His Other Half (KiriBaku)

Chapter 38

November 2nd, XX84
-Eijiro's bedchambers-

A chill in the air woke Eijiro, a dull throbbing pain echoing through his gut. The residual warnings from his duel with Yo Shindo had faded, but it seemed a cold day would bring them out for a while longer, reminding him that he hadn't yet recovered fully from his wounds. Katsuki would make him stop fighting, even if Eijiro proved time and time again that he could take care of himself just fine. If he wasn't mistaken, Neito and the others were due to return today with the diplomats that Katsuki had sent for, and he remembered that Tetsu had asked for a friendly rematch.

He forced himself to open his eyes, knowing that if he stayed in bed all day, Katsuki would worry. He angered so easily now, and internalized so much, that the smallest sliver of guilt or shame would have the young prince out on the training field for hours on end, furiously drilling technique after technique again and again.

Eijiro turned his head, unsurprised to find the sheets next to him cold. Again. Today, Katsuki's natural fire could have done him a great deal of good, but it was no use hoping.

Slowly, encumbered by the drowsiness that cold often brings, Eijiro sat up stiffly and slipped into his boots. When Katsuki didn't visit him, he rarely ever bothered with changing into sleeping attire. For what was the point to it? His normal clothes were just as comfortable to him, and it saved him time.

Biting back on what might have been either a sigh or a yawn, Eijiro got up and moved to the window, noticing the draft coming from the slightly ajar frame, and pushed it closed. Though it was sunrise behind the clouds, the sky outside was an awful grumpy gray, humidity and ozone thick in the air, but not yet raining. Miserable conditions for sure. The storm had been building for days, the air growing thicker with every passing hour, and now it looked ready to break. A nagging feeling tugged at him, and for once he felt... full. Strange.

That instinct had him turning for the door, insisting that he check on Katsuki. His prince has asked him for even more space recently, which he was more that happy to give, but something felt... off. Off , but also familiar. He felt an old memory prod at the edges of conscious thought, in that irritating way when such things remain just out of reach. So in that moment, space was not something he was willing to give.

Eijiro turned the corner and nodded at Katsuki's guards before knocking on the door, and they returned relaxed smiles. Whatever sense of unease bothered Eijiro, it bothered Eijiro alone.

Nothing answered his knock, but it was early. Katsuki never woke this early voluntarily, especially if he had stayed awake into the night studying old histories. And when Eijiro eased open the door, he wasn't surprised to find the young prince slumped over his writing desk, fast asleep atop his various open books and scrolls. Katsuki snored softly, a small puddle of drool forming on the wood below him. A smile tugged at Eijiro, watching his lover sleep.

Thunder cracked outside the window, shaking the castle with astounding force, and a surge raced up Eijiro's spine, jogging that evasive memory. Suddenly he understood the tenseness in the air, and knew exactly what to do when Katsuki startled awake, a hand immediately going to brace his head, fending off what was sure to be a painful headache. "Oh, fuuuck," he grumbled, the complaint sounding almost like a whine.

Eijiro knocked again to alert the prince before he spoke, not wanting to have him startle again. He spoke low, wary of the headache. "Good morning."

Katsuki grunted in response, now bracing his head with both hands, leaning heavily on the desk. His body language suggested that he wanted to pull up his knees and curl into a ball. Another crack of thunder shook the windows, and Katsuki whimpered.