Chapter Text
“This is the man who hired me to kill you.”
Everyone stood in stunned silence for several moments before the prince finally spoke.
“He…you…what?” Makoto stammered, dumbfounded.
“Yes, and a fine job you’re doing…killing all the other assassins, maybe.” Rin quipped. “Did Prince Perfect here really burrow himself that deeply under your skin? Crack into that heart of ice I’m sure an assassin like you has to have?”
“Be quiet.” Haru growled, his tone low, but sharp. There was an audible gasp from what few onlookers they had. No one talked to King Rin like that and lived.
The burgundy-haired man just raised his eyebrows, amused. “Well…it sounds like he does have you quite whipped…if not very well-trained. Put him back on his leash, would you, Makoto?”
The prince just balked, stuttering. He didn’t know where to start. "Rin...I know our kingdoms haven't always been the best of friends...but I still considered you my ally."
"Ally?" Rin balked. "We have never been allies. You have been a thorn in my side. Nothing more than an obstacle keeping me from ruling Iwatobi."
“You would have Mako killed for your own selfish gain and you expect to be shown respect?” Haru spat venomously, not even catching himself using the nickname in front of others. “I suggest that you turn around and leave the way you came swiftly or I’ll paint the walls with your blood.”
Another gasp as Rin’s lips twisted into a sneer. He apparently wasn’t having fun anymore.
“I have no intention of leaving without what I’ve come for.” The king snarled.
“What is it…that you want?” Rei asked from his spot to the left of the throne, catching the attention of the others. Nagisa clung to his hand in nervous anticipation.
Rin smirked, pointing at Makoto in a dramatic gesture. “Your prince’s lovely head on a platter.”
Haru snapped, lunging from where he stood and pulling out two of his daggers. Rin seemed unconcerned, however, merely stepping back and crossing his arms.
Everything happened in a blur: Makoto reached out for Haru, trying to stop him, but Haru’s speed had him nearly on top of Rin within seconds. He halted suddenly, however, as something like the crack of a whip rang through the hall. Another sharp sound cut through the air and Haru snarled as he was pulled away from his quarry, two black cords wrapped around his wrists. The force of the pull knocked his blades to the floor and they scattered across the marble.
From the shadows of the pillars lining the throne room, four cloaked figures emerged, two of which were holding the bolas on wire that held Haru's wrists. The other two moved too swiftly to follow as they dispatched the two soldiers by the doors of the hall to the screams of the onlookers.
The assassin looked panicked for a moment, thrashing to get free and back to Makoto's side. He was completely unguarded now and it was all his own doing.
Rin laughed at his struggling, an infuriating lack of space between them. "Look familiar? When I realized you had to have betrayed me, I had members of my court do a little digging. We had to go very deep...but we found the organization that trained you, Haruka Nanase.”
Haru’s eyes narrowed. He must have dug very deep. Makoto and the palace guard were the first people he’d shared his full name with in years.
“Yes...I found out all about you. Such a lovely, secretive organization, the Brotherhood...that is, until you wave gold in front of them." Rin boasted.
Of course...Haru recognized those red and black cloaks anywhere, trimmed in gleaming white. The symbol of the Brotherhood, which had trained him when he was just a boy. He had defected long ago, and wore a color opposite them as to never be mistaken as being a part of their dishonorable practices.
"I surmised the best way to have you killed was to call on the people who taught you everything you know." Rin goaded.
"Your majesty!" The eldest of the Samezuka council spoke up, drawing the attention of the room. "As you know, we respect your position and the crown...but we simply cannot condone this! You speak of assassination…of war!"
"A war?" Rin scoffed, snapping his fingers. The assassins who were not holding Haru closed in on the council, brandishing their blades. "Don't flatter Iwatobi. This is a slaughter."
"Rin, please!" Makoto called desperately. "No more of this pointless bloodshed! I'll surrender the crown, there's no need for more people to die."
