sewn onto it. The outfit just screams royalty. A veil similar to that of those used for weddings covers his face, and Miyuki knows it’s enchanted with magic to ensure visual and motion comfort, even though all he sees is a white piece of cloth.
Everyone stands from their seats, chairs clattering and feet entangling like they suddenly lost all their years of training. They line up in two lines, a respectable distance from the prince before they bow and kneel on a leg respectively, echoing greetings to their lord. Miyuki doesn’t know how he knows the prince’s smiling behind the veil.
“Please, rise.”
They do, clumsily. Miyuki keeps a straight face, but he wants nothing more than to laugh aloud. The prince waits until everyone has composed themselves, hands behind their backs.
“I’m Prince Eijun. It is truly an honor to meet all of you. Thank you so much for coming all this way to act as my brave bodyguards until the end of my journey. I pray for everyone’s health and safety for as long as I am capable of doing so.”
“Our honor, my liege.”
Similar murmurs overlap, and the prince spreads his arms before bringing them into a clasp at his chest, and bows.
A bell rings, again, followed by a third, and it is time for them to go.
A dozen palace guards await outside the dining hall, and Miyuki follows behind them, as the main guard of the prince who walks behind him. The rest of the team grab their luggage before following suit, getting into formation around the prince, forming the standard protective circle.
Music sounds, and they begin their march to the carriage that waits outside the palace. Despite being such a grand event, only a few guards are present, the rest likely guarding the border and scattered around the kingdom to spread the news of the ceasefire until the marriage is completed.
There are two carriages, one for the prince, the wizard, the healer, and his close friend. Namely, Prince Eijun, Asada, Tojou and Haruichi. Miyuki will be driving it. They will be in front, serving as the defense of the team.
The one in the back will consist of the offense team, with Kuramochi and Masuko, the knights, Kanemaru, a long range archer, and Chris, who is the driver, and the man who will be advising the overall team’s actions to take.
Giving his home a final, long look, the prince turns and takes Miyuki’s hand to help him up the carriage. Miyuki does a roll call for the rest, and after making sure there is a full count of 8, he gives a final salute to those who have come to send them off, and gets onto the driver’s seat.
Well, here we go.
Pressing onto what seems like air (but are in fact, enchanted controls), the carriage wheels begin to turn, and they are rising into the sky. Once they pass the gates there is a split second where Miyuki feels the loss of consciousness, the only sign that they’re now under Asada’s camouflage protection. Magic provides countless possibilities, but it is what they will do that terrifies Miyuki.
The capital is flooding with life, the day going on as how it usually would for the civilians, as though they are not in the midst of war. Still, the tension buried deep in the air is thick enough to make one feel sick, and with a frown Miyuki tries to cross the sky quickly.
The sun is still low, and Miyuki can tell it’s a perfect weather to have picnics, or to go fishing, or to practice magic on dummies, or simply to lay in bed and stare at the painted ceiling. But since he can’t do any of that, Miyuki chooses to hum a tune instead.
Somehow, the tune is a little familiar. He isn’t sure why, though - Ah, it’s the same tune as what the prince had been singing. Did it rub off on Miyuki after hearing it every night? Hoping the prince can’t hear him, he changes midtune into a song from his long-term playlist. The carriages are quiet, but he’s not sure whether it’s a good thing. Still, he just keeps driving, following the directions sent to him from Asada.
He doesn’t stop till high noon, the safest hour. Calculations are spot on and they reach the town near the edge of the capital gates that has already been previously informed of their arrival. Flags of the kingdom are raised high, and people come out of their houses, awed by the rare sight of a magic fueled carriage in this day and age.
Miyuki handles the landing perfectly; just one of the many requirements of being the prince’s escort. He approaches with speed and care, but more of speed - and people, being people, steps back, so there is a space for them to land.
The town ambassador, a man in his late 50s, comes forward with a gentle smile that softens further upon laying his eyes on a group of teenagers.
They are guided to a three star restaurant, the best they have, and the food served are to their preferences. Orders, Miyuki supposes. Ensuring that the men are in high spirits is an important trait for any ruler, and it seems to be working well with these boys.
Once they are all seated, the ambassador comes to Miyuki. “The prince will have his meal in the room there,” he nods to the door to a small room at the corner. “The door is made of traditional paper. If anything happens, we will still be able to reach him immediately.”
