It took only a couple days for Yuki to feel well enough to go back to his usual routine. He had the feeling it had more to do with Shuuichi than anything else. It had been incredibly difficult for the blonde to reveal what he had, but Shuuichi had taken the words to heart. They now shared his bed every night, and any time the desire came over Yuki to kiss the youth, he found the brunette's lips already on their way toward his.

Shuuichi still did have to tend to his daily chores, but it seemed as though every other moment, he would be snuggled up against Yuki as they talked about something, took a meal together, or even just read their separate book.

He could seem to get enough of Shuuichi, although he attempted to keep at least some semblance of propriety and control. It never ceased to awe him as he had the other stretched out below him, Yuki's name on his lips, that a creature this kind and warm would care about him so much. And it made his doubts disappear a little more every time he heard those words on Shuuichi's lips.

'I love you.'

He hadn't been able to gain the courage to reply to them. He heard the words, felt the pulse of his heart as the wave of the other's love washed over him, warming him, comforting him, and somehow easing out all of his tensions all in one moment. Still, part of him was afraid of exactly what it would mean. It would be the last step in their relationship, it would branch that last final gap that remained between them.

Yuki knew full well that his heart was owned by the other, had finally allowed the last of pretenses to be pulled away as he'd held Shuuichi in his arms last night. But admitting that fact out loud was far more difficult that admitting it just to himself.

He heard the door open and pulled himself out of his thoughts, looking up to see Tetsua enter the room. The advisor that was presently speaking, a speech that Yuki hadn't heard one word of, but was forced to stop when the king stood.

"You're all dismissed for now. I sent for Tetsua because I need to speak to my son's in private," the kind announced, not seeming to care that they'd been in the middle of a subject. Of course, Yuki knew it was probably something stupid like a three-piece surplus in the supplies of chicken meat, or someone had stolen a bottle of wine out of the thousands that were in the cellars.

How in the world was Yuki going to be able to go through the rest of his life, listening to all of these petty little details that, really, had nothing to do with running a castle? It was only once or twice a week that they actually discussed anything of importance. No wonder most kings died young. They were bored to death.

"Ah, boys, it's been too long since we talked. How are you doing?" their father asked, once the advisors had finally shuffled out the door.

Yuki raised an eyebrow at his words. He could tell already that this wasn't going to be just a friendly talk between family. His father never tried to soothe them over with idle chatter if he wasn't going to drop some kind of bombshell he knew his sons wouldn't like.

"Fine, just as I assured you this morning," Yuki replied slowly, a little worried. He hadn't the slightest idea what his father would want of them.

"I'm fine too," Tetsua answered. "I having a little trouble with archery, but I'm starting to get the hang of it."

His father waved a hand. "That's good, that's good," he said in a dismissive tone. "I needed to talk to you boys about something important. Tetsua, you know that your birthday is coming up in just a few days."

It wasn't a question, but he still paused.

"Yeah?" Tetsua questioned, looking just as confused as Yuki felt.

"Well, there are going to be many prestigious families there, you know. We even invited those of other countries, that were available, dukes and barons and their families."

Yuki then knew what his father was going to say, and his stomach dropped.

"You know, there are a lot of pretty girls that will be coming. I think it's about time that the two of you started settling down. I'm sure there will be at least two whom would make wonderful wives for you."

Yuki kept his face guarded, stealing a glance at his brother to see that Tetsua, too, held a bland expression. Neither of them spoke immediately.

"I can't believe you'd drop this on me, two days before my birthday," Tetsua finally commented. Yuki could hear the struggle to stay calm in his voice. "Father, you know full well that I'll pick out a wife when I'm ready."

Their father lifted his hands in a defensive position. "I just want you to consider it. Pick out three or four girls to stay behind after the celebration. Get to know them, at least. You're in your twenties now, Tetsua, it's about time you at least started thinking about it."

"And what if I don't want to get married?" Tetsua challenged.

Yuki grimaced. He could already see the out come of this. He wanted to jump to Tetsua's defense, but he honestly didn't know what to say. He didn't want to accidentally give up the fact that his brother had already chosen a life partner.

The king faltered at that, then gave his younger son a stern look. "What are you talking about? Of course you're going to get married!"

"I'm not the one that has to have an heir," Tetsua shot back.

"Perhaps not, but you're still a prince, Tetsua. I've let many things slide with you, but you do still have certain expectations to meet. What will people think, if you turn down every one of these girls?"

"I don't care about what people think. And you know full well that you can't force me to choose one of them!"

"Can't I? If you don't pick some, I will. And I'll arrange for your to meet up with each of them for as long as it takes for you to finally make up your mind."

"I don't want to get married!"

Their father sputtered, and turned his eyes onto Yuki. The blonde grit his teeth, having hoped to stay out of this particular subject. "Will you talk some sense into your brother, Yuki? Tell him that you'll be picking out a wife, just like you're supposed to, and he shouldn't be so stubborn about it!"