Rin turned to him, shaking his head disapprovingly. "Makoto...you're even more spineless than I took you for. It's no fun if you surrender."
Haru snorted, catching the king's attention.
"Something funny?" He drawled.
"Just you." Haru looked up at him with a defiant gleam in his eyes. "You call him spineless, but you're the one hiring assassins to do your dirty work."
Rin snarled. "Coming from the turncoat assassin now defending him. You're only bitter because I've beaten you at your own game."
"You are right about the Brotherhood teaching me.” Haru still didn't seem too concerned. “But…they didn't teach me everything I know."
The assassin lunged up, knocking his skull into the king's chin. He yelped and fell back as the other mercenaries closed in to defend him. Haru twirled his wrists, grabbing at the cables attached to the bolas and yanking hard. The assassins holding them lurched forward, losing their footing long enough for Haru to reel them in with a graceful turn. Another yank and they were within combat range.
He ducked under a strike from the figure to his right, going for his daggers. By the time he stood again, he had his largest blade in hand, blocking a swing from the man on his left. The one on his right lunged and he side-stepped them, dropping his blade from his right hand to catch it in his left. He swung his right arm once, twice, three times, looping the cable if the bola around the assailant's neck and pulling hard. A sickening crack resounded and the first figure dropped to the floor dead, his neck broken.
Haru crouched under another strike from the second man, whipping his left hand out until the bola cable snaked around his attacker's legs. He stood and pulled, knocking his opponent off his feet. He didn't even pause before falling to a knee and plunging his knife into the man's chest. The blade stuck into the leather, so he didn't bother pulling it out; he grabbed for his second large blade, cutting through the cables swiftly to free himself before his hand shot out. The dagger went flying, followed by several of his smaller blades sailing through the air right after it. The third and fourth assassins, who'd been headed right for the prince, dropped dead when the knives found their marks.
Haru turned to regard Rin, but as he did, he was accosted on either side by the king's own guards. He swore he heard Makoto calling his name in distress as he fell to a knee before the king, two spears at his neck.
"Now look at you...all out of blades and nowhere to go." Rin cooed in a cocky tone.
Haru wasn't even panting, showing no sign of fatigue. He gave no warning before he was on his feet again, barely flinching when the spears dug into the flesh of his shoulders. He gripped the handle of one, spinning away from the other as he wrenched the first away from its wielder. He turned with lightning speed, lodging the head of the spear into the gap at the neck of the armor. He gracefully dodged the second spear as it came arcing down toward him, gripping the shaft and palm-striking it so hard it snapped. He lunged at the second guard with the broken end of the spear, shoving the blade into the open face of his helmet.
He spun quickly, launching himself at Rin. A sweep of his leg sent the man to his knees and he was behind him instantly, one hand on his chin and the other in his hair.
“You gloat about blades...you think that I can’t kill you with my bare hands?” Haru growled, his grip tightening.
“Haru, stop!” Mako cried, scrambling to get around the bodies of the enemies littered before him.
“This man tried to kill you.” Haru reasoned, his voice only bordering its usual calm.
“He still deserves a fair trial, and he should have to answer for what he’s done…but not like this.” Makoto said.
“A fair trial?” Rin scoffed. “And where would this fair trial take place? In your own courts? I’d rather the assassin snap my neck, at least the process wouldn’t be dragged out.”
“Don’t press your luck.” Haru snapped coldly, but he didn’t make a move; he wouldn’t unless Makoto gave him the order.
“I don’t believe in luck, assassin. Did you think I would not come prepared?” Rin gloated.
“Your assassins and guards are dead.” Haru spat.
“My soldiers are not.” He smirked, letting out a loud, distinctive whistle. The moment the doors opened, Haru glanced in their direction and Rin seized the opportunity. He took out his own hidden blade and turned to strike, but Haru was quick enough to jump back to avoid it, his shin receiving only a shallow slice. Unfortunately it meant he had released his grip on Rin.
