Guarded Whispers (GiyuuSane)

21

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The news of the king's condition had spread like wildfire, chatter heard in every corner of the kingdom. Sanemi stood at the window of his room, staring out at the garden where just last night Tomioka had confessed his love to him. It felt like a lifetime ago.

A knock on the door broke his daydreaming. He turned to see Tomioka standing there, his expression softening. "Sanemi." he said quietly, stepping into the room.

Sanemi's gaze flickered to Giyuu, his usually hard expression momentarily softened. "I need to get this over with." he muttered, more to himself than to Tomioka.

Giyuu nodded, understanding the weight of the moment. "Do you want me to come with you?" The prince shook his head. "No, this is between me and him."

The walk to the hospital felt draining, each step heavy with memories of his father's harsh treatment for years. The room was filled with the soft hum of medical equipment when he arrived. "Can we be alone?" Sanemi turned to the doctors and nurses, who quickly gave a bow before leaving.

The king lay there, his figure frail and weak. His breathing was shallow, and his eyes were closed. The doctors had done all they could, but the injuries from the attack had been too severe.

Sanemi approached the bed, his footsteps echoing in the quiet room. The king's eyes opened slowly, narrowing when they landed on his son. "What do you want?" the king rasped, his voice barely audible.

Sanemi's glare was cold and expressionless. He leaned against the wall, his posture casual but his eyes hard. "You're going to die. Everyone's a little excited if I'm being honest. You're going to die. In this hospital. All alone."

A bitter laugh escaped the king's lips, turning into a coughing fit. He wiped his mouth, glaring at his son. "You think I don't know that? I don't need you to tell me."

The king sat up facing his son. "You visited her every day when she was here." he said, knowing it would hit a nerve.

Sanemi's jaw tightened. He took a step closer, fists clenched at his sides. "Don't bring my mother into this. I hope you burn in hell."

The king's eyes flickered with anger, but there was a hint of fear beneath his breath. "I'll drag that woman to hell with me if that's the last thing I do!"

"You asshole!" Sanemi snapped. "You're the biggest piece of shit that's ever stepped on this earth! Everyone will be better off without you."

A tense silence filled the room, the weight of their shared history pressing down on both of them. The king's breathing grew more labored, and he closed his eyes as if trying to shut out his son's words.

"You should be grateful that you're my son." the king finally whispered, his voice barely audible.

Sanemi's grip on the end of the bed tightened until his knuckles were white. "You should be grateful I haven't killed you yet." His voice was low but dangerous.

The king said nothing, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. Sanemi turned and walked out, the weight of the encounter settling heavily on his shoulders. He knew the conversation would only end with him in a nasty attitude, but it didn't matter. He had said what he needed to say.

As he stepped into the sunlight outside the hospital, Sanemi felt a sense of resolve. It was a free from his father's shadow.

Tomioka was waiting outside, his expression concerned. "How did it go?"

Sanemi took a deep breath, the tension slowly easing from his shoulders. "It's over. That's all that matters."

Giyuu nodded, stepping closer and offering a reassuring presence. Sanemi glanced at Tomioka, the memory of their conversation in the garden flooding back. For a moment, he allowed himself to feel the warmth of that memory. The memory was a bittersweet distraction from the anger swirling inside him. "Let's go home," he said softly.

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The advisors began to murmur amongst themselves, discussing the next steps and the arrangements that needed to be made. But all Sanemi could hear was the deafening silence of his own stress.

The grand hall was a flurry of activity as courtiers, advisors, and decorators bustled about, preparing for the upcoming coronation. Sanemi stood at the center, surrounded by a sea of papers, plans, and endless questions. His brow was furrowed, and his usually confident demeanor was overshadowed by visible anxiety.

He tried to focus on the details being presented to him, but his mind kept wandering. The weight of the crown felt heavier than ever, the expectations and responsibilities looming over him like a storm cloud.

Giyuu watched from a distance, noticing the strain in Sanemi's posture and the tightness in his expression. After a moment of deep thinking, he made his way through the crowd, gently placing a hand on the prince's shoulder. "Sanemi," he said softly, "can we talk for a moment?"

Sanemi looked up, his eyes betraying a flicker of relief. "Not now, Tomioka. I'm... I'm really busy." Giyuu's grip on his shoulder tightened slightly. "Just for a moment."

Reluctantly, Sanemi nodded and allowed Giyuu to guide him out of the crowded hall into a quieter, more private room. Sanemi felt some of the tension leave his body.

"What's going on?" Tomioka asked gently, his gaze fixed on Sanemi with concern. The prince ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his movements. "It's this damn coronation. Everyone's expecting so much from me. What if I'm just as bad as he was?"

Tomioka shook his head, stepping closer and placing both hands on Sanemi's shoulders. "You're not him, Sanemi. I'm surprised you're even thinking like that. You want to make things right, and that's what will make you a great king."

Sanemi looked into Tomioka's eyes, finding solace in their unwavering support. "But what if I make mistakes? What if I can't handle it?" Giyuu's hands slid down to Sanemi's arms, squeezing gently. "Everyone makes mistakes. It's how you handle them that matters. You have people who believe in you, who will support you, including me."

Sanemi let out a shaky breath, the reassurance slowly sinking in. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice barely audible. Tomioka smiled softly, his touch becoming even more tender. "Come here."

Sanemi took an uncertain step closer, his heart pounding in his chest. "Are you sure no one will come in?" Sanemi asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tomioka nodded, his eyes darting to the door before locking onto Sanemi's. "We have a few minutes." he replied, his voice equally hushed and filled with anticipation.

Sanemi reached out, his fingers brushing against Giyuu's cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin. He leaned in, closing the distance between them. Their lips met in a slow kiss that was both tender and passionate.

Tomiokas hands slid to the back of Sanemi's neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened. Sanemi responded, his arms wrapping around Giyuu's waist, holding him tight. The world outside the room ceased to exist; it was just the two of them, lost in the moment.

Their lips moved in harmony, exploring and savoring every second. Tomioka could taste the faint hint of coffee on Sanemi's lips, a reminder that the prince's been staying up late. The kiss was intoxicating, leaving them both breathless and wanting more.

As they finally pulled away, their foreheads rested against each other, breaths mingling in the small space between them. "We have to be careful." Sanemi whispered, his voice filled with a mix of fear and excitement.

Giyuu nodded, his heart still racing. "I know." he replied, a small smile playing on his lips. "You've got this." Tomioka murmured, his breath warm against Sanemi's ear.

The prince's lips curved into a small, genuine smile, the first in what felt like days. "Alright." he said, a newfound determination in his voice. They shared one last, lingering kiss before stepping apart.

Returning back into the noisy hall, they parted ways. Sanemi made his way back to his advisors, which included Obanai. The male observed the prince with a keen eye, and he noticed the cherry-red colored blush that lay on his cheeks.

"Uzui's going to laugh his ass off." The Duke said, rubbing his temples with a sigh. "What did you say?" Sanemi looked back to his advisor. "Nothing."

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im sorry for the slow update!!
hope yall like this chpt 😽