Miyuki bows his head. “Yes. Thank you very much for your hospitality.”
The ambassador guides the prince to the private room, and Miyuki thinks their eyes meet, though there is no say to tell with the magic veil over his face, but the prince gives him a nod of acknowledgement and he’s not quick enough to nod back before his head turns away.
“Miyuki-san, if you don’t hurry up and eat, Masuko-san’s gonna take it all!”
Oh right, food.
Sure enough, the moment Kanemaru finishes talking, Miyuki’s drumstick is snatched off his plate. Well, two can play at this game. As the next dish is served - roasted pork belly, it is - Miyuki locks his chopsticks against Masuko’s own. With a skillful twist, the piece of meat falls onto his plate.
“Whaaaaat!”
Miyuki smirks. It’s not that he’s that hungry or anything, but a captain’s gotta prove his worth.
What he doesn’t expect, however, is the food war that follows. The men stop munching on the things on their served plates, and begin to grab at each other’s food. The result? A messy table and even messier plates, naturally.
Miyuki gives a disapproving shake of his head when he thinks about cleaning up later, but the waitress in the corner who catches his eye just chuckles and gives him an okay sign. On her wrist he spots a bangle; a sky blue bangle, infused with Housekeeping magic.
He returns a smile. Sometimes he’s so darned grateful for magic.
Their stay is short; once every plate is cleared and the prince has given his blessings to the people, they are to leave.
“Please return here sometime even after your marriage, Your Majesty.”
“I will.”
The day just gets hotter as they enter late noon, around 8pm when the sun is highest. Even with the constant breeze from going against the airflow, Miyuki feels sweat trickle down his bare neck, and he wonders how the prince manages to even breathe in his outfit.
‘Oi, Miyuki, how ‘bout a quick break?’ Kuramochi’s loud voice is a little too sharp to the ear, and Miyuki leans to the side even though it’s useless as it comes directly from his head thanks to the Communication pin attached to all of their sleeves.
‘Seconded, please,’ Tojou’s voice chips in.
‘A break sounds like a good idea,’ Chris adds, and that’s the final decision. Miyuki decides it’s a right one after he sees Asada, slightly pale from the heat and long hours of powering two large vehicles given his petite size. They’re about to reach the Wild Plains, and as every region, a rest area is provided for travellers and after scanning the perimeter Miyuki turns the carriage to land.
“Fifteen minute break, everyone,” Miyuki announces, unmoving from his seat and gauging the men’s conditions based on their expressions. “The water from the lake is safe for drinking and for washing, if necessary.”
“Yes, sir!”
They disperse, some remaining in the shade of the carriage for a quick nap, others drinking from the lake with unbecoming greed.
...Where’s the prince? And Haruichi, for that matter? It should've been made clear that no one should be out of sight of the rest at any point of time. Miyuki frowns, and stands.
“Kuramochi, take care of the carriages for a bit, will you?”
A green head pops out from the window. “Huh? Yeah, sure. Why, though… Oi, Miyuki?”
Miyuki is already on his toes, cautious with every step closer to the two shadows by one of the few ancient trees growing on the plains. They are undoubtedly the prince and Haruichi.
He doesn’t have a reason to sneak around doing his job, but somehow he feels he’ll intrude into some royalty matters if he just barge onto them casually. So he silences his steps, but not hiding in the shadows, just in case.
Miyuki must be in earshot, because he begins to hear conversation. And it’s definitely not a conversation between a prince and his subject. He ends up on the other side of the thick tree bark, acting like some eavesdropper.
“Oh come on, Harucchi!”
“You can’t, Eijun-kun. There’s too many people around.”
“Just for five minutes. Pleaseeeee!”
That whiny voice can’t possibly be His Majesty. Or can it?
“I’ll be extra careful,” the possible prince voice is next to begging.
There’s shuffling, and grass rustling, some kind of silent exchange going on. Finally, Haruichi gives a sigh, recognizable by the soft edge to it.
“Fine. Just for five minutes, okay?”
Whatever that means, Miyuki has no intentions of finding out. Before he gets involved in something troublesome, he steps out of his not-really hiding spot.
“Kominato, Your Majesty, I’d just like to remind…”
Miyuki’s words fades with the wind. He’s staring into the golden eyes of the prince, which are now wide with surprise. The prince was in the midst of removing his top, and Miyuki notices a familiar mark on his lower abdomen.