The king scrambled to his feet and ran for the doors, his elite military guard blocking the path the moment he passed them. He would continue on foot until he reached the castle gates, where Nitori awaited him with a group of horses and several more guardsman.
Haru stood before the line of guards, lacking his blades but ready to face them regardless.
“Haru, don’t.” Makoto called, effectively halting him for the second time. “Allow these men to leave with Samezuka’s council. There is no solution to this which does not require more bloodshed.”
“Nor will there be if you let him leave!” Haru argued despite himself. He would follow Makoto’s order, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t question it. Not when the man’s life was on the line.
“It will take him days to reach Samezuka and the rest of his armies. We will bolster our defenses in that time.” The prince replied wearily. Even he knew his armies didn’t stand a chance against Rin’s head-on.
The council paused at the doorway with the guards overseeing them. The eldest man who had stood up to Rin spoke. “We will attempt to convince the king to abandon this path, Prince Makoto. You have our word that we will try our very best to prevent a war.”
Makoto nodded slowly, waving a hand to dismiss them. With that, they were gone…but the tension in the room did not diminish. The prince made his way to the throne before collapsing into it, his head in his hand. Everyone looked on in understanding…this man now had the weight of an entire kingdom’s fate on his shoulders and had narrowly escaped death. Allowing him a moment to collect himself was not unheard of.
Still, the Iwatobi council looked on anxiously, Nagisa continuing to hold Rei’s hand like a lifeline nearer to the throne. Haru stayed where he was by the doors, certain that the prince wanted nothing to do with him right now.
Not after the truth had been revealed.
After a long moment of silence, it was Rei who broke it. “Sir Haruka…will you please call in the nearest guards to take care of these bodies?”
“I can do it.” Haru countered softly, used to having to do his own dirty work.
“No…have the guards do it. Have Captain Sasabe check on Lady Amakata and the twins. Haru…you, Nagisa and Rei will accompany me to the War Room. The council is dismissed.” Makoto spoke up, his voice shaking. It broke the assassin’s heart.
Regardless, the order was obeyed. Guards were called in, the council were transported to a safer location within the castle and the remaining three of Makoto’s court followed the prince to the War Room. He usually didn’t refer to it as such; it had an array of maps and displays, so he liked to call it the Map Room…but today, there was no denying what the room’s purpose was.
Makoto still wore a grave expression as he paced around the center table, a topographic representation of the two kingdoms with various moving pieces representing troops. One did not need to understand military tactics to know the odds were not in their favor.
“Perhaps if we use the sea to blockade them…” Makoto murmured, his fingertips skirting across the display.
“Mako…” Nagisa said in a piteous, understanding tone. He knew it was tearing the other man up inside that it had come to war. After so many years of preventing it, it was finally here, and he didn’t know if he could handle it.
“If I may, your highness.” Rei spoke, finally releasing Nagisa’s hand to adjust his spectacles. “If you would indulge me.”
“You are my advisor, Rei.” Makoto told him, his voice broken. “I will always listen.”
"Then you should get me your fastest messenger hawk and a quill." Rei said, looking determinedly at the prince. "We're going to end this war before it even begins."
- - -
Rei assured the others that he had a plan. If successful, it would prevent the war from ever happening by essentially executing a quick and effective coup…the only problem being, they had no guarantee it would work.
So, they waited. Once the hawks were sent, he insisted everyone head to their chambers for the night. They likely wouldn’t hear back for several days. No one was really content to wait that long, but it wasn’t as if they had a choice.
Haru was far too anxious to rest. He paced the prince’s room methodically until Makoto finally coaxed him into the bed. Even there he didn’t relax; choosing instead to sit up with his back on the headboard and his eyes scanning from the balcony window to the door…balcony, door, balcony, door…
“You aren’t sleeping.” Makoto accused softly.
