[multi-chap] So close, so far - 01
Title: So close, so far 01/12
Author: vikyfaxerfeit
Beta: andreja1989
Genre: fantasy, romantic, angst
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Sakuraiba, Junba, Ohmiya
Summary: Prince Aiba is the future King of Rainbow Kingdom who has to choose his future partner between marquis Sakurai and earl Matsumoto. The choice seems easy for Aiba but what if a spell brings his beloved one far from him? Who will he choose in the end?
It was a bright day. The sun was warm and the sky was clear. When the prince woke up and looked out of the window, he somehow felt happy and his heart was warm just like the sun. He turned to look at the man who was still sleeping on the bed, his gorgeous naked body under a white blanket. The prince couldn't believe that they finally spent the night together. Their relationship was still like a dream because he thought he would never be able to see that man again after that party.
It took place about a month ago, during a cloudy night. It was a colorful masquerade full of ladies with plushy dresses and gentlemen in disguise. The royal family organized it for the heir's 20th birthday. As soon as people gathered, the King and the Queen greeted their guests and sat on their thrones but everyone noticed the absence of the prince. Aiba Masaki, that was his name, was a strange boy indeed. He didn't love to attend parties and any other official activities although his status forced him. He had a natural and friendly behaviour with everyone but at the same time what he liked the most was to hide alone in the forest and have long walks or ride his horse by the riverside.
When a guest asked the king why the heir was absent, he immediately replied that he wasn't. Masaki was indeed disguised and was enjoying his party with them. All of the presents in the big room became aware that anyone had a chance to talk to the prince. Who would that be and could take some advantage of the royal family were everyone’s thoughts and with this the silent match began. Aiba enjoyed the party anyway because nobody recognized him and it was funny to have some normal chat without bootlickers who showered him with compliments while the only thing they wanted was a favor or rise of their appellation by talking to the prince.
It was at the end of a ballet with a frivolous and flirting lady, that he noticed a mysterious man in the corner of the room. He was leaning on the wall with his hands in his pockets, wearing a red and golden coat and a black hat with two big feathers same color as his coat. His eyes were hidden behind a sparkling mask covering only his eyes like his but Aiba could feel that he was intensely staring at him. He tried to avoid it but felt that gaze always fixed on him. It was a bit awkward but not unpleasant, he actually enjoyed being watched like a prey and at some point, he began to look at that mysterious man more and more with curiousity and desire. His heart was beating fast and he felt a strange nuisance in his stomach, like if thousands of butterflies were happily dancing in it. And then when his brown almond eyes turned again towards that man, he disappeared. Masaki panicked and started to look around but the mysterious man seemed to have vanished.
The prince immediately went out of the big ballroom and found himself in a desperate run through the garden but unfortunately it was too dark to see. He already gave up and thought how stupid he was to be so upset and sad because of a complete stranger but when he turned around to go back to the palace, two arms hugged him from behind while something fell on the floor and a warm voice whispered in his ear:
"I was waiting for you."
Aiba's heart skipped a beat and he immediately turned around to hug back the man. He didn't know the reason but he somehow knew to whom those arms belonged to and everything felt so right when he hid his face in the crock of the mysterious man's neck and smelled a lovely sweet and sour scent. A magic silence fell on the garden when they parted a little to look at each other, their eyes asking for something more. What could be heard were only their breaths and the time stopped while their lips finally met in a tender and slow kiss. Neither of them wanted to break it because it brought a new sensation. Their hearts were beating on the same frequency and God knows how much more time they would have spent like that if a guard didn't come.
"Who's there?"
They both startled and Masaki, scared as hell, was gently pushed behind a tree. "I'm marquis Sakurai from Reddo City." The mysterious man showed himself in front of the guard, taking out his mask.
The guard immediately recognized him and bowed apologetically. "May I ask if you saw prince Masaki? The king has to make an important announcement and the prince can't be found anywhere." The guard explained with a respectful tone.
"I didn't." Sakurai replied serious and the guard understood that he was unwelcomed. He bid his farewell and went on with his patrol. "He went away." Sakurai said with a low voice and smiled when Aiba went out of his hiding place a little embarrassed. The heir lost himself in those chocolate eyes. His rational mind was ordering him to run away because he was Aiba Masaki, the future king of Rainbow Kingdom and the law stated that the prince couldn't date anyone but his future partner. But that choice was meant to be done by the actual king so Aiba couldn't allow himself to be seen in such a situation. It was already good enough that nobody saw their kiss, better not to push his luck.
His heart on the contrary was just suggesting him to stay and give one last kiss to Sakurai because it felt so good and right at the moment. Those deep eyes staring at him and asking for the same thing weren't really helping with his confusion and finally he gave up to his heart and kissed the marquis again but the feeling was completely different. It showed insecurity and Sakurai could feel it but didn't know the meaning yet. He was a bit displeased when Aiba decided to part from those plump lips and looked at him with a sad expression. He was still wearing his mask so Sakurai tried to take it off because he wanted to know more about that man who stole his heart so suddenly but the heir grabbed his hand to stop him.