“H-How dare -” The prince begins, but his face is flushed and his lips tremble, and Miyuki thinks he’s even more beautiful than the sun that graces them with its light without rest. Haruichi makes the first move, grabbing the prince’s veil and pulling it over his face once more.
Miyuki’s still frozen. Somewhere, at the back of his mind, the image of the gold reflected in the prince’s eyes persists.
The headline, however, belong to the mark still visible to the eye now. The prince notices his stare, and hurries to cover himself up. Even with the veil now, Miyuki knows he’s still beet red to his ears.
“Miyuki, whatever is the condition so severe that you must come onto us like this?”
“...No, Your Majesty, I just came to remind you that you shouldn’t be out of my sight at any point in time, alone or not.”
“Oh, yes, of course. Haruichi just accompanied me because I wanted some time to myself…”
Miyuki gives a nod. “Of course, Your Majesty. As long as it doesn’t happen again. If you don’t mind, I think we should return to the carriage now.”
He turns, and sure enough, everyone is already back and ready to leave. The prince stumbles in his hurry to stand, and out of reflex Miyuki reaches out his hand to support him. The prince literally leaps away from his touch.
“I-I’m sorry. Let’s go, Harucchi.”
As Haruichi casts him an apologetic glance as they pass him to the carriage, Miyuki tries not to think about how casual it is for the prince to grab onto the arm the pink haired man.
***
It’s only the second chapter of his book he borrowed from the palace library, and Miyuki is too frustrated to go on. Ever since the incident of ‘trying to help but resulting in some huge mistake he doesn’t know of’, the prince has been blatantly avoiding Miyuki.
During their breaks, the prince either sticks with Haruichi or Chris, somewhere far from where Miyuki stays in his seat, barely within his sight. Sometimes he even joins in conversation with the guys, just never more than five words when speaking with Miyuki.
The only times they’ve ever needed to communicate was when they were met with obstacles. Oh, need to send a message out to Masuko? No problem. Oh, need royalty permission? No problem. Oh, you just wanted to talk? Bye.
Even now, when Miyuki finally caves in to the urging that captains need a break too and hands the task over to Tojou, another skilled driver, and sits in the same space as the prince, no words are exchanged.
Miyuki tries one last time to catch the prince’s eyes, a feat he knows he’s succeeded in over a dozen times within the few short hours. They meet again, the prince in an animated exchange with Haruichi.
Then the prince turns away from him again.
Okay then. Miyuki snaps his book shut and knocks on the roof twice, preferring the traditional method over the magic that pierces his ears. “Break time, anyone?”
“Aye aye, sir,” Tojou’s muffled, cheery voice answers.
It just so happens that they are by the lake of the Sun Forest, nearing their destination. The entire forest is filled with enchanted trees, grew by the first King of the kingdom years back, so even if there are enemies to come, they will be safe.
Once the carriage touches land, Miyuki moves forward to grab the prince’s arm. The strangeness begins when Miyuki feels a jolt of electricity course through his body. Judging by the prince’s flinch, he guesses he felt it too. It burns.
“Miyuki, what…”
“Please come with me.” Then, when he sees that Haruichi has something to say, “Kominato. Guard the carriages. Don’t worry. We’ll be back by the time we need to set off.”
Miyuki’s skin that holds the prince’s wrist in his hand burns, but his grip never loosens, only tightens. He holds on like it’s the last thing he’ll hold before his final breath, until they reach the privacy of bushes and trees and the lake. There he stops, gasping for breath even though he doesn’t feel tired at all.
“...Miyuki.”
He tries to quickly let go of the prince’s hand, but he can’t. They’re like glue, stuck together. The pain has subsided, or has he become numb, Miyuki doesn’t know. He rakes his free hand through his hair.
“You’re avoiding me.”
The prince sucks in a deep breath, giving him away instantly. “No, I’m not,” he breathes past chattering teeth, face turned to the other side. Miyuki takes him by the chin, and even there his fingers burn. What is this?
“You clearly are. I can’t do my job if you don’t cooperate, Your Majesty.”
Somehow, the prince pulls free from his grip even though Miyuki failed. “You don’t understand, Miyuki.”
“Because you won’t tell me,” Miyuki swallows down the urge to shout. This is the prince, for day’s sake. A prince simply isn’t someone you shout at without good reason.