“How am I supposed to manage that?” Haru asked, voice gentle despite how on edge he was.
“You can’t protect me if you’re falling asleep during the day.”
“I can’t protect you if I fall asleep now.”
“I don’t think King Rin is foolish enough to send anyone now…he’s on the run.”
A pause, then Haru spoke again. “Tell me honestly...do you resent me?”
Makoto turned over to look at him. “Of course not…what would I resent you for?”
Acting out the way he did, slaughtering all those people in his throne room, trying to kill King Rin right in front of the councils…it was all a start. But mostly, it was just the single, most important thing. “For lying to you. About why I was here.”
Makoto shook his head with a tender smile. “You didn’t lie to me. You told me the truth…that you didn’t have a sponsor paying you to protect me, and that you had decided to on your own.”
“But I never told you why I originally came here.”
“It’s all water under the bridge.” Makoto said easily. “Whether you came here on your own, or because someone hired you, or because you were told to take my life or protect it…it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you stayed because you wanted to, and you chose to put your life before mine with nothing to gain from it.”
“I have gained everything from it.” Haru told him softly, fingers caressing the prince’s shoulder.
Makoto smiled at that, blush tinging his cheeks. “I believe I can say the same.” He slid his arms around the other man’s middle, pulling him back down onto the bed. “Come on, now. At least try to get some sleep. Rei has assured me his plan will prevent a war if it succeeds, so there should be nothing for you to worry about.”
Haru nodded hesitantly, moving into Makoto’s embrace and laying his head on his chest. He had never grown up with friends, or parents or anything beyond the loneliness of the streets and a brotherhood of killers…but he was certain, without a shadow of a doubt, that this was what love felt like.
- - -
King Rin paced the forecastle of his ship, pushing over tables and knocking scrolls and parchments to the floor in his anger. “How could this have happened?!”
Nitori had seen his king angry before, but never like this. He was positively seething. “I don’t…I’m not sure, my Lord. You said that he killed every one of your assassins?”
“All of them! In addition to my two strongest guards. And Makoto…” His teeth went to grinding at the very name out of his lips. “Makoto, in all his righteousness, he wouldn’t let the assassin kill me. Wanted to gloat as he paraded me in front of a court so my sentence could be handed down fairly.”
Nitori would never tell his king, but he was grateful for the prince’s mercy. “What…what will you do, my Lord?”
“We will return to Samezuka, I will gather my armies and then we will destroy Iwatobi. I’ll burn it to the ground if I need to.” Rin snarled. “So long as I get to see the prince scream his last inside the flames.”
Nitori was positive his king was beyond help now. There was nothing to do but watch as he went about his destructive path, and the boy only prayed the king would not succumb to the destruction himself.
- - -
Seijuurou was more than a little surprised to hear the shrill cry of an Iwatobi messenger hawk overhead several days after his king’s departure. He glanced up from his post in the courtyard, holding out an arm for the creature. King Rin favored crows, so he knew it was one of their neighboring kingdom's...the blue and gold ribbon along its harness confirmed that.
The bird landed on the captain's gauntlet and he took the rolled up parchment from its back before releasing it, ushering it toward the aviary. He clutched the scroll tightly as he headed inside for one of the more private rooms; the eyes of his soldiers were on him here, and watched the hawk and their captain curiously.
Once he had locked himself in the War Room, Seijuurou looked at the scroll. It was tied with a red ribbon: a symbol of an urgent matter concerning war. It was wax-sealed and bore the symbol of the Kingdom of Iwatobi.
He opened it hastily and began to read.
Seijuurou continued to stare at the slip of paper, as if reading it again for the hundredth time was going to reveal some kind of hidden message.
He honestly wasn’t so sure that was a farfetched notion.
Perhaps it was a test from the king himself...ensuring he was loyal. Even if it did hold the seal of Iwatobi's crown, who was to say King Rin hadn’t managed to take Makoto’s ring to accomplish it? Perhaps the prince was already dead.
