The Big Book Of Amaguji

Our Finale 1

Korekiyo is not indecisive.

Or as decisive as a human could get. Making a final decision quickly was one of his strong suits ever since he was a child - having his fair share of careful decision making, of course. His habit of overthinking things contributed to that a lot though, he has been recently trying to break that.

His mom would giggle softly when he would present whatever straightforward or outrageous theory that made sense to him in that time frame as an eight year old.

From, 'It's prettier' to 'It might help me survive if our castle were in the way of a stampede of deer.' It varies, greatly.

As any human being though, when a probable solution to an issue was staring right at him, he couldn't help but act on it first.

Like staying in this cabin for the rest of his life.

He would admit that it was a sudden conclusion when he heard the news and the urge to finally get comfy in the bed he was sleeping on was at an all time high, but there must be some type of valid reason for this, all of this.

It wouldn't be fair to any party if he made this decision by himself. So, he'll consult the only person he remotely trusts at the moment.

It was the afternoon when he finally bothered to get out of bed. When he sat up, the frontal area in his line of sight was empty of any living things.

Where is Rin?

He got out of bed faster than he meant to, resulting in a short term headache. He tried to not move his head as he slipped on his shoes to leave, still to no avail.

He would assume that he was walking around the area collecting things or by the river, washing fruits or other things he wanted to keep that he found laying around.

He wouldn't expect him just standing around and walking around with no purpose. Rin jumped a bit to find the prince behind him whilst deep in thought.

"Oh, hey. Sorry I kinda left unannounced," Rin was sitting down around a pile of leaves, knees to his chest as if they were a shield.

"It's quite alright, I just need your opinion on a certain matter. I believe you could guess what it was," Korekiyo sat down next to him, head laying on the tree supporting his back.

"Go ahead," Rin invited him to speak.

"Is it selfish to decide to stay with you for the rest of my days without my parent's opinion? Not on me staying here per se, but their plan on replacing me."

Rin took a second to process the long winded question before answering, "Well, it depends on your relationship with your parents. Is it strong or is it weak, as if they birthed you for a self centered reason other than to take care of you. Like for example, giving you grandchildren, " Rin felt that there was something he shouldn't have said before realizing that he had.

"I'm just saying though! It happens a lot more than you think," His voice shook towards the end of his sentence, hoping the prince bought it.

"How would you know? You seem as young as me, I wouldn't imagine that someone born from a town would have been subjected to such cruel knowledge, and almost ancient royal knowledge."

Rin couldn't think of a good excuse, signaled by the slight tremble of his hands planted on the grass.

"I figure that you have some of the same taste as I do, in anthropology of course."

Rin breathed out the bundle of oxygen he let build up in his lungs, "I've read a bit here and there."

He almost wanted to apologize to him for lying so blatantly. He's glad this will be all over soon.

"Ah, I see. Though back to my original question, I am still puzzled on what I should do next. I doubt I could go back and ask them directly, though I believe that they wouldn't push me aside so suddenly," He crossed his arms together slightly, little to no conviction present in his voice. Korekiyo could recall all of the times his dad criticizing him on how his action weren't of a good future kin- ruler. It was said so much that Korekiyo would panic at the slightest lisp of it.

Though, he could feel that he meant it with love. His mom assures it also.

This was entirely a maybe or maybe not situation at this point.

Rin sighs, "I haven't the slightest clue about what you could do, but I will go along with either one."

He does, sadly. He has the slightest hope in his body that he would stay. Not just for himself, but for his own well being.

He could see the memory appearing in his mind after years and years of denying its truth, just hoping he was imagining things.

When Rantaro and Korekiyo were little, they'd had already been the best of friends but Korekiyo was just as quiet as he was today. Instead of going outside on most days, they would sit and read together.

When Rantaro walked away to get the both of them some water when he overheard small whispers in the room beside it.

'I try and try but we just have to face it. He would not become the king I imagined, ' A middle ground between a male and a female voice sighed.

'He's only ten. He can change,' A definite female voice said.

'I don't believe it but-,' A sigh, 'we can try.'

Unknowingly, Rantaro ingrained the set of words in his mind, planning a day to tell his friend on the things his parents said. Sadly, he knew what this all meant from such a young age. He knew what he was worth to his family, now he knows what his friend was worth to his own.

A mindless pawn to be a king someday.

"I really haven't the slightest clue, though, it's getting late. We can save this for tomorrow. " Korekiyo picked himself up whilst Rin was already a few steps in front of him.

The opportunity to tell Korekiyo his secret had past once the syllable sounded from Korekiyo's lips. No opening would be appropriate enough to blurt out, 'Hey! I'm your best friend that went missing for months but didn't tell you because I'm afraid you'll hate me!'

And Rin was okay with that, somehow, he'll make it work.