Shuuichi's eyes hovered in the front of his mind, shimmering with warmth and kindness and love. If he agreed with his father, the man would fully expect him to go through with it. It was what was proper, what was expected, but Yuki would never be able to face the pain and betrayal he knew he would see in Shuuichi's eyes.

Nor could he face the pain and betrayal he would feel in his own heart.

"I'm not going to pick a wife out either," he stated.

Their father had already turned back to Tetsua, fully expecting him to agree, and Yuki tensed when he saw both turn to stare at him.

"Excuse me?" his father questioned.

"We're not ready for that kind of thing," Yuki bluffed, keeping his face expressionless as he spoke. "Father, you should know you can't force someone to love another. We'll find someone when we're ready."

The kind sputtered, looking from one son to the other before he sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I'm not going to win this argument, am I? Fine, fine. If the two of you want to try and find a pretty girl of the proper rank all on your own, feel free. But the least you can do is at least consider the girls I searched out for you, after all of that work." He continued to complain as he made his way to the door, shaking his head as he muttered something about 'the only sons in the world without hormones', finally stepping out into the hall and leaving the brother's alone.

The moment he was gone, Tetsua rounded on Yuki. "You meant that didn't you? About not picking out a wife. You didn't mean just right now, you meant ever!"

He tried to ignore the grin on his brother's face, glancing away. "I meant what I said," he replied evasively.

Tetsua clamped him on the shoulder, laughing. "Man, it finally happened! I was really scared that you'd be stupid enough to lose the kid! Man, I should of realized when he was wearing those high necked tunics at the hunt! I've never seen him wear them before! You took my advice, didn't you, and had a romantic interlude in the trees! Ah, I knew it! Look at you're face!"

Yuki gave his brother a sharp look, trying to rid himself of the flush working along his cheeks at his brother's ranting. "Father's still right, though, you know. I have to produce an heir sometime. How the hell am I supposed to do that, without hurting Shuuichi?"

Tetsua gave him a tired look. "You're still on about that? I looked into it, you know. You can just appoint someone to take the throne after you, can't you?"

Yuki blinked, stared at Tetsua, then blinked again. "I... Father's always going on about wives and heirs and expectations and propriety... I completely forgot about that."

Tetsua laughed again, apparently thoroughly amused with his brother. He even grabbed his sides and doubled over. "I can't believe you forgot!" he gasped, before keeling over once again.

Yuki flushed, both upset by his brother's outrageous laughing, and his own embarrassment over having forgotten something so important. He couldn't even recall when he'd heard someone tell him that, probably not since the day of his coronation, and the idea hadn't occurred to him since because he just hadn't cared before he met Shuuichi. His father would spin around in his grave like a top, but it still remained a fact that it was fully in Yuki's right to choose someone to take the throne after himself. All he had to do was find a man with a high enough rank that he thought would do a good job.

He didn't have to have a child. He didn't have to find a woman.

He felt numb as he made his way up to his chambers for lunch. The one thing that had spurred all of his doubts and reservations had been completely moot to begin with. He could hardly believe that, after he'd struggled so hard to keep his distance, after all the torturous thoughts and the pain and the uncertainties, none of it really mattered.

The path before him had been suddenly cleared. He could be with Shuuichi, without any consequences other than having someone who really loved him, honestly and openly. He wouldn't be forced to hurt the youth, he didn't have to keep any of his self separated from the other. That dark cloud that had hung over them, kept them from being truly happy with each other, had vanished.

He was free to love the person that he truly loved.

Shuuichi looked up with a wide smile as Yuki entered the room. His heart did a little skip as it always did, and it took all of his control not to run over there and throw himself into Yuki's arms.

Not that it mattered though, because the blonde cut a swift path toward him, scooping a startled Shuuichi into his arms, and kissed him thoroughly before setting him back down again.

The brunette turned shocked eyes up to the other, puzzled at the expression he saw on Yuki's face. "Not that I'm complaining, but what's going on?"

Yuki cupped Shuuichi's cheeks in his hands, pressing their foreheads together.

"I love you."

Of all the times it had been said in these chambers, those words had never passed Yuki's lips before. Shuuichi's heart thudded in his chest and he couldn't help a small gasp as happiness he'd never felt before coursed through him. He hadn't realized until just this moment exactly how badly he'd wanted to hear that.

Still, he couldn't help but disbelieve his ears, his worries stepping into place. "But what about everything else? You know, th-"

"I love you," Yuki interrupted, saying each word firmly, so that there was no way Shuuichi could doubt their meaning.

Again, he didn't know what had changed in his lover. But Yuki loved him, and nothing had ever been so wonderful. Whatever allowed the blonde to dismiss the problems of the future, it had also finally allowed Yuki the freedom to say those words.

And, for once, Shuuichi let himself shut up. Instead, he said all he wanted to say as he pulled Yuki's mouth to his own once again.

The End Hope you enjoyed my ficcie!