He gets a sigh for as reply, as though he isn’t the frustrated one. “Miyuki.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“I asked you to listen to me sing. You did, did you not?”
What’s his point? “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Then why?”
Why, what? “I don’t follow, Your Majesty.”
The prince rips off his veil then, revealing his golden eyes, filled with a fire Miyuki didn’t think him capable of. He thinks it may be tears forming around his eyes, but that doesn’t make sense.
“Is this amusing to you?”
“Pardon?”
“You heard my song. The song that can only be sung and heard by the chosen.”
What the blazes is he going on about? “Your Majesty, are you alright…”
“No, I’m not,” the prince blurts. “How can I be, when my fiancé is toying with me with the fate of our worlds in our hands?”
“Woah, there!” Fiancé? The prince’s? Miyuki?
“Your Majesty, I’m not… toying with you. I’m not sure what you mean by fiancé. I am but your bodyguard for the trip to ensure you reach your fiancé safely.” And that is nothing but the truth, Miyuki tells himself. The look in the prince’s eyes makes him doubt himself.
“But you have a birthmark on your right hand in the shape of a moon that stretches across your body, don’t you!”
Miyuki almost trips over himself whilst standing. And how the heck does the prince know that? His hand unconsciousnessly reaches up to grasp at his bandanna, where the mark spreads even there.
But he has to filter his words, “Yes, in fact I do, but how on earth do you know that?”
Not once in his life ever has Miyuki dared to show anyone those marks. Since he was a young boy, he had been passed from orphanage to orphanage because of these marks that everyone regarded as bad luck.
He’s ensured to cover his hand and never remove his shirt when there is an audience or windows in any room. Thanks to that, countless untreated wounds turn into scars that cover all areas of his skin.
So how?
The prince’s face just gets even redder at his words, and not in any good way.
“Please stop playing dumb. Your touch burns. It makes my mark ache. I know it’s the same for you, because you are the prince of the Moon kingdom. The one who holds the key, the one I am to face my destiny with and marry; my fiancé, Miyuki.”
“That’s…” A joke, right? But Miyuki can’t say it. He doesn’t have proof that what the prince says isn’t true, except that he can’t believe this kind of plot twist. Furthermore, he knows by now that the prince won’t take jokes this far.
Haruichi appears between the bushes then, looking even more calm and collected than Miyuki. Chris follows behind; a surprise, with his usual unreadable expression and smile. The prince doesn’t even bat an eyelash at their arrival. The pendants around their necks look as though they’re mocking Miyuki, and he gives a wrinkle of his nose. Trusted personnel, huh.
“Eijun-kun? Miyuki? We’re leaving. Asada-kun says we’ll have clear weather and can reach the border soon.”
“Okay. Let’s go.” The prince pulls the veil back over his face, covering the golden eyes Miyuki have come to love since the first time he saw them when he was eight from the crowd so many years ago. Before they disappear in the white, those eyes seek him and in them he sees something close to hostility but is different though he cannot find the words.
“...Your Majesty, I truly am unable to comprehend your words. I’m not toying with you,” Miyuki tries one last time, sounding almost pathetically desperate.
He gets no answer. As the prince and Haruichi turns, Chris steps up beside Miyuki.
“Well, seems like something happened. Whatever it is, don’t mind the prince if he ever gets harsh. Despite how he seems, he’s going through a sensitive period. Getting married is a big thing, after all.”
Yeah, I figured. They’re reaching their goal, and Miyuki has never felt more unsure his whole life.
***
Miyuki can see the stream. Their goal, less than five minutes away. He fondles with the pages of his book, nervous. If all that he just read is true, then, he is…
‘Goal sighted,’ Asada’s voice invades his thoughts. Miyuki spares him a side glance to see his eyes white, frozen in place. It’s the disadvantage of far sight; you’re left vulnerable. But with trusted allies having your back, it becomes a desired advantage.
‘Hold,’ Miyuki orders, leaning out of the window. He is able to make out seven figures from their current position, standing on the other end of the stream. He’s taken aback, his first time seeing the other side of the world. It’s dark, not a hint of sunlight. In five figures’ hands they hold a weird looking object that emits light, though he senses no magic from them.
So, they reached before us. Well then… He reaches to his back and pulls out a gun.
“Woah, Miyuki-san?!”