"I've to go now." Masaki said with a bitter smile and was about to leave when Sakurai asked:
"Will I see you again?"
"If you come back to the party, you'll find something interesting about me." That bitter smile was still painted on his lips when he left a puzzled and helpless Sakurai behind, who after a while followed him. And then in front of the main door, the prince whispered something that the other man couldn't comprehend. "When you'll know the truth, you will be just like all of the others."
Sakurai was stunned by those words, not able to grasp the meaning, and stayed still in front of the main door with a confused expression until a guard politely asked him to come back to the party. He wore his mask and his hat ... wait, where was his hat? He searched for it around him but soon he decided it wasn't the time to think about some trivial matter and went inside of the big room, looking around in search of that mysterious man who stole his heart. He couldn't find him or better he couldn't spot his disguise anywhere because actually, he didn't even know who he was.
After some minutes the king asked for attention and everyone turned to look at him who was standing in front of his throne with his beautiful wife next to him. "First of all I want to thank everyone for being here tonight to celebrate my son's birthday. Masaki, come here to greet your guests." He said and the prince who was standing in a corner, made a step forward, still wearing his mask. Whispers spread in the room, some of surprise and some of regret not to be able to recognize him although they talked to that same disguised man.
At the same time shocked expression formed on Sakurai's face under his mask. His eyes widened and his heart seemed to stop because he immediately recognized the disguise of the man who was standing next to the king and realized his true identity. Aiba finally took off his mask before thanking the present guests to attend the party while Sakurai felt miserable and defeated because all of his doubts vanished.
"I have a present for you, Masaki." The king said when his son finished talking. Everyone looked at the king with curiosity; everyone but the heir who somehow suspected what his father was going to say. "I searched for the best partner to help you in your future life as a king. And I almost decided, I will announce your engagement in a month."
Sakurai felt disheartened and frustrated because he thought the heir just played with him while he was being so serious all along. Why was the fate so cruel? He wanted to escape from that place but when he turned to look at the prince for the last time, for a second he found a burdened expression on his face before Masaki gave a fake bright smile to his father and all the guests. That sad face was stuck in the marquis's mind and he thought that maybe the heir didn't play around with him. Maybe there was still a chance. And then he remembered that apathetic line and repeated it in a whisper:
"When you'll know the truth, you will be just like all of the others."
He didn't want to give up. Actually there was no reason for Masaki to accept his feelings because well, he was the prince after all and he could have had anyone and anything he wanted so why was Sakurai so sure to still have some chance? He didn't know the answer but deep down in his heart there was a voice telling him to give it a try. He waited quietly until the end of the party and didn't leave his gaze from the heir even for a second.
When finally the king called the night off and everyone greeted him and went home or in their respective rooms, he silently followed the prince, hiding here and there not to be noticed. Masaki went through a long corridor and turned to a dark corner stopping in front of a wall. He looked around to be sure nobody saw him and knocked three times on a little gold plate. Immediately some rock on the wall disappeared, creating an exit that closed soon after Aiba went through it. Sakurai, who saw everything from behind a pillar, tried to do the same and after some tries, he was able to open the wall and he found himself in the garden again. There was no trace of the prince but Sakurai knew or better hoped to know where he went. He ran towards the place where they shared a kiss just an hour ago and there he was, sitting on a bench and holding something that the marquis recognized as his hat.
"I was looking for it." He said as an excuse to talk with him again and sat next to Masaki, taking off his mask.
"I-I'm sorry." The Prince mumbled not able to look at him in the eyes. "I found it here on the floor."
"I'm glad you found it because actually I wanted to talk with you again." Sakurai smiled but his smile faded away when Aiba said with a bitter tone:
"So you chose the second pattern. I'm sorry but now I've to go."
The marquis took the prince's hand before he could go anywhere and forced him to stay still. "I don't quite understand what you're saying and I neither know what the others you talked about did but I'm not like them. I'm just myself so I hope you would look at me like a simple man who's in love with you." Sakurai said in a single breath, his eyes fixed on Masaki whose heart was beating crazily, fighting between the urge to hug that man in front of him and the fear that Sakurai was just using him. The marquis saw those teary brown eyes in front of him and couldn't help but feel sorry to let him cry. He washed away a tear with his thumb and caressed Aiba's cheek before saying resolutely:
"I will surely find a way to show you my true self."
The Prince was touched. He never felt that warmness and determination in anybody's voice and wanted to believe in those words. But not to be hurt again, he decided to put him to the test.
"Then come back tomorrow." He proposed uncertain. "There's a little cottage in the middle of the forest outside of the East Gate. I'll wait there after dinner."
Sakurai nodded and before leaving, he gave another peck on Masaki's lips. The heir stayed there for a while and thought how stupid he was to choose his hidden place as a meeting point. He then realized he still had the flashy hat in his hands and turned around to call the owner but Sho's figure already disappeared in the darkness.
TBC
A/N: thanks to everyone who read 'til here xD
I decided to post it in advance to celebrate my BIAS' BIRTHDAY! xD Just kidding xD
ENJOY! ;)