He snuck down to the libraries to do some research before acting. It took quite a bit of digging, but he eventually found some of the older peace treaties in the archives. Sure enough, the signature matched.
This was truly from Prince Makoto.
And the message...the message was like manna from heaven.
He rushed to the princess’s tower, taking the steps two at a time until he was panting at the landing and shoving his key into the lock. The girl seemed startled at his hasty entrance, jumping to her feet from her bed, where she had been reading.
"Captain!" Kou assumed the worse. "Have you received your orders?"
“I need to ask you something, Princess.” He panted out, shaking his head.
“Anything, Seijuurou.”
“If…there were a way…for your brother to be brought to justice for his crimes. He wouldn’t be killed; I wouldn’t allow it. But…to serve penance for all the wrongs he has done…” The man watched her face carefully, but it revealed nothing. “If I could ensure these things…would you want me to do it?”
“Would he…be safe?”
“No more in danger than you in this tower, my lady.”
"And the war...it would be prevented?"
"Undoubtedly."
"You would stay?"
"For as long as you would have me, princess."
Kou gave a resolute nod. “Then yes.”
Seijuurou sighed, as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He held out a hand for her. “If that is the case…then I would request that my lady join me in the throne room.”
Kou looked at him with hope shining in her eyes, but there was doubt still lingering there.
“I would like you to leave this tower with me, princess…with never any intention of returning to it.”
Kou took his hand and didn’t look back.
- - -
King Rin’s ship arrived in the early evening two days later. He didn’t expect a caravan to greet him, as he’d brought his own along with him for security. But he especially did not anticipate the captain of his guard to be among the welcoming committee.
“Captain Seijuurou…you’ve left your post to welcome me home?” Rin asked sardonically. “I’m unsure if I should be flattered or irritated.”
“I’m afraid neither emotion quite suits the situation, your grace.” And there it was again, that tongue-in-cheek title he only used when mocking the man. “King Rin, you are under arrest for crimes against the crown of Iwatobi, treason and egregious cruelty toward the citizens of Samezuka. You will be tried in a court of law, where you will answer for the years of tyranny you have inflicted upon your people.”
“You…what?” Rin snarled, outraged at the audacity. He made to approach the man, only to have two of his own guards shackle his wrists.
Seijuurou turned to the guards accompanying the king. “I understand your loyalty is to the crown. Make no mistake that I have no intention of taking King Rin’s position. With the king’s abdication, Princess Kou will lead in his place.”
From the carriage behind him, the beautiful young woman stepped out into view.
“S-sister?!” Rin balked.
“You do not have the right to call me that.” The girl said, willing her voice not to waver. “I am honored and humbled to accept the responsibilities of the crown with my brother’s inability to continue his rule. I swear to you I will not hold your prior loyalty to him against you…and that if you so choose to follow me, now…you will remain as you are, a member of this court and this military. I can promise that we will not go to war with Iwatobi, and you may remain here with your families. I urge you to consider whether your allegiance lies with the man you see before you, whose past actions speak for themselves…or with the people of Samezuka. I can promise that I know where my own lies…and it is with this beautiful kingdom and its citizens. Will you join me?”
Rin was convinced his guards would kill Seijuurou for his audacity and capture Kou, locking her back in that tower where she belonged. But when his guards did not make a move, he balked.
"How dare you! I am your king! You don't obey her, you obey me!" He growled.
Seijuurou stepped up. "Any who wish to continue to follow King Rin, I must commend your decision in light of his actions. But, if you would like to follow Princess Kou into an era of peace for Samezuka, you need only step forward."
Every guard accompanying the king left his side to stand behind Seijuurou and Kou.
Nitori moved timidly to the princess’s side, staring at Rin forlornly. The king would always have his allegiance, but he could not help him from a prison cell…and part of him hoped that maybe, somehow, Rin would become better for it.