“Don’t worry, Asada,” Miyuki chuckles at how the man’s face goes deathly pale. “I’m not going rogue.”
He points the gun out the window, and pulls the trigger. A long bang resounds in the otherwise silent forest, and Miyuki waits for the bullet to pass through the barrier and into the world of reality.
The bullet doesn’t fly for an inch. Something shoots through it, faster than lightning itself, splitting it in half. So, that’s the kind of guards they’re dealing with. He gives a thumbs up to Tojou.
‘Landing,’ Tojou confirms.
‘Affirmative,’ Chris answers, voice as stable as always. The carriage tilts, and they’re going down. The seven figures come into view; two who could only be the prince of Moon and his brother, clad in similar kimonos as the prince of Sun, only with the Moon insignia sewn onto them. Five guards surround them at attention.
‘Coming into contact with land at 10…’
Miyuki makes a hand signal, and everyone ready their weapons. Not that they’re going to barge in and ambush their neighbouring royalty and soon-to-be family, but no harm in being prepared in case they don’t feel the same.
‘4… 3… 2… 1…’
The carriage touches the ground, and they are instantly surrounded even though they are invisible.
“Show yourselves! Are you friend or foe?!”
Miyuki switches positions with Tojou and with a wave of his hand, dissolves the barrier protecting them. Be bare, show them everything. He spreads his arms, allowing the people to see the insignia proving his identity.
“Be at ease! We are the escorts for Prince Eijun, His Majesty, to ensure the completion of the marriage to bring back peace to both our kingdoms!”
Their weapons do not lower, and neither do Miyuki and his men cower.
A man Miyuki assumes to be the prince’s fiancé comes forward, though never crossing the cursed stream. He is tall, and without a veil Miyuki can see that his expression is blank, a Moon pendant wrapped around his forehead that looks like a decorative accessory if one knew any less.
His eyes are of the darkest blue Miyuki knows of, matching his slick looking hair, and Miyuki wonders if it is anything like what the prince’s eyes are to the morning sun, this is what having the night will feel like.
Lines from the book tells him yes , but he shoves them away. For now.
“...At ease,” the Moon prince opens his mouth for the first time. The Moon guard instantly lower their weapons and jump back to their positions next to the prince. Another character steps forward, but he has blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, like the mix of day and night.
Chris appears beside Miyuki then. He extends his hand across the stream. “Narumiya.”
Narumiya’s hand clasp Chris’, a little sloppily to Miyuki’s eyes. “...And you’re Takigawa.”
They let go and step back at the same time. The prince extends his hand. “Prince of Sun, Eijun.”
The Moon prince stares at the extended hand for a moment before grasping it. “Prince of Moon, Satoru.”
Wow, I am definitely hearing the wedding bells, Miyuki thinks to himself, half amused, half sarcastic.
“Now then,” Narumiya claps his hands. “Shall we get the ceremony over and done with? I am quite tired of this war. Peasants, shoo! This ceremony is only to be overseen by the appointed advisors, aka Chris and I.”
Miyuki is already taking a step backwards. “Hold,” the Sun prince’s voice rings loud and clear.
“What?”
“Before we proceed, there is something I must do.”
Narumiya groans and pulls at his hair, his actions going against everything royalty must have been taught.
“Whatever, just do it quick.”
The prince pulls his hand away from Satoru. Deeming it unnecessary at this point, he removes his veil, exposing his face to the many for the first time. He opens his mouth, not to speak, but to sing. The tune Miyuki’s heard countless times over the time he’s spent with the prince.
Narumiya frowns. “What the hell is he saying? Are you mocking us?”
Miyuki turns to his men, who in turn exchange glances with each other with confused glances.
Can no one else truly hear this song?
The song comes to a halt, and the prince opens his eyes, gold piercing into the night blue. “Prince of Moon, can you answer me?”
Satoru cocks his head to the side. “I’m sorry, I did not catch what you said.”
There is a gasp from Chris, and the prince turns to Miyuki. “...I knew it.” Swiping his arm across the air, Satoru’s gloves are sliced into tiny pieces, and a hole is cut in his graceful kimono. The prince raises his own hand, showing the mark of the moon.
“This mark, along with the song you could not hear… They are the Key proving you are the one I am destined to give myself to. If I marry you and go with you now, nothing will change. The sun will not set here, nor will it rise in your kingdom, and this war will never end.”
