Sacrifices For Love (Soukoku)

IV

Many safety precautions were made when the day came to welcome the Celestoria Kingdom's family. The barrier surrounding the kingdom was lowered temporarily as the family arrived all fancy with multiple body guards.

Dazai watched with narrowed eyes from his window, brown orbs glancing from the car to his father who was already waiting at the gate for them. He heard a shout from his mother before he sighed and reluctantly made his way down to the grand first floor, stairs made out of clean, smooth marbled ceramic. 

He stood by his mother's side as the opposite kingdom's family came in, greeting them rather...enthusiastically. The brunette saw his father's fist clenched and unclenched behind his back, other hand reaching to shake the raven head's own.

Dazai did say he was most excited to meet the family but he wasn't thinking about all the boring introductions and political matters he already known. He instead wanted to get a glimpse of the family's magic. He was very intrigued on knowing how it worked.

He flinched when the raven head glanced at him, smiling as he waved at him fondly as if they were best friends. The brunette suppressed a frown as he gave a small smile back. The other merely laughed as Dazai quickly glanced away from his father's strict gaze.

"Nice to meet you. I hope for a long lasting friendship between our two kingdoms." The raven haired announced, the woman beside him who was fairly pretty, white hair wrapped up in a neat yet elegant bun. The woman sensed his staring and smiled. Seemed like this family was very friendly, unlike his own.

"Chuuya, come and greet them." The king called for his son. The brunette's eyes zoomed in on a ginger who seemed as reluctant as he was for introductions. With an encouraging nudge from his mother, the brunette took the first step, confidently plastering a smile on his face as he rose his hand to shake the ginger's.

"Dazai Osamu, nice to meet you."

The ginger seemed hesitant but it seemed like he felt the daggers his mother was directing towards him as his hand shot up so fast.

"Nakahara Chuuya."

Dazai frowned at the other not replying with a 'nice to meet you too'. Despite that, he nodded, stepping back to stay by his mother's side, her hand resting on his shoulder proudly. The brunette took that as a praise and he smiled genuinely at that. The ginger however was met with a slap to his head at his ignorance on greeting.

The brunette found himself internally laughing at that, amused when he saw the glare the ginger gave his mother. 

They were all motioned to the dining room, decorated with accents of silver and the table pure black, the curves of the multiple chairs also had tints of silver, swirling intricately.

Dazai's family was quite minimalistic after all.

They all settled down on the chairs, the brunette still stuck to his mother's side as the two fathers spoke in professional like voices that made Dazai roll his eyes. He glanced back at the ginger who was sitting opposite him and he was unsure on whether he was daydreaming or paying attention to the two king's conversation.

The ginger's ocean blue eyes swiftly locked with his and he was met with narrowed eyes and a kick to his leg underneath the table.

Brat. The brunette mouthed out, ignoring the ginger's raising of brows, confused a what he had said.

The ginger in return, kicked his leg once more as the brunette felt his eyes twitch, he was hardly rebellious yet he felt the urge take over as he kicked the other back. The ginger glared at him, mouth parting about to say something but closed immediately as he quickly turned back to face his father.

The brunette crossed his legs together underneath the table, willing hismelf not to kick again as he sighed in boredom. He was so bored out of his mind as he noticed his shadow stretched out behind him due to the dangling amber lights above them. He watched as his shadow wavered as the lights dangling above them swayed gently.

He had swore he saw his shadow get bigger but he was railed back in when his father mentioned his name softly, as if whispering.

The brunette didn't turn to look so as to not tell everyone he had heard the king's secret conversation which were quite loud in his opinion.

"Unfortunately, Osamu didn't inherit my psychic powers. Aside his sharp tongue, he's rather harmless so no worries."

The brunette's eyes dimmed at that as he went back to watching his swaying shadow. The ginger who had also overheard the conversation pursed his lips together and Dazai, being the observant boy he was, noticed.

He watched as everyone one in the room grew distant. So distant that he stood up silently, so silently that no one noticed he had stood up, their eyes still glued to the kings as they continued their chatter on another topic Dazai didn't bother to listen.

Blue orbs followed him as he left the room without a single creak under his footsteps. 

---

The brunette went to the library, knowing that his mother will soon find out he was gone and find him in his room. The library was so vast and colossal, with many small edges and enough room for his skinny body to slip into to hide. He ran his fingers across the books absentmindedly, picking out a random book as he squeezed himself into a small area between two tall shelves that reached to the ceiling. 

He glanced at his shadow which was stagnant unless he moved, he made himself comfortable, ready to open the book and start reading it. He had to prepare himself to get lectured by his father afterwards.

"You like books, huh?" A cold voice made him jump, glancing at the ginger who was staring at him.

He troubled to form words as he settled on, "Why are you here?"

"You suddenly left the room that I couldn't help but follow you."

The brunette narrowed his eyes at that, he didn't see anyone behind him, the ginger shouldn't know this tiny gap between the shelves when it's his first time here.

"How did you find me?" He questioned, book left at on the floor, beside him.

"Luck." The ginger replied slyly.

The brunette scoffed but nodded, accepting the obvious lie.

"Leave." He spoke as the ginger raised a brow, outstretching his hand.

"Nakahara Chuuya. Nice to meet you."

The brunette stared at the hand as he hesitantly rested his on the other's, "Dazai Osamu. Nice to meet you too."