So long as his king would be spared, he would bow to another.
- - -
Days had passed before the hawk returned. Once the news had been received, Rei didn’t even bother knocking before letting himself into the prince’s room with an excited cry of, “There will be no war today, my lord!”
Haru looked up at him from where he and Makoto were tangled in the sheets together with an expression that suggested he may just start a war of his own for being interrupted.
Hours later, the prince was preparing a caravan to head to the sea which separated the kingdoms. Makoto seemed much more at ease, having been told by Rei that they did, in fact, have allies in Samezuka and that the coup had been entirely decisive. King Rin had not a single person still loyal to him in his court, council or military…his cruelty spoke for itself, and once shackled, no one came to his defense.
Makoto almost felt pity for him. Almost.
They stood by the shores of the sea; Makoto, Haru, Rei, Nagisa and a half-dozen guards. Haru was not comforted by the lack of soldier presence in case the meeting did not go as planned. On the horizon, he spotted a dark shape, his keen eyes picking it up before anyone else. As it got closer, he could make out the details: a heavily-armed ship whose flag was emblazoned with the symbol of Samezuka’s royalty.
The assassin was on edge immediately. “That is a Samezuka warship.”
Makoto rested a hand on the other man's shoulder. "They fly their peace banners."
"It would not be the first trick King Rin has played on us." Haru reminded him, unconvinced.
“Rei assures me the message he received was according to plan.”
“Plans can go awry.”
Nagisa piped up next to them. “You shouldn’t worry so much, Haru…Rei has everything under control.”
Rei nodded. “My calculations have indicated there is only a thirteen percent chance that the letter we received was forged and that this is a trap.”
Haru didn’t like any odds that weren’t one-hundred percent when his prince’s life was on the line. “There is still a chance.”
“I have no doubt you will be able get the prince to safety if needed.” Rei said easily.
Haru nodded, his mouth a grim line. He was prepared to get Makoto out of there if the situation became dangerous.
The ship pulled next to the seawall where it was secured by a few sailors. The assassin’s eyes darted over every visible person, each of the cannons, the ropes…anywhere an enemy could turn on them. He inched closer to Makoto, hand hovering over his blades.
“You know, Rei…” Nagisa chimed in as they watched the ship’s gangway get folded down. “You never did tell us exactly who it was who headed up this coup you so cleverly concocted…”
Rei smirked, pushing his spectacles back up the bridge of his nose, eyes glinting. "I knew King Rin had to have his fair share of enemies, even in his own court. It just so happened that one of them was the captain of his own guard."
Nagisa blinked up at him in wonderment. “You knew?”
“No…but I knew King Rin had made many enemies during his rule. One of them was, in fact, the captain. It appears he was loyal to another member of the royal family...” Rei glanced at the gangway, motioning with an arm. “May I present Princess Kou, King Rin's sister."
The lovely young woman stepped off of the ship, hand-in-hand with Seijuurou. She seemed nervous, but not frightened.
Makoto immediately bowed as she approached. "Your highness! It's an honor to see you again. It has been...many years."
"Since we were children." Kou replied with a gentle smile, curtsying. The Captain bowed next to her. "I've come to negotiate a peace treaty. A real one. But it is on the condition that you spare my brother's life. I understand that his actions caused the deaths of several of your men, but...I beg you show mercy even in light of that."
Makoto smiled, nodding. "Yes, Princess. Your brother will receive a fair trial and his life will not be taken on Iwatobi's shores. I am comfortable with Samezuka handling his prison sentence, so long as it is carried out."
Kou exhaled in relief. "I do have...one more condition."
"Anything."
"A wedding."
Makoto stiffened, noticing the nearly imperceptible widening of Haru's eyes next to him.
Anything but that.
"Would you do me the honor, Prince Makoto...?" Kou asked, her eyes earnest. "Of wedding me to my Captain?"