“You say that,” Narumiya crosses the stream even though he is not supposed to, and Miyuki reaches for his gun, “But you’re the only one who knows what you were really doing earlier. We from the Moon have heard nothing of this Key thing. Who knows if you’re the one who really just want the war to continue?”
“The insolence -” Miyuki sees anger flash in Chris’ eyes for the first time, but the prince raises his arm to stop his advisor.
He makes a perfect pivot in Miyuki’s direction, and keeps walking until they are two steps apart and Miyuki can see that the prince is a head shorter, and he has bed hair which he shouldn’t think is cute in this situation but he does.
The prince takes Miyuki’s hand, and with eyes locked, peel off his stinky, muddy, bloody glove. Beneath it, on skin which is still a pale color from hardly being exposed, is a mark of the sun. He does the same with Miyuki’s bandanna, gently pulling on it so it comes off and reveals the mark on his forehead.
“...The proof is right here.”
With a short whisper under his breath Miyuki is knocked off balance and he stumbles across the stream, committing taboo.
“Chris!” The prince shouts and it means something to Chris because he nods and draws lines across the air. He’s performing the wedding ritual, Miyuki realises.
Miyuki thinks he hears a horrified ‘No!’ from Narumiya, but he isn’t sure because using his own marked hand, the prince grab Miyuki’s and their marks overlap, and all he feels is the burn. It feels like he’s on fire, maybe because the marks and the stream are glowing as well and then everything fades to white and only the two of them, along with the still glowing stream, remain.
A tug from the prince has both their feet into the stream that barely covers their ankles and he squeezes Miyuki’s hands.
“Your Majesty, what…”
“No time for questions! Quickly, your pendant!”
“What?”
“Your pendant!” The prince repeats, more urgently.
“I don’t have-”
“Not the one Rei gives out! The one you carry with you wherever you go, the one that is like a part of your life force, the one with your name carved onto it!”
Miyuki instantly understands. Like it’s the most natural thing he uses his free hand to unclasp his pendant from around his neck. The prince does the same, reaching inside his kimono and pulling a matching pendant.
“We need to exchange it. Quickly, before Chris’ Protective magic runs out!”
Magic , so that’s what it is. When Miyuki seemed to be taking too long to follow instructions, the prince just snatches his pendant away and clasps it around his neck and does the same for Miyuki with his.
As the lock connects, the burn he’s been feeling subsides and their hands are no longer forced to be held together.
“That’s the proof of our Meeting, the first stage. Next, we need to-”
“The second stage is Harmony by completing the song together, right? I read it in the book,” Miyuki explains when the prince gives him a baffled book.
“Thank the Sun, that makes things so much easier. You do know how the song goes, right?”
“Yes,” Miyuki answers automatically and yes, thinking back, he does. He never thought about it before, how he knew the song when he’s never heard it before then.
“Okay. Okay,” the prince inhales. “Your hand.”
Their hand joins again, this time willingly, and exchanging glances, they nod at each other. The prince opens his mouth, and the ceremony continues. Though it is sung in an ancient language, Miyuki’s brain smoothly translates every word.
Forefathers, I now stand before you
Holding the hand of the promised one
We sing this song now for you,
Hear it clear and undo your curse
Their pendants begin to glow in response to the song, and Miyuki clears his throat in preparation for his part. The words come without asking, and he sings.
Forefathers, I now stand before you
Presenting you the oath long due
We sing this song now for you,
Hear it clear and bless us free
The pendants shine yellow and blue respectively then, and the color spreads across their body, and dyes the stream green. They reach the part of harmony, and Miyuki has never felt more powerful.
Forefathers, we now stand before you
And this oath we swear to you anew:
Even if the Sun rises and it sets,
(Even if the Moon rises and it fades,)
Even if a day where these are no more comes,
I will hold his hand and face all that awaits
They are covered in the two colors then, catching their breath after singing with their entire lifeforce on the line.
“The Oath,” the prince whispers. “We need to-”
Miyuki doesn’t think, doesn’t wait for the prince to finish his words. He just kisses him, pressing their lips firmly together like the book says to do.
A final kiss to seal the oath for eternity.
Miyuki waits for something - anything - to happen. But the air is still and the only thing he feels is the stiffness of the prince’s lips against his and he finally risks opening an eye for a peek.