Oh.
Oh.
Makoto almost jumped for joy, clasping their hands together between his own. "I would be honored to oversee the ceremony!" He turned to his court. "Nagisa, make the arrangements. Rei, the treaties. This will be a new beginning, for the new queen of Samezuka and the two kingdoms."
Nagisa actually did hop for joy, clapping excitedly. "I love weddings!"
Haru had never been to a wedding. He could only exhale in relief, privately glad that it wouldn’t be Makoto’s own.
- - -
With only a month of planning, the kingdoms celebrated the most glorious wedding of the age. Kou requested that it take place in Iwatobi, as she was fond of the sea and had missed it since childhood, the last time her parents had taken her to see the kingdom. After their deaths, the meetings with Iwatobi were handled by the council, and she never saw it since.
She shed tears of joy as she married the man she loved on the cliffs facing a seaside sunset, and man and wife kissed to the cheers of both kingdoms.
The reception was held in the castle gardens, in tents glittering with lanterns and torches. Makoto performed the ceremony himself, but once his responsibilities were fulfilled, he immediately went to Haru’s side. The assassin was clearly uncomfortable in the crowd, keeping to the edges of the party despite Nagisa attempting to reel him in. Eventually the boy gave up and pulled Rei to the dance floor, where they both clearly enjoyed themselves.
Makoto sat with Haru away from the crowd, watching him as he took it all in.
They were sitting in silence for a long while when Haru finally spoke. “It was a lovely ceremony. Well spoken.”
“Thank you. It was only my second wedding.” Makoto smiled fondly, his eyes traveling to Rei and Nagisa.
“They are married?” Haru asked. He had noticed their rings, of course, but assumed they were a coincidence, or perhaps merely symbolic.
“It was a far more private ceremony than this.” The prince told him. “It is much more pleasant to perform a wedding than a eulogy, yet I seem to do more of the latter…”
“I hope you will be able to oversee many more weddings, then…” Haru replied softly.
“As do I…” Makoto returned, his fingers gently skirting over the assassin’s thigh as he smiled somewhat suggestively.
"We could never marry." Haru countered, his expression and tone schooled, revealing nothing.
Makoto tried not to look offended. "Why do you say that?"
"You are a prince. I'm your guard."
"The princess married her guard. She is now the queen."
"The Captain of the Guard." Haru corrected him.
"After the wedding, I was to make that your position...since Sasabe will become General over both Samezuka and Iwatobi's armies with the merger of our militaries. Seijuurou is a prince now...he can’t very well be Captain of the Guard anymore.”
Haru faltered, but he was still grimacing. "Surely some law forbids our case."
"I'm the prince...I'd change the laws." Makoto smirked, looking over the other man. "Prince Haruka...it does have a nice ring..."
The assassin blushed, staring at his hands in his lap. "You shouldn't jest like that."
"Who's jesting?" Makoto returned, fingers gliding over the curve of Haru's shoulder. "We would wed, Haru. If you would have me."
The other man turned to stare at him in shock. It was as if all the air had left his lungs. He was drowning, and somehow in the haze of it, he didn't even notice Makoto stand up and offer him a hand. He took it, letting the prince haul him out of the depths of his mind just as surely as he pulled him to his feet.
"For now, may I have a dance?" The prince asked with an earnest smile.
Haru nodded, cheeks still pink as he followed Makoto to the dance floor.
The wedding had been a gathering of the most citizens of Samezuka and Iwatobi together in one place in centuries. Makoto looked across the crowd with a sense of honor and pride, and he was sure Kou would have done the same for her own country had her love and attention not been drawn so effectively by her new husband.
It would be a long road for the two nations to heal old wounds and mend long-broken bonds. However, Makoto had no doubt that this was the start of a beautiful alliance. For too many years, the borders of their kingdoms were strict and impassible. But now, in uniting, the kingdoms were truly free.
- - - END - - -