Wide, golden eyes stare back and they jump apart, flushing.
“Oh, um, that was, you know,” Miyuki stutters, reflecting on his actions now that the ceremony is over. He just kissed the prince without thinking! Holy crap, what if they were wrong, and it ruins everything?
Then he takes in his surroundings. The sky is a deep red, a time of the day Miyuki doesn’t know. He looks down at his feet and the stream is no more. Sniffing he can smell gunpowder and blood and when he looks around he spots fallen men. Men from both the Sun and Moon kingdom.
“What on earth…” What happened while they were gone? Had it been long enough for this to happen?
Those left standing are dirty with mud and dried blood, but they gather as one and kneel before the two, including Satoru and Haruichi. In the far, far distance, horns and cheers of people can be heard.
“All hail our Kings of the Solar Kingdom.”
***
Kazuyad doesn’t think he will ever stop being nervous.
He doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to the scenery of waking up at 6, when the sky is still dark, some time to spare before it begins turning bright. And when he rolls to the side, he sees the love of his life, eyes still closed, blissful in sleep.
He tends to trace the scar over Eijun’s left brow unconsciously, thinking back to the events from all those months ago.
It’s only after they returned to the palace that Satoru explained everything.
Of how Kazuya is in fact the rightful King of the Moon kingdom, and Satoru his cousin that took his place after a skirmish that caused him to become separated from the King and Queen, who passed shortly after losing their son.
Satoru was only five then, and rather than a prince he was more like a puppet under the control of Narumiya, the Royal Advisor for the Moon Advisor, and the blood brother of Satoru. He was one of the few that knew that Satoru didn’t bear the mark, and came up with a plot to make use of the promised marriage in an attempt to make both worlds his.
Chris-san gave his life to stop Narumiya, Kazuya remembers Kuramochi’s report clearly. While Kazuya has never figured the man out, the fact that his loss has had an effect on Eijun was enough reason to grief.
In short, Eijun was right. Kazuya is his fiancé. Even now the reminder is there, whenever he raises his hand that he no longer has the need to hide or hate, he sees a completed mark of Time trailing down his arm, knowing how it spreads across his back. A matching mark is spread across Eijun’s body, and anything about Eijun, Kazuya knows how to love. He thinks about how Rei would give him a disapproving stare if she heard his thoughts, and is unable to help the chuckle that rises from his throat.
Eijun shifts then, a soft moan escaping him, like that of a small child.
“Mmm, Kazuya...?”
“Morning, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, shut up.” Eijun flushes a deep red, and it’s always amusing to Kazuya how different Eijun is from his original impression of the Sun prince. After ascending the throne and having his parents travelling the world, Eijun has had quite a hard time getting used to people being able to see his face and have them call him Your Majesty every time he passes by them.
They laze and cuddle in bed for another ten minutes before the sun is high up in the sky and they rise in preparation for the day. They wear matching outfits; suits with the Solar insignia printed on them (though, the amount of it printed is now in moderation, thanks to Kazuya). Eijun’s is in white, and Kazuya’s in black.
Kazuya stands in front of the mirror, and he’s struggling with his tie because 1) he’s not a fan of it and 2) he can’t see the back of his neck. If you put it bluntly, he just doesn’t know what to do with it. Eijun chuckles at the sight he’s grown used to and goes around to help Kazuya.
“I don’t understand why this thing even exist,” Kazuya mutters almost sulkily as he lowers his head so Eijun has an easier time.
“There, now,” Eijun sings, his voice ever pleasant. “We need to look good today.”
“I look good everyday, though.” Kazuya smirks.
“Yes, yes.” Kazuya knows Eijun knows that’s true.
“And so do you, lover prince.” Kazuya bends to kiss Eijun’s cheek. Once they’re dressed proper, they link their arms. Beneath the sleeves and gloves, there are marks and scars, all of which have brought them to where they are today.
Kazuya has been unsure of catching up with his past, and has avoided it all this time with the excuse that he needed time to recover, but Eijun wasn’t letting his husband have any of it. Still, Kazuya knows he’ll be grateful for it after everything, and he’s already feeling grateful.
“Let’s go, or the sun will be setting before we know it.”
“Yes, yes. At your service, Your Majesty.”
“Just one yes is sufficient, Sir Miyuki.”
Kazuya simply grins, wisely deciding to not point out who he learnt it